odes xxvi

Musis amicus tristitiam et metus 
tradam protervis in mare Creticum 
     portare ventis, quis sub Arcto 
     rex gelidae metuatur orae, 

As a friend of the Muse, I will hand over sadness and fears to the violent winds to carry on the Cretic sea, which the king of the icy shores beneath the great bear fears

quid Tiridaten terreat, unice               5 
securus. O quae fontibus integris 
     gaudes, apricos necte flores, 
     necte meo Lamiae coronam, 

and which terrifies Tiridates, free from singular cares. O you rejoicing, in pure fountains, weave sunny blossoms, weave a crown for my Lamia 

Piplea dulcis. Nil sine te mei 
possunt honores; hunc fidibus novis,               10 
     hunc Lesbio sacrare plectro 
     teque tuasque decet sorores. 

Sweet [Goddess of] Piplea.  Nothing of mine without you may be honourable; it is fitting for you and your sisters to sanctify by these new lyres, by this Lesbian plectrum.   

blackbird

singing in the dead of night