书城公版New Poems
37726000000103

第103章 AD NEPOTEM

O NEPOS, twice my neigh(b)our (since at home We're door by door, by Flora's temple dome;And in the country, still conjoined by fate, Behold our villas standing gate by gate), Thou hast a daughter, dearer far than life -Thy image and the image of thy wife.

Thy image and thy wife's, and be it so!

But why for her, { neglect the flowing } can { O Nepos, leave the }

And lose the prime of thy Falernian?

Hoard casks of money, if to hoard be thine;But let thy daughter drink a younger wine!

Let her go rich and wise, in silk and fur;Lay down a { bin that shall } grow old with her;{ vintage to }

But thou, meantime, the while the batch is sound, With pleased companions pass the bowl around;Nor let the childless only taste delights, For Fathers also may enjoy their nights.