Ovid de Ponto Containing foure books of elegies. Written by him in Tomos, a citie of Pontus, in the foure last yeares of his life, and so dyed there in the seaventh yeare of his banishment from Rome. Translated by W.S.

ELEGIE. VIII.

To Cotta.

THe Caesars Pictures that like the gods be, Which, Cotta, you sent were deliv••r'd me. And that your gi••t might more acceptance find, Livia's there was with the Caesars joyn'd. These silver peeces are than gold more blest, Wh••reon the Caesars figures are exprest. You could have given no greater wealth to me, Then Pictures wherein I three god•• see.

To see the gods in Picture comforts me, To speake as twere unto their Majesty; Me thinkes remote lands doe not me containe, But I returned in the City am. I doe see Caesars face as I did before, Though I scarce have hope to see him more; And as before I salute his Majesty, If I returnd I could not happier be. What doe not we behold but the Pallace? Whereto great Caesars presence giveth grace: Beholding him, me thinkes I Rome doe s••e, His face presents his Empire unto me. Dreame I? or doth his Pictu••e still appeare, To threaten, as with me he angry were? O spare me then, whose vertues doe exc••ede And in thy just revenge doe not ••roceede. Spare me young Prince the glory of our time, Whose nature doth to Soveraignty encline: By thy land to thee than thy selfe more deare, By the gods who doe alwayes heare thy praye••; And by your Consort, who was found to be Fit o••ely to match with your Majesty. And by thy Sonne, so like in vertues growne. T••at to be thine he may be thereby knowne. And by all your other kindred who be, By your command advanc'd to high degree. Abate my punishment and grant that I May live 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the Syt••ian enemy. And you that next unto great Caesar are, Be not averse unto my humble prayer, So may subdued Germany soone be, Carry'd in solemne triumph before thee. So may thy Father live to Nestors years And thy old mother untill ••he appeares

A Cum••an Syb••ll, and mayst thou long Be unto both of them a happy Sonne. And you his royall Queene be pleasd to grant The humble prayers of a poore supplyant. So may your husband and your progeny Live in health and your royall family. So may Drusus onely of your off-spring dye, Being snatcht from you by fate in Germany. So may thy Sonne on his white horse soone be, The revenger of his brothers destiny. Ye gentle powers 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this my fearefull prayer, Helpe me since you by picture present are. I take delight your countenance to see, Since thr••e gods in one house encluded be. H••ppy are they w••o in your presence doe, Your Majesties ••n •• not your picture view. Which since my haplesse fate to me envyes, I ••dore the pictures of your Majesties. Thus men did know the gods in the skies hid, And for great Iove, Ioves Image honour did. Let not your Images which shall still reside With me, here in this hatefull place abide. My head shall sooner be cut from my necke, My eyes be dig'd out and lye on my cheeke; Then I w••nt the pictures of your Majesty, In banishment they shall my comfort be. For you I would ••mbrace, if by the stout Arm'd Getes I were encompassd round about: And following the Romane Eagles I Will follow the pictures of y••ur Majesty. But my desires are to deceive me bent, Or t••ere is hope of milder banishment. The Pictures aspects doe more mild appeare, And seeme as if they granted my desire:

And may my fearefull mind the truth presage, That Caesars wrath, although just, may a••••wage.