The Elegies of Tibullus Part 2

How happily men lived when Saturn reigned!

Ere weary highways crossed the fair young world, Ere lofty s.h.i.+ps the purple seas disdained, Their swelling canvas to the winds unfurled!

No roving seaman, from a distant course, Filled full of far-fetched wares his frail s.h.i.+p's hold: At home, the strong bull stood unyoked; the horse Endured no bridle in the age of gold.

Men's houses had no doors? No firm-set rock Marked field from field by n.i.g.g.ard masters held.

The very oaks ran honey; the mild flock Brought home its swelling udders, uncompelled.

Nor wrath nor war did that blest kingdom know; No craft was taught in old Saturnian time, By which the frowning smith, with blow on blow, Could forge the furious sword and so much crime.

Now Jove is king! Now have we carnage foul, And wreckful seas, and countless ways to die.

Nay! spare me, Father Jove, for on my soul Nor perjury, nor words blaspheming lie.

If longer life I ask of Fate in vain, O'er my frail dust this superscription be:-- _"Here Death's dark hand_ TIBULLUS _doth detain, Messala's follower over land and sea!"_

Then, since my soul to love did always yield, Let Venus guide it the immortal way, Where dance and song fill all th' Elysian field, And music that will never die away.

There many a song-bird with his fellow sails, And cheerly carols on the cloudless air; Each grove breathes incense; all the happy vales O'er-run with roses, numberless and fair.

Bright bands of youth with tender maidens stray, Led by the love-G.o.d all delights to share; And each fond lover death once s.n.a.t.c.hed away Winds an immortal myrtle in his hair.

Far, far from such, the dreadful realms of gloom By those black streams of Hades circled round, Where viper-tressed, fierce ministers of doom,-- The Furies drive lost souls from bound to bound.

The doors of bra.s.s, and dragon-gate of h.e.l.l, Grim Cerberus guards, and frights the phantoms back: Ixion, who by Juno's beauty fell, Gives his frail body to the whirling rack.

Stretched o'er nine roods, lies t.i.tyos accursed, The vulture at his vitals feeding slow; There Tantalus, whose bitter, burning thirst The fleeting waters madden as they flow.

There Danaus' daughters Venus' anger feel, Filling their urns at Lethe all in vain;-- _And there's the wretch who would my Delia steal, And wish me absent on a long campaign!_

O chaste and true! In thy still house shall sit The careful crone who guards thy virtuous bed; She tells thee tales, and when the lamps are lit, Reels from her distaff the unending thread.

Some evening, after tasks too closely plied, My Delia, drowsing near the harmless dame, All sweet surprise, will find me at her side, Unheralded, as if from heaven I came.

Then to my arms, in lovely disarray, With welcome kiss, thy darling feet will fly!

O happy dream and prayer! O blissful day!

What golden dawn, at last, shall bring thee nigh?

ELEGY THE FOURTH

THE ARTS OF CONQUEST

"Safe in the shelter of thy garden-bower, "Priapus, from the harm of suns or snows, "With beard all s.h.a.g, and hair that wildly flows,-- "O say! o'er beauteous youth whence comes thy power?

"Naked thou frontest wintry nights and days, "Naked, no less, to Sirius' burning rays."

So did my song implore the rustic son Of Bacchus, by his moon-shaped sickle known.

"Comply with beauty's lightest wish," said he, "Complying love leads best to victory.

"Nor let a furious 'No' thy bosom pain; "Beauty but slowly can endure a chain.

"Slow Time the rage of lions will o'er-sway, "And bid them fawn on man. Rough rocks and rude "In gentle streams Time smoothly wears away; "And on the vine-clad hills by suns.h.i.+ne wooed, "The purpling grapes feel Time's secure control; "In Time, the skies themselves new stars unroll.

"Fear not great oaths! Love's broken oaths are borne "Unharmed of heaven o'er every wind and wave.

"Jove is most mild; and he himself hath sworn "There is no force in vows which lovers rave.

"Falsely by Dian's arrows boldly swear!

"And perjure thee by chaste Minerva's hair!

"Be a prompt wooer, if thou wouldst be wise: "Time is in flight, and never backward flies.

"How swiftly fades the bloom, the vernal green!

"How swift yon poplar dims its silver sheen!

"Spurning the goal th' Olympian courser flies, "Then yields to Time his strength, his victories; "And oft I see sad, fading youth deplore "Each hour it lost, each pleasure it forbore.

"Serpents each spring look young once more; harsh Heaven "To beauteous youth has one brief season given.

"With never-fading youth stern Fate endows "Phoebus and Bacchus only, and allows "Full-cl.u.s.tering ringlets on their lovely brows.

"Keep at thy loved one's side, though hour by hour "The path runs on; though Summer's parching star "Burn all the fields, or blackest tempests lower, "Or monitory rainbows threaten far.

"If he would hasten o'er the purple sea, "Thyself the helmsman or the oarsman be.

"Endure, unmurmuring, each unwelcome toil, "Nor fear thy unaccustomed hands to spoil.

"If to the hills he goes with huntsman's snare, "Let thine own back the nets and burden bear.

"Swords would he have? Fence lightly when you meet; "Expose thy body and compel defeat.

"He will be gracious then, and will not spurn "Caresses to receive, resist, return.

"He will protest, relent, and half-conspire, "And later, all unasked, thy love desire.

"But nay! In these vile times thy skill is vain.

"Beauty and youth are sold for golden gain.

"May he who first taught love to sell and buy, "In grave accurst, with all his riches lie!

"O beauteous youth, how will ye dare to slight "The Muse, to whom Pierian streams belong?

"Will ye not smile on poets, and delight, "More than all golden gifts, in gift of song?

"Did not some song empurple Nisus' hair, "And bid young Pelops' ivory shoulder glow?

"That youth the Muses praise, is he not fair, "Long as the stars shall s.h.i.+ne or waters flow ?

"But he who scorns the Muse, and will for gain "Surrender his base heart,--let his foul cries "Pursue the Corybants' infuriate train, "Through all the cities of the Phrygian plain,-- "Unmanned forever, in foul Phrygian guise!

"But Venus blesses lovers who endear "Love's quest alone by flattery, by fear, "By supplication, plaint, and piteous tear."

Such song the G.o.d of gardens bade me sing For t.i.tius; but his fond wife would fling Such counsel to the winds: "Beware," she cried, "Trust not fair youth too far. For each one's pride "Offers alluring charms: one loves to ride "A gallant horse, and rein him firmly in; "One cleaves the calm wave with white shoulder bare; "One is all courage, and for this looks fair; "And one's pure, blus.h.i.+ng cheeks thy praises win."

Let him obey her! But my precepts wise Are meant for all whom youthful beauty's eyes Turn from in scorn. Let each his glory boast!

Mine is, that lovers, when despairing most, My clients should be called. For them my door Stands hospitably open evermore.

Philosopher to Venus I shall be, And throngs of studious youth will learn of me.

Alas! alas! How love has been my bane!

My cunning fails, and all my arts are vain.

Have mercy, fair one, lest my pupils all Mock me, who point a path in which I fall!

ELEGY THE FIFTH