CARMEN VII. AD TORQUATU M. Illum, propofita mortis neceffitate, ad hilariter jucundeque vivendum invitat. redeunt jam gramina D IFFUGERA campis, Arboribufque come : Mutat terra vices; et decrefcentia ripas Flumina prætereunt: Gratia cum Nymphis geminifque fororibus audet 5 Ducere nuda choros. Immortalia ne fperes, monet annus, et almum Que rapit hora diem. Frigora mitefcunt Zephyris; ver proterit æftas,, Interitura, fimul ΤῸ Pomifer autumnus fruges effederit; et mox Damnat tamen celeres reparant cœleftia lunæ: Nos ubi decidimus Quot pius Æneas, quo Tullus, dives et Ancus, 15 Pulvis et umbra fumus. Quis fcit an adjiciant hodiernæ craftina fummæ Cuneta manus avidas fugient heredis, amico Et album, + Quo pater Aneas. 20 Cum ODE VII. To TORQUATU By reprefenting to him the certainty of death, be exhorts him to live in a cheerful and a joyous manner. TH HE fnows are diffolved away, the herbage now returns to the fields, and the leaves to the trees. The earth changes her viciffitudes, and the decreafing rivers glide along their banks: the elder grace, together with the nymphs, and her * two fifters, dares now naked lead up the dance. That you are not to expect things permanent here, the year, and the hour that hurries away the agreeable day, fufficiently convinces us. The colds are mitigated by the returning Zephyrs; the fummer follows close upon the fpring, fhortly to die itself, as foon as fruitful autumn fhall fhed its ftores: and anon fluggish winter returns again. Nevertheless the quick-refolving moons repair their wainings in the fkies: but when we defcend to thofe regions where the pious neas, where Tullus and the wealthy Ancus have gone before us, we become nothing but duft and fhade. Who knows whether the Gods above will add to this day's reckoning thefpace of to-morrow? Every thing which you fhall indulge to your friendly genius, fhall escape the greedy hands of your heir. When once, O TorVOL. I. Y quatus, There were three graces, Aglaia, Thalia and Euphrofyne, Cum femel occideris, et de te fplendida Minos Fecerit arbitria; Non, Torquate, genus, non te facundia, non te Reftituet pietas. Infernis neque enim tenebris Diana pudicum 25 Nec Lethaa valet Thefeus abrumpere caro CARMEN VIII. AD MARCIUM CENSORINUM. Immortalitatem penes poëtas effe. DONA ONAREM pateras, grataque commodus, Donarem tripodas, præmia fortium 10 Poft quatus, you fhall be dead, and Minos fhall have made his awful decifions concerning you; not your family, not your eloquence, not even your piety fhall reftore you to life. For neither can Diana free the 'chafte Hippolytus from infernal darknefs: nor is Thefeus able to break off the Lethaan fetters from his dear Pirithous. O DE VIII. To MARCIUS CENSORINUS. That the gift of immortality is in the power of the poets. Cenforinus, with liberal heart I would perfent my acquaintance with goblets and beautiful vafes of brafs: I wou'd prefent them with tripods, which were the rewards of the brave Græcians: nor will you bear off the meanest of my donations, if ever I become rich in those pieces of art, which either Parrhafias or Scopas produced; the latter in ftatuary, the former in liquid colours, eminent to portray at one time the image of a man.. at another that of a God. But I have no ftore of this fort, nor do your* circumftances or inclination require any fuch curiofities as thefe. You delight in verfes: verfes I can give, and fet a value on the donation. Not marbles engraved with public infcriptions, by the means of which breath Y 2 701 and Cenforinus was very wealthy, and confequently was fufficiently provided with elegant furniture, Poft mortem ducibus; non celeres fugæ; 15 20 25 30 CARMEN |
