University of Virginia Library

TRANSLATION OF THE NINTH ODE, THIRD BOOK, OF HORACE.

Dialogue between Horace and Lydia.

HORACE.
When no fond rival's favoured arms
With rapture clasped thy snowy charms;
When but to me thy smile was given
It warmed me like the smile of heaven.
Thus blest, I envied not the state
Of Persia's monarch rich and great.

LYDIA.
When Lydia's smile allured thee more
Than Chloe's sweet seducing power,
Then did the cords of love unite
Our hearts in mutual delight;
Then so revered was Lydia's name,
I envied not great Ilia's fame!

HORACE.
The Cressian Chloe now detains
My soul in fascinating chains:
She tunes the harp's melodious strings,
But with much sweeter musick sings:
Could dying snatch my love from death,
How gladly would I yield my breath!

LYDIA.
Me, Calaïs, to love inspires;
Our bosoms glow with gentlest fires.
In him has every graced combined—
But, oh! what charms adorn his mind!
I twice the pangs of death would bear,
If Fate my Calaïs would spare!

HORACE.
Say, what if former love aspire,
And glow with an intenser fire?
Say, what if Chloe's charms I spurn—
Will Lydia to my arms return,
And bid the Paphian queen again
Unite us with a stronger chain?

LYDIA.
Though light as cork, your passions reign,
And rougher than the raging main;
Though Calaïs by far outvies
The great enlightener of the skies;
Yet from his eager love I fly,
To live with you, with you to die!