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.

Ode v.

The Witches Mangling a Boy.

But oh, by all the gods in heaven, who rule the earth and human race, what means this tumult? And what the hideous looks of all these [hags, fixed] upon me alone? I conjure thee by thy children (if invoked Lucina was ever present at any real birth of thine), I [conjure] thee by this empty honor of my purple, by Jupiter, who must disapprove these proceedings, why dost thou look at me as a step-mother, or as a wild beast stricken with a dart? While the boy made these complaints with a faltering voice, he stood with his bandages of distinction taken from him, a tender frame, such as might soften the impious breasts of the cruel Thracians; Canidia, having interwoven her hair and uncombed head with little vipers, orders wild fig-trees torn up from graves, orders funeral cypresses and eggs besmeared with the gore of a loathsome toad, and feathers of the nocturnal screech-owl, and those herbs, which lolchos, and Spain, fruitful in poisons, transmits, and bones snatched from the mouth of a hungry bitch, to be burned in Colchian flames. But Sagana, tucked up for expedition, sprinkling the waters of Avernus all over the house, bristles up with her rough hair like a sea-urchin, or a boar in the chase. Veia, deterred by no remorse of conscience, groaning with the toil, dug up the ground with the sharp spade; where the boy, fixed in, might long be tormented to death at the sight of food varied two or three times in a day: while he stood out with his face, just as much at bodies suspended by the chin [in swimming] project from the water, that his parched marrow and dried liver might be a charm for love; when once the pupils of his eyes had wasted away, fixed on the forbidden food. Both the idle Naples, and every neighboring town believed, that Folia of Ariminum, [a witch] of masculine lust, was not absent: she, who with her Thessalian incantations forces the charmed stars and the moon from heaven. Here the fell Canidia, gnawing her unpaired thumb with her livid teeth, what said she? or what did she not say? O ye faithful witnesses to my proceedings, Night and Diana, who presidest over silence, when the secret rites are celebrated: now, now be present, now turn your anger and power against the houses of our enemies, while the savage wild beasts lie hid in the woods, dissolved in sweet repose; let the dogs of Suburra (which may be matter of ridicule for every body) bark at the aged profligate, bedaubed with ointment, such as my hands never made any more exquisite. What is the matter? Why are these compositions less efficacious than those of the barbarian Medea? by means of which she made her escape, after having revenged herself on [Jason's] haughty mistress, the daughter of the mighty Creon; when the garment, a gift that was injected with venom, took off his new bride by its inflammatory power. And yet no herb, nor root hidden in inaccessible places, ever escaped my notice. [Nevertheless,] he sleeps in the perfumed bed of every harlot, from his forgetfulness [of me]. Ah! ah! he walks free [from my power] by the charms of some more knowing witch. Varus, (oh you that will shortly have much to lament!) you shall come back to me by means of unusual spells; nor shall you return to yourself by all the power of Marsian enchantments, I will prepare a stronger philter: I will pour in a stronger philter for you, disdainful as you are; and the heaven shall subside below the sea, with the earth extended over it, sooner than you shall not burn with love for me, in the same manner as this pitch [burns] in the sooty flames. At these words, the boy no longer [attempted], as before, to move the impious hags by soothing expressions; but, doubtful in what manner he should break silence, uttered Thyestean imprecations. Potions [said he] have a great efficacy in confounding right and wrong, but are not able to invert the condition of human nature; I will persecute you with curses; and execrating detestation is not to be expiated by any victim. Moreover, when doomed to death I shall have expired, I will attend you as a nocturnal fury; and, a ghost, I will attack your faces with my hooked talons (for such is the power of those divinities, the Manes), and, brooding upon your restless breasts, I will deprive you of repose by terror. The mob, from village to village, assaulting you on every side with stones, shall demolish you filthy hags. Finally, the wolves and Esquiline vultures shall scatter abroad your unburied limbs. Nor shall this spectacle escape the observation of my parents, who, alas! must survive me.