And neither does the cattle any longer delight in the ftalls, or the ploughman in the fire-side; 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 fhake the ground with alternate feet; while ardent Vulcan inflames the laborious forgés of the Cyclops. Now it is fitting to incircle the shining_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. Presently fhall darknefs, and the ghosts fo much talked of, and the shadowy manfion of Pluto opprefs you: where when you fhall once arrive, you shall neither decide the dominion of the bottle + by dice, nor fhall you admire the tender Lycidas, with whom now all the youth is inflamed, and for whom, e'er long, the ladies will · grow warm. 1 They are miferable who are captivated by her charms: as for his own part, he has efcaped from them, as from a shipwreck. WHA HAT dainty youth, bedew'd with li quid perfumes, careffes you, Pyrrha, *The fame as nitidi capilli, fhining hair. Epif. I. 14. 32. The Romans used to caft lots who fhould be toaft-master. Grato, Pyrrha, fub antro? Simplex munditiis? Heu, quoties fidem, Emirabitur infolens, Qui nunc te fruitur credulus aurea: Fallacis! Miferi, quibus Intentata nites. Me tabula facer Votiva paries indicat uvida Sufpendiffe potenti Veftimenta maris Deo. CARMEN VI. AD A GRIPPA M. ΤΟ 15 Se jocofis verfibus natum, bellicis virtutibus celebrandis minime parem esse. CRIBERIS Vario fortis, et hoftium Quam rem cunque ferox navibus aut equis Nos, Agrippa, neque hæc dicere, nec gravem Nec curfus duplicis (a) per måre Ulyssei, Conamur, tenues grandia: dum pudor, *Emulo. Atterbury. 10 (a) Duplices. Laudes in fome pleasant grotto, 'midst a profusion of roses? 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 seas, rough with blackening forms, 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 seem 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 A GRIP PA. Horace's genius is fitter for amorous subjects, than to celebrate the exploits of heroes. YOU OU fhall be defcribed by Varius, with all the flight of the Monian verie, w brave and a fubduer of your enemies, whatever atchiev ments your fierce foldiery fhall have accomplish'd, under your command, either a ship-board, or, on horfe-back. We humble writers, O Agrippa, nei. ther updertake thefe high fubjects, nor the deftructive wrath of inexorable Achilles, nor thẹ voyages of the crafty Ulyffes, nor the cruel houfe of Pelops while diffidence, and the Mufe who prefides over the peaceful Lyre, forbids me Laudes egregii Cæfaris, et tuas Culpa deterere ingenî. Quis Martem tunica tectum adamantina Nos convivia, nos prœlia virginum 15 20 I CARMEN VII. AD MUNATIUM PLANCUM. Tiburtini feceffus amœnitatem defcribit. Propofito Teucri exemplo hortatur ut vino curas eluat. LAT AUDABUNT alii claram Rhodon, aut Aut Ephefum, bimarifve Corinthi Moenia, vel Baccho Thebas, vel Apolline Delphos Infignes, aut Theffala Tempe. Sunt quibus unum opus eft intacte Palladis urbem (a) Carmine perpetuo celebrare, et Undique decerptæ frondi (b) præponere olivam. Aptum dicit equis Argos, ditefque Mycenas. (a) Arces. (b) Decerptum fronti. ΙΟ Nec to diminish the praises of illustrious Cæfar, and yours, through defect of genius. Who with fuf ficient dignity will ever defcribe Mars cover'd with his adamantine coat of mail, or Meriones embrown'd with Trojan dust, or the fon of Tydens * 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. 1 The He defcribes the pleasant retreat, of Tibur. -poet advises him to drive away care with wine, after the example of Teucer. THER poets fhall celebrate the famous Rhodes, or Mitylene, 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 whose fole employment is to chant in endless verse the city of the spotlefs virgin goddess Pallas, and to prefer the olive † 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 Lacedemon fo much ftruck me (or my fancy) neither fo *Diomede. †The favourite tree of Pallas. much |