by Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65 BCE - 8 BCE)
Translation © by Grant Hicks

Ad Dianam et Apollinem
Language: Latin 
Our translations:  ENG
Dianam tenerae dicite virgines,
intonsum pueri dicite Cynthium,
  Latonamque supremo
    dilectam penitus Iovi.

vos laetam fluviis et nemorum coma,
quaecumque aut gelido prominet Algido
  nigris aut Erymanthi
    silvis aut viridis Gragi,

vos Tempe totidem tollite laudibus
natalemque, mares, Delon Apollinis
  insignemque pharetra
    fraternaque umerum lyra.

hic bellum lacrimosum, hic miseram famem
pestemque a populo et principe Caesare in
  Persas atque Britannos
    vestra motus aget prece.

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 65

To Diana and Apollo
Language: English  after the Latin 
Sing, tender virgins, of Diana;
sing, boys, of the unshaven Cynthian,
  and of Latona, deeply beloved
    by supreme Jove.

You, sing of her who rejoices in rivers and the foliage
of the groves that spring from icy Algidus
  or from the dark forests of Erymanthus
    or of green Cragus;

you, boys, exalt Tempe with as many praises,
and Apollo's natal Delos
  and his shoulder, distinguished
    by the quiver and the fraternal lyre.

Now lamentable war, now miserable hunger
and plague he drives away from the people and their prince, Caesar,
  and towards the Persians and Britons,
    being moved by your prayer.

Note: this poem is full of mythological and geographical allusions that may be opaque to the modern reader:

"unshaven Cynthian": Apollo, said to have been born on Mount Cynthus
   on the island of Delos, and generally represented as a beardless youth
"Latona": Latin name for Leto, the mother of Diana and Apollo
"Algidus": a mountain in Latium
"Erymanthus": a mountain range in Arcadia
"Cragus": a mountain in Lycia
"Tempe": a valley in Thessaly, sacred to Apollo


Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Latin to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2026-09-29
Line count: 16
Word count: 101