cultivated, well-regulated mind, in reasonable desires, in an even, contented spirit. It is here that we discover the secret of Horace's power over so many minds; it is not his style, with its rare union of elegance and vigor, it is not his terseness and felicity of expression,-these alone could never explain nor could they create so wide and enduring a popularity; but it is the wise thoughts, just sentiments, and genuine truths, universally applicable to the every-day lives of men, which are the staple of his work, and of which the graces of style, the felicitous expression, are the rich and finished setting, it is these that have made him the favorite companion, not only of classical scholars, but of statesmen, philosophers, and men of the world; the most read, the best remembered, and the most frequently quoted of all the writers of antiquity. The fame of Horace has far exceeded the measure of his own proud prophecy. It has outlived those solemn processions to the Capitol of pontiffs and vestal virgins, it has outlived the entire religion of ancient Rome, and ancient Rome itself, and after the lapse of ages, it still flourishes in all its early freshness; and with equal truth and beauty has it been described in an apostrophe to Horace, by an Italian poet : Salgo la cima ombrosa, e fresco e verde Veggiol dell' immortal tua lira adorno, "I climb the shady summit, and behold I see it decked with thy immortal lyre, 1 O. 3, 30, 8-10. U. O. B. O. YEAR OF HORACE. CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. CONSULS. EVENTS. 689 65 701 12 16 705 49 L. Aurelius Cotta, L. Horace is born, on the 8th of December. Cn. Domitius Calvinus, | Horace is carried to Rome. M. Valerius Messala. C. Claudius Marcellus, Civil war between Caesar and Pompey. 706 48 17 C. Julius Caesar II., P. 708 46 19 710 44 711 43 20 C. Julius Caesar III., 21 C. Julius Caesar V., M 22 C. Vibius Pansa, A. Hir- 23 M. Aemilius Lepidus II, L. Munatius Plancus. 713 41 24 P. Servilius Vatia Isauricus II., L. Antonius Pietas. 714 40 25 Cn. Domitius Calvinus II., C. Asinius Pollio. Battle of Thapsus. Death of Cato at Utica. Horace goes to Athens. Assassination of Julius Caesar. Octavianus, Antony and Lepidus form the The two engagements at Philippi. Death of Horace returns to Rome. U. O. B. C. YEAR OF CONSULS. EVENTS. 22 726 28 37 C. Caesar Octavianus Octavianus dedicates the temple of Apollo on VI., M. Agrippa II. the Palatine; O. 1, 31. 38 C. Caesar Octavianus Aug. VII., M. Agrippa III. 727 27 729 25 40 C. Caesar Octavianus Aug. IX., M. Junius Silanus. 730 24 41 C. Caesar Aug. X., C. 42 C. Caesar Aug. XI., A. 43 Terentius Varro Mu- Octavianus receives the title of Augustus and of Imperator. Preparations are made for an expedition against Arabia; O. 1, 29. Expedition of Augustus against the Cantabrians. Expedition against Arabia, under command of Aelius Gallus. Phraates expels Tiridates from Parthia. Augustus, having conquered the Cantabrians, returns to Rome, and closes for the second time the temple of Janus; O. 3, 14; ib. 4, 15. Death of Quinctilius; O. 1, 24. Horace (probably) publishes the first Three Books of his Odes. Death of the young Marcellus; O. 1, 12, 45 M. Claudius Marcellus, A conspiracy against Augustus discovered M. Lollius, Q. Aemilius Augustus goes to Greece; winters at Samos. C. Sentius Saturninus, Death of Virgil at Brundusium. Q. Lucretius. P. Cornelius Lentulus, Horace publishes the First Book of Epistles. M. Livius Drusus Libo, 52 Tib. Claudius Nero, P. Augustus celebrates the Ludi Saeculares; Horace publishes the Fourth Book of Odes. Death of Horace (a few weeks after that of THE LYRIC METRES OF HORACE [For the details pertaining to versification, such as the names and component parts of the feet, and the terms employed for the different metres and kinds of verses, the student is referred to the Grammars: to Andrews and Stoddard's, jý 302–304, and jý 310-318, and to Zumpt's, Appendix I.] I-ALCAIC. In thirty-seven Odes, viz., I. 9, 16, 17, 26, 27. II. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20. III. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17, 21, 23, 26, 29. IV. 4, 9, 14, 15. Four verses: first two greater Alcaics, third an Iambic dimeter hypermeter, fourth a smaller Alcaic. II.-SAPPHIC AND ADONIC. In twenty-five Odes, viz., I. 2, 10, 12, 20, 22, 25, 30, 32, 38. II. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 16. III. 8, 11, 14, 18, 20, 22, 27. IV. 2, 6, 11 Four verses: first three Sapphic, fourth Adonic. IL-GLYCONIC AND ASCLEPIADIC. In twelve Odes, I. 3, 13, 19, 36. 11. 9, 15, 19, 24, 25, 28. IV. 1, 3. Two verses: first Glyconic, second Asclepiadic. 2. |