Odes

Horace

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

  • 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.