45

Falce data frondator erat, vitifque putator:
Induerat fcalas, lecturum poma putares:
Miles erat gladio, piscator arundine fumta.
Denique per
multas aditum fibi faepe figuras
Repperit, ut caperet fpectatae gaudia formae.
Ille etiam picta redimitus tempora mitra,
Innitens baculo, pofitis ad tempora canis,
Adfimulavit anum: cultofque intravit in hortos;
Pomaque mirata eft: Tantoque potentior, inquit.
Paucaque laudatae dedit ofcula; qualia nunquam
Vera dediffet anus: glebaque incurva refedit,
Sufpiciens pandos autumni pondere ramos.
Ulmus erat contra, fpatiofa tumentibus uvis:
Quam focia poftquam pariter cum vite probavit;
At fi ftaret, ait, coelebs, fine palmite truncus;
Nil practer frondes, quare peteretur, haberet.

60

Now gath'ring what the bounteous year

year allows, He pulls ripe apples from the bending boughs. 40 A foldier now, he with his fword appears; A fisher next, his trembling angle bears; Each shape he varies, and each art he tries, On her bright charms to feast his longing eyes.

A female form at last Vertumnus wears, 45 With all the marks of rev'rend age appears, His temples thinly spread with filver hairs; Prop'd on his staff, and stooping as he goes, A painted mitre fhades his furrow'd brows. The god in this decrepit form array'd, 50 The gardens enter'd, and the fruit survey'd ; And "Happy you! (he thus address'd the maid) « Whose charms as far all other nymphs out-shine, "As other gardens are excell'd by thine!

Then kiss'd the fair; (his kiffes warmer grow 55
Than such as women on their sex bestow.)
Then plac'd befide her on the flow'ry ground,
Beheld the trees with autumn's bounty crown'd.
An Elm was near, to whose embraces led,
The curling vine her fwelling clufters fpread: 60
He view'd her twining branches with delight,
And prais'd the beauty of the pleasing fight.

Haec

quoque, quae juncta vitis requiefcit in ulmo, 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 effet Sollicitata procis: nec quae Lapitheïa movit Proelia, nec conjux timidis audacis Ulyffei. Nunc quoque, cum fugias averferifque petentes, Mille proci cupiunt; et femideique 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 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,

Yet this tall elm, but for his vine (he faid) Had stood neglected, and a barren shade; And this fair vine, but that her arms furround 65 Her marry'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 ev'ry heart fubdue! What nymph could e'er attract fuch crouds as you? Not she whose beauty urg'd the Centaurs arms, 71 Ulyffes' Queen, nor Helen's fatal charms. Ev'n now, when filent fcorn is all they gain, A thousand court you, tho' they court in vain, A thousand 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 whose tender care is far above All that these lovers ever felt of love,

(Far more than e'er can by yourself be guest)

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;
you, contented with his native

Like

groves;

75

80

85

Quam modo vidit, amat. tu primus et ultimus illi Ardor eris; folique fuos tibi devovet annos.

Adde, quod eft juvenis: quod naturale decoris 90 Munus habet; formafque apte fingetur in omnes; Et, quod erit juffus (jubeas licet omnia) fiet. Quid, quod amatis idem? quod, quae tibi poma coluntur,

Primus habet; laetaque tenet tua munera dextra? Sed neque jam foetus defiderat arbore demtos, hortus alit, cum fuccis mitibus herbas;

Nec, quas Nec quidquam, nifi te. miferere ardentis: et ipfum,

Qui petit, ore meo praefentem crede precari.--

Sic tibi nec vernum nafcentia frigus adurat
Poma; nec excutiant rapidi florentia venti.

ΓΙΟ