O quantum eft auri pereat, potiufque fmaragdi, 



Quam fleat ob noftras ulla puella vias ! 



Te bellare decet terra, Meflala marique, 



Ut domus hoftiles praeferat exuvias. 



Me retinent vindum formofae vincla puellas, 



Et fedeo duras janitor ante fores. 



Non ego laudari euro mea Delia : tecum 



Dummodo fim, qusfo fegnis, inersque Tocer. 



Et te dum liceat teneris retinere laccrtis, 

 Mollis et incuha fit mihi fomnus humo. 



Ferreus ille fuit, qui, te cum poflit habere, 

 Malluerit prsdas flultus et arma fequi. 



Te fpejlem fuprema mihi cum venerit hora, 

 Te teneam moriens deficiente raanu. 



However, we may admire the tendernefs and fweet fimplicity of this 

 poet, the truth and nature of his fentiraents, the purity of his lan- 

 guage, it muft be admitted, that wc do not find in him the dignified 

 and ennobling platonifm of love poetry ; and that Tibullus dwells merely 

 on external graces. Diflblved in love and tendernefs, his whole fpirit 

 is poflcffed with the image of his Delia, but mental accomplishments 

 make no part of that image. He wiflies for nothing fo ardently as the 

 happinefs of poffefling her, but never fpeaks of the pleafurcs refulting 

 from the rational intercourfe of two poliflied minds, or the confciouf- 

 nefs of being beloved by a woman of merit. 



Propertius feems mofl: nearly to approach Petrarch, in violence of paf- 

 fion, and energy of expreflion ; his elegies foar to an higher pitch 

 than thofc of Tibullus, and difplay greater force of thought, with a 

 more extenfive knowledge of the world, more fancy and learning, with 

 a great variety of contending paffions. His fufpicions are eafily awa- 

 kened, and as eafily calmed. His writings are filled alternately with 

 the moft poignant reproaches, and the mofl paffionate expreffions of 

 fondnefs. He knows no bound, no moderation in his feelings ; for 

 ever ingenious to torment himfclf, for ever toil by a raging ftorm of 



jealoufy 



