XXXV.

TO FORTUNA.

1. Occasion of the Poem: In the year 27 B.C. Augustus began preparations for two expeditions, one against the Britons, the other under Aelius Gallus against Arabia Felix (see i. 29). The poet invokes the protection of the goddess Fortuna for both undertakings. Inasmuch as the Fortuna Antias, who is here addressed, was sometimes consulted for oracular deliverances, it is possible that Augustus had consulted her with reference to one or both of these two enterprises, and that this circumstance was the immediate cause of the ode. 2. Outline of the Poem:

a) O goddess, that art omnipotent to determine the affairs of
men, all acknowledge thy might, all court, all fear, 1-16;
b) Thy attendant is Necessity, with her emblems of power;
Hope and rare Faith, too, cherish thee, when in hostile
mood thou bringest trouble upon the great, and when
others, alas, prove faithless, 17-28;

c) Preserve, O goddess, our Caesar, who is setting forth against
the Britons, and the soldiers who are departing for Arabia
and Parthia, 29-32;

d) Forgive our past iniquity, and guide our weapons against the foe, 33-40.

Iniurioso ne pede proruas

Stantem columnam, neu populus frequens

Ad arma cessantis, ad arma

Concitet imperiumque frangat.

Te semper antit saeva Necessitas,
Clavos trabalis et cuneos manu
Gestans aëna, nec severus

Uncus abest liquidumque plumbum.

Te Spes et albo rara Fides colit
Velata panno, nec comitem abnegat,
Utcumque mutata potentis

Veste domos inimica linquis.

At volgus infidum et meretrix retro
Periura cedit, diffugiunt cadis
Cum faece siccatis amici,

Ferre iugum pariter dolosi.

Serves iturum Caesarem in ultimos
Orbis Britannos et iuvenum recens
Examen, Eois timendum.

Partibus Oceanoque rubro.

Eheu, cicatricum et sceleris pudet
Fratrumque. Quid nos dura refugimus.
Aetas? Quid intactum nefasti
Liquimus? Unde manum iuventus

Metu deorum continuit? Quibus
Pepercit aris? O utinam nova
Incude diffingas retusum in
Massagetas Arabasque ferrum!

XXXVI. ·

A JOYFUL RETURN.

1. Outline of the Poem:

a) Let us make sacrifice in celebration of Numida's safe return. Dear is he to many, yet dearest of all to Lamia, his old schoolmate and friend, 1-9;

b) A white mark to commemorate the day, and let indulgence in wine and the dance know no bound; let roses, parsley, and lilies grace our banquet; let even Bassus drink generously to-day and not be outdone by Damalis, the fair, 10-20.

2. Time: Possibly 24 B.C.

3. Metre: Second Asclepiadean. Introd. § 46.

Omnes in Damalin putris

Deponent oculos, nec Damalis novo

Divelletur adultero,

Lascivis hederis ambitiosior.

20

XXXVII.

THE FALL OF CLEOPATRA.

1. Occasion of the Poem: In September of 31 B.C. Augustus had defeated at Actium the fleets of Antony and Cleopatra. Although this success almost completely annihilated the naval resources of Antony and Cleopatra, they still remained masters of formidable land forces. When these were finally defeated and Augustus entered Alexandria in August of 30 B.C., Antony and Cleopatra both committed suicide. Thus was removed what at one time had constituted a serious menace to the welfare of Rome, and Horace gives voice to the sentiments of his countrymen in the following stirring ode.

2. Outline of the Poem:

a) Now is the time for drinking and dancing, now for offering to the gods our grateful thanksgiving; an earlier day had been premature, so long as a foreign queen was planning ruin against our Roman temples, 1-12;

b) But her crushing defeat at Actium sobered her wild dreams of conquest, and fear of Caesar drove her in terror over the sea, 12-21;

c) Yet her death was heroic; she showed no fear, and boldly took the serpent to her bosom, too proud to deign to grace the triumph of her conqueror, 21-32.

3. Time: September, 30 B.C.

4. Metre Alcaic. Introd. § 43.

Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero

Pulsanda tellus, nunc Saliaribus

Ornare pulvinar deorum

Tempus erat dapibus, sodales.