Q. HORATII FLACCI CARMINUM LIBER I. CARMEN I, AD CILNIUM MÆCENATEM. Alios aliis studiis duci: se lyrici vatis gloriam Terrarum dominos evehit * ad Deos. *Evehere. Bentl. ↑ Hunç, si nobilium. 5 10 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE ODES OF HORACE. ODE I. TO MECENAS. All men have different attachments: Horace's taste is for Lyric Poetry, for the success of which he depends upon the patronage of Macenas. MECENAS, descended from royal ancestors, O both my protection and my darling honour! There are some whose delight it is to have collected Olympic dust in the chariot race; and whont the goal nicely avoided by glowing wheels, and the noble palm, exalts to the Gods,-the governors of the world. This man, if an assembly of the capricious Roman commonalty be bent to raise him to the highest dignities; another, if he hath * stored up in his own granary whatsoever is swept from the * Hath imported vast quantities of corn from Africa. Gaudentem patrios findere sarculo * Te. Hare. + Inseris longe suavius. Baxt. 15 20 25 30 35 Libyan threshing-floors; a third, as his delight is to plough his patrimonial fields, you could never tempt him, with all the wealth of Attalus, to become a timorous sailor, and cross the Myrtoan sea in a Cyprian bark. The merchant, dreading the south-west wind contending with the Icarian waves, commends tranquillity and the ruralness of his village but danger over, and incapable of being taught to bear poverty, he refits his shattered vessel. There is another whose highest gust is in cups of old Massic, and in breaking the day, one while stretched at ease under the green Arbutus, another at the placid head of some sacred stream. The camp, and the sound of the trumpet confused with that of the clarion, and wars detested by mothers, rejoice many. The huntsman, unmindful of his tender spouse, remains in the cold air, whether a hart is held in view by his faithful hounds, or a Marsian boar has broke the circling toils. Ivy, the reward of learned brows, equals Me (in happiness) to the Gods above: the cool grove, and the light dances of Nymphs and Satyrs, distinguish Me from the crowd; if neither Euterpe withholds her pipe, nor Polyhymnia disdains to tune the Lesbian lyre. But if you will rank me among the Lyric poets, I shall tower to the stars with my exalted head. You to the noblest heights of fame |