own granery whatfoever is fwept from the Lybian threfhing-floors: a third, as his delight is to plow his patrimonial fields, you could never tempt him, with all the wealth of Attalus, to become a timorous failor and crofs the Myrtoan fea in a Cyprian bark. The merchant dreading the fouth-weft wind contending with the Icarian waves, commends tranquillity and the ruralnefs of his village; but danger over, and incapable of being taught to bear poverty, he refits his fhattered veffel. There is another whofe highest gouft is in cups of old, Maffic, and in breaking the day, one while ftretched at eafe under the green Arbutus, another at the placid head of fome facred ftream. The camp, and the found of the trumpet confufed with that of the clarion, and wars detefted by mothers, rejoice many. The huntfman, unmindful of his tender fpoufe, remains in the cold air, whether a hart is held in view by his faithful hounds, or a Marfian 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, diftinguifh Me from the crowd; if neither Euterpe with-holds her pipe, nor Polyhymnia difdains to tune the Lesbian lyre. But, if you will rank me among the Lyric poets, I fhall tow'r to the ftars with my exalted head You to the nobleft heights of fame B 3 ODE CARMEN II. AUGUSTU M. Occafione portentorum, que anno ineunte contigerant, Auguftum Horatius a deponendo principatu dehortatur. AD JAN AM fatis terris nivis atque dire Terruit gentes, grave ne rediret Vifere montes; Pifcium et fumma genus hæfit ulmo, Vidimus flavum Tiberim, retortis Iliæ dum fe nimium querenti Palumbis. ODE II To AUGUSTUS CESAR. Horace diffuades Auguftus from refigning the empire, on account of the prodigies which happened at the beginning of the year. NOUGH of fnow and dreadful hail hath E Jupiter now fent upon the earth; and having hurled his thunderbolts with his red flaming right hand against the facred towers, he hath terrified the city he hath terrified the nations, left the grievous age of* Pyrrha, complaining of prodigies till then unheard of, should return, when Proteus drove all his marine herd to vifit the lofty mountains; and the fishy race was entangled in the elm-top, which before was the frequented feat of doves; and the timorous deer fwam in the overwhelming flood. We have seen the † yellow Tiber, with his waves forced back with violence from the Tuscan fhore, proceed to demolish the monuments of king Numa, and the temples of Veita; while he vaunts himself the avenger of the too dif confolate | Ilia, and the uxorious river, leaving his channel, overflows his left bank §, notwithtanding the disapprobation of Jupiter. Our *An allufion to the deluge of Deucalion and Pyrrka. + Troubled. ti That is, from the Tufcan fea, into which the Tiber dif charges itself. Ilia, the mother of Romulus, was thrown into the Tiber; from which circumstance the poets call ber the wife of that River-God, The fhore of Rome. Audiet cives acuiffe ferrum, Quem vocet Divûm populus ruentis Cui dabit partes fcelus expiandi Sive tu mavis, Erycina ridens, Heu, nimis longo fatiate ludo! Sive mutata juvenem figura Serus in cœlum redeas; diuque Ocior aura Candenti, Marfi. Faber. 25 30 35 40 45 50 CARMEN I Our youth, lefs numerous by the vices of their fathers, fhall hear of the citizens having whetted that fword against themfelves, with which it had been better that the formidable Perfians had fallen; they fhall hear of adual engagements. Which of the Gods fhall the people invoke to the affairs of the finking empire? With what prayer fhall the facred Virgins importune Vefta, who is now unattentive to their hymns? To whom fhall Jupiter affign the task of expiating our wickednefs? Do thou at length, prophetic Apollo, (we pray thee!) come, veiling thy radiant fhoulders with a cloud: Or thou, if it be more agreeable to thee, fmiling Venus, about whom hover the Gods of Mirth and Love: Or thou, if thou regard thy neglected race and defcendents, our founder Mars, to whom clamour and polished helmets, and the terrible afpect of the Moorish infantry against their bloody enemy are delightful, fatiated at length with thy fport, alas! of too long continuance: Or if thou, the winged fon of gentle Maia, by changing thy figure perfonate a youth upon earth, fubmitting to be entitled the avenger of Cæfar. Late may'ft thou return to the skies, and long may'ft thou with pleafure be present to the Roman people; neither may an untimely blaft tranfport thee from us, offended at our crimes. Here may'ft thou rather delight in magnificent triumphs, and to be called father and prince; nor fuffer the Parthians with impunity to make incurfions, you, OCæfar, being our general. * ODE Our young emperor Auguftus. |