Horatian Odes

Horace: the Man Behind the Ode

 Born 65 B.C. – Died 8 B.C.
 Studied philosophy in Athens
 Enlisted in army of Brutus during Civil War
 44-42 B.C.
 Attracted attention of Maecenas in his twenties
 Maecenas: political advisor to Octavian (first emperor
of Rome – Ceasor Agustus) and important patron of
“Augustan” poets, such as Virgil
Horace’s Works
 First work: a book of Satires
 35 B.C.
 Odes: Book I – III, Book IV
 23 B.C. and 13 B.C.
 Ars Poetica or Art of Poetry
 19 B.C.
 “The only complete example of literary
criticism that we have from any Roman.”
Characteristics of a Horatian Ode
 Regular stanzas following the pattern set in the first
stanza
 Made for individual/private contemplation
 Intimate and reflective
 Deals with themes of friendship, love, and poetry
 Often addressed to friends
 Serene tone
 Simple wisdom
 “Concision of language and rapid succession of images”
Myth of Pyrrha
 Daughter of Epimetheus
and Pandora
 Wife of Deucalion:
expert stone thrower and
creator of the second
human race
 Pandora’s Box
 Story of Flood
 Ode I.5
What slender youth, besprinkled with perfume,
Courts you on roses in some grotto's shade?
Fair Pyrrha, say, for whom
Your yellow hair you braid,
So trim, so simple! Ah! how oft shall he
Lament that faith can fail, that gods can change,
Viewing the rough black sea
With eyes to tempests strange,
Who now is basking in your golden smile,
And dreams of you still fancy-free, still kind,
Poor fool, nor knows the guile
Of the deceitful wind!
Woe to the eyes you dazzle without cloud
Untried! For me, they show in yonder fane
My dripping garments, vow'd
To Him who curbs the main.
Ode I.5: Milton’s Translation
To Pyrrha
What slender youth, bedew’d with liquid odours,
Courts thee on roses in some pleasant cave,
Pyrrha? For whom did’st thou
In wreaths thy golden hair,
Plain in thy neatness? O how oft shall he
On faith and changed gods complain, and seas
Rough with black winds, and storms
Unwonted shall admire!
Who now enjoys thee credulous, all gold,
Who always vacant, always amiable,
Hopes thee, of flattering gales
Unmindful. Hapless they
To whom thou untried seemest fair. Me in my vowed
Picture the sacred wall declares to have hung
My dank and drippings weeds
To the stern God of sea.
Ode I.5: Translation from “A Short
Dissertation upon Horace”
Pyrrha, what slender well-shap’d Beau, Thrice wretched they who feel thy Darts,
Perfum’d with Essence haunts thee now? Whilst Strangers to thy Coquette Arts.
And lures thee to some kind Recess, My Garments in the Fane display’d,
To sport on Rose-Beds sun in Ease. As Trophys that my Vows are paid,
Prithee what Youth would’st thou ensnare, Own the Great Ruler of the Sea,
Artless and Clean with flowing Hair? Author of my Delivery.
How oft will he have cause to mourn
The broken Vows and Cupid’s Scorn?
Unskill’d as yet he’d wondering spy,
Fresh Tempest raging in that Eye,
From whence he hoped a calmer Sky.
Who now poor Gull enjoys the Bliss,
Thinks you divine and solely his:
Born down the Tide with easy Sail,
Little suspects an Adverse Gale.
Bibliography
 Clark, Barrett H. “Horace (65-8 B.C.).” European Theories of the
Drama. Cincinnati: Stewart & Kidd Company, 1918. Theatre
Database. 11 March 2009
<http://www.theatredatabase.com/ancient/horace_001.html>.
 Cosgrove, Charles H. A Woman’s Unbound Hair in the Greco-
Roman World, with Special Reference to the Story of the “Sinful
Woman” in Luke 7:36-50. Journal of Biblical Literature. 4 (2005):
675-692.
 Faverio, Maria Claudia. “Essay: The Ode.” Reason and Rhyme.
12 Dec. 2007. 11 March 2009 <
http://reason-andrhyme.blogspot.com/2007/12/essay-ode.html>.
 “Poetry Criticism: Horace.” Enotes. 11 March 2009
< http://www.enotes.com/poetry-criticism/horace>.
 Myths of Pyrhha and Pandora: Wikipedia