THE "ARS POETICA" OF HORACE XXIII

Eugene Field

1893

I love the lyric muse!
For when mankind ran wild in groves,
Came holy Orpheus with his songs
And turned men's hearts from bestial loves,
From brutal force and savage wrongs;
Came Amphion, too, and on his lyre
Made such sweet music all the day
That rocks, instinct with warm desire,
Pursued him in his glorious way.

I love the lyric muse!
Hers was the wisdom that of yore
Taught man the rights of fellow-man --
Taught him to worship God the more
And to revere love's holy ban;
Hers was the hand that jotted down
The laws correcting divers wrongs --
And so came honor and renown
To bards and to their noble songs.

I love the lyric muse!
Old Homer sung unto the lyre,
Tyrtaeus, too, in ancient days --
Still, warmed by their immortal fire,
How doth our patriot spirit blaze!
The oracle, when questioned, sings --
So we our way in life are taught;
In verse we soothe the pride of kings,
In verse the drama has been wrought.