ODE XI. AD PHYLLIDEM. Die natali Mæcenatis invitat eam ad convivium. EST mihi nonum superantis annum Plenus Albani cadus; est in horto, Phylli, nectendis apium coronis : Est hederæ vis Multa, quâ crines religata fulges; Vincta verbenis avet immolato Spargier agno. Cuncta festinat manus: huc et illuc Sordidum flammæ trepidant rotantes Vertice fumum. Ut tamen noris, quibus advoceris Gaudiis Idus tibi sunt agendæ ; : Qui dies mensem Veneris marinæ Findit Aprilem : Jure solemnis mihi, sanctiorque Pænè natali proprio, quòd ex hac ODE XI. TO PHYLLIS. PHYLLIS! a cask of Alban wine, Stored up-nine years-in vaults of mine, Invites you ;-come, and intertwine Sweet parsley-plaits ; My garden teems with ivy green, The altar waits : All hands are busy, 'neath my eye,— every side my servants ply; On The quivering flames uprise on high Capt with dark smoke. Come you to celebrate the Ides, When sea-born Venus' month1 divides; Come on that day, whate'er betides, The gods t' invoke: The day on which you thus are beckon'd, To my own birth-day is not second; 1 April. Luce Mæcenas meus affluentes Ordinat annos. Telephum, quem tu petis, occupavit (Non tuæ sortis juvenem) puella Dives et lasciva, tenetque gratâ Compede vinctum. Terret ambustus Phaeton avaras Spes; et exemplum grave præbet ales Pegasus, terrenum equitem gravatus Bellerophontem, Semper ut te digna sequare: et ultra Quàm licet sperare, nefas putando, Disparem vites. Age jam, meorum Finis amorum ; (Non enim posthac aliâ calebo Fominâ) condisce modos, amandâ Voce quos reddas. Minuentur atræ Carmine curæ. For from that day Mæcenas reckon'd His flowing years. Your Telephus is lost to you, (He was, indeed, above your view,)— Caught by rich flame, whose fetters new He, love-sick, wears. Lo! Phaeton destroy'd by flame,- By winged horse 1; Namely, that you should, aye, pursue Beyond your reach ne'er lift your view,'Tis out of course. Come, therefore, last of all my loves!- 1 Pegasus. |