'Twas on that day which faw the teeming flood Swell round, impregnate with celestial blood;

Wand'ring in circles ftood the finny crew,
The midst was left a void expanse of blue,
Their parent ocean work'd with heaving throes.
And dropping wet the fair Dione rofe.

Let thofe love now, who never lov'd before,
Let thofe who always lov'd, now love the more.

She paints the purpled year with vary'd show, Tips the green gem, and makes the bloffom glow, She makes the turgid buds receive the breeze, Expand to leaves, and fhade the naked trees. When gath'ring damps the mifty nights diffuse, She sprinkles all the morn with balmy dews; Bright trembling pearls depend at ev'ry spray, And kept from falling, feem to fall away. A gloffy freshness hence the rose receives, And blushes fweet thro' all her filken leaves; (The drops defcending thro' the filent night, While ftars ferenely roll their golden light,)

Mane virgines papillas folvit umenti peplo.

Ipfa juffit mane ut udæ virgines nubant rofæ

Fufæ prius de cruore deque amoris ofculis,

Deque gemmis, deque flammis, deque folis purpuris.

Cras ruborem qui latebat vefte tectus igneâ,

Unica marito nodo non pudebit folvere.

Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique amavit,

cras amet.

Ipfa nimfas diva luco juffit ire myrteo

Et puer comes puellis. Nec tamen credi poteft

Effe amorem feriatum, fi fagittas vexerit.

Ite nimfæ pofuit arma, feriatus eft amor.

Juffus

Close till the morn, her humid veil fhe holds;
Then deckt with virgin pomp the flow'r unfolds.
Soon will the morning blush: ye maids! prepare,
In rofy garlands bind your flowing hair

'Tis Venus' plant: the blood fair Venus fhed,
O'er the gay Beauty pour'd immortal red ; ·
From Love's foft kifs a sweet Ambrofial fmell
Was taught for ever on the leaves to dwell;
From gemms, from flames, from orient rays of light
The richest lustre makes her purple bright;
And she to morrow weds; the fsporting gale
Unties her zone, fhe burfts the verdant veil ;
Thro' all her sweets the rifling lover flies,
And as he breathes, her glowing fires arife.
Let thofe love now, who never lov'd before,

Let thofe who always lov'd, now love the more.
Now fair Dione to the myrtle grove

Sends the gay Nymphs, and fends her tender Love.
And shall they venture? Is it fafe to go?

While Nymphs have hearts, and Cupid wears a bow?

Juffus eft inermis ire, nudus ire jussus est :

Neu quid arcu, neu fagitta, neu quid igne læderet.

Sed tamen cavete Nimfæ, quod Cupido pulcer eft :

Totus eft inermis idem, quando nudus eft amor.

Cras amet, qui numquam amavit; quique amavit,

cras amet.

Compari Venus pudore mittit ad te virgines.

Una res eft quam rogamus, cede virgo Delia,
Ut nemus fit incruentum de ferinis ftragibus.
Ipfa vellet ut venires, fi deceret virginem :

Jam tribus choros videres feriatos noctibus:
Congreges inter catervas ire par faltus tuos,

Floreas inter coronas, myrteas inter cafas,

Nec

Yes fafely venture, 'tis his mother's will;

He walks unarm'd and undefigning ill,

His torch extinct, his quiver ufeless hung,

His arrows idle, and his bow unftrung.

And yet, ye Nymphs, beware, his eyes have charms.
And Love that's naked, ftill is Love in arms.
Let thofe love now, who never lov'd before,
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.

From Venus' bow'r to Delia's lodge repairs

A virgin train compleat with modest airs :
"Chaft Delia: grant our fuit! or fhun the wood,
"Nor ftain this facred lawn with favage blood.
"Venus, O Delia! if she could perfuade,

"Wou'd ask thy presence, might she ask a maid.”.
Here chearful quires for three aufpicious nights
With fongs prolong the pleasurable rites:
Here crouds in measures lightly-decent rove ;
Or feek by pairs the covert of the grove,
Where meeting greens for arbours arch above,
And mingling flowrets ftrow the scenes of love,

H