Odes

Horace

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

  • Thou turn'st the rivers, thou the sea;
  • Thou, on far summits, moist with wine,
  • Thy Bacchants' tresses harmlessly
  • Dost knot with living serpent-twine.
  • Thou, when the giants, threatening wrack,
  • Were clambering up Jove's citadel,
  • Didst hurl o'erweening Rhoetus back,
  • In tooth and claw a lion fell.
  • Who knew thy feats in dance and play
  • Deem'd thee belike for war's rough game
  • Unmeet: but peace and battle-fray
  • Found thee, their centre, still the same.