The Works of Tibullus Containing his Love-Elegies. Translated by Mr Dart. To which is added, The Life of the Author; with Observations on the Original Design of Elegiack Verse; and the Characters of the most Celebrated Greek, Latin and English Elegiack Poets |
 |
|
| I. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. | ELEGY VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
 | II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
 | The Works of Tibullus |  |
ELEGY VII.
The
Sister-Fates on this auspicious Day,
Who rule with uncontroul'd extensive Sway,
In Songs prophetick, future Acts divine,
And Singing, drew thy Length of vital Twine.
Who rule with uncontroul'd extensive Sway,
In Songs prophetick, future Acts divine,
And Singing, drew thy Length of vital Twine.
They sang the Day with future Glories fill'd,
Of Gallick Conquests, and a vanquish'd Field;
Where flowing Atur wanders through the Lands,
And Flies affrighted at the hostile Bands:
This destin'd Day for Triumphs that should come,
When (fir'd with Martial Sights) the Youth of Rome,
Should see the Chiefs of conquer'd Armies led
With fetter'd Arms, and with dejected Head;
And thee, Messala, bearing through the Show,
Fresh Victor Lawrels on thy conqu'ring Brow;
High on an Iv'ry Chariot, aweful Sight,
And drawn by pamper'd Horses, snowy White.
Of Gallick Conquests, and a vanquish'd Field;
Where flowing Atur wanders through the Lands,
And Flies affrighted at the hostile Bands:
This destin'd Day for Triumphs that should come,
When (fir'd with Martial Sights) the Youth of Rome,
43
With fetter'd Arms, and with dejected Head;
And thee, Messala, bearing through the Show,
Fresh Victor Lawrels on thy conqu'ring Brow;
High on an Iv'ry Chariot, aweful Sight,
And drawn by pamper'd Horses, snowy White.
My Name shall in those Honours bear a Share,
Witness Tarballa and the Gallick War:
Witness the Land where Arar's Current goes,
Where the swift Rhone and great Garumna flows;
Where Liger wanders, o'er Carnutus bounds,
And leads his fair Blue Waters through the Grounds.
Witness Tarballa and the Gallick War:
Witness the Land where Arar's Current goes,
Where the swift Rhone and great Garumna flows;
Where Liger wanders, o'er Carnutus bounds,
And leads his fair Blue Waters through the Grounds.
The Time shall be, when for Isauria won,
Thou Cydnus, thou shalt grace my flowing Song;
Whose easie Waves, in silent Currents stray,
And through the Meadows eat their easie Way.
How Taurus in the Clouds his Forehead hides,
And how Cilicians Till his shaggy Sides.
Thou Cydnus, thou shalt grace my flowing Song;
Whose easie Waves, in silent Currents stray,
And through the Meadows eat their easie Way.
How Taurus in the Clouds his Forehead hides,
And how Cilicians Till his shaggy Sides.
44
Or shall I sing, how safely through the Skies
The sacred Dove through Palestina flies:
Or how the Tyrian first disclos'd the Way,
In Ships, to view from sailing Tow'rs the Sea:
Or how when Syrius chaps the scorching Grounds,
The fertile Nile in Summer Flouds abounds.
The sacred Dove through Palestina flies:
Or how the Tyrian first disclos'd the Way,
In Ships, to view from sailing Tow'rs the Sea:
Or how when Syrius chaps the scorching Grounds,
The fertile Nile in Summer Flouds abounds.
Old Father Nile, say whether shall I lead
Thy Course, or where disclose thy hidden Head:
By thee refresh'd, thy Land no Rain requires,
Nor fading Grass descending Jove desires.
The barb'rous Youth their Apis taught to moan,
Shall honour thee, and their Osiris own.
Thy Course, or where disclose thy hidden Head:
By thee refresh'd, thy Land no Rain requires,
Nor fading Grass descending Jove desires.
The barb'rous Youth their Apis taught to moan,
Shall honour thee, and their Osiris own.
Osiris first to frame the Culture found,
And first with Vexing Steel, disturb'd the Ground.
First in th' unpractis'd Earth the Seed he threw,
And first from Trees unknown ripe Apples drew:
First propt the flexile Branches of the Vine,
And taught the clasping Tendrills where to twine;
To prune the shooting Trees with timely Care,
And stop the wild Lxuriance of the Year.
He to express the Wine first taught the Use,
And make the Vat o'erflow with gen'rous Juice.
He taught the Limbs (unpractis'd) to advance
In changing Order, and the figur'd Dance.
And first with Vexing Steel, disturb'd the Ground.
First in th' unpractis'd Earth the Seed he threw,
And first from Trees unknown ripe Apples drew:
45
And taught the clasping Tendrills where to twine;
To prune the shooting Trees with timely Care,
And stop the wild Lxuriance of the Year.
He to express the Wine first taught the Use,
And make the Vat o'erflow with gen'rous Juice.
He taught the Limbs (unpractis'd) to advance
In changing Order, and the figur'd Dance.
Bacchus to Country Swains opprest with Cares,
Gives Courage and dissolves th' invading Fears.
Bacchus gives Respite to the Wretch's Pains,
Although with Fetters gall'd and ratling Chains.
You neither Cares nor Grief, but Mirth approve;
The Song, the sprightly Dance, and laughing Love:
The flow'ry Chaplet, and the Ivy Crown,
And Saffron Mantle loosely flowing down.
The Purple Vest, the Flute's melodious Sound,
And Mystick Rites in sacred Silence bound.
Gives Courage and dissolves th' invading Fears.
Bacchus gives Respite to the Wretch's Pains,
Although with Fetters gall'd and ratling Chains.
You neither Cares nor Grief, but Mirth approve;
The Song, the sprightly Dance, and laughing Love:
The flow'ry Chaplet, and the Ivy Crown,
And Saffron Mantle loosely flowing down.
The Purple Vest, the Flute's melodious Sound,
And Mystick Rites in sacred Silence bound.
46
Come, to the Genius of this happy Day,
Frequent the Games we to his Honour pay;
And sportive Rites; you in the Dances join.
And load thy Rosy Cheek with Purple Wine.
The Genius' lovely Locks with Ointment fill,
Diffusing Odours as the Drops distill;
Soft flow'ry Bandage weave, and gaily deck
With blooming Flow'rs, his Temples and his Neck.
Frequent the Games we to his Honour pay;
And sportive Rites; you in the Dances join.
And load thy Rosy Cheek with Purple Wine.
The Genius' lovely Locks with Ointment fill,
Diffusing Odours as the Drops distill;
Soft flow'ry Bandage weave, and gaily deck
With blooming Flow'rs, his Temples and his Neck.
So may'st thou join us on this happy Day,
As I intend in spicy Fumes to pay,
The grateful Rites I owe, and Off'rings pour
Of luscious Honey, thy invented Store.
As I intend in spicy Fumes to pay,
The grateful Rites I owe, and Off'rings pour
Of luscious Honey, thy invented Store.
On you, Messala, may the Gods bestow
A Son, whose Actions may his Father show,
Bright'ning the Honours of thy ancient Brow.
The publick way shall speak thy great Designs,
Which Tusculum to white-wall'd Alba joins:
For by thy lib'ral Charge the Track of Ground
Is pav'd with level Stones, in Terras bound.
Thou shalt receive the Blessings of the Clown,
When he with easie Footsteps leaves the Town.
A Son, whose Actions may his Father show,
Bright'ning the Honours of thy ancient Brow.
The publick way shall speak thy great Designs,
Which Tusculum to white-wall'd Alba joins:
47
Is pav'd with level Stones, in Terras bound.
Thou shalt receive the Blessings of the Clown,
When he with easie Footsteps leaves the Town.
But thou! Auspicious Day design'd to be,
Tho' many changing Years observ'd by me:
May Glories add to each revolving Day,
And ev'ry Morn a brighter Light display.
Tho' many changing Years observ'd by me:
May Glories add to each revolving Day,
And ev'ry Morn a brighter Light display.
| The Works of Tibullus | |