72

THE SNOW-DROP.

The sacred power of harmony

In this its best effect appears,
That friendship in the strictest bands
It both engages and endears.
In music's ravishing delights

You feather'd race with men agree;

Of all the animated world

The only harmonists are we.

THE SNOW-DROP.

WITH head reclin'd, the snow-drop see,

The first of Flora's progeny,

In virgin modesty appear,

To hail and welcome in the year.

Fearless of winter, it defies

The rigour of inclement skies,
And early hastens forth to bring
The tidings of approaching spring.

FLORE PRIMITIE.

73

Vis hinc harmoniæ, numerorum hinc sacra potestas
Conspicitur, nusquam conspicienda magis ;
Vincula quod stabilis firmissima nectit amoris,
Vincula vix longa dissocianda die.
Captat et incantat blando oblectamine musa
Humanum pariter pennigerumque genus ;
Nos homines et aves, quotcunque animalia vivunt,
Nos soli, harmoniæ gens studiosa sumus.

FLORE PRIMITIÆ.

VIRGINEUM casto caput en ! recline pudore
Flosculus ostentat, de nive nomen habens!
Ecce! recens natum primus resalutet ut annum,
Exerit e gelida se properanter humo !

Nec rigidi conterret eum inclementiá cœli,
Frigida nec Boreæ vis, hyemisque minæ ;
Axe statim verso, quin protinus exit in auras,
Veris ut instantis nuntia læta ferat.

74

LOVE DISARMED.

Though simple in its dress and plain,
It ushers in a beauteous train;
And claims, how gaudy e'er they be,
The merit of precedency.

All that the gay or sweet compose,
The pink, the violet and the rose,
In fair succession as they blow,
Their glories to the snow-drop owe.

LOVE DISARMED.

BENEATH a myrtle's verdant shade,
As Chloe half asleep was laid,
Cupid perch'd lightly on her breast,
And in that heaven desir'd to rest :
Over her paps his wings he spread,
Between he found a downy bed,
And nestled in his little head.

Still lay the God: the nymph surpriz'd,
Yet mistress of herself, devis'd,

AMOR INERMIS.

Nativo quamvis cultu candoreque simplex,
Pulchrum illa inducit simplicitate chorum,
Nec totidem veneres inter, quotcunque sequuntur,
Se primum dubitat promeruisse locum.

75

Quicquid enim tenerum spirant, vel amabile miscent,
Lilia, vel violæ, purpureæque rosæ,
Quique aliis alii succedunt floribus, omne
Ex uno excipiunt simplice flore decus.

AMOR INERMIS.

QUA myrtus ramis viridem contexuit umbram
Diffusis, jacuit semisupina Chloe.

Huc tacito accessit tendens vestigia gressu,
Et furtim in molli pectore sedit Amor.
Expansis mammas alis protexit, et intus.
Intrusum occuluit parvulus erro caput.

Ut nympha excussit somnum, perterrita numen
In tepido sensit delituisse sinu.

76

LOVE DISARMED.

How she the vagrant might enthrall;
And captive him, who captives all.
Her boddice half-way she unlac'd :
About his arms she slily cast

The silken bond, and held him fast.

The God awak'd; and thrice in vain He strove to break the cruel chain : And thrice in vain he shook his wing, Incumber'd in the silken string.

Flutt'ring the God, and weeping said, Pity poor Cupid, generous maid, Who happen'd, being blind, to stray, And on thy bosom lost his way : Who stray'd, alas! but knew too well, He never there must hope to dwell. Set an unhappy pris'ner free, Who ne'er intended harm to thee.

To me pertains not, she replies, To know or care where Cupid flies; What are his haunts, or which his way; Where he would dwell, or whither stray: Yet will I never set thee free.;

For harm was meant, and harm to me.

Vain fears that vex thy virgin heart! I'll give thee up my bow and dart; Untangle but this cruel chain, And freely let me fly again.