(105) E'en such chance, fair queen, such misery, Laodamia,
Brought thee a loss as life precious, as heavenly breath.
Loss of a bridegroom dear; such whirling passion in eddies
110 Suck'd thee adown, so drew sheer to a sudden abyss,
Deep as Graian abyss near Pheneos o'er Cyllene,
(110) Strainer of ooze impure milk'd from a watery fen;
Hewn, so stories avouch, in a mountain's kernel; an hero
Hew'd it, falsely declar'd Amphytrionian, he,
115 When those monster birds near grim Stymphalus his arrow
Smote to the death; such task bade him a dastardly lord.
(115) So that another God might tread that portal of heaven
Freely, nor Hebe fair wither a chaste eremite.
Yet than abyss more deep thy love, thy depth of emotion;
120 Love which school'd thy lord, made of a master a thrall.
Not to a grandsire old so priz'd, so lovely the grandson
(120) One dear daughter alone rears i' the soft of his years;
He, long-wish'd for, an heir of wealth ancestral arriving,—
Scarcely the tablets' marge holds him, a name to the will,
125 Straight all hopes laugh'd down, each baffled kinsman usurping
Leaves to repose white hairs, stretches, a vulture, away;
(125) Not in her own fond mate so turtle snowy delighteth,
Tho' unabash'd, 'tis said, she the voluptuous hours
Snatches a thousand kisses, in amorous extasy biting.
130 Yet, more lightly than all ranges a womanly will.
Great their love, their frenzy; but all their frenzy before thee
(130) Fail'd, once clasp'd thy lord splendid in aureat hair.
Worthy in all or part thee, Laodamia, to rival,
Sought me my own sweet love, journey'd awhile to my arms.
135 Round her playing oft ran Cupid thither or hither,
Lustrous, array'd in bright broidery, saffron of hue.
(135) What, to Catullus alone if a wayward fancy resort not?
Must I pale for a stray frailty, the shame of an hour?
Nay; lest all too much such jealous folly provoke her.
140 Juno's self, a supreme glory celestial, oft
Crushes her eager rage, in wedlock-injury flaring,
(140) Knowing yet right well Jove, what a losel is he.
Yet, for a man with Gods shall never lawfully match him
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Lift thy father, a weak burden, unholpen, abhorr'd.
Not that a father's hand my love led to me, nor odours
Wafted her home on rich airs, of Assyria born;
165 (145) Stealthy the gifts she gave me, a night unspeakable o'er us,
Gifts from her husband's dreams verily stolen, his own.
Then 'tis enough for me, if mine, mine only remaineth
That one day, whose stone shines with an happier hue.
So, it is all I can, take, Allius, answer, a little
170 (150) Verse to requite thy much friendship, a contrary boon.
So your household names no rust nor seamy defacing
Soil this day, that new morrow, the next to the last.
Gifts full many to these heaven send as largely requiting,
Gifts Themis ever wont deal to the pious of yore.
175 (155) Joys come plenty to thee, to thy own fair lady together,
Come to that house of mirth, come to the lady within;
Joy to the forward friend, our love's first fashioner, Anser,
Author of all this fair history, founder of all.
Lastly beyond them, above them, on her more lovely than even
180 (160) Life, my lady, for whose life it is happy to be.
LXIX.
Rufus, it is no wonder if yet no woman assenting
Softly to thine embrace tender a delicate arm.
Not tho' a gift should seek, some robe most filmy, to move her;
Not for a cherish'd gem's clarity, lucid of hue.
5 Deep in a valley, thy arms, such evil story maligns thee,
Rufus, a villain goat houses, a grim denizen.
All are afraid of it, all; what wonder? a rascally creature,
Verily! not with such company dally the fair.
Slay, nor pity the brute, our nostril's rueful aversion.
10 Else admire not if each ravisher angrily fly.