Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

CALPl KMUS SICULUS•4 He is, I own, a poet divine, Meliboeus, but mayhapPhoebus will not say me nay either : do youbut favourably hear me ; for we know how farApollo is from sliiihtinir you.I. Beirin, my favour is with you; but take heed lest}u reliance your tinklingr pipe breathe from boxwooda> frail as is its usual sound whene'er the praiseof Alexis is the theme. Rather these reeds, thesefar more you must pursue : press the pipes whichsang of woods worthy a consul." Begin ; have nodoubt. See, your brother x\myntas comes too. Inalternate refrain his voice will answer your verses.Draw out your lay : dally not : in tunis resume thesong. You first. Condon, and you will come next,Amyntas.. From Jove let every bard begin, ^ whoso sings ofthe sky, whoso essays to describe the Olympianburden which Atlas bears. For myself, may Iwin a glad propitious smile from the imperial lipsof him whose incarnate godhead rules our landsand whose youthful prowess rules the eternal peace... On me too may Caesar, with eloquent Apollofor comrade, look with favour : nor let him disdainto approach my hills which even Phoebus loves,which Jove himself protects : where blooms thelaurel, destined to see many an imperial triumph,where rises too the laurel's companion-tree.*^40 B.C. and prophesying a golden age of peace. Here inCalpurnius the praises of Xero as " Caesar " correspond tothe higher theme of the " PoUio."**A quotation from Virg. Eel. III. 60, which is in turn anecho of Theocr. XVII. 1.' The oak, sacred to Jupiter, especially at the oracle ofDodona. With the laurel of victory there may be associatedin the poet's mind the oak garland given for saving acitizen's life in battle.k