tioned match, by thinking it a crime to entertain a hope beyond what is allowable. Come then, thou last of my loves, (for hereafter I shall burn for no other woman,) learn with me such measures as you may recite with your lovely voice: our gloomy cares shall be mitigated with an ode.

ODE XII.

TO VIRGIL.

Horace invites him to supper, upon consideration that he bring something towards the entertainment along with him.

THE* Thracian breezes, those attendants on the spring, that moderate the raging sea, now fill the sails; now neither are the meadows stiff with frost, nor roar the rivers, swollen with winter's snow. The unhappyt bird, that piteously bemoans the fate of Itys, and is the eternal disgrace of the house of Cecrops, because she wickedly revenged the cruel liberties that kings will take, now builds her nest. The keepers of the sheep play tunes upon the pipe, amidst the tender herbage, and delight that God, to whom flocks and the shady hills of Arcadia are agreeable. The time of year, O Virgil, has brought on a drought; but if you desire to quaff wine from the Calenian press, you, that are a constant companion of young

* Zephyrs blowing from Thrace.

† The swallow into which Progne was metamorphosed, for avenging the rape of Philomela by serving up Tereus's son Itys to him in a banquet.

‡ Pan.

noblemen, must earn your liquor, by bringing some spikenard; a small box of spikenard shall draw out a cask, which now lies in the Sulpician storehouse, bounteous in the indulgence of fresh hopes, and efficacious in the washing away the bitterness of care; to which joys if you hasten, come instantly with your merchandise; I do not intend to dip you in my cups scot-free, like a man of wealth in a house abounding with plenty. But, however, lay aside delay, and the desire of gain : and, mindful of the gloomy funeral flames, intermix, while you may, your grave studies with a little light gayety: it is delightful to give a loose on a proper occasion.

ODE XIII.

TO LYCE.

He insults her, on being the contempt of the young

fellows.

THE Gods have heard my prayers, O Lyce-O Lyce, the Gods have heard my prayers; you are become an old woman, and yet you would have the appearance of a beauty; and you wanton and drink in an audacious manner; and, when tipsy, solicit tardy Cupid with an affected quavering of voice. He basks in the charming cheeks of the blooming Chia, who is a proficient on the lyre. The teasing urchin flies over blasted oaks, and starts back at the sight of you, because foul teeth, because wrinkles, and snowy hair, render you odious. Now neither Coan purples, nor sparkling jewels, restore those years which winged time has inserted in the public annals. Whither is beauty gone? alas! or whither your bloom? whither your graceful deportment? What have you remaining of her, of her who breathed love, and ravished me from myself? Happy in accomplishments next to Cynara, and distinguished for an aspect of graceful delicacies; but the fates granted but a few years to Cynara, intending to preserve for a long time Lyce, to be a rival in years with the aged raven; that the fervid young fellows might visit, not without excessive laughter, that torch, which once so brightly scorched, now reduced to ashes.

ODE XIV.

TO AUGUSTUS.

He ascribes the victory of Drusus over the Vindelici, and more especially that of Tiberius over the Rhæti, to the auspices and success of Augustus.

WHAT zeal of the senators, or what of the Roman people, by decreeing the most ample honours, can eternize your virtues, O Augustus, by monumental-inscriptions and lasting records? O thou, wherever the sun illuminates the habitable regions, greatest of princes, whom the Vindelici, that never experienced the Roman sway, have lately learned how powerful you are in war. For Drusus, by means of your soldiery, has more than once bravely overthrown the Genauni, an implacable race, and the rapid Brenni, and the citadels situated on the tremendous Alps. The elder of the Neroes soon after fought a terrible battle, and, by your propitious auspices, smote the ferocious Rhæti; how worthy of admiration in the field of battle, to see with what destruction he oppressed the brave hearts devoted to voluntary death; just as the south works the untameable waves, when the mystic dance of the Pleiades cleaves the clouds, so is he strenuous to annoy the troops of the enemy, and to drive his eager steed through the midst of flames. Thus the bullformed* (or branching) Aufidus, who washed the dominions of the Aupulian Daunus, rolls, when he rages and meditates a horrible deluge to the cultivated lands; when Claudius overthrew, with impetuous might, the iron ranks of the barbarians, and, by mowing down both front and rear, strewed the ground victorious, without sustaining any loss on his side, through your supplying him with troops, you, with counsels, and your own guardian powers. For, on that day when the suppliant Alexandria opened her ports and deserted court, fortune, propitious to you in the third lustrum,f has put a happier period to the war, and has ascribed fresh praise, and the only wished for honour to the victories already obtained. O thou dread guardian of Italy and imperial Rome, thee the Spaniard, till now unconquered, and the Mede, and Indian; thee the vagrant Scythian admires : thee both the Nile, who conceals his fountain heads, and the Danube; thee the rapid Tigris;

* The ancient painters and sculptors used to give horns to the images of their river-Gods. † See note to Ode IV. Book 2.

This victory, obtained by Tiberius, left the world in peace, and Rome no more to wish for.

thee the monster-bearing ocean that roars against the remote Britons; thee the region of Gaul, fearless of death, and that of hardy Iberia, obeys; thee the Sicambrians, who delight in slaughter, laying aside their arms, revere.

ODE XV.

TO AUGUSTUS ON THE RESTORATION OF PEACE.

PHOEBUS Chided me, when I was meditating to sing of battles and conquered cities on the lyre, that I might not set my little sails along the vast Tyrrhenian sea. Your age, O Cæsar, hath both restored plenteous crops to the fields, and has brought back to our Jupiter* the Roman standards, torn from the proud pillars of the Parthians; and has shut up the temple of Janus, founded by Romulus, now free from war; and has imposed a due discipline upon headstrong licentiousness, and has extirpated crimes, and recalled the ancient arts; by which the Latin name and strength of Italy have increased, and the fame and majesty of the empire are extended, from the sun's western bed even to the east. While Cæsar is at the head of affairs, neither civil rage, nor violence, shall disturb the general tranquillity; nor hatred, which forges swords, and sets at variance unhappy states. Not those who drink of the deep Danube shall now break the Julian edicts; not the Getæ, not the Seres, or the perfidious Persians, nor those