III.

JUSTITIA ET CONSTANTIA.

1. Outline of the Poem:

a) The man tenacious of his purpose in a righteous cause, no terrors of earth or heaven can move from his course, 1-8; b) 'Twas such merit that won divine honors for Pollux and Hercules and Bacchus; 'twas such merit on the part of Romulus that induced Juno to admit him to the ranks of the celestials, 9-36;

c) But the goddess imposed conditions: Provided a wide sea roll between Rome and Ilium; provided the cattle and wild beasts roam with impunity over the site of ancient Troy and the ashes of Priam, let Rome extend her name and prowess to the confines of the world; but let her never, in excess of devotion, think of restoring the walls of the ancient city. Should Troy thrice rise, thrice should she be destroyed by my Greeks,' 37-68.

d) But cease, O Muse, to repeat the words of the gods, and to belittle great themes with thy trivial song! 69-72.

2. Time: About 27 B.C.

3. Metre Alcaic. Introd. § 43.

Iustum et tenacem propositi virum
Non civium ardor prava iubentium,
Non voltus instantis tyranni

Mente quatit solida neque Auster,

Dux inquieti turbidus Hadriae,
Nec fulminantis magna manus Iovis;

Si fractus inlabatur orbis,
Impavidum ferient ruinae.

Hac arte Pollux et vagus Hercules
Enisus arces attigit igneas,

Quos inter Augustus recumbens

Purpureo bibet ore nectar.

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10

Insultet armentum et catulos ferae
Celent inultae, stet Capitolium
Fulgens triumphatisque possit

Roma ferox dare iura Medis.

Horrenda late nomen in ultimas
Extendat oras, qua medius liquor
Secernit Europen ab Afro,

Qua tumidus rigat arva Nilus,

Aurum inrepertum et sic melius situm,
Cum terra celat, spernere fortior
Quam cogere humanos in usus

Omne sacrum rapiente dextra.

Quicumque mundo terminus obstitit,
Hunc tangat armis, visere gestiens,
Qua parte debacchentur ignes,
Qua nebulae pluviique rores.

Sed bellicosis fata Quiritibus
Hac lege dico, ne nimium pii
Rebusque fidentes avitae

Tecta velint reparare Troiae.

Troiae renascens alite lugubri

Fortuna tristi clade iterabitur
Ducente victrices catervas

Coniuge me Iovis et sorore.

Ter si resurgat murus aëneus
Auctore Phoebo, ter pereat meis
Excisus Argivis, ter uxor

Capta virum puerosque ploret.'

Non hoc iocosae conveniet lyrae:

Quo, Musa, tendis? Desine pervicax
Referre sermones deorum et

Magna modis tenuare parvis.

70

IV

CONSILIUM ET TEMPERANTIA.

1. Outline of the Poem:

a) Invocation to the Muse, 1–8 ;

b) Horace's boyhood adventure on Mt. Vultur, 9-20;

c) His devotion to the Muses; 'tis as their minister that he visits his Sabine farm, his villa at Tivoli, or fair Baiae; 'tis their care that has watched over him in the past and gives him heart to face the future, 21-36;

d) The Muses lend cheer and comfort to Caesar, too; more than that, they impart wise counsel also, against which no forces of evil can prevail, no more than the Titans could prevail

against the wisdom of the gods of Olympus, 37-64;

e) Wisely ordered might will ever prosper, while brute force falls with its own weight, witness the fates of Gyas, of Orion, of the giants, Tityos, and Pirithous, 65–80.

2. Time: Probably about 27 B.C.

3. Metre Alcaic. Introd. § 43.

Descende caelo et dic age tibia
Regina longum Calliope melos,
Seu voce nunc mavis acuta
Seu fidibus citharaque Phoebi.

Auditis, an me ludit amabilis
Insania? Audire et videor pios

5

Errare per lucos, amoenae

Quos et aquae subeunt et aurae.