POETRY.

AN EXPERIMENT.

(HORA.CE TRANSLATED IN HIS OWN METRICS) (i.) ODES III. 12.

How unhappy are the maidens who with Love may never frolic, Nor in wine-cup drown their sorrows, without fainting 'neath the scourges Of an uncle's reprimanding.

But thy work-bag and thy weaving Venus' wingM boy bath stolen, And Minerva's busy service thou forgoest, Neobule, For the handsome Liparaean.

When he flashes his anointed shoulders fresh from bath of Tibor; Better rider he than e'en Bellerophon, and never conquered Or in boxing or in foot-race :

He's unrivalled as a marksman when the routed deer are flying. In the open; and can nimbly, when the wild boar in the tangled Thicket crouches, spring upon him.

(H.) ODES IV. 7.

Melted away is the snow—grass springs anew in the meadows— Leaves reappear on the trees—

Earth develops a change, and by their natural channels Rivers decreasing are bound.

Linked with companion Nymphs, all lightly apparelled, the sister Graces are leading the dance.

Hours that hurry the day and fleeting seasons forbid us Hope for nnfading delights :

Frost gives way to the Zephyrs—Spring's overridden by Summer—

Summer will perish in turn Soon as Autumn has lavished his fruits ; then cold and inactive Winter returns to the Earth.

Swiftly, however, the moons repair the loss of their waning ; We, when we're summoned away Whither our sire Aeneas has gone, and Tullus and linens, Still are but shadow and dust. Who can tell if the Gods will prolong by the gift of a morrow Time that is reckoned to-day ?

Greedily waits thine heir; but naught will he grasp if thou lavish All on thy favourite self.

When thou art dead, and the Judge has passed his sentence upon

thee— Sentence of majesty stern—

Gone is all hope of recall : rank, eloquence, duty regarded, Vainly, Torquatus, thoult plead : Not even Dian's self can win from the nethermost darkness Sinless Hippolytus free ; Nor can Theseus' strength his friend Pirithous rescue, Fast in oblivion bound.

H. KYNASTON.