Odes 1.6 (Martin): Scriberis Vario

By Varius shall thy prowess be
In strains Maeonic chaunted,
The victories by land and sea,
Our gallant troops, led on by thee,
Have won with swords undaunted.

Such themes, Agrippa, never hath
My lyre essay'd, nor bold
Pelides' unrelenting wrath,
Nor artfullest Ulysses' path
O'er oceans manifold;

Nor woes of Pelops' fated line;
Such flights too soaring are!
Nor doth my bashful Muse incline,
Great Caesar's eulogies and thine
With its thin notes to mar.

Who, who shall sing, with accents just
Mars' adamantine mail,
Or Merion, grimed with Trojan dust,
Or him who, strong in Pallas' trust,
Made even gods to quail?

Heart-whole, or pierced by Cupid's sting,
In careless mirthfulness,
Of banquets we, and maidens sing,
With nails cut closely skirmishing,
When lovers hotly press.