Odes

Horace

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

  • Why rend my heart with that sad sigh?
  • It cannot please the gods or me
  • That you, Maecenas, first should die,
  • My pillar of prosperity.
  • Ah! should I lose one half my soul
  • Untimely, can the other stay
  • Behind it? Life that is not whole,
  • Is that as sweet? The self-same day
  • Shall crush us twain; no idle oath
  • Has Horace sworn; whene'er you go,
  • We both will travel, travel both
  • The last dark journey down below.
  • No, not Chimaera's fiery breath,
  • Nor Gyas, could he rise again,
  • Shall part us; Justice, strong as death,
  • So wills it; so the Fates ordain.
  • Whether 'twas Libra saw me born
  • Or angry Scorpio, lord malign
  • Of natal hour, or Capricorn,
  • The tyrant of the western brine,