Mr. Macleane, who generally carries me with him, says of this Ode that it has little to commend it except the smoothness of its rhythm; but I should myself be disposed to rank it among Horace's happiest efforts, provided it be allowable, as I have here and elsewhere done, to treat 'Ligurine' as a female name. WAR, intermitted long, dost thou prepare, Of the good Cinara I was. Abstain, Harsh mother of mild Cupids. Cease to mould Thither go where youth fondly calls on thee. For he of noble birth and comely mien, Will bear thy warfare's banners far and wide; I. AD VENEREM. INTERMISSA, Venus, diu, Rursus bella moves? Parce, precor, precor. Non sum qualis eram bonae Sub regno Cinarae. Desine, dulcium Mater saeva Cupidinum, Circa lustra decem flectere mollibus Jam durum imperiis: abi, Quo blandae juvenum te revocant preces. Tempestivius in domum Pauli, purpureis ales oloribus, Comissabere Maximi, Si torrere jecur quaeris idoneum. Namque et nobilis, et decens, Et pro sollicitis non tacitus reis, Et centum puer artium, Late signa feret militiae tuae: Et, quandoque potentior Largi muneribus riserit aemuli, Albanos prope te lacus Ponet marmoream, sub trabe citrea. Illic plurima naribus. Duces tura; lyraeque et Berecyntiae On mingled strains of Berecynthian flute Nor to contend with revellers in wine, Nor with fresh flowers my temples to entwine. Trickle scant tears adown these cheeks of mine? Abundant words, stops short my fluent tongue ? Now captured hold, and now thy nimble flight In B. C. 16 the Sicambri, a German tribe, crossed the Rhine, and defeating the Legate Lollius, laid waste part of the Roman territory in Gaul. Thereupon Augustus went in person to Gaul, and at his approach the Germans withdrew, and, giving hostages, obtained peace. Julius Antonius, son of the triumvir, was a man of letters and a poet. Horace would seem to have been recommended by him to write a poem celebrating the success of Augustus in the style of Pindar's mivikia, and to have very wisely declined. WHOSO, Iulus, strives to rival Pindar, Labours with wings of wax, by art Daedalic |