De Impetu Erucarum Tentoria Construentum
Ulmus in altum stans aestivo tempore frigus
Avibus lanugerisque bidentibus ut dea dabat.
Erucarum autem struit aedes impia turba
Bestiolarum acies mordaces ordinat audax.
Vae misera arbor, tu quae tum mihi opaca dedisti,
Mox insecta tuas frondes comedent viridantes
Et dein exanimis stirps sole ardente jacebis.
Translation
All summer long, this tall elm stood
Bestowing, like a goddess, shade and coolness
On the birds and wool-providing sheep.
But now a godless gang of caterpillars,
Biting battle-lines of little beasts,
Has built its breeding nest — a foolish act!
Alas poor tree! You once gave me too shade,
But soon these bugs will chomp away
Each last green leaf; and you will lie,
A lifeless stump, beneath the beating sun.
De Pictura Pueri Librum Iohannis Milton Tenentis
Indoctus pictor monstrat puerum. Is tenet ecce
Librum destra, atra veste, venustus opum.
Index significat Milton. Doctissime vates,
Heu te peniculus pinxit ineptus opus.
Translation
A rustic painter here portrays
A young man of good taste and wealth,
Dressed in well-cut black and holding
In his right a book, its title Milton’s Works.
Oh dear, this untrained brush has painted
You, most learned of all poets.