Employ'd their wiles, and unavailing care,
To pass the fences, and furprize the fair?
Like thefe, Vertumnus own'd his faithful flame,
Like thefe, rejected by the fcornful dame.
To gain her fight, a thousand forms he wears,
And firft a reaper from the field appears,
Sweating he walks, while loads of golden grain
O'ercharge the fhoulders of the seeming fwain.
Oft o'er his back a crooked fcythe is laid,
And wreaths of hay his fun-burnt temples fhade:
Oft' in his harden'd hand a goad he bears,
Like one who late unyok'd the fweating steers.
Sometimes his pruning-hook corrects the vines,
And the loofe ftraglers to their ranks confines.
Now gath'ring what the bounteous year allows,
He pulls ripe apples from the bending boughs.
Ut potirentur ea? Sed enim fuperabat amando
Hos quoque Vertumnus: neque erat felicior illis.
O quoties habitu duri mefforis ariftas
Corbe tulit, verique fuit mefforis imago!
Tempora fæpe gerens fæno religata recenti,
Defectum poterat gramen verfaffe videri.
Sæpe manu ftimulos rigida portabat; ut illum
Jurares feffos modo disjunxiffe juvencos.
Falce data, frondator erat, vitifque putator.
Induerat fcalas, lecturum poma putares.
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 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 fruits furvey'd,
And Happy you! (he thus addrefs'd the m aid) "Whose charms as far all other nymphs out-shine, "As other gardens are excell'd by thine! Then kiss'd the fair; (his kisses warmer grow Than fuch as women on their fex bestow.) Then plae'd befide her on the flow'ry ground, Beheld the trees with autumn's bounty crown'd.
Miles erat gladio, pifcator arundine fumtâ,
Denique per multas aditum fibi fæpe figuras
Repperit, ut caperet fpectata gaudia forme.
Ille etiam picta redimitus tempora mitrâ,
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: glebâque incurva refedit,
Sufpiciens pandos autumni pondere ramos.
An Elm was near, to whofe embraces led,
The curling vine her swelling clusters spread:
He view'd their 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 shade;
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, averse from all the joys of love.
Deign to be lov'd, and ev'ry heart fubdue!
What nymph cou'd e'er attract fuch crouds as you? 70
Not the whose beauty urg'd the Centaurs arms,
Ulyffes' Queen, nor Helen's fatal charms.
Ulmus erat contra, fpatiofa tumentibus uvis:
Quam fociâ poftquam pariter cum vite probavit;
At fi ftaret, ait, cælebs fine palmite truncus,
Nil præter frondes, quare peteretur, haberet.
Hæc quoque, quæ junctâ 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 esset
Sollicitata procis: nec quæ Lapitheia movit
Prælia, nec conjux timidis audacis Ulixei.
Ev'n now, when filent fcorn is all they gain,
A thousand court you, tho' they court in vain,
A thousand sylvans, 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 wise,
And one whofe tender care is far above
All that these lovers ever felt of love,
(Far more than e'er can by your felf 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;
Like you, contented with his native groves;
Nor at first fight, like moft, admires the fair;
For you he lives; and you alone shall share
His laft affection, as his early care.
Nunc quoque, cum fugias averferifque petentes,
Mille proci cupiunt; & femideique, deique,
Et quæcunque tenent Albanos numina montes.
Sed tu, fi fapies, fi te bene jungere, anumque
Hanc audire voles, (que te plus omnibus illis,
Plus quam credis, amo) vulgares rejice tædas:
Vertumnumque tori focium tibi delige: pro quo
Me quoque pignus habe. neque enim fibi notior ille eft,
Quam mihi. nec toto paffim vagus errat in orbe,
Hæc loca fola colit; nec uti pars magna procorum,
Quam modo vidit, amat; tu primus & ultimus illi
Ardor eris; folique fuos tibi devovet annos.
Befides, he's lovely far above the reft,
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 thefe; 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 fun bestows;
Nor tasteful herbs that in these gardens rise,
Which the kind foil with milky fap supplies;
You, only you, can move the God's defire:
Oh crown fo conftant and fo pure fire!
Let foft compaffion touch your gentle mind;
Think, 'tis Vertumnus begs you to be kind!
Adde, quod eft juvenis: quod naturale decoris
Munus habet: formafque aptè fingetur in omnes:
Et, quod erit juffus (jubeas licet omnia) fiet.
Quid, quod amatis idem? quod, quæ tibi poma coluntur,
Primus habet; lætâque tenct tua munera dextrâ?
Sed neque jam fætus defiderat arbore demtos,
Nec, quas bortus alit, cum fuccis mitibus herbas;
Nec quidquam, nifi te. Miferere ardentis: & ipfum,
Qui petit, ore meo præfentem crede precari.
|