Developments of style
In their commentary on Odes book 1, Nisbet and Hubbard (1970) observe certain developments in the style of Horace's Alcaics across the four books. These include, for example:[20]
- a gradual decrease in the percentage of short first syllables in the first three lines of the stanza (7.2% in book 1, 3.1% in book 2, 2.0% in book 3, and 0% in book 4).
- a much larger proportion of polysyllable + disyllable endings (e.g. fātālis incestusque iūdex) in the 3rd line of the stanza in books 3 and 4: 5.0%, 5.8%, 24.6%, 30.2% respectively.
- the complete avoidance of quadrisyllabic or double disyllabic endings (e.g. nōdō coercēs vīperīnō or prōnōs relābī posse rīvōs) in the 3rd line of the stanza in books 3 and 4.
- the gradual decrease in the number of 4th lines beginning with a dactylic word (e.g. torquibus exiguīs renīdet): 35.0%, 22.1%, 17.8%, 13.2% respectively.
From these observations Nisbet and Hubbard deduce that the odes in books 1 to 3 are probably arranged roughly in order of composition, though they do not rule out that some of the poems in book 1 might be comparatively late. They add, however, that the use of lines of the type fātālis incestusque iūdex may not by itself be indicative of a late date, since such lines are associated with a grandiloquent style: in book 3, for example, there are 21 such lines in the six Roman Odes (3.1–6), but none in the slighter 3.17, 3.21, 3.23.[21]
G. O. Hutchinson (2002) looks at several other stylistic features which support the view that the books were written in sequence. One is the decreasing use of atque 'and' pronounced as two syllables.[22] In the four books of Odes, it occurs in 0.8%, 0.7%, 0.1%, and 0.3% of lines respectively.[23] This trend is seen not only in the Odes, but also in other works of Horace[24] and even in other poets such as Virgil.[25]
Another indication that the books were written sequentially is the proportion of Sapphic 4th lines of the type terruit urbem) (3 syllables + 2) versus rara iuventūs (2 syllables + 3). The two types are equally common in book 1, but in later books the first type becomes increasingly common.[26]
For these and other reasons Hutchinson argues that rather than being published all together, as is usually thought, it is likely that the first two books were at first published individually, but that all three books were later issued as a collection in 23 BC. This republication is probably what is referred to in Epistle 1.13, in which Horace requests his friend Vinnius to present a collection of books to Augustus at an opportune moment.
Datable odes
According to L. P. Wilkinson, there is no certain evidence that any of the Odes were written before 30 BC. In his view it would seem that Horace completed both the Epodes and the second book of his Satires in 30 BC, and immediately started work on the Odes.[27] However, Nisbet and Hubbard, noting that 1.37 "does not read like a first attempt at Alcaics", believe that it is not possible to be sure that some the Odes were not written earlier.[28]
In book 1 some odes can be approximately dated. 1.37 describes the death of Queen Cleopatra (30 BC). 1.31 appears to be set at the time of Octavian's dedication of the temple to Apollo on the Palatine Hill in 28 BC. 1.29 probably refers to Aelius Gallus's expedition to Arabia Felix in 26/25 BC.
In book 2, 2.9 must be after January 27 BC, since it names Octavian as Augustus, a title he was granted in that year. The title also occurs in books 3 and 4, but is not found in book 1, although Octavian is mentioned in that book six times, always under the name "Caesar".[29] In 2.4, Horace claims to be 40 years old, an age he reached in December 25 BC. The mention of the Cantabrians in 2.6 perhaps refers to the rebellion of 25 or 24 BC.
In book 3 there are few certain dates, except for 3.14, which marks the return of Augustus from Spain in 24 BC.
After this there was a gap of a few years, and in this time, in 17 BC, Horace composed the Carmen saeculare.
In 4.1 Horace tells us that he is now "about" 50 years old, dating this poem to about 15 BC. The dramatic date of odes 4.2 and 4.5 is before summer 13 BC, which is probably the year when the fourth book was published.[30]
