Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ODES III, 9. DIALOGUE BETWEEN HORACE AND LYDIA, by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS Poet's Biography First Line: When no fond rival's favoured arms Last Line: To live with you, with you to die! Alternate Author Name(s): Horace Subject(s): Death; Hearts; Love; Smiles; Soul; Dead, The | ||||||||
HORACE. WHEN no fond rival's favoured arms With rapture clasped thy snowy charms; When but to me thy smile was given It warmed me like the smile of heaven. Thus blest, I envied not the state Of Persia's monarch rich and great. LYDIA. When Lydia's smile allured thee more Than Chloe's sweet seducing power, Then did the cords of love unite Our hearts in mutual delight; Then so revered was Lydia's name, I envied not great Ilia's fame! HORACE. The Cressian Chloe now detains My soul in fascinating chains: She tunes the harp's melodious strings, But with much sweeter musick sings: Could dying snatch my love from death, How gladly would I yield my breath! LYDIA. Me, Calais, to love inspires; Our bosoms glow with gentlest fires. In him has every graced combined -- But, oh! what charms adorn his mind! I twice the pangs of death would bear, If Fate my Calais would spare! HORACE. Say, what if former love aspire, And glow with an intenser fire? Say, what if Chloe's charms I spurn -- Will Lydia to my arms return, And bid the Paphian queen again Unite us with a stronger chain? LYDIA. Though light as cork, your passions reign, And rougher than the raging main; Though Calais by far outvies The great enlightener of the skies; Yet from his eager love I fly, To live with you, with you to die! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND EPODE: 2. THE PRAISES OF A COUNTRY LIFE by QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS |
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