Procidit late, posuitque collum in
Pulvere Teucro.

Ille non inclusus equo Minervae
Sacra mentito male feriatos

Troas et laetam Priami choreis

Falleret aulam;

Sed palam captis gravis, (heu nefas! heu!) Nescios fari pueros Achivis

Ureret flammis, etiam latentem

Matris in alvo:

Ni tuis victus Venerisque gratae
Vocibus divom pater annuisset
Rebus Aeneae potiore ductos

Alite muros.

Doctor argutae fidicen Thaliae,

Phoebe, qui Xantho lavis amne crines,
Dauniae defende decus Camenae,

Levis Agyieu.

Spiritum Phoebus mihi, Phoebus artem

Carminis nomenque dedit poëtae.

Virginum primae, puerique claris

Patribus orti,

Deliae tutela deae, fugaces

Lyncas et cervos cohibentis arcu,
Lesbium servate pedem meique
Pollicis ictum;

Rite Latonae puerum canentes,
Rite crescentem face Noctilucam,

Prosperam frugum, celeremque pronos
Volvere menses.

Wedded ere long, 'I,' ye will say, 'expert in
Metres adapted by the poet Horace,

At the feast secular, an ode recited
Such as gods welcome.'

If the Torquatus of this ode was the same as he to whom the fifth epistle of the first book was addressed, he was an eloquent advocate, busily engaged in making money, and therefore a very suitable subject for the admonition here offered.

THE SNOWS have fled, and to the meads the grass
Returns, their leafy tresses to the trees:
Earth changes phase: decreasing rivers pass
Again within their wonted boundaries.

The elder Grace, with nymphs and sisters twain,
Naked, fears not the choral dance to lead.
To hope for things immortal, the year's wane,
And hours that hurry on bright day, forbid.
Spring's Zephyrs temper cold: closely on Spring
Treads Summer, she herself about to die
Soon as his fruits comes Autumn lavishing:
And sluggish Winter now again draws nigh.
Quickly revolving moons, indeed, repair
Each skiey lapse: but we, soon as we sink
To where Aeneas pious, Tullus, are
And Ancus rich, to dust and shadow shrink.
Who knows if the supernal gods will add
To this day's span of time to-morrow's share?
All gifts of yours that your own self has had
Are so much saved from gripe of greedy heir.

Nupta jam dices: Ego dis amicum,
Seculo festas referente luces,
Reddidi carmen, docilis modorum
Vatis Horati.

VII. AD TORQUATUM.

DIFFUGERE nives: redeunt jam gramina campis

Arboribusque comae:

Mutat terra vices; et decrescentia ripas

Flumina praetereunt:

Gratia cum Nymphis geminisque sororibus audet
Ducere nuda choros.

Immortalia ne speres, monet annus, et almum
Quae rapit hora diem.

Frigora mitescunt Zephyris; ver proterit aestas
Interitura, simul

Pomifer Auctumnus fruges effuderit; et mox
Bruma recurrit iners.

Damna tamen celeres reparant caelestia lunae :
Nos, ubi decidimus

Quo pius Aeneas, quo dives Tullus et Ancus,
Pulvis et umbra sumus.

Quis scit, an adjiciant hodiernae crastina summaè
Tempora Di superi?

Cuncta manus avidas fugient heredis, amico

Quae dederis animo.

When once you die, and Minos formally

Shall judgement have pronounced concerning you, Not lineage, eloquence nor piety,

Torquatus, will your former self renew.

For neither Dian, from Hell's gloom, attains

To rescue continent Hippolytus,

Nor prevails Theseus the Lethean chains
To break of his beloved Pirithous.

Little more is known of Censorinus than may be inferred from this address to him-that he was rich, of good repute, and fond of poetry. At stated times, as on the Calends of January and March, it was a custom with the Romans to make presents to their friends; and Horace referring to this custom sends verses to Censorinus as the most acceptable gift he could offer.

FREELY should goblets and fine ware of brass,
Dear Censorinus, to my comrades pass:

I would give tripods which rewarded brave
Greeks nor should you the meanest presents have,
Provided I in works artistic, which

Parrhasius or Scopas wrought, were rich.

Adepts in stone or liquid colours, they
Would now a man and now a god pourtray.

But no such skill is mine-nor yours, I wis,
Or lack or craving for such luxuries.

In verses you delight, and verses I

Can give, and prove the gift's validity.

Not marbles, graved with public scroll, which breath And new existence render after death

Cum semel occideris, et de te splendida Minos

Fecerit arbitria;

Non, Torquate, genus, non te facundia, non te
Restituet pietas.

Infernis neque enim tenebris Diana pudicum
Liberat Hippolytum :

Nec Lethaea valet Theseus abrumpere caro
Vincula Pirithoo.

VIII. AD CENSORINUM.

DONAREM pateras grataque commodus,
Censorine, meis aera sodalibus:

Donarem tripodas, praemia fortium
Graiorum neque tu pessima munerum
Ferres, divite me scilicet artium,
Quas aut Parrhasius protulit, aut Scopas;
Hic saxo, liquidis ille coloribus

Sollers nunc hominem ponere, nunc deum.
Sed non haec mihi vis: non tibi talium
Res est aut animus deliciarum egens.
Gaudes carminibus: carmina possumus
Donare, et pretium dicere muneri.
Non incisa notis marmora publicis,
Per quae spiritus et vita redit bonis

T