Here he surpasses his original. Then he gives you the object of the wishes of the youths and maidens, the _multi pueri multae optaverae puellae_. They desire to place it in their bosoms or round their temples: and is not the lovingness of the youths and maidens a good addition? The _giovani vaghi e donne innamorate_. Both are admirable--but I incline to Ariosto. AQUILIUS.--And do you think the Latin poet the original? You forget how little originality the Latin authors can claim. This of Catullus is a translation--a free one, it is true--of perhaps a still more beautiful passage in Euripides. Reach the book: you will find it in that very singular play the Hippolytus. Ay, here it is. He offers the garland to the virgin goddess Artemis--(line 73) [Greek: "Soi tonde plekton stephanon ex akeratou Leimonos, o despoina, kosmesas phero, Enth' oute poimen axioi pherbein bota Out' elthe po sideros, all' akeraton Melissa leimon' erinon dierchetai Aidos de potamiaisi kepeuei drosois. Hosois didakton meden, all' en te physei To sophronein eilechen es ta panth' homos, Toutos drepesthai; tois kakoisi, d' ou themis."] "I bring thee, O mistress, this woven crown, beautifully made up of flowers of the pure untouched meadow--where never shepherd thinks it fitting to feed his flock, nor the sickle comes; but the bee ever passes over the pure meadow breathing of spring, and modesty waters it as a garden with the river-dews. To them who have, untaught, in their nature the gift of chastity, to these only it is at all times an allowed sanctity to cut these flowers, but not to the evil-minded." You cannot doubt that the passage in Catullus is taken from the Greek--which is of a higher sentiment in the conclusion, and is enriched beyond the Latin by the bee, and above all by the personification of Modesty tending and watering the garden, or rather these especial flowers, with the river-dews. CURATE.--How far more pure is the sentiment, and more quiet the imagery, in the Greek! The Greeks were the great originators of glorious thought and beautiful diction. GRATIAN.--Let us now to Catullus. What have we next? AQUILIUS.--Here is a tender little piece, to his friend Ortalus. I see it has an omission: this edition does not supply it; I only take what I see. It seems Ortalus had requested him to send him his translation from Callimachus, the "Coma Berenices," which for some time, through grief for the death of his brother, he had failed to do. He now sends the poem. AD ORTALUM. Though care, that unto me sore grief hath brought, Calls me from converse with the sacred Nine, Nor can my heart incline To bring to any end inspired thought;-- (For now the wave of the Lethaean lake, How recent hath it bathed in Death's dark vale A brother's feet so pale; And I can only sorrow for his sake.