Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CANIDIA'S ANSWER, by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CANIDIA'S ANSWER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Go - hang thyself: - I will not hear
Last Line: I cannot deal with such a worm as thee?
Alternate Author Name(s): Horace


Go -- hang thyself: -- I will not hear,
The rocks as soon shall lend an ear
To naked mariners that be
Left to the mercy of the Sea.
Marry come up! -- Shall thy bold pride
The mysteries of the Gods deride?
Presumptuous fool! commit a rape
On my repute, and think to 'scape!
Make me a town-talk? Well! ere thou die
Cupid shall vengeance take; or I.
Go, get some ratsbane! -- 'twill not do,
Nay, drink some aqua-fortis too:
No witch shall take thy life away;
Who dares say, Go, when I bid Stay?
No! -----I'll prolong thy loathed breath,
And make thee wish in vain for death.
In vain does Tantalus espy.
Fruits, he may taste but with his eye.
In vain does poor Prometheus groan,
And Sisyphus stop his rolling stone:
Long may they sigh, long may they cry,
But not control their destiny.
And thou in vain from some high wall
Or on thy naked sword mayst fall,
In vain (to terminate thy woes)
Thy hands shall knit the fatal noose:
For on thy shoulders then I'll ride,
And make the Earth shake with my pride.
Think'st thou that I, who when I please
Can kill by waxen images,
Can force the Moon down from her sphere,
And make departed ghosts appear,
And mix love-potions! -- thinks thy vanity,
I cannot deal with such a worm as thee?





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