The Works of HoraceMachine readable text


The Works of Horace
By Quintus Horatius Flaccus
Translated by: C. Smart
New York Harper & Brothers 1863


Perseus Documents Collection Table of Contents


   That all, but especially the covetous, think their own condition the hardest.
   Bad men, when they avoid certain vices, fall into their opposite extremes.
   We ought to connive at the faults of our friends, and all offenses are not to be ranked in the catalogue of crimes.
   He apologizes for the liberties taken by satiric poets in general, and particularly by himself
   He describes a certain journey of his from Rome to Brundusium with great pleasantry.
   Of true nobility.
   He humorously describes a squabble betwixt Rupilius and Persius.
   Priapus complains that the Esquilian mount is infested with the incantations of sorceresses.
   He describes his sufferings from the loquacity of an impertinent fellow.
   He supports the judgment which he had before given of Lucilius, and intersperses some excellent precepts for the writing of Satire.
   He supposes himself to consult with Trebatius, whether he should desist from writing satires, or not.
   On Frugality.
   Damasippus, in a conversation with Horace, proves this paradox of the Stoic philosophy, that most men are actually mad.
   He ridicules the absurdity of one Catius, who placed the summit of human felicity in the culinary art.
   In a humorous dialogue between Ulysses and Tiresias, he exposes those arts which the fortune hunters make use of, in order to be appointed the heirs of rich old men.
   He sets the conveniences of a country retirement in opposition to the troubles of a life in town.
   One of Horace's slaves, making use of that freedom which was allowed them at the Saturnalia,206 rates his master in a droll and severe manner.
   A smart description of a miser ridiculously acting the extravagant.

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Poem 7

He humorously describes a squabble betwixt Rupilius and Persius.

IN what manner the mongrel Persius76 revenged the filth and venom of Rupilius, surnamed King, is I think known to all the blind men and barbers. This Persius, being a man of fortune, had very great business at Clazomenae, and, into the bargain, certain troublesome litigations wtth King; a hardened fellow, and one who was able to exceed even King in virulence; confident, blustering, of such a bitterness of speech, that he would outstrip the Sisennae77 and Barri, if ever so well equipped.

I return to King. After nothing could be settled betwixt them (for people among whom adverse war breaks out, are proportionably vexatious on the same account as they are brave. Thus between Hector, the son of Priam, and the highspirited Achilles, the rage was of so capital a nature, that only the final destruction [of one of them] could determine it; on no other account, than that valor in each of them was consummate. If discord sets two cowards to work; or if an engagement happens between two that are not of a match, as that of Diomed and the Lycian Glaucus; the worse man will walk off, [buying his peace] by voluntarily sending presents), when Brutus held as praetor78 the fertile Asia, this pair, Rupilius and Persius, encountered; in such a manner, that [the gladiators] Bacchius and Bithus79 were not better matched. Impetuous they hurry to the cause, each of them a fine sight.

Persius opens his case; and is laughed at by all the assembly; he extols Brutus, and extols the guard; he styles Brutus the sun of Asia, and his attendants he styles salutary stars, all except King; that he [he says,] came like that dog, the constellation hateful to husbandman: he poured along like a wintery flood, where the ax seldom comes.

Then, upon his running on in so smart and fluent a manner, the Praenestine [king] directs some witticisms squeezed from the vineyard,80 himself a hardy vine-dresser, never defeated, to whom the passenger had often been obliged to yield, bawling cuckoo with roaring voice.

But the Grecian Persius, as soon as he had been well sprinkled with Italian vinegar, bellows out: O Brutus, by the great gods I conjure you, who are accustomed to take off kings,81 why do you not dispatch this King? Believe me, this is a piece of work which of right belongs to you.