Letter 8006: If the seasons were bringing me white lilies as usual
VI
Ad eandem de violis
Tempora si solito mihi candida lilia ferrent
aut speciosa foret suave rubore rosa,
haec ego rure legens aut caespite pauperis horti
misissem magnis munera parva libens.
sed quia prima mihi desunt, vel solvo secunda:
profert qui vicias, ferret amore rosas.
inter odoriferas tamen has quas misimus herbas
purpureae violae nobile germen habent.
respirant pariter regali murice tinctae
et saturat foliis hinc odor, inde decor.
hae quod utrumque gerunt pariter habeatis utraque,
et sit mercis odor flore perenne decus.
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