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qualis ubi magno in populo si tympana festum mixta tubis celebrant citharisque sonatur et auro it strepitus portis, et ovantia murmura volvi

vesperis exaudit tremulo sub lumine pastor. iamque comas muscorum humiles herbaeque sequacis gramina, iam canis saliceta madentia ramis,

quaeque terunt fluctus resonantis cornua ripae,

quaeque sinus vastos desolatasque paludes

innumero decorant argentea lilia coetu,

obruit exundans numeroso gurgite carmen.

Silence.

THEY seem'd to those who saw them meet

The worldly friends of every day:

Her smile was undisturbed and sweet,

His courtesy was free and gay:

But yet, if one the other's name

In some unguarded moment heard,

The heart you thought so calm and tame,
Would struggle like a captur'd bird;
And letters of mere formal phrase

Were blister'd with repeated tears.

39

Silebant.

Verba serunt isti, poteras conviva putare,

qualia convivae quotidiana serunt:

illa nihil trepidum, nil triste prementis ad instar ridet; in urbanos par vacat ille sales.

si tamen alterius non praevigilantis ad aurem alterius nomen vox inopina tulit,

tam, reor, apta iugo, tam scilicet inscia flammae

corda micant qualis capta columba micat: quaeque salutantis frigebat epistola nugis

plus semel affusa tabuerat lacrima.

And this was not the work of days,
But had gone on for years and years.
Alas, that Love was not too strong
For maiden shame and manly pride!
Alas, that they delay'd so long

The goal of mutual bliss beside!

Yet, what no chance could then reveal,
And neither would be first to own,

Let fate and courage now conceal,

When truth could bring remorse alone.

LORD HOUGHTON.

nec brevium spatio mens venerat illa dierum ; creverat annorum lentus amaror opus.

digna viro gravitas pudor o si virgine dignus obstabant, utinam praevaluisset amor!

o utinam voti stantes iam fine sub ipso ivissent positis quo voluere moris!

quod tamen haud usquam fors tempestiva reclusit, quodque prior fari segnis uterque fuit,

id sua fata tegant, id fortia corda recondant,

ne pigeat frustra dissimulata loqui.

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