Horace, Quintus Horatius Flaccus. One of the greatest of Latin poets. Born at Venusia, 65 B.C. Studied at Rome under Orbilius Pupillus, and completed his education at Athens. He then joined the Roman army and fought under Brutus at Philippi, thereby occasioning the confiscation of his patrimonial estate. On his return to Rome, Horace embraced literature as a profession, and was so fortunate as to find a liberal and lifelong patron in Maecenas. His poetical works consist of odes, satires, and epistles - all replete with elegance of diction and perfect propriety of thought and expression, and withal pervaded by a certain atmosphere of calm and well-bred philosophy that renders them attractive. Horace died in 8 B.C.

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