Odes

Horace

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

  • As a boxer, as a runner, past compare!
  • When the deer are flying blindly all the open country o'er,
  • He can aim and he can hit them; he can steal upon the boar,
  • As it couches in the thicket unaware.
  • Bandusia's fount, in clearness crystalline,
  • O worthy of the wine, the flowers we vow!
  • Tomorrow shall be thine
  • A kid, whose crescent brow
  • Is sprouting all for love and victory.
  • In vain: his warm red blood, so early stirr'd.
  • Thy gelid stream shall dye,
  • Child of the wanton herd.
  • Thee the fierce Sirian star, to madness fired,
  • Forbears to touch: sweet cool thy waters yield
  • To ox with ploughing tired,
  • And lazy sheep afield.
  • Thou too one day shalt win proud eminence
  • 'Mid honour'd founts, while I the ilex sing
  • Crowning the cavern, whence
  • Thy babbling wavelets spring.