Last let my tomb this sad inscription

bear:

'A wretch whom love has kill'd lies buried here;

O passengers, Amynta's eyes beware."" Thus having said, and furious with his love, He heav'd with more than human force to

move

A weighty stone, (the labor of a team,) 90 And rais'd from thence he reach'd the neighboring beam;

Around its bulk a sliding knot he throws, And fitted to his neck the fatal noose; Then, spurning backward, took a swing, till death

Crept up, and stopp'd the passage of his breath.

The bounce burst ope the door; the scornful fair

Relentless look'd, and saw him beat his quivering feet in air;

Nor wept his fate, nor cast a pitying eye, Nor took him down, but brush'd regardless by;

And, as she pass'd, her chance or fate was such,

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CHLORIS

Kisses are empty joys, and soon are o'er.

DAPHNIS

A kiss betwixt the lips is something more. CHLORIS

I wipe my mouth, and where's your kissing then?

DAPHNIS

I swear you wipe it to be kiss'd again.

CHLORIS

Go, tend your herd, and kiss your cows at home;

I am a maid, and in my beauty's bloom. 10 DAPHNIS

"T is well remember'd; do not waste your time,

But wisely use it ere you pass your prime.

CHLORIS

Blown roses hold their sweetness to the last, And raisins keep their luscious native taste.

DAPHNIS

The sun's too hot; those olive shades are near;

I fain would whisper something in your ear.

CHLORIS

"Tis honest talking where we may be

seen;

God knows what secret mischief you may mean;

I doubt you'll play the wag, and kiss again.

DAPHNIS

At least beneath yon elm you need not fear; My pipe's in tune, if you 're dispos'd to hear.

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DAPHNIS Faith, mine 's a very pretty name to sing. They call me Daphnis; Lycidas my sire: Both sound as well as woman can desire. Nomaa bore me; farmers in degree; He a good husband, a good housewife she. CHLORIS

Your kindred is not much amiss, 't is true;
Yet I am somewhat better born than you.
DAPHNIS

I know your father, and his family;
And, without boasting, am as good as he:
Menalcas; and no master goes before.
CHLORIS

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CHLORIS

You tear off all behind me, and before me; And I'm as naked as my mother bore me.

DAPHNIS

I'll buy thee better clothes than these I tear,

And lie so close I'll cover thee from air.

CHLORIS

Y'are liberal now; but when your turn is sped,

You'll wish me chok'd with every crust of bread.

DAPHNIS

I'll give thee more, much more than I have

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told; Would I could coin my very heart to gold!

I see there's no resisting flesh and blood!

DAPHNIS

The noble deed is done! My herds I'll cull; Cupid, be thine a calf; and, Venus, thine a bull.

CHLORIS

A maid I came, in an unlucky hour,
But hence return without my virgin flow'r.
DAPHNIS

A maid is but a barren name at best;
If thou canst hold, I bid for twins at least.

And present at his own mysterious feast. His azure mantle underneath he spread, And scatter'd roses on the nuptial bed; While folded in each other's arms they' lay,

He blew the flames, and furnish'd out the play,

And from their foreheads wip'd the balmy sweat away.

First rose the maid, and with a glowing face,

Her downcast eyes beheld her print upon the grass;

Thence to her herd she sped herself in haste:

The bridegroom started from his trance at last,

And piping homeward jocundly he pass'd.

HORACE

THE THIRD ODE OF THE FIRST BOOK

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INSCRIB'D TO THE EARL OF ROSCOMMON, ON HIS INTENDED VOYAGE TO IRELAND

So may th' auspicious Queen of Love,
And the Twin Stars, (the seed of Jove,)
And he who rules the raging wind,
To thee, O sacred ship, be kind;
And gentle breezes fill thy sails,
Supplying soft Etesian gales:

As thou, to whom the Muse commends
The best of poets and of friends,
Dost thy committed pledge restore,
And land him safely on the shore;
And save the better part of me
From perishing with him at sea;
Sure he, who first the passage tried,
In harden'd oak his heart did hide,
And ribs of iron arm'd his side!

Or his at least, in hollow wood
Who tempted first the briny flood;

Nor fear'd the winds' contending roar,

Nor billows beating on the shore;

Nor Hyades portending rain;

Nor all the tyrants of the main.

What form of death could him affright,

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20

Who unconcern'd, with steadfast sight,
Could view the surges mounting steep,
And monsters rolling in the deep!
Could thro' the ranks of ruin go,
With storms above, and rocks below !
In vain did Nature's wise command
Divide the waters from the land,
If daring ships and men profane
Invade th' inviolable main;
Th' eternal fences overleap,
And pass at will the boundless deep.
No toil, no hardship can restrain
Ambitious man, inur'd to pain;
The more confin'd, the more he tries,
And at forbidden quarry flies.
Thus bold Prometheus did aspire,
And stole from heaven the seed of fire:
A train of ills, a ghastly crew,
The robber's blazing track pursue;
Fierce Famine with her meager face,
And Fevers of the fiery race,

In swarms th' offending wretch surround,
All brooding on the blasted ground:
And limping Death, lash'd on by Fate,
Comes up to shorten half our date.
This made not Dedalus beware
With borrow'd wings to sail in air;
To hell Alcides forc'd his way,
Plung'd thro' the lake, and snatch'd the
prey.

Nay, scarce the gods, or heav'nly climes,
Are safe from our audacious crimes;
We reach at Jove's imperial crown,
And pull the unwilling thunder down.

HORACE

THE NINTH ODE OF THE FIRST BOOK

I

BEHOLD yon mountain's hoary height, Made higher with new mounts of snow; Again behold the winter's weight

Oppress the lab'ring woods below; And streams, with icy fetters bound, Benumb'd and cramp'd to solid ground.

II

With well-heap'd logs dissolve the cold,
And feed the genial hearth with fires;
Produce the wine, that makes us bold,
And sprightly wit and love inspires:
For what hereafter shall betide,
God, if 't is worth his care, provide.

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