University of Virginia Library

The Thirteenth ELEGY of the Fourth Book of Tibullus.

To His MISTRESS.

Think me not False to the First Vows I made;
Nor that some Fairer She may wrong Thy Bed.
The Boasted Arts of All the Sex are Vain:
Their Smiles no Pleasure give, their Frowns no Pain.
Alone You Charm Me. But, beholding Thee,
A Thousand more, perhaps, are Charm'd, like Me;
And O! I wish (let Love the Wish attone)
That Thou wer't Charming in my Eyes Alone!
Vain-glorious Fops, of Envy'd Blessings Proud,
Expose their Treasure to the Rival Crowd;
Delight in idle Show, and empty Noise:
The Wise in Silence brood upon their Joys.
To Forest Wilds I cou'd with Thee retreat,
Where never Path was worn by Human Feet.
No Clime can low'r, where your Bright Looks appear;
No Place seem Desart, when my Love is there.
Nay, I attest Thy JUNO's sacred Pow'r,
(JUNO the Guardian of the Nuptial Bow'r,)
Tho' Tempted by some Beauty of the Skies,
The Heav'n that Beauty profer'd I'd Despise.
What have I said? Fool that I was to Swear,
Or fondly satisfy thy Jealous Fear!
Safe from Alarms, You now will urge your Sway,
(Ah Babling Tongue that did my Heart betray!)
No Hopes of Liberty to Me remain:
But I, a Slave Profess'd, must Drag your Chain.
Lo VENUS! at thy Altar Bound I lye.
O Gentle Goddess Guard Thy Votary!