XLIX. To Lysius Lenaeus

Hear me, Jove's son, blest Bacchus, God of wine,

Born of two mothers, honor'd and divine;

Lysian, Euion  * Bacchus, various-nam'd,

Of Gods the offspring secret, holy, fam'd:

Fertile and nourishing whose liberal care 5

Earth's fruits increases, flourishing and fair;

Sounding, magnanimous, Lenæan pow'r

O various form'd, medic'nal, holy flow'r:

Mortals in thee, repose from labour find,

Delightful charm, desir'd by all mankind: 10

Fair-hair'd Euion, Bromian, joyful God,

Lysian, invested with the leafy rod.

To these our rites, benignant pow'r incline,

When fav'ring men, or when on Gods you shine;

Be present to thy mystic's suppliant pray'r, 15

Rejoicing come, and fruits abundant bear.

Footnotes

181:* Euion ingeminat, reparabilis assonat Echo. Persius.

L.