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Prōpŭlĭt ūt clāssēm vēlīs cēdēntĭbŭs aūstēr

īncūmbēns mĕdĭūmquĕ rătēs mōvērĕ prŏfūndūm,

ōmnĭs ĭn Īŏnĭōs spēctābāt nāvĭtă flūctūs;

sōlŭs ăb Hēspĕrĭā nōn flēxīt lūmĭnă tērrā

Māgnūs, dūm pătrĭōs pōrtūs, dūm lītŏră nūmquām5

ād vīsūs rĕdĭtūră sŭōs tēctūmquĕ căcūmēn

nūbĭbŭs ēt dŭbĭōs cērnīt vānēscĕrĕ mōntīs.

Īndĕ sŏpōrĭfĕrō cēssērūnt lānguĭdă sōmnō

mēmbră dŭcīs; dīrī tūm plēna hōrrōrĭs ĭmāgŏ

vīsă căpūt maēstūm pĕr hĭāntēs Iūlĭă tērrās10

tōllĕre ĕt āccēnsō fŭrĭālīs stārĕ sĕpūlchrō.

"Sēdĭbŭs Ēlўsĭīs cāmpōque ēxpūlsă pĭōrūm

ād Stўgĭās" īnquīt "tĕnĕbrās mānēsquĕ nŏcēntēs

pōst bēllūm cīvīlĕ trăhōr: vīdi īpsă tĕnēntīs

Eūmĕnĭdās, quătĕrēnt quās vēstrīs lāmpădăs ārmīs;15

praēpărăt īnnŭmĕrās pūppīs Ăchĕrōntĭs ădūstī

pōrtĭtŏr; īn mūltās lāxāntūr Tārtără poēnās,

vīx ŏpĕrī cūnctaē dēxtrā prŏpĕrāntĕ sŏrōrēs

sūffĭcĭūnt, lāssānt rūmpēntīs stāmĭnă Pārcās.

Cōniŭgĕ mē laētōs dūxīstī, Māgnĕ, trĭūmphōs:20

fōrtūna ēst mūtātă tŏrīs sēmpērquĕ pŏtēntīs

dētrăhĕre īn clādēm fātō dāmnātă mărītōs

īnnūpsīt tĕpĭdō paēlēx Cōrnēlĭă būstō.

Haērĕăt īllă tŭīs pēr bēllă, pĕr aēquŏră sīgnīs,

dūm nōn sēcūrōs lĭcĕāt mĭhĭ rūmpĕrĕ sōmnōs25

ēt nūllūm vēstrō văcŭūm sīt tēmpŭs ămōrī,

sēd tĕnĕāt Caēsārquĕ dĭēs ēt Iūlĭă nōctēs.

Mē nōn Lēthaēaē, cōniūnx, ōblīvĭă rīpaē

īmmĕmŏrēm fēcērĕ tŭī, rēgēsquĕ sĭlēntūm

pērmīsērĕ sĕquī. vĕnĭām tē bēllă gĕrēntĕ30

īn mĕdĭās ăcĭēs; nūmquām tĭbĭ, Māgnĕ, pĕr ūmbrās

pērquĕ mĕōs mānēs gĕnĕrō nōn ēssĕ lĭcēbīt.

Ābscīdīs frūstrā fērrō tŭă pīgnŏră: bēllūm

tē făcĭēt cīvīlĕ mĕūm." Sīc fātă rĕfūgīt

ūmbră pĕr āmplēxūs trĕpĭdī dīlāpsă mărītī.35

Īllĕ, dĕī quămŭīs clādēm mānēsquĕ mĭnēntūr,

māiŏr ĭn ārmă rŭīt cērtā cūm mēntĕ mălōrūm

ēt "Quĭd" ăīt "vānī tērrēmŭr ĭmāgĭnĕ vīsūs?

Aūt nĭhĭl ēst sēnsūs ănĭmīs ā mōrtĕ rĕlīctūm

aūt mōrs īpsă nĭhīl." Tītān iām prōnŭs ĭn ūndās40

ībăt ĕt īgnĭfĕrī tāntūm dēmērsĕrăt ōrbīs,

quāntūm dēssĕ sŏlēt lūnaē, seū plēnă fŭtūrāst,

seū iām plēnă fŭīt: tūnc ōbtŭlĭt hōspĭtă tēllūs

pūppĭbŭs āccēssūs făcĭlēs; lēgērĕ rŭdēntīs

ēt pŏsĭtō rēmīs pĕtĭērūnt lītŏră mālō.45

Caēsăr, ŭt ēmīssās vēntī răpŭērĕ cărīnās,

ābscōndītquĕ frĕtūm clāssēs, ēt lītŏrĕ sōlūs

dūx stĕtĭt Hēspĕrĭō, nōn īllūm glōrĭă pūlsī

laētĭfĭcāt Māgnī; quĕrĭtūr quōd tūtă pĕr aēquōr

tērgă fĕrānt hōstēs. nĕque ĕnīm iām sūffĭcĭt ūllă50

praēcĭpĭtī fōrtūnă vĭrō, nēc vīncĕrĕ tāntī,

ūt bēllūm dīffērrĕt, ĕrāt. tūm pēctŏrĕ cūrās

ēxpŭlĭt ārmōrūm pācīque īntēntŭs ăgēbāt,

quōquĕ mŏdō vānōs pŏpŭlī cōncīrĕt ămōrēs

gnărŭs ēt ĭrărūm caūsās ēt sūmmă făvōrīs55

ānnōnā mōmēntă trăhī. nāmque āssĕrĭt ūrbīs

sōlă fămēs ĕmĭtūrquĕ mĕtūs, cūm sēgnĕ pŏtēntēs

vūlgŭs ălūnt: nēscīt plēbēs iēiūnă tĭmērĕ.

Cūrĭŏ Sīcănĭās trānscēndĕrĕ iūssŭs ĭn ūrbēs,

quā mărĕ tēllūrēm sŭbĭtīs aūt ōbrŭĭt ūndīs60

aūt scĭdĭt ēt mĕdĭās fēcīt sĭbĭ lītŏră tērrās;

vīs īllīc īngēns pĕlăgī, sēmpērquĕ lăbōrānt

aēquŏră nē rūptī rĕpĕtānt cōnfīnĭă mōntēs,

bēllăquĕ Sārdōās ĕtĭām spārgūntŭr ĭn ōrās.

Ūtrăquĕ frūgĭfĕrīs ēst īnsŭlă nōbĭlĭs ārvīs;65

nēc prĭŭs Hēspĕrĭām lōngīnquīs mēssĭbŭs ūllaē

nēc Rōmānă măgīs cōmplērūnt hōrrĕă tērraē.

Vbērē vīx glaēbaē sŭpĕrāt cēssāntĭbŭs aūstrīs,

cūm mĕdĭūm nūbēs bŏrĕā cōgēntĕ sŭb āxēm

ēffūsīs māgnūm Lĭbўē tŭlĭt īmbrĭbŭs ānnūm.70

Haēc ŭbĭ sūnt prōvīsă dŭcī, tūnc āgmĭnă vīctōr

nōn ārmātă trăhēns, sēd pācĭs hăbēntĭă vūltūm,

tēctă pĕtīt pătrĭaē. Prō, sī rĕmĕāssĕt ĭn ūrbēm,

Gāllōrūm tāntūm pŏpŭlīs ārctōquĕ sŭbāctā

quām sĕrĭēm rērūm lōngā praēmīttĕrĕ pōmpā,75

quās pŏtŭīt bēllī făcĭēs! ūt vīncŭlă Rhēnō

Ōcĕănōquĕ dărēt, cēlsōs ūt Gāllĭă cūrrūs

nōbĭlĭs ēt flāvīs sĕquĕrētūr mīxtă Brĭtānnīs!

Pērdĭdĭt ō quālēm vīncēndō plūră trĭūmphūm!

Nōn īllūm laētīs vādēntēm coētĭbŭs ūrbēs,80

sēd tăcĭtaē vīdērĕ mĕtū, nēc cōnstĭtĭt ūsquām

ōbvĭă tūrbă dŭcī. Gaūdēt tămĕn ēssĕ tĭmōrī

tām māgnō pŏpŭlīs ēt sē nōn māllĕt ămārī.

Iāmque ēt praēcĭpĭtīs sŭpĕrāvĕrăt Ānxŭrĭs ārcēs,

ēt quā Pōmptīnās vĭă dīvĭdĭt ūdă pălūdēs,85

quā sūblīmĕ nĕmūs, Scўthĭcaē quā rēgnă Dĭānaē,

quāque ĭtĕr ēst Lătĭīs ād sūmmām fāscĭbŭs Ālbām;

ēxcēlsā dē rūpĕ prŏcūl iām cōnspĭcĭt ūrbēm

ārctōī tōtō nōn vīsām tēmpŏrĕ bēllī

mīrātūsquĕ sŭaē sīc fātūr moēnĭă Rōmaē:90

"Tēnĕ, dĕūm sēdēs, nōn ūllō Mārtĕ cŏāctī

dēsĕrŭērĕ vĭrī? prō quā pūgnābĭtŭr ūrbĕ?

Dī mĕlĭūs, quōd nōn Lătĭās ēōŭs ĭn ōrās

nūnc fŭrŏr īncŭbŭīt nēc iūnctō Sārmătă vēlōx

Pānnŏnĭō Dācīsquĕ Gĕtēs ādmīxtŭs: hăbēntī95

tām păvĭdūm tĭbĭ, Rōmă, dŭcēm fōrtūnă pĕpērcīt,

quōd bēllūm cīvīlĕ fŭīt." Sīc fātŭr ĕt ūrbēm

āttŏnĭtām tērrōrĕ sŭbīt. Nāmque īgnĭbŭs ātrīs

crēdĭtŭr ūt cāptaē rāptūrūs moēnĭă Rōmaē

spārsūrūsquĕ dĕōs. Fŭĭt haēc mēnsūră tĭmōrīs:100

vēllĕ pŭtānt quōdcūmquĕ pŏtēst. Nōn ōmĭnă fēstă,

nōn fīctās laētō vōcēs sĭmŭlārĕ tŭmūltū,

vīx ōdīssĕ văcāt. Phoēbēă pălātĭă cōmplēt

tūrbă pătrūm nūllō cōgēndī iūrĕ sĕnātūs

ē lătĕbrīs ēdūctă sŭīs; nōn cōnsŭlĕ sācraē105

fūlsērūnt sēdēs, nōn prōxĭmă lēgĕ pŏtēstās,

praētŏr ădēst, văcŭaēquĕ lŏcō cēssērĕ cŭrūlēs:

ōmnĭă Caēsăr ĕrāt; prīvātaē cūrĭă vōcīs

tēstĭs ădēst. Sēdērĕ pătrēs cēnsērĕ părātī,

sī rēgnūm, sī tēmplă sĭbī iŭgŭlūmquĕ sĕnātūs110

ēxĭlĭūmquĕ pĕtāt. mĕlĭūs, quōd plūră iŭbērĕ

ērŭbŭīt quām Rōmă pătī. Tămĕn ēxĭt ĭn īrām:

vīrĭbŭs ān pōssīnt ōbsīstĕrĕ iūră, pĕr ūnūm

lībērtās ēxpērtă vĭrūm. Pūgnāxquĕ Mĕtēllūs,

ūt vĭdĕt īngēntī Sātūrnĭă tēmplă rĕvēllī115

mōlĕ, răpīt grēssūs ēt Caēsărĭs āgmĭnă rūmpēns

āntĕ fŏrēs nōndūm rĕsĕrātaē cōnstĭtĭt aēdīs

(ūsque ădĕō sōlūs fērrūm mōrtēmquĕ tĭmērĕ

aūrī nēscĭt ămōr. pĕrĕūnt dīscrīmĭnĕ nūllō

āmīssaē lēgēs; sēd, pārs vīlīssĭmă rērūm,120

cērtāmēn mōvīstĭs, ŏpēs), prŏhĭbēnsquĕ răpīnā

vīctōrēm clārā tēstātūr vōcĕ trĭbūnūs:

"Nōn nĭsĭ pēr nōstrūm vōbīs pērcūssă pătēbūnt

tēmplă lătūs, nūllāsquĕ fĕrēs, nĭsĭ sānguĭnĕ sācrō

spārsās, rāptŏr, ŏpēs. cērtē vĭŏlātă pŏtēstās125

īnvĕnĭt īstă dĕōs, Crāssūmque īn bēllă sĕcūtaē

saēvă trĭbūnĭcĭaē vōvērūnt proēlĭă dīraē.

Dētĕgĕ iām fērrūm; nĕque ĕnīm tĭbĭ tūrbă vĕrēndāst

spēctātrīx scĕlĕrūm: dēsērtā stāmŭs ĭn ūrbĕ.

Nōn fĕrĕt ē nōstrō scĕlĕrātūs praēmĭă mīlēs.130

Sūnt quōs prōstērnās pŏpŭlī, quaē moēnĭă dōnēs.

Pācĭs ăd ēxhaūstaē spŏlĭūm nōn cōgĭt ĕgēstās:

bēllūm, Caēsăr, hăbēs." hīs māgnām vīctŏr ĭn īrām

vōcĭbŭs āccēnsūs: "Vānām spēm mōrtĭs hŏnēstaē

cōncĭpĭs: haūd" īnquīt "iŭgŭlō sē pōllŭĕt īstō135

nōstră, Mĕtēllĕ, mănūs. Dīgnūm tē Caēsărĭs īrā

nūllŭs hŏnōr făcĭēt. tē vīndĭcĕ tūtă rĕlīctāst

lībērtās? Nōn ūsque ădĕō pērmīscŭĭt īmīs

lōngūs sūmmă dĭēs, ūt nōn, sī vōcĕ Mĕtēllī

sērvēntūr lēgēs, mālīnt ā Caēsărĕ tōllī."140

Dīxĕrăt, ēt nōndūm fŏrĭbūs cēdēntĕ trĭbūnō

ācrĭŏr īră sŭbīt: saēvōs cīrcūmspĭcĭt ēnsēs

ōblītūs sĭmŭlārĕ tŏgām. Tūm Cōttă Mĕtēllūm

cōmpŭlĭt aūdācī nĭmĭūm dēsīstĕrĕ coēptō.

"Lībērtās" īnquīt "pŏpŭlī quēm rēgnă cŏērcēnt,145

lībērtātĕ pĕrīt, cūiūs sērvāvĕrĭs ūmbrām,

sī quīdquīd iŭbĕārĕ vĕlīs. tōt rēbŭs ĭnīquīs

pārŭĭmūs vīctī; vĕnĭa ēst haēc sōlă pŭdōrīs

dēgĕnĕrīsquĕ mĕtūs, nōn iām pŏtŭīssĕ nĕgārī.

Ōcĭŭs āvērtāt dīrī mălă sēmĭnă bēllī.150

Dāmnă mŏvēnt pŏpŭlōs, sī quōs sŭă iūră tŭēntūr.

Nōn sĭbĭ, sēd dŏmĭnō grăvĭs ēst, quaē sērvĭt, ĕgēstās."

Prōtĭnŭs ābdūctō pătŭērūnt tēmplă Mĕtēllō.

Tūnc rūpēs Tārpēiă sŏnāt māgnōquĕ rĕclūsās

tēstātūr strīdōrĕ fŏrēs; tūnc cōndĭtŭs īmō155

ērŭĭtūr tēmplō mūltīs nōn tāctŭs ăb ānnīs

Rōmānī cēnsūs pŏpŭlī, quēm Pūnĭcă bēllă,

quēm dĕdĕrāt Pērsēs, quēm vīctī praēdă Phĭlīppī,

quōd tĭbĭ, Rōmă, fŭgā Pŷrrhūs trĕpĭdāntĕ rĕlīquīt

(quō tē Fābrĭcĭūs rēgī nōn vēndĭdĭt aūrō),160

quīdquīd pārcōrūm mōrēs sērvāstĭs ăvōrūm,

quōd dītēs Ăsĭaē pŏpŭlī mīsērĕ trĭbūtūm,

vīctōrīquĕ dĕdīt Mīnōĭă Crētă Mĕtēllō,

quōd Cătŏ lōngīnquā vēxīt sŭpĕr aēquŏră Cŷprō.

Tūnc Ŏrĭēntĭs ŏpēs cāptōrūmque ūltĭmă rēgūm165

quaē Pōmpēiānīs praēlāta ēst gāză trĭūmphīs,

ēgĕrĭtūr; trīstī spŏlĭāntūr tēmplă răpīnā,

paūpĕrĭōrquĕ fŭīt tūnc prīmūm Caēsărĕ Rōmă.

Īntĕrĕā tōtūm Māgnī fōrtūnă pĕr ōrbēm

sēcūm cāsūrās īn proēlĭă mōvĕrăt ūrbēs.170

Prōxĭmă vīcīnō vīrēs dāt Graēcĭă bēllō.

Phōcăĭcās Āmphīsă mănūs scŏpŭlōsăquĕ Cīrrhă

Pārnāsōsquĕ iŭgō mīsīt dēsērtŭs ŭtrōquĕ.

Boēōtī cŏĭērĕ dŭcēs, quōs īmpĭgĕr āmbīt

fātĭdĭcā Cēphīsŏs ăquā Cādmēăquĕ Dīrcē,175

Pīsaēaēquĕ mănūs pŏpŭlīsquĕ pĕr aēquŏră mīttēns

Sīcănĭīs Ālphēŏs ăquās. Tūnc Maēnălă līquīt

Ārcăs ĕt Hērcŭlĕām mīlēs Trāchīnĭŭs Oētēn.

Thēsprōtī Drўŏpēsquĕ rŭūnt, quērcūsquĕ sĭlēntīs

Chāŏnĭō vĕtĕrēs līquērūnt vērtĭcĕ Sēlloē.180

Ēxhaūsīt tōtās quămŭīs dēlēctŭs Ăthēnās,

ēxĭgŭaē Phoēbēă tĕnēnt nāvālĭă pūppēs,

trēsquĕ pĕtūnt vērām crēdī Sălămīnă cărīnaē.

Iām dīlēctă Iŏvī cēntēnīs vēnĭt ĭn ārmă

Crētă vĕtūs pŏpŭlīs Gnōsōsque ăgĭtārĕ phărētrās185

dōctă nĕc ēōīs pēiōr Gōrtŷnă săgīttīs.

Tūnc quī Dārdănĭām tĕnĕt Ōrĭcŏn ēt văgŭs āltīs

dīspērsūs sīlvīs Ăthămās ēt nōmĭnĕ prīscō

Ēnchĕlĭaē vērsī tēstāntēs fūnĕră Cādmī,

Cōlchĭs ĕt Ādrĭăcās spūmāns Ābsŷrtŏs ĭn ūndās;190

Pēnēī quī rūră cŏlūnt, quōrūmquĕ lăbōrĕ

Thēssălŭs Haēmŏnĭām vōmēr prōscīndĭt Ĭōlcōn.

(Īndĕ lăcēssītūm prīmō mărĕ, cūm rŭdĭs Ārgō

mīscŭĭt īgnōtās tĕmĕrātō lītŏrĕ gēntēs

prīmăquĕ cūm vēntīs pĕlăgīquĕ fŭrēntĭbŭs ūndīs195

cōmpŏsŭīt mōrtālĕ gĕnūs, fātīsquĕ pĕr īllām

āccēssīt mōrs ūnă rătēm). Tūnc līnquĭtŭr Haēmūs

Thrācĭŭs ēt pŏpŭlūm Phŏlŏē mēntītă bĭfōrmēm.

Dēsĕrĭtūr Strŷmōn tĕpĭdō cōmmīttĕrĕ Nīlō

Bīstŏnĭās cōnsuētŭs ăvēs ēt bārbără Cōnē,200

Sārmătĭcās ŭbĭ pērdĭt ăquās spārsāmquĕ prŏfūndō

mūltĭfĭdī Peūcēn ūnūm căpŭt ādlŭĭt Hīstrī,

Moēsĭăque ēt gĕlĭdō tēllūs pērfūsă Căīcō

Īdălĭs ēt nĭmĭūm glēbīs ēxīlĭs Ărīsbē;

quīquĕ cŏlūnt Pĭtănēn ēt quaē tŭă mūnĕră, Pāllās,205

lūgēnt dāmnātaē Phoēbō vīctōrĕ Cĕlaēnaē,

quā cĕlĕr ēt rēctīs dēscēndēns Mārsўă rīpīs

ērrāntēm Maeāndrōn ādīt mīxtūsquĕ rĕfērtūr,

pāssăque ăb aūrĭfĕrīs tēllūs ēxīrĕ mĕtāllīs

Pāctōlōn, quā cūltă sĕcāt nōn vīlĭŏr Hērmūs.210

Īlĭăcaē quŏquĕ sīgnă mănūs pĕrĭtūrăquĕ cāstră

ōmĭnĭbūs pĕtĭērĕ sŭīs, nēc fābŭlă Troīaē

cōntĭnŭīt Phrўgĭīquĕ fĕrēns sē Caēsăr Ĭūlī.

Āccēdūnt Sўrĭaē pŏpŭlī, dēsērtŭs Ŏrōntēs

ēt fēlīx, sīc fāmă, Nĭnōs, vēntōsă Dămāscōs215

Gāzăque ĕt ārbūstō pālmārūm dīvĕs Ĭdūmē

ēt Tўrŏs īnstăbĭlīs prĕtĭōsăquĕ mūrĭcĕ Sīdōn.

Hās ād bēllă rătēs nōn flēxō līmĭtĕ pōntī

cērtĭŏr haūd ūllīs dūxīt Cўnŏsūră cărīnīs.

(Phoēnīcēs prīmī, fāmaē sī crēdĭtŭr, aūsī220

mānsūrām rŭdĭbūs vōcēm sīgnārĕ fĭgūrīs:

nōndūm flūmĭnĕās Mēmphīs cōntēxĕrĕ bīblōs

nōvĕrăt ēt sāxīs tāntūm vŏlŭcrēsquĕ fĕraēquĕ

scūlptăquĕ sērvābānt măgĭcās ănĭmālĭă līnguās).

Dēsĕrĭtūr Taūrīquĕ nĕmūs Pērsēăquĕ Tārsōs225

Cōrўcĭūmquĕ pătēns ēxēsīs rūpĭbŭs āntrūm,

Māllŏs ĕt ēxtrēmaē rĕsŏnānt nāvālĭbŭs Aēgaē,

ītquĕ Cĭlīx iūstā, iām nōn pīrātă, cărīnā.

Mōvĭt ĕt ēōōs bēllōrūm fāmă rĕcēssūs,

quā cŏlĭtūr Gāngēs, tōtō quī sōlŭs ĭn ōrbĕ230

ōstĭă nāscēntī cōntrārĭă sōlvĕrĕ Phoēbō

aūdĕt ĕt ādvērsūm flūctūs īmpēllĭt ĭn eūrūm:

hīc ŭbĭ Pēllaēūs pōst Tēthўŏs aēquŏră dūctōr

cōnstĭtĭt ēt māgnō vīncī sē fāssŭs ăb ōrbēst.

Quāquĕ fĕrēns răpĭdūm dīvīsō gūrgĭtĕ fōntēm235

vāstīs Īndŭs ăquīs mīxtūm nōn sēntĭt Hўdāspēn;

quīquĕ bĭbūnt tĕnĕrā dūlcīs ăb hărūndĭnĕ sūcōs,

ēt quī tīnguēntēs crŏcĕō mĕdĭcāmĭnĕ crīnēm

flūxă cŏlōrātīs āstrīngūnt cārbăsă gēmmīs,

quīquĕ sŭās strūxērĕ pўrās vīvīquĕ călēntīs240

cōnscēndērĕ rŏgōs. Prō! quānta ēst glōrĭă gēntī

īniēcīssĕ mănūm fātīs, vītāquĕ rĕplētōs

quōd sŭpĕrēst dōnāssĕ dĕīs! vēnērĕ fĕrōcēs

Cāppădŏcēs dūrī pŏpŭlūs nōn cūltŏr Ămānī,

Ārmĕnĭūsquĕ tĕnēns vōlvēntēm sāxă Nĭphātēn.245

Aēthĕră tāngēntīs sīlvās līquērĕ Chŏātraē.

Īgnōtūm vōbīs, Ărăbēs, vēnīstĭs ĭn ōrbēm

ūmbrās mīrātī nĕmŏrūm nōn īrĕ sĭnīstrās.

Tūm fŭrŏr ēxtrēmōs mōvīt Rōmānŭs Ŏrēstās

Cārmānōsquĕ dŭcēs (quōrūm iām flēxŭs ĭn aūstrūm250

aēthēr nōn tōtām mērgī tămĕn āspĭcĭt Ārctōn;

lūcĕt ĕt ēxĭgŭā vēlōx ĭbĭ nōctĕ Bŏōtēs)

Aēthĭŏpūmquĕ sŏlūm, quōd nōn prĕmĕrētŭr ăb ūllā

sīgnĭfĕrī rĕgĭōnĕ pŏlī, nĭsĭ pōplĭtĕ lāpsō

ūltĭmă cūrvātī prōcēdĕrĕt ūngŭlă Taūrī.255

Quāquĕ căpūt răpĭdō tōllīt cūm Tīgrĭdĕ māgnūs

Eūphrātēs, quōs nōn dīvērsīs fōntĭbŭs ēdīt

Pērsĭs, ĕt īncērtūm, tēllūs sī mīscĕăt āmnēs,

quōd pŏtĭūs sīt nōmĕn ăquīs; sēd spārsŭs ĭn āgrōs

fērtĭlĭs Eūphrātēs Phărĭaē vĭcĕ fūngĭtŭr ūndaē;260

āt Tīgrīm sŭbĭtō tēllūs ābsōrbĕt hĭātū

ōccūltōsquĕ tĕgīt cūrsūs rūrsūsquĕ rĕnātūm

fōntĕ nŏvō flūmēn pĕlăgī nōn ābnĕgăt ūndīs.

Īntēr Caēsărĕās ăcĭēs dīvērsăquĕ sīgnă

pūgnācēs dŭbĭūm Pārthī tĕnŭērĕ făvōrēm265

cōntēntī fēcīssĕ dŭōs. Tīnxērĕ săgīttās

ērrāntēs Scўthĭaē pŏpŭlī, quōs gūrgĭtĕ Bāctrōs

īnclūdīt gĕlĭdō vāstīsque Hŷrcānĭă sīlvīs.

Hīnc Lăcĕdaēmŏnĭī, mōtō gēns āspĕră frēnō,

Hēnĭŏchī saēvīsque ādfīnīs Sārmătă Mōschīs,270

Cōlchōrūm quā rūră sĕcāt dītīssĭmă Phāsīs,

quā Croēsō fātālĭs Hălŷs, quā vērtĭcĕ lāpsūs

Rīphaēō Tănăīs dīvērsī nōmĭnă mūndī

īmpŏsŭīt rīpīs Ăsĭaēque ēt tērmĭnŭs īdēm

Eūrōpaē mĕdĭaē dĭrĭmēns cōnfīnĭă tērraē275

nūnc hūc nūnc īllūc, quā flēctĭtŭr, āmplĭăt ōrbēm;

quāquĕ, frĕtūm tōrrēns, Maēōtĭdŏs ēgĕrĭt ūndās

pōntŭs, ĕt Hērcŭlĕīs aūfērtūr glōrĭă mētīs,

Ōcĕănūmquĕ nĕgānt sōlās ādmīttĕrĕ Gādēs.

Hīnc Ēssēdŏnĭaē gēntēs aūrōquĕ lĭgātās280

sūbstrīngēns Ărĭmāspĕ cŏmās; hīnc fōrtĭs Ărīūs

lōngăquĕ Sārmătĭcī sōlvēns iēiūnĭă bēllī

Māssăgĕtēs, quō fūgĭt, ĕquō vŏlŭcrēsquĕ Gĕlōnī.

Nōn, cūm Mēmnŏnĭīs dēdūcēns āgmĭnă rēgnīs

Cŷrŭs ĕt ēffūsīs nŭmĕrātō mīlĭtĕ tēlīs285

dēscēndīt Pērsēs frātērnīque ūltŏr ămōrīs

aēquŏră cūm tāntīs pērcūssīt clāssĭbŭs, ūnūm

tōt rēgēs hăbŭērĕ dŭcēm, cŏĭērĕ nĕc ūmquām

tām vărĭaē cūltū gēntēs, tām dīssŏnă vūlgī

ōră. tŏt īmmēnsaē cŏmĭtēs mīssūră rŭīnaē290

ēxcīvīt pŏpŭlōs ēt dīgnās fūnĕrĕ Māgnī

ēxsĕquĭās fōrtūnă dĕdīt. nōn cōrnĭgĕr Hāmmōn

mīttĕrĕ Mārmărĭcās cēssāvĭt ĭn ārmă cătērvās,

quīdquĭd ăb ōccĭdŭīs Lĭbўē pătĕt ārĭdă Maūrīs

ūsquĕ Păraētŏnĭās ēōa ād lītŏră Sŷrtīs.295

Āccĭpĕrēt fēlīx nē nōn sĕmĕl ōmnĭă Caēsār,

vīncēndūm părĭtēr Phārsālĭă praēstĭtĭt ōrbēm.

Īlle ŭbĭ dēsērvīt trĕpĭdāntīs moēnĭă Rōmaē,

āgmĭnĕ nūbĭfĕrām rāptō sŭpĕrēvŏlăt Ālpēm,

cūmque ălĭī fāmaē pŏpŭlī tērrōrĕ păvērēnt,300

Phōcăĭs īn dŭbĭīs aūsa ēst sērvārĕ iŭvēntūs

nōn Grāiā lĕvĭtātĕ fĭdēm sīgnātăquĕ iūră

ēt caūsās, nōn fātă, sĕquī. Tămĕn āntĕ fŭrōrēm

īndŏmĭtūm dūrāmquĕ vĭrī dēflēctĕrĕ mēntēm

pācĭfĭcō sērmōnĕ părānt hōstēmquĕ prŏpīnquūm305

ōrānt Cēcrŏpĭaē praēlātā frōndĕ Mĭnērvaē:

"Sēmpĕr ĭn ēxtērnīs pŏpŭlōs cōmmūnĭă vēstrō

Māssĭlĭām bēllīs tēstātūr fātă tŭlīssĕ,

cōmprēnsa ēst Lătĭīs quaēcūmque ānnālĭbŭs aētās.

Ēt nūnc, īgnōtō sī quōs pĕtĭs ōrbĕ trĭūmphōs,310

āccĭpĕ dēvōtās ēxtērna īn proēlĭă dēxtrās.

Āt sī fūnēstās ăcĭēs, sī dīră părātīs

proēlĭă dīscōrdēs, lăcrĭmās cīvīlĭbŭs ārmīs

sēcrētūmquĕ dămūs, trāctēntūr vūlnĕră nūllă

sācră mănū. Sī caēlĭcŏlīs fŭrŏr ārmă dĕdīssēt,315

aūt sī tērrĭgĕnaē tēmptārēnt āstră gĭgāntēs,

nōn tămĕn aūdērēt pĭĕtās hūmānă vĕl ārmīs

vēl vōtīs prōdēssĕ Iŏvī, sōrtīsquĕ dĕōrūm

īgnārūm mōrtālĕ gĕnūs pēr fūlmĭnă tāntūm

scīrĕt ădhūc caēlō sōlūm rēgnārĕ Tŏnāntēm.320

Āddĕ quŏd īnnŭmĕraē cōncūrrūnt ūndĭquĕ gēntēs,

nēc sīc hōrrĕt ĭnērs scĕlĕrūm cōntāgĭă mūndūs

ūt glădĭīs ĕgĕānt cīvīlĭă bēllă cŏāctīs.

Sīt mēns īstă quĭdēm cūnctīs ūt vēstră rĕcūsēnt

fātă nĕc haēc ălĭūs cōmmīttāt proēlĭă mīlēs.325

Cuī nōn cōnspēctō lānguēbīt dēxtră părēntĕ?

Tēlăquĕ dīvērsī prŏhĭbēbūnt spārgĕrĕ frātrēs.

Fīnĭs ădēst rērūm, sī nūnc cōmmīttĭtĭs īllīs

ārmă, quĭbūs fās ēst. Nōbīs haēc sūmmă prĕcāndī;

tērrĭbĭlīs ăquĭlās īnfēstăquĕ sīgnă rĕlīnquās330

ūrbĕ prŏcūl nōstrīsquĕ vĕlīs tē crēdĕrĕ mūrīs

ēxclūdīquĕ sĭnās ādmīssō Caēsărĕ bēllūm.

Sīt lŏcŭs ēxcēptūs scĕlĕrī Māgnōquĕ tĭbīquĕ

tūtŭs, ŭt, īnvīctaē fātūm sī cōnsŭlăt ūrbī,

foēdĕră sī plāceānt, sīt quō vĕnĭātĭs ĭnērmēs.335

Vēl, cūm tāntă vŏcēnt dīscrīmĭnă Mārtĭs Hĭbērī,

quīd răpĭdūm dēflēctĭs ĭtēr? Nōn pōndĕră rērūm,

nēc mōmēntă sŭmūs. nūmquām fēlīcĭbŭs ārmīs

ūsă mănūs, pătrĭaē prīmīs ā sēdĭbŭs ēxūl,

ēt pōst trānslātās ēxūstaē Phōcĭdŏs ārcēs340

moēnĭbŭs ēxĭgŭīs ălĭēno īn lītŏrĕ tūtī,

īllūstrāt quōs sōlă fĭdēs; sī claūdĕrĕ mūrōs

ōbsĭdĭōnĕ părās ēt vī pērfrīngĕrĕ pōrtās,

ēxcēpīssĕ făcēs tēctīs ēt tēlă părātī

ūndārūm rāptōs āvērsīs fōntĭbŭs haūstūs345

quaērĕre ĕt ēffōssām sĭtĭēntēs lāmbĕrĕ tērrām

ēt, dēsīt sī lārgă Cĕrēs, tūnc hōrrĭdă cērnī

foēdăquĕ cōntīngī măcŭlāto āttīngĕrĕ mōrsū.

Nēc păvĕt hīc pŏpŭlūs prō lībērtātĕ sŭbīrĕ,

ōbsēssūm Poēnō gēssīt quaē Mārtĕ Săgūntūm.350

Pēctŏrĭbūs rāptī mātrūm frūstrāquĕ trăhēntēs

ūbĕră sīccă fămē mĕdĭōs mīttēntŭr ĭn īgnīs,

ūxŏr ĕt ā cārō pōscēt sĭbĭ fātă mărītō

vūlnĕră mīscēbūnt frātrēs bēllūmquĕ cŏāctī

hōc pŏtĭūs cīvīlĕ gĕrēnt." Sīc Grāiă iŭvēntūs355

fīnĭĕrāt, cūm tūrbātō iām prōdĭtă vūltū

īră dŭcīs tāndēm tēstāta ēst vōcĕ dŏlōrēm:

"Vānă mŏvēt Grāiōs nōstrī fīdūcĭă cūrsūs.

Quāmvīs Hēspĕrĭūm mūndī prŏpĕrēmŭs ăd āxēm,

Māssĭlĭām dēlērĕ văcāt. Gaūdētĕ cŏhōrtēs:360

ōbvĭă praēbēntūr fātōrūm mūnĕrĕ bēllă.

Vēntŭs ŭt āmīttīt vīrēs, nĭsĭ rōbŏrĕ dēnsaē

ōccūrrūnt sīlvaē, spătĭō dīffūsŭs ĭnānī,

ūtquĕ pĕrīt māgnūs nūllīs ōbstāntĭbŭs īgnīs,

sīc hōstēs mĭhĭ dēssĕ nŏcēt, dāmnūmquĕ pŭtāmūs365

ārmōrūm, nĭsĭ quī vīncī pŏtŭērĕ rĕbēllānt.

Sēd sī sōlŭs ĕām dīmīssīs dēgĕnĕr ārmīs,

tūnc mĭhĭ tēctă pătēnt? Iām nōn ēxclūdĕrĕ tāntūm,

īnclūsīssĕ vŏlūnt! Ăt ĕnīm cōntāgĭă bēllī

dīră fŭgānt. dăbĭtīs poēnās prō pācĕ pĕtītā370

ēt nĭhĭl ēssĕ mĕō dīscētīs tūtĭŭs aēvō,

quām dŭcĕ mē bēllūm." sīc pōstquām fātŭs, ăd ūrbēm

haūd trĕpĭdām cōnvērtĭt ĭtēr; tūnc moēnĭă claūsă

cōnspĭcĭt ēt dēnsā iŭvĕnūm vāllātă cŏrōnā.

Haūt prŏcŭl ā mūrīs tŭmŭlūs sūrgēntĭs ĭn āltūm375

tēllūrīs pārvūm dīffūsō vērtĭcĕ cāmpūm

ēxplĭcăt; haēc pătĭēns lōngō mūnīmĭnĕ cīngī

vīsă dŭcī rūpēs tūtīsque āptīssĭmă cāstrīs.

Prōxĭmă pārs ūrbīs cēlsām cōnscēndĭt ĭn ārcēm

pār tŭmŭlō, mĕdĭīsquĕ sĕdēnt cōnvāllĭbŭs ārvă.380

Tūnc rēs īmmēnsō plăcŭīt stātūră lăbōrĕ,

āggĕrĕ dīvērsōs vāstō cōmmīttĕrĕ cōllēs.

Sēd prĭŭs ūt tōtām quā tērrā cīngĭtŭr ūrbēm

claūdĕrĕt, ā sūmmīs pērdūxĭt ăd aēquŏră cāstrīs

lōngūm Caēsăr ŏpūs, fōntēsque ēt pābŭlă cāmpī385

āmplēxūs fōssā, dēnsās tōllēntĭă pīnnās

caēspĭtĭbūs crūdāque ēxstrūxīt brācchĭă tērrā.

Iām sătĭs hōc Grāiaē mĕmŏrāndūm cōntĭgĭt ūrbī

aētērnūmquĕ dĕcūs quōd nōn īmpūlsă nĕc īpsō

strātă mĕtū tĕnŭīt flāgrāntĭs ĭn ōmnĭă bēllī390

praēcĭpĭtēm cūrsūm, rāptīsque ā Caēsărĕ cūnctīs

vīncĭtŭr ūnă mŏrā. Quāntum ēst quōd fātă tĕnēntūr,

quōdquĕ vĭrūm tōtī prŏpĕrāns īmpōnĕrĕ mūndō

hōs pērdīt fōrtūnă dĭēs! Tūnc ōmnĭă lātē

prōcūmbūnt nĕmŏra ēt spŏlĭāntūr rōbŏrĕ sīlvaē,395

ūt, cūm tērră lĕvīs mĕdĭām vīrgūltăquĕ mōlēm

sūspēndānt, strūctā lătĕrūm cōmpāgĕ lĭgātām

ārtĕt hŭmūm, prēssūs nē cēdāt tūrrĭbŭs āggēr.

Lūcŭs ĕrāt lōngō nūmquām vĭŏlātŭs ăb aēvō,

ōbscūrūm cīngēns cōnēxīs āĕră rāmīs400

ēt gĕlĭdās āltē sūmmōtīs sōlĭbŭs ūmbrās.

Hūnc nōn rūrĭcŏlaē Pānēs nĕmŏrūmquĕ pŏtēntēs

Sīlvānī Nŷmphaēquĕ tĕnēnt sēd bārbără rītū

sācră dĕūm; strūctaē dīrīs āltārĭbŭs āraē,

ōmnīsque hūmānīs lūstrātă crŭōrĭbŭs ārbōr.405

Sī quă fĭdēm mĕrŭīt sŭpĕrōs mīrātă vĕtūstās,

īllīs ēt vŏlŭcrēs mĕtŭūnt īnsīstĕrĕ rāmīs

ēt lūstrīs rĕcŭbārĕ fĕraē; nēc vēntŭs ĭn īllās

īncŭbŭīt sīlvās ēxcūssăquĕ nūbĭbŭs ātrīs

fūlgŭră; nōn ūllī frōndēm praēbēntĭbŭs aūraē410

ārbŏrĭbūs sŭŭs hōrrŏr ĭnēst. Tūnc plūrĭmă nīgrīs

fōntĭbŭs ūndă cădīt, sĭmŭlācrăquĕ maēstă dĕōrūm

ārtĕ cărēnt caēsīsque ēxstānt īnfōrmĭă trūncīs.

Īpsĕ sĭtūs pūtrīquĕ făcīt iām rōbŏrĕ pāllōr

āttŏnĭtōs; nōn vūlgātīs sācrātă fĭgūrīs415

nūmĭnă sīc mĕtŭūnt: tāntūm tērrōrĭbŭs āddīt,

quōs tĭmĕānt, nōn nōssĕ dĕōs. Iām fāmă fĕrēbāt

saēpĕ căvās mōtū tērraē mūgīrĕ căvērnās

ēt prōcūmbēntīs ĭtĕrūm cōnsūrgĕrĕ tāxōs,

ēt nōn ārdēntīs fūlgēre īncēndĭă sīlvaē,420

rōbŏrăque āmplēxōs cīrcūmflūxīssĕ drăcōnēs.

Nōn īllūm cūltū pŏpŭlī prŏpĭōrĕ frĕquēntānt,

sēd cēssērĕ dĕīs. mĕdĭō cūm Phoēbŭs ĭn āxēst

aūt caēlūm nōx ātră tĕnēt, păvĕt īpsĕ săcērdōs

āccēssūs dŏmĭnūmquĕ tĭmēt dēprēndĕrĕ lūcī.425

Hānc iŭbĕt īmmīssō sīlvām prōcūmbĕrĕ fērrō;

nām vīcīna ŏpĕrī bēllōque īntāctă prĭōrī

īntēr nūdātōs stābāt dēnsīssĭmă mōntīs.

Sēd fōrtēs trĕmŭērĕ mănūs, mōtīquĕ vĕrēndā

māiēstātĕ lŏcī, sī rōbŏră sācră fĕrīrēnt,430

īn sŭă crēdēbānt rĕdĭtūrās mēmbră sĕcūrīs.

Īmplĭcĭtās māgnō Caēsār tōrpōrĕ cŏhōrtēs

ūt vīdīt, prīmūs rāptām vībrārĕ bĭpēnnēm

aūsŭs ĕt āĕrĭām fērrō prōscīndĕrĕ quērcūm

ēffātūr mērsō vĭŏlāta īn rōbŏră fērrō:435

"Iām nē quīs vēstrūm dŭbĭtēt sŭbŭērtĕrĕ sīlvām,

crēdĭtĕ mē fēcīssĕ nĕfās." Tūnc pārŭĭt ōmnīs

īmpĕrĭīs nōn sūblātō sēcūră păvōrĕ

tūrbă, sĕd ēxpēnsā sŭpĕrōrum ēt Caēsărĭs īrā.

Prōcūmbūnt ōrnī, nōdōsa īmpēllĭtŭr īlēx,440

sīlvăquĕ Dōdōnēs ēt flūctĭbŭs āptĭŏr ālnūs

ēt nōn plēbēiōs lūctūs tēstātă cŭprēssūs.

Tūnc prīmūm pŏsŭērĕ cŏmās ēt frōndĕ cărēntēs

ādmīsērĕ dĭēm, prōpūlsăquĕ rōbŏrĕ dēnsō

sūstĭnŭīt sē sīlvă cădēns. Gĕmŭērĕ vĭdēntēs445

Gāllōrūm pŏpŭlī; mūrīs sēd claūsă iŭvēntūs

ēxsūltāt. quĭs ĕnīm laēsōs īmpūnĕ pŭtārēt

ēssĕ dĕōs? Sērvāt mūltōs fōrtūnă nŏcēntēs,

ēt tāntūm mĭsĕrīs īrāscī nūmĭnă pōssūnt.

Ūtquĕ sătīs caēsī nĕmŏrīs, quaēsītă pĕr āgrōs450

plaūstră fĕrūnt, cūrvōquĕ sŏlī cēssāntĭs ărātrō

āgrĭcŏlaē rāptīs ānnūm flēvērĕ iŭvēncīs.

Dūx tămĕn īmpătĭēns haēsūri ād moēnĭă Mārtīs

vērsŭs ăd Hīspānās ăcĭēs ēxtrēmăquĕ mūndī

iūssīt bēllă gĕrī. Stēllātīs āxĭbŭs āggēr455

ērĭgĭtūr gĕmĭnāsque aēquāntīs moēnĭă tūrrīs

āccĭpĭt, haē nūllō fīxērūnt rōbŏrĕ tērrām,

sēd pĕr ĭtēr lōngūm caūsā rēpsērĕ lătēntī.

Cūm tāntūm nūtārĕt ŏnūs, tēllūrĭs ĭnānēs

cōncūssīssĕ sĭnūs quaērēntem ērūmpĕrĕ vēntūm460

crēdĭdĭt ēt mūrōs mīrāta ēst stārĕ iŭvēntūs.

Īllīnc tēlă cădūnt ēxcēlsās ūrbĭs ĭn ārcēs.

Sēd māiōr Grāiō Rōmāna īn cōrpŏră fērrō

vīs ĭnĕrāt. Nĕc ĕnīm sōlīs ēxcūssă lăcērtīs

lāncĕă, sēd tēnsō bālīstaē tūrbĭnĕ rāptă465

haūt ūnūm cōntēntă lătūs trānsīrĕ quĭēscīt;

sēd pāndēns pērque ārmă vĭām pērque ōssă rĕlīctā

mōrtĕ fŭgīt, sŭpĕrēst tēlō pōst vūlnĕră cūrsūs.

Āt sāxūm quŏtĭēns īngēntīs vērbĕrĭs āctū

ēxcŭtĭtūr, quālīs rūpēs, quām vērtĭcĕ mōntīs470

ābscĭdĭt īmpūlsū vēntōrum ădĭūtă vĕtūstās,

frāngīt cūnctā ruēns, nēc tāntūm cōrpŏră prēssă

ēxănĭmāt, tōtōs cūm sānguĭnĕ dīssĭpăt ārtūs.

Ūt tămĕn hōstīlēs dēnsā tēstūdĭnĕ mūrōs

tēctă sŭbīt vīrtūs ārmīsque īnnēxă prĭōrēs475

ārmă fĕrūnt gălĕāmque ēxtēnsūs prōtĕgĭt ūmbŏ,

quaē prĭŭs ēx lōngō nŏcŭērūnt mīssă rĕcēssū,

iām pōst tērgă cădūnt, nēc Grāīs flēctĕrĕ iāctūm

aūt făcĭlīs lăbŏr ēst lōngīnqua ād tēlă părātī

tōrmēntī mūtārĕ mŏdūm; sēd pōndĕrĕ sōlō480

cōntēntī nūdīs ēvōlvūnt sāxă lăcērtīs.

Dūm fŭĭt ārmōrūm sĕrĭēs, ūt grāndĭnĕ tēctă

īnnŏcŭā pērcūssă sŏnānt, sīc ōmnĭă tēlă

rēspŭĭt; āt pōstquām vīrtūs īncērtă vĭrōrūm

pērpĕtŭām rūpīt dēfēssō mīlĭtĕ crātēm,485

sīngŭlă cōntĭnŭīs cēssērūnt īctĭbŭs ārmă.

Tūnc ădŏpērtă lĕvī prōcēdīt vīnĕă tērrā,

sūb cūiūs plŭtĕīs ēt tēctā frōntĕ lătēntēs

mōlīrī nūnc īmă părānt ēt vērtĕrĕ fērrō

moēnĭă; nūnc ărĭēs sūspēnsō fōrtĭŏr īctū490

īncūssūs dēnsī cōmpāgēm sōlvĕrĕ mūrī

tēmptăt ĕt īmpŏsĭtīs ūnūm sūbdūcĕrĕ sāxīs.

Sēd sŭpĕr ēt flāmmīs ēt māgnaē frāgmĭnĕ mōlīs

ēt sŭdĭbūs crēbrīs ĕt ădūstī rōbŏrĭs īctū

pērcūssaē cēdūnt crātēs, frūstrāquĕ lăbōrĕ495

ēxhaūstō fēssūs rĕpĕtīt tēntōrĭă mīlēs.

Sūmmă fŭīt Grāīs, stārēnt ūt moēnĭă, vōtī.

Vltro ăcĭēs īnfērrĕ părānt ārmīsquĕ cŏrūscās

nōctūrnī tēxērĕ făcēs, aūdāxquĕ iŭvēntūs

ērūpīt. Nōn hāstă vĭrīs, nōn lētĭfĕr ārcūs,500

tēlūm flāmmă fŭīt, rāpiēnsque īncēndĭă vēntūs

pēr Rōmānă tŭlīt cĕlĕrī mūnīmĭnă cūrsū.

Nēc, quămŭīs vĭrĭdī lūctētūr rōbŏrĕ, lēntās

īgnĭs ăgīt vīrēs, taēdā sēd rāptŭs ăb ōmnī

cōnsĕquĭtūr nīgrī spătĭōsă vŏlūmĭnă fūmī,505

nēc sōlūm sīlvās, sēd sāxa īngēntĭă sōlvīt,

ēt crūdaē pūtrī flūxērūnt pūlvĕrĕ caūtēs.

Prōcŭbŭīt māiōrquĕ iăcēns āppārŭĭt āggēr.

Spēs vīctīs tēllūrĭs ăbīt, plăcŭītquĕ prŏfūndō

fōrtūnām tēmptārĕ mărī. nōn rōbŏrĕ pīctō510

ōrnātās dĕcŭīt fūlgēns tūtēlă cărīnās,

sēd rŭdĭs ēt quālīs prōcūmbīt mōntĭbŭs ārbōr

cōnsĕrĭtūr stăbĭlīs nāvālĭbŭs ārĕă bēllīs.

Ēt iām tūrrĭgĕrām Brūtī cŏmĭtātă cărīnām

vēnĕrăt īn flūctūs Rhŏdănī cūm gūrgĭtĕ clāssīs515

Stoēchădŏs ārvă tĕnēns. Nēc nōn ēt Grāiă iŭvēntūs

ōmnĕ sŭūm fātīs vŏlŭīt cōmmīttĕrĕ rōbūr

grāndaēvōsquĕ sĕnēs mīxtīs ārmāvĭt ĕphēbīs.

Āccēpīt nōn sōlă vĭrōs, quaē stābăt ĭn ūndīs,

clāssĭs: ĕt ēmĕrĭtās rĕpĕtūnt nāvālĭbŭs ālnōs.520

Ūt mātūtīnōs spārgēns sŭpĕr aēquŏră Phoēbūs

frēgĭt ăquīs rădĭōs ēt lībēr nūbĭbŭs aēthēr

ēt pŏsĭtō bŏrĕā pācēmquĕ tĕnēntĭbŭs aūstrīs

sērvātūm bēllō iăcŭīt mărĕ, mōvĭt ăb ōmnī

quīsquĕ sŭām stătĭōnĕ rătēm, părĭbūsquĕ lăcērtīs525

Caēsărĭs hīnc pūppēs, hīnc Grāĭŏ rēmĭgĕ clāssīs

tōllĭtŭr; īmpūlsaē tōnsīs trĕmŭērĕ cărīnaē,

crēbrăquĕ sūblīmēs cōnvēllūnt vērbĕră pūppēs.

Cōrnŭă Rōmānaē clāssīs vălĭdaēquĕ trĭrēmēs

quāsquĕ quătēr sūrgēns ēxstrūctī rēmĭgĭs ōrdŏ530

cōmmŏvĕt ēt plūrēs quaē mērgūnt aēquŏrĕ pīnūs,

mūltĭplĭcēs cīnxērĕ rătēs. Hōc rōbŭr ăpērtō

ōppŏsĭtūm pĕlăgō. Lūnātā clāssĕ rĕcēdūnt

ōrdĭnĕ cōntēntaē gĕmĭnō crēvīssĕ lĭbūrnaē.

Cēlsĭŏr āt cūnctīs Brūtī praētōrĭă pūppīs535

vērbĕrĭbūs sēnīs ăgĭtūr mōlēmquĕ prŏfūndō

īnvĕhĭt ēt sūmmīs lōngē pĕtĭt aēquŏră rēmīs.

Ūt tāntūm mĕdĭī fŭĕrāt mărĭs, ūtrăquĕ clāssīs

quōd sĕmĕl ēxcūssīs pōssēt trānscūrrĕrĕ tōnsīs

īnnŭmĕraē vāstō mīscēntŭr ĭn aēthĕrĕ vōcēs,540

rēmōrūmquĕ sŏnūs prĕmĭtūr clāmōrĕ, nĕc ūllaē

aūdīrī pŏtŭērĕ tŭbaē. Tūnc caērŭlă vērrūnt

ātque īn trānstră cădūnt ēt rēmīs pēctŏră pūlsānt.

Ūt prīmūm rōstrīs crĕpŭērūnt ōbvĭă rōstră,

īn pūppīm rĕdĭērĕ rătēs, ēmīssăquĕ tēlă545

aērā tēxērūnt văcŭūmquĕ cădēntĭă pōntūm.

Ēt iām dīdūctīs ēxtēndūnt cōrnŭă prōrīs,

dīvērsaēquĕ rătēs lāxātā clāssĕ rĕcēptaē.

Ūt, quŏtĭēns aēstūs zĕphўrīs eūrīsquĕ rĕpūgnāt,

hūc ăbĕūnt flūctūs, īllō mărĕ: sīc ŭbĭ pūppēs550

sūlcātō vărĭōs dūxērūnt gūrgĭtĕ trāctūs,

quōd tŭlĭt īllă rătīs rēmīs, haēc rēttŭlĭt aēquōr.

Sēd Grāīs hăbĭlēs pūgnāmquĕ lăcēssĕrĕ pīnūs

ēt tēmptārĕ fŭgām nēc lōngō frāngĕrĕ gŷrō

cūrsūm nēc tārdē flēctēntī cēdĕrĕ clāvō;555

āt Rōmānă rătīs stăbĭlēm praēbērĕ cărīnām

cērtĭŏr ēt tērraē sĭmĭlēm bēllāntĭbŭs ūsūm.

Tūnc īn sīgnĭfĕrā rĕsĭdēntī pūppĕ măgīstrō

Brūtŭs ăīt: "Pătĕrīsne ăcĭēs ērrārĕ prŏfūndō

ārtĭbŭs ēt cērtās pĕlăgī? Iām cōnsĕrĕ bēllūm,560

Phōcăĭcīs mĕdĭās rōstrīs ōppōnĕ cărīnās."

Pārŭĭt ōblīquās ēt praēbŭĭt hōstĭbŭs ālnōs.

Tūnc quaēcūmquĕ rătīs tēmptāvīt rōbŏră Brūtī,

īctū vīctă sŭō pērcūssaē cāptă cŏhaēsīt;

āst ălĭās mănĭcaēquĕ lĭgānt tĕrĕtēsquĕ cătēnaē,565

sēquĕ tĕnēnt rēmīs; tēctō stĕtĭt aēquŏrĕ bēllūm.

Iām nōn ēxcūssīs tōrquēntūr tēlă lăcērtīs,

nēc lōngīnquă cădūnt iăcŭlātō vūlnĕră fērrō,

mīscēntūrquĕ mănūs. Nāvālī plūrĭmă bēllō

ēnsĭs ăgīt. Stāt quīsquĕ sŭaē dē rōbŏrĕ pūppīs570

prōnŭs ĭn ādvērsōs īctūs, nūllīquĕ pĕrēmptī

īn rătĭbūs cĕcĭdērĕ sŭīs. Crŭŏr āltŭs ĭn ūndā

spūmăt, ĕt ōbdūctī cōncrētō sānguĭnĕ flūctūs.

Ēt quās īmmīssī trāxērūnt vīncŭlă fērrī,

hās prŏhĭbēnt iūngī cōnfērtă cădāvĕră pūppīs.575

Sēmiănĭmēs ălĭī vāstūm sŭbĭērĕ prŏfūndūm

haūsērūntquĕ sŭō pērmīxtūm sānguĭnĕ pōntūm.

Hī lūctāntem ănĭmām lēntā cūm mōrtĕ trăhēntēs

frāctārūm sŭbĭtā rătĭūm pĕrĭērĕ rŭīnā.

Īrrĭtă tēlă sŭās pĕrăgūnt īn gūrgĭtĕ caēdēs,580

ēt quōdcūmquĕ cădīt frūstrātō pōndĕrĕ fērrūm,

ēxcēptūm mĕdĭīs īnvēnīt vūlnŭs ĭn ūndīs.

Phōcăĭcīs Rōmānă rătīs vāllātă cărīnīs

rōbŏrĕ dīdūctō dēxtrūm laēvūmquĕ tŭētūr

aēquō Mārtĕ lătūs; cūiūs dūm pūgnăt ăb āltā585

pūppĕ Cătūs Grăĭūmque aūdāx āplūstrĕ rĕtēntāt,

tērgă sĭmūl părĭtēr mīssīs ēt pēctŏră tēlīs

trānsĭgĭtūr; mĕdĭō cōncūrrīt pēctŏrĕ fērrūm,

ēt stĕtĭt īncērtūs flŭĕrēt quō vūlnĕrĕ sānguīs,

dōnĕc ŭtrāsquĕ sĭmūl lārgūs crŭŏr ēxpŭlĭt hāstās590

dīvīsītque ănĭmām spārsītque īn vūlnĕră lētūm.

Dīrĭgĭt hūc pūppīm mĭsĕrī quŏquĕ dēxtră Tĕlōnīs,

quā nūllām mĕlĭūs pĕlăgō tūrbāntĕ cărīnaē

aūdīvērĕ mănūm, nēc lūx ēst nōtĭŏr ūllī

crāstĭnă, seū Phoēbūm vĭdĕāt seū cōrnŭă lūnaē,595

sēmpēr vēntūrīs cōmpōnĕrĕ cārbăsă vēntīs.

Hīc Lătĭaē rōstrō cōmpāgēm rūpĕrăt ālnī;

pīlă sĕd īn mĕdĭūm vēnērĕ trĕmēntĭă pēctūs,

āvērtītquĕ rătēm mŏrĭēntīs dēxtră măgīstrī.

Dūm cŭpĭt īn sŏcĭām Gўărēŭs ĕrēpĕrĕ pūppēm600

ēxcĭpĭt īmmīssūm sūspēnsă pĕr īlĭă fērrūm

ādfīxūsquĕ rătī tēlō rĕtĭnēntĕ pĕpēndīt.

Stānt gĕmĭnī frātrēs, fēcūndaē glōrĭă mātrīs,

quōs ĕădēm vărĭīs gĕnŭērūnt vīscĕră fātīs;

dīscrēvīt mōrs saēvă vĭrōs, ūnūmquĕ rĕlīctūm605

āgnōrūnt mĭsĕrī sūblāto ērrōrĕ părēntēs,

aētērnīs caūsām lăcrĭmīs; tĕnĕt īllĕ dŏlōrēm

sēmpĕr ĕt āmīssūm frātrēm lūgēntĭbŭs ōffērt.

Quōrum āltēr mīxtīs ōblīquō pēctĭnĕ rēmīs

aūsūs Rōmānaē Grāiā dē pūppĕ cărīnaē610

īniēctārĕ mănūm; sĕd ĕām grăvĭs īnsŭpĕr īctūs

āmpŭtăt; īllă tămēn nīsū, quō prēndĕrăt, haēsīt

dērĭgŭītquĕ tĕnēns strīctīs īmmōrtŭă nērvīs.

Crēvĭt ĭn ādvērsīs vīrtūs; plūs nōbĭlĭs īraē

trūncŭs hăbēt fōrtīque īnstaūrāt proēlĭă laēvā615

rāptūrūsquĕ sŭām prōcūmbĭt ĭn aēquŏră dēxtrām:

haēc quŏquĕ cūm tōtō mănŭs ēst ābscīsă lăcērtō.

Iām clĭpĕō tēlīsquĕ cărēns nōn cōndĭtŭs īmā

pūppĕ, sĕd ēxpŏsĭtūs frātērnăquĕ pēctŏrĕ nūdō

ārmă tĕgēns crēbrā cōnfīxūs cūspĭdĕ pērstāt620

tēlăquĕ mūltōrūm lētō cāsūră sŭōrūm

ēmĕrĭtā iām mōrtĕ tĕnēt. Tūm vūlnĕrĕ mūltō

ēffŭgĭēntem ănĭmām lāssōs cōllēgĭt ĭn ārtūs

mēmbrăquĕ cōntēndīt tōtō, quīcūmquĕ mănēbāt,

sānguĭne ĕt hōstīlēm dēfēctīs rōbŏrĕ nērvīs625

īnsĭlŭīt sōlō nŏcĭtūrūs pōndĕrĕ pūppēm.

Strāgĕ vĭrūm cŭmŭlātă rătīs mūltōquĕ crŭōrĕ

plēnă pĕr ōblīquūm crēbrōs lătŭs āccĭpĭt īctūs

ēt pōstquām rūptīs pĕlăgūs cōmpāgĭbŭs haūsīt,

ād sūmmōs rēplētă fŏrōs dēscēndĭt ĭn ūndās630

vīcīnum īnvōlvēns cōntōrtō vērtĭcĕ pōntūm.

Aēquŏră dīscēdūnt mērsā dīdūctă cărīnā,

īnquĕ lŏcūm pūppīs cĕcĭdīt mărĕ. Mūltăquĕ pōntō

praēbŭĭt īllĕ dĭēs vărĭī mīrācŭlă fātī.

Fērrĕă dūm pūppī răpĭdōs mănŭs īnsĕrĭt ūncōs,635

ādfīxīt Lўcĭdān. Mērsūs fŏrĕt īllĕ prŏfūndō,

sēd prŏhĭbēnt sŏcĭī sūspēnsăquĕ crūră rĕtēntānt.

Scīndĭtŭr āvūlsūs, nēc sīcūt vūlnĕrĕ sānguīs

ēmĭcŭīt: lēntūs rūptīs cădĭt ūndĭquĕ vēnīs,

dīscūrsūsque ănĭmaē dīvērsa īn mēmbră mĕāntīs640

īntērcēptŭs ăquīs. Nūllīūs vītă pĕrēmptī

ēst tāntā dīmīssă vĭā. Pārs ūltĭmă trūncī

trādĭdĭt īn lētūm văcŭōs vītālĭbŭs ārtūs;

āt tŭmĭdūs quā pūlmŏ iăcēt, quā vīscĕră fērvēnt,

haēsērūnt ĭbĭ fātă dĭū lūctātăquĕ mūltūm645

hāc cūm pārtĕ vĭrī vīx ōmnĭă mēmbră tŭlērūnt.

Dūm nĭmĭūm pūgnāx ūnīūs tūrbă cărīnaē

īncūmbīt prōnō lătĕrī văcŭāmquĕ rĕlīnquīt,

quā cărĕt hōstĕ, rătēm, cōngēstō pōndĕrĕ pūppīs

vērsă căvā tēxīt pĕlăgūs naūtāsquĕ cărīnā,650

brācchĭă nēc lĭcŭīt vāstō iāctārĕ prŏfūndō,

sēd claūsō pĕrĭērĕ mărī. Tūnc ūnĭcă dīrī

cōnspēcta ēst lētī făcĭēs, cūm fōrtĕ nătāntēm

dīvērsaē rōstrīs iŭvĕnēm fīxērĕ cărīnaē:

dīscēssīt mĕdĭūm tām vāstōs pēctŭs ăd īctūs,655

nēc prŏhĭbērĕ vălēnt ōbtrītīs ōssĭbŭs ārtūs,

quō mĭnŭs aēră sŏnēnt; ēlīsō vēntrĕ pĕr ōră

ēiēctāt sănĭēm pērmīxtūs vīscĕrĕ sānguīs.

Pōstquam ĭnhĭbēnt rēmīs pūppēs āc rōstră rĕcēdūnt,

dēiēctum īn pĕlăgūs pērfōssō pēctŏrĕ cōrpūs660

vūlnĕrĭbūs trānsmīsĭt ăquās. Pārs māxĭmă tūrbaē

naūfrăgă iāctātīs mōrti ōblūctātă lăcērtīs

pūppĭs ăd aūxĭlĭūm sŏcĭaē cōncūrrĭt; ăt īllīs

rōbŏră cūm vĕtĭtīs prēnsārēnt āltĭŭs ūlnīs

nūtārētquĕ rătīs pŏpŭlō pĕrĭtūră rĕcēptō,665

īmpĭă tūrbă sŭpēr mĕdĭōs fĕrĭt ēnsĕ lăcērtōs:

brācchĭă līnquēntēs Grăĭā pēndēntĭă pūppĕ

ā mănĭbūs cĕcĭdērĕ sŭīs. Nōn āmplĭŭs ūndaē

sūstĭnŭērĕ grăvēs īn sūmmō gūrgĭtĕ trūncōs.

Iāmque ōmnī fūsīs nūdātō mīlĭtĕ tēlīs670

īnvĕnĭt ārmă fŭrōr: rēmūm cōntōrsĭt ĭn hōstēm

āltĕr, ăt hīc tōtūm vălĭdīs āplūstrĕ lăcērtīs,

āvūlsāsquĕ rŏtānt ēxpūlsō rēmĭgĕ sēdēs;

īn pūgnām frēgērĕ rătēs. Sīdēntĭă pēssūm

cōrpŏră caēsă tĕnēnt spŏlĭāntquĕ cădāvĕră fērrō.675

Mūlti ĭnŏpēs tēlī iăcŭlūm lētālĕ rĕvūlsūm

vūlnĕrĭbūs trāxērĕ sŭīs ēt vīscĕră laēvā

ōpprēssērĕ mănū, vălĭdōs dūm praēbĕăt īctūs

sānguĭs ĕt hōstīlēm cūm tōrsĕrĭt ēxĕăt hāstām.

Nūllă tămēn plūrēs hōc ēdĭdĭt aēquŏrĕ clādēs,680

quām pĕlăgō dīvērsă lŭēs. Nām pīnguĭbŭs īgnīs

ādfīxūs taēdīs ēt tēctō sūlphŭrĕ vīvāx

spārgĭtŭr; āt făcĭlēs praēbēre ălĭmēntă cărīnās

nūnc pĭcĕ, nūnc lĭquĭdā răpŭēre īncēndĭă cērā.

Nēc flāmmās sŭpĕrānt ūndaē, spārsīsquĕ pĕr aēquōr685

iām rătĭbūs frāgmēntă fĕrūs sĭbĭ vīndĭcăt īgnīs.

Hic recipit fluctus, extinguat ut aequora flammas,

hī nē mērgāntūr, tăbŭlīs ārdēntĭbŭs haērēnt.

Mīllĕ mŏdōs īntēr lētī mōrs ūnă tĭmōrīst,

quā coēpērĕ mŏrī. Nēc cēssāt naūfrăgă vīrtūs:690

tēlă lĕgūnt dēiēctă mărī rătĭbūsquĕ mĭnīstrānt

īncērtāsquĕ mănūs īctū lānguēntĕ pĕr ūndās

ēxērcēnt. Nūnc, rāră dătūr sī cōpĭă fērrī,

ūtūntūr pĕlăgō. saēvūs cōmplēctĭtŭr hōstēm

hōstĭs, ĕt īmplĭcĭtīs gaūdēnt sūbsīdĕrĕ mēmbrīs695

mērgēntēsquĕ mŏrī. Pūgnā fŭĭt ūnŭs ĭn īllā

ēxĭmĭūs Phōceūs ănĭmām sērvārĕ sŭb ūndīs

scrūtārīquĕ frĕtūm, sī quīd mērsīssĕt hărēnīs,

ēt nĭmĭs ādfīxōs ūncī cōnvēllĕrĕ mōrsūs,

āddūctūm quŏtĭēns nōn sēnsĕrăt ānchŏră fūnēm.700

Hīc ŭbĭ cōmprēssūm pĕnĭtūs dēdūxĕrăt hōstēm,

vīctŏr ĕt īncŏlŭmīs sūmmās rĕmĕābăt ĭn ūndās.

Sēd sē pēr văcŭōs crēdīt dūm sūrgĕrĕ flūctūs,

pūppĭbŭs ōccūrrīt tāndēmquĕ sŭb aēquŏrĕ mānsīt.

Hī sŭpĕr hōstīlēs iēcērūnt brācchĭă rēmōs705

ēt rătĭūm tĕnŭērĕ fŭgām. Nōn pērdĕrĕ lētūm

māxĭmă cūră fŭīt; mūltūs sŭă vūlnĕră pūppī

ādfīxīt mŏrĭēns ēt rōstrīs ābstŭlĭt īctūs.

Stāntēm sūblīmī Tŷrrhēnūm cūlmĭnĕ prōraē

Lŷgdămŭs ēxcūssaē Bălĕārīs tōrtŏr hăbēnaē710

glāndĕ pĕtēns sŏlĭdō frēgīt căvă tēmpŏră plūmbō.

Sēdĭbŭs ēxpūlsī, pōstquām crŭŏr ōmnĭă rūpīt

vīncŭlă, prōcūrrūnt ŏcŭlī, stāt lūmĭnĕ rāptō

āttŏnĭtūs mōrtīsque īllās pŭtăt ēssĕ tĕnēbrās.

Āt pōstquām mēmbrīs sēnsīt cōnstārĕ vĭgōrēm,715

"Vōs" ăĭt "ō sŏcĭī, sīcūt tōrmēntă sŏlētīs,

mē quŏquĕ mīttēndīs rēctūm cōmpōnĭtĕ tēlīs.

Ēgĕrĕ quōd sŭpĕrēst ănĭmaē, Tŷrrhēnĕ, pĕr ōmnīs

bēllōrūm cāsūs. Īngēntēm mīlĭtĭs ūsūm

hōc hăbĕt ēx māgnā dēfūnctūm pārtĕ cădāvēr:720

vīvēntīs fĕrĭērĕ lŏcō." Sīc fātŭs ĭn hōstēm

caēcā tēlă mănū, sēd nōn tămĕn īrrĭtă, mīttīt.

Ēxcĭpĭt haēc iŭvĕnīs gĕnĕrōsī sānguĭnĭs Ārgūs,

quā iām nōn mĕdĭūs dīscēdĭt ĭn īlĭă vēntēr,

ādiūvītquĕ sŭō prōcūmbēns pōndĕrĕ fērrūm.725

Stābāt dīvērsā vīctaē iām pārtĕ cărīnaē

īnfēlīx Ārgī gĕnĭtōr, nōn īllĕ iŭvēntaē

tēmpŏrĕ Phōcăĭcīs ūllī cēssūrŭs ĭn ārmīs;

vīctum aēvō rōbūr cĕcĭdīt, fēssūsquĕ sĕnēctā

ēxēmplūm, nōn mīlĕs ĕrāt; quī fūnĕrĕ vīsō730

saēpĕ cădēns lōngaē sĕnĭōr pēr trānstră cărīnaē

pērvĕnĭt ād pūppīm spīrāntīsque īnvĕnĭt ārtūs.

Nōn lăcrĭmaē cĕcĭdērĕ gĕnīs, nōn pēctŏră tūndīt,

dīstēntīs tōtō rĭgŭīt sēd cōrpŏrĕ pālmīs.

Nōx sŭbĭt, ātque ŏcŭlōs vāstae ōbdūxērĕ tĕnēbraē,735

ēt mĭsĕrūm cērnēns ādgnōscĕrĕ dēsĭnĭt Ārgūm.

Īllĕ căpūt lābēns ēt iām lānguēntĭă cōllă

vīsō pātrĕ lĕvāt; vōx faūcīs nūllă sŏlūtās

prōsĕquĭtūr, tăcĭtō tāntūm pĕtĭt ōscŭlă vūltū

īnvītātquĕ pătrīs claūdēnda ād lūmĭnă dēxtrām.740

Ūt tōrpōrĕ sĕnēx cārvīt vīrēsquĕ crŭēntūs

coēpĭt hăbērĕ dŏlōr: "Nōn pērdām tēmpŏră" dīxīt

"ā saēvīs pērmīssă dĕīs iŭgŭlūmquĕ sĕnīlēm

cōnfŏdĭām. vĕnĭām mĭsĕrō cōncēdĕ părēntī,

Ārgĕ, quŏd āmplēxūs, ēxtrēmă quŏd ōscŭlă fūgī.745

Nōndūm dēstĭtŭīt călĭdūs tŭă vūlnĕră sānguīs,

sēmiănĭmīsquĕ iăcēs ĕt ădhūc pŏtĕs ēssĕ sŭpērstēs."

Sīc fātūs, quāmvīs căpŭlūm pēr vīscĕră mīssī

pōllŭĕrīt glădĭī, tămĕn āltă sŭb aēquŏră tēndīt

praēcĭpĭtī sāltū: lētūm praēcēdĕrĕ nātī750

fēstīnāntem ănĭmām mōrtī nōn crēdĭdĭt ūnī.

Īnclīnānt iām fātă dŭcūm, nēc iam āmplĭŭs āncēps

bēllī cāsŭs ĕrāt. Grāiaē pārs māxĭmă clāssīs

mērgĭtŭr, āst ălĭaē mūtātō rēmĭgĕ pūppēs

vīctōrēs vēxērĕ sŭōs; nāvālĭă paūcaē755

praēcĭpĭtī tĕnŭērĕ fŭgā. Quĭs ĭn ūrbĕ părēntūm

flētŭs ĕrāt! quāntī mātrūm pēr lītŏră plānctūs!

Cōniūnx saēpĕ sŭī cōnfūsīs vūltĭbŭs ūndā

crēdĭdĭt ōră vĭrī Rōmānum āmplēxă cădāvēr,

āccēnsīsquĕ rŏgīs mĭsĕrī dē cōrpŏrĕ trūncō760

cērtāvērĕ pătrēs. Āt Brūtŭs ĭn aēquŏrĕ vīctōr

prīmūs Caēsărĕīs pĕlăgī dĕcŭs āddĭdĭt ārmīs.

Propulit ut classem velis cedentibus auster

incumbens mediumque rates movere profundum,

omnis in Ionios spectabat navita fluctus;

solus ab Hesperia non flexit lumina terra

5Magnus, dum patrios portus, dum litora numquam

ad visus reditura suos tectumque cacumen

nubibus et dubios cernit vanescere montis.

Inde soporifero cesserunt languida somno

membra ducis; diri tum plena horroris imago

10visa caput maestum per hiantes Iulia terras

tollere et accenso furialis stare sepulchro.

"Sedibus Elysiis campoque expulsa piorum

ad Stygias" inquit "tenebras manesque nocentes

post bellum civile trahor: vidi ipsa tenentis

15Eumenidas, quaterent quas vestris lampadas armis;

praeparat innumeras puppis Acherontis adusti

portitor; in multas laxantur Tartara poenas,

vix operi cunctae dextra properante sorores

sufficiunt, lassant rumpentis stamina Parcas.

20Coniuge me laetos duxisti, Magne, triumphos:

fortuna est mutata toris semperque potentis

detrahere in cladem fato damnata maritos

innupsit tepido paelex Cornelia busto.

Haereat illa tuis per bella, per aequora signis,

25dum non securos liceat mihi rumpere somnos

et nullum vestro vacuum sit tempus amori,

sed teneat Caesarque dies et Iulia noctes.

Me non Lethaeae, coniunx, oblivia ripae

immemorem fecere tui, regesque silentum

30permisere sequi. veniam te bella gerente

in medias acies; numquam tibi, Magne, per umbras

perque meos manes genero non esse licebit.

Abscidis frustra ferro tua pignora: bellum

te faciet civile meum." Sic fata refugit

35umbra per amplexus trepidi dilapsa mariti.

Ille, dei quamuis cladem manesque minentur,

maior in arma ruit certa cum mente malorum

et "Quid" ait "vani terremur imagine visus?

Aut nihil est sensus animis a morte relictum

40aut mors ipsa nihil." Titan iam pronus in undas

ibat et igniferi tantum demerserat orbis,

quantum desse solet lunae, seu plena futurast,

seu iam plena fuit: tunc obtulit hospita tellus

puppibus accessus faciles; legere rudentis

45et posito remis petierunt litora malo.

Caesar, ut emissas venti rapuere carinas,

absconditque fretum classes, et litore solus

dux stetit Hesperio, non illum gloria pulsi

laetificat Magni; queritur quod tuta per aequor

50terga ferant hostes. neque enim iam sufficit ulla

praecipiti fortuna viro, nec vincere tanti,

ut bellum differret, erat. tum pectore curas

expulit armorum pacique intentus agebat,

quoque modo vanos populi conciret amores

55gnarus et irarum causas et summa favoris

annona momenta trahi. namque asserit urbis

sola fames emiturque metus, cum segne potentes

vulgus alunt: nescit plebes ieiuna timere.

Curio Sicanias transcendere iussus in urbes,

60qua mare tellurem subitis aut obruit undis

aut scidit et medias fecit sibi litora terras;

vis illic ingens pelagi, semperque laborant

aequora ne rupti repetant confinia montes,

bellaque Sardoas etiam sparguntur in oras.

65Utraque frugiferis est insula nobilis arvis;

nec prius Hesperiam longinquis messibus ullae

nec Romana magis complerunt horrea terrae.

Ubere vix glaebae superat cessantibus austris,

cum medium nubes borea cogente sub axem

70effusis magnum Libye tulit imbribus annum.

Haec ubi sunt provisa duci, tunc agmina victor

non armata trahens, sed pacis habentia vultum,

tecta petit patriae. Pro, si remeasset in urbem,

Gallorum tantum populis arctoque subacta

75quam seriem rerum longa praemittere pompa,

quas potuit belli facies! ut vincula Rheno

Oceanoque daret, celsos ut Gallia currus

nobilis et flavis sequeretur mixta Britannis!

Perdidit o qualem vincendo plura triumphum!

80Non illum laetis vadentem coetibus urbes,

sed tacitae videre metu, nec constitit usquam

obvia turba duci. Gaudet tamen esse timori

tam magno populis et se non mallet amari.

Iamque et praecipitis superaverat Anxuris arces,

85et qua Pomptinas via dividit uda paludes,

qua sublime nemus, Scythicae qua regna Dianae,

quaque iter est Latiis ad summam fascibus Albam;

excelsa de rupe procul iam conspicit urbem

arctoi toto non visam tempore belli

90miratusque suae sic fatur moenia Romae:

"Tene, deum sedes, non ullo Marte coacti

deservere viri? pro qua pugnabitur urbe?

Di melius, quod non Latias eous in oras

nunc furor incubuit nec iuncto Sarmata velox

95Pannonio Dacisque Getes admixtus: habenti

tam pavidum tibi, Roma, ducem fortuna pepercit,

quod bellum civile fuit." Sic fatur et urbem

attonitam terrore subit. Namque ignibus atris

creditur ut captae rapturus moenia Romae

100sparsurusque deos. Fuit haec mensura timoris:

velle putant quodcumque potest. Non omina festa,

non fictas laeto voces simulare tumultu,

vix odisse vacat. Phoebea palatia complet

turba patrum nullo cogendi iure senatus

105e latebris educta suis; non consule sacrae

fulserunt sedes, non proxima lege potestas,

praetor adest, vacuaeque loco cessere curules:

omnia Caesar erat; privatae curia vocis

testis adest. Sedere patres censere parati,

110si regnum, si templa sibi iugulumque senatus

exiliumque petat. melius, quod plura iubere

erubuit quam Roma pati. Tamen exit in iram:

viribus an possint obsistere iura, per unum

libertas experta virum. Pugnaxque Metellus,

115ut videt ingenti Saturnia templa revelli

mole, rapit gressus et Caesaris agmina rumpens

ante fores nondum reseratae constitit aedis

(usque adeo solus ferrum mortemque timere

auri nescit amor. pereunt discrimine nullo

120amissae leges; sed, pars vilissima rerum,

certamen movistis, opes), prohibensque rapina

victorem clara testatur voce tribunus:

"Non nisi per nostrum vobis percussa patebunt

templa latus, nullasque feres, nisi sanguine sacro

125sparsas, raptor, opes. certe violata potestas

invenit ista deos, Crassumque in bella secutae

saeva tribuniciae voverunt proelia dirae.

Detege iam ferrum; neque enim tibi turba verendast

spectatrix scelerum: deserta stamus in urbe.

130Non feret e nostro sceleratus praemia miles.

Sunt quos prosternas populi, quae moenia dones.

Pacis ad exhaustae spolium non cogit egestas:

bellum, Caesar, habes." his magnam victor in iram

vocibus accensus: "Vanam spem mortis honestae

135concipis: haud" inquit "iugulo se polluet isto

nostra, Metelle, manus. Dignum te Caesaris ira

nullus honor faciet. te vindice tuta relictast

libertas? Non usque adeo permiscuit imis

longus summa dies, ut non, si voce Metelli

140serventur leges, malint a Caesare tolli."

Dixerat, et nondum foribus cedente tribuno

acrior ira subit: saevos circumspicit enses

oblitus simulare togam. Tum Cotta Metellum

compulit audaci nimium desistere coepto.

145"Libertas" inquit "populi quem regna coercent,

libertate perit, cuius servaveris umbram,

si quidquid iubeare velis. tot rebus iniquis

parvimus victi; venia est haec sola pudoris

degenerisque metus, non iam potuisse negari.

150Ocius avertat diri mala semina belli.

Damna movent populos, si quos sua iura tuentur.

Non sibi, sed domino gravis est, quae servit, egestas."

Protinus abducto patuerunt templa Metello.

Tunc rupes Tarpeia sonat magnoque reclusas

155testatur stridore fores; tunc conditus imo

ervitur templo multis non tactus ab annis

Romani census populi, quem Punica bella,

quem dederat Perses, quem victi praeda Philippi,

quod tibi, Roma, fuga Pyrrhus trepidante reliquit

160(quo te Fabricius regi non vendidit auro),

quidquid parcorum mores servastis avorum,

quod dites Asiae populi misere tributum,

victorique dedit Minoia Creta Metello,

quod Cato longinqua vexit super aequora Cypro.

165Tunc Orientis opes captorumque ultima regum

quae Pompeianis praelata est gaza triumphis,

egeritur; tristi spoliantur templa rapina,

pauperiorque fuit tunc primum Caesare Roma.

Interea totum Magni fortuna per orbem

170secum casuras in proelia moverat urbes.

Proxima vicino vires dat Graecia bello.

Phocaicas Amphisa manus scopulosaque Cirrha

Parnasosque iugo misit desertus utroque.

Boeoti coiere duces, quos impiger ambit

175fatidica Cephisos aqua Cadmeaque Dirce,

Pisaeaeque manus populisque per aequora mittens

Sicaniis Alpheos aquas. Tunc Maenala liquit

Arcas et Herculeam miles Trachinius Oeten.

Thesproti Dryopesque ruunt, quercusque silentis

180Chaonio veteres liquerunt vertice Selloe.

Exhausit totas quamuis delectus Athenas,

exiguae Phoebea tenent navalia puppes,

tresque petunt veram credi Salamina carinae.

Iam dilecta Iovi centenis venit in arma

185Creta vetus populis Gnososque agitare pharetras

docta nec eois peior Gortyna sagittis.

Tunc qui Dardaniam tenet Oricon et vagus altis

dispersus silvis Athamas et nomine prisco

Encheliae versi testantes funera Cadmi,

190Colchis et Adriacas spumans Absyrtos in undas;

Penei qui rura colunt, quorumque labore

Thessalus Haemoniam vomer proscindit Iolcon.

(Inde lacessitum primo mare, cum rudis Argo

miscuit ignotas temerato litore gentes

195primaque cum ventis pelagique furentibus undis

composuit mortale genus, fatisque per illam

accessit mors una ratem). Tunc linquitur Haemus

Thracius et populum Pholoë mentita biformem.

Deseritur Strymon tepido committere Nilo

200Bistonias consuetus aves et barbara Cone,

Sarmaticas ubi perdit aquas sparsamque profundo

multifidi Peucen unum caput adluit Histri,

Moesiaque et gelido tellus perfusa Caico

Idalis et nimium glebis exilis Arisbe;

205quique colunt Pitanen et quae tua munera, Pallas,

lugent damnatae Phoebo victore Celaenae,

qua celer et rectis descendens Marsya ripis

errantem Maeandron adit mixtusque refertur,

passaque ab auriferis tellus exire metallis

210Pactolon, qua culta secat non vilior Hermus.

Iliacae quoque signa manus perituraque castra

ominibus petiere suis, nec fabula Troiae

continuit Phrygiique ferens se Caesar Iuli.

Accedunt Syriae populi, desertus Orontes

215et felix, sic fama, Ninos, ventosa Damascos

Gazaque et arbusto palmarum dives Idume

et Tyros instabilis pretiosaque murice Sidon.

Has ad bella rates non flexo limite ponti

certior haud ullis duxit Cynosura carinis.

220(Phoenices primi, famae si creditur, ausi

mansuram rudibus vocem signare figuris:

nondum flumineas Memphis contexere biblos

noverat et saxis tantum volucresque feraeque

sculptaque servabant magicas animalia linguas).

225Deseritur Taurique nemus Perseaque Tarsos

Coryciumque patens exesis rupibus antrum,

Mallos et extremae resonant navalibus Aegae,

itque Cilix iusta, iam non pirata, carina.

Movit et eoos bellorum fama recessus,

230qua colitur Ganges, toto qui solus in orbe

ostia nascenti contraria solvere Phoebo

audet et adversum fluctus impellit in eurum:

hic ubi Pellaeus post Tethyos aequora ductor

constitit et magno vinci se fassus ab orbest.

235Quaque ferens rapidum diviso gurgite fontem

vastis Indus aquis mixtum non sentit Hydaspen;

quique bibunt tenera dulcis ab harundine sucos,

et qui tinguentes croceo medicamine crinem

fluxa coloratis astringunt carbasa gemmis,

240quique suas struxere pyras vivique calentis

conscendere rogos. Pro! quanta est gloria genti

iniecisse manum fatis, vitaque repletos

quod superest donasse deis! venere feroces

Cappadoces duri populus non cultor Amani,

245Armeniusque tenens volventem saxa Niphaten.

Aethera tangentis silvas liquere Choatrae.

Ignotum vobis, Arabes, venistis in orbem

umbras mirati nemorum non ire sinistras.

Tum furor extremos movit Romanus Orestas

250Carmanosque duces (quorum iam flexus in austrum

aether non totam mergi tamen aspicit Arcton;

lucet et exigua velox ibi nocte Bootes)

Aethiopumque solum, quod non premeretur ab ulla

signiferi regione poli, nisi poplite lapso

255ultima curvati procederet ungula Tauri.

Quaque caput rapido tollit cum Tigride magnus

Euphrates, quos non diversis fontibus edit

Persis, et incertum, tellus si misceat amnes,

quod potius sit nomen aquis; sed sparsus in agros

260fertilis Euphrates Phariae vice fungitur undae;

at Tigrim subito tellus absorbet hiatu

occultosque tegit cursus rursusque renatum

fonte novo flumen pelagi non abnegat undis.

Inter Caesareas acies diversaque signa

265pugnaces dubium Parthi tenuere favorem

contenti fecisse duos. Tinxere sagittas

errantes Scythiae populi, quos gurgite Bactros

includit gelido vastisque Hyrcania silvis.

Hinc Lacedaemonii, moto gens aspera freno,

270Heniochi saevisque adfinis Sarmata Moschis,

Colchorum qua rura secat ditissima Phasis,

qua Croeso fatalis Halys, qua vertice lapsus

Riphaeo Tanais diversi nomina mundi

imposuit ripis Asiaeque et terminus idem

275Europae mediae dirimens confinia terrae

nunc huc nunc illuc, qua flectitur, ampliat orbem;

quaque, fretum torrens, Maeotidos egerit undas

pontus, et Herculeis aufertur gloria metis,

Oceanumque negant solas admittere Gades.

280Hinc Essedoniae gentes auroque ligatas

substringens Arimaspe comas; hinc fortis Arius

longaque Sarmatici solvens ieiunia belli

Massagetes, quo fugit, equo volucresque Geloni.

Non, cum Memnoniis deducens agmina regnis

285Cyrus et effusis numerato milite telis

descendit Perses fraternique ultor amoris

aequora cum tantis percussit classibus, unum

tot reges habuere ducem, coiere nec umquam

tam variae cultu gentes, tam dissona vulgi

290ora. tot immensae comites missura ruinae

excivit populos et dignas funere Magni

exsequias fortuna dedit. non corniger Hammon

mittere Marmaricas cessavit in arma catervas,

quidquid ab occiduis Libye patet arida Mauris

295usque Paraetonias eoa ad litora Syrtis.

Acciperet felix ne non semel omnia Caesar,

vincendum pariter Pharsalia praestitit orbem.

Ille ubi deservit trepidantis moenia Romae,

agmine nubiferam rapto superevolat Alpem,

300cumque alii famae populi terrore paverent,

Phocais in dubiis ausa est servare iuventus

non Graia levitate fidem signataque iura

et causas, non fata, sequi. Tamen ante furorem

indomitum duramque viri deflectere mentem

305pacifico sermone parant hostemque propinquum

orant Cecropiae praelata fronde Minervae:

"Semper in externis populos communia vestro

Massiliam bellis testatur fata tulisse,

comprensa est Latiis quaecumque annalibus aetas.

310Et nunc, ignoto si quos petis orbe triumphos,

accipe devotas externa in proelia dextras.

At si funestas acies, si dira paratis

proelia discordes, lacrimas civilibus armis

secretumque damus, tractentur vulnera nulla

315sacra manu. Si caelicolis furor arma dedisset,

aut si terrigenae temptarent astra gigantes,

non tamen auderet pietas humana vel armis

vel votis prodesse Iovi, sortisque deorum

ignarum mortale genus per fulmina tantum

320sciret adhuc caelo solum regnare Tonantem.

Adde quod innumerae concurrunt undique gentes,

nec sic horret iners scelerum contagia mundus

ut gladiis egeant civilia bella coactis.

Sit mens ista quidem cunctis ut vestra recusent

325fata nec haec alius committat proelia miles.

Cui non conspecto languebit dextra parente?

Telaque diversi prohibebunt spargere fratres.

Finis adest rerum, si nunc committitis illis

arma, quibus fas est. Nobis haec summa precandi;

330terribilis aquilas infestaque signa relinquas

urbe procul nostrisque velis te credere muris

excludique sinas admisso Caesare bellum.

Sit locus exceptus sceleri Magnoque tibique

tutus, ut, invictae fatum si consulat urbi,

335foedera si placeant, sit quo veniatis inermes.

Vel, cum tanta vocent discrimina Martis Hiberi,

quid rapidum deflectis iter? Non pondera rerum,

nec momenta sumus. numquam felicibus armis

usa manus, patriae primis a sedibus exul,

340et post translatas exustae Phocidos arces

moenibus exiguis alieno in litore tuti,

illustrat quos sola fides; si claudere muros

obsidione paras et vi perfringere portas,

excepisse faces tectis et tela parati

345undarum raptos aversis fontibus haustus

quaerere et effossam sitientes lambere terram

et, desit si larga Ceres, tunc horrida cerni

foedaque contingi maculato attingere morsu.

Nec pavet hic populus pro libertate subire,

350obsessum Poeno gessit quae Marte Saguntum.

Pectoribus rapti matrum frustraque trahentes

ubera sicca fame medios mittentur in ignis,

uxor et a caro poscet sibi fata marito

vulnera miscebunt fratres bellumque coacti

355hoc potius civile gerent." Sic Graia iuventus

finierat, cum turbato iam prodita vultu

ira ducis tandem testata est voce dolorem:

"Vana movet Graios nostri fiducia cursus.

Quamuis Hesperium mundi properemus ad axem,

360Massiliam delere vacat. Gaudete cohortes:

obvia praebentur fatorum munere bella.

Ventus ut amittit vires, nisi robore densae

occurrunt silvae, spatio diffusus inani,

utque perit magnus nullis obstantibus ignis,

365sic hostes mihi desse nocet, damnumque putamus

armorum, nisi qui vinci potuere rebellant.

Sed si solus eam dimissis degener armis,

tunc mihi tecta patent? Iam non excludere tantum,

inclusisse volunt! At enim contagia belli

370dira fugant. dabitis poenas pro pace petita

et nihil esse meo discetis tutius aevo,

quam duce me bellum." sic postquam fatus, ad urbem

haud trepidam convertit iter; tunc moenia clausa

conspicit et densa iuvenum vallata corona.

375Haut procul a muris tumulus surgentis in altum

telluris parvum diffuso vertice campum

explicat; haec patiens longo munimine cingi

visa duci rupes tutisque aptissima castris.

Proxima pars urbis celsam conscendit in arcem

380par tumulo, mediisque sedent convallibus arva.

Tunc res immenso placuit statura labore,

aggere diversos vasto committere colles.

Sed prius ut totam qua terra cingitur urbem

clauderet, a summis perduxit ad aequora castris

385longum Caesar opus, fontesque et pabula campi

amplexus fossa, densas tollentia pinnas

caespitibus crudaque exstruxit bracchia terra.

Iam satis hoc Graiae memorandum contigit urbi

aeternumque decus quod non impulsa nec ipso

390strata metu tenuit flagrantis in omnia belli

praecipitem cursum, raptisque a Caesare cunctis

vincitur una mora. Quantum est quod fata tenentur,

quodque virum toti properans imponere mundo

hos perdit fortuna dies! Tunc omnia late

395procumbunt nemora et spoliantur robore silvae,

ut, cum terra levis mediam virgultaque molem

suspendant, structa laterum compage ligatam

artet humum, pressus ne cedat turribus agger.

Lucus erat longo numquam violatus ab aevo,

400obscurum cingens conexis aëra ramis

et gelidas alte summotis solibus umbras.

Hunc non ruricolae Panes nemorumque potentes

Silvani Nymphaeque tenent sed barbara ritu

sacra deum; structae diris altaribus arae,

405omnisque humanis lustrata cruoribus arbor.

Si qua fidem meruit superos mirata vetustas,

illis et volucres metuunt insistere ramis

et lustris recubare ferae; nec ventus in illas

incubuit silvas excussaque nubibus atris

410fulgura; non ulli frondem praebentibus aurae

arboribus suus horror inest. Tunc plurima nigris

fontibus unda cadit, simulacraque maesta deorum

arte carent caesisque exstant informia truncis.

Ipse situs putrique facit iam robore pallor

415attonitos; non vulgatis sacrata figuris

numina sic metuunt: tantum terroribus addit,

quos timeant, non nosse deos. Iam fama ferebat

saepe cavas motu terrae mugire cavernas

et procumbentis iterum consurgere taxos,

420et non ardentis fulgere incendia silvae,

roboraque amplexos circumfluxisse dracones.

Non illum cultu populi propiore frequentant,

sed cessere deis. medio cum Phoebus in axest

aut caelum nox atra tenet, pavet ipse sacerdos

425accessus dominumque timet deprendere luci.

Hanc iubet immisso silvam procumbere ferro;

nam vicina operi belloque intacta priori

inter nudatos stabat densissima montis.

Sed fortes tremuere manus, motique verenda

430maiestate loci, si robora sacra ferirent,

in sua credebant redituras membra securis.

Implicitas magno Caesar torpore cohortes

ut vidit, primus raptam vibrare bipennem

ausus et aëriam ferro proscindere quercum

435effatur merso violata in robora ferro:

"Iam ne quis vestrum dubitet subuertere silvam,

credite me fecisse nefas." Tunc parvit omnis

imperiis non sublato secura pavore

turba, sed expensa superorum et Caesaris ira.

440Procumbunt orni, nodosa impellitur ilex,

silvaque Dodones et fluctibus aptior alnus

et non plebeios luctus testata cupressus.

Tunc primum posuere comas et fronde carentes

admisere diem, propulsaque robore denso

445sustinuit se silva cadens. Gemuere videntes

Gallorum populi; muris sed clausa iuventus

exsultat. quis enim laesos impune putaret

esse deos? Servat multos fortuna nocentes,

et tantum miseris irasci numina possunt.

450Utque satis caesi nemoris, quaesita per agros

plaustra ferunt, curvoque soli cessantis aratro

agricolae raptis annum flevere iuvencis.

Dux tamen impatiens haesuri ad moenia Martis

versus ad Hispanas acies extremaque mundi

455iussit bella geri. Stellatis axibus agger

erigitur geminasque aequantis moenia turris

accipit, hae nullo fixerunt robore terram,

sed per iter longum causa repsere latenti.

Cum tantum nutaret onus, telluris inanes

460concussisse sinus quaerentem erumpere ventum

credidit et muros mirata est stare iuventus.

Illinc tela cadunt excelsas urbis in arces.

Sed maior Graio Romana in corpora ferro

vis inerat. Nec enim solis excussa lacertis

465lancea, sed tenso balistae turbine rapta

haut unum contenta latus transire quiescit;

sed pandens perque arma viam perque ossa relicta

morte fugit, superest telo post vulnera cursus.

At saxum quotiens ingentis verberis actu

470excutitur, qualis rupes, quam vertice montis

abscidit impulsu ventorum adiuta vetustas,

frangit cuncta ruens, nec tantum corpora pressa

exanimat, totos cum sanguine dissipat artus.

Ut tamen hostiles densa testudine muros

475tecta subit virtus armisque innexa priores

arma ferunt galeamque extensus protegit umbo,

quae prius ex longo nocuerunt missa recessu,

iam post terga cadunt, nec Grais flectere iactum

aut facilis labor est longinqua ad tela parati

480tormenti mutare modum; sed pondere solo

contenti nudis evolvunt saxa lacertis.

Dum fuit armorum series, ut grandine tecta

innocua percussa sonant, sic omnia tela

respuit; at postquam virtus incerta virorum

485perpetuam rupit defesso milite cratem,

singula continuis cesserunt ictibus arma.

Tunc adoperta levi procedit vinea terra,

sub cuius pluteis et tecta fronte latentes

moliri nunc ima parant et vertere ferro

490moenia; nunc aries suspenso fortior ictu

incussus densi compagem solvere muri

temptat et impositis unum subducere saxis.

Sed super et flammis et magnae fragmine molis

et sudibus crebris et adusti roboris ictu

495percussae cedunt crates, frustraque labore

exhausto fessus repetit tentoria miles.

Summa fuit Grais, starent ut moenia, voti.

Ultro acies inferre parant armisque coruscas

nocturni texere faces, audaxque iuventus

500erupit. Non hasta viris, non letifer arcus,

telum flamma fuit, rapiensque incendia ventus

per Romana tulit celeri munimina cursu.

Nec, quamuis viridi luctetur robore, lentas

ignis agit vires, taeda sed raptus ab omni

505consequitur nigri spatiosa volumina fumi,

nec solum silvas, sed saxa ingentia solvit,

et crudae putri fluxerunt pulvere cautes.

Procubuit maiorque iacens apparuit agger.

Spes victis telluris abit, placuitque profundo

510fortunam temptare mari. non robore picto

ornatas decuit fulgens tutela carinas,

sed rudis et qualis procumbit montibus arbor

conseritur stabilis navalibus area bellis.

Et iam turrigeram Bruti comitata carinam

515venerat in fluctus Rhodani cum gurgite classis

Stoechados arva tenens. Nec non et Graia iuventus

omne suum fatis volvit committere robur

grandaevosque senes mixtis armavit ephebis.

Accepit non sola viros, quae stabat in undis,

520classis: et emeritas repetunt navalibus alnos.

Ut matutinos spargens super aequora Phoebus

fregit aquis radios et liber nubibus aether

et posito borea pacemque tenentibus austris

servatum bello iacuit mare, movit ab omni

525quisque suam statione ratem, paribusque lacertis

Caesaris hinc puppes, hinc Graio remige classis

tollitur; impulsae tonsis tremuere carinae,

crebraque sublimes convellunt verbera puppes.

Cornua Romanae classis validaeque triremes

530quasque quater surgens exstructi remigis ordo

commovet et plures quae mergunt aequore pinus,

multiplices cinxere rates. Hoc robur aperto

oppositum pelago. Lunata classe recedunt

ordine contentae gemino crevisse liburnae.

535Celsior at cunctis Bruti praetoria puppis

verberibus senis agitur molemque profundo

invehit et summis longe petit aequora remis.

Ut tantum medii fuerat maris, utraque classis

quod semel excussis posset transcurrere tonsis

540innumerae vasto miscentur in aethere voces,

remorumque sonus premitur clamore, nec ullae

audiri potuere tubae. Tunc caerula verrunt

atque in transtra cadunt et remis pectora pulsant.

Ut primum rostris crepuerunt obvia rostra,

545in puppim rediere rates, emissaque tela

aera texerunt vacuumque cadentia pontum.

Et iam diductis extendunt cornua proris,

diversaeque rates laxata classe receptae.

Ut, quotiens aestus zephyris eurisque repugnat,

550huc abeunt fluctus, illo mare: sic ubi puppes

sulcato varios duxerunt gurgite tractus,

quod tulit illa ratis remis, haec rettulit aequor.

Sed Grais habiles pugnamque lacessere pinus

et temptare fugam nec longo frangere gyro

555cursum nec tarde flectenti cedere clavo;

at Romana ratis stabilem praebere carinam

certior et terrae similem bellantibus usum.

Tunc in signifera residenti puppe magistro

Brutus ait: "Paterisne acies errare profundo

560artibus et certas pelagi? Iam consere bellum,

Phocaicis medias rostris oppone carinas."

Parvit obliquas et praebuit hostibus alnos.

Tunc quaecumque ratis temptavit robora Bruti,

ictu victa suo percussae capta cohaesit;

565ast alias manicaeque ligant teretesque catenae,

seque tenent remis; tecto stetit aequore bellum.

Iam non excussis torquentur tela lacertis,

nec longinqua cadunt iaculato vulnera ferro,

miscenturque manus. Navali plurima bello

570ensis agit. Stat quisque suae de robore puppis

pronus in adversos ictus, nullique perempti

in ratibus cecidere suis. Cruor altus in unda

spumat, et obducti concreto sanguine fluctus.

Et quas immissi traxerunt vincula ferri,

575has prohibent iungi conferta cadavera puppis.

Semianimes alii vastum subiere profundum

hauseruntque suo permixtum sanguine pontum.

Hi luctantem animam lenta cum morte trahentes

fractarum subita ratium periere ruina.

580Irrita tela suas peragunt in gurgite caedes,

et quodcumque cadit frustrato pondere ferrum,

exceptum mediis invenit vulnus in undis.

Phocaicis Romana ratis vallata carinis

robore diducto dextrum laevumque tuetur

585aequo Marte latus; cuius dum pugnat ab alta

puppe Catus Graiumque audax aplustre retentat,

terga simul pariter missis et pectora telis

transigitur; medio concurrit pectore ferrum,

et stetit incertus flueret quo vulnere sanguis,

590donec utrasque simul largus cruor expulit hastas

divisitque animam sparsitque in vulnera letum.

Dirigit huc puppim miseri quoque dextra Telonis,

qua nullam melius pelago turbante carinae

audivere manum, nec lux est notior ulli

595crastina, seu Phoebum videat seu cornua lunae,

semper venturis componere carbasa ventis.

Hic Latiae rostro compagem ruperat alni;

pila sed in medium venere trementia pectus,

avertitque ratem morientis dextra magistri.

600Dum cupit in sociam Gyareus erepere puppem

excipit immissum suspensa per ilia ferrum

adfixusque rati telo retinente pependit.

Stant gemini fratres, fecundae gloria matris,

quos eadem variis genuerunt viscera fatis;

605discrevit mors saeva viros, unumque relictum

agnorunt miseri sublato errore parentes,

aeternis causam lacrimis; tenet ille dolorem

semper et amissum fratrem lugentibus offert.

Quorum alter mixtis obliquo pectine remis

610ausus Romanae Graia de puppe carinae

iniectare manum; sed eam gravis insuper ictus

amputat; illa tamen nisu, quo prenderat, haesit

deriguitque tenens strictis immortua nervis.

Crevit in adversis virtus; plus nobilis irae

615truncus habet fortique instaurat proelia laeva

rapturusque suam procumbit in aequora dextram:

haec quoque cum toto manus est abscisa lacerto.

Iam clipeo telisque carens non conditus ima

puppe, sed expositus fraternaque pectore nudo

620arma tegens crebra confixus cuspide perstat

telaque multorum leto casura suorum

emerita iam morte tenet. Tum vulnere multo

effugientem animam lassos collegit in artus

membraque contendit toto, quicumque manebat,

625sanguine et hostilem defectis robore nervis

insilvit solo nociturus pondere puppem.

Strage virum cumulata ratis multoque cruore

plena per obliquum crebros latus accipit ictus

et postquam ruptis pelagus compagibus hausit,

630ad summos repleta foros descendit in undas

vicinum involvens contorto vertice pontum.

Aequora discedunt mersa diducta carina,

inque locum puppis cecidit mare. Multaque ponto

praebuit ille dies varii miracula fati.

635Ferrea dum puppi rapidos manus inserit uncos,

adfixit Lycidan. Mersus foret ille profundo,

sed prohibent socii suspensaque crura retentant.

Scinditur avulsus, nec sicut vulnere sanguis

emicuit: lentus ruptis cadit undique venis,

640discursusque animae diversa in membra meantis

interceptus aquis. Nullius vita perempti

est tanta dimissa via. Pars ultima trunci

tradidit in letum vacuos vitalibus artus;

at tumidus qua pulmo iacet, qua viscera fervent,

645haeserunt ibi fata diu luctataque multum

hac cum parte viri vix omnia membra tulerunt.

Dum nimium pugnax unius turba carinae

incumbit prono lateri vacuamque relinquit,

qua caret hoste, ratem, congesto pondere puppis

650versa cava texit pelagus nautasque carina,

bracchia nec licuit vasto iactare profundo,

sed clauso periere mari. Tunc unica diri

conspecta est leti facies, cum forte natantem

diversae rostris iuvenem fixere carinae:

655discessit medium tam vastos pectus ad ictus,

nec prohibere valent obtritis ossibus artus,

quo minus aera sonent; eliso ventre per ora

eiectat saniem permixtus viscere sanguis.

Postquam inhibent remis puppes ac rostra recedunt,

660deiectum in pelagus perfosso pectore corpus

vulneribus transmisit aquas. Pars maxima turbae

naufraga iactatis morti obluctata lacertis

puppis ad auxilium sociae concurrit; at illis

robora cum vetitis prensarent altius ulnis

665nutaretque ratis populo peritura recepto,

impia turba super medios ferit ense lacertos:

bracchia linquentes Graia pendentia puppe

a manibus cecidere suis. Non amplius undae

sustinuere graves in summo gurgite truncos.

670Iamque omni fusis nudato milite telis

invenit arma furor: remum contorsit in hostem

alter, at hic totum validis aplustre lacertis,

avulsasque rotant expulso remige sedes;

in pugnam fregere rates. Sidentia pessum

675corpora caesa tenent spoliantque cadavera ferro.

Multi inopes teli iaculum letale revulsum

vulneribus traxere suis et viscera laeva

oppressere manu, validos dum praebeat ictus

sanguis et hostilem cum torserit exeat hastam.

680Nulla tamen plures hoc edidit aequore clades,

quam pelago diversa lues. Nam pinguibus ignis

adfixus taedis et tecto sulphure vivax

spargitur; at faciles praebere alimenta carinas

nunc pice, nunc liquida rapuere incendia cera.

685Nec flammas superant undae, sparsisque per aequor

iam ratibus fragmenta ferus sibi vindicat ignis.

Hic recipit fluctus, extinguat ut aequora flammas,

hi ne mergantur, tabulis ardentibus haerent.

Mille modos inter leti mors una timorist,

690qua coepere mori. Nec cessat naufraga virtus:

tela legunt deiecta mari ratibusque ministrant

incertasque manus ictu languente per undas

exercent. Nunc, rara datur si copia ferri,

utuntur pelago. saevus complectitur hostem

695hostis, et implicitis gaudent subsidere membris

mergentesque mori. Pugna fuit unus in illa

eximius Phoceus animam servare sub undis

scrutarique fretum, si quid mersisset harenis,

et nimis adfixos unci convellere morsus,

700adductum quotiens non senserat anchora funem.

Hic ubi compressum penitus deduxerat hostem,

victor et incolumis summas remeabat in undas.

Sed se per vacuos credit dum surgere fluctus,

puppibus occurrit tandemque sub aequore mansit.

705Hi super hostiles iecerunt bracchia remos

et ratium tenuere fugam. Non perdere letum

maxima cura fuit; multus sua vulnera puppi

adfixit moriens et rostris abstulit ictus.

Stantem sublimi Tyrrhenum culmine prorae

710Lygdamus excussae Balearis tortor habenae

glande petens solido fregit cava tempora plumbo.

Sedibus expulsi, postquam cruor omnia rupit

vincula, procurrunt oculi, stat lumine rapto

attonitus mortisque illas putat esse tenebras.

715At postquam membris sensit constare vigorem,

"Uos" ait "o socii, sicut tormenta soletis,

me quoque mittendis rectum componite telis.

Egere quod superest animae, Tyrrhene, per omnis

bellorum casus. Ingentem militis usum

720hoc habet ex magna defunctum parte cadaver:

viventis feriere loco." Sic fatus in hostem

caeca tela manu, sed non tamen irrita, mittit.

Excipit haec iuvenis generosi sanguinis Argus,

qua iam non medius discedit in ilia venter,

725adiuvitque suo procumbens pondere ferrum.

Stabat diversa victae iam parte carinae

infelix Argi genitor, non ille iuventae

tempore Phocaicis ulli cessurus in armis;

victum aevo robur cecidit, fessusque senecta

730exemplum, non miles erat; qui funere viso

saepe cadens longae senior per transtra carinae

pervenit ad puppim spirantisque invenit artus.

Non lacrimae cecidere genis, non pectora tundit,

distentis toto riguit sed corpore palmis.

735Nox subit, atque oculos vastae obduxere tenebrae,

et miserum cernens adgnoscere desinit Argum.

Ille caput labens et iam languentia colla

viso patre levat; vox faucis nulla solutas

prosequitur, tacito tantum petit oscula vultu

740invitatque patris claudenda ad lumina dextram.

Ut torpore senex caruit viresque cruentus

coepit habere dolor: "Non perdam tempora" dixit

"a saevis permissa deis iugulumque senilem

confodiam. veniam misero concede parenti,

745Arge, quod amplexus, extrema quod oscula fugi.

Nondum destituit calidus tua vulnera sanguis,

semianimisque iaces et adhuc potes esse superstes."

Sic fatus, quamuis capulum per viscera missi

polluerit gladii, tamen alta sub aequora tendit

750praecipiti saltu: letum praecedere nati

festinantem animam morti non credidit uni.

Inclinant iam fata ducum, nec iam amplius anceps

belli casus erat. Graiae pars maxima classis

mergitur, ast aliae mutato remige puppes

755victores vexere suos; navalia paucae

praecipiti tenuere fuga. Quis in urbe parentum

fletus erat! quanti matrum per litora planctus!

Coniunx saepe sui confusis vultibus unda

credidit ora viri Romanum amplexa cadaver,

760accensisque rogis miseri de corpore trunco

certavere patres. At Brutus in aequore victor

primus Caesareis pelagi decus addidit armis.