The Odes and Epodon of Horace, In Five Books Translated into English by J. H. [i.e. John Harington] |
 | 1. |
| II. |
 | III. |
| I. |
| 2. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. | Ode VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
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 | The Odes and Epodon of Horace, In Five Books |  |
Ode VI.
To the ROMANS, touching the corruped Manners of that Age.
Roman
, thou Grandsire-crimes shalt rue,
Till falling Fanes o'th' Gods renew;
Cleanse those Images, with smoak,
Grown foul, which you invoke.
Till falling Fanes o'th' Gods renew;
Cleanse those Images, with smoak,
Grown foul, which you invoke.
Whilst yield to th' Gods chief Empire's thine;
To those both first and last resign:
Gods contemn'd pour'd Vengeance free
On mournful Italy.
To those both first and last resign:
Gods contemn'd pour'd Vengeance free
On mournful Italy.
Now twice Monæse, Pacorus hand
Hath foil'd our hapless Roman Band;
Glistering, since joyned prize each day
To their small Chains, more gay.
Hath foil'd our hapless Roman Band;
Glistering, since joyned prize each day
To their small Chains, more gay.
Dacus and Æthiops hy might
Rome neer destroy'd 'midst Civil spight;
Dreadful that through Navy deem'd,
For Archers this esteem'd.
Rome neer destroy'd 'midst Civil spight;
Dreadful that through Navy deem'd,
For Archers this esteem'd.
59
Our vile, Sin-fruitful Age abus'd
First Nuptial beds, thence stain diffus'd;
Slaughters from this Fountain flow'd
Through th' Common-wealth abroad.
First Nuptial beds, thence stain diffus'd;
Slaughters from this Fountain flow'd
Through th' Common-wealth abroad.
The Virgin grown must learn to Dance
Ionick-ways, by Art can prance;
To Study from a Child begins
Base loves, and early Sins.
Ionick-ways, by Art can prance;
To Study from a Child begins
Base loves, and early Sins.
Younger Adulterers then seeks,
Her Spouse or'e gorg'd with Wine, nor picks
One i'th' Dark, to whom she may
Snatch'd Lawless Joys display;
Her Spouse or'e gorg'd with Wine, nor picks
One i'th' Dark, to whom she may
Snatch'd Lawless Joys display;
But open call'd, and Conscious too
Her Spouse, does rising jet below;
Free for Merchant Pilot's game,
Dear purchasers of shame.
Her Spouse, does rising jet below;
Free for Merchant Pilot's game,
Dear purchasers of shame.
The Youth from no such Parents sprung
Dy'd Seas with blood from Punick wrung;
Whence ANTIOCUS did fall,
PYRRHUS, dire HANNIBAL:
Dy'd Seas with blood from Punick wrung;
Whence ANTIOCUS did fall,
PYRRHUS, dire HANNIBAL:
But manly Race, more rustick-born,
Stout-bred; who practis'd oft (no scorn)
Sabine ploughs, would loaded bear
Cleft logs, if Task severe
Stout-bred; who practis'd oft (no scorn)
Sabine ploughs, would loaded bear
Cleft logs, if Task severe
Mother impos'd; when Sun did change
The Mountain-shades, and loos'd at Grange
Yoak'd Oxen tir'd; night drawing on,
Well pleas'd day's Charret gone.
The Mountain-shades, and loos'd at Grange
Yoak'd Oxen tir'd; night drawing on,
Well pleas'd day's Charret gone.
What will not hurtful Time impair?
Our Fathers worse then Grandsires far,
More tainted Us produc'd; who will
Leave fouler Off-spring still.
Our Fathers worse then Grandsires far,
More tainted Us produc'd; who will
Leave fouler Off-spring still.
| The Odes and Epodon of Horace, In Five Books | |