TO QUINTIUS.

QUINTIUS, if 'tis thy wish and will That I should owe my eyes to thee, Or any thing that's dearer still,

If aught that's dearer there can be ;

Then rob me not of that I prize,

Of the dear form that is to me, Oh! far, far dearer than my eyes,

Or aught, if dearer aught there be.

ON LESBIA'S HUSBAND.

LESBIA still loads me with abuse,

And when her husband's by, the goose
O'erjoys to hear her flout me.

Dolt! were she mute, did she not deign

To speak my name, 't would then be plain She cared no jot about me.

But while she me for ever chides,

'Tis plain she thinks of none besides :

Indifference never spent

On one despised such daily din;

And hot must be the flames within

That need such constant vent.

ON HIS OWN LOVE.

I HATE and love-ask why-I can't explain;

1 feel 'tis so, and feel it racking pain.

THE COMPARISON.

ON QUINTIA AND LESBIA.

THE crowd of beauteous Quintia prate :
To me she is but fair and straight;

So far I can comply.

Those stated charms her form displays;

But still the full, the general praise

Of beauteous I deny.

No grain of sprightliness or grace
In all her lofty form we trace.

I Lesbia beauteous call;

Who, stealing from the lovely host

The separate charms each fair could boast,

Herself united all.

TO GELLIUS.

GELLIUS, my hope, that thou wouldst faithful prove

To the rash trust of my unhappy love,

On no tried honesty nor truth relied,

No dread of infamy nor jealous pride.
But not from thee could my confided fair
Claim filial duty or fraternal care :

No incest heighten'd with its richer gust
The simple treachery of the broken trust.

Though I, 'twas true, from thee could justly claim
All that is due to friendship's holy name;
Still did I deem thy daring love for crime
Sought richer prey and trophies more sublime;