Iāmque īraē pătŭērĕ dĕūm, mănĭfēstăquĕ bēllī
sīgnă dĕdīt mūndūs, lēgēsque ēt foēdĕră rērūm
praēscĭă mōnstrĭfĕrō vērtīt nātūră tŭmūltū
īndīxītquĕ nĕfās. Cūr hānc tĭbĭ, rēctŏr Ŏlŷmpī,
sōllĭcĭtīs vīsūm mōrtālĭbŭs āddĕrĕ cūrām,
nōscānt vēntūrās ūt dīră pĕr ōmĭnă clādēs?
Sīvĕ părēns rērūm, cūm prīmum īnfōrmĭă rēgnă
mātĕrĭāmquĕ rŭdēm flāmmā cēdēntĕ rĕcēpīt,
fīxĭt ĭn aētērnūm caūsās quā cūnctă cŏērcēt,
sē quŏquĕ lēgĕ tĕnēns, ēt saēcŭlă iūssă fĕrēntēm
fātōrum īmmōtō dīvīsīt līmĭtĕ mūndūm;
sīvĕ nĭhīl pŏsĭtum ēst, sēd fōrs īncērtă văgātūr,
fērtquĕ rĕfērtquĕ vĭcēs, ĕt hăbēt mōrtālĭă cāsūs:
sīt sŭbĭtūm quōdcūmquĕ părās; sīt caēcă fŭtūrī
mēns hŏmĭnūm fātī; lĭcĕāt spērārĕ tĭmēntī.
Ērgo ŭbĭ cōncĭpĭūnt quāntīs sīt clādĭbŭs ōrbī
cōnstātūră fĭdēs sŭpĕrūm, fērālĕ pĕr ūrbēm
iūstĭtĭūm, lătŭīt plēbēiō tēctŭs ămīctū
ōmnĭs hŏnōs, nūllōs cŏmĭtāta ēst pūrpŭră fācēs.
Tūm quēstūs tĕnŭērĕ sŭōs, māgnūsquĕ pĕr ōmnīs
ērrāvīt sĭnĕ vōcĕ dŏlōr. sīc fūnĕrĕ prīmō
āttŏnĭtaē tăcŭērĕ dŏmūs, cūm cōrpŏră nōndūm
cōnclāmātă iăcēnt, nēc mātēr crīnĕ sŏlūtō
ēxĭgĭt ād saēvōs fămŭlārūm brācchĭă plānctūs,
sēd cūm mēmbră prĕmīt fŭgĭēntĕ rĭgēntĭă vītā
vūltūsque ēxănĭmēs ŏcŭlōsque īn mōrtĕ mĭnācēs;
nēcdum ēst īllĕ dŏlōr, sēd iām mĕtŭs: īncŭbăt āmēns
mīrātūrquĕ mălūm. Cūltūs mātrōnă prĭōrēs
dēpŏsŭīt maēstaēquĕ tĕnēnt dēlūbră cătērvaē.
Haē lăcrĭmīs spārsērĕ dĕōs, haē pēctŏră dūrō
ādflīxērĕ sŏlō lăcĕrāsque īn līmĭnĕ sācrō
āttŏnĭtaē fūdērĕ cŏmās vōtīsquĕ vŏcārī
ādsuētās crēbrīs fĕrĭūnt ŭlŭlātĭbŭs aūrēs.
Nēc cūnctaē sūmmī tēmplō iăcŭērĕ Tŏnāntīs:
dīvīsērĕ dĕōs, ēt nūllīs dēfŭĭt ārīs
īnvĭdĭām fāctūră părēns, quārum ūnă mădēntīs
scīssă gĕnās, plānctū līvēntīs ātră lăcērtōs:
"Nūnc," ăĭt "ō mĭsĕraē, cōntūndĭtĕ pēctŏră, mātrēs,
nūnc lănĭātĕ cŏmās nēve hūnc dīffērtĕ dŏlōrēm
ēt sūmmīs sērvātĕ mălīs; nūnc flērĕ pŏtēstās,
dūm pēndēt fōrtūnă dŭcūm; cūm vīcĕrĭt āltēr,
gaūdēndum ēst." Hīs sē stĭmŭlīs dŏlŏr īpsĕ lăcēssīt.
Nēc nōn bēllă vĭrī dīvērsăquĕ cāstră pĕtēntēs
ēffūndūnt iūstās īn nūmĭnă saēvă quĕrēllās:
"Ō mĭsĕraē sōrtīs, quōd nōn īn Pūnĭcă nātī
tēmpŏră Cānnārūm fŭĭmūs Trĕbĭaēquĕ iŭvēntūs!
Nōn pācēm pĕtĭmūs, sŭpĕrī; dătĕ gēntĭbŭs īrās,
nūnc ūrbēs ēxcītĕ fĕrās, cŏnĭūrĕt ĭn ārmă
mūndŭs, Ăchaēmĕnĭīs dēcūrrānt Mēdĭcă Sūsīs
āgmĭnă, Māssăgĕtēn Scўthĭcūs nōn ādlĭgĕt Hīstēr,
fūndăt ăb ēxtrēmō flāvōs ăquĭlōnĕ Sŭēvōs
Ālbĭs ĕt īndŏmĭtūm Rhēnī căpŭt; ōmnĭbŭs hōstīs
rēddĭtĕ nōs pŏpŭlīs: cīvīle āvērtĭtĕ bēllūm;
hīnc Dācūs, prĕmăt īndĕ Gĕtēs; ōccūrrăt Hĭbērīs
āltĕr, ăd ēōās hīc vērtāt sīgnă phărētrās;
nūllă văcēt tĭbĭ, Rōmă, mănūs. vēl pērdĕrĕ nōmēn
sī plăcĕt Hēspĕrĭūm, sŭpĕrī, cōllātŭs ĭn īgnēs
plūrĭmŭs ād tērrām pēr fūlmĭnă dēcĭdăt aēthēr.
Saēvĕ părēns, ūtrāsquĕ sĭmūl pārtēsquĕ dŭcēsquĕ,
dūm nōndūm mĕrŭērĕ, fĕrī. Tāntōnĕ nŏvōrūm
prōvēntū scĕlĕrūm quaērūnt ŭtĕr īmpĕrĕt Ūrbī?
Vīx tāntī fŭĕrāt cīvīlĭă bēllă mŏvērĕ
ūt neūtēr." Tālīs pĭĕtās pĕrĭtūră quĕrēllās
ēgĕrĭt. Āt mĭsĕrōs āngīt sŭă cūră părēntēs,
ōdērūntquĕ grăvīs vīvācĭă fātă sĕnēctaē
sērvātōsque ĭtĕrūm bēllīs cīvīlĭbŭs ānnōs;
ātque ălĭquīs māgnō quaērēns ēxēmplă tĭmōrī:
"Nōn ălĭōs" īnquīt "mōtūs tūnc fātă părābānt,
cūm pōst Teūtŏnĭcōs vīctōr Lĭbўcōsquĕ trĭūmphōs
ēxūl līmōsā Mărĭūs căpŭt ābdĭdĭt ūlvā.
Stāgna ăvĭdī tēxērĕ sŏlī lāxaēquĕ pălūdēs
dēpŏsĭtūm, Fōrtūnă, tŭūm; mōx vīncŭlă fērrī
ēxēdērĕ sĕnēm lōngūsque īn cārcĕrĕ paēdōr:
cōnsŭl ĕt ēvērsā fēlīx mŏrĭtūrŭs ĭn Ūrbĕ
poēnās āntĕ dăbāt scĕlĕrūm. mōrs īpsă rĕfūgīt
saēpĕ vĭrūm, frūstrāque hōstī cōncēssă pŏtēstās
sānguĭnĭs īnvīsī. Prīmō quī caēdĭs ĭn āctū
dērĭgŭīt fērrūmquĕ mănū tōrpēntĕ rĕmīsīt:
vīdĕrăt īmmēnsām tĕnĕbrōso īn cārcĕrĕ lūcēm
tērrĭbĭlēsquĕ dĕōs scĕlĕrūm Mărĭūmquĕ fŭtūrūm
aūdĭĕrātquĕ păvēns: "Fās haēc cōntīngĕrĕ nōn ēst
cōllă tĭbī; dēbēt mūltās hīc lēgĭbŭs aēvī
āntĕ sŭām mōrtēs; vānūm dēpōnĕ fŭrōrēm.
Sī lĭbĕt ūlcīscī dēlētaē fūnĕră gēntīs,
hūnc, Cīmbrī, sērvātĕ sĕnēm. Nōn īllĕ făvōrĕ
nūmĭnĭs, īngēntī sŭpĕrūm prōtēctŭs ăb īrā
vīr fĕrŭs ēt Rōmām cŭpĭēntī pērdĕrĕ fātō
sūffĭcĭēns." Īdēm pĕlăgō dēlātŭs ĭnīquō
hōstīlem īn tērrām văcŭīsquĕ măpālĭbŭs āctūs
nūdă trĭūmphātī iăcŭīt pēr rēgnă Iŭgūrthaē
ēt Poēnōs prēssīt cĭnĕrēs. Sōlātĭă fātī
Cārthāgō Mărĭūsquĕ tŭlīt, părĭtērquĕ iăcēntēs
īgnōvērĕ dĕīs. Lĭbўcās ĭbĭ cōllĭgĭt īrās:
ūt prīmūm fōrtūnă rĕdīt, sērvīlĭă sōlvīt
āgmĭnă; cōnflātō saēvās ērgāstŭlă fērrō
ēxsĕrŭērĕ mănūs. Nūllī gēstāndă dăbāntūr
sīgnă dŭcīs, nĭsĭ quī scĕlĕrūm iām fēcĕrăt ūsūm
ādtŭlĕrātque īn cāstră nĕfās. Prō fātă! Quĭs īllĕ,
quīs fŭĭt īllĕ dĭēs, Mărĭūs quō moēnĭă vīctōr
cōrrĭpŭīt, quāntōquĕ grădū mōrs saēvă cŭcūrrīt!
Nōbĭlĭtās cūm plēbĕ pĕrīt, lātēquĕ văgātūs
ēnsĭs, ĕt ā nūllō rĕvŏcātūm pēctŏrĕ fērrūm.
Stāt crŭŏr īn tēmplīs, mūltāquĕ rŭbēntĭă caēdĕ
lūbrĭcă sāxă mădēnt. Nūllī sŭă prōfŭĭt aētās:
nōn sĕnĭs ēxtrēmūm pĭgŭīt vērgēntĭbŭs ānnīs
praēcēpīssĕ dĭēm, nēc prīmo īn līmĭnĕ vītaē
īnfāntīs mĭsĕrī nāscēntĭă rūmpĕrĕ fātă.
Crīmĭnĕ quō pārvī caēdēm pŏtŭērĕ mĕrērī?
Sēd sătĭs ēst iām pōssĕ mŏrī. Trăhĭt īpsĕ fŭrōrīs
īmpĕtŭs, ēt vīsūm lēntī quaēsīssĕ nŏcēntēm.
Īn nŭmĕrūm pārs māgnă pĕrīt, răpŭītquĕ crŭēntūs
vīctŏr ăb īgnōtā vūltūs cērvīcĕ rĕcīsōs,
dūm văcŭā pŭdĕt īrĕ mănū. Spēs ūnă sălūtīs
ōscŭlă pōllūtaē fīxīssĕ trĕmēntĭă dēxtraē.
Mīllĕ lĭcēt glădĭī mōrtīs nŏvă sīgnă sĕquāntūr,
dēgĕnĕr ō pŏpŭlūs, vīx saēcŭlă lōngă dĕcōrūm
sīc mĕrŭīssĕ vĭrīs, nēdūm brĕvĕ dēdĕcŭs aēvī
ēt vītām, dūm Sūllă rĕdīt. cuī fūnĕră vūlgī
flērĕ văcēt? vīx tē spārsūm pēr vīscĕră, Baēbī,
īnnŭmĕrās īntēr cārpēntīs mēmbră cŏrōnaē
dīscēssīssĕ mănūs; aūt tē, praēsāgĕ mălōrūm
Āntōnī, cūiūs lăcĕrīs pēndēntĭă cānīs
ōră fĕrēns mīlēs fēstaē rōrāntĭă mēnsaē
īmpŏsŭīt. Trūncōs lăcĕrāvīt Fīmbrĭă Crāssōs;
saēvă trĭbūnĭcĭō mădŭērūnt rōbŏră tābō;
tē quŏquĕ nēglēctūm vĭŏlātaē, Scaēvŏlă, dēxtraē
ānte īpsūm pĕnĕtrālĕ dĕaē sēmpērquĕ călēntīs
māctāvērĕ fŏcōs; pārvūm sēd fēssă sĕnēctūs
sānguĭnĭs ēffūdīt iŭgŭlō flāmmīsquĕ pĕpērcīt.
Sēptĭmŭs haēc sĕquĭtūr rĕpĕtītīs fāscĭbŭs ānnūs.
Īllĕ fŭīt vītaē Mărĭō mŏdŭs ōmnĭă pāssō
quaē pēiōr fōrtūnă pŏtēst, ātque ōmnĭbŭs ūsō
quaē mĕlĭōr, mēnsōque hŏmĭnīs quīd fātă pătērēnt.
Iām quŏt ăpūd Sācrī cĕcĭdērĕ cădāvĕră pōrtūm,
aūt Cōllīnă tŭlīt strātās quōt pōrtă cătērvās,
tūm cūm paēnĕ căpūt mūndī rērūmquĕ pŏtēstās
mūtāvīt trānslātă lŏcūm, Rōmānăquĕ Sāmnīs
ūltrā Caūdīnās spērāvīt vūlnĕră Fūrcās!
Sūllă quŏque īmmēnsīs āccēssīt clādĭbŭs ūltōr.
Īllĕ quŏd ēxĭgŭūm rēstābāt sānguĭnĭs Ūrbī
haūsīt; dūmquĕ nĭmīs iām pūtrĭă mēmbră rĕcīdīt,
ēxcēssīt mĕdĭcīnă mŏdūm, nĭmĭūmquĕ sĕcūtāst,
quā mōrbī dūxērĕ, mănūs. Pĕrĭērĕ nŏcēntēs,
sēd cūm iām sōlī pōssēnt sŭpĕrēssĕ nŏcēntēs.
Tūnc dătă lībērtās ŏdĭīs, rĕsŏlūtăquĕ lēgūm
frēnīs īră rŭīt. Nōn ūnī cūnctă dăbāntūr,
sēd fēcīt sĭbĭ quīsquĕ nĕfās. Sĕmĕl ōmnĭă vīctōr
iūssĕrăt. Īnfāndūm dŏmĭnī pēr vīscĕră fērrūm
ēxēgīt fămŭlūs; nātī mădŭērĕ pătērnō
sānguĭnĕ; cērtātum ēst cuī cērvīx caēsă părēntīs
cēdĕrĕt; īn frātrūm cĕcĭdērūnt praēmĭă frātrēs.
Būstă rĕplētă fŭgā, pērmīxtăquĕ vīvă sĕpūltīs
cōrpŏră, nēc pŏpŭlūm lătĕbraē cēpērĕ fĕrārūm.
Hīc lăquĕō faūcēs ēlīsăquĕ gūttŭră frēgīt,
hīc sē praēcĭpĭtī iăcŭlātūs pōndĕrĕ dūrā
dīssĭlŭīt pērcūssŭs hŭmō, mōrtīsquĕ crŭēntō
vīctōrī răpŭērĕ sŭās; hīc rōbŏră būstī
ēxstrŭĭt īpsĕ sŭī nēcdum ōmnī sānguĭnĕ fūsō
dēsĭlĭt īn flāmmās ēt dūm lĭcĕt ōccŭpăt īgnēs.
Cōllă dŭcūm pīlō trĕpĭdām gēstātă pĕr ūrbēm
ēt mĕdĭō cōngēstă fŏrō; cōgnōscĭtŭr īllīc
quīcquĭd ŭbīquĕ iăcēt. Scĕlĕrūm nōn Thrācĭă tāntūm
vīdīt Bīstŏnĭī stăbŭlīs pēndērĕ tўrānnī,
pōstĭbŭs Āntaēī Lĭbўē, nēc Graēcĭă maērēns
tām lăcĕrōs ārtūs Pīsaēā flēvĭt ĭn aūlā.
Cūm iām tābĕ flŭūnt cōnfūsăquĕ tēmpŏrĕ mūltō
āmīsērĕ nŏtās, mĭsĕrōrūm dēxtră părēntūm
cōllĭgĭt ēt păvĭdō sūbdūcīt cōgnĭtă fūrtō.
Mēque īpsūm mĕmĭnī caēsī dēfōrmĭă frātrīs
ōră rŏgō cŭpĭdūm vĕtĭtīsque īmpōnĕrĕ flāmmīs
ōmnĭă Sūllānaē lūstrāssĕ cădāvĕră pācīs,
pērque ōmnīs trūncōs cūm quā cērvīcĕ rĕcīsūm
cōnvĕnĭāt quaēsīssĕ căpūt. quīd sānguĭnĕ mānēs
plācātōs Cătŭlī rĕfĕrām? cūm vīctĭmă trīstīs
īnfĕrĭās Mărĭūs fōrsān nōlēntĭbŭs ūmbrīs
pēndĭt, ĭnēxplētō nōn fāndă pĭācŭlă būstō,
cūm lăcĕrōs ārtūs aēquātăquĕ vūlnĕră mēmbrīs
vīdĭmŭs, ēt tōtō quāmvīs īn cōrpŏrĕ caēsō
nīl ănĭmaē lētālĕ dătūm mōrēmquĕ nĕfāndaē
dīrūm saēvĭtĭaē, pĕrĕūntīs pārcĕrĕ mōrtī.
Āvūlsaē cĕcĭdērĕ mănūs, ēxsēctăquĕ līnguă
pālpĭtăt ēt mūtō văcŭūm fĕrĭt āĕră mōtū.
Hīc aūrēs, ălĭūs spīrāmĭnă nārĭs ădūncaē
āmpŭtăt; īllĕ căvīs ēvōlvīt sēdĭbŭs ōrbēs,
ūltĭmăque ēffūdīt spēctātīs lūmĭnă mēmbrīs.
Vīx ĕrĭt ūllă fĭdēs tām saēvī crīmĭnĭs ūnūm
tōt poēnās cēpīssĕ căpūt. sīc mōlĕ rŭīnaē
frāctă sŭb īngēntī mīscēntūr pōndĕrĕ mēmbră,
nēc măgĭs īnfōrmēs vĕnĭūnt ād lītŏră trūncī,
quī mĕdĭō pĕrĭērĕ frĕtō. quīd pērdĕrĕ frūctūm
iūvĭt ĕt ūt vīlēm Mărĭī cōnfūndĕrĕ vūltūm?
Vt scĕlŭs hōc Sūllaē caēdēsque ōstēnsă plăcērēt,
āgnōscēndŭs ĕrāt. vīdīt Fōrtūnă cŏlōnōs
Praēnēstīnă sŭōs cūnctōs sĭmŭl ēnsĕ rĕcēptō
ūnīūs pŏpŭlūm pĕrĕūntēm tēmpŏrĕ mōrtīs.
Tūnc flōs Hēspĕrĭaē, Lătĭī iām sōlă iŭvēntūs
cōncĭdĭt ēt mĭsĕraē măcŭlāvĭt ŏvīlĭă Rōmaē.
Tōt sĭmŭl īnfēstō iŭvĕnēs ōccūmbĕrĕ lētō
saēpĕ fămēs pĕlăgīquĕ fŭrōr sŭbĭtaēquĕ rŭīnaē
aūt tērraē caēlīquĕ lŭēs aūt bēllĭcă clādēs,
nūmquām poēnă fŭīt. dēnsī vīx āgmĭnă vūlgī
īntĕr ĕt ēxsānguēs īmmīssā mōrtĕ cătērvās
vīctōrēs mōvērĕ mănūm. vīx caēdĕ pĕrāctā
prōcūmbūnt dŭbĭāquĕ lăbānt cērvīcĕ; sĕd īllōs
māgnă prĕmīt strāgēs, pĕrăgūntquĕ cădāvĕră pārtēm
caēdīs: vīvă grăvēs ēlīdūnt cōrpŏră trūncī.
Īntrĕpĭdūs tāntī sēdīt sēcūrŭs ăb āltō
spēctātōr scĕlĕrīs; mĭsĕrī tōt mīlĭă vūlgī
nōn tĭmŭīt iūssīssĕ mŏrī. cōngēstă rĕcēpīt
ōmnĭă Tŷrrhēnūs Sūllānă cădāvĕră gūrgēs;
īn flŭvĭūm prīmī cĕcĭdēre, īn cōrpŏră sūmmī.
Praēcĭpĭtēs haēsērĕ rătēs, ēt strāgĕ crŭēntā
īntērrūptŭs ăquaē flūxīt prĭŏr āmnĭs ĭn aēquōr,
ād mōlēm stĕtĭt ūndă sĕquēns. Iām sānguĭnĭs āltī
vīs sĭbĭ fēcĭt ĭtēr, cāmpūmque ēffūsă pĕr ōmnēm
praēcīpītĭquĕ ruēns Tĭbĕrīna īn flūmĭnă rīvō
haērēntīs ādiūvĭt ăquās, nēc iam ālvĕŭs āmnēm
nēc rĕtĭnēnt rīpaē, rēddītquĕ cădāvĕră cāmpō.
Tāndēm Tŷrrhēnās vīx ēlūctātŭs ĭn ūndās
sānguĭnĕ caērŭlĕūm tōrrēntī dīvĭdĭt aēquōr.
Hīsnĕ sălūs rērūm, fēlīx hīs Sūllă vŏcārī,
hīs mĕrŭīt tŭmŭlūm mĕdĭō sĭbĭ tōllĕrĕ Cāmpō?
Haēc rūrsūs pătĭēndă mănēnt, hōc ōrdĭnĕ bēllī
ībĭtŭr, hīc stābīt cīvīlĭbŭs ēxĭtŭs ārmīs.
Quāmquam ăgĭtānt grăvĭōră mĕtūs, mūltūmquĕ cŏītūr
hūmānī gĕnĕrīs māiōre īn proēlĭă dāmnō.
Ēxŭlĭbūs Mărĭīs bēllōrūm māxĭmă mērcēs
Rōmă rĕcēptă fŭīt, nēc plūs vīctōrĭă Sūllaē
praēstĭtĭt, īnvīsās pĕnĭtūs quām tōllĕrĕ pārtēs.
Hōs ălĭō, Fōrtūnă, vŏcās, ōlīmquĕ pŏtēntēs
cōncūrrūnt. neūtēr cīvīlĭă bēllă mŏvērēt,
cōntēntūs quōd Sūllă fŭīt." Sīc maēstă sĕnēctūs
praētĕrĭtīquĕ mĕmōr flēbāt mĕtŭēnsquĕ fŭtūrī.
Āt nōn māgnănĭmī pērcūssīt pēctŏră Brūtī
tērrŏr, ĕt īn tāntā păvĭdī fōrmīdĭnĕ mōtūs
pārs pŏpŭlī lūgēntĭs ĕrāt; sēd nōctĕ sŏpōrā,
Pārrhăsĭs ōblīquōs Hĕlĭcē cūm vērtĕrĕt āxēs,
ātrĭă cōgnātī pūlsāt nōn āmplă Cătōnīs.
Īnvĕnĭt īnsōmnī vōlvēntēm pūblĭcă cūrā
fātă vĭrūm cāsūsque ūrbīs cūnctīsquĕ tĭmēntēm
sēcūrūmquĕ sŭī, fārīque hīs vōcĭbŭs ōrsūs:
"Ōmnĭbŭs ēxpūlsaē tērrīs ōlīmquĕ fŭgātaē
vīrtūtīs iām sōlă fĭdēs, quām tūrbĭnĕ nūllō
ēxcŭtĭēt fōrtūnă tĭbī, tū mēntĕ lăbāntēm
dērĭgĕ mē, dŭbĭūm cērtō tū rōbŏrĕ fīrmā.
Nāmque ălĭī Māgnūm vēl Caēsărĭs ārmă sĕquāntūr:
dūx Brūtō Cătŏ sōlŭs ĕrīt. Pācēmnĕ tŭērīs
īncōncūssă tĕnēns dŭbĭō vēstīgĭă mūndō?
Ān plăcŭīt dŭcĭbūs scĕlĕrūm pŏpŭlīquĕ fŭrēntīs
clādĭbŭs īmmīxtūm cīvīle ābsōlvĕrĕ bēllūm?
Quēmquĕ sŭaē răpĭūnt scĕlĕrāta īn proēlĭă caūsaē:
hōs pōllūtă dŏmūs lēgēsque īn pācĕ tĭmēndaē,
hōs fērrō fŭgĭēndă fămēs mūndīquĕ rŭīnaē
pērmīscēndă fĭdēs. Nūllūm fŭrŏr ēgĭt ĭn ārmă:
cāstră pĕtūnt māgnā vīctī mērcēdĕ; tĭbi ūnī
pēr sē bēllă plăcēnt? Quīd tōt dūrārĕ pĕr ānnōs
prōfŭĭt īmmūnēm cōrrūptī mōrĭbŭs aēvī?
Hōc sōlūm lōngaē prĕtĭūm vīrtūtĭs hăbēbīs?
Āccĭpĭēnt ălĭōs, făcĭēnt tē bēllă nŏcēntēm.
Nē tāntum, ō sŭpĕrī, lĭcĕāt fērālĭbŭs ārmīs,
hās ĕtĭām mōvīssĕ mănūs, nēc pīlă lăcērtīs
mīssă tŭīs caēcā tēlōrum īn nūbĕ fĕrāntūr,
nēc tānta īncāssūm vīrtūs ĕăt. īngĕrĕt ōmnīs
sē bēllī fōrtūnă tĭbī. Quīs nōllĕt ĭn īstō
ēnsĕ mŏrī, quāmvīs ălĭēnō vūlnĕrĕ lābēns,
ēt scĕlŭs ēssĕ tŭūm? Mĕlĭūs trānquīllă sĭne ārmīs
ōtĭă sōlŭs ăgēs; sīcūt caēlēstĭă sēmpēr
īncōncūssă sŭō vōlvūntūr sīdĕră lāpsū,
fūlmĭnĭbūs prŏpĭōr tērraē sūccēndĭtŭr āēr;
īmăquĕ tēllūrīs vēntōs trāctūsquĕ cŏrūscōs
flāmmārum āccĭpĭūnt, nūbēs ēxcēdĭt Ŏlŷmpūs.
Lēgĕ dĕūm mĭnĭmās rērūm dīscōrdĭă tūrbāt,
pācēm māgnă tĕnēnt. Quām laētaē Caēsărĭs aūrēs
āccĭpĭēnt tāntūm vēnīsse īn proēlĭă cīvēm!
Nām praēlātă sŭīs nūmquām dīvērsă dŏlēbīt
cāstră dŭcīs Māgnī. Nĭmĭūm plăcĕt īpsĕ Cătōnī,
sī bēllūm cīvīlĕ plăcēt. Pārs māgnă sĕnātūs
ēt dŭcĕ prīvātō gēstūrūs proēlĭă cōnsūl
sōllĭcĭtānt prŏcĕrēsque ălĭī; quĭbŭs āddĕ Cătōnēm
sūb iŭgă Pōmpēī, tōtō iām lībĕr ĭn ōrbĕ
sōlūs Caēsăr ĕrīt. Quōd sī prō lēgĭbŭs ārmă
fērrĕ iŭvāt pătrĭīs lībērtātēmquĕ tŭērī,
nūnc nĕquĕ Pōmpēī Brūtūm nĕquĕ Caēsărĭs hōstēm,
pōst bēllūm vīctōrĭs hăbēs." Sīc fātŭr, ăt īllī
ārcānō sācrās rēddīt Cătŏ pēctŏrĕ vōcēs:
"Sūmmūm, Brūtĕ, nĕfās cīvīlĭă bēllă fătēmūr;
sēd quō fātă trăhūnt, vīrtūs sēcūră sĕquētūr;
crīmĕn ĕrīt sŭpĕrīs ēt mē fēcīssĕ nŏcēntēm.
Sīdĕră quīs mūndūmquĕ vĕlīt spēctārĕ cădēntēm
ēxpērs īpsĕ mĕtūs? Quīs, cūm rŭăt ārdŭŭs aēthēr,
tērră lăbēt mīxtō coēūntīs pōndĕrĕ mūndī,
cōmprēssās tĕnŭīssĕ mănūs? Gēntēsnĕ fŭrōrēm
Hēspĕrĭum īgnōtaē Rōmānăquĕ bēllă sĕquēntūr
dīdūctī frētīs ălĭō sūb sīdĕrĕ rēgēs,
ōtĭă sōlŭs ăgām? Prŏcŭl hūnc ārcētĕ fŭrōrēm,
ō sŭpĕrī, mōtūră Dăhās ūt clādĕ Gĕtāsquĕ
sēcūrō mē Rōmă cădāt. Ceū mōrtĕ părēntēm
nātōrum ōrbātūm lōngūm prōdūcĕrĕ fūnūs
ād tŭmŭlōs iŭbĕt īpsĕ dŏlōr, iŭvăt īgnĭbŭs ātrīs
īnsērvīssĕ mănūs cōnstrūctōque āggĕrĕ būstī
īpsum ātrās tĕnŭīssĕ făcēs: nōn āntĕ rĕvēllār
ēxănĭmēm quām tē cōmplēctār, Rōmă, tŭūmquĕ
nōmēn, lībērtās, ĕt ĭnānēm prōsĕquăr ūmbrām.
Sīc ĕăt: īmmītēs Rōmānă pĭācŭlă dīvī
plēnă fĕrānt, nūllō fraūdēmūs sānguĭnĕ bēllūm.
Ō | ŭtĭnām caēlīquĕ dĕīs Ĕrĕbīquĕ lĭcērēt
hōc căpŭt īn cūnctās dāmnātum ēxpōnĕrĕ poēnās!
Dēvōtum hōstīlēs Dĕcĭūm prēssērĕ cătērvaē:
mē gĕmĭnaē fīgānt ăcĭēs, mē bārbără tēlīs
Rhēnī tūrbă pĕtāt, cūnctīs ĕgŏ pērvĭŭs hāstīs
ēxcĭpĭām mĕdĭūs tōtīūs vūlnĕră bēllī.
Hīc rĕdĭmāt sānguīs pŏpŭlōs, hāc caēdĕ lŭātūr
quīdquīd Rōmānī mĕrŭērūnt pēndĕrĕ mōrēs.
Ād iŭgă cūr făcĭlēs pŏpŭlī, cūr saēvă vŏlēntēs
rēgnă pătī pĕrĕūnt? Mē sōlum īnvādĭtĕ fērrō,
mē frūstrā lēgēs ĕt ĭnānĭă iūră tŭēntēm.
Hīc dăbĭt, hīc pācēm iŭgŭlūs fīnēmquĕ mălōrūm
gēntĭbŭs Hēspĕrĭīs; pōst mē rēgnārĕ vŏlēntī
nōn ŏpŭs ēst bēllō. Quīn pūblĭcă sīgnă dŭcēmquĕ
Pōmpēiūm sĕquĭmūr? Nēc, sī fōrtūnă făvēbīt,
hūnc quŏquĕ tōtīūs sĭbĭ iūs prōmīttĕrĕ mūndī
nōn bĕnĕ cōmpērtum ēst: ĭdĕō mē mīlĭtĕ vīncāt,
nē sĭbĭ sē vīcīssĕ pŭtēt." Sīc fātŭr ĕt ācrīs
īrārūm mōvīt stĭmŭlōs iŭvĕnīsquĕ călōrēm
ēxcĭtăt īn nĭmĭōs bēllī cīvīlĭs ămōrēs.
Īntĕrĕā Phoēbō gĕlĭdās pēllēntĕ tĕnēbrās
pūlsātaē sŏnŭērĕ fŏrēs quās sānctă rĕlīctō
Hōrtēnsī maērēns īrrūpīt Mārcĭă būstō;
quōndām vīrgŏ tŏrīs mĕlĭōrīs iūnctă mărītī,
mōx ŭbĭ cōnŭbĭī prĕtĭūm mērcēsquĕ sŏlūtāst
tērtĭă iām sŭbŏlēs, ălĭōs fēcūndă pĕnātēs
īmplētūră dătūr gĕmĭnās ēt sānguĭnĕ mātrīs
pērmīxtūră dŏmōs. Sēd pōstquām cōndĭdĭt ūrnā
sūprēmōs cĭnĕrēs, mĭsĕrāndō cōncĭtă vūltū,
ēffūsās lănĭātă cŏmās cōntūsăquĕ pēctūs
vērbĕrĭbūs crēbrīs cĭnĕrēsque īngēstă sĕpūlchrī,
nōn ălĭtēr plăcĭtūră vĭrō, sīc maēstă prŏfātūr:
"Dūm sānguīs ĭnĕrāt, dūm vīs mātērnă, pĕrēgī
iūssă, Căto, ēt gĕmĭnōs ēxcēpī fētă mărītōs;
vīscĕrĭbūs lāssīs pārtūque ēxhaūstă rĕvērtōr
iām nūllī trādēndă vĭrō. Dā foēdĕră prīscī
īllībātă tŏrī, dā tāntūm nōmĕn ĭnānĕ
cōnŭbĭī, lĭcĕāt tŭmŭlō scrīpsīssĕ: "Cătōnīs
Mārcĭă"; nēc dŭbĭūm lōngō quaērātŭr ĭn aēvō,
mūtārīm prīmās, ēxpūlsa ān trādĭtă, taēdās.
Nōn mē laētōrūm sŏcĭām rēbūsquĕ sĕcūndīs
āccĭpĭs: īn cūrās vĕnĭō pārtēmquĕ lăbōrūm.
Dā mĭhĭ cāstră sĕquī. Cūr tūta īn pācĕ rĕlīnquōr
ēt sīt cīvīlī prŏpĭōr Cōrnēlĭă bēllō?"
Haē flēxērĕ vĭrūm vōcēs, ēt tēmpŏră quāmquām
sīnt ălĭēnă tŏrīs, iām fāto īn bēllă vŏcāntĕ,
foēdĕră sōlă tămēn vānāquĕ cărēntĭă pōmpā
iūră plăcēnt sācrīsquĕ dĕōs ādmīttĕrĕ tēstēs.
Fēstă cŏrōnātō nōn pēndēnt līmĭnĕ sērtă,
īnfŭlăque īn gĕmĭnōs dīscūrrīt cāndĭdă pōstēs,
lēgĭtĭmaēquĕ făcēs, grădĭbūsque ācclīnĭs ĕbūrnīs
stāt tŏrŭs, ēt pīctō vēstēs dīscrīmĭnăt aūrō,
tūrrītāquĕ prĕmēns frōntēm mātrōnă cŏrōnā
trānslātā vītāt cōntīngĕrĕ līmĭnă plāntā;
nōn tĭmĭdūm nūptaē lĕvĭtēr tēctūră pŭdōrēm
lūtĕă dēmīssōs vēlārūnt flāmmĕă vūltūs,
bāltĕŭs aūt flūxōs gēmmīs āstrīnxĭt ămīctūs,
cōllă mŏnīlĕ dĕcēns, ŭmĕrīsque haērēntĭă prīmīs
sūppără nūdātōs cīngūnt āngūstă lăcērtōs.
Sīcŭt ĕrāt, maēstī sērvāt lūgūbrĭă cūltūs
quōquĕ mŏdō nātōs, hōc ēst āmplēxă mărītūm.
Ōbsĭtă fūnĕrĕā cēlātūr pūrpŭră lānā.
Nōn sŏlĭtī lūsērĕ sălēs, nēc mōrĕ Săbīnō
ēxcēpīt trīstīs cōnvīcĭă fēstă mărītūs.
Pīgnŏră nūllă dŏmūs, nūllī cŏĭērĕ prŏpīnquī:
iūngūntūr tăcĭtī cōntēntīque aūspĭcĕ Brūtō.
Īllĕ nĕc hōrrĭfĭcām sānctō dīmōvĭt ăb ōrĕ
caēsărĭēm dūrōque ādmīsīt gaūdĭă vūltū
(ūt prīmūm tōllī fērālĭă vīdĕrăt ārmă,
īntōnsōs rĭgĭdam īn frōntēm dēscēndĕrĕ cānōs
pāssŭs ĕrāt maēstāmquĕ gĕnīs īncrēscĕrĕ bārbām:
ūnī quīppĕ văcāt stŭdĭīs ŏdĭīsquĕ cărēntī
hūmānūm lūgērĕ gĕnūs). Nēc foēdĕră prīscī
sūnt tēmptātă tŏrī; iūstō quŏquĕ rōbŭr ămōrī
rēstĭtĭt. hī mōrēs, haēc dūri īmmōtă Cătōnīs
sēctă fŭīt, sērvārĕ mŏdūm fīnēsquĕ tĕnērĕ
nātūrāmquĕ sĕquī pătrĭaēque īmpēndĕrĕ vītām
nēc sĭbĭ, sēd tōtī gĕnĭtūm sē crēdĕrĕ mūndō.
Huīc ĕpŭlaē vīcīssĕ fămēm; māgnīquĕ pĕnātēs
sūmmōvīsse hĭĕmēm tēctō; prĕtĭōsăquĕ vēstīs
hīrtām mēmbră sŭpēr Rōmānī mōrĕ Quĭrītīs
īndūxīssĕ tŏgām; Vĕnĕrīsque hīc māxĭmŭs ūsūs
prōgĕnĭēs; Ūrbī pătĕr ēst Ūrbīquĕ mărītūs,
iūstĭtĭaē cūltōr, rĭgĭdī sērvātŏr hŏnēstī,
īn cōmmūnĕ bŏnūs; nūllōsquĕ Cătōnĭs ĭn āctūs
sūbrēpsīt pārtēmquĕ tŭlīt sĭbĭ nātă vŏlūptās.
Īntĕrĕā trĕpĭdō dīscēdēns āgmĭnĕ Māgnūs
moēnĭă Dārdănĭī tĕnŭīt Cāmpānă cŏlōnī.
Haēc plăcŭīt bēllī sēdēs, hīnc sūmmă mŏvēntēm
hōstĭs ĭn ōccūrsūm spārsās ēxtēndĕrĕ pārtīs,
ūmbrōsīs mĕdĭām quā cōllĭbŭs Āppēnnīnūs
ērĭgĭt Ītălĭām, nūllōque ā vērtĭcĕ tēllūs
āltĭŭs īntŭmŭīt prŏpĭūsque āccēssĭt Ŏlŷmpō.
Mōns īntēr gĕmĭnās mĕdĭūs sē pōrrĭgĭt ūndās
īnfērnī sŭpĕrīquĕ mărīs, cōllēsquĕ cŏērcēnt
hīnc Tŷrrhēnă vădō frāngēntēs aēquŏră Pīsaē,
īllīnc Dālmătĭcīs ōbnōxĭă flūctĭbŭs Āncōn.
Fōntĭbŭs hīc vāstīs īmmēnsōs cōncĭpĭt āmnēs
flūmĭnăque īn gĕmĭnī spārgīt dīvōrtĭă pōntī.
Īn laēvūm cĕcĭdērĕ lătūs vēlōxquĕ Mĕtaūrūs
Crūstŭmĭūmquĕ răpāx ēt iūnctō Sāpĭs Ĭsaūrō
Sēnăque ĕt Ādrĭăcās quī vērbĕrăt Aūfĭdŭs ūndās,
quōquĕ măgīs nūllūm tēllūs sē sōlvĭt ĭn āmnēm,
Ērĭdănūs frāctās dĕvŏlūĭt ĭn aēquŏră sīlvās
Hēspĕrĭāmque ēxhaūrĭt ăquīs. Hūnc fābŭlă prīmūm
pōpŭlĕā flŭvĭūm rīpās ūmbrāssĕ cŏrōnā,
cūmquĕ dĭēm prōnūm trānsvērsō līmĭtĕ dūcēns
sūccēndīt Phaēthōn flāgrāntĭbŭs aēthĕră lōrīs,
gūrgĭtĭbūs rāptīs pĕnĭtūs tēllūrĕ pĕrūstā,
hūnc hăbŭīssĕ părēs Phoēbēīs īgnĭbŭs ūndās.
Nōn mĭnŏr hīc Nīlō sī nōn pēr plānă iăcēntīs
Aēgŷptī Lĭbўcīs Nīlūs stāgnārĕt hărēnīs;
nōn mĭnŏr hīc Hīstrō, nĭsĭ quōd dūm pērmĕăt ōrbēm
Hīstēr cāsūrōs īn quaēlĭbĕt aēquŏră fōntēs
āccĭpĭt ēt Scўthĭcās ēxīt nōn sōlŭs ĭn ūndās.
Dēxtĕrĭōră pĕtēns mōntīs dēclīvĭă Thŷbrīm
ūndă făcīt Rŭtŭbāmquĕ căvūm. Dēlābĭtŭr īndĕ
Vūltūrnūsquĕ cĕlēr nōctūrnaēque ēdĭtŏr aūraē
Sārnŭs ĕt ūmbrōsaē Līrīs pēr rēgnă Mărīcaē
Vēstīnīs īmpūlsŭs ăquīs rādēnsquĕ Sălērnī
cūltă Sĭlēr, nūllāsquĕ vădō quī Mācră mŏrātūs
ālnōs vīcīnaē prōcūrrĭt ĭn aēquŏră Lūnaē.
Lōngĭŏr ēdūctō quā sūrgĭt ĭn āĕră dōrsō,
Gāllĭcă rūră vĭdēt dēvēxāsque ēxcĭpĭt Ālpīs.
Tūnc Ūmbrīs Mārsīsquĕ fĕrāx dŏmĭtūsquĕ Săbēllō
vōmĕrĕ, pīnĭfĕrīs āmplēxūs rūpĭbŭs ōmnīs
īndĭgĕnās Lătĭī pŏpŭlōs, nōn dēsĕrĭt āntĕ
Hēspĕrĭām quām cūm Scŷllaēīs claūdĭtŭr ūndīs
ēxtēndītquĕ sŭās īn tēmplă Lăcīnĭă rūpēs,
lōngĭŏr Ītălĭā, dōnēc cōnfīnĭă pōntūs
sōlvĕrĕt īncūmbēns tērrāsquĕ rĕpēllĕrĕt aēquōr.
Āt pōstquām gĕmĭnō tēllūs ēlīsă prŏfūndōst
ēxtrēmī cōllēs Sĭcŭlō cēssērĕ Pĕlōrō.
Caēsăr ĭn ārmă fŭrēns nūllās nĭsĭ sānguĭnĕ fūsō
gaūdĕt hăbērĕ vĭās, quōd nōn tĕrăt hōstĕ văcāntīs
Hēspĕrĭaē fīnēs văcŭōsque īrrūmpăt ĭn āgrōs
ātque īpsūm nōn pērdăt ĭtēr cōnsērtăquĕ bēllīs
bēllă gĕrāt. Nōn tām pōrtās īntrārĕ pătēntīs
quām frēgīssĕ iŭvāt, nēc tām pătĭēntĕ cŏlōnō
ārvă prĕmī quām sī fērrō pŏpŭlētŭr ĕt īgnī;
cōncēssā pŭdĕt īrĕ vĭā cīvēmquĕ vĭdērī.
Tūnc ūrbēs Lătĭī dŭbĭaē vărĭōquĕ făvōrĕ
āncĭpĭtēs, quāmquām prīmō tērrōrĕ rŭēntīs
cēssūraē bēllī, dēnsō tămĕn āggĕrĕ fīrmānt
moēnĭa ĕt ābrūptō cīrcūmdānt ūndĭquĕ vāllō
sāxōrūmque ōrbēs, ēt quaē sŭpĕr ēmĭnŭs hōstēm
tēlă pĕtānt āltīs mūrōrūm tūrrĭbŭs āptānt.
Prōnĭŏr īn Māgnūm pŏpŭlūs, pūgnātquĕ mĭnācī
cūm tērrōrĕ fĭdēs: ūt cūm mărĕ pōssĭdĕt aūstēr
flātĭbŭs hōrrĭsŏnīs, hūnc aēquŏră tōtă sĕquūntūr;
sī rūrsūs tēllūs pūlsū lāxātă trĭdēntīs
Aēŏlĭī tŭmĭdīs īmmīttāt flūctĭbŭs eūrūm,
quāmvīs īctă nŏvō, vēntūm tĕnŭērĕ prĭōrēm
aēquŏră, nūbĭfĕrōquĕ pŏlūs cūm cēssĕrĭt eūrō,
vīndĭcăt ūndă nŏtūm. Făcĭlīs sēd vērtĕrĕ mēntēs
tērrŏr ĕrāt dŭbĭāmquĕ fĭdēm fōrtūnă fĕrēbāt.
Gēns Ētrūscă fŭgā trĕpĭdī nūdātă Lĭbōnīs,
iūsquĕ sŭī pūlsō iām pērdĭdĭt Ūmbrĭă Thērmō.
Nēc gĕrĭt aūspĭcĭīs cīvīlĭă bēllă pătērnīs
Caēsărĭs aūdītō cōnvērsūs nōmĭnĕ Sūllā.
Vārŭs, ŭt ādmōtaē pūlsārūnt Aūxĭmŏn ālaē,
pēr dīvērsā ruēns nēglēctō moēnĭă tērgō,
quā sīlvaē, quā sāxă, fŭgīt. Dēpēllĭtŭr ārcĕ
Lēntŭlŭs Āscŭlĕā; vīctōr cēdēntĭbŭs īnstāt
dēvērtītque ăcĭēs, sōlūsque ēx āgmĭnĕ tāntō
dūx fŭgĭt ēt nūllās dūcēntĭă sīgnă cŏhōrtēs.
Tū quŏquĕ nūdātām cōmmīssaē dēsĕrĭs ārcēm,
Scīpĭŏ, Lūcĕrĭaē, quāmquām fīrmīssĭmă pūbēs
hīs sĕdĕāt cāstrīs, iāmprīdēm Caēsărĭs ārmīs
Pārthōrūm sēdūctă mĕtū, quā Gāllĭcă dāmnă
sūpplēvīt Māgnūs dūmque īpse ād bēllă văcārēt,
dōnāvīt sŏcĕrō Rōmānī sānguĭnĭs ūsūm.
Āt tē Cōrfīnī vălĭdīs cīrcūmdătă mūrīs
tēctă tĕnēnt, pūgnāx Dŏmĭtī; tŭă clāssĭcă sērvāt
ōppŏsĭtūs quōndām pōllūtō tīrŏ Mĭlōnī.
Vt prŏcŭl īmmēnsām cāmpō cōnsūrgĕrĕ nūbēm
ārdēntīsque ăcĭēs pērcūssīs sōlĕ cŏrūscō
cōnspēxīt tēlīs, "Sŏcĭī, dēcūrrĭtĕ" dīxīt
"flūmĭnĭs ād rīpās ūndaēque īmmērgĭtĕ pōntēm.
Ēt tū mōntānīs tōtūs nūnc fōntĭbŭs ēxī
ātque ōmnīs trăhĕ, gūrgĕs, ăquās, ūt spūmĕŭs ālnōs
dīscūssā cōmpāgĕ fĕrās. Hōc līmĭtĕ bēllūm
haērĕăt, hāc hōstīs lēntūs tĕrăt ōtĭă rīpā.
Praēcĭpĭtēm cŏhĭbētĕ dŭcēm; vīctōrĭă nōbīs
hīc prīmūm stāns Caēsăr ĕrīt." Nēc plūră lŏcūtūs
dēvōlvīt răpĭdūm nēquīcquām moēnĭbŭs āgmēn.
Nām prĭŏr ē cāmpīs ūt cōnspĭcĭt āmnĕ sŏlūtō
rūmpī Caēsăr ĭtēr, călĭdā prōlātŭs ăb īrā:
"Nōn sătĭs ēst mūrīs lătĕbrās quaēsīssĕ păvōrī?
Ōbstrŭĭtīs cāmpōs flŭvĭīsque ārcērĕ părātīs,
īgnāvī! Nōn sī tŭmĭdō mē gūrgĭtĕ Gāngēs
sūmmŏvĕāt, stābīt iām flūmĭnĕ Caēsăr ĭn ūllō
pōst Rŭbĭcōnĭs ăquās. Ĕquĭtūm prŏpĕrātĕ cătērvaē,
ītĕ sĭmūl pĕdĭtēs, rŭĭtūrum āscēndĭtĕ pōntēm."
Haēc ŭbĭ dīctă, lĕvīs tōtās āccēpĭt hăbēnās
īn cāmpūm sŏnĭpēs, crēbrōquĕ sĭmīllĭmă nīmbō
trāns rīpām vălĭdī tōrsērūnt tēlă lăcērtī.
Īngrĕdĭtūr pūlsā flŭvĭūm stătĭōnĕ văcāntēm
Caēsăr ĕt ād tūtās hōstīs cōnpēllĭtŭr ārcēs.
Ēt iām mōtūrās īngēntĭă pōndĕră tūrrīs
ērĭgĭt, ēt mĕdĭīs sūbrēpīt vīnĕă mūrīs:
ēccĕ, nĕfās bēllī! rĕsĕrātīs āgmĭnă pōrtīs
cāptīvūm trāxērĕ dŭcēm, cīvīsquĕ sŭpērbī
cōnstĭtĭt āntĕ pĕdēs; vūltū tămĕn āltă mĭnācī
nōbĭlĭtās rēctā fērrūm cērvīcĕ pŏpōscīt.
Scīt Caēsār poēnāmquĕ pĕtī vĕnĭāmquĕ tĭmērī:
"Vīvĕ, lĭcēt nōlīs, ēt nōstrō mūnĕrĕ" dīxīt
"cērnĕ dĭēm. vīctīs iām spēs bŏnă pārtĭbŭs ēstō
ēxēmplūmquĕ mĕī; vēl, sī lĭbĕt, ārmă rĕtēmptā,
ēt nĭhĭl hāc vĕnĭā, sī vīcĕrĭs īpsĕ, păcīscōr."
Fātŭr ĕt āstrīctīs lāxārī vīncŭlă pālmīs
īmpĕrăt. Heū quāntō mĕlĭūs vēl caēdĕ pĕrāctā
pārcĕrĕ Rōmānō pŏtŭīt fōrtūnă pŭdōrī!
Poēnārum ēxtrēmūm cīvī, quōd cāstră sĕcūtūs
sīt pătrĭaē Māgnūmquĕ dŭcēm tōtūmquĕ sĕnātūm,
īgnōscī. Prĕmĭt īllĕ grăvīs īntērrĭtŭs īrās
ēt sēcūm: "Rōmāmnĕ pĕtēs pācīsquĕ rĕcēssūs
dēgĕnĕr? Īn mĕdĭōs bēllī nōn īrĕ fŭrōrēs
iām dūdūm mŏrĭtūrĕ părās? Rŭĕ cērtŭs ĕt ōmnīs
lūcīs rūmpĕ mŏrās ēt Caēsărĭs ēffŭgĕ mūnūs."
Nēscĭŭs īntĕrĕā cāptī dŭcĭs ārmă părābāt
Māgnŭs, ŭt īmmīxtō fīrmārēt rōbŏrĕ pārtīs.
Iāmquĕ sĕcūtūrō iūssūrūs clāssĭcă Phoēbō
tēmptāndāsquĕ rătūs mōtūrī mīlĭtĭs īrās
ādlŏquĭtūr tăcĭtās vĕnĕrāndā vōcĕ cŏhōrtēs:
"Ō scĕlĕrum ūltōrēs mĕlĭōrăquĕ sīgnă sĕcūtī,
ō vērē Rōmānă mănūs, quĭbŭs ārmă sĕnātūs
nōn prīvātă dĕdīt, vōtīs dēpōscĭtĕ pūgnām.
Ārdēnt Hēspĕrĭī saēvīs pŏpŭlātĭbŭs āgrī,
Gāllĭcă pēr gĕlĭdās răbĭēs ēffūndĭtŭr Ālpēs,
iām tĕtĭgīt sānguīs pōllūtōs Caēsărĭs ēnsēs.
Dī mĕlĭūs, bēllī tŭlĭmūs quōd dāmnă prĭōrēs:
coēpĕrĭt īndĕ nĕfās. Iāmiām mē praēsĭdĕ Rōmă
sūpplĭcĭūm poēnāmquĕ pĕtāt. Nĕque ĕnim īstă vŏcārī
proēlĭă iūstă dĕcēt, pătrĭaē sēd vīndĭcĭs īrām;
nēc măgĭs hōc bēllum ēst quām quōd Cătĭlīnă părāvīt
ārsūrās īn tēctă făcēs sŏcĭūsquĕ fŭrōrīs
Lēntŭlŭs ēxsērtīquĕ mănūs vēsānă Cĕthēgī.
Ō răbĭēs mĭsĕrāndă dŭcīs! cūm fātă Cămīllīs
tē, Caēsār, māgnīsquĕ vĕlīnt mīscērĕ Mĕtēllīs,
ād Cīnnās Mărĭōsquĕ vĕnīs. Stērnērĕ prŏfēctō,
ūt Cătŭlō iăcŭīt Lĕpĭdūs, nōstrāsquĕ sĕcūrīs
pāssūs, Sīcănĭō tĕgĭtūr quī Cārbŏ sĕpūlchrō,
quīquĕ fĕrōs mōvīt Sērtōrĭŭs ēxŭl Hĭbērōs.
Quāmquām, sī quă fĭdēs, hīs tē quŏquĕ iūngĕrĕ, Caēsār,
īnvĭdĕō nōstrāsquĕ mănūs quōd Rōmă fŭrēntī
ōppŏsŭīt. Pārthōrum ŭtĭnām pōst proēlĭă sōspēs
ēt Scўthĭcīs Crāssūs vīctōr rĕmĕāssĕt ăb ōrīs,
ūt sĭmĭlī caūsā cădĕrēs quā Spārtăcŭs hōstīs.
Tē quŏquĕ sī sŭpĕrī tĭtŭlīs āccēdĕrĕ nōstrīs
iūssērūnt, vălĕt ēn! tōrquēndō dēxtĕră pīlō,
fērvĭdŭs haēc ĭtĕrūm cīrcā praēcōrdĭă sānguīs
īncălŭīt; dīscēs nōn ēsse ād bēllă fŭgācēs,
quī pācēm pŏtŭērĕ pătī. Lĭcĕt īllĕ sŏlūtūm
dēfēctūmquĕ vŏcēt, nē vōs mĕă tērrĕăt aētās:
dūx sĭt ĭn hīs cāstrīs sĕnĭōr, dūm mīlĕs ĭn īllīs.
Quō pŏtŭīt cīvēm pŏpŭlūs pērdūcĕrĕ lībēr,
āscēndī sūprāquĕ nĭhīl nĭsĭ rēgnă rĕlīquī.
Nōn prīvātă cŭpīs, Rōmānā quīsquĭs ĭn ūrbĕ
Pōmpēiūm trānsīrĕ părās. Hīnc cōnsŭl ŭtērquĕ,
hīnc ăcĭēs stātūră dŭcum ēst. Caēsārnĕ sĕnātūs
vīctŏr ĕrīt? Nōn tām caēcō trăhĭs ōmnĭă cūrsū,
tēquĕ nĭhīl, Fōrtūnă, pŭdēt. Mūltīsnĕ rĕbēllīs
Gāllĭă iām lūstrīs aētāsque īmpēnsă lăbōrī
dānt ănĭmōs? Rhēnī gĕlĭdīs quōd fūgĭt ăb ūndīs
Ōcĕănūmquĕ vŏcāns īncērtī stāgnă prŏfūndī
tērrĭtă quaēsītīs ōstēndīt tērgă Brĭtānnīs?
Ān vānaē tŭmŭērĕ mĭnaē; quōd fāmă fŭrōrīs
ēxpŭlĭt ārmātām pătrĭīs ē sēdĭbŭs ūrbēm?
Heū dēmēns! nōn tē fŭgĭūnt, mē cūnctă sĕquūntūr.
Quī cūm sīgnă tŭlī tōtō fūlgēntĭă pōntō,
āntĕ bĭs ēxāctūm quām Cŷnthĭă cōndĕrĕt ōrbēm,
ōmnĕ frĕtūm mĕtŭēns pĕlăgī pīrātă rĕlīquīt
āngūstāquĕ dŏmūm tērrārum īn sēdĕ pŏpōscīt.
Īdēm pēr Scўthĭcī prŏfŭgūm dīvōrtĭă pōntī
īndŏmĭtūm rēgēm Rōmānăquĕ fātă mŏrāntēm
ād mōrtēm Sŷllā fēlīcĭŏr īrĕ cŏēgī.
Pārs mūndī mĭhĭ nūllă văcāt; sēd tōtă tĕnētūr
tērră mĕīs, quōcūmquĕ iăcēt sūb sōlĕ, trŏpaēīs:
hīnc mē vīctōrēm gĕlĭdās ād Phāsĭdŏs ūndās
Ārctŏs hăbēt; călĭdā mĕdĭūs mĭhĭ cōgnĭtŭs āxīs
Aēgŷpto ātque ūmbrās nūmquām flēctēntĕ Sўēnĕ;
ōccāsūs mĕă iūră tĭmēnt Tēthŷnquĕ fŭgācēm
quī fĕrĭt Hēspĕrĭūs pōst ōmnĭă flūmĭnă Baētīs.
Mē dŏmĭtūs cōgnōvĭt Ărābs, mē Mārtĕ fĕrōcēs
Hēnĭŏchī nōtīque ērēptō vēllĕrĕ Cōlchī.
Cāppădŏcēs mĕă sīgnă tĭmēnt ēt dēdĭtă sācrīs
īncērtī Iūdaēă dĕī mōllīsquĕ Sŏphēnē.
Ārmĕnĭōs Cĭlĭcāsquĕ fĕrōs Taūrōsquĕ sŭbēgī.
Quōd sŏcĕrō bēllūm praētēr cīvīlĕ rĕlīquī?"
Vērbă dŭcīs nūllō pārtēs clāmōrĕ sĕquūntūr
nēc mātūră pĕtūnt prōmīssaē clāssĭcă pūgnaē.
Sēnsĭt ĕt īpsĕ mĕtūm Māgnūs, plăcŭītquĕ rĕfērrī
sīgnă nĕc īn tāntaē dīscrīmĭnă mīttĕrĕ pūgnaē
iām vīctūm fāmā nōn vīsī Caēsărĭs āgmēn.
Pūlsŭs ŭt ārmēntīs prīmō cērtāmĭnĕ taūrūs
sīlvārūm sēcrētă pĕtīt văcŭōsquĕ pĕr āgrōs
ēxŭl ĭn ādvērsīs ēxplōrāt cōrnŭă trūncīs
nēc rĕdĭt īn pāstūs, nĭsĭ cūm cērvīcĕ rĕcēptā
ēxcūssī plăcŭērĕ tŏrī; mōx rēddĭtă vīctōr
quōslībēt īn sāltūs cŏmĭtāntĭbŭs āgmĭnă taūrīs
īnvītō pāstōrĕ trăhīt: sīc vīrĭbŭs īmpār
trādĭdĭt Hēspĕrĭām prŏfŭgūsquĕ pĕr Āpŭlă rūră
Brūndĭsĭī tūtās cōncēssīt Māgnŭs ĭn ārcēs.
Vrbs ēst Dīctaēīs ōlīm pōssēssă cŏlōnīs,
quōs Crētā prŏfŭgōs vēxērĕ pĕr aēquŏră pūppēs
Cēcrŏpĭaē, vīctūm mēntītīs Thēsĕă vēlīs.
Hānc lătŭs āngūstūm iām sē cōgēntĭs ĭn ārtūm
Hēspĕrĭaē tĕnŭēm prōdūcĭt ĭn aēquŏră līnguām,
Hādrĭăcās flēxīs claūdīt quaē cōrnĭbŭs ūndās.
Nēc tămĕn hōc ārtīs īmmīssūm faūcĭbŭs aēquōr
pōrtŭs ĕrāt, sī nōn vĭŏlēntōs īnsŭlă Cōrōs
ēxcĭpĕrēt sāxīs lāssāsquĕ rĕfūndĕrĕt ūndās.
Hīnc īllīnc mōntēs scŏpŭlōsaē rūpĭs ăpērtō
ōppŏsŭīt nātūră mărī flātūsquĕ rĕmōvīt,
ūt trĕmŭlō stārēnt cōntēntaē fūnĕ cărīnaē.
Hīnc lātē pătĕt ōmnĕ frĕtūm, seū vēlă fĕrāntūr
īn pōrtūs, Cōrcŷră, tŭōs, seū laēvă pĕtātūr
Īllўrĭs Īŏnĭās vērgēns Ĕpĭdāmnŏs ĭn ūndās.
Hūc fŭgă naūtārūm, cūm tōtās Ādrĭă vīrēs
mōvĭt ĕt īn nūbēs ăbĭērĕ Cĕraūnĭă cūmquĕ
spūmōsō Călăbēr pērfūndĭtŭr aēquŏrĕ Sāsōn.
Ērgo ŭbĭ nūllă fĭdēs rēbūs pōst tērgă rĕlīctīs
nēc lĭcĕt ād dūrōs Mārtēm cōnvērtĕre Hĭbērōs,
cūm mĕdĭaē iăcĕānt īmmēnsīs trāctĭbŭs Ālpēs,
tūnc sŭbŏle ē tāntā nātūm, cuī fīrmĭŏr aētās,
ādfātūr: "Mūndī iŭbĕō tēmptārĕ rĕcēssūs
Eūphrātēn Nīlūmquĕ mŏvē, quō nōmĭnĭs ūsquĕ
nōstrī fāmă vĕnīt, quās ēst vūlgātă pĕr ūrbēs
pōst mē Rōmă dŭcēm; spārsōs pēr rūră cŏlōnōs
rēddĕ mărī Cĭlĭcās; Phărĭōs hīnc cōncŭtĕ rēgēs
Tīgrānēmquĕ mĕūm. Nēc Phārnăcĭs ārmă rĕlīnquās,
ādmŏnĕō, nēc tū pŏpŭlōs ūtrāquĕ văgāntīs
Ārmĕnĭā Pōntīquĕ fĕrās pēr lītŏră gēntīs
Rīphaēāsquĕ mănūs ēt quās tĕnĕt aēquŏrĕ dēnsō
pīgră pălūs Scўthĭcī pătĭēns Maēōtĭă plaūstrī,
ēt "Quīd plūră mŏrōr? Tōtōs mĕă, nātĕ, pĕr ōrtūs
bēllă fĕrēs tōtōque ūrbēs ăgĭtābĭs ĭn ōrbĕ
pērdŏmĭtās; ōmnēs rēdeānt īn cāstră trĭūmphī.
Ēt vōs, quī Lătĭō sīgnātīs nōmĭnĕ fāstūs,
prīmŭs ĭn Ēpīrūm bŏrĕās ăgăt; īndĕ pĕr ārvă
Grāiōrūm Măcĕtūmquĕ nŏvās ādquīrĭtĕ vīrēs,
dūm paūcī dāt tēmpŭs hĭēmps." sīc fātŭr ĕt ōmnēs
iūssă gĕrūnt sōlvūntquĕ căvās ā lītŏrĕ pūppēs.
Āt nūmquām pătĭēns sēgnīs lōngaēquĕ quĭētīs
ārmōrūm, nē quīd fātīs mūtārĕ lĭcērēt,
ādsĕquĭtūr gĕnĕrīquĕ prĕmīt vēstīgĭă Caēsār.
Sūffĭcĕrēnt ălĭīs prīmō tōt moēnĭă cūrsū
rāptă, tŏt ōpprēssaē dēpūlsīs hōstĭbŭs ārcēs,
īpsă căpūt mūndī, bēllōrūm māxĭmă mērcēs,
Rōmă căpī făcĭlīs; sēd Caēsăr ĭn ōmnĭă praēcēps,
nīl āctūm crēdēns, cūm quīd sŭpĕrēssĕt ăgēndūm,
īnstăt ătrōx ĕt ădhūc, quămŭīs pōssēdĕrĭt ōmnēm
Ītălĭam, ēxtrēmō sĕdĕāt quōd lītŏrĕ Māgnūs,
cōmmūnēm tămĕn ēssĕ dŏlēt nēc rūrsŭs ăpērtō
vūlt hōstēs ērrārĕ frĕtō sēd mōlĭbŭs ūndās
ōbstrŭĭt ēt lātūm dēiēctīs rūpĭbŭs aēquōr.
Cēdĭt ĭn īmmēnsūm cāssūs lăbŏr: ōmnĭă pōntūs
haūrīt sāxă vŏrāx mōntēsque īmmīscĕt hărēnīs:
ūt mărĭs Aēgaēī mĕdĭās sī cēlsŭs ĭn ūndās
dēpēllātŭr Ĕrŷx, nūllaē tămĕn aēquŏrĕ rūpēs
ēmĭnĕānt, vēl sī cōnvūlsō vērtĭcĕ Gaūrūs
dēcĭdăt īn fūndūm pĕnĭtūs stāgnāntĭs Ăvērnī.
Ērgo ŭbĭ nūllă vădō tĕnŭīt sŭă pōndĕră mōlēs,
tūnc plăcŭīt caēsīs īnnēctĕrĕ vīncŭlă sīlvīs
rōbŏrăque īmmēnsīs lātē rĕlĭgārĕ cătēnīs.
Tālīs fāmă cănīt tŭmĭdūm sŭpĕr aēquŏră Xērsēn
cōnstrūxīssĕ vĭās, mūltūm cūm pōntĭbŭs aūsūs
Eūrōpāmque Ăsĭaē Sēstōnque ādmōvĭt Ăbŷdō
īncēssītquĕ frĕtūm răpĭdī sŭpĕr Hēllēspōntī
nōn eūrūm Zĕphўrūmquĕ tĭmēns, cūm vēlă rătīsquĕ
īn mĕdĭūm dēfērrĕt Ăthōn. Sīc ōră prŏfūndī
ārtāntūr cāsū nĕmŏrūm; tūnc āggĕrĕ mūltō
sūrgĭt ŏpūs, lōngaēquĕ trĕmūnt sŭpĕr aēquŏră tūrrēs.
Pōmpēiūs tēllūrĕ nŏvā cōmprēssă prŏfūndī
ōră vĭdēns cūrīs ănĭmūm mōrdācĭbŭs āngīt,
ūt rĕsĕrēt pĕlăgūs spārgātquĕ pĕr aēquŏră bēllūm.
Saēpĕ nŏtō plēnaē tēnsīsquĕ rŭdēntĭbŭs āctaē
īpsă mărīs pēr claūstră rătēs fāstīgĭă mōlīs
dīscūssērĕ sălō spătĭūmquĕ dĕdērĕ cărīnīs
tōrtăquĕ pēr tĕnĕbrās vălĭdīs bāllīstă lăcērtīs
mūltĭfĭdās iăcŭlātă făcēs. Ūt tēmpŏră tāndēm
fūrtīvaē plăcŭērĕ fŭgaē, nē lītŏră clāmōr
naūtĭcŭs ēxăgĭtēt, nē būcĭnă dīvĭdăt hōrās,
nē tŭbă praēmŏnĭtōs pērdūcăt ăd aēquŏră naūtās,
praēcēpīt sŏcĭīs. iām coēpĕrăt ūltĭmă Vīrgŏ
Phoēbūm lātūrās ōrtū praēcēdĕrĕ Chēlās,
cūm tăcĭtās sōlvērĕ rătēs. Nōn ānchŏră vōcēs
mōvīt, dūm spīssīs āvēllĭtŭr ūncŭs hărēnīs;
dūm iŭgă cūrvāntūr mālī dūmque ārdŭă pīnūs
ērĭgĭtūr, păvĭdī clāssīs sĭlŭērĕ măgīstrī,
strīctăquĕ pēndēntēs dēdūcūnt cārbăsă naūtaē
nēc quătĭūnt vălĭdōs, nē sībĭlĕt aūră, rŭdēntīs.
Dūx ĕtĭām vōtīs hōc tē, Fōrtūnă, prĕcātūr,
quām rĕtĭnērĕ vĕtās, lĭcĕāt sĭbĭ pērdĕrĕ sāltēm
Ītălĭām. vīx fātă sĭnūnt; nām mūrmŭrĕ vāstō
īmpūlsūm rōstrīs sŏnŭīt mărĕ, flūctŭăt ūndă
tōtquĕ cărīnārūm pērmīxtīs aēquŏră sūlcīs.
Ērgo hōstēs pōrtīs, quās ōmnīs sōlvĕrăt ūrbīs
cūm fātō cōnvērsă fĭdēs, mūrīsquĕ rĕcēptī
praēcĭpĭtī cūrsū flēxī pēr cōrnŭă pōrtūs
ōră pĕtūnt pĕlăgūsquĕ dŏlēnt cōntīngĕrĕ clāssī.
Heū pŭdŏr! ēxĭgŭa ēst fŭgĭēns vīctōrĭă Māgnūs.
Āngūstūs pūppīs mīttēbăt ĭn aēquŏră līmēs
ārtĭŏr Eūbŏĭcā, quaē Chālcĭdă vērbĕrăt, ūndā.
Hīc haēsērĕ rătēs gĕmĭnaē clāssīquĕ părātās
ēxcēpērĕ mănūs, trāctōque īn lītŏră bēllō
hīc prīmūm rŭbŭīt cīvīlī sānguĭnĕ Nēreūs.
Cētĕră clāssĭs ăbīt sūmmīs spŏlĭātă cărīnīs:
ūt, Păgăsaēă rătīs pĕtĕrēt cūm Phāsĭdŏs ūndās,
Cŷănĕās tēllūs ēmīsĭt ĭn aēquŏră caūtēs,
rāptā pūppĕ mĭnōr sūbdūcta ēst mōntĭbŭs Ārgō,
vānăquĕ pērcūssīt pōntūm Sŷmplēgăs ĭnānēm
ēt stātūră rĕdīt. Iām Phoēbum ūrgērĕ mŏnēbāt
nōn īdem ēōī cŏlŏr aēthĕrĭs, ālbăquĕ nōndūm
lūx rŭbĕt ēt flāmmās prŏpĭōrĭbŭs ērĭpĭt āstrīs,
ēt iām Plīăs hĕbēt, flēxī iām plaūstră Bŏōtaē
īn făcĭēm pūrī rĕdĕūnt lānguēntĭă caēlī,
māiōrēsquĕ lătēnt stēllaē, călĭdūmquĕ rĕfūgīt
Lūcĭfĕr īpsĕ dĭēm; pĕlăgūs iām, Māgnĕ, tĕnēbās,
nōn ĕă fātă fĕrēns, quaē, cūm sŭpĕr aēquŏră tōtō
praēdōnēm sĕquĕrērĕ mărī: lāssātă trĭūmphīs
dēscīvīt fōrtūnă tŭīs. Cūm cōniŭgĕ pūlsūs
ēt nātīs tōtōsquĕ trăhēns īn bēllă pĕnātēs
vādĭs ădhūc īngēns pŏpŭlīs cŏmĭtāntĭbŭs ēxūl.
Quaērĭtŭr īndīgnaē sēdēs lōngīnquă rŭīnaē.
Nōn quĭă tē sŭpĕrī pătrĭō prīvārĕ sĕpūlchrō
mālŭĕrīnt, Phărĭaē būstō dāmnāntŭr hărēnaē:
pārcĭtŭr Hēspĕrĭaē; prŏcŭl hōc ĕt ĭn ōrbĕ rĕmōtō
ābscōndāt Fōrtūnă nĕfās, Rōmānăquĕ tēllūs
īmmăcŭlātă sŭī sērvētūr sānguĭnĕ Māgnī.
Iamque irae patuere deum, manifestaque belli
signa dedit mundus, legesque et foedera rerum
praescia monstrifero uertit natura tumultu
indixitque nefas. Cur hanc tibi, rector Olympi,
sollicitis uisum mortalibus addere curam,
noscant uenturas ut dira per omina clades?
Siue parens rerum, cum primum informia regna
materiamque rudem flamma cedente recepit,
fixit in aeternum causas qua cuncta coërcet,
se quoque lege tenens, et saecula iussa ferentem
fatorum immoto diuisit limite mundum;
siue nihil positum est, sed fors incerta uagatur,
fertque refertque uices, et habet mortalia casus:
sit subitum quodcumque paras; sit caeca futuri
mens hominum fati; liceat sperare timenti.
Ergo ubi concipiunt quantis sit cladibus orbi
constatura fides superum, ferale per urbem
iustitium, latuit plebeio tectus amictu
omnis honos, nullos comitata est purpura faces.
Tum questus tenuere suos, magnusque per omnis
errauit sine uoce dolor. sic funere primo
attonitae tacuere domus, cum corpora nondum
conclamata iacent, nec mater crine soluto
exigit ad saeuos famularum bracchia planctus,
sed cum membra premit fugiente rigentia uita
uultusque exanimes oculosque in morte minaces;
necdum est ille dolor, sed iam metus: incubat amens
miraturque malum. Cultus matrona priores
deposuit maestaeque tenent delubra cateruae.
Hae lacrimis sparsere deos, hae pectora duro
adflixere solo lacerasque in limine sacro
attonitae fudere comas uotisque uocari
adsuetas crebris feriunt ululatibus aures.
Nec cunctae summi templo iacuere Tonantis:
diuisere deos, et nullis defuit aris
inuidiam factura parens, quarum una madentis
scissa genas, planctu liuentis atra lacertos:
"Nunc," ait "o miserae, contundite pectora, matres,
nunc laniate comas neue hunc differte dolorem
et summis seruate malis; nunc flere potestas,
dum pendet fortuna ducum; cum uicerit alter,
gaudendum est." His se stimulis dolor ipse lacessit.
Nec non bella uiri diuersaque castra petentes
effundunt iustas in numina saeua querellas:
"O miserae sortis, quod non in Punica nati
tempora Cannarum fuimus Trebiaeque iuuentus!
Non pacem petimus, superi; date gentibus iras,
nunc urbes excite feras, coniuret in arma
mundus, Achaemeniis decurrant Medica Susis
agmina, Massageten Scythicus non adliget Hister,
fundat ab extremo flauos aquilone Sueuos
Albis et indomitum Rheni caput; omnibus hostis
reddite nos populis: ciuile auertite bellum;
hinc Dacus, premat inde Getes; occurrat Hiberis
alter, ad eoas hic uertat signa pharetras;
nulla uacet tibi, Roma, manus. uel perdere nomen
si placet Hesperium, superi, collatus in ignes
plurimus ad terram per fulmina decidat aether.
Saeue parens, utrasque simul partesque ducesque,
dum nondum meruere, feri. Tantone nouorum
prouentu scelerum quaerunt uter imperet Vrbi?
Vix tanti fuerat ciuilia bella mouere
ut neuter." Talis pietas peritura querellas
egerit. At miseros angit sua cura parentes,
oderuntque grauis uiuacia fata senectae
seruatosque iterum bellis ciuilibus annos;
atque aliquis magno quaerens exempla timori:
"Non alios" inquit "motus tunc fata parabant,
cum post Teutonicos uictor Libycosque triumphos
exul limosa Marius caput abdidit ulua.
Stagna auidi texere soli laxaeque paludes
depositum, Fortuna, tuum; mox uincula ferri
exedere senem longusque in carcere paedor:
consul et euersa felix moriturus in Vrbe
poenas ante dabat scelerum. mors ipsa refugit
saepe uirum, frustraque hosti concessa potestas
sanguinis inuisi. Primo qui caedis in actu
deriguit ferrumque manu torpente remisit:
uiderat immensam tenebroso in carcere lucem
terribilesque deos scelerum Mariumque futurum
audieratque pauens: "Fas haec contingere non est
colla tibi; debet multas hic legibus aeui
ante suam mortes; uanum depone furorem.
Si libet ulcisci deletae funera gentis,
hunc, Cimbri, seruate senem. Non ille fauore
numinis, ingenti superum protectus ab ira
uir ferus et Romam cupienti perdere fato
sufficiens." Idem pelago delatus iniquo
hostilem in terram uacuisque mapalibus actus
nuda triumphati iacuit per regna Iugurthae
et Poenos pressit cineres. Solatia fati
Carthago Mariusque tulit, pariterque iacentes
ignouere deis. Libycas ibi colligit iras:
ut primum fortuna redit, seruilia soluit
agmina; conflato saeuas ergastula ferro
exseruere manus. Nulli gestanda dabantur
signa ducis, nisi qui scelerum iam fecerat usum
adtuleratque in castra nefas. Pro fata! Quis ille,
quis fuit ille dies, Marius quo moenia uictor
corripuit, quantoque gradu mors saeua cucurrit!
Nobilitas cum plebe perit, lateque uagatus
ensis, et a nullo reuocatum pectore ferrum.
Stat cruor in templis, multaque rubentia caede
lubrica saxa madent. Nulli sua profuit aetas:
non senis extremum piguit uergentibus annis
praecepisse diem, nec primo in limine uitae
infantis miseri nascentia rumpere fata.
Crimine quo parui caedem potuere mereri?
Sed satis est iam posse mori. Trahit ipse furoris
impetus, et uisum lenti quaesisse nocentem.
In numerum pars magna perit, rapuitque cruentus
uictor ab ignota uultus ceruice recisos,
dum uacua pudet ire manu. Spes una salutis
oscula pollutae fixisse trementia dextrae.
Mille licet gladii mortis noua signa sequantur,
degener o populus, uix saecula longa decorum
sic meruisse uiris, nedum breue dedecus aeui
et uitam, dum Sulla redit. cui funera uulgi
flere uacet? uix te sparsum per uiscera, Baebi,
innumeras inter carpentis membra coronae
discessisse manus; aut te, praesage malorum
Antoni, cuius laceris pendentia canis
ora ferens miles festae rorantia mensae
imposuit. Truncos lacerauit Fimbria Crassos;
saeua tribunicio maduerunt robora tabo;
te quoque neglectum uiolatae, Scaeuola, dextrae
ante ipsum penetrale deae semperque calentis
mactauere focos; paruum sed fessa senectus
sanguinis effudit iugulo flammisque pepercit.
Septimus haec sequitur repetitis fascibus annus.
Ille fuit uitae Mario modus omnia passo
quae peior fortuna potest, atque omnibus uso
quae melior, mensoque hominis quid fata paterent.
Iam quot apud Sacri cecidere cadauera portum,
aut Collina tulit stratas quot porta cateruas,
tum cum paene caput mundi rerumque potestas
mutauit translata locum, Romanaque Samnis
ultra Caudinas sperauit uulnera Furcas!
Sulla quoque immensis accessit cladibus ultor.
Ille quod exiguum restabat sanguinis Vrbi
hausit; dumque nimis iam putria membra recidit,
excessit medicina modum, nimiumque secutast,
qua morbi duxere, manus. Periere nocentes,
sed cum iam soli possent superesse nocentes.
Tunc data libertas odiis, resolutaque legum
frenis ira ruit. Non uni cuncta dabantur,
sed fecit sibi quisque nefas. Semel omnia uictor
iusserat. Infandum domini per uiscera ferrum
exegit famulus; nati maduere paterno
sanguine; certatum est cui ceruix caesa parentis
cederet; in fratrum ceciderunt praemia fratres.
Busta repleta fuga, permixtaque uiua sepultis
corpora, nec populum latebrae cepere ferarum.
Hic laqueo fauces elisaque guttura fregit,
hic se praecipiti iaculatus pondere dura
dissiluit percussus humo, mortisque cruento
uictori rapuere suas; hic robora busti
exstruit ipse sui necdum omni sanguine fuso
desilit in flammas et dum licet occupat ignes.
Colla ducum pilo trepidam gestata per urbem
et medio congesta foro; cognoscitur illic
quicquid ubique iacet. Scelerum non Thracia tantum
uidit Bistonii stabulis pendere tyranni,
postibus Antaei Libye, nec Graecia maerens
tam laceros artus Pisaea fleuit in aula.
Cum iam tabe fluunt confusaque tempore multo
amisere notas, miserorum dextra parentum
colligit et pauido subducit cognita furto.
Meque ipsum memini caesi deformia fratris
ora rogo cupidum uetitisque imponere flammis
omnia Sullanae lustrasse cadauera pacis,
perque omnis truncos cum qua ceruice recisum
conueniat quaesisse caput. quid sanguine manes
placatos Catuli referam? cum uictima tristis
inferias Marius forsan nolentibus umbris
pendit, inexpleto non fanda piacula busto,
cum laceros artus aequataque uulnera membris
uidimus, et toto quamuis in corpore caeso
nil animae letale datum moremque nefandae
dirum saeuitiae, pereuntis parcere morti.
Auulsae cecidere manus, exsectaque lingua
palpitat et muto uacuum ferit aëra motu.
Hic aures, alius spiramina naris aduncae
amputat; ille cauis euoluit sedibus orbes,
ultimaque effudit spectatis lumina membris.
Vix erit ulla fides tam saeui criminis unum
tot poenas cepisse caput. sic mole ruinae
fracta sub ingenti miscentur pondere membra,
nec magis informes ueniunt ad litora trunci,
qui medio periere freto. quid perdere fructum
iuuit et ut uilem Marii confundere uultum?
Vt scelus hoc Sullae caedesque ostensa placeret,
agnoscendus erat. uidit Fortuna colonos
Praenestina suos cunctos simul ense recepto
unius populum pereuntem tempore mortis.
Tunc flos Hesperiae, Latii iam sola iuuentus
concidit et miserae maculauit ouilia Romae.
Tot simul infesto iuuenes occumbere leto
saepe fames pelagique furor subitaeque ruinae
aut terrae caelique lues aut bellica clades,
numquam poena fuit. densi uix agmina uulgi
inter et exsangues immissa morte cateruas
uictores mouere manum. uix caede peracta
procumbunt dubiaque labant ceruice; sed illos
magna premit strages, peraguntque cadauera partem
caedis: uiua graues elidunt corpora trunci.
Intrepidus tanti sedit securus ab alto
spectator sceleris; miseri tot milia uulgi
non timuit iussisse mori. congesta recepit
omnia Tyrrhenus Sullana cadauera gurges;
in fluuium primi cecidere, in corpora summi.
Praecipites haesere rates, et strage cruenta
interruptus aquae fluxit prior amnis in aequor,
ad molem stetit unda sequens. Iam sanguinis alti
uis sibi fecit iter, campumque effusa per omnem
praecipitique ruens Tiberina in flumina riuo
haerentis adiuuit aquas, nec iam alueus amnem
nec retinent ripae, redditque cadauera campo.
Tandem Tyrrhenas uix eluctatus in undas
sanguine caeruleum torrenti diuidit aequor.
Hisne salus rerum, felix his Sulla uocari,
his meruit tumulum medio sibi tollere Campo?
Haec rursus patienda manent, hoc ordine belli
ibitur, hic stabit ciuilibus exitus armis.
Quamquam agitant grauiora metus, multumque coitur
humani generis maiore in proelia damno.
Exulibus Mariis bellorum maxima merces
Roma recepta fuit, nec plus uictoria Sullae
praestitit, inuisas penitus quam tollere partes.
Hos alio, Fortuna, uocas, olimque potentes
concurrunt. neuter ciuilia bella moueret,
contentus quod Sulla fuit." Sic maesta senectus
praeteritique memor flebat metuensque futuri.
At non magnanimi percussit pectora Bruti
terror, et in tanta pauidi formidine motus
pars populi lugentis erat; sed nocte sopora,
Parrhasis obliquos Helice cum uerteret axes,
atria cognati pulsat non ampla Catonis.
Inuenit insomni uoluentem publica cura
fata uirum casusque urbis cunctisque timentem
securumque sui, farique his uocibus orsus:
"Omnibus expulsae terris olimque fugatae
uirtutis iam sola fides, quam turbine nullo
excutiet fortuna tibi, tu mente labantem
derige me, dubium certo tu robore firma.
Namque alii Magnum uel Caesaris arma sequantur:
dux Bruto Cato solus erit. Pacemne tueris
inconcussa tenens dubio uestigia mundo?
An placuit ducibus scelerum populique furentis
cladibus immixtum ciuile absoluere bellum?
Quemque suae rapiunt scelerata in proelia causae:
hos polluta domus legesque in pace timendae,
hos ferro fugienda fames mundique ruinae
permiscenda fides. Nullum furor egit in arma:
castra petunt magna uicti mercede; tibi uni
per se bella placent? Quid tot durare per annos
profuit immunem corrupti moribus aeui?
Hoc solum longae pretium uirtutis habebis?
Accipient alios, facient te bella nocentem.
Ne tantum, o superi, liceat feralibus armis,
has etiam mouisse manus, nec pila lacertis
missa tuis caeca telorum in nube ferantur,
nec tanta incassum uirtus eat. ingeret omnis
se belli fortuna tibi. Quis nollet in isto
ense mori, quamuis alieno uulnere labens,
et scelus esse tuum? Melius tranquilla sine armis
otia solus ages; sicut caelestia semper
inconcussa suo uoluuntur sidera lapsu,
fulminibus propior terrae succenditur aër;
imaque telluris uentos tractusque coruscos
flammarum accipiunt, nubes excedit Olympus.
Lege deum minimas rerum discordia turbat,
pacem magna tenent. Quam laetae Caesaris aures
accipient tantum uenisse in proelia ciuem!
Nam praelata suis numquam diuersa dolebit
castra ducis Magni. Nimium placet ipse Catoni,
si bellum ciuile placet. Pars magna senatus
et duce priuato gesturus proelia consul
sollicitant proceresque alii; quibus adde Catonem
sub iuga Pompei, toto iam liber in orbe
solus Caesar erit. Quod si pro legibus arma
ferre iuuat patriis libertatemque tueri,
nunc neque Pompei Brutum neque Caesaris hostem,
post bellum uictoris habes." Sic fatur, at illi
arcano sacras reddit Cato pectore uoces:
"Summum, Brute, nefas ciuilia bella fatemur;
sed quo fata trahunt, uirtus secura sequetur;
crimen erit superis et me fecisse nocentem.
Sidera quis mundumque uelit spectare cadentem
expers ipse metus? Quis, cum ruat arduus aether,
terra labet mixto coeuntis pondere mundi,
compressas tenuisse manus? Gentesne furorem
Hesperium ignotae Romanaque bella sequentur
diducti fretis alio sub sidere reges,
otia solus agam? Procul hunc arcete furorem,
o superi, motura Dahas ut clade Getasque
securo me Roma cadat. Ceu morte parentem
natorum orbatum longum producere funus
ad tumulos iubet ipse dolor, iuuat ignibus atris
inseruisse manus constructoque aggere busti
ipsum atras tenuisse faces: non ante reuellar
exanimem quam te complectar, Roma, tuumque
nomen, libertas, et inanem prosequar umbram.
Sic eat: immites Romana piacula diui
plena ferant, nullo fraudemus sanguine bellum.
O | utinam caelique deis Erebique liceret
hoc caput in cunctas damnatum exponere poenas!
Deuotum hostiles Decium pressere cateruae:
me geminae figant acies, me barbara telis
Rheni turba petat, cunctis ego peruius hastis
excipiam medius totius uulnera belli.
Hic redimat sanguis populos, hac caede luatur
quidquid Romani meruerunt pendere mores.
Ad iuga cur faciles populi, cur saeua uolentes
regna pati pereunt? Me solum inuadite ferro,
me frustra leges et inania iura tuentem.
Hic dabit, hic pacem iugulus finemque malorum
gentibus Hesperiis; post me regnare uolenti
non opus est bello. Quin publica signa ducemque
Pompeium sequimur? Nec, si fortuna fauebit,
hunc quoque totius sibi ius promittere mundi
non bene compertum est: ideo me milite uincat,
ne sibi se uicisse putet." Sic fatur et acris
irarum mouit stimulos iuuenisque calorem
excitat in nimios belli ciuilis amores.
Interea Phoebo gelidas pellente tenebras
pulsatae sonuere fores quas sancta relicto
Hortensi maerens irrupit Marcia busto;
quondam uirgo toris melioris iuncta mariti,
mox ubi conubii pretium mercesque solutast
tertia iam suboles, alios fecunda penates
impletura datur geminas et sanguine matris
permixtura domos. Sed postquam condidit urna
supremos cineres, miserando concita uultu,
effusas laniata comas contusaque pectus
uerberibus crebris cineresque ingesta sepulchri,
non aliter placitura uiro, sic maesta profatur:
"Dum sanguis inerat, dum uis materna, peregi
iussa, Cato, et geminos excepi feta maritos;
uisceribus lassis partuque exhausta reuertor
iam nulli tradenda uiro. Da foedera prisci
illibata tori, da tantum nomen inane
conubii, liceat tumulo scripsisse: "Catonis
Marcia"; nec dubium longo quaeratur in aeuo,
mutarim primas, expulsa an tradita, taedas.
Non me laetorum sociam rebusque secundis
accipis: in curas uenio partemque laborum.
Da mihi castra sequi. Cur tuta in pace relinquor
et sit ciuili propior Cornelia bello?"
Hae flexere uirum uoces, et tempora quamquam
sint aliena toris, iam fato in bella uocante,
foedera sola tamen uanaque carentia pompa
iura placent sacrisque deos admittere testes.
Festa coronato non pendent limine serta,
infulaque in geminos discurrit candida postes,
legitimaeque faces, gradibusque acclinis eburnis
stat torus, et picto uestes discriminat auro,
turritaque premens frontem matrona corona
translata uitat contingere limina planta;
non timidum nuptae leuiter tectura pudorem
lutea demissos uelarunt flammea uultus,
balteus aut fluxos gemmis astrinxit amictus,
colla monile decens, umerisque haerentia primis
suppara nudatos cingunt angusta lacertos.
Sicut erat, maesti seruat lugubria cultus
quoque modo natos, hoc est amplexa maritum.
Obsita funerea celatur purpura lana.
Non soliti lusere sales, nec more Sabino
excepit tristis conuicia festa maritus.
Pignora nulla domus, nulli coiere propinqui:
iunguntur taciti contentique auspice Bruto.
Ille nec horrificam sancto dimouit ab ore
caesariem duroque admisit gaudia uultu
(ut primum tolli feralia uiderat arma,
intonsos rigidam in frontem descendere canos
passus erat maestamque genis increscere barbam:
uni quippe uacat studiis odiisque carenti
humanum lugere genus). Nec foedera prisci
sunt temptata tori; iusto quoque robur amori
restitit. hi mores, haec duri immota Catonis
secta fuit, seruare modum finesque tenere
naturamque sequi patriaeque impendere uitam
nec sibi, sed toti genitum se credere mundo.
Huic epulae uicisse famem; magnique penates
summouisse hiemem tecto; pretiosaque uestis
hirtam membra super Romani more Quiritis
induxisse togam; Venerisque hic maximus usus
progenies; Vrbi pater est Vrbique maritus,
iustitiae cultor, rigidi seruator honesti,
in commune bonus; nullosque Catonis in actus
subrepsit partemque tulit sibi nata uoluptas.
Interea trepido discedens agmine Magnus
moenia Dardanii tenuit Campana coloni.
Haec placuit belli sedes, hinc summa mouentem
hostis in occursum sparsas extendere partis,
umbrosis mediam qua collibus Appenninus
erigit Italiam, nulloque a uertice tellus
altius intumuit propiusque accessit Olympo.
Mons inter geminas medius se porrigit undas
inferni superique maris, collesque coërcent
hinc Tyrrhena uado frangentes aequora Pisae,
illinc Dalmaticis obnoxia fluctibus Ancon.
Fontibus hic uastis immensos concipit amnes
fluminaque in gemini spargit diuortia ponti.
In laeuum cecidere latus ueloxque Metaurus
Crustumiumque rapax et iuncto Sapis Isauro
Senaque et Adriacas qui uerberat Aufidus undas,
quoque magis nullum tellus se soluit in amnem,
Eridanus fractas deuoluit in aequora siluas
Hesperiamque exhaurit aquis. Hunc fabula primum
populea fluuium ripas umbrasse corona,
cumque diem pronum transuerso limite ducens
succendit Phaethon flagrantibus aethera loris,
gurgitibus raptis penitus tellure perusta,
hunc habuisse pares Phoebeis ignibus undas.
Non minor hic Nilo si non per plana iacentis
Aegypti Libycis Nilus stagnaret harenis;
non minor hic Histro, nisi quod dum permeat orbem
Hister casuros in quaelibet aequora fontes
accipit et Scythicas exit non solus in undas.
Dexteriora petens montis decliuia Thybrim
unda facit Rutubamque cauum. Delabitur inde
Vulturnusque celer nocturnaeque editor aurae
Sarnus et umbrosae Liris per regna Maricae
Vestinis impulsus aquis radensque Salerni
culta Siler, nullasque uado qui Macra moratus
alnos uicinae procurrit in aequora Lunae.
Longior educto qua surgit in aëra dorso,
Gallica rura uidet deuexasque excipit Alpis.
Tunc Vmbris Marsisque ferax domitusque Sabello
uomere, piniferis amplexus rupibus omnis
indigenas Latii populos, non deserit ante
Hesperiam quam cum Scyllaeis clauditur undis
extenditque suas in templa Lacinia rupes,
longior Italia, donec confinia pontus
solueret incumbens terrasque repelleret aequor.
At postquam gemino tellus elisa profundost
extremi colles Siculo cessere Peloro.
Caesar in arma furens nullas nisi sanguine fuso
gaudet habere uias, quod non terat hoste uacantis
Hesperiae fines uacuosque irrumpat in agros
atque ipsum non perdat iter consertaque bellis
bella gerat. Non tam portas intrare patentis
quam fregisse iuuat, nec tam patiente colono
arua premi quam si ferro populetur et igni;
concessa pudet ire uia ciuemque uideri.
Tunc urbes Latii dubiae uarioque fauore
ancipites, quamquam primo terrore ruentis
cessurae belli, denso tamen aggere firmant
moenia et abrupto circumdant undique uallo
saxorumque orbes, et quae super eminus hostem
tela petant altis murorum turribus aptant.
Pronior in Magnum populus, pugnatque minaci
cum terrore fides: ut cum mare possidet auster
flatibus horrisonis, hunc aequora tota sequuntur;
si rursus tellus pulsu laxata tridentis
Aeolii tumidis immittat fluctibus eurum,
quamuis icta nouo, uentum tenuere priorem
aequora, nubiferoque polus cum cesserit euro,
uindicat unda notum. Facilis sed uertere mentes
terror erat dubiamque fidem fortuna ferebat.
Gens Etrusca fuga trepidi nudata Libonis,
iusque sui pulso iam perdidit Vmbria Thermo.
Nec gerit auspiciis ciuilia bella paternis
Caesaris audito conuersus nomine Sulla.
Varus, ut admotae pulsarunt Auximon alae,
per diuersa ruens neglecto moenia tergo,
qua siluae, qua saxa, fugit. Depellitur arce
Lentulus Asculea; uictor cedentibus instat
deuertitque acies, solusque ex agmine tanto
dux fugit et nullas ducentia signa cohortes.
Tu quoque nudatam commissae deseris arcem,
Scipio, Luceriae, quamquam firmissima pubes
his sedeat castris, iampridem Caesaris armis
Parthorum seducta metu, qua Gallica damna
suppleuit Magnus dumque ipse ad bella uacaret,
donauit socero Romani sanguinis usum.
At te Corfini ualidis circumdata muris
tecta tenent, pugnax Domiti; tua classica seruat
oppositus quondam polluto tiro Miloni.
Vt procul immensam campo consurgere nubem
ardentisque acies percussis sole corusco
conspexit telis, "Socii, decurrite" dixit
"fluminis ad ripas undaeque immergite pontem.
Et tu montanis totus nunc fontibus exi
atque omnis trahe, gurges, aquas, ut spumeus alnos
discussa compage feras. Hoc limite bellum
haereat, hac hostis lentus terat otia ripa.
Praecipitem cohibete ducem; uictoria nobis
hic primum stans Caesar erit." Nec plura locutus
deuoluit rapidum nequicquam moenibus agmen.
Nam prior e campis ut conspicit amne soluto
rumpi Caesar iter, calida prolatus ab ira:
"Non satis est muris latebras quaesisse pauori?
Obstruitis campos fluuiisque arcere paratis,
ignaui! Non si tumido me gurgite Ganges
summoueat, stabit iam flumine Caesar in ullo
post Rubiconis aquas. Equitum properate cateruae,
ite simul pedites, ruiturum ascendite pontem."
Haec ubi dicta, leuis totas accepit habenas
in campum sonipes, crebroque simillima nimbo
trans ripam ualidi torserunt tela lacerti.
Ingreditur pulsa fluuium statione uacantem
Caesar et ad tutas hostis conpellitur arces.
Et iam moturas ingentia pondera turris
erigit, et mediis subrepit uinea muris:
ecce, nefas belli! reseratis agmina portis
captiuum traxere ducem, ciuisque superbi
constitit ante pedes; uultu tamen alta minaci
nobilitas recta ferrum ceruice poposcit.
Scit Caesar poenamque peti ueniamque timeri:
"Viue, licet nolis, et nostro munere" dixit
"cerne diem. uictis iam spes bona partibus esto
exemplumque mei; uel, si libet, arma retempta,
et nihil hac uenia, si uiceris ipse, paciscor."
Fatur et astrictis laxari uincula palmis
imperat. Heu quanto melius uel caede peracta
parcere Romano potuit fortuna pudori!
Poenarum extremum ciui, quod castra secutus
sit patriae Magnumque ducem totumque senatum,
ignosci. Premit ille grauis interritus iras
et secum: "Romamne petes pacisque recessus
degener? In medios belli non ire furores
iam dudum moriture paras? Rue certus et omnis
lucis rumpe moras et Caesaris effuge munus."
Nescius interea capti ducis arma parabat
Magnus, ut immixto firmaret robore partis.
Iamque secuturo iussurus classica Phoebo
temptandasque ratus moturi militis iras
adloquitur tacitas ueneranda uoce cohortes:
"O scelerum ultores melioraque signa secuti,
o uere Romana manus, quibus arma senatus
non priuata dedit, uotis deposcite pugnam.
Ardent Hesperii saeuis populatibus agri,
Gallica per gelidas rabies effunditur Alpes,
iam tetigit sanguis pollutos Caesaris enses.
Di melius, belli tulimus quod damna priores:
coeperit inde nefas. Iamiam me praeside Roma
supplicium poenamque petat. Neque enim ista uocari
proelia iusta decet, patriae sed uindicis iram;
nec magis hoc bellum est quam quod Catilina parauit
arsuras in tecta faces sociusque furoris
Lentulus exsertique manus uesana Cethegi.
O rabies miseranda ducis! cum fata Camillis
te, Caesar, magnisque uelint miscere Metellis,
ad Cinnas Mariosque uenis. Sternere profecto,
ut Catulo iacuit Lepidus, nostrasque securis
passus, Sicanio tegitur qui Carbo sepulchro,
quique feros mouit Sertorius exul Hiberos.
Quamquam, si qua fides, his te quoque iungere, Caesar,
inuideo nostrasque manus quod Roma furenti
opposuit. Parthorum utinam post proelia sospes
et Scythicis Crassus uictor remeasset ab oris,
ut simili causa caderes qua Spartacus hostis.
Te quoque si superi titulis accedere nostris
iusserunt, ualet en! torquendo dextera pilo,
feruidus haec iterum circa praecordia sanguis
incaluit; disces non esse ad bella fugaces,
qui pacem potuere pati. Licet ille solutum
defectumque uocet, ne uos mea terreat aetas:
dux sit in his castris senior, dum miles in illis.
Quo potuit ciuem populus perducere liber,
ascendi supraque nihil nisi regna reliqui.
Non priuata cupis, Romana quisquis in urbe
Pompeium transire paras. Hinc consul uterque,
hinc acies statura ducum est. Caesarne senatus
uictor erit? Non tam caeco trahis omnia cursu,
teque nihil, Fortuna, pudet. Multisne rebellis
Gallia iam lustris aetasque impensa labori
dant animos? Rheni gelidis quod fugit ab undis
Oceanumque uocans incerti stagna profundi
territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis?
An uanae tumuere minae; quod fama furoris
expulit armatam patriis e sedibus urbem?
Heu demens! non te fugiunt, me cuncta sequuntur.
Qui cum signa tuli toto fulgentia ponto,
ante bis exactum quam Cynthia conderet orbem,
omne fretum metuens pelagi pirata reliquit
angustaque domum terrarum in sede poposcit.
Idem per Scythici profugum diuortia ponti
indomitum regem Romanaque fata morantem
ad mortem Sylla felicior ire coëgi.
Pars mundi mihi nulla uacat; sed tota tenetur
terra meis, quocumque iacet sub sole, tropaeis:
hinc me uictorem gelidas ad Phasidos undas
Arctos habet; calida medius mihi cognitus axis
Aegypto atque umbras numquam flectente Syene;
occasus mea iura timent Tethynque fugacem
qui ferit Hesperius post omnia flumina Baetis.
Me domitus cognouit Arabs, me Marte feroces
Heniochi notique erepto uellere Colchi.
Cappadoces mea signa timent et dedita sacris
incerti Iudaea dei mollisque Sophene.
Armenios Cilicasque feros Taurosque subegi.
Quod socero bellum praeter ciuile reliqui?"
Verba ducis nullo partes clamore sequuntur
nec matura petunt promissae classica pugnae.
Sensit et ipse metum Magnus, placuitque referri
signa nec in tantae discrimina mittere pugnae
iam uictum fama non uisi Caesaris agmen.
Pulsus ut armentis primo certamine taurus
siluarum secreta petit uacuosque per agros
exul in aduersis explorat cornua truncis
nec redit in pastus, nisi cum ceruice recepta
excussi placuere tori; mox reddita uictor
quoslibet in saltus comitantibus agmina tauris
inuito pastore trahit: sic uiribus impar
tradidit Hesperiam profugusque per Apula rura
Brundisii tutas concessit Magnus in arces.
Vrbs est Dictaeis olim possessa colonis,
quos Creta profugos uexere per aequora puppes
Cecropiae, uictum mentitis Thesea uelis.
Hanc latus angustum iam se cogentis in artum
Hesperiae tenuem producit in aequora linguam,
Hadriacas flexis claudit quae cornibus undas.
Nec tamen hoc artis immissum faucibus aequor
portus erat, si non uiolentos insula Coros
exciperet saxis lassasque refunderet undas.
Hinc illinc montes scopulosae rupis aperto
opposuit natura mari flatusque remouit,
ut tremulo starent contentae fune carinae.
Hinc late patet omne fretum, seu uela ferantur
in portus, Corcyra, tuos, seu laeua petatur
Illyris Ionias uergens Epidamnos in undas.
Huc fuga nautarum, cum totas Adria uires
mouit et in nubes abiere Ceraunia cumque
spumoso Calaber perfunditur aequore Sason.
Ergo ubi nulla fides rebus post terga relictis
nec licet ad duros Martem conuertere Hiberos,
cum mediae iaceant immensis tractibus Alpes,
tunc subole e tanta natum, cui firmior aetas,
adfatur: "Mundi iubeo temptare recessus
Euphraten Nilumque moue, quo nominis usque
nostri fama uenit, quas est uulgata per urbes
post me Roma ducem; sparsos per rura colonos
redde mari Cilicas; Pharios hinc concute reges
Tigranemque meum. Nec Pharnacis arma relinquas,
admoneo, nec tu populos utraque uagantis
Armenia Pontique feras per litora gentis
Riphaeasque manus et quas tenet aequore denso
pigra palus Scythici patiens Maeotia plaustri,
et "Quid plura moror? Totos mea, nate, per ortus
bella feres totoque urbes agitabis in orbe
perdomitas; omnes redeant in castra triumphi.
Et uos, qui Latio signatis nomine fastus,
primus in Epirum boreas agat; inde per arua
Graiorum Macetumque nouas adquirite uires,
dum pauci dat tempus hiemps." sic fatur et omnes
iussa gerunt soluuntque cauas a litore puppes.
At numquam patiens segnis longaeque quietis
armorum, ne quid fatis mutare liceret,
adsequitur generique premit uestigia Caesar.
Sufficerent aliis primo tot moenia cursu
rapta, tot oppressae depulsis hostibus arces,
ipsa caput mundi, bellorum maxima merces,
Roma capi facilis; sed Caesar in omnia praeceps,
nil actum credens, cum quid superesset agendum,
instat atrox et adhuc, quamuis possederit omnem
Italiam, extremo sedeat quod litore Magnus,
communem tamen esse dolet nec rursus aperto
uult hostes errare freto sed molibus undas
obstruit et latum deiectis rupibus aequor.
Cedit in immensum cassus labor: omnia pontus
haurit saxa uorax montesque immiscet harenis:
ut maris Aegaei medias si celsus in undas
depellatur Eryx, nullae tamen aequore rupes
emineant, uel si conuulso uertice Gaurus
decidat in fundum penitus stagnantis Auerni.
Ergo ubi nulla uado tenuit sua pondera moles,
tunc placuit caesis innectere uincula siluis
roboraque immensis late religare catenis.
Talis fama canit tumidum super aequora Xersen
construxisse uias, multum cum pontibus ausus
Europamque Asiae Sestonque admouit Abydo
incessitque fretum rapidi super Hellesponti
non eurum Zephyrumque timens, cum uela ratisque
in medium deferret Athon. Sic ora profundi
artantur casu nemorum; tunc aggere multo
surgit opus, longaeque tremunt super aequora turres.
Pompeius tellure noua compressa profundi
ora uidens curis animum mordacibus angit,
ut reseret pelagus spargatque per aequora bellum.
Saepe noto plenae tensisque rudentibus actae
ipsa maris per claustra rates fastigia molis
discussere salo spatiumque dedere carinis
tortaque per tenebras ualidis ballista lacertis
multifidas iaculata faces. Vt tempora tandem
furtiuae placuere fugae, ne litora clamor
nauticus exagitet, ne bucina diuidat horas,
ne tuba praemonitos perducat ad aequora nautas,
praecepit sociis. iam coeperat ultima Virgo
Phoebum laturas ortu praecedere Chelas,
cum tacitas soluere rates. Non anchora uoces
mouit, dum spissis auellitur uncus harenis;
dum iuga curuantur mali dumque ardua pinus
erigitur, pauidi classis siluere magistri,
strictaque pendentes deducunt carbasa nautae
nec quatiunt ualidos, ne sibilet aura, rudentis.
Dux etiam uotis hoc te, Fortuna, precatur,
quam retinere uetas, liceat sibi perdere saltem
Italiam. uix fata sinunt; nam murmure uasto
impulsum rostris sonuit mare, fluctuat unda
totque carinarum permixtis aequora sulcis.
Ergo hostes portis, quas omnis soluerat urbis
cum fato conuersa fides, murisque recepti
praecipiti cursu flexi per cornua portus
ora petunt pelagusque dolent contingere classi.
Heu pudor! exigua est fugiens uictoria Magnus.
Angustus puppis mittebat in aequora limes
artior Euboica, quae Chalcida uerberat, unda.
Hic haesere rates geminae classique paratas
excepere manus, tractoque in litora bello
hic primum rubuit ciuili sanguine Nereus.
Cetera classis abit summis spoliata carinis:
ut, Pagasaea ratis peteret cum Phasidos undas,
Cyaneas tellus emisit in aequora cautes,
rapta puppe minor subducta est montibus Argo,
uanaque percussit pontum Symplegas inanem
et statura redit. Iam Phoebum urgere monebat
non idem eoi color aetheris, albaque nondum
lux rubet et flammas propioribus eripit astris,
et iam Plias hebet, flexi iam plaustra Bootae
in faciem puri redeunt languentia caeli,
maioresque latent stellae, calidumque refugit
Lucifer ipse diem; pelagus iam, Magne, tenebas,
non ea fata ferens, quae, cum super aequora toto
praedonem sequerere mari: lassata triumphis
desciuit fortuna tuis. Cum coniuge pulsus
et natis totosque trahens in bella penates
uadis adhuc ingens populis comitantibus exul.
Quaeritur indignae sedes longinqua ruinae.
Non quia te superi patrio priuare sepulchro
maluerint, Phariae busto damnantur harenae:
parcitur Hesperiae; procul hoc et in orbe remoto
abscondat Fortuna nefas, Romanaque tellus
immaculata sui seruetur sanguine Magni.