Lucretius on the Nature of Things #260611

Mother of the Aeneadae, darling of men and gods, increase-giving Venus, who beneath the gliding signs of heaven fillest with thy presence the ship-carrying sea, the corn — bearing lands, since through thee every kind of living things is conceived, rises up and beholds the light of the sun. Before thee, goddess, flee the winds, the clouds of heaven; before thee and thy advent for thee earth manifold in works puts forth sweet smelling flowers for thee the levels of the sea do laugh and heaven pro pitiated shines with outspread light. For soon as the vernal aspect of day is disclosed, and the birth-favouring breath of favonius unbarred is4 blowing fresh, first the fowls of the air, 0 lady, shew signs of thee and thy entering in, throughly smitten in heart by thy power. Next the wild herds bound over the glad pastures and swim the rapid rivers such wise each made prisoner by thy charm follows thee with desire,te sequitur cupide quo quamque inducere pergis. Denique per maria ac montis fluviosque rapacis frondiferasque domos avium camposque virentis omnibus incutiens blandum per pectora amorem efficis ut cupide generatim saecla propagent.