X.

TO LIGURINA.

O Ligurina, cruel still but strong in beauty's sway !
A blight will unexpected come upon your pride one day.
The locks shall fade and fall that o'er your graceful
shoulders flow,

Your colour, too, the rose's hue surpassing far, must go.
Then as your other self you see reflected in the glass,
Your smooth brow changed to wrinkles now, you'll cry
aloud, 'Alas!

O that in youth I'd known the truth as surely as to-day, Or to my altered mood could bring back glowing cheeks and gay!'

XI.

TO PHYLLIS.

I've got a cask of Alban wine,
'Tis nine years old and more ;

I've parsley fit in wreaths to twine,
And ivy too, in store,

To deck your locks my Phyllis fair;
My house with plate is gay;
Verbena-bound my altar there
Bids me a victim slay.

All hands are busy-boy and girl

Each at their labour vie ;

My kitchen's bright with flames that curl Their grimy smoke on high.

The secret of this great ado,

Is that the Ides are here;
The Ides which April cut in two,
The month to Venus dear.

No holier festival Jove sends,
My birthday's not more rife
With joy, for hence my best of friends,
Mæcenas, dates his life.

Another love, both rich and gay,
Holds fast your former swain ;
No match for you; she has her way,
But 'tis a pleasing chain.

How vain is glory Phaethon,

Hurled from his chariot, showed ;

And Pegasus, who bore upon

His back an earthly load,

A warning to our race was sent;
What's right and fit revere ;

Don't hope too much, but be content,
And keep within your sphere.

Last of my loves (for never more
Will other maidens charm),

Learn numbers sweetly forth to pour,

Sweet songs will cares disarm.

XII.

TO VIRGIL. ·

Now gales from Thrace, Spring's harbingers,
Impel the sail o'er tranquil seas;
The ground is soft, the streamlet stirs,
And glides with wonted ease.

Now builds the bird who Itys' name
So often mourns and sadly sings;
Who all too sternly (Cecrops' shame)
Avenged the lust of kings.

The shepherds pipe amid the rills,

And watch their fat flocks feeding nigh;

And charm the god who loves the hills
And herds of Arcady.

'Tis thirsty weather, Virgil, now;

Would'st taste the grapes of Cales' vine?

Client of noble patrons thou,

Exchange thy nard for wine.

A little nard from thee will bring

From out my vaults a vintage rare ;

"Twill o'er thy hopes a glamour fling,

And loose thy soul from care.

Wouldst share these joys? then quickly haste,

And bring thy wares at once to me ;

My cups I vow thou shalt not taste,

As though I rich were,-free.

Think not of gain, nor long delay;

Let folly sometimes temper reason;
Remember thou must die one day,
So let us jest in season.

XIII.

TO LYCE.

Lyce, the gods have heard my prayer,
They've heard my prayer, I say;
You're old and yet you would appear
As beautiful as once you were,
And shameless drink and play.

With quavering voice a tipsy chant
To Cupid still you raise ;

But he lies basking far away

In some fair Chian's cheek, whose lay

And lyre resound his praise.

Past withered oaks the restless god
Speeds in his wingèd flight ;

And shuns what's hateful to him now,

Your blackened tooth, your wrinkled brow,

And locks of ashy white.

Vain is your purple garb to bring

Old days, your jewels vain,

Those days that sped so swiftly by,

And buried in Time's annals lie,

Ne'er to return again.

K

Where is your beauty fled? No more
The queen of grace you rove;
O! what remains of her who left
Me of my senses all bereft,

Whose every breath was love?

Since Cinara charmed my careless youth,
Who was more blest than you?

Whose looks more pleasing art betrayed?
Alas! Fate seized that darling maid,
And Cinara's years were few;

Fate, that will Lyce long preserve
Like some old crow to last;

That youths may laughing look upon
Your torch, that once so brightly shone,
Amid the ashes cast.

XIV.

TO AUGUSTUS.

O how shall Romans praise his name, And Cæsar crown with glory's prize? How can they spread his virtue's fame, And all his deeds immortalise?

Greatest of princes thou, where'er

On subject tribes suns rise and set; Whose prowess wild barbarians fear, Though free from Roman yoke as yet!