Critics I saw, that other names deface,

Of talismans and sigils knew the power,
And fix their own, with labor, in their place: And careful watch'd the planetary hour.
Their own, like others, soon their place resign'd, Superior, and alone, Confucius stood,
Or disappear'd, and left the first behind.

Who taught that useful science, to be good.
Nor was the work impair'd by storms alone,

But on the south, a long majestic race But felt the approaches of too warm a sun; Of Egypt's priests the gilded niches grace, For Fame, impatient of extremes, decays

Who measur'd Earth, describ'd the starry spheres, Not more by Envy, than excess of Praise. And trac'd the long records of lunar years. Yet part no injuries of Heaven could feel, High on his car Sesostris struck my view, Like crystal faithful to the graving steel : Whom sceptred slaves in golden harness drew: The rock's high summit, in the temple's shade, His hands a bow and pointed javelin hold; Nor heat could melt, nor beating storm invade. His giant limbs are arm'd in scales of gold. Their names inscrib'd unnumber'd ages past Between the statues obelisks were plac'd, From Time's first birth, with Time itself shall last; And the learn'd walls with hieroglyphics grac'd. These ever new, nor subject to decays,

Of Gothic structure was the northern side, Spread and grow brighter with the length of days. O'erwrought with ornaments of barbarous pride.

So Zembla's rocks (the beauteous work of frosi) There huge Colosses rose, with trophies crown'd, Rise white in air, and glitter o'er the coast;

And Runic characters were grav'd around. Pale suns, unfelt, at distance roll away,

There sat Zamolxis with erected eyes, And on th' impassi ve ice the lightnings play; And Odin here in mimic trances dies. Eternal snows the growing mass supply,

There on rude iron columns, smeard with blood, Till the bright mountains prop th' incumbent sky; The horrid forms of Scythian heroes stood, As Atlas fix'd, each hoary pile appears,

Druids and bards (their once loud harps unstrung), The gather'd winter of a thousand years.

And youths that died to be by poets sung. On this foundation Fame's high temple stands ; These and a thousand more of doubtful fame, Stupendous pile! not rear'd by mortal hands. To whom old fables gave a lasting name, Whate'er proud Rome or artful Greece beheld, In ranks adorn'd the temple's outward face; Or elder Babylon, its frame excell'd.

The wall in lustre and effect like glass, Four faces had the dome, and every face

Which, o'er each object casting various dyes, Of various structure, but of equal grace!

Enlarges some, and others multiplies : Four brazen gates, on columns lifted high, Nor void of emblem was the mystic wall, Salute the different quarters of the sky.

For thus romantic Fame increases all. Here fabled chiefs in darker ages born,

The temple shakes, the sounding gates unfold, Or worthies old, whom arms or arts adorn, Wide vaults appear, and roofs of fretted gold: Who cities rais'd, or tam'd a monstrous race, Rais'd on a thousand pillars wreath'd around The walls in venerable order grace:

With laurel-foliage, and with eagles crown'd: Heroes in animated marble frown,

Of bright transparent beryl were the walls, And legislators seem to think in stone.

The friezes gold, and gold the capitals : Westward, a sumptuous frontispiece appear'd, As Heaven with stars, the roof with jewels glows, On Doric pillars of white marble rear'd,

And ever-living lamps depend in rows.
Crown'd with an architrave of antique mould, Full in the passage of each spacious gate,
And sculpture rising on the roughen'd gold. The sage historians in white garments wait;
In shaggy spoils here Theseus was beheld, Grav'd o'er their seats the form of Time was found
And Perseus dreadful with Minerva's shield : His scythe revers'd, and both his pinions bound.
There great Alcides, stooping with his toil, Within stood heroes, who through loud alarms
Rests on his club, and holds th' Hesperian spoil : In bloody fields pursued renown in arms.
Here Orpheus sings ; trees moving to the sound High on a throne with trophies charg’d, I view'd
Start from their roots, and form a shade around : The youth that all things but himself subdued ;
Amphion there the loud creating lyre

His feet on sceptres and tiaras trod,
Strikes, and behold a sudden Thebes aspire ! And his horn'd head belied the Lybian god.
Cythæron's echoes answer to his call,

There Cæsar, grac'd with both Minervas, shone ; And half the mountain rolls into a wall :

Cæsar, the world's great master, and his own; There might you see the lengthening spires ascend, Unmov'd, superior still in every state, The dome swell up, the widening arches bend, And scarce detested in his country's fate. The growing towers like exhalations rise, But chief were those, who not for empire fought. And the huge columns heave into the skies. But with their toils their people's safety bought:

The eastern front was glorious to behold, High o'er the rest Epaminondas stood; With diamond flaming, and Barbaric gold. Timoleon, glorious in his brother's blood; There Ninus shone, who spread th’ Assyrian fame, Bold Scipio, savior of the Roman state, And the great founder of the Persian name : Great in his triumphs, in retirement great; There in long robes the royal Magi stand, And wise Aurelius, in whose well-taught mind Grave Zoroaster waves the circling wand: With boundless power unbounded virtue join'd, The sage Chaldæans rob'd in white appear'd, His own strict judge, and patron of mankind. And Brachmans, deep in desert woods rever'd. Much-suffering heroes next their honors claim, These stopp'd the Moon, and call’d the unbodied Those of less noisy, and less guilty fame, shades

Fair Virtue's silent train : supreme of these To midnight banquets in the glimmering glades; Here ever shines the godlike Socrates; Made visionary fabrics round them rise,

He whom ungrateful Athens could expel, And airy spectres skim before their eyes;

At all times just, but when he signd the shell:

ears.

Here his abode the martyr'd Phocian claims, These massy columns in a circle rise,
With Agis, not the last of Spartan names : O'er which a pompous dome invades the skies :
Unconquer'd Cato shows the wound he tore, Scarce to the top I stretch'd my aching sight,
And Brutus his ill genius meets no more.

So large it spread, and swell'd to such a height.
But in the centre of the hallow'd choir, Full in the midst proud Fame's imperial seat
Six pompous columns o'er the rest aspire ; With jewels blaz’d, magnificently great ;
Around the shrine itself of Fame they stand, The vivid emeralds there revive the eye,
Hold the chief honors, and the fane command. The flaming rubies show their sanguine dye,
High on the first, the mighty Homer shone; Bright azure rays from lively sapphires stream,
Eternal adamant compos'd his throne;

And lucid amber casts a golden gleam. Father of verse! in holy fillets drest,

With various-color'd light the pavement shone,
His silver beard wav'd gently o'er his breast; And all on fire appear'd the glowing throne;
Though blind, a boldness in his looks appears; The dome's high arch reflects the mingled blaze,
In years he seem'd, but not impair'd by years. And forms a rainbow of alternate rays.
The wars of Troy were round the pillar seen: When on the goddess first I cast my sight,
Here fierce Tydides wounds the Cyprian queen; Scarce seem'd her stature of a cubit's height;
Here Hector glorious from Patroclus' fall, But swellid to larger size, the more I gaz'd,
Here dragg'd in triumph round the Trojan wall. Till to the roof her towering front she rais'd.
Motion and life did every part inspire,

With her, the temple every moment grew,
Bold was the work, and prov'd the master's fire ; And ampler vistas open'd to my view :
A strong expression most he seem'd t'affect, Upward the columns shoot, the roofs ascend,
And here and there disclos'd a brave neglect. And arches widen, and long aisles extend.

A golden column next in rank appear'd, Such was her form, as ancient bards have told, On which a shrine of purest gold was rear’d; Wings raise her arms, and wings her feet infold; Finish'd the whole, and labor'd every part, A thousand busy tongues the goddess bears, With patient touches of unwearied Art:

And thousand open eyes, and thousand listening The Mantuan there in sober triumph sate, Compos'd his posture, and his look sedate ; Beneath, in order rang'd, the tuneful Nine On Homer still he fix'd a reverent eye,

(Her virgin handmaids) still attend the shrine: Great without pride, in modest majesty.

With eyes on Fame for ever fix'd, they sing ; In living sculpture on the sides were spread For Fame they raise their voice, and tune the string; The Latian wars, and haughty Turnus dead; With Time's first birth began the heavenly lays, Eliza stretch'd upon the funeral pyre,

And last, eternal, through the length of days. Æneas bending with his aged sire:

Around these wonders as I cast a look, Troy flam'd in burning gold, and o'er the throne The trumpet sounded, and the temple shook, ARMS AND THE MAN in golden ciphers shone. And all the nations, summon'd at the call,

Four swans sustain a car of silver bright, From different quarters fill the crowded hall: With heads advanc'd, and pinions stretch'd for flight: Of various tongues the mingled sounds were heard; Here, like some furious prophet, Pindar rode, In various garbs promiscuous throngs appear'd ; And seem'd to labor with th' inspiring god. Thick as the bees, that with the spring renew Across the harp a careless hand he flings, Their flowery toils, and sip the fragrant dew, And boldly sinks into the sounding strings. When the wing'd colonies first tempt the sky, The figur'd games of Greece the column grace, O'er dusky fields and shaded waters fly, Neptune and Jove survey the rapid race. Or, settling, seize the sweets the blossoms yield, The youths hang o'er their chariots as they run; And a low murmur runs along the field. The fiery steeds seem starting from the stone; Millions of suppliant crowds the shrine attend, The champions in distorted postures threat ; And all degrees before the goddess bend ; And all appear'd irregularly great.

The poor, the rich, the valiant, and the sage, Here happy Horace tun'd th' Ausonian lyre And boasting uth, and narrative old-age. To sweeter sounds, and temper'd Pindar's fire : Their pleas were different, their request the same; Pleas'd with Alcæus' manly rage to infuse For good and bad alike are fond of Fame. The softer spirit of the Sapphic Muse.

Some she disgrac'd, and some with honors crown'd; The polish'd pillar different sculptures grace; Unlike successes equal mcrits found. A work outlasting monumental brass.

Thus her blind sister, fickle Fortune, reigns, Here smiling Loves and Bacchanals appear, And undiscerning scatters crowns and chains. The Julian star and great Augustus here.

First at the shrine the learned world appear, The doves that round the infant poet spread And to the goddess thus prefer their prayer. Myrtles, and bays, hung hovering o'er his head. “ Long have we sought t'instruct and please manHere, in a shrine that cast a dazzling light,

kind, Sate fix'd in thought the mighty Stagirite ; With studies pale, with midnight vigils blind; His sacred head a radiant zodiac crown'd, But thank'd by few, rewarded yet by none, And various animals his sides surround;

We here appeal to thy superior throne : His piercing eyes, erect, appear to view

On wit and learning the just prize bestow, Superior worlds, and look all Nature through. For Fame is all we must expect below." With equal rays immortal Tully shone,

The goddess heard, and bade the Muses raise The Roman rostra deck'd the consul's throne : The golden trumpet of eternal Praise : Gathering his flowing robe, he seem'd to stand From pole to pole the winds diffuse the sound, In act to speak, and graceful stretch'd his hand. That fills the circuit of the world around, Behind, Rome's genius waits with civic crowns, Not all at once, as thunder breaks the cloud ; And the great father of his country owns. The notes at first were rather sweet than loud :

By just degrees they every moment rise,

Hither," they cried, " direct your eyes, and see Fill the wide Earth, and gain upon the skies. The men of pleasure, dress, and gallantry; At every breath were balmy odors shed, Ours is the place at banquets, balls, and plays; Which still grew sweeter, as they wider spread : Sprightly our nights, polite are all our days; Less fragrant scents th' unfolding rose exhales, Courts we frequent, where 'tis our pleasing care Or spices breathing in Arabian gales.

To pay due visits, and address the fair: Next these the good and just, an awful train, In fact, 'tis true, no nymph we could persuade, Thus on their knees address the sacred fane. But still in fancy vanquish'd every maid ; “Since living virtue is with envy cursid, Of unknown duchesses lewd tales we tell, And the best men are treated like the worst, Yet, would the world believe us, all were well. Do thou, just goddess, call our merits forth, The joy let others have, and we the name, And give each deed th' exact intrinsic worth." And what we want in pleasure, grant in fame." " Not with bare justice shall your act be crown'd," The queen assents, the trumpet rends the skies, (Said Fame) " but high above desert renown'd : And at each blast a lady's honor dies. Let fuller notes th' applauding world amaze, Pleas'd with the same success, vast numbers prost And the loud clarion labor in your praise."

Around the shrine, and made the same request : This band dismiss'd, behold another crowd What you!" (she cried)“ unlearn'd in arts to please, Preferr'd the same request, and lowly bow'd; Slaves to yourselves, and ev'n fatigu'd with ease, The constant tenor of whose well-spent days Who lose a length of undeserving days, No less deserv'd a just return of praise.

Would you usurp the lover's dear-bought praise ! But straight the direful trump of Slander sounds; To just contempt. ye vain pretenders, fall, Through the big dome the doubling thunder The people's fable, and the scorn of all." bounds;

Straight the black clarion sends a horrid sound, Loud as the burst of cannon rends the skies, Loud laughs burst out, and bitter scoffs fly round, The dire report through every region flies, Whispers are heard, with taunts reviling loud, In every ear incessant rumors rung,

And scornful hisses run through all the crowd. And gathering scandals grew on every tongue.

Last, those who boast of mighty mischiefs done, From the black trumpet's rusty concave broke Enslave their country, or usurp a throne! Sulphureous flames, and clouds of rolling smoke : Or who their glory's dire foundation laid The poisonous vapor blots the purple skies, On sovereigns ruin'd, or on friends betray'd : And withers all before it as it flies.

Calm, thinking villains, whom no faith could fix, A troop came next, who crowns and armor wore, Of crooked counsels and dark politics; And proud defiance in their looks they bore : Of these a gloomy tribe surround the throne, " For thee" (they cried), “amidst alarms and strife, And beg to make th' immortal treasons known. We sail'd in tempests down the stream of life; The trumpet roars, long flaky flames expire, For thee whole nations fill'd with Names and blood, With sparks that seem'd to set the world on fire. And swam to empire through the purple flood. At the dread sound, pale mortals stood aghast, Those ills we dar'd, thy inspiration own;

And startled Nature trembled with the blast. What virtue seem'd, was done for thee alone." This having heard and seen, some power un“ Ambitious fools!" (the queen replied, and frown'd)

known “ Be all your acts in dark oblivion drown'd; Straight chang’d the scene, and snatch'd me from There sleep forgot, with mighty tyrants gone,

the throne. Your statues moulder'd, and your names unknown!" Before my view appear'd a structure fair, A sudden cloud straight snatch'd them from my Its site uncertain, if in earth or air; sight,

With rapid motion turn'd the mansion round; And each majestic phantom sunk in night. With ceaseless noise the ringing walls resound; Then came the smallest tribe I yet had seen;

Not less in number were the spacious doors, Plain was their dress, and modest was their mien. Than leaves on trees, or sands upon the shores ; "Great idol of mankind! we neither claim Which still unfolded stand, by night, by day, The praise of merit, nor aspire to Fame!

Pervious to winds, and open every way. But, safe in deserts from th' applause of men, As flames by nature to the skies ascend, Would die unheard of, as we liv'd unseen. As weighty bodies to the centre tend, "T'is all we beg thee, to conceal from sight As to the sea returning rivers roll, Those acts of goodness which themselves requite. And the touch'd needle trembles to the Pole; O let us still the secret joys partake,

Hither, as to their proper place, arise To follow Virtue ev'n for Virtue's sake."

All various sounds from earth, and seas, and skies, " And live there men, who slight immortal Fame? Or spoke aloud, or whisper'd in the ear; Who then with incense shall adore our name? Nor ever silence, rest, or peace, is here. But, mortals! know, 'tis still our greatest pride, As on the smooth expanse of crystal lakes To blaze those virtues which the good would hide. The sinking stone at first a circle makes ; Rise! Muses, rise! add all your tuneful breath ; The trembling surface, by the motion stirr'd, These must not sleep in darkness and in death." Spreads in a second circle, then a third ; She said: in air the trembling music floats, Wide, and more wide, the floating rings advance, And on the winds triumphant swell the noles ; Fill all the watery plain, and to the margin dance: So soft, though high, so loud, and yet so clear, Thus every voice and sound, when first they break, Ev'n listening angels lean from Heaven to hear: On neighboring air a soft impression make; To farthest shores th' ambrosial spirit flies,

Another ambient circle then they move;
Sweet to the world, and grateful to the skies. That, in its turn, impels the next above;

Next these a youthful train their vows express'd, Through undulating air the sounds are sent,
With feathers crown'd, with gay embroidery dress'd :) And spread o'er all the fluid element.

There various news I heard of love and strife, Oh! if the Muse must flatter lawless sway, Of peace and war, health, sickness, death, and life, And follow still where Fortune leads the way; of loss and gain, of famine and of store,

Or if no basis bear my rising name,
Of storms at sea, and travels on the shore, But the fall'n ruins of another's fame;
Of prodigies, and portents seen in air,

Then teach me, Heaven! to scorn the guilty bays, Of fires and plagues, and stars with blazing hair, Drive from my breast that wretched lust of praise ; Of turns of fortune, changes in the state,

Unblemish'd let me live, or die unknown; The falls of favorites, projects of the great, Oh, grant an honest fame, or grant me none !" of old mismanagements, taxations new : All neither wholly false, nor wholly irue.

Above, below, without, within, around,
Confus'd, unnumber'd multitudes are found,
Who pass, repass, advance, and glide away;

THE FABLE OF DRYOPE.
Hosts rais'd by fear, and phantoms of a day:
Astrologers, that future fates foreshow,

FROM OVID'S METAMORPHOSES, BOOK IX.
Projectors, quacks, and lawyers, not a few;
And priests, and party zealots, numerous bands She said, and for her lost Galanthis sighs,
With home-born lies, or tales from foreign lands; When the fair consort of her son replies :
Each talk'd aloud, or in some secret place, Since you a servant's ravish'd form bemoan,
And wild impatience star'd in every face. And kindly sigh for sorrows not your own;
The flying rumors gather'd as they rollid,

Let me (il tears and grief permit) relate Scarce any tale was sooner heard than told ; A nearer woe, a sister's stranger fate. And all who told it added something new, No nymph of all Echalia could compare And all who heard it made enlargements too, For beauteous form with Dryope the fair, In every ear it spread, on every tongue it grew. Her tender mother's only hope and pride Thus flying east and west, and north and south, (Myself the offering of a second bride). News travell’d with increase from mouth to mouth. This nymph, compress'd by him who rules the day, So from a spark, that kindled first by chance, Whom Delphi and the Delian isle obey, With gathering force the quickening flames ad- Andræmon lov'd ; and, bless'd in all those charms vance ;

That pleas'd a god, succeeded to her arms. Till to the clouds their curling heads aspire, A lake there was, with shelving banks around, And towers and temples sink in floods of fire. Whose verdant summit fragrant myrtles crown'd.

When thus ripe lies are to perfection sprung, These shades, unknowing of the Fates, she sought, Full grown, and fit to grace a mortal tongue, And to the Naiads flowery garlands brought; Through thousand vents, impatient, forth they flow, ller smiling babe (a pleasing charge) she prest And rush in millions on the world below; Within her arms, and nourish'd at her breast. Fame sits alost, and points them out their course, Not distant far, a watery lotos grows; Their date determines, and prescribes their force · The spring was new, and all the verdant boughs, Some to remain, and some to perish soon : Adorn'd with blossoms, promis'd fruits that vie Or wane and wax alternate like the Moon. In glowing colors with the Tyrian dye: Around a thousand winged wonders fly, [the sky. Of these she cropp'd to please her infant son; Borne by the trumpet's blast, and scatter'd through And I myself the same rash act had done ;

There, at one passage, oft you might survey But lo! I saw (as near her side I stood) A lie and truth contending for the way ;

The violated blossoms drop with blood. And long 'twas doubtful, though so closely pent, Upon the tree I cast a frightful look ; Which first should issue through the narrow vent: The trembling tree with sudden horror shook. At last agreed, together out they fly,

Lotis the nymph (if rural tales be true), Inseparable now the truth and lie;

As from Priapus' lawless lust she flew, The strict companions are for ever join'd, Forsook her form; and, fixing here, became And this or that unmix’d, no mortal e'er shall find. A flowery plant, which still preserves her name. While thus I stood, intent to see and hear,

This change unknown, astonish'd at the sight, One came, methought, and whisper'd in my ear: My trembling sister strove to urge her flight: * What could thus high thy rash ambition raise ? And first the pardon of the nymphs implorid, Art thou, fond youth, a candidate for praise ?" And those offended sylvan powers ador'd :

"Tis true," said I, “not void of hopes I came, But when she backward would have fled, she found For who so fond as youthful bards of Fame? Her stiffening feet were rooted in the ground : But few, alas! the casual blessing boast,

In vain to free her fastening feet she strove, So hard to gain, so easy to be lost.

And, as she struggles, only moves above; How vain that second life in others' breath, She feels th' encroaching bark around her grow Th' estate which wits inherit after death!

By quick degrees, and cover all below: Ease, health, and life, for this they must resign, Surpris'd at this, her trembling hand she heaves (Unsure the tenure, but how vast the fine!) To rend her hair; her hand is fill'd with leaves : The great inan's curse, without the gains, endure, Where late was hair, the shooting leaves are seen Be envied, wretched, and be flatter'd, poor; To rise, and shade her with a sudden green. All luckless wits their enemies profest,

The child Amphissus, to her bosom pressid, And all successful, jealous friends at best. Perceiv'd a colder and a harder breast, Nor Fame I slight, nor for her favors call; And found the springs, that ne'er till then denied She comes unlook'd for, if she comes at all. Their milky moisture, on a sudden dried. But if the purchase costs so dear a price

I saw, unhappy! what I now relate, As soothing Fully, or exalting Vice :

And stood the helpless witness of thy fate,

Embrac'd thy boughs, thy rising bark delay'd, Now sliding streams the thirsty plants renew, There wish'd to grow, and mingle shade with shade. And feed their fibres with reviving dew. Behold Andræmon and th' unhappy sire

These cares alone her virgin breast employ, Appear, and for their Dryope inquire ;

Averse from Venus and the nuptial joy. A springing tree for Dryope they find,

Her private orchards, wall'd on every side, And print warm kises on the panting rind; To lawless sylvans all access denied. Prostrate, with tears their kindred plant bedew, How oft the Satyrs and the wanton Fawns, And close embrace as to the roots they grew. Who haunt the forest, or frequent the lawns, The face was all that now remain'd of thee, The god whose ensign scares the birds of prey, No more a woman, nor yet quite a tree; And old Silenus, youthful in decay, Thy branches hung with humid pearls appear, Employ'd their wiles and unavailing care, From every leaf distils a trickling tear,

To pass the fences, and surprise the fair! And straight a voice, while yet a voice remains, Like these, Vertumnus own'd his faithful flame, Thus through the trembling boughs in sighs com- Like these, rejected by the scornful dame. plains :

To gain her sight a thousand forms he wears : "If to the wretched any faith be given, And first a reaper from the field appears ; I swear by all th' unpitying powers of Heaven, Sweating he walks, while loads of golden grain No wilful crime this heavy vengeance bred; O'ercharge the shoulders of the seeming swain. In mutual innocence our lives we led :

Oft o'er his back a crooked scythe is laid, If this be false, let these new greens decay, And wreaths of hay his sun-burnt temples shade: Let sounding axes lop my limbs away,

Oft in his harden'd hand a goad he bears, And crackling flames on all my honors prey ! Like one who late unyok'd the sweating steers But from my branching arms this infant bear, Sometimes his pruning-hook corrects the vines, Let some kind nurse supply a mother's care : And the loose stragglers to their ranks confines. And to his mother let him oft be led,

Now gathering what the bounteous year allows, Sport in her shades, and in her shades be fed; He pulls ripe apples from the bending boughs. Teach him, when first his infant voice shall frame A soldier now, he with his sword appears; Imperfect words, and lisp his mother's name, A fisher next, his trembling angle bears : To hail this tree; and say, with weeping eyes, Each shape he varies, and each art he tries, Within this plant my hapless parent lies : On her bright charms to feast his longing eyes. And when in youth he seeks the shady woods, A female form at last Vertumnus wears, Oh, let him fly the crystal lakes and floods, With all the marks of reverend age appears, Nor touch the fatal flowers; but warn'd by me, His temples thinly spread with silver hairs: Believe a goddess shrin'd in every tree.

Propp'd on his staff, and stooping as he goes, My sire, my sister, and my spouse, farewell! A painted mitre shades his furrow'd brow3. If in your breasts or love or pity dwell,

The god, in this decrepit form array'd, Protect your plant, nor let my branches feel The gardens enter'd, and the fruit survey'd; The browsing cattle, or the piercing steel. And “Happy you !" (he thus address'd the maid) Farewell! and since I cannot bend to join “Whose charms as far all other nymphs outshine, My lips to yours, advance at least to mine. As other gardens are excell'd by thine !" My son, thy mother's parting kiss receive, Then kiss'd the fair; (his kisses warmer grow While yet thy mother has a kiss to give.

Than such as women on their sex bestow ;) I can no more; the creeping rind invades Then, plac'd beside her on the flowery ground, My closing lips, and hides my head in shades : Beheld the trees with autumn's bounty crown'd. Remove your hands; the bark shall soon suffice An elm was near, to whose embraces led, Without their aid to seal these dying eyes." The curling vine her swelling clusters spread:

She ceas'd at once to speak, and ceas'd to be ; He view'd her twining branches with delight, And all the nymph was lost within the tree; And prais’d the beauty of the pleasing sight. Yet latent life through her now branches reign'd, · Yot this tall elm, but for his vine" (he said) And long the plant a human heat retain'd. “ Had stood neglected, and a barren shade ;

And this fair vine, but that her arms surround
Her married elm, had crept along the ground.

Ah, beauteous maid ! let this example more
VERTUMNUS AND POMONA.

Your mind, averse from all the joys of love : FROM OVID'S METAMORPHOSES, BOOK IV.

Deign to be lov'd, and every heart subdue !

What nymph could e'er attract such crowds as you ! The fair Pomona flourish'd in his reign :

Not she whose beauty urg'd the Centaur's arms, Of all the virgins of the sylvan train,

Ulysses' queen, nor Helen's fatal charms. None taught the trees a nobler race to bear, Ev'n now, when silent scorn is all they gain, Or more improv'd the vegetable care.

A thousand court you, though they court in vain, To her the shady grove, the flowery field, A thousand sylvans, demigods, and gods, The streams and fountains, no delights could yield; That haunt our mountains, and our Alban woods. "Twas all her joy the ripening fruits to tend, But if you 'll prosper, mark what I advise, And see the boughs with happy burthens bend. Whom age and long experience render wise, The hook she bore instead of Cynthia's spear, And one whose tender care is far above To lop the growth of the luxuriant year,

All that these lovers ever felt of love, To decent form the lawless shoots to bring, (Far more than e'er can by yourself be guess'd) And teach th' obedient branches where to spring. Fix on Vertumnus, and reject the rest. Now the cleft rind inserted graffs receives,

For his firm faith I dare engage my own ; And yields an offspring more than Nature gives ; Scarce to himself, himself is better known.