Maecēnas: Caius Cilnius Maecenas, for a long time the Emperor Augustus' chief adviser, and a distinguished patron of literature. Not only Horace but Vergil, Propertius, and others profited by his patronage. Some of his ancestors were said to have been lucumōnes (chiefs) of Arretium, hence the use of regibus here. The Augustan poets are fond of dwelling in this way on the contrast between Maecenas' half-royal descent and his modesty in remaining a knight and declining promotion to the Senate. Cf. 3. 29. 1; Sat. 1. 6. 1; Propert. 4. 8. 1; El. in Maec. 13, Regis eras Etrusce genus, tu Caesaris almi | dextera, Romanae tu vigil urbis eras; Martial, 12. 4. 2, Maecenas, atavis regibus ortus eques. For Maecenas as typical patron of letters, cf. Laus Pisonis, 235 sqq.; Martial, 1. 107. 3-4; 8. 56. 5, sint Maecenates; non deerunt, Flacce, Marones; 12. 4. 1-4.—atavis . . . regibus: from royal ancestors. Literally, regibus is in apposition with atavis.
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poem:
Ode I
Ode II
Ode III
Ode IV
Ode V
Ode VI
Ode VII
Ode VIII
Ode IX
Ode X
Ode XI
Ode XII
Ode XIII.
Ode XIV
Ode XV
Ode XVI
Ode XVII.
Ode XVIII.
Ode XIX
Ode XX.
Ode XXI
Ode XXII.
Ode XXIII.
Ode XXIV
Ode XXV.
Ode XXVI.
Ode XXVII
Ode XXVIII
Ode XXIX
Ode XXX
Ode XXXI
Ode XXXII.
Ode XXXIII.
Ode XXXIV
Ode XXXV
Ode XXXVI
Ode XXXVII
Ode XXXVIII
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Horace. Odes and Epodes. Edited with commentary by. Paul Shorey. revised by. Paul Shorey and Gordon J. Laing. New York. Benj. H. Sanborn and Co. 1910.
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