Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Epodes 16.15-24
Continuing Horace's sixteenth epode, the poet proposes a solution to Rome's self-destruction: mass emigration. Taking inspiration from the Phocaeans, who abandoned their city rather than submit to tyranny, Horace urges his fellow Romans to leave their fields and homes behind and sail wherever the winds carry them. He ends with an urgent call to action — what better plan is there? Why delay?
Tier 1
Fortasse vos omnes aut melius pars vostrorum quaeritis quid liberet nos malis laboribus;
Sit nulla sententia alia quam haec: profugit ut civitas Phocaeorum, detestata campos et lares, reliquit templa habitanda apris et rapacibus lupis,
ire quocumque pedes ferent, quocumque per undas Notus aut violentus Africus vocabit.
Sic placet? An quis habet consilium melius? Cur moramur conscendere navem secundo vento?
Tier 2
Forte communiter aut melior pars quaeritis quid expediat carere malis laboribus;
sit nulla sententia potior hac: civitas velut Phocaeorum profugit, exsecrata patrios agros atque lares, reliquit habitandaque fana apris et rapacibus lupis,
ire, quocumque pedes ferent, quocumque per undas Notus aut protervos Africus vocabit.
Sic placet? An quis melius suadere habet? Quid moramur occupare ratem secunda alite?
Tier 3 - Carmen Ipsum
- forte quid expediat communiter aut melior pars,
- malis carere quaeritis laboribus;
- nulla sit hac potior sententia: Phocaeorum
- velut profugit exsecrata civitas
- agros atque lares patrios habitandaque fana
- apris reliquit et rapacibus lupis,
- ire, pedes quocumque ferent, quocumque per undas
- Notus vocabit aut protervos Africus.
- sic placet? an melius quis habet suadere? Secunda
- ratem occupare quid moramur alite?
Written by Robert Amstutz