 | Poems Lyrical and Dramatic |  |
234
A READING OF HORACE.
Fresh from the bath, with fair and polished limbs,
Clothed in white cashmere flowered with silver silk,
Gold flagons by him on the tortoise-shell,
Sat the young Præfect of Praetorians
Among his statues, reading from a scroll.
Clothed in white cashmere flowered with silver silk,
Gold flagons by him on the tortoise-shell,
Sat the young Præfect of Praetorians
Among his statues, reading from a scroll.
“Sweet is it for the father-land to die,
And glorious”—He smiled a little smile,
And fanned himself with the white ostrich-plumes.
And glorious”—He smiled a little smile,
And fanned himself with the white ostrich-plumes.
Then with a little start he came on this,
“Jove, we believe, reigns thundering in Heaven,”—
The same slight smile but wearier than before,
“Augustus shall be held a present god”—
Change but the name, thought he, and that might stand,
At least I think the emperor exists,
And I may some day be the emperor.
“Jove, we believe, reigns thundering in Heaven,”—
The same slight smile but wearier than before,
“Augustus shall be held a present god”—
Change but the name, thought he, and that might stand,
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And I may some day be the emperor.
Then rolling up the slack, he raised his look,
And seemed to hear the clarions round him blow—
“Let the strong youth in the harsh school of war
Learn to bear kindly narrow poverty”—
Good counsel for the wretch in need thereof,
Quoth he, and let the parchment coil run out
Between his fingers on the marble floor,
Among the scattered roses at his feet.
And seemed to hear the clarions round him blow—
“Let the strong youth in the harsh school of war
Learn to bear kindly narrow poverty”—
Good counsel for the wretch in need thereof,
Quoth he, and let the parchment coil run out
Between his fingers on the marble floor,
Among the scattered roses at his feet.
He read, “Maecenas, take a hundred cups,”
And further down, “forgetful to inquire
If any where the people suffer ill
Too carefully amid thy private joys.”
This pleased him, and just then a curtain'd screen
Parted, and forth there stole on tip-toe light,
With cautious playful paces panther-like,
A ruddy, ripe-lipped, and full-bosomed maid:
And o'er his shoulder stooping suddenly,
Kissed him, and kissed him, bird-like, once or twice.
The scroll fell down, and curled up on the floor.
“Ah Horace, Horace, thou sly hypocrite,
Which of the two strains shall we deem sincere?”
And further down, “forgetful to inquire
If any where the people suffer ill
Too carefully amid thy private joys.”
This pleased him, and just then a curtain'd screen
Parted, and forth there stole on tip-toe light,
With cautious playful paces panther-like,
A ruddy, ripe-lipped, and full-bosomed maid:
And o'er his shoulder stooping suddenly,
Kissed him, and kissed him, bird-like, once or twice.
The scroll fell down, and curled up on the floor.
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Which of the two strains shall we deem sincere?”
“Both, narrow fool; though thou must take thy choice,
My soul and Cæsar's could find room for both.”
My soul and Cæsar's could find room for both.”
| Poems Lyrical and Dramatic | |