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Iāmque īraē pătŭērĕ dĕūm, mănĭfēstăquĕ bēllī

sīgnă dĕdīt mūndūs, lēgēsque ēt foēdĕră rērūm

praēscĭă mōnstrĭfĕrō vērtīt nātūră tŭmūltū

īndīxītquĕ nĕfās. Cūr hānc tĭbĭ, rēctŏr Ŏlŷmpī,

sōllĭcĭtīs vīsūm mōrtālĭbŭs āddĕrĕ cūrām,5

nōscānt vēntūrās ūt dīră pĕr ōmĭnă clādēs?

Sīvĕ părēns rērūm, cūm prīmum īnfōrmĭă rēgnă

mātĕrĭāmquĕ rŭdēm flāmmā cēdēntĕ rĕcēpīt,

fīxĭt ĭn aētērnūm caūsās quā cūnctă cŏērcēt,

sē quŏquĕ lēgĕ tĕnēns, ēt saēcŭlă iūssă fĕrēntēm10

fātōrum īmmōtō dīvīsīt līmĭtĕ mūndūm;

sīvĕ nĭhīl pŏsĭtum ēst, sēd fōrs īncērtă văgātūr,

fērtquĕ rĕfērtquĕ vĭcēs, ĕt hăbēt mōrtālĭă cāsūs:

sīt sŭbĭtūm quōdcūmquĕ părās; sīt caēcă fŭtūrī

mēns hŏmĭnūm fātī; lĭcĕāt spērārĕ tĭmēntī.15

Ērgo ŭbĭ cōncĭpĭūnt quāntīs sīt clādĭbŭs ōrbī

cōnstātūră fĭdēs sŭpĕrūm, fērālĕ pĕr ūrbēm

iūstĭtĭūm, lătŭīt plēbēiō tēctŭs ămīctū

ōmnĭs hŏnōs, nūllōs cŏmĭtāta ēst pūrpŭră fācēs.

Tūm quēstūs tĕnŭērĕ sŭōs, māgnūsquĕ pĕr ōmnīs20

ērrāvīt sĭnĕ vōcĕ dŏlōr. sīc fūnĕrĕ prīmō

āttŏnĭtaē tăcŭērĕ dŏmūs, cūm cōrpŏră nōndūm

cōnclāmātă iăcēnt, nēc mātēr crīnĕ sŏlūtō

ēxĭgĭt ād saēvōs fămŭlārūm brācchĭă plānctūs,

sēd cūm mēmbră prĕmīt fŭgĭēntĕ rĭgēntĭă vītā25

vūltūsque ēxănĭmēs ŏcŭlōsque īn mōrtĕ mĭnācēs;

nēcdum ēst īllĕ dŏlōr, sēd iām mĕtŭs: īncŭbăt āmēns

mīrātūrquĕ mălūm. Cūltūs mātrōnă prĭōrēs

dēpŏsŭīt maēstaēquĕ tĕnēnt dēlūbră cătērvaē.

Haē lăcrĭmīs spārsērĕ dĕōs, haē pēctŏră dūrō30

ādflīxērĕ sŏlō lăcĕrāsque īn līmĭnĕ sācrō

āttŏnĭtaē fūdērĕ cŏmās vōtīsquĕ vŏcārī

ādsuētās crēbrīs fĕrĭūnt ŭlŭlātĭbŭs aūrēs.

Nēc cūnctaē sūmmī tēmplō iăcŭērĕ Tŏnāntīs:

dīvīsērĕ dĕōs, ēt nūllīs dēfŭĭt ārīs35

īnvĭdĭām fāctūră părēns, quārum ūnă mădēntīs

scīssă gĕnās, plānctū līvēntīs ātră lăcērtōs:

"Nūnc," ăĭt "ō mĭsĕraē, cōntūndĭtĕ pēctŏră, mātrēs,

nūnc lănĭātĕ cŏmās nēve hūnc dīffērtĕ dŏlōrēm

ēt sūmmīs sērvātĕ mălīs; nūnc flērĕ pŏtēstās,40

dūm pēndēt fōrtūnă dŭcūm; cūm vīcĕrĭt āltēr,

gaūdēndum ēst." Hīs sē stĭmŭlīs dŏlŏr īpsĕ lăcēssīt.

Nēc nōn bēllă vĭrī dīvērsăquĕ cāstră pĕtēntēs

ēffūndūnt iūstās īn nūmĭnă saēvă quĕrēllās:

"Ō mĭsĕraē sōrtīs, quōd nōn īn Pūnĭcă nātī45

tēmpŏră Cānnārūm fŭĭmūs Trĕbĭaēquĕ iŭvēntūs!

Nōn pācēm pĕtĭmūs, sŭpĕrī; dătĕ gēntĭbŭs īrās,

nūnc ūrbēs ēxcītĕ fĕrās, cŏnĭūrĕt ĭn ārmă

mūndŭs, Ăchaēmĕnĭīs dēcūrrānt Mēdĭcă Sūsīs

āgmĭnă, Māssăgĕtēn Scўthĭcūs nōn ādlĭgĕt Hīstēr,50

fūndăt ăb ēxtrēmō flāvōs ăquĭlōnĕ Sŭēvōs

Ālbĭs ĕt īndŏmĭtūm Rhēnī căpŭt; ōmnĭbŭs hōstīs

rēddĭtĕ nōs pŏpŭlīs: cīvīle āvērtĭtĕ bēllūm;

hīnc Dācūs, prĕmăt īndĕ Gĕtēs; ōccūrrăt Hĭbērīs

āltĕr, ăd ēōās hīc vērtāt sīgnă phărētrās;55

nūllă văcēt tĭbĭ, Rōmă, mănūs. vēl pērdĕrĕ nōmēn

sī plăcĕt Hēspĕrĭūm, sŭpĕrī, cōllātŭs ĭn īgnēs

plūrĭmŭs ād tērrām pēr fūlmĭnă dēcĭdăt aēthēr.

Saēvĕ părēns, ūtrāsquĕ sĭmūl pārtēsquĕ dŭcēsquĕ,

dūm nōndūm mĕrŭērĕ, fĕrī. Tāntōnĕ nŏvōrūm60

prōvēntū scĕlĕrūm quaērūnt ŭtĕr īmpĕrĕt Ūrbī?

Vīx tāntī fŭĕrāt cīvīlĭă bēllă mŏvērĕ

ūt neūtēr." Tālīs pĭĕtās pĕrĭtūră quĕrēllās

ēgĕrĭt. Āt mĭsĕrōs āngīt sŭă cūră părēntēs,

ōdērūntquĕ grăvīs vīvācĭă fātă sĕnēctaē65

sērvātōsque ĭtĕrūm bēllīs cīvīlĭbŭs ānnōs;

ātque ălĭquīs māgnō quaērēns ēxēmplă tĭmōrī:

"Nōn ălĭōs" īnquīt "mōtūs tūnc fātă părābānt,

cūm pōst Teūtŏnĭcōs vīctōr Lĭbўcōsquĕ trĭūmphōs

ēxūl līmōsā Mărĭūs căpŭt ābdĭdĭt ūlvā.70

Stāgna ăvĭdī tēxērĕ sŏlī lāxaēquĕ pălūdēs

dēpŏsĭtūm, Fōrtūnă, tŭūm; mōx vīncŭlă fērrī

ēxēdērĕ sĕnēm lōngūsque īn cārcĕrĕ paēdōr:

cōnsŭl ĕt ēvērsā fēlīx mŏrĭtūrŭs ĭn Ūrbĕ

poēnās āntĕ dăbāt scĕlĕrūm. mōrs īpsă rĕfūgīt75

saēpĕ vĭrūm, frūstrāque hōstī cōncēssă pŏtēstās

sānguĭnĭs īnvīsī. Prīmō quī caēdĭs ĭn āctū

dērĭgŭīt fērrūmquĕ mănū tōrpēntĕ rĕmīsīt:

vīdĕrăt īmmēnsām tĕnĕbrōso īn cārcĕrĕ lūcēm

tērrĭbĭlēsquĕ dĕōs scĕlĕrūm Mărĭūmquĕ fŭtūrūm80

aūdĭĕrātquĕ păvēns: "Fās haēc cōntīngĕrĕ nōn ēst

cōllă tĭbī; dēbēt mūltās hīc lēgĭbŭs aēvī

āntĕ sŭām mōrtēs; vānūm dēpōnĕ fŭrōrēm.

Sī lĭbĕt ūlcīscī dēlētaē fūnĕră gēntīs,

hūnc, Cīmbrī, sērvātĕ sĕnēm. Nōn īllĕ făvōrĕ85

nūmĭnĭs, īngēntī sŭpĕrūm prōtēctŭs ăb īrā

vīr fĕrŭs ēt Rōmām cŭpĭēntī pērdĕrĕ fātō

sūffĭcĭēns." Īdēm pĕlăgō dēlātŭs ĭnīquō

hōstīlem īn tērrām văcŭīsquĕ măpālĭbŭs āctūs

nūdă trĭūmphātī iăcŭīt pēr rēgnă Iŭgūrthaē90

ēt Poēnōs prēssīt cĭnĕrēs. Sōlātĭă fātī

Cārthāgō Mărĭūsquĕ tŭlīt, părĭtērquĕ iăcēntēs

īgnōvērĕ dĕīs. Lĭbўcās ĭbĭ cōllĭgĭt īrās:

ūt prīmūm fōrtūnă rĕdīt, sērvīlĭă sōlvīt

āgmĭnă; cōnflātō saēvās ērgāstŭlă fērrō95

ēxsĕrŭērĕ mănūs. Nūllī gēstāndă dăbāntūr

sīgnă dŭcīs, nĭsĭ quī scĕlĕrūm iām fēcĕrăt ūsūm

ādtŭlĕrātque īn cāstră nĕfās. Prō fātă! Quĭs īllĕ,

quīs fŭĭt īllĕ dĭēs, Mărĭūs quō moēnĭă vīctōr

cōrrĭpŭīt, quāntōquĕ grădū mōrs saēvă cŭcūrrīt!100

Nōbĭlĭtās cūm plēbĕ pĕrīt, lātēquĕ văgātūs

ēnsĭs, ĕt ā nūllō rĕvŏcātūm pēctŏrĕ fērrūm.

Stāt crŭŏr īn tēmplīs, mūltāquĕ rŭbēntĭă caēdĕ

lūbrĭcă sāxă mădēnt. Nūllī sŭă prōfŭĭt aētās:

nōn sĕnĭs ēxtrēmūm pĭgŭīt vērgēntĭbŭs ānnīs105

praēcēpīssĕ dĭēm, nēc prīmo īn līmĭnĕ vītaē

īnfāntīs mĭsĕrī nāscēntĭă rūmpĕrĕ fātă.

Crīmĭnĕ quō pārvī caēdēm pŏtŭērĕ mĕrērī?

Sēd sătĭs ēst iām pōssĕ mŏrī. Trăhĭt īpsĕ fŭrōrīs

īmpĕtŭs, ēt vīsūm lēntī quaēsīssĕ nŏcēntēm.110

Īn nŭmĕrūm pārs māgnă pĕrīt, răpŭītquĕ crŭēntūs

vīctŏr ăb īgnōtā vūltūs cērvīcĕ rĕcīsōs,

dūm văcŭā pŭdĕt īrĕ mănū. Spēs ūnă sălūtīs

ōscŭlă pōllūtaē fīxīssĕ trĕmēntĭă dēxtraē.

Mīllĕ lĭcēt glădĭī mōrtīs nŏvă sīgnă sĕquāntūr,115

dēgĕnĕr ō pŏpŭlūs, vīx saēcŭlă lōngă dĕcōrūm

sīc mĕrŭīssĕ vĭrīs, nēdūm brĕvĕ dēdĕcŭs aēvī

ēt vītām, dūm Sūllă rĕdīt. cuī fūnĕră vūlgī

flērĕ văcēt? vīx tē spārsūm pēr vīscĕră, Baēbī,

īnnŭmĕrās īntēr cārpēntīs mēmbră cŏrōnaē120

dīscēssīssĕ mănūs; aūt tē, praēsāgĕ mălōrūm

Āntōnī, cūiūs lăcĕrīs pēndēntĭă cānīs

ōră fĕrēns mīlēs fēstaē rōrāntĭă mēnsaē

īmpŏsŭīt. Trūncōs lăcĕrāvīt Fīmbrĭă Crāssōs;

saēvă trĭbūnĭcĭō mădŭērūnt rōbŏră tābō;125

tē quŏquĕ nēglēctūm vĭŏlātaē, Scaēvŏlă, dēxtraē

ānte īpsūm pĕnĕtrālĕ dĕaē sēmpērquĕ călēntīs

māctāvērĕ fŏcōs; pārvūm sēd fēssă sĕnēctūs

sānguĭnĭs ēffūdīt iŭgŭlō flāmmīsquĕ pĕpērcīt.

Sēptĭmŭs haēc sĕquĭtūr rĕpĕtītīs fāscĭbŭs ānnūs.130

Īllĕ fŭīt vītaē Mărĭō mŏdŭs ōmnĭă pāssō

quaē pēiōr fōrtūnă pŏtēst, ātque ōmnĭbŭs ūsō

quaē mĕlĭōr, mēnsōque hŏmĭnīs quīd fātă pătērēnt.

Iām quŏt ăpūd Sācrī cĕcĭdērĕ cădāvĕră pōrtūm,

aūt Cōllīnă tŭlīt strātās quōt pōrtă cătērvās,135

tūm cūm paēnĕ căpūt mūndī rērūmquĕ pŏtēstās

mūtāvīt trānslātă lŏcūm, Rōmānăquĕ Sāmnīs

ūltrā Caūdīnās spērāvīt vūlnĕră Fūrcās!

Sūllă quŏque īmmēnsīs āccēssīt clādĭbŭs ūltōr.

Īllĕ quŏd ēxĭgŭūm rēstābāt sānguĭnĭs Ūrbī140

haūsīt; dūmquĕ nĭmīs iām pūtrĭă mēmbră rĕcīdīt,

ēxcēssīt mĕdĭcīnă mŏdūm, nĭmĭūmquĕ sĕcūtāst,

quā mōrbī dūxērĕ, mănūs. Pĕrĭērĕ nŏcēntēs,

sēd cūm iām sōlī pōssēnt sŭpĕrēssĕ nŏcēntēs.

Tūnc dătă lībērtās ŏdĭīs, rĕsŏlūtăquĕ lēgūm145

frēnīs īră rŭīt. Nōn ūnī cūnctă dăbāntūr,

sēd fēcīt sĭbĭ quīsquĕ nĕfās. Sĕmĕl ōmnĭă vīctōr

iūssĕrăt. Īnfāndūm dŏmĭnī pēr vīscĕră fērrūm

ēxēgīt fămŭlūs; nātī mădŭērĕ pătērnō

sānguĭnĕ; cērtātum ēst cuī cērvīx caēsă părēntīs150

cēdĕrĕt; īn frātrūm cĕcĭdērūnt praēmĭă frātrēs.

Būstă rĕplētă fŭgā, pērmīxtăquĕ vīvă sĕpūltīs

cōrpŏră, nēc pŏpŭlūm lătĕbraē cēpērĕ fĕrārūm.

Hīc lăquĕō faūcēs ēlīsăquĕ gūttŭră frēgīt,

hīc sē praēcĭpĭtī iăcŭlātūs pōndĕrĕ dūrā155

dīssĭlŭīt pērcūssŭs hŭmō, mōrtīsquĕ crŭēntō

vīctōrī răpŭērĕ sŭās; hīc rōbŏră būstī

ēxstrŭĭt īpsĕ sŭī nēcdum ōmnī sānguĭnĕ fūsō

dēsĭlĭt īn flāmmās ēt dūm lĭcĕt ōccŭpăt īgnēs.

Cōllă dŭcūm pīlō trĕpĭdām gēstātă pĕr ūrbēm160

ēt mĕdĭō cōngēstă fŏrō; cōgnōscĭtŭr īllīc

quīcquĭd ŭbīquĕ iăcēt. Scĕlĕrūm nōn Thrācĭă tāntūm

vīdīt Bīstŏnĭī stăbŭlīs pēndērĕ tўrānnī,

pōstĭbŭs Āntaēī Lĭbўē, nēc Graēcĭă maērēns

tām lăcĕrōs ārtūs Pīsaēā flēvĭt ĭn aūlā.165

Cūm iām tābĕ flŭūnt cōnfūsăquĕ tēmpŏrĕ mūltō

āmīsērĕ nŏtās, mĭsĕrōrūm dēxtră părēntūm

cōllĭgĭt ēt păvĭdō sūbdūcīt cōgnĭtă fūrtō.

Mēque īpsūm mĕmĭnī caēsī dēfōrmĭă frātrīs

ōră rŏgō cŭpĭdūm vĕtĭtīsque īmpōnĕrĕ flāmmīs170

ōmnĭă Sūllānaē lūstrāssĕ cădāvĕră pācīs,

pērque ōmnīs trūncōs cūm quā cērvīcĕ rĕcīsūm

cōnvĕnĭāt quaēsīssĕ căpūt. quīd sānguĭnĕ mānēs

plācātōs Cătŭlī rĕfĕrām? cūm vīctĭmă trīstīs

īnfĕrĭās Mărĭūs fōrsān nōlēntĭbŭs ūmbrīs175

pēndĭt, ĭnēxplētō nōn fāndă pĭācŭlă būstō,

cūm lăcĕrōs ārtūs aēquātăquĕ vūlnĕră mēmbrīs

vīdĭmŭs, ēt tōtō quāmvīs īn cōrpŏrĕ caēsō

nīl ănĭmaē lētālĕ dătūm mōrēmquĕ nĕfāndaē

dīrūm saēvĭtĭaē, pĕrĕūntīs pārcĕrĕ mōrtī.180

Āvūlsaē cĕcĭdērĕ mănūs, ēxsēctăquĕ līnguă

pālpĭtăt ēt mūtō văcŭūm fĕrĭt āĕră mōtū.

Hīc aūrēs, ălĭūs spīrāmĭnă nārĭs ădūncaē

āmpŭtăt; īllĕ căvīs ēvōlvīt sēdĭbŭs ōrbēs,

ūltĭmăque ēffūdīt spēctātīs lūmĭnă mēmbrīs.185

Vīx ĕrĭt ūllă fĭdēs tām saēvī crīmĭnĭs ūnūm

tōt poēnās cēpīssĕ căpūt. sīc mōlĕ rŭīnaē

frāctă sŭb īngēntī mīscēntūr pōndĕrĕ mēmbră,

nēc măgĭs īnfōrmēs vĕnĭūnt ād lītŏră trūncī,

quī mĕdĭō pĕrĭērĕ frĕtō. quīd pērdĕrĕ frūctūm190

iūvĭt ĕt ūt vīlēm Mărĭī cōnfūndĕrĕ vūltūm?

Vt scĕlŭs hōc Sūllaē caēdēsque ōstēnsă plăcērēt,

āgnōscēndŭs ĕrāt. vīdīt Fōrtūnă cŏlōnōs

Praēnēstīnă sŭōs cūnctōs sĭmŭl ēnsĕ rĕcēptō

ūnīūs pŏpŭlūm pĕrĕūntēm tēmpŏrĕ mōrtīs.195

Tūnc flōs Hēspĕrĭaē, Lătĭī iām sōlă iŭvēntūs

cōncĭdĭt ēt mĭsĕraē măcŭlāvĭt ŏvīlĭă Rōmaē.

Tōt sĭmŭl īnfēstō iŭvĕnēs ōccūmbĕrĕ lētō

saēpĕ fămēs pĕlăgīquĕ fŭrōr sŭbĭtaēquĕ rŭīnaē

aūt tērraē caēlīquĕ lŭēs aūt bēllĭcă clādēs,200

nūmquām poēnă fŭīt. dēnsī vīx āgmĭnă vūlgī

īntĕr ĕt ēxsānguēs īmmīssā mōrtĕ cătērvās

vīctōrēs mōvērĕ mănūm. vīx caēdĕ pĕrāctā

prōcūmbūnt dŭbĭāquĕ lăbānt cērvīcĕ; sĕd īllōs

māgnă prĕmīt strāgēs, pĕrăgūntquĕ cădāvĕră pārtēm205

caēdīs: vīvă grăvēs ēlīdūnt cōrpŏră trūncī.

Īntrĕpĭdūs tāntī sēdīt sēcūrŭs ăb āltō

spēctātōr scĕlĕrīs; mĭsĕrī tōt mīlĭă vūlgī

nōn tĭmŭīt iūssīssĕ mŏrī. cōngēstă rĕcēpīt

ōmnĭă Tŷrrhēnūs Sūllānă cădāvĕră gūrgēs;210

īn flŭvĭūm prīmī cĕcĭdēre, īn cōrpŏră sūmmī.

Praēcĭpĭtēs haēsērĕ rătēs, ēt strāgĕ crŭēntā

īntērrūptŭs ăquaē flūxīt prĭŏr āmnĭs ĭn aēquōr,

ād mōlēm stĕtĭt ūndă sĕquēns. Iām sānguĭnĭs āltī

vīs sĭbĭ fēcĭt ĭtēr, cāmpūmque ēffūsă pĕr ōmnēm215

praēcīpītĭquĕ ruēns Tĭbĕrīna īn flūmĭnă rīvō

haērēntīs ādiūvĭt ăquās, nēc iam ālvĕŭs āmnēm

nēc rĕtĭnēnt rīpaē, rēddītquĕ cădāvĕră cāmpō.

Tāndēm Tŷrrhēnās vīx ēlūctātŭs ĭn ūndās

sānguĭnĕ caērŭlĕūm tōrrēntī dīvĭdĭt aēquōr.220

Hīsnĕ sălūs rērūm, fēlīx hīs Sūllă vŏcārī,

hīs mĕrŭīt tŭmŭlūm mĕdĭō sĭbĭ tōllĕrĕ Cāmpō?

Haēc rūrsūs pătĭēndă mănēnt, hōc ōrdĭnĕ bēllī

ībĭtŭr, hīc stābīt cīvīlĭbŭs ēxĭtŭs ārmīs.

Quāmquam ăgĭtānt grăvĭōră mĕtūs, mūltūmquĕ cŏītūr225

hūmānī gĕnĕrīs māiōre īn proēlĭă dāmnō.

Ēxŭlĭbūs Mărĭīs bēllōrūm māxĭmă mērcēs

Rōmă rĕcēptă fŭīt, nēc plūs vīctōrĭă Sūllaē

praēstĭtĭt, īnvīsās pĕnĭtūs quām tōllĕrĕ pārtēs.

Hōs ălĭō, Fōrtūnă, vŏcās, ōlīmquĕ pŏtēntēs230

cōncūrrūnt. neūtēr cīvīlĭă bēllă mŏvērēt,

cōntēntūs quōd Sūllă fŭīt." Sīc maēstă sĕnēctūs

praētĕrĭtīquĕ mĕmōr flēbāt mĕtŭēnsquĕ fŭtūrī.

Āt nōn māgnănĭmī pērcūssīt pēctŏră Brūtī

tērrŏr, ĕt īn tāntā păvĭdī fōrmīdĭnĕ mōtūs235

pārs pŏpŭlī lūgēntĭs ĕrāt; sēd nōctĕ sŏpōrā,

Pārrhăsĭs ōblīquōs Hĕlĭcē cūm vērtĕrĕt āxēs,

ātrĭă cōgnātī pūlsāt nōn āmplă Cătōnīs.

Īnvĕnĭt īnsōmnī vōlvēntēm pūblĭcă cūrā

fātă vĭrūm cāsūsque ūrbīs cūnctīsquĕ tĭmēntēm240

sēcūrūmquĕ sŭī, fārīque hīs vōcĭbŭs ōrsūs:

"Ōmnĭbŭs ēxpūlsaē tērrīs ōlīmquĕ fŭgātaē

vīrtūtīs iām sōlă fĭdēs, quām tūrbĭnĕ nūllō

ēxcŭtĭēt fōrtūnă tĭbī, tū mēntĕ lăbāntēm

dērĭgĕ mē, dŭbĭūm cērtō tū rōbŏrĕ fīrmā.245

Nāmque ălĭī Māgnūm vēl Caēsărĭs ārmă sĕquāntūr:

dūx Brūtō Cătŏ sōlŭs ĕrīt. Pācēmnĕ tŭērīs

īncōncūssă tĕnēns dŭbĭō vēstīgĭă mūndō?

Ān plăcŭīt dŭcĭbūs scĕlĕrūm pŏpŭlīquĕ fŭrēntīs

clādĭbŭs īmmīxtūm cīvīle ābsōlvĕrĕ bēllūm?250

Quēmquĕ sŭaē răpĭūnt scĕlĕrāta īn proēlĭă caūsaē:

hōs pōllūtă dŏmūs lēgēsque īn pācĕ tĭmēndaē,

hōs fērrō fŭgĭēndă fămēs mūndīquĕ rŭīnaē

pērmīscēndă fĭdēs. Nūllūm fŭrŏr ēgĭt ĭn ārmă:

cāstră pĕtūnt māgnā vīctī mērcēdĕ; tĭbi ūnī255

pēr sē bēllă plăcēnt? Quīd tōt dūrārĕ pĕr ānnōs

prōfŭĭt īmmūnēm cōrrūptī mōrĭbŭs aēvī?

Hōc sōlūm lōngaē prĕtĭūm vīrtūtĭs hăbēbīs?

Āccĭpĭēnt ălĭōs, făcĭēnt tē bēllă nŏcēntēm.

Nē tāntum, ō sŭpĕrī, lĭcĕāt fērālĭbŭs ārmīs,260

hās ĕtĭām mōvīssĕ mănūs, nēc pīlă lăcērtīs

mīssă tŭīs caēcā tēlōrum īn nūbĕ fĕrāntūr,

nēc tānta īncāssūm vīrtūs ĕăt. īngĕrĕt ōmnīs

sē bēllī fōrtūnă tĭbī. Quīs nōllĕt ĭn īstō

ēnsĕ mŏrī, quāmvīs ălĭēnō vūlnĕrĕ lābēns,265

ēt scĕlŭs ēssĕ tŭūm? Mĕlĭūs trānquīllă sĭne ārmīs

ōtĭă sōlŭs ăgēs; sīcūt caēlēstĭă sēmpēr

īncōncūssă sŭō vōlvūntūr sīdĕră lāpsū,

fūlmĭnĭbūs prŏpĭōr tērraē sūccēndĭtŭr āēr;

īmăquĕ tēllūrīs vēntōs trāctūsquĕ cŏrūscōs270

flāmmārum āccĭpĭūnt, nūbēs ēxcēdĭt Ŏlŷmpūs.

Lēgĕ dĕūm mĭnĭmās rērūm dīscōrdĭă tūrbāt,

pācēm māgnă tĕnēnt. Quām laētaē Caēsărĭs aūrēs

āccĭpĭēnt tāntūm vēnīsse īn proēlĭă cīvēm!

Nām praēlātă sŭīs nūmquām dīvērsă dŏlēbīt275

cāstră dŭcīs Māgnī. Nĭmĭūm plăcĕt īpsĕ Cătōnī,

sī bēllūm cīvīlĕ plăcēt. Pārs māgnă sĕnātūs

ēt dŭcĕ prīvātō gēstūrūs proēlĭă cōnsūl

sōllĭcĭtānt prŏcĕrēsque ălĭī; quĭbŭs āddĕ Cătōnēm

sūb iŭgă Pōmpēī, tōtō iām lībĕr ĭn ōrbĕ280

sōlūs Caēsăr ĕrīt. Quōd sī prō lēgĭbŭs ārmă

fērrĕ iŭvāt pătrĭīs lībērtātēmquĕ tŭērī,

nūnc nĕquĕ Pōmpēī Brūtūm nĕquĕ Caēsărĭs hōstēm,

pōst bēllūm vīctōrĭs hăbēs." Sīc fātŭr, ăt īllī

ārcānō sācrās rēddīt Cătŏ pēctŏrĕ vōcēs:285

"Sūmmūm, Brūtĕ, nĕfās cīvīlĭă bēllă fătēmūr;

sēd quō fātă trăhūnt, vīrtūs sēcūră sĕquētūr;

crīmĕn ĕrīt sŭpĕrīs ēt mē fēcīssĕ nŏcēntēm.

Sīdĕră quīs mūndūmquĕ vĕlīt spēctārĕ cădēntēm

ēxpērs īpsĕ mĕtūs? Quīs, cūm rŭăt ārdŭŭs aēthēr,290

tērră lăbēt mīxtō coēūntīs pōndĕrĕ mūndī,

cōmprēssās tĕnŭīssĕ mănūs? Gēntēsnĕ fŭrōrēm

Hēspĕrĭum īgnōtaē Rōmānăquĕ bēllă sĕquēntūr

dīdūctī frētīs ălĭō sūb sīdĕrĕ rēgēs,

ōtĭă sōlŭs ăgām? Prŏcŭl hūnc ārcētĕ fŭrōrēm,295

ō sŭpĕrī, mōtūră Dăhās ūt clādĕ Gĕtāsquĕ

sēcūrō mē Rōmă cădāt. Ceū mōrtĕ părēntēm

nātōrum ōrbātūm lōngūm prōdūcĕrĕ fūnūs

ād tŭmŭlōs iŭbĕt īpsĕ dŏlōr, iŭvăt īgnĭbŭs ātrīs

īnsērvīssĕ mănūs cōnstrūctōque āggĕrĕ būstī300

īpsum ātrās tĕnŭīssĕ făcēs: nōn āntĕ rĕvēllār

ēxănĭmēm quām tē cōmplēctār, Rōmă, tŭūmquĕ

nōmēn, lībērtās, ĕt ĭnānēm prōsĕquăr ūmbrām.

Sīc ĕăt: īmmītēs Rōmānă pĭācŭlă dīvī

plēnă fĕrānt, nūllō fraūdēmūs sānguĭnĕ bēllūm.305

Ō | ŭtĭnām caēlīquĕ dĕīs Ĕrĕbīquĕ lĭcērēt

hōc căpŭt īn cūnctās dāmnātum ēxpōnĕrĕ poēnās!

Dēvōtum hōstīlēs Dĕcĭūm prēssērĕ cătērvaē:

mē gĕmĭnaē fīgānt ăcĭēs, mē bārbără tēlīs

Rhēnī tūrbă pĕtāt, cūnctīs ĕgŏ pērvĭŭs hāstīs310

ēxcĭpĭām mĕdĭūs tōtīūs vūlnĕră bēllī.

Hīc rĕdĭmāt sānguīs pŏpŭlōs, hāc caēdĕ lŭātūr

quīdquīd Rōmānī mĕrŭērūnt pēndĕrĕ mōrēs.

Ād iŭgă cūr făcĭlēs pŏpŭlī, cūr saēvă vŏlēntēs

rēgnă pătī pĕrĕūnt? Mē sōlum īnvādĭtĕ fērrō,315

mē frūstrā lēgēs ĕt ĭnānĭă iūră tŭēntēm.

Hīc dăbĭt, hīc pācēm iŭgŭlūs fīnēmquĕ mălōrūm

gēntĭbŭs Hēspĕrĭīs; pōst mē rēgnārĕ vŏlēntī

nōn ŏpŭs ēst bēllō. Quīn pūblĭcă sīgnă dŭcēmquĕ

Pōmpēiūm sĕquĭmūr? Nēc, sī fōrtūnă făvēbīt,320

hūnc quŏquĕ tōtīūs sĭbĭ iūs prōmīttĕrĕ mūndī

nōn bĕnĕ cōmpērtum ēst: ĭdĕō mē mīlĭtĕ vīncāt,

nē sĭbĭ sē vīcīssĕ pŭtēt." Sīc fātŭr ĕt ācrīs

īrārūm mōvīt stĭmŭlōs iŭvĕnīsquĕ călōrēm

ēxcĭtăt īn nĭmĭōs bēllī cīvīlĭs ămōrēs.325

Īntĕrĕā Phoēbō gĕlĭdās pēllēntĕ tĕnēbrās

pūlsātaē sŏnŭērĕ fŏrēs quās sānctă rĕlīctō

Hōrtēnsī maērēns īrrūpīt Mārcĭă būstō;

quōndām vīrgŏ tŏrīs mĕlĭōrīs iūnctă mărītī,

mōx ŭbĭ cōnŭbĭī prĕtĭūm mērcēsquĕ sŏlūtāst330

tērtĭă iām sŭbŏlēs, ălĭōs fēcūndă pĕnātēs

īmplētūră dătūr gĕmĭnās ēt sānguĭnĕ mātrīs

pērmīxtūră dŏmōs. Sēd pōstquām cōndĭdĭt ūrnā

sūprēmōs cĭnĕrēs, mĭsĕrāndō cōncĭtă vūltū,

ēffūsās lănĭātă cŏmās cōntūsăquĕ pēctūs335

vērbĕrĭbūs crēbrīs cĭnĕrēsque īngēstă sĕpūlchrī,

nōn ălĭtēr plăcĭtūră vĭrō, sīc maēstă prŏfātūr:

"Dūm sānguīs ĭnĕrāt, dūm vīs mātērnă, pĕrēgī

iūssă, Căto, ēt gĕmĭnōs ēxcēpī fētă mărītōs;

vīscĕrĭbūs lāssīs pārtūque ēxhaūstă rĕvērtōr340

iām nūllī trādēndă vĭrō. Dā foēdĕră prīscī

īllībātă tŏrī, dā tāntūm nōmĕn ĭnānĕ

cōnŭbĭī, lĭcĕāt tŭmŭlō scrīpsīssĕ: "Cătōnīs

Mārcĭă"; nēc dŭbĭūm lōngō quaērātŭr ĭn aēvō,

mūtārīm prīmās, ēxpūlsa ān trādĭtă, taēdās.345

Nōn mē laētōrūm sŏcĭām rēbūsquĕ sĕcūndīs

āccĭpĭs: īn cūrās vĕnĭō pārtēmquĕ lăbōrūm.

Dā mĭhĭ cāstră sĕquī. Cūr tūta īn pācĕ rĕlīnquōr

ēt sīt cīvīlī prŏpĭōr Cōrnēlĭă bēllō?"

Haē flēxērĕ vĭrūm vōcēs, ēt tēmpŏră quāmquām350

sīnt ălĭēnă tŏrīs, iām fāto īn bēllă vŏcāntĕ,

foēdĕră sōlă tămēn vānāquĕ cărēntĭă pōmpā

iūră plăcēnt sācrīsquĕ dĕōs ādmīttĕrĕ tēstēs.

Fēstă cŏrōnātō nōn pēndēnt līmĭnĕ sērtă,

īnfŭlăque īn gĕmĭnōs dīscūrrīt cāndĭdă pōstēs,355

lēgĭtĭmaēquĕ făcēs, grădĭbūsque ācclīnĭs ĕbūrnīs

stāt tŏrŭs, ēt pīctō vēstēs dīscrīmĭnăt aūrō,

tūrrītāquĕ prĕmēns frōntēm mātrōnă cŏrōnā

trānslātā vītāt cōntīngĕrĕ līmĭnă plāntā;

nōn tĭmĭdūm nūptaē lĕvĭtēr tēctūră pŭdōrēm360

lūtĕă dēmīssōs vēlārūnt flāmmĕă vūltūs,

bāltĕŭs aūt flūxōs gēmmīs āstrīnxĭt ămīctūs,

cōllă mŏnīlĕ dĕcēns, ŭmĕrīsque haērēntĭă prīmīs

sūppără nūdātōs cīngūnt āngūstă lăcērtōs.

Sīcŭt ĕrāt, maēstī sērvāt lūgūbrĭă cūltūs365

quōquĕ mŏdō nātōs, hōc ēst āmplēxă mărītūm.

Ōbsĭtă fūnĕrĕā cēlātūr pūrpŭră lānā.

Nōn sŏlĭtī lūsērĕ sălēs, nēc mōrĕ Săbīnō

ēxcēpīt trīstīs cōnvīcĭă fēstă mărītūs.

Pīgnŏră nūllă dŏmūs, nūllī cŏĭērĕ prŏpīnquī:370

iūngūntūr tăcĭtī cōntēntīque aūspĭcĕ Brūtō.

Īllĕ nĕc hōrrĭfĭcām sānctō dīmōvĭt ăb ōrĕ

caēsărĭēm dūrōque ādmīsīt gaūdĭă vūltū

(ūt prīmūm tōllī fērālĭă vīdĕrăt ārmă,

īntōnsōs rĭgĭdam īn frōntēm dēscēndĕrĕ cānōs375

pāssŭs ĕrāt maēstāmquĕ gĕnīs īncrēscĕrĕ bārbām:

ūnī quīppĕ văcāt stŭdĭīs ŏdĭīsquĕ cărēntī

hūmānūm lūgērĕ gĕnūs). Nēc foēdĕră prīscī

sūnt tēmptātă tŏrī; iūstō quŏquĕ rōbŭr ămōrī

rēstĭtĭt. hī mōrēs, haēc dūri īmmōtă Cătōnīs380

sēctă fŭīt, sērvārĕ mŏdūm fīnēsquĕ tĕnērĕ

nātūrāmquĕ sĕquī pătrĭaēque īmpēndĕrĕ vītām

nēc sĭbĭ, sēd tōtī gĕnĭtūm sē crēdĕrĕ mūndō.

Huīc ĕpŭlaē vīcīssĕ fămēm; māgnīquĕ pĕnātēs

sūmmōvīsse hĭĕmēm tēctō; prĕtĭōsăquĕ vēstīs385

hīrtām mēmbră sŭpēr Rōmānī mōrĕ Quĭrītīs

īndūxīssĕ tŏgām; Vĕnĕrīsque hīc māxĭmŭs ūsūs

prōgĕnĭēs; Ūrbī pătĕr ēst Ūrbīquĕ mărītūs,

iūstĭtĭaē cūltōr, rĭgĭdī sērvātŏr hŏnēstī,

īn cōmmūnĕ bŏnūs; nūllōsquĕ Cătōnĭs ĭn āctūs390

sūbrēpsīt pārtēmquĕ tŭlīt sĭbĭ nātă vŏlūptās.

Īntĕrĕā trĕpĭdō dīscēdēns āgmĭnĕ Māgnūs

moēnĭă Dārdănĭī tĕnŭīt Cāmpānă cŏlōnī.

Haēc plăcŭīt bēllī sēdēs, hīnc sūmmă mŏvēntēm

hōstĭs ĭn ōccūrsūm spārsās ēxtēndĕrĕ pārtīs,395

ūmbrōsīs mĕdĭām quā cōllĭbŭs Āppēnnīnūs

ērĭgĭt Ītălĭām, nūllōque ā vērtĭcĕ tēllūs

āltĭŭs īntŭmŭīt prŏpĭūsque āccēssĭt Ŏlŷmpō.

Mōns īntēr gĕmĭnās mĕdĭūs sē pōrrĭgĭt ūndās

īnfērnī sŭpĕrīquĕ mărīs, cōllēsquĕ cŏērcēnt400

hīnc Tŷrrhēnă vădō frāngēntēs aēquŏră Pīsaē,

īllīnc Dālmătĭcīs ōbnōxĭă flūctĭbŭs Āncōn.

Fōntĭbŭs hīc vāstīs īmmēnsōs cōncĭpĭt āmnēs

flūmĭnăque īn gĕmĭnī spārgīt dīvōrtĭă pōntī.

Īn laēvūm cĕcĭdērĕ lătūs vēlōxquĕ Mĕtaūrūs405

Crūstŭmĭūmquĕ răpāx ēt iūnctō Sāpĭs Ĭsaūrō

Sēnăque ĕt Ādrĭăcās quī vērbĕrăt Aūfĭdŭs ūndās,

quōquĕ măgīs nūllūm tēllūs sē sōlvĭt ĭn āmnēm,

Ērĭdănūs frāctās dĕvŏlūĭt ĭn aēquŏră sīlvās

Hēspĕrĭāmque ēxhaūrĭt ăquīs. Hūnc fābŭlă prīmūm410

pōpŭlĕā flŭvĭūm rīpās ūmbrāssĕ cŏrōnā,

cūmquĕ dĭēm prōnūm trānsvērsō līmĭtĕ dūcēns

sūccēndīt Phaēthōn flāgrāntĭbŭs aēthĕră lōrīs,

gūrgĭtĭbūs rāptīs pĕnĭtūs tēllūrĕ pĕrūstā,

hūnc hăbŭīssĕ părēs Phoēbēīs īgnĭbŭs ūndās.415

Nōn mĭnŏr hīc Nīlō sī nōn pēr plānă iăcēntīs

Aēgŷptī Lĭbўcīs Nīlūs stāgnārĕt hărēnīs;

nōn mĭnŏr hīc Hīstrō, nĭsĭ quōd dūm pērmĕăt ōrbēm

Hīstēr cāsūrōs īn quaēlĭbĕt aēquŏră fōntēs

āccĭpĭt ēt Scўthĭcās ēxīt nōn sōlŭs ĭn ūndās.420

Dēxtĕrĭōră pĕtēns mōntīs dēclīvĭă Thŷbrīm

ūndă făcīt Rŭtŭbāmquĕ căvūm. Dēlābĭtŭr īndĕ

Vūltūrnūsquĕ cĕlēr nōctūrnaēque ēdĭtŏr aūraē

Sārnŭs ĕt ūmbrōsaē Līrīs pēr rēgnă Mărīcaē

Vēstīnīs īmpūlsŭs ăquīs rādēnsquĕ Sălērnī425

cūltă Sĭlēr, nūllāsquĕ vădō quī Mācră mŏrātūs

ālnōs vīcīnaē prōcūrrĭt ĭn aēquŏră Lūnaē.

Lōngĭŏr ēdūctō quā sūrgĭt ĭn āĕră dōrsō,

Gāllĭcă rūră vĭdēt dēvēxāsque ēxcĭpĭt Ālpīs.

Tūnc Ūmbrīs Mārsīsquĕ fĕrāx dŏmĭtūsquĕ Săbēllō430

vōmĕrĕ, pīnĭfĕrīs āmplēxūs rūpĭbŭs ōmnīs

īndĭgĕnās Lătĭī pŏpŭlōs, nōn dēsĕrĭt āntĕ

Hēspĕrĭām quām cūm Scŷllaēīs claūdĭtŭr ūndīs

ēxtēndītquĕ sŭās īn tēmplă Lăcīnĭă rūpēs,

lōngĭŏr Ītălĭā, dōnēc cōnfīnĭă pōntūs435

sōlvĕrĕt īncūmbēns tērrāsquĕ rĕpēllĕrĕt aēquōr.

Āt pōstquām gĕmĭnō tēllūs ēlīsă prŏfūndōst

ēxtrēmī cōllēs Sĭcŭlō cēssērĕ Pĕlōrō.

Caēsăr ĭn ārmă fŭrēns nūllās nĭsĭ sānguĭnĕ fūsō

gaūdĕt hăbērĕ vĭās, quōd nōn tĕrăt hōstĕ văcāntīs440

Hēspĕrĭaē fīnēs văcŭōsque īrrūmpăt ĭn āgrōs

ātque īpsūm nōn pērdăt ĭtēr cōnsērtăquĕ bēllīs

bēllă gĕrāt. Nōn tām pōrtās īntrārĕ pătēntīs

quām frēgīssĕ iŭvāt, nēc tām pătĭēntĕ cŏlōnō

ārvă prĕmī quām sī fērrō pŏpŭlētŭr ĕt īgnī;445

cōncēssā pŭdĕt īrĕ vĭā cīvēmquĕ vĭdērī.

Tūnc ūrbēs Lătĭī dŭbĭaē vărĭōquĕ făvōrĕ

āncĭpĭtēs, quāmquām prīmō tērrōrĕ rŭēntīs

cēssūraē bēllī, dēnsō tămĕn āggĕrĕ fīrmānt

moēnĭa ĕt ābrūptō cīrcūmdānt ūndĭquĕ vāllō450

sāxōrūmque ōrbēs, ēt quaē sŭpĕr ēmĭnŭs hōstēm

tēlă pĕtānt āltīs mūrōrūm tūrrĭbŭs āptānt.

Prōnĭŏr īn Māgnūm pŏpŭlūs, pūgnātquĕ mĭnācī

cūm tērrōrĕ fĭdēs: ūt cūm mărĕ pōssĭdĕt aūstēr

flātĭbŭs hōrrĭsŏnīs, hūnc aēquŏră tōtă sĕquūntūr;455

sī rūrsūs tēllūs pūlsū lāxātă trĭdēntīs

Aēŏlĭī tŭmĭdīs īmmīttāt flūctĭbŭs eūrūm,

quāmvīs īctă nŏvō, vēntūm tĕnŭērĕ prĭōrēm

aēquŏră, nūbĭfĕrōquĕ pŏlūs cūm cēssĕrĭt eūrō,

vīndĭcăt ūndă nŏtūm. Făcĭlīs sēd vērtĕrĕ mēntēs460

tērrŏr ĕrāt dŭbĭāmquĕ fĭdēm fōrtūnă fĕrēbāt.

Gēns Ētrūscă fŭgā trĕpĭdī nūdātă Lĭbōnīs,

iūsquĕ sŭī pūlsō iām pērdĭdĭt Ūmbrĭă Thērmō.

Nēc gĕrĭt aūspĭcĭīs cīvīlĭă bēllă pătērnīs

Caēsărĭs aūdītō cōnvērsūs nōmĭnĕ Sūllā.465

Vārŭs, ŭt ādmōtaē pūlsārūnt Aūxĭmŏn ālaē,

pēr dīvērsā ruēns nēglēctō moēnĭă tērgō,

quā sīlvaē, quā sāxă, fŭgīt. Dēpēllĭtŭr ārcĕ

Lēntŭlŭs Āscŭlĕā; vīctōr cēdēntĭbŭs īnstāt

dēvērtītque ăcĭēs, sōlūsque ēx āgmĭnĕ tāntō470

dūx fŭgĭt ēt nūllās dūcēntĭă sīgnă cŏhōrtēs.

Tū quŏquĕ nūdātām cōmmīssaē dēsĕrĭs ārcēm,

Scīpĭŏ, Lūcĕrĭaē, quāmquām fīrmīssĭmă pūbēs

hīs sĕdĕāt cāstrīs, iāmprīdēm Caēsărĭs ārmīs

Pārthōrūm sēdūctă mĕtū, quā Gāllĭcă dāmnă475

sūpplēvīt Māgnūs dūmque īpse ād bēllă văcārēt,

dōnāvīt sŏcĕrō Rōmānī sānguĭnĭs ūsūm.

Āt tē Cōrfīnī vălĭdīs cīrcūmdătă mūrīs

tēctă tĕnēnt, pūgnāx Dŏmĭtī; tŭă clāssĭcă sērvāt

ōppŏsĭtūs quōndām pōllūtō tīrŏ Mĭlōnī.480

Vt prŏcŭl īmmēnsām cāmpō cōnsūrgĕrĕ nūbēm

ārdēntīsque ăcĭēs pērcūssīs sōlĕ cŏrūscō

cōnspēxīt tēlīs, "Sŏcĭī, dēcūrrĭtĕ" dīxīt

"flūmĭnĭs ād rīpās ūndaēque īmmērgĭtĕ pōntēm.

Ēt tū mōntānīs tōtūs nūnc fōntĭbŭs ēxī485

ātque ōmnīs trăhĕ, gūrgĕs, ăquās, ūt spūmĕŭs ālnōs

dīscūssā cōmpāgĕ fĕrās. Hōc līmĭtĕ bēllūm

haērĕăt, hāc hōstīs lēntūs tĕrăt ōtĭă rīpā.

Praēcĭpĭtēm cŏhĭbētĕ dŭcēm; vīctōrĭă nōbīs

hīc prīmūm stāns Caēsăr ĕrīt." Nēc plūră lŏcūtūs490

dēvōlvīt răpĭdūm nēquīcquām moēnĭbŭs āgmēn.

Nām prĭŏr ē cāmpīs ūt cōnspĭcĭt āmnĕ sŏlūtō

rūmpī Caēsăr ĭtēr, călĭdā prōlātŭs ăb īrā:

"Nōn sătĭs ēst mūrīs lătĕbrās quaēsīssĕ păvōrī?

Ōbstrŭĭtīs cāmpōs flŭvĭīsque ārcērĕ părātīs,495

īgnāvī! Nōn sī tŭmĭdō mē gūrgĭtĕ Gāngēs

sūmmŏvĕāt, stābīt iām flūmĭnĕ Caēsăr ĭn ūllō

pōst Rŭbĭcōnĭs ăquās. Ĕquĭtūm prŏpĕrātĕ cătērvaē,

ītĕ sĭmūl pĕdĭtēs, rŭĭtūrum āscēndĭtĕ pōntēm."

Haēc ŭbĭ dīctă, lĕvīs tōtās āccēpĭt hăbēnās500

īn cāmpūm sŏnĭpēs, crēbrōquĕ sĭmīllĭmă nīmbō

trāns rīpām vălĭdī tōrsērūnt tēlă lăcērtī.

Īngrĕdĭtūr pūlsā flŭvĭūm stătĭōnĕ văcāntēm

Caēsăr ĕt ād tūtās hōstīs cōnpēllĭtŭr ārcēs.

Ēt iām mōtūrās īngēntĭă pōndĕră tūrrīs505

ērĭgĭt, ēt mĕdĭīs sūbrēpīt vīnĕă mūrīs:

ēccĕ, nĕfās bēllī! rĕsĕrātīs āgmĭnă pōrtīs

cāptīvūm trāxērĕ dŭcēm, cīvīsquĕ sŭpērbī

cōnstĭtĭt āntĕ pĕdēs; vūltū tămĕn āltă mĭnācī

nōbĭlĭtās rēctā fērrūm cērvīcĕ pŏpōscīt.510

Scīt Caēsār poēnāmquĕ pĕtī vĕnĭāmquĕ tĭmērī:

"Vīvĕ, lĭcēt nōlīs, ēt nōstrō mūnĕrĕ" dīxīt

"cērnĕ dĭēm. vīctīs iām spēs bŏnă pārtĭbŭs ēstō

ēxēmplūmquĕ mĕī; vēl, sī lĭbĕt, ārmă rĕtēmptā,

ēt nĭhĭl hāc vĕnĭā, sī vīcĕrĭs īpsĕ, păcīscōr."515

Fātŭr ĕt āstrīctīs lāxārī vīncŭlă pālmīs

īmpĕrăt. Heū quāntō mĕlĭūs vēl caēdĕ pĕrāctā

pārcĕrĕ Rōmānō pŏtŭīt fōrtūnă pŭdōrī!

Poēnārum ēxtrēmūm cīvī, quōd cāstră sĕcūtūs

sīt pătrĭaē Māgnūmquĕ dŭcēm tōtūmquĕ sĕnātūm,520

īgnōscī. Prĕmĭt īllĕ grăvīs īntērrĭtŭs īrās

ēt sēcūm: "Rōmāmnĕ pĕtēs pācīsquĕ rĕcēssūs

dēgĕnĕr? Īn mĕdĭōs bēllī nōn īrĕ fŭrōrēs

iām dūdūm mŏrĭtūrĕ părās? Rŭĕ cērtŭs ĕt ōmnīs

lūcīs rūmpĕ mŏrās ēt Caēsărĭs ēffŭgĕ mūnūs."525

Nēscĭŭs īntĕrĕā cāptī dŭcĭs ārmă părābāt

Māgnŭs, ŭt īmmīxtō fīrmārēt rōbŏrĕ pārtīs.

Iāmquĕ sĕcūtūrō iūssūrūs clāssĭcă Phoēbō

tēmptāndāsquĕ rătūs mōtūrī mīlĭtĭs īrās

ādlŏquĭtūr tăcĭtās vĕnĕrāndā vōcĕ cŏhōrtēs:530

"Ō scĕlĕrum ūltōrēs mĕlĭōrăquĕ sīgnă sĕcūtī,

ō vērē Rōmānă mănūs, quĭbŭs ārmă sĕnātūs

nōn prīvātă dĕdīt, vōtīs dēpōscĭtĕ pūgnām.

Ārdēnt Hēspĕrĭī saēvīs pŏpŭlātĭbŭs āgrī,

Gāllĭcă pēr gĕlĭdās răbĭēs ēffūndĭtŭr Ālpēs,535

iām tĕtĭgīt sānguīs pōllūtōs Caēsărĭs ēnsēs.

Dī mĕlĭūs, bēllī tŭlĭmūs quōd dāmnă prĭōrēs:

coēpĕrĭt īndĕ nĕfās. Iāmiām mē praēsĭdĕ Rōmă

sūpplĭcĭūm poēnāmquĕ pĕtāt. Nĕque ĕnim īstă vŏcārī

proēlĭă iūstă dĕcēt, pătrĭaē sēd vīndĭcĭs īrām;540

nēc măgĭs hōc bēllum ēst quām quōd Cătĭlīnă părāvīt

ārsūrās īn tēctă făcēs sŏcĭūsquĕ fŭrōrīs

Lēntŭlŭs ēxsērtīquĕ mănūs vēsānă Cĕthēgī.

Ō răbĭēs mĭsĕrāndă dŭcīs! cūm fātă Cămīllīs

tē, Caēsār, māgnīsquĕ vĕlīnt mīscērĕ Mĕtēllīs,545

ād Cīnnās Mărĭōsquĕ vĕnīs. Stērnērĕ prŏfēctō,

ūt Cătŭlō iăcŭīt Lĕpĭdūs, nōstrāsquĕ sĕcūrīs

pāssūs, Sīcănĭō tĕgĭtūr quī Cārbŏ sĕpūlchrō,

quīquĕ fĕrōs mōvīt Sērtōrĭŭs ēxŭl Hĭbērōs.

Quāmquām, sī quă fĭdēs, hīs tē quŏquĕ iūngĕrĕ, Caēsār,550

īnvĭdĕō nōstrāsquĕ mănūs quōd Rōmă fŭrēntī

ōppŏsŭīt. Pārthōrum ŭtĭnām pōst proēlĭă sōspēs

ēt Scўthĭcīs Crāssūs vīctōr rĕmĕāssĕt ăb ōrīs,

ūt sĭmĭlī caūsā cădĕrēs quā Spārtăcŭs hōstīs.

Tē quŏquĕ sī sŭpĕrī tĭtŭlīs āccēdĕrĕ nōstrīs555

iūssērūnt, vălĕt ēn! tōrquēndō dēxtĕră pīlō,

fērvĭdŭs haēc ĭtĕrūm cīrcā praēcōrdĭă sānguīs

īncălŭīt; dīscēs nōn ēsse ād bēllă fŭgācēs,

quī pācēm pŏtŭērĕ pătī. Lĭcĕt īllĕ sŏlūtūm

dēfēctūmquĕ vŏcēt, nē vōs mĕă tērrĕăt aētās:560

dūx sĭt ĭn hīs cāstrīs sĕnĭōr, dūm mīlĕs ĭn īllīs.

Quō pŏtŭīt cīvēm pŏpŭlūs pērdūcĕrĕ lībēr,

āscēndī sūprāquĕ nĭhīl nĭsĭ rēgnă rĕlīquī.

Nōn prīvātă cŭpīs, Rōmānā quīsquĭs ĭn ūrbĕ

Pōmpēiūm trānsīrĕ părās. Hīnc cōnsŭl ŭtērquĕ,565

hīnc ăcĭēs stātūră dŭcum ēst. Caēsārnĕ sĕnātūs

vīctŏr ĕrīt? Nōn tām caēcō trăhĭs ōmnĭă cūrsū,

tēquĕ nĭhīl, Fōrtūnă, pŭdēt. Mūltīsnĕ rĕbēllīs

Gāllĭă iām lūstrīs aētāsque īmpēnsă lăbōrī

dānt ănĭmōs? Rhēnī gĕlĭdīs quōd fūgĭt ăb ūndīs570

Ōcĕănūmquĕ vŏcāns īncērtī stāgnă prŏfūndī

tērrĭtă quaēsītīs ōstēndīt tērgă Brĭtānnīs?

Ān vānaē tŭmŭērĕ mĭnaē; quōd fāmă fŭrōrīs

ēxpŭlĭt ārmātām pătrĭīs ē sēdĭbŭs ūrbēm?

Heū dēmēns! nōn tē fŭgĭūnt, mē cūnctă sĕquūntūr.575

Quī cūm sīgnă tŭlī tōtō fūlgēntĭă pōntō,

āntĕ bĭs ēxāctūm quām Cŷnthĭă cōndĕrĕt ōrbēm,

ōmnĕ frĕtūm mĕtŭēns pĕlăgī pīrātă rĕlīquīt

āngūstāquĕ dŏmūm tērrārum īn sēdĕ pŏpōscīt.

Īdēm pēr Scўthĭcī prŏfŭgūm dīvōrtĭă pōntī580

īndŏmĭtūm rēgēm Rōmānăquĕ fātă mŏrāntēm

ād mōrtēm Sŷllā fēlīcĭŏr īrĕ cŏēgī.

Pārs mūndī mĭhĭ nūllă văcāt; sēd tōtă tĕnētūr

tērră mĕīs, quōcūmquĕ iăcēt sūb sōlĕ, trŏpaēīs:

hīnc mē vīctōrēm gĕlĭdās ād Phāsĭdŏs ūndās585

Ārctŏs hăbēt; călĭdā mĕdĭūs mĭhĭ cōgnĭtŭs āxīs

Aēgŷpto ātque ūmbrās nūmquām flēctēntĕ Sўēnĕ;

ōccāsūs mĕă iūră tĭmēnt Tēthŷnquĕ fŭgācēm

quī fĕrĭt Hēspĕrĭūs pōst ōmnĭă flūmĭnă Baētīs.

Mē dŏmĭtūs cōgnōvĭt Ărābs, mē Mārtĕ fĕrōcēs590

Hēnĭŏchī nōtīque ērēptō vēllĕrĕ Cōlchī.

Cāppădŏcēs mĕă sīgnă tĭmēnt ēt dēdĭtă sācrīs

īncērtī Iūdaēă dĕī mōllīsquĕ Sŏphēnē.

Ārmĕnĭōs Cĭlĭcāsquĕ fĕrōs Taūrōsquĕ sŭbēgī.

Quōd sŏcĕrō bēllūm praētēr cīvīlĕ rĕlīquī?"595

Vērbă dŭcīs nūllō pārtēs clāmōrĕ sĕquūntūr

nēc mātūră pĕtūnt prōmīssaē clāssĭcă pūgnaē.

Sēnsĭt ĕt īpsĕ mĕtūm Māgnūs, plăcŭītquĕ rĕfērrī

sīgnă nĕc īn tāntaē dīscrīmĭnă mīttĕrĕ pūgnaē

iām vīctūm fāmā nōn vīsī Caēsărĭs āgmēn.600

Pūlsŭs ŭt ārmēntīs prīmō cērtāmĭnĕ taūrūs

sīlvārūm sēcrētă pĕtīt văcŭōsquĕ pĕr āgrōs

ēxŭl ĭn ādvērsīs ēxplōrāt cōrnŭă trūncīs

nēc rĕdĭt īn pāstūs, nĭsĭ cūm cērvīcĕ rĕcēptā

ēxcūssī plăcŭērĕ tŏrī; mōx rēddĭtă vīctōr605

quōslībēt īn sāltūs cŏmĭtāntĭbŭs āgmĭnă taūrīs

īnvītō pāstōrĕ trăhīt: sīc vīrĭbŭs īmpār

trādĭdĭt Hēspĕrĭām prŏfŭgūsquĕ pĕr Āpŭlă rūră

Brūndĭsĭī tūtās cōncēssīt Māgnŭs ĭn ārcēs.

Vrbs ēst Dīctaēīs ōlīm pōssēssă cŏlōnīs,610

quōs Crētā prŏfŭgōs vēxērĕ pĕr aēquŏră pūppēs

Cēcrŏpĭaē, vīctūm mēntītīs Thēsĕă vēlīs.

Hānc lătŭs āngūstūm iām sē cōgēntĭs ĭn ārtūm

Hēspĕrĭaē tĕnŭēm prōdūcĭt ĭn aēquŏră līnguām,

Hādrĭăcās flēxīs claūdīt quaē cōrnĭbŭs ūndās.615

Nēc tămĕn hōc ārtīs īmmīssūm faūcĭbŭs aēquōr

pōrtŭs ĕrāt, sī nōn vĭŏlēntōs īnsŭlă Cōrōs

ēxcĭpĕrēt sāxīs lāssāsquĕ rĕfūndĕrĕt ūndās.

Hīnc īllīnc mōntēs scŏpŭlōsaē rūpĭs ăpērtō

ōppŏsŭīt nātūră mărī flātūsquĕ rĕmōvīt,620

ūt trĕmŭlō stārēnt cōntēntaē fūnĕ cărīnaē.

Hīnc lātē pătĕt ōmnĕ frĕtūm, seū vēlă fĕrāntūr

īn pōrtūs, Cōrcŷră, tŭōs, seū laēvă pĕtātūr

Īllўrĭs Īŏnĭās vērgēns Ĕpĭdāmnŏs ĭn ūndās.

Hūc fŭgă naūtārūm, cūm tōtās Ādrĭă vīrēs625

mōvĭt ĕt īn nūbēs ăbĭērĕ Cĕraūnĭă cūmquĕ

spūmōsō Călăbēr pērfūndĭtŭr aēquŏrĕ Sāsōn.

Ērgo ŭbĭ nūllă fĭdēs rēbūs pōst tērgă rĕlīctīs

nēc lĭcĕt ād dūrōs Mārtēm cōnvērtĕre Hĭbērōs,

cūm mĕdĭaē iăcĕānt īmmēnsīs trāctĭbŭs Ālpēs,630

tūnc sŭbŏle ē tāntā nātūm, cuī fīrmĭŏr aētās,

ādfātūr: "Mūndī iŭbĕō tēmptārĕ rĕcēssūs

Eūphrātēn Nīlūmquĕ mŏvē, quō nōmĭnĭs ūsquĕ

nōstrī fāmă vĕnīt, quās ēst vūlgātă pĕr ūrbēs

pōst mē Rōmă dŭcēm; spārsōs pēr rūră cŏlōnōs635

rēddĕ mărī Cĭlĭcās; Phărĭōs hīnc cōncŭtĕ rēgēs

Tīgrānēmquĕ mĕūm. Nēc Phārnăcĭs ārmă rĕlīnquās,

ādmŏnĕō, nēc tū pŏpŭlōs ūtrāquĕ văgāntīs

Ārmĕnĭā Pōntīquĕ fĕrās pēr lītŏră gēntīs

Rīphaēāsquĕ mănūs ēt quās tĕnĕt aēquŏrĕ dēnsō640

pīgră pălūs Scўthĭcī pătĭēns Maēōtĭă plaūstrī,

ēt "Quīd plūră mŏrōr? Tōtōs mĕă, nātĕ, pĕr ōrtūs

bēllă fĕrēs tōtōque ūrbēs ăgĭtābĭs ĭn ōrbĕ

pērdŏmĭtās; ōmnēs rēdeānt īn cāstră trĭūmphī.

Ēt vōs, quī Lătĭō sīgnātīs nōmĭnĕ fāstūs,645

prīmŭs ĭn Ēpīrūm bŏrĕās ăgăt; īndĕ pĕr ārvă

Grāiōrūm Măcĕtūmquĕ nŏvās ādquīrĭtĕ vīrēs,

dūm paūcī dāt tēmpŭs hĭēmps." sīc fātŭr ĕt ōmnēs

iūssă gĕrūnt sōlvūntquĕ căvās ā lītŏrĕ pūppēs.

Āt nūmquām pătĭēns sēgnīs lōngaēquĕ quĭētīs650

ārmōrūm, nē quīd fātīs mūtārĕ lĭcērēt,

ādsĕquĭtūr gĕnĕrīquĕ prĕmīt vēstīgĭă Caēsār.

Sūffĭcĕrēnt ălĭīs prīmō tōt moēnĭă cūrsū

rāptă, tŏt ōpprēssaē dēpūlsīs hōstĭbŭs ārcēs,

īpsă căpūt mūndī, bēllōrūm māxĭmă mērcēs,655

Rōmă căpī făcĭlīs; sēd Caēsăr ĭn ōmnĭă praēcēps,

nīl āctūm crēdēns, cūm quīd sŭpĕrēssĕt ăgēndūm,

īnstăt ătrōx ĕt ădhūc, quămŭīs pōssēdĕrĭt ōmnēm

Ītălĭam, ēxtrēmō sĕdĕāt quōd lītŏrĕ Māgnūs,

cōmmūnēm tămĕn ēssĕ dŏlēt nēc rūrsŭs ăpērtō660

vūlt hōstēs ērrārĕ frĕtō sēd mōlĭbŭs ūndās

ōbstrŭĭt ēt lātūm dēiēctīs rūpĭbŭs aēquōr.

Cēdĭt ĭn īmmēnsūm cāssūs lăbŏr: ōmnĭă pōntūs

haūrīt sāxă vŏrāx mōntēsque īmmīscĕt hărēnīs:

ūt mărĭs Aēgaēī mĕdĭās sī cēlsŭs ĭn ūndās665

dēpēllātŭr Ĕrŷx, nūllaē tămĕn aēquŏrĕ rūpēs

ēmĭnĕānt, vēl sī cōnvūlsō vērtĭcĕ Gaūrūs

dēcĭdăt īn fūndūm pĕnĭtūs stāgnāntĭs Ăvērnī.

Ērgo ŭbĭ nūllă vădō tĕnŭīt sŭă pōndĕră mōlēs,

tūnc plăcŭīt caēsīs īnnēctĕrĕ vīncŭlă sīlvīs670

rōbŏrăque īmmēnsīs lātē rĕlĭgārĕ cătēnīs.

Tālīs fāmă cănīt tŭmĭdūm sŭpĕr aēquŏră Xērsēn

cōnstrūxīssĕ vĭās, mūltūm cūm pōntĭbŭs aūsūs

Eūrōpāmque Ăsĭaē Sēstōnque ādmōvĭt Ăbŷdō

īncēssītquĕ frĕtūm răpĭdī sŭpĕr Hēllēspōntī675

nōn eūrūm Zĕphўrūmquĕ tĭmēns, cūm vēlă rătīsquĕ

īn mĕdĭūm dēfērrĕt Ăthōn. Sīc ōră prŏfūndī

ārtāntūr cāsū nĕmŏrūm; tūnc āggĕrĕ mūltō

sūrgĭt ŏpūs, lōngaēquĕ trĕmūnt sŭpĕr aēquŏră tūrrēs.

Pōmpēiūs tēllūrĕ nŏvā cōmprēssă prŏfūndī680

ōră vĭdēns cūrīs ănĭmūm mōrdācĭbŭs āngīt,

ūt rĕsĕrēt pĕlăgūs spārgātquĕ pĕr aēquŏră bēllūm.

Saēpĕ nŏtō plēnaē tēnsīsquĕ rŭdēntĭbŭs āctaē

īpsă mărīs pēr claūstră rătēs fāstīgĭă mōlīs

dīscūssērĕ sălō spătĭūmquĕ dĕdērĕ cărīnīs685

tōrtăquĕ pēr tĕnĕbrās vălĭdīs bāllīstă lăcērtīs

mūltĭfĭdās iăcŭlātă făcēs. Ūt tēmpŏră tāndēm

fūrtīvaē plăcŭērĕ fŭgaē, nē lītŏră clāmōr

naūtĭcŭs ēxăgĭtēt, nē būcĭnă dīvĭdăt hōrās,

nē tŭbă praēmŏnĭtōs pērdūcăt ăd aēquŏră naūtās,690

praēcēpīt sŏcĭīs. iām coēpĕrăt ūltĭmă Vīrgŏ

Phoēbūm lātūrās ōrtū praēcēdĕrĕ Chēlās,

cūm tăcĭtās sōlvērĕ rătēs. Nōn ānchŏră vōcēs

mōvīt, dūm spīssīs āvēllĭtŭr ūncŭs hărēnīs;

dūm iŭgă cūrvāntūr mālī dūmque ārdŭă pīnūs695

ērĭgĭtūr, păvĭdī clāssīs sĭlŭērĕ măgīstrī,

strīctăquĕ pēndēntēs dēdūcūnt cārbăsă naūtaē

nēc quătĭūnt vălĭdōs, nē sībĭlĕt aūră, rŭdēntīs.

Dūx ĕtĭām vōtīs hōc tē, Fōrtūnă, prĕcātūr,

quām rĕtĭnērĕ vĕtās, lĭcĕāt sĭbĭ pērdĕrĕ sāltēm700

Ītălĭām. vīx fātă sĭnūnt; nām mūrmŭrĕ vāstō

īmpūlsūm rōstrīs sŏnŭīt mărĕ, flūctŭăt ūndă

tōtquĕ cărīnārūm pērmīxtīs aēquŏră sūlcīs.

Ērgo hōstēs pōrtīs, quās ōmnīs sōlvĕrăt ūrbīs

cūm fātō cōnvērsă fĭdēs, mūrīsquĕ rĕcēptī705

praēcĭpĭtī cūrsū flēxī pēr cōrnŭă pōrtūs

ōră pĕtūnt pĕlăgūsquĕ dŏlēnt cōntīngĕrĕ clāssī.

Heū pŭdŏr! ēxĭgŭa ēst fŭgĭēns vīctōrĭă Māgnūs.

Āngūstūs pūppīs mīttēbăt ĭn aēquŏră līmēs

ārtĭŏr Eūbŏĭcā, quaē Chālcĭdă vērbĕrăt, ūndā.710

Hīc haēsērĕ rătēs gĕmĭnaē clāssīquĕ părātās

ēxcēpērĕ mănūs, trāctōque īn lītŏră bēllō

hīc prīmūm rŭbŭīt cīvīlī sānguĭnĕ Nēreūs.

Cētĕră clāssĭs ăbīt sūmmīs spŏlĭātă cărīnīs:

ūt, Păgăsaēă rătīs pĕtĕrēt cūm Phāsĭdŏs ūndās,715

Cŷănĕās tēllūs ēmīsĭt ĭn aēquŏră caūtēs,

rāptā pūppĕ mĭnōr sūbdūcta ēst mōntĭbŭs Ārgō,

vānăquĕ pērcūssīt pōntūm Sŷmplēgăs ĭnānēm

ēt stātūră rĕdīt. Iām Phoēbum ūrgērĕ mŏnēbāt

nōn īdem ēōī cŏlŏr aēthĕrĭs, ālbăquĕ nōndūm720

lūx rŭbĕt ēt flāmmās prŏpĭōrĭbŭs ērĭpĭt āstrīs,

ēt iām Plīăs hĕbēt, flēxī iām plaūstră Bŏōtaē

īn făcĭēm pūrī rĕdĕūnt lānguēntĭă caēlī,

māiōrēsquĕ lătēnt stēllaē, călĭdūmquĕ rĕfūgīt

Lūcĭfĕr īpsĕ dĭēm; pĕlăgūs iām, Māgnĕ, tĕnēbās,725

nōn ĕă fātă fĕrēns, quaē, cūm sŭpĕr aēquŏră tōtō

praēdōnēm sĕquĕrērĕ mărī: lāssātă trĭūmphīs

dēscīvīt fōrtūnă tŭīs. Cūm cōniŭgĕ pūlsūs

ēt nātīs tōtōsquĕ trăhēns īn bēllă pĕnātēs

vādĭs ădhūc īngēns pŏpŭlīs cŏmĭtāntĭbŭs ēxūl.730

Quaērĭtŭr īndīgnaē sēdēs lōngīnquă rŭīnaē.

Nōn quĭă tē sŭpĕrī pătrĭō prīvārĕ sĕpūlchrō

mālŭĕrīnt, Phărĭaē būstō dāmnāntŭr hărēnaē:

pārcĭtŭr Hēspĕrĭaē; prŏcŭl hōc ĕt ĭn ōrbĕ rĕmōtō

ābscōndāt Fōrtūnă nĕfās, Rōmānăquĕ tēllūs735

īmmăcŭlātă sŭī sērvētūr sānguĭnĕ Māgnī.

Iamque irae patuere deum, manifestaque belli

signa dedit mundus, legesque et foedera rerum

praescia monstrifero vertit natura tumultu

indixitque nefas. Cur hanc tibi, rector Olympi,

5sollicitis visum mortalibus addere curam,

noscant venturas ut dira per omina clades?

Sive parens rerum, cum primum informia regna

materiamque rudem flamma cedente recepit,

fixit in aeternum causas qua cuncta coërcet,

10se quoque lege tenens, et saecula iussa ferentem

fatorum immoto divisit limite mundum;

sive nihil positum est, sed fors incerta vagatur,

fertque refertque vices, et habet mortalia casus:

sit subitum quodcumque paras; sit caeca futuri

15mens hominum fati; liceat sperare timenti.

Ergo ubi concipiunt quantis sit cladibus orbi

constatura fides superum, ferale per urbem

iustitium, latuit plebeio tectus amictu

omnis honos, nullos comitata est purpura faces.

20Tum questus tenuere suos, magnusque per omnis

erravit sine voce dolor. sic funere primo

attonitae tacuere domus, cum corpora nondum

conclamata iacent, nec mater crine soluto

exigit ad saevos famularum bracchia planctus,

25sed cum membra premit fugiente rigentia vita

vultusque exanimes oculosque in morte minaces;

necdum est ille dolor, sed iam metus: incubat amens

miraturque malum. Cultus matrona priores

deposuit maestaeque tenent delubra catervae.

30Hae lacrimis sparsere deos, hae pectora duro

adflixere solo lacerasque in limine sacro

attonitae fudere comas votisque vocari

adsuetas crebris feriunt ululatibus aures.

Nec cunctae summi templo iacuere Tonantis:

35divisere deos, et nullis defuit aris

invidiam factura parens, quarum una madentis

scissa genas, planctu liventis atra lacertos:

"Nunc," ait "o miserae, contundite pectora, matres,

nunc laniate comas neve hunc differte dolorem

40et summis servate malis; nunc flere potestas,

dum pendet fortuna ducum; cum vicerit alter,

gaudendum est." His se stimulis dolor ipse lacessit.

Nec non bella viri diversaque castra petentes

effundunt iustas in numina saeva querellas:

45"O miserae sortis, quod non in Punica nati

tempora Cannarum fuimus Trebiaeque iuventus!

Non pacem petimus, superi; date gentibus iras,

nunc urbes excite feras, coniuret in arma

mundus, Achaemeniis decurrant Medica Susis

50agmina, Massageten Scythicus non adliget Hister,

fundat ab extremo flavos aquilone Suevos

Albis et indomitum Rheni caput; omnibus hostis

reddite nos populis: civile avertite bellum;

hinc Dacus, premat inde Getes; occurrat Hiberis

55alter, ad eoas hic vertat signa pharetras;

nulla vacet tibi, Roma, manus. vel perdere nomen

si placet Hesperium, superi, collatus in ignes

plurimus ad terram per fulmina decidat aether.

Saeve parens, utrasque simul partesque ducesque,

60dum nondum meruere, feri. Tantone novorum

proventu scelerum quaerunt uter imperet Urbi?

Vix tanti fuerat civilia bella movere

ut neuter." Talis pietas peritura querellas

egerit. At miseros angit sua cura parentes,

65oderuntque gravis vivacia fata senectae

servatosque iterum bellis civilibus annos;

atque aliquis magno quaerens exempla timori:

"Non alios" inquit "motus tunc fata parabant,

cum post Teutonicos victor Libycosque triumphos

70exul limosa Marius caput abdidit ulva.

Stagna avidi texere soli laxaeque paludes

depositum, Fortuna, tuum; mox vincula ferri

exedere senem longusque in carcere paedor:

consul et eversa felix moriturus in Urbe

75poenas ante dabat scelerum. mors ipsa refugit

saepe virum, frustraque hosti concessa potestas

sanguinis invisi. Primo qui caedis in actu

deriguit ferrumque manu torpente remisit:

viderat immensam tenebroso in carcere lucem

80terribilesque deos scelerum Mariumque futurum

audieratque pavens: "Fas haec contingere non est

colla tibi; debet multas hic legibus aevi

ante suam mortes; vanum depone furorem.

Si libet ulcisci deletae funera gentis,

85hunc, Cimbri, servate senem. Non ille favore

numinis, ingenti superum protectus ab ira

vir ferus et Romam cupienti perdere fato

sufficiens." Idem pelago delatus iniquo

hostilem in terram vacuisque mapalibus actus

90nuda triumphati iacuit per regna Iugurthae

et Poenos pressit cineres. Solatia fati

Carthago Mariusque tulit, pariterque iacentes

ignovere deis. Libycas ibi colligit iras:

ut primum fortuna redit, servilia solvit

95agmina; conflato saevas ergastula ferro

exservere manus. Nulli gestanda dabantur

signa ducis, nisi qui scelerum iam fecerat usum

adtuleratque in castra nefas. Pro fata! Quis ille,

quis fuit ille dies, Marius quo moenia victor

100corripuit, quantoque gradu mors saeva cucurrit!

Nobilitas cum plebe perit, lateque vagatus

ensis, et a nullo revocatum pectore ferrum.

Stat cruor in templis, multaque rubentia caede

lubrica saxa madent. Nulli sua profuit aetas:

105non senis extremum piguit vergentibus annis

praecepisse diem, nec primo in limine vitae

infantis miseri nascentia rumpere fata.

Crimine quo parvi caedem potuere mereri?

Sed satis est iam posse mori. Trahit ipse furoris

110impetus, et visum lenti quaesisse nocentem.

In numerum pars magna perit, rapuitque cruentus

victor ab ignota vultus cervice recisos,

dum vacua pudet ire manu. Spes una salutis

oscula pollutae fixisse trementia dextrae.

115Mille licet gladii mortis nova signa sequantur,

degener o populus, vix saecula longa decorum

sic meruisse viris, nedum breve dedecus aevi

et vitam, dum Sulla redit. cui funera vulgi

flere vacet? vix te sparsum per viscera, Baebi,

120innumeras inter carpentis membra coronae

discessisse manus; aut te, praesage malorum

Antoni, cuius laceris pendentia canis

ora ferens miles festae rorantia mensae

imposuit. Truncos laceravit Fimbria Crassos;

125saeva tribunicio maduerunt robora tabo;

te quoque neglectum violatae, Scaevola, dextrae

ante ipsum penetrale deae semperque calentis

mactavere focos; parvum sed fessa senectus

sanguinis effudit iugulo flammisque pepercit.

130Septimus haec sequitur repetitis fascibus annus.

Ille fuit vitae Mario modus omnia passo

quae peior fortuna potest, atque omnibus uso

quae melior, mensoque hominis quid fata paterent.

Iam quot apud Sacri cecidere cadavera portum,

135aut Collina tulit stratas quot porta catervas,

tum cum paene caput mundi rerumque potestas

mutavit translata locum, Romanaque Samnis

ultra Caudinas speravit vulnera Furcas!

Sulla quoque immensis accessit cladibus ultor.

140Ille quod exiguum restabat sanguinis Urbi

hausit; dumque nimis iam putria membra recidit,

excessit medicina modum, nimiumque secutast,

qua morbi duxere, manus. Periere nocentes,

sed cum iam soli possent superesse nocentes.

145Tunc data libertas odiis, resolutaque legum

frenis ira ruit. Non uni cuncta dabantur,

sed fecit sibi quisque nefas. Semel omnia victor

iusserat. Infandum domini per viscera ferrum

exegit famulus; nati maduere paterno

150sanguine; certatum est cui cervix caesa parentis

cederet; in fratrum ceciderunt praemia fratres.

Busta repleta fuga, permixtaque viva sepultis

corpora, nec populum latebrae cepere ferarum.

Hic laqueo fauces elisaque guttura fregit,

155hic se praecipiti iaculatus pondere dura

dissilvit percussus humo, mortisque cruento

victori rapuere suas; hic robora busti

exstruit ipse sui necdum omni sanguine fuso

desilit in flammas et dum licet occupat ignes.

160Colla ducum pilo trepidam gestata per urbem

et medio congesta foro; cognoscitur illic

quicquid ubique iacet. Scelerum non Thracia tantum

vidit Bistonii stabulis pendere tyranni,

postibus Antaei Libye, nec Graecia maerens

165tam laceros artus Pisaea flevit in aula.

Cum iam tabe fluunt confusaque tempore multo

amisere notas, miserorum dextra parentum

colligit et pavido subducit cognita furto.

Meque ipsum memini caesi deformia fratris

170ora rogo cupidum vetitisque imponere flammis

omnia Sullanae lustrasse cadavera pacis,

perque omnis truncos cum qua cervice recisum

conveniat quaesisse caput. quid sanguine manes

placatos Catuli referam? cum victima tristis

175inferias Marius forsan nolentibus umbris

pendit, inexpleto non fanda piacula busto,

cum laceros artus aequataque vulnera membris

vidimus, et toto quamuis in corpore caeso

nil animae letale datum moremque nefandae

180dirum saevitiae, pereuntis parcere morti.

Avulsae cecidere manus, exsectaque lingua

palpitat et muto vacuum ferit aëra motu.

Hic aures, alius spiramina naris aduncae

amputat; ille cavis evolvit sedibus orbes,

185ultimaque effudit spectatis lumina membris.

Vix erit ulla fides tam saevi criminis unum

tot poenas cepisse caput. sic mole ruinae

fracta sub ingenti miscentur pondere membra,

nec magis informes veniunt ad litora trunci,

190qui medio periere freto. quid perdere fructum

iuvit et ut vilem Marii confundere vultum?

Ut scelus hoc Sullae caedesque ostensa placeret,

agnoscendus erat. vidit Fortuna colonos

Praenestina suos cunctos simul ense recepto

195unius populum pereuntem tempore mortis.

Tunc flos Hesperiae, Latii iam sola iuventus

concidit et miserae maculavit ovilia Romae.

Tot simul infesto iuvenes occumbere leto

saepe fames pelagique furor subitaeque ruinae

200aut terrae caelique lues aut bellica clades,

numquam poena fuit. densi vix agmina vulgi

inter et exsangues immissa morte catervas

victores movere manum. vix caede peracta

procumbunt dubiaque labant cervice; sed illos

205magna premit strages, peraguntque cadavera partem

caedis: viva graves elidunt corpora trunci.

Intrepidus tanti sedit securus ab alto

spectator sceleris; miseri tot milia vulgi

non timuit iussisse mori. congesta recepit

210omnia Tyrrhenus Sullana cadavera gurges;

in fluvium primi cecidere, in corpora summi.

Praecipites haesere rates, et strage cruenta

interruptus aquae fluxit prior amnis in aequor,

ad molem stetit unda sequens. Iam sanguinis alti

215vis sibi fecit iter, campumque effusa per omnem

praecipitique ruens Tiberina in flumina rivo

haerentis adiuvit aquas, nec iam alveus amnem

nec retinent ripae, redditque cadavera campo.

Tandem Tyrrhenas vix eluctatus in undas

220sanguine caeruleum torrenti dividit aequor.

Hisne salus rerum, felix his Sulla vocari,

his meruit tumulum medio sibi tollere Campo?

Haec rursus patienda manent, hoc ordine belli

ibitur, hic stabit civilibus exitus armis.

225Quamquam agitant graviora metus, multumque coitur

humani generis maiore in proelia damno.

Exulibus Mariis bellorum maxima merces

Roma recepta fuit, nec plus victoria Sullae

praestitit, invisas penitus quam tollere partes.

230Hos alio, Fortuna, vocas, olimque potentes

concurrunt. neuter civilia bella moveret,

contentus quod Sulla fuit." Sic maesta senectus

praeteritique memor flebat metuensque futuri.

At non magnanimi percussit pectora Bruti

235terror, et in tanta pavidi formidine motus

pars populi lugentis erat; sed nocte sopora,

Parrhasis obliquos Helice cum verteret axes,

atria cognati pulsat non ampla Catonis.

Invenit insomni volventem publica cura

240fata virum casusque urbis cunctisque timentem

securumque sui, farique his vocibus orsus:

"Omnibus expulsae terris olimque fugatae

virtutis iam sola fides, quam turbine nullo

excutiet fortuna tibi, tu mente labantem

245derige me, dubium certo tu robore firma.

Namque alii Magnum vel Caesaris arma sequantur:

dux Bruto Cato solus erit. Pacemne tueris

inconcussa tenens dubio vestigia mundo?

An placuit ducibus scelerum populique furentis

250cladibus immixtum civile absolvere bellum?

Quemque suae rapiunt scelerata in proelia causae:

hos polluta domus legesque in pace timendae,

hos ferro fugienda fames mundique ruinae

permiscenda fides. Nullum furor egit in arma:

255castra petunt magna victi mercede; tibi uni

per se bella placent? Quid tot durare per annos

profuit immunem corrupti moribus aevi?

Hoc solum longae pretium virtutis habebis?

Accipient alios, facient te bella nocentem.

260Ne tantum, o superi, liceat feralibus armis,

has etiam movisse manus, nec pila lacertis

missa tuis caeca telorum in nube ferantur,

nec tanta incassum virtus eat. ingeret omnis

se belli fortuna tibi. Quis nollet in isto

265ense mori, quamuis alieno vulnere labens,

et scelus esse tuum? Melius tranquilla sine armis

otia solus ages; sicut caelestia semper

inconcussa suo volvuntur sidera lapsu,

fulminibus propior terrae succenditur aër;

270imaque telluris ventos tractusque coruscos

flammarum accipiunt, nubes excedit Olympus.

Lege deum minimas rerum discordia turbat,

pacem magna tenent. Quam laetae Caesaris aures

accipient tantum venisse in proelia civem!

275Nam praelata suis numquam diversa dolebit

castra ducis Magni. Nimium placet ipse Catoni,

si bellum civile placet. Pars magna senatus

et duce privato gesturus proelia consul

sollicitant proceresque alii; quibus adde Catonem

280sub iuga Pompei, toto iam liber in orbe

solus Caesar erit. Quod si pro legibus arma

ferre iuvat patriis libertatemque tueri,

nunc neque Pompei Brutum neque Caesaris hostem,

post bellum victoris habes." Sic fatur, at illi

285arcano sacras reddit Cato pectore voces:

"Summum, Brute, nefas civilia bella fatemur;

sed quo fata trahunt, virtus secura sequetur;

crimen erit superis et me fecisse nocentem.

Sidera quis mundumque velit spectare cadentem

290expers ipse metus? Quis, cum ruat arduus aether,

terra labet mixto coeuntis pondere mundi,

compressas tenuisse manus? Gentesne furorem

Hesperium ignotae Romanaque bella sequentur

diducti fretis alio sub sidere reges,

295otia solus agam? Procul hunc arcete furorem,

o superi, motura Dahas ut clade Getasque

securo me Roma cadat. Ceu morte parentem

natorum orbatum longum producere funus

ad tumulos iubet ipse dolor, iuvat ignibus atris

300inservisse manus constructoque aggere busti

ipsum atras tenuisse faces: non ante revellar

exanimem quam te complectar, Roma, tuumque

nomen, libertas, et inanem prosequar umbram.

Sic eat: immites Romana piacula divi

305plena ferant, nullo fraudemus sanguine bellum.

O | utinam caelique deis Erebique liceret

hoc caput in cunctas damnatum exponere poenas!

Devotum hostiles Decium pressere catervae:

me geminae figant acies, me barbara telis

310Rheni turba petat, cunctis ego pervius hastis

excipiam medius totius vulnera belli.

Hic redimat sanguis populos, hac caede luatur

quidquid Romani meruerunt pendere mores.

Ad iuga cur faciles populi, cur saeva volentes

315regna pati pereunt? Me solum invadite ferro,

me frustra leges et inania iura tuentem.

Hic dabit, hic pacem iugulus finemque malorum

gentibus Hesperiis; post me regnare volenti

non opus est bello. Quin publica signa ducemque

320Pompeium sequimur? Nec, si fortuna favebit,

hunc quoque totius sibi ius promittere mundi

non bene compertum est: ideo me milite vincat,

ne sibi se vicisse putet." Sic fatur et acris

irarum movit stimulos iuvenisque calorem

325excitat in nimios belli civilis amores.

Interea Phoebo gelidas pellente tenebras

pulsatae sonuere fores quas sancta relicto

Hortensi maerens irrupit Marcia busto;

quondam virgo toris melioris iuncta mariti,

330mox ubi conubii pretium mercesque solutast

tertia iam suboles, alios fecunda penates

impletura datur geminas et sanguine matris

permixtura domos. Sed postquam condidit urna

supremos cineres, miserando concita vultu,

335effusas laniata comas contusaque pectus

verberibus crebris cineresque ingesta sepulchri,

non aliter placitura viro, sic maesta profatur:

"Dum sanguis inerat, dum vis materna, peregi

iussa, Cato, et geminos excepi feta maritos;

340visceribus lassis partuque exhausta revertor

iam nulli tradenda viro. Da foedera prisci

illibata tori, da tantum nomen inane

conubii, liceat tumulo scripsisse: "Catonis

Marcia"; nec dubium longo quaeratur in aevo,

345mutarim primas, expulsa an tradita, taedas.

Non me laetorum sociam rebusque secundis

accipis: in curas venio partemque laborum.

Da mihi castra sequi. Cur tuta in pace relinquor

et sit civili propior Cornelia bello?"

350Hae flexere virum voces, et tempora quamquam

sint aliena toris, iam fato in bella vocante,

foedera sola tamen vanaque carentia pompa

iura placent sacrisque deos admittere testes.

Festa coronato non pendent limine serta,

355infulaque in geminos discurrit candida postes,

legitimaeque faces, gradibusque acclinis eburnis

stat torus, et picto vestes discriminat auro,

turritaque premens frontem matrona corona

translata vitat contingere limina planta;

360non timidum nuptae leviter tectura pudorem

lutea demissos velarunt flammea vultus,

balteus aut fluxos gemmis astrinxit amictus,

colla monile decens, umerisque haerentia primis

suppara nudatos cingunt angusta lacertos.

365Sicut erat, maesti servat lugubria cultus

quoque modo natos, hoc est amplexa maritum.

Obsita funerea celatur purpura lana.

Non soliti lusere sales, nec more Sabino

excepit tristis convicia festa maritus.

370Pignora nulla domus, nulli coiere propinqui:

iunguntur taciti contentique auspice Bruto.

Ille nec horrificam sancto dimovit ab ore

caesariem duroque admisit gaudia vultu

(ut primum tolli feralia viderat arma,

375intonsos rigidam in frontem descendere canos

passus erat maestamque genis increscere barbam:

uni quippe vacat studiis odiisque carenti

humanum lugere genus). Nec foedera prisci

sunt temptata tori; iusto quoque robur amori

380restitit. hi mores, haec duri immota Catonis

secta fuit, servare modum finesque tenere

naturamque sequi patriaeque impendere vitam

nec sibi, sed toti genitum se credere mundo.

Huic epulae vicisse famem; magnique penates

385summovisse hiemem tecto; pretiosaque vestis

hirtam membra super Romani more Quiritis

induxisse togam; Venerisque hic maximus usus

progenies; Urbi pater est Urbique maritus,

iustitiae cultor, rigidi servator honesti,

390in commune bonus; nullosque Catonis in actus

subrepsit partemque tulit sibi nata voluptas.

Interea trepido discedens agmine Magnus

moenia Dardanii tenuit Campana coloni.

Haec placuit belli sedes, hinc summa moventem

395hostis in occursum sparsas extendere partis,

umbrosis mediam qua collibus Appenninus

erigit Italiam, nulloque a vertice tellus

altius intumuit propiusque accessit Olympo.

Mons inter geminas medius se porrigit undas

400inferni superique maris, collesque coërcent

hinc Tyrrhena vado frangentes aequora Pisae,

illinc Dalmaticis obnoxia fluctibus Ancon.

Fontibus hic vastis immensos concipit amnes

fluminaque in gemini spargit divortia ponti.

405In laevum cecidere latus veloxque Metaurus

Crustumiumque rapax et iuncto Sapis Isauro

Senaque et Adriacas qui verberat Aufidus undas,

quoque magis nullum tellus se solvit in amnem,

Eridanus fractas devolvit in aequora silvas

410Hesperiamque exhaurit aquis. Hunc fabula primum

populea fluvium ripas umbrasse corona,

cumque diem pronum transuerso limite ducens

succendit Phaethon flagrantibus aethera loris,

gurgitibus raptis penitus tellure perusta,

415hunc habuisse pares Phoebeis ignibus undas.

Non minor hic Nilo si non per plana iacentis

Aegypti Libycis Nilus stagnaret harenis;

non minor hic Histro, nisi quod dum permeat orbem

Hister casuros in quaelibet aequora fontes

420accipit et Scythicas exit non solus in undas.

Dexteriora petens montis declivia Thybrim

unda facit Rutubamque cavum. Delabitur inde

Vulturnusque celer nocturnaeque editor aurae

Sarnus et umbrosae Liris per regna Maricae

425Vestinis impulsus aquis radensque Salerni

culta Siler, nullasque vado qui Macra moratus

alnos vicinae procurrit in aequora Lunae.

Longior educto qua surgit in aëra dorso,

Gallica rura videt devexasque excipit Alpis.

430Tunc Umbris Marsisque ferax domitusque Sabello

vomere, piniferis amplexus rupibus omnis

indigenas Latii populos, non deserit ante

Hesperiam quam cum Scyllaeis clauditur undis

extenditque suas in templa Lacinia rupes,

435longior Italia, donec confinia pontus

solveret incumbens terrasque repelleret aequor.

At postquam gemino tellus elisa profundost

extremi colles Siculo cessere Peloro.

Caesar in arma furens nullas nisi sanguine fuso

440gaudet habere vias, quod non terat hoste vacantis

Hesperiae fines vacuosque irrumpat in agros

atque ipsum non perdat iter consertaque bellis

bella gerat. Non tam portas intrare patentis

quam fregisse iuvat, nec tam patiente colono

445arva premi quam si ferro populetur et igni;

concessa pudet ire via civemque videri.

Tunc urbes Latii dubiae varioque favore

ancipites, quamquam primo terrore ruentis

cessurae belli, denso tamen aggere firmant

450moenia et abrupto circumdant undique vallo

saxorumque orbes, et quae super eminus hostem

tela petant altis murorum turribus aptant.

Pronior in Magnum populus, pugnatque minaci

cum terrore fides: ut cum mare possidet auster

455flatibus horrisonis, hunc aequora tota sequuntur;

si rursus tellus pulsu laxata tridentis

Aeolii tumidis immittat fluctibus eurum,

quamuis icta novo, ventum tenuere priorem

aequora, nubiferoque polus cum cesserit euro,

460vindicat unda notum. Facilis sed vertere mentes

terror erat dubiamque fidem fortuna ferebat.

Gens Etrusca fuga trepidi nudata Libonis,

iusque sui pulso iam perdidit Umbria Thermo.

Nec gerit auspiciis civilia bella paternis

465Caesaris audito conversus nomine Sulla.

Varus, ut admotae pulsarunt Auximon alae,

per diversa ruens neglecto moenia tergo,

qua silvae, qua saxa, fugit. Depellitur arce

Lentulus Asculea; victor cedentibus instat

470devertitque acies, solusque ex agmine tanto

dux fugit et nullas ducentia signa cohortes.

Tu quoque nudatam commissae deseris arcem,

Scipio, Luceriae, quamquam firmissima pubes

his sedeat castris, iampridem Caesaris armis

475Parthorum seducta metu, qua Gallica damna

supplevit Magnus dumque ipse ad bella vacaret,

donavit socero Romani sanguinis usum.

At te Corfini validis circumdata muris

tecta tenent, pugnax Domiti; tua classica servat

480oppositus quondam polluto tiro Miloni.

Ut procul immensam campo consurgere nubem

ardentisque acies percussis sole corusco

conspexit telis, "Socii, decurrite" dixit

"fluminis ad ripas undaeque immergite pontem.

485Et tu montanis totus nunc fontibus exi

atque omnis trahe, gurges, aquas, ut spumeus alnos

discussa compage feras. Hoc limite bellum

haereat, hac hostis lentus terat otia ripa.

Praecipitem cohibete ducem; victoria nobis

490hic primum stans Caesar erit." Nec plura locutus

devolvit rapidum nequicquam moenibus agmen.

Nam prior e campis ut conspicit amne soluto

rumpi Caesar iter, calida prolatus ab ira:

"Non satis est muris latebras quaesisse pavori?

495Obstruitis campos fluviisque arcere paratis,

ignavi! Non si tumido me gurgite Ganges

summoveat, stabit iam flumine Caesar in ullo

post Rubiconis aquas. Equitum properate catervae,

ite simul pedites, ruiturum ascendite pontem."

500Haec ubi dicta, levis totas accepit habenas

in campum sonipes, crebroque simillima nimbo

trans ripam validi torserunt tela lacerti.

Ingreditur pulsa fluvium statione vacantem

Caesar et ad tutas hostis conpellitur arces.

505Et iam moturas ingentia pondera turris

erigit, et mediis subrepit vinea muris:

ecce, nefas belli! reseratis agmina portis

captivum traxere ducem, civisque superbi

constitit ante pedes; vultu tamen alta minaci

510nobilitas recta ferrum cervice poposcit.

Scit Caesar poenamque peti veniamque timeri:

"Vive, licet nolis, et nostro munere" dixit

"cerne diem. victis iam spes bona partibus esto

exemplumque mei; vel, si libet, arma retempta,

515et nihil hac venia, si viceris ipse, paciscor."

Fatur et astrictis laxari vincula palmis

imperat. Heu quanto melius vel caede peracta

parcere Romano potuit fortuna pudori!

Poenarum extremum civi, quod castra secutus

520sit patriae Magnumque ducem totumque senatum,

ignosci. Premit ille gravis interritus iras

et secum: "Romamne petes pacisque recessus

degener? In medios belli non ire furores

iam dudum moriture paras? Rue certus et omnis

525lucis rumpe moras et Caesaris effuge munus."

Nescius interea capti ducis arma parabat

Magnus, ut immixto firmaret robore partis.

Iamque secuturo iussurus classica Phoebo

temptandasque ratus moturi militis iras

530adloquitur tacitas veneranda voce cohortes:

"O scelerum ultores melioraque signa secuti,

o vere Romana manus, quibus arma senatus

non privata dedit, votis deposcite pugnam.

Ardent Hesperii saevis populatibus agri,

535Gallica per gelidas rabies effunditur Alpes,

iam tetigit sanguis pollutos Caesaris enses.

Di melius, belli tulimus quod damna priores:

coeperit inde nefas. Iamiam me praeside Roma

supplicium poenamque petat. Neque enim ista vocari

540proelia iusta decet, patriae sed vindicis iram;

nec magis hoc bellum est quam quod Catilina paravit

arsuras in tecta faces sociusque furoris

Lentulus exsertique manus vesana Cethegi.

O rabies miseranda ducis! cum fata Camillis

545te, Caesar, magnisque velint miscere Metellis,

ad Cinnas Mariosque venis. Sternere profecto,

ut Catulo iacuit Lepidus, nostrasque securis

passus, Sicanio tegitur qui Carbo sepulchro,

quique feros movit Sertorius exul Hiberos.

550Quamquam, si qua fides, his te quoque iungere, Caesar,

invideo nostrasque manus quod Roma furenti

opposuit. Parthorum utinam post proelia sospes

et Scythicis Crassus victor remeasset ab oris,

ut simili causa caderes qua Spartacus hostis.

555Te quoque si superi titulis accedere nostris

iusserunt, valet en! torquendo dextera pilo,

fervidus haec iterum circa praecordia sanguis

incalvit; disces non esse ad bella fugaces,

qui pacem potuere pati. Licet ille solutum

560defectumque vocet, ne vos mea terreat aetas:

dux sit in his castris senior, dum miles in illis.

Quo potuit civem populus perducere liber,

ascendi supraque nihil nisi regna reliqui.

Non privata cupis, Romana quisquis in urbe

565Pompeium transire paras. Hinc consul uterque,

hinc acies statura ducum est. Caesarne senatus

victor erit? Non tam caeco trahis omnia cursu,

teque nihil, Fortuna, pudet. Multisne rebellis

Gallia iam lustris aetasque impensa labori

570dant animos? Rheni gelidis quod fugit ab undis

Oceanumque vocans incerti stagna profundi

territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis?

An vanae tumuere minae; quod fama furoris

expulit armatam patriis e sedibus urbem?

575Heu demens! non te fugiunt, me cuncta sequuntur.

Qui cum signa tuli toto fulgentia ponto,

ante bis exactum quam Cynthia conderet orbem,

omne fretum metuens pelagi pirata reliquit

angustaque domum terrarum in sede poposcit.

580Idem per Scythici profugum divortia ponti

indomitum regem Romanaque fata morantem

ad mortem Sylla felicior ire coëgi.

Pars mundi mihi nulla vacat; sed tota tenetur

terra meis, quocumque iacet sub sole, tropaeis:

585hinc me victorem gelidas ad Phasidos undas

Arctos habet; calida medius mihi cognitus axis

Aegypto atque umbras numquam flectente Syene;

occasus mea iura timent Tethynque fugacem

qui ferit Hesperius post omnia flumina Baetis.

590Me domitus cognovit Arabs, me Marte feroces

Heniochi notique erepto vellere Colchi.

Cappadoces mea signa timent et dedita sacris

incerti Iudaea dei mollisque Sophene.

Armenios Cilicasque feros Taurosque subegi.

595Quod socero bellum praeter civile reliqui?"

Verba ducis nullo partes clamore sequuntur

nec matura petunt promissae classica pugnae.

Sensit et ipse metum Magnus, placuitque referri

signa nec in tantae discrimina mittere pugnae

600iam victum fama non visi Caesaris agmen.

Pulsus ut armentis primo certamine taurus

silvarum secreta petit vacuosque per agros

exul in adversis explorat cornua truncis

nec redit in pastus, nisi cum cervice recepta

605excussi placuere tori; mox reddita victor

quoslibet in saltus comitantibus agmina tauris

invito pastore trahit: sic viribus impar

tradidit Hesperiam profugusque per Apula rura

Brundisii tutas concessit Magnus in arces.

610Urbs est Dictaeis olim possessa colonis,

quos Creta profugos vexere per aequora puppes

Cecropiae, victum mentitis Thesea velis.

Hanc latus angustum iam se cogentis in artum

Hesperiae tenuem producit in aequora linguam,

615Hadriacas flexis claudit quae cornibus undas.

Nec tamen hoc artis immissum faucibus aequor

portus erat, si non violentos insula Coros

exciperet saxis lassasque refunderet undas.

Hinc illinc montes scopulosae rupis aperto

620opposuit natura mari flatusque removit,

ut tremulo starent contentae fune carinae.

Hinc late patet omne fretum, seu vela ferantur

in portus, Corcyra, tuos, seu laeva petatur

Illyris Ionias vergens Epidamnos in undas.

625Huc fuga nautarum, cum totas Adria vires

movit et in nubes abiere Ceraunia cumque

spumoso Calaber perfunditur aequore Sason.

Ergo ubi nulla fides rebus post terga relictis

nec licet ad duros Martem convertere Hiberos,

630cum mediae iaceant immensis tractibus Alpes,

tunc subole e tanta natum, cui firmior aetas,

adfatur: "Mundi iubeo temptare recessus

Euphraten Nilumque move, quo nominis usque

nostri fama venit, quas est vulgata per urbes

635post me Roma ducem; sparsos per rura colonos

redde mari Cilicas; Pharios hinc concute reges

Tigranemque meum. Nec Pharnacis arma relinquas,

admoneo, nec tu populos utraque vagantis

Armenia Pontique feras per litora gentis

640Riphaeasque manus et quas tenet aequore denso

pigra palus Scythici patiens Maeotia plaustri,

et "Quid plura moror? Totos mea, nate, per ortus

bella feres totoque urbes agitabis in orbe

perdomitas; omnes redeant in castra triumphi.

645Et vos, qui Latio signatis nomine fastus,

primus in Epirum boreas agat; inde per arva

Graiorum Macetumque novas adquirite vires,

dum pauci dat tempus hiemps." sic fatur et omnes

iussa gerunt solvuntque cavas a litore puppes.

650At numquam patiens segnis longaeque quietis

armorum, ne quid fatis mutare liceret,

adsequitur generique premit vestigia Caesar.

Sufficerent aliis primo tot moenia cursu

rapta, tot oppressae depulsis hostibus arces,

655ipsa caput mundi, bellorum maxima merces,

Roma capi facilis; sed Caesar in omnia praeceps,

nil actum credens, cum quid superesset agendum,

instat atrox et adhuc, quamuis possederit omnem

Italiam, extremo sedeat quod litore Magnus,

660communem tamen esse dolet nec rursus aperto

vult hostes errare freto sed molibus undas

obstruit et latum deiectis rupibus aequor.

Cedit in immensum cassus labor: omnia pontus

haurit saxa vorax montesque immiscet harenis:

665ut maris Aegaei medias si celsus in undas

depellatur Eryx, nullae tamen aequore rupes

emineant, vel si convulso vertice Gaurus

decidat in fundum penitus stagnantis Averni.

Ergo ubi nulla vado tenuit sua pondera moles,

670tunc placuit caesis innectere vincula silvis

roboraque immensis late religare catenis.

Talis fama canit tumidum super aequora Xersen

construxisse vias, multum cum pontibus ausus

Europamque Asiae Sestonque admovit Abydo

675incessitque fretum rapidi super Hellesponti

non eurum Zephyrumque timens, cum vela ratisque

in medium deferret Athon. Sic ora profundi

artantur casu nemorum; tunc aggere multo

surgit opus, longaeque tremunt super aequora turres.

680Pompeius tellure nova compressa profundi

ora videns curis animum mordacibus angit,

ut reseret pelagus spargatque per aequora bellum.

Saepe noto plenae tensisque rudentibus actae

ipsa maris per claustra rates fastigia molis

685discussere salo spatiumque dedere carinis

tortaque per tenebras validis ballista lacertis

multifidas iaculata faces. Ut tempora tandem

furtivae placuere fugae, ne litora clamor

nauticus exagitet, ne bucina dividat horas,

690ne tuba praemonitos perducat ad aequora nautas,

praecepit sociis. iam coeperat ultima Virgo

Phoebum laturas ortu praecedere Chelas,

cum tacitas solvere rates. Non anchora voces

movit, dum spissis avellitur uncus harenis;

695dum iuga curvantur mali dumque ardua pinus

erigitur, pavidi classis silvere magistri,

strictaque pendentes deducunt carbasa nautae

nec quatiunt validos, ne sibilet aura, rudentis.

Dux etiam votis hoc te, Fortuna, precatur,

700quam retinere vetas, liceat sibi perdere saltem

Italiam. vix fata sinunt; nam murmure vasto

impulsum rostris sonuit mare, fluctuat unda

totque carinarum permixtis aequora sulcis.

Ergo hostes portis, quas omnis solverat urbis

705cum fato conversa fides, murisque recepti

praecipiti cursu flexi per cornua portus

ora petunt pelagusque dolent contingere classi.

Heu pudor! exigua est fugiens victoria Magnus.

Angustus puppis mittebat in aequora limes

710artior Euboica, quae Chalcida verberat, unda.

Hic haesere rates geminae classique paratas

excepere manus, tractoque in litora bello

hic primum rubuit civili sanguine Nereus.

Cetera classis abit summis spoliata carinis:

715ut, Pagasaea ratis peteret cum Phasidos undas,

Cyaneas tellus emisit in aequora cautes,

rapta puppe minor subducta est montibus Argo,

vanaque percussit pontum Symplegas inanem

et statura redit. Iam Phoebum urgere monebat

720non idem eoi color aetheris, albaque nondum

lux rubet et flammas propioribus eripit astris,

et iam Plias hebet, flexi iam plaustra Bootae

in faciem puri redeunt languentia caeli,

maioresque latent stellae, calidumque refugit

725Lucifer ipse diem; pelagus iam, Magne, tenebas,

non ea fata ferens, quae, cum super aequora toto

praedonem sequerere mari: lassata triumphis

descivit fortuna tuis. Cum coniuge pulsus

et natis totosque trahens in bella penates

730vadis adhuc ingens populis comitantibus exul.

Quaeritur indignae sedes longinqua ruinae.

Non quia te superi patrio privare sepulchro

malverint, Phariae busto damnantur harenae:

parcitur Hesperiae; procul hoc et in orbe remoto

735abscondat Fortuna nefas, Romanaque tellus

immaculata sui servetur sanguine Magni.