HORACE TO MAECENAS. (Odes III, 29.)

Eugene Field

1896

Dear noble friend! a virgin cask
Of wine solicits attention --
And roses fair, to deck your hair,
And things too numerous to mention,
So tear yourself awhile away
From urban turmoil, pride and splendor
And deign to share what humble fare
And sumptuous fellowship I tender;
The sweet content retirement brings
Smoothes out the ruffled front of kings.

The evil planets have combined
To make the weather hot and hotter --
By parboiled streams the shepherd dreams
Vainly of ice-cream soda-water;
And meanwhile you, defying heat,
With patriotic ardor ponder
On what old Rome essays at home
And what her heathen do out yonder.

Maecenas, no such vain alarm
Disturbs the quiet of this farm!

God in his providence observes
The goal beyond this vale of sorrow,
And smiles at men in pity when
They seek to penetrate the morrow.

With faith that all is for the best,
Let's bear what burdens are presented,
That we shall say, let come what may,
"We die, as we have lived, contented!
Ours is to-day; God's is the rest --
He doth ordain who knoweth best!"

Dame Fortune plays me many a prank --
When she is kind, oh! how I go it!
But if, again, she's harsh, why, then
I am a very proper poet!
When favoring gales bring in my ships,
I hie to Rome and live in clover --
Elsewise, I steer my skiff out here,
And anchor till the storm blows over.

Compulsory virtue is the charm
Of life upon the Sabine farm!

End of title

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