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 ii.

To Lollius.

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

While you, great Lollius, declaim at Rome, I at Praeneste have perused over again the writer of the Trojan war; who teaches more clearly, and better than Chrysippus and Crantor, what is honorable, what shameful, what profitable, what not so. If nothing hinders you, hear why I have thus concluded. The story is which, on account of Paris's intrigue, Greece is stated to be wasted in a tedious war with the barbarians, contains the tumults of foolish princes and people. Antenor gives his opinion for cutting off the cause of the war. What does Paris? He can not be brought to comply, [though it be in order] that he may reign safe, and live happy. Nestor labors to compose the differences between Achilles and Agamemnon: love inflames one; rage both in common. The Greeks suffer for what their princes act foolishly. Within the walls of Ilium, and without, enormities are committed by sedition, treachery, injustice, and lust, and rage.

Again, to show what virtue and what wisdom can do, he has propounded Ulysses an instructive pattern: who, having subdued Troy, wisely got an insight into the constitutions and customs of many nations; and, while for himself and his associates he is contriving a return, endured many hardships on the spacious sea, not to be sunk by all the waves of adversity. You are well acquainted with the songs of the Sirens, and Circe's cups: of which, if he had foolishly and greedily drunk along with his attendants, he had been an ignominious and senseless slave under the command of a prostitute: he had lived a filthy dog, or a hog delighting in mire.

We are a mere number and born to consume the fruits of the earth; like Penelope's suitors, useless drones; like Alcinous' youth, employed above measure in pampering their bodies; whose glory was to sleep till mid-day, and to lull their cares to rest by the sound of the harp. Robbers rise by night, that they may cut men's throats; and will not you awake to save yourself? But, if you will not when you are in health, you will be forced to take exercise when you are in a dropsy; and unless before day you call for a book with a light, unless you brace your mind with study and honest employments, you will be kept awake and tormented with envy or with love. For why do you hasten to remove things that hurt your eyes, but if any thing gnaws your mind, defer the time of curing it from year to year? He has half the deed done, who has made a beginning. Boldly undertake the study of true wisdom: begin it forthwith. He who postpones the hour of living well, like the hind [in the fable], waits till [all the water in] the river be run off: whereas it flows, and will flow, ever rolling on.

Money is sought, and a wife fruitful in bearing children, and wild woodlands are reclaimed by the plow. [To what end all this?] He, that has got a competency, let him wish for no more. Not a house and farm, nor a heap of brass and gold, can remove fevers from the body of their sick master, or cares from his mind. The possessor must be well, if he thinks of enjoying the things which he has accumulated. To him that is a slave to desire or to fear, house and estate do just as much good as paintings to a sore-eyed person, fomentations to the gout, music to ears afflicted with collected matter. Unless the vessel be sweet, whatever you pour into it turns sour. Despise pleasures, pleasure bought with pain is hurtful. The covetous man is ever in want; set a certain limit to your wishes. The envious person wastes at the thriving condition of another: Sicilian tyrants never invented a greater torment than envy. He who will not curb his passion, will wish that undone which his grief and resentment suggested, while he violently plies his revenge with unsated rancor. Rage is a short madness. Rule your passion, which commands, if it do not obey; do you restrain it with a bridle, and with fetters. The groom forms the docile horse, while his neck is yet tender, to go the way which his rider directs him: the young hound, from the time that he barked at the deer's skin in the hall, campaigns it in the woods. Now, while you are young, with an untainted mind Imbibe instruction: now apply yourself to the best [masters of morality]. A cask will long preserve the flavor, with which when new it was once impregnated. But if you lag behind, or vigorously push on before, I neither wait for the loiterer, nor strive to overtake those that precede me.