Search -
Odes of Horace, rendered into Engl. verse by H. Grant
Odes of Horace rendered into Engl verse by H Grant Author:Quintus Horatius Flaccus Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ODE II TO AUGUSTUS CAESAR. Enough hath father Jove prevailed To vex our earth with hail and snow, The sacred towers with bolts assailed, And terrified ... more »the town below. The nations trembled with affright Lest Pyrrha's age should re-appear, When wallowed on the mountain-height The herds of ocean's wily seer, And fish stuck struggling in the tree, Where erst had dwelt its native dove, And deer amid the rising sea In terror swam their wood above. We've seen old Tiber's amber tide Relapsing from the Tuscan shore Past Numa's tower impetuous glide And Vesta's fane with angry roar, "Whilst vindicating Ilia's tears, To burst the sacred bank he strove, Uxorious stream ! that scarce reveres The mandate of imperial Jove. Diminished through their fathers' guilt, Posterity shall mourn to know How kindred blood our swords had spilt, Which best had laid the Parthian low. What god can we invoke to spare Our empire from impending fate ? Or with what supplicating prayer Shall vestals on their goddess wait ? On whom will Jove the power bestow To expiate these crimes of blood ! Cloud-robed Apollo! ward the blow, And peace restore with omens good ; Or smiling Erycina hear ! Whom Love and Mirth fly hov'ring round, Or to thy desolate sons give ear, Thou ! who our martial race did'st found. Too long thou gloriest in the fray, Whom shouts and shining helms delight, When the dire Marsi in array Fierce-glancing urge the deadly fight. Or if, winged son of May benign ! Thou a changed form dost now assume, And in our prince's person shine To take revenge o'er Caesar's tomb, Long thy return to heaven delay And long our people's friend remain ; Nor let our vices mar thy stay, And tempt thee to the skies aga...« less