Hey Horace Leave those Greek Poetry Forms Alone!

Hey, Horace, Leave Those Greek Poetry Forms Alone!
Luke Forrester
When one thinks of poetry many different works and writers come to mind. Some
instantly see Poe with his dark gothic settings. Others envision Emily Dickinson, whose deep
poems invoke great feeling in the souls of readers. But these poets would be nothing without
the ancient writers. Those, born in antiquity, who observed the past and experienced some of
the most incredible recorded events to ever occur. But what is it about these ancients that is
so special. Those Greeks and Romans who were inspired to pick up the quill and etch their
emotions, their souls, even the mundane events of their day onto parchment. But these great
writers of the past have given much more to the present than a collection of poems. These
poets helped to form poetry itself, and bring into it, a mixture of culture from across the
Mediterranean Sea. And so by their actions Greek and Roman poetry were fused together,
forming an unbreakable bond which lasts even to this day. But who was the man to really bring
together Greek and Roman poetry? Who could be so inventive as to incorporate Greek poetry
form into his Latin poetry? That man was Quintus Horatius Flaccus, one of the greatest Roman
writers of all time. Through his love of the written word and his passion for writing Horace
revolutionized the way people look at Roman poetry. By Creating a new form of Roman poetry
and his various other affairs Horace became one of most well known and loved Roman lyric
poets to walk the face of the earth.
Before one can examine the writings of a poet, one must know that writer’s past and
present. Horace’s life was filled with turmoil and action, and these contributed to the greatness
of his work.

Horace was born in a small town known as Venosa.
Though not much is known of his mother, his father was likely a freedman. Horace was born
into freedom, however, and never appeared to be ashamed of his father’s past. His father
owned a farm in the town of Venosa, which was the childhood home of Horace. But Horace and
his father did not stay at the farm. They later moved to Rome where his father took a new job.
He worked at an auction house, paying the seller his asking price and then collecting that sum
from the buyer with interest. He made quite a good living in this line of work and soon became
a very rich man. This allowed him to send Horace off get the best education available. Horace
received his main schooling in Rome, while with his father. Once that was completed, Horace
went off to Athens for further study. He learned Greek and Philosophy while at his Athens
university, and was very grateful for his father’s hard work and support. While attending school
in Greece, back home, Julius Caesar had been assassinated in Rome, which began a very nasty
and bloody civil war. Horace joined the army of the Roman Senators and served under the
infamous Brutus. He was appointed tribunus militum, and fought during the Battle of Philippi.
But this civil war was ending. Soon after the Battle at Philippi, Octavian’s forces were declared
the victor and Horace found himself on the wrong side of the political fence. But luckily for him,
he ,as well as all those who had fought against Octavian, was granted amnesty. So, Horace
returned home to Italy, back to the farm where he grew up. But he soon found that the farm
had been confiscated; probably given to one of the officers or other ranking soldiers in
Octavian’s army. Horace now found himself out of house and home. He had become
impoverished overnight and was not in a tough situation. He had to do something to save
himself from dying in the streets. Even though Horace was toughing it out under the harsh
reality of poverty, he had enough funds to procure himself a permanent appointment as a
scriba quaestorius. This position was as an official in the Treasury department. This job allowed
Horace financial security, giving him the ability to write his poetry. He soon became a member
of the ancient Roman literary elite and took the company of friends like Virgil and Lucius Varius
Rufus. Through this circle of friends he was introduced to a man named Maecenas. He was a
personal friend of Emperor Augustus and was very wealthy. Maecenas became Horace’s patron
and soon one of his closest friends. Maecenas even gave Horace an estate in the Sabine Hills.
Horace went to the grave not long after the death of Maecenas. Horace died in the year 8 BCE
at the age of 57. And because Horace had no heirs he decided to give the property to his friend
Emperor Augustus for the use of imperial needs.
Now that Horace’s personal story has been told, perhaps it is time to examine the
history of his writing.
In approximately 35 BC, Book One of Horace’s Satires was published. This was after he
had met Macenas who became his personal friend and patron. The lyric poems within were the
first substantial work of Horace. They drew on a rich Greek background and focused on some of
his Epicurean values. These included Horace’s distain for public life. Instead he wished to have
wisdom and gain it through peace and serenity. Horace also discusses the moral issues of the
day. Some of these were the desire for wealth and power. He also mentions the foolishness of
extremes in any aspect of life. Then Horace speaks of peoples want for inherited wealth, which
is just money given to one who did not earn it. Horace even briefly mentions the malice
brought on by ambition.
The next work to be published by Horace was the Epodes. These were lyric poems filled
with mocking language and intent. But in Horace’s defense he only criticizes the social injustices
and abuses of the time, not any unsavory individuals. Along with the Epodes Horace also
published his second book of Satires. These came out not long after the victory of Octavian,
soon to be Augustus, over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium.
The next work that Horace published became, perhaps, his most well known and loved.
The Odes, which were published around 23 BC in three volumes, showed Horace in an entirely
new light. The Odes are really Horace’s testament to the old Greek lyric poets and are seen as
his initiation into their ranks. Although he takes on the appearance of a Greek lyric poet, Horace
uses his words in a sensitive and economical way. In the Odes Horace writes of nature, love,
and friendship. He even mentions moderation during these works.
Not long after the publishing of the Odes Horace began work on a new project. This was
three Epistles which would be related to poetic works. One of these was the epistle to the
Pisos, which has become known as the Ars Poetica. Another of his epistles called the Carmen
Saeculare and had been written for a ceremony known as the Secular Games. It was within
these works that Horace laid the foundation of his core beliefs. These written works of Horace
show how he wove the influence of the old Greek Lyric poets into his own Latin writings.
But what does Horace himself write about his accomplishments?
And are the teachings of the Greeks somehow hidden within the great writings of Horace?
Ode 3.30 is the ode that finishes Horace’s collection of lyric poetry. This is really the
poem where Horace shares his pride and happiness with his readers. He has a tone of ultimate
confidence and explicitly says takes hold of an accomplishment that it would seem that Horace
deserves. Horace claims that he adapted the Greek style of lyric poetry to the Latin language.
The ode is steeped in grandeur which is testament to the pride of Horace over his own work.
But Horace does not stray long from his Epicurean values. For he references the humble
beginnings of his work using an address akin to prayer to a Muse. He also asks this Muse to
improve his work, thus taking some of his own ego out of the equation.

Horace’s first line of Ode 3.30 “Exegi monumentum aere perennius regalique situ
pyramidum altius,” really shows where this ode is going. Paraphrased, Horace begins
with saying that his writings will last as long as the pyramids of Egypt or bronze. It is obviously
apparent from this line that Horace thinks very highly of his work. And it seems that he has
good reason to be proud. For even though it was one of his biggest fears, not long after his
publication of the Odes they became a textbook for Roman students.
Horace then goes on to say, “quod non imber edax, non Aquilo inpotens,” Here Horace
is essentially saying that his work is even safe from the destructive hands of the North
Wind, with its torrents of rain. Again Horace shows his confidence and pride. Which seem alien
qualities for the Epicurean poet.
Horace continues saying, “Non omnis moriar multaque pars mei uitabit Libitinam,”
Horace once more states the immortality of his work. Paraphrased it means that his poems will
not completely die for many will be avoided by Libitina who was a goddess funerals and,
through association, death. Horace’s confidence in the long life and potential of his poetry
almost becomes redundant at this point. He is so elated that he says not even a god could erase
his work from the world.
Horace continues in Ode 3.30 saying, “usque ego postera crescam laude recens, dum
Capitolium scandet cum tacita uirgine pontifex.” In this excerpt Horace again seems to boost his
ego. Paraphrased it says that he is continually receiving praise for his new and fresh work and
that his work will continue to be great and powerful just as the Roman culture and institutions.
This again relates to Horace’s bursting happiness over the odes and a force that seems to be
manifesting as cockiness in the Epicurean.
The next lines of Horace’s Ode brings his ego into check and functions as constant
reminder to the poet of his own origins and how fragile his fortune really is.
“Dicar, qua uiolens obstrepit Aufidus et qua pauper aquae Daunus agrestium regnauit
populorum, ex humili potens” These particular lines touch on the humbleness and the origins of
Horace. Paraphrased it says that Horace is a powerful person but he comes from the humblest
of origins and that his fame as a poet will extent all the way to his childhood home of Apulia.
This is perhaps lowest Horace’s ego drops in Ode 3.30. But it really shows Horace’s true colors
and how much he really appreciated his accomplishments.
Then Horace really lets us know what the true reason or his happiness is. It’s not just
about his success in the poetry business. It has much more to do with Greek poetry forms and
the Latin language. “princeps Aeolium carmen ad Italos deduxisse modos.” Here Horace gives
us a shocker and quite a blunt statement which stands stark against the nonspecific claims of
pride he spouts earlier in the poem. Paraphrased the passage relates Horace was the first to
bring Aeolic Poetry to Italy or to the Latin language. Horace seems generally convinced of this
and is in no way humble about the accomplishment.
As Ode 3.30 closes Horace exchanges a last word with Melpomene, the muse. Why he
does this is sketchy but it seems that he wants a blessing upon his work and approve of the
poetry. Horace calls out to her saying, “Sume superbiam quaesitam meritis et mihi Delphica
lauro cinge uolens, Melpomene, comam.” It is Horace’s final word in Ode 3.30 and a good
example of the poet’s insecurities, however invisible they may seem. Paraphrased Horace tells
Melpomene of Delphi that she ought to be proud of him and asks if she would be willing to
encircle him and his works, thus approving and providing protection. But Ode 3.30 is not the
only place where Horace shows his true colors.
In the first book of Odes Horace begins with an ode with analyzes some of the paths
people take in their lives and what they believe is important in life. While Horace mentions
great heroes and champions of the Olympic Games, he briefly mentions himself at the end of
the ode. Ode 1.1 is really Horace’s look at the way people see life. But the final two lines
Horace uses to say what is important to him. Horace says, “Quod si me lyricis uatibus
inseres, sublimi feriam sidera uertice.” This sums up the really important thing in life for
Horace. Paraphrased the passage says that if the people can appreciate his lyric poetry and he
has done well in his work that he would be able to reach to the stars and beyond. Essentially
Horace just feels that his lyric poetry is worth his time and effort and he knows that one day it
will all pay off.
It is a well known fact that Horace was an Epicurean or at least held their basest beliefs.
But these tie very easily into his integration on Greek poetry forms into Latin. The Epicureans
were not a people to wait around and waste their time. They openly opposed the divination of
the future, which is the big topic which Horace is ranting against in Ode 1.11. He calls the
practice of such foolish fortune telling a waste of valuable time and wonders why anyone would
really want to know their future. Instead Horace offers his most famous quote of his career.
“carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.” Paraphrased Horace says to seize the day for
time is the most untrustworthy thing of all. This is a perfect example of Epicurean values but it
also shows Horace’s drive to succeed. He would not just wait around for someone else to put
Greek poetry forms into Latin literature. He had the drive needed to become a groundbreaking
poet.
When Horace wrote of The Battle of Actium he did so in an odd fashion. There would
appear to be a true meaning but the poem turns by the end and Horace seems to be a
hypocrite. But the beginning of the poem signifies Horace’s hold on celebration. “Nunc est
bibendum, nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus,” Here Horace tells us that now must be the time
for drinking and dancing because Octavian is victor and Cleopatra is dead. But by the end he
praises Cleopatra’s courage in committing suicide. This shows his deep sense of perspective
which allowed him to integrate the Greeks forms of poetry into the Latin.
Horace is known the world across as one of the greatest Latin writers of all time. During
his life he mingled with Augustus and fought against the republic in the civil war after the
murder of Caesar. Horace was a man who was able to surpass the boundaries of the day. He
broke through the literary restrictions to create something great. Horace’s use of Greek poetry
forms in his Latin writings help revolutionized the poetry of the day and helped to create
Horace’s legacy, which has lasted since the creation of the empire.

Philisophical Questions that bother the brain

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Bad things happen to god people because that is the way the world works. If your looking for some kind of cosmic justice then you better stop living in reality. Events in life happen for a reason but that doesn't mean we have to like it and can't question the system. Or maybe its all just a random assortment of happenings that form our lives. There are no good people only good deeds. People are not inherently good. It is thrust upon them. But those without such requirements develop quite differently. So you ask why bad things happen to good people. Its because people are just people, no adjective. Things happen thats life for you. Some cosmic justice, huh?

Do you believe that there is such a thing as fate?

Fate is another thing i have a proble with. Fate is just a fancy word for actions be predecided or having a purpose. But is it fate that you ran into your ex boyfriend at Starbucks and he totally wanted to get back together with you? This is why i hate fate. the word has become so polluted that no really takes it seriuoslyanymore. Now it remains at the center of teenage girl's conversations. Fate is nothing more than a nice concept that grew way out of proportion. Its a shame too, cause your ex boyfriend is really cute.

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

Civilization

1. The Sumerian civilization lasted from the 6Th millennium BC to the 2Nd millennium BC.

2. Rome lasted from its founding in April 21, 753 BC to its final fall in On September 4, 476 AD.

3. It is a possibility that America could last as long as Rome, but it could never reach the age of the great Sumerian civilization. If America were to last to a great age it would have undergone numerous changes. After suffering a third world war, with many of its great metropolis's in ruins, America would have to rebuild and restore society. The Post-War America would be created with environmentalism, creating a green nation. After enjoying a period of peace, America would fall victim to revolution, bringing about a second civil war. In the chaos a new, golden government would emerge to carry America into the Future. But when America falls it will be because of natural disaster, mass extinction, or Robot uprising. America will go out with a bang and its legacy will last long after the Washington Monument crumbles and Niagara Falls dries up.

Lit Terms Quiz

1. Apostrophe- a turning away from one audience to another that is dead, inanimate, or not present.
2. Chiasmus- the concentric ordering of words. "ABBA"
3. Golden Line- a line which contains 2 adjectives and 2 nouns with a verb between.
4. Enjambment- when one phrase or sentence runs across numerous lines in a poem.
5. Caesura- a pause or break in a line of poetry
6. simile- a comparison between 2 things using like or as.
7. alliteration- the repetition of a word sound used for emphasis
8. Oxymoron- using adjectives to describe something, making it redindent. "A big shrimp"
9. personification- giving human features or actions to inanimate objects.
10. metaphor- a comparsion between 2 things without using like or as.
11. Hyperbole- an exaggeration of an ordinary event or action
12. rhetorical question- a question asked for emphasis and not meant to be answered.
13. irony- when the outcome of an event is not what was expected.
14. amobean- when one group or person is answered by another group or person as in a musical.
15. cataluge- a poetic list.
16. allegory- a long term comparision.
17. epic simile- a comparision between 2 things, one usually mundane while the other is related to nature.
18. ellipsis- the grouping of
19. assonance- bringing two things face to face for comparision.
20. anaphora-

Translation test 12/10

Translate Cat 1

Translate Cat 3.1-5

Translate Cat 7

Translate Cat 10.1-55. Take the point of view of 'The Napkin Thief'!Write a poem (in English) in response to Catullus. You must use three of the same literary devices and the poem you right must be the same length as Catullus'.



Cat.1

What gift of a charming new little book

made smooth by the pumice stone?

Cornelius, you: you and not alone

recieve my praise which you think

when you pour over you maps of Italy

and explore all the tribes which

you teach, Jupiter, and labor!

How do I have such a little book of whatever sort

which, o patron of the twins,

for one man's sacred work.



cat 3 1-5

Lament, Venus and Cupid,

and as much as human divine,

my girl's sparrow is dead,

the sparrow, the desire of my girl,

which she loved more than her own eyes--



Cat 7

Ask me how many of your kisses

Lesbia, are above enough.

Their great number is like the Libyian sand

filled with silphium between

the oracle of Cyrenis and the sacred tomb of Batti;

however when the many stars, when shining at night,

alone the people see their love:

so your kiss which is many kisses

offers enough and is above for Catullus,

which neither able to be curious for the number

nor makes evil language.



Cat 10 1-5

Varus my man of leisure sighted me in the forum and

wished to show me his new love:

a chippy bimbo ( so much that I repeated my look)

neither ungraceful nor unlovely;

this so that we came, the noble incident...



A Resopnse to The Napkin Theif

O Catullus, you silly man!

How can you attack me

when you are not so perfect

yourself? Oh how you embarrass yourself!

The erotic poet, how can you point fingers?

I can hear the papyrus weeping as you record

your filth onto its surface.

If you must know about my love

of the napkin, it is because

they bring me great joy.

There is nothing more fufilling

than spending a night

folding napkins or creating a pile

and hurling myself into them.

And upon my descent

into the vast unknown

I will hope to buried among my passion.

So leave me alone Catullus or

you may find yourself napkinless.

Riots In the Streets of Athens

There is a Greek tragedy playing right now in the streets of Athens. After Athenian police killed a 15 year old boy, who was committing vandalism, the city descended into hell. There have been reports of looting, homemade bombs, and even the burning of a massive Christmas Tree. This is obviously a terrible occurrence in a place with a majestic history. But this is to be expected of any society. When someone is killed who didn't deserve it, especially a young kid, people will take action to enact revenge upon the guilty. In this case the guilty party has become Athens its self. We can only hope that the rioting citizens can find some peace before the whole of Athens lies in ruins. But perhaps this is but hopeful wishing.

Nepos Hannibal bio paragraph 7

[7] Cum in apparando acerrime esset occupatus, Carthaginienses bellum cum Romanis composuerunt. Ille nihilo setius exercitui postea praefuit resque in Africa gessit [itemque Mago frater eius] usque ad P. Sulpicium C. Aurelium consules. 2 His enim magistratibus legati Carthaginienses Romam venerunt, qui senatui populoque Romano gratias agerent, quod cum iis pacem fecissent, ob eamque rem corona aurea eos donarent simulque peterent, ut obsides eorum Fregellis essent captivique redderentur. 3 His ex senatus consulto responsum est: munus eorum gratum acceptumque esse; obsides, quo loco rogarent, futuros; captivos non remissuros, quod Hannibalem, cuius opera susceptum bellum foret, inimicissimum nomini Romano, etiamnum cum imperio apud exercitum haberent itemque fratrem eius Magonem. 4 Hoc responso Carthaginienses cognito Hannibalem domum et Magonem revocarunt. Huc ut rediit, rex factus est, postquam praetor fuerat, anno secundo et vicesimo. Ut enim Romae consules, sic Carthagine quotannis annui bini reges creabantur. 5 In eo magistratu pari diligentia se Hannibal praebuit, ac fuerat in bello. Namque effecit, ex novis vectigalibus non solum ut esset pecunia, quae Romanis ex foedere penderetur, sed etiam superesset, quae in aerario reponeretur. 6 Deinde [anno post praeturam] M. Claudio L. Furio consulibus Roma legati Carthaginem venerunt. Hos Hannibal ratus sui exposcendi gratia missos, priusquam iis senatus daretur, navem ascendit clam atque in Syriam ad Antiochum profugit. 7 Hac re palam facta Poeni naves duas, quae eum comprehenderent, si possent consequi, miserunt, bona eius publicarunt, domum a fundamentis disiecerunt, ipsum exulem iudicarunt.


When he was in an apperently sharp occupation, They composed the Carthaginian war with Rome. This was not often an excuse to be ablely prepared and the incident in Africa was finished [his belongings and brother Mago] and so to the Consuls P. Sulpicium and C. Aurelium. These leaders saw the places of Carthage and Rome, which the senate and the Roman people were otherwise grateful, how they made it with peace, and he called the other affair his gift and the simulation paramount, so that he claimed power over and they captured Fregellis. the response from the senators was such: his many thanks

Catullus 10

Catullus 10
A bad moment with Varus and his girl
My Varus took me at leisure out of the forum
To see his love:
A chippy little bimbo ( that suddenly my view was her)
Who surely was not unbecoming nor unlovely;
That while we came upon her place, we fell upon
Topics of conversation, in which how
Bithynia was now, to which place they only have,
And because the air was fleeing.
I responded because of her: nothing and not himself
neither governor nor his entourage,
why she referred to anyone’s rich head:
especially how he the governor forced
oral pleasure, and not that his cohort was worth much.
“But certainly however,” they said “because those
Offspring were bestowed to you, obtain
To you your manly bed.” I (that one girl
Made me so happy)
“No,” I say “my spiteful flee was such,
So that, because evil fell upon the province,
They were not able to prepare the eight upstanding people.”
(But I was not hers neither in this nor that
Fact which your shameful cot
In it I set myself that I was able to arrange a marriage bed.)
This that, so that she said it as an unsavory character,
“Pray,” she said “to me, my Catullus, for a little while
This convenient: for I am willing to travel to the temple of Serapis.”
“In the morning,” says the girl,
“as for that which you only claim to have…
I made a mistake: my comrade –
Cinna- Gauis Cinna that is—that ready himself.
Actually whether these or mine, which to me?
Use as much of my good as prepared.
But your Evil Island and troublesome men,
For which no neglecting is permitted!”


1. Catullus claims to have brought 8 litter bearers back from Bithynia. He is caught when the mistress asks to borrow them and he cannot produce them.

2. The girl says that she wants to take the litter bearers to the temple of Serapis. This was an Egyptian god of healing. It would show that she was a prostitute of loose morals because the temple was a place of high standing in such communities.

Catullus 7 How Many Kisses

Ask me how many of your kisses, Lesbia,
May be enough and great.
How great a number reclining on Libyan sand
Producing Cyrenian silphium
Between The writhing oracle of Jupiter
And the sacred tomb of Battus;
Or how many stars, when the silent night,
They see the secret love of the people:
So your kisses many frenzied kisses
Are enough and are above Catullus’,
Which neither count out busybodies
Nor are able create bad words.

Google Earth -- Its Neat!!

Well I did some exploring of Ancient Rome in the new Google Earth and I came up with some ideas for its use.

1. Do an entire aerial tour of Rome, pointing out some of the major and historically important places and buildings.
2. Go to the temples of the major gods and goddesses and explore the outside and inside (if available). Then discuss the history of that particular god and how it fits into the mythology.

That's all the ideas I could come up with. I hope it was helpful.