Odes by Horace

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THE ODES AND CARMEN SAECULARE OF HORACE

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JAM SATIS TERRIS.


Enough of snow and hail at last

The Sire has sent in vengeance down:

His
bolts, at His own temple cast, Appall'd the town,

Appall'd the lands, lest Pyrrha's time

Return, with all its monstrous sights,

When Proteus led his flocks to climb

The flatten'd heights,

When fish were in the elm-tops caught,

Where once the stock-dove wont to bide,

And does were floating, all distraught,

Adown the tide.

Old Tiber, hurl'd in tumult back

From mingling with the Etruscan main,

Has threaten'd Numa's court with wrack

And Vesta's fane.

Roused by his Ilia's plaintive woes,

He vows revenge for guiltless blood,

And, spite of Jove, his banks o'erflows,

Uxorious flood.

Yes, Fame shall tell of civic steel

That better Persian lives had spilt,

To youths, whose minish'd numbers feel

Their parents' guilt.

What god shall Rome invoke to stay

Her fall? Can suppliance overbear

The ear of Vesta, turn'd away

From chant and prayer?

Who comes, commission'd to atone

For crime like ours? at length appear,

A cloud round thy bright shoulders thrown,

Apollo seer!

Or Venus, laughter-loving dame,

Round whom gay Loves and Pleasures fly;

Or thou, if slighted sons may claim

A parent's eye,

O
weary--with thy long, long game, Who lov'st fierce shouts and helmets bright,

And Moorish warrior's glance of flame

Or e'er he smite!

Or Maia's son, if now awhile

In youthful guise we see thee here,

Caesar's avenger--such the style

Thou deign'st to bear;

Late be thy journey home, and long

Thy sojourn with Rome's family;

Nor let thy wrath at our great wrong

Lend wings to fly.

Here take our homage, Chief and Sire;

Here wreathe with bay thy conquering brow,

And bid the prancing Mede retire,

Our Caesar thou!





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