To M.L. Gray.

Come, dear old friend, and with us twain     To calm Digentian groves repair;     The turtle coos his sweet refrain     And posies are a-blooming there;     And there the romping Sabine girls     Bind myrtle in their lustrous curls.     I know a certain ilex-tree     Whence leaps a fountain cool and clear.     Its voices summon you and me;     Come, let us haste to share its cheer!     Methinks the rapturous song it sings     Should woo our thoughts from mortal things.     But, good old friend, I charge thee well,     Watch thou my brother all the while,     Lest some fair Lydia cast her spell     Round him unschooled in female guile.     Those damsels have no charms for me;     Guard thou that brother,--I'll guard thee!     And, lo, sweet friend! behold this cup,     Round which the garlands intertwine;     With Massic it is foaming up,     And we would drink to thee and thine.     And of the draught thou shalt partake,     Who lov'st us for our father's sake.     Hark you! from yonder Sabine farm     Echo the songs of long ago,     With power to soothe and grace to charm     What ills humanity may know;     With that sweet music in the air,     'T is Love and Summer everywhere.     So, though no grief consumes our lot     (Since all our lives have been discreet),     Come, in this consecrated spot,     Let's see if pagan cheer be sweet.     Now, then, the songs; but, first, more wine.     The gods be with you, friends of mine!