Ōrbēm iām tōtūm vīctōr Rōmānŭs hăbēbāt
quā mărĕ, quā tērraē, quā sīdūs cūrrĭt ŭtrūmquĕ
nēc sătĭātŭs ĕrāt. Grăvĭdīs frĕtă pūlsă cărīnīs
iām pĕrăgēbāntūr; sī quīs sĭnŭs ābdĭtŭs ūltrā,
sī quă fŏrēt tēllūs, quaē fūlvūm mīttĕrĕt aūrūm,
hōstĭs ĕrāt, fātīsque īn trīstĭă bēllă părātīs
quaērēbāntŭr ŏpēs. Nōn vūlgō nōtă plăcēbānt
gaūdĭă, nōn ūsū plēbēiō trītă vŏlūptās.
Aēs Ĕphўrēĭăcūm laūdābāt mīlĕs, ĭn īmā
quaēsītūs tēllūrĕ nĭtōr cērtāvĕrăt ōstrō,
hīnc Nŭmĭdae āccĭĕrānt, īllīnc nŏvă vēllĕră Sērēs
ātque Ărăbūm pŏpŭlūs sŭă dēspŏlĭāvĕrăt ārvă.
Ēcce ălĭaē clādēs ēt laēsaē vūlnĕră pācīs.
Quaērĭtŭr īn sīlvīs aūrō fĕra, ĕt ūltĭmŭs Hāmmōn
Āfrōrum ēxcŭtĭtūr, nē dēsīt bēlŭă dēntĕ
ād mōrtēs prĕtĭōsă; fămēs prĕmĭt ādvĕnă clāssēs,
tīgrĭs ĕt aūrātā grădĭēns vēctātŭr ĭn aūlā,
ūt bĭbăt hūmānūm pŏpŭlō plaūdēntĕ crŭōrēm.
Heū, pŭdĕt ēffārī pĕrĭtūrăquĕ prōdĕrĕ fātă!
Pērsārūm rītū mălĕ pūbēscēntĭbŭs ānnīs
sūrrĭpŭērĕ vĭrōs, ēxsēctăquĕ vīscĕră fērrō
īn vĕnĕrēm frēgēre, ātque ūt fŭgă mōbĭlĭs aēvī
cīrcūmscrīptă mŏrā prŏpĕrāntēs dīffĕrăt ānnōs,
quaērīt sē nātūră nĕc īnvĕnĭt. Ōmnĭbŭs ērgō
scōrtă plăcēnt frāctīque ēnērvī cōrpŏrĕ grēssūs
ēt lāxī crīnēs ēt tōt nŏvă nōmĭnă vēstīs
quaēquĕ vĭrūm quaērūnt. Ēcce Āfrīs ērŭtă tērrīs
cītrĕă mēnsă grĕgēs sērvōrum ōstrūmquĕ rĕnīdēns
pōnĭtŭr āc măcŭlīs ĭmĭtātūr vīlĭŭs aūrūm
quaē sēnsūm trăhăt. Hōc stĕrĭle āc mălĕ nōbĭlĕ līgnūm
tūrbă sĕpūltă mĕrō cīrcūm vĕnĭt, ōmnĭăque ōrbīs
praēmĭă cōrrēptīs mīlēs văgŭs ēsŭrĭt ārmīs.
Īngĕnĭōsă gŭla ēst. Sĭcŭlō scărŭs aēquŏrĕ mērsūs
ād mēnsām vīvūs pērdūcĭtŭr, ātquĕ Lŭcrīnīs
ērŭtă lītŏrĭbūs vēndūnt cōnchŷlĭă cēnās
ūt rĕnŏvēnt pēr dāmnă fămēm. Iām Phāsĭdŏs ūndă
ōrbāta ēst aŭĭbūs, mūtōque īn lītŏrĕ tāntūm
sōlaē dēsērtīs ādspīrānt frōndĭbŭs aūraē.
Nēc mĭnŏr īn Cāmpō fŭrŏr ēst ēmptīquĕ Quĭrītēs
ād praēdām strĕpĭtūmquĕ lŭcrī sūffrāgĭă vērtūnt.
Vēnālīs pŏpŭlūs, vēnālīs cūrĭă pātrūm:
ēst făvŏr īn prĕtĭō. Sĕnĭbūs quŏquĕ lībĕră vīrtūs
ēxcĭdĕrāt, spārsīsque ŏpĭbūs cōnvērsă pŏtēstās
īpsăquĕ māiēstās aūrō cōrrūptă iăcēbāt.
Pēllĭtŭr ā pŏpŭlō vīctūs Cătŏ; trīstĭŏr īllēst
quī vīcīt, fāscēsquĕ pŭdēt răpŭīssĕ Cătōnī.
Nāmque -hōc dēdĕcŏrīs pŏpŭlō mōrūmquĕ rŭīnā-
nōn hŏmŏ pūlsŭs ĕrāt, sĕd ĭn ūnō vīctă pŏtēstās
Rōmānūmquĕ dĕcūs. Quārē tām pērdĭtă Rōmă
īpsă sŭī mērcēs ĕrăt ēt sĭnĕ vīndĭcĕ praēdă.
Praētĕrĕā gĕmĭnō dēprēnsām gūrgĭtĕ plēbēm
faēnŏrĭs īllŭvĭēs ūsūsque ēxēdĕrăt aērīs.
Nūlla ēst cērtă dŏmūs, nūllūm sĭnĕ pīgnŏrĕ cōrpūs,
sēd vĕlŭtī tābēs tăcĭtīs cōncēptă mĕdūllīs
īntrā mēmbră fŭrēns cūrīs lātrāntĭbŭs ērrāt.
Ārmă plăcēnt mĭsĕrīs, dētrītăquĕ cōmmŏdă lūxū
vūlnĕrĭbūs rĕpărāntŭr. Ĭnōps aūdācĭă tūtāst.
Hōc mērsām caēnō Rōmām sōmnōquĕ iăcēntēm
quaē pŏtĕrānt ārtēs sānā rătĭōnĕ mŏvērĕ,
nī fŭrŏr ēt bēllūm fērrōque ēxcītă lĭbīdŏ?
Trēs tŭlĕrāt Fōrtūnă dŭcēs, quōs ōbrŭĭt ōmnēs
ārmōrūm strŭĕ dīvērsā fērālĭs Ĕnŷō.
Crāssūm Pārthŭs hăbēt, Lĭbўcō iăcĕt aēquŏrĕ Māgnūs,
Iūlĭŭs īngrātām pērfūdīt sānguĭnĕ Rōmām,
ēt quăsĭ nōn pōssēt tōt tēllūs fērrĕ sĕpūlcră
dīvīsīt cĭnĕrēs. Hōs glōrĭă rēddĭt hŏnōrēs.
Ēst lŏcŭs ēxcīsō pĕnĭtūs dēmērsŭs hĭātū
Pārthĕnŏpēn īntēr māgnaēquĕ Dĭcārchĭdŏs ārvă,
Cōcŷtī pērfūsŭs ăquā; nām spīrĭtŭs, ēxtrā
quī fŭrĭt ēffūsūs, fūnēstō spārgĭtŭr aēstū.
Nōn haēc aūtūmnō tēllūs vĭrĕt aūt ălĭt hērbās
caēspĭtĕ laētŭs ăgēr, nōn vērnō pērsŏnă cāntū
mōllĭă dīscōrdī strĕpĭtū vīrgūltă lŏquūntūr
sēd chăŏs ēt nīgrō squālēntĭă pūmĭcĕ sāxă
gaūdēnt fērālī cīrcūm tŭmŭlātă cŭprēssū.
Hās īntēr sēdēs Dītīs pătĕr ēxtŭlĭt ōră
būstōrūm flāmmīs ēt cānā spārsă făvīllā,
āc tālī vŏlŭcrēm Fōrtūnām vōcĕ lăcēssīt:
"Rērum hūmānārūm dīvīnārūmquĕ pŏtēstās
Fōrs, cuī nūllă plăcēt nĭmĭūm sēcūră pŏtēstās,
quaē nŏvă sēmpĕr ămās ēt mōx pōssēssă rĕlīnquīs,
ēcquīd Rōmānō sēntīs tē pōndĕrĕ vīctām
nēc pōsse ūltĕrĭūs pĕrĭtūram ēxtōllĕrĕ mōlēm?
Īpsă sŭās vīrēs ōdīt Rōmānă iŭvēntūs
ēt quās strūxĭt ŏpēs, mălĕ sūstĭnĕt. Āspĭcĕ lātē
lūxŭrĭām spŏlĭōrum ēt cēnsum īn dāmnă fŭrēntēm.
Aēdĭfĭcānt aūrō sēdēsque ād sīdĕră mīttūnt,
ēxpēllūntŭr ăquaē sāxīs, mărĕ nāscĭtŭr ārvīs,
ēt pērmūtātā rērūm stătĭōnĕ rĕbēllānt.
Ēn ĕtĭām mĕă rēgnă pĕtūnt. Pērfōssă dĕhīscīt
mōlĭbŭs īnsānīs tēllūs, iām mōntĭbŭs haūstīs
āntră gĕmūnt, ēt dūm vānōs lăpĭs īnvĕnĭt ūsūs,
īnfērnī mānēs caēlūm spērārĕ fătēntūr.
Quāre ăgĕ, Fōrs, mūtā pācātum īn proēlĭă vūltūm,
Rōmānōsquĕ cĭe, āc nōstrīs dā fūnĕră rēgnīs.
Iām prīdēm nūllō pērfūndĭmŭs ōră crŭōrĕ,
nēc mĕă Tīsĭphŏnē sĭtĭēntīs pērlŭĭt ārtūs
ēx quō Sūllānūs bĭbĭt ēnsĭs ĕt hōrrĭdă tēllūs
ēxtŭlĭt īn lūcēm nūtrītās sānguĭnĕ frūgēs."
Haēc ŭbĭ dīctă dĕdīt, dēxtraē cōniūngĕrĕ dēxtrām
cōnātūs rūptō tēllūrēm sōlvĭt hĭātū.
Tūnc Fōrtūnă lĕvī dēfūdīt pēctŏrĕ vōcēs:
"Ō gĕnĭtōr, cuī Cōcŷtī pĕnĕtrālĭă pārēnt,
sī mŏdŏ vēră mĭhī fās ēst īmpūnĕ prŏfārī
vōtă tĭbī cēdēnt; nĕc ĕnīm mĭnŏr īră rĕbēllāt
pēctŏre ĭn hōc lĕvĭōrque ēxūrīt flāmmă mĕdūllās.
Ōmnĭă, quaē trĭbŭī Rōmānīs ārcĭbŭs, ōdī
mūnĕrĭbūsquĕ mĕīs īrāscōr. Dēstrŭĕt īstās
īdēm, quī pŏsŭīt, mōlēs dĕŭs. Ēt mĭhĭ cōrdī
quīppĕ crĕmārĕ vĭrōs ēt sānguĭnĕ pāscĕrĕ lūxūm.
Cērno ĕquĭdēm gĕmĭnā iām strātōs mōrtĕ Phĭlīppōs
Thēssălĭaēquĕ rŏgōs ēt fūnĕră gēntĭs Hĭbēraē.
Iām frăgŏr ārmōrūm trĕpĭdāntēs pērsŏnăt aūrēs.
Ēt Lĭbўaē cērnō tŭă, Nīlĕ gĕmēntĭă claūstră
Āctĭăcōsquĕ sĭnūs ĕt Ăpōllĭnĭs ārmă tĭmēntēs.
Pānde, ăgĕ, tērrārūm sĭtĭēntĭă rēgnă tŭārūm
ātque ănĭmās āccērsĕ nŏvās. Vīx nāvĭtă Pōrthmeūs
sūffĭcĭēt sĭmŭlācră vĭrūm trādūcĕrĕ cūmbā;
clāsse ŏpŭs ēst. Tūque īngēntī sătĭārĕ rŭīnā
pāllĭdă Tīsĭphŏnē, cōncīsăquĕ vūlnĕră māndĕ.
Ād Stўgĭōs mānēs lăcĕrātūs dūcĭtŭr ōrbīs".
Vīxdūm fīnĭĕrāt, cūm fūlgŭrĕ rūptă cŏrūscō
īntrĕmŭīt nūbēs ēlīsōsque ābscĭdĭt īgnēs.
Sūbsēdīt pătĕr ūmbrārūm, grĕmĭōquĕ rĕdūctō
tēllūrīs păvĭtāns frātērnōs pāllŭĭt īctūs.
Cōntĭnŭō clādēs hŏmĭnūm vēntūrăquĕ dāmnă
aūspĭcĭīs pătŭērĕ dĕūm. Nāmque ōrĕ crŭēntō
dēfōrmīs Tītān vūltūm cālīgĭnĕ tēxīt:
cīvīlēs ăcĭēs iām tūm spīrārĕ pŭtārēs.
Pārte ălĭā plēnōs ēxtīnxīt Cŷnthĭă vūltūs
ēt lūcēm scĕlĕrī sūbdūxīt. Rūptă tŏnābānt
vērtĭcĭbūs lāpsīs mōntīs iŭgă, nēc văgă pāssīm
flūmĭnă pēr nōtās ībānt mŏrĭēntĭă rīpās.
Ārmōrūm strĕpĭtū caēlūm fŭrĭt ēt tŭbă Mārtēm
sīdĕrĭbūs trĕmĕfāctă cĭēt, iāmque Aētnă vŏrātūr
īgnĭbŭs īnsŏlĭtīs ĕt ĭn aēthĕră fūlmĭnă mīttīt.
Ēcce īntēr tŭmŭlōs ātque ōssă cărēntĭă būstīs
ūmbrārūm făcĭēs dīrō strīdōrĕ mĭnāntūr.
Fāx stēllīs cŏmĭtātă nŏvīs īncēndĭă dūcīt
sānguĭnĕōquĕ rĕcēns dēscēndīt Iūppĭtĕr īmbrĕ.
Haēc ōstēntă brĕvī sōlvīt dĕŭs. Ēxŭĭt ōmnēs
quīppĕ mŏrās Caēsār, vīndīctaēque āctŭs ămōrĕ
Gāllĭcă prōiēcīt, cīvīlĭă sūstŭlĭt ārmă.
Ālpĭbŭs āĕrĭīs, ŭbĭ Grāiō nūmĭnĕ pūlsaē
dēscēndūnt rūpēs ēt sē pătĭūntŭr ădīrī,
ēst lŏcŭs Hērcŭlĕīs ārīs săcĕr: hūnc nĭvĕ dūrā
claūdĭt hĭēmps cānōque ād sīdĕră vērtĭcĕ tōllīt.
Caēlum īllīnc cĕcĭdīssĕ pŭtēs: nōn sōlĭs ădūltī
mānsuēscīt rădĭīs, nōn vērnī tēmpŏrĭs aūrā,
sēd glăcĭē cōncrētă rĭgēnt hĭĕmīsquĕ prŭīnīs.
Tōtūm fērrĕ pŏtēst ŭmĕrīs mĭnĭtāntĭbŭs ōrbēm.
Haēc ŭbĭ cālcāvīt Caēsār iŭgă mīlĭtĕ laētō
ōptāvītquĕ lŏcūm, sūmmō dē vērtĭcĕ mōntīs
Hēspĕrĭaē cāmpōs lātē prōspēxĭt, ĕt āmbās
īntēntāns cūm vōcĕ mănūs ād sīdĕră dīxīt:
"Iūppĭtĕr ōmnĭpŏtēns, ēt tū, Sātūrnĭă tēllūs,
ārmīs laētă mĕīs ōlīmque ŏnĕrātă trĭūmphīs,
tēstŏr ăd hās ăcĭēs īnvītum ārcēssĕrĕ Mārtēm,
īnvītās mē fērrĕ mănūs. Sēd vūlnĕrĕ cōgōr,
pūlsŭs ăb ūrbĕ mĕā, dūm Rhēnūm sānguĭnĕ tīngō,
dūm Gāllōs ĭtĕrūm Căpĭtōlĭă nōstră pĕtēntēs
Ālpĭbŭs ēxclūdō, vīncēndō cērtĭŏr ēxūl.
Sānguĭnĕ Gērmānō sēxāgīntāquĕ trĭūmphīs
ēssĕ nŏcēns coēpī. Quāmquām quōs glōrĭă tērrēt
aūt quī sūnt quī bēllă vĭdēnt? Mērcēdĭbŭs ēmptaē
āc vīlēs ŏpĕraē, quōrum ēst mĕă Rōmă nŏvērcă.
Āt, rĕŏr, haūd īmpūnĕ, nĕc hānc sĭnĕ vīndĭcĕ dēxtrām
vīncĭĕt īgnāvūs. Vīctōrēs ītĕ fŭrēntēs,
ītĕ mĕī cŏmĭtēs, ēt caūsām dīcĭtĕ fērrō.
Nāmque ōmnēs ūnūm crīmēn vŏcăt, ōmnĭbŭs ūnă
īmpēndēt clādēs. Rēddēnda ēst grātĭă vōbīs,
nōn sōlūs vīcī. Quārē, quĭă poēnă trŏpaēīs
īmmĭnĕt, ēt sōrdēs mĕrŭīt vīctōrĭă nōstră,
iūdĭcĕ Fōrtūnā cădăt ālĕă. Sūmĭtĕ bēllūm
ēt tēmptātĕ mănūs. Cērtē mĕă caūsă pĕrāctāst:
īntēr tōt fōrtēs ārmātūs nēscĭŏ vīncī."
Haēc ŭbĭ pērsŏnŭīt, dē caēlō Dēlphĭcŭs ālēs
ōmĭnă laētă dĕdīt pĕpŭlītquĕ mĕātĭbŭs aūrās.
Nēc nōn hōrrēndī nĕmŏrīs dē pārtĕ sĭnīstrā
īnsŏlĭtaē vōcēs flāmmā sŏnŭērĕ sĕquēntī.
Īpsĕ nĭtōr Phoēbī vūlgātō laētĭŏr ōrbĕ
crēvĭt, ĕt aūrātō praēcīnxīt fūlgŭrĕ vūltūs.
Fōrtĭŏr ōmĭnĭbūs mōvīt Māvōrtĭă sīgnă
Caēsăr, ĕt īnsŏlĭtōs grēssū prĭŏr ōccŭpăt aūsūs.
Prīmă quĭdēm glăcĭēs ēt cānā vīnctă prŭīnā
nōn pūgnāvĭt hŭmūs mītīque hōrrōrĕ quĭēvīt.
Sēd pōstquām tūrmaē nīmbōs frēgērĕ lĭgātōs
ēt păvĭdūs quădrŭpēs ūndārūm vīncŭlă rūpīt,
īncālvērĕ nĭvēs. Mōx flūmĭnă mōntĭbŭs āltīs
ūndābānt mŏdŏ nātă, sĕd haēc quŏquĕ -iūssă pŭtārēs-
stābānt, ēt vīnctā flūctūs stŭpŭērĕ rŭīnā,
ēt paūlo āntĕ lŭēs iām cōncīdēndă iăcēbāt.
Tūm vērō mălĕ fīdă prĭūs vēstīgĭă lūsīt
dēcēpītquĕ pĕdēs: părĭtēr tūrmaēquĕ vĭrīquĕ
ārmăquĕ cōngēstā strŭĕ dēplōrātă iăcēbānt.
Ēcce ĕtĭām rĭgĭdō cōncūssaē flāmĭnĕ nūbēs
ēxŏnĕrābāntūr, nēc rūptī tūrbĭnĕ vēntī
dērānt, aūt tŭmĭdā cōnfrāctūm grāndĭnĕ caēlūm.
Īpsaē iām nūbēs rūptaē sŭpĕr ārmă cădēbānt,
ēt cōncrētă gĕlū pōntī vĕlŭt ūndă rŭēbāt.
Vīcta ĕrăt īngēntī tēllūs nĭvĕ vīctăquĕ caēlī
sīdĕră, vīctă sŭīs haērēntĭă flūmĭnă rīpīs;
nōndūm Caēsăr ĕrāt; sēd māgnām nīxŭs ĭn hāstām
hōrrĭdă sēcūrīs frāngēbāt grēssĭbŭs ārvă,
quālīs Caūcăsĕā dēcūrrēns ārdŭŭs ārcĕ
Āmphĭtryŏnīādēs, aūt tōrvō Iūppĭtĕr ōrĕ,
cūm sē vērtĭcĭbūs māgnī dēmīsĭt Ŏlŷmpī
ēt pĕrĭtūrōrūm dēiēcīt tēlă Gĭgāntūm.
Dūm Caēsār tŭmĭdās īrātūs dēprĭmĭt ārcēs,
īntĕrĕā vŏlŭcēr mōtīs cōntērrĭtă pīnnīs
Fāmă vŏlāt sūmmīquĕ pĕtīt iŭgă cēlsă Pălātī,
ātque hōc Rōmānō tŏnĭtrū fĕrĭt ōmnĭă sīgnă:
iām clāssēs flŭĭtārĕ mărī tōtāsquĕ pĕr Ālpēs
fērvĕrĕ Gērmānō pērfūsās sānguĭnĕ tūrmās.
Ārmă, crŭōr, caēdēs, īncēndĭă tōtăquĕ bēllă
ānte ŏcŭlōs vŏlĭtānt. Ērgō pūlsātă tŭmūltū
pēctŏră pērquĕ dŭās scīndūntūr tērrĭtă caūsās.
Huīc fŭgă pēr tērrās, īllī măgĭs ūndă prŏbātūr,
ēt pătrĭā pōntūs iām tūtĭŏr. Ēst măgĭs ārmă
quī tēmptārĕ vĕlīt fātīsquĕ iŭbēntĭbŭs ūtī.
Quāntūm quīsquĕ tĭmēt, tāntūm fŭgĭt. Ōcĭŏr īpsĕ
hōs īntēr mōtūs pŏpŭlūs, mĭsĕrābĭlĕ vīsū,
quō mēns īctă iŭbēt, dēsērtā dūcĭtŭr ūrbĕ.
Gaūdēt Rōmă fŭgā, dēbēllātīquĕ Quĭrītēs
rūmōrīs sŏnĭtū maērēntĭă tēctă rĕlīnquūnt.
Īllĕ mănū păvĭdā nātōs tĕnĕt, īllĕ pĕnātēs
ōccūltāt grĕmĭō, dēplōrātūmquĕ rĕlīnquīt
līmĕn, ĕt ābsēntēm vōtīs īntērfĭcĭt hōstēm.
Sūnt quī cōniŭgĭbūs maērēntĭă pēctŏră iūngānt
grāndaēvosquĕ pătrēs, ŏnĕrīsque īgnāră iŭvēntūs
īd prō quō mĕtŭīt, tāntūm trăhĭt. Ōmnĭă sēcūm
hīc vĕhĭt īmprūdēns praēdāmque īn proēlĭă dūcīt.
Āc vĕlŭt ēx āltō cūm māgnŭs ĭnhōrrŭĭt aūstēr
ēt pūlsās ēvērtĭt ăquās, nōn ārmă mĭnīstrīs,
nōn rĕgŭmēn prōdēst, lĭgăt āltēr pōndĕră pīnūs,
āltēr tūtă sĭnūs trānquīllăquĕ lītŏră quaērīt,
hīc dāt vēlă fŭgaē fōrtūnaēque ōmnĭă crēdīt.
Quīd tām pārvă quĕrōr? Gĕmĭnō cūm cōnsŭlĕ Māgnūs,
īllĕ trĕmōr Pōntī saēvīquĕ rĕpērtŏr Hўdāspīs
ēt pīrātārūm scŏpŭlūs, mŏdŏ quēm tĕr ŏvāntēm
Iūppĭtĕr hōrrŭĕrāt, quēm frāctō gūrgĭtĕ Pōntūs
ēt vĕnĕrātŭs ĕrāt sūbmīssā Bōspŏrŏs ūndā
- prō pŭdŏr! - īmpĕrĭī dēsērtō nōmĭnĕ fūgīt,
ūt Fōrtūnă lĕvīs Māgnī quŏquĕ tērgă vĭdērēt.
Ērgō tāntă lŭēs dīvūm quŏquĕ nūmĭnă vīdīt,
cōnsēnsītquĕ fŭgaē caēlī tĭmŏr. Ēccĕ pĕr ōrbēm
mītīs tūrbă dĕūm tērrās ēxōsă fŭrēntēs
dēsĕrĭt, ātque hŏmĭnūm dāmnātum āvērtĭtŭr āgmēn.
Pāx prīma ānte ălĭās nĭvĕōs pūlsātă lăcērtōs
ābscōndīt gălĕā vīctūm căpŭt, ātquĕ rĕlīctō
ōrbĕ fŭgāx Dītīs pĕtĭt īmplācābĭlĕ rēgnūm.
Huīc cŏmĕs īt sūbmīssă Fĭdēs, ēt crīnĕ sŏlūtō
Iūstĭtĭa, āc maērēns lăcĕrā Cōncōrdĭă pāllā.
Āt cōntrā, sēdēs Ĕrĕbī quā rūptă dĕhīscīt
ēmērgīt lātē Dītīs chŏrŭs, hōrrĭda Ĕrīnŷs
ēt Bēllōnă mĭnāx, făcĭbūsque ārmātă Mĕgaēră
Lētūmque, Īnsĭdĭaēque, ēt lūrĭdă Mōrtĭs ĭmāgŏ.
Quās īntēr Fŭrŏr, ābrūptīs ceū lībĕr hăbēnīs
sānguĭnĕūm lātē tōllīt căpŭt, ōrăquĕ mīllĕ
vūlnĕrĭbūs cōnfōssă crŭēntā cāssĭdĕ vēlāt;
haērēt dētrītūs laēvaē Māvōrtĭŭs ūmbŏ
īnnŭmĕrābĭlĭbūs tēlīs grăvĭs, ātquĕ flăgrāntī
stīpĭtĕ dēxtră mĭnāx tērrīs īncēndĭă pōrtāt.
Sēntīt tērră dĕōs, mūtātăquĕ sīdĕră pōndūs
quaēsīvērĕ sŭūm; nāmque ōmnīs rēgĭă caēlī
īn pārtēs dīdūctă rŭīt. Prīmūmquĕ Dĭōnē
Caēsărĭs āctă sŭī dūcīt, cŏmĕs āddĭtŭr īllī
Pāllăs, ĕt īngēntēm quătĭēns Māvōrtĭŭs hāstām.
Māgnūm cūm Phoēbō sŏrŏr ēt Cŷllēnĭă prōlēs
ēxcĭpĭt, āc tōtīs sĭmĭlīs Tīrŷnthĭŭs āctīs.
Īntrĕmŭērĕ tŭbae, āc scīssō Dīscōrdĭă crīnĕ
ēxtŭlĭt ād sŭpĕrōs Stўgĭūm căpŭt. Hūiŭs ĭn ōrĕ
cōncrētūs sānguīs, cōntūsăquĕ lūmĭnă flēbānt,
stābānt aērātī scābrā rūbīgĭnĕ dēntēs,
tābō līnguă flŭēns, ōbsēssă drăcōnĭbŭs ōră,
ātque īntēr tōrtō lăcĕrātām pēctŏrĕ vēstēm
sānguĭnĕām trĕmŭlā quătĭēbāt lāmpădă dēxtrā.
Haēc ūt Cōcŷtī tĕnĕbrās ēt Tārtără līquīt,
āltă pĕtīt grădĭēns iŭgă nōbĭlĭs Āppēnnīnī,
ūnde ōmnēs tērrās ātque ōmnĭă lītŏră pōssēt
āspĭcĕre āc tōtō flŭĭtāntēs ōrbĕ cătērvās,
ātquĕ hăs ērūmpīt fŭrĭbūndō pēctŏrĕ vōcēs:
"Sūmĭtĕ nūnc gēntēs āccēnsīs mēntĭbŭs ārmă,
sūmĭte, ĕt īn mĕdĭās īmmīttĭtĕ lāmpădăs ūrbēs.
Vīncētūr quīcūmquĕ lătēt; nōn fēmĭnă cēssēt,
nōn pŭĕr aūt aēvō iām dēsōlātă sĕnēctūs;
īpsă trĕmāt tēllūs lăcĕrātăquĕ tēctă rĕbēllēnt.
Tū lēgēm, Mārcēllĕ, tĕnē. Tū cōncŭtĕ plēbēm,
Cūrĭŏ. Tū fōrtēm nē sūpprĭmĕ, Lēntŭlĕ, Mārtēm.
Quīd pōrrō tū, dīvĕ, tŭīs cūnctārĭs ĭn ārmīs,
nōn frāngīs pōrtās, nōn mūrīs ōppĭdă sōlvīs
thēsaūrōsquĕ răpīs? Nēscīs tū, Māgnĕ, tŭērī
Rōmānās ārcēs? Ĕpĭdāmnī moēnĭă quaērĕ
Thēssălĭcōsquĕ sĭnūs hūmānō sānguĭnĕ tīnguĕ."
Fāctum ēst īn tērrīs quīcquīd Dīscōrdĭă iūssīt.
Orbem iam totum uictor Romanus habebat
qua mare, qua terrae, qua sidus currit utrumque
nec satiatus erat. Grauidis freta pulsa carinis
iam peragebantur; si quis sinus abditus ultra,
si qua foret tellus, quae fuluum mitteret aurum,
hostis erat, fatisque in tristia bella paratis
quaerebantur opes. Non uulgo nota placebant
gaudia, non usu plebeio trita uoluptas.
Aes Ephyreiacum laudabat miles, in ima
quaesitus tellure nitor certauerat ostro,
hinc Numidae accierant, illinc noua uellera Seres
atque Arabum populus sua despoliauerat arua.
Ecce aliae clades et laesae uulnera pacis.
Quaeritur in siluis auro fera, et ultimus Hammon
Afrorum excutitur, ne desit belua dente
ad mortes pretiosa; fames premit aduena classes,
tigris et aurata gradiens uectatur in aula,
ut bibat humanum populo plaudente cruorem.
Heu, pudet effari perituraque prodere fata!
Persarum ritu male pubescentibus annis
surripuere uiros, exsectaque uiscera ferro
in uenerem fregere, atque ut fuga mobilis aeui
circumscripta mora properantes differat annos,
quaerit se natura nec inuenit. Omnibus ergo
scorta placent fractique enerui corpore gressus
et laxi crines et tot noua nomina uestis
quaeque uirum quaerunt. Ecce Afris eruta terris
citrea mensa greges seruorum ostrumque renidens
ponitur ac maculis imitatur uilius aurum
quae sensum trahat. Hoc sterile ac male nobile lignum
turba sepulta mero circum uenit, omniaque orbis
praemia correptis miles uagus esurit armis.
Ingeniosa gula est. Siculo scarus aequore mersus
ad mensam uiuus perducitur, atque Lucrinis
eruta litoribus uendunt conchylia cenas
ut renouent per damna famem. Iam Phasidos unda
orbata est auibus, mutoque in litore tantum
solae desertis adspirant frondibus aurae.
Nec minor in Campo furor est emptique Quirites
ad praedam strepitumque lucri suffragia uertunt.
Venalis populus, uenalis curia patrum:
est fauor in pretio. Senibus quoque libera uirtus
exciderat, sparsisque opibus conuersa potestas
ipsaque maiestas auro corrupta iacebat.
Pellitur a populo uictus Cato; tristior illest
qui uicit, fascesque pudet rapuisse Catoni.
Namque -hoc dedecoris populo morumque ruina-
non homo pulsus erat, sed in uno uicta potestas
Romanumque decus. Quare tam perdita Roma
ipsa sui merces erat et sine uindice praeda.
Praeterea gemino deprensam gurgite plebem
faenoris illuuies ususque exederat aeris.
Nulla est certa domus, nullum sine pignore corpus,
sed ueluti tabes tacitis concepta medullis
intra membra furens curis latrantibus errat.
Arma placent miseris, detritaque commoda luxu
uulneribus reparantur. Inops audacia tutast.
Hoc mersam caeno Romam somnoque iacentem
quae poterant artes sana ratione mouere,
ni furor et bellum ferroque excita libido?
Tres tulerat Fortuna duces, quos obruit omnes
armorum strue diuersa feralis Enyo.
Crassum Parthus habet, Libyco iacet aequore Magnus,
Iulius ingratam perfudit sanguine Romam,
et quasi non posset tot tellus ferre sepulcra
diuisit cineres. Hos gloria reddit honores.
Est locus exciso penitus demersus hiatu
Parthenopen inter magnaeque Dicarchidos arua,
Cocyti perfusus aqua; nam spiritus, extra
qui furit effusus, funesto spargitur aestu.
Non haec autumno tellus uiret aut alit herbas
caespite laetus ager, non uerno persona cantu
mollia discordi strepitu uirgulta loquuntur
sed chaos et nigro squalentia pumice saxa
gaudent ferali circum tumulata cupressu.
Has inter sedes Ditis pater extulit ora
bustorum flammis et cana sparsa fauilla,
ac tali uolucrem Fortunam uoce lacessit:
"Rerum humanarum diuinarumque potestas
Fors, cui nulla placet nimium secura potestas,
quae noua semper amas et mox possessa relinquis,
ecquid Romano sentis te pondere uictam
nec posse ulterius perituram extollere molem?
Ipsa suas uires odit Romana iuuentus
et quas struxit opes, male sustinet. Aspice late
luxuriam spoliorum et censum in damna furentem.
Aedificant auro sedesque ad sidera mittunt,
expelluntur aquae saxis, mare nascitur aruis,
et permutata rerum statione rebellant.
En etiam mea regna petunt. Perfossa dehiscit
molibus insanis tellus, iam montibus haustis
antra gemunt, et dum uanos lapis inuenit usus,
inferni manes caelum sperare fatentur.
Quare age, Fors, muta pacatum in proelia uultum,
Romanosque cie, ac nostris da funera regnis.
Iam pridem nullo perfundimus ora cruore,
nec mea Tisiphone sitientis perluit artus
ex quo Sullanus bibit ensis et horrida tellus
extulit in lucem nutritas sanguine fruges."
Haec ubi dicta dedit, dextrae coniungere dextram
conatus rupto tellurem soluit hiatu.
Tunc Fortuna leui defudit pectore uoces:
"O genitor, cui Cocyti penetralia parent,
si modo uera mihi fas est impune profari
uota tibi cedent; nec enim minor ira rebellat
pectore in hoc leuiorque exurit flamma medullas.
Omnia, quae tribui Romanis arcibus, odi
muneribusque meis irascor. Destruet istas
idem, qui posuit, moles deus. Et mihi cordi
quippe cremare uiros et sanguine pascere luxum.
Cerno equidem gemina iam stratos morte Philippos
Thessaliaeque rogos et funera gentis Hiberae.
Iam fragor armorum trepidantes personat aures.
Et Libyae cerno tua, Nile gementia claustra
Actiacosque sinus et Apollinis arma timentes.
Pande, age, terrarum sitientia regna tuarum
atque animas accerse nouas. Vix nauita Porthmeus
sufficiet simulacra uirum traducere cumba;
classe opus est. Tuque ingenti satiare ruina
pallida Tisiphone, concisaque uulnera mande.
Ad Stygios manes laceratus ducitur orbis".
Vixdum finierat, cum fulgure rupta corusco
intremuit nubes elisosque abscidit ignes.
Subsedit pater umbrarum, gremioque reducto
telluris pauitans fraternos palluit ictus.
Continuo clades hominum uenturaque damna
auspiciis patuere deum. Namque ore cruento
deformis Titan uultum caligine texit:
ciuiles acies iam tum spirare putares.
Parte alia plenos extinxit Cynthia uultus
et lucem sceleri subduxit. Rupta tonabant
uerticibus lapsis montis iuga, nec uaga passim
flumina per notas ibant morientia ripas.
Armorum strepitu caelum furit et tuba Martem
sideribus tremefacta ciet, iamque Aetna uoratur
ignibus insolitis et in aethera fulmina mittit.
Ecce inter tumulos atque ossa carentia bustis
umbrarum facies diro stridore minantur.
Fax stellis comitata nouis incendia ducit
sanguineoque recens descendit Iuppiter imbre.
Haec ostenta breui soluit deus. Exuit omnes
quippe moras Caesar, uindictaeque actus amore
Gallica proiecit, ciuilia sustulit arma.
Alpibus aëriis, ubi Graio numine pulsae
descendunt rupes et se patiuntur adiri,
est locus Herculeis aris sacer: hunc niue dura
claudit hiemps canoque ad sidera uertice tollit.
Caelum illinc cecidisse putes: non solis adulti
mansuescit radiis, non uerni temporis aura,
sed glacie concreta rigent hiemisque pruinis.
Totum ferre potest umeris minitantibus orbem.
Haec ubi calcauit Caesar iuga milite laeto
optauitque locum, summo de uertice montis
Hesperiae campos late prospexit, et ambas
intentans cum uoce manus ad sidera dixit:
"Iuppiter omnipotens, et tu, Saturnia tellus,
armis laeta meis olimque onerata triumphis,
testor ad has acies inuitum arcessere Martem,
inuitas me ferre manus. Sed uulnere cogor,
pulsus ab urbe mea, dum Rhenum sanguine tingo,
dum Gallos iterum Capitolia nostra petentes
Alpibus excludo, uincendo certior exul.
Sanguine Germano sexagintaque triumphis
esse nocens coepi. Quamquam quos gloria terret
aut qui sunt qui bella uident? Mercedibus emptae
ac uiles operae, quorum est mea Roma nouerca.
At, reor, haud impune, nec hanc sine uindice dextram
uinciet ignauus. Victores ite furentes,
ite mei comites, et causam dicite ferro.
Namque omnes unum crimen uocat, omnibus una
impendet clades. Reddenda est gratia uobis,
non solus uici. Quare, quia poena tropaeis
imminet, et sordes meruit uictoria nostra,
iudice Fortuna cadat alea. Sumite bellum
et temptate manus. Certe mea causa peractast:
inter tot fortes armatus nescio uinci."
Haec ubi personuit, de caelo Delphicus ales
omina laeta dedit pepulitque meatibus auras.
Nec non horrendi nemoris de parte sinistra
insolitae uoces flamma sonuere sequenti.
Ipse nitor Phoebi uulgato laetior orbe
creuit, et aurato praecinxit fulgure uultus.
Fortior ominibus mouit Mauortia signa
Caesar, et insolitos gressu prior occupat ausus.
Prima quidem glacies et cana uincta pruina
non pugnauit humus mitique horrore quieuit.
Sed postquam turmae nimbos fregere ligatos
et pauidus quadrupes undarum uincula rupit,
incaluere niues. Mox flumina montibus altis
undabant modo nata, sed haec quoque -iussa putares-
stabant, et uincta fluctus stupuere ruina,
et paulo ante lues iam concidenda iacebat.
Tum uero male fida prius uestigia lusit
decepitque pedes: pariter turmaeque uirique
armaque congesta strue deplorata iacebant.
Ecce etiam rigido concussae flamine nubes
exonerabantur, nec rupti turbine uenti
derant, aut tumida confractum grandine caelum.
Ipsae iam nubes ruptae super arma cadebant,
et concreta gelu ponti uelut unda ruebat.
Victa erat ingenti tellus niue uictaque caeli
sidera, uicta suis haerentia flumina ripis;
nondum Caesar erat; sed magnam nixus in hastam
horrida securis frangebat gressibus arua,
qualis Caucasea decurrens arduus arce
Amphitryoniades, aut toruo Iuppiter ore,
cum se uerticibus magni demisit Olympi
et periturorum deiecit tela Gigantum.
Dum Caesar tumidas iratus deprimit arces,
interea uolucer motis conterrita pinnis
Fama uolat summique petit iuga celsa Palati,
atque hoc Romano tonitru ferit omnia signa:
iam classes fluitare mari totasque per Alpes
feruere Germano perfusas sanguine turmas.
Arma, cruor, caedes, incendia totaque bella
ante oculos uolitant. Ergo pulsata tumultu
pectora perque duas scinduntur territa causas.
Huic fuga per terras, illi magis unda probatur,
et patria pontus iam tutior. Est magis arma
qui temptare uelit fatisque iubentibus uti.
Quantum quisque timet, tantum fugit. Ocior ipse
hos inter motus populus, miserabile uisu,
quo mens icta iubet, deserta ducitur urbe.
Gaudet Roma fuga, debellatique Quirites
rumoris sonitu maerentia tecta relinquunt.
Ille manu pauida natos tenet, ille penates
occultat gremio, deploratumque relinquit
limen, et absentem uotis interficit hostem.
Sunt qui coniugibus maerentia pectora iungant
grandaeuosque patres, onerisque ignara iuuentus
id pro quo metuit, tantum trahit. Omnia secum
hic uehit imprudens praedamque in proelia ducit.
Ac uelut ex alto cum magnus inhorruit auster
et pulsas euertit aquas, non arma ministris,
non regumen prodest, ligat alter pondera pinus,
alter tuta sinus tranquillaque litora quaerit,
hic dat uela fugae fortunaeque omnia credit.
Quid tam parua queror? Gemino cum consule Magnus,
ille tremor Ponti saeuique repertor Hydaspis
et piratarum scopulus, modo quem ter ouantem
Iuppiter horruerat, quem fracto gurgite Pontus
et ueneratus erat submissa Bosporos unda
- pro pudor! - imperii deserto nomine fugit,
ut Fortuna leuis Magni quoque terga uideret.
Ergo tanta lues diuum quoque numina uidit,
consensitque fugae caeli timor. Ecce per orbem
mitis turba deum terras exosa furentes
deserit, atque hominum damnatum auertitur agmen.
Pax prima ante alias niueos pulsata lacertos
abscondit galea uictum caput, atque relicto
orbe fugax Ditis petit implacabile regnum.
Huic comes it submissa Fides, et crine soluto
Iustitia, ac maerens lacera Concordia palla.
At contra, sedes Erebi qua rupta dehiscit
emergit late Ditis chorus, horrida Erinys
et Bellona minax, facibusque armata Megaera
Letumque, Insidiaeque, et lurida Mortis imago.
Quas inter Furor, abruptis ceu liber habenis
sanguineum late tollit caput, oraque mille
uulneribus confossa cruenta casside uelat;
haeret detritus laeuae Mauortius umbo
innumerabilibus telis grauis, atque flagranti
stipite dextra minax terris incendia portat.
Sentit terra deos, mutataque sidera pondus
quaesiuere suum; namque omnis regia caeli
in partes diducta ruit. Primumque Dione
Caesaris acta sui ducit, comes additur illi
Pallas, et ingentem quatiens Mauortius hastam.
Magnum cum Phoebo soror et Cyllenia proles
excipit, ac totis similis Tirynthius actis.
Intremuere tubae, ac scisso Discordia crine
extulit ad superos Stygium caput. Huius in ore
concretus sanguis, contusaque lumina flebant,
stabant aerati scabra rubigine dentes,
tabo lingua fluens, obsessa draconibus ora,
atque inter torto laceratam pectore uestem
sanguineam tremula quatiebat lampada dextra.
Haec ut Cocyti tenebras et Tartara liquit,
alta petit gradiens iuga nobilis Appennini,
unde omnes terras atque omnia litora posset
aspicere ac toto fluitantes orbe cateruas,
atque has erumpit furibundo pectore uoces:
"Sumite nunc gentes accensis mentibus arma,
sumite, et in medias immittite lampadas urbes.
Vincetur quicumque latet; non femina cesset,
non puer aut aeuo iam desolata senectus;
ipsa tremat tellus lacerataque tecta rebellent.
Tu legem, Marcelle, tene. Tu concute plebem,
Curio. Tu fortem ne supprime, Lentule, Martem.
Quid porro tu, diue, tuis cunctaris in armis,
non frangis portas, non muris oppida soluis
thesaurosque rapis? Nescis tu, Magne, tueri
Romanas arces? Epidamni moenia quaere
Thessalicosque sinus humano sanguine tingue."
Factum est in terris quicquid Discordia iussit.