Dear Editor,
Ian McDonald’s of June 19, 2022, `I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now’ caught my eye and piqued my interest. About five years ago I picked up a used copy of Latin Poetry in Verse Translation edited by L.R. Lind, and about the same time a used copy of The Trial of Socrates by I.F. Stone. These two adorned my shelf patiently awaiting their turn to be read and appreciated. When I read McDonald’s too short but excellent essay I immediately dived into my Latin Poetry, located Horace’s poetry and thoroughly enjoyed myself as I read Ode I.5 translated by Gilbert Highet and a second translation of the same by Joseph Bennett.
Three translations of I.25 by Robert Fitzgerald, Rolfe Humphries, and John Frederick Nims were equally entertaining, and because of Ian McDonald’s clear and succinct analysis of ‘Ad Pyrrham’ I’ve since read more of Horace and a little of Vergil, Martial, Catullus, and Ovid.
I speak for many who like myself have read and enjoyed the many-faceted works of Ian McDonald over the past several decades. His contribution to the Arts and Culture of Guyana and to the wider Caribbean is stellar and deeply appreciated.
In closing, please allow me to share Horace’s I. 33 translated by Gilbert Highet –
Now don’t overindulge grief for your lost coquette’
my poor comrade, and don’t publish lugubrious
dark -blue dirges for love, endlessly asking why
she broke faith, took a younger man.
See how Audrey —- a rare beauty with clustered curls —-
burns for David, and he yearns for the arrogant
Eileen; yet we shall see slavering mountain wolves
mated with delicate fallow deer
far, far sooner than Eileen will indulge his lust.
Cruel Love always conjoins two inappropriate
hearts, minds, bodies in one pair of unbroken chains:
Love does relish a savage joke.
I too, though a liaison with a kinder girl
was quite possible, still clung to my cruel Sue—-
slum-bred woman, and wild: stormier than the waves
wind- whipped , lashing Atlantic rocks!
Yours etc.
Ted Eric Matthews
