E CATALECTIS

PUBLII VIRGILII MARONIS

EXCERPTA.

VOL. III.

x 2

E CATALECTIS

PUBLII VIRGILII MARONIS

EXCERPTA.

VI. AD VENEREM.

Si mihi susceptum fuerit decurrere munus,
O Paphon, o sedes quæ colis Idalias,

Troïus Æneas Romana per oppida digno

Jam tandem ut tecum carmine vectus eat:

Non ego thure modo, aut picta tua templa tabella

Ornabo, et puris serta feram manibus : Corniger hos aries humilis, et maxima taurus Victima sacratos tinget honore focos: Marmoreusque tibi, dea, versicoloribus alis

In morem picta stabit Amor pharetra. Adsis, o Cytherea! tuus te Cæsar Olympo Et Surrentini litoris ora vocat.

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SELECTIONS FROM THE

CATALECTA

OF

PUBLIUS VIRGILIUS

VIRGILIUS MARO.

VI. To VENUS.

[SUPPOSED BY SOME TO BE A VOW OR DEDICATION OF THE ÆNEID.]

SHOULD the delightful duty fall to me,
O Paphia, who adorn'st Idalian bowers,
Trojan Æneas shall ere long with thee

Be borne through Roman towns in fitting lays.
Thy temples not alone with frankincense
And ornamental tablets I'll adorn;

With pure hands chaplets, likewise, I will bring.
The humble hornèd ram and mighty bull
Shall stain thy sacred hearths in sacrifice.
Cupid in marble with resplendent wings
And glittering quiver, as appropriate,

Shall be, O (fairest) goddess, raised to thee.
Be present, then, O Cytherea! (now)
Thy Cæsar from Olympus, and a voice

Fro' th' Surrentinian shore are calling thee.

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X. AD VILLAM SYRONIS.

VILLULA, quæ Syronis eras, et pauper agelle,
Verum illi domino tu quoque divitiæ :

Me tibi, et hos una mecum, et quos semper amavi,
Si quid de patria tristius audiero,

Commendo, in primisque patrem. Tu nunc eris illi,
Mantua quod fuerat, quodque Cremona prius.

XI. AD M. VALERIUM MESSALAM.

PAUCA mihi, niveo sed non incognita Phœbo,
Pauca mihi, doctæ, dicite, Pegasides.

Victor adest, magni magnum decus ecce triumphi,
Victor, qua terræ, quaque patent maria;
Horrida barbarica portans insignia pugnæ,

Magnus ut Enides, utque superbus Eryx;

Nec minus idcirco nostros expromere cantus
Maximus, et sanctos dignus inire choros.

Hoc itaque insuetis jactor magis, optime, curis ;-
Quid de te possim scribere, quidve tibi.
Namque, fatebor enim, quæ maxima deterrendi

Debuit, hortandi maxima causa fuit.
Pauca tua in nostras venerunt carmina chartas,
Carmina cum lingua, tum sale Cecropio ;
Carmina, quæ Pylium, sæclis accepta futuris,

Carmina, quæ Pylium vincere digna senem.

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