XXVI.

O DE

TO THE MUSE, CONCERNING * ÆLIUS

LAMIA.

It is not fitting that the votaries of the mufes fhould be liable to folicitude and grief. The poet recommends his friend Lamia to the Pimplean mufe.

FRIEND of the muses, fear and pain

I throw into the Cretan main,

To be the sport of ruffian tempefts thereWho the cold north fhall fway is far beneath my care, I in peculiar unconcern

Profefs myself, whatever turn

The great affairs of Tiridates take,

And all th' alarming dread, that keep his thoughts awake. O mufe of the Pimplean hill,

That lov'ft to taste the genuine rill,

Weave me those flow'rs that brightest beams receive, Yea elegance and fragrance for my Lamia weave. Without that influence of thine,

Vain are the honours I defign,

Thou and thy graceful fifters ought to smile, To him devote new strains, and in the Lesbian style.

This is the fame Lamia with bim, ode xvii. book iii. where we

fhall have more occafion to take notice of him.

H 2

ODE

AD SODALES CONVIVA S.

Ne inter potandum rixentur & poculis ipfis pugnent barbaro

rum more.

NATIS in ufum lætitiæ scyphis

Pugnare, Thracum eft: tollite barbarum
Morem, verecundumque Bacchum
Sanguineis prohibete rixis.

Vino & lucernis Medus acinaces
Immane quantum difcrepat? impium
Lenite clamorem fodales,

Et cubito remanete preffo.

Vultis feveri me quoque fumere
Partem falerni? dicat Opuntia
Frater Megillæ, quo beatus
Vulnere, quâ pereat sagittâ,

Ceffat voluntas? non aliâ bibam
Mercede, quæ te cunque domat Venus,
Non erubefcendis adurit
Ignibus ingenuoque femper

PROSE INTERPRETATION.

To fight with the cups, which were made for the purpose of pleasure, is to do after the manner of Thracians, Away with the barbarous practice, and defend modeft Bacchus from bloody quarrels. How prodigiously inconfiftent with wine and torches, is the Median fabre! O my companions, abate your impious clamours, and remain at eafe, with your elbow preffed down upon the couch. Would you have

me

TO HIS BOTTLE-COMPANIONS.

That they should not quarrel and fight with their cups, as is the manner of barbarians.

WITH glaffes form'd for joy to fight,

Is what the Thracians do in fpite; Let Bacchus know no barb'rous cuftoms here, But keep the modest God from bloody difcord clear. Can fuch strange contraries agree,

As wine and lights in focial glee,

And fabres fuch as favage Media wears-
Cease your vile noise, my friends, nor quit your eafy chairs.
Me too!-fhall I your revels join,

And four my good Falernian wine? -
No, let the brother of the Locrian fair,
Rather his lovefick joys, and darling flame declare.
He will not-On no other plan,

No other terms I take my can ·
Whatever damfel e'er thy breast inflam'd,
Was of ingenuous birth, nor need you be asham'd.

PROSE INTERPRETATION.

me too take a portion of the harsh Falernian? Let the brother of the Opuntian Megilla rather declare with what wound he is happy, with what dart he is dying.-What! does your inclination faulter?-I will not drink for any other confideration-Whatsoever miftrefs fubdues you, fhe kindles with flames that you need not blufh at, and you always are to

H 3

blame

Amore peccas. Quicquid habes, age,
Depone tutis auribus. Ah mifer,

Quantâ laboras in Charybdi,
Digne puer meliore flammâ !
Quæ faga, quis te folvere Theffalis
Magus venenis, quis poterit Deus?
Vix illigatum te triformi
Pegasus expediet Chimærâ.

PROSE INTERPRETATION.

blame for an ingenuous love at the leaft. Whatever you have got, come on, depofit it in faithful ears.-Ah miferable! in what a Charibdis do you labour, a lad that is worthy of a better flame? What witch, what magician with his Theffalian charms, what God can loofe you? Pagafus himself will hardly disengage you, fo intangled, from this triple

chimera.

ODE

Whatever be the cafe speak out

To friendly ears, nor make a doubt.

"Ah wretch! how thou art hamper'd in a straight, "A lad, whofe matchlefs worth deferv'd a better fate." What forceress, what magic art,

What pow'r divine can eafe thy fmart?

E'en Pagafus to clear thee will be loth

From one compos'd of whimfy*, wantonefs and wrath.

• Chimara. Προςθε Λεων οπιθεν δε Δρακων, μεσση δε Σίμαιξα.