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Cārmĭnĕ dīvīnās ārtēs ēt cōnscĭă fātī

sīdĕră dīvērsōs hŏmĭnūm vărĭāntĭă cāsūs,

caēlēstīs rătĭōnĭs ŏpūs, dēdūcĕrĕ mūndō

āggrĕdĭōr prīmūsquĕ nŏvīs Hĕlĭcōnă mŏvērĕ

cāntĭbŭs ēt vĭrĭdī nūtāntīs vērtĭcĕ sīlvās

hōspĭtă sācră fĕrēns nūllī mĕmŏrātă prĭōrūm.

hūnc mĭhĭ tū, Caēsār, pătrĭaē prīncēpsquĕ pătērquĕ,

quī rĕgĭs aūgūstīs pārēntēm lēgĭbŭs ōrbēm

cōncēssūmquĕ pătrī mūndūm dĕŭs īpsĕ mĕrērīs,

dās ănĭmūm vīrēsquĕ făcīs ād tāntă cănēndă.

iām prŏpĭūsquĕ făvēt mūndūs scrūtāntĭbŭs īpsūm

ēt cŭpĭt aēthĕrĭōs pēr cārmĭnă pāndĕrĕ cēnsūs.

hōc sūb pācĕ văcāt tāntūm. iŭvăt īrĕ pĕr īpsūm

āĕra ĕt īmmēnsō spătĭāntēm vīvĕrĕ caēlō

sīgnăque ĕt ādvērsōs stēllārūm nōscĕrĕ cūrsūs.

quōd sōlūm nōvīssĕ părum ēst. īmpēnsĭŭs īpsă

scīrĕ iŭvāt māgnī pĕnĭtūs praēcōrdĭă mūndī,

quāquĕ rĕgāt gĕnĕrētquĕ sŭīs ănĭmālĭă sīgnīs

cērnĕre ĕt īn nŭmĕrūm Phoēbō mŏdŭlāntĕ rĕfērrĕ.

bīnă mĭhī pŏsĭtīs lūcēnt āltārĭă flāmmīs,

ād dŭŏ tēmplă prĕcōr dŭplĭcī cīrcūmdătŭs aēstū

cārmĭnĭs ēt rērūm: cērtā cūm lēgĕ cănēntēm

mūndŭs ĕt īmmēnsō vātēm cīrcūmstrĕpĭt ōrbĕ

vīxquĕ sŏlūtă sŭīs īmmīttīt vērbă fĭgūrīs.

Quēm prīmum īntĕrĭūs lĭcŭīt cōgnōscĕrĕ tērrīs

mūnĕrĕ caēlēstūm. quĭs ĕnīm cōndēntĭbŭs īllīs

clēpsīssēt fūrtō mūndūm, quō cūnctă rĕgūntūr?

quīs fŏrĕt hūmānō cōnātūs pēctŏrĕ tāntūm,

īnvītīs ūt dīs cŭpĕrēt dĕŭs īpsĕ vĭdērī,

tū prīncēps aūctōrquĕ săcrī, Cŷllēnĭĕ, tāntī;

pēr tē iām caēlum īntĕrĭūs, iām sīdĕră nōtă

sūblīmīs ăpĕrīrĕ vĭās īmūmquĕ sŭb ōrbēm,

ēt pĕr ĭnānĕ sŭīs pārēntĭă fīnĭbŭs āstră?

nōmĭnăque ēt cūrsūs sīgnōrūm, pōndĕră, vīrēs,

māiŏr ŭtī făcĭēs mūndī fŏrĕt, ēt vĕnĕrāndă

nōn spĕcĭēs tāntūm sĕd ĕt īpsă pŏtēntĭă rērūm,

sēntīrēntquĕ dĕūm gēntēs quā māxĭmŭs ēssēt.

[quī sŭă dīspŏsŭīt pēr tēmpŏră, cōgnĭta ŭt ēssēnt

ōmnĭbŭs ēt mūndī făcĭēs caēlūmquĕ sŭpērnūm.]

ēt nātūră dĕdīt vīrēs sēque īpsă rĕclūsīt

rēgālīs ănĭmōs prīmūm dīgnātă mŏvērĕ

prōxĭmă tāngēntīs rērūm fāstīgĭă caēlō,

quī dŏmŭērĕ fĕrās gēntēs ŏrĭēntĕ sŭb īpsō,

quās sĕcăt Eūphrātēs, īn quās ēt Nīlŭs ăbūndāt

quā mūndūs rĕdĭt ēt nīgrās sŭpĕr ēvŏlăt ūrbēs.

tūm quī tēmplă săcrīs cŏlŭērūnt ōmnĕ pĕr aēvūm

dēlēctīquĕ săcērdōtēs īn pūblĭcă vōtă

ōffĭcĭō vīnxērĕ dĕūm; quĭbŭs īpsă pŏtēntīs

nūmĭnĭs āccēndīt cāstām praēsēntĭă mēntēm,

īnquĕ dĕūm dĕŭs īpsĕ tŭlīt pătŭītquĕ mĭnīstrīs.

hī tāntūm mōvērĕ dĕcūs prīmīquĕ pĕr ārtēm

sīdĕrĭbūs vīdērĕ văgīs pēndēntĭă fātă.

sīngŭlă nām prŏprĭō sīgnārūnt tēmpŏră cāsū,

lōngă pĕr āssĭdŭās cōmplēxī saēcŭlă cūrās:

nāscēndī quaē cuīquĕ dĭēs, quaē vītă fŭīssēt,

īn quās fōrtūnaē lēgēs quaēque hōră vălērēt,

quāntăquĕ quām pārvī făcĕrēnt dīscrīmĭnă mōtūs.

pōstquam ōmnīs caēlī spĕcĭēs, rĕdĕūntĭbŭs āstrīs,

pērcēpta, īn prŏprĭās sēdēs, ēt rēddĭtă cērtīs

fātōrum ōrdĭnĭbūs sŭă cuīquĕ pŏtēntĭă fōrmaē,

pēr vărĭōs ūsūs ārtem ēxpĕrĭēntĭă fēcīt

ēxēmplō mōnstrāntĕ vĭām, spĕcŭlātăquĕ lōngē

dēprēndīt tăcĭtīs dŏmĭnāntĭă lēgĭbŭs āstră

ēt tōtum aētērnā mūndūm rătĭōnĕ mŏvērī

fātōrūmquĕ vĭcēs cērtīs dīscērnĕrĕ sīgnīs.

Nām rŭdĭs ānte īllōs nūllō dīscrīmĭnĕ vītă

īn spĕcĭēm cōnvērsa ŏpĕrūm rătĭōnĕ cărēbāt

ēt stŭpĕfāctă nŏvō pēndēbāt lūmĭnĕ mūndī,

tūm vĕlŭt āmīssō maērēns, tūm laētă rĕnātīs

sīdĕrĭbūs, vărĭōsquĕ dĭēs īncērtăquĕ nōctīs

tēmpŏră nēc sĭmĭlīs ūmbrās, iām sōlĕ rĕgrēssō

iām prŏpĭōrĕ, sŭīs pŏtĕrāt dīscērnĕrĕ caūsīs.

nēcdum ĕtĭām dōctās sōllērtĭă fēcĕrăt ārtēs,

tērrăquĕ sūb rŭdĭbūs cēssābāt vāstă cŏlōnīs;

tūmque īn dēsērtīs hăbĭtābāt mōntĭbŭs aūrūm,

īmmōtūsquĕ nŏvōs pōntūs sūbdūxĕrăt ōrbēs,

nēc vītām pĕlăgō nēc vēntīs crēdĕrĕ vōtă

aūdēbānt; sē quīsquĕ sătīs nōvīssĕ pŭtābānt.

sēd cūm lōngă dĭēs ăcŭīt mōrtālĭă cōrdă

ēt lăbŏr īngĕnĭūm mĭsĕrīs dĕdĭt ēt sŭă quēmquĕ

ādvĭgĭlārĕ sĭbī iūssīt fōrtūnă prĕmēndō,

sēdūcta īn vărĭās cērtārūnt pēctŏră cūrās

ēt, quōdcūmquĕ săgāx tēmptāndō rēppĕrĭt ūsūs,

īn cōmmūnĕ bŏnūm cōmmēntūm laētă dĕdērūnt.

tūnc ēt līnguă sŭās āccēpīt bārbără lēgēs,

ēt fĕră dīvērsīs ēxērcĭtă frūgĭbŭs ārvă,

ēt văgŭs īn caēcūm pĕnĕtrāvīt nāvĭtă pōntūm,

fēcĭt ĕt īgnōtīs ĭtĕr īn cōmmērcĭă tērrīs.

tūm bēllī pācīsque ārtēs cōmmēntă vĕtūstās;

sēmpĕr ĕnim ēx ălĭīs ălĭās prōsēmĭnăt ūsūs.

nē vūlgātă cănām, līnguās dĭdĭcērĕ vŏlūcrūm,

cōnsūltārĕ fĭbrās ēt rūmpĕrĕ vōcĭbŭs ānguēs,

sōllĭcĭtāre ūmbrās īmūmque Ăchĕrōntă mŏvērĕ,

īn nōctēmquĕ dĭēs, īn lūcēm vērtĕrĕ nōctēs.

ōmnĭă cōnāndō dŏcĭlīs sōllērtĭă vīcīt.

nēc prĭŭs īmpŏsŭīt rēbūs fīnēmquĕ mŏdūmquĕ

quām caēlum āscēndīt rătĭō cēpītquĕ prŏfūndām

nātūrām rērūm caūsīs vīdītquĕ quŏd ūsquāmst.

nūbĭlă cūr tāntō quătĕrēntūr pūlsă frăgōrĕ,

hībērna aēstīvā nīx grāndĭnĕ mōllĭŏr ēssēt,

ārdērēnt tērraē sŏlĭdūsquĕ trĕmēscĕrĕt ōrbīs;

cūr īmbrēs rŭĕrēnt, vēntōs quaē caūsă mŏvērēt

pērvīdīt, sōlvītque ănĭmīs mīrācŭlă rērūm

ērĭpŭītquĕ Iŏvī fūlmēn vīrēsquĕ tŏnāndī

ēt sŏnĭtūm vēntīs cōncēssīt, nūbĭbŭs īgnēm.

quaē pōstquam īn prŏprĭās dēdūxīt sīngŭlă caūsās,

vīcīnam ēx āltō mūndī cōgnōscĕrĕ mōlēm

īntēndīt tōtūmque ănĭmō cōmprēndĕrĕ caēlūm,

āttrĭbŭītquĕ sŭās fōrmās, sŭă nōmĭnă sīgnīs,

quāsquĕ vĭcēs ăgĕrēnt cērtā sūb sōrtĕ nŏtāvīt

ōmnĭăque ād nūmēn mūndī făcĭēmquĕ mŏvērī,

sīdĕrĭbūs vărĭō mūtāntĭbŭs ōrdĭnĕ fātă.

Hōc mĭhĭ sūrgĭt ŏpūs nōn ūllīs āntĕ săcrātūm

cārmĭnĭbūs. făvĕāt māgnō fōrtūnă lăbōrī,

ānnōsa ēt mōllī cōntīngāt vītă sĕnēctā,

ūt pōssīm rērūm tāntās ēmērgĕrĕ mōlēs

māgnăquĕ cūm pārvīs sĭmĭlī pērcūrrĕrĕ cūrā.

Ēt quŏnĭām caēlō dēscēndīt cārmĕn ăb āltō

ēt vĕnĭt īn tērrās fātōrūm cōndĭtŭs ōrdŏ,

īpsă mĭhī prīmūm nātūraē fōrmă cănēndāst

pōnēndūsquĕ sŭā tōtūs sŭb ĭmāgĭnĕ mūndūs.

quēm sīve ēx nūllīs rĕpĕtēntēm sēmĭnă rēbūs

nātālī quŏque ĕgērĕ plăcēt, sēmpērquĕ fŭīssĕ

ēt fŏrĕ, prīncĭpĭō părĭtēr fātōquĕ cărēntēm;

seū pērmīxtă chăōs rērūm prīmōrdĭă quōndām

dīscrēvīt pārtū, mūndūmque ēnīxă nĭtēntēm

fūgĭt ĭn īnfērnās cālīgō pūlsă tĕnēbrās;

sīve īndīvĭdŭīs, ĭn ĭdēm rĕdĭtūră sŏlūtă,

prīncĭpĭīs nātūră mănēt pōst saēcŭlă mīllĕ,

ēt paēne ēx nĭhĭlō sūmma ēst nĭhĭlūmquĕ fŭtūrūm,

caēcăquĕ mātĕrĭēs caēlūm pērfēcĭt ĕt ōrbēm;

sīve īgnīs făbrĭcāvĭt ŏpūs flāmmaēquĕ mĭcāntēs,

quaē mūndī fēcēre ŏcŭlōs hăbĭtāntquĕ pĕr ōmnĕ

cōrpŭs ĕt īn caēlō vībrāntĭă fūlmĭnă fīngūnt;

seū lĭquŏr hōc pĕpĕrīt, sĭnĕ quō rĭgĕt ārĭdă rērūm

mātĕrĭēs īpsūmquĕ vŏrāt, quō sōlvĭtŭr, īgnēm;

aūt nĕquĕ tērră pătrēm nōvīt nēc flāmmă nĕc āēr

aūt ūmōr, făcĭūntquĕ dĕūm pēr quāttŭŏr ārtūs

ēt mūndī strūxērĕ glŏbūm prŏhĭbēntquĕ rĕquīrī

ūltrā sē quīcquām, cūm pēr sē cūnctă crĕārīnt,

frīgĭdă nēc călĭdīs dēsīnt aūt ūmĭdă sīccīs,

spīrĭtŭs aūt sŏlĭdīs, sītque haēc dīscōrdĭă cōncōrs

quaē nēxūs hăbĭlīs ĕt ŏpūs gĕnĕrābĭlĕ fīngīt

ātque ōmnīs pārtūs ĕlĕmēntă căpācĭă rēddīt:

sēmpĕr ĕrīt pūgna īngĕnĭīs, dŭbĭūmquĕ mănēbīt

quōd lătĕt ēt tāntūm sūpra ēst hŏmĭnēmquĕ dĕūmquĕ.

sēd făcĭēs quācūmquĕ tămēn sŭb ŏrīgĭnĕ rērūm

cōnvĕnĭt, ēt cērtō dīgēstum ēst ōrdĭnĕ cōrpūs.

īgnĭs ĭn aēthĕrĭās vŏlŭcēr sē sūstŭlĭt ōrās

sūmmăquĕ cōmplēxūs stēllāntīs cūlmĭnă caēlī

flāmmārūm vāllō nātūraē moēnĭă fēcīt.

prōxĭmŭs īn tĕnŭīs dēscēndīt spīrĭtŭs aūrās

āĕrăque ēxtēndīt mĕdĭūm pĕr ĭnānĭă mūndī.

īgnēm flātŭs ălāt vīcīnīs sūbdĭtŭs āstrīs.

tērtĭă sōrs ūndās strāvīt flūctūsquĕ nătāntīs,

aēquŏrăque ēffūdīt tōtō nāscēntĭă pōntō,

ūt lĭquŏr ēxhālēt tĕnŭīs ātque ēvŏmăt aūrās

āĕrăque ēx īpsō dūcēntēm sēmĭnă pāscāt,

ūltĭmă sūbsēdīt glŏmĕrātō pōndĕrĕ tēllūs,

cōnvēnītquĕ văgīs pērmīxtūs līmŭs hărēnīs

paūlātim ād sūmmūm tĕnŭī fŭgĭēntĕ lĭquōrĕ;

quōquĕ măgīs pūrās ūmōr sēcēssĭt ĭn ūndās

ēt sāccātă măgīs strūxērūnt aēquŏră tērrām

adiacuitque cauis fluidum conuallibus aequor,

ēmērsērĕ frĕtīs mōntēs, ōrbīsquĕ pĕr ūndās

ēxsĭlŭīt, vāstō claūsūs tămĕn ūndĭquĕ pōntō.

īmăquĕ dē cūnctīs mĕdĭām tĕnĕt ūndĭquĕ sēdēm.

īdcīrcōquĕ mănēt stăbĭlīs, quĭă tōtŭs ăb īllō

tāntūndēm rĕfŭgīt mūndūs fēcītquĕ cădēndō

ūndĭquĕ, nē cădĕrēt mĕdĭūm tōtīŭs ĕt īmūm.

īctăquĕ cōntrāctīs cōnsīstūnt cōrpŏră plāgīs

ēt cōncūrrēndō prŏhĭbēntūr lōngĭŭs īrĕ.

Quōd nĭsĭ lībrātō pēndērēt pōndĕrĕ tēllūs,

nōn ăgĕrēt cūrrūs, mūndī sŭbĕūntĭbŭs āstrīs,

Phoēbŭs ăb ōccāsu ēt nūmquām rĕmĕārĕt ăd ōrtūs,

lūnăvĕ sūmmērsōs rĕgĕrēt pĕr ĭnānĭă cūrsūs,

nēc mātūtīnīs fūlgērēt Lūcĭfĕr hōrīs,

Hēspĕrŏs ēmēnsō dĕdĕrāt quī lūmĕn Ŏlŷmpō.

nūnc, quĭă nōn īmō tēllūs dēiēctă prŏfūndō

sēd mĕdĭō sūspēnsă mănēt, sūnt pērvĭă cūnctă,

quā cădăt ēt sŭbĕāt caēlūm rūrsūsquĕ rĕsūrgāt.

nām nĕquĕ fōrtŭĭtōs ōrtūs sūrgēntĭbŭs āstrīs

nēc tŏtĭēns pōssūm nāscēntēm crēdĕrĕ mūndūm

sōlīsve āssĭdŭōs pārtūs ēt fātă dĭūrnă,

cūm făcĭēs ĕădēm sīgnīs pēr saēcŭlă cōnstēt,

īdēm Phoēbŭs ĕāt caēlī dē pārtĭbŭs īsdēm

lūnăquĕ pēr tŏtĭdēm lūcēs mūtētŭr ĕt ōrbēs

ēt nātūră vĭās sērvēt, quās fēcĕrăt īpsă,

nēc tīrōcĭnĭō pēccēt, cīrcūmquĕ fĕrātūr

aētērnā cūm lūcĕ dĭēs, quī tēmpŏră mōnstrāt

nūnc hīs nūnc īllīs ĕădēm rĕgĭōnĭbŭs ōrbīs,

sēmpĕr ĕt ūltĕrĭōr vādēntĭbŭs ōrtŭs ăd ōrtūm

ōccāsūmve ŏbĭtūs, caēlum ēt cūm sōlĕ pĕrēnnēt.

Nēc vēro ādmīrāndă tĭbī nātūră vĭdērī

pēndēntīs tērraē dēbēt. cūm pēndĕăt īpsĕ

mūndŭs ĕt īn nūllō pōnāt vēstīgĭă fūndō,

quōd pătĕt ēx īpsō mōtū cūrsūquĕ vŏlāntīs,

cūm sūspēnsŭs ĕāt Phoēbūs cūrrūsquĕ rĕflēctāt

hūc īllūc ăgĭlīs, ēt sērvĕt ĭn aēthĕrĕ mētās,

cūm lūna ēt stēllaē vŏlĭtēnt pĕr ĭnānĭă mūndī,

tērră quŏque āĕrĭās lēgēs ĭmĭtātă pĕpēndīt.

ēst ĭgĭtūr tēllūs mĕdĭām sōrtītă căvērnām

āĕrĭs, ē tōtō părĭtēr sūblātă prŏfūndō,

nēc pătŭlās dīstēntă plăgās, sēd cōndĭta ĭn ōrbēm

ūndĭquĕ sūrgēntēm părĭtēr părĭtērquĕ cădēntēm.

haēc ēst nātūraē făcĭēs: sīc mūndŭs ĕt īpsĕ

īn cōnvēxă vŏlāns tĕrĕtīs făcĭt ēssĕ fĭgūrās

stēllārūm; sōlīsque ōrbēm lūnaēquĕ rŏtūndūm

āspĭcĭmūs tŭmĭdō quaērēntīs cōrpŏrĕ lūmēn,

quōd glŏbŭs ōblīquōs tōtūs nōn āccĭpĭt īgnēs.

haēc aētērnă mănēt dīvīsquĕ sĭmīllĭmă fōrmă,

cuī nĕquĕ prīncĭpĭum ēst ūsquām nēc fīnĭs ĭn īpsā,

sēd sĭmĭlīs tōto ōrĕ sĭbī pērque ōmnĭă pār ēst.

sīc tēllūs glŏmĕrātă mănēt mūndūmquĕ fĭgūrāt

Īdcīrcō tērrīs nōn ōmnĭbŭs ōmnĭă sīgnă

cōnspĭcĭmūs. nūsquam īnvĕnĭēs fūlgērĕ Cănōpōn

dōnĕc ăd Hēlĭăcās pēr pōntūm vēnĕrĭs ōrās;

sēd quaērūnt Hĕlĭcēn, quĭbŭs īllĕ sŭpērvĕnĭt īgnīs,

quōd lătĕrūm trāctūs hăbĭtānt, mĕdĭōquĕ tŭmōrĕ

ērĭpĭūnt tērraē caēlūm vīsūsquĕ cŏērcēnt.

tē tēstēm dāt, lūnă, sŭī glŏmĕrāmĭnĭs ōrbīs,

quaē, cūm mērsă nĭgrīs pēr nōctēm dēfĭcĭs ūmbrīs,

nōn ōmnīs părĭtēr cōnfūndīs sīdĕrĕ gēntēs,

sēd prĭŭs ēōaē quaērūnt tŭă lūmĭnă tērraē,

pōst mĕdĭō sūbiēctă pŏlō quaēcūmquĕ cŏlūntūr,

ūltĭma ăd hēspĕrĭōs īnfēctīs vōlvĕrĭs ālīs

sērăque ĭn hēspĕrĭīs quătĭūntūr gēntĭbŭs aēră.

quōd sī plānă fŏrēt tēllūs, sĕmĕl ōrtă pĕr ōmnēm

dēfĭcĕrēs părĭtēr tōtī mĭsĕrābĭlĭs ōrbī.

sēd quĭă pēr tĕrĕtēm dēdūcta ēst tērră tŭmōrēm,

hīs mŏdŏ, pōst īllīs āppārēt Dēlĭă tērrīs

ēxŏrĭēns sĭmŭl ātquĕ cădēns, quĭă fērtŭr ĭn ōrbēm

vēntrĭs ĕt ācclīvīs părĭtēr dēclīvĭă iūngīt

ātque ălĭōs sŭpĕrāt gŷrōs ălĭōsquĕ rĕlīnquīt.

ēx quō cōllĭgĭtūr tērrārūm fōrmă rŏtūndă.

Hānc cīrcūm vărĭaē gēntēs hŏmĭnum ātquĕ fĕrārūm

āĕrĭaēquĕ cŏlūnt vŏlŭcrēs. pārs ēiŭs ăd ārctōs

ēmĭnĕt, aūstrīnīs pārs ēst hăbĭtābĭlĭs ōrīs

sūb pĕdĭbūsquĕ iăcēt nōstrīs sūprāquĕ vĭdētūr

īpsă sĭbī fāllēntĕ sŏlō dēclīvĭă lōngă

ēt părĭtēr sūrgēntĕ vĭā părĭtērquĕ cădēntĕ.

hānc ŭbi ăd ōccāsūs nōstrōs sōl āspĭcĭt āctūs,

īllīc ōrtă dĭēs sōpītās ēxcĭtăt ūrbēs

ēt cūm lūcĕ rĕfērt ŏpĕrūm vădĭmōnĭă tērrīs;

nōs īn nōctĕ sŭmūs sōmnōsque īn mēmbră vŏcāmūs.

pōntŭs ŭtrōsquĕ sŭīs dīstīnguĭt ĕt āllĭgăt ūndīs.

Hōc ŏpŭs īmmēnsī cōnstrūctūm cōrpŏrĕ mūndī

mēmbrăquĕ nātūraē dīvērsā cōndĭtă fōrmā

āĕrĭs ātque īgnīs, tērraē pĕlăgīquĕ iăcēntīs,

vīs ănĭmaē dīvīnă rĕgīt, sācrōquĕ mĕātū

cōnspīrāt dĕŭs ēt tăcĭtā rătĭōnĕ gŭbērnāt

mūtŭăque īn cūnctās dīspēnsāt foēdĕră pārtēs,

āltĕra ŭt āltĕrĭūs vīrēs făcĭātquĕ fĕrātquĕ

sūmmăquĕ pēr vărĭās mănĕāt cōgnātă fĭgūrās.

Nūnc tĭbĭ sīgnōrūm lūcēntīs ūndĭquĕ flāmmās

ōrdĭnĭbūs cērtīs rĕfĕrām. prīmūmquĕ cănēntūr

quaē mĕdĭa ōblīquō praēcīngūnt ōrdĭnĕ mūndūm

sōlēmque āltērnīs vĭcĭbūs pēr tēmpŏră pōrtānt

ātque ălĭa ādvērsō lūctāntĭă sīdĕră mūndō,

ōmnĭă quaē pōssīs caēlō nŭmĕrārĕ sĕrēnō,

ē quĭbŭs ēt rătĭō fātōrūm dūcĭtŭr ōmnīs,

ūt sĭt ĭdēm mūndī prīmūm quōd cōntĭnĕt ārcēm.

Aūrātō prīncēps Ărĭēs īn vēllĕrĕ fūlgēns

rēspĭcĭt ādmīrāns āvērsūm sūrgĕrĕ Taūrūm

sūmmīssō vūltū Gĕmĭnōs ēt frōntĕ vŏcāntēm,

quōs sĕquĭtūr Cāncēr, Cāncrūm Lĕŏ, Vīrgŏ Lĕōnēm.

aēquātō tūm Lībră dĭē cūm tēmpŏrĕ nōctīs

āttrăhĭt ārdēntī fūlgēntēm Scōrpĭŏn āstrō,

īn cūiūs caūdām cōntēntō dērĭgĭt ārcū

mīxtŭs ĕquō vŏlŭcrēm mīssūrūs iāmquĕ săgīttām.

tūm vĕnĭt āngūstō Căprĭcōrnūs sīdĕrĕ flēxūs.

pōst hūnc īnflēxā dēfūndĭt Ăquārĭŭs ūrnā

Pīscĭbŭs āssuētās ăvĭdē sŭbĕūntĭbŭs ūndās,

quōs Ărĭēs tāngīt claūdēntīs ūltĭmă sīgnă.

Āt quā fūlgēntīs caēlūm cōnsūrgĭt ăd Ārctōs,

ōmnĭă quaē sūmmō dēspēctānt sīdĕră mūndō

nēc nōrūnt ŏbĭtūs ūnōque īn vērtĭcĕ mūtānt

īn dīvērsă sĭtūm caēlūmque ēt sīdĕră tōrquēnt,

āĕră pēr gĕlĭdūm tĕnŭīs dēdūcĭtŭr āxīs

lībrātūmquĕ rĕgīt dīvērsō cārdĭnĕ mūndūm;

sīdĕrĕūs cīrcā mĕdĭūm quēm vōlvĭtŭr ōrbīs

aēthĕrĭōsquĕ rŏtāt cūrsūs, īmmōtŭs ăt īllĕ

īn bīnās Ārctōs māgnī pĕr ĭnānĭă mūndī

pērque īpsūm tērraē dērēctūs cōnstĭtĭt ōrbēm.

nēc vērō sŏlĭdūs stāt rōbŏrĕ cōrpŏrĭs āxīs

nēc grăvĕ pōndŭs hăbēt, quŏd ŏnūs fĕrăt aēthĕrĭs āltī,

sēd cum āēr ōmnīs sēmpēr vōlvātŭr ĭn ōrbēm,

quōquĕ sĕmēl coēpīt tōtūs vŏlĕt ūndĭque ĭn īpsūm,

quōdcūmque īn mĕdĭo ēst, cīrcā quōd cūnctă mŏvēntūr,

ūsque ădĕō tĕnŭe ūt vērtī nōn pōssĭt ĭn īpsūm

nēc iam īnclīnārī nēc sē cōnvērtĕre ĭn ōrbēm,

hōc dīxēre āxēm, quĭă mōtūm nōn hăbĕt ūllūm

īpsĕ, vĭdēt cīrcā vŏlĭtāntĭă cūnctă mŏvērī.

Sūmmă tĕnēnt ēiūs mĭsĕrīs nōtīssĭmă naūtīs

sīgnă pĕr īmmēnsūm cŭpĭdōs dūcēntĭă pōntūm.

māiōrēmque Hĕlĭcē māiōr dēcīrcĭnăt ārcūm

(sēptem īllām stēllaē cērtāntēs lūmĭnĕ sīgnānt),

quā dŭcĕ pēr flūctūs Grāiaē dānt vēlă cărīnaē.

āngūstō Cўnŏsūră brĕvīs tōrquētŭr ĭn ōrbĕ,

quām spătĭō tām lūcĕ mĭnōr; sēd iūdĭcĕ vīncīt

māiōrēm Tўrĭō. Poēnīs haēc cērtĭŏr aūctōr

nōn āppārēntēm pĕlăgō quaērēntĭbŭs ōrbēm.

nēc părĭbūs pŏsĭtaē sūnt frōntĭbŭs: ūtrăquĕ caūdām

vērgĭt ĭn āltĕrĭūs rōstrō sĕquĭtūrquĕ sĕquēntēm.

hās īntēr fūsūs cīrcūmque āmplēxŭs ŭtrāmquĕ

dīvĭdĭt ēt cīngīt stēllīs ārdēntĭbŭs Ānguīs,

nē cŏĕānt ăbĕāntvĕ sŭīs ā sēdĭbŭs ūmquām.

Hūnc īntēr mĕdĭūmque ōrbēm, quō sīdĕră sēptēm

pēr bīs sēnă vŏlānt cōntrā nītēntĭă sīgnă,

mīxta ēx dīvērsīs cōnsūrgūnt vīrĭbŭs āstră,

hīnc vīcīnă gĕlū, caēlīque hīnc prōxĭmă flāmmīs;

quaē quĭă dīssĭmĭlīs, quā pūgnāt, tēmpĕrăt āēr,

frūgĭfĕrūm sūb sē rēddūnt mōrtālĭbŭs ōrbēm.

prōxĭmă frīgēntīs Ārctōs bŏrĕānquĕ rĭgēntēm

nīxă vĕnīt spĕcĭēs gĕnĭbūs, sĭbĭ cōnscĭă caūsaē.

ā tērgō nĭtĕt Ārctŏphўlāx īdēmquĕ Bŏōtēs,

quōd sĭmĭlīs iūnctīs īnstāt dē mōrĕ iŭvēncīs;

Ārctūrūmquĕ răpīt mĕdĭō sūb pēctŏrĕ sēcūm.

āt pārte ēx ălĭā clārō vŏlăt ōrbĕ Cŏrōnă

lūcĕ mĭcāns vărĭā; nām stēllā vīncĭtŭr ūnā

cīrcŭlŭs, īn mĕdĭā rădĭāt quaē māxĭmă frōntĕ

cāndĭdăque ārdēntī dīstīnguīt lūmĭnă flāmmā.

Cnōsĭă dēsērtaē fūlgēnt mŏnŭmēntă pŭēllaē,

ēt Lўră dīdūctīs pēr caēlūm cōrnĭbŭs īntēr

sīdĕră cōnspĭcĭtūr, quā quōndām cēpĕrăt Ōrpheūs

ōmnĕ quŏd āttĭgĕrāt cāntū, mānēsquĕ pĕr īpsōs

fēcĭt ĭtēr dŏmŭītque īnfērnās cārmĭnĕ lēgēs.

hīnc caēlēstĭs hŏnōs sĭmĭlīsquĕ pŏtēntĭă caūsaē:

tūnc sīlvās ēt sāxă trăhēns nūnc sīdĕră dūcīt

ēt răpĭt īmmēnsūm mūndī rĕvŏlūbĭlĭs ōrbēm.

sērpēntēm māgnīs Ŏphĭūchūs nōmĭnĕ gŷrīs

dīvĭdĭt ēt tōrtō cīngēntēm cōrpŏrĕ cōrpūs,

ēxplĭcĕt ūt nōdōs sĭnŭātăquĕ tērgă pĕr ōrbēs.

rēspĭcĭt īllĕ tămēn mōllī cērvīcĕ rĕflēxūs

ēt rĕdĭt ēffūsīs pēr lāxă vŏlūmĭnă pālmīs.

sēmpĕr ĕrīt, părĭbūs bēllūm quĭă vīrĭbŭs aēquānt.

prōxĭmă sōrs Cŷcnī, quēm caēlō Iūppĭtĕr īpsĕ

īmpŏsŭīt, fōrmaē prĕtĭūm, quā cēpĭt ămāntēm,

cūm dĕŭs īn nīveūm dēscēndīt vērsŭs ŏlōrēm

tērgăquĕ fīdēntī sŭbĭēcīt plūmĕă Lēdaē.

nūnc quŏquĕ dīdūctās vŏlĭtāt stēllātŭs ĭn ālās.

hīnc ĭmĭtātă nĭtēnt cūrsūmque hăbĭtūmquĕ săgīttaē

sīdĕră. tūm māgnī Iŏvĭs ālēs fērtŭr ĭn āltūm,

āssuēta ēvŏlĭtāns gēstēt ceū fūlmĭnă mūndī,

dīgnă Iŏve ēt caēlō, quōd sācrīs īnstrŭĭt ārmīs.

tūm quŏquĕ dē pōntō sūrgīt Dēlphīnŭs ăd āstră,

ōceānī caēlīquĕ dĕcūs, pĕr ŭtrūmquĕ săcrātūs.

quēm răpĭdō cōnātŭs Ĕquūs cōmprēndĕrĕ cūrsū

fēstīnāt pēctūs fūlgēntī sīdĕrĕ clārūs

ēt fīnītŭr ĭn Āndrŏmĕdā. quām Pērseūs ārmīs

ērĭpĭt ēt sŏcĭāt sĭbĭ. cuī sūccēdĭt ĭnīquō

dīvīsīs spătĭō, quōd tērnā lāmpădĕ crīspāns

cōnspĭcĭtūr, părĭbūs Dēltōtōn nōmĭnĕ sīdūs

ēx sĭmĭlī dīctūm, Cēpheūsque ēt Cāssĭĕpīă

īn poēnās rĕsŭpīnă sŭās iūxtāquĕ rĕlīctām

Āndrŏmĕdān, vāstōs mĕtŭēntēm Prīstĭs hĭātūs,

ēxpŏsĭtām pōntō dēflēt scŏpŭlīsquĕ rĕvīnctām

nī vĕtĕrēm Pērseūs caēlō quŏquĕ sērvĕt ămōrēm

aūxĭlĭōquĕ iŭvēt fŭgĭēndăquĕ Gōrgŏnĭs ōră

sūstĭnĕāt spŏlĭūmquĕ sĭbī pēstēmquĕ vĭdēntī.

tūm vīcīnă fĕrēns nīxō vēstīgĭă Taūrō

Hēnĭŏchūs, stŭdĭō mūndūmque ēt nōmĕn ădēptūs,

quēm prīmūm cūrrū vŏlĭtāntēm Iūppĭtĕr āltō

quādrĭiŭgīs cōnspēxĭt ĕquīs caēlōquĕ săcrāvīt.

tūnc sŭbĕūnt Haēdī clūdēntēs sīdĕrĕ pōntūm,

nōbĭlĭs ēt mūndī nūtrītō rēgĕ Căpēllă,

cūiŭs ăb ūbĕrĭbūs māgnum īlle āscēndĭt Ŏlŷmpūm

lāctĕ fĕrō crēscēns ād fūlmĭnă vīmquĕ tŏnāndī.

hānc ērgo aētērnīs mĕrĭtō sācrāvĭt ĭn āstrīs

Iūppĭtĕr ēt caēlī caēlūm mērcēdĕ rĕpēndīt.

Plēĭădēsque Hўădēsquĕ, fĕrī pārs ūtrăquĕ Taūrī,

īn bŏrĕān scāndūnt. haēc sūnt ăquĭlōnĭă sīgnă.

Āspĭcĕ nūnc īnfrā sōlīs sūrgēntĭă cūrsūs

quaē sŭpĕr ēxūstās lābūntūr sīdĕră tērrās;

quaēque īntēr gĕlĭdūm Căprĭcōrnī sīdŭs ĕt āxĕ

īmō sūbnīxūm vērtūntūr lūmĭnă mūndūm,

āltĕră pārs ōrbīs sūb quīs iăcĕt īnvĭă nōbīs

īgnōtaēque hŏmĭnūm gēntēs nēc trānsĭtă rēgnă

cōmmūne ēx ūnō lūmēn dūcēntĭă sōlĕ

dīvērsāsque ūmbrās laēvāquĕ cădēntĭă sīgnă

ēt dēxtrōs ōrtūs caēlō spēctāntĭă vērsō.

nēc mĭnŏr ēst īllīs mūndūs nēc lūmĭnĕ pēiōr,

nēc nŭmĕrōsă mĭnūs nāscūntūr sīdĕra ĭn ōrbēm.

cētĕră nōn cēdūnt: ūnō vīncūntŭr ĭn āstrō,

Aūgūstō, sīdūs nōstrō quī cōntĭgĭt ōrbī,

Caēsār, nūnc tērrīs pōst caēlō māxĭmŭs aūctōr.

cērnĕrĕ vīcīnūm Gĕmĭnīs lĭcĕt Ōrīōnă

īn māgnām caēlī tēndēntēm brācchĭă pārtēm

nēc mĭnŭs ēxtēntō sūrgēntem ād sīdĕră pāssū,

sīngŭlă fūlgēntīs ŭmĕrōs cuī lūmĭnă sīgnānt

ēt trĭbŭs ōblīquīs dēmīssūs dūcĭtŭr ēnsīs,

āt căpŭt Ōrīōn ēxcēlso īmmērsŭs Ŏlŷmpō

pēr trĭă sūbdūctō sīgnātūr lūmĭnă vūltū.

nōn quōd clāră mĭnūs sēd quōd măgĭs āltă rĕcēdānt

hōc dŭcĕ pēr tōtūm dēcūrrūnt sīdĕră mūndūm.

sūbsĕquĭtūr răpĭdō cōntēntă Cănīcŭlă cūrsū,

quā nūllūm tērrīs vĭŏlēntĭŭs ādvĕnĭt āstrūm

nēc grăvĭūs cēdīt. nūnc hōrrĭdă frīgŏrĕ sūrgīt,

nūnc văcŭūm sōlī fūlgēntēm dēsĕrĭt ōrbēm:

sīc ĭn ŭtrūmquĕ mŏvēt mūndum ēt cōntrārĭă rēddīt.

hānc quī sūrgēntēm, prīmō cūm rēddĭtŭr ōrtū,

mōntĭs ăb ēxcēlsō spĕcŭlāntūr vērtĭcĕ Taūrī,

ēvēntūs frūgūm vărĭōs ēt tēmpŏră dīscūnt,

quaēquĕ vălētūdō vĕnĭāt, cōncōrdĭă quāntă.

bēllă făcīt pācēmquĕ rĕfērt, vărĭēquĕ rĕvērtēns

sīc mŏvĕt, ūt vīdīt, mūndūm vūltūquĕ gŭbērnāt.

māgnă fĭdēs hōc pōssĕ cŏlōr cūrsūsquĕ mĭcāntīs

īgnĭs ăd ōs. vīx sōlĕ mĭnōr, nĭsĭ quōd prŏcŭl haērēns

frīgĭdă caērŭlĕō cōntōrquēt lūmĭnă vūltū.

cētĕră vīncūntūr spĕcĭē, nēc clārĭŭs āstrūm

tīngŭĭtūr ŏceănō caēlūmvĕ rĕvīsĭt ăb ūndīs.

tūnc Prŏcўōn vēlōxquĕ Lĕpūs; tūm nōbĭlĭs Ārgō

īn caēlūm sūbdūctă mărī, quōd prīmă cŭcūrrīt,

ēmĕrĭtūm māgnīs mūndūm tĕnĕt āctă pĕrīclīs,

sērvāndō dĕă fāctă dĕōs. cuī prōxĭmŭs Ānguīs

squāmĕă dīspŏsĭtīs ĭmĭtātūr tērgŏră flāmmīs;

ēt Phoēbō săcĕr ālĕs ĕt ūnā grātŭs Ĭācchō

Crātēr ēt dŭplĭcī Cēntaūrŭs ĭmāgĭnĕ fūlgēt,

pārs hŏmĭnīs, tērgō pēctūs cōmmīssŭs ĕquīnō.

īpsĭŭs hīnc mūndō tēmplum ēst, vīctrīxquĕ sŏlūtīs

Āră nĭtēt sācrīs, vāstōs cūm tērră gĭgāntās

īn caēlūm fŭrĭbūndă tŭlīt. tūm dī quŏquĕ māgnōs

quaēsīvērĕ dĕōs; dŭbĭtāvīt Iūppĭtĕr īpsĕ,

quōd pŏtĕrāt nōn pōssĕ tĭmēns, cūm sūrgĕrĕ tērrām

cērnĕrĕt, ūt vērtī nātūrām crēdĕrĕt ōmnēm,

mōntĭbŭs ātque āltīs āggēstōs crēscĕrĕ mōntēs,

ēt iām vīcīnōs fŭgĭēntĭă sīdĕră cōllēs

ārma īmpōrtāntīs ēt rūptā mātrĕ crĕātōs

dīscōrdīs vūltūm pērmīxtăquĕ cōrpŏră pārtūs.

nēc dī mōrtĭfĕrūm sĭbĭ quēmquam aūt nūmĭnă nōrānt

sīquă fŏrēnt māiōră sŭīs. tūnc Iūppĭtĕr Āraē

sīdĕră cōnstĭtŭīt, quaē nūnc quŏquĕ māxĭmă fūlgēt.

quām prōptēr Cētōs cōnvōlvēns squāmĕă tērgă

ōrbĭbŭs īnsūrgīt tōrtīs ēt flūctŭăt ālvō,

īntēntāns mōrsūm sĭmĭlīs iām iāmquĕ tĕnēntī

quālĭs ăd ēxpŏsĭtaē fātūm Cēphēĭdŏs ūndīs

ēxpŭlĭt ādvĕnĭēns ūltrā sŭă lītŏră pōntūm.

tūm Nŏtĭūs Pīscīs vēntī dē nōmĭnĕ dīctūs

ēxsūrgīt dē pārtĕ nŏtī. cuī iūnctă fĕrūntūr

flēxă pĕr īngēntīs stēllārūm Flūmĭnă gŷrōs:

āltĕrĭūs căpĭtī cōniūngĭt Ăquārĭŭs ūndās

āmnĭs; ĕt īn mĕdĭūm cŏĕūnt ēt sīdĕră mīscēnt.

hīs īntēr sōlīsquĕ vĭās Ārctōsquĕ lătēntīs,

āxēm quaē mūndī strīdēntēm pōndĕrĕ tōrquēnt,

ōrbĕ pĕrēgrīnō caēlūm dēpīngĭtŭr āstrīs,

quaē nŏtĭa āntīquī dīxērūnt sīdĕră vātēs.

ūltĭmă, quaē mūndō sēmpēr vōlvūntŭr ĭn īmō,

quīs īnnīxă mănēnt caēlī fūlgēntĭă tēmplă,

nūsquam īn cōnspēctūm rĕdĕūntĭă cārdĭnĕ vērsō,

sūblīmīs spĕcĭēm mūndī sĭmĭlīsquĕ fĭgūrās

āstrōrūm rĕfĕrūnt. āvērsās frōntĭbŭs Ārctōs

ūnō dīstīnguī mĕdĭās claūdīquĕ Drăcōnĕ

crēdĭmŭs ēxēmplō, quĭă mēns fŭgĭēntĭă vīsūs

hūnc ōrbēm caēlī vērtēntīs sīdĕră cūrsū

tām sīgnō sĭmĭlī fūltūm quām vērtĭcĕ fīngīt.

haēc ĭgĭtūr māgnō dīvīsās aēthĕrĕ sēdēs

sīgnă tĕnēnt mūndī tōtūm dēdūctă pĕr ōrbēm.

tū mŏdŏ cōrpŏrĕīs sĭmĭlēs nē quaērĕ fĭgūrās,

ōmnĭa ŭt aēquālī fūlgēntĭă mēmbră cŏlōrĕ

dēfĭcĭāt nĭhĭl aūt văcŭūm quā lūmĭnĕ cēssēt.

nōn pŏtĕrīt mūndūs sūffērre īncēndĭă tāntă,

ōmnĭă sī plēnīs ārdēbūnt sīdĕră mēmbrīs.

quīcquīd sūbdūxīt flāmmīs, nātūră pĕpērcīt

sūccŭbĭtūra ŏnĕrī, fōrmās dīsiūngĕrĕ tāntūm

cōntēnta ēt stēllīs ōstēndĕrĕ sīdĕră cērtīs.

līnĕă dēsīgnāt spĕcĭēs, ātque īgnĭbŭs īgnēs

rēspōndēnt; mĕdĭa ēxtrēmīs ātque ūltĭmă sūmmīs

crēdūntūr: sătĭs ēst sī sē nōn ōmnĭă cēlānt.

praēcĭpŭē, mĕdĭō cūm lūna īmplēbĭtŭr ōrbĕ,

cērtă nĭtēnt mūndō tūm lūmĭnă; cōndĭtŭr ōmnĕ

stēllārūm vūlgūs, fŭgĭūnt sĭnĕ nōmĭnĕ sīgnă.

pūră lĭcēt văcŭō tūm cērnĕrĕ sīdĕră caēlō,

nēc fāllūnt nŭmĕrō, pārvīs nēc mīxtă fĕrūntūr.

ēt, quō clāră măgīs pōssīs cōgnōscĕrĕ sīgnă,

nōn vărĭōs ŏbĭtūs nōrūnt vărĭōsquĕ rĕcūrsūs,

cērtă sĕd īn prŏprĭās ŏrĭūntūr sīngŭlă lūcēs

nātālēsquĕ sŭōs ōccāsūmque ōrdĭnĕ sērvānt.

nēc quīcquam īn tāntā măgĭs ēst mīrābĭlĕ mōlĕ

quām rătĭo ēt cērtīs quōd lēgĭbŭs ōmnĭă pārēnt.

nūsquām tūrbă nŏcēt, nĭhĭl ūllīs pārtĭbŭs ērrāns

lāxĭŭs aūt brĕvĭūs mūtātōve ōrdĭnĕ fērtūr.

quīd tām cōnfūsūm spĕcĭē, quīd tām vĭcĕ cērtūmst?

āc mĭhĭ tām praēsēns rătĭō nōn ūllă vĭdētūr,

quā pătĕāt mūndūm dīvīnō nūmĭnĕ vērtī

ātque īpsum ēssĕ dĕūm, nēc fōrtĕ cŏīssĕ măgīstrā,

ūt vŏlŭīt crēdī, quī prīmūs moēnĭă mūndī

sēmĭnĭbūs strūxīt mĭnĭmīs īnque īllă rĕsōlvīt;

ē quĭbŭs ēt mărĭa ēt tērrās ēt sīdĕră caēlī

aēthĕrăque īmmēnsīs făbrĭcāntēm fīnĭbŭs ōrbēs

sōlvēntēmque ălĭōs cōnstāre, ēt cūnctă rĕvērtī

īn sŭă prīncĭpĭa ēt rērūm mūtārĕ fĭgūrās.

quīs crēdāt tāntās ŏpĕrūm sĭnĕ nūmĭnĕ mōlēs

ēx mĭnĭmīs caēcōquĕ crĕātūm foēdĕrĕ mūndūm?

sī fōrs īstă dĕdīt nōbīs, fōrs īpsă gŭbērnēt.

āt cūr dīspŏsĭtīs vĭcĭbūs cōnsūrgĕrĕ sīgnă

ēt vĕlŭt īmpĕrĭō praēscrīptōs rēddĕrĕ cūrsūs

cērnĭmŭs āc nūllīs prŏpĕrāntĭbŭs ūllă rĕlīnquī?

cūr ĕădem aēstīvās ēxōrnānt sīdĕră nōctīs

sēmpĕr ĕt hībērnās ĕădēm, cērtāmquĕ fĭgūrām

quīsquĕ dĭēs rēddīt mūndō cērtāmquĕ rĕlīnquīt?

iām tūm, cūm Grāiaē vērtērūnt Pērgămă gēntēs,

Ārctŏs ĕt Ōrīōn ādvērsīs frōntĭbŭs ībānt,

haēc cōntēntă sŭōs īn vērtĭcĕ flēctĕrĕ gŷrōs,

īlle ēx dīvērsō vērtēntēm sūrgĕrĕ cōntrā

ōbvĭŭs ēt tōtō sēmpēr dēcūrrĕrĕ mūndō.

tēmpŏrăque ōbscūraē nōctīs dēprēndĕrĕ sīgnīs

iām pŏtĕrānt, caēlūmquĕ sŭā dīstīnxĕrăt hōrās.

quōt pōst ēxcĭdĭūm Troīaē sūnt ērŭtă rēgnă!

quōt cāptī pŏpŭlī! quŏtĭēns fōrtūnă pĕr ōrbēm

sērvĭtĭum īmpĕrĭūmquĕ tŭlīt vărĭēquĕ rĕvērtīt!

Trōiānōs cĭnĕrēs īn quāntum ōblītă rĕfōvīt

īmpĕrĭūm! fātīs Ăsĭaē iām Graēcĭă prēssāst.

saēcŭlă dīnŭmĕrārĕ pĭgēt, quōtiēnsquĕ rĕcūrrēns

lūstrārīt mūndūm vărĭō sōl īgnĕŭs ōrbĕ.

ōmnĭă mōrtālī mūtāntūr lēgĕ crĕātă,

nēc sē cōgnōscūnt tērraē vērtēntĭbŭs ānnīs

ēxūtās, vărĭāntquĕ vĭcēm pēr saēcŭlă gēntēs.

āt mănĕt īncŏlŭmīs mūndūs sŭăque ōmnĭă sērvāt,

quaē nēc lōngă dĭēs aūgēt mĭnŭītquĕ sĕnēctūs

nēc mōtūs pūnctō cūrvāt cūrsūsquĕ fătīgāt:

īdēm sēmpĕr ĕrīt quŏnĭām sēmpēr fŭĭt īdēm.

nōn ălĭūm vīdērĕ pătrēs ălĭūmvĕ nĕpōtēs

āspĭcĭēnt. dĕŭs ēst, quī nōn mūtātŭr ĭn aēvō.

nūmquām trānsvērsās sōlēm dēcūrrĕre ăd ārctōs

nēc mūtārĕ vĭās ĕt ĭn ōrtūm vērtĕrĕ cūrsūs

aūrōrāmquĕ nŏvīs nāscēntem ōstēndĕrĕ tērrīs,

nēc lūnām cērtōs ēxcēdĕrĕ lūmĭnĭs ōrbēs

sēd sērvārĕ mŏdūm, quō crēscāt quōquĕ rĕcēdāt,

nēc cădĕre īn tērrām pēndēntĭă sīdĕră caēlō

sēd dīmēnsă sŭīs cōnsūmĕrĕ tēmpŏră gŷrīs,

nōn căsŭs ōpūs ēst, māgnī sēd nūmĭnĭs ōrdŏ.

haēc ĭgĭtūr tēxūnt aēquālī sīdĕră trāctū

īgnĭbŭs īn vărĭās caēlūm lăquĕāntĭă fōrmās.

āltĭŭs hīs nĭhĭl ēst; haēc sūnt fāstīgĭă mūndī;

pūblĭcă nātūraē dŏmŭs hīs cōntēntă tĕnētūr

fīnĭbŭs, āmplēctēns pōntūm tērrāsquĕ iăcēntīs.

ōmnĭă cōncōrdī trāctū vĕnĭūntquĕ cădūntquĕ,

quā sĕmĕl īncŭbŭīt caēlūm vērsūmquĕ rĕsūrgīt.

īpse aūtēm quāntūm cōnvēxō mūndŭs Ŏlŷmpō

ōbtĭnĕāt spătĭūm, quāntīs bīs sēnă fĕrāntūr

fīnĭbŭs āstră, dŏcēt rătĭō, cuī nūllă rĕsīstūnt

claūstră nĕc īmmēnsaē mōlēs caēcīvĕ rĕcēssūs;

ōmnĭă sūccūmbūnt, īpsum ēst pĕnĕtrābĭlĕ caēlūm.

nām quāntūm tērrīs ātque aēquŏrĕ sīgnă rĕcēdūnt,

tāntūm bīnă pătēnt. quācūmque īncīdĭtŭr ōrbīs

pēr mĕdĭūm, pārs ēffĭcĭtūr tūm tērtĭă gŷrī

ēxĭgŭō dĭrĭmēns sŏlĭdām dīscrīmĭnĕ sūmmām.

sūmmum ĭgĭtūr caēlūm bīs bīnă rĕfūgĭt ăb īmō

āstră, bĭs ē sēnīs ūt sīt pārs tērtĭă sīgnīs.

sēd quĭă pēr mĕdĭum ēst tēllūs sūspēnsă prŏfūndūm

bīnīs ā sūmmō sīgnīs dīscēdĭt ĕt īmō.

hīnc ĭgĭtūr quōdcūmquĕ sŭprā tē sūspĭcĭs īpsĕ,

quā pĕr ĭnānĕ mĕānt ŏcŭlī quāque īrĕ rĕcūsānt,

bīnīs aēquāndum ēst sīgnīs; sēx tāntă rŏtūndaē

ēffĭcĭūnt ōrbēm zōnaē, quā sīgnă fĕrūntūr

bīs sēx aēquālī spătĭō tēxēntĭă caēlūm.

nē mīrērĕ văgōs pārtūs ĕădem ēssĕ pĕr āstră

ēx mīxtum īngēntī gĕnĕrīs dīscrīmĭnĕ fātūm,

sīngŭlă cūm tāntūm tĕnĕānt tāntōquĕ fĕrāntūr

tēmpŏrĕ, sēx tōtā sūrgēntĭă sīdĕră lūcĕ.

rēstăt ŭt aēthĕrĭōs fīnēs tĭbĭ rēddĕrĕ cōnēr

fīlăquĕ dīspŏsĭtīs vĭcĭbūs cŏmĭtāntĭă caēlūm,

pēr quaē dērĭgĭtūr sīgnōrūm flāmmĕŭs ōrdŏ.

cīrcŭlŭs ā sūmmō nāscēntēm vērtĭcĕ mūndūm

prīmŭs ĕt aēthĕrĭā sūccēdēns prōxĭmŭs ārcĕ

cīrcŭlŭs ād bŏrĕām fūlgēntēm sūstĭnĕt Ārctōn

sēxquĕ fŭgīt sŏlĭdās ā caēlī vērtĭcĕ pārtēs.

āltĕr ăd ēxtrēmī dēcūrrēns sīdĕră Cāncrī,

īn quō cōnsūmmāt Phoēbūs lūcēmquĕ mŏrāmquĕ

tārdăquĕ pēr lōngōs cīrcūmfērt lūmĭnă flēxūs,

aēstīvūm mĕdĭō nōmēn sĭbĭ sūmĭt ăb aēstū,

tēmpŏrĭs ēt tĭtŭlō pŏtĭtūr, mētāmquĕ vŏlāntīs

sōlĭs ĕt ēxtrēmōs dēsīgnāt fērvĭdŭs āctūs,

ēt quīnque īn pārtēs ăquĭlōnīs dīstăt ăb ōrbĕ.

tērtĭŭs īn mĕdĭā mūndī rĕgĭōnĕ lŏcātūs

īngēntī spīrā tōtūm praēcīngĭt Ŏlŷmpūm

pārte ăb ŭtrāquĕ vĭdēns āxēm, quā lūmĭnĕ Phoēbūs

cōmpōnīt părĭbūs nŭmĕrīs nōctēmquĕ dĭēmquĕ

vērĭs ĕt aūtūmnī cūrrēns pēr tēmpŏră mīxtă,

cūm mĕdĭum aēquālī dīstīnguīt līmĭtĕ caēlūm;

quāttŭŏr ēt grădĭbūs sŭă fīlă rĕdūcĭt ăb aēstū.

prōxĭmŭs hūnc ūltrā brūmālīs nōmĭnĕ līmēs

ūltĭmă dēsīgnāt fŭgĭēntīs līmĭnă sōlīs,

īnvĭdă cum ōblīquā rădĭōrūm mūnĕră flāmmā

dāt pĕr ĭtēr mĭnĭmūm nōbīs, sēd fīnĭbŭs īllīs,

quōs sŭpĕr īncŭbŭīt, lōngā stānt tēmpŏră lūcĕ

vīxquĕ dĭēs trānsīt cāndēntem ēxtēntă pĕr aēstūm;

bīsquĕ iăcēt bīnīs sūmmōtūs pārtĭbŭs ōrbīs.

ūnŭs ăb hīs sŭpĕrēst ēxtrēmō prōxĭmŭs āxī

cīrcŭlŭs, aūstrīnās quī strīngĭt ĕt ōbsĭdĕt Ārctōs.

hīc quŏquĕ brūmālēm pēr pārtēs quīnquĕ rĕlīnquīt,

ēt, quāntum ā nōstrō sūblīmīs cārdĭnĕ gŷrūs,

dīstăt ăb ādvērsō tāntūmdēm prōxĭmŭs īllī.

sīc pēr trīcēnās vērtēx ā vērtĭcĕ pārtēs

dīvīsūs dŭplĭcī sūmmā cīrcūmdăt Ŏlŷmpūm

ēt pēr quīnquĕ nŏtāt sīgnāntīs tēmpŏră fīnēs.

hīs ĕădem ēst vĭă quaē mūndō, părĭtērquĕ rŏtāntūr

īnclīnēs, sŏcĭōsque ōrtūs ōccāsĭbŭs aēquānt,

quāndŏquĭdēm flēxī quō tōtūs vōlvĭtŭr ōrbīs

fīlă trăhūnt āltī cūrsūm cŏmĭtāntĭă caēlī,

īntērvāllă părī sērvāntēs līmĭtĕ sēmpēr

dīvīsōsquĕ sĕmēl fīnēs sōrtēmquĕ dĭcātām.

sūnt dŭŏ, quōs rĕcĭpīt dūctōs ā vērtĭcĕ vērtēx,

īntēr se ādvērsī, quī cūnctōs āntĕ rĕlātōs

sēquĕ sĕcānt gĕmĭnō cŏĕūntēs cārdĭnĕ mūndī

trānsvērsōquĕ pŏlō rēctūm dūcūntŭr ĭn āxēm,

tēmpŏră sīgnāntēs ānnī caēlūmquĕ pĕr āstră

quāttŭŏr īn pārtēs dīvīsūm mēnsĭbŭs aēquīs.

āltĕr ăb ēxcēlsō dēcūrrēns līmĕs Ŏlŷmpō

Sērpēntīs caūdām sīccās ēt dīvĭdĭt Ārctōs

ēt iŭgă Chēlārūm mĕdĭō vŏlĭtāntĭă gŷrō,

ēxtrēmāmquĕ sĕcāns Hŷdrām mĕdĭūmquĕ sŭb āstrīs

Cēntaūrum ādvērsō cōncūrrīt rūrsŭs ĭn āxĕ,

ēt rĕdĭt īn caēlūm, squāmōsăquĕ tērgŏră Cētī

Lānĭgĕrīquĕ nŏtāt fīnēs clārūmquĕ Trĭgōnūm

Āndrŏmĕdaēquĕ sĭnūs īmōs, vēstīgĭă mātrīs,

prīncĭpĭūmquĕ sŭūm rĕpĕtītō cārdĭnĕ claūdīt.

āltĕr ĭn hūnc mĕdĭūm sūmmūmque īncūmbĭt ĭn āxēm

pērquĕ pĕdēs prīmōs cērvīcēm trānsĭt ĕt Ūrsaē,

quām sēptēm stēllaē prīmām iām sōlĕ rĕmōtō

prōdūcūnt nīgraē praēbēntēm lūmĭnă nōctī,

ēt Gĕmĭnīs Cāncrūm dĭrĭmīt strīngītquĕ flăgrāntēm

ōrĕ Cănēm clāvūmquĕ Rătīs, quaē vīcĕrăt aēquōr,

īnde āxem ōccūltūm pēr gŷrī sīgnă prĭōrīs

trānsvērsa ātque īllō rūrsūs dē līmĭtĕ tāngīt

tē, Căprĭcōrnĕ, tŭīsque Ăquĭlām dēsīgnăt ăb āstrīs,

pērquĕ Lўram īnvērsām cūrrēns spīrāsquĕ Drăcōnīs

pōstĕrĭōră pĕdūm Cўnŏsūraē praētĕrĭt āstră

trānsvērsāmquĕ sĕcāt vīcīnō cārdĭnĕ caūdām:

hīc ĭtĕrūm cŏĭt īpsĕ sĭbī, mĕmŏr ūndĕ prŏfēctūs.

ātque hōs aētērnā fīxērūnt tēmpŏră sēdĕ,

īmmōtīs pēr sīgnă mŏdīs, stătĭōnĕ pĕrēnnī:

hōs vŏlŭcrēs fēcērĕ dŭōs. nāmque āltĕr ăb īpsā

cōnsūrgēns Hĕlĭcē mĕdĭūm praēcīdĭt Ŏlŷmpūm

dīscērnītquĕ dĭēm sēxtāmque ēxāmĭnăt hōrām

ēt părĭbūs spătĭīs ōccāsūs cērnĭt ĕt ōrtūs.

hīc mūtāt pēr sīgnă vĭcēs; ēt, seū quĭs ĕōōs

seū pĕtĭt hēspĕrĭōs, sūprā sē cīrcĭnăt ōrbēm

vērtĭcĭbūs sŭpĕr āstāntēm mĕdĭūmquĕ sĕcāntēm

caēlum ēt dīvīsō sīgnāntēm cūlmĭnĕ mūndūm,

quāndo ălĭīs ălĭūd mĕdĭūmst. vŏlăt hōră pĕr ōrbēm,

cūmquĕ lŏcō tērraē caēlūmque ēt tēmpŏră mūtāt,

ātque ŭbĭ sē prīmīs ēxtōllīt Phoēbŭs ăb ūndīs

īllīs sēxtă mănēt, quōs tūm prĕmĭt aūrĕŭs ōrbīs,

rūrsŭs ăd hēspĕrĭōs sēxta ēst, ŭbĭ cēdĭt ĭn ūmbrās:

nōs prīmam āc sūmmām sēxtām nŭmĕrāmŭs ŭtrāmquĕ

ēt gĕlĭdum ēxtrēmō lūmēn sēntīmŭs ăb īgnī.

āltĕrĭūs fīnēs sī vīs cōgnōscĕrĕ gŷrī,

cīrcūmfēr făcĭlēs ŏcŭlōs vūltūmquĕ pĕr ōrbēm.

quīdquĭd ĕrīt caēlīque īmūm tērraēquĕ sŭprēmūm,

quā cŏĭt īpsĕ sĭbī nūllō dīscrīmĭnĕ mūndūs

rēddītque aūt rĕcĭpīt fūlgēntĭă sīdĕră pōntō,

praēcīngīt tĕnŭī trānsvērsūm līmĭtĕ mūndūm.

haēc quŏquĕ pēr tōtūm vŏlĭtābīt līnĕă caēlūm,

nūnc trāctum ād mĕdĭūm vērgēns mūndīquĕ tĕpēntēm

ōrbēm, nūnc sēptem ād stēllās nēc mōtă sŭb āstră;

seū quōcūmquĕ văgaē tŭlĕrīnt vēstīgĭă plāntaē

hās mŏdŏ tērrārūm nūnc hās grădĭēntĭs ĭn ōrās

sēmpĕr ĕrīt nŏvŭs ēt tērrīs mūtābĭtŭr ārcūs.

quīppe ălĭūd caēlum ōstēndēns ălĭūdquĕ rĕlīnquēns

dīmĭdĭūm tĕgĕt ēt rĕfĕrēt, vărĭōquĕ nŏtābīt

fīne ēt cūm vīsū părĭtēr sŭă fīlă mŏvēntĕ.

hīc tērrēstrĭs ĕrīt, quĭă tērram āmplēctĭtŭr, ōrbīs;

ēt mūndūm plānō praēcīngīt līmĭtĕ gŷrūs

ātque ā fīnĕ trăhēns tĭtŭlūm mĕmŏrātŭr hŏrīzōn.

Hīs ădĭce ōblīquōs ādvērsăquĕ fīlă trăhēntīs

īntēr sē gŷrōs, quōrūm fūlgēntĭă sīgnă

āltĕr hăbēt, pēr quaē Phoēbūs mŏdĕrātŭr hăbēnās

sūbsĕquĭtūrquĕ sŭō sōlēm văgă Dēlĭă cūrrū

ēt quīnque ādvērsō lūctāntĭă sīdĕră mūndō

ēxērcēnt vărĭās nātūraē lēgĕ chŏrēās.

hūnc tĕnĕt ā sūmmō Cāncēr, Căprĭcōrnŭs ăb īmō,

bīs rĕcĭpīt, lūcēm quī cīrcŭlŭs aēquăt ĕt ūmbrās,

Lānĭgĕri ēt Lībraē sīgnō sŭă fīlă sĕcāntēm.

sīc pēr trīs gŷrōs īnflēxūs dūcĭtŭr ōrbīs

rēctăquĕ dēvēxō fāllīt vēstīgĭă dīvō.

nēc vīsūs ăcĭēmquĕ fŭgīt tāntūmquĕ nŏtārī

mēntĕ pŏtēst, sīcūt cērnūntūr mēntĕ prĭōrēs,

sēd nĭtĕt īngēntī stēllātūs bāltĕŭs ōrbĕ

īnsīgnēmquĕ făcīt lātō caēlāmĭnĕ mūndūm.

ēt tēr vīcēnās pārtēs pătĕt ātquĕ trĕcēntās

īn lōngūm, bīs sēx lātēscīt fāscĭă pārtēs

quaē cŏhĭbēt vărĭō lābēntĭă sīdĕră cūrsū.

Āltĕr ĭn ādvērsūm pŏsĭtūs sūccēdĭt ăd ārctōs

ēt paūlum ā bŏrĕaē gŷrō sŭă fīlă rĕdūcīt

trānsītque īnvērsaē pēr sīdĕră Cāssĭĕpīaē,

īndĕ pĕr ōblīquūm dēscēndēns tāngĭt Ŏlōrēm

aēstīvōsquĕ sĕcāt fīnēs Ăquĭlāmquĕ sŭpīnām

tēmpŏrăque aēquāntēm gŷrūm zōnāmquĕ fĕrēntēm

sōlĭs ĕquōs īntēr caūdām quā Scōrpĭŭs ārdēt

ēxtrēmāmquĕ Săgīttārī laēvam ātquĕ săgīttām,

īndĕ sŭōs sīnvāt flēxūs pēr crūră pĕdēsquĕ

Cēntaūri āltĕrĭūs rūrsūsque āscēndĕrĕ caēlūm

īncĭpĭt Ārgīvūmquĕ rătēm pĕr ăplūstrĭă sūmmă

ēt mĕdĭūm mūndī gŷrūm Gĕmĭnōsquĕ pĕr īmă

sīgnă sĕcāt, sŭbĭt Hēnĭŏchūm, tēque, ūndĕ prŏfēctūs,

Cāssĭĕpīă, pĕtēns sŭpĕr īpsūm Pērsĕă trānsīt

ōrbēmque ēx īllā coēptūm cōnclūdĭt ĭn īpsā;

trīsquĕ sĕcāt mĕdĭōs gŷrōs ēt sīgnă fĕrēntēm

pārtĭbŭs ē bīnīs, quŏtĭēns praēcīdĭtŭr īpsĕ.

nēc quaērēndŭs ĕrīt: vīsūs īncūrrĭt ĭn īpsōs

spōntĕ sŭā sēque īpsĕ dŏcēt cōgītquĕ nŏtārī.

nāmque īn caērŭlĕō cāndēns nĭtĕt ōrbĭtă mūndō

ceū mīssūră dĭēm sŭbĭtō caēlūmquĕ rĕclūdēns,

āc vĕlŭtī vĭrĭdēs dīscērnīt sēmĭtă cāmpōs

quām tĕrĭt āssĭdŭō rĕnŏvāns ĭtĕr ōrbĭtă trāctū.

īntēr dīvīsās aēquābĭlĭs ēst vĭă pārtēs

ūt frĕtă cānēscūnt sūlcūm dūcēntĕ cărīnā,

āccĭpĭūntquĕ vĭām flūctūs spūmāntĭbŭs ūndīs

quām tōrtūs vērsō mōvīt dē gūrgĭtĕ vērtēx,

cāndĭdŭs īn nīgrō lūcēt sīc līmĕs Ŏlŷmpō

caērŭlĕūm fīndēns īngēntī lūmĭnĕ mūndūm.

ūtquĕ sŭōs ārcūs pēr nūbĭlă cīrcĭnăt Īrīs,

sīc sŭpĕr īncūmbīt sīgnātō cūlmĭnĕ līmēs

cāndĭdŭs ēt rĕsŭpīnă făcīt mōrtālĭbŭs ōră,

dūm nŏvă pēr caēcām mīrāntūr lūmĭnă nōctēm

īnquīrūntquĕ săcrās hūmānō pēctŏrĕ caūsās:

nūm sē dīdūctīs cōnētūr sōlvĕrĕ mōlēs

sēgmĭnĭbūs, rārāquĕ lăbēnt cōmpāgĭnĕ rīmaē

ādmīttāntquĕ nŏvūm lāxātō tēgmĭnĕ lūmēn;

quīd sĭbĭ nōn tīmeānt, māgnī cūm vūlnĕră caēlī

cōnspĭcĭānt fĕrĭātque ŏcŭlōs īniūrĭă mūndī?

ān cŏĕāt mūndūs, dŭplĭcīsque ēxtrēmă căvērnaē

cōnvĕnĭānt caēlīque ōrās ēt sīdĕră iūngānt,

pērque īpsōs fīāt nēxūs mănĭfēstă cĭcātrīx

fūsūrām făcĭēns mūndī stīpātŭs ĕt ōrbīs

āĕrĭam īn nĕbŭlām dēnsā cōmpāgĭnĕ vērsūs

īn cŭnĕōs āltī cōgāt fūndāmĭnă caēlī.

ān mĕlĭūs mănĕt īllă fĭdēs, pēr saēcŭlă prīscă

īllāc sōlĭs ĕquōs dīvērsīs cūrsĭbŭs īssĕ

ātque ălĭām trīvīssĕ vĭām, lōngūmquĕ pĕr aēvūm

ēxūstās sēdēs īncōctăquĕ sīdĕră flāmmīs

caērŭlĕām vērsō spĕcĭēm mūtāssĕ cŏlōrĕ,

īnfūsūmquĕ lŏcō cĭnĕrēm mūndūmquĕ sĕpūltūm?

fāma ĕtĭam āntīquīs ād nōs dēscēndĭt ăb ānnīs

Phaēthōntēm pătrĭō cūrrū pēr sīgnă vŏlāntēm,

dūm nŏvă mīrātūr prŏprĭūs spēctācŭlă mūndī

ēt pŭĕr īn caēlō lūdīt cūrrūquĕ sŭpērbūs

lūxŭrĭāt nĭtĭdō, cŭpĭt ēt māiōră părēntĕ,

mōnstrātās līquīssĕ vĭās ōrbēmquĕ rĕcēntēm

īmpŏsŭīssĕ pŏlō, nēc sīgna īnsuētă tŭlīssĕ

ērrāntīs mētā flāmmās cūrrūmquĕ sŏlūtūm.

dēflēxūm sŏlĭtō cūrsū, cūmīsquĕ quădrīgīs

quīd quĕrĭmūr flāmmās tōtūm saēvīssĕ pĕr ōrbēm

tērrārūmquĕ rŏgūm cūnctās ārsīssĕ pĕr ūrbēs?

cūm văgă dīspērsī flŭĭtārūnt frāgmĭnă cūrrūs,

ēt caēlum ēxūstum ēst: lŭĭt īpse īncēndĭă mūndūs,

ēt nŏvă vīcīnīs flāgrārūnt sīdĕră flāmmīs

nūnc quŏquĕ praētĕrĭtī făcĭēm rĕfĕrēntĭă cāsūs.

nēc mĭhĭ cēlānda ēst vūlgātā fāmă vĕtūstā

mōllĭŏr, ē nĭvĕō lāctīs flūxīssĕ lĭquōrēm

pēctŏrĕ rēgīnaē dīvūm caēlūmquĕ cŏlōrĕ

īnfēcīssĕ sŭō; quāprōptēr lāctĕŭs ōrbīs

dīcĭtŭr, ēt nōmēn caūsā dēscēndĭt ăb īpsā.

ān māiōr dēnsā stēllārūm tūrbă cŏrōnā

cōntēxīt flāmmās ēt crāssō lūmĭnĕ cāndēt,

ēt fūlgōrĕ nĭtēt cōllātō clārĭŏr ōrbīs?

ān fōrtēs ănĭmaē dīgnātăquĕ nōmĭnă caēlō

cōrpŏrĭbūs rĕsŏlūtă sŭīs tērraēquĕ rĕmīssă

hūc mīgrānt ēx ōrbĕ sŭūmque hăbĭtāntĭă caēlūm

aēthĕrĭōs vīvūnt ānnōs mūndōquĕ frŭūntūr;

ātque hīc Aēăcĭdās, hīc ēt vĕnĕrāmŭr Ătrīdās,

Tŷdīdēnquĕ fĕrūm, tērraēquĕ mărīsquĕ trĭūmphīs

nātūraē vīctōrem Ĭthăcūm, Pўlĭūmquĕ sĕnēctā

īnsīgnēm trĭplĭcī, Dănăūmque ād Pērgămă rēgēs,

Hēctŏrăque Īlĭăcaē gēntīs cŏlŭmēnquĕ dĕcūsquĕ,

Aūrōraēquĕ nĭgrūm pārtūm, stīrpēmquĕ Tŏnāntīs

rēctōrēm Lўcĭaē? nēc tē, Māvōrtĭă vīrgŏ,

praētĕrĕām, rēgēsque ălĭōs, quōs Thraēcĭă mīsīt

ātque Ăsĭaē gēntēs ēt Māgnō māxĭmă Pēllă;

quīque ănĭmī vīrēs ēt strīctaē pōndĕră mēntīs

prūdēntēs hăbŭērĕ vĭrī, quĭbŭs ōmnĭs ĭn īpsīs

cēnsŭs ĕrāt, iūstūsquĕ Sŏlōn fōrtīsquĕ Lўcūrgūs,

aēthĕrĭūsquĕ Plătōn, ēt quī făbrĭcāvĕrăt īllūm

dāmnātūsquĕ sŭās mĕlĭūs dāmnāvĭt Ăthēnās,

Pērsĭdĭs ēt vīctōr, strārāt quaē clāssĭbŭs aēquōr;

Rōmānīquĕ vĭrī, quōrūm iām māxĭmă tūrbāst,

Tārquĭnĭōquĕ mĭnūs rēgēs ĕt Hŏrātĭă prōlēs

sōla ăcĭēs, pārtī nēc nōn ēt Scaēvŏlă trūncō

nōbĭlĭōr, māiōrquĕ vĭrīs ēt Cloēlĭă vīrgŏ,

ēt Rōmānă fĕrēns, quaē tēxīt, moēnĭă Cōclēs,

ēt cōmmīlĭtĭō vŏlŭcrīs Cōrvīnŭs ădēptūs

ēt spŏlĭa ēt nōmēn, quī gēstăt ĭn ālĭtĕ Phoēbūm,

ēt Iŏvĕ quī mĕrŭīt caēlūm Rōmāmquĕ Cămīllūs

sērvāndō pŏsŭīt, Brūtūsque ā rēgĕ rĕcēptaē

cōndĭtŏr, ēt fūrtī pēr bēllă Păpīrĭŭs ūltōr,

Fābrĭcĭūs Cŭrĭūsquĕ părēs, ēt tērtĭă pālmă

Mārcēllūs Cōssūsquĕ prĭōr dē rēgĕ nĕcātō,

cērtāntēsquĕ Dĕcī vōtīs sĭmĭlēsquĕ trĭūmphīs,

īnvīctūsquĕ mŏrā Făbĭūs, vīctōrquĕ nĕfāndī

Līvĭŭs Hāsdrŭbălīs sŏcĭō pēr bēllă Nĕrōnĕ,

Scīpĭădaēquĕ dŭcēs, fātūm Cārthāgĭnĭs ūnūm,

Pōmpēiūsque ōrbīs dŏmĭtōr pēr trīsquĕ trĭūmphōs

āntĕ dĭēm prīncēps, ēt cēnsū Tūllĭŭs ōrīs

ēmĕrĭtūs caēlum, ēt ‹›tū Claūdī māgnă prŏpāgŏ,

Aēmĭlĭaēquĕ dŏmūs prŏcĕrēs, clārīquĕ Mĕtēllī,

ēt Cătŏ fōrtūnaē vīctōr, mātrīsquĕ sŭb ārmīs

mīlĕs Ăgrīppă sŭaē, Vĕnĕrīsque ăb ŏrīgĭnĕ prōlēs

Iūlĭă? dēscēndīt caēlō caēlūmquĕ rĕplēbīt,

quōd rĕgĕt, Aūgūstūs, sŏcĭō pēr sīgnă Tŏnāntĕ,

cērnĕt ĕt īn coētū dīvūm māgnūmquĕ Quĭrīnī

quēmquĕ nŏvūm sŭpĕrīs nūmēn pĭŭs āddĭdĭt īpsĕ,

āltĭŭs aēthĕrĭī quām cāndēt cīrcŭlŭs ōrbīs.

īllă dĕīs sēdēs: haēc īllīs, prōxĭmă dīvūm

quī vīrtūtĕ sŭā sĭmĭlēs fāstīgĭă tāngūnt.

[sūnt ălĭa ādvērsō pūgnāntĭă sīdĕră mūndō

quaē caēlūm tērrāmque īntēr vŏlĭtāntĭă pēndēnt

Sātūrnī, Iŏvĭs ēt Mārtīs Sōlīsquĕ: sŭb īllīs

Mērcŭrĭūs Vĕnĕrem īntĕr ăgīt Lūnāmquĕ lŏcātūs.]

Nūnc prĭŭs īncĭpĭām stēllīs quām rēddĕrĕ vīrēs

sīgnōrūmquĕ cănām fātālĭă cārmĭnĕ iūră,

īmplēnda ēst mūndī făcĭēs, cōrpūsquĕ pĕr ōmnĕ

quīdquĭd ŭbīquĕ nĭtēt vĭgĕāt quāndōquĕ nŏtāndūmst.

sūnt ĕtĭām rārīs ōrtī nātālĭbŭs īgnēs

prōtĭnŭs ēt rāptī. sŭbĭtās cāndēscĕrĕ flāmmās

āĕră pēr lĭquĭdūm trāctōsquĕ pĕrīrĕ cŏmētās

rāră pĕr īngēntīs vīdērūnt saēcŭlă mōtūs.

sīvĕ, quŏd īngĕnĭtūm tērrā spīrāntĕ văpōrēm

ūmĭdĭōr sīccā sŭpĕrātūr spīrĭtŭs aūrā,

nūbĭlă cūm lōngō cēssānt dēpūlsă sĕrēnō

ēt sōlīs rădĭīs ārēscīt tōrrĭdŭs āēr,

āpta ălĭmēntă sĭbī dēmīssūs cōrrĭpĭt īgnīs

mātĕrĭāmquĕ sŭī dēprēndīt flāmmă căpācēm,

ēt, quĭă nōn sŏlĭdum ēst cōrpūs, sēd rāră văgāntūr

prīncĭpĭa aūrārūm vŏlŭcrīquĕ sĭmīllĭmă fūmō,

īn brĕvĕ vīvĭt ŏpūs coēptūsque īncēndĭă fīnĕ

sūbsīstūnt părĭtērquĕ cădūnt fūlgēntquĕ cŏmētaē.

quōd nĭsĭ vīcīnōs ăgĕrēnt ōccāsĭbŭs ōrtūs

ēt tām pārvă fŏrēnt āccēnsīs tēmpŏră flāmmīs,

āltēr nōctĕ dĭēs ēssēt, caēlūmquĕ rĕdīrēt

īmmērsum, ēt sōmnō tōtūm dēprēndĕrĕt ōrbēm.

tūm, quĭă nōn ūnā spĕcĭē dīspērgĭtŭr ōmnīs

ārĭdĭōr tērraē văpŏr ēt cōmprēndĭtŭr īgnī,

dīvērsās quŏquĕ pēr făcĭēs āccēnsă fĕrēntūr

lūmĭnă, quaē sŭbĭtīs ēxīstūnt nātă tĕnēbrīs.

nām mŏdŏ, ceū lōngī flŭĭtēnt dē vērtĭcĕ crīnēs,

flāmmă cŏmās ĭmĭtātă vŏlāt, tĕnŭīsquĕ căpīllōs

dīffūsōs rădĭīs ārdēntĭbŭs ēxplĭcăt īgnīs;

nūnc prĭŏr haēc făcĭēs dīspērsīs crīnĭbŭs ēxīt,

ēt glŏmŭs ārdēntīs sĕquĭtūr sŭb ĭmāgĭnĕ bārbaē;

īntērdum aēquālī lătĕrūm cōmpāgĭnĕ dūctūs

quādrātāmvĕ trăbēm fīngīt tĕrĕtēmvĕ cŏlūmnām.

quīn ĕtĭām tŭmĭdīs ēxaēquāt dōlĭă flāmmīs

prōcērē dīstēnta ŭtĕrōs, ārtōsquĕ căpēllās

mēntītūr pārvās īgnīs glŏmĕrātŭs ĭn ōrbēs

hīrtă fĭgūrāntīs trĕmŭlō sūb lūmĭnĕ mēntă,

lāmpădăs ēt fīssās rāmōsōs fūndĭt ĭn īgnēs.

praēcĭpĭtēs stēllaē pāssīmquĕ vŏlārĕ vĭdēntūr,

cūm văgă pēr nĭtĭdūm scīntīllānt lūmĭnă mūndūm

ēt tĕnŭēm lōngīs iăcŭlāntūr crīnĭbŭs īgnēm

ēxsĭlĭūntquĕ prŏcūl vŏlŭcrēs ĭmĭtātă săgīttās,

ārdŭă cūm grăcĭlī tĕnŭātūr sēmĭtă fīlō.

sūnt aūtēm cūnctīs pērmīxtī pārtĭbŭs īgnēs,

quī grăvĭdās hăbĭtānt făbrĭcāntēs fūlmĭnă nūbēs

ēt pĕnĕtrānt tērrās Aētnāmquĕ mĭnāntŭr Ŏlŷmpō

ēt călĭdās rēddūnt īpsīs īn fōntĭbŭs ūndās

āc sĭlĭce īn dūrā vĭrĭdīque īn cōrtĭcĕ sēdēm

īnvĕnĭūnt, cūm sīlvă sĭbī cōllīsă crĕmātūr;

īgnĭbŭs ūsque ădĕō nātūra ēst ōmnĭs ăbūndāns:

nē mīrērĕ făcēs sŭbĭtās ērūmpĕrĕ caēlō

āĕrăque āccēnsūm flāmmīs lūcērĕ cŏrūscīs

ārĭdă cōmplēxūm spīrāntīs sēmĭnă tērraē,

quaē vŏlŭcēr pāscēns īgnīs sĕquĭtūrquĕ fŭgītquĕ,

fūlgŭră cūm vĭdĕās trĕmŭlūm vībrāntĭă lūmēn

īmbrĭbŭs ē mĕdĭīs ēt caēlūm fūlmĭnĕ rūptūm.

sīve ĭgĭtūr rătĭō praēbēntīs sēmĭnă tērraē

īn vŏlŭcrēs īgnīs pŏtŭīt gĕnĕrārĕ cŏmētās;

sīve īllās nātūră făcēs ōbscūră crĕāvīt

sīdĕră pēr tĕnŭēs caēlō lūcēntĭă flāmmās,

sēd trăhĭt ād sēmēt răpĭdō Tītānĭŭs aēstū

īnvōlvītquĕ sŭō flāmmāntīs īgnĕ cŏmētās

āc mŏdŏ dīmīttīt, sīcūt Cŷllēnĭŭs ōrbīs

ēt Vĕnŭs, āccēnsō cūm dūcīt vēspĕrĕ nōctēm

sēră nĭtēns, fāllūntque ŏcŭlōs rūrsūsquĕ rĕvīsūnt;

seū dĕŭs īnstāntīs fātī mĭsĕrātŭs ĭn ōrbēm

sīgnă pĕr āffēctūs caēlīque īncēndĭă mīttīt;

nūmquām fūttĭlĭbūs ēxcāndŭĭt īgnĭbŭs aēthēr,

squālĭdăque ēlūsī dēplōrānt ārvă cŏlōnī,

ēt stĕrĭlēs īntēr sūlcōs dēfēssŭs ărātōr

ād iŭgă maērēntīs cōgīt frūstrātă iŭvēncōs.

aūt grăvĭbūs mōrbīs ēt lēntā cōrpŏră tābĕ

cōrrĭpĭt ēxūstīs lētālīs flāmmă mĕdūllīs

lābēntīsquĕ răpīt pŏpŭlōs, tōtāsquĕ pĕr ūrbēs

pūblĭcă sūccēnsīs pĕrăgūntūr iūstă sĕpūlcrīs.

quālĭs Ĕrēchthēōs pēstīs pŏpŭlātă cŏlōnōs

ēxtŭlĭt āntīquās pēr fūnĕră pācĭs Ăthēnās,

āltĕr ĭn āltĕrĭūs lābēns cūm fātă rŭēbānt.

nēc lŏcŭs ārtĭs ĕrāt mĕdĭcaē nēc vōtă vălēbānt;

cēssĕrăt ōffĭcĭūm mōrbīs, ēt fūnĕră dērānt

mōrtĭbŭs ēt lăcrĭmaē; lāssūs dēfēcĕrăt īgnīs

ēt cŏăcērvātīs ārdēbānt cōrpŏră mēmbrīs,

āc tāntō quōndām pŏpŭlō vīx cōntĭgĭt hērēs.

tālĭă sīgnĭfĭcānt lūcēntēs saēpĕ cŏmētaē:

fūnĕră cūm făcĭbūs vĕnĭūnt, tērrīsquĕ mĭnāntūr

ārdēntīs sĭnĕ fīnĕ rŏgōs, cūm mūndŭs ĕt īpsă

aēgrōtēt nātūră nŏvūm sōrtītă sĕpūlcrūm.

quīn ēt bēllă cănūnt īgnēs sŭbĭtōsquĕ tŭmūltūs

ēt clāndēstīnīs sūrgēntĭă fraūdĭbŭs ārmă:

ēxtērnās mŏdŏ pēr gēntēs, ūt, foēdĕrĕ rūptō

cūm fĕră dūctōrēm răpŭīt Gērmānĭă Vārūm

īnfēcītquĕ trĭūm lĕgĭōnūm sānguĭnĕ cāmpōs,

ārsērūnt tōtō pāssīm mĭnĭtāntĭă mūndō

lūmĭna, ĕt īpsă tŭlīt bēllūm nātūră pĕr īgnēs

ōppŏsŭītquĕ sŭās vīrēs fīnēmquĕ mĭnātāst.

nēc mīrērĕ grăvēs rērūmque hŏmĭnūmquĕ rŭīnās,

saēpĕ dŏmī cūlpa ēst: nēscīmūs crēdĕrĕ caēlō.

cīvīlīs ĕtĭām mōtūs cōgnātăquĕ bēllă

sīgnĭfĭcānt. nēc plūra ălĭās īncēndĭă mūndūs

sūstĭnŭīt, quām cūm dŭcĭbūs iūrātă crŭēntīs

ārmă Phĭlīppēōs īmplērūnt āgmĭnĕ cāmpōs,

vīxque ĕtĭām sīccā mīlēs Rōmānŭs hărēnā

ōssă vĭrūm lăcĕrōsquĕ prĭūs sŭpĕr āstĭtĭt ārtūs,

īmpĕrĭūmquĕ sŭīs cōnflīxīt vīrĭbŭs īpsūm,

pērquĕ pătrīs pătĕr Aūgūstūs vēstīgĭă vīcīt.

nēcdūm fīnĭs ĕrāt: rēstābānt Āctĭă bēllă

dōtālī cōmmīssa ăcĭē, rĕpĕtītăquĕ rērūm

ālĕa ĕt īn pōntō quaēsītūs rēctŏr Ŏlŷmpī,

fēmĭnĕūm sōrtītă iŭgūm cūm Rōmă pĕpēndīt

ātque īpsa Īsĭăcō cērtārūnt fūlmĭnă sīstrō;

rēstābānt prŏfŭgō sērvīlĭă mīlĭtĕ bēllă,

cūm pătrĭōs ārmīs ĭmĭtātūs fīlĭŭs hōstēs

aēquŏră Pōmpĕĭūs cēpīt dēfēnsă părēntī.

sēd sătĭs hōc fātīs fŭĕrīt: iām bēllă quĭēscānt

ātque ădămāntēīs dīscōrdĭă vīnctă cătēnīs

aētērnōs hăbĕāt frēnōs īn cārcĕrĕ claūsă;

sīt pătĕr īnvīctūs pătrĭaē, sīt Rōmă sŭb īllō,

cūmquĕ dĕūm caēlō dĕdĕrīt nōn quaērăt ĭn ōrbĕ.

Carmine diuinas artes et conscia fati

sidera diuersos hominum uariantia casus,

caelestis rationis opus, deducere mundo

aggredior primusque nouis Helicona mouere

cantibus et uiridi nutantis uertice siluas

hospita sacra ferens nulli memorata priorum.

hunc mihi tu, Caesar, patriae princepsque paterque,

qui regis augustis parentem legibus orbem

concessumque patri mundum deus ipse mereris,

das animum uiresque facis ad tanta canenda.

iam propiusque fauet mundus scrutantibus ipsum

et cupit aetherios per carmina pandere census.

hoc sub pace uacat tantum. iuuat ire per ipsum

aëra et immenso spatiantem uiuere caelo

signaque et aduersos stellarum noscere cursus.

quod solum nouisse parum est. impensius ipsa

scire iuuat magni penitus praecordia mundi,

quaque regat generetque suis animalia signis

cernere et in numerum Phoebo modulante referre.

bina mihi positis lucent altaria flammis,

ad duo templa precor duplici circumdatus aestu

carminis et rerum: certa cum lege canentem

mundus et immenso uatem circumstrepit orbe

uixque soluta suis immittit uerba figuris.

Quem primum interius licuit cognoscere terris

munere caelestum. quis enim condentibus illis

clepsisset furto mundum, quo cuncta reguntur?

quis foret humano conatus pectore tantum,

inuitis ut dis cuperet deus ipse uideri,

tu princeps auctorque sacri, Cyllenie, tanti;

per te iam caelum interius, iam sidera nota

sublimis aperire uias imumque sub orbem,

et per inane suis parentia finibus astra?

nominaque et cursus signorum, pondera, uires,

maior uti facies mundi foret, et ueneranda

non species tantum sed et ipsa potentia rerum,

sentirentque deum gentes qua maximus esset.

[qui sua disposuit per tempora, cognita ut essent

omnibus et mundi facies caelumque supernum.]

et natura dedit uires seque ipsa reclusit

regalis animos primum dignata mouere

proxima tangentis rerum fastigia caelo,

qui domuere feras gentes oriente sub ipso,

quas secat Euphrates, in quas et Nilus abundat

qua mundus redit et nigras super euolat urbes.

tum qui templa sacris coluerunt omne per aeuum

delectique sacerdotes in publica uota

officio uinxere deum; quibus ipsa potentis

numinis accendit castam praesentia mentem,

inque deum deus ipse tulit patuitque ministris.

hi tantum mouere decus primique per artem

sideribus uidere uagis pendentia fata.

singula nam proprio signarunt tempora casu,

longa per assiduas complexi saecula curas:

nascendi quae cuique dies, quae uita fuisset,

in quas fortunae leges quaeque hora ualeret,

quantaque quam parui facerent discrimina motus.

postquam omnis caeli species, redeuntibus astris,

percepta, in proprias sedes, et reddita certis

fatorum ordinibus sua cuique potentia formae,

per uarios usus artem experientia fecit

exemplo monstrante uiam, speculataque longe

deprendit tacitis dominantia legibus astra

et totum aeterna mundum ratione moueri

fatorumque uices certis discernere signis.

Nam rudis ante illos nullo discrimine uita

in speciem conuersa operum ratione carebat

et stupefacta nouo pendebat lumine mundi,

tum uelut amisso maerens, tum laeta renatis

sideribus, uariosque dies incertaque noctis

tempora nec similis umbras, iam sole regresso

iam propiore, suis poterat discernere causis.

necdum etiam doctas sollertia fecerat artes,

terraque sub rudibus cessabat uasta colonis;

tumque in desertis habitabat montibus aurum,

immotusque nouos pontus subduxerat orbes,

nec uitam pelago nec uentis credere uota

audebant; se quisque satis nouisse putabant.

sed cum longa dies acuit mortalia corda

et labor ingenium miseris dedit et sua quemque

aduigilare sibi iussit fortuna premendo,

seducta in uarias certarunt pectora curas

et, quodcumque sagax temptando repperit usus,

in commune bonum commentum laeta dederunt.

tunc et lingua suas accepit barbara leges,

et fera diuersis exercita frugibus arua,

et uagus in caecum penetrauit nauita pontum,

fecit et ignotis iter in commercia terris.

tum belli pacisque artes commenta uetustas;

semper enim ex aliis alias proseminat usus.

ne uulgata canam, linguas didicere uolucrum,

consultare fibras et rumpere uocibus angues,

sollicitare umbras imumque Acheronta mouere,

in noctemque dies, in lucem uertere noctes.

omnia conando docilis sollertia uicit.

nec prius imposuit rebus finemque modumque

quam caelum ascendit ratio cepitque profundam

naturam rerum causis uiditque quod usquamst.

nubila cur tanto quaterentur pulsa fragore,

hiberna aestiua nix grandine mollior esset,

arderent terrae solidusque tremesceret orbis;

cur imbres ruerent, uentos quae causa moueret

peruidit, soluitque animis miracula rerum

eripuitque Ioui fulmen uiresque tonandi

et sonitum uentis concessit, nubibus ignem.

quae postquam in proprias deduxit singula causas,

uicinam ex alto mundi cognoscere molem

intendit totumque animo comprendere caelum,

attribuitque suas formas, sua nomina signis,

quasque uices agerent certa sub sorte notauit

omniaque ad numen mundi faciemque moueri,

sideribus uario mutantibus ordine fata.

Hoc mihi surgit opus non ullis ante sacratum

carminibus. faueat magno fortuna labori,

annosa et molli contingat uita senecta,

ut possim rerum tantas emergere moles

magnaque cum paruis simili percurrere cura.

Et quoniam caelo descendit carmen ab alto

et uenit in terras fatorum conditus ordo,

ipsa mihi primum naturae forma canendast

ponendusque sua totus sub imagine mundus.

quem siue ex nullis repetentem semina rebus

natali quoque egere placet, semperque fuisse

et fore, principio pariter fatoque carentem;

seu permixta chaos rerum primordia quondam

discreuit partu, mundumque enixa nitentem

fugit in infernas caligo pulsa tenebras;

siue indiuiduis, in idem reditura soluta,

principiis natura manet post saecula mille,

et paene ex nihilo summa est nihilumque futurum,

caecaque materies caelum perfecit et orbem;

siue ignis fabricauit opus flammaeque micantes,

quae mundi fecere oculos habitantque per omne

corpus et in caelo uibrantia fulmina fingunt;

seu liquor hoc peperit, sine quo riget arida rerum

materies ipsumque uorat, quo soluitur, ignem;

aut neque terra patrem nouit nec flamma nec aër

aut umor, faciuntque deum per quattuor artus

et mundi struxere globum prohibentque requiri

ultra se quicquam, cum per se cuncta crearint,

frigida nec calidis desint aut umida siccis,

spiritus aut solidis, sitque haec discordia concors

quae nexus habilis et opus generabile fingit

atque omnis partus elementa capacia reddit:

semper erit pugna ingeniis, dubiumque manebit

quod latet et tantum supra est hominemque deumque.

sed facies quacumque tamen sub origine rerum

conuenit, et certo digestum est ordine corpus.

ignis in aetherias uolucer se sustulit oras

summaque complexus stellantis culmina caeli

flammarum uallo naturae moenia fecit.

proximus in tenuis descendit spiritus auras

aëraque extendit medium per inania mundi.

ignem flatus alat uicinis subditus astris.

tertia sors undas strauit fluctusque natantis,

aequoraque effudit toto nascentia ponto,

ut liquor exhalet tenuis atque euomat auras

aëraque ex ipso ducentem semina pascat,

ultima subsedit glomerato pondere tellus,

conuenitque uagis permixtus limus harenis

paulatim ad summum tenui fugiente liquore;

quoque magis puras umor secessit in undas

et saccata magis struxerunt aequora terram

adiacuitque cauis fluidum conuallibus aequor,

emersere fretis montes, orbisque per undas

exsiluit, uasto clausus tamen undique ponto.

imaque de cunctis mediam tenet undique sedem.

idcircoque manet stabilis, quia totus ab illo

tantundem refugit mundus fecitque cadendo

undique, ne caderet medium totius et imum.

ictaque contractis consistunt corpora plagis

et concurrendo prohibentur longius ire.

Quod nisi librato penderet pondere tellus,

non ageret currus, mundi subeuntibus astris,

Phoebus ab occasu et numquam remearet ad ortus,

lunaue summersos regeret per inania cursus,

nec matutinis fulgeret Lucifer horis,

Hesperos emenso dederat qui lumen Olympo.

nunc, quia non imo tellus deiecta profundo

sed medio suspensa manet, sunt peruia cuncta,

qua cadat et subeat caelum rursusque resurgat.

nam neque fortuitos ortus surgentibus astris

nec totiens possum nascentem credere mundum

solisue assiduos partus et fata diurna,

cum facies eadem signis per saecula constet,

idem Phoebus eat caeli de partibus isdem

lunaque per totidem luces mutetur et orbes

et natura uias seruet, quas fecerat ipsa,

nec tirocinio peccet, circumque feratur

aeterna cum luce dies, qui tempora monstrat

nunc his nunc illis eadem regionibus orbis,

semper et ulterior uadentibus ortus ad ortum

occasumue obitus, caelum et cum sole perennet.

Nec uero admiranda tibi natura uideri

pendentis terrae debet. cum pendeat ipse

mundus et in nullo ponat uestigia fundo,

quod patet ex ipso motu cursuque uolantis,

cum suspensus eat Phoebus currusque reflectat

huc illuc agilis, et seruet in aethere metas,

cum luna et stellae uolitent per inania mundi,

terra quoque aërias leges imitata pependit.

est igitur tellus mediam sortita cauernam

aëris, e toto pariter sublata profundo,

nec patulas distenta plagas, sed condita in orbem

undique surgentem pariter pariterque cadentem.

haec est naturae facies: sic mundus et ipse

in conuexa uolans teretis facit esse figuras

stellarum; solisque orbem lunaeque rotundum

aspicimus tumido quaerentis corpore lumen,

quod globus obliquos totus non accipit ignes.

haec aeterna manet diuisque simillima forma,

cui neque principium est usquam nec finis in ipsa,

sed similis toto ore sibi perque omnia par est.

sic tellus glomerata manet mundumque figurat

Idcirco terris non omnibus omnia signa

conspicimus. nusquam inuenies fulgere Canopon

donec ad Heliacas per pontum ueneris oras;

sed quaerunt Helicen, quibus ille superuenit ignis,

quod laterum tractus habitant, medioque tumore

eripiunt terrae caelum uisusque coërcent.

te testem dat, luna, sui glomeraminis orbis,

quae, cum mersa nigris per noctem deficis umbris,

non omnis pariter confundis sidere gentes,

sed prius eoae quaerunt tua lumina terrae,

post medio subiecta polo quaecumque coluntur,

ultima ad hesperios infectis uolueris alis

seraque in hesperiis quatiuntur gentibus aera.

quod si plana foret tellus, semel orta per omnem

deficeres pariter toti miserabilis orbi.

sed quia per teretem deducta est terra tumorem,

his modo, post illis apparet Delia terris

exoriens simul atque cadens, quia fertur in orbem

uentris et accliuis pariter decliuia iungit

atque alios superat gyros aliosque relinquit.

ex quo colligitur terrarum forma rotunda.

Hanc circum uariae gentes hominum atque ferarum

aëriaeque colunt uolucres. pars eius ad arctos

eminet, austrinis pars est habitabilis oris

sub pedibusque iacet nostris supraque uidetur

ipsa sibi fallente solo decliuia longa

et pariter surgente uia pariterque cadente.

hanc ubi ad occasus nostros sol aspicit actus,

illic orta dies sopitas excitat urbes

et cum luce refert operum uadimonia terris;

nos in nocte sumus somnosque in membra uocamus.

pontus utrosque suis distinguit et alligat undis.

Hoc opus immensi constructum corpore mundi

membraque naturae diuersa condita forma

aëris atque ignis, terrae pelagique iacentis,

uis animae diuina regit, sacroque meatu

conspirat deus et tacita ratione gubernat

mutuaque in cunctas dispensat foedera partes,

altera ut alterius uires faciatque feratque

summaque per uarias maneat cognata figuras.

Nunc tibi signorum lucentis undique flammas

ordinibus certis referam. primumque canentur

quae media obliquo praecingunt ordine mundum

solemque alternis uicibus per tempora portant

atque alia aduerso luctantia sidera mundo,

omnia quae possis caelo numerare sereno,

e quibus et ratio fatorum ducitur omnis,

ut sit idem mundi primum quod continet arcem.

Aurato princeps Aries in uellere fulgens

respicit admirans auersum surgere Taurum

summisso uultu Geminos et fronte uocantem,

quos sequitur Cancer, Cancrum Leo, Virgo Leonem.

aequato tum Libra die cum tempore noctis

attrahit ardenti fulgentem Scorpion astro,

in cuius caudam contento derigit arcu

mixtus equo uolucrem missurus iamque sagittam.

tum uenit angusto Capricornus sidere flexus.

post hunc inflexa defundit Aquarius urna

Piscibus assuetas auide subeuntibus undas,

quos Aries tangit claudentis ultima signa.

At qua fulgentis caelum consurgit ad Arctos,

omnia quae summo despectant sidera mundo

nec norunt obitus unoque in uertice mutant

in diuersa situm caelumque et sidera torquent,

aëra per gelidum tenuis deducitur axis

libratumque regit diuerso cardine mundum;

sidereus circa medium quem uoluitur orbis

aetheriosque rotat cursus, immotus at ille

in binas Arctos magni per inania mundi

perque ipsum terrae derectus constitit orbem.

nec uero solidus stat robore corporis axis

nec graue pondus habet, quod onus ferat aetheris alti,

sed cum aër omnis semper uoluatur in orbem,

quoque semel coepit totus uolet undique in ipsum,

quodcumque in medio est, circa quod cuncta mouentur,

usque adeo tenue ut uerti non possit in ipsum

nec iam inclinari nec se conuertere in orbem,

hoc dixere axem, quia motum non habet ullum

ipse, uidet circa uolitantia cuncta moueri.

Summa tenent eius miseris notissima nautis

signa per immensum cupidos ducentia pontum.

maioremque Helice maior decircinat arcum

(septem illam stellae certantes lumine signant),

qua duce per fluctus Graiae dant uela carinae.

angusto Cynosura breuis torquetur in orbe,

quam spatio tam luce minor; sed iudice uincit

maiorem Tyrio. Poenis haec certior auctor

non apparentem pelago quaerentibus orbem.

nec paribus positae sunt frontibus: utraque caudam

uergit in alterius rostro sequiturque sequentem.

has inter fusus circumque amplexus utramque

diuidit et cingit stellis ardentibus Anguis,

ne coeant abeantue suis a sedibus umquam.

Hunc inter mediumque orbem, quo sidera septem

per bis sena uolant contra nitentia signa,

mixta ex diuersis consurgunt uiribus astra,

hinc uicina gelu, caelique hinc proxima flammis;

quae quia dissimilis, qua pugnat, temperat aër,

frugiferum sub se reddunt mortalibus orbem.

proxima frigentis Arctos boreanque rigentem

nixa uenit species genibus, sibi conscia causae.

a tergo nitet Arctophylax idemque Bootes,

quod similis iunctis instat de more iuuencis;

Arcturumque rapit medio sub pectore secum.

at parte ex alia claro uolat orbe Corona

luce micans uaria; nam stella uincitur una

circulus, in media radiat quae maxima fronte

candidaque ardenti distinguit lumina flamma.

Cnosia desertae fulgent monumenta puellae,

et Lyra diductis per caelum cornibus inter

sidera conspicitur, qua quondam ceperat Orpheus

omne quod attigerat cantu, manesque per ipsos

fecit iter domuitque infernas carmine leges.

hinc caelestis honos similisque potentia causae:

tunc siluas et saxa trahens nunc sidera ducit

et rapit immensum mundi reuolubilis orbem.

serpentem magnis Ophiuchus nomine gyris

diuidit et torto cingentem corpore corpus,

explicet ut nodos sinuataque terga per orbes.

respicit ille tamen molli ceruice reflexus

et redit effusis per laxa uolumina palmis.

semper erit, paribus bellum quia uiribus aequant.

proxima sors Cycni, quem caelo Iuppiter ipse

imposuit, formae pretium, qua cepit amantem,

cum deus in niueum descendit uersus olorem

tergaque fidenti subiecit plumea Ledae.

nunc quoque diductas uolitat stellatus in alas.

hinc imitata nitent cursumque habitumque sagittae

sidera. tum magni Iouis ales fertur in altum,

assueta euolitans gestet ceu fulmina mundi,

digna Ioue et caelo, quod sacris instruit armis.

tum quoque de ponto surgit Delphinus ad astra,

oceani caelique decus, per utrumque sacratus.

quem rapido conatus Equus comprendere cursu

festinat pectus fulgenti sidere clarus

et finitur in Andromeda. quam Perseus armis

eripit et sociat sibi. cui succedit iniquo

diuisis spatio, quod terna lampade crispans

conspicitur, paribus Deltoton nomine sidus

ex simili dictum, Cepheusque et Cassiepia

in poenas resupina suas iuxtaque relictam

Andromedan, uastos metuentem Pristis hiatus,

expositam ponto deflet scopulisque reuinctam

ni ueterem Perseus caelo quoque seruet amorem

auxilioque iuuet fugiendaque Gorgonis ora

sustineat spoliumque sibi pestemque uidenti.

tum uicina ferens nixo uestigia Tauro

Heniochus, studio mundumque et nomen adeptus,

quem primum curru uolitantem Iuppiter alto

quadriiugis conspexit equis caeloque sacrauit.

tunc subeunt Haedi cludentes sidere pontum,

nobilis et mundi nutrito rege Capella,

cuius ab uberibus magnum ille ascendit Olympum

lacte fero crescens ad fulmina uimque tonandi.

hanc ergo aeternis merito sacrauit in astris

Iuppiter et caeli caelum mercede rependit.

Pleiadesque Hyadesque, feri pars utraque Tauri,

in borean scandunt. haec sunt aquilonia signa.

Aspice nunc infra solis surgentia cursus

quae super exustas labuntur sidera terras;

quaeque inter gelidum Capricorni sidus et axe

imo subnixum uertuntur lumina mundum,

altera pars orbis sub quis iacet inuia nobis

ignotaeque hominum gentes nec transita regna

commune ex uno lumen ducentia sole

diuersasque umbras laeuaque cadentia signa

et dextros ortus caelo spectantia uerso.

nec minor est illis mundus nec lumine peior,

nec numerosa minus nascuntur sidera in orbem.

cetera non cedunt: uno uincuntur in astro,

Augusto, sidus nostro qui contigit orbi,

Caesar, nunc terris post caelo maximus auctor.

cernere uicinum Geminis licet Oriona

in magnam caeli tendentem bracchia partem

nec minus extento surgentem ad sidera passu,

singula fulgentis umeros cui lumina signant

et tribus obliquis demissus ducitur ensis,

at caput Orion excelso immersus Olympo

per tria subducto signatur lumina uultu.

non quod clara minus sed quod magis alta recedant

hoc duce per totum decurrunt sidera mundum.

subsequitur rapido contenta Canicula cursu,

qua nullum terris uiolentius aduenit astrum

nec grauius cedit. nunc horrida frigore surgit,

nunc uacuum soli fulgentem deserit orbem:

sic in utrumque mouet mundum et contraria reddit.

hanc qui surgentem, primo cum redditur ortu,

montis ab excelso speculantur uertice Tauri,

euentus frugum uarios et tempora discunt,

quaeque ualetudo ueniat, concordia quanta.

bella facit pacemque refert, uarieque reuertens

sic mouet, ut uidit, mundum uultuque gubernat.

magna fides hoc posse color cursusque micantis

ignis ad os. uix sole minor, nisi quod procul haerens

frigida caeruleo contorquet lumina uultu.

cetera uincuntur specie, nec clarius astrum

tinguitur oceano caelumue reuisit ab undis.

tunc Procyon ueloxque Lepus; tum nobilis Argo

in caelum subducta mari, quod prima cucurrit,

emeritum magnis mundum tenet acta periclis,

seruando dea facta deos. cui proximus Anguis

squamea dispositis imitatur tergora flammis;

et Phoebo sacer ales et una gratus Iaccho

Crater et duplici Centaurus imagine fulget,

pars hominis, tergo pectus commissus equino.

ipsius hinc mundo templum est, uictrixque solutis

Ara nitet sacris, uastos cum terra gigantas

in caelum furibunda tulit. tum di quoque magnos

quaesiuere deos; dubitauit Iuppiter ipse,

quod poterat non posse timens, cum surgere terram

cerneret, ut uerti naturam crederet omnem,

montibus atque altis aggestos crescere montes,

et iam uicinos fugientia sidera colles

arma importantis et rupta matre creatos

discordis uultum permixtaque corpora partus.

nec di mortiferum sibi quemquam aut numina norant

siqua forent maiora suis. tunc Iuppiter Arae

sidera constituit, quae nunc quoque maxima fulget.

quam propter Cetos conuoluens squamea terga

orbibus insurgit tortis et fluctuat aluo,

intentans morsum similis iam iamque tenenti

qualis ad expositae fatum Cepheidos undis

expulit adueniens ultra sua litora pontum.

tum Notius Piscis uenti de nomine dictus

exsurgit de parte noti. cui iuncta feruntur

flexa per ingentis stellarum Flumina gyros:

alterius capiti coniungit Aquarius undas

amnis; et in medium coëunt et sidera miscent.

his inter solisque uias Arctosque latentis,

axem quae mundi stridentem pondere torquent,

orbe peregrino caelum depingitur astris,

quae notia antiqui dixerunt sidera uates.

ultima, quae mundo semper uoluuntur in imo,

quis innixa manent caeli fulgentia templa,

nusquam in conspectum redeuntia cardine uerso,

sublimis speciem mundi similisque figuras

astrorum referunt. auersas frontibus Arctos

uno distingui medias claudique Dracone

credimus exemplo, quia mens fugientia uisus

hunc orbem caeli uertentis sidera cursu

tam signo simili fultum quam uertice fingit.

haec igitur magno diuisas aethere sedes

signa tenent mundi totum deducta per orbem.

tu modo corporeis similes ne quaere figuras,

omnia ut aequali fulgentia membra colore

deficiat nihil aut uacuum qua lumine cesset.

non poterit mundus sufferre incendia tanta,

omnia si plenis ardebunt sidera membris.

quicquid subduxit flammis, natura pepercit

succubitura oneri, formas disiungere tantum

contenta et stellis ostendere sidera certis.

linea designat species, atque ignibus ignes

respondent; media extremis atque ultima summis

creduntur: satis est si se non omnia celant.

praecipue, medio cum luna implebitur orbe,

certa nitent mundo tum lumina; conditur omne

stellarum uulgus, fugiunt sine nomine signa.

pura licet uacuo tum cernere sidera caelo,

nec fallunt numero, paruis nec mixta feruntur.

et, quo clara magis possis cognoscere signa,

non uarios obitus norunt uariosque recursus,

certa sed in proprias oriuntur singula luces

natalesque suos occasumque ordine seruant.

nec quicquam in tanta magis est mirabile mole

quam ratio et certis quod legibus omnia parent.

nusquam turba nocet, nihil ullis partibus errans

laxius aut breuius mutatoue ordine fertur.

quid tam confusum specie, quid tam uice certumst?

ac mihi tam praesens ratio non ulla uidetur,

qua pateat mundum diuino numine uerti

atque ipsum esse deum, nec forte coisse magistra,

ut uoluit credi, qui primus moenia mundi

seminibus struxit minimis inque illa resoluit;

e quibus et maria et terras et sidera caeli

aetheraque immensis fabricantem finibus orbes

soluentemque alios constare, et cuncta reuerti

in sua principia et rerum mutare figuras.

quis credat tantas operum sine numine moles

ex minimis caecoque creatum foedere mundum?

si fors ista dedit nobis, fors ipsa gubernet.

at cur dispositis uicibus consurgere signa

et uelut imperio praescriptos reddere cursus

cernimus ac nullis properantibus ulla relinqui?

cur eadem aestiuas exornant sidera noctis

semper et hibernas eadem, certamque figuram

quisque dies reddit mundo certamque relinquit?

iam tum, cum Graiae uerterunt Pergama gentes,

Arctos et Orion aduersis frontibus ibant,

haec contenta suos in uertice flectere gyros,

ille ex diuerso uertentem surgere contra

obuius et toto semper decurrere mundo.

temporaque obscurae noctis deprendere signis

iam poterant, caelumque sua distinxerat horas.

quot post excidium Troiae sunt eruta regna!

quot capti populi! quotiens fortuna per orbem

seruitium imperiumque tulit uarieque reuertit!

Troianos cineres in quantum oblita refouit

imperium! fatis Asiae iam Graecia pressast.

saecula dinumerare piget, quotiensque recurrens

lustrarit mundum uario sol igneus orbe.

omnia mortali mutantur lege creata,

nec se cognoscunt terrae uertentibus annis

exutas, uariantque uicem per saecula gentes.

at manet incolumis mundus suaque omnia seruat,

quae nec longa dies auget minuitque senectus

nec motus puncto curuat cursusque fatigat:

idem semper erit quoniam semper fuit idem.

non alium uidere patres aliumue nepotes

aspicient. deus est, qui non mutatur in aeuo.

numquam transuersas solem decurrere ad arctos

nec mutare uias et in ortum uertere cursus

auroramque nouis nascentem ostendere terris,

nec lunam certos excedere luminis orbes

sed seruare modum, quo crescat quoque recedat,

nec cadere in terram pendentia sidera caelo

sed dimensa suis consumere tempora gyris,

non casus opus est, magni sed numinis ordo.

haec igitur texunt aequali sidera tractu

ignibus in uarias caelum laqueantia formas.

altius his nihil est; haec sunt fastigia mundi;

publica naturae domus his contenta tenetur

finibus, amplectens pontum terrasque iacentis.

omnia concordi tractu ueniuntque caduntque,

qua semel incubuit caelum uersumque resurgit.

ipse autem quantum conuexo mundus Olympo

obtineat spatium, quantis bis sena ferantur

finibus astra, docet ratio, cui nulla resistunt

claustra nec immensae moles caeciue recessus;

omnia succumbunt, ipsum est penetrabile caelum.

nam quantum terris atque aequore signa recedunt,

tantum bina patent. quacumque inciditur orbis

per medium, pars efficitur tum tertia gyri

exiguo dirimens solidam discrimine summam.

summum igitur caelum bis bina refugit ab imo

astra, bis e senis ut sit pars tertia signis.

sed quia per medium est tellus suspensa profundum

binis a summo signis discedit et imo.

hinc igitur quodcumque supra te suspicis ipse,

qua per inane meant oculi quaque ire recusant,

binis aequandum est signis; sex tanta rotundae

efficiunt orbem zonae, qua signa feruntur

bis sex aequali spatio texentia caelum.

ne mirere uagos partus eadem esse per astra

ex mixtum ingenti generis discrimine fatum,

singula cum tantum teneant tantoque ferantur

tempore, sex tota surgentia sidera luce.

restat ut aetherios fines tibi reddere coner

filaque dispositis uicibus comitantia caelum,

per quae derigitur signorum flammeus ordo.

circulus a summo nascentem uertice mundum

primus et aetheria succedens proximus arce

circulus ad boream fulgentem sustinet Arcton

sexque fugit solidas a caeli uertice partes.

alter ad extremi decurrens sidera Cancri,

in quo consummat Phoebus lucemque moramque

tardaque per longos circumfert lumina flexus,

aestiuum medio nomen sibi sumit ab aestu,

temporis et titulo potitur, metamque uolantis

solis et extremos designat feruidus actus,

et quinque in partes aquilonis distat ab orbe.

tertius in media mundi regione locatus

ingenti spira totum praecingit Olympum

parte ab utraque uidens axem, qua lumine Phoebus

componit paribus numeris noctemque diemque

ueris et autumni currens per tempora mixta,

cum medium aequali distinguit limite caelum;

quattuor et gradibus sua fila reducit ab aestu.

proximus hunc ultra brumalis nomine limes

ultima designat fugientis limina solis,

inuida cum obliqua radiorum munera flamma

dat per iter minimum nobis, sed finibus illis,

quos super incubuit, longa stant tempora luce

uixque dies transit candentem extenta per aestum;

bisque iacet binis summotus partibus orbis.

unus ab his superest extremo proximus axi

circulus, austrinas qui stringit et obsidet Arctos.

hic quoque brumalem per partes quinque relinquit,

et, quantum a nostro sublimis cardine gyrus,

distat ab aduerso tantumdem proximus illi.

sic per tricenas uertex a uertice partes

diuisus duplici summa circumdat Olympum

et per quinque notat signantis tempora fines.

his eadem est uia quae mundo, pariterque rotantur

inclines, sociosque ortus occasibus aequant,

quandoquidem flexi quo totus uoluitur orbis

fila trahunt alti cursum comitantia caeli,

interualla pari seruantes limite semper

diuisosque semel fines sortemque dicatam.

sunt duo, quos recipit ductos a uertice uertex,

inter se aduersi, qui cunctos ante relatos

seque secant gemino coëuntes cardine mundi

transuersoque polo rectum ducuntur in axem,

tempora signantes anni caelumque per astra

quattuor in partes diuisum mensibus aequis.

alter ab excelso decurrens limes Olympo

Serpentis caudam siccas et diuidit Arctos

et iuga Chelarum medio uolitantia gyro,

extremamque secans Hydram mediumque sub astris

Centaurum aduerso concurrit rursus in axe,

et redit in caelum, squamosaque tergora Ceti

Lanigerique notat fines clarumque Trigonum

Andromedaeque sinus imos, uestigia matris,

principiumque suum repetito cardine claudit.

alter in hunc medium summumque incumbit in axem

perque pedes primos ceruicem transit et Vrsae,

quam septem stellae primam iam sole remoto

producunt nigrae praebentem lumina nocti,

et Geminis Cancrum dirimit stringitque flagrantem

ore Canem clauumque Ratis, quae uicerat aequor,

inde axem occultum per gyri signa prioris

transuersa atque illo rursus de limite tangit

te, Capricorne, tuisque Aquilam designat ab astris,

perque Lyram inuersam currens spirasque Draconis

posteriora pedum Cynosurae praeterit astra

transuersamque secat uicino cardine caudam:

hic iterum coit ipse sibi, memor unde profectus.

atque hos aeterna fixerunt tempora sede,

immotis per signa modis, statione perenni:

hos uolucres fecere duos. namque alter ab ipsa

consurgens Helice medium praecidit Olympum

discernitque diem sextamque examinat horam

et paribus spatiis occasus cernit et ortus.

hic mutat per signa uices; et, seu quis eoos

seu petit hesperios, supra se circinat orbem

uerticibus super astantem mediumque secantem

caelum et diuiso signantem culmine mundum,

quando aliis aliud mediumst. uolat hora per orbem,

cumque loco terrae caelumque et tempora mutat,

atque ubi se primis extollit Phoebus ab undis

illis sexta manet, quos tum premit aureus orbis,

rursus ad hesperios sexta est, ubi cedit in umbras:

nos primam ac summam sextam numeramus utramque

et gelidum extremo lumen sentimus ab igni.

alterius fines si uis cognoscere gyri,

circumfer faciles oculos uultumque per orbem.

quidquid erit caelique imum terraeque supremum,

qua coit ipse sibi nullo discrimine mundus

redditque aut recipit fulgentia sidera ponto,

praecingit tenui transuersum limite mundum.

haec quoque per totum uolitabit linea caelum,

nunc tractum ad medium uergens mundique tepentem

orbem, nunc septem ad stellas nec mota sub astra;

seu quocumque uagae tulerint uestigia plantae

has modo terrarum nunc has gradientis in oras

semper erit nouus et terris mutabitur arcus.

quippe aliud caelum ostendens aliudque relinquens

dimidium teget et referet, uarioque notabit

fine et cum uisu pariter sua fila mouente.

hic terrestris erit, quia terram amplectitur, orbis;

et mundum plano praecingit limite gyrus

atque a fine trahens titulum memoratur horizon.

His adice obliquos aduersaque fila trahentis

inter se gyros, quorum fulgentia signa

alter habet, per quae Phoebus moderatur habenas

subsequiturque suo solem uaga Delia curru

et quinque aduerso luctantia sidera mundo

exercent uarias naturae lege choreas.

hunc tenet a summo Cancer, Capricornus ab imo,

bis recipit, lucem qui circulus aequat et umbras,

Lanigeri et Librae signo sua fila secantem.

sic per tris gyros inflexus ducitur orbis

rectaque deuexo fallit uestigia diuo.

nec uisus aciemque fugit tantumque notari

mente potest, sicut cernuntur mente priores,

sed nitet ingenti stellatus balteus orbe

insignemque facit lato caelamine mundum.

et ter uicenas partes patet atque trecentas

in longum, bis sex latescit fascia partes

quae cohibet uario labentia sidera cursu.

Alter in aduersum positus succedit ad arctos

et paulum a boreae gyro sua fila reducit

transitque inuersae per sidera Cassiepiae,

inde per obliquum descendens tangit Olorem

aestiuosque secat fines Aquilamque supinam

temporaque aequantem gyrum zonamque ferentem

solis equos inter caudam qua Scorpius ardet

extremamque Sagittari laeuam atque sagittam,

inde suos sinuat flexus per crura pedesque

Centauri alterius rursusque ascendere caelum

incipit Argiuumque ratem per aplustria summa

et medium mundi gyrum Geminosque per ima

signa secat, subit Heniochum, teque, unde profectus,

Cassiepia, petens super ipsum Persea transit

orbemque ex illa coeptum concludit in ipsa;

trisque secat medios gyros et signa ferentem

partibus e binis, quotiens praeciditur ipse.

nec quaerendus erit: uisus incurrit in ipsos

sponte sua seque ipse docet cogitque notari.

namque in caeruleo candens nitet orbita mundo

ceu missura diem subito caelumque recludens,

ac ueluti uirides discernit semita campos

quam terit assiduo renouans iter orbita tractu.

inter diuisas aequabilis est uia partes

ut freta canescunt sulcum ducente carina,

accipiuntque uiam fluctus spumantibus undis

quam tortus uerso mouit de gurgite uertex,

candidus in nigro lucet sic limes Olympo

caeruleum findens ingenti lumine mundum.

utque suos arcus per nubila circinat Iris,

sic super incumbit signato culmine limes

candidus et resupina facit mortalibus ora,

dum noua per caecam mirantur lumina noctem

inquiruntque sacras humano pectore causas:

num se diductis conetur soluere moles

segminibus, raraque labent compagine rimae

admittantque nouum laxato tegmine lumen;

quid sibi non timeant, magni cum uulnera caeli

conspiciant feriatque oculos iniuria mundi?

an coëat mundus, duplicisque extrema cauernae

conueniant caelique oras et sidera iungant,

perque ipsos fiat nexus manifesta cicatrix

fusuram faciens mundi stipatus et orbis

aëriam in nebulam densa compagine uersus

in cuneos alti cogat fundamina caeli.

an melius manet illa fides, per saecula prisca

illac solis equos diuersis cursibus isse

atque aliam triuisse uiam, longumque per aeuum

exustas sedes incoctaque sidera flammis

caeruleam uerso speciem mutasse colore,

infusumque loco cinerem mundumque sepultum?

fama etiam antiquis ad nos descendit ab annis

Phaethontem patrio curru per signa uolantem,

dum noua miratur proprius spectacula mundi

et puer in caelo ludit curruque superbus

luxuriat nitido, cupit et maiora parente,

monstratas liquisse uias orbemque recentem

imposuisse polo, nec signa insueta tulisse

errantis meta flammas currumque solutum.

deflexum solito cursu, cumisque quadrigis

quid querimur flammas totum saeuisse per orbem

terrarumque rogum cunctas arsisse per urbes?

cum uaga dispersi fluitarunt fragmina currus,

et caelum exustum est: luit ipse incendia mundus,

et noua uicinis flagrarunt sidera flammis

nunc quoque praeteriti faciem referentia casus.

nec mihi celanda est uulgata fama uetusta

mollior, e niueo lactis fluxisse liquorem

pectore reginae diuum caelumque colore

infecisse suo; quapropter lacteus orbis

dicitur, et nomen causa descendit ab ipsa.

an maior densa stellarum turba corona

contexit flammas et crasso lumine candet,

et fulgore nitet collato clarior orbis?

an fortes animae dignataque nomina caelo

corporibus resoluta suis terraeque remissa

huc migrant ex orbe suumque habitantia caelum

aetherios uiuunt annos mundoque fruuntur;

atque hic Aeacidas, hic et ueneramur Atridas,

Tydidenque ferum, terraeque marisque triumphis

naturae uictorem Ithacum, Pyliumque senecta

insignem triplici, Danaumque ad Pergama reges,

Hectoraque Iliacae gentis columenque decusque,

Auroraeque nigrum partum, stirpemque Tonantis

rectorem Lyciae? nec te, Mauortia uirgo,

praeteream, regesque alios, quos Thraecia misit

atque Asiae gentes et Magno maxima Pella;

quique animi uires et strictae pondera mentis

prudentes habuere uiri, quibus omnis in ipsis

census erat, iustusque Solon fortisque Lycurgus,

aetheriusque Platon, et qui fabricauerat illum

damnatusque suas melius damnauit Athenas,

Persidis et uictor, strarat quae classibus aequor;

Romanique uiri, quorum iam maxima turbast,

Tarquinioque minus reges et Horatia proles

sola acies, parti nec non et Scaeuola trunco

nobilior, maiorque uiris et Cloelia uirgo,

et Romana ferens, quae texit, moenia Cocles,

et commilitio uolucris Coruinus adeptus

et spolia et nomen, qui gestat in alite Phoebum,

et Ioue qui meruit caelum Romamque Camillus

seruando posuit, Brutusque a rege receptae

conditor, et furti per bella Papirius ultor,

Fabricius Curiusque pares, et tertia palma

Marcellus Cossusque prior de rege necato,

certantesque Deci uotis similesque triumphis,

inuictusque mora Fabius, uictorque nefandi

Liuius Hasdrubalis socio per bella Nerone,

Scipiadaeque duces, fatum Carthaginis unum,

Pompeiusque orbis domitor per trisque triumphos

ante diem princeps, et censu Tullius oris

emeritus caelum, et ‹tu› Claudi magna propago,

Aemiliaeque domus proceres, clarique Metelli,

et Cato fortunae uictor, matrisque sub armis

miles Agrippa suae, Venerisque ab origine proles

Iulia? descendit caelo caelumque replebit,

quod reget, Augustus, socio per signa Tonante,

cernet et in coetu diuum magnumque Quirini

quemque nouum superis numen pius addidit ipse,

altius aetherii quam candet circulus orbis.

illa deis sedes: haec illis, proxima diuum

qui uirtute sua similes fastigia tangunt.

[sunt alia aduerso pugnantia sidera mundo

quae caelum terramque inter uolitantia pendent

Saturni, Iouis et Martis Solisque: sub illis

Mercurius Venerem inter agit Lunamque locatus.]

Nunc prius incipiam stellis quam reddere uires

signorumque canam fatalia carmine iura,

implenda est mundi facies, corpusque per omne

quidquid ubique nitet uigeat quandoque notandumst.

sunt etiam raris orti natalibus ignes

protinus et rapti. subitas candescere flammas

aëra per liquidum tractosque perire cometas

rara per ingentis uiderunt saecula motus.

siue, quod ingenitum terra spirante uaporem

umidior sicca superatur spiritus aura,

nubila cum longo cessant depulsa sereno

et solis radiis arescit torridus aër,

apta alimenta sibi demissus corripit ignis

materiamque sui deprendit flamma capacem,

et, quia non solidum est corpus, sed rara uagantur

principia aurarum uolucrique simillima fumo,

in breue uiuit opus coeptusque incendia fine

subsistunt pariterque cadunt fulgentque cometae.

quod nisi uicinos agerent occasibus ortus

et tam parua forent accensis tempora flammis,

alter nocte dies esset, caelumque rediret

immersum, et somno totum deprenderet orbem.

tum, quia non una specie dispergitur omnis

aridior terrae uapor et comprenditur igni,

diuersas quoque per facies accensa ferentur

lumina, quae subitis existunt nata tenebris.

nam modo, ceu longi fluitent de uertice crines,

flamma comas imitata uolat, tenuisque capillos

diffusos radiis ardentibus explicat ignis;

nunc prior haec facies dispersis crinibus exit,

et glomus ardentis sequitur sub imagine barbae;

interdum aequali laterum compagine ductus

quadratamue trabem fingit teretemue columnam.

quin etiam tumidis exaequat dolia flammis

procere distenta uteros, artosque capellas

mentitur paruas ignis glomeratus in orbes

hirta figurantis tremulo sub lumine menta,

lampadas et fissas ramosos fundit in ignes.

praecipites stellae passimque uolare uidentur,

cum uaga per nitidum scintillant lumina mundum

et tenuem longis iaculantur crinibus ignem

exsiliuntque procul uolucres imitata sagittas,

ardua cum gracili tenuatur semita filo.

sunt autem cunctis permixti partibus ignes,

qui grauidas habitant fabricantes fulmina nubes

et penetrant terras Aetnamque minantur Olympo

et calidas reddunt ipsis in fontibus undas

ac silice in dura uiridique in cortice sedem

inueniunt, cum silua sibi collisa crematur;

ignibus usque adeo natura est omnis abundans:

ne mirere faces subitas erumpere caelo

aëraque accensum flammis lucere coruscis

arida complexum spirantis semina terrae,

quae uolucer pascens ignis sequiturque fugitque,

fulgura cum uideas tremulum uibrantia lumen

imbribus e mediis et caelum fulmine ruptum.

siue igitur ratio praebentis semina terrae

in uolucres ignis potuit generare cometas;

siue illas natura faces obscura creauit

sidera per tenues caelo lucentia flammas,

sed trahit ad semet rapido Titanius aestu

inuoluitque suo flammantis igne cometas

ac modo dimittit, sicut Cyllenius orbis

et Venus, accenso cum ducit uespere noctem

sera nitens, falluntque oculos rursusque reuisunt;

seu deus instantis fati miseratus in orbem

signa per affectus caelique incendia mittit;

numquam futtilibus excanduit ignibus aether,

squalidaque elusi deplorant arua coloni,

et steriles inter sulcos defessus arator

ad iuga maerentis cogit frustrata iuuencos.

aut grauibus morbis et lenta corpora tabe

corripit exustis letalis flamma medullis

labentisque rapit populos, totasque per urbes

publica succensis peraguntur iusta sepulcris.

qualis Erechtheos pestis populata colonos

extulit antiquas per funera pacis Athenas,

alter in alterius labens cum fata ruebant.

nec locus artis erat medicae nec uota ualebant;

cesserat officium morbis, et funera derant

mortibus et lacrimae; lassus defecerat ignis

et coaceruatis ardebant corpora membris,

ac tanto quondam populo uix contigit heres.

talia significant lucentes saepe cometae:

funera cum facibus ueniunt, terrisque minantur

ardentis sine fine rogos, cum mundus et ipsa

aegrotet natura nouum sortita sepulcrum.

quin et bella canunt ignes subitosque tumultus

et clandestinis surgentia fraudibus arma:

externas modo per gentes, ut, foedere rupto

cum fera ductorem rapuit Germania Varum

infecitque trium legionum sanguine campos,

arserunt toto passim minitantia mundo

lumina, et ipsa tulit bellum natura per ignes

opposuitque suas uires finemque minatast.

nec mirere graues rerumque hominumque ruinas,

saepe domi culpa est: nescimus credere caelo.

ciuilis etiam motus cognataque bella

significant. nec plura alias incendia mundus

sustinuit, quam cum ducibus iurata cruentis

arma Philippeos implerunt agmine campos,

uixque etiam sicca miles Romanus harena

ossa uirum lacerosque prius super astitit artus,

imperiumque suis conflixit uiribus ipsum,

perque patris pater Augustus uestigia uicit.

necdum finis erat: restabant Actia bella

dotali commissa acie, repetitaque rerum

alea et in ponto quaesitus rector Olympi,

femineum sortita iugum cum Roma pependit

atque ipsa Isiaco certarunt fulmina sistro;

restabant profugo seruilia milite bella,

cum patrios armis imitatus filius hostes

aequora Pompeius cepit defensa parenti.

sed satis hoc fatis fuerit: iam bella quiescant

atque adamanteis discordia uincta catenis

aeternos habeat frenos in carcere clausa;

sit pater inuictus patriae, sit Roma sub illo,

cumque deum caelo dederit non quaerat in orbe.