IDYL XVI. THE GRACES. JOVE's daughters hymn the gods; and bards rehearse What living man the poet will repay Homer, best poet, and the cheapest too- Some to the bard should freely be assigned, To kin and many others of mankind. The gods their offerings; guests should have their dues, Welcome to come and go whene'er they choose. But most of all the generous mind prefers The Muses' consecrate interpreters. So may you live to fame, when life is done, Nor mourn inglorious at cold Acheron, Like one from birth to poverty betrayed, Whose palms are horny from the painful spade. To many king Aleuas in his state, Measured the monthly dole. Much kine to see The shepherds drove, to screen them from the heat, No pleasure had been theirs these things about, But they, sad with the thoughts of life foregone, Had not the glorious Ceian breathed the fire Of his quick spirit to the stringed lyre, And would not let them altogether die, And e'en their swift-foot steeds obtained renown, Or Cycnus, as a woman fair to ken, Had no bard sung the wars of former men? And, while alive, to farthest Hades sped, And e'en Laertes the magnanimous, Had been in a perpetual silence pent, The Muses best renown on men bestow : The living waste the wealth of those below. It were all one the waves to number o'er, As many as wind and blue sea drive ashore, Or wash with water from the spring's dark urn The clay of unbaked brick, as try to turn The money-lover from his wretched pelfBut let us leave the miser to himself. May countless pieces swell his silver store! And let him ever have a wish for more! |