The Odes/Book II

Book I

The Odes Book II written by Horace

Book III

Translated by A. S. Kline

1. To Pollio, Writing His History of the Civil Wars
2. Money
3. One Ending
4. Loving A Servant Girl
5. Be Patient
6. Tibur and Tarentum
7. A Friend Home From the Wars
8. Faithless Barine
9. Stop Weeping
10. The Golden Mean
11. Don’t Ask
12. Terentia’s Singing
13. Nearly, Tree
14. Eheu Fugaces
15. Excess
16. Contentment
17. We’ll Go Together
18. Vain Riches

BkII:XIX To Bacchus

I saw Bacchus on distant cliffs - believe me,

O posterity - he was teaching songs there,

and the Nymphs were learning them, and all

the goat-footed Satyrs with pointed ears.

Evoe! My mind fills with fresh fear, my heart

filled with Bacchus, is troubled, and violently

rejoices. Evoe! Spare me, Liber,

dreaded for your mighty thyrsus, spare me.

It’s right to sing of the wilful Bacchantes,

the fountain of wine, and the rivers of milk,

to sing of the honey that’s welling,

and sliding down from the hollow tree-trunks:

It’s right to sing of your bride turned goddess, your

Ariadne, crowned among stars: the palace

of Pentheus, shattered in ruins,

and the ending of Thracian Lycurgus.

You direct the streams, and the barbarous sea,

and on distant summits, you drunkenly tie

the hair of the Bistonian women,

with harmless knots made of venomous snakes.

When the impious army of Giants tried

to climb through the sky to Jupiter’s kingdom,

you hurled back Rhoetus, with the claws

and teeth of the terrifying lion.

Though you’re said to be more suited to dancing,

laughter, and games, and not equipped to suffer

the fighting, nevertheless you shared

the thick of battle as well as the peace.

Cerberus saw you, unharmed, and adorned

with your golden horn, and, stroking you gently,

with his tail, as you departed, licked

your ankles and feet with his triple tongue.

BkII:XX Poetic Immortality

A poet of dual form, I won’t be carried

through the flowing air on weak or mundane wings,

nor will I linger down here on earth,

for any length of time: beyond envy,

I’ll leave the cities behind. It’s not I, born

of poor parents, it’s not I, who hear your voice,

beloved Maecenas, I who’ll die,

or be encircled by Stygian waters.

Even now the rough skin is settling around

my ankles, and now above them I’ve become

a snow-white swan, and soft feathers are

emerging over my arms and shoulders.

Soon, a melodious bird, and more famous

than Icarus, Daedalus’ son, I’ll visit

Bosphorus’ loud shores, Gaetulian

Syrtes, and the Hyperborean plains.

Colchis will know me, so will the Scythians,

who pretend to show no fear of Italian

troops, and the Geloni: Spain will learn

from me, the expert, and those who drink Rhone.

No dirges at my insubstantial funeral,

no elegies, and no unseemly grieving:

suppress all the clamour, not for me

the superfluous honour of a tomb.

Index of First Lines

You’re handling the Civil Wars, since Metellus. 5

Crispus, silver concealed in the greedy earth. 7

When things are troublesome, always remember,8

Phocian Xanthis, don’t be ashamed of love. 9

She’s not ready to bear a yoke on her bowed. 10

Septimus, you, who are prepared to visit11

O Pompey, often led, with me, by Brutus,12

If any punishment ever visited. 13

The rain doesn’t fall from the clouds forever14

You’ll live more virtuously, my Murena,15

Don’t ask what the warlike Spaniards are plotting,16

You’d not wish the theme of Numantia’s fierce wars. 17

Tree, whoever planted you first it was done. 18

Oh how the years fly, Postumus, Postumus,20

Not long now and our princely buildings will leave. 21

It’s peace the sailor asks of the gods, when he’s. 22

Why do you stifle me with your complaining?. 24

There’s no ivory, there’s no. 26

I saw Bacchus on distant cliffs - believe me,28

A poet of dual form, I won’t be carried. 30

Metres Used in Book II.

The number of syllables most commonly employed in each standard line of the verse is given. This may vary slightly for effect (two beats substituted for three etc.) in a given line.

Alcaic Strophe: 11 (5+6) twice, 9, 10

used in Odes: 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,14,15,17,19, 20

Sapphic and Adonic: 11(5+6) three times, 5

Odes: 2,4,6,8,10,16

First Asclepiadean: 12 (6+6) all lines

Odes: None in Book II

Second Asclepiadean: 8, 12 (6+6), alternating

Odes: None in Book II

Third Asclepiadean: 12 (6+6) three times, 8

Ode: 12

Fourth Asclepiadean: 12 (6+6) twice, 7, 8

Odes: None in Book II

Fifth Asclepiadean: 16 (6+4+6) all lines

Odes: None in Book II

Alcmanic Strophe: 17 (7+10) or less, 11 or less, alternating

Odes: None in Book II

First Archilochian: 17 (7+10) or less, 7 alternating

Odes: None in Book II

Fourth Archilochian Strophe: 18 (7+11) or less, 11 (5+6) alternating

Odes: None in Book II

Second Sapphic Strophe: 7, 15 (5+10) alternating

Odes: None in Book II

Trochaic Strophe: 7,11 alternating

Ode: 18

Ionic a Minore: 16 twice, 8

Odes: None in Book II