278

THE SPIRIT AND THE MUSE.

Quale portentum neque militaris
Daunias latis alit aesculetis,
Nec Iubae tellus generat, leonum

Arida nutrix.

Pone me pigris ubi nulla campis
Arbor aestiva recreatur aura,
Quod latus mundi nebula malusque

Iuppiter urget;

1

Pone sub curru nimium propinqui
Solis in terra domibus negata :
Dulce ridentem Lalagen amabo,

Dulce loquentem.

THE SPIRIT AND THE MUSE.

279

A monster Daunus' land of war
In its broad oakwoods never bore,
Nor Juba's soil to birth has brought,
That nurse of lions, parched with drought.

Place me in frozen champain, where
No tree is fanned by Summer air,
A region of the world which lies
Beclouded with malignant skies ;

Place me in land where house is none,
Close 'neath the chariot of the sun,
Still Lalage my love shall be
Sweet-smiling,-prattling Lalage.

LIBER I. CARMEN XXIV.

Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus Tam cari capitis? Præcipe lugubris Cantus, Melpomene, cui liquidam pater Vocem cum cithara dedit.

Ergo Quintilium perpetuus sopor
Urget? cui Pudor et Justitiæ soror,
Incorrupta Fides, nudaque Veritas

Quando ullum inveniet parem?

Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit,
Nulli flebilior quam tibi, Vergili.
Tu, frustra pius, heu non ita creditum
Poscis Quintilium deos.

BOOK I. ODE XXIV.

What bound to sorrow, or restraint should be
For one so dear? Begin, Melpomene,

The mournful chants, to whom the Almighty Sire
Hath given with a liquid voice the lyre.

Doth, then, our friend the eternal sleep oppress?
Faith uncorrupt, sister of Righteousness,
And Modesty, and naked Truth-ah! when
Shall they one like Quintilius find again?

Full many good men weep that he is gone,
Weep more than thou dost, Virgil, there is none;
In vain thy piety! not so was given

Quintilius, whom thou askest for from Heaven.