Horace, Odes 2.3

Carm. 2.3.1Aequam mementō rēbus in arduīs
servāre mentem, nōn secus in bonīs
ab īnsolentī temperātam
laetitiā, moritūre Dellī,
5seu maestus omnī tempore vīxeris
seu tē in remōtō grāmine per diēs
fēstōs reclīnātum beāris
interiōre notā Falernī.

Remember to keep a level mind in hard times, and no less in good times one kept from excessive joy, Dellius, you who are going to die, whether you live in gloom all your days or, reclining in a secluded meadow on holidays, treat yourself to a choice label of Falernian.

Note. Metre: Alcaic stanza. Aequam memento ... servāre mentem, 'remember to keep a level mind'. rēbus in arduīs, 'in hard times'; nōn secus in bonīs (rēbus), 'no differently in good times'; ab īnsolentī temperātam laetitiā, 'restrained from excessive joy'. moritūre Dellī, 'Dellius, who are going to die', a stark vocative. seu ... vīxeris seu ... beāris: future perfects, 'whether you will have lived ... or will have blessed yourself'. interiōre notā Falernī, 'with an inner (choice) label of Falernian', the best jars at the back of the cellar.

Carm. 2.3.9Quō pīnus ingēns albaque pōpulus
10umbram hospitālem cōnsociāre amant
rāmīs?

Why do the great pine and the white poplar love to join their branches into a welcoming shade?

Note. Quō, 'for what purpose?', i.e. 'why else?'. The pine and the white poplar 'love to join' (cōnsociāre amant) a welcoming shade with their branches: the place invites a picnic.

Carm. 2.3.11Quid oblīquō labōrat
lympha fugāx trepidāre rīvō?

Why does the hurrying water labour to scurry down the winding stream?

Note. Quid ... labōrat ... trepidāre, 'why does (the water) strive to hurry'; lympha fugāx, 'the fleeing water'; oblīquō rīvō, 'in the winding stream'.

Carm. 2.3.13Hūc vīna et unguenta et nimium brevīs
flōrēs amoenae ferre iubē rosae,
15dum rēs et aetās et sorōrum
fīla trium patiuntur ātra.

Order wine and perfumes and the too brief flowers of the lovely rose to be brought here, while your fortune and your age and the black threads of the three Sisters allow it.

Note. Huc ... ferre iube, 'order to be brought here'. nimium brevīs flōrēs amoenae rosae, 'the too short-lived flowers of the lovely rose'. dum ... patiuntur, 'while ... allow'; sorōrum fīla trium ātra, 'the black threads of the three Sisters', the Fates who spin each life.

Carm. 2.3.17Cēdēs coēmptīs saltibus et domō
vīllāque, flāvos quam Tiberis lavit,
cēdēs et exstrūctīs in altum
20dīvitiīs potiētur hērēs.

You will leave your purchased pastures and your house and the villa that the yellow Tiber washes; you will leave them, and an heir will take possession of the riches you have piled up high.

Note. Cēdēs, 'you will give up', with ablatives: coēmptīs saltibus, 'your bought-up pastures', domō villāque, 'your house and villa', quam flāvus Tiberis lavit, 'which the yellow Tiber washes'. exstrūctīs in altum dīvitiīs, 'the riches piled up high'; potior takes the ablative.

Carm. 2.3.21Dīvesne prīscō nātus ab Īnachō
nīl interest an pauper et īnfima
dē gente sub dīvō morēris:
victima nīl miserantis Orcī.

It makes no difference whether you live under the sky rich and descended from ancient Inachus, or poor and of the lowest family: you are a victim of Orcus, who pities nothing.

Note. Dīvesne ... an pauper ... morēris, 'whether you live rich ... or poor'; nīl interest, 'it makes no difference'. prīscō nātus ab Īnachō, 'descended from ancient Inachus' (first king of Argos); īnfimā dē gente, 'from the lowest family'; sub dīvō, 'under the sky', i.e. alive. victima nīl miserantis Orcī, 'a victim of pitiless Orcus' (Death).

Carm. 2.3.25Omnēs eōdem cōgimur, omnium
versātur urnā sērius ōcius
sors exitūra et nōs in aeternum
exilium inpositūra cumbae.

We are all driven to the same place; the lot of every one of us is shaken in the urn, sooner or later to come out and put us on the boat to eternal exile.

Note. Omnēs eōdem cōgimur, 'we are all driven to the same place'. The image is of lots shaken in an urn: omnium versātur urnā sors, 'the lot of all is shaken in the urn', sērius ōcius, 'sooner or later' (later, sooner), exitūra, 'to come out', et nōs ... impositūra cumbae, 'and to put us on the boat' (Charon's) in aeternum exsilium.