LIBER II.

CARMEN XI.

Quid bellicosus Cantaber et Scythes, Hirpine Quincti, cogitet Hadria Divisus obiecto, remittas

Quaerere, nec trepides in usum

Poscentis aevi pauca: fugit retro
Levis iuventas et decor, arida
Pellente lascivos amores

Canitie facilemque somnum.

Non semper idem floribus est honor Vernis, neque uno luna rubens nitet Vultu. Quid aeternis minorem

Consiliis animum fatigas?

Hirpinus Quinctius, seek no more,
What the Cantabrian, fierce in war,
And what the Scythian's project be,
Severed by Hadria's barrier sea;
Nor fret thyself for life's supply,
Which asks but little. Swiftly fly
Smooth youth and beauty; gray and dry
Comes Age, and love's lascivious play
And ready sleep it drives away.

Flowers have not aye their springtide grace;
The red moon shines not with one face;
Wherefore distress thy thought, too low
The everlasting plans to know?

Cur non sub alta vel platano vel hac Pinu iacentes sic temere et rosa Canos odorati capillos,

Dum licet, Assyrioque nardo

Potamus uncti? dissipat Euhius
Curas edacis. Quis puer ocius
Restinguet ardentis Falerni
Pocula praetereunte lympha ?

Quis devium scortum eliciet domo
Lyden? eburna dic age cum lyra
Maturet, incomptum Lacaenae
More comas religata nodum.

Why not beneath yon plane-tree lie
Or lofty pine, thus carelessly,
And, roses scenting our gray hair,
Assyrian nard wherewith to smear,
Drink, while we may? 'Tis Euhius scares
To the far distance eating cares;

Quick, boy, and cool the wine-draught's heat
With water running at our feet.
Lure Lyde from her devious* home,
Bid her with lyre of ivory come
In haste, and tied her unkempt hair
Back in a knot, like Spartan fair.

*

Lyde's house was de via. Compare Milton's use of 'obvious hill."

Y

LIBER II. CARMEN XIII.

Ille et nefasto te posuit die

Quicumque primum, et sacrilega manu

Produxit, arbos, in nepotum

Perniciem obprobriumque pagi;

Illum et parentis crediderim sui
Fregisse cervicem et penetralia
Sparsisse nocturno cruore

Hospitis; ille venena Colcha

Et quicquid usquam concipitur nefas
Tractavit, agro qui statuit meo
Te triste lignum, te caducum

In domini caput immerentis.