on _villae_, I see the derivation of that word
given, _quasi vehilla_, because there the fruits of the farm were
carried; so that the original idea of a villa was quite another thing
from the modern suburban construction. Architects, when they call these
suburban edifices villas, might as well remember how inappropriate is
the term. But here you have my version of this address to his farm:--

AD FUNDUM.

My Farm, or Sabine or Tiburtian,
(What name I care not we confab in,
Though they who hold me in aversion,
Persist and wager you are Sabine,)

In your suburban sweet recesses
Of that vile cough I timely rid me,
Merited well, for those excesses
My stomach failed not to forbid me,

When I with Sextius was convivial,
Who feasting read me his invective,
Vilest, 'gainst Attius his rival,
All venom--and, alas! effective.

For surely 'twas that poison seized me,
A chill--a heat--a cough then shook me
E'en to my vitals--and so teazed me,
That to thy bosom I betook me.

Thanks, my good farm! my fault you pardon'd,
And not revenged. We've much to settle
On score of thanks: my chest you harden'd,
And healed with basil-root and nettle.

But from henceforth, if I such vicious
Invectives read, though Sextius pen 'em,
Who but invites me with malicious
Intent to kill me with their venom--

If e'er I yield to his endeavour,
Expose me to his scrip infectious--
I call down ague, cold, and fever,
Oh! fall ye not on me,--but Sextius.

GRATIAN.--I see the next is that one which has been not unfrequently
translated and imitated. Is there not one by Cowley,--if I remember,
much lengthened?

AQUILIUS.--It can scarcely be called a translation. The Latin measure is
certainly here very sweet and tender.

DE ACME ET SEPTIMIO.

Septimius, to his bosom pressing
His Acme, said, "I love thee, Acme--
All my life-long will love thee, Acme!
Nor day shall come to love thee less in.
Or should it come, like common lover,
In such poor love I love thee only;
May Libyan lion dun discover,
Or torrid India's beast attack me,
Wandering forlorn from thee, and lonely
On desert shore."--
He said: Love, as before,
Upon the left hand aptly sneezed.
The omen showed that he was pleased
To give his blessing.

Then gentle Acme, softly