Haec quoque, quae juncta vitis requiefcit in ulmo,
Si non nupta foret, terrae adclinata jaceret.
Tu tamen exemplo non tangeris arboris hujus;
Concubitufque fugis; nec te conjungere curas.
Atque utinam velles! Helene non pluribus effet
Sollicitata procis: nec quae Lapitheïa movit
Proelia, nec conjux timidis audacis Ulyffei.
Nunc quoque, cum fugias averferifque petentes,
Mille proci cupiunt; et femideique deique, 75
Et quaecunque tenent Albanos numina montes.
Sed tu, fi fapies, fi te bene jungere, anumque
Hanc audire voles, (quae te plus omnibus illis, 80
Plus quam credis, amo) vulgares rejice taedas:
Vertumnumque tori focium tibi felige: pro quo
Me quoque pignus habe. neque enim fibi notior
ille eft,
Quam mihi, nec toto paffim vagus errat in orbe.
Haec loca fola colit; nec, uti pars magna procorum,
Yet this tall elm, but for his vine (he faid) Had stood neglected, and a barren shade; And this fair vine, but that her arms furround 65 Her marry'd elm, had crept along the ground. Ah! beauteous maid, let this example move Your mind averfe from all the joys of love. Deign to be lov'd, and ev'ry heart fubdue! What nymph could e'er attract such crouds as you? Not she whose beauty urg'd the Centaurs arms, 71 Ulyffes' Queen, nor Helen's fatal charms. Ev'n now, when filent scorn is all they gain, A thousand court you, tho' they court in. vain, A thousand sylvans, demigods, and gods, That haunt our mountains and our Alban woods. But if you'll profper, mark what I advise, Whom age, and long experience render wife, And one whofe tender care is far above
All that these lovers ever felt of love,
(Far more than e'er can by yourself be gueft)
Fix on Vertumnus, and reject the rest.
For his firm faith I dare engage my own;
Scarce to himself, himself is better known.
To diftant lands Vertumnus never roves;
Like you, contented with his native groves ;
Quam modo vidit, amat. tu primus et ultimus illi Ardor eris; folique fuos tibi devovet annos.
Adde, quod est juvenis: quod naturale decoris 98 Munus habet; formafque apte fingetur in omnes Et, quod erit juffus (jubeas licet omnia) fiet. Quid, quod amatis idem? quod, quae tibi coluntur,
Primus habet; laetaque tenet tua munera dextra? Sed neque jam foetus defiderat arbore demtos, Nec, quas hortus alit, cum fuccis mitibus herbas; Nec quidquam, nifi te. miferere ardentis: et ip fum,
Qui petit, ore meo praefentem crede precari.--
Sic tibi nec vernum nafcentia frigus adurat
Poma; nec excutiant rapidi florentia venti.
Nor at firft fight, like moft, admires the fair;
For you
His last affection, as his early care.
he lives; and you alone shall share
Befides, he's lovely far above the reft,
With youth immortal, and with beauty bleft.
Add, that he varies ev'ry fhape with ease,
And tries all forms that may Pomona please.
But what should most excite a mutual flame,
Your rural cares, and pleasures are the fame: 95
To him your orchards' early fruits are due,
(A pleafing off'ring when 'tis made by you.)
He values these; but yet (alas) complains,
That still the best and dearest gift remains.
Not the fair fruit that on yon' branches glows 100
With that ripe red the autumnal fun bestows;
Nor tasteful herbs that in these gardens rise,
Which the kind foil with milky fap fupplies;
You, only you, can move the God's defire:
Oh crown fo conftant and so pure a fire!
Let foft compaffion touch your gentle mind;
Think, 'tis Vertumnus begs you to be kind!
So may no froft, when early buds appear,
Destroy the promise of the youthful year ; 109
Nor winds, when firft your florid orchard blows,
Shake the light bloffoms from their blasted boughs!
Haec ubi nequicquam formas Deus aptus in
Edidit; in juvenem rediit: et anilia demit
Inftrumenta fibi: talifque adparuit illi,
Qualis ubi oppofitas nitidiffima folis imago
Evicit nubes, nullaque obftante reluxit.
Vimque parat: fed vi non eft opus: inque figura
Capta Dei Nympha eft, et mutua vulnera fentit,
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