Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

REPOSIAXUSshould be safe 'neath overseer so mighty ? If nowwe take our pattern of wrongdoing from deity, whatmay a mortal's love expect ? What prayers must beoftered ? What deity should a paramour entreat foran easy mind? Cypris is in love, yet not in safety.Phoebus held tight his reins and towards the groveturned but his eyes, uttering these brief words" Now dost thou shower thy darts. O Cupid; now,now, divine \ enus, quite vanquished by thy son'sarrows, thou givest me solace ; 'neath thy power Ihave learned to love care-free. My amours will berecounted for a fable, not a crime." '^So speaking he stirs up Vulcan with bitter words :" Say, heedless husband, where is the comely Ladyof Cvthera ! Does she await thee in tears, preservinglier chaste love for thee ? Or, if mayhap thouknowest not the wild offences of thy ^ enus, searchat the same time for Mars, whom of late thou didstprovide with weapons." As he spoke, he lit up thegrove with a flood of light, sending straightway hisfull fires down in proof of guilt. The Lord of Firewas at a loss, stunned by so great a crime : now halfbenumbed(anger scarce meets his pain) he growlsaloud, and groaning in melancholy wise convulseshis sides to their very depth and wrathfully heavessigh on sigh unceasing.* In his frenzy he makes forthe cavern-forge of Aetna. Scarce were his ordersgiven, when all hands fell to work—much did resentmentadd to skill. How quickly is all accomplishedby skill, deity, flame, husband, anger, pain ! Scarcein the moment of his ordering had he explained the* Cf. phrases like Virg. Aen. IX. 415, longis singidtibus iliapulsat; \lll. 94, noctemqite diemque fatigant ; Sil. Ital. XII.496, curasque ita corde fatigat.537