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A female form at laft Vertumnus wears,
With all the marks of rev'rend age appears,
His temples thinly spread with filver hairs
Prop'd on his staff, and ftooping as he goes,
A painted mitre fhades his furrow'd brows.
The god in this decrepit form array'd
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-fhine,
"As other gardens are excell'd by thine!

Then kiss'd the fair; (his kiffes warmer grow
Than fuch 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 swelling clusters spread :
He view'd her twining branches with delight,
And prais'd the beauty of the pleasing fight.

Yet this tall elm, but for his vine (he faid)
Had ftood neglected, and a barren fhade;
And this fair vine, but that her arms furround
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 ev'ry heart fubdue !

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55,

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What nymph could e'er attract fuch crouds as you? Not she whose beauty urg'd the Centaur's arms, 71 Ulyffes' Queen, nor Helen's fatal charms.

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Nunc quoque, cum fugias averferifque petentes,
Mille proci cupiunt ; et femideique deique,
Et quaecunque tenent Albanos numina montes.
Sed tu, fi fapies, fi te bene jungere, anumque
Hanc audire voles, (quae te plus omnibus illis,
Plus quam credis amo) vulgares rejice taedas:
Vertumnumque tori focium tibi felige: pro quo
Me quoque pignus habe. neque enim fibi notior ille
eft,

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Quam mihi. nec toto paffim vagus errat in orbe.
Haec loca fola colit; nec, uti pars magna procorum,
Quam modo vidit, amat. tu primus et ultimus illi
Ardor eris; folique fuos tibi devovet annos.
Adde, quod eft juvenis: quod naturale decoris
Munus habet; formafque apte fingetur in omnes:
Et, quod erit juffus (jubeas licet omnia) fiet.

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Quid, quod amatis idem? quod, quae tibi poma coluntur,

Primus habet; laetaque tenet tua munera dextra?
Sed neque jam foetus defiderat arbore demtos,

Nec, quas hortus alit, cum fuccis mitibus herbas;

Ev'n now, when filent scorn is all they gain,

A thoufand court you, tho' they court in vain,

A thousand fylvans, demigods, and gods,

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That haunt our mountains and our Alban woodsto

But if you'll-profper, mark what I advife,

Whom age, and long experience render wife,
And one whofe 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 reft.
For his firm faith I dare engage my own;
Scarce to himfelf, himself is better known.
To distant lands Vertumnus never roves ;
Like
you, contented with his native groves;
Nor at firft fight, 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,
With youth immortal, and with beauty bleft.
Add, that he varies ev'ry shape with ease,
And tries all forms that may Pomona please.
But what should moft excite a mutual flame,
Your rural cares, and pleasures are the fame:
To him your orchards early fruits are due,
(A pleasing off'ring when 'tis made by you)
He values these ; but yet (alas) complains,
That still the best and dearest gift remains.
VOL. II.
O

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Nec quidquam, nifi te. miferere ardentis: et ipfum,
Qui petit, ore meo praefentem crede precari.-

Sic tibi nec vernum nascentia frigus adurat
Poma; nec excutiant rapidi florentia venti.
Haec ubi nequicquam formas Deus aptus in om-

nes

Edidit; in juvenem rediit : et anilia demit
Inftrumenta fibi: talisque adparuit illi,
Qualis ubi oppofitas nitidiffima folis imago
Evicit nubes, nullaque obftante reluxit.
Vimque parat: fed vi non eft opus; inque figura
Capta Dei Nympha est, et mutua vulnera, sentit.

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Not the fair fruit that on yon' branches glows
With that ripe red th' autumnal fun bestows;
Nor tafteful herbs that in these gardens rife,
Which the kind foil with milky fap supplies;
You, only you, can move the God's defire:
Oh crown fo conftant and fo pure a fire!
Let foft compaffion touch your gentle mind;
Think, 'tis Vertumnus begs you to be kind!
So may no froft, when early buds appear,
Destroy the promise of the youthful year;

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Nor winds, when firft your florid orchard blows, 110
Shake the light blossoms from their blasted boughs!
This when the various God had urg'd in vain,
He ftrait affum'd his native form again;

Such, and fo bright an aspect now he bears,

As when thro' clouds th' emerging fun appears, 115 And thence exerting his refulgent ray,

Difpels 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 furveys him, and beholds the grace 120

Of charming features, and a youthful face!
In her foft breast consenting paffions move,
And the warm maid confefs'd a mutual love.

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