Horace — Odes · Satires · Epistles
Works in this volume — 4
Odes
Contents — 99 sections
- Book 1, Poem 1
- Book 1, Poem 2
- Book 1, Poem 3
- Book 1, Poem 4
- Book 1, Poem 5
- Book 1, Poem 6
- Book 1, Poem 7
- Book 1, Poem 8
- Book 1, Poem 9
- Book 1, Poem 10
- Book 1, Poem 11
- Book 1, Poem 12
- Book 1, Poem 13
- Book 1, Poem 14
- Book 1, Poem 15
- Book 1, Poem 16
- Book 1, Poem 17
- Book 1, Poem 18
- Book 1, Poem 19
- Book 1, Poem 20
- Book 1, Poem 21
- Book 1, Poem 22
- Book 1, Poem 23
- Book 1, Poem 24
- Book 1, Poem 26
- Book 1, Poem 27
- Book 1, Poem 28
- Book 1, Poem 29
- Book 1, Poem 30
- Book 1, Poem 31
- Book 1, Poem 32
- Book 1, Poem 33
- Book 1, Poem 34
- Book 1, Poem 35
- Book 1, Poem 36
- Book 1, Poem 37
- Book 1, Poem 38
- Book 2, Poem 1
- Book 2, Poem 2
- Book 2, Poem 3
- Book 2, Poem 4
- Book 2, Poem 6
- Book 2, Poem 7
- Book 2, Poem 8
- Book 2, Poem 9
- Book 2, Poem 10
- Book 2, Poem 11
- Book 2, Poem 12
- Book 2, Poem 13
- Book 2, Poem 14
- Book 2, Poem 15
- Book 2, Poem 16
- Book 2, Poem 17
- Book 2, Poem 18
- Book 2, Poem 19
- Book 2, Poem 20
- Book 3, Poem 1
- Book 3, Poem 2
- Book 3, Poem 3
- Book 3, Poem 4
- Book 3, Poem 5
- Book 3, Poem 6
- Book 3, Poem 7
- Book 3, Poem 8
- Book 3, Poem 9
- Book 3, Poem 10
- Book 3, Poem 11
- Book 3, Poem 12
- Book 3, Poem 13
- Book 3, Poem 14
- Book 3, Poem 15
- Book 3, Poem 16
- Book 3, Poem 17
- Book 3, Poem 18
- Book 3, Poem 19
- Book 3, Poem 21
- Book 3, Poem 22
- Book 3, Poem 23
- Book 3, Poem 24
- Book 3, Poem 25
- Book 3, Poem 26
- Book 3, Poem 27
- Book 3, Poem 28
- Book 3, Poem 29
- Book 3, Poem 30
- Book 4, Poem 1
- Book 4, Poem 2
- Book 4, Poem 3
- Book 4, Poem 4
- Book 4, Poem 5
- Book 4, Poem 6
- Book 4, Poem 7
- Book 4, Poem 8
- Book 4, Poem 9
- Book 4, Poem 11
- Book 4, Poem 12
- Book 4, Poem 13
- Book 4, Poem 14
- Book 4, Poem 15
Book 1, Poem 1
Maecenas, born of monarch ancestors, The shield at once and glory of my life! There are who joy them in the Olympic strife And love the dust they gather in the course; The goal by hot wheels shunn'd, the famous prize, Exalt them to the gods that rule mankind; This joys, if rabbles fickle as the wind Through triple grade of honours bid him rise, That, if his granary has stored away Of Libya's thousand floors the yield entire; The man who digs his field as did his sire, With honest pride, no Attalus may sway
By proffer'd wealth to tempt Myrtoan seas, The timorous captain of a Cyprian bark. The winds that make Icarian billows dark The merchant fears, and hugs the rural ease Of his own village home; but soon, ashamed Of penury, he refits his batter'd craft. There is, who thinks no scorn of Massic draught, Who robs the daylight of an hour unblamed, Now stretch'd beneath the arbute on the sward, Now by some gentle river's sacred spring; Some love the camp, the clarion's joyous ring, And battle, by the mother's soul abhorr'd.
See, patient waiting in the clear keen air, The hunter, thoughtless of his delicate bride, Whether the trusty hounds a stag have eyed, Or the fierce Marsian boar has burst the snare. To me the artist's meed, the ivy wreath Is very heaven: me the sweet cool of woods, Where Satyrs frolic with the Nymphs, secludes From rabble rout, so but Euterpe's breath Fail not the flute, nor Polyhymnia fly Averse from stringing new the Lesbian lyre. O, write my name among that minstrel choir, And my proud head shall strike upon the sky!
Book 1, Poem 2
Enough of snow and hail at last The sire has sent in vengeance down: His bolts, at his own temple cast, Appall'd the town, Appall'd the lands, lest Pyrrha's time Return, with all its monstrous sights, When Proteus led his flocks to climb The flatten'd heights, When fish were in the elm-tops caught, Where once the stock-dove wont to bide, And does were floating, all distraught, Adown the tide.
Old Tiber, hurl'd in tumult back From mingling with the Etruscan main, Has threaten'd Numa's court with wrack And Vesta's fane. Roused by his Ilia's plaintive woes, He vows revenge for guiltless blood, And, spite of Jove, his banks o'erflows, Uxorious flood. Yes, Fame shall tell of civic steel That better Persian lives had spilt, To youths, whose minish'd numbers feel Their parents' guilt.
What god shall Rome invoke to stay Her fall? Can suppliance overbear The ear of Vesta, turn'd away From chant and prayer? Who comes, commission'd to atone For crime like ours? at length appear, A cloud round thy bright shoulders thrown, Apollo seer! Or Venus, laughter-loving dame, Round whom gay Loves and Pleasures fly; Or thou, if slighted sons may claim A parent's eye,
O weary with thy long, long game, Who lov'st fierce shouts and helmets bright, And Moorish warrior's glance of flame Or e'er he smite! Or Maia's son, if now awhile In youthful guise we see thee here, Caesar's avenger—such the style Thou deign'st to bear; Late be thy journey home, and long Thy sojourn with Rome's family; Nor let thy wrath at our great wrong Lend wings to fly.
Here take our homage, Chief and Sire; Here wreathe with bay thy conquering brow, And bid the prancing Mede retire, Our Caesar thou!
Book 1, Poem 3
Thus may Cyprus' heavenly queen, Thus Helen's brethren, stars of brightest sheen, Guide thee! May the sire of wind Each truant gale, save only Zephyr, bind! So do thou, fair ship, that ow'st Virgil, thy precious freight, to Attic coast, Safe restore thy loan and whole, And save from death the partner of my soul! Oak and brass of triple fold Encompass'd sure that heart, which first made bold To the raging sea to trust A fragile bark, nor fear'd the Afric gust
With its Northern mates at strife, Nor Hyads' frown, nor South-wind fury-rife, Mightiest power that Hadria knows, Wills he the waves to madden or compose. What had Death in store to awe Those eyes, that huge sea-beasts unmelting saw, Saw the swelling of the surge, And high Ceraunian cliffs, the seaman's scourge? Heaven's high providence in vain Has sever'd countries with the estranging main, If our vessels ne'ertheless With reckless plunge that sacred bar transgress.
Daring all, their goal to win, Men tread forbidden ground, and rush on sin: Daring all, Prometheus play'd His wily game, and fire to man convey'd; Soon as fire was stolen away, Pale Fever's stranger host and wan Decay Swept o'er earth's polluted face, And slow Fate quicken'd Death's once halting pace. Daedalus the void air tried On wings, to humankind by Heaven denied; Acheron's bar gave way with ease Before the arm of labouring Hercules.
Nought is there for man too high; Our impious folly e'en would climb the sky, Braves the dweller on the steep, Nor lets the bolts of heavenly vengeance sleep.
Book 1, Poem 4
The touch of Zephyr and of Spring has loosen'd Winter's thrall; The well-dried keels are wheel'd again to sea: The ploughman cares not for his fire, nor cattle for their stall, And frost no more is whitening all the lea. Now Cytherea leads the dance, the bright moon overhead; The Graces and the Nymphs, together knit, With rhythmic feet the meadow beat, while Vulcan, fiery red, Heats the Cyclopian forge in Aetna's pit. 'Tis now the time to wreathe the brow with branch of myrtle green, Or flowers, just opening to the vernal breeze; Now Faunus claims his sacrifice among the shady treen, Lambkin or kidling, which soe'er he please.
Pale Death, impartial, walks his round: he knocks at cottage-gate And palace-portal. Sestius, child of bliss! How should a mortal's hopes be long, when short his being's date? Lo here! the fabulous ghosts, the dark abyss, The void of the Plutonian hall, where soon as e'er you go, No more for you shall leap the auspicious die To seat you on the throne of wine; no more your breast shall glow For Lycidas, the star of every eye.
Book 1, Poem 5
What slender youth, besprinkled with perfume, Courts you on roses in some grotto's shade? Fair Pyrrha, say, for whom Your yellow hair you braid, So trim, so simple! Ah! how oft shall he Lament that faith can fail, that gods can change, Viewing the rough black sea With eyes to tempests strange, Who now is basking in your golden smile, And dreams of you still fancy-free, still kind, Poor fool, nor knows the guile Of the deceitful wind!
Woe to the eyes you dazzle without cloud Untried! For me, they show in yonder fane My dripping garments, vow'd To Him who curbs the main.
Book 1, Poem 6
Not I, but Varius:—he, of Homer's brood A tuneful swan, shall bear you on his wing, Your tale of trophies, won by field or flood, Mighty alike to sing. Not mine such themes, Agrippa; no, nor mine To chant the Wrath that fill'd Pelides' breast, Nor dark Ulysses' wanderings o'er the brine, Nor Pelops' house unblest. Vast were the task, I feeble; inborn shame, And she, who makes the peaceful lyre submit, Forbid me to impair great Caesar's fame And yours by my weak wit.
But who may fitly sing of Mars array'd In adamant mail, or Merion, black with dust Of Troy, or Tydeus' son by Pallas' aid Strong against gods to thrust? Feasts are my theme, my warriors maidens fair, Who with pared nails encounter youths in fight; Be Fancy free or caught in Cupid's snare, Her temper still is light.
Book 1, Poem 7
Let others Rhodes or Mytilene sing, Or Ephesus, or Corinth, set between Two seas, or Thebes, or Delphi, for its king Each famous, or Thessalian Tempe green; There are who make chaste Pallas' virgin tower The daily burden of unending song, And search for wreaths the olive's rifled bower: The praise of Juno sounds from many a tongue, Telling of Argos' steeds, Mycenae's gold. For me stern Sparta forges no such spell, No, nor Larissa's plain of richest mould, As bright Albunea echoing from her cell.
O headlong Anio! O Tiburnian groves, And orchards saturate with shifting streams! Look how the clear fresh south from heaven removes The tempest, nor with rain perpetual teems! You too be wise, my Plancus: life's worst cloud Will melt in air, by mellow wine allay'd, Dwell you in camps, with glittering banners proud, Or 'neath your Tibur's canopy of shade. When Teucer fled before his father's frown From Salamis, they say his temples deep He dipp'd in wine, then wreath'd with poplar crown, And bade his comrades lay their grief to sleep:
“Where Fortune bears us, than my sire more kind, There let us go, my own, my gallant crew. 'Tis Teucer leads, 'tis Teucer breathes the wind; No more despair; Apollo's word is true. Another Salamis in kindlier air Shall yet arise. Hearts, that have borne with me Worse buffets! drown today in wine your care; To-morrow we recross the wide, wide sea!”
Book 1, Poem 8
Lydia, by all above, Why bear so hard on Sybaris, to ruin him with love? What change has made him shun The playing-ground, who once so well could bear the dust and sun? Why does he never sit On horseback in his company, nor with uneven bit His Gallic courser tame? Why dreads he yellow Tiber, as 'twould sully that fair frame? Like poison loathes the oil, His arms no longer black and blue with honourable toil, He who erewhile was known For quoit or javelin oft and oft beyond the limit thrown?
Why skulks he, as they say Did Thetis' son before the dawn of Ilion's fatal day, For fear the manly dress Should fling him into danger's arms, amid the Lycian press?
Book 1, Poem 9
See, how it stands, one pile of snow, Soracte! 'neath the pressure yield Its groaning woods; the torrents' flow With clear sharp ice is all congeal'd. Heap high the logs, and melt the cold, Good Thaliarch; draw the wine we ask, That mellower vintage, four-year-old, From out the cellar'd Sabine cask. The future trust with Jove; when he Has still'd the warring tempests' roar On the vex'd deep, the cypress-tree And aged ash are rock'd no more.
O, ask not what the morn will bring, But count as gain each day that chance May give you; sport in life's young spring, Nor scorn sweet love, nor merry dance, While years are green, while sullen eld Is distant. Now the walk, the game, The whisper'd talk at sunset held, Each in its hour, prefer their claim. Sweet too the laugh, whose feign'd alarm The hiding-place of beauty tells, The token, ravish'd from the arm Or finger, that but ill rebels.
Book 1, Poem 10
Grandson of Atlas, wise of tongue, O Mercury, whose wit could tame Man's savage youth by power of song And plastic game! Thee sing I, herald of the sky, Who gav'st the lyre its music sweet, Hiding whate'er might please thine eye In frolic cheat. See, threatening thee, poor guileless child, Apollo claims, in angry tone, His cattle;—all at once he smiled, His quiver gone.
Strong in thy guidance, Hector's sire Escaped the Atridae, pass'd between Thessalian tents and warders' fire, Of all unseen, Thou lay'st unspotted souls to rest; Thy golden rod pale spectres know; Blest power! by all thy brethren blest, Above, below!
Book 1, Poem 11
Ask not ('tis forbidden knowledge), what our destined term of years, Mine and yours; nor scan the tables of your Babylonish seers. Better far to bear the future, my Leuconoe, like the past, Whether Jove has many winters yet to give, or this our last; This, that makes the Tyrrhene billows spend their strength against the shore. Strain your wine and prove your wisdom; life is short; should hope be more? In the moment of our talking, envious time has ebb'd away. Seize the present; trust tomorrow e'en as little as you may.
Book 1, Poem 12
What man, what hero, Clio sweet, On harp or flute wilt thou proclaim? What god shall echo's voice repeat In mocking game To Helicon's sequester'd shade, Or Pindus, or on Haemus chill, Where once the hurrying woods obey'd The minstrel's will, Who, by his mother's gift of song, Held the fleet stream, the rapid breeze, And led with blandishment along The listening trees?
Whom praise we first? the sire on high, Who gods and men unerring guides, Who rules the sea, the earth, the sky, Their times and tides. No mightier birth may he beget; No like, no second has he known; Yet nearest to her sire's is set Minerva's throne. Nor yet shall Bacchus pass unsaid, Bold warrior, nor the virgin foe Of savage beasts, nor Phoebus, dread With deadly bow.
Alcides too shall be my theme, And Leda's twins, for horses he, He famed for boxing; soon as gleam Their stars at sea, The lash'd spray trickles from the steep, The wind sinks down, the storm-cloud flies, The threatening billow on the deep Obedient lies. Shall now Quirinus take his turn, Or quiet Numa, or the state Proud Tarquin held, or Cato stern, By death made great?
Ay, Regulus and the Scaurian name, And Paullus, who at Cannae gave His glorious soul, fair record claim, For all were brave. Thee, Furius, and Fabricius, thee, Rough Curius too, with untrimm'd beard, Your sires' transmitted poverty To conquest rear'd. Marcellus' fame, its up-growth hid, Springs like a tree; great Julius' light Shines, like the radiant moon amid The lamps of night.
Dread Sire and Guardian of man's race, To thee, O Jove, the Fates assign Our Caesar's charge; his power and place Be next to thine. Whether the Parthian, threatening Rome, His eagles scatter to the wind. Or follow to their eastern home Cathay and Ind, Thy second let him rule below Thy car shall shake the realms above; Thy vengeful bolts shall overthrow Each guilty grove.
Book 1, Poem 13
Telephus—you praise him still, His waxen arms, his rosy-tinted neck; Ah! and all the while I thrill With jealous pangs I cannot, cannot check See, my colour comes and goes, My poor heart flutters, Lydia, and the dew, Down my cheek soft stealing, shows What lingering torments rack me through and through. Oh, 'tis agony te see Those snowwhite shoulders scarr'd in drunken fray, Or those ruby lips, where he Has left strange marks, that show how rough his play!
Never, never look to find A faithful heart in him whose rage can harm Sweetest lips, which Venus kind Has tinctured with her quintessential charm. Happy, happy; happy they Whose living love, untroubled by all strife, Binds them till the last sad day, Nor parts asunder but with parting life!
Book 1, Poem 14
O luckless bark! new waves will force you back To sea. O, haste to make the haven yours! E'en now, a helpless wrack, You drift, despoil'd of oars; The Afric gale has dealt your mast a wound; Your sailyards groan, nor can your keel sustain, Till lash'd with cables round, A more imperious main. Your canvass hangs in ribbons, rent and torn; No gods are left to pray to in fresh need. A pine of Pontus born Of noble forest breed,
You boast your name and lineage—madly blind Can painted timbers quell a seaman's fear? Beware! or else the wind Makes you its mock and jeer. Your trouble late made sick this heart of mine, And still I love you, still am ill at ease. O, shun the sea, where shine The thick-sown Cyclades!
Book 1, Poem 15
When the false swain was hurrying o'er the deep His Spartan hostess in the Idaean bark, Old Nereus laid the unwilling winds asleep, That all to Fate might hark, Speaking through him:—“Home in ill hour you take A prize whom Greece shall claim with troops untold, Leagued by an oath your marriage tie to break And Priam's kingdom old. Alas! what deaths you launch on Dardan realm! What tolls are waiting, man and horse to tire! See! Pallas trims her aegis and her helm, Her chariot and her ire.
Vainly shall you; in Venus' favour strong, Your tresses comb, and for your dames divide On peaceful lyre the several parts of song; Vainly in chamber hide From spears and Gnossian arrows, barb'd with fate, And battle's din, and Ajax in the chase Unconquer'd; those adulterous locks, though late, Shall gory dust deface. Hark! 'tis the death-cry of your race! look back! Ulysses comes, and Pylian Nestor grey; See! Salaminian Teucer on your track, And Sthenelus, in the fray
Versed, or with whip and rein, should need require, No laggard. Merion too your eyes shall know From far. Tydides, fiercer than his sire, Pursues you, all aglow; Him, as the stag forgets to graze for fright, Seeing the wolf at distance in the glade, And flies, high panting, you shall fly, despite Boasts to your leman made. What though Achilles' wrathful fleet postpone The day of doom to Troy and Troy's proud dames, Her towers shall fall, the number'd winters flown, Wrapp'd in Achaenan flames.”
Book 1, Poem 16
O lovelier than the lovely dame That bore you, sentence as you please Those scurril verses, be it flame Your vengeance craves, or Hadrian seas. Not Cybele, nor he that haunts Rich Pytho, worse the brain confounds, Not Bacchus, nor the Corybants Clash their loud gongs with fiercer sounds Than savage wrath; nor sword nor spear Appals it, no, nor ocean's frown, Nor ravening fire, nor Jupiter In hideous ruin crashing down.
Prometheus, forced, they say, to add To his prime clay some favourite part From every kind, took lion mad, And lodged its gall in man's poor heart. 'Twas wrath that laid Thyestes low; 'Tis wrath that oft destruction calls On cities, and invites the foe To drive his plough o'er ruin'd walls. Then calm your spirit; I can tell How once, when youth in all my veins Was glowing, blind with rage, I fell On friend and foe in ribald strains.
Come, let me change my sour for sweet, And smile complacent as before: Hear me my palinode repeat, And give me back your heart once more.
Book 1, Poem 17
The pleasures of Lucretilis Tempt Faunus from his Grecian seat; He keeps my little goats in bliss Apart from wind, and rain, and heat. In safety rambling o'er the sward For arbutes and for thyme they peer, The ladies of the unfragrant lord, Nor vipers, green with venom, fear, Nor savage wolves, of Mars' own breed, My Tyndaris, while Ustica's dell Is vocal with the silvan reed, And music thrills the limestone fell.
Heaven is my guardian; heaven approves A blameless life, by song made sweet; Come hither, and the fields and groves Their horn shall empty at your feet. Here, shelter'd by a friendiy tree, In Teian measures you shall sing Bright Circe and Penelope, Love-smitten both by one sharp sting. Here shall you quaff beneath the shade Sweet Lesbian draughts that injure none, Nor fear lest Mars the realm invade Of Semele's Thyonian son,
Lest Cyrus on a foe too weak Lay the rude hand of wild excess, His passion on your chaplet wreak, Or spoil your undeserving dress.
Book 1, Poem 18
Varus, are your trees in planting? put in none before the vine, In the rich domain of Tibur, by the walls of Catilus; There's a power above that hampers all that sober brains design, And the troubles man is heir to thus are quell'd, and only thus. Who can talk of want or warfare when the wine is in his head, Not of thee, good father Bacchus, and of Venus fair and bright? But should any dream of licence, there's a lesson may be read, How 'twas wine that drove the Centaurs with the Lapithae to fight. And the Thracians too may warn us; truth and falsehood, good and ill, How they mix them, when the wine-god's hand is heavy on them laid! Never, never, gracious Bacchus, may I move thee 'gainst thy will, Or uncover what is hidden in the verdure of thy shade!
Silence thou thy savage cymbals, and the Berecyntine horn; In their train Self-love still follows, dully, desperately blind, And Vain-glory, towering upwards in its emptyheaded scorn, And the Faith that keeps no secrets, with a window in its mind.
Book 1, Poem 19
Cupid's mother, cruel dame, And Semele's Theban boy, and Licence bold, Bid me kindle into flame This heart, by waning passion now left cold. O, the charms of Glycera, That hue, more dazzling than the Parian stone! O, that sweet tormenting play, That too fair face, that blinds when look'd upon! Venus comes in all her might, Quits Cyprus for my heart, nor lets me tell Of the Parthian, bold in flight, Nor Scythian hordes, nor aught that breaks her spell.
Heap the grassy altar up, Bring vervain, boys, and sacred frankincense; Fill the sacrificial cup; A victim's blood will soothe her vehemence.
Book 1, Poem 20
Not large my cups, nor rich my cheer, This Sabine wine, which erst I seal'd, That day the applauding theatre Your welcome peal'd, Dear knight Maecenas! as 'twere fain That your paternal river's banks, And Vatican, in sportive strain, Should echo thanks. For you Calenian grapes are press'd, And Caecuban; these cups of mine Falernum's bounty ne'er has bless'd, Nor Formian vine.
Book 1, Poem 21
Of Dian's praises, tender maidens, tell; Of Cynthus' unshorn god, young striplings, sing; And bright Latona, well Beloved of Heaven's high king. Sing her that streams and silvan foliage loves, Whate'er on Algidus' chill brow is seen, In Erymanthian groves Dark-leaved, or Cragus green. Sing Tempe too, glad youths, in strain as loud, And Phoebus' birthplace, and that shoulder fair, His golden quiver proud And brother's lyre to bear.
His arm shall banish Hunger, Plague, and War To Persia and to Britain's coast, away From Rome and Caesar far, If you have zeal to pray.
Book 1, Poem 22
No need of Moorish archer's craft To guard the pure and stainless liver; He wants not, Fuscus, poison'd shaft To store his quiver, Whether he traverse Libyan shoals, Or Caucasus, forlorn and horrent, Or lands where far Hydaspes rolls His fabled torrent. A wolf, while roaming trouble-free In Sabine wood, as fancy led me, Unarm'd I sang my Lalage, Beheld, and fled me.
Dire monster! in her broad oak woods Fierce Daunia fosters none such other, Nor Juba's land, of lion broods The thirsty mother. Place me where on the ice-bound plain No tree is cheer'd by summer breezes, Where Jove descends in sleety rain Or sullen freezes; Place me where none can live for heat, 'Neath Phoebus' very chariot plant me, That smile so sweet, that voice so sweet, Shall still enchant me.
Book 1, Poem 23
You fly me, Chloe, as o'er trackless hills A young fawn runs her timorous dam to find, Whom empty terror thrills Of woods and whispering wind. Whether 'tis Spring's first shiver, faintly heard Through the light leaves, or lizards in the brake The rustling thorns have stirr'd, Her heart, her knees, they quake. Yet I, who chase you, no grim lion am, No tiger fell, to crush you in my gripe: Come, learn to leave your dam. For lover's kisses ripe.
Book 1, Poem 24
Why blush to let our tears unmeasured fall For one so dear? Begin the mournful stave, Melpomene, to whom the sire of all Sweet voice with music gave. And sleeps he then the heavy sleep of death, Quintilius? Piety, twin sister dear Of Justice! naked Truth! unsullied Faith! When will ye find his peer? By many a good man wept, Quintilius dies; By none than you, my Virgil, trulier wept: Devout in vain, you chide the faithless skies, Asking your loan ill-kept.
No, though more suasive than the bard of Thrace You swept the lyre that trees were fain to hear, Ne'er should the blood revisit his pale face Whom once with wand severe Mercury has folded with the sons of night, Untaught to prayer Fate's prison to unseal. Ah, heavy grief! but patience makes more light What sorrow may not heal.
Book 1, Poem 26
The Muses love me: fear and grief, The winds may blow them to the sea; Who quail before the wintry chief Of Scythia's realm, is nought to me. What cloud o'er Tiridates lowers, I care not, I. O, nymph divine Of virgin springs, with sunniest flowers A chaplet for my Lamia twine, Pimplea sweet! my praise were vain Without thee. String this maiden lyre, Attune for him the Lesbian strain, O goddess, with thy sister quire!
Book 1, Poem 27
What, fight with cups that should give joy? 'Tis barbarous; leave such savage ways To Thracians. Bacchus, shamefaced boy, Is blushing at your bloody frays. The Median sabre! lights and wine! Was stranger contrast ever seen? Cease, cease this brawling, comrades mine, And still upon your elbows lean. Well, shall I take a toper's part Of fierce Falernian? let our guest, Megilla's brother, say what dart Gave the death-wound that makes him blest.
He hesitates? no other hire Shall tempt my sober brains. Whate'er The goddess tames you, no base fire She kindles; 'tis some gentle fair Allures you still. Come, tell me truth, And trust my honour—That the name? That wild Charybdis yours? Poor youth! O, you deserved a better flame! What wizard, what Thessalian spell, What god can save you, hamper'd thus? To cope with this Chimaera fell Would task another Pegasus.
Book 1, Poem 28
The sea, the earth, the innumerable sand, Archytas, thou couldst measure; now, alas! A little dust on Matine shore has spann'd That soaring spirit; vain it was to pass The gates of heaven, and send thy soul in quest O'er air's wide realms; for thou hadst yet to die. Ay, dead is Pelops' father, heaven's own guest, And old Tithonus, rapt from earth to sky, And Minos, made the council-friend of Jove; And Panthus' son has yielded up his breath Once more, though down he pluck'd the shield, to prove His prowess under Troy, and bade grim death
O'er skin and nerves alone exert its power, Not he, you grant, in nature meanly read. Yes, all “await the inevitable hour;” The downward journey all one day must tread. Some bleed, to glut the war-god's savage eyes; Fate meets the sailor from the hungry brine; Youth jostles age in funeral obsequies; Each brow in turn is touch'd by Proserpine. Me, too, Orion's mate, the Southern blast, Whelm'd in deep death beneath the Illyrian wave. But grudge not, sailor, of driven sand to cast A handful on my head, that owns no grave.
So, though the eastern tempests loudly threat Hesperia's main, may green Venusia's crown Be stripp'd, while you lie warm; may blessings yet Stream from Tarentum's guard, great Neptune, down, And gracious Jove, into your open lap! What! shrink you not from crime whose punishment Falls on your innocent children? it may hap Imperious Fate will make yourself repent. My prayers shall reach the avengers of all wrong; No expiations shall the curse unbind. Great though your haste, I would not task you long; Thrice sprinkle dust, then scud before the wind.
Book 1, Poem 29
Your heart on Arab wealth is set, Good Iccius: you would try your steel On Saba's kings, unconquerd yet, And make the Mede your fetters feel. Come, tell me what barbarian fair Will serve you now, her bridegroom slain? What page from court with essenced hair Will tender you the bowl you drain, Well skill'd to bend the Serian bow His father carried? Who shall say That rivers may not uphill flow, And Tiber's self return one day,
If you would change Panaetius' works, That costly purchase, and the clan Of Socrates, for shields and dirks, Whom once we thought a saner man?
Book 1, Poem 30
Come, Cnidian, Paphian Venus, come, Thy well-beloved Cyprus spurn, Haste, where for thee in Glycera's home Sweet odours burn. Bring too thy Cupid, glowing warm, Graces and Nymphs, unzoned and free, And Youth, that lacking thee lacks charm, And Mercury.
Book 1, Poem 31
What blessing shall the bard entreat The god he hallows, as he pours The winecup? Not the mounds of wheat That load Sardinian threshing floors; Not Indian gold or ivory—no, Nor flocks that o'er Calabria stray, Nor fields that Liris, still and slow, Is eating, unperceived, away. Let those whose fate allows them train Calenum's vine; let trader bold From golden cups rich liquor drain For wares of Syria bought and sold,
Heaven's favourite, sooth, for thrice a year He comes and goes across the brine Undamaged. I in plenty here On endives, mallows, succory dine. O grant me, Phoebus, calm content, Strength unimpaird, a mind entire, Old age without dishonour spent, Nor unbefriended by the lyre!
Book 1, Poem 32
They call;—if aught in shady dell We twain have warbled, to remain Long months or years, now breathe, my shell, A Roman strain, Thou, strung by Lesbos' minstrel hand, The bard, who 'mid the clash of steel, Or haply mooring to the strand His batter'd keel, Of Bacchus and the Muses sung, And Cupid, still at Venus' side, And Lycus, beautiful and young, Dark-hair'd, dark-eyed.
O sweetest lyre, to Phoebus dear, Delight of Jove's high festival, Blest balm in trouble, hail and hear Whene'er I call!
Book 1, Poem 33
What, Albius! why this passionate despair For cruel Glycera? why melt your voice In dolorous strains, because the perjured fair Has made a younger choice? See, narrow-brow'd Lycoris, how she glows For Cyrus! Cyrus turns away his head To Pholoe's frown; but sooner gentle roes Apulian wolves shall wed, Than Pholoe to so mean a conqueror strike: So Venus wills it; 'neath her brazen yoke She loves to couple forms and minds unlike, All for a heartless joke.
For me sweet Love had forged a milder spell; But Myrtale still kept me her fond slave, More stormy she than the tempestuous swell That crests Calabria's wave.
Book 1, Poem 34
My prayers were scant, my offerings few, While witless wisdom fool'd my mind; But now I trim my sails anew, And trace the course I left behind. For lo! the sire of heaven on high, By whose fierce bolts the clouds are riven, Today through an unclouded sky His thundering steeds and car has driven. E'en now dull earth and wandering floods, And Atlas' limitary range, And Styx, and Taenarus' dark abodes Are reeling. He can lowliest change
And loftiest; bring the mighty down And lift the weak; with whirring flight Comes Fortune, plucks the monarch's crown, And decks therewith some meaner wight.
Book 1, Poem 35
Lady of Antium, grave and stern! O Goddess, who canst lift the low To high estate, and sudden turn A triumph to a funeral show! Thee the poor hind that tills the soil Implores; their queen they own in thee, Who in Bithynian vessel toil Amid the vex'd Carpathian sea. Thee Dacians fierce, and Scythian hordes, Peoples and towns, and Rome, their head, And mothers of barbarian lords, And tyrants in their purple dread,
Lest, spurn'd by thee in scorn, should fall The state's tall prop, lest crowds on fire To arms, to arms! the loiterers call, And thrones be tumbled in the mire. Necessity precedes thee still With hard fierce eyes and heavy tramp: Her hand the nails and wedges fill, The molten lead and stubborn clamp. Hope, precious Truth in garb of white, Attend thee still, nor quit thy side When with changed robes thou tak'st thy flight In anger from the homes of pride.
Then the false herd, the faithless fair, Start backward; when the wine runs dry. The jocund guests, too light to bear An equal yoke, asunder fly. O shield our Caesar as he goes To furthest Britain, and his band, Rome's harvest! Send on Eastern foes Their fear, and on the Red Sea strand! O wounds that scarce have ceased to run! O brother's blood! O iron time! What horror have we left undone? Has conscience shrunk from aught of crime?
What shrine has rapine held in awe? What altar spared? O haste and beat The blunted steel we yet may draw On Arab and on Massagete!
Book 1, Poem 36
Bid the lyre and cittern play; Enkindle incense, shed the victim's gore; Heaven has watch'd o'er Numida, And brings him safe from far Hispania's shore. Now, returning, he bestows On each dear comrade all the love he can; But to Lamia most he owes, By whose sweet side he grew from boy to man. Note we in our calendar This festal day with whitest mark from Crete: Let it flow, the old wine-jar, And ply to Salian time your restless feet.
Damalis tosses off her wine, But Bassus sure must prove her match tonight. Give us roses all to twine, And parsley green, and lilies deathly white. Every melting eye will rest On Damalis' lovely face; but none may part Damalis from our new-found guest; She clings, and clings, like ivy, round his heart.
Book 1, Poem 37
Now drink we deep, now featly tread A measure; now before each shrine With Salian feasts the table spread; The time invites us, comrades mine. 'Twas shame to broach, before today, The Caecuban, while Egypt's dame Threaten'd our power in dust to lay And wrap the Capitol in flame, Girt with her foul emasculate throng, By Fortune's sweet new wine befool'd, In hope's ungovern'd weakness strong To hope for all; but soon she cool'd,
To see one ship from burning 'scape; Great Caesar taught her dizzy brain, Made mad by Mareotic grape, To feel the sobering truth of pain, And gave her chase from Italy, As after doves fierce falcons speed, As hunters 'neath Haemonia's sky Chase the tired hare, so might he lead The fiend enchain'd; she sought to die More nobly, nor with woman's dread Quail'd at the steel, nor timorously In her fleet ships to covert fled.
Amid her ruin'd halls she stood Unblench'd, and fearless to the end Grasp'd the fell snakes, that all her blood Might with the cold black venom blend, Death's purpose flushing in her face; Nor to our ships the glory gave, That she, no vulgar dame, should grace A triumph, crownless, and a slave.
Book 1, Poem 38
No Persian cumber, boy, for me; I hate your garlands linden-plaited; Leave winter's rose where on the tree It hangs belated. Wreath me plain myrtle; never think Plain myrtle either's wear unfitting, Yours as you wait, mine as I drink In vine-bower sitting.
Book 2, Poem 1
The broils that from Metellus date, The secret springs, the dark intrigues, The freaks of Fortune, and the great Confederate in disastrous leagues, And arms with uncleansed slaughter red, A work of danger and distrust, You treat, as one on fire should tread Scarce hid by treacherous ashen crust. Let Tragedy's stern muse be mute Awhile; and when your order'd page Has told Rome's tale, that buskin'd foot Again shall mount the Attic stage,
Pollio, the pale defendant's shield, In deep debate the senate's stay, The hero of Dalmatic field By Triumph crown'd with deathless bay. E'en now with trumpet's threatening blare You thrill our ears; the clarion brays; The lightnings of the armour scare The steed, and daunt the rider's gaze. Methinks I hear of leaders proud With no uncomely dust distain'd, And all the world by conquest bow'd, And only Cato's soul unchain'd.
Yes, Juno and the powers on high That left their Afric to its doom, Have led the victors' progeny As victims to Jugurtha's tomb. What field, by Latian blood-drops fed, Proclaims not the unnatural deeds It buries, and the earthquake dread Whose distant thunder shook the Medes? What gulf, what river has not seen Those sights of sorrow? nay, what sea Has Daunian carnage yet left green? What coast from Roman blood is free?
But pause, gay Muse, nor leave your play Another Cean dirge to sing; With me to Venus' bower away, And there attune a lighter string.
Book 2, Poem 2
The silver, Sallust, shows not fair While buried in the greedy mine: You love it not till moderate wear Have given it shine. Honour to Proculeius! he To brethren play'd a father's part; Fame shall embalm through years to be That noble heart. Who curbs a greedy soul may boast More power than if his broad-based throne Bridged Libya's sea, and either coast Were all his own.
Indulgence bids the dropsy grow; Who fain would quench the palate's flame Must rescue from the watery foe The pale weak frame. Phraates, throned where Cyrus sate, May count for blest with vulgar herds, But not with Virtue; soon or late From lying words She weans men's lips; for him she keeps The crown, the purple, and the bays, Who dares to look on treasure-heaps With unblench'd gaze.
Book 2, Poem 3
An equal mind, when storms o'ercloud, Maintain, nor 'neath a brighter sky Let pleasure make your heart too proud, O Dellius, Dellius! sure te die, Whether in gloom you spend each year, Or through long holydays at ease In grassy nook your spirit cheer With old Falernian vintages, Where poplar pale, and pine-tree high Their hospitable shadows spread Entwined, and panting waters try To hurry down their zigzag bed.
Bring wine and scents, and roses' bloom, Too brief, alas! to that sweet place; While life, and fortune, and the loom Of the Three Sisters yield you grace. Soon must you leave the woods you buy, Your villa, wash'd by Tiber's flow, Leave,—and your treasures, heap'd so high, Your reckless heir will level low. Whether from Argos' founder born In wealth you lived beneath the sun, Or nursed in beggary and scorn, You fall to Death, who pities none.
One way all travel; the dark urn Shakes each man's lot, that soon or late Will force him, hopeless of return, On board the exile-ship of Fate.
Book 2, Poem 4
Why, Xanthias, blush to own you love Your slave? Briseis, long ago, A captive, could Achilles move With breast of snow. Tecmessa's charms enslaved her lord, Stout Ajax, heir of Telamon; Atrides, in his pride, adored The maid he won, When Troy to Thessaly gave way, And Hector's all too quick decease Made Pergamus an easier prey To wearied Greece.
What if, as auburn Phyllis' mate, You graft yourself on regal stem? Oh yes! be sure her sires were great; She weeps for them. Believe me, from no rascal scum Your charmer sprang; so true a flame, Such hate of greed, could never come From vulgar dame. With honest fervour I commend Those lips, those eyes; you need not fear A rival, hurrying on to end His fortieth year.
Book 2, Poem 6
Septimius, who with me would brave Far Gades, and Cantabrian land Untamed by Rome, and Moorish wave That whirls the sand; Fair Tibur, town of Argive kings, There would I end my days serene, At rest from seas and travellings, And service seen. Should angry Fate those wishes foil, Then let me seek Galesus, sweet To skin-clad sheep, and that rich soil, The Spartan's seat.
O, what can match the green recess, Whose honey not to Hybla yields, Whose olives vie with those that bless Venafrum's fields? Long springs, mild winters glad that spot By Jove's good grace, and Aulon, dear To fruitful Bacchus, envies not Falernian cheer. That spot, those happy heights desire Our sojourn; there, when life shall end, Your tear shall dew my yet warm pyre, Your bard and friend.
Book 2, Poem 7
O, oft with me in troublous time Involved, when Brutus warr'd in Greece, Who gives you back to your own clime And your own gods, a man of peace, Pompey, the earliest friend I knew, With whom I oft cut short the hours With wine, my hair bright bathed in dew Of Syrian oils, and wreathed with flowers? With you I shared Philippi's rout, Unseemly parted from my shield, When Valour fell, and warriors stout Were tumbled on the inglorious field:
But I was saved by Mercury, Wrapp'd in thick mist, yet trembling sore, While you to that tempestuous sea Were swept by battle's tide once more. Come, pay to Jove the feast you owe; Lay down those limbs, with warfare spent, Beneath my laurel; nor be slow To drain my cask; for you 'twas meant. Lethe's true draught is Massic wine; Fill high the goblet; pour out free Rich streams of unguent. Who will twine The hasty wreath from myrtle-tree
Or parsley? Whom will Venus seat Chairman of cups? Are Bacchants sane? Then I'll be sober. O, 'tis sweet To fool, when friends come home again!
Book 2, Poem 8
Had chastisement for perjured truth, Barine, mark'd you with a curse— Did one wry nail, or one black tooth, But make you worse— I'd trust you; but, when plighted lies Have pledged you deepest, lovelier far You sparkle forth, of all young eyes The ruling star. 'Tis gain to mock your mother's bones, And night's still signs, and all the sky, And gods, that on their glorious thrones Chill Death defy.
Ay, Venus smiles; the pure nymphs smile, And Cupid, tyrant-lord of hearts, Sharpening on bloody stone the while His fiery darts. New captives fill the nets you weave; New slaves are bred; and those before, Though oft they threaten, never leave Your godless door. The mother dreads you for her son, The thrifty sire, the new-wed bride, Lest, lured by you, her precious one Should leave her side.
Book 2, Poem 9
The rain, it rains not every day On the soak'd meads; the Caspian main Not always feels the unequal sway Of storms, nor on Armenia's plain, Dear Valgius, lies the cold dull snow Through all the year; nor northwinds keen Upon Garganian oakwoods blow, And strip the ashes of their green. You still with tearful tones pursue Your lost, lost Mystes; Hesper sees Your passion when he brings the dew, And when before the sun he flees.
Yet not for loved Antilochus Grey Nestor wasted all his years In grief; nor o'er young Troilus His parents' and his sisters' tears For ever flow'd. At length have done With these soft sorrows; rather tell Of Caesar's trophies newly won, And hoar Niphates' icy fell, And Medus' flood, 'mid conquer'd tribes Rolling a less presumptuous tide, And Scythians taught, as Rome prescribes, Henceforth o'er narrower steppes to ride.
Book 2, Poem 10
Licinius, trust a seaman's lore: Steer not too boldly to the deep, Nor, fearing storms, by treacherous shore Too closely creep. Who makes the golden mean his guide, Shuns miser's cabin, foul and dark, Shuns gilded roofs, where pomp and pride Are envy's mark. With fiercer blasts the pine's dim height Is rock'd; proud towers with heavier fall Crash to the ground; and thunders smite The mountains tall.
In sadness hope, in gladness fear 'Gainst coming change will fortify Your breast. The storms that Jupiter Sweeps o'er the sky He chases. Why should rain today Bring rain tomorrow? Python's foe Is pleased sometimes his lyre to play, Nor bends his bow. Be brave in trouble; meet distress With dauntless front; but when the gale Too prosperous blows, be wise no less, And shorten sail.
Book 2, Poem 11
O ask not what those sons of war, Cantabrian, Scythian, each intend, Disjoin'd from us by Hadria's bar, Nor puzzle, Quintius, how to spend A life so simple. Youth removes, And Beauty too; and hoar Decay Drives out the wanton tribe of Loves And Sleep, that came or night or day. The sweet spring-flowers not always keep Their bloom, nor moonlight shines the same Each evening. Why with thoughts too deep O'ertask a mind of mortal frame?
Why not, just thrown at careless ease 'Neath plane or pine, our locks of grey Perfumed with Syrian essences And wreathed with roses, while we may, Lie drinking? Bacchus puts to shame The cares that waste us. Where's the slave To quench the fierce Falernian's flame With water from the passing wave? Who'll coax coy Lyde from her home? Go, bid her take her ivory lyre, The runaway, and haste to come, Her wild hair bound with Spartan tire.
Book 2, Poem 12
The weary war where fierce Numantia bled, Fell Hannibal, the swoln Sicilian main Purpled with Punic blood—not mine to wed These to the lyre's soft strain, Nor cruel Lapithae, nor, mad with wine, Centaurs, nor, by Herculean arm o'ercome, The earth-born youth, whose terrors dimm'd the shine Of the resplendent dome Of ancient Saturn. You, Maecenas, best In pictured prose of Caesar's warrior feats Will tell, and captive kings with haughty crest Led through the Roman streets.
On me the Muse has laid her charge to tell Of your Licymnia's voice, the lustrous hue Of her bright eye, her heart that beats so well To mutual passion true: How nought she does but lends her added grace, Whether she dance, or join in bantering play, Or with soft arms the maiden choir embrace On great Diana's day. Say, would you change for all the wealth possest By rich Achaemenes or Phrygia's heir, Or the full stores of Araby the blest, One lock of her dear hair,
While to your burning lips she bends her neck, Or with kind cruelty denies the due She means you not to beg for, but to take, Or snatches it from you?
Book 2, Poem 13
Black day he chose for planting thee, Accurst he rear'd thee from the ground, The bane of children yet to be, The scandal of the village round. His father's throat the monster press'd Beside, and on his hearthstone spilt, I ween, the blood of midnight guest; Black Colchian drugs, whate'er of guilt Is hatch'd on earth, he dealt in all— Who planted in my rural stead Thee, fatal wood, thee, sure to fall Upon thy blameless master's head.
The dangers of the hour! no thought We give them; Punic seaman's fear Is all of Bosporus, nor aught Reeks he of pitfalls otherwhere; The soldier fears the mask'd retreat Of Parthia; Parthia dreads the thrall Of Rome; but Death with noiseless feet Has stolen and will steal on all. How near dark Pluto's court I stood, And Aeacus' judicial throne, The blest seclusion of the good, And Sappho, with sweet lyric moan
Bewailing her ungentle sex, And thee, Alcaeus, louder far Chanting thy tale of woful wrecks, Of woful exile, woful war! In sacred awe the silent dead Attend on each: but when the song Of combat tells and tyrants fled, Keen ears, press'd shoulders, closer throng. What marvel, when at those sweet airs The hundred-headed beast spell-bound Each black ear droops, and Furies' hairs Uncoil their serpents at the sound?
Prometheus too and Pelops' sire In listening lose the sense of woe; Orion hearkens to the lyre, And lets the lynx and lion go.
Book 2, Poem 14
Ah, Postumus! they fleet away, Our years, nor piety one hour Can win from wrinkles and decay, And Death's indomitable power; Not though three hundred bullocks flame Each year, to soothe the tearless king Who holds huge Geryon's triple frame And Tityos in his watery ring, That circling flood, which all must stem, Who eat the fruits that Nature yields, Wearers of haughtiest diadem, Or humblest tillers of the fields.
In vain we shun war's contact red Or storm-tost spray of Hadrian main: In vain, the season through, we dread For our frail lives Scirocco's bane. Cocytus' black and stagnant ooze Must welcome you, and Danaus' seed Ill-famed, and ancient Sisyphus To never-ending toil decreed. Your land, your house, your lovely bride Must lose you; of your cherish'd trees None to its fleeting master's side Will cleave, but those sad cypresses.
Your heir, a larger soul, will drain The hundred-padlock'd Caecuban, And richer spilth the pavement stain Than e'er at pontiff's supper ran.
Book 2, Poem 15
Few roods of ground the piles we raise Will leave to plough; ponds wider spread Than Lucrine lake will meet the gaze On every side; the plane unwed Will top the elm; the violet-bed, The myrtle, each delicious sweet, On olive-grounds their scent will shed, Where once were fruit-trees yielding meat; Thick bays will screen the midday range Of fiercest suns. Not such the rule Of Romulus, and Cato sage, And all the bearded, good old school.
Each Roman's wealth was little worth, His country's much; no colonnade For private pleasance wooed the North With cool “prolixity of shade.” None might the casual sod disdain To roof his home; a town alone, At public charge, a sacred fane Were honour'd with the pomp of stone.
Book 2, Poem 16
For ease, in wide Aegean caught, The sailor prays, when clouds are hiding The moon, nor shines of starlight aught For seaman's guiding: For ease the Mede, with quiver gay: For ease rude Thrace, in battle cruel: Can purple buy it, Grosphus? Nay, Nor gold, nor jewel. No pomp, no lictor clears the way 'Mid rabble-routs of troublous feelings, Nor quells the cares that sport and play Round gilded ceilings.
More happy he whose modest board His father's well-worn silver brightens; No fear, nor lust for sordid hoard, His light sleep frightens. Why bend our bows of little span? Why change our homes for regions under Another sun? What exiled man From self can sunder? Care climbs the bark, and trims the sail, Curst fiend! nor troops of horse can 'scape her, More swift than stag, more swift than gale That drives the vapour.
Blest in the present, look not forth On ills beyond, but soothe each bitter With slow, calm smile. No suns on earth Unclouded glitter. Achilles' light was quench'd at noon; A long decay Tithonus minish'd; My hours, it may be, yet will run When yours are flnish'd. For you Sicilian heifers low, Bleat countless flocks; for you are neighing Proud coursers; Afric purples glow For your arraying
With double dyes; a small domain, The soul that breathed in Grecian harping, My portion these; and high disdain Of ribald carping.
Book 2, Poem 17
Why rend my heart with that sad sigh? It cannot please the gods or me That you, Maecenas, first should die, My pillar of prosperity. Ah! should I lose one half my soul Untimely, can the other stay Behind it? Life that is not whole, Is that as sweet? The self-same day Shall crush us twain; no idle oath Has Horace sworn; whene'er you go, We both will travel, travel both The last dark journey down below.
No, not Chimaera's fiery breath, Nor Gyas, could he rise again, Shall part us; Justice, strong as death, So wills it; so the Fates ordain. Whether 'twas Libra saw me born Or angry Scorpio, lord malign Of natal hour, or Capricorn, The tyrant of the western brine, Our planets sure with concord strange Are blended. You by Jove's blest power Were snatch'd from out the baleful range Of Saturn, and the evil hour
Was stay'd, when rapturous benches full Three times the auspicious thunder peal'd; Me the curst trunk, that smote my skull, Had slain; but Faunus, strong to shield The friends of Mercury, check'd the blow In mid descent. Be sure to pay The victims and the fane you owe; Your bard a humbler lamb will slay.
Book 2, Poem 18
Carven ivory have I none No golden cornice in my dwelling shines; Pillars choice of Libyan stone Upbear no architrave from Attic mines; 'Twas not mine to enter in To Attalus' broad realms, an unknown heir, Nor for me fair clients spin Laconian purples for their patron's wear. Truth is mine, and Genius mine; The rich man comes, and knocks at my low door: Favour'd thus, I ne'er repine, Nor weary out indulgent Heaven for more:
In my Sabine homestead blest, Why should I further tax a generous friend? Suns are hurrying suns a-west, And newborn moons make speed to meet their end. You have hands to square and hew Vast marble-blocks, hard on your day of doom, Ever building mansions new, Nor thinking of the mansion of the tomb. Now you press on ocean's bound, Where waves on Baiae beat, as earth were scant; Now absorb your neighbour's ground, And tear his landmarks up, your own to plant.
Hedges set round clients' farms Your avarice tramples; see, the outcasts fly, Wife and husband, in their arms Their fathers' gods, their squalid family. Yet no hall that wealth e'er plann'd Waits you more surely than the wider room Traced by Death's yet greedier hand. Why strain so far? you cannot leap the tomb. Earth removes the impartial sod Alike for beggar and for monarch's child: Nor the slave of Hell's dark god Convey'd Prometheus back, with bribe beguiled.
Pelops he and Pelops' sire Holds, spite of pride, in close captivity; Beggars, who of labour tire, Call'd or uncall'd, he hears and sets them free.
Book 2, Poem 19
Bacchus I saw in mountain glades Retired (believe it, after years!) Teaching his strains to Dryad maids, While goat-hoof'd satyrs prick'd their ears. Evoe! my eyes with terror glare; My heart is revelling with the god; 'Tis madness! Evoe! spare, O spare, Dread wielder of the ivied rod! Yes, I may sing the Thyiad crew, The stream of wine, the sparkling rills That run with milk, and honey-dew That from the hollow trunk distils;
And I may sing thy consort's crown, New set in heaven, and Pentheus' hall With ruthless ruin thundering down, And proud Lycurgus' funeral. Thou turn'st the rivers, thou the sea; Thou, on far summits, moist with wine, Thy Bacchants' tresses harmlessly Dost knot with living serpent-twine. Thou, when the giants, threatening wrack, Were clambering up Jove's citadel, Didst hurl o'erweening Rhoetus back, In tooth and claw a lion fell.
Who knew thy feats in dance and play Deem'd thee belike for war's rough game Unmeet: but peace and battle-fray Found thee, their centre, still the same. Grim Cerberus wagg'd his tail to see Thy golden horn, nor dreamd of wrong. But gently fawning, follow'd thee, And lick'd thy feet with triple tongue.
Book 2, Poem 20
No vulgar wing, nor weakly plied, Shall bear me through the liquid sky; A two-form'd bard, no more to bide Within the range of envy's eye 'Mid haunts of men. I, all ungraced By gentle blood, I, whom you call Your friend, Maecenas, shall not taste Of death, nor chafe in Lethe's thrall. E'en now a rougher skin expands Along my legs: above I change To a white bird; and o'er my hands And shoulders grows a plumage strange:
Fleeter than Icarus, see me float O'er Bosporus, singing as I go, And o'er Gaetulian sands remote, And Hyperborean fields of snow; By Dacian horde, that masks its fear Of Marsic steel, shall I be known, And furthest Scythian: Spain shall hear My warbling, and the banks of Rhone. No dirges for my fancied death; No weak lament, no mournful stave; All clamorous grief were waste of breath, And vain the tribute of a grave.
Book 3, Poem 1
Bid the unhallow'd crowd avaunt! Keep holy silence; strains unknown Till now, the Muses' hierophant, I sing to youths and maids alone. Kings o'er their flocks the sceptre wield; E'en kings beneath Jove's sceptre bow: Victor in giant battle-field, He moves all nature with his brow. This man his planted walks extends Beyond his peers; an older name One to the people's choice commends; One boasts a more unsullied fame;
One plumes him on a larger crowd Of clients. What are great or small? Death takes the mean man with the proud; The fatal urn has room for all. When guilty Pomp the drawn sword sees Hung o'er her, richest feasts in vain Strain their sweet juice her taste to please; No lutes, no singing birds again Will bring her sleep. Sleep knows no pride; It scorns not cots of village hinds, Nor shadow-trembling river-side, Nor Tempe, stirr'd by western winds.
Who, having competence, has all, The tumult of the sea defies, Nor fears Arcturus' angry fall, Nor fears the Kid-star's sullen rise, Though hail-storms on the vineyard beat, Though crops deceive, though trees complain, One while of showers, one while of heat, One while of winter's barbarous reign. Fish feel the narrowing of the main From sunken piles, while on the strand Contractors with their busy train Let down huge stones, and lords of land
Affect the sea: but fierce Alarm Can clamber to the master's side: Black Cares can up ihe galley swarm, And close behind the horseman ride. If Phrygian marbles soothe not pain, Nor star-bright purple's costliest wear, Nor vines of true Falernian strain, Nor Achaemenian spices rare, Why with rich gate and pillard range Upbuild new mansions, twice as high, Or why my Sabine vale exchange For more laborious luxury?
Book 3, Poem 2
To suffer hardness with good cheer, In sternest school of warfare bred, Our youth should learn; let steed and spear Make him one day the Parthian's dread; Cold skies, keen perils, brace his life. Methinks I see from rampired town Some battling tyrant's matron wife, Some maiden, look in terror down,— “Ah, my dear lord, untrain'd in war! O tempt not the infuriate mood Of that fell lion I see! from far He plunges through a tide of blood!“
What joy, for fatherland to die! Death's darts e'en flying feet o'ertake, Nor spare a recreant chivalry, A back that cowers, or loins that quake. True Virtue never knows defeat: Her robes she keeps unsullied still, Nor takes, nor quits, her curule seat To please a people's veering will. True Virtue opens heaven to worth: She makes the way she does not find: The vulgar crowd, the humid earth, Her soaring pinion leaves behind.
Seal'd lips have blessings sure to come: Who drags Eleusis' rite today, That man shall never share my home, Or join my voyage: roofs give way And boats are wreck'd: true men and thieves Neglected Justice oft confounds: Though Vengeance halt, she seldom leaves The wretch whose flying steps she hounds.
Book 3, Poem 3
The man of firm and righteous will, No rabble, clamorous for the wrong, No tyrant's brow, whose frown may kill, Can shake the strength that makes him strong: Not winds, that chafe the sea they sway, Nor Jove's right hand, with lightning red: Should Nature's pillar'd frame give way, That wreck would strike one fearless head. Pollux and roving Hercules Thus won their way to Heaven's proud steep, 'Mid whom Augustus, couch'd at ease, Dyes his red lips with nectar deep.
For this, great Bacchus, tigers drew Thy glorious car, untaught to slave In harness: thus Quirinus flew On Mars' wing'd steeds from Acheron's wave, When Juno spoke with Heaven's assent: “O Ilium, Ilium, wretched town! The judge accurst, incontinent, And stranger dame have dragg'd thee down. Pallas and I, since Priam's sire Denied the gods his pledged reward, Had doom'd them all to sword and fire, The people and their perjured lord.
No more the adulterous guest can charm The Spartan queen: the house forsworn No more repels by Hector's arm My warriors, baffled and outworn: Hush'd is the war our strife made long: I welcome now, my hatred o'er, A grandson in the child of wrong, Him whom the Trojan priestess bore. Receive him, Mars! the gates of flame May open: let him taste forgiven The nectar, and enrol his name Among the peaceful ranks of Heaven.
Let the wide waters sever still Ilium and Rome, the exiled race May reign and prosper where they will: So but in Paris' burial-place The cattle sport, the wild beasts hide Their cubs, the Capitol may stand All bright, and Rome in warlike pride O'er Media stretch a conqueror's hand. Aye, let her scatter far and wide Her terror, where tbe land-lock'd waves Europe from Afric's shore divide, Where swelling Nile the corn-field laves—
Of strength more potent to disdain Hid gold, best buried in the mine, Than gather it with hand profane, That for man's greed would rob a shrine. Whate'er the bound to earth ordain'd, There let her reach the arm of power, Travelling, where raves the fire unrein'd, And where the storm-cloud and the shower. Yet, warlike Roman, know thy doom, Nor, drunken with a conqueror's joy, Or blind with duteous zeal, presume To build again ancestral Troy.
Should Troy revive to hateful life, Her star again should set in gore, While I, Jove's sister and his wife, To victory led my host once more. Though Phoebus thrice in brazen mail Should case her towers, they thrice should fall, Storm'd by my Greeks: thrice wives should wail Husband and son, themselves in thrall.”— Such thunders from the lyre of love! Back, wayward Muse! refrain, refrain To tell the talk of gods above, And dwarf high themes in puny strain.
Book 3, Poem 4
Come down, Calliope, from above: Breathe on the pipe a strain of fire: Or if a graver note thou love, With Phoebus' cittern and his lyre. You hear her? or is this the play Of fond illusion? Hark! meseems Through gardens of the good I stray, 'Mid murmuring gales and purling streams. Me, as I lay on Vultur's steep, A truant past Apulia's bound, O'ertired, poor child, with play and sleep, With living green the stock-doves crown'd—
A legend, nay, a miracle, By Acherontia's nestlings told, By all in Bantine glade that dwell, Or till the rich Forentan mould. “Bears, vipers, spared him as he lay, The sacred garland deck'd his hair, The myrtle blended with the bay: The child's inspired: the gods were there.” Your grace, sweet Muses, shields me still On Sabine heights, or lets me range Where cool Praeneste, Tibur's hill, Or liquid Baiae proffers change.
Me to your springs, your dances true, Philippi bore not to the ground, Nor the doom'd tree in falling slew, Nor billowy Palinurus drown'd. Grant me your presence, blithe and fain Mad Bosporus shall my bark explore; My foot shall tread the sandy plain That glows beside Assyria's shore; 'Mid Briton tribes, the stranger's foe, And Spaniards, drunk with horses' blood, And quiver'd Scythians, will I go Unharm'd, and look on Tanais' flood.
When Caesar's self in peaceful town The weary veteran's home has made, You bid him lay his helmet down And rest in your Pierian shade. Mild thoughts you plant, and joy to see Mild thoughts take root. The nations know How with descending thunder he The impious Titans hurl'd below, Who rules dull earth and stormy seas, And towns of men, and realms of pain, And gods, and mortal companies, Alone, impartial in his reign.
Yet Jove had fear'd the giant rush, Their upraised arms, their port of pride, And the twin brethren bent to push Huge Pelion up Olympus' side. But Typhon, Mimas, what could these, Or what Porphyrion's stalwart scorn, Rhoetus, or he whose spears were trees, Enceladus, from earth uptorn, As on they rush'd in mad career 'Gainst Pallas' shield? Here met the foe Fierce Vulcan, queenly Juno here, And he who ne'er shall quit his bow,
Who laves in clear Castalian flood His locks, and loves the leafy growth Of Lycia next his native wood, The Delian and the Pataran both. Strength, mindless, falls by its own weight; Strength, mix'd with mind, is made more strong By the just gods, who surely hate The strength whose thoughts are set on wrong. Let hundred-handed Gyas bear His witness, and Orion known Tempter of Dian, chaste and fair, By Dian's maiden dart o'erthrown.
Hurl'd on the monstrous shapes she bred, Earth groans, and mourns her children thrust To Orcus; Aetna's weight of lead Keeps down the fire that breaks its crust; Still sits the bird on Tityos' breast, The warder of Unlawful love; Still suffers lewd Pirithous, prest By massive chains no hand may move.
Book 3, Poem 5
Jove rules in heaven, his thunder shows; Henceforth Augustus earth shall own Her present god, now Briton foes And Persians bow before his throne. Has Crassus' soldier ta'en to wife A base barbarian, and grown grey (Woe, for a nation's tainted life!) Earning his foemen-kinsmen's pay, His king, forsooth, a Mede, his sire A Marsian? can he name forget, Gown, sacred shield, undying fire, And Jove and Rome are standing yet?
'Twas this that Regulus foresaw, What time he spurn'd the foul disgrace Of peace, whose precedent would draw Destruction on an unborn race, Should aught but death the prisoner's chain Unrivet. “I have seen,” he said, “Rome's eagle in a Punic fane, And armour, ne'er a blood-drop shed, Stripp'd from the soldier; I have seen Free sons of Rome with arms fast tied; The fields we spoil'd with corn are green, And Carthage opes her portals wide.
The warrior, sure, redeem'd by gold, Will fight the bolder! Aye, you heap On baseness loss. The hues of old Revisit not the wool we steep; And genuine worth, expell'd by fear, Returns not to the worthless slave. Break but her meshes, will the deer Assail you? then will he be brave Who once to faithless foes has knelt; Yes, Carthage yet his spear will fly, Who with bound arms the cord has felt, The coward, and has fear'd to die.
He knows not, he, how life is won; Thinks war, like peace, a thing of trade! Great art thou, Carthage! mate the sun, While Italy in dust is laid!” His wife's pure kiss he waved aside, And prattling boys, as one disgraced, They tell us, and with manly pride Stern on the ground his visage placed. With counsel thus ne'er else aread He nerved the fathers' weak intent, And, girt by friends that mourn'd him, sped Into illustrious banishment.
Well witting what the torturer's art Design'd him, with like unconcern The press of kin he push'd apart And crowds encumbering his return, As though, some tedious business o'er Of clients' court, his journey lay Towards Venafrum's grassy floor, Or Sparta-built Tarentum's bay.
Book 3, Poem 6
Your fathers' guilt you still must pay, Till, Roman, you restore each shrine, Each temple, 'mouldering in decay, And smoke-grimed statue, scarce divine. Revering Heaven, you rule below; Be that your base, your coping still; 'Tis Heaven neglected bids o'erflow The measure of Italian ill. Now Pacorus and Monaeses twice Have given our unblest arms the foil; Their necklaces, of mean device; Smiling they deck with Roman spoil.
Our city, torn by faction's throes, Dacian and Ethiop well-nigh razed, These with their dreadful navy, those For archer-prowess rather praised. An evil age erewhile debased The marriage-bed, the race, the home; Thence rose the flood whose waters waste The nation and the name of Rome. Not such their birth, who stain'd for us The sea with Punic carnage red, Smote Pyrrhus, smote Antiochus, And Hannibal, the Roman's dread.
Theirs was a hardy soldier-brood, Inured all day the land to till With Sabine spade, then shoulder wood Hewn at a stern old mother's will, When sunset lengthen'd from each height The shadows, and unyoked the steer, Restoring in its westward flight The hour to toilworn travail dear. What has not cankering Time made worse? Viler than grandsires, sires beget Ourselves, yet baser, soon to curse The world with offspring baser yet.
Book 3, Poem 7
Why weep for him whom sweet Favonian airs Will waft next spring, Asteria, back to you, Rich with Bithynia's wares, A lover fond and true, Your Gyges? He, detain'd by stormy stress At Oricum, about the Goat-star's rise, Cold, wakeful, comfortless, The long night weeping lies. Meantime his lovesick hostess' messenger Talks of the flames that waste poor Chloe's heart (Flames lit for you, not her!) With a besieger's art;
Shows how a treacherous woman's lying breath Once on a time on trustful Proetus won To doom to early death Too chaste Bellerophon; Warns him of Peleus' peril, all but slain For virtuous scorn of fair Hippolyta, And tells again each tale That e'er led heart astray. In vain; for deafer than Icarian seas He hears, untainted yet. But, lady fair, What if Enipeus please Your listless eye? beware!
Though true it be that none with surer seat O'er Mars's grassy turf is seen to ride, Nor any swims so fleet Adown the Tuscan tide, Yet keep each evening door and window barr'd; Look not abroad when music strikes up shrill, And though he call you hard, Remain obdurate still.
Book 3, Poem 8
The first of March! a man unwed! What can these flowers, this censer mean? Or what these embers, glowing red On sods of green? You ask, in either language skill'd! A feast I vow'd to Bacchus free, A white he-goat, when all but kill'd By falling tree. So, when that holyday comes round, It sees me still the rosin clear From this my wine-jar, first embrown'd In Tullus' year.
Come, crush one hundred cups for life Preserved, Maecenas; keep till day The candles lit; let noise and strife Be far away. Lay down that load of state-concern; The Dacian hosts are all o'erthrown; The Mede, that sought our overturn, Now seeks his own; A servant now, our ancient foe, The Spaniard, wears at last our chain; The Scythian half unbends his bow And quits the plain.
Then fret not lest the state should ail; A private man such thoughts may spare; Enjoy the present hour's regale, And banish care.
Book 3, Poem 9
While I had power to bless you, Nor any round that neck his arms did fling More privileged to caress you, Happier was Horace than the Persian king. While you for none were pining Sorer, nor Lydia after Chloe came, Lydia, her peers outshining, Might match her own with Ilia's Roman fame. Now Chloe is my treasure, Whose voice, whose touch, can make sweet music flow: For her I'd die with pleasure, Would Fate but spare the dear survivor so.
I love my own fond lover, Young Calais, son of Thurian Ornytus: For him I'd die twice over, Would Fate but spare the sweet survivor thus. What now, if Love returning Should pair us 'neath his brazen yoke once more, And, bright-hair'd Chloe spurning, Horace to off-cast Lydia ope his door? Though he is fairer, milder, Than starlight, you lighter than bark of tree, Than stormy Hadria wilder, With you to live, to die, were bliss for me.
Book 3, Poem 10
Ah Lyce! though your drink were Tanais, Your husband some rude savage, you would weep To leave me shivering, on a night like this, Where storms their watches keep. Hark! how your door is creaking! how the grove In your fair courtyard, while the wild winds blow, Wails in accord! with what transparence Jove Is glazing the driven snow! Cease that proud temper: Venus loves it not: The rope may break, the wheel may backward turn: Begetting you, no Tuscan sire begot Penelope the stern.
O, though no gift, no “prevalence of prayer,” Nor lovers' paleness deep as violet, Nor husband, smit with a Pierian fair, Move you, have pity yet! O harder e'en than toughest heart of oak, Deafer than uncharm'd snake to suppliant moans! This side, I warn you, will not always brook Rain-water and cold stones.
Book 3, Poem 11
Come, Mercury, by whose minstrel spell Amphion raised the Theban stones, Come, with thy seven sweet strings, my shell, Thy “diverse tones,” Nor vocal once nor pleasant, now To rich man's board and temple dear: Put forth thy power, till Lyde bow Her stubborn ear. She, like a three-year colt unbroke, Is frisking o'er the spacious plain, Too shy to bear a lover's yoke, A husband's rein.
The wood, the tiger, at thy call Have follow'd: thou caust rivers stay: The monstrous guard of Pluto's hall To thee gave way, Grim Cerberus, round whose Gorgon head A hundred snakes are hissing death, Whose triple jaws black venom shed, And sickening breath. Ixion too and Tityos smooth'd Their rugged brows: the urn stood dry One hour, while Danaus' maids were sooth'd With minstrelsy.
Let Lyde hear those maidens' guilt, Their famous doom, the ceaseless drain Of outpour'd water, ever spilt, And all the pain Reserved for sinners, e'en when dead: Those impious hands, (could crime do more?) Those impious hands had hearts to shed Their bridegrooms' gore! One only, true to Hymen's flame, Was traitress to her sire forsworn: That splendid falsehood lights her name Through times unborn.
“Wake!” to her youthful spouse she cried, “Wake! or you yet may sleep too well: Fly—from the father of your bride, Her sisters fell: They, as she-lions bullocks rend, Tear each her victim: I, less hard Than these, will slay you not, poor friend, Nor hold in ward: Me let my sire in fetters lay For mercy to my husband shown: Me let him ship far hence away, To climes unknown.
Go; speed your flight o'er land and wave, While Night and Venus shield you; go Be blest: and on my tomb engrave This tale of woe.”
Book 3, Poem 12
How unhappy are the maidens who with Cupid may not play, Who may never touch the wine-cup, but must tremble all the day At an uncle, and the scourging of his tongue! Neobule, there's a robber takes your needle and your thread, Lets the lessons of Minerva run no longer in your head; It is Hebrus, the athletic and the young! O, to see him when anointed he is plunging in the flood! What a seat he has on horseback! was Bellerophon's as good? As a boxer, as a runner, past compare! When the deer are flying blindly all the open country o'er, He can aim and he can hit them; he can steal upon the boar, As it couches in the thicket unaware.
Book 3, Poem 13
Bandusia's fount, in clearness crystalline, O worthy of the wine, the flowers we vow! Tomorrow shall be thine A kid, whose crescent brow Is sprouting all for love and victory. In vain: his warm red blood, so early stirr'd. Thy gelid stream shall dye, Child of the wanton herd. Thee the fierce Sirian star, to madness fired, Forbears to touch: sweet cool thy waters yield To ox with ploughing tired, And lazy sheep afield.
Thou too one day shalt win proud eminence 'Mid honour'd founts, while I the ilex sing Crowning the cavern, whence Thy babbling wavelets spring.
Book 3, Poem 14
Our Hercules, they told us, Rome, Had sought the laurel Death bestows: Now Glory brings him conqueror home From Spaniard foes. Proud of her spouse, the imperial fair Must thank the gods that shield from death; His sister too:—let matrons wear The suppliant wreath For daughters and for sons restored: Ye youths and damsels newly wed, Let decent awe restrain each word Best left unsaid.
This day, true holyday to me, Shall banish care: I will not fear Rude broils or bloody death to see, While Caesar's here. Quick, boy, the chaplets and the nard, And wine, that knew the Marsian war, If roving Spartacus have spared A single jar. And bid Neaera come and trill, Her bright locks bound with careless art: If her rough porter cross your will, Why then depart.
Soon palls the taste for noise and fray, When hair is white and leaves are sere: How had I fired in life's warm May, In Plancus' year!
Book 3, Poem 15
Wife of Ibycus the poor, Let aged scandals have at length their bound: Give your graceless doings o'er, Ripe as you are for going underground. You the maidens' dance to lead, And cast your gloom upon those beaming stars! Daughter Pholoe may succeed, But mother Chloris what she touches mars. Young men's homes your daughter storms, Like Thyiad, madden'd by the cymbals' beat: Nothus' love her bosom warms: She gambols like a fawn with silver feet.
Yours should be the wool that grows By fair Luceria, not the merry lute: Flowers beseem not wither'd brows,. Nor wither'd lips with emptied wine-jars suit.
Book 3, Poem 16
Full well had Danae been secured, in truth, By oaken portals, and a brazen tower, And savage watch-dogs, from the roving youth That prowl at midnight's hour: But Jove and Venus mock'd with gay disdain The jealous warder of that close stronghold: The way, they knew, must soon be smooth and plain When gods could change to gold. Gold, gold can pass the tyrant's sentinel, Can shiver rocks with more resistless blow Than is the thunder's. Argos' prophet fell, He and his house laid low,
And all for gain. The man of Macedon Cleft gates of cities, rival kings o'erthrew By force of gifts: their cunning snares have won Rude captains and their crew. As riches grow, care follows: men repine And thirst for more. No lofty crest I raise: Wisdom that thought forbids, Maecenas mine, The knightly order's praise. He that denies himself shall gain the more From bounteous Heaven. I strip me of my pride, Desert the rich man's standard, and pass o'er To bare Contentment's side,
More proud as lord of what the great despise Than if the wheat thresh'd on Apulia's floor I hoarded all in my huge granaries, 'Mid vast possessions poor. A clear fresh stream, a little field o'ergrown With shady trees, a crop that ne'er deceives, Pass, though men know it not, their wealth, that own All Afric's golden sheaves. Though no Calabrian bees their honey yield For me, nor mellowing sleeps the god of wine In Formian jar, nor in Gaul's pasture-field The wool grows long and fine,
Yet Poverty ne'er comes to break my peace; If more I craved, you would not more refuse. Desiring less, I better shall increase My tiny revenues, Than if to Alyattes' wide domains I join'd the realms of Mygdon. Great desires Sort with great wants. 'Tis best, when prayer obtains No more than life requires.
Book 3, Poem 17
Aelius, of Lamus' ancient name (For since from that high parentage The prehistoric Lamias came And all who fill the storied page, No doubt you trace your line from him, Who stretch'd his sway o'er Formiae, And Liris, whose still waters swim Whore green Marica skirts the sea, Lord of broad realms), an eastern gale Will blow to-morrow, and bestrew The shore with weeds, with leaves the vale, If rain's old prophet tell me true,
The raven. Gather, while 'tis fine, Your wood; tomorrow shall be gay With smoking pig and streaming wine, And lord and slave keep holyday.
Book 3, Poem 18
O wont the flying Nymphs to woo, Good Faunus, through my sunny farm Pass gently, gently pass, nor do My younglings harm. Each year, thou know'st, a kid must die For thee; nor lacks the wine's full stream To Venus' mate, the bowl; and high The altars steam. Sure as December's Nones appear, All o'er the grass the cattle play; The village, with the lazy steer, Keeps holyday.
Wolves rove among the fearless sheep; The woods for thee their foliage strow; The delver loves on earth to leap, His ancient foe.
Book 3, Poem 19
What the time from Inachus To Codrus, who in patriot battle fell, Who were sprung from Aeacus, And how men fought at Ilion,—this you tell. What the wines of Chios cost, Who with due heat our water can allay, What the hour, and who the host To give us house-room,—this you will not say Ho, there! wine to moonrise, wine To midnight, wine to our new augur too! Nine to three or three to nine, As each man pleases, makes proportion true.
Who the uneven Muses loves, Will fire his dizzy brain with three times three; Three once told the Grace approves; She with her two bright sisters, gay and free, Shrinks, as maiden should, from strife: But I'm for madness. What has dull'd the fire Of the Berecyntian fife? Why hangs the flute in silence with the lyre? Out on niggard-handed boys! Rain showers of roses; let old Lycus hear, Envious churl, our senseless noise, And she, our neighbour, his ill-sorted fere.
You with your bright clustering hair, Your beauty, Telephus, like evening's sky, Rhoda loves, as young, as fair; I for my Glycera slowly, slowly die.
Book 3, Poem 21
O born in Manlius' year with me, Whate'er you bring us, plaint or jest, Or passion and wild revelry, Or, like a gentle wine-jar, rest; Howe'er men call your Massic juice, Its broaching claims a festal day; Come then; Corvinus bids produce A mellower wine, and I obey. Though steep'd in all Socratic lore He will not slight you; do not fear. They say old Cato o'er and o'er With wine his honest heart would cheer.
Tough wits to your mild torture yield Their treasures; you unlock the soul Of wisdom and its stores conceal'd, Arm'd with Lyaeus' kind control. 'Tis yours the drooping heart to heal; Your strength uplifts the poor man's horn; Inspired by you, the soldier's steel, The monarch's crown, he laughs to scorn, Liber and Venus, wills she so, And sister Graces, ne'er unknit, And living lamps shall see you flow Till stars before the sunrise flit.
Book 3, Poem 22
Guardian of hill and woodland, Maid, Who to young wives in childbirth's hour Thrice call'd, vouchsafest sovereign aid, O three-form'd power! This pine that shades my cot be thine; Here will I slay, as years come round, A youngling boar, whose tusks design The side-long wound.
Book 3, Poem 23
If, Phidyle, your hands you lift To heaven, as each new moon is born, Soothing your Lares with the gift Of slaughter'd swine, and spice, and corn, Ne'er shall Scirocco's bane assail Your vines, nor mildew blast your wheat. Ne'er shall your tender younglings fail In autumn, when the fruits are sweet. The destined victim 'mid the snows Of Algidus in oakwoods fed, Or where the Alban herbage grows, Shall dye the pontiff's axes red;
No need of butcher'd sheep for you To make your homely prayers prevail; Give but your little gods their due, The rosemary twined with myrtle frail. The sprinkled salt, the votive meal, As soon their favour will regain, Let but the hand be pure and leal, As all the pomp of heifers slain.
Book 3, Poem 24
Though your buried wealth surpass The unsunn'd gold of Ind or Araby, Though with many a ponderous mass You crowd the Tuscan and Apulian sea, Let Necessity but drive Her wedge of adamant into that proud head, Vainly battling will you strive To 'scape Death's noose, or rid your soul of dread. Better life the Scythians lead, Trailing on waggon wheels their wandering home, Or the hardy Getan breed, As o'er their vast unmeasured steppes they roam;
Free the crops that bless their soil; Their tillage wearies after one year's space; Each in turn fulfils his toil; His period o'er, another takes his place. There the step-dame keeps her hand From guilty plots, from blood of orphans clean; There no downed wives command Their feeble lords, or on adulterers lean. Theirs are dowries not of gold, Their parents' worth, their own pure chastity, True to one, to others cold; They dare not sin, or, if they dare, they die.
O, whoe'er has heart and head To stay our plague of blood, our civic brawls, Would he that his name be read “Father of Rome” on lofty pedestals, Let him chain this lawless will, And be our children's hero! cursed spite! Living worth we envy still, Then seek it with strain'd eyes, when snatch'd from sight. What can sad laments avail Unless sharp justice kill the taint of sin? What can laws, that needs must fail Shorn of the aid of manners form'd within,
If the merchant turns not back From the fierce heats that round the tropic glow, Turns not from the regions black With northern winds, and hard with frozen snow; Sailors override the wave, While guilty poverty, more fear'd than vice. Bids us crime and suffering brave, And shuns the ascent of virtue's precipice? Let the Capitolian fane, The favour'd goal of yon vociferous crowd, Aye, or let the nearest main Receive our gold, our jewels rich and proud:
Slay we thus the cause of crime, If yet we would repent and choose the good: Ours the task to take in time This baleful lust, and crush it in the bud. Ours to mould our weakling sons To nobler sentiment and manlier deed: Now the noble's first-born shuns The perilous chase, nor learns to sit his steed: Set him to the unlawful dice, Or Grecian hoop, how skilfully he plays! While his sire, mature in vice, A friend, a partner, or a guest betrays,
Hurrying, for an heir so base, To gather riches. Money, root of ill, Doubt it not, still grows apace: Yet the scant heap has somewhat lacking still.
Book 3, Poem 25
Whither, Bacchus, tear'st thou me. FiIl'd with thy strength? What dens, what forests these, Thus in wildering race I see? What cave shall hearken to my melodies, Tuned to tell of Caesar's praise And throne him high the heavenly ranks among? Sweet and strange shall be my lays, A tale till now by poet voice unsung. As the Evian on the height, Roused from her sleep, looks wonderingly abroad, Looks on Thrace with snow-drifts white, And Rhodope by barbarous footstep trod,
So my truant eyes admire The banks, the desolate forests. O great King Who the Naiads dost inspire, And Bacchants, strong from earth huge trees to wring! Not a lowly strain is mine, No mere man's utterance. O, 'tis venture sweet Thee to follow, God of wine, Making the vine-branch round thy temples meet!
Book 3, Poem 26
For ladies' love I late was fit, And good success my warfare blest, But now my arms, my lyre I quit, And hang them up to rust or rest. Here, where arising from the sea Stands Venus, lay the load at last, Links, crowbars, and artillery, Threatening all doors that dared be fast. O Goddess! Cyprus owns thy sway, And Memphis, far from Thracian snow; Raise high thy lash, and deal me, pray, That haughty Chloe just one blow!
Book 3, Poem 27
When guilt goes forth, let lapwings shrill, And dogs and foxes great with young, And wolves from far Lanuvian hill, Give clamorous tongue: Across the roadway dart the snake, Frightening, like arrow loosed from string, The horses. I, for friendship's sake, Watching each wing, Ere to his haunt, the stagnant marsh, The harbinger of tempest flies, Will call the raven, croaking harsh, From eastern skies.
Farewell!—and wheresoe'er you go, My Galatea, think of me: Let lefthand pie and roving crow Still leave you free. But mark with what a front of fear Orion lowers. Ah! well I know How Hadria glooms, how falsely clear The west-winds blow. Let foemen's wives and children feel The gathering south-wind's angry roar, The black wave's crash, the thunder-peal, The quivering shore.
So to the bull Europa gave Her beauteous form, and when she saw The monstrous deep, the yawning grave, Grew pale with awe. That morn of meadow-flowers she thought, Weaving a crown the nymphs to please: That gloomy night she look'd on nought But stars and seas. Then, as in hundred-citied Crete She landed,—“O my sire!” she said, “O childly duty! passion's heat Has struck thee dead.
Whence came I? death, for maiden's shame, Were little. Do I wake to weep My sin? or am I pure of blame, And is it sleep From dreamland brings a form to trick My senses? Which was best? to go Over the long, long waves, or pick The flowers in blow? O, were that monster made my prize, How would I strive to wound that brow, How tear those horns, my frantic eyes Adored but now!
Shameless I left my father's home; Shameless I cheat the expectant grave; O heaven, that naked I might roam In lions' cave! Now, ere decay my bloom devour Or thin the richness of my blood, Fain would I fall in youth's first flower, The tigers' food. Hark! 'tis my father—‘Worthless one! What, yet alive? the oak is nigh. 'Twas well you kept your maiden zone, The noose to tie.
Or if your choice be that rude pike, New barb'd with death, leap down and ask The wind to bear you. Would you like The bondmaid's task, You, child of kings, a master's toy, A mistress' slave?’” Beside her, lo! Stood Venus smiling, and her boy With unstrung bow. Then, when her laughter ceased, “Have done With fume and fret,” she cried, “my fair; That odious bull will give you soon His horns to tear.
You know not you are Jove's own dame: Away with sobbing; be resign'd To greatness: you shall give your name To half mankind.”
Book 3, Poem 28
Neptune's feast-day! what should man Think first of doing? Lyde mine, be bold, Broach the treasured Caecuban, And batter Wisdom in her own stronghold. Now the noon has pass'd the full, Yet sure you deem swift Time has made a halt, Tardy as you are to pull Old Bibulus' wine-jar from its sleepy vault. I will take my turn and sing Neptune and Nereus' train with locks of green; You shall warble to the string Latona and her Cynthia's arrowy sheen.
Hers our latest song, who sways Cnidos and Cyclads, and to Paphos goes With her swans, on holydays; Night too shall claim the homage music owes.
Book 3, Poem 29
Heir of Tyrrhenian kings, for you A mellow cask, unbroach'd as yet, Maecenas mine, and roses new, And fresh-drawn oil your locks to wet, Are waiting here. Delay not still, Nor gaze on Tibur, never dried, And sloping Aesule, and the hill Of Telegon the parricide. O leave that pomp that can but tire, Those piles, among the clouds at home; Cease for a moment to admire The smoke, the wealth, the noise of Rome!
In change e'en luxury finds a zest: The poor man's supper, neat, but spare, With no gay couch to seat the guest, Has smooth'd the rugged brow of care. Now glows the Ethiop maiden's sire; Now Procyon rages all ablaze; The Lion maddens in his ire, As suns bring back the sultry days: The shepherd with his weary sheep Seeks out the streamlet and the trees, Silvanus' lair: the still banks sleep Untroubled by the wandering breeze.
You ponder on imperial schemes, And o'er the city's danger brood: Bactrian and Serian haunt your dreams, And Tanais, toss'd by inward feud. The issue of the time to be Heaven wisely hides in blackest night, And laughs, should man's anxiety Transgress the bounds of man's short sight. Control the present: all beside Flows like a river seaward borne, Now rolling on its placid tide, Now whirling massy trunks uptorn,
And waveworn crags, and farms, and stock, In chaos blent, while hill and wood Reverberate to the enormous shock, When savage rains the tranquil flood Have stirr'd to madness. Happy he, Self-centred, who each night can say, “My life is lived: the morn may see A clouded or a sunny day: That rests with Jove: but what is gone, He will not, cannot turn to nought; Nor cancel, as a thing undone, What once the flying hour has brought.”
Fortune, who loves her cruel game, Still bent upon some heartless whim, Shifts her caresses, fickle dame, Now kind to me, and now to him: She stays; 'tis well: but let her shake Those wings, her presents I resign, Cloak me in native worth, and take Chaste Poverty undower'd for mine. Though storms around my vessel rave, I will not fall to craven prayers, Nor bargain by my vows to save My Cyprian and Sidonian wares,
Else added to the insatiate main. Then through the wild Aegean roar The breezes and the Brethren Twain Shall waft my little boat ashore.
Book 3, Poem 30
And now 'tis done: more durable than brass My monument shall be, and raise its head O'er royal pyramids: it shall not dread Corroding rain or angry Boreas, Nor the long lapse of immemorial time. I shall not wholly die: large residue Shall 'scape the queen of funerals. Ever new My after fame shall grow, while pontiffs climb With silent maids the Capitolian height. “Born,” men will say, “where Aufidus is loud, Where Daunus, scant of streams, beneath him bow'd The rustic tribes, from dimness he wax'd bright,
First of his race to wed the Aeolian lay To notes of Italy.” Put glory on, My own Melpomene, by genius won, And crown me of thy grace with Delphic bay.
Book 4, Poem 1
Yet again thou wak'st the flame That long had slumber'd! Spare me, Venus, spare! Trust me, I am not the same As in the reign of Cinara, kind and fair. Cease thy softening spells to prove On this old heart, by fifty years made hard, Cruel Mother of sweet Love! Haste, where gay youth solicits thy regard. With thy purple cygnets fly To Paullus' door, a seasonable guest; There within hold revelry, There light thy flame in that congenial breast.
He, with birth and beauty graced, The trembling client's champion, ne'er tongue-tied, Master of each manly taste, Shall bear thy conquering banners far and wide. Let him smile in triumph gay, True heart, victorious over lavish hand, By the Alban lake that day 'Neath citron roof all marble shalt thou stand: Incense there and fragrant spice With odorous fumes thy nostrils shall salute; Blended notes thine ear entice, The lyre, the pipe, the Berecyntine flute:
Graceful youths and maidens bright Shall twice a day thy tuneful praise resound, While their feet, so fair and white, In Salian measure three times beat the ground. I can relish love no more, Nor flattering hopes that tell me hearts are true, Nor the revel's loud uproar, Nor fresh-wreathed flowerets, bathed in vernal dew. Ah! but why, my Ligurine, Steal trickling tear-drops down my wasted cheek? Wherefore halts this tongue of mine, So eloquent once, so faltering now and weak?
Now I hold you in my chain, And clasp you close, all in a nightly dream; Now, still dreaming, o'er the plain I chase you; now, ah cruel! down the stream.
Book 4, Poem 2
Who fain at Pindar's flight would aim, On waxen wings, Iulus, he Soars heavenward, doom'd to give his name To some new sea. Pindar, like torrent from the steep Which, swollen with rain, its banks o'erflows, With mouth unfathomably deep, Foams, thunders, glows, All worthy of Apollo's bay, Whether in dithyrambic roll Pouring new words he burst away Beyond control,
Or gods and god-born heroes tell, Whose arm with righteous death could tame Grim Centaurs, tame Chimaeras fell, Out-breathing flame, Or bid the boxer or the steed In deathless pride of victory live, And dower them with a nobler meed Than sculptors give, Or mourn the bridegroom early torn From his young bride, and set on high Strength, courage, virtue's golden morn, Too good to die.
Antonius! yes, the winds blow free, When Dirce's swan ascends the skies, To waft him. I, like Matine bee, In act and guise, That culls its sweets through toilsome hours, Am roaming Tibur's banks along, And fashioning with puny powers A laboured song. Your Muse shall sing in loftier strain How Caesar climbs the sacred height, The fierce Sygambrians in his train, With laurel dight,
Than whom the Fates ne'er gave mankind A richer treasure or more dear, Nor shall, though earth again should find The golden year. Your Muse shall tell of public sports, And holyday, and votive feast, For Caesar's sake, and brawling courts Where strife has ceased. Then, if my voice can aught avail, Grateful for him our prayers have won, My song shall echo, “Hail, all hail, Auspicious Sun!”
There as you move, “Ho! Triumph, ho! Great Triumph!” once and yet again All Rome shall cry, and spices strow Before your train. Ten bulls, ten kine, your debt discharge: A calf new-wean'd from parent cow, Battening on pastures rich and large, Shall quit my vow. Like moon just dawning on the night The crescent honours of his head; One dapple spot of snowy white, The rest all red.
Book 4, Poem 3
He whom thou, Melpomene, Hast welcomed with thy smile, in life arriving, Ne'er by boxer's skill shall be Renown'd abroad, for Isthmian mastery striving; Him shall never fiery steed Draw in Achaean car a conqueror seated; Him shall never martial deed Show, crown'd with bay, after proud kings defeated, Climbing Capitolian steep: But the cool streams that make green Tibur flourish, And the tangled forest deep, On soft Aeolian airs his fame shall nourish.
Rome, of cities first and best, Deigns by her sons' according voice to hail me Fellow-bard of poets blest, And faint and fainter envy's growls assail me. Goddess, whose Pierian art The lyre's sweet sounds can modulate and measure, Who to dumb fish canst impart The music of the swan, if such thy pleasure: O, 'tis all of thy dear grace That every finger points me out in going Lyrist of the Roman race; Breath, power to charm, if mine, are thy bestowing!
Book 4, Poem 4
E'en as the lightning's minister, Whom Jove o'er all the feather'd breed Made sovereign, having proved him sure Erewhile on auburn Ganymede; Stirr'd by warm youth and inborn power, He quits the nest with timorous wing, For winter's storms have ceased to lower, And zephyrs of returuing spring Tempt him to launch on unknown skies Next on the fold he stoops downright; Last on resisting serpents flies, Athirst for foray and for flight:
As tender kidling on the grass Espies, uplooking from her food, A lion's whelp, and knows, alas! Those new-set teeth shall drink her blood: So look'd the Raetian mountaineers On Drusus:—whence in every field They learn'd through immemorial years The Amazonian axe to wield, I ask not now: not all of truth We seekers find: enough to know The wisdom of the princely youth Has taught our erst victorious foe
What prowess dwells in boyish hearts Rear'd in the shrine of a pure home, What strength Augustus' love imparts To Nero's seed, the hope of Rome. Good sons and brave good sires approve: Strong bullocks, fiery colts, attest Their fathers' worth, nor weakling dove Is hatch'd in savage eagle's nest. But care draws forth the power within, And cultured minds are strong for good: Let manners fail, the plague of sin Taints e'en the course of gentle blood.
How great thy debt to Nero's race, O Rome, let red Metaurus say, Slain Hasdrubal, and victory's grace First granted on that glorious day Which chased the clouds, and show'd the sun, When Hannibal o'er Italy Ran, as swift flames o'er pine-woods run, Or Eurus o'er Sicilia's sea. Henceforth, by fortune aiding toil, Rome's prowess grew: her fanes, laid waste By Punic sacrilege and spoil, Beheld at length their gods replaced.
Then the false Libyan own'd his doom:— “Weak deer, the wolves' predestined prey, Blindly we rush on foes, from whom 'Twere triumph won to steal away. That race which, strong from Ilion's fires, Its gods, on Tuscan waters tost, Its sons, its venerable sires, Bore to Ausonia's citied coast; That race, like oak by axes shorn On Algidus with dark leaves rife, Laughs carnage, havoc, all to scorn, And draws new spirit from the knife.
Not the lopp'd Hydra task'd so sore Alcides, chafing at the foil: No pest so fell was born of yore From Colchian or from Theban soil. Plunged in the deep, it mounts to sight More splendid: grappled, it will quell Unbroken powers, and fight a fight Whose story widow'd wives shall tell. No heralds shall my deeds proclaim To Carthage now: lost, lost is all: A nation's hope, a nation's name, They died with dying Hasdrubal.”
What will not Claudian hands achieve? Jove's favour is their guiding star, And watchful potencies unweave For them the tangled paths of war.
Book 4, Poem 5
Best guardian of Rome's people, dearest boon Of a kind Heaven, thou lingerest all too long: Thou bad'st thy senate look to meet thee soon: Do not thy promise wrong. Restore, dear chief, the light thou tak'st away: Ah! when, like spring, that gracious mien of thine Dawns on thy Rome, more gently glides the day, And suns serener shine. See her whose darling child a long year past Has dwelt beyond the wild Carpathian foam; That long year o'er, the envious southern blast Still bars him from his home:
Weeping and praying to the shore she clings, Nor ever thence her straining eyesight turns: So, smit by loyal passion's restless stings, Rome for her Caesar yearns. In safety range the cattle o'er the mead: Sweet Peace, soft Plenty, swell the golden grain: O'er unvex'd seas the sailors blithely speed: Fair Honour shrinks from stain: No guilty lusts the shrine of home defile: Cleansed is the hand without, the heart within: The father's features in his children smile Swift vengeance follows sin.
Who fears the Parthian or the Scythian horde, Or the rank growth that German forests yield, While Caesar lives? who trembles at the sword The fierce Iberians wield? In his own hills each labours down the day, Teaching the vine to clasp the widow'd tree: Then to his cups again, where, feasting gay, He hails his god in thee. A household power, adored with prayers and wine, Thou reign'st auspicious o'er his hour of ease: Thus grateful Greece her Castor made divine, And her great Hercules.
Ah! be it thine long holydays to give To thy Hesperia! thus, dear chief, we pray At sober sunrise; thus at mellow eve, When ocean hides the day.
Book 4, Poem 6
Thou who didst make thy vengeful might To Niobe and Tityos known, And Peleus' son, when Troy's tall height Was nigh his own, Victorious else, for thee no peer, Though, strong in his sea-parent's power, He shook with that tremendous spear The Dardan tower. He, like a pine by axes sped, Or cypress sway'd by angry gust, Fell ruining, and laid his head In Trojan dust.
Not his to lie in covert pent Of the false steed, and sudden fall On Priam's ill-starr'd merriment In bower and hail: His ruthless arm in broad bare day The infant from the breast had torn, Nay, given to flame, ah, well a way! The babe unborn: But, won by Venus' voice and thine, Relenting Jove Aeneas will'd With other omens more benign New walls to build.
Sweet tuner of the Grecian lyre, Whose locks are laved in Xanthus' dews, Blooming Agyieus! help, inspire My Daunian Muse! 'Tis Phoebus, Phoebus gifts my tongue With minstrel art and minstrel fires: Come, noble youths and maidens sprung From noble sires, Blest in your Dian's guardian smile, Whose shafts the flying silvans stay, Come, foot the Lesbian measure, while The lyre I play:
Sing of Latona's glorious boy, Sing of night's queen with crescent horn, Who wings the fleeting months with joy, And swells the corn. And happy brides shall say, “'Twas mine, When years the cyclic season brought, To chant the festal hymn divine By Horace taught.”
Book 4, Poem 7
The snow is fled: the trees their leaves put on, The fields their green: Earth owns the change, and rivers lessening run Their banks between. Naked the Nymphs and Graces in the meads The dance essay: “No 'scaping death” proclaims the year, that speeds This sweet spring day. Frosts yield to zephyrs; Summer drives out Spring, To vanish, when Rich Autumn sheds his fruits; round wheels the ring,— Winter again!
Yet the swift moons repair Heaven's detriment: We, soon as thrust Where good Aeneas, Tullus, Ancus went, What are we? dust. Can Hope assure you one more day to live From powers above? You rescue from your heir whate'er you give The self you love. When life is o'er, and Minos has rehearsed The grand last doom, Not birth, nor eloquence, nor worth, shall burst Torquatus' tomb.
Not Dian's self can chaste Hippolytus To life recall, Nor Theseus free his loved Pirithous From Lethe's thrall.
Book 4, Poem 8
Ah Censorinus! to my comrades true Rich cups, rare bronzes, gladly would I send: Choice tripods from Olympia on each friend Would I confer, choicer on none than you, Had but my fate such gems of art bestow'd As cunning Scopas or Parrhasius wrought, This with the brush, that with the chisel taught To image now a mortal, now a god. But these are not my riches: your desire Such luxury craves not, and your means disdain: A poet's strain you love; a poet's strain Accept, and learn the value of the lyre.
Not public gravings on a marble base, Whence comes a second life to men of might E'en in the tomb: not Hannibal's swift flight, Nor those fierce threats flung back into his face, Not impious Carthage in its last red blaze, In clearer light sets forth his spotless fame, Who from crush'd Afric took away—a name, Than rude Calabria's tributary lays. Let silence hide the good your hand has wrought, Farewell, reward! Had blank oblivion's power Dimm'd the bright deeds of Romulus, at this hour, Despite his sire and mother, he were nought.
Thus Aeacus has 'scaped the Stygian wave, By grace of poets and their silver tongue, Henceforth to live the happy isles among. No, trust the Muse: she opes the good man's grave, And lifts him to the gods. So Hercules, His labours o'er, sits at the board of Jove: So Tyndareus' offspring shine as stars above, Saving lorn vessels from the yawning seas: So Bacchus, with the vine-wreath round his hair, Gives prosperous issue to his votary's prayer.
Book 4, Poem 9
Think not those strains can e'er expire, Which, cradled 'mid the echoing roar Of Aufidus, to Latium's lyre I sing with arts unknown before. Though Homer fill the foremost throne, Yet grave Stesichorus still can please, And fierce Alcaeus holds his own With Pindar and Simonides. The songs of Teos are not mute, And Sappho's love is breathing still: She told her secret to the lute, And yet its chords with passion thrill.
Not Sparta's queen alone was fired By broider'd robe and braided tress, And all the splendours that attired Her lover's guilty loveliness: Not only Teucer to the field His arrows brought, nor Ilion Beneath a single conqueror reel'd: Not Crete's majestic lord alone, Or Sthenelus, earn'd the Muses' crown: Not Hector first for child and wife, Or brave Deiphobus, laid down The burden of a manly life.
Before Atrides men were brave: But ah! oblivion, dark and long, Has lock'd them in a tearless grave, For lack of consecrating song. 'Twixt worth and baseness, lapp'd in death, What difference? You shall ne'er be dumb, While strains of mine have voice and breath: The dull neglect of days to come Those hard-won honours shall not blight: No, Lollius, no: a soul is yours, Clear-sighted, keen, alike upright When fortune smiles, and when she lowers:
To greed and rapine still severe, Spurning the gain men find so sweet: A consul, not of one brief year, But oft as on the judgment-seat You bend the expedient to the right, Turn haughty eyes from bribes away, Or bear your banners through the fight, Scattering the foeman's firm array. The lord of boundless revenues, Salute not him as happy: no, Call him the happy, who can use The bounty that the gods bestow,
Can bear the load of poverty, And tremble not at death, but sin: No recreant he when called to die In cause of country or of kin.
Book 4, Poem 11
Here is a cask of Alban, more Than nine years old: here grows for you Green parsley, Phyllis, and good store Of ivy too (Wreathed ivy suits your hair, you know): The plate shines bright: the altar, strew'd With vervain, hungers for the flow Of lambkin's blood. There's stir among the serving folk; They bustle, bustle, boy and girl; The flickering flames send up the smoke In many a curl.
But why, you ask, this special cheer? We celebrate the feast of Ides, Which April's month, to Venus dear, In twain divides. O, 'tis a day for reverence, E'en my own birthday scarce so dear, For my Maecenas counts from thence Each added year. 'Tis Telephus that you'd bewitch: But he is of a high degree; Bound to a lady fair and rich, He is not free.
O think of Phaethon half burn'd, And moderate your passion's greed: Think how Bellerophon was spurn'd By his wing'd steed. So learn to look for partners meet, Shun lofty things, nor raise your aims Above your fortune. Come then, sweet, My last of flames (For never shall another fair Enslave me), learn a tune, to sing With that dear voice: to music care Shall yield its sting.
Book 4, Poem 12
The gales of Thrace, that hush the unquiet sea, Spring's comrades, on the bellying canvas blow: Clogg'd earth and brawling streams alike are free From winter's weight of snow. Wailing her Itys in that sad, sad strain, Builds the poor bird, reproach to after time Of Cecrops' house, for bloody vengeance ta'en On foul barbaric crime. The keepers of fat lambkins chant their loves To silvan reeds, all in the grassy lea, And pleasure Him who tends the flocks and groves Of dark-leaved Arcady.
It is a thirsty season, Virgil mine: But would you taste the grape's Calenian juice, Client of noble youths, to earn your wine Some nard you must produce. A tiny box of nard shall bring to light The cask that in Sulpician cellar lies: O, it can give new hopes, so fresh and bright, And gladden gloomy eyes. You take the bait? then come without delay And bring your ware: be sure, 'tis not my plan To let you drain my liquor and not pay, As might some wealthy man.
Come, quit those covetous thoughts, those knitted brows, Think on the last black embers, while you may, And be for once unwise. When time allows, 'Tis sweet the fool to play.
Book 4, Poem 13
The gods have heard, the gods have heard my prayer; Yes, Lyce! you are growing old, and still You struggle to look fair; You drink, and dance, and trill Your songs to youthful Love, in accents weak With wine, and age, and passion. Youthful Love! He dwells in Chia's cheek, And hears her harp-strings move. Rude boy, he flies like lightning o'er the heath Past wither'd trees like you; you're wrinkled now; The white has left your teeth And settled on your brow.
Your Coan silks, your jewels bright as stars, Ah no! they bring not back the days of old, In public calendars By flying Time enroll'd. Where now that beauty? where those movements? where That colour? what of her, of her is left, Who, breathing Love's own air, Me of myself bereft, Who reign'd in Cinara's stead, a fair, fair face, Queen of sweet arts? but Fate to Cinara gave A life of little space; And now she cheats the grave
Of Lyce, spared to raven's length of days, That youth may see, with laughter and disgust, A fire-brand, once ablaze, Now smouldering in grey dust.
Book 4, Poem 14
What honours can a grateful Rome, A grateful senate, Caesar, give To make thy worth through days to come Emblazon'd on our records live, Mightiest of chieftains whomsoe'er The sun beholds from heaven on high? They know thee now, thy strength in war, Those unsubdued Vindelici. Thine was the sword that Drusus drew, When on the Breunian hordes he fell, And storm'd the fierce Genaunian crew E'en in their Alpine citadel,
And paid them back their debt twice told 'Twas then the elder Nero came To conflict, and in ruin roll'd Stout Raetian kernes of giant frame. O, 'twas a gallant sight to see The shocks that beat upon the brave Who chose to perish and be free! As south winds scourge the rebel wave When through rent clouds the Pleiads weep, So keen his force to smite, and smite The foe, or make his charger leap Through the red furnace of the fight.
Thus Daunia's ancient river fares, Proud Aufidus, with bull-like horn, When swoln with choler he prepares A deluge for the fields of corn. So Claudius charged and overthrew The grim barbarian's mail-clad host, The foremost and the hindmost slew, And conquer'd all, and nothing lost. The force, the forethought, were thine own, Thine own the gods. The selfsame day When, port and palace open thrown, Low at thy footstool Egypt lay,
That selfsame day, three lustres gone, Another victory to thine hand Was given; another field was won By grace of Caesar's high command. Thee Spanish tribes, unused to yield, Mede, Indian, Scyth that knows no home, Acknowledge, sword at once and shield Of Italy and queenly Rome. Ister to thee, and Tanais fleet, And Nile that will not tell his birth, To thee the monstrous seas that beat On Britain's coast, the end of earth,
To thee the proud Iberians bow, And Gauls, that scorn from death to flee; The fierce Sygambrian bends his brow, And drops his arms to worship thee.
Book 4, Poem 15
Of battles fought I fain had told, And conquer'd towns, when Phoebus smote His harp-string: “Sooth, 'twere over-bold. To tempt wide seas in that frail boat.” Thy age, great Caesar, has restored To squalid fields the plenteous grain, Given back to Rome's almighty Lord Our standards, torn from Parthian fane, Has closed Quirinian Janus' gate, Wild passion's erring walk controll'd, Heal'd the foul plague-spot of the state, And brought again the life of old,
Life, by whose healthful power increased The glorious name of Latium spread To where the sun illumes the east From where he seeks his western bed. While Caesar rules, no civil strife Shall break our rest, nor violence rude, Nor rage, that whets the slaughtering knife And plunges wretched towns in feud. The sons of Danube shall not scorn The Julian edicts; no, nor they By Tanais' distant river horn, Nor Persia, Scythia, or Cathay.
And we on feast and working-tide, While Bacchus' bounties freely flow, Our wives and children at our side, First paying Heaven the prayers we owe, Shall sing of chiefs whose deeds are done, As wont our sires, to flute or shell, And Troy, Anchises, and the son Of Venus on our tongues shall dwell.
Contents — 103 sections
- Book 1, Poem 1
- Book 1, Poem 2
- Book 1, Poem 3
- Book 1, Poem 4
- Book 1, Poem 5
- Book 1, Poem 6
- Book 1, Poem 7
- Book 1, Poem 8
- Book 1, Poem 9
- Book 1, Poem 10
- Book 1, Poem 11
- Book 1, Poem 12
- Book 1, Poem 13
- Book 1, Poem 14
- Book 1, Poem 15
- Book 1, Poem 16
- Book 1, Poem 17
- Book 1, Poem 18
- Book 1, Poem 19
- Book 1, Poem 20
- Book 1, Poem 21
- Book 1, Poem 22
- Book 1, Poem 23
- Book 1, Poem 24
- Book 1, Poem 25
- Book 1, Poem 26
- Book 1, Poem 27
- Book 1, Poem 28
- Book 1, Poem 29
- Book 1, Poem 30
- Book 1, Poem 31
- Book 1, Poem 32
- Book 1, Poem 33
- Book 1, Poem 34
- Book 1, Poem 35
- Book 1, Poem 36
- Book 1, Poem 37
- Book 1, Poem 38
- Book 2, Poem 1
- Book 2, Poem 2
- Book 2, Poem 3
- Book 2, Poem 4
- Book 2, Poem 5
- Book 2, Poem 6
- Book 2, Poem 7
- Book 2, Poem 8
- Book 2, Poem 9
- Book 2, Poem 10
- Book 2, Poem 11
- Book 2, Poem 12
- Book 2, Poem 13
- Book 2, Poem 14
- Book 2, Poem 15
- Book 2, Poem 16
- Book 2, Poem 17
- Book 2, Poem 18
- Book 2, Poem 19
- Book 2, Poem 20
- Book 3, Poem 1
- Book 3, Poem 2
- Book 3, Poem 3
- Book 3, Poem 4
- Book 3, Poem 5
- Book 3, Poem 6
- Book 3, Poem 7
- Book 3, Poem 8
- Book 3, Poem 9
- Book 3, Poem 10
- Book 3, Poem 11
- Book 3, Poem 12
- Book 3, Poem 13
- Book 3, Poem 14
- Book 3, Poem 15
- Book 3, Poem 16
- Book 3, Poem 17
- Book 3, Poem 18
- Book 3, Poem 19
- Book 3, Poem 20
- Book 3, Poem 21
- Book 3, Poem 22
- Book 3, Poem 23
- Book 3, Poem 24
- Book 3, Poem 25
- Book 3, Poem 26
- Book 3, Poem 27
- Book 3, Poem 28
- Book 3, Poem 29
- Book 3, Poem 30
- Book 4, Poem 1
- Book 4, Poem 2
- Book 4, Poem 3
- Book 4, Poem 4
- Book 4, Poem 5
- Book 4, Poem 6
- Book 4, Poem 7
- Book 4, Poem 8
- Book 4, Poem 9
- Book 4, Poem 10
- Book 4, Poem 11
- Book 4, Poem 12
- Book 4, Poem 13
- Book 4, Poem 14
- Book 4, Poem 15
Book 1, Poem 1
Maecenas atavis edite regibus, o et praesidium et dulce decus meum: sunt quos curriculo pulverem Olympicum collegisse iuvat metaque fervidis evitata rotis palmaque nobilis terrarum dominos evehit ad deos; hunc, si mobilium turba Quiritium certat tergeminis tollere honoribus, illum, si proprio condidit horreo quidquid de Libycis verritur areis. gaudentem patrios findere sarculo agros Attalicis condicionibus
numquam demoveas, ut trabe Cypria Myrtoum pavidus nauta secet mare. luctantem Icariis fluctibus Africum mercator metuens otium et oppidi laudat rura sui; mox reficit rates quassas indocilis pauperiem pati. est qui nec veteris pocula Massici nec partem solido demere de die spernit, nunc viridi membra sub arbuto stratus, nunc ad aquae lene caput sacrae. multos castra iuvant et lituo tubae permixtus sonitus bellaque matribus
detestata. manet sub Iove frigido venator tenerae coniugis inmemor, seu visa est catulis cerva fidelibus seu rupit teretes Marsus aper plagas. me doctarum hederae praemia frontium dis miscent superis, me gelidum nemus Nympharumque leves cum Satyris chori secernunt populo, si neque tibias Euterpe cohibet nec Polyhymnia Lesboum refugit tendere barbiton. quodsi me lyricis vatibus inseres, sublimi feriam sidera vertice.
Book 1, Poem 2
Iam satis terris nivis atque dirae grandinis misit pater et rubente dextera sacras iaculatus arcis terruit urbem, terruit gentis, grave ne rediret saeculum Pyrrhae nova monstra questae, omne cum Proteus pecus egit altos visere montis, piscium et summa genus haesit ulmo, nota quae sedes fuerat columbis, et superiecto pavidae natarunt aequore dammae.
vidimus flavum Tiberim retortis litore Etrusco violenter undis ire deiectum monumenta regis templaque Vestae, Iliae dum se nimium querenti iactat ultorem, vagus et sinistra labitur ripa Iove non probante u- xorius amnis. audiet civis acuisse ferrum, quo graves Persae melius perirent, audiet pugnas vitio parentum rara iuventus.
quem vocet divum populus ruentis imperi rebus? prece qua fatigent virgines sanctae minus audientem carmina Vestam? cui dabit partis scelus expiandi Iuppiter? tandem venias precamur nube candentis umeros amictus augur Apollo; sive tu mavis, Erycina ridens, quam Iocus circum volat et Cupido; sive neglectum genus et nepotes respicis, auctor
heu nimis longo satiate ludo, quem iuvat clamor galeaeque leves acer et Marsi peditis cruentum voltus in hostem; sive mutata iuvenem figura ales in terris imitaris almae filius Maiae, patiens vocari Caesaris ultor: serus in caelum redeas diuque laetus intersis populo Quirini neve te nostris vitiis iniquum ocior aura
tollat; hic magnos potius triumphos, hic ames dici pater atque princeps neu sinas Medos equitare inultos te duce, Caesar.
Book 1, Poem 3
Sic te diva potens Cypri, sic fratres Helenae, lucida sidera, ventorumque regat pater obstrictis aliis praeter Iapyga, navis, quae tibi creditum debes Vergilium; finibus Atticis reddas incolumem precor et serves animae dimidium meae. illi robur et aes triplex circa pectus erat, qui fragilem truci conmisit pelago ratem primus: nec timuit praecipitem Africum
decertantem Aquilonibus nec tristis Hyadas nec rabiem Noti, quo non arbiter Hadriae maior, tollere seu ponere volt freta; quem mortis timuit gradum qui siccis oculis monstra natantia, qui vidit mare turbidum et infamis scopulos Acroceraunia? nequiquam deus abscidit prudens oceano dissociabili terras, si tamen inpiae non tangenda rates transiliunt vada.
audax omnia perpeti gens humana ruit per vetitum nefas: audax Iapeti genus ignem fraude mala gentibus intulit; post ignem aetheria domo subductum macies et nova febrium terris incubuit cohors semotique prius tarda necessitas Leti corripuit gradum; expertus vacuum Daedalus aera pennis non homini datis; perrupit Acheronta Herculeus labor.
nil mortalibus ardui est: caelum ipsum petimus stultitia neque per nostrum patimur scelus iracunda Iovem ponere fulmina.
Book 1, Poem 4
Solvitur acris hiems grata vice veris et Favoni trahuntque siccas machinae carinas ac neque iam stabulis gaudet pecus aut arator igni nec prata canis albicant pruinis. iam Cytherea choros ducit Venus imminente luna iunctaeque Nymphis Gratiae decentes alterno terram quatiunt pede, dum gravis Cyclopum Volcanus ardens visit officinas. nunc decet aut viridi nitidum caput impedire myrto aut flore, terrae quem ferunt solutae, nunc et in umbrosis Fauno decet immolare lucis, seu poscat agna sive malit haedo.
pallida Mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas regumque turris. o beate Sesti, vitae summa brevis spem nos vetat inchoare longam; iam te premet nox fabulaeque Manes et domus exilis Plutonia; quo simul mearis, nec regna vini sortiere talis nec tenerum Lycidan mirabere, quo calet iuventus nunc omnis et mox virgines tepebunt.
Book 1, Poem 5
Quis multa gracilis te puer in rosa perfusus liquidis urget odoribus grato, Pyrrha, sub antro? cui flavam religas comam simplex munditiis? heu quotiens fidem mutatosque deos flebit et aspera nigris aequora ventis emirabitur insolens qui nunc te fruitur credulus aurea, qui semper vacuam, semper amabilem sperat, nescius aurae fallacis. miseri, quibus
intemptata nites. me tabula sacer votiva paries indicat uvida suspendisse potenti vestimenta maris deo.
Book 1, Poem 6
Scriberis Vario fortis et hostium victor Maeonii carminis alite, quam rem cumque ferox navibus aut equis miles te duce gesserit. nos, Agrippa, neque haec dicere nec gravem Pelidae stomachum cedere nescii nec cursus duplicis per mare Ulixei nec saevam Pelopis domum conamur, tenues grandia, dum pudor inbellisque lyrae Musa potens vetat laudes egregii Caesaris et tuas culpa deterere ingeni.
quis Martem tunica tectum adamantina digne scripserit aut pulvere Troico nigrum Merionen aut ope Palladis Tydiden superis parem? nos convivia, nos proelia virginum sectis in iuvenes unguibus acrium cantamus, vacui sive quid urimur, non praeter solitum leves.
Book 1, Poem 7
Laudabunt alii claram Rhodon aut Mytilenen aut Epheson bimarisve Corinthi moenia vel Baccho Thebas vel Apolline Delphos insignis aut Thessala Tempe; sunt quibus unum opus est intactae Palladis urbem carmine perpetuo celebrare et undique decerptam fronti praeponere olivam; plurimus in Iunonis honorem aptum dicet equis Argos ditisque Mycenas: me nec tam patiens Lacedaemon nec tam Larisae percussit campus opimae quam domus Albuneae resonantis
et praeceps Anio ac Tiburni lucus et uda mobilibus pomaria rivis. albus ut obscuro deterget nubila caelo saepe Notus neque parturit imbris perpetuos, sic tu sapiens finire memento tristitiam vitaeque labores molli, Plance, mero, seu te fulgentia signis castra tenent seu densa tenebit Tiburis umbra tui. Teucer Salamina patremque cum fugeret, tamen uda Lyaeo tempora populea fertur vinxisse corona sic tristis adfatus amicos:
“quo nos cumque feret melior fortuna parente, ibimus—o socii comitesque, nil desperandum Teucro duce et auspice Teucro: certus enim promisit Apollo ambiguam tellure nova Salamina futuram. o fortes peioraque passi mecum saepe viri, nunc vino pellite curas; cras ingens iterabimus aequor.”
Book 1, Poem 8
Lydia, dic per omnis te deos oro, Sybarin cur properes amando perdere, cur apricum oderit campum patiens pulveris atque solis, cur neque militaris inter aequalis equitet, Gallica nec lupatis temperet ora frenis? cur timet flavum Tiberim tangere? cur olivum sanguine viperino cautius vitat neque iam livida gestat armis bracchia saepe disco, saepe trans finem iaculo nobilis expedito?
quid latet, ut marinae filium dicunt Thetidis sub lacrimosa Troiae funera, ne virilis cultus in caedem et Lycias proriperet catervas?
Book 1, Poem 9
Vides ut alta stet nive candidum Soracte nec iam sustineant onus silvae laborantes geluque flumina constiterint acuto? dissolve frigus ligna super foco large reponens atque benignius deprome quadrimum Sabina, o Thaliarche, merum diota. permitte divis cetera, qui simul stravere ventos aequore fervido deproeliantis, nec cupressi nec veteres agitantur orni.
quid sit futurum cras, fuge quaerere et quem Fors dierum cumque dabit, lucro adpone nec dulcis amores sperne puer neque tu choreas, donec virenti canities abest morosa. nunc et campus et areae lenesque sub noctem susurri conposita repetantur hora, nunc et latentis proditor intumo gratus puellae risus ab angulo pignusque dereptum lacertis aut digito male pertinaci.
Book 1, Poem 10
Mercuri facunde nepos Atlantis, qui feros cultus hominum recentum voce formasti catus et decorae more palaestrae, te canam, magni Iovis et deorum nuntium curvaeque lyrae parentem, callidum, quidquid placuit, iocoso condere furto. te, boves olim nisi reddidisses per dolum amotas, puerum minaci voce dum terret, viduus pharetra risit Apollo.
quin et Atridas duce te superbos Ilio dives Priamus relicto Thessalosque ignis et iniqua Troiae castra fefellit. tu pias laetis animas reponis sedibus virgaque levem coerces aurea turbam, superis deorum gratus et imis.
Book 1, Poem 11
Tu ne quaesieris, scire nefas, quem mihi, quem tibi finem di dederint, Leuconoe, nec Babylonios temptaris numeros. ut melius, quidquid erit, pati. seu pluris hiemes seu tribuit Iuppiter ultimam, quae nunc oppositis debilitat pumicibus mare Tyrrhenum: sapias, vina liques et spatio brevi spem longam reseces. dum loquimur, fugerit invida aetas: carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.
Book 1, Poem 12
Quem virum aut heroa lyra vel acri tibia sumis celebrare, Clio? quem deum? cuius recinet iocosa nomen imago aut in umbrosis Heliconis oris aut super Pindo gelidove in Haemo? unde vocalem temere insecutae Orphea silvae, arte materna rapidos morantem fluminum lapsus celeresque ventos, blandum et auritas fidibus canoris ducere quercus.
quid prius dicam solitis parentis laudibus, qui res hominum ac deorum, qui mare ac terras variisque mundum temperat horis? unde nil maius generatur ipso nec viget quidquam simile aut secundum. proximos illi tamen occupavit Pallas honores proeliis audax. neque te silebo, Liber et saevis inimica virgo beluis, nec te, metuende certa Phoebe sagitta.
dicam et Alciden puerosque Ledae, hunc equis, illum superare pugnis nobilem; quorum simul alba nautis stella refulsit, defluit saxis agitatus umor, concidunt venti fugiuntque nubes et minax, quia sic voluere, ponto unda recumbit. Romulum post hos prius an quietum Pompili regnum memorem, an superbos Tarquini fascis, dubito, an Catonis nobile letum:
Regulum et Scauros animaeque magnae prodigum Paulum superante Poeno gratus insigni referam camena Fabriciumque. hunc et incomptis Curium capillis utilem bello tulit et Camillum saeva paupertas et avitus apto cum lare fundus. crescit occulto velut arbor aevo fama Marcelli; micat inter omnis Iulium sidus velut inter ignis luna minores.
gentis humanae pater atque custos, orte Saturno, tibi cura magni Caesaris fatis data: tu secundo Caesare regnes. ille seu Parthos Latio imminentis egerit iusto domitos triumpho sive subiectos Orientis orae Seras et Indos, te minor latum reget aequos orbem: tu gravi curru quaties Olympum, tu parum castis inimica mittes fulmina lucis.
Book 1, Poem 13
Cum tu, Lydia, Telephi cervicem roseam, cerea Telephi laudas bracchia, vae, meum fervens difficili bile tumet iecur. tum nec mens mihi nec color certa sede manet, umor et in genas furtim labitur arguens, quam lentis penitus macerer ignibus. uror, seu tibi candidos turparunt umeros inmodicae mero rixae sive puer furens inpressit memorem dente labris notam.
non, si me satis audias, speres perpetuum dulcia barbare laedentem oscula, quae Venus quinta parte sui nectaris imbuit. felices ter et amplius quos inrupta tenet copula nec malis divolsus querimoniis suprema citius solvet amor die.
Book 1, Poem 14
O navis, referent in mare te novi fluctus. o quid agis? fortiter occupa portum. nonne vides, ut nudum remigio latus et malus celeri saucius Africo antemnaeque gemant ac sine funibus vix durare carinae possint imperiosius aequor? non tibi sunt integra lintea, non di, quos iterum pressa voces malo. quamvis Pontica pinus, silvae filia nobilis,
iactes et genus et nomen inutile: nil pictis timidus navita puppibus fidit. tu, nisi ventis debes ludibrium, cave. nuper sollicitum quae mihi taedium, nunc desiderium curaque non levis, interfusa nitentis vites aequora Cycladas.
Book 1, Poem 15
Pastor cum traheret per freta navibus Idaeis Helenen perfidus hospitam, ingrato celeres obruit otio ventos ut caneret fera Nereus fata. “mala ducis avi domum quam multo repetet Graecia milite coniurata tuas rumpere nuptias et regnum Priami vetus. heu heu, quantus equis, quantus adest viris sudor, quanta moves funera Dardanae genti. iam galeam Pallas et aegida currusque et rabiem parat.
nequiquam Veneris praesidio ferox pectes caesariem grataque feminis inbelli cithara carmina divides; nequiquam thalamo gravis hastas et calami spicula Cnosii vitabis strepitumque et celerem sequi Aiacem: tamen, heu serus, adulteros crines pulvere collines. non Laertiaden, exitium tuae genti, non Pylium Nestora respicis? urgent inpavidi te Salaminius Teucer, te Sthenelus, sciens
pugnae sive opus est imperitare equis, non auriga piger. Merionen quoque nosces. ecce furit, te reperire atrox, Tydides melior patre: quem tu, cervus uti vallis in altera visum parte lupum graminis inmemor, sublimi fugies mollis anhelitu, non hoc pollicitus tuae. iracunda diem proferet Ilio matronisque Phrygum classis Achillei; post certas hiemes uret Achaicus ignis Iliacas domos.
Book 1, Poem 16
O matre pulcra filia pulchrior, quem criminosis cumque voles modum pones iambis, sive flamma sive mari libet Hadriano. non Dindymene, non adytis quatit mentem sacerdotum incola Pythius, non Liber aeque, non acuta sic geminant Corybantes aera, tristes ut irae, quas neque Noricus deterret ensis nec mare naufragum nec saevos ignis nec tremendo Iuppiter ipse ruens tumultu.
fertur Prometheus addere principi limo coactus particulam undique desectam et insani leonis vim stomacho adposuisse nostro. irae Thyesten exitio gravi stravere et altis urbibus ultimae stetere causae, cur perirent funditus inprimeretque muris hostile aratrum exercitus insolens. conpesce mentem: me quoque pectoris temptavit in dulci iuventa fervor et in celeres iambos
misit furentem. nunc ego mitibus mutare quaero tristia, dum mihi fias recantatis amica opprobriis animumque reddas.
Book 1, Poem 17
Velox amoenum saepe Lucretilem mutat Lycaeo Faunus et igneam defendit aestatem capellis usque meis pluviosque ventos. inpune tutum per nemus arbutos quaerunt latentis et thyma deviae olentis uxores mariti nec viridis metuunt colubras nec Martialis haediliae lupos, utcumque dulci, Tyndari, fistula valles et Usticae cubantis levia personuere saxa.
di me tuentur, dis pietas mea et musa cordi est. hic tibi copia manabit ad plenum benigno ruris honorum opulenta cornu. hic in reducta valle Caniculae vitabis aestus et fide Teia dices laborantis in uno Penelopen vitreamque Circen; hic innocentis pocula Lesbii duces sub umbra nec Semeleius cum Marte confundet Thyoneus proelia nec metues protervum
suspecta Cyrum, ne male dispari incontinentis iniciat manus et scindat haerentem coronam crinibus inmeritamque vestem.
Book 1, Poem 18
Nullam, Vare, sacra vite prius severis arborem circa mite solum Tiburis et moenia Catili; siccis omnia nam dura deus proposuit neque mordaces aliter diffugiunt sollicitudines. quis post vina gravem militiam aut pauperiem crepat? quis non te potius, Bacche pater, teque, decens Venus? ac ne quis modici transiliat munera Liberi, Centaurea monet cum Lapithis rixa super mero debellata, monet Sithoniis non levis Euhius, cum fas atque nefas exiguo fine libidinum discernunt avidi. non ego te, candide Bassareu, invitum quatiam nec variis obsita frondibus
sub divum rapiam. saeva tene cum Berecyntio cornu tympana, quae subsequitur caecus amor sui et tollens vacuum plus nimio gloria verticem arcanique fides prodiga, perlucidior vitro.
Book 1, Poem 19
Mater saeva Cupidinum Thebanaeque iubet me Semelae puer et lasciva Licentia finitis animum reddere amoribus. urit me Glycerae nitor splendentis Pario marmore purius, urit grata protervitas et voltus nimium lubricus adspici. in me tota ruens Venus Cyprum deseruit nec patitur Scythas et versis animosum equis Parthum dicere nec quae nihil attinent.
hic vivum mihi caespitem, hic verbenas, pueri, ponite turaque bimi cum patera meri: mactata veniet lenior hostia.
Book 1, Poem 20
Vile potabis modicis Sabinum cantharis, Graeca quod ego ipse testa conditum levi, datus in theatro cum tibi plausus, clare Maecenas eques, ut paterni fluminis ripae simul et iocosa redderet laudes tibi Vaticani montis imago. Caecubum et prelo domitam Caleno tu bibes uvam: mea nec Falernae temperant vites neque Formiani pocula colles.
Book 1, Poem 21
Dianam tenerae dicite virgines, intonsum pueri dicite Cynthium Latonamque supremo dilectam penitus Iovi. vos laetam fluviis et nemorum coma quaecumque aut gelido prominet Algido nigris aut Erymanthi silvis aut viridis Cragi; vos Tempe totidem tollite laudibus natalemque, mares, Delon Apollinis insignemque pharetra fraternaque umerum lyra.
hic bellum lacrimosum, hic miseram famem pestemque a populo et principe Caesare in Persas atque Britannos vestra motus aget prece.
Book 1, Poem 22
Integer vitae scelerisque purus non eget Mauris iaculis neque arcu nec venenatis gravida sagittis, Fusce, pharetra, sive per Syrtis iter aestuosas sive facturus per inhospitalem Caucasum vel quae loca fabulosus lambit Hydaspes. namque me silva lupus in Sabina, dum meam canto Lalagen et ultra terminum curis vagor expeditis, fugit inermem;
quale portentum neque militaris Daunias latis alit aesculetis nec Iubae tellus generat, leonum arida nutrix. pone me pigris ubi nulla campis arbor aestiva recreatur aura, quod latus mundi nebulae malusque Iuppiter urget; pone sub curru nimium propinqui solis in terra domibus negata: dulce ridentem Lalagen amabo, dulce loquentem.
Book 1, Poem 23
Vitas hinnuleo me similis, Chloe, quaerenti pavidam montibus aviis matrem non sine vano aurarum et siluae metu. nam seu mobilibus veris inhorruit adventus foliis seu virides rubum dimovere lacertae, et corde et genibus tremit. atqui non ego te tigris ut aspera Gaetulusve leo frangere persequor: tandem desine matrem tempestiva sequi viro.
Book 1, Poem 24
Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus tam cari capitis? praecipe lugubris cantus, Melpomene, cui liquidam pater vocem cum cithara dedit. ergo Quintilium perpetuus sopor urget? cui Pudor et Iustitiae soror incorrupta Fides nudaque Veritas quando ullum inveniet parem? multis ille bonis flebilis occidit, nulli flebilior quam tibi, Vergili. tu, frustra pius, heu non ita creditum poscis Quintilium deos.
quid? si Threicio blandius Orpheo auditam moderere arboribus fidem, num vanae redeat sanguis imagini, quam virga semel horrida non lenis precibus fata recludere nigro conpulerit Mercurius gregi? durum: sed levius fit patientia quidquid corrigere est nefas.
Book 1, Poem 25
Parcius iunctas quatiunt fenestras iactibus crebris iuvenes protervi nec tibi somnos adimunt amatque ianua limen, quae prius multum facilis movebat cardines. audis minus et minus iam: “me tuo longas pereunte noctes, Lydia, dormis?” invicem moechos anus arrogantis flebis in solo levis angiportu Thracio bacchante magis sub inter- lunia vento,
cum tibi flagrans amor et libido, quae solet matres furiare equorum, saeviet circa iecur ulcerosum non sine questu, laeta quod pubes hedera virenti gaudeat pulla magis atque myrto, aridas frondes hiemis sodali dedicet Euro.
Book 1, Poem 26
Musis amicus tristitiam et metus tradam protervis in mare Creticum portare ventis, quis sub Arcto rex gelidae metuatur orae, quid Tiridaten terreat, unice securus. o quae fontibus integris gaudes, apricos necte flores, necte meo Lamiae coronam, Piplei dulcis. nil sine te mei prosunt honores: hunc fidibus novis, hunc Lesbio sacrare plectro teque tuasque decet sorores.
Book 1, Poem 27
Natis in usum laetitiae scyphis pugnare Thracum est: tollite barbarum morem verecundumque Bacchum sanguineis prohibete rixis. vino et lucernis Medus acinaces immane quantum discrepat: inpium lenite clamorem sodales et cubito remanete presso. voltis severi me quoque sumere partem Falerni? dicat Opuntiae frater Megillae, quo beatus volnere, qua pereat sagitta.
cessat voluntas? non alia bibam mercede. quae te cumque domat Venus, non erubescendis adurit ignibus ingenuoque semper amore peccas. quidquid habes, age, depone tutis auribus. a miser, quanta laborabas Charybdi, digne puer meliore flamma. quae saga, quis te solvere Thessalis magus venenis, quis poterit deus? vix inligatum te triformi Pegasus expediet Chimaera.
Book 1, Poem 28
Te maris et terrae numeroque carentis harenae mensorem cohibent, Archyta, pulveris exigui prope litus parva Matinum munera nec quicquam tibi prodest aerias temptasse domos animoque rotundum percurrisse polum morituro. occidit et Pelopis genitor, conviva deorum, Tithonusque remotus in auras et Iovis arcanis Minos admissus habentque Tartara Panthoiden iterum Orco demissum, quamvis clipeo Troiana refixo tempora testatus nihil ultra
nervos atque cutem morti concesserat atrae, iudice te non sordidus auctor naturae verique. sed omnis una manet nox et calcanda semel via leti. dant alios Furiae torvo spectacula Marti, exitio est avidum mare nautis; mixta senum ac iuvenum densentur funera, nullum saeva caput Proserpina fugit: me quoque devexi rapidus comes Orionis Illyricis Notus obruit undis. at tu, nauta, vagae ne parce malignus harenae ossibus et capiti inhumato
particulam dare: sic quodcumque minabitur Eurus fluctibus Hesperiis Venusinae plectantur silvae te sospite multaque merces unde potest tibi defluat aequo ab Iove Neptunoque sacri custode Tarenti. neglegis inmeritis nocituram postmodo te natis fraudem conmittere? fors et debita iura vicesque superbae te maneant ipsum: precibus non linquar inultis teque piacula nulla resolvent. quamquam festinas, non est mora longa; licebit iniecto ter pulvere curras.
Book 1, Poem 29
Icci, beatis nunc Arabum invides gazis et acrem militiam paras non ante devictis Sabaeae regibus horribilique Medo nectis catenas? quae tibi virginum sponso necato barbara serviet, puer quis ex aula capillis ad cyathum statuetur unctis doctus sagittas tendere Sericas arcu paterno? quis neget arduis pronos relabi posse rivos montibus et Tiberim reverti,
cum tu coemptos undique nobilis libros Panaeti Socraticam et domum mutare loricis Hiberis, pollicitus meliora, tendis?
Book 1, Poem 30
O Venus regina Cnidi Paphique, sperne dilectam Cypron et vocantis ture te multo Glycerae decoram transfer in aedem. fervidus tecum puer et solutis Gratiae zonis properentque Nymphae et parum comis sine te Iuventas Mercuriusque.
Book 1, Poem 31
Quid dedicatum poscit Apollinem vates? quid orat de patera novum fundens liquorem? non opimae Sardiniae segetes feracis, non aestuosae grata Calabriae armenta, non aurum aut ebur Indicum, non rura, quae Liris quieta mordet aqua taciturnus amnis. premant Calenam falce quibus dedit fortuna vitem, dives ut aureis mercator exsiccet culillis vina Syra reparata merce,
dis carus ipsis, quippe ter et quater anno revisens aequor Atlanticum inpune. me pascunt olivae, me cichorea levesque malvae. frui paratis et valido mihi, Latoe, dones et precor integra cum mente nec turpem senectam degere nec cithara carentem.
Book 1, Poem 32
Poscimur. si quid vacui sub umbra lusimus tecum, quod et hunc in annum vivat et pluris, age dic Latinum, barbite, carmen, Lesbio primum modulate civi, qui ferox bello tamen, inter arma sive iactatam religarat udo litore navim, Liberum et Musas Veneremque et illi semper haerentem puerum canebat et Lycum nigris oculis nigroque crine decorum.
o decus Phoebi et dapibus supremi grata testudo Iovis, o laborum dulce lenimen, mihi cumque salve rite vocanti!
Book 1, Poem 33
Albi, ne doleas plus nimio memor inmitis Glycerae neu miserabilis decantes elegos, cur tibi iunior laesa praeniteat fide. insignem tenui fronte Lycorida Cyri torret amor, Cyrus in asperam declinat Pholoen: sed prius Apulis iungentur capreae lupis quam turpi Pholoe peccet adultero. sic visum Veneri, cui placet inpares formas atque animos sub iuga aenea saevo mittere cum ioco.
ipsum me melior cum peteret Venus, grata detinuit compede Myrtale libertina, fretis acrior Hadriae curvantis Calabros sinus.
Book 1, Poem 34
Parcus deorum cultor et infrequens, insanientis dum sapientiae consultus erro, nunc retrorsum vela dare atque iterare cursus cogor relictos: namque Diespiter, igni corusco nubila dividens plerumque, per purum tonantis egit equos volucremque currum, quo bruta tellus et vaga flumina, quo Styx et invisi horrida Taenari sedes Atlanteusque finis concutitur. valet ima summis
mutare et insignem attenuat deus obscura promens; hinc apicem rapax: Fortuna cum stridore acuto sustulit, hic posuisse gaudet.
Book 1, Poem 35
O diva, gratum quae regis Antium, praesens vel imo tollere de gradu mortale corpus vel superbos vertere funeribus triumphos: te pauper ambit sollicita prece ruris colonus, te dominam aequoris quicumque Bithyna lacessit Carpathium pelagus carina; te Dacus asper, te profugi Scythae urbesque gentesque et Latium ferox regumque matres barbarorum et purpurei metuunt tyranni,
iniurioso ne pede proruas stantem columnam neu populus frequens ad arma, cessantis ad arma concitet imperiumque frangat; te semper anteit saeva Necessitas, clavos trabalis et cuneos manu gestans aena nec severus uncus abest liquidumque plumbum; te Spes et albo rara Fides colit velata panno nec comitem abnegat, utcumque mutata potentis veste domos inimica linquis,
at volgus infidum et meretrix retro periura cedit, diffugiunt cadis cum faece siccatis amici, ferre iugum pariter dolosi: serves iturum Caesarem in ultimos orbis Britannos et iuvenum recens examen Eois timendum partibus Oceanoque rubro. heu heu, cicatricum et sceleris pudet fratrumque. quid nos dura refugimus aetas? quid intactum nefasti liquimus? unde manum iuventus
metu deorum continuit? quibus pepercit aris? o utinam nova incude diffingas retusum in Massagetas Arabasque ferrum.
Book 1, Poem 36
Et ture et fidibus iuvat placare et vituli sanguine debito custodes Numidae deos, qui nunc Hesperia sospes ab ultima caris multa sodalibus, nulli plura tamen dividet oscula quam dulci Lamiae, memor actae non alio rege puertiae mutataeque simul togae. Cressa ne careat pulcra dies nota neu promptae modus amphorae neu morem in Salium sit requies pedum
neu multi Damalis meri Bassum Threicia vincat amystide neu desint epulis rosae neu vivax apium neu breve lilium. omnes in Damalin putris deponent oculos nec Damalis novo divelletur adultero lascivis hederis ambitiosior.
Book 1, Poem 37
Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus; nunc Saliaribus ornare pulvinar deorum tempus erat dapibus, sodales. antehac nefas depromere Caecubum cellis avitis, dum Capitolio regina dementis ruinas, funus et imperio parabat contaminato cum grege turpium morbo virorum quidlibet inpotens sperare fortunaque dulci ebria. sed minuit furorem
vix una sospes navis ab ignibus mentemque lymphatam Mareotico redegit in veros timores Caesar ab Italia volantem remis adurgens, accipiter velut mollis columbas aut leporem citus venator in campis nivalis Haemoniae, daret ut catenis fatale monstrum. quae generosius perire quaerens nec muliebriter expavit ensem nec latentis classe cita reparavit oras.
ausa et iacentem visere regiam voltu sereno, fortis et asperas tractare serpentes, ut atrum corpore conbiberet venenum, deliberata morte ferocior; saevis Liburnis scilicet invidens privata deduci superbo, non humilis mulier, triumpho.
Book 1, Poem 38
Persicos odi, puer, adparatus, displicent nexae philyra coronae, mitte sectari, rosa quo locorum sera moretur. simplici myrto nihil adlabores sedulus curo: neque te ministrum dedecet myrtus neque me sub arta vite bibentem.
Book 2, Poem 1
Motum ex Metello consule civicum bellique causas et vitia et modos ludumque Fortunae gravisque principum amicitias et arma nondum expiatis uncta cruoribus, periculosae plenum opus aleae, tractas et incedis per ignis suppositos cineri doloso. paulum severae musa tragoediae desit theatris: mox ubi publicas res ordinaris, grande munus Cecropio repetes cothurno,
insigne maestis praesidium reis et consulenti, Pollio, curiae, cui laurus aeternos honores Delmatico peperit triumpho. iam nunc minaci murmure cornuum perstringis auris, iam litui strepunt, iam fulgor armorum fugacis terret equos equitumque voltus. audire magnos iam videor duces, non indecoro pulvere sordidos et cuncta terrarum subacta praeter atrocem animum Catonis.
Iuno et deorum quisquis amicior Afris inulta cesserat inpotens tellure victorum nepotes rettulit inferias Iugurthae. quis non Latino sanguine pinguior campus sepulcris inpia proelia testatur auditumque Medis Hesperiae sonitum ruinae? qui gurges aut quae flumina lugubris ignara belli? quod mare Dauniae non decoloravere caedes? quae caret ora cruore nostro?
sed ne relictis, Musa procax, iocis Ceae retractes munera neniae, mecum Dionaeo sub antro quaere modos leviore plectro.
Book 2, Poem 2
Nullus argento color est avaris abdito terris, inimice lamnae Crispe Sallusti, nisi temperato splendeat usu. vivet extento Proculeius aevo, notus in fratres animi paterni: illum aget penna metuente solvi Fama superstes. latius regnes avidum domando spiritum quam si Libyam remotis Gadibus iungas et uterque Poenus serviat uni.
crescit indulgens sibi dirus hydrops nec sitim pellit, nisi causa morbi fugerit venis et aquosus albo corpore languor. redditum Cyri solio Phraaten dissidens plebi numero beatorum eximit Virtus populumque falsis dedocet uti vocibus, regnum et diadema tutum deferens uni propriamque laurum quisquis ingentis oculo inretorto spectat acervos.
Book 2, Poem 3
Aequam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem, non secus in bonis ab insolenti temperatam laetitia, moriture Delli, seu maestus omni tempore vixeris seu te in remoto gramine per dies festos reclinatum bearis interiore nota Falerni. quo pinus ingens albaque populus umbram hospitalem consociare amant ramis? quid obliquo laborat lympha fugax trepidare rivo?
huc vina et unguenta et nimium brevis flores amoenae ferre iube rosae, dum res et aetas et sororum fila trium patiuntur atra. cedes coemptis saltibus et domo villaque, flavos quam Tiberis lavit, cedes et exstructis in altum divitiis potietur heres. divesne prisco natus ab Inacho nil interest an pauper et infima de gente sub divo moreris: victima nil miserantis Orci.
omnes eodem cogimur, omnium versatur urna serius ocius sors exitura et nos in aeternum exilium inpositura cumbae.
Book 2, Poem 4
Ne sit ancillae tibi amor pudori, Xanthia Phoceu: prius insolentem serva Briseis niveo colore movit Achillem, movit Aiacem Telamone natum forma captivae dominum Tecmessae, arsit Atrides medio in triumpho virgine rapta, barbarae postquam cecidere turmae Thessalo victore et ademptus Hector tradidit fessis leviora tolli Pergama Grais.
nescias an te generum beati Phyllidis flavae decorent parentes: regium certe genus, et penatis maeret iniquos. crede non illam tibi de scelesta plebe dilectam neque sic fidelem, sic lucro aversam potuisse nasci matre pudenda. bracchia et voltum teretesque suras integer laudo: fuge suspicari, cuius octavum trepidavit aetas claudere lustrum.
Book 2, Poem 5
Nondum subacta ferre iugum valet cervice, nondum munia conparis aequare nec tauri ruentis in venerem tolerare pondus; circa virentis est animus tuae campos iuvencae nunc fluviis gravem solantis aestum, nunc in udo ludere cum vitulis salicto praegestientis. tolle cupidinem inmitis uvae: iam tibi lividos distinguet autumnus racemos purpureo varius colore.
iam te sequetur (currit enim ferox aetas et illi quos tibi dempserit adponet annos), iam proterva fronte petet Lalage maritum dilecta, quantum non Pholoe fugax, non Chloris albo sic umero nitens ut pura nocturno renidet luna mari, Cnidiusve Gyges, quem si puellarum insereres choro, mire sagacis falleret hospites discrimen obscurum solutis crinibus ambiguoque voltu.
Book 2, Poem 6
Septimi, Gadis aditure mecum et Cantabrum indoctum iuga ferre nostra et barbaras Syrtis, ubi Maura semper aestuat unda: Tibur Argeo positum colono sit meae sedes utinam senectae, sit modus lasso maris et viarum militiaeque. unde si Parcae prohibent iniquae, dulce pellitis ovibus Galaesi flumen et regnata petam Laconi rura Phalantho
ille terrarum mihi praeter omnis angulus ridet, ubi non Hymetto mella decedunt viridique certat baca Venafro, ver ubi longum tepidasque praebet Iuppiter brumas et amicus Aulon fertili Baccho minimum Falernis invidet uvis; ille te mecum locus et beatae postulant arces: ibi tu calentem debita sparges lacrima favillam vatis amici.
Book 2, Poem 7
O saepe mecum tempus in ultimum deducte Bruto militiae duce, quis te redonavit Quiritem dis patriis Italoque caelo, Pompei, meorum prime sodalium, cum quo morantem saepe diem mero fregi, coronatus nitentis malobathro Syrio capillos? tecum Philippos et celerem fugam sensi relicta non bene parmula, cum fracta virtus, et minaces turpe solum tetigere mento;
sed me per hostis Mercurius celer denso paventem sustulit aere, te rursus in bellum resorbens unda fretis tulit aestuosis. ergo obligatam redde Iovi dapem longaque fessum militia latus depone sub lauru mea nec parce cadis tibi destinatis. oblivioso levia Massico ciboria exple, funde capacibus unguenta de conchis. quis udo deproperare apio coronas
curatve myrto? quem Venus arbitrum dicet bibendi? non ego sanius bacchabor Edonis: recepto dulce mihi furere est amico.
Book 2, Poem 8
Vlla si iuris tibi peierati poena, Barine, nocuisset umquam, dente si nigro fieres vel uno turpior ungui, crederem: sed tu simul obligasti perfidum votis caput, enitescis pulchrior multo iuvenumque prodis publica cura. expedit matris cineres opertos fallere et toto taciturna noctis signa cum caelo gelidaque divos morte carentis
ridet hoc, inquam, Venus ipsa, rident simplices Nymphae, ferus et Cupido semper ardentis acuens sagittas cote cruenta. adde quod pubes tibi crescit omnis, servitus crescit nova nec priores inpiae tectum dominae relinquunt, saepe minati. te suis matres metuunt iuvencis, te senes parci miseraeque nuper virgines nuptae, tua ne retardet aura maritos.
Book 2, Poem 9
Non semper imbres nubibus hispidos manant in agros aut mare Caspium vexant inaequales procellae usque nec Armeniis in oris, amice Valgi, stat glacies iners mensis per omnis aut Aquilonibus querceta Gargani laborant et foliis viduantur orni: tu semper urges flebilibus modis Mysten ademptum nec tibi Vespero surgente decedunt amores nec rapidum fugiente solem.
at non ter aevo functus amabilem ploravit omnis Antilochum senex annos nec inpubem parentes Troilon aut Phrygiae sorores flevere semper. desine mollium tandem querellarum et potius nova cantemus Augusti tropaea Caesaris et rigidum Niphaten Medumque flumen gentibus additum victis minores volvere vertices intraque praescriptum Gelonos exiguis equitare campis.
Book 2, Poem 10
Rectius vives, Licini, neque altum semper urgendo neque, dum procellas cautus horrescis, nimium premendo litus iniquum. auream quisquis mediocritatem diligit, tutus caret obsoleti sordibus tecti, caret invidenda sobrius aula. saepius ventis agitatur ingens pinus et celsae graviore casu decidunt turres feriuntque summos fulgura montis
sperat infestis, metuit secundis alteram sortem bene praeparatum pectus. informis hiemes reducit Iuppiter, idem submovet. non, si male nunc, et olim sic erit: quondam cithara tacentem suscitat Musam neque semper arcum tendit Apollo. rebus angustis animosus atque fortis adpare: sapienter idem contrahes vento nimium secundo turgida vela.
Book 2, Poem 11
Quid bellicosus Cantaber et Scythes, Hirpine Quinti, cogitet Hadria divisus obiecto, remittas quaerere nec trepides in usum poscentis aevi pauca: fugit retro levis iuventas et decor arida pellente lascivos amores canitie facilemque somnum. non semper idem floribus est honor vernis neque uno luna rubens nitet voltu: quid aeternis minorem consiliis animum fatigas?
cur non sub alta vel platano vel hac pinu iacentes sic temere et rosa canos odorati capillos, dum licet, Assyriaque nardo potamus uncti? dissipat Euhius curas edacis. quis puer ocius restinguet ardentis Falerni pocula praetereunte lympha? quis devium scortum eliciet domo Lyden? eburna, dic age, cum lyra maturet, in comptum Lacaenae more comam religata nodum.
Book 2, Poem 12
Nolis longa ferae bella Numantiae nec durum Hannibalem nec Siculum mare Poeno purpureum sanguine mollibus aptari citharae modis nec saevos Lapithas et nimium mero Hylaeum domitosque Herculea manu Telluris iuvenes, unde periculum fulgens contremuit domus Saturni veteris: tuque pedestribus dices historiis proelia Caesaris, Maecenas, melius ductaque per vias regum colla minacium.
me dulcis dominae Musa Licymniae cantus, me voluit dicere lucidum fulgentis oculos et bene mutuis fidum pectus amoribus; quam nec ferre pedem dedecuit choris nec certare ioco nec dare bracchia ludentem nitidis virginibus sacro Dianae celebris die. num tu quae tenuit dives Achaemenes aut pinguis Phrygiae Mygdonias opes permutare velis crine Licymniae plenas aut Arabum domos,
cum flagrantia detorquet ad oscula cervicem aut facili saevitia negat quae poscente magis gaudeat eripi, interdum rapere occupet?
Book 2, Poem 13
Ille et nefasto te posuit die quicumque primum, et sacrilega manu produxit, arbos, in nepotum perniciem opprobriumque pagi; illum et parentis crediderim sui fregisse cervicem et penetralia sparsisse nocturno cruore hospitis; ille venena Colcha et quidquid usquam concipitur nefas tractavit, agro qui statuit meo te, triste lignum, te, caducum in domini caput inmerentis
quid quisque vitet, numquam homini satis cautum est in horas: navita Bosporum Poenus perhorrescit neque ultra caeca timet aliunde fata, miles sagittas et celerem fugam Parthi, catenas Parthus et Italum robur; sed inprovisa leti vis rapuit rapietque gentis. quam paene furvae regna Proserpinae et iudicantem vidimus Aeacum sedesque discriptas piorum et Aeoliis fidibus querentem
Sappho puellis de popularibus et te sonantem plenius aureo, Alcaee, plectro dura navis, dura fugae mala, dura belli. utrumque sacro digna silentio mirantur umbrae dicere, sed magis pugnas et exactos tyrannos densum umeris bibit aure volgus. quid mirum, ubi illis carminibus stupens demittit atras belua centiceps auris et intorti capillis Eumenidum recreantur angues?
quin et Prometheus et Pelopis parens dulci laborem decipitur sono nec curat Orion leones aut timidos agitare lyncas
Book 2, Poem 14
Eheu fugaces, Postume, Postume, labuntur anni nec pietas moram rugis et instanti senectae adferet indomitaeque morti, non, si trecenis quotquot eunt dies, amice, places inlacrimabilem Plutona tauris, qui ter amplum Geryonen Tityonque tristi conpescit unda, scilicet omnibus quicumque terrae munere vescimur enaviganda, sive reges sive inopes erimus coloni.
frustra cruento Marte carebimus fractisque rauci fluctibus Hadriae, frustra per autumnos nocentem corporibus metuemus Austrum: visendus ater flumine languido Cocytos errans et Danai genus infame damnatusque longi Sisyphus Aeolides laboris. linquenda tellus et domus et placens uxor neque harum quas colis arborum te praeter invisas cupressos ulla brevem dominum sequetur.
absumet heres Caecuba dignior servata centum clavibus et mero tinguet pavimentum superbo, pontificum potiore cenis.
Book 2, Poem 15
Iam pauca aratro iugera regiae moles relinquent, undique latius extenta visentur Lucrino stagna lacu platanusque caelebs evincet ulmos; tum violaria et myrtus et omnis copia narium spargent olivetis odorem fertilibus domino priori, tum spissa ramis laurea fervidos excludet ictus. non ita Romuli praescriptum et intonsi Catonis auspiciis veterumque norma.
privatus illis census erat brevis, commune magnum: nulla decempedis metata privatis opacam porticus excipiebat arcton nec fortuitum spernere caespitem leges sinebant, oppida publico sumptu iubentes et deorum templa novo decorare saxo.
Book 2, Poem 16
Otium divos rogat in patenti prensus Aegaeo, simul atra nubes condidit lunam neque certa fulgent sidera nautis, otium bello furiosa Thrace, otium Medi pharetra decori, Grosphe, non gemmis neque purpura ve- nale nec auro. non enim gazae neque consularis submovet lictor miseros tumultus mentis et curas laqueata circum tecta volantis
vivitur parvo bene cui paternum splendet in mensa tenui salinum nec levis somnos timor aut cupido sordidus aufert. quid brevi fortes iaculamur aevo multa? quid terras alio calentis sole mutamus? patriae quis exsul se quoque fugit? scandit aeratas vitiosa navis Cura nec turmas equitum relinquit ocior cervis et agente nimbos ocior Euro.
laetus in praesens animus quod ultra est oderit curare et amara lento temperet risu: nihil est ab omni parte beatum. abstulit clarum cita mors Achillem, longa Tithonum minuit senectus et mihi forsan tibi quod negarit porriget hora. te greges centum Siculaeque circum mugiunt vaccae, tibi tollit hinnitum apta quadrigis equa, te bis Afro murice tinctae
vestiunt lanae: mihi parva rura et spiritum Graiae tenuem Camenae Parca non mendax dedit et malignum spernere volgus.
Book 2, Poem 17
Cur me querelis exanimas tuis? nec dis amicum est nec mihi te prius obire, Maecenas, mearum grande decus columenque rerum. a, te meae si partem animae rapit maturior vis, quid moror altera, nec carus aeque nec superstes integer? ille dies utramque ducet ruinam. non ego perfidum dixi sacramentum ibimus, ibimus, utcumque praecedes, supremum carpere iter comites parati.
me nec Chimaerae spiritus igneae nec si resurgat centimanus Gyas divellet umquam: sic potenti Iustitiae placitumque Parcis. seu Libra seu me Scorpios adspicit formidolosus pars violentior natalis horae seu tyrannus Hesperiae Capricornus undae: utrumque nostrum incredibili modo consentit astrum; te Iovis inpio tutela Saturno refulgens eripuit volucrisque Fati
tardavit alas, cum populus frequens laetum theatris ter crepuit sonum; me truncus inlapsus cerebro, sustulerat, nisi Faunus ictum dextra levasset, Mercurialium custos virorum. reddere victimas aedemque votivam memento; nos humilem feriemus agnam.
Book 2, Poem 18
Non ebur neque aureum mea renidet in domo lacunar, non trabes Hymettiae premunt columnas ultima recisas Africa neque Attali ignotus heres regiam occupavi nec Laconicas mihi trahunt honestae purpuras clientae. at fides et ingeni benigna vena est pauperemque dives me petit: nihil supra deos lacesso nec potentem amicum
largiora flagito, satis beatus unicis Sabinis. truditur dies die novaeque pergunt interire lunae: tu secanda marmora locas sub ipsum funus et sepulcri inmemor struis domos marisque Bais obstrepentis urges submovere litora, parum locuples continente ripa; quid quod usque proximos revellis agri terminos et ultra
limites clientium salis avarus? pellitur paternos in sinu ferens deos et uxor et vir sordidosque natos. nulla certior tamen rapacis Orci fine destinata aula divitem manet erum. quid ultra tendis? aequa tellus pauperi recluditur regumque pueris nec satelles Orci callidum Promethea revexit auro captus; hic superbum
Tantalum atque Tantali genus coercet, hic levare functum pauperem laboribus vocatus atque non vocatus audit.
Book 2, Poem 19
Bacchum in remotis carmina rupibus vidi docentem, credite posteri, Nymphasque discentis et auris capripedum Satyrorum acutas euhoe, recenti mens trepidat metu, plenoque Bacchi pectore turbidum laetatur. euhoe, parce Liber, parce gravi metuende thyrso. fas pervicacis est mihi Thyiadas vinique fontem lactis et uberes cantare rivos atque truncis lapsa cavis iterare mella;
fas et beatae coniugis additum stellis honorem tectaque Penthei disiecta non leni ruina Thracis et exitium Lycurgi tu flectis amnis, tu mare barbarum, tu separatis uvidus in iugis nodo coerces viperino Bistonidum sine fraude crinis. tu, cum parentis regna per arduum cohors gigantum scanderet inpia, Rhoetum retorsisti leonis unguibus horribilique mala;
quamquam choreis aptior et iocis ludoque dictus non sat idoneus pugnae ferebaris; sed idem pacis eras mediusque belli. te vidit insons Cerberus aureo cornu decorum leniter atterens caudam et recedentis trilingui ore pedes tetigitque crura.
Book 2, Poem 20
Non usitata nec tenui ferar penna biformis per liquidum aethera vates neque in terris morabor longius invidiaque maior urbis relinquam. non ego, pauperum sanguis parentum, non ego, quem vocas. dilecte Maecenas, obibo nec Stygia cohibebor unda. iam iam residunt cruribus asperae pelles et album mutor in alitem superne nascunturque leves per digitos umerosque plumae.
iam Daedaleo notior Icaro visam gementis litora Bospori Syrtisque Gaetulas canorus ales Hyperboreosque campos. me Colchus et qui dissimulat metum Marsae cohortis Dacus et ultimi noscent Geloni, me peritus discet Hiber Rhodanique potor. absint inani funere neniae luctusque turpes et querimoniae; conpesce clamorem ac sepulcri mitte supervacuos honores.
Book 3, Poem 1
Odi profanum volgus et arceo. favete linguis: carmina non prius audita Musarum sacerdos virginibus puerisque canto. regum timendorum in proprios greges, reges in ipsos imperium est Iovis, clari Giganteo triumpho, cuncta supercilio moventis. est ut viro vir latius ordinet arbusta sulcis, hic generosior descendat in campum petitor, moribus hic meliorque fama
contendat, illi turba clientium sit maior: aequa lege Necessitas sortitur insignis et imos, omne capax movet urna nomen. destrictus ensis cui super inpia cervice pendet, non Siculae dapes dulcem elaborabunt saporem, non avium citharaeque cantus somnum reducent: somnus agrestium lenis virorum non humilis domos fastidit umbrosamque ripam, non Zephyris agitata Tempe.
desiderantem quod satis est neque tumultuosum sollicitat mare nec saevus Arcturi cadentis impetus aut orientis Haedi, non verberatae grandine vineae fundusque mendax arbore nunc aquas culpante, nunc torrentia agros sidera, nunc hiemes iniquas. contracta pisces aequora sentiunt iactis in altum molibus: huc frequens caementa demittit redemptor cum famulis dominusque terrae
fastidiosus: sed Timor et Minae scandunt eodem, quo dominus, neque decedit aerata triremi et post equitem sedet atra Cura. quodsi dolentem nec Phrygius lapis nec purpurarum sidere clarior delenit usus nec Falerna vitis Achaemeniumque costum, cur invidendis postibus et novo sublime ritu moliar atrium? cur valle permutem Sabina divitias operosiores?
Book 3, Poem 2
Angustam amice pauperiem pati robustus acri militia puer condiscat et Parthos ferocis vexet eques metuendus hasta vitamque sub divo et trepidis agat in rebus. illum ex moenibus hosticis matrona bellantis tyranni prospiciens et adulta virgo suspiret “eheu, ne rudis agminum sponsus lacessat regius asperum tactu leonem, quem cruenta per medias rapit ira caedes.”
dulce et decorum est pro patria mori: mors et fugacem persequitur virum nec parcit inbellis iuventae poplitibus timidoque tergo. Virtus, repulsae nescia sordidae, intaminatis fulget honoribus nec sumit aut ponit securis arbitrio popularis aurae. Virtus, recludens inmeritis mori caelum, negata temptat iter via coetusque volgaris et udam spernit humum fugiente penna.
est et fideli tuta silentio merces: vetabo, qui Cereris sacrum volgarit arcanae, sub isdem sit trabibus fragilemque mecum solvat phaselon; saepe Diespiter neglectus incesto addidit integrum, raro antecedentem scelestum deseruit pede Poena claudo.
Book 3, Poem 3
Iustum et tenacem propositi virum non civium ardor prava iubentium, non voltus instantis tyranni mente quatit solida neque Auster, dux inquieti turbidus Hadriae, nec fulminantis magna manus Iovis: si fractus inlabatur orbis, inpavidum ferient ruinae. hac arte Pollux et vagus Hercules enisus arcis attigit igneas, quos inter Augustus recumbens purpureo bibet ore nectar,
hac te merentem, Bacche pater, tuae vexere tigres indocili iugum collo trahentes, hac Quirinus Martis equis Acheronta fugit, gratum elocuta consiliantibus Iunone divis: “Ilion, Ilion fatalis incestusque iudex et mulier peregrina vertit in pulverem ex quo destituit deos mercede pacta Laomedon, mihi castaeque damnatum Minervae cum populo et duce fraudulento.
iam nec Lacaenae splendet adulterae famosus hospes nec Priami domus periura pugnacis Achivos Hectoreis opibus refringit nostrisque ductum seditionibus bellum resedit; protinus et gravis iras et invisum nepotem, Troica quem peperit sacerdos, Marti redonabo; illum ego lucidas inire sedes, discere nectaris sucos et adscribi quietis ordinibus patiar deorum.
dum longus inter saeviat Ilion Romamque pontus, qualibet exsules in parte regnanto beati; dum Priami Paridisque busto insultet armentum et catulos ferae celent inultae, stet Capitolium fulgens triumphatisque possit Roma ferox dare iura Medis. horrenda late nomen in ultimas extendat oras, qua medius liquor secernit Europen ab Afro, qua tumidus rigat arva Nilus.
aurum inrepertum et sic melius situm, cum terra celat, spernere fortior quam cogere humanos in usus omne sacrum rapiente dextra, quicumque mundo terminus obstitit hunc tanget armis, visere gestiens, qua parte debacchentur ignes, qua nebulae pluviique rores. sed bellicosis fata Quiritibus hac lege dico, ne nimium pii rebusque fidentes avitae tecta velint reparare Troiae.
Troiae renascens alite lugubri fortuna tristi clade iterabitur ducente victrices catervas coniuge me Iovis et sorore. ter si resurgat murus aeneus auctore Phoebo, ter pereat meis excisus Argivis, ter uxor capta virum puerosque ploret” non hoc iocosae conveniet lyrae — quo, Musa, tendis? desine pervicax referre sermones deorum et magna modis tenuare parvis.
Book 3, Poem 4
Descende caelo et dic age tibia regina longum Calliope melos, seu voce nunc mavis acuta seu fidibus citharave Phoebi. auditis? an me ludit amabilis insania? audire et videor pios errare per lucos, amoenae quos et aquae subeunt et aurae. me fabulosae Volture in Apulo nutricis extra limina Pulliae ludo fatigatumque somno fronde nova puerum palumbes
texere, mirum quod foret omnibus quicumque celsae nidum Aceruntiae saltusque Bantinos et arvum pingue tenent humilis Forenti, ut tuto ab atris corpore viperis dormirem et ursis, ut premerer sacra lauroque conlataque myrto non sine dis animosus infans. vester, Camenae, vester in arduos tollor Sabinos, seu mihi frigidum Praeneste seu Tibur supinum seu liquidae placuere Baiae.
vestris amicum fontibus et choris non me Philippis versa acies retro, devota non extinxit arbor nec Sicula Palinurus unda. utcumque mecum vos eritis, libens insanientem navita Bosporum temptabo et urentis harenas litoris Assyrii viator, visam Britannos hospitibus feros et laetum equino sanguine Concanum, visam pharetratos Gelonos et Scythicum inviolatus amnem.
vos Caesarem altum, militia simul fessas cohortes abdidit oppidis, finire quaerentem labores Pierio recreatis antro. vos lene consilium et datis et dato gaudetis, almae. scimus, ut inpios Titanas immanemque turbam fulmine sustulerit caduco qui terram inertem, qui mare temperat ventosum et urbis regnaque tristia divosque mortalisque turmas imperio regit unus aequo.
magnum illa terrorem intulerat Iovi fidens iuventus horrida bracchiis fratresque tendentes opaco Pelion inposuisse Olympo. sed quid Typhoeus et validus Mimas aut quid minaci Porphyrion statu, quid Rhoetus evolsisque truncis Enceladus iaculator audax contra sonantem Palladis aegida possent ruentes? hinc avidus stetit Volcanus, hinc matrona Iuno et numquam umeris positurus arcum
qui rore puro Castaliae lavit crinis solutos, qui Lyciae tenet dumeta natalemque silvam Delius et Patareus Apollo. vis consili expers mole ruit sua, vim temperatam di quoque provehunt in maius; idem odere viris omne nefas animo moventis. testis mearum centimanus Gyas sententiarum, notus et integrae temptator Orion Dianae virginea domitus sagitta.
iniecta monstris Terra dolet suis maeretque partus fulmine luridum missos ad Orcum; nec peredit inpositam celer ignis Aetnen incontinentis nec Tityi iecur reliquit ales, nequitiae additus custos; amatorem trecentae Pirithoum cohibent catenae.
Book 3, Poem 5
Caelo tonantem credidimus Iovem regnare; praesens divus habebitur Augustus adiectis Britannis imperio gravibusque Persis. milesne Crassi coniuge barbara turpis maritus vixit et hostium, pro curia inversique mores! consenuit socerorum in armis sub rege Medo Marsus et Apulus, anciliorum et nominis et togae oblitus aeternaeque Vestae, incolumi Iove et urbe Roma?
hoc caverat mens provida Reguli dissentientis condicionibus foedis et exemplo trahentis perniciem veniens in aevum, si non periret inmiserabilis captiva pubes. “signa ego Punicis adfixa delubris et arma militibus sine caede” dixit “derepta vidi, vidi ego civium retorta tergo bracchia libero portasque non clausas et arva Marte coli populata nostro.
auro repensus scilicet acrior miles redibit: flagitio additis damnum; neque amissos colores lana refert medicata fuco nec vera virtus, cum semel excidit, curat reponi deterioribus. si pugnat extricata densis cerva plagis, erit ille fortis qui perfidis se credidit hostibus et Marte Poenos proteret altero; qui lora restrictis lacertis sensit iners timuitque mortem,
hic, unde vitam sumeret inscius, pacem duello miscuit. o pudor! o magna Carthago, probrosis altior Italiae ruinis!” fertur pudicae coniugis osculum parvosque natos ut capitis minor ab se removisse et virilem torvus humi posuisse voltum, donec labantis consilio patres firmaret auctor numquam alias dato interque maerentis amicos egregius properaret exul.
atqui sciebat, quae sibi barbarus tortor pararet: non aliter tamen dimovit obstantis propinquos et populum reditus morantem quam si clientum longa negotia diiudicata lite relinqueret tendens Venafranos in agros aut Lacedaemonium Tarentum.
Book 3, Poem 6
Delicta maiorum inmeritus lues, Romane, donec templa refeceris aedisque labentis deorum et foeda nigro simulacra fumo. dis te minorem quod geris, imperas: hinc omne principium, huc refer exitum: di multa neglecti dederunt Hesperiae mala luctuosae. iam bis Monaeses et Pacori manus inauspicatos contudit impetus nostros et adiecisse praedam torquibus exiguis renidet.
paene occupatam seditionibus delevit urbem Dacus et Aethiops, hic classe formidatus, ille missilibus melior sagittis. fecunda culpae saecula nuptias primum inquinavere et genus et domos: hoc fonte derivata clades in patriam populumque fluxit. motus doceri gaudet Ionicos matura virgo et fingitur artibus iam nunc et incestos amores de tenero meditatur ungui.
mox iuniores quaerit adulteros inter mariti vina neque eligit cui donet inpermissa raptim gaudia luminibus remotis, sed iussa coram non sine conscio surgit marito, seu vocat institor seu navis Hispanae magister, dedecorum pretiosus emptor. non his iuventus orta parentibus infecit aequor sanguine Punico Pyrrhumque et ingentem cecidit Antiochum Hannibalemque dirum,
sed rusticorum mascula militum proles, Sabellis docta ligonibus versare glaebas et severae matris ad arbitrium recisos portare fustis, sol ubi montium mutaret umbras et iuga demeret bubus fatigatis amicum tempus agens abeunte curru. damnosa quid non inminuit dies? aetas parentum, peior avis, tulit nos nequiores, mox daturos progeniem vitiosiorem.
Book 3, Poem 7
Quid fles, Asterie, quem tibi, candidi primo restituent vere Favonii Thyna merce beatum, constantis iuvenem fide Gygen? ille Notis actus ad Oricum post insana Caprae sidera frigidas noctis non sine multis insomnis lacrimis agit. atqui sollicitae nuntius hospitae, suspirare Chloen et miseram tuis dicens ignibus uri, temptat mille vafer modis:
ut Proetum mulier perfida credulum falsis inpulerit criminibus nimis casto Bellerophontae maturare necem, refert; narrat paene datum Pelea Tartaro, Magnessam Hippolyten dum fugit abstinens, et peccare docentis fallax historias movet. frustra: nam scopulis surdior Icari voces audit adhuc integer. at tibi ne vicinus Enipeus plus iusto placeat cave;
quamvis non alius flectere equum sciens aeque conspicitur gramine Martio, nec quisquam citus aeque Tusco denatat alveo. prima nocte domum claude neque in vias sub cantu querulae despice tibiae et te saepe vocanti duram difficilis mane.
Book 3, Poem 8
Martiis caelebs quid agam kalendis, quid velint flores et acerra turis plena miraris positusque carbo in caespite vivo, docte sermones utriusque linguae? voveram dulcis epulas et album Libero caprum prope funeratus arboris ictu. hic dies anno redeunte festus corticem adstrictum pice dimovebit amphorae fumum bibere institutae consule Tullo.
sume, Maecenas, cyathos amici sospitis centum et vigiles lucernas perfer in lucem: procul omnis esto clamor et ira. mitte civilis super urbe curas: occidit Daci Cotisonis agmen, Medus infestus sibi luctuosis dissidet armis, servit Hispanae vetus hostis orae Cantaber, sera domitus catena, iam Scythae laxo meditantur arcu cedere campis.
neglegens, ne qua populus laboret, parce privatus nimium cavere et dona praesentis cape laetus horae, linque severa.
Book 3, Poem 9
“Donec gratus eram tibi nec quisquam potior bracchia candidae cervici iuvenis dabat, Persarum vigui rege beatior.” “donec non alia magis arsisti neque erat Lydia post Chloen, multi Lydia nominis, Romana vigui clarior Ilia.” “me nunc Thressa Chloe regit, dulcis docta modos et citharae sciens, pro qua non metuam mori, si parcent animae fata superstiti”
“me torret face mutua Thurini Calais filius Ornyti, pro quo bis patiar mori, si parcent puero fata superstiti.” “quid si prisca redit Venus diductosque iugo cogit aeneo? si flava excutitur Chloe reiectaeque patet ianua Lydiae?” “quamquam sidere pulchrior ille est, tu levior cortice et inprobo iracundior Hadria: tecum vivere amem, tecum obeam lubens.”
Book 3, Poem 10
Extremum Tanain si biberes, Lyce, saevo nupta viro, me tamen asperas porrectum ante foris obicere incolis plorares Aquilonibus audis, quo strepitu ianua, quo nemus inter pulcra satum tecta remugiat ventis et positas ut glaciet nives puro numine Iuppiter? ingratam Veneri pone superbiam, ne currente retro funis eat rota: non te Penelopen difficilem procis Tyrrhenus genuit parens.
o quamvis neque te munera nec preces nec tinctus viola pallor amantium nec vir Pieria paelice saucius curvat, supplicibus tuis parcas, nec rigida mollior aesculo nec Mauris animum mitior anguibus: non hoc semper erit liminis aut aquae caelestis patiens latus.
Book 3, Poem 11
Mercuri, nam te docilis magistro movit Amphion lapides canendo, tuque testudo resonare septem callida nervis, nec loquax olim neque grata, nunc et divitum mensis et amica templis, dic modos, Lyde quibus obstinatas adplicet auris, quae velut latis equa trima campis ludit exsultim metuitque tangi nuptiarum expers et adhuc protervo cruda marito.
tu potes tigris comitesque silvas ducere et rivos celeres morari; cessit immanis tibi blandienti ianitor aulae Cerberus, quamvis furiale centum muniant angues caput eius atque spiritus taeter saniesque manet ore trilingui; quin et Ixion Tityosque voltu risit invito, stetit urna paulum sicca, dum grato Danai puellas carmine mulces.
audiat Lyde scelus atque notas virginum poenas et inane lymphae dolium fundo pereuntis imo seraque fata, quae manent culpas etiam sub Orco. inpiae, (nam quid potuere maius?) inpiae sponsos potuere duro perdere ferro. una de multis face nuptiali digna periurum fuit in parentem splendide mendax et in omne virgo nobilis aevum,
“surge” quae dixit iuveni marito, “surge, ne longus tibi somnus unde non times detur; socerum et scelestas falle sorores, quae velut nactae vitulos leaenae singulos eheu lacerant: ego illis mollior nec te feriam neque intra claustra tenebo. me pater saevis oneret catenis, quod viro clemens misero peperci, me vel extremos Numidarum in agros classe releget:
i pedes quo te rapiunt et aurae, dum favet nox et Venus, i secundo omine et nostri memorem sepulcro scalpe querelam.”
Book 3, Poem 12
Miserarum est neque amori dare ludum neque dulci mala vino lavere, aut exanimari metuentis patruae verbera linguae. tibi qualum Cythereae puer ales, tibi telas operosaeque Minervae studium aufert, Neobule, Liparaei nitor Hebri, simul unctos Tiberinis umeros lavit in undis, eques ipso melior Bellerophonte, neque pugno neque segni pede victus, catus idem per apertum fugientis agitato grege cervos iaculari et celer arto latitantem fruticeto excipere aprum.
Book 3, Poem 13
O fons Bandusiae splendidior vitro, dulci digne mero non sine floribus, cras donaberis haedo, cui frons turgida cornibus primis et venerem et proelia destinat; frustra: nam gelidos inficiet tibi rubro sanguine rivos lascivi suboles gregis. te flagrantis atrox hora Caniculae nescit tangere, tu frigus amabile fessis vomere tauris praebes et pecori vago.
fies nobilium tu quoque fontium me dicente cavis inpositam ilicem saxis, unde loquaces lymphae desiliunt tuae.
Book 3, Poem 14
Herculis ritu modo dictus, o plebs, morte venalem petiisse laurum Caesar Hispana repetit penatis victor ab ora. unico gaudens mulier marito prodeat iustis operata sacris et soror clari ducis et decorae supplice vitta virginum matres iuvenumque nuper sospitum; vos, o pueri et puellae iam virum expertae, male nominatis parcite verbis.
hic dies vere mihi festus atras exiget curas ego nec tumultum nec mori per vim metuam tenente Caesare terras. i pete unguentum, puer, et coronas et cadum Marsi memorem duelli, Spartacum siqua potuit vagantem fallere testa. dic et argutae properet Neaerae murreum nodo cohibere crinem; si per invisum mora ianitorem fiet, abito.
lenit albescens animos capillus litium et rixae cupidos protervae; non ego hoc ferrem calidus iuventa consule Planco.
Book 3, Poem 15
Uxor pauperis Ibyci, tandem nequitiae fige modum tuae famosisque laboribus; maturo propior desine funeri inter ludere virgines et stellis nebulam spargere candidis. non, siquid Pholoen, satis et te, Chlori, decet: filia rectius expugnat iuvenum domos, pulso Thyias uti concita tympano. illam cogit amor Nothi lascivae similem ludere capreae,
te lanae prope nobilem tonsae Luceriam, non citharae decent nec flos purpureus rosae nec poti, vetulam, faece tenus cadi.
Book 3, Poem 16
Inclusam Danaen turris aenea robustaeque fores et vigilum canum tristes excubiae munierant satis nocturnis ab adulteris, si non Acrisium virginis abditae custodem pavidum Iuppiter et Venus risissent: fore enim tutum iter et patens converso in pretium deo. aurum per medios ire satellites et perrumpere amat saxa potentius ictu fulmineo: concidit auguris Argivi domus ob lucrum
demersa exitio; diffidit urbium portas vir Macedo et subruit aemulos reges muneribus; munera navium saevos inlaqueant duces. crescentem sequitur cura pecuniam maiorumque fames. iure perhorrui late conspicuum tollere verticem, Maecenas, equitum decus. quanto quisque sibi plura negaverit, ab dis plura feret nil cupientium nudus castra peto et transfuga divitum partis linquere gestio,
contemptae dominus splendidior rei, quam si quidquid arat inpiger Apulus occultare meis dicerer horreis, magnas inter opes inops. purae rivos aquae silvaque iugerum paucorum et segetis certa fides meae fulgentem imperio fertilis Africae fallit sorte beatior. quamquam nec Calabrae mella ferunt apes nec Laestrygonia Bacchus in amphora languescit mihi nec pinguia Gallicis crescunt vellera pascuis:
inportuna tamen pauperies abest nec, si plura velim, tu dare deneges. contracto melius parva cupidine vectigalia porrigam quam si Mygdoniis regnum Alyattei campis continuem. multa petentibus desunt multa: bene est cui deus obtulit parca quod satis est manu.
Book 3, Poem 17
Aeli vetusto nobilis ab Lamo, quando et priores hinc Lamias ferunt denominatos et nepotum per memores genus omne fastos, auctore ab illo ducis originem, qui Formiarum moenia dicitur princeps et innantem Maricae litoribus tenuisse Lirim, late tyrannus:— cras foliis nemus multis et alga litus inutili demissa tempestas ab Euro sternet, aquae nisi fallit augur
annosa cornix. dum potes, aridum conpone lignum: cras genium mero curabis et porco bimenstri cum famulis operum solutis.
Book 3, Poem 18
Faune, Nympharum fugientum amator, per meos finis et aprica rura lenis incedas abeasque parvis aequus alumnis, si tener pleno cadit haedus anno larga nec desunt Veneris sodali vina craterae, vetus ara multo fumat odore. ludit herboso pecus omne campo cum tibi nonae redeunt Decembres, festus in pratis vacat otioso cum bove pagus,
inter audacis lupus errat agnos, spargit agrestis tibi silva frondes, gaudet invisam pepulisse fossor ter pede terram.
Book 3, Poem 19
Quantum distet ab Inacho Codrus pro patria non timidus mori narras et genus Aeaci et pugnata sacro bella sub Ilio: quo Chium pretio cadum mercemur, quis aquam temperet ignibus, quo praebente domum et quota Paelignis caream frigoribus, taces. da lunae propere novae, da noctis mediae, da, puer, auguris Murenae: tribus aut novem miscentur cyathis pocula commodis.
qui Musas amat imparis, ternos ter cyathos attonitus petet vates; tris prohibet supra rixarum metuens tangere Gratia nudis iuncta sororibus. insanire iuvat: cur Berecyntiae cessant flamina tibiae? cur pendet tacita fistula cum lyra? parcentis ego dexteras odi: sparge rosas, audiat invidus dementem strepitum Lycus et vicina seni non habilis Lyco.
spissa te nitidum coma, puro te similem, Telephe, Vespero tempestiva petit Rhode; me lentus Glycerae torret amor meae.
Book 3, Poem 20
Non vides, quanto moveas periclo, Pyrrhe, Gaetulae catulos leaenae? dura post paulo fugies inaudax proelia raptor, cum per obstantis iuvenum catervas ibit insignem repetens Nearchum: grande certamen, tibi praeda cedat, maior an illa. interim, dum tu celeres sagittas promis, haec dentis acuit timendos, arbiter pugnae posuisse nudo sub pede palmam
fertur et leni recreare vento sparsum odoratis umerum capillis, qualis aut Nireus fuit aut aquosa raptus ab Ida.
Book 3, Poem 21
O nata mecum consule Manlio, seu tu querellas sive geris iocos seu rixam et insanos amores seu facilem, pia testa, somnum, quocumque lectum nomine Massicum servas, moveri digna bono die, descende Corvino iubente promere languidiora vina. non ille, quamquam Socraticis madet sermonibus, te neglegit horridus: narratur et prisci Catonis saepe mero caluisse virtus.
tu lene tormentum ingenio admoves plerumque duro, tu sapientium curas et arcanum iocoso consilium retegis Lyaeo, tu spem reducis mentibus anxiis virisque et addis cornua pauperi post te neque iratos trementi regum apices neque militum arma. te Liber et si laeta aderit Venus segnesque nodum solvere Gratiae vivaeque producent lucernae, dum rediens fugat astra Phoebus.
Book 3, Poem 22
Montium custos nemorumque, virgo, quae laborantis utero puellas ter vocata audis adimisque leto, diva triformis, imminens villae tua pinus esto, quam per exactos ego laetus annos verris obliquum meditantis ictum sanguine donem.
Book 3, Poem 23
Caelo supinas si tuleris manus nascente luna, rustica Phidyle, si ture placaris et horna fruge Laris avidaque porca: nec pestilentem sentiet Africum fecunda vitis nec sterilem seges robiginem aut dulces alumni pomifero grave tempus anno. nam quae nivali pascitur Algido devota quercus inter et ilices aut crescit Albanis in herbis victima, pontificum securis
cervice tinguet: te nihil attinet temptare multa caede bidentium parvos coronantem marino rore deos fragilique myrto. inmunis aram si tetigit manus, non sumptuosa blandior hostia, mollivit aversos Penatis farre pio et saliente mica.
Book 3, Poem 24
Intactis opulentior thesauris Arabum et divitis Indiae caementis licet occupes terrenum omne tuis et mare publicum: si figit adamantinos summis verticibus dira Necessitas clavos, non animum metu, non mortis laqueis expedies caput. campestres melius Scythae, quorum plaustra vagas rite trahunt domos vivunt et rigidi Getae, inmetata quibus iugera liberas
fruges et Cererem ferunt nec cultura placet longior annua defunctumque laboribus aequali recreat sorte vicarius. illic matre carentibus privignis mulier temperat innocens nec dotata regit virum coniunx nec nitido fidit adultero; dos est magna parentium virtus et metuens alterius viri certo foedere castitas, et peccare nefas aut pretium est mori.
o quisquis volet inpias caedis et rabiem tollere civicam, si quaeret pater urbium subscribi statuis, indomitam audeat refrenare licentiam, clarus postgenitis: quatenus, heu nefas virtutem incolumem odimus, sublatam ex oculis quaerimus invidi. quid tristes querimoniae, si non supplicio culpa reciditur, quid leges sine moribus vanae proficiunt, si neque fervidis
pars inclusa caloribus mundi nec Boreae finitimum latus durataeque solo nives mercatorem abigunt, horrida callidi vincunt aequora navitae, magnum pauperies opprobrium iubet quidvis et facere et pati virtutisque viam deserit arduae? vel nos in Capitolium, quo clamor vocat et turba faventium, vel nos in mare proximum gemmas et lapides aurum et inutile,
summi materiem mali, mittamus, scelerum si bene paenitet. eradenda cupidinis pravi sunt elementa et tenerae nimis mentes asperioribus formandae studiis. nescit equo rudis haerere ingenuus puer venarique timet, ludere doctior, seu Graeco iubeas trocho seu malis vetita legibus alea, cum periura patris fides consortem socium fallat et hospites
indignoque pecuniam heredi properet. scilicet inprobae crescunt divitiae, tamen curtae nescio quid semper abest rei.
Book 3, Poem 25
Quo me, Bacche, rapis tui plenum? quae nemora aut quos agor in specus, velox mente nova? quibus antris egregii Caesaris audiar aeternum meditans decus stellis inserere et consilio Iovis? dicam insigne, recens, adhuc indictum ore alio. non secus in iugis exsomnis stupet Euhias Hebrum prospiciens et nive candidam Thracen ac pede barbaro lustratam Rhodopen, ut mihi devio
ripas et vacuum nemus mirari libet. o Naiadum potens Baccharumque valentium proceras manibus vertere fraxinos, nil parvum aut humili modo, nil mortale loquar. dulce periculum est, o Lenaee, sequi deum cingentem viridi tempora pampino.
Book 3, Poem 26
Vixi puellis nuper idoneus et militavi non sine gloria; nunc arma defunctumque bello barbiton hic paries habebit, laevum marinae qui Veneris latus custodit. hic, hic ponite lucida funalia et vectis et arcus oppositis foribus minacis. o quae beatam diva tenes Cyprum et Memphin carentem Sithonia nive, regina, sublimi flagello tange Chloen semel arrogantem.
Book 3, Poem 27
Inpios parrae recinentis omen ducat et praegnans canis aut ab agro rava decurrens lupa Lanuvino fetaque volpes; rumpat et serpens iter institutum, si per obliquum similis sagittae terruit mannos: ego cui timebo, providus auspex, antequam stantis repetat paludes imbrium divina avis imminentium, oscinem corvum prece suscitabo solis ab ortu.
sis licet felix, ubicumque mavis, et memor nostri, Galatea, vivas teque nec laevos vetet ire picus nec vaga cornix. sed vides, quanto trepidet tumultu pronus Orion. ego quid sit ater Hadriae novi sinus et quid albus peccet Iapyx. hostium uxores puerique caecos sentiant motus orientis Austri et aequoris nigri fremitum et trementis verbere ripas.
sic et Europe niveum doloso credidit tauro latus et scatentem beluis pontum mediasque fraudes palluit audax. nuper in pratis studiosa florum et debitae Nymphis opifex coronae nocte sublustri nihil astra praeter vidit et undas. quae simul centum tetigit potentem oppidis Creten, “pater, o relictum filiae nomen pietasque” dixit “victa furore!
unde quo veni? levis una mors est virginum culpae. vigilansne ploro turpe conmissum an vitiis carentem ludit imago vana, quae porta fugiens eburna somnium ducit? meliusne fluctus ire per longos fuit an recentis carpere flores? siquis infamem mihi nunc iuvencum dedat iratae, lacerare ferro et frangere enitar modo multum amati cornua monstri.
inpudens liqui patrios Penates, inpudens Orcum moror. o deorum siquis haec audis, utinam inter errem nuda leones. antequam turpis macies decentis occupet malas teneraeque sucus defluat praedae, speciosa quaero pascere tigris “vilis Europe” pater urget absens: “quid mori cessas? potes hac ab orno pendulum zona bene te secuta laedere collum.
sive te rupes et acuta leto saxa delectant, age te procellae crede veloci, nisi erile mavis carpere pensum regius sanguis dominaeque tradi barbarae paelex.”” aderat querenti perfidum ridens Venus et remisso filius arcu. mox ubi lusit satis, “abstineto” dixit “irarum calidaeque rixae, cum tibi invisus laceranda reddet cornua taurus.
uxor invicti Iovis esse nescis. mitte singultus, bene ferre magnam disce fortunam; tua sectus orbis nomina ducet.”
Book 3, Poem 28
Festo quid potius die Neptuni faciam? prome reconditum, Lyde, strenua Caecubum, munitaeque adhibe vim sapientiae. inclinare meridiem sentis et, veluti stet volucris dies, parcis deripere horreo cessantem Bibuli consulis amphoram. nos cantabimus invicem Neptunum et viridis Nereidum comas; tu curva recines lyra Latonam et celeris spicula Cynthiae;
summo carmine quae Cnidon fulgentisque tenet Cycladas et Paphon iunctis visit oloribus dicetur, merita Nox quoque nenia.
Book 3, Poem 29
Tyrrhena regum progenies, tibi non ante verso lene merum cado cum flore, Maecenas, rosarum et pressa tuis balanus capillis iamdudum apud me est: eripe te morae ne semper udum Tibur et Aefulae declive contempleris arvum et Telegoni iuga parricidae. fastidiosam desere copiam et molem propinquam nubibus arduis, omitte mirari beatae fumum et opes strepitumque Romae.
plerumque gratae divitibus vices mundaeque parvo sub lare pauperum cenae sine aulaeis et ostro sollicitam explicuere frontem. Iam clarus occultum Andromedae pater ostendit ignem, iam Procyon furit et stella vesani Leonis, sole dies referente siccos; iam pastor umbras cum grege languido rivumque fessus quaerit et horidi dumeta Silvani, caretque ripa vagis taciturna ventis.
tu civitatem quis deceat status curas et urbi sollicitus times quid Seres et regnata Cyro Bactra parent Tanaisque discors. prudens futuri temporis exitum caliginosa nocte premit deus ridetque, si mortalis ultra fas trepidat. quod adest memento conponere aequos; cetera fluminis ritu feruntur, nunc medio alveo cum pace delabentis Etruscum in mare, nunc lapides adesos
stirpisque raptas et pecus et domos volventis una, non sine montium clamore vicinaeque silvae, cum fera diluvies quietos inritat amnis. ille potens sui laetusque deget cui licet in diem dixisse “vixi: cras vel atra nube polum pater occupato vel sole puro; non tamen inritum quodcumque retro est efficiet neque diffinget infectumque reddet quod fugiens semel hora vexit.”
Fortuna saevo laeta negotio et ludum insolentem ludere pertinax transmutat incertos honores, nunc mihi nunc alii benigna. laudo manentem; si celeres quatit pennas, resigno quae dedit et mea virtute me involvo probamque pauperiem sine dote quaero. non est meum, si mugiat Africis malus procellis, ad miseras preces decurrere et votis pacisci ne Cypriae Tyriaeque merces
addant avaro divitias mari: tunc me biremis praesidio scaphae tutum per Aegaeos tumultus aura feret geminusque Pollux.
Book 3, Poem 30
Exegi monumentum aere perennius regalique situ pyramidum altius, quod non imber edax, non aquilo impotens possit diruere aut innumerabilis annorum series et fuga temporum. non omnis moriar multaque pars mei vitabit Libitinam; usque ego postera crescam laude recens, dum Capitolium scandet cum tacita virgine pontifex. dicar, qua violens obstrepit Aufidus et qua pauper aquae Daunus agrestium regnavit populorum, ex humili potens,
princeps Aeolium carmen ad Italos deduxisse modos. sume superbiam quaesitam meritis et mihi Delphica lauro cinge volens, Melpomene, comam.
Book 4, Poem 1
Intermissa, Venus, diu rursus bella moves? parce, precor precor. non sum qualis eram bonae sub regno Cinarae. desine, dulcium mater saeva Cupidinum, circa lustra decem flectere mollibus iam durum imperiis: abi, quo blandae iuvenum te revocant preces. tempestivius in domum Pauli purpureis ales oloribus comissabere Maximi, si torrere iecur quaeris idoneum;
namque et nobilis et decens et pro sollicitis non tacitus reis et centum puer artium late signa feret militiae tuae et, quandoque potentior largi muneribus riserit aemuli, Albanos prope te lacus ponet marmoream sub trabe citrea. illic plurima naribus duces tura lyraeque et Berecyntiae delectabere tibiae mixtis carminibus non sine fistula;
illic bis pueri die numen cum teneris virginibus tuum laudantes pede candido in morem Salium ter quatient humum. me nec femina nec puer iam nec spes animi credula mutui nec certare iuvat mero nec vincire novis tempora floribus. sed cur heu, Ligurine, cur manat rara meas lacrima per genas? cur facunda parum decoro inter verba cadit lingua silentio?
nocturnis ego somniis iam captum teneo, iam volucrem sequor te per gramina Martii campi, te per aquas, dure, volubilis.
Book 4, Poem 2
Pindarum quisquis studet aemulari, Iulle, ceratis ope Daedalea nititur pennis vitreo daturus nomina ponto. monte decurrens velut amnis, imbres quem super notas aluere ripas, fervet inmensusque ruit profundo Pindarus ore, laurea donandus Apollinari, seu per audacis nova dithyrambos verba devolvit numerisque fertur lege solutis,
seu deos regesque canit, deorum sanguinem, per quos cecidere iusta morte Centauri, cecidit tremendae flamma Chimaerae, sive quos Elea domum reducit palma caelestis pugilemve equomve dicit et centum potiore signis munere donat, flebili sponsae iuvenemve raptum plorat et viris animumque moresque aureos educit in astra nigroque invidet Orco.
multa Dircaeum levat aura cycnum, tendit, Antoni, quotiens in altos nubium tractus: ego apis Matinae more modoque grata carpentis thyma per laborem plurimum circa nemus uvidique Tiburis ripas operosa parvos carmina fingo. concines maiore poeta plectro Caesarem, quandoque trahet ferocis per sacrum clivum merita decorus fronde Sygambros;
quo nihil maius meliusve terris fata donavere bonique divi nec dabunt, quamvis redeant in aurum tempora priscum. concines laetosque dies et urbis publicum ludum super inpetrato fortis Augusti reditu forumque litibus orbum. tum meae, si quid loquar audiendum, vocis accedet bona pars et “o sol pulcher, o laudande!” canam recepto Caesare felix.
teque, dum procedis, “Io Triumphe” non semel dicemus, “Io Triumphe” civitas omnis dabimusque divis tura benignis. te decem tauri totidemque vaccae, me tener solvet vitulus, relicta matre qui largis iuvenescit herbis in mea vota, fronte curvatos imitatus ignis tertium lunae referentis ortum, qua notam duxit, niveus videri, cetera fulvos.
Book 4, Poem 3
Quem tu, Melpomene, semel nascentem placido lumine videris, illum non labor Isthmius clarabit pugilem, non equos inpiger curru ducet Achaico victorem neque res bellica Deliis ornatum foliis ducem, quod regum tumidas contuderit minas, ostendet Capitolio: sed quae Tibur aquae fertile praefluunt et spissae nemorum comae fingent Aeolio carmine nobilem.
Romae principis urbium dignatur suboles inter amabilis vatum ponere me choros et iam dente minus mordeor invido. o testudinis aureae dulcem quae strepitum, Pieri, temperas, o mutis quoque piscibus donatura cycni, si libeat, sonum, totum muneris hoc tui est, quod monstror digito praetereuntium Romanae fidicen lyrae: quod spiro et placeo, si placeo, tuum est.
Book 4, Poem 4
Qualem ministrum fulminis alitem, cui rex deorum regnum in avis vagas permisit expertus fidelem Iuppiter in Ganymede flavo, olim iuventas et patrius vigor nido laborum propulit inscium, vernique iam nimbis remotis insolitos docuere nisus venti paventem, mox in ovilia demisit hostem vividus impetus, nunc in reluctantis dracones egit amor dapis atque pugnae;
qualemve laetis caprea pascuis intenta fulvae matris ab ubere iam lacte depulsum leonem dente novo peritura vidit: videre Raetis bella sub Alpibus Drusum gerentem Vindelici. quibus mos unde deductus per omne tempus Amazonia securi dextras obarmet, quaerere distuli nec scire fas est omnia, sed diu lateque victrices catervae consiliis iuvenis revictae
sensere, quid mens rite, quid indoles nutrita faustis sub penetralibus posset, quid Augusti paternus in pueros animus Nerones. fortes creantur fortibus et bonis: est in iuvencis, est in equis patrum virtus neque inbellem feroces progenerant aquilae columbam. doctrina sed vim promovet insitam rectique cultus pectora roborant; utcumque defecere mores, indecorant bene nata culpae.
quid debeas, o Roma, Neronibus, testis Metaurum flumen et Hasdrubal devictus et pulcher fugatis ille dies Latio tenebris, qui primus alma risit adorea, dirus per urbis Afer ut Italas ceu flamma per taedas vel Eurus per Siculas equitavit undas. post hoc secundis usque laboribus Romana pubes crevit et inpio vastata Poenorum tumultu fana deos habuere rectos.
dixitque tandem perfidus Hannibal: “cervi, luporum praeda rapacium, sectamur ultro quos opimus fallere et effugere est triumphus. gens, quae cremato fortis ab Ilio iactata Tuscis aequoribus sacra natosque maturosque patres pertulit Ausonias ad urbis, duris ut ilex tonsa bipennibus nigrae feraci frondis in Algido, per damna, per caedis ab ipso ducit opes animumque ferro.
non hydra secto corpore firmior vinci dolentem crevit in Herculem monstrumve submisere Colchi maius Echioniaeve Thebae. merses profundo, pulchrior evenit; luctere, multa proruet integrum cum laude victorem geretque proelia coniugibus loquenda. Carthagini iam non ego nuntios mittam superbos: occidit, occidit spes omnis et fortuna nostri nominis Hasdrubale interempto.
nil Claudiae non perficient manus, quas et benigno numine Iuppiter defendit et curae sagaces expediunt per acuta belli”.
Book 4, Poem 5
Divis orte bonis, optume Romulae custos gentis, abes iam nimium diu; maturum reditum pollicitus patrum sancto concilio redi. lucem redde tuae, dux bone, patriae: instar veris enim voltus ubi tuus adfulsit populo, gratior it dies et soles melius nitent. ut mater iuvenem, quem Notus invido flatu Carpathii trans maris aequora cunctantem spatio longius annuo dulci distinet a domo,
votis ominibusque et precibus vocat curvo nec faciem litore dimovet: sic desideriis icta fidelibus quaerit patria Caesarem. tutus bos etenim rura perambulat, nutrit rura Ceres almaque Faustitas, pacatum volitant per mare navitae; culpari metuit fides, nullis polluitur casta domus stupris, mos et lex maculosum edomuit nefas, laudantur simili prole puerperae, culpam poena premit comes.
quis Parthum paveat, quis gelidum Scythen, quis Germania quos horrida parturit fetus incolumi Caesare? quis ferae bellum curet Hiberiae? condit quisque diem collibus in suis et vitem viduas ducit ad arbores; hinc ad vina redit laetus et alteris te mensis adhibet deum; te multa prece, te prosequitur mero defuso pateris et Laribus tuum miscet numen, uti Graecia Castoris et magni memor Herculis.
“longas o utinam, dux bone, ferias praestes Hesperiae!” dicimus integro sicci mane die, dicimus uvidi, cum sol Oceano subest.
Book 4, Poem 6
Dive, quem proles Niobea magnae vindicem linguae Tityosque raptor sensit et Troiae prope victor altae Pthius Achilles, ceteris maior, tibi miles inpar, filius quamvis Thetidis marinae Dardanas turris quateret tremenda cuspide pugnax— ille, mordaci velut icta ferro pinus aut inpulsa cupressus Euro, procidit late posuitque collum in pulvere Teucro;
ille non inclusus equo Minervae sacra mentito male feriatos Troas et laetam Priami choreis falleret aulam, sed palam captis gravis, heu nefas, heu, nescios fari pueros Achivis ureret flammis, etiam latentem matris in alvo, ni tuis victus Venerisque gratae vocibus divum pater adnuisset rebus Aeneae potiore ductos alite muros.
doctor argutae fidicen Thaliae Phoebe, qui Xantho lavis amne crinis, Dauniae defende decus Camenae, levis Agyieu. spiritum Phoebus, mihi Phoebus artem carminis nomenque dedit poetae. virginum primae puerique claris patribus orti, Deliae tutela deae, fugacis lyncas et cervos cohibentis arcu, Lesbium servate pedem meique pollicis ictum
rite Latonae puerum canentes, rite crescentem face Noctilucam, prosperam frugum celeremque pronos volvere mensis. nupta iam dices “ego dis amicum saeculo festas referente luces reddidi carmen docilis modorum vatis Horati.”
Book 4, Poem 7
Diffugere nives, redeunt iam gramina campis arboribusque comae; mutat terra vices et decrescentia ripas flumina praetereunt; Gratia cum Nymphis geminisque sororibus audet ducere nuda choros: inmortalia ne speres, monet annus et almum quae rapit hora diem. frigora mitescunt Zephyris, ver proterit aestas interitura, simul pomifer autumnus fruges effuderit, et mox bruma recurrit iners.
damna tamen celeres reparant caelestia lunae: nos ubi decidimus quo pius Aeneas, quo dives Tullus et Ancus, pulvis et umbra sumus. quis scit an adiciant hodiernae crastina summae tempora di superi? cuncta manus avidas fugient heredis amico quae dederis animo. cum semel occideris et de te splendida Minos fecerit arbitria, non, Torquate, genus, non te facundia, non te restituet pietas;
infernis neque enim tenebris Diana pudicum liberat Hippolytum nec Lethaea valet Theseus abrumpere caro vincula Pirithoo.
Book 4, Poem 8
Donarem pateras grataque commodus, Censorine, meis aera sodalibus, donarem tripodas, praemia fortium Graiorum, neque tu pessuma munerum ferres, divite me scilicet artium quas aut Parrhasius protulit aut Scopas, hic saxo, liquidis ille coloribus sollers nunc hominem ponere, nunc deum sed non haec mihi vis, nec tibi talium res est aut animus deliciarum egens. gaudes carminibus; carmina possumus donare et pretium dicere muneri.
non incisa notis marmora publicis, per quae spiritus et vita redit bonis post mortem ducibus, non “celeres fugae reiectaeque retrorsum Hannibalis minae” non “incendia Karthaginis inpiae”, eius, “qui domita nomen ab Africa lucratus rediit”, clarius indicant laudes quam “Calabrae Pierides” neque, si chartae sileant quod bene feceris, mercedem tuleris. quid foret Iliae Mavortisque puer, si taciturnitas obstaret meritis invida Romuli?
ereptum Stygiis fluctibus Aeacum virtus et favor et lingua potentium vatum divitibus consecrat insulis. dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori, caelo Musa beat. sic Iovis interest optatis epulis inpiger Hercules, clarum Tyndaridae sidus ab infimis quassas eripiunt aequoribus ratis, ornatus viridi tempora pampino Liber vota bonos ducit ad exitus.
Book 4, Poem 9
Ne forte credas interitura quae longe sonantem natus ad Aufidum non ante volgatas per artis verba loquor socianda chordis: non, si priores Maeonius tenet sedes Homerus, Pindaricae latent Ceaeque et Alcaei minaces Stesichorique graves Camenae nec siquid olim lusit Anacreon delevit aetas; spirat adhuc amor vivuntque conmissi calores Aeoliae fidibus puellae.
non sola comptos arsit adulteri crinis et aurum vestibus inlitum mirata regalisque cultus et comites Helene Lacaena primusve Teucer tela Cydonio direxit arcu; non semel Ilios vexata; non pugnavit ingens Idomeneus Sthenelusve solus dicenda Musis proelia; non ferox Hector vel acer Deiphobus gravis excepit ictus pro pudicis coniugibus puerisque primus.
vixere fortes ante Agamemnona multi; sed omnes inlacrimabiles urgentur ignotique longa nocte, carent quia vate sacro. paullum sepultae distat inertiae celata virtus. non ego te meis chartis inornatum silebo, totve tuos patiar labores inpune, Lolli, carpere lividas obliviones. est animus tibi rerumque prudens et secundis temporibus dubiisque rectus,
vindex avarae fraudis et abstinens ducentis ad se cuncta pecuniae, consulque non unius anni, sed quotiens bonus atque fidus iudex honestum praetulit utili, reiecit alto dona nocentium voltu, per obstantis catervas explicuit sua victor arma. non possidentem multa vocaveris recte beatum; rectius occupat nomen beati qui deorum muneribus sapienter uti
duramque callet pauperiem pati peiusque leto flagitium timet, non ille pro caris amicis aut patria timidus perire.
Book 4, Poem 10
O crudelis adhuc et Veneris muneribus potens, insperata tuae cum veniet pluma superbiae et, quae nunc umeris involitant, deciderint comae, nunc et qui color est puniceae flore prior rosae mutatus Ligurinum in faciem verterit hispidam, dices “heu,” quotiens te speculo videris alterum, “quae mens est hodie, cur eadem non puero fuit, vel cur his animis incolumes non redeunt genae?”
Book 4, Poem 11
Est mihi nonum superantis annum plenus Albani cadus, est in horto, Phylli, nectendis apium coronis; est hederae vis multa, qua crinis religata fulges, ridet argento domus, ara castis vincta verbenis avet immolato spargier agno; cuncta festinat manus, huc et illuc cursitant mixtae pueris puellae, sordidum flammae trepidant rotantes vertice fumum.
ut tamen noris, quibus advoceris gaudiis: Idus tibi sunt agendae, qui dies mensem Veneris marinae findit Aprilem, iure sollemnis mihi sanctiorque paene natali proprio, quod ex hac luce Maecenas meus adfluentis ordinat annos. Telephum, quem tu petis, occupavit non tuae sortis iuvenem puella dives et lasciva tenetque grata compede vinctum.
terret ambustus Phaethon avaras spes et exemplum grave praebet ales Pegasus terrenum equitem gravatus Bellerophontem, semper ut te digna sequare et ultra quam licet sperare nefas putando disparem vites. age iam, meorum finis amorum, (non enim posthac alia calebo femina) condisce modos, amanda voce quos reddas: minuentur atrae carmine curae.
Book 4, Poem 12
Iam veris comites, quae mare temperant, inpellunt animae lintea Thraciae, iam nec prata rigent nec fluvii strepunt hiberna nive turgidi. nidum ponit, Ityn flebiliter gemens, infelix avis et Cecropiae domus aeternum opprobrium, quod male barbaras regum est ulta libidines. dicunt in tenero gramine pinguium custodes ovium carmina fistula delectantque deum, cui pecus et nigri colles Arcadiae placent.
adduxere sitim tempora, Vergili: sed pressum Calibus ducere Liberum si gestis, iuvenum nobilium cliens, nardo vina merebere. nardi parvus onyx eliciet cadum, qui nunc Sulpiciis adcubat horreis, spes donare novas largus amaraque curarum eluere efficax. ad quae si properas gaudia, cum tua velox merce veni: non ego te meis inmunem meditor tinguere poculis, plena dives ut in domo.
verum pone moras et studium lucri nigrorumque memor, dum licet, ignium misce stultitiam consiliis brevem: dulce est desipere in loco.
Book 4, Poem 13
Audivere, Lyce, di mea vota, di audivere, Lyce: fis anus et tamen vis formosa videri ludisque et bibis inpudens et cantu tremulo pota Cupidinem lentum sollicitas. ille virentis et doctae psallere Chiae pulcris excubat in genis. inportunus enim transvolat aridas quercus et refugit te quia luridi dentes, te quia rugae turpant et capitis nives.
nec Coae referunt iam tibi purpurae nec cari lapides tempora, quae semel notis condita fastis inclusit volucris dies. quo fugit venus, heu, quove color, decens quo motus? quid habes illius, illius, quae spirabat amores, quae me surpuerat mihi felix post Cinaram notaque et artium gratarum facies? sed Cinarae brevis annos fata dederunt, servatura diu parem
cornicis vetulae temporibus Lycen, possent ut iuvenes visere fervidi multo non sine risu dilapsam in cineres facem.
Book 4, Poem 14
Quae cura patrum quaeve Quiritium plenis honorum muneribus tuas, Auguste, virtutes in aevum per titulos memoresque fastos aeternet, o, qua sol habitabilis inlustrat oras, maxime principum, quem legis expertes Latinae Vindelici didicere nuper quid Marte posses. milite nam tuo Drusus Genaunos, inplacidum genus, Breunosque velocis et arcis Alpibus inpositas tremendis
deiecit acer plus vice simplici; maior Neronum mox grave proelium conmisit immanisque Raetos auspiciis pepulit secundis, spectandus in certamine Martio devota morti pectora liberae quantis fatigaret ruinis, indomitas prope qualis undas exercet Auster Pleiadum choro scindente nubis, inpiger hostium vexare turmas et frementem mittere equum medios per ignis.
sic tauriformis volvitur Aufidus, qui regna Dauni praefluit Apuli, cum saevit horrendamque cultis diluviem meditatur agris, ut barbarorum Claudius agmina ferrata vasto diruit impetu primosque et extremos metendo stravit humum sine clade victor, te copias, te consilium et tuos praebente divos. nam tibi quo die portus Alexandrea supplex et vacuam patefecit aulam,
Fortuna lustro prospera tertio belli secundos reddidit exitus laudemque et optatum peractis imperiis decus adrogavit. te Cantaber non ante domabilis Medusque et Indus, te profugus Scythes miratur, o tutela praesens Italiae dominaeque Romae. te fontium qui celat origines Nilusque et Hister, te rapidus Tigris, te beluosus qui remotis obstrepit Oceanus Britannis,
te non paventis funera Galliae duraeque tellus audit Hiberiae, te caede gaudentes Sygambri conpositis venerantur armis.
Book 4, Poem 15
Phoebus volentem proelia me loqui victas et urbis increpuit lyra, ne parva Tyrrhenum per aequor vela darem. tua, Caesar, aetas fruges et agris rettulit uberes et signa nostro restituit Iovi derepta Parthorum superbis postibus et vacuum duellis Ianum Quirini clausit et ordinem rectum evaganti frena licentiae iniecit emovitque culpas et veteres revocavit artis,
per quas Latinum nomen et Italae crevere vires famaque et imperi porrecta maiestas ad ortus solis ab Hesperio cubili. custode rerum Caesare non furor civilis aut vis exiget otium, non ira, quae procudit ensis et miseras inimicat urbis. non qui profundum Danuvium bibunt edicta rumpent Iulia, non Getae, non Seres infidique Persae, non Tanain prope flumen orti.
nosque et profestis lucibus et sacris inter iocosi munera Liberi cum prole matronisque nostris, rite deos prius adprecati, virtute functos more patrum duces Lydis remixto carmine tibiis Troiamque et Anchisen et almae progeniem Veneris canemus.
Satires
Book 1, Poem 4
When discord dreadful bursts the brazen bars, And shatters iron locks to thunder forth her wars.
Book 1, Poem 10
lucili, quam sis mendosus, teste catone, defensore tuo, pervincam, qui male factos emendare parat versus, hoc lenius ille, quo melior vir et est longe subtilior illo, qui multum puer et loris et funibus udis exoratus, ut esset, opem qui ferre poetis antiquis posset contra fastidia nostra, grammaticorum equitum doctissimus. ut redeam illuc:
Book 2, Poem 1
Sed quid opus teneras mordaci radere vero Auriculas? Vide sis ne maiorum tibi forte Limina et rigescunt.
Book 2, Poem 3
Mater, te adpello, tu quae somno curam suspensam levas, Neque te mei miseret, surge et sepeli natum Priusquam ferae volucresque. Vigila et cicer ingere large Rixanti populo, nostra ut Floralia possint Aprici meminisse senes.
Contents — 18 sections
Book 1, Poem 1
Qui fit, Maecenas, ut nemo, quam sibi sortem seu Ratio dederit seu Fors obiecerit, illa contentus vivat, laudet diversa sequentis? ‘o fortunati mercatores’ gravis annis miles ait, multo iam fractus membra labore. contra mercator navim iactantibus Austris, ‘militia est potior. quid enim? concurritur: horae momento cita mors venit aut victoria laeta.’ agricolam laudat iuris legumque peritus, sub galli cantum consultor ubi ostia pulsat; ille, datis vadibus qui rure extractus in urbem est, solos felicis viventis clamat in urbe.
cetera de genere hoc (adeo sunt multa) loquacem delassare valent Fabium. ne te morer, audi, quo rem deducam. si quis Deus ‘en ego’ dicat ‘iam faciam quod voltis: eris tu, qui modo miles, mercator; tu, consultus modo, rusticus: hinc vos, vos hinc mutatis discedite partibus. eia, quid statis?’ nolint. atqui licet esse beatis. quid causae est, merito quin illis Iuppiter ambas iratus buccas inflet neque se fore posthac tam facilem dicat, votis ut praebeat aurem? praeterea, ne sic ut qui iocularia ridens percurram — quamquam ridentem dicere verum
quid vetat? ut pueris olim dant crustula blandi doctores, elementa velint ut discere prima — sed tamen amoto quaeramus seria ludo: ille gravem duro terram qui vertit aratro, perfidus hic caupo, miles nautaeque, per omne audaces mare qui currunt, hac mente laborem sese ferre, senes ut in otia tuta recedant, aiunt, cum sibi sint congesta cibaria: sicut parvola—nam exemplo est—magni formica laboris ore trahit quodcumque potest atque addit acervo quem struit, haud ignara ac non incauta futuri. quae, simul inversum contristat Aquarius annum,
non usquam prorepit et illis utitur ante quaesitis sapiens, cum te neque fervidus aestus demoveat lucro neque hiems, ignis mare ferrum, nil obstet tibi, dum ne sit te ditior alter. quid iuvat inmensum te argenti pondus et auri furtim defossa timidum deponere terra? quod, si conminuas, vilem redigatur ad assem? at ni id fit, quid habet pulcri constructus acervus? milia frumenti tua triverit area centum: non tuus hoc capiet venter plus ac meus: ut, si reticulum panis venalis inter onusto forte vehas umero, nihilo plus accipias quam
qui nil portarit. vel dic quid referat intra naturae finis viventi, iugera centum an mille aret? ‘at suave est ex magno tollere acervo.’ dum ex parvo nobis tantundem haurire relinquas, cur tua plus laudes cumeris granaria nostris? ut tibi si sit opus liquidi non amplius urna vel cyatho ac dicas ‘magno de flumine mallem quam ex hoc fonticulo tantundem sumere.’ eo fit, plenior ut siquos delectet copia iusto, cum ripa simul avolsos ferat Aufidus acer. at qui tantuli eget quanto est opus, is neque limo turbatam haurit aquam neque vitam amittit in undis.
at bona pars hominum decepta cupidine falso ‘nil satis est’, inquit, ‘quia tanti quantum habeas sis’: quid facias illi? iubeas miserum esse, libenter quatenus id facit: ut quidam memoratur Athenis sordidus ac dives, populi contemnere voces sic solitus: ‘populus me sibilat, at mihi plaudo ipse domi, simul ac nummos contemplor in arca.’ Tantalus a labris sitiens fugientia captat flumina — quid rides? mutato nomine de te fabula narratur: congestis undique saccis indormis inhians et tamquam parcere sacris cogeris aut pictis tamquam gaudere tabellis.
nescis, quo valeat nummus, quem praebeat usum? panis ematur, holus, vini sextarius, adde quis humana sibi doleat natura negatis. an vigilare metu exanimem, noctesque diesque formidare malos fures, incendia, servos, ne te conpilent fugientes, hoc iuvat? horum semper ego optarim pauperrimus esse bonorum. at si condoluit temptatum frigore corpus aut alius casus lecto te adflixit, habes qui adsideat, fomenta paret, medicum roget, ut te suscitet ac reddat gnatis carisque propinquis? non uxor salvum te volt, non filius; omnes
vicini oderunt, noti, pueri atque puellae. miraris, cum tu argento post omnia ponas, si nemo praestet, quem non merearis, amorem? at si cognatos nullo natura labore quos tibi dat, retinere velis, servareque amicos, infelix operam perdas, ut siquis asellum in campo doceat parentem currere frenis. denique sit finis quaerendi, cumque habeas plus, pauperiem metuas minus et finire laborem incipias, parto quod avebas, ne facias quod Umidius quidam; non longa est fabula: dives ut metiretur nummos, ita sordidus, ut se
non umquam servo melius vestiret, ad usque supremum tempus, ne se penuria victus opprimeret, metuebat. at hunc liberta securi divisit medium, fortissima Tyndaridarum. ‘quid mi igitur suades? ut vivam Naevius aut sic ut Nomentanus?’ pergis pugnantia secum frontibus adversis conponere: non ego avarum cum veto te, fieri vappam iubeo ac nebulonem: est inter Tanain quiddam socerumque Viselli: est modus in rebus, sunt certi denique fines, quos ultra citraque nequit consistere rectum. illuc, unde abii, redeo, qui nemo, ut avarus,
se probet ac potius laudet diversa sequentis, quodque aliena capella gerat distentius uber, tabescat neque se maiori pauperiorum turbae conparet, hunc atque hunc superare laboret. sic festinanti semper locupletior obstat, ut, cum carceribus missos rapit ungula currus, instat equis auriga suos vincentibus, illum praeteritum temnens extremos inter euntem. inde fit, ut raro, qui se vixisse beatum dicat et exacto contentus tempore vita cedat uti conviva satur, reperire queamus. iam satis est. ne me Crispini scrinia lippi
conpilasse putes, verbum non amplius addam.
Book 1, Poem 2
Ambubaiarum collegia, pharmacopolae, mendici, mimae, balatrones, hoc genus omne maestum ac sollicitum est cantoris morte Tigelli. quippe benignus erat. contra hic, ne prodigus esse dicatur metuens, inopi dare nolit amico, frigus quo duramque famem propellere possit. hunc si perconteris, avi cur atque parentis praeclaram ingrata stringat malus ingluvie rem, omnia conductis coemens obsonia nummis, sordidus atque animi quod parvi nolit haberi, respondet. laudatur ab his, culpatur ab illis. Fufidius vappae famam timet ac nebulonis
: quinas hic capiti mercedes exsecat atque quanto perditior quisque est, tanto acrius urget; nomina sectatur modo sumpta veste virili sub patribus duris tironum. ‘maxime’ quis non ‘Iuppiter’ exclamat simul atque audivit? ‘at in se pro quaestu sumptum facit hic?’ vix credere possis, quam sibi non sit amicus, ita ut pater ille, Terenti fabula quem miserum gnato vixisse fugato inducit, non se peius cruciaverit atque hic. siquis nunc quaerat ‘quo res haec pertinet?’ illuc: dum vitant stulti vitia, in contraria currunt.
Maltinus tunicis demissis ambulat, est qui inguen ad obscaenum subductis usque; facetus pastillos Rufillus olet, Gorgonius hircum: nil medium est. sunt qui nolint tetigisse nisi illas quarum subsuta talos tegat instita veste, contra alius nullam nisi olenti in fornice stantem. quidam notus homo cum exiret fornice, ‘macte virtute esto’ inquit sententia dia Catonis; ‘nam simul ac venas inflavit taetra libido, huc iuvenes aequom est descendere, non alienas permolere uxores.’ ‘nolim laudarier’ inquit ‘sic me’ mirator cunni Cupiennius albi.
audire est operae pretium, procedere recte qui moechis non voltis, ut omni parte laborent utque illis multo corrupta dolore voluptas atque haec rara cadat dura inter saepe pericla. hic se praecipitem tecto dedit, ille flagellis ad mortem caesus, fugiens hic decidit acrem praedonum in turbam, dedit hic pro corpore nummos, hunc perminxerunt calones; quin etiam illud accidit, ut cuidam testis caudamque salacem demeterent ferro. ‘iure’ omnes: Galba negabat. tutior at quanto merx est in classe secunda, libertinarum dico — Sallustius in quas
non minus insanit quam qui moechatur. at hic si, qua res, qua ratio suaderet quaque modeste munifico esse licet, vellet bonus atque benignus esse, daret quantum satis esset nec sibi damno dedecorique foret. verum hoc se amplectitur uno, hoc amat et laudat: ‘matronam nullam ego tango’, ut quondam Marsaeus, amator Originis ille, qui patrium mimae donat fundumque laremque, ‘nil fuerit mi’ inquit ‘cum uxoribus umquam alienis.’ verum est cum mimis, est cum meretricibus, unde fama malum gravius quam res trahit. an tibi abunde personam satis est, non illud, quidquid ubique
officit, evitare? bonam deperdere famam, rem patris oblimare malum est ubicumque. quid inter- est in matrona, ancilla peccesne togata? Villius in Fausta, Sullae gener, hoc miser uno nomine deceptus, poenas dedit usque superque quam satis est, pugnis caesus ferroque petitus, exclusus fore, cum Longarenus foret intus. huic si muttonis verbis mala tanta videnti diceret haec animus ‘quid vis tibi? numquid ego a te magno prognatum deposco consule cunnum velatumque stola, mea cum conferbuit ira?’ quid responderet? ‘magno patre nata puella est.’
at quanto meliora monet pugnantiaque istis dives opis natura suae, tu si modo recte dispensare velis ac non fugienda petendis inmiscere. tuo vitio rerumne labores, nil referre putas? quare, ne paeniteat te, desine matronas sectarier, unde laboris plus haurire mali est quam ex re decerpere fructus. nec magis huic, inter niveos viridisque lapillos sit licet, hoc, Cerinthe, tuum tenerum est femur aut crus rectius, atque etiam melius persaepe togatae. adde huc, quod mercem sine fucis gestat, aperte quod venale habet ostendit nec, siquid honesti est,
iactat habetque palam, quaerit, quo turpia celet. regibus hic mos est, ubi equos mercantur: opertos inspiciunt, ne si facies, ut saepe, decora molli fulta pede est, emptorem inducat hiantem, quod pulcrae clunes, breve quod caput, ardua cervix. hoc illi recte: ne corporis optima Lyncei contemplere oculis, Hypsaea caecior illa, quae mala sunt, spectes. ‘o crus, o bracchia.’ verum depygis, nasuta, brevi latere ac pede longo est. matronae praeter faciem nil cernere possis, cetera, ni Catia est, demissa veste tegentis. si interdicta petes, vallo circumdata — nam te
hoc facit insanum — , multae tibi tum officient res, custodes, lectica, ciniflones, parasitae, ad talos stola demissa et circumdata palla, plurima, quae invideant pure adparere tibi rem. altera, nil obstat: cois tibi paene videre est ut nudam, ne crure malo, ne sit pede turpi; metiri possis oculo latus. an tibi mavis insidias fieri pretiumque avellier ante quam mercem ostendi? leporem venator ut alta in nive sectetur, positum sic tangere nolit, cantat et adponit ‘meus est amor huic similis; nam transvolat in medio posita et fugientia captat.’
hiscine versiculis speras tibi posse dolores atque aestus curasque gravis e pectore pelli? nonne, cupidinibus statuat natura modum quem, quid latura sibi, quid sit dolitura negatum, quaerere plus prodest et inane abscindere soldo? num, tibi cum faucis urit sitis, aurea quaeris pocula? num esuriens fastidis omnia praeter pavonem rhombumque? tument tibi cum inguina, num, si ancilla aut verna est praesto puer, impetus in quem continuo fiat. malis tentigine rumpi? non ego; namque parabilem amo Venerem facilemque. illam ‘post paulo’ ‘sed pluris’ ‘si exierit vir’
gallis, hanc Philodemus ait sibi, quae neque magno stet pretio neque cunctetur cum est iussa venire. candida rectaque sit, munda hactenus, ut neque longa nec magis alba velit quam dat natura videri. haec ubi supposuit dextro corpus mihi laevom, Ilia et Egeria est; do nomen quodlibet illi. nec vereor, ne, dum futuo, vir rure recurrat, ianua frangatur, latret canis, undique magno pulsa domus strepitu resonet, vepallida lecto desiliat mulier, miseram se conscia clamet, cruribus haec metuat, doti deprensa, egomet mi. discincta tunica fugiendum est et pede nudo,
ne nummi pereant aut puga aut denique fama. deprendi miserum est: Fabio vel iudice vincam.
Book 1, Poem 3
Omnibus hoc vitium est cantoribus, inter amicos ut numquam inducant animum cantare rogati, iniussi numquam desistant. sardus habebat ille Tigellius hoc. Caesar, qui cogere posset, si peteret per amicitiam patris atque suam, non quicquam proficeret; si conlibuisset, ab ovo usque ad mala citaret ‘Io Bacchae’ modo summa voce, modo hac, resonat quae chordis quattuor ima. nil aequale homini fuit illi: saepe velut qui currebat fugiens hostem, persaepe velut qui Iunonis sacra ferret; habebat saepe ducentos, saepe decem servos; modo reges atque tetrarchas,
omnia magna loquens, modo ‘sit mihi mensa tripes et concha salis puri et toga, quae defendere frigus quamvis crassa queat.’ deciens centena dedisses huic parco, paucis contento, quinque diebus nil erat in loculis; noctes vigilabat ad ipsum mane, diem totum stertebat; nil fuit unquam sic inpar sibi. nunc aliquis dicat mihi ‘quid tu? nullane habes vitia?’ immo alia et fortasse minora. Maenius absentem Novium cum carperet, ‘heus tu’ quidam ait ‘ignoras te an ut ignotum dare nobis verba putas?’ ‘egomet mi ignosco’ Maenius inquit. stultus et inprobus hic amor est dignusque notari.
cum tua pervideas oculis mala lippus inunctis, cur in amicorum vitiis tam cernis acutum quam aut aquila aut serpens Epidaurius? at tibi contra evenit, inquirant vitia ut tua rursus et illi. iracundior est paulo, minus aptus acutis naribus horum hominum; rideri possit eo quod rusticius tonso toga defluit et male laxus in pede calceus haeret: at est bonus, ut melior vir non alius quisquam, at tibi amicus, at ingenium ingens inculto latet hoc sub corpore. denique te ipsum concute, numqua tibi vitiorum inseverit olim natura aut etiam consuetudo mala; namque
neglectis urenda filix innascitur agris. illuc praevertamur, amatorem quod amicae turpia decipiunt caecum vitia aut etiam ipsa haec delectant, veluti Balbinum polypus Agnae. vellem in amicitia sic erraremus et isti errori nomen virtus posuisset honestum. ac pater ut gnati, sic nos debemus amici siquod sit vitium non fastidire. strabonem appellat paetum pater, et pullum, male parvos sicui filius est, ut abortivus fuit olim Sisyphus; hunc Varum distortis cruribus, illum balbutit Scaurum pravis fultum male talis.
parcius hic vivit: frugi dicatur; ineptus et iactantior hic paulo est: concinnus amicis postulat ut videatur; at est truculentior atque plus aequo liber: simplex fortisque habeatur; caldior est: acris inter numeretur. opinor, haec res et iungit iunctos et servat amicos. at nos virtutes ipsas invertimus atque sincerum furimus vas incrustare. probus quis nobiscum vivit, multum demissus homo: illi tardo cognomen, pingui damus. hic fugit omnis insidias nullique malo latus obdit apertum, cum genus hoc inter vitae versemur, ubi acris
invidia atque vigent ubi crimina: pro bene sano ac non incauto fictum astutumque vocamus. simplicior quis et est, qualem me saepe libenter obtulerim tibi, Maecenas, ut forte legentem aut tacitum inpellat quovis sermone: ‘molestus, communi sensu plane caret’ inquimus. eheu, quam temere in nosmet legem sancimus iniquam. nam vitiis nemo sine nascitur; optimus ille est, qui minimis urgetur. amicus dulcis, ut aequum est, cum mea conpenset vitiis bona, pluribus hisce, si modo plura mihi bona sunt, inclinet, amari si volet: hac lege in trutina ponetur eadem.
qui, ne tuberibus propriis offendat amicum, postulat, ignoscet verrucis illius: aequum est peccatis veniam poscentem reddere rursus. denique, quatenus excidi penitus vitium irae, cetera item nequeunt stultis haerentia, cur non ponderibus modulisque suis ratio utitur ac res ut quaeque est, ita suppliciis delicta coercet? siquis eum servum, patinam qui tollere iussus semesos piscis tepidumque ligurrierit ius, in cruce suffigat, Labeone insanior inter sanos dicatur. quanto hoc furiosius atque maius peccatum est: paulum deliquit amicus,
quod nisi concedas, habeare insuavis: acerbus odisti et fugis ut Drusonem debitor aeris, qui nisi, cum tristes misero venere Kalendae, mercedem aut nummos unde unde extricat, amaras porrecto iugulo historias captivus ut audit. conminxit lectum potus mensave catillum Evandri manibus tritum deiecit: ob hanc rem, aut positum ante mea quia pullum in parte catini sustulit esuriens, minus hoc iucundus amicus sit mihi? quid faciam, si furtum fecerit aut si prodiderit conmissa fide sponsumve negarit? quis paria esse fere placuit peccata, laborant,
cum ventum ad verum est: sensus moresque repugnant atque ipsa utilitas, iusti prope mater et aequi. cum prorepserunt primis animalia terris, mutum et turpe pecus, glandem atque cubilia propter unguibus et pugnis, dein fustibus atque ita porro pugnabant armis, quae post fabricaverat usus, donec verba, quibus voces sensusque notarent, nominaque invenere; dehinc absistere bello, oppida coeperunt munire et ponere leges, ne quis fur esset neu latro neu quis adulter. nam fuit ante Helenam cunnus taeterrima belli causa, sed ignotis perierunt mortibus illi,
quos Venerem incertam rapientis more ferarum viribus editior caedebat ut in grege taurus. iura inventa metu iniusti fateare necesse est, tempora si fastosque velis evolvere mundi. nec Natura potest iusto secernere iniquum, dividit ut bona diversis, fugienda petendis, nec vincet ratio hoc, tantundem ut peccet idemque, qui teneros caules alieni fregerit horti et qui nocturnus sacra Divum legerit. adsit regula, peccatis quae poenas inroget aequas, ne scutica dignum horribili sectere flagello. nam ut ferula caedas meritum maiora subire
verbera, non vereor, cum dicas esse paris res furta latrociniis et magnis parva mineris falce recisurum simili te, si tibi regnum permittant homines. si dives, qui sapiens est, et sutor bonus et solus formosus et est rex, cur optas quod habes? ‘non nosti, quid pater’ inquit ‘Chrysippus dicat: sapiens crepidas sibi numquam nec soleas fecit; sutor tamen est sapiens.’ qui? ‘ut quamvis tacet Hermogenes, cantor tamen atque optumus est modulator; ut Alfenus vafer omni abiecto instrumento artis clausaque taberna sutor erat: sapiens operis sic optimus omnis
est opifex, solus sic rex.’ vellunt tibi barbam lascivi pueri, quos tu nisi fuste coerces, urgeris turba circum te stante miserque rumperis et latras, magnorum maxime regum. ne longum faciam: dum tu quadrante lavatum rex ibis neque te quisquam stipator ineptum praeter Crispinum sectabitur, et mihi dulces ignoscent, siquid peccaro stultus, amici inque vicem illorum patiar delicta libenter privatusque magis vivam te rege beatus.
Book 1, Poem 4
Eupolis atque Cratinus Aristophanesque poetae atque alii, quorum comoedia prisca virorum est, siquis erat dignus describi, quod malus ac fur, quod moechus foret aut sicarius aut alioqui famosus, multa cum libertate notabant. hinc omnis pendet Lucilius, hosce secutus, mutatis tantum pedibus numerisque, facetus, emunctae naris, durus conponere versus. nam fuit hoc vitiosus: in hora saepe ducentos, ut magnum, versus dictabat stans pede in uno; cum flueret lutulentus, erat quod tollere velles; garrulus atque piger scribendi ferre laborem,
scribendi recte: nam ut multum, nil moror. ecce, Crispinus minimo me provocat ‘accipe, si vis, accipe iam tabulas; detur nobis locus, hora, custodes; videamus, uter plus scribere possit.’ di bene fecerunt, inopis me quodque pusilli finxerunt animi, raro et perpauca loquentis; at tu conclusas hircinis follibus auras usque laborantis, dum ferrum molliat ignis, ut mavis, imitare. beatus Fannius ultro delatis capsis et imagine, cum mea nemo scripta legat, volgo recitare timentis ob hanc rem, quod sunt quos genus hoc minime iuvat, utpote pluris
culpari dignos. quemvis media elige turba: aut ob avaritiam aut misera ambitione laborat. hic nuptarum insanit amoribus, hic puerorum: hunc capit argenti splendor; stupet Albius aere; hic mutat merces surgente a sole ad eum, quo vespertina tepet regio, quin per mala praeceps fertur uti pulvis collectus turbine, nequid summa deperdat metuens aut ampliet ut rem. omnes hi metuunt versus, odere poetas. ‘faenum habet in cornu, longe fuge; dummodo risum excutiat sibi, non hic cuiquam parcet amico et quodcumque semel chartis inleverit, omnis
gestiet a furno redeuntis scire lacuque et pueros et anus.’ agedum pauca accipe contra. primum ego me illorum, dederim quibus esse poetis, excerpam numero: neque enim concludere versum dixeris esse satis neque, siqui scribat uti nos sermoni propiora, putes hunc esse poetam. ingenium cui sit, cui mens divinior atque os magna sonaturum, des nominis huius honorem. idcirco quidam comoedia necne poema esset, quaesivere, quod acer spiritus ac vis nec verbis nec rebus inest, nisi quod pede certo differt sermoni, sermo merus. ‘at pater ardens
saevit, quod meretrice nepos insanus amica filius uxorem grandi cum dote recuset, ebrius et, magnum quod dedecus, ambulet ante noctem cum facibus.’ numquid Pomponius istis audiret leviora, pater si viveret? ergo non satis est puris versum perscribere verbis, quem si dissolvas, quivis stomachetur eodem quo personatus pacto pater. his, ego quae nunc, olim quae scripsit Lucilius, eripias si tempora certa modosque, et quod prius ordine verbum est posterius facias praeponens ultima primis, non, ut si solvas ‘postquam discordia taetra
belli ferratos postis portasque refregit’, invenias etiam disiecti membra poetae. hactenus haec: alias, iustum sit necne poema. nunc illud tantum quaeram, meritone tibi sit suspectum genus hoc scribendi. Sulcius acer ambulat et Caprius, rauci male cumque libellis, magnus uterque timor latronibus; at bene siquis et vivat puris manibus, contemnat utrumque. ut sis tu similis Coeli Birrique latronum, non ego sim Capri neque Sulci: cur metuas me? nulla taberna meos habeat neque pila libellos, quis manus insudet volgi Hermogenisque Tigelli,
nec recito cuiquam nisi amicis idque coactus, non ubivis coramve quibuslibet. in medio qui scripta foro recitent, sunt multi quique lavantes: suave locus voci resonat conclusus. inanis hoc iuvat, haud illud quaerentis, num sine sensu, tempore num faciant alieno. ‘laedere gaudes’ inquit ‘et hoc studio pravus facis.’ unde petitum hoc in me iacis? est auctor quis denique eorum, vixi cum quibus? absentem qui rodit, amicum qui non defendit alio culpante, solutos qui captat risus hominum famamque dicacis, fingere qui non visa potest, conmissa tacere
qui nequit: hic niger est, hunc tu, Romane, caveto. saepe tribus lectis videas cenare quaternos, e quibus unus amet quavis aspergere cunctos praeter eum qui praebet aquam; post hunc quoque potus, condita cum verax aperit praecordia Liber: hic tibi comis et urbanus liberque videtur infesto nigris: ego si risi, quod ineptus pastillos Rufillus olet, Gorgonius hircum, lividus et mordax videor tibi? mentio siquae de Capitolini furtis iniecta Petilli te coram fuerit, defendas, ut tuus est mos: ‘me Capitolinus convictore usus amicoque
a puero est causaque mea permulta rogatus fecit et incolumis laetor quod vivit in Urbe; sed tamen admiror, quo pacto iudicium illud fugerit’: hic nigrae sucus lolliginis, haec est aerugo mera; quod vitium procul afore chartis, atque animo prius, ut siquid promittere de me possum aliud vere, promitto. liberius si dixero quid, si forte iocosius, hoc mihi iuris cum venia dabis: insuevit pater optimus hoc me, ut fugerem exemplis vitiorum quaeque notando. cum me hortaretur, parce frugaliter atque viverem uti contentus eo quod mi ipse parasset:
‘nonne vides, Albi ut male vivat filius utque Barrus inops? magnum documentum, ne patriam rem perdere quis velit.’ a turpi meretricis amore cum deterreret: ‘Sectani dissimilis sis.’ ne sequerer moechas, concessa cum Venere uti possem: ‘deprensi non bella est fama Treboni’ aiebat. ‘sapiens, vitatu quidque petitu sit melius, causas reddet tibi; mi satis est, si traditum ab antiquis morem servare tuamque, dum custodis eges, vitam famamque tueri incolumem possum; simul ac duraverit aetas membra animumque tuum, nabis sine cortice.’ sic me
formabat puerum dictis et, sive iubebat ut facerem quid, ‘habes auctorem, quo facias hoc’ unum ex iudicibus selectis obiciebat, sive vetabat, ‘an hoc inhonestum et inutile factu necne sit, addubites, flagret rumore malo cum hic atque ille?’ avidos vicinum funus ut aegros exanimat mortisque metu sibi parcere cogit, sic teneros animos aliena opprobria saepe absterrent vitiis. ex hoc ego sanus ab illis perniciem quaecumque ferunt, mediocribus et quis ignoscas vitiis teneor. fortassis et istinc largiter abstulerit longa aetas, liber amicus,
consilium proprium; neque enim, cum lectulus aut me porticus excepit, desum mihi. ‘rectius hoc est; hoc faciens vivam melius; sic dulcis amicis occurram; hoc quidam non belle: numquid ego illi inprudens olim faciam simile?’ haec ego mecum conpressis agito labris; ubi quid datur oti, inludo chartis. hoc est mediocribus illis ex vitiis unum; cui si concedere nolis, multa poetarum veniat manus, auxilio quae sit mihi — nam multo plures sumus — , ac veluti te Iudaei cogemus in hanc concedere turbam.
Book 1, Poem 5
Egressum magna me accepit Aricia Roma hospitio modico; rhetor comes Heliodorus, graecorum longe doctissimus; inde forum Appi differtum nautis cauponibus atque malignis. hoc iter ignavi divisimus, altius ac nos praecinctis unum: minus est gravis Appia tardis. hic ego propter aquam, quod erat deterrima, ventri indico bellum, cenantis haud animo aequo exspectans comites. iam nox inducere terris umbras et caelo diffundere signa parabat: tum pueri nautis, pueris convicia nautae ingerere: ‘huc adpelle’; ‘trecentos inseris’; ‘ohe,
iam satis est.’ dum aes exigitur, dum mula ligatur, tota abit hora. mali culices ranaeque palustres avertunt somnos; absentem cantat amicam multa prolutus vappa nauta atque viator certatim; tandem fessus dormire viator incipit ac missae pastum retinacula mulae nauta piger saxo religat stertitque supinus. iamque dies aderat, nil cum procedere lintrem sentimus, donec cerebrosus prosilit unus ac mulae nautaeque caput lumbosque saligno fuste dolat: quarta vix demum exponimur hora. ora manusque tua lavimus, Feronia, lympha.
milia tum pransi tria repimus atque subimus inpositum saxis late candentibus Anxur. huc venturus erat Maecenas optimus atque Cocceius, missi magnis de rebus uterque legati, aversos soliti conponere amicos. hic oculis ego nigra meis collyria lippus inlinere. interea Maecenas advenit atque Cocceius Capitoque simul Fonteius, ad unguem factus homo, Antoni, non ut magis alter, amicus. Fundos Aufidio Lusco praetore libenter linquimus, insani ridentes praemia scribae, praetextam et latum clavum prunaeque vatillum.
in Mamurrarum lassi deinde urbe manemus, Murena praebente domum, Capitone culinam. postera lux oritur multo gratissima; namque Plotius et Varius Sinuessae Vergiliusque occurrunt, animae, qualis neque candidiores terra tulit neque quis me sit devinctior alter. o qui conplexus et gaudia quanta fuerunt. nil ego contulerim iucundo sanus amico. proxima Campano ponti quae villula, tectum praebuit et parochi, quae debent, ligna salemque. hinc muli Capuae clitellas tempore ponunt. lusum it Maecenas, dormitum ego Vergiliusque;
namque pila lippis inimicum et ludere crudis. hinc nos Coccei recipit plenissima villa, quae super est Caudi cauponas. nunc mihi paucis Sarmenti Scurrae pugnam Messique Cicerri, Musa, velim memores et quo patre natus uterque contulerit litis. Messi clarum genus Osci; Sarmenti domina exstat: ab his maioribus orti ad pugnam venere. prior Sarmentus ‘equi te esse feri similem dico.’ ridemus, et ipse Messius ‘accipio,’ caput et movet. ‘o tua cornu ni foret exsecto frons,’ inquit, ‘quid faceres, cum sic mutilus minitaris?’ at illi foeda cicatrix
saetosam laevi frontem turpaverat oris. Campanum in morbum, in faciem permulta iocatus, pastorem saltaret uti Cyclopa rogabat: nil illi larva aut tragicis opus esse cothurnis. multa Cicerrus ad haec: donasset iamne catenam ex voto Laribus, quaerebat; scriba quod esset, nilo deterius dominae ius esse; rogabat denique, cur umquam fugisset, cui satis una farris libra foret, gracili sic tamque pusillo. prorsus iucunde cenam producimus illam. tendimus hinc recta Beneventum, ubi sedulus hospes paene macros arsit dum turdos versat in igni.
nam vaga per veterem dilapso flamma culinam volcano summum properabat lambere tectum. convivas avidos cenam servosque timentis tum rapere atque omnis restinguere velle videres. incipit ex illo montis Appulia notos ostentare mihi, quos torret Atabulus et quos nunquam erepsemus, nisi nos vicina Trivici villa recepisset lacrimoso non sine fumo, udos cum foliis ramos urente camino. hic ego mendacem stultissimus usque puellam ad mediam noctem exspecto; somnus tamen aufert intentum Veneri; tum inmundo somnia visu
nocturnam vestem maculant ventremque supinum. quattuor hinc rapimur viginti et milia raedis, mansuri oppidulo, quod versu dicere non est, signis perfacile est: venit vilissima rerum hic aqua, sed panis longe pulcherrimus, ultra callidus ut soleat umeris portare viator. nam Canusi lapidosus, aquae non ditior urna: qui locus a forti Diomede est conditus olim. flentibus hinc Varius discedit maestus amicis. inde Rubos fessi pervenimus, utpote longum carpentes iter et factum corruptius imbri. postera tempestas melior, via peior ad usque
Bari moenia piscosi; dein Gnatia lymphis iratis exstructa dedit risusque iocosque, dum flamma sine tura liquescere limine sacro persuadere cupit. credat Iudaeus Apella, non ego; namque Deos didici securum agere aevom nec, siquid miri faciat natura, deos id tristis ex alto caeli demittere tecto. Brundisium longae finis chartaeque viaeque est.
Book 1, Poem 6
Non quia, Maecenas, Lydorum quidquid Etruscos incoluit finis, nemo generosior est te, nec quod avus tibi maternus fuit atque paternus olim qui magnis legionibus imperitarent, ut plerique solent, naso suspendis adunco ignotos, ut me libertino patre natum. cum referre negas, quali sit quisque parente natus, dum ingenuus, persuades hoc tibi vere, ante potestatem Tulli atque ignobile regnum multos saepe viros nullis maioribus ortos et vixisse probos amplis et honoribus auctos; contra Laevinum, Valeri genus, unde Superbus
Tarquinius regno pulsus fugit, unius assis non umquam pretio pluris licuisse, notante iudice quo nosti, populo, qui stultus honores saepe dat indignis et famae servit ineptus, qui stupet in titulis et imaginibus. quid oportet nos facere a volgo longe longeque remotos? namque esto: populus Laevino mallet honorem quam Decio mandare novo censorque moveret Appius, ingenuo si non essem patre natus: vel merito, quoniam in propria non pelle quiessem. sed fulgente trahit constrictos gloria curru non minus ignotos generosis. quo tibi, Tulli,
sumere depositum clavom fierique tribuno? invidia adcrevit, privato quae minor esset. nam ut quisque insanus nigris medium impediit crus pellibus et latum demisit pectore clavom, audit continuo ‘quis homo hic est? quo patre natus?’ ut siqui aegrotet quo morbo Barrus, haberi et cupiat formosus, eat quacumque, puellis iniciat curam quaerendi singula, quali sit facie, sura, quali pede, dente, capillo: sic qui promittit civis, urbem sibi curae, imperium fore et italiam, delubra Deorum, quo patre sit natus, num ignota matre inhonestus,
omnis mortalis curare et quaerere cogit. ‘tune, Syri Damae aut Dionysi filius, audes deicere de saxo civis aut tradere Cadmo?’ ‘at Novius collega gradu post me sedet uno; namque est ille, pater quod erat meus.’ ‘hoc tibi Paulus et Messalla videris? at hic, si plostra ducenta concurrantque foro tria funera, magna sonabit, cornua quod vincatque tubas: saltem tenet hoc nos.’ nunc ad me redeo libertino patre natum, quem rodunt omnes libertino patre natum, nunc, quia, Maecenas, tibi sum convictor, at olim, quod mihi pareret legio Romana tribuno.
dissimile hoc illi est, quia non, ut forsit honorem iure mihi invideat quivis, ita te quoque amicum, praesertim cautum dignos adsumere, prava ambitione procul. felicem dicere non hoc me possim, casu quod te sortitus amicum; nulla etenim mihi te fors obtulit: optimus olim Vergilius, post hunc Varius dixere, quid essem. ut veni coram, singultim pauca locutus — infans namque pudor prohibebat plura profari — non ego me claro natum patre, non ego circum me Satureiano vectari rura caballo, sed quod eram narro. respondes, ut tuus est mos,
pauca; abeo, et revocas nono post mense iubesque esse in amicorum numero. magnum hoc ego duco, quod placui tibi, qui turpi secernis honestum non patre praeclaro, sed vita et pectore puro. atqui si vitiis mediocribus ac mea paucis mendosa est natura, alioqui recta, velut si egregio inspersos reprendas corpore naevos, si neque avaritiam neque sordes nec mala lustra obiciet vere quisquam mihi, purus et insons, ut me collaudem, si et vivo carus amicis, causa fuit pater his; qui macro pauper agello noluit in Flavi ludum me mittere, magni
quo pueri magnis e centurionibus orti laevo suspensi loculos tabulamque lacerto ibant octonos referentes Idibus aeris, sed puerum est ausus Romam portare docendum artis quas doceat quivis eques atque senator semet prognatos. vestem servosque sequentis, in magno ut populo, siqui vidisset, avita ex re praeberi sumptus mihi crederet illos. ipse mihi custos incorruptissimus omnis circum doctores aderat. quid multa? pudicum, qui primus virtutis honos, servavit ab omni non solum facto, verum opprobrio quoque turpi
nec timuit, sibi ne vitio quis verteret, olim si praeco parvas aut, ut fuit ipse, coactor mercedes sequerer; neque ego essem questus. at hoc nunc laus illi debetur et a me gratia maior. nil me paeniteat sanum patris huius, eoque non, ut magna dolo factum negat esse suo pars, quod non ingenuos habeat clarosque parentes, sic me defendam. longe mea discrepat istis et vox et ratio. nam si natura iuberet a certis annis aevum remeare peractum atque alios legere, ad fastum quoscumque parentes optaret sibi quisque, meis contentus honestos
fascibus et sellis nollem mihi sumere, demens iudicio volgi, sanus fortasse tuo, quod nollem onus haud umquam solitus portare molestum. nam mihi continuo maior quaerenda foret res atque salutandi plures, ducendus et unus et comes alter, uti ne solus rusve peregreve exirem, plures calones atque caballi pascendi, ducenda petorrita. nunc mihi curto ire licet mulo vel si libet usque Tarentum, mantica cui lumbos onere ulceret atque eques armos. obiciet nemo sordis mihi, quas tibi, Tulli, cum Tiburte via praetorem quinque secuntur
te pueri, lasanum portantes oenophorumque. hoc ego commodius quam tu, praeclare senator, milibus atque aliis vivo. quacumque libido est, incedo solus, percontor quanti holus ac far, fallacem Circum vespertinumque pererro saepe forum, adsisto divinis, inde domum me ad porri et ciceris refero laganique catinum; cena ministratur pueris tribus et lapis albus pocula cum cyatho duo sustinet, adstat echinus vilis, cum patera guttus, Campana supellex. deinde eo dormitum, non sollicitus, mihi quod cras surgendum sit mane, obeundus Marsya, qui se
voltum ferre negat Noviorum posse minoris. ad quartam iaceo; post hanc vagor aut ego lecto aut scripto quod me tacitum iuvet unguor olivo, non quo fraudatis inmundus Natta lucernis. ast ubi me fessum sol acrior ire lavatum admonuit, fugio campum lusumque trigonem. pransus non avide, quantum interpellet inani ventre diem durare, domesticus otior. haec est vita solutorum misera ambitione gravique; his me consolor victurum suavius ac si quaestor avus pater atque meus patruusque fuisset.
Book 1, Poem 7
Proscripti Regis Rupili pus atque venenum hybrida quo pacto sit Persius ultus, opinor omnibus et lippis notum et tonsoribus esse. Persius hic permagna negotia dives habebat Clazomenis et iam litis cum Rege molestas, durus homo atque odio qui posset vincere Regem, confidens, tumidus, adeo sermonis amari, Sisennas, Barros ut equis praecurreret albis. ad Regem redeo. postquam nihil inter utrumque convenit — hoc etenim sunt omnes iure molesti, quo fortes, quibus adversum bellum incidit: inter Hectora Priamiden, animosum atque inter Achillem
ira fuit capitalis, ut ultima divideret mors, non aliam ob causam, nisi quod virtus in utroque summa fuit: duo si discordia vexet inertis aut si disparibus bellum incidat, ut Diomedi cum Lycio Glauco, discedat pigrior, ultro muneribus missis. Bruto praetore tenente ditem Asiam, Rupili et Persi par pugnat, uti non conpositum melius cum Bitho Bacchius. in ius acres procurrunt, magnum spectaculum uterque. Persius exponit causam; ridetur ab omni conventu; laudat Brutum laudatque cohortem, solem Asiae Brutum appellat stellasque salubris
appellat comites, excepto Rege; canem illum, invisum agricolis sidus, venisse: ruebat flumen ut hibernum, fertur quo rara securis. tum Praenestinus salso multoque fluenti expressa arbusto regerit convicia, durus vindemiator et invictus, cui saepe viator cessisset magna conpellans voce cuculum. at Graecus, postquam est Italo perfusus aceto, Persius exclamat: ‘per magnos, Brute, Deos te oro, qui reges consueris tollere, cur non hunc Regem iugulas? operum hoc, mihi crede, tuorum est.’
Book 1, Poem 8
Olim truncus eram ficulnus, inutile lignum, cum faber, incertus scamnum faceretne Priapum, maluit esse Deum. Deus inde ego, furum aviumque maxima formido; nam fures dextra coercet obscaenoque ruber porrectus ab inguine palus, ast inportunas volucres in vertice harundo terret fixa vetatque novis considere in hortis. huc prius angustis eiecta cadavera cellis conservus vili portanda locabat in arca; hoc miserae plebi stabat commune sepulcrum; Pantolabo scurrae Nomentanoque nepoti mille pedes in fronte, trecentos cippus in agrum
hic dabat, heredes monumentum ne sequeretur. nunc licet Esquiliis habitare salubribus atque aggere in aprico spatiari, quo modo tristes albis informem spectabant ossibus agrum, cum mihi non tantum furesque feraeque suetae hunc vexare locum curae sunt atque labori quantum carminibus quae versant atque venenis humanos animos: has nullo perdere possum nec prohibere modo, simul ac vaga luna decorum protulit os, quin ossa legant herbasque nocentis. vidi egomet nigra succinctam vadere palla Canidiam pedibus nudis passoque capillo,
cum Sagana maiore ululantem: pallor utrasque fecerat horrendas adspectu. scalpere terram unguibus et pullam divellere mordicus agnam coeperunt; cruor in fossam confusus, ut inde manis elicerent animas responsa daturas. lanea et effigies erat altera cerea: maior lanea, quae poenis conpesceret inferiorem; cerea suppliciter stabat, servilibus ut quae iam peritura modis. Hecaten vocat altera, saevam altera Tisiphonen: serpentes atque videres infernas errare canes lunamque rubentem, ne foret his testis, post magna latere sepulcra.
mentior at siquid, merdis caput inquiner albis corvorum atque in me veniat mictum atque cacatum Iulius, et fragilis Pediatia, furque Voranus. singula quid memorem, quo pacto alterna loquentes umbrae cum Sagana resonarint triste et acutum utque lupi barbam variae cum dente colubrae abdiderint furtim terris et imagine cerea largior arserit ignis et ut non testis inultus horruerim voces Furiarum et facta duarum? nam, displosa sonat quantum vesica, pepedi diffissa nate ficus; at illae currere in urbem. canidiae dentis, altum Saganae caliendrum
excidere atque herbas atque incantata lacertis vincula cum magno risuque iocoque videres.
Book 1, Poem 9
Ibam forte Via Sacra, sicut meus est mos, nescio quid meditans nugarum, totus in illis: accurrit quidam notus mihi nomine tantum: arreptaque manu, ‘quid agis, dulcissime rerum?’ ‘suaviter, ut nunc est,’ inquam ‘et cupio omnia quae vis.’ cum adsectaretur, ‘numquid vis?’ occupo. at ille ‘noris nos’ inquit; ‘docti sumus.’ hic ego ‘pluris hoc’ inquam ‘mihi eris.’ misere discedere quaerens ire modo ocius, interdum consistere, in aurem dicere nescio quid puero, cum sudor ad imos manaret talos. ‘o te, Bollane, cerebri felicem’ aiebam tacitus, cum quidlibet ille
garriret, vicos, urbem laudaret. ut illi nil respondebam, ‘misere cupis’ inquit ‘abire: iamdudum video; sed nil agis: usque tenebo; persequar hinc quo nunc iter est tibi.’ ‘nil opus est te circumagi: quendam volo visere non tibi notum; trans Tiberim longe cubat is prope Caesaris hortos.’ ‘nil habeo quod agam et non sum piger: usque sequar te.’ demitto auriculas, ut iniquae mentis asellus, cum gravius dorso subiit onus. incipit ille: ‘si bene me novi, non Viscum pluris amicum, non Varium facies; nam quis me scribere pluris aut citius possit versus? quis membra movere
mollius? invideat quod et Hermogenes, ego canto.’ interpellandi locus hic erat ‘est tibi mater, cognati, quis te salvo est opus?’ ‘haud mihi quisquam. omnis conposui.’ ‘felices. nunc ego resto. confice; namque instat fatum mihi triste, Sabella quod puero cecinit divina mota anus urna: “hunc neque dira venena nec hosticus auferet ensis nec laterum dolor aut tussis nec tarda podagra: garrulus hunc quando consumet cumque: loquaces, si sapiat, vitet, simul atque adoleverit aetas.” ventum erat ad Vestae, quarta iam parte diei praeterita, et casu tum respondere vadato
debebat, quod ni fecisset, perdere litem. ‘si me amas,’ inquit ‘paulum hic ades.’ ‘inteream, si aut valeo stare aut novi civilia iura; et propero quo scis.’ ‘dubius sum, quid faciam’, inquit, ‘tene relinquam an rem.’ ‘me, sodes.’ ‘non faciam’ ille, et praecedere coepit; ego, ut contendere durum cum victore, sequor. ‘Maecenas quomodo tecum?’ hinc repetit. ‘paucorum hominum et mentis bene sanae.’ ‘nemo dexterius fortuna est usus. haberes magnum adiutorem, posset qui ferre secundas, hunc hominem velles si tradere: dispeream, ni summosses omnis.’ ‘non isto vivimus illic,
quo tu rere, modo; domus hac nec purior ulla est nec magis his aliena malis; nil mi officit, inquam, ditior hic aut est quia doctior; est locus uni cuique suus.’ ‘magnum narras, vix credibile.’ ‘atqui sic habet.’ ‘accendis quare cupiam magis illi proximus esse.’ ‘velis tantummodo: quae tua virtus, expugnabis: et est qui vinci possit eoque difficilis aditus primos habet.’ ‘haud mihi dero: muneribus servos corrumpam; non, hodie si exclusus fuero, desistam; tempora quaeram, occurram in triviis, deducam. nil sine magno vita labore dedit mortalibus.’ haec dum agit, ecce
Fuscus Aristius occurrit, mihi carus et illum qui pulchre nosset. consistimus. ‘unde venis et quo tendis?’ rogat et respondet. vellere coepi et pressare manu lentissima bracchia, nutans, distorquens oculos, ut me eriperet. male salsus ridens dissimulare; meum iecur urere bilis. ‘certe nescio quid secreto velle loqui te aiebas mecum.’ ‘memini bene, sed meliore tempore dicam; hodie tricensima sabbata: vin tu curtis Iudaeis oppedere?’ ‘nulla mihi’ inquam ‘relligio est.’ ‘at mi: sum paulo infirmior, unus multorum. ignosces; alias loquar.’ huncine solem
tam nigrum surrexe mihi! fugit inprobus ac me sub cultro linquit. casu venit obvius illi adversarius et ‘quo tu, turpissime?’ magna inclamat voce, et ‘licet antestari?’ ego vero oppono auriculam. rapit in ius; clamor utrimque, undique concursus. sic me servavit Apollo.
Book 1, Poem 10
Nempe inconposito dixi pede currere versus Lucili. quis tam Lucili fautor inepte est, ut non hoc fateatur? at idem, quod sale multo urbem defricuit, charta laudatur eadem. nec tamen hoc tribuens dederim quoque cetera; nam sic et Laberi mimos ut pulchra poemata mirer. ergo non satis est risu diducere rictum auditoris; et est quaedam tamen hic quoque virtus. est brevitate opus, ut currat sententia neu se inpediat verbis lassas onerantibus auris, et sermone opus est modo tristi, saepe iocoso, defendente vicem modo rhetoris atque poetae,
interdum urbani, parcentis viribus atque extenuantis eas consulto. ridiculum acri fortius et melius magnas plerumque secat res. illi, scripta quibus comoedia prisca viris est, hoc stabant, hoc sunt imitandi; quos neque pulcher Hermogenes umquam legit neque simius iste nil praeter Calvum et doctus cantare Catullum. ‘at magnum fecit, quod verbis Graeca Latinis miscuit.’ o seri studiorum, quine putetis difficile et mirum, Rhodio quod Pitholeonti contigit? ‘at sermo lingua concinnus utraque suavior, ut Chio nota si conmixta Falerni est.’
cum versus facias, te ipsum percontor, an et cum dura tibi peragenda rei sit causa petilli? scilicet oblitus patriaeque patrisque Latini, cum Pedius causas exsudet Poplicola atque Corvinus, patriis intermiscere petita verba foris malis, Canusini more bilinguis. atque ego cum Graecos facerem, natus mare citra, versiculos, vetuit me tali voce Quirinus post mediam noctem visus, cum somnia vera: ‘in silvam non ligna feras insanius ac si magnas Graecorum malis inplere catervas.’ turgidus Alpinus iugulat dum Memnona dumque
diffingit Rheni luteum caput, haec ego ludo, quae neque in aede sonent certantia, iudice Tarpa, nec redeant iterum atque iterum spectanda theatris. arguta meretrice potes Davoque Chremeta eludente senem comis garrire libellos unus vivorum, Fundani, Pollio regum facta canit pede ter percusso; forte epos acer ut nemo Varius ducit, molle atque facetum Vergilio adnuerunt gaudentes rure Camoenae: hoc erat, experto frustra Varrone Atacino atque quibusdam aliis, melius quod scribere possem, inventore minor; neque ego illi detrahere ausim
haerentem capiti cum multa laude coronam. at dixi fluere hunc lutulentum, saepe ferentem plura quidem tollenda relinquendis. age quaeso, tu nihil in magno doctus reprehendis Homero? nil comis tragici mutat Lucilius acci? non ridet versus Enni gravitate minores, cum de se loquitur non ut maiore reprensis? quid vetat et nosmet Lucili scripta legentis quaerere, num illius, num rerum dura negarit versiculos natura magis factos et euntis mollius ac siquis pedibus quid claudere senis, hoc tantum contentus, amet scripsisse ducentos
ante cibum versus, totidem coenatus, Etrusci quale fuit Cassi rapido ferventius amni ingenium, capsis quem fama est esse librisque ambustum propriis. fuerit Lucilius, inquam, comis et urbanus, fuerit limatior idem quam rudis et Graecis intacti carminis auctor quamque poetarum seniorum turba; sed ille, si foret hoc nostrum fato delapsus in aevum, detereret sibi multa, recideret omne quod ultra perfectum traheretur, et in versu faciendo saepe caput scaberet vivos et roderet unguis. saepe stilum vertas, iterum quae digna legi sint
scripturus, neque te ut miretur turba labores, contentus paucis lectoribus. an tua demens vilibus in ludis dictari carmina malis? non ego; nam satis est equitem mihi plaudere, ut audax, contemptis aliis, explosa Arbuscula dixit. men’ moveat cimex Pantilius? aut cruciet quod vellicet absentem Demetrius? aut quod ineptus Fannius Hermogenis laedat conviva Tigelli? Plotius et Varius, Maecenas Vergiliusque, Valgius et probet haec Octavius optimus atque Fuscus et haec utinam Viscorum laudet uterque ambitione relegata. te dicere possum,
Pollio, te, Messalla, tuo cum fratre, simulque vos, Bibule et Servi, simul his te, candide Furni, conpluris alios, doctos ego quos et amicos prudens praetereo, quibus haec, sint qualiacumque, arridere velim, doliturus, si placeant spe deterius nostra. Demetri, teque, Tigelli, discipularum inter iubeo plorare cathedras. i, puer, atque meo citus haec subscribe libello.
Book 2, Poem 1
‘Sunt quibus in satura videar nimis acer et ultra legem tendere opus; sine nervis altera quidquid conposui pars esse putat similisque meorum mille die versus deduci posse. Trebati, quid faciam? praescribe.’ ‘quiescas.’ ‘ne faciam, inquis, omnino versus?’ ‘aio.’ ‘peream male, si non optimum erat; verum nequeo dormire.’ ‘ter uncti transnanto Tiberim, somno quibus est opus alto, inriguumque mero sub noctem corpus habento. aut si tantus amor scribendi te rapit, aude Caesaris invicti res dicere, multa laborum praemia laturus.’ ‘cupidum, pater optime, vires
deficiunt; neque enim quivis horrentia pilis agmina nec fracta pereuntis cuspide Gallos aut labentis equo describit volnera Parthi.’ ‘attamen et iustum poteras et scribere fortem, Scipiadam ut sapiens Lucilius.’ ‘haud mihi dero, cum res ipsa feret: nisi dextro tempore, Flacci, verba per attentam non ibunt Caesaris aurem: cui male si palpere, recalcitrat undique tutus.’ ‘quanto rectius hoc quam tristi laedere versu Pantolabum scurram Nomentanumque nepotem, cum sibi quisque timet, quamquam est intactus, et odit.’ ‘quid faciam? saltat Milonius, ut semel icto
accessit fervor capiti numerusque lucernis; Castor gaudet equis, ovo prognatus eodem pugnis; quot capitum vivunt, totidem studiorum milia: me pedibus delectat claudere verba Lucili ritu, nostrum melioris utroque. ille velut fidis arcana sodalibus olim credebat libris neque, si male cesserat, usquam decurrens alio neque, si bene; quo fit ut omnis votiva pateat veluti descripta tabella vita senis. sequor hunc, Lucanus an Appulus anceps; nam Venusinus arat finem sub utrumque colonus, missus ad hoc pulsis, vetus est ut fama, Sabellis,
quo ne per vacuum Romano incurreret hostis, sive quod Appula gens seu quod Lucania bellum incuteret violenta. sed hic stilus haud petet ultro quemquam animantem et me veluti custodiet ensis vagina tectus: quem cur destringere coner tutus ab infestis latronibus? o pater et rex Iuppiter, ut pereat positum robigine telum nec quisquam noceat cupido mihi pacis! at ille, qui me conmorit — melius non tangere, clamo — , flebit et insignis tota cantabitur Urbe. Cervius iratus leges minitatur et urnam, Canidia Albuci, quibus est inimica, venenum,
grande malum Turius, siquid se iudice certes. ut quo quisque valet suspectos terreat utque imperet hoc natura potens, sic collige mecum: dente lupus, cornu taurus petit: unde nisi intus monstratum? Scaevae vivacem crede nepoti matrem: nil faciet sceleris pia dextera — mirum, ut neque calce lupus quemquam neque dente petit bos — , sed mala tollet anum vitiato melle cicuta. ne longum faciam: seu me tranquilla senectus exspectat seu mors atris circumvolat alis, dives, inops, Romae, seu fors ita iusserit, exsul, quisquis erit vitae scribam color.’ ‘o puer, ut sis
vitalis metuo et maiorum nequis amicus frigore te feriat.’ ‘quid? cum est Lucilius ausus primus in hunc operis conponere carmina morem detrahere et pellem, nitidus qua quisque per ora cederet, introrsum turpis: num Laelius aut qui duxit ab oppressa meritum Carthagine nomen ingenio offensi aut laeso doluere Metello famosisque Lupo cooperto versibus? atqui primores populi arripuit populumque tributim, scilicet uni aequos virtuti atque eius amicis. quin ubi se a volgo et scaena in secreta remorant virtus Scipiadae et mitis sapientia Laeli,
nugari cum illo et discincti ludere, donec decoqueretur holus, soliti. quidquid sum ego, quamvis infra Lucili censum ingeniumque, tamen me cum magnis vixisse invita fatebitur usque invidia et fragili quaerens inlidere dentem offendet solido — nisi quid tu, docte Trebati, dissentis.’ ‘equidem nihil hinc diffindere possum. sed tamen ut monitus caveas, ne forte negoti incutiat tibi quid sanctarum inscitia legum: si mala condiderit in quem quis carmina, ius est iudiciumque.’ ‘esto, siquis mala; sed bona siquis iudice condiderit laudatus Caesare? siquis
opprobriis dignum latraverit, integer ipse?’ ‘solventur risu tabulae, tu missus abibis.’
Book 2, Poem 2
Quae virtus et quanta, boni, sit vivere parvo — nec meus hic sermo est, sed quae praecepit Ofellus rusticus, abnormis sapiens crassaque Minerva; discite non inter lances mensasque nitentis, cum stupet insanis acies fulgoribus et cum adclinis falsis animus meliora recusat, verum hic inpransi mecum disquirite. cur hoc? dicam, si potero. male verum examinat omnis corruptus iudex. leporem sectatus equove lassus ab indomito vel, si Romana fatigat militia adsuetum Graecari — seu pila velox molliter austerum studio fallente laborem,
seu te discus agit, pete cedentem aera disco: cum labor extuderit fastidia, siccus, inanis sperne cibum vilem; nisi Hymettia mella Falerno ne biberis diluta. foris est promus, et atrum defendens piscis hiemat mare: cum sale panis latrantem stomachum bene leniet. unde putas aut qui partum? non in caro nidore voluptas summa, sed in te ipso est. tu pulmentaria quaere sudando: pinguem vitiis albumque neque ostrea nec scarus aut poterit peregrina iuvare lagois. vix tamen eripiam, posito pavone velis quin hoc potius quam gallina tergere palatum,
corruptus vanis rerum, quia veneat auro rara avis et picta pandat spectacula cauda: tamquam ad rem attineat quidquam. num vesceris ista, quam laudas, pluma? cocto num adest honor idem? carne tamen quamvis distat nil, hac magis illam inparibus formis deceptum te petere esto: unde datum sentis, lupus hic Tiberinus an alto captus hiet? pontisne inter iactatus an amnis Ostia sub Tusci? laudas, insane, trilibrem mullum, in singula quem minuas pulmenta necesse est. ducit te species, video: quo pertinet ergo proceros odisse lupos? quia scilicet illis
maiorem natura modum dedit, his breve pondus: ieiunus raro stomachus volgaria temnit. ‘porrectum magno magnum spectare catino vellem’ ait Harpyiis gula digna rapacibus. at vos praesentes, Austri, coquite horum obsonia. quamquam putet aper rhombusque recens, mala copia quando aegrum sollicitat stomachum, cum rapula plenus atque acidas mavolt inulas. necdum omnis abacta pauperies epulis regum: nam vilibus ovis nigrisque est oleis hodie locus. haud ita pridem Galloni praeconis erat acipensere mensa infamis. quid? tunc rhombos minus aequor alebat?
tutus erat rhombus tutoque ciconia nido, donec vos auctor docuit praetorius. ergo siquis nunc mergos suavis edixerit assos, parebit pravi docilis Romana iuventus. sordidus a tenui victu distabit Ofello iudice: nam frustra vitium vitaveris illud, si te alio pravum detorseris. Avidienus, cui ‘Canis’ ex vero dictum cognomen adhaeret, quinquennis oleas est et silvestria corna ac nisi mutatum parcit defundere vinum et cuius odorem olei nequeas perferre, (licebit ille repotia, natalis aliosve dierum
festos albatus celebret), cornu ipse bilibri caulibus instillat, veteris non parcus aceti. quali igitur victu sapiens utetur et horum utrum imitabitur? hac urget lupus, hac canis, aiunt. mundus erit, qua non offendat sordibus atque in neutram partem cultus miser. hic neque servis, Albuti senis exemplo, dum munia didit, saevus erit, nec sic ut simplex Naevius unctam convivis praebebit aquam: vitium hoc quoque magnum. accipe nunc, victus tenuis quae quantaque secum adferat. in primis valeas bene; nam variae res ut noceant homini credas, memor illius escae,
quae simplex olim tibi sederit. at simul assis miscueris elixa, simul conchylia turdis, dulcia se in bilem vertent stomachoque tumultum lenta feret pitvita. vides, ut pallidus omnis cena desurgat dubia? quin corpus onustum hesternis vitiis animum quoque praegravat una atque adfigit humo divinae particulam aurae. alter ubi dicto citius curata sopori membra dedit, vegetus praescripta ad munia surgit. hic tamen ad melius poterit transcurrere quondam, sive diem festum rediens advexerit annus, seu recreare volet tenuatum corpus, ubique
accedent anni, tractari mollius aetas imbecilla volet: tibi quidnam accedet ad istam quam puer et validus praesumis mollitiem, seu dura valetudo inciderit seu tarda senectus? rancidum aprum antiqui laudabant, non quia nasus illis nullus erat, sed, credo, hac mente, quod hospes tardius adveniens vitiatum commodius quam integrum edax dominus consumeret. hos utinam inter heroas natum tellus me prima tulisset. das aliquid famae, quae carmine gratior aurem occupet humanam? grandes rhombi patinaeque grande ferunt una cum damno dedecus. adde
iratum patruum, vicinos, te tibi iniquum et frustra mortis cupidum, cum deerit egenti as, laquei pretium. ‘iure’ inquit ‘Trausius istis iurgatur verbis: ego vectigalia magna divitiasque habeo tribus amplas regibus.’ ergo, quod superat non est melius quo insumere possis? cur eget indignus quisquam te divite? quare templa ruunt antiqua Deum? cur, inprobe, carae non aliquid patriae tanto emetiris acervo? uni nimirum recte tibi semper erunt res, o magnus posthac inimicis risus. uterne ad casus dubios fidet sibi certius? hic qui
pluribus adsuerit mentem corpusque superbum, an qui contentus parvo metuensque futuri in pace, ut sapiens, aptarit idonea bello? quo magis his credas, puer hunc ego parvus Ofellum integris opibus novi non latius usum quam nunc accisis. videas metato in agello cum pecore et gnatis fortem mercede colonum ‘non ego’ narrantem ‘temere edi luce profesta quicquam praeter holus fumosae cum pede pernae. ac mihi seu longum post tempus venerat hospes sive operum vacuo gratus conviva per imbrem vicinus, bene erat non piscibus urbe petitis,
sed pullo atque haedo; tum pensilis uva secundas et nux ornabat mensas cum duplice ficu. post hoc ludus erat culpa potare magistra ac venerata Ceres, ita culmo surgeret alto, explicuit vino contractae seria frontis. saeviat atque novos moveat fortuna tumultus: quantum hinc inminuet? quanto aut ego parcius aut vos, o pueri, nituistis, ut huc novus incola venit? nam propriae telluris erum natura nec illum nec me nec quemquam statuit: nos expulit ille, illum aut nequities aut vafri inscitia iuris, postremum expellet certe vivacior heres.
nunc ager Umbreni sub nomine, nuper Ofelli dictus, erit nulli proprius, sed cedet in usum nunc mihi, nunc alii. quocirca vivite fortes fortiaque adversis opponite pectora rebus.’
Book 2, Poem 3
‘Sic raro scribis, ut toto non quater anno membranam poscas, scriptorum quaeque retexens, iratus tibi, quod vini somnique benignus nil dignum sermone canas. quid fiet? at ipsis saturnalibus huc fugisti sobrius. ergo dic aliquid dignum promissis. incipe. nil est. culpantur frustra calami inmeritusque laborat iratis natus paries Diis atque Poetis. atqui voltus erat multa et praeclara minantis, si vacuum tepido cepisset villula tecto. quorsum pertinuit stipare Platona Menandro? Eupolin, Archilochum, comites educere tantos?
invidiam placare paras virtute relicta? contemnere miser. vitanda est inproba Siren desidia, aut quidquid vita meliore parasti ponendum aequo animo.’ ‘Di te, Damasippe, Deaeque verum ob consilium donent tonsore. sed unde tam bene me nosti?’ ‘postquam omnis res mea Ianum ad medium fracta est, aliena negotia curo excussus propriis. olim nam quaerere amabam, quo vafer ille pedes lavisset Sisyphus aere, quid scalptum infabre, quid fusum durius esset. callidus huic signo ponebam milia centum; hortos egregiasque domos mercarier unus
cum lucro noram; unde frequentia Mercuriale inposuere mihi cognomen compita.’ ‘novi et miror morbi purgatum te illius. atqui emovit veterem mire novus, ut solet, in cor traiecto lateris miseri capitisve dolore, ut lethargicus hic cum fit pugil et medicum urget. dum nequid simile huic, esto ut libet.’ ‘o bone, ne te frustrere: insanis et tu stultique prope omnes, siquid Stertinius veri crepat, unde ego mira descripsi docilis praecepta haec, tempore quo me solatus iussit sapientem pascere barbam atque a Fabricio non tristem ponte reverti.
nam male re gesta cum vellem mittere operto me capite in flumen, dexter stetit et “cave faxis te quicquam indignum. pudor” inquit “te malus angit, insanos qui inter vereare insanus haberi. primum nam inquiram, quid sit furere: hoc si erit in te solo, nil verbi, pereas quin fortiter, addam. quem mala stultitia et quemcumque inscitia veri caecum agit, insanum Chrysippi porticus et grex autumat. haec populos, haec magnos formula reges, excepto sapiente, tenet. nunc accipe, quare desipiant omnes aeque ac tu, qui tibi nomen insano posuere. velut silvis, ubi passim
palantis error certo de tramite pellit, ille sinistrorsum, hic dextrorsum abit, unus utrique error, sed variis inludit partibus: hoc te crede modo insanum, nihilo ut sapientior ille qui te deridet caudam trahat. est genus unum stultitiae nihilum metuenda timentis, ut ignis, ut rupes fluviosque in campo obstare queratur; alterum et huic varum et nihilo sapientius ignis per medios fluviosque ruentis: clamet amica mater, honesta soror cum cognatis, pater, uxor: ‘hic fossa est ingens, hic rupes maxima: serva!’ non magis audierit, quam Fusius ebrius olim,
cum Ilionam edormit, Catienis mille ducentis ‘mater, te appello’ clamantibus. huic ego volgus errori similem cunctum insanire docebo. insanit veteres statuas Damasippus emendo: integer est mentis Damasippi creditor? esto. ‘accipe quod numquam reddas mihi’ si tibi dicam: tune insanus eris, si acceperis, an magis excors reiecta praeda, quam praesens Mercurius fert? scribe decem a Nerio: non est satis; adde Cicutae nodosi tabulas, centum, mille adde catenas: effugiet tamen haec sceleratus vincula Proteus. cum rapies in ius malis ridentem alienis,
fiet aper, modo avis, modo saxum et, cum volet, arbor si male rem gerere insani est, contra bene sani: putidius multo cerebrum est, mihi crede, Perilli dictantis, quod tu numquam rescribere possis. audire atque togam iubeo conponere, quisquis ambitione mala aut argenti pallet amore, quisquis luxuria tristive superstitione aut alio mentis morbo calet: huc propius me, dum doceo insanire omnis vos, ordine adite. danda est ellebori multo pars maxima avaris: nescio an Anticyram ratio illis destinet omnem. heredes Staberi summam incidere sepulcro,
ni sic fecissent, gladiatorum dare centum damnati populo paria atque epulum arbitrio arri, frumenti quantum metit Africa. ‘sive ego prave seu recte hoc volui, ne sis patruus mihi’: credo, hoc Staberi prudentem animum vidisse. quid ergo sensit, cum summam patrimoni insculpere saxo heredes voluit? quoad vixit, credidit ingens pauperiem vitium et cavit nihil acrius, ut, si forte minus locuples uno quadrante perisset, ipse videretur sibi nequior. ‘omnis enim res, virtus, fama, decus, divina humanaque pulchris divitiis parent; quas qui construxerit, ille
clarus erit, fortis, iustus.’ ‘sapiensne?’ ‘etiam, et rex et quidquid volet.’ hoc veluti virtute paratum speravit magnae laudi fore. quid simile isti Graecus Aristippus? qui servos proicere aurum in media iussit Libya, quia tardius irent propter onus segnes. uter est insanior horum? nil agit exemplum, litem quod lite resolvit. siquis emat citharas, emptas conportet in unum, nec studio citharae nec Musae deditus ulli, si scalpra et formas non sutor, nautica vela aversus mercaturis: delirus et amens undique dicatur merito. qui discrepat istis,
qui nummos aurumque recondit, nescius uti conpositis metuensque velut contingere sacrum? siquis ad ingentem frumenti semper acervum porrectus vigilet cum longo fuste neque illinc audeat esuriens dominus contingere granum ac potius foliis parcus vescatur amaris; si positis intus Chii veterisque Falerni mille cadis — nihil est: tercentum milibus, acre potet acetum; age si et stramentis incubet unde- octoginta annos natus, cui stragula vestis, blattarum ac tinearum epulae, putrescat in arca: nimirum insanus paucis videatur, eo quod
maxima pars hominum morbo iactatur eodem. filius aut etiam haec libertus ut ebibat heres, dis inimice senex custodis? ne tibi desit? quantulum enim summae curtabit quisque dierum, unguere si caules oleo meliore caputque coeperis inpexa foedum porrigine? quare, si quidvis satis est, peiuras, surripis, aufers undique? tun sanus? populum si caedere saxis incipias servosve tuos, quos aere pararis, insanum te omnes pueri clamentque puellae; cum laqueo uxorem interimis matremque veneno, incolumi capite es? quid enim? neque tu hoc facis Argis
nec ferro ut demens genetricem occidis Orestes. an tu reris eum occisa insanisse parente ac non ante malis dementem actum Furiis quam in matris iugulo ferrum tepefecit acutum? quin, ex quo est habitus male tutae mentis Orestes, nil sane fecit quod tu reprehendere possis: non Pyladen ferro violare aususve sororem Electran, tantum maledicit utrique vocando hanc furiam, hunc aliud, iussit quod splendida bilis. pauper Opimius argenti positi intus et auri, qui Veientanum festis potare diebus Campana solitus trulla vappamque profestis,
quondam lethargo grandi est oppressus, ut heres iam circum loculos et clavis laetus ovansque curreret. hunc medicus multum celer atque fidelis excitat hoc pacto: mensam poni iubet atque effundi saccos nummorum, accedere pluris ad numerandum: hominem sic erigit; addit et illud: ‘ni tua custodis, avidus iam haec auferet heres.’ ‘men’ vivo?’ ‘ut vivas igitur, vigila. hoc age.’ ‘quid vis?’ ‘deficient inopem venae te, ni cibus atque ingens accedit stomacho fultura ruenti. tu cessas? agedum sume hoc tisanarium oryzae.’ ‘quanti emptae?’ ‘parvo.’ ‘quanti ergo?’ ‘octussibus.’ ‘eheu,
quid refert, morbo an furtis pereamque rapinis?’ quisnam igitur sanus? qui non stultus. quid avarus? stultus et insanus. quid, siquis non sit avarus, continuo sanus? minime. cur, Stoice? dicam. ‘non est cardiacus’ Craterum dixisse putato ‘hic aeger’. recte est igitur surgetque? negabit. non est periurus neque sordidus: inmolet aequis hic porcum Laribus; verum ambitiosus et audax: naviget Anticyram. quid enim differt, barathrone dones quidquid habes an numquam utare paratis? Servius Oppidius Canusi duo praedia, dives antiquo censu, gnatis divisse duobus
fertur et hoc moriens pueris dixisse vocatis ad lectum: ‘postquam te talos, Aule, nucesque ferre sinu laxo, donare et ludere vidi, te, Tiberi, numerare, cavis abscondere tristem, extimui, ne vos ageret vesania discors, tu Nomentanum, tu ne sequerere Cicutam. quare per Divos oratus uterque Penatis tu cave ne minuas, tu ne maius facias id quod satis esse putat pater et natura coercet. praeterea ne vos titillet gloria, iure iurando obstringam ambo: uter aedilis fueritve vestrum praetor, is intestabilis et sacer esto.’
in cicere atque faba bona tu perdasque lupinis, latus ut in circo spatiere et aeneus ut stes, nudus agris, nudus nummis, insane, paternis; scilicet ut plausus quos fert Agrippa feras tu, astuta ingenuum volpes imitata leonem? nequis humasse velit Aiacem, Atrida, vetas cur? ‘rex sum.’ nil ultra quaero plebeius. ‘et aequam rem imperito, ac sicui videor non iustus, inulto dicere quod sentit permitto.’ maxime regum, Di tibi dent capta classem redducere Troia. ergo consulere et mox respondere licebit? ‘consule.’ cur Aiax, heros ab Achille secundus,
putescit, totiens servatis clarus achivis, gaudeat ut populus Priami Priamusque inhumato, per quem tot iuvenes patrio caruere sepulcro? ‘mille ovium insanus morti dedit, inclitum Ulixen et Menelaum una mecum se occidere clamans.’ tu cum pro vitula statuis dulcem Aulide natam ante aras spargisque mola caput, inprobe, salsa, rectum animi servas? ‘quorsum?’ insanus quid enim Aiax fecit? cum stravit ferro pecus, abstinuit vim uxore et gnato; mala multa precatus atridis non ille aut Teucrum aut ipsum violavit Ulixen. ‘verum ego, ut haerentis adverso litore navis
eriperem, prudens placavi sanguine Divos.’ nempe tuo, furiose? ‘meo, sed non furiosus.’ qui species alias veris scelerisque tumultu permixtas capiet, commotus habebitur atque stultitiane erret nihilum distabit an ira. Aiax inmeritos cum occidit desipit agnos: cum prudens scelus ob titulos admittis inanis, stas animo et purum est vitio tibi cum tumidum est cor? siquis lectica nitidam gestare amet agnam, huic vestem ut gnatae, paret ancillas, paret aurum, Pusam aut Pusillam appellet fortique marito destinet uxorem: interdicto huic omne adimat ius
praetor et ad sanos abeat tutela propinquos. quid, siquis gnatam pro muta devovet agna, integer est animi? ne dixeris. ergo ubi prava stultitia, hic summa est insania; qui sceleratus, et furiosus erit; quem cepit vitrea fama, hunc circumtonuit gaudens Bellona cruentis. nunc age luxuriam et nomentanum arripe mecum. vincet enim stultos ratio insanire nepotes. hic simul accepit patrimoni mille talenta, edicit, piscator uti, pomarius, auceps, unguentarius ac Tusci turba inpia vici, cum scurris fartor, cum Velabro omne macellum
mane domum veniant. quid tum? venere frequentes, verba facit leno: ‘quidquid mihi, quidquid et horum cuique domi est, id crede tuum et vel nunc pete vel cras.’ accipe quid contra haec iuvenis responderit aequus. ‘in nive Lucana dormis ocreatus, ut aprum cenem ego; tu piscis hiberno ex aequore verris. segnis ego, indignus qui tantum possideam; aufer, sume tibi deciens; tibi tantundem; tibi triplex, unde uxor media currit de nocte vocata.’ filius Aesopi detractam ex aure Metellae, scilicet ut deciens solidum absorberet, aceto diluit insignem bacam: qui sanior ac si
illud idem in rapidum flumen iaceretve cloacam? Quinti progenies Arri, par nobile fratrum nequitia et nugis pravorum et amore gemellum luscinias soliti inpenso prandere coemptas, quorsum abeant? sani ut creta, an carbone notati? aedificare casas, plostello adiungere muris, ludere par inpar, equitare in harundine longa siquem delectet barbatum, amentia verset. si puerilius his ratio esse evincet amare nec quicquam differre, utrumne in pulvere, trimus quale prius, ludas opus, an meretricis amore sollicitus plores: quaero, faciasne quod olim
mutatus Polemon? ponas insignia morbi, fasciolas, cubital, focalia, potus ut ille dicitur ex collo furtim carpsisse coronas, postquam est inpransi correptus voce magistri? porrigis irato puero cum poma, recusat; ‘sume, Catelle’: negat; si non des, optet. amator exclusus qui distat, agit ubi secum, eat an non, quo rediturus erat non arcessitus, et haeret invisis foribus? ‘nec nunc, cum me vocet ultro, accedam? an potius mediter finire dolores? exclusit; revocat: redeam? non, si obsecret.’ ecce servus, non paulo sapientior ‘o ere, quae res
nec modum habet neque consilium, ratione modoque tractari non volt. in amore haec sunt mala, bellum, pax rursum: haec siquis tempestatis prope ritu mobilia et caeca fluitantia sorte laboret reddere certa sibi, nihilo plus explicet ac si insanire paret certa ratione modoque.’ quid? cum Picenis excerpens semina pomis gaudes, si cameram percusti forte, penes te es? quid? cum balba feris annoso verba palato, aedificante casas qui sanior? adde cruorem stultitiae atque ignem gladio scrutare. modo, inquam. Hellade percussa Marius cum praecipitat se,
cerritus fuit? an commotae crimine mentis absolves hominem et sceleris damnabis eundem ex more inponens cognata vocabula rebus? libertinus erat, qui circum compita siccus lautis mane senex manibus currebat et ‘unum’, — ‘quid tam magnum?’ addens — , ‘unum me surpite morti! Dis etenim facile est’ orabat, sanus utrisque auribus atque oculis; mentem, nisi litigiosus, exciperet dominus, cum venderet. hoc quoque volgus Chrysippus ponit fecunda in gente Meneni. ‘Iuppiter, ingentis qui das adimisque dolores,’ mater ait pueri mensis iam quinque cubantis,
‘frigida si puerum quartana reliquerit, illo mane die, quo tu indicis ieiunia, nudus in Tiberi stabit.’ casus medicusve levarit aegrum ex praecipiti: mater delira necabit in gelida fixum ripa febrimque reducet, quone malo mentem concussa? timore Deorum.” haec mihi Stertinius, sapientum octavos, amico arma dedit, posthac ne conpellarer inultus. dixerit insanum qui me, totidem audiet atque respicere ignoto discet pendentia tergo.’ ‘Stoice, post damnum sic vendas omnia pluris, qua me stultitia, quoniam non est genus unum,
insanire putas? ego nam videor mihi sanus.’ ‘quid, caput abscissum manibus cum portat Agave gnati infelicis, sibi tunc furiosa videtur?’ ‘stultum me fateor — liceat concedere veris — atque etiam insanum; tantum hoc edissere, quo me aegrotare putes animi vitio.’ ‘accipe: primum aedificas, hoc est longos imitaris, ab imo ad summum totus moduli bipedalis, et idem corpore maiorem rides Turbonis in armis spiritum et incessum: qui ridiculus minus illo? an, quodcumque facit Maecenas, te quoque verum est, tanto dissimilem et tanto certare minorem?
absentis ranae pullis vituli pede pressis unus ubi effugit, matri denarrat, ut ingens belua cognatos eliserit: illa rogare, quantane? num tantum, sufflans se, magna fuisset? ‘maior dimidio.’ ‘num tanto?’ cum magis atque se magis inflaret, ‘non, si te ruperis,’ inquit, ‘par eris.’ haec a te non multum abludit imago. adde poemata nunc, hoc est, oleum adde camino, quae siquis sanus fecit, sanus facis et tu. non dico horrendam rabiem — ’ ‘iam desine.’ ’ — cultum maiorem censu — ’ ‘teneas, Damasippe, tuis te.’ ’ — mille puellarum, puerorum mille furores — ’
‘o maior tandem parcas, insane, minori.’
Book 2, Poem 4
‘Unde et quo, Catius?’ ‘non est mihi tempus, aventi ponere signa novis praeceptis, qualia vincent Pythagoran Anytique reum doctumque Platona.’ ‘peccatum fateor, cum te sic tempore laevo interpellarim; sed des veniam bonus, oro. quodsi interciderit tibi nunc aliquid, repetes mox, sive est naturae hoc sive artis, mirus utroque.’ ‘quin id erat curae, quo pacto cuncta tenerem utpote res tenuis, tenui sermone peractas.’ ‘ede hominis nomen, simul et, Romanus an hospes.’ ‘ipsa memor praecepta canam, celabitur auctor. longa quibus facies ovis erit, illa memento,
ut suci melioris et ut magis alba rotundis, ponere: namque marem cohibent callosa vitellum. cole suburbano qui siccis crevit in agris dulcior: inriguo nihil est elutius horto. si vespertinus subito te oppresserit hospes, ne gallina malum responset dura palato, doctus eris vivam musto mersare Falerno: hoc teneram faciet. pratensibus optima fungis natura est; aliis male creditur. ille salubris aestates peraget, qui nigris prandia moris finiet, ante gravem quae legerit arbore solem. Aufidius forti miscebat mella Falerno:
mendose, quoniam vacuis conmittere venis nil nisi lene decet: leni praecordia mulso prolueris melius. si dura morabitur alvus, mitulus et viles pellent obstantia conchae et lapathi brevis herba, sed albo non sine Coo. lubrica nascentes inplent conchylia lunae; sed non omne mare est generosae fertile testae: murice Baiano melior Lucrina peloris, ostrea Circaeis, Miseno oriuntur echini, pectinibus patulis iactat se molle Tarentum. nec sibi coenarum quivis temere arroget artem, non prius exacta tenui ratione saporum.
nec satis est cara piscis averrere mensa ignarum, quibus est ius aptius et quibus assis languidus in cubitum iam se conviva reponet. umber et iligna nutritus glande rotundas curvat aper lances carnem vitantis inertem; nam Laurens malus est, ulvis et harundine pinguis. vinea submittit capreas non semper edulis. fecundae leporis sapiens sectabitur armos. piscibus atque avibus quae natura et foret aetas, ante meum nulli patuit quaesita palatum. sunt quorum ingenium nova tantum crustula promit. nequaquam satis in re una consumere curam,
ut siquis solum hoc, mala ne sint vina, laboret, quali perfundat piscis securus olivo. Massica si caelo suppones vina sereno, nocturna siquid crassi est tenuabitur aura et decedet odor nervis inimicus; at illa integrum perdunt lino vitiata saporem. Surrentina vafer qui miscet faece Falerna vina, columbino limum bene colligit ovo, quatenus ima petit volvens aliena vitellus. tostis marcentem squillis recreabis et Afra potorem coclea; nam lactuca innatat acri post vinum stomacho; perna magis et magis hillis
flagitat inmorsus refici, quin omnia malit quaecumque inmundis fervent allata popinis. est operae pretium duplicis pernoscere iuris naturam. simplex e dulci constat olivo, quod pingui miscere mero muriaque decebit non alia quam qua Byzantia putuit orca. hoc ubi confusum sectis inferbuit herbis Corycioque croco sparsum stetit, insuper addes pressa Venafranae quod baca remisit olivae. Picenis cedunt pomis Tiburtia suco: nam facie praestant, Venucula convenit ollis; rectius Albanam fumo duraveris uvam.
hanc ego cum malis, ego faecem primus et allec, primus et invenior piper album cum sale nigro incretum puris circumposuisse catillis. inmane est vitium dare milia terna macello angustoque vagos piscis urgere catino. magna movet stomacho fastidia, seu puer unctis tractavit calicem manibus, dum furta ligurrit, sive gravis veteri creterrae limus adhaesit. vilibus in scopis, in mappis, in scobe quantus consistit sumptus? neglectis flagitium ingens. ten’ lapides varios lutulenta radere palma et Tyrias dare circum inlota toralia vestis,
oblitum, quanto curam sumptumque minorem haec habeant, tanto reprehendi iustius illis, quae nisi divitibus nequeunt contingere mensis?’ ‘docte Cati, per amicitiam Divosque rogatus ducere me auditum, perges quocumque, memento. nam quamvis memori referas mihi pectore cuncta, non tamen interpres tantundem iuveris. adde voltum habitumque hominis, quem tu vidisse beatus non magni pendis, quia contigit; at mihi cura non mediocris inest, fontis ut adire remotos atque haurire queam vitae praecepta beatae.’
Book 2, Poem 5
‘Hoc quoque, Tiresia, praeter narrata petenti responde, quibus amissas reparare queam res artibus atque modis. quid rides?’ ‘iamne doloso non satis est Ithacam revehi patriosque penatis adspicere?’ ‘o nulli quicquam mentite, vides ut nudus inopsque domum redeam te vate, neque illic aut apotheca procis intacta est aut pecus: atqui et genus et virtus, nisi cum re, vilior alga est.’ quando pauperiem missis ambagibus horres, accipe qua ratione queas ditescere. turdus sive aliud privum dabitur tibi, devolet illuc, res ubi magna nitet domino sene; dulcia poma
et quoscumque feret cultus tibi fundus honores ante Larem gustet venerabilior Lare dives. qui quamvis periurus erit, sine gente, cruentus sanguine fraterno, fugitivus, ne tamen illi tu comes exterior, si postulet, ire recuses.’ ‘utne tegam spurco Damae latus? haud ita Troiae me gessi, certans semper melioribus.’ ‘ergo pauper eris.’ ‘fortem hoc animum tolerare iubebo; et quondam maiora tuli. tu protinus, unde divitias aerisque ruam, dic, augur, acervos.’ ‘dixi equidem et dico: captes astutus ubique testamenta senum neu, si vafer unus et alter
insidiatorem praeroso fugerit hamo, aut spem deponas aut artem inlusus omittas. magna minorve foro si res certabitur olim, vivet uter locuples sine gnatis, inprobus, ultro qui meliorem audax vocet in ius, illius esto defensor; fama civem causaque priorem sperne, domi si gnatus erit fecundave coniux. “Quinte” puta aut “Publi” — gaudent praenomine molles auriculae — “tibi me virtus tua fecit amicum. ius anceps novi, causas defendere possum; eripiet quivis oculos citius mihi quam te contemptum cassa nuce pauperet; haec mea cura est,
nequid tu perdas neu sis iocus.” ire domum atque pelliculam curare iube; fi cognitor ipse, persta atque obdura: seu rubra canicula findet infantis statuas, seu pingui tentus omaso Furius hibernas cana nive conspuet Alpes. “nonne vides” aliquis cubito stantem prope tangens inquiet, “ut patiens, ut amicis aptus, ut acer?” plures adnabunt thynni et cetaria crescent. sicui praeterea validus male filius in re praeclara sublatus aletur, ne manifestum caelibis obsequium nudet te, leniter in spem adrepe officiosus, ut et scribare secundus
heres et, siquis casus puerum egerit Orco, in vacuum venias: perraro haec alea fallit. qui testamentum tradet tibi cumque legendum, abnuere et tabulas a te removere memento, sic tamen, ut limis rapias, quid prima secundo cera velit versu; solus multisne coheres, veloci percurre oculo. plerumque recoctus scriba ex quinqueviro corvum deludet hiantem captatorque dabit risus Nasica Corano.’ ‘num furis? an prudens ludis me obscura canendo?’ ‘o Laertiade, quidquid dicam, aut erit aut non: divinare etenim magnus mihi donat Apollo.’
‘quid tamen ista velit sibi fabula, si licet, ede.’ ‘tempore quo iuvenis Parthis horrendus, ab alto demissum genus Aenea, tellure marique magnus erit, forti nubet procera Corano filia Nasicae, metuentis reddere soldum. tum gener hoc faciet: tabulas socero dabit atque ut legat orabit; multum Nasica negatas accipiet tandem et tacitus leget invenietque nil sibi legatum praeter plorare suisque. illud ad haec iubeo: mulier si forte dolosa libertusve senem delirum temperet, illis accedas socius: laudes, lauderis ut absens.
adiuvat hoc quoque, sed vincit longe prius ipsum expugnare caput. scribet mala carmina vecors: laudato. scortator erit: cave te roget; ultro Penelopam facilis potiori trade.’ ‘putasne perduci poterit tam frugi tamque pudica, quam nequiere proci recto depellere cursu?’ ‘venit enim magnum donandi parca iuventus nec tantum Veneris quantum studiosa culinae. sic tibi Penelope frugi est; quae si semel uno de sene gustarit tecum partita lucellum, ut canis a corio numquam absterrebitur uncto. me sene quod dicam factum est. anus inproba Thebis
ex testamento sic est elata: cadaver unctum oleo largo nudis umeris tulit heres, scilicet elabi si posset mortua; credo, quod nimium institerat viventi. cautus adito neu desis operae neve immoderatus abundes. difficilem et morosum offendet garrulus: ultra ‘non’ ‘etiam’ sileas; Davus sis comicus atque stes capite obstipo, multum similis metuenti. obsequio grassare; mone, si increbruit aura, cautus uti velet carum caput; extrahe turba oppositis umeris; aurem substringe loquaci. inportunus amat laudari: donec ‘ohe iam’
ad Caelum manibus sublatis dixerit, urge: crescentem tumidis infla sermonibus utrem. cum te servitio longo curaque levarit, et certum vigilans “quartae sit partis Ulixes” audieris “heres”: “ergo nunc Dama sodalis nusquam est? unde mihi tam fortem tamque fidelem?” sparge subinde et, si paulum potes inlacrimare, est gaudia prodentem voltum celare. sepulcrum permissum arbitrio sine sordibus exstrue: funus egregie factum laudet vicinia. siquis forte coheredum senior male tussiet, huic tu dic, ex parte tua seu fundi sive domus sit
emptor, gaudentem nummo te addicere. sed me imperiosa trahit Proserpina: vive valeque.’
Book 2, Poem 6
Hoc erat in votis: modus agri non ita magnus, hortus ubi et tecto vicinus iugis aquae fons et paulum silvae super his foret. auctius atque Di melius fecere. bene est. nil amplius oro, Maia nate, nisi ut propria haec mihi munera faxis. si neque maiorem feci ratione mala rem nec sum facturus vitio culpave minorem, si veneror stultus nihil horum ‘o si angulus ille proximus accedat, qui nunc denormat agellum!’ ‘o si urnam argenti fors quae mihi monstret, ut illi, thesauro invento qui mercennarius agrum illum ipsum mercatus aravit, dives amico
Hercule!’, si quod adest gratum iuvat, hac prece te oro: pingue pecus domino facias et cetera praeter ingenium, utque soles, custos mihi maximus adsis. ergo ubi me in montes et in arcem ex Urbe removi, quid prius inlustrem Satyris Musaque pedestri? nec mala me ambitio perdit nec plumbeus auster Autumnusque gravis, Libitinae quaestus acerbae. matutine pater, seu Iane libentius audis, unde homines operum primos vitaeque labores instituunt — sic Dis placitum —, tu carminis esto principium. Romae sponsorem me rapis: ‘eia, ne prior officio quisquam respondeat, urge.’
sive aquilo radit terras seu bruma nivalem interiore diem gyro trahit, ire necesse est. postmodo quod mi obsit clare certumque locuto luctandum in turba et facienda iniuria tardis. ‘quid tibi vis, insane?’ et ‘quam rem agis?’ inprobus urget iratis precibus, ‘tu pulses omne quod obstat, ad Maecenatem memori si mente recurras.’ hoc iuvat et melli est, non mentiar. at simul atras ventum est Esquilias, aliena negotia centum per caput et circa saliunt latus. ‘ante secundam Roscius orabat sibi adesses ad Puteal cras.’ ‘de re communi scribae magna atque nova te
orabant hodie meminisses, Quinte, reverti.’ ‘inprimat his cura Maecenas signa tabellis.’ dixeris: ‘experiar’: ‘si vis, potes,’ addit et instat. septimus octavo propior iam fugerit annus, ex quo Maecenas me coepit habere suorum in numero, dumtaxat ad hoc, quem tollere raeda vellet iter faciens et cui concredere nugas hoc genus: ‘hora quota est?’ ‘Thraex est Gallina Syro par?’ ‘matutina parum cautos iam frigora mordent’, et quae rimosa bene deponuntur in aure. per totum hoc tempus subiectior in diem et horam invidiae noster. ludos spectaverat, una
luserat in campo: ‘Fortunae filius’ omnes. frigidus a Rostris manat per compita rumor: quicumque obvius est, me consulit: ‘o bone — nam te scire, Deos quoniam propius contingis oportet — , numquid de Dacis audisti?’ ‘nil equidem.’ ‘ut tu semper eris derisor.’ ‘at omnes Di exagitent me, si quicquam.’ ‘quid? militibus promissa Triquetra praedia Caesar an est Itala tellure daturus?’ iurantem me scire nihil mirantur ut unum scilicet egregii mortalem altique silenti. perditur haec inter misero lux non sine votis: o rus, quando ego te adspiciam quandoque licebit
nunc veterum libris, nunc somno et inertibus horis ducere sollicitae iucunda oblivia vitae? o quando faba Pythagorae cognata simulque uncta satis pingui ponentur holuscula lardo? o noctes cenaeque Deum, quibus ipse meique ante larem proprium vescor vernasque procacis pasco libatis dapibus. prout cuique libido est, siccat inaequalis calices conviva solutus legibus insanis, seu quis capit acria fortis pocula seu modicis uvescit laetius. ergo sermo oritur, non de villis domibusve alienis, nec male necne Lepos saltet; sed, quod magis ad nos
pertinet et nescire malum est, agitamus, utrumne divitiis homines an sint virtute beati, quidve ad amicitias, usus rectumne, trahat nos et quae sit natura boni summumque quid eius. cervius haec inter vicinus garrit anilis ex re fabellas. siquis nam laudat Arelli sollicitas ignarus opes, sic incipit: ‘olim rusticus urbanum murem mus paupere fertur accepisse cavo, veterem vetus hospes amicum, asper et attentus quaesitis, ut tamen artum solveret hospitiis animum. quid multa? neque ille sepositi ciceris nec longae invidit avenae,
aridum et ore ferens acinum semesaque lardi frusta dedit, cupiens varia fastidia cena vincere tangentis male singula dente superbo, cum pater ipse domus palea porrectus in horna esset ador loliumque, dapis meliora relinquens. tandem urbanus ad hunc “quid te iuvat” inquit, “amice, praerupti nemoris patientem vivere dorso? vis tu homines urbemque feris praeponere silvis? carpe viam, mihi crede, comes, terrestria quando mortalis animas vivunt sortita neque ulla est aut magno aut parvo leti fuga: quo, bone, circa, dum licet, in rebus iucundis vive beatus,
vive memor, quam sis aevi brevis.” haec ubi dicta agrestem pepulere, domo levis exsilit; inde ambo propositum peragunt iter, urbis aventes moenia nocturni subrepere. iamque tenebat nox medium caeli spatium, cum ponit uterque in locuplete domo vestigia, rubro ubi cocco tincta super lectos canderet vestis eburnos multaque de magna superessent fercula cena, quae procul exstructis inerant hesterna canistris. ergo ubi purpurea porrectum in veste locavit agrestem, veluti succinctus cursitat hospes continuatque dapes nec non verniliter ipsis
fungitur officiis, praelambens omne quod adfert. ille cubans gaudet mutata sorte bonisque rebus agit laetum convivam, cum subito ingens valvarum strepitus lectis excussit utrumque. currere per totum pavidi conclave magisque exanimes trepidare, simul domus alta Molossis personuit canibus. tum rusticus: “haud mihi vita est opus hac” ait et “valeas: me silva cavosque tutus ab insidiis tenui solabitur ervo.”’
Book 2, Poem 7
‘Iamdudum ausculto et cupiens tibi dicere servos pauca reformido.’ ‘Davusne?’ ‘ita, Davus, amicum mancipium domino et frugi quod sit satis, hoc est, ut vitale putes.’ ‘age libertate Decembri, quando ita maiores voluerunt, utere: narra.’ ‘pars hominum vitiis gaudet constanter et urget propositum; pars multa natat, modo recta capessens, interdum pravis obnoxia. saepe notatus cum tribus anellis, modo laeva Priscus inani vixit inaequalis, clavum ut mutaret in horas, aedibus ex magnis subito se conderet unde mundior exiret vix libertinus honeste;
iam moechus Romae, iam mallet doctus Athenis vivere, Vertumnis quotquot sunt natus iniquis. scurra Volanerius, postquam illi iusta cheragra contudit articulos, qui pro se tolleret atque mitteret in phimum talos, mercede diurna conductum pavit: quanto constantior isdem in vitiis, tanto levius miser ac prior illo qui iam contento, iam laxo fune laborat.’ ‘non dices hodie, quorsum haec tam putida tendant, furcifer?’ ‘ad te, inquam.’ ‘quo pacto, pessime?’ ‘laudas fortunam et mores antiquae plebis, et idem, siquis ad illa Deus subito te agat, usque recuses,
aut quia non sentis, quod clamas, rectius esse, aut quia non firmus rectum defendis et haeres nequiquam caeno cupiens evellere plantam. Romae rus optas; absentem rusticus Urbem tollis ad astra levis. si nusquam es forte vocatus ad cenam, laudas securum holus ac, velut usquam vinctus eas, ita te felicem dicis amasque, quod nusquam tibi sit potandum. iusserit ad se Maecenas serum sub lumina prima venire convivam: “nemon’ oleum fert ocius? ecquis audit?” cum magno blateras clamore fugisque. Mulvius et scurrae, tibi non referenda precati,
discedunt. “etenim fateor me” dixerit ille “duci ventre levem, nasum nidore supinor, inbecillus, iners, siquid vis, adde, popino. tu cum sis quod ego et fortassis nequior, ultro insectere velut melior verbisque decoris obvolvas vitium?” quid, si me stultior ipso quingentis empto drachmis deprenderis? aufer me voltu terrere; manum stomachumque teneto, dum quae Crispini docuit me ianitor edo. te coniunx aliena capit, meretricula Davum: peccat uter nostrum cruce dignius? acris ubi me natura intendit, sub clara nuda lucerna
quaecumque excepit turgentis verbera caudae clunibus aut agitavit equum lasciva supinum, dimittit neque famosum neque sollicitum, ne ditior aut formae melioris meiat eodem. tu cum proiectis insignibus, anulo equestri Romanoque habitu, prodis ex iudice Dama, turpis odoratum caput obscurante lacerna, non es quod simulas? metuens induceris atque altercante libidinibus tremis ossa pavore. quid refert, uri virgis ferroque necari auctoratus eas, an turpi clausus in arca, quo te demisit peccati conscia erilis,
contractum genibus tangas caput? estne marito matronae peccantis in ambo iusta potestas, in corruptorem vel iustior? illa tamen se non habitu mutatve loco peccatve superne, cum te formidet mulier neque credat amanti. ibis sub furcam prudens dominoque furenti conmittes rem omnem et vitam et cum corpore famam evasti: credo, metues doctusque cavebis: quaeres, quando iterum paveas iterumque perire possis, o totiens servus. quae belua ruptis, cum semel effugit, reddit se prava catenis? “non sum moechus” ais. neque ego hercule fur, ubi vasa
praetereo sapiens argentea. tolle periclum: iam vaga prosiliet frenis natura remotis. tune mihi dominus, rerum imperiis hominumque tot tantisque minor, quem ter vindicta quaterque inposita haud umquam misera formidine privet? adde super, dictis quod non levius valeat; nam, sive vicarius est, qui servo paret, uti mos vester ait, seu conservus, tibi quid sum ego? nempe tu, mihi qui imperitas, aliis servis miser atque duceris ut nervis alienis mobile lignum. quisnam igitur liber? sapiens sibi qui imperiosus, quem neque pauperies neque mors neque vincula terrent,
responsare cupidinibus, contemnere honores fortis, et in se ipso totus, teres atque rotundus, externi nequid valeat per leve morari, in quem manca ruit semper fortuna. potesne ex his ut proprium quid noscere? quinque talenta poscit te mulier, vexat foribusque repulsum perfundit gelida, rursus vocat: eripe turpi colla iugo Liber, “liber sum” dic age. non quis. urget enim dominus mentem non lenis et acris subiectat lasso stimulos versatque negantem. vel cum Pausiaca torpes, insane, tabella, qui peccas minus atque ego, cum Fulvi Rutubaeque
aut Pacideiani contento poplite miror proelia rubrica picta aut carbone, velut si re vera pugnent, feriant vitentque moventes arma viri? nequam et cessator Davus; at ipse subtilis veterum iudex et callidus audis. nil ego, si ducor libo fumante: tibi ingens virtus atque animus cenis responsat opimis? obsequium ventris mihi perniciosius est cur? tergo plector enim. qui tu inpunitior illa, quae parvo sumi nequeunt, obsonia captas? nempe inamarescunt epulae sine fine petitae inlusique pedes vitiosum ferre recusant
corpus. an hic peccat, sub noctem qui puer uvam furtiva mutat strigili: qui praedia vendit, nil servile gulae parens habet? adde, quod idem non horam tecum esse potes, non otia recte ponere teque ipsum vitas fugitivus et erro, iam vino quaerens, iam somno fallere curam, frustra: nam comes atra premit sequiturque fugacem.’ ‘unde mihi lapidem?’ ‘quorsum est opus?’ ‘unde sagittas?’ ‘aut insanit homo aut versus facit.’ ‘ocius hinc te ni rapis, accedes opera agro nona Sabino.’
Book 2, Poem 8
‘Ut Nasidieni iuvit te cena beati? nam mihi quaerenti convivam dictus here illic de medio potare die.’ ‘sic, ut mihi numquam in vita fuerit melius.’ ‘da, si grave non est, quae prima iratum ventrem placaverit esca.’ ‘in primis Lucanus aper: leni fuit Austro captus, ut aiebat cenae pater: acria circum rapula, lactucae, radices, qualia lassum pervellunt stomachum, siser, allec, faecula Coa. his ut sublatis puer alte cinctus acernam gausape purpureo mensam pertersit et alter sublegit quodcumque iaceret inutile quodque
posset cenantis offendere, ut Attica virgo cum sacris Cereris procedit fuscus Hydaspes caecuba vina ferens, Alcon Chium maris expers. hic erus “Albanum, Maecenas, sive Falernum te magis adpositis delectat, habemus utrumque.”’ ‘divitias miseras! sed quis cenantibus una, Fundani, pulcre fuerit tibi, nosse laboro.’ ‘summus ego et prope me Viscus Thurinus et infra, si memini, Varius; cum Servilio Balatrone Vibidius, quos Maecenas adduxerat umbras. Nomentanus erat super ipsum, Porcius infra, ridiculus totas semel absorbere placentas;
Nomentanus ad hoc, qui, siquid forte lateret, indice monstraret digito; nam cetera turba, nos, inquam, cenamus avis, conchylia, piscis, longe dissimilem noto celantia sucum, ut vel continuo patuit, cum passeris atque ingustata mihi porrexerit ilia rhombi. post hoc me docuit melimela rubere minorem ad lunam delecta. quid hoc intersit, ab ipso audieris melius. tum Vibidius Balatroni “nos nisi damnose bibimus, moriemur inulti,” et calices poscit maiores. vertere pallor tum parochi faciem nil sic metuentis ut acris
potores, vel quod maledicunt liberius vel fervida quod subtile exsurdant vina palatum. invertunt Allifanis vinaria tota Vibidius Balatroque secutis omnibus: imi convivae lecti nihilum nocuere lagoenis. adfertur squillas inter murena natantis in patina porrecta. sub hoc erus “haec gravida” inquit “capta est, deterior post partum carne futura. his mixtum ius est: oleo, quod prima Venafri pressit cella; garo de sucis piscis Hiberi; vino quinquenni, verum citra mare nato, dum coquitur — cocto Chium sic convenit, ut non
hoc magis ullum aliud — ; pipere albo, non sine aceto, quod Methymnaeam vitio mutaverit uvam. erucas viridis, inulas ego primus amaras monstravi incoquere; inlutos Curtillus echinos, ut melius muria quod testa marina remittat.” interea suspensa gravis aulaea ruinas in patinam fecere, trahentia pulveris atri quantum non Aquilo Campanis excitat agris. nos maius veriti, postquam nihil esse pericli sensimus, erigimur; Rufus posito capite, ut si filius inmaturus obisset, flere. quis esset finis, ni sapiens sic Nomentanus amicum
tolleret: “heu, Fortuna, quis est crudelior in nos te Deus? ut semper gaudes inludere rebus humanis!” Varius mappa conpescere risum vix poterat. Balatro suspendens omnia naso “haec est condicio vivendi” aiebat, “eoque responsura tuo numquam est par fama labori. tene, ut ego accipiar laute, torquerier omni sollicitudine districtum, ne panis adustus, ne male conditum ius adponatur, ut omnes praecincti recte pueri comptique ministrent. adde hos praeterea casus, aulaea ruant si, ut modo; si patinam pede lapsus frangat agaso.
sed convivatoris, uti ducis, ingenium res adversae nudare solent, celare secundae.” Nasidienus ad haec “tibi Di, quaecumque preceris, commoda dent: ita vir bonus es convivaque comis” et soleas poscit. tum in lecto quoque videres stridere secreta divisos aure susurros.’ ‘nullos his mallem ludos spectasse; sed illa redde age quae deinceps risisti.’ ‘Vibidius dum quaerit de pueris, num sit quoque fracta lagoena, quod sibi poscenti non dentur pocula, dumque ridetur fictis rerum Balatrone secundo, Nasidiene, redis mutatae frontis, ut arte
emendaturus fortunam; deinde secuti mazonomo pueri magno discerpta ferentes membra gruis sparsi sale multo non sine farre, pinguibus et ficis pastum iecur anseris albae et leporum avolsos, ut multo suavius, armos, quam si cum lumbis quis edit. tum pectore adusto vidimus et merulas poni et sine clune palumbis, suavis res, si non causas narraret earum et naturas dominus; quem nos sic fugimus ulti, ut nihil omnino gustaremus, velut illis Canidia adflasset, peior serpentibus Afris.’
Epistles
Contents — 22 sections
- Book 1, Poem 1
- Book 1, Poem 2
- Book 1, Poem 3
- Book 1, Poem 4
- Book 1, Poem 5
- Book 1, Poem 6
- Book 1, Poem 7
- Book 1, Poem 8
- Book 1, Poem 9
- Book 1, Poem 10
- Book 1, Poem 11
- Book 1, Poem 12
- Book 1, Poem 13
- Book 1, Poem 14
- Book 1, Poem 15
- Book 1, Poem 16
- Book 1, Poem 17
- Book 1, Poem 18
- Book 1, Poem 19
- Book 1, Poem 20
- Book 2, Poem 1
- Book 2, Poem 2
Book 1, Poem 1
Prima dicte mihi, summa dicende Camena, spectatum satis et donatum iam rude quaeris, Maecenas, iterum antiquo me includere ludo. non eadem est aetas, non mens. Veianius armis Herculis ad postem fixis latet abditus agro, ne populum extrema totiens exoret harena, est mihi purgatam crebro qui personet aurem: “solve senescentem mature sanus equum, ne peccet ad extremum ridendus et ilia ducat.” Nunc itaque et versus et cetera ludicra pono; quid verum atque decens curo et rogo et omnis in hoc sum; condo et compono quae mox depromere possim.
ac ne forte roges, quo me duce, quo lare tuter: nullius addictus iurare in verba magistri, quo me cumque rapit tempestas, deferor hospes. nunc agilis fio et mersor civilibus undis, virtutis verae custos rigidusque satelles; nunc in Aristippi furtim praecepta relabor et mihi res, non me rebus, subiungere conor. Ut nox longa quibus mentitur amica, diesque longa videtur opus debentibus, ut piger annus pupillis, quos dura premit custodia matrum; sic mihi tarda fluunt ingrataque tempora, quae spem consiliumque morantur agendi naviter id quod
aeque pauperibus prodest, locupletibus aeque, aeque neglectum pueris senibusque nocebit, restat ut his ego me ipse regam solerque elementis, non possis oculo quantum contendere Lynceus, non tamen idcirco contemnas lippus inungui; nec quia desperes invicti membra Glyconis, nodosa corpus nolis prohibere cheragra. est quadam prodire tenus, si non datur ultra. Fervet avaritia miseroque cupidine pectus: sunt verba et voces, quibus hunc lenire dolorem possis et magnam morbi deponere partem. laudis amore tumes; sunt certa piacula, quae te
ter pure lecto poterunt recreare libello. invidus, iracundus, iners, vinosus, amator, nemo adeo ferus est, ut non mitescere possit, si modo culturae patientem commodet aurem. Virtus est vitium fugere et sapientia prima stultitia caruisse, vides, quae maxima credis esse mala, exiguum censum turpemque repulsam, quanto devites animi capitisque labore; impiger extremos curris mercator ad Indos, per mare pauperiem fugiens, per saxa, per ignis: ne cures-ea, quae stulte miraris et optas, discere et audire et meliori credere non vis?
quis circum pagos et circum compita pugnax magna coronari contemnat Olympia, cui spes, cui sit condicio dulcis sine pulvere palmae? Vilius argentum est auro, virtutibus aurum. “o cives, cives, quaerenda pecunia primum est; virtus post nummos!” haec Ianus summus ab imo prodocet, haec recinunt iuvenes dictata senesque, laevo suspensi loculos tabulamque lacerto. est animus tibi, sunt mores, est lingua fidesque, sed quadringentis sex septem milia desunt ; plebs eris. at pueri ludentes, rex eris, aiunt, si recte facies. hic murus aeneus esto,
nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa. Roscia, dic sodes, melior lex an puerorum est nenia, quae regnum recte facientibus offert, et maribus Curiis et decantata Camillis? isne tibi melius suadet, qui “rem facias, rem, si possis, recte, si non, quocumque modo, rem,” ut propius spectes lacrimosa poemata Pupi, an qui Fortunae te responsare superbae liberum et erectum praesens hortatur et aptat ? Quod si me populus Romanus forte roget, cur non ut porticibus sic iudiciis fruar isdem, nec sequar aut fugiam quae diligit ipse vel odit,
olim quod volpes aegroto cauta leoni respondit, referam: “quia me vestigia terrent, omnia te adversum spectantia, nulla retrorsum.” belua multorum es capitum, nam quid sequar aut quem? pars hominum gestit conducere publica; sunt qui frustis et pomis viduas venentur avaras excipiantque senes, quos in vivaria mittant; multis occulto crescit res faenore. Verum esto aliis alios rebus studiisque teneri: idem eadem possunt horam durare probantes? nullus in orbe sinus Bais praelucet amoenis, si dixit dives, lacus et mare sentit amorem
festinantis eri; cui si vitiosa libido fecerit auspicium, “cras ferramenta Teanum tolletis, fabri!” lectus genialis in aula est: nil ait esse prius, melius nil caelibe vita; si non est, iurat bene solis esse maritis. quo teneant voltus mutantem Protea nodo? quid pauper? ride: mutat cenacula, lectos, balnea, tonsores, conducto navigio aeque nauseat ac locuples, quem ducit priva triremis. Si curatus inaequali tonsore capillos occurri, rides; si forte subucula pexae trita subest tunicae, vel si toga dissidet impar,
rides: quid, mea cum pugnat sententia secum, quod petiit spernit, repetit quod nuper omisit, aestuat et vitae disconvenit ordine toto, diruit, aedificat, mutat quadrata rotundis? insanire putas sollemnia me neque rides, nec medici credis nec curatoris egere a praetore dati, rerum tutela mearum cum sis et prave sectum stomacheris ob unguem de te pendentis, te respicientis amici. Ad summam: sapiens uno minor est Iove, dives, liber, honoratus, pulcher, rex denique regum, praecipue sanus, nisi cum pituita molesta est.
Book 1, Poem 2
Troiam belli scriptorem. Maxime Lolli, dum tu declamas Romae, Praeneste relegi; qui quid sit pulchrum, quid turpe, quid utile, quid non, planius ac melius Chrysippo et Crantore dicit, cur ita crediderim, nisi quid te distinet, audi. Fabula, qua Paridis propter narratur amorem Graecia barbariae lento collisa duello, stultorum regum et populorum continet aestus. Antenor censet belli praecidere causam: quid Paris? ut salvus regnet vivatque beatus cogi posse negat. Nestor componere litis inter Peliden festinat et inter Atriden;
hunc amor, ira quidem communiter urit utrumque, quidquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi. seditione, dolis, scelere atque libidine et ira Iliacos intra muros peccatur et extra. Rursus, quid virtus et quid sapientia possit, utile proposuit nobis exemplar Ulixen, qui domitor Troiae multorum providus urbes et mores hominum inspexit, latumque per aequor, dum sibi, dum sociis reditum parat, aspera multa pertulit, adversis rerum immersabilis undis. Sirenum voces et Circae pocula nosti; quae si cum sociis stultus cupidusque bibisset,
sub domina meretrice fuisset turpis et excors, vixisset canis immundus vel amica luto sus. nos numerus sumus et fruges consumere nati, sponsi Penelopae nebulones, Alcinoique in cute curanda plus aequo operata iuventus, cui pulchrum fuit in medios dormire dies et ad strepitum citharae cessatum ducere curam. Ut iugulent hominem, surgunt de nocte latrones; ut te ipsum serves, non expergisceris? atqui si noles sanus, curres hydropicus; et ni posces ante diem librum cum lumine, si non intendes animum studiis et rebus honestis,
invidia vel amore vigil torquebere. nam cur quae laedunt oculum festinas demere; si quid est animum, differs curandi tempus in annum? dimidium facti qui coepit habet; sapere aude; incipe! qui recte vivendi prorogat horam, rusticus exspectat dum defluat amnis; at ille labitur et labetur in omne volubilis aevum Quaeritur argentum puerisque beata creandis uxor, et incultae pacantur vomere silvae: quod satis est cui contingit, nihil amplius optet. non domus et fundus, non aeris acervus et auri aegroto domini deduxit corpore febris,
non animo curas; valeat possessor oportet, si comportatis rebus bene cogitat uti. qui cupit aut metuit, iuvat illum sic domus et res, ut lippum pictae tabulae, fomenta podagram, auriculas citharae collecta sorde dolentis. sincerum est nisi vas, quodcumque infundis acescit. Sperne voluptates; nocet empta dolore voluptas, semper avarus eget; certum voto pete finem. invidus alterius macrescit rebus opimis; invidia Siculi non invenere tyranni maius tormentum, qui non moderabitur irae, infectum volet esse, dolor quod suaserit et mens,
dum poenas odio per vim festinat inulto, ira furor brevis est: animum rege; qui nisi paret imperat; hunc frenis, hunc tu compesce catena. Fingit equum tenera docilem cervice magister ire viam qua monstret eques; venaticus, ex quo tempore cervinam pellem latravit in aula, militat in silvis catulus, nunc adhibe puro pectore verba puer, nunc te melioribus offer, quo semel est imbuta recens, servabit odorem testa diu. quod si cessas aut strenuus anteis, nec tardum opperior nec praecedentibus insto.
Book 1, Poem 3
Iuli Flore, quibus terrarum militet oris Claudius Augusti privignus, scire laboro. Thracane vos Hebrusque nivali compede vinctus, an freta vicinas inter currentia turris, an pingues Asiae campi collesque morantur? Quid studiosa cohors operum struit? hoc quoque curo. quis sibi res gestas Augusti scribere sumit? bella quis et paces longum diffundit in aevum? quid Titius, Romana brevi venturus in ora? Pindarici fontis qui non expalluit haustus, fastidire lacus et rivos ausus apertos, ut valet? ut meminit nostri? fidibusne Latinis
Thebanos aptare modos studet auspice Musa, an tragica desaevit et ampullatur in arte? quid mihi Celsus agit? monitus multumque monendus, privatas ut quaerat opes et tangere vitet scripta Palatinus quaecumque recepit Apollo, ne, si forte suas repetitum venerit olim grex avium plumas, moveat cornicula risum furtivis nudata coloribus, ipse quid audes? quae circumvolitas agilis thyma? non tibi parvum ingenium, non incultum est et turpiter hirtum. seu linguam causis acuis seu civica iura respondere paras seu condis amabile carmen,
prima feres hederae victricis praemia, quod si frigida curarum fomenta relinquere posses, quo te caelestis sapientia duceret, ires. hoc opus, hoc studium parvi properemus et ampli, si patriae volumus, si nobis vivere cari. Debes hoc etiam rescribere, sit tibi curae quantae conveniat Munatius; an male sarta gratia nequiquam coit et rescinditur? at vos seu calidus sanguis seu rerum inscitia vexat indomita cervice feros, ubicumque locorum vivitis, indigni fraternum rumpere foedus, pascitur in vestrum reditum votiva iuvenca.
Book 1, Poem 4
Albi, nostrorum sermonum candide iudex, quid nunc te dicam facere in regione Pedana? scribere quod Cassi Parmensis opuscula vincat, an tacitum silvas inter reptare salubris, curantem quidquid dignum sapiente bonoque est? non tu corpus cras sine pectore: di tibi formam, di tibi divitias dederunt artemque fruendi. quid voveat dulci nutricula maius alumno, qui sapere et fari possit quae sentiat, et cui gratia, fama, valetudo contingat abunde, et mundus victus non deficiente crumina? Inter spem curamque, timores inter et iras
omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum, grata superveniet, quae non sperabitur hora. me pinguem et nitidum bene curata cute vises, cum ridere voles, Epicuri de grege porcum.
Book 1, Poem 5
Si potes Archiacis conviva recumbere lectis nec modica cenare times holus omne patella, supremo te sole domi, Torquate, manebo, vina bibes iterum Tauro diffusa palustris inter Minturnas Sinuessanumque Petrinum. si melius quid habes, arcesse, vel imperium fer. iamdudum splendet focus et tibi munda supellex, mitte levis spes et certamina divitiarum et Moschi causam: cras nato Caesare festus dat veniam somnumque dies; impune licebit aestivam sermone benigno tendere noctem. Quo mihi fortunam, si non conceditur uti?
parcus ob heredis curam nimiumque severus adsidet insano, potare et spargere flores incipiam, patiarque vel inconsultus haberi. quid non ebrietas dissignat ? operta recludit, spes iubet esse ratas, ad proelia trudit inertem, sollicitis animis onus eximit, addocet artes. fecundi calices quem non fecere disertum? contracta quem non in paupertate solutum? Haec ego procurare et idoneus imperor et non invitus, ne turpe toral, ne sordida mappa corruget naris, ne non et cantharus et lanx ostendat tibi te, ne fidos inter amicos
sit qui dicta foras eliminet, ut coeat par iungaturque pari. Butram tibi Septiciumque, et nisi cena prior potiorque puella Sabinum detinet, adsumam. locus est et pluribus umbris: sed nimis arta premunt olidae convivia caprae, tu quotus esse velis rescribe et rebus omissis atria servantem postico falle clientem.
Book 1, Poem 6
Nil admirari prope res est una, Numici, solaque quae possit facere et servare beatum, hunc solem et stellas et decedentia certis tempora momentis sunt qui formidine nulla imbuti spectent: quid censes munera terrae, quid maris extremos Arabas ditantis et Indos, ludicra quid, plausus et amici dona Quiritis, quo spectanda modo, quo sensu credis et ore? Qui timet his adversa, fere miratur eodem quo cupiens pacto: pavor est utrobique molestus, improvisa simul species exterret utrumque. gaudeat an doleat, cupiat metuatne, quid ad rem,
si, quicquid vidit melius peiusve sua spe, defixis oculis animoque et corpore torpet? insani sapiens nomen ferat, aequus iniqui, ultra quam satis est Virtutem si petat ipsam. I nunc, argentum et marmor vetus aeraque et artes suspice, cum gemmis Tyrios mirare colores; gaude quod spectant oculi te mille loquentem; navus mane forum et vespertinus pete tectum, ne plus frumenti dotalibus emetat agris Mutus et (indignum, quod sit peioribus ortus) hic tibi sit potius quam tu mirabilis illi. quidquid sub terra est, in apricum proferet aetas,
defodiet condetque nitentia, cum bene notum porticus Agrippae, via te conspexerit Appi, ire tamen restat Numa quo devenit et Ancus. Si latus aut renes morbo temptantur acuto, quaere fugam morbi, vis recte vivere: quis non? si Virtus hoc una potest dare, fortis omissis hoc age deliciis. Virtutem verba putas et lucum ligna: cave ne portus occupet alter, ne Cibyratica, ne Bithyna negotia perdas; mille talenta rotundentur, totidem altera, porro et tertia succedant et quae pars quadret acervum. scilicet uxorem cum dote fidemque et amicos
et genus et formam regina Pecunia donat, ac bene nummatum decorat Suadela Venusque, mancupiis locuples eget aeris Cappadocum rex: ne fueris hic tu. chlamydes Lucullus, ut aiunt, si posset centum scaenae praebere rogatus, qui possum tot? ait; “tamen et quaeram et quot habebo mittam:” post paulo scribit sibi milia quinque esse domi chlamydum; partem vel tolleret omnis, exilis domus est, ubi non et multa supersunt et dominum fallunt et prosunt furibus. ergo si res sola potest facere et servare beatum, hoc primus repetas opus, hoc postremus omittas.
Si fortunatum species et gratia praestat, mercemur servum, qui dictet nomina, laevum qui fodicet latus et cogat trans pondera dextram porrigere: “hic multum in Fabia valet, ille Velina; cui libet hic fasces dabit eripietque curule cui volet importunus ebur.” frater, pater adde: ut cuique est aetas, ita quemque facetus adopta. Si bene qui cenat bene vivit, lucet, eamus quo ducit gula; piscemur, venemur, ut olim Gargilius, qui mane plagas, venabula, servos differtum transire forum populumque iubebat, unus ut e multis populo spectante referret
emptum mulus aprum, crudi tumidique lavemur, quid deceat, quid non, obliti, Caerite cera digni, remigium vitiosum Ithacensis Ulixei, cui potior patria fuit interdicta voluptas. si, Mimnermus uti censet, sine amore iocisque nil est iucundum, vivas in amore iocisque?. Vive, vale! si quid novisti rectius istis, candidus imperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
Book 1, Poem 7
Quinque dies tibi pollicitus me rure futurum, Sextilem totum mendax desideror. atque si me vivere vis sanum recteque valentem, quam mihi das aegro, dabis aegrotare timenti, Maecenas, veniam, dum ficus prima calorque dissignatorem decorat lictoribus atris, dum pueris omnis pater et matercula pallet, officiosaque sedulitas et opella forensis adducit febris et testamenta resignat. quod si bruma nives Albanis illinet agris, ad mare descendet vates tuus et sibi parcet contractusque leget; te, dulcis amice, reviset
cum Zephyris, si concedes, et hirundine prima. Non quo more piris vesci Calaber iubet hospes, tu me fecisti locupletem. vescere, sodes. iam satis est. at tu quantum vis tolle. benigne. non invisa feres pueris munuscula parvis. tam teneor dono, quam si dimittar onustus. ut libet; haec porcis hodie comedenda relinques. prodigus et stultus donat quae spernit et odit; haec seges ingratos tulit et feret omnibus annis, vir bonus et sapiens dignis ait esse paratus, nec tamen ignorat quid distent aera lupinis. dignum praestabo me etiam pro laude merentis.
quod si me noles usquam discedere, reddes forte latus, nigros angusta fronte capillos, reddes dulce loqui, reddes ridere decorum et inter vina fugam Cinarae maerere protervae. Forte per angustam tenuis volpecula rimam repserat in cumeram frumenti, pastaque rursus ire foras pleno tendebat corpore frustra; cui mustela procul, si vis, ait, “effugere istinc, macra cavum repetes artum, quem macra subisti.” hac ego si compellor imagine, cuncta resigno; nec somnum plebis laudo satur altilium nec otia divitiis Arabum Uberrima muto.
saepe verecundum laudasti, rexque paterque audisti coram nec verbo parcius absens: inspice si possum donata reponere laetus. haud male Telemachus, proles parientis Ulixei: “non est aptus equis Ithace locus, ut neque planis porrectus spatiis nec multae prodigus herbae: Atride, magis apta tibi tua dona relinquam.” parvum parva decent: mihi iam non regia Roma, sed vacuum Tibur placet aut imbelle Tarentum. Strenuus et fortis causisque Philippus agendis clarus, ab officiis octavam circiter horam dum redit atque Foro nimium distare Carinas
iam grandis natu queritur, conspexit, ut aiunt, adrasum quendam vacua tonsoris in umbra cultello proprios purgantem leniter unguis. Demetri, (puer hic non laeve iussa Philippi accipiebat) “abi, quaere et refer, unde domo, quis, cuius fortunae, quo sit patre quove patrono.” it, redit et narrat, Voltcium nomine Menam, praeconem, tenui censu, sine crimine, notum et properare loco et cessare et quaerere et uti, gaudentem parvisque sodalibus et lare certo et ludis et post decisa negotia Campo. “scitari libet ex ipso quodcumque refers: dic
ad cenam veniat.” non sane credere Mena, mirari secum tacitus, quid multa? benigne, respondet. neget ille mihi? “negat improbus et te neglegit aut horret.” Volteium mane Philippus vilia vendentem tunicato scruta popello occupat et salvere iubet prior, ille Philippo excusare laborem et mercennaria vincla, quod non mane domum venisset, denique quod non providisset eum. “sic ignovisse putato me tibi, si cenas hodie mecum.” ut libet. “ergo post nonam venies: nunc i, rem strenuus auge.” ut ventum ad cenam est, dicenda tacenda locutus
tandem dormitum dimittitur. Hic ubi saepe occultum visus decurrere piscis ad hamum, mane cliens et iam certus conviva, iubetur rura suburbana indictis comes ire Latinis, impositus mannis arvum caelumque Sabinum non cessat laudare, videt ridetque Philippus, et sibi dum requiem, dum risus undique quaerit, dum septem donat sestertia, mutua septem promittit, persuadet uti mercetur agellum. mercatur. ne te longis ambagibus ultra quam satis est morer, ex nitido fit rusticus atque sulcos et vineta crepat mera, praeparat ulmos,
immoritur studiis et amore senescit habendi. verum ubi oves furto, morbo periere capellae, spem mentita seges, bos est enectus arando, offensus damnis media de nocte caballum arripit iratusque Philippi tendit ad aedis. quem simul aspexit scabrum intonsumque Philippus, durus, ait, “Voltei, nimis attentusque videris esse mihi.” “pol, me miserum, patrone, vocares, si velles,” inquit, “verum mihi ponere nomen. quod te per Genium dextramque deosque Penatis obsecro et obtestor, vitae me redde priori!” Qui semel aspexit, quantum dimissa petitis
praestent, mature redeat repetatque relicta. metiri se quemque suo modulo ae pede verum est.
Book 1, Poem 8
Celso gaudere et bene rem gerere Albinovano Musa rogata refer, comiti scribaeque Neronis, si quaeret quid agam, dic multa et pulchra minantem vivere nec recte nec suaviter; haud quia grando contuderit vitis oleamque momorderit aestus, nec quia longinquis armentum aegrotet in agris; sed quia mente minus validus quam corpore toto nil audire velim, nil discere, quod levet aegrum; fidis offendar medicis, irascar amicis, cur me funesto properent arcere veterno; quae nocuere sequar, fugiam quae profore credam; Romae Tibur amem ventosus, Tibure Romam.
Post haec, ut valeat, quo pacto rem gerat et se, ut placeat iuveni percontare utque cohorti, si dicet, recte, primum gaudere, subinde praeceptum auriculis hoc instillare memento: ut tu fortunam, sic nos te, Celse, feremus.
Book 1, Poem 9
Septimius, Claudi, nimirum intellegit unus, quanti me facias, nam cum rogat et prece cogit scilicet ut tibi se laudare et tradere coner, dignum mente domoque legentis honesta Neronis, munere cum fungi propioris censet amici, quid possim videt ac novit me valdius ipso. multa quidem dixi cur excusatus abirem; sed timui mea ne finxisse minora putarer, dissimilator opis propriae, mihi commodus uni. sic ego, maioris fugiens opprobria culpae, frontis ad urbanae descendi praemia, quod si depositum laudas ob amici iussa pudorem,
scribe tui gregis hunc et fortem crede bonumque.
Book 1, Poem 10
Urbis amatorem Fuscum salvere iubemus ruris amatores, hac in re scilicet una multum dissimiles, at cetera paene gemelli fraternis animis (quidquid negat alter, et alter) adnuimus pariter vetuli notique columbi. Tu nidum servas; ego laudo ruris amoeni rivos et musco circumlita saxa nemusque. quid quaeris? vivo et regno, simul ista reliqui quae vos ad caelum effertis rumore secundo, utque sacerdotis fugitivus liba recuso; pane egeo iam mellitis potiore placentis. Vivere Naturae si convenienter oportet,
ponendaeque domo quaerenda est area primum, novistine locum potiorem rure beato? est ubi plus tepeant hiemes, ubi gratior aura leniat et rabiem Canis et momenta Leonis, cum semel accepit Solem furibundus acutum? est ubi divellat somnos minus invida Cura? deterius Libycis olet aut nitet herba lapillis? purior in vicis aqua tendit rumpere plumbum, quam quae per pronum trepidat cum murmure rivum? nempe inter varias nutritur silva columnas, laudaturque domus longos quae prospicit agros. Naturam expelles furca, tamen usque recurret,
et mala perrumpet furtim fastidia victrix. Non, qui Sidonio contendere callidus ostro nescit Aquinatem potantia vellera fucum, certius accipiet damnum propiusve medullis, quam qui non poterit vero distinguere falsum, quem res plus nimio delectavere secundae, mutatae quatient. si quid mirabere, pones invitus, fuge magna: Meet sub paupere tecto reges et regum vita praecurrere amicos. Cervus equum pugna melior communibus herbis pellebat, donec minor in certamine longo imploravit opes hominis frenum que recepit;
sed postquam victor violens discessit ab hoste, non equitem dorso, non frenum depulit ore. sic qui pauperiem veritus potiore metallis libertate caret, dominum vehet improbus atque serviet aeternum, quia parvo nesciet uti. cui non conveniet sua res, ut calceus olim, si pede maior erit, subvertet, si minor, uret. Laetus sorte tua vives sapienter, Aristi, nec me dimittes incastigatum, ubi plura cogere quam satis est ac non cessare videbor, imperat aut servit collecta pecunia cuique, tortum digna sequi potius quam ducere funem.
Haec tibi dictabam post fanum putre Vacunae, excepto quod non simul esses, cetera laetus.
Book 1, Poem 11
Quid tibi visa Chios, Bullati, notaque Lesbos, quid concinna Samos, quid Croesi regia Sardis, Zmyrna quid et Colophon? maiora minorave fama, cunctane prae Campo et Tiberino flumine sordent? an venit in votum Attalicis ex urbibus una, an Lebedum laudas odio maris atque viarum? scis Lebedus quid sit: Gabiis desertior atque Fidenis vicus; tamen illic vivere vellem, oblitusque meorum, obliviscendus et illis, Neptunum procul e terra spectare furentem. Sed neque qui Capua Romam petit, imbre lutoque aspersus, volet in caupona vivere; nec qui
frigus collegit, furnos et balnea laudat ut fortunatam plene praestantia vitam; nec si te validus iactaverit Auster in alto, idcirco navem trans Aegaeum mare vendas. Incolumi Rhodos et Mytilene pulchra facit quod paenula solstitio, campestre nivalibus auris, per brumam Tiberis, Sextili mense caminus. dum licet ac voltum servat Fortuna benignum, Romae laudetur Samos et Chios et Rhodos absens, tu quamcumque deus tibi fortunaverit horam grata sume manu, neu dulcia differ in annum; ut quocumque loco fueris vixisse libenter
te dicas, nam si ratio et prudentia curas, non locus effusi late maris arbiter aufert, caelum, non animum, mutant, qui trans mare currunt, strenua nos exercet inertia: navibus atque quadrigis petimus bene vivere, quod petis hic est, est Ulubris, animus si te non deficit aequus.
Book 1, Poem 12
Fructibus Agrippae Siculis, quos colligis, Ieci, si recte frueris, non est ut copia maior ab Iove donari possit tibi. tolle querellas: pauper enim non est, cui rerum suppetit usus, si ventri bene, si lateri est pedibusque tuis, nil divitiae poterunt regales addere maius. si forte in medio positorum abstemius herbis vivis et urtica, sic vives protinus, ut te confestim liquidus Fortunae rivus inauret, vel quia naturam mutare pecunia nescit, vel quia cuncta putas una virtute minora. Miramur, si Democriti pecus edit agellos
cultaque, dum peregre est animus sine corpore velox; cum tu inter scabiem tantam et contagia lucri nil parvum sapias et adhuc sublimia cures: quae mare compescant causae, quid temperet annum, stellae sponte sua iussaene vagentur et errent, quid premat obscurum lunae, quid proferat orbem, quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors, Empedocles an Stertinium deliret acumen. Verum seu piscis seu porrum et caepe trucidas, utere Pompeio Grospho et, si quid petet, ultro defer; nil Grosphus nisi verum orabit et aequum, vilis amicorum est annona, bonis ubi quid deest.
Ne tamen ignores, quo sit Romana loco res, Cantaber Agrippae, Claudi virtute Neronis Armenius cecidit; ius imperiumque Phraates Caesaris accepit genibus minor; aurea fruges Italiae pleno defudit Copia cornu.
Book 1, Poem 13
Ut proficiscentem docui te saepe diuque, Augusto reddes signata volumina, Vini, si validus, si laetus erit, si denique poscet; ne studio nostri pecces odiumque libellis sedulus importes opera vehemente minister. si te forte meae gravis uret sarcina chartae, abicito potius, quam quo perferre iuberis clitellas ferus impingas, Asinaeque paternum cognomen vertas in risum et fabula fias. Viribus uteris per divos, flumina, lamas. victor propositi simul ac perveneris illuc, sic positum servabis onus, ne forte sub ala
fasciculum portes librorum ut rusticus agnum, ut vinosa glomus furtivae Pyrria lanae, ut cum pilleolo soleas conviva tribulis. neu volgo narres te sudavisse ferendo carmina, quae possint oculos aurisque morari Caesaris, oratus multa prece, nitere porro, vade; vale; cave ne titubes mandataque frangas.
Book 1, Poem 14
Vilice silvarum et milli me reddentis agelli, quem tu fastidis, habitatum quinque focis et quinque bonos solitum Variam dimittere patres, certemus, spinas animone ego fortius an tu evellas agro, et melior sit Horatius an res. Me quamvis Lamiae pietas et cura moratur, fratrem maerentis, rapto de fratre dolentis insolabiliter, tamen istuc mens animusque fert et amat spatiis obstantia rumpere claustra, rure ego viventem, tu dicis in urbe beatum. cui placet alterius, sua nimirum est odio sors. stultus uterque locum immeritum causatur inique:
in culpa est animus, qui se non effugit umquam. Tu mediastinus tacita prece rura petebas, nunc urbem et ludos et balnea vilicus optas: me constare mihi scis et discedere tristem quandocumque trahunt invisa negotia Romam, non eadem miramur; eo disconvenit inter meque et te. nam quae deserta et inhospita tesqua credis, amoena vocat mecum qui sentit, et odit quae tu pulchra putas, fornix tibi et uncta popina incutiunt urbis desiderium, video, et quod angulus iste feret piper et tus ocius uva, nec vicina subest vinum praebere taberna
quae possit tibi, nec meretrix tibicina, cuius ad strepitum salias terrae gravis; et tamen urges iampridem non tacta ligonibus arva bovemque disiunctum curas et strictis frondibus exples; addit opus pigro rivus, si decidit imber, multa mole docendus aprico parcere prato. Nunc age, quid nostrum concentum dividat audi. quem tenues decuere togae nitidique capilli, quem scis immunem Cinarae placuisse rapaci, quem bibulum liquidi media de luce Falerni, cena brevis iuvat et prope rivum somnus in herba; nec lusisse pudet, sed non incidere ludum,
non istic obliquo oculo mea commoda quisquam limat, non odio obscuro morsuque venenat: rident vicini glaebas et saxa moventem. cum servis urbana diaria rodere mavis; horum tu in numerum voto ruis: invidet usum lignorum et pecoris tibi calo argutus et horti, optat ephippia bos, piger optat arare caballus. quam scit uterque libens censebo exerceat artem.
Book 1, Poem 15
Quae sit hiems Veliae, quod caelum, Vala, Salerni, quorum hominum regio et qualis via (nam mihi Baias Musa supervacuas Antonius, et tamen illis me facit invisum, gelida cum perluor unda per medium frigus, sane murteta relinqui dictaque cessantem nervis elidere morbum sulfura contemni vicus gemit, invidus aegris, qui caput et stomachum supponere fontibus audent Clusinis Gabiosque petunt et frigida rura. mutandus locus est et deversoria nota praeteragendus equus, “quo tendis? non mihi Cumas est iter aut Baias,” laeva stomachosus habena
dicet eques; sed equi frenato est auris in ore); maior utrum populum frumenti copia pascat; collectosne bibant imbres puteosne perennis iugis aquae (nam vina nihil moror illius orae: rure meo possum quidvis perferre patique; ad mare cum veni, generosum et lene requiro, quod curas abigat, quod cum spe divite manet in venas animumque meum, quod verba ministret, quod me Lucanae iuvenem commendet amicae); tractus uter pluris lepores, uter educet apros; utra magis piscis et echinos aequora celent, pinguis ut inde domum possim Phaeaxque reverti,
scribere te nobis, tibi nos accredere par est. Maenius, ut rebus maternis atque paternis fortiter absumptis urbanus coepit haberi scurra vagus, non qui certum praesepe teneret, impransus non qui civem dinosceret hoste, quaelibet in quemvis opprobria fingere saevus, pernicies et tempestas barathrumque macelli, quidquid quaesierat, ventri donabat avaro. hic ubi nequitiae fautoribus et timidis nil aut paulum abstulerat, patinas cenabat omasi, vilis et agninae, tribus ursis quod satis esset; scilicet ut ventres lamna candente nepotum
diceret urendos correctus Bestius. idem, quidquid erat nactus praedae maioris, ubi omne verterat in fumum et cinerem, non hercule miror, aiebat, “si qui comedunt bona, cum sit obeso nil melius turdo, nil vulva pulchrius ampla.” Nimirum hic ego sum. nam tuta et parvola laudo, cum res deficiunt, satis inter vilia fortis : verum ubi quid melius contingit et unctius, idem vos sapere et solos aio bene vivere, quorum conspicitur nitidis fundata pecunia villis.
Book 1, Poem 16
Ne perconteris, fundus meus, optime Quincti, arvo pascat erum an bacis opulentet olivae, pomisne an pratis an amicta vitibus ulmo, scribetur tibi forma loquaciter et situs agri. Continui montes, ni dissocientur opaca valle, sed ut veniens dextrum latus aspiciat sol, laevum discedens curru fugiente vaporet. temperiem laudes, quid si rubicunda benigni corna vepres et pruna ferant? si quercus et ilex multa fruge pecus, multa dominum iuvet umbra? dicas adductum propius frondere Tarentum, fons etiam rivo dare nomen idoneus, ut nec
frigidior Thracam nec purior ambiat Hebrus, infirmo capiti fluit utilis, utilis alvo. hae latebrae dulces, etiam, si credis, amoenae, incolumem tibi me praestant Septembribus horis. Tu recte vivis, si curas esse quod audis, iactamus iam pridem omnis te Roma beatum; sed vereor ne cui de te plus quam tibi credas, neve putes alium sapiente bonoque beatum, neu, si te populus sanum recteque valentem dictitet, occultam febrem sub tempus edendi dissimules, donec manibus tremor incidat unctis. stultorum incurata pudor malus ulcera celat.
Si quis bella tibi terra pugnata marique dicat et his verbis vacuas permulceat auris: “tene magis salvum populus velit an populum tu, servet in ambiguo, qui consulit et tibi et urbi, Iuppiter,” Augusti laudes agnoscere possis: cum pateris sapiens emendatusque vocari, respondesne tuo, dic sodes, nomine? “nempe vir bonus et prudens dici delector ego ac tu.” qui dedit hoc hodie, cras, si volet, auferet, ut si detulerit fasces indigno, detrahet idem. pone, meum est inquit: pono tristisque recedo. idem si clamet furem, neget esse pudicum,
contendat laqueo collum pressisse paternum, mordear opprobriis falsis mutemque colores? falsus honor iuvat et mendax infamia terret quem nisi mendosum et medicandum ? Vir bonus est quis? “qui consulta patrum, qui leges imaque servat, quo multae magnaeque secantur iudice lites, quo res sponsore et quo causae teste tenentur.” sed videt hunc omnis domus et vicinia tota introrsum turpem, speciosum pelle decora. nec furtum feci nec fugi, si mihi dicat servus, habes pretium, loris non ureris, aio. non hominem occidi: non pasces in cruce corvos.
sum bonus et frugi : renuit negitatque Sabellus. cautus enim metuit foveam lupus accipiterque suspectos laqueos et opertum miluus hamum, oderunt peccare boni virtutis amore, tu nihil admittes in te formidine poenae: sit spes fallendi, miscebis sacra profanis. nam de mille fabae modiis cum surripis unum, damnum est, non facinus, mihi pacto lenius isto. vir bonus, omne forum quem spectat et omne tribunal, quandocumque deos vel porco vel bove placat, Line pater! clare, clare cum dixit, Apollo! labra movet metuens audiri: “pulchra Laverna,
da mihi fallere, da iusto sanctoque videri, noctem peccatis et fraudibus obice nubem.” Qui melior servo, qui liberior sit avarus, in triviis fixum cum se demittit ob assem, non video; nam qui cupiet, metuet quoque; porro, qui metuens vivet, liber mihi non erit umquam, perdidit arma, locum Virtutis deseruit, qui semper in augenda festinat et obruitur re. vendere cum possis captivum, occidere noli; serviet utiliter; sine pascat durus aretque, naviget ac mediis hiemet mercator in undis, annonae prosit, portet frumenta penusque.
Vir bonus et sapiens audebit dicere: “Pentheu, rector Thebarum, quid me perferre patique indignum coges?” Adimam bona. “Nempe pecus, rem, lectos, argentum: tollas licet.” “In manicis ot compedibus saevo te sub custode tenebo.” Ipse deus, simul atque volam, me solvet. opinor, hoc sentit moriar. mors ultima linea rerum est.
Book 1, Poem 17
Quamvis, Scaeva, satis per te tibi consulis et scis, quo tandem pacto deceat maioribus uti, disce, docendus adhuc quae censet amiculus, ut si caecus iter monstrare velit; tamen aspice si quid et nos, quod cures proprium fecisse, loquantur. Si te grata quies et primam somnus in horam delectat, si te pulvis strepitusque rotarum, si laedit caupona, Ferentinum ire iubebo, nam neque divitibus contingunt gaudia solis, nec vixit male, qui natus moriensque fefellit. si prodesse tuis pauloque benignius ipsum te tractare voles, accedes siccus ad unctum.
“Si pranderet holus patienter, regibus uti nollet Aristippus.” “si sciret regibus uti, fastidiret holus qui me notat.” utrius horum verba probes et facta doce, vel iunior audi cur sit Aristippi potior sententia, namque mordacem Cynicum sic eludebat, ut aiunt: “scurror ego ipse mihi, populo tu; rectius hoc et splendidius multo est. equus ut me portet, alat rex, officium facio; tu poscis vilia, verum dante minor, quamvis fers te nullius egentem.” omnis Aristippum decuit color et status et res, temptantem maiora, fere praesentibus aequum,
contra, quem duplici panno patientia velat, mirabor, vitae via si conversa decebit. alter purpureum non exspectabit amictum, quidlibet indutus celeberrima per loca vadet, personamque feret non inconcinnus utramque; alter Mileti textam cane peius et angui vitabit chlamydem, morietur frigore, si non rettuleris pannum. refer et sine vivat ineptus. Res gerere et captos ostendere civibus hostis attingit solium Iovis et caelestia temptat: principibus placuisse viris non ultima laus est. non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum.
sedit qui timuit ne non succederet. “Esto. quid, qui pervenit, fecitne viriliter?” atqui hic est aut nusquam, quod quaerimus, hic onus horret, ut parvis animis et parvo corpore maius; hic subit et perfert, aut virtus nomen inane est, aut decus et pretium recte petit experiens vir. Coram rege sua de paupertate tacentes plus poscente ferent : distat, sumasne pudenter an rapias; atqui rerum caput hoc erat, hic fons. “indotata mihi soror est, paupercula mater, et fundus nec vendibilis nec pascere firmus,” qui dicit, clamat, victum date! succinit alter,
et mihi! dividuo findetur munere quadra, sed tacitus pasci si posset corvus, haberet plus dapis et rixae multo minus invidiaeque. Brundisium comes aut Surrentum ductus amoenum qui queritur salebras et acerbum frigus et imbres, aut cistam effractam et subducta viatica plorat, nota refert meretricis acumina, saepe catellam, saepe periscelidem raptam sibi flentis, uti mox nulla fides damnis verisque doloribus adsit, nec semel irrisus triviis attollere curat fracto crure planum, licet illi plurima manet lacrima, per sanctum iuratus dicat Osirim:
credite, non ludo; crudeles, tollite claudum! quaere peregrinum, vicinia rauca reclamat.
Book 1, Poem 18
Si bene te novi, metues, liberrime Lolli, scurrantis speciem praebere, professus amicum ut matrona meretrici dispar erit atque discolor, infido scurrae distabit amicus, est huic diversum vitio vitium prope maius, asperitas agrestis et inconcinna gravisque, quae se commendat tonsa cute, dentibus atris, dum volt libertas dici mera veraque virtus, virtus est medium vitiorum et utrimque reductum. alter in obsequium plus aequo pronus et imi derisor lecti sic nutum divitis horret, sic iterat voces et verba cadentia tollit,
ut puerum saevo credas dictata magistro reddere vel partis mimum tractare secundas. alter rixatur de lana saepe caprina, propugnat nugis armatus: “scilicet, ut non sit mihi prima fides, et vere quod placet ut non acriter elatrem! pretium aetas altera sordet.” ambigitur quid enim? Castor sciat an Dolichos plus; Brundisium Minuci melius via ducat an Appi. Quem damnosa Venus, quem praeceps alea nudat, gloria quem supra vires et vestit et unguit, quem tenet argenti sitis importuna famesque, quem paupertatis pudor et fuga, dives amicus,
saepe decem vitiis instructior, odit et horret, aut, si non odit, regit ac veluti pia mater plus quam se sapere et virtutibus esse priorem volt et ait prope vera: “meae (contendere noli) stultitiam patiuntur opes; tibi parvola res est. arta decet sanum comitem toga; desine mecum certare.” Eutrapelus, cuicumque nocere volebat, vestimenta dabat pretiosa: “beatus enim iam cum pulchris tunicis sumet nova consilia et spes, dormiet in lucem, scorto postponet honestum officium, nummos alienos pascet, ad imum Thraex erit aut holitoris aget mercede caballum.”
Arcanum neque tu scrutaberis illius umquam, commissumque teges et vino tortus et ira. nec tua laudabis studia aut aliena reprendes, nec, cum venari volet ille, poemata panges. gratia sic fratrum geminorum, Amphionis atque Zethi, dissiluit, donec suspecta severo conticuit lyra. fraternis cessisse putatur moribus Amphion: tu cede potentis amici lenibus imperiis, quotiensque educet in agros Aetolis onerata plagis iumenta canesque, surge et inhumanae senium depone Camenae, cenes ut pariter pulmenta laboribus empta:
Romanis sollemne viris opus, utile famae vitaeque et membris; praesertim cum valeas et vel cursu superare canem vel viribus aprum possis, adde virilia quod speciosius arma non est qui tractet; scis, quo clamore coronae proelia sustineas campestria; denique saevam militiam puer et Cantabrica bella tulisti sub duce qui templis Parthorum signa refigit nunc et, si quid abest. Italis adiudicat armis. Ac ne te retrahas et inexcusabilis absis, quamvis nil extra numerum fecisse modumque curas, interdum nugaris rure paterno:
partitur lintres exercitus, Actia pugna te duce per pueros hostili more refertur; adversarius est frater, lacus Hadria, donec alterutrum velox Victoria fronde coronet, consentire suis studiis qui crediderit te, fautor utroque tuum laudabit pollice ludum. Protinus ut moneam (si quid monitoris eges tu) quid de quoque viro et cui dicas, saepe videto, percontatorem fugito: nam garrulus idem est, nec retinent patulae commissa fideliter aures, et semel emissum volat irrevocabile verbum, non ancilla tuum iecur ulceret ulla puerve
intra marmoreum venerandi limen amici, ne dominus pueri pulchri caraeve puellae munere te parvo beet aut incommodus angat. qualem commendes, etiam atque etiam aspice, ne mox incutiant aliena tibi peccata pudorem, fallimur et quondam non dignum tradimus: ergo quem sua culpa premet, deceptus omitte tueri, ut penitus notum, si temptent crimina, serves tuterisque tuo fidentem praesidio: qui dente Theonino cum circumroditur, ecquid ad te post paulo ventura pericula sentis? nam tua res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet,
et neglecta solent incendia sumere vires. Dulcis inexpertis cultura potentis amici: expertus metuit. tu, dum tua navis in alto est, hoc age, ne mutata retrorsum te ferat aura. oderunt hilarem tristes tristemque iocosi, sedatum celeres, agilem navumque remissi; potores porrecta negantem pocula, quamvis nocturnos iures te formidare tepores. deme supercilio nubem: plerumque modestus occupat obscuri speciem, taciturnus acerbi. Inter cuncta leges et percontabere doctos,
qua ratione queas traducere leniter aevum, num te semper inops agitet vexetque cupido, num pavor et rerum mediocriter utilium spes, virtutem doctrina paret Naturane donet, quid minuat curas, quid te tibi reddat amicum, quid pure tranquillet, honos an dulce lucellum, an secretum iter et fallentis semita vitae. Me quotiens reficit gelidus Digentia rivus, quem Mandela bibit, rugosus frigore pagus, quid sentire putas? quid credis, amice, precari? sit mihi quod nunc est, etiam minus, et mihi vivam quod superest aevi, si quid superesse volunt di;
sit bona librorum et provisae frugis in annum copia, neu fluitem dubiae spe pendulus horae. Sed satis est orare Iovem, qui ponit et aufert, det vitam, det opes; aequum mi animum ipse parabo.
Book 1, Poem 19
Prisco si credis, Maecenas docte, Cratino, nulla placere diu nec vivere carmina possunt, quae scribuntur aquae potoribus. ut male sanos adscripsit Liber Satyris Faunisque poetas, vina fere dulces oluerunt mane Camenae. laudibus arguitur vini vinosus Homerus; Ennius ipse pater numquam nisi potus ad arma prosiluit dicenda. “Forum Putealque Libonis mandabo siccis, adimam cantare severis :” hoc simul edixi, non cessavere poetae nocturno certare mero, putere diurno, quid? si quis voltu torvo ferus et pede nudo
exiguaeque togae simulet textore Catonem, virtutemne repraesentet moresque Catonis? rupit Iarbitam Timagenis aemula lingua, dum studet urbanus tenditque disertus haberi. decipit exemplar vitiis imitabile: quod si pallorem casu, biberent exsangue cuminum. o imitatores, servum pecus, ut mihi saepe bilem, saepe iocum vestri movere tumultus! Libera per vacuum posui vestigia princeps, non aliena meo pressi pede. qui sibi fidet, dux reget examen. Parios ego primus iambos ostendi Latio, numeros animosque secutus
Archilochi, non res et agentia verba Lycamben. ac ne me foliis ideo brevi oribus ornes, quod timui mutare modos et carminis artem, temperat Archilochi Musam pede mascula Sappho, temperat Alcaeus, sed rebus et ordine dispar, nec socerum quaerit, quem versibus oblinat atris, nec sponsae laqueum famoso carmine nectit, hunc ego, non alio dictum prius ore, Latinus volgavi fidicen. iuvat immemorata ferentem ingenuis oculisque legi manibusque teneri. Scire velis, mea cur ingratus opuscula lector laudet ametque domi, premat extra limen iniquus:
non ego ventosae plebis suffragia venor impensis cenarum et tritae munere vestis; non ego, nobilium scriptorum auditor et ultor, grammaticas ambire tribus et pulpita dignor. hinc illae lacrimae. “spissis indigna theatris scripta pudet recitare et nugis addere pondus,” si dixi, rides, ait, “et Iovis auribus ista servas: fidis enim manare poetica mella te solum, tibi pulcher.” ad haec ego naribus uti formido et, luctantis acuto ne secer ungui, displicet iste locus, clamo et diludia posco, ludus enim genuit trepidum certamen et iram,
ira truces inimicitias et funebre bellum.
Book 1, Poem 20
Vertumnum Ianumque, liber, spectare videris, scilicet ut prostes Sosiorum pumice mundus. odisti clavis et grata sigilla pudico; paucis ostendi gemis et communia laudas, non ita nutritus, fuge quo descendere gestis. non erit emisso reditus tibi. “quid miser egi? quid volui?” dices, ubi quis te laeserit, et scis in breve te cogi, cum plenus languet amator. Quod si non odio peccantis desipit augur, carus eris Romae, donec te deserat aetas; contrectatus ubi manibus sordeseere volgi coeperis, aut tineas pasees taciturnus inertis
aut fugies Uticam aut vinctus mitteris Ilerdam. ridebit monitor non exauditus, ut ille qui male parentem in rupes protrusit asellum iratus: quis enim invitum servare laboret? hoc quoque te manet, ut pueros elementa docentem occupet extremis in vicis balba senectus. Cum tibi sol tepidus pluris admoverit auris, me libertino natum patre et in tenui re maiores pinnas nido extendisse loqueris, ut quantum generi demas virtutibus addas; me primis urbis belli placuisse domique, corporis exigui, praecanum. solibus aptum,
irasci celerem, tamen ut placabilis essem. forte meum si quis te percontabitur aevum, me quater undenos sciat implevisse Decembris, collegam Lepidum quo duxit Lollius anno.
Book 2, Poem 1
Cum tot sustineas et tanta negotia solus, res Italas armis tuteris, moribus ornes, legibus emendes, in publica commoda peccem, si longo sermone morer tua tempora, Caesar. Romulus et Liber pater et cum Castore Pollux, post ingentia facta deorum in templa recepti, dum terras hominumque colunt genus, aspera bella componunt, agros assignant, oppida condunt, ploravere suis non respondere favorem speratum meritis, diram qui contudit hydram notaque fatali portenta labore subegit, comperit invidiam supremo fine domari,
urit enim fulgore suo, qui praegravat artis infra se positas; exstinctus amabitur idem. praesenti tibi maturos largimur honores, iurandasque tuum per numen ponimus aras, nil oriturum alias, nil ortum tale fatentes. Sed tuus hic populus sapiens et iustus in uno, te nostris ducibus, te Grais anteferendo, cetera nequaquam simili ratione modoque aestimat et, nisi quae terris semota suisque temporibus defuncta videt, fastidit et odit; sic fautor veterum, ut tabulas peccare vetantis, quas bis quinque viri sanxerunt, foedera regum
vel Gabiis vel cum rigidis aequata Sabinis, pontificum libros, annosa volumina vatum dictitet Albano Musas in monte locutas. Si, quia Graiorum sunt antiquissima quaeque scripta vel optima, Romani pensantur eadem scriptores trutina, non est quod multa loquamur: nil intra est olea, nil extra est in nuce duri; venimus ad summum fortunae, pingimus atque psallimus et luctamur Achivis doctius unctis. Si meliora dies, ut vina, poemata reddit, scire velim, chartis pretium quotus arroget annus. scriptor abhinc annos centum qui decidit, inter
perfectos veteresque referri debet an inter vilis atque novos? excludat iurgia finis. est vetus atque probus, centum qui perficit annos. quid, qui deperiit minor uno mense vel anno, inter quos referendus erit? veteresne poetas, an quos et praesens et postera respuat aetas? “iste quidem veteres inter ponetur honeste, qui vel mense brevi vel toto est iunior anno.” utor permisso, caudaeque pilos ut equinae paulatim vello et demo unum, demo etiam unum, dum cadat elusus ratione ruentis acervi, qui redit in fastos et virtutem aestimat annis
miraturque nihil nisi quod Libitina sacravit. Ennius et sapiens et fortis et alter Homerus, ut critici dicunt, leviter curare videtur, quo promissa cadant et somnia Pythagorea. Naevius in manibus non est et mentibus haeret paene recens? adeo sanctum est vetus omne poema, ambigitur quotiens, uter utro sit prior, aufert Pacuvius docti famam senis, Accius alti, dicitur Afrani toga convenisse Menandro, Plautus ad exemplar Siculi properare Epicharmi, vincere Caecilius gravitate, Terentius arte. hos ediscit et hos arto stipata theatro
spectat Roma potens; habet hos numeratque poetas ad nostrum tempus Livi scriptoris ab aevo. Interdum volgus rectum videt, est ubi peccat, si veteres ita miratur laudatque poetas, ut nihil anteferat, nihil illis comparet, errat. si quaedam nimis antique, si pleraque dure dicere credit eos, ignave multa fatetur, et sapit et mecum facit et Iove iudicat aequo, non equidem insector delendave carmina Livi esse reor, memini quae plagosum mihi parvo Orbilium dictare; sed emendata videri pulchraque et exactis minimum distantia miror,
inter quae verbum emicuit si forte decorum, et si versus paulo concinnior unus et alter, iniuste totum ducit venditque poema. Indignor quicquam reprehendi, non quia crasse compositum illepideve putetur, sed quia nuper, nec veniam antiquis, sed honorem et praemia posci, recte necne crocum floresque perambulet Attae fabula si dubitem, clament periisse pudorem cuncti paene patres, ea cum reprehendere coner, quae gravis Aesopus, quae doctus Roscius egit; vel quia nil rectum, nisi quod placuit sibi, ducunt, vel quia turpe putant parere minoribus, et quae
imberbes didicere senes perdenda fateri. iam Saliare Numae carmen qui laudat et illud, quod mecum ignorat, solus volt scire videri, ingeniis non ille favet plauditque sepultis, nostra sed impugnat, nos nostraque lividus odit. Quod si tam Graecis novitas invisa fuisset quam nobis, quid nunc esset vetus? aut quid haberet quod legeret tereretque viritim publicus usus? Ut primum positis nugari Graecia bellis coepit et in vitium fortuna labier aequa, nunc athletarum studiis, nunc arsit equorum, marmoris aut eboris fabros aut aeris amavit,
suspendit picta voltum mentemque tabella, nunc tibicinibus, nunc est gavisa tragoedis; sub nutrice puella velut si luderet infans, quod cupide petiit, mature plena reliquit. quid placet aut odio est, quod non mutabile credas? hoc paces habuere bonae ventique secundi. Romae dulce diu fuit et sollemne reclusa mane domo vigilare, clienti promere iura, cautos nominibus rectis expendere nummos, maiores audire, minori dicere, per quae crescere res posset, minui damnosa libido. mutavit mentem populus levis et calet uno
scribendi studio; pueri patresque severi fronde comas vincti cenant et carmina dictant. ipse ego, qui nullos me adfirmo scribere versus, invenior Parthis mendacior, et prius orto sole vigil calamum et chartas et scrinia posco, navem agere ignarus navis timet; habrotonum aegro non audet nisi qui didicit dare; quod medicorum est promittunt medici ; tractant fabrilia fabri: scribimus indocti doctique poemata passim. Hic error tamen et levis haec insania quantas virtutes habeat, sic collige, vatis avarus non temere est animus; versus amat, hocstudet unum;
detrimenta, fugas servorum, incendia ridet; non fraudem socio puerove incogitat ullam pupillo; vivit siliquis et pane secundo; militiae quamquam piger et malus, utilis urbi, si das hoc, parvis quoque rebus magna iuvari. os tenerum pueri balbumque poeta figurat, torquet ab obscenis iam nunc sermonibus aurem, mox etiam pectus praeceptis format amicis, asperitatis et invidiae corrector et irae, recte facta refert, orientia tempora notis instruit exemplis, inopem solatur et aegrum, castis cum pueris ignara puella mariti
disceret unde preces, vatem ni Musa dedisset? poscit opem chorus et praesentia numina sentit, caelestis implorat aquas docta prece blandus, avertit morbos, metuenda pericula pellit, impetrat et pacem et locupletem frugibus annum, carmine di superi placantur, carmine Manes. Agricolae prisci, fortes parvoque beati, condita post frumenta levantes tempore festo corpus et ipsum animum spe finis dura ferentem, cum sociis operum et pueris et coniuge fida. Tellurem porco, Silvanum lacte piabant, floribus et vino Genium memorem brevis aevi,
Fescennina per hunc inventa licentia morem versibus alternis opprobria rustica fudit, libertasque recurrentis accepta per annos lusit amabiliter, donec iam saevus apertam in rabiem coepit verti iocus et per honestas ire domos impune minax, doluere cruento dente lacessiti; fuit intactis quoque cura condicione super communi; quin etiam lex poenaque lata, malo quae nollet carmine quemquam describi: vertere modum, formidine fustis ad bene dicendum delectandumque redacti. Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artis
intulit agresti Latio, sic horridus ille defluxit numerus Saturnius, et grave virus munditiae pepulere ; sed in longum tamen aevum manserunt hodieque manent vestigia ruris. serus enim Graecis admovit acumina chartis et post Punica bella quietus quaerere coepit, quid Sophocles et Thespis et Aeschylus utile ferrent. temptavit quoque rem, si digne vertere posset, et placuit sibi, natura sublimis et acer: nam spirat tragicum satis et feliciter audet, sed turpem putat inscite metuitque lituram. Creditur, ex medio quia res accersit, habere
sudoris minimum, sed habet Comoedia tanto plus oneris, quanto veniae minus, adspice, Plautus quo pacto partis tutetur amantis ephebi, ut patris attenti, lenonis ut insidiosi, quantus sit Dossennus edacibus in parasitis, quam non adstricto percurrat pulpita socco. gestit enim nummum in loculos demittere, post hoc securus cadat an recto stet fabula talo. Quem tulit ad scaenam ventoso Gloria curru, exanimat lentus spectator, sedulus inflat: sic leve, sic parvum est, animum quod laudis avarum subruit aut reficit. valeat res ludicra, si me
palma negata macrum, donata reducit opimum. Saepe etiam audacem fugat hoc terretque poetam, quod numero plures, virtute et honore minores, indocti stolidique et depugnare parati, si discordet eques, media inter carmina poscunt aut ursum aut pugiles: his nam plebecula gaudet. verum equitis quoque iam migravit ab aure voluptas omnis ad incertos oculos et gaudia vana. quattuor aut pluris aulaea premuntur in horas, dum fugiunt equitum turmae peditumque catervae; mox trahitur manibus regum fortuna retortis, esseda festinant, pilenta, petorrita, naves,
captivum portatur ebur, captiva Corinthus. si foret in terris, rideret Democritus, seu diversum confusa genus panthera camelo sive elephans albus volgi converteret ora; spectaret populum ludis attentius ipsis ut sibi praebentem nimio spectacula plura: scriptores autem narrare putaret asello fabellam surdo. nam quae pervincere voces evaluere sonum, referunt quem nostra theatra? Garganum mugire putes nemus aut mare Tuscum; tanto cum strepitu ludi spectantur et artes divitiaeque peregrinae, quibus oblitus actor
cum stetit in scaena, concurrit dextera laevae. dixit adhuc aliquid? nil sane. quid placet ergo? lana Tarentino violas imitata veneno. ac ne forte putes me, quae facere ipse recusem, cum recte tractent alii, laudare maligne, ille per extentum funem mihi posse videtur ire poeta, meum qui pectus inaniter angit, irritat, mulcet, falsis terroribus implet, ut magus, et modo me Thebis, modo ponit Athenis. Verum age et his, qui se lectori credere malunt quam spectatoris fastidia ferre superbi, curam redde brevem, si munus Apolline dignum
vis complere libris et vatibus addere calcar, ut studio maiore petant Helicona virentem. Multa quidem nobis facimus mala saepe poetae (ut vineta egomet caedam mea), cum tibi librum sollicito damus aut fesso; cum laedimur, unum si quis amicorum est ausus reprehendere versum; cum loca iam recitata revolvimus irrevocati; cum lamentamur non apparere labores nostros et tenui deducta poemata filo; cum speramus eo rem venturam ut, simul atque carmina rescieris nos fingere, commodus ultro arcessas et egere vetes et scribere cogas.
sed tamen est operae pretium cognoscere, qualis aedituos habeat belli spectata domique Virtus, indigno non committenda poetae. gratus Alexandro regi magno fuit ille Choerilus, incultis qui versibus et male natis rettulit acceptos, regale nomisma, Philippos; sed veluti tractata notam labemque remittunt atramenta, fere scriptores carmine foedo splendida facta linunt, idem rex ille, poema qui tam ridiculum tam care prodigus emit, edicto vetuit, ne quis se praeter Apellen pingeret, aut alius Lysippo duceret aera
fortis Alexandri voltum simulantia. quod si iudicium subtile videndis artibus illud ad libros et ad haec Musarum dona vocares, Boeotum in crasso iurares aere natum. At neque dedecorant tua de se iudicia atque munera, quae multa dantis cum laude tulerunt dilecti tibi Vergilius Variusque poetae, nec magis expressi voltus per aenea signa, quam per vatis opus mores animique virorum clarorum apparent, nec sermones ego mallem repentis per humum quam res componere gestas, terrarumque situs et flumina dicere, et arces
montibus impositas et barbara regna, tuisque auspiciis totum confecta duclla per orbem, claustraque custodem pacis cohibentia Ianum, et formidatam Parthis te principe Romam, si quantum cuperem possem quoque; sed neque parvum carmen maiestas recipit tua, nec meus audet rem temptare pudor quam vires ferre recusent. sedulitas autem stulte quem diligit urget, praecipue cum se numeris commendat et arte; discit enim citius meminitque libentius illud quod quis deridet, quam quod probat et veneratur. nil moror officium quod me gravat, ac neque ficto
in peius voltu proponi cereus usquam nec prave factis decorari versibus opto, ne rubeam pingui donatus munere, et una cum scriptore meo, capsa porrectus operta, deferar in vicum vendentem tus et odores et piper et quidquid chartis amicitur ineptis.
Book 2, Poem 2
Flore, bono claraque fidelis amice Neroni, si quis forte velit puerum tibi vendere natum Tibure vel Gabiis, et tecum sic agat: “hic et candidus et talos a vertice pulcher ad imos fiet eritque tuus nummorum milibus octo, verna ministeriis ad nutus aptus erilis, litterulis Graecis imbutus, idoneus arti cuilibet; argilla quidvis imitaberis uda; quin etiam canet indoctum sed dulce bibenti. multa fidem promissa levant, ubi plenius aequo laudat venalis qui volt extrudere merces, res urget me nulla; meo sum pauper in aere.
nemo hoc mangonum faceret tibi; non temere a me quivis ferret idem. semel hic cessavit et, ut fit, in scalis latuit metuens pendentis habenae: des nummos, excepta nihil te si fuga laedit :” ille ferat pretium poenae securus, opinor, prudens emisti vitiosum; dicta tibi est lex : insequens tamen hunc et lite moraris iniqua? dixi me pigrum proficiscenti tibi, dixi talibus officiis prope mancum, ne mea saevus iurgares ad te quod epistula nulla rediret. quid tum profeci, mecum facientia iura si tamen attemptas? quereris super hoc etiam, quod
exspectata tibi non mittam carmina mendax. Luculli miles collecta viatica multis aerumnis, lassus dum noctu stertit, ad assem perdiderat: post hoc vehemens lupus, et sibi et hosti iratus pariter, ieiunis dentibus acer, praesidium regale loco deiecit, ut aiunt, summe munito et multarum divite rerum, clarus ob id factum donis ornatur honestis, accipit et bis dena super sestertia nummum, forte sub hoc tempus castellum evertere praetor nescio quod cupiens hortari coepit eundem verbis quae timido quoque possent addere mentem:
“i, bone, quo virtus tua te vocat, i pede fausto, grandia laturus meritorum praemia, quid stas? ” post haec ille catus, quantumvis rusticus: “ibit, ibit eo, quo vis, qui zonam perdidit,” inquit. Romae nutriri mihi contigit atque doceri iratus Grais quantum nocuisset Achilles. adiecere bonae paulo plus artis Athenae, scilicet ut vellem curvo dinoscere rectum atque inter silvas Academi quaerere verum. dura sed emovere loco me tempora grato civilisque rudem belli tulit aestus in arma Caesaris Augusti non responsura lacertis.
unde simul primum me dimisere Philippi, decisis humilem pennis inopemque paterni et laris et fundi, paupertas impulit audax ut versus facerem: sed quod non desit habentem quae poterunt umquam satis expurgare cicutae, ni melius dormire putem quam scribere versus? Singula de nobis anni praedantur euntes; eripuere iocos, Venerem, convivia, ludum; tendunt extorquere poemata: quid faciam vis? denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque: carmine tu gaudes, hic delectatur iambis, ille Bioneis sermonibus et sale nigro.
tres mihi convivae prope dissentire videntur, poscentes vario multum diversa palato, quid dem? quid non dem? renuis tu, quod iubet alter; quod petis, id sane est invisum acidumque duobus. Praeter cetera me Romaene poemata censes scribere posse inter tot curas totque labores? hic sponsum vocat, hic auditum scripta, relictis omnibus officiis; cubat hic in colle Quirini, hic extremo in Aventino, visendus uterque; intervalla vides humane commoda. “verum purae sunt plateae, nihil ut meditantibus obstet.” festinat calidus mulis gerulisque redemptor,
torquet nunc lapidem, nunc ingens machina tignum, tristia robustis luctantur funera plaustris, hac rabiosa fugit canis, hac lutulenta ruit sus: i nunc et versus tecum meditare canoros. scriptorum chorus omnis amat nemus et fugit urbem, rite cliens Bacchi somno gaudentis et umbra: tu me inter strepitus nocturnos atque diurnos vis canere et contracta sequi vestigia vatum? ingenium, sibi quod vacuas desumpsit Athenas et studiis annos septem dedit insenuitque libris et curis, statua taciturnius exit plerumque et risu populum quatit: hic ego rerum
fluctibus in mediis et tempestatibus urbis verba lyrae motura sonum conectere digner? Frater erat Romae consulti rhetor, ut alter alterius sermone meros audiret honores, Gracchus ut hic illi, foret huic ut Mucius ille. qui minus argutos vexat furor iste poetas? carmina compono, hic elegos. mirabile visu caelatumque novem Musis opus! adspice primum, quanto cum fastu, quanto molimine circum-spectemus vacuam Romanis vatibus aedem! mox etiam, si forte vacas, sequere et procul audi, quid ferat et qua re sibi nectat uterque coronam.
caedimur et totidem plagis consumimus hostem lento Samnites ad lumina prima duello. discedo Alcaeus puncto illius; ille meo quis? quis nisi Callimachus? si plus adposcere visus, fit Mimnermus et optivo cognomine crescit. multa fero, ut placem genus irritabile vatum, cum scribo et supplex populi suffragia capto; idem finitis studiis et mente recepta obturem patulas impune legentibus auris. Ridentur mala qui componunt carmina; verum gaudent scribentes et se venerantur et ultro, si taceas, laudant quidquid scripsere beati.
at qui legitimum cupiet fecisse poema, cum tabulis animum censoris sumet honesti; audebit, quaecumque parum splendoris habebunt et sine pondere erunt et honore indigna ferentur, verba movere loco, quamvis invita recedant et versentur adhuc intra penetralia Vestae; obscurata diu populo bonus eruet atque proferet in lucem speciosa vocabula rerum, quae priscis memorata Catonibus atque Cethegis nunc situs informis premit et deserta vetustas; adsciscet nova, quae genitor produxerit usus. vemens et liquidus puroque simillimus amni
fundet opes Latiumque beabit divite lingua; luxuriantia compescet, nimis aspera sano levabit cultu, virtute carenti tollet, ludentis speciem dabit et torquebitur, ut qui nunc Satyrum, nunc agrestem Cyclopa movetur. Praetulerim scriptor delirus inersque videri, dum mea delectent mala me vel denique fallant, quam sapere et ringi. fuit haud ignobilis Argis, qui se credebat miros audire tragoedos in vacuo laetus sessor plausorque theatro; cetera qui vitae servaret munia recto more, bonus sane vicinus, amabilis hospes,
comis in uxorem, posset qui ignoscere servis et signo laeso non insanire lagoenae, posset qui rupem et puteum vitare patentem. hic ubi cognatorum opibus curisque refectus expulit elleboro morbum bilemque meraco, et redit ad sese: “pol, me occidistis, amici, non servastis,” ait, “cui sic extorta voluptas et demptus per vim mentis gratissimus error.” Nimirum sapere est abiectis utile nugis, et tempestivum pueris concedere ludum, ac non verba sequi fidibus modulanda Latinis, sed verae numerosque modosque ediscere vitae,
quocirca mecum loquor haec tacitusque recordor: Si tibi nulla sitim finiret copia lymphae, narrares medicis: quod, quanto plura parasti, tanto plura cupis, nulline faterier audes? si volnus tibi monstrata radice vel herba non fieret levius, fugeres radice vel herba proficiente nihil curarier: audieras, cui rem di donarent, illi decedere pravam stultitiam; et cum sis nihilo sapientior ex quo plenior es, tamen uteris monitoribus isdem? At si divitiae prudentem reddere possent, si cupidum timidumque minus te, nempe ruberes,
viveret in terris te si quis avari or uno. si proprium est, quod quis libra mercatus et aere est, quaedam, si credis consultis, mancipat usus; qui te pascit ager tuus est, et vilicus Orbi, cum segetes occat tibi mox frumenta daturas, te dominum sentit, das nummos, accipis uvam, pullos, ova, cadum temeti: nempe modo isto paulatim mercaris agrum, fortasse trecentis aut etiam supra nummorum milibus emptum. quid refert, vivas numerato nuper an olim? emptor Aricini quondam Veientis et arvi emptum cenat holus, quamvis aliter putat; emptis
sub noctem gelidam lignis calefactat aënum; sed vocat usque suum, qua populus adsita certis limitibus vicina refugit iurgia; tamquam sit proprium quicquam, puncto quod mobilis horae nunc prece, nunc pretio, nunc vi, nunc morte suprema permutet dominos et cedat in altera iura. sic quia perpetuus nulli datur usus, et heres heredem alterius velut unda supervenit undam, quid vici prosunt aut horrea? quidve Calabris saltibus adiecti Lucani, si metit Orcus grandia cum parvis, non exorabilis auro? Gemmas, marmor, ebur, Tyrrhena sigilla, tabellas,
argentum, vestes Gaetulo murice tinctas sunt qui non habeant, est qui non curat habere, cur alter fratrum cessare et ludere et ungui praeferat Herodis palmetis pinguibus, alter dives et importunus ad umbram lucis ab ortu silvestrem flammis et ferro mitiget agrum, scit Genius, natale comes qui temperat astrum, naturae deus humanae, mortalis in unum quodque caput, voltu mutabilis, albus et ater. utar et ex modico, quantum res poscet, acervo tollam, nec metuam quid de me iudicet heres, quod non plura datis invenerit; et tamen idem
scire volam, quantum simplex hilarisque nepoti discrepet et quantum discordet parcus avaro. distat enim, spargas tua prodigus, an neque sumptum invitus facias neque plura parare labores, ac potius, puer ut festis Quinquatribus olim, exiguo gratoque fruaris tempore raptim, pauperies immunda domus procul absit : ego, utrum nave ferar magna an parva, ferar unus et idem. non agimur tumidis velis Aquilone secundo: non tamen adversis aetatem ducimus Austris, viribus, ingenio, specie, virtute, loco, re extremi primorum, extremis usque priores.
Non es avarus: abi. quid? cetera iam simul isto cum vitio fugere ? caret tibi pectus inani ambitione? caret mortis formidine et ira? somnia, terrores magicos, miracula, sagas, nocturnos lemures portentaque Thessala rides? natalis grate numeras? ignoscis amicis? lenior et melior fis accedente senecta? quid te exempta iuvat spinis de pluribus una? vivere si recte nescis, decede peritis, lusisti satis, edisti satis atque bibisti: tempus abire tibi est, ne potum largius aequo rideat et pulset lasciva decentius aetas.
Ars Poetica
Contents — 13 sections
Section 1
If a painter should wish to unite a horse's neck to a human head, and spread a variety of plumage over limbs [of different animals] taken from every part [of nature], so that what is a beautiful woman in the upper part terminates unsightly in an ugly fish below; could you, my friends, refrain from laughter, were you admitted to such a sight Believe, ye Pisos, the book will be perfectly like such a picture, the ideas of which, like a sick man's dreams, are all vain and fictitious: so that neither head nor foot can correspond to any one form. "Poets and painters [you will say] have ever had equal authority for attempting any thing." We are conscious of this, and this privilege we demand and allow in turn: but not to such a degree, that the tame should associate with the savage; nor that serpents should be coupled with birds, lambs with tigers.
All that our poet says here may be referred, in general, to three heads, the fable, the manners, and the diction. We should take notice that this piece particularly regards epic and dramatic poetry, and that our author only occasionally mentions any other kind. The most important precept for the composition of a poem is unity and simplicity of design. There should be only one action, to which all the incidents ought to refer; and this point of perfection, every regular work requires. To show the necessity of this rule, Horace compares an irregular poem to pictures formed by a wild assortment of many parts entirely unlike each other. Every part, considered in itself, may have its proper, natural perfection, while their union produces nothing but what is monstrous and ridiculous. FRAN. The critic's rules must be taken either, 1. from the general standing laws of composition; or, 2. from the peculiar ones, appropriated to the kind. Now the direction to be fetched from the former of these sources will of course precede, as well on account of its superior dignity, as that the mind itself delights to descend from universals to the consideration of particulars. Agreeably to this rule of nature, the poet, having to correct, in the Roman drama, these three points, 1. a misconduct in the disposition; 2. an abuse of language; and, 3. a disregard of the peculiar characters and colorings of its different species, hath chosen to do this on principles of universal nature; which, while they include the case of the drama, at the same time extend to poetic composition at large. These prefatory, universal observations being delivered, he then proceeds, with advantage, to the second source of this art, viz., the consideration of the laws and rules peculiar to the kind.
But Orelli more rightly treats collatis membris as the ablative absolute.
In pompous introductions, and such as promise a great deal, it generally happens that one or two verses of purple patch-work, that may make a great show, are tagged on; as when the grove and the altar of Diana and the meandering of a current hastening through pleasant fields, or the river Rhine, or the rainbow is described. But here there was no room for these [fine things]: perhaps, too, you know how to draw a cypress: but what is that to the purpose, if he, who is painted for the given price, is [to be represented as] swimming hopeless out of a shipwreck? A large vase at first was designed: why, as the wheel revolves, turns out a little pitcher? In a word, be your subject what it will, let it be merely simple and uniform.
These preparatory observations, concerning the laws of poetic composition at large, have been thought to glance more particularly at the epic poetry which was not improper: for, 1. the drama which he was about to criticise, had its rise and origin from the epos. Thus we are told by the great critic, that Homer was the first who invented dramatic imitations μόνοσ . 2. The several censures, here pointed at the epic, would bear still more directly against the tragic poem; it being more glaringly inconsistent with the genius of the drama to admit of foreign and digressive ornaments, than of the extended, episodical epopaeia. For both these reasons, it was altogether pertinent to the poet's purpose, in a criticism on the drama, to expose the vicious practice of the epic models. Though, to preserve the unity of his piece, and for a further reason (see note on v. 1), he hath artfully done this under the cover of general criticism.
Boughs of cypress were carried in funeral processions, and placed before the houses of the great, upon particular occasions of sorrow, Et non plebeios luctus testata cupressus. From hence, perhaps, this tree was usually drawn in votive tablets; in pictures carried by beggars, to excite charity; and in those used by lawyers in courts of justice, to raise the compassion of the judges, by representing the distresses of their clients. A painter might, by frequent practice, excel in drawing a tree for which there was such demand; and he therefore absurdly determines to show his skill upon all occasions, even by painting it in the middle of the ocean, and making it overshadow the storm. The commentators understand this passage in a different manner.
The great majority of us poets, father, and youths worthy such a father, are misled by the appearance of right. I labor to be concise, I become obscure: nerves and spirit fail him, that aims at the easy: one, that pretends to be sublime, proves bombastical: he who is too cautious and fearful of the storm, crawls along the ground: he who wants to vary his subject in a marvelous manner, paints the dolphin in the woods, the boar in the sea. The avoiding of an error leads to a fault, if it lack skill.
The word prodigialiter apparently refers to that fictitious monster, under which the poet allusively shadows out the idea of absurd and inconsistent composition. The application, however, differs in this, that, whereas the monster, there painted, was intended to expose the extravagance of putting together incongruous parts, without any reference to a whole, this prodigy is designed to characterize a whole, but deformed by the ill-judged position of its parts. The former is like a monster, whose several members as of right belonging to different animals, could by no disposition be made to constitute one consistent animal. The other, like a landscape which hath no objects absolutely irrelative, or irreducible to a whole, but which a wrong position of the parts only renders prodigious. Send the boar to the woods, and the dolphin to the waves; and the painter might show them both on the same canvas.
Each is a violation of the law of unity, and a real monster: the one, because it contains an assemblage of natural incoherent parts; the other, because its parts, though in themselves coherent, are misplaced and disjointed.
A statuary about the Aemilian school shall of himself, with singular skill, both express the nails, and imitate in brass the flexible hair; unhappy yet in the main, because he knows not how to finish a complete piece. I would no more choose to be such a one as this, had I a mind to compose any thing, than to live with a distorted nose, [though] remarkable for black eyes and jetty hair.
Unus = praeter caeteros, melius quam reliqui omnes.
Ye who write, make choice of a subject suitable to your abilities; and revolve in your thoughts a considerable time what your strength declines, and what it is able to support. Neither elegance of style, nor a perspicuous disposition, shall desert the man, by whom the subject matter is chosen judiciously.
Literally, "shoulders," a phrase derived from wrestlers. The reading before Bentley was imus.
This, or I am mistaken, will constitute the merit and beauty of arrangement, that the poet just now say what ought just now to be said, put off most of his thoughts, and waive them for the present.
Section 44
In the choice of his words, too, the author of the projected poem must be delicate and cautious, he must embrace one and reject another: you will express yourself eminently well, if a dexterous combination should give an air of novelty to a well-known word. If it happen to be necessary to explain some abstruse subjects by new invented terms; it will follow that you must frame words never heard of by the old-fashioned Cethegi: and the license will be granted, if modestly used: and new and lately-formed words will have authority, if they descend from a Greek source, with a slight deviation. But why should the Romans grant to Plautus and Caecilius a privilege denied to Virgil and Varius? Why should I be envied, if I have it in my power to acquire a few words, when the language of Cato and Ennius has enriched our native tongue, and produced new names of things It has been, and ever will be, allowable to coin a word marked with the stamp in present request. As leaves in the woods are changed with the fleeting years; the earliest fall off first: in this manner words perish with old age, and those lately invented flourish and thrive, like men in the time of youth. We, and our works, are doomed to death: whether Neptune, admitted into the continent, defends our fleet from the north winds, a kingly work; or the lake, for a long time unfertile and fit for oars, now maintains its neighboring cities and feels the heavy plow; or the river, taught to run in a more convenient channel, has changed its course which was so destructive to the fruits. Mortal works must perish: much less can the honor and elegance of language be long-lived. Many words shall revive, which now have fallen off; and many which are now in esteem shall fall off, if it be the will of custom, in whose power is the decision and right and standard of language.
Cinctutis. Having the tunic tightened by the cinctus, or wearing the cinctus instead of the tunic, as appears to have been the custom of the ancient Romans. This was a vest which passed round the waist, and extended down to the feet. That it was an ancient vesture may appear from its being used by the Luperci. Comp. . As it did not embarrass the motion of the arms, even after the tunic became part of the dress, it was sometimes substituted for it by those who had occasion to use much bodily exertion. Hence cinctutis is supposed by some to have a meaning here similar to that of succinctus, "active, industrious." Others explain the word as referring to that arrangement of the toga called cinctus Gabinus.
Agrippa opened a communication between the Lucrine and Avernian Lakes in 717, and built a magnificent haven there, which he named Portius Julius, in honor of Augustus, who was at that time only called Julius Octavianus.
The Scholiast informs us, that Agrippa opened a canal to receive the waters of the Tiber, which had overflowed the country.
This revival of old words is one of those niceties in composition, not to be attempted by any but great masters. It may be done two ways: 1. by restoring such terms as are grown entirely obsolete; or 2. by selecting out of those which have still a currency, and are not quite laid aside, such as are most forcible and expressive. These choice words, among such as are still in use, I take to be those which are employed by the old writers in some peculiarly strong and energetic sense, yet so as with good advantage to be copied by the moderns, without appearing barbarous or affected. (See ) The other use of old terms, i. e. when become obsolete, he says, must be made parce, more sparingly.
Section 73
Quemnam te esse dicam? qui tarda in senectute,
Section 99
It is not enough that poems be beautiful; let them be tender and affecting, and bear away the soul of the auditor whithersoever they please. As the human countenance smiles on those that smile, so does it sympathize with those that weep. If you would have me weep you must first express the passion of grief yourself; then, Telephus or Peleus, your misfortunes hurt me: if you pronounce the parts assigned you ill, I shall either fall asleep or laugh.
Non satis est pulchra , etc. Bentley objects to pulchra because this, he says, is a general term including under it every species of beauty, and therefore that of dulcis or the affecting. As if general terms were not frequently restrained and determined to a peculiar sense by the context. But the great critic did not sufficietly attend to the connection, which, as F. Robertellus, in his paraphrase on the epistle, well observes, stands thus: "It is not enough, that tragedies have that kind of beauty which arises from a pomp and splendor of diction, they must also be pathetic or affecting."
Pathetic accents suit a melancholy countenance; words full of menace, an angry one; wanton expressions, a sportive look; and serious matter, an austere one. For nature forms us first within to every modification of circumstances; she delights or impels us to anger, or depresses us to the earth and afflicts us with heavy sorrow: then expresses those emotions of the mind by the tongue, its interpreter. If the words be discordant to the station of the speaker, the Roman knights and plebians will raise an immoderate laugh. It will make a wide difference, whether it be Davus that speaks, or a hero; a man well-stricken in years, or a hot young fellow in his bloom; and a matron of distinction, or an officious nurse; a roaming merchant, or the cultivator of a verdant little farm; a Colchian, or an Assyrian; one educated at Thebes, or one at Argos.
You, that write, either follow tradition, or invent such fables as are congruous to themselves. If as poet you have to represent the renowned Achilles; let him be indefatigable, wrathful, inexorable, courageous, let him deny that laws were made for him, let him arrogate every thing to force of arms Let Medea be fierce and untractable, Ino an object of pity, Ixion perfidious, Io wandering, Orestes in distress.
The connection lies thus: language must agree with character; character with fame, or at least with itself.
Section 125
If you offer to the stage any thing unattempted, and venture to form a new character; let it be preserved to the last such as it set out at the beginning, and be consistent with itself. It is difficult to write with propriety on subjects to which all writers have a common claim; and you with more prudence will reduce the Iliad into acts, than if you first introduce arguments unknown and never treated of before. A public story will become your own property, if you do not dwell upon the whole circle of events, which is paltry and open to every one; nor must you be so faithful a translator, as to take the pains of rendering [the original] word for word; nor by imitating throw yourself into straits, whence either shame or the rules of your work may forbid you to retreat. Nor must you make such an exordium, as the Cyclic writer of old: "I will sing the fate of Priam, and the noble war." What will this boaster produce worthy of all this gaping? The mountains are in labor, a ridiculous mouse will be brought forth. How much more to the purpose he, who attempts nothing improperly "Sing for me, my muse, the man who, after the time of the destruction of Troy, surveyed the manners and cities of many men." He meditates not [to produce] smoke from a flash, but out of smoke to elicit fire, that he may thence bring forth his instances of the marvelous with beauty, [such as] Antiphates, Scylla, the Cyclops, and Charybdis. Nor does he date Diomede's return from Meleager's death, nor trace the rise of the Trojan war from [Leda's] eggs: he always hastens on to the event; and hurries away his reader in the midst of interesting circumstances, no otherwise than as if they were [already] known; and what he despairs of, as to receiving a polish from his touch, he omits; and in such a manner forms his fictions, so intermingles the false with the true, that the middle is not inconsistent with the beginning, nor the end with the middle. Do you attend to what I, and the public in my opinion, expect from you [as a dramatic writer]. If you are desirous of an applauding spectator, who will wait for [the falling of] the curtain, and till the chorus calls out "your plaudits"; the manners of every age must be marked by you, and a proper decorum assigned to men's varying dispositions and years. The boy, who is just able to pronounce his words, and prints the ground with a firm tread, delights to play with his fellows, and contracts and lays aside anger without reason, and is subject to change every hour. The beardless youth, his guardian being at length discharged, joys in horses, and dogs, and the verdure of the sunny Campus Martius; pliable as wax to the bent of vice, rough to advisers, a slow provider of useful things, prodigal of his money, high-spirited, and amorous, and hasty in deserting the objects of his passion. [After this,] our inclinations being changed, the age and spirit of manhood seeks after wealth, and [high] connections, is subservient to points of honor; and is cautious of committing any action, which he would subsequently be industrious to correct. Many inconveniences encompass a man in years; either because he seeks [eagerly] for gain, and abstains from what he has gotten, and is afraid to make use of it; or because he transacts every thing in a timorous and dispassionate manner, dilatory, slow in hope, remiss, and greedy of futurity. Peevish, querulous, a panegyrist of former times when he was a boy, a chastiser and censurer of his juniors. Our advancing years bring many advantages along with them. Many our declining ones take away. That the parts [therefore] belong ing to age may not be given to youth, and those of a man to a boy, we must dwell upon those qualities which are joined and adapted to each person's age.
The rule is, as appears from the reason of the thing, and from Aristotle, "Let a uniformity of character be preserved, or at least a consistency": i. e. either let the manners be exactly the same from the beginning to the end of the play, as those of Medea, for instance, and Orestes; or, if any change be necessary, let it be such as may consist with, and be easily reconciled to, the manners formerly attributed, as is seen in the case of Electra and Iphigenia.
Difficile est proprie communia dicere. Lambin's comment is, Communia hoc loco appellat Horatius argumenta fabularum a nullo adhuc tractata: et ita, quae cuivis exposita sunt et in medio quadammodo posit, quasi vacua et a nemino occupata. And that this is the true meaning of communia is evidently fixed by the words ignota indictaque, which are explanatory of it.
Publica materies is just the reverse of what the poet had before styled communia: the latter meaning such subjects or characters as, though by their nature left in common to all, had yet, in fact, not been occupied by any writer; the former, those which had already been made public by occupation. In order to acquire a property in subjects of this sort, the poet directs us to observe the three following cautions: 1. Not to follow the trite, obvious round of the original work; i. e. not servilely and scrupulously to adhere to its plan of method. 2. Not to be translators, instead of imitators, i. e. if it shall be thought fit to imitate more expressly any part of the original, to do it with freedom and spirit, and without a slavish attachment to the mode of expression. 3. Not to adopt any particular incident that may occur in the proposed model, which either decency or the nature of the work would reject.
Scriptor cyclicus. Some author of the cyclus, described above, 1, 132. The chief Cyclic poems are the following: 1. τὰ Κύπρια, of Stasinus or Hegesinus. 2. The Αἰθιοπίσ of Arctinus. 3. The Ἰλιὰσ μικρά, by Lesches. 4. The Ἰλίου πέρσισ of Arctinus. 5. The Νόστοι attributed to Agias. 6. The Τηλεγονία of Eugammon. These were collected, more for the sake of philology than poetry, by the Alexandrine grammarians.
Quaerit = quaestus facit, as in In medium quaerebant.
He returns to his first division of human life into two parts. "Anni venientes," the years preceding manhood; "anni recedentes," the years going back toward old age and death. The ancients reckoned the former by addition: the latter by subtraction. The French have an expression like this of "recedentes anni." They say, "il est sur son retour," "he is upon his return," when a person is declining in years.
Semper in adjunctis. "Adjuncta aevo," every thing which attends age; "apta aevo," every thing proper to it.
An action is either represented on the stage, or being done elsewhere is there related. The things which enter by the ear affect the mind more languidly, than such as are submitted to the faithful eyes, and what a spectator presents to himself. You must not, however, bring upon the stage things fit only to be acted behind the scenes: and you must take away from view many actions, which elegant descrition may soon after deliver in presence [of the spectators]. Let not Medea murder her sons before the people; nor the execrable Atreus openly dress human entrails: nor let Progne be metamorphosed into a bird, Cadmus into a serpent. Whatever you show to me in this manner, not able to give credit to, I detest.
Facundia praesens. The recital of an actor present, which ought to be made with all the pathetic; facundia; or a recital instead of the action, facundia facti vicaria, quae rem quasi oculis praesentem sistit.
Section 189
Indoctus quid enim saperet liberque laborum, Rusticus urbane confusus, turpis honesto?
Section 220
Indoctus quid enim saperet liberque laborum Rusticus urbane confusus, turpis honesto eo quod Illecebris erat, et grata novitate morandus Spectator, functusque sacris, et potus, et exlex.
Section 275
Thespis is said to have invented a new kind of tragedy, and to have carried his pieces about in carts, which [certain strollers], who had their faces besmeared with lees of wine, sang and acted. After him Aeschylus, the inventor of the vizard mask and decent robe, laid the stage over with boards of a tolerable size, and taught to speak in lofty tone, and strut in the buskin. To these succeeded the old comedy, not without considerable praise: but its personal freedom degenerated into excess and violence, worthy to be regulated by law; a law was made accordingly, and the chorus, the right of abusing being taken away, disgracefully became silent.
Thespis. A native of Icarius, a village in Attica, to whom the invention of the drama has been ascribed. Before his time there were no performers except the chorus. He led the way to the formation of a dramatic plot and language, by directing a pause in the performance of the chorus, during which he came forward and recited with gesticulation a mythological story. Comp. note . The date is thus given by the Par. Chron. Boeckh.: Ἀφ' οὖ Θέσπισ ὁ ποιητὴσ ἐφάνη, πρῶτοσ ὃσ ἑδίδαξε δρᾶμα ἐν ἄστει καὶ ἐτέθη ὁ τράγοσ ἆθλον ἔτη ΗΗΠΔΔ, ἄρχοντοσ Ἀθήνησιε Quod ad annum attinet, consistendum sane in Olymp. 61, eiusque tribus prioribus annis. Boeckh. in Chr.
Our poets have left no species [of the art] unattempted; nor have those of them merited the least honor, who dared to forsake the footsteps of the Greeks, and celebrate domestic facts; whether they have instructed us in tragedy, or comedy. Nor would Italy be raised higher by valor and feats of arms, than by its language, did not the fatigue and tediousness of using the file disgust every one of our poets. Do you, the descendants of Pompilius, reject that poem, which many days and many a blot have not ten times subdued to the most perfect accuracy. Because Democritus believes that genius is more successful than wretched art, and excludes from Helicon all poets who are in their senses, a great number do not care to part with their nails or beard, frequent places of solitude, shun the baths. For he will acquire, [he thinks,] the esteem and title of a poet, if he neither submits his head, which is not to be cured by even three Anticyras, to Licinius the barber. What an unlucky fellow am I, who am purged for the bile in spring-time! Else nobody would compose better poems; but the purchase is not worth the expense. Therefore I will serve instead of a whetstone, which though not able of itself to cut, can make steel sharp: so I, who can write no poetry myself, will teach the duty and business [of an author]; whence he may be stocked with rich materials; what nourishes and forms the poet; what gives grace, what not; what is the tendency of excellence, what that of error.
Vel qui praetextas, vel qui docuere togatas. There hath been much difficulty here in settling a very plain point. The question is, whether praetextas means tragedy or a species of comedy. The answer is very clear from Diomedes, whose account is, in short, this: "Togatae is a general term for all sorts of Latin plays adopting the Roman customs and dresses; as Palliatae is for all adopting the Grecian. Of the Togatae, the several species are, 1. Praetexta or praetextata, in which the Roman kings or generals were introduced, and is so called because the praetexta was the distinguishing habit of such persons; 2. Tabernaria, frequently called Togata, though that word, as we have seen, had properly a larger sense. 3. Atellana. 4. Planipedis." He next marks the difference of these several sorts of the Togatae from the similar corresponding ones of the Palliatae, which are these: 1. "Tragoedia, absolutely so styled. 2. Comoedia. 3. Satyri. 4. μῖμοσ." (These four sorts of the Palliatae were also probably in use at Rome; certainly, at least, the two former.) It appears then from thence, that praetextata was properly the Roman tragedy. But he adds, "Togata praetextata a tragoedia differt" and it is also said, "to be only like tragedy, tragoediae similis." What is this difference and this likeness? The explanation follows. "Heroes are introduced into tragedy, such as Orestes, Chryses, and the like. In the praetextata, Brutus, Decius, or Marcellus." So then we see when Grecian characters were introduced, it was called simply tragoedia; when Roman, praetextata; yet both, tragedies. The sole difference lay in the persons being foreign or domestic. The correspondence in every other respect was exact. The same is observed of the Roman comedy; when it adopted Greek characters, it was called comoedia; when Roman, togata tabernaria, or togata, simply.
Section 309
To have good sense, is the first principle and fountain of writing well. The Socratic papers will direct you in the choice of your subjects; and words will spontaneously accompany the subject, when it is well conceived. He who has learned what he owes to his country, and what to his friends; with what affection a parent, a brother, and a stranger, are to be loved; what is the duty of a senator, what of a judge; what the duties of a general sent out to war; he, [I say,] certainly knows how to give suitable attributes to every character. I should direct the learned imitator to have a regard to the mode of nature and manners, and thence draw his expressions to the life. Sometimes a play, that is showy with common-places, and where the manners are well marked, though of no elegance, without force or art, gives the people much higher delight and more effectually commands their attention, than verse void of matter, and tuneful trifles. To the Greeks, covetous of nothing but praise, the muse gave genius; to the Greeks the power of expressing themselves in round periods. The Roman youth learn by long computation to subdivide a pound into an hundred parts. Let the son of Albinus tell me, if from five ounces one be subtracted, what remains? He would have said the third of a pound. Bravely done! you will be able to take care of your own affairs. An ounce is added: what will that be? Half a pound.
Truth, in poetry, means such an expression as conforms to the general nature of things; falsehood, that which, however suitable to the particular instance in view, doth yet not correspond to such general nature. To attain to this truth of expression in dramatic poetry two things are prescribed: 1. A diligent study of the Socratic philosophy; and, 2, A masterly knowledge and comprehension of human life. The first, because it is the peculiar distinction of this school "ad veritatem vitae propius accedere." And the latter as rendering the imitation more universally striking.
Interdum speciosa locis , etc. The poet's science in ethics will principally show itself in these two ways: 1. in furnishing proper matter for general reflection on human life and conduct; and, 2, in a due adjustment of the manners. By the former of these two applications of moral knowledge a play becomes, what the poet calls, speciosa locis, i. e. (for the term is borrowed from the rhetoricians) striking in its moral topics: a merit of the highest importance on the ancient stage, and which, if prudently employed in subserviency to the latter more essential requisite of the drama, a just expression of the manners, will deserve to be so reputed at all times, and on every theater. The danger is, lest a studied, declamatory moral, affectedly introduced, or indulged to access, should prejudice the natural exhibition of the characters, and so convert the image of human life into an unaffecting, philosophical dialogue.
Moratque recta fabula , etc. This judgment of the poet, in regard of the superior efficacy of manners, is generally thought to be contradicted by Aristotle; who, in treating this subject, observes, "that let a piece be ever so perfect in the manners, sentiments, and style, it will not so well answer the end and purpose of tragedy, as if defective in these, and finished only in the fable and composition." M. Dacier thinks to clear this matter by saying, "that what Aristotle remarks holds true of tragedy, but not of comedy, of which alone Horace is here speaking." But granting that the artificial contexture of the fable is less necessary to the perfection of comedy than of tragedy, yet, the tenor of this whole division, exhorting to correctness in general, makes it unquestionable that Horace must intend to include both. The case, as it seems to me, is this. The poet is not comparing the respective importance of the fable and manners, but of the manners and diction, under this word including also numbers. He gives them the preference not to a good plot, nor even to fine sentiments, but to versus inopes rerum nugaeque canorae . The art he speaks of, is the art of expressing the thoughts properly, gracefully, and harmoniously: the pondus is the force and energy of good versification. Venus is a general term including both kinds of beauty. Fabula does not mean the fable (in distinction from the rest), but simply a play.
When this sordid rust and hankering after wealth has once tainted their minds, can we expect that such verses should be made as are worthy of being anointed with the oil of cedar, and kept in the well-polished cypress?
Aerugo et cura peculi cum semel imbuerit , etc. This love of gain, to which Horace imputes the imperfect state of the Roman poetry, hath been uniformly assigned, by the wisdom of ancient times, as the specific bane of arts and letters. Longinus and Quinctilian account, from hence, for the decay of eloquence, Galen of physic, Petronius of painting, and Pliny of the whole circle of the liberal arts. For being, as Longinus calls it, νόσημα μικροποῖον, a disease which narrows and contracts the soul, it must, of course, restrain the generous efforts and expansions of genius; cramp the free powers and energies of the mind, and render it unapt to open itself to wide views, and to the projection of great, extensive designs. It is so in its consequences. For, as one says elegantly, when the passion of avarice grows general in a country, the temples of honor are soon pulled down, and all men's sacrifices are made to fortune.
To preserve their books, the ancients rubbed them with oil of cedar, and kept them in cases of cypress, because these kinds of wood were not liable to corruption.
Poets wish either to profit or to delight; or to deliver at once both the pleasures and the necessaries of life. Whatever precepts you give, be concise; that docile minds may soon comprehend what is said, and faithfully retain it. All superfluous instructions flow from the too full memory. Let whatever is imagined for the sake of entertainment, have as much likeness to truth as possible; let not your play demand belief for whatever [absurdities] it is inclinable [to exhibit]: nor take out of a witch's belly a living child that she had dined upon. The tribes of the seniors rail against every thing that is void of edification: the exalted knights disregard poems which are austere. He who joins the instructive with the agreeable, carries off every vote, by delighting and at the same time admonishing the reader. This book gains money for the Sosii; this crosses the sea, and continues to its renowned author a lasting duration.
Omne tulit punctum. Alluding to the manner of voting at the comitia by putting a point over the name of a candidate.
Section 347
Yet there are faults, which we should be ready to pardon: for neither does the string [always] form the sound which the hand and conception [of the performer] intends, but very often returns a sharp note when he demands a flat; nor will the bow always hit whatever mark it threatens. But when there is a great majority of beauties in a poem, I will not be offended with a few blemishes, which either inattention has dropped, or human nature has not sufficiently provided against. What therefore [is to be determined in this matter]? As a transcriber, if he still commits the same fault though he has been reproved, is without excuse; and the harper who always blunders on the same string, is sure to be laughed at; so he who is excessively deficient becomes another Choerilus; whom, when I find him tolerable in two or three places, I wonder at with laughter; and at the same time am I grieved whenever honest Homer grows drowsy But it is allowable, that sleep should steal upon [the progress of] a long work.
As is painting, so is poetry: some pieces will strike you more if you stand near, and some, if you are at a greater distance: one loves the dark; another, which is not afraid of the critic's subtle judgment, chooses to be seen in the light; the one has pleased once the other will give pleasure if ten times repeated. 0 ye elder of the youths, though you are framed to a right judgment by your father's instructions, and are wise in yourself, yet take this truth along with you, [and] remember it; that in certain things a medium and tolerable degree of eminence may be admitted: a counselor and pleader at the bar of the middle rate is far removed from the merit of eloquent Messala, nor has so much knowledge of the law as Casselius Aulus, but yet he is in request; [but] a mediocrity in poets neither gods, nor men, nor [even] the booksellers' shops have endured. As at an agreeable entertainment discordant music, and muddy perfume, and poppies mixed with Sardinian honey give offense, because the supper might have passed without them; so poetry, created and invented for the delight of our souls, if it comes short ever so little of the summit, sinks to the bottom.
This judgment, however severe it may seem, is according to the practice of the best critics. We have a remarkable instance in the case of Apollonius Rhodius, who though, in the judgment of Quinctilian, the author of no contemptible poem, yet on account of that equal mediocrity which every where prevails in him, was struck out of the list of good writers by such sovereign judges of poetical merit as Aristophanes and Aristarchus. ()
Sardinia was full of bitter herbs, from whence the honey was bitter. White poppy seed, roasted, was mingled with honey by the ancients.
He who does not understand the game, abstains from the weapons of the Campus Martius: and the unskillful in the tennis-ball, the quoit, and the troques keeps himself quiet; lest the crowded ring should raise a laugh at his expense: notwithstanding this, he who knows nothing of verses presumes to compose. Why not! He is free-born, and of a good family; above all, he is registered at an equestrian sum of moneys, and clear from every vice. You, [I am persuaded,] will neither say nor do any thing in opposition to Minerva: such is your judgment, such your disposition. But if ever you shall write any thing, let it be submitted to the ears of Metius [Tarpa], who is a judge, and your father's, and mine; and let it be suppressed till the ninth year, your papers being laid up within your own custody. You will have it in your power to blot out what you have not made public: a word once sent abroad can never return.
Invita … Minerva . , explains this phrase: "adversante et repugnante natura." And yet the meaning here is not very evident. Does Horace say that young Piso will neither do nor say any thing contrary to his natural endowments; implying that he will not attempt poetry, as his abilities are inadequate? Or does he mean to compliment him on his capabilities, by saying that there is nothing which he will attempt, in which genius will not favor and assist him? The latter appears to be the correct interpretation. Thus the obvious meaning of invita Minerva is — Minerva refusing her assistance, or discountenancing the attempt; and the interpretation-natural endowments refusing their assistance, or marring the effort.
Section 391
Orpheus, the priest and interpreter of the gods, deterred the savage race of men from slaughters and inhuman diet; hence said to tame tigers and furious lions: Amphion too, the builder of the Theban wall, was said to give the stones motion with the sound of his lyre, and to lead them whithersoever he would, by engaging persuasion. This was deemed wisdom of yore, to distinguish the public from private weal; things sacred from things profane; to prohibit a promiscuous commerce between the sexes; to give laws to married people; to plan out cities; to engrave laws on [tables of] wood. Thus honor accrued to divine poets, and their songs. After these, excellent Homer and Tyrtaeus animated the manly mind to martial achievements with their verses. Oracles were delivered in poetry, and the economy of life pointed out, and the favor of sovereign princes was solicited by Pierian strains, games were instituted, and a [cheerful] period put to the tedious labors of the day; [this I remind you of,] lest haply you should be ashamed of the lyric muse, and Apollo the god of song.
i. e. strains of the muses, surnamed Pierides
It has been made a question, whether good poetry be derived from nature or from art. For my part, I can neither conceive what study can do without a rich [natural] vein, nor what rude genius can avail of itself: so much does the one require the assistance of the other, and so amicably do they conspire [to produce the same effect]. He who is industrious to reach the wished-for goal, has done and suffered much when a boy; he has sweated and shivered with cold; he has abstained from love and wine; he who sings the Pythian strains, was first a learner, and in awe of a master. But [in poetry] it is now enough for a man to say of himself:— "I make admirable verses: a murrain seize the hindmost: it is scandalous for me to be outstripped, and fairly to acknowledge that I am ignorant of that which I never learned."
Pythia cantica , songs like the hymns which were sung in honor of Apollo, by the chorus in some comedies. A player, called Pythaules, played during the intervals when the chorus left off singing.
Section 419
'Calidum scis ponere sumen, Scis comitem horridulum trita donare lacerna,'
Section 453
Like one whom an odious plague or jaundice, fanatic phrensy or lunacy, distresses; those who are wise avoid a mad poet, and are afraid to touch him; the boys jostle him, and the incautious pursue him. If, like a fowler intent upon his game, he should fall into a well or a ditch while he belches out his fustian verses and roams about, though he should cry out for a long time, "Come to my assistance, 0 my countrymen;" not one would give himself the trouble of taking him up. Were any one to take pains to give him aid, and let down a rope; "How do you know, but he threw himself in hither on purpose?" I shall say: and will relate the death of the Sicilian poet. Empedocles, while he was ambitious of being esteemed an immortal god, in cold blood leaped into burning Aetna. Let poets have the privilege and license to die [as they please]. He who saves a man against his will, does the same with him who kills him [against his will]. Neither is it the first time that he has behaved in this manner; nor, were he to be forced from his purposes, would he now become a man, and lay aside his de sire of such a famous death. Neither does it appear sufficiently, why he makes verses: whether he has defiled his father's ashes, or sacrilegiously removed the sad enclosure of the vindictive thunder: it is evident that he is mad, and like a bear that has burst through the gates closing his den, this unmerciful rehearser chases the learned and unlearned. And whomsoever he seizes, he fastens on and assassinates with recitation: a leech that will not quit the skin, till satiated with blood.
Ardentem frigidus Aetnam insiluit. "In cold blood, deliberately." Horace, by playing on the words ardentum frigidus, would show that he did not believe the story, and told it as one of the traditions, which poets may use without being obliged to vouch the truth of them. The pleasantry continues, when he says, it is murder to hinder a poet from killing himself; a maxim, which could not be said seriously.
An triste bidental . What crime must that man have committed whom the gods in vengeance have possessed with a madness of writing verses? Bidental was a place struck with lightning, which the aruspices purified and consecrated with a sacrifice of a sheep, bidental. It was an act of sacrilege ever to remove the bounds of it, movere bidental.
In concluding the annotations on the Art of Poetry, I must beg to recommend to the reader's notice my translation of , with a collection of notes, as the two treatises contribute to each other's illustration in the fullest extent.
Section ?
Humano capiti cervicem pictor equinam iungere si velit, et varias inducere plumas, undique conlatis membris, ut turpiter atrum desinat in piscem mulier formosa superne, spectatum admissi risum teneatis, amici? credite, Pisones, isti tabulae fore librum persimilem, cuius, velut aegri somnia, vanae fingentur species, ut nec pes nec caput uni reddatur formae. 'pictoribus atque poetis quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas.' scimus, et hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim; sed non ut placidis coeant inmitia, non ut
serpentes avibus geminentur, tigribus agni. inceptis gravibus plerumque et magna professis purpureus, late qui splendeat, unus et alter adsuitur pannus, cum lucus et ara Dianae et properantis aquae per amoenos ambitus agros aut flumen Rhenum aut pluvius describitur arcus; sed nunc non erat his locus. et fortasse cupressum scis simulare: quid hoc, si fractis enatat exspes navibus, aere dato qui pingitur? amphora coepit institui: currente rota cur urceus exit? denique sit quodvis, simplex dumtaxat et unum. maxima pars vatum, pater et iuvenes patre digni,
decipimur specie recti: brevis esse laboro, obscurus fio; sectantem levia nervi deficiunt animique; professus grandia turget; serpit humi tutus nimium timidusque procellae: qui variare cupit rem prodigialiter unam, delphinum silvis adpingit, fluctibus aprum: in vitium ducit culpae fuga, si caret arte. Aemilium circa ludum faber imus et unguis exprimet et mollis imitabitur aere capillos, infelix operis summa, quia ponere totum nesciet: hunc ego me, si quid componere curem, non magis esse velim quam naso vivere pravo,
spectandum nigris oculis nigroque capillo. sumite materiam vestris, qui scribitis, aequam viribus et versate diu, quid ferre recusent, quid valeant umeri. cui lecta potenter erit res, nec facundia deseret hunc nec lucidus ordo. ordinis haec virtus erit et venus, aut ego fallor, ut iam nunc dicat iam nunc debentia dici, pleraque differat et praesens in tempus omittat. in verbis etiam tenuis cautusque serendis hoc amet, hoc spernat promissi carminis auctor. dixeris egregie, notum si callida verbum reddiderit iunctura novum. si forte necesse est
indiciis monstrare recentibus abdita rerum et fingere cinctutis non exaudita Cethegis, continget dabiturque licentia sumpta pudenter, et nova fictaque nuper habebunt verba fidem, si Graeco fonte cadent parce detorta. quid autem Caecilio Plautoque dabit Romanus ademptum Vergilio Varioque? ego cur, adquirere pauca si possum, invideor, cum lingua Catonis et Enni sermonem patrium ditaverit et nova rerum nomina protulerit? licuit semperque licebit signatum praesente nota producere nomen. ut silvae foliis pronos mutantur in annos,
prima cadunt: ita verborum vetus interit aetas, et iuvenum ritu florent modo nata vigentque. debemur morti nos nostraque: sive receptus terra Neptunus classes Aquilonibus arcet, regis opus, sterilisve diu palus aptaque remis vicinas urbes alit et grave sentit aratrum, seu cursum mutavit iniquum frugibus amnis doctus iter melius: mortalia facta peribunt, nedum sermonum stet honos et gratia vivax. multa renascentur quae iam cecidere cadentque quae nunc sunt in honore vocabula, si volet usus, quem penes arbitrium est et ius et norma loquendi.
res gestae regumque ducumque et tristia bella quo scribi possent numero, monstravit Homerus; versibus inpariter iunctis querimonia primum, post etiam inclusa est voti sententia compos; quis tamen exiguos elegos emiserit auctor, grammatici certant et adhuc sub iudice lis est; Archilochum proprio rabies armavit iambo; hunc socci cepere pedem grandesque cothurni, alternis aptum sermonibus et popularis vincentem strepitus et natum rebus agendis; musa dedit fidibus Divos puerosque Deorum et pugilem victorem et equum certamine primum
et iuvenum curas et libera vina referre: descriptas servare vices operumque colores cur ego si nequeo ignoroque poeta salutor? cur nescire pudens prave quam discere malo? versibus exponi tragicis res comica non volt; indignatur item privatis ac prope socco dignis carminibus narrari cena Thyestae: singula quaeque locum teneant sortita decentem. interdum tamen et vocem comoedia tollit iratusque Chremes tumido delitigat ore; et tragicus plerumque dolet sermone pedestri, Telephus et Peleus cum pauper et exsul uterque
proiicit ampullas et sesquipedalia verba, si curat cor spectantis tetigisse querella. non satis est pulchra esse poemata: dulcia sunto et quocumque volent animum auditoris agunto. ut ridentibus adrident, ita flentibus adflent humani voltus. si vis me flere, dolendum est primum ipsi tibi: tum tua me infortunia laedent, Telephe vel Peleu; male si mandata loqueris, aut dormitabo aut ridebo. tristia maestum voltum verba decent, iratum plena minarum, ludentem lasciva, severum seria dictu. format enim natura prius nos intus ad omnem
fortunarum habitum: iuvat aut inpellit ad iram aut ad humum maerore gravi deducit et angit: post effert animi motus interprete lingua. si dicentis erunt fortunis absona dicta, Romani tollent equites peditesque cachinnum. intererit multum, Davusne loquatur an heros, maturusne senex an adhuc florente iuventa fervidus, et matrona potens an sedula nutrix, mercatorne vagus cultorne virentis agelli, Colchus an Assyrius, Thebis nutritus, an Argis. aut famam sequere aut sibi convenientia finge scriptor. honoratum si forte reponis Achillem,
inpiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, acer iura neget sibi nata, nihil non adroget armis. sit Medea ferox invictaque, flebilis Ino, perfidus Ixion, Io vaga, tristis Orestes. si quid inexpertum scaenae conmittis et audes personam formare novam, servetur ad imum, qualis ab incepto processerit, et sibi constet. difficile est proprie communia dicere, tuque rectius Iliacum carmen deducis in actus quam si proferres ignota indictaque primus: publica materies privati iuris erit, si non circa vilem patulumque moraberis orbem
nec verbo verbum curabis reddere fidus interpres nec desilies imitator in artum, unde pedem proferre pudor vetet aut operis lex, nec sic incipies, ut scriptor cyclicus olim: 'fortunam Priami cantabo et nobile bellum.' quid dignum tanto feret hic promissor hiatu? parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. quanto rectius hic, qui nil molitur inepte: 'dic mihi, Musa, virum, captae post tempora Troiae qui mores hominum multorum vidit et urbes.' non fumum ex fulgore, sed ex fumo dare lucem cogitat, ut speciosa dehinc miracula promat,
Antiphaten, Scyllamque, et cum Cyclope Charybdim; nec reditum Diomedis ab interitu Meleagri nec gemino bellum Troianum orditur ab ovo: semper ad eventum festinat et in medias res non secus ac notas auditorem rapit et quae desperat tractata nitescere posse relinquit atque ita mentitur, sic veris falsa remiscet, primo ne medium, medio ne discrepet imum. tu, quid ego et populus mecum desideret, audi, si plausoris eges aulaea manentis et usque sessuri, donec cantor 'vos plaudite' dicat. aetatis cuiusque notandi sunt tibi mores,
mobilibusque decor naturis dandus et annis. reddere qui voces iam scit puer et pede certo signat humum, gestit paribus conludere et iram colligit ac ponit temere et mutatur in horas. inberbis iuvenis, tandem custode remoto, gaudet equis canibusque et aprici gramine campi, cereus in vitium flecti, monitoribus asper, utilium tardus provisor, prodigus aeris, sublimis cupidusque et amata relinquere pernix. conversis studiis aetas animusque virilis quaerit opes et amicitias, inservit honori, conmisisse cavet quod mox mutare laboret.
multa senem circumveniunt incommoda, vel quod quaerit et inventis miser abstinet ac timet uti, vel quod res omnis timide gelideque ministrat, dilator, spe longus, iners avidusque futuri, difficilis, querulus, laudator temporis acti se puero, castigator censorque minorum. multa ferunt anni venientes commoda secum, multa recedentes adimunt: ne forte seniles mandentur iuveni partes pueroque viriles: semper in adiunctis aevoque morabitur aptis. aut agitur res in scaenis aut acta refertur. segnius inritant animos demissa per aurem
quam quae sunt oculis subiecta fidelibus et quae ipse sibi tradit spectator: non tamen intus digna geri promes in scaenam multaque tolles ex oculis, quae mox narret facundia praesens: ne pueros coram populo Medea trucidet aut humana palam coquat exta nefarius atreus aut in avem Procne vertatur, Cadmus in anguem. quodcumque ostendis mihi sic, incredulus odi. neve minor neu sit quinto productior actu fabula quae posci volt et spectanda reponi. nec Deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus inciderit, nec quarta loqui persona laboret.
actoris partis chorus officiumque virile defendat, neu quid medios intercinat actus quod non proposito conducat et haereat apte. ille bonis faveatque et consilietur amice et regat iratos et amet pacare tumentis, ille dapes laudet mensae brevis, ille salubrem iustitiam legesque et apertis otia portis, ille tegat conmissa Deosque precetur et oret, ut redeat miseris, abeat fortuna superbis. tibia non, ut nunc orichalco, vincta tubaeque aemula, sed tenuis simplexque foramine pauco adspirare et adesse choris erat utilis atque
nondum spissa nimis complere sedilia flatu; quo sane populus numerabilis, utpote parvos, et frugi castusque verecundusque coibat. postquam coepit agros extendere victor et urbis latior amplecti murus vinoque diurno placari Genius festis inpune diebus, accessit numerisque modisque licentia maior. indoctus quid enim saperet liberque laborum rusticus urbano confusus, turpis honesto? sic priscae motumque et luxuriem addidit arti tibicen traxitque vagus per pulpita vestem; sic etiam fidibus voces crevere severis,
et tulit eloquium insolitum facundia praeceps utiliumque sagax rerum et divina futuri sortilegis non discrepuit sententia Delphis. carmine qui tragico vilem certavit ob hircum, mox etiam agrestis Satyros nudavit et asper incolumi gravitate iocum temptavit eo quod inlecebris erat et grata novitate morandus spectator functusque sacris et potus et exlex. verum ita risores, ita commendare dicacis conveniet Satyros, ita vertere seria ludo, ne, quicumque Deus, quicumque adhibebitur heros, regali conspectus in auro nuper et ostro,
migret in obscuras humili sermone tabernas aut, dum vitat humum, nubis et inania captet. effutire levis indigna tragoedia versus, ut festis matrona moveri iussa diebus, intererit Satyris paulum pudibunda protervis. non ego inornata et dominantia nomina solum verbaque, Pisones, Satyrorum scriptor amabo nec sic enitar tragico differre colori, ut nihil intersit, Davusne loquatur et audax Pythias, emuncto lucrata Simone talentum, an custos famulusque Dei Silenus alumni. ex noto fictum carmen sequar, ut sibi quivis
speret idem, sudet multum frustraque laboret ausus idem: tantum series iuncturaque pollet, tantum de medio sumptis accedit honoris. silvis deducti caveant, me iudice, Fauni, ne velut innati triviis ac paene forenses. aut nimium teneris iuvenentur versibus umquam aut inmunda crepent ignominiosaque dicta. offenduntur enim, quibus est equus et pater et res, nec, siquid fricti ciceris probat et nucis emptor, aequis accipiunt animis donantve corona. syllaba longa brevi subiecta vocatur Iambus, pes citus: unde etiam trimetris adcrescere iussit
nomen iambeis, cum senos redderet ictus, primus ad extremum similis sibi: non ita pridem, tardior ut paulo graviorque veniret ad auris, spondeos stabilis in iura paterna recepit commodus et patiens, non ut de sede secunda cederet aut quarta socialiter. hic et in Acci nobilibus trimetris adparet rarus et Enni in scaenam missos cum magno pondere versus aut operae celeris nimium curaque carentis aut ignoratae premit artis crimine turpi. non quivis videt inmodulata poemata iudex et data Romanis venia est indigna poetis.
idcircone vager scribamque licenter? an omnis visuros peccata putem mea, tutus et intra spem veniae cautus? vitavi denique culpam, non laudem merui. vos exemplaria Graeca nocturna versate manu, versate diurna. at nostri proavi Plautinos et numeros et laudavere sales, nimium patienter utrumque, ne dicam stulte, mirati, si modo ego et vos scimus inurbanum lepido seponere dicto legitimumque sonum digitis callemus et aure. ignotum tragicae genus invenisse Camenae dicitur et plaustris vexisse poemata Thespis,
quae canerent agerentque peruncti faecibus ora. post hunc personae pallaeque repertor honestae Aeschylus et modicis instravit pulpita tignis et docuit magnumque loqui nitique cothurno. successit vetus his comoedia, non sine multa laude; sed in vitium libertas excidit et vim dignam lege regi: lex est accepta chorusque turpiter obticuit sublato iure nocendi. nil intemptatum nostri liquere poetae nec minimum meruere decus vestigia Graeca ausi deserere et celebrare domestica facta vel qui praetextas vel qui docuere togatas.
nec virtute foret clarisve potentius armis quam lingua Latium, si non offenderet unum quemque poetarum limae labor et mora. vos, o Pompilius sanguis, carmen reprehendite, quod non multa dies et multa litura coercuit atque praesectum deciens non castigavit ad unguem. ingenium misera quia fortunatius arte credit et excludit sanos Helicone poetas Democritus, bona pars non unguis ponere curat, non barbam, secreta petit loca, balnea vitat. nanciscetur enim pretium nomenque poetae, si tribus Anticyris caput insanabile numquam
tonsori Licino conmiserit. o ego laevus, qui purgor bilem sub verni temporis horam. non alius faceret meliora poemata; verum nil tanti est. ergo fungar vice cotis, acutum reddere quae ferrum valet exsors ipsa secandi; munus et officium, nil scribens ipse, docebo, unde parentur opes, quid alat formetque poetam, quid deceat, quid non, quo virtus, quo ferat error. scribendi recte sapere est et principium et fons. rem tibi Socraticae poterunt ostendere chartae verbaque provisam rem non invita sequentur. qui didicit, patriae quid debeat et quid amicis,
quo sit amore parens, quo frater amandus et hospes, quod sit conscripti, quod iudicis officium, quae partes in bellum missi ducis, ille profecto reddere personae scit convenientia cuique. respicere exemplar vitae morumque iubebo doctum imitatorem et vivas hinc ducere voces. interdum speciosa locis morataque recte fabula nullius veneris, sine pondere et arte, valdius oblectat populum meliusque moratur quam versus inopes rerum nugaeque canorae. Graiis ingenium, Graiis dedit ore rotundo Musa loqui, praeter laudem nullius avaris.
Romani pueri longis rationibus assem discunt in partis centum diducere. 'dicat filius Albini: si de quincunce remota est uncia, quid superat? poteras dixisse.' 'triens.' 'eu, rem poteris servare tuam. redit uncia, quid fit?' 'semis.' an, haec animos aerugo et cura peculi cum semel imbuerit, speremus carmina fingi posse linenda cedro et levi servanda cupresso? aut prodesse volunt aut delectare poetae aut simul et iucunda et idonea dicere vitae. quidquid praecipies, esto brevis, ut cito dicta percipiant animi dociles teneantque fideles:
omne supervacuum pleno de pectore manat. ficta voluptatis causa sint proxima veris: ne quodcumque volet poscat sibi fabula credi neu pransae Lamiae vivum puerum extrahat alvo. centuriae seniorum agitant expertia frugis, celsi praetereunt austera poemata Rhamnes: omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci lectorem delectando pariterque monendo. hic meret aera liber Sosiis, hic et mare transit et longum noto scriptori prorogat aevum. sunt delicta tamen, quibus ignovisse velimus: nam neque chorda sonum reddit quem volt manus et mens,
poscentique gravem persaepe remittit acutum, nec semper feriet quodcumque minabitur arcus. verum ubi plura nitent in carmine, non ego paucis offendar maculis, quas aut incuria fudit aut humana parum cavit natura. quid ergo est? ut scriptor si peccat idem librarius usque, quamvis est monitus, venia caret, et citharoedus ridetur, chorda qui semper oberrat eadem, sic mihi, qui multum cessat, fit Choerilus ille, quem bis terve bonum cum risu miror; et idem indignor, quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus; verum operi longo fas est obrepere somnum.
ut pictura poesis: erit quae, si propius stes, te capiat magis, et quaedam, si longius abstes; haec amat obscurum, volet haec sub luce videri, iudicis argutum quae non formidat acumen; haec placuit semel, haec deciens repetita placebit. o maior iuvenum, quamvis et voce paterna fingeris ad rectum et per te sapis, hoc tibi dictum tolle memor, certis medium et tolerabile rebus recte concedi: consultus iuris et actor causarum mediocris abest virtute diserti Messallae nec scit quantum Cascellius Aulus, sed tamen in pretio est: mediocribus esse poetis
non homines, non Di, non concessere columnae. ut gratas inter mensas symphonia discors et crassum unguentum et Sardo cum melle papaver offendunt, poterat duci quia cena sine istis: sic animis natum inventumque poema iuvandis, si paulum summo decessit, vergit ad imum. ludere qui nescit, campestribus abstinet armis indoctusque pilae discive trochive quiescit, ne spissae risum tollant inpune coronae: qui nescit versus, tamen audet fingere. quidni? liber et ingenuus, praesertim census equestrem summam nummorum vitioque remotus ab omni.
tu nihil invita dices faciesve Minerva: id tibi iudicium est, ea mens. siquid tamen olim scripseris, in Meti descendat iudicis auris et patris et nostras nonumque prematur in annum membranis intus positis: delere licebit, quod non edideris, nescit vox missa reverti. silvestris homines sacer interpresque Deorum caedibus et victu foedo deterruit Orpheus, dictus ob hoc lenire tigres rabidosque leones; dictus et Amphion, Thebanae conditor urbis, saxa movere sono testudinis et prece blanda ducere quo vellet. fuit haec sapientia quondam,
publica privatis secernere, sacra profanis, concubitu prohibere vago, dare iura maritis, oppida moliri, leges incidere ligno. sic honor et nomen divinis vatibus atque carminibus venit. post hos insignis Homerus Tyrtaeusque mares animos in Martia bella versibus exacuit; dictae per carmina sortes et vitae monstrata via est et gratia regum Pieriis temptata modis ludusque repertus et longorum operum finis: ne forte pudori sit tibi Musa lyrae sollers et cantor Apollo. natura fieret laudabile carmen an arte,
quaesitum est: ego nec studium sine divite vena nec rude quid prosit video ingenium: alterius sic altera poscit opem res et coniurat amice. qui studet optatam cursu contingere metam, multa tulit fecitque puer, sudavit et alsit, abstinuit venere et vino; qui Pythia cantat tibicen, didicit prius extimuitque magistrum. nunc satis est dixisse 'ego mira poemata pango; occupet extremum scabies; mihi turpe relinqui est et quod non didici sane nescire fateri'. ut praeco, ad merces turbam qui cogit emendas, adsentatores iubet ad lucrum ire poeta
dives agris, dives positis in fenore nummis. si vero est, unctum qui recte ponere possit et spondere levi pro paupere et eripere artis litibus inplicitum, mirabor, si sciet inter- noscere mendacem verumque beatus amicum. tu seu donaris seu quid donare voles cui, nolito ad versus tibi factos ducere plenum laetitiae; clamabit enim 'pulchre! bene! recte!' pallescet, super his etiam stillabit amicis ex oculis rorem, saliet, tundet pede terram. ut, qui conducti plorant in funere, dicunt et faciunt prope plura dolentibus ex animo, sic
derisor vero plus laudatore movetur. reges dicuntur multis urgere culillis et torquere mero, quem perspexisse laborent an sit amicitia dignus; si carmina condes, numquam te fallent animi sub vulpe latentes. Quintilio siquid recitares, 'corrige sodes hoc' aiebat 'et hoc'. mulius te posse negares bis terque expertum frustra: delere iubebat et male tornatos incudi reddere versus. si defendere delictum quam vertere malles, nullum ultra verbum aut operam insumebat inanem, quin sine rivali teque et tua solus amares.
vir bonus et prudens versus reprehendet inertis, culpabit duros, incomptis adlinet atrum transverso calamo signum, ambitiosa recidet ornamenta, parum claris lucem dare coget, arguet ambigue dictum, mutanda notabit: fiet Aristarchus; non dicet 'cur ego amicum offendam in nugis?' hae nugae seria ducent in mala derisum semel exceptumque sinistre. ut mala quem scabies aut morbus regius urget aut fanaticus error et iracunda Diana, vesanum tetigisse timent fugiuntque poetam qui sapiunt, agitant pueri incautique sequuntur.
hic, dum sublimis versus ructatur et errat, si veluti merulis intentus decidit auceps in puteum foveamve, licet 'succurrite' longum clamet, 'io cives', non sit qui tollere curet. si curet quis opem ferre et demittere funem, 'qui scis, an prudens huc se deiecerit atque servari nolit?' dicam siculique poetae narrabo interitum. 'Deus inmortalis haberi dum cupit Empedocles, ardentem frigidus Aetnam insiluit. sit ius liceatque perire poetis: invitum qui servat, idem facit occidenti. nec semel hoc fecit nec, si retractus erit, iam
fiet homo et ponet famosae mortis amorem. nec satis adparet, cur versus factitet, utrum minxerit in patrios cineres an triste bidental moverit incestus: certe furit ac velut ursus, obiectos caveae valuit si frangere clatros, indoctum doctumque fugat recitator acerbus; quem vero arripuit, tenet occiditque legendo, non missura cutem, nisi plena cruoris, hirudo.'