Fruges et agris rettulit uberes,
Et signa nostro restituit Jovi
Derepta Parthorum superbis
Postibus, et vacuum duellis
Janum Quirini clausit, et ordinem
Rectum evaganti frena licentiae
Injecit, emovitque culpas,
Et veteres revocavit artes
Per quas Latinum nomen et Italae
Crevere vires famaque, et imperi
Porrecta majestas ad ortus
Solis ab Hesperio cubili.
Custode rerum Caesare, non furor
Civilis aut vis exiget otium,

Non ira, quae procudit enses
Et miseras inimicat urbes.
Non qui profundum Danubium bibunt
Edicta rumpent Julia, non Getae,
Non Seres, infidive Persae,

Non Tanaïn prope flumen orti. Nosque et profestis lucibus et sacris, Inter jocosi munera Liberi,

Cum prole matronisque nostris, Rite deos prius apprecati, Virtute functos, more patrum, duces Lydis remixto carmine tibiis,

Trojamque et Anchisen et almae

Progeniem Veneris canemus.

SELECT EPODES.

Addressed to Maecenas when preparing for some expedition in which Augustus was about to engage. The terms of affection which Horace here and elsewhere applies to his patron must in these days appear hyperbolical, but we moderns, whose warmest feelings take rather the direction of love, do not readily appreciate the fervour of ancient friendship. That Horace's contemporaries did not suppose him to be exaggerating when saying that he should not survive Maecenas, is proved by the fact that when his own death did actually follow closely on that of Maecenas, he was commonly reported to have committed suicide.

To go, with skiffs Liburnian, you prepare
Mid floating castles of the foe,

Ready at your own risk, Maecenas dear,
All Caesar's risks to undergo.

And I, whose life is pleasant the while you
Survive, but grievous otherwise,

Shall I, as you command, mine ease pursue
Where, without you, no sweetness lies,
Or bear this travail with what mind befits
A man not pusillanimous ?

Bear it I will, and e'en o'er Alpine steeps,
Inhospitable Caucasus,

Or to the western main's last cavity,

Your steps will follow undismayed.
Ask you how, feeble and unwarlike, I

Your labour's strain with mine can aid?

I. AD MAECENATEM.

IBIS Liburnis inter alta navium,
Amice, propugnacula,

Paratus omne Caesaris periculum

Subire, Maecenas, tuo.

Quid nos, quibus te vita sit superstite
Jucunda, si contra gravis?
Utrumne jussi persequemur otium,

Non dulce ni tecum simul?

An hunc laborem mente laturi, decet
Qua ferre non molles viros?
Feremus; et te vel per Alpium juga,
Inhospitalem et Caucasum,

Vel Occidentis usque ad ultimum sinum,
Forti sequemur pectore.

Roges, tuum labore quid juvem meo,

Imbellis ac firmus parum?