Quintus Horatius Flaccus, was born on November 27, 8 BC. The renowned Roman Satirist and Lyrist was known in the English world as Horace. His father was a manumitted slave, however, he saved enough to see to Horace's education. His lyrical writings ('satires and lampoons') were to eventually come to the attention of Virgil and, in turn, to one of the ministers of Octavianus. With the recognition of those on high and gifts bestowed (one of which was a farm in the Sabinian Hills above Rome), Horace was able to lead a life of leisure and luxury; and, eventually, was to acquire the position of the poet laureate. His poetry supplies more phrases which have become proverbial than the rest of Latin literature put together.