On a Lady throwing Snow-Balls at her Lover

by Christopher Smart

On a Lady throwing Snow-Balls

at her Lover

From the Latin of Petronious Afranius

When, wanton fair, the snowy orb you throw,
I feel a fire before unknown in snow.
E'en coldest snow I find has pow'r to warm
My breast, when flung by Julia 's lovely arm.
5 T'elude love's pow'rful arts I strive in vain,
If ice and snow can latent fires contain.
These frolics leave: the force of beauty prove,
With equal passion cool my ardent love.

1754

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Notes

The latin poem was included into the Renaissance editions of Petronius Arbiter's Satyricon, but later it was regarded as spurious. Smart's translation was published in The Gentleman's Magazine, March 1754, p. 138 with the subtitle "From the Latin of Petronius Afranius" (Afranius — means African). However in the edition of 1791 the "Afranius" was changed into "Ascanius" (Ascanius or Iulus — was the son of Aeneas.