Odes

Horace

Horace. The Odes and Carmen Saeculare of Horace. Conington, John, translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1882.

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.

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.