The odes, epodes and Carmen Seculare of Horace (1719)

Affter a long and lasting Peace,
Venus once more disturbs my Ease;
And yet my former Vigour's lost,
When lovely Cinara engross'd
All Hearts, and was the Reiging Toast.

Relentless Queen of soft Desires!
O spare me and asswage my Fires;
I'm old and stiff, and cannot bear
Your Yoke; hence to the Young and Fair,
Your better Votaries, repair.

Go with your Chariot and your Doves,
And all your little wanton Loves
To Paulus, with high Vigour blest;
Go to his gentle am'rous Breast,
Fit to receive so warm a Guest:

For he is Noble, Gay and Young,
And has a sweet, enchanting Tongue;
By him your Empire will increase,
For he's a Master of Address,
And has a thousand Arts to please.

A Marble Statue for his Sake
Shall glitter near th' Albanian Lake,
When by your Aid the happy Man
Can triumph in a Rival's Pain,
And laugh to see him bribe in vain.

There Incense, ever fresh and sweet,
Your Nostrils with Perfumes shall greet;
The Pipe its warbling Voice shall raise,
The Pipe and Lyre begin their Lays,
And join in Consort to your Praise.

Our Youth and Virgins twice a Day
Shall revel there, and sport and play;
Their snowy Feet shall nimbly bound,
Whilst hand in hand they beat the Ground,
And put the Salick Measure round.

Whilst I, unfit for am'rous Joys,
Alike neglect the Nymphs and Boys;
No Garlands round my Temples bend,
Nor can I with my Jovial Friend
In Laughing Bumpers long contend.

Yet tell me, Ligurinus, tell,
Why do these Tears thus gently steal
Along my Cheeks with Sorrow drown'd?

Why are my Lips thus fault'ring found,
With an imperfect broken Sound?

Thee in my Dreams each Night I chace,
Thee oft with eager Arms embrace;
As o'er the dusty Plains you stray,
Or in the flowing Waters play,
Ah, Youth! more swift, more false than they.

University of Virginia Library

ODE I. To Venus.