Horace, however, has closed his ode with a few lines, perhaps the most beautiful and tender in the whole circle of Latin poetry, and which strike us the more, as pathos is not that poet’s peculiar excellence— “Ille te mecum locus et beati,” &c. Catullus, on the other hand, after preserving an elevated strain of poetry for four stanzas, concludes with requesting his friends to deliver a ridiculous message to his mistress, who “Nec meum respectet, ut ante, amorem, Qui illius culpa cecidit; velut prati Ultimi flos, prætereunte postquam Tactus aratro est.” This last most beautiful image has been imitated by various poets. Virgil has not disdained to transfer it to his Æneid— “Purpureus veluti cum flos succisus aratro Languescit moriens(480).” Fracastoro has employed the same metaphor with hardly less elegance in his consolatory epistle to Turri, on the loss of his child— —— “Jacet ille velut succisus aratro Flos tener, et frustra non audit tanta gementem;” and Ariosto has introduced it in the eighteenth canto of the Orlando— “Come purpureo fior languendo muore Che ’l vomere al passar tagliato lassa.” 13. _Ad Fabullum_. Our poet invites Fabullus to supper, on condition that he will bring his provisions along with him— —— “Nam tui Catulli Plenus sacculus est aranearum.” On his own part, he promises only a hearty welcome, and the most exquisite ointments. In the poetry of social kindness and friendship, Catullus is eminently happy; and we regret to find that this tone, which has so much prevailed in the preceding odes, subsequently changes into bitter and gross invective. The thirteen following poems are chiefly occupied with vehement and indelicate abuse of those friends of the poet, Furius and Aurelius, who were men of some quality and distinction, but had wasted their fortunes by extravagance and debauchery. In a former ode, we have seen him confident that they would readily accompany him to the wildest or remotest quarters of the globe: But he had subsequently quarrelled with them, partly because they had stigmatized his verses as soft and effeminate; and, in revenge for this affront, he upbraids them with their poverty and vices. Of these thirteen poems, the last, addressed to Furius, is a striking picture of the sheltered situation of a villa. In the common editions, the description refers to the villa of Catullus himself, but Muretus thinks, it was rather meant to be applied to that of Furius: “Furi, villula vostra non ad Austri,” &c. 27. _Ad Pocillatorem puerum_. This address, in which Catullus calls on his cupbearer to pour out for him copious and unmixed libations of Falernian, is quite in the spirit of Anacreon: it breathes all his easy and joyous gaiety, and the enthusiasm inspired by the grape. 28. _Ad Verannium et Fabullum_— “Pisonis comites cohors inanis,” &c.