For two millennia the Odes of Horace have been classics of western civilisation, translated into every European language and cherished by generations of readers for their variety and felicity of expression, their evocation of nature,and their ripe Wisdom, saved from triteness by irony and humour. Horace himself prophesied that they would last as long as Latin was spoken, and they have far outlived his prediction.The Odes have been a favourite with English poets since the Renaissance, from Sidney to Milton, Marvell to Wordsworth and Tennyson to Kipling. They have inspired translations by Ben Jonson, John Dryden, Joseph AddiSon, Samuel Johnson, Branwell Bronte Arthur Hugh Clough,A. E. Housman, Sir Edward Marsh and others.

For nearly two millennia the Odes of Horace have been among the lasting and living items from the legacy of classical antiquity. From the Renaissance to the twentieth century they were one of the most cherished of Europe’s literary possessions, one of the best-loved of all books of verse. No author from the ancient world has inspired so many translators and imitators……

Introduction

BOOK ONE

1 To Maecenas (Maecenas atavis edite regibus)

2 To Augustus (Iam satis terris nivis atque dirae)

  That all the Gods are angry with the Romans for the killing

  of Julius Caesar: that the only hope of the Empire is placed

  in Augustus

3 To the Ship carrying Virgil to Athens

  (Sic te diva potens Cypri)

4 To Lucius Sestius

  (Solvitur acris hiems grata vice veris et Favoni)

5 To Pyrrha (Quis multagradlis tepuer in rosa)

6 To Agrippa (Scriberis Vario fortis et hostium)

7 To Lucius Munatius Plancus

  (Laudabunt alii claram Rhodon aut Mytilenen)

8 To Lydia (Lydia, dic, per omnis)

9 To Thaliarchus (Vides ut alta stet nive candidum)

10 To Mercury (Mercuri, facunde nepos Atlantis)

11 To Leuconoe

(Tune quaesieris, scire nefas, quem mihi, quem tibi)

He exhorteth Leuconoe, that care omitted she seek to

please herself, taking argument from the shortness of life,

and speed of death

12 To Augustus (Quem virum aut heroa lyra vel acri)

13 To Lydia (Cure tu, Lydia, Telephi)

14 The Ship of State (O navis, referent in mare te novi)

15 (Pastor cure traheret perfreta navibus)

Nereus sings the fall of Troy, occasioned by Paris’

rape of Helen

16 (O matre pulchra filia pulchrior)

A recantation for a copy of iambics written on a young hdy

17 ( Velox amoenum saepe Lucretilem)

He commends his country seat, and invites his mistress thither

18 To Quintilius Varus

(Nullam, Vare, sacra vite prius severis arborem)

That with moderate drinking of wine, the mind is

exhilarated: with immoderate, quarrels begotten

19 (Mater saeva Cupidinum)

20 To Maecenas (Vile potabis modicis Sabinum)

21 Hymn to Diana and Apollo

(Dianam tenerae dicite virgines)

22 To Aristius Fuscus (Integer vitae scelerisque purus)

23 To Chloe (Vitas inuleo me similis, Chloe)

24 To Virgil on the Death ofQuintilius Varus

(Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus)

25 To Lydia (Parcius iunctas quatiunt fenestras)

26 In praise of Aelius Lamia

(Musis amicus tristitiam et metus)

27 To his Companions (Natis in usum laetitiae scyphis)

28 The Ghost of Archytas to the Sailor

(Te maris et terrae numeroque carentis harenae)

29 To Iccius (Icci, beatis nunc Arabum invides)

30 To Venus (O Venus, regina Cnidi Paphique)

……