Classic Poem

Ode 1.22

TURNS IT INTO A NEW FABLE FOR THE FRIVOLOUS

Beneath a wood's umbrageous limbs,
?Where leaves and beasts aplenty lay,
A Latin bard went singing hymns
?Of where festina lente lay.
Unarmed, unharmed he walked along;
His ardor and his voice were strong;
And all the forest heard his song,
?His dolce-far-niente -lay.
Gaily he sang of love—when lo,
?A savage wolf confronted him;
The creature looked and eyed him so,
?It looked as if it wanted him.
But Horace (thus he leaped to Fame),
Acting as though the beast were tame,
Sang, “Nice old doggie. What's your name?”
?In short, it never daunted him.
And, like a skilful amateur,
?He jumped an octave tastily.
The wolf, although no connoisseur,
?Went off a little space till he
Observed that Horace loved to dwell
On all the trills and high-notes. Well,
The beast gave one reproachful yell
?And left the poet—hastily!
THE MORAL: Every student will
?Applaud the beast with such a vim;
They too of Horace get their fill
?Instead of just a touch of him.
The wolf, when Horace would not cease,
Could get no piece, lean or obese—
And since he gave the wolf no peace,
?The wolf had far too much of him!English