Horace, Odes 1.24

Carm. 1.24.1Quis dēsīderiō sit pudor aut modus
tam cārī capitis?

What shame or limit should there be to our longing for so dear a man?

Note. Metre: Third Asclepiadean. Written on the death of Quintilius Varus (24 B.C.), a friend of Horace and Vergil. Quis ... sit pudor aut modus, 'what shame or limit should there be'; dēsīderiō is dative, 'to our longing'; tam cārī capitis, 'for so dear a head' (person).

Carm. 1.24.2Praecipe lūgubrīs
cantūs, Melpomenē, cui liquidam pater
vōcem cum citharā dedit.

Teach me songs of mourning, Melpomene, to whom the Father gave a clear voice along with the lyre.

Note. Praecipe, 'teach me (first)', a call to the Muse. lūgubrīs cantūs, 'songs of mourning'. cui ... pater ... dedit: the Father (Jupiter) gave Melpomene a clear voice along with the lyre.

Carm. 1.24.5Ergō Quīntilium perpetuus sopor
urget?

So does unending sleep weigh down Quintilius?

Note. Ergō, 'so then', in shocked disbelief. perpetuus sopor, 'unending sleep'.

Carm. 1.24.6Cui Pudor et Iūstitiae soror
incorrupta Fidēs nūdaque Vēritās
quandō ūllum inveniet parem?

When will Honour, and Good Faith the incorruptible sister of Justice, and naked Truth find anyone his equal?

Note. The four virtues are personified: Pudor ('Honour'), Fidēs, 'Good Faith', the incorrupt sister of Justice, and Vēritās nūda, 'naked Truth'. cui ... parem, 'an equal to him'. ullum is masculine, 'anyone'.

Carm. 1.24.9Multīs ille bonīs flēbilis occidit,
10nūllī flēbilior quam tibi, Vergilī.

He died mourned by many good men, mourned by none more than by you, Vergil.

Note. Multīs ... bonīs flēbilis, 'to be wept for by many good men' (dative of agent). nūllī flēbilior quam tibi, 'by no one more than by you'. Vergil is addressed directly.

Carm. 1.24.11Tū, frūstrā pius, heu nōn ita crēditum
poscis Quīntilium deōs.

You, dutiful in vain, alas, ask the gods for Quintilius, who was not entrusted to them on those terms.

Note. frūstrā pius, 'dutiful in vain'. nōn ita crēditum: Quintilius was 'not entrusted' to the gods 'on those terms', i.e. as a deposit to be given back on request. poscis takes two accusatives: you demand Quintilius from the gods.

Carm. 1.24.13Quid?

What then?

Carm. 1.24.13Sī Thrēiciō blandius Orpheō
audītam moderēre arboribus fidem,
15num vānae redeat sanguis imāginī,
quam virgā semel horridā
nōn lēnis precibus fāta reclūdere
nigrō conpulerit Mercurius gregī?

Even if you played the lyre, once heard by the trees, more sweetly than Thracian Orpheus, would blood return to the empty ghost which Mercury, not gentle in opening the fates to prayers, has once driven with his dread wand to the black flock?

Note. Sī ... moderēre (= moderēris), a present subjunctive in a future-less-vivid condition: 'even if you were to play'. Thrēiciō blandius Orpheō, 'more sweetly than Thracian Orpheus' (ablative of comparison); audītam arboribus fidem, 'the lyre once heard by the trees'. num ... redeat sanguis imāginī, 'would blood return to the empty shade?' (num expects 'no'). quam ... Mercurius ... nigrō compulerit gregī, 'which Mercury has once driven to the black flock (of the dead)'; virgā horridā, 'with his dread wand'; nōn lēnis precibus fāta reclūdere, 'not gentle in unlocking fate in answer to prayers'.

Carm. 1.24.19Dūrum: sed levius fit patientia
20quidquid corrigere est nefās.

It is hard; but whatever it is forbidden to put right becomes lighter by patience.

Note. Dūrum (est), 'it is hard'. levius fit patientiā quidquid ..., 'whatever ... becomes lighter through patience'; corrigere est nefās, 'it is forbidden to put right'.