Odes

Horace

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

There within hold revelry,

There light thy flame in that congenial breast.

He, with birth and beauty graced,

The trembling client's champion, ne'er tongue-tied,

Master of each manly taste,

Shall bear thy conquering banners far and wide.

Let him smile in triumph gay,

True heart, victorious over lavish hand,

By the Alban lake that day

'Neath citron roof all marble shalt thou stand:

Incense there and fragrant spice

With odorous fumes thy nostrils shall salute;

Blended notes thine ear entice,

The lyre, the pipe, the Berecyntine flute:

Graceful youths and maidens bright

Shall twice a day thy tuneful praise resound,

While their feet, so fair and white,

In Salian measure three times beat the ground.

I can relish love no more,

Nor flattering hopes that tell me hearts are true,