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SI ME AMAS, BASIA ME. 



"A STATUE of Apollo has been discovered near Rheims, on one 

 side of which are engraved the words " me amas, basia me" There 

 is a MS. song in Latin still in existence, the burden of which is, 

 word for word, the same as the above. The Latinity is that of the 

 lower Empire, and seems to have been the production of some lover, 

 who, quitting the "fumum et opes strepitumce Romce" was ,about to 

 pass the remainder of his life amid the seclusion and solitude of some 

 distant province. Indeed, I am not sure but that the poem and 

 statue may have reference to each other , the following is a trans- 

 lation of it. 



Sing no more ! hush e'en the lute !* 

 Bid the very breeze be mute ! 

 For the spell of Beauty's bow'r 

 Is the silent, sunset hour; 

 Or, if feeling's fount must flow, 

 Forth in whispers, faint and low ; 

 Let the murmur'd music be, 

 " Si me amas, basia me." 



Proud halls for the wealthy are 

 Sweet heart,f did I court thee there '? 

 Seldom, where wealth loves to roam, 

 Doth affection find a home I 

 But where pride of wealth was none, 

 There thy love I woo'd and won ; 

 There first sigh'd, on bended knee, 

 " Si me amas, basia me." 



Come, then, to my rural cot, 

 Rome and all Rome's pomp forgot, 

 Heroes, of her prouder days 

 Minstrels, crown'd with fadeless bays 

 What are they to hearts like ours, 

 Feeding still on love and flow'rs, 

 Sunny flow'rs, love pure, though free 

 " Si me amas, basia me." 



Love, the offspring of desire, 

 Dies like Hope's unfading fire ; 

 But the love of love that's born, 

 Time and tide may laugh to scorn : 

 For though, like the summer day, 

 Youth's fond charms must pass away, 

 Still Youth's token e'er shall be, 

 " Si me amas, basia me." 

 July 22nd. H. B. 



* Chelys, in MS. f Delicise mese, in MS. 



