Chill, dark, alone, adreed, he lay,
Till up the welkin rofe the day,

Then deem'd the dole was o'er

But wot ye well his harder lot?
His feely back the bunch had got
Which Edwin loft afore.

This tale a Sybil-nurse ared;
She foftly ftroak'd my youngling head,
And when the tale was done,

"Thus fome are born, my fon, fhe cries,
"With bafe impediments to rife,

"And fome are born with none.

"But virtue can itfelf advance

To what the favourite fools of chance
"By fortune feem defign'd;

"Virtue can gain the odds of fate,
"And from itself shake off the weight
"Upon th' unworthy mind." ~

PER

THE VIGIL OF VENUS.

Written in the time of JULIUS CAESAR, and by fome afcribed to CATULLUS.

L

ET thofe love now, who never lov'd before;

Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.

The Ipring, the new, the warbling fpring appears, The youthful feafon of reviving years;

In fpring the loves enkindle mutual heats,
The feather'd nation chufe their tuneful mates,
The trees grow fruitful with defcending rain,
And dreft in differing greens adorn the plain.
She comes; to-morrow Beauty's emprefs roves
Through walks that winding run within the groves;
She twines the fhooting myrtle into bowers,
And ties their meeting tops with wreaths of flowers,
Then, rais'd fublimely on her easy throne,
From Nature's powerful dictates draws her own.

Let thafe love now, who never lov'd-before;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
'Twas on that day which faw the teeming flood
Swell round, impregnate with celestial blood;
Wandering in circles ftood the finny crew,
The midst was left a void expanse of blue,
There parent ocean work'd with heaving throes,
And dropping wet the fair Dione rofe.

Let

Let thofe love now, who never lov'd before; Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.

She paints the purple year with vary'd show,
Tips the green gem, and makes the bloffom glow.
She makes the turgid buds receive the breeze,

Expand to leaves, and fhade the naked trees.
When gathering damps the mifty nights diffuse,
She sprinkles all the morn with balmy dews;
Bright trembling pearls depend at every spray,
And, kept from falling, seem to fall away.
A gloffy freshness hence the rofe receives,
And blushes sweet through all her filken leaves
(The drops defcending through the filent night,
While stars ferenely roll their golden light):
Clofe till the morn, her humid veil she holds;
Then deckt with virgin pomp the flower unfolds.
Soon will the morning blush: ye maids! prepare,
In rofy garlands bind your flowing hair;

'Tis Venus' plant: the blood fair Venus, shed,
O'er the gay beauty pour'd immortal red ;
From Love's foft kifs a fweet ambrofial fmell
Was taught for ever on the leaves to dwell;

From gems, from flames, from orient rays of light,
The richest luftre makes her purple bright;

And she to-morrow weds; the fporting gale
Unties her zone, the burfts the verdant veil;
Through all her fweets the rifling lover flies,
And as he breathes, her glowing fires arife.

Let thofe love now, who never lov'd before ;
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.

Now

Now fair Dione to the myrtle grove

bow?

Sends the gay Nymphs, and fends her tender love.
And shall they venture? Is it safe to go,
While Nymphs have hearts, and Cupid wears a
Yes, fafely venture, 'tis his mother's will;
He walks unarm'd, and undesigning ill,
His torch extinct, his quiver useless hung,
His arrows idle, and his bow unftrung.
And yet, ye Nymphs, beware; his eyes
And love that 's naked, ftill is love in arms.
Let thofe love now, who never lov'd before;
Let thofe who always lov'd, now love the more.
From Venus' bower to Delia's. lodge repairs
A virgin train complete with modeft airs :

have charms;

“ Chaste Delia, grant our suit! or fhun the wood,
"Nor ftain this facred lawn with favage blood.
"Venus, O Delia! if he could perfuade,
"Would ask thy presence, might she ask a maid:"
Here chearful quires for three aufpicious nights
With fongs prolong the pleasurable rites :
Here crouds in measure lightly-decent rove;
Or feek by pairs the covert of the grove,
Where meeting greens for arbours arch above,
And mingling flowrets ftrow the scenes of love,
Here dancing Ceres shakes her golden fheaves;
Here Bacchus revels, deck'd with viny leaves :
Here Wit's enchanting God, in lawrel crown'd,
Wakes all the ravish'd hours with filver found.
'Ye fields, ye forests, own Dione's reign,
And Delia, huntress Delia, shun the plain.

Let thofe love now, who never lov'd before,
Let those who always lov'd, now love the more.
Gay with the bloom of all her opening year,
The Queen at Hybla bids her throne appear;
And there prefides; and there the favourite band
(Her fmiling graces) share the great command.
Now, beauteous Hybla! drefs thy flowery beds
With all the pride the lavish season sheds;
Now all thy colours, all thy fragrance yield,
And rival Enna's aromatic field.

To fill the presence of the gentle court,
From every quarter rural nymphs refort.

From woods, from mountains, from their humble vales,
From waters curling with the wanton gales.
Pleas'd with the joyful train, the laughing queen
In circles feats them round the bank of green;
And," Lovely girls, the whifpers, guard your hearts ::
"My boy, though ftript of arms, abounds in arts."
Let thofe love now, who never lov'd before;
Let thofe who always lov'd, now love the more.
Let tender grass in shaded alleys spread,
Let early flowers erect their painted head,
To-morrow's glory be to-morrow seen,
That day, old Ether wedded Earth in gree
The vernal father bid the Spring appear,
In clouds he coupled to produce the year,
The fap defcending o'er her bofom ran,
And all the various forts of foul began.
By wheels unknown to fight, by fecret veins
Diftilling life, the fruitful goddess reigns,

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