{"id":1179,"date":"2011-08-26T01:51:16","date_gmt":"2011-08-26T01:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/?p=1179"},"modified":"2011-08-26T01:51:16","modified_gmt":"2011-08-26T01:51:16","slug":"horaces-odes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/horaces-odes\/","title":{"rendered":"Horace’s Odes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Horace\u2019s Carmina<\/span> is a four volume book of odes. Book 1 Poem 11 contains the most famous line attributed to Horace: \u201ccarpe diem, quam minimum credula postero<\/strong>\u201d (1)<\/p>\n

Many of Horace\u2019s poems are personal letters written to his friends. In Book 1 Poem 33, Horace comforts the heartbroken poet Tibullus: \u201cAlbi, ne doleas plus nimio memor\u2028inmitis Glycerae neu miserabilis\u2028descantes elegos, cur tibi iunior laesa praeniteat fide<\/strong>\u201d (2)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Book 2 contains much of the same type of advice and helpful observations that Horace gives to his friends: Book 2 Poem 14 : \u201cEheu fugaces, Postume, Postume,\u2028labuntur anni nec pietas moram rugis et instanti senectae adferet indomitaeque morti<\/strong>\u201d (3)<\/p>\n

Another famous line from Horace is from Book 3 Poem 2: \u201cDulce et decorum est pro patria mori<\/strong>\u201d (4)<\/p>\n

In case we forget, Horace kindly reminds us of his contribution to the world of poetry in Book 3 of Poem 30: \u00a0\u201cExegi monumentum aere perennius<\/strong>\u201d (5)<\/p>\n

In Book 3 Poem 5 Horace uses his poetry as an opportunity to flatter the Emperor Augustus: \u201cCaelo tonantem credidimus Iouem\u2028regnare: praesens diuus habebitur Augustus adiectis Britannis imperio grauibusque Persis<\/strong>\u201d (6)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another famous line from Book 4 Poem 9 where Horace tells his friend Lollius about the power of poetry: \u201cVixere fortes ante Agamemnona multi; sed omnes inlacrimabiles urgentur ignotique longa nocte, carent quia uate sacro<\/strong>\u201d (7)<\/p>\n

In Book 4 of Poem 7 Horace reflects on his old age and compares it to the seasons: \u201cDiffugere niues, redeunt iam gramina campis\u00a0arboribus comae;\u2028mutat terra uices et decrescentia ripas\u2028flumina praetereunt\u2026<\/strong>\u201d (8)<\/p>\n

Translation:<\/p>\n

(1) pluck the day [seize the day], trusting tomorrow as little as possible<\/p>\n

(2) What, Albius! Why this passionate despair for cruel Glycera? Why melt your voice in dolorous strains, because the perjured beauty has made a younger choice?<\/p>\n

(3) Ah, Postumus! They flee away, our years, nor piety can win from wrinkles and decay by even one hour<\/p>\n

(4) It is sweet and honorable to die for one’s country<\/p>\n

(5) I have raised a monument more permanent than bronze<\/p>\n

(6) Jove rules in heaven, his thunder shows; Henceforth Augustus shall own earth, her present god, now Briton foes and Persians bow before his throne<\/p>\n

(7) Before Agamemnon, men were brave: But ah! oblivion, dark and long, has confined them in a tearless grave, for lack of a consecrating song<\/p>\n

(8) The snow has dispersed: the trees their leaves reappeared, the fields their green: the Earth owns the transformation, and rivers decreasing the flow of their banks between\u2026<\/p>\n

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Horace\u2019s Carmina is a four volume book of odes. Book 1 Poem 11 contains the most famous line attributed to Horace: \u201ccarpe diem, quam minimum credula postero\u201d (1) Many of Horace\u2019s poems are personal letters written to his friends. In Book 1 Poem 33, Horace comforts the heartbroken poet Tibullus: \u201cAlbi, ne doleas plus nimio…<\/p>\n

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