XVI
Inclusam Danaen turris aenea
robustaeque fores et uigilum canum
tristes excubiae munierant satis
nocturnis ab adulteris,
si non Acrisium, uirginis abditae 5
custodem pauidum, Iuppiter et Venus
risissent: fore enim tutum iter et patens
conuerso in pretium deo.
Aurum per medios ire satellites
et perrumpere amat saxa potentius 10
ictu fulmineo; concidit auguris
Argiui domus ob lucrum
demersa exitio; diffidit urbium
portas uir Macedo et subruit aemulos
reges muneribus; munera nauium 15
saeuos inlaqueant duces.
Crescentem sequitur cura pecuniam
maiorumque fames. Iure perhorrui
late conspicuum tollere uerticem,
Maecenas, equitum decus. 20
Quanto quisque sibi plura negauerit,
ab dis plura feret; nil cupientium
nudus castra peto et transfuga diuitum
partis linquere gestio,
contemptae dominus splendidior rei, 25
quam si quicquid arat inpiger Apulus
occultare meis dicerer horreis,
magnas inter opes inops.
Purae riuus aquae siluaque iugerum
paucorum et segetis certa fides meae 30
fulgentem imperio fertilis Africae
fallit sorte beatior.
Quamquam nec Calabrae mella ferunt apes
nec Laestrygonia Bacchus in amphora
languescit mihi nec pinguia Gallicis 35
crescunt uellera pascuis,
inportuna tamen pauperies abest,
nec, si plura uelim, tu dare deneges.
Contracto melius parua cupidine
uectigalia porrigam 40
quam si Mygdoniis regnum Alyattei
campis continuem. Multa petentibus
desunt multa; bene est cui deus obtulit
parca quod satis est manu.
ODE XVI.
TO MAECENAS.
A brazen tower, and doors of oak, and the melancholy watch of wakeful dogs, had sufficiently defended the imprisoned Danae from midnight gallants, had not Jupiter and Venus laughed at Acrisius, the anxious keeper of the immured maiden: [for they well knew] that the way would be safe and open, after the god had transformed himself into a bribe. Gold delights to penetrate through the midst of guards, and to break through stone-walls, more potent than the thunderbolt. The family of the Grecian augur perished, immersed in destruction on account of lucre. The man of Macedon cleft the gates of the cities and subverted rival monarchs by bribery. Bribes enthrall fierce captains of ships. Care, and a thirst for greater things, is the consequence of increasing wealth. Therefore, Maecenas, thou glory of the [Roman] knights, I have justly dreaded to raise the far-conspicuous head. As much more as any man shall deny himself, so much more shall he receive from the gods. Naked as I am, I seek the camps of those who covet nothing; and as a deserter, rejoice to quit the side of the wealthy: a more illustrious possessor of a contemptible fortune, than if I could be said to treasure up in my granaries all that the industrious Apulian cultivates, poor amid abundance of wealth. A rivulet of clear water, and a wood of a few acres, and a certain prospect of my good crop, are blessings unknown to him who glitters in the proconsulship of fertile Africa: I am more happily circumstanced. Though neither the Calabrian bees produce honey, nor wine ripens to age for me in a Formian cask, nor rich fleeces increase in Gallic pastures; yet distressful poverty is remote; nor, if I desired more, would you refuse to grant it me. I shall be better able to extend my small revenues, by contracting my desires, than if I could join the kingdom of Alyattes to the Phrygian plains. Much is wanting to those who covet much. ’Tis well with him to whom God has given what is necessary with a sparing hand.
XVII
Aeli uetusto nobilis ab Lamo —
quando et priores hinc Lamias ferunt
denominatos et nepotum
per memores genus omne fastos,
auctore ab illo ducis originem, 5
qui Formiarum moenia dicitur
princeps et innantem Maricae
litoribus tenuisse Lirim,
late tyrannus, — cras foliis nemus
multis et alga litus inutili 10
demissa tempestas ab Euro
sternet, aquae nisi fallit augur
annosa cornix. Dum potes, aridum
conpone lignum; cras Genium mero
curabis et porco bimenstri 15
cum famulis operum solutis.
ODE XVII.
TO AELIUS LAMIA.
O Aelius, who art nobly descended from the ancient Lamus (forasmuch as they report, that both the first of the Lamian family had their name hence, and all the race of the descendants through faithful records derives its origin from that founder, who is said to have possessed, as prince, the Formian walls, and Liris gliding on the shores of Marica — an extensive potentate). To-morrow a tempest sent from the east shall strew the grove with many leaves, and the shore with useless sea-weed, unless that old prophetess of rain, the raven, deceives me. Pile up the dry wood, while you may; to-morrow you shall indulge your genius with wine, and with a pig of two months old, with your slaves dismissed from their labors.
XVIII
Faune, Nympharum fugientum amator,
per meos finis et aprica rura
lenis incedas abeasque paruis
aequus alumnis,
si tener pleno cadit haedus anno 5
larga nec desunt Veneris sodali
uina craterae, uetus ara multo
fumat odore.
Ludit herboso pecus omne campo,
cum tibi Nonae redeunt Decembres, 10
festus in pratis uacat otioso
cum boue pagus;
inter audacis lupus errat agnos,
spargit agrestis tibi silua frondes,
gaudet inuisam pepulisse fossor 15
ter pede terram.
ODE XVIII.
TO FAUNUS.
A HYMN.
O Faunus, thou lover of the flying nymphs, benignly traverse my borders and sunny fields, and depart propitious to the young offspring of my flocks; if a tender kid fall [a victim] to thee at the completion of the year, and plenty of wines be not wanting to the goblet, the companion of Venus, and the ancient altar smoke with liberal perfume. All the cattle sport in the grassy plain, when the nones of December return to thee; the village keeping holiday enjoys leisure in the fields, together with the oxen free from toil. The wolf wanders among the fearless lambs; the wood scatters its rural leaves for thee, and the laborer rejoices to have beaten the hated ground in triple dance.
XIX
Quantum distet ab Inacho
Codrus, pro patria non timidus mori,
narras, et genus Aeaci,
et pugnata sacro bella sub Ilio.
Quo Chium pretio cadum 5
mercemur, quis aquam temperet ignibus,
quo praebente domum et quota
Paelignis caream frigoribus, taces.
Da lunae propere nouae,
da noctis mediae, da, puer, auguris 10
Murenae. Tribus aut nouem
miscentur cyathis pocula commodis?
Qui Musas amat imparis,
ternos ter cyathos attonitus petet
uates, tris prohibet supra 15
rixarum metuens tangere Gratia
nudis iuncat sororibus.
Insanire iuuat... Cur Berecyntiae
cessant flamina tibiae?
Cur pendet tacita fistula cum lyra? 20
Parcentis ego dexteras
odi: sparge rosas; audiat inuidus
dementem strepitum Lycus,
et uicina seni non habilis Lyco.
Spissa te nitidum coma, 25
puro te similem, Telephe, Vespero
tempestiua petit Rhode:
me lentus Glycerae torret amor meae.
TO TELEPHUS.
How far Codrus, who was not afraid to die for his country, is removed from Inachus, and the race of Aeacus, and the battles also that were fought at sacred Troy — [these subjects] you descant upon; but at what price we may purchase a hogshead of Chian; who shall warm the water [for bathing]; who finds a house: and at what hour I am to get rid of these Pelignian colds, you are silent. Give me, boy, [a bumper] for the new moon in an instant, give me one for midnight, and one for Murena the augur. Let our goblets be mixed up with three or nine cups, according to every one’s disposition. The enraptured bard, who delights in the odd-numbered muses, shall call for brimmers thrice three. Each of the Graces, in conjunction with the naked sisters, fearful of broils, prohibits upward of three. It is my pleasure to rave; why cease the breathings of the Phrygian flute? Why is the pipe hung up with the silent lyre? I hate your niggardly handfuls: strew roses freely. Let the envious Lycus hear the jovial noise; and let our fair neighbor, ill-suited to the old Lycus, [hear it.] The ripe Rhode aims at thee, Telephus, smart with thy bushy locks; at thee, bright as the clear evening star; the love of my Glycera slowly consumes me.
XX
Non uides quanto moueas periclo,
Pyrrhe, Gaetulae catulos leaenae?
Dura post paulo fugies inaudax
proelia raptor,
cum per obstantis iuuenum cateruas 5
ibit insignem repetens Nearchum:
grande certamen tibi praeda cedat
maior, an illi.
Interim, dum tu celeris sagittas
promis, haec dentes acuit timendos, 10
arbiter pugnae prosuisse nudo
sub pede palmam
fertur, et leni recreare uento
sparsum odoratis umerum capillis,
qualis aut Nireus fuit aut aquosa 15
raptus ab Ida.
ODE XX.
TO PYRRHUS.
Do you not perceive, O Pyrrhus, at what hazard yon are taking away the whelps from a Gutulian lioness? In a little while you, a timorous ravisher, shall fly from the severe engagement, when she shall march through the opposing band of youths, re-demanding her beauteous Nearchus; a grand contest, whether a greater share of booty shall fall to thee or to her! In the mean time, while you produce your swift arrows, she whets her terrific teeth; while the umpire of the combat is reported to have placed the palm under his naked foot, and refreshed his shoulder, overspread with his perfumed locks, with the gentle breeze: just such another was Nireus, or he that was ravished from the watery Ida.
XXI
O nata mecum consule Manlio,
seu tu querellas siue geris iocos
seu rixam et insanos amores
seu facilem, pia testa, somnum,
quocumque lectum nomine Massicum 5
seruas, moueri digna bono die,
descende, Coruino iubente
promere languidiora uina.
Non ille, quamquam Socraticis madet
sermonibus, te negleget horridus: 10
narratur et prisci Catonis
saepe mero caluisse uirtus.
Tu lene tormentum ingenio admoues
plerumque duro; tu sapientium
curas et arcanum iocoso 15
consilium retegis Lycaeo.
Tu spem reducis mentibus anxiis
uiresque et addis cornua pauperi,
post te neque iratos trementi
regum apices neque militum arma. 20
Te Liber et si laeta aderit Venus
segnesque nodum soluere Gratiae
uiuaeque procucent lucernae,
dum rediens fugat astra Phoebus.
ODE XXI.
TO HIS JAR.
O thou goodly cask, that wast brought to light at the same time with me in the consulship of Manlius, whether thou containest the occasion of complaint, or jest, or broils and maddening amours, or gentle sleep; under whatever title thou preservest the choice Massic, worthy to be removed on an auspicious day; descend, Corvinus bids me draw the mellowest wine. He, though he is imbued in the Socratic lectures, will not morosely reject thee. The virtue even of old Cato is recorded to have been frequently warmed with wine. Thou appliest a gentle violence to that disposition, which is in general of the rougher cast: Thou revealest the cares and secret designs of the wise, by the assistance of merry Bacchus. You restore hope and spirit to anxious minds, and give horns to the poor man, who after [tasting] you neither dreads the diadems of enraged monarchs, nor the weapons of the soldiers. Thee Bacchus, and Venus, if she comes in good-humor, and the Graces loth to dissolve the knot [of their union], and living lights shall prolong, till returning Phoebus puts the stars to flight.
XXII
Montium custos nemorumque uirgo,
quae laborantis utero puellas
ter uocata audis adimisque leto,
diua triformis,
inminens uillae tua pinus esto, 5
quam per exactos ego laetus annos
uerris obliquom meditantis ictum
sanguine donem.
ODE XXII.
TO DIANA.
O virgin, protectress of the mountains and the groves, thou three-formed goddess, who thrice invoked, hearest young women in labor, and savest them from death; sacred to thee be this pine that overshadows my villa, which I, at the completion of every year, joyful will present with the blood of a boar-pig, just meditating his oblique attack.
XXIII
Caelo supinas si tuleris manus
nascente luna, rustica Phidyle,
si ture placaris et horna
fruge Lares auidaque porca
nec pestilentem sentiet Africum 5
fecunda uitis nec sterilem seges
robiginem aut dulces alumni
pomifero graue tempus anno.
Nam quae niuali pascitur Algido
deuota quercus inter et ilices 10
aut crescit Albanis in herbis
uictima, pontificum securis
ceruice tinguet; te nihil attinet
temptare multa caede bidentium
paruos coronantem marino 15
rore deos fragilique myrto.
Inmunis aram si tetigit manus,
non sumptuosa blandior hostia
molliuit auersos Penatis
farre pio et saliente mica. 20
ODE XXIII.
TO PHIDYLE.
My rustic Phidyle, if you raise your suppliant hands to heaven at the new moon, and appease the household gods with frankincense, and this year’s fruits, and a ravening swine; the fertile vine shall neither feel the pestilential south-west, nor the corn the barren blight, or your dear brood the sickly season in the fruit-bearing autumn. For the destined victim, which is pastured in the snowy Algidus among the oaks and holm trees, or thrives in the Albanian meadows, with its throat shall stain the axes of the priests. It is not required of you, who are crowning our little gods with rosemary and the brittle myrtle, to propitiate them with a great slaughter of sheep. If an innocent hand touches a clear, a magnificent victim does not pacify the offended Penates more acceptably, than a consecrated cake and crackling salt.
XXIV
Intactis opulentior
thesauris Arabum et diuitis Indiae
caementis licet occupes
terrenum omne tuis et mare publicum:
si figit adamantinos 5
summis uerticibus dira Necessitas
clauos, non animum metu,
non mortis laqueis expedies caput.
Campestres melius Scythae,
quorum plaustra uagas rite trahunt domos, 10
uiuunt et rigidi Getae
inmetata quibus iugera liberas
fruges et Cererem ferunt
nec cultura placet longior annua
defunctumque laboribus 15
aequali recreat sorte uicarius.
Illic matre carentibus
priuignis mulier temperat innocens
nec dotata regit uirum
coniunx nec nitido fidit adul
tero; 20
dos est magna parentium
uirtus et metuens alterius uiri
certo foedere castitas,
et peccare nefas aut pretium est mori.
O quisquis uolet impias 25
caedis et rabiem tollere ciuicam,
si quaeret Pater Vrbium
suscribi statuis, indomitam audeat
refrenare licentiam,
clarus postgenitis; quatenus, heu nefas! 30
uirtutem incolumem odimus,
sublatam ex oculis quaerimus inuidi.
Quid tristes querimoniae
si non supplicio culpa reciditur,
quid leges sine moribus 35
uanae proficiunt, si neque feruidis
pars inclusa caloribus
mundi nec Boreae finitimum latus
durataeque solo niues
mercatorem abigunt, horrida callidi 40
uincunt aequora nauitae?
Magnum pauperies obprobrium iubet
quiduis et facere et pati
uirtutisque uiam deserit arduae.
Vel non in Capitolium 45
Complete Works of Horace (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics) Page 85