And this fair vine, but that her arms furround
Her many'd elm, had crept along the ground.
Ah! beauteous maid, let this example move
Your mind, averse from all the joys of love.
Deign to be lov`d, and every heart subdue !
What nymph could e'er attract such crouds as you? 70 Not the whofe beauty urg'd the Centaur's arms,
Ulyffes' Queen, nor Helen's fatal charms.
Ev'n now, when filent fcorn is all they gain,
A thousand court you, though they court in vain,
A thoufand fylvans, demigods, and gods,
That haunt our mountains, and our Alban woods.
But if you'll profper, mark what I advise,
Whom age and long experience render wife,
And one whofe tender care is far above
All that these lovers ever felt of love,
Haec quoque, quae juncta vitis requiefcit in ulmo, 63
Si non nupta foret, terrae adclinata jaceret.
Tu tamen exemplo non tangeris arboris hujus ;
Concubitufque fugis: nec te conjungere curas.
Atque utinam velles! Helene non pluribus esset
Sollicitata procis: nec quae Lapitheïa movit
Proelia, nec conjux timidis audacis Ulyssei.
Nunc quoque. cum fugias averserisque petentes,
Mille proci cupiunt; et femideique deique,
Et quaecunque tenent Albanos numina montes.
Sed tu, fi fapies, fi te bene jungere, anumque
Hanc audire voles, (quae te plus omnibus illis,
(Far more than e'er can by yourself be guefs'd)
Fix on Vertumnus, and reject the rest.
For his firm faith I dare engage my own;
Scarce to himself, himself is better known.
To diftant lands Vertumnus never roves;
Like you, contented with his native groves ;
Nor at firft fight, like moft, admires the fair;
For you
he lives; and you alone shall share
His last affection, as his early care.
Befides, he's lovely far above the reft,
With youth immortal, and with beauty bleft.
Add, that he varies every shape with ease,
And tries all forms that may Pomona please.
But what fhould most excite a mutual flame,
Your rural cares and pleasures are the fame.
To him your orchard's early fruit are due,
(A pleafing offering when 'tis made by you)
Plus quam credis, amo) vulgares rejice taedas :
Vertumnumque tori focium tibi felige: pro quo
Me quoque pignus habe, neque enim fibi notior ille eft,
Quam mihi, nec toto paffim vagus errat in orbe.
Haec loca fola colit; nec, uti pars magna procorum,
Quam modo vidit, amat. tu primus et ultimus illi
Ardor eris; folique fuos tibi devovet annos.
Adde, quod eft juvenis: quod naturale decoris
Munus habet; formafque apte fingetur in omnes:
Et, quod erit juffus (jubeas licet omnia) fiet.
Quid, quod amatis idem? quod, quae tibi poma co-
He values these; but yet (alas !) complains,
That still the best and dearest gift remains.
Not the fair fruit that on yon' branches glows
With that ripe red th' autumnal fun bestows;
Nor tafteful herbs that in these gardens rife,
Which the kind foil with milky fap fupplies;
You, only you, can move the God's defire:
Oh, crown fo conftant and fo pure a fire!
Let foft compaffion touch your gentle mind;
Think, 'tis Vertumnus begs you to be kind;
So may no froft, when early buds appear,
Destroy the promise of the youthful year;
Nor winds, when first your florid orchard blows,
Shake the light bloffoms from their blafted boughs!
This when the various God had urg’d in vain,
He ftrait affum'd his native form again;
Such, and fo bright an aspect now he bears,
As when through clouds th' emerging fun appears, 115
Primus habet; laetaque tenet tua munera dextra?
Sed neque jam foetus defiderat arbore demtos,
Nec, quas hortus alit, cum fuccis mitibus herbas; 100
Nec quidquam, nifi te. miserere ardentis: et ipfum,
Qui petit, ore meo praefentem crede precari.-
Sic tibi nec vernum nafcentia frigus adurat
Poma; nec excutiant rapidi florentia venti.
Haec ubi nequicquam formas Deus aptus in omnes, Edidit; in juvenem rediit: et anilia demit Inftrumenta fibi: talifque adparuit illi, Qualis ubi oppofitas nitidiffima folis imago
And thence exerting his refulgent ray,
Difpels the darkness, and reveals the day.
Force he prepar'd, but check'd the rash design;
For when, appearing in a form divine,
The Nymph furveys him, and beholds the grace
Of charming features, and a youthful face;
In her foft breast consenting paffions move,
And the warm maid confefs'd a mutual love.
Evicit nubes, nullaque obftante reluxit.
Vimque parat: fed vi non eft opus: inque figura
Capta Dei Nympha eft, et mutua vulnera fentit.
|