A female form at last Vertumnus wears, With all the marks of rev'rend age appears, His temples thinly spread with filver hairs; Prop'd on his ftaff, and ftooping as he goes, A painted mitre fhades his furrow'd brows. The god in this decrepit form array'd,
The gardens enter'd, and the fruit furvey'd ;
And "Happy you! (he thus addrefs'd the maid)
"Whofe charms as far all other nymphs outfhine,
"As other gardens are excell'd by thine!"
Then kifs'd the fair; (his kiffes warmer grow
Than fuch as women on their fex bestow.)
Then plac'd befide her on the flow'ry ground,
Beheld the trees with autumn's bounty crown'd.
An Elm was near, to whofe embraces led,
The curling Vine her swelling clusters spread :
He view'd her twining branches with delight,
And prais'd the beauty of the pleafing fight.
Yet this tall elm, but for his vine (he'faid)
Had ftood neglected, and a barren shade;
And this fair vine, but that her arms furround
Her marry'd elm, had crept along the ground.
Ah! beauteous maid, let this example move
Your mind, averse from all the joys of love,
Deign to be lov'd, and ev'ry heart fubdue!
What nymph could e'er attract such crouds as you
Not the whofe beauty urg'd the Centaur's arms,
Ulyffes' Queen, nor Helen's fatal charms.
Ev'n now, when filent fcorn is all thy gain,
A thoufand court you, tho' they court in vain,
A thoufand
Mille proci cupiunt ; et femideique deique,
Et quæcunque tenent Albanos numina montes.
Sed tu, fi fapies, fi te bene jungere, anumque
Hanc audire voles, (quæ te plus omnibus illis,
Plus quam credis, amo) vulgares rejice tædas:
Vertumnumque tori focium tibi felige; pro quo
Me quoque pignus habe. neque enim fibi notior ille eft,
Quam mihi. nec toto paffim vagus errat in orbe.
Hæc loca fola colit: nec, uti pars magna procorum,
Quam modo vidit, amat. tu primus et ultimus illi
Ardor eris; folique fuos tibi devovet annos.
Adde, quod eft juvenis: quod naturale decoris
Munus habet; formafque apte fingetur in omnes:
Et, quod erit juffus (jubeas licet omnia) fiet.
Quid, quod amatis idem? quod, quæ tibi poma co.
luntur,
Primus habet; lætaque tenet tua munera dextra?
Sed neque jam fœtus defiderat arbore demtos,
Nec, quas hortus alit, cum fuccis mitibus herbas;
A thousand fylvans, demigods, and gods,
That haunt our mountains and our Alban woods.
But if you'll prosper, mark what I advise,
Whom age and long experience render wife,
And one whose tender care is far above
All that these lovers ever felt of love,
(Far more than e'er can by yourself be guest)
Fix on Vertumnus, and reject the rest.
For his firm faith I dare engage my own;
Scarce to himself, himself is better known.
To distant lands Vertumnus never roves;
Like you, contented with his native groves;
Nor at firft fight, like most, admires the fair;
For
you he lives; and you alone shall share
His laft affection, as his early care.
Befides, he's lovely far above the rest,
With youth immortal, and with beauty bleft.
Add, that he varies ev'ry shape with ease,
And tries all forms that may Pomona please,
But what should most excite a mutual flame,
Your rural cares and pleasures are the fame :
To him your orchards early fruits are due,
(A pleafing off'ring when 'tis made by you)
He values thefe; but yet (alas) complains,
That still the best and dearest gift remains.
Not the fair fruit that on yon branches glows
With that ripe red th' autumnal fun bestows;
Nor tasteful herbs that in thefe gardens rife,
Which the kind foil with milky fap fupplies;
Nec quidquam, nifi te. miferere ardentis: et ipfum,
Qui petit, ore meo præfentem crede precari-
Sic tibi nec vernum nafcentia frigus adurat
Poma; nec excutiant rapidi florentia venti.
Hæc ubi nequicquam formas Deus aptus in omnes,
Edidit; in juvenem rediit: et anilia demit
Inftrumenta fibi: talifque adparuit illi,
Qualis ubi oppofitas nitidiffima folis imago
Evicit nubes, nullaque obftante reluxit.
Vimque parat: fed vi non eft opus; inque figura
Capta Dei Nympha eft, et mutua vulnera fentit.
You, only you, can move the God's defire:
Oh crown fo conftant and fo pure a fire!
Let foft compaffion touch your gentle mind;
Think, 'tis Vertumnus begs you to be kind!
So may no froft, when early buds appear,
Destroy the promise of the youthful year;
Nor winds, when firft your florid orchard blows,
Shake the light bloffoms from their blafted boughs!
This when the various God had urg'd in vain,
He straight affum'd his native form again;
Such, and fo bright an aspect now he bears,
As when through clouds th' emerging fun appears,
And thence exerting his refulgent ray,
Difpels the darkness, and reveals the day.
Force he prepar'd, but check'd the rafh defign;
For when, appearing in a form divine,
The Nymph furveys him, and beholds the grace
Of charming features, and a youthful face!
In her soft breast confenting paffions move,
And the warm maid confefs'd a mutual love.
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