Yet evin in those obscure abodies to live,

Th’ Inachians view the slain with vast surprize, Was more, alas ! than cruel Fate would give; Her twisting volumes, and her rolling eyes, For on the grassy verdure as he lay,

Her spotted breast, and gaping womb embru'd And breath'd the freshness of the early day, With livid poison, and our children's blood. Devouring dogs the helpless infant tore,

The croud in stupid wonder fix'd appear, Fed on his trembling limbs, and lapp'd the gore. Pale ev'n in joy, nor yet forget to fear. Th' astonish'd mother, when the rumour came, Some with vast beams the squalid corpse engage Forgets her father, and neglects her fame,

And weary all the wild efforts of rage. With loud complaints she Alls the yielding air, The birds obscene, that nightly flock'd to taste, And beats her breast, and rends her flowing hair; With hollow screeches fled the dire repast; Then wild with anguish to her sire she flies, And ravenous dogs, allur'd by scented blood, Demands the sentence, and contented dies. And starving wolves ran howling to the wood.

“ But, touch'd with sorrow for the dead too late, “ But, tir'd with rage, from cleft Parnassus The raging god prepares t'avenge her fate.

brow He sends a monster, horrible and fell,

Avenging Phobus bent his deadly bow, Begot by Furies in the depths of Hell.

And hissing flew the feather'd fates below: The pest a virgin's face and bosom bears;

A night of sultry clouds involv'd around High on a crown a rising snake appears,

The towers, the fields, and the devoted ground: Guards her black front, and hisses in her hairs : And now a thousand lives together fled, About the realm she walks her dreadful round, Death with his scythe cut off the fatal thread, When Night with sable wings o'erspreads the And a whole province in his triumph led. ground,

“ But Phoebus, ask'd why noxious fires appear, Devours young babes before their parent's eyes, And raging Sirius blasts the sickly year; And feeds and thrives on public miseries.

Demands their lives by whom his monster fell, “ But generous rage the bold Chorcebus warms, And dooms a dreadful sacrifice to Hell. Chorcbus, fam'd for virtue, as for arms;

“ Blest be thy dust, and let eternal fame Some few like him, inspir'd with martial flame, Attend thy manes, and preserve thy name, Thought a short life well lost for endless fame. Undaunted hero! wbo, divinely brave, These, where two ways in equal parts divide, In such a cause disdain'd thy life to save ; The direful monster from afar descry'd;

But view'd the shrine with a superior look, Two bleeding babes depending at her side, And its upbraided godhead thus bespoke : Whose panting vitals, warm with life, she draws, With piety, the soul's securest guard And in their hearts embrues her cruel claws. And conscious virtue, still its own reward, The youths surround her with extended spears Willing I come, uriknowing how to fear; But brave Chorcebus in the front appears,

Nor shalt thou, Phæbus, find a suppliant here. Deep in her breast he plung'd his shining sword, And Hell's dire monster back to Hell restor'd.

Liventes in morte oculos, uterique nefandam

Proluviem, et crasso squallentia pectora tabo, Concessere larem : viridi nam cespite terræ Qua nostræ cecidere animæ. stupet Inacha pubes, Projectum temere, et patulo cælum ore trahentem, Magnaque post lacrymas etiamnum guadia pallents Dira canum rabies morsu depasta cruento

Hi trabibus dutis, solatia vana dolori, Disjicit. Hic vero attonitas ut nuntius aures Proterere exanimes artus, asprosque molares Matris adit, pulsi exanimo genitorque, pudorque, Deculcare genis; nequit iram explere potestas. Et metus: ipsa ultro sævis plangoribus amens Illain et nocturno circum stridore volantes Tecta replet, vacuumque ferens velamine pectus Impastæ fugistis aves, rabidamque canum vim, Occurrit confessa patri: nec motus, at atro Oraque sicca ferant trepidorum inhiâsse luporum. Imperat, infandum! cupientem occumbere leto. Sævior in miseros fatis ultricis ademptæ

Sero memor thałami, moestæ solatia morti, Delius insurgit, summaque biverticis umbra Phæbe, paras. monstrum infandis Acheronte sub Parnassi residens, arcu crudelis iniquo jmo

Pestifera arma jacit, camposque, et celsa Cyclopum Conceptum Eumenidum thalamis, cui virginis ora Tecta superjecto nebularum incendit amictu. Pectoraque, æterum stridens a vertice surgit Labuntur dulces animæ: Mors fila sororum Et ferrugineam frontem discriminat anguis : Ense metit, captamque tenens fert manibus urHæc tam dira lues nocturno squallida passu

bem. Mabi thalamis, animasque a stirpe recentes

Quærenti quæ causa duci, quis ab æthere lærus Abripere altricum gremiis, morsuque cruento Ignis, et in totum regnaret Sirius annum ! Devesci, et multum patrio pinguescere luctu. Idem autor Pæan rursus jubet ire cruento Haud tulit armorum præstans animique Choræbus; Inferias monstro juvenes, qui cæde potiti

. Seque ultro lectis juvenum, qui robore primi Fortunate animi, longumque in sæcula digne Famam posthabita faciles extendere vita,

Promeriture diem ! non tu pia degener arme Obtulit. illa novos ibat populata penates

Occulis, aut certæ trepidas occurrere morti. Portarum in bivio. lateri duo corpora parvûm Cominus ora ferens, Cyrrhæi in limine templi Dependent, et jam unca manus vitalibus hæret, Constitit, et sacras ita vocibus asperat iras : Ferratique ungues tenero sub corde tepescunt. Non missus, Thymbræe, tuos supplexve penates Obvius huic latus omne virûmn stipante corona, Advenio : mea me pietas, et conscia virtus It juvenis, ferrumque ingens sub pectore diro Has egere vias. ego sum qui cæde subegi, Condidit; atque imas animæ mucrone corusco Phæbe, tưum mortale nefas; quem uubibus atris, Scrutatus latebras, tandem sua monstra profundo Et squallente die, nigra quem tabe sinistri Reddit habere Jovi. juvat ire, et visere juxta Quæris, inique, poli. quod si monstra effera magnis Thy monster's deắth to me was ow'd alone, Or through what veins our ancient blood has rollid? And 'tis a deed too glorious to disown.

Let the sad tale for ever rest untold ! Behold him here, for whom, so many days, Yet if, propitious to a wretch unknown, Impervious clouds conceal'd thy sullen rays;

You seek to share in sorrows not your own; For whom, as man no longer claim'd thy care,

Know then, fiom Cadmus I derive my race, Such numbers fell by pestilential air !

Jocasta's son, and Thebes my native place." But if th' abandon'd race of human kind

To whom the king (who feit his generous breast From gods above no more compassion find; Touch'd with concern for bis unhappy guest) If such inclemency in Heaven can dwell,

Replies :-" Ah why forbears the son to name Yet why must unoffending Argos feel

His wretched father, known too well by Pame? The vengeance due to this unlucky steel?

Fame, that delights around the world to stray, On me, on me, let all thy fury fall,

Scorns not to take our Argos in her way. Nor err from me, since I deserve it all:

Evin those who dwell where suns at distance roll, Unless our desert cities please thy sight,

In northern wilds, and freeze beneath the pole ; Or funeral fames reflect a grateful light,

And those who tread the burning Libyan lands, Discharge thy shafts, this ready bosom rend, The faithless Syrtes, and the moving sands; And to the shades a ghost triumphant send; Who views the western sea's extremest bounds, But for my country let my fate atone,

Or drink of Ganges in their eastern grounds, Be mine the vengeance, as the crime my own.' All these the woes of Edipus have known,

“Merit distressid, impartial Heaven relieves : Your Fates, your Furies, and your haunted town. Unwelcome life relenting Phæbus gives;

If on the sons the parents' crimes descend, For not the vengeful power, that glow'd with rage, What prince from those his lineage can defend ? With such amazing virtue durst engage.

Be this thy comfort, that 'tis thine tefface The clouds dispers'd, Apollo's wrath expir'd, With virtuous acts thy ancestor's disgrace, And from the wondering god th' unwilling youth and be thyself the honour of thy race. Thence we these altars in his temple raise, (retir’d. But see! the stars begin to steal away, And offer annual honours, feasts, and praise ; And shine more faintly at approaching day. Those solemn feasts propitious Phæbus please : Now pour the wine ; and in your tuneful lays These honours, still renew'd, his ancient wrath ap- Once more resound the great Apollo's praise.” pease.

Oh father Phæbus! whether Lycia's coast “But say, illustrious guest !” (adjoin'd the king) And snowy mountains thy bright presence boast; “ What name you bear, from what high race you Whether to sweet Castalia thou repair, spring?

And bathe in silver dews thy yellow bair ; The noble Tydeus stands confess'd, and known Or, pleas'd to find fair Delos float no more, Our neighbour Prince, and heir of Calydon. Delight in Cynthus, and the shady shore; Relate your fortunes, while the friendly night Or chuse thy seat in Ilion's proud abodes, And silsnt hours to various talk invite."

The shining structures rais'd by labouring gods ; The Theban bends on earth his gloomy eyes ;

By thee the bow and mortal shafts are borne ; Confus'd and sadly thus at length replies : Eternal charms thy blooming youth adorn : * Before these altars how shall I proclaim (Oh generous prince!) my nation or my name,

Sanguinis antiqui, piget inter sacra fateri.

Sed si præcipitant iniserum cognoscere cura, Cara adeo Superis, jacturaque vilior orbis, Cadmus origo patrum, tellus Mavortia 'Thebæ, More hominuin, et saevo tanta inclementia cælo est; | Et genitrix Jocasta mini. Tum motus Adrastus Quid meruere Argi? me, me divům optime, solum Hospitiis (agnovit enim) quid nota recondis? Objecisse caput fatis præstabit, an illud

Scimus, ait : nec sic aversum fama Mycenis Lone magis cordi, quod desolata domorum Volvit iter. Regnum, et furias, oculosque pudentes Tecta vides? ignique datis cultoribus omnis Novit et Arctois si quis de solibus horret, Lucet ager? sed quid fando tua tela nianusque Quique bibit Gangen, ant nigrum occasibus intrat Demoror? expectant matres, supremaque fundunt Oceanum, et si quos incerto littore Syrtes Vota mihi. Satis est: merui, ne parcere velles. Destitumnt: ne p rge queri, casusque priorum Proinde move pharetras, arcusque intende sonoros, Annumerare tibi. Nostro quogne sanguine multum Insignemque animam leto demitte : sed illum Errarit pictas ; nec culpa nepotibus obstat. Pallidus Inachiis qui desuper imminet Argis, Tu modo dissimilis rebus mereare secundis Dum morior, depelle globum. Fors æqua merentes Excusare tuos. Sed jam temone supino Respicit. Arentein tenuit reverentia cædis Languet Hyperhoreæ glacialis portitor ursæ. Latoïdem, tristemque viro summissus honorem Fundite vina focis, servatoremque parentum Largitur vitæ. Nostro mala nubila ccelo

Latoïden votis iterumque iterumque canamus. Diffugiunt; at tu stupefacti a limine Phæbi

Phæbe parens, seu te Lyciæ Pataræa nivosis Exoratus abis. Inde hæc stata sacra quotannis Exercent dunieta jugis, seu rore pudico Solennes recolunt epulæ, Phæbciaque placat Castaliæ flavos amor est tibi mergere crines : Templa novatus honos. Has forte invisitis aras. Seu Trojam Thymbræus habes, ubi fama volentem Vos quæ progenies ? quanquam Calydonius (Eneus, Ingratis Phrygios humeris subiisse molares : Et Parthaoniæ (dudum si certus ad aures Seu juvat Ægæum feriens Latonius umbra Clamor jiy tibi jura domús : tu pande quis Argos Cynthus

; et assiduam pelago non quærere Delon: Advenias quando hæc variis sermonibus hora est. Tela tibi, longeque feros lentandns in hostes

Dejecit mastos extemplo Ismenius heros Arcus, et ætherii dono cessere parentes In terram vultus, taciteque ad 'Tydea læsum Fternum florere genas. Tu doctus iniquas Obliquare oculos. Tum longa silentia morit : Parcarum prænósse minas, fatumquequod ultra est; Non super hos divům tibi sum quærendus honores Et suminio placitura Jovi. Quis letifer annus, Unde genus, quæ terra mihi : quis defluat ordo Bella quibus populis, mutent quæ sceptra corneta Skill'd in the laws of secret fate above,

A lake there was, with shelving banks around, And the dark counsels of almighty Jove,

Whose verdant summit fragrant myrtles crown'd. 'Tis thine the seeds of future war to know,

These shades, unknowing of the Fates, she sought, The change of sceptres, and impending woe, And to the Najads flowery garlands brought ; When direful meteors spread through glowing air Her smiling babe (a pleasing charge) she prest Long trails of light, and shake their blazing hair. Within her arms, and nourish'd at her breast. Thy rage the Phrygian felt, who durst aspire Not distant far, a watery lotos grows; 7" excel the music of thy heavenly lyre;

The spring was new, and all the verdant boughs, Thy shafts aveng'd lewd Tityus' guilty flame, Adorni'd with blossoms, promis'd fruits that vie Thi immortal victim of thy mother's fame;

In glowing colours with the Tyrian dye : Thy hand slew Python, and the dame who lost Of these she cropp'd to please her infant son ; Her numerous ofispring for a fatal boast.

And I myself the same rash act had done, In Phlegya's doom thy just revenge appears,

But lo! I saw (as near her side I stool) Condemn'd to furies and eternal fears ;

The violated blossoms drop with blood. He views his food, but dreads, with lifted eye, Upon the tree I cast a frightful look ; The inouldering rock that trembles from on high. The trembling tree with sudden horrour shook.

Lotis the nymph (if rural tales be true), Propitions hear our prayer, O power divine !

As from Priapus' lawless lust she flew, And on thy hospitable Argos shine,

Forsook her form ; and, fixing here, became Whether the style of Titan please thee more,

A fowery plant, which still preserves her name. Whose purple rays th' Achæmenes adore;

This change unknown, astonish'd at the sight, Or great Osiris, who first taught the swain

My trembling sister strove to urge her fight : In Pharian fields to sow the golden grain ;

And first the pardon of the nymphs implor'd, Or Mitra, to whose beams the Persian bows,

And those offended sylvan powers ador'd : And pays, in hollow rocks, his awful vows;

But when she backward would have fled, she found Mitra, whose head the blaze of light adorns,

Her stiffining feet were rooted in the ground : Who grasps the struggling heifer's lunar horns.

In vain to free her fastening feet she strove,

And, as she struggles, oply moves above; Tu Phryga submittis citharæ. Tu matris honori

She feels th' encroaching bark around her grow Terrigenam Tityon Stygiis extendis arenis.

By quick degrees, and cover all below : Te viridis Python, Thebanaque mater ovantem,

Surpris'd at this, her trembling hand she heaves Horruit in pharetris. Ultrix tibi torva Megara

To rend her hair ; her hand is fill'd with leaves : Jejunum Phlegyam subter cava saxa jacentem

Where late was hair, the shooting leaves are Pterno premit accubitu, dapibusque profanis Jastimulat : sed inista famem fastidia vincunt.

To rise, and shade her with a sudden green. Adsis ô memor hospitii, Junoniaque arva

The child Amphissus, to her bosom press'd, Dexter ames; seu te roseum Titana vocari

Perceiv'd a colder and a harder breast, Gentis Achæmeniæ ritu, seu prastat Osirin

And found the springs, that ne'er till then deny'd Frugiferum, seu Persei sub rupibus antri

Their milky moisture, on a sudden dry’d.
Indignata sequi torquentem cornua Mitram.

I saw, unhappy! what I now relate,
And stood the helpless witness of thy fate,

seen

THE FABLE OF DRYOPE.

Est lacus, acclivi devexo margine formam FROM Ovid's METAMORPHOSES, BOOK IX.

Littoris efficiens: summum myrteta coronant. Sus said, and for her lost Galanthis sighs,

Venerat huc Dryope fatorum nescia ; quoque When the fair consort of her son replies:

Indignere magis, Nymphis latura coronas. Since you a servant's ravish'd form bernoan,

Inque sinu puerum, qui nondum impleverat annum, And kindly sigh for sorrows not your own;

Inice ferebat onus; tepidique ope lactis alebat. Let me (if tears and grief perinit) relate

Haud procul a stagno, Tyrios imitata colores,

In spem baccarum florebat aquatica lotos.
A nearer wo, a sister's stranger fate.
No nymph of all chalia could compare

Carpserat hinc Dryope, quos oblectamina nato

Porrigerct, flores : et idem factura videbar ; For beanteous form with Dryope the fair,

Namquc aderam. Vidi guttas e store cruentas Her tender mother's only hope and pride

Decidere ; et tremulo ramos horrore moveri. (Myself the offering of a second bride).

a l'his nymph, compress’d by him who rules the day, Lotis in hanc nymphe, fugiens obsccena Priapi,

Scilicet, ut referunt tardi nunc denique agrestes, Whom Delphi and the Delian isle obey,

Contulerat versos, servato nomine, vultus. Andramon lov'd; and, bless'd in all those charms

Nescierat soror hoc; quæ cum perterrita retro That pleas'd a god, succeeded to her arms.

Ire, et adoratis vellet discedere nymphis,

Hæserunt radice pedes. Convellere pugnat : (imo, Dxır: et, admonitu veteris corninota ministræ, Nec quidquam, nisi Summa, mnovet. succrescit ab Ingemuit : quam sie nurus est adfata volentem : Totaque paulatim lentus premit inguina cortex. Te tamen ô genitrix, alicna sanguine vestro I't vidit, conata manu laniare capillos, Rapta movet facies. quid si tibi mira sororis (que Fronde manum implevit: frondes caput omne teneFata meæ refirain? quanquam lacrymæque dolor

bant. Impediunt, prohibentque loqui. fuit unica matri At puer Amphissos (namque hoc arus Eurytus illi (Me pater ex alia genuit) notissima forma Addiderat noinen) materna rigescere sentit @chalidum Dryope : quam virginitate carentem, (bera : nec

: nec sequitur ducentem lacteus humor. Vimque Dei passam, Delphos Delonque tenentis, Spectatrix aderam fati crudelis ; opemque Excipit Andræmon ; et habetur conjuge feliz. Non poteram tibi ferre, soror: quantumque valebam,

Embrac'd thy boughs, thy rising bark delay'd, I can no more; the creepirig rind invades There wish'd to grow, and mingle shade with shade. My closing lips, and hides my head in shades:

Behold Andræmon and th' unhappy sire Remove your hands; the bark shall soon suffice Appear, and for their Dryope inquire;

Without their aid to seal these dying eyes.” A springing tree for Dryope they tind,

She ceasd at once to speak, and ceas’d to be ; And print warm kisses on the panting rind; And all the nymph was lost within the tree; Prostrate, with tears their kindred plant bedew, Yet latent life through her net branches reign'd, And close embrace as to the roots they grew. And long the plant a human heat retain'd. The face was all that now reinain'd of thee. No more a woman, nor yet quite a tree;

Plura loqui nequeo ; nam jam per candida mollis Thy branches hung with hunnid pearls appeat, Colla liber serpet ; summoque cacumine condor. From every leaf distils a trickling teat,

Ex oculis removete manus : sine munere vestro And strait à voice, while yet a voice remains, Contegat inductus morientia lumina cortex. Thus through the trembling boughs in sighs com- Desierant simul ora loqui, simul esse : diuque plains:

Corpore mutato rami caluere recedtesi
" If to the wretched any faith be given,
I swear by all th' unpitying powers of Heaven,
No wilful crime this heavy vengeance bred ;
In mutual innocence our lives we led :

VERTUMNUS AND POMONÀ.
If this le false, let these new greens decay,
Let sounding axes lop my limbs away,

FROM OVID's MÉTAMORPHOSES, Book it:
And crackling flames on all my honours prey ! Tue fair Pomona flourish'd in his reign :
But from my branching arms this infant bear,

Of all the virgins of the sylvan train, Let soine kind nurse supply a mother's care:

None taught the trees a nobler race to bear, And to his mother let him oft be led,

Or more iinprov'd the vegetable care. Sport in her shades, and in her shades be fed ;

To her the shady grove, the Rowery field, Teach him, when first his infant voice shall frame

The streams and fountains, no delights could yield; Imperfect words, and lisp his mother's name,

'Twas all her joy the ripening frults to tend, To hail this tree; and say, with weeping eyes,

And see the boughs with happy burthens benda Within this plant my hapless parent lies:

The hook she bore instead of Cynthia's spear, And when in youth he seeks the shady woods,

To lop the growth of the luxuriant year, Oh, let him fy the crystal lakes and floods,

To decent form the lawless shoots to bring, Nor touch the fatal flowers; but warn'd by me,

And teach th' obedient branches where to spring: Believe a goddess shrin'd in every tree.

Now the cleft rind inserted grafis receives, My sire, my sister, and my spouse, farewell !

And yields an offspring more than Nature gives; If in your breasts or love or pity dwell,

Now sliding streams the thirsty plants renew, Protect your plant, nor let my branches feel

And feed their fibres with reviving dew. The browzing cattle, or the piercing steel.

These cares alone her virgin breast employ, Farewell! and since I cannot bend to join

Averse from Venus and the nuptial joy. My lips to yours, advance at least to inine.

Her private orchards, wall’d on every side, My son, thy mother's parting kiss receive,

To lawless sylvans all access deny'd. While yet thy mother has a kiss to gives

How oft the Satyrs and the wanton Fawns, Crescentem truncum ramosque amplexa, morabar: The god whose ensign scares the birds of prey,

Who haunt the forest, or frequent the lawns, Et (fateor) volui sub eodem cortice condi.

And old Silenus, youthful in detay,
Ecce vir Andræmon, genitorque miserrimus, adsunt; Employ'd their wiles and unavailing care,
Et quærunt Dryopen : Dryopen quærentibus illis

To pass the fences, and surprise the fair!
Ostendi loton. Tepido dant oscula ligno,

Like these, Vertumnus own'd his faithful flame, Adfusique suæ radicibus arboris hærent.

Like these, rejected by the scornful dame. Nil nisi jam faciem, quod non foret arbor, habebat Cara soror. Lacrymæ verso de corpore factis Rece sub hoc Pomona fuit : quâ nulla Latinas Irrorant foliis : ac dum licet, draque præstant

Inter Hamadryadas coluit solertius hortos, Vocis iter, tales effundit in aëra questus.

Nec fuit arborei studiosior altera fætûs : Si qua fides miseris, hoc me per numina juro

('nde tenet nomen. Non sylvas illa, nec amnes Non meruisse nefas. Patior sine crimine pænam.

Rus amat, et ramos felicia poma ferentes. Viximus innocua : si mentior, arida perdam,

Nec jaculo gravis est, sed aduncà dextera falce: Quas habeo, frondes; et cæsa securibus uran

Quâ modò luxuriem premit, et spatiantia passim Hunc tamen infantem maternis demite ramis,

Brachia compescit; fissâ modò cortice virgam Et date nutrici; nostraque sub arbore sæpe Inserit; et succos alieno præstat alumno. Lac facitote bibat; nostraque sub arbore ludat.

Nec patitur sentire sitim, bibulæque recurvas Cumque loqui poterit, matrem facitote salutet,

Radicis fibras labentibus irrigat undis.

[cupida. Et tristis dicat : Latet hoc sub stipite mater.

Hie amor, hoc studium: Veneris quoque nulla Stagna tamen timeat ; nec carpat ab arbore flores:

Vim tamen agrestúm metuens, pomaria claudit Et frutices omnes corpus putet esse Dearum.

Intus, et accessus prohibet, refugitque viriles. Care, vale, conjux, et tu germana, paterque !

Quid non et Satyri, saltatibus apta juventus, Quis si qua est pietas, ab acutæ vulnere falcis,

Fecere, et pinu præcincti cornua Panes, A pecoris morsu frondes defendite nostras.

Sylvanusque suis semper juvenilior annis, Et quoniam mihi fas ad vos incumbere non est,

Quique Deus fures, vel falce, vel inguine terret, Erigite huc artus, et ad oscula nostra venite,

Ut potirentur eâ ? sed enim superabat amando Dum tangi possunt, parvumque attollite natum,

Hos quoque Vertumnus ; neque erat felicior illis

to gain her sight a thousand forms he wears : Not she whose beauty urg'd the Centaur's arms,
ani first a reaper from the field appears,

Ulysses' queen, nor Helen's fatal charms.
Sweating he walks, while loads of golden grain Ev'n now, when silent scorn is all they gain,
O'ercharge the shoulders of the seeming swain. A thousand court you, though they court in vain,
Oft o'er his back a crooked scythe is laid,

A thousand sylvans, demigods, and gods,
And wreaths of bay bis sun-burnt temples shade: That haunt our mountains, and our Alban woods.
Oft in his harden'd hand a goad he bears,

But if you'll prosper, mark what I advise,
Like one who late unyoak’d the sweating steers. Whom age and long experience render wise,
Soinetimes his pruning-hook corrects the vines, And one whose tender care is far above
And the loose stragglers to their ranks confines. All that these lovers ever felt of love,
Now gathering what the bounteous year allows, (Far more than e'er can by yourself he guess'd)
He pulis ripe apples from the bending bouglis. Fix on Vertumnus, and reject the rest.
A soldier now, he with his sword appears;

For his firm faith I dare engage my own;
A fisher next, his trembling angle bears.

Scarce to hinsself, himself is better known.
Each shape he varies, and each art he tries,

To distant lands Vertumnus never roves;
On her bright charms to feast his longing cyesi Like you, contented with his native groves;
A female form at last Vettumnus tears,

Nor at first sight, like most, adinires the fair ;
With all the marks of reverend age appears, For you he lives; and you alone shall share
His temples thinly spread with silver hairs : His last affection, as his early care.
Propp'd on his staff, and stooping as he goes, Besides, he's lovely far above the rest,
A painted initre shades bis furrow'd brows. With youth immortal, and with beauty blest.
The god, in this decrepit form array'd,

Add, that he varies every shape with ease,
The gardens enter'd, and the fruit survey'd ; And tries all forins that may Pomona please.
And “Happy you ?" (he thus address'd the maid) But what should most excite a mutual fame,
. Wbose charms as far all other nymphs out-shine, Your rural cares and pleasures are the same.
As other garders are excell'd by thine !"

To him your orchard's early fruit are due,
Then kiss'd the fair ; (his kisses warmer grow (A pleasing offering when 'tis made by you)
Than such as women on their sex bestow ;)

He values these; but yet (alas !) complains,
Then, plac'd beside her on the flowery ground, That still the best and dearest gift remains.
Beheld the trees with autumn's bounty crown'd. Not the fair fruit that on yon branches glows
An elm was near, to whose embraces led,

With that ripe red th' autumnal sun bestows ;
The curling vine her swelling clusters spread : Nor tasteful herbs that in these gardens rise,
He view'd her twining branches with delight, Which the kind soil with milky sap supplies ;
And prais'd the beauty of the pleasing sight. You, only you, can move the god's desire :

“ Yet this tall elm, but for his vine” (he said) Oh, crown so constant and so pure a fire !
" Had stood neglected, and a barren shade ; Let soft compassion touch your gentle mind;
And this fair vine, but that her arms surround Think, 'tis Vertumnus begs you to be kind :
Her marry'd elm, had crept along the ground. So may no frost, when early buls appear,
Ah, beauteous maid ! let this example move Destroy the promise of the vouthful year ;
Your mind, averse from all the joys of love: Nor winds, when first your forid orchard blows,
Deign to be lov'd, and every heart subdue ! Shake the light blossoms from their blasted boughs!!
What nymph could e'er attract such crouds as you? This when the various god had urg'd in vain,

He straight assum'd his native form again;
O quoties habitu duri messoris aristas
Corbe tulit, verique fuit messoris imago !
Tempora sæpe gerens fæno religata recenti;.

Atque utinam velles ! Helene non pluribus esset
Defectum poterat gramen versasse videri.

Sollicitata procis : nec quæ Lapitheja movit
Sæpe manu stimulos rigida portabat; ut illum

Prælia, nec conjux timidis audacis Ulyssei.
Jurares fessos modo disjunxisse juvencos.

Nunc quoque, cum fugias averserisque petentes,
Falce data frondator erat, vitisque putator:

Mille proci cupiunt; et semideique deique, luduerat scalas, lecturum poma putares :

Et quæcunque tenent Albanos numina montes. Miles erat gladio, piscator arundine sumpta.

Sed tu, si sapies, si te bene jungere, anumque Denique per muitas aditum sibi sæpe figuras

Hanc audire voles, (quæ te plus omnibus illis Reperit, ut caperet spectatæ gaudia formæ.

Plus quam credis, amo) vulgares rejice tadas : Ille etiam picta redimitus tempora mitra,

Vertumnumque tori socium tibi selige: pro quo Innitens baculo, positis ad tempora canis,

Me quoque pignus habe, neque enim sibi notior illo Adsimulavit anum: cultosque intravit in hortos;

Quam mihi, nec toto passim vaguserrat in orbe. sest, Pomaque mirata e t: Tantoque potentior, inquit,

Hæc loca sola colit; nec, uti pars magna procoruin,
Omnibus es nymphis, quas continet Albula ripis; Quam modo vidit, amat. tu primus et ultimus illi
Salve, virginei flos intemerate pudoris.

Ardor eris ; solique suos tibi devovet annos.
Paucaque laudatæ dedit oscula ; qualia nunquam

Adde, quod est juvenis : quod naturale decoris
Vera dedisset anus : glebaque incurva resedit,

Munus habet ; formasque apte fingetur in omnes : Suspiciens pandos autumni pondere ramos.

Et, quod erit jussus (juheas licet omnia) fiet. (tur, Ulinus erat contra, spatiosa tumentibus uvis :

Quid, quod amatis idem? quod, quæ tibi poma colunQuam socia postquam pariter cum vite probavit ;

Primus habet ; lætaque tenet tua munera dextra? At si staret, ait, cælebs, sine palmite truncus,

Sed neque jam fætus desiderat arbore demtos, Nil præter frondes, quare peteretur, haberet.

Nec, quas hortus alit, cum succis mitibus herbas; Hæc quoque, quæ juncta vitis requiescit in ulmo,

Nec quidquam, nisi te. miserere ardentis: et ipsum, Si non nupta foret, terræ adclinata jaceret.

Qui petit, ore meo præsentem crede precari.--
Tu tamen exemplo non tangeris arboris hujus,

Sic tibi nec vernum nascentia frigus adurat
Concubitusque fugis : nec te conjungere curas.

Poma ; nec excutiant rapidi florentia venti,
VOL XII.