Odes

Horace

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

  • 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.
    • Horace
    1. While I had power to bless you,
    2. Nor any round that neck his arms did fling
    3. More privileged to caress you,
    4. Happier was Horace than the Persian king.