Odes 2.1 Lines

Front 1

motum ex Metello consule civicum bellique causas et vitia et modos ludumque Fortunae … tractas

Back 1

you treat the civil commotions [emanating] from Metellus's consulship and the causes and evils and strategies of war, and the mischief of Fortune

Front 2

gravisque principum amicitias et arma nondum expiatis uncta cruoribus periculosae plenum opus aleae tractas et incedis per ignes suppositos cineri doloso

Back 2

you treat the severe friendships of leaders and arms soaked with blood not yet expiated, a work filled with perilous games of hazard and you walk over fires laid beneath treacherous ash.

Front 3

paulum serverae Musa tragoediae desit theatris; mox, ubi publicas res ordinaris, grande munus Cecropio repetes cothurno

Back 3

let the Muse of austere tragedies depart for theatres for a little while; soon, when you will have ordered the public affairs, you will seek again your high office with Attic buskin

Front 4

insigne maestis praesidium reis et consulenti, Pollio, curiae, cui laurus aeternos honores Delmatico peperit triumpho

Back 4

Pollio, famed defense to gloomy defendants and to statesmen in their deliberations, for whom the laurel procures everlasting honors on account of your Delmatian victory

Front 5

iam nunc minaci murmure cornuum perstringis auris, iam litui strepunt, iam fulgor armorum fugacis terret equos equitumque vultus

Back 5

even now, you deafen the ears with the threatening clamor of cavalry horns, already the straight horns blast, already the luster of the weaponry terrifies the skittish horses and the faces of the horsemen

Front 6

audire magnos iam videor duces non indecoro pulvere sordidos, et cuncta terrarum subacta praeter atrocem animum Catonis

Back 6

already I seem to hear the great leaders filthy not with inglorious dust, and all of the earthen territories subdued except the stern mind of Cato

Front 7

Iuno et deorum quisquis amicior Afris inulta cesserat impotens tellure victorum nepotes rettulit inferias Iugurthae

Back 7

Juno and whoever of the gods is more inclined to favor the Africans had withdrawn helpless, the land unavenged and has offered the grandsons of the victors as funeral rites to Jugurtha

Front 8

quis non Latino sanguine pinguior campus sepulcris impia proelia testatur auditumque Medis Hesperiae sonitum ruinae?

Back 8

which field bloated with Latin blood does not declare the accursed battles by its tombs, and make known the sound of western ruin heard by the Parthians?

Front 9

qui gurges aut quae flumina lugubris ignara belli? quod mare Dauniae non decoloravere caedes? quae caret ora cruore nostro?

Back 9

what sea, what rivers are ignorant of this mournful war? what sea has Apulian blood not stained? what border is without our blood?

Front 10

sed ne relictis, Musa procax, iocis Ceae retractes munera neniae, mecum Dionaeo sub antro quaere modos leviore plectro

Back 10

but, impudent muse, seek me and the measures of a lighter plectrum in the shadow of a Dionean cave lest you take up the task of the Cean dirge, with light matters having been abandoned