Poems on Several Occasions (Broome)/The First Ode of Horace translated

by William Broome

Fleuron from 'Poems on Several Occasions' by William Broome, 2nd edition published in 1739

THE

FIRST ODE

OF

HORACE

TRANSLATED.

Mæcenas, whose high Lineage springs
From a long Race of antient Kings,
Patron, and Friend! thy honour'd Name
At once is my Defence, and Fame.

There are, who with fond Transport praise
The Chariot thund'ring in the Race;
Where Conquest won, and Palms bestow'd,
Lift the proud Mortal to a God.

The Man, who courts the People's Voice,
And doats on Offices and Noise;
Or they, who till the peaceful Fields,
And reap what bounteous Nature yields,
Unmov'd, the Merchants Wealth behold,
Nor hazard Happiness for Gold;
Untempted by whole Worlds of Gain
To stem the Billows of the Main.

The Merchant, when the Storm invades,
Envies the Quiet of the Shades;
But soon relaunches from the Shore,
Dreading the Crime of being Poor!

Some careless waste the mirthful Day
With generous Wines, and wanton Play,
Indulgent of the genial Hour
By Spring, or Rill, in Shade, or Bow'r.

Some hear with Joy the clanging Jar
Of Trumpets, that alarm to War,
While Matrons tremble at the Breath
That calls their Sons to Arms and Death.

The Sportsman, train'd in Storms, defies
The chilling Blast, and freezing Skies:
Unmindful of his Bride, in vain
Soft Beauty pleads! along the Plain
The Stag he chases, or beguiles
The furious Boar into his Toyles.

For ^[1]you the blooming Ivy grows,
Proud to adorn your learned Brows;
Patron of Letters you arise,
Grow to a God, and mount the Skies.

Humbly in breezy Shades I stray
Where Silvans dance, and Satyrs play;
Contented to advance my Claim,
Only o'er Men without a Name;
Transcribing what the Muses sing
Harmonious to the Pipe or String.

But if indulgently you deign
To rank me with the Lyric Train,
Aloft the tow'ring Muse shall rise
On bolder Wings, and gain the Skies.

1. Te Doctarum Hederæ, &c.