HORACE,CARMEN4.2.53–60: ANOTHER LOOK AT THEVITULUS

Abstract

Carmen 4.2 is one of the most commented upon of the odes of Horace. It is indeed a complex poem. To summarize roughly: addressing the young poet Iullus Antonius, Horace presents the dangers of emulating Pindar, offering what seems like a lengthy description as well as an approximation of Pindar's own poetic style (1–24). Not as a doomed Icarus imitating the grand Pindaric swan, but in his own preferred mode, like a bee on the banks of Tibur, Horace will continue to produce his own highly refined poems on a small scale (25–30). Iullus Antonius, on the other hand, will sing of Augustus’ triumph maiore plectro (33, a phrase which in all likelihood refers to his activity as an epic poet). Modestly, Horace himself will be content to join in with the popular chants for Augustus’ triumphal return as one happy civilian among the crowd (33–52). Iullus Antonius will moreover offer a grand sacrifice of ten bulls and as many cows on that occasion, whereas Horace promises a single bull-calf that he is saving especially for the purpose (53–60). I will try to offer a new interpretation of these last two strophes by pointing out an unnoticed allusion to a Hellenistic subtext.

Seeing the light, Part II: The reception of Aratus’s LEPTĒ acrostic in Greek and Latin literature1

“…In addition,Klooster 2013 has recently made clear that Horace's slender poetry is also Aratean by teasing out the allusions to Moschus, Europa 84-88 and Aratus's LEPTĒ acrostic in this densely metapoetic conclusion to Horace Odes 4.2. She first notes that Horace's use of tener in 4.2.54 could connote the Greek stylistic term λεπτός (4.2.54)(Klooster 2013: 348).…”

“…She first notes that Horace's use of tener in 4.2.54 could connote the Greek stylistic term λεπτός (4.2.54)(Klooster 2013: 348). She then argues that Horace describes the vitulus (=μόσχος in Greek) with language that evokes Moschus' description of the bull's head in the Europa (84-88)(Klooster 2013: Seeing the light, Part II: The reception of Aratus's LEPTĒ acrostic in Greek ...…”