The Works of Horace In English Verse By several hands. Collected and Published By Mr. Duncombe. With Notes Historical and Critical |
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 | The Works of Horace In English Verse |  |
441
ODE V. To Augustus.
O born when Stars auspicious smil'd;Of joyful Rome thou Guardian mild!
No longer let the Senate mourn,
But, faithful to thy Word, return!
Indulgent Chief, O! chear our Hearts,
For, as the Spring new Life imparts,
So, in thy Presence, smoother run
The Hours, and brighter shines the Sun.
As some fond Mother begs of Heaven,
Her Boy may to her Arms be given,
Whom Winds, with envious Blast, detain
Beyond the rough Carpathian Main;
Her Hands she raises to the Skies,
Nor from the Shore can turn her Eyes;
Thy Country, smit with warm Desires,
Devoutly thus her Lord requires!
442
And Ceres crowns with golden Grain
Our smiling Fields. From Shore to Shore,
The Merchant wafts his costly Store.
Justice her Head unblemish'd rears,
Nor any Violation fears.
Adultery, that spotted Crime,
No more pollutes our happy Clime.
Example has a powerful Sway,
The People Thine with Joy obey!
To the chaste Mother's just Renown,
By his like Son the Sire is known.
The Pains, to flagrant Vices due,
The bold Offender strait pursue.
If Cæsar be but safe, who fears
Th'enormous Sons Germania rears?
Who trembles at th'Iberian War,
Or Parthians, shooting from afar?
In his own Vineyard each Man spends
The Day; and with sweet Labour tends
His rural Task; to prune, or twine
Round the tall Elm the fruitful Vine;
Then takes a simple cheap Repaste;
And, ere he will presume to taste
443
And with his Houshold Gods adores
Cæsar belov'd!—We bless thy Name,
And join Thee living to the Fame
Of Castor and great Hercules,
The tutelary Gods of Greece!
‘May'st thou, indulgent Chief, prolong
‘Our Joy with many a Festal Song!’
Thus, sober in the Morn, we pray;
And, mellow, thus we close the Day.
| The Works of Horace In English Verse | |