Selected PARTS OF HORACE, Prince of LYRICS; AND Of all the Latin Poets the fullest fraught with Excellent MORALITY. Concluding With a Piece out of AUSONIUS, and another out of VIRGIL. Now newly put into English. Dux VITAE Ratio. London, Printed for M. M. Gabriel Bedell, and T. Collins, and are to be sold at their shop at the middle-Temple-Gate, 1652. HORACE HIS FIRST BOOK OF SONGS. Q. HORATIJ FLACCI LIBER I. CARMINUM: ODE I Alios aliis rebus duci; se Lyricorum versuum studio teneri. MAECENAS atavis edite Regibus, O & praesidium, & dulce decus meum; Sunt quos curriculo pulverē Olympicum Collegisse juvat: metáque fervidis Evitata rotis, Palmáque nobilis, Terrarum dominos evehit ad Deos. Hunc, si mobilium turba Quiritium Certat tergeminis tollere honoribus: Illum, si proprio condidit horreo Quidquid de Libycis verritur areiss, Gaudentem patrios findere sarculo Agros: Attalicis conditionibus Nunquam dimoveas, ut trabe Cypriâ Myrtoum pavidus nauta secet mare. Luctantem Icariis fluctibus Africum Mercator metuens, otium, & oppidi Laudat rura sui: mox reficit rateis Quassas, indocilis pauperiem pati. Est qui nec veteris pocula Massici, Nec partem solido demere de die Spernit, nunc viridi membra sub arbuto Stratus, nunc ad aquae lene caput sacrae. Multos castra juvant, & lituo tubae Permistus sonitus, belláque matribus Detestata; manet sub Jove frigido Venator, tenerae conjugis immemor: Seu visa est catulis cerva fidelibus, Seu rupit tereteis Marsus aper plagas. Me Doctarum hederae praemia frontium Dîs miscent superis: me gelidum nemus, Nympharúmque leves cum Satyris chori Secernunt populo: si neque tibias Euterpe cohibet, nec Polyhymnia Lesboum refugit tendere barbiton; Quod si me Lyricis vatibus inseres, Sublimi feriam sidera vertice. ODE II. Ad AUGUSTUM CAESAREM. Deos omnes iratos esse Romanis, ob Caesaris caedem: unam imperii spem in Augusto constitutam. I Am satis terris nivis, at que dirae Grandinis misit pater: & rubente Dexterâ sacras jaculatus arceis Terruit Vrbem. Terruit genteis, grave ne rediret Seculum Pyrrhae nova monstra questae, Omne cùm Proteus pecus egit altos Visere monteis; Piscium & summâ genus haesit ulmo, Nota quae sedes fuerat columbis, Et superjecto pavidae natarunt Aequore damae. Vidimus flavum Tiberim retortis Littore Etrusco violenter undis, Ire dejectum monumenta regis, Templáque Vestae: Iliae dum se nimium querenti jactat ultorem, vagus & sinistrâ Labitur ripâ, (jove non probante,) Vxorius amnis. Audiet, civeis acuisse ferrum Quo graves Persae meliùs perirent: Audiet pugnas, vitio parentum Rara juventus. Quem vocet diuûm populus, ruentis Imperî rebus? prece qua fatigent Virgines sanctae minùs audientem Carmina Vestam? Cui dabit parteis scelus expiandi jupiter? tandem venias precamur, Nube candenteis humeros amictus Augur Apollo: Sive tu mavis Erycina ridens, Quam jocus circumvolat, & Cupido: Sive neglectum genus, & nepotes Respicis auctor. Heu nimis longo satiate ludo: Quem juvat clamor, galeaeque leves, Acer & Mauri peditis cruentum Vultus in hostem. Sive mutatâ juvenem figurâ, Alice in terris imitaris, almae Filius Majae, patiens vocari Caesaris ultor: Serus in coelum redeas, diúque Laetus intersis populo Quirim: Neve te nostris vitiis iniquum Ocyor aura Tollat; hic magnos potius triumphos, Hic ames dici pater, atque princeps: Neu sinas Medos equitare inultos Te duce Caesar. ODE IU. Ad L. SEXTIUM Consularem. Adventu veris, & communi moriendi conditione propositâ hortatur ad voluptates. SOlvitur acris hyems gratâ vice veris, & Favoni: Trahúntque siccas machinae carinas: Ac néque jam stabulis gaudet pecus, aut arator igni: Nec prata canis albicant pruinis. jam Cytherea choros ducit Venus, imminente Luna: junctaeque Nymphis Gratiae decentes Alterno terram quatiunt pede, dum graveis Cyclopum Vulcanus ardens urit officinas. Nunc decet aut viridi nitidum caput impedire myrto, Aut flore, terrae quem ferunt solutae. Nunc & in umbrosis, Fauno decet immolare lucis, Seu poscat agnam, sive malit haedum. Pallida mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas, Regúmque turreis, ô beate Sexti. Vitae summa brevis spem nos vetat inchoare longam; jam te premet nox, fabulaeque manes, Et domus exilis Plutonis; quo simul mearis, Non regna vini sortiere talis, Nec tenerum Lycidam mirabere, quo calet juventus Nunc omnis, & mox virgines tepebunt. ODE V. Ad PYRRHAM. Miseros esse qui illius amore teneantur; se ex co, tanquam è naufragio, enatasse. QVis multa gracilis te puer in rosa Perfusus liquidis urget odoribus, Grato, Pyrrha, sub antro? Cui flavam religas comam Simplex munditiis? heu, quoties fidem, Mutatósque deos flebit, & aspera Nigris aequora ventis Emirabitur insolens, Qui nunc te fruitur credulus aureâ: Qui semper vacuam, semper amabilem Sperat, nescius aurae Fallacis! miseri, quibus Intentata nites. Me tabula sacer Votiva paries indicat, uvida Suspendisse potenti Vestimenta maris deo. ODE VIII. Ad LYDIAM. Obseurè juvenem quendam, quem Sybarin vocat, ut amore perditum, & voluptatibus collique factum, notat. LYDIA dic, per omneis Te deos oro: Sybarin cur properes amando Perdere; cur apricum Oderit campum patiens pulveris, atque solu? Cur néque militaris Inter aequaleis equitet; Gallica nec lupatis Temperet ora fraenis? Cur timet flavum Tiberim tangere? cur olivā Sanguine viperino Cautiùs vitat? néque jam livida gestat armis Brachia, saepe disco, Saepe trans finem jaculo nobilis expedito? Quid latet, ut marinae Filium dicunt Thetidis sub lacrymosa Trojae Funera, ne virilis Cultus in caedem & Lycias proriperet catervas? ODE IX. Ad THALIARCHUM. Hyeme indulgendum voluptati. VIdes, ut altâ stet nive candidum Soracte: nec jam sustineant onus Silvae laborantes: gelúque Flumina constiterint ácuto. Dissolve frigus, ligna super foco Large reponens: atque benignius Deprome quadrimum Sabina O Thaliarche merum diota. Permitte divis coetera: qui simul Stravere ventos aequore fervido Depraelianteis, nec cupressi Nec veteres agitantur orni. Quid sit futurum cras, fuge quaerere: & Quem sors dierum cúmque dabit, lucro Appone: nec dulceis amores Sperne puer, neque tu choreas. Donec virenti canities abest Morosa, nunc & campus, & areae Lenésque sub noctem susurri Compositâ repetantur horâ: Nunc & latentis proditor intimo Gratus puellae risus ab angulo: Pignúsque direptum lacertis, Aut digito male pertinaci. ODE XIII. Ad LYDIAM. Dolet sibr Telephum anteponi. CVm tu Lydia, Telephi Cervicem roseam, & cerea Telephi Laudas brachia; vae meum Fervens difficili bile tumet jecur. Tunc nec mens mihi, nec color Certâ sede manent; humor & in genas Furtim labitur, arguens Quàm lentis penitus macerer ignibus. Vror, seu tibi candidos Turpârunt humeros immodicae mero Rixae: sive puer furens Impressit memorem dente labris notam. Non, si me satis audias, Speres perpetuum, dulcia barbare Laedentem oscula, quae Venus Quintâ parte sui nectaris imbuit. Felices ter, & amplius, Quos irrupta tenet copula, nec malis Divulsus querimoniis Supremâ citius solvet amor die. ODE III. In VIRGILIUM Athenas proficiscentem. Secundam ei navigationem precatur: deinde occasionem nactus; hominam audacium detestatur. SIc te diva potens Cypri, Sic fratres Helenae, lucida sidera, Ventorúmque regat pater, Obstrictis aliis, praeter japyga: Navis, quae tibi creditum Debes Virgilium, finibus Atticis Reddas incolumem precor: Et serves animae dimidium meae. Illi robur, & aes triplex Circa pectus erat, qui fragilem truci Commisit pelago ratem Primus, nec timuit praecipitem Africum Decertantem Aquilonibus, Nec tristeis Hyadas, nec rabiem Noti: Quo non arbiter Adriae Major, tollere seu ponere vult freta. Quem mortis timuit gradum, Qui siccis oculis monstra natantia, Qui vidit mare turgidum, & Infameis scopulos Acroceraunia? Nequicquam Deus abscidit Prudens Oceano dissociabili Terras, si tamen impiae Non tangenda rates transtliunt vada. Audax omnia perpeti Gens humana, ruit per vetitum nefas. Audax japeti genus Ignem fraude mala gentibus intulit. Post ignem aetherea domo Subductum, macies, & nova febrium Terris incubuit cohors: Semotique prius tarda necessitas Lethi, corripuit gradum. Expertus vacuum Daedalus aera Pennis non homini datis; Perrupit Acheronta Herculeus labor. Nil mortalibus arduum est. Coelum ipsum petimus stultitia: neque Per nostrum patimur scelus Iracunda jovem porere fulmina. ODE XVIII. Ad QUINTILIUM VARUM. Vini potu moderato hilarari animum: immoderato rixas excitari. NVllum, Vare, sacra vite prius severis arborem Circa mite solum Tiburis, & moenia Catili. Siccis omnia nam dura Deus proposuit: neque Mordaces aliter diffugiunt sollicitudines. Quis post vina gravem militiam aut pauperiem crepat? Quis non te potius Bacche pater, teque decens Venus? At ne quis modici transiliat munera Liberi, Centaurea monet cum Lapithis rixa super merchant Debellata: monet Sithoniis non levis Evius: Cum fas atque nefas exiguo fine libidinum Discernunt avidi. Non ego te candide Bassareu Invitum quatiam: nec variis obsita frondibus Sub dium rapiam; saeva tene cum Berecynthio Cornu tympana: quae subsequitur caecus amor sui, Et tollens vacuum plus nimio gloria verticem, Arcanique fides prodiga, perlucidior vitro. ODE XXVII Ad SODALES. Ad Sodales inter pocula rixantes, & poculis ipsis pugnantes, invitatus ut bibat, id se ea lege facturum, si frater Megillae nomen amicae suae proferat, vel sibi in aurem dicat. NAtis in usum laetitiae scyphis Pugnare, Thracum est. tollite barbarum Morem: verecundumque Bacchum Sanguineis prohibite rixis. Vino & lucernis Medus acinaces Immane quantum discrepat. impium Lenite clamorem sodales, Et cubito remanete presso. Vultis severi me quoque sumere Partem Falerni? dicat Opuntiae Frater Megillae, quo beatus Vulnere, qua pereat sagitta. Cessat voluntas? non alia bibam Mercede. quae te cumque domat Venus, Non erubescendis adurit Ignibus, ingenuóque semper Amore peccas. quicquid habes, age, Depone tutis auribus. ah miser, Quanta laboras in Charibdi! Digne puer meliore flamma. Quae saga, quis te solvere Thessalis Magus venenis, quis proterit Deus? Vix illigatum te triformi Pegasus expediet Chimaera. ODE XXXI. Se non opulentiam, sed tranquillam hilarenique vitam ab Apolline poscere. QVid dedicatum poscit Apollinem Vates? quid orat, de patera novum Fundens liquorem? non opimas Sardiniae segetes feracis, Non aestuosae grata Calabriae Armenta: non aurum, aut ebur Indicum, Non rura, quae Liris quieta Mordet aqua, taciturnus amnis. Premant Calena falce, quibus dedit Fortuna vitem: dives & aureis Mercator exsiccet culullis Vina Syra reparata merce, Diis carus ipsis: quippe ter & quater Anno revisens aequor Atlanticum Impune. Me pascunt olivae, Me chicorea, levesque malvae. Frui paratis & valido mihi Latoe dones, & (precor) integra Cum ment: nec turpem senectam Degere, nec cithara carentem. ODE XXIV. Ad VIRGILIUM Deflet Quintilii Vari mortem. QVis desidero sit pudor, aut modus Tam cari capitis? praecipe lugubreis Cantus Melpomene: cui liquidam pater Vocem cum cithara dedit. Ergo Quintilium perpetuus sopor Vrget? cui pudor, & justitiae soror Incorrupta fides, nudaque veritas, Quando ullum invenient parem? Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit: Nulli flebilior, quam tibi Virgili. Tu frustra pius, heu, non ita creditum, Poscis Quintilium deos. Quid si Threicio blandius Orpheo Auditam moderere arboribus fidem? Num vanae redeat sanguis imagini, Quam virga semel horrida Non lenis precibus fata recludere, Nigro compulerit Mercurius gregi? Durum; sed levius fit patientia, Quicquid corrigere est nefas. ODE XXXIV. Poenitere se, quod dum Epicueram disciplinam sectaretur, parum studiose Deos coluerit. PArcus Deorum cultor, & infrequens, Insanientis dum sapientiae Consultus erro, nunc retrorsum Vela dare, atque iterare cursus Cogor relictos. Namque Diespiter Igni corusco nubila dividens, Plerumque per purum tonanteis Egit equos, volucremque currum: Quo bruta tellus, & vaga flumina, Quo Styx, & invisi horrida Taenari Sedes, Atlanteusque finis Concutitur. Valet ima summis Mutare, & insignem attenuat Deus, Obscura promens; hinc apicem rapax Fortuna cum stridore acuto Sustulit: hic posuisse gaudet. Q. HORATIJ FLACCI LIBER II. CARMINUM: ODE I. Ad C. ASINIUM POLLIONEM. Commendat scripta illius, quibus bella civilia complectebatur. MOTUM ex Metello consule civicum, Bellique causas, & vitia, & modos, Ludúmque Fortunae graviesque Principum amicitias, & arma Nondum expiatis uncta cruoribus, Periculosae plenum opus aleae Tractas, & incedis per igneis Suppositos cineri doloso. Paulum severae Musa tragoediae Desit theatris: mox, ubi publicas Res ordinaris, grande munus Cecropio repetes cothurno, Insigne moestis praesidium reis, Et consulenti, Pollio, curiae; Cui laurus aeternos honores Dalmatico peperit triumpho. Jam nunc minaci murmure cornuum Perstringit aureis: jam litui strepunt: Jam fulgor armorum fugaceis Terret equos, equitumque vultus. Audire magnos jam videor duces Non indecoro pulvere sordidos, Et cuncta terrarum subacta, Praeter atrocem animum Catonis. Juno, & deorum quisquis amicior Afris, inulta cesserat impotens Tellure, victorum nepotes Rettulit inferias Jugurthae. Quis non Latino sanguine pinguior Campus, sepulchris impia proelia Testatur, auditumque Medis Hesperiae sonitum ruinae? Qui gurges, aut quae flumina lugubris Ignara belli? quod mare Dauniae Non decoloravere caedes? Quae caret ora cruore nostro? Sed ne, relictis Musa procax jocis, Ceae retractes munera naeniae, Mecum Dionaeo sub antro Quaere modos leviore plectro. ODE II. Ad C. SALLUSTIUM CRISPUM. Primo Proculejum laudat ob liberalitatem in fratres: deinde oftendit, eum qui suas cupiditates reprimere, pecuniamque contemnere possit, solum regem, solum beatum esse. NVllus argento color est, avaris Abditae terris inimice lamnae Crispe Salusti, nisi temperato Splendeat usu. Vivet extento Proculejus aevo, Notus in fratres animi paterni. Illum aget penna metuente solvi Fama superstes. Latius regnes avidum domando Spiritum, quam si Libyam remotis Gadibus jungas, & uterque Poenus Serviat uni. Crescit indulgens sibi dirus hydrops: Nec sitim pellit, nisi causa morbi Fugerit venis, & aquosus albo Corpore languor. Redditum Cyri solio Phraaten Dissidens plebi, numero beato- Rum eximit virtus: populumque falsis Dedocet uti Vocibus; regnum & diadema tutum Deferens uni, propriamque laurum, Quisquis iugenteis oculo irretorto Spectat acervos. ODE III. Ad DELLIUM. Neque demittendum adversis, neque efferendum secundis rebus animum: sed hilariter vivendum, cum aequa sit omnibus moriendi conditio. AEQuam memento rebus in arduis Servare mentem: non secus in bonis Ab insolenti temperatam Laetitia, moriture Delli, Seu moestus omni tempore vixeris: Seu te in remoto gramine per dies Festos reclinatum bearis Interiore nota Falerni. Qua pinus ingens, albaque populus Vmbram hospitalem consociare amant Ramis, qua obliquo laborat Lympha fugax trepidare rivo: Huc vina, & unguenta, & nimium breveis Flores amoenae ferre jube rosae: Dum res, & aetas, & sororum Fila trium patiuntur atra. Cedes coemtis saltibus, & domo, Villáque, flavus quam Tiberis lavit, Cedes: & exstructis in altum Divitiis potietur haeres. Divesne prisco natus ab Inacho, Nil interest, an pauper, & infima De gente sub div moreris, Victima nil miserantis Orci. Omnes eodem cogimur: omnium Versatur urna: serius, ocyus, Sors exitura: & nos in aeter— Num exilium impositura cymba. ODE IU. Ad XANTHIAM PHOCEUM. Quod ancillam amet, non esse cur eam pudeat: multis enim magnis viris idem usu venisse. NE sit ancillae tibi amor pudori Xanthia Phoceu; prius insolentem Serua Briseis niveo colore Movit Achillem. Movit Ajacem Telomone natum Forma Captivae dominum Tecmessae. Arsit Atrides medio in triumpho Virgine rapta: Barbarae postquam cecidere turmae Thessalo victore: & ademptus Hector Tradidit fessis leviora tolli Pergamon Grajis. Nescias, an te generum beati Phillydis flavae decorent parentes. Regium certe genus, & penateis Moeret iniquos. Crede non illam tibi de scelesta Plebe delectam: neque sic fidelem, Sic lucro aversam, potuîsse nasci Matre pudenda. Brachia, & vultum, tereteisque suras, Integer laudo. fuge suspicari, Cujus octavum trepidavit aetas Claudere lustrum. ODE VIII. In BARINEM. Non esse cur ei juranti credatur: Formosarum enim perjuria a diis non vindicari. VLla si juris tibi pejerati Poena, Barine, nocuisset unquam: Dente si nigro fieres vel uno Turpior ungue, Crederem. sed tu, simul obligasti Perfidum votis caput, enitescis Pulchrior multo, juvenúmque prodis Publica cura. Expedit matris cineres opertos Fallere, & toto taciturna noctis Signa cum coelo, gelidâque divos Morte carenteis. Ridet hoc, inquam, Venus ipsa: rident Simplices Nymphae, ferus & Cupido, Semper ardenteis acueus sagittas Coat cruenta. Adde, quod pubes tibi crescit omnis: Servitus crescit nova: nec priores Impiae tectum Dominae relinquunt, Saepe minati. Te suis matres metuunt juvencis: Te senes parci: miseraeque nuper Virgines nuptae; tua ne retardet Aura maritos. ODE X. Ad LICINIUM. Retinendam esse mediocritatem, & animi in utraque fortuna aequalitatem. REctius vives Licini neque altum Semper urgendo: neque, dum procellas Cautus horrescis, nimium premendo Littus iniquum. Auream quisquis mediocritatem Diligit, tutus caret obsoleti Sordibus tecti, caret invidendae Sobrius aula. Saepius ventis agitatur ingens Pinus: & celsae graviore casu Decidunt turres: feriúntque summos Fulmina montes. Sperat infestis, metuit secundis Alteram sortembene praeparatum Pectus; informeis hyemes reducit Jupiter: idem Summovet; non, fi male nunc, & olim Sic erit. Quondam cithara tacentem Suscitat Musam, neque semper arcum Tendit Apollo. Rebus angustis animosus, atque Fortis appare. Sapienter idem Contrahes vento nimium secundo Turgida vela. ODE XIII. In Arborem, cujus casu in agro Sabino paene oppressus est. Nunquam homini satis exploratum esse, quid vitare debeat. Sapphonis & Alcaei laudes. ILle nefasto te posuit die, Quicúnque primum, & sacrilega manu Produxit arbos, in nepotum Perniciem, opprobriúmque pagi. Illum & parentis crediderim sui Fregisse cervicem, & penetralia Sparsisse nocturno cruore Hospitis: ille venena Colchica, Et quicquid usquam concipitur nefas Tractavit, agro qui statuit meo Te, triste lignum, te caducum In domini caput immerentis. Quid quisque vitet, nunquam homini satis Cautum est in horas; navita Bosphorum Poenus perhorrescit, neque ultra Caeca timet aliunde fata; Miles sagittas, & celerem fugam Parthi: catenas Parthus, & Italum Robur. Sed improvisa lethi Vis rapuit, rapiétque genteis. Quàm paene furvae regna Proserpinae, Et judicantem vidimus Aeacum, Sedeisque descriptas piorum, & Aeoliis fidibus querentem Sapph puellis de popularibus! Et te sonantem plenius aureo, Alcaee, plectro, dura navis, Dura fugae mala, dura belli! Utrumque sacro digna silentio Mirantur umbrae dicere: sed magis Pugnas, & exactos tyrannos Densum humeris bibit aure vulgus. Quid mirum, ubi illis carminibus stupens Demittit atras bellua centiceps Aureis? & intorti capillis Eumenidum recreantur angues? Quin & Prometheus & Pelopis parens Dulci laborum decipitur sono: Nec curat Orion leones, Aut timidos agitare lyncas. ODE XIV. Ad POSTHUMUM. Mortem vitari non posse. EHeu, fugaces, Posthume, Posthume, Labuntur anni: nec pietas moram Rugis, & instanti senectae Afferet, indomitaeque morti. Non si trecenis, quotquot eunt dies, Amice, places illachrymabilem Plutona tauris: qui ter amplum Geryonem Tityónque tristi Compescit unda, scilicet omnibus, Quicunque terrae munere vescimur, Enaviganda, sive reges, Sive inopes erimus coloni. Frustra cruento Marte carebimus: Fractisque rauci fluctibus Adriae. Frustra per autumnos nocentem Corporibus metuemus Austrum. Visendus ater flumine languido Cocytus errans, & Danai genus Infame, damnatusque longi Sisyphus Aeolides laboris. Linquenda tellus, & domus, & placens Vxor: neque harum quas colis arborum Te praeter invisas cupressos, Vlla brevem dominum sequetur. Absumet haeres Caecuba dignior. Servata centum clavibus: & mero Tinget pavimentum superbum Pontificum potiore coenis. ODE XV. Ad SUI SAECULI LUXURIAM. I Am pauca aratro jugera regiae Moles relinquent: undique latius Extenta visentur Lucrino Stagna lacu: platanúsque coelebs Evincet ulmos. Tum violaria, & Myrtus, & omnis copia narium Spargent olivetis odorem, Fertilibus domino priori; Dum spissa ramis laurea fervidos Excludet ictus; non ita Romuli Praesciptum, & intonsi Catonis Auspiciis, veterúmque norma. Privatus illis sensus erat brevis: Commune magnum. Nulla decempedis Metata privatis, opacam Porticus excipiebat Arcton: Nec fortuitum spernere cespitem Leges sinebant: oppida publico Sumptu jubentes, & deorum Templa novo decorare saxe. ODE XVI. Ad GROSPHUM. Tranquillitatem animi optari ab omnibus: eam vero non congerendis opibus honoribusve consequendis, sed coercendis cupiditatibus comparari. OTium divos rogat in patenti Prensus Aegaeo, simul atra nubes Condidit Lunam, néque certa fulgent Sidera nautis: Otium bello furiosa Thrace, Otium Medi pharetra decori, Grosphe, non gemmis, néque purpura venale néque auro: Non enim gazae, néque consularis Summovet lictor miseros tumultus Mentis, & curas laqueata circum Tecta volanteis. Vivitur parvo bene, cui paternum Splendet in mensa tenui salinum, Nec leveis somnos timor, aut Cupido Sordidus aufert. Quid brevi fortes jaculamur aevo Multa? quid terras alio calenteis Sole mutamus? patriae quis exul Se quoque fugit? Scandit aeratas vitiosa naveis Cura: nec turmas equitum relinquit, Ocyor cervis, & agente nimbos Ocyor Euro. Laetus in praesens animus, quod ultra est Oderit curare: & amara laeto Temperet risu. Nihil est ab omni Parte beatum. Abstulit clarum cita mors Achillem, Longa Tithonum minuit senectus: Et mihi forsan, tibi quod negarit, Porriget hora. Te greges centum, Siculaeque circum Mugiunt vaccae, tibi tollit hinni- Tum apta quadrigis equa: te bis Afro Murice tinctae Vestiunt lanae: mihi parva rura, & Spiritum Grajae tenuem Camoenae Parca non mendax dedit, & malignum Spernere vulgus. ODE XVII. Ad MAECENATEM AEGROTUM. Negat se ei superstitem velle esse. CVr me querelis exanimas tuis? Nec dîs amicum est, nec mihi, te prius Obire, Maecenas, mearum Grande decus columénque rerum. Ah, te meae si partem animae rapit Maturior vis, quid moror altera, Nec carus aeque, nec superstes Integer? ille dies utrámque Ducet ruinam: non ego perfidum Dixi sacramentum. ibimus ibimus, Vtcúmque praecedes, supremum Carpere iter comites parati. Me nec Chimaerae spiritus igneae, Nec si resurgat centimanus Gyas, Divellet unquam; sic potenti Justitiae, placitúmque Parcis. Seu Libra, seu me Scorpius aspicit Formidolosus, pars violentior Natalis horae, seu tyrannus Hesperiae Capricornus undae: Vtrúmque nostrum incredibili modo Consentit astrum. te Jovis impio Tutela Saturno refulgens Eripuit, volucrisque fati Tardavit alas, cum populus frequens, Laetum theatris ter crepuit sonum: Me truncus illapsus cerebro Sustulerat, nisi Faunus ictum Dextráque levasset, Mercurialium Custos virorum. reddere victimas, Aedémque votivam memento: Nos humilem feriemus agnam. Q. HORATIJ FLACCI LIBER III. CARMINUM: ODE I Non opibus aut honoribus, sed animi tranquillitate vitam beatam effici. ODi profanum vulgus, & arceo. Favete linguis; carmina non prius Audita, Musarum sacerdos, Virginibus, puerisque canto. Regum timendorum in proprios greges, Reges in ipsos imperium est Jovis Clari Giganteo triumpho, Cuncta supercilio moventis. Est ut viro vir latius ordinet Arbusta sulcis: hic generosior Descendat in campum petitor: Moribus hic meliórque fama Contendat: illi turba clientum Sit major. A QV A lege necessitas Sortitur insigneis, & imos, Omne capax movet urna nomen. Districtus ensis cui super impia Cervice pendet, non Siculae dapes Dulcem elaborabunt saporem: Non avium citharaeque cantus Somnum reducent. somnus agrestium Lenis virorum non humileis domos Fastidit, umbrosámque ripam, Non Zephyris agitata Tempe. Desiderantem quod satis est, néque Tumultuosum sollicitat mare, Nec saevus Arcturi cadentis Impetus, aut orientis Haedi; Non verberatae grandine vineae, Fundúsque mendax, arbore nunc aquas Culpante, nunc torrentia agros Sidera, nunc hiemes iniquas. Contracta pisces aequora sentiunt, Jactis in altum molibus; huc frequens Caementa dimittit redemtor Cum famulis dominúsque terrae Fastidiosus. sed timor, & minae Scandunt eodem, quo dominus: néque Decedit aerata triremi, & Post equitem sedet atra cura. Quod si dolentem nec Phryoius lapis, Nec purpurarum sidere clarior Delenit usus, nec Falerna Vitis, Achaemeniúmque costum; Curio invidendis postibus, & novo Sublime ritu moliar atrium? Cur valle permutem Sabina Divitias operosiores? ODE III. Virtute praeditum virum nihil extimescere; oratio Junonis de Troja eversà, bello Trojano finito, imperio Romano à Trojanis initium capturo. JVstum, & tenacem propositi virum, Non civium ardor prava jubentium, Non vultus instantis tyranni Mente quatit solida, néque Auster, Dux inquieti turbidus Adriae, Nec fulminantis magna Jovis manus. Si fractus illabatur orbis, Impavidum ferient ruinae. Hac arte Pollux, & vagus Hercules Innixus, arceis attigit igneas: Quos inter Augustus recumbens Purpureo bibit ore nectar. Hac te merentem, Bacche pater, tuae Vexere tigres, indocili jugum Collo trahentes: hac Quirinus Martis equis Acheronta fugit: Gratum elocuta concitiantibus Junone divis. Ilium, Ilium Fatalis incestusque judex, Et mulier peregrina vertit In pulverem, ex quo destituit deos Mercede pacta Laomedon: mihi, Castaeque damnatum Minervae Cum populo, & duce fraudulento. Jam nec Lacaenae splendet adulterae Famosus hospes: nec Priami domus Perjura pugnaceis Achivos Hectoreis opibus refringit: Nostrisque ductum seditionibus Bellum resedit: protenus & graveis Iras, & invisum nepotem, Troica quem peperit sacerdos, Marti redonabo; illum ego lucidas Inire sedeis, ducere nectaris Succos, & adscribi quietis Ordinibus patiar deorum. Dum longus inter saeviat Ilium Romámque pontus; qualibet exules In parte regnanto beati. Dum Priami Paridisque busto Insultet armentum, & catulos ferae Celent inultaes; stet Capitolium Fulgens, triumphatisque possit Roma ferox dare jura Medis. Horrenda late, nomen in ultimas Extendat oras, qua medius liquor Secernit Europen ab Afro, Qua tumidus rigat arva Nilus. Aurum irrepertum, & sic melius situm, Cum terra celat, spernere fortior, Quam cogere humanos in usus, Omne sacrum rapiente dextra. Quicunque mundi terminus obstitit, Hunc tangat armis, visere gestiens, Qua parte debacchentur ignes, Qua nebulae, pluvisque rores. Sed Bellicosis fata Quiritibus Hac lege dico, ne nimium pii, Rebúsque fidentes, avitae Tecta velint reparare Trojae: Trojae renascens alite lugubri Fortuna, tristi clade iterabitur; Ducente victriceis catervas Conjuge me Jovis, & sorore, Ter si resurgat murus aeneus Auctore Phoebo; ter pereat meis Exscissus Argivis; ter uxor Capta virum puerosque ploret. Non haec jocosae conveniunt lyrae. Quo Musa tendis: desine pervicax Referre sermones deorum, & Magna modis tenuare parvis. ODE IU. Ad CALLIOPEN. Se à multis periculis, Musarum ope ereptum fuisse. Male cessisse omnibus qui adversum deos aliquid moliri voluerint. DEscende coelo, & dic, age, tibia Regina, longum, Calliope, melos; Seu voce nunc mavis acuta, Seu fidibus, citharave Phoebi. Auditis? an me ludit amabilis Insania? audire, & videor pios Errare per lucos, amoenae Quos & aquae subeunt, & aurae. Me fabulosae Vulture in Appulo, Altricis extra limen Appuliae, Ludo, fatigatúmque somno, Fronde nova puerum palumbes Texere: mirum quod foret omnibus, Quicúnque celsae nidum Acherontiae, Saltúsque Bantinos, & arvum Pingue tenent humilis Ferenti, Vt tuto ab atris corpore viperis Dormirem, & ursis: ut premerer sacra Lauróque collatáque myrto, Non sine Diis animosus infans. Vester, Camoenae, vester in arduos Tollor Sabinos: seu mihi frigidum Praeneste, seu Tibur supinum, Seu liquidae placuere Bajae. Vestris amicum fontibus, & choris, Non me Philippis versa acies retro, Devota non extinxit arbor, Nec Sicula Palinurus unda. Vtcúnque mecum vos eritis, libens Insanientem navita Bosphorum Tentabo, & arenteis arenas Littoris Assyrii viator. Visam Britannos hospitibus feros, Et laetum equino sanguine Concanum. Visam pharetratos Gelonos, Et Scythicum inviolatus amnem. Vos Caesarem altum, militia simul Fessas cohorteis abdidit oppidis, Finire quaerentem labores Pierio recreatis antro. Vos lene consilium & datis, & dato Gaudetis almae. scimus, ut impios Titanas, immanémque turmam Fulmine sustulerit caduco: Qui terram inertem, qui mare temperat Ventosum, & urbeis, regnáque tristia, Diuósque, mortaleisque turbas Imperio regit unus aequo. Magnum illa terrorem intulerat Jovi Fidens, juventus horrida brachiis: Fratrésque tendentes opaco Pelion imposuisse Olympo. Sed quid Typheous, & validus Mimas, Aut quid minaci Porphyrion statu, Quid Rhoecus, evulsisque truncis Enceladus jaculator audax, Contra sonantem Palladis Aegida Possent ruentes? hinc avidus stetit Vulcanus, hinc matrona Juno, & Nunquam humeris positurus arcum, Qui rore puro Castaliae lavit Crineis solutos, qui Lyciae tenet Dumeta, natalémque sylvam, Delius, & Patareus Apollo. Vis consilî expers mole ruit sua: Vim temperatam dî quóque provehunt In majus: Idem odere vireis Omne nefas animo moventeis. Testis mearum centimanus Gyges Sententiarum notus, & integrae Tentator Orion Dianae, Virginea domitus sagitta. Injecta monstris terra dolet suis: Moerétque partus fulmine luridum Missos ad Orcum: nec peredit Impositam celer ignis Aetnam: Incontinentis nec Tityi jecur Relinquit ales, nequitiae additus Custos: amatorem trecentae Perithoum cohibent catenae. ODE V. AUGUSTI LAUDES. Reguli constantia, & ad Poenos reditus. CAelo tonantem credidimus Jovem Regnare. praesens divus habebitur Augustus, abjectis Britannis Imperio, gravibúsque Persis. Milesne Crassis, conjuge barbara Turpis maritus vixit? & hostium (Prôh curia, inversique mores) Consenuit socerorum in armis, Sub Rege Medo Marsus, & Appulus, Anciliorum nominis, & togae Oblitus, aeternaeque Vestae, Incolumi Jove, & urbe Roma? Hoc caverat mens provida Reguli, Dissentientis conditionibus. Foedis, & exemplo trahenti Perniciem veniens in aevum, Si non periret immiserabilis Captiva pubes. Signa ego Punicis Affixa delubris & arma Militibus sine caede, dixit, Direpta vidi. vidi ego civium Retorta tergo brachia libero, Portásque non clausas, & arva Marte coli populata nostro. Auro repensus scilicet acrior Miles redibit. flagitio additis Damnum: néque amissos colores Lana refert medicata fuco: Nec vera virtus, cum semel excidit, Curat reponi deterioribus. Si pugnat extricata densis Cerva plagis, erit ille fortis, Qui perfidis se credidit hostibus: Et Marte Poenos proteret altero, Qui lora restrictis lacertis Sensit iners, timuitque mortem. Hic unde vitam sumeret inscius, Pacem duello miscuit. O pudor! O magna Carthago, probrosis Altior Italiae ruinis! Fertur pudicae conjugis osculum, Paruósque natos, ut capitis minor, Ab se removisse, & virilem Torvus humi posuisse vultum. Donec labanteis consilio patres Firmaret auctor nuuquam alias dato Intérque merenteis amicos Egregius properaret exul. Atqui sciebat, quae sibi barbarus Tortor pararet: non aliter tamen Dimovit obstanteis propinquos, Et populum reditus morantem, Quam si clientum longa negotia Dijudicata lite relinqueret; Tendens Venafranos in agros, Aut Lacedaemonium Tarentum. ODE VII. Ad ASTERIEN. Consolatur eam de viri sui absentia moestam, fac solicitam. QVid fles Asterie, quem tibi candidi Primo restituent vere Favonii, Thyna merce beatum Constanti juvenem fide Gygen? Ille notis actus ad Oricum Post insana Caphae sydera frigidas Noctes non sine multis Insomnis lachrymis agit. Atqui sollicitae nuntius hospitae, Suspirare Chloen, & miseram tuis Dicens ignibus uri, Tentat mille vafer modis. Vt Proetum mulier perfida credulum Falsis impulerit criminibus, nimis Casto Bellerophonti Maturare necem refert. Narrat paene datum Pelea Tartaro, Magnessam Hyppoliten dum fugit abstinens, Et peccare docentes Fallax historias monet: Frustra. nam scopulis surdior Icari Voces audit adhuc integer at, tibi Ne vicinus Enipeus Plus justo placeat, cave: Quamvis non alius flectere equum sciens Aeque conspicitur gramine Martio: Nec quisquam citus aeque Tusco denatat alveo. Prima nocte domum claude: néque in vias Sub cantum querulae despice tibiae: Et te saepe vocanti Duram, difficilis mane. ODE IX. Ad LYDIAM. Dialogus Horatij & Lydiae. HO. DOnec gratus eram tibi, Nec quisquam potior brachia candidae Cervici juvenis dabat, Persarum vigui rege beatior. LY. Donec non alia magis Arsisti, neque erat Lydia post Chloen: Multi Lydia nominis Romana vigui clarior Ilia. HO. Me nunc Thressa Chloë regit, Dulces docta modos, & citharae sciens: Pro qua non metuam mori, Si parcent animae fata superstiti. LY. Me torret face mutua Thurini Calais filius Ornithi; Pro quo bis patiar mori, Si parcent puero fata superstiti. HO. Quid si prisca redit Venus? Diductósque jugo cogit aheneo? Si flava excutitur Chlo, Rejectaeque patet janua Lydiae? LY. Quanquam sydere pulchrior Ille est; tu levior cortice, & improbo Iracundior Adria: Tecum vivere amem, tecum obeam libens. ODE XI. Ad MERCURIUM. Ut cantus sibi dictet, quibus Lyde flecti possit. Danaidum fabula. MErcuri (nam te docilis magistro Movit Amphion lapides, canendo) Túque testudo, resonare septem Callida nervis: (Nec loquax olim néque grata, nunc & Divitum mensis & amica templis) Dic modos, Lyde quibus obstinatas Applicet aures. Quae, velut latis equa prima campis, Ludit exultim: metuitque tangi, Nuptiarum expers, & adhuc protervo Cruda marito. Tu potes tigres comitésque sylvas Ducere, & rivos celeres morari. Cessit immanis tibi blandienti Janitor aulae Cerberus, quamvis furiale centum Muniant angues caput ejus, atque Spiritus teter saniésque manet Ore trilingui. Quin & Ixion Tityúsque vultu Risit invito: stetit urna paulum Sicca, dum grato Danai puellas Carmine mulces. Audiat Lyde scelus átque notas Virginum poenas, & inane lymphae Dolium fundo pereuntis imo, Seráque fata, Quae manent culpas etiam sub Orco Impiae: nam quid potuere majus? Impiae sponsos potuere duro Perdere ferro. una de multis face nuptiali Digna, perjurum fuit in parentem Splendide mendax, & in omne virgo Nobilis aevum; Surge (quae dixit juveni marito) Surge, ne longus tibi somnus, unde Non times, detur: socerum & scelestas Falle sorores, Quae, velut nactae vitulos leaenae, Singulos (eheu) lacerant; ego illis Mollior, nec te feriam, nee intra Claustra tenebo. Me pater saevis oneret catenis, Quod viro clemens misero peperci: Me vel extremos Numidarum in agros Classe relegat. I, pedes quo te rapiunt & aurae: Dum favet nox & Venus: I secundo Omine, & nostri memorem sepulchro Sculpe querelam. ODE XVI. Ad C. MAECENATEM. Quanta sit ad omnia expugnanda, etiam ad pudicitiam, vis auri, exemplis docet. Sed esse id pecuniae insitum, ut nulla ejus copia satiet, & crescente ea crescat simul cura & sollicitudo. Ideóque beatum esse qui mediocritate contentus vivit. INclusam Danaen turris ahenea, Robustaeque fores, & vigilum canum Tristes excubiae munierant satis Nocturnis ab adulteris: Si non Acrisium, virginis abditae Custodem pavidum, Jupiter & Venus Risissent: fore enim tutum iter & patens, Converso in pretium deo. Aurum per medios ire satellites, Et perrumpere amat saxa, potentius Ictu fulmineo. concidit auguris Argivi domus, ob lucrum Demersa excidio. diffidit urbium Portas vir Macedo, & subruit aemulos Reges muneribus. munera navium Saevos illaqueant duces. Crescentem sequitur cura pecuniam, Majorúmque fames jure perhorrui Late conspicuum tollere verticem, Moecenae, equitum decus. Quanto quisque sibi plura negaverit, A dîs plura feret. nil cupientium Nudus castra peto: & transfuga divitum Partes linquere gestio, Contemptae dominus splendidior rei, Quàm si quicquid arat non piger Appulus, Occultare meis dicerer horreis, Magnas inter opes inops. Purae rivus aquae, syluáque jugerum Paucorum, & segetis certa fides meae, Fulgentem imperio fertilis Africa Fallit sorte beatior. Quanquam nec Calabrae mella ferunt apes, Nec Laestrygonia Bacchus in amphora Languescit mihi, nec pinguia Gallicis Crescunt vellera pascuis: Importuna tamen pauperies abest: Nec, si plura velim, tu dare deneges; Contracto melius parva cupidine Vectigalia porrigam, Quàm si Mygdoniis regnum Halyattici Campis continuem. Multa petentibus Desunt multa. bene est, cui deus obtulit Parca, quod satis est, manu. ODE XXIV. In DIVITES AVAROS. In avaros invehitur, qui domos domibus subinde addunt, in ipso etiam mari aedificantes: cum tamen nulla aedificia necessitate mortis eos liberare possint. Scythas, qui plaustris domos suas trahant, & in commune agros colant, feliciores esse ait. Quinetiam eam morum corruptelam & peccandi licentiam apud hos esse negat, quae sit apud Romanos. Ad haec autem mala extirpanda unà cum prava illa augen i opes cupiditate, disciplina asperiore opus esse dicit. d INtactis opulentior Thesauris Arabum, & divitis Indiae, Coementis licet occupes Tyrrhenum omne tuis & mare Ponticum: Si figit adamantinos Summis verticibus dira necessitas Clavos: non animum metu, Non mortis laqueis expedies caput. Campestres melius Scythae (Quorum plaustra vagas rite trahunt domos) Vivunt, & rigidi Getae, Immetata quibus jugera liberas Fruges & Cererem ferunt: Nec cultura placet longior annua: Defunctúmque laboribus Aequati recreat sorte vicarius. Illic matre carentibus Privignis mulier temperat innocens: Nec dotata regit virum Conjux, nec nitido fidit adultero. Dos est magna, parentium Virtus, & metuens alterius viri Certo foedere castitas. Et peccare nefas, aut pretium est mori. O quisquis volet impias Caedes & rabiem tollere civiacm: Si quaeret pater urbium Subscribi statuis, indomitam audeat Refraenare licentiam, Clarus postgenitis, quatenus, heu nefas! Virtutem incolumem odimus, Sublatam ex oculis quaerimus invidi. Quid tristes querimoniae, Si non supplicio culpa reciditur? Quid leges sine moribus Vanae proficiunt? si, neque fervidis Pars inclusa caloribus Mundi, nec Boreae finitimum tatus, Durataeque solo nives Mercatorem abigunt? horrida callidi Vincunt aequora navitae? Magnum pauperies opprobrium jubet Quidvis & facere & pati, Virtutisque viam deserit arduae. Vel nos in Capitolium, Quo clamor vocat & turba faventium: Vel nos in mare proximum Gemmas, & lapides, aurum & inutile, Summi materiam mali, Mittamus. scelerum si bene poenitet, Eradenda Cupidinis Pravi sunt elementa: & tenerae nimis Mentes asperioribus Formandae studiis. nescit equo rudi Haerere ingenuus puer, Venarique timet, ludere doctior, Seu Graeco jubeas trocho, Seu malis vetita legibus alea. Quum perjura patris fides Consortem socium fallat & hospitem: Indignóque pecuniam Haeredi properet: scilicet improbae Crescunt divitiae: tamen Curtae nescio quid semper abest rei. ODE XXVII. Ad GALATEAM NAVIGATURAM. Deterret eam praecipue exemplo Europae. IMpios parrae recinentis omen Ducat, & praegnans canis, aut ab agra Rava decurrens lupa Lanuvino, Foetáque vulpes; Rumpat & serpens iter institutum, Si per obliquum similis sagittae Terruit mannos, ego cui timebo Providus auspex? Antequam stantes repetat paludes Imbrium divina avis imminentum; Oscinem corvum prece suscitabo Solis ab ortu. Sis licet felix ubicúnque mavis, Et memor nostri Galatea vivas: Téque nec laevus vetet ire picus, Nec vaga cornix. Sed vides quanto trepidet tumultu Pronus Orion. ego, quid sit ater Adriae, novi, sinus: & quid albus Peccet Iapix. Hostium uxores puerique caecos Sentiant motus orientis Hoedi, & Aequoris nigri fremitum, & trementes Verbere ripas. Sic & Europe niveum doloso Credidit tauro latus, & statentem Belluis pontum, mediásque fraudes Palluit audax. Nuper in pratis studiosa florum, & Debitae Nymphis opifex coronae, Nocte sublustri, nihil astra praeter Vidit & undas. Quae simul centum tetigit potentem Oppidis Creten; Pater, ô relictum Filiae nomen, pietasque, dixit Victa furore, Unde? quo veni? levis una mors est Virginum culpae. vigilansne ploro Turpe commissum? an vitiis carentem Ludit imago Vana, quae porta fugiens eburna Somnium ducit? meliusne fluctus Ire per longos fuit, an recentes Carpere flores? Si quis infamem mihi nunc juvencum Dedat iratae, lacerare ferro, & Frangere enitar modo multum amati Cornua tauri. Impudens liqui patrios penates, Impudens Orcum moror. ô deorum Si quis haec audis, utinam inter errem Nuda leones, Antequam turpis macies decentes Occupet malas, teneraeque succus Defluat praedae, speciosa quaero Pascere tigres. Vilis Europae pater urget absens: Quid mori cessas? potes hac ab orno Pendulum zona bene te secuta Laedere collum. Sive te rupes & acuta letho Saxa delectant, age te procellae Crede veloci: nisi herile mavis Carpere pensum, Regius sanguis, dominaeque tradi Barbarae pellex. Aderat querenti Perfidum ridens Venus, & remisso Filius arcu. Mox ubi lusit satis, Abstineto (Dixit) irarum calidaeque rixae, Quum tibi invisus laceranda reddet Cornua taurus. Vxor invicti Jovis esse nescis? Mitte singultus: bene ferre magnam Disce fortunam: tua sectus orbis Nomina ducet. ODE XXIX. Ad MAECENATEM. TYrrhena regum progenies, tibi Non ante verso lene merum cado Cum flore, Maecenas, rosarum, & Pressa tuis balanus capillis Jamdudum apud me est; eripe te morae: Ne semper udum Tibur & Aesulae Declive contempleris arvum, & Telegoni juga parricidae. Fastidiosam desere copiam & Molem propinquam nubibus arduis. Omitte mirari beatae Fumum, & opes strepitúmque Romae. Plerúmque gratae divitibus vices, Mundaeque parvo sub lare pauperum Coenae, sine aulaeis & ostro, Sollicitam explicuere frontem. Jam clarus occultum Andromedes pater Ostendit ignem: jam Procyon furis, Et stella vesani Leonis, Sole dies referente siccos. Jam pastor umbras cum grege tanguido Riuúmque fessus quaerit, & horridi Dumeta Sylvani: carétquo Ripa vagis taciturna ventis. Tu civitatem quis deceat status, Curas, & urbi sollicitus, times Quid Seres & regnata Cyro Bactra parent, Tanaisque discors. Prudens futuri temporis exitum Caliginosa nocte premit Deus: Ridétque, si mortalis ultra Fas trepidat. quod adest, memento Componere aequus: caetera fluminis Ritu feruntur, nunc medio alveo Cum pace delabentis Etrus- Cum in mare, nunc lapides adesos, Stirpésque raptas, & pecus & domos Volventis una, non sine montium Clamore, vicinaeque sylvae; Quum fera diluvies quietos Irritat amnes. ille potens sai Laetúsque deget, cui licet, in diem Dixisse, vixi: cras vel atra Nube polum pater occupato, Vel sole puro: non tamen irritum Quodcúnque retro est, efficiet: neque Diffinget, infectúnique reddet, Quod fugiens semel hora vexit. Fortuna saevo laeta negotio, & Ludum insolentem ludere pertinax, Transmutat incertos honores, Nunc mihi, nunc alii benigna. Laudo manentem: si celeres quatit Pennas, resigno quae dedit, & mea Virtute me involvo, probámque Pauperiem sine dote quaero. Non est meum, si mugiat Africis Malus procellis, ad miseras preces Decurrere: & votis pacisci, Ne Cypriae Tyriaeque merces Addant avaro divitias mari. Tunc me biremis praesidio scaphae, Tutum per Aegeos tumultus Aura feret, geminúsque Pollus. ODE XXX. Ad MELPOMENEN MUSAM. Scribendis carminibus Lyricis semolius considuisse immortalitati nominis sui dicit, quam si obtinuisset ut sibi aeres statuae aut pyramides erigerentur. Praecipuamque laudis materiam fore inquit, quod primus ex Latinis in hoc carminum genere Graecos imitatus fuerit. EXegi monimentum aere perennius Regalique situ pyramidum altius: Quod nec imber edax, aut Aquiloimpotens Possit diruere, aut innumerabilis Annorum series, & fuga temporum. Non omnis moriar: multaque pars mei Vitabit Libitinam. usque ego postera Crescam laude recens, dum Capitolium Scandet cum tacita virgine pontifex. Dicar, qua violens obstrepit Aufidus, Et qua pauper aquae Daunus agrestium Regnavit populorum ex humili potens Princeps, Aeolium carmen ad Italos Deduxisse modos. sum superbiam Quaesitam meritis, & mihi Delphica Lauro cinge volens Melpomene comam. Q. HORATIJ FLACCI LIBER IV. CARMINUM: ODE II. Ad ANTONIUM JULUM. Pindarum esse ejusmodi poetam, ut siquis eum imitari conetur, non minus famae suae periculum sit aditurus, quam si cum Icaro pennis Daedaleis coelo se credere audeat. Deinde ut Pindarum cygno alte volanti, ita se api grata thyma laboriose carpenti comparat: ideóque ipsum Antonium ad celebrandam majore plectro Caesaris victoriam hortatur. PIndarum quisquis studet aemulari, I- Vle, ceratis ope Daedalea Nititur pennis, vitreo daturus Nomina ponto. Monte decurrens velut amnis, imbres Quem super notas aluere ripas, Fervet immensúsque ruit profundo Pindarus ore, Laurea donandus Apollinari, Seu per audaces nova dithyrambos Verba devolvit, numerisque fertur Lege solutis: Seu deos, regesque canit, deorum Sanguinem: per quos cecidere justa Morte Centauri, cecidit tremendae Flamma Chimaerae: Sive, quos Elea domum reducit Palma coelestes: pugilemve equumve Dicit, & centum potiore signis Munere donat: Flebili sponsae juvenemve raptum Plorat: & vires animúmque mores- Que aureos educit in astra, nigro- Que invidet Orco. Multa Dirceum levat aura cygnum, Tendit, Antoni, quoties in altos Nubium tractus: ego, apis Matinae More modóque, Grata carpentis thyma per laborem Plurimum, circa nemus, uvidique Tiburis ripas, operosa parvus Carmina fingo. Concines majore Poeta plectro Caesarem, quandóque trahet feroces Per sacrum clivum, merita decorus Fronde, Sicambros: Quo nihil majus, meliusve terris Fata donavere, bonique divi, Nec dabunt, quamvis redeant in aurum Tempora priscum. Concines laetosque dies, & urbis Publicum ludum, super impetrato Fortis Augusti reditu, forúmque Litibus orbum. Tum meae (si quid loquar audiendum) Vocis accedet bona pars: & ô sol Pulcher, ô laudande, canam, recepto Caesare foelix. Tuque dum procedis, Io triumphe, Non semel dicemus, Io triumphe, Civitas omnis: dabimúsque divis Thura benignis. Te decem tauri, totidémque vaccae, Me tener solvet vitulus relicta Matre, qui largis juvenescit herbis In mea vota; Fronte curvatos imitatus ignes Tertium Lunae referentis ortum, Qua notam duxit, niveus videri, Caetera fulvus. ODE III. Ad MELPOMENEN. Se natum esse ad poeticen, ejúsque beneficio nominis immortalitatem & gloriam consecuturum esse. OVem tu Melpomene semel Nascentem placido lumine videris, Illum non labor Isthmius Clarabit pugilem, non equus impiger Curru ducet Achaico Victorem: neque res bellica Deliis Ornatum foliis ducem, Quod regum tumidas contuderit minas, Ostendet Capitolio: Sed quae Tibur aquae fertile perfluunt, Et spissae nemorum comae, Fingent Aeolio carmine nobilem. Romae principis urbium Dignatur soboles inter amabiles Vatum ponere me choros: Et jam dente minus mordeor in vido. O, testudinis aureae Dulcem quae strepitum Pieri temperas! O, mutis quóque piscibus Donatura cygni, si libeat, sonum! Totum muneris hoc tui est, Quod monstror digito praetereuntium Romanae fidicen lyrae: Quod spiro, & placeo (si placeo) tuum est ODE IU. Drusi Neronis, qui fuit Augusti Caesaris privignus, victorias de Rhoetis & Vindelicis celebrat. Quin etiam Claudii Neronis fortia quaedam facta commemorat. Tandem vero & totius gentis Romanae fortitudinem ore hostis (nimirum Annibalis) laudat. Sed de Druso loquens poeta, disciplinam & educationem multum ad virtutem posse ostendit, aliquam harum ejus laudum partem in Augustum derivans. OValem ministrum fulminis alitem, (Cui Rex deorum regnum in aves vagas Permisit, expertus fidelem Jupiter in Ganymede flavo) Olim juventas & patrius vigor Nido laborum propulit inscium: Vernique jam nimbis remotis, Insolitos docuere nisus Venti paventem: mox in ovilia Demisit hostem vividus impetus: Nunc in reluctantes dracones Egit amor dapis atque pugnae: Qualemve laetis caprea pascuis Intenta, fulvae matris ab ubere Jam lacte depulsum leonem, Dente novo peritura vidit: Videre Rhoeti bella sub Alpibus Drusum gerentem & Vindelici, quibus Mos unde deductus per omne Tempus Amazonia securi Dextras obarmet, quaerere distuli: (Nec scire fas est omnia) sed diu Latéque victrices catervae Consiliis juvenis revictae Sensere, quid mens rite, quid indoles Nutrita faustis sub penetralibus Posset, quid Augusti paternus In pueros animus Neronis. Fortes creantur fortibus, & bonis: Est in juvencis, est in equis patrum Virtus; nec imbellem feroces Progenerant aquilae columbam. Doctrina sed vim promovet insitam, Rectique cultus pectora roborant. Vtcúnque defecere mores, Dedecorant bene nata culpae. Quid debeas, ô Roma, Neronibus, Testis Metaurum flumen, & Asdrubal Devictus, & pulcher fugatis Ille dies Latio tenebris, Qui primus alma risit adorea, Dirus per urbes Afer ut Italas, Ceu flamma per tedas, vel Eurus Per Siculas equitavit undas. Post hoc secundis usque laboribus Romana pubes crevit: & impio Vastata Poenorum tumultu, Fana deos habuere rectos. Dixitque tandem perfidus Annibat, Cervi, luporum praeda rapacium, Sectamur ultro, quos opimus Fallere & effugere est triumphus. Gens, quae cremato fortis ab Ilio Jactata Thuscis aequoribus, sacra, Natósque, maturósque patres Pertulit Ausonias ad urbes, Duris ut ilex tonsa bipennibus Nigrae feraci frondis in Algido, Per damna, per caedes, ab ipso Ducit opes animúmque ferro. Non Hydra secto corpore firmior Vinci dolentem crevit in Herculem: Monstrumve summisere Colchi Majus, Echioniaeve Thebae. Merses profundo, pulchrior evenit: Luctere, multa proruet integrum Cum laude victorem: gerétq Praelia conjugibus loquenda ue Carthagini jam non ego nuntios Mittam superbos: occidit, occidit Spes omnis, & fortuna nostri Nominis, Asdrubale interempto. Nil Claudiae non efficient manus: Quas & benigno numine Jupiter Defendit, & curae sagaces Expediunt per acuta belli. ODE V. Ad AUGUSTUM. Augustum, ut reditum suum omnibus optatissimum, maturet, precatur: & quam felix sit ejus beneficio rerum Romanarum status, commemorat. Unde illum, non aliter quam olim in Graecia Castorem ac Herculem, coli dicit. DIvis orte bonis, optime Romulae Custos gentis, abes jam nimium diu: Maturum reditum pollicitus patrum Sancto concilio, redi. Lucem redde tuae, dux bone, patriae; Instar veris enim vultus ubi tuus Affulsit populo, gratior it dies, Et soles melius nitent. Vt mater juvenem, quem Notus invido Flatu Carpathii trans maris aequora Cunctantem spatio longius annuo Dulci distinet à domo, Votis, ominibúsque & precibus vocat, Curvo nec faciem littore dimovet: Sic, desideriis icta fidelibus, Quaerit patria Caesarem. Tutus bos etenim rura perambulat: Nutrit rura Ceres, almáque Faustitas: Pacatum volitant per mare navitae. Culpari metuit fides: Nullis polluitur casta domus stupris: Mos & lex maculosum edomuit nefas: Laudantur simili prole puerperae: Culpam poena premit comes. Quis Parthum paveat? quis gelidum Scythen? Quis, Germania quos borrida parturit Foetus, incolumi Caesare? quis ferae Bellum curet Iberiae? Conduit quisque diem collibus in suis, Et vitem viduas ducit ad arbores: Hinc ad vina redit laetus, & alteris Te mensis adhibet deum. Te multa prece, te prosequitur mero Defuso pateris: & Laribus tuum Miscet numen, uti Graecia Castoris, Et magni memor Herculis. Longas ô utinam dux bone ferias Praestes Hesperlae, dicimus integro Sicci mane die, dicimus nvidi, Cum Sol Oceano subest. ODE VII. Ad L. MANLIUM TORQUATUM. Veris adventa▪ & aequa omnibus hominibus moriendi conditione sine spe reviviscendi, omniúmque rerum mutatione & vicissitudine proposita, invitat ad hilariter jucundéque vivendum. DIffugere nives, redeunt jam gramina campis, Arboribusque come. Mutat terra vices, & decrescentia ripas Flumina praetereunt. Gratia cum Nymphis geminisque sororibus audit Ducere nuda choros. Immortalia ne speres monet annus, & almum Quae rapit hora diem. Frigora mitescunt Zephyris: ver preterit aestas Interitura, simul Pomifer autumnus fruges effuderit: & mox Bruma recurret iners. Damna tamen celeres reparent coelestia lunae: Nos ubi decidimus Quo pius Aeneas, quo Tullus dives, & Ancus, Pulvis & umbra sumus. Quis scit an adjiciant hodiernae crastina summae Tempora Dî superi? Cuncta manus avidas fugient heredis, amico Quae dederis animo. Quum semel occideris, & de te splendida Minos Fecerit arbitria, Non, Torquate, genus, non te facundia, non te Restituet pietas. Infernis neque enim tenebris Diana pudicum Liberat Hippolytum: Nec Lethaea valet Theseus abrumpere charo Vincula Perithoo. ODE VIII. Ad MARTIUM CENSORINUM. Nihil esse carminibus potentius ad sempiternam sui nominis memoriam posteris prodendam, atque ab oblivione hominum vindicandam. DOnarem pateras, gratáque commodus Censorine, meis aera sodalibus: Donarem tripodas, praemia fortium Grajorum: neque tu pessima munerum Ferres: divite me scilicet artium, Quas aut Parrhasius protulit aut Scopas; Hic saxo, liquidis ille coloribus Solers nunc hominem ponere, nunc deum. Sed non haec mihi vis: non tibi talium Res est aut animus deliciarum egens. Gaudes carminibus: carmina possumus Donare & pretium dicere muneris. Non incisa notis marmora publicis, Per quae spiritus & vita redit bonis Post mortem ducibus: non celeres fugae, Rejectaeque retrorsum Annibalis minae; Non incendia Carthaginis impiae, Ejus, qui domita nomen ab Africa Lucratus rediit, clarius indicant Laudes, quam Calabrae Pierides: neque, Si chartae sileant quod bene feceris, Mercedem tuleris. quid foret Iliae Mavortisque puer, si taciturnitas Obstaret meritis invida Romuli? Ereptum Stygiis fluctibus Aeacum Virtus, & favor, & lingua potentium Vatum divitibus consecrat insulis. Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori. Coelo Musa beat. sic Jovis interest Optatis epulis impiger Hercules: Clarum Tyndaridae sidus ab infimis Quassas eripiunt aequoribus rates: Ornatus viridi tempora pampino Liber vota bonos ducit ad exitus. ODE. IX. Ad LOLLIUM. Scripta sua nunquam interitura. Sine poetarum ope Virtutem oblivione sempiterna deleri. Se suis versibus res à Lollio gestas memoriae proditurum. Laus constantiae, abstinentiae, & caeterarum virtutum. NE forte credas interitura, quae Longe sonantem natus ad Aufidum, Non ante vulgatas per artes Verba loquor socianda chordis: Non, si priores Maeonius tenet Sedes Homerus, Pindaricae latent, Ceaeque, & Alcaei minaces, Stesichorique graves Camoenae; Nec, si quid olim lusit Anacreon, Delevit aetas. spirat adhuc amor, Viuúntque commissi calores Aeoliae fidibus puellae. Non sola comptos arsit adulteri Crines, & aurum vestibus illitum Mirata, regalésque cultus Et comites, Helen Lacaena; Primusve Teucer tela Cydonio Direxit arcu: non semel Ilios Vexata: non pugnavit ingens Idomeneus Sthenelusve solus Dicenda Musis praelia. non ferox Hector, vel acer Deiphobus graves Excepit ictus pro pudicis Conjugibus puerisque primus. Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona Multi: sed omnes illacrymabiles Vrgentur, ignotique longa Nocte, carent quia vate sacro. Paulum sepultae distat inertiae Celata virtus. non ego te meis Chartis inornatum sileri, Totve tuos patiar labores Impune, Lolli, carpere lividas Obliviones. est animus tibi Rerúmque prudens, & secundis Temporibus dubiisque rectus, Vindex avarae fraudis, & abstinens Ducentis ad se cuncta pecuniae, Consúlque non unius anni, Sed quoties bonus atque fidus Judex honestum praetulit utili, & Rejecit alto dona nocentium Vultu: & per obstantes catervas Explicuit sua victor arma. Non possidentem multa vocaveris Recte beatum: rectius occupat Nomen beati, qui deorum Muneribus sapienter uti, Durámque callet pauperiem pati, Pejúsque letho flagitium timet; Non ille pro charis amicis, Aut patria timidus perire. Q. HORATIJ FLACCI LIBER EPODON. ODE I. Ad MAECENATEM. Maecenati ad bellum Actiacum proficiscenti comitem se offert, non tam quod praesentia sua quicquam commodi sit ei allaturus, quam quod minus de salute ejus sollicitus fit futurus. IBis Liburnis inter alta navium, Amice, propugnacula, Paratus omne Caesaris periculum Subire, Maecenas, tuo. Quid nos? quibus te vita sit superstite Jucunda: si contra, gravis: Vtrumne jussi persequemur otium, Non dulce, ni tecum simul? An hunc laborem ment laturi, decet Qua ferre non molles viros? Feremus: & te vel per Alpium juga, Inhospitalem & Caucasum, Vel Occidentis usque ad ultimnm sinum, Forti sequemur pectore. Roges, tuum labore quid juvem meo, Imbellis, ac firmus parum. Comes minore sum futurus in metu, Qui major absentes habet: Vt assidens implumibus pullis avis, Serpentium allapsus timet Magis relictis: non, ut adsit auxili Latura plus praesentibus. Libenter hoc & omne militabitur Bellum in tuae spem gratiae: Non ut juvencis illigata pluribus Aratra nitantur meis Pecusve Calabris ante sydus fervidum Lucana mutet pascua: Nec ut superni villa candens Tusculi Circaea tangat moenia. Satis supérque me benignitas tua Ditavit. haud paravero, Quod aut, avarus ut Chremes, terra premam, Discinctus aut perdam ut nepos. ODE II. Varias vitae rusticae laudes haec ode complectitur: praesertim vero ab animi tranquillitate & frugalitate eam laudat. BEatus ille, qui procul negotiis, (Vt prisca gens mortalium) Paterna rura bobus exercet suis, Solutus omni foenore. Neque excitatur classico miles truci, Neque horret iratum mare: Forúmque vitat, & superba civium Potentiorum limina Ergo aut adulta vitium propagine Altas maritat populos: Inutilésque falce ramos amputans, Foeliciores inserit: Aut in reducta valle mugientium Prospectat errantes greges: Aut pressa puris mella condit amphoris: Aut tondet infirmas oves. Vel quum decorum mitibus pomis caput Autumnus arvis extulit, Vt gaudet insitiva decerpens pyra, Certantem & uvam purpurae! Qua muneretur te Priape, & te pater Sylvane, tutor finium. Libet jacere, modo sub antiqua ilice, Modo in tenaci gramine. Labuntur altis interim ripis aquae: Queruntur in sylvis aves: Fontésque lymphis obstrepunt manantibus, Somnos quod invitet leves. At quum tonantis annus hybernus Jovis Imbres niuésque comparat: Aut trudit acres hinc & hinc multa cane Apros in obstantes plagas, Aut amite levi rara tendit retia, Turdis edacibus dolos: Pavidúmque leporem, & advenam laqueo grnem, Jucunda captat praemia. Quis non malarum, quas amor curas habet, Haec inter obliviscitur? Quod si pudica mulier in partem jnvans Domum atque dulces liberos: (Sabina qualis, aut perusta solibus Pernicis uxor Appuli) Sacrum vetustis extruat lignis focum, Lassi sub adventum viri: Claudensque textis cratibus laetum pecus, Distenta siccet ubera: Et horna dulci vina promens dolio, Dapes inemptas apparet. Non me Lucrina juverint conchylia, Magisve rhombus, aut scari, Si quos Eois intonata fluctibus Hiems ad hoc vertat mare; Non Afra avis descendit in ventrem meum, Non attagen jonicus Jucundior, quam lecta de pinguissimis Oliva ramis arborum, Aut herba lapathi prata amantis, & gravi Malvae salubres corpori; Vel agna festis caesa Terminalibus, Vel hoedus ereptus lupo. Has inter epulas, ut juvat pastas oves Videre properantes domum! Videre fessos vomerem inversum boves Collo trahentes languido: Positósque vernas, ditis examen domus, Circum renidentes Lares! Haec ubi locutus foenerator Alphius, Jam jam futurus rusticus, Omnem relegit Idibus pecuniam: Quaerit Calendis ponere. ODE VII. In Bellum Civile gestum hinc Bruto & Cassio, illinc Octaviano, M Antonio, & M. Lepido ducibus. QVo, quo scelesti ruitis? aut cur dexteris Aptantur enses conditi? Parumne campis atque Neptuno super Fusum est Latini sauguinis? Non, ut superbas invidae Carthaginis Romanus arces ureret: Intactus aut Britannus ut descenderet Sacra catenatus via: Sed ut, secundum vota Parthorum, sua Vrbs haec periret dextera. Neque hic lupis mos, nec fuit leonibus Vnquam, nisi in dispar genus. Furorne caecus, an rapit vis acrior? An culpa? responsum date. Tacent: & ora pallor albus inficit, Mentésque perculsae stupent. Sic est. acerba fata Romanos agunt, Scelúsque fraternae necis: Vt immerentis fluxit in terram Remi Sacer nepotibus cruor. ODE XIV. Ad MAECENATEM. Phrynes amorem causam esse quamobrem promissos lambos non absolvat. MOllis inertia cur tantam diffuderit imis Oblivionem sensibus, Pocula Lethaeos ut si ducentia somnos Arente fauce traxerim, Candide Maecenas, occidis saepe rogando. Deus deus nam me vetat Inceptos, olim promissum carmen, jambos Ad umbilicum adducere. Non aliter Samio dicunt arsisse Bathyllo Anacreonta Teium: Qui persaepe cava testudine flevit amorem, Non elaboratum ad pedem. Vreris ipse miser quod si non pulchrior ignis Accendit obsessam Ilium, Gaude sorte tua: me libertina, neque uno Contenta Phryne macerat. ODE XVI. Queritur bellorum civilium nullum esse finem, quire de Rep. Romana desperat, aliásque terras & ipse petere cogitat, & aliis, ut idem faciant, suadet. ALtera jam teritur bellis civilibus aetas: Suis & ipsa Roma viribus ruit. Quam neque finitimi valuerunt perdere Marsi, Minacis aut Etrusca Porsenae manus, Aemula nec virtus Capuae, nec Spartacus acer, Novisque rebus infidelis Allobrox, Nec fera caerulea domuit Germania pube, Parentibúsque abominatus Annibal; Impia perdemus devoti sanguinis aetas: Ferisque rursus occupabitur solum. Barbarus, heu, cineres insistat victor, & urbem Eques sonante verberabit ungula. Quaeque carent ventis & solibus; ossa Quirini (Nefas videre) dissipabit insolens. Forte, quid expediat, communiter, aut melior pars Malis carere quaeritis laboribus. Nulla sit hac potior sententia: (Phocaeorum Velut profugit execrata civitas, Agros atque lares proprios, habitandaque fana Apris reliquit & rapacibus lupis,) Ire, pedes quocúnque ferent, quocúnque per undas Notus vocabit, aut protervus Africus. Sic placet? an melius quis habet suadere? secunda Ratem occupare quid moramur alite? Sed juremus in haec: Simul imis saxa renarint Vadis levata, ne redire sit nefas: Neu conversa domum pigeat dare lintea, quando Padus Matina laverit cacumina: In mare seu celsus procurrerit Apenninus Nouáque monstra junxerit libidine Mirus amor: juvet ut tigres subsidere cervis, Adulteretur & columba milvio: Credula nec flavos timeant armenta leones, Amétque salsa laevis hircus aequora. Haec, & quae poterunt reditus abscindere dulces, Eamus omnis execrata civitas: Aut pars indocili melior grege. mollis & exspes Inominata perprimat cubilia. Vos, quibus est virtus, muliebrem tollite luctum, Etrusca praeter & volate littora. Nos manet Oceanus circum vagus: arva, beata Petamus arva, divites & insulas: Reddit ubi cererem tellus inarata quotannis, Et imputata floret usque vinea: Germinat & nunquam fallentis termes olivae, Suámque pulla ficus ornat arborem: Mella cava manant ex ilice: montibus altis Levis crepante lympha desilit pede. Illic injussae veniunt ad mulctra capellae, Refértque tenta grex amicus ubera: Nec vespertinus circumgemit ursus ovile, Nec intumescit alta viperis hnmus. Pluráque foelices mirabimur: ut néque largis Aquosus Eurus arva radat imbribus, Pinguia nec siccis urantur semina glebis: Vtrûmque rege temperante coelitum. Non huc Argoo contendit remige pinus: Neque impudica Colchis intulit pedem: Non huc Sidonii torserunt cornua nautae, Laboriosa nec cohors Vlyssei. Nulla nocent pecori contagia, nullius astri Gregem aestuosa torret impotentia, Jupiter illa piae secrevit littora genti, Vt inquinavit aere tempus aureum: Aere, dehinc ferro duravit saecula: quorum Piis secunda Vate me datur fugae. CARMINUM LIB. I. ODE XXXVII. Ad SODALES. Ob victoriam Actiacam, genio indulgendum esse. NVnc est bibendum: nunc pede libero Pulsanda tellus: nunc Saliaribus Ornare pulvinar deorum Tempus erat dapibus, sodales. Antehac nefas depromere Caecubum Cellis avitis, dum Capitolio Regina dementeis ruinas, Funus & imperio parabat, Contaminato cum grege turpium Morbo virorum quidlibet impotens Sperare, fortunáque dulci Ebria. sed minuit furorem Vix una sospes navis ab ignibus: Mentémque lymphatam Mareotico Redegit in veros timores Caesar, ab Italia volantem Remis adurgens, accipiter velut Molleis columbas, aut leporem citus Venator in campis nivalis Aemoniae, daret ut catenis Fatale monstrum: quae generosius Perire quaerens, nec muliebriter Expavit ensem, nec latenteis Classe cita reparavit oras. Ausa & jacentem visere regiam Vultu sereno fortis, & asperas Tractare serpenteis, ut atrum Corpore combiberet venenum Deliberata morte ferocior: Saevis Liburnis scilicet invidens Privata deduci superbo Non humilis mulier triumpho. Q. HORATIUS FLACCUS HIS FIRST BOOK OF SONGS. ODE I That several Men affect several Things; That Himself is delighted with the Study of Lyric Verses. MAECENAS Tuscan King's descent, My Bulwark and sweet Ornament. There are, that love their Charets spoke With raised Olympic dust should smoak: And with hot Wheels the Goal close shaved, And noble Palm, lifts Men to Heaven. One, if the fickle People's blast Redoubled Honours on him cast: Another that delights to tear With Plough the Fields his Fathers were: If in His private Barns He store Whatever fruitful Africa bore; The wealth of Croesus cannot gain With trembling Keel to plough the Main. Frighted with rough Icarian Seas, The Merchant praises Home, and Ease: But His bruised Vessel repairs strait, Impatient of a mean Estate. There is that neither scorns to taste Old Massique, nor half days to waste Under a Shady Poplar spread, Or at a Bubbling Fountains Head. Some Drums and Trumpets Love, and War; Which Mothers do as much abhor. The Huntsman in the cold doth room, Forgetting his poor Wife at home, Whether his Hounds a Stagg have Roused, Or Marsian Boar his Nets hath towzed. Me Ivy (Meed of learned Heads) Ranks with the Gods: Me i'll Groves, Treads Of Satyrs with lose Nymphs, have showed A way out of the common Road; Whilst kind Euterpe wets my Flute, Whilst Polyhymnie strings my Lute; Than writ Me in the Lyric Role, My lofty Head shall knock the Pole. ODE II. To AUGUSTUS CAESAR. That all the Gods are angry with the Romans for the kill of Julius Caesar: That the only hope of the Empire is placed in Augustus. ENough of Hail and cruel Snow Hath Jove now showered on Us below; Enough with Thundering Steeples down Frighted the Town. Frighted the World, Jest Pyrrha's Reign Which of new Monsters did complain, Should come again, when Proteus Flocks Did climb the Rocks. And Fish in tops of Elm-Trees hung, Where Birds want build their Nests, and sung, And the all-covering Sea did bear The trembling Dear. We, Yellow Tiber did behold Back from the Tyrrhene Ocean rolled, Against the Fane of Vesta power, And Numa's Tower; Whilst the Uxorious River swears he'll be revenged for Ilia's Tears; And over both his Banks doth rove Unbid of Jove. Our Children through our faults but few, Shall hear that We their Fathers slew Our Countrymen: Who might as well The Persians' quell. What God shall we invoke to stay The falling Empire? with what Lay Shall holy Nuns tyre Vesta's Prayer- Resisting Ear? To whom will Jove the charge commend Of Purging us? At length descend Prophetic Phoebus, whose white Neck A Cloud doth deck. Or Venus in whose smiling Rays Youth with a thousand Cupids plays: Or Mars, if thou at length canst pity Thy long plagued City. Alas, We long have sported thee, To whom 'tis sport bright Casks to see, And grim Aspects of Moorish Foot With Blood and Soot; Or winged Hermes, if 'tis you Whom in Augustus' Form we view, With this revenging th' other Flood Of Julius Blood. Return to Heaven late we pray, And long with us the Romans stay: Nor let disdain of that Offence Snatch thee from hence. Love here Victorious Triumphs rather; Love here the Name of Prince and Father: Nor let the Medes unpunished ride Thou being our Guide. ODE iv To L. SEXTIUS a Consular Man. Proposeth the arrival of the Spring, and the common Condition of death, as Inducements to Pleasures. SHarp Winter's thawed with Spring & Western Gales, And Ships drawn up the Engine hales: The Clown the Fire, the Beasts their Stalls forgo: The Fields have cast their Coats of Snow. Fair Venus now by Moonshine leads a Dance, The Graces after comely prance. With them the Nymphs the Earth alternate beaten, Whilst Vulcan at his Forge doth sweated. Now should we be with lasting Myrtle Crowned, Or Flowers late Prisoners in the Ground. Now should We sacrifice a Lambkin's Blood To Faunus in a sacred Wood Death knocks as boldly at the Rich man's door As at the Cottage of the Poor, Rich Sextius: and the shortness of our days Fits not with long and rugged ways. Swift night will intercept thee, and the Sprights, They chat so of in Winter Nights, And Pluto's haunted Inn. Thou canst not there Call for the Music and good Cheer: Nor in soft Chloris gaze away thy sight, Her Sex's Envy, Our delight. ODE V To PYRRHA. That those Men are miserable who are entangled in her Love: That he is escaped out of it as from Shipwreck by Swimming. What Stripling now Thee discomposes, In Woodbine Rooms, on Beds of Roses, For whom thy Auburn Hair Is spread, Unpainted Fair? How will he one day curse thy Oaths And Heaven that witnessed your Betroaths! How will the poor Cuckold, That deems thee perfect Gold, Bearing no stamp but his, be mased To see a sudden Tempest raised! He dreams not of the Winds, And thinks all Gold that shines. For me my Votive Table shows That I have hung up my wet Clotheses Upon the Temple Wall Of Seas great Admiral. ODE VIII. To LYDIA. He notes obscurely a certain Young Man whom he calls Sybaris, as undone with Love, and melted with Pleasures. LYdia, in Heaven's Name Why melts young Sybaris in thy Flame? Why doth he bedrid lie That can endure th' intemperate Sky? Why rides he not and twits The French great Horse with wringled bits? Why shuns he Tybur's Flood, And wrestlers Oil like Viper's Blood? Nor hath His Flesh made soft With bruising Arms; having so often Been praised for shooting fare And clean delivered of the Bar? For shame, why lies he hid As at Troy's Siege Achilles did, For fear jest Man's Array Should Him to Manly Deeds betray? ODE IX. To THALIARCHUS. That being Winter, it is time for Men to give themselves to Pleasure. THou seest the Hills candied with Snow Which groaning Woods scarce undergo, And a stiff Ice those Veins Congeals which Branch the Plains. Dissolve the Frost with Logs piled up To th' Mantletree; let the great Cup Out of a larger Sluice Pour the reviving Juice. Trust Jove with other things; when He The fight Winds takes up at Sea, Nor speared Cypress shakes, Nor Aged Elm Tree quakes, Upon to Morrow reckon not, Than if it comes 'tis clearly got: Nor being young despise Or Dance, or Love's Joys. Till testy Age grey Hairs shall Snow Upon thy Head, lose Mask, nor Show. Soft whispers now delight At a set hour by Night: And Maids that gigle to discover Where they are hidden to a Lover; And Bracelets or some toy Snatched from the willing Coy. ODE. X. To LYDIA. He complains that Telephus is preferred before Him. THe Arms that Warlike bend, And every hinge when you commend, On which the Head doth turn Of Telephus, ah, how I burn! Madness my mind doth rap, My Colour goes; and the warm sap Wheesing through either Eye, Shows with what lingering Flames I frie. I fry; when thy white hue Is in a Tavern braw! dieed blue, Or when the sharpset Youth Thy melting Kiss grinds with his Tooth. Believe't, his Love's not sound That can such healing Kisses wound; Kisses which Venus hath Made suppling in a Nectar Bath. O their Felicity Whom a firm Cord of Love doth tie, Unbroke with wicked strife And twisted with their threads of Life! ODE III. He prays a prosperous Voyage to Virgil, Embarked for Athens: and takes occasion from thence to inveigh against the Boldness of Man. SHip, that to Us sweet Virgil ow'st (With thee entrusted) safe Convey him to the Arctic Coast; And save my better half: So Helene's Brothers (Stellified) And Venus guide thy Sails: And the Wind's Father, having tied All up, but Vernal Gales. Of Oak a Bosom had that man, And trebble-sheathed with Brass, Who first the horrid Ocean With brittle Bark did pass. Nor feared the hollow Storms, that roar; The Hyadeses, that weep; Nor the Southwind, which Lords it o'er The Adriatic Deep: What face of Death could him dismay, That saw the Monsters fell; And wracking Rocks, and swelling Sea, With Eyes that did not swell? In vain, the Providence of God The Earth and Sea did part, If yet the watery Paths are trod By a forbidden Art. But Men (that will have all, or none) Still things forbidden desire: japetus bold Son stole down The Elemental Fire. Whence Leanness overspread the World, And Fevers (a new Race) Which creeping Death on Mortals hurled; And bade him mend his Pace. Daedale the Empty Air did cut With Wings not given to Men; And Hercules the Gates unshut Of Pluto's dismal Den. Nothing is hard to sinful Man: At Heaven itself we fly; Nor suffer Jove (do what he can) To lay his Thunder by. ODE XVIII. To QUINTILIUS VARUS. That with moderate drinking of Wine, the Mind is exhilerated: with immoderate, Quarrels begotten. OF all the Trees, plant me the sacred Vine In Tybur's mellow Fields, and let it climb Cathyllus Walls: For Jove doth Cares propound To sober Heads, which in full Cups are drowned. Of Want, or War, who cries out after Wine? Thee Father Bacchus, Thee fair Erycine, Who doth not sing? But through intemperate use, Lest * Other names of Bacchus. Liber's Gifts you turn into abuse, Think of the Centaur's Brawse, fought in their Cans With Lapithes: and to Sithonians Heavy Euöus, when their heated Blood Makes little difference betwixt what's good, And what is not. Not, gentle Bassareu, I will not force Thee: nor betray to View Thy Vine-clad Parts: Suppress thy Thraoian Hollow, And dismal dynn: which blind self Love doth follow, And Glory-puffing heads with empty worth, And a Glass-Bosome pouring Secrets forth. ODE XXVII. To his COMPANIONS. To his Companions feasting together, that they should not quarrel in their drink, and fight with the Cups themselves, after the manner of the Barbarians. With Goblets made for Mirth, to fight, 'Tis Barbarous: leave that Thracian Rite, Nor mix the bashful blushing God Of Wine, with Quarrels and with Blood. A Cand-stick, and Quartpot, how far They differ from the Scimitar? Your wicked noise Companions cease, And on your Elbows lean in peace. Would you have me to share th' austere Falernian Liquor? Let me hear Megella's Brother, by what Eyes, Of what blessed wound and shaft he dies No! than will I not drink: whatever Venus tames thee, she toasts thy Liver With Fires thou hast no cause to cover, Still sinning an ingenuous Lover. Come, thou mayst lay it whatsoever It is, securely in my Eare. Ah Wretch! in what a Whirlpool ta'en? Boy worthy of a Better Flame. What Witch with her Thessalian Rod Can lose thee from those Charms? What God? Scarce Pegasus himself can Thee From this three-shaped Chimaera free. ODE XXXI. To APOLLO. He asks not Richeses of Apollo, but that he may have a sound Mind in a sound Body. WHat does the Poet Phoebus pray In his new Fane? What does he say, Pouring sweet Liquor from the Cup? Not give Me fat Sardinia's Crop, Not hot Calabria's goodly Kine: Not Gold, and Indian Ivory: Not Fields which quiet Liris laves, And eats into with silent waves. Prune, They that have them, Massick Vines: In Golden Goblets carouse Wines, The wealth Merchant, which he bought With Merchandise from Syria brought, The Minion of the Gods: as He That in one year the Atlantic Sea Three or Four times, unpunished past. Mine Olives, Endive my Repast, And Mallows light. LATONA'S SON, In Mind and Body's health my own T' enjoy; old Age from dotage free, And solaced with the Lute, give Me. ODE XXIV. To VIRGIL, Who lamented immoderately the death of Quintilian. WHat shame, or stint in mourning over So dear a Head? Weep not but roar Melpomene, to whom thy Sire Gave a shrill Voice, and twanging Lyre. But does Quintilian sleep his last? Whose Fellow, Modesty, and fast Faith, with her Sister Justice joined And naked Truth, when will they find? Bewailed by all good Men, he's gone: But, than Thee Virgil, more by none. Thou beg'st back (ah! pious in vain) The, not so lent, Quintilian. If sweeter than the Thracian Bard, Thou couldst strike Tunes by dull Trees heard, The Blood would never more be made To flow into the empty shade, Which Hermes with his horrid Wand (Inflexible to countermand Th' unevitable Doom of Death) Once drove to the black Flock beneath. 'Tis Hard: But Patience makes that lesle, Which all the World cannot redress. ODE XXXIV. To HIMSELF. Repenting that having followed the Epicureans, he had been little studious in worshipping the Gods. I, That have seldom worshipped Heaven, As to a mad Sect too much given, My former ways am forced to balk, And after the old light to walk. For Cloud-dividing-lightning-Jove Through a clear Firmament late drove His thundering Horses, and swift Wheels: With which, supporting Atlas reels: With which Earth, Seas, the Stygian Lake, And Hell, with all Her Furies, quake. It shook me too. God pulls the Proud From his high Seat, and from their Cloud Draws the obscure: Levels the Hills, And with their Earth the Valleys fills: 'Tis all he does, He does it all: Yet this, blind Mortals Fortune call. Q. HORATIUS FLACCUS HIS SECOND BOOK OF SONGS. ODE I. To C. ASINIUS POLLIO. He exborts him to intermit a while, his writing of Tragedies, until he have finished his History of the Civil War of Rome. Than extols that Work THe Civil War from the first seeds, The Causes of it, Vices, Tides Of Various Chance, and * The Marriage of Caesar's Daughter to Pompey; which occasioned, first the sharing of the Power of Rome, between them two by mutual Connivance: and afterwards again when that Bond ceased by the death of Julia childless: their falling out for the whole. Our prime Lords Fatal Alliance, and the Swords Sheathed, but not yet hung up, and oiled, The Quarrels fully reconciled, Thou writ'st a work of hazard great: And walkest on Emberss in deceit- Full Ashes rak't. Let thy severe Tragical Muse a while forbear The Stage: This public Task than done, Thy Buskins high again put on, Afflicted Clients grand Support, And light to the consulting Court: Whom thy Dalmatick Triumph Crowned With Deathless Bays. Hark how the sound Of thy braced Drums, awakes old Fears, Thy Trumpets tingle in our Ears: How clattering Arms make the Horse shog, And from the Horseman's Face the blood. Now, now amidst the Common Herd See the Great General's fight, besmeared With glorious dust: and quelled, the whole World, but unconquered Cato's Soul! Juno, and whatsoever Gods, To Africa Friends, yielded to th' odds Of Rome; the Victor's Grandsons made A Sacrifice to Jugurth's Shade. What Field, manured with Daunian blood Shows not in Graves, our impious Feud, And the loud Crack of Latiums' Fall, Herd to the Babylonian Wall? What Lake, what River's ignorant Of the sad War? What Sea with paint Of Latin Slaughter, is not read? What Land's not peopled with our dead? But wanton Muse, lest leaving Toys, Thou shouldst turn Odes to Elegies, Let Us in Dioneian Cell Seek matter for a lighter Quill. ODE II. To C. SALUSTIUS CRISPUS. First He praises P. for his Liberality to his Brothers: Than shows, that he who can repress his appetite, and despise Money, is only a King, only happy. SALLUST, thou Enemy of Gold, Mettles, which th'Earth hath hoarded, Mould, Until with moderate Exercise Their Colour rise. No Age the Name of Pontius smothers, For being a Father to his Brothers: Surviving Fame on towering Wings His Bounty sings. He that restrains his covetous Soul, Rules more, than if he should control Both Land and Sea; and add a West- Indieses to th' East. The cruel Dropsy grows, self-nurst, The thirst not quenched, till the Cause first Be purged the Veins, and the faint humour Which made the tumour. Virtue, That reves what Fortune gave, Calls crowned Phraates his Wealth's slave, And to the Common People teaches Moore proper speeches; Giving a Sceptre, and sure Throne, And unshared Palms to him alone, That (unconcerned) could behold Mountains of Gold. ODE III. To DELLIUS. That the Mind should not be cast down with Adversity, nor puffed up with Prosperity: but that We should live merrily, since the Condition of dying is equal to all. KEep still an equal Mind, not sunk With storms of adverse chance, not drunk With sweet Prosperity, O Dellius that must die, Whether thou live still Melancholy, Or stretched in a retired Valley; Make all thy hours merry With Bowls of choicest Sherry. Where the white Poplar and tall Pine, Their hospitable shadow join, And a soft purling Brook, With wriggling stream doth crook; Bid hither Wines and Ointments bring, And the too short Sweets of the Spring, Whilst Wealth and Youth combine, And the Fates give thee Line. Thou must forgo thy purchased Seats, Even that which Golden Tiber wets, Thou must; and a glad Heir Shall revel with thy Care. If thou be Rich, born of the Race Of Ancient Inachus, or Base Liest in the street; all's one; Impartial Death spares none. All go one way: shaked is the Pot, And first or last comes forth thy Lot, The Pass, by which thou'rt sent T'Eternall Banishment. ODE iv To XANTHIA PHOCEUS. That he need not be ashamed of being in Love with a Serving-Maid: for that the same had befalln many a great Man. TO love a Serving-Maid's no shame; The white Briseis did inflame Her Lord Achilles, and yet none Was prouder known. Stout Telamonian Ajax proved His Captives Slave; Atrides loved In midst of all his Victories A Girl his Prize: When the Barbarian side went down, And Hector's death rendered the Town Of Troy, more easy to be carried By Grecians wearied. knowst thou from whom fair Phillis springs? Thou may'st be Son in Law to Kings; She mourns, as one deposed by Fate From Regal State. Believe't she was not poorly born: Phoceus, such Faith, so brave a scorn Of tempting Richeses, could not come From a base womb. Her Face, round Arms, and every Limb I praise unsmit. Suspect not him, On whose Loves wildfire Age doth throw Its cooling Snow. ODE VIII. To BARINE. That there is no Reason why he should believe her when she swears: For the Gods revenge not the perjures of handsome Women. IF any Punishment did follow Thy Perjury: if but a hollow Tooth, or a speckled Nail, thy Vow Should pass. But thou, When thou hast bound thy Head with slight Untwisting Oaths, art fairer by't: And like a Comet spread'st thy Rays, The Public gaze. It boots thee to deceive the Ghost Of thy dead Mother, and still host Of Heaven with their etern Abodes, And Deathless Gods. Venus but laughs at what is done, Her easy Nymphs, and cruel Son, On Bloody whetstone grinding ever His burning Quiver. New Suitors daily are enrolled, New Servants come, nor do the old Forsake their impious Mistress door Which they forswore. Thee Mothers for their Fillies Dread, Thee gripple Sires, and Wives new wed, Lest thy bewitching Breath should fray Their Lords away. ODE. X. To LICINIUS. That Mediocrity, and Equality of the Mind in both Fortunes, are to be retained. THe safest way of Life, is neither To tempt the Deeps, nor whilst foul weather You fearfully avoid, too near The shore to steer. He that affects the Golden Mean, Will neither want a house that's clean, Nor swell unto the place of showers His envied Towers. The Tempest doth more often shake Huge Pines: and lofty Turrets take The greatest Falls: and Thunder lops The Mountain Tops. A Mind which true proportion bears, In adverse hopes, in prosperous fears The other Lot. Jove Winters brings, And Jove gives Springs. It may be well, if now 'tis ill: Sometimes Apollo with his Quill, Wakes his dull Harp, and doth not ever Make use of's Quiver. In boisterous Fortune ply thy Oar, And tug it stoutly to the shore; Contract in too auspicious Gales Thy swelling Sails. ODE XIII. To a Tree by whose Fall in his Sabine Villa, he was like to have been slain. That no man can sufficiently understand what to avoid; from thence he slides into the Praises of Sapph and Alcaeus. A Planter with a () was He That with unhallowed Hand set thee, A Trap for the succeeding Race, And Ignominy of the Place. He might as well have hanged his Sire, Or practised all the Poisons dire Medea tempered, or have shed His Guests blood sleeping in his Bed, Or if a worse Crime may be found, As to place thee upon my Ground, Unlucky Wood; Thee, staggering Trunk, To brain thy Master when thou'rt drunk. No Man knows truly what to eat. The Punic Seaman fears to run Upon some Shelf, but doth not dread Another Fate over his head: The Soldier, Shafts, and Parthian Fight: The Parthian, Chains, and Roman Might. But Death had still, and still will have, A thousand back-ways to the Grave. How near was I Hell's Jaundiced Queen, And Minos on the Bench t'have seen, And the described Elysian shades? And Sapph, of her Countrey-Maids Complaining on Aeolian Wire? And thee Alcaeus, with Gold Lyre In fuller Notes thundering a Fight, Rattling a Storm, fluttering a Flight? Both (worthy of a sacred Pause) The pious Ghosts hear with Applause: But most the Fights, and Tyrant's fears, The shouldering Throng drink with their Ears. What wonder, when th' infernal Hound, With three Heads, Listens to that sound? The Furies snakes their Curls unknit, Nor find Revenge so sweet as it. 'Tis Playday too, with Pelops Sire: And Him that stole from Heaven the Fire. Orion even his Hunting leaves, And greater pleasure thence receives. ODE XIV. To POSTHUMUS. That Death cannot be avoided. AH Posthumus! the years of man Slide on with winged Pace, nor can Virtue reprieve her Friend From wrinkles, age, and end. Not, though thou bribe with daily Blood Stern Dis, who with the Stygian Flood Doth Geryon surround, And Titius Acres bound. Sad Flood, which we must Ferry all That feed upon this Earthly Ball, From the King to the Poor Beggar that howl at Door. In vain avoid we Mars ' his Fury, And breaking Waves that kill and bury: In vain the sickly Falls, Fruitful of Funerals. Visit we must the Sooty shore Of dull Cocytus, th' empty store, Of Daunus wicked Stock, And Sisyphs restless Rock. Thou must forgo thy Lands and Goods, And pleasing Wife: Nor of thy Woods Shall any follow thee, But the sad Cypress Tree. Thy worthier Heir shall than carouse Thy hoarded Wines, and wash the House With better Sack, than that Which makes the Abbot's fat. ODE XV. Against the Luxury of his Age. OUr Princely Piles will shortly leave But little Land for Ploughs to cleave: Ponds outstretch Lucrine Shores, Unmarried Sycamores Supplant the Elms. The Vi'let, Rose, With all the junkets of the Nose, Perfume the Olive-Yards, Which fed their former Lords: And Daphne twists her Limbs to eat The Sons rude Courtship. Not so done By Cato's Precedent, And the old Reglement. Great was the Commonwealth alone; The Private small. Not wide Balcon Measured with private square Gaped for the Norths cool Air. Nor the next Turf might Men reject: Bid at the Public Charge t' erect Temples and Towns, alone, Of Beautiful new Stone. ODE XVI. To GROSPHUS. That Tranquillity of the Mind is wished by all: But that the same is not purchased by heaping up Richeses, or obtaining Honours, but by brid'ling the desires. Quiet! the trembling Merchant cries, Into Egean Seas driven far; When the Moon winks, and he descries No guiding Star. Quiet! in War the Thracian bold; Quiet! the Medes with Quivers dight; Not to be bought with Gems, nor Gold, Nor Purple bright. For 'Tis not Wealth, nor armed Troops, Can Tumults of the Mind remove, And Cares, which about fretted Roofs Hover above. His Little's much, whose thrifty Board Shines with a salt that was his Sire's: Whose easy sleeps nor fears disturb, Nor base desires. Why in short Life eternal Care? Why Changing for another Sun? Who, having shunned his native Air, Himself could eat? Take horse, rude Care will ride behind; Embark, into thy ship she crowds: Fleeter them Stags, and the East-wind Chase the Clouds. Let Minds of any joy possessed, Sweeten with that whatever gall Is mixed. No soul that ere was blest, Was blest in all. The famed Achilles timeless died, Old Tithon did his Bliss outlive: And Chance, what she to thee denied, To me may give. A hundred Flocks about thee bleat, And fair Sicilian Heifers low; To thee large neighing Mares Curvete: In scarlet thou, Twice-dipt, art clad. Indulgent fate Gave me a grange; a Versing vein; A Heart which (injured) cannot hate, But can disdain. ODE XVII. To MAECENAS Sick. That he will not live after him. WHY dost thou talk of dying so? Neither the Gods, Nor I'm content, Maecenas, that thou first shouldst go, My Pillar and great Ornament. If Thee, the one half of my Soul, A riper Fate snatch hence: Alas! What should I stay for, neither whole, And but the Dregss of what I was? That day shall end Us both: Come, come, drop reg've sworned; and will not break it neither: March when thou wilt to thy long Home, That journey We will make together. Chimaeras Flames, nor (were he rise Again) Briareus hundred hands, Should keep Me back. 'Tis Justice, This: And in the Book of Fate it stands. Were I or under Libra born, Or Scorpio my Ascendent be With grimm Aspect, or Capricorn (The Tyrant of the Latian Sea:) Our Stars do wondrously consent. Benigner Jove reprieved thy Breath When Saturn was malevolent, And clipped the hasty wings of Death, In frequent Theatre when Thee Thrice the rejoicing People clapped, A falling Trunk had brained Me, Between if Faunus had not stepped, The Guardian of Mercurial Men. Pay thou an ample Sacrifice, And build the Chapel thou vowdest than: For Me an humble Lamkin dies. Q. HORATIUS FLACCUS HIS THIRD BOOK OF SONGS. ODE I That a happy man is not made by Richeses or Honours, but by tranquillity of the Mind. I Hate lay-Vulgar: make no noise, Room for a Priest of Helicon: I sing to noble Girls and Boys Such Verses as were never known. Feared Kings command on their own Ground; The King commanding Kings is Jove: Whose Arm the Giants did confounded, Whose awful Brow doth all things move. One Man may be a greater Lord Of Land than other: This may show A nobler Pedigree: A Third In Parts and Fame may both outgo: A fourth in Clients outvie All. Necessity in a vast Pot Shuffling the names of great and small, Draws every one's impartial Lot. Over whose Head hangs a * This alludes to the known Story of Dionysius the Syracusian Tyrant, and Damocles one of his Flatterers: The scope thereof being to declare that no man can be truly called happy, who i hath any terror hanging over his head. drawn sword, Him cannot please a Royal Feast: Nor Melody of Lute, or Bird, Give to his Eyes their wont Rest. Sleep, gentle sleep, scorns not the poor Abiding of the Ploughman: Loves By sides of Rivers shades obscure: And rocked with West-Windes, Tempe Groves. That Man to whom enough's enough, Nor raging Seas trouble his Head, Nor fallen Acturus setting rough, Nor Fury of the rising Kid: Not Hail-smit Vines and Years of Dearth; Sometimes the too much wet in fault, Sometimes the Stars that broyl the Earth, Sometimes the Winter that was naught. The Fish fear stifling in the Sea, Damned up. The Masterbuilder and His Men, the Land-sick Lord too, He Throws Rubbish in with His own hand. But Fear, and dangers haunt the Lord Into all Places: and black Care Behind him rides: or, if on Board A Ship, 'tis his Companion there. If Marble keep not Fevers out, Nor Purple Raiment help the Blind, Nor Persian Ointments cure the Gout, Nor Massique Wines a troubled Mind: With envied Posts in Fashion strange Why should I raise a Stately Pile? My Sabine vale why should I change For Wealth accompanied with Toil. ODE III. A Speech of Juno at the Council of the Gods, concerning the ending of the War of Troy, and the beginning which the Roman Empire should take from the Trojans. AN Honest and Resolved Man, Neither a People's Tumults can, Neither a Tyrant's indignation, Un-center from his fast foundation; Nor Storms that from the bottom move The Adrian Sea, nor Thundering Jove: If the cracked Orbs would split, and fall, Crush him they would, but not appall. Pollux, and wand'ring Hercules, Gained Heaven by such ways as these: Mongst whom Augustus, leaning, sips Immortal Nectar with read lips. This way deserving Bacchus climbed The high Olympus, with his own Tamed Tigers, which Ambrosia feed; And Romulus on Mars his steed: Pleased Juno speaking a good word On his behalf, at Council Board. Troy, Troy, (through mine, and Pallas grudge) A fatal and adulterous Judge, And foreign woman overthrew, With its false King and damned Crew, Because Laomedon forsook The Gods, and broke the Oath he took, The Spartan Strumpet's famous Guest Is now not more jeweled and dressed: Not more doth Priam's perjured House Resist bold Greeks by Hector's Prowess: And Wars, which I inflamed, are done. My Wrath than, and the Trojan Nun 's Ahhorred Offspring, Here I give To his Father Mars. That He should live In Bowers of light, suck Nectar-Bowles, And be transcribed into the Rolls Of quiet Gods, I will abide. So long as spacious Seas divide Ilium and Rome; so long as Beasts On Priamus and Paris Breasts Insult, and (undisturbed) the Wild Whelp in their Tombs; Let the Exiled Reign, Great, in any other Land: The Capitol refulgent stand: And awful Rome with seven proud Heads Give Laws to the triumphed Medes: Rowzing herself let her extend Her dreadful Name to the World's End: Where midland Seas part Africa's soil From Europe, to the Floods of Nile; Moore Valiant to despise hid Gold (Which wisely Nature did withhold) Than force it to Man's use, by Sack Of Temples, or by Nature's Rack What ever Corner would impeach Her Progress, That, let her sword reach: Visit the Stores of Snow and Hail, And where excessive Heats prevail. Yet Warlike Romans destiny On this condition I decree, That they (too pious, and grown high) Shall not rebuild their Mother Troy. With Troy, Troy's Fate shall be revived, And all her ominous Birds retrieved, When second Wars Ourselves will Move, The Sister and the Wife of Jove. If Phoebu's Harp a Brazen Wall Should Thrice erect, Thrice it should fall (Razed by my Greeks) The Wife, in chain, Thrice mourn her Sons and Husbands slain. But whether saucy Muse? These things Agreed not with the Lute's soft Strings. The words of Gods cease to repeat, And with small Voice matters so Great. ODE IU. The Poet saith that he hath been delivered from many dangers by the help of the Muses: and that it hath gone ill with all who have attempted any thing against the Gods. DEscend Thalia with a Song From Heaven; my Queen, I'd have it long To the shrill Pipe or to the Flute, The Viol or Apollo's Lute. Dost hear? Or do I sweetly rave? I hear in yonder Trees, which wave, Thy rustling Robe, and in that Spring The tuning of thy Silver String. Me, amorous Turtles (Poets Theme) As by my native Aufid's Stream, A Child oppressed with sleep and play, Under a Mountain side I lay, Fearless (for what hath he to fear, Who from his Birth was Heaven's care?) With sacred Bays and Myrtle Boughs On which no Beast did ever browse, Covered, lest Snake or ugly Bear Should do me hurt as I slept there. Which set the neighbouring Fields at Gaze, As wondering what should be the cause. Whether I mount the Sabine hill, Or with cold Springs Preneste i'll, Or Me the healing Bath allures; Where ere I am: Muses, I'm Yours. Friend to your Springs, with your Songs rapt, At lost Philippi Field I scap't; The fall of my own cursed Tree: And Shipwreck in Sicilian Sea. Go you with Me, I'll (dreadless) try The Bosphorus that threats the Sky, And (travailing) defy the thirst- y Sirian Sands to do their worst. Visit the Britons, fierce to strangers, The horse-fed Thracians bloody Mangers, The Scythians whom no Sun doth warm: And none of them shall do me harm. Great Caesar you with Martial Toil Tired out, and glad to breathe a while In Winter Quarters with his Men, Refresh in the Pierian Den. You give him mild advice: And well, From you, he takes it. We can tell, The Giants selves for all their Troop Of monstrous Bulks, were Thunderstruck By him that Towns, and dreary Ghosts, Immortal Gods, and mortal Hosts, The Stupid Earth, and restless Maine, Doth Govern with one equal reign. The horrid Band, and Brotherhood, Who (whilst upon their terms they stood) Pelion to heap on Ossa strove, Gave not a little care to Jove. But what could Mimas, and the strong Typhaeus, what Porphyrion long, What Rhaecus, and with hurled Trunk (Torn up by th' roots) the fury-drunk Enceladus, rushing against Minerva's ringing Shield advanced? Here the devouring Vulcan stood, There Matron Juno, and the God That never lays his Quiver by, Rathes in pure dews of Castaly His dangling locks, haunts Delian woods, Patros, and Rhodes, and Xanthus' Floods. Uncounceld force with his own weight Is crushed; a force that's temperate Heaven itself helps: and hates no lesle Strength that provokes to wickedness. This truth Orion understands, And Gyges with the hundred hands: He, purposing chaste Diana's Rape, Can not her Virgin Arrows scape. The Earth on her own Monsters thrown (Thundered to endless Night) doth groan Over her Sons: Aetna doth roar, Burning, and not consumed. Not more Can Tityu's Heart in Vulter's Claw Or waste itself, or fill her Maw. Offended Proserpina restrains Pirithous in three hundred Chains. ODE V The Praises of Augustus, the dishonour of Crassus, the constancy of Regulus, and his return to the Carthaginians. JOVE governs Heaven with his Nod: Augustus is the Earthly God; Bold Britons to the Empire bowed, And Persians', with late Trophies proud. Can Crassus' Soldier lead his life Yoked basely with a barbarous Wife? And with Foe Father-in-law grow grey In Arms, under a Medians Pay, (O Fathers! And degenerate shame!) His Blood forgotten and his Name, Eternal Vesta, and the Gown, Whilst there was yet a Jove, and Rome! This feared wise Regulus his mind, And so the base Accord declined, Weighing the Consequence, unless The Captive Youth died pittyless. I saw (quoth He) Our Ensigns stuck In Punic Fanes, without a stroke Soldjers disarmed, Citizens Their free hands bound behind with Chains. And the Ports open, and that Field Which Romans had encamped on, tilled. All This I saw. Redeemed with Gold They'll grow, belike, in fight more bold. Buy not Iniquity. As (stain White wool) 'twill never white again: So, if true Virtue fall, despair To stop her till the lowest stair. A Hind out of the Trammels free, And make her fight than so will He That rendered to a faithless Foe, And Carthaginians overthrow In second War; That tamely took The laso, and (Death but named) shook Why these (forgetting whence they came) Confounded War with Peace. O shame! Great Carthage! Thou haste overcome The Virtue (more than Troops) of Rome. His chaste Wife's kiss, and his small Fry Of Babes, he's said to have put by (As being a slave) and not t' have took From Earth his stern and manly look: Till he th' unwilling Senate brought To Vote the Thing that he had sought: Than through his weeping Friends he went Into a glorious Banishment, Though well he knew what Torments were Ready prepared for him there By Barbarous Men. Yet broke through all His Kindred, and the Crowded Hall To beg of him He would not go, Not otherwise than He would do From Client's Swarms, after the end Of a long Term going to spend In sweet Campania the Vacation, And give his mind some Relaxation. To ASTERIE. ODE VII. He comforts her, being sad and solicitous for the absence of her Husband. ASTERIE, why dost thou mourn For Gyges, shortly to return On wings of Vernal air, Rich in Sicilian Ware. Moore Rich in Faith? He by a Blast After long Storms on Epire cast His widowed Nights steeps there In many a watchful tear. Yet Chloes subtle Messenger Showing what sighs it pulls from Her, Whilst in thy Flame she fries, A thousand ways Him tries. She tells how the falls Woman wrought On credulous Pretus, till she brought A cruel Death upon Too chaste Bellerophon. Of Peleus near his fatal hour Whilst He shuns Love: that's armed with Power And (cunning) rakes from Dust All Precedents for Lust. In vain. For Deaf as Rocks to Prayer He's yet unmoved. But take thou Care Enipeus at next Door Do not thy love procure. Though none with better skill be seen To wield a Horse in Mars his green: Nor with more active Limbs In Tiber's Channel swims. Shut to thy Gate before it darken, Nor to his whining Music harken: And though he still complain thou'rt hard, still hard remain. ODE. IX. A Dialogue of Love and Jealousy, betwixt Horace and Lydia. HO. WHilst I possessed thy love, free from alarms, The Original of this Ode is that which Scaliger writes he had rather have been the Author of than to be King of Persia. Nor any Youth more acceptable Arms About thy Alabaster Neck did fling: I lived more happy than the Persian King. LY. Whilst Thou adord'st not more another face, Nor unto Chloe Lydia gave place; I Lydia, (soaring on the wings of Fame) Eclipsed the Roman Ilia with my Name. HO. Me, Thracian Chloe now, rules Absolute, Skilled in sweet Lays, and peerless at her Lute: For whom to die I would not be afraid, If Fates would spare me the surviving Maid. LY. Me, Calys (rich Ornitho's Heir) doth scorch With a reciprocal and equal Torch: For whom I would endure to die twice over, If Fates would spare me my surviving Lover. HO. What if old Venus should her Doves revoke, And kerb Us (stubborn) to her brazen Yoke: If bright-trest Chloe, I would henceforth hate, And to excluded Lydia open the Gate? LY. Though He be fairer than the morning Star; Thou, lighter than a Cork, and madder far Than the vexed Ocean, when it threats the Sky: With Thee I'd (gladly) Live; I'd (willing) Dye. ODE XI. To MERCURY. That he would dictate to him a Song, wherewith to bend Lyde. The Fable of Danaus' Daughters. O MERCURY) for taught by you Deaf stones by th' Ears Amphion drew) And Shell, whose hollow Belly rings With seven Strings: Once mute and graceless, now the Tongue Of Feasts and Temples: lend me a song To third the maze of Lyde's prayer- Resisting Eare. Who like a three years' Colt doth fetch A hundred Rings, and's hard to catch: Free from a Husband, and not fit For backing yet. Thou makest stiff Forests march, retreat Prove Rivers: Cerberus the Great Porter of Hell to Thee gave way Stroked with a Lay, Though with a hundred snakes he curl His head, and from his nostrils hurl A filthy stream, which all bedrops His triple Chaps. Ixion too with a forced smile Did grin. The Tubs stood dry a while, Whilst with thy music thou didst please The Belides. Tell Lyde That: That Virgin-slaughter, And famous Torment, the vain water Cozening their Urns through thousand drains, And posthume pains. For cruel Maids laid up in store, Cruel. For what could they do more, That could with unrelenting Steel Their Lovers kill? One only worthy Hymen's Flame, And worthy of Immortal Fame, Her perjured Father (pious Child) Bravely beguiled: Who said to her young Husband; Wake, Lest an Eternal sleep thou take Whence lest thou look'st: deceive my Sire, And Sisters dire, Who like so many Tiger's tear (Alas!) the Prey: I (tenderer) Will neither slay, nor keep thee thus I'th' Slaughter House. Me let my Savage Father chain Because my Husband is unslain, Or into farthest Africa Ship me away. By Land or Sea take thou thy flight, covered with wings of Love and Night: Go, go, and writ when thou art safe My Epitaph. ODE XVI. To MAECENAS. That all thing fly open to Gold. Yet Horace is contented with his own Condition, in which he lives happy. DANAE in Brazen Tower immured, From night-adultrers, Doors barred, And of fierce Dogs a constant Ward Would have sufficiently secured, If Jove and Venus had not fooled The Gaoler of the Cloystred Maid, (Though of his own shadow afraid) Turning his Godship into Gold. Gold, loves to break through armed Guards, And Castles that are Thunder-proof. The Graecian Augur's sacred Roof Was undermined by rewards. Gifts, were the Macedon's Petar, With which he blew up City-Gates, Subverted Rival Kings and States, And laid aboard their Men of War. With growing richeses cares augment, And thirst of greater. I did well To shrink my head into my shell, Maecenas, Knighthood's Ornament. The more a man t' himself denies, The more indulgent Heaven bestows. Let them that will side with the I's: I'm with the Party of the No's. A greater Lord of a small store, Than if the fruitful Crops of all Appulia I mine own did call: In midst of so much Plenty Poor. My little Wood, and my pure Stream, And corn that never fails; makes me A Man more truly blest, than he That wears rich Africa's Diadem. Though neither Corsic Bees produce Honey to Me, Nor Clothing fine Segovian Flocks: Nor Massick Wine Mellow in Barrels for my use: Yet Pinching Povertie's away. Nor, wished I more, wouldst Thou deny't. Who, with contracted Appetite May easier my Tribute pay, Than if deputed Egypt's King. Large issues follow large supplies. He, to whom Heaven nothing denies, Owes an Account of every Thing, ODE XXIV. He inveighs against covetous men, who continually join Houses to Houses, Building in the very Sea itself: when in the mean time no buildings can free them from the necessity of dying. He saith the Scythians are happy who draw their Houses in Wagons, and till the Fields in Common. Moreover, denies that corruption of Manners, and licence of sinning to be amongst these, which is amongst the Romans. But for the rooting out of these Evils, together with the depraved desire of increasing Richeses, affirms there is need of a more rigid Discipline. THough richer than unpolled Arabian wealth, and Indian Gold, Thou with thy works shouldst drain The Tyrrhene and whole Pontic Main; Thou couldst not, when Death lays On Thee his Adamantine Mace, Thy Mind from terror free, Nor Body from Mortality. Wiser the Scythians, Whose Houses run on wheels like wanes; And frozen Geteses, whose field Unbounded doth free Ceres yield: Nor is't the custom there, To sow a land above a year; And when that Crop is borne, The rest relieve it each by turn. There women mingle not For Sons-in-law a poison pot; Nor Govern: on their dower Presuming, or Adultrers' power. Their Dow'rs To be well bred: And Chastity flying the bed Of others, their own trust Persuading, and the price of Lust. Oh! he that would assuage Our bloodshed and intestine rage, If he would written have His Country's Father on his Grave; Let him not fear t' oppose Unbridled Licence to the Nose: So shall he gain great praise In after times; since (woe the days!) We envy living worth, But miss it when it's laid in Earth. For what do our Laws stand, If punishment weed not the Land? What serves vain Preaching for, Which cannot cure our lives? If nor Those Lands which flames embrace; Nor where the Neighb ring Boreas, Shuts up the Ports with cold, And snows fast nailed to the freehold, The Mariner repel? If crafty Merchants learn to quell The horridst Seas? the fear Of that crime (Want) making them bear, And do all things, and balk Severer virtues narrow walk. Would Heaven we'd carry all Our wealth into the Capital! Or in the next Sea duck Our Jewels and pernicious muck, Fuel of all that's naught! If we repent us as we aught, Strike at the root of ills; And mould we our too pliant wills To rougher Arts: the Child Of Noble Lineage cannot wield A bounding Horse of War, Nay fears to hunt, more skilled by far To stride of the Greek bowl, Or the forbidden Dices to troll, The whilst his perjured Father Deceives his Partners trust, to gather For one that hath not wit. So ill got wealth grows fast, and yet Something still short doth come, To make it up An even Sum. ODE XXVII. To GALATEA going to Sea. He deters Her principally by the example of Europa. LET ill presages guide the Ill, A screeching Owl, or from a Hill A She-wolf mad upon the Flocks, Or pregant Fox. And a Snake shaft-like shot athwart Their Horse's way to make them start, Their Journey stop. What place is here For provident Fear? Before the Tempest boding foul Descend into the standing Pool, My prayer shall from the Orient steer The King's Fisher. Be blest, wherever thou wouldst be, And Galatea think of me; No ominous Pie thy Steps revoakes, No Raven croaks. Yet pale Orion sad descends: I know too well what it portends When black I see the Adriatic, Or white th' Japick, Let our Foes wives, and all they love The rising Kids blind Anger prove, And the vexed Ocean when it roars Lashing the shores. Europa so, trusting her soft Side to the 'ticing Bull, skreekt often, The Rocks and Monsters to behold, Though she was bold. She that late picked sweet flowers in Medes, And wove meet Garlands for Nymphs heads, In a clear night could nothing spy But Sea and Sky. In populous Crete arrived soon after, O Sire (quoth she) left by thy Daughter And duty in my feeble breast By Love oppressed; Whence, whether rapt? One death 's too small To expiate a Virgin's fall. Do I (awake) true Crimes lamene, Or (Innocent) Doth some false Dream put me in pain? Was't better through the horrid main To rove far of: or with my Father Fresh Flowers to gather? Had I that naughty Bull now here, How with my nails I could him tear, And break the Horns about that Pate, So loved of late! Shameless I left my Sire's Abodes: Shameless I pause on death, ye Gods, (If any hear) show me the way Where Lions stray, E'er my fair skin grow tanned and lose, And of the tender prey the juice Run out; whilst I am plump I would Be Tiger's food. Dye base Europa (whispers me My Sire) behold yond beckoning tree! The zone from thy chaste waste unknit To thy neck fit. Or if sharp Rocks delight for speed, This hanging Cliff will do the deed: Unless (being come of Royal Kin) thou'dst rather spin, And be a barbarous Mistress Thrall, Her Husband's Trull. Venus' heard all And Cupid falsely laughing now with unbent Bow; At length she said, This rage forbear; That naughty Bull thou shalt have here: Prepare thyself 'gainst he returns To break his Horns. Jove is thy Bull. These fountains dry; Learn to use greatness moderately. Thy Thirds o'th' World shall called be Europe from thee. ODE XXIX. To MAECENAS. He invites him to a merry supper, laying aside public Cares. Offspring of Tyrrhene Kings; I have, Waiting thy leisure in my Cave, Of Mellow Wine an unbroacht But, With Spicknard and Rose buds, to put Upon thy Hair. Break of delay: Do not moist Tibur still survey, And Aesula's declining Hill, And his that did his Father kill. Leave fulsome plenty, and thy proud Palace whose head is in a cloud: Respite the love of smoke, and noys, And all that wealth Rome enjoys. Rich men are mostly pleased with change, And cleanly meals in a poor grange, Without their Tapestries, unplough The Furroughs of a careful Brow. Andromed now peeps with his star, Now protion shows the Dog not far, He barks, and Phoebus kindling Rays Haste to bring back the sultry days. The Shepherd now with his faint Flock Looks, panting, for a gushing Rock, The horrors of a gloomy wood; And no Air stirs to crispe the Flood. Thou mindest affairs of State and (fraugh, With fears for Rome) busiest thy thought What Scythians, what the Bactrians think, And those that distant Tanais drink. Wise God hath wrapped in a thick cloud What is to come: and laughs aloud When Mortals fear more than their share. Things present manage with due care: The rest are carried like a stream, Which now runs calm as any dream Into the Tyrrhene Sea; anon (Beyond all limits overflown) Sweeps with it houses, herds, and flocks, And Trees entire, and broken rocks, Making the woods and mountains roar. That man has happiness in store For a hard winter, that can say Unto his Soul, I lived to day. Tomorrow let it shine, or rain, Yet cannot this the past make vain, Nor uncreate and tender voided That which was yesterday enjoyed. Fortune that knows the Mistress part To use her servants with proud Art, Her fickle favours now bestows On Me, now on Another throws. If she stay, best: If she will pack, I give her all her presents back, (Like Wooers when a match is broke) And wrapping Me in my old Cloak, My Virtue, marry the next hour chaste Poverty without a Dower. When North Winds bellow, 'tis not I Run scared to wretched prayers, and cry Let not my Spice, my Silks increase The Richeses of the greedy Seas. When Men may be in Oars convayde Through Pontic storms, than I will trade. ODE XXX. By Writing Lyrics he saith he hath provided better for the immortality of his Name, than if He had procured Brazen Statues, and Pyramids to be erected to him. And intimates that His chief praise would be, that he was the first of the Latins who in this kind of Verse intimated the Greeks. A Work outlasting Brass, and higher Than Regal Pyramids proud Spire, I have absolved. Which storming Winds, The Sea that Turrets undermines, Tract of innumerable days, Nor the rout of Times can raze. Totally I shall not dye, And much of me the Grave shall fly. Posterity my name shall boast, When Rome herself in Rome is lost. Where like a King loud Aufid reigns, Where Daunus (poor in Stream) complains To neighbouring Clowns: I shall be said The Man, that from an humble head T'a Torrent swollen did first inspire A Roman Soul in Graecian Lyre. I labour with deserved praise: Crown, Crown Me (willing Muse) with Bayss. Q. HORATIUS FLACCUS HIS FOURTH BOOK OF SONGS. ODE II. To Antonius Julus, the Son of Mark Anthony the Triumvir. That it is dangerous to imitate the ancient Poets. WHo thinks to equal Pindar, tries With waxed wings to reach the skies, Like him that (falling) a name gave TO his watery grave. As a proud stream that swollen with rain Comes pouring down the hills amain, So Pindar Flows, and fears no drought, such his deep mouth: Worthy the Bays, whither he pour From unexhausted Springs a shower Of lawless Dytherambs, and Thunders In bolder Numbers: Or sings of Gods, and Heroes (seed Of Gods) whose just swords did outweed The Centaurs, and Chimaera stout Her flames put out: Or moruns some Youth, from his sad Spouse Unkindly torn, whose strength and prowess And golden mind he lifts to th' sky, And lets not dye. This Theban Swan, when he will sing Among the Clouds, raises his wing On a stiff Gale. I like the Bee Of Calabrie, Which (toiling) sucks beloved Flowers About the Thymie Groves, and Skowrs Of Fountfull Tibur, frame a terse But humble Verse. Thou Anthony in higher strains Chant Caesar, when he leads in Chains Fierce Germans, his victorious Brows Crowned with Bay-boughs. Than whom a greater Thing, or good, Heaven hath not lent the Earth, nor should Though it refined the Age to th' old Suturnian Gold. Thou shalt sing too the public plays For his return, and Holidays For our prayers heard, and wrangling pleas Bound to the peace. Than I (if I may than be heard) Happy in my restored Lord, Will join i'th' close, and o! (I'll say) O Sunshine day! And (thou proceeding) we'll all sing, Jo, Triumph! And Again Jo, Triumph! At each Turning Incense burning. A Hecatombs required of Thee, And weaned Calf excuses Me, In high grass fat and frisking now: To pay my Vow. Resembled in whose shining Horns Th'increasing Moon his Brow adorns; Save a white Feather in his head All Sorrel read. ODE III. To MELPOMENE. That he is born to Poetry, and by the benefit thereof hath obtained immortality and glory. Whom thou Melpomene Hast smiled on in his Infancy, Him neither Isthmian Game Shall ever for a wrestler fame; Nor stout Olympic steeds Victorious draw: nor Martial deeds Show to the Capital A Lawrel-Crowned General For taming Kings: but floods Which wash rich Tibur, and green woods Their bushy locks grown long, Make big with an Aeolian song. Queen Rome hath voted me Of her own sacred Choir to be, Where sweet-tongued Poets sing; And now I fear not envies sting. O Muse! Whose sugard words Are married to the golden Chords: Who, if thou touch their tongues, Giv'st to mute fishes swanlike songs: 'Tis (all) thy Boon, that I Am pointed at as I pass by Rome's Lyric: thine it is, I live, and please, if I do This. ODE IU. He celebrates the Victories of Drusus Nero (who was Son-in-law to Augustus Caesar) over the Rhoetians and Vindelicians. Also commemorates certain valiant deeds of Claudius Nero. AS th' Armor-Bearer of great Jove (Made King of all that soars above For stealing him from Troy The * Ganymed. yellow tressed Boy) Youth whilom and his native courage Drew from his nest ere he could forage: And now soft winds (being fair) Teach him to form i'th' Air Unwonted steps: Anon more bold With hostile force assaults a fold; Resisting snakes anon For fight and prey sets on: Or such as Kids a Lion view From tawny mother weaned new, Ready in Pastures sweet To handsel his first Teeth: Such Rhetians did behold and fly Drusus beneath the Alps, who why They carry at their backs An Amazonian Axe, I list not to determine here: Perhaps nor can. But this is clear Their long Victorious Bands Subdued by a Boy's hands, Felt what a mind right got, and true- Bread under lucky roofs could do, What Caesar's Fatherly Care of the Claudij. A valiant man gets men of spirit; Even Beasts their father's minds inherit; Nor doth the Bird of Jove Get a degenerous Dove. But Learning inward strength thrusts forth, And Princely breeding confirms worth: Still where good precepts want Good Plants turn recreant. What unto Nero's, ROME thou ow'st, Speak Alps, and Asdrubal's read Ghost, And that bright day to Thee The black Clouds made to flee: The first, since the dire African Through the Italian Cities ran Like fire through Piny Woods, Or storms on Tuscan Floods. Thenceforth thy Youth with prosperous pains Still grew; and thy religious Fanes, Sacked by the Punic sword, Had their chased Gods restored; And perjured Hannibal began say At length; Poor Sheep (of Wolves the prey) We worry, whom to fly Is a great Victory. The Nation that through flames of Troy, And Tyrrhene Billows did convoy Their Gods, and Babes, and whore Sires, to th' Ausonian Shore, Like a dark Oak on the rich top Of Algidum, which Hatchets lordship, Grows by its loss, and taketh Strength from the very Axe. Not mangled Hydra more increased Under Alcides, nor that Beast Jason, or he subdued Of Thebes, more lives renewed. Plunge them i'th' Sea; they swim (fresh) out: Foil them, with doubled force they'll rout The Conqueror: and fight As in a Mistress sight. Now shall I sand not more proud Posts To joyful Carthage. Lost, O! Losts (Now Asdrubal is slain) The Glory of our Name. What is't but Neros can effect, Whom heavens with prosperous Stars protect, And their own prudent care Clews through the Maze of War. ODE V To AUGUSTUS. That he would at length return to the City. Describes the peace and happiness which Italy enjoyed under his Government. Heaven's choicest gift, Rome's greatest stay, Now thou art too too long away: The holy Senate urge thy word For soon Return, Return. Afford, Like day, thy presence; like the spring Give a new life to every thing: The first (good Prince) our night will chase, The second will prolong our days. As a fond Mother for her son, Whom, having over Seas been gone Above a year, the envious wind Keeps back from her embraces kind; And now she eyes the Vane, and prays, And from the crooked shore doth gaze: So, with a loyal Passion struck, The People for their Caesar look. For now the Oxen walk in Peace: Corn, and white Innocence increase: The cleared Main the Seamen Sail: Faith promises, and dares not fail: The married bed unsoiled remains, Custom and law preventing stains: Babes, like the Father, praise the Mother: Punishment is Sin's Twin-Brother? Who fears cold Scythians? Who, the Medes? Fierce Sons of Germany who dreads, Whilst Caesar doth in safety reign, Who is afraid of Wars with Spain? Each man his proper field doth till, And hides the Sun behind his Hill: Returning than to sup with Glee, His second course is praising Thee, For Thee he prays, to Thee propines, Thee with his Household Gods he joins, As, for like reason, thankful Greece Did Castor and great Hercules. Long last these Golden Holy days! Thus Italy for thy life prays: Sprinkled at night, not changed at Morn, When to dry labour they return. ODE VII. To L. MANLIUS TORQUATUS. Proposing the arrival of the Spring, and the equal necessity to all men of dying, without hopes of living again, and proposing likewise the change and Vicissitude of all things, he invites to lead a merry and pleasant life. THe Snows are thawed, now grass new clothes the earth, This Ode hath a taste of that Heresy, which being sprinkled in other paris of Horace, He recants in the 34. Ode of the first Book of Songs, and wherein he is generally ●●oluded to have followed the Sect of the Epicureans; though for Epicurus himself, he disavows the Doctrine in an Epistle by him written to Herodotus, in which he saith as followeth: Viz. When we affirm pleasure to he the chief Good, we intent not the pleasures of Luxurions men, nor those which are placed in the Taste, (as some either ignorantly mistaking, or maliciously wresting our words do suppose) But not to feel pain in the Body, and to enjoy Tranquillity of the mind and freedom from pertubations, we affirm to be that good. For not eating and drinking, not enjoyment of women and boys, not the use of 〈◊〉 and other delicates which a more exquisite Table affords, beget a sweet life And Trees new hair thrust forth. The Seasons changed, and Brooks late swollen with rain, Their proper banks contain. Nymphs with the Graces (linked) dare dance around Naked upon the ground. That thou must dye, the year and hours say Which draw the winged day. First Spring, than Summer that away doth chase, And must itself give place To Apple-bearing Autumn, and that past — But a sober Reason; and that sifts into the causes and reasons of Things, why any thing is to be chosen, or declined; and avoiding those controversial diputes, by which minds are (for the most part) wrapped farther into Error, and engaged in Animosities. Thus he explains himself: and in this since our Poet was an Epicurean, even after his reformation, and in the sounder part of his Book which is almost the whole, having had no clearer light to follow, than that of Nature and reason; and yet how far that was able to carry him the Reader of it may discern. Dull Winter comes at last. But the decays of Time, Time doth repair: When we once plunged are Where good Aeneas, where rich Ancus wades, Ashes we are, and shades. Who knows if Jove unto thy life's past score Will add one morning more? When thou art dead, and Rhadamanthus just Sentence hath spoke thee dust, Thy Blood, nor eloquence can ransom thee, Not nor thy Piety. For chaste Hippolytus in Stygian night Diana cannot light: Nor Theseus break with all his virtuous pains His dear Pirithous chains. ODE VIII. To MARTIUS' CENSORINUS. That there is nothing which can make Men more immortal, than the Verses of Poets. MY Friends, I would accommodate With Goblets, Grecian Tripods, Plate Of Corinth-Brass: and, Censorine, The worst of these should not be thine: That is to say, if I were rich In those same antique Pieces, which Parrhasius and Scopas fame; He skilled to paint, in stone to frame This, now a God, a Mortal now. But I have not the means; nor Thou A mind, or purse, that wants such knacks. Verse thou dost love. Thou shalt not lack For Verse. And hear Me what 'tis worth. Not inscribed Marbles planted forth To public view, which give new breath To great and good men after death: Not the swift flight of Hannibal, And his threats turned to his own wall: Not perjured Carthage wrapped in Flame, By which Young Scipio brought a Name From Conquered Africa: speak his praise So loud, as the Pierian Lays. Nor, were Books silenced, couldst Thou gain The Guerdon of thy Virtuous pain. What had become of Ilia's child She bore to Mars, had darkness veiled The merits of our Romulus? From Stygian waters Aeacus, Virtue and favouring Verse assoiles, And consecrates to the blessed Isles. A man that hath deserved t' have praise, The Muse embalms. She keeps heavens Keys. Thus Hercules (his labours passed) With Jupiter takes wished repast: The Sons of Leda Stars are made, And give the sinking Seaman aid; Good Bacchus, crowned with Vine-leaves, His drooping Votaries relieves. ODE IX. To LOLLIO. That his writings shall never perish: Virtue without the help of Verses is buried in Oblivion. That he will sing Lollio's praises, whose virtues he now also celebrates. Lest Thou shouldst think the words which I (By sounding Aufid born) compile To marry with the Lute b'a skill Never before revealed, shall die: Though Homer lead the Van, the Muse Of Pindar, nor Alcaeus heights, Grave Stesichore, nor Caean sighs, Are silenced, or worn out of use. Nor what of old Anacreon played, Hath time defaced: Love lights his Fire, And with his Quiver wears the Lyre Of the yet fresh Aeolian Maid. Helen was not the only she A curled Gallant did inflame, The Splendour of his Royal Train, And Gold and Pearls Embroidery. Nor Teucer first that drew a strong Cydonian Bow. Trojans had fought Before: nor that age only wrought Deeds worthy of the Muse's song. Nor valiant Hector, and the brave Deiphob, were the only men Received deep wounds upon them than, Their Children and chaste Wives to save. Men slashed ere Diomedes was made: But all are in oblivion drowned, And put unmourned into the Ground, For lack of Sacred Poet's Aid. Virtue that's buried, and dead Sloth, Differ not much. Un-understood Thou shalt not die; nor so much good As thou hast acted feed the Moth. Lollio Thou art a man hast skill To fathom things: that being tried In either Fortune, couldst abide In both upright, and Lollio still. Of covetous Fraud a scourge severe: On whom the All-attracting Gold Can with its Tenters ne'er take hold: Nor Consul of one year. When ere A virtuous Magistrate, and true, Shall call good, gain, bid Bribes Avaunt: Upon Opposers bellies plant His conquering Flags: Lollio, That's You. He is not happy that hath much: But who so can his mind dispose To use aright what Heaven bestows, He justly is accounted such: If he know how hard want to bear: And fear a crime, more than his end. If for his Country, or his Friend Tostake his life he doth not fear. Q. HORATIUS FLACCUS HIS BOOK OF EPODES. ODE I. To MAECENAS. He offers Himself to accompany Maecenas going to the War of Actium, not for any help he can bring him by his presence, but because being present he shall have lesle apprehensions for him. THou go'st now our Fleet's General, Our Fleet, the Empire's Wall: To take thy Sov'raigns' danger, pressed Upon thy willing breast. I, to whom life in thine is sweet, But bitter without it, Shall I (though bid) mine ease pursue (No ease if wanting you) Or else with courage Masculine Make one in the design? I will: and Thee o'er Alps I'll follow, Through Lands unseen b' Apollo, And to the farthest Western part. With an undaunted heart. Thou't ask, what serves my going for, Weak and unapt for War? I shall fear lesle, if I be there; Absence augmenteth fear. So Birds, divorced from their raw young. Fear more the snake's forked tongue: Whereas (alas!) if they had stayed, They could have lent no aid. This and all warfares I'd embrace, Only to gain thy Grace: Not that my galling Ploughs may vex A hundred Oxens' necks; Nor that my Flocks when the Dog reigns, For hills may change the Plains: Nor that my Inland Seat may reach To the far-distant Beach. Thy bounty hath o'erflowed my measure. I would not mass up Treasure To bury with the Miser's Care, Or Squander like his Heir. ODE II. He comprehends in this Ode divers Praises of a Country life: Commending it chief from the Tranquilliiy and Frugality thereof. HAppy is He, that free from Mental Toil (Like the old Mortals) ploughs his Native With his own Oxen; out of debt: Nor leads (soil A Soldiers life, still in Alarms; nor dreads Th' enraged Sea: & flies at any Rate (the Great. From Law-Suites, and the proud Porch of What does he than? He, lofty Poplars joins Unto adult and marriageable Vines; And the Wild branches with his Sickle lopped, Doth better children in their rooms adopt: Or in a hollow Valley, from above, Beholds his lowing herds securely rove: Or, his best Honey (which he means to keep) Puts in clean pots: or shears his tender sheep. Or, when plump Autumn shows his bending head With mellow Apples beautifully read, With what a Gust his grafted Pears he pulls; And Grapes, the poor man's Purple! Whence he culls The fairest, for thee Priap; and for thee Sylvanus, Guardian of his Husbandry. Under an aged Oak he loves to pass The Heats; or lolling on the matted grass. Between deep Banks a River rowls the while; The Birds, they prattle, to the Trees that smile; A purling Brook runs chiding all the way: Which gentle slumbers to His eyes convey. But when rough Winter thundering comes, to throw The treasures open of the Rain and Snow: Either with dogs, behind him and before He drives into his toils the tusked Boar: Or spreads his thinner Nets beside some Bush, An Ambuscado for the greedy Thrush: And (dear delights) inveigles in his snare The Traveller- Woodcock, and the Coward- Hare. Who at these sports, evades not all those darts, With which loose love assaults our vacant hearts? But if a virtuous Wife, that bears sweet fruit Yearly, to one; and guides the house to boot: (Such as the Sabine, or the Sunburnt Froe (Of him, that was chose Consul from the Plough) Build of old Logs, 'gainst her good man comes home Weary, a Fire as high as half the room; And shutting in knit hurdles the glad Beasts, With her own hand unlade their swagging Breasts And drawing this years' Wine, from the sweet But. Dainties unbought upon the Table put: Your Lucrine Oysters cannot please me more, Nor a fresh Sturgeon frighted to Our shore, Nor any rarer Fish. No Pheasant Hen, Or quail, go down my Throat more savoury, Than An Olive, gathered from the fattest Bough; Cool Endive; wholesome Mallows; or allow A Lamb upon some mighty Festival; Or Kid, from the Wolf's jaws; That's worth them all. Amidst these Feasts, how sweet 'tis, to behold The well-fed Sheep run wadling to their Fold! To see the wearied Ox come trailing back Th' inverted Plough upon his drooping neck! And the Plough-Boyes (the swarm that makes us thrive) Surround the shining Hearth, content & blithe! All this the Us'rer ALPHEUS having said, Resolved (what else) a Country Life to lead; At Michaelmas calls all his Moneys in: But at Our Lady puts them out again. ODE VII. To the People of ROME. An Execration of the Second Civil War waged after the Death of Julius, by Brutus and Cassius on the one side; on the other by Octavius, M. Antony, and Lepidus. WHy, why Your sheathed Swords drawn again? Whether rush Ye, impious Brood? Have not the Earth yet and the Main, Drunk enough of Latin Blood? Not that proud CARTHAGE burned might be, Rival of the ROMAN STATE: Nor the chaste Mistress of the Sea † Unconquered, though twice attempted by the rude Courtship of Julius Caesar. BRITAIN, on Our Triumphs wait. But that the Thing the Parthians crave, ROME, may make Herself away. Lions and Wolves this Temperance have, On their Kind they will not pray. Is't a blind Rage, or force more strong, Or Crime, drives You? Speak. They look As pale as Death, and hold their tongue, As their Souls were Planet-strook. 'Tis so: dire Fates the ROMANS haunt, And a Fratricidall Gild: Since Blood of Remus innocent, On the cursed Ground was spilt: ODE XIV. To MAECENAS. That his love to Phryne, is the Cause why he doth not finish his promised iambics. YOu kill Me (sweet Maecenas) when so often You ask me, why a soft Sloth stunns my sense, as if with thirsty Draught I had together quaffed Lethe's oblivious Lake into my Blood. It is a God, a God, Forbids Me finish my iambics, Though Promised thee long ago. Besotted thus, Anacreon was 'tis said Upon the Samian Maid: Who sobbed his Love out to a hollow Lyre With stumbling Feet. That Fire Consumes Thee too. If fairer burned not Troy Besieged, in thy lot joy. Me a Bondwoman, such a one torments, As no one Man contents. ODE XVI. To the People of ROME. Commiserating the Commonwealth, in respect of the Civil Wars. NOw Civil Wars a second Age consume, And Rome's own Sword destroys poor Rome. What neither neighbouring Marsians could devour, Nor feared Porsenas Tuscan Power; Nor Capua's Rival Valour, Mutinies Of Bondslaves, Treachery of Allies; Nor Germany (Blue-eyed Bellona's Nurse) Nor Hannibal (the Mother's curse) We (a bloodthirsty age) ourselves deface, And Wolves shall repossess this place. The barbarous Foe will trample on our dead, The Steel-shod Horse our Courts will tread; And Romulus dust (closed in religious Urn From Sun and tempest) proudly spurn. All, or the sounder part, perchance would know, How to avoid this coming blow. 'Twere best I think (like to the Phoceans, Who left their execrated Lands, And Houses, and the Houses of their Gods, To Wolves and Bears for their abodes;) T'abandon all, and go where ere our feet Bear us by Land, by Sea our Fleet. Can any man better advice afford? If not, in name of Heaven Aboard! But you must swear first to return again, When loosened Rocks float on the Main, And be content to see your Mother-Town, When Betis washes the Alps crown; Or Apennine into the Ocean flies, Or new Lust weds Antipathies, Making the Hind stoop to the Tiger's love, The ravenous Kite Cuckold the Dove; And credulous Herds t'affect the Lion's side, And Goats the salt Sea to abide. This, and what else may stop our wished return When all, or the good part have sworn, Fly hence! Let him whose smooth and unfledged breast Misgives him, keep the rifled nest. You that are men, unmanly grief give o'er And sail along the Tuscan shore, To the wide Ocean. Let us seek those Isles Which swim in plenty, the blessed Soils: Where the Earth's Virgin-womb unplowed is fruitful, And the unproyned Vine still youthful: The Olive Tree makes no abortion there, And Figs hung dangling in the air; Honey distils from Oaks, and Water hops With creaking feet from Mountain tops. The generous Goats without the Milkmaids call, Of their full bags are prodigal; No Evening Wolf with hoarse Alarms wakes The Flocks; nor breeds the upland Snakes. And (farther to invite us) the plump Grain, Is neither drunk with too much rain, Nor yet for want of moderate watering dry: Such the blessed temper of the Sky. Never did Jason to those Islands guide His Pirat-ship, and whorish Bride. Sydonian Cadmus never touched these shores, Nor false Ulysses' weary Oars. No murrain rots the Sheep, no star doth scorch The Cattles with his burning Torch. When Jove with brass the Golden-age infected, These Isles he for the pure extracted. Now Iron reigns, I like a Statue stand, To point Good Men to a Good Land. HORACE his First Book of Songs. ODE XXXVII. To His COMPANIONS. Exhorting them to indulge their Genius for the victory of Actium. Extols the magnanimity of Cleopatra in her dying. NOw let us dance, and now carouse, Now out at Window throw the House: Now is the time (Comrades) for Feasts, To thank the Gods with Smoak and Beasts. Before, from Grandsire's Butts 'twas Sin To draw the best, whilst the mad Queen Prepared the Empire's Funeral, And Ruin for the Capital, With her gelt Squadrons (a disease Infamous) Violent as These A thing impossible to try, And drunk with her Prosperity. But almost all Her Navy burned, Her Fury tamed: and her Brain turned With Fumes of Mareotick Juice To true Fears CAESAR did reduce: With stretching Oars flying Her back (As gadding Doves a long-winged Hawk; Or Hunter in Aemonian Snow Traces a Hare t'her Form) to throw The Fatal Monster into Chains. She (who to fall so flat, disdaigns) Nor (Woman-like) feared Swords, nor fled Into a Hole to hid her Head. But with a look serene and bold Durst visit her dampt Court, and hold Dire Asps unto her breasts, thereby A black and a swollen Corpse to lie: The more she ponderd, more unstirred: An honour she could ill afford Liburnian Ships; to waft a Queen Led in proud Triumph to be seen. ☞ This ODE aught to be inserted at the latter end of the First Book of Songs: Discourses OF HORACE, Divided into SATYRS and EPISTLES. Q. HORATIJ FLACCI LIBER Primus SERMONUM. SATYRA VI. Ad MAECENATEM. Reprehendit vanum populi Rom.: de nobilitate judicium quod eam stemmatum antiquitate non virtute metiretur, & nobilitate illa● o●praeditos ad magistrates non libenter admitteret: Sibi non eadem ratione amiciriam Maecenatis, qua tribunatum, posse quendam invidere: quum haec non fortunae fuerit, sed virtutis commendatione quaesita sit. Tandemque suam conditionem longè meliorem in vita privata ostendit quàm in magistratu esse possit. NOn, quia, Maecenas, Lydorum quicquid Etruscos Incoluit fines, nemo generosior est te Nec, quod aevus tibi maternus fuit atque paternus, Olim qui magnis legionibus imperitarint: Vt plerique solent, naso suspendis adunco Ignotos: ut me libertino patre natum, Qúum referre negas, quali sit quisque parente Natus, dum ingenuus: persuades hoc tibi vere, Ante potestatem Tulli, atque ignobile regnum, Multos saepe viros nullis majoribus ortos, Et vixisse probos, amplis & honoribus auctos. Contra, Laevinum, Valerî genus, unde superbus Tarqvinius regno pulsus fuit, unius assis Non unquam pretio pluris licuisse, notante Judice, quem nosti, populo: qui stultus honores Saepe dat indignis, & famae servit ineptus: Qui stupet in titulis & imaginibus, quid oportet, Nos facere, à vulgo longe latéque remotos? Námque esto, populus Laevino mallet honorem Quam Decio mandare novo, censórque moveret Appius, ingenuo si non essem patre natus: Vel merito, quoniam in propria non pelle quiessem. Sed fulgente trahit constrictos gloria curru Non minus ignotos generosis. quo tibi Tulli Sumere depositum clavum? fierique tribunum? Invidia accrevit, privato quae minor esset. Nam ut quisque insanus nigris medium impediit crus Pellibus, & latum demisit pectore clavum, Audit continuo: Quis homo hic est? quo patre natus? Vt si qui aegrotet, quo morbo Barrus, haberi Vt cupiat formosus: eat quácunque, puellis Injiciat curam quaerendi singula: quali Sit facie, sura quali, pede, dente, capillo: Sic qui promittit, cives, urbem sibi curae, Imperium fore & Italiam, & delubra deorum: Quo patre sit natus, num ignota matre in honestus, Omnes mortales curare & quaerere cogit. Tune Sylli, Damae, aut Dionysi filius, audes Dejicere è saxo cives? aut tradere Cadmo? At Novins collega gradu post me sedet uno, Námque est ille, pater quod erat meus hoc tibi Paulus Et Messala videris. at hic, si plaustra ducenta, Concurrántque foro tria funera, magna sonabit, Cornua quod, vincátque tubas: saltem tenet hoc nos. Nunc ad me redio libertino patre natum, Quem rodunt omnes libertino patre natum, Nunc, quia Maecenas, tibi sum convictor: at olim, Quod mihi pareret legio Romana tribuno. Dissimile hoc illi est: quia non ut forsit honorem Jure mihi invideat quivis, ita te quóque amicum: Praesertim cautum dignos assumere, prava Ambitione procul. foelicem dicere non hoc Me possum casu. quod te sortitus amicum. Nulla etenim mihi te fors obtulit. Optimus olim Virgilius, post hunc Varius, dixere quid essem. Vt veni coram, singultim pauca locutus, (Infans námque pudor prohibebat plura profari) Non ego me claro natum patre, non ego circum Me Saturejano vectari rura caballo. Sed quod eram, narro. respondes (ut tuns est mos) Pauca. abeo: & revocas, nono post mense, jubésque. Esse in amicorum numero. magnum hoc ego duco, Quod placui tibi. qui turpi secernis honestum, Non patre praeclaro, sed vita & pectore puro. Atqui si vitiis mediocribus, ac mea paucis Mendosa est natura, alioqui recta (velut si Egregio inspersos reprendas corpore naevos) Si néque avaritiam, néque sordes, ac mala lustra Objiciet vere quisquam mihi: purus & insons (Vt me collaudem) si vivo, & charus amicis: Causa fuit pater his: qui macro pauper agello Noluit in Flavi ludum me mittere magni. Quo pueri magnis è centurionibus orti, Laevo suspensi loculos tabulámque lacerto, Ibant octonis referentes idibus aera. Sed puerum est ausus Romam portare, docendum Artes, quas doceat quivis eques atque senator Semet prognatus. vestem seruósque sequentes In magno ut populo si quis vidisset, avita Ex re praeberi sumptus mihi crederet illos. Ipse mihi custos incorruptissimus omnes Circum doctores aderat. quid multa? pudicum (Qui primus virtutis honos) servavit ab omni Non solum facto, verum opprobrio quóque turpi: Nec timuit, sibi ne vitio quis verteret, olim Si praeco parvas, aut (ut fuit ipse) coactor Mercedes sequerer. néque ego essem questus. ab hoc nunc Laus illi debetur, & à me gratia major. Nil me poeniteat sanum patris hujus: eóque Non, ut magna dolo factum negat esse suo pars, Quod non ingenuos habeat clarósque parentes, Sic me defendam; longe mea discrepat istis Et vox & ratio. nam si natura juberet A certis annis aevum remeare peractum, Atque alios legere ad fastum quoscúnque parentes, Optaret sibi quisque: meis contentus, honestos Fascibus & sellis nolim mihi sumere: demens Judicio vulgi, sanus fortasse tuo: quod Nollem onus (haud unquam solitus) portare molestum; Nam mihi continuo major quaerenda foret res, Atque salutandi plures: ducendus & unus Et comes alter, uti ne solus rusve peregre- Ve exirem: plures calones, atque caballi Pascendi: ducenda petorrita. nunc mihi curto Ire licet mulo, vel, si libet, usque Tarentum; Mantica cui lumbos onere ulceret atque eques armos, Objiciet nemo sordes mihi, quas tibi Tulli, Quum Tiburte via praetorem quinque sequuntur Te pueri, lasanum portantes, oenophorúmque. Hoc ego commodius, quam tu, praeclare Senator. Millibus atque aliis, vivo. quacúnque libido est, Incedo solus: percontor quanti olus, ac far: Fallacem circum; vespertinumque pererro Saepe forum: assisto divinis: inde domum me Ad porri & ciceris refero laganique catinum. Coena ministratur pueris tribus: & lapis albus Pocula cum cyatho duo sustinet: astat echinus Vilis, cum patera guttus, Campana suppellex. Delnde eo dormitum, non sollicitus, mihi quod cras Surgendum sit mane, obeundus Marsya, qui se Vultum ferre negat Noviorum posse minoris, Ad quartam jaceo; post hanc vagor, aut ego lecto, Aut soripto, quod me tacitum juvet. ungor olivo, Non quo fraudatis immundus Natta lucernis. Ast ubi me fessum Sol acrior ire lavatum Admonuit, fugio rabiosi tempora signi. Pransus non avide, quantum interpellet inani Ventre diem durare, domesticus otior. haec est Vita solutorum misera ambitione gravique. His me consolor, victurus suavius ac si Quaestor avus, pater atque meus, patruúsque fuissent. Q. HORATIJ FLACCI LIBER II. SERMONUM. SATYRA I Sibi datum à Trebatio consilium de scribendis rebus gestis Augusti, potiùs quàm Satyris (utpote in quibus alij aliud desiderant) exponit: & cur ei parere non possit, ostendit. SVnt, quibus in Satyra videar nimis acer: & ultrae Legem tendere opus: sine nervis altera, quicquid Composui, pars esse putat: simileisque meorum Mille die versus deduci posse. Trebati, Quid faciam, praescibe. quiescas. ne faciam, inquis Omnino versus? ajo, peream male, si non Optimum erat. verum nequeo dormire. ter uncti Transnanto Tiberim, somno quibus est opus alto: Irriguúmque mero sub noctem corpus habento. Aut, si tautus amor scribendi te rapit, aude Caesaris invicti res dicere, multa laborum Praemia laturus. cupidum, pater optime, vires Deficiunt. néque enim quivis horrentia pilis Agmina, nec fracta pereuntes cuspide Gallos, Aut labentis equo describat vulnera Parthi. Attamen & justum poteras, & scribere fortem, Scipiadam ut sapiens Lucilius. haud mihi decro, Cum res ipsa feret. nisi dextro tempore, Flacci, Verba per attentam non ibunt Caesaris aurem: Cui male si palpere, recalcitrat undique tutus. Quanto rectius hoc, quam tristi ludere versu Pantolabum scurram, Nomentanúmque nepotem: Cum sibi quisque timet, quanquam est intactus, & odit? Quid faciam? saltat Milonius, ut semel icto Accessit fervor capiti, numerúsque lucernis. Castor gaudit equis: ovo prognatus eodem Pugnis. quot capitum vivunt, totidem studiorum, Millia▪ me pedibus delectat claudere verba Lucili ritu, nostrum melioris utróque. Ille velut fidis arcana sodalibus, olim Credebat libris: néque, si male cesserat, unquam Decurrens alio, néque si bene. quo fit, ut omnis Votiva pateat veluti descripta tabella, Vita senis, sequor hunc. Lucanus, an Appulus, anceps, Nam Venusinus arat finem sub utrumve colonus, Missus ad hoc, pulsis (vetus est ut fama) Sabellis: Quo ne per vacuum Romano incurreret hostis. Sive quod Appula gens, seu quod Lucania bellum Incuteret violenta. sed hic stylus haud petet ultro Quenquam animantem: & me, veluti custodiet ensis. Vagina tectus: quem cur distringere coner Tutus ab infestis latronibus? ô pater, & rex Jupiter, ut pereat positum rubigine telum: Nec quicquam noceat cupido mihi pacis! at ille, Qui me commôrit? (mèlius non tangere, clamo:) Flebit, & insignis tota cantabitur urbe: Servius iratus leges minitatur & urnam, Canidia Albuci, quibus est inimica, venenum, Grande malum Turius, si quis se judice certet. Vt, quo quisque valet, suspectos terreat, utque Imperet hoc natura potens, sic collige mecum. Dente lupus, cornu taurus petit. unde, nisi intus Monstratum? Scaevae vivacem crede nepoti Matrem: nil faciet sceleris pia dextera. mirum. Vt néque calce lupus quenquam, néque dente petit bos, Sed mala tollet anum vitiato melle cicuta. Ne longum faciam: seu me tranquilla senectus Expectat, seu mors atris circumvolat alis: Dives, inops, Romae, seu fors ita jusserit, exul, Quisquis erit vitae, scribam, color. O puer ut sis Vitalis metuo, & majorum ne quis amicus Frigore te feriat. Quid, cum est Lucilius ausus Primus in hunc operis componere carmina morem? Detrahere & pellem, nitidus qua quisque per ora Cederet, introrsum turpis? num Laelius, aut qui, Duxit ab oppressa merîtum CARTHAGINE nomen, Ingenio offensi? aut laeso doluere Metello? Famosisque Lupo cooperto versibus? atqui Primores populi arripuit, populúmque tributim: Scilicet uni aequus virtuti, atque ejus amicis. Quin vbise à vulgo, & scena, in secreta remorant Virtus Scipiadae, & mitis sapientia Laeli; Nugari cum illo, & discincti ludere, donec Decoqueretur olus, soliti. quicquid sum ego, quamvis Infra Lucili censum, ingeniumque, tamen me Cum magnis vixisse invita fatebitur usque Invidia, & fragili quaerens illidere dentem, Offendet solido. nisi quid tu, docte, Trebati, Dissentis equidem nibit hîc diffindere possum. Sed tamen ut monitus caveas, ne forte negotî Incutiat tibi quid sanctarum inscitia legum: Si mala condiderit in quem quis carmina jus est, Judiciúmque. esto, si quis mala: sed bona si quis Judice condiderit laudatur Caesare si quis Opprobriis dignum latraverit, integer ipse, Solvontur risu tabulae, tu missus abibis. SATYRA VI. Se contentum iis quae habet, vivere, ac plura non optare dicit. Deinde orii sui quo ruri fruitur commoda cum incommodis negotiorum & molestiarum, quae vitam urbanam comitantur, comparat. HOc erat in votis: modus agri non itae magnus, Hortus ubi, & tecto vicinus jugis aquae fons, Et Paulum sylvae super his foret auctius, atque Dî melius fecere bene est: nihil amplius oro, Maja nate, nisi ut propria haec mihi munera faxis Si néque majorem feci ratione mala rem, Nec sum facturus vitio culpave minorem: Si veneror stultus nihib horum; O si angulus ille Proximus accedat, qui nunc denormat agellum: O si urnam argenti fors qua mihi monstret, ut illi Thesauro invento qui mercenarius agrum Illum ipsum mercatus aravit, dives amico Hercule! si quod adest, gratum juvat: hac prece te oro Pingue pecus domino facias, & caetera, praeter Ingenium: utque soles, custos mihi maximus ad fis Ergo ubi me in montes, & ex in arcem urbe removi, Quia prius illustrem Satgris, Musáque pedestri? Nec mala me ambitio perdit, necplumbeus auster Autumnúsque gravis, Libitinae questus acerbae. Matutine pater, seu Jane libentius audis. Vnde homines operum primos vitaeque labores Instituunt (si dîs placitum) tu carminis esto Principium. Romae sponsorem me rapis: eja, Ne prior officio quisquam respondeat, urge Sive Aquilo radit terras, seu bruma nivalem Interiore diem gyro trahit, ire necesse est. Postmodo, quod mî obsit, clare, certumque locuto, Luctandum in turba: facienda injuria tardis. Quid vis insane? & quas res agis? Improbus urget Iratis precibus. tu pulses omne quod obstat, Ad Maecenatem memori si ment recurras. Hoc juvat, & melli est, non mentiar. at simul atras Ventum est Esquilias, aliena negotia centum, Per caput, & circa saliunt latus. Ante secundam Roscius orabat sibi adesses ad puteal cras: De re communi scribae magna atque nova te Orabant hodie meminisses. Quincte reverti: Imprimat his cura Maecenas signa tabellis. Dixeris, experiar: Si vis potes addit, & instat. Septimus octavo propior jam fugerit annus, Ex quo Maecenas me coepit habere suorum In numero: duntaxat ad hoc, quem tollere rhedae Vellet, iter faciens, & cui concredere nugas Hoc genus: hora quota est? Thrax est Gallina Syro par? Matutina parum cautos jam frigora mordent; Et, quae rimosa bene deponuntur in aure. Per totum hoc tempus subjectior in diem & horam Invidiae. noster ludos spectaverat una, Luserat in campo Fortunae filius, omnes. Frigidus à rostris manat per compita rumor? Quicúnque obvius est, me consulit: ô bone (nam te Scire, deos quoniam propius contingis, oportet) Num quid de Dacis audisti? Nil equidem. ut tu Semper eris derisor ad omnes. Dii exagitent me, Si quicquam. Quid, militibus promissa Triquetra Praedia, Caesar an est Itala tellure daturus? Jurantem me scire nihil mirantur, ut unum Scilicet egregii mortalem altique silenti. Perditur haec inter misero lux, non sine votis: O rus, quando ego te aspiciam? quandóque licebit, Nunc veterum libris, nunc somno & inertibus horis Ducere sollicitae jucunda oblivia vitae? O quando faba Pythagorae cognata, simúlque Vncta satis pingui ponentur oluscula lardo? O noctes coenaeque deum: quibus ipse, meique Ante Larem proprium vescor, vernásque procaces Pasco libatis dapibus. prout cuique libido est, Siccat inaequales calices conviva, solutus Legibus insanis: seu quis capit acria fortis Pocula, seu modicis uvescit laetius. ergo Sermo oritur non de villis domibúsve alienis: Nec male, necne Lepos saltet: sed quod magis ad nos Pertinet, & nescire malum est, agitamus: utrumne Divitiis homines an sint virtute beati, Quidve ad amicitias, usus rectúmne trahat, nos: Et quae sit natura boni, summúmque quid ejus. Cervius, haec inter, vicinus garrit aniles Ex re fabellas. nam si quis laudat Arelli Sollicitas ignarus opes, si cincipit: Olim Rusticus urbanum murem mus paupere fertur Accepisse cavo, veterem vetus hospes amicum; Asper & attentus quaesitis, ut tamen arctum Solverit hospitiis animum quid multa? neque illi Sepositi ciceris, nec longae invidit avenae: Aridum & ore ferens acinum, semesaque lardi Frusta dedit: cupiens varia fastidia coena Vincere tangentis male singula dente superbo: Quum pater ipse domus palea porrectus in horna Esset, ador, loliumque, dapis meliora relinquens. Tandem urbanus ad hunc, Quid te juvat, (inquit) amice, Praerupti nemoris patientem vivere dorso? Vis tu homines urhemque feris praeponere sylvis? Carpe viam, (mihi crede) comes: terrestria quando Mortales animas vivunt sortita, neque ulla est Aut magno, aut parvo sethi fuga. quo, bone, circa, Dum licet, in rebus jucundis vive beatus: Vive memor, quam fis aevi brevis. Haec ubi dicta Agrestem pepulere, domo levis exilit: inde Ambo propositum peragunt iter, urbis aventes Maenia nocturni subrepere. jamque tenebat Nox medium coeli spatium, quum ponit uterque In locuplete domo vestigia: rubro ubi cocco Tincta super lectos canderet vestis eburnos, Multaque de magna superessent fercula coena, Quae procul extructis inerant hesterna canistris. Ergo ubi purpurea porrectum in veste locavit Agrestem, veluti succinctus cursitat hospes, Continuatque dapes, nec non vernaliter ipsis Fungitur. Officiis, praelambens omne, quod affert. Ille cubans gaudet mutata sorte, bonisque Rebus agit laetum convivam: quam subito ingens Valvarum strepitus lectis excussit utrumque. Currere per totum pavidi conclave, magisque Exanimes trepidare, simul domus alta Molossis Personuit canibus. tum rusticus, Haud mihi vita Est opus hac (ait) & valeas: me sylva cauúsque Tutus ab insidiis tenui solabitur ervo. Q. HORATIJ FLACCI LIBER III. SERMONUM. EPIST. I. Ad MAECENATEM. Se ludicra sua studia missa facere dicit, & ea, quae ad virtutem ducunt amplecti: Sic tamen ut in nullius Magistri verba juret. Hujusmodi autem esse haec studia ut nemo sit qui non illis excoli possit, si modò patientem aurem commodet. Tandem pravum hominum judicium virtutem opibus & honoribus postponentium, & quae corporis sunt, non quae sunt animi, curantium, reprehendit. PRima dicte mihi, summa dicende Camoena, Spectatum satis, & donatum jam rude, quaeris, Maecenas, iterum antiquo me includere ludo. Non eadem est aetas, non mens. Vejanius, armis Hercules ad postem fixis, latet abditus agro, Ne populum extrema toties exoret arena. Est mihi purgatam crebro qui personet aurem, Solve senescentem maturè sanus equum, ne Peccet ad extremum ridendus, & itia ducat. Nunc itáque & versus & caetera ludicra pono: Quid verum, atque decens, curo, & rogo, & omnis inhoc sum, Condo, & compono, quae mox depromere possim. Ac ne forte roges, quo me duce, quo lare tuter: Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri, Quo me cunque rapit tempestas, deferor hospes. Nunc agilis fio, & mersor civilibus undis, Virtutis verae custos rigidusque satelles: Nunc in Aristippi furtim praecepta relabor, Et mihi res, non me rebus submittere conor. Vt nox longa quibus mentitur amica, diesque Longa videtur opus debentibus: ut piger annus Pupillis, quos dura premit custodia matrum: Sic mihi tarda fluunt ingrataque tempora, quae spem Consiliumque morantur agendi gnaviter id quod Aequè pauperibus prodest, locupletibus aequè, Aequè neglectum pueris senibusque nocebit. Restat ut his ego me ipse regam solerque elementis. Non possis oculo quantum contendere Lynceus, Non tamen idcirco contemnas lippus iwngi: Nec, quia desperes invicti membra Glyconis, Nodosa corpus nolis prohibere chiragra. Efl quoddam prodire tenus, fi non datur ultra. Fervet avaritia miseroque cupidine pectus? Sunt verba & voces, quibus hunc lenire dolorem Possis, & magnam, morbi deponere partem. Laudis amore tumes? sunt certa piacula, quae te Ter purè lecto poterunt recreare libello. Invidus, iracundus, iners, vinosus, amator: Nemo adeo ferus est ut non mitescere possit, Si modo culturae patientem commodet aurem. Virtus est, vitium fugere: & sapientia prima, Stultitia caruisse; vides, quae maxima credis. Esse mala, exiguum censum, turpemque repulsam, Quanto devites animi, capitisque labore. Impiger extremos curris mercator ad Indos, Per mare pauperiem fugiens, per saxa, per ignes: Ne cures ea, quae stultè miraris & optas; Discere, & audire, & meliori credere non vis? Quis circum pages & circum compita pugnax, Magna coronari contemnat Olympia; cui spes, Cui sit conditio dulcis sine pulvere palmae? Vilius argentum est auro, virtutibus aurum. O cives, cives, quaerenda pecunia primum est, Virtus post nummos. haec Janus summus ab imo Perdocet: haec recinunt juvenes dictata senésque, Laevo suspensi loculos, tabulámque lacerto. Si quadringentis, sex, septem millia desunt, Est animus tibi, sunt mores, & lingua, fidésque; Plebs eris: at pueri ludentes, rex eris, ajunt, Si recte facies. HIC MURUS aheneus esto, Nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa. Roscia, (dic sodes) melior lex, an puerorum Naenia, quae recte regnum facientibus offert, Et maribus Curiis, & decantata Camillis? Isne tibi melius suadet, qui ut rem facias, rem, Si possis, recte: si non, quocúnque modo rem: Vt propius spectes lachrymosa poëmata Puppi: An qui Fortunae te responsare superbae Liberum & erectum praesens hortatur, & optat? Quod si me populus Romanus forte roget, cur Non, ut porticibus, sic judiciis fruar iisdem, Nec sequar, aut fugiam, quae diligit ipse, vel edit: Olim quod vulpes aegroto cauta leoni Respondit, referam: Quia me vestigia terrent, Omnia te adversum spectantia, nulla retrorsum. Bellua multorum es capitum. nam quid sequar? aut quem. Pars hominum gestit conducere publica: sunt qui Frustis & pomis viduas venentur avaras, Excipiántque senes, quos in vivaria mittant. Multis occulto crescit res foenore. verum Esto, aliis alios rebus studiisque teneri: jidem eadem possunt horam durare probantes? Nullus in orbe sinus Bajis praelucet amoenis, Si dixit dives, lacus & mare sentit amorem Festinantis heri, cui si vitiosa libido Fecerit auspicium, cras ferramenta Theanum Tolletis fabri. lectus genialis in auta est? Nil vit esse prius, melius nil coelibe vita: Si non est, jurat bene solis esse maritis Quo ceneam vultùs mustantem Protea nodo? Quid pauper? ride: mutat coenàcula, lectos, Balnea, consores: conducto navigio, aeque Nauseat ac locuples, quem ducit prima triremis. Si curtatus inaquali tonsore capillos Occurrit, rides: si forte subucula pexae Trita subest tunicae, vel si toga dissidet impar Rides: quid, mea cum pugnat sententia secum? Quod petiit, spernit: repetit, quod nuper omisit? Aestuat, & vitae disconvenit ordine toto? Diruit, aedificat, mutat quadrata rotundis? Insanire putas solennia me, néque rides, Nec medici credis, nec curatoris egere A praetore dati, rerum tutela mearum Quum sis, & prave sectum stomacheris ob unguem De te pendentis, te respicientis amici. Ad summam, sapiens uno minor est Jove, dives, Liber, honoratus, pulcher, rex denique regum: Praecipuè sanus, nisi quum pituita molesta est. EPIST. V. AD TORQUATUM. Torquatum ad coenam invitat, quam frugalem fore dicit. Hortatur ut curis & cupiditati divitiarum valedicens hilaritati se tradat, & laudes ebrietatis addit. Tria esse dicit, quorum studiosus sit in apparatu convivii; primam autem ponit munditiem. SI potes Archaicis conviva recumbere lectis, Nec modica coenare times olus omne patella: Supremo te Sole domi Torquate manebo. Vina bibes iterum Tauro diffusa, palustres Inter Minturnas Sinuessanúmque Petrinum. Sin melius quid habes, arcesse, vel imperium fer. Jamdudum splendet focus, & tibi munda supellex. Mitte leves spes, & certamina divitiarum, Et Moschi causam. cras nato Caesare festus Dat veniam somúmque dies, impune licebit Aestivam sermone benigno tendere noctem. Quo mihi fortunas, si non conceditur uti? Parcus ob haeredis curam, nimiúmque severus, Assidet insano, potare & spargere flores Incipiam, patiárque vel inconsultus haberi. Quid non ebrietas designat? operta recludit, Spes jubet esse ratas: in praelia trudit inermem. Sollicitis animis onus eximit: addocet artes. Foecundt calices quem non fecere disertum? Contracta quem non in paupertate solutum? Haec ego procurare & idoneus imperor, & non Invitus: ne turpe toral, ne sordida mappa Corruget nares: ne non & cantharus & lanx Ostendat tibi te: ne fidos inter amicos Sit qui dicta foras eliminet: ut coë at par Jungatúrque pari. Brutum tibi, Septimiúmque, Et nisi coena prior potiórque puella Sabinum Detinet, assumam. locus est & pluribus umbris. Sed nimis arcta premunt olidae convivia caprae. Tu, quotus esse velis, rescribe: & rebus omissis, Atria servantem postico falle clientem. EPIST. X. Ad FUSCUM ARISTIUM. Fusco Aristio urbis amatori vitam rusticam, qua ipse delectabatur, laudat, & varia eius commoda recenset. Simul autem ab ambitione (quae vitam urbanam non rusticam comitatur) eum deterret. VRbis amatorem Fuscum salvere jubemus Ruris amatores: hac in re scilicet una, Multum dissimiles, ad caetera penè gemelli. Fraternis animis, quicquid negat alter, & alter, Annuimus pariter vetuli, notique columbi. Tu nidum servas: ego laudo ruris amoeni Rivos, & musco circumlita saxa, nemúsque. Quid quaeris? vivo, & regno, simul ista reliqui, Quae vos ad coelum effertis rumore secundo. Vtque sacerdotis fugitivus, liba recuso: Pane egeo, jam mellitis potiore placentis. Vivere naturae si convenienter oportet, Ponendaeque domo quaerenda est area primum; Novistine locum potiorem rure beato? Est ubi plus tepeant hyemes? ubi gratior aura Leniat & rabiem Canis, & momenta Leonis, Quum semel accepit solem furibundus acutum? Est ubi divellat somnos minus invida cura? Deterius Libycis olet aut nitet herba lapillis? Purior in vicis aqua tendit rumpere plumbum, Quam, quae per pronum trepidat cum murmure rivum Nempe inter varias nutritur sylva columnas, Laudaturque domus, longos quae prospicit agros. Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret, Et mala perrumpet furtim fastidia victrix. Non, qui Sidonió contendere callidus ostro Nescit Aquinatem potantia vellera fucum, Certius accipiet damnum, propiusve medullis, Quam, qui non poterit vero distinguere falsum. Quem res plus nimio delectavere secundae, Mutatae quatient. si quid mirabere, pones Invitus. fuge magna; licet sub paupere tecto Reges, & regum vita praecurrere amicos. Cervus equum pugna melior, communibus herbis Pellebat, donec minor in certamine longo Imploravit opes hominis, fraenúmque recepit: Sed postquam victor violens discessit ab hoste, Non equitem dorso, non fraenum depulit ore. Sic, qui pauperiem veritus, potiore metallis Libertate caret: dominum vehet improbus, at que Serviet aeternum, quia parvo neseiat uti. Cui non conveniet sua res, ut calceus olim, Si pede major erit, subvertet: si minor, uret. Laetus sorte tua vives sapionter Aristi: Nec me dimittes incastigatum, ubi plura Cogere, quam satis est, ac non cessare videbor. Imperat, aut servit collecta pecunia cuique, Tortum digna sequi potius, quam ducere funem. Haec tibi dictabam post fanum putre Vacunae: Excepto, quod non simul esses, caetera laetus. EPIST. II. Ad LOLLIUM. Homerum in suis poematis pleniùs ac meliùs quàm quosdam philosophos, quid honestum sit, docere dicit: amborum afferens argumenta; Iliad quidem quales sunt in stultis regibus & populis animi motus describi: in Odyssea autem, Ulyssis exemplo quid virtus & sapientia possint, estendi. Deinde ad studium sapientiae hortatur, utpote quos recenset animi morbos, sanaturae. Sed à teneris assucscendum hujusmodi praeceptis esse docet. TRojani belli scriptorem, maxime Lolli, Dum tu declamas Romae, Praeneste relegi: Qui, quid sit pulchrum, quid turpe, quid utile, quid non, Plenius ac melius Chrysippo & Crantore dicit. Cur ita crediderim, (nisi quid te detinet) audi. Fabula, qua Paridis propter narratur amorem Graecia Barbariae lento collisa duello, Stultorum regum, & populorum continet aestus. Antenor censet belli praecidere causam. Quid Paris? ut salvus regnet, vivaetque beatus, Cogi posse negat. Nestor componere lites Inter Peleiden festinat & inter Atreiden: Hunc amor, ira quidem communiter urit utrúmque. Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi. Seditione, dolis, scelere, atque libidine, & ira Iliacos intra muros peccatur, & extra. Rursus, quid virtus, & quid sapientia possit, Vtile proposuit nobis exemplar Vlyssem: Qui domitor Trojae, multorum providus urbes Et mores hominum inspexit: latúmque per aequor, Dum sibi, dum socus reditum parat, aspera multa Pertulit, adversis rerum immersabilis undis. Sirenum voces & Circes pocula nosti: Quae si cum sociis stultus, cupidúsque bibisset, Sub domina meretrice fuisset turpis & excors: Vixesset canis immundus, vel amica luto sus. Nos numerus sumus, & fruges consumere nati, Sponsi Penelopes, nebulones, Alcinoique, In cute curanda plus aequo operata juventus: Cui pulchrum fuit in medios dormire dies, & Ad strepitum citharae cessatum ducere curam. Vt jugulent homines, surgunt de nocte latrones: Vt teipsum serves, non expergisceris? atqui Si noles sanus, curres hydropicus: & ni Posces ante diem librum cum lumine, si non Intendes animum studiis, & rebus honestis; Invidia, vel amore vigil torquebere. nam cur Quae laedunt oculos, festinas demere; si quid Est animum, differs curandi tempus in annum? Dimidium facti, qui coepit, habet sapere aude: Incipe. qui recte vivendi prorogat horam, Rusticus expectat dum defluat amnis: at ille Labitur, & labetur in omne volubilis aevum. Quaeritur argentum, puerisque beata creandis Vxor, & incultae pacantur vomere sylvae. Quod satis est, cui contigit, hic nihil amplius optet. Non domus & fundus, non aeris acervus, & auri, Aegroto domini deduxit corpore febres, Non animo curas. valeat possessor oportet, Si comportatis rebus bene cogitat uti. Qui cupit, aut metuit, juvat illum sic domus, aut res, Vt lippum pictae tabulae, fomenta podagram, Auriculas citharae collecta sorde'dolentes. Sincerum est nisi vas, quodcunque infundis, acescit. Sperne voluptates: nocet empta dolore voluptas. Semper avarus eget: certum voto pete finem. Invidus alterius macrescit rebus opimis. Invidia Siculi non invenere Tyranni Majus tormentum. qui non moderabitur irae, Infectum volet esse, dolor quod suaserit, & mens, Dum poenas odio per vim festinat inulto. Ira furor brevis est. animum rege, qui nisi paret, Imperat; hunc fraenis, hunc tu compesce catena. Fingit equum tenera docilem cervice magister Ire viam, quam monstret eques: venaticus, ex quo Tempore cervinam pellem latravit in aula, Militat in sylvis catulus. nunc adbibe puro Pectore verba puer, nunc te melioribus offer. QVO semel est imbuta recens, servabit odorem Testa diu. quod si cessas, aut strenuus anteis, Nec tardum opperior, nec praecedentibus insto. EDYL. XIV. Ausonii ROSAE. VEr erat: & blando mordentia frigora sensu Spirabat croceo mane revecta dies. Strictior Eoos praecesserat aura jugales, Aestiferum suadens anticipare diem. Errabam riguis per quadrua compita in hortis, Maturo cupiens me vegetare die. Vidi concretas per gramina flexa pruinas Pendere, aut olerum stare cacuminibus: Caulibus & patulis teretes colludere guttas, Et caelestis aquae pondere tunc gravidas, Vidi Paestano gaudere rosaria cultu, Exoriente novo roscida Lucifero. Rara pruinosis canebat gemma frutetis, Ad primi radios interitura die. Ambigeres, raperet ne rosis aurora ruborem, An daret: & flores tingeret orta dies. Ros unus, color unus, & unum mane duorum: Sideris, & floris, nam domina una Venus. Forsan & unus odor: sed celsior ille per auras Difflatur: spirat proximus iste magis. Communis Paphie dea sideris, & dea floris, Praecipit unius muricis esse habitum. Momentum intererat: quo se nascentia florum Germina comparibus dividerent spatiis. Haec viret angusto foliorum tecta galero: Hanc tenui folio purpura rubra notat. Haec aperit primi fastigia celsa obelisci, Mucronem absolvens purpurei capitis. Vertice collectos illa exsinuabat amictus, Jam meditans foliis se numerare suis: Nec mora, ridentis calathi patefecit honorem, Prodens inclusi semina densa croci. Haec modo quae toto rutilaverat igne comarum, Pallida collapsis deseritur foliis. Mirabar celerem fugitiva aetate rapinam, Et dum nascuntur, consenuisse rosas. Ecce & defluxit rutili coma punica floris, Dum loquor: & tellus tecta rubore micat. Tot species, tantósque ortus, variósque novatus una dies aperit: conficit una dies. Conquerimur, Natura, brevis quod gratia florum est: Ostentata oculis illico dona rapis. Quam longa una dies: aetas tam longa rosarum, Quas pubescenteis juncta senecta premit. Quam longa una dies, aetas tam longa rosarum, Quas pubescenteis juncta senecta premit. Quam modo nascentem rutilus conspexit Eous, Hanc rediens sero vespere vidit anum. Sed bene, quod paucis licet interitura diebus, Succedens aevum prorogat ipsa suum. Collige virgo rosas, dum flos novus, & nova pubes, Et memor esto aevum sic properare tuum. Taurus Virgilianus. GEOR Lib. 3. PAscitur in magna sylva formosa juvenca: Illi alternantes multa vi praelia miscent Vulneribus crebris. lavit ater corpora sanguis: Versáque in obnixos urgentur cornua, vasto Cum gemitu. reboant sylvaeque & magnus Olympus. Nec mos bellantes unà stabulare: sed alter Victus abit, longéque ignotis exulat oris, Multa gemens ignominiam, plagásque superbi Victoris, tum quos amisit inultus amores: Et stabula aspectans regnis excessit avitis. Ergo omni cura vires exercet, & inter Dura jacet pernix instrato saxa cubili: Frondibus hirsutis & carice pastus acuta: Et tentat sese: atque irasci in cornua discit Arboris obnixus tranco: ventósque lacessit Ictibus, & sparsa ad pugnam proludit arena. Post, ubi collectum robur, virésque receptae, Signa movet, praecepsque oblitum fertur in hostem, Fluctus ut in medio: coepit cum albescere ponto, Longius ex altoque sinum trahit: utque volutus Ad torras, immune sonat per saxa, nec ipso Monte minor procumbit: at ima exaestuat unda Vorticibus, nigrámque altè subjectat arenam. FINIS. Q. HORATIUS FLACCUS HIS FIRST BOOK OF DISCOURSES: satire VI To MAECENAS. He reprehends the vain Judgement of the People of Rome concerning Nobility, measuring the same by Antiquity of Pedigree, not by virtue, nor willingly admitting to Magistracy any but such as were adorned with the former. That there was no reason to envy him for the friendship of Maecenas, as for a Tribuneship: since that was not given by Fortune, but acquired by the recommendations of Virtue. Lastly, shows his Condition in a private life to be much better, than (if he were a Magistrate) it could be. NOt that the Tuscans (who from Lydia came) Have nothing nobler than Maecenas Name; Nor, that thy Mother's, and Sire's Grandsire were Generals of old, makes thee as most men, sneer Thy nose up at poor folks, and such as me; † Horace being the Son of a Manu-mised Slave in the borders of Appulia; was nevertheless (for the eminent qualities that were found in him) received into the familiar Friendship of Maecenas, and (by his Mediation) of Augustus also: By whom he was moreover invited to the nearest Trusts about his person. But as on the one side, he did not a little please himself in that value which he saw set upon him by persons as Good as they were Great; so on the other (in respect of his poor Birth, and Philosophical inclinations) he declined the envy and trouble of those high Employments: putting really in practise that happy Moderation, which himself both professes and recommends in this, and other parts of his Book. Born of a Father, from a slave made free. When thou affirmest, It skills not of what kind Any is come, if of a noble mind; Thou deemest (& right) that before Tullus reign (Who was a King, yet not a Gentleman) Many a Man of no degree, no Name, By Great Achievements to Great Honours came. Levinus contrary (Valerio's Son, By whom proud Tarquin was expelled the Throne) Him worthless, Even the People (whom you know) They scorned; Those Fools that Honours often bestow On Undeservers; Doting on gay men, Dazzled with shields, and Coronets. What than Shall we do, lifted far above their Sphere? The People to Levinus did prefer A new man Decius; yet now, should I Stand for a place, hoarse Appius would cry, Withdraw cause I'm no Gentleman: and shall, When Horace meddles farther than his Awl. But Honour takes into her golden Coach Noble and base. * This Tullus had bid Praetor; whom nevertheless being of obscure Birth, and having been of Pompey's party, Caesar degraded from all dignity. But, Caesar being dead he resumed his former State: therefore this Envy: Tullus, what hast to touch The Purple Robe (which Caesar forced thee quit) And be a Tribune? Envy thou didst get Thereby, by whom i'th' dark thou'dst near been spied: For when the People see a strange face ride Up to the ears in Ermines, and a List (Or more) of gold; straight they demand, Who is't? What was his Father? Just as when some youth, Sick of the Fashions (to be thought, forsooth, Handsome) inflames the fairer Sex, to call His face in question, Hair, Teeth, Foot, and Small. So when a man upon the Stage shall come, And say; Give me the reins that govern Rome, I'll manage Italy, the State shall be My Care, I, and the Church likewise: Odds me! It forces every Mortal to inquire And know; Who was his Mother? Who his Sire? Shall than the Offspring of a Minstrel dare Displace this General, condemn that Peer? Novius was one Hole lower. Being the same My Father was, you'd think from Brute He came. A Slave set free. But if two hundred Drays obstruct a street; Or with their Trumpeters, three Funerals meet; Louder than all, he chafes with brazen Lungs: And this is something to awe People's tongues. But to myself, the Son of the freed Man. O (envy cries) The Son of the Freed Man! Maecenas, now, Because thy Guest: before, Because a Roman Tribune's charge I bore. These Two, are not alike: I may pretend, Though not to Office, yet, to be thy Friend. Thou being chief in this case so choice; Not guided by Ambition, popular Voice, Or by a chance: Virgil his Word did pass For Me, Than Varus told thee what I was. When first presented, little said I to thee, (For Modesties an Infant) did not show thee A long-tailed Pedigree; I did not say, I bred Race Horses in Appulia. Told what I was. As little thou replied'st, (Thy mode) I go: at nine months' End, thou bid'st Me, of thy Friends, be one. Of this I boast, That I pleased Thee (Who to distinguish knowst) Not Noble, but of fair and Crystal thoughts. Yet, if except some few (not heinous) faults, My Nature's strait (as you may reprehend, In a fair Face, some Moles) If (to commend Myself) I am not given to Avarice; Not nasty, not debauched, not sold to vice; Loved by my friends, obedient to the Laws: Of all these things my Father was the cause. Who (though, but Tenant, to one, small, lean, Farm) In Flavio's School would never let me learn, When great Centurions sent their great boys thither, Their left arms cramped with stones, hung in a leather- Bag, with a counting-board; But boldly parts With me (a child) to Rome: T'imbibe those Arts A Knight, or Senator, might teach His Boy. That who had seen my clothes and my Convoy Of Servants, cleaving through a press; would swear, Some wealth Grandsire did my charges bear. Himself (the carefullest Tutor) had his Eye Over them All. In short My Modesty (virtue's first bloom) so watering from this Well: He both preserved my Whiteness, and my Smell. Nor feared, lest any should in time to come, Blame Him He had not bred me still at Home To his own Trade: or I myself complain: (The more His Praise, my Debt) if I have brain. Of such a Father now shall I repent, Like some that quarrel with their own descent, Because their blood from Nobles did not flow? Reason, aswel as Nature, answers; No. For, if I could unweave the Loom of Fate, And choose myself new Parents, for my State, In any Tribe: Contented with mine own, I would not change to be a Consul's Son. Mad, in the Vulgar's judgement: But, in Thy, Sober, perchance: because I did decline An irksome load I am not used to bear. For I must seek more Wealth strait, if that were; And, to beg Voices, many a visit make, Must at my heels a brace of servants take; For fear my Honour should be seen, alone, To go into the Country, or the Town. There must be Horse's store, and Grooms thereto; A Litter's to be hired too; Whereas now 'Tis lawful for me, on a Bob-tail Mule, To travail to Tarentum, if I will; My cloak-bag galing her behind, and I Digging her shoulders. Not, with Obliquy, Like * The same TULLUS abovementioned, who it seems was not lesle for did than ignoble. Tullus, when in Tiber-Road he's seen Attended with five Boys, carrying a skin Of Wine, and a Close-stool. Brave Senator, Moore decently than Thou, and thousands Moore, I could do that. Where e'er I list I go, Alone, the Price of Broth, and Barley know; Crowed in at every Sight, walk late in Rome: Visit the Temple with a Prayer: Than home To my Leek-Pottage, & Chich-pease. Three boys Serve in my supper: Whom to counterpoise One Bowl, two Beakers on a broad white slate, A Pitcher with two Ears ( * Earthens Campanian Plate.) Than do I go to sleep: securely do't, Being next morning to attend no suit In the Great-Hall (where Marsya doth look As if loud Nomio's Face he could not brook) I lie till Four. Than walk, or read a while; Or writ, to please myself. 'Noint me with oil: (Not such as Natta paws himself withal, Robbing the Lamps.) When near his Vertical The hotter Sun invites us to a Bath For our tired Limbs, I fly the Dog-Stars wrath, Having dined only so much as may stay My Appetite: Loiter at home all day. These are my Solaces: this is the life Of Men that eat ambition, run from strife. Lighter, than if I soared on Glory's wing, The Nephew, Son, and Grandson to a King. Q. HORATIUS FLACCUS HIS SECOND BOOK OF DISCOURSES. satire I He dilates upon the advice given him by Trebatius to writ the Actions of Augustus, rather than Satyrs, (as things that are dangerous to meddle with) and shows why he cannot obey him. SOme think I am too sharp a Satirist, And that I stretch my Work beyond the List. Others, what ere I writ is nerulesse say, And that like mine a thousand Lines a day May be spun. What wouldst Thou advice Me now (Trebatius) in this case? Sat still. As how? Not to writ Verse at all, dost thou aver As thy Sense? I do. Let me never stir, If 'twere not better. But I cannot sleep. For that, swim Tiber (anointed) Thrice: or steep Thy Brains at night in Wine. If thou must needs Writ, dare to writ unconquerd CAESAR's deeds, Great Rewards following. Father, That being it I'd feign be at, my Will exceeds my Wit. Not every Pen can paint in horrid Field Thick Groves of Pikes, Spears broke in Frenchmen killed, And a hurt Parthian dropping from his Horse. His Justice though thou mayst, and his Minds force: As wise LUCILIUS those of SCIPIO. The not be wanting to myself, if so Occasion serve. The passage must be clear When Horace words pierce Caesar's serious Ear: Whom, stroking, if we think t'approach: ' ware heels! Is not that better, than in verse that reels To jeer this Gull, that Prodigal, when each Man, thinks he's meant (though quite from thy thoughts reach) And hates thee for't? What should I do? Being hot Ith' head, and seeing double through the Pot, Milonius frisks. CASTOR on Horseback fights: The Twin of the same Egg in Clubs delights. As many thousand Minds, as Men, there be. I, like Lucilius (Better than both We) My words in Meeter love t'enclose and bind. His way was, in his Books to speak his Mind As freely, as his Secrets he would tell To a tried Friend: and took it ill, or well, He held his Custom. Hence it came to pass, The old Man's Life is there as in a Glass. His steps I follow, whom you neither can Of Luca call, nor an Appulian. (For the Venusian both their Borders ploughs, A Colony of Rome, as old Fame shows, The Sabells' thence expelled, to stop that Gate, And be an Out-work to the Roman-State.) Yet I'd not harm a Chicken with my will: For show, and countenance bearing my Quill, Like a Sword sheathed: which, why should I draw, not Set on by Rogues? with Rust there may it rot O Joué, Father and King: and none bereave The Peace I seek. But if there do, believe Me, they will rued; when with my keen Style stung, Through the whole Town they shall in Pomp be sung. Servius, the penal Statutes (angered) threats Canidia to Witch them, 'gainst whom she sets: A mischief Turius, to all those wage Law Where He's a Judge. That every one doth awe Them whom He fears, with that where His strength is, And that, by Nature's Law, appears in this: Wolves smite with Teeth, Bulls with the Horn (This must Be taught them from within.) With Scaeva trust His long-lived Mother: my Head to a groat, His pious hand shall never cut her throat. Not his? Not more than an Ox by't, a Bear Kick thee: But she shall die of poison. There Now lies his Skill. Me, whether (in effect) The quiet Harbour of old Age expect, Or Death with sable wings hover about: Rich, Poor, at Rome, or by hard Fate thrust out Into Exile; in whatsoever way Of life, I must writ Verses: that's my play. O Child! Thy Taper's near the end I doubt, And that some Great Man's Brave will puff thee out. Why? When Lucilius durst begin this way Of writing Verses, and the skins did flay, In which the outward-fair disguised their shame; Were Laelius and He that won a Name From Carthage-razed, offended with his wit? Or did they winch, Metellus being hit? And Lupus stripped and whipped in Verse? Yet he Spouted his Ink on men of each degree: None spared, but Virtue and her friends. Nay when retired were from the Stage, and Crowd of Men, Scipio's exalted Virtue, and the mild Wisdom of Lelius: Till the Broth was boiled, They Both would play and toy with Him, ungirt. Though I in wit, and in condition, short Am of Lucilius: Envy shall confess Against her will, drop reg've lived nevertheless Amongst great Men: and (thinking to have stuff Here, for her rotten Teeth) find I am tough, If learned Trebatius take Me at my rate. Nay truly, I can find nothing to bate. Only I warn thee, lest through ignorance Of settled Laws thou come to some mischance: If any writ base Verses against other, It bears a Suit. If base, I grant: but Father, If any writ good Verses, that Man's praised, Caesar the Judge. If I the street have raised By barking at a Thief, myself being none: The Bench with laughter cracks, I (freed) go Home. satire VI. He saith he lives content with what he hath, and wishes not more. Than compares the Commodities of the ease he enjoys in the Country, with the discommodities of businesses and troubles which accompany the City Life. THis was my wish, a moderate Scope of Land, A Garden with a plenteous Spring at hand: And to crown these a Plump of Trees. Heaven gave Better than this. 'Tis well, not more I crave Good Mercury: make but these things endure: If neither by ill ways I did procure, Nor by ill ways shall waste them: If I scape Long: O that yond Nook, which doth mishap My Field, were added! O that I might found A pot of Gold! As (Hercules to Friend) He did, who, hired to delve Another's Ground, Bought the same Land he digged, with what he found: If what I have please me: If thou incline, When I pray; Make my Flock, and all that's mine Fat, but my wit; and as thoust ever done Stand by my Great Guardian. Therefore (when being flown Out of ROME's Cage into the Woods, I put Discourses in rough Verse, and horse my Foot) Nor Fevers kill me, nor Ambition's Itch, Nor sickly Autumns making Sextons Rich. FATHER MATUTE: or Janus (if that style Affect thee more) From whom their Births, and Toil, According to the Julian year men date: With thee I auspicate my Work. When strait Thou thyself hurriest me away to ROME. To be a Surety: quick: jest some one come Before, that's more officious. Rain, or Blow, And though the Colds shrink day to nothing, Go I must: And after, wrestle through a Crowd, And crack my Lungs, t'undo myself aloud: Injure, who ere is slower. Name of Mars! What mean you? Whose Solicitor? (Thus curse Those men, upon whose Corns I tread) O! You Hasting to serve Moecenae, care not who You run over. I'll ne'er lie; This grieves me not: 'Tis Music. But anon, when I have got Esquiliaes' misty Top, Thousand Affairs Of other men sly buzzing in mine ears, And sting me back and sides. Roscius requests Tomorrow, Two, you'd help him i'th' Requests. The SECRETARIES pray you'd not forget A Business that concerns the Public, Great, AND NEW, TO DAY: stay Quintus, get this Bill Signed by Moecenae: If I can, I william. Nay, Thou canst do't: and presses me. 'Tis now A seven years past, Moecenae doth allow Me of his family, only t'advise Whom He should take into his Coach in Journeys, To whom commit his Medals: What's a Clock? Which Fencer will beaten (thinkest thou) or which Cock? 'Tis a hard Frost: wilt bear another Coat? With such like Trifles as are safely put In Leaking Ears. This Prenticeship have I Served under Envy's lash, more and more daily. Our Friend bowled with Moecenae th'other day: I and they sat together at the Play: Some men have Fortune!) Blows there through the street A bleak news from the Change? straight all I meet; Good man: (For thou being near the Gods must know) Dost hear aught of the Dacians? In sooth, No. Thou'lt ne'er leave jeering. Hung me, if I do. The lands than which the Emperor promised to The Soldiers, in SICILIA shall they be Allotted to them, or in Italy? Swearing, I nothing know: Well, go thy ways For a deep pit of Secrecy! and gaze. meanwhile my Taper wastes: scarce time to pray: O Fields! when shall I see you? O! when may I, rolled in Books, or lulled in sleep and ease, Opium life's cares with sweet forgetfulness? When shall I taste the Pythagorean Bean With savoury broth, and Bacon without lean? O nights! and suppers of the Gods! which I, And mine, consume in my own Family; Where my Clowns, born within doors, tear the feast I tasted to them; Where the lawless guest Dries the unequal Cups, as his Complexion Asks soaking showers, or moderate refection. Than talk we not of buying lands, nor school Other men's lives: nor whether Caesar's Fool Dance well, or not: but things of more concern, Are our discourse, and which men aught to learn: Whether to happiness do more conduce Virtue or Wealth? If we our Friends should choose For Ends, or Honesty. What's understood Truly by Goods? and which is the chief Good? My Neighbour Cervius interweaves his old Fables, as thus: arelius wealth extolled Forgetting with what cares it tortures him) I 'll tell you a tale (quoth he) Once on a time The Country Mouse received in her poor House Her ancient and good Friend, the City Mouse A mighty Huswife, and exceeding nigh, 〈…〉 Free in way of Hospitality. In short, the Chich-pease she had laid for hoard, And unthrasht Oats she sets upon the Board, Brings scraps of Bacon in her Mouth, and dry Barley; desiring with Variety Had it been possible) to have o'ercame The stately niceness of the City-Dame. Than the Good Wife herself on her strawe-bed, Leaving the best) on Chaff and Akorne fed. At length, her Guest: Friend, how canst thou endure To live in this Rocke-side, moapt and obscure? Wild Woods preferrest Thou to a Town, and Men? Come Go with Me. Since All shall die, and when We go, Our Mortal Souls resolve to dust, live happy whilst thou mayst, as one that must be Nothing a while hence. Drawn by this spell, The Country Mouse skips lightly from her Cell: And Both their way unto the City keep, Leaping by Night over the Walls to creep: And now 'twas Midnight, and her Foot each sets In a Rich House: Where glittering Coverletts Of Tyrian die, on Ivory Beds were cast, And many Offalls of a great Feast past Lay in the Pantry heaped. Her Rural Mate prayed to repose under a Cloth of State. The City-Mouse, like an officious Host, Bestirs herself to fetch baked, boiled, and Roast: And plays the Carver, tasting All she brings, She thinks the World well changed; and Heavens good Things Stretching, enjoys. When Straight open flies the Room, And tosses Both out of the wrought Couch, plomme, Running like Things distracted, but much Moore When with Molossian Dogs the high Roofs roar: Than said the Country Mouse; No more of This, Give Me my Wood, my Cave, and Roots with Peace. Q. HORATIUS FLACCUS HIS THIRD BOOK OF DISCOURSES. EPIST. I. To Moecenae. He says he dismisses his trifling studies, and embraces ' those that tend to virtue: yet so as not to swear to any Masters words. And that these studies are such, that there is none but may be bettered by them, if he but lend a patiented ear thereunto. In the end he refrehends the depraved judgement of men placing Virtue after Wealth and Honours, and caring more for the things of the Body than the things of the Mind. MAecenas mentioned in my Odes, to be Mentioned in all I writ; Thou wouldst have me (Enough seen, and applauded on the Stage) To the old sport; I have not the same Age, Nor the same Mind. Upon Alcides' post His Arms hung up, ere his wone Fame be lost; The Fencer that is wise, retires. I hear A voice sound daily in my cleansed ear, Free an old Horse, jest he (derided) lagg, And, broken-winded, in the last act flag. Therefore Lovesongs, and all those toys, Adieu: My work is now to search what's Good, what's True: I lay in precepts, which I strait may draw Out for my use. If thou demand, Whose Law, What Guide I follow: Sworn to no man's words, To this and that side I make Tacks and Boards. Now plunged in billows of the Active life, At virtue's Anchor ride contemplatife, With ARISTIPPUS now yield to the stream, Moore studying to get wealth, than to contemn. As Nights are long to them their Mistress fails: To Hirelings, days: To curbed Wards years are Snails: So slow and so unpleasant my Time flows, Till seriously I act, as I propose, That which alike boots rich and poor, if done, Alike hurts young and old, if let alone. It rests, these Rules I to myself apply. Thy eyes will never pierce like Lynceus eye, Scorn not to 'noint them though if soar they are: Nor, of a Wrestlers strength if thou despair, Neglect to salve the knotted Gout. If more 's denied, 'tis something to have gone thus fur. Revenge and Avarice boil in thy heart: There's words and sounds will cut of a great part Of thy disease. Swellest thou with love of praise! There is a Charm too which this Devil lays; Reading a good Book thrice devoutly over. The Envious, Wrathful, Sluggish, Drunkard, Lover: Not Beast so wild, but may be camed, if He Will unto Precepts listen patiently. 'tis Virtue, to fly Vice: and the first Staire Of Wisdom, to want Folly. With what Care Of Mind, and Toil of Body, we avoid Mean wealth, and honours hunt (Ambition's God?) Th' unwearied Merchant runs to farthest Ind, Through Fire, through horrid Rocks, Richeses to found: What thou thus fond dotest on, to despise, Sat, learn and hear from those that are more wise. Whose sword hath won him Honour in true Fights, Dusty Olympic Laurels, that Man slights, (Above those Toys, and in his own self rolled.) Gold excels silver, Virtue excels Gold. O Romans, Romans, first seek Money; Than Virtue. This drops from every Scriv'ners' Pen. This is the Doctrine old and young men preach, Carrying a black Box dangling at their Breech. If of † This alludes to the Lex Roscia, the Law made by Roscius Otho, that he who was worth 40000 Sesterces (a certain Roman coin) should be a Knight of Rome, and admitted to those Benches in the Theatre appointed for that Order: Otherwise not. Sesterces forty thousand lack, Six or seven thousand only, though you make It up in Virtues, Courage, Eloquence, Faith, and the like; you're a Plebeian, Hence But playing in the streets, the children sing Another song: He that does well's a King. Be this a wall of Brass, to have within No black Accuser, harbour no pale Sin. Now (sadly) which is better, Otho's Law Or the Boy's Song, which gives a Regal awe To him does well? A song often sung of old By manly Curii, and Camilli bold. Counsels he better, that says, MONEY GET, If thou canst, well: but if not, get it yet, That thou some piteous Play may'st nearer see? Or he that bids thee, Brave, erect, and free, To face proud Fortune? If ROME's people now Object, Why placed on our Bench vot'st not Thou The same with us? Abhor'st not what we hate? Affectest not what we love? My Answer's, That The sly Fox once to the sick Lion made: The Footsteps that way all, make me afraid, And from thy Den that I perceive no treads. The people, 'Tis a Beast with many heads. What, or whom should I follow? some by-places: Some for rich Widow's trade with Beads and Glasses, And feed old men with Gifts, like Fish with bread, That they on them may afterwards be fed. Many grow fat with Usury. But well, Let several men have several minds. Now tell, How long will any in the same mind stay? Baiae? The World hath not a sweeter Bay, The Rich man cries: when straight the Sea and Lake The joy of their arriving Lord partake. Who, if an ominous Hare (forsooth) come thwart Tomorrow, Smiths unto the THE A NUM Cart The * To build there, which he intended at Baja. Iron work. Has he at home a wife? No life (he says) like to the single life. If not, None blest (he swears) but married men. What knot can hold this changing Proteus? Than The poor Man (laugh) altars his eating-room, His Barber, Bed, and Bath: and sick of Rome As much as Rich-men that keep Barks, to float Upon the water, goes and hires a Boat. If thou meet one, by an ill Barber notched, Thou laughest: If one in Scarlet breeches botched With Freeze, thou laughest. But what if my Mind fight With itself? Seek that which it slighted, slight That which it sought? all Rules of Life confounded? Turn like the Tide, build, raze, change square to round? Thou thinkest me mad in fashion, and laughest not, Nor that I need to have a Doctor got, And to be placed in Bedlam by the Mayor: Though thou'rt my Patron, and consumed with care At the lest fingers aching of thy friend That honours thee, and doth on thee depend. In sum, A wise man's only less than Jove: Rich, free, fair, noble: last a King, above The common rate of Kings: But chief sound, That is to say, * Deriding the Stoics who say, A wise man is happy though he be sick. Unless his spleen abound. EPIST. V TO TORQUATUS. He invites Torquatus to supper, which He says shall be a frugal one. Exhorts him (bidding farewell to Cares, and the desire of Richeses) to give himself to Mirth; and (seeming a little lightheaded with the joy of Augustus his Birthday) lashes out into the Praises of drinking, Names three things whereof he is studious in His Entertainment, and the first of these, Cleanliness. IF Thou (a Guest) on a joint-stool canst sup, And in a small Mess all the Broth sup up: I shall at home expect thee by Sunset. Wine thou shalt drink of middle age, and wet Minturnae's growth hard by. If thou hast aught That better is, command it to be brought, And treat thy Host. Already the Logs burn, And the scoured Pan's shine, on thy score. Adjourn Light Hopes, and Richeses strife, and Mosco's Cause To morrow; CAESAR's Birthday gives a Pause To Toil, and leave to sleep. Without offence We may spin out with chatting Eloquence The Summer night. What do I care for wealth, Unless to use? 'Tis a mad kind of stealth, For one to rob himself, t'enrich his Heir. I'll quaff, and sprinkle Roses, and not care Though I'm thought wild for this. The rare effects Of Wine! Love, hid in Blushes, it detects: Hopes it ensures: It makes the Coward fight: Learned the Ignorant: The sad Heart light. Whom have not flowing Cups Eloquent made? Whose debts (though ne'er so great) have they not paid? I am the Man: and my charge I will make it, (Willing, and not unfit to undertake it) To have the Forms clean-rubbed: The Napkins such As may not curl our Noses up to touch: That in the Platters thou mayst see thy Face: That no false Brother carry from the Place Ought that is spoke: That all of a Suit, be Septimius? Brutus? sure Cards, These. Let's see: Than (if not taken up with better cheer, Or by his Girl) Sabinus shall be here. Each Guest may bring his shadow. But the sweat Will be offensive, if too close we set. Thy Number, writ: and (all things laid aside) Thy Clients bobbed, out at the back door glide. EPIST. X. To FUSCUS ARISTIUS. He praises to Fuscus Aristius (a lover of the City) the Country-life, with which himself was delighted, and recounts the several Commodities thereof. Withal deters him from ambition, which accompanies the City-life, not that of the Country. TO Fuscus, the town's Lover, health I wish That love the Country: differing much in this, In all else Twins. Both like, dislike, what either: A pair of old Doves bred of Eggs together. Thou keep'st the Nest: I love to fly abroad, To haunt sweet Brooks, the mossy Grott, and Wood What wouldst thou have? I live and reign, when I Have shunned those things thou praisest to the sky. And like a Comfit-maker's Apprentice fled, Cloyd with Preserves, am better pleased with Bread. If one would live with all convemency's, And first in building the Foundation is, Where doth frank Nature thrust out such a Breast As in the Country, with all good things blest? Where is it that the Winter's warmer? Where To cool the Dog-starres bite, is fresher air, And the fierce Lion's rage, when all his heat Th'exalted Sun pours in, to make it great? Where does less envious care our sleeps dispel? Do Floores of Parian Marble look or smell Like Flowers? The water when it heaves to burst The leaden Pipes with which in streets 'tis forced, Runs it so pure, as when melodiously It quavers in the Rivers Falls? Even He Affects t'have Trees, who in the City builds, And that his house should but surveyed the fields. Drive Nature with a Pitch-fork out, she'll back Victorious (spite of State) by'a secret Track. He that wants skill right Scarlet to descry From counterfeit, will not more certainly Be cozened in a Shop, than he shall be That knows not true from false Felicity. Him, whom a prosperous State did too much please; Changed, it will shake. What thou admir'dst with ease Thou censt not quit. Fly great things: In a Cell, Kings, and the Friends of Kings, thy Life may excel. The Stagg superior both in Arms and Force, Out of the Common-Pasture drove the Horse: Until the vanquished after a long fight Prayed Man's assistance, and received the Bit: But, having beaten the Victor, could not now Bit from his Mouth, nor Man from his Back throw. So He that fearing Poverty, hath sold Away his Liberty, better than Gold, Shall carry a proud Lord upon his back, And serve for ever, cause he could not lack. Who fits not his Mind to it, his Estate If little, pinches him: throws him, if great. Wisely (ARISTIUS) thou wilt like thy lot, And wilt chide Me, if mine content Me not: If more I cark for, or if more I crave. Who ere has Money, either 'tis his Slave, Or 'tis his Master, as when two Men tug At a Rope's ends: weare dragged unless we drag. Given in Vacation, at that † The Romans adored Vacation as a Goddess, by the Name of Vacuna. Goddess Cell: Save that I have not Thee, perfectly well. EPIST. II. To LOLLIO. He says Homer in his Poems teaches fuller and better what is honest, than some Philosophers; bringing arguments to prove the same. That in the Iliad, what are the incentives of War to foolish Kings and Nations, is described: and in the Odyssee, by Ulysses' example, what virtue and wisdom can do, is shown. Than exhorts to the study of Wisdom, as that which will heal the diseases of the mind, which he reckons up. But teaches withal, that men must from their tender age accustom themselves to such like precepts. WHilst thou (Great Lollio) in Rome dost pled, I, in Praeneste, have all HOMER read: Who, what's our Good, what not; what Brave, what Base, Fuller than Crantor and Chrysippus, says. Why I think thus, (unless thou'rt busy) hear. The Lines, that tell how Greeks and Trojans were Involved in a long War for Paris love, Rash Kings and Nations foolishness reprove. Antenor's Counsel was, to sand the Cause Of the War back. PARISH says, Not: What Laws Compel Kings to be safe? NESTOR, to piece The difference, runs, betwixt the King of Greece And Tethy's Son: One boiling with Love's Flame, With Anger Both. The PRINCES, They're too blame, And the poor PEOPLE smart for't. Mischief, Strife, Fraud, Rage, and Lust in Town, and Leaguer rife. Again what Virtue and what Wisdom can, He shows us in th'Example of the * Ulysses, Man Of Ithaca: who (Troy in Ashes laid) The Towns and Manners prudently survay'd Of many Lands: and through the Ocean vast, Returning Home with his Companions, passed Many sharp Brunts, not to be sunk with Storms Of adverse Chance. Thou knowst the Sirens Charms, And Circe's Cups: which had he greedily And fond tasted with his Fellows, He Had served a Whorish Dame, and lived a Dog On his own Vomit, or mire-wallowing Hog. The Suitors of Penelope were mere Puppets, made only to devour good Cheer: Rascals, who minded nothing but their skin, And, that perfumed and sleek, to sleep therein Till it was Noon: than thought it brave, to wake With the same Lutes with which they rest did take. Do Thiefs sit up all Night to kill and steal? And cannot we rise to intent our Weal? But if in health, thou wilt not stir about, Hereafter thou shalt run (though with the Gout) To a Physician: and unless thou knock For Candle, and a Book, with the first Cock: Unless to Studies, and to honest Things Thou bend thy Mind; with Love's or Envy's stings Thou'lt lie awake tormented. If a Fly Get in thy Eye, 'tis pulled out instantly: But if thy Minds eye's hurt, day after day That Cures deferred. Set forth, thou'rt half thy way. Dare to be wise: Begin: He that to rule And square his Life, prolongs, is like the Fool Who stayed to have the River first pass by: Which rowles and rowles to all Eternity. Money is sought, and a Rich Wife for Brood, And a sharp Coulter tames the savage Wood Let Him that has enough, desire not more. Not House and Land, nor Gold and Silver Oare, The Body's Sickness, or the Mind's dispel. To relish Wealth, the palate must be well. Who fears, or Covets: House to him and Ground, Are Pictures to blind men, Incentives bound About a gouty Limb, Music t'an ear Damned up with filth. A vessel not sincere Sowres whatsoever you pour into't. Abstain From pleasures: Pleasure hurts, that's bought with pain. The covetous always want: your prayers design To some fixed mark. The Envious man doth pine To see another fat: Envy's a Rack: Worse, no Sicilian. Tyrant ere did make. Who cannot temper wrath, will wish undone What, in his haste, he may have done to one, To whom he (possibly) would be most kind. Anger is a short madness: Rule thy mind: Which reigns, if it obeys not: fetter it With chains, restrain it with an Iron bit. The Equerry moulds the Horses tender mouth T'his Riders william. The Beagle from his Youth Is trained up to the woods, being taught to ball (A Whelp) at the Bucks heads nailed in the Hall. Now Boy, in the white paper of thy breast Writ VIRTUE: Now suck precepts from the Best. A pot, well seasoned holds the primitive taste A long time after. If thou make no haste, Or spur to overrun me, I am One For none will stay, and will contend with none. AUSONIUS' His ROSES. EDYL. 14. 'TWas Spring; and (bitter-sweet) the Saffron Morn Blew hot, and cold from Amalthea's Horn. A brisker gale ushered Aurora's Ray, And bad her Steeds outstrip the winged day. Between the Gardens watered beds I went, Apollo's growing fury to prevent. On the bend grass I saw congealed drops, And Crystal pendants on the potherbs tops. Broad Cabbages from leaf to leaf distilled The Orient Pearl, and all their bottles filled. The hoary Fruit-trees here and there a Gem Had candied over, to melt with the first Beam. The Rosetrees in their Pestan Scarlet laughed, And with read lips the Morning's Nectar quaffed. 'Tis doubted whether HESPER borrowed, Or lent, that paint, and died the Roses read. One dew, one colour, one Celestial power Of both: For they are VENUS Star and Flower. Perchance one odour too: but That being high, Expires ith'aire: This, throws her Incense nigh. The PAPHYAN Mistress of the Flower and Star, Bade both her servants the same Liv'ry wear. The moment came when on opposed Banks The flowery Squadrons placed themselves in Ranks. One lay concealed in her Leaves close green-hood: Another peeping through the Lattice stood. This opes her first aspiring Pyramed, And ends it in a crimson pointed head. That loozed her garment (gathered in her lap) And in her native silks herself did wrap; Uncovers, Now, her laughing Cup, and shows The golden Tuft which in her bottom grows. She, that but now shone dressed in all her hair, Stands pale; forsook even by those leaves she bore. So sudden change I wondered to behold, And Roses in their Infancy grown old. Whilst I speak This, those envied Beauties shed Their glorious locks: earth covered with their dead. So many kinds, so many births of Flowers, One day discloses, and one day devours. NATURE, why mad'st thou fading Flowers, so gay? Why showd'st us gifts, to snatch them straight away? A day's a Roses Age. How near do meet (Poor Bloomed) thy Cradle, and thy Winding-sheet? Her whom the rising Sun saw newly born, He sees a withered corpse at his return. Yet, well with them: Who, though they quickly dye, Survive themselves in their posterity. Gather your Roses Virgins, whilst they're new: For, being past, no Spring returns to You. VIRGIL'S BULL. Out of his Third Book of Georgics. A Beauteous Heifer feeds in a great Wood: For whom two Bulls exchange thick wounds: black blood Flows largely from them both; and their sharp horns, Whilst either bearing on his Rival turns, They drive in with huge groans. The bellowing ground, And the Celestial Bull, report their sound. Nor is't the fashion when the War is done, For these stout Combatants to live in one And the same Field. The vanquished quits the place, Exiled in parts far of: his own disgrace Lamenting deep, and the proud Victor's blows, Also the Love he (unrevenged) did loose: And, casting back a rueful look, is feign To leave the Pastures where his Sire did reign: With all care therefore he doth exercise His strength, and nightly on the hard stones lies Without his Litter, feeding on rough boughs, And on sharp Flags penuriously doth browse: And tries himself, and practices on Oaks To clash with horns, provokes the wind with strokes: And, spurning up the sand with angry feet, Before the fight doth flourish, having knit His slackened Nervs, he doth his Trumpet blow, And rushes headlong on his secure Foe: As when a Billow in the midst o'th' Main Began to Foam, and gathers a long Train Advancing through the Deep: and rolled to Land Roars in the Rocks, nor overlays the Strand Lesle heavy than a Mountain: but boils up With curling Whirlpools to the Ocean's top, And throws high Works up of black Sand. The END.