Since gods and men alike approve,
Oh Phœbus! that ingenuous shame
Should hide the deeds of sacred flame,
And all be secrecy in love. 74 75
But thee, whom falsehood ne'er can reach,
Some motive of a doubtful kind
Has with feign'd ignorance inclined
To utter this ambiguous speech.
For whence, oh king! thy fond desire 80
The damsel's lineage to inquire?
Whose eye of all events surveys
The fated end, the various ways;
Who to what leaves the teeming earth
In spring's prolific hour gives birth, 85
What sands are moved when waves tempestuous swell, [1]
Canst number with omniscient mind,
And every future period find
Which time's revolving course shall e'er impel. 89
But if with thine I must compare 90
My wisdom, this I will declare.
Her husband thou who seek'st this vale
Shalt o'er the paths of ocean sail;
And to the verdant plain of Jove [2]
Convey the object of thy love. 95
Thou shalt appoint Cyrene there
The ruler of a city fair,
Collecting all the island train
