Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

OREPOSIANUSdepths of his Uinfi!:s hot passion still pants love.Venus herself then, even then, enkindled withglowing poison, is afire and burns : she wins norestful dreams. How winning the sight !^ Howfit the slumber that has o'ercome the naked limbs !A fair neck rests on snowy arms : the breast seemslit up by a pair of stars. Not wholly on her backis she reclined, but with a gentle bend of the bodywhere side meets side. Looking at Mars, she dropsher eyes in sleep, charming as ever, comely.^ Infront of the grove meanwhile Cupid is handlingMars' weapons : and after scanning them one by one,breastplate, shield, sword, plumes of the threateninghelmet, he binds them each with flowers ; then teststhe spear's weight, marvelling that his own arrowshave been allowed such power.Already had Phoebus taken possession of the midworldwith his rays, already in the heat of his proudcourse had he balanced the hours of day and wasrestraining his flaming steeds. Ah ! envious daylightprivy to the deed ! What love-intrigues ofVenus are now betrayed, O Phoebus, by thy sunshine! With a judge so mighty there stand asprisoners Mars and Love and Paphos' queen; shedthrough the branches, sunbeams quiver ; they cannotdisown their guilt confronted by thy testimony.From his chariot in full career Phoebus had espiedGradivus breathing love's fires in the Paphian goddess'lap. O ill-placed confidence ! joys evenfor the very gods scarce free from care ! Who butwould hope, when Cypris was in love, that loving* Baehrens marks a lacuna here because of the abrupttransition.535