Alas! the black Cocytus, wandering to the world below, That languid river to behold we of this earth must go; To see the grim Danaides, that miserable race, And Sisyphus of aeolus, condemned to endless chase.
Behind you must you leave your home and land and wife so dear, And of the trees, except the hated cypresses, you rear, And which around the funeral piles as signs of mourning grow, Not one will follow you, their short-lived master, there below.
Your worthier heir the precious Caecuban shall drink galore, Now with a hundred keys preserved and guarded in your store, And stain the pavements, pouring out in waste the nectar proud, Better than that with which the pontiffs" feasts have been endowed.
TO MISTRESS PYRRHA
I
What perfumed, posie-dizened sirrah, With smiles for diet, Clasps you, O fair but faithless Pyrrha, On the quiet?
For whom do you bind up your tresses, As spun-gold yellow,-- Meshes that go with your caresses, To snare a fellow?
How will he rail at fate capricious, And curse you duly, Yet now he deems your wiles delicious,-- _You_ perfect, truly!
Pyrrha, your love"s a treacherous ocean; He"ll soon fall in there!
Then shall I gloat on his commotion, For _I_ have been there!
TO MISTRESS PYRRHA
II
What dainty boy with sweet perfumes bedewed Has lavished kisses, Pyrrha, in the cave?
For whom amid the roses, many-hued, Do you bind back your tresses" yellow wave?
How oft will he deplore your fickle whim, And wonder at the storm and roughening deeps, Who now enjoys you, all in all to him, And dreams of you, whose only thoughts he keeps.
Wretched are they to whom you seem so fair;-- That I escaped the storms, the G.o.ds be praised!
My dripping garments, offered with a prayer, Stand as a tablet to the sea-G.o.d raised.
TO MELPOMENE
Lofty and enduring is the monument I"ve reared: Come, tempests, with your bitterness a.s.sailing; And thou, corrosive blasts of time, by all things mortal feared, Thy buffets and thy rage are unavailing!
I shall not altogether die: by far my greater part Shall mock man"s common fate in realms infernal; My works shall live as tributes to my genius and my art,-- My works shall be my monument eternal!
While this great Roman empire stands and G.o.ds protect our fanes, Mankind with grateful hearts shall tell the story How one most lowly born upon the parched Apulian plains First raised the native lyric muse to glory.
a.s.sume, revered Melpomene, the proud estate I"ve won, And, with thine own dear hand the meed supplying, Bind thou about the forehead of thy celebrated son The Delphic laurel-wreath of fame undying!
TO PHYLLIS
I
Come, Phyllis, I"ve a cask of wine That fairly reeks with precious juices, And in your tresses you shall twine The loveliest flowers this vale produces.
My cottage wears a gracious smile; The altar, decked in floral glory, Yearns for the lamb which bleats the while As though it pined for honors gory.
Hither our neighbors nimbly fare, The boys agog, the maidens snickering; And savory smells possess the air, As skyward kitchen flames are flickering.
You ask what means this grand display, This festive throng and goodly diet?
Well, since you"re bound to have your way, I don"t mind telling, on the quiet.
"T is April 13, as you know, A day and month devote to Venus, Whereon was born, some years ago, My very worthy friend, Maecenas.
Nay, pay no heed to Telephus; Your friends agree he doesn"t love you.
The way he flirts convinces us He really is not worthy of you.
Aurora"s son, unhappy lad!
You know the fate that overtook him?
And Pegasus a rider had,-- I say he _had_, before he shook him!
_Hoc docet_ (as you must agree) "T is meet that Phyllis should discover A wisdom in preferring me, And mittening every other lover.
So come, O Phyllis, last and best Of loves with which this heart"s been smitten, Come, sing my jealous fears to rest, And let your songs be those _I"ve_ written.
TO PHYLLIS
II
Sweet Phyllis, I have here a jar of old and precious wine, The years which mark its coming from the Alban hills are nine, And in the garden parsley, too, for wreathing garlands fair, And ivy in profusion to bind up your shining hair.
Now smiles the house with silver; the altar, laurel-bound, Longs with the sacrificial blood of lambs to drip around; The company is hurrying, boys and maidens with the rest; The flames are flickering as they whirl the dark smoke on their crest.
Yet you must know the joys to which you have been summoned here To keep the Ides of April, to the sea-born Venus dear,-- Ah, festal day more sacred than my own fair day of birth, Since from its dawn my loved Maecenas counts his years of earth.
A rich and wanton girl has caught, as suited to her mind, The Telephus whom you desire,--a youth not of your kind.
She holds him bound with pleasing chains, the fetters of her charms,-- Remember how scorched Phaethon ambitious hopes alarms.
The winged Pegasus the rash Bellerophon has chafed, To you a grave example for reflection has vouchsafed,-- Always to follow what is meet, and never try to catch That which is not allowed to you, an inappropriate match.
Come now, sweet Phyllis, of my loves the last, and hence the best (For nevermore shall other girls inflame this manly breast); Learn loving measures to rehea.r.s.e as we may stroll along, And dismal cares shall fly away and vanish at your song.