Odes 3.13 (Martin): O Fons Bandusiae

O FOUNTAIN of Bandusia,
Sparkling brighter in thy play,
Far than crystal, thou of wine
Worthy art and fragrant twine
Of fairest flowers! To-morrow thou
A kid shalt have, whose swelling brow,
And horns just budding into life,
Give promise both of love and strife.
Vain promise all! For in the spring
And glory of his wantoning.
His blood shall stain thy waters cool
With many a deep-ensanguined pool.

Thee the fiery star, the hot
Breath of noonday toucheth not.
Thou a grateful cool dost yield
To the flocks that range afield,
And breathest freshness from thy stream
To the labour-wearied team.
Thou, too, shalt be one erelong
Of the fountains famed in song,
When I sing the ilex bending
O'er thy mosses, whence descending
Thy delicious waters bound,
Prattling to the rocks around.