Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ODES I, 28. ON PROHIBITION AND TEMPERANCE; TO VARUS, by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ODES I, 28. ON PROHIBITION AND TEMPERANCE; TO VARUS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Canst thou, o varus, plant a tree
Last Line: So may I live—to drink again!
Alternate Author Name(s): Horace
Subject(s): Drinks & Drinking; Temperance; Wine; Prohibition


CANST thou, O Varus, plant a tree
That would so great a blessing be
As would the vine, to Tibur's soil?
What else would so repay the toil
Of laborers without the wall
Of Catilus? With jaundiced eye,
The sober, dry,
See things awry!
'Tis Bacchus' curse upon them all!

How else do fears and cares disperse
Than in good wine? Is this world worse
To him who quaffs a cup of wine?
Nay, these the blessings of the vine—
To cheer and keep our spirits up!
Not even war seems hard to me,
Nor poverty—
I am care free,
When I have tasted of the cup!

So, sing the praises, soon and late,
Of Bacchus! Yes, and celebrate
In wine the charms of Venus fair—
But, in thy drinking, have a care!
No clemency doth Bacchus show
Himself, to foolish drinkers, such
As take too much,
When their lips touch
The cup that doth with spirits flow!

In drunkenness, the Centaurs fought
The Lapithæ! The Thracians sought
Their thirst and lust to satisfy—
The great god Bacchus to defy!
I will take warning from their fate,
Nor rouse thee, Bacchus, against me—
I will not be
With wine too free—
In drinking, I'll be moderate!

The music shall not grow too loud;
I will not boast before the crowd;
I will not babble foolishly
What secrets are vouchsafed to me;
Tipsy self-love I will restrain,
And wine's light-headed vanity!
My cups shall be
From excess free;
So may I live—to drink again!





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