Lactea cum flavi decuerunt colla capilli, Cum gena par nivibus visa, labella rosis: Cum tua perstringunt oculos duo sydera nostros Perque oculos intrant in mea corda meos." The goddess of love played the poet more than one droll trick. Having approached her with musical flattery, he fled from her with fear and abhorrence.

If you look into our gardens annexed to our houses, how wonderfully is their beauty increased, not only with flowers, which Columella calleth Terrena sydera saying, "Pingit et in varios terrestria sydera flores,"

Nec si quot placidis ignea noctibus Scintillant tacito sydera culmine, Nec si quot tepidum flante Favonio Ver suffundit humo rosas, Tot sint ora mihi... Was it strange that the youth who could say this felt himself a poet? or who, together with his friend, could sing of spring in a Meliboean song of fifty distichs?