 | The Twelfth Epistle Of the First Book of Horace Imitated |  |
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ODE XXIX. Book I.
To ICCIUS.
Iccius, to Arts and Letters bred!
You envy, Friend, the Ivory Bed;
And Hoard of blest Arabian Gold:
Once Student wise! Now Warrior bold!
You envy, Friend, the Ivory Bed;
And Hoard of blest Arabian Gold:
Once Student wise! Now Warrior bold!
Already seems perform'd the Deed;
Before You falls the horrid Mede!
The stern Sabæan quits the Field!
(Whose Kings are yet untaught to yield!)
Rais'd is the Pyre, to burn the Slain!
Wove, for the Captive Foe, the Chain!
Before You falls the horrid Mede!
The stern Sabæan quits the Field!
(Whose Kings are yet untaught to yield!)
Rais'd is the Pyre, to burn the Slain!
Wove, for the Captive Foe, the Chain!
What Courtly Youths, with fragrant Hair,
In Fancy, wait thy Bowl to bear;
Well skill'd the Seric Shaft to throw,
Dismiss'd from the Paternal Bow!
What Matrons of the Royal Train,
(Their Lords laid level on the Plain)
By Thee, in airy Triumph, led,
Adorn thy Board, and bless thy Bed!
In Fancy, wait thy Bowl to bear;
Well skill'd the Seric Shaft to throw,
Dismiss'd from the Paternal Bow!
What Matrons of the Royal Train,
(Their Lords laid level on the Plain)
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Adorn thy Board, and bless thy Bed!
For This, You quit your Stoic Friends,
Assembled once for nobler Ends!
Preserv'd with Care! Procur'd with Cost!
Your whole Socratic House is lost!
What will your Plato now afford,
Exchang'd to an Hesperian Sword?
What your Panetius now avail,
Converted to Iberian Mail?
Assembled once for nobler Ends!
Preserv'd with Care! Procur'd with Cost!
Your whole Socratic House is lost!
What will your Plato now afford,
Exchang'd to an Hesperian Sword?
What your Panetius now avail,
Converted to Iberian Mail?
Who, concious of this Change, denies,
Prone Rivers up steep Hills may rise?
And Tyber, turn'd, re-seek his Springs?
Lost Youth! That promis'd better Things!
Prone Rivers up steep Hills may rise?
And Tyber, turn'd, re-seek his Springs?
Lost Youth! That promis'd better Things!
| The Twelfth Epistle Of the First Book of Horace Imitated | |