to my sagginc^ pocket, and I discovered 

 that Ouintus Horatius Flaccus had some- 

 how got himself on top of the sandwich, 

 and had smashed it to pulp, save that the 

 Hberal slice of ham lay comfortably greasy 

 and quiet between two odes, anointing 

 them with artistic impartiality. 



Disappointment on my part did not seem 

 to disturb the old poet, who complacently 

 dreamed on, while I ate the amorphous 

 remains fished out from among his lyrics, 

 noil sine fistula^ the meadow-larks piping 

 in the green grass round about. So I took 

 him for dessert, as it were, beginning with 

 the first ode and reading straight away to 

 the last verse of Lib. IV, Carmen XV — 

 just two hours and forty-five minutes by 

 the watch. Many of the odes* I knew by 

 heart; but they are always fresh when I 

 read them. Herons and kingfishers joined 

 me while I mouthed those mellow vowel- 

 sounds. " Kee-owk!" cried one. *' Twidg- 

 g-g-dt!" repeated the other. They be- 

 haved as though they meant to exasperate 

 me until I should risk a shaft or two at 

 them beyond the creek, which was too deep 

 163 



