Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE TRUTH ABOUT HORACE, by EUGENE FIELD


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THE TRUTH ABOUT HORACE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: It is very aggravating
Last Line: And maecenas paid the freight!
Subject(s): Horace (65-8 B.c.)


IT is very aggravating
To hear the solemn prating
Of the fossils who are stating
That old Horace was a prude;
When we know that with the ladies
He was always raising Hades.
And with many an escapade his
Best productions are imbued.

There's really not much harm in a
Large number of his carmina,
But these people find alarm in a
Few records of his acts;
So they'd squelch the muse caloric,
And to students sophomoric
They'd present as metaphoric
What old Horace meant for facts.

We have always thought 'em lazy;
Now we adjudge 'em crazy!
Why, Horace was a daisy
That was very much alive!
And the wisest of us know him
As his Lydia verses show him, --
Go, read that virile poem, --
It is No. 25.

He was a very owl, sir,
And starting out to prowl, sir,
You bet he made Rome howl, sir,
Until he filled his date;
With a massic-laden ditty
And a classic maiden pretty,
He painted up the city,
And Maecenas paid the freight!





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