Ye bleft remains of that illuftrious age! Might I with you my peaceful days live o'er, 25 30 35 No falfe corrupt delights our thoughts should move, HORA C BOOK I ODE XXII. Integer vitæ, fcelerifque purus, Eig "Non eget Mauri jaculis, neque arcu," &c. Wrapp'd in thick clouds, and fhades of night, There brood on guilt, fix there a loath'd embrace, Dreams, goblins, and imagin'd sprights, ! Thy visionary tribe, thy black and monftrous race. Go, haunt the flave that stains his hands in gore Poffefs the perjur'd mind, and rack the Ufurer more, Than his oppreffion did the poor before. II. Vainly, you feeble wretches, you prepare The poison'd shaft, the Parthian bow, and spear Which pois'd and guided from his ear He hurls impetuous through the field: 15 In vain you lace the helm, and heave in vain the fhield; He's only safe, whofe armour of defence Is adamantine innocence. III. If o'er the fteepy Alps he go, Vaft mountains of eternal fnow, Or where fam'd Ganges and Hydafpes flow; If o er parch'd Libya's defart land, Where threatening from afar Th' affrighted traveller Encounters moving hills of fand ; No fenfe of danger can disturb his reft; $20 25 He He fears no human force, nor favage beaft; Impenetrable courage fteels his manly breast. IV. Thus, late within the Sabine grove, I raise my tuneful voice, and stray A grizly wolf, with glaring eye, View'd me unarm'd, yet pafs'd unhurtful by. Apulian forefts did moleft; Numidia never faw a more prodigious beast; Where the stern lion fhakes his knotted mane, 30 35 40 And roars aloud for prey, and scours the fpacious plain. V. Place me where no foft breeze of fummer wind Where no refreshing warmth e'er durft invade, 45 In all his hoary robes array'd, 50 And rattling forms of hail, and noisy tempefts beat. H 3 55 HOR A CE, BOOK II. ODE XVI. TO GROS PHUS. "Otium Divos rogat in patenti IMITATED IN PARAPHRASE. I. INDULGENT Quiet! power ferene, Mother of Peace, and Joy, and Love! Within what hollow rock, or winding cell, By human eyes unfeen, Like fome retreated Druid doft thou dwell? And why, illufive goddess! why, When we thy manfion would furround, 5 Why doft thou lead us through inchanted ground, To mock our vain research, and from our wishes fly? II. The wandering failors, pale with fear, For thee the gods implore, When the tempeftuous fea runs high, And when, through all the dark benighted sky, 15 No No friendly moon or stars appear 20 To guide their fteerage to the fhore: For thee the weary foldier prays; Furious in fight the fons of Thrace, And Medes, that wear majestic by their fide A full-charg'd quiver's decent pride, Gladly with thee would pafs inglorious days, Renounce the warrior's tempting praise, And buy thee, if thou might'ft be fold, With gems, and purple vefts, and stores of plunder'd gold. 25 III. But neither boundless wealth, nor guards that wait Around the conful's honour'd gate, Nor anti-chambers with attendants fill'd, The mind's unhappy tumults can abate, Or banish fullen cares, that fly Across the gilded rooms of ftate, And their foul nefts, like swallows, build 30 Close to the palace-roofs, and towers that pierce the sky. Much lefs will Nature's modeft wants fupply; And happier lives the homely fwain, His few paternal goods enjoys, His hovering fleeps destroys. 35 40 |