"Ars Poetica", or "The Art of Poetry", is a poem written by Horace c. 19 BC, in which he advises poets on the art of writing poetry and drama. The Ars Poetica has "exercised a great influence in later ages on European literature, notably on French drama" and has inspired poets and authors since it was written. Although it had been familiar since the Middle Ages, it is used in literary criticism since the Renaissance.
“Mere grace is not enough: a play should thrill
The hearer's soul, and move it at its will.”
Non satis est pulchra esse poemata; dulcia sunto
Et, quocumque uolent, animum auditoris agunto.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 99 (tr. John Conington)
“For nature forms our spirits to receive
Each bent that outward circumstance can give:
She kindles pleasure, bids resentment glow,
Or bows the soul to earth in hopeless woe.”
Format enim Natura prius nos intus ad omnem
Fortunarum habitum, juvat, aut impellit ad iram,
Aut ad humum moerore gravi deducit, et angit.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 108 (tr. Conington)
“When you wish to instruct, be brief; that men’s minds may take in quickly what you say, learn its lesson, and retain it faithfully. Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind.”
Quidquid praecipies, esto brevis, ut cito dicta
percipiant animi dociles teneantque fideles:
omne supervacuum pleno de pectore manat.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Lines 335–337; Edward Charles Wickham translation
“The Muse gave the Greeks their native character, and allowed them to speak in noble tones, they who desired nothing but praise.”
Grais ingenium, Grais dedit ore rotundo
Musa loqui, præter laudem nullius avaris. . .
Grais ingenium, Grais dedit ore rotundo
Musa loqui, præter laudem nullius avaris. . .
Line 323
Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC)
“Some faults may claim forgiveness.”
Sunt delicta tamen quibus ignovisse velimus.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 347 (tr. Conington)
“None knows the reason why this curse
Was sent on him, this love of making verse.”
Nec satis apparet, cur versus factitet.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 470 (tr. Conington)
“To have good sense, is the first principle and fountain of writing well.”
Scribendi recte sapere est et principium et fons.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 309
“He wins every hand who mingles profit with pleasure, by delighting and instructing the reader at the same time.”
Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci,
lectorem delectando pariterque monendo.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 343
“If you wish me to weep, you yourself
Must first feel grief.”
Si vis me flere, dolendum est
primum ipsi tibi.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 102
“Mediocrity in poets has never been tolerated by either men, or gods, or booksellers.”
Mediocribus esse poetis Non homines, non di, non concessere columnae.
Lines 372–373 http://books.google.com/books?id=hlgNAAAAYAAJ&q=%22mediocribus+esse+poetis+Non+homines+non+di+non+concessere+columnae%22&pg=PA769#v=onepage <br class="br">Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC)
“Struggling to be brief I become obscure.”
Brevis esse laboro,
obscurus fio.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 25
“And what he fears he cannot make attractive with his touch he abandons.”
Et quae
Desperat tractata nitescere posse relinquit.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 149 (tr. H. R. Fairclough)
“Often a purple patch or two is tacked on to a serious work of high promise, to give an effect of colour.”
Inceptis gravibus plerumque et magna professis
purpureus, late qui splendeat, unus et alter
adsuitur pannus.
Inceptis gravibus plerumque et magna professis
purpureus, late qui splendeat, unus et alter
adsuitur pannus.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 14
“I am displeased when sometimes even the worthy Homer nods;”
Indignor quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus;
Whence the familiar expression, Even Homer nods (i.e. No one is perfect: even the wisest make mistakes).
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 359
“It is difficult to speak of the universal specifically.”
Difficile est proprie communia dicere.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 128
“The mountains will be in labor, and a ridiculous mouse will be brought forth.”
Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 139. Horace is hereby poking fun at heroic labours producing meager results; his line is also an allusion to one of Æsop's fables, The Mountain in Labour. The title to Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing expresses a similar sentiment.
“Nor word for word too faithfully translate.”
Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus
Interpres.
Source: Ars Poetica, or The Epistle to the Pisones (c. 18 BC), Line 133 (tr. John Dryden)
