‘_Vir elegantissimi eloquii et multae ac facundae scientiae._’ --St. Augustine, 400 A.D. QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS, 65-8 B.C. 1. Important Events in the Life of Horace. [Sidenote: HORACE.] B.C. 65. Born at Venusia (_Venosa_) on the confines of Apulia and Lucania. „ 53-46. Educated at Rome under the famous _plagosus_ Orbilius. „ 46-44. At the University of Athens. „ 44-42. Served under Brutus as _tribunus militum_: fought at Philippi. „ 42-39. Pardoned by Octavianus and allowed to return to Rome. His poverty compelled him to write verses, prob. _Sat._ I, ii. iii. iv., and some _Epodes_. Through these he obtained the notice of Varius and Vergil, who became his fast friends and „ 38. introduced him to Maecenas, the trusted minister of Augustus. „ 35. +Satires, Book I+ published. (Journey to Brundisium described, _Sat._ I. v.) „ 33. Maecenas bestowed upon him a Sabine farm (about 15 miles N.E. of Tivoli). For fullest description see _Epist._ I. xvi. „ 31. +Satires, Book II+, and +Epodes+ published. „ 23. +Odes, Books I-III+ published. „ 20. +Epistles, Book I+ published. „ 17. +Carmen Saeculare+ written at the request of Augustus for the _Ludi Saeculares_. „ 13. +Odes, Book IV+ published. „ 12. +Epistles, Book II+ published. „ 8. Died in the same year as his friend and patron Maecenas. 3. Works. (1) +Odes+, in four books, and +Epodes+.--The words of Cicero (_pro Archia_ 16) best describe the abiding value of the four Books of the Odes--_Adolescentiam alunt_ (strengthen), _senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis perfugium ac solacium praebent, delectant domi, non impediunt foris, pernoctant nobiscum, peregrinantur, rusticantur_. In them we see a poet, as Quintilian says, _verbis felicissime audax_--most happily daring in his use of words and endowed, as Petronius says, with _curiosa felicitas_, a subtle happiness of expression--‘what oft was thought but ne’er so well express’d.’ (2) +Satires (Sermones)+ in two Books.--Horace’s chief model is Lucilius, whom he wished to adapt to the Augustan age. To touch on political topics was impossible; Horace employed satire to display his own individuality and his own views on various subjects. Book I (his earliest effort) is marred by faults in execution and is often wanting in good taste; but in Book II ‘he uses the hexameter to exhibit the semi-dramatic form of easy dialogue, with a perfection as complete as that of Vergil in the stately and serious manner. In reading these Satires we all read our own minds and hearts.’ --Mackail.