Bēllă pĕr Ēmăthĭōs plūs quām cīvīlĭă cāmpōs,
iūsquĕ dătūm scĕlĕrī cănĭmūs, pŏpŭlūmquĕ pŏtēntēm
īn sŭă vīctrīcī cōnvērsūm vīscĕră dēxtrā,
cōgnātāsque ăcĭēs, ēt rūptō foēdĕrĕ rēgnī
cērtātūm tōtīs cōncūssī vīrĭbŭs ōrbīs
īn cōmmūnĕ nĕfās, īnfēstīsque ōbvĭă sīgnīs
sīgnă, părēs ăquĭlās ēt pīlă mĭnāntĭă pīlīs.
Quīs fŭrŏr, ō cīvēs, quaē tāntă lĭcēntĭă fērrī
gēntĭbŭs īnvīsīs Lătĭūm praēbērĕ crŭōrēm!
Cūmquĕ sŭpērbă fŏrēt Băbўlōn spōliāndă trŏpaēīs
Aūsŏnĭīs ūmbrāque ērrārēt Crāssŭs ĭnūltā,
bēllă gĕrī plăcŭīt nūllōs hăbĭtūră trĭūmphōs?
Heū quāntūm tērraē pŏtŭīt pĕlăgīquĕ părārī
hōc quēm cīvīlēs haūsērūnt sānguĭnĕ dēxtraē,
ūndĕ vĕnīt Tītān, ēt nōx ŭbĭ sīdĕră cōndīt,
quāquĕ dĭēs mĕdĭūs flāgrāntĭbŭs aēstŭăt hōrīs
ēt quā brūmă rĭgēns āc nēscĭă vērĕ rĕmīttī
āstrīngīt Scўthĭcūm glăcĭālī frīgŏrĕ pōntūm!
Sūb iŭgă iām Sērēs, iām bārbărŭs īssĕt Ărāxēs,
ēt gēns sī quă iăcēt nāscēntī cōnscĭă Nīlō.
Tūm, sī tāntŭs ămōr bēllī tĭbĭ, Rōmă, nĕfāndī,
tōtūm sūb Lătĭās lēgēs cūm mīsĕrĭs ōrbēm,
īn tē vērtĕ mănūs; nōndūm tĭbĭ dēfŭĭt hōstīs.
Āt nūnc sēmĭrŭtīs pēndēnt quōd moēnĭă tēctīs
ūrbĭbŭs Ītălĭaē lāpsīsque īngēntĭă mūrīs
sāxă iăcēnt nūllōquĕ dŏmūs cūstōdĕ tĕnēntūr
rārŭs ĕt āntīquīs hăbĭtātŏr ĭn ūrbĭbŭs ērrāt,
hōrrĭdă quōd dūmīs mūltōsque ĭnărātă pĕr ānnōs
Hēspĕrĭa ēst dēsūntquĕ mănūs pōscēntĭbŭs ārvīs,
nōn tū, Pŷrrhĕ fĕrōx, nēc tāntīs clādĭbŭs aūctōr
Poēnŭs ĕrīt; nūllī pĕnĭtūs dēscēndĕrĕ fērrō
cōntĭgĭt; āltă sĕdēnt cīvīlīs vūlnĕră dēxtraē.
Quōd sī nōn ălĭām vēntūrō fātă Nĕrōnī
īnvēnērĕ vĭām māgnōque aētērnă părāntūr
rēgnă dĕīs caēlūmquĕ sŭō sērvīrĕ Tŏnāntī
nōn nĭsĭ saēvōrūm pŏtŭīt pōst bēllă gĭgāntūm,
iām nĭhĭl, ō sŭpĕrī, quĕrĭmūr, scĕlĕra īstă nĕfāsquĕ
hāc mērcēdĕ plăcēnt; dīrōs Phārsālĭă cāmpōs
īmplĕăt ēt Poēnī sătŭrēntūr sānguĭnĕ mānēs;
ūltĭmă fūnēstā cōncūrrānt proēlĭă Mūndā;
hīs, Caēsār, Pĕrŭsīnă fămēs Mŭtĭnaēquĕ lăbōrēs
āccēdānt fātīs ēt quās prĕmĭt āspĕră clāssēs
Leūcăs ĕt ārdēntī sērvīlĭă bēllă sŭb Aētnā:
mūltūm Rōmă tămēn dēbēt cīvīlĭbŭs ārmīs,
quōd tĭbĭ rēs ācta ēst. Tē, cūm stătĭōnĕ pĕrāctā
āstră pĕtēs sērūs, praēlātī rēgĭă caēlī
ēxcĭpĭēt gaūdēntĕ pŏlō; seū scēptră tĕnērĕ,
seū tē flāmmĭgĕrōs Phoēbī cōnscēndĕrĕ cūrrūs,
tēllūrēmquĕ nĭhīl mūtātō sōlĕ tĭmēntēm
īgnĕ văgō lūstrārĕ iŭvēt, tĭbĭ nūmĭne ăb ōmnī
cēdētūr, iūrīsquĕ tŭī nātūră rĕlīnquēt,
quīs dĕŭs ēssĕ vĕlīs, ŭbĭ rēgnūm pōnĕrĕ mūndī.
Sēd nĕque ĭn ārctōō sēdēm tĭbĭ lēgĕrĭs ōrbĕ,
nēc pŏlŭs āvērsī călĭdūs quā vērgĭtŭr aūstrī,
ūndĕ tŭām vĭdĕās ōblīquō sīdĕrĕ Rōmām.
Aēthĕrĭs īmmēnsī pārtēm sī prēssĕrĭs ūnām,
sēntĭĕt āxĭs ŏnūs. Lībrātī pōndĕră caēlī
ōrbĕ tĕnē mĕdĭō; pārs aēthĕrĭs īllă sĕrēnī
tōtă văcēt, nūllaēque ōbstēnt ā Caēsărĕ nūbēs.
Tūm gĕnŭs hūmānūm pŏsĭtīs sĭbĭ cōnsŭlăt ārmīs,
īnquĕ vĭcēm gēns ōmnĭs ămēt; pāx mīssă pĕr ōrbēm
fērrĕă bēllĭgĕrī cōmpēscāt līmĭnă Iānī.
Sēd mĭhĭ iām nūmēn, nēc, sī tē pēctŏrĕ vātēs
āccĭpĭō, Cīrrhaēă vĕlīm sēcrētă mŏvēntēm
sōllĭcĭtārĕ dĕūm Bācchūmque āvērtĕrĕ Nŷsā:
tū sătĭs ād vīrēs Rōmāna īn cārmĭnă dāndās.
Fērt ănĭmūs caūsās tāntārum ēxprōmĕrĕ rērūm,
īmmēnsūmque ăpĕrītŭr ŏpūs, quĭd ĭn ārmă fŭrēntēm
īmpŭlĕrīt pŏpŭlūm, quīd pācem ēxcūssĕrĭt ōrbī:
īnvĭdă fātōrūm sĕrĭēs sūmmīsquĕ nĕgātūm
stārĕ dĭū nĭmĭōquĕ grăvēs sūb pōndĕrĕ lāpsūs
nēc sē Rōmă fĕrēns. Sīc cūm cōmpāgĕ sŏlūtā
saēcŭlă tōt mūndī sūprēmă cŏēgĕrĭt hōră,
āntīquūm rĕpĕtēns ĭtĕrūm chăŏs, ōmnĭă mīxtīs
sīdĕră sīdĕrĭbūs cōncūrrēnt, īgnĕă pōntūm
āstră pĕtēnt, tēllūs ēxtēndĕrĕ lītŏră nōlēt
ēxcĭpĭētquĕ frĕtūm, frātrī cōntrārĭă Phoēbē
ībĭt ĕt ōblīquūm bīgās ăgĭtārĕ pĕr ōrbēm
īndīgnātă dĭēm pōscēt sĭbĭ, tōtăquĕ dīscōrs
māchĭnă dīvūlsī tūrbābīt foēdĕră mūndī.
Īn sē māgnă rŭūnt; laētīs hūnc nūmĭnă rēbūs
crēscēndī pŏsŭērĕ mŏdūm. Nēc gēntĭbŭs ūllīs
cōmmŏdăt īn pŏpŭlūm tērraē pĕlăgīquĕ pŏtēntēm
īnvĭdĭām Fōrtūnă sŭām: tū caūsă mălōrūm
fāctă trĭbūs dŏmĭnīs cōmmūnīs, Rōmă, nĕc ūmquām
īn tūrbām mīssī fērālĭă foēdĕră rēgnī.
Ō mălĕ cōncōrdēs nĭmĭāquĕ cŭpīdĭnĕ caēcī!
Quīd mīscēre iŭvāt vīrēs ōrbēmquĕ tĕnērĕ
īn mĕdĭō? Dūm tērră frĕtūm tērrāmquĕ lĕvābīt
āēr ēt lōngī vōlvēnt Tītānă lăbōrēs
nōxquĕ dĭēm caēlō tŏtĭdēm pēr sīgnă sĕquētūr,
nūllă fĭdēs rēgnī sŏcĭīs, ōmnīsquĕ pŏtēstās
īmpătĭēns cōnsōrtĭs ĕrīt. Nēc gēntĭbŭs ūllīs
crēdĭtĕ, nēc lōngē fātōrum ēxēmplă pĕtāntūr:
frātērnō prīmī mădŭērūnt sānguĭnĕ mūrī.
Nēc prĕtĭūm tāntī tēllūs pōntūsquĕ fŭrōrīs
tūnc ĕrăt: ēxĭgŭūm dŏmĭnōs cōmmīsĭt ăsŷlūm.
Tēmpŏrĭs āngūstī mānsīt cōncōrdĭă dīscōrs,
pāxquĕ fŭīt nōn spōntĕ dŭcūm; nām sōlă fŭtūrī
Crāssŭs ĕrāt bēllī mĕdĭūs mŏră. Quālĭtĕr ūndās
quī sĕcăt ēt gĕmĭnūm grăcĭlīs mărĕ sēpărăt Īsthmōs
nēc pătĭtūr cōnfērrĕ frĕtūm, sī tērră rĕcēdāt,
Iōnīum Aēgaēō frāngēt mărĕ: sīc ŭbĭ saēvă
ārmă dŭcūm dĭrĭmēns mĭsĕrāndō fūnĕrĕ Crāssūs
Āssўrĭās Lătĭō măcŭlāvīt sānguĭnĕ Cārrhās,
Pārthĭcă Rōmānōs sōlvērūnt dāmnă fŭrōrēs.
Plūs īllā vōbīs ăcĭē quām crēdĭtĭs āctūmst,
Ārsăcĭdaē: bēllūm vīctīs cīvīlĕ dĕdīstīs.
Dīvĭdĭtūr fērrō rēgnūm, pŏpŭlīquĕ pŏtēntīs,
quaē mărĕ, quaē tērrās, quaē tōtūm pōssĭdĕt ōrbēm
nōn cēpīt fōrtūnă dŭōs. Nām pīgnŏră iūnctī
sānguĭnĭs ēt dīrō fērālēs ōmĭnĕ taēdās
ābstŭlĭt ād mānēs Pārcārūm Iūlĭă saēvā
īntērcēptă mănū. Quōd sī tĭbĭ fātă dĕdīssēnt
māiōrēs īn lūcĕ mŏrās, tū sōlă fŭrēntēm
īndĕ vĭrūm pŏtĕrās ātque hīnc rĕtĭnērĕ părēntēm
ārmātāsquĕ mănūs ēxcūssō iūngĕrĕ fērrō,
ūt gĕnĕrōs sŏcĕrīs mĕdĭaē iūnxērĕ Săbīnaē.
Mōrtĕ tŭā dīscūssă fĭdēs, bēllūmquĕ mŏvērĕ
pērmīssūm dŭcĭbūs. Stĭmŭlōs dĕdĭt aēmŭlă vīrtūs:
tū, nŏvă nē vĕtĕrēs ōbscūrēnt āctă trĭūmphōs
ēt vīctīs cēdāt pīrātĭcă laūrĕă Gāllīs,
Māgnĕ, tĭmēs; tē iām sĕrĭēs ūsūsquĕ lăbōrūm
ērĭgĭt īmpātiēnsquĕ lŏcī fōrtūnă sĕcūndī.
Nēc quēmquām iām fērrĕ pŏtēst Caēsārvĕ prĭōrēm
Pōmpĕĭūsvĕ părēm. Quīs iūstĭŭs īndŭĭt ārmă?
scīrĕ nĕfās; māgnō sē iūdĭcĕ quīsquĕ tŭētūr:
vīctrīx caūsă dĕīs plăcŭīt, sēd vīctă Cătōnī.
Nēc cŏĭērĕ părēs. Āltēr vērgēntĭbŭs ānnīs
īn sĕnĭūm lōngōquĕ tŏgaē trānquīllĭŏr ūsū
dēdĭdĭcīt iām pācĕ dŭcēm, fāmaēquĕ pĕtītōr
mūltă dăre īn vūlgūs, tōtūs pŏpŭlārĭbŭs aūrīs
īmpēllī, plaūsūquĕ sŭī gaūdērĕ thĕātrī,
nēc rĕpărārĕ nŏvās vīrēs, mūltūmquĕ prĭōrī
crēdĕrĕ fōrtūnaē. Stāt, māgnī nōmĭnĭs ūmbră,
quālīs frūgĭfĕrō quērcūs sūblīmĭs ĭn āgrō
ēxŭvĭās vĕtĕrīs pŏpŭlī sācrātăquĕ gēstāns
dōnă dŭcūm; nēc iām vălĭdīs rādīcĭbŭs haērēt,
pōndĕrĕ fīxă sŭo ēst, nūdōsquĕ pĕr āĕră rāmōs
ēffūndēns, trūncō nōn frōndĭbŭs ēffĭcĭt ūmbrām;
sēd quāmvīs prīmō nūtēt cāsūră sŭb Eūrō,
tōt cīrcūm sīlvaē fīrmō sē rōbŏrĕ tōllānt,
sōlă tămēn cŏlĭtūr. Sēd nōn īn Caēsărĕ tāntūm
nōmĕn ĕrāt nēc fāmă dŭcīs, sēd nēscĭă vīrtūs
stārĕ lŏcō, sōlūsquĕ pŭdōr nōn vīncĕrĕ bēllō;
ācĕr ĕt īndŏmĭtūs, quō spēs quōque īră vŏcāssēt
fērrĕ mănum, ēt nūmquām tĕmĕrāndō pārcĕrĕ fērrō,
sūccēssūs ūrgērĕ sŭōs, īnstārĕ făvōrī
nūmĭnĭs, īmpēllēns quīdquīd sĭbĭ sūmmă pĕtēntī
ōbstārēt, gaūdēnsquĕ vĭām fēcīssĕ rŭīnā.
Quālĭtĕr ēxprēssūm vēntīs pēr nūbĭlă fūlmēn
aēthĕrĭs īmpūlsī sŏnĭtū mūndīquĕ frăgōrĕ
ēmĭcŭīt rūpītquĕ dĭēm pŏpŭlōsquĕ păvēntēs
tērrŭĭt ōblīquā praēstrīngēns lūmĭnă flāmmā;
īn sŭă tēmplă fŭrīt, nūllāque ēxīrĕ vĕtāntĕ
mātĕrĭā māgnāmquĕ cădēns māgnāmquĕ rĕvērtēns
dāt strāgēm lātē spārsōsquĕ rĕcōllĭgĭt īgnēs.
Haē dŭcĭbūs caūsaē; sŭbĕrānt sēd pūblĭcă bēllī
sēmĭnă, quaē pŏpŭlōs sēmpēr mērsērĕ pŏtēntēs.
Nāmque ŭt ŏpēs nĭmĭās mūndō fōrtūnă sŭbāctō
īntŭlĭt, ēt rēbūs mōrēs cēssērĕ sĕcūndīs,
praēdăque ĕt hōstīlēs lūxūm sŭăsērĕ răpīnaē,
nōn aūrō tēctīsvĕ mŏdūs, mēnsāsquĕ prĭōrēs
āspērnātă fămēs; cūltūs gēstārĕ dĕcōrōs
vīx nŭrĭbūs răpŭērĕ mărēs; fēcūndă vĭrōrūm
paūpērtās fŭgĭtūr, tōtōque āccērsĭtŭr ōrbĕ
quō gēns quaēquĕ pĕrīt: tūnc lōngōs iūngĕrĕ fīnēs
āgrōrum, ēt quōndām dūrō sūlcātă Cămīllī
vōmĕre ĕt āntīquōs Cŭrĭōrūm pāssă lĭgōnēs
lōngă sŭb īgnōtīs ēxtēndĕrĕ rūră cŏlōnīs.
Nōn ĕrăt īs pŏpŭlūs quēm pāx trānquīllă iŭvārēt,
quēm sŭă lībērtās īmmōtīs pāscĕrĕt ārmīs.
Īnde īraē făcĭlēs ēt, quōd suāsīssĕt ĕgēstās,
vīlĕ nĕfās māgnūmquĕ dĕcūs fērrōquĕ pĕtēndūm
plūs pătrĭā pŏtŭīssĕ sŭā, mēnsūrăquĕ iūrīs
vīs ĕrăt; hīnc lēgēs ēt plēbīs scītă cŏāctaē
ēt cūm cōnsŭlĭbūs tūrbāntēs iūră trĭbūnī;
hīnc rāptī fāscēs prĕtĭō sēctōrquĕ făvōrīs
īpsĕ sŭī pŏpŭlūs lētālīsque āmbĭtŭs Ūrbī
ānnŭă vēnālī rĕfĕrēns cērtāmĭnă Cāmpō;
hīnc ūsūră vŏrāx ăvĭdūmque īn tēmpŏră faēnūs
ēt cōncūssă fĭdēs ēt mūltīs ūtĭlĕ bēllūm.
Iām gĕlĭdās Caēsār cūrsū sŭpĕrāvĕrăt Ālpēs
īngēntīsque ānīmŏ mŏtūs bēllūmquĕ fŭtūrūm
cēpĕrăt. Ūt vēntum ēst pārvī Rŭbĭcōnĭs ăd ūndās,
īngēns vīsă dŭcī pătrĭaē trĕpĭdāntĭs ĭmāgō
clāră pĕr ōbscūrām vūltū maēstīssĭmă nōctēm,
tūrrĭgĕrō cānōs ēffūndēns vērtĭcĕ crīnēs,
caēsărĭē lăcĕrā nūdīsque ādstārĕ lăcērtīs
ēt gĕmĭtū pērmīxtă lŏquī: "Quō tēndĭtĭs ūltrā?
quō fērtīs mĕă sīgnă, vĭrī? sī iūrĕ vĕnītīs,
sī cīvēs, hūc ūsquĕ lĭcēt." Tūnc pērcŭlĭt hōrrōr
mēmbră dŭcīs, rĭgŭērĕ cŏmaē, grēssūmquĕ cŏhērcēns
lānguŏr ĭn ēxtrēmā tĕnŭīt vēstīgĭă rīpā.
Mox ait: "O magnae qui moenia prospicis urbis
Tārpĕĭā dē rūpĕ, Tŏnāns, Phrўgĭīquĕ pĕnātēs
gēntĭs Ĭūlēae ēt rāptī sēcrētă Quĭrīnī
ēt rĕsĭdēns cēlsā Lătĭārīs Iūppĭtĕr Ālbā
Vēstālēsquĕ fŏcī sūmmīque ō nūmĭnĭs īnstār,
Rōmă, făvē coēptīs; nōn tē fŭrĭālĭbŭs ārmīs
pērsĕquŏr; ēn ādsūm, vīctōr tērrāquĕ mărīquĕ,
Caēsăr, ŭbīquĕ tŭūs (lĭcĕāt mŏdŏ), nūnc quŏquĕ, mīlēs.
Īlle ĕrĭt, īllĕ nŏcēns, quī mē tĭbĭ fēcĕrĭt hōstēm."
Īndĕ mŏrās sōlvīt bēllī tŭmĭdūmquĕ pĕr āmnēm
sīgnă tŭlīt prŏpĕrē; sīc ūt squālēntĭbŭs ārvīs
aēstĭfĕraē Lĭbўēs vīsō lĕŏ cōmmĭnŭs hōstĕ
sūbsēdīt dŭbĭūs, tōtām dūm cōllĭgĭt īrām;
mōx ŭbĭ sē saēvaē stĭmŭlāvīt vērbĕrĕ caūdaē
ērēxītquĕ iŭbam ēt vāstō grăvĕ mūrmŭr hĭātū
īnfrĕmŭīt, tūnc, tōrtă lĕvīs sī lāncĕă Maūrī
haērĕăt aūt lātūm sŭbĕānt vēnābŭlă pēctūs,
pēr fērrūm tāntī sēcūrūs vūlnĕrĭs ēxīt.
Fōntĕ cădīt mŏdĭcō pārvīsque īmpēllĭtŭr ūndīs
pūnīceūs Rŭbĭcōn, cūm fērvĭdă cāndŭĭt aēstās,
pērque īmās sērpīt vāllēs ēt Gāllĭcă cērtūs
līmĕs ăb Aūsŏnĭīs dīstērmĭnăt ārvă cŏlōnīs.
Tūm vīrēs praēbēbăt hĭēms, ātque aūxĕrăt ūndās
tērtĭă iām grăvĭdō plŭvĭālīs Cŷnthĭă cōrnū
ēt mădĭdīs eūrī rĕsŏlūtaē flātĭbŭs Ālpēs.
Prīmŭs ĭn ōblīquūm sŏnĭpēs ōppōnĭtŭr āmnēm
ēxcēptūrŭs ăquās; mōllī tūm cētĕră rūmpīt
tūrbă vădō făcĭlēs iām frāctī flūmĭnĭs ūndās.
Caēsăr, ŭt ādvērsām sŭpĕrātō gūrgĭtĕ rīpām
āttĭgĭt Hēspĕrĭaē vĕtĭtīs ēt cōnstĭtĭt ārvīs,
"Hīc," ăĭt "hīc pācēm tĕmĕrātăquĕ iūră rĕlīnquō;
tē, Fōrtūnă, sĕquōr; prŏcŭl hīnc iām foēdĕră sūntō.
Crēdĭdĭmūs fātīs, ūtēndum ēst iūdĭcĕ bēllō."
Sīc fātūs nōctīs tĕnĕbrīs răpĭt āgmĭnă dūctōr
īmpĭgĕr; īt tōrtō Bălĕārīs vērbĕrĕ fūndaē
ōcĭŏr ēt mīssā Pārthī pōst tērgă săgīttā
vīcīnūmquĕ mĭnāx īnvādĭt Ărīmĭnum, ĕt īgnēs
sōlīs lūcĭfĕrō fŭgĭēbānt āstră rĕlīctō.
Iāmquĕ dĭēs prīmōs bēllī vīsūră tŭmūltūs
ēxŏrĭtūr; seū spōntĕ dĕūm, seū tūrbĭdŭs aūstēr
īmpŭlĕrāt, maēstām tĕnŭērūnt nūbĭlă lūcēm.
Cōnstĭtĭt ūt cāptō iūssūs dēpōnĕrĕ mīlēs
sīgnă fŏrō, strīdōr lĭtŭūm clāngōrquĕ tŭbārūm
nōn pĭă cōncīnvīt cūm raūcō clāssĭcă cōrnū.
Rūptă quĭēs pŏpŭlī, strātīsque ēxcītă iŭvēntūs
dērĭpŭīt sācrīs ādfīxă pĕnātĭbŭs ārmă
quaē pāx lōngă dăbāt; nūdā iām crātĕ flŭēntīs
īnvādūnt clĭpĕōs cūrvātăquĕ cūspĭdĕ pīlă
ēt scābrōs nīgraē mōrsū rōbīgĭnĭs ēnsēs.
Vt nōtaē fūlsēre ăquĭlaē Rōmānăquĕ sīgnă
ēt cēlsūs mĕdĭō cōnspēctŭs ĭn āgmĭnĕ Caēsār,
dērĭgŭērĕ mĕtū; gĕlĭdūs păvŏr ōccŭpăt ārtūs,
ēt tăcĭtō mūtōs vōlvūnt īn pēctŏrĕ quēstūs:
"Ō mălĕ vīcīnīs haēc moēnĭă cōndĭtă Gāllīs,
ō trīstī dāmnātă lŏcō! pāx āltă pĕr ōmnīs
ēt trānquīllă quĭēs pŏpŭlōs; nōs praēdă fŭrēntūm
prīmăquĕ cāstră sŭmūs. Mĕlĭūs, Fōrtūnă, dĕdīssēs
ōrbĕ sŭb ēōō sēdēm gĕlĭdāquĕ sŭb ārctō
ērrāntēsquĕ dŏmōs, Lătĭī quām claūstră tŭērī.
Nōs prīmī Sĕnŏnūm mōtūs Cīmbrūmquĕ fŭrēntēm
vīdĭmŭs ēt Mārtēm Lĭbўēs cūrsūmquĕ fŭrōrīs
Teūtŏnĭcī; quŏtĭēns Rōmām fōrtūnă lăcēssīt,
hāc ĭtĕr ēst bēllīs." Gĕmĭtū sīc quīsquĕ lătēntī,
nōn aūsūs tĭmŭīssĕ pălām; vōx nūllă dŏlōrī
crēdĭtă; sēd quāntūm, vŏlŭcrēs cūm brūmă cŏhērcēt,
rūră sĭlēnt mĕdĭūsquĕ tăcēt sĭnĕ mūrmŭrĕ pōntūs,
tāntă quĭēs. Nōctīs gĕlĭdās lūx sōlvĕrăt ūmbrās,
ēccĕ făcēs bēllī dŭbĭaēque īn proēlĭă mēntī
ūrguēntēs āddūnt stĭmŭlōs cūnctāsquĕ pŭdōrīs
rūmpūnt fātă mŏrās; iūstōs fōrtūnă lăbōrāt
ēssĕ dŭcīs mōtūs ēt caūsās īnvĕnĭt ārmīs:
ēxpŭlĭt āncĭpĭtī dīscōrdēs Ūrbĕ trĭbūnōs
vīctō iūrĕ mĭnāx iāctātīs cūrĭă Grācchīs.
Hōs iām mōtă dŭcīs vīcīnăquĕ sīgnă pĕtēntēs
aūdāx vēnālī cŏmĭtātūr Cūrĭŏ līnguā,
vōx quōndām pŏpŭlī lībērtātēmquĕ tŭērī
aūsŭs ĕt ārmātōs plēbī mīscērĕ pŏtēntēs.
Vtquĕ dŭcēm vărĭās vōlvēntēm pēctŏrĕ cūrās
cōnspēxīt: "Dūm vōcĕ tŭaē pŏtŭērĕ iŭvārī,
Caēsăr," ăīt "pārtēs, quămŭīs nōlēntĕ sĕnātū,
trāxĭmŭs īmpĕrĭūm, tūnc cūm mĭhĭ rōstră tĕnērĕ
iūs ĕrăt ēt dŭbĭōs īn tē trānsfērrĕ Quĭrītēs
Āt pōstquām lēgēs bēllō sīlvērĕ cŏāctaē,
pēllĭmŭr ē pătrĭīs lărĭbūs pătĭmūrquĕ vŏlēntēs
ēxĭlĭūm; tŭă nōs făcĭēt vīctōrĭă cīvēs.
Dūm trĕpĭdānt nūllō fīrmātaē rōbŏrĕ pārtēs,
tōllĕ mŏrās; sēmpēr nŏcŭīt dīffērrĕ părātīs.
Pār lăbŏr ātquĕ mĕtūs prĕtĭō māiōrĕ pĕtūntūr:
bēllāntēm gĕmĭnīs tĕnŭīt tē Gāllĭă lūstrīs,
pārs quŏtă tērrārūm? Făcĭlī sī proēlĭă paūcă
gēssĕrĭs ēvēntū, tĭbĭ Rōmă sŭbēgĕrĭt ōrbēm
Nūnc nĕquĕ tē lōngī rĕmĕāntēm pōmpă trĭūmphī
ēxcĭpĭt, aūt sācrās pōscūnt Căpĭtōlĭă laūrūs;
līvŏr ĕdāx tĭbĭ cūnctă nĕgāt, gēntēsquĕ sŭbāctās
vīx īmpūnĕ fĕrēs. Sŏcĕrūm dēpēllĕrĕ rēgnō
dēcrētūm gĕnĕro ēst; pārtīrī nōn pŏtĕs ōrbēm,
sōlŭs hăbērĕ pŏtēs." Sīc pōstquām fātŭs, ĕt īpsī
īn bēllūm prōnō tāntūm tămĕn āddĭdĭt īraē
āccēndītquĕ dŭcēm, quāntūm clāmōrĕ iŭvātūr
Ēleūs sōnīpēs, quămŭīs iām cārcĕrĕ claūsō
īmmĭnĕāt fŏrĭbūs prōnūsquĕ rĕpāgŭlă lāxēt.
Cōnvŏcăt ārmātōs ēxtēmplo ād sīgnă mănīplōs,
ūtquĕ sătīs trĕpĭdūm tūrbā coēūntĕ tŭmūltūm
cōmpŏsŭīt vūltū dēxtrāquĕ sĭlēntĭă iūssīt:
"Bēllōrum ō sŏcĭī, quī mīllĕ pĕrīcŭlă Mārtīs
mēcum" ăĭt "ēxpērtī dĕcĭmō iām vīncĭtĭs ānnō,
hōc crŭŏr ārctōīs mĕrŭīt dīffūsŭs ĭn ārvīs
vūlnĕrăque ēt mōrtēs hĭĕmēsquĕ sŭb Ālpĭbŭs āctaē?
Nōn sĕcŭs īngēntī bēllōrūm Rōmă tŭmūltū
cōncŭtĭtūr quām sī Poēnūs trānscēndĕrĭt Ālpēs
Hānnĭbăl: īmplēntūr vălĭdaē tīrōnĕ cŏhōrtēs;
īn clāssēm cădĭt ōmnĕ nĕmūs; tērrāquĕ mărīquĕ
iūssūs Caēsăr ăgī. Quīd? Sī mĭhĭ sīgnă iăcērēnt
Mārtĕ sŭb ādvērsō rŭĕrēntque īn tērgă fĕrōcēs
Gāllōrūm pŏpŭlī? Nūnc cūm fōrtūnă sĕcūndīs
mēcūm rēbŭs ăgāt sŭpĕrīque ād sūmmă vŏcāntēs,
tēntāmūr. Vĕnĭāt lōngā dūx pācĕ sŏlūtūs
mīlĭtĕ cūm sŭbĭtō pārtēsque īn bēllă tŏgātaē
Mārcēllūsquĕ lŏquāx ēt nōmĭnă vānă, Cătōnēs.
Scīlĭcĕt ēxtrēmī Pōmpēium ēmptīquĕ clĭēntēs
cōntĭnŭō pēr tōt sătĭābūnt tēmpŏră rēgnō!
Īllĕ rĕgēt cūrrūs nōndūm pătĭēntĭbŭs ānnīs;
īllĕ sĕmēl rāptōs nūmquām dīmīttĕt hŏnōrēs.
Quīd iām rūră quĕrār tōtūm sūbprēssă pĕr ōrbēm
āc iūssām sērvīrĕ fămēm? quīs cāstră tĭmēntī
nēscīt mīxtă fŏrō, glădĭī cūm trīstĕ mĭcāntēs
iūdĭcĭum īnsŏlĭtā trĕpĭdūm cīnxērĕ cŏrōnā,
ātque aūsō mĕdĭās pērrūmpĕrĕ mīlĭtĕ lēgēs,
Pōmpēiānă rĕūm claūsērūnt sīgnă Mĭlōnēm?
Nūnc quŏquĕ nē lāssūm tĕnĕāt prīvātă sĕnēctūs,
bēllă nĕfāndă părāt suētūs cīvīlĭbŭs ārmīs
ēt dŏcĭlīs Sūllām scĕlĕrūm vīcīssĕ măgīstrūm;
ūtquĕ fĕraē tīgrēs nūmquām pŏsŭērĕ fŭrōrēm,
quās nĕmŏre Hŷrcānō, mātrūm dūm lūstră sĕquūntūr,
āltūs caēsōrūm pāvīt crŭŏr ārmēntōrūm,
sīc ēt Sūllānūm sŏlĭtō tĭbĭ lāmbĕrĕ fērrūm
dūrāt, Māgnĕ, sĭtīs. nūllūs sĕmĕl ōrĕ rĕcēptūs
pōllūtās pătĭtūr sānguīs mānsuēscĕrĕ faūcēs.
Quēm tămĕn īnvĕnĭēt tām lōngă pŏtēntĭă fīnēm?
Quīs scĕlĕrūm mŏdŭs ēst? ēx hōc iām te, īmprŏbĕ, rēgnō
īllĕ tŭūs sāltēm dŏcĕāt dēscēndĕrĕ Sūllă.
Pōst Cĭlĭcāsnĕ văgōs ēt lāssī Pōntĭcă rēgīs
proēlĭă bārbărĭcō vīx cōnsūmmātă vĕnēnō
ūltĭmă Pōmpĕĭō dăbĭtūr prōvīncĭă Caēsār,
quōd nōn vīctrīcēs ăquĭlās dēpōnĕrĕ iūssūs
pārŭĕrīm? mĭhĭ sī mērcēs ērēptă lăbōrūmst,
hīs sāltēm lōngī nōn cūm dŭcĕ praēmĭă bēllī
rēddāntūr; mīlēs sūb quōlĭbĕt īstĕ trĭūmphēt.
Cōnfĕrĕt ēxsānguīs quō sē pōst bēllă sĕnēctūs?
Quaē sēdēs ĕrĭt ēmĕrĭtīs? quaē rūră dăbūntūr,
quaē nōstēr vĕtĕrānŭs ărēt? quaē moēnĭă fēssīs?
Ān mĕlĭūs fīēnt pīrātaē, Māgnĕ, cŏlōnī?
Tōllĭtĕ iāmprīdēm vīctrīcĭă, tōllĭtĕ, sīgnă;
vīrĭbŭs ūtēndum ēst quās fēcĭmŭs. ārmă tĕnēntī
ōmnĭă dāt quī iūstă nĕgāt. nēc nūmĭnă dērūnt;
nām nĕquĕ praēdă mĕīs nĕquĕ rēgnūm quaērĭtŭr ārmīs:
dētrăhĭmūs dŏmĭnōs Ūrbī sērvīrĕ părātaē."
Dīxĕrăt; āt dŭbĭūm nōn clārō mūrmŭrĕ vūlgūs
sēcum īncērtă frĕmīt. Pĭĕtās pătrĭīquĕ pĕnātēs
quāmquām caēdĕ fĕrās mēntēs ănĭmōsquĕ tŭmēntīs
frāngūnt; sēd dīrō fērrī rĕvŏcāntŭr ămōrĕ
dūctōrīsquĕ mĕtū. sūmmī tūm mūnĕră pīlī
Laēlĭŭs ēmĕrĭtīquĕ gĕrēns īnsīgnĭă dōnī,
sērvātī cīvīs rĕfĕrēntēm praēmĭă quērcūm:
"Sī lĭcĕt," ēxclāmāt "Rōmānī māxĭmĕ rēctōr
nōmĭnĭs, ēt iūs ēst vērās ēxprōmĕrĕ vōcēs:
quōd tām lēntă tŭās tĕnŭīt pătĭēntĭă vīrēs,
cōnquĕrĭmūr. dērātnĕ tĭbī fīdūcĭă nōstrī?
Dūm mŏvĕt haēc călĭdūs spīrāntĭă cōrpŏră sānguīs,
ēt dūm pīlă vălēnt fōrtēs tōrquērĕ lăcērtī,
dēgĕnĕrēm pătĭērĕ tŏgām rēgnūmquĕ sĕnātūs?
Ūsque ădĕō mĭsĕrum ēst cīvīlī vīncĕrĕ bēllō?
Dūc ăgĕ pēr Scўthĭaē pŏpŭlōs, pĕr ĭnhōspĭtă Sŷrtīs
lītŏră, pēr călĭdās Lĭbўaē sĭtĭēntĭs hărēnās:
haēc mănŭs, ūt vīctūm pōst tērgă rĕlīnquĕrĕt ōrbēm,
Ōcĕănī tŭmĭdās rēmō cōmpēscŭĭt ūndās,
frēgĭt ĕt ārctōō spūmāntēm vērtĭcĕ Rhēnūm.
Iūssă sĕquī tām pōssĕ mĭhī quām vēllĕ nĕcēssēst.
Nēc cīvīs mĕŭs ēst īn quēm tŭă clāssĭcă, Caēsār,
aūdĭĕrō. pēr sīgnă dĕcēm fēlīcĭă cāstrīs
pērquĕ tŭōs iūrō quōcūmque ēx hōstĕ trĭūmphōs:
pēctŏrĕ sī frātrīs glădĭūm iŭgŭlōquĕ părēntīs
cōndĕrĕ mē iŭbĕās plēnaēque īn vīscĕră pārtū
cōniŭgĭs, īnvītā pĕrăgām tămĕn ōmnĭă dēxtrā;
sī spŏlĭārĕ dĕōs īgnēmque īmmīttĕrĕ tēmplīs,
nūmĭnă mīscēbīt cāstrēnsīs flāmmă mŏnētaē;
cāstră sŭpēr Tūscī sī pōnĕrĕ Thŷbrĭdĭs ūndās,
Hēspĕrĭōs aūdāx vĕnĭām mētātŏr ĭn āgrōs;
tū quōscūmquĕ vŏlēs īn plānum ēffūndĕrĕ mūrōs,
hīs ărĭēs āctūs dīspērgēt sāxă lăcērtīs,
īllă lĭcēt, pĕnĭtūs tōllī quām iūssĕrĭs ūrbēm,
Rōmă sĭt." hīs cūnctaē sĭmŭl ādsēnsērĕ cŏhōrtēs
ēlātāsque āltē quaēcūmque ād bēllă vŏcārēt,
prōmīsērĕ mănūs. īt tāntŭs ăd aēthĕră clāmōr
quāntūs, pīnĭfĕraē bŏrĕās cūm Thrācĭŭs Ōssaē
rūpĭbŭs īncŭbŭīt, cūrvātō rōbŏrĕ prēssaē
fīt sŏnŭs aūt rūrsūs rĕdĕūntĭs ĭn aēthĕră sīlvaē.
Caēsăr, ŭt āccēptūm tām prōnō mīlĭtĕ bēllūm
fātăquĕ fērrĕ vĭdēt, nē quō lānguōrĕ mŏrētūr
fōrtūnām, spārsās pēr Gāllĭcă rūră cŏhōrtēs
ēvŏcăt ēt Rōmām mōtīs pĕtĭt ūndĭquĕ sīgnīs.
Dēsĕrŭērĕ căvō tēntōrĭă fīxă Lĕmānnō
cāstrăquĕ quaē Vŏsĕgī cūrvām sŭpĕr ārdŭă rīpām
pūgnācēs pīctīs cŏhĭbēbānt Līngŏnĕs ārmīs.
Hī vădă līquērūnt Ĭsăraē, quī gūrgĭtĕ dūctūs
pēr tām mūltă sŭō, fāmaē māiōrĭs ĭn āmnēm
lāpsŭs, ăd aēquŏrĕās nōmēn nōn pērtŭlĭt ūndās.
Sōlvūntūr flāvī lōngā stătĭōnĕ Rŭtēnī;
mītĭs Ătāx Lătĭās gaūdēt nōn fērrĕ cărīnās
fīnĭs ĕt Hēspĕrĭaē, prōmōtō līmĭtĕ, Vārūs;
quāquĕ sŭb Hērcŭlĕō sācrātūs nūmĭnĕ pōrtūs
ūrgēt rūpĕ căvā pĕlăgūs (nōn cōrŭs ĭn īllūm
iūs hăbĕt aūt zĕphўrūs; sōlūs sŭă lītŏră tūrbāt
Cīrcĭŭs ēt tūtā prŏhĭbēt stătĭōnĕ Mŏnoēcī);
quāquĕ iăcēt lītūs dŭbĭūm quōd tērră frĕtūmquĕ
vīndĭcăt āltērnīs vĭcĭbūs, cūm fūndĭtŭr īngēns
Ōcĕănūs vēl cūm rĕfŭgīs sē flūctĭbŭs aūfērt.
Vēntŭs ăb ēxtrēmō pĕlăgūs sīc āxĕ vŏlūtēt
dēstĭtŭātquĕ fĕrēns, ān sīdĕrĕ mōtă sĕcūndō
Tēthўŏs ūndă văgaē lūnārĭbŭs aēstŭĕt hōrīs,
flāmmĭgĕr ān Tītān, ŭt ălēntēs haūrĭăt ūndās,
ērĭgăt Ōcĕănūm flūctūsque ād sīdĕră dūcāt,
quaērĭtĕ, quōs ăgĭtāt mūndī lăbŏr; āt mĭhĭ sēmpēr
tū, quaēcūmquĕ mŏvēs tām crēbrōs caūsă mĕātūs,
ūt sŭpĕrī vōlvērĕ, lătē. tūm rūră Nĕmētīs
quī tĕnĕt ēt rīpās Ătŭrī, quā lītŏrĕ cūrvō
mōllĭtĕr ādmīssūm claūdīt Tārbēllĭcŭs aēquōr,
sīgnă mŏvēt, gaūdētque āmōtō Sāntŏnŭs hōstĕ
ēt Bĭtŭrīx lōngīsquĕ lĕvēs Suēssōnĕs ĭn ārmīs.
Ōptĭmŭs ēxcūssō Leūcūs Rēmūsquĕ lăcērtō,
ōptĭmă gēns flēxīs īn gŷrūm Sēquănă frēnīs,
ēt dŏcĭlīs rēctōr mōnstrātī Bēlgă cŏvīnnī
Ārvērnīque aūsī Lătĭō sē fīngĕrĕ frātrēs
sānguĭne ăb Īlĭăcō pŏpŭlī nĭmĭūmquĕ rĕbēllīs
Nērvĭŭs, ēt caēsī pōllūtūs sānguĭnĕ Cōttaē
ēt quī tē lāxīs ĭmĭtāntūr, Sārmătă, brācīs,
Vāngiōnēs, Bătăvīquĕ trŭcēs, quōs aērĕ rĕcūrvō
strīdēntēs ăcŭērĕ tŭbaē; quā Cīngă pĕrērrāt
gūrgĭtĕ, quā Rhŏdănūs rāptūm vēlōcĭbŭs ūndīs
īn mărĕ fērt Ărărīm, quā mōntĭbŭs ārdŭă sūmmīs
gēns hăbĭtāt cānā pēndēntēs rūpĕ Cĕbēnnās.
Pīctŏnĕs īmmūnēs sŭbĭgūnt sŭă rūră; nĕc ūltrā
īnstăbĭlēs Tŭrŏnēs cīrcūmsĭtă cāstră cŏērcēnt.
Īn nĕbŭlīs, Mĕdŭānă, tŭīs mārcērĕ pĕrōsūs
Āndūs iām plăcĭdā Lĭgĕrīs rĕcrĕātŭr ăb ūndā.
Īnclĭtă Caēsărĕīs Gĕnăbōs dīssōlvĭtŭr ālīs.
Tū quŏquĕ laētātūs cōnvērtī proēlĭă, Trēvīr,
ēt nūnc tōnsĕ Lĭgūr, quōndām pēr cōllă dĕcōrĕ
crīnĭbŭs ēffūsīs tōtī praēlātĕ Cŏmātaē;
ēt quĭbŭs īmmītīs plācātūr sānguĭnĕ dīrō
Teūtātēs hōrrēnsquĕ fĕrīs āltārĭbŭs Ēsūs
ēt Tărănīs Scўthĭcaē nōn mītĭŏr āră Dĭānaē.
Vōs quŏquĕ, quī fōrtēs ănĭmās bēllōquĕ pĕrēmptās
laūdĭbŭs īn lōngūm vātēs dīmīttĭtĭs aēvūm,
plūrĭmă sēcūrī fūdīstīs cārmĭnă, bārdī.
Ēt vōs bārbărĭcōs rītūs mōrēmquĕ sĭnīstrūm
sācrōrūm, drŭĭdaē, pŏsĭtīs rĕpĕtīstĭs ăb ārmīs.
Sōlīs nōssĕ dĕōs ēt caēlī nūmĭnă vōbīs
aūt sōlīs nēscīrĕ dătūm; nĕmŏra āltă rĕmōtīs
īncŏlĭtīs lūcīs; vōbīs aūctōrĭbŭs ūmbraē
nōn tăcĭtās Ĕrĕbī sēdēs Dītīsquĕ prŏfūndī
pāllĭdă rēgnă pĕtūnt: rĕgĭt īdēm spīrĭtŭs ārtūs
ōrbe ălĭō; lōngaē, cănĭtīs sī cōgnĭtă, vītaē
mōrs mĕdĭa ēst. cērtē pŏpŭlī, quōs dēspĭcĭt ārctōs,
fēlīcēs ērrōrĕ sŭō, quōs īllĕ tĭmōrūm
māxĭmŭs haūt ūrguēt, lētī mĕtŭs. īndĕ rŭēndī
īn fērrūm mēns prōnă vĭrīs ănĭmaēquĕ căpācēs
mōrtĭs, ĕt īgnāvūm rĕdĭtūraē pārcĕrĕ vītaē.
Ēt vōs crīnĭgĕrōs bēllīs ārcērĕ Căŷcōs
ōppŏsĭtī pĕtĭtīs Rōmām Rhēnīquĕ fĕrōcēs
dēsĕrĭtīs rīpās ĕt ăpērtūm gēntĭbŭs ōrbēm.
Caēsăr, ŭt īmmēnsaē cōllēctō rōbŏrĕ vīrēs
aūdēndī māiōră fĭdēm fēcērĕ, pĕr ōmnēm
spārgĭtŭr Ītălĭām vīcīnăquĕ moēnĭă cōmplēt.
Vānă quŏque ād vērōs āccēssīt fāmă tĭmōrēs
īrrūpītque ănĭmōs pŏpŭlī clādēmquĕ fŭtūrām
īntŭlĭt ēt vēlōx prŏpĕrāntīs nūntĭă bēllī
īnnŭmĕrās sōlvīt fālsa īn praēcōnĭă līnguās.
Ēst quī, taūrĭfĕrīs ŭbĭ sē Mēvānĭă cāmpīs
ēxplĭcăt, aūdācīs rŭĕre īn cērtāmĭnă tūrmās
āffĕrăt, ēt quā Nār Tĭbĕrīno īllābĭtŭr āmnī,
bārbărĭcās saēvī dīscūrrĕrĕ Caēsărĭs ālās;
īpsum ōmnēs ăquĭlās cōllātăquĕ sīgnă fĕrēntēm
āgmĭnĕ nōn ūnō dēnsīsque īncēdĕrĕ cāstrīs.
Nēc quālēm mĕmĭnērĕ vĭdēnt: māiōrquĕ fĕrūsquĕ
mēntĭbŭs ōccūrrīt vīctōque īmmānĭŏr hōstĕ.
Hūnc īntēr Rhēnūm pŏpŭlōs Ālpēmquĕ iăcēntēs,
fīnĭbŭs ārctōīs pătrĭāque ā sēdĕ rĕvūlsōs,
pōnĕ sĕquī, iūssāmquĕ fĕrīs ā gēntĭbŭs Ūrbēm
Rōmānō spēctāntĕ răpī. Sīc quīsquĕ păvēndō
dāt vīrēs fāmaē, nūllōque aūctōrĕ mălōrūm,
quaē fīnxērĕ tĭmēnt. Nēc sōlūm vūlgŭs ĭnānī
pērcūssūm tērrōrĕ păvēt, sēd cūrĭa; ĕt īpsī
sēdĭbŭs ēxsīlvērĕ pătrēs, īnvīsăquĕ bēllī
cōnsŭlĭbūs fŭgĭēns māndāt dēcrētă sĕnātūs.
Tūnc quaē tūtă pĕtānt ēt quaē mĕtŭēndă rĕlīnquānt
īncērtī: quō quēmquĕ fŭgaē tŭlĭt īmpĕtŭs, ūrgēt
praēcĭpĭtēm pŏpŭlūm, sĕrĭēque haērēntĭă lōngā
āgmĭnă prōrūmpūnt; crēdās aūt tēctă nĕfāndās
cōrrĭpŭīssĕ făcēs aūt iām quătĭēntĕ rŭīnā
nūtāntēs pēndērĕ dŏmōs; sīc tūrbă pĕr ūrbēm
praēcĭpĭtī lŷmphātă grădū, vĕlŭt ūnĭcă rēbūs
spēs fŏrĕt ādflīctīs pătrĭōs ēxcēdĕrĕ mūrōs,
īncōnsūltă rŭīt. quālīs, cūm tūrbĭdŭs aūstēr
rēpŭlĭt ā Lĭbўcīs īmmēnsūm Sŷrtĭbŭs aēquōr
frāctăquĕ vēlĭfĕrī sōnvērūnt pōndĕră mālī,
dēsĭlĭt īn flūctūs dēsērtā pūppĕ măgīstēr
nāvĭtăque, ēt nōndūm spārsā cōmpāgĕ cărīnaē
naūfrăgĭūm sĭbĭ quīsquĕ făcīt; sīc ūrbĕ rĕlīctā
īn bēllūm fŭgĭtūr. Nūllūm iām lānguĭdŭs aēvō
ēvălŭīt rĕvŏcārĕ părēns cōniūnxvĕ mărītūm
flētĭbŭs, aūt pătrĭī, dŭbĭaē dūm vōtă sălūtīs
cōncĭpĕrēnt, tĕnŭērĕ lărēs; nēc līmĭnĕ quīsquām
haēsĭt, ĕt ēxtrēmō tūnc fōrsĭtăn ūrbĭs ămātaē
plēnŭs ăbīt vīsū; rŭĭt īrrĕvŏcābĭlĕ vūlgūs.
Ō făcĭlēs dărĕ sūmmă dĕōs ĕădēmquĕ tŭērī
dīffĭcĭlēs! Ūrbēm pŏpŭlīs vīctīsquĕ frĕquēntēm
gēntĭbŭs ēt gĕnĕrīs, cŏĕāt sī tūrbă, căpācēm
hūmānī făcĭlēm vēntūrō Caēsărĕ praēdām
īgnāvaē līquērĕ mănūs. cūm prēssŭs ăb hōstĕ
claūdĭtŭr ēxtērnīs mīlēs Rōmānŭs ĭn ōrīs,
ēffŭgĭt ēxĭgŭō nōctūrnă pĕrīcŭlă vāllō,
ēt sŭbĭtūs rāptī mūnīmĭnĕ caēspĭtĭs āggēr
praēbēt sēcūrōs īntrā tēntōrĭă sōmnōs:
tū tāntum aūdītō bēllōrūm nōmĭnĕ, Rōmă,
dēsĕrĕrīs; nōx ūnă tŭīs nōn crēdĭtă mūrīs.
Dāndă tămēn vĕnĭa ēst tāntōrūm, dāndă, păvōrūm:
Pōmpĕĭō fŭgĭēntĕ tĭmēnt. tūm nē quă fŭtūrī
spēs sāltēm trĕpĭdās mēntēs lĕvĕt, āddĭtă fātī
pēĭŏrīs mănĭfēstă fĭdēs, sŭpĕrīquĕ mĭnācēs
prōdĭgĭīs tērrās īmplērūnt, aēthĕră, pōntūm.
Īgnōta ōbscūraē vīdērūnt sīdĕră nōctēs
ārdēntēmquĕ pŏlūm flāmmīs caēlōquĕ vŏlāntēs
ōblīquās pĕr ĭnānĕ făcēs crīnēmquĕ tĭmēndī
sīdĕrĭs ēt tērrīs mūtāntēm rēgnă cŏmētēn.
Fūlgŏră fāllācī mĭcŭērūnt crēbră sĕrēnō
ēt vărĭās īgnīs tēnsō dĕdĭt āĕrĕ fōrmās:
nūnc iăcŭlūm lōngō, nūnc spārsō lūmĭnĕ lāmpās
ēmĭcŭīt caēlō. tăcĭtūm sĭnĕ nūbĭbŭs ūllīs
fūlmĕn ĕt ārctōīs răpĭēns dē pārtĭbŭs īgnēm
pērcūssīt Lătĭārĕ căpūt, stēllaēquĕ mĭnōrēs
pēr văcŭūm sŏlĭtaē nōctīs dēcūrrĕrĕ tēmpūs
īn mĕdĭūm vēnērĕ dĭēm, cōrnūquĕ cŏāctō
iām Phoēbē tōtō frātrēm cūm rēddĕrĕt ōrbĕ,
tērrārūm sŭbĭtā pērcūssa ēxpāllŭĭt ūmbrā.
Īpsĕ căpūt mĕdĭō Tītān cūm fērrĕt Ŏlŷmpō,
cōndĭdĭt ārdēntēs ātrā cālīgĭnĕ cūrrūs
īnvŏlŭītque ōrbēm tĕnĕbrīs gēntēsquĕ cŏēgīt
dēspērārĕ dĭēm; quālēm fŭgĭēntĕ pĕr ōrtūs
sōlĕ Thўēstēaē nōctēm dūxērĕ Mўcēnaē.
Ōră fĕrōx Sĭcŭlaē lāxāvīt Mūlcĭbĕr Aētnaē
nēc tŭlĭt īn caēlūm flāmmās, sēd vērtĭcĕ prōnō
īgnĭs ĭn Hēspĕrĭūm cĕcĭdīt lătŭs. Ātră Chărŷbdīs
sānguīneūm fūndō tōrsīt mărĕ. flēbĭlĕ saēvī
lātrāvērĕ cănēs. Vēstālī rāptŭs ăb ārā
īgnĭs ĕt ōstēndēns cōnfēctās flāmmă Lătīnās
scīndĭtŭr īn pārtēs gĕmĭnōquĕ căcūmĭnĕ sūrgīt
Thēbānōs ĭmĭtātă rŏgōs. tūm cārdĭnĕ tēllūs
sūbsēdīt, vĕtĕrēmquĕ iŭgīs nūtāntĭbŭs Ālpēs
dīscūssērĕ nĭvēm. Tēthŷs māiōrĭbŭs ūndīs
Hēspĕrĭām Cālpēn sūmmūmque īmplēvĭt Ătlāntă.
Īndĭgĕtēs flēvīssĕ dĕōs Ūrbīsquĕ lăbōrēm
tēstātōs sūdōrĕ lărēs dēlāpsăquĕ tēmplīs
dōnă sŭīs dīrāsquĕ dĭēm foēdāssĕ vŏlūcrēs
āccĭpĭmūs, sīlvīsquĕ fĕrās sūb nōctĕ rĕlīctīs
aūdācēs mĕdĭā pŏsŭīssĕ cŭbīlĭă Rōmā.
Tūm pĕcŭdūm făcĭlēs hūmāna ād mūrmŭră līnguaē,
mōnstrōsīque hŏmĭnūm pārtūs nŭmĕrōquĕ mŏdōquĕ
mēmbrōrūm, mātrēmquĕ sŭūs cōntērrŭĭt īnfāns;
dīrăquĕ pēr pŏpŭlūm Cūmānaē cārmĭnă vātīs
vūlgāntūr. tūm, quōs sēctīs, Bēllōnă lăcērtīs
saēvă mŏvēt, cĕcĭnērĕ dĕōs, crīnēmquĕ rŏtāntēs
sānguīneūm pŏpŭlīs ŭlŭlārūnt trīstĭă Gāllī.
Cōmpŏsĭtīs plēnaē gĕmŭērūnt ōssĭbŭs ūrnaē.
Tūnc frăgŏr ārmōrūm māgnaēquĕ pĕr āvĭă vōcēs
aūdītaē nĕmŏrum ēt vĕnĭēntēs cōmmĭnŭs ūmbraē,
quīquĕ cŏlūnt iūnctōs ēxtrēmīs moēnĭbŭs āgrōs,
dīffŭgĭūnt. īngēns ūrbēm cīngēbăt Ĕrīnŷs
ēxcŭtĭēns prōnām flāgrāntī vērtĭcĕ pīnūm
strīdēntīsquĕ cŏmās, Thēbānām quālĭs Ăgaūēn
īmpŭlĭt aūt saēvī cōntōrsīt tēlă Lўcūrgī
Eūmĕnĭs, aūt quālēm iūssū Iūnōnĭs ĭnīquaē
hōrrŭĭt Ālcīdēs, vīsō iām Dītĕ, Mĕgaērām.
Īnsōnvērĕ tŭbae, ēt quāntō clāmōrĕ cŏhōrtēs
mīscēntūr, tāntūm nōx ātră sĭlēntĭbŭs aūrīs
ēdĭdĭt. ē mĕdĭō vīsī cōnsūrgĕrĕ Cāmpō
trīstĭă Sūllānī cĕcĭnēre ōrācŭlă mānēs,
tōllēntēmquĕ căpūt gĕlĭdās Ănĭēnĭs ăd ūndās
āgrĭcŏlaē Mărĭūm frāctō fūgērĕ sĕpūlchrō.
Haēc prōptēr plăcŭīt Tūscōs dē mōrĕ vĕtūstō
āccīrī vātēs. quōrūm quī māxĭmŭs aēvō
Ārrūns īncŏlŭīt dēsērtaē moēnĭă Lūcaē,
fūlmĭnĭs ēdōctūs mōtūs vēnāsquĕ călēntēs
fībrārum ēt mŏnĭtūs ērrāntĭs ĭn āĕrĕ pīnnaē,
mōnstră iŭbēt prīmūm, quaē nūllō sēmĭnĕ dīscōrs
prōtŭlĕrāt nātūră, răpī stĕrĭlīquĕ nĕfāndōs
ēx ŭtĕrō fētūs īnfaūstīs ūrĕrĕ flāmmīs.
Mōx iŭbĕt ēt tōtām păvĭdīs ā cīvĭbŭs ūrbēm
āmbīri ēt, fēstō pūrgāntēs moēnĭă lūstrō,
lōngă pĕr ēxtrēmōs pōmērĭă cīngĕrĕ fīnēs
pōntĭfĭcēs, sācrī quĭbŭs ēst pērmīssă pŏtēstās.
Tūrbă mĭnōr rītū sĕquĭtūr sūccīnctă Găbīnō,
Vēstālēmquĕ chŏrūm dūcīt vīttātă săcērdōs,
Trōiānām sōlī cuī fās vīdīssĕ Mĭnērvām;
tūnc quī fātă dĕūm sēcrētăquĕ cārmĭnă sērvānt
ēt lōtām pārvō rĕvŏcānt Ālmōnĕ Cўbēbēn,
ēt dōctūs vŏlŭcrēs aūgūr sērvārĕ sĭnīstrās
sēptēmvīrque ĕpŭlīs fēstūs Tĭtĭīquĕ sŏdālēs
ēt Sălĭūs laētō pōrtāns āncīlĭă cōllō
ēt tōllēns ăpĭcēm gĕnĕrōsō vērtĭcĕ flāmēn.
Dūmque īlli ēffūsām lōngīs ānfrāctĭbŭs ūrbēm
cīrcŭmĕūnt, Ārrūns dīspērsōs fūlmĭnĭs īgnīs
cōllĭgĭt ēt tērraē maēstō cūm mūrmŭrĕ cōndīt
dātquĕ lŏcīs nūmēn; sācrīs tūnc ādmŏvĕt ārīs
ēlēctā cērvīcĕ mărēm. Iām fūndĕrĕ Bācchūm
coēpĕrăt ōblīquōquĕ mŏlās īndūcĕrĕ cūltrō,
īmpātiēnsquĕ dĭū nōn grātī vīctĭmă sācrī,
cōrnŭă sūccīnctī prĕmĕrēnt cūm tōrvă mĭnīstrī,
dēpŏsĭtō vīctūm praēbēbāt pōplĭtĕ cōllūm.
Nēc crŭŏr ēmĭcŭīt sŏlĭtūs, sēd vūlnĕrĕ lārgō
dīffūsūm rŭtĭlō dīrūm prō sānguĭnĕ vīrūs.
Pāllŭĭt āttŏnĭtūs sācrīs fērālĭbŭs Ārrūns
ātque īrām sŭpĕrūm rāptīs quaēsīvĭt ĭn ēxtīs.
Tērrŭĭt īpsĕ cŏlōr vātēm; nām pāllĭdă taētrīs
vīscĕră tīnctă nŏtīs gĕlĭdōque īnfēctă crŭōrĕ
plūrĭmŭs āspērsō vărĭābāt sānguĭnĕ līvōr.
Cērnīt tābĕ iĕcūr mădĭdūm vēnāsquĕ mĭnācēs
hōstīlī dē pārtĕ vĭdēt. pūlmōnĭs ănhēlī
fībră lătēt pārvūsquĕ sĕcāt vītālĭă līmēs.
Cōr iăcĕt ēt sănĭēm pĕr hĭāntīs vīscĕră rīmās
ēmīttūnt prōdūntquĕ sŭās ōmēntă lătēbrās.
Quōdquĕ nĕfās nūllīs īmpūne āppārŭĭt ēxtīs,
ēccĕ vĭdēt căpĭtī fībrārum īncrēscĕrĕ mōlēm
āltĕrĭūs căpĭtīs; pārs aēgra ēt mārcĭdă pēndēt,
pārs mĭcăt ēt cĕlĕrī vēnās mŏvĕt īmprŏbă pūlsū.
Hīs ŭbĭ cōncēpīt māgnōrūm fātă mălōrūm,
ēxclāmāt: "Vīx fās, sŭpĕrī, quaēcūmquĕ mŏvētīs,
prōdĕrĕ mē pŏpŭlīs; nĕc ĕnīm tĭbĭ, sūmmĕ, lĭtāvī,
Iūppĭtĕr, hōc sācrūm; caēsīque īn pēctŏră taūrī
īnfērnī vēnērĕ dĕī. nōn fāndă tĭmēmūs,
sēd vĕnĭēnt māiōră mĕtū. dī vīsă sĕcūndēnt,
ēt fībrīs sīt nūllă fĭdēs, sēd cōndĭtŏr ārtīs
fīnxĕrĭt īstă Tăgēs." flēxā sīc ōmĭnă Tūscūs
īnvōlvēns mūltāquĕ tĕgēns āmbāgĕ cănēbāt.
Āt Fĭgŭlūs, cuī cūră dĕōs sēcrētăquĕ caēlī
nōssĕ fŭīt, quēm nōn stēllārum Aēgŷptĭă Mēmphīs
aēquārēt vīsū nŭmĕrīsquĕ mŏvēntĭbŭs āstră,
"Aūt hīc ērrăt," ăīt "nūllā cūm lēgĕ pĕr aēvūm
mūndŭs ĕt īncērtō dīscūrrūnt sīdĕră mōtū,
aūt, sī fātă mŏvēnt, Ūrbī gĕnĕrīquĕ părātūr
hūmānō mātūră lŭēs. tērraēnĕ dĕhīscēnt
sūbsīdēntque ūrbēs, āttōllēt fērvĭdŭs āēr
tēmpĕrĭēm, sĕgĕtēs tēllūs īnfīdă nĕgābīt,
ōmnĭs ăn ēffūsīs mīscēbĭtŭr ūndă vĕnēnīs?
Quōd clādīs gĕnŭs, ō sŭpĕrī, quā pēstĕ părātīs
saēvĭtĭam? ēxtrēmī mūltōrūm tēmpŭs ĭn ūnūm
cōnvēnērĕ dĭēs. Sūmmō sī frīgĭdă caēlō
stēllă nŏcēns nīgrōs Sātūrni āccēndĕrĕt īgnīs,
Deūcăliŏnēōs fūdīssĕt Ăquārĭŭs īmbrēs,
tōtăquĕ dīffūsō lătŭīssĕt ĭn aēquŏrĕ tēllūs.
Sī saēvūm rădĭīs Nēmaēūm, Phoēbĕ, Lĕōnēm
nūnc prĕmĕrēs, tōtō flŭĕrēnt īncēndĭă mūndō,
sūccēnsūsquĕ tŭīs flāgrāssēt cūrrĭbŭs aēthēr.
Hī cēssānt īgnēs. Tū quī flāgrāntĕ mĭnācēm
Scōrpiōn īncēndīs caūdā chēlāsquĕ pĕrūrīs,
quīd tāntūm, Grādīvĕ, părās? Nām mītĭs ĭn āltō
Iūppĭtĕr ōccāsū prĕmĭtūr Vĕnĕrīsquĕ sălūbrĕ
sīdŭs hĕbēt mōtūquĕ cĕlēr Cŷllēnĭŭs haērēt,
ēt caēlūm Mārs sōlŭs hăbēt. Cūr sīgnă mĕātūs
dēsĕrŭērĕ sŭōs mūndōque ōbscūră fĕrūntūr,
ēnsĭfĕrī nĭmĭūm fūlgēt lătŭs Ōrīōnīs?
Īmmĭnĕt ārmōrūm răbĭēs fērrīquĕ pŏtēstās
cōnfūndēt iūs ōmnĕ mănū scĕlĕrīquĕ nĕfāndō
nōmĕn ĕrīt vīrtūs mūltōsque ēxībĭt ĭn ānnōs
hīc fŭrŏr. ēt sŭpĕrōs quīd prōdēst pōscĕrĕ fīnēm?
cūm dŏmĭnō pāx īstă vĕnīt. dūc, Rōmă, mălōrūm
cōntĭnŭām sĕrĭēm clādēmque īn tēmpŏră mūltă
ēxtrăhĕ cīvīlī tāntūm iām lībĕră bēllō."
Tērrŭĕrānt sătĭs haēc păvĭdām praēsāgĭă plēbēm;
sēd māiōră prĕmūnt. Nām quālīs vērtĭcĕ Pīndī
Ēdŏnĭs Ōgўgĭō dēcūrrīt plēnă Lўaēō,
tālĭs ĕt āttŏnĭtām răpĭtūr mātrōnă pĕr ūrbēm
vōcĭbŭs hīs prōdēns ūrguēntēm pēctŏră Phoēbūm:
"Quō fĕrŏr, ō Paēān? quā mē sŭpĕr aēthĕră rāptām
cōnstĭtŭīs tērrā? vĭdĕō Pāngaēă nĭvōsīs
cānă iŭgīs lātōsque Haēmī sūb rūpĕ Phĭlīppōs.
Quīs fŭrŏr hīc, ō Phoēbĕ, dŏcē. Quō tēlă mănūsquĕ
Rōmānaē mīscēnt ăcĭēs bēllūmquĕ sĭne hōstēst?
Quō dīvērsă fĕrōr? prīmōs mē dūcĭs ĭn ōrtūs
quā mărĕ Lāgēī mūtātūr gūrgĭtĕ Nīlī:
hūnc ĕgŏ, flūmĭnĕā dēfōrmīs trūncŭs hărēnā
quī iăcĕt, āgnōscō. Dŭbĭām sŭpĕr aēquŏră Sŷrtīm
ārēntēmquĕ fĕrōr Lĭbўēn, quō trīstĭs Ĕnŷō
trānstŭlĭt Ēmăthĭās ăcĭēs. nūnc dēsŭpĕr Ālpīs
nūbĭfĕraē cōllēs ātque āĕrĭām Pŷrēnēn
ābrĭpĭmūr. pătrĭaē sēdīs rĕmĕāmŭs ĭn ūrbīs,
īmpĭăque īn mĕdĭō pĕrăgūntūr bēllă sĕnātū.
Cōnsūrgūnt pārtēs ĭtĕrūm, tōtūmquĕ pĕr ōrbēm
rūrsŭs ĕō. Nŏvă dā mĭhĭ cērnĕrĕ lītŏră pōntī
tēllūrēmquĕ nŏvām; vīdī iām, Phoēbĕ, Phĭlīppōs."
Haēc ăĭt ēt lāssō iăcŭīt dēsērtă fŭrōrĕ.
Bella per Emathios plus quam ciuilia campos,
iusque datum sceleri canimus, populumque potentem
in sua uictrici conuersum uiscera dextra,
cognatasque acies, et rupto foedere regni
certatum totis concussi uiribus orbis
in commune nefas, infestisque obuia signis
signa, pares aquilas et pila minantia pilis.
Quis furor, o ciues, quae tanta licentia ferri
gentibus inuisis Latium praebere cruorem!
Cumque superba foret Babylon spolianda tropaeis
Ausoniis umbraque erraret Crassus inulta,
bella geri placuit nullos habitura triumphos?
Heu quantum terrae potuit pelagique parari
hoc quem ciuiles hauserunt sanguine dextrae,
unde uenit Titan, et nox ubi sidera condit,
quaque dies medius flagrantibus aestuat horis
et qua bruma rigens ac nescia uere remitti
astringit Scythicum glaciali frigore pontum!
Sub iuga iam Seres, iam barbarus isset Araxes,
et gens si qua iacet nascenti conscia Nilo.
Tum, si tantus amor belli tibi, Roma, nefandi,
totum sub Latias leges cum miseris orbem,
in te uerte manus; nondum tibi defuit hostis.
At nunc semirutis pendent quod moenia tectis
urbibus Italiae lapsisque ingentia muris
saxa iacent nulloque domus custode tenentur
rarus et antiquis habitator in urbibus errat,
horrida quod dumis multosque inarata per annos
Hesperia est desuntque manus poscentibus aruis,
non tu, Pyrrhe ferox, nec tantis cladibus auctor
Poenus erit; nulli penitus descendere ferro
contigit; alta sedent ciuilis uulnera dextrae.
Quod si non aliam uenturo fata Neroni
inuenere uiam magnoque aeterna parantur
regna deis caelumque suo seruire Tonanti
non nisi saeuorum potuit post bella gigantum,
iam nihil, o superi, querimur, scelera ista nefasque
hac mercede placent; diros Pharsalia campos
impleat et Poeni saturentur sanguine manes;
ultima funesta concurrant proelia Munda;
his, Caesar, Perusina fames Mutinaeque labores
accedant fatis et quas premit aspera classes
Leucas et ardenti seruilia bella sub Aetna:
multum Roma tamen debet ciuilibus armis,
quod tibi res acta est. Te, cum statione peracta
astra petes serus, praelati regia caeli
excipiet gaudente polo; seu sceptra tenere,
seu te flammigeros Phoebi conscendere currus,
telluremque nihil mutato sole timentem
igne uago lustrare iuuet, tibi numine ab omni
cedetur, iurisque tui natura relinquet,
quis deus esse uelis, ubi regnum ponere mundi.
Sed neque in arctoo sedem tibi legeris orbe,
nec polus auersi calidus qua uergitur austri,
unde tuam uideas obliquo sidere Romam.
Aetheris immensi partem si presseris unam,
sentiet axis onus. Librati pondera caeli
orbe tene medio; pars aetheris illa sereni
tota uacet, nullaeque obstent a Caesare nubes.
Tum genus humanum positis sibi consulat armis,
inque uicem gens omnis amet; pax missa per orbem
ferrea belligeri compescat limina Iani.
Sed mihi iam numen, nec, si te pectore uates
accipio, Cirrhaea uelim secreta mouentem
sollicitare deum Bacchumque auertere Nysa:
tu satis ad uires Romana in carmina dandas.
Fert animus causas tantarum expromere rerum,
immensumque aperitur opus, quid in arma furentem
impulerit populum, quid pacem excusserit orbi:
inuida fatorum series summisque negatum
stare diu nimioque graues sub pondere lapsus
nec se Roma ferens. Sic cum compage soluta
saecula tot mundi suprema coëgerit hora,
antiquum repetens iterum chaos, omnia mixtis
sidera sideribus concurrent, ignea pontum
astra petent, tellus extendere litora nolet
excipietque fretum, fratri contraria Phoebe
ibit et obliquum bigas agitare per orbem
indignata diem poscet sibi, totaque discors
machina diuulsi turbabit foedera mundi.
In se magna ruunt; laetis hunc numina rebus
crescendi posuere modum. Nec gentibus ullis
commodat in populum terrae pelagique potentem
inuidiam Fortuna suam: tu causa malorum
facta tribus dominis communis, Roma, nec umquam
in turbam missi feralia foedera regni.
O male concordes nimiaque cupidine caeci!
Quid miscere iuuat uires orbemque tenere
in medio? Dum terra fretum terramque leuabit
aër et longi uoluent Titana labores
noxque diem caelo totidem per signa sequetur,
nulla fides regni sociis, omnisque potestas
impatiens consortis erit. Nec gentibus ullis
credite, nec longe fatorum exempla petantur:
fraterno primi maduerunt sanguine muri.
Nec pretium tanti tellus pontusque furoris
tunc erat: exiguum dominos commisit asylum.
Temporis angusti mansit concordia discors,
paxque fuit non sponte ducum; nam sola futuri
Crassus erat belli medius mora. Qualiter undas
qui secat et geminum gracilis mare separat Isthmos
nec patitur conferre fretum, si terra recedat,
Ionium Aegaeo franget mare: sic ubi saeua
arma ducum dirimens miserando funere Crassus
Assyrias Latio maculauit sanguine Carrhas,
Parthica Romanos soluerunt damna furores.
Plus illa uobis acie quam creditis actumst,
Arsacidae: bellum uictis ciuile dedistis.
Diuiditur ferro regnum, populique potentis,
quae mare, quae terras, quae totum possidet orbem
non cepit fortuna duos. Nam pignora iuncti
sanguinis et diro ferales omine taedas
abstulit ad manes Parcarum Iulia saeua
intercepta manu. Quod si tibi fata dedissent
maiores in luce moras, tu sola furentem
inde uirum poteras atque hinc retinere parentem
armatasque manus excusso iungere ferro,
ut generos soceris mediae iunxere Sabinae.
Morte tua discussa fides, bellumque mouere
permissum ducibus. Stimulos dedit aemula uirtus:
tu, noua ne ueteres obscurent acta triumphos
et uictis cedat piratica laurea Gallis,
Magne, times; te iam series ususque laborum
erigit impatiensque loci fortuna secundi.
Nec quemquam iam ferre potest Caesarue priorem
Pompeiusue parem. Quis iustius induit arma?
scire nefas; magno se iudice quisque tuetur:
uictrix causa deis placuit, sed uicta Catoni.
Nec coiere pares. Alter uergentibus annis
in senium longoque togae tranquillior usu
dedidicit iam pace ducem, famaeque petitor
multa dare in uulgus, totus popularibus auris
impelli, plausuque sui gaudere theatri,
nec reparare nouas uires, multumque priori
credere fortunae. Stat, magni nominis umbra,
qualis frugifero quercus sublimis in agro
exuuias ueteris populi sacrataque gestans
dona ducum; nec iam ualidis radicibus haeret,
pondere fixa suo est, nudosque per aëra ramos
effundens, trunco non frondibus efficit umbram;
sed quamuis primo nutet casura sub Euro,
tot circum siluae firmo se robore tollant,
sola tamen colitur. Sed non in Caesare tantum
nomen erat nec fama ducis, sed nescia uirtus
stare loco, solusque pudor non uincere bello;
acer et indomitus, quo spes quoque ira uocasset
ferre manum, et numquam temerando parcere ferro,
successus urgere suos, instare fauori
numinis, impellens quidquid sibi summa petenti
obstaret, gaudensque uiam fecisse ruina.
Qualiter expressum uentis per nubila fulmen
aetheris impulsi sonitu mundique fragore
emicuit rupitque diem populosque pauentes
terruit obliqua praestringens lumina flamma;
in sua templa furit, nullaque exire uetante
materia magnamque cadens magnamque reuertens
dat stragem late sparsosque recolligit ignes.
Hae ducibus causae; suberant sed publica belli
semina, quae populos semper mersere potentes.
Namque ut opes nimias mundo fortuna subacto
intulit, et rebus mores cessere secundis,
praedaque et hostiles luxum suasere rapinae,
non auro tectisue modus, mensasque priores
aspernata fames; cultus gestare decoros
uix nuribus rapuere mares; fecunda uirorum
paupertas fugitur, totoque accersitur orbe
quo gens quaeque perit: tunc longos iungere fines
agrorum, et quondam duro sulcata Camilli
uomere et antiquos Curiorum passa ligones
longa sub ignotis extendere rura colonis.
Non erat is populus quem pax tranquilla iuuaret,
quem sua libertas immotis pasceret armis.
Inde irae faciles et, quod suasisset egestas,
uile nefas magnumque decus ferroque petendum
plus patria potuisse sua, mensuraque iuris
uis erat; hinc leges et plebis scita coactae
et cum consulibus turbantes iura tribuni;
hinc rapti fasces pretio sectorque fauoris
ipse sui populus letalisque ambitus Vrbi
annua uenali referens certamina Campo;
hinc usura uorax auidumque in tempora faenus
et concussa fides et multis utile bellum.
Iam gelidas Caesar cursu superauerat Alpes
ingentisque animo motus bellumque futurum
ceperat. Vt uentum est parui Rubiconis ad undas,
ingens uisa duci patriae trepidantis imago
clara per obscuram uultu maestissima noctem,
turrigero canos effundens uertice crines,
caesarie lacera nudisque adstare lacertis
et gemitu permixta loqui: "Quo tenditis ultra?
quo fertis mea signa, uiri? si iure uenitis,
si ciues, huc usque licet." Tunc perculit horror
membra ducis, riguere comae, gressumque cohercens
languor in extrema tenuit uestigia ripa.
Mox ait: "O magnae qui moenia prospicis urbis
Tarpeia de rupe, Tonans, Phrygiique penates
gentis Iuleae et rapti secreta Quirini
et residens celsa Latiaris Iuppiter Alba
Vestalesque foci summique o numinis instar,
Roma, faue coeptis; non te furialibus armis
persequor; en adsum, uictor terraque marique,
Caesar, ubique tuus (liceat modo), nunc quoque, miles.
Ille erit, ille nocens, qui me tibi fecerit hostem."
Inde moras soluit belli tumidumque per amnem
signa tulit propere; sic ut squalentibus aruis
aestiferae Libyes uiso leo comminus hoste
subsedit dubius, totam dum colligit iram;
mox ubi se saeuae stimulauit uerbere caudae
erexitque iubam et uasto graue murmur hiatu
infremuit, tunc, torta leuis si lancea Mauri
haereat aut latum subeant uenabula pectus,
per ferrum tanti securus uulneris exit.
Fonte cadit modico paruisque impellitur undis
puniceus Rubicon, cum feruida canduit aestas,
perque imas serpit ualles et Gallica certus
limes ab Ausoniis disterminat arua colonis.
Tum uires praebebat hiems, atque auxerat undas
tertia iam grauido pluuialis Cynthia cornu
et madidis euri resolutae flatibus Alpes.
Primus in obliquum sonipes opponitur amnem
excepturus aquas; molli tum cetera rumpit
turba uado faciles iam fracti fluminis undas.
Caesar, ut aduersam superato gurgite ripam
attigit Hesperiae uetitis et constitit aruis,
"Hic," ait "hic pacem temerataque iura relinquo;
te, Fortuna, sequor; procul hinc iam foedera sunto.
Credidimus fatis, utendum est iudice bello."
Sic fatus noctis tenebris rapit agmina ductor
impiger; it torto Balearis uerbere fundae
ocior et missa Parthi post terga sagitta
uicinumque minax inuadit Ariminum, et ignes
solis lucifero fugiebant astra relicto.
Iamque dies primos belli uisura tumultus
exoritur; seu sponte deum, seu turbidus auster
impulerat, maestam tenuerunt nubila lucem.
Constitit ut capto iussus deponere miles
signa foro, stridor lituum clangorque tubarum
non pia concinuit cum rauco classica cornu.
Rupta quies populi, stratisque excita iuuentus
deripuit sacris adfixa penatibus arma
quae pax longa dabat; nuda iam crate fluentis
inuadunt clipeos curuataque cuspide pila
et scabros nigrae morsu robiginis enses.
Vt notae fulsere aquilae Romanaque signa
et celsus medio conspectus in agmine Caesar,
deriguere metu; gelidus pauor occupat artus,
et tacito mutos uoluunt in pectore questus:
"O male uicinis haec moenia condita Gallis,
o tristi damnata loco! pax alta per omnis
et tranquilla quies populos; nos praeda furentum
primaque castra sumus. Melius, Fortuna, dedisses
orbe sub eoo sedem gelidaque sub arcto
errantesque domos, Latii quam claustra tueri.
Nos primi Senonum motus Cimbrumque furentem
uidimus et Martem Libyes cursumque furoris
Teutonici; quotiens Romam fortuna lacessit,
hac iter est bellis." Gemitu sic quisque latenti,
non ausus timuisse palam; uox nulla dolori
credita; sed quantum, uolucres cum bruma cohercet,
rura silent mediusque tacet sine murmure pontus,
tanta quies. Noctis gelidas lux soluerat umbras,
ecce faces belli dubiaeque in proelia menti
urguentes addunt stimulos cunctasque pudoris
rumpunt fata moras; iustos fortuna laborat
esse ducis motus et causas inuenit armis:
expulit ancipiti discordes Vrbe tribunos
uicto iure minax iactatis curia Gracchis.
Hos iam mota ducis uicinaque signa petentes
audax uenali comitatur Curio lingua,
uox quondam populi libertatemque tueri
ausus et armatos plebi miscere potentes.
Vtque ducem uarias uoluentem pectore curas
conspexit: "Dum uoce tuae potuere iuuari,
Caesar," ait "partes, quamuis nolente senatu,
traximus imperium, tunc cum mihi rostra tenere
ius erat et dubios in te transferre Quirites
At postquam leges bello siluere coactae,
pellimur e patriis laribus patimurque uolentes
exilium; tua nos faciet uictoria ciues.
Dum trepidant nullo firmatae robore partes,
tolle moras; semper nocuit differre paratis.
Par labor atque metus pretio maiore petuntur:
bellantem geminis tenuit te Gallia lustris,
pars quota terrarum? Facili si proelia pauca
gesseris euentu, tibi Roma subegerit orbem
Nunc neque te longi remeantem pompa triumphi
excipit, aut sacras poscunt Capitolia laurus;
liuor edax tibi cuncta negat, gentesque subactas
uix impune feres. Socerum depellere regno
decretum genero est; partiri non potes orbem,
solus habere potes." Sic postquam fatus, et ipsi
in bellum prono tantum tamen addidit irae
accenditque ducem, quantum clamore iuuatur
Eleus sonipes, quamuis iam carcere clauso
immineat foribus pronusque repagula laxet.
Conuocat armatos extemplo ad signa maniplos,
utque satis trepidum turba coeunte tumultum
composuit uultu dextraque silentia iussit:
"Bellorum o socii, qui mille pericula Martis
mecum" ait "experti decimo iam uincitis anno,
hoc cruor arctois meruit diffusus in aruis
uulneraque et mortes hiemesque sub Alpibus actae?
Non secus ingenti bellorum Roma tumultu
concutitur quam si Poenus transcenderit Alpes
Hannibal: implentur ualidae tirone cohortes;
in classem cadit omne nemus; terraque marique
iussus Caesar agi. Quid? Si mihi signa iacerent
Marte sub aduerso ruerentque in terga feroces
Gallorum populi? Nunc cum fortuna secundis
mecum rebus agat superique ad summa uocantes,
tentamur. Veniat longa dux pace solutus
milite cum subito partesque in bella togatae
Marcellusque loquax et nomina uana, Catones.
Scilicet extremi Pompeium emptique clientes
continuo per tot satiabunt tempora regno!
Ille reget currus nondum patientibus annis;
ille semel raptos numquam dimittet honores.
Quid iam rura querar totum subpressa per orbem
ac iussam seruire famem? quis castra timenti
nescit mixta foro, gladii cum triste micantes
iudicium insolita trepidum cinxere corona,
atque auso medias perrumpere milite leges,
Pompeiana reum clauserunt signa Milonem?
Nunc quoque ne lassum teneat priuata senectus,
bella nefanda parat suetus ciuilibus armis
et docilis Sullam scelerum uicisse magistrum;
utque ferae tigres numquam posuere furorem,
quas nemore Hyrcano, matrum dum lustra sequuntur,
altus caesorum pauit cruor armentorum,
sic et Sullanum solito tibi lambere ferrum
durat, Magne, sitis. nullus semel ore receptus
pollutas patitur sanguis mansuescere fauces.
Quem tamen inueniet tam longa potentia finem?
Quis scelerum modus est? ex hoc iam te, improbe, regno
ille tuus saltem doceat descendere Sulla.
Post Cilicasne uagos et lassi Pontica regis
proelia barbarico uix consummata ueneno
ultima Pompeio dabitur prouincia Caesar,
quod non uictrices aquilas deponere iussus
paruerim? mihi si merces erepta laborumst,
his saltem longi non cum duce praemia belli
reddantur; miles sub quolibet iste triumphet.
Conferet exsanguis quo se post bella senectus?
Quae sedes erit emeritis? quae rura dabuntur,
quae noster ueteranus aret? quae moenia fessis?
An melius fient piratae, Magne, coloni?
Tollite iampridem uictricia, tollite, signa;
uiribus utendum est quas fecimus. arma tenenti
omnia dat qui iusta negat. nec numina derunt;
nam neque praeda meis neque regnum quaeritur armis:
detrahimus dominos Vrbi seruire paratae."
Dixerat; at dubium non claro murmure uulgus
secum incerta fremit. Pietas patriique penates
quamquam caede feras mentes animosque tumentis
frangunt; sed diro ferri reuocantur amore
ductorisque metu. summi tum munera pili
Laelius emeritique gerens insignia doni,
seruati ciuis referentem praemia quercum:
"Si licet," exclamat "Romani maxime rector
nominis, et ius est ueras expromere uoces:
quod tam lenta tuas tenuit patientia uires,
conquerimur. deratne tibi fiducia nostri?
Dum mouet haec calidus spirantia corpora sanguis,
et dum pila ualent fortes torquere lacerti,
degenerem patiere togam regnumque senatus?
Vsque adeo miserum est ciuili uincere bello?
Duc age per Scythiae populos, per inhospita Syrtis
litora, per calidas Libyae sitientis harenas:
haec manus, ut uictum post terga relinqueret orbem,
Oceani tumidas remo compescuit undas,
fregit et arctoo spumantem uertice Rhenum.
Iussa sequi tam posse mihi quam uelle necessest.
Nec ciuis meus est in quem tua classica, Caesar,
audiero. per signa decem felicia castris
perque tuos iuro quocumque ex hoste triumphos:
pectore si fratris gladium iuguloque parentis
condere me iubeas plenaeque in uiscera partu
coniugis, inuita peragam tamen omnia dextra;
si spoliare deos ignemque immittere templis,
numina miscebit castrensis flamma monetae;
castra super Tusci si ponere Thybridis undas,
Hesperios audax ueniam metator in agros;
tu quoscumque uoles in planum effundere muros,
his aries actus disperget saxa lacertis,
illa licet, penitus tolli quam iusseris urbem,
Roma sit." his cunctae simul adsensere cohortes
elatasque alte quaecumque ad bella uocaret,
promisere manus. it tantus ad aethera clamor
quantus, piniferae boreas cum Thracius Ossae
rupibus incubuit, curuato robore pressae
fit sonus aut rursus redeuntis in aethera siluae.
Caesar, ut acceptum tam prono milite bellum
fataque ferre uidet, ne quo languore moretur
fortunam, sparsas per Gallica rura cohortes
euocat et Romam motis petit undique signis.
Deseruere cauo tentoria fixa Lemanno
castraque quae Vosegi curuam super ardua ripam
pugnaces pictis cohibebant Lingones armis.
Hi uada liquerunt Isarae, qui gurgite ductus
per tam multa suo, famae maioris in amnem
lapsus, ad aequoreas nomen non pertulit undas.
Soluuntur flaui longa statione Ruteni;
mitis Atax Latias gaudet non ferre carinas
finis et Hesperiae, promoto limite, Varus;
quaque sub Herculeo sacratus numine portus
urget rupe caua pelagus (non corus in illum
ius habet aut zephyrus; solus sua litora turbat
Circius et tuta prohibet statione Monoeci);
quaque iacet litus dubium quod terra fretumque
uindicat alternis uicibus, cum funditur ingens
Oceanus uel cum refugis se fluctibus aufert.
Ventus ab extremo pelagus sic axe uolutet
destituatque ferens, an sidere mota secundo
Tethyos unda uagae lunaribus aestuet horis,
flammiger an Titan, ut alentes hauriat undas,
erigat Oceanum fluctusque ad sidera ducat,
quaerite, quos agitat mundi labor; at mihi semper
tu, quaecumque moues tam crebros causa meatus,
ut superi uoluere, late. tum rura Nemetis
qui tenet et ripas Aturi, qua litore curuo
molliter admissum claudit Tarbellicus aequor,
signa mouet, gaudetque amoto Santonus hoste
et Biturix longisque leues Suessones in armis.
Optimus excusso Leucus Remusque lacerto,
optima gens flexis in gyrum Sequana frenis,
et docilis rector monstrati Belga couinni
Aruernique ausi Latio se fingere fratres
sanguine ab Iliaco populi nimiumque rebellis
Neruius, et caesi pollutus sanguine Cottae
et qui te laxis imitantur, Sarmata, bracis,
Vangiones, Batauique truces, quos aere recuruo
stridentes acuere tubae; qua Cinga pererrat
gurgite, qua Rhodanus raptum uelocibus undis
in mare fert Ararim, qua montibus ardua summis
gens habitat cana pendentes rupe Cebennas.
Pictones immunes subigunt sua rura; nec ultra
instabiles Turones circumsita castra coërcent.
In nebulis, Meduana, tuis marcere perosus
Andus iam placida Ligeris recreatur ab unda.
Inclita Caesareis Genabos dissoluitur alis.
Tu quoque laetatus conuerti proelia, Treuir,
et nunc tonse Ligur, quondam per colla decore
crinibus effusis toti praelate Comatae;
et quibus immitis placatur sanguine diro
Teutates horrensque feris altaribus Esus
et Taranis Scythicae non mitior ara Dianae.
Vos quoque, qui fortes animas belloque peremptas
laudibus in longum uates dimittitis aeuum,
plurima securi fudistis carmina, bardi.
Et uos barbaricos ritus moremque sinistrum
sacrorum, druidae, positis repetistis ab armis.
Solis nosse deos et caeli numina uobis
aut solis nescire datum; nemora alta remotis
incolitis lucis; uobis auctoribus umbrae
non tacitas Erebi sedes Ditisque profundi
pallida regna petunt: regit idem spiritus artus
orbe alio; longae, canitis si cognita, uitae
mors media est. certe populi, quos despicit arctos,
felices errore suo, quos ille timorum
maximus haut urguet, leti metus. inde ruendi
in ferrum mens prona uiris animaeque capaces
mortis, et ignauum rediturae parcere uitae.
Et uos crinigeros bellis arcere Caycos
oppositi petitis Romam Rhenique feroces
deseritis ripas et apertum gentibus orbem.
Caesar, ut immensae collecto robore uires
audendi maiora fidem fecere, per omnem
spargitur Italiam uicinaque moenia complet.
Vana quoque ad ueros accessit fama timores
irrupitque animos populi clademque futuram
intulit et uelox properantis nuntia belli
innumeras soluit falsa in praeconia linguas.
Est qui, tauriferis ubi se Meuania campis
explicat, audacis ruere in certamina turmas
afferat, et qua Nar Tiberino illabitur amni,
barbaricas saeui discurrere Caesaris alas;
ipsum omnes aquilas collataque signa ferentem
agmine non uno densisque incedere castris.
Nec qualem meminere uident: maiorque ferusque
mentibus occurrit uictoque immanior hoste.
Hunc inter Rhenum populos Alpemque iacentes,
finibus arctois patriaque a sede reuulsos,
pone sequi, iussamque feris a gentibus Vrbem
Romano spectante rapi. Sic quisque pauendo
dat uires famae, nulloque auctore malorum,
quae finxere timent. Nec solum uulgus inani
percussum terrore pauet, sed curia; et ipsi
sedibus exsiluere patres, inuisaque belli
consulibus fugiens mandat decreta senatus.
Tunc quae tuta petant et quae metuenda relinquant
incerti: quo quemque fugae tulit impetus, urget
praecipitem populum, serieque haerentia longa
agmina prorumpunt; credas aut tecta nefandas
corripuisse faces aut iam quatiente ruina
nutantes pendere domos; sic turba per urbem
praecipiti lymphata gradu, uelut unica rebus
spes foret adflictis patrios excedere muros,
inconsulta ruit. qualis, cum turbidus auster
repulit a Libycis immensum Syrtibus aequor
fractaque ueliferi sonuerunt pondera mali,
desilit in fluctus deserta puppe magister
nauitaque, et nondum sparsa compage carinae
naufragium sibi quisque facit; sic urbe relicta
in bellum fugitur. Nullum iam languidus aeuo
eualuit reuocare parens coniunxue maritum
fletibus, aut patrii, dubiae dum uota salutis
conciperent, tenuere lares; nec limine quisquam
haesit, et extremo tunc forsitan urbis amatae
plenus abit uisu; ruit irreuocabile uulgus.
O faciles dare summa deos eademque tueri
difficiles! Vrbem populis uictisque frequentem
gentibus et generis, coëat si turba, capacem
humani facilem uenturo Caesare praedam
ignauae liquere manus. cum pressus ab hoste
clauditur externis miles Romanus in oris,
effugit exiguo nocturna pericula uallo,
et subitus rapti munimine caespitis agger
praebet securos intra tentoria somnos:
tu tantum audito bellorum nomine, Roma,
desereris; nox una tuis non credita muris.
Danda tamen uenia est tantorum, danda, pauorum:
Pompeio fugiente timent. tum ne qua futuri
spes saltem trepidas mentes leuet, addita fati
peioris manifesta fides, superique minaces
prodigiis terras implerunt, aethera, pontum.
Ignota obscurae uiderunt sidera noctes
ardentemque polum flammis caeloque uolantes
obliquas per inane faces crinemque timendi
sideris et terris mutantem regna cometen.
Fulgora fallaci micuerunt crebra sereno
et uarias ignis tenso dedit aëre formas:
nunc iaculum longo, nunc sparso lumine lampas
emicuit caelo. tacitum sine nubibus ullis
fulmen et arctois rapiens de partibus ignem
percussit Latiare caput, stellaeque minores
per uacuum solitae noctis decurrere tempus
in medium uenere diem, cornuque coacto
iam Phoebe toto fratrem cum redderet orbe,
terrarum subita percussa expalluit umbra.
Ipse caput medio Titan cum ferret Olympo,
condidit ardentes atra caligine currus
inuoluitque orbem tenebris gentesque coëgit
desperare diem; qualem fugiente per ortus
sole Thyesteae noctem duxere Mycenae.
Ora ferox Siculae laxauit Mulciber Aetnae
nec tulit in caelum flammas, sed uertice prono
ignis in Hesperium cecidit latus. Atra Charybdis
sanguineum fundo torsit mare. flebile saeui
latrauere canes. Vestali raptus ab ara
ignis et ostendens confectas flamma Latinas
scinditur in partes geminoque cacumine surgit
Thebanos imitata rogos. tum cardine tellus
subsedit, ueteremque iugis nutantibus Alpes
discussere niuem. Tethys maioribus undis
Hesperiam Calpen summumque impleuit Atlanta.
Indigetes fleuisse deos Vrbisque laborem
testatos sudore lares delapsaque templis
dona suis dirasque diem foedasse uolucres
accipimus, siluisque feras sub nocte relictis
audaces media posuisse cubilia Roma.
Tum pecudum faciles humana ad murmura linguae,
monstrosique hominum partus numeroque modoque
membrorum, matremque suus conterruit infans;
diraque per populum Cumanae carmina uatis
uulgantur. tum, quos sectis, Bellona lacertis
saeua mouet, cecinere deos, crinemque rotantes
sanguineum populis ulularunt tristia Galli.
Compositis plenae gemuerunt ossibus urnae.
Tunc fragor armorum magnaeque per auia uoces
auditae nemorum et uenientes comminus umbrae,
quique colunt iunctos extremis moenibus agros,
diffugiunt. ingens urbem cingebat Erinys
excutiens pronam flagranti uertice pinum
stridentisque comas, Thebanam qualis Agauen
impulit aut saeui contorsit tela Lycurgi
Eumenis, aut qualem iussu Iunonis iniquae
horruit Alcides, uiso iam Dite, Megaeram.
Insonuere tubae, et quanto clamore cohortes
miscentur, tantum nox atra silentibus auris
edidit. e medio uisi consurgere Campo
tristia Sullani cecinere oracula manes,
tollentemque caput gelidas Anienis ad undas
agricolae Marium fracto fugere sepulchro.
Haec propter placuit Tuscos de more uetusto
acciri uates. quorum qui maximus aeuo
Arruns incoluit desertae moenia Lucae,
fulminis edoctus motus uenasque calentes
fibrarum et monitus errantis in aëre pinnae,
monstra iubet primum, quae nullo semine discors
protulerat natura, rapi sterilique nefandos
ex utero fetus infaustis urere flammis.
Mox iubet et totam pauidis a ciuibus urbem
ambiri et, festo purgantes moenia lustro,
longa per extremos pomeria cingere fines
pontifices, sacri quibus est permissa potestas.
Turba minor ritu sequitur succincta Gabino,
Vestalemque chorum ducit uittata sacerdos,
Troianam soli cui fas uidisse Mineruam;
tunc qui fata deum secretaque carmina seruant
et lotam paruo reuocant Almone Cybeben,
et doctus uolucres augur seruare sinistras
septemuirque epulis festus Titiique sodales
et Salius laeto portans ancilia collo
et tollens apicem generoso uertice flamen.
Dumque illi effusam longis anfractibus urbem
circumeunt, Arruns dispersos fulminis ignis
colligit et terrae maesto cum murmure condit
datque locis numen; sacris tunc admouet aris
electa ceruice marem. Iam fundere Bacchum
coeperat obliquoque molas inducere cultro,
impatiensque diu non grati uictima sacri,
cornua succincti premerent cum torua ministri,
deposito uictum praebebat poplite collum.
Nec cruor emicuit solitus, sed uulnere largo
diffusum rutilo dirum pro sanguine uirus.
Palluit attonitus sacris feralibus Arruns
atque iram superum raptis quaesiuit in extis.
Terruit ipse color uatem; nam pallida taetris
uiscera tincta notis gelidoque infecta cruore
plurimus asperso uariabat sanguine liuor.
Cernit tabe iecur madidum uenasque minaces
hostili de parte uidet. pulmonis anheli
fibra latet paruusque secat uitalia limes.
Cor iacet et saniem per hiantis uiscera rimas
emittunt produntque suas omenta latebras.
Quodque nefas nullis impune apparuit extis,
ecce uidet capiti fibrarum increscere molem
alterius capitis; pars aegra et marcida pendet,
pars micat et celeri uenas mouet improba pulsu.
His ubi concepit magnorum fata malorum,
exclamat: "Vix fas, superi, quaecumque mouetis,
prodere me populis; nec enim tibi, summe, litaui,
Iuppiter, hoc sacrum; caesique in pectora tauri
inferni uenere dei. non fanda timemus,
sed uenient maiora metu. di uisa secundent,
et fibris sit nulla fides, sed conditor artis
finxerit ista Tages." flexa sic omina Tuscus
inuoluens multaque tegens ambage canebat.
At Figulus, cui cura deos secretaque caeli
nosse fuit, quem non stellarum Aegyptia Memphis
aequaret uisu numerisque mouentibus astra,
"Aut hic errat," ait "nulla cum lege per aeuum
mundus et incerto discurrunt sidera motu,
aut, si fata mouent, Vrbi generique paratur
humano matura lues. terraene dehiscent
subsidentque urbes, attollet feruidus aër
temperiem, segetes tellus infida negabit,
omnis an effusis miscebitur unda uenenis?
Quod cladis genus, o superi, qua peste paratis
saeuitiam? extremi multorum tempus in unum
conuenere dies. Summo si frigida caelo
stella nocens nigros Saturni accenderet ignis,
Deucalioneos fudisset Aquarius imbres,
totaque diffuso latuisset in aequore tellus.
Si saeuum radiis Nemaeum, Phoebe, Leonem
nunc premeres, toto fluerent incendia mundo,
succensusque tuis flagrasset curribus aether.
Hi cessant ignes. Tu qui flagrante minacem
Scorpion incendis cauda chelasque peruris,
quid tantum, Gradiue, paras? Nam mitis in alto
Iuppiter occasu premitur Venerisque salubre
sidus hebet motuque celer Cyllenius haeret,
et caelum Mars solus habet. Cur signa meatus
deseruere suos mundoque obscura feruntur,
ensiferi nimium fulget latus Orionis?
Imminet armorum rabies ferrique potestas
confundet ius omne manu scelerique nefando
nomen erit uirtus multosque exibit in annos
hic furor. et superos quid prodest poscere finem?
cum domino pax ista uenit. duc, Roma, malorum
continuam seriem clademque in tempora multa
extrahe ciuili tantum iam libera bello."
Terruerant satis haec pauidam praesagia plebem;
sed maiora premunt. Nam qualis uertice Pindi
Edonis Ogygio decurrit plena Lyaeo,
talis et attonitam rapitur matrona per urbem
uocibus his prodens urguentem pectora Phoebum:
"Quo feror, o Paean? qua me super aethera raptam
constituis terra? uideo Pangaea niuosis
cana iugis latosque Haemi sub rupe Philippos.
Quis furor hic, o Phoebe, doce. Quo tela manusque
Romanae miscent acies bellumque sine hostest?
Quo diuersa feror? primos me ducis in ortus
qua mare Lagei mutatur gurgite Nili:
hunc ego, fluminea deformis truncus harena
qui iacet, agnosco. Dubiam super aequora Syrtim
arentemque feror Libyen, quo tristis Enyo
transtulit Emathias acies. nunc desuper Alpis
nubiferae colles atque aëriam Pyrenen
abripimur. patriae sedis remeamus in urbis,
impiaque in medio peraguntur bella senatu.
Consurgunt partes iterum, totumque per orbem
rursus eo. Noua da mihi cernere litora ponti
telluremque nouam; uidi iam, Phoebe, Philippos."
Haec ait et lasso iacuit deserta furore.