Odes 3.26

Late stirrings

Horace seems proud of his credentials as lady’s-man, but it seems that he has met his match in Chloe and has given up. He imagines himself abandoning a expedition in the night to break down her doors (a more literal interpretation of the scene is available in the current Cambridge edition of Odes 3) and dedicating his “military” gear, including his lyre, representing poetry, his weapon of choice, to Venus as a retirement offering. The wish in the last stanza that Venus should make Chloe fall in love undermines the initial message that Horace’s courting days are definitely over.

Metre: Alcaics.

See the illustrated blog post here.

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Vixi puellis nuper idoneus
et militavi non sine gloria;
nunc arma defunctumque bello
barbiton hic paries habebit,

laevum marinae qui Veneris latus
custodit. hic, hic ponite lucida
funalia et vectis et arcus
oppositis foribus minacis.

o quae beatam diva tenes Cyprum et
Memphin carentem Sithonia nive,
regina, sublimi flagello
tange Chloen semel arrogantem.

Until lately I led my life combat-ready for the girls and my soldiering there was not without glory; but now this wall, which guards the left flank of sea-born Venus, can have my arms and, now that its campaigning days are over, my lyre. Here, put down here the bright torches and crowbars and bows, and their threat to doors that are barred against them. O Goddess, who possess blessed Cyprus, and Memphis free from Thracian snow, O Queen, lift your lash and, just once, hit Chloe with it in her arrogance.

More Poems by Horace