Portuguese
Odes, Livro Primeiro – 07
English translation
Odes, Book One – 07
Ponho na altiva mente o fixo esforço
I put in lofty mind the fixed effort
. . . Da altura, e à sorte deixo,
. . . Of the heights, and to chance leave,
. . . E as suas leis, o verso;
. . . And to its laws, the verse;
Que, quando é alto e régio o pensamento,
Which, when the thought is high and regal,
. . . Súbdita a frase o busca
. . . The subject seeks out the phrase
. . . E o scravo ritmo o serve.
. . . And rhythm, the slave, serves it.