2. Outline of the Poem:

a) May Auster wrench his ship with savage waves! May Eurus scatter oars and cordage! May Aquilo arise in might, nor any kindly star be seen! May he be borne on seas as wild as those that bore the band of conquering Greeks! 1–14;

b) What toil and anguish await thee and thy crew! What moans and useless prayers! If only thou become a prey to gulls, the Storms shall have a sacrifice from me, 15-24.

3. Time: Uncertain; not after 29 B.C.

4. Metre: Iambic Strophe. Introd. § 51.

Mala soluta navis exit alite,

Ferens olentem Mevium.

Ut horridis utrumque verberes latus,
Auster, memento, fluctibus.
Niger rudentis Eurus inverso mari
Fractosque remos differat;

Insurgat Aquilo, quantus altis montibus
Frangit trementis ilices.

Nec sidus atra nocte amicum appareat,

Qua tristis Orion cadit;

Quietiore nec feratur aequore

Quam Graia victorum manus,

10

XI.

CUPID'S POWER.

1. Outline of the Poem:

14;

a) Love seizes me again and takes away all thought of verse, b) 'Tis full three years since passion swayed me thus. Inachia was the last. Alas, the talk I was through all the town! When I brought my griefs to thee, vowing no more to strive against unworthy rivals, thou badst me homeward go. I went, not homeward, but to portals that refused admittance, 5-22;

c) My love Lyciscus holds me now, from whom no friendly word or stern rebuke shall shake me free, nothing but some fresh flame for lad or maid, 23-28.

2. Time: Uncertain; not after 29 B.C.

3. Metre Third Archilochian. Introd. § 57.

Petti, nihil me sicut antea iuvat

Scribere versiculos amore percussum gravi,
Amore, qui me praeter omnis expetit
Mollibus in pueris aut in puellis urere.

Hic tertius December, ex quo destiti

5

Inachia furere, silvis honorem decutit.
Heu me, per urbem, nam pudet tanti mali,

Desinet imparibus certare summotus pudor.'
Ubi haec severus te palam laudaveram,

Iussus abire domum ferebar incerto pede

20

Ad non amicos heu mihi postis et heu

Limina dura, quibus lumbos et infregi latus.
Nunc gloriantis quamlibet mulierculam

Vincere mollitia amor Lycisci me tenet;
Unde expedire non amicorum queant

Libera consilia nec contumeliae graves,

Sed alius ardor aut puellae candidae

Aut teretis pueri, longam renodantis comam.

XII.

25

The coarseness of this epode leads to omission of any outline of its contents.

Quid tibi vis, mulier nigris dignissima barris ?
Munera cur mihi quidve tabellas

Mittis, nec firmo iuveni neque naris obesae ?
Namque sagacius unus odoror,

Polypus an gravis hirsutis cubet hircus in alis,

5

Quam canis acer, ubi lateat sus.

Qui sudor vietis et quam malus undique membris
Crescit odor, cum pene soluto

Indomitam properat rabiem sedare, neque illi
Iam manet umida creta colorque

Stercore fucatus crocodili, iamque subando
Tenta cubilia tectaque rumpit.

Vel mea cum saevis agitat fastidia verbis:
'Inachia langues minus ac me;
Inachiam ter nocte potes, mihi semper
Mollis opus. Pereat male, quae te

ad unum

Lesbia quaerenti taurum monstravit inertem,
Cum mihi Cous adesset Amyntas,

Cuius in indomito constantior inguine nervos,
Quam nova collibus arbor inhaeret.

Muricibus Tyriis iteratae vellera lanae
Cui properabantur? Tibi nempe,

Ne foret aequalis inter conviva, magis quem
Diligeret mulier sua quam te.

O ego non felix, quam tu fugis, ut pavet acris
Agna lupos capreaeque leones!'

XIII.

DEFIANCE TO THE STORM: MAKE MERRY!

1. Outline of the Poem:

25

a) Without, the snow is falling, and the woods are roaring with the gale, 1-3;

b) But let us, friends, enjoy our opportunity, and banish care from clouded brow! Bring out the oldest vintage! The god will soon make all things right. Therefore, with perfume sweet and music, let us free our hearts from trouble! 3-10 ; c) So sang the Centaur Chiron to his foster-child, Achilles: '0 child of Thetis, goddess-born, Scamander's streams await thee, whence no power shall bring thee home again; there, with wine and song, sweet consolations, find relief for every ill!' 11-18.

2. Time: Uncertain; not after 29 B.C.

3. Metre: Second Archilochian. Introd. § 56.

Horrida tempestas caelum contraxit, et imbres
Nivesque deducunt Iovem; nunc mare, nunc siluae
Threicio Aquilone sonant. Rapiamus, amici,
Occasionem de die, dumque virent genua
Et decet, obducta solvatur fronte senectus.

Tu vina Torquato move consule pressa meo.
Cetera mitte loqui: deus haec fortasse benigna
Reducet in sedem vice. Nunc et Achaemenio
Perfundi nardo iuvat et fide Cyllenea

Levare diris pectora sollicitudinibus,

Nobilis ut grandi cecinit Centaurus alumno: 'Invicte, mortalis dea nate puer Thetide,

10

Te manet Assaraci tellus, quam frigida parvi
Findunt Scamandri flumina lubricus et Simois,
Unde tibi reditum certo subtemine Parcae

Rupere, nec mater domum caerula te revehet.
Illic omne malum vino cantuque levato,
Deformis aegrimoniae dulcibus alloquiis.'

XIV.

PROMISES UNFULFILLED.

1. Outline of the Poem:

15

a) You weary me with asking why soft indolence has brought forgetfulness upon me, 1-5;

b) 'Tis the god, the god, that keeps me from my task; so burned Anacreon's heart, they say, for Samian Bathyllus, 6–12 ; c) Thou thyself escapest not the flame; if she be fair, rejoice, 13-16.

2. Time: Uncertain; not after 29 B.C.

3. Metre: First Pythiambic. Introd. § 53.

Mollis inertia cur tantam diffuderit imis

Oblivionem sensibus,

Pocula Lethaeos ut si ducentia somnos

Arente fauce traxerim,

Candide Maecenas, occidis saepe rogando:

5

Deus, deus nam me vetat

Inceptos, olim promissum carmen, iambos

Ad umbilicum adducere.

Accendit obsessam Ilion,

Gaude sorte tua; me libertina, nec uno

Contenta, Phryne macerat.

15