Living

Odes 3.23: Coelo Supinas

by Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) 65–8 BC

Translated by John Conington (3rd ed., before 1869) · From Odes, Book III

Living

If, Phidyle, your hands you lift
To heaven, as each new moon is born,
Soothing your Lares with the gift
Of slaughter'd swine, and spice, and corn,
Ne'er shall Scirocco's bane assail
Your vines, nor mildew blast your wheat,
Ne'er shall your tender younglings fail
In autumn, when the fruits are sweet.
The destined victim 'mid the snows
Of Algidus in oakwoods fed,
Or where the Alban herbage grows,
Shall dye the pontiff's axes red;
No need of butcher'd sheep for you
To make your homely prayers prevail;
Give but your little gods their due,
The rosemary twined with myrtle frail.
The sprinkled salt, the votive meal,
As soon their favour will regain,
Let but the hand be pure and leal,
As all the pomp of heifers slain.

MLA

Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus). “Odes 3.23: Coelo Supinas.” Translated by John Conington. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/horace/77/.

Chicago

Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus). “Odes 3.23: Coelo Supinas.” Translated by John Conington. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/horace/77/.

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