A Poetical Translation of the works of Horace With the Original Text, and Critical Notes collected from his best Latin and French Commentators. By the Revd Mr. Philip Francis...The third edition |
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Ode XXIX. To Mæcenas.
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 | A Poetical Translation of the works of Horace |  |
Ode XXIX. To Mæcenas.
Descended from an ancient Line,
That once the Tuscan Sceptre sway'd,
Haste thee to meet the generous Wine,
Whose piercing is for Thee delay'd;
For Thee the fragrant Essence flows,
For Thee, Mæcenas, breathes the blooming Rose.
That once the Tuscan Sceptre sway'd,
Haste thee to meet the generous Wine,
Whose piercing is for Thee delay'd;
For Thee the fragrant Essence flows,
For Thee, Mæcenas, breathes the blooming Rose.
From the Delights, Oh! break away,
Which Tibur's marshy Prospect yields,
Nor with unceasing Joy survey
Fair Æsula's declining Fields;
No more the verdant Hills admire
Of Telegon, who kill'd his aged Sire.
Which Tibur's marshy Prospect yields,
Nor with unceasing Joy survey
Fair Æsula's declining Fields;
No more the verdant Hills admire
Of Telegon, who kill'd his aged Sire.
329
Instant forsake the joyless Feast,
Where Appetite in Surfeit dies,
And from the tower'd Structure haste,
That proudly threatens to the Skies;
From Rome and its tumultuous Joys,
Its Crouds, and Smoke, and Opulence, and Noise.
Where Appetite in Surfeit dies,
And from the tower'd Structure haste,
That proudly threatens to the Skies;
From Rome and its tumultuous Joys,
Its Crouds, and Smoke, and Opulence, and Noise.
To frugal Treats, and humble Cells,
With grateful Change the Wealthy fly,
Where health-preserving Plainness dwells,
Far from the Carpet's gaudy Dye.
Such Scenes have charm'd the Pangs of Care,
And smooth'd the clouded Forehead of Despair.
With grateful Change the Wealthy fly,
Where health-preserving Plainness dwells,
Far from the Carpet's gaudy Dye.
Such Scenes have charm'd the Pangs of Care,
And smooth'd the clouded Forehead of Despair.
Andromeda's conspicuous Sire
Now darts his hidden Beams from far;
The Lion shews his madning Fire,
And barks fierce Procyon's raging Star,
While Phœbus, with revolving Ray,
Brings back the Burnings of the thirsty Day.
Now darts his hidden Beams from far;
The Lion shews his madning Fire,
And barks fierce Procyon's raging Star,
While Phœbus, with revolving Ray,
Brings back the Burnings of the thirsty Day.
Fainting beneath the sweltring Heat,
To cooling Streams, and breezy Shades
The Shepherd and his Flocks retreat,
While rustic Sylvans seek the Glades,
Silent the Brook its Borders laves,
Nor curls one vagrant Breath of Wind the Waves.
To cooling Streams, and breezy Shades
The Shepherd and his Flocks retreat,
While rustic Sylvans seek the Glades,
Silent the Brook its Borders laves,
Nor curls one vagrant Breath of Wind the Waves.
331
But you for Rome's imperial State
Attend with ever-watchful Care,
Or, for the World's uncertain Fate
Alarm'd, with ceaseless Terrours fear;
Anxious what Eastern Wars impend,
Or what the Scythians in their Pride intend.
Attend with ever-watchful Care,
Or, for the World's uncertain Fate
Alarm'd, with ceaseless Terrours fear;
Anxious what Eastern Wars impend,
Or what the Scythians in their Pride intend.
But Jove, in Goodness ever wise,
Hath hid, in Clouds of depthless Night,
All that in future Prospect lies,
Beyond the Ken of mortal Sight,
And laughs to see vain Man opprest
With idle Fears, and more than Man di stist.
Hath hid, in Clouds of depthless Night,
All that in future Prospect lies,
Beyond the Ken of mortal Sight,
And laughs to see vain Man opprest
With idle Fears, and more than Man di stist.
Then wisely form the present Hour;
Enjoy the Bliss which it bestows;
The rest is all beyond our Power;
And like the changeful Tiber flows,
Who now beneath his Banks subsides,
And peaceful to his native Ocean glides,
Enjoy the Bliss which it bestows;
The rest is all beyond our Power;
And like the changeful Tiber flows,
Who now beneath his Banks subsides,
And peaceful to his native Ocean glides,
But when descends a sudden Shower
And wild provokes his silent Flood,
The Mountains hear the Torrent roar,
And Echoes shake the neighbouring Wood,
Then swollen with Rage He sweeps away
Uprooted Trees, Herds, Dwellings to the Sea.
And wild provokes his silent Flood,
The Mountains hear the Torrent roar,
And Echoes shake the neighbouring Wood,
Then swollen with Rage He sweeps away
Uprooted Trees, Herds, Dwellings to the Sea.
333
Happy the Man, and He alone,
Who Master of himself can say,
To-day at least hath been my own,
For I have clearly liv'd To-day;
Then let To-morrow's Clouds arise,
Or purer Suns o'erspread the chearful Skies,
Who Master of himself can say,
To-day at least hath been my own,
For I have clearly liv'd To-day;
Then let To-morrow's Clouds arise,
Or purer Suns o'erspread the chearful Skies,
Not Jove himself can now make void
The Joy, that wing'd the flying Hour;
The certain Blessing once enjoy'd
Is safe beyond the Godhead's Power;
Nought can recall the acted Scene,
What hath been, spite of Jove himself, hath been.
The Joy, that wing'd the flying Hour;
The certain Blessing once enjoy'd
Is safe beyond the Godhead's Power;
Nought can recall the acted Scene,
What hath been, spite of Jove himself, hath been.
But Fortune, ever-changing Dame,
Indulges her malicious Joy,
And constant plays her haughty Game,
Proud of her Office to destroy;
To-day to me her Bounty flows,
And now to others she the Bliss bestows.
Indulges her malicious Joy,
And constant plays her haughty Game,
Proud of her Office to destroy;
To-day to me her Bounty flows,
And now to others she the Bliss bestows.
I can applaud her while she stays,
But if she shake her rapid Wings,
I can resign, with careless Ease,
The richest Gifts her Favour brings,
Then folded lie in Virtue's Arms,
Ard honest Poverty's undower'd Charms.
But if she shake her rapid Wings,
I can resign, with careless Ease,
The richest Gifts her Favour brings,
Then folded lie in Virtue's Arms,
Ard honest Poverty's undower'd Charms.
Though the Mast howl beneath the Wind,
I make no mercenary Prayers,
Nor with the Gods a Bargain bind
With future Vows and streaming Tears,
To save my Wealth from adding more
To boundless Ocean's avaricious Store;
I make no mercenary Prayers,
Nor with the Gods a Bargain bind
With future Vows and streaming Tears,
To save my Wealth from adding more
To boundless Ocean's avaricious Store;
335
Then in my little Barge I'll ride,
Secure amid the foamy Wave,
Calm will I stem the threatening Tide,
And fearless all its Tumults brave;
Even then perhaps some kinder Gale,
While the Twin Stars appear, shall fill my joyful Sail.
Secure amid the foamy Wave,
Calm will I stem the threatening Tide,
And fearless all its Tumults brave;
Even then perhaps some kinder Gale,
While the Twin Stars appear, shall fill my joyful Sail.
| A Poetical Translation of the works of Horace | |