Translation:Odes (Horace)/Book II/5
Horace 2.5
Not yet is she ready to bear the yoke
On her subdued neck, not yet to match the work of a spouse
Nor endure the weight of falling bull
Into “the rights of venus”.
The mind of your young cow is fixed around
Green fields, now comforting the severe heat in rivers,
Now wanting more than anything to play
with calves in wet river willows.
Remove desire
Of an unripe grape.
Soon Autumn varied with purple color
Will point out dark bunches for you.
Soon she will follow you (for wild
Time runs and to her adds years which she (time)
will have taken from you). Soon with reckless brow
Lalage will seek a husband.
Beloved, not as much as elusive Pholoe,
Not as Chloris gleaming with gleaming such white shoulder,
as a unobstructed moon glimmers
To night-time sea or Cnidian Gyges,
Whom if you would insert in a chorus of girls,
Miraculously his clouded discernment would
Trick wise guests with free-flowing
Hair and an androdigenous face.