'Diffugere Nives (Horace, Odes 4.7)' by A.E. Housman


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The snows are fled away, leaves on the shaws
And grasses in the mead renew their birth,
The river to the river-bed withdraws,
And altered is the fashion of the earth.

The Nymphs and Graces three put off their fear
And unapparelled in the woodland play.
The swift hour and the brief prime of the year
Say to the soul, Thou wast not born for aye.

Thaw follows frost; hard on the heel of spring
Treads summer sure to die, for hard on hers
Comes autumn with his apples scattering;
Then back to wintertide, when nothing stirs.

But oh, whate'er the sky-led seasons mar,
Moon upon moon rebuilds it with her beams;
Come we where Tullus and where Ancus are
And good Aeneas, we are dust and dreams.

Torquatus, if the gods in heaven shall add
The morrow to the day, what tongue has told?
Feast then thy heart, for what thy heart has had
The fingers of no heir will ever hold.

When thou descendest once the shades among,
The stern assize and equal judgment o'er,
Not thy long lineage nor thy golden tongue,
No, nor thy righteousness, shall friend thee more.

Night holds Hippolytus the pure of stain,
Diana steads him nothing, he must stay;
And Theseus leaves Pirithous in the chain
The love of comrades cannot take away.


Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Diffugere Nives: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Oh, Diffugere Nives! What a beautiful piece of poetry you are. Written by the Roman poet Horace, this poem has been translated by many great writers over the years. But today, we are going to focus on A.E. Housman’s interpretation of Diffugere Nives.

A Brief Overview

For those who are unfamiliar with the poem, Diffugere Nives is a lyric poem written in the Sapphic meter. It is a poem that celebrates the arrival of spring and the departure of winter. Horace describes the melting snow and the return of the birds as a sign of new life and hope.

Housman’s interpretation of Diffugere Nives, however, takes a slightly different turn. He uses the poem as a way to express his own personal feelings of loss and grief. For Housman, the arrival of spring only serves as a reminder of the loved ones he has lost.

Analysis

Let’s dive deeper into Housman’s interpretation of Diffugere Nives. The poem begins with the lines:

The snows are fled away, leaves on the shaws
And grasses in the mead renew their birth,
The river to the river-bed withdraws,
And altered is the fashion of the earth.

Housman starts off by describing the arrival of spring in typical Horatian fashion. The snow has melted, the grass is growing, and the river is returning to its normal course. However, he also adds a sense of melancholy to the poem by using the phrase “altered is the fashion of the earth.” This line suggests that something has changed, and not necessarily for the better.

The second stanza of the poem reads:

The nymphs and Graces three put off their fear
And unapparelled in the woodland play.
The swift hour and the brief prime of the year
Say to the soul, Thou wast not born for aye.

Here, Housman diverges from Horace’s original meaning. Instead of celebrating the arrival of spring, he uses the image of the nymphs and Graces playing in the woods as a way to express his own sense of loss. The line “Thou wast not born for aye” emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and suggests that we must cherish every moment we have.

The third stanza of the poem reads:

Thaw follows frost; hard on the heel of spring
Treads summer sure to die, for hard on hers
Comes autumn, with his apples scattering;
Then back to wintertide, when nothing stirs.

Housman uses the changing seasons as a way to emphasize the cyclical nature of life. Just as spring follows winter, summer follows spring, and autumn follows summer, life follows death. Housman’s use of the word “sure” to describe the arrival of summer suggests that death is inevitable and that we must prepare for it.

The final stanza of the poem reads:

But oh, whate’er the sky-led seasons mar,
Moon upon moon rebuilds it with her beams:
Come we where Tullus and where Ancus are
And good Aeneas, we are dust and dreams.

Here, Housman reminds us that death is a natural part of life. The seasons may change, and we may die, but the moon will continue to shine and life will go on. The reference to Tullus, Ancus, and Aeneas also serves as a reminder of the impermanence of life. These great men may be remembered in history, but they too have turned to dust.

Conclusion

In conclusion, A.E. Housman’s interpretation of Diffugere Nives is a beautiful and poignant piece of poetry. While Horace celebrates the arrival of spring, Housman uses the poem as a way to express his own personal feelings of loss and grief. Through his use of imagery and language, he reminds us of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. Overall, Diffugere Nives is a timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Diffugere Nives: A Classic Poem Reimagined by A.E. Housman

Horace's Odes 4.7, also known as "Diffugere Nives," is a classic poem that has been celebrated for centuries. Its themes of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death have resonated with readers throughout the ages. However, it is the reimagining of this poem by A.E. Housman that truly captures the essence of these themes and brings them to life in a way that is both haunting and beautiful.

Housman's version of "Diffugere Nives" is a masterful work of art that takes the original poem and transforms it into something entirely new. While Horace's version is a celebration of the coming of spring and the renewal of life, Housman's version is a lament for the passing of time and the inevitability of death. It is a poem that speaks to the human condition and the universal experience of loss and grief.

The poem begins with the line "The snows are fled away, leaves on the shaws." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it immediately establishes the passing of time and the changing of the seasons. The snows, which represent the cold and darkness of winter, have fled away, and in their place are leaves on the shaws, which represent the new growth and renewal of spring. This contrast between winter and spring is a recurring theme throughout the poem, as Housman uses it to explore the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.

The second stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as it speaks directly to the theme of death. Housman writes, "Nought else unchanged remains; the blood-red moon / Is down, and over the hill we go." This image of the blood-red moon is a powerful symbol of death, as it represents the end of life and the passing of time. The fact that it is "down" and that the speaker and his companions are "going over the hill" suggests that they are moving towards their own deaths, and that nothing can stop the inevitable march of time.

The third stanza of the poem is a meditation on the transience of life. Housman writes, "Now stir the trees, and the winds pipe; / Now falls the rain, and the sun is set." This image of the changing weather is a metaphor for the changing nature of life, as everything is in a constant state of flux. The fact that the sun is set suggests that the day is over, and that the speaker is reflecting on the passing of time and the inevitability of death.

The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the beauty of life and the inevitability of death. Housman writes, "Thyrsis, a youth of Delphi, sings / Perished is Phoebus, all his glory gone." This image of the youth singing about the passing of Phoebus, the god of the sun, is a powerful symbol of the beauty of life and the inevitability of death. The fact that the youth is singing suggests that he is celebrating life, even as he acknowledges its fleeting nature.

In conclusion, A.E. Housman's reimagining of Horace's "Diffugere Nives" is a powerful meditation on the themes of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. Through his use of powerful imagery and metaphor, Housman captures the essence of these themes and brings them to life in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience and to speak to the universal truths that bind us all together.

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