Tum spissa ramis laurea fervidos Commune magnum : nulla decempedis Porticus excipiebat Arcton; Nec fortuitum spernere caespitem ΙΟ 15 20 Horace congratulates Maecenas on his recovery from a serious illness. I cannot, he says, survive thee, Maecenas; our lives are bound up together, and the most terrible monsters of the infernal world shall not tear us asunder. The same star presided over our births and determined our destinies. I was saved by Faunus from the falling tree; thou wast rescued by the guardian power of Jupiter from the hostile influence of Saturn, and received on thy restoration to health with the joyous shouts of the people of Rome. CUR me querellis1 exanimas tuis? Nec dis amicum est nec mihi te prius Grande decus columenque rerum. 5 10 Me nec Chimaerae spiritus igneae, Seu Libra, seu me Scorpios adspicit Eripuit, volucrisque Fati Tardavit alas, cum populus frequens Laetum theatris ter crepuit sonum: Dextra levasset, Mercurialium Custos virorum. 15 20 25 Aedemque votivam memento: XVII. [111. 23.] Phidyle may perhaps have been Horace's country housekeeper, though it is quite possible that she is a purely imaginary person, and that the poet in this Ode simply wishes to teach the general lesson that the worth of a sacrifice and its acceptance by the gods depends altogether on the feelings by which it is prompted. Only offer to the Lares incense, fresh corn, and a sucking pig, and they will protect the vines, the corn, and the lambs. It is the pure and innocent lamb, not the costly victim, which wins the favour of the gods. CAELO supinas si tuleris manus Nec pestilentem sentiet Africum Aut crescit Albanis in herbis, Cervice tinget. Te nihil attinet Rore deos fragilique myrto. Farre pio et saliente mica. 5 IO 15 20 Horace teaches us in this Ode that neither power, fame, nor wealth can give happiness, which is to be found only in a contented mind. The most powerful king is himself the subject of Juppiter; the great man often has a sword ever hanging over him, which destroys all his enjoyment of life; the millionaire who builds palaces on the very waters, is pursued by anxiety wherever he goes. Grief cannot be soothed by marble, purple, rich wives, and costly perfumes. The poor man in his humble dwelling knows what sweet repose is, and is free from the harassing cares of worldly greatness. Why then, says the poet, should I wish to change my Sabine farm for the troubles of wealth? ODI profanum volgus et arceo; Regum timendorum in proprios greges, Reges in ipsos imperium est Jovis, Clari Giganteo triumpho, Cuncta supercilio moventis. 5 3 Est ut viro vir latius ordinet Omne capax movet urna nomen. Non avium citharaeque cantus Desiderantem quod satis est neque ΙΟ 15 20 25 Non verberatae grandine vineae, Fundusque mendax, arbore nunc aquas 30 Culpante, nunc torrentia agros Sidera, nunc hiemes iniquas. Contracta pisces aequora sentiunt Cum famulis, dominusque terrae Post equitem sedet atra Cura. Quod si dolentem nec Phrygius lapis, Delenit usus, nec Falerna Vitis, Achaemeniumque costum ; 35 40 We have in this Ode the praises of patriotism and its kindred virtues. The Roman youth should leave home to bear hardships amid the perils of war. It is glorious to die for one's country; true virtue knows nothing of popular favour, and rising above the vulgar atmosphere of this lower world, gives heaven and immortality to those who are worthy of them. Fidelity, also, has a sure reward. I would not, says the poet, be under the same roof, or on the same ship as the man who breaks faith or divulges a solemn secret, since the innocent have before now been involved in the punishment of the guilty. ANGUSTAM amice pauperiem pati Vexet eques metuendus hasta, Vitamque sub divo et trepidis agat Matrona bellantis tyranni Suspiret, eheu! ne rudis agminum Per medias rapit ira caedes. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori : 5 10 15 20 |