Horace humorously scolds a young man whose love-life is distracting him from the soldierly pursuits on which he should be spending his time – a type known in comedy, the commentators tell us. (His name, Sybaris, is also that of a town proverbial for the softness and love of luxury of its inhabitants). There is no doubt about who is really being criticised, though Horace tactfully addresses his complaints to the young man’s girlfriend, rather than to Sybaris in person.
Thetis’s son, who is referred to at the end, was Achilles. According to myth, his mother dressed him in girl’s clothing and hid him among the daughters of King Lycomedes of Scyros in an attempt to prevent him from fighting in the Trojan war.
The unusual metre is greater Sapphics.
See the illustrated blog post here.
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