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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ODES III, 9. HORACE AND LYDIA by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS

First Line: WHILE I WAS LOVELY IN THINE EYE
Last Line: YET WOULD I LIVE, AND DIE WITH THEE.
@3Hor.@1 WHILE I was lovely in thine eye,
And while no soft embrace but mine
Encircled thy fair ivory neck,
I did the Persian King outshine.
@3Lyd.@1 While Horace was an honest lad,
And Chloe less than Lydia lov'd,
Lydia was then a matchless Lass,
And in a sphere 'bove Ilia mov'd.
@3Hor.@1 But Chloe now has vanquish'd me,
That lute and voice who could deny?
Methinks might I but save her life,
I could myself even dare to die.
@3Lyd.@1 Young Calais is my gallant,
He burns me with his flaming eye;
To save the pretty villain's life,
Twice over I could dare to die.
@3Hor.@1 But say I Lydia lov'd again,
And would new-braze Love's broken chain?
Say I should turn my Chloe off,
And take poor Lydia home again?
@3Lyd.@1 Why then though he a fixed star,
Thou lighter than a cork shouldst be,
Mad, and unquiet as the sea,
Yet would I live, and die with thee.



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