Post resides annos longo velut excita somno

Romanis fruitur nostra Thalia choris.

Optatos renovant eadem mihi culmina coetus

personat et noto Pythia vate domus:

consulis hic fasces cecini Libyamque receptam,

hic mihi prostratis bella canenda Getis.

Sed prior effigiem tribuit successus ahenam,

oraque patricius nostra dicavit honos;

annuit hic princeps titulum poscente senatu.

Respice iudicium quam grave, Musa, subis!

Ingenio minuit merces properata favorem.

Carminibus veniam praemia tanta negant;

et magis intento studium censore laborat,

quod legimur medio conspicimurque foro.

Materies tamen ipsa iuvat solitumque timorem

dicturo magna sedula parte levat.

Nam mihi conciliat gratas impensius aures

vel meritum belli vel Stilichonis amor.

Intacti cum claustra freti, coëuntibus aequor

armatum scopulis, audax inrumperet Argo

Aeetam Colchosque petens, propiore periclo

omnibus attonitis, solus post numina Tiphys

incolumem tenui damno servasse carinam

fertur et ancipitem montis vitasse ruinam

deceptoque vagae concursu rupis in altum

victricem duxisse ratem; stupuere superbae

arte viri domitae Symplegades et nova passae

iura soli cunctis faciles iam puppibus haerent,

ut vinci didicere semel. Quodsi ardua Tiphyn

navis ob innocuae meritum sic gloria vexit,

quae tibi pro tanti pulso discrimine regni

sufficient laudes, Stilicho? Licet omnia vates

in maius celebrata ferant ipsamque secandis

Argois trabibus iactent sudasse Minervam

nec nemoris muti iunxisse carentia sensu

robora, sed caeso Tomari Iovis augure luco

arbore praesaga tabulas animasse loquaces;

plurima sic quamvis variis miracula monstris

ingeminent, teneras victuri carmine mentes,

Harpyiasque truces insopitisque refusum

tractibus aurati custodem velleris anguem

et iuga taurorum rapidis ambusta favillis

et virides galeis sulcos fetasque novales

Martis et in segetem crescentis semina belli:

nil veris aequale dabunt. Prohibere rapaces

scilicet Harpyias unaque excludere mensa

nobilior titulus, quam tot potuisse paratas

in Latii praedam Geticas avertere fauces?

Anne ego terrigenas potius mirabor in ipsis

procubuisse satis, vitae quibus attulit idem

principium finemque dies, quam caesa Getarum

agmina, quos tantis aluit Bellona tropaeis

totaque sub galeis Mavortia canuit aetas?

Per te namque unum mediis exuta tenebris

imperio sua forma redit, claustrisque solutae

tristibus exangues audent procedere leges.

Iamque potestates priscus discriminat ordo

iustitiae, quas ante pares effecerat una

nube timor. Tua nos urgenti dextera leto

eripuit, tectisque suis redduntur et agris

damnati fato populi, virtute renati.

Iam non in pecorum morem formidine clausi

prospicimus saevos campis ardentibus ignes

alta nec incertis metimur flumina votis

excidio latura moram nec poscimus amnes

undosam servare fidem nubesque fugaces

aut coniuratum querimur splendere serenum.

Ipsa quoque internis Furiis exercita plebis

securas iam Roma leva tranquillior arces;

surge, precor, veneranda parens, et certa secundis

fide deis humilemque metum depone senectae.

Urbs aequaeva polo, tum demum ferrea sumet

ius in te Lachesis, cum sic mutaverit axem

foederibus natura novis, ut flumine verso

irriget Aegyptum Tanais, Maeotida Nilus,

Eurus ab occasu, Zephyrus se promat ab Indis

Caucasiisque iugis calido nigrantibus Austro

Gaetulas Aquilo glacie constringat harenas.

Fatales hucusque manus; crebrisque notatae

prodigiis abiere minae. Nec sidera pacem

semper habent, ipsumque Iovem turbante Typhoeo,

Si fas est, tremuisse ferunt, cum brachia centum

Montibus armaret totidem spiramque retorquens

lamberet attonitas erectis anguibus Arctos.

Quid mirum, si regna labor mortalia vexat,

cum gemini fratres, genuit quos asper Aloeus,

Martem subdiderint vinclis et in astra negatas

temptarint munire vias steteritque revulsis

paene tribus scopulis caelesti machina bello?

Sed caret eventu nimius furor; improba numquam

spes laetata diu nec pervenere iuventae

robur Aloidae, dum vellere Pelion Otus

nititur, occubuit Phoebo, moriensque Ephialtes

in latus obliquam proiecit languidus Ossam.

Aspice, Roma, tuum iam vertice celsior hostem,

aspice quam rarum referens inglorius agmen

Italia detrusus eat quantumque priori

dissimilis, qui cuncta sibi cessura ruenti

pollicitus patrii numen iuraverat Histri

Non nisi calcatis loricam ponere rostris.

O rerum fatique vices! Qui foeda parabat

Romanas ad stupra nurus, sua pignora vidit

coniugibus permixta trahi; qui mente profundas

hauserat urbis opes, ultro victoribus ipse

praeda fuit; nostri quondam qui militis auro

aggressus temptare fidem, desertus ab omni

gente sua manibusque redit truncatus et armis.

Hoc quoque, quod veniam leti valuere mereri,

Si positis pendas odiis: ignoscere pulchrum

iam misero poenaeque genus vidisse precantem.

Quae vindicta prior quam cum formido superbos

flectit et assuetum spoliis affligit egestas?

Sed magis ex aliis fluxit clementia causis.

Consulitur dum, Roma, tibi, tua cura coëgit

inclusis aperire fugam, ne peior in arto

saeviret rabies venturae conscia mortis;

nec tanti nomen stirpemque abolere Getarum,

ut propius peterere, fuit. Procul arceat altus

Iuppiter, ut delubra Numae sedesque Quirini

Barbaries oculis saltem temerare profanis

possit et arcanum tanti deprendere regni.

Quamquam, si veterum certamina rite recordor,

tunc etiam, pulchra cum libertate vigerent

et proprio late florerent milite patres,

semper ab his famae petiere insignia bellis,

quae diversa procul tuto trans aequora vires

exercere dabant: currus regumque catenae

inter abundantis fati ludibria ductae.

At vero Italiam quotiens circumstetit atrox

tempestas ipsumque caput laesura pependit,

Non illis vani ratio ventosa furoris,

sed graviter spectata salus ductorque placebat

Non qui praecipiti traheret semel omnia casu,

sed qui maturo vel laeta vel aspera rerum

consilio momenta regens, nec tristibus impar

nec pro successu nimius, spatiumque morandi

vincendique modum mutatis nosset habenis.

Cautius ingentes morbos et proxima cordi

ulcera Paeoniae tractat sollertia curae

parcendoque secat, ferro ne largius acto

inrevocandus eat sectis vitalibus error.

Sublimi certe Curium canit ore vetustas,

Aeaciden Italo pepulit qui litore Pyrrhum,

nec magis insignis Pauli Mariique triumphus,

qui captos niveis reges egere quadrigis;

plus fuga laudatur Pyrrhi quam vincla Iugurthae;

et, quamvis gemina fessum iam clade fugavit,

post Decii lituos et nulli pervia culpae

pectora Fabricii, donis invicta vel armis,

plena datur Curio pulsi victoria Pyrrhi.

Quanto maius opus solo Stilichone peractum

cernimus! Hic validam gentem, quam dura nivosis

educat Ursa plagis, non Chaonas atque Molossos,

quos Epirus alit, nec Dodonaea subegit

agmina fatidicam frustra iactantia quercum.

Primus fulmineum lento luctamine Poenum

compressit Fabius, campo post ausus aperto

Marcellus vinci docuit, sed tertia virtus

Scipiadae Latiis tandem deterruit oris.

Unus in hoc Stilicho diversis artibus hoste

tris potuit complere duces fregitque furentem

cunctando vicitque manu victumque relegat.

Atque haec tanta brevi. Miscentem incendia Pyrrhum

sustinuit toto maerens Oenotria lustro,

et prope ter senas Itali per graminis herbas

Massylus Poeno sonipes vastante cucurrit

Hannibalemque senem vix ad sua reppulit arva

vindex sera patrum post bellum nata iuventus.

Hic celer effecit, bruma ne longior una

esset hiems rerum, primis sed mensibus aestas

temperiem caelo pariter belloque referret.

Sed quid ego Hannibalem contra Pyrrhumque tot annis

certatum memorem, vilis cum Spartacus omne

per latus Italiae ferro bacchatus et igni

consulibusque palam totiens congressus inertes

exuerit castris dominos et strage pudenda

fuderit imbelles aquilas servilibus armis.

Nos terrorum expers et luxu mollior aetas

deficimus queruli, si bos abductus aratro,

si libata seges. Non hanc ergastula nobis

inmisere manum nec coniurantis harenae

turba fuit; qualem Stilicho deiecerit hostem,

Thraces et Haemonii poterunt Moesique fateri.

Frigida ter decies nudatum frondibus Haemum

tendit hiems vestire gelu totidemque solutis

ver nivibus viridem monti reparavit amictum,

ex quo iam patrios gens haec oblita Triones

atque Histrum transvecta semel vestigia fixit

Threicio funesta solo: seu fata vocabant

seu gravis ira deum, seriem meditata ruinis.

Ex illo, quocumque vagos impegit Erinys,

grandinis aut morbi ritu per devia rerum,

praecipites per clausa ruunt, nec contigit ullis

amnibus aut scopulis proprias defendere terras.

Nil Rhodope, nil vastus Athos, nil profuit Hebrus

Odrysiis; facili contemptum Strymona saltu

et frustra rapidum damnant Haliacmona Bessi.

Nubibus intactum Macedo miratur Olympum

more pererratum campi; gemit irrita Tempe

Thessalus et domitis irrisam cautibus Oeten.

Sperchiusque et virginibus dilectus Enipeus

Barbaricas lavere comas. Non obice Pindi

servati Dryopes nec nubifer Actia texit

litora Leucates; ipsae, quae durius olim

restiterant Medis, primo conamine ruptae

Thermopylae; vallata mari Scironia rupes

et duo continuo conectens aequora muro

Isthmos et angusti patuerunt claustra Lechaei;

nec tibi Parrhasios licuit munire colonos

frondosis, Erymanthe, iugis, equitataque summi

culmina Taygeti trepidae vidistis Amyclae.

Tandem supplicium cunctis pro montibus Alpes

exegere Getis; tandem tot flumina victor

vindicat Eridanus. Docuit nunc exitus alte

fatorum secreta regi. Quisquamne reclusis

Alpibus ulterius Latii fore credidit umbram?

Nonne velut capta rumor miserabilis urbe

trans freta, trans Gallos Pyrenaeumque cucurrit?

Famaque nigrantes succincta pavoribus alas

secum cuncta trahens a Gadibus usque Britannum

terruit Oceanum et nostro procul axe remotam

insolito belli tremefecit murmure Thylen?

Mandemusne Noti flabris quoscumque timores

pertulimus, festae doleant ne tristibus aures?

An potius meminisse iuvat semperque vicissim

gaudia praemissi cumulant inopina dolores?

Utque sub occidua iactatis Pleiade nautis

commendat placidum maris inclementia portum,

sic mihi tunc maior Stilicho, cum laeta periclis

metior atque illi redeunt in corda tumultus.

Nonne videbantur, quamvis adamante rigentes,

turribus invalidis fragiles procumbere muri

ferrataeque Getis ultro se pandere portae?

Nec vallum densaeque sudes arcere volantes

cornipedum saltus? Iamiam conscendere puppes

Sardoniosque habitare sinus et inhospita Cyrni

saxa parant vitamque freto spumante tueri.

Ipsa etiam diffisa brevi Trinacria ponto,

si rerum natura sinat, discedere longe

optat et Ionium refugo laxare Peloro.

Fultaque despiciens auro laquearia dives

tutior Aeoliis mallet vixisse cavernis;

iamque oneri creduntur opes tandemque libido

haesit avaritiae gravioribus obruta curis.

Utque est ingenioque loquax et plurima fingi

permittens credique timor, tunc somnia vulgo

narrari, tunc monstra deum monitusque sinistri:

quid meditentur aves, quid cum mortalibus aether

fulmineo velit igne loqui, quid carmine poscat

fatidico custos Romani carbasus aevi.

Territat assiduus lunae labor atraque Phoebe

noctibus aerisonas crebris ululata per urbes.

Nec credunt vetito fraudatam Sole sororem

telluris subeunte globo, sed castra secutas

barbara Thessalidas patriis lunare venenis

incestare iubar. Tunc anni signa prioris

et si quod fortasse quies neglexerat omen,

addit cura novis: lapidosos grandinis ictus

molitasque examen apes passimque crematas

perbacchata domos nullis incendia causis

et numquam caelo spectatum impune cometem,

qui primum roseo Phoebi prolatus ab ortu,

qua micat astrigera senior cum coniuge Cepheus;

inde Lycaoniam paulatim expulsus ad Arcton

crine vago Getici foedavit sidera Plaustri,

donec in exiguum moriens vanesceret ignem.

Sed gravius mentes caesorum ostenta luporum

horrificant. Duo quippe lupi sub principis ora,

dum campis exercet equos, violenter adorti

agmen et excepti telis inmane relatu

prodigium miramque notam duxere futuri.

Nam simul humano geminas de corpore palmas

utraque perfossis emisit belua costis:

illo laeva tremens, hoc dextera ventre latebat

intentis ambae digitis et sanguine vivo.

Scrutari si vera velis, fera nuntia Martis

ora sub Augusti casurum prodidit hostem,

utque manus utero virides patuere retecto,

Romula post ruptas virtus sic emicat Alpes.

Sed malus interpres rerum metus omne trahebat

augurium peiore via: truncataque membra

nutricemque lupam Romae regnoque minari.

Tunc reputant annos interceptoque volatu

vulturis incidunt properatis saecula metis.

Solus erat Stilicho, qui desperantibus augur

sponderet meliora manu, dubiaeque salutis

dux idem vatesque fuit. "Durate parumper",

inquit, "et excussis muliebribus ore querellis

fatorum toleremus onus. Nil nautica prosunt

turbatae lamenta rati nec segnibus undae

planctibus aut vanis mitescunt flamina votis.

Nunc instare manu, toto nunc robore niti

communi pro luce decet: succurrere velis,

exhaurire fretum, varios aptare rudentes

omnibus et docti iussi parere magistri.

Non, si perfidia nacti penetrabile tempus

irrupere Getae, nostras dum Raetia vires

occupat atque alio desudant Marte cohortes,

idcirco spes omnis abit. Mirabile posset

esse mihi, si fraude nova vel calle reperto

barbarus ignotas invaderet inscius Alpes;

Nunc vero geminis clades repetita tyrannis

famosum vulgavit iter nec nota fefellit

semita praestructum bellis civilibus hostem.

Per solitas venere vias, aditusque sequendos

Barbarico Romana dedit discordia bello.

"Sed nec praeteritis haec res incognita saeclis:

saepe lacessitam, sed non impune, fatemur

Ausoniam. Haec Senonum restinxit sanguine flammas,

haec et Teutonico quondam patefacta furori

colla catenati vidit squalentia Cimbri.

Vile decus, quod non erexit praevius horror;

ingentes generant discrimina magna triumphos.

"Quid turpes iam mente fugas, quid Gallica rura

respicitis Latioque libet post terga relicto

longinquum profugis Ararim praecingere castris?

Scilicet Arctois concessa gentibus urbe

considet regnum Rhodano capitique superstes

truncus erit? Vestros stimulant si pignora sensus,

me quoque non impar naturae cura remordet,

nec ferro sic corda rigent ut nosse recusem

quam sanctum soceri nomen, quam dulce mariti,

quantus prolis amor. Sed numquam oblita decoris

obscenam latebram pietas ignava requiret.

Nec vobis fortis monitor, mihi cautior uni.

Hic coniunx, hic progenies, hic carior omni

luce gener; pars nulla mei subducta procellae.

Accipe tu nostrae, tellus Oenotria, mentis

vincula communes tecum subeuntia casus,

exiguamque moram muris impende tuendis,

dum redeo lectum referens in classica robur."

His dictis pavidi firmavit inertia vulgi

pectora migrantisque fugam compescuit aulae;

ausaque tum primum tenebris emergere pulsis

Hesperia, ut secum iunxisse pericula vidit

Augustum, tantoque sui stetit obside fati.

Protinus, umbrosa vestit qua litus oliva

Larius et dulci mentitur Nerea fluctu,

parva puppe lacum praetervolat; ocius inde

scandit inaccessos brumali sidere montes

nil hiemis caelive memor. Sic ille relinquens

ieiunos antro catulos inmanior exit

hiberna sub nocte leo tacitusque per altas

incedit furiale nives; stant colla pruinis

aspera; flaventes astringit stiria saetas;

nec meminit leti nimbosve aut frigora curat,

dum natis alimenta parat. Sublimis in Arcton

prominet Hercyniae confinis Raetia silvae,

quae se Danuvii iactat Rhenique parentem

utraque Romuleo praetendens flumina regno:

primo fonte breves, alto mox gurgite regnant

et fluvios cogunt unda coëunte minores

in nomen transire suum. Te Cimbrica Tethys

divisum bifido consumit, Rhene, meatu;

Thracia quinque vadis Histrum vorat Amphitrite:

ambo habiles remis, ambo glacialia secti

tergo rotis, ambo Boreae Martique sodales.

Sed latus, Hesperiae quo Raetia iungitur orae,

praeruptis ferit astra iugis panditque tremendam

vix aestate viam. Multi ceu Gorgone visa

obriguere gelu; multos hausere profundae

vasta mole nives, cumque ipsis saepe iuvencis

naufraga candenti merguntur plaustra barathro.

Interdum subitam glacie labente ruinam

mons dedit et tepidis fundamina subruit astris

pendenti male fida solo. Per talia tendit

frigoribus mediis Stilicho loca. Nulla Lyaei

pocula; rara Ceres; raptos contentus in armis

delibasse cibos madidoque oneratus amictu

algentem pulsabat equum. Nec mollia fesso

strata dedere torum; tenebris si caeca repressit

Nox iter, aut spelaea subit metuenda ferarum

aut pastorali iacuit sub culmine fultus

cervicem clipeo. Stat pallidus hospite magno

pastor et ignoto praeclarum nomine vultum

rustica sordenti genetrix ostendit alumno.

Illa sub horrendis praedura cubilia silvis,

illi sub nivibus somni curaeque laborque

pervigil hanc requiem terris, haec otia rebus

insperata dabant; illae tibi, Roma, salutem

Alpinae peperere casae. Iam foedera gentes

exuerant Latiique audita clade feroces

Vindelicos saltus et Norica rura tenebant.

Ac veluti famuli, mendax quos mortis erilis

nuntius in luxum falso rumore resolvit,

dum marcent epulis atque inter vina chorosque

persultat vacuis effrena licentia tectis,

si reducem dominum sors improvisa revexit,

haerent attoniti libertatemque perosus

conscia servilis praecordia concutit horror:

sic ducis aspectu cuncti stupuere rebelles,

inque uno princeps Latiumque et tota refulsit

Roma viro. Frons laeta parum, non tristior aequo,

non deiecta malis, mixta sed nobilis ira:

qualis in Herculeo, quotiens infanda iubebat

Eurystheus, fuit ore dolor vel qualis in atram

sollicitus nubem maesto Iove cogitur aether.

"Tantane vos", inquit, "Getici fiducia belli

erigit? Hinc animo frustra tumuistis inani?

Non ita Romanum fati violentia nomen

opprimit, ut vestros nequeat punire tumultus

parte sui. Ne vos longe sermone petito

demorer, exemplum veteris cognoscite facti:

cum ferus Ausonias perfringeret Hannibal arces

et Trebiam saevo geminassent funere Cannae,

nequiquam Emathium pepulit spes vana Philippum,

ut velut afflictos ferro temptaret inerti.

Romanos commovit atrox iniuria patres,

urgerent maiora licet, graviterque tulere,

urbibus inter se claris de culmine rerum

congressis, aliquid gentes audere minores.

Nec poenam differre placet, sed bella gerenti

Punica Laevino regis quoque proelia mandant.

Paruit imperiis consul, fususque Philippus,

vilia dum gravibus populis interserit arma,

praetereunte manu didicit non esse potentum

temptandas, mediis quamvis in luctibus, iras."

Hoc monitu pariter nascentia bella repressit

et bello quaesivit opes legitque precantes

auxilio mensus numerum, qui congruus esset

nec gravis Italiae formidandusve regenti.

Nec minus accepto nostrae rumore cohortes

(sic ducis urget amor) properantibus undique signis

conveniunt, visoque animi Stilichone recepti

singultus varios lacrimosaque gaudia miscent:

sic armenta boum, vastis quae turbida silvis

sparsit hiems, cantus ac sibila nota magistri

certatim repetunt et avitae pascua vallis

inque vicem se voce regunt gaudentque fideles

reddere mugitus et, qua sonus attigit aurem,

rara per obscuras apparent cornua frondes.

Adcurrit vicina manus, quam Raetia nuper

Vandalicis auctam spoliis defensa probavit;

venit et extremis legio praetenta Britannis,

quae Scotto dat frena truci ferroque notatas

perlegit exanimes Picto moriente figuras;

agmina quin etiam flavis obiecta Sygambris

quaeque domant Chattos inmansuetosque Cheruscos,

huc omnes vertere minas tutumque remotis

excubiis Rhenum solo terrore relinquunt.

Ullane posteritas credet? Germania quondam

illa ferox populis, quae vix instantibus olim

principibus tota poterat cum mole teneri,

iam sese placidam praebet Stilichonis habenis,

ut nec praesidiis nudato limite temptet

expositum calcare solum nec transeat amnem,

incustoditam metuens attingere ripam.

Celsior o cunctis unique aequande Camillo!

Vestris namque armis Alarici fracta quievit

ac Brenni rabies; confusis rebus uterque

divinam tribuistis opem, sed tardior ille

iam captae vindex patriae, tu sospitis ultor.

O quantum mutata tuo fortuna regressu!

Ut sese pariter diffundit in omnia regni

membra vigor vivusque redit color urbibus aegris!

Creditur Herculeis lucem renovare lacertis

femina dilecti fatis impensa mariti.

Et iuvenem spretae laniatum fraude novercae

Non sine Circaeis Latonia reddidit herbis.

Cretaque, si verax narratur fabula, vidit

Minoum rupto puerum prodire sepulchro,

quem senior vates avium clangore repertum

gramine restituit; mirae nam munere sortis

dulcia mella necem, vitam dedit horridus anguis.

At tuus adventus non unum corpus ab umbris,

sed tot communi populos sub morte iacentes

totaque Tartareis e faucibus oppida traxit.

Ipso Roma die (nec adhuc ostenditur auctor)

personuit venisse ducem, laetisque Quirites

vocibus auspicium certi plausere triumphi,

muniti Stilichone suo. Quis gaudia vero

principis, amplexus alacris quis disserat aulae?

Pulveris ambiguam nubem speculamur ab altis

turribus incerti, socios apportet an hostes

ille globus. Mentem suspensa silentia librant,

donec pulvereo sub turbine sideris instar

emicuit Stilichonis apex et cognita fulsit

canities. Gavisa repens per moenia clamor

tollitur "Ipse venit". Portas secura per omnes

turba salutatis effunditur obvia signis.

Non iam dilectus miseri nec falce per agros

deposita iaculum vibrans ignobile messor

nec temptans clipeum proiectis sumere rastris

Bellona ridente Ceres humilisque novorum

seditio clamosa ducum: sed vera iuventus,

verus ductor adest et vivida Martis imago.

Prospera sed quantum nostrae spes addita menti,

tantum exempta Getis, qui vertice proximus astris

post Alpes iam cuncta sibi promisit apertas

nil superesse ratus, postquam tot lumina pubis,

tot subitos pedites, equitum tot conspicit alas

cinctaque fluminibus crebris ac moenibus arva

seque velut clausum laqueis, sub pectore furtim

aestuat et nimium prono fervore petitae

iam piget Italiae, sperataque Roma teneri

visa procul. Magni subeunt iam taedia coepti.

Occultat tamen ore metum primosque suorum

consultare iubet bellis annisque verendos.

Crinigeri sedere patres, pellita Getarum

curia, quos plagis decorat numerosa cicatrix

et tremulos regit hasta gradus et nititur altis

pro baculo contis non exarmata senectus.

Hic aliquis gravior natu, cui plurima dictis

consiliisque fides, defixus lumina terrae

concutiensque comam capuloque adclinis eburno:

"Si numero non fallor", ait, "tricesima currit

bruma fere, rapidum postquam transnavimus Histrum,

Romanamque manum tantis eludimus annis.

Sed numquam Mavors adeo constrinxit in artum

res, Alarice, tuas. Per tot certamina docto

crede seni, qui te tenero vice patris ab aevo

gestatum parva solitus donare pharetra

atque aptare breves umeris puerilibus arcus:

saepe quidem frustra monui, servator ut icti

foederis Emathia tutus tellure maneres;

sed quoniam calidae rapuit te flamma iuventae,

nunc saltem, si cura tibi manet ulla tuorum,

his claustris evade, precor, dumque agmina longe,

dum licet, Hesperiis praeceps elabere terris,

ne nova praedari cupiens et parta reponas

pastorique lupus scelerum delicta priorum

intra saepta luas. Quid palmitis uber Etrusci,

quid mihi nescio quam proprio cum Thybride Romam

semper in ore geris? Referunt si vera parentes,

hanc urbem insano nullus qui Marte petivit

laetatus violasse redit; nec numina sedem

destituunt: iactata procul dicuntur in hostem

fulmina divinique volant pro moenibus ignes,

seu caelum seu Roma tonat. Si temnis Olympum,

a magno Stilichone cave, qui semper iniquos

Fortuna famulante premit. Scis ipse, per oras

Arcadiae quam densa rogis cumulaverit ossa,

sanguine quam largo Graios calefecerit amnes;

extinctusque fores, ni te sub nomine legum

proditio regnique favor texisset Eoi."

talia grandaevum flammata fronte loquentem

obliquisque tuens oculis non pertulit ultra,

sed rupit rabidas accensa superbia voces:

"Si non mentis inops fraudataque sensibus aetas

praeberet veniam, numquam haec opprobria linguae

turpia Danuvius me sospite ferret inultus.

Anne, tot Augustos Hebro qui teste fugavi,

te patiar suadente fugam, cum cesserit omnis

obsequiis natura meis? Subsidere nostris

sub pedibus montes, arescere vidimus amnes.

Non ita di Getici faxint Manesque parentum,

ut mea converso relegam vestigia cursu.

Hanc ego vel victor regno vel morte tenebo

victus humum. Per tot populos urbesque cucurri,

fregi Alpes galeisque Padum victricibus hausi:

quid restat nisi Roma mihi? Gens robore nostra

tum quoque pollebat, nullis cum fideret armis.

At nunc Illyrici postquam mihi tradita iura

meque suum fecere ducem, tot tela, tot enses,

tot galeas multo Thracum sudore paravi

inque meos usus vectigal vertere ferri

oppida legitimo iussu Romana coëgi.

Sic me fata fovent; ipsi, quos omnibus annis

vastabam, servire dati: nocitura gementes

arma dabant flammisque diu mollitus et arte

in sua damna chalybs fabro lugente rubebat.

Hortantes his adde deos. Non somnia nobis

nec volucres, sed clara palam vox edita luco:

'Rumpe omnes, Alarice, moras; hoc impiger anno

Alpibus Italiae ruptis penetrabis ad urbem.'

Huc iter usque datur. Quis iam post talia segnis

ambigat aut caelo dubitet parere vocanti?"

Sic ait hortatusque suos belloque viaeque

instruit. Attollunt vanos oracula fastus.

O semper tacita sortes ambage malignae

eventuque patens et nescia vatibus ipsis

veri sera fides! Ligurum regione suprema

pervenit ad fluvium miri cognominis "Urbem",

atque illic domitus vix tandem interprete casu

agnovit dubiis illusa vocabula fatis.

Nec non et Stilicho pugnam poscentia movit

pleno castra gradu dictisque instigat euntes:

"Nunc nunc, o socii, temeratae sumite tandem

Italiae poenas, obsessi principis armis

excusate nefas deploratumque Timavo

vulnus et Alpinum gladiis abolete pudorem.

Hic est, quem totiens campis fudistis Achivis,

quem discors odiisque anceps civilibus orbis,

non sua vis tutata diu, dum foedera fallax

ludit et alternae periuria venditat aulae.

Credite nunc omnes, quas dira Britannia gentes,

quas Hister, quas Rhenus alit, pendere paratas

in speculis: uno tot proelia vincite bello.

Romanum reparate decus molemque labantis

imperii fulcite umeris; hic omnia campus

vindicat, haec mundo pacem victoria sancit.

Non in Threiciis Haemi decernimus oris

nec super Alpheas umbrantia Maenala ripas

constitimus; non hic Tegean Argosque tuemur:

visceribus mediis ipsoque in corde videtis

bella geri. Patrem clipeis defendite Thybrim."

Talia nunc pediti, turmae nunc mixtus equestri

dicta dabat. Simul externis praecepta ferebat

auxiliis. Ibat patiens dicionis Alanus,

qua nostrae iussere tubae, mortemque petendam

pro Latio docuit gentes praefectus Alanae,

cui natura breves animis ingentibus artus

finxerat inmanique oculos infecerat ira;

vulneribus pars nulla vacat rescissaque contis

gloria foedati splendet iactantior oris.

Ille tamen mandante procul Stilichone citatis

acceleravit equis Italamque momordit harenam.

Felix Elysiisque plagis et carmine dignus,

qui male suspectam nobis impensius arsit

vel leto purgare fidem; qui iudice ferro

diluit inmeritum laudato sanguine crimen!

Morte viri turbatus eques flectebat habenas

totaque praeciso nutassent agmina cornu,

ni celer instructa Stilicho legione secutus

subsidiis peditum pugnam instaurasset equestrem.

Quis Musis ipsoque licet Paeane recepto

enarrare queat, quantum Gradivus in illa

luce suae dederit fundator originis urbi?

Altius haud umquam toto descendimus ense

in iugulum Scythiae, tanta nec clade superbum

contudimus Tanain vel cornua fregimus Histri.

Invisum miles sitiens haurire cruorem

per varias vestes onerataque plaustra metallo

transit et argenti cumulos et caedis avarus

contemptas proculcat opes; pretiosior auro

sanguis erat; passim neglecti prodiga lucri

turba furens strictis odium mucronibus explet.

Purpureos cultus absumptique igne Valentis

exuvias miserisque graves crateras ab Argis

raptaque flagranti spirantia signa Corintho

callidus ante pedes venientibus obicit hostis

incassum; neque enim feralis praeda moratur,

sed iustos praebent stimulos monumenta doloris.

Asseritur ferro captivum vulgus, et omnes

diversae vocis populi, quos traxerat hostis

servitio, tandem dominorum strage redempti

blanda cruentatis affigunt oscula dextris

desertosque Lares et pignora laeta revisunt.

Miratur sua quemque domus cladesque renarrant

ordine; tum grati referunt miracula belli.

Quis tibi tunc, Alarice, dolor, cum Marte perirent

divitiae spoliisque diu quaesita supellex

pulsaretque tuas ululatus coniugis aures,

coniugis, invicto dudum quae freta marito

demens Ausonidum gemmata monilia matrum

Romanasque alta famulas cervice petebat!

Scilicet Argolicas Ephyreiadasque puellas

coeperat et pulchras iam fastidire Lacaenas.

Sed dea quae nimiis obstat Rhamnusia votis

ingemuit flexitque rotam: domat aspera victos

pauperies, unoque die Romana rependit

quidquid ter denis acies amisimus annis.

O celebranda mihi cunctis Pollentia saeclis!

O meritum nomen! Felicibus apta triumphis!

Virtutis fatale solum, memorabile bustum

Barbariae! Nam saepe locis ac finibus illis

plena lacessito rediit vindicta Quirino.

Illic Oceani stagnis excita supremis

Cimbrica tempestas alias emissa per Alpes

isdem procubuit campis. Iam protinus aetas

adveniens geminae gentis permisceat ossa

et duplices signet titulos commune tropaeum:

"Hic Cimbros fortesque Getas, Stilichone peremptos

et Mario claris ducibus, tegit Itala tellus.

Discite vesanae Romam non temnere gentes."

Pōst rĕsĭdēs ānnōs lōngō vĕlŭt ēxcĭtă sōmnō

Rōmānīs frŭĭtūr ‖ nōstră Thălīă chŏrīs.

Ōptātōs rĕnŏvānt ĕădēm mĭhĭ cūlmĭnă coētūs

pērsŏnăt ēt nōtō ‖ Pŷthĭă vātĕ dŏmūs:

cōnsŭlĭs hīc fāscēs cĕcĭnī Lĭbўāmquĕ rĕcēptām,

hīc mĭhĭ prōstrātīs ‖ bēllă cănēndă Gĕtīs.

Sēd prĭŏr ēffĭgĭēm trĭbŭīt sūccēssŭs ăhēnām,

ōrăquĕ pātrĭcĭūs ‖ nōstră dĭcāvĭt hŏnōs;

ānnŭĭt hīc prīncēps tĭtŭlūm pōscēntĕ sĕnātū.

Rēspĭcĕ iūdĭcĭūm ‖ quām grăvĕ, Mūsă, sŭbīs!

Īngĕnĭō mĭnŭīt mērcēs prŏpĕrātă făvōrēm.

Cārmĭnĭbūs vĕnĭām ‖ praēmĭă tāntă nĕgānt;

ēt măgĭs īntēntō stŭdĭūm cēnsōrĕ lăbōrāt,

quōd lĕgĭmūr mĕdĭō ‖ cōnspĭcĭmūrquĕ fŏrō.

Mātĕrĭēs tămĕn īpsă iŭvāt sŏlĭtūmquĕ tĭmōrēm

dīctūrō māgnā ‖ sēdŭlă pārtĕ lĕvāt.

Nām mĭhĭ cōncĭlĭāt grātās īmpēnsĭŭs aūrēs

vēl mĕrĭtūm bēllī ‖ vēl Stĭlĭchōnĭs ămōr.

Īntāctī cūm claūstră frĕtī, cŏĕūntĭbŭs aēquōr

ārmātūm scŏpŭlīs, aūdāx īnrūmpĕrĕt Ārgō

Aēētām Cōlchōsquĕ pĕtēns, prŏpĭōrĕ pĕrīclō

ōmnĭbŭs āttŏnĭtīs, sōlūs pōst nūmĭnă Tīphŷs

īncŏlŭmēm tĕnŭī dāmnō sērvāssĕ cărīnām

fērtŭr ĕt āncĭpĭtēm mōntīs vītāssĕ rŭīnām

dēcēptōquĕ văgaē cōncūrsū rūpĭs ĭn āltūm

vīctrīcēm dūxīssĕ rătēm; stŭpŭērĕ sŭpērbaē

ārtĕ vĭrī dŏmĭtaē Sŷmplēgădĕs ēt nŏvă pāssaē

iūră sŏlī cūnctīs făcĭlēs iām pūppĭbŭs haērēnt,

ūt vīncī dĭdĭcērĕ sĕmēl. Quōdsi ārdŭă Tīphŷn

nāvĭs ŏb īnnŏcŭaē mĕrĭtūm sīc glōrĭă vēxīt,

quaē tĭbĭ prō tāntī pūlsō dīscrīmĭnĕ rēgnī

sūffĭcĭēnt laūdēs, Stĭlĭchō? Lĭcĕt ōmnĭă vātēs

īn māiūs cĕlĕbrātă fĕrānt īpsāmquĕ sĕcāndīs

Ārgōīs trăbĭbūs iāctēnt sūdāssĕ Mĭnērvām

nēc nĕmŏrīs mūtī iūnxīssĕ cărēntĭă sēnsū

rōbŏră, sēd caēsō Tŏmărī Iŏvĭs aūgŭrĕ lūcō

ārbŏrĕ praēsāgā tăbŭlās ănĭmāssĕ lŏquācēs;

plūrĭmă sīc quāmvīs vărĭīs mīrācŭlă mōnstrīs

īngĕmĭnēnt, tĕnĕrās vīctūrī cārmĭnĕ mēntēs,

Hārpyīāsquĕ trŭcēs īnsōpītīsquĕ rĕfūsūm

trāctĭbŭs aūrātī cūstōdēm vēllĕrĭs ānguēm

ēt iŭgă taūrōrūm răpĭdīs āmbūstă făvīllīs

ēt vĭrĭdēs gălĕīs sūlcōs fētāsquĕ nŏvālēs

Mārtĭs ĕt īn sĕgĕtēm crēscēntīs sēmĭnă bēllī:

nīl vērīs aēquālĕ dăbūnt. Prŏhĭbērĕ răpācēs

scīlĭcĕt Hārpyīās ūnāque ēxclūdĕrĕ mēnsā

nōbĭlĭōr tĭtŭlūs, quām tōt pŏtŭīssĕ părātās

īn Lătĭī praēdām Gĕtĭcās āvērtĕrĕ faūcēs?

Ānne ĕgŏ tērrĭgĕnās pŏtĭūs mīrābŏr ĭn īpsīs

prōcŭbŭīssĕ sătīs, vītaē quĭbŭs āttŭlĭt īdēm

prīncĭpĭūm fīnēmquĕ dĭēs, quām caēsă Gĕtārūm

āgmĭnă, quōs tāntīs ălŭīt Bēllōnă trŏpaēīs

tōtăquĕ sūb gălĕīs Māvōrtĭă cānŭĭt aētās?

Pēr tē nāmque ūnūm mĕdĭīs ēxūtă tĕnēbrīs

īmpĕrĭō sŭă fōrmă rĕdīt, claūstrīsquĕ sŏlūtaē

trīstĭbŭs ēxānguēs aūdēnt prōcēdĕrĕ lēgēs.

Iāmquĕ pŏtēstātēs prīscūs dīscrīmĭnăt ōrdŏ

iūstĭtĭaē, quās āntĕ părēs ēffēcĕrăt ūnā

nūbĕ tĭmōr. Tŭă nōs ūrgēntī dēxtĕră lētō

ērĭpŭīt, tēctīsquĕ sŭīs rēddūntŭr ĕt āgrīs

dāmnātī fātō pŏpŭlī, vīrtūtĕ rĕnātī.

Iām nōn īn pĕcŏrūm mōrēm fōrmīdĭnĕ claūsī

prōspĭcĭmūs saēvōs cāmpīs ārdēntĭbŭs īgnēs

āltă nĕc īncērtīs mētīmūr flūmĭnă vōtīs

ēxcĭdĭō lātūră mŏrām nēc pōscĭmŭs āmnēs

ūndōsām sērvārĕ fĭdēm nūbēsquĕ fŭgācēs

aūt cōniūrātūm quĕrĭmūr splēndērĕ sĕrēnūm.

Īpsă quŏque īntērnīs Fŭrĭīs ēxērcĭtă plēbīs

sēcūrās iām Rōmă lĕvā trānquīllĭŏr ārcēs;

sūrgĕ, prĕcōr, vĕnĕrāndă părēns, ēt cērtă sĕcūndīs

fīdĕ dĕīs hŭmĭlēmquĕ mĕtūm dēpōnĕ sĕnēctaē.

Ūrbs aēquaēvă pŏlō, tūm dēmūm fērrĕă sūmēt

iūs īn tē Lăchĕsīs, cūm sīc mūtāvĕrĭt āxēm

foēdĕrĭbūs nātūră nŏvīs, ūt flūmĭnĕ vērsō

īrrĭgĕt Aēgŷptūm Tănăīs, Maēōtĭdă Nīlūs,

Eūrŭs ăb ōccāsū, Zĕphўrūs sē prōmăt ăb Īndīs

Caūcăsĭīsquĕ iŭgīs călĭdō nīgrāntĭbŭs Aūstrō

Gaētūlās Ăquĭlō glăcĭē cōnstrīngăt hărēnās.

Fātālēs hūcūsquĕ mănūs; crēbrīsquĕ nŏtātaē

prōdĭgĭīs ăbĭērĕ mĭnaē. Nēc sīdĕră pācēm

sēmpĕr hăbēnt, īpsūmquĕ Iŏvēm tūrbāntĕ Tўphoēō,

Sī fās ēst, trĕmŭīssĕ fĕrūnt, cūm brāchĭă cēntūm

Mōntĭbŭs ārmārēt tŏtĭdēm spīrāmquĕ rĕtōrquēns

lāmbĕrĕt āttŏnĭtās ērēctīs ānguĭbŭs Ārctōs.

Quīd mīrūm, sī rēgnă lăbōr mōrtālĭă vēxāt,

cūm gĕmĭnī frātrēs, gĕnŭīt quōs āspĕr Ăloēūs,

Mārtēm sūbdĭdĕrīnt vīnclīs ĕt ĭn āstră nĕgātās

tēmptārīnt mūnīrĕ vĭās stĕtĕrītquĕ rĕvūlsīs

paēnĕ trĭbūs scŏpŭlīs caēlēstī māchĭnă bēllō?

Sēd cărĕt ēvēntū nĭmĭūs fŭrŏr; īmprŏbă nūmquām

spēs laētātă dĭū nēc pērvēnērĕ iŭvēntaē

rōbŭr Ălōīdaē, dūm vēllĕrĕ Pēlĭŏn Ōtūs

nītĭtŭr, ōccŭbŭīt Phoēbō, mŏrĭēnsque Ĕphĭāltēs

īn lătŭs ōblīquām prōiēcīt lānguĭdŭs Ōssām.

Āspĭcĕ, Rōmă, tŭūm iām vērtĭcĕ cēlsĭŏr hōstēm,

āspĭcĕ quām rārūm rĕfĕrēns īnglōrĭŭs āgmēn

Ītălĭā dētrūsŭs ĕāt quāntūmquĕ prĭōrī

dīssĭmĭlīs, quī cūnctă sĭbī cēssūră rŭēntī

pōllĭcĭtūs pătrĭī nūmēn iūrāvĕrăt Hīstrī

Nōn nĭsĭ cālcātīs lōrīcām pōnĕrĕ rōstrīs.

Ō rērūm fātīquĕ vĭcēs! Quī foēdă părābāt

Rōmānās ād stūpră nŭrūs, sŭă pīgnŏră vīdīt

cōniŭgĭbūs pērmīxtă trăhī; quī mēntĕ prŏfūndās

haūsĕrăt ūrbĭs ŏpēs, ūltrō vīctōrĭbŭs īpsĕ

praēdă fŭīt; nōstrī quōndām quī mīlĭtĭs aūrō

āggrēssūs tēmptārĕ fĭdēm, dēsērtŭs ăb ōmnī

gēntĕ sŭā mănĭbūsquĕ rĕdīt trūncātŭs ĕt ārmīs.

Hōc quŏquĕ, quōd vĕnĭām lētī vălŭērĕ mĕrērī,

Sī pŏsĭtīs pēndās ŏdĭīs: īgnōscĕrĕ pūlchrūm

iām mĭsĕrō poēnaēquĕ gĕnūs vīdīssĕ prĕcāntēm.

Quaē vīndīctă prĭōr quām cūm fōrmīdŏ sŭpērbōs

flēctĭt ĕt āssuētūm spŏlĭīs āfflīgĭt ĕgēstās?

Sēd măgĭs ēx ălĭīs flūxīt clēmēntĭă caūsīs.

Cōnsŭlĭtūr dūm, Rōmă, tĭbī, tŭă cūră cŏēgīt

īnclūsīs ăpĕrīrĕ fŭgām, nē pēiŏr ĭn ārtō

saēvīrēt răbĭēs vēntūraē cōnscĭă mōrtīs;

nēc tāntī nōmēn stīrpēmque ăbŏlērĕ Gĕtārūm,

ūt prŏpĭūs pĕtĕrērĕ, fŭīt. Prŏcŭl ārcĕăt āltūs

Iūppĭtĕr, ūt dēlūbră Nŭmaē sēdēsquĕ Quĭrīnī

Bārbărĭēs ŏcŭlīs sāltēm tĕmĕrārĕ prŏfānīs

pōssĭt ĕt ārcānūm tāntī dēprēndĕrĕ rēgnī.

Quāmquām, sī vĕtĕrūm cērtāmĭnă rītĕ rĕcōrdōr,

tūnc ĕtĭām, pūlchrā cūm lībērtātĕ vĭgērēnt

ēt prŏprĭō lātē flōrērēnt mīlĭtĕ pātrēs,

sēmpĕr ăb hīs fāmaē pĕtĭēre īnsīgnĭă bēllīs,

quaē dīvērsă prŏcūl tūtō trāns aēquŏră vīrēs

ēxērcērĕ dăbānt: cūrrūs rēgūmquĕ cătēnaē

īntĕr ăbūndāntīs fātī lūdībrĭă dūctaē.

Āt vēro Ītălĭām quŏtĭēns cīrcūmstĕtĭt ātrōx

tēmpēstās īpsūmquĕ căpūt laēsūră pĕpēndīt,

Nōn īllīs vānī rătĭō vēntōsă fŭrōrīs,

sēd grăvĭtēr spēctātă sălūs dūctōrquĕ plăcēbāt

Nōn quī praēcĭpĭtī trăhĕrēt sĕmĕl ōmnĭă cāsū,

sēd quī mātūrō vēl laētă vĕl āspĕră rērūm

cōnsĭlĭō mōmēntă rĕgēns, nēc trīstĭbŭs īmpār

nēc prō sūccēssū nĭmĭūs, spătĭūmquĕ mŏrāndī

vīncēndīquĕ mŏdūm mūtātīs nōssĕt hăbēnīs.

Caūtĭŭs īngēntēs mōrbōs ēt prōxĭmă cōrdī

ūlcĕră Paēŏnĭaē trāctāt sōllērtĭă cūraē

pārcēndōquĕ sĕcāt, fērrō nē lārgĭŭs āctō

īnrĕvŏcāndŭs ĕāt sēctīs vītālĭbŭs ērrōr.

Sūblīmī cērtē Cŭrĭūm cănĭt ōrĕ vĕtūstās,

Aēăcĭdēn Ĭtălō pĕpŭlīt quī lītŏrĕ Pŷrrhūm,

nēc măgĭs īnsīgnīs Paūlī Mărĭīquĕ trĭūmphūs,

quī cāptōs nĭvĕīs rēgēs ēgērĕ quădrīgīs;

plūs fŭgă laūdātūr Pŷrrhī quām vīnclă Iŭgūrthaē;

ēt, quāmvīs gĕmĭnā fēssūm iām clādĕ fŭgāvīt,

pōst Dĕcĭī lĭtŭōs ēt nūllī pērvĭă cūlpaē

pēctŏră Fābrĭcĭī, dōnīs īnvīctă vĕl ārmīs,

plēnă dătūr Cŭrĭō pūlsī vīctōrĭă Pŷrrhī.

Quāntō māiŭs ŏpūs sōlō Stĭlĭchōnĕ pĕrāctūm

cērnĭmŭs! Hīc vălĭdām gēntēm, quām dūră nĭvōsīs

ēdŭcăt Ūrsă plăgīs, nōn Chāŏnăs ātquĕ Mŏlōssōs,

quōs Ēpīrŭs ălīt, nēc Dōdōnaēă sŭbēgīt

āgmĭnă fātĭdĭcām frūstrā iāctāntĭă quērcūm.

Prīmūs fūlmĭnĕūm lēntō lūctāmĭnĕ Poēnūm

cōmprēssīt Făbĭūs, cāmpō pōst aūsŭs ăpērtō

Mārcēllūs vīncī dŏcŭīt, sēd tērtĭă vīrtūs

Scīpĭădaē Lătĭīs tāndēm dētērrŭĭt ōrīs.

Ūnŭs ĭn hōc Stĭlĭchō dīvērsīs ārtĭbŭs hōstĕ

trīs pŏtŭīt cōmplērĕ dŭcēs frēgītquĕ fŭrēntēm

cūnctāndō vīcītquĕ mănū vīctūmquĕ rĕlēgāt.

Ātque haēc tāntă brĕvī. Mīscēntem īncēndĭă Pŷrrhūm

sūstĭnŭīt tōtō maērēns Oēnōtrĭă lūstrō,

ēt prŏpĕ tēr sēnās Ĭtălī pēr grāmĭnĭs hērbās

Māssŷlūs Poēnō sŏnĭpēs vāstāntĕ cŭcūrrīt

Hānnĭbălēmquĕ sĕnēm vīx ād sŭă rēppŭlĭt ārvă

vīndēx sēră pătrūm pōst bēllūm nātă iŭvēntūs.

Hīc cĕlĕr ēffēcīt, brūmā nē lōngĭŏr ūnā

ēssĕt hĭēms rērūm, prīmīs sēd mēnsĭbŭs aēstās

tēmpĕrĭēm caēlō părĭtēr bēllōquĕ rĕfērrēt.

Sēd quĭd ĕgo Hānnĭbălēm cōntrā Pŷrrhūmquĕ tŏt ānnīs

cērtātūm mĕmŏrēm, vīlīs cūm Spārtăcŭs ōmnĕ

pēr lătŭs Ītălĭaē fērrō bācchātŭs ĕt īgnī

cōnsŭlĭbūsquĕ pălām tŏtĭēns cōngrēssŭs ĭnērtēs

ēxŭĕrīt cāstrīs dŏmĭnōs ēt strāgĕ pŭdēndā

fūdĕrĭt īmbēllēs ăquĭlās sērvīlĭbŭs ārmīs.

Nōs tērrōrum ēxpērs ēt lūxū mōllĭŏr aētās

dēfĭcĭmūs quĕrŭlī, sī bōs ābdūctŭs ărātrō,

sī lībātă sĕgēs. Nōn hānc ērgāstŭlă nōbīs

īnmīsērĕ mănūm nēc cōniūrāntĭs hărēnaē

tūrbă fŭīt; quālēm Stĭlĭchō dēiēcĕrĭt hōstēm,

Thrācĕs ĕt Haēmŏnĭī pŏtĕrūnt Moēsīquĕ fătērī.

Frīgĭdă tēr dĕcĭēs nūdātūm frōndĭbŭs Haēmūm

tēndĭt hĭēms vēstīrĕ gĕlū tŏtĭdēmquĕ sŏlūtīs

vēr nĭvĭbūs vĭrĭdēm mōntī rĕpărāvĭt ămīctūm,

ēx quō iām pătrĭōs gēns haēc ōblītă Trĭōnēs

ātque Hīstrūm trānsvēctă sĕmēl vēstīgĭă fīxīt

Thrēĭcĭō fūnēstă sŏlō: seū fātă vŏcābānt

seū grăvĭs īră dĕūm, sĕrĭēm mĕdĭtātă rŭīnīs.

Ēx īllō, quōcūmquĕ văgōs īmpēgĭt Ĕrīnŷs,

grāndĭnĭs aūt mōrbī rītū pēr dēvĭă rērūm,

praēcĭpĭtēs pēr claūsă rŭūnt, nēc cōntĭgĭt ūllīs

āmnĭbŭs aūt scŏpŭlīs prŏprĭās dēfēndĕrĕ tērrās.

Nīl Rhŏdŏpē, nīl vāstŭs Ăthōs, nīl prōfŭĭt Hēbrūs

Ōdrўsĭīs; făcĭlī cōntēmptūm Strŷmŏnă sāltū

ēt frūstrā răpĭdūm dāmnānt Hălĭācmŏnă Bēssī.

Nūbĭbŭs īntāctūm Măcĕdō mīrātŭr Ŏlŷmpūm

mōrĕ pĕrērrātūm cāmpī; gĕmĭt īrrĭtă Tēmpē

Thēssălŭs ēt dŏmĭtīs īrrīsām caūtĭbŭs Oētēn.

Spērchīūsque ēt vīrgĭnĭbūs dīlēctŭs Ĕnīpeūs

Bārbărĭcās lāvērĕ cŏmās. Nōn ōbĭcĕ Pīndī

sērvātī Drўŏpēs nēc nūbĭfĕr Āctĭă tēxīt

lītŏră Leūcātēs; īpsaē, quaē dūrĭŭs ōlīm

rēstĭtĕrānt Mēdīs, prīmō cōnāmĭnĕ rūptaē

Thērmŏpўlaē; vāllātă mărī Scīrōnĭă rūpēs

ēt dŭŏ cōntĭnŭō cōnēctēns aēquŏră mūrō

Īsthmŏs ĕt āngūstī pătŭērūnt claūstră Lĕchaēī;

nēc tĭbĭ Pārrhăsĭōs lĭcŭīt mūnīrĕ cŏlōnōs

frōndōsīs, Ĕrўmānthĕ, iŭgīs, ĕquĭtātăquĕ sūmmī

cūlmĭnă Tāўgĕtī trĕpĭdaē vīdīstĭs Ămŷclaē.

Tāndēm sūpplĭcĭūm cūnctīs prō mōntĭbŭs Ālpēs

ēxēgērĕ Gĕtīs; tāndēm tōt flūmĭnă vīctōr

vīndĭcăt Ērĭdănūs. Dŏcŭīt nūnc ēxĭtŭs āltē

fātōrūm sēcrētă rĕgī. Quīsquāmnĕ rĕclūsīs

Ālpĭbŭs ūltĕrĭūs Lătĭī fŏrĕ crēdĭdĭt ūmbrām?

Nōnnĕ vĕlūt cāptā rūmōr mĭsĕrābĭlĭs ūrbĕ

trāns frĕtă, trāns Gāllōs Pŷrēnaēūmquĕ cŭcūrrīt?

Fāmăquĕ nīgrāntēs sūccīnctă păvōrĭbŭs ālās

sēcūm cūnctă trăhēns ā Gādĭbŭs ūsquĕ Brĭtānnūm

tērrŭĭt Ōcĕănum ēt nōstrō prŏcŭl āxĕ rĕmōtām

īnsŏlĭtō bēllī trĕmĕfēcīt mūrmŭrĕ Thŷlēn?

Māndēmūsnĕ Nŏtī flābrīs quōscūmquĕ tĭmōrēs

pērtŭlĭmūs, fēstaē dŏlĕānt nē trīstĭbŭs aūrēs?

Ān pŏtĭūs mĕmĭnīssĕ iŭvāt sēmpērquĕ vĭcīssīm

gaūdĭă praēmīssī cŭmŭlānt ĭnŏpīnă dŏlōrēs?

Ūtquĕ sŭb ōccĭdŭā iāctātīs Plēiădĕ naūtīs

cōmmēndāt plăcĭdūm mărĭs īnclēmēntĭă pōrtūm,

sīc mĭhĭ tūnc māiōr Stĭlĭchō, cūm laētă pĕrīclīs

mētĭŏr ātque īllī rĕdĕūnt īn cōrdă tŭmūltūs.

Nōnnĕ vĭdēbāntūr, quāmvīs ădămāntĕ rĭgēntēs,

tūrrĭbŭs īnvălĭdīs frăgĭlēs prōcūmbĕrĕ mūrī

fērrātaēquĕ Gĕtīs ūltrō sē pāndĕrĕ pōrtaē?

Nēc vāllūm dēnsaēquĕ sŭdēs ārcērĕ vŏlāntēs

cōrnĭpĕdūm sāltūs? Iāmiām cōnscēndĕrĕ pūppēs

Sārdŏnĭōsque hăbĭtārĕ sĭnūs ĕt ĭnhōspĭtă Cŷrnī

sāxă părānt vītāmquĕ frĕtō spūmāntĕ tŭērī.

Īpsa ĕtĭām dīffīsă brĕvī Trīnācrĭă pōntō,

sī rērūm nātūră sĭnāt, dīscēdĕrĕ lōngē

ōptăt ĕt Īŏnĭūm rĕfŭgō lāxārĕ Pĕlōrō.

Fūltăquĕ dēspĭcĭēns aūrō lăquĕārĭă dīvēs

tūtĭŏr Aēŏlĭīs māllēt vīxīssĕ căvērnīs;

iāmque ŏnĕrī crēdūntŭr ŏpēs tāndēmquĕ lĭbīdŏ

haēsĭt ăvārĭtĭaē grăvĭōrĭbŭs ōbrŭtă cūrīs.

Ūtque ēst īngĕnĭōquĕ lŏquāx ēt plūrĭmă fīngī

pērmīttēns crēdīquĕ tĭmōr, tūnc sōmnĭă vūlgō

nārrārī, tūnc mōnstră dĕūm mŏnĭtūsquĕ sĭnīstrī:

quīd mĕdĭtēntŭr ăvēs, quīd cūm mōrtālĭbŭs aēthēr

fūlmĭnĕō vĕlĭt īgnĕ lŏquī, quīd cārmĭnĕ pōscāt

fātĭdĭcō cūstōs Rōmānī cārbăsŭs aēvī.

Tērrĭtăt āssĭdŭūs lūnaē lăbŏr ātrăquĕ Phoēbē

nōctĭbŭs aērĭsŏnās crēbrīs ŭlŭlātă pĕr ūrbēs.

Nēc crēdūnt vĕtĭtō fraūdātām Sōlĕ sŏrōrēm

tēllūrīs sŭbĕūntĕ glŏbō, sēd cāstră sĕcūtās

bārbără Thēssălĭdās pătrĭīs lūnārĕ vĕnēnīs

īncēstārĕ iŭbār. Tūnc ānnī sīgnă prĭōrīs

ēt sī quōd fōrtāssĕ quĭēs nēglēxĕrăt ōmēn,

āddīt cūră nŏvīs: lăpĭdōsōs grāndĭnĭs īctūs

mōlītāsque ēxāmĕn ăpēs pāssīmquĕ crĕmātās

pērbācchātă dŏmōs nūllīs īncēndĭă caūsīs

ēt nūmquām caēlō spēctātum īmpūnĕ cŏmētēm,

quī prīmūm rŏsĕō Phoēbī prōlātŭs ăb ōrtū,

quā mĭcăt āstrĭgĕrā sĕnĭōr cūm cōniŭgĕ Cēpheūs;

īndĕ Lўcāŏnĭām paūlātim ēxpūlsŭs ăd Ārctōn

crīnĕ văgō Gĕtĭcī foēdāvīt sīdĕră Plaūstrī,

dōnĕc ĭn ēxĭgŭūm mŏrĭēns vānēscĕrĕt īgnēm.

Sēd grăvĭūs mēntēs caēsōrum ōstēntă lŭpōrūm

hōrrĭfĭcānt. Dŭŏ quīppĕ lŭpī sūb prīncĭpĭs ōră,

dūm cāmpīs ēxērcĕt ĕquōs, vĭŏlēntĕr ădōrtī

āgmĕn ĕt ēxcēptī tēlīs īnmānĕ rĕlātū

prōdĭgĭūm mīrāmquĕ nŏtām dūxērĕ fŭtūrī.

Nām sĭmŭl hūmānō gĕmĭnās dē cōrpŏrĕ pālmās

ūtrăquĕ pērfōssīs ēmīsīt bēlŭă cōstīs:

īllō laēvă trĕmēns, hōc dēxtĕră vēntrĕ lătēbāt

īntēntīs āmbaē dĭgĭtīs ēt sānguĭnĕ vīvō.

Scrūtārī sī vēră vĕlīs, fĕră nūntĭă Mārtīs

ōră sŭb Aūgūstī cāsūrūm prōdĭdĭt hōstēm,

ūtquĕ mănūs ŭtĕrō vĭrĭdēs pătŭērĕ rĕtēctō,

Rōmŭlă pōst rūptās vīrtūs sīc ēmĭcăt Ālpēs.

Sēd mălŭs īntērprēs rērūm mĕtŭs ōmnĕ trăhēbāt

aūgŭrĭūm pēiōrĕ vĭā: trūncātăquĕ mēmbră

nūtrīcēmquĕ lŭpām Rōmaē rēgnōquĕ mĭnārī.

Tūnc rĕpŭtānt ānnōs īntērcēptōquĕ vŏlātū

vūltŭrĭs īncīdūnt prŏpĕrātīs saēcŭlă mētīs.

Sōlŭs ĕrāt Stĭlĭchō, quī dēspērāntĭbŭs aūgūr

spōndērēt mĕlĭōră mănū, dŭbĭaēquĕ sălūtīs

dūx īdēm vātēsquĕ fŭīt. "Dūrātĕ părūmpēr",

īnquĭt, "ĕt ēxcūssīs mŭlĭēbrĭbŭs ōrĕ quĕrēllīs

fātōrūm tŏlĕrēmŭs ŏnūs. Nīl naūtĭcă prōsūnt

tūrbātaē lāmēntă rătī nēc sēgnĭbŭs ūndaē

plānctĭbŭs aūt vānīs mītēscūnt flāmĭnă vōtīs.

Nūnc īnstārĕ mănū, tōtō nūnc rōbŏrĕ nītī

cōmmūnī prō lūcĕ dĕcēt: sūccūrrĕrĕ vēlīs,

ēxhaūrīrĕ frĕtūm, vărĭōs āptārĕ rŭdēntēs

ōmnĭbŭs ēt dōctī iūssī pārērĕ măgīstrī.

Nōn, sī pērfĭdĭā nāctī pĕnĕtrābĭlĕ tēmpūs

īrrūpērĕ Gĕtaē, nōstrās dūm Raētĭă vīrēs

ōccŭpăt ātque ălĭō dēsūdānt Mārtĕ cŏhōrtēs,

īdcīrcō spēs ōmnĭs ăbīt. Mīrābĭlĕ pōssēt

ēssĕ mĭhī, sī fraūdĕ nŏvā vēl cāllĕ rĕpērtō

bārbărŭs īgnōtās īnvādĕrĕt īnscĭŭs Ālpēs;

Nūnc vērō gĕmĭnīs clādēs rĕpĕtītă tўrānnīs

fāmōsūm vūlgāvĭt ĭtēr nēc nōtă fĕfēllīt

sēmĭtă praēstrūctūm bēllīs cīvīlĭbŭs hōstēm.

Pēr sŏlĭtās vēnērĕ vĭās, ădĭtūsquĕ sĕquēndōs

Bārbărĭcō Rōmānă dĕdīt dīscōrdĭă bēllō.

"Sēd nēc praētĕrĭtīs haēc rēs īncōgnĭtă saēclīs:

saēpĕ lăcēssītām, sēd nōn īmpūnĕ, fătēmūr

Aūsŏnĭam. Haēc Sĕnŏnūm rēstīnxīt sānguĭnĕ flāmmās,

haēc ēt Teūtŏnĭcō quōndām pătĕfāctă fŭrōrī

cōllă cătēnātī vīdīt squālēntĭă Cīmbrī.

Vīlĕ dĕcūs, quōd nōn ērēxīt praēvĭŭs hōrrōr;

īngēntēs gĕnĕrānt dīscrīmĭnă māgnă trĭūmphōs.

"Quīd tūrpēs iām mēntĕ fŭgās, quīd Gāllĭcă rūră

rēspĭcĭtīs Lătĭōquĕ lĭbēt pōst tērgă rĕlīctō

lōngīnquūm prŏfŭgīs Ărărīm praēcīngĕrĕ cāstrīs?

Scīlĭcĕt Ārctōīs cōncēssā gēntĭbŭs ūrbĕ

cōnsīdēt rēgnūm Rhŏdănō căpĭtīquĕ sŭpērstēs

trūncŭs ĕrīt? Vēstrōs stĭmŭlānt sī pīgnŏră sēnsūs,

mē quŏquĕ nōn īmpār nātūraē cūră rĕmōrdēt,

nēc fērrō sīc cōrdă rĭgēnt ūt nōssĕ rĕcūsēm

quām sānctūm sŏcĕrī nōmēn, quām dūlcĕ mărītī,

quāntūs prōlĭs ămōr. Sēd nūmquam ōblītă dĕcōrīs

ōbscēnām lătĕbrām pĭĕtās īgnāvă rĕquīrēt.

Nēc vōbīs fōrtīs mŏnĭtōr, mĭhĭ caūtĭŏr ūnī.

Hīc cōniūnx, hīc prōgĕnĭēs, hīc cārĭŏr ōmnī

lūcĕ gĕnēr; pārs nūllă mĕī sūbdūctă prŏcēllaē.

Āccĭpĕ tū nōstraē, tēllūs Oēnōtrĭă, mēntīs

vīncŭlă cōmmūnēs tēcūm sŭbĕūntĭă cāsūs,

ēxĭgŭāmquĕ mŏrām mūrīs īmpēndĕ tŭēndīs,

dūm rĕdĕō lēctūm rĕfĕrēns īn clāssĭcă rōbūr."

Hīs dīctīs păvĭdī fīrmāvĭt ĭnērtĭă vūlgī

pēctŏră mīgrāntīsquĕ fŭgām cōmpēscŭĭt aūlaē;

aūsăquĕ tūm prīmūm tĕnĕbrīs ēmērgĕrĕ pūlsīs

Hēspĕrĭa, ūt sēcūm iūnxīssĕ pĕrīcŭlă vīdīt

Aūgūstūm, tāntōquĕ sŭī stĕtĭt ōbsĭdĕ fātī.

Prōtĭnŭs, ūmbrōsā vēstīt quā lītŭs ŏlīvā

Lārĭŭs ēt dūlcī mēntītūr Nērĕă flūctū,

pārvā pūppĕ lăcūm praētērvŏlăt; ōcĭŭs īndĕ

scāndĭt ĭnāccēssōs brūmālī sīdĕrĕ mōntēs

nīl hĭĕmīs caēlīvĕ mĕmōr. Sīc īllĕ rĕlīnquēns

iēiūnōs āntrō cătŭlōs īnmānĭŏr ēxīt

hībērnā sūb nōctĕ lĕō tăcĭtūsquĕ pĕr āltās

īncēdīt fŭrĭālĕ nĭvēs; stānt cōllă prŭīnīs

āspĕră; flāvēntēs āstrīngīt stīrĭă saētās;

nēc mĕmĭnīt lētī nīmbōsve aūt frīgŏră cūrāt,

dūm nātīs ălĭmēntă părāt. Sūblīmĭs ĭn Ārctōn

prōmĭnĕt Hērcўnĭaē cōnfīnīs Raētĭă sīlvaē,

quaē sē Dānŭvĭī iāctāt Rhēnīquĕ părēntēm

ūtrăquĕ Rōmŭlĕō praētēndēns flūmĭnă rēgnō:

prīmō fōntĕ brĕvēs, āltō mōx gūrgĭtĕ rēgnānt

ēt flŭvĭōs cōgūnt ūndā cŏĕūntĕ mĭnōrēs

īn nōmēn trānsīrĕ sŭūm. Tē Cīmbrĭcă Tēthŷs

dīvīsūm bĭfĭdō cōnsūmīt, Rhēnĕ, mĕātū;

Thrācĭă quīnquĕ vădīs Hīstrūm vŏrăt Āmphītrītē:

āmbo hăbĭlēs rēmīs, āmbō glăcĭālĭă sēctī

tērgŏ rŏtīs, āmbō Bŏrĕaē Mārtīquĕ sŏdālēs.

Sēd lătŭs, Hēspĕrĭaē quō Raētĭă iūngĭtŭr ōraē,

praērūptīs fĕrĭt āstră iŭgīs pāndītquĕ trĕmēndām

vīx aēstātĕ vĭām. Mūltī ceū Gōrgŏnĕ vīsā

ōbrĭgŭērĕ gĕlū; mūltōs haūsērĕ prŏfūndaē

vāstā mōlĕ nĭvēs, cūmque īpsīs saēpĕ iŭvēncīs

naūfrăgă cāndēntī mērgūntūr plaūstră bărāthrō.

Īntērdūm sŭbĭtām glăcĭē lābēntĕ rŭīnām

mōns dĕdĭt ēt tĕpĭdīs fūndāmĭnă sūbrŭĭt āstrīs

pēndēntī mălĕ fīdă sŏlō. Pēr tālĭă tēndīt

frīgŏrĭbūs mĕdĭīs Stĭlĭchō lŏcă. Nūllă Lўaēī

pōcŭlă; rāră Cĕrēs; rāptōs cōntēntŭs ĭn ārmīs

dēlībāssĕ cĭbōs mădĭdōque ŏnĕrātŭs ămīctū

ālgēntēm pūlsābăt ĕquūm. Nēc mōllĭă fēssō

strātă dĕdērĕ tŏrūm; tĕnĕbrīs sī caēcă rĕprēssīt

Nōx ĭtĕr, aūt spēlaēă sŭbīt mĕtŭēndă fĕrārūm

aūt pāstōrālī iăcŭīt sūb cūlmĭnĕ fūltūs

cērvīcēm clĭpĕō. Stāt pāllĭdŭs hōspĭtĕ māgnō

pāstŏr ĕt īgnōtō praēclārūm nōmĭnĕ vūltūm

rūstĭcă sōrdēntī gĕnĕtrīx ōstēndĭt ălūmnō.

Īllă sŭb hōrrēndīs praēdūră cŭbīlĭă sīlvīs,

īllī sūb nĭvĭbūs sōmnī cūraēquĕ lăbōrquĕ

pērvĭgĭl hānc rĕquĭēm tērrīs, haēc ōtĭă rēbūs

īnspērātă dăbānt; īllaē tĭbĭ, Rōmă, sălūtēm

Ālpīnaē pĕpĕrērĕ căsaē. Iām foēdĕră gēntēs

ēxŭĕrānt Lătĭīque aūdītā clādĕ fĕrōcēs

Vīndĕlĭcōs sāltūs ēt Nōrĭcă rūră tĕnēbānt.

Āc vĕlŭtī fămŭlī, mēndāx quōs mōrtĭs ĕrīlīs

nūntĭŭs īn lūxūm fālsō rūmōrĕ rĕsōlvīt,

dūm mārcēnt ĕpŭlīs ātque īntēr vīnă chŏrōsquĕ

pērsūltāt văcŭīs ēffrēnă lĭcēntĭă tēctīs,

sī rĕdŭcēm dŏmĭnūm sōrs īmprōvīsă rĕvēxīt,

haērēnt āttŏnĭtī lībērtātēmquĕ pĕrōsūs

cōnscĭă sērvīlīs praēcōrdĭă cōncŭtĭt hōrrōr:

sīc dŭcĭs āspēctū cūnctī stŭpŭērĕ rĕbēllēs,

īnque ūnō prīncēps Lătĭūmque ēt tōtă rĕfūlsīt

Rōmă vĭrō. Frōns laētă părūm, nōn trīstĭŏr aēquō,

nōn dēiēctă mălīs, mīxtā sēd nōbĭlĭs īrā:

quālĭs ĭn Hērcŭlĕō, quŏtĭēns īnfāndă iŭbēbāt

Eūrŷstheūs, fŭĭt ōrĕ dŏlōr vēl quālĭs ĭn ātrām

sōllĭcĭtūs nūbēm maēstō Iŏvĕ cōgĭtŭr aēthēr.

"Tāntănĕ vōs", īnquīt, "Gĕtĭcī fīdūcĭă bēllī

ērĭgĭt? Hīnc ănĭmō frūstrā tŭmŭīstĭs ĭnānī?

Nōn ĭtă Rōmānūm fātī vĭŏlēntĭă nōmēn

ōpprĭmĭt, ūt vēstrōs nĕquĕāt pūnīrĕ tŭmūltūs

pārtĕ sŭī. Nē vōs lōngē sērmōnĕ pĕtītō

dēmŏrĕr, ēxēmplūm vĕtĕrīs cōgnōscĭtĕ fāctī:

cūm fĕrŭs Aūsŏnĭās pērfrīngĕrĕt Hānnĭbăl ārcēs

ēt Trĕbĭām saēvō gĕmĭnāssēnt fūnĕrĕ Cānnaē,

nēquīquam Ēmăthĭūm pĕpŭlīt spēs vānă Phĭlīppūm,

ūt vĕlŭt āfflīctōs fērrō tēmptārĕt ĭnērtī.

Rōmānōs cōmmōvĭt ătrōx īniūrĭă pātrēs,

ūrgērēnt māiōră lĭcēt, grăvĭtērquĕ tŭlērĕ,

ūrbĭbŭs īntēr sē clārīs dē cūlmĭnĕ rērūm

cōngrēssīs, ălĭquīd gēntēs aūdērĕ mĭnōrēs.

Nēc poēnām dīffērrĕ plăcēt, sēd bēllă gĕrēntī

Pūnĭcă Laēvīnō rēgīs quŏquĕ proēlĭă māndānt.

Pārŭĭt īmpĕrĭīs cōnsūl, fūsūsquĕ Phĭlīppūs,

vīlĭă dūm grăvĭbūs pŏpŭlīs īntērsĕrĭt ārmă,

praētĕrĕūntĕ mănū dĭdĭcīt nōn ēssĕ pŏtēntūm

tēmptāndās, mĕdĭīs quāmvīs īn lūctĭbŭs, īrās."

Hōc mŏnĭtū părĭtēr nāscēntĭă bēllă rĕprēssīt

ēt bēllō quaēsīvĭt ŏpēs lēgītquĕ prĕcāntēs

aūxĭlĭō mēnsūs nŭmĕrūm, quī cōngrŭŭs ēssēt

nēc grăvĭs Ītălĭaē fōrmīdāndūsvĕ rĕgēntī.

Nēc mĭnŭs āccēptō nōstraē rūmōrĕ cŏhōrtēs

(sīc dŭcĭs ūrgĕt ămōr) prŏpĕrāntĭbŭs ūndĭquĕ sīgnīs

cōnvĕnĭūnt, vīsōque ănĭmī Stĭlĭchōnĕ rĕcēptī

sīngūltūs vărĭōs lăcrĭmōsăquĕ gaūdĭă mīscēnt:

sīc ārmēntă bŏūm, vāstīs quaē tūrbĭdă sīlvīs

spārsĭt hĭēms, cāntūs āc sībĭlă nōtă măgīstrī

cērtātīm rĕpĕtūnt ĕt ăvītaē pāscŭă vāllīs

īnquĕ vĭcēm sē vōcĕ rĕgūnt gaūdēntquĕ fĭdēlēs

rēddĕrĕ mūgītūs ēt, quā sŏnŭs āttĭgĭt aūrēm,

rāră pĕr ōbscūrās āppārēnt cōrnŭă frōndēs.

Ādcūrrīt vīcīnă mănūs, quām Raētĭă nūpēr

Vāndălĭcīs aūctām spŏlĭīs dēfēnsă prŏbāvīt;

vēnĭt ĕt ēxtrēmīs lĕgĭō praētēntă Brĭtānnīs,

quaē Scōttō dāt frēnă trŭcī fērrōquĕ nŏtātās

pērlĕgĭt ēxănĭmēs Pīctō mŏrĭēntĕ fĭgūrās;

āgmĭnă quīn ĕtĭām flāvīs ōbiēctă Sўgāmbrīs

quaēquĕ dŏmānt Chāttōs īnmānsuētōsquĕ Chĕrūscōs,

hūc ōmnēs vērtērĕ mĭnās tūtūmquĕ rĕmōtīs

ēxcŭbĭīs Rhēnūm sōlō tērrōrĕ rĕlīnquūnt.

Ūllănĕ pōstĕrĭtās crēdēt? Gērmānĭă quōndām

īllă fĕrōx pŏpŭlīs, quaē vīx īnstāntĭbŭs ōlīm

prīncĭpĭbūs tōtā pŏtĕrāt cūm mōlĕ tĕnērī,

iām sēsē plăcĭdām praēbēt Stĭlĭchōnĭs hăbēnīs,

ūt nēc praēsĭdĭīs nūdātō līmĭtĕ tēmptēt

ēxpŏsĭtūm cālcārĕ sŏlūm nēc trānsĕăt āmnēm,

īncūstōdītām mĕtŭēns āttīngĕrĕ rīpām.

Cēlsĭŏr ō cūnctīs ūnīque aēquāndĕ Cămīllō!

Vēstrīs nāmque ārmīs Ălărīcī frāctă quĭēvīt

āc Brēnnī răbĭēs; cōnfūsīs rēbŭs ŭtērquĕ

dīvīnām trĭbŭīstĭs ŏpēm, sēd tārdĭŏr īllĕ

iām cāptaē vīndēx pătrĭaē, tū sōspĭtĭs ūltōr.

Ō quāntūm mūtātă tŭō fōrtūnă rĕgrēssū!

Ūt sēsē părĭtēr dīffūndĭt ĭn ōmnĭă rēgnī

mēmbră vĭgōr vīvūsquĕ rĕdīt cŏlŏr ūrbĭbŭs aēgrīs!

Crēdĭtŭr Hērcŭlĕīs lūcēm rĕnŏvārĕ lăcērtīs

fēmĭnă dīlēctī fātīs īmpēnsă mărītī.

Ēt iŭvĕnēm sprētaē lănĭātūm fraūdĕ nŏvērcaē

Nōn sĭnĕ Cīrcaēīs Lātōnĭă rēddĭdĭt hērbīs.

Crētăquĕ, sī vērāx nārrātūr fābŭlă, vīdīt

Mīnōūm rūptō pŭĕrūm prōdīrĕ sĕpūlchrō,

quēm sĕnĭōr vātēs ăvĭūm clāngōrĕ rĕpērtūm

grāmĭnĕ rēstĭtŭīt; mīraē nām mūnĕrĕ sōrtīs

dūlcĭă mēllă nĕcēm, vītām dĕdĭt hōrrĭdŭs ānguīs.

Āt tŭŭs ādvēntūs nōn ūnūm cōrpŭs ăb ūmbrīs,

sēd tōt cōmmūnī pŏpŭlōs sūb mōrtĕ iăcēntēs

tōtăquĕ Tārtărĕīs ē faūcĭbŭs ōppĭdă trāxīt.

Īpsō Rōmă dĭē (nĕc ădhūc ōstēndĭtŭr aūctōr)

pērsŏnŭīt vēnīssĕ dŭcēm, laētīsquĕ Quĭrītēs

vōcĭbŭs aūspĭcĭūm cērtī plaūsērĕ trĭūmphī,

mūnītī Stĭlĭchōnĕ sŭō. Quīs gaūdĭă vērō

prīncĭpĭs, āmplēxūs ălăcrīs quīs dīssĕrăt aūlaē?

Pūlvĕrĭs āmbĭgŭām nūbēm spĕcŭlāmŭr ăb āltīs

tūrrĭbŭs īncērtī, sŏcĭōs āppōrtĕt ăn hōstēs

īllĕ glŏbūs. Mēntēm sūspēnsă sĭlēntĭă lībrānt,

dōnēc pūlvĕrĕō sūb tūrbĭnĕ sīdĕrĭs īnstār

ēmĭcŭīt Stĭlĭchōnĭs ăpēx ēt cōgnĭtă fūlsīt

cānĭtĭēs. Gāvīsă rĕpēns pēr moēnĭă clāmōr

tōllĭtŭr "Īpsĕ vĕnīt". Pōrtās sēcūră pĕr ōmnēs

tūrbă sălūtātīs ēffūndĭtŭr ōbvĭă sīgnīs.

Nōn iām dīlēctūs mĭsĕrī nēc fālcĕ pĕr āgrōs

dēpŏsĭtā iăcŭlūm vībrāns īgnōbĭlĕ mēssōr

nēc tēmptāns clĭpĕūm prōiēctīs sūmĕrĕ rāstrīs

Bēllōnā rīdēntĕ Cĕrēs hŭmĭlīsquĕ nŏvōrūm

sēdĭtĭō clāmōsă dŭcūm: sēd vēră iŭvēntūs,

vērūs dūctŏr ădēst ēt vīvĭdă Mārtĭs ĭmāgŏ.

Prōspĕră sēd quāntūm nōstraē spēs āddĭtă mēntī,

tāntum ēxēmptă Gĕtīs, quī vērtĭcĕ prōxĭmŭs āstrīs

pōst Ālpēs iām cūnctă sĭbī prōmīsĭt ăpērtās

nīl sŭpĕrēssĕ rătūs, pōstquām tōt lūmĭnă pūbīs,

tōt sŭbĭtōs pĕdĭtēs, ĕquĭtūm tōt cōnspĭcĭt ālās

cīnctăquĕ flūmĭnĭbūs crēbrīs āc moēnĭbŭs ārvă

sēquĕ vĕlūt claūsūm lăquĕīs, sūb pēctŏrĕ fūrtīm

aēstŭăt ēt nĭmĭūm prōnō fērvōrĕ pĕtītaē

iām pĭgĕt Ītălĭaē, spērātăquĕ Rōmă tĕnērī

vīsă prŏcūl. Māgnī sŭbĕūnt iām taēdĭă coēptī.

Ōccūltāt tămĕn ōrĕ mĕtūm prīmōsquĕ sŭōrūm

cōnsūltārĕ iŭbēt bēllīs ānnīsquĕ vĕrēndōs.

Crīnĭgĕrī sēdērĕ pătrēs, pēllītă Gĕtārūm

cūrĭă, quōs plāgīs dĕcŏrāt nŭmĕrōsă cĭcātrīx

ēt trĕmŭlōs rĕgĭt hāstă grădūs ēt nītĭtŭr āltīs

prō băcŭlō cōntīs nōn ēxārmātă sĕnēctūs.

Hīc ălĭquīs grăvĭōr nātū, cuī plūrĭmă dīctīs

cōnsĭlĭīsquĕ fĭdēs, dēfīxūs lūmĭnă tērraē

cōncūtiēnsquĕ cŏmām căpŭlōque ādclīnĭs ĕbūrnō:

"Sī nŭmĕrō nōn fāllŏr", ăīt, "trīcēsĭmă cūrrīt

brūmă fĕrē, răpĭdūm pōstquām trānsnāvĭmŭs Hīstrūm,

Rōmānāmquĕ mănūm tāntīs ēlūdĭmŭs ānnīs.

Sēd nūmquām Māvōrs ădĕō cōnstrīnxĭt ĭn ārtūm

rēs, Ălărīcĕ, tŭās. Pēr tōt cērtāmĭnă dōctō

crēdĕ sĕnī, quī tē tĕnĕrō vĭcĕ pātrĭs ăb aēvō

gēstātūm pārvā sŏlĭtūs dōnārĕ phărētrā

ātque āptārĕ brĕvēs ŭmĕrīs pŭĕrīlĭbŭs ārcūs:

saēpĕ quĭdēm frūstrā mŏnŭī, sērvātŏr ŭt īctī

foēdĕrĭs Ēmăthĭā tūtūs tēllūrĕ mănērēs;

sēd quŏnĭām călĭdaē răpŭīt tē flāmmă iŭvēntaē,

nūnc sāltēm, sī cūră tĭbī mănĕt ūllă tŭōrūm,

hīs claūstrīs ēvādĕ, prĕcōr, dūmque āgmĭnă lōngē,

dūm lĭcĕt, Hēspĕrĭīs praēcēps ēlābĕrĕ tērrīs,

nē nŏvă praēdārī cŭpĭēns ēt pārtă rĕpōnās

pāstōrīquĕ lŭpūs scĕlĕrūm dēlīctă prĭōrūm

īntrā saēptă lŭās. Quīd pālmĭtĭs ūbĕr Ĕtrūscī,

quīd mĭhĭ nēscĭŏ quām prŏprĭō cūm Thŷbrĭdĕ Rōmām

sēmpĕr ĭn ōrĕ gĕrīs? Rĕfĕrūnt sī vēră părēntēs,

hānc ūrbem īnsānō nūllūs quī Mārtĕ pĕtīvīt

laētātūs vĭŏlāssĕ rĕdīt; nēc nūmĭnă sēdēm

dēstĭtŭūnt: iāctātă prŏcūl dīcūntŭr ĭn hōstēm

fūlmĭnă dīvīnīquĕ vŏlānt prō moēnĭbŭs īgnēs,

seū caēlūm seū Rōmă tŏnāt. Sī tēmnĭs Ŏlŷmpūm,

ā māgnō Stĭlĭchōnĕ căvē, quī sēmpĕr ĭnīquōs

Fōrtūnā fămŭlāntĕ prĕmīt. Scīs īpsĕ, pĕr ōrās

Ārcădĭaē quām dēnsă rŏgīs cŭmŭlāvĕrĭt ōssă,

sānguĭnĕ quām lārgō Grāiōs călĕfēcĕrĭt āmnēs;

ēxtīnctūsquĕ fŏrēs, nī tē sūb nōmĭnĕ lēgūm

prōdĭtĭō rēgnīquĕ făvōr tēxīssĕt Ĕōī."

tālĭă grāndaēvūm flāmmātā frōntĕ lŏquēntēm

ōblīquīsquĕ tŭēns ŏcŭlīs nōn pērtŭlĭt ūltrā,

sēd rūpīt răbĭdās āccēnsă sŭpērbĭă vōcēs:

"Sī nōn mēntĭs ĭnōps fraūdātăquĕ sēnsĭbŭs aētās

praēbērēt vĕnĭām, nūmquam haēc ōpprōbrĭă līnguaē

tūrpĭă Dānŭvĭūs mē sōspĭtĕ fērrĕt ĭnūltūs.

Ānnĕ, tŏt Aūgūstōs Hēbrō quī tēstĕ fŭgāvī,

tē pătĭār suādēntĕ fŭgām, cūm cēssĕrĭt ōmnīs

ōbsĕquĭīs nātūră mĕīs? Sūbsīdĕrĕ nōstrīs

sūb pĕdĭbūs mōntēs, ārēscĕrĕ vīdĭmŭs āmnēs.

Nōn ĭtă dī Gĕtĭcī fāxīnt Mānēsquĕ părēntūm,

ūt mĕă cōnvērsō rĕlĕgām vēstīgĭă cūrsū.

Hānc ĕgŏ vēl vīctōr rēgnō vēl mōrtĕ tĕnēbō

vīctŭs hŭmūm. Pēr tōt pŏpŭlōs ūrbēsquĕ cŭcūrrī,

frēgi Ālpēs gălĕīsquĕ Pădūm vīctrīcĭbŭs haūsī:

quīd rēstāt nĭsĭ Rōmă mĭhī? Gēns rōbŏrĕ nōstră

tūm quŏquĕ pōllēbāt, nūllīs cūm fīdĕrĕt ārmīs.

Āt nūnc Īllўrĭcī pōstquām mĭhĭ trādĭtă iūră

mēquĕ sŭūm fēcērĕ dŭcēm, tōt tēlă, tŏt ēnsēs,

tōt gălĕās mūltō Thrācūm sūdōrĕ părāvī

īnquĕ mĕōs ūsūs vēctīgāl vērtĕrĕ fērrī

ōppĭdă lēgĭtĭmō iūssū Rōmānă cŏēgī.

Sīc mē fātă fŏvēnt; īpsī, quōs ōmnĭbŭs ānnīs

vāstābām, sērvīrĕ dătī: nŏcĭtūră gĕmēntēs

ārmă dăbānt flāmmīsquĕ dĭū mōllītŭs ĕt ārtĕ

īn sŭă dāmnă chălŷbs fābrō lūgēntĕ rŭbēbāt.

Hōrtāntēs hīs āddĕ dĕōs. Nōn sōmnĭă nōbīs

nēc vŏlŭcrēs, sēd clāră pălām vōx ēdĭtă lūcō:

'Rūmpe ōmnēs, Ălărīcĕ, mŏrās; hōc īmpĭgĕr ānnō

Ālpĭbŭs Ītălĭaē rūptīs pĕnĕtrābĭs ăd ūrbēm.'

Hūc ĭtĕr ūsquĕ dătūr. Quīs iām pōst tālĭă sēgnīs

āmbĭgăt aūt caēlō dŭbĭtēt pārērĕ vŏcāntī?"

Sīc ăĭt hōrtātūsquĕ sŭōs bēllōquĕ vĭaēquĕ

īnstrŭĭt. Āttōllūnt vānōs ōrācŭlă fāstūs.

Ō sēmpēr tăcĭtā sōrtēs āmbāgĕ mălīgnaē

ēvēntūquĕ pătēns ēt nēscĭă vātĭbŭs īpsīs

vērī sēră fĭdēs! Lĭgŭrūm rĕgĭōnĕ sŭprēmā

pērvĕnĭt ād flŭvĭūm mīrī cōgnōmĭnĭs "Ūrbēm",

ātque īllīc dŏmĭtūs vīx tāndem īntērprĕtĕ cāsū

āgnōvīt dŭbĭīs īllūsă vŏcābŭlă fātīs.

Nēc nōn ēt Stĭlĭchō pūgnām pōscēntĭă mōvīt

plēnō cāstră grădū dīctīsque īnstīgăt ĕūntēs:

"Nūnc nūnc, ō sŏcĭī, tĕmĕrātaē sūmĭtĕ tāndēm

Ītălĭaē poēnās, ōbsēssī prīncĭpĭs ārmīs

ēxcūsātĕ nĕfās dēplōrātūmquĕ Tĭmāvō

vūlnŭs ĕt Ālpīnūm glădĭīs ăbŏlētĕ pŭdōrēm.

Hīc ēst, quēm tŏtĭēns cāmpīs fūdīstĭs Ăchīvīs,

quēm dīscōrs ŏdĭīsque āncēps cīvīlĭbŭs ōrbīs,

nōn sŭă vīs tūtātă dĭū, dūm foēdĕră fāllāx

lūdĭt ĕt āltērnaē pēriūrĭă vēndĭtăt aūlaē.

Crēdĭtĕ nūnc ōmnēs, quās dīră Brĭtānnĭă gēntēs,

quās Hīstēr, quās Rhēnŭs ălīt, pēndērĕ părātās

īn spĕcŭlīs: ūnō tōt proēlĭă vīncĭtĕ bēllō.

Rōmānūm rĕpărātĕ dĕcūs mōlēmquĕ lăbāntīs

īmpĕrĭī fūlcīte ŭmĕrīs; hīc ōmnĭă cāmpūs

vīndĭcăt, haēc mūndō pācēm vīctōrĭă sāncīt.

Nōn īn Thrēĭcĭīs Haēmī dēcērnĭmŭs ōrīs

nēc sŭpĕr Ālphēās ūmbrāntĭă Maēnălă rīpās

cōnstĭtĭmūs; nōn hīc Tĕgĕān Ārgōsquĕ tŭēmūr:

vīscĕrĭbūs mĕdĭīs īpsōque īn cōrdĕ vĭdētīs

bēllă gĕrī. Pātrēm clĭpĕīs dēfēndĭtĕ Thŷbrīm."

Tālĭă nūnc pĕdĭtī, tūrmaē nūnc mīxtŭs ĕquēstrī

dīctă dăbāt. Sĭmŭl ēxtērnīs praēcēptă fĕrēbāt

aūxĭlĭīs. Ībāt pătĭēns dĭcĭōnĭs Ălānūs,

quā nōstraē iūssērĕ tŭbaē, mōrtēmquĕ pĕtēndām

prō Lătĭō dŏcŭīt gēntēs praēfēctŭs Ălānaē,

cuī nātūră brĕvēs ănĭmīs īngēntĭbŭs ārtūs

fīnxĕrăt īnmānīque ŏcŭlōs īnfēcĕrăt īrā;

vūlnĕrĭbūs pārs nūllă văcāt rēscīssăquĕ cōntīs

glōrĭă foēdātī splēndēt iāctāntĭŏr ōrīs.

Īllĕ tămēn māndāntĕ prŏcūl Stĭlĭchōnĕ cĭtātīs

āccĕlĕrāvĭt ĕquīs Ĭtălāmquĕ mŏmōrdĭt hărēnām.

Fēlīx Ēlўsĭīsquĕ plăgīs ēt cārmĭnĕ dīgnūs,

quī mălĕ sūspēctām nōbīs īmpēnsĭŭs ārsīt

vēl lētō pūrgārĕ fĭdēm; quī iūdĭcĕ fērrō

dīlŭĭt īnmĕrĭtūm laūdātō sānguĭnĕ crīmēn!

Mōrtĕ vĭrī tūrbātŭs ĕquēs flēctēbăt hăbēnās

tōtăquĕ praēcīsō nūtāssēnt āgmĭnă cōrnū,

nī cĕlĕr īnstrūctā Stĭlĭchō lĕgĭōnĕ sĕcūtūs

sūbsĭdĭīs pĕdĭtūm pūgnam īnstaūrāssĕt ĕquēstrēm.

Quīs Mūsīs īpsōquĕ lĭcēt Paēānĕ rĕcēptō

ēnārrārĕ quĕāt, quāntūm Grādīvŭs ĭn īllā

lūcĕ sŭaē dĕdĕrīt fūndātŏr ŏrīgĭnĭs ūrbī?

Āltĭŭs haūd ūmquām tōtō dēscēndĭmŭs ēnsĕ

īn iŭgŭlūm Scўthĭaē, tāntā nēc clādĕ sŭpērbūm

cōntŭdĭmūs Tănăīn vēl cōrnŭă frēgĭmŭs Hīstrī.

Īnvīsūm mīlēs sĭtĭēns haūrīrĕ crŭōrēm

pēr vărĭās vēstēs ŏnĕrātăquĕ plaūstră mĕtāllō

trānsĭt ĕt ārgēntī cŭmŭlōs ēt caēdĭs ăvārūs

cōntēmptās prōcūlcăt ŏpēs; prĕtĭōsĭŏr aūrō

sānguĭs ĕrāt; pāssīm nēglēctī prōdĭgă lūcrī

tūrbă fŭrēns strīctīs ŏdĭūm mūcrōnĭbŭs ēxplēt.

Pūrpŭrĕōs cūltūs ābsūmptīque īgnĕ Vălēntīs

ēxŭvĭās mĭsĕrīsquĕ grăvēs crātērăs ăb Ārgīs

rāptăquĕ flāgrāntī spīrāntĭă sīgnă Cŏrīnthō

cāllĭdŭs āntĕ pĕdēs vĕnĭēntĭbŭs ōbĭcĭt hōstīs

īncāssūm; nĕque ĕnīm fērālīs praēdă mŏrātūr,

sēd iūstōs praēbēnt stĭmŭlōs mŏnŭmēntă dŏlōrīs.

Āssĕrĭtūr fērrō cāptīvūm vūlgŭs, ĕt ōmnēs

dīvērsaē vōcīs pŏpŭlī, quōs trāxĕrăt hōstīs

sērvĭtĭō, tāndēm dŏmĭnōrūm strāgĕ rĕdēmptī

blāndă crŭēntātīs āffīgūnt ōscŭlă dēxtrīs

dēsērtōsquĕ Lărēs ēt pīgnŏră laētă rĕvīsūnt.

Mīrātūr sŭă quēmquĕ dŏmūs clādēsquĕ rĕnārrānt

ōrdĭnĕ; tūm grātī rĕfĕrūnt mīrācŭlă bēllī.

Quīs tĭbĭ tūnc, Ălărīcĕ, dŏlōr, cūm Mārtĕ pĕrīrēnt

dīvĭtĭaē spŏlĭīsquĕ dĭū quaēsītă sŭpēllēx

pūlsārētquĕ tŭās ŭlŭlātūs cōniŭgĭs aūrēs,

cōniŭgĭs, īnvīctō dūdūm quaē frētă mărītō

dēmēns Aūsŏnĭdūm gēmmātă mŏnīlĭă mātrūm

Rōmānāsque āltā fămŭlās cērvīcĕ pĕtēbāt!

Scīlĭcĕt Ārgŏlĭcās Ĕphўrēĭădāsquĕ pŭēllās

coēpĕrăt ēt pūlchrās iām fāstīdīrĕ Lăcaēnās.

Sēd dĕă quaē nĭmĭīs ōbstāt Rhāmnūsĭă vōtīs

īngĕmŭīt flēxītquĕ rŏtām: dŏmăt āspĕră vīctōs

paūpĕrĭēs, ūnōquĕ dĭē Rōmānă rĕpēndīt

quīdquīd tēr dēnīs ăcĭēs āmīsĭmŭs ānnīs.

Ō cĕlĕbrāndă mĭhī cūnctīs Pōllēntĭă saēclīs!

Ō mĕrĭtūm nōmēn! Fēlīcĭbŭs āptă trĭūmphīs!

Vīrtūtīs fātālĕ sŏlūm, mĕmŏrābĭlĕ būstūm

Bārbărĭaē! Nām saēpĕ lŏcīs āc fīnĭbŭs īllīs

plēnă lăcēssītō rĕdĭīt vīndīctă Quĭrīnō.

Īllīc Ōcĕănī stāgnīs ēxcītă sŭprēmīs

Cīmbrĭcă tēmpēstās ălĭās ēmīssă pĕr Ālpēs

īsdēm prōcŭbŭīt cāmpīs. Iām prōtĭnŭs aētās

ādvĕnĭēns gĕmĭnaē gēntīs pērmīscĕăt ōssă

ēt dŭplĭcēs sīgnēt tĭtŭlōs cōmmūnĕ trŏpaēūm:

"Hīc Cīmbrōs fōrtēsquĕ Gĕtās, Stĭlĭchōnĕ pĕrēmptōs

ēt Mărĭō clārīs dŭcĭbūs, tĕgĭt Ītălă tēllūs.

Dīscĭtĕ vēsānaē Rōmām nōn tēmnĕrĕ gēntēs."