The Works of Horace

 Table of Contents

 Handy Literal Translations

 The First Book of the Odes of Horace.

 Ode i. To Maecenas.

 Ode ii. To Augustus Caesar

 Ode iii. To the Ship, in Which Virgil Was About to Sail to Athens.

 Ode iv. To Sextius.

 Ode v. To Pyrrha.

 Ode vi. To Agrippa.

 Ode vii. To Munatius Plancus.

 Ode viii. To Lydia.

 Ode ix. To Thaliarchus.

 Ode x. To Mercury.

 Ode xi. To Leuconoe.

 Ode xii. To Augustus.

 Ode xiii. To Lydia.

 Ode xiv. To the Roman State.

 Ode xv. To Paris.

 Ode xvi. To a Young Lady Horace Had Offended.

 Ode xvii. To Tyndaris.

 Ode xviii. To Varus.

 Ode xix. To Glycera.

 Ode xx. To Maecenas.

 Ode xxi. On Diana and Apollo.

 Ode xxii. To Aristius Fuscus.

 Ode xxiii. To Chloe.

 Ode xxiv. To Virgil.

 Ode xxv. To Lydia.

 Ode xxvi. To Aelius Lamia.

 Ode xxvii. To His Companions.

 Ode xxviii. Archytas.

 Ode xxix. To Iccius.

 Ode xxx. To Venus.

 Ode xxxi. To Apollo.

 Ode xxxii. To His Lyre.

 Ode xxxiii. To Albius Tibullus.

 Ode xxxiv. Against the Epicurians.

 Ode xxxv. To Fortune.

 Ode xxxvi.

 Ode xxxvii. To His Companions.

 Ode xxxviii. To His Servant.

 The Second Book of the Odes of Horace.

 Ode i. To Asinius Pollio.

 Ode ii. To Crispus Sallustius.

 Ode iii. To Quintus Dellius.

 Ode iv. To Xanthias Phoceus.

 Ode v.

 Ode vi. To Septimus.

 Ode vii. To Pompeius Varus.

 Ode viii. To Barine.

 Ode ix. To Titus Valgius.

 Ode x. To Licinius Murena.

 Ode xi. To Quintius Hirpinus.

 Ode xii. To Maecenas.

 Ode xiii. To a Tree.

 Ode xiv. To Postumus.

 Ode xv. Against the Luxury of the Romans.

 Ode xvi. To Grosphus.

 Ode xvii. To Maecenas.

 Ode xviii. Against Avarice and Luxury.

 Ode xix. On Bacchus.

 A Dithyrambic, or Drinking Song.

 Ode xx. To Maecenas.

 The Third Book of the Odes of Horace.

 Ode i. On Contentment.

 Ode ii. Against the Degeneracy of the Roman Youth.

 Ode iii. On Steadiness and Integrity.

 Ode iv. To Calliope.

 Ode v. On the Recovery of the Standards From Phraates.

 Ode vi. To the Romans.

 Ode vii. To Asterie.

 Ode viii. To Maecenas.

 Ode ix. To Lydia.

 Ode x. To Lyce.

 Ode xi. To Mercury.

 Ode xii. To Neobule.

 Ode xiii. To the Bandusian Fountain.

 Ode xiv. To the Romans.

 Ode xv. To Chloris.

 Ode xvi. To Maecenas.

 Ode xvii. To Aelius Lamia.

 Ode xviii. To Faunus.

 A Hymn.

 Ode xix. To Telephus.

 Ode xx. To Pyrrhus.

 Ode xxi. To His Jar.

 Ode xxii. To Diana.

 Ode xxiii. To Phidyle.

 Ode xxiv. To the Covetous.

 Ode xxv. To Bacchus.

 A Dithyrambic.

 Ode xxvi. To Venus.

 Ode xxvii. To Galatea, Upon Her Going to Sea.

 Ode xxviii. To Lyde.

 Ode xxix. To Maecenas.

 Ode xxx. On His Own Works.

 The Fourth Book of the Odes of Horace.

 Ode i. To Venus.

 Ode ii. To Antonius Iulus.

 Ode iii. To Melpomene.

 Ode iv The Praise of Drusus.

 Ode v. To Augustus.

 Ode vi. Hymn to Apollo.

 Ode vii. To Torquatus.

 Ode viii. To Marcius Censorinus.

 Ode ix. To Marcus Lollius.

 Ode x. To Ligurinus.

 Ode xi. To Phyllis.

 Ode xii. To Virgil.

 Ode xiii. To Lyce.

 Ode xiv. To Augustus.

 Ode xv. To Augustus, on the Restoration of Peace.

 The Book of the Epodes of Horace.

 Ode i. To Maecenas.

 Ode ii. The Praises of a Country Life.

 Ode iii. To Maecenas.

 Ode iv. To Menas.

 Ode v. The Witches Mangling a Boy.

 Ode vi. Against Cassius Severus.

 Ode vii. To the Roman People.

 Ode viii. Upon a Wanton Old Woman.

 Ode ix. To Maecenas.

 Ode x. Against Maevius.

 Ode xi. To Pectius.

 Ode xii. To a Woman Whose Charms Were Over.

 Ode xiii. To a Friend.

 Ode xiv. To Maecenas.

 Ode xv. To Neaera.

 Ode xvi. To the Roman People.

 Ode xvii.

 Dialogue Between Horace and Canidia.

 Canidia's Answer.

 The Secular Poem of Horace. To Apollo and Diana.

 The First Book of the Satires of Horace.

 Satire i. That all, but especially the covetous, think their own condition the hardest.

 Satire ii. Bad men, when they avoid certain vices, fall into their opposite extremes.

 Satire iii. We might to connive at the faults of our friends, and all offences are not to be ranked in the catalogue of crimes.

 Satire iv. He apologizes for the liberties taken by satiric poets in general, and particularly by himself.

 Satire v. He describes a certain journey of his from Rome to Brundusium with great pleasantry.

 Satire vi. Of true nobility.

 Satire vii. He humorously describes a squabble betwixt Rupilius and Persius.

 Satire viii. Priapus complains that the Esquilian mount is infested with the incantations of sorceresses.

 Satire ix. He describes his sufferings from the loquacity of an impertinent fellow.

 Satire x. He supports the judgment which he had before given of Lucilius, and intersperses some excellent precepts for the writing of Satire.

 The Second Book of the Satires of Horace.

 Satire i. He supposes himself to consult with Trebatius, whether he should desist from writing satires, or not.

 Satire ii. On Frugality.

 Satire iii. Damasippus, in a conversation with Horace, proves this paradox of the Stoic philosophy, that most men are actually mad.

 Satire iv. He ridicules the absurdity of one Catius, who placed the summit of human felicity in the culinary art.

 Satire v. In a humorous dialogue between Ulysses and Tiresias, he exposes those arts which the fortune hunters make use of, in order to be appointed t

 Satire vi. He sets the conveniences of a country retirement in opposition to the troubles of a life in town.

 Satire vii. One of Horace's slaves, making use of that freedom which was allowed them at the Saturnalia, rates his master in a droll and severe manner

 Satire viii. A smart description of a miser ridiculously acting the extravagant.

 The First Book of the Epistles of Horace.

 Epistle i. To Maecenas. The poet renounces all verses of a ludicrous turn, and resolves to apply himself wholly to the study of philosophy, which teac

 Epistle ii. To Lollius. He prefers Homer to all the philosophers, as a moral writer, and advises an early cultivation of virtue.

 Epistle iii. To Julius Florus. After inquiring about Claudius Tiberius Nero, and some of his friends, he exhorts Florus to the study of philosophy.

 Epistle iv. To Albius Tibullus. He declares his accomplishments and, after proposing the thought of death, converts it into an occasion of pleasantry

 Epistle v. To Torquatus. He invites him to a frugal entertainment, but a cleanly and cheerful one.

 Epistle vi. To Numicius. That a wise man is in love with nothing but virtue.

 Epistle vii. To Maecenas. He apologizes to Maecenas for his long absence from Rome and acknowledges his favors to him in such a manner as to declare

 Epistle viii. To Celsus Albinovanus. That he was neither well in body, nor in mind that Celtics should bear his prosperity with moderation.

 Epistle ix. To Claudius Tiberius Nero. He recommends Septimius to him.

 Epistle x. To Aristius Fuscus. He praises a country before a city life, as more agreeable to nature, and more friendly to liberty.

 Epistle xi. To Bullatius. Endeavoring to recall him back to Rome from Asia, whither he had retreated through his weariness of the civil wars, he advis

 Epistle xii. To Iccius. Leader the appearance of praising the man's parsimony, he archly ridicules it introduces Grosphus to him, and concludes with

 Epistle xiii. To Vinnius Asina. Horace cautions him to present his poems to Augustus at a proper opportunity, and with due decorum.

 Epistle xiv. To His Steward. He upbraids his levity for contemning a country life, which had been his choice, and being eager to return to Rome.

 Epistle xv. To C. Neumonius Vala. Preparing to go to the baths either at Velia or Salernum, he inquires after the healthfulness and agreeableness of t

 Epistle xvi. To Quinctius. He describes to Quinctius the form, situation, and advantages of his country house: then declares that probity consists in

 Epistle xvii. To Scaeva. That a life of business is preferable to a private and inactive one the friendship of great men is a laudable acquisition, y

 Epistle xviii. To Lollius. He treats at large upon the cultivation of the favor of great men and concludes with a few words concerning the acquiremen

 Epistle xix. To Maecenas. He shows the folly of some persons who would imitate and the envy of others who would censure him.

 Epistle xx. To His Book. In vain he endeavors to retain his book, desirous of getting abroad tells it what trouble it is to undergo, and imparts some

 The Second Book of the Epistles of Horace.

 Epistle i. To Augustus. He honors him with the highest compliments then treats copiously of poetry, its origin, character, and excellence.

 Epistle ii. To Julius Florus. In apologizing for not having written to him, he shows that the well-ordering of life is of more importance than the com

 Horace's Book Upon the Art of Poetry. To the Pisos.

Epistle i.

To Maecenas.

The poet renounces all verses of a ludicrous turn, and resolves to apply himself wholly to the study of philosophy, which teaches to bridle the desires, and to postpone every thing to virtue.

Maecenas, the subject of my earliest song, justly entitled to my latest, dost thou seek to engage me again in the old lists, having been tried sufficiently, and now presented with the foils? My age is not the same, nor is my genius. Veianius, his arms consecrated on a pillar of Hercules' temple, lives snugly retired in the country, that he may not from the extremity of the sandy amphitheater so often supplicate the people's favor. Some one seems frequently to ring in my purified ear: "Wisely in time dismiss the aged courser, lest, an object of derision, he miscarry at last, and break his wind." Now therefore I lay aside both verses, and all other sportive matters; my study and inquiry is after what is true and fitting, and I am wholly engaged in this: I lay up, and collect rules which I may be able hereafter to bring into use. And lest you should perchance ask under what leader, in what house [of philosophy], I enter myself a pupil: addicted to swear implicitly to the ipse-dixits of no particular master, wherever the weather drives me, I am carried a guest. One while I become active, and am plunged in the waves of state affairs, a maintainer and a rigid partisan of strict virtue; then again I relapse insensibly into Aristippus' maxims, and endeavor to adapt circumstances to myself, not myself to circumstances. As the night seems long to those with whom a mistress has broken her appointment, and the day slow to those who owe their labor; as the year moves lazy with minors, whom the harsh guardianship of their mothers confines; so all that time to me flows tedious and distasteful, which delays my hope and design of strenuously executing that which is of equal benefit to the poor and to the rich, which neglected will be of equal detriment to young and to old. It remains, that I conduct and comfort myself by these principles; your sight is not so piercing as that of Lynceus; you will not however therefore despise being anointed, if you are sore-eyed: nor because you despair of the muscles of the invincible Glycon, will you be careless of preserving your body from the knotty gout. There is some point to which we may reach, if we can go no further. Does your heart burn with avarice, and a wretched desire of more? Spells there are, and incantations, with which you may mitigate this pain, and rid yourself of a great part of the distemper. Do you swell with the love of praise? There are certain purgations which can restore you, a certain treatise, being perused thrice with purity of mind. The envious, the choleric, the indolent, the slave to wine, to women - none is so savage that he can not be tamed, if he will only lend a patient ear to discipline.

It is virtue, to fly vice; and the highest wisdom, to have lived free from folly. You see with what toil of mind and body you avoid those things which you believe to be the greatest evils, a small fortune and a shameful repulse. An active merchant, you run to the remotest Indies, fleeing poverty through sea, through rocks, through flames. And will you not learn, and hear, and be advised by one who is wiser, that you may no longer regard those things which you foolishly admire and wish for? What little champion of the villages and of the streets would scorn being crowned at the great Olympic games, who had the hopes and happy opportunity of victory without toil? Silver is less valuable than gold, gold than virtue. "O citizens, citizens, money is to be sought first; virtue after riches:" this the highest Janus from the lowest inculcates; young men and old repeat these maxims, having their bags and account-books hung on the left arm. You have soul, have breeding, have eloquence and honor: yet if six or seven thousand sesterces be wanting to complete your four hundred thousand, you shall be a plebeian. But boys at play cry, "You shall be king, if you will do right." Let this be a [man's] brazen wall, to be conscious of no ill, to turn pale with no guilt. Tell me, pray is the Roscian law best, or the boy's song which offers the kingdom to them that do right, sung by the manly Curii and Camilli? Does he advise you best, who says, "Make a fortune; a fortune, if you can, honestly; if not, a fortune by any means"- that you may view from a nearer bench the tear-moving poems of Puppius; or he, who still animates and enables you to stand free and upright, a match for haughty fortune?

If now perchance the Roman people should ask me, why I do not enjoy the same sentiments with them, as [I do the same] porticoes, nor pursue or fly from whatever they admire or dislike; I will reply, as the cautious fox once answered the sick lion: "Because the foot-marks all looking toward you, and none from you, affright me." Thou art a monster with many heads. For what shall I follow, or whom? One set of men delight to farm the public revenues: there are some, who would inveigle covetous widows with sweet-meats and fruits, and insnare old men, whom they would send [like fish] into their ponds: the fortunes of many grow by concealed usury. But be it, that different men are engaged in different employments and pursuits: can the same persons continue an hour together approving the same things? If the man of wealth has said, "No bay in the world outshines delightful Baiae," the lake and the sea presently feel the eagerness of their impetuous master: to whom, if a vicious humor gives the omen, [he will cry,]-"tomorrow, workmen, ye shall convey hence your tools to Teanum." Has he in his hall the genial bed? He says nothing is preferable to, nothing better than a single life. If he has not, he swears the married only are happy. With what noose can I hold this Proteus, varying thus his forms? What does the poor man? Laugh [at him too]: is he not forever changing his garrets, beds, baths, barbers? He is as much surfeited in a hired boat, as the rich man is, whom his own galley conveys.

If I meet you with my hair cut by an uneven barber, you laugh [at me]: if I chance to have a ragged shirt under a handsome coat, or if my disproportioned gown fits me ill, you laugh. What [do you do], when my judgment contradicts itself? it despises what it before desired; seeks for that which lately it neglected; is all in a ferment, and is inconsistent in the whole tenor of life; pulls down, builds up, changes square to round. In this case, you think I am mad in the common way, and you do not laugh, nor believe that I stand in need of a physician, or of a guardian assigned by the praetor; though you are the patron of my affairs, and are disgusted at the ill-pared nail of a friend that depends upon you, that reveres you.

In a word, the wise man is inferior to Jupiter alone, is rich, free, honorable, handsome, lastly, king of kings; above all, he is sound, unless when phlegm is troublesome.