[Sophonisba Masinissae. Epistola]Gray, Thomas, 1716-1771Alexander HuberEditorGöttingen State and University Library, University of GöttingenHistoric BuildingPapendiek 14D-37073 GöttingenGermanyThomas Gray ArchiveTaylor Institution LibrarySt Giles'Oxford OX1 3NAUKinfo@thomasgray.orghttps://www.thomasgray.org/OxfordThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.1775
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[Sophonisba Masinissae. Epistola]
Egregium accipio promissi Munus amoris, Inque manu mortem jam fruitura fero:Atque utinam citius mandasses, luce vel una; Transieram Stygios non inhonesta lacus.Victoris nec passa toros, nova nupta, mariti, Nec fueram fastus, Roma superba, tuos.Scilicet haec partem tibi, Masinissa, triumphi Detractam, haec pompae jura minora suaeImputat, atque uxor quod non tua pressa catenis, Objecta et saevae plausibus urbis eo:Quin tu pro tantis cepisti praemia factis, Magnum Romanae pignus amicitiae!Scipiadae excuses, oro, si tardius utar Munere. Non nimium vivere, crede, velim.Parva mora est, breve sed tempus mea fama requirit: Detinet haec animam cura suprema meam.Quae patriae prodesse meae Regina ferebar, Inter Elisaeas gloria prima nurus,Ne videar flammae nimis indulsisse secundae, Vel nimis hostiles extimuisse manus.Fortunam atque annos liceat revocare priores, Gaudiaque heu! quantis nostra repensa malis.Primitiasne tuas meministi atque arma Syphacis Fusa, et per Tyrias ducta trophaea vias?(Laudis at antiquae forsan meminisse pigebit, Quodque decus quondam causa ruboris erit.)Tempus ego certe memini, felicia Poenis Quo te non puduit solvere vota deis;Moeniaque intrantem vidi: longo agmine duxit Turba salutantum, purpureique patres.Foeminea ante omnes longe admiratur euntem Haeret et aspectu tota caterva tuo.Jam flexi, regale decus, per colla capilli, Jam decet ardenti fuscus in ore color!Commendat frontis generosa modestia formam, Seque cupit laudi surripuisse suae.Prima genas tenui signat vix flore juventas, Et dextrae soli credimus esse virum.Dum faciles gradiens oculos per singula jactas, (Seu rexit casus lumina, sive Venus)In me (vel certe visum est) conversa morari Sensi; virgineus perculit ora pudor.Nescio quid vultum molle spirare tuendo, Credideramque tuos lentius ire pedes.Quaerebam, juxta aequalis si dignior esset, Quae poterat visus detinuisse tuos:Nulla fuit circum aequalis quae dignior esset, Asseruitque decus conscia forma suum.Pompae finis erat. Tota vix nocte quievi: Sin premat invitae lumina victa sopor,Somnus habet pompas, eademque recursat imago; Atque iterum hesterno munere victor ades. [...]