Horace: Odes Book I

by Horatius, Roland Mayer (Editor)

In the first book of odes, Horace presents himself to his Roman readers in a novel guise, as the appropriator of the Greek lyric tradition. He aspired to add a new province to the empire of the national literature. The first book is designed both to establish Horace's engagement with his Greek predecessors and to create a role for lyric poetry in contemporary Rome. The collection of thirty-eight poems is therefore a dazzling feat of poetic appropriation and innovation, a blend of the public and the private voice of the poet. Classic Greek songs are evoked so as to provide a springboard for reflections on moral and political issues, for the praises of gods and men, friends and public figures, for celebration of love and drinking. This edition will enable students and their instructors to enter and enjoy Horace's lyric world.

Genres: Poetry, Classics

258 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Odes and Satires Roman lyric poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus exerted a major influence on English poetry.

(December 8, 65 BC – November 27, 8 BC)

Horace, the son of a freed slave, who owned a small farm, later moved to Rome to work as a coactor, a middleman between buyers and sellers at auctions, receiving 1% of the purchase price for his services. The father ably spent considerable money on education of his son, accompanied him first to Rome for his primary education, and then sent him to Athens to study Greek and philosophy.

After the assassination of Julius Caesar, Horace joined the army, serving under the generalship of Brutus. He fought as a staff officer (tribunus militum) in the battle of Philippi. Alluding to famous literary models, he later claimed to throw away his shield and to flee for his salvation. When people declared an amnesty for those who fought against the victorious Octavian Augustus, Horace returned to Italy, only to find his estate confiscated and his father likely then dead. Horace claims that circumstances reduced him to poverty.

Nevertheless, he meaningfully gained a profitable lifetime appointment as a scriba quaestorius, an official of the Treasury; this appointment allowed him to practice his poetic art.

Horace was a member of a literary circle that included Virgil and Lucius Varius Rufus, who introduced him to Maecenas, friend and confidant of Augustus. Maecenas became his patron and close friend and presented Horace with an estate near Tibur in the Sabine Hills (contemporary Tivoli). A few months after the death of Maecenas, Horace died in Rome. Upon his death bed, Horace with no heirs relinquished his farm to Augustus, his friend and the emperor, for imperial needs, and it stands today as a spot of pilgrimage for his admirers.

Reviews

[James Carrigy · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/10

Favourite poems: “Cum tu, Lydia”, “Parcius iunctas”, and “Nunc est bibendum”.

A real grab bag of Latin.

[Alex Cotterill · Rating 3 out of 5]

not great not terrible. Like the other green and yellows, it does well with certain things like explaining themes and motifs but not specific language items.

[Jordan Ayers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me immediately acknowledge I was only reading this casually. I understand there's probably plenty of significance here that washed right overtop of my head and if you're upset by the low rating, that's okay (feel free to say why) but I'm only rating it from that standpoint.

Having particularly enjoyed Horace's satires, I was disappointed to find his 'Odes' lacked the charm that I had expected to recognize and indulge in once again. The Odes of Horace are what they say on the front of the book: Odes. To stuff.

I have read that the Odes of Horace are imitations of Pindar's much earlier odes. I found those to also be rather boring (though certainly well written) and I'd have to say the same thing about Homer's, so I guess he got what he was going for dead on for me.

Most of the poetry revolves around using Pindar's old style (Pindar mostly seemed to compare people and events to the mythological events) to talk about various things, like life, love, and wine. It's all pretty flowery and drags on a bit if you're not really a 'poetry person.'

If you are a poetry person, I bet this would be awesome. You should read it and see if you like it. I'm not (generally) a poetry person so I'm giving it a 2/5 because that's about the level of enjoyment I felt while forcing myself to complete the first book (there are four, but I think I'm done).

[Miles Hupert · Rating 4 out of 5]

my favorite of the poets i've read in this dive thus far. His views on the love of others and his advice towards his servants read like a loving father figure rather than an erotic sycophant. the beginning of the carpe diem poem which will have a profound effect on poetry as a whole for the rest of time is beautifully written. And to be beloved by neitzsche for his intentionality of word choice and writing style makes me want to learn latin just to read his work.

[Giulia Bravo · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is the type of poetry that makes me think i am illiterate but whatever i think i just need to know its carpe diem stuff, sex and wine, youth and old age, country is so beautiful bla bla bla