Explore "HORACE TO MAECENAS. (Odes III, 29.)" by Eugene Field on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
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.