Bill's Page

Why, why have all of you hastened towards infamy? And why have unsheathed swords been fitted into your hands? Has not enough Latin blood poured upon the field and sea, not so the Roman might burn the proud citadels of envious Carthage, or send unconquered Britain down the Sacred Way in chains, but in answer to the prayers of the Parthians, that this city might kill itself with its own right hand? Wolves and lions do not exhibit this behavior, except upon other animals, wild though they are. Do… Continue

Who are you to attack innocent strangers, you dog-- a coward against wolves? Why not turn these empty threats towards me, if you dare, one who will fight back? For like a Mollossian or tawny Laconian hound, a friendly force for the shepherd, I will drive through heavy snow, with ears picked up, whatever beast proceeds. You, once you have filled the woods with a timid howl, can sniff out the sop thrown down to you. Beware! Beware! For I raise my ready horns harshly toward evil, as the spurned so… Continue

Here's my translation of Horace's Epode 5 “Oh, by whichever of the gods in heaven that rule the earth and human affairs-- what is the meaning of this cacophony of yours and why do you have a grim face only for me? By your children, if, when called upon, Lucina appeared at true birth, by this empty purple symbol, by Jove, who disapproving of all of this-- why are you staring at me like a stepmother or as a wild beast hounded by the spear?” Once he had said this with trembling lip, the boy with… Continue

Just like the fate that binds together wolves and sheep, such is the difference between you and me-- you, with your sides burned by Spanish ropes and your shins by hard shackles. Although you can swagger about with your arrogant wealth, Fortune has not changed who you really are. Don’t you see as you strut along the Via Sacra in your outrageous toga that passersby turn their eyes away in absolute disgust? “Cut by the lashes of the triumvir capitals until the herald was disgusted, now he ploughs… Continue

If ever someone with an impious hand, has broken the aged neck of a parent, make them eat garlic-- it’s worse than hemlock! Oh, the tough guts of harvesters! What sort of poison rages in my stomach? Has the gore of a viper been boiled with these vegetables without my notice? Or has that witch Canidia handled this evil stew? When Medea gazed upon Jason, shining brighter than all the rest of the Argonaughts, she anointed him with this stuff when he was about to bind the bulls unused to yokes; wit… Continue