#  Book II, Metrum 8 

 



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*Fair chain of Love*

Page 54   
  
'Through Love the universe with constancy makes changes all without   
discord: earth's elements, though contrary, abide in treaty bound:   
Phoebus in his golden car leads up the glowing day; his sister rules   
the night that   
  
Page 55   
  
Hesperus brought: the greedy sea confines its waves in bounds, lest the   
earth's borders be changed by its beating on them: all these are firmly   
bound by Love, which rules both earth and sea, and has its empire in the   
heavens too. If Love should slacken this its hold, all mutual love would   
change to war; and these would strive to undo the scheme which now their   
glorious movements carry out with trust and with accord. By Love are   
peoples too kept bound together by a treaty which they may not break. Love   
binds with pure affection the sacred tie of wedlock, and speaks its bidding   
to all trusty friends. O happy race of mortals, if your hearts are ruled as   
is the universe, by Love!

  
Translated by: W.V. Cooper, J.M. Dent and Company. London, 1902.