NULLI TE FACIAS NIMIS SODALEM. PALPAT heram felis, gremio recubans in anili; Quam semel atque iterum Lydia palpat hera. Ludum lis sequitur; nam totos exerit ungues, Et longo lacerat vulnere felis anum. Continuo exardens gremio muliercula felem Nec gravibus multis excutit absque minis : Quod tamen haud æquum est-si vult cum fele jocari, Felinum debet Lydia ferre jocum. FAMILIARITY DANGEROUS. As in her ancient mistress' lap The youthful tabby lay, They gave each other many a tap, But strife ensues. Puss waxes warm, And with protruded claws Ploughs all the length of Lydia's arm, Mere wantonness the cause. At once, resentful of the deed, She shakes her to the ground With many a threat, that she shall bleed With still a deeper wound. But, Lydia, bid thy fury rest; It was a venial stroke: For she that will with kittens jest, AD RUBECULAM INVITATIO. HOSPES avis, conviva domo gratissima cuivis, Quam bruma humanam quærere cogit opem; Huc O! hyberni fugias ut frigora cœli, Confuge, et incolumis sub lare vive meo! Unde tuam esuriem releves, alimenta fenestræ Apponam, quoties itque reditque dies. Usu etenim edidici, quod grato alimenta rependes dederit cunque benigna manus. Cantu, quæ Vere novo tepidæ spirant cum molliter auræ, Et novus in quâvis arbore vernat honos, Pro libitu ad lucos redeas, sylvasque revisas, Læta quibus resonat Musica, parque tuæ! Sin iterum, sin forte iterum, inclementia brumæ Ad mea dilectam tecta reducet avem, Esto, redux, grato memor esto rependere cantu Pabula, que dederit cunque benigna manus! Vis hinc harmoniæ, numerorum hinc sacra po testas Conspicitur, nusquam conspicienda magis, Captat, et incantat blando oblectamine Musa INVITATION TO THE REDBREAST. SWEET bird, whom the winter constrains- To seek a retreat, while he reigns, In the well-shelter'd dwellings of man, Who never can seem to intrude, Though in all places equally free, Come, oft as the season is rude, Thou art sure to be welcome to me. At sight of the first feeble ray, That pierces the clouds of the east, To inveigle thee every day My windows shall show thee a feast. For, taught by experience I know Thee mindful of benefit long; And that, thankful for all I bestow, Thou wilt pay me with many a song. Then, soon as the swell of the buds Fly hence, if thou wilt, to the woods, Only pay, as thou pay'dst me before. Thus music must needs be confest To flow from a fountain above; |