Horace and Ovid in Byron's Don Juan 6.17.8.

  • Published In: Notes & Queries, 2024, v. 71, n. 2. P. 232 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Sansone, David 3 of 3

Abstract

Byron's Don Juan includes a couplet that is attributed to Horace but is actually from Ovid. The quotation is not exact, as Byron acknowledges in the next stanza, explaining that the extra syllable is required by English meter. The reference is to Ovid's Metamorphoses, and the sentiment expressed aligns more closely with Horace's moderate outlook. Byron was familiar with the works of both Ovid and Horace, but his sympathies seem to lie with Ovid and his erotic poetry. There is a possible indication that Byron is thinking of Ovid's poem Ibis, which vilifies a contemporary in verse. The capitalization of all four words in the quotation is meant to allude to multiple Ovidian poems and to expect the reader's familiarity with them. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Notes & Queries. 2024/06, Vol. 71, Issue 2, p232
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:0029-3970
  • DOI:10.1093/notesj/gjae041
  • Accession Number:178562313
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