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Aetna mihi ruptique cavis fornacibus ignes

et quae tam fortes volvant incendia causae,

quid fremat imperium, quid raucos torqueat aestus,

carmen erit. Dexter venias mihi carminis auctor

seu te Cynthos habet seu Delo est gratior Hyla

seu tibi Dodone potior, tecumque faventes

in nova Pierio properent a fonte sorores

vota: per insolitum Phoebo duce tutius itur.

Aurea securi quis nescit saecula regis?

Cum domitis nemo Cererem iactaret in arvis

venturisque malas prohiberet fructibus herbas,

annua sed saturae complerent horrea messes,

ipse suo flueret Bacchus pede mellaque lentis

penderent foliis et pinguis Pallas olivae,

secretos amnis ageret cum gratia ruris?

Non cessit cuiquam melius sua tempora nosse.

Ultima quis tacuit iuvenum certamina Colchos?

Quis non Argolico deflevit Pergamon igni

impositam et tristi natorum funere matrem

aversumque diem sparsumve in semina dentem?

Quis non periurae doluit mendacia puppis

desertam vacuo Minoida litore questus?

Quidquid et antiquom iactata est fabula carmen.

Fortius ignotas molimur pectore curas:

qui tanto motus operi quae causa perenni

explicet in densum flammas et trudat ab imo

ingenti sonitu moles et proxima quaeque

ignibus irriguis urat, mens carminis haec est.

Principio ne quem capiat fallacia vatum

sedes esse dei tumidisque e faucibus ignem

Volcani ruere et clausis resonare cavernis

festinantis opus: non est tam sordida divis

cura neque extremas ius est dimittere in artes

sidera; subducto regnant sublimia caelo

illa neque artificum curant tractare laborem.

Discrepat a prima facies haec altera vatum:

illis Cyclopas memorant fornacibus usos,

cum super incudem numerosa in verbera fortes

horrendum magno quaterent sub pondere fulmen

armarentque Iovem: turpe et sine pignore carmen.

Proxima vivaces Aetnaei verticis ignes

impia sollicitat Phlegraeis fabula castris.

Temptavere (nefas) olim detrudere mundo

sidera captivique Iovis transferre gigantes

imperium et victo leges imponere caelo.

(Hos natura sua est alvo tenus, ima per orbes

squameus intortos sinuat vestigia serpens).

Construitur magnis ad proelia montibus agger:

Pelion Ossa † creat, summus premit Ossan Olympus.

Iam coacervatas nituntur scandere moles,

impius et miles metuentia comminus astra

provocat, infestus cunctos ad proelia divos

provocat admotisque ‹ad› tertia sidera signis

Iuppiter e caelo metuit dextramque corusca

armatus flamma removet caligine mundum.

Incursant vasto primum clamore gigantes:

hic magno tonat ore pater geminantque faventes

undique discordes comitum simul agmine venti.

Densa per attonitas rumpuntur flumina nubes

atque in bellandum quae cuique potentia divom

in commune venit. Iam patri dextera Pallas

et Mars laevos erat, iam cetera turba deorum,

stant utrimque † deus: validos tum Iuppiter ignis

increpat et iacto proturbat fulmine montes.

Illinc devictae verterunt terga ruinae

infertae divis acies atque impius hostis

praeceps cum castris agitur materque iacentes

impellens victos. Tum pax est reddita mundo,

tum liber cessata venit per sidera, caelum

defensique decus mundi nunc redditur astris.

Gurgite Trinacrio morientem Iuppiter Aetna

obruit Enceladon, vasto qui pondere montis

aestuat et petulans exspirat faucibus ignem.

Haec est mendosae volgata licentia famae.

Vatibus ingenium est: hinc audit nobile carmen.

Plurima pars scaenae rerum est fallacia: vates

sub terris nigros viderunt carmine manes

atque inter cineres Ditis pallentia regna,

mentiti vates Stygias undasque canesque.

Hi Tityon poena stravere in iugera foedum;

sollicitant illi te circum, Tantale, poena

sollicitantque siti; Minos, tuaque, Aeace, in umbris

iura canunt idemque rotant Ixionis orbem,

quicquid et interius, falsi sibi conscia terra est.

Nec tu, terra, satis: speculantur numina divom

nec metuont oculos alieno admittere caelo.

Norunt bella deum, norunt abscondita nobis

coniugia et falsa quotiens sub imagine peccent,

taurus in Europen, in Ledam candidus ales

Iuppiter, ut Danaae pretiosus fluxerit imber.

Debita carminibus libertas ista, sed omnis

in vero mihi cura: canam, quo fervida motu

aestuet Aetna novosque rapax sibi congerat ignis.

Quacumque immensus se terrae porrigit orbis

extremique maris curvis incingitur undis,

non totum e solido densum; namque omnis hiatu

secta est intus humus penitusque cavata latebris

exiles suspensa vias agit; utque animanti

per tota errantes percurrunt corpora venae,

ad vitam sanguis omnis qua commeat, isdem

terra voraginibus conceptas derigit auras.

Scilicet aut olim diviso corpore mundi

in maria ac terras et sidera, sors data caelo

prima, secuta maris deseditque infima tellus,

sed tortis rimosa cavis et, qualis acervos

exsilit imparibus iactis ex tempore saxis,

ut crebro introrsus spatio vacefacta charybdis

pendeat in sese, simili quoque terra figura

in tenuis laxata vias non omnis in artum

nec stipata coit - sive illi causa vetusta est

nec nata est facies, sed liber spiritus intrat

et fugiens molitur iter, seu nympha perenni

edit humum limo furtimque obstantia mollit

aut etiam inclusi solidum vicere vapores

atque igni quaesita via est sive omnia certis

pugnavere locis, non est hic causa docenda,

dum stet opus causae. Quis enim non credit inanis

esse sinus penitus, tantos emergere fontes

cum videt ac totiens uno se mergere hiatu?

Non ille ex tenui quocumque agat, apta necesse est

confluvia errantes arcessant undique venas

et trahat ex pleno quo fortem contrahat amnem.

Flumina quin etiam latis currentia rivis

occasus habuere suos: aut illa vorago

derepta in praeceps fatali condidit ore,

aut occulta fluont tectis adoperta cavernis

atque inopinatos referunt procul edita cursus.

Quod nisi diversos emittat terra canales

hospitium fluviis, haut semita, nulla profecto

fontibus et rivis constet via pigraque tellus

conferta in solidum segni sub pondere cesset.

Quod si praecipiti conduntur flumina terra,

condita si redeunt, si qua et iam incondita surgunt,

haud mirum, clausis etiam si libera ventis

spiramenta latent. Certis tibi pignera rebus

atque oculis haesura tuis dabit ordine tellus.

Immensos plerumque sinus et iugera pessum

intercepta licet densaque abscondita nocte

prospectare procul, chaos ac sine fine ruinas.

Cernis et in silvis spatiosa cubilia retro

antraque demersas penitus fodisse latebras:

incomperta via est, aër tantum effugit ultra.

Argumenta dabunt ignoti vera profundi,

tu modo subtiles animo duce percipe curas

occultamque fidem manifestis abstrahe rebus.

Nam quo liberior quoque est animosior ignis

semper in inclusis, nec ventis segnior ira est

sub terra penitusque movent hoc plura: necesse est

vincla magis solvant, magis hoc obstantia pellant.

Nec tamen in rigidos exit contenta canales

vis animae flammaeve: ruit qua proxima cedunt

obliquomque secat qua visa tenerrima causa est.

Hinc terrae tremor, hinc motus, ubi densus hiantes

spiritus exagitat venas cessantiaque urget.

Quod si spissa foret, solido si staret in omni,

nulla daret miranda sui spectacula tellus

pigraque et in pondus conferta immobilis esset.

Sed summis si forte putas concrescere causis

tantum opus et subitis alimentum viribus ora,

quae patula in promptu cernis, vastosque recessus,

falleris et nondum ‹in› certo tibi lumine res est.

Namque illis quaecumque vagantur hiatibus, omnes

et sese introitu solvont adituque patenti

conceptae languent vires animosque remittunt.

Quippe ubi quod teneat ventos acuatque morantis

in vacuo defit, cessant tantumque profundi

explicat errantis et in ipso limine tardant:

angustis opus est turbanti faucibus, illic

fervet opus densaque premit premiturque ruina

nunc Euri Boreaeque Notus, nunc huius uterque.

Hinc venti rabies, hinc saevo quassat hiatu

fundamenta soli, trepidant urbesque caducae

inde, neque est aliud, si fas est credere mundo

venturam antiqui faciem, veracius omen.

Haec imo cum sit species naturaque terrae,

introrsus cessante solo trahit undique venas

Aetna sui: manifesta fides et proxima vero est.

Non illic duce me occultas scrutabere causas,

occurrent oculis ipsae cogentque fateri.

Plurima namque patent illi miracula monti.

Hinc vasti terrent aditus merguntque profundo,

porrigit hinc artos penitusque exaestuat ultra.

Hinc scissae rupes obstant discordiaque ingens

inter opus, nectunt aliae mediumque coërcent,

pars igni domitae, pars ignes ferre coactae,

ut maior species Aetnae succurrat inanis.

Haec illi sedes tantarumque area rerum est,

haec operis visenda sacri faciesque domusque.

Nunc opus artificem incendi causamque reposcit.

Non illam parvo aut tenui discrimine signes,

mille sub exiguom venient tibi pignora tempus:

res oculos ducent, res ipsae credere cogent.

* * *

Quin etiam: prohibent flammae custodiaque ignis

illi operi est arcens aditus divinaque rerum

cura sine arbitrio est: eadem procul omnia cernes.

Nec tamen est dubium, penitus quis torreat Aetnam

aut quis mirandus tantae faber imperet arti.

Pellitur exustae glomeratim nimbus harenae,

flagrantes properant moles, volvontur ab imo

fundamenta fragor tota nunc rumpitur Aetna,

nunc fusca pallent incendia mixta ruina.

Ipse procul tantos miratur Iuppiter ignes,

neve sepulta novi surgant in bella Gigantes

neu Ditem regni pudeat neu Tartara caelo

vertat: in occulto tantum premit omniaque extra

congeries operit saxorum et putris harenae.

Quae nec sponte sua veniunt nec corporis ulli

sustentata cadunt robustis viribus: omnes

exagitant venti turbas ac vertice saevo

in densum collecta rotant volvontque profundo.

Haec causae spectanda ferunt incendia montis;

spiritus inflatis nomen, languentibus aër.

Nam prope, nequaquam par est violentia flammae;

ingenium velox illi motusque perennis,

verum opus auxilium est ut pellat corpora: nullus

impetus est ipsi: qua spiritus imperat, audet:

hic princeps magnoque sub hoc duce militata ignis.

Nunc quoniam in promptu est operis natura solique,

unde ipsi venti, quae res incendia pascit,

cur subito cohibent vires, quae causa silenti,

subsequar: immensus labor est, sed fertilis idem:

digna laboratis respondent praemia curis.

Non oculis solum pecudum miranda tueri

more nec effusos in humum grave pascere corpus,

nosse fidem rerum dubiasque exquirere causas,

ingenium sacrare caputque attollere caelo,

scire quot et quae sint magno fatalia mundo

principia (occasus metuont, ad saecula pergunt,

et firma aeterno religata est machina vinclo),

solis scire modum et quanto minor orbita lunae est

(haec brevior cursu bis senos pervolat orbes,

annuos ille movet), quae certo sidera currant

ordine quaeve suos servent incondita motus,

scire vices etiam signorum ‹et› tradita iura

(sex cum nocte rapi, totidem cum luce referri),

nubila cur Panope caelo denuntiet imbres,

quo rubeat Phoebe, quo frater palleat igni,

tempora cur varient anni (ver, prima iuventa

cur aestate perit, cur aestas ipsa senescit

autumnoque obrepit hiemps et in orbe recurrit?);

axem scire Helices et tristem nosse cometem,

Lucifer unde micet quave Hesperus, unde Bootes,

Saturni quae stella tenax, quae Martia pugnax,

quo rapiant nautae, quo sidere lintea pandant;

scire vias maris et caeli praediscere cursus,

quo vocet Orion, quo Sirius excubet index,

et quaecumque iacent tanto miracula mundo

non congesta pati nec acervo condita rerum,

sed manifesta notis certa disponere sede

singula, divina est animi ac iucunda voluptas.

Sed prior haec homini cura est, cognoscere terram

quaeque in ea miranda tulit natura notare:

haec nobis magis affinis caelestibus astris.

Nam quae mortali cuiquam est amentia maior,

in Iovis errantem regno perquirere divos,

tantum opus ante pedes transire ac perdere segnem?

Torquemur miseri in parvis terimurque labore.

Scrutamur rimas et vertimus omne profundum,

quaeritur argenti semen, nunc aurea vena,

torquentur flamma terrae ferroque domantur,

dum sese pretio redimant, verumque professae

tum demum vilesque iacent inopesque relictae.

Noctes atque dies festinant arva coloni,

callent rure manus, glebarum expandimus usum:

fertilis haec segetique feracior, altera viti,

haec plantis humus, haec herbis dignissima tellus,

haec duro melior pecori silvisque fidelis,

aridiora tenent oleae, sucosior ulmis

grata, leves cruciant animos et corpora curae,

horreaque ut saturent tumeant et dolia musto

plenaque desecto surgant faenilia campo:

sic avidis semper quaevis est carior ipsis.

Implendus sibi quisque bonis est artibus: illae

sunt animi fruges, haec rerum est optima merces:

scire quid occulto terrae natura coërcet,

nullum fallere opus, non mutum cernere sacros

Aetnaei montis fremitus animosque furentis,

non subito pallere sono, non credere subter

caelestis migrasse minas aut Tartara rumpi,

nosse quid intendat ventos, quid nutriat ignes,

unde repente quies et iuncto foedere pax sit.

Concrescant animae penitus, seu forte cavernae

introitusque ipsi sorbent, seu terra minutis

rara foraminibus tenuis in se abstrahit auras

(plenius hoc etiam, rigido quia vertice surgens

illinc infestis atque hinc obnoxia ventis

undique diversas admittere cogitur auras,

et coniuratis addit concordia vires),

sive introrsus agunt nubes et nubilus Auster,

si forte inflexere caput tergoque feruntur,

praecipiti deiecta sono premit una fugatque

torrentis auras pulsataque corpora denset.

Nam veluti sonat ora diu Tritone canoro

(pellit opus collectus aquae vinctusque movere

spiritus et longas emugit bucina voces)

carmineque irriguo magnis cortina theatris

imparibus numerosa modis canit arte regentis,

quae tenuem impellens animam subremigat unda:

haud aliter summota furens torrentibus aura

pugnat in angusto et magnum commurmurat Aetna.

Credendum est etiam ventorum exsistere causas

sub terra similis harum quas cernimus extra,

ut, cum densa premunt inter se corpora, turba

elisa in vacuom fugiant et proxima secum

nomina tota trahant tutaque in sede resistant.

Quod si forte mihi quaedam discordia tecum est,

principiis aliis credas consurgere ventos:

non dubium rupis aliquas penitusque cavernas

provehere ingenti sonitu casuque propinquas

diffugere impellique animas, hinc crescere ventos;

aut umore etiam nebulas effundere largo,

ut campis agrisque solent, quos alluit amnis:

vallibus exoriens caligat nubilus aër,

flumina parva ferunt auras, vis proxima vento est,

eminus adspirat fortis et verberat umor.

Atque haec in vacuo si tanta potentia rerum est,

hoc plura efficiant infra clusaeque necesse est.

His agitur causis extra penitusque: coactus

exagitant ventos, pugnant in faucibus, arte

pugnantis suffocat iter. Velut unda profundo

terque quaterque exhausta gravis ubi perbibit Euros,

ingeminant fluctus et primos ultimus urget:

haud secus adstrictus certamine tangitur ictu

spiritus involvensque suo sibi pondera vires

densa per ardentes exercet corpora † vires

et quacumque iter est, properat transitque morantem,

donec confluvio veluti siphonibus actus

exilit atque furens tota vomit igneus Aetna.

Quod si forte putas isdem decurrere ventos

faucibus atque isdem pulsos remeare, notandas

res oculis locus ipse dabit cogetque negare.

Quamvis caeruleo siccus Iove fulgeat aether

purpureoque rubens surgat iubar aureus ostro,

illinc obscura semper caligine nubes

pigraque defuso circumstupet umida voltu

prospectans sublimis opus vastosque receptus.

Non illam videt Aetna nec ullo intercipit aestu:

obsequitur quacumque iubet levis aura, reditque.

Placantis etiam caelestia numina ture

summo cerne iugo vel qua liberrimus Aetnae

introspectus hiat, tantarum semina rerum,

si nihil irritet flammas stupeatque profundum.

Huic igitur credis, torrens ut spiritus ille,

qui rupis terramque rotat, qui fulminat ignis,

cum rexit vires et praeceps flexit habenas,

praesertim ipsa suo declinia pondere numquam

corpora deripiat validoque absorbeat aestu?

Quod si fallor, adest species tantusque ruentis

impetus attentos oculorum transfugit ictus.

Nec levitas † tantos igitur ferit aura movetque.

Sparsa liquore manus sacros ubi ventilat ignis,

verberat ora tamen, pulsatque corpora nostris

incursant: adeo † in tenui vim † causa repellit.

Non cinerem stipulamve levem, non arida sorbet

gramina, non tenuis plantis humus excita praeda est,

surgit odoratis sublimis fumus ab aris:

tanta quies illi est et pax innoxia rapti.

Sive peregrinis igitur propriisve potentes

coniurant animae causis, ille impetus ignes

et montis partes atra subvectat harena

vastaque concursu trepidantia saxa fragoris

ardentisque simul flammas ac fulmina rumpunt:

haud aliter quam, cum prono iacuere sub Austro

aut Aquilone fremunt silvae, dant bracchia nodo

implicitae et serpunt iunctis incendia ramis.

Nec te decipiant stolidi mendacia volgi,

exhaustos cessare sinus, dare tempora, rursus

ut rapiant vires repetantque in proelia victi.

Pelle nefas animo mendacemque exue famam:

non est divinis tam sordida rebus egestas

nec parvas mendicat opes nec corrogat auras.

Praesto sunt operae ventorum examina semper:

causa latet, quae rumpat iter cogatque morari.

Saepe premit fauces magnis exstructa ruinis

congeries clauditque vias luctamine ab imo

et, spisso veluti tecto, sub pondere pressat

haud similis † teneros cursu: tum frigida monti

desidia est tutoque licet discedere † montes.

Post, ubi concrevere mora, velocius urgent,

pellunt oppositi moles ac vincula rumpunt;

quicquid in obliquom est, frangunt iter, acrior ictu

impetus exoritur; magnis operata rapinis

flamma micat latosque ruens exundat in agros:

sic cessata diu referunt spectacula venti.

Nunc superant quaecumque regant incendia silvae,

quae flammas alimenta vocent, quid nutriat Aetnam.

Incendi poterunt illis vernacula causis

materia appositumque igni genus utile terrae.

Uritur assidue calidus nunc sulpuris umor,

nunc spissus crebro praebetur alumine sucus;

pingue bitumen adest et quicquid comminus acris

irritat flammas, illius corporis Aetna est.

Atque hanc materiem penitus discurrere, fontes

infectae eripiantur aquae radice sub ipsa;

pars oculis manifesta iacet, quae robore dura est

ac lapis: in pingui fervent incendia suco.

Quin etiam varie quaedam sine nomine saxa

toto monte liquent: illis custodia flammae

vera tenaxque data est, sed maxima causa molaris

illius incendi lapis est, sibi vindicat Aetnam.

Quem si forte manu teneas ac robore cernas,

nec fervere putes ignem nec spargere posse;

sed simul ac ferro quaeras, respondet et ictu

scintillat dolor. Hunc multis circum inice flammis

et patere extorquere animos atque exue robur:

fundetur ferro citius, nam mobilis illi

et metuens natura mali est, ubi cogitur ignis.

Sed simul atque hausit flammas, non tutior haustis

ulla domus servans aciem duransque tenaci

saepta fide: tanta est illi patientia victo;

vix umquam redit in vires atque evomit ignem.

Totus enim denso stipatur robore, tarde

per tenuis admissa vias incendia nutrit

cunctanterque eadem et pigre concepta remittit.

Nec tandem hoc uno, quod montis plurima pars est,

vincit et incendi causam tenet ille (profecto

miranda est lapidum vivax animosaque virtus):

cetera materies, quaecumque est fertilis igni,

ut semel accensa est, moritur nec restat in illa

quod repetas, tantum cinis et sine semine terra est:

hic semel atque iterum patiens ac mille perhaustis

ignibus instaurat vires nec desinit ante

quam levis excocto defectus robore pumex

in cinerem putrisque iacet dilapsus harenas.

Cerne locis etiam, similis assiste cavernas:

illic materiae pascentis copia maior,

sed genus hoc lapidis (certissima signa coloris)

quod nullas adiunxit opes, et languit ignis.

Dicitur insidiis flagrasse Aenaria quondam

nunc exstincta super, testisque Neapolin inter

et Cumas locus est, multis iam frigidus annis

quamvis aeterno pingue scatet ubere sulpur:

in mercem legitur, tanto est fecundius Aetna

insula, cui nomen facies dedit ipsa rotunda,

sulpure non solum nec obesa bitumine terra est,

et lapis adiutat generandis ignibus aptus,

sed raro fumat, quin vix si accenditur ardet,

in breve mortalis flammas quod copia nutrit.

Insula durat ‹et› a Volcani nomine sacra,

pars tamen incendi maior refrixit et alto

iactatas recipit classes portuque tuetur;

quae restat minor, et dives satis ubere terra est,

sed non Aetnaei vires quae conferat igni.

Atque haec ipsa tamen iam quondam exstincta fuisset,

ni furtim adgereret Siculi vicinia montis

materiem silvamque suam pressove canali

huc illuc ageret ventos et pasceret ignes.

Sed melius res ipsa notis spectataque veris

occurrit signis nec temptat fallere testem.

Nam circa latera atque imis radicibus Aetnae

candentes efflant lapides disiectaque saxa

intereunt venis, manifesto ut credere possis,

pabula et ardendi causam lapidem esse molarem,

cuius defectus ieiunos colligit ignes.

Ille ubi collegit flammas iacit et simul ictu

materiam accendit cogitque liquescere secum.

Haud equidem mirum, ‹in› facie quae cernimus extra,

si lenitur opus, restat: magis uritur illic

sollicitatque magis vicina incendia saxum

certaque venturae praemittit pignora flammae.

Nam simul atque movet viris turbamque minatur,

diffugit extemploque solum trahit: ictaque ramis

et grave sub terra murmur demonstrat et ignis.

Tum pavidum fugere et sacris concedere rebus

par erit: e tuto speculaberis omnia collis.

Nam subito effervent onerosa incendia raptis,

accensae subeunt moles truncaeque ruinae

provolvont atque atra sonant examina harenae.

Illinc incertae facies hominumque figurae:

pars lapidum domita, stanti pars robora pugnae

nec recipit flammas; hinc ‹iam› defessus anhelat

atque aperit se hosti, decrescit spiritus illic -

haud aliter quam cum leto devicta tropaeo

prona iacet campis acies et castra sub ipsa.

Tum si quis lapidum summo pertabuit igni,

asperior sopito et quaedam sordida faex est,

qualem purgato cernes desidere ferro.

Verum ubi paulatim exsiluit sublata caducis

congeries saxis, angusto vertice surgens,

sic veluti in fornace lapis torretur et omnis

exustus penitus venis subit altius umor,

amissis opibus levis et sine pondere pumex

excutitur, liquor ille magis fervere magisque

fluminis in speciem mitis procedere tandem

incipit ac primis demittit collibus undas.

Illae paulatim bis sena in milia pergunt,

quippe nihil revocat, curvis nihil ignibus obstat,

nulla tenet (frustra) moles, simul omnia pugnant:

nunc silvas rupesque notant haec tela, solumque

ipsum adiutat opus facilesque sibi induit amnis.

Quod si forte cavis cunctatus vallibus haesit

(utpote inaequalis volvens perpascitur agros),

ingeminant fluctus et stantibus increpat undis;

sicut cum rapidum turbo mare cernulus aestu

ac primum tenuis imas agit, ulteriores

progrediens late diffunditur et succernens.

Flumina consistunt ripis ac frigore durant

paulatimque ignes coëunt ac flammea massis

exuitur facies: tum prima ut quaeque rigescit

effumat moles atque ipso pondere tracta

volvitur ingenti strepitu praecepsque sonanti

cum solido inflicta est, pulsatos dissipat ignes

et qua disclusa est, candenti robore fulget.

Emicat examen plagis, ardentia saxa

(scintillas procul ecce vides, procul esse ruentis)

incolumi fervore cadunt, fert impetus ignes,

Symaethi quondam ut ripas traiecerit amnis;

vix † iunctis quisquam fixo dimoverit illas,

vicenos persaepe dies iacet obruta moles.

Sed frustra certis disponere singula causis

temptamus, si firma manet tibi fabula mendax,

materiam ut credas aliam fluere igne, favillae

flumina proprietate simul concrescere, sive

commixtum lento flagrare bitumine sulpur:

nam posse exusto cretam quoque robore fundi

et figulos huic esse fidem, dein frigoris usu

duritiem revocare suam et constringere venas.

Sed signum commune leve est atque irrita causa

quae trepidat: certo verum tibi pignore constat.

Nam velut arguti natura est aeris et igni

cum domitum est, constans eademque et robore salvo

ultraque ut possis aeris cognoscere † portam.

haud aliter lapis ille tenet, seu forte madentes

effluit in flammas sive est securus ab illis,

conservatque notas nec voltum perdidit ignis.

Quin etiam alternans multis color ipse fefellit

aut odor aut levitas: putris magis ille magisque,

una operis facies eadem perque omnia terra est.

Nec tamen infitior lapides ardescere certos,

interius furere accensos: haec propria virtus.

Quin ipsis quaedam Siculi cognomina saxis

imposuere † firdicas et iam ipso nomine signant

fusilis esse notae: numquam tamen illa liquescunt,

quamvis materies foveat sucosior intus,

ni penitus venae fuerint commissa molari.

Quod si quis lapidis miratur fusile robur,

cogitet obscuri verissima dicta libelli,

Heraclite tui: nihil insuperabile gigni

omnia † quae rerum natura semina iacta.

«Sed nimium hoc mirum». Densissima corpora saepe

et solido vicina tamen compescimus igni.

Non animos aeris flammis succumbere cernis?

Lentitiem plumbi non exuit ipsaque ferri

materies praedura tamen subvertitur igni

spissaque suspensis fornacibus aurea saxa

exsudant pretium? Et quaedam fortasse profundo

incomperta iacent similique obnoxia sorti.

Nec locus ingenio est, oculi te iudice vincent.

Nam lapis ille riget praeclususque ignibus obstat,

si parvis torrere velis caeloque patenti;

candenti pressoque agedum fornace coërce:

nec sufferre potest nec saevom durat in hostem,

vincitur et solvit vires captusque liquescit.

Quae maiora putas autem tormenta movere

posse manu? Quae tanta putas incendia nostris

sustentare opibus, quantis fornacibus Aetna

uritur? A, sacro numquam non fertilis igni ‹est›,

sed non qui nostro fervet moderatior usu,

sed caelo propiore et quali Iuppiter ipse

armatus flamma est: his viribus additur ingens

spiritus adstrictis elisus faucibus, ut cum

fabriles operae rudibus contendere massis

festinant, ignes quatiunt follesque trementes

exanimant pressoque instigant agmine ventum.

Haec operis forma est, sic nobilis uritur Aetna:

terra foraminibus vires trahit, urget in artum

spiritus incendi, vivit per maxima saxa.

Magnificas laudes operosaque visere templa,

divitiis hominum aut sacras † memorare vetustas

traducti maria et terras per proxima fatis

currimus atque avidi veteris mendacia famae

eruimus cunctasque libet percurrere gentes.

Nunc iuvat Ogygiis circumdata moenia Thebis

cernere, quae fratres (ille impiger, ille canorus),

condere, felicesque alieno intersumus aevo -

invitata piis nunc carmine saxa lyraque,

nunc gemina ex uno fumantia saxa vapore

miramur septemque duces raptumque profundo.

Detinet Eurotas illic et Sparta Lycurgi

et sacer in bellum numerus, sua turba, trecenti;

nunc hic Cecropiae variis spectantur Athenae

carminibus gaudentque soli victrice Minerva:

excidit hic reduci quondam tibi, perfide Theseu,

candida sollicito praemittere vela parenti;

tu quoque Athenarum carmen, iam nobile sidus,

Erigone; sedes vestra est: Philomela canoris

evocat in silvis et tu, soror, hospita tectis

acciperis, solis Tereus ferus exsulat agris.

Miramur Troiae cineres et flebile victis

Pergamon exstinctosque suo Phrygas Hectore; parvom

conspicimus magni tumulum ducis: hic et Achilles

impiger et victus magni iacet Hectoris ultor.

Quin etiam Graiae fixos tenuere tabellae

signave: nunc Paphiae rorantes arte capilli

sub truce nunc parvi ludentes Colchide nati,

nunc tristes circa subiecta altaria cervae

velatusque pater, nunc gloria viva Myronis

et iam mille manus operum turbaeque morantur.

Haec visenda putas terrae dubiusque marisque:

artificis naturae ingens opus aspice, nulla

cum tanta humanis rebus spectacula cernes,

praecipueque vigil, fervens ubi Sirius ardet.

Insequitur miranda tamen sua fabula montem,

nec minus ille pio † quamquam sors nobilis ignis.

Nam quondam ruptis excanduit Aetna cavernis

et velut eversis penitus fornacibus ignes

evecta in longum lapidis fervoribus unda,

haud aliter quam cum saevo Iove fulgurat aether

et nitidum obscura caelum caligine torquet.

Ardebant agris segetes et mitia cultu

iugera, cum dominis silvae collesque ruebant.

Vix, dum castra putant hostem movisse, tremebant,

et iam finitimae portas evaserat urbis.

Tum vero ut cuique est animus viresque rapinae,

tutari conantur opes: gemit ille sub auro,

colligit ille arma et stulta cervice reponit,

defectum raptis illum sua carmina tardant,

hic velox nimio properat sub pondere pauper,

et quod cuique fuit cari, fugit ipse sub illo.

Sed non incolumis dominum sua praeda secuta est:

cunctantis vorat ignis et undique torret avaros,

consequitur fugisse ratis et praemia captis

concrepat ac nullis parsura incendia pascunt

vel solis parsura piis. Namque optima proles

Amphion fraterque pari sub munere sortis,

cum iam vicinis streperent incendia tectis,

aspiciunt pigrumque patrem matremque senemque

eheu defessos posuisse in limine membra.

«Parcite, avara manus», dicens «attollere praedas,

illis divitiae solae materque paterque:

hanc rapies praedam» mediumque exire per ignem

ipso dante fidem properant. O maxima rerum

et merito pietas homini tutissima virtus.

Erubuere pios iuvenes attingere flammae

et quacumque ferunt illi vestigia, cedunt.

Felix illa dies, illa est innoxia terra.

Dextra saeva tenet laevaque incendia: fertur

ille per obliquos ignis fraterque triumphans,

tutus uterque pio sub pondere: suspicit illa

et circa geminos avidus sibi temperat ignis.

Incolumes abeunt tandem et sua numina secum

salva ferunt. Illos mirantur carmina vatum,

illos seposuit claro sub nomine Ditis

nec sanctos iuvenes attingunt sordida fata,

sed curae cessere domus et iura Piorum.

Aētnă mĭhī rūptīquĕ căvīs fōrnācĭbŭs īgnēs

ēt quaē tām fōrtēs vōlvānt īncēndĭă caūsaē,

quīd frĕmăt īmpĕrĭūm, quīd raūcōs tōrquĕăt aēstūs,

cārmĕn ĕrīt. Dēxtēr vĕnĭās mĭhĭ cārmĭnĭs aūctōr

seū tē Cŷnthŏs hăbēt seū Dēlo ēst grātĭŏr Hŷlă

seū tĭbĭ Dōdōnē pŏtĭōr, tēcūmquĕ făvēntēs

īn nŏvă Pīĕrĭō prŏpĕrēnt ā fōntĕ sŏrōrēs

vōtă: pĕr īnsŏlĭtūm Phoēbō dŭcĕ tūtĭŭs ītūr.

Aūrĕă sēcūrī quīs nēscīt saēcŭlă rēgīs?

Cūm dŏmĭtīs nēmō Cĕrĕrēm iāctārĕt ĭn ārvīs

vēntūrīsquĕ mălās prŏhĭbērēt frūctĭbŭs hērbās,

ānnŭă sēd sătŭraē cōmplērēnt hōrrĕă mēssēs,

īpsĕ sŭō flŭĕrēt Bācchūs pĕdĕ mēllăquĕ lēntīs

pēndērēnt fŏlĭīs ēt pīnguīs Pāllăs ŏlīvaē,

sēcrētōs āmnīs ăgĕrēt cūm grātĭă rūrīs?

Nōn cēssīt cuīquām mĕlĭūs sŭă tēmpŏră nōssĕ.

Ūltĭmă quīs tăcŭīt iŭvĕnūm cērtāmĭnă Cōlchōs?

Quīs nōn Ārgŏlĭcō dēflēvīt Pērgămŏn īgnī

īmpŏsĭtam ēt trīstī nātōrūm fūnĕrĕ mātrēm

āvērsūmquĕ dĭēm spārsūmve īn sēmĭnă dēntēm?

Quīs nōn pērĭŭraē dŏlŭīt mēndācĭă pūppīs

dēsērtām văcŭō Mīnōĭdă lītŏrĕ quēstūs?

Quīdquĭd ĕt āntīquōm iāctāta ēst fābŭlă cārmēn.

Fōrtĭŭs īgnōtās mōlīmūr pēctŏrĕ cūrās:

quī tāntō mōtūs ŏpĕrī quaē caūsă pĕrēnnī

ēxplĭcĕt īn dēnsūm flāmmās ēt trūdăt ăb īmō

īngēntī sŏnĭtū mōlēs ēt prōxĭmă quaēquĕ

īgnĭbŭs īrrĭgŭīs ūrāt, mēns cārmĭnĭs haēc ēst.

Prīncĭpĭō nē quēm căpĭāt fāllācĭă vātūm

sēdēs ēssĕ dĕī tŭmĭdīsque ē faūcĭbŭs īgnēm

Vōlcānī rŭĕre ēt claūsīs rĕsŏnārĕ căvērnīs

fēstīnāntĭs ŏpūs: nōn ēst tām sōrdĭdă dīvīs

cūră nĕque ēxtrēmās iūs ēst dīmīttĕre ĭn ārtēs

sīdĕră; sūbdūctō rēgnānt sūblīmĭă caēlō

īllă nĕque ārtĭfĭcūm cūrānt trāctārĕ lăbōrēm.

Dīscrĕpăt ā prīmā făcĭēs haēc āltĕră vātūm:

īllīs Cŷclōpās mĕmŏrānt fōrnācĭbŭs ūsōs,

cūm sŭpĕr īncūdēm nŭmĕrōsa īn vērbĕră fōrtēs

hōrrēndūm māgnō quătĕrēnt sūb pōndĕrĕ fūlmēn

ārmārēntquĕ Iŏvēm: tūrpe ēt sĭnĕ pīgnŏrĕ cārmēn.

Prōxĭmă vīvācēs Aētnaēī vērtĭcĭs īgnēs

īmpĭă sōllĭcĭtāt Phlēgraēīs fābŭlă cāstrīs.

Tēmptāvērĕ (nĕfās) ōlīm dētrūdĕrĕ mūndō

sīdĕră cāptīvīquĕ Iŏvīs trānsfērrĕ gĭgāntēs

īmpĕrĭum ēt vīctō lēgēs īmpōnĕrĕ caēlō.

(Hōs nātūră sŭa ēst ālvō tĕnŭs, īmă pĕr ōrbēs

squāmĕŭs īntōrtōs sĭnŭāt vēstīgĭă sērpēns).

Cōnstrŭĭtūr māgnīs ād proēlĭă mōntĭbŭs āggēr:

Pēliōn Ōssă † crĕāt, sūmmūs prĕmĭt Ōssăn Ŏlŷmpūs.

Iām cŏăcērvātās nītūntūr scāndĕrĕ mōlēs,

īmpĭŭs ēt mīlēs mĕtŭēntĭă cōmmĭnŭs āstră

prōvŏcăt, īnfēstūs cūnctōs ād proēlĭă dīvōs

prōvŏcăt ādmōtīsque ‹ād› tērtĭă sīdĕră sīgnīs

Iūppĭtĕr ē caēlō mĕtŭīt dēxtrāmquĕ cŏrūscā

ārmātūs flāmmā rĕmŏvēt cālīgĭnĕ mūndūm.

Īncūrsānt vāstō prīmūm clāmōrĕ gĭgāntēs:

hīc māgnō tŏnăt ōrĕ pătēr gĕmĭnāntquĕ făvēntēs

ūndĭquĕ dīscōrdēs cŏmĭtūm sĭmŭl āgmĭnĕ vēntī.

Dēnsă pĕr āttŏnĭtās rūmpūntūr flūmĭnă nūbēs

ātque īn bēllāndūm quaē cuīquĕ pŏtēntĭă dīvōm

īn cōmmūnĕ vĕnīt. Iām pātrī dēxtĕră Pāllās

ēt Mārs laēvŏs ĕrāt, iām cētĕră tūrbă dĕōrūm,

stānt ūtrīmquĕ † dĕūs: vălĭdōs tūm Iūppĭtĕr īgnīs

īncrĕpăt ēt iāctō prōtūrbāt fūlmĭnĕ mōntēs.

Īllīnc dēvīctaē vērtērūnt tērgă rŭīnaē

īnfērtaē dīvīs ăcĭēs ātque īmpĭŭs hōstīs

praēcēps cūm cāstrīs ăgĭtūr mātērquĕ iăcēntēs

īmpēllēns vīctōs. Tūm pāx ēst rēddĭtă mūndō,

tūm lībēr cēssātă vĕnīt pēr sīdĕră, caēlūm

dēfēnsīquĕ dĕcūs mūndī nūnc rēddĭtŭr āstrīs.

Gūrgĭtĕ Trīnăcrĭō mŏrĭēntēm Iūppĭtĕr Aētnā

ōbrŭĭt Ēncĕlădōn, vāstō quī pōndĕrĕ mōntīs

aēstŭăt ēt pĕtŭlāns ēxspīrāt faūcĭbŭs īgnēm.

Haēc ēst mēndōsaē vōlgātă lĭcēntĭă fāmaē.

Vātĭbŭs īngĕnĭum ēst: hīnc aūdīt nōbĭlĕ cārmēn.

Plūrĭmă pārs scaēnaē rērum ēst fāllācĭă: vātēs

sūb tērrīs nīgrōs vīdērūnt cārmĭnĕ mānēs

ātque īntēr cĭnĕrēs Dītīs pāllēntĭă rēgnă,

mēntītī vātēs Stўgĭās ūndāsquĕ cănēsquĕ.

Hī Tĭtўōn poēnā strāvēre īn iūgĕră foēdūm;

sōllĭcĭtānt īllī tē cīrcūm, Tāntălĕ, poēnā

sōllĭcĭtāntquĕ sĭtī; Mīnōs, tŭăque, Aēăce, ĭn ūmbrīs

iūră cănūnt īdēmquĕ rŏtānt Īxīŏnĭs ōrbēm,

quīcquĭd ĕt īntĕrĭūs, fālsī sĭbĭ cōnscĭă tērra ēst.

Nēc tū, tērră, sătīs: spĕcŭlāntūr nūmĭnă dīvōm

nēc mĕtŭōnt ŏcŭlōs ălĭēno ādmīttĕrĕ caēlō.

Nōrūnt bēllă dĕūm, nōrūnt ābscōndĭtă nōbīs

cōniŭgĭa ēt fālsā quŏtĭēns sŭb ĭmāgĭnĕ pēccēnt,

taūrŭs ĭn Eūrōpēn, īn Lēdām cāndĭdŭs ālēs

Iūppĭtĕr, ūt Dănăaē prĕtĭōsūs flūxĕrĭt īmbēr.

Dēbĭtă cārmĭnĭbūs lībērtās īstă, sĕd ōmnīs

īn vērō mĭhĭ cūră: cănām, quō fērvĭdă mōtū

aēstŭĕt Aētnă nŏvōsquĕ răpāx sĭbĭ cōngĕrăt īgnīs.

Quācūmque īmmēnsūs sē tērraē pōrrĭgĭt ōrbīs

ēxtrēmīquĕ mărīs cūrvīs īncīngĭtŭr ūndīs,

nōn tōtum ē sŏlĭdō dēnsūm; nāmque ōmnĭs hĭātū

sēcta ēst īntŭs hŭmūs pĕnĭtūsquĕ căvātă lătēbrīs

ēxīlēs sūspēnsă vĭās ăgĭt; ūtque ănĭmāntī

pēr tōta ērrāntēs pērcūrrūnt cōrpŏră vēnaē,

ād vītām sānguīs ōmnīs quā cōmmĕăt, īsdēm

tērră vŏrāgĭnĭbūs cōncēptās dērĭgĭt aūrās.

Scīlĭcĕt aūt ōlīm dīvīsō cōrpŏrĕ mūndī

īn mărĭa āc tērrās ēt sīdĕră, sōrs dătă caēlō

prīmă, sĕcūtă mărīs dēsēdītque īnfĭmă tēllūs,

sēd tōrtīs rīmōsă căvīs ēt, quālĭs ăcērvōs

ēxsĭlĭt īmpărĭbūs iāctīs ēx tēmpŏrĕ sāxīs,

ūt crēbro īntrōrsūs spătĭō văcĕfāctă chărŷbdīs

pēndĕăt īn sēsē, sĭmĭlī quŏquĕ tērră fĭgūrā

īn tĕnŭīs lāxātă vĭās nōn ōmnĭs ĭn ārtūm

nēc stīpātă cŏīt - sīve īllī caūsă vĕtūsta ēst

nēc nāta ēst făcĭēs, sēd lībēr spīrĭtŭs īntrāt

ēt fŭgĭēns mōlītŭr ĭtēr, seū nŷmphă pĕrēnnī

ēdĭt hŭmūm līmō fūrtīmque ōbstāntĭă mōllīt

aūt ĕtĭam īnclūsī sŏlĭdūm vīcērĕ văpōrēs

ātque īgnī quaēsītă vĭa ēst sīve ōmnĭă cērtīs

pūgnāvērĕ lŏcīs, nōn ēst hīc caūsă dŏcēndă,

dūm stĕt ŏpūs caūsaē. Quĭs ĕnīm nōn crēdĭt ĭnānīs

ēssĕ sĭnūs pĕnĭtūs, tāntōs ēmērgĕrĕ fōntēs

cūm vĭdĕt āc tŏtĭēns ūnō sē mērgĕre hĭātū?

Nōn īlle ēx tĕnŭī quōcūmque ăgăt, āptă nĕcēsse ēst

cōnflŭvĭa ērrāntēs ārcēssānt ūndĭquĕ vēnās

ēt trăhăt ēx plēnō quō fōrtēm cōntrăhăt āmnēm.

Flūmĭnă quīn ĕtĭām lātīs cūrrēntĭă rīvīs

ōccāsūs hăbŭērĕ sŭōs: aūt īllă vŏrāgŏ

dērēpta īn praēcēps fātālī cōndĭdĭt ōrĕ,

aūt ōccūltā fluōnt tēctīs ădŏpērtă căvērnīs

ātque ĭnŏpīnātōs rĕfĕrūnt prŏcŭl ēdĭtă cūrsūs.

Quōd nĭsĭ dīvērsōs ēmīttāt tērră cănālēs

hōspĭtĭūm flŭvĭīs, haūt sēmĭtă, nūllă prŏfēctō

fōntĭbŭs ēt rīvīs cōnstēt vĭă pīgrăquĕ tēllūs

cōnfērta īn sŏlĭdūm sēgnī sūb pōndĕrĕ cēssēt.

Quōd sī praēcĭpĭtī cōndūntūr flūmĭnă tērrā,

cōndĭtă sī rĕdĕūnt, sī qua ēt iam īncōndĭtă sūrgūnt,

haūd mīrūm, claūsīs ĕtĭām sī lībĕră vēntīs

spīrāmēntă lătēnt. Cērtīs tĭbĭ pīgnĕră rēbūs

ātque ŏcŭlīs haēsūră tŭīs dăbĭt ōrdĭnĕ tēllūs.

Īmmēnsōs plērūmquĕ sĭnūs ēt iūgĕră pēssūm

īntērcēptă lĭcēt dēnsāque ābscōndĭtă nōctĕ

prōspēctārĕ prŏcūl, chăŏs āc sĭnĕ fīnĕ rŭīnās.

Cērnĭs ĕt īn sīlvīs spătĭōsă cŭbīlĭă rētrō

āntrăquĕ dēmērsās pĕnĭtūs fōdīssĕ lătēbrās:

īncōmpērtă vĭa ēst, āēr tāntum ēffŭgĭt ūltrā.

Ārgūmēntă dăbūnt īgnōtī vēră prŏfūndī,

tū mŏdŏ sūbtīlēs ănĭmō dŭcĕ pērcĭpĕ cūrās

ōccūltāmquĕ fĭdēm mănĭfēstīs ābstrăhĕ rēbūs.

Nām quō lībĕrĭōr quōque ēst ănĭmōsĭŏr īgnīs

sēmpĕr ĭn īnclūsīs, nēc vēntīs sēgnĭŏr īra ēst

sūb tērrā pĕnĭtūsquĕ mŏvēnt hōc plūră: nĕcēsse ēst

vīnclă măgīs sōlvānt, măgĭs hōc ōbstāntĭă pēllānt.

Nēc tămĕn īn rĭgĭdōs ēxīt cōntēntă cănālēs

vīs ănĭmaē flāmmaēvĕ: rŭīt quā prōxĭmă cēdūnt

ōblīquōmquĕ sĕcāt quā vīsă tĕnērrĭmă caūsa ēst.

Hīnc tērraē trĕmŏr, hīnc mōtūs, ŭbĭ dēnsŭs hĭāntēs

spīrĭtŭs ēxăgĭtāt vēnās cēssāntĭăque ūrgēt.

Quōd sī spīssă fŏrēt, sŏlĭdō sī stārĕt ĭn ōmnī,

nūllă dărēt mīrāndă sŭī spēctācŭlă tēllūs

pīgrăque ĕt īn pōndūs cōnfērta īmmōbĭlĭs ēssēt.

Sēd sūmmīs sī fōrtĕ pŭtās cōncrēscĕrĕ caūsīs

tāntum ŏpŭs ēt sŭbĭtīs ălĭmēntūm vīrĭbŭs ōră,

quaē pătŭla īn prōmptū cērnīs, vāstōsquĕ rĕcēssūs,

fāllĕrĭs ēt nōndum ‹īn› cērtō tĭbĭ lūmĭnĕ rēs ēst.

Nāmque īllīs quaēcūmquĕ văgāntŭr hĭātĭbŭs, ōmnēs

ēt sēse īntrŏĭtū sōlvōnt ădĭtūquĕ pătēntī

cōncēptaē lānguēnt vīrēs ănĭmōsquĕ rĕmīttūnt.

Quīppe ŭbĭ quōd tĕnĕāt vēntōs ăcŭātquĕ mŏrāntīs

īn văcŭō dēfīt, cēssānt tāntūmquĕ prŏfūndī

ēxplĭcăt ērrāntīs ĕt ĭn īpsō līmĭnĕ tārdānt:

āngūstīs ŏpŭs ēst tūrbāntī faūcĭbŭs, īllīc

fērvĕt ŏpūs dēnsāquĕ prĕmīt prĕmĭtūrquĕ rŭīnā

nūnc Eūrī Bŏrĕaēquĕ Nŏtūs, nūnc hūiŭs ŭtērquĕ.

Hīnc vēntī răbĭēs, hīnc saēvō quāssăt hĭātū

fūndāmēntă sŏlī, trĕpĭdānt ūrbēsquĕ cădūcaē

īndĕ, nĕque ēst ălĭūd, sī fās ēst crēdĕrĕ mūndō

vēntūram āntīquī făcĭēm, vērācĭŭs ōmēn.

Haēc īmō cūm sīt spĕcĭēs nātūrăquĕ tērraē,

īntrōrsūs cēssāntĕ sŏlō trăhĭt ūndĭquĕ vēnās

Aētnă sŭī: mănĭfēstă fĭdēs ēt prōxĭmă vēro ēst.

Nōn īllīc dŭcĕ me ōccūltās scrūtābĕrĕ caūsās,

ōccūrrēnt ŏcŭlīs īpsaē cōgēntquĕ fătērī.

Plūrĭmă nāmquĕ pătēnt īllī mīrācŭlă mōntī.

Hīnc vāstī tērrēnt ădĭtūs mērgūntquĕ prŏfūndō,

pōrrĭgĭt hīnc ārtōs pĕnĭtūsque ēxaēstŭăt ūltrā.

Hīnc scīssaē rūpēs ōbstānt dīscōrdĭăque īngēns

īntĕr ŏpūs, nēctūnt ălĭaē mĕdĭūmquĕ cŏērcēnt,

pārs īgnī dŏmĭtaē, pārs īgnēs fērrĕ cŏāctaē,

ūt māiōr spĕcĭēs Aētnaē sūccūrrăt ĭnānīs.

Haēc īllī sēdēs tāntārūmque ārĕă rērum ēst,

haēc ŏpĕrīs vīsēndă săcrī făcĭēsquĕ dŏmūsquĕ.

Nūnc ŏpŭs ārtĭfĭcem īncēndī caūsāmquĕ rĕpōscīt.

Nōn īllām pārvo aūt tĕnŭī dīscrīmĭnĕ sīgnēs,

mīllĕ sŭb ēxĭgŭōm vĕnĭēnt tĭbĭ pīgnŏră tēmpūs:

rēs ŏcŭlōs dūcēnt, rēs īpsaē crēdĕrĕ cōgēnt.

* * *

Quīn ĕtĭām: prŏhĭbēnt flāmmaē cūstōdĭăque īgnīs

īlli ŏpĕri ēst ārcēns ădĭtūs dīvīnăquĕ rērūm

cūră sĭne ārbĭtrĭo ēst: ĕădēm prŏcŭl ōmnĭă cērnēs.

Nēc tămĕn ēst dŭbĭūm, pĕnĭtūs quīs tōrrĕăt Aētnām

aūt quīs mīrāndūs tāntaē făbĕr īmpĕrĕt ārtī.

Pēllĭtŭr ēxūstaē glŏmĕrātīm nīmbŭs hărēnaē,

flāgrāntēs prŏpĕrānt mōlēs, vōlvōntŭr ăb īmō

fūndāmēntă frăgōr tōtā nūnc rūmpĭtŭr Aētnā,

nūnc fūscā pāllēnt īncēndĭă mīxtă rŭīnā.

Īpsĕ prŏcūl tāntōs mīrātūr Iūppĭtĕr īgnēs,

nēvĕ sĕpūltă nŏvī sūrgānt īn bēllă Gĭgāntēs

neū Dītēm rēgnī pŭdĕāt neū Tārtără caēlō

vērtăt: ĭn ōccūltō tāntūm prĕmĭt ōmnĭăque ēxtrā

cōngĕrĭēs ŏpĕrīt sāxōrum ēt pūtrĭs hărēnaē.

Quaē nēc spōntĕ sŭā vĕnĭūnt nēc cōrpŏrĭs ūllī

sūstēntātă cădūnt rōbūstīs vīrĭbŭs: ōmnēs

ēxăgĭtānt vēntī tūrbās āc vērtĭcĕ saēvō

īn dēnsūm cōllēctă rŏtānt vōlvōntquĕ prŏfūndō.

Haēc caūsaē spēctāndă fĕrūnt īncēndĭă mōntīs;

spīrĭtŭs īnflātīs nōmēn, lānguēntĭbŭs āēr.

Nām prŏpĕ, nēquāquām pār ēst vĭŏlēntĭă flāmmaē;

īngĕnĭūm vēlōx īllī mōtūsquĕ pĕrēnnīs,

vērum ŏpŭs aūxĭlĭum ēst ūt pēllāt cōrpŏră: nūllūs

īmpĕtŭs ēst īpsī: quā spīrĭtŭs īmpĕrăt, aūdēt:

hīc prīncēps māgnōquĕ sŭb hōc dŭcĕ mīlĭtăta īgnīs.

Nūnc quŏnĭam īn prōmptu ēst ŏpĕrīs nātūră sŏlīquĕ,

ūnde īpsī vēntī, quaē rēs īncēndĭă pāscīt,

cūr sŭbĭtō cŏhĭbēnt vīrēs, quaē caūsă sĭlēntī,

sūbsĕquăr: īmmēnsūs lăbŏr ēst, sēd fērtĭlĭs īdēm:

dīgnă lăbōrātīs rēspōndēnt praēmĭă cūrīs.

Nōn ŏcŭlīs sōlūm pĕcŭdūm mīrāndă tŭērī

mōrĕ nĕc ēffūsōs ĭn hŭmūm grăvĕ pāscĕrĕ cōrpūs,

nōssĕ fĭdēm rērūm dŭbĭāsque ēxquīrĕrĕ caūsās,

īngĕnĭūm sācrārĕ căpūtque āttōllĕrĕ caēlō,

scīrĕ quŏt ēt quaē sīnt māgnō fātālĭă mūndō

prīncĭpĭa (ōccāsūs mĕtŭōnt, ād saēcŭlă pērgūnt,

ēt fīrma aētērnō rĕlĭgāta ēst māchĭnă vīnclō),

sōlīs scīrĕ mŏdum ēt quāntō mĭnŏr ōrbĭtă lūnae ēst

(haēc brĕvĭōr cūrsū bīs sēnōs pērvŏlăt ōrbēs,

ānnŭŏs īllĕ mŏvēt), quaē cērtō sīdĕră cūrrānt

ōrdĭnĕ quaēvĕ sŭōs sērvēnt īncōndĭtă mōtūs,

scīrĕ vĭcēs ĕtĭām sīgnōrum ‹ēt› trādĭtă iūră

(sēx cūm nōctĕ răpī, tŏtĭdēm cūm lūcĕ rĕfērrī),

nūbĭlă cūr Pănŏpē caēlō dēnūntĭĕt īmbrēs,

quō rŭbĕāt Phoēbē, quō frātēr pāllĕăt īgnī,

tēmpŏră cūr vărĭēnt ānnī (vēr, prīmă iŭvēntă

cūr aēstātĕ pĕrīt, cūr aēstās īpsă sĕnēscīt

aūtūmnōque ōbrēpĭt hĭēmps ĕt ĭn ōrbĕ rĕcūrrīt?);

āxēm scīre Hĕlĭcēs ēt trīstēm nōssĕ cŏmētēm,

Lūcĭfĕr ūndĕ mĭcēt quāve Hēspĕrŭs, ūndĕ Bŏōtēs,

Sātūrnī quaē stēllă tĕnāx, quaē Mārtĭă pūgnāx,

quō răpĭānt naūtaē, quō sīdĕrĕ līntĕă pāndānt;

scīrĕ vĭās mărĭs ēt caēlī praēdīscĕrĕ cūrsūs,

quō vŏcĕt Ōrīōn, quō Sīrĭŭs ēxcŭbĕt īndēx,

ēt quaēcūmquĕ iăcēnt tāntō mīrācŭlă mūndō

nōn cōngēstă pătī nĕc ăcērvō cōndĭtă rērūm,

sēd mănĭfēstă nŏtīs cērtā dīspōnĕrĕ sēdĕ

sīngūlā, dĭvĭna ēst ănĭmi āc iūcūndă vŏlūptās.

Sēd prĭŏr haēc hŏmĭnī cūra ēst, cōgnōscĕrĕ tērrām

quaēque ĭn ĕā mīrāndă tŭlīt nātūră nŏtārĕ:

haēc nōbīs măgĭs āffīnīs caēlēstĭbŭs āstrīs.

Nām quaē mōrtālī cuīquam ēst āmēntĭă māiōr,

īn Iŏvĭs ērrāntēm rēgnō pērquīrĕrĕ dīvōs,

tāntum ŏpŭs āntĕ pĕdēs trānsīre āc pērdĕrĕ sēgnēm?

Tōrquēmūr mĭsĕri īn pārvīs tĕrĭmūrquĕ lăbōrĕ.

Scrūtāmūr rīmās ēt vērtĭmŭs ōmnĕ prŏfūndūm,

quaērĭtŭr ārgēntī sēmēn, nūnc aūrĕă vēnă,

tōrquēntūr flāmmā tērraē fērrōquĕ dŏmāntūr,

dūm sĕsĕ prētīō rĕdĭmānt, vērūmquĕ prŏfēssaē

tūm dēmūm vīlēsquĕ iăcēnt ĭnŏpēsquĕ rĕlīctaē.

Nōctēs ātquĕ dĭēs fēstīnānt ārvă cŏlōnī,

cāllēnt rūrĕ mănūs, glēbārum ēxpāndĭmŭs ūsūm:

fērtĭlĭs haēc sĕgĕtīquĕ fĕrācĭŏr, āltĕră vītī,

haēc plāntīs hŭmŭs, haēc hērbīs dīgnīssĭmă tēllūs,

haēc dūrō mĕlĭōr pĕcŏrī sīlvīsquĕ fĭdēlīs,

ārĭdĭōră tĕnēnt ŏlĕaē, sūcōsĭŏr ūlmīs

grātă, lĕvēs crŭcĭānt ănĭmōs ēt cōrpŏră cūraē,

hōrrĕăque ūt sătŭrēnt tūmeānt ēt dōlĭă mūstō

plēnăquĕ dēsēctō sūrgānt faēnīlĭă cāmpō:

sīc ăvĭdīs sēmpēr quaēvīs ēst cārĭŏr īpsīs.

Īmplēndūs sĭbĭ quīsquĕ bŏnīs ēst ārtĭbŭs: īllaē

sūnt ănĭmī frūgēs, haēc rērum ēst ōptĭmă mērcēs:

scīrĕ quĭd ōccūltō tērraē nātūră cŏērcēt,

nūllūm fāllĕre ŏpūs, nōn mūtūm cērnĕrĕ sācrōs

Aētnaēī mōntīs frĕmĭtūs ănĭmōsquĕ fŭrēntīs,

nōn sŭbĭtō pāllērĕ sŏnō, nōn crēdĕrĕ sūbtēr

caēlēstīs mīgrāssĕ mĭnās aūt Tārtără rūmpī,

nōssĕ quĭd īntēndāt vēntōs, quīd nūtrĭăt īgnēs,

ūndĕ rĕpēntĕ quĭēs ēt iūnctō foēdĕrĕ pāx sīt.

Cōncrēscānt ănĭmaē pĕnĭtūs, seū fōrtĕ căvērnaē

īntrŏĭtūsque īpsī sōrbēnt, seū tērră mĭnūtīs

rāră fŏrāmĭnĭbūs tĕnŭīs īn se ābstrăhĭt aūrās

(plēnĭŭs hōc ĕtĭām, rĭgĭdō quĭă vērtĭcĕ sūrgēns

īllīnc īnfēstīs ātque hīnc ōbnōxĭă vēntīs

ūndĭquĕ dīvērsās ādmīttĕrĕ cōgĭtŭr aūrās,

ēt cōniūrātīs āddīt cōncōrdĭă vīrēs),

sīve īntrōrsŭs ăgūnt nūbēs ēt nūbĭlŭs Aūstēr,

sī fōrte īnflēxērĕ căpūt tērgōquĕ fĕrūntūr,

praēcĭpĭtī dēiēctă sŏnō prĕmĭt ūnă fŭgātquĕ

tōrrēntīs aūrās pūlsātăquĕ cōrpŏră dēnsēt.

Nām vĕlŭtī sŏnăt ōră dĭū Trītōnĕ cănōrō

(pēllĭt ŏpūs cōllēctŭs ăquaē vīnctūsquĕ mŏvērĕ

spīrĭtŭs ēt lōngās ēmūgīt būcĭnă vōcēs)

cārmĭnĕque īrrĭgŭō māgnīs cōrtīnă thĕātrīs

īmpărĭbūs nŭmĕrōsă mŏdīs cănĭt ārtĕ rĕgēntīs,

quaē tĕnŭem īmpēllēns ănĭmām sūbrēmĭgăt ūndă:

haūd ălĭtēr sūmmōtă fŭrēns tōrrēntĭbŭs aūră

pūgnăt ĭn āngūsto ēt māgnūm cōmmūrmŭrăt Aētnă.

Crēdēndum ēst ĕtĭām vēntōrum ēxsīstĕrĕ caūsās

sūb tērrā sĭmĭlīs hārūm quās cērnĭmŭs ēxtrā,

ūt, cūm dēnsă prĕmūnt īntēr sē cōrpŏră, tūrbā

ēlīsa īn văcŭōm fŭgĭānt ēt prōxĭmă sēcūm

nōmĭnă tōtă trăhānt tūtāque īn sēdĕ rĕsīstānt.

Quōd sī fōrtĕ mĭhī quaēdām dīscōrdĭă tēcum ēst,

prīncĭpĭīs ălĭīs crēdās cōnsūrgĕrĕ vēntōs:

nōn dŭbĭūm rūpīs ălĭquās pĕnĭtūsquĕ căvērnās

prōvĕhĕre īngēntī sŏnĭtū cāsūquĕ prŏpīnquās

dīffŭgĕre īmpēllīque ănĭmās, hīnc crēscĕrĕ vēntōs;

aūt ūmōre ĕtĭām nĕbŭlās ēffūndĕrĕ lārgō,

ūt cāmpīs āgrīsquĕ sŏlēnt, quōs āllŭĭt āmnīs:

vāllĭbŭs ēxŏrĭēns cālīgāt nūbĭlŭs āēr,

flūmĭnă pārvă fĕrūnt aūrās, vīs prōxĭmă vēnto ēst,

ēmĭnŭs ādspīrāt fōrtīs ēt vērbĕrăt ūmōr.

Ātque haēc īn văcŭō sī tāntă pŏtēntĭă rērum ēst,

hōc plūra ēffĭcĭānt īnfrā clūsaēquĕ nĕcēsse ēst.

Hīs ăgĭtūr caūsīs ēxtrā pĕnĭtūsquĕ: cŏāctūs

ēxăgĭtānt vēntōs, pūgnānt īn faūcĭbŭs, ārtĕ

pūgnāntīs sūffōcăt ĭtēr. Vĕlŭt ūndă prŏfūndō

tērquĕ quătērque ēxhaūstă grăvīs ŭbĭ pērbĭbĭt Eūrōs,

īngĕmĭnānt flūctūs ēt prīmōs ūltĭmŭs ūrgēt:

haūd sĕcŭs ādstrīctūs cērtāmĭnĕ tāngĭtŭr īctū

spīrĭtŭs īnvōlvēnsquĕ sŭō sĭbĭ pōndĕră vīrēs

dēnsă pĕr ārdēntēs ēxērcēt cōrpŏră † vīrēs

ēt quācūmque ĭtĕr ēst, prŏpĕrāt trānsītquĕ mŏrāntēm,

dōnēc cōnflŭvĭō vĕlŭtī sīphōnĭbŭs āctūs

ēxĭlĭt ātquĕ fŭrēns tōtā vŏmĭt īgnĕŭs Aētnă.

Quōd sī fōrtĕ pŭtās īsdēm dēcūrrĕrĕ vēntōs

faūcĭbŭs ātque īsdēm pūlsōs rĕmĕārĕ, nŏtāndās

rēs ŏcŭlīs lŏcŭs īpsĕ dăbīt cōgētquĕ nĕgārĕ.

Quāmvīs caērŭlĕō sīccūs Iŏvĕ fūlgĕăt aēthēr

pūrpŭrĕōquĕ rŭbēns sūrgāt iŭbăr aūrĕŭs ōstrō,

īllīnc ōbscūrā sēmpēr cālīgĭnĕ nūbēs

pīgrăquĕ dēfūsō cīrcūmstŭpĕt ūmĭdă vōltū

prōspēctāns sūblīmĭs ŏpūs vāstōsquĕ rĕcēptūs.

Nōn īllām vĭdĕt Aētnă nĕc ūllo īntērcĭpĭt aēstū:

ōbsĕquĭtūr quācūmquĕ iŭbēt lĕvĭs aūră, rĕdītquĕ.

Plācāntīs ĕtĭām caēlēstĭă nūmĭnă tūrĕ

sūmmō cērnĕ iŭgō vēl quā lībērrĭmŭs Aētnaē

īntrōspēctŭs hĭāt, tāntārūm sēmĭnă rērūm,

sī nĭhĭl īrrītēt flāmmās stŭpĕātquĕ prŏfūndūm.

Huīc ĭgĭtūr crēdīs, tōrrēns ūt spīrĭtŭs īllĕ,

quī rūpīs tērrāmquĕ rŏtāt, quī fūlmĭnăt īgnīs,

cūm rēxīt vīrēs ēt praēcēps flēxĭt hăbēnās,

praēsērtim īpsă sŭō dēclīnĭă pōndĕrĕ nūmquām

cōrpŏră dērĭpĭāt vălĭdōque ābsōrbĕăt aēstū?

Quōd sī fāllŏr, ădēst spĕcĭēs tāntūsquĕ rŭēntīs

īmpĕtŭs āttēntōs ŏcŭlōrūm trānsfŭgĭt īctūs.

Nēc lĕvĭtās † tāntōs ĭgĭtūr fĕrĭt aūră mŏvētquĕ.

Spārsă lĭquōrĕ mănūs sācrōs ŭbĭ vēntĭlăt īgnīs,

vērbĕrăt ōră tămēn, pūlsātquē cōrpŏră nōstrīs

īncūrsānt: ădĕo † īn tĕnŭī vīm † caūsă rĕpēllīt.

Nōn cĭnĕrēm stĭpŭlāmvĕ lĕvēm, nōn ārĭdă sōrbēt

grāmĭnă, nōn tĕnŭīs plāntīs hŭmŭs ēxcĭtă praēda ēst,

sūrgĭt ŏdōrātīs sūblīmīs fūmŭs ăb ārīs:

tāntă quĭēs īlli ēst ēt pāx īnnōxĭă rāptī.

Sīvĕ pĕrēgrīnīs ĭgĭtūr prŏprĭīsvĕ pŏtēntēs

cōnĭŭrānt ănĭmaē caūsīs, īlle īmpĕtŭs īgnēs

ēt mōntīs pārtēs ātrā sūbvēctăt hărēnā

vāstăquĕ cōncūrsū trĕpĭdāntĭă sāxă frăgōrīs

ārdēntīsquĕ sĭmūl flāmmās āc fūlmĭnă rūmpūnt:

haūd ălĭtēr quām, cūm prōnō iăcŭērĕ sŭb Aūstrō

aūt Ăquĭlōnĕ frĕmūnt sīlvaē, dānt brācchĭă nōdō

īmplĭcĭtae ēt sērpūnt iūnctīs īncēndĭă rāmīs.

Nēc tē dēcĭpĭānt stŏlĭdī mēndācĭă vōlgī,

ēxhaūstōs cēssārĕ sĭnūs, dărĕ tēmpŏră, rūrsūs

ūt răpĭānt vīrēs rĕpĕtāntque īn proēlĭă vīctī.

Pēllĕ nĕfās ănĭmō mēndācēmque ēxŭĕ fāmām:

nōn ēst dīvīnīs tām sōrdĭdă rēbŭs ĕgēstās

nēc pārvās mēndīcăt ŏpēs nēc cōrrŏgăt aūrās.

Praēstō sūnt ŏpĕraē vēntōrum ēxāmĭnă sēmpēr:

caūsă lătēt, quaē rūmpăt ĭtēr cōgātquĕ mŏrārī.

Saēpĕ prĕmīt faūcēs māgnīs ēxstrūctă rŭīnīs

cōngĕrĭēs claūdītquĕ vĭās lūctāmĭne ăb īmō

ēt, spīssō vĕlŭtī tēctō, sūb pōndĕrĕ prēssāt

haūd sĭmĭlīs † tĕnĕrōs cūrsū: tūm frīgĭdă mōntī

dēsĭdĭa ēst tūtōquĕ lĭcēt dīscēdĕrĕ † mōntēs.

Pōst, ŭbĭ cōncrēvērĕ mŏrā, vēlōcĭŭs ūrgēnt,

pēllūnt ōppŏsĭtī mōlēs āc vīncŭlă rūmpūnt;

quīcquĭd ĭn ōblīquom ēst, frāngūnt ĭtĕr, ācrĭŏr īctū

īmpĕtŭs ēxŏrĭtūr; māgnīs ŏpĕrātă răpīnīs

flāmmă mĭcāt lātōsquĕ rŭēns ēxūndăt ĭn āgrōs:

sīc cēssātă dĭū rĕfĕrūnt spēctācŭlă vēntī.

Nūnc sŭpĕrānt quaēcūmquĕ rĕgānt īncēndĭă sīlvaē,

quaē flāmmās ălĭmēntă vŏcēnt, quīd nūtrĭăt Aētnām.

Īncēndī pŏtĕrūnt īllīs vērnācŭlă caūsīs

mātĕrĭa āppŏsĭtūmque īgnī gĕnŭs ūtĭlĕ tērraē.

Ūrĭtŭr āssĭdŭē călĭdūs nūnc sūlpŭrĭs ūmōr,

nūnc spīssūs crēbrō praēbētŭr ălūmĭnĕ sūcūs;

pīnguĕ bĭtūmĕn ădēst ēt quīcquīd cōmmĭnŭs ācrīs

īrrītāt flāmmās, īllīūs cōrpŏrĭs Aētna ēst.

Ātque hānc mātĕrĭēm pĕnĭtūs dīscūrrĕrĕ, fōntēs

īnfēctae ērĭpĭāntŭr ăquaē rādīcĕ sŭb īpsā;

pārs ŏcŭlīs mănĭfēstă iăcēt, quaē rōbŏrĕ dūra ēst

āc lăpĭs: īn pīnguī fērvēnt īncēndĭă sūcō.

Quīn ĕtĭām vărĭē quaēdām sĭnĕ nōmĭnĕ sāxă

tōtō mōntĕ lĭquēnt: īllīs cūstōdĭă flāmmaē

vēră tĕnāxquĕ dăta ēst, sēd māxĭmă caūsă mŏlārīs

īllĭŭs īncēndī lăpĭs ēst, sĭbĭ vīndĭcăt Aētnām.

Quēm sī fōrtĕ mănū tĕnĕās āc rōbŏrĕ cērnās,

nēc fērvērĕ pŭtēs īgnēm nēc spārgĕrĕ pōssĕ;

sēd sĭmŭl āc fērrō quaērās, rēspōndĕt ĕt īctū

scīntīllāt dŏlŏr. Hūnc mūltīs cīrcum īnĭcĕ flāmmīs

ēt pătĕre ēxtōrquēre ănĭmōs ātque ēxŭĕ rōbūr:

fūndētūr fērrō cĭtĭūs, nām mōbĭlĭs īllī

ēt mĕtŭēns nātūră măli ēst, ŭbĭ cōgĭtŭr īgnīs.

Sēd sĭmŭl ātque haūsīt flāmmās, nōn tūtĭŏr haūstīs

ūllă dŏmūs sērvāns ăcĭēm dūrānsquĕ tĕnācī

saēptă fĭdē: tānta ēst īllī pătĭēntĭă vīctō;

vīx ūmquām rĕdĭt īn vīrēs ātque ēvŏmĭt īgnēm.

Tōtŭs ĕnīm dēnsō stīpātūr rōbŏrĕ, tārdē

pēr tĕnŭīs ādmīssă vĭās īncēndĭă nūtrīt

cūnctāntērque ĕădem ēt pīgrē cōncēptă rĕmīttīt.

Nēc tāndem hōc ūnō, quōd mōntīs plūrĭmă pārs ēst,

vīncĭt ĕt īncēndī caūsām tĕnĕt īllĕ (prŏfēctō

mīrānda ēst lăpĭdūm vīvāx ănĭmōsăquĕ vīrtūs):

cētĕră mātĕrĭēs, quaēcūmque ēst fērtĭlĭs īgnī,

ūt sĕmĕl āccēnsa ēst, mŏrĭtūr nēc rēstăt ĭn īllā

quōd rĕpĕtās, tāntūm cĭnĭs ēt sĭnĕ sēmĭnĕ tērra ēst:

hīc sĕmĕl ātque ĭtĕrūm pătĭēns āc mīllĕ pĕrhaūstīs

īgnĭbŭs īnstaūrāt vīrēs nēc dēsĭnĭt āntĕ

quām lĕvĭs ēxcōctō dēfēctūs rōbŏrĕ pūmēx

īn cĭnĕrēm pūtrīsquĕ iăcēt dīlāpsŭs hărēnās.

Cērnĕ lŏcīs ĕtĭām, sĭmĭlīs āssīstĕ căvērnās:

īllīc mātĕrĭaē pāscēntīs cōpĭă māiōr,

sēd gĕnŭs hōc lăpĭdīs (cērtīssĭmă sīgnă cŏlōrīs)

quōd nūllās ādiūnxĭt ŏpēs, ēt lāngŭĭt īgnīs.

Dīcĭtŭr īnsĭdĭīs flāgrāsse Aēnārĭă quōndām

nūnc ēxstīnctă sŭpēr, tēstīsquĕ Nĕāpŏlĭn īntēr

ēt Cūmās lŏcŭs ēst, mūltīs iām frīgĭdŭs ānnīs

quāmvīs aētērnō pīnguē scătĕt ūbĕrĕ sūlpūr:

īn mērcēm lĕgĭtūr, tānto ēst fēcūndĭŭs Aētnă

īnsŭlă, cuī nōmēn făcĭēs dĕdĭt īpsă rŏtūndă,

sūlpŭrĕ nōn sōlūm nĕc ŏbēsă bĭtūmĭnĕ tērra ēst,

ēt lăpĭs ādiūtāt gĕnĕrāndīs īgnĭbŭs āptūs,

sēd rārō fūmāt, quīn vīx si āccēndĭtŭr ārdēt,

īn brĕvĕ mōrtālīs flāmmās quōd cōpĭă nūtrīt.

Īnsŭlă dūrăt ‹ĕt› ā Vōlcānī nōmĭnĕ sācră,

pārs tămĕn īncēndī māiōr rēfrīxĭt ĕt āltō

iāctātās rĕcĭpīt clāssēs pōrtūquĕ tŭētūr;

quaē rēstāt mĭnŏr, ēt dīvēs sătĭs ūbĕrĕ tērra ēst,

sēd nōn Aētnaēī vīrēs quaē cōnfĕrăt īgnī.

Ātque haēc īpsă tămēn iām quōndam ēxstīnctă fŭīssēt,

nī fūrtim ādgĕrĕrēt Sĭcŭlī vīcīnĭă mōntīs

mātĕrĭēm sīlvāmquĕ sŭām prēssōvĕ cănālī

hūc īllūc ăgĕrēt vēntōs ēt pāscĕrĕt īgnēs.

Sēd mĕlĭūs rēs īpsă nŏtīs spēctātăquĕ vērīs

ōccūrrīt sīgnīs nēc tēmptāt fāllĕrĕ tēstēm.

Nām cīrcā lătĕra ātque īmīs rādīcĭbŭs Aētnaē

cāndēntēs ēfflānt lăpĭdēs dīsiēctăquĕ sāxă

īntĕrĕūnt vēnīs, mănĭfēsto ūt crēdĕrĕ pōssīs,

pābŭla ĕt ārdēndī caūsām lăpĭdem ēssĕ mŏlārēm,

cūiūs dēfēctūs iēiūnōs cōllĭgĭt īgnēs.

Īlle ŭbĭ cōllēgīt flāmmās iăcĭt ēt sĭmŭl īctū

mātĕrĭam āccēndīt cōgītquĕ lĭquēscĕrĕ sēcūm.

Haūd ĕquĭdēm mīrum, ‹īn› făcĭē quaē cērnĭmŭs ēxtrā,

sī lēnītŭr ŏpūs, rēstāt: măgĭs ūrĭtŭr īllīc

sōllĭcĭtātquĕ măgīs vīcīna īncēndĭă sāxūm

cērtăquĕ vēntūraē praēmīttīt pīgnŏră flāmmaē.

Nām sĭmŭl ātquĕ mŏvēt vīrīs tūrbāmquĕ mĭnātūr,

dīffŭgĭt ēxtēmplōquĕ sŏlūm trăhĭt: īctăquĕ rāmīs

ēt grăvĕ sūb tērrā mūrmūr dēmōnstrăt ĕt īgnīs.

Tūm păvĭdūm fŭgĕre ēt sācrīs cōncēdĕrĕ rēbūs

pār ĕrĭt: ē tūtō spĕcŭlābĕrĭs ōmnĭă cōllīs.

Nām sŭbĭto ēffērvēnt ŏnĕrōsa īncēndĭă rāptīs,

āccēnsaē sŭbĕūnt mōlēs trūncaēquĕ rŭīnaē

prōvōlvōnt ātque ātră sŏnānt ēxāmĭna hărēnaē.

Īllīnc īncērtaē făcĭēs hŏmĭnūmquĕ fĭgūraē:

pārs lăpĭdūm dŏmĭtā, stāntī pārs rōbŏră pūgnaē

nēc rĕcĭpīt flāmmās; hīnc ‹iām› dēfēssŭs ănhēlāt

ātque ăpĕrīt se hōstī, dēcrēscīt spīrĭtŭs īllīc -

haūd ălĭtēr quām cūm lētō dēvīctă trŏpaēō

prōnă iăcēt cāmpīs ăcĭēs ēt cāstră sŭb īpsă.

Tūm sī quīs lăpĭdūm sūmmō pērtābŭĭt īgnī,

āspĕrĭōr sōpīto ēt quaēdām sōrdĭdă faēx ēst,

quālēm pūrgātō cērnēs dēsīdĕrĕ fērrō.

Vērum ŭbĭ paūlātim ēxsīlvīt sūblātă cădūcīs

cōngĕrĭēs sāxīs, āngūstō vērtĭcĕ sūrgēns,

sīc vĕlŭti īn fōrnācĕ lăpīs tōrrētŭr ĕt ōmnīs

ēxūstūs pĕnĭtūs vēnīs sŭbĭt āltĭŭs ūmōr,

āmīssīs ŏpĭbūs lĕvĭs ēt sĭnĕ pōndĕrĕ pūmēx

ēxcŭtĭtūr, lĭquŏr īllĕ măgīs fērvērĕ măgīsquĕ

flūmĭnĭs īn spĕcĭēm mītīs prōcēdĕrĕ tāndēm

īncĭpĭt āc prīmīs dēmīttīt cōllĭbŭs ūndās.

Īllaē paūlātīm bīs sēna īn mīlĭă pērgūnt,

quīppĕ nĭhīl rĕvŏcāt, cūrvīs nĭhĭl īgnĭbŭs ōbstāt,

nūllă tĕnēt (frūstrā) mōlēs, sĭmŭl ōmnĭă pūgnānt:

nūnc sīlvās rūpēsquĕ nŏtānt haēc tēlă, sŏlūmquĕ

īpsum ădĭūtăt ŏpūs făcĭlēsquĕ sĭbi īndŭĭt āmnīs.

Quōd sī fōrtĕ căvīs cūnctātūs vāllĭbŭs haēsīt

(ūtpŏte ĭnaēquālīs vōlvēns pērpāscĭtŭr āgrōs),

īngĕmĭnānt flūctūs ēt stāntĭbŭs īncrĕpăt ūndīs;

sīcūt cūm răpĭdūm tūrbō mărĕ cērnŭlŭs aēstū

āc prīmūm tĕnŭīs īmās ăgĭt, ūltĕrĭōrēs

prōgrĕdĭēns lātē dīffūndĭtŭr ēt sūccērnēns.

Flūmĭnă cōnsīstūnt rīpīs āc frīgŏrĕ dūrānt

paūlātīmque īgnēs cŏĕūnt āc flāmmĕă māssīs

ēxŭĭtūr făcĭēs: tūm prīma ūt quaēquĕ rĭgēscīt

ēffūmāt mōlēs ātque īpsō pōndĕrĕ trāctă

vōlvĭtŭr īngēntī strĕpĭtū praēcēpsquĕ sŏnāntī

cūm sŏlĭdo īnflīcta ēst, pūlsātōs dīssĭpăt īgnēs

ēt quā dīsclūsa ēst, cāndēntī rōbŏrĕ fūlgēt.

Ēmĭcăt ēxāmēn plāgīs, ārdēntĭă sāxă

(scīntīllās prŏcŭl ēccĕ vĭdēs, prŏcŭl ēssĕ rŭēntīs)

īncŏlŭmī fērvōrĕ cădūnt, fērt īmpĕtŭs īgnēs,

Sŷmaēthī quōndam ūt rīpās trăĭēcĕrĭt āmnīs;

vīx † iūnctīs quīsquām fīxō dīmōvĕrĭt īllās,

vīcēnōs pērsaēpĕ dĭēs iăcĕt ōbrŭtă mōlēs.

Sēd frūstrā cērtīs dīspōnĕrĕ sīngŭlă caūsīs

tēmptāmūs, sī fīrmă mănēt tĭbĭ fābŭlă mēndāx,

mātĕrĭam ūt crēdās ălĭām flŭĕre īgnĕ, făvīllaē

flūmĭnă prōprĭĕtātĕ sĭmūl cōncrēscĕrĕ, sīvĕ

cōmmīxtūm lēntō flāgrārĕ bĭtūmĭnĕ sūlpūr:

nām pōsse ēxūstō crētām quŏquĕ rōbŏrĕ fūndī

ēt fĭgŭlōs huīc ēssĕ fĭdēm, deīn frīgŏrĭs ūsū

dūrĭtĭēm rĕvŏcārĕ sŭam ēt cōnstrīngĕrĕ vēnās.

Sēd sīgnūm cōmmūnĕ lĕve ēst ātque īrrĭtă caūsă

quaē trĕpĭdāt: cērtō vērūm tĭbĭ pīgnŏrĕ cōnstāt.

Nām vĕlŭt ārgūtī nātūra ēst aērĭs ĕt īgnī

cūm dŏmĭtum ēst, cōnstāns ĕădēmque ēt rōbŏrĕ sālvō

ūltrāque ūt pōssīs aērīs cōgnōscĕrĕ † pōrtām.

haūd ălĭtēr lăpĭs īllĕ tĕnēt, seū fōrtĕ mădēntēs

ēfflŭĭt īn flāmmās sīve ēst sēcūrŭs ăb īllīs,

cōnsērvātquĕ nŏtās nēc vōltūm pērdĭdĭt īgnīs.

Quīn ĕtĭam āltērnāns mūltīs cŏlŏr īpsĕ fĕfēllīt

aūt ŏdŏr aūt lĕvĭtās: pūtrīs măgĭs īllĕ măgīsquĕ,

ūna ŏpĕrīs făcĭēs ĕădēm pērque ōmnĭă tērra ēst.

Nēc tămĕn īnfĭtĭōr lăpĭdēs ārdēscĕrĕ cērtōs,

īntĕrĭūs fŭrĕre āccēnsōs: haēc prōprĭă vīrtūs.

Quīn īpsīs quaēdām Sĭcŭlī cōgnōmĭnă sāxīs

īmpŏsŭērĕ † fīrdĭcăs ēt iam īpsō nōmĭnĕ sīgnānt

fūsĭlĭs ēssĕ nŏtaē: nūmquām tămĕn īllă lĭquēscūnt,

quāmvīs mātĕrĭēs fŏvĕāt sūcōsĭŏr īntūs,

nī pĕnĭtūs vēnaē fŭĕrīnt cōmmīssă mŏlārī.

Quōd sī quīs lăpĭdīs mīrātūr fūsĭlĕ rōbūr,

cōgĭtĕt ōbscūrī vērīssĭmă dīctă lĭbēllī,

Hērāclītĕ tŭī: nĭhĭl īnsŭpĕrābĭlĕ gīgnī

ōmnĭă † quaē rērūm nātūrā sēmĭnă iāctă.

«Sēd nĭmĭum hōc mīrūm». Dēnsīssĭmă cōrpŏră saēpĕ

ēt sŏlĭdō vīcīnă tămēn cōmpēscĭmŭs īgnī.

Nōn ănĭmōs aērīs flāmmīs sūccūmbĕrĕ cērnīs?

Lēntĭtĭēm plūmbī nōn ēxŭĭt īpsăquĕ fērrī

mātĕrĭēs praēdūră tămēn sūbvērtĭtŭr īgnī

spīssăquĕ sūspēnsīs fōrnācĭbŭs aūrĕă sāxă

ēxsūdānt prĕtĭum? Ēt quaēdām fōrtāssĕ prŏfūndō

īncōmpērtă iăcēnt sĭmĭlīque ōbnōxĭă sōrtī.

Nēc lŏcŭs īngĕnĭo ēst, ŏcŭlī tē iūdĭcĕ vīncēnt.

Nām lăpĭs īllĕ rĭgēt praēclūsūsque īgnĭbŭs ōbstāt,

sī pārvīs tōrrērĕ vĕlīs caēlōquĕ pătēntī;

cāndēntī prēssōque ăgĕdūm fōrnācĕ cŏērcĕ:

nēc sūffērrĕ pŏtēst nēc saēvōm dūrăt ĭn hōstēm,

vīncĭtŭr ēt sōlvīt vīrēs cāptūsquĕ lĭquēscīt.

Quaē māiōră pŭtās aūtēm tōrmēntă mŏvērĕ

pōssĕ mănū? Quaē tāntă pŭtās īncēndĭă nōstrīs

sūstēntāre ŏpĭbūs, quāntīs fōrnācĭbŭs Aētnă

ūrĭtŭr? Ā, sācrō nūmquām nōn fērtĭlĭs īgni ‹ēst›,

sēd nōn quī nōstrō fērvēt mŏdĕrātĭŏr ūsū,

sēd caēlō prŏpĭōre ēt quālī Iūppĭtĕr īpsĕ

ārmātūs flāmma ēst: hīs vīrĭbŭs āddĭtŭr īngēns

spīrĭtŭs ādstrīctīs ēlīsūs faūcĭbŭs, ūt cūm

fābrīlēs ŏpĕraē rŭdĭbūs cōntēndĕrĕ māssīs

fēstīnānt, īgnēs quătĭūnt fōllēsquĕ trĕmēntēs

ēxănĭmānt prēssōque īnstīgānt āgmĭnĕ vēntūm.

Haēc ŏpĕrīs fōrma ēst, sīc nōbĭlĭs ūrĭtŭr Aētnă:

tērră fŏrāmĭnĭbūs vīrēs trăhĭt, ūrgĕt ĭn ārtūm

spīrĭtŭs īncēndī, vīvīt pēr māxĭmă sāxă.

Māgnĭfĭcās laūdēs ŏpĕrōsăquĕ vīsĕrĕ tēmplă,

dīvĭtĭīs hŏmĭnum aūt sācrās † mĕmŏrārĕ vĕtūstās

trādūctī mărĭa ēt tērrās pēr prōxĭmă fātīs

cūrrĭmŭs ātque ăvĭdī vĕtĕrīs mēndācĭă fāmaē

ērŭĭmūs cūnctāsquĕ lĭbēt pērcūrrĕrĕ gēntēs.

Nūnc iŭvăt Ōgўgĭīs cīrcūmdătă moēnĭă Thēbīs

cērnĕrĕ, quaē frātrēs (īlle īmpĭgĕr, īllĕ cănōrūs),

cōndĕrĕ, fēlīcēsque ălĭēno īntērsŭmŭs aēvō -

īnvītātă pĭīs nūnc cārmĭnĕ sāxă lўrāquĕ,

nūnc gĕmĭna ēx ūnō fūmāntĭă sāxă văpōrĕ

mīrāmūr sēptēmquĕ dŭcēs rāptūmquĕ prŏfūndō.

Dētĭnĕt Eūrōtās īllīc ēt Spārtă Lўcūrgī

ēt săcĕr īn bēllūm nŭmĕrūs, sŭă tūrbă, trĕcēntī;

nūnc hīc Cēcrŏpĭaē vărĭīs spēctāntŭr Ăthēnaē

cārmĭnĭbūs gaūdēntquĕ sŏlī vīctrīcĕ Mĭnērvā:

ēxcĭdĭt hīc rĕdŭcī quōndām tĭbĭ, pērfĭdĕ Thēseū,

cāndĭdă sōllĭcĭtō praēmīttĕrĕ vēlă părēntī;

tū quŏque Ăthēnārūm cārmēn, iām nōbĭlĕ sīdūs,

Ērĭgŏnē; sēdēs vēstra ēst: Phĭlŏmēlă cănōrīs

ēvŏcăt īn sīlvīs ēt tū, sŏrŏr, hōspĭtă tēctīs

āccĭpĕrīs, sōlīs Tĕrĕūs fĕrŭs ēxsŭlăt āgrīs.

Mīrāmūr Troīaē cĭnĕrēs ēt flēbĭlĕ vīctīs

Pērgămŏn ēxstīnctōsquĕ sŭō Phrўgăs Hēctŏrĕ; pārvōm

cōnspĭcĭmūs māgnī tŭmŭlūm dŭcĭs: hīc ĕt Ăchīllēs

īmpĭgĕr ēt vīctūs māgnī iăcĕt Hēctŏrĭs ūltōr.

Quīn ĕtĭām Grāiaē fīxōs tĕnŭērĕ tăbēllaē

sīgnăvĕ: nūnc Păphĭaē rōrāntēs ārtĕ căpīllī

sūb trŭcĕ nūnc pārvī lūdēntēs Cōlchĭdĕ nātī,

nūnc trīstēs cīrcā sūbiēcta āltārĭă cērvaē

vēlātūsquĕ pătēr, nūnc glōrĭă vīvă Mўrōnīs

ēt iām mīllĕ mănūs ŏpĕrūm tūrbaēquĕ mŏrāntūr.

Haēc vīsēndă pŭtās tērraē dŭbĭūsquĕ mărīsquĕ:

ārtĭfĭcīs nătŭrae īngēns ōpūs āspĭcĕ, nūllă

cūm tānta hūmānīs rēbūs spēctācŭlă cērnēs,

praēcĭpŭēquĕ vĭgīl, fērvēns ŭbĭ Sīrĭŭs ārdēt.

Īnsĕquĭtūr mīrāndă tămēn sŭă fābŭlă mōntēm,

nēc mĭnŭs īllĕ pĭō † quāmquām sōrs nōbĭlĭs īgnīs.

Nām quōndām rūptīs ēxcāndŭĭt Aētnă căvērnīs

ēt vĕlŭt ēvērsīs pĕnĭtūs fōrnācĭbŭs īgnēs

ēvēcta īn lōngūm lăpĭdīs fērvōrĭbŭs ūndă,

haūd ălĭtēr quām cūm saēvō Iŏvĕ fūlgŭrăt aēthēr

ēt nĭtĭdum ōbscūrā caēlūm cālīgĭnĕ tōrquēt.

Ārdēbānt āgrīs sĕgĕtēs ēt mītĭă cūltū

iūgĕră, cūm dŏmĭnīs sīlvaē cōllēsquĕ rŭēbānt.

Vīx, dūm cāstră pŭtānt hōstēm mōvīssĕ, trĕmēbānt,

ēt iām fīnĭtĭmaē pōrtās ēvāsĕrăt ūrbīs.

Tūm vēro ūt cuīque ēst ănĭmūs vīrēsquĕ răpīnaē,

tūtārī cōnāntŭr ŏpēs: gĕmĭt īllĕ sŭb aūrō,

cōllĭgĭt īlle ārma ēt stūltā cērvīcĕ rĕpōnīt,

dēfēctūm rāptīs īllūm sŭă cārmĭnă tārdānt,

hīc vēlōx nĭmĭō prŏpĕrāt sūb pōndĕrĕ paūpēr,

ēt quōd cuīquĕ fŭīt cārī, fŭgĭt īpsĕ sŭb īllō.

Sēd nōn īncŏlŭmīs dŏmĭnūm sŭă praēdă sĕcūta ēst:

cūnctāntīs vŏrăt īgnĭs ĕt ūndĭquĕ tōrrĕt ăvārōs,

cōnsĕquĭtūr fūgīssĕ rătīs ēt praēmĭă cāptīs

cōncrĕpăt āc nūllīs pārsūra īncēndĭă pāscūnt

vēl sōlīs pārsūră pĭīs. Nāmque ōptĭmă prōlēs

Āmphīōn frātērquĕ părī sūb mūnĕrĕ sōrtīs,

cūm iām vīcīnīs strĕpĕrēnt īncēndĭă tēctīs,

āspĭcĭūnt pīgrūmquĕ pătrēm mātrēmquĕ sĕnēmquĕ

ēheū dēfēssōs pŏsŭīsse īn līmĭnĕ mēmbră.

«Pārcĭte, ăvāră mănūs», dīcēns «āttōllĕrĕ praēdās,

īllīs dīvĭtĭaē sōlaē mātērquĕ pătērquĕ:

hānc răpĭēs praēdām» mĕdĭūmque ēxīrĕ pĕr īgnēm

īpsō dāntĕ fĭdēm prŏpĕrānt. Ō māxĭmă rērūm

ēt mĕrĭtō pĭĕtās hŏmĭnī tūtīssĭmă vīrtūs.

Ērŭbŭērĕ pĭōs iŭvĕnēs āttīngĕrĕ flāmmaē

ēt quācūmquĕ fĕrūnt īllī vēstīgĭă, cēdūnt.

Fēlīx īllă dĭēs, īlla ēst īnnōxĭă tērră.

Dēxtrā saēvă tĕnēt laēvāque īncēndĭă: fērtūr

īllĕ pĕr ōblīquōs īgnīs frātērquĕ trĭūmphāns,

tūtŭs ŭtērquĕ pĭō sūb pōndĕrĕ: sūspĭcĭt īllă

ēt cīrcā gĕmĭnōs ăvĭdūs sĭbĭ tēmpĕrăt īgnīs.

Īncŏlŭmēs ăbĕūnt tāndem ēt sŭă nūmĭnă sēcūm

sālvă fĕrūnt. Īllōs mīrāntūr cārmĭnă vātūm,

īllōs sēpŏsŭīt clārō sūb nōmĭnĕ Dītīs

nēc sānctōs iŭvĕnēs āttīngūnt sōrdĭdă fātă,

sēd cūraē cēssērĕ dŏmūs ēt iūră Pĭōrūm.