Ovid,
Metamorphōsēs 13.789-807
Candidior foliō niveī Galatēa ligustrī,
flōridior prātīs, longā prōcērior alnō,
splendidior vitrō, tenerō lascīvior haedō,
lēvior assiduō detrītīs aequore conchīs,
sōlibus hībernīs, aestīvā grātior umbrā,
nōbilior palmā, platanō conspectior altā,
lūcidior glaciē, mātūrā dulcior ūvā,
mollior et cycnī plūmīs et lacte coactō,
et, sī nōn fugiās, riguō formōsior hortō,
saevior indomitīs eadem Galatēa iuvencīs,
dūrior annōsā quercū, fallācior undīs,
lentior et salicis virgīs et vītibus albīs,
hīs immōbilior scopulīs, violentior amne,
laudātō pāvōne superbior, acrior ignī,
asperior tribulīs, fētā truculentior ursā,
surdior aequoribus, calcātō immītior hydrō,
et, quod praecipuē vellem tibi dēmere possem,
nōn tantum cervō clārīs latrātibus actō,
vērum etiam ventīs volucrīque fugācior aurā.
More whyght thou art then Primrose leaf, my Lady Galatee.
More fresh than meade, more tall and streyght than lofty Aldertree,
More bright than glasse, more wanton than the tender kid forsooth.
Than Cockleshelles continually with water worne, more smoothe.
More cheerefull than the winters Sun, or Sommers shadowe cold,
More seemely and more comly than the Planetree to behold,
Of valew more than Apples bee although they were of gold.
More cleere than frozen yce, more sweete than Grape through rype ywis,
More soft than butter newly made, or downe of Cygnet is.
And much more fayre and beawtyfull than garden to myne eye,
But that thou from my companye continually doost flye.
And thou the selfsame Galate art more tettish for to frame
Than Oxen of the wildernesse whom never wyght did tame.
More fleeting than the waves, more hard than warryed Oke to twyne,
More tough than willow twiggs, more lyth than is the wyld whyght vyne.
More than this rocke unmovable, more violent than a streame.
More prowd than Peacocke praysd, more feerce than fyre and more extreeme.
More rough than Breers, more cruell than the new delivered Beare,
More mercilesse than troden snake, than sea more deafe of eare.
And which (and if it lay in mee I cheefly would restrayne)
Not only swifter paced than the stag in chace on playne,
But also swifter than the wynd and flyghtfull ayre.
Trans. Arthur Golding
Click here to download file