HORACE TO MELPOMENE by Eugene Field: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This poem is Eugene Field's loose translation and adaptation of Horace's well-known "Ode to Melpomene" (Odes III.30).
The poem
Lofty and enduring is the monument I've reared,-- Come, tempests, with your bitterness assailing; And thou, corrosive blasts of time, by all things mortal feared, Thy buffets and thy rage are unavailing! I shall not altogether die; by far my greater part Shall mock man's common fate in realms infernal; My works shall live as tributes to my genius and my art,-- My works shall be my monument eternal! While this great Roman empire stands and gods protect our fanes, Mankind with grateful hearts shall tell the story, How one most lowly born upon the parched Apulian plains First raised the native lyric muse to glory. Assume, revered Melpomene, the proud estate I've won, And, with thine own dear hand the meed supplying, Bind thou about the forehead of thy celebrated son The Delphic laurel-wreath of fame undying!
This poem is Eugene Field's loose translation and adaptation of Horace's well-known "Ode to Melpomene" (Odes III.30). In it, the ancient Roman poet declares that his poetry will endure longer than any physical monument. Horace addresses Melpomene, the muse of lyric poetry, asserting that his work will keep his memory alive long after he's gone. It’s like a poet saying, "I've created something that will never fade away — my words."
Line-by-line
Lofty and enduring is the monument I've reared,-- / Come, tempests, with your bitterness assailing;
I shall not altogether die; by far my greater part / Shall mock man's common fate in realms infernal;
While this great Roman empire stands and gods protect our fanes, / Mankind with grateful hearts shall tell the story,
How one most lowly born upon the parched Apulian plains / First raised the native lyric muse to glory.
Assume, revered Melpomene, the proud estate I've won, / And, with thine own dear hand the meed supplying,
Tone & mood
Triumphant and self-assured, there’s a genuine pride beneath Horace's bravado. He isn’t boasting carelessly — his confidence feels earned, reflecting the voice of someone who has put in the effort and recognizes it. The final stanza shifts slightly to a tone of reverence as he directly addresses Melpomene.
Symbols & metaphors
- The monument — Not a physical structure, but rather the essence of Horace's poetry. By referring to it as a monument in the opening line and then asserting that storms or time cannot affect it, the poem quickly establishes a contrast between material objects that decay and art that lasts.
- The Delphic laurel-wreath — The laurel crown given at Delphi was the highest honor for poets in the ancient world. By asking Melpomene to put it on his head, Horace is asserting his position as the top poet, with the muse herself as the one who validates this claim.
- The parched Apulian plains — Apulia, a dry and tough region in southern Italy, serves as a poignant reminder of Horace's humble beginnings. The starkness of the terrain reflects the struggles of his early life, making his ascent to literary fame feel even more remarkable.
- Melpomene — One of the nine Muses from Greek and Roman mythology, she represents lyric poetry and song. When Horace addresses her directly, it transforms the poem into a petition or prayer, as he seeks the divine patron's acknowledgment of his accomplishments in art.
- Realms infernal — The classical underworld is the destination for all mortals after they die. When Horace mentions that only his lesser part will go there, he's making a distinction between his mortal body and his immortal work — a separation that underpins the entire argument of the poem.
Historical context
This poem is Eugene Field's take on Horace's *Odes* III.30, which is one of the most celebrated poems in Latin literature, written around 23 BCE. Horace crafted it as the final piece in his first three books of *Odes*, intentionally placing it as a significant statement about his own legacy. The original Latin lines, "Exegi monumentum aere perennius" ("I have built a monument more lasting than bronze"), became a reference point for Western poets contemplating art and immortality—Pushkin, Shakespeare, and many others created their own interpretations. Field, an American journalist and poet known primarily for his children's poetry, translated this work in the late 19th century, capturing Horace's assertive tone in Victorian-era English while maintaining the original's rhythm and flair. The poem's central idea—that great writing endures beyond empires—was already well-known by Field's era, yet it still held significant meaning.
FAQ
Melpomene is one of the nine Muses in Greek and Roman mythology. Initially linked to lyric poetry, she later became associated with tragedy. Horace calls upon her as the divine patron of his craft, asking her to crown him with laurel, which symbolizes his desire for the utmost recognition from the very source of poetic inspiration.
He suggests that although his body will eventually perish like everyone else's, his poetry will preserve a part of him. His "greater part" — his voice, ideas, and art — will continue to exist in his writings long after he is gone. This reflects the notion that a poet's true essence lives on through their work, rather than in their physical form.
The original poem comes from Horace, a Roman poet, and dates back to around 23 BCE as the final ode in his first three books of *Odes*. In the 19th century, Eugene Field crafted this English adaptation. Field closely follows Horace's argument and structure, meaning that the ideas and boasts are Horace's, while the specific wording is Field's.
Delphi was home to Apollo's most renowned oracle in ancient Greece, and the laurel was considered his sacred plant. A laurel crown given at Delphi represented the pinnacle of poetic success in the ancient world. When Horace requests Melpomene to place it on his head, he is asserting his position as the leading poet.
Horace's father was a freed slave from Apulia, a dry and relatively poor area in southern Italy. Horace mentions this not with shame but with pride — he emphasizes that his greatness was entirely self-made. The stark contrast between his humble beginnings and his impressive literary accomplishments adds weight to his claim.
Lyric poetry in the ancient world was rooted in Greek tradition, linked to poets like Sappho and Pindar. Horace is particularly noted for adapting Greek lyric meters and forms into Latin—the native language of Rome—bringing them to a high artistic level for the first time. In essence, he created a Roman version of a style that had previously only been found in Greek.
The poem consists of four quatrains, each with four lines. Each stanza progresses the argument: the first challenges time and storms, the second suggests a form of immortality through art, the third identifies the specific achievement, and the fourth directly addresses Melpomene with a plea for acknowledgment. It evolves from defiance to a respectful request.
In classical poetry, this style of confident self-praise was a common literary device rather than mere arrogance. Horace truly revolutionized Latin poetry, and his *Odes* gained acclaim even during his lifetime. His boast was indeed justified — his work has endured for over two thousand years, long after the fall of the Roman Empire itself.