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Āt nōn īn Phărĭā mānēs iăcŭērĕ făvīllā

nēc cĭnĭs ēxĭgŭūs tāntām cōmpēscŭĭt ūmbrām:

prōsĭlŭīt būstō sēmūstăquĕ mēmbră rĕlīnquēns

dēgĕnĕrēmquĕ rŏgūm sĕquĭtūr cōnvēxă Tŏnāntīs;

quā nĭgĕr āstrĭfĕrīs cōnēctĭtŭr āxĭbŭs āēr,

quōdquĕ pătēt tērrās īntēr lūnaēquĕ mĕātūs,

sēmĭdĕī mānēs hăbĭtānt, quōs īgnĕă vīrtūs

īnnŏcŭōs vītā pătĭēntēs aēthĕrĭs īmī

fēcĭt ĕt aētērnōs ănĭmām cōllēgĭt ĭn ōrbēs:

nōn īllūc aūrō pŏsĭtī nēc tūrĕ sĕpūltī

pērvĕnĭūnt. Īllīc pōstquām sē lūmĭnĕ vērō

īmplēvīt, stēllāsquĕ văgās mīrātŭs ĕt āstră

fīxă pŏlīs, vīdīt quāntā sūb nōctĕ iăcērēt

nōstră dĭēs, rīsītquĕ sŭī lūdībrĭă trūncī.

Hīnc sŭpĕr Ēmăthĭaē cāmpōs ēt sīgnă crŭēntī

Caēsărĭs āc spārsās vŏlĭtāvĭt ĭn aēquŏrĕ clāssēs

ēt scĕlĕrūm vīndēx īn sānctō pēctŏrĕ Brūtī

sēdĭt ĕt īnvīctī pŏsŭīt sē mēntĕ Cătōnīs.

Īlle, ŭbĭ pēndēbānt cāsūs dŭbĭūmquĕ mănēbāt,

quēm dŏmĭnūm mūndī făcĕrēnt cīvīlĭă bēllă,

ōdĕrăt ēt Māgnūm, quāmvīs cŏmĕs īssĕt ĭn ārmă

aūspĭcĭīs rāptūs pătrĭaē dūctūquĕ sĕnātūs;

āt pōst Thēssălĭcās clādēs iām pēctŏrĕ tōtō

Pōmpēiānŭs ĕrāt. Pătrĭām tūtōrĕ cărēntēm

ēxcēpīt, pŏpŭlī trĕpĭdāntĭă mēmbră rĕfōvīt,

īgnāvīs mănĭbūs prōiēctōs rēddĭdĭt ēnsēs

nēc rēgnūm cŭpĭēns gēssīt cīvīlĭă bēllă

nēc sērvīrĕ tĭmēns. Nīl caūsā fēcĭt ĭn ārmīs

īllĕ sŭā: tōtaē pōst Māgnī fūnĕră pārtēs

lībērtātĭs ĕrānt; quās nē pēr lītŏră fūsās

cōllĭgĕrēt răpĭdō vīctōrĭă Caēsărĭs āctū,

Cōrcŷraē sēcrētă pĕtīt āc mīllĕ cărīnīs

ābstŭlĭt Ēmăthĭaē sēcūm frāgmēntă rŭīnaē.

Quīs rătĭbūs tāntīs fŭgĭēntĭă crēdĕrĕt īrĕ

āgmĭnă? quīs pĕlăgūs vīctās ārtāssĕ cărīnās?

Dōrĭdă tūnc Mălĕān ĕt ăpērtām Taēnărŏn ūmbrīs,

īndĕ Cўthēră pĕtīt, bŏrĕāque ūrgēntĕ cărīnās

Crētă fŭgīt: Dīctaēă lĕgīt cēdēntĭbŭs ūndīs

lītŏră. Tūnc aūsūm clāssī praēclūdĕrĕ pōrtūs

īmpŭlĭt āc saēvās mĕrĭtūm Phŷcūntă răpīnās

spārsĭt ĕt hīnc plăcĭdīs āltō dēlābĭtŭr aūrīs

īn lītūs, Pălĭnūrĕ, tŭūm (nĕque ĕnim aēquŏrĕ tāntūm

Aūsŏnĭō mŏnŭmēntă tĕnēs, pōrtūsquĕ quĭētōs

tēstātūr Lĭbўē Phrўgĭō plăcŭīssĕ măgīstrō),

cūm prŏcŭl ēx āltō tēndēntēs vēlă cărīnaē

āncĭpĭtēs tĕnŭēre ănĭmōs, sŏcĭōsnĕ mălōrūm

ān vĕhĕrēnt hōstēs; praēcēps făcĭt ōmnĕ tĭmēndūm

vīctŏr ĕt īn nūllā nōn crēdĭtŭr ēssĕ cărīnā.

Āst īllaē pūppēs lūctūs plānctūsquĕ fĕrēbānt

ēt mălă vēl dūrī lăcrĭmās mōtūră Cătōnīs.

Nām pōstquām frūstrā prĕcĭbūs Cōrnēlĭă naūtās

prīvīgnīquĕ fŭgām tĕnŭīt, nē fōrtĕ rĕpūlsūs

lītŏrĭbūs Phărĭīs rĕmĕārĕt ĭn aēquŏră trūncūs,

ōstēndītquĕ rŏgūm nōn iūstī flāmmă sĕpūlchrī,

"Ērgo īndīgnă fŭī" dīxīt "Fōrtūnă, mărītō

āccēndīssĕ rŏgūm gĕlĭdōsque ēffūsă pĕr ārtūs

īncŭbŭīssĕ vĭrō, lăcĕrōs ēxūrĕrĕ crīnēs

mēmbrăquĕ dīspērsī pĕlăgō cōmpōnĕrĕ Māgnī,

vūlnĕrĭbūs cūnctīs lārgōs īnfūndĕrĕ flētūs,

ōssĭbŭs ēt tĕpĭdā vēstēs īmplērĕ făvīllā,

quīcquĭd ăb ēxtīnctō lĭcŭīssēt tōllĕrĕ būstō,

īn tēmplīs spārsūră dĕūm? Sĭnĕ fūnĕrĭs ūllō

ārdĕt hŏnōrĕ rŏgūs; mănŭs hōc Aēgŷptĭă fōrsān

ōbtŭlĭt ōffĭcĭūm grăvĕ mānĭbŭs. Ō bĕnĕ nūdī

Crāssōrūm cĭnĕrēs! Pōmpēiō cōntĭgĭt īgnīs

īnvĭdĭā māiōrĕ dĕūm. sĭmĭlīsnĕ mălōrūm

sōrs mĭhĭ sēmpĕr ĕrīt? Nūmquām dărĕ iūstă lĭcēbīt

cōniŭgĭbūs? nūmquām plēnās plāngēmŭs ăd ūrnās?

Quīd pōrrō tŭmŭlīs ŏpŭs ēst aūt ūllă rĕquīrīs

īnstrūmēntă, dŏlōr? Nōn tōto īn pēctŏrĕ pōrtās,

īmpĭă, Pōmpēiūm? nōn īmīs haērĕt ĭmāgŏ

vīscĕrĭbūs? Quaērāt cĭnĕrēs vīctūră sŭpērstēs.

Nūnc tămĕn, hīnc lōngē quī fūlgēt lūcĕ mălīgnā,

īgnĭs ădhūc ălĭquīd Phărĭō dē lītŏrĕ sūrgēns

ōstēndīt mĭhĭ, Māgnĕ, tŭī; iām flāmmă rĕsēdīt,

Pōmpĕĭūmquĕ fĕrēns vānēscīt sōlĭs ăd ōrtūs

fūmŭs, ĕt īnvīsī tēndūnt mĭhĭ cārbăsă vēntī.

Nōn mĭhĭ nūnc tēllūs, Pōmpēĭŏ sī quă trĭūmphōs

vīctă dĕdīt, nōn āltă tĕrēns Căpĭtōlĭă cūrrūs

grātĭŏr; ēlāpsūs fēlīx dē pēctŏrĕ Māgnūs:

hūnc vŏlŭmūs quēm Nīlŭs hăbēt, tērraēquĕ nŏcēntī

nōn haērērĕ quĕrōr; crīmēn cōmmēndăt hărēnās.

Līnquĕrĕ, sī quă fĭdēs, Pēlūsĭă lītŏră nōlō.

Tū pĕtĕ bēllōrūm cāsūs ēt sīgnă pĕr ōrbēm,

Sēxtĕ, pătērnă mŏvē; nāmque haēc māndātă rĕlīquīt

Pōmpēiūs vōbīs īn nōstrā cōndĭtă cūrā:

"Mē cūm fātālīs lētō dāmnāvĕrĭt hōră,

ēxcĭpĭte, ō nātī, bēllūm cīvīlĕ, nĕc ūmquām,

dūm tērrīs ălĭquīs nōstrā dē stīrpĕ mănēbīt,

Caēsărĭbūs rēgnārĕ văcēt. vēl scēptră vĕl ūrbēs

lībērtātĕ sŭā vălĭdās īmpēllĭtĕ fāmā

nōmĭnĭs; hās vōbīs pārtēs, haēc ārmă rĕlīnquō.

Īnvĕnĭēt clāssēs quīsquīs Pōmpēiŭs ĭn ūndās

vēnĕrĭt, ēt nōstēr nūllīs nōn gēntĭbŭs hērēs

bēllă dăbīt; tāntum īndŏmĭtōs mĕmŏrēsquĕ pătērnī

iūrĭs hăbēte ănĭmōs. ūnī pārērĕ dĕcēbīt,

sī făcĭēt pārtēs prō lībērtātĕ, Cătōnī."

Ēxsōlvī tĭbĭ, Māgnĕ, fĭdēm, māndātă pĕrēgī.

Īnsĭdĭaē vālvērĕ tŭaē, dēcēptăquĕ vīxī,

nē mĭhĭ cōmmīssās aūfērrēm pērfĭdă vōcēs.

Iām nūnc tē pĕr ĭnānĕ chăōs, pēr Tārtără, cōniūx,

sī sūnt ūllă, sĕquār: quām lōngō trādĭtă lētō,

īncērtum ēst: poēnās ănĭmaē vīvācĭs ăb īpsā

āntĕ fĕrām. Pŏtŭī cērnēns tŭă fūnĕră, Māgnĕ,

nōn fŭgĕre īn mōrtēm: plānctū cōntūsă pĕrībīt,

ēfflŭĕt īn lăcrĭmās, nūmquām vĕnĭēmŭs ăd ēnsēs

aūt lăquĕōs aūt praēcĭpĭtēs pĕr ĭnānĭă iāctūs;

tūrpĕ mŏrī pōst tē sōlō nōn pōssĕ dŏlōrĕ."

Sīc ŭbĭ fātă, căpūt fērāli ōbdūxĭt ămīctū

dēcrēvītquĕ pătī tĕnĕbrās pūppīsquĕ căvērnīs

dēlĭtŭīt saēvūmque ārtē cōmplēxă dŏlōrēm

pērfrŭĭtūr lăcrĭmīs ĕt ămāt prō cōniŭgĕ lūctūm.

Īllām nōn flūctūs strīdēnsquĕ rŭdēntĭbŭs eūrūs

mōvĭt ĕt ēxsūrgēns ād sūmmă pĕrīcŭlă clāmōr,

vōtăquĕ sōllĭcĭtīs făcĭēns cōntrārĭă naūtīs

cōmpŏsĭta īn mōrtēm iăcŭīt fāvītquĕ prŏcēllīs.

Prīmă rătēm Cŷprōs spūmāntĭbŭs āccĭpĭt ūndīs;

īndĕ tĕnēns pĕlăgūs, sēd iām mŏdĕrātĭŏr, eūrūs

īn Lĭbўcās ēgīt sēdēs ēt cāstră Cătōnīs.

Trīstĭs, ŭt īn mūltō mēns ēst praēsāgă tĭmōrĕ,

āspēxīt pătrĭōs cŏmĭtēs ā lītŏrĕ Māgnūs

ēt frātrēm; mĕdĭās praēcēps tūnc fērtŭr ĭn ūndās:

"Dīc ŭbĭ sīt, gērmānĕ, părēns; stāt sūmmă căpūtquĕ

ōrbĭs ăn ōccĭdĭmūs Rōmānăquĕ Māgnŭs ăd ūmbrās

ābstŭlĭt?" Haēc fātūr; quēm cōntrā tālĭă frātēr:

"Ō fēlīx, quēm sōrs ălĭās dīspērsĭt ĭn ōrās

quīquĕ nĕfās aūdīs: ŏcŭlōs, gērmānĕ, nŏcēntīs

spēctātō gĕnĭtōrĕ fĕrō. Nōn Caēsărĭs ārmīs

ōccŭbŭīt dīgnōquĕ pĕrīt aūctōrĕ rŭīnaē:

rēgĕ sŭb īmpūrō Nīlōtĭcă rūră tĕnēntĕ

hōspĭtĭī frētūs sŭpĕrīs ēt mūnĕrĕ tāntō

īn prŏăvōs cĕcĭdīt dōnātī vīctĭmă rēgnī.

Vīdi ĕgŏ māgnănĭmī lăcĕrāntēs pēctŏră pātrīs

nēc crēdēns Phărĭūm tāntūm pŏtŭīssĕ tўrānnūm

lītŏrĕ Nīlĭăcō sŏcĕrūm iām stārĕ pŭtāvī.

Sēd mē nēc sānguīs nēc tāntūm vūlnĕră nōstrī

ādfēcērĕ sĕnīs, quāntūm gēstātă pĕr ūrbēm

ōră dŭcīs, quaē trānsfīxō sūblīmĭă pīlō

vīdĭmŭs: haēc fămă ēst ŏcŭlīs vīctōrĭs ĭnīquī

sērvārī, scĕlĕrīsquĕ fĭdēm quaēsīssĕ tўrānnūm.

Nām cōrpūs Phărĭaēnĕ cănēs ăvĭdaēquĕ vŏlūcrēs

dīstŭlĕrīnt, ān fūrtīvūs, quēm vīdĭmŭs, īgnīs

sōlvĕrĭt, īgnōrō. Quaēcūmque īniūrĭă fātī

ābstŭlĭt hōs ārtūs, sŭpĕrīs haēc crīmĭnă dōnō;

sērvātā dē pārtĕ quĕrōr." Cūm tālĭă Māgnūs

aūdīssēt, nōn īn gĕmĭtūs lăcrĭmāsquĕ dŏlōrēm

ēffūdīt iūstāquĕ fŭrēns pĭĕtātĕ prŏfātūr:

"Praēcĭpĭtātĕ rătēs ē sīccō lītŏrĕ, naūtaē;

clāssĭs ĭn ādvērsōs ērūmpāt rēmĭgĕ vēntōs,

ītĕ, dŭcēs, mēcūm; nūsquām cīvīlĭbŭs ārmīs

tāntă fŭīt mērcēs, ĭnhŭmātōs cōndĕrĕ mānēs,

sānguĭnĕ sēmĭvĭrī Māgnūm sătĭārĕ tўrānnī.

Nōn ĕgŏ Pēllaēās ārcēs ădўtīsquĕ rĕtēctūm

cōrpŭs Ălēxāndrī pīgrā Mărĕōtĭdĕ mērgām?

Nōn mĭhĭ pŷrămĭdūm tŭmŭlīs ēvūlsŭs Ămāsīs

ātquĕ ălīĭ rĕgēs Nīlō tōrrēntĕ nătābūnt?

Ōmnĭă dēnt poēnās nūdō tĭbĭ, Māgnĕ, sĕpūlchră:

ēvōlvām būstō iām nūmēn gēntĭbŭs Īsīm

ēt tēctūm līnō spārgām pēr vūlgŭs Ŏsīrīm,

ēt săcĕr īn Māgnī cĭnĕrēs māctābĭtŭr Āpīs,

sūppŏsĭtīsquĕ dĕīs ūrām căpŭt. Hās mĭhĭ poēnās

tērră dăbīt: līnquām văcŭōs cūltōrĭbŭs āgrōs,

nēc, Nīlūs cuī crēscăt, ĕrīt, sōlūsquĕ tĕnēbīs

Aēgŷptūm, gĕnĭtōr, pŏpŭlīs sŭpĕrīsquĕ fŭgātīs."

Dīxĕrăt ēt clāssēm saēvūs răpĭēbăt ĭn ūndās;

sēd Cătŏ laūdātām iŭvĕnīs cōmpēscŭĭt īrām.

Īntĕrĕā tōtīs aūdītō fūnĕrĕ Māgnī

lītŏrĭbūs sōnvīt pērcūssūs plānctĭbŭs aēthēr,

ēxēmplōquĕ cărēns ēt nūllī cōgnĭtŭs aēvō

lūctŭs ĕrāt, mōrtēm pŏpŭlōs dēflērĕ pŏtēntīs.

Sēd măgĭs, ūt vĭsă ēst lăcrĭmīs ēxhaūstă, sŏlūtās

īn vūltūs ēffūsă cŏmās, Cōrnēlĭă pūppĕ

ēgrĕdĭēns, rūrsūs gĕmĭnātō vērbĕrĕ plāngūnt.

Vt prĭmŭm īn sŏcĭaē pērvēnīt lītŏră tērraē,

cōllēgīt vēstēs mĭsĕrīque īnsīgnĭă Māgnī

ārmăque ĕt īmprēssās aūrō, quās gēssĕrăt ōlīm,

ēxŭvĭās pīctāsquĕ tŏgās, vēlāmĭnă sūmmō

tēr cōnspēctă Iŏvī, fūnēstōque īntŭlĭt īgnī.

Īllĕ fŭīt mĭsĕraē Māgnī cĭnĭs. āccĭpĭt ōmnīs

ēxēmplūm pĭĕtās, ēt tōtō lītŏrĕ būstă

sūrgūnt Thēssălĭcīs rēddēntĭă mānĭbŭs īgnēm.

Sīc, ŭbĭ dēpāstīs sūmmīttĕrĕ grāmĭnă cāmpīs

ēt rĕnŏvārĕ părāns hībērnās Āpŭlŭs hērbās

īgnĕ fŏvēt tērrās, sĭmŭl ēt Gārgānŭs ĕt ārvă

Vūltŭrĭs ēt călĭdī lūcēnt būcētă Mătīnī.

Nōn tămĕn ād Māgnī pērvēnīt grātĭŭs ūmbrās

ōmnĕ quŏd īn sŭpĕrōs aūdēt cōnvīcĭă vūlgūs

Pōmpēiūmquĕ dĕīs ŏbĭcīt, quām paūcă Cătōnīs

vērbă, sĕd ā plēnō vĕnĭēntĭă pēctŏrĕ vērī.

"Cīvĭs ŏbīt" īnquīt "mūltūm māiōrĭbŭs īmpār

nōssĕ mŏdūm iūrīs, sĕd ĭn hōc tămĕn ūtĭlĭs aēvō,

cuī nōn ūllă fŭīt iūstī rĕvĕrēntĭă; sālvā

lībērtātĕ pŏtēns ēt sōlūs plēbĕ părātā

prīvātūs sērvīrĕ sĭbī, rēctōrquĕ sĕnātūs,

sēd rēgnāntĭs, ĕrāt. Nīl bēllī iūrĕ pŏpōscīt,

quaēquĕ dărī vŏlŭīt, vŏlŭīt sĭbĭ pōssĕ nĕgārī.

Īmmŏdĭcās pōssēdĭt ŏpēs, sēd plūră rĕtēntīs

īntŭlĭt. Īnvāsīt fērrūm, sēd pōnĕrĕ nōrāt;

praētŭlĭt ārmă tŏgaē, sēd pācem ārmātŭs ămāvīt;

iūvīt sūmptă dŭcēm, iūvīt dīmīssă pŏtēstās.

Cāstă dŏmūs lūxūquĕ cărēns cōrrūptăquĕ nūmquām

fōrtūnā dŏmĭnī. Clārum ēt vĕnĕrābĭlĕ nōmēn

gēntĭbŭs, ēt mūltūm nōstraē quōd prōdĕrăt ūrbī.

Ōlīm vēră fĭdēs Sūllā Mărĭōquĕ rĕcēptīs

lībērtātĭs ŏbīt: Pōmpēĭŏ rēbŭs ădēmptō

nūnc ēt fīctă pĕrīt. Nōn iām rēgnārĕ pŭdēbīt,

nēc cŏlŏr īmpĕrĭī nēc frōns ĕrĭt ūllă sĕnātūs.

Ō fēlīx, cuī sūmmă dĭēs fŭĭt ōbvĭă vīctō

ēt cuī quaērēndōs Phărĭūm scĕlŭs ōbtŭlĭt ēnsēs!

Fōrsĭtăn īn sŏcĕrī pŏtŭīssēs vīvĕrĕ rēgnō.

Scīrĕ mŏrī sōrs prīmă vĭrīs, sēd prōxĭmă cōgī.

Ēt mīhī, sī fātīs ălĭĕna ĭn iūră vĕnīmūs,

fāc tālēm, Fōrtūnă, Iŭbām; nōn dēprĕcŏr hōstī

sērvārī, dūm mē sērvēt cērvīcĕ rĕcīsā."

Vōcĭbŭs hīs māiōr, quām sī Rōmānă sŏnārēnt

rōstră dŭcīs laūdēs, gĕnĕrōsām vēnĭt ăd ūmbrām

mōrtĭs hŏnōs. Frĕmĭt īntĕrĕā dīscōrdĭă vūlgī,

cāstrōrūm bēllīquĕ pĭgēt pōst fūnĕră Māgnī,

cūm Tārcōndĭmŏtūs līnquēndī sīgnă Cătōnīs

sūstŭlĭt; hūnc rāptā fŭgĭēntēm clāssĕ sĕcūtūs

lītŭs ĭn ēxtrēmūm tālī Cătŏ vōcĕ nŏtāvīt:

"Ō nūmquām pācātĕ Cĭlīx, ĭtĕrūmnĕ răpīnās

vādĭs ĭn aēquŏrĕās? Māgnūm fōrtūnă rĕmōvīt,

iām pĕlăgō pīrātă rĕdīs." Tūm rēspĭcĭt ōmnīs

īn coētū mōtūquĕ vĭrōs, quōrum ūnŭs ăpērtā

mēntĕ fŭgaē tālī cōmpēllāt vōcĕ rĕgēntēm:

"Nōs, Cătŏ, dā vĕnĭām, Pōmpēī dūxĭt ĭn ārmă,

nōn bēllī cīvīlĭs ămōr, pārtēsquĕ făvōrĕ

fēcĭmŭs. Īllĕ iăcēt, quēm pācī praētŭlĭt ōrbīs,

caūsăquĕ nōstră pĕrīt; pătrĭōs pērmīttĕ pĕnātēs

dēsērtāmquĕ dŏmūm dūlcēsquĕ rĕvīsĕrĕ nātōs.

Nām quĭs ĕrīt fīnīs, sī nēc Phārsālĭă pūgnaē

nēc Pōmpēiŭs ĕrīt? Pĕrĭērūnt tēmpŏră vītaē:

mōrs ĕăt īn tūtūm, iūstās sĭbĭ nōstră sĕnēctūs

prōspĭcĭāt flāmmās; bēllūm cīvīlĕ sĕpūlchră

vīx dŭcĭbūs praēstārĕ pŏtēst. Nōn bārbără vīctōs

rēgnă mănēnt, nōn Ārmĕnĭūm mĭhĭ saēvă mĭnātūr

aūt Scўthĭcūm fōrtūnă iŭgūm: sūb iūră tŏgātī

cīvĭs ĕō. Quīsquīs Māgnō vīvēntĕ sĕcūndūs,

hīc mĭhĭ prīmŭs ĕrīt. Sācrīs praēstābĭtŭr ūmbrīs

sūmmŭs hŏnōr; dŏmĭnūm quēm clādēs cōgĭt hăbēbō,

nūllūm, Māgnĕ, dŭcēm: tē sōlum īn bēllă sĕcūtūs

pōst tē fātă sĕquār; nĕc ĕnīm spērārĕ sĕcūndă

fās mĭhĭ nēc lĭcĕāt: fōrtūnā cūnctă tĕnēntūr

Caēsărĭs; Ēmăthĭūm spārsīt vīctōrĭă fērrūm.

Claūsă fĭdēs mĭsĕrīs, ēt tōtō sōlŭs ĭn ōrbe ēst,

quī vĕlĭt āc pōssīt vīctīs praēstārĕ sălūtēm.

Pōmpēiō scĕlŭs ēst bēllūm cīvīlĕ pĕrēmptō,

quō fŭĕrāt vīvēntĕ fĭdēs. Sī pūblĭcă iūră,

sī sēmpēr sĕquĕrīs pătrĭām, Cătŏ, sīgnă pĕtāmūs,

Rōmānūs quaē cōnsŭl hăbēt". Sīc īllĕ prŏfātūs

īnsĭlŭīt pūppī iŭvĕnūm cŏmĭtāntĕ tŭmūltū.

Āctūm Rōmānīs fŭĕrāt dē rēbŭs, ĕt ōmnīs

īndĭgă sērvĭtĭī fērvēbāt lītŏrĕ plēbēs.

Ērūpērĕ dŭcīs sācrō dē pēctŏrĕ vōcēs:

"Ērgŏ părī vōtō gēssīstī bēllă, iŭvēntūs,

tū quŏquĕ prō dŏmĭnīs ēt Pōmpēiānă fŭīstī,

nōn Rōmānă mănūs? Quōd nōn īn rēgnă lăbōrās,

quōd tĭbĭ, nōn dŭcĭbūs, vīvīs mŏrĕrīsquĕ, quŏd ōrbēm

ādquīrīs nūllī, quōd iām tĭbĭ vīncĕrĕ tūtūmst,

bēllă fŭgīs quaērīsquĕ iŭgūm cērvīcĕ văcāntī

ēt nēscīs sĭnĕ rēgĕ pătī! Nūnc caūsă pĕrīclī

dīgnă vĭrīs. Pŏtŭīt vēstrō Pōmpēiŭs ăbūtī

sānguĭnĕ: nūnc pătrĭaē iŭgŭlōs ēnsēsquĕ nĕgātīs,

cūm prŏpĕ lībērtās? ūnūm fōrtūnă rĕlīquīt

iām trĭbŭs ē dŏmĭnīs. Pŭdĕāt: plūs rēgĭă Nīlī

cōntŭlĭt īn lēgēs ēt Pārthī mīlĭtĭs ārcūs.

Īte, ō dēgĕnĕrēs, Ptŏlŏmaēī mūnŭs ĕt ārmă

spērnĭtĕ. Quīs vēstrās ūllā pŭtĕt ēssĕ nŏcēntēs

caēdĕ mănūs? Crēdēt făcĭlēs sĭbĭ tērgă dĕdīssĕ,

crēdĕt ăb Ēmăthĭīs prīmōs fūgīssĕ Phĭlīppīs.

Vādĭtĕ sēcūrī; mĕrŭīstīs iūdĭcĕ vītām

Caēsărĕ, nōn ārmīs, nōn ōbsĭdĭōnĕ sŭbāctī.

Ō fămŭlī tūrpēs, dŏmĭnī pōst fātă prĭōrīs

ītĭs ăd hērēdēm. Cūr nōn māiōră mĕrērī

quām vītām vĕnĭāmquĕ lĭbēt? Răpĭātŭr ĭn ūndās

īnfēlīx cōniūx Māgnī prōlēsquĕ Mĕtēllī,

ducite Pompeios, Ptolomaei uincite munus.

Nōstră quŏque īnvīsō quīsquīs fĕrĕt ōră tўrānnō,

nōn pārvā mērcēdĕ dăbīt: scĭăt īstă iŭvēntūs

cērvīcīs prĕtĭō bĕnĕ sē mĕă sīgnă sĕcūtām.

Quīn ăgĭte ēt māgnā mĕrĭtūm cūm caēdĕ părātĕ;

īgnāvūm scĕlŭs ēst tāntūm fŭgă". Dīxĭt ĕt ōmnēs

haūd ălĭtēr mĕdĭō rĕvŏcāvĭt ăb aēquŏrĕ pūppēs

quām, sĭmŭl ēffētās līnquūnt ēxāmĭnă cērās

ātque ōblītă făvī nōn mīscēnt nēxĭbŭs ālās,

sēd sĭbĭ quaēquĕ vŏlāt nēc iām dēgūstăt ămārūm

dēsĭdĭōsă thўmūm, Phrўgĭī sŏnŭs īncrĕpăt aērīs,

āttŏnĭtaē pŏsŭērĕ fŭgām stŭdĭūmquĕ lăbōrīs

flōrĭfĕrī rĕpĕtūnt ēt spārsī mēllĭs ămōrēm:

gaūdĕt ĭn Hŷblaēō sēcūrūs grāmĭnĕ pāstōr

dīvĭtĭās sērvāssĕ căsaē. Sīc vōcĕ Cătōnīs

īncūlcātă vĭrīs iūstī pătĭēntĭă Mārtīs.

Iāmque āctū bēllī nōn dōctās fērrĕ quĭētēm

cōnstĭtŭīt mēntēs sĕrĭēque ăgĭtārĕ lăbōrūm.

Prīmūm lītŏrĕīs mīlēs lāssātŭr hărēnīs;

prōxĭmŭs īn mūrōs ēt moēnĭă Cŷrēnārūm

ēst lăbŏr; ēxclūsūs nūllā sē vīndĭcăt īrā,

poēnăquĕ dē vīctīs sōla ēst vīcīssĕ Cătōnīs.

Īndĕ pĕtī plăcŭīt Lĭbўcī cōntērmĭnă Maūrīs

rēgnă Iŭbaē, sĕd ĭtēr mĕdĭīs nātūră vĕtābāt

Sŷrtĭbŭs: hānc aūdāx spērāt sĭbĭ cēdĕrĕ vīrtūs.

Sŷrtēs vēl prīmām mūndō nātūră fĭgūrām

cūm dărĕt, īn dŭbĭō pĕlăgī tērraēquĕ rĕlīquīt;

nām nĕquĕ sūbsēdīt pĕnĭtūs, quō stāgnă prŏfūndī

āccĭpĕrēt, nēc sē dēfēndĭt ăb aēquŏrĕ tēllūs,

āmbĭgŭā sēd lēgĕ lŏcī iăcĕt īnvĭă sēdēs:

aēquŏră frāctă vădīs ābrūptăquĕ tērră prŏfūndō,

ēt pōst mūltă sŏnānt prōiēctī lītŏră flūctūs.

Sīc mălĕ dēsērvīt nūllōsque ēxēgĭt ĭn ūsūs

hānc pārtēm nātūră sŭī. vēl plēnĭŏr āltō

ōlīm Sŷrtĭs ĕrāt pĕlăgō pĕnĭtūsquĕ nătābāt,

sēd răpĭdūs Tītān pōntō sŭă lūmĭnă pāscēns

aēquŏră sūbdūxīt zōnaē vīcīnă pĕrūstaē,

ēt nūnc pōntŭs ădhūc Phoēbō sīccāntĕ rĕpūgnāt:

mōx ŭbĭ dāmnōsūm rădĭōs ādmōvĕrĭt aēvūm,

tēllūs Sŷrtĭs ĕrīt; nām iām brĕvĭs ūndă sŭpērnē

īnnătăt, ēt lātē pĕrĭtūrūm dēfĭcĭt aēquōr.

Ūt prīmūm rēmīs āctūm mărĕ prōpŭlĭt ōmnĕ

clāssĭs ŏnūs, dēnsīs frĕmŭīt nĭgĕr īmbrĭbŭs aūstēr.

Īn sŭă rēgnă fŭrēns, tēmptātūm clāssĭbŭs aēquōr

tūrbĭnĕ dēfēndīt lōngēque ā Sŷrtĭbŭs ūndās

ēgĭt ĕt īllātō cōnfrēgīt lītŏrĕ pōntūm.

Tūm quārūm rēctō dēprēndīt cārbăsă mālō,

ērĭpŭīt naūtīs, frūstrāquĕ rŭdēntĭbŭs aūsīs

vēlă nĕgārĕ nŏtō spătĭūm vīcērĕ cărīnaē,

ātque ūltrā prōrām tŭmŭīt sĭnŭs. Ōmnĭă sī quīs

prōvĭdŭs āntēmnaē sūffīxīt līntĕă sūmmaē,

vīncĭtŭr ēt nūdīs āvērrĭtŭr ārmāmēntīs.

Sōrs mĕlĭōr clāssī quaē flūctĭbŭs īncĭdĭt āltīs

ēt cērtō iāctātă mărī. Quaēcūmquĕ lĕvātaē

ārbŏrĭbūs caēsīs flātum ēffūdērĕ prĕmēntēm,

ābstŭlĭt hās lībēr vēntīs cōntrārĭă vōlvēns

aēstŭs ĕt ōbnīxūm vīctōr dētrūsĭt ĭn aūstrūm.

Hās vădă dēstĭtŭūnt, ātque īntērrūptă prŏfūndō

tērră fĕrīt pūppēs, dŭbĭōque ōbnōxĭă fātō

pārs sĕdĕt ūnă rătīs, pārs āltĕră pēndĕt ĭn ūndīs.

Tūnc măgĭs īmpāctīs brĕvĭūs mărĕ tērrăquĕ saēpĕ

ōbvĭă cōnsūrgēns; quāmvīs ēlīsŭs ăb aūstrō,

saēpĕ tămēn cŭmŭlōs flūctūs nōn vīncĭt hărēnaē.

Ēmĭnĕt īn tērgō pĕlăgī prŏcŭl ōmnĭbŭs ārvīs

īnvĭŏlātŭs ăquā sīccī iām pūlvĕrĭs āggēr,

stānt mĭsĕrī naūtaē, tērraēque haērēntĕ cărīnā

lītŏră nūllă vĭdēnt. Sīc pārtem īntērcĭpĭt aēquōr;

pārs rătĭūm māiōr rĕgĭmēn clāvūmquĕ sĕcūtāst

tūtă fŭgā naūtāsquĕ lŏcī sōrtītă pĕrītōs

tōrpēntēm Trĭtŏnōs ādīt īllaēsă pălūdēm.

Hānc, ūt fāmă, dĕūs, quēm tōtō lītŏrĕ pōntūs

aūdīt vēntōsā pērflāntēm mārmŏră cōnchā,

hānc ēt Pāllăs ămāt, pătrĭō quaē vērtĭcĕ nātă

tērrārūm prīmām Lībyēn (nām prōxĭmă caēlōst,

ūt prŏbăt īpsĕ călōr) tĕtĭgīt stāgnīquĕ quĭētā

vūltūs vīdĭt ăquā pŏsŭītque īn mārgĭnĕ plāntās

ēt sē dīlēctā Trītōnĭdă dīxĭt ăb ūndā.

Quām iūxtā Lēthōn tăcĭtūs praēlābĭtŭr āmnīs,

īnfērnīs, ūt fāmă, trăhēns ōblīvĭă vēnīs,

ātque, īnsōpītī quōndām tūtēlă drăcōnīs,

Hēspĕrĭdūm paūpēr spŏlĭātīs frōndĭbŭs hōrtūs.

Īnvĭdŭs, ānnōsō quī fāmām dērŏgăt aēvō,

quī vātēs ād vēră vŏcāt. Fŭĭt aūrĕă sīlvă

dīvĭtĭīsquĕ grăvēs ēt fūlvō gērmĭnĕ rāmī

vīrgĭnĕūsquĕ chŏrūs, nĭtĭdī cūstōdĭă lūcī,

ēt nūmquām sōmnō dāmnātūs lūmĭnă sērpēns

rōbŏră cōmplēxūs rŭtĭlō cūrvātă mĕtāllō.

Ābstŭlĭt ārbŏrĭbūs prĕtĭūm nĕmŏrīquĕ lăbōrēm

Ālcīdēs pāssūsque ĭnŏpēs sĭnĕ pōndĕrĕ rāmōs

rēttŭlĭt Ārgŏlĭcō fūlgēntĭă pōmă tўrānnō.

Hīs ĭgĭtūr dēpūlsă lŏcīs ēiēctăquĕ clāssīs

Sŷrtĭbŭs haūd ūltrā Gărămāntĭdăs āttĭgĭt ūndās,

sēd dŭcĕ Pōmpēiō Lĭbўaē mĕlĭōrĭs ĭn ōrīs

mānsĭt. ăt īmpătĭēns vīrtūs haērērĕ Cătōnīs

aūdĕt ĭn īgnōtās āgmēn cōmmīttĕrĕ gēntēs

ārmōrūm fīdēns ēt tērrā cīngĕrĕ Sŷrtīm;

hōc ĕădēm suādēbăt hĭēms, quaē claūsĕrăt aēquōr

ēt spēs īmbĕr ĕrāt nĭmĭōs mĕtŭēntĭbŭs īgnēs,

ūt nĕquĕ sōlĕ vĭām nēc dūrō frīgŏrĕ saēvām

īndĕ pŏlō Lĭbўēs, hīnc brūmā tēmpĕrĕt ānnūs;

ātque īngrēssūrūs stĕrĭlēs sīc fātŭr hărēnās:

"Ō quĭbŭs ūnă sălūs plăcŭīt mĕă cāstră sĕcūtīs

īndŏmĭtā cērvīcĕ mŏrī, cōmpōnĭtĕ mēntēs

ād māgnūm vīrtūtĭs ŏpūs sūmmōsquĕ lăbōrēs.

Vādĭmŭs īn cāmpōs stĕrĭlēs ēxūstăquĕ mūndī,

quā nĭmĭūs Tītān ēt rārae īn fōntĭbŭs ūndaē,

sīccăquĕ lētĭfĕrīs squālēnt sērpēntĭbŭs ārvă:

dūrum ĭtĕr ād lēgēs, pătrĭaēquĕ rŭēntĭs ămōrĕ

pēr mĕdĭām Lībyēn vĕnĭānt ātque īnvĭă tēmptēnt,

sī quĭbŭs īn nūllō pŏsĭtum ēst ēvādĕrĕ vōtō,

sī quĭbŭs īrĕ săt ēst; nĕque ĕnīm mĭhĭ fāllĕrĕ quēmquām

ēst ănĭmūs tēctōquĕ mĕtū pērdūcĕrĕ vūlgūs.

Hī mĭhĭ sīnt cŏmĭtēs, quōs īpsă pĕrīcŭlă dūcēnt,

quī mē tēstĕ pătī vēl quaē trīstīssĭmă pūlchrūm

Rōmānūmquĕ pŭtānt. Āt quī spōnsōrĕ sălūtīs

mīlĕs ĕgēt căpĭtūrque ănĭmaē dūlcēdĭnĕ, vādāt

ād dŏmĭnūm mĕlĭōrĕ vĭā. Dūm prīmŭs hărēnās

īngrĕdĭār prīmūsquĕ grădūs īn pūlvĕrĕ pōnām,

mē călŏr aēthĕrĭūs fĕrĭāt, mĭhĭ plēnă vĕnēnō

ōccūrrāt sērpēns, fātōquĕ pĕrīcŭlă vēstră

praētēmptātĕ mĕō: sĭtĭāt, quīcūmquĕ bĭbēntēm

vīdĕrĭt, aūt ūmbrās nĕmŏrūm quīcūmquĕ pĕtēntēm,

aēstŭĕt, aūt ĕquĭtēm pĕdĭtūm praēcēdĕrĕ tūrmās,

dēfĭcĭāt: sī quō fŭĕrīt dīscrīmĭnĕ nōtūm,

dūx ān mīlĕs ĕām. Sērpēns, sĭtĭs, ārdŏr hărēnaē

dūlcĭă vīrtūtī; gaūdēt pătĭēntĭă dūrīs;

laētĭŭs ēst, quŏtĭēns māgnō sĭbĭ cōnstăt, hŏnēstūm.

Sōlă pŏtēst Lĭbўē tūrbā praēstārĕ mălōrūm,

ūt dĕcĕāt fūgīssĕ vĭrōs." Sīc īllĕ păvēntēs

īncēndīt vīrtūte ănĭmōs ĕt ămōrĕ lăbōrūm

īnrĕdŭcēmquĕ vĭām dēsērtō līmĭtĕ cārpīt,

ēt sācrūm pārvō nōmēn claūsūră sĕpūlchrō

īnvāsīt Lĭbўē sēcūrī fātă Cătōnīs.

Tērtĭă pārs rērūm Lĭbўē, sī crēdĕrĕ fāmaē

cūnctă vĕlīs; āt sī vēntōs caēlūmquĕ sĕquārīs,

pārs ĕrĭt Eūrōpaē. Nĕc ĕnīm plūs lītŏră Nīlī,

quām Scўthĭcūs Tănăīs prīmīs ā Gādĭbŭs ābsūnt,

ūnde Eūrōpă fŭgīt Lĭbўēn ēt lītŏră flēxū

Ōcĕănō fēcērĕ lŏcūm; sēd māiŏr ĭn ūnām

ōrbĭs ăbīt Ăsĭām. Nām cūm cōmmūnĭtĕr īstaē

ēffūndānt zĕphўrūm, bŏrĕaē lătŭs īllă sĭnīstrūm

cōntīngēns dēxtrūmquĕ nŏtī dīscēdĭt ĭn ōrtūs

eūrūm sōlă tĕnēns. Lĭbўaē quōd fērtĭlĕ tērraēst

vērgĭt ĭn ōccāsūs; sĕd ĕt haēc nōn fōntĭbŭs ūllīs

sōlvĭtŭr: ārctōōs rārīs ăquĭlōnĭbŭs īmbrēs

āccĭpĭt ēt nōstrīs rĕfĭcīt sŭă rūră sĕrēnīs.

Īn nūllās vĭtĭātŭr ŏpēs; nōn aērĕ nĕque aūrō

ēxcŏquĭtūr, nūllō glaēbārūm crīmĭnĕ pūră

ēt pĕnĭtūs tērra ēst. Tāntūm Maūrūsĭă gēntī

rōbŏră dīvĭtĭaē, quārūm nōn nōvĕrăt ūsūm,

sēd cītrī cōntēntă cŏmīs vīvēbăt ĕt ūmbrā.

Īn nĕmŭs īgnōtūm nōstraē vēnērĕ sĕcūrēs,

ēxtrēmōque ĕpŭlās mēnsāsquĕ pĕtīmŭs ăb ōrbĕ.

Āt quaēcūmquĕ văgām Sŷrtīm cōmplēctĭtŭr ōră

sūb nĭmĭō prōiēctă dĭē, vīcīnă pĕrūstī

aēthĕrĭs, ēxūrīt mēssēs ēt pūlvĕrĕ Bācchūm

ēnĕcăt ēt nūllā pūtrīs rādīcĕ tĕnētūr.

Tēmpĕrĭēs vītālĭs ăbēst, ēt nūllă sŭb īllā

cūră Iŏvīs tērra ēst; nātūrā dēsĭdĕ tōrpēt

ōrbĭs ĕt īmmōtīs ānnūm nōn sēntĭt hărēnīs.

Hōc tām sēgnĕ sŏlūm rārās tămĕn ēxsĕrĭt hērbās,

quās Năsămōn, gēns dūră, lĕgīt, quī prōxĭmă pōntō

nūdūs rūră tĕnēt, quēm mūndī bārbără dāmnīs

Sŷrtĭs ălīt. Nām lītŏrĕīs pŏpŭlātŏr hărēnīs

īmmĭnĕt ēt nūllā pōrtūs tāngēntĕ cărīnā

nōvĭt ŏpēs; sīc cūm tōtō cōmmērcĭă mūndō

naūfrăgĭīs Năsămōnĕs hăbēnt. Hāc īrĕ Cătōnēm

dūră iŭbēt vīrtūs. Īllīc sēcūră iŭvēntūs

vēntōrūm nūllāsquĕ tĭmēns tēllūrĕ prŏcēllās

aēquŏrĕōs ēst pāssă mĕtūs. Nām lītŏrĕ sīccō,

quām pĕlăgō, Sŷrtīs vĭŏlēntĭŭs ēxcĭpĭt aūstrūm,

ēt tērraē măgĭs īllĕ nŏcēns; nōn mōntĭbŭs ōrtūm

ādvērsīs frāngīt Lĭbўē scŏpŭlīsquĕ rĕpūlsūm

dīssĭpăt, ēt lĭquĭdās sē tūrbĭnĕ sōlvĭt ĭn aūrās,

nēc rŭĭt īn sīlvās ānnōsăquĕ rōbŏră tōrquēns

lāssātūr: pătĕt ōmnĕ sŏlūm lībērquĕ mĕātū

Aēŏlĭām răbĭēm tōtīs ēxērcĕt hăbēnīs,

ēt nōn īmbrĭfĕrām cōntōrtō pūlvĕrĕ nūbēm

īn flēxūm vĭŏlēntŭs ăgīt: pārs plūrĭmă tērraē

tōllĭtŭr ēt nūmquām rĕsŏlūtō vērtĭcĕ pēndēt.

Rēgnă vĭdēt paūpēr Năsămōn ērrāntĭă vēntō

dīscūssāsquĕ dŏmōs, vŏlĭtāntque ā cūlmĭnĕ rāptaē

dētēctō Gărămāntĕ căsaē. Nōn āltĭŭs īgnīs

rāptă vĕhīt, quāntūmquĕ lĭcēt cōnsūrgĕrĕ fūmō

ēt vĭŏlārĕ dĭēm, tāntūs tĕnĕt āĕră pūlvīs.

Tūm quŏquĕ Rōmānūm sŏlĭtō vĭŏlēntĭŏr āgmēn

ādgrĕdĭtūr, nūllīsquĕ pŏtēst cōnsīstĕrĕ mīlēs

īnstăbĭlīs rāptīs ĕtĭām, quās cālcăt, hărēnīs.

Cōncŭtĕrēt tērrās ōrbēmque ā sēdĕ mŏvērēt,

sī sŏlĭdā Lĭbўē cōmpāge ēt pōndĕrĕ dūrō

claūdĕrĕt ēxēsīs aūstrūm scŏpŭlōsă căvērnīs;

sēd quĭă mōbĭlĭbūs făcĭlīs tūrbātŭr hărēnīs,

nūsquām lūctāndō stăbĭlīs mănĕt, īmăquĕ tēllūs

stāt, quĭă sūmmă fŭgīt. Gălĕās ēt scūtă vĭrōrūm

pīlăquĕ cōntōrsīt vĭŏlēntō spīrĭtŭs āctū

īntēntūsquĕ tŭlīt māgnī pĕr ĭnānĭă caēlī.

Īllŭd ĭn ēxtrēmā fōrsān lōngēquĕ rĕmōtā

prōdĭgĭūm tēllūrĕ fŭīt, dēlāpsăquĕ caēlō

ārmă tĭmēnt gēntēs hŏmĭnūmque ērēptă lăcērtīs

ā sŭpĕrīs dēmīssă pŭtānt. Sīc īllă prŏfēctō

sācrĭfĭcō cĕcĭdērĕ Nŭmaē, quaē lēctă iŭvēntūs

pātrĭcĭā cērvīcĕ mŏvēt: spŏlĭāvĕrăt aūstēr

aūt bŏrĕās pŏpŭlōs āncīlĭă nōstră fĕrēntēs.

Sīc ōrbēm tōrquēntĕ nŏtō Rōmānă iŭvēntūs

prōcŭbŭīt tĭmŭītquĕ răpī; cōnstrīnxĭt ămīctūs

īnsĕrŭītquĕ mănūs tērraē nēc pōndĕrĕ sōlō,

sēd nīsū iăcŭīt, vīx sīc īmmōbĭlĭs aūstrō,

quī sŭpĕr īngēntēs cŭmŭlōs īnvōlvĭt hărēnaē

ātque ŏpĕrīt tēllūrĕ vĭrōs. vīx tōllĕrĕ mīlēs

mēmbră vălēt mūltō cōngēstū pūlvĕrĭs haērēns.

Āllĭgăt ēt stāntīs ādfūsaē māgnŭs hărēnaē

āggĕr, ĕt īmmōtī tērrā sūrgēntĕ tĕnēntūr.

Sāxă tŭlīt pĕnĭtūs dīscūssīs prōrŭtă mūrīs

ēffūdītquĕ prŏcūl mīrāndā sōrtĕ mălōrūm:

quī nūllās vīdērĕ dŏmōs, vīdērĕ rŭīnās.

Iāmque ĭtĕr ōmnĕ lătēt, nēc sūnt dīscrīmĭnă tērraē:

ūllă, nĭsi aēthĕrĭaē, mĕdĭō vĕlŭt aēquŏrĕ, flāmmaē

sīdĕrĭbūs nōvērĕ vĭām, nēc sīdĕră tōtă

ōstēndīt Lĭbўcaē fīnītōr cīrcŭlŭs ōraē

mūltăquĕ dēvēxō tērrārūm mārgĭnĕ cēlāt.

Ūtquĕ călōr sōlvīt quēm tōrsĕrăt āĕră vēntūs,

īncēnsūsquĕ dĭēs, mānānt sūdōrĭbŭs ārtūs,

ārēnt ōră sĭtī: cōnspēcta ēst pārvă mălīgnā

ūndă prŏcūl vēnā, quām vīx ē pūlvĕrĕ mīlēs

cōrrĭpĭēns pătŭlūm gălĕaē cōnfūndĭt ĭn ōrbēm

pōrrēxītquĕ dŭcī. Squālēbānt pūlvĕrĕ faūcēs

cūnctōrūm, mĭnĭmūmquĕ tĕnēns dūx īpsĕ lĭquōrīs

īnvĭdĭōsŭs ĕrāt. "Mēne" īnquīt "dēgĕnĕr ūnūm

mīlĕs ĭn hāc tūrbā văcŭūm vīrtūtĕ pŭtāstī?

Ūsque ădĕō mōllīs prīmīsquĕ călōrĭbŭs īmpār

sūm vīsūs? quāntō poēnā tū dīgnĭŏr īsta ēs,

quī pŏpŭlō sĭtĭēntĕ bĭbās!" Sīc cōncĭtŭs īrā

ēxcūssīt gălĕām, sūffēcītque ōmnĭbŭs ūndă.

Vēntum ĕrăt ād tēmplūm, Lĭbўcīs quōd gēntĭbŭs ūnūm

īncūltī Gărămāntĕs hăbēnt; stāt sōrtĭgĕr īllīs

Iūppĭtĕr, ūt mĕmŏrānt, sēd nōn aūt fūlmĭnă vībrāns

aūt sĭmĭlīs nōstrō, sēd tōrtīs cōrnĭbŭs, Hāmmōn.

Nōn īllīc Lĭbўcaē pŏsŭērūnt dītĭă gēntēs

tēmplă, nĕc Ēōīs splēndēnt dōnārĭă gēmmīs.

Quāmvīs Aēthĭŏpūm pŏpŭlīs Ărăbūmquĕ bĕātīs

gēntĭbŭs ātque Īndīs ūnūs sīt Iūppĭtĕr Hāmmōn,

paūpĕr ădhūc dĕŭs ēst, nūllīs vĭŏlātă pĕr aēvūm

dīvĭtĭīs dēlūbră tĕnēns, mōrūmquĕ prĭōrūm

nūmēn Rōmānō tēmplūm dēfēndĭt ăb aūrō

Ēssĕ lŏcīs sŭpĕrōs tēstātūr sīlvă pĕr ōmnēm

sōlă vĭrēns Lĭbўēn. Nām quīdquīd pūlvĕrĕ sīccō

sēpărăt ārdēntēm tĕpĭdā Bĕrĕnīcĭdă Lēptī,

īgnōrāt frōndēs; sōlūs nĕmŭs ābstŭlĭt Hāmmōn.

Sīlvārūm fōns caūsă lŏcō, quī pūtrĭă tērraē

āllĭgăt ēt dŏmĭtās ūndā cōnēctĭt hărēnās.

Hīc quŏquĕ nīl ōbstāt Phoēbō, cūm cārdĭnĕ sūmmō

stāt lībrātă dĭēs; trūncūm vīx prōtĕgĭt ārbōr:

tām brĕvĭs īn mĕdĭūm rădĭīs cōmpēllĭtŭr ūmbră.

Dēprēnsum ēst hūnc ēssĕ lŏcūm quā cīrcŭlŭs āltī

sōlstĭtĭī mĕdĭūm sīgnōrūm pērcŭtĭt ōrbēm.

Nōn ōblīquă mĕānt, nēc Taūrō Scōrpĭŏs ēxīt

rēctĭŏr, aūt Ărĭēs dōnāt sŭă tēmpŏră Lībraē,

aūt Āstraēă iŭbēt lēntōs dēscēndĕrĕ Pīscēs.

Pār Gĕmĭnīs Chīrōn, ĕt ĭdēm quōd Cārcĭnŭs ārdēns

ūmĭdŭs Aēgŏcĕrōs, nēc plūs Lĕŏ tōllĭtŭr Ūrnā.

Āt tĭbĭ, quaēcūmque ēs Lĭbўcō gēns īgnĕ dĭrēmptă,

īn nŏtŏn ūmbră cădīt, quaē nōbīs ēxĭt ĭn ārctōn.

Tē sēgnīs Cўnŏsūră sŭbīt, tū sīccă prŏfūndō

mērgī Plaūstră pŭtās nūllūmque īn vērtĭcĕ sēmpēr

sīdŭs hăbēs īmmūnĕ mărī; prŏcŭl āxĭs ŭtērquēst,

ēt fŭgă sīgnōrūm mĕdĭō răpĭt ōmnĭă caēlō.

Stābānt āntĕ fŏrēs pŏpŭlī quōs mīsĕrăt Ēōs

cōrnĭgĕrīquĕ Iŏvīs mŏnĭtū nŏvă fātă pĕtēbānt;

sēd Lătĭō cēssērĕ dŭcī, cŏmĭtēsquĕ Cătōnēm

ōrānt ēxplōrēt Lĭbўcūm mĕmŏrātă pĕr ōrbēm

nūmĭnă, dē fāmā tām lōngī iūdĭcĕt aēvī.

Māxĭmŭs hōrtātōr scrūtāndī vōcĕ dĕōrūm

ēvēntūs Lăbĭēnŭs ĕrāt: "Sōrs ōbtŭlĭt" īnquīt

"ēt fōrtūnă vĭaē tām māgnī nūmĭnĭs ōră

cōnsĭlĭūmquĕ dĕī; tāntō dŭcĕ pōssŭmŭs ūtī

pēr Sŷrtēs bēllīsquĕ dătōs cōgnōscĕrĕ cāsūs.

Nām cuī crēdĭdĕrīm sŭpĕrōs ārcānă dătūrōs

dīctūrōsquĕ măgīs quām sānctō vēră Cătōnī?

Cērtē vītă tĭbī sēmpēr dērēctă sŭpērnās

ād lēgēs sĕquĕrīsquĕ dĕūm. Dătŭr ēccĕ lŏquēndī

cūm Iŏvĕ lībērtās: īnquīre īn fātă nĕfāndī

Caēsărĭs, ēt pătrĭaē vēntūrōs ēxcŭtĕ mōrēs:

iūrĕ sŭō pŏpŭlīs ūtī lēgūmquĕ lĭcēbīt,

ān bēllūm cīvīlĕ pĕrīt? Tŭă pēctŏră sācrā

vōcĕ rĕplē; dūraē sāltēm vīrtūtĭs ămātōr

quaērĕ quĭd ēst vīrtūs ēt pōsce ēxēmplăr hŏnēstī."

Īllĕ, dĕō plēnūs tăcĭtā quēm mēntĕ gĕrēbāt,

ēffūdīt dīgnās ădўtīs ē pēctŏrĕ vōcēs:

"Quīd quaērī, Lăbĭēnĕ, iŭbēs? ān lībĕr ĭn ārmīs

ōccŭbŭīssĕ vĕlīm pŏtĭūs quām rēgnă vĭdērĕ?

ān sīt vītă nĭhīl? sī lōnga, ān dīffĕrăt aētās?

ān nŏcĕāt vīs ūllă bŏnō? fōrtūnăquĕ pērdāt

ōppŏsĭtā vīrtūtĕ mĭnās, laūdāndăquĕ vēllĕ

sīt sătĭs, ēt nūmquām sūccēssū crēscăt hŏnēstūm?

Scīmŭs, ĕt hōc nōbīs nōn āltĭŭs īnsĕrĕt Hāmmōn.

Haērēmūs cūnctī sŭpĕrīs, tēmplōquĕ tăcēntĕ

nīl făcĭmūs nōn spōntĕ dĕī; nēc vōcĭbŭs ūllīs

nūmĕn ĕgēt, dīxītquĕ sĕmēl nāscēntĭbŭs aūctōr

quīcquīd scīrĕ lĭcēt, stĕrĭlēs nēc lēgĭt hărēnās

ūt cănĕrēt paūcīs mērsītque hōc pūlvĕrĕ vērūm

ēstquĕ dĕī sēdēs nĭsĭ tērra ēt pōntŭs ĕt āēr

ēt caēlum ēt vīrtūs. Sŭpĕrōs quīd quaērĭmŭs ūltrā?

Iūppĭtĕr ēst quōdcūmquĕ vĭdēs, quōdcūmquĕ mŏvērīs.

Sōrtĭlĕgīs ĕgĕānt dŭbĭī sēmpērquĕ fŭtūrīs

cāsĭbŭs āncĭpĭtēs; mē nōn ōrācŭlă cērtūm,

sēd mōrs cērtă făcīt. păvĭdō fōrtīquĕ cădēndūmst:

hōc sătĭs ēst dīxīssĕ Iŏvēm." Sīc īllĕ prŏfātūs

sērvātāquĕ fĭdē tēmplī dīscēdĭt ăb ārīs,

nōn ēxplōrātūm pŏpŭlīs Hāmmōnă rĕlīnquēns.

Īpsĕ mănū sŭă pīlă gĕrīt, praēcēdĭt ănhēlī

mīlĭtĭs ōră pĕdēs, mōnstrāt tŏlĕrārĕ văpōrēs,

nōn iŭbĕt, ēt nūllā vĕhĭtūr cērvīcĕ sŭpīnūs

cārpēntōquĕ sĕdēns; sōmnī pārcīssĭmŭs īpsēst,

ūltĭmŭs haūstŏr ăquaē: cūm tāndēm fōntĕ rĕpērtō

īndĭgă cōgātūr lătĭcīs cērtārĕ iŭvēntūs,

stāt dūm līxă bĭbāt. Sī vērīs māgnă părātūr

fāmă bŏnīs ēt sī sūccēssū nūdă rĕmōtō

īnspĭcĭtūr vīrtūs, quīdquīd laūdāmŭs ĭn ūllō

māiōrūm, fōrtūnă fŭīt. Quīs Mārtĕ sĕcūndō,

quīs tāntūm mērvīt pŏpŭlōrūm sānguĭnĕ nōmēn?

Hūnc ĕgŏ pēr Sŷrtēs Lĭbўaēque ēxtrēmă trĭūmphūm

dūcĕrĕ mālŭĕrīm, quām tēr Căpĭtōlĭă cūrrū

scāndĕrĕ Pōmpēī, quām frāngĕrĕ cōllă Iŭgūrthaē.

Ēccĕ părēns vērūs pătrĭaē, dīgnīssĭmŭs ārīs,

Rōmă, tŭīs, pēr quēm nūmquām iūrārĕ pŭdēbīt,

ēt quēm, sī stĕtĕrīs ūmquām cērvīcĕ sŏlūtā,

nūnc, ōlīm, fāctūră dĕum ēs. Iām spīssĭŏr īgnīs,

ēt plăgă, quām nūllām sŭpĕrī mōrtālĭbŭs ūltrā

ā mĕdĭō fēcērĕ dĭē, cālcātŭr, ĕt ūndă

rārĭŏr: īnvēntūs mĕdĭīs fōns ūnŭs hărēnīs

lārgŭs ăquaē, sēd quēm sērpēntūm tūrbă tĕnēbāt

vīx căpĭēntĕ lŏcō. Stābānt īn mārgĭnĕ sīccaē

āspĭdĕs, īn mĕdĭīs sĭtĭēbānt dīpsădĕs ūndīs.

Dūctŏr, ŭt āspēxīt pĕrĭtūrōs fōntĕ rĕlīctō,

āllŏquĭtūr: "Vānā spĕcĭē cōntērrĭtĕ lētī,

nē dŭbĭtā, mīlēs, tūtōs haūrīrĕ lĭquōrēs.

Nōxĭă sērpēntum ēst ādmīxtō sānguĭnĕ pēstīs,

mōrsū vīrŭs hăbēnt ēt fātūm dēntĕ mĭnāntūr;

pōcŭlă mōrtĕ cărēnt." Dīxīt dŭbĭūmquĕ vĕnēnūm

haūsĭt, ĕt īn tōtā Lĭbўaē fōns ūnŭs hărēnā

īllĕ fŭīt dē quō prīmūs sĭbĭ pōscĕrĕt ūndām.

Cūr Lĭbўcūs tāntīs ēxūndēt pēstĭbŭs āēr

fērtĭlĭs īn mōrtēs, aūt quīd sēcrētă nŏcēntī

mīscŭĕrīt nātūră sŏlō, nōn cūră lăbōrquĕ

nōstēr scīrĕ vălēt, nĭsĭ quōd vūlgātă pĕr ōrbēm

fābŭlă prō vērā dēcēpīt saēcŭlă caūsā.

Fīnĭbŭs ēxtrēmīs Lĭbўēs, ŭbĭ fērvĭdă tēllūs

āccĭpĭt Ōcĕănūm dēmīssō sōlĕ călēntēm,

squālēbānt lātē Phōrcŷnĭdŏs ārvă Mĕdūsaē,

nōn nĕmŏrūm prōtēctă cŏmā, nōn mōllĭă sūcō,

sēd dŏmĭnaē vūltū cōnspēctīs āspĕră sāxīs.

Hōc prīmūm nātūră nŏcēns īn cōrpŏrĕ saēvās

eduxit pestes; illis e faucibus angues

strīdŭlă fūdērūnt vībrātīs sībĭlă līnguīs,

fēmĭnĕaē quī mōrĕ cŏmaē pēr tērgă sŏlūtī

īpsă flăgēllābānt gaūdēntīs cōllă Mĕdūsaē.

Sūrgūnt ādvērsā sūbrēctaē frōntĕ cŏlūbraē,

vīpĕrĕūmquĕ flŭīt dēpēxō crīnĕ vĕnēnūm.

Hōc hăbĕt īnfēlīx cūnctīs īmpūnĕ Mĕdūsă

quōd spēctārĕ lĭcēt. Nām rīctūs ōrăquĕ mōnstrī

quīs tĭmŭīt? quēm, quī rēctō sē lūmĭnĕ vīdīt,

pāssă Mĕdūsă mŏrī est? Răpŭīt dŭbĭtāntĭă fātă

praēvēnītquĕ mĕtūs; ănĭmā pĕrĭērĕ rĕtēntā

mēmbră, nĕc ēmīssaē rĭgŭērĕ sŭb ōssĭbŭs ūmbraē.

Eūmĕnĭdūm crīnēs sōlōs mōvērĕ fŭrōrēs;

Cērbĕrŏs Ōrphēō lēnīvīt sībĭlă cāntū;

Āmphĭtrўōnĭădēs vīdīt, cūm vīncĕrĕt, hŷdrām:

hōc mōnstrūm tĭmŭīt gĕnĭtōr nūmēnquĕ sĕcūndūm

Phōrcўs ăquīs Cētōquĕ părēns īpsaēquĕ sŏrōrēs

Gōrgŏnĕs; hōc pŏtŭīt caēlō pĕlăgōquĕ mĭnārī

tōrpōrem īnsŏlĭtūm mūndōque ōbdūcĕrĕ tērrām.

Ē caēlō vŏlŭcrēs sŭbĭtō cūm pōndĕrĕ lāpsaē,

īn scŏpŭlīs haēsērĕ fĕraē, vīcīnă cŏlēntēs

Aēthĭŏpūm tōtaē rĭgŭērūnt mārmŏrĕ gēntēs.

Nūllum ănĭmāl vīsūs pătĭēns, īpsīquĕ rĕtrōrsūm

ēffūsī făcĭēm vītābānt Gōrgŏnŏs ānguēs.

Īllă sŭb Hēspĕrĭīs stāntēm Tītānă cŏlūmnīs

īn caūtēs Ātlāntă dĕdīt, caēlōquĕ tĭmēntĕ

ōlīm Phlēgraēō stāntēs sērpēntĕ gĭgāntās

ērēxīt mōntēs bēllūmque īmmānĕ dĕōrūm

Pāllădŏs ē mĕdĭō cōnfēcīt pēctŏrĕ Gōrgōn.

Quō pōstquām pārtū Dānaēs ēt dīvĭtĕ nīmbō

ōrtūm Pārrhăsĭaē vēxērūnt Pērsĕă pīnnaē

Ārcădŏs, aūctōrīs cĭthăraē lĭquĭdaēquĕ pălaēstraē,

ēt sŭbĭtūs praēpēs Cŷllēnĭdă sūstŭlĭt hārpēn,

hārpēn āltĕrĭūs mōnstrī iām caēdĕ rŭbēntēm,

ā Iŏvĕ dīlēctaē fūsō cūstōdĕ iŭvēncaē

aūxĭlĭūm vŏlŭcrī Pāllās tŭlĭt īnnŭbă frātrī

pāctă căpūt mōnstrī tērraēque īn fīnĕ Lĭbŷssaē

Pērsĕă Phoēbēōs cōnvērtī iūssĭt ăd ōrtūs

Gōrgŏnŏs āvērsō sūlcāntēm rēgnă vŏlātū

ēt clĭpĕūm laēvaē fūlvō dĕdĭt aērĕ nĭtēntēm,

īn quō sāxĭfĭcām iūssīt spēctārĕ Mĕdūsām;

quām sŏpŏr aētērnām trāctūrūs mōrtĕ quĭētēm

ōbrŭĭt haūt tōtām: vĭgĭlāt pārs māgnă cŏmārūm,

dēfēndūntquĕ căpūt prōtēntī crīnĭbŭs hŷdrī;

pārs iăcĕt īn mĕdĭōs vūltūs ŏcŭlīquĕ tĕnēbrās.

Īpsă rĕgīt trĕpĭdūm Pāllās, dēxtrāquĕ trĕmēntēm

Pērsĕŏs āvērsī Cŷllēnĭdă dērĭgĭt hārpēn

lātă cŏlūbrĭfĕrī rūmpēns cōnfīnĭă cōllī.

Quōs hăbŭīt vūltūs hāmātī vūlnĕrĕ fērrī

caēsă căpūt Gōrgōn! quāntō spīrārĕ vĕnēnō

ōră rĕār, quāntūmque ŏcŭlōs ēffūndĕrĕ mōrtīs!

Nēc Pāllās spēctārĕ pŏtēst, vūltūsquĕ gĕlāssēnt

Pērsĕŏs āvērsī, sī nōn Trītōnĭă dēnsōs

spārsīssēt crīnēs tēxīssētque ōră cŏlūbrīs.

Ālĭgĕr īn caēlūm sīc rāptā Gōrgŏnĕ fūgīt.

Īllĕ quĭdēm pēnsābăt ĭtēr prŏpĭūsquĕ sĕcābāt

āĕră, sī mĕdĭās Eūrōpaē scīndĕrĕt ūrbēs:

Pāllās frūgĭfĕrās iūssīt nōn laēdĕrĕ tērrās

ēt pārcī pŏpŭlīs. Quĭs ĕnīm nōn praēpĕtĕ tāntō

aēthĕră rēspĭcĕrēt? Zĕphўrō cōnvērtĭtŭr ālēs

ītquĕ sŭpēr Lībyēn, quaē nūllō cōnsĭtă cūltū

sīdĕrĭbūs Phoēbōquĕ văcāt; prĕmĭt ōrbĭtă sōlīs

ēxūrītquĕ sŏlūm, nēc tērrā cēlsĭŏr ūllā

nōx cădĭt īn caēlūm lūnaēquĕ mĕātĭbŭs ōbstāt,

sī flēxūs ōblītă văgī pēr rēctă cŭcūrrīt

sīgnă nĕc īn bŏrĕān aūt īn nŏtŏn ēffŭgĭt ūmbrām.

Īllă tămēn stĕrĭlīs tēllūs fēcūndăquĕ nūllī

ārvă bŏnō vīrūs stīllāntīs tābĕ Mĕdūsaē

cōncĭpĭūnt dīrōsquĕ fĕrō dē sānguĭnĕ rōrēs,

quōs călŏr ādiūvīt pūtrīque īncōxĭt hărēnaē.

Hīc, quaē prīmă căpūt mōvīt dē pūlvĕrĕ, tābēs

āspĭdă sōmnĭfĕrām tŭmĭdā cērvīcĕ lĕvāvīt.

Plēnĭŏr huīc sānguīs ēt crāssī gūttă vĕnēnī

dēcĭdĭt: īn nūllā plūs ēst sērpēntĕ cŏāctūm.

Īpsă călōrĭs ĕgēns gĕlĭdūm nōn trānsĭt ĭn ōrbēm

spōntĕ sŭā Nīlōquĕ tĕnūs mētītŭr hărēnās.

Sēd quĭs ĕrīt nōbīs lūcrī pŭdŏr? īndĕ pĕtūntūr

hūc Lĭbўcaē mōrtēs, ēt fēcĭmŭs āspĭdă mērcēm.

Āt nōn stārĕ sŭūm mĭsĕrīs pāssūră crŭōrēm

squāmĭfĕrōs īngēns haēmōrrhŏĭs ēxplĭcăt ōrbēs,

nātŭs ĕt āmbĭgŭaē cŏlĕrēt quī Sŷrtĭdŏs ārvă

chērsŷdrōs trāctīquĕ vĭā fūmāntĕ chĕlŷdrī

ēt sēmpēr rēctō lāpsūrūs līmĭtĕ cēnchrīs;

plūrĭbŭs īllĕ nŏtīs vărĭātām tīnguĭtŭr ālvūm,

quām pārvīs pīctūs măcŭlīs Thēbānŭs ŏphītēs.

Cōncŏlŏr ēxūstīs ātque īndīscrētŭs hărēnīs

hāmmŏdўtēs spīnāquĕ văgī tōrquēntĕ cĕrāstaē

ēt scўtălē spārsīs ĕtĭāmnūnc sōlă prŭīnīs

ēxŭvĭās pŏsĭtūră sŭās ēt tōrrĭdă dīpsās

ēt grăvĭs īn gĕmĭnūm vērgēns căpŭt āmphīsbaēnă

ēt nātrīx vĭŏlātŏr ăquaē iăcŭlīquĕ vŏlūcrēs

ēt cōntēntŭs ĭtēr caūdā sūlcārĕ părīās

ōrăquĕ dīstēndēns ăvĭdūs fūmāntĭă prēstēr,

ōssăquĕ dīssōlvēns cūm cōrpŏrĕ tābĭfĭcūs sēps,

sībĭlăque ēffūndēns cūnctās tērrēntĭă pēstēs,

āntĕ vĕnēnă nŏcēns, lātē sĭbĭ sūmmŏvĕt ōmnĕ

vūlgŭs ĕt īn văcŭā rēgnāt băsĭlīscŭs hărēnā.

Vōs quŏquĕ, quī cūnctīs īnnōxĭă nūmĭnă tērrīs

sērpĭtĭs, aūrātō nĭtĭdī fūlgōrĕ drăcōnēs,

lētĭfĕrōs ārdēns făcĭt Āfrĭcă; dūcĭtĭs āltūm

āĕră cūm pīnnīs ārmēntăquĕ tōtă sĕcūtī

rūmpĭtĭs īngēntēs āmplēxī vērbĕrĕ taūrōs;

nēc tūtūs spătĭo ēst ĕlĕphāns: dătĭs ōmnĭă lētō,

nēc vōbīs ŏpŭs ēst ād nōxĭă fātă vĕnēnō.

Hās īntēr pēstēs dūrō Cătŏ mīlĭtĕ sīccūm

ēmētītŭr ĭtēr tōt trīstĭă fātă sŭōrūm

īnsŏlĭtāsquĕ vĭdēns pārvō cūm vūlnĕrĕ mōrtēs.

Sīgnĭfĕrūm iŭvĕnēm Tŷrrhēnī sānguĭnĭs Aūlūm

tōrtă căpūt rētrō dīpsās cālcātă mŏmōrdīt.

Vīx dŏlŏr aūt sēnsūs dēntīs fŭĭt, īpsăquĕ lētī

frōns cărĕt īnvĭdĭā, nēc quīcquām plāgă mĭnātūr.

Ēccĕ sŭbīt vīrūs tăcĭtūm, cārpītquĕ mĕdūllās

īgnĭs ĕdāx călĭdāque īncēndīt vīscĕră tābĕ;

ēbĭbĭt ūmōrēm cīrcūm vītālĭă fūsūm

pēstĭs ĕt īn sīccō līnguām tōrrērĕ pălātō

coēpīt. Dēfēssōs īrēt quī sūdŏr ĭn ārtūs

nōn fŭĭt, ātque ŏcŭlōs lăcrĭmārūm vēnă rĕfūgīt.

Nōn dĕcŭs īmpĕrĭī, nōn maēstī iūră Cătōnīs

ārdēntēm tĕnŭērĕ vĭrūm, nē spārgĕrĕ sīgnă

aūdērēt tōtīsquĕ fŭrēns ēxquīrĕrĕt ārvīs,

quās pōscēbăt ăquās sĭtĭēns īn cōrdĕ vĕnēnūm.

Īllĕ vĕl īn Tănăīn mīssūs Rhŏdănūmquĕ Pădūmquĕ

ārdērēt Nīlūmquĕ bĭbēns pēr rūră văgāntēm.

Āccēssīt mōrtī Lĭbўē, fātīquĕ mĭnōrēm

fāmām dīpsăs hăbēt tērrīs ădĭūtă pĕrūstīs.

Scrūtātūr vēnās pĕnĭtūs squālēntĭs hărēnaē;

nūnc rĕdĭt ād Sŷrtēs ēt flūctūs āccĭpĭt ōrĕ,

aēquŏrĕūsquĕ plăcēt, sēd nōn ēt sūffĭcĭt, ūmōr;

nēc sēntīt fātīquĕ gĕnūs mōrtēmquĕ vĕnēnī,

sēd pŭtăt ēssĕ sĭtīm, fērrōque ăpĕrīrĕ tŭmēntīs

sūstĭnŭīt vēnās ātque ōs īmplērĕ crŭōrĕ.

Iūssīt sīgnă răpī prŏpĕrē Cătŏ; dīscĕrĕ nūllī

pērmīssum ēst hōc pōssĕ sĭtīm. Sēd trīstĭŏr īllō

mōrs ĕrăt ānte ŏcŭlōs, mĭsĕrīque īn crūrĕ Săbēllī

sēps stĕtĭt ēxĭgŭūs, quēm flēxō dēntĕ tĕnācēm

āvūlsītquĕ mănū pīlōque ādfīxĭt hărēnīs.

Pārvă mŏdō sērpēns, sēd quā nōn ūllă crŭēntaē

tāntūm mōrtĭs hăbēt. Nām plāgaē prōxĭmă cīrcūm

fūgīt rūptă cŭtīs pāllēntĭăque ōssă rĕtēxīt;

iāmquĕ sĭnū lāxō nūdūm sĭnĕ cōrpŏrĕ vūlnūs.

Mēmbră nătānt sănĭē, sūraē flūxērĕ, sĭne ūllō

tēgmĭnĕ pōplĕs ĕrāt, fĕmŏrūm quŏquĕ mūscŭlŭs ōmnīs

līquĭtŭr, ēt nīgrā dēstīllānt īnguĭnă tābĕ.

Dīssĭlŭīt strīngēns ŭtĕrūm mēmbrānă, flŭūntquĕ

vīscĕră; nēc, quāntūs tōtō dē cōrpŏrĕ dēbēt,

ēfflŭĭt īn tērrās, saēvūm sēd mēmbră vĕnēnūm

dēcŏquĭt, īn mĭnĭmūm mōx cōntrăhĭt ōmnĭă vīrūs.

Vīncŭlă nērvōrum ēt lătĕrūm tēxtūră căvūmquĕ

pēctŭs ĕt ābstrūsūm fībrīs vītālĭbŭs: ōmnĕ

quīdquĭd hŏmo ēst ăpĕrīt pēstīs. Nātūră prŏfānā

mōrtĕ pătēt: mānānt ŭmĕrī fōrtēsquĕ lăcērtī,

cōllă căpūtquĕ flŭūnt. Călĭdō nōn ōcĭŭs aūstrō

nīx rĕsŏlūtă cădīt nēc sōlēm cēră sĕquētūr.

Pārvă lŏquōr, cōrpūs sănĭē stīllāssĕ pĕrūstūm:

hōc ēt flāmmă pŏtēst; sēd quī rŏgŭs ābstŭlĭt ōssă?

Haēc quŏquĕ dīscēdūnt, pūtrīsquĕ sĕcūtă mĕdūllās

nūllă mănērĕ sĭnūnt răpĭdī vēstīgĭă fātī.

Cīnўphĭās īntēr pēstēs tĭbĭ pālmă nŏcēndīst:

ērĭpĭūnt ōmnēs ănĭmām, tū sōlă cădāvēr.

Ēccĕ sŭbīt făcĭēs lētō dīvērsă flŭēntī.

Nāsĭdĭūm Mārsī cūltōrēm tōrrĭdŭs āgrī

pērcūssīt prēstēr. Īllī rŭbŏr īgnĕŭs ōră

sūccēndīt, tēndītquĕ cŭtēm pĕrĕūntĕ fĭgūrā

mīscēns cūnctă tŭmōr tōtō iām cōrpŏrĕ māiōr,

hūmānūmque ēgrēssă mŏdūm sŭpĕr ōmnĭă mēmbră

ēfflātūr sănĭēs lātē pōllēntĕ vĕnēnō;

īpsĕ lătēt pĕnĭtūs cōngēstō cōrpŏrĕ mērsūs,

nēc lōrīcă tĕnēt dīstēntī cōrpŏrĭs aūctūm.

Spūmĕŭs āccēnsō nōn sīc ēxūndăt ăēnō

ūndārūm cŭmŭlūs, nēc tāntōs cārbăsă cōrō

cūrvāvērĕ sĭnūs. Tŭmĭdōs iām nōn căpĭt ārtūs

īnfōrmīs glŏbŭs ēt cōnfūsō pōndĕrĕ trūncūs.

Īntāctūm vŏlŭcrūm rōstrīs ĕpŭlāsquĕ dătūrūm

haūt īmpūnĕ fĕrīs nōn aūsī trādĕrĕ būstō

nōndūm stāntĕ mŏdō crēscēns fūgērĕ cădāvēr.

Sēd māiōră părānt Lĭbўcaē spēctācŭlă pēstēs.

Īmprēssīt dēntēs haēmōrrhŏĭs āspĕră Tūllō,

māgnănĭmō iŭvĕnī mīrātōrīquĕ Cătōnīs.

Ūtquĕ sŏlēt părĭtēr tōtīs se ēffūndĕrĕ sīgnīs

Cōrўcĭī prēssūră crŏcī, sīc ōmnĭă mēmbră

ēmīsērĕ sĭmūl rŭtĭlūm prō sānguĭnĕ vīrūs.

Sānguĭs ĕrānt lăcrĭmaē; quaēcūmquĕ fŏrāmĭnă nōvīt

ūmŏr, ăb hīs lārgūs mānāt crŭŏr: ōră rĕdūndānt

ēt pătŭlaē nārēs, sūdōr rŭbĕt; ōmnĭă plēnīs

mēmbră flŭūnt vēnīs, tōtum ēst prō vūlnĕrĕ cōrpūs.

Āt tĭbĭ, Laēvĕ mĭsēr, fīxūs praēcōrdĭă prēssīt

Nīlĭăcā sērpēntĕ crŭōr, nūllōquĕ dŏlōrĕ

tēstātūs mōrsūs sŭbĭtā cālīgĭnĕ mōrtēm

āccĭpĭs ēt sŏcĭās sōmnō dēscēndĭs ăd ūmbrās.

Nōn tām vēlōcī cōrrūmpūnt pōcŭlă lētō,

stīpĭtĕ quaē dīrō vīrgās mēntītă Săbaēās

tōxĭcă fātĭlĕgī cārpūnt mātūră Săītaē.

Ēccĕ prŏcūl saēvūs stĕrĭlīs sē rōbŏrĕ trūncī

tōrsĭt ĕt īmmīsīt (iăcŭlūm vŏcăt Āfrĭcă) sērpēns

pērquĕ căpūt Paūlī trānsāctăquĕ tēmpŏră fūgīt.

Nīl ĭbĭ vīrŭs ăgīt: răpŭīt cūm vūlnĕrĕ fātūm.

Dēprēnsum ēst, quaē fūndă rŏtāt, quām lēntă vŏlārēnt

quām sēgnīs Scўthĭcaē strīdērĕt hărūndĭnĭs āēr.

Quīd prōdēst mĭsĕrī băsĭlīscūs cūspĭdĕ Mūrrī

trānsāctūs? vēlōx cūrrīt pēr tēlă vĕnēnūm

īnvādītquĕ mănūm; quām prōtĭnŭs īllĕ rĕtēctō

ēnsĕ fĕrīt tōtōquĕ sĕmēl dēmīttĭt ăb ārmō,

ēxēmplārquĕ sŭī spēctāns mĭsĕrābĭlĕ lētī

stāt tūtūs pĕrĕūntĕ mănū. Quīs fātă pŭtāvīt

Scōrpĭŏn aūt vīrēs mātūraē mōrtĭs hăbērĕ?

Īllĕ mĭnāx nōdīs ēt rēctō vērbĕrĕ saēvūs

tēstĕ tŭlīt caēlō vīctī dĕcŭs Ōrīōnīs.

Quīs cālcārĕ tŭās mĕtŭāt, sālpūgă, lătēbrās?

Ēt tĭbĭ dānt Stўgĭaē iūs īn sŭă fīlă sŏrōrēs.

Sīc nēc clāră dĭēs nēc nōx dăbăt ātră quĭētēm

sūspēctā mĭsĕrīs īn quā tēllūrĕ iăcēbānt.

Nām nĕquĕ cōngēstaē strūxērĕ cŭbīlĭă frōndēs,

nēc cūlmīs crēvērĕ tŏrī, sēd cōrpŏră fātīs

ēxpŏsĭtī vōlvūntŭr hŭmō călĭdōquĕ văpōrĕ

āllĭcĭūnt gĕlĭdās nōctūrnō frīgŏrĕ pēstēs

īnnŏcŭōsquĕ dĭū rīctūs tōrpēntĕ vĕnēnō

īntēr mēmbră fŏvēnt. Nēc, quaē mēnsūră vĭārūm

quīsvĕ mŏdūs, nōrūnt caēlō dŭcĕ; saēpĕ quĕrēntēs:

"Rēddĭtĕ, dī" clāmānt "mĭsĕrīs, quaē fūgĭmŭs, ārmă,

rēddĭtĕ Thēssălĭām. Pătĭmūr cūr sēgnĭă fātă

īn glădĭōs iūrātă mănūs? prō Caēsărĕ pūgnānt

dīpsădĕs ēt pĕrăgūnt cīvīlĭă bēllă cĕrāstaē.

Īrĕ lĭbēt quā zōnă rŭbēns ātque āxĭs ĭnūstūs

sōlĭs ĕquīs, iŭvăt aēthĕrĭīs āscrībĕrĕ caūsīs

quōd pĕrĕām, caēlōquĕ mŏrī. Nīl, Āfrĭcă, dē tē

nēc dē tē, nātūră, quĕrōr: tōt mōnstră fĕrēntēm

gēntĭbŭs āblātūm dĕdĕrās sērpēntĭbŭs ōrbēm

īmpātiēnsquĕ sŏlūm. Cĕrĕrīs cūltōrĕ nĕgātō

dāmnāsti ātque hŏmĭnēs vŏlŭīstī dēssĕ vĕnēnīs.

Īn lŏcă sērpēntūm nōs vēnĭmŭs: āccĭpĕ poēnās,

tū, quīsquīs sŭpĕrūm cōmmērcĭă nōstră pĕrōsūs

hīnc tōrrēntĕ plăgā, dŭbĭīs hīnc Sŷrtĭbŭs ōrbēm

ābrūmpēns mĕdĭō pŏsŭīstī līmĭtĕ mōrtēs.

Pēr sēcrētă tŭī bēllūm cīvīlĕ rĕcēssūs

vādĭt ĕt ārcānī mīlēs tĭbĭ cōnscĭŭs ōrbīs

claūstră fĕrīt mūndī. fōrsān māiōră sŭpērsūnt

īngrēssīs. Coēūnt īgnēs strīdēntĭbŭs ūndīs,

ēt prĕmĭtūr nātūră pŏlī. Sēd lōngĭŭs īstā

nūllă iăcēt tēllūs, quām fāmā cōgnĭtă nōbīs

trīstĭă rēgnă Iŭbaē. Quaērēmūs fōrsĭtăn īstās

sērpēntūm tērrās; hăbĕt hōc sōlācĭă caēlūm:

vīvĭt ădhūc ălĭquīd. pătrĭaē nōn ārvă rĕquīrō

Eūrōpāmque ălĭōs sōlēs Ăsĭāmquĕ vĭdēntēm:

quā tē pārtĕ pŏlī, quā tē tēllūrĕ rĕlīquī,

Āfrĭcă? Cŷrēnīs ĕtĭāmnūm brūmă rĭgēbāt:

ēxīguānĕ vĭā lēgēm cōnvērtĭmŭs ānnī?

Īmŭs ĭn ādvērsōs āxēs, ēvŏlvĭmŭr ōrbĕ,

tērgă dămūs fĕrĭēndă nŏtō. nūnc fōrsĭtăn īpsāst

sūb pĕdĭbūs iām Rōmă mĕīs. Sōlācĭă fātī

haēc pĕtĭmūs: vĕnĭānt hōstēs Caēsārquĕ sĕquātūr

quā fŭgĭmūs." Sīc dūră sŭōs pătĭēntĭă quēstūs

ēxŏnĕrāt. Cōgīt tāntōs tŏlĕrārĕ lăbōrēs

sūmmă dŭcīs vīrtūs, quī nūdā fūsŭs hărēnā

ēxcŭbăt ātque ōmnī fōrtūnām prōvŏcăt hōrā.

Ōmnĭbŭs ūnŭs ădēst fātīs; quōcūmquĕ vŏcātūs,

ādvŏlăt ātque īngēns mĕrĭtūm māiūsquĕ sălūtĕ

cōntŭlĭt, īn lētūm vīrēs, pŭdŭītquĕ gĕmēntēm

īllō tēstĕ mŏrī. Quōd iūs hăbŭīssĕt ĭn īpsūm

ūllă lŭēs? cāsūs ălĭēno īn pēctŏrĕ vīncīt

spēctātōrquĕ dŏcēt māgnōs nīl pōssĕ dŏlōrēs.

Vīx mĭsĕrīs sērūm tāntō lāssātă pĕrīclō

aūxĭlĭūm Fōrtūnă dĕdīt. Gēns ūnĭcă tērrās

īncŏlĭt ā saēvō sērpēntum īnnōxĭă mōrsū,

Mārmărĭdaē Psŷllī. Pār līnguă pŏtēntĭbŭs hērbīs,

īpsĕ crŭōr tūtūs nūllūmque ādmīttĕrĕ vīrūs

vēl cāntū cēssāntĕ pŏtēns. Nātūră lŏcōrūm

iūssĭt ŭt īmmūnēs mīxtīs sērpēntĭbŭs ēssēnt;

prōfŭĭt īn mĕdĭīs sēdēm pŏsŭīssĕ vĕnēnīs.

Pāx īllīs cūm mōrtĕ dăta ēst. fīdūcĭă tāntāst

sānguĭnĭs: īn tērrās pārvūs cūm dēcĭdĭt īnfāns,

nē quă sĭt ēxtērnaē Vĕnĕrīs mīxtūră tĭmēntēs,

lētĭfĭcā dŭbĭōs ēxplōrānt āspĭdĕ pārtūs;

ūtquĕ Iŏvīs vŏlŭcēr, călĭdō cūm prōtŭlĭt ōvō

īmplūmīs nātōs, sōlīs cōnvērtĭt ăd ōrtūs:

quī pŏtŭērĕ pătī rădĭōs ēt lūmĭnĕ rēctō

sūstĭnŭērĕ dĭēm, caēlī sērvāntŭr ĭn ūsūs,

quī Phoēbō cēssērĕ iăcēnt: sīc pīgnŏră gēntīs

Psŷllŭs hăbēt, sī quīs tāctōs nōn hōrrŭĭt ānguēs,

sī quīs dōnātīs lūsīt sērpēntĭbŭs īnfāns.

Nēc sōlūm gēns īllă sŭā cōntēntă sălūtĕ

ēxcŭbăt hōspĭtĭbūs, cōntrāquĕ nŏcēntĭă mōnstră

Psŷllŭs ădēst pŏpŭlīs. Quī tūnc Rōmānă sĕcūtūs

sīgnă, sĭmūl iūssīt stătŭī tēntōrĭă dūctōr,

prīmūm, quās vāllī spătĭūm cōmprēndĭt, hărēnās

ēxpūrgāt cāntū vērbīsquĕ fŭgāntĭbŭs ānguēs.

Vltĭmă cāstrōrūm mĕdĭcātūs cīrcŭmĭt īgnīs.

Hīc ĕbŭlūm strīdēt, pĕrĕgrīnăquĕ gālbănă sūdānt,

ēt tămărīx nōn laētă cŏmās ēōăquĕ cōstōs

ēt pănăcēă pŏtēns ēt Thēssălă cēntaūrēă

peūcĕdănōnquĕ sŏnānt flāmmīs Ĕrўcīnăquĕ thāpsōs,

ēt lărĭcēs fūmōquĕ grăvēm sērpēntĭbŭs ūrūnt

hābrŏtŏnum ēt lōngē nāscēntīs cōrnŭă cērvī.

Sīc nōx tūtă vĭrīs. Āt sī quīs pēstĕ dĭūrnā

fātă trăhīt, tūnc sūnt măgĭcaē mīrācŭlă gēntīs.

sŷllōrūmque īngēns ēt rāptī pūgnă vĕnēnī.

Nām prīmūm tāctā dēsīgnāt mēmbră sălīvā,

quaē cŏhĭbēt vīrūs rĕtĭnētque īn vūlnĕrĕ pēstēm;

plūrĭmă tūnc vōlvīt spūmāntī cārmĭnă līnguā

mūrmŭrĕ cōntĭnŭō, nēc dāt sūspīrĭă cūrsūs

vūlnĕrĭs, aūt mĭnĭmūm pătĭūntūr fātă tăcērĕ.

Saēpĕ quĭdēm pēstīs nīgrīs īnsērtă mĕdūllīs

ēxcāntātă fŭgīt; sēd sī quōd tārdĭŭs aūdīt

vīrŭs ĕt ēlĭcĭtūm iūssūmque ēxīrĕ rĕpūgnāt,

tūnc sŭpĕrīncūmbēns pāllēntĭă vūlnĕră lāmbīt

ōrĕ vĕnēnă trăhēns ēt sīccāt dēntĭbŭs ārtūs

ēxtrāctāmquĕ pŏtēns gĕlĭdō dē cōrpŏrĕ mōrtēm

ēxspŭĭt, ēt cūiūs mōrsūs sŭpĕrāvĕrĭt ānguīs,

iām prōmptūm Psŷllīs vēl gūstū nōssĕ vĕnēnī.

Hōc ĭgĭtūr tāndēm lĕvĭōr Rōmānă iŭvēntūs

aūxĭlĭō lātē squālēntĭbŭs ērrăt ĭn ārvīs.

Bīs pŏsĭtīs Phoēbē flāmmīs, bīs lūcĕ rĕcēptā

vīdĭt ărēnĭvăgūm sūrgēns fŭgĭēnsquĕ Cătōnēm.

Iāmque īllīc măgĭs ātquĕ măgīs dūrēscĕrĕ pūlvīs

coēpĭt ĕt īn tērrām Lĭbўē spīssātă rĕdīrĕ,

iāmquĕ prŏcūl rāraē nĕmŏrūm sē tōllĕrĕ frōndēs,

sūrgĕrĕ cōngēstō nōn cūltă măpālĭă cūlmō.

Quāntă dĕdīt mĭsĕrīs mĕlĭōrīs gaūdĭă tērraē,

cūm prīmūm saēvōs cōntrā vīdērĕ lĕōnēs!

Prōxĭmă Lēptĭs ĕrāt, cūiūs stătĭōnĕ quĭētā

ēxēgēre hĭĕmēm nīmbīs flāmmīsquĕ cărēntēm.

Caēsăr ŭt Ēmăthĭā sătĭātūs clādĕ rĕcēssīt,

cētĕră cūrārūm prōiēcīt pōndĕră sōlī

īntēntūs gĕnĕrō; cūiūs vēstīgĭă frūstrā

tērrīs spārsă lĕgēns fāmā dŭcĕ tēndĭt ĭn ūndās

Thrēĭcĭāsquĕ lĕgīt faūcēs ĕt ămōrĕ nŏtātūm

aēquŏr ĕt Hērōās lăcrĭmōsō lītŏrĕ tūrrēs,

quā pĕlăgō nōmēn Nĕphĕlēĭăs ābstŭlĭt Hēllē.

Nōn Ăsĭām brĕvĭōrĭs ăquaē dīstērmĭnăt ūsquām

flūctŭs ăb Eūrōpā, quāmvīs Bŷzāntĭŏn ārtō

pōntŭs ĕt ōstrĭfĕrām dĭrĭmāt Cālchēdŏnă cūrsū

Eūxīnūmquĕ fĕrēns pārvō rŭăt ōrĕ Prŏpōntīs.

Sīgēāsquĕ pĕtīt fāmaē mīrātŏr hărēnās

ēt Sĭmŏēntĭs ăquās ēt Grāĭŏ nōbĭlĕ būstō

Rhoētĭŏn ēt mūltūm dēbēntēs vātĭbŭs ūmbrās.

Cīrcŭmĭt ēxūstaē nōmēn mĕmŏrābĭlĕ Troīaē

māgnăquĕ Phoēbēī quaērīt vēstīgĭă mūrī.

Iām sīlvaē stĕrĭlēs ēt pūtrēs rōbŏrĕ trūncī

Āssărăcī prēssērĕ dŏmōs ēt tēmplă dĕōrūm

iām lāssā rādīcĕ tĕnēnt, āc tōtă tĕgūntūr

Pērgămă dūmētīs, ĕtĭām pĕrĭērĕ rŭīnaē.

Āspĭcĭt Hēsĭŏnēs scŏpŭlōs sīlvāquĕ lătēntīs

Ānchīsaē thălămōs, quō iūdēx sēdĕrĭt āntrō,

ūndĕ pŭēr rāptūs caēlō, quō vērtĭcĕ Nāīs

lūxĕrĭt Oēnōnē; nūllum ēst sĭnĕ nōmĭnĕ sāxūm.

Īnscĭŭs īn sīccō sērpēntēm pūlvĕrĕ rīvūm

trānsĭĕrāt, quī Xānthŭs ĕrāt; sēcūrŭs ĭn āltō

grāmĭnĕ pōnēbāt grēssūs: Phrŷx īncŏlă mānēs

Hēctŏrĕōs cālcārĕ vĕtāt; dīscūssă iăcēbānt

sāxă nĕc ūllīūs făcĭēm sērvāntĭă sācrī:

"Hērcēās" mōnstrātŏr ăīt "nōn rēspĭcĭs ārās?"

Ō săcĕr ēt māgnūs vātūm lăbŏr, ōmnĭă fātō

ērĭpĭs ēt pŏpŭlīs dōnās mōrtālĭbŭs aēvūm.

Īnvĭdĭā sācraē, Caēsār, nē tāngĕrĕ fāmaē;

nām, sī quīd Lătĭīs fās ēst prōmīttĕrĕ Mūsīs,

quāntūm Zmŷrnaēī dūrābūnt vātĭs hŏnōrēs,

vēntūrī mē tēquĕ lĕgēnt; Phārsālĭă nōstră

vīvĕt, ĕt ā nūllō tĕnĕbrīs dāmnābĭmŭr aēvō.

Vt dŭcĭs īmplēvīt vīsūs vĕnĕrāndă vĕtūstās,

ērēxīt sŭbĭtās cōngēstū caēspĭtĭs ārās

vōtăquĕ tūrĭcrĕmōs nōn īrrĭtă fūdĭt ĭn īgnēs:

"Dī cĭnĕrūm, Phrўgĭās cŏlĭtīs quīcūmquĕ rŭīnās,

Aēnēaēquĕ mĕī, quōs nūnc Lāvīnĭă sēdēs

sērvăt ĕt Ālbă, lărēs, ēt quōrūm lūcĕt ĭn ārīs

īgnĭs ădhūc Phrўgĭūs, nūllīque āspēctă vĭrōrūm

Pāllăs, ĭn ābstrūsō pīgnūs mĕmŏrābĭlĕ tēmplō,

gēntīs Iūlēaē vēstrīs clārīssĭmŭs ārīs

dāt pĭă tūră nĕpōs ēt vōs īn sēdĕ prĭōrī

rītĕ vŏcāt: dătĕ fēlīcēs īn cētĕră cūrsūs,

rēstĭtŭām pŏpŭlōs; grātā vĭcĕ moēnĭă rēddēnt

Aūsŏnĭdaē Phrўgĭbūs, Rōmānăquĕ Pērgămă sūrgēnt."

Sīc fātūs rĕpĕtīt clāssēs ēt tōtă sĕcūndīs

vēlă dĕdīt cōrīs ăvĭdūsque ūrgēntĕ prŏcēllā

Īlĭăcās pēnsārĕ mŏrās Ăsĭāmquĕ pŏtēntēm

praēvĕhĭtūr pĕlăgōquĕ Rhŏdōn spūmāntĕ rĕlīnquīt.

Sēptĭmă nōx zĕphўrō nūmquām lāxāntĕ rŭdēntēs

ōstēndīt Phărĭīs Aēgŷptĭă lītŏră flāmmīs.

Sēd prĭŭs ōrtă dĭēs nōctūrnām lāmpădă tēxīt

quām tūtās īntrārĕt ăquās. Ĭbĭ plēnă tŭmūltū

lītŏra ĕt īncērtō tūrbātās mūrmŭrĕ vōcēs

āccĭpĭt āc dŭbĭīs vĕrĭtūs sē crēdĕrĕ rēgnīs

ābstĭnŭīt tēllūrĕ rătēs. Sēd dīră sătēllēs

rēgīs dōnă fĕrēns mĕdĭūm prōvēctŭs ĭn aēquōr

cōllă gĕrīt Māgnī Phărĭō vēlāmĭnĕ tēctă

āc prĭŭs īnfāndā cōmmēndāt crīmĭnă vōcĕ:

"Tērrārūm dŏmĭtōr, Rōmānaē māxĭmĕ gēntīs,

ēt, quŏd ădhūc nēscīs, gĕnĕrō sēcūrĕ pĕrēmptō,

rēx tĭbĭ Pēllaēūs bēllī pĕlăgīquĕ lăbōrēs

dōnăt ĕt, Ēmăthĭīs quōd sōlūm dēfŭĭt ārmīs,

ēxhĭbĕt; ābsēntī bēllūm cīvīlĕ pĕrāctūmst:

Thēssălĭcās quaērēns Māgnūs rĕpărārĕ rŭīnās

ēnsĕ iăcēt nōstrō. Tāntō tē pīgnŏrĕ, Caēsār,

ēmĭmŭs, hōc tēcūm pērcūssum ēst sānguĭnĕ foēdūs.

Āccĭpĕ rēgnă Phărī nūllō quaēsītă crŭōrĕ;

āccĭpĕ Nīlĭăcī iūs gūrgĭtĭs; āccĭpĕ, quīdquīd

prō Māgnī cērvīcĕ dărēs, dīgnūmquĕ clĭēntēm

cāstrīs crēdĕ tŭīs, cuī tāntūm fātă lĭcērĕ

īn gĕnĕrūm vŏlŭērĕ tŭūm. Nēc vīlĕ pŭtārīs

hōc mĕrĭtūm, făcĭlī nōbīs quōd caēdĕ pĕrāctūmst.

Hōspĕs ăvītŭs ĕrāt, dēpūlsō scēptră părēntī

rēddĭdĕrāt. quīd plūră fĕrām? tū nōmĭnă tāntō

īnvĕnĭēs ŏpĕrī vēl fāmām cōnsŭlĕ mūndī.

Sī scĕlŭs ēst, plūs tē nōbīs dēbērĕ fătērīs,

quōd scĕlŭs hōc nōn īpsĕ făcīs." Sīc fātŭs ŏpērtūm

dētēxīt tĕnŭītquĕ căpūt. Iām lānguĭdă mōrtĕ

ēffĭgĭēs hăbĭtūm nōtī mūtāvĕrăt ōrīs.

Nōn prīmō Caēsār dāmnāvīt mūnĕră vīsū

āvērtītque ŏcŭlōs; vūltūs, dūm crēdĕrĕt, haēsīt,

ūtquĕ fĭdēm vīdīt scĕlĕrīs tūtūmquĕ pŭtāvīt

iām bŏnŭs ēssĕ sŏcēr, lăcrĭmās nōn spōntĕ cădēntīs

ēffūdīt gĕmĭtūsque ēxprēssīt pēctŏrĕ laētō,

nōn ălĭtēr mănĭfēstă pŏtēns ābscōndĕrĕ mēntīs

gaūdĭă quām lăcrĭmīs, mĕrĭtūmque īmmānĕ tўrānnī

dēstrŭĭt ēt gĕnĕrī māvūlt lūgērĕ rĕvūlsūm

quām dēbērĕ căpūt. Quī dūrō mēmbră sĕnātūs

cālcārāt vūltū, quī sīccō lūmĭnĕ cāmpōs

vīdĕrăt Ēmăthĭōs, ūnī tĭbĭ, Māgnĕ, nĕgārĕ

nōn aūdēt gĕmĭtūs. Ō sōrs dūrīssĭmă fātī!

Hūncĭnĕ tū, Caēsār, scĕlĕrātō Mārtĕ pĕtīstī,

quī tĭbĭ flēndŭs ĕrāt? nōn mīxtī foēdĕră tāngūnt

tē gĕnĕrīs, nēc nātă iŭbēt maērērĕ nĕpōsquĕ,

crēdĭs ăpūt pŏpŭlōs Pōmpēī nōmĕn ămāntīs

hōc cāstrīs prōdēssĕ tŭīs. Fōrtāssĕ tўrānnī

tāngĕrĭs īnvĭdĭā cāptīque īn vīscĕră Māgnī

hōc ălĭī lĭcŭīssĕ dŏlēs quĕrĕrīsquĕ pĕrīssĕ

vīndīctām bēllī rāptūmque ē iūrĕ sŭpērbī

vīctōrīs gĕnĕrūm. Quīsquīs tē flērĕ cŏēgīt

īmpĕtŭs, ā vērā lōngē pĭĕtātĕ rĕcēssīt.

Scīlĭcĕt hōc ănĭmō tērrās ātque aēquŏră lūstrās,

nēcŭbĭ sūpprēssūs pĕrĕāt gĕnĕr. Ō bĕnĕ rāptă

ārbĭtrĭō mōrs īstă tŭō! quām māgnă rĕmīsīt

crīmĭnă Rōmānō trīstīs fōrtūnă pŭdōrī,

quōd tē nōn pāssa ēst mĭsĕrērī, pērfĭdĕ, Māgnī

vīvēntīs! Nēc nōn hīs fāllĕrĕ vōcĭbŭs aūdēt

ādquīrītquĕ fĭdēm sĭmŭlātī frōntĕ dŏlōrīs:

"Aūfĕr ăb āspēctū nōstrō fūnēstă, sătēllēs,

rēgīs dōnă tŭī; pēiūs dē Caēsărĕ vēstrūm

quām dē Pōmpēiō mĕrŭīt scĕlŭs. ūnĭcă bēllī

praēmĭă cīvīlīs, vīctīs dōnārĕ sălūtēm,

pērdĭdĭmūs. Quōd sī Phărĭō gērmānă tўrānnō

nōn īnvīsă fŏrēt, pŏtŭīssēm rēddĕrĕ rēgī

quōd mĕrŭīt, frātrīquĕ tŭūm prō mūnĕrĕ tālī

mīsīssēm, Clĕŏpātră, căpūt. Sēcrētă quĭd ārmă

mōvĭt ĕt īnsĕrŭīt nōstrō sŭă tēlă lăbōrī?

Ērgo īn Thēssălĭcīs Pēllaēō fēcĭmŭs ārvīs

iūs glădĭō? vēstrīs quaēsītă lĭcēntĭă rēgnīs?

Nōn tŭlĕrām Māgnūm mēcūm Rōmānă rĕgēntēm:

tē, Ptŏlŏmaēĕ, fĕrām? frūstrā cīvīlĭbŭs ārmīs

mīscŭĭmūs gēntēs, sī qua ēst hōc ōrbĕ pŏtēstās

āltĕră quām Caēsār, sī tēllūs ūllă dŭōrūmst.

Vērtīssēm Lătĭās ā vēstrō lītŏrĕ prōrās:

fāmaē cūră vĕtāt, nē nōn dāmnāssĕ crŭēntām

sēd vĭdĕār tĭmŭīssĕ Phărōn. Nēc fāllĕrĕ vōsmēt

crēdĭtĕ vīctōrēm: nōbīs quŏquĕ tālĕ părātūm

lītŏrĭs hōspĭtĭūm; nē sīc mĕă cōllă gĕrāntūr

Thēssălĭaē fōrtūnă făcīt. māiōrĕ prŏfēctō

quām mĕtŭī pŏtĕrāt dīscrīmĭnĕ gēssĭmŭs ārmă:

ēxĭlĭūm gĕnĕrīquĕ mĭnās Rōmāmquĕ tĭmēbām:

poēnă fŭgaē Ptŏlŏmaēŭs ĕrāt. Sēd pārcĭmŭs ānnīs

dōnāmūsquĕ nĕfās. Scĭăt hāc prō caēdĕ tўrānnūs

nīl vĕnĭā plūs pōssĕ dărī. vōs cōndĭtĕ būstō

tāntī cōllă dŭcīs, sēd nōn ūt crīmĭnă sōlūm

vēstră tĕgāt tēllūs: iūstō dătĕ tūră sĕpūlchrō

ēt plācātĕ căpūt cĭnĕrēsque īn lītŏrĕ fūsōs

cōllĭgĭte ātque ūnām spārsīs dătĕ mānĭbŭs ūrnām.

Sēntĭăt ādvēntūm sŏcĕrī vōcēsquĕ quĕrēntīs

aūdĭăt ūmbră pĭās. Dūm nōbīs ōmnĭă praēfērt,

dūm vītām Phărĭō māvūlt dēbērĕ clĭēntī,

laētă dĭēs rāpta ēst pŏpŭlīs, cōncōrdĭă mūndō

nōstră pĕrīt; cărŭērĕ dĕīs mĕă vōtă sĕcūndīs,

ūt tē cōmplēxūs pŏsĭtīs fēlīcĭbŭs ārmīs

ādfēctūs ā tē vĕtĕrēs vītāmquĕ rŏgārēm,

Māgnĕ, tŭām, dīgnāquĕ sătīs mērcēdĕ lăbōrūm

cōntēntūs pār ēssĕ tĭbī; tūnc pācĕ fĭdēlī

fēcīssem ūt vīctūs pōssēs īgnōscĕrĕ dīvīs,

fēcīssēs ūt Rōmă mĭhī." Nēc tālĭă fātūs

īnvēnīt flētūs cŏmĭtēm, nēc tūrbă quĕrēntī

crēdĭdĭt; ābscōndūnt gĕmĭtūs ēt pēctŏră laētā

frōntĕ tĕgūnt hĭlărēsquĕ nĕfās spēctārĕ crŭēntūm,

ō bŏnă lībērtās! cūm Caēsār lūgĕăt, aūdēnt.

At non in Pharia manes iacuere fauilla

nec cinis exiguus tantam compescuit umbram:

prosiluit busto semustaque membra relinquens

degeneremque rogum sequitur conuexa Tonantis;

qua niger astriferis conectitur axibus aër,

quodque patet terras inter lunaeque meatus,

semidei manes habitant, quos ignea uirtus

innocuos uita patientes aetheris imi

fecit et aeternos animam collegit in orbes:

non illuc auro positi nec ture sepulti

perueniunt. Illic postquam se lumine uero

impleuit, stellasque uagas miratus et astra

fixa polis, uidit quanta sub nocte iaceret

nostra dies, risitque sui ludibria trunci.

Hinc super Emathiae campos et signa cruenti

Caesaris ac sparsas uolitauit in aequore classes

et scelerum uindex in sancto pectore Bruti

sedit et inuicti posuit se mente Catonis.

Ille, ubi pendebant casus dubiumque manebat,

quem dominum mundi facerent ciuilia bella,

oderat et Magnum, quamuis comes isset in arma

auspiciis raptus patriae ductuque senatus;

at post Thessalicas clades iam pectore toto

Pompeianus erat. Patriam tutore carentem

excepit, populi trepidantia membra refouit,

ignauis manibus proiectos reddidit enses

nec regnum cupiens gessit ciuilia bella

nec seruire timens. Nil causa fecit in armis

ille sua: totae post Magni funera partes

libertatis erant; quas ne per litora fusas

colligeret rapido uictoria Caesaris actu,

Corcyrae secreta petit ac mille carinis

abstulit Emathiae secum fragmenta ruinae.

Quis ratibus tantis fugientia crederet ire

agmina? quis pelagus uictas artasse carinas?

Dorida tunc Malean et apertam Taenaron umbris,

inde Cythera petit, boreaque urgente carinas

Creta fugit: Dictaea legit cedentibus undis

litora. Tunc ausum classi praecludere portus

impulit ac saeuas meritum Phycunta rapinas

sparsit et hinc placidis alto delabitur auris

in litus, Palinure, tuum (neque enim aequore tantum

Ausonio monumenta tenes, portusque quietos

testatur Libye Phrygio placuisse magistro),

cum procul ex alto tendentes uela carinae

ancipites tenuere animos, sociosne malorum

an ueherent hostes; praeceps facit omne timendum

uictor et in nulla non creditur esse carina.

Ast illae puppes luctus planctusque ferebant

et mala uel duri lacrimas motura Catonis.

Nam postquam frustra precibus Cornelia nautas

priuignique fugam tenuit, ne forte repulsus

litoribus Phariis remearet in aequora truncus,

ostenditque rogum non iusti flamma sepulchri,

"Ergo indigna fui" dixit "Fortuna, marito

accendisse rogum gelidosque effusa per artus

incubuisse uiro, laceros exurere crines

membraque dispersi pelago componere Magni,

uulneribus cunctis largos infundere fletus,

ossibus et tepida uestes implere fauilla,

quicquid ab extincto licuisset tollere busto,

in templis sparsura deum? Sine funeris ullo

ardet honore rogus; manus hoc Aegyptia forsan

obtulit officium graue manibus. O bene nudi

Crassorum cineres! Pompeio contigit ignis

inuidia maiore deum. similisne malorum

sors mihi semper erit? Numquam dare iusta licebit

coniugibus? numquam plenas plangemus ad urnas?

Quid porro tumulis opus est aut ulla requiris

instrumenta, dolor? Non toto in pectore portas,

impia, Pompeium? non imis haeret imago

uisceribus? Quaerat cineres uictura superstes.

Nunc tamen, hinc longe qui fulget luce maligna,

ignis adhuc aliquid Phario de litore surgens

ostendit mihi, Magne, tui; iam flamma resedit,

Pompeiumque ferens uanescit solis ad ortus

fumus, et inuisi tendunt mihi carbasa uenti.

Non mihi nunc tellus, Pompeio si qua triumphos

uicta dedit, non alta terens Capitolia currus

gratior; elapsus felix de pectore Magnus:

hunc uolumus quem Nilus habet, terraeque nocenti

non haerere queror; crimen commendat harenas.

Linquere, si qua fides, Pelusia litora nolo.

Tu pete bellorum casus et signa per orbem,

Sexte, paterna moue; namque haec mandata reliquit

Pompeius uobis in nostra condita cura:

"Me cum fatalis leto damnauerit hora,

excipite, o nati, bellum ciuile, nec umquam,

dum terris aliquis nostra de stirpe manebit,

Caesaribus regnare uacet. uel sceptra uel urbes

libertate sua ualidas impellite fama

nominis; has uobis partes, haec arma relinquo.

Inueniet classes quisquis Pompeius in undas

uenerit, et noster nullis non gentibus heres

bella dabit; tantum indomitos memoresque paterni

iuris habete animos. uni parere decebit,

si faciet partes pro libertate, Catoni."

Exsolui tibi, Magne, fidem, mandata peregi.

Insidiae ualuere tuae, deceptaque uixi,

ne mihi commissas auferrem perfida uoces.

Iam nunc te per inane chaos, per Tartara, coniux,

si sunt ulla, sequar: quam longo tradita leto,

incertum est: poenas animae uiuacis ab ipsa

ante feram. Potui cernens tua funera, Magne,

non fugere in mortem: planctu contusa peribit,

effluet in lacrimas, numquam ueniemus ad enses

aut laqueos aut praecipites per inania iactus;

turpe mori post te solo non posse dolore."

Sic ubi fata, caput ferali obduxit amictu

decreuitque pati tenebras puppisque cauernis

delituit saeuumque arte complexa dolorem

perfruitur lacrimis et amat pro coniuge luctum.

Illam non fluctus stridensque rudentibus eurus

mouit et exsurgens ad summa pericula clamor,

uotaque sollicitis faciens contraria nautis

composita in mortem iacuit fauitque procellis.

Prima ratem Cypros spumantibus accipit undis;

inde tenens pelagus, sed iam moderatior, eurus

in Libycas egit sedes et castra Catonis.

Tristis, ut in multo mens est praesaga timore,

aspexit patrios comites a litore Magnus

et fratrem; medias praeceps tunc fertur in undas:

"Dic ubi sit, germane, parens; stat summa caputque

orbis an occidimus Romanaque Magnus ad umbras

abstulit?" Haec fatur; quem contra talia frater:

"O felix, quem sors alias dispersit in oras

quique nefas audis: oculos, germane, nocentis

spectato genitore fero. Non Caesaris armis

occubuit dignoque perit auctore ruinae:

rege sub impuro Nilotica rura tenente

hospitii fretus superis et munere tanto

in proauos cecidit donati uictima regni.

Vidi ego magnanimi lacerantes pectora patris

nec credens Pharium tantum potuisse tyrannum

litore Niliaco socerum iam stare putaui.

Sed me nec sanguis nec tantum uulnera nostri

adfecere senis, quantum gestata per urbem

ora ducis, quae transfixo sublimia pilo

uidimus: haec fama est oculis uictoris iniqui

seruari, scelerisque fidem quaesisse tyrannum.

Nam corpus Phariaene canes auidaeque uolucres

distulerint, an furtiuus, quem uidimus, ignis

soluerit, ignoro. Quaecumque iniuria fati

abstulit hos artus, superis haec crimina dono;

seruata de parte queror." Cum talia Magnus

audisset, non in gemitus lacrimasque dolorem

effudit iustaque furens pietate profatur:

"Praecipitate rates e sicco litore, nautae;

classis in aduersos erumpat remige uentos,

ite, duces, mecum; nusquam ciuilibus armis

tanta fuit merces, inhumatos condere manes,

sanguine semiuiri Magnum satiare tyranni.

Non ego Pellaeas arces adytisque retectum

corpus Alexandri pigra Mareotide mergam?

Non mihi pyramidum tumulis euulsus Amasis

atque alii reges Nilo torrente natabunt?

Omnia dent poenas nudo tibi, Magne, sepulchra:

euoluam busto iam numen gentibus Isim

et tectum lino spargam per uulgus Osirim,

et sacer in Magni cineres mactabitur Apis,

suppositisque deis uram caput. Has mihi poenas

terra dabit: linquam uacuos cultoribus agros,

nec, Nilus cui crescat, erit, solusque tenebis

Aegyptum, genitor, populis superisque fugatis."

Dixerat et classem saeuus rapiebat in undas;

sed Cato laudatam iuuenis compescuit iram.

Interea totis audito funere Magni

litoribus sonuit percussus planctibus aether,

exemploque carens et nulli cognitus aeuo

luctus erat, mortem populos deflere potentis.

Sed magis, ut uisa est lacrimis exhausta, solutas

in uultus effusa comas, Cornelia puppe

egrediens, rursus geminato uerbere plangunt.

Vt primum in sociae peruenit litora terrae,

collegit uestes miserique insignia Magni

armaque et impressas auro, quas gesserat olim,

exuuias pictasque togas, uelamina summo

ter conspecta Ioui, funestoque intulit igni.

Ille fuit miserae Magni cinis. accipit omnis

exemplum pietas, et toto litore busta

surgunt Thessalicis reddentia manibus ignem.

Sic, ubi depastis summittere gramina campis

et renouare parans hibernas Apulus herbas

igne fouet terras, simul et Garganus et arua

Vulturis et calidi lucent buceta Matini.

Non tamen ad Magni peruenit gratius umbras

omne quod in superos audet conuicia uulgus

Pompeiumque deis obicit, quam pauca Catonis

uerba, sed a pleno uenientia pectore ueri.

"Ciuis obit" inquit "multum maioribus impar

nosse modum iuris, sed in hoc tamen utilis aeuo,

cui non ulla fuit iusti reuerentia; salua

libertate potens et solus plebe parata

priuatus seruire sibi, rectorque senatus,

sed regnantis, erat. Nil belli iure poposcit,

quaeque dari uoluit, uoluit sibi posse negari.

Immodicas possedit opes, sed plura retentis

intulit. Inuasit ferrum, sed ponere norat;

praetulit arma togae, sed pacem armatus amauit;

iuuit sumpta ducem, iuuit dimissa potestas.

Casta domus luxuque carens corruptaque numquam

fortuna domini. Clarum et uenerabile nomen

gentibus, et multum nostrae quod proderat urbi.

Olim uera fides Sulla Marioque receptis

libertatis obit: Pompeio rebus adempto

nunc et ficta perit. Non iam regnare pudebit,

nec color imperii nec frons erit ulla senatus.

O felix, cui summa dies fuit obuia uicto

et cui quaerendos Pharium scelus obtulit enses!

Forsitan in soceri potuisses uiuere regno.

Scire mori sors prima uiris, sed proxima cogi.

Et mihi, si fatis aliena in iura uenimus,

fac talem, Fortuna, Iubam; non deprecor hosti

seruari, dum me seruet ceruice recisa."

Vocibus his maior, quam si Romana sonarent

rostra ducis laudes, generosam uenit ad umbram

mortis honos. Fremit interea discordia uulgi,

castrorum bellique piget post funera Magni,

cum Tarcondimotus linquendi signa Catonis

sustulit; hunc rapta fugientem classe secutus

litus in extremum tali Cato uoce notauit:

"O numquam pacate Cilix, iterumne rapinas

uadis in aequoreas? Magnum fortuna remouit,

iam pelago pirata redis." Tum respicit omnis

in coetu motuque uiros, quorum unus aperta

mente fugae tali compellat uoce regentem:

"Nos, Cato, da ueniam, Pompei duxit in arma,

non belli ciuilis amor, partesque fauore

fecimus. Ille iacet, quem paci praetulit orbis,

causaque nostra perit; patrios permitte penates

desertamque domum dulcesque reuisere natos.

Nam quis erit finis, si nec Pharsalia pugnae

nec Pompeius erit? Perierunt tempora uitae:

mors eat in tutum, iustas sibi nostra senectus

prospiciat flammas; bellum ciuile sepulchra

uix ducibus praestare potest. Non barbara uictos

regna manent, non Armenium mihi saeua minatur

aut Scythicum fortuna iugum: sub iura togati

ciuis eo. Quisquis Magno uiuente secundus,

hic mihi primus erit. Sacris praestabitur umbris

summus honor; dominum quem clades cogit habebo,

nullum, Magne, ducem: te solum in bella secutus

post te fata sequar; nec enim sperare secunda

fas mihi nec liceat: fortuna cuncta tenentur

Caesaris; Emathium sparsit uictoria ferrum.

Clausa fides miseris, et toto solus in orbe est,

qui uelit ac possit uictis praestare salutem.

Pompeio scelus est bellum ciuile perempto,

quo fuerat uiuente fides. Si publica iura,

si semper sequeris patriam, Cato, signa petamus,

Romanus quae consul habet". Sic ille profatus

insiluit puppi iuuenum comitante tumultu.

Actum Romanis fuerat de rebus, et omnis

indiga seruitii feruebat litore plebes.

Erupere ducis sacro de pectore uoces:

"Ergo pari uoto gessisti bella, iuuentus,

tu quoque pro dominis et Pompeiana fuisti,

non Romana manus? Quod non in regna laboras,

quod tibi, non ducibus, uiuis morerisque, quod orbem

adquiris nulli, quod iam tibi uincere tutumst,

bella fugis quaerisque iugum ceruice uacanti

et nescis sine rege pati! Nunc causa pericli

digna uiris. Potuit uestro Pompeius abuti

sanguine: nunc patriae iugulos ensesque negatis,

cum prope libertas? unum fortuna reliquit

iam tribus e dominis. Pudeat: plus regia Nili

contulit in leges et Parthi militis arcus.

Ite, o degeneres, Ptolomaei munus et arma

spernite. Quis uestras ulla putet esse nocentes

caede manus? Credet faciles sibi terga dedisse,

credet ab Emathiis primos fugisse Philippis.

Vadite securi; meruistis iudice uitam

Caesare, non armis, non obsidione subacti.

O famuli turpes, domini post fata prioris

itis ad heredem. Cur non maiora mereri

quam uitam ueniamque libet? Rapiatur in undas

infelix coniux Magni prolesque Metelli,

ducite Pompeios, Ptolomaei uincite munus.

Nostra quoque inuiso quisquis feret ora tyranno,

non parua mercede dabit: sciat ista iuuentus

ceruicis pretio bene se mea signa secutam.

Quin agite et magna meritum cum caede parate;

ignauum scelus est tantum fuga". Dixit et omnes

haud aliter medio reuocauit ab aequore puppes

quam, simul effetas linquunt examina ceras

atque oblita faui non miscent nexibus alas,

sed sibi quaeque uolat nec iam degustat amarum

desidiosa thymum, Phrygii sonus increpat aeris,

attonitae posuere fugam studiumque laboris

floriferi repetunt et sparsi mellis amorem:

gaudet in Hyblaeo securus gramine pastor

diuitias seruasse casae. Sic uoce Catonis

inculcata uiris iusti patientia Martis.

Iamque actu belli non doctas ferre quietem

constituit mentes serieque agitare laborum.

Primum litoreis miles lassatur harenis;

proximus in muros et moenia Cyrenarum

est labor; exclusus nulla se uindicat ira,

poenaque de uictis sola est uicisse Catonis.

Inde peti placuit Libyci contermina Mauris

regna Iubae, sed iter mediis natura uetabat

Syrtibus: hanc audax sperat sibi cedere uirtus.

Syrtes uel primam mundo natura figuram

cum daret, in dubio pelagi terraeque reliquit;

nam neque subsedit penitus, quo stagna profundi

acciperet, nec se defendit ab aequore tellus,

ambigua sed lege loci iacet inuia sedes:

aequora fracta uadis abruptaque terra profundo,

et post multa sonant proiecti litora fluctus.

Sic male deseruit nullosque exegit in usus

hanc partem natura sui. uel plenior alto

olim Syrtis erat pelago penitusque natabat,

sed rapidus Titan ponto sua lumina pascens

aequora subduxit zonae uicina perustae,

et nunc pontus adhuc Phoebo siccante repugnat:

mox ubi damnosum radios admouerit aeuum,

tellus Syrtis erit; nam iam breuis unda superne

innatat, et late periturum deficit aequor.

Vt primum remis actum mare propulit omne

classis onus, densis fremuit niger imbribus auster.

In sua regna furens, temptatum classibus aequor

turbine defendit longeque a Syrtibus undas

egit et illato confregit litore pontum.

Tum quarum recto deprendit carbasa malo,

eripuit nautis, frustraque rudentibus ausis

uela negare noto spatium uicere carinae,

atque ultra proram tumuit sinus. Omnia si quis

prouidus antemnae suffixit lintea summae,

uincitur et nudis auerritur armamentis.

Sors melior classi quae fluctibus incidit altis

et certo iactata mari. Quaecumque leuatae

arboribus caesis flatum effudere prementem,

abstulit has liber uentis contraria uoluens

aestus et obnixum uictor detrusit in austrum.

Has uada destituunt, atque interrupta profundo

terra ferit puppes, dubioque obnoxia fato

pars sedet una ratis, pars altera pendet in undis.

Tunc magis impactis breuius mare terraque saepe

obuia consurgens; quamuis elisus ab austro,

saepe tamen cumulos fluctus non uincit harenae.

Eminet in tergo pelagi procul omnibus aruis

inuiolatus aqua sicci iam pulueris agger,

stant miseri nautae, terraeque haerente carina

litora nulla uident. Sic partem intercipit aequor;

pars ratium maior regimen clauumque secutast

tuta fuga nautasque loci sortita peritos

torpentem Tritonos adit illaesa paludem.

Hanc, ut fama, deus, quem toto litore pontus

audit uentosa perflantem marmora concha,

hanc et Pallas amat, patrio quae uertice nata

terrarum primam Libyen (nam proxima caelost,

ut probat ipse calor) tetigit stagnique quieta

uultus uidit aqua posuitque in margine plantas

et se dilecta Tritonida dixit ab unda.

Quam iuxta Lethon tacitus praelabitur amnis,

infernis, ut fama, trahens obliuia uenis,

atque, insopiti quondam tutela draconis,

Hesperidum pauper spoliatis frondibus hortus.

Inuidus, annoso qui famam derogat aeuo,

qui uates ad uera uocat. Fuit aurea silua

diuitiisque graues et fuluo germine rami

uirgineusque chorus, nitidi custodia luci,

et numquam somno damnatus lumina serpens

robora complexus rutilo curuata metallo.

Abstulit arboribus pretium nemorique laborem

Alcides passusque inopes sine pondere ramos

rettulit Argolico fulgentia poma tyranno.

His igitur depulsa locis eiectaque classis

Syrtibus haud ultra Garamantidas attigit undas,

sed duce Pompeio Libyae melioris in oris

mansit. at impatiens uirtus haerere Catonis

audet in ignotas agmen committere gentes

armorum fidens et terra cingere Syrtim;

hoc eadem suadebat hiems, quae clauserat aequor

et spes imber erat nimios metuentibus ignes,

ut neque sole uiam nec duro frigore saeuam

inde polo Libyes, hinc bruma temperet annus;

atque ingressurus steriles sic fatur harenas:

"O quibus una salus placuit mea castra secutis

indomita ceruice mori, componite mentes

ad magnum uirtutis opus summosque labores.

Vadimus in campos steriles exustaque mundi,

qua nimius Titan et rarae in fontibus undae,

siccaque letiferis squalent serpentibus arua:

durum iter ad leges, patriaeque ruentis amore

per mediam Libyen ueniant atque inuia temptent,

si quibus in nullo positum est euadere uoto,

si quibus ire sat est; neque enim mihi fallere quemquam

est animus tectoque metu perducere uulgus.

Hi mihi sint comites, quos ipsa pericula ducent,

qui me teste pati uel quae tristissima pulchrum

Romanumque putant. At qui sponsore salutis

miles eget capiturque animae dulcedine, uadat

ad dominum meliore uia. Dum primus harenas

ingrediar primusque gradus in puluere ponam,

me calor aetherius feriat, mihi plena ueneno

occurrat serpens, fatoque pericula uestra

praetemptate meo: sitiat, quicumque bibentem

uiderit, aut umbras nemorum quicumque petentem,

aestuet, aut equitem peditum praecedere turmas,

deficiat: si quo fuerit discrimine notum,

dux an miles eam. Serpens, sitis, ardor harenae

dulcia uirtuti; gaudet patientia duris;

laetius est, quotiens magno sibi constat, honestum.

Sola potest Libye turba praestare malorum,

ut deceat fugisse uiros." Sic ille pauentes

incendit uirtute animos et amore laborum

inreducemque uiam deserto limite carpit,

et sacrum paruo nomen clausura sepulchro

inuasit Libye securi fata Catonis.

Tertia pars rerum Libye, si credere famae

cuncta uelis; at si uentos caelumque sequaris,

pars erit Europae. Nec enim plus litora Nili,

quam Scythicus Tanais primis a Gadibus absunt,

unde Europa fugit Libyen et litora flexu

Oceano fecere locum; sed maior in unam

orbis abit Asiam. Nam cum communiter istae

effundant zephyrum, boreae latus illa sinistrum

contingens dextrumque noti discedit in ortus

eurum sola tenens. Libyae quod fertile terraest

uergit in occasus; sed et haec non fontibus ullis

soluitur: arctoos raris aquilonibus imbres

accipit et nostris reficit sua rura serenis.

In nullas uitiatur opes; non aere neque auro

excoquitur, nullo glaebarum crimine pura

et penitus terra est. Tantum Maurusia genti

robora diuitiae, quarum non nouerat usum,

sed citri contenta comis uiuebat et umbra.

In nemus ignotum nostrae uenere secures,

extremoque epulas mensasque petimus ab orbe.

At quaecumque uagam Syrtim complectitur ora

sub nimio proiecta die, uicina perusti

aetheris, exurit messes et puluere Bacchum

enecat et nulla putris radice tenetur.

Temperies uitalis abest, et nulla sub illa

cura Iouis terra est; natura deside torpet

orbis et immotis annum non sentit harenis.

Hoc tam segne solum raras tamen exserit herbas,

quas Nasamon, gens dura, legit, qui proxima ponto

nudus rura tenet, quem mundi barbara damnis

Syrtis alit. Nam litoreis populator harenis

imminet et nulla portus tangente carina

nouit opes; sic cum toto commercia mundo

naufragiis Nasamones habent. Hac ire Catonem

dura iubet uirtus. Illic secura iuuentus

uentorum nullasque timens tellure procellas

aequoreos est passa metus. Nam litore sicco,

quam pelago, Syrtis uiolentius excipit austrum,

et terrae magis ille nocens; non montibus ortum

aduersis frangit Libye scopulisque repulsum

dissipat, et liquidas se turbine soluit in auras,

nec ruit in siluas annosaque robora torquens

lassatur: patet omne solum liberque meatu

Aeoliam rabiem totis exercet habenis,

et non imbriferam contorto puluere nubem

in flexum uiolentus agit: pars plurima terrae

tollitur et numquam resoluto uertice pendet.

Regna uidet pauper Nasamon errantia uento

discussasque domos, uolitantque a culmine raptae

detecto Garamante casae. Non altius ignis

rapta uehit, quantumque licet consurgere fumo

et uiolare diem, tantus tenet aëra puluis.

Tum quoque Romanum solito uiolentior agmen

adgreditur, nullisque potest consistere miles

instabilis raptis etiam, quas calcat, harenis.

Concuteret terras orbemque a sede moueret,

si solida Libye compage et pondere duro

clauderet exesis austrum scopulosa cauernis;

sed quia mobilibus facilis turbatur harenis,

nusquam luctando stabilis manet, imaque tellus

stat, quia summa fugit. Galeas et scuta uirorum

pilaque contorsit uiolento spiritus actu

intentusque tulit magni per inania caeli.

Illud in extrema forsan longeque remota

prodigium tellure fuit, delapsaque caelo

arma timent gentes hominumque erepta lacertis

a superis demissa putant. Sic illa profecto

sacrifico cecidere Numae, quae lecta iuuentus

patricia ceruice mouet: spoliauerat auster

aut boreas populos ancilia nostra ferentes.

Sic orbem torquente noto Romana iuuentus

procubuit timuitque rapi; constrinxit amictus

inseruitque manus terrae nec pondere solo,

sed nisu iacuit, uix sic immobilis austro,

qui super ingentes cumulos inuoluit harenae

atque operit tellure uiros. uix tollere miles

membra ualet multo congestu pulueris haerens.

Alligat et stantis adfusae magnus harenae

agger, et immoti terra surgente tenentur.

Saxa tulit penitus discussis proruta muris

effuditque procul miranda sorte malorum:

qui nullas uidere domos, uidere ruinas.

Iamque iter omne latet, nec sunt discrimina terrae:

ulla, nisi aetheriae, medio uelut aequore, flammae

sideribus nouere uiam, nec sidera tota

ostendit Libycae finitor circulus orae

multaque deuexo terrarum margine celat.

Vtque calor soluit quem torserat aëra uentus,

incensusque dies, manant sudoribus artus,

arent ora siti: conspecta est parua maligna

unda procul uena, quam uix e puluere miles

corripiens patulum galeae confundit in orbem

porrexitque duci. Squalebant puluere fauces

cunctorum, minimumque tenens dux ipse liquoris

inuidiosus erat. "Mene" inquit "degener unum

miles in hac turba uacuum uirtute putasti?

Vsque adeo mollis primisque caloribus impar

sum uisus? quanto poena tu dignior ista es,

qui populo sitiente bibas!" Sic concitus ira

excussit galeam, suffecitque omnibus unda.

Ventum erat ad templum, Libycis quod gentibus unum

inculti Garamantes habent; stat sortiger illis

Iuppiter, ut memorant, sed non aut fulmina uibrans

aut similis nostro, sed tortis cornibus, Hammon.

Non illic Libycae posuerunt ditia gentes

templa, nec Eois splendent donaria gemmis.

Quamuis Aethiopum populis Arabumque beatis

gentibus atque Indis unus sit Iuppiter Hammon,

pauper adhuc deus est, nullis uiolata per aeuum

diuitiis delubra tenens, morumque priorum

numen Romano templum defendit ab auro

Esse locis superos testatur silua per omnem

sola uirens Libyen. Nam quidquid puluere sicco

separat ardentem tepida Berenicida Lepti,

ignorat frondes; solus nemus abstulit Hammon.

Siluarum fons causa loco, qui putria terrae

alligat et domitas unda conectit harenas.

Hic quoque nil obstat Phoebo, cum cardine summo

stat librata dies; truncum uix protegit arbor:

tam breuis in medium radiis compellitur umbra.

Deprensum est hunc esse locum qua circulus alti

solstitii medium signorum percutit orbem.

Non obliqua meant, nec Tauro Scorpios exit

rectior, aut Aries donat sua tempora Librae,

aut Astraea iubet lentos descendere Pisces.

Par Geminis Chiron, et idem quod Carcinus ardens

umidus Aegoceros, nec plus Leo tollitur Vrna.

At tibi, quaecumque es Libyco gens igne dirempta,

in noton umbra cadit, quae nobis exit in arcton.

Te segnis Cynosura subit, tu sicca profundo

mergi Plaustra putas nullumque in uertice semper

sidus habes immune mari; procul axis uterquest,

et fuga signorum medio rapit omnia caelo.

Stabant ante fores populi quos miserat Eos

cornigerique Iouis monitu noua fata petebant;

sed Latio cessere duci, comitesque Catonem

orant exploret Libycum memorata per orbem

numina, de fama tam longi iudicet aeui.

Maximus hortator scrutandi uoce deorum

euentus Labienus erat: "Sors obtulit" inquit

"et fortuna uiae tam magni numinis ora

consiliumque dei; tanto duce possumus uti

per Syrtes bellisque datos cognoscere casus.

Nam cui crediderim superos arcana daturos

dicturosque magis quam sancto uera Catoni?

Certe uita tibi semper derecta supernas

ad leges sequerisque deum. Datur ecce loquendi

cum Ioue libertas: inquire in fata nefandi

Caesaris, et patriae uenturos excute mores:

iure suo populis uti legumque licebit,

an bellum ciuile perit? Tua pectora sacra

uoce reple; durae saltem uirtutis amator

quaere quid est uirtus et posce exemplar honesti."

Ille, deo plenus tacita quem mente gerebat,

effudit dignas adytis e pectore uoces:

"Quid quaeri, Labiene, iubes? an liber in armis

occubuisse uelim potius quam regna uidere?

an sit uita nihil? si longa, an differat aetas?

an noceat uis ulla bono? fortunaque perdat

opposita uirtute minas, laudandaque uelle

sit satis, et numquam successu crescat honestum?

Scimus, et hoc nobis non altius inseret Hammon.

Haeremus cuncti superis, temploque tacente

nil facimus non sponte dei; nec uocibus ullis

numen eget, dixitque semel nascentibus auctor

quicquid scire licet, steriles nec legit harenas

ut caneret paucis mersitque hoc puluere uerum

estque dei sedes nisi terra et pontus et aër

et caelum et uirtus. Superos quid quaerimus ultra?

Iuppiter est quodcumque uides, quodcumque moueris.

Sortilegis egeant dubii semperque futuris

casibus ancipites; me non oracula certum,

sed mors certa facit. pauido fortique cadendumst:

hoc satis est dixisse Iouem." Sic ille profatus

seruataque fide templi discedit ab aris,

non exploratum populis Hammona relinquens.

Ipse manu sua pila gerit, praecedit anheli

militis ora pedes, monstrat tolerare uapores,

non iubet, et nulla uehitur ceruice supinus

carpentoque sedens; somni parcissimus ipsest,

ultimus haustor aquae: cum tandem fonte reperto

indiga cogatur laticis certare iuuentus,

stat dum lixa bibat. Si ueris magna paratur

fama bonis et si successu nuda remoto

inspicitur uirtus, quidquid laudamus in ullo

maiorum, fortuna fuit. Quis Marte secundo,

quis tantum meruit populorum sanguine nomen?

Hunc ego per Syrtes Libyaeque extrema triumphum

ducere maluerim, quam ter Capitolia curru

scandere Pompei, quam frangere colla Iugurthae.

Ecce parens uerus patriae, dignissimus aris,

Roma, tuis, per quem numquam iurare pudebit,

et quem, si steteris umquam ceruice soluta,

nunc, olim, factura deum es. Iam spissior ignis,

et plaga, quam nullam superi mortalibus ultra

a medio fecere die, calcatur, et unda

rarior: inuentus mediis fons unus harenis

largus aquae, sed quem serpentum turba tenebat

uix capiente loco. Stabant in margine siccae

aspides, in mediis sitiebant dipsades undis.

Ductor, ut aspexit perituros fonte relicto,

alloquitur: "Vana specie conterrite leti,

ne dubita, miles, tutos haurire liquores.

Noxia serpentum est admixto sanguine pestis,

morsu uirus habent et fatum dente minantur;

pocula morte carent." Dixit dubiumque uenenum

hausit, et in tota Libyae fons unus harena

ille fuit de quo primus sibi posceret undam.

Cur Libycus tantis exundet pestibus aër

fertilis in mortes, aut quid secreta nocenti

miscuerit natura solo, non cura laborque

noster scire ualet, nisi quod uulgata per orbem

fabula pro uera decepit saecula causa.

Finibus extremis Libyes, ubi feruida tellus

accipit Oceanum demisso sole calentem,

squalebant late Phorcynidos arua Medusae,

non nemorum protecta coma, non mollia suco,

sed dominae uultu conspectis aspera saxis.

Hoc primum natura nocens in corpore saeuas

eduxit pestes; illis e faucibus angues

stridula fuderunt uibratis sibila linguis,

femineae qui more comae per terga soluti

ipsa flagellabant gaudentis colla Medusae.

Surgunt aduersa subrectae fronte colubrae,

uipereumque fluit depexo crine uenenum.

Hoc habet infelix cunctis impune Medusa

quod spectare licet. Nam rictus oraque monstri

quis timuit? quem, qui recto se lumine uidit,

passa Medusa mori est? Rapuit dubitantia fata

praeuenitque metus; anima periere retenta

membra, nec emissae riguere sub ossibus umbrae.

Eumenidum crines solos mouere furores;

Cerberos Orpheo leniuit sibila cantu;

Amphitryoniades uidit, cum uinceret, hydram:

hoc monstrum timuit genitor numenque secundum

Phorcys aquis Cetoque parens ipsaeque sorores

Gorgones; hoc potuit caelo pelagoque minari

torporem insolitum mundoque obducere terram.

E caelo uolucres subito cum pondere lapsae,

in scopulis haesere ferae, uicina colentes

Aethiopum totae riguerunt marmore gentes.

Nullum animal uisus patiens, ipsique retrorsum

effusi faciem uitabant Gorgonos angues.

Illa sub Hesperiis stantem Titana columnis

in cautes Atlanta dedit, caeloque timente

olim Phlegraeo stantes serpente gigantas

erexit montes bellumque immane deorum

Pallados e medio confecit pectore Gorgon.

Quo postquam partu Danaes et diuite nimbo

ortum Parrhasiae uexerunt Persea pinnae

Arcados, auctoris citharae liquidaeque palaestrae,

et subitus praepes Cyllenida sustulit harpen,

harpen alterius monstri iam caede rubentem,

a Ioue dilectae fuso custode iuuencae

auxilium uolucri Pallas tulit innuba fratri

pacta caput monstri terraeque in fine Libyssae

Persea Phoebeos conuerti iussit ad ortus

Gorgonos auerso sulcantem regna uolatu

et clipeum laeuae fuluo dedit aere nitentem,

in quo saxificam iussit spectare Medusam;

quam sopor aeternam tracturus morte quietem

obruit haut totam: uigilat pars magna comarum,

defenduntque caput protenti crinibus hydri;

pars iacet in medios uultus oculique tenebras.

Ipsa regit trepidum Pallas, dextraque trementem

Perseos auersi Cyllenida derigit harpen

lata colubriferi rumpens confinia colli.

Quos habuit uultus hamati uulnere ferri

caesa caput Gorgon! quanto spirare ueneno

ora rear, quantumque oculos effundere mortis!

Nec Pallas spectare potest, uultusque gelassent

Perseos auersi, si non Tritonia densos

sparsisset crines texissetque ora colubris.

Aliger in caelum sic rapta Gorgone fugit.

Ille quidem pensabat iter propiusque secabat

aëra, si medias Europae scinderet urbes:

Pallas frugiferas iussit non laedere terras

et parci populis. Quis enim non praepete tanto

aethera respiceret? Zephyro conuertitur ales

itque super Libyen, quae nullo consita cultu

sideribus Phoeboque uacat; premit orbita solis

exuritque solum, nec terra celsior ulla

nox cadit in caelum lunaeque meatibus obstat,

si flexus oblita uagi per recta cucurrit

signa nec in borean aut in noton effugit umbram.

Illa tamen sterilis tellus fecundaque nulli

arua bono uirus stillantis tabe Medusae

concipiunt dirosque fero de sanguine rores,

quos calor adiuuit putrique incoxit harenae.

Hic, quae prima caput mouit de puluere, tabes

aspida somniferam tumida ceruice leuauit.

Plenior huic sanguis et crassi gutta ueneni

decidit: in nulla plus est serpente coactum.

Ipsa caloris egens gelidum non transit in orbem

sponte sua Niloque tenus metitur harenas.

Sed quis erit nobis lucri pudor? inde petuntur

huc Libycae mortes, et fecimus aspida mercem.

At non stare suum miseris passura cruorem

squamiferos ingens haemorrhois explicat orbes,

natus et ambiguae coleret qui Syrtidos arua

chersydros tractique uia fumante chelydri

et semper recto lapsurus limite cenchris;

pluribus ille notis uariatam tinguitur aluum,

quam paruis pictus maculis Thebanus ophites.

Concolor exustis atque indiscretus harenis

hammodytes spinaque uagi torquente cerastae

et scytale sparsis etiamnunc sola pruinis

exuuias positura suas et torrida dipsas

et grauis in geminum uergens caput amphisbaena

et natrix uiolator aquae iaculique uolucres

et contentus iter cauda sulcare parias

oraque distendens auidus fumantia prester,

ossaque dissoluens cum corpore tabificus seps,

sibilaque effundens cunctas terrentia pestes,

ante uenena nocens, late sibi summouet omne

uulgus et in uacua regnat basiliscus harena.

Vos quoque, qui cunctis innoxia numina terris

serpitis, aurato nitidi fulgore dracones,

letiferos ardens facit Africa; ducitis altum

aëra cum pinnis armentaque tota secuti

rumpitis ingentes amplexi uerbere tauros;

nec tutus spatio est elephans: datis omnia leto,

nec uobis opus est ad noxia fata ueneno.

Has inter pestes duro Cato milite siccum

emetitur iter tot tristia fata suorum

insolitasque uidens paruo cum uulnere mortes.

Signiferum iuuenem Tyrrheni sanguinis Aulum

torta caput retro dipsas calcata momordit.

Vix dolor aut sensus dentis fuit, ipsaque leti

frons caret inuidia, nec quicquam plaga minatur.

Ecce subit uirus tacitum, carpitque medullas

ignis edax calidaque incendit uiscera tabe;

ebibit umorem circum uitalia fusum

pestis et in sicco linguam torrere palato

coepit. Defessos iret qui sudor in artus

non fuit, atque oculos lacrimarum uena refugit.

Non decus imperii, non maesti iura Catonis

ardentem tenuere uirum, ne spargere signa

auderet totisque furens exquireret aruis,

quas poscebat aquas sitiens in corde uenenum.

Ille uel in Tanain missus Rhodanumque Padumque

arderet Nilumque bibens per rura uagantem.

Accessit morti Libye, fatique minorem

famam dipsas habet terris adiuta perustis.

Scrutatur uenas penitus squalentis harenae;

nunc redit ad Syrtes et fluctus accipit ore,

aequoreusque placet, sed non et sufficit, umor;

nec sentit fatique genus mortemque ueneni,

sed putat esse sitim, ferroque aperire tumentis

sustinuit uenas atque os implere cruore.

Iussit signa rapi propere Cato; discere nulli

permissum est hoc posse sitim. Sed tristior illo

mors erat ante oculos, miserique in crure Sabelli

seps stetit exiguus, quem flexo dente tenacem

auulsitque manu piloque adfixit harenis.

Parua modo serpens, sed qua non ulla cruentae

tantum mortis habet. Nam plagae proxima circum

fugit rupta cutis pallentiaque ossa retexit;

iamque sinu laxo nudum sine corpore uulnus.

Membra natant sanie, surae fluxere, sine ullo

tegmine poples erat, femorum quoque musculus omnis

liquitur, et nigra destillant inguina tabe.

Dissiluit stringens uterum membrana, fluuntque

uiscera; nec, quantus toto de corpore debet,

effluit in terras, saeuum sed membra uenenum

decoquit, in minimum mox contrahit omnia uirus.

Vincula neruorum et laterum textura cauumque

pectus et abstrusum fibris uitalibus: omne

quidquid homo est aperit pestis. Natura profana

morte patet: manant umeri fortesque lacerti,

colla caputque fluunt. Calido non ocius austro

nix resoluta cadit nec solem cera sequetur.

Parua loquor, corpus sanie stillasse perustum:

hoc et flamma potest; sed qui rogus abstulit ossa?

Haec quoque discedunt, putrisque secuta medullas

nulla manere sinunt rapidi uestigia fati.

Cinyphias inter pestes tibi palma nocendist:

eripiunt omnes animam, tu sola cadauer.

Ecce subit facies leto diuersa fluenti.

Nasidium Marsi cultorem torridus agri

percussit prester. Illi rubor igneus ora

succendit, tenditque cutem pereunte figura

miscens cuncta tumor toto iam corpore maior,

humanumque egressa modum super omnia membra

efflatur sanies late pollente ueneno;

ipse latet penitus congesto corpore mersus,

nec lorica tenet distenti corporis auctum.

Spumeus accenso non sic exundat aëno

undarum cumulus, nec tantos carbasa coro

curuauere sinus. Tumidos iam non capit artus

informis globus et confuso pondere truncus.

Intactum uolucrum rostris epulasque daturum

haut impune feris non ausi tradere busto

nondum stante modo crescens fugere cadauer.

Sed maiora parant Libycae spectacula pestes.

Impressit dentes haemorrhois aspera Tullo,

magnanimo iuueni miratorique Catonis.

Vtque solet pariter totis se effundere signis

Corycii pressura croci, sic omnia membra

emisere simul rutilum pro sanguine uirus.

Sanguis erant lacrimae; quaecumque foramina nouit

umor, ab his largus manat cruor: ora redundant

et patulae nares, sudor rubet; omnia plenis

membra fluunt uenis, totum est pro uulnere corpus.

At tibi, Laeue miser, fixus praecordia pressit

Niliaca serpente cruor, nulloque dolore

testatus morsus subita caligine mortem

accipis et socias somno descendis ad umbras.

Non tam ueloci corrumpunt pocula leto,

stipite quae diro uirgas mentita Sabaeas

toxica fatilegi carpunt matura Saitae.

Ecce procul saeuus sterilis se robore trunci

torsit et immisit (iaculum uocat Africa) serpens

perque caput Pauli transactaque tempora fugit.

Nil ibi uirus agit: rapuit cum uulnere fatum.

Deprensum est, quae funda rotat, quam lenta uolarent

quam segnis Scythicae strideret harundinis aër.

Quid prodest miseri basiliscus cuspide Murri

transactus? uelox currit per tela uenenum

inuaditque manum; quam protinus ille retecto

ense ferit totoque semel demittit ab armo,

exemplarque sui spectans miserabile leti

stat tutus pereunte manu. Quis fata putauit

Scorpion aut uires maturae mortis habere?

Ille minax nodis et recto uerbere saeuus

teste tulit caelo uicti decus Orionis.

Quis calcare tuas metuat, salpuga, latebras?

Et tibi dant Stygiae ius in sua fila sorores.

Sic nec clara dies nec nox dabat atra quietem

suspecta miseris in qua tellure iacebant.

Nam neque congestae struxere cubilia frondes,

nec culmis creuere tori, sed corpora fatis

expositi uoluuntur humo calidoque uapore

alliciunt gelidas nocturno frigore pestes

innocuosque diu rictus torpente ueneno

inter membra fouent. Nec, quae mensura uiarum

quisue modus, norunt caelo duce; saepe querentes:

"Reddite, di" clamant "miseris, quae fugimus, arma,

reddite Thessaliam. Patimur cur segnia fata

in gladios iurata manus? pro Caesare pugnant

dipsades et peragunt ciuilia bella cerastae.

Ire libet qua zona rubens atque axis inustus

solis equis, iuuat aetheriis ascribere causis

quod peream, caeloque mori. Nil, Africa, de te

nec de te, natura, queror: tot monstra ferentem

gentibus ablatum dederas serpentibus orbem

impatiensque solum. Cereris cultore negato

damnasti atque homines uoluisti desse uenenis.

In loca serpentum nos uenimus: accipe poenas,

tu, quisquis superum commercia nostra perosus

hinc torrente plaga, dubiis hinc Syrtibus orbem

abrumpens medio posuisti limite mortes.

Per secreta tui bellum ciuile recessus

uadit et arcani miles tibi conscius orbis

claustra ferit mundi. forsan maiora supersunt

ingressis. Coeunt ignes stridentibus undis,

et premitur natura poli. Sed longius ista

nulla iacet tellus, quam fama cognita nobis

tristia regna Iubae. Quaeremus forsitan istas

serpentum terras; habet hoc solacia caelum:

uiuit adhuc aliquid. patriae non arua requiro

Europamque alios soles Asiamque uidentem:

qua te parte poli, qua te tellure reliqui,

Africa? Cyrenis etiamnum bruma rigebat:

exiguane uia legem conuertimus anni?

Imus in aduersos axes, euoluimur orbe,

terga damus ferienda noto. nunc forsitan ipsast

sub pedibus iam Roma meis. Solacia fati

haec petimus: ueniant hostes Caesarque sequatur

qua fugimus." Sic dura suos patientia questus

exonerat. Cogit tantos tolerare labores

summa ducis uirtus, qui nuda fusus harena

excubat atque omni fortunam prouocat hora.

Omnibus unus adest fatis; quocumque uocatus,

aduolat atque ingens meritum maiusque salute

contulit, in letum uires, puduitque gementem

illo teste mori. Quod ius habuisset in ipsum

ulla lues? casus alieno in pectore uincit

spectatorque docet magnos nil posse dolores.

Vix miseris serum tanto lassata periclo

auxilium Fortuna dedit. Gens unica terras

incolit a saeuo serpentum innoxia morsu,

Marmaridae Psylli. Par lingua potentibus herbis,

ipse cruor tutus nullumque admittere uirus

uel cantu cessante potens. Natura locorum

iussit ut immunes mixtis serpentibus essent;

profuit in mediis sedem posuisse uenenis.

Pax illis cum morte data est. fiducia tantast

sanguinis: in terras paruus cum decidit infans,

ne qua sit externae Veneris mixtura timentes,

letifica dubios explorant aspide partus;

utque Iouis uolucer, calido cum protulit ouo

implumis natos, solis conuertit ad ortus:

qui potuere pati radios et lumine recto

sustinuere diem, caeli seruantur in usus,

qui Phoebo cessere iacent: sic pignora gentis

Psyllus habet, si quis tactos non horruit angues,

si quis donatis lusit serpentibus infans.

Nec solum gens illa sua contenta salute

excubat hospitibus, contraque nocentia monstra

Psyllus adest populis. Qui tunc Romana secutus

signa, simul iussit statui tentoria ductor,

primum, quas ualli spatium comprendit, harenas

expurgat cantu uerbisque fugantibus angues.

Vltima castrorum medicatus circumit ignis.

Hic ebulum stridet, peregrinaque galbana sudant,

et tamarix non laeta comas eoaque costos

et panacea potens et Thessala centaurea

peucedanonque sonant flammis Erycinaque thapsos,

et larices fumoque grauem serpentibus urunt

habrotonum et longe nascentis cornua cerui.

Sic nox tuta uiris. At si quis peste diurna

fata trahit, tunc sunt magicae miracula gentis.

Psyllorumque ingens et rapti pugna ueneni.

Nam primum tacta designat membra saliua,

quae cohibet uirus retinetque in uulnere pestem;

plurima tunc uoluit spumanti carmina lingua

murmure continuo, nec dat suspiria cursus

uulneris, aut minimum patiuntur fata tacere.

Saepe quidem pestis nigris inserta medullis

excantata fugit; sed si quod tardius audit

uirus et elicitum iussumque exire repugnat,

tunc superincumbens pallentia uulnera lambit

ore uenena trahens et siccat dentibus artus

extractamque potens gelido de corpore mortem

exspuit, et cuius morsus superauerit anguis,

iam promptum Psyllis uel gustu nosse ueneni.

Hoc igitur tandem leuior Romana iuuentus

auxilio late squalentibus errat in aruis.

Bis positis Phoebe flammis, bis luce recepta

uidit areniuagum surgens fugiensque Catonem.

Iamque illic magis atque magis durescere puluis

coepit et in terram Libye spissata redire,

iamque procul rarae nemorum se tollere frondes,

surgere congesto non culta mapalia culmo.

Quanta dedit miseris melioris gaudia terrae,

cum primum saeuos contra uidere leones!

Proxima Leptis erat, cuius statione quieta

exegere hiemem nimbis flammisque carentem.

Caesar ut Emathia satiatus clade recessit,

cetera curarum proiecit pondera soli

intentus genero; cuius uestigia frustra

terris sparsa legens fama duce tendit in undas

Threiciasque legit fauces et amore notatum

aequor et Heroas lacrimoso litore turres,

qua pelago nomen Nepheleias abstulit Helle.

Non Asiam breuioris aquae disterminat usquam

fluctus ab Europa, quamuis Byzantion arto

pontus et ostriferam dirimat Calchedona cursu

Euxinumque ferens paruo ruat ore Propontis.

Sigeasque petit famae mirator harenas

et Simoentis aquas et Graio nobile busto

Rhoetion et multum debentes uatibus umbras.

Circumit exustae nomen memorabile Troiae

magnaque Phoebei quaerit uestigia muri.

Iam siluae steriles et putres robore trunci

Assaraci pressere domos et templa deorum

iam lassa radice tenent, ac tota teguntur

Pergama dumetis, etiam periere ruinae.

Aspicit Hesiones scopulos siluaque latentis

Anchisae thalamos, quo iudex sederit antro,

unde puer raptus caelo, quo uertice Nais

luxerit Oenone; nullum est sine nomine saxum.

Inscius in sicco serpentem puluere riuum

transierat, qui Xanthus erat; securus in alto

gramine ponebat gressus: Phryx incola manes

Hectoreos calcare uetat; discussa iacebant

saxa nec ullius faciem seruantia sacri:

"Herceas" monstrator ait "non respicis aras?"

O sacer et magnus uatum labor, omnia fato

eripis et populis donas mortalibus aeuum.

Inuidia sacrae, Caesar, ne tangere famae;

nam, si quid Latiis fas est promittere Musis,

quantum Zmyrnaei durabunt uatis honores,

uenturi me teque legent; Pharsalia nostra

uiuet, et a nullo tenebris damnabimur aeuo.

Vt ducis impleuit uisus ueneranda uetustas,

erexit subitas congestu caespitis aras

uotaque turicremos non irrita fudit in ignes:

"Di cinerum, Phrygias colitis quicumque ruinas,

Aeneaeque mei, quos nunc Lauinia sedes

seruat et Alba, lares, et quorum lucet in aris

ignis adhuc Phrygius, nullique aspecta uirorum

Pallas, in abstruso pignus memorabile templo,

gentis Iuleae uestris clarissimus aris

dat pia tura nepos et uos in sede priori

rite uocat: date felices in cetera cursus,

restituam populos; grata uice moenia reddent

Ausonidae Phrygibus, Romanaque Pergama surgent."

Sic fatus repetit classes et tota secundis

uela dedit coris auidusque urgente procella

Iliacas pensare moras Asiamque potentem

praeuehitur pelagoque Rhodon spumante relinquit.

Septima nox zephyro numquam laxante rudentes

ostendit Phariis Aegyptia litora flammis.

Sed prius orta dies nocturnam lampada texit

quam tutas intraret aquas. Ibi plena tumultu

litora et incerto turbatas murmure uoces

accipit ac dubiis ueritus se credere regnis

abstinuit tellure rates. Sed dira satelles

regis dona ferens medium prouectus in aequor

colla gerit Magni Phario uelamine tecta

ac prius infanda commendat crimina uoce:

"Terrarum domitor, Romanae maxime gentis,

et, quod adhuc nescis, genero secure perempto,

rex tibi Pellaeus belli pelagique labores

donat et, Emathiis quod solum defuit armis,

exhibet; absenti bellum ciuile peractumst:

Thessalicas quaerens Magnus reparare ruinas

ense iacet nostro. Tanto te pignore, Caesar,

emimus, hoc tecum percussum est sanguine foedus.

Accipe regna Phari nullo quaesita cruore;

accipe Niliaci ius gurgitis; accipe, quidquid

pro Magni ceruice dares, dignumque clientem

castris crede tuis, cui tantum fata licere

in generum uoluere tuum. Nec uile putaris

hoc meritum, facili nobis quod caede peractumst.

Hospes auitus erat, depulso sceptra parenti

reddiderat. quid plura feram? tu nomina tanto

inuenies operi uel famam consule mundi.

Si scelus est, plus te nobis debere fateris,

quod scelus hoc non ipse facis." Sic fatus opertum

detexit tenuitque caput. Iam languida morte

effigies habitum noti mutauerat oris.

Non primo Caesar damnauit munera uisu

auertitque oculos; uultus, dum crederet, haesit,

utque fidem uidit sceleris tutumque putauit

iam bonus esse socer, lacrimas non sponte cadentis

effudit gemitusque expressit pectore laeto,

non aliter manifesta potens abscondere mentis

gaudia quam lacrimis, meritumque immane tyranni

destruit et generi mauult lugere reuulsum

quam debere caput. Qui duro membra senatus

calcarat uultu, qui sicco lumine campos

uiderat Emathios, uni tibi, Magne, negare

non audet gemitus. O sors durissima fati!

Huncine tu, Caesar, scelerato Marte petisti,

qui tibi flendus erat? non mixti foedera tangunt

te generis, nec nata iubet maerere neposque,

credis aput populos Pompei nomen amantis

hoc castris prodesse tuis. Fortasse tyranni

tangeris inuidia captique in uiscera Magni

hoc alii licuisse doles quererisque perisse

uindictam belli raptumque e iure superbi

uictoris generum. Quisquis te flere coëgit

impetus, a uera longe pietate recessit.

Scilicet hoc animo terras atque aequora lustras,

necubi suppressus pereat gener. O bene rapta

arbitrio mors ista tuo! quam magna remisit

crimina Romano tristis fortuna pudori,

quod te non passa est misereri, perfide, Magni

uiuentis! Nec non his fallere uocibus audet

adquiritque fidem simulati fronte doloris:

"Aufer ab aspectu nostro funesta, satelles,

regis dona tui; peius de Caesare uestrum

quam de Pompeio meruit scelus. unica belli

praemia ciuilis, uictis donare salutem,

perdidimus. Quod si Phario germana tyranno

non inuisa foret, potuissem reddere regi

quod meruit, fratrique tuum pro munere tali

misissem, Cleopatra, caput. Secreta quid arma

mouit et inseruit nostro sua tela labori?

Ergo in Thessalicis Pellaeo fecimus aruis

ius gladio? uestris quaesita licentia regnis?

Non tuleram Magnum mecum Romana regentem:

te, Ptolomaee, feram? frustra ciuilibus armis

miscuimus gentes, si qua est hoc orbe potestas

altera quam Caesar, si tellus ulla duorumst.

Vertissem Latias a uestro litore proras:

famae cura uetat, ne non damnasse cruentam

sed uidear timuisse Pharon. Nec fallere uosmet

credite uictorem: nobis quoque tale paratum

litoris hospitium; ne sic mea colla gerantur

Thessaliae fortuna facit. maiore profecto

quam metui poterat discrimine gessimus arma:

exilium generique minas Romamque timebam:

poena fugae Ptolomaeus erat. Sed parcimus annis

donamusque nefas. Sciat hac pro caede tyrannus

nil uenia plus posse dari. uos condite busto

tanti colla ducis, sed non ut crimina solum

uestra tegat tellus: iusto date tura sepulchro

et placate caput cineresque in litore fusos

colligite atque unam sparsis date manibus urnam.

Sentiat aduentum soceri uocesque querentis

audiat umbra pias. Dum nobis omnia praefert,

dum uitam Phario mauult debere clienti,

laeta dies rapta est populis, concordia mundo

nostra perit; caruere deis mea uota secundis,

ut te complexus positis felicibus armis

adfectus a te ueteres uitamque rogarem,

Magne, tuam, dignaque satis mercede laborum

contentus par esse tibi; tunc pace fideli

fecissem ut uictus posses ignoscere diuis,

fecisses ut Roma mihi." Nec talia fatus

inuenit fletus comitem, nec turba querenti

credidit; abscondunt gemitus et pectora laeta

fronte tegunt hilaresque nefas spectare cruentum,

o bona libertas! cum Caesar lugeat, audent.