John Dryden (1631 – 12 May 1700) – English poet, literary critic, and playwright., named England’s first poet laureate in 1668. He was also a translator and translated several classic poets, such as Horace, Juvenal, Ovid, Lucretius, and Theocritus, into English
In 1685 he wrote a long poem: Imitation of Horace.
Here are two stanzas, based on “Ode XXIX”
Happy the man, and happy he alone,
He who can call today his own;
He who, secure within, can say,
Tomorrow, do thy worst, for I have lived today.
Be fair, or foul, or rain, or shine,
The joys I have possessed, in spite of fate, are mine.
Not heaven itself upon the past has power;
But what has been, has been, and I have had my hour.
Felice è l’uomo, e felice davvero è colui
che l’oggi “suo” può definire
colui che, sicuro di sé, può dire:
“Domani, fa’ come ti pare, ma oggi io ho vissuto.
Sii giusto, o malvagio, fa’ venire pioggia o sole,
le gioie che, nonostante il destino, ho goduto sono mie.
Neppure il cielo ha potere sul passato;
e quel che è stato, è stato e io ne ho beneficiato.”
Quintus Horatius Flaccus: Carmina/Liber III/Carmen XXIX
… Ille potens sui
laetusque deget cui licet in diem
dixisse: ‘Vixi’. Cras vel atra
nube polum Pater occupato
vel sole puro; non tamen inritum,
quodcumque retro est, efficiet neque
diffinget infectumque reddet
quod fugiens semel hora vexit.
…Felice e padrone di sé vive
chi ogni giorno potrà dire “Ho vissuto”
domani il Padre copra pure il cielo
di cupe nubi o di sole splendente:
nemmeno lui potrà mai mutare
il passato o cancellarlo, come se
non fosse mai accaduto ciò che
l’attimo fuggente ci ha portato
image: Pexels – Ivan Samkov
[…] Dryden and Horace […]
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Thanks. 🙂
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Thanks for reading this post and offering feedback, Tony🙏.
I value your appreciation very much
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Se non avessi precisato che è una imitazione l’avrei preso per nostrano.
🙂
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🙏💜🙏💜🙏
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Ma che bello
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Grazie!!!
Buon pomeriggio 😘
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Bello, grazie Luisa 💐
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Sono contenta che tu l’abbia apprezzato!
Buon pomeriggio 🙏🤗🙏
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You selected a wonderful poem. Really speaks to self-empowerment.
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I’m really glad you liked this post
Thank you so much for your constant support, Pat ! I’m really grateful for that. 🙂
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And I appreciate yours.
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🙏😘🙏😘🙏
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Molto bello
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Grazie, Paolina!
Buon pomeriggio
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Buon pomeriggio anche a te🤗🌺
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🙏🙏 🙂
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Reblogged this on Il mio viaggio and commented:
Bellissimo
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Grazie 🙏🌹🙏
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Bel pensiero , fa riflettere..-
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Orazio non si è mai stancato di esortarci a saper godere dei beni che la vita ci offre ogni giorno : Carpe diem
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Thanks again Luisa for reminding us of these fascinating artists of the world.
I do love the poem and am quoting one line : “ The joys I have possessed, in spite of fate, are mine.
Miriam
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Oh, a good lad Mr. Dryden! 😁What a wonderful poet he is! Thank you, dear Luisa, for this important post. It seems to me that he is not too popular nowadays. Buona serata!
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Yes, I know…
Thank you so much for your kind words, dearest Maria.
I’m glad you stopped by! 🥰🥰🥰
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La trovo stupenda…costruttiva.
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Sono riflessioni sempre valide! 🙏💜🙏
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“Tomorrow, do thy worst, for I have lived today.” LOL. He lives in the present.
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It would be the wisest thing to do, if we were able to.
This way we could enjoy every moment we are without wasting it with regrets, remorse or fears
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sempre interessanti i tuoi pezzi ed è piacevole leggerli
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Grazie di cuore 💖 e buon pomeriggio
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buona serata
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LOVED IT THANK YOU LUISA 💜👄💜👄
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So glad you liked this post!
Have a lovely day 😘💖😘
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YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY ALSO LUISA .👄🍰🥧
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[…] Dryden and Horace […]
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Thank you so much for reblogging 🙏🌹🙏
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Life is so brief. We should remember, for better or for worse.
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