Odes

Horace

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

  • 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.
    Lydia
    1. While you for none were pining
    2. Sorer, nor Lydia after Chloe came,
    3. Lydia, her peers outshining,
    4. Might match her own with Ilia's Roman fame.