06.05.2013 Views

Kenney_and_Clausen B.M.W.(eds.) - Get a Free Blog

Kenney_and_Clausen B.M.W.(eds.) - Get a Free Blog

Kenney_and_Clausen B.M.W.(eds.) - Get a Free Blog

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

A CRITIQUE OF THE TRADITIONAL STEREOTYPE<br />

poetic structure is entirely typical. One should perhaps add that Horace was<br />

not really an Epicurean before this ode or a Stoic after it.<br />

2. eheu fugaces, Postume, Postume,<br />

labuntur anni, nee pietas moram<br />

rugis et instanti senectae<br />

adferet indomitaeque morti (2.14.1—4)<br />

Alas, Postumus, Postumus, the years are slipping swiftly by, nor will devotion<br />

succeed in checking wrinkles, the onset of old age, <strong>and</strong> invincible death.<br />

The repetition of a proper name is without parallel in Horace (<strong>and</strong> how apt<br />

a name it is!). By putting it here he delays the completion of the sentence, thus<br />

linking the key word fugaces to the emotional eheu. The beginning almost<br />

certainly suggests a river (cf. lympha fugax in 2.3.12), but the second sentence<br />

brings a change of metaphor — viz. the hopeless fight against age <strong>and</strong> death. One<br />

notes the climax rugis, senectaey morti, <strong>and</strong> the Homeric phrase indomitae morti<br />

('At8ns dSAuacrros) which contributes to the stanza's sombre dignity.<br />

3. gelidos inficiet tibi<br />

rubro sanguine riuos<br />

lasciui suboles gregis. (3.13.5—8)<br />

The offspring of the frisky herd will stain your cool streams with his red blood.<br />

Here we have a chiastic pattern of adjective.. . adjective noun noun — 'cool. ..<br />

red blood streams'. At the same time two other adjectives are implied, for the<br />

red blood is warm <strong>and</strong> the cool streams are clear. The result is a strong sensuous<br />

effect. The ode offers a subtle blend of realism <strong>and</strong> pathos. To call it callous is<br />

unnecessarily squeamish, unless one happens to be a vegetarian.<br />

4. urit me Glycerae nitor. (1.19.5)<br />

/ am burned by Sweetie's brilliance<br />

— a triple assault on the senses.<br />

5. post equitem sedet atra Cura. (3.1.40)<br />

Behind the horseman sits Angst dressed in black<br />

— a picture worthy of Diirer.<br />

6. nauis, quae tibi creditum<br />

debes Vergilium finibus Atticis<br />

reddas incolumem, precor,<br />

et serues animae dimidium meae. (1.3.5—8)<br />

O ship, you to whom Virgil has been entrusted <strong>and</strong> who owe him to the soil of Attica,<br />

discharge him there intact, I pray you, <strong>and</strong> save fifty per cent of my soul.<br />

I have overtranslated to bring out the extended commercial metaphor.<br />

383<br />

Cambridge Histories Online © Cambridge University Press, 2008

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!