Quà violisque, rosisque, et flavi-comis narcissis, Umbraculis trementibus Illudit lauri nemus; et crepitante susurro Eternum zephyri: nec vomere saucia tellus Turba beatorum nobis assurgeret omnis, Inter Mæonidas, primâ nos sede locarent: Prærepto cedens indignaretur honore ; [Nec vomere, &c.] Thus Virgil, in his description of the golden age : Omnis feret omnia tellus. Non rastros patietur humus, non vinea falcem ; VIRG. ECLOG. IV. Then with each harvest shall each soil be crown'd, No harrow then shall vex the fruitful ground, Shall range the steers, unyok'd by sturdy swains. [Nec nata Tyndaris, &c.] The beauteous Helen, wife to Menelaus, whom Paris stole away, causing the celebrated siege of Troy, sung by Homer, is too well known to be spoken of here; most of the ancient classics mention something of her history. Where ceaseless zephyrs fan the glade, Where Earth her fruits spontaneous yields, Of happy souls, of demi-gods, BASIUM III. "DA mihi suaviolum (dicebam), blanda puella!" Libâsti labris mox mea labra tuis. Inde, velut presso qui territus angue resultat, Non hoc suaviolum dare, lux mea, sed dare tantùm ["Da mihi suaviolum," &c.] Some of my readers may be pleased to see how this lovely little poem appears in a French dress. Mons. Dorat, in his Baisers, entitles it L'Etincelle. Donne moi, ma belle Maîtresse, Donne moi, disois-je, un baiser Mais que mom bonheur fut rapide! Eut effleurée ma bouche avide, Ainsi s'exhale une Etincelle. Oui, plus que Tantale agité, DORAT. BAISER II. KISS III. "ONE Kiss, enchanting Maid!" (I cry'd ;)-One little Kiss! and then adieu ! Your lips, with luscious crimson dyed, To mine with trembling rapture flew: Is this to grant the wish'd-for Kiss?- BASIUM IV. NON dat basia, Neæra nectar. Dat nardumque, thymumque, cinnamumque ; [Non dat basia, dat Neæra nectar, &c.] The following Greek epigram seems to have furnished Secundus with the thought: Κέρη τις μ' εφίλησε ποθέσπερα χείλεσιν ὑγροις Phillis the gay, in robe of beauty drest, Late on my lips a humid kiss imprest; ANTHOLOG. The kiss was nectar which the fair bestow'd, TAWKES. |