Odes

Horace

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

Or Venus, laughter-loving dame,

Round whom gay Loves and Pleasures fly;

Or thou, if slighted sons may claim

A parent's eye,

O weary with thy long, long game,

Who lov'st fierce shouts and helmets bright,

And Moorish warrior's glance of flame

Or e'er he smite!

Or Maia's son, if now awhile

In youthful guise we see thee here,

Caesar's avenger—such the style

Thou deign'st to bear;

Late be thy journey home, and long

Thy sojourn with Rome's family;

Nor let thy wrath at our great wrong

Lend wings to fly.

Here take our homage, Chief and Sire;

Here wreathe with bay thy conquering brow,

And bid the prancing Mede retire,

Our Caesar thou!