To His Servant by Horace

On the surface, Horace is instructing his servant on which decorations to bring for a drinking party—he says to skip the elaborate Persian garlands and the out-of-season roses, and just bring plain myrtle. However, the deeper message is about a philosophy of life: appreciate what is simple and natural, and stop wearing yourself out in pursuit of luxury.

To the Romans, Persia—and the East in general—represented excessive wealth and indulgence. Referring to something as "Persian" meant it was unnecessarily lavish. Horace uses this term as a convenient and charged way to label everything he disapproves of.

A chaplet is a wreath or garland worn on the head during a Roman banquet or symposium. Crafting one from linden bark required a lot of meticulous work — precisely the sort of tedious task Horace is critiquing.

In Rome, getting roses to bloom late in the season meant artificially forcing them, which was both costly and labor-intensive. This practice was a way to display wealth. When Horace tells his servant not to waste time searching for one, he is rejecting that entire culture of showy effort.

Myrtle was a widely found plant in Roman gardens, linked to Venus and daily enjoyment. Horace specifically picks it because of its commonness. He suggests that appreciating something simple and genuine is more fulfilling than obsessing over something rare.

It’s a subtly egalitarian moment. Horace mentions that myrtle suits both of them, which eases the social gap between a Roman master and his servant. As they enjoy a drink under the vine, the hierarchy starts to fade. It’s a small but genuine gesture of human connection.

Yes — it is the final poem in Book I of Horace's Odes, a collection of 38 poems published around 23 BCE. Putting this brief, unadorned ode at the book's conclusion seems like a purposeful artistic decision: finish with something straightforward, allowing that to be the message.

Aurea mediocritas translates to "the golden mean" — a concept from Horace suggesting that the best life finds balance, steering clear of both poverty and excess. This poem vividly illustrates that idea. He isn't asking for everything; he desires myrtle, wine, and shade. He simply wants no more than that.