Brewer's: Choriambic Metre

Horace gives us a great variety, but the main feature in all is the prevalence of the choriambus. Specimen translations of two of these metres are subjoined:

(1) Horace, 1 Odes, viii.

Lydia, why on Stanley.

By the great gods, tell me, I pray, ruinous love you centre? Once he was strong and manly,

Never seen now, patient of toil, Mars' sunny camp to enter.

E.C.B. (2) The other specimen is 1 Odes, xii.

When you, with an approving smile,

Praise those delicate arms, Lydy, of Telephus, Ah me! how you stir up my bile!

Heart-sick, that for a boy you should forsake me thus.

E.C.B.

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