Testi della poesia latinaTesti della poesia latinaĀt prŏcŭl ēxtrēmīs tērrārūm Caēsăr ĭn ōrīs
Mārtēm saēvŭs ăgīt nōn mūltā caēdĕ nŏcēntēm,
māxĭmă sēd fātī dŭcĭbūs mōmēntă dătūrūm.
Iūrĕ părī rēctōr cāstrīs Āfrānĭŭs īllīs
āc Pĕtrĕīŭs ĕrāt: cōncōrdĭă dūxĭt ĭn aēquās5
īmpĕrĭūm cōmmūnĕ vĭcēs, tūtēlăquĕ vāllī
pērvĭgĭl āltērnō pārēt cūstōdĭă sīgnō.
Hīs praētēr Lătĭās ăcĭēs ĕrăt īnpĭgĕr Āstūr
Vēttōnēsquĕ lĕvēs prŏfŭgīque ā gēntĕ vĕtūstā
Gāllōrūm Cēltaē mīscēntēs nōmĕn Hĭbērīs.10
Cōllĕ tŭmēt mŏdĭcō lēnīque ēxcrēvĭt ĭn āltūm
pīnguĕ sŏlūm tŭmŭlō; sŭpĕr hūnc fūndātă vĕtūstā
sūrgĭt Ĭlērdă mănū; plăcĭdīs praēlābĭtŭr ūndīs
Hēspĕrĭōs īntēr Sĭcŏrīs nōn ūltĭmŭs āmnīs,
sāxeūs īngēntī quēm pōns āmplēctĭtŭr ārcū15
hībērnās pāssūrŭs ăquās. āt prōxĭmă rūpēs
sīgnă tĕnēt Māgnī; nēc Caēsār cōllĕ mĭnōrĕ
cāstră lĕvāt; mĕdĭūs dĭrĭmīt tēntōrĭă gūrgēs.
Ēxplĭcăt hīnc tēllūs cāmpōs ēffūsă pătēntīs
vīx ŏcŭlō prēndēntĕ mŏdūm, cāmpōsquĕ cŏērcēt20
Cīngă răpāx vĕtĭtūs flūctūs ēt lītŏră cūrsū
Ōcĕănī pĕpŭlīssĕ sŭō; nām gūrgĭtĕ mīxtō
quī praēstāt tērrīs, aūfērt tĭbĭ nōmĕn Hĭbērūs.
Prīmă dĭēs bēllī cēssāvīt Mārtĕ crŭēntō
spēctāndāsquĕ dŭcūm vīrēs nŭmĕrōsăquĕ sīgnă25
ēxpŏsŭīt. Pĭgŭīt scĕlĕrīs; pŭdŏr ārmă fŭrēntūm
cōntĭnŭīt, pătrĭaēque ēt rūptīs lēgĭbŭs ūnūm
dōnāvērĕ dĭēm; prōnō cūm Caēsăr Ŏlŷmpō
īn nōctēm sŭbĭtā cīrcūmdĕdĭt āgmĭnă fōssā,
dūm prīmaē pērstānt ăcĭēs, hōstēmquĕ fĕfēllīt30
ēt prŏpĕ cōnsērtīs ōbdūxīt cāstră mănīplīs.
Lūcĕ nŏvā cōllēm sŭbĭtō cōnscēndĕrĕ cūrsū,
quī mĕdĭūs tūtām cāstrīs dĭrĭmēbăt Ĭlērdām,
īmpĕrăt. hūc hōstēm părĭtēr tērrōrquĕ pŭdōrquĕ
īmpŭlĭt, ēt rāptō tŭmŭlūm prĭŏr āgmĭnĕ cēpīt.35
Hīs vīrtūs fērrūmquĕ lŏcūm prōmīttĭt, ăt īllīs
īpsĕ lŏcūs. Mīlēs rūpēs ŏnĕrātŭs ĭn āltās
nītĭtŭr, ādvērsōque ăcĭēs īn mōntĕ sŭpīnă
haērĕt ĕt īn tērgūm cāsūra ūmbōnĕ sĕquēntīs
ērĭgĭtūr. Nūllī tēlūm vībrārĕ văcāvīt,40
dūm lăbăt ēt fīxō fīrmāt vēstīgĭă pīlō,
dūm scŏpŭlōs stīrpēsquĕ tĕnēnt ātque hōstĕ rĕlīctō
caēdūnt ēnsĕ vĭām. vīdīt lāpsūră rŭīnā
āgmĭnă dūx ĕquĭtēmquĕ iŭbēt sūccēdĕrĕ bēllō
mūnītūmquĕ lătūs laēvō praēdūcĕrĕ gŷrō.45
Sīc pĕdĕs ēx făcĭlī nūllōque ūrguēntĕ rĕcēptūs,
īrrĭtŭs ēt vīctōr sūbdūctō Mārtĕ pĕpēndīt.
Hāctĕnŭs ārmōrūm dīscrīmĭnă; cētĕră bēllō
fātă dĕdīt vărĭīs īncērtūs mōtĭbŭs āēr.
Pīgrō brūmă gĕlū sīccīsque ăquĭlōnĭbŭs haērēns50
aēthĕrĕ cōnstrīctō plŭvĭās īn nūbĕ tĕnēbāt.
Ūrēbānt mōntānă nĭvēs cāmpōsquĕ iăcēntēs
nōn dūrātūraē cōnspēctō sōlĕ prŭīnaē,
ātque ōmnīs prŏpĭōr mērgēntī sīdĕră caēlō
ārŭĕrāt tēllūs hībērnō dūră sĕrēnō.55
Sēd pōstquām vērnūs călĭdūm Tītānă rĕcēpīt
sīdĕră rēspĭcĭēns dēlāpsaē pōrtĭtŏr Hēllēs,
ātque ĭtĕrum aēquātīs ād iūstaē pōndĕră Lībraē
tēmpŏrĭbūs vīcērĕ dĭēs, tūnc sōlĕ rĕlīctō
Cŷnthĭă, quō prīmūm cōrnū dŭbĭtāndă rĕfūlsīt,60
ēxclūsīt bōreān flāmmāsque āccēpĭt ĭn eūrō.
Īllĕ sŭō nūbēs quāscūmque īnvēnĭt ĭn āxĕ,
tōrsĭt ĭn ōccĭdŭūm Năbătēīs flātĭbŭs ōrbēm
ēt quās sēntĭt Ărābs ēt quās Gāngētĭcă tēllūs
ēxhālāt nĕbŭlās, quīcquīd cōncrēscĕrĕ prīmūs65
sōl pătĭtūr, quīcquīd caēlī fūscātŏr ĕōī
īntŭlĕrāt cōrūs, quīcquīd dēfēndĕrăt Īndōs.
Īncēndērĕ dĭēm nūbēs ŏrĭēntĕ rĕmōtaē
nēc mĕdĭō pŏtŭērĕ grăvēs īncūmbĕrĕ mūndō,
sēd nīmbī răpŭērĕ fŭgā. văcăt īmbrĭbŭs ārctōs70
ēt nŏtŭs, īn sōlām Cālpēn flŭĭt ūmĭdŭs āēr.
Hīc ŭbĭ iām zĕphўrī fīnēs ēt sūmmŭs Ŏlŷmpī
cārdŏ tĕnēt Tēthŷn, vĕtĭtaē trānscūrrĕrĕ dēnsōs
īnvōlvērĕ glŏbōs, cōngēstūmque āĕrĭs ātrī
vīx rĕcĭpīt spătĭūm quōd sēpărăt aēthĕrĕ tērrām.75
Iāmquĕ pŏlō prēssaē lārgōs dēnsāntŭr ĭn īmbrēs
spīssātaēquĕ flŭūnt, nēc sērvānt fūlmĭnă flāmmās.
Quāmvīs crēbră mĭcēnt, ēxstīnguīt fūlgŭră nīmbūs.
Hīnc īmpērfēctō cōmplēctĭtŭr āĕră gŷrō
ārcūs vīx ūllā vărĭātūs lūcĕ cŏlōrēm80
Ōcĕănūmquĕ bĭbīt rāptōsque ād nūbĭlă flūctūs
pērtŭlĭt ēt caēlō dēfūsūm rēddĭdĭt aēquōr.
Iāmquĕ Pўrēnaēaē, quās nūmquām sōlvĕrĕ Tītān
ēvălŭīt, flūxērĕ nĭvēs, frāctōquĕ mădēscūnt
sāxă gĕlū. Tūm, quaē sŏlĭtīs ē fōntĭbŭs ēxīt,85
nōn hăbĕt ūndă vĭās: tām lārgās ālvĕŭs ōmnīs
ā rīpīs āccēpĭt ăquās. Iām naūfrăgă cāmpō
Caēsărĭs ārmă nătānt, īmpūlsăquĕ gūrgĭtĕ mūltō
cāstră lăbānt; āltō rēstāgnānt flūmĭnă vāllō.
Nōn pĕcŏrūm rāptūs făcĭlēs, nōn pābŭlă mērsī90
ūllă fĕrūnt sūlcī; tēctārum ērrōrĕ vĭārūm
fāllĭtŭr ōccūltīs spārsūs pŏpŭlātŏr ĭn āgrīs.
Iāmquĕ cŏmēs sēmpēr māgnōrūm prīmă mălōrūm
saēvă fămēs ădĕrāt, nūllōque ōbsēssŭs ăb hōstĕ
mīlĕs ĕgēt; tōtō cēnsū nōn prōdĭgŭs ēmīt95
ēxĭgŭām Cĕrĕrēm. Prō lūcrī pāllĭdă tābēs!
Nōn dēst prōlātō iēiūnūs vēndĭtŏr aūrō.
Iām tŭmŭlī cōllēsquĕ lătēnt, iām flūmĭnă cūnctă
cōndĭdĭt ūnă pălūs vāstāquĕ vŏrāgĭnĕ mērsīt:
ābsōrpsīt pĕnĭtūs rūpēs āc tēctă fĕrārūm100
dētŭlĭt ātque īpsās haūsīt sŭbĭtīsquĕ frĕmēntīs
vērtĭcĭbūs cōntōrsĭt ăquās ēt rēppŭlĭt aēstūs
fōrtĭŏr Ōcĕănī. Nēc Phoēbūm sūrgĕrĕ sēntīt
nōx sūbtēxtă pŏlō: rērūm dīscrīmĭnă mīscēt
dēfōrmīs caēlī făcĭēs iūnctaēquĕ tĕnēbraē.105
Sīc mūndī pārs īmă iăcēt, quām zōnă nĭvālīs
pērpĕtŭaēquĕ prĕmūnt hĭĕmēs: nōn sīdĕră caēlō
ūllă vĭdēt, stĕrĭlī nōn quīdquām frīgŏrĕ gīgnīt,
sēd glăcĭē mĕdĭōs sīgnōrūm tēmpĕrăt īgnēs.
Sīc, ō sūmmĕ părēns mūndī, sīc, sōrtĕ sĕcūndā110
aēquŏrĕī rēctōr, făcĭās, Nēptūnĕ, trĭdēntīs,
ēt tū pērpĕtŭīs īmpēndās āĕră nīmbīs,
tū rĕmĕārĕ vĕtēs quōscūmque ēmīsĕrĭs aēstūs.
Nōn hăbĕānt āmnēs dēclīvem ād lītŏră cūrsūm
Sēd pĕlăgī rĕfĕrāntŭr ăquīs, cōncūssăquĕ tēllūs115
lāxĕt ĭtēr flŭvĭīs: hōs cāmpōs Rhēnŭs ĭnūndēt,
hōs Rhŏdănūs, vāstōs ōblīquēnt flūmĭnă fōntīs.
Rīphaēūs hīc sōlvĕ nĭvēs, hīc stāgnă lăcūsquĕ
ēt pīgrās, ŭbĭcūmquĕ iăcēnt, ēffūndĕ pălūdēs,
ēt mĭsĕrās bēllīs cīvīlĭbŭs ērĭpĕ tērrās.120
Sēd pārvō Fōrtūnă vĭrī cōntēntă păvōrĕ
plēnă rĕdīt, sŏlĭtōquĕ măgīs fāvērĕ sĕcūndī
ēt vĕnĭām mĕrŭērĕ dĕī. Iām rārĭŏr āēr
ēt pār Phoēbŭs ăquīs dēnsās īn vēllĕră nūbēs
spārsĕrăt ēt nōctēs vēntūrā lūcĕ rŭbēbānt,125
sērvātōquĕ lŏcō rērūm dīscēssĭt ăb āstrīs
ūmŏr, ĕt īmă pĕtīt quīcquīd pēndēbăt ăquārūm.
Tōllĕrĕ sīlvă cŏmās, stāgnīs ēmērgĕrĕ cōllēs
īncĭpĭūnt vīsōquĕ dĭē dūrēscĕrĕ vāllēs.
Ūtque hăbŭīt rīpās Sĭcŏrīs cāmpōsquĕ rĕlīquīt,130
prīmūm cānă sălīx mădĕfāctō vīmĭnĕ pārvām
tēxĭtŭr īn pūppīm caēsōque īndūctă iŭvēncō
vēctōrīs pătĭēns tŭmĭdūm sŭpĕrēnătăt āmnēm.
Sīc Vĕnĕtūs stāgnāntĕ Pădō fūsōquĕ Brĭtānnūs
nāvĭgăt Ōcĕănō; sīc, cūm tĕnĕt ōmnĭă Nīlūs,135
cōnsĕrĭtūr bĭbŭlā Mēmphītīs cŷmbă păpŷrō.
Hīs rătĭbūs trāiēctă mănūs fēstīnăt ŭtrīmquĕ
sūccīsūm cūrvārĕ nĕmūs flŭvĭīquĕ fĕrōcīs
īncrēmēntă tĭmēns nōn prīmīs rōbŏră rīpīs
īmpŏsŭīt, mĕdĭōs pōntēm dīstēndĭt ĭn āgrōs.140
Āc nē quīd Sĭcŏrīs rĕpĕtītīs aūdĕăt ūndīs,
spārgĭtŭr īn sūlcōs ēt scīssō gūrgĭtĕ rīvīs
dāt poēnās māiōrĭs ăquaē. Pōstquam ōmnĭă fātīs
Caēsărĭs īrĕ vĭdēt cēlsām Pētrēiŭs Ĭlērdām
dēsĕrĭt ēt nōtī dīffīsūs vīrĭbŭs ōrbīs145
īndŏmĭtōs quaērīt pŏpŭlōs ēt sēmpĕr ĭn ārmă
mōrtĭs ămōrĕ fĕrōs ēt tēndĭt ĭn ūltĭmă mūndī.
Nūdātōs Caēsār cōllēs dēsērtăquĕ cāstră
cōnspĭcĭēns căpĕre ārmă iŭbēt nēc quaērĕrĕ pōntēm
nēc vădă, sēd dūrīs flŭvĭūm sŭpĕrārĕ lăcērtīs.150
Pārētūr, răpŭītquĕ rŭēns īn proēlĭă mīlēs,
quōd fŭgĭēns tĭmŭīssĕt ĭtēr. Mōx ūdă rĕcēptīs
mēmbră fŏvēnt ārmīs gĕlĭdōsque ā gūrgĭtĕ cūrsū
rēstĭtŭūnt ārtūs, dōnēc dēcrēscĕrĕt ūmbră
īn mĕdĭūm sūrgēntĕ dĭē; iāmque āgmĭnă sūmmă155
cārpĭt ĕquēs, dŭbĭīquĕ fŭgaē pūgnaēquĕ tĕnēntūr.
Āttōllūnt cāmpō gĕmĭnaē iŭgă sāxĕă rūpēs
vāllĕ căvaē mĕdĭā; tēllūs hīnc ārdŭă cēlsōs
cōntĭnŭāt cōllēs, tūtaē quōs īntĕr ŏpācō
ānfrāctū lătŭērĕ vĭaē; quĭbŭs hōstĕ pŏtītō160
faūcĭbŭs ēmīttī tērrārum īn dēvĭă Mārtēm
īnquĕ fĕrās gēntēs Caēsār vĭdĕt: "Ītĕ sĭne ūllō
ōrdĭne" ăīt "rāptūmquĕ fŭgā cōnvērtĭtĕ bēllūm
ēt făcĭēm pūgnaē vūltūsque īnfērtĕ mĭnācēs,
nēc lĭcĕāt păvĭdīs īgnāva ōccūmbĕrĕ mōrtĕ:165
ēxcĭpĭānt rēctō fŭgĭēntēs pēctŏrĕ fērrūm."
Dīxĭt ĕt ād mōntīs tēndēntēm praēvĕnĭt hōstēm.
Īllīc ēxĭgŭō paūlūm dīstāntĭă vāllō
cāstră lŏcānt. Pōstquām spătĭō lānguēntĭă nūllō
mūtŭă cōnspĭcŭōs hăbŭērūnt lūmĭnă vūltūs,170
hīc frātrēs nātōsquĕ sŭōs vīdērĕ pătrēsquĕ,
dēprēnsum ēst cīvīlĕ nĕfās. Tĕnŭērĕ părūmpēr
ōră mĕtū, tāntūm nūtū mōtōquĕ sălūtānt
ēnsĕ sŭōs; mōx ūt stĭmŭlīs māiōrĭbŭs ārdēns
rūpĭt ămōr lēgēs, aūdēt trānscēndĕrĕ vāllūm175
mīlĕs, ĭn āmplēxūs ēffūsās tēndĕrĕ pālmās.
Hōspĭtĭs īllĕ cĭēt nōmēn, vŏcăt īllĕ prŏpīnquūm,
ādmŏnĕt hūnc stŭdĭīs cōnsōrs pŭĕrīlĭbŭs aētās;
nēc Rōmānŭs ĕrāt quī nōn āgnōvĕrăt hōstēm.
Ārmă rĭgānt lăcrĭmīs, sīngūltĭbŭs ōscŭlă rūmpūnt,180
ēt quămŭīs nūllō măcŭlātūs sānguĭnĕ mīlēs,
quaē pŏtŭīt fēcīssĕ, tĭmēt. Quīd pēctŏră pūlsās?
Quīd, vaēsānĕ, gĕmīs? Flētūs quīd fūndĭs ĭnānēs
nēc tē spōntĕ tŭā scĕlĕrī pārērĕ fătērīs?
Ūsque ādeōnĕ tĭmēs, quēm tū făcĭs īpsĕ tĭmēndūm?185
Clāssĭcă dēt bēllō: saēvōs tū nēglĕgĕ cāntūs;
sīgnă fĕrāt: cēssā; iămĭām cīvīlĭs Ĕrīnŷs
cōncĭdĕt, ēt Caēsār gĕnĕrūm prīvātŭs ămābīt.
Nūnc ădĕs, aētērnō cōmplēctēns ōmnĭă nēxū,
ō rērūm mīxtīquĕ sălūs, Cōncōrdĭă, mūndī190
ēt săcĕr ōrbĭs ămōr; māgnūm nūnc saēcŭlă nōstră
vēntūrī dīscrīmĕn hăbēnt. Pĕrĭērĕ lătēbraē
tōt scĕlĕrūm, pŏpŭlō vĕnĭa ēst ērēptă nŏcēntī:
āgnōvērĕ sŭōs. Prō nūmĭnĕ fātă sĭnīstrō
ēxĭgŭā rĕquĭē tāntās aūgēntĭă clādēs!195
Pāx ĕrăt, ēt mīlēs cāstrīs pērmīxtŭs ŭtrīsquĕ
ērrābāt; dūrō cōncōrdēs caēspĭtĕ mēnsās
īnstĭtŭūnt ēt pērmīxtō lībāmĭnă Bācchō;
grāmĭnĕī lūxērĕ fŏcī, iūnctōquĕ cŭbīlī
ēxtrăhĭt īnsōmnīs bēllōrūm fābŭlă nōctēs200
quō prīmūm stĕtĕrīnt cāmpō, quā lāncĕă dēxtrā
ēxĭĕrīt. Dūm quaē gēssērūnt fōrtĭă iāctānt,
ēt dūm mūltă nĕgānt, quōd sōlūm fātă pĕtēbānt,
ēst mĭsĕrīs rĕnŏvātă fĭdēs, ātque ōmnĕ fŭtūrūm
crēvĭt ămōrĕ nĕfās. Nām pōstquām foēdĕră pācīs205
cōgnĭtă Pētrēiō sēque ēt sŭă trādĭtă vēnūm
cāstră vĭdēt, fămŭlās scĕlĕrāta ād proēlĭă dēxtrās
ēxcĭtăt ātque hōstīs tūrbā stīpātŭs ĭnērmīs
praēcĭpĭtāt cāstrīs iūnctōsque āmplēxĭbŭs ēnsĕ
sēpărăt ēt mūltō dīstūrbāt sānguĭnĕ pācēm.210
Āddĭdĭt īră fĕrōx mōtūrās proēlĭă vōcēs:
"Īmmĕmŏr ō pătrĭaē, sīgnōrum ōblītĕ tŭōrūm,
nōn pŏtĕs hōc caūsaē, mīlēs, praēstārĕ, sĕnātūs
āssērtōr vīctō rĕdĕās ūt Caēsărĕ: cērtē
ūt vīncārĕ pŏtēs. Dūm fērrum īncērtăquĕ fātă215
quīquĕ flŭāt mūltō nōn dērīt vūlnĕrĕ sānguīs,
ībĭtĭs ād dŏmĭnūm dāmnātăquĕ sīgnă fĕrētīs?
Ūtque hăbĕāt fămŭlōs nūllō dīscrīmĭnĕ Caēsār,
ēxōrāndŭs ĕrīt! dŭcĭbūs quŏquĕ vītă pĕtītāst!
Nūmquām nōstră sălūs prĕtĭūm mērcēsquĕ nĕfāndaē220
prōdĭtĭōnĭs ĕrīt, nōn hōc cīvīlĭă bēllă
ūt vīvāmŭs ăgūnt. Trăhĭmūr sūb nōmĭnĕ pācīs.
Nōn chălўbēm gēntēs pĕnĭtūs fŭgĭēntĕ mĕtāllō
ērŭĕrēnt, nūllī vāllārēnt ōppĭdă mūrī,
nōn sŏnĭpēs īn bēllă fĕrōx, nōn īrĕt ĭn aēquōr225
tūrrĭgĕrās clāssīs pĕlăgō spārsūră cărīnās,
sī bĕnĕ lībērtās ūmquām prō pācĕ dărētūr.
Hōstēs nēmpĕ mĕōs scĕlĕrī iūrātă nĕfāndō
sācrāmēntă tĕnēnt; āt vōbīs vīlĭŏr hōc ēst
vēstră fĭdēs, quōd prō caūsā pūgnāntĭbŭs aēquā230
ēt vĕnĭām spērārĕ lĭcēt. Prō dīră pŭdōrīs
fūnĕră! nūnc tōtō fātōrum īgnārŭs ĭn ōrbĕ,
Māgnĕ, părās ăcĭēs mūndīque ēxtrēmă tĕnēntīs
sōllĭcĭtās rēgēs, cūm fōrsān foēdĕrĕ nōstrō
iām tĭbĭ sīt prōmīssă sălūs." Sīc fātŭr ĕt ōmnīs235
cōncūssīt mēntēs scĕlĕrūmquĕ rĕdūxĭt ămōrēm.
Sīc ŭbĭ dēsuētaē sīlvīs īn cārcĕrĕ clūsō
mānsuēvērĕ fĕrae ēt vūltūs pŏsŭērĕ mĭnācēs
ātque hŏmĭnēm dĭdĭcērĕ pătī: sī tōrrĭdă pārvūs
vēnĭt ĭn ōră crŭōr, rĕdĕūnt răbĭēsquĕ fŭrōrquĕ,240
ādmŏnĭtaēquĕ tŭmēnt gūstātō sānguĭnĕ faūcēs;
fērvĕt ĕt ā trĕpĭdō vīx ābstĭnĕt īră măgīstrō.
Ītŭr ĭn ōmnĕ nĕfās, ēt quaē fōrtūnă dĕōrūm
īnvĭdĭā caēcā bēllōrūm nōctĕ tŭlīssēt,
fēcīt mōnstră fĭdēs: īntēr mēnsāsquĕ tŏrōsquĕ,245
quaē mŏdŏ cōmplēxū fōvērūnt, pēctŏră caēdūnt;
ēt quāmvīs prīmō fērrūm strīnxērĕ gĕmēntēs,
ūt dēxtraē iūstī glădĭūs dīssuāsŏr ădhaēsīt,
dūm fĕrĭūnt, ōdērĕ sŭōs ănĭmōsquĕ lăbāntīs
cōnfīrmānt īctū. Fērvēnt iām cāstră tŭmūltū250
ēt scĕlĕrūm tūrbā, răpĭūntūr cōllă părēntūm,
āc vĕlŭt ōccūltūm pĕrĕāt scĕlŭs, ōmnĭă mōnstră
īn făcĭēm pŏsŭērĕ dŭcūm; iŭvăt ēssĕ nŏcēntīs.
Tū Caēsār, quămŭīs spŏlĭātūs mīlĭtĕ mūltō,
āgnōscīs sŭpĕrōs; nĕque ĕnīm tĭbĭ māiŏr ĭn ārvīs255
Ēmăthĭīs fōrtūnă fŭīt nēc Phōcĭdŏs ūndīs
Māssĭlĭaē, Phărĭō nēc tāntum ēst aēquŏrĕ gēstūm,
hōc sĭquĭdēm sōlō cīvīlīs crīmĭnĕ bēllī
dūx caūsaē mĕlĭōrĭs ĕrīs. Pōllūtă nĕfāndā
āgmĭnă caēdĕ dŭcēs iūnctīs cōmmīttĕrĕ cāstrīs260
nōn aūdēnt āltaēque ād moēnĭă rūrsŭs Ĭlērdaē
īntēndērĕ fŭgām. Cāmpōs ĕquĕs ōbvĭŭs ōmnīs
ābstŭlĭt ēt sīccīs īnclūsīt cōllĭbŭs hōstēm.
Tūnc ĭnŏpēs ūndaē praērūptā cīngĕrĕ fōssā
Caēsăr ăvēt nēc cāstră pătī cōntīngĕrĕ rīpās265
aūt cīrcūm lārgōs cūrvārī brācchĭă fōntēs.
Ūt lētī vīdērĕ vĭām, cōnvērsŭs ĭn īrām
praēcĭpĭtēm tĭmŏr ēst. Mīlēs nōn ūtĭlĕ claūsīs
aūxĭlĭūm māctāvĭt ĕquōs tāndēmquĕ cŏāctūs
spē pŏsĭtā dāmnārĕ fŭgām cāsūrŭs ĭn hōstēs270
fērtŭr. ŭt ēffūsō Caēsār dēcūrrĕrĕ pāssū
vīdĭt ĕt ād cērtām dēvōtōs tēndĕrĕ mōrtēm,
"Tēlă tĕnē iām, mīlĕs" ăīt "fērrūmquĕ rŭēntī
sūbtrăhĕ: nōn ūllō cōnstēt mĭhĭ sānguĭnĕ bēllūm.
Vīncĭtŭr haūd grātīs, iŭgŭlō quī prōvŏcăt hōstēm.275
Ēn sĭbĭ vīlĭs ădēst īnvīsā lūcĕ iŭvēntūs
iām dāmnō pĕrĭtūră mĕō; nōn sēntĭĕt īctūs,
īncūmbēt glădĭīs, gaūdēbīt sānguĭnĕ fūsō.
Dēsĕrăt hīc fērvōr mēntēs, cădăt īmpĕtŭs āmēns,
pērdānt vēllĕ mŏrī." Sīc dēflāgrārĕ mĭnācēs280
īncāssum ēt vĕtĭtō pāssūs lānguēscĕrĕ bēllō,
sūbstĭtŭīt mērsō dūm nōx sŭă lūmĭnă Phoēbō.
Īnde ŭbĭ nūllă dăta ēst mīscēndaē cōpĭă mōrtīs,
paūlātīm fŭgĭt īră fĕrōx, mēntēsquĕ tĕpēscūnt;
saūcĭă māiōrēs ănĭmōs ūt pēctŏră gēstānt,285
dūm dŏlŏr ēst īctūsquĕ rĕcēns ēt mōbĭlĕ nērvīs
cōnāmēn călĭdūs praēbēt crŭŏr ōssăquĕ nōndūm
āddūxērĕ cŭtīm; sī cōnscĭŭs ēnsĭs ădāctī
stāt vīctōr tĕnŭītquĕ mănūs, tūm frīgĭdŭs ārtūs
āllĭgăt ātque ănĭmūm sūbdūctō rōbŏrĕ tōrpōr,290
pōstquām sīccă rĭgēns āstrīnxīt vūlnĕră sānguīs.
Iāmque ĭnŏpēs ūndaē prīmūm tēllūrĕ rĕfōssā
ōccūltōs lătĭcēs ābstrūsăquĕ flūmĭnă quaērūnt;
nēc sōlūm rāstrīs dūrīsquĕ lĭgōnĭbŭs ārvă,
sēd glădĭīs fōdērĕ sŭīs, pŭtĕūsquĕ căvātī295
mōntĭs ăd īrrĭgŭī prĕmĭtūr fāstīgĭă cāmpī.
Nōn sē tām pĕnĭtūs, tām lōngē lūcĕ rĕlīctā
mērsĕrĭt Āstŭrĭī scrūtātōr pāllĭdŭs aūrī.
Nōn tămĕn aūt tēctīs sōnvērūnt cūrsĭbŭs āmnēs,
aūt mĭcŭērĕ nŏvī pērcūssō pūmĭcĕ fōntēs,300
āntră nĕque ēxĭgŭō stīllānt sūdāntĭă rōrĕ,
aūt īmpūlsă lĕvī tūrbātūr glārĕă vēnā.
Tūnc ēxhaūstă sŭpēr mūltō sūdōrĕ iŭvēntūs
ēxtrăhĭtūr dūrīs sĭlĭcūm lāssātă mĕtāllīs;
quōquĕ mĭnūs pōssēnt sīccōs tŏlĕrārĕ văpōrēs,305
quaēsītaē fēcīstĭs ăquaē. Nēc lānguĭdă fēssī
cōrpŏră sūstēntānt ĕpŭlīs mēnsāsquĕ pĕrōsī
aūxĭlĭūm fēcērĕ fămēm. Sī mōllĭŭs ārvūm
prōdĭdĭt ūmōrēm, pīnguīs mănŭs ūtrăquĕ glaēbās
ēxprĭmĭt ōră sŭpēr; nīgrō sī tūrbĭdă līmō310
cōllŭvĭēs īmmōtă iăcēt, cădĭt ōmnĭs ĭn haūstūs
cērtătĭm ōbscaēnōs mīlēs mŏrĭēnsquĕ rĕcēpīt,
quās nōllēt vīctūrŭs, ăquās; rītūquĕ fĕrārūm
dīstēntās sīccānt pĕcŭdēs, ēt lāctĕ nĕgātō
sōrdĭdŭs ēxhaūstō sōrbētŭr ăb ūbĕrĕ sānguīs.315
Tūnc hērbās frōndēsquĕ tĕrūnt ēt rōrĕ mădēntīs
dēstrīngūnt rāmōs ēt sī quōs pālmĭtĕ crūdō
ārbŏrĭs aūt tĕnĕrā sūcōs prēssērĕ mĕdūllā.
Ō fōrtūnātī, fŭgĭēns quōs bārbărŭs hōstīs
fōntĭbŭs īmmīxtō strāvīt pēr rūră vĕnēnō.320
Hōs lĭcĕt īn flŭvĭōs sănĭēm tābēmquĕ fĕrārūm,
pāllĭdă Dīctaēīs, Caēsār, nāscēntĭă sāxīs
īnfūndās ăcŏnītă pălām, Rōmānă iŭvēntūs
nōn dēcēptă bĭbēt. Tōrrēntūr vīscĕră flāmmā,
ōrăquĕ sīccă rĭgēnt squāmōsīs āspĕră līnguīs;325
iām mārcēnt vēnaē, nūllōque ūmōrĕ rĭgātūs
āĕrīs āltērnōs āngūstāt pūlmŏ mĕātūs,
rēscīssōquĕ nŏcēnt sūspīrĭă dūră pălātō;
pāndūnt ōră tămēn nōctūrnūmque āĕră cāptānt.
Ēxspēctānt īmbrēs, quōrūm mŏdŏ cūnctă nătābānt330
īmpūlsu, ēt sīccīs vūltūs īn nūbĭbŭs haērēnt.
Quōquĕ măgīs mĭsĕrōs ūndaē iēiūnĭă sōlvānt,
nōn sŭpĕr ārēntēm Mēroēn Cāncrīquĕ sŭb āxĕ,
quā nūdī Gărămāntĕs ărānt, sēdērĕ, sĕd īntēr
stāgnāntēm Sĭcŏrim ēt răpĭdūm dēprēnsŭs Hĭbērūm335
spēctāt vīcīnōs sĭtĭēns ēxērcĭtŭs āmnēs.
Iām dŏmĭtī cēssērĕ dŭcēs, pācīsquĕ pĕtēndaē
aūctōr dāmnātīs sūpplēx Āfrānĭŭs ārmīs
sēmiănĭmēs īn cāstră trăhēns hōstīlĭă tūrmās
vīctōrīs stĕtĭt āntĕ pĕdēs. Sērvātă prĕcāntī340
maiestas, non fracta malis, interque priorem
fōrtūnām cāsūsquĕ nŏvōs gĕrĭt ōmnĭă vīctī,
sēd dŭcĭs, ēt vĕnĭām sēcūrō pēctŏrĕ pōscīt:
"Sī mē dēgĕnĕrī strāvīssēnt fātă sŭb hōstĕ,
nōn dērāt fōrtīs răpĭēndō dēxtĕră lētō.345
Āt nūnc caūsă mĭhi ēst ōrāndaē sōlă sălūtīs,
dīgnūm dōnāndā, Caēsār, tē crēdĕrĕ vītā.
Nōn pārtīs stŭdĭīs ăgĭmūr, nēc sūmpsĭmŭs ārmă
cōnsĭlĭīs ĭnĭmīcă tŭīs. nōs dēnĭquĕ bēllūm
īnvēnīt cīvīlĕ dŭcēs, caūsaēquĕ prĭōrī,350
dūm pŏtŭīt, sērvātă fĭdēs. Nīl fātă mŏrāmūr:
trādĭmŭs Hēspĕrĭās gēntēs, ăpĕrīmŭs ĕōās
sēcūrūmque ōrbīs pătĭmūr pōst tērgă rĕlīctī.
Nēc crŭŏr ēffūsūs cāmpīs tĭbĭ bēllă pĕrēgīt
nēc fērrūm lāssaēquĕ mănūs. Hōc hōstĭbŭs ūnūm,355
quōd vīncās, īgnōscĕ tŭīs. Nēc māgnă pĕtūntūr:
ōtĭă dēs fēssīs, vītām pătĭārĭs ĭnērmēs
dēgĕrĕ quām trĭbŭīs. Cāmpīs prōstrātă iăcērĕ
āgmĭnă nōstră pŭtēs; nĕc ĕnīm fēlīcĭbŭs ārmīs
mīscērī dāmnātă dĕcēt pārtēmquĕ trĭūmphī360
cāptōs fērrĕ tŭī; tūrba haēc sŭă fātă pĕrēgīt.
Hōc pĕtĭmūs, vīctōs nē tēcūm vīncĕrĕ cōgās."
Dīxĕrăt; āt Caēsār făcĭlīs vūltūquĕ sĕrēnūs
flēctĭtŭr ātque ūsūs bēllī poēnāmquĕ rĕmīttīt.
Ūt prīmūm iūstaē plăcŭērūnt foēdĕră pācīs,365
īncūstōdītōs dēcūrrīt mīlĕs ăd āmnēs,
īncūmbīt rīpīs pērmīssăquĕ flūmĭnă tūrbāt.
Cōntĭnŭūs mūltīs sŭbĭtārūm trāctŭs ăquārūm
āĕrā nōn pāssūs văcŭīs dīscūrrĕrĕ vēnīs
ārtāvīt clūsītque ănĭmām; nēc fērvĭdă pēstīs370
cēdĭt ădhūc, sēd mōrbŭs ĕgēns iām gūrgĭtĕ plēnīs
vīscĕrĭbūs sĭbĭ pōscĭt ăquās. Mōx rōbŏră nērvīs
ēt vīrēs rĕdĭērĕ vĭrīs. Ō prōdĭgă rērūm
lūxŭrĭēs nūmquām pārvō cōntēntă părātīs
ēt quaēsītōrūm tērrā pĕlăgōquĕ cĭbōrūm375
āmbĭtĭōsă fămēs ēt laūtaē glōrĭă mēnsaē,
dīscĭtĕ quām pārvō lĭcĕāt prōdūcĕrĕ vītām
ēt quāntūm nātūră pĕtāt. Nōn ērĭgĭt aēgrōs
nōbĭlĭs īgnōtō dīffūsūs cōnsŭlĕ Bācchūs,
nōn aūrō mūrrāquĕ bĭbūnt, sēd gūrgĭtĕ pūrō380
vītă rĕdīt; sătĭs ēst pŏpŭlīs flŭvĭūsquĕ Cĕrēsquĕ.
Heū mĭsĕrī quī bēllă gĕrūnt! Tūnc ārmă rĕlīnquēns
vīctōrī mīlēs spŏlĭātō pēctŏrĕ tūtūs
īnnŏcŭūsquĕ sŭās cūrārūm lībĕr ĭn ūrbēs
spārgĭtŭr. Ō quāntūm dōnātā pācĕ pŏtītōs385
ēxcūssīs ūmquām fērrūm vībrāssĕ lăcērtīs
paēnĭtŭīt, tŏlĕrāssĕ sĭtīm frūstrāquĕ rŏgāssĕ
prōspĕră bēllă dĕōs. Nēmpe ūsīs Mārtĕ sĕcūndō
tōt dŭbĭaē rēstānt ăcĭēs, tŏt ĭn ōrbĕ lăbōrēs;
ūt nūmquām fōrtūnă lăbēt sūccēssĭbŭs āncēps,390
vīncēndūm tŏtĭēns; tērrās fūndēndŭs ĭn ōmnīs
ēst crŭŏr ēt Caēsār pēr tōt sŭă fātă sĕquēndūs.
Fēlīx quī pŏtŭīt mūndī nūtāntĕ rŭīnā,
quō iăcĕāt iām scīrĕ lŏcō. Nōn proēlĭă fēssōs
ūllă vŏcānt, cērtōs nōn rūmpūnt clāssĭcă sōmnōs.395
Iām cōniūnx nātīquĕ rŭdēs ēt sōrdĭdă tēctă
ēt nōn dēdūctōs rĕcĭpīt sŭă tērră cŏlōnōs.
Hōc quŏquĕ sēcūrīs ŏnĕrīs fōrtūnă rĕmīsīt,
sōllĭcĭtūs mēntī quŏd ăbēst făvŏr: īllĕ sălūtīs
ēst aūctōr, dūx īllĕ fŭīt. Sīc proēlĭă sōlī400
fēlīcēs nūllō spēctānt cīvīlĭă vōtō.
Nōn ĕădēm bēllī tōtūm fōrtūnă pĕr ōrbēm
cōnstĭtĭt, īn pārtēs ălĭquīd sēd Caēsărĭs aūsāst.
Quā mărĭs Ādrĭăcī lōngās fĕrĭt ūndă Sălōnās
ēt tĕpĭdum īn mōllēs zĕphўrōs ēxcūrrĭt Ĭādēr405
īllīc bēllācī cōnfīsūs gēntĕ Cŭrīctūm,
quōs ălĭt Ādrĭăcō tēllūs cīrcūmflŭă pōntō,
claūdĭtŭr ēxtrēmā rĕsĭdēns Āntōnĭŭs ōrā
caūtŭs ăb īncūrsū bēllī, sī sōlă rĕcēdāt,
ēxpūgnāt quaē tūtă, fămēs. nōn pābŭlă tēllūs410
pāscēndīs sūmmīttĭt ĕquīs, nōn prōsĕrĭt ūllām
flāvă Cĕrēs sĕgĕtēm; spŏlĭābāt grāmĭnĕ cāmpūm
mīlĕs ĕt āttōnsō mĭsĕrīs iām dēntĭbŭs ārvō
cāstrōrūm sīccās dē caēspĭtĕ vūlsĕrăt hērbās.
Vt prīmum ādvērsaē sŏcĭōs īn lītŏrĕ tērraē415
ēt Băsĭlūm vīdērĕ dŭcēm, nŏvă fūrtă pĕr aēquōr
ēxquīsītă fŭgaē. Nĕque ĕnīm dē mōrĕ cărīnās
ēxtēndūnt pūppēsquĕ lĕvānt, sēd fīrmă gĕrēndīs
mōlĭbŭs īnsŏlĭtō cōntēxūnt rōbŏră dūctū;
nāmquĕ rătēm văcŭaē sūstēntānt ūndĭquĕ cūpaē,420
quārūm pōrrēctīs sĕrĭēs cōnstrīctă cătēnīs
ōrdĭnĭbūs gĕmĭnīs ōblīquās ēxcĭpĭt ālnōs;
nēc gĕrĭt ēxpŏsĭtūm tēlīs īn frōntĕ pătēntī
rēmĭgĭūm, sēd, quōd trăbĭbūs cīrcūmdĕdĭt aēquōr,
hōc fĕrĭt ēt tăcĭtī praēbēt mīrācŭlă cūrsūs,425
quōd nēc vēlă fĕrāt nĕc ăpērtās vērbĕrĕt ūndās.
Tūnc frĕtă sērvāntūr, dūm sē dēclīvĭbŭs ūndīs
aēstŭs ăgāt rĕflŭōquĕ mărī nūdēntŭr hărēnaē.
Iāmquĕ rĕlābēntī crēscēbānt lītŏră pōntō:
mīssă rătīs prōnō dēfērtūr lāpsă prŏfūndō430
ēt gĕmĭnaē cŏmĭtēs. Cūnctās sŭpĕr ārdŭă tūrrīs
ēmĭnĕt ēt trĕmŭlīs tăbŭlātă mĭnāntĭă pīnnīs.
Nōlvīt Īllўrĭcaē cūstōs Ōctāvĭŭs ūndaē
cōnfēstīm tēmptārĕ rătēm cĕlĕrēsquĕ cărīnās
cōntĭnŭīt, cūrsū crēscāt dūm praēdă sĕcūndō,435
ēt tĕmĕre īngrēssōs rĕpĕtēndum īnvītăt ăd aēquōr
pācĕ mărīs. Sīc dūm păvĭdōs fōrmīdĭnĕ cērvōs
claūdăt ŏdōrātaē mĕtŭēntīs āĕră pīnnaē,
aūt dūm dīspŏsĭtīs āttōllāt rētĭă vārīs,
vēnātōr tĕnĕt ōră lĕvīs clāmōsă Mŏlōssī,440
Spārtānōs Crētāsquĕ lĭgāt, nēc crēdĭtŭr ūllī
sīlvă cănī, nĭsĭ quī prēssō vēstīgĭă rōstrō
cōllĭgĭt ēt praēdā nēscīt lātrārĕ rĕpērtā
cōntēntūs trĕmŭlō mōnstrāssĕ cŭbīlĭă lōrō.
Nēc mŏră, cōmplēntūr mōlēs, ăvĭdēquĕ pĕtītīs445
īnsŭlă dēsĕrĭtūr rătĭbūs, quō tēmpŏrĕ prīmās
īmpĕdĭt ād nōctēm iām lūx ēxtrēmă tĕnēbrās.
Āt Pōmpēiānūs fraūdēs īnnēctĕrĕ pōntō
āntīquā părăt ārtĕ Cĭlīx pāssūsquĕ văcārĕ
sūmmă frĕtī, mĕdĭō sūspēndīt vīncŭlă pōntō450
ēt lāxē flŭĭtārĕ sĭnīt rĕlĭgātquĕ cătēnās
rūpĭs ăb Īllўrĭcaē scŏpŭlīs. Nēc prīmă nĕc īllă
quaē sĕquĭtūr tārdātă rătīs, sēd tērtĭă mōlēs
haēsĭt ĕt ād caūtēs āddūctō fūnĕ sĕcūtāst.
Īmpēndēnt căvă sāxă mărī, rŭĭtūrăquĕ sēmpēr455
stāt (mīrūm!) mōlēs ēt sīlvīs aēquŏr ĭnūmbrāt.
Hūc frāctās ăquĭlōnĕ rătēs sūmmērsăquĕ pōntūs
cōrpŏră saēpĕ tŭlīt caēcīsque ābscōndĭt ĭn āntrīs;
rēstĭtŭīt rāptūs tēctūm mărĕ, cūmquĕ căvērnaē
ēvŏmŭērĕ frĕtūm, cōntōrtī vērtĭcĭs ūndaē460
Taūrŏmĕnītānām vīncūnt fērvōrĕ Chărŷbdīm.
Hīc Ŏpĭtērgīnīs mōlēs ŏnĕrātă cŏlōnīs
cōnstĭtĭt, hānc ōmnī pūppēs stătĭōnĕ sŏlūtaē
cīrcŭmĕūnt, ălĭī rūpēs āc lītŏră cōmplēnt.
Vūltĕĭūs tăcĭtās sēntīt sūb gūrgĭtĕ fraūdēs.465
Dūx ĕrăt īllĕ rătīs; frūstrā quī vīncŭlă fērrō
rūmpĕrĕ cōnātūs pōscīt spē proēlĭă nūllā
īncērtūs quā tērgă dărēt, quā pēctŏră bēllō.
Hōc tămĕn īn cāsū, quāntūm dēprēnsă vălēbāt,
ēffēcīt vīrtūs: īntēr tōt mīlĭă cāptaē470
cīrcūmfūsă răti ēt plēnām vīx īndĕ cŏhōrtēm
pūgnă fŭīt, nōn lōngă quĭdēm; nām cōndĭdĭt ūmbrā
nōx lūcēm dŭbĭām, pācēmque hăbŭērĕ tĕnēbraē.
Tūnc sīc āttŏnĭtām vēntūrăquĕ fātă păvēntēm
rēxīt māgnănĭmā Vūltēiūs vōcĕ cŏhōrtēm:475
"Lībĕră nōn ūltrā pārvā quām nōctĕ iŭvēntūs,
cōnsŭlĭte ēxtrēmīs āngūsto īn tēmpŏrĕ rēbūs.
Vītă brĕvīs nūllī sŭpĕrēst quī tēmpŭs ĭn īllā
quaērēndaē sĭbĭ mōrtĭs hăbēt, nēc glōrĭă lētī
īnfĕrĭōr, iŭvĕnēs, ādmōto ōccūrrĕrĕ fātō.480
Ōmnĭbŭs īncērtō vēntūraē tēmpŏrĕ vītaē
pār ănĭmī laūs ēst ēt quōs spērāvĕrĭs ānnōs
pērdĕre ĕt ēxtrēmaē mōmēntum ābrūmpĕrĕ lūcīs,
ārcēssās dūm fātă mănū; nōn cōgĭtŭr ūllūs
vēllĕ mŏrī. Fŭgă nūllă pătēt, stānt ūndĭquĕ nōstrīs485
īntēntī cīvēs iŭgŭlīs: dēcērnĭtĕ lētūm,
ēt mĕtŭs ōmnĭs ăbēst; cŭpĭās quōdcūmquĕ nĕcēssēst.
Nōn tămĕn īn caēcā bēllōrūm nūbĕ cădēndūmst,
aūt cūm pērmīxtās ăcĭēs sŭă tēlă tĕnēbrīs
īnvōlvēnt cōnfērtă iăcēnt cūm cōrpŏră cāmpō,490
īn mĕdĭūm mōrs ōmnĭs ăbīt, pĕrĭt ōbrŭtă vīrtūs.
Nōs īn cōnspĭcŭā sŏcĭīs hōstīquĕ cărīnā
cōnstĭtŭērĕ dĕī. Praēbēbūnt aēquŏră tēstēs,
praēbēbūnt tērraē, sūmmīs dăbĭt īnsŭlă sāxīs,
spēctābūnt gĕmĭnaē dīvērsō lītŏrĕ pārtēs.495
Nēscĭŏ quōd nōstrīs māgnum ēt mĕmŏrābĭlĕ fātīs
ēxēmplūm, Fōrtūnă, părās. Quaēcūmquĕ pĕr aēvūm
ēxhĭbŭīt mŏnŭmēntă fĭdēs sērvātăquĕ fērrō
mīlĭtĭaē pĭĕtās, trānsīssēt nōstră iŭvēntūs;
nāmquĕ sŭīs prō tē glădĭīs īncūmbĕrĕ, Caēsār,500
ēssĕ părūm scīmūs; sēd nōn māiōră sŭpērsūnt
ōbsēssīs, tāntī quaē pīgnŏră dēmŭs ămōrīs.
Ābscīdīt nōstraē mūltūm fōrs īnvĭdă laūdī,
quōd nōn cūm sĕnĭbūs cāptī nātīsquĕ tĕnēmūr.
Īndŏmĭtōs scĭăt ēssĕ vĭrōs tĭmĕātquĕ fŭrēntīs505
ēt mōrtī făcĭlēs ănĭmōs ēt gaūdĕăt hōstīs
nōn plūrēs haēsīssĕ rătēs. tēmptārĕ părābūnt
foēdĕrĭbūs tūrpīquĕ vŏlēnt cōrrūmpĕrĕ vītā.
Ō | ŭtĭnām, quō plūs hăbĕāt mōrs ūnĭcă fāmaē,
prōmīttānt vĕnĭām, iŭbĕānt spērārĕ sălūtēm,510
nē nōs, cūm călĭdō fŏdĭēmūs vīscĕră fērrō,
dēspērāssĕ pŭtēnt. māgnā vīrtūtĕ mĕrēndūmst,
Caēsăr ŭt āmīssīs īntēr tōt mīlĭă paūcīs
hōc dāmnūm clādēmquĕ vŏcēt. Dēnt fātă rĕcēssūm
ēmīttāntquĕ lĭcēt, vītāre īnstāntĭă nōlīm.515
Prōiēcī vītām, cŏmĭtēs, tōtūsquĕ fŭtūraē
mōrtĭs ăgōr stĭmŭlīs; fŭrŏr ēst. Āgnōscĕrĕ sōlīs
pērmīssūm quōs iām tāngīt vīcīnĭă fātī,
vīctūrōsquĕ dĕī cēlānt, ūt vīvĕrĕ dūrēnt,
fēlīx ēssĕ mŏrī." sīc cūnctās sūstŭlĭt ārdōr520
nōbĭlĭūm mēntēs iŭvĕnūm: cūm sīdĕră caēlī
āntĕ dŭcīs vōcēs ŏcŭlīs ūmēntĭbŭs ōmnēs
āspĭcĕrēnt flēxōque Ūrsaē tēmōnĕ păvērēnt,
īdēm, cūm fōrtēs ănĭmōs praēcēptă sŭbīssēnt,
ōptāvērĕ dĭēm. Nēc sēgnīs vērgĕrĕ pōntō525
tūnc ĕrăt āstră pŏlūs; nām sōl Lēdaēă tĕnēbāt
sīdĕră, vīcīnō cūm lūx āltīssĭmă Cāncrōst;
nōx tūm Thēssălĭcās ūrgēbāt pārvă săgīttās.
Dētĕgĭt ōrtă dĭēs stāntīs īn rūpĭbŭs Hīstrōs
pūgnācēsquĕ mărī Grăĭā cūm clāssĕ Lĭbūrnōs.530
Tēmptāvērĕ prĭūs sūspēnsō vīncĕrĕ bēllō
foēdĕrĭbūs, fĭĕrēt cāptīs sī dūlcĭŏr īpsā
mōrtīs vītă mŏrā. Stābāt dēvōtă iŭvēntūs
dāmnātā iām lūcĕ fĕrōx sēcūrăquĕ pūgnaē
prōmīssō sĭbĭ fīnĕ mănū, nūllīquĕ tŭmūltūs535
ēxcūssērĕ vĭrīs mēntēs ād sūmmă părātās,
īnnŭmĕrāsquĕ sĭmūl paūcī tērrāquĕ mărīquĕ
sūstĭnŭērĕ mănūs; tānta ēst fīdūcĭă mōrtīs.
Ūtquĕ sătīs bēllō vīsum ēst flūxīssĕ crŭōrīs,
vērsŭs ăb hōstĕ fŭrōr. Prīmūs dūx īpsĕ cărīnaē540
Vūltēiūs iŭgŭlō pōscēns iām fātă rĕtēctō
"Ēcquĭs" ăīt "iŭvĕnum ēst, cūiūs sīt dēxtră crŭōrĕ
dīgnă mĕō cērtāquĕ fĭdē pēr vūlnĕră nōstră
tēstētūr sē vēllĕ mŏrī?" Nēc plūră lŏcūtō
vīscĕră nōn ūnūs iāmdūdūm trānsĭgĭt ēnsīs.545
Cōllaūdāt cūnctōs, sēd eūm cuī vūlnĕră prīmă
dēbēbāt grātō mŏrĭēns īntērfĭcĭt īctū.
Cōncūrrūnt ălĭī tōtūmque īn pārtĭbŭs ūnīs
bēllōrūm fēcērĕ nĕfās. Sīc sēmĭnĕ Cādmī
ēmĭcŭīt Dīrcaēă cŏhōrs cĕcĭdītquĕ sŭōrūm550
vūlnĕrĭbūs dīrūm Thēbānīs frātrĭbŭs ōmēn;
Phāsĭdŏs ēt cāmpīs īnsōmnī dēntĕ crĕātī
tērrĭgĕnaē mīssā măgĭcīs ē cāntĭbŭs īrā
cōgnātō tāntōs īmplērūnt sānguĭnĕ sūlcōs,
īpsăque ĭnēxpērtīs quōd prīmūm fēcĕrăt hērbīs,555
ēxpāvīt Mēdēă nĕfās. Sīc mūtŭă pāctī
fātă cădūnt iŭvĕnēs, mĭnĭmūmque īn mōrtĕ vĭrōrūm
mōrs vīrtūtĭs hăbēt; părĭtēr stērnūntquĕ cădūntquĕ
vūlnĕrĕ lētālī; nēc quēmquām dēxtră fĕfēllīt,
cūm fĕrĭāt mŏrĭēntĕ mănū. Nēc vūlnŭs ădāctīs560
dēbētūr glădĭīs: pērcūssum ēst pēctŏrĕ fērrūm,
ēt iŭgŭlī prēssērĕ mănūm. Cūm sōrtĕ crŭēntā
frātrĭbŭs īncūrrānt frātrēs nātūsquĕ părēntī,
haūt trĕpĭdāntĕ tămēn tōtō cūm pōndĕrĕ dēxtrā
ēxēgēre ēnsēs. Pĭĕtās fĕrĭēntĭbŭs ūnă565
nōn rĕpĕtīssĕ fŭīt. Iām lātīs vīscĕră lāpsă
sēmiănĭmēs trāxērĕ fŏrīs mūltūmquĕ crŭōrēm
īnfūdērĕ mărī. dēspēctām cērnĕrĕ lūcēm
vīctōrēsquĕ sŭōs vūltū spēctārĕ sŭpērbō
ēt mōrtēm sēntīrĕ iŭvāt. Iām strāgĕ crŭēntā570
cōnspĭcĭtūr cŭmŭlātă rătīs būstīsquĕ rĕmīttūnt
cōrpŏră vīctōrēs dŭcĭbūs mīrāntĭbŭs, ūllī
ēssĕ dŭcēm tāntī. nūllām māiōrĕ lŏcūtāst
ōrĕ rătēm tōtūm dīscūrrēns Fāmă pĕr ōrbēm.
Nōn tămĕn īgnāvaē pōst haēc ēxēmplă vĭrōrūm575
pērcĭpĭēnt gēntēs quām sīt nōn ārdŭă vīrtūs
sērvĭtĭūm fūgīssĕ mănū. Sēd rēgnă tĭmēntūr
ōb fērrum, ēt saēvīs lībērtās sūbdĭtŭr ārmīs,
īgnōrāntquĕ dătōs, nē quīsquām sērvĭăt, ēnsēs.
Mōrs, ŭtĭnām păvĭdōs vītaē sūbdūcĕrĕ nōllēs580
sēd vīrtūs tē sōlă dărēt! Nōn sēgnĭŏr īllō
Mārtĕ fŭīt quī tūm Lĭbўcīs ēxārsĭt ĭn ārvīs.
Nāmquĕ rătēs aūdāx Lĭlўbaēō lītŏrĕ sōlvīt
Cūrĭŏ nēc fōrtī vēlīs ăquĭlōnĕ rĕcēptō
īntēr sēmĭrŭtās māgnaē Cārthāgĭnĭs ārcēs585
ēt Clŭpĕām tĕnŭīt stătĭōnīs lītŏră nōtaē
prīmăquĕ cāstră lŏcāt cānō prŏcŭl aēquŏrĕ, quā sē
Bāgrădă lēntŭs ăgīt sīccaē sūlcātŏr hărēnaē.
Īndĕ pĕtīt tŭmŭlōs ēxēsāsque ūndĭquĕ rūpēs,
Āntaēī quās rēgnă vŏcāt nōn vānă vĕtūstās.590
Nōmĭnĭs āntīquī cŭpĭēntēm nōscĕrĕ caūsās
cōgnĭtă pēr mūltōs dŏcŭīt rŭdĭs īncŏlă pātrēs:
"Nōndūm pōst gĕnĭtōs tēllūs ēffētă gĭgāntās
tērrĭbĭlēm Lĭbўcīs pārtūm cōncēpĭt ĭn āntrīs;
nēc tām iūstă fŭīt tērrārūm glōrĭă Tŷphōn595
aūt Tĭtўōs Brĭăreūsquĕ fĕrōx, caēlōquĕ pĕpērcīt
quōd nōn Phlēgraēīs Āntaēūm sūstŭlĭt ārvīs.
Hōc quŏquĕ tām vāstās cŭmŭlāvīt mūnĕrĕ vīrēs
tērră sŭī fētūs, quōd, cūm tĕtĭgērĕ părēntēm,
iām dēfēctă vĭgēnt rĕnŏvātō rōbŏrĕ mēmbră.600
Haēc īllī spēlūncă dŏmūs; lătŭīssĕ sŭb āltā
rūpĕ fĕrūnt, ĕpŭlās rāptōs hăbŭīssĕ lĕōnēs;
ād sōmnōs nōn tērgă fĕraē praēbērĕ cŭbīlĕ
ādsŭĕrūnt, nōn sīlvă tŏrūm, vīrēsquĕ rĕsūmīt
īn nūdā tēllūrĕ iăcēns. Pĕrĭērĕ cŏlōnī605
ārvōrūm Lĭbўaē, pĕrĕūnt quōs āppŭlĭt aēquōr;
aūxĭlĭōquĕ dĭū vīrtūs nōn ūsă cădēndī
tērraē spērnĭt ŏpēs: īnvīctūs rōbŏrĕ cūnctīs,
quāmvīs stārĕt, ĕrāt. Tāndēm vūlgātă crŭēntī
fāmă mălī tērrās mōnstrīs aēquōrquĕ lĕvāntēm610
māgnănĭmum Ālcīdēn Lĭbўcās ēxcīvĭt ĭn ōrās.
Īllĕ Clĕōnaēī prōiēcīt tērgă lĕōnīs,
Āntaēūs Lĭbўcī; pērfūndīt mēmbră lĭquōrĕ
hōspĕs Ŏlŷmpĭăcaē sērvātō mōrĕ pălaēstraē,
īllĕ părūm fīdēns pĕdĭbūs cōntīngĕrĕ mātrēm615
aūxĭlĭūm mēmbrīs călĭdās īnfūdĭt hărēnās.
Cōnsĕrŭērĕ mănūs ēt mūltō brācchĭă nēxū;
cōllă dĭū grăvĭbūs frūstrā tēmptātă lăcērtīs,
īmmōtūmquĕ căpūt fīxā cūm frōntĕ tĕnētūr;
mīrāntūrque hăbŭīssĕ părēm. Nēc vīrĭbŭs ūtī620
Ālcīdēs prīmō vŏlŭīt cērtāmĭnĕ tōtīs
ēxhaūsītquĕ vĭrūm, quōd crēbĕr ănhēlĭtŭs īllī
prōdĭdĭt ēt gĕlĭdūs fēssō dē cōrpŏrĕ sūdōr.
Tūnc cērvīx lāssātă quătī, tūnc pēctŏrĕ pēctūs
ūrguērī, tūnc ōblīquā pērcūssă lăbārĕ625
crūră mănū. Iām tērgă vĭrī cēdēntĭă vīctōr
āllĭgăt ēt mĕdĭūm cōmprēssīs īlĭbŭs ārtāt
īnguĭnăque īnsērtīs pĕdĭbūs dīstēndĭt ĕt ōmnēm
ēxplĭcŭīt pēr mēmbră vĭrūm. Răpĭt ārĭdă tēllūs
sūdōrēm: călĭdō cōmplēntūr sānguĭnĕ vēnaē,630
īntŭmŭērĕ tŏrī, tōtōsque īndūrŭĭt ārtūs
Hērcŭlĕōsquĕ nŏvō lāxāvīt cōrpŏrĕ nōdōs.
Cōnstĭtĭt Ālcīdēs stŭpĕfāctūs rōbŏrĕ tāntō
nēc sīc Īnăchĭīs, quāmvīs rŭdĭs ēssĕt, ĭn ūndīs
dēsēctām tĭmŭīt rĕpărātīs ānguĭbŭs hŷdrām.635
Cōnflīxērĕ părēs, tēllūrīs vīrĭbŭs īllĕ,
īllĕ sŭīs. Nūmquām saēvaē spērārĕ nŏvērcaē
plūs lĭcŭīt; vĭdĕt ēxhaūstōs sūdōrĭbŭs ārtūs
cērvīcēmquĕ vĭrī sīccām, cūm fērrĕt Ŏlŷmpūm.
Ūtque ĭtĕrūm fēssīs ĭnĭēcīt brācchĭă mēmbrīs,640
nōn ēxspēctātīs Āntaēūs vīrĭbŭs hōstīs
spōntĕ cădīt māiōrque āccēptō rōbŏrĕ sūrgīt.
Quīsquĭs ĭnēst tērrīs, īn fēssōs spīrĭtŭs ārtūs
ēgĕrĭtūr, tēllūsquĕ vĭrō lūctāntĕ lăbōrāt.
Ūt tāndem aūxĭlĭūm tāctaē prōdēssĕ părēntīs645
Ālcīdēs sēnsīt, "Stāndum ēst tĭbĭ" dīxĭt "ĕt ūltrā
nōn crēdērĕ sŏlō stērnīquĕ vĕtābĕrĕ tērrā,
haērēbīs prēssīs īntrā mĕă pēctŏră mēmbrīs,
hūc, Āntaēĕ, cădēs." sīc fātūs sūstŭlĭt āltē
nītēntem īn tērrās iŭvĕnēm. Mŏrĭēntĭs ĭn ārtūs650
nōn pŏtŭīt nātī tēllūs pērmīttĕrĕ vīrēs:
Ālcīdēs mĕdĭō tĕnŭīt iām pēctŏră pīgrō
strīctă gĕlū tērrīsquĕ dĭū nōn crēdĭdĭt hōstēm.
Hīnc, aēvī vĕtĕrīs cūstōs, fāmōsă vĕtūstās
mīrātrīxquĕ sŭī sīgnāvīt nōmĭnĕ tērrās.655
Sēd māiōră dĕdīt cōgnōmĭnă cōllĭbŭs īstīs,
Poēnūm quī Lătĭīs rĕvŏcāvĭt ăb ārcĭbŭs hōstēm,
Scīpĭŏ. Nām sēdēs Lĭbўcā tēllūrĕ pŏtītō
haēc fŭĭt. Ēn vĕtĕrīs cērnīs vēstīgĭă vāllī;
Rōmāna hōs prīmūm tĕnŭīt vīctōrĭă cāmpōs."660
Cūrĭŏ laētātūs, tāmquām fōrtūnă lŏcōrūm
bēllă gĕrāt sērvētquĕ dŭcūm sĭbĭ fātă prĭōrūm,
fēlīcī nōn faūstă lŏcō tēntōrĭă pōnēns
īndūlsīt cāstrīs ēt cōllĭbŭs ābstŭlĭt ōmēn
sōllĭcĭtātquĕ fĕrōs nōn aēquīs vīrĭbŭs hōstīs.665
Ōmnīs Rōmānīs quaē cēssĕrăt Āfrĭcă sīgnīs,
tūnc Vārī sūb iūrĕ fŭīt, quī rōbŏrĕ quāmquām
cōnfīsūs Lătĭō rēgīs tămĕn ūndĭquĕ vīrēs
ēxcīvīt, Lĭbўaē gēntīs, ēxtrēmăquĕ mūndī
sīgnă sŭūm cŏmĭtātă Iŭbām. Nōn fūsĭŏr ūllī670
tērră fŭīt dŏmĭnō: quā sūnt lōngīssĭmă rēgnī,
cārdĭne ăb ōccĭdŭō vīcīnūs Gādĭbŭs Ātlās
tērmĭnăt, ā mĕdĭō cōnfīnīs Sŷrtĭbŭs Hāmmōn;
āt quā lātă iăcēt, vāstī plăgă fērvĭdă rēgnī
dīstĭnĕt Ōcĕănūm zōnaēque ēxūstă călēntīs.675
Sūffĭcĭūnt spătĭō pŏpŭlī: tōt cāstră sĕquūntūr
Aūtŏlŏlēs Nŭmĭdaēquĕ văgī sēmpērquĕ părātūs
īncūltō Gaētūlŭs ĕquō, tūm cōncŏlŏr Īndō
Maūrŭs, ĭnōps Năsămōn, mīxtī Gărămāntĕ pĕrūstō
Mārmărĭdaē vŏlŭcrēs aēquātūrūsquĕ săgīttās680
Mēdōrūm, trĕmŭlūm cūm tōrsīt mīssĭlĕ, Māzāx
ēt gēns quaē nūdō rĕsĭdēns Māssŷlĭă dōrsō
ōră lĕvī flēctīt frēnōrūm nēscĭă vīrgā,
ēt sŏlĭtūs văcŭīs ērrārĕ măpālĭbŭs Āfēr
vēnātōr, fērrīquĕ sĭmūl fīdūcĭă nōn ēst,685
vēstĭbŭs īrātōs lāxīs ŏpĕrīrĕ lĕōnēs.
Nēc sōlūm stŭdĭīs cīvīlĭbŭs ārmă părābāt,
prīvātaē sēd bēllă dăbāt Iŭbă cōncĭtŭs īraē.
Hūnc quŏquĕ, quō sŭpĕrōs hūmānăquĕ pōllŭĭt, ānnō
lēgĕ trĭbūnĭcĭā sŏlĭō dēpēllĕre ăvōrūm690
Cūrĭŏ tēmptārāt Lĭbўāmque aūfērrĕ tўrānnō,
dūm rēgnūm tē, Rōmă, făcīt. mĕmŏr īllĕ dŏlōrīs
hōc bēllūm scēptrī frūctūm pŭtăt ēssĕ rĕtēntī.
Hāc ĭgĭtūr rēgīs trĕpĭdāt iām Cūrĭŏ fāmā,
ēt quōd Caēsărĕīs nūmquām dēvōtă iŭvēntūs695
īllă nĭmīs cāstrīs nēc Rhēnī mīlĕs ĭn ūndīs
ēxplōrātŭs ĕrāt, Cōrfīnī cāptŭs ĭn ārcĕ;
īnfīdūsquĕ nŏvīs dŭcĭbūs dŭbĭūsquĕ prĭōrī
fās ūtrūmquĕ pŭtāt. sēd pōstquām lānguĭdă sēgnī
cērnīt cūnctă mĕtū nōctūrnăquĕ mūnĭă vāllī700
dēsōlātă fŭgā, trĕpĭdā sīc mēntĕ prŏfātūr:
"Aūdēndō māgnūs tĕgĭtūr tĭmŏr, ārmă căpēssām
īpsĕ prĭōr, cāmpūm mīlēs dēscēndăt ĭn aēquūm,
dūm mĕŭs ēst; vărĭām sēmpēr dānt ōtĭă mēntēm.
Ērĭpĕ cōnsĭlĭūm pūgnā; cūm dīră vŏlūptās705
ēnsĕ sŭbīt prēssō, gălĕaē tēxērĕ pŭdōrēm,
quīs cōnfērrĕ dŭcēs mĕmĭnīt? quīs pēndĕrĕ caūsās?
Quā stĕtĭt, īndĕ făvēt; vĕlŭtī fātālĭs hărēnaē
mūnĕrĭbūs nōn īră vĕtūs cōncūrrĕrĕ cōgīt
prōdūctōs, ōdērĕ părēs." Sīc fātŭs ăpērtīs710
īnstrūxīt cāmpīs ăcĭēs; quēm blāndă fŭtūrīs
dēcēptūră mălīs bēllī fōrtūnă rĕcēpīt.
Nām pĕpŭlīt Vārūm cāmpō nūdātăquĕ foēdā
tērgă fŭgā, dōnēc vĕtŭērūnt cāstră, cĕcīdīt.
Trīstĭă sēd pōstquām sŭpĕrātī proēlĭă Vārī715
sūnt aūdītă Iŭbaē, laētūs quōd glōrĭă bēllī
sīt rēbūs sērvātă sŭīs, răpĭt āgmĭnă fūrtīm
ōbscūrātquĕ sŭām pēr iūssă sĭlēntĭă fāmām
hōc sōlūm mĕtŭēns īncaūto āb hōstĕ, tĭmērī.
Mīttĭtŭr, ēxĭgŭā quī proēlĭă prīmă lăcēssāt720
ēlĭcĭātquĕ mănū, Nŭmĭdīs ā rēgĕ sĕcūndūs,
ūt sĭbĭ cōmmīssī sĭmŭlātōr Sābbŭră bēllī;
īpsĕ căvā rēgnī vīrēs īn vāllĕ rĕtēntāt:
āspĭdăs ūt Phărĭās caūdā sōllērtĭŏr hōstīs
lūdĭt ĕt īrātās īncērtā prōvŏcăt ūmbrā725
ōblīquūsquĕ căpūt vānās sērpēntĭs ĭn aūrās
ēffūsaē tūtō cōmprēndīt gūttŭră mōrsū
lētĭfĕrām cītrā sănĭēm; tūnc īrrĭtă pēstīs
ēxprĭmĭtūr, faūcēsquĕ flŭūnt pĕrĕūntĕ vĕnēnō.
Fraūdĭbŭs ēvēntūm dĕdĕrāt fōrtūnă, fĕrōxquĕ730
nōn ēxplōrātīs ōccūltī vīrĭbŭs hōstīs
Cūrĭŏ nōctūrnūm cāstrīs ērūmpĕrĕ cōgīt
īgnōtīsque ĕquĭtēm lātē dēcūrrĕrĕ cāmpīs.
Īpsĕ sŭb aūrōraē prīmōs ēxcēdĕrĕ mōtūs
sīgnă iŭbēt cāstrīs mūltūm frūstrāquĕ rŏgātūs,735
ūt Lĭbўcās mĕtŭāt fraūdēs īnfēctăquĕ sēmpēr
Pūnĭcă bēllă dŏlīs. Lētī fōrtūnă prŏpīnquī
trādĭdĕrāt fātīs iŭvĕnēm, bēllūmquĕ trăhēbāt
aūctōrēm cīvīlĕ sŭūm. Sŭpĕr ārdŭă dūcīt
sāxă, sŭpēr caūtēs ābrūptō līmĭtĕ sīgnă,740
cūm prŏcŭl ē sūmmīs cōnspēctī cōllĭbŭs hōstēs.
Fraūdĕ sŭā cēssērĕ părūm, dūm cōllĕ rĕlīctō
ēffūsām pătŭlīs ăcĭēm cōmmīttĕrĕt ārvīs:
īllĕ fŭgām crēdēns sĭmŭlātaē nēscĭŭs ārtīs,
ūt vīctōr, mērsōs ăcĭēm dĕĭēcĭt ĭn āgrōs.745
Tūnc prīmūm pătŭērĕ dŏlī, Nŭmĭdaēquĕ fŭgācēs
ūndĭquĕ cōmplētīs claūsērūnt mōntĭbŭs āgmēn.
Ōbstĭpŭīt dūx īpsĕ sĭmūl pĕrĭtūrăquĕ tūrbă.
Nōn tĭmĭdī pĕtĭērĕ fŭgām, nōn proēlĭă fōrtēs:
quīppe ŭbĭ nōn sŏnĭpēs mōtūs clāngōrĕ tŭbārūm750
sāxă quătīt pūlsū rĭgĭdōs vēxāntĭă frēnōs
ōră tĕrēns spārgītquĕ iŭbās ēt sūbrĭgĭt aūrēs
īncērtōquĕ pĕdūm pūgnāt nōn stārĕ tŭmūltū;
fēssă iăcēt cērvīx, fūmānt sūdōrĭbŭs ārtūs,
ōrăquĕ prōiēctā squālēnt ārēntĭă līnguā,755
pēctŏră raūcă gĕmūnt quaē crēbĕr ănhēlĭtŭs ūrgēt,
ēt dēfēctă grăvīs lōngē trăhĭt īlĭă pūlsūs,
sīccăquĕ sānguĭnĕīs dūrēscīt spūmă lŭpātīs.
Iāmquĕ grădūm nĕquĕ vērbĕrĭbūs stĭmŭlīsquĕ cŏāctī
nēc quămŭīs crēbrīs iūssī cālcārĭbŭs āddūnt;760
vūlnĕrĭbūs cōgūntŭr ĕquī, nēc prōfŭĭt ūllī
cōrnĭpĕdīs rūpīssĕ mŏrās; nĕque ĕnim īmpĕtŭs īllĕ
īncūrsūsquĕ fŭīt: tāntūm pērfērtŭr ăd hōstēm
ēt spătĭūm iăcŭlīs ōblātō vūlnĕrĕ dōnāt.
Āt văgŭs Āfĕr ĕquōs ūt prīmum ēmīsĭt ĭn āgmēn,765
tūnc cāmpī trĕmŭērĕ sŏnō, tērrāquĕ sŏlūtā,
quāntūs Bīstŏnĭō tōrquētūr tūrbĭnĕ pūlvīs,
āĕră nūbĕ sŭā tēxīt trāxītquĕ tĕnēbrās.
Ūt vēro īn pĕdĭtēs fātūm mĭsĕrābĭlĕ bēllī
īncŭbŭīt, nūllō dŭbĭī dīscrīmĭnĕ Mārtīs770
āncĭpĭtēs stĕtĕrūnt cāsūs, sēd tēmpŏră pūgnaē
mōrs tĕnŭīt; nĕque ĕnīm lĭcŭīt prōcūrrĕrĕ cōntrā
ēt mīscērĕ mănūs. Sīc ūndĭquĕ saēptă iŭvēntūs
cōmmĭnŭs ōblīquīs ēt rēctīs ēmĭnŭs hāstīs
ōbrŭĭtūr, nōn vūlnĕrĭbūs nēc sānguĭnĕ sōlūm,775
tēlōrūm nīmbō pĕrĭtūra ēt pōndĕrĕ fērrī.
Ērgo ăcĭēs tāntaē pārvūm spīssāntŭr ĭn ōrbēm,
āc, sī quīs mĕtŭēns mĕdĭūm cōrrēpsĭt ĭn āgmēn,
vīx īmpūnĕ sŭōs īntēr cōnvērtĭtŭr ēnsēs;
dēnsātūrquĕ glŏbūs, quāntūm pĕdĕ prīmă rĕlātō780
cōnstrīnxīt gŷrōs ăcĭēs. nōn ārmă mŏvēndī
iām lŏcŭs ēst prēssīs, stīpātăquĕ mēmbră tĕrūntūr;
frāngĭtŭr ārmātūm cōllīsō pēctŏrĕ pēctūs.
Nōn tām laētă tŭlīt vīctōr spēctācŭlă Maūrūs
quām fōrtūnă dăbāt; flŭvĭōs nōn īllĕ crŭōrīs785
membrorumque uidet lapsum et ferientia terram
cōrpŏră: cōmprēssūm tūrbā stĕtĭt ōmnĕ cădāvēr.
Ēxcĭtĕt īnvīsās dīraē Cārthāgĭnĭs ūmbrās
īnfĕrĭīs fōrtūnă nŏvīs, fĕrăt īstă crŭēntūs
Hānnĭbăl ēt Poēnī tām dīră pĭācŭlă mānēs.790
Rōmānām, sŭpĕrī, Lĭbўcā tēllūrĕ rŭīnām
Pōmpēiō prōdēssĕ nĕfās vōtīsquĕ sĕnātūs!
Āfrĭcă nōs pŏtĭūs vīncāt sĭbĭ. Cūrĭŏ fūsās
ūt vīdīt cāmpīs ăcĭēs ēt cērnĕrĕ tāntās
pērmīsīt clādēs cōmprēssūs sānguĭnĕ pūlvīs,795
nōn tŭlĭt ādflīctīs ănĭmām prōdūcĕrĕ rēbūs
aūt spērārĕ fŭgām cĕcĭdītque īn strāgĕ sŭōrūm
īmpĭgĕr ād lētum ēt fōrtīs vīrtūtĕ cŏāctā.
Quīd nūnc rōstră tĭbī prōsūnt tūrbātă fŏrūmquĕ,
ūndĕ trĭbūnĭcĭā plēbēiūs sīgnĭfĕr ārcĕ800
ārmă dăbās pŏpŭlīs? quīd prōdĭtă iūră sĕnātūs
ēt gĕnĕr ātquĕ sŏcēr bēllō cōncūrrĕrĕ iūssī?
Āntĕ iăcēs quām dīră dŭcēs Phārsālĭă cōnfērt,
spēctāndūmquĕ tĭbī bēllūm cīvīlĕ nĕgātūmst.
Hās ūrbī mĭsĕraē vēstrō dē sānguĭnĕ poēnās805
fērrĕ dătīs, lŭĭtīs iŭgŭlō sīc ārmă, pŏtēntēs.
Fēlīx Rōmă quĭdēm cīvīsque hăbĭtūră bĕātōs,
sī lībērtātīs sŭpĕrīs tām cūră plăcērēt,
quām vīndīctă plăcēt! Lĭbўcās ēn nōbĭlĕ cōrpūs
pāscĭt ăvēs, nūllō cōntēctūs Cūrĭŏ būstō.810
Āt tĭbĭ nōs, quāndō nōn prōdĕrĭt īstă sĭlērĕ,
ā quĭbŭs ōmne aēvī sĕnĭūm sŭă fāmă rĕpēllīt,
dīgnă dămūs, iŭvĕnīs, mĕrĭtaē praēcōnĭă vītaē.
Haūt ălĭūm tāntā cīvēm tŭlĭt īndŏlĕ Rōmă
aūt cuī plūs lēgēs dēbērēnt rēctă sĕquēntī.815
Pērdĭtă tūnc Ūrbī nŏcŭērūnt saēcŭlă, pōstquām
āmbĭtŭs ēt lūxūs ĕt ŏpūm mĕtŭēndă făcūltās
transuerso mentem dubiam torrente tulerunt;
mōmēntūmquĕ fŭīt mūtātūs Cūrĭŏ rērūm,
Gāllōrūm cāptūs spŏlĭīs ēt Caēsărĭs aūrō.820
Iūs lĭcĕt īn iŭgŭlōs nōstrōs sĭbĭ fēcĕrĭt ēnsīs
Sūllă pŏtēns Mărĭūsquĕ fĕrōx ēt Cīnnă crŭēntūs
Caēsărĕaēquĕ dŏmūs sĕrĭēs, cuī tāntă pŏtēstās
cōncēssa ēst? ēmēre ōmnēs, hīc vēndĭdĭt Ūrbēm.
At procul extremis terrarum Caesar in oris
Martem saevus agit non multa caede nocentem,
maxima sed fati ducibus momenta daturum.
Iure pari rector castris Afranius illis
5ac Petreius erat: concordia duxit in aequas
imperium commune vices, tutelaque valli
pervigil alterno paret custodia signo.
His praeter Latias acies erat inpiger Astur
Vettonesque leves profugique a gente vetusta
10Gallorum Celtae miscentes nomen Hiberis.
Colle tumet modico lenique excrevit in altum
pingue solum tumulo; super hunc fundata vetusta
surgit Ilerda manu; placidis praelabitur undis
Hesperios inter Sicoris non ultimus amnis,
15saxeus ingenti quem pons amplectitur arcu
hibernas passurus aquas. at proxima rupes
signa tenet Magni; nec Caesar colle minore
castra levat; medius dirimit tentoria gurges.
Explicat hinc tellus campos effusa patentis
20vix oculo prendente modum, camposque coercet
Cinga rapax vetitus fluctus et litora cursu
Oceani pepulisse suo; nam gurgite mixto
qui praestat terris, aufert tibi nomen Hiberus.
Prima dies belli cessavit Marte cruento
25spectandasque ducum vires numerosaque signa
exposuit. Piguit sceleris; pudor arma furentum
continuit, patriaeque et ruptis legibus unum
donavere diem; prono cum Caesar Olympo
in noctem subita circumdedit agmina fossa,
30dum primae perstant acies, hostemque fefellit
et prope consertis obduxit castra maniplis.
Luce nova collem subito conscendere cursu,
qui medius tutam castris dirimebat Ilerdam,
imperat. huc hostem pariter terrorque pudorque
35impulit, et rapto tumulum prior agmine cepit.
His virtus ferrumque locum promittit, at illis
ipse locus. Miles rupes oneratus in altas
nititur, adversoque acies in monte supina
haeret et in tergum casura umbone sequentis
40erigitur. Nulli telum vibrare vacavit,
dum labat et fixo firmat vestigia pilo,
dum scopulos stirpesque tenent atque hoste relicto
caedunt ense viam. vidit lapsura ruina
agmina dux equitemque iubet succedere bello
45munitumque latus laevo praeducere gyro.
Sic pedes ex facili nulloque urguente receptus,
irritus et victor subducto Marte pependit.
Hactenus armorum discrimina; cetera bello
fata dedit variis incertus motibus aër.
50Pigro bruma gelu siccisque aquilonibus haerens
aethere constricto pluvias in nube tenebat.
Urebant montana nives camposque iacentes
non duraturae conspecto sole pruinae,
atque omnis propior mergenti sidera caelo
55arverat tellus hiberno dura sereno.
Sed postquam vernus calidum Titana recepit
sidera respiciens delapsae portitor Helles,
atque iterum aequatis ad iustae pondera Librae
temporibus vicere dies, tunc sole relicto
60Cynthia, quo primum cornu dubitanda refulsit,
exclusit borean flammasque accepit in euro.
Ille suo nubes quascumque invenit in axe,
torsit in occiduum Nabateis flatibus orbem
et quas sentit Arabs et quas Gangetica tellus
65exhalat nebulas, quicquid concrescere primus
sol patitur, quicquid caeli fuscator eoi
intulerat corus, quicquid defenderat Indos.
Incendere diem nubes oriente remotae
nec medio potuere graves incumbere mundo,
70sed nimbi rapuere fuga. vacat imbribus arctos
et notus, in solam Calpen fluit umidus aër.
Hic ubi iam zephyri fines et summus Olympi
cardo tenet Tethyn, vetitae transcurrere densos
involvere globos, congestumque aëris atri
75vix recipit spatium quod separat aethere terram.
Iamque polo pressae largos densantur in imbres
spissataeque fluunt, nec servant fulmina flammas.
Quamuis crebra micent, exstinguit fulgura nimbus.
Hinc imperfecto complectitur aëra gyro
80arcus vix ulla variatus luce colorem
Oceanumque bibit raptosque ad nubila fluctus
pertulit et caelo defusum reddidit aequor.
Iamque Pyrenaeae, quas numquam solvere Titan
evaluit, fluxere nives, fractoque madescunt
85saxa gelu. Tum, quae solitis e fontibus exit,
non habet unda vias: tam largas alveus omnis
a ripis accepit aquas. Iam naufraga campo
Caesaris arma natant, impulsaque gurgite multo
castra labant; alto restagnant flumina vallo.
90Non pecorum raptus faciles, non pabula mersi
ulla ferunt sulci; tectarum errore viarum
fallitur occultis sparsus populator in agris.
Iamque comes semper magnorum prima malorum
saeva fames aderat, nulloque obsessus ab hoste
95miles eget; toto censu non prodigus emit
exiguam Cererem. Pro lucri pallida tabes!
Non dest prolato ieiunus venditor auro.
Iam tumuli collesque latent, iam flumina cuncta
condidit una palus vastaque voragine mersit:
100absorpsit penitus rupes ac tecta ferarum
detulit atque ipsas hausit subitisque frementis
verticibus contorsit aquas et reppulit aestus
fortior Oceani. Nec Phoebum surgere sentit
nox subtexta polo: rerum discrimina miscet
105deformis caeli facies iunctaeque tenebrae.
Sic mundi pars ima iacet, quam zona nivalis
perpetuaeque premunt hiemes: non sidera caelo
ulla videt, sterili non quidquam frigore gignit,
sed glacie medios signorum temperat ignes.
110Sic, o summe parens mundi, sic, sorte secunda
aequorei rector, facias, Neptune, tridentis,
et tu perpetuis impendas aëra nimbis,
tu remeare vetes quoscumque emiseris aestus.
Non habeant amnes declivem ad litora cursum
115Sed pelagi referantur aquis, concussaque tellus
laxet iter fluviis: hos campos Rhenus inundet,
hos Rhodanus, vastos obliquent flumina fontis.
Riphaeus hic solve nives, hic stagna lacusque
et pigras, ubicumque iacent, effunde paludes,
120et miseras bellis civilibus eripe terras.
Sed parvo Fortuna viri contenta pavore
plena redit, solitoque magis favere secundi
et veniam meruere dei. Iam rarior aër
et par Phoebus aquis densas in vellera nubes
125sparserat et noctes ventura luce rubebant,
servatoque loco rerum discessit ab astris
umor, et ima petit quicquid pendebat aquarum.
Tollere silva comas, stagnis emergere colles
incipiunt visoque die durescere valles.
130Utque habuit ripas Sicoris camposque reliquit,
primum cana salix madefacto vimine parvam
texitur in puppim caesoque inducta iuvenco
vectoris patiens tumidum superenatat amnem.
Sic Venetus stagnante Pado fusoque Britannus
135navigat Oceano; sic, cum tenet omnia Nilus,
conseritur bibula Memphitis cymba papyro.
His ratibus traiecta manus festinat utrimque
succisum curvare nemus fluviique ferocis
incrementa timens non primis robora ripis
140imposuit, medios pontem distendit in agros.
Ac ne quid Sicoris repetitis audeat undis,
spargitur in sulcos et scisso gurgite rivis
dat poenas maioris aquae. Postquam omnia fatis
Caesaris ire videt celsam Petreius Ilerdam
145deserit et noti diffisus viribus orbis
indomitos quaerit populos et semper in arma
mortis amore feros et tendit in ultima mundi.
Nudatos Caesar colles desertaque castra
conspiciens capere arma iubet nec quaerere pontem
150nec vada, sed duris fluvium superare lacertis.
Paretur, rapuitque ruens in proelia miles,
quod fugiens timuisset iter. Mox uda receptis
membra fovent armis gelidosque a gurgite cursu
restituunt artus, donec decresceret umbra
155in medium surgente die; iamque agmina summa
carpit eques, dubiique fugae pugnaeque tenentur.
Attollunt campo geminae iuga saxea rupes
valle cavae media; tellus hinc ardua celsos
continuat colles, tutae quos inter opaco
160anfractu latuere viae; quibus hoste potito
faucibus emitti terrarum in devia Martem
inque feras gentes Caesar videt: "Ite sine ullo
ordine" ait "raptumque fuga convertite bellum
et faciem pugnae vultusque inferte minaces,
165nec liceat pavidis ignava occumbere morte:
excipiant recto fugientes pectore ferrum."
Dixit et ad montis tendentem praevenit hostem.
Illic exiguo paulum distantia vallo
castra locant. Postquam spatio languentia nullo
170mutua conspicuos habuerunt lumina vultus,
hic fratres natosque suos videre patresque,
deprensum est civile nefas. Tenvere parumper
ora metu, tantum nutu motoque salutant
ense suos; mox ut stimulis maioribus ardens
175rupit amor leges, audet transcendere vallum
miles, in amplexus effusas tendere palmas.
Hospitis ille ciet nomen, vocat ille propinquum,
admonet hunc studiis consors puerilibus aetas;
nec Romanus erat qui non agnoverat hostem.
180Arma rigant lacrimis, singultibus oscula rumpunt,
et quamuis nullo maculatus sanguine miles,
quae potuit fecisse, timet. Quid pectora pulsas?
Quid, vaesane, gemis? Fletus quid fundis inanes
nec te sponte tua sceleri parere fateris?
185Usque adeone times, quem tu facis ipse timendum?
Classica det bello: saevos tu neglege cantus;
signa ferat: cessa; iamiam civilis Erinys
concidet, et Caesar generum privatus amabit.
Nunc ades, aeterno complectens omnia nexu,
190o rerum mixtique salus, Concordia, mundi
et sacer orbis amor; magnum nunc saecula nostra
venturi discrimen habent. Periere latebrae
tot scelerum, populo venia est erepta nocenti:
agnovere suos. Pro numine fata sinistro
195exigua requie tantas augentia clades!
Pax erat, et miles castris permixtus utrisque
errabat; duro concordes caespite mensas
instituunt et permixto libamina Baccho;
graminei luxere foci, iunctoque cubili
200extrahit insomnis bellorum fabula noctes
quo primum steterint campo, qua lancea dextra
exierit. Dum quae gesserunt fortia iactant,
et dum multa negant, quod solum fata petebant,
est miseris renovata fides, atque omne futurum
205crevit amore nefas. Nam postquam foedera pacis
cognita Petreio seque et sua tradita venum
castra videt, famulas scelerata ad proelia dextras
excitat atque hostis turba stipatus inermis
praecipitat castris iunctosque amplexibus ense
210separat et multo disturbat sanguine pacem.
Addidit ira ferox moturas proelia voces:
"Immemor o patriae, signorum oblite tuorum,
non potes hoc causae, miles, praestare, senatus
assertor victo redeas ut Caesare: certe
215ut vincare potes. Dum ferrum incertaque fata
quique fluat multo non derit vulnere sanguis,
ibitis ad dominum damnataque signa feretis?
Utque habeat famulos nullo discrimine Caesar,
exorandus erit! ducibus quoque vita petitast!
220Numquam nostra salus pretium mercesque nefandae
proditionis erit, non hoc civilia bella
ut vivamus agunt. Trahimur sub nomine pacis.
Non chalybem gentes penitus fugiente metallo
erverent, nulli vallarent oppida muri,
225non sonipes in bella ferox, non iret in aequor
turrigeras classis pelago sparsura carinas,
si bene libertas umquam pro pace daretur.
Hostes nempe meos sceleri iurata nefando
sacramenta tenent; at vobis vilior hoc est
230vestra fides, quod pro causa pugnantibus aequa
et veniam sperare licet. Pro dira pudoris
funera! nunc toto fatorum ignarus in orbe,
Magne, paras acies mundique extrema tenentis
sollicitas reges, cum forsan foedere nostro
235iam tibi sit promissa salus." Sic fatur et omnis
concussit mentes scelerumque reduxit amorem.
Sic ubi desuetae silvis in carcere cluso
mansuevere ferae et vultus posuere minaces
atque hominem didicere pati: si torrida parvus
240venit in ora cruor, redeunt rabiesque furorque,
admonitaeque tument gustato sanguine fauces;
fervet et a trepido vix abstinet ira magistro.
Itur in omne nefas, et quae fortuna deorum
invidia caeca bellorum nocte tulisset,
245fecit monstra fides: inter mensasque torosque,
quae modo complexu foverunt, pectora caedunt;
et quamuis primo ferrum strinxere gementes,
ut dextrae iusti gladius dissuasor adhaesit,
dum feriunt, odere suos animosque labantis
250confirmant ictu. Fervent iam castra tumultu
et scelerum turba, rapiuntur colla parentum,
ac velut occultum pereat scelus, omnia monstra
in faciem posuere ducum; iuvat esse nocentis.
Tu Caesar, quamuis spoliatus milite multo,
255agnoscis superos; neque enim tibi maior in arvis
Emathiis fortuna fuit nec Phocidos undis
Massiliae, Phario nec tantum est aequore gestum,
hoc siquidem solo civilis crimine belli
dux causae melioris eris. Polluta nefanda
260agmina caede duces iunctis committere castris
non audent altaeque ad moenia rursus Ilerdae
intendere fugam. Campos eques obvius omnis
abstulit et siccis inclusit collibus hostem.
Tunc inopes undae praerupta cingere fossa
265Caesar avet nec castra pati contingere ripas
aut circum largos curvari bracchia fontes.
Ut leti videre viam, conversus in iram
praecipitem timor est. Miles non utile clausis
auxilium mactavit equos tandemque coactus
270spe posita damnare fugam casurus in hostes
fertur. ut effuso Caesar decurrere passu
vidit et ad certam devotos tendere mortem,
"Tela tene iam, miles" ait "ferrumque ruenti
subtrahe: non ullo constet mihi sanguine bellum.
275Vincitur haud gratis, iugulo qui provocat hostem.
En sibi vilis adest invisa luce iuventus
iam damno peritura meo; non sentiet ictus,
incumbet gladiis, gaudebit sanguine fuso.
Deserat hic fervor mentes, cadat impetus amens,
280perdant velle mori." Sic deflagrare minaces
incassum et vetito passus languescere bello,
substituit merso dum nox sua lumina Phoebo.
Inde ubi nulla data est miscendae copia mortis,
paulatim fugit ira ferox, mentesque tepescunt;
285saucia maiores animos ut pectora gestant,
dum dolor est ictusque recens et mobile nervis
conamen calidus praebet cruor ossaque nondum
adduxere cutim; si conscius ensis adacti
stat victor tenuitque manus, tum frigidus artus
290alligat atque animum subducto robore torpor,
postquam sicca rigens astrinxit vulnera sanguis.
Iamque inopes undae primum tellure refossa
occultos latices abstrusaque flumina quaerunt;
nec solum rastris durisque ligonibus arva,
295sed gladiis fodere suis, puteusque cavati
montis ad irrigui premitur fastigia campi.
Non se tam penitus, tam longe luce relicta
merserit Asturii scrutator pallidus auri.
Non tamen aut tectis sonuerunt cursibus amnes,
300aut micuere novi percusso pumice fontes,
antra neque exiguo stillant sudantia rore,
aut impulsa levi turbatur glarea vena.
Tunc exhausta super multo sudore iuventus
extrahitur duris silicum lassata metallis;
305quoque minus possent siccos tolerare vapores,
quaesitae fecistis aquae. Nec languida fessi
corpora sustentant epulis mensasque perosi
auxilium fecere famem. Si mollius arvum
prodidit umorem, pinguis manus utraque glaebas
310exprimit ora super; nigro si turbida limo
colluvies immota iacet, cadit omnis in haustus
certatim obscaenos miles moriensque recepit,
quas nollet victurus, aquas; rituque ferarum
distentas siccant pecudes, et lacte negato
315sordidus exhausto sorbetur ab ubere sanguis.
Tunc herbas frondesque terunt et rore madentis
destringunt ramos et si quos palmite crudo
arboris aut tenera sucos pressere medulla.
O fortunati, fugiens quos barbarus hostis
320fontibus immixto stravit per rura veneno.
Hos licet in fluvios saniem tabemque ferarum,
pallida Dictaeis, Caesar, nascentia saxis
infundas aconita palam, Romana iuventus
non decepta bibet. Torrentur viscera flamma,
325oraque sicca rigent squamosis aspera linguis;
iam marcent venae, nulloque umore rigatus
aëris alternos angustat pulmo meatus,
rescissoque nocent suspiria dura palato;
pandunt ora tamen nocturnumque aëra captant.
330Exspectant imbres, quorum modo cuncta natabant
impulsu, et siccis vultus in nubibus haerent.
Quoque magis miseros undae ieiunia solvant,
non super arentem Meroen Cancrique sub axe,
qua nudi Garamantes arant, sedere, sed inter
335stagnantem Sicorim et rapidum deprensus Hiberum
spectat vicinos sitiens exercitus amnes.
Iam domiti cessere duces, pacisque petendae
auctor damnatis supplex Afranius armis
semianimes in castra trahens hostilia turmas
340victoris stetit ante pedes. Servata precanti
maiestas, non fracta malis, interque priorem
fortunam casusque novos gerit omnia victi,
sed ducis, et veniam securo pectore poscit:
"Si me degeneri stravissent fata sub hoste,
345non derat fortis rapiendo dextera leto.
At nunc causa mihi est orandae sola salutis,
dignum donanda, Caesar, te credere vita.
Non partis studiis agimur, nec sumpsimus arma
consiliis inimica tuis. nos denique bellum
350invenit civile duces, causaeque priori,
dum potuit, servata fides. Nil fata moramur:
tradimus Hesperias gentes, aperimus eoas
securumque orbis patimur post terga relicti.
Nec cruor effusus campis tibi bella peregit
355nec ferrum lassaeque manus. Hoc hostibus unum,
quod vincas, ignosce tuis. Nec magna petuntur:
otia des fessis, vitam patiaris inermes
degere quam tribuis. Campis prostrata iacere
agmina nostra putes; nec enim felicibus armis
360misceri damnata decet partemque triumphi
captos ferre tui; turba haec sua fata peregit.
Hoc petimus, victos ne tecum vincere cogas."
Dixerat; at Caesar facilis vultuque serenus
flectitur atque usus belli poenamque remittit.
365Ut primum iustae placuerunt foedera pacis,
incustoditos decurrit miles ad amnes,
incumbit ripis permissaque flumina turbat.
Continuus multis subitarum tractus aquarum
aëra non passus vacuis discurrere venis
370artavit clusitque animam; nec fervida pestis
cedit adhuc, sed morbus egens iam gurgite plenis
visceribus sibi poscit aquas. Mox robora nervis
et vires rediere viris. O prodiga rerum
luxuries numquam parvo contenta paratis
375et quaesitorum terra pelagoque ciborum
ambitiosa fames et lautae gloria mensae,
discite quam parvo liceat producere vitam
et quantum natura petat. Non erigit aegros
nobilis ignoto diffusus consule Bacchus,
380non auro murraque bibunt, sed gurgite puro
vita redit; satis est populis fluviusque Ceresque.
Heu miseri qui bella gerunt! Tunc arma relinquens
victori miles spoliato pectore tutus
innocuusque suas curarum liber in urbes
385spargitur. O quantum donata pace potitos
excussis umquam ferrum vibrasse lacertis
paenituit, tolerasse sitim frustraque rogasse
prospera bella deos. Nempe usis Marte secundo
tot dubiae restant acies, tot in orbe labores;
390ut numquam fortuna labet successibus anceps,
vincendum totiens; terras fundendus in omnis
est cruor et Caesar per tot sua fata sequendus.
Felix qui potuit mundi nutante ruina,
quo iaceat iam scire loco. Non proelia fessos
395ulla vocant, certos non rumpunt classica somnos.
Iam coniunx natique rudes et sordida tecta
et non deductos recipit sua terra colonos.
Hoc quoque securis oneris fortuna remisit,
sollicitus menti quod abest favor: ille salutis
400est auctor, dux ille fuit. Sic proelia soli
felices nullo spectant civilia voto.
Non eadem belli totum fortuna per orbem
constitit, in partes aliquid sed Caesaris ausast.
Qua maris Adriaci longas ferit unda Salonas
405et tepidum in molles zephyros excurrit Iader
illic bellaci confisus gente Curictum,
quos alit Adriaco tellus circumflua ponto,
clauditur extrema residens Antonius ora
cautus ab incursu belli, si sola recedat,
410expugnat quae tuta, fames. non pabula tellus
pascendis summittit equis, non proserit ullam
flava Ceres segetem; spoliabat gramine campum
miles et attonso miseris iam dentibus arvo
castrorum siccas de caespite vulserat herbas.
415Ut primum adversae socios in litore terrae
et Basilum videre ducem, nova furta per aequor
exquisita fugae. Neque enim de more carinas
extendunt puppesque levant, sed firma gerendis
molibus insolito contexunt robora ductu;
420namque ratem vacuae sustentant undique cupae,
quarum porrectis series constricta catenis
ordinibus geminis obliquas excipit alnos;
nec gerit expositum telis in fronte patenti
remigium, sed, quod trabibus circumdedit aequor,
425hoc ferit et taciti praebet miracula cursus,
quod nec vela ferat nec apertas verberet undas.
Tunc freta servantur, dum se declivibus undis
aestus agat refluoque mari nudentur harenae.
Iamque relabenti crescebant litora ponto:
430missa ratis prono defertur lapsa profundo
et geminae comites. Cunctas super ardua turris
eminet et tremulis tabulata minantia pinnis.
Nolvit Illyricae custos Octavius undae
confestim temptare ratem celeresque carinas
435continuit, cursu crescat dum praeda secundo,
et temere ingressos repetendum invitat ad aequor
pace maris. Sic dum pavidos formidine cervos
claudat odoratae metuentis aëra pinnae,
aut dum dispositis attollat retia varis,
440venator tenet ora levis clamosa Molossi,
Spartanos Cretasque ligat, nec creditur ulli
silva cani, nisi qui presso vestigia rostro
colligit et praeda nescit latrare reperta
contentus tremulo monstrasse cubilia loro.
445Nec mora, complentur moles, avideque petitis
insula deseritur ratibus, quo tempore primas
impedit ad noctem iam lux extrema tenebras.
At Pompeianus fraudes innectere ponto
antiqua parat arte Cilix passusque vacare
450summa freti, medio suspendit vincula ponto
et laxe fluitare sinit religatque catenas
rupis ab Illyricae scopulis. Nec prima nec illa
quae sequitur tardata ratis, sed tertia moles
haesit et ad cautes adducto fune secutast.
455Impendent cava saxa mari, ruituraque semper
stat (mirum!) moles et silvis aequor inumbrat.
Huc fractas aquilone rates summersaque pontus
corpora saepe tulit caecisque abscondit in antris;
restituit raptus tectum mare, cumque cavernae
460evomuere fretum, contorti verticis undae
Tauromenitanam vincunt fervore Charybdim.
Hic Opiterginis moles onerata colonis
constitit, hanc omni puppes statione solutae
circumeunt, alii rupes ac litora complent.
465Vulteius tacitas sentit sub gurgite fraudes.
Dux erat ille ratis; frustra qui vincula ferro
rumpere conatus poscit spe proelia nulla
incertus qua terga daret, qua pectora bello.
Hoc tamen in casu, quantum deprensa valebat,
470effecit virtus: inter tot milia captae
circumfusa rati et plenam vix inde cohortem
pugna fuit, non longa quidem; nam condidit umbra
nox lucem dubiam, pacemque habuere tenebrae.
Tunc sic attonitam venturaque fata paventem
475rexit magnanima Vulteius voce cohortem:
"Libera non ultra parva quam nocte iuventus,
consulite extremis angusto in tempore rebus.
Vita brevis nulli superest qui tempus in illa
quaerendae sibi mortis habet, nec gloria leti
480inferior, iuvenes, admoto occurrere fato.
Omnibus incerto venturae tempore vitae
par animi laus est et quos speraveris annos
perdere et extremae momentum abrumpere lucis,
arcessas dum fata manu; non cogitur ullus
485velle mori. Fuga nulla patet, stant undique nostris
intenti cives iugulis: decernite letum,
et metus omnis abest; cupias quodcumque necessest.
Non tamen in caeca bellorum nube cadendumst,
aut cum permixtas acies sua tela tenebris
490involvent conferta iacent cum corpora campo,
in medium mors omnis abit, perit obruta virtus.
Nos in conspicua sociis hostique carina
constituere dei. Praebebunt aequora testes,
praebebunt terrae, summis dabit insula saxis,
495spectabunt geminae diverso litore partes.
Nescio quod nostris magnum et memorabile fatis
exemplum, Fortuna, paras. Quaecumque per aevum
exhibuit monumenta fides servataque ferro
militiae pietas, transisset nostra iuventus;
500namque suis pro te gladiis incumbere, Caesar,
esse parum scimus; sed non maiora supersunt
obsessis, tanti quae pignora demus amoris.
Abscidit nostrae multum fors invida laudi,
quod non cum senibus capti natisque tenemur.
505Indomitos sciat esse viros timeatque furentis
et morti faciles animos et gaudeat hostis
non plures haesisse rates. temptare parabunt
foederibus turpique volent corrumpere vita.
O | utinam, quo plus habeat mors unica famae,
510promittant veniam, iubeant sperare salutem,
ne nos, cum calido fodiemus viscera ferro,
desperasse putent. magna virtute merendumst,
Caesar ut amissis inter tot milia paucis
hoc damnum clademque vocet. Dent fata recessum
515emittantque licet, vitare instantia nolim.
Proieci vitam, comites, totusque futurae
mortis agor stimulis; furor est. Agnoscere solis
permissum quos iam tangit vicinia fati,
victurosque dei celant, ut vivere durent,
520felix esse mori." sic cunctas sustulit ardor
nobilium mentes iuvenum: cum sidera caeli
ante ducis voces oculis umentibus omnes
aspicerent flexoque Ursae temone paverent,
idem, cum fortes animos praecepta subissent,
525optavere diem. Nec segnis vergere ponto
tunc erat astra polus; nam sol Ledaea tenebat
sidera, vicino cum lux altissima Cancrost;
nox tum Thessalicas urgebat parva sagittas.
Detegit orta dies stantis in rupibus Histros
530pugnacesque mari Graia cum classe Liburnos.
Temptavere prius suspenso vincere bello
foederibus, fieret captis si dulcior ipsa
mortis vita mora. Stabat devota iuventus
damnata iam luce ferox securaque pugnae
535promisso sibi fine manu, nullique tumultus
excussere viris mentes ad summa paratas,
innumerasque simul pauci terraque marique
sustinuere manus; tanta est fiducia mortis.
Utque satis bello visum est fluxisse cruoris,
540versus ab hoste furor. Primus dux ipse carinae
Vulteius iugulo poscens iam fata retecto
"Ecquis" ait "iuvenum est, cuius sit dextra cruore
digna meo certaque fide per vulnera nostra
testetur se velle mori?" Nec plura locuto
545viscera non unus iamdudum transigit ensis.
Collaudat cunctos, sed eum cui vulnera prima
debebat grato moriens interficit ictu.
Concurrunt alii totumque in partibus unis
bellorum fecere nefas. Sic semine Cadmi
550emicuit Dircaea cohors ceciditque suorum
vulneribus dirum Thebanis fratribus omen;
Phasidos et campis insomni dente creati
terrigenae missa magicis e cantibus ira
cognato tantos implerunt sanguine sulcos,
555ipsaque inexpertis quod primum fecerat herbis,
expavit Medea nefas. Sic mutua pacti
fata cadunt iuvenes, minimumque in morte virorum
mors virtutis habet; pariter sternuntque caduntque
vulnere letali; nec quemquam dextra fefellit,
560cum feriat moriente manu. Nec vulnus adactis
debetur gladiis: percussum est pectore ferrum,
et iuguli pressere manum. Cum sorte cruenta
fratribus incurrant fratres natusque parenti,
haut trepidante tamen toto cum pondere dextra
565exegere enses. Pietas ferientibus una
non repetisse fuit. Iam latis viscera lapsa
semianimes traxere foris multumque cruorem
infudere mari. despectam cernere lucem
victoresque suos vultu spectare superbo
570et mortem sentire iuvat. Iam strage cruenta
conspicitur cumulata ratis bustisque remittunt
corpora victores ducibus mirantibus, ulli
esse ducem tanti. nullam maiore locutast
ore ratem totum discurrens Fama per orbem.
575Non tamen ignavae post haec exempla virorum
percipient gentes quam sit non ardua virtus
servitium fugisse manu. Sed regna timentur
ob ferrum, et saevis libertas subditur armis,
ignorantque datos, ne quisquam serviat, enses.
580Mors, utinam pavidos vitae subducere nolles
sed virtus te sola daret! Non segnior illo
Marte fuit qui tum Libycis exarsit in arvis.
Namque rates audax Lilybaeo litore solvit
Curio nec forti velis aquilone recepto
585inter semirutas magnae Carthaginis arces
et Clupeam tenuit stationis litora notae
primaque castra locat cano procul aequore, qua se
Bagrada lentus agit siccae sulcator harenae.
Inde petit tumulos exesasque undique rupes,
590Antaei quas regna vocat non vana vetustas.
Nominis antiqui cupientem noscere causas
cognita per multos docuit rudis incola patres:
"Nondum post genitos tellus effeta gigantas
terribilem Libycis partum concepit in antris;
595nec tam iusta fuit terrarum gloria Typhon
aut Tityos Briareusque ferox, caeloque pepercit
quod non Phlegraeis Antaeum sustulit arvis.
Hoc quoque tam vastas cumulavit munere vires
terra sui fetus, quod, cum tetigere parentem,
600iam defecta vigent renovato robore membra.
Haec illi spelunca domus; latuisse sub alta
rupe ferunt, epulas raptos habuisse leones;
ad somnos non terga ferae praebere cubile
adsuerunt, non silva torum, viresque resumit
605in nuda tellure iacens. Periere coloni
arvorum Libyae, pereunt quos appulit aequor;
auxilioque diu virtus non usa cadendi
terrae spernit opes: invictus robore cunctis,
quamuis staret, erat. Tandem vulgata cruenti
610fama mali terras monstris aequorque levantem
magnanimum Alciden Libycas excivit in oras.
Ille Cleonaei proiecit terga leonis,
Antaeus Libyci; perfundit membra liquore
hospes Olympiacae servato more palaestrae,
615ille parum fidens pedibus contingere matrem
auxilium membris calidas infudit harenas.
Conservere manus et multo bracchia nexu;
colla diu gravibus frustra temptata lacertis,
immotumque caput fixa cum fronte tenetur;
620miranturque habuisse parem. Nec viribus uti
Alcides primo volvit certamine totis
exhausitque virum, quod creber anhelitus illi
prodidit et gelidus fesso de corpore sudor.
Tunc cervix lassata quati, tunc pectore pectus
625urgueri, tunc obliqua percussa labare
crura manu. Iam terga viri cedentia victor
alligat et medium compressis ilibus artat
inguinaque insertis pedibus distendit et omnem
explicuit per membra virum. Rapit arida tellus
630sudorem: calido complentur sanguine venae,
intumuere tori, totosque induruit artus
Herculeosque novo laxavit corpore nodos.
Constitit Alcides stupefactus robore tanto
nec sic Inachiis, quamuis rudis esset, in undis
635desectam timuit reparatis anguibus hydram.
Conflixere pares, telluris viribus ille,
ille suis. Numquam saevae sperare novercae
plus licuit; videt exhaustos sudoribus artus
cervicemque viri siccam, cum ferret Olympum.
640Utque iterum fessis iniecit bracchia membris,
non exspectatis Antaeus viribus hostis
sponte cadit maiorque accepto robore surgit.
Quisquis inest terris, in fessos spiritus artus
egeritur, tellusque viro luctante laborat.
645Ut tandem auxilium tactae prodesse parentis
Alcides sensit, "Standum est tibi" dixit "et ultra
non credere solo sternique vetabere terra,
haerebis pressis intra mea pectora membris,
huc, Antaee, cades." sic fatus sustulit alte
650nitentem in terras iuvenem. Morientis in artus
non potuit nati tellus permittere vires:
Alcides medio tenuit iam pectora pigro
stricta gelu terrisque diu non credidit hostem.
Hinc, aevi veteris custos, famosa vetustas
655miratrixque sui signavit nomine terras.
Sed maiora dedit cognomina collibus istis,
Poenum qui Latiis revocavit ab arcibus hostem,
Scipio. Nam sedes Libyca tellure potito
haec fuit. En veteris cernis vestigia valli;
660Romana hos primum tenuit victoria campos."
Curio laetatus, tamquam fortuna locorum
bella gerat servetque ducum sibi fata priorum,
felici non fausta loco tentoria ponens
indulsit castris et collibus abstulit omen
665sollicitatque feros non aequis viribus hostis.
Omnis Romanis quae cesserat Africa signis,
tunc Vari sub iure fuit, qui robore quamquam
confisus Latio regis tamen undique vires
excivit, Libyae gentis, extremaque mundi
670signa suum comitata Iubam. Non fusior ulli
terra fuit domino: qua sunt longissima regni,
cardine ab occiduo vicinus Gadibus Atlas
terminat, a medio confinis Syrtibus Hammon;
at qua lata iacet, vasti plaga fervida regni
675distinet Oceanum zonaeque exusta calentis.
Sufficiunt spatio populi: tot castra sequuntur
Autololes Numidaeque vagi semperque paratus
inculto Gaetulus equo, tum concolor Indo
Maurus, inops Nasamon, mixti Garamante perusto
680Marmaridae volucres aequaturusque sagittas
Medorum, tremulum cum torsit missile, Mazax
et gens quae nudo residens Massylia dorso
ora levi flectit frenorum nescia virga,
et solitus vacuis errare mapalibus Afer
685venator, ferrique simul fiducia non est,
vestibus iratos laxis operire leones.
Nec solum studiis civilibus arma parabat,
privatae sed bella dabat Iuba concitus irae.
Hunc quoque, quo superos humanaque polluit, anno
690lege tribunicia solio depellere avorum
Curio temptarat Libyamque auferre tyranno,
dum regnum te, Roma, facit. memor ille doloris
hoc bellum sceptri fructum putat esse retenti.
Hac igitur regis trepidat iam Curio fama,
695et quod Caesareis numquam devota iuventus
illa nimis castris nec Rheni miles in undis
exploratus erat, Corfini captus in arce;
infidusque novis ducibus dubiusque priori
fas utrumque putat. sed postquam languida segni
700cernit cuncta metu nocturnaque munia valli
desolata fuga, trepida sic mente profatur:
"Audendo magnus tegitur timor, arma capessam
ipse prior, campum miles descendat in aequum,
dum meus est; variam semper dant otia mentem.
705Eripe consilium pugna; cum dira voluptas
ense subit presso, galeae texere pudorem,
quis conferre duces meminit? quis pendere causas?
Qua stetit, inde favet; veluti fatalis harenae
muneribus non ira vetus concurrere cogit
710productos, odere pares." Sic fatus apertis
instruxit campis acies; quem blanda futuris
deceptura malis belli fortuna recepit.
Nam pepulit Varum campo nudataque foeda
terga fuga, donec vetuerunt castra, cecidit.
715Tristia sed postquam superati proelia Vari
sunt audita Iubae, laetus quod gloria belli
sit rebus servata suis, rapit agmina furtim
obscuratque suam per iussa silentia famam
hoc solum metuens incauto ab hoste, timeri.
720Mittitur, exigua qui proelia prima lacessat
eliciatque manu, Numidis a rege secundus,
ut sibi commissi simulator Sabbura belli;
ipse cava regni vires in valle retentat:
aspidas ut Pharias cauda sollertior hostis
725ludit et iratas incerta provocat umbra
obliquusque caput vanas serpentis in auras
effusae tuto comprendit guttura morsu
letiferam citra saniem; tunc irrita pestis
exprimitur, faucesque fluunt pereunte veneno.
730Fraudibus eventum dederat fortuna, feroxque
non exploratis occulti viribus hostis
Curio nocturnum castris erumpere cogit
ignotisque equitem late decurrere campis.
Ipse sub aurorae primos excedere motus
735signa iubet castris multum frustraque rogatus,
ut Libycas metuat fraudes infectaque semper
Punica bella dolis. Leti fortuna propinqui
tradiderat fatis iuvenem, bellumque trahebat
auctorem civile suum. Super ardua ducit
740saxa, super cautes abrupto limite signa,
cum procul e summis conspecti collibus hostes.
Fraude sua cessere parum, dum colle relicto
effusam patulis aciem committeret arvis:
ille fugam credens simulatae nescius artis,
745ut victor, mersos aciem deiecit in agros.
Tunc primum patuere doli, Numidaeque fugaces
undique completis clauserunt montibus agmen.
Obstipuit dux ipse simul perituraque turba.
Non timidi petiere fugam, non proelia fortes:
750quippe ubi non sonipes motus clangore tubarum
saxa quatit pulsu rigidos vexantia frenos
ora terens spargitque iubas et subrigit aures
incertoque pedum pugnat non stare tumultu;
fessa iacet cervix, fumant sudoribus artus,
755oraque proiecta squalent arentia lingua,
pectora rauca gemunt quae creber anhelitus urget,
et defecta gravis longe trahit ilia pulsus,
siccaque sanguineis durescit spuma lupatis.
Iamque gradum neque verberibus stimulisque coacti
760nec quamuis crebris iussi calcaribus addunt;
vulneribus coguntur equi, nec profuit ulli
cornipedis rupisse moras; neque enim impetus ille
incursusque fuit: tantum perfertur ad hostem
et spatium iaculis oblato vulnere donat.
765At vagus Afer equos ut primum emisit in agmen,
tunc campi tremuere sono, terraque soluta,
quantus Bistonio torquetur turbine pulvis,
aëra nube sua texit traxitque tenebras.
Ut vero in pedites fatum miserabile belli
770incubuit, nullo dubii discrimine Martis
ancipites steterunt casus, sed tempora pugnae
mors tenuit; neque enim licuit procurrere contra
et miscere manus. Sic undique saepta iuventus
comminus obliquis et rectis eminus hastis
775obruitur, non vulneribus nec sanguine solum,
telorum nimbo peritura et pondere ferri.
Ergo acies tantae parvum spissantur in orbem,
ac, si quis metuens medium correpsit in agmen,
vix impune suos inter convertitur enses;
780densaturque globus, quantum pede prima relato
constrinxit gyros acies. non arma movendi
iam locus est pressis, stipataque membra teruntur;
frangitur armatum colliso pectore pectus.
Non tam laeta tulit victor spectacula Maurus
785quam fortuna dabat; fluvios non ille cruoris
membrorumque videt lapsum et ferientia terram
corpora: compressum turba stetit omne cadaver.
Excitet invisas dirae Carthaginis umbras
inferiis fortuna novis, ferat ista cruentus
790Hannibal et Poeni tam dira piacula manes.
Romanam, superi, Libyca tellure ruinam
Pompeio prodesse nefas votisque senatus!
Africa nos potius vincat sibi. Curio fusas
ut vidit campis acies et cernere tantas
795permisit clades compressus sanguine pulvis,
non tulit adflictis animam producere rebus
aut sperare fugam ceciditque in strage suorum
impiger ad letum et fortis virtute coacta.
Quid nunc rostra tibi prosunt turbata forumque,
800unde tribunicia plebeius signifer arce
arma dabas populis? quid prodita iura senatus
et gener atque socer bello concurrere iussi?
Ante iaces quam dira duces Pharsalia confert,
spectandumque tibi bellum civile negatumst.
805Has urbi miserae vestro de sanguine poenas
ferre datis, luitis iugulo sic arma, potentes.
Felix Roma quidem civisque habitura beatos,
si libertatis superis tam cura placeret,
quam vindicta placet! Libycas en nobile corpus
810pascit aves, nullo contectus Curio busto.
At tibi nos, quando non proderit ista silere,
a quibus omne aevi senium sua fama repellit,
digna damus, iuvenis, meritae praeconia vitae.
Haut alium tanta civem tulit indole Roma
815aut cui plus leges deberent recta sequenti.
Perdita tunc Urbi nocuerunt saecula, postquam
ambitus et luxus et opum metuenda facultas
transuerso mentem dubiam torrente tulerunt;
momentumque fuit mutatus Curio rerum,
820Gallorum captus spoliis et Caesaris auro.
Ius licet in iugulos nostros sibi fecerit ensis
Sulla potens Mariusque ferox et Cinna cruentus
Caesareaeque domus series, cui tanta potestas
concessa est? emere omnes, hic vendidit Urbem.
