Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ODES III, 28. HOLIDAY, by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ODES III, 28. HOLIDAY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: What celebration should there be?
Last Line: In lullabies to-night.
Alternate Author Name(s): Horace
Subject(s): Holidays


WHAT celebration should there be? ...
Quick, Lyde, bring a jar!
Against a dull sobriety
We'll wage a lusty war.

The festive sun is setting low,
The dusk is almost there;
And yet you scarcely move, as though
We both had time to spare!

Let's pour the wine and sing in turns
Of Neptune in his lair,
Of mermaids in the water-ferns,
And of their sea-green hair.

And you, upon your curving lyre,
Shall spend a tuneful hour,
Singing Dianas darts of fire
And her benignant power.

Hymns shall arise to Her who sends
Fresh laughter and delight,
Until our weary singing ends
In lullabies to-night.





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