dignities; another, if he hath * ftored up in his own granary whatsoever is swept 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 cross the Myrtoan fea in a Cyprian bark. The merchant dreading the fouth-west wind contending with the Icarian waves, comniends tranquillity and the ruralness of his village: but danger over, and incapable of being taught to bear. poverty, he refits his fhattered veffel. There is another whofe higheft 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 spouse, 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 Polyhyninia difdains to tune the Lefbian lyre. But if you will rank me among the Lyric poets, I fhall tow'r to the stars with my exalted head You to the noblest heights of fame B 3 ODE CARMEN II. AD AUGUSTU M. Occafione portentorum, quæ anno ineunte conti gerant, Auguftum Horatius a deponendo principatu dehortatur. AM fatis terris nivis atque dire JAM Grandinis mifit Pater, et rubente Dextera facras jaculatus arces Terruit urbem : Terruit gentes, grave ne rediret Seculum Pyrrhæ nova monftra queste : One cum Proteus pecus egit altos Vifere montes; Pifcium et fumma genus hæfit ulmo, Equore dama. Vidimus flavum Tiberim, retortis Iliæ dum fe nimium querenti Labitur ripa, Jove non probante, u xorius amnis. *Palumbis, O DE II. To AUGUSTUS CESAR. HORACE diffuades AUGUSTUS from resigning the empire, on account of the prodigies which happened at the beginning of the year. ENOUGH of flow and dreadful hail hath : 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, fhould 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 feen the † yellow Tiber, with his waves forced back with violence from the Tufcan fhore, proceed to demolish the monuments of king Numa, and the temples of Vesta; while he vaunts himself the avenger of the too difconfolate | Ilia, and the uxorious river, leaving his channel, overflows his left bank §, notwithftanding the disapprobation of Jupiter. * An allufion to the deluge of Deucalion and Pyrrha. + Troubled. 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 circumftance the poets call her the wife of that River-God. The fhore of Rome. Our Audiet cives acuiffe ferrum, Quo graves Perfe melius perirent; Quem vocet Divum populus ruentis Cui dabit partes fcelus expiandi * Sive tu mavis, Erycina ridens, 25 30 Quam Jocus circumvolat, et Cupido: 35 Refpicis auctor, Heu, nimis longo fatiate ludo! Quem juvat clamor, galezque leves, Acer et Mauri† peditis cruentum 40 Sive mutata juvenem figura Cæfaris ultor. Serus in coelum redeas; diuque Ocior aura Tollat. Hic magnos potius triumphos, 45 50 Te duce, Cæfar. * Candentil † Marfi. Faber. CARMEN Our youth, lefs numerous by the vices of their fathers, fhall hear of the citizens having whetted that fword against themselves, with which it had been better that the formidable Persians had fallen; they fhall hear of actual engagements. Which of the Gods fhall the people invoke to the affairs of the finking empire? With what prayer fhall the facred Virgins importune Vesta, who is now ynattentive to their hymns? To whom fhall Jupiter affign the talk of expiating our wickedness? 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 defcendants, our founder Mars, to whom clamour and polished helmets, and the terrible afpe& of the Moorish infantry against their bloody enemy are delightful, fatiated at length with thy sport, alas! of too long continuance: Or if thou, the winged fon of gentle Maia, by changing thy figure perfonate a youth * upon earth, submitting to be entitled the avenger of Cæfar. Late may't thou return to the skies, and long may'st 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, O Cæfar, being our general. * Our young emperor Augustus. ODE |