Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ODES II, 10, by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ODES II, 10, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Life's course in safety would'st thou steer
Last Line: With too propitious wind.
Alternate Author Name(s): Horace
Variant Title(s): To Licinus [mureba];to Licinius


Life's course in safety would'st thou steer,
Licinius, shun the open deep;
Nor to the treacherous shore in fear
Of storms too closely keep.

The giant pine by tempest oft
Is rent: towers fall with heavy crash
And mountain peaks that soar aloft
Attract the lightning's flash.

He who selects the golden mean
Finds in no garret foul his home,
Nor covets, sober and serene,
The envy-stirring dome.

A mind well trained both hopes in woe,
And fears in weal a change of fate,
For Jove who sends the cheerless snow
Withdraws it soon or late.

Tears will be followed by a smile—
Apollo, with his lyre, the muse
Oft wakens, ceasing for a while
His deadly bow to use.

When nearly wrecked in times of ill
Prove the brave mettle of thy mind,
And wisely reef thy sails that fill
With too propitious wind.





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