Mr. James Petit Andrews, the continuator of Dr. Henry’s History of
England, mentions a whimsical instance of literary caprice--a parody of
Horace, by a German, David Hoppius, who had interest enough to have his
book printed at Brunswick, in 1568, under the particular protection of
the elector of Saxony. Hoppius, with infinite labour, transformed the
odes and epodes of Horace into pious hymns, preserving the original
measure, and, as far as possible, the words of the Roman poet. “The
classical reader,” Mr. Andrews says, “will, at one glance, comprehend
the amazing difficulties which such a parodist must undergo, and will be
surprised to find these productions not wanting in pure Latinity.” A
specimen or two are annexed.
_Ad Pyrrham._ Ode v. lib. 1.
Quis multâ gracilis te puer in rosâ
Perfusus liquidis urget odoribus
Grato, Pyrrha, sub antro?
Cui flavam religas comam
Simplex munditiis? &c.
_Ad Mariam Deiparam._ Parodia v. lib. 1.
Quis fœno recubans, in grac li tenet
Innexus teneris te, pia, fasciis
Blandus, Virgo, puellus?
Cui primos adhibes cibos.
Dives munditiis? &c.
_In Juliam Barinen._ Ode viii. lib 2.
Ulla si juris tibi pejerati
Pœna, Barine, nocuisset unquam,
Dente si nigro fieres, vel uno
Turpior unqui.
Crederem--Sed tu simul obligasti
Perfidum votis caput, enitescis
Pulchrior multo, juvenumque prodis
Publica cura, &c.
Προσφωγησις _Christi ad Peccatorem_. Parodia ix. lib. 2.
Ulla si juris tibi pejerati
Culpa, peccator, doluisset unquam
Mente, si tantum fieres vel unâ
Tristior hora
Plauderem--Sed tu, simul obligasti
Perfidum votis caput, ingemiscis
Ob scelus nunquam, scelerumque prodis
Publicus autor, &c.
_In Bacchum._ Ode xxiii. lib. 3.
Quo me, Bacche, rapis tui
Plenum, Quæ in nemora, aut quod agor in specus,
Velox mente novâ; quibus
Antris, egregie Cæsaris audiar
Æternum meditans decus
Stellis inserere et consilio Jovis, &c.
_Ad Christum._ Parodia xxiii. lib. 3.
Quo me, Christe, feram mali
Plenum, Quæ in nemora, aut quos fugiam in specus,
Pressus mole gravi? Quibus
Antris ob maculam criminis occultar
Æternam meditans facem
Infernum effugere, et simplicium Stygis? &c.
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