The Odes/Book II/8

Book II, 7: A Friend Home From the Wars

The Odes Book II, 8: Faithless Barine written by Horace

Book II, 9: Stop Weeping

Translated by A. S. Kline

Faithless Barine       If any punishment ever visited you, Barine, for all your perjuries, if you were ever harmed at all by a darkened tooth, a spoilt fingernail,   I’d trust you. But no sooner have you bound your faithless soul by promises, than you appear much lovelier, and shine out, as everyone’s dearest young thing.   It helps you to swear by your mother’s buried ashes, by all night’s silent constellations, by the heavens, and the gods, who are free from the icy chill of death.   Venus herself smiles at it all, yes she does: the artless Nymphs, smile too, and cruel Cupid, who’s always sharpening his burning arrows on a blood-stained stone.   Add that all our youths are being groomed for you, groomed as fresh slaves, while none of your old lovers leave the house of their impious mistress, as they often threatened.   All the mothers fear you, because of their sons, and the thrifty old fathers, and wretched brides, who once were virgins, in case your radiance makes husbands linger.   ...