Ode 1.2 - To Augustus Caesar

 1

Iam satis terris nivis atqque dirae

grandinis misit pater et rubente

dextera sacras iaculatus arcis,

terruit urbem,

2

5  terruit gentis, grave ne rediret

saeculum Pyrrhae nova monstra questae,

omne cum Proteus pecus egit altos

visere montis,

3

piscinum et summa genus haesit ulmo,

10  nota quae sedes fuerat columbis,

et superiecto pavidae natarunt

aequore dammae;

4

vidimus flavom Tiberim retoris

litore Etrusco violenter undis

15  ire deiectum monument regis

templaque Vestae,

5

Iliae dum se nimium querenti

iactat ultorem, vagus et sinistra

labitur ripa Iove non probante u-

xorius amnis;

6

21 audiet civis acuisse ferrum,

quo graves Persae melius perirent,

audiet pugnas vitio parentum

rara iuventus.

7

25  Quem vocet divum populus ruentis

imperi rebus?  prece qua fatigent

virgines sanctae minus audientem

carmina Vestam?

8

cui dabat partis scelus expiandi

30  Iuppiter?  Tandem venias precamur

nube candentis umeros amictus

augur Apollo;

9

sive tu mavis, Erycina ridens,

quam Iocus circum volat et Cupido;

35  sive neglectum genus et nepotes

respicis auctor,

10

heu nimis longo satiate ludo,

quem iuvat clamor galaeque leves

acer et Marsi peditis cruentem

40  voltus in hostem;

11

sive mutata iuvenem figura

ales in terris imitaris almae

filius Maiae patiens vocari

Caesaris ultor,

12

45  serus in caelum redeas diuque

laetus intersis populo Quirini

neve te nostris vitiis iniquum

ocior aura

13

tollat: hic magnos potius triumphos,

50  hic ames dici pater atque princeps,

neu sinas Medos equitare inultos

te duce, Caesar.

~Horace

1

Now the father has sent enough snow and horrid hail

to the earth and with his fiery right hand

when he struck the sacred citadel,

terrified the city,

2

He terrifes the race, least the grievous age of Pyrra return

lamenting the new mindset,

when Proteus drove all his flock to see

the high mountains

3

Every species of fish sticks in the highest elm,

which had been known before as seats for doves,

and panicky does are swimming

upon the surface of the sea

4

We have seen the yellow Tiber,

when it has bent its ways violently from the Etruscan bank,

hastening to throw down the royal monument

and the temple of Vesta

5

When he, oasted of being himself an avenger of

Ilia’s excessive complaining, spreading he slips the left bank,

Jove not aproving [or unaware],

wifely of spirit

6

He shall hear that the citizens had sharpened their steel,

by which better the troublesome Persians might have perished,

he shall hear of wars, the Youth, made scarce

by the vices of parents

7

Whom of the gods will the people call for the affairs

of collapsing authority? With what prayer will

the holy virgins constantly entreat Vesta,

listening less and less to song

8

To whom will Jupiter give the part of expiating

the crime? may you come, we beg you,

cloaked about your shinning shoulder by a cloud,

Seer Apollo;

9

Or if you prefer to come, laughing Venus,

about whom flies Iocus and Cupid,

or if you prefer to look at your neglected race and grandchildren,

Sire Mars

10

Alas, so tired of the long game

he enjoys the cries and the polished helmets

and the savage face of the Marsian footsoldiers

against the bloody foe

11

or if you, having changed your form, imitate a youth

on earth, winged son of kind Maia,

permitting to be called the

Avenger of Caesar

12

May you be late in returning to heaven and happily

be long among the people of Quirinus

and may you not in disgust at our crimes, raise yourself up

on too swift a breeze

13

Here may you love, rather, great triumphs

here, to be called father and chief,

and may you not allow the unvanquished Parthians

to prance while you are leader, Caesar