HORACE ODE I-XI "CARPE DIEM"
HORACE QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS
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Horace Ode I-XI "Carpe Diem" Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus
QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS, known in English
as Horace, was born at Venusia, near the
border of Apulia, in 65 B. C. His father,
a former slave who had freed himself before
the birth of his son, sent him to school
in Rome. As a young man Horace went to Athens
and studied philosophy at the famous schools.
When the Civil War broke out he enlisted
in the army of Brutus, served at Philippi,
and came back to Rome not long after. Deprived
of his property as a result of the proscriptions,
he began life anew at the age of twenty-four
as a clerk in a public office. Not long after,
he attracted the attention of Męcenas, and
soon became acquainted with Varius and Virgil,
henceforth devoting himself to literary pursuits.
HIs first work, the first book of Satires,
was published in 35 B. C. About a year later,
Męcenas presented him with the celebrated
Sabine Farm, and Horace was at liberty to
the end of his life to do as he liked. Before
he died he was famous: the Emperor Augustus
commissioned him to write the fourth book
of Odes. He died eight years before the birth
of Christ.
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