Horace Ode 4.4 (Drusus and the Claudians)

When was 4.4 written?

13 BC

Drusus = “the winged agent of the bright lightning-bolt“

• has potential but still aknowledges his youth

“those hordes,

triumphant everywhere, for so long,

were conquered by the young man’s strategies“

• praising Drusus

• following in Augustus’ footsteps of becoming a good imperator

“By the brave and good are the brave created“

• probaby one of my fave quotes EVER

“the ferocious golden eagles

don’t produce shy doves“

“education improves inborn qualities“

• Augustus had a brilliant education

“whenever moral behavuour falls hort, its faults dishonour whatver was good at birth“

• private Horace once again

“every hope of mine is ended, and ended

the fortunes of my family,

since my brother Hasdrabal’s destruction.“

• dialogue from Hannibal’s POV

• super interesting

• painitng the negative aspects of war

• brothers losing eachother