Complete Works of Horace (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics)

by Horace Quintus Horatius Flaccus

  VIII

  Lydia, dic, per omnis

  te deos oro, Sybarin cur properes amando

  perdere, cur apricum

  oderit Campum, patiens pulueris atque solis,

  cur neque militaris 5

  inter aequalis equitet, Gallica nec lupatis

  temperet ora frenis.

  Cur timet flauum Tiberim tangere? Cur oliuum

  sanguine uiperino

  cautius uitat neque iam liuida gestat armis 10

  bracchia, saepe disco

  saepe trans finem iaculo nobilis expedito?

  quid latet, ut marinae

  filium dicunt Thetidis sub lacrimosa Troia

  funera, ne uirilis 15

  cultus in caedem et Lycias proriperet cateruas?

  ODE VIII.

  TO LYDIA.

  Lydia, I conjure thee by all the powers above, to tell me why you are so intent to ruin Sybaris by inspiring him with love? Why hates he the sunny plain, though inured to bear the dust and heat? Why does he neither, in military accouterments, appear mounted among his equals; nor manage the Gallic steed with bitted reins? Why fears he to touch the yellow Tiber? Why shuns he the oil of the ring more cautiously than viper’s blood? Why neither does he, who has often acquired reputation by the quoit, often by the javelin having cleared the mark, any longer appear with arms all black-and-blue by martial exercises? Why is he concealed, as they say the son of the sea-goddess Thetis was, just before the mournful funerals of Troy; lest a manly habit should hurry him to slaughter, and the Lycian troops?

  IX

  Vides ut alta stet niue candidum

  Soracte nec iam sustineant onus

  siluae laborantes geluque

  flumina constiterint acuto?

  Dissolue frigus ligna super foco 5

  large reponens atque benignius

  deprome quadrimum Sabina,

  o Thaliarche, merum diota.

  Permitte diuis cetera, qui simul

  strauere uentos aequore feruido 10

  deproeliantis, nec cupressi

  nec ueteres agitantur orni.

  Quid sit futurum cras, fuge quaerere, et

  quem fors dierum cumque dabit, lucro

  adpone nec dulcis amores

  sperne, puer, neque tu choreas, 15

  donec uirenti canities abest

  morosa. Nunc et Campus et areae

  lenesque sub noctem susurri

  composita repetantur hora,

  nunc et latentis proditor intumo 20

  gratus puellae risus ab angulo

  pignusque dereptum lacertis

  aut digito male pertinaci.

  ODE IX.

  TO THALIARCHUS.

  You see how Soracte stands white with deep snow, nor can the laboring woods any longer support the weight, and the rivers stagnate with the sharpness of the frost. Dissolve the cold, liberally piling up billets on the hearth; and bring out, O Thaliarchus, the more generous wine, four years old, from the Sabine jar. Leave the rest to the gods, who having once laid the winds warring with the fervid ocean, neither the cypresses nor the aged ashes are moved. Avoid inquiring what may happen tomorrow; and whatever day fortune shall bestow on you, score it up for gain; nor disdain, being a young fellow, pleasant loves, nor dances, as long as ill-natured hoariness keeps off from your blooming age. Now let both the Campus Martius and the public walks, and soft whispers at the approach of evening be repeated at the appointed hour: now, too, the delightful laugh, the betrayer of the lurking damsel from some secret corner, and the token ravished from her arms or fingers, pretendingly tenacious of it.

  X

  Mercuri, facunde nepos Atlantis,

  qui feros cultus hominum recentum

  uoce formasti catus et decorae

  more palaestrae,

  te canam, magni Iouis et deorum 5

  nuntium curuaeque lyrae parentem,

  callidum quicquid placuit iocoso

  condere furto.

  Te, boues olim nisi reddidisses

  per dolum amotas, puerum minaci 10

  uoce dum terret, uiduus pharetra

  risit Apollo.

  Quin et Atridas duce te superbos

  Ilio diues Priamus relicto

  Thessalosque ignis et iniqua Troiae 15

  castra fefellit.

  Tu pias laetis animas reponis

  sedibus uirgaque leuem coerces

  aurea turbam, superis deorum

  gratus et imis. 20

  ODE X.

  TO MERCURY.

  Mercury, eloquent grandson of Atlas, thou who artful didst from the savage manners of the early race of men by oratory, and the institution of the graceful Palaestra: I will celebrate thee, messenger of Jupiter and the other gods, and parent of the curved lyre; ingenious to conceal whatever thou hast a mind to, in jocose theft. While Apollo, with angry voice, threatened you, then but a boy, unless you would restore the oxen, previously driven away by your fraud, he laughed, [when he found himself] deprived of his quiver [also]. Moreover, the wealthy Priam too, on his departure from Ilium, under your guidance deceived the proud sons of Atreus, and the Thessalian watch-lights, and the camp inveterate agaist Troy. You settle the souls of good men in blissful regions, and drive together the airy crowd with your golden rod, acceptable both to the supernal and infernal gods.

  XI

  Tu ne quaesieris (scire nefas) quem mihi, quem tibi

  finem di dederint, Leuconoe, nec Babylonios

  temptaris numeros. Vt melius quicquid erit pati!

  Seu pluris hiemes seu tribuit Iuppiter ultimam,

  quae nunc oppositis debilitat pumicibus mare 5

  Tyrrhenum, sapias, uina liques et spatio breui

  spem longam reseces. Dum loquimur, fugerit inuida

  aetas: carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.

  ODE XI.

  TO LEUCONOE.

  Inquire not, Leuconoe (it is not fitting you should know), how long a term of life the gods have granted to you or to me: neither consult the Chaldean calculations. How much better is it to bear with patience whatever shall happen! Whether Jupiter have granted us more winters, or [this as] the last, which now breaks the Etrurian waves against the opposing rocks. Be wise; rack off your wines, and abridge your hopes [in proportion] to the shortness of your life. While we are conversing, envious age has been flying; seize the present day, not giving the least credit to the succeeding one.

  XII

  Quem uirum aut heroa lyra uel acri

  tibia sumis celebrare, Clio?

  Quem deum? Cuius recinet iocosa

  nomen imago

  aut in umbrosis Heliconis oris 5

  aut super Pindo gelidoue in Haemo?

  Vnde uocalem temere insecutae

  Orphea siluae

  arte materna rapidos morantem

  fluminum lapsus celerisque uentos, 10

  blandum et auritas fidibus canoris

  ducere quercus.

  Quid prius dicam solitis parentis

  laudibus, qui res hominum ac deorum,

  qui mare ac terras uariisque mundum 15

  temperat horis?

  Vnde nil maius generatur ipso

  nec uiget quicquam simile aut secundum;

  proximos illi tamen occupabit

  Pallas honores. 20

  Proeliis audax, neque te silebo,

  Liber, et saeuis inimica uirgo

  beluis, nec te, metuende certa

  Phoebe sagitta.

  Dicam et Alciden puerosque Ledae, 25

  hunc equis, illum superare pugnis

  nobilem; quorum simul alba nautis

  stella refulsit,

  defluit saxis agitatus umor,

  concidunt uenti fugiuntque nubes 30

  et minax, quod sic uoluere, ponto

  unda recumbit.

  Romulum post hos prius an quietum

  Pompili regnum memorem, an superbos

  Tarquini fasces, dubito, an Catonis 35

  nobile letum.

  Regulum et Scauros a
nimaeque magnae

  prodigum Paulum superante Poeno

  gratus insigni referam Camena

  Fabriciumque. 40

  Hunc et incomptis Curium capillis

  utilem bello tulit et Camillum

  saeua paupertas et auitus apto

  cum lare fundus.

  Crescit occulto uelut arbor aeuo 45

  fama Marcelli; micat inter omnis

  Iulium sidus, uelut inter ignis

  luna minores.

  Gentis humanae pater atque custos,

  orte Saturno, tibi cura magni 50

  Caesaris fatis data: tu secundo

  Caesare regnes.

  Ille seu Parthos Latio imminentis

  egerit iusto domitos triumpho

  siue subiectos Orientis orae 55

  Seras et Indos,

  te minor laetum reget aequus orbem:

  tu graui curru quaties Olympum,

  tu parum castis inimica mittes

  fulmina lucis. 60

  ODE XII.

  TO AUGUSTUS.

  What man, what hero, O Clio, do you undertake to celebrate on the harp, or the shrill pipe? What god? Whose name shall the sportive echo resound, either in the shady borders of Helicon, or on the top of Pindus, or on cold Haemus? Whence the woods followed promiscuously the tuneful Orpheus, who by his maternal art retarded the rapid courses of rivers, and the fleet winds; and was so sweetly persuasive, that he drew along the listening oaks with his harmonious strings. But what can I sing prior to the usual praises of the Sire, who governs the affairs of men and gods; who [governs] the sea, the earth, and the whole world with the vicissitudes of seasons? Whence nothing is produced greater than him; nothing springs either like him, or even in a second degree to him: nevertheless, Pallas has acquired these honors, which are next after him.

  Neither will I pass thee by in silence, O Bacchus, bold in combat; nor thee, O Virgin, who art an enemy to the savage beasts; nor thee, O Phoebus, formidable for thy unerring dart.

  I will sing also of Hercules, and the sons of Leda, the one illustrious for his achievements on horseback, the other on foot; whose clear-shining constellation as soon as it has shone forth to the sailors, the troubled surge falls down from the rocks, the winds cease, the clouds vanish, and the threatening waves subside in the sea — because it was their will. After these, I am in doubt whom I shall first commemorate, whether Romulus, or the peaceful reign of Numa, or the splendid ensigns of Tarquinius, or the glorious death of Cato. I will celebrate, out of gratitude, with the choicest verses, Regulus, and the Scauri, and Paulus, prodigal of his mighty soul, when Carthage conquered, and Fabricius.

  Severe poverty, and an hereditary farm, with a dwelling suited to it, formed this hero useful in war; as it did also Curius with his rough locks, and Camillus. The fame of Marcellus increases, as a tree does in the insensible progress of time. But the Julian constellation shines amid them all, as the moon among the smaller stars. O thou son of Saturn, author and preserver of the human race, the protection of Caesar is committed to thy charge by the Fates: thou shalt reign supreme, with Caesar for thy second. Whether he shall subdue with a just victory the Parthians making inroads upon Italy, or shall render subject the Seres and Indians on the Eastern coasts; he shall rule the wide world with equity, in subordination to thee. Thou shalt shake Olympus with thy tremendous car; thou shalt hurl thy hostile thunderbolts against the polluted groves.

  XIII

  Cum tu, Lydia, Telephi

  ceruicem roseam, cerea Telephi

  laudas bracchia, uae, meum

  feruens difficili bile tumet iecur.

  Tunc nec mens mihi nec color

  certa sede manet, umor et in genas 5

  furtim labitur, arguens

  quam lentis penitus macerer ignibus.

  Vror, seu tibi candidos

  turparunt umeros inmodicae mero 10

  rixae, siue puer furens

  inpressit memorem dente labris notam.

  Non, si me satis audias,

  speres perpetuum dulcia barbare

  laedentem oscula, quae Venus 15

  quinta parte sui nectaris imbuit.

  Felices ter et amplius

  quos inrupta tenet copula nec malis

  diuolsus querimoniis

  suprema citius soluet amor die. 20

  ODE XIII.

  TO LYDIA.

  O Lydia, when you commend Telephus’ rosy neck, and the waxen arms of Telephus, alas! my inflamed liver swells with bile difficult to be repressed. Then neither is my mind firm, nor does my color maintain a certain situation: and the involuntary tears glide down my cheek, proving with what lingering flames I am inwardly consumed. I am on fire, whether quarrels rendered immoderate by wine have stained your fair shoulders; or whether the youth, in his fury, has impressed with his teeth a memorial on your lips. If you will give due attention to my advice, never expect that he will be constant, who inhumanly wounds those sweet kisses, which Venus has imbued with the fifth part of all her nectar. O thrice and more than thrice happy those, whom an indissoluble connection binds together; and whose love, undivided by impious complainings, does not separate them sooner than the last day!

  XIV

  O nauis, referent in mare te noui

  fluctus. O quid agis? Fortiter occupa

  portum. Nonne uides ut

  nudum remigio latus,

  et malus celeri saucius Africo 5

  antemnaque gemant ac sine funibus

  uix durare carinae

  possint imperiosius

  aequor? Non tibi sunt integra lintea,

  non di, quos iterum pressa uoces malo. 10

  Quamuis Pontica pinus,

  siluae filia nobilis,

  iactes et genus et nomen inutile:

  nil pictis timidus nauita puppibus

  fidit. Tu, nisi uentis 15

  debes ludibrium, caue.

  Nuper sollicitum quae mihi taedium,

  nunc desiderium curaque non leuis,

  interfusa nitentis

  uites aequora Cycladas. 20

  ODE XIV.

  TO THE ROMAN STATE.

  O ship, new waves will bear you back again to sea. O what are you doing? Bravely seize the port. Do you not perceive, that your sides are destitute of oars, and your mast wounded by the violent south wind, and your main-yards groan, and your keel can scarcely support the impetuosity of the waves without the help of cordage? You have not entire sails; nor gods, whom you may again invoke, pressed with distress: notwithstanding you are made of the pines of Pontus, and as the daughter of an illustrious wood, boast your race, and a fame now of no service to you. The timorous sailor has no dependence on a painted stern. Look to yourself, unless you are destined to be the sport of the winds. O thou, so lately my trouble and fatigue, but now an object of tenderness and solicitude, mayest thou escape those dangerous seas which flow among the shining Cyclades.

  XV

  Pastor cum traheret per freta nauibus

  Idaeis Helenen perfidus hospitam,

  ingrato celeris obruit otio

  uentos ut caneret fera

  Nereus fata: ‘Mala ducis aui domum 5

  quam multo repetet Graecia milite,

  coniurata tuas rumpere nuptias

  et regnum Priami uetus.

  Heu, heu, quantus equis, quantus adest uiris

  sudor! Quanta moues funera Dardanae 10

  genti! Iam galeam Pallas et aegida

  currusque et rabiem parat.

  Nequicquam Veneris praesidio ferox

  pectes caesariem grataque feminis

  inbelli cithara carmina diuides; 15

  nequicquam thalamo grauis

  hastas et calami spicula Cnosii

  uitabis strepitumque et celerem sequi

  Aiacem: tamen, heu serus, adulteros

  crines puluere collines.

  Non Laertiaden, exitium tuae 20

  gentis, non Pylium Nestora respicis?

  Vrgent inpauidi te Salaminius

  Teucer, te Sthene
lus sciens

  pugnae, siue opus est imperitare equis, 25

  non auriga piger; Merionen quoque

  nosces. Ecce furit te reperire atrox

  Tydides melior patre,

  quem tu, ceruus uti uallis in altera

  uisum parte lupum graminis inmemor, 30

  sublimi fugies mollis anhelitu,

  non hoc pollicitus tuae.

  Iracunda diem proferet Ilio

  matronisque Phrygum classis Achillei;

  post certas hiemes uret Achaicus 35

  ignis Iliacas domos.’

  ODE XV.

  TO PARIS.

  When the perfidious shepherd (Paris) carried off by sea in Trojan ships his hostess Helen, Nereus suppressed the swift winds in an unpleasant calm, that he might sing the dire fates. “With unlucky omen art thou conveying home her, whom Greece with a numerous army shall demand back again, having entered into a confederacy to dissolve your nuptials, and the ancient kingdom of Priam. Alas! what sweat to horses, what to men, is just at hand! What a destruction art thou preparing for the Trojan nation! Even now Pallas is fitting her helmet, and her shield, and her chariot, and her fury. In vain, looking fierce through the patronage of Venus, will you comb your hair, and run divisions upon the effeminate lyre with songs pleasing to women. In vain will you escape the spears that disturb the nuptial bed, and the point of the Cretan dart, and the din [of battle], and Ajax swift in the pursuit. Nevertheless, alas! the time will come, though late, when thou shalt defile thine adulterous hairs in the dust. Dost thou not see the son of Laertes, fatal to thy nation, and Pylian Nestor, Salaminian Teucer, and Sthenelus skilled in fight (or if there be occasion to manage horses, no tardy charioteer), pursue thee with intrepidity? Meriones also shalt thou experience. Behold! the gallant son of Tydeus, a better man than his father, glows to find you out: him, as a stag flies a wolf, which he has seen on the opposite side of the vale, unmindful of his pasture, shall you, effeminate, fly, grievously panting: — not such the promises you made your mistress. The fleet of the enraged Achilles shall defer for a time that day, which is to be fatal to Troy and the Trojan matrons: but, after a certain number of years, Grecian fire shall consume the Trojan palaces.”