I SLEPT, when Venus enter'd: to my bed A Cupid in her beauteous hand she led,
A bashful-seeming boy, and thus she said:
Shepherd receive my little one! I bring
"An untaught love, whom thou must teach to sing."
She said, and left him. I suspecting naught
Many a sweet strain my subtle pupil taught,
How reed to reed Pan first with osier bound,
How Pallas form'd the pipe of softest sound,
How Hermes gave the lute, and how the quire
Of Phoebus owe to Phœbus' self the lyre.
Such were my themes; my themes naught heeded he,
But ditties sang of am'rous sort to me,
The pangs, that mortals and immortals prove
From Venus' influence, and the darts of love.
Thus was the teacher by the pupil taught;
His lessons I retain'd, and mine forgot.
TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN OF OWEN.
IN IGNORANTEM ARROGANTEM LINUM.
Captivum, Line, te tenet ignorantia duplex.
Scis nihil, et nescis te quoque scire nihil.
ON ONE IGNORANT AND ARROGANT.
THOU mayest of double ign'rance boast,
Who know'st not, that thou nothing know'st.
PRUDENS SIMPLICITAS.
Ut nulli nocuisse velis, imitare columbam:
Serpentem, ut possit nemo nocere tibi.
PRUDENT SIMPLICITY.
THAT thou mayest injure no man, dove-like be. And serpent-like, that none may injure thee!
AD AMICUM PAUPEREM.
Est male nunc? Utinam in pejus sors omnia vertal ; Succedunt summis optima sæpe malis.
TO A FRIEND IN DISTRESS.
I WISH thy lot, now bad, still worse, my friend; For when at worst they say, things always mend.
Omnia me dum junior essem, scire putabam:
Quo scio plus, hoc me nunc scio scire minus.
WHEN little more than boy in age,
I deem'd myself almost a sage;
But now seem worthier to be styl'd,
For ignorance-almost a child.
Majorum nunquam, Aule, legis monumenta tuorum: Mirum est, posteritas si tua scripta legat.
THE works of ancient bards divine,
Aulus, thou scorn'st to read;
And should posterity read thine,
It would be strange indeed!
DE ORTU ET OCCASU,
Sole oriente, tui reditûs a morte memento !" Sis memor occasûs, sole cadente, tui!
SUNSET AND SUNRISE,
CONTEMPLATE, when the sun declines,
Thy death, with deep reflection
And when again he rising shines,
Thy day of resurrection!
LEPUS MULTIS AMICUS.
Lusus amicitia est, uni nisi dedita, ceu fit,
Simplice ni nexus fœdere, lusus amor.
Incerto genitore puer, non sæpe paternæ
Tutamen novit, deliciasque domûs:
Quique sibi fidos fore multos sperat, amicus,
Mirum est, huic misero si ferat ullus opem.
Comis erat, mitisque, et nolle et velle paratus
Cum quovis, Gaii more modoque, Lepus.
Ille, quot in sylvis, et quot spatiantur in agris
Quadrupedes, nôrat conciliare sibi;
Et quisque innocuo, invitoque lacessere quenquam
Labra tenus saltem fidus amicus erat.
Ortum sub lucis dum pressa cubilia linquit,
Rorantes herbas, pabula sueta, petens,
Venatorum audit clangores poné sequentem,
Fulmineumque sonum territus erro fugit.
Corda pavor pulsat, sursum sedet, erigit aures,
Respicit, et sentit jam prope adesse necem.
Utque canes fallat latè circumvagus, illuc,
Unde abiit, mirâ calliditate redit;
Viribus at fractis tandem se projicit ultro
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