Libyan threshing-floors; a third, as his delight is to plough his patrimonial fields, you could never tempt him, with all the wealth of Attalus, to become a timorous sailor, and cross the Myrtoan sea in a Cyprian bark. The merchant, dreading the south-west wind contending with the Icarian waves, commends tranquillity and the ruralness of his village: but danger over, and incapable of being taught to bear poverty, he refits his shattered vessel. There is another whose highest gust is in cups of old Massic, and in breaking the day, one while stretched at ease under the green Arbutus, another at the placid head of some sacred stream. The camp, and the sound of the trumpet confused with that of the clarion, and wars detested by mothers, rejoice many. The huntsman, unmindful of his tender spouse, remains in the cold air, whether a hart is held in view by his faithful hounds, or a Marsian boar has broke the circling toils. Ivy, the reward of learned brows, equals Me (in happiness) to the Gods above: the cool grove, and the light dances of Nymphs and Satyrs, distinguish Me from the crowd; if neither Euterpe withholds her pipe, nor Polyhymnia disdains to tune the Lesbian lyre. But if you will rank me among the Lyric poets, I shall tower to the stars with my exalted head. You to the noblest heights of fame CARMEN II. AD AUGUSTUM. Occasione portentorum, quæ anno ineunte contigerant, Augustum Horatius à deponendo principatu dehortatur. JAM satis terris, nivis, atque diræ Terruit gentes, grave ne rediret Sæculum Pyrrhæ nova monstra questæ : Visere montes ; Piscium et summâ genus hæsit ulmo, Vidimus flavum Tiberim, retortis Iliæ dum se nimium querenti Labitur ripâ, Jove non probante, ux- * Palumbis. ODE II. TO AUGUSTUS CÆSAR. Horace dissuades Augustus from resigning the empire, on account of the prodigies which happened at the beginning of the year. ENOUGH of snow and dreadful hail hath Jupiter now sent upon the earth; and having hurled his thunderbolts with his red-flaming righthand against the sacred towers, he hath terrified the city he hath terrified the nations, lest the grievous age of * Pyrrha, complaining of prodigies till then unheard of, should return, when Proteus drove all his marine herd to visit the lofty mountains; and the fishy race was entangled in the elm-top, which before was the frequented seat of doves; and the timorous deer swam in the overwhelming flood. We have seen the † yellow Tiber, with his waves forced back with violence from the Tuscan shore, proceed to demolish the monuments of king Numa, and the temples of Vesta; while he vaunts himself the avenger of the too disconsolate Ilia, and the uxorious river, leaving his channel, overflows his left bank, notwithstanding the disapprobation of Jupiter. An allusion to the deluge of Deucalion and Pyrrha. † Troubled. That is, from the Tuscan sea, into which the Tiber discharges itself. § Ilia, the mother of Romulus, was thrown into the Tiber: from which circumstance the poets call her the wife of that River God. The shore of Rome. Audiet cives acuisse ferrum, Quem vocet Divûm populus ruentis Cui dabit partes scelus expiandi Sive tu mavis, Erycina ridens,' Quam jocus circumvolat, et Cupido: Heu, nimis longo satiate ludo! Quem juvat clamor, galeæque leves, Acer et Mauri † peditis cruentem Vultus in hostem : Sive mutatâ juvenem figurá Cæsaris ultor. Serus in cœlum redeas, diuque Ocior aura Tollat. Hic magnos potius triumphos, Te duce, Cæsar. 25 30 35 40 45 * Candenti. al. et Bentl. Marsi. Faber. et Beat!, 50 Our youth, less numerous by the vices of their fathers, shall hear of the citizens having whetted that sword against themselves, with which it had been better that the formidable Persians had fallen; they shall hear of actual engagements. Which of the Gods shall the people invoke to the affairs of the sinking empire? With what prayer shall the sacred Virgins importune Vesta, who is now inattentive, to their hymns? To whom shall Jupiter assign the task of expiating our wickedness? Do thou at length, prophetic Apollo, (we pray thee!) come, veiling thy radiant shoulders with a cloud: Or thou, if it be more agreeable to thee, smiling Venus, about whom hover the Gods of Mirth and Love: Or thou, if thou regard thy neglected race and descendants, our founder Mars, to whom clamour and polished helmets, and the terrible aspect of the Moorish infantry against their bloody enemy, are delightful, satiated at length with thy sport, alas! of too long continuance: Or if thou, the winged son of gentle Maia, by changing thy figure, personate a youth upon earth, submitting to be entitled the avenger of Cæsar. Late may'st thou return to the skies, and long may'st thou with pleasure be present to the Roman people : neither may an untimely blast transport thee from us, offended at our crimes. Here may'st thou rather delight in magnificent triumphs, and to be called father and prince; nor suffer the Parthians with impunity to make incursions, you, O Cæsar, being our general. * * Our young emperor Augustas. |