Now the cleft rind inferted graffs receives,
And yields an offspring more than Nature gives;
Now fliding ftreams the thirsty plants renew,
And feed their fibres with reviving dew.

15

20

These cares alone her virgin breast employ, Averfe from Venus and the nuptial joy. Her private orchards, wall'd on ev'ry fide, To lawless fylvans all accefs deny'd. How oft the Satyrs and the wanton Fawns, Who haunt the forefts and frequent the lawns, The God whose enfign scars the birds of prey, And old Silenus, youthful in decay, Employ'd their wiles and unavailing care, To pass the fences, and surprise the fair? Like thefe, Vertumnus own'd his faithful flame, Like these, 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 feeming fwain.

quoque

25

30

[pido. nulla cu

20

Inferit; et fuccos alieno præftat alumno,
Nec patitur fentire fitim: bibulæque recurvas 15
Radicis fibras labentibus irrigat undis.
Hic amor, hoc ftudium: Veneris
Vim tamen agreftum metuens, pomaria claudit
Intus; et acceffus prohibit refugitque viriles.
Quid non et Satyri, faltatibus apta juventus,
Fecere, et pinu præcincti cornua Panes,
Sylvanufque fuis femper juvenilior annis,
Quique deus fures vel falce vel inguine terret,
Ut poterentur ea? fed enim superabat amando 25
Hos quoque Vertumnus: neque erat felicior illis.
O quoties habitu duri mefforis ariftas

D 4

Oft

35.

Oft o'er his back a crooked scythe 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 sweating fteers.
Sometimes his pruning-hook corrects the vines,
And the loose ftragglers to their ranks confines.
Now gath'ring what the bounteous 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 fhape he varies, and each heart he tries,
On her bright charms to feaft his longing eyes.
A female form at laft Vertumnus wears, 45
With all the marks of rev'rend age appears,
His temples thinly fpread with filver hairs;
Propp'd on his ftaff, 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 furvey'd;
And, "Happy you," he thus addrefs'd the maid,)

50

Corbe tulit; verique fuit mefforis imago!
Tempora fæpe gerens fœno religata recenti,
Defectum poterat gramen verfaffe videri
Sæpe manu ftimulos rigida portabat; ut illum 35
Jurares feffos modo disjunxiffe juvencos.
Falce data frondator erat, vitifque putator :
Induerat fcalas, lecturum poma putares.
Miles erat gladio, pifcator arundine fumta.
Denique per multas aditum fibi fæpe figuras
Repperit, ut caperet fpectatæ gaudia formæ.
Ille etiam picta redimitus tempora mitra,
Innitens baculo, pofitis ad tempora canis,
Adfimulavit anum: cultofque intra,vit in hortos;

45

"Whofe

"Whofe charms as far all other nymphs outshine,
"As other gardens are excell'd by thine !"
Then kiss'd the fair; (his kiffes warmer grow 55
Than fuch as women on their fex 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 whofe embraces led,
The curling vine her fwelling clusters fpread: 60
He view'd her twining branches with delight,
And prais'd the beauty of the pleafing 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 65
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 every heart fubdue!
What nymph could e'er attract fuch crowds as you?
Not the whose beauty urg'd the Centaur's arms,
Ulyffes' Queen, nor Helen's fatal charms.

69

Pomaque mirata eft: Tantoque potentior, inquit.
Paucaque laudatæ dedit ofcula; qualia nunquam
Vera dediffet anus: glebaque incurva resedit,
Sufpiciens pando autumni pondere ramos.
Ulmus erat contra, fpaciofa tumentibus uvis: 60
Quam focia poftquam pariter cum vite probavit ;
At fi ftaret, ait coelebs, fine palmite truncus,
Nil præter fondes, quare peteretur, haberet.
Hæc quoque, quæ juncta vitis requiefcit in ulmo,
Si non nupta foret, terræ adclinata jaceret.
Tu tamen exemplo non tangeris arboris hujus;
Concubitufque fugis; nec te conjungere curas.
Atque utinam velles! Helene non pluribus effet
D 5

Ev'n

now,

75

80

Ev'n when filent fcorn is all thy 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 whofe tender care is far above
All that thefe 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;
Like you, contented with his native groves;
Nor at first fight, like most, admires the fair;
For you
he lives; and you alone shall share
His last affection, as his early care.

85

}

75

Sollicitata procis: nec quæ Lapitheia movit
Prœlia, nec conjux timidis audacis Ulyffei.
Nunc quoque, cum fugias averferifque petentes,
Mille proci cupiunt; et femideique deique,
Et quæcunque tenent Albanos numina montes.
Sed tu, fi fapies, fi te bene jungere, anumque
Hanc audire voles, (quæ te plus omnibus illis, 80
Plus quam credis, amo), vulgares rejice tædas:
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.
Hæc loca fola colit. nec, uti pars magna procorum,
Quam modo vidit, amat. tu primus et ultimus illi
Ardor erit; folique fuos tibi devovet annos.

Befides,

90

95

Befides, he's lovely far above the rest,
With youth immortal, and with beauty bleft.
Add, that he varies ev'ry fhape with ease,
And tries all forms that may Pomona please.
But what should most excite a mutual flame,
Your rural cares and pleasures are the fame.
To him your orchard's early fruits are due,
(A pleasing off'ring when 'tis made by you).
He values thefe; but yet (alas!) complains,
That still the beft and dearest gift remains.
Not the fair fruit that on yon branches glows 100
With that ripe red th' autumnal fun bestows;
Nor tasteful herbs that in these gardens rife,
Which the kind foil with milky fap fupplies;
You, only you, can move the God's defire:
Oh crown fo conftant and so 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;

105

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, quæ tibi poma co-
luntur,

Primus habet; lætaque tenet tua munera dextra?
Sed neque jam foetus defiderat arbore demtos.
Nec, quas hortus alit, cum fuccis mitibus herbas;
Nec quidquam, nifi te, miferere ardentis: et ipfum,
Qui petit, ore meo præfentem crede precari.----
Sic tibi nec vernum nafcentia frigus adurat
Poma; nec excutiant rapidi florentia venti.

IIO