THE JANEITES

THE JANEITES

THE SURVIVAL

Horace, Ode 22, Bk. V.

Securely, after daysUnnumbered, I beholdKings mourn that promised praiseTheir cheating bards foretold.Of earth-constricting wars,Of Princes passed in chains,Of deeds out-shining stars,No word or voice remains.Yet furthest times receiveAnd to fresh praise restore,Mere flutes that breathe at eve,Mere seaweed on the shore.A smoke of sacrifice;A chosen myrtle-wreath;An harlot’s altered eyes;A rage ’gainst love or death;Glazed snow beneath the moon;The surge of storm-bowed trees—The Caesars perished soon,And Rome Herself: But theseEndure while Empires fallAnd Gods for Gods make room ...Which greater God than allImposed the amazing doom?

Securely, after daysUnnumbered, I beholdKings mourn that promised praiseTheir cheating bards foretold.Of earth-constricting wars,Of Princes passed in chains,Of deeds out-shining stars,No word or voice remains.Yet furthest times receiveAnd to fresh praise restore,Mere flutes that breathe at eve,Mere seaweed on the shore.A smoke of sacrifice;A chosen myrtle-wreath;An harlot’s altered eyes;A rage ’gainst love or death;Glazed snow beneath the moon;The surge of storm-bowed trees—The Caesars perished soon,And Rome Herself: But theseEndure while Empires fallAnd Gods for Gods make room ...Which greater God than allImposed the amazing doom?

Securely, after daysUnnumbered, I beholdKings mourn that promised praiseTheir cheating bards foretold.

Securely, after days

Unnumbered, I behold

Kings mourn that promised praise

Their cheating bards foretold.

Of earth-constricting wars,Of Princes passed in chains,Of deeds out-shining stars,No word or voice remains.

Of earth-constricting wars,

Of Princes passed in chains,

Of deeds out-shining stars,

No word or voice remains.

Yet furthest times receiveAnd to fresh praise restore,Mere flutes that breathe at eve,Mere seaweed on the shore.

Yet furthest times receive

And to fresh praise restore,

Mere flutes that breathe at eve,

Mere seaweed on the shore.

A smoke of sacrifice;A chosen myrtle-wreath;An harlot’s altered eyes;A rage ’gainst love or death;

A smoke of sacrifice;

A chosen myrtle-wreath;

An harlot’s altered eyes;

A rage ’gainst love or death;

Glazed snow beneath the moon;The surge of storm-bowed trees—The Caesars perished soon,And Rome Herself: But these

Glazed snow beneath the moon;

The surge of storm-bowed trees—

The Caesars perished soon,

And Rome Herself: But these

Endure while Empires fallAnd Gods for Gods make room ...Which greater God than allImposed the amazing doom?

Endure while Empires fall

And Gods for Gods make room ...

Which greater God than all

Imposed the amazing doom?


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