Living
Odes 1.19: Mater Saeva Cupidinum
Translated by John Conington (3rd ed., before 1869) · From Odes, Book I
Cupid's mother, cruel dame,
And Semele's Theban boy, and Licence bold,
Bid me kindle into flame
This heart, by waning passion now left cold.
O, the charms of Glycera,
That hue, more dazzling than the Parian stone!
O, that sweet tormenting play,
That too fair face, that blinds when look'd upon!
Venus comes in all her might,
Quits Cyprus for my heart, nor lets me tell
Of the Parthian, hold in flight,
Nor Scythian hordes, nor aught that breaks her spell.
Heap the grassy altar up,
Bring vervain, boys, and sacred frankincense;
Fill the sacrificial cup;
A victim's blood will soothe her vehemence.
Cite this poem
MLA
Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus). “Odes 1.19: Mater Saeva Cupidinum.” Translated by John Conington. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/horace/18/.
Chicago
Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus). “Odes 1.19: Mater Saeva Cupidinum.” Translated by John Conington. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/horace/18/.
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