The Complete Odes and Epodes

Read I 37 (the "Cleopatra Ode"), and you will know why Clancy's work is definitive.

Okay - so Horace is notoriously allusive, each line packed with meaning. What that calls for, it would seem, is a translation with as many pages of notes as of text, if not more, and a line-by-line gloss in the back.West in his Oxford World's Classic gives better annotation than most (the Penguin or Modern Library edition), but still could stand to do a lot more. One suspects he wants people to buy his expanded editions of the Odes.The translations, as poetry, will not knock you off your feet, but they do better than the looser Michie versions at letting you know what Horace more or less wrote. (I find Michie's unrhymed versions very fine as poetry, but the rhymed ones are too glib to bear.) And West's aren't quite as soporific as Shepard's versions in Penguin.Basically, it seems, I need to learn Latin. And if any of you eager reviewers knows a good English-language commentary on the Odes, don't keep it a secret.

Horace is one of the greatest and most influential poets in history, and surely a "must-read" for students and afficianados of poetry or the ancient world. In this Penguin edition we have a beautiful translation by W.G. Shepherd. I don't have any Latin myself, so I cannot speak to the accuracy of the translation, but I find Shepherd much more beautiful to read than the David West translation put out by Oxford World's Classics. The West is probably more straightforward and easy to understand, however. I would be interested to hear what other people who have read both have to say.

[This review refers to the Oxford World's Classicsedition of Horace's THE COMPLETE ODES AND EPODES,and the "Secular Hymn" -- "Translated with an Introductionand Notes by David West."] It is always wise, if funds permit, to purchase morethan one edition (translation) of some of these classicworks. To read several translations that are well doneis like experiencing the same piece of classical musicso well interpreted but with different style, flair, andfelicity by different orchestras and conductors. The Oxford World's Classics series are excellent fortheir formatting, the scholarship, and the wonderfulExplanatory Notes at the back which give such helpfulcontext and understanding. You know that you are in the company of an interestingtranslator (as well as the company of Horace, the poet,himself) when you read something like this in the"Introduction": "Those who know Horace well, find that of all deadwriters there is none who is a closer friend, who speaksmore usefully in easy and in difficult times, and nonewhom they would more happily sit down to drink with.* * * We have seen glimpses of [Horace's] humour andstudied his tactical deftness as a client poet. Hispoetry is steeped also in the affairs of the day. Heis interested in those he addresses and sensitive andaffectionate towards his friends. He has an eye formetaphor and a taste for the surreal. * * * The soundis unique, setting against elaborate, fixed metres themusic of powerful speech. The complexity of the structure of many of the poems amazes with subtletransitions, astonishing leaps of sense, and rich modulations of feeling. The elusvieness of Horace isfamiliar." -- David West. "Introduction."------- But it is in the "Translator's Note" that the realinsight and sensitivity of this translator come out.For he says of Horace: "The odes of Horaace are amongthe densest lyric poems ever written. The allusionsare rich and subtle, and the tone is so iridescentthat readers can never be quite sure of it, and findendless pleasure in disagreeing with each other aboutit. Translation of poetry is always impossible buttranslation of Horace's odes is inconceivable." -- David West. "Translator's Note."------- But very fortunately for us, David West proceededwith his translation quest anyway. And he has givenus some very fine experiences with Horace, even ifthey are in English. Here is a part of West's translation of Ode XXIX from Book III: Fortune enjoys her cruel business and persists in playing her proud game, transferring her fickle honours, favouring now me, now another. I praise her while she stays. If she shakes out her swift wings, I return what she gave, wrap myself in my virtue, and look for honest Poverty, the bride that brings no dowry. Immensely satisfying, memorable, haunting...

This book was a revelation to me. I don't have any background in Latin but have always enjoyed reading literature, especially poetry. No one had told me what an influence Horace had on the English and French poetry that I have always enjoyed! I kept recognizing things that later writer copied and imitated from him, because he is so lovely. He also is a great poet for a thinking person to read. Mature and interesting. The translations seemed to be good. I had a friend who reads Latin listen to a few and she said they were very accurate. When she read the original aloud to me, they sounded much more lovely than the English. But I suppose that is normal.