Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

NKMESIANUSand the hyacinth has no sweet bhish, nor domyrtle or hiurel breathe any fragrance ; butif you come, lilies will grow white once more,the roses be red, and the hyacinth regain itssweet blush ; then for me wiW laurel withmyrtle breathe fragrance forth. For whilePallas loves the olive-berries that swell withfatness, while Bacchus loves the vines, Deo "her crops. Priapus his fruits and Pales thejoyous pastures, Idas loves you alone,"So Idas on the pipes. O Phoebus, recount what\lcon answered in verse. Over poetry Phoebuspresides.A. " O Pales, lady of the hills, Apollo of the pastureland,Silvanus, lord of the groves, and my Dione *whose citadel is the lofty ridge of Eryx, whoseprovince it is throughout the aeons to rivetthe love-unions of mankind ; what fate have Imerited ? Why has fair Donace deserted me ?I gave her gifts, such as our friend Idas neveri^ave—a tuneful nightingale that trills its songshour after hour : and, although sometimes, whenthe little cage-doors—barred with woven osierare opened, it can fly forth as if free and wingits way among the birds of the field, yet itknows how to return home again and enter itsabode and prefer the cage of osier to all thewoods that are. Besides, of late I sent her whatspoils of the forest I could, a young hare and a" Deo is Atjw, Demeter, the corn-goddess.* Dione, strictl}- mother of Venus, is here identified withVenus, whose temple on Mount Eryx in X.W. Sicily gave herthe epithet of "' P.rycina."469