Page 206 pars vigiles ludunt aut per virgulta vagantes scrutantur nidos avium vel roscida laeti mala legunt donum Veneri flexusque sequuntur 15 palmitis et summas pennis librantur in ulmos; defendunt alii lucum Dryadasque procaces spectandi cupidas et rustica numina pellunt silvestresque deos longeque tuentibus antrum flammea lascivis intendunt spicula Faunis: 20 cum subito varius vicina clamor ab urbe et fausti iuvenum plausus mixtaeque choreis auditae per rura lyrae. Celerina per omnes Italiae canitur montes omnisque maritum Palladium resonabat ager. Pervenit ad aures 25 vox iucunda deae strepituque excita resedit et reliquum nitido detersit pollice somnum utque fuit, turbata comas, intecta papillas, mollibus exurgit stratis interque suorum agmen et innumeros Hymenaeum quaerit Amores 30 (hunc Musa genitum legit Cytherea ducemque praefecit thalamis; nullum iunxisse cubile hoc sine nec primas fas est attollere taedas). conspicitur tandem. platano namque ille sub alta fusus inaequales cera texebat avenas 35 Maenaliosque modos et pastoralia labris murmura temptabat relegens orisque recursu dissimilem tenui variabat harundine ventum. Restitit ut vidit Venerem, digitisque remissis ad terram tacito defluxit fistula flatu. 40 * * * * * Page 207 wake and play or wander through the thickets in search of birds’ nests or take delight in plucking dewy apples as a gift for Venus or hunt the gadding vine for grapes, and, poised on their wings, climb its branches to the very tops of the elm-trees. Others keep guard over the wood and drive off the wanton, curious Dryads, the country gods and the woodland deities, discharging flaming darts at the amorous Fauns who try from a distance to catch a glimpse of Venus’ bower. Suddenly there arose cries and shoutings from the neighbouring city; joyous acclamations of youth and the strains of the lyre accompanying dancing in the streets. Through all the hills of Italy the name of Celerina is chanted and every field re-echoes that of her husband Palladius.