In Natales Mariae Principis.[126]

Parce tuo jam, bruma ferox, o parce furori, Pone animos; o pacatae da spiritus aurae, Afflatu leniore gravem demulceat annum. Res certe et tempus meruit. Licet improbus Auster Saeviat, et rabido multum se murmure volvat; Imbriferis licet impatiens Notus ardeat alis; Hic tamen, hic certe, modo tu non, saeva, negares, Nec Notus impatiens jam, nec foret improbus Auster. Scilicet hoc decuit? dum nos tam lucida rerum Attollit series, adeo commune serenum Laetitiae vernisque animis micat alta voluptas; Jam torvas acies, jam squallida bella per auras Volvere, et hibernis annum corrumpere nimbis? Ah melius, quin luce novae reparata juventae Ipsa hodie vernaret hiems, pulchroque tumultu Purpureas properaret opes, effunderet omnes Laeta sinus, nitidumque diem fragrantibus horis Aeternum migrare velit, florumque beata Luxurie, tanta o circum cunabula surgat, Excipiatque novos et molliter ambiat artus. Quippe venit, sacris iterum vagitibus ingens Aula sonat, venit en roseo decus addita fratri Blanda soror. Tibi se brevibus, tibi porrigit ulnis, Magne puer, facili tibi torquet hiantia risu Ora; tibi molles lacrymas et nobile murmur Temperat, inque tuo ponit se pendula collo. Tale decus juncto veluti sub stemmate cum quis Dat sociis lucere rosis sua lilia. Talis Fulget honos medio cum se duo sidera mundo Dulcibus intexunt radiis: nec dignior olim Flagrabat nitidae felix consortio formae, Tunc cum sidereos inter pulcherrima fratres Erubuit primum, et Laedaeo cortice rupto Tyndarida explicuit tenerae nova gaudia frontis. Sic socium o miscete jubar, tu candide frater, Tuque serena soror. Sic o date gaudia patri, Sic matri cumque ille olim subeuntibus annis, Ire inter proprios magna cervice triumphos. Egregius volet, atque sua se discere dextra; Te quoque tum pleno mulcebit sidere, et alto Flore tui dulcesque oculos maturior ignis Indole divina, et radiis intinget honoris. Tunc o te quoties, nisi quod tu pulchrior illa, Esse suam Phoeben fulsus jurabit Apollo; Tunc o te quoties, nisi quod tu castior illa, Esse suam Venerem Mavors jurabit inanis. Felix, ah, et cui se non Mars, non aureus ipse Credet Apollo parem; tanta cui conjuge celsus In pulchros properare sinus, et carpere sacras Delicias oculosque tuos, tua basia solus Tum poterit dixisse sua; et se nectare tanto Dum probat esse Deum, superas contemnere mensas.

TRANSLATION.

ON THE BIRTHDAY OF THE PRINCESS MARY.

Forbear thy fury, Winter fierce, forbear; Lay down thy wrath, and let the tranquil air With inspiration mild soothe the stern year: This time deserves it, and occasion dear. The wild North-wind may rage and wildly bluster; The gusty South its rainy clouds may muster; Yet here at least, if thou but will it so, Neither wild North nor gusty South will blow. For were it seemly, when events so bright Exalt us, and the universal light Of joy and vernal pleasure thrills the soul, Grim lines of battling tempest-clouds should roll Through all the air, and drown the year with rain? Better old Winter should bright youth regain, And turn at once to Spring; with tumult sweet Hasten his purple stores, and joyful greet With all his outpour'd heart this shining Day, And bid its fragrant hours for ever stay; Making a radiant wealth of flowers abound Where in her cradle that sweet Child is found, Her tender limbs caress and softly compass round. She comes! Once more are heard those blessed cries Within the palace. See a glory rise-- A star-like glory added to the other, A charming sister to a rosy brother! To this she stretches out her tiny arms, Fair Boy--for thee displays the winsome charms Of her sweet smiles, and checks her gentle tears, And coos and prattles to delight thine ears, Or fondly hangs upon thy neck. Such grace Pleases the eye, when, their stalks joined, you place Lilies with roses to combine their splendour. And then appears such lustrous glory tender, When in the midst of heaven, at dewy eve, Two stars their gentle radiance interweave. Nor loftier grace that beauteous union show'd When from her egg the fairest Helen glow'd Betwixt her starry brothers, and display'd Her tender brow with new delights array'd. So mix your common beam, thou brother fair And sister mild. Such joys your father share And mother dear! And when, as seasons roll, He moves with head erect and princely soul Amid his proper triumphs, and shall learn Himself by his own deeds, thou shalt discern A riper flame within thee, heavenly dower, And star full-orb'd shalt shine, and full-grown flower; While a soft beauty bathes thy lustrous eyes, And rays of majesty the world surprise. Then O how oft, but that thou art more fair, Will some imaginary Phoebus swear That thou art his own Phoebe! or again But that thou art more chaste, some Mars in vain Will swear thou art his Venus, love's soft strain! Ah, happy he, to whom nor Mars will dream Nor golden Phoebus he can equal seem, Who with a wife so sweet, so fair is blest, And all the fond affection of thy breast, And tender, pure endearments; who alone Can call thy eyes and kisses all his own; And while he quaffs such nectar'd wine of love, Feels like a god, and scorns the feasts above. R. WI.