*

And neither does the cattle any longer delight in
the ftalls, or the ploughman in the fire-fide; nor
are the meadows whiten'd by hoary frofts. Now
Cytherean Venus leads up the dance by moon-
light; and the comely Graces in conjunction with
the Nymphs shake the ground with alternate feet;
while ardent Vulcan inflames the laborious forges
of the Cyclops. Now it is fitting to incircle the
fhining head either with verdant myrtle, or with
fuch flowers as the relaxed earth produces. Now
likewife is it fitting to facrifice to Faunus in the
fhady groves, whether he demand a lamb, or is
more pleased with a kid. Pale death knocks at the
cottages of the poor, and the palaces of kings with
an impartial pace. O happy Seftius, the fhort fum
total of life forbids us to form remote expectations.
Prefently fhall darkness, and the ghofts fo much
talked of, and the fhadowy mansion of Pluto
prefs you: where when
you shall once arrive, you
fhall neither decide the dominion of the bottle t
by dice, nor fhall you admire the tender Lycidas,
with whom now all the youth is inflamed, and
for whom, ere long, the ladies will grow warm.

To PYRRHA.

op

They are miferable who are captivated by her charms: as for his own part, he has efcaped from them, as from a fhipwreck.

WHAT dainty youth, bedew'd with li

quid perfumes, carreffes you, Pyrrha,

C 2

in

The fame as nitidi capilli, shining hair. Epif. I. 14. 32.
The Romans fed to caft lots who should be toaft-mafter:

Grato, Pyrrha, fub antro?
Cui flavam religas comam,
Simplex munditiis? Heu! quoties fidem,
Mutatofque Deos flebit, et afpera
Nigris æquora ventis
Emirabitur infolens,

Qui nunc te fruitur credulus aurea !
Qui femper vacuam, femper amabilem
Sperat, nefcius auræ

Fallacis! Miferi, quibus

Intentata nites. Me tabula facer
Votiva paries indicat uvida
Sufpendiffe potenti

Veftimenta maris Deo.

CARMEN VI

AD A GRIPPA M.

10

Se jocofis verfibus natum, bellicis virtutibus celebran dis minime parem effe.

1CRIBERIS Vario fortis, et hoftium

SICRIBE

Victor, Mæonii carminis alite*

Quam rem cunque ferox, navibus aut equis,
Miles, te duce, gefferit.

Nos, Agrippa, neque hæc dicere, nec gravem 5
Pelida ftomachum cedere nefcii,

Nec curfus duplicis + per mare Ulyffei,

Nec fævam Pelopis domum,

Conamur, tenues grandia: dum pudor,
Imbellifque lyræ Mufa potens vetat

Emulo, Atterbury. + Duplices.

10

Laudes

in fome pleasant grotto, 'midft a profufion of rofes? For whom do you fillet up your golden hair, unaffectedly delicate? Alas! how frequently fhall he deplore your perfidy and the alter'd Gods; and, through inexperience, be amazed at the feas, rough with blackening ftorms, who now credulous enjoys you all-precious; who hopes you will be always difengaged, always amiable, ignorant of the faithlefs gale! Wretched are thofe, to whom you untried feem fair! The facred wall of Neptune's temple demonftrates, by a votive tablet, that I have confecrated dropping garments to the powerful God of the fea.

O DE VI.

To AGRIPPA.

Horace's genius is fitter for amorous fubject, than to celebrate the exploits of heroes.

YOU fhall be defcribed by Varius, with all

Yobe

the flight of the Mæonian verfe, as brave, and a fubduer of your enemies, whatever atchiev ments your fierce foldiery fhall have accomplish'd, under your command, either a fhip-board, or on horfeback. We humble writers, O Agrippa, neither undertake thefe high fubjects, nor the deftructive wrath of inexorable Achilles, nor the voyages of the crafty Ulyffes, nor the cruel house of Pelops while diffidence and the Mufe who prefides over the peaceful Lyre, forbids me. C 3

to

Laudes egregii Cæfaris, et tuas,
Culpa deterere ingenî.

Quis Martem tunica tectum adamantina
Digne fcripferit? aut pulvere Troïco
Nigrum Merionen? aut ope Palladis
Tydiden Superis parem?

Nos convivia, nos prælia virginum,
Sectis in juvenes unguibus acrium,
Cantamus, vacui, five quid urimur,
Non præter folitum leves.

CARMEN VII.

AD MUNATIUM PLAN CUM.

Tiburtini feceffus amanitatem defcribit. Propofito Teucri exemplo hortatur ut vino curas eluat,

L

AUDABUNT alii claram Rhodon, aut Mity. lenen,

Aut Ephefum, bimarifve Corinthi

Mania, vel Baccho Thebas, vel Apolline Delphos Infignes, aut Theffala Tempe.

Sunt quibus unum opus eft intacta Palladis urbem *

Carmine perpetuo celebrare, et

Undique decerptæ frondit præponere olivam.
Plurimus, in Junonis honorem,

Aptum dicit equis Argos, ditefque Mycenas.
Me nec tam patiens Lacedæmon,

5.

ΤΟ

Neg

to diminish the praifes of illuftrious Cæfar, and yours, through defect of genius. Who with fufficient dignity will ever defcribe Mars covered with his adamantine coat of mail, or Meriones embrown'd with Trojan duft, or the fon of Tydeus a match for the Gods by the favour of Pallas? We, whether free, whether enamoured ourselves, with our accustomed levity, fing of banquets; we of the battles of maids, defperate against young fellows---with pared nails.

O DE VII.

To MUNATIUS PLANCUS.

He defcribes the pleafant retreat of Tibur. The poet advifes him to drive away care with wine, after the example of Teucer.

THER poets fhall celebrate the famous Rhodes, or Mitilene, or Ephefus, or the walls of Corinth fituated between two feas, or Thebes illuftrious by the birth of Bacchus, or Delphi by Apollo's Oracle, or the Theffalian Tempe. There are fome whofe fole employment is to chant in endlefs verfe the city of the spotlefs virgin goddefs Pallas, and to prefer the olivet to every other leaf that's gathered. Many a one, in honour of Juno, celebrates Argos productive of generous horfes, and rich Mycena. Neither patient Lacedæmon so much struck me (or my fancy) neither fo

• Diomede.

The favourite tree of Pallas,

much