LIBER II. CARMEN XVIII. Non ebur neque aureum Mea renidet in domo lacunar, Premunt columnas ultima recisas Africa, neque Attali Ignotus heres regiam occupavi, Trahunt honestae purpuras clientae. Benigna vena est, pauperemque dives Me petit: nihil supra Deos lacesso nec potentem amicum Satis beatus unicis Sabinis. Truditur dies die, Novaeque pergunt interire lunae : BOOK II. ODE XVIII. No iv'ry nor golden gleam In my house glitters from a panelled ceiling-beam ; No timbers from Hymettus brought Press columns in the quarries of far Afric wrought; Nor yet from Attalus who reigned Have I, an unknown heir, a regal house obtained; Do noble maidens weave rich purple drapery; A kindly-flowing vein; and, though so poor I be, I importune the Gods, nor from my friend in power Enough the blessing of my farm, my one desire. And newly-risen moons hasten to pass away; Tu secanda marmora Locas sub ipsum funus et sepulcri Marisque Bais obstrepentis urges Parum locuples continente ripa. Revellis agri terminos et ultra Salis avarus? Pellitur paternos Et uxor et vir sordidosque natos. Nulla certior tamen Rapacis Orci sede destinata Aula divitem manet Erum. Quid ultra tendis? Æqua tellus Pauperi recluditur Regumque pueris, nec satelles Orci Callidum Promethea Revexit auro captus: hic superbum Genus coercet, hic levare functum Pauperem laboribus Vocatus atque non vocatus audit. Thou, though so near the fun'ral gloom, Dost order marbles to be cut, and, of the tomb Not mindful, palaces dost found! And, where the sea makes Baiæ with a roar resound, Thou hurriest to remove the shore, Not rich enough, because the bank confines thee sore! Why add that, at the boundary, Thou thrustest back the landmarks, and beyond where lie The limits of thy clients' land Thou leapest avaricious! Lo! an outcast band The wife and husband, on their breast Bearing their fathers' Gods and ragged children prest! Awaits the rich lord than the destined boundary To stretch to yonder distance? With strict equity As to the sons of kings. The satellite of Hell, Did not convey him back, captured by gold. 'Tis he The race of Tantalus confined: 'tis he withal Who, when the poor his work has done, Invoked or not invoked to give relief, is won. LIBER III. CARMEN I. Odi profanum vulgus et arceo, Regum timendorum in proprios greges, Reges in ipsos imperium est Iovis, Clari Giganteo triumpho, Cuncta supercilio moventis. Est ut viro vir latius ordinet |