University of Virginia Library

The second Elegy of the Fourth Book of Tibullus, translated: Sulpitia's praise.

To Mars.

The amorous Youths this Festival design,
To consecrate with Mirth and Airs divine;
Quit Heav'n a while, if you are wise, to see
Sulpitia in a glorious pageantry:
But have a Care lest her diviner Charms
Melt down the Powers of your flagging Arms;
Where'ere her killing Eyes are cast around,
The Gods he conquer'd, and confess the Wound.
Her Walk is so majestick and divine,
A thousand Graces on her Carriage shine;
If Nature looser in her Hair should play,
Sulpitia's still most beautiful and gay;
And if they're modell'd in a better Frame,
Adorn'd with Art, Sulpitia's still the same.
If cloath'd in Scarlet, she adorns the Plains,
If cloath'd in white, she still the Vict'ry gains.
Vortumnus so a thousand Shapes on high
Assumes, yet not more grateful to the Eye
Than those in which she's pleas'd to grace Mortality.
Now all ye Nymphs confer on her what's due,
Poetick Strains, and you Apollo too.
Conclude the Day with Singing, and a Ball,
I'm sure Sulpitia does deserve them all.