Odes Horace Horace. The Odes and Carmen Saeculare of Horace. Conington, John, translator. London: George Bell and Sons, 1882. Ay, Venus smiles; the pure nymphs smile,And Cupid, tyrant-lord of hearts,Sharpening on bloody stone the whileHis fiery darts.New captives fill the nets you weave;New slaves are bred; and those before,Though oft they threaten, never leaveYour godless door.