CARMEN XXXVIII. AD PUERU M. Admonet ut canam fine ambitiofo apparatu firuat. P ERSICOS odi, puer, apparatus: Mitte fectari, rofa quo locorum Simplici myrto nihil allabores Sedulus cura, Sedulus cura. Bentl. HORA. O DE XXXVII. To his SERVANT. He forwarns him against any extravagant doings at his entertainment. OY, I deteft the pomp of the Perfians: chaplets, which are woven with the * Philyra, difplease me by no means hunt for the place where the latter rofe abides. It is my particular defire that you make no laborious addition to the plain myrtle; for myrtle is neither unbecoming you a fervant, nor me while I quaff under this mantling vine. Philyra; a thin membrane between the bark and the wood of the Tilia, or Linden tree, which they made use of by way of ribband in their chaplets, &c. THE Q. HORATII FLACCI CARMINUM LIBER II. CARMEN I. AD ASINIUM POLLIONEM. Hortatur ut, intermiffis tragediis, det fe totum fcribenda bellorum civiliam hiftoria. OTUM ex Metello confule civicum, M Bellique caufas, et vitia, et modos, Ludumque Fortunæ, gravefque * Principum amicitias, et arma Nondum expiatis. uncta cruoribus, Periculofæ plenum opus alex Tractas; et incedis per ignes Suppofitos cineri dolofo. Tinta cruoribus. Paulum To ASINIUS POLLIO. He entreats him to quit tragedy for the prefent, that he may apply himself wholly to the hiftory of the civil wars. Y whic OU are treating of the civil commotion which began in the confulfhip of Metellus, and the caufes of the war, and the crimes that were committed, and the measures that were taken, and the fport of fortune, and the pernicious* confederacy of the chiefs, and arms ftained with blood not yetexpiated--a work full of hazardous confequence: you are treading upon fires hid under deceitful and afhes; The triumvirate of Q&tavius, Lepidus, and Antony. Paulum fevere Mufa tragedie Jam nunc minaci murmure cornuum Terret equos, equitumque vultus. Præter atrocem animum Catonis. Rettulit inferias Jugurtha. Quis non Latino fanguine pinguior Campus fepulchris impia prælia Hefperiæ fonitum ruinæ ? Qui gurges, aut quae flumina lugubris Quæ caret ora cruore noftro? Sed ne relictis, Mufa procax, jocis, Quære modos leviore plectro. 20 25 30 35 Videre magnos. CARMEN |