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 |
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 | The Works of Tibullus |  |
Sulpicia on the Birth-Day of Cerinthus. V.
This sacred Day for ever happy be,
Which gave Cerinthus to the World and me;
A Time, which I for ever shall prefer
To all the other Feasts that mark the Year.
The fatal Sisters on this glorious Day,
Sang mighty Conquests, and extended Sway;
O'er blooming Maids, and all the tender Train,
And gave thee an extended Length of Reign;
But I am fir'd with a superior Flame,
Yet pleas'd I own it, nor esteem it Shame,
Cerinthus, if thy Bosom feels the fame.
O! may thy Passion equal mine, I pray,
By all thy am'rous Theft, and tender Play;
By those dear Eyes of thine, and by the Pow'r,
Thy Genius, who preserves each circling Hour.
Which gave Cerinthus to the World and me;
A Time, which I for ever shall prefer
To all the other Feasts that mark the Year.
242
Sang mighty Conquests, and extended Sway;
O'er blooming Maids, and all the tender Train,
And gave thee an extended Length of Reign;
But I am fir'd with a superior Flame,
Yet pleas'd I own it, nor esteem it Shame,
Cerinthus, if thy Bosom feels the fame.
O! may thy Passion equal mine, I pray,
By all thy am'rous Theft, and tender Play;
By those dear Eyes of thine, and by the Pow'r,
Thy Genius, who preserves each circling Hour.
Great Pow'r to Thee I Spice profusely throw,
Then hear my Pray'r, and listen to my Vow.
May the dear Youth, when e'er he hears my Name.
Glow with a kindly Warmth, and am'rous Flame;
But if in Falshood vers'd, and Treachery,
He sends his Vows to any Maid but me:
For such perfidious Acts, thou Pow'r Divine,
Desert thy Altars, and forsake thy Shrine.
Then hear my Pray'r, and listen to my Vow.
May the dear Youth, when e'er he hears my Name.
Glow with a kindly Warmth, and am'rous Flame;
But if in Falshood vers'd, and Treachery,
He sends his Vows to any Maid but me:
For such perfidious Acts, thou Pow'r Divine,
Desert thy Altars, and forsake thy Shrine.
243
Nor you, O! Venus, inauspicious prove,
To let Cerinthus violate our Love;
O! grant that we devoted both to thee,
May love alike, or set my Fetters free;
But rather both in lasting Bonds confine,
Bonds, which nor Time, nor Age may e'er dis-join.
Cerinthus' Wishes are the same I know,
While he in Privacy prefers his Vow,
Left publickly his Cheeks with Blushes glow.
To let Cerinthus violate our Love;
O! grant that we devoted both to thee,
May love alike, or set my Fetters free;
But rather both in lasting Bonds confine,
Bonds, which nor Time, nor Age may e'er dis-join.
Cerinthus' Wishes are the same I know,
While he in Privacy prefers his Vow,
Left publickly his Cheeks with Blushes glow.
But thou! O! Genial Pow'r, what he requires
Grant, or his publick, or his close Desires.
Grant, or his publick, or his close Desires.
| The Works of Tibullus | |