XVIII

NoN ebur neque aureum

mea renidet in domo lacunar, non trabes Hymettiae

premunt columnas ultima recisas

Africa, neque Attali

ignotus heres regiam occupavi,

nec Laconicas mihi

trahunt honestae purpuras clientae.

at fides et ingeni

benigna vena est, pauperemque dives

me petit: nihil supra

deos lacesso nec potentem amicum

largiora flagito,

satis beatus unicis Sabinis.

truditur dies die,

novaeque pergunt interire lunae.

tu secanda marmora

locas sub ipsum funus et sepulcri immemor struis domos,

marisque Bais obstrepentis urges

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20

ODE XVIII

The Vanity of Riches

NoT ivory or gilded panel gleams in my home, nor dɩ beams of Hymettian marble rest on pillars quarried in farthest Africa, nor have I, as heir of Attalus,1 become unwittingly the owner of a palace, nor for me do high-born dames trail robes of Laconian purple. But I have loyalty and a kindly vein of genius, and me, though poor, the rich man courts. I importune the gods for nothing more, and of my friend in power I crave no larger boon, happy enough in my cherished Sabine farm. Day treads upon the heel of day, and new moons haste to wane; yet thou on the grave's verge dost contract for the cutting of marble slabs, and, forgetful of the tomb, dost rear a palace, eager to build out the coast of the sea that thunders by Baiae,

1 In 133 B.C. Attalus III., King of Pergamus, had made the Roman people his heir.

not rich enough in the mainland shore. What, that thou tearest down each neighbouring post that marks thy farm, and in thy greed dost overleap the boundaries of thy tenants! Man and wife are driven forth bearing in their arms their household gods and ragged children. And yet no hall more certainly awaits the wealthy lord than greedy Orcus' destined bourne. Why strive for more and more? For all alike doth Earth unlock her bosom-for the poor man and for princes' sons. Nor could Orcus' minion be bribed by gold to ferry back Prometheus, the crafty. Proud Tantalus and the son of Tantalus he holdeth fast, and, summoned or unsummoned, lends an ear to free the poor man when his toils are o'er.