Ode 2.3 - To dellius

Here Horace addresses a younger friend, Dellius.  Again, he emphasizes, "Carpe Diem"

1

Aequam memento rebus in arduis

servare mentm, non secus in bonis

ab insolenti temperatam

laetitia, moriture Delli,

2

5  seu maestus omni tempore vixeris,

seu te in remoto gramine per dies

festos reclinatum bearis

interiore nota Falerni.

3

Quo pinus ingens albaque populus

10  umbram hospitalem consociare amant

ramis?  quid obliquo laborat

lympha fugax trepidare rivo?

4

Huc vina et uguenta et nimium brevis

flores amoenae ferre iube rosae,

15  dum res et aetas et sororum

fila trium patiuntur atra:

5

cedes coemptis saltibus et domo

villaque flavos quam Tiberis lavit,

cedes et exstructis in altum

20  divitiis potietur heres;

6

divesne prisco natus ab Inacho

ni interest an pauper et infima

de gente sub divo moreris,

victima nil misterantis Orci;

7

25  omnes eodem cogimur, omnium

versatur urna serius ocius

sors exitura et nos in aeternum

exilium inpositura cumbae.

~Horace

1

In steep, difficult matters, remember

to keep a level head, similarly, in good times keep

restrained from immoderate joy,

you will die Dellius,

2

whether you will live, sad, through all time

or you will be happy with a choice Falernian aged

wine, reclined in secluded grass on all 

festive days.

3

Why do the massive pine or white poplar

take pleasure to extend their hospitable

shade by connecting their branches?  Why does the

swift water struggle to hurry down the crooked stream?

4

Order wine and oil and the pleasant rose, whose

bloom is too brief, to be brought here

while you have the means and youth 

and while the black threads of the Three Sisters permit:

5

You will depart from your acquired fields and house

and country villa, washed by the yellow Tiber,

You will depart and your heir will acquire

wealth heaped up in high piles;

6

Whether you are a rich man, born of Inachus

or as a pauper you linger under the sky, 

the lowest race, it doesn't matter, 

you will be a victim of merciless Orcus;

7

We are all herded to the same place, the universal 

urn is turned quickly and gravely, casting out lots,

and we will be placed on board 

a boat to eternal exile.