Odes

Horace

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

  • 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.
  • 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.