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No counters of shops, nor yet stalls, shall my books thus pos- 71

sess e'er,

For hands that are sweating and vulgar:

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Nor will I recite but to friends, and then only when forced to;
By no means before all who wish it. Yet many, their writings,
In midst of the Forum declaim. Ay, or even when bathing, 75
For sweetly in places thus vaulted their voices reecho.

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* He then, who the absent reviles, and

Who fails to defend thus, when others are blaming: who

futile,

Or ribald applause of mankind seeks: and fame as a jester;
Who feigns things not seen, whilst the secret entrusted his

guarding,

Makes free of, is truly black-hearted! Ye Romans, avoid

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This, then, the black essence of envy is: ay, and as well, too, 100
A rancor unmix'd, or a vice that afar from my writings
And mind first shall be, as reforms which are happily

promised

Should promised be things of myself, thus—if I then, in

frankness,

Aught say by some chance too jocosely, the liberty, pray, now, Forgivingly grant: Nay, my excellent father so trained me 105

That vices might better be shunned thro' examples he'd point to;

He likewise exhorting that sparing and frugal in all things
I'd live, and content ever be with what he had provided.

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Said he "the philosophers, what to avoid or seek for—

With best of good reasons-will tell you: enough 'tis for me, if

115

Traditum ab antiquis morem servare tuamque
Dum custodis eges, vitam famamque tueri

Incolumem possum ; simul ac duraverit aetas.

120 Membra animumque tuum nabis sine cortice." Sic me Formabat puerum dictis; et sive jubebat

Ut facerem quid: "Habes auctorem quo facias hoc;"
Unum ex judicibus selectis objiciebat;

Sive vetabat: “An hoc inhonestum et inutile factu
125 Necne sit addubites, flagret rumore malo cum
Hic atque ille? Avidos vicinum funus et aegros
Exanimat, mortisque metu sibi parcere cogit;
Sic teneros animos aliena opprobria saepe
Absterrent vitiis." Ex hoc ego sanus ab illis
130 Perniciem quaecunque ferunt, mediocribus et quis
Ignoscas vitiis teneor; fortassis et istinc

Largiter abstulerit longa aetas, liber amicus,
Consilium proprium;

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Haec ego mecum

Compressis agito labris; ubi quid datur oti

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Traditions of ancestors' morals to keep-and yourself, thus, Whilst needing a guardian, in life and repute both preserve--I Am able, in safety. For then, when your age shall have strengthen'd

Both sinews and mind, without corks you'll swim freely."

And so thus

He formed me, a lad, with his sayings, and, had he then aught that

He wished me to do, "You've a pattern before you," he'd

tell me,

"To do thus, and so"; first selecting from judges an instance.

120

Again, if forbidding: "How, whether t'is flagrant or futile, Can doubt you, when branded with character evil it hap- 125 pens

The person concerned is?" As scared are the grasping, when

ill, by

The fun'rals of neighbors, and, better will care for them

selves, so

Tenderer minds are full oft by disgraces of others

Deterred from their vices. With all this thus sounder I keep

now,

And guarded from what else might bring my destruction. The 130 smaller

Of faults that I have you should pardon. Though haply

e'en these will

Diminish, through age, and frank friends, and a proper reflec

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With shut lips I'll ponder these things. Or, where leisure is

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CARM. I. V.

Quis multa gracilis te puer in rosa
Perfusus liquidis urget odoribus
Grato, Pyrrha, sub antro?

Cui flavam religas comam

Simplex munditiis? Heu quoties fidem
Mutatosque deos flebit et aspera

Nigris aequora ventis

Emirabitur insolens

Qui nunc te fruitur credulus aurea;
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.

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CARM I. XXIII.

VITAS hinnuleo me similis, Chloë,
Quaerenti pavidam montibus aviis
Matrem non sine vano

Aurarum et silüae metu.

Nam seu mobilibus veris inhorruit
Adventus foliis seu virides rubum
Dimovere lacertae,

Et corde et genibus tremit.
Atqui non ego te tigris ut aspera
Gaetulusve leo frangere persequor:
Tandem desine matrem

Tempestiva sequi viro.

ODE I. V. (TO PYRRHA.)

What slender young stripling, amidst many roses,
Be-perfum'd with odorous liquids, pursues thee,

O Pyrrha; in grotto delightful,

For whom thy fair tresses entwin'd are

With art of the simplest? Alas, how oft faith, and
Mutations of gods-when his erstwhile calm ocean
Is roughened by blackest of storm winds-
Amazed, he'll deplore soon!

Who, credulous, precious as gold now enjoys thee,
And aye free and faithful believes, in his hope, too;
Ignoring thus ever the tempests

Deceitful. Ah, wretched are those who

Untried hold thee fair! Lo, my own votive tablet
The sacred-wall shows, with my still-dripping off'ring
Suspended beneath it to him that is potent—
My robes to the Sea-god!

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ODE I. XXIII.

(To Chloe.)

Alike as a fawn might-thou shunn'st me, fair Chloe-
If questing through hills that are pathless, her dam, eke
As timid herself full of fear, tho'

But vainly, of gales and of forests;

When leaves, all aflicker—at breath of Spring's advent
Thus shaken-and emerald lizards, if haply,

The boscage they stir, e'er prolong in
Her heart and her knees, both, a tremor.
Yet ne'er as a cruel, fierce tiger-nor anger'd
Gaetulian lion-to rend, I pursue thee:

Nay, cease thus thy mother to haunt, and,
Full-ripen'd, a husband now cling to!

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