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 |  |
461
ODE VIII. To Martius Censorinus.
Could I Parrhasius' Works command,
Or those which own great Scopas' Hand,
(A Hero This, or God display'd
In Marble; That with Light and Shade,)
A Cauldron, curiously imbost,
A Tripod or a Bowl of Cost,
Rewards which Grecian Leaders gave,
To crown the Merits of the Brave,
I gladly to my Friends would give,
Nor You the meanest should receive.
But these rich Gifts my Power exceed,
And such you neither prize nor need.
You Verse admire; I Verse can send,
And of the Gift the Worth commend.
Or those which own great Scopas' Hand,
(A Hero This, or God display'd
In Marble; That with Light and Shade,)
A Cauldron, curiously imbost,
A Tripod or a Bowl of Cost,
Rewards which Grecian Leaders gave,
To crown the Merits of the Brave,
I gladly to my Friends would give,
Nor You the meanest should receive.
But these rich Gifts my Power exceed,
And such you neither prize nor need.
You Verse admire; I Verse can send,
And of the Gift the Worth commend.
The Pillars in the Forum plac'd
At public Charge, with Titles grac'd,
By which great Chiefs themselves survive,
And after Death with Honour live;
And Hannibal, driv'n back with Shame,
Cannot so widely spread his Fame,
Who did from conquer'd Afric gain
His Name, as Ennius' deathless Strain.
Unless the Muse your Worth record,
It can receive no just Reward.
Who would have known, if left unsung,
The Son of Mars, from Ilia sprung,
Had envious Silence hid from View
The Praise to Rome's great Founder due?
The Bards by Song and powerful Lays
Did Æacus from Darkness raise,
And consecrate, o'er happy Isles
A God, where Spring eternal smiles.
The Muse forbids the Man to die,
Who merits Immortality:
In Heaven she seats him; thus, with Jove
Alcides feasts in Realms above.
Thus the Twin Stars, indulgent, save
The shatter'd Vessel from the Wave;
And Bacchus, crown'd with Ivy, hears
His Votaries Vows, and speeds their Prayers!
At public Charge, with Titles grac'd,
462
And after Death with Honour live;
And Hannibal, driv'n back with Shame,
Cannot so widely spread his Fame,
Who did from conquer'd Afric gain
His Name, as Ennius' deathless Strain.
Unless the Muse your Worth record,
It can receive no just Reward.
Who would have known, if left unsung,
The Son of Mars, from Ilia sprung,
Had envious Silence hid from View
The Praise to Rome's great Founder due?
The Bards by Song and powerful Lays
Did Æacus from Darkness raise,
And consecrate, o'er happy Isles
A God, where Spring eternal smiles.
The Muse forbids the Man to die,
Who merits Immortality:
In Heaven she seats him; thus, with Jove
Alcides feasts in Realms above.
Thus the Twin Stars, indulgent, save
The shatter'd Vessel from the Wave;
And Bacchus, crown'd with Ivy, hears
His Votaries Vows, and speeds their Prayers!
| The Works of Horace In English Verse | |