Odes 1.7 (Martin): Laudabunt Alii

Some will laud fair Mytilene, —
Rhodes, where many wonders be, —
Some great Ephesus, or Corinth
Watered by its double sea;
Thebes renown'd for Bacchus, Delphi
Famous for Apollo's shrine,
Others praise Thessalian Tempe,
And its thousand charms divine;

Some the towers of spotless Pallas
Chaunt, nor ask another theme,
Thence to pluck an olive garland,
All their pride and all their dream.
Many a bard, in Juno's honor.
Makes the burden of his lyre
Rich Mycenae, grassy Argos,
Famous for its steeds of fire.

Me nor patient Lacedemon,
Nor Larissa's fertile plain,
Like Albunea's echoing fountain
All my inmost heart hath ta'en.
Give me Anio's headlong torrent,
And Tiburnus' grove and hills,
And its orchards sparkling dewy
With a thousand wimpling rills.

As the sunny southwind often
Sweeps the louring clouds away,
Nor with showers unceasing ever
Loads the long and dreary day,
Plancus, so do thou remember
Still to cheer with balmy wine
All the care and grief and travail
Of this toilworn life of thine;
Whether in the throng'd camp, gleaming
With a thousand spears, or laid
On the turf beneath the umbrage
Of thy loved Tiburtine glade.

Teucer, though an outcast hunted
From his native Salamis,
Hunted by a father's anger,
Natheless — as the legend is —
On his forehead wet with revel
First a wreath of poplar bound,
Then his comrades thus accosted,
As they sadly stood around.
"Wheresoever Fortune, kinder
Than my sire, our voyage bends.
Thither shall we go together,
O my comrades, brothers, friends!
Teucer for your leader, — marshall'd
Under Teucer's guiding star,
What shall stay, or what shall daunt us?
Hence, then, craven fears, afar!
For I hold Apollo's promise,
That in other climes a new
Salamis shall rise around us,
Fairer, nobler to the view!
Now, ye brave hearts, that have weather'd
Many a sorer strait with me,
Chase your cares With wine, — to-morrow
We shall plough the mighty sea!"