Now the cleft rind inserted graffs receives,
And yields an offspring more than nature gives ;
Now Niding streams the thirsty plants renew, 35
And feed their fibres with reviving dew.
These cares alone her virgin breast employs
Averse from Venus and the nuptial joy.
Her private orchards, wall’d on every side,
To lawless fylvans all access deny’d.
How oft the Satyrs and the wanton Fawns,
Who haunt the forests, or frequent the lawns,
The God whose ensign scares the birds of prey,
And old Silenus, youthful in decay,
Employ'd their wiles and unavailing care,
25
To pass the fences, and surprize the fair?
Like these, Vertumnus own'd his faithful flame,
Like these, rejected by the scornful dame.
To
Nec patitur sentire fitim ; bibulaeque recurvas 15
Radicis fibras labentibus irrigat undis.
Hic amor, hoc ftudium : Veneris quoque nulla cupido.
Vim tamen agrestûm metuens, pomaria claudit
Intus, et accessus prohibet refugitque viriles.
Quid non et Satyri, faltatibus apta juventus,
Fecere, et pinu praecincti cornua Panes,
Sylvanusque fuis femper juvenilior annis,
Quique Deus fures, vel falce, vel inguine terret,
Ut potirentur ea ? sed enim superabat amando 25
Hos quoque Vertumnus: neque erat felicior illis.
O quoties habitu duri messoris aristas
Corbe tulit, verique fuit mefforis imago!
To gain her fight a thousand forms he wears :
And first a reaper from the field appears,
30
Sweating he walks, while loads of golden grain
O’ercharge the shoulders of the seeming swain.
Oft o'er his back a crooked scythe is 'laid,
And wreaths of hay his fun-burnt temples shade :
Oft in his harden'd hand a goad he bears,
35 Like one who late unyoak’d the sweating steers. Sometimes his pruning-hook corrects the vines, And the loose stragglers to their ranks confines. Now gathering what the bounteous year allows, He pulls ripe apples from the bending boughs.
40
A soldier now, he with his sword 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 reverend age appears,
His temples thinly spread with silver hairs;
Prop'd
Tempora saepe gerens foeno religata recenti,
Desectum poterat gramen verfaffe videri.
Saepe manu stimulos rigida portabat; ut illum
Jurares fessos modo disjunxisse juvencos.
Falce data frondator erat, vitisque putator :
Induerat scalas, lecturum poma putares :
Miles erat gladio, piscator arundine sumta.
Denique per multas aditum sibi saepe figuras
Repperit, ut caperet fpectatae gaudia formae.
Ille etiam picta redimitus tempora mitra,
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 kisses warmer grow 55
Than such as women on their sex bestow.)
Then plac'd beside her on the flowery ground,
Beheld the trees with autumn's bounty crownd.
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 said) Had stood neglected, and a barren shade;
And
Innitens baculo, positis ad tempora canis,
Adfimulavit anum : cultofque intravit in hortos ;
Pomaque mirata est : Tantoque potentior, inquit.
Paucaque laudatae dedit ofcula : qualia nunquam
Vera dedisset anus : glebaque incurva resedit,
Sufpiciens pandos autumni pondere ramos.
Ulmus erat contra, spatiosa tumentibus uvis :
Quam socia poftquam pariter cum vite probavit;
At fi ftaret, ait, coelebs, fine palmite truncus,
Nil praeter frondes, quare peteretur, haberet.
VOL. I.
Z
And this fair vine, but that her arms surround 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 every heart subdue !
What nymph could e'er attract such crouds as you? 70
Not she whose beauty urg'd the Centaur's arms,
Ulysses' Queen, nor Helen's fatal charms.
Ev’n now, when silent scorn is all they gain,
A thousand court you, though they court in vain,
A thousand fylvans, demigods, and gods,
75
That haunt our mountains, and our Alban woods.
But if you'll prosper, mark what I advise,
Whom age and long experience render wise,
And one whose tender care is far above
All that these lovers ever felt of love,
80 (Far
Haec quoque, quae juncta vitis requiescit in ulmo, 65
Si non nupta foret, terrae adclinata jaceret.
Tu tamen exemplo non tangeris arboris hujus;
Concubitusque fugis : nec te conjungere curas.
Atque utinam velles ! Helene non pluribus esset
Sollicitata procis: nec quae Lapitheïa movit
Proelia, nec conjux timidis audacis Ulyssei.
Nunc quoque. cum fugias averserisque petentes,
Mille proci cupiunt; et semideique 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
(Far more than e'er can by yourself be guess'd)
Fix on Vertumnus, and reject the rest.
For his firm faith I dare engage my own ;
Scarce to himself, himfelf is better known.
To distant lands Vertumnus never roves;
Like you, contented with his native grovés ;
Nor at first sight, 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 every shape with ease,
And tries all forms that may Pomona please.
But what should moft excite a mutual flame,
Your rúral cares and pleasures are the same. 95
To him
your
orchard's early fruit are due, (A pleasing offering when 'tis made by you)
He
Plus quam credis, amo) vulgares rejice taedas :
Vertumnumque tori focium tibi felige : pro quo
Me quoque pignus habe, neque enim sibi notior ille est,
Quam mihi, nec toto passim vagus errat in orbe.
Haec loca fola colit; nec, uti pars magna procorum,
Quam modo vidit, amat. tu primus et ultimus illi
Ardor eris; solique suos tibi devovet annos.
Adde, quod est juvenis: quod naturale decoris
Munus habet; formasque apte fingetur in omnes :
Et, quod erit juffus (jubeas licet omnia) fiet.
Quid, quod amatis idem ? quod, quae tibi poma co-
luntur,
Z ?
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