Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

TWO ELEGIES OF MAECENASdone its work. The streams are frozen—then theswallow shelters 'mid the crags : in spring loudtwitterincTshe skims the jrenial meres.The Emperor was Maecenas' friend: so he wasfree to live a life of ease when the Emperor wasnow all he longed to be. He granted indulgenceto Maecenas' merits : nor is Maecenas reckless : wehave won our victory'': 'twas the judgement ofAugustus that counted him deserving.''After the*-'Argo had skirted in affright the reefs of Scylla andthe peril of the Clashing Rocks, when the barque hadnow to be moored, the daughter'^ of Aeetes, all-skilledin her magic juices, had changed into a lamb thebody of the ram she had cut up. 'Twas right,Maecenas, that by such means thou shouldst havepower to grow young again : would that we had theherb of the Colchian (sorceress)Trees reclothed in green have the bloom of theirlife restored : and to man then does not that whichwas his before come again ? Is it meet that the timiddeer with stiff horns on their wild foreheads shouldhave longer life ? Crows, 'tis said, live for many ayear : why do we men exist on narrow terms ?Tithonus, as Aurora's consort, feeds on nectar, andso, though he be palsied now, no length of age canwork him harm. That thy life, Maecenas, mightAs Anton}' has been overthrown, easy-going relaxationis no longer a danger.* i.e. to indulge in a more luxurious life after Antony'sdefeat.' Tfie Argo would not naturally pass by Scylla andCharybdis on the outward voj^age to Colchis.^ Medea, princess of Colchis, famous for her powers insorcery.K 2