Translation:Odes (Horace)/Book III/9

by Horace

Literal English Translation	Original Latin	Line
As long as I was pleasing to you and any better young man was not giving his arms to your white neck  I flourished happier than the Persian king. as long as you did not burn more for another  and Lydia was not second to Chloe, I, Lydia of good name, flourished brighter than Roman Ilia. Now Thracian Chloe rules me,  learned with respect to sweet poetry and knowing of the lyre, for whom I won’t fear to die,  if the Fates will spare my surviving darling. ‘Calais, son of Thurian Ornytus scorches me with a mutual torch for whom I’ll suffer to die twice, if the Fates will spare my surviving boy.’ What if ancient Venus returns  and she gathers together seperated oxen with a bronze yoke? If blonde Chloe is discarded,  and the door is open for rejected Lydia? Although he is more beautiful than a star, and you’re fickler than a cork and angrier than the unruly Adriatic, I should love to live with you, and I should willingly die with you!	'dōnec grātus eram tibi nec quisquam potior bracchia candidae cervīcī iuvenis dabat, Persarum viguī rēge beātior.' 'dōnec nōn alia magis arsistī neque erat Lȳdia post Chloēn, multī Lȳdia nōminis, Rōmānā viguī clārior Īlia.' ‘mē nunc Thressa Chloē regit, dulcis docta modōs et citharae sciēns, prō qua nōn metuam mori si parcent animae fāta superstitī.’ ‘mē torret face mūtuā Thūrīnī Calais fīlius Ōrnytī, prō quō bis patiar morī, sī parcent puerō fāta superstitī.’ quid sī prīsca redit Venus dīductōsque iugō cōgit aēneō? sī flāva excutitur Chloē reiectaeque patet iānua Lȳdiae? quamquam sīdere pulchrior ille est, tū levior cortice et improbō iracundior Hadriā, tēcum vivere amem, tēcum obeam libēns!	3.9.1 3.9.2 3.9.3 3.9.4 3.9.5 3.9.6 3.9.7 3.9.8 3.9.9 3.9.10 3.9.11 3.9.12 3.9.13 3.9.14 3.9.15 3.9.16 3.9.17 3.9.18 3.9.19 3.9.20 3.9.21 3.9.22 3.9.23 3.9.24