In spite of all the scholiasts have written there is no clue whatever to the occasion of this Ode.' It is doubtful whether the first word should be Poscimur' or Poscimus.' If the first, it may mean that he had been requested to write on some subject of the day, though nobody knows what; but it may also mean that he felt the poetic afflatus upon him, and was bound accordingly. I AM required. If with thee idling ever In the cool shade, aught have I uttered, destined Sing now, my rebeck. Thou who first tuned wert by a Lesbic townsman, Who, in arms fierce, still in the midst of conflict, Or after making fast his storm-tost galley To the dank seabeach, Would of wine sing, music, and lovely Venus, Shell, who art welcomed at high Jove's carousals, Pride of bright Phoebus, and my labour's dulcet Solace, propitiously assist whene'er I Duly invoke thee. XXXII. AD TESTUDINEM. POSCIMUR. Si quid vacui sub umbra Lusimus tecum, quod et hunc in annum Vivat et plures, age, dic Latinum, Barbite, carmen. Lesbio primum modulate civi, Litore navim, Liberum et Musas, Veneremque et illi O decus Phoebi, et dapibus supremi Rite vocanti. Horace was much attached to his brother poet Tibullus, who was indeed a favourite with his contemporaries generally. That he wrote elegies, was not rarely crossed in love, and that he was on some occasion in a desponding humour, are facts sufficient to form a probable foundation for this good-humoured little poem.' CEASE, Albius, cease this too lengthened repining Lycoris, renowned for low forehead, is burning Ere Pholoë sin with adulterer base. Such is Venus's will, who no better sport has Me, to whom her affections a worthier gave, Did Myrtale's ravishing fetters enslave, A freedwoman, rougher than Adrian wave XXXIII. AD ALBIUM TIBULLUM. ALBI, ne doleas plus nimio, memor Insignem tenui fronte Lycorida Quam turpi Pholoë peccet adultero. Ipsum me, melior cum peteret Venus, Curvantis Calabros sinus. A SPARING and infrequent worshipper Shuddered. That deity can all extremes Augustus was meditating one expedition against the Britons and another against the East, and Horace here commends him to the care of Fortune the preserver. GODDESS, who reign'st o'er pleasant Antium, Abjectest state, or triumphs proud |