The Odes/Book IV

Book III

The Odes Book IV written by Horace

Translated by A. S. Kline

1. Venus, be Merciful
2. Augustus’s Return
3. To The Muse
4. Drusus and the Claudians
5. To Augustus
6. To Apollo
7. Diffugere Nives
8. Poetry
9. Lollius
10. Age
11. Maecenas’ Birthday
12. Spring
13. You too, Lyce
14. [[The Odes/Book IV/14|Drusus and Tiberius ===

BkIV:XV To Augustus

Phoebus condemned my verse, when I tried to sing

of war and conquered cities, lest I unfurled

my tiny sail on Tyrrhenian

seas. Caesar, this age has restored rich crops

to the fields, and brought back the standards, at last,

to Jupiter, those that we’ve now recovered

from insolent Parthian pillars,

and closed the gates of Romulus’ temple,

freed at last from all war, and tightened the rein

on lawlessness, straying beyond just limits,

and has driven out crime, and summoned

the ancient arts again, by which the name

of Rome and Italian power grew great,

and the fame and majesty of our empire,

were spread from the sun’s lair in the west,

to the regions where it rises at dawn.

With Caesar protecting the state, no civil

disturbance will banish the peace, no violence,

no anger that forges swords, and makes

mutual enemies of wretched towns.

The tribes who drink from the depths of the Danube,

will not break the Julian law, the Getae,

nor Seres, nor faithless Persians,

nor those who are born by the Don’s wide stream.

On working days, and the same on holy days,

among laughter-loving Bacchus’ gifts to us,

with our wives and our children we’ll pray,

at first, to the gods, in the rites laid down,

then, in the manner of our fathers, bravely,

in verse, that’s accompanied by Lydian flutes,

we’ll sing past leaders, we’ll sing of Troy,

Anchises, and the people of Venus.

Index of First Lines

Venus now you’ve returned again. 5

Iulus, whoever tries to rival Pindar,7

Melpomene, Muse, one whom you. 9

Like the winged agent of the bright lightning-bolt,10

Son of the blessed gods, and greatest defender13

God, whom Niobe’s children encountered, O.. 15

The snow has vanished, already the grass returns to the fields,17

I’d give bowls, generously, and pleasing bronzes,18

Don’t think that the words I speak to accompany. 19

O you who are cruel still, and a master of Venus’s gifts,21

I’ve a jar of Alban wine over nine years. 22

Now Spring’s companions, the Thracian northerlies,24

Lyce, the gods have heard my prayers, the gods have. 25

What care the Citizens and the Senators. 26

Phoebus condemned my verse, when I tried to sing. 28

Metres Used in Book IV.

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: 4,9,14,15

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

Odes: 2,6,11

First Asclepiadean: 12 (6+6) all lines

Ode: 8

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

Odes: 1,3

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

Odes 5,12

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

Ode:13

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

Ode: 10

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

Odes: None in Book IV

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

Ode: 7

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

Odes: None in Book IV

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

Odes: None in Book IV

Trochaic Strophe: 7,11 alternating

Odes: None in Book IV

Ionic a Minore: 16 twice, 8

Ode: None in Book IV