 | The odes, epodes and Carmen Seculare of Horace (1719) |  |
ODE XVI. To Grosphus.
The Sailor longs and prays for Ease,
When Storms grow loud on every side,
And far from Shore his Vessel seize,
Whilst all the Lights of Heav'n are hid.
When Storms grow loud on every side,
And far from Shore his Vessel seize,
Whilst all the Lights of Heav'n are hid.
For Ease the Warlike Thracian fights,
That never can be bought or sold;
For this the Mede in Arms delights,
Preferring Ease to heaps of Gold.
That never can be bought or sold;
For this the Mede in Arms delights,
Preferring Ease to heaps of Gold.
Nor Wealth nor Honours can allay
The inward Troubles of the Great;
Nor chace those Swarms of Cares away,
That still attend on Pomp and State.
The inward Troubles of the Great;
Nor chace those Swarms of Cares away,
That still attend on Pomp and State.
He, who is happily possess'd
Of what the Golden Mean requires,
Never resigns his balmy Rest
To slavish Fears or vain Desires.
Of what the Golden Mean requires,
Never resigns his balmy Rest
To slavish Fears or vain Desires.
'Tis foolish to enlarge our Views,
Since Life is short and quickly done;
In vain we would new Climates chuse,
But never from our selves can run.
Since Life is short and quickly done;
In vain we would new Climates chuse,
But never from our selves can run.
Nor Martial Troops, nor Ships of War,
Can ever leave black Care behind,
That still pursues them in the Rear,
Outstrips the Stag, outflies the Wind.
Can ever leave black Care behind,
That still pursues them in the Rear,
Outstrips the Stag, outflies the Wind.
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'Gainst future Ills there's no Relief;
The present Good is always best:
Be wise, and mingle Joy with Grief,
Since nothing is compleatly blest.
The present Good is always best:
Be wise, and mingle Joy with Grief,
Since nothing is compleatly blest.
Achilles was untimely slain;
Tithonus felt a slow Decay;
The Gods in various Lots to Man
Their Favours and their Frowns convey.
Tithonus felt a slow Decay;
The Gods in various Lots to Man
Their Favours and their Frowns convey.
You num'rous Flocks and Herds possess,
The fruitful Cow and neighing Mare;
You in your Chariot loll at ease;
You the best richest Scarlet wear.
The fruitful Cow and neighing Mare;
You in your Chariot loll at ease;
You the best richest Scarlet wear.
I with my Little am content,
And of my Lyrick Genius proud;
Since the good Gods their Vot'ry lent
A Soul, that can despise the Crowd.
And of my Lyrick Genius proud;
Since the good Gods their Vot'ry lent
A Soul, that can despise the Crowd.
| The odes, epodes and Carmen Seculare of Horace (1719) | |