Beauty's blooming flower is thine,
And on thy cheek it glows;
But do not lilies brighter shine
When blended with the rose?
ODE XXXV.—ON A PICTURE REPRESENTING EUROPA.[1]
This bull, my boy, is surely meant
The mighty Jove to represent,
Since on his back he seems to bear
Through pathless seas a Tyrian fair.
With steady strength he stems the tide,
His hoofs the billows dash aside;
For sure no other bull but he
Would from his lovely heifers flee,
And tempt the dangers of the sea.
ODE XXXVI.—LIFE TO BE ENJOYED.
Why prate to me of critic rules,
And jargon of the jangling schools?
Your learned dogmas, prithee, spare,
They're useless all—not worth my care.
I'll hear thee gladly, canst thou tell
The happy art of living well;
How best to mix the sparkling wine,
To make the mellow draught divine;
- ↑ We must here imagine that ye have before us a picture or medal representing the fable of Europa. According to the poets, it was from this princess that our quarter of the globe derives its name.
"Yet sigh no more, but think of love,
For know thou art the wife of Jove;
Then learn to bear thy future fame
When earth's wide continent shall boast thy name."
Francis's Horace, book iii., ode 27.
