Mitte civiles fuper urbe curas. Occidit Daci Cotifonis agmen : Servit Hifpanæ vetus hoftis oræ Negligens ne quâ populus laboret, PROSE INTERPRETATION. the city of Rome. The forces of the Dacian Cotifan are routed; the Mede is at variance with himself in grievous civil armaments; the Cantabrian, that old enemy on the Spanish coaft, is reduced to fervitude, conquered at laft by a long-protracted war; now the Scythians are meditating to quit the field, with Ceafe each political conceit, Nor Rome let all your cares engage; The Dacian Cotifon is beat, The hoftile Medes, in felf-defeat, The Spanish foe now pays the tax, Though by flow fteps this wreath was won ; The field of battle shun: The state, not as a man in pow'r, PROSE INTERPRETATION. with their bows relaxed. Careless as a private citizen, spare to be too wary, left the people fail in any matter; and, joyous, fnatch at the gifts of the present hour, and forbear matters of austerity. ODE Dialogus eft de præteritis amoribus eifdemque renovandis. Ho. DONEC gratus eram tibi, Nec quifquam potior brachia candida Perfarum vigui rege beatior. LY. Donec non aliâ magis Arfifti, neque erat Lydia poft Chloen. Multi Lydia nominis Romanâ vigui clarior Iliâ. Ho. Me nunc Threffa Chloe regit, Dulces docta modos, & citharæ fciens : Pro quâ non metuam mori, Si parcent animæ fata fuperftti. Ly. Me torrèt face mutuâ Thurini Calais filius Ornithi; Pro quo bis patiar mori, Si parcent puero fata fuperftiti. PROSE INTERPRETATION. HOR. So long as I was acceptable to you, nor did any other young fellow more of your choice throw his arms over your white neck, I throve more happy than the fovereign of the Perfians.-LYD.-So long as you did not burn more for another, nor was Lydia poftponed to Chloe, I, Lydia, of much reputation, throve in more eminence than the Roman Ilia.-HOR.-The Thracian Chloe now rules me, fkilled in It is a Dialogue concerning their former loves, with a propofal for renewing them. Ho. WHILST my growing flame you nourish'd, Spotless of a rival's touch, Clafp'd within your arms I flourish'd, LY. Ere you languifh'd for another, Of the Roman race, was nam'd. Death, ev'n death itself to brave. Ly. Me my Calais with fuch ardour Courts and kiffes-him to fpare Death, or was there aught ftill harder, I ten thousand times would bear. PROSE INTERPRETATION. in fweet measures, and learned upon the lyre, for whom I would not fear to die, if the fates would fpare that furviving fpirit.-LYD.-Calais, the fon of the Thurian Ornithus, fcorches me with a mutual torch, for whom I would endure twice to die, if the fates would fpare the furviving boy. Ho. Quid fi prifca redit Venus? Diductofque jugo cogit aheneo? Rejectæque patet janua Lydiæ ? LY. Quanquam fydere pulchrior Ille eft, tu levior cortice, & improbo Tecum vivere amem, tecum obeam libens. PROSE INTERPRETATION. boy.-HOR. What if our old love return, and unite us, fevered as we are, with a brazen yoke? If the yellow-hair'd Chloe be shook off, and my door open again to the rejected Lydia? |