Where Cyprus looks out over the Ionian main a craggy mountain overshadows it; unapproachable by human foot it faces the isle of Pharos, the home of Proteus and the seven mouths of the Nile. The hoar frost dares not clothe its sides, nor the rude winds buffet it nor clouds obscure. It is consecrate to pleasure and to Venus. The year’s less clement seasons are strangers to it, whereover ever brood the blessings of eternal spring. The mountain’s height slopes down into a plain; that a golden hedge encircles, guarding its meadows with yellow metal. This demesne, men say, was the price paid by Mulciber for the kisses of his wife, these towers were the gift of a loving husband. Fair is the enclosed country, ever bright with flowers though touched with no labouring hand, for Zephyr is husbandman enough therefor. Into its shady groves no bird may enter save such as has first won the goddess’ approval for its song. Those which please her may flit among the branches; they must quit who cannot pass the test. The very leaves live for love and in his season every happy tree experiences love’s power: palm bends down to mate with palm, poplar sighs its passion for poplar, plane whispers to plane, alder to alder. Here spring two fountains, the one of sweet water, the other of bitter, honey is mingled with the first, poison with the second, and in these streams ’tis said * * * * * Page 248 unde Cupidineas armari fama sagittas. mille pharetrati ludunt in margine fratres, ore pares, aevo similes, gens mollis Amorum. hos Nymphae pariunt, illum Venus aurea solum edidit. ille deos caelumque et sidera cornu 75 temperat et summos dignatur figere reges; hi plebem feriunt. nec cetera numina desunt: hic habitat nullo constricta Licentia nodo et flecti faciles Irae vinoque madentes Excubiae Lacrimaeque rudes et gratus amantum 80 Pallor et in primis titubans Audacia furtis iucundique Metus et non secura Voluptas; et lasciva volant levibus Periuria ventis. quos inter petulans alta cervice Iuventas excludit Senium luco. 85 Procul atria divae permutant radios silvaque obstante virescunt. Lemnius haec etiam gemmis extruxit et auro admiscens artem pretio trabibusque smaragdi supposuit caesas hyacinthi rupe columnas. beryllo paries et iaspide lubrica surgunt 90 limina despectusque solo calcatur achates. in medio glaebis redolentibus area dives praebet odoratas messes; hic mitis amomi, hic casiae matura seges, Panchaeaque turgent cinnama, nec sicco frondescunt vimina costo 95 tardaque sudanti prorepunt balsama rivo. Quo postquam delapsus Amor longasque peregit penna vias, alacer passuque superbior intrat.