Odes 4.7 (Creech): Diffugere Nives

THe Snows are gone, and Grass returns again,
New Leaves adorn the Widow Trees
The unswoln Streams their narrow banks contain,
And softly role to quiet Seas:

The decent Nymphs with smiling Graces joyn'd,
Now naked dance i'th' open Air
They frolick, dance, nor do they fear the Wind
That gently wantons thro their Hair.

The nimble hour that turns the Circling Year
And swiftly whirls the pleasing Day,
Forewarns Thee to be Mortal in thy Care
Nor cramp thy Life with long delay:
The Spring the Winter, Summer wasts the Spring,
And Summers beauty's quickly lost,
When drunken Autumn spreads her drooping Wing
And next cold Winter creeps in Frost.

The Moon tis true her Monthly loss repairs,
She streight renews her borrow'd light;
But when black Death hath turn'd our shining years,
There follows one Eternal Night.

When we shall view the gloomy Stygian Shore,
And walk amongst the mighty Dead
Where Tullus, where Aeneas went before:
We shall be Dust, and empty shade:

Who knows if stubborn Fate will prove so kind,
And joyn to this another day?
What e're is for thy greedy Heir design'd,
Will slip his Hands, and fly away:

When thou art gone, and Minos Sentence read,
Torquatus there is no return,
Thy Fame, nor all thy learned Tongue can plead,
Nor goodness shall unseal the Urn:

For Chast Hyppolytus Diana strives,
She strives, but ah! she strives in vain;
Nor Theseus Care, and Pious force reprieves,
Nor breaks his Dear Perithous Chain.