EVROPSKA ISTORIJA UMETNOSTI NOVOG

DOBA 1
Ars Poetica
(Prevod originalnog Horacijevog teksta)
Translated b !eon Golden
in Horace for Students of Literature: The 'Ars Poetica' and Its Tradition, (1995).
1-33
If a painter were willing to join a orse!s neck to a "#an ead and spread on
#"lticolored featers, wit different parts of te $od% $ro"gt in fro# an%were and
ever%were, so tat wat starts o"t a$ove as a $ea"tif"l wo#an ends "p orri$l% as a
$lack fis, co"ld %o" #% friends, if %o" ad $een ad#itted to te spectacle, old $ack
%o"r la"gter& 'elieve #e, dear Pisos, tat ver% si#ilar to s"c a painting wo"ld $e a
literar% work in wic #eaningless i#ages are fasioned, like te drea#s of so#eone
wo is #entall% ill, so tat neiter te foot nor te ead can $e attri$"ted to a single
for#. (Painters and poets,( so#eone o$jects, (ave alwa%s ad an e)"al rigt to dare
to do watever te% wanted.( *e know it and we $ot seek tis ind"lgence and grant
it in t"rn. '"t not to te degree tat te savage #ate wit te gentle, nor tat snakes $e
paired wit $irds, nor la#$s wit tigers.
1+-,3
-ften, one or two p"rple patces are stitced onto works tat ave $eg"n in ig
serio"sness, and tat profess i#portant te#es, so tat te% sparkle far and wide. as
wen te grove and altar of /iana and te circling of swiftl% flowing waters tro"g
te pleasant fields or te 0ine river or te rain$ow are descri$ed. '"t tis was not te
place for s"c e#$ellis#ents. 1nd peraps %o" know ow to draw a c%press tree.
*at does tat #atter if %o" ave $een paid to paint a desperate sailor swi##ing
awa% fro# a sipwreck& 2o" started o"t to #ake a wine-jar. *%, as te weel t"rns,
does it end "p as a pitcer& In sort, let te work $e an%ting %o" like, $"t let it at
least $e one, single ting.
,+-31
3ost of "s poets, o fater and sons wo are wort% of tat fater, deceive o"rselves
$% an ill"sion of correct proced"re. I work at acieving $revit%. instead I $eco#e
4kripte 45-a nis" na#enjene da se koriste "#esto o$ave6ne literat"re, ve7 "6 nj".
8iko ne garant"je potp"n" ispravnost ovi skripti (sve podatke $i tre$alo proveriti).
8iko ne garant"je po6itivan isod na ispit", " sl"9aj" "9enja sa#o i6 ovi skripti. 8a
na:e# sajt" (www.st"dentski-for"#.org) #o;ete na7i i ko#pletan spisak ";e i :ire
literat"re prepor"9ene od strane profesora.

o$sc"re. 4triving for s#ootness, vigor and spirit escape #e. -ne poet, pro#ising te
s"$li#e, delivers po#posit%. 1noter creeps along te gro"nd, overl% ca"tio"s and
too #"c frigtened of te gale. *oever wises to var% a single s"$ject in so#e
strange and wonderf"l wa%, paints a dolpin into a forest and a $oar onto te ig
seas. <e avoidance of $la#e leads to error if tere is an a$sence of art.
3,-3=
8ear te gladiatorial scool of 1e#ili"s, a #ost inco#petent crafts#an will #old
toenails and i#itate soft air in $ron6e $"t e is "ns"ccessf"l wit is co#plete work
$eca"se e does not know ow to represent a wole fig"re. If I wised to co#pose
so#eting, I wo"ld no #ore wis to $e i# tan to live wit a crooked nose alto"g
igl% regarded for #% $lack e%es and $lack air.
3>-+5
Pick a s"$ject, writers, e)"al to %o"r strengt and take so#e ti#e to consider wat
%o"r so"lders so"ld ref"se and wat te% can $ear. 8eiter elo)"ence nor clear
organi6ation will forsake one wo as cosen a s"$ject witin is capa$ilities. ?nless
I a# #istaken tis will $e te special e@cellence and deligt of good organi6ationAtat
te a"tor of te pro#ised poe#, ena#ored of one s"$ject and scornf"l of anoter,
sa%s now wat o"gt to $e said now and $ot postpones and o#its a great deal for te
present.
+B-59
1lso in linking words %o" will speak wit e@ceptional s"$tlet% and care if a skillf"l
connection renders a well-known ter# wit a new twist. If, $% cance, it is necessar%
to e@plain o$sc"re #atters $% #eans of new i#ages it will t"rn o"t tat %o" #"st
devise words never eard $% te kilted Cetegi, and license for tis will $e given if
clai#ed wit #odest%.
*ords tat are new and recentl% coined will $e received in good fait if te% are
sparingl% diverted fro# a Dreek so"rce. *% ten will te 0o#an grant to Caecili"s
and Pla"t"s wat is denied to Eirgil and Eari"s& If I a# capa$le of doing it, w% a# I
gr"dged te ac)"isition of so#e few words wen te tong"e of Cato and Fnni"s
enriced o"r ancestral lang"age and revealed new na#es for tings& It as alwa%s
$een per#itted, and it alwa%s will $e per#itted to $ring to ligt a na#e sta#ped wit
te #ark of te present da%.
BG-=,
H"st as forests cange teir leaves %ear $% %ear and te first drop to te gro"nd, so te
old generation of words perises, and new ones, like te rising tide of te %o"ng,
flo"ris and grow strong. *e, and ever%ting tat is o"rs, are destined to die. weter
8ept"ne, ospita$l% received on land, keeps o"r fleets safe fro# te nort winds, a
task wort% of a king, or a #ars, $arren for a long ti#e, and s"ita$le for oars,
no"rises near$% cities and feels te eav% plo"g, or a river as canged its co"rse
tat was ostile to crops and as discovered a $etter ro"te to follow, all tings #ortal
will peris. #"c less will te glor% and grace of lang"age re#ain alive. 3an% ter#s
will $e $orn again tat $% now ave s"nk into o$livion, and #an% tat are now eld in
- , -

respect will die o"t if tat is wat "se so"ld dictate in wose power is te j"dg#ent
and te law and te r"le of speec.
=3->>
Ho#er as de#onstrated in wat #eter we so"ld descri$e te deeds of kings and
leaders as well as gloo#% wars. Ia#ent, first, was enclosed in "ne)"all% paired verses
and later also o"r gratef"l to"gts for answered pra%er. 4colars disagree a$o"t wo
originall% p"$lised tese $rief elegiac verses, and it still is $efore te co"rt as a
#atter of disp"te. 5"r% ar#ed 1rciloc"s wit is own ia#$"sJ $ot te co#ic sock
and te grand tragic $oot took possession of tis foot, s"ited as it was for alternating
dialog"e and a$le to con)"er te ra"co"s so"ts of te a"dience as well as nat"rall%
s"ited to action. <e #"se granted te l%re te task of reporting a$o"t te gods, te
cildren of te gods, te victorio"s $o@er, and te orse wo was first in te race, as
well as to record %o"tf"l ang"is and wine!s li$erating infl"ence. *% a# I greeted
as a poet if I ave neiter te a$ilit% nor te knowledge to preserve te variations and
sades of te literar% works tat I ave descri$ed& *%, perversel% #odest, do I
prefer to $e ignorant tan to learn&
>9-9>
<e s"$ject #atter of co#ed% does not wis to find e@pression in tragic verses. In te
sa#e wa% te feast of <%estes is indignant at $eing represented tro"g infor#al
verses tat are ver% nearl% wort% of te co#ic sock. Iet eac genre keep to te
appropriate place allotted to it. 4o#eti#es, owever, even co#ed% raises its voice and
an angered Cre#es declai#s f"rio"sl% in swollen "tterances. and often te tragic
fig"res of <elep"s and Pele"s grieve in pedestrian lang"age wen, as a pa"per or
e@ile, eac of te#, if e so"ld care to to"c te eart of te spectator wit is
co#plaint, a$andons $o#$ast and a ses)"ipedalian voca$"lar%.
99A113
It is not eno"g for poe#s to $e ($ea"tif"l(. te% #"st also %ield deligt and g"ide te
listener!s spirit werever te% wis. 1s "#an faces la"g wit tose wo are
la"ging, so te% weep wit tose wo are weeping. If %o" wis #e to cr%, %o" #"st
first feel grief %o"rself, ten %o"r #isfort"nes, - <elep"s or Pele"s, will inj"re #e.
If %o" speak ineptl% assigned words, I sall eiter sleep or la"g. 4ad words are fitting
for te gloo#% face, words f"ll of treats for te angr% one, pla%f"l words for te
a#"sed face, serio"s words for te stern one. 5or 8at"re first for#s "s witin so as to
respond to ever% kind of fort"ne. 4e deligts "s or i#pels "s to anger or knocks "s to
te gro"nd and tor#ents "s wit oppressive grief. 1fterward se e@presses te
e#otions of te spirit wit lang"age as teir interpreter. If, owever, tere is discord
$etween te words spoken and te fort"ne of te speaker, 0o#ans, weter cavalr% or
infantr%, will raise teir voices in a ra"co"s $ell% la"g.
11+A11>
It will #ake a great difference weter a god is speaking or a ero, a #at"re old #an
or so#eone passionate and still in te f"ll flower of %o"t, a powerf"l #atron or a
diligent n"rse, an itinerant #ercant or te c"ltivator of a prospero"s field, a Colcian
or an 1ss%rian, one raised in <e$es or in 1rgos.
- 3 -

119 - 15,
Fiter follow tradition or devise ar#onio"s actions. - writer, if %o" $% cance
descri$e once again onored 1cilles, let i# $e weariless, )"ick to anger, st"$$orn,
violent. let i# den% tat laws were #ade for i#, let i# clai# ever%ting $% ar#s.
Iet 3edea $e wild and "ncon)"era$le, Ino dolef"l, I@ion treacero"s, Io a wanderer
in #ind and $od%, -restes filled wit sorrow. If %o" co##it an%ting "ntested to te
stage and %o" dare to fasion a novel caracter, let it $e #aintained to te end j"st as
it e#erged at te $eginning and let it $e consistent wit itself. It is diffic"lt to speak
"ni)"el% of co##on te#es. and %et %o" will #ore properl% spin te song of <ro%
into acts tan if %o" are te first to $ring to ligt wat as not $een known or recorded
in literat"re. 3aterial in te p"$lic do#ain will co#e "nder private j"risdiction if %o"
do not loiter aro"nd te $road, co##on poetic c%cle, and do not strive, as a literal
translator, to render te@ts word for word, and if %o" will not, as an i#itator, leap down
into a narrow space fro# were sa#e or te r"les appl%ing to te work for$id %o" to
e@tricate %o"r foot. nor so"ld %o" $egin %o"r work as te c%clic poet once didJ (-f
Pria#!s fate and renowned war I sall sing.( *at #igt so#eone wo #akes tis
pledge $ring fort tat will $e wort% of is $ig #o"t& 3o"ntains will go into la$or,
$"t an a$s"rd #o"se will $e $orn. How #"c #ore skillf"l is te one wo does not
toil foolisl%J (<ell #e, - 3"se, of te #an, wo, after te capt"re of <ro%, viewed
te c"sto#s and cities of #an% different peoples.( He does not ai# to e@tract s#oke
fro# te fla#ing ligt $"t rater ligt fro# te s#oke, so tat e #igt ten descri$e
spectac"lar #arvelsA1ntipates and te 4c%lla and Car%$dis along wit te C%clops.
8or does e $egin te ret"rn of /io#edes fro# te deat of 3eleager nor te <rojan
*ar fro# te twin eggs. He alwa%s #oves swiftl% to te iss"e at and and r"ses is
listener into te #iddle of te action j"st as if it were alread% known, and e a$andons
tose s"$jects e does not tink can glitter after e as treated te#. <"s does e
invent, t"s does e #ingle te false wit te tr"e tat te #iddle is not inconsistent
wit te $eginning, nor te end wit te #iddle.
153 - 1=>
Iisten to wat I and te general p"$lic along wit #e desire, if indeed %o" wis
appla"ding listeners to wait for te final c"rtain and to re#ain seated "ntil te singer
sa%s (Dive "s a and now(. %o" #"st note te caracteristics of eac stage of life and
%o" #"st grant wat is appropriate to canging nat"res and ages. 1 cild wo j"st
now as learned to repeat words and to sta#p te gro"nd wit a fir# footstep takes
great pleas"re in pla%ing wit oter cildren and eedlessl% conceives and a$andons
anger as well as canges #oods o"r $% o"r. <e $eardless %o"t, wit is g"ardian
finall% re#oved, rejoices in orses and dogs and in te grass of te s"nn% Ca#p"s.
s"pple as wa@ to $e fasioned into vice, e is r"de to tose wo give i# advice, slow
at providing for wat is "sef"l, e@travagant wit #one%, filled wit loft% ideas and
passionate, $"t also swift to a$andon te o$jects of is affection. *en one as
reaced #anood in age and spirit, te o$jects of is ent"sias# are altered, and e
seeks wealt and connections, $eco#es a slave to te trappings of onor, is esitant to
ave set into #otion wat e will soon str"ggle to cange. 3an% tro"$les assail an old
#an, weter $eca"se e seeks gain, and ten wretcedl% a$stains fro# wat e
possesses and is afraid to "se it, or $eca"se e attends to all is affairs fee$l% and
ti#idl%. a procrastinator, e is apatetic in is opes and e@pectations, sl"ggis and
- + -

fearf"l of te f"t"re, o$stinate, alwa%s co#plaining. e devotes i#self to praising
ti#es past, wen e was a $o%, and to $eing te castigator and #oral censor of te
%o"ng. <e %ears, as te% approac, $ring #an% advantages wit te#. as te% recede,
te% take #an% awa%. <o ens"re tat, $% cance, roles appropriate for old #en are not
assigned to te %o"ng and tose designed for #at"re #en are not given to cildren,
%o" sall alwa%s spend ti#e on te traits tat $elong and are s"ita$le to te age of a
caracter.
1=9 - 1>>
Fiter a scene is acted o"t on te stage or so#eone reports te events tat ave
occ"rred. 1ctions tat ave $een ad#itted to o"r conscio"sness tro"g o"r aving
eard te# ave less of an i#pact on o"r #inds tan tose tat ave $een $ro"gt to
o"r attention $% o"r tr"st% vision and for wic te spectator i#self is an e%ewitness.
2o" will not, owever, prod"ce onstage actions tat o"gt to $e done offstage. and
%o" will re#ove #an% incidents fro# o"r e%es so tat so#eone wo was present
#igt report tose incidents. 3edea so"ld not sla"gter er cildren in te presence
of te people, nor a$o#ina$le 1tre"s cook "#an organs p"$licl%, nor Procne $e
t"rned into a $ird, Cad#"s into a snake. *atever %o" sow #e like tis, I detest and
ref"se to $elieve.
1>9-,G1
1 pla% so"ld not $e sorter or longer tan five acts if, once it as $een seen, it
wises to re#ain in de#and and $e $ro"gt $ack for ret"rn engage#ents. 8or so"ld
an% god intervene "nless a knot sow "p tat is wort% of s"c a li$erator. nor so"ld
a fo"rt actor strive to speak.
Iet te cor"s s"stain te role of an actor and te f"nction of a #an, and let it not sing
an%ting $etween te acts tat does not p"rposef"ll% and aptl% serve and "nite wit
te action. It so"ld favor te good and provide friendl% co"nsel. it so"ld control te
wratf"l and sow its approval of tose wo fear to sin. it so"ld praise #odest
#eals, woleso#e j"stice and laws, and peace wit its open gates. it so"ld conceal
secrets and entreat and $eg te gods tat fort"ne ret"rn to te downtrodden and depart
fro# te arrogant.
,G,-,19
<e do"$le pipe not, as now, $o"nd wit $rass and a rival of te tr"#pet, $"t tin and
si#ple, wit few oles, was s"fficient to assist and s"pport te cor"s and to fill still
"ncrowded $ences wit its $reat. were, indeed, te pop"lace, eas% to co"nt since it
was s#all in n"#$er, onest, pio"s, and #odest ca#e togeter. 1fter a con)"ering
nation $egan to e@tend its lands and a #ore e@tensive wall $egan to e#$race te cit%,
we started to appease o"r g"ardian spirit freel% wit da%ligt drinking on olida%s,
and ten greater license arrived on te scene for r%t#s and t"nes. 5or wat level of
taste #igt an "ned"cated a"dience ave, freed of toil and co#posed of a #i@t"re of
r"stic and "r$an ele#ents, of low life and aristocrats& <"s te fl"te pla%er added
$odil% #ove#ent and e@cessive e@travagance to te venera$le art of past ti#es and
trailed a ro$e $eind i# as e wandered aro"nd te stage. 4o also te tonal range of
te a"stere l%re increased, and a reckless fl"enc% $ro"gt wit it a strange elo)"ence
- 5 -

wose to"gt, wise in #atters of practical wisdo# and propetic of te f"t"re, was
not o"t of t"ne wit tat of orac"lar /elpi.
,,G-,5G
<e poet wo contended in tragic song for te sake of an insignificant goat soon also
stripped wild 4at%rs of teir clotes and in a ro"g #anner, wit is dignit%
"nar#ed, atte#pted jokes $eca"se it was onl% $% entice#ents and pleasing novelt%
tat te spectator, aving perfor#ed te sacred rites and aving $eco#e dr"nk and
reckless, was going to re#ain in te a"dience. '"t it is appropriate to render te
4at%rs agreea$le in teir la"gter and #ocker% and to e@cange te serio"s for te
co#ic so tat no god, no ero is $ro"gt on wo, aving j"st $een seen in regal gold
and p"rple, ten #oves into te "#$le ovel of low class diction. or, wile avoiding
te lowl% eart, reaces for e#pt% clo"ds. <raged%, indignant at spo"ting frivolo"s
verses, like te #atron wo is asked to dance on a olida%, appears wit so#e sa#e,
a#ong te i#p"dent 4at%rs. I sall not, - Pisos, were I a writer of 4at%ric dra#a, $e
fond onl% of "nadorned and co##onl% "sed no"ns and ver$s. nor sall I strive so
#"c to differ fro# te tone of traged% tat it #akes no difference if /av"s is
speaking wit a"dacio"s P%tias wo, aving swindled 4i#o, now as gained for
erself a talent!s wort of silver, or te speaker is 4ilen"s, g"ardian and servant of is
divine foster cild. I sall ai# at fasioning a poe# fro# )"ite fa#iliar ele#ents so
tat an%one #igt anticipate doing as well, #igt sweat prof"sel% at it, and %et la$or
in vain after aving vent"red to do wat I ave doneJ so great is te power of
arrange#ent and linkage, so great is te grace tat is added to words tat are adapted
fro# ordinar% lang"age. *en 5a"ns of te forest are $ro"gt ontage, in #%
j"dg#ent, te% so"ld avoid $eaving as if te% ad $een $orn at te crossroads and
were al#ost deni6ens of te for"# or act ever as adolescents wit teir all-too-wanton
verses or rattle off teir dirt% and disgracef"l jokes. <at sort of ting gives offense to
an a"dience of knigts, respecta$le eads of o"seolds, and #en wit s"$stantial
fort"nes, nor do te% accept wit a patient spirit, or $estow a crown on, watever te
cons"#er of roasted cick-peas and n"ts approves.
,51-,B,
1 long s%lla$le adjacent to a sort one is called an Ia#$"s, a ()"ick( foot. for tat
reason Ia#$"s co##anded tat te na#e tri#eter $e attaced to te lines $earing is
na#e alto"g e delivers si@ $eats a line and fro# first to last is te spitting i#age of
i#self. 8ot so long ago, in order tat te tri#eter reac te ears wit so#ewat
greater dignit% and deli$eration, Ia#$"s ad#itted te statel% spondee into is
ancestral rigts, o$ligingl% and tolerantl%, $"t not so socia$l% as to witdraw fro# te
second and fo"rt foot of te line. <is Ia#$"s appears rarel% in te (no$le( tri#eters
of 1cci"s and, as for te verses of Fnni"s, "rled onto te stage in teir pondero"s
sl"ggisness, e p"rs"es te# wit te sa#ef"l carge of e@cessivel% ast% and
slipsod work#ansip or of seer ignorance of te poet!s craft.
,B3 -,=+
It is not j"st an% critic wo will notice r%t#icall% flawed lines, and ind"lgence, far
#ore tan is #erited, as $een granted to o"r 0o#an poets. 'eca"se of tat so"ld I
ra#$le aro"nd and write wito"t an% discipline at all& -r so"ld I consider tat
- B -

ever%one is going to see #% fa"lts and, waril% pla%ing it safe, re#ain witin te ope
of pardon& I ave ten, in sort, avoided $la#e, $"t I ave not earned praise. 2o"r
#andate is to old Dreek #odels $efore %o" $% da% and to old te# $efore %o" $%
nigt. '"t (%o" sa%) %o"r ancestors praised te #eters and wit of Pla"t"s. well (I
repl%), te% ad#ired $ot wit e@cessive tolerance, not to sa% st"pidit%--if %o" and I
j"st know ow to disting"is a tasteless e@pression fro# an elegant one, and we ave
te skill to recogni6e te proper so"nd wit o"r ears and fingers.
,=5 -,>+
*e are told tat <espis discovered te tragic #"se!s genre, wic was "nknown "ntil
ten, and a"led is verse dra#as aro"nd in wagons. tese dra#as, actors, teir faces
toro"gl% s#eared wit wine-lees, sang and perfor#ed. 1fter i# 1esc%l"s, te
inventor of te #ask and te elegant ro$e, laid down a stage on #odestl% si6ed $ea#s
and ta"gt te art of grandilo)"ent speec and of treading te $oards in te ig $oot
of te tragic actor. -ld co#ed% followed in te footsteps of tese tragic poets and not
wito"t #"c praise. $"t te license it ass"#ed for itself descended into vice, and its
force was j"stifia$l% ta#ed $% law. te law was received wit approval, and te
cor"s in disgrace $eca#e silent since its rigt to ca"se ar# was a$olised.
,>5-,9+
-"r own poets ave left noting "ntried nor ave te% earned te least glor% wen
te% ave dared to a$andon te tracks of te Dreeks and to cele$rate do#estic
sit"ations eiter $% prod"cing serio"s 0o#an dra#as or native 0o#an co#edies. 8or
wo"ld Iati"# $e #ore powerf"l in co"rage and in ill"strio"s ar#s tan in literat"re if
te ti#e-cons"#ing effort re)"ired for a tr"l% polised revision of te te@t did not
give offense to ever% single one of o"r poets. - %o", wo are descendants of
Po#pili"s, deno"nce an% poe# tat #an% a da% and #an% a correction as not
caref"ll% pr"ned and ten i#proved ten ti#es over to #eet te test of te well-
tri##ed nail.
,95-3G>
'eca"se /e#ocrit"s $elieves tat native talent is a #ore $lessed ting tan poor,
#isera$le crafts#ansip and e@cl"des fro# Helicon, te o#e of te #"ses, rational
poets, )"ite a n"#$er do not tro"$le to c"t teir nails or save teir $eards. te% seek
o"t lonel% spots. te% avoid te $ats. -ne will o$tain te reward and te na#e of a
poet if e never entr"sts is ead, inc"ra$le even $% tree ti#es 1ntic%ra!s o"tp"t of
elle$ore, to te $ar$er, Iicin"s. - wat an "nl"ck% fool I a#K I ave #% $ile p"rged
j"st $efore spring arrivesK 8o one else co"ld write a $etter poe#. '"t noting is wort
tat effortK Instead, I sall serve in place of a wetstone tat as te power to render
iron sarp $"t itself lacks te a$ilit% to c"t. wile not writing an%ting #%self, I will
teac wat n"rt"res and for#s te poet, fro# wat so"rce is power springs, wat is
f"nction and d"t% are, wat is proper and wat is not and in wat direction poetic
e@cellence leads and in wat direction fail"re $eckons.
3G9-3,,
<e fo"ndation and so"rce of literar% e@cellence is wisdo#. <e works written a$o"t
4ocrates are a$le to reveal te tr"e s"$ject #atter of poetr% and, once te s"$ject
- = -

#atter as $een provided, words will freel% follow. He wo as learned wat e owes
to is co"ntr%, wat e owes to is friends, $% wat kind of love a parent, a $roter, or
a g"est so"ld $e onored, wat is te d"t% of a senator, wat is te f"nction of a
j"dge, wat is te role of a general sent into war--e, ass"redl%, knows ow to
represent wat is appropriate for eac caracter. I $id te artist, trained in
representation, to reflect on e@e#plars of life and caracter and to $ring "s living
voices fro# tat so"rce. 4o#eti#es a tale tat lacks st%listic elegance, grande"r, and
skill $"t is adorned wit i#pressive passages and caracters wo are acc"ratel% drawn
is a greater so"rce of pleas"re and $etter olds te interest of an a"dience tan verses
tat lack a vision of realit% and are #ere trifles to car# te ear.
3,3-33,
<o te Dreeks, coveto"s of noting e@cept glor%, te 3"se granted inspired talent, to
te Dreeks se gave elo)"ence in f"ll #eas"re. 0o#an %o"ts, on te oter and,
learn $% #eans of lengt% calc"lations ow to divide a s"# of #one% into a "ndred
parts. (2o", tere, 1l$in"s!s son, solve te following pro$le#J If one-twelft is
s"$tracted fro# five twelfts, ow #"c is left& Co#e on, %o" so"ld ave given #e
te answer $% nowK( (It!s one-tirdK( (*ell done, #% $o%, %o"!ll s"rel% $e a$le to
protect %o"r invest#ents.( (8ow s"ppose tat one-twelft is added to five-twelfts,
wat does tat #ake&( (I!ve got itLone-alfK( *en once tis corr"ption and avid
concern for #aterial wealt as stained te "#an spirit, can we reall% ope tat
poe#s will $e written wort anointing and protecting wit oil of cedar, and preserving
in cests of polised c%press&
333-3+B
Poets wis to eiter $enefit or deligt "s, or, at one and te sa#e ti#e, to speak words
tat are $ot pleasing and "sef"l for o"r lives. *atever lessons %o" teac, let te#
$e $rief, so tat receptive spirits will )"ickl% perceive and faitf"ll% retain wat %o"
ave said. Fver%ting s"perfl"o"s seeps o"t of te well-stocked #ind. In order to
create pleas"re, poetic fictions so"ld appro@i#ate realit% so tat a pla% so"ld not
clai#, on its own $ealf, tat an%ting it wises #"st $e $elieved nor so"ld it e@tract
a living cild fro# te sto#ac of te ogress, Ia#ia, after se as dined. <e
cent"ries of elders drive awa% watever is wito"t serio"s val"e. te ig and #igt%
0a#nes keep teir distance fro# gloo#% poe#s. He gets ever% vote wo co#$ines
te "sef"l wit te pleasant, and wo, at te sa#e ti#e e pleases te reader, also
instr"cts i#. <at $ook will earn #one% for te 4osii, tis one will cross te sea and
e@tend i##eas"ra$l% te life of a fa#o"s writer.
3+=-3BG
<ere are, owever, #istakes tat we are willing to forgive. 5or te string does not
alwa%s ret"rn te so"nd tat te and and #ind desire, and alto"g %o" seek a low
note, it ver% often sends $ack a ig one. 8or will te $ow alwa%s strike watever it
treatens. '"t were #an% )"alities sparkle in a poe#, I will not find fa"lt wit a few
$le#ises, wic eiter carelessness introd"ced or "#an nat"re, too little vigilant,
did not avoid. *at ten& H"st as te scri$e wo copies $ooks, if e alwa%s #akes te
sa#e #istake no #atter ow #"c e is warned, as no clai# on o"r ind"lgence, and
a l%re-pla%er is #ocked wo alwa%s strikes te sa#e false note, so te poet wo is
- > -

fre)"entl% fo"nd wanting t"rns into anoter Coeril"s wo, a#idst #% scorn for is
work, astonises #e te two or tree ti#es e is reall% good. I a# also offended wen
great Ho#er falls asleep on "s, $"t it is per#itted for so#e drowsiness to creep into a
long work.
3B1-3B5
Poetr% rese#$les painting. 4o#e works will captivate %o" wen %o" stand ver% close
to te# and oters if %o" are at a greater distance. <is one prefers a darker vantage
point, tat one wants to $e seen in te ligt since it feels no terror $efore te
penetrating j"dg#ent of te critic. <is pleases onl% once, tat will give pleas"re even
if we go $ack to it ten ti#es over.
3BB-3=>
1nd %o", te older $roter, alto"g %o" ave $een #olded $% %o"r fater!s voice to
know wat is correct and %o" are wise in %o"r own rigt, take and old in %o"r
#e#or% tis warningJ onl% in certain activities are we j"stified in tolerating
#ediocrit% and wat is j"st passa$le.
1 r"n-of-te #ill e@pert in te law or pleader of cases is a long wa% fro# te skill of
te elo)"ent 3essala and doesn!t know as #"c as 1"l"s Cascelli"s, $"t neverteless
e as a val"e. '"t neiter #en nor gods nor $ooksellers ave ever p"t teir sta#p of
approval on #ediocre poets. H"st as at a gracio"s #eal a discordant #"sical
perfor#ance or a tick perf"#e or 4ardinian one% on %o"r popp% seeds give offense
$eca"se te #eal co"ld ave $een p"t togeter wito"t te#. in te sa#e wa% a poe#
tat co#es into e@istence and is created for te gratification of o"r #ind and eart, if
it #isses tr"e e@cellence $% onl% a little, verges toward deepest fail"re.
3=9-3>+
<e person wo does not know ow to pla% forgoes te atletic e)"ip#ent in te
Ca#p"s 3arti"s, and so#eone wo does not know an%ting a$o"t te $all, te disc"s,
or te oop sta%s awa% fro# te action in order to prevent te packed crowd of
spectators fro# raising teir voices in "nrestrained la"gterJ '"t te person wo as
no idea ow to create poetr% still as te a"dacit% to tr%. *% not& He is a free citi6en,
and was $orn tat wa%, and especiall% $eca"se e is $ot ric (is propert% assess#ent
places i# in te e)"estrian class) and e as never $een convicted of a cri#e.
3>5-39G
8ever will %o" sa% or do an%ting if 3inerva, te goddess of wisdo#, for$ids it. %o"
ave good j"dg#ent, %o" ave good sense. '"t if %o" sall, one da%, write so#eting
let it first penetrate te ears of a critic like 3aeci"s or %o"r fater or #%self. and ten
keep a lid on it "ntil te nint %ear co#es aro"nd $% storing %o"r pages inside %o"r
o"se. 2o" will alwa%s $e a$le to destro% an%ting %o" aven!t p"$lised. a word,
once released, does not know ow to ret"rn.
391 -+G=
*en #en still roa#ed te forests, -rpe"s, te priest and propet of te gods,
deterred te# fro# sla"gter and fro# an a$o#ina$le wa% of life. -n acco"nt of tis
- 9 -

e is said to ave ta#ed savage tigers and lions. 1#pion, te fo"nder of te cit% of
<e$es, also is said to ave #oved stones werever e wised $% te so"nd of is l%re
and is sed"ctive entreaties. -nce it was dee#ed wisdo# to keep wat was p"$lic
separate fro# wat was private, wat was sacred fro# wat was not, to iss"e
proi$itions against pro#isc"it%, to set down laws for tose wo are #arried, to $"ild
towns, to inscri$e laws on wooden ta$lets. In tis wa% onor and renown ca#e to
poets, inspired $% te gods, and teir songs. 1fter tese, Ho#er acieved fa#e and
<%rtae"s, wit is poe#s, sarpened #en!s #inds for te wars of 3ars. oracles were
given in poetr%, and te wa% of life was de#onstrated, and te grace of kings was
tested $% Pierian songs. and entertain#ent was discovered, tat entertain#ent wic
$ro"gt to a close periods of e@tended la$or. I sa% tis so tat %o" will not in an% wa%
feel sa#e for te skilled #"se of te l%re and te divine singer of songs, 1pollo.
+G> - +1>
Is it nat"re or art, te )"estion is p"t, tat #akes a poe# praisewort%J I do not see
wat st"d%, wito"t a ric vein of nat"ral a$ilit%, or raw talent alone, wo"ld $e a$le to
acco#plis. Fac asks for assistance fro# te oter and swears a #"t"al oat of
friendsip. He wo is eager to reac te desired goal at te race-co"rse as end"red
#"c and acco#plised #"c as a $o%. He as sweated and e as fro6en. e as
a$stained fro# se@ and wine. <e fl"te-pla%er wo pla%s te P%tian piece first
learned is skill "nder a #aster e feared. 8ow it is eno"g to sa%J (I fasion
wonderf"l poe#s. #a% te #ang% itc take te ind#ost. it!s a disgrace for #e to $e
left $eind and to ad#it tat wat I did not learn, I si#pl% do not know.(
+19 - +3=
H"st like te erald at an a"ction wo collects a crowd in order to sell is #ercandise,
te poet wo is ric in lands, ric in #one% lent o"t for interest, $ids flatterers wit an
e%e on profit to asse#$le. If in fact e is so#eone wo can properl% serve "p a lavis
$an)"et and go $ail for a fickle, povert%-stricken client and can e@tricate so#eone
fro# distressing laws"its, I will $e s"rprised if te $lessed fellow can tell a liar fro# a
tr"e friend. 2o", ten, if %o" ave given, or plan to give, a gift to so#eone, #"st
ref"se to invite i#, f"ll of jo%f"l gratit"de, to a reading of poe#s %o" ave written.
5or e will so"t, ('ea"tif"lK( (DreatK( (0igt onK( He will t"rn pale over te#, e
will even let dew drip fro# is friendl% e%es, e will dance and po"nd te pave#ent
wit is foot. H"st as ired #o"rners at a f"neral al#ost sa% and do #ore tan tose
wo grieve fro# te eart, so a #ocking critic will #ore easil% $e aro"sed tan a tr"e
ad#irer. Mings are said to pl% wit #an% a c"p and test wit wine te person te%
strive to e@a#ine wit regard to is wortiness of teir friendsip. If %o" plan to write
poetr%, te to"gts concealed witin te fo@ so"ld never deceive %o".
+3>-+5,
If %o" ever read so#eting to N"intili"s, e "sed to sa%, (Please correct tis point and
tat.( If %o" said tat %o" co"ld not i#prove te# after two or tree vain atte#pts, e
wo"ld advise %o" to $lot te# o"t and to ret"rn te $adl% for#ed verses to te anvil.
If %o" cose to defend %o"r error rater tan cange it, e wo"ld e@pend not a word
#ore nor waste an% "seless effort to stop %o", alone, fro# loving %o"r work and
%o"rself wito"t a rival. 1n onest and j"dicio"s #an will $e critical of d"ll verses
- 1G -

and disapproving of ars ones. ne@t to tose co#pletel% lacking in art e will s#ear
a $lack line wit a ori6ontal stroke of te pen. e will e@cise pretentio"s decoration.
e will co#pel %o" to sed ligt on wat lacks clarit%. e will e@pose te o$sc"re
prase. e will note wat #"st $e canged and will t"rn o"t to $e a verita$le
1ristarc"s. He will not sa%, (*% so"ld I displease a friend $eca"se of trivialities&(
<ese (trivialities( will lead tat friend into serio"s tro"$le once e as $een greeted
wit "nfavora$le reviews and #ocking la"gter.
+53 -+=B
1s wen te evil itc or te disease of kings or te fren6ied #adness and wrat of
/iana oppress so#eone, so sensi$le people are afraid to to"c te #ad poet, and r"n
awa% fro# i#. Inconsiderate cildren p"rs"e and tor#ent i#. He, is ead in te
clo"ds, $elces o"t is poe#s and loses is wa%. if, like a fowler wose attention is
riveted on te $lack$irds, e falls into a well or pit, no one will care to raise i# "p no
#atter ow long e so"ts, (He%, fellow-citi6ens, look over ereK( '"t if an%one takes
te tro"$le to co#e to is aid and to lower a rope to i#, I will sa%, (ow do %o"
know tat e didn!t trow i#self down tere on p"rpose and doesn!t want to $e
saved&( <en, I!ll tell te stor% of ow te 4icilian poet perised. *en F#pedocles
felt te desire to $e considered an i##ortal god, cool as a c"c"#$er e leaped into te
$"rning fires of 1etna. Iet te rigt $e given, let per#ission $e granted for poets to
die. *oever saves so#eone against is will does e@actl% te sa#e ting as te
person wo #"rders i#. 8ot j"st once as e done tis, and if e is e@tricated now
e will not $eco#e a #ere #ortal and p"t aside is infat"ation wit a deat tat will
#ake i# fa#o"s. 8or is it s"fficientl% clear w% e practices te poet!s trade. /id e
sacrilegio"sl% "rinate on te ases of is ancestors or dist"r$ a gloo#% plot of
consecrated land tat ad $een str"ck $% ligtning& *atever te ca"se e is certainl%
#ad and j"st like a $ear--if e as s"cceeded in s#asing te restraining $ars of is
cage--is #orose p"$lic recitations frigten off te ed"cated and te ignorant alike.
once e gets is ands on a person, e doesn!t let go "ntil e kills i# wit is
reading--a leec wo will not release te skin "nless gorged wit $lood.
- 11 -