Odes

Horace

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

  • For winter's storms have ceased to lower,
  • And zephyrs of returuing spring
  • Tempt him to launch on unknown skies
  • Next on the fold he stoops downright;
  • Last on resisting serpents flies,
  • Athirst for foray and for flight:
  • As tender kidling on the grass
  • Espies, uplooking from her food,
  • A lion's whelp, and knows, alas!
  • Those new-set teeth shall drink her blood:
  • So look'd the Raetian mountaineers
  • On Drusus:—whence in every field
  • They learn'd through immemorial years
  • The Amazonian axe to wield,
  • I ask not now: not all of truth
  • We seekers find: enough to know
  • The wisdom of the princely youth
  • Has taught our erst victorious foe
  • What prowess dwells in boyish hearts
  • Rear'd in the shrine of a pure home,