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Some things never change

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    Some things never change

    Reading 3.25 Horace, Delicta maiorum (English/Latin)
    (Source: Shepherd, W. G.(trans.)(1983) Horace: The Complete Odes and Epodes, London: Penguin, pp.138–40;

    Delicta maiorum

    Though innocent you shall atone for the crimes
    of your fathers, Roman, until you have restored
    the temples and crumbling shrines of the Gods
    and their statues grimy with smoke.

    Acknowledge the rule of the Gods – and rule:
    hence all things begin, to this ascribe the outcome.
    Contemned, the Gods have visited many
    evils on grieving Hesperia.

    Already twice Monaeses and Pacorus’ band
    have crushed our ill-starred offensive
    and preen themselves on having added
    Roman spoils to their paltry gauds.

    Our city busied with sedition has almost
    suffered destruction by Egypt allied to Dacia,
    the former renowned for her fleet, the latter
    rather for hurtling arrows.

    Teeming with sin, the times have sullied
    first marriage, our children, our homes:
    sprung from that source disaster has whelmed
    our fatherland and our people.

    The grown girl loves to be taught to be
    artful and dance oriental dances,
    obsessed to her dainty fingernails
    with illicit amours.

    She sniffs out young philand’rers at her
    husband’sfeast,nor is shenicetochoose
    to whom she (hurriedly) grants her favours
    when the lamps are removed,

    but brazenly stands when called – with her
    husband’s assent – though some travelling
    salesman or Spanish ship’scaptain
    may be the agent of Shame.

    The generation that dyed the Punic
    sea with blood and laid low Pyrrhus,
    Antiochus and Hannibal was not born
    of parents such as these,

    but of manly comrades, yeoman soldiers
    taught to turn the soil with Sabine hoes
    and carry cut firewood at a strict
    mother’s bidding when the Sun

    advanced the shadows of the hills
    and lifted the yokes from weary steers,
    his departing chariot leading in
    the hours of comfort.

    What does corrupting time not diminish?
    Our grandparents brought forth feebler heirs;
    we are further degenerate; and soon will beget
    progeny yet more wicked.
    But I discovered nothing else but depraved, excessive superstition. Pliny the younger

    #2


    Have you read any of the works of Marcus Aurelius?

    Comment


      #3
      Can I have a Daily Mail reader summary please.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by SupremeSpod View Post


        Have you read any of the works of Marcus Aurelius?

        Some of his meditations.

        I like the one about not feeling like getting up in morning even though 'I was born for this purpose'
        But I discovered nothing else but depraved, excessive superstition. Pliny the younger

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by DimPrawn View Post
          Can I have a Daily Mail reader summary please.
          We have turned against the Gods
          Moral standards are slipping
          We couldn't have won the punic war like our forefathers
          We will just get worse and worse.
          But I discovered nothing else but depraved, excessive superstition. Pliny the younger

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by DimPrawn View Post
            Can I have a Daily Mail reader summary please.
            And some house prices.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by DimPrawn View Post
              Can I have a Daily Mail reader summary please.
              Originally posted by Gibbon View Post
              We have turned against the Gods
              Moral standards are slipping
              We couldn't have won the punic war like our forefathers
              We will just get worse and worse.
              He said 'Daily Mail', are you sure there's nothing about Diana or immigrants in there?
              The vegetarian option.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by DimPrawn View Post
                Can I have a Daily Mail reader summary please.
                Our grandparents were heroes. Our parents were a bunch of egomaniac hedonists. We're crap. Our children will be worse. Bring back national service.

                Yours,

                Disgruntled Old Git
                And what exactly is wrong with an "ad hominem" argument? Dodgy Agent, 16-5-2014

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Gibbon View Post
                  We have turned against the Gods
                  Moral standards are slipping
                  We couldn't have won the punic war like our forefathers
                  We will just get worse and worse.
                  Cheerup it's Friday!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Mich the Tester View Post
                    Our grandparents were heroes. Our parents were a bunch of egomaniac hedonists. We're crap. Our children will be worse. Bring back national service.

                    Yours,

                    Disgruntled Old Git
                    I think that's the more "Dear BBC" version
                    "Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch." - Orson Welles

                    Norrahe's blog

                    Comment

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