Book 4
Horace published a fourth book of Odes in 13 BC consisting of 15 poems that were commissioned by Augustus himself. Horace acknowledged the gap in time with the first words of the opening poem of the collection: Intermissa, Venus, diu / rursus bella moves (Venus, you return to battles long interrupted). Notable poems in this collection include:
IV.7 Diffugere nives, an ode on the same springtime theme as I.4. Contrasts between these two odes show a change in Horace's attitude with age.
IV.9 Ne forte credas, an ode to Lollius about the power of poetry that contains the famous line, "Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona," "Brave men lived before Agamemnon.
IV.10 O crudelis adhuc, an ode to young Ligurinus on the inevitability of old age that hints at a pederastic relationship.
Read more about this topic: Odes (Horace)
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