And this fair vine, but that her arms surround
Her marry'd elm, had crept along the ground.
Ah! beauteous maid, let this example move
Your mind, averfe 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 whose beauty urg'd the Centaur's arms,
Ulysses' Queen, nor Helen's fatal charms.
Ev'n now, when silent scorn is all they gain,
A thousand court you, though they court in vain,
A thousand fylvans, demigods, and gods,
75
That haunt our mountains, and our Alban woods.
But if you'll prosper, mark what I advise,
Whom age and long experience render wise,
And one whose tender care is far above
All that these lovers ever felt of love,
80 (Far
Haec quoque, quae juncta vitis requiescit 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 semideique deique,
75
Et quaecunque tenent Albanos numina montes.
Sed tu, fi fapies, fi te bene jungere, anumque
Hanc audire voles, (quae te plus omnibus illis
80
(Far more than e'er can by yourself be guess’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 distant lands Vertumnus never roves ;
Like you, contented with his native groves;
Nor at first sight, like most, admires the fair ;
For you he lives ; and you alone shall share
His last affection, as his early care.
Besides, he's lovely far above the rest,
90
With youth immortal, and with beauty blest.
Add, that he varies every shape with ease,
And tries all forms that may Pomona please.
But what should most excite a mutual flame,
Your rural cares and pleasures are the fame.
95 To him your orchard's early fruit are due, (A pleasing offering when 'tis made by you)
He
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 paflim vagus errat in orbe.
Haec loca sola colit; nec, uti pars magna procorum,
Quam modo vidit, amat tu primus et ultimus illi
Ardor eris; folique suos tibi devovet annos.
Adde, quod est juvenis: quod naturale decoris
Munus habet; formasque apte fingetur in omnes :
Et, quod erit jussus (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 sun bestows;
Nor tasteful herbs that in these gardens rife,
Which the kind soil with milky sap supplies;
You, only your, can move the God's desire :
Oh, crown fo constant and fo pure a fire !
105
Let soft compassion touch your gentle mind;
Think, 'tis Vertumnus begs you to be kind;
So may no frost, when early buds
appear,
Destroy the promise of the youthful year ;
Nor winds, when first your florid orchard blows,
Shake the light blossoms from their blasted boughs!
This when the various God had urg'd in vain,
He strait assumn’d his native form again ;
Such, and so bright an aspect now he bears,
As when through clouds th' emerging fun appears, 115
And
Primus habet; laetaque tenet tua munera dextra?
Sed neque jam foetus desiderat arbore demtos,
Nec, quas hortus alit, cum succis mitibus herbas;
Nec quidquam, nisi te, miserere ardentis : et ipsum,
Qui petit, ore meo praesentem 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 : talisque adparuit illi,
Qualis ubi oppositas nitidissima solis imago
And thence exerting his refulgent ray,
Dispels 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 surveys him, and beholds the grace
Of charming features, and a youthful face;
In her soft breast consenting passions move,
And the warm maid confess'd a mutual love.
Evicit nubes, nullaque obstante reluxit.
Vimque parat: fed vi non eft opus : inque figura
Capta Dei Nympha est, et mutua vulnera sentit.
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