Of beauteous Venus, which she sends,

When she men's minds to passion bends?
Lascivious Cæsar, wilt thou see

All this, and suffer it to be?

A glutton and a gambler, too, thou art,
A shameless villain, reprobate at heart.

Was it that worn-out lecher's taste,
To please that thou the farthest west
Did'st visit, e'en to Britain's strand?
Thou to whose mandate every land
Doth listen, whom alone obey
All nations; well, perhaps thou❜lt say,
What matters it if it be so?

He wastes a little, that I know.

Dost thou not see thy bounty is misplaced?
Dost thou not know how terrible his waste?

First his ancestral wealth was spent,
And then the spoils of Pontus went,
The riches then Iberia bore,
Which came from Tagus' golden shore;
Both Gaul and Briton dread his name,
Why court the fellow to your shame?
What talent has the man, or power,

Save patrimonies to devour?

Was it for this that you the mighty world,

Father and son-in-law, to ruin hurled?

CARMEN XXX.-TO ALPHENUS.

Alphenus, who with still forgetful heart
To thy companions true most treacherous art,
Hast thou no longer pity in thy breast

For thy sweet friend, of friends to thee the best?
Me to betray thou dost not hesitate,

With guile and falseness, but the great gods hate
The impious actions of deceitful men ;

But thou unheeding art, and reck'st not when
Thou leavest me, deserted in my woe.

But now, alas! what trust can men e'er know!
O cruel one, for erst thou badest me
Surrender my whole trustful soul to thee,
Thou lured'st me to love as though no fear
Of change could ever come, but now appear
Thy fickleness and perfidy, for thou
From me back shrinkest with aversion now,
And all that thou didst do or idly swear,
Is scattered to the vain and wandering air.
Thou hast forgotten, but the high gods ne'er
Forget, nor outraged Faith who in due course
Will plague thy crimes with pitiless remorse.

CARMEN XXXI.-TO SIRMIO.

Sirmio, fairest of all isles that be,

Or all peninsulas that ocean laves,
Whether around them roll the mighty sea,
Or a lake's placid waves.

Thee with what joy, what rapture do I view,
Returned from Thynia and Bithynia's plain!
I scarce can credit that the bliss is true,
Thee to behold again.

O, what more blessed is than labours past!
In weary wanderings abroad we roam,
Then spent with toil we come again at last
Seeking our rest at home.

This for our toils the sole reward is found,

Hail, lovely Sirmio, and thou Lydian mere! And now, my home, let all thy laughter sound, Now is thy master here.

E

CARMEN XXXIV.-TO DIANA.

Youths and maidens, chaste and pure,

From Diana we have found
Bounty and protection sure,
Let us then her praises sound;
Hear us, goddess, from above,
Progeny of mighty Jove.

Thee Latona erst did bear

By the Delian olive tree,
That thou mightest, goddess fair,
Mistress of all mountains be,

Of dense groves, of sounding streams,
And of woods' bright leafy gleams.

In the midst of childbirth's smart

Women ever call on thee,

Thou the mighty Trivia art,

Luna thou art said to be,

Luna excellently bright

Shining with a borrowed light.

Thou dost monthly wax and wane, Seasons year by year dost measure, Thou dost fill men's homes with grain, Fruitful harvest's golden treasure,

Goddess now propitious be,

Hear us when we call on thee.

By whatever holy name

Thou preferrest, hear our prayer,
Keep the mighty Roman fame,
As of yore with fostering care,
And protect with guardian grace
From all foes the Roman race.

CARMEN XXXV.-INVITATION TO CECILIUS.

Tell to Cæcilius my friend

Thou letter which to him I send,

Tell that sweet child of poetry

That he must to Verona hie,

And leave the walls which Como's waters lave,

The town which overlooks the Larian wave.

Our common friend has to impart

Some thoughts which he must take to heart,
Wherefore if he be wise indeed

He will at once with restless speed

Haste hither, though that lovely maid should pray, And tempt him, clinging round his neck, to stay.