Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By George LyndeRichardson

1727 Classical Criticism

21 B. C.

OLD Horace on a summer afternoon,

Well primed with sweet Falernian, let us say,

Lulled by the far-off brooklet ’s drowsy croon

To a half-doze in a haphazard way,

Scratched off a half a dozen careless rhymes,

As was his habit. When next day he came

Awake to work, he read them several times,

In vain attempt to catch their sense and aim.

“What was I thinking of? Blest if I know,

Jupiter! What ’s the difference? Let them go!”

886 A. D.

“LINES twelve to twenty are in great dispute,”

(Most learnedly the lecturer doth speak,)

“I think I shall be able to refute

Orelli’s claim they ’re taken from the Greek.

I think, with Bentley, Horace’s purpose here

Is irony, and yet I do not know

But Dillenberger’s reading is more clear,

For which he gives eight arguments, although

Wilkins gives twelve objections to the same”—

So on (ad infinitum). Such is fame!