Two seas, or
, or
, for its king
Each famous, or Thessalian Tempe green;
There are who make chaste Pallas' virgin tower
5
The daily burden of unending song,
And search for wreaths the olive's rifled bower:
The praise of Juno sounds from many a tongue,
Telling of
' steeds,
's gold.
For me stern
forges no such spell,
10
No, nor Larissa's plain of richest mould,
As bright Albunea echoing from her cell.
O headlong Anio! O Tiburnian groves,
And orchards saturate with shifting streams!
Look how the clear fresh south from heaven removes
15
The tempest, nor with rain perpetual teems!
You too be wise, my Plancus: life's worst cloud
Will melt in air, by mellow wine allay'd,
Dwell you in camps, with glittering banners proud,
Or 'neath your
's canopy of shade.
20
When Teucer fled before his father's frown
From
, they say his temples deep
He dipp'd in wine, then wreath'd with poplar crown,
And bade his comrades lay their grief to sleep:
“Where Fortune bears us, than my sire more kind,
25
There let us go, my own, my gallant crew.
'Tis Teucer leads, 'tis Teucer breathes the wind;
No more despair; Apollo's word is true.
Shall yet arise. Hearts, that have borne with me
30
Worse buffets! drown today in wine your care;
To-morrow we recross the wide, wide sea!”
