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Iām sŭpĕr Hērcŭlĕās faūcēs nĕmŏrōsăquĕ Tēmpē

Haēmŏnĭaē dēsērtă pĕtēns dīspēndĭă sīlvaē,

cōrnĭpĕdem ēxhaūstūm cūrsū stĭmŭlīsquĕ nĕgāntēm

Māgnŭs ăgēns, īncērtă fŭgaē vēstīgĭă tūrbāt

īmplĭcĭtāsque ērrōrĕ vĭās. păvĕt īllĕ frăgōrēm5

mōtōrūm vēntīs nĕmŏrūm, cŏmĭtūmquĕ sŭōrūm

quī pōst tērgă rĕdīt trĕpĭdūm lătĕrīquĕ tĭmēntēm

ēxănĭmāt. Quămŭīs sūmmō dē cūlmĭnĕ lāpsūs,

nōndūm vīlĕ sŭī prĕtĭūm scīt sānguĭnĭs ēssĕ

sēquĕ, mĕmōr fātī, tāntaē mērcēdĭs hăbērĕ10

crēdĭt ădhūc iŭgŭlūm quāntām prō Caēsărĭs īpsĕ

āvūlsā cērvīcĕ dărēt. Dēsērtă sĕquēntēm

nōn pătĭtūr tūtīs fātūm cēlārĕ lătēbrīs

clāră vĭrī făcĭēs. Mūltī, Phārsālĭcă cāstră

cūm pĕtĕrēnt nōndūm fāmā prōdēntĕ rŭīnās,15

ōccūrsū stŭpŭērĕ dŭcīs, vērtīgĭnĕ rērūm

āttŏnĭtī; clādīsquĕ sŭaē vīx īpsĕ fĭdēlīs

aūctŏr ĕrāt. Grăvĭs ēst Māgnō quīcūmquĕ mălōrūm

tēstĭs ădēst. Cūnctīs īgnōtūs gēntĭbŭs ēssĕ

māllĕt ĕt ōbscūrō tūtūs trānsīrĕ pĕr ūrbēs20

nōmĭnĕ; sēd poēnās lōngī Fōrtūnă făvōrīs

ēxĭgĭt ā mĭsĕrō, quaē tāntō pōndĕrĕ fāmaē

rēs prĕmĭt ādvērsās fātīsquĕ prĭōrĭbŭs ūrgēt.

Nūnc fēstīnātōs nĭmĭūm sĭbĭ sēntĭt hŏnōrēs

āctăquĕ laūrĭfĕraē dāmnāt Sūllānă iŭvēntaē;25

nūnc ēt Cōrўcĭās clāssēs ēt Pōntĭcă sīgnă

dēiēctūm mĕmĭnīssĕ pĭgēt. Sīc lōngĭŭs aēvūm

dēstrŭĭt īngēntīs ănĭmōs ēt vītă sŭpērstēs

īmpĕrĭō; nĭsĭ sūmmă dĭēs cūm fīnĕ bŏnōrūm

ādfŭĭt ēt cĕlĕrī praēvērtīt trīstĭă lētō,30

dēdĕcŏri ēst fōrtūnă prĭōr. Quīsquāmnĕ sĕcūndīs

trādĕrĕ sē fātīs aūdēt nĭsĭ mōrtĕ părātā?

Lītŏră cōntĭgĕrāt pēr quaē Pēnēĭŭs āmnīs

Ēmăthĭā iām clādĕ rŭbēns ēxībăt ĭn aēquōr.

Īndĕ rătīs trĕpĭdūm, vēntīs āc flūctĭbŭs īmpār,35

flūmĭnĕīs vīx tūtă vădīs, ēvēxĭt ĭn āltūm:

cūiŭs ădhūc rēmīs quătĭtūr Cōrcŷră sĭnūsquĕ

Leūcădĭī, Cĭlĭcūm dŏmĭnūs tērraēquĕ Lĭbūrnaē,

ēxĭgŭām vēctōr păvĭdūs cōrrēpsĭt ĭn ālnūm.

Cōnscĭă cūrārūm sēcrētae īn lītŏră Lēsbī40

flēctĕrĕ vēlă iŭbēt, quā tūnc tēllūrĕ lătēbās

maēstĭŏr, īn mĕdĭīs quām sī, Cōrnēlĭă, cāmpīs

Ēmăthĭaē stārēs. trīstēs praēsāgĭă cūrās

ēxăgĭtānt, trĕpĭdā quătĭtūr fōrmīdĭnĕ sōmnūs,

Thēssălĭām nōx ōmnĭs hăbēt; tĕnĕbrīsquĕ rĕmōtīs45

rūpĭs ĭn ābrūptaē scŏpŭlōs ēxtrēmăquĕ cūrrīs

lītŏră; prōspĭcĭēns flūctūs, nūtāntĭă lōngē

sēmpēr prīmă vĭdēs vĕnĭēntīs vēlă cărīnaē,

quaērĕrĕ nēc quīcquām dē fātō cōniŭgĭs aūdēs.

Ēn rătĭs, ād vēstrōs quaē tēndīt cārbăsă pōrtūs!50

Quīd fĕrăt īgnōrās; sēd nūnc tĭbĭ sūmmă păvōrīs,

nūntĭŭs ārmōrūm trīstīs rūmōrquĕ sĭnīstēr,

vīctŭs ădēst cŏnĭūx. quīd pērdīs tēmpŏră lūctūs?

Cūm pōssīs iām flērĕ, tĭmēs! Tūnc pūppĕ prŏpīnquā

prōsīlvīt crīmēnquĕ dĕūm crūdēlĕ nŏtāvīt,55

dēfōrmēm pāllōrĕ dŭcēm vūltūsquĕ prĕmēntēm

cānĭtĭem ātque ātrō squālēntīs pūlvĕrĕ vēstīs.

Ōbvĭă nōx mĭsĕraē caēlūm lūcēmquĕ tĕnēbrīs

ābstŭlĭt, ātque ănĭmām clūsīt dŏlŏr; ōmnĭă nērvīs

mēmbră rĕlīctă lăbānt, rĭgŭērūnt cōrdă, dĭūquĕ60

spē mōrtīs dēcēptă iăcēt. Iām fūnĕ lĭgātō

lītŏrĭbūs lūstrāt văcŭās Pōmpēiŭs hărēnās.

Quēm pōstquām prŏpĭūs fămŭlaē vīdērĕ fĭdēlēs,

nōn ūltrā gĕmĭtūs tăcĭtōs īncēssĕrĕ fātūm

pērmīsērĕ sĭbī, frūstrāque āttōllĕrĕ tērrā65

sēmiănĭmēm cōnāntŭr ĕrām, quām pēctŏrĕ Māgnūs

āmbĭt ĕt ādstrīctōs rĕfŏvēt cōmplēxĭbŭs ārtūs.

Coēpĕrăt īn sūmmūm rĕvŏcātō sānguĭnĕ cōrpūs

Pōmpēī sēntīrĕ mănūs maēstāmquĕ mărītī

pōssĕ pătī făcĭēm; prŏhĭbēt sūccūmbĕrĕ fātīs70

Māgnŭs ĕt īnmŏdĭcōs cāstīgāt vōcĕ dŏlōrēs:

"Nōbĭlĕ cūr rōbūr fōrtūnaē vūlnĕrĕ prīmō

fēmĭnă tāntōrūm tĭtŭlīs īnsīgnĭs ăvōrūm

frāngĭs? Hăbēs ădĭtūm mānsūrae īn saēcŭlă fāmaē:

laūdĭs ĭn hōc sēxū nōn lēgūm iūră nĕc ārmă,75

ūnĭcă mātĕrĭa ēst cŏnĭūx mĭsĕr. Ērĭgĕ mēntēm,

ēt tŭă cūm fātīs pĭĕtās dēcērtĕt, ĕt īpsūm

quōd sūm vīctŭs ămā; nūnc sūm tĭbĭ glōrĭă māiōr,

ā mē quōd fāscēs ēt quōd pĭă tūrbă sĕnātūs

tāntăquĕ dīscēssīt rēgūm mănŭs. Īncĭpĕ Māgnūm80

sōlă sĕquī. Dēfōrmĭs ădhūc vīvēntĕ mărītō

sūmmŭs ĕt aūgērī vĕtĭtūs dŏlŏr: ūltĭmă dēbēt

ēssĕ fĭdēs lūgērĕ vĭrūm. Tū nūllă tŭlīstī

bēllō dāmnă mĕō: vīvīt pōst proēlĭă Māgnūs,

sēd fōrtūnă pĕrīt; quōd dēflēs, īllŭd ămāstī."85

Vōcĭbŭs hīs cōrrēptă vĭrī vīx aēgră lĕvāvīt

mēmbră sŏlō, tālīs gĕmĭtū rūmpēntĕ quĕrēllās:

"Ō | ŭtĭnam īn thălămōs īnvīsī Caēsărĭs īssēm

īnfēlīx cŏnĭūx ēt nūllī laētă mărītō!

Bīs nŏcŭī mūndō; mē prōnŭbă dūcĭt Ĕrīnŷs90

Crāssōrūmque ūmbraē, dēvōtăquĕ mānĭbŭs īllīs

Āssўrĭōs īn cāstră tŭlī cīvīlĭă cāsūs,

praēcĭpĭtēsquĕ dĕdī pŏpŭlōs cūnctōsquĕ fŭgāvī

ā caūsā mĕlĭōrĕ dĕōs. Ō māxĭmĕ cōniūx,

ō thălămīs īndīgnĕ mĕīs, hōc iūrĭs hăbēbāt95

īn tāntūm fōrtūnă căpūt! Cūr īmpĭă nūpsī,

sī mĭsĕrūm fāctūră fŭī? Nūnc āccĭpĕ poēnās,

sēd quās spōntĕ lŭām. Quō sīt tĭbĭ mōllĭŭs aēquōr,

cērtă fĭdēs rēgūm tōtūsquĕ părātĭŏr ōrbīs,

spārgĕ mărī cŏmĭtēm. Māllēm fēlīcĭbŭs ārmīs100

dēpēndīssĕ căpūt; nūnc clādēs dēnĭquĕ lūstră,

Māgnĕ, tŭās. ŭbĭcūmquĕ iăcēs, cīvīlĭbŭs ārmīs

nōstrōs ūltă tŏrōs, ădĕs hūc ātque ēxĭgĕ poēnās,

Iūlĭă, crūdēlīs, plācātăquĕ paēlĭcĕ caēsā

Māgnō pārcĕ tŭō." sīc fāta ĭtĕrūmquĕ rĕfūsă105

cōniŭgĭs īn grĕmĭūm, cūnctōrūm lūmĭnă sōlvīt

īn lăcrĭmās. Dūrī flēctūntūr pēctŏră Māgnī,

sīccăquĕ Thēssălĭaē cōnfūdīt lūmĭnă Lēsbōs.

Tūnc Mўtĭlēnaēūm plēnō iām lītŏrĕ vūlgūs

ādfātūr Māgnūm: "Sī māxĭmă glōrĭă nōbīs110

sēmpĕr ĕrīt tāntī pīgnūs sērvāssĕ mărītī,

tū quŏquĕ dēvōtōs sācrō tĭbĭ foēdĕrĕ mūrōs,

ōrāmūs, sŏcĭōsquĕ lărēs dīgnērĕ vĕl ūnā

nōctĕ tŭā: fāc, Māgnĕ, lŏcūm, quēm cūnctă rĕvīsānt

saēcŭlă, quēm vĕnĭēns hōspēs Rōmānŭs ădōrēt.115

Nūllă tĭbī sŭbĕūndă măgīs sūnt moēnĭă vīctō:

ōmnĭă vīctōrīs pōssūnt spērārĕ făvōrēm,

haēc iām crīmĕn hăbēnt. Quīd, quōd iăcĕt īnsŭlă pōntō?

Caēsăr ĕgēt rătĭbūs: prŏcĕrūm pārs māgnă cŏībīt

cērtă lŏcī; nōtō rĕpărāndum ēst lītŏrĕ fātūm.120

Āccĭpĕ tēmplōrūm cūltūs aūrūmquĕ dĕōrūm;

āccĭpĕ, sī tērrīs, sī pūppĭbŭs īstă iŭvēntūs

āptĭŏr ēst; tōtā, quāntūm vălĕt, ūtĕrĕ Lēsbō.

Āccĭpĕ: nē Caēsār răpĭāt, tū vīctŭs hăbētō.

Hōc sōlūm crīmēn mĕrĭtaē bĕnĕ dētrăhĕ tērraē,125

nē nōstrām vĭdĕārĕ fĭdēm fēlīxquĕ sĕcūtūs

ēt dāmnāssĕ mĭsēr." Tālī pĭĕtātĕ vĭrōrūm

laētŭs ĭn ādvērsīs ēt mūndī nōmĭnĕ gaūdēns

ēssĕ fĭdēm: "Nūllūm tōtō mĭhĭ" dīxĭt "ĭn ōrbĕ

grātĭŭs ēssĕ sŏlūm nōn pārvō pīgnŏrĕ vōbīs130

ōstēndī; tĕnŭīt nōstrōs hāc ōbsĭdĕ Lēsbōs

ādfēctūs; hīc sācră dŏmūs cārīquĕ pĕnātēs,

hīc mĭhĭ Rōmă fŭīt. Nōn ūlla īn lītŏră pūppēm

āntĕ dĕdī fŭgĭēns, saēvī cūm Caēsărĭs īrām

iām scīrēm mĕrĭtām sērvātā cōniŭgĕ Lēsbōn,135

nōn vĕrĭtūs tāntām vĕnĭaē cōmmīttĕrĕ vōbīs

mātĕrĭām. Sēd iām sătĭs ēst fēcīssĕ nŏcēntēs.

Fātă mĭhī tōtūm mĕă sūnt ăgĭtāndă pĕr ōrbēm.

Heū nĭmĭūm fēlīx aētērnō nōmĭnĕ Lēsbōs,

sīvĕ dŏcēs pŏpŭlōs rēgēsque ādmīttĕrĕ Māgnūm,140

seū praēstās mĭhĭ sōlă fĭdēm. Nām quaērĕrĕ cērtūm

fās quĭbŭs īn tērrīs, ŭbĭ sīt scĕlŭs. Āccĭpĕ, nūmēn,

Sī quŏd ădhūc mēcum ēst, vōtōrum ēxtrēmă mĕōrūm:

dā sĭmĭlīs Lēsbō pŏpŭlōs, quī Mārtĕ sŭbāctūm

nōn īntrārĕ sŭōs īnfēstō Caēsărĕ pōrtūs,145

nōn ēxīrĕ vĕtēnt." Dīxīt maēstāmquĕ cărīnaē

īmpŏsŭīt cŏmĭtēm. cūnctōs mūtārĕ pŭtārēs

tēllūrēm pătrĭaēquĕ sŏlūm: sīc lītŏrĕ tōtō

plāngĭtŭr, īnfēstaē tēndūntŭr ĭn aēthĕră dēxtraē;

Pōmpĕĭūmquĕ mĭnūs, cūiūs fōrtūnă dŏlōrēm150

mōvĕrăt, āst īllām, quām tōtō tēmpŏrĕ bēllī

ūt cīvēm vīdērĕ sŭām, dīscēdĕrĕ cērnēns

īngĕmŭīt pŏpŭlūs; quām vīx, sī cāstră mărītī

vīctōrīs pĕtĕrēt, sīccīs dīmīttĕrĕ mātrēs

iām pŏtĕrānt ŏcŭlīs: tāntō dēvīnxĭt ămōrĕ155

hōs pŭdŏr, hōs prŏbĭtās cāstīquĕ mŏdēstĭă vūltūs,

quōd sūmmīssa ănĭmīs, nūllī grăvĭs hōspĭtă tūrbaē

stāntĭs ădhūc fātī vīxīt quăsĭ cōniŭgĕ vīctō.

Iām pĕlăgō mĕdĭōs Tītān dēmīssŭs ăd īgnēs

nēc quĭbŭs ābscōndīt nēc sī quĭbŭs ēxsĕrĭt ōrbēm160

tōtŭs ĕrāt: vĭgĭlēs Pōmpēī pēctŏrĕ cūraē

nūnc sŏcĭās ădĕūnt Rōmānī foēdĕrĭs ūrbēs

ēt vărĭās rēgūm mēntēs, nūnc īnvĭă mūndī

ārvă sŭpēr nĭmĭōs sōlēs aūstrūmquĕ iăcēntīs.

Saēpĕ lăbōr maēstūs cūrārum ŏdĭūmquĕ fŭtūrī165

prōĭĕcīt fēssōs īncērtī pēctŏrĭs aēstūs,

rēctōrēmquĕ rătīs dē cūnctīs cōnsŭlĭt āstrīs,

ūndĕ nŏtēt tērrās, quaē sīt mēnsūră sĕcāndī

aēquŏrĭs īn caēlō, Sўrĭām quō sīdĕrĕ sērvēt,

aūt quŏtŭs īn Plaūstrō Lĭbўām bĕnĕ dīrĭgăt īgnīs.170

Dōctŭs ăd haēc fātūr tăcĭtī sērvātŏr Ŏlŷmpī:

"Sīgnĭfĕrō quaēcūmquĕ flŭūnt lābēntĭă caēlō,

nūmquām stāntĕ pŏlō mĭsĕrōs fāllēntĭă naūtās,

sīdĕră nōn sĕquĭmūr; sēd quī nōn mērgĭtŭr ūndīs

āxĭs ĭnōccĭdŭūs gĕmĭnā clārīssĭmŭs ārctō,175

īllĕ rĕgīt pūppēs. Hīc cūm mĭhĭ sēmpĕr ĭn āltūm

sūrgĕt ĕt īnstābīt sūmmīs mĭnŏr Ūrsă cĕrūchīs,

Bōspŏrŏn ēt Scўthĭaē cūrvāntēm lītŏră Pōntūm

spēctāmūs. Quīcquīd dēscēndĕt ăb ārbŏrĕ sūmmā

Ārctŏphўlāx prŏpĭōrquĕ mărī Cўnŏsūră fĕrētūr,180

īn Sўrĭaē pōrtūs tēndēt rătĭs. Īndĕ Cănōpōs

ēxcĭpĭt aūstrālī caēlō cōntēntă văgārī,

stēllă tĭmēns bŏrĕān; īllā quŏquĕ pērgĕ sĭnīstrā

trāns Phărŏn, īn mĕdĭō tāngēt rătĭs aēquŏrĕ Sŷrtīm.

Sēd quō vēlă dărī, quō nūnc pĕdĕ cārbăsă tēndī185

nōstră iŭbēs?" Dŭbĭō cōntrā cuī pēctŏrĕ Māgnūs

"Hōc sōlūm tōtō" rēspōndĭt "ĭn aēquŏrĕ sērvā,

ūt sĭt ăb Ēmăthĭīs sēmpēr tŭă lōngĭŭs ōrīs

pūppĭs ĕt Hēspĕrĭām pĕlăgō caēlōquĕ rĕlīnquās;

cētĕră dā vēntīs. Cŏmĭtēm pīgnūsquĕ rĕcēpī190

dēpŏsĭtūm: tūnc cērtŭs ĕrām quaē lītŏră vēllēm,

nūnc pōrtūm fōrtūnă dăbīt." Sīc fātŭr; ăt īllĕ

iūstō vēlă mŏdō pēndēntĭă cōrnĭbŭs aēquīs

tōrsĭt ĕt īn laēvūm pūppīm dĕdĭt, ūtquĕ sĕcārēt,

quās Ăsĭnaē caūtēs ēt quās Chĭŏs āspĕrăt, ūndās,195

hōs dĕdĭt īn prōrām, tĕnĕt hōs īn pūppĕ rŭdēntīs.

Aēquŏră sēnsērūnt mōtūs ălĭtērquĕ sĕcāntĕ

iām pĕlăgūs rōstrō nĕc ĭdēm spēctāntĕ cărīnā

mūtāvērĕ sŏnūm. Nōn sīc mŏdĕrātŏr ĕquōrūm,

dēxtĕrĭōrĕ rŏtā laēvūm cūm cīrcŭmĭt āxēm,200

cōgĭt ĭnōffēnsaē cūrrūs āccēdĕrĕ mētaē.

Ōstēndīt tērrās Tītān ēt sīdĕră tēxīt.

Spārsŭs ăb Ēmăthĭā fūgīt quīcūmquĕ prŏcēllā,

ādsĕquĭtūr Māgnūm, prīmūsque ā lītŏrĕ Lēsbī

ōccūrrīt nātūs, prŏcĕrūm mōx tūrbă fĭdēlīs;205

nām nĕquĕ dēiēctō fātīs ăcĭēquĕ fŭgātō

ābstŭlĕrāt Māgnō rēgēs fōrtūnă mĭnīstrōs;

tērrārūm dŏmĭnōs ēt scēptra Ēōă tĕnēntīs

ēxŭl hăbēt cŏmĭtēs. Iŭbĕt īre īn dēvĭă mūndī

Dēiŏtărūm, quī spārsă dŭcīs vēstīgĭă lēgīt.210

"Quāndo" āīt "Ĕmăthīĭs ămīssūs clādĭbŭs ōrbīs,

quā Rōmānŭs ĕrāt, sŭpĕrēst, fīdīssĭmĕ rēgūm,

Ēōām tēmptārĕ fĭdēm pŏpŭlōsquĕ bĭbēntīs

Eūphrātēn ĕt ădhūc sēcūrum ā Caēsărĕ Tīgrīm.

Nē pĭgĕāt Māgnō quaērēntēm fātă rĕmōtās215

Mēdōrūm pĕnĕtrārĕ dŏmōs Scўthĭcōsquĕ rĕcēssūs

ēt tōtūm mūtārĕ dĭēm vōcēsquĕ sŭpērbō

Ārsăcĭdaē pērfērrĕ mĕās: "Sī foēdĕră nōbīs

prīscă mănēnt mĭhĭ pēr Lătĭūm iūrātă Tŏnāntēm,

pēr vēstrōs āstrīctă măgōs, īmplētĕ phărētrās220

Ārmĕnĭōsque ārcūs Gĕtĭcīs īntēndĭtĕ nērvīs;

sī vōs, ō Pārthī, pĕtĕrēm cūm Cāspĭă claūstră

ēt sĕquĕrēr dūrōs aētērnī Mārtĭs Ălānōs,

pāssŭs Ăchaēmĕnĭīs lātē dēcūrrĕrĕ cāmpīs

īn tūtām trĕpĭdōs nūmquām Băbўlōnă cŏēgī:225

ārvă sŭpēr Cŷrī Chāldaēīque ūltĭmă rēgnī,

quā răpĭdūs Gāngēs ēt quā Nŷsaēŭs Hўdāspēs

āccēdūnt pĕlăgō, Phoēbī sūrgēntĭs ăb īgnĕ

iām prŏpĭōr quām Pērsĭs ĕrām; tămĕn ōmnĭă vīncēns

sūstĭnŭī nōstrīs vōs tāntūm dēssĕ trĭūmphīs,230

sōlūsque ē nŭmĕrō rēgūm tēllūrĭs Ĕōaē

ēx aēquō mē Pārthŭs ădīt. Nēc mūnĕrĕ Māgnī

stānt sĕmĕl Ārsăcĭdaē. Quĭs ĕnīm pōst vūlnĕră clādīs

Āssўrĭaē iūstās Lătĭī cōmpēscŭĭt īrās?

Tōt mĕrĭtīs ōbstrīctă mĕīs nūnc Pārthĭă rūptīs235

ēxcēdāt claūstrīs vĕtĭtām pēr saēcŭlă rīpām

Zeūgmăquĕ Pēllaēūm. Pōmpēiō vīncĭtĕ, Pārthī,

vīncī Rōmă vŏlēt". Rēgēm pārērĕ iŭbēntī

ārdŭă nōn pĭgŭīt, pŏsĭtīsque īnsīgnĭbŭs aūlaē

ēgrĕdĭtūr fămŭlō rāptōs īndūtŭs ămīctūs.240

Īn dŭbĭīs tūtum ēst ĭnŏpēm sĭmŭlārĕ tўrānnō;

quānto ĭgĭtūr mūndī dŏmĭnīs sēcūrĭŭs aēvūm

vērūs paūpĕr ăgīt! Dīmīsso īn lītŏrĕ rēgĕ,

īpsĕ pĕr Īcărĭaē scŏpŭlōs Ĕphĕsōnquĕ rĕlīnquēns

ēt plăcĭdī Cŏlŏphōnă mărīs spūmāntĭă pārvaē245

rādīt sāxă Sămī; spīrāt dē lītŏrĕ Cōō

aūră flŭēns; Gnĭdŏn īndĕ fŭgīt clārāmquĕ rĕlīnquīt

sōlĕ Rhŏdōn māgnōsquĕ sĭnūs Tēlmēssĭdŏs ūndaē

cōnpēnsāt mĕdĭō pĕlăgī. Pāmphŷlĭă pūppī

ōccūrrīt tēllūs, nēc sē cōmmīttĕrĕ mūrīs250

aūsŭs ădhūc ūllīs, tē prīmūm, pārvă Phăsēlīs,

Māgnŭs ădīt; nām tē mĕtŭī vĕtăt īncŏlă rārūs

ēxhaūstaēquĕ dŏmūs pŏpŭlīs, māiōrquĕ cărīnaē

quām tŭă tūrbă fŭīt. Tēndēns hīnc cārbăsă rūrsūs

iām Taūrūm Taūrōquĕ vĭdēt Dīpsūntă cădēntēm.255

Crēdĕrĕt hōc Māgnūs, pācēm cūm praēstĭtĭt ūndīs,

ēt sĭbĭ cōnsūltūm? Cĭlĭcūm pēr lītŏră tūtūs

pārvā pūppĕ fŭgīt. Sĕquĭtūr pārs māgnă sĕnātūs

ād prŏfŭgūm cōllēctă dŭcēm, pārvīsquĕ Sўēdrīs,

quō pōrtū mīttītquĕ rătēs rĕcĭpītquĕ Sĕlīnūs,260

īn prŏcĕrūm coētū tāndēm maēsta ōră rĕsōlvīt

vōcĭbŭs hīs Māgnūs: "Cŏmĭtēs bēllīquĕ fŭgaēquĕ

ātque īnstār pătrĭaē, quămŭīs īn lītŏrĕ nūdō,

īn Cĭlĭcūm tērrā, nūllīs cīrcūmdătŭs ārmīs

cōnsūltēm rēbūsquĕ nŏvīs ēxōrdĭă quaērām,265

īngēntīs praēstāte ănĭmōs. nōn ōmnĭs ĭn ārvīs

Ēmăthĭīs cĕcĭdī, nēc sīc mĕă fātă prĕmūntūr

ūt nĕquĕām rĕlĕvārĕ căpūt clādēsquĕ rĕcēptās

ēxcŭtĕre. Ān Lĭbўcaē Mărĭūm pŏtŭērĕ rŭīnaē

ērĭgĕre īn fāscēs ēt plēnīs rēddĕrĕ fāstīs:270

mē pūlsūm lĕvĭōrĕ mănū Fōrtūnă tĕnēbīt?

Mīllĕ mĕaē Grăĭō vōlvūntŭr ĭn aēquŏrĕ pūppēs,

mīllĕ dŭcēs; spārsīt pŏtĭūs Phārsālĭă nōstrās,

quām sŭbŭērtĭt, ŏpēs. Sēd mē vēl sōlă tŭērī

fāmă pŏtēst rērūm, tōtō quās gēssĭmŭs ōrbĕ,275

ēt nōmēn quōd mūndŭs ămāt. vōs pēndĭtĕ rēgnă

vīrĭbŭs ātquĕ fĭdē, Lĭbўām, Pārthōsquĕ Phărōnquĕ,

quēmnām Rōmānīs dĕcĕāt sūccūrrĕrĕ rēbūs.

Āst ĕgŏ cūrārūm vōbīs ārcānă mĕārūm

ēxprōmām mēntīsquĕ mĕaē quō pōndĕră vērgānt.280

Aētās Nīlĭăcī nōbīs sūspēctă tўrānnīst:

ārdŭă quīppĕ fĭdēs rōbūstōs ēxĭgĭt ānnōs.

Hīnc āncēps dŭbĭī tērrēt sōllērtĭă Maūrī;

nāmquĕ mĕmōr gĕnĕrīs Cārthāgĭnĭs īmpĭă prōlēs

īmmĭnĕt Hēspĕrĭaē, mūltūsque īn pēctŏrĕ vānōst285

Hānnĭbăl, ōblīquō măcŭlāt quī sānguĭnĕ rēgnūm

ēt Nŭmĭdās cōntīngĭt ăvōs; iām sūpplĭcĕ Vārō

īntŭmŭīt vīdītquĕ lŏcō Rōmānă sĕcūndō.

Quāre ăgĭte Ēōūm, cŏmĭtēs, prŏpĕrēmŭs ĭn ōrbēm.

Dīvĭdĭt Eūphrātēs īngēntēm gūrgĭtĕ mūndūm,290

Cāspĭăque īnmēnsōs sēdūcūnt claūstră rĕcēssūs,

ēt pŏlŭs Āssўrĭās āltēr nōctēsquĕ dĭēsquĕ

vērtĭt, ĕt ābrūptum ēst nōstrō mărĕ dīscŏlŏr ūndā

Ōcĕănūsquĕ sŭūs. Rēgnāndī sōlă vŏlūptās;

cēlsĭŏr īn cāmpō sŏnĭpēs ēt fōrtĭŏr ārcūs,295

nēc pŭĕr aūt sĕnĭōr lētālīs tēndĕrĕ nērvōs

sēgnĭs, ĕt ā nūllā mōrs ēst īncērtă săgīttā.

Prīmī Pēllaēās ārcū frēgērĕ sărīsās

Bāctrăquĕ Mēdōrūm sēdēm, mūrīsquĕ sŭpērbām

Āssўrĭās Băbўlōnă dŏmōs. nēc pīlă tĭmēntūr300

nōstră nĭmīs Pārthīs, aūdēntque īn bēllă vĕnīrĕ

ēxpērtī Scўthĭcās Crāssō pĕrĕūntĕ phărētrās.

Spīcŭlă nēc sōlō spārgūnt fīdēntĭă fērrō,

strīdŭlă sēd mūltō sătŭrāntūr tēlă vĕnēnō;

vūlnĕră pārvă nŏcēnt, fātūmque īn sānguĭnĕ sūmmōst.305

Ō | ŭtĭnām nōn tāntă mĭhī fīdūcĭă saēvīs

ēssĕt ĭn Ārsăcĭdīs! Fātīs nĭmĭs aēmŭlă nōstrīs

fātă mŏvēnt Mēdōs, mūltūmque īn gēntĕ dĕōrūmst.

Ēffūndām pŏpŭlōs ălĭā tēllūrĕ rĕvūlsōs

ēxcītōsquĕ sŭīs īmmīttām sēdĭbŭs ōrtūs.310

Quōd sī nōs Ēōă fĭdēs ēt bārbără fāllēnt

foēdĕră, vūlgātī sūprā cōmmērcĭă mūndī

naūfrăgĭūm Fōrtūnă fĕrāt: nōn rēgnă prĕcābōr

quaē fēcī. Sāt māgnă fĕrām sōlācĭă mōrtīs,

ōrbĕ iăcēns ălĭō, nĭhĭl haēc īn mēmbră crŭēntē,315

nīl sŏcĕrūm fēcīssĕ pĭē. Sēd cūnctă rĕvōlvēns

vītaē fātă mĕaē, sēmpēr vĕnĕrābĭlĭs īllā

ōrbīs pārtĕ fŭī; quāntūs Maēōtĭdă sūprā,

quāntŭs ăpūt Tănăīm tōtō cōnspēctŭs ĭn ōrtū!

Quās măgĭs īn tērrās nōstrūm fēlīcĭbŭs āctīs320

nōmĕn ăbīt aūt ūndĕ rĕdīt māiōrĕ trĭūmphō?

Rōmă, făvē coēptīs; quĭd ĕnīm tĭbĭ laētĭŭs ūmquām

praēstĭtĕrīnt sŭpĕrī, quām, sī cīvīlĭă Pārthō

mīlĭtĕ bēllă gĕrās, tāntām cōnsūmĕrĕ gēntēm

ēt nōstrīs mīscērĕ mălīs? Cūm Caēsărĭs ārmă325

cōncūrrēnt Mēdīs, aūt mē fōrtūnă nĕcēssēst

vīndĭcĕt aūt Crāssōs." Sīc fātūs mūrmŭrĕ sēntīt

cōnsĭlĭūm dāmnāssĕ vĭrōs; quōs Lēntŭlŭs ōmnīs

vīrtūtīs stĭmŭlīs ēt nōbĭlĭtātĕ dŏlēndī

praēcēssīt dīgnāsquĕ tŭlīt mŏdŏ cōnsŭlĕ vōcēs:330

"Sīcĭnĕ Thēssălĭcaē mēntēm frēgērĕ rŭīnaē?

Ūnă dĭēs mūndī dāmnāvīt fātă? sĕcūndūm

Ēmăthĭām līs tāntă dătūr? iăcĕt ōmnĕ crŭēntī

vūlnĕrĭs aūxĭlĭūm? sōlōs tĭbĭ, Māgnĕ, rĕlīquīt

Pārthōrūm fōrtūnă pĕdēs? Quīd trānsfŭgă mūndī,335

tērrārūm tōtōs trāctūs caēlūmquĕ pĕrōsūs,

āvērsōsquĕ pŏlōs ălĭēnăquĕ sīdĕră quaērīs,

Chāldaēōs cūltūrĕ fŏcōs ēt bārbără sācră,

Pārthōrūm fămŭlūs? quīd caūsa ōbtēndĭtŭr ārmīs

lībērtātĭs ămōr? mĭsĕrūm quīd dēcĭpĭs ōrbēm,340

sī sērvīrĕ pŏtēs? Tē, quēm Rōmānă rĕgēntēm

hōrrŭĭt aūdītū, quēm cāptōs dūcĕrĕ rēgēs

vīdĭt ăb Hŷrcānīs Īndōque ā lītŏrĕ sīlvīs,

dēiēctūm fātīs, hŭmĭlēm frāctūmquĕ vĭdēbīt

ēxtōllētque ănĭmōs Lătĭūm vēsānŭs ĭn ōrbēm,345

sē sĭmŭl ēt Rōmām Pōmpēĭŏ sūpplĭcĕ mēnsūs?

Nīl ănĭmīs fātīsquĕ tŭīs ēffābĕrĕ dīgnūm;

ēxĭgĕt īgnōrāns Lătĭaē cōmmērcĭă līnguaē

ūt lăcrĭmīs sē, Māgnĕ, rŏgēs. Pătĭmūrnĕ pŭdōrīs

hōc vūlnūs, clādēs ūt Pārthĭă vīndĭcĕt āntĕ350

Hēspĕrĭās quām Rōmă sŭās? Cīvīlĭbŭs ārmīs

ēlēgīt tē nēmpĕ dŭcēm: quīd vūlnĕră nōstră

īn Scўthĭcōs spārgīs pŏpŭlōs clādēsquĕ lătēntēs?

quīd Pārthōs trānsīrĕ dŏcēs? Sōlācĭă tāntī

pērdīt Rōmă mălī, nūllōs ādmīttĕrĕ rēgēs,355

sēd cīvī sērvīrĕ sŭō. Iŭvăt īrĕ pĕr ōrbēm

dūcēntēm saēvās Rōmāna īn moēnĭă gēntēs

sīgnăque ăb Eūphrātē cūm Crāssīs cāptă sĕquēntēm?

Quī sōlūs rēgūm fātō cēlāntĕ făvōrēm

dēfŭĭt Ēmăthĭaē, nūnc tāntās īllĕ lăcēssēt360

aūdītī vīctōrĭs ŏpēs aūt iūngĕrĕ fātă

tēcūm, Māgnĕ, vŏlēt? nōn haēc fīdūcĭă gēntīst:

ōmnĭs ĭn ārctōīs pŏpŭlūs quīcūmquĕ prŭīnīs

nāscĭtŭr, īndŏmĭtūs bēllīs ēt mōrtĭs ămātōr;

quīcquĭd ăd Ēōōs trāctūs mūndīquĕ tĕpōrēm365

ībĭtŭr, ēmōllīt gēntēs clēmēntĭă caēlī.

Īllīc ēt lāxās vēstēs ēt flūxă vĭrōrūm

vēlāmēntă vĭdēs. Pārthūs pēr Mēdĭcă rūră,

Sārmătĭcōs īntēr cāmpōs ēffūsăquĕ plānō

Tīgrĭdĭs ārvă sŏlō nūllī sŭpĕrābĭlĭs hōstīst370

lībērtātĕ fŭgaē; sēd nōn, ŭbĭ tērră tŭmēbīt,

āspĕră cōnscēndēt mōntīs iŭgă nēc pĕr ŏpācās

bēllă gĕrēt tĕnĕbrās īncērtō dēbĭlĭs ārcū

nēc frāngēt nāndō vĭŏlēntī vērtĭcĭs āmnēm

nēc tōta īn pūgnā pērfūsūs sānguĭnĕ mēmbră375

ēxĭgĕt aēstīvūm călĭdō sūb pūlvĕrĕ sōlēm.

Nōn ărĭēs īllīs, nōn ūlla ēst māchĭnă bēllī,

aūt fōssās īmplērĕ vălēnt, Pārthōquĕ sĕquēntī

mūrŭs ĕrīt quōdcūmquĕ pŏtēst ōbstārĕ săgīttaē.

Pūgnă lĕvīs bēllūmquĕ fŭgāx tūrmaēquĕ văgāntēs380

ēt mĕlĭōr cēssīssĕ lŏcō quām pēllĕrĕ mīlēs;

īllĭtă tēlă dŏlīs, nēc Mārtēm cōmmĭnŭs ūsquām

aūsă pătī vīrtūs, sēd lōngē tēndĕrĕ nērvōs

ēt quō fērrĕ vĕlīnt pērmīttĕrĕ vūlnĕră vēntīs.

Ēnsĭs hăbēt vīrēs, ēt gēns quaēcūmquĕ vĭrōrūm385

bēllă gĕrīt glădĭīs. Nām Mēdōs proēlĭă prīmă

ēxārmānt văcŭāquĕ iŭbēnt rĕmĕārĕ phărētrā.

Nūllă mănūs īllīs, fīdūcĭă tōtă vĕnēnīst.

Crēdīs, Māgnĕ, vĭrōs, quōs īn dīscrīmĭnă bēllī

cūm fērrō mīsīssĕ părum ēst? Tēmptārĕ pŭdēndūm390

aūxĭlĭūm tānti ēst, tōtō dīvīsŭs ŭt ōrbĕ

ā tērrā mŏrĭārĕ tŭā, tĭbĭ bārbără tēllūs

īncūmbāt, tē pārvă tĕgānt āc vīlĭă būstă,

īnvĭdĭōsă tămēn Crāssō quaērēntĕ sĕpūlchrūm?

Sēd tŭă sōrs lĕvĭōr, quŏnĭām mōrs ūltĭmă poēnāst395

nēc mĕtŭēndă vĭrīs. Āt nōn Cōrnēlĭă lētūm

īnfāndō sūb rēgĕ tĭmēt. Nūm bārbără nōbīs

ēst īgnōtă Vĕnūs, quaē rītū caēcă fĕrārūm

pōllŭĭt īnnŭmĕrīs lēgēs ēt foēdĕră taēdaē

cōniŭgĭbūs thălămīquĕ pătēnt sēcrētă nĕfāndī400

īntēr mīllĕ nŭrūs? Ĕpŭlīs vēsānă mĕrōquĕ

rēgĭă nōn ūllīs ēxcēptōs lēgĭbŭs aūdēt

cōncŭbĭtūs; tōt fēmĭnĕīs cōmplēxĭbŭs ūnūm

nōn lāssāt nōx tōtă mărēm. Iăcŭērĕ sŏrōrēs

īn rēgūm thălămīs sācrātăquĕ pīgnŏră mātrēs.405

Dāmnăt ăpūd gēntēs scĕlĕrīs nōn spōntĕ pĕrāctī

Oēdĭpŏdīŏnĭās īnfēlīx fābŭlă Thēbās:

Pārthōrūm dŏmĭnūs quŏtĭēns sīc sānguĭnĕ mīxtō

nāscĭtŭr Ārsăcĭdēs? cuī fās īmplērĕ părēntēm,

quīd rĕăr ēssĕ nĕfās? Prōlēs tām clāră Mĕtēllī410

stābīt bārbărĭcō cŏnĭūx mīllēsĭmă lēctō.

Quāmquām nōn ūllī plūs rēgĭă, Māgnĕ, văcābīt

saēvĭtĭā stĭmŭlātă Vĕnūs tĭtŭlīsquĕ vĭrōrūm;

nām quō plūră iŭvēnt Pārthūm pōrtēntă, fŭīssĕ

hānc scĭĕt ēt Crāssī; ceū prīdēm dēbĭtă fātīs415

Āssўrĭīs trăhĭtūr clādīs cāptīvă vĕtūstaē.

Haērĕăt Ēōaē vūlnūs mĭsĕrābĭlĕ sōrtīs:

nōn sōlum aūxĭlĭūm fūnēsto āb rēgĕ pĕtīssĕ,

sēd gēssīssĕ prĭūs bēllūm cīvīlĕ pŭdēbīt.

Nām quŏd ăpūd pŏpŭlōs crīmēn sŏcĕrīquĕ tŭūmquĕ420

māiŭs ĕrīt quām quōd vōbīs mīscēntĭbŭs ārmă

Crāssōrūm vīndīctă pĕrīt? Īncūrrĕrĕ cūnctī

dēbŭĕrānt īn Bāctră dŭcēs ēt, nē quă văcārēnt

ārmă, vĕl ārctōūm Dācīs Rhēnīquĕ cătērvīs

īmpĕrĭī nūdārĕ lătūs, dūm pērfĭdă Sūsă425

īn tŭmŭlōs prōlāpsă dŭcūm Băbўlōnquĕ iăcērēt.

Āssўrĭaē pācī fīnēm, Fōrtūnă, prĕcāmūr;

ēt, sī Thēssălĭā bēllūm cīvīlĕ pĕrāctūmst,

ād Pārthōs quī vīcĭt ĕāt. gēns ūnĭcă mūndīst

dē quā Caēsărĕīs pōssīm gaūdērĕ trĭūmphīs.430

Nōn tĭbĭ, cūm prīmūm gĕlĭdūm trānsībĭs Ărāxēn,

ūmbră sĕnīs maēstī Scўthĭcīs cōnfīxă săgīttīs

īngĕrĕt hās vōcēs? "Tū, quēm pōst fūnĕră nōstră

ūltōrēm cĭnĕrūm nūdaē spērāvĭmŭs ūmbraē,

ād foēdūs pācēmquĕ vĕnīs?" Tūnc plūrĭmă clādīs435

ōccūrrēnt mŏnĭmēntă tĭbī: quaē moēnĭă trūncī

lūstrārūnt cērvīcĕ dŭcēs, ŭbĭ nōmĭnă tāntă

ōbrŭĭt Eūphrātēs ēt nōstră cădāvĕră Tīgrīs

dētŭlĭt īn tērrās āc rēddĭdĭt. Īrĕ pĕr īstă

sī pŏtĕs, īn mĕdĭā sŏcĕrūm quŏquĕ, Māgnĕ, sĕdēntēm440

Thēssălĭā plācārĕ pŏtēs. quīn rēspĭcĭs ōrbēm

Rōmānūm? Sī rēgnă tĭmēs prōiēctă sŭb aūstrō

īnfīdūmquĕ Iŭbām, pĕtĭmūs Phărŏn ārvăquĕ Lāgī.

Sŷrtĭbŭs hīnc Lĭbўcīs tūta ēst Aēgŷptŏs; ăt īndĕ

gūrgĭtĕ sēptēnō răpĭdūs mărĕ sūmmŏvĕt āmnīs.445

Tērră sŭīs cōntēntă bŏnīs, nōn īndĭgă mērcīs

aūt Iŏvĭs; īn sōlō tānta ēst fīdūcĭă Nīlō.

Scēptră pŭēr Ptŏlŏmaēŭs hăbēt tĭbĭ dēbĭtă, Māgnĕ,

tūtēlaē cōmmīssă tŭaē. quīs nōmĭnĭs ūmbrām

hōrrĕăt? īnnŏcŭa ēst aētās; nē iūră fĭdēmquĕ450

rēspēctūmquĕ dĕūm vĕtĕrī spērāvĕrĭs aūlā:

nīl pŭdĕt ādsuētōs scēptrīs, mītīssĭmă sōrs ēst

rēgnōrūm sūb rēgĕ nŏvō." Nōn plūră lŏcūtūs

īmpŭlĭt hūc ănĭmōs. Quāntūm spēs ūltĭmă rērūm

lībērtātĭs hăbēt! vīcta ēst sēntēntĭă Māgnī.455

Tūm Cĭlĭcūm līquērĕ sŏlūm Cŷprōquĕ cĭtātās

īmmīsērĕ rătēs, nūllās cuī praētŭlĭt ārās

ūndaē dīvă mĕmōr Păphĭaē, sī nūmĭnă nāscī

crēdĭmŭs aūt quēmquām fās ēst coēpīssĕ dĕōrūm.

Haēc ŭbĭ dēsērvīt Pōmpēiūs lītŏră, tōtōs460

ēmēnsūs Cŷprī scŏpŭlōs, quĭbŭs ēxĭt ĭn aūstrūm,

īndĕ mărīs vāstī trānsvērsō vērtĭtŭr aēstū;

nēc tĕnŭīt grātūm nōctūrnō lūmĭnĕ mōntēm

īnfĭmăque Aēgŷptī pūgnācī lītŏră vēlō

vīx tĕtĭgīt, quā dīvĭdŭī pārs māxĭmă Nīlī465

īn vădă dēcūrrīt Pēlūsĭă sēptĭmŭs āmnīs.

Tēmpŭs ĕrāt quō Lībră părēs ēxāmĭnăt hōrās,

nōn ūnō plūs aēquă dĭē, nōctīquĕ rĕpēndīt

lūx mĭnŏr hībērnaē vērnī sōlācĭă dāmnī.

Cōmpĕrĭt ūt rēgēm Căsĭō sē mōntĕ tĕnērĕ,470

flēctĭt ĭtēr; nēc Phoēbŭs ădhūc nēc cārbăsă lānguēnt.

Iām răpĭdō spĕcŭlātŏr ĕquēs pēr lītŏră cūrsū

hōspĭtĭs ādvēntū păvĭdām cōmplēvĕrăt aūlām.

Cōnsĭlĭī vīx tēmpŭs ĕrāt; tămĕn ōmnĭă mōnstră

Pellaeae coiere domus, quos inter Acoreus475

iām plăcĭdūs sĕnĭō frāctīsquĕ mŏdēstĭŏr ānnīs

(hūnc gĕnŭīt cūstōs Nīlī crēscēntĭs ĭn ārvă

Mēmphīs vānă săcrīs; īllō cūltōrĕ dĕōrūm

lūstră sŭaē Phoēbēs nōn ūnūs vīxĕrăt Āpīs)

cōnsĭlĭī vōx prīmă fŭīt mĕrĭtūmquĕ fĭdēmquĕ480

sācrăquĕ dēfūnctī iāctāvīt pīgnŏră pātrīs.

Sēd mĕlĭōr suādērĕ mălīs ēt nōssĕ tўrānnōs

aūsūs Pōmpēiūm lētō dāmnārĕ Pŏthīnūs:

"Iūs ēt fās mūltōs făcĭūnt, Ptŏlŏmaēĕ, nŏcēntēs;

dāt poēnās laūdātă fĭdēs, cūm sūstĭnĕt" īnquīt485

"quōs fōrtūnă prĕmīt. Fātīs āccēdĕ dĕīsquĕ

ēt cŏlĕ fēlīcēs, mĭsĕrōs fŭgĕ. Sīdĕră tērrā

ūt dīstānt ēt flāmmă mărī, sīc ūtĭlĕ rēctō.

Scēptrōrūm vīs tōtă pĕrīt, sī pēndĕrĕ iūstă

īncĭpĭt, ēvērtītque ārcēs rēspēctŭs hŏnēstī.490

Lībērtās scĕlĕrum ēst, quaē rēgna īnvīsă tŭētūr,

sūblātūsquĕ mŏdūs glădĭīs. Făcĕre ōmnĭă saēvē

nōn īmpūnĕ lĭcēt, nĭsĭ cūm făcĭs. ēxĕăt aūlā

quī vūlt ēssĕ pĭūs. vīrtūs ēt sūmmă pŏtēstās

nōn coēūnt; sēmpēr mĕtŭēt quēm saēvă pŭdēbūnt.495

Nōn īmpūnĕ tŭōs Māgnūs cōntēmpsĕrĭt ānnōs,

quī tē nēc vīctōs ārcēre ā lītŏrĕ nōstrō

pōssĕ pŭtāt. Neū nōs scēptrīs prīvāvĕrĭt hōspēs,

pīgnŏră sūnt prŏpĭōră tĭbī: Nīlūmquĕ Phărōnquĕ,

sī rēgnārĕ pĭgēt, dāmnātaē rēddĕ sŏrōrī.500

Aēgŷptūm cērtē Lătĭīs tŭĕāmŭr ăb ārmīs.

Quīcquīd nōn fŭĕrīt Māgnī, dūm bēllă gĕrūntūr,

nēc vīctōrĭs ĕrīt. Tōtō iām pūlsŭs ăb ōrbĕ,

pōstquām nūllă mănēt rērūm fīdūcĭă, quaērīt

cūm quā gēntĕ cădāt. Răpĭtūr cīvīlĭbŭs ūmbrīs.505

Nēc sŏcĕrī tāntum ārmă fŭgīt: fŭgĭt ōră sĕnātūs,

cūiūs Thēssălĭcās sătŭrāt pārs māgnă vŏlūcrēs,

ēt mĕtŭīt gēntēs, quās ūno īn sānguĭnĕ mīxtās

dēsĕrŭīt, rēgēsquĕ tĭmēt, quōrum ōmnĭă mērsīt;

Thēssălĭaēquĕ rĕūs nūllā tēllūrĕ rĕcēptūs510

sōllĭcĭtāt nōstrūm, quēm nōndūm pērdĭdĭt, ōrbēm.

Iūstĭŏr īn Māgnūm nōbīs, Ptŏlŏmaēĕ, quĕrēllaē

caūsă dăta ēst: quīd sēpŏsĭtām sēmpērquĕ quĭētām

crīmĭnĕ bēllōrūm măcŭlās Phărŏn ārvăquĕ nōstră

vīctōrī sūspēctă făcīs? cūr sōlă cădēntī515

haēc plăcŭīt tēllūs, īn quām Phārsālĭcă fātă

cōnfērrēs poēnāsquĕ tŭās? Iām crīmĕn hăbēmūs

pūrgāndūm glădĭō: quōd nōbīs scēptră sĕnātūs

tē suādēntĕ dĕdīt, vōtīs tŭă fōvĭmŭs ārmă.

Hōc fērrūm, quōd fātă iŭbēnt prōfērrĕ, părāvī520

nōn tĭbĭ, sēd vīctō; fĕrĭām tŭă vīscĕră, Māgnĕ,

mālŭĕrām sŏcĕrī: răpĭmūr quō cūnctă fĕrūntūr.

Tēnĕ mĭhī dŭbĭtās ān sīt vĭŏlārĕ nĕcēssĕ,

cūm lĭcĕāt? Quaē tē nōstrī fīdūcĭă rēgnī

hūc ăgĭt, īnfēlīx? Pŏpŭlūm nōn cērnĭs ĭnērmēm525

ārvăquĕ vīx rĕfŭgō fŏdĭēntēm mōllĭă Nīlō?

Mētīrī sŭă rēgnă dĕcēt vīrēsquĕ fătērī.

Tū, Ptŏlŏmaēĕ, pŏtēs Māgnī fūlcīrĕ rŭīnām,

sūb quā Rōmă iăcēt? būstūm cĭnĕrēsquĕ mŏvērĕ

Thēssălĭcōs aūdēs bēllūmque īn rēgnă vŏcārĕ?530

Ānte ăcĭem Ēmăthĭām nūllīs āccēssĭmŭs ārmīs:

Pōmpēī nūnc cāstră plăcēnt, quaē dēsĕrĭt ōrbīs?

nūnc vīctōrĭs ŏpēs ēt cōgnĭtă fātă lăcēssīs?

Ādvērsīs nōn dēssĕ dĕcēt, sēd laētă sĕcūtōs;

nūllă fĭdēs ūmquām mĭsĕrōs ēlēgĭt ămīcōs."535

Ādsēnsēre ōmnēs scĕlĕrī. Laētātŭr hŏnōrĕ

rēx pŭĕr īnsuētō, quōd iām sĭbĭ tāntă iŭbērĕ

pērmīttānt fămŭlī. Scĕlĕrī dēlēctŭs Ăchīllās,

pērfĭdă quā tēllūs Căsĭīs ēxcūrrĭt hărēnīs

ēt vădă tēstāntūr iūnctās Aēgŷptĭă Sŷrtēs,540

ēxĭgŭām sŏcĭīs mōnstrī glădĭīsquĕ cărīnām

īnstrŭĭt. Ō sŭpĕrī, Nīlūsne ēt bārbără Mēmphīs

ēt Pēlūsĭăcī tām mōllīs tūrbă Cănōpī

hōs ănĭmōs! Sīc fātă prĕmūnt cīvīlĭă mūndūm?

sīc Rōmānă iăcēnt? ūllūsne īn clādĭbŭs īstīs545

ēst lŏcŭs Aēgŷptō, Phărĭūsque ādmīttĭtŭr ēnsīs?

Hānc cērtē sērvātĕ fĭdēm, cīvīlĭă bēllă:

cōgnātās praēstātĕ mănūs ēxtērnăquĕ mōnstră

pēllĭtĕ, sī mĕrŭīt tām clārō nōmĭnĕ Māgnūs

Caēsărĭs ēssĕ nĕfās. Tāntī, Ptŏlŏmaēĕ, rŭīnām550

nōmĭnĭs haūt mĕtŭīs caēlōquĕ tŏnāntĕ prŏfānās

īnsĕrŭīssĕ mănūs, īmpūre āc sēmĭvĭr, aūdēs?

Nōn dŏmĭtōr mūndī nēc tēr Căpĭtōlĭă cūrrū

īnvēctūs rēgūmquĕ pŏtēns vīndēxquĕ sĕnātūs

vīctōrīsquĕ gĕnēr: Phărĭō sătĭs ēssĕ tўrānnō555

quōd pŏtĕrāt, Rōmānŭs ĕrāt. Quīd vīscĕră nōstră

scrūtārīs glădĭō? nēscīs, pŭĕr īmprŏbĕ, nēscīs,

quō tŭă sīt fōrtūnă lŏcō; iām iūrĕ sĭne ūllō

Nīlī scēptră tĕnēs; cĕcĭdīt cīvīlĭbŭs ārmīs,

quī tĭbĭ rēgnă dĕdīt. Iām vēntō vēlă nĕgārāt560

Māgnŭs ĕt aūxĭlĭō rēmōrum īnfāndă pĕtēbāt

lītŏră; quēm cōntrā nōn lōngā vēctă bĭrēmī

āppŭlĕrāt scĕlĕrātă mănūs, Māgnōquĕ pătērĕ

fīngēns rēgnă Phărī, cēlsaē dē pūppĕ cărīnaē

īn pārvām iŭbĕt īrĕ rătēm lītūsquĕ mălīgnūm565

īncūsāt bĭmărēmquĕ vădīs frāngēntĭbŭs aēstūm,

quī vĕtĕt ēxtērnās tērrīs ādpēllĕrĕ clāssēs.

Quōd nĭsĭ fātōrūm lēgēs īntēntăquĕ iūssū

ōrdĭnĭs aētērnī mĭsĕraē vīcīnĭă mōrtīs

dāmnātūm lētō trăhĕrēnt ād lītŏră Māgnūm,570

nōn ūllī cŏmĭtūm scĕlĕrīs praēsāgĭă dērānt:

quīppĕ fĭdēs sī pūră fŏrēt, sī rēgĭă Māgnō,

scēptrōrum aūctōrī, vērā pĭĕtātĕ pătērēt,

vēntūrūm tōtā Phărĭūm cūm clāssĕ tўrānnūm.

Sēd cēdīt fātīs clāssēmquĕ rĕlīnquĕrĕ iūssūs575

ōbsĕquĭtūr, lētūmquĕ iŭvāt praēfērrĕ tĭmōrī.

Ībăt ĭn hōstīlēm praēcēps Cōrnēlĭă pūppēm,

hōc măgĭs īmpătĭēns ēgrēssō dēssĕ mărītō

quōd mĕtŭīt clādēs. "Rĕmănē, tĕmĕrārĭă cōniūx,

ēt tū, nātĕ, prĕcōr, lōngēque ē lītŏrĕ cāsūs580

ēxspēctātĕ mĕōs ĕt ĭn hāc cērvīcĕ tўrānnī

ēxplōrātĕ fĭdēm." Dīxīt; sēd sūrdă vĕtāntī

tēndēbāt gĕmĭnās āmēns Cōrnēlĭă pālmās:

"Quō sĭnĕ mē, crūdēlĭs, ăbīs? Ĭtĕrūmnĕ rĕlīnquōr,

Thēssălĭcīs sūmmōtă mălīs? Nūmquam ōmĭnĕ laētō585

dīstrăhĭmūr mĭsĕrī. Pŏtĕrās nōn flēctĕrĕ pūppīm,

cūm fŭgĕrēs, ălĭō lătĕbrīsquĕ rĕlīnquĕrĕ Lēsbī,

ōmnĭbŭs ā tērrīs sī nōs ārcērĕ părābās?

Ān tāntum īn flūctūs plăcĕō cŏmĕs?" Haēc ŭbĭ frūstrā

ēffūdīt, prīmā pēndēt tămĕn ānxĭă pūppĕ590

āttŏnĭtōquĕ mĕtū nēc quōquăm ăvērtĕrĕ vīsūs

nēc Māgnūm spēctārĕ pŏtēst. Stĕtĭt ānxĭă clāssīs

ād dŭcĭs ēvēntūm, mĕtŭēns nōn ārmă nĕfāsquĕ

sēd nē sūmmīssīs prĕcĭbūs Pōmpēiŭs ădōrēt

scēptră sŭā dōnātă mănū. Trānsīrĕ părāntēm595

Rōmānūs Phărĭā mīlēs dē pūppĕ sălūtāt

Sēptĭmĭūs, quī (prō sŭpĕrūm pŭdŏr!) ārmă sătēllēs

rēgĭă gēstābāt pŏsĭtō dēfōrmĭă pīlō,

īmmānīs, vĭŏlēntŭs, ătrōx nūllāquĕ fĕrārūm

mītĭŏr īn caēdēs. Quīs nōn, Fōrtūnă, pŭtāssēt600

pārcĕrĕ tē pŏpŭlīs, quōd bēllo haēc dēxtră văcārēt,

Thēssălĭāquĕ prŏcūl tām nōxĭă tēlă fŭgāssēs?

Dīspōnīs glădĭōs, nē quō nōn fīăt ĭn ōrbĕ,

heū! făcĭnūs cīvīlĕ tĭbī. vīctōrĭbŭs īpsīs

dēdĕcŭs ēt nūmquām sŭpĕrūm cărĭtūră pŭdōrĕ605

fābŭlă: Rōmānūs rēgī sīc pārŭĭt ēnsīs,

Pēllaēūsquĕ pŭēr glădĭō tĭbĭ cōllă rĕcīdīt,

Māgnĕ, tŭō. quā pōstĕrĭtās īn saēcŭlă mīttēt

Sēptĭmĭūm fāmā? Scĕlŭs hōc quō nōmĭnĕ dīcēnt,

quī Brūtī dīxērĕ nĕfās? Iām vēnĕrăt hōraē610

tērmĭnŭs ēxtrēmaē, Phărĭāmquĕ ăblātŭs ĭn ālnūm

pērdĭdĕrāt iām iūră sŭī. Tūm strīngĕrĕ fērrūm

rēgĭă mōnstră părānt. ūt vīdīt cōmmĭnŭs ēnsīs,

īnvŏlŭīt vūltūs ātque, īndīgnātŭs ăpērtūm

Fōrtūnaē praēbērĕ, căpūt; tūnc lūmĭnă prēssīt615

cōntĭnŭītque ănĭmām, nē quās ēffūndĕrĕ vōcēs

vēllĕt ĕt aētērnām flētū cōrrūmpĕrĕ fāmām.

Sēd pōstquām mūcrōnĕ lătūs fūnēstŭs Ăchīllās

pērfōdīt, nūllō gĕmĭtū cōnsēnsĭt ăd īctūm

rēspēxītquĕ nĕfās sērvātque īmmōbĭlĕ cōrpūs620

sēquĕ prŏbāt mŏrĭēns ātque haēc īn pēctŏrĕ vōlvīt:

"Saēcŭlă Rōmānōs nūmquām tăcĭtūră lăbōrēs

āttēndūnt, aēvūmquĕ sĕquēns spĕcŭlātŭr ăb ōmnī

ōrbĕ rătēm Phărĭāmquĕ fĭdēm: nūnc cōnsŭlĕ fāmaē.

Fātă tĭbī lōngaē flūxērūnt prōspĕră vītaē;625

īgnōrānt pŏpŭlī, sī nōn īn mōrtĕ prŏbārīs,

ān scĭĕrīs ādvērsă pătī. Nē cēdĕ pŭdōrī

aūctōrēmquĕ dŏlē fātī: quācūmquĕ fĕrīrīs,

crēdĕ mănūm sŏcĕrī. spārgānt lăcĕrēntquĕ lĭcēbīt,

sūm tămĕn, ō sŭpĕrī, fēlīx, nūllīquĕ pŏtēstās630

hōc aūfērrĕ dĕō. Mūtāntūr prōspĕră vītā:

nōn fīt mōrtĕ mĭsēr. vĭdĕt hānc Cōrnēlĭă caēdēm

Pōmpēiūsquĕ mĕūs. Tāntō pătĭēntĭŭs, ōrō,

clūdĕ, dŏlōr, gĕmĭtūs; nātūs cŏnĭūxquĕ pĕrēmptūm,

sī mīrāntŭr, ămānt." Tālīs cūstōdĭă Māgnō635

mēntĭs ĕrāt; iūs hōc ănĭmī mŏrĭēntĭs hăbēbāt.

Āt nōn tām pătĭēns Cōrnēlĭă cērnĕrĕ saēvūm,

quām pērfērrĕ, nĕfās, mĭsĕrāndīs aēthĕră cōmplēt

uocibus: "O coniux, ego te scelerata peremi.

Lētĭfĕraē tĭbĭ caūsă mŏraē fŭĭt āvĭă Lēsbōs,640

ēt prĭŏr īn Nīlī pērvēnīt lītŏră Caēsār;

nām cuī iūs ălĭī scĕlĕrīs? Sēd quīsquĭs ĭn īstūd

ā sŭpĕrīs īmmīssĕ căpūt vēl Caēsărĭs īraē

vēl tĭbĭ prōspĭcĭēns, nēscīs, crūdēlĭs, ŭbi īpsă

vīscĕră sīnt Māgnī; prŏpĕrās ātque īngĕrĭs īctūs,645

quā vōtum ēst vīctō. Poēnās nōn mōrtĕ mĭnōrēs

pēndăt ĕt āntĕ mĕūm vĭdĕāt căpŭt. haūt ĕgŏ cūlpā

lībĕră bēllōrūm, quaē mātrūm sōlă pĕr ūndās

ēt pēr cāstră cŏmēs nūllīs ābstērrĭtă fātīs,

vīctūm, quōd rēgēs ĕtĭām tĭmŭērĕ, rĕcēpī.650

Hōc mĕrŭī, cŏnĭūx, īn tūtā pūppĕ rĕlīnquī?

pērfĭdĕ, pārcēbās? tē fāta ēxtrēmă pĕtēntĕ

vītā dīgnă fŭī? Mŏrĭār, nēc mūnĕrĕ rēgīs.

Aūt mĭhĭ praēcĭpĭtēm, naūtaē, pērmīttĭtĕ sāltūm,

aūt lāqueūm cōllō tōrtōsque āptārĕ rŭdēntīs,655

aūt ălĭquīs Māgnō dīgnūs cŏmĕs ēxĭgăt ēnsēm;

Pōmpēiō praēstārĕ pŏtēst quōd Caēsărĭs ārmīs

īmpŭtĕt. Ō saēvī, prŏpĕrāntem īn fātă tĕnētīs?

Vīvĭs ădhūc, cōniūnx, ēt iām Cōrnēlĭă nōn ēst

iūrīs, Māgnĕ, sŭī: prŏhĭbēnt āccērsĕrĕ mōrtēm,660

sērvōr vīctōrī." Sīc fāta īntērquĕ sŭōrūm

lāpsă mănūs răpĭtūr trĕpĭdā fŭgĭēntĕ cărīnā.

Āt Māgnī cūm tērgă sŏnēnt ēt pēctŏră fērrō,

pērmānsīssĕ dĕcūs sācraē vĕnĕrābĭlĕ fōrmaē

īrātāmquĕ dĕīs făcĭēm, nīl ūltĭmă mōrtīs665

ēx hăbĭtū vūltūquĕ vĭrī mūtāssĕ fătēntūr

quī lăcĕrūm vīdērĕ căpūt. Nām saēvŭs ĭn īpsō

Sēptĭmĭūs scĕlĕrīs māiūs scĕlŭs īnvĕnĭt āctū

āc rĕtĕgīt sācrōs scīssō vēlāmĭnĕ vūltūs

sēmiănĭmīs Māgnī spīrāntĭăque ōccŭpăt ōră670

cōllăque ĭn ōblīquō pōnīt lānguēntĭă trānstrō.

Tūnc nērvōs vēnāsquĕ sĕcāt nōdōsăquĕ frāngīt

ōssă dĭū; nōndum ārtĭs ĕrāt căpŭt ēnsĕ rŏtārĕ.

Āt pōstquām trūncō cērvīx ābscīsă rĕcēssīt,

vīndĭcăt hōc Phărĭūs dēxtrā gēstārĕ sătēllēs.675

Dēgĕnĕr ātque ŏpĕraē mīlēs Rōmānĕ sĕcūndaē,

Pōmpēī dīrō sācrūm căpŭt ēnsĕ rĕcīdīs,

ūt nōn īpsĕ fĕrās? Ō sūmmī fātă pŭdōrīs!

Īmpĭŭs ūt Māgnūm nōssēt pŭĕr, īllă vĕrēndā

rēgĭbŭs hīrtă cŏma ēt gĕnĕrōsā frōntĕ dĕcōră680

caēsărĭēs cōmprēnsă mănu ēst, Phărĭōquĕ vĕrūtō,

dūm vīvūnt vūltūs ātque ōs īn mūrmŭră pūlsānt

sīngūltūs ănĭmaē, dūm lūmĭnă nūdă rĭgēscūnt,

sūffīxūm căpŭt ēst, quō nūmquām bēllă iŭbēntĕ

pāx fŭĭt; hōc lēgēs Cāmpūmque ēt rōstră mŏvēbāt,685

hāc făcĭē Fōrtūnă tĭbī Rōmānă plăcēbās.

Nēc sătĭs īnfāndō fŭĭt hōc vīdīssĕ tўrānnō,

vūlt scĕlĕrīs sŭpĕrēssĕ fĭdēm. Tūnc ārtĕ nĕfāndā

sūmmōta ēst căpĭtī tābēs, rāptōquĕ cĕrēbrō

ādsīccātă cŭtīs, pūtrīsque ēfflūxĭt ăb āltō690

ūmŏr, ĕt īnfūsō făcĭēs sŏlĭdātă vĕnēnōst.

Ūltĭmă Lāgēaē stīrpīs pĕrĭtūrăquĕ prōlēs,

dēgĕnĕr, īncēstaē scēptrīs cēssūrĕ sŏrōrī,

cūm tĭbĭ sācrātō Măcĕdōn sērvētŭr ĭn āntrō

ēt rēgūm cĭnĕrēs ēxstrūctō mōntĕ quĭēscānt,695

cūm Ptŏlŏmaēōrūm mānēs sĕrĭēmquĕ pŭdēndām

pŷrămĭdēs claūdānt īndīgnăquĕ Maūsōlēă,

lītŏră Pōmpĕĭūm fĕrĭūnt, trūncūsquĕ vădōsīs

hūc īllūc iāctātŭr ăquīs! ădĕōnĕ mŏlēstă

tōtūm cūră fŭīt sŏcĕrō sērvārĕ cădāvēr?700

Hāc Fōrtūnă fĭdē Māgnī tām prōspĕră fātă

pērtŭlĭt, hāc īllūm sūmmō dē cūlmĭnĕ rērūm

mōrtĕ pĕtīt clādēsque ōmnīs ēxēgĭt ĭn ūnō

saēvă dĭē, quĭbŭs īnmūnēs tōt praēstĭtĭt ānnōs

Pōmpĕĭūsquĕ fŭīt quī nūmquām mīxtă vĭdērēt705

laētă mălīs, fēlīx nūllō tūrbāntĕ dĕōrūm

ēt nūllō pārcēntĕ mĭsēr; sĕmĕl īmpŭlĭt īllūm

dīlātā Fōrtūnă mănū. Pūlsātŭr hărēnīs,

cārpĭtŭr īn scŏpŭlīs haūstō pēr vūlnĕră flūctū,

lūdĭbrĭūm pĕlăgī, nūllāquĕ mănēntĕ fĭgūrā710

ūnă nŏta ēst Māgnō căpĭtīs iāctūră rĕvūlsī.

Āntĕ tămēn Phărĭās vīctōr quām tāngăt hărēnās,

Pōmpĕĭō rāptīm tŭmŭlūm fōrtūnă părāvīt,

nē iăcĕāt nūllō vēl nē mĕlĭōrĕ sĕpūlchrō:

ē lătĕbrīs păvĭdūs dēcūrrĭt ăd aēquŏră Cōrdūs;715

quaēstŏr ăb Īdălĭō Cĭnўraēaē lītŏrĕ Cŷprī

īnfaūstūs Māgnī fŭĕrāt cŏmĕs. Īllĕ pĕr ūmbrās

aūsūs fērrĕ grădūm vīctūm pĭĕtātĕ tĭmōrēm

cōmpŭlĭt, ūt mĕdĭīs quaēsītūm cōrpŭs ĭn ūndīs

dūcĕrĕt ād tērrām trăhĕrētque īn lītŏră Māgnūm.720

Lūcīs maēstă părūm pēr dēnsās Cŷnthĭă nūbēs

praēbēbāt; cānō sēd dīscŏlŏr aēquŏrĕ trūncūs

cōnspĭcĭtūr. Tĕnĕt īllĕ dŭcēm cōmplēxĭbŭs ārtīs

ērĭpĭēntĕ mărī; tūnc vīctūs pōndĕrĕ tāntō

ēxspēctāt flūctūs pĕlăgōquĕ iŭvāntĕ cădāvēr725

īmpēllīt. Pōstquām sīccō iām lītŏrĕ sēdīt,

īncŭbŭīt Māgnō lăcrĭmāsque ēffūndĭt ĭn ōmnĕ

vūlnŭs ĕt ād sŭpĕrōs ōbscūrăquĕ sīdĕră fātūr:

"Nōn prĕtĭōsă pĕtīt cŭmŭlātō tūrĕ sĕpūlchră

Pōmpĕĭūs, Fōrtūnă, tŭūs, nōn pīnguĭs ăd āstră730

ūt fĕrăt ē mēmbrīs Ēōōs fūmŭs ŏdōrēs,

ūt Rōmānă sŭūm gēstēnt pĭă cōllă părēntēm,

praēfĕrăt ūt vĕtĕrēs fērālīs pōmpă trĭūmphōs,

ūt rĕsŏnēnt trīstī cāntū fŏră, tōtŭs ŭt īgnēs

prōiēctīs maērēns ēxērcĭtŭs āmbĭăt ārmīs.735

Dā vīlēm Māgnō plēbēī fūnĕrĭs ārcām,

quaē lăcĕrūm cōrpūs sīccōs ēffūndăt ĭn īgnēs;

rōbŏră nōn dēsīnt mĭsĕrō nēc sōrdĭdŭs ūstōr.

Sīt sătĭs, ō sŭpĕrī, quōd nōn Cōrnēlĭă fūsō

crīnĕ iăcēt sŭbĭcīquĕ făcēm cōmplēxă mărītūm740

īmpĕrăt, ēxtrēmō sĕd ăbēst ā mūnĕrĕ būstī

īnfēlīx cōniūnx nĕc ădhūc ā lītŏrĕ lōngēst."

Sīc fātūs pārvōs iŭvĕnīs prŏcŭl āspĭcĭt īgnēs

cōrpūs vīlĕ sŭīs nūllō cūstōdĕ crĕmāntīs.

Īndĕ răpīt flāmmās sēmūstăquĕ rōbŏră mēmbrīs745

sūbdūcīt. Quaēcūmque ĕs" ăīt "nēglēctă nĕc ūllī

cāră tŭō, sēd Pōmpēiō fēlīcĭŏr ūmbră,

quōd iām cōmpŏsĭtūm vĭŏlāt mănŭs hōspĭtă būstūm,

dā vĕnĭām; sī quīd sēnsūs pōst fātă rĕlīctūm,

cēdĭs ĕt īpsă rŏgō pătĕrīsque haēc dāmnă sĕpūlchrī,750

tēquĕ pŭdēt spārsīs Pōmpēī mānĭbŭs ūrī."

Sīc fātūs plēnūsquĕ sĭnūs ārdēntĕ făvīllā

pērvŏlăt ād trūncūm, quī flūctū paēnĕ rĕlātūs

lītŏrĕ pēndēbāt. Sūmmās dīmōvĭt hărēnās

ēt cōllēctă prŏcūl lăcĕraē frāgmēntă cărīnaē755

ēxĭgŭā trĕpĭdūs pŏsŭīt scrŏbĕ. Nōbĭlĕ cōrpūs

rōbŏră nūllă prĕmūnt, nūllā strŭĕ mēmbră rĕcūmbūnt;

ādmōtūs Māgnūm, nōn sūbdĭtŭs, āccĭpĭt īgnīs.

Īllĕ sĕdēns iūxtā flāmmās: "Ō māxĭmĕ" dīxīt

"dūctŏr ĕt Hēspĕrĭī māiēstās nōmĭnĭs ūnă,760

sī tĭbĭ iāctātū pĕlăgī, sī fūnĕrĕ nūllō

trīstĭŏr īstĕ rŏgūs, mānēs ănĭmāmquĕ pŏtēntēm

ōffĭcĭīs āvērtĕ mĕīs: īniūrĭă fātī

hōc fās ēssĕ iŭbēt; nē pōntī bēlŭă quīcquām,

nē fĕră, nē vŏlŭcrēs, nē saēvī Caēsărĭs īră765

aūdĕăt, ēxĭgŭām, quāntūm pŏtĕs, āccĭpĕ flāmmām:

Rōmānā sūccēnsă mănu ēst. Fōrtūnă rĕcūrsūs

sī dĕt ĭn Hēspĕrĭām, nōn hāc īn sēdĕ quĭēscēnt

tām sācrī cĭnĕrēs; sēd tē Cōrnēlĭă, Māgnĕ,

āccĭpĭēt nōtāquĕ mănū trānsfūndĕt ĭn ūrnām.770

Īntĕrĕā pārvō sīgnēmūs lītŏră sāxō,

ūt nŏtă sīt būstī; sī quīs plācārĕ pĕrēmptūm

fōrtĕ vŏlēt plēnōs ēt rēddĕrĕ mōrtĭs hŏnōrēs,

īnvĕnĭāt trūncī cĭnĕrēs ēt nōrĭt hărēnās,

ād quās, Māgnĕ, tŭūm rĕfĕrāt căpŭt." Haēc ŭbĭ fātūs,775

ēxcĭtăt īnvălĭdās ādmōtō fōmĭtĕ flāmmās.

Cārpĭtŭr ēt lēntūm Māgnūs dēstīllăt ĭn īgnēm

tābĕ fŏvēns būstūm. Sēd iām pērcūssĕrăt āstră

aūrōraē prōmīssă dĭēs: īlle ōrdĭnĕ rūptō

fūnĕrĭs āttŏnĭtūs lătĕbrās īn lītŏrĕ quaērīt.780

Quām mĕtŭīs, dēmēns, īstō prō crīmĭnĕ poēnām,

quō tē Fāmă lŏquāx ōmnīs āccēpĭt ĭn ānnōs?

Cōndĭtă laūdābīt Māgnī sŏcĕr īmpĭŭs ōssă.

Ī mŏdŏ sēcūrūs vĕnĭaē fāssūsquĕ sĕpūlchrūm

pōscĕ căpūt. Cōgīt pĭĕtās īmpōnĕrĕ fīnēm785

ōffĭcĭō. Sēmūstă răpīt rĕsŏlūtăquĕ nōndūm

ōssă sătīs nērvīs ĕt ĭnūstīs plēnă mĕdūllīs

aēquŏrĕā rēstīnguĭt ăquā cōngēstăque ĭn ūnūm

pārvā clūsĭt hŭmō. Tūnc, nē lĕvĭs aūră rĕtēctōs

aūfērrēt cĭnĕrēs, sāxō cōmprēssĭt hărēnām,790

naūtăquĕ nē būstūm rĕlĭgātō fūnĕ mŏvērēt,

īnscrīpsīt sācrūm sēmūstō stīpĭtĕ nōmēn:

"Hīc sĭtŭs ēst Māgnūs." Plăcĕt hōc, Fōrtūnă, sĕpūlchrūm

dīcĕrĕ Pōmpēī, quō cōndī mālŭĭt īllūm,

quām tērrā cărŭīssĕ sŏcēr? Tĕmĕrārĭă dēxtră,795

cūr ŏbĭcīs Māgnō tŭmŭlūm mānēsquĕ văgāntīs

īnclūdīs? Sĭtŭs ēst, quā tērra ēxtrēmă rĕfūsō

pēndĕt ĭn Ōcĕănō: Rōmānūm nōmĕn ĕt ōmnĕ

īmpĕrĭūm Māgnō tŭmŭli ēst mŏdŭs; ōbrŭĕ sāxă

crīmĭnĕ plēnă dĕūm: sī tōta ēst Hērcŭlĭs Oētē800

ēt iŭgă tōtă văcānt Brŏmĭō Nŷsēĭă, quārē

ūnŭs ĭn Aēgŷpto ēst Māgnī lăpĭs? ōmnĭă Lāgī

rūră tĕnērĕ pŏtēst. Sī nūllō caēspĭtĕ nōmēn

haēsĕrĭt, ērrēmūs pŏpŭlī cĭnĕrūmquĕ tŭōrūm,

Māgnĕ, mĕtū nūllās Nīlī cālcēmŭs hărēnās.805

Quōd sī tām sācrō dīgnārīs nōmĭnĕ sāxūm,

ādde āctūs tāntōs mŏnŭmēntăquĕ māxĭmă rērūm,

āddĕ trŭcīs Lĕpĭdī mōtūs Ālpīnăquĕ bēllă

ārmăquĕ Sērtōrī rĕvŏcātō cōnsŭlĕ vīctă

ēt cūrrūs quōs ēgĭt ĕquēs, cōmmērcĭă tūtă810

gēntĭbŭs ēt păvĭdōs Cĭlĭcās mărĭs; āddĕ sŭbāctām

bārbărĭēm gēntēsquĕ văgās ēt quīcquĭd ĭn eūrō

rēgnōrūm bŏrĕāquĕ iăcēt. Dīc sēmpĕr ăb ārmīs

cīvīlēm rĕpĕtīssĕ tŏgām, tēr cūrrĭbŭs āctīs

cōntēntūm mūltōs pătrĭaē dōnāssĕ trĭūmphōs.815

Quīs căpĭt haēc tŭmŭlūs? sūrgīt mĭsĕrābĭlĕ būstūm

nōn ūllīs plēnūm tĭtŭlīs, nōn ōrdĭnĕ tāntō

fāstōrūm, sŏlĭtūmquĕ lĕgī sŭpĕr āltă dĕōrūm

cūlmĭna ĕt ēxstrūctōs spŏlĭīs hōstīlĭbŭs ārcūs

haūt prŏcŭl ēst īmā Pōmpēī nōmĕn hărēnā820

dēprēssūm tŭmŭlō, quōd nōn lĕgăt ādvĕnă rēctūs,

quōd nĭsĭ mōnstrātūm Rōmānūs trānsĕăt hōspēs.

Nōxĭă cīvīlī tēllūs Aēgŷptĭă fātō,

haūt ĕquĭdem īnmĕrĭtō Cūmānaē cārmĭnĕ vātīs

caūtūm, nē Nīlī Pēlūsĭă tāngĕrĕt ōră825

Hēspĕrĭūs mīlēs rīpāsque aēstātĕ tŭmēntīs.

Quīd tĭbĭ, saēvă, prĕcēr prō tāntō crīmĭnĕ, tēllūs?

Vērtăt ăquās Nīlūs, quō nāscĭtŭr, ōrbĕ rĕtēntūs,

ēt stĕrĭlēs ĕgĕānt hībērnīs īmbrĭbŭs āgrī,

tōtăque ĭn Aēthĭŏpūm pūtrēs sōlvārĭs hărēnās.830

Nōs īn tēmplă tŭām Rōmāna āccēpĭmŭs Īsīm

sēmĭdĕōsquĕ cănēs ēt sīstră iŭbēntĭă lūctūs

ēt, quēm tū plāngēns hŏmĭnēm tēstārĭs, Ŏsīrīm:

tū nōstrōs, Aēgŷptĕ, tĕnēs īn pūlvĕrĕ mānēs.

Tū quŏquĕ, cūm saēvō dĕdĕrīs iām tēmplă tўrānnō,835

nōndūm Pōmpēī cĭnĕrēs, ō Rōmă, pĕtīstī;

ēxŭl ădhūc iăcĕt ūmbră dŭcīs. Sī saēcŭlă prīmă

vīctōrīs tĭmŭērĕ mĭnās, nūnc ēxcĭpĕ sāltēm

ōssă tŭī Māgnī, sī nōndūm sūbrŭtă flūctū

īnvīsā tēllūrĕ sĕdēnt. Quīs būstă tĭmēbīt?840

quīs sācrīs dīgnām mōvīssĕ vĕrēbĭtŭr ūmbrām?

Īmpĕrĕt hōc nōbīs ŭtĭnām scĕlŭs ēt vĕlĭt ūtī

nōstrō Rōmă sĭnū: sătĭs ō nĭmĭūmquĕ bĕātūs,

sī mĭhĭ cōntīngāt mānēs trānsfērrĕ rĕvūlsōs

Aūsŏnĭām, sī tālĕ dŭcīs vĭŏlārĕ sĕpūlchrūm.845

Fōrsĭtăn aūt sūlcō stĕrĭlī cūm pōscĕrĕ fīnēm

ā sŭpĕrīs aūt Rōmă vŏlēt fērālĭbŭs aūstrīs

īgnĭbŭs aūt nĭmĭīs aūt tērraē tēctă mŏvēntī,

cōnsĭlĭō iūssūquĕ dĕūm trānsībĭs ĭn ūrbēm,

Māgnĕ, tŭām, sūmmūsquĕ fĕrēt tŭă būstă săcērdōs.850

Nām quĭs ăd ēxūstām Cāncrō tōrrēntĕ Sўēnēn

ībĭt ĕt īmbrĭfĕrā sīccās sūb Plīădĕ Thēbās

spēctātōr Nīlī, quīs rūbrī stāgnă prŏfūndī

aūt Ărăbūm pōrtūs mērcīs mūtātŏr Ĕōaē,

Māgnĕ, pĕtēt, quēm nōn tŭmŭlī vĕnĕrābĭlĕ sāxūm855

ēt cĭnĭs īn sūmmīs fōrsān tūrbātŭs hărēnīs

āvērtēt mānēsquĕ tŭōs plācārĕ iŭbēbīt

ēt Căsĭō praēfērrĕ Iŏvī? Nīl īstă nŏcēbūnt

fāmaē būstă tŭaē: tēmplīs aūrōquĕ sĕpūltūs

vīlĭŏr ūmbră fŏrēs; nūnc ēs prō nūmĭnĕ sūmmō860

hōc tŭmŭlō, Fōrtūnă, iăcēns: aūgūstĭŭs ārīs

vīctōrīs Lĭbўcō pūlsātŭr ĭn aēquŏrĕ sāxūm.

Tārpēīs quī saēpĕ dĕīs sŭă tūră nĕgārūnt,

īnclūsūm Tūscō vĕnĕrāntūr caēspĭtĕ fūlmēn.

Prōdĕrĭt hōc ōlīm, quōd nōn mānsūră fŭtūrīs865

ārdŭă mārmŏrĕō sūrrēxīt pōndĕrĕ mōlēs.

Pūlvĕrĭs ēxĭgŭī spārgēt nōn lōngă vĕtūstās

cōngĕrĭēm, būstūmquĕ cădēt, mōrtīsquĕ pĕrībūnt

ārgūmēntă tŭaē. vĕnĭēt fēlīcĭŏr aētās,

quā sīt nūllă fĭdēs sāxūm mōnstrāntĭbŭs īllūd,870

ātque ĕrĭt Aēgŷptūs pŏpŭlīs fōrtāssĕ nĕpōtūm

tām mēndāx Māgnī tŭmŭlō, quām Crētă Tŏnāntīs.

Iam super Herculeas fauces nemorosaque Tempe

Haemoniae deserta petens dispendia silvae,

cornipedem exhaustum cursu stimulisque negantem

Magnus agens, incerta fugae vestigia turbat

5implicitasque errore vias. pavet ille fragorem

motorum ventis nemorum, comitumque suorum

qui post terga redit trepidum laterique timentem

exanimat. Quamuis summo de culmine lapsus,

nondum vile sui pretium scit sanguinis esse

10seque, memor fati, tantae mercedis habere

credit adhuc iugulum quantam pro Caesaris ipse

avulsa cervice daret. Deserta sequentem

non patitur tutis fatum celare latebris

clara viri facies. Multi, Pharsalica castra

15cum peterent nondum fama prodente ruinas,

occursu stupuere ducis, vertigine rerum

attoniti; cladisque suae vix ipse fidelis

auctor erat. Gravis est Magno quicumque malorum

testis adest. Cunctis ignotus gentibus esse

20mallet et obscuro tutus transire per urbes

nomine; sed poenas longi Fortuna favoris

exigit a misero, quae tanto pondere famae

res premit adversas fatisque prioribus urget.

Nunc festinatos nimium sibi sentit honores

25actaque lauriferae damnat Sullana iuventae;

nunc et Corycias classes et Pontica signa

deiectum meminisse piget. Sic longius aevum

destruit ingentis animos et vita superstes

imperio; nisi summa dies cum fine bonorum

30adfuit et celeri praevertit tristia leto,

dedecori est fortuna prior. Quisquamne secundis

tradere se fatis audet nisi morte parata?

Litora contigerat per quae Peneius amnis

Emathia iam clade rubens exibat in aequor.

35Inde ratis trepidum, ventis ac fluctibus impar,

flumineis vix tuta vadis, evexit in altum:

cuius adhuc remis quatitur Corcyra sinusque

Leucadii, Cilicum dominus terraeque Liburnae,

exiguam vector pavidus correpsit in alnum.

40Conscia curarum secretae in litora Lesbi

flectere vela iubet, qua tunc tellure latebas

maestior, in mediis quam si, Cornelia, campis

Emathiae stares. tristes praesagia curas

exagitant, trepida quatitur formidine somnus,

45Thessaliam nox omnis habet; tenebrisque remotis

rupis in abruptae scopulos extremaque curris

litora; prospiciens fluctus, nutantia longe

semper prima vides venientis vela carinae,

quaerere nec quicquam de fato coniugis audes.

50En ratis, ad vestros quae tendit carbasa portus!

Quid ferat ignoras; sed nunc tibi summa pavoris,

nuntius armorum tristis rumorque sinister,

victus adest coniux. quid perdis tempora luctus?

Cum possis iam flere, times! Tunc puppe propinqua

55prosilvit crimenque deum crudele notavit,

deformem pallore ducem vultusque prementem

canitiem atque atro squalentis pulvere vestis.

Obuia nox miserae caelum lucemque tenebris

abstulit, atque animam clusit dolor; omnia nervis

60membra relicta labant, riguerunt corda, diuque

spe mortis decepta iacet. Iam fune ligato

litoribus lustrat vacuas Pompeius harenas.

Quem postquam propius famulae videre fideles,

non ultra gemitus tacitos incessere fatum

65permisere sibi, frustraque attollere terra

semianimem conantur eram, quam pectore Magnus

ambit et adstrictos refovet complexibus artus.

Coeperat in summum revocato sanguine corpus

Pompei sentire manus maestamque mariti

70posse pati faciem; prohibet succumbere fatis

Magnus et inmodicos castigat voce dolores:

"Nobile cur robur fortunae vulnere primo

femina tantorum titulis insignis avorum

frangis? Habes aditum mansurae in saecula famae:

75laudis in hoc sexu non legum iura nec arma,

unica materia est coniux miser. Erige mentem,

et tua cum fatis pietas decertet, et ipsum

quod sum victus ama; nunc sum tibi gloria maior,

a me quod fasces et quod pia turba senatus

80tantaque discessit regum manus. Incipe Magnum

sola sequi. Deformis adhuc vivente marito

summus et augeri vetitus dolor: ultima debet

esse fides lugere virum. Tu nulla tulisti

bello damna meo: vivit post proelia Magnus,

85sed fortuna perit; quod defles, illud amasti."

Vocibus his correpta viri vix aegra levavit

membra solo, talis gemitu rumpente querellas:

"O | utinam in thalamos invisi Caesaris issem

infelix coniux et nulli laeta marito!

90Bis nocui mundo; me pronuba ducit Erinys

Crassorumque umbrae, devotaque manibus illis

Assyrios in castra tuli civilia casus,

praecipitesque dedi populos cunctosque fugavi

a causa meliore deos. O maxime coniux,

95o thalamis indigne meis, hoc iuris habebat

in tantum fortuna caput! Cur impia nupsi,

si miserum factura fui? Nunc accipe poenas,

sed quas sponte luam. Quo sit tibi mollius aequor,

certa fides regum totusque paratior orbis,

100sparge mari comitem. Mallem felicibus armis

dependisse caput; nunc clades denique lustra,

Magne, tuas. ubicumque iaces, civilibus armis

nostros ulta toros, ades huc atque exige poenas,

Iulia, crudelis, placataque paelice caesa

105Magno parce tuo." sic fata iterumque refusa

coniugis in gremium, cunctorum lumina solvit

in lacrimas. Duri flectuntur pectora Magni,

siccaque Thessaliae confudit lumina Lesbos.

Tunc Mytilenaeum pleno iam litore vulgus

110adfatur Magnum: "Si maxima gloria nobis

semper erit tanti pignus servasse mariti,

tu quoque devotos sacro tibi foedere muros,

oramus, sociosque lares dignere vel una

nocte tua: fac, Magne, locum, quem cuncta revisant

115saecula, quem veniens hospes Romanus adoret.

Nulla tibi subeunda magis sunt moenia victo:

omnia victoris possunt sperare favorem,

haec iam crimen habent. Quid, quod iacet insula ponto?

Caesar eget ratibus: procerum pars magna coibit

120certa loci; noto reparandum est litore fatum.

Accipe templorum cultus aurumque deorum;

accipe, si terris, si puppibus ista iuventus

aptior est; tota, quantum valet, utere Lesbo.

Accipe: ne Caesar rapiat, tu victus habeto.

125Hoc solum crimen meritae bene detrahe terrae,

ne nostram videare fidem felixque secutus

et damnasse miser." Tali pietate virorum

laetus in adversis et mundi nomine gaudens

esse fidem: "Nullum toto mihi" dixit "in orbe

130gratius esse solum non parvo pignore vobis

ostendi; tenuit nostros hac obside Lesbos

adfectus; hic sacra domus carique penates,

hic mihi Roma fuit. Non ulla in litora puppem

ante dedi fugiens, saevi cum Caesaris iram

135iam scirem meritam servata coniuge Lesbon,

non veritus tantam veniae committere vobis

materiam. Sed iam satis est fecisse nocentes.

Fata mihi totum mea sunt agitanda per orbem.

Heu nimium felix aeterno nomine Lesbos,

140sive doces populos regesque admittere Magnum,

seu praestas mihi sola fidem. Nam quaerere certum

fas quibus in terris, ubi sit scelus. Accipe, numen,

Si quod adhuc mecum est, votorum extrema meorum:

da similis Lesbo populos, qui Marte subactum

145non intrare suos infesto Caesare portus,

non exire vetent." Dixit maestamque carinae

imposuit comitem. cunctos mutare putares

tellurem patriaeque solum: sic litore toto

plangitur, infestae tenduntur in aethera dextrae;

150Pompeiumque minus, cuius fortuna dolorem

moverat, ast illam, quam toto tempore belli

ut civem videre suam, discedere cernens

ingemuit populus; quam vix, si castra mariti

victoris peteret, siccis dimittere matres

155iam poterant oculis: tanto devinxit amore

hos pudor, hos probitas castique modestia vultus,

quod summissa animis, nulli gravis hospita turbae

stantis adhuc fati vixit quasi coniuge victo.

Iam pelago medios Titan demissus ad ignes

160nec quibus abscondit nec si quibus exserit orbem

totus erat: vigiles Pompei pectore curae

nunc socias adeunt Romani foederis urbes

et varias regum mentes, nunc invia mundi

arva super nimios soles austrumque iacentis.

165Saepe labor maestus curarum odiumque futuri

proiecit fessos incerti pectoris aestus,

rectoremque ratis de cunctis consulit astris,

unde notet terras, quae sit mensura secandi

aequoris in caelo, Syriam quo sidere servet,

170aut quotus in Plaustro Libyam bene dirigat ignis.

Doctus ad haec fatur taciti servator Olympi:

"Signifero quaecumque fluunt labentia caelo,

numquam stante polo miseros fallentia nautas,

sidera non sequimur; sed qui non mergitur undis

175axis inocciduus gemina clarissimus arcto,

ille regit puppes. Hic cum mihi semper in altum

surget et instabit summis minor Ursa ceruchis,

Bosporon et Scythiae curvantem litora Pontum

spectamus. Quicquid descendet ab arbore summa

180Arctophylax propiorque mari Cynosura feretur,

in Syriae portus tendet ratis. Inde Canopos

excipit australi caelo contenta vagari,

stella timens borean; illa quoque perge sinistra

trans Pharon, in medio tanget ratis aequore Syrtim.

185Sed quo vela dari, quo nunc pede carbasa tendi

nostra iubes?" Dubio contra cui pectore Magnus

"Hoc solum toto" respondit "in aequore serva,

ut sit ab Emathiis semper tua longius oris

puppis et Hesperiam pelago caeloque relinquas;

190cetera da ventis. Comitem pignusque recepi

depositum: tunc certus eram quae litora vellem,

nunc portum fortuna dabit." Sic fatur; at ille

iusto vela modo pendentia cornibus aequis

torsit et in laevum puppim dedit, utque secaret,

195quas Asinae cautes et quas Chios asperat, undas,

hos dedit in proram, tenet hos in puppe rudentis.

Aequora senserunt motus aliterque secante

iam pelagus rostro nec idem spectante carina

mutavere sonum. Non sic moderator equorum,

200dexteriore rota laevum cum circumit axem,

cogit inoffensae currus accedere metae.

Ostendit terras Titan et sidera texit.

Sparsus ab Emathia fugit quicumque procella,

adsequitur Magnum, primusque a litore Lesbi

205occurrit natus, procerum mox turba fidelis;

nam neque deiecto fatis acieque fugato

abstulerat Magno reges fortuna ministros;

terrarum dominos et sceptra Eoa tenentis

exul habet comites. Iubet ire in devia mundi

210Deiotarum, qui sparsa ducis vestigia legit.

"Quando" ait "Emathiis amissus cladibus orbis,

qua Romanus erat, superest, fidissime regum,

Eoam temptare fidem populosque bibentis

Euphraten et adhuc securum a Caesare Tigrim.

215Ne pigeat Magno quaerentem fata remotas

Medorum penetrare domos Scythicosque recessus

et totum mutare diem vocesque superbo

Arsacidae perferre meas: "Si foedera nobis

prisca manent mihi per Latium iurata Tonantem,

220per vestros astricta magos, implete pharetras

Armeniosque arcus Geticis intendite nervis;

si vos, o Parthi, peterem cum Caspia claustra

et sequerer duros aeterni Martis Alanos,

passus Achaemeniis late decurrere campis

225in tutam trepidos numquam Babylona coëgi:

arva super Cyri Chaldaeique ultima regni,

qua rapidus Ganges et qua Nysaeus Hydaspes

accedunt pelago, Phoebi surgentis ab igne

iam propior quam Persis eram; tamen omnia vincens

230sustinui nostris vos tantum desse triumphis,

solusque e numero regum telluris Eoae

ex aequo me Parthus adit. Nec munere Magni

stant semel Arsacidae. Quis enim post vulnera cladis

Assyriae iustas Latii compescuit iras?

235Tot meritis obstricta meis nunc Parthia ruptis

excedat claustris vetitam per saecula ripam

Zeugmaque Pellaeum. Pompeio vincite, Parthi,

vinci Roma volet". Regem parere iubenti

ardua non piguit, positisque insignibus aulae

240egreditur famulo raptos indutus amictus.

In dubiis tutum est inopem simulare tyranno;

quanto igitur mundi dominis securius aevum

verus pauper agit! Dimisso in litore rege,

ipse per Icariae scopulos Ephesonque relinquens

245et placidi Colophona maris spumantia parvae

radit saxa Sami; spirat de litore Coo

aura fluens; Gnidon inde fugit claramque relinquit

sole Rhodon magnosque sinus Telmessidos undae

conpensat medio pelagi. Pamphylia puppi

250occurrit tellus, nec se committere muris

ausus adhuc ullis, te primum, parva Phaselis,

Magnus adit; nam te metui vetat incola rarus

exhaustaeque domus populis, maiorque carinae

quam tua turba fuit. Tendens hinc carbasa rursus

255iam Taurum Tauroque videt Dipsunta cadentem.

Crederet hoc Magnus, pacem cum praestitit undis,

et sibi consultum? Cilicum per litora tutus

parva puppe fugit. Sequitur pars magna senatus

ad profugum collecta ducem, parvisque Syedris,

260quo portu mittitque rates recipitque Selinus,

in procerum coetu tandem maesta ora resolvit

vocibus his Magnus: "Comites bellique fugaeque

atque instar patriae, quamuis in litore nudo,

in Cilicum terra, nullis circumdatus armis

265consultem rebusque novis exordia quaeram,

ingentis praestate animos. non omnis in arvis

Emathiis cecidi, nec sic mea fata premuntur

ut nequeam relevare caput cladesque receptas

excutere. An Libycae Marium potuere ruinae

270erigere in fasces et plenis reddere fastis:

me pulsum leviore manu Fortuna tenebit?

Mille meae Graio volvuntur in aequore puppes,

mille duces; sparsit potius Pharsalia nostras,

quam subuertit, opes. Sed me vel sola tueri

275fama potest rerum, toto quas gessimus orbe,

et nomen quod mundus amat. vos pendite regna

viribus atque fide, Libyam, Parthosque Pharonque,

quemnam Romanis deceat succurrere rebus.

Ast ego curarum vobis arcana mearum

280expromam mentisque meae quo pondera vergant.

Aetas Niliaci nobis suspecta tyrannist:

ardua quippe fides robustos exigit annos.

Hinc anceps dubii terret sollertia Mauri;

namque memor generis Carthaginis impia proles

285imminet Hesperiae, multusque in pectore vanost

Hannibal, obliquo maculat qui sanguine regnum

et Numidas contingit avos; iam supplice Varo

intumuit viditque loco Romana secundo.

Quare agite Eoum, comites, properemus in orbem.

290Dividit Euphrates ingentem gurgite mundum,

Caspiaque inmensos seducunt claustra recessus,

et polus Assyrias alter noctesque diesque

vertit, et abruptum est nostro mare discolor unda

Oceanusque suus. Regnandi sola voluptas;

295celsior in campo sonipes et fortior arcus,

nec puer aut senior letalis tendere nervos

segnis, et a nulla mors est incerta sagitta.

Primi Pellaeas arcu fregere sarisas

Bactraque Medorum sedem, murisque superbam

300Assyrias Babylona domos. nec pila timentur

nostra nimis Parthis, audentque in bella venire

experti Scythicas Crasso pereunte pharetras.

Spicula nec solo spargunt fidentia ferro,

stridula sed multo saturantur tela veneno;

305vulnera parva nocent, fatumque in sanguine summost.

O | utinam non tanta mihi fiducia saevis

esset in Arsacidis! Fatis nimis aemula nostris

fata movent Medos, multumque in gente deorumst.

Effundam populos alia tellure revulsos

310excitosque suis immittam sedibus ortus.

Quod si nos Eoa fides et barbara fallent

foedera, vulgati supra commercia mundi

naufragium Fortuna ferat: non regna precabor

quae feci. Sat magna feram solacia mortis,

315orbe iacens alio, nihil haec in membra cruente,

nil socerum fecisse pie. Sed cuncta revolvens

vitae fata meae, semper venerabilis illa

orbis parte fui; quantus Maeotida supra,

quantus aput Tanaim toto conspectus in ortu!

320Quas magis in terras nostrum felicibus actis

nomen abit aut unde redit maiore triumpho?

Roma, fave coeptis; quid enim tibi laetius umquam

praestiterint superi, quam, si civilia Partho

milite bella geras, tantam consumere gentem

325et nostris miscere malis? Cum Caesaris arma

concurrent Medis, aut me fortuna necessest

vindicet aut Crassos." Sic fatus murmure sentit

consilium damnasse viros; quos Lentulus omnis

virtutis stimulis et nobilitate dolendi

330praecessit dignasque tulit modo consule voces:

"Sicine Thessalicae mentem fregere ruinae?

Una dies mundi damnavit fata? secundum

Emathiam lis tanta datur? iacet omne cruenti

vulneris auxilium? solos tibi, Magne, reliquit

335Parthorum fortuna pedes? Quid transfuga mundi,

terrarum totos tractus caelumque perosus,

aversosque polos alienaque sidera quaeris,

Chaldaeos culture focos et barbara sacra,

Parthorum famulus? quid causa obtenditur armis

340libertatis amor? miserum quid decipis orbem,

si servire potes? Te, quem Romana regentem

horruit auditu, quem captos ducere reges

vidit ab Hyrcanis Indoque a litore silvis,

deiectum fatis, humilem fractumque videbit

345extolletque animos Latium vesanus in orbem,

se simul et Romam Pompeio supplice mensus?

Nil animis fatisque tuis effabere dignum;

exiget ignorans Latiae commercia linguae

ut lacrimis se, Magne, roges. Patimurne pudoris

350hoc vulnus, clades ut Parthia vindicet ante

Hesperias quam Roma suas? Civilibus armis

elegit te nempe ducem: quid vulnera nostra

in Scythicos spargis populos cladesque latentes?

quid Parthos transire doces? Solacia tanti

355perdit Roma mali, nullos admittere reges,

sed civi servire suo. Ivvat ire per orbem

ducentem saevas Romana in moenia gentes

signaque ab Euphrate cum Crassis capta sequentem?

Qui solus regum fato celante favorem

360defuit Emathiae, nunc tantas ille lacesset

auditi victoris opes aut iungere fata

tecum, Magne, volet? non haec fiducia gentist:

omnis in arctois populus quicumque pruinis

nascitur, indomitus bellis et mortis amator;

365quicquid ad Eoos tractus mundique teporem

ibitur, emollit gentes clementia caeli.

Illic et laxas vestes et fluxa virorum

velamenta vides. Parthus per Medica rura,

Sarmaticos inter campos effusaque plano

370Tigridis arva solo nulli superabilis hostist

libertate fugae; sed non, ubi terra tumebit,

aspera conscendet montis iuga nec per opacas

bella geret tenebras incerto debilis arcu

nec franget nando violenti verticis amnem

375nec tota in pugna perfusus sanguine membra

exiget aestivum calido sub pulvere solem.

Non aries illis, non ulla est machina belli,

aut fossas implere valent, Parthoque sequenti

murus erit quodcumque potest obstare sagittae.

380Pugna levis bellumque fugax turmaeque vagantes

et melior cessisse loco quam pellere miles;

illita tela dolis, nec Martem comminus usquam

ausa pati virtus, sed longe tendere nervos

et quo ferre velint permittere vulnera ventis.

385Ensis habet vires, et gens quaecumque virorum

bella gerit gladiis. Nam Medos proelia prima

exarmant vacuaque iubent remeare pharetra.

Nulla manus illis, fiducia tota venenist.

Credis, Magne, viros, quos in discrimina belli

390cum ferro misisse parum est? Temptare pudendum

auxilium tanti est, toto divisus ut orbe

a terra moriare tua, tibi barbara tellus

incumbat, te parva tegant ac vilia busta,

invidiosa tamen Crasso quaerente sepulchrum?

395Sed tua sors levior, quoniam mors ultima poenast

nec metuenda viris. At non Cornelia letum

infando sub rege timet. Num barbara nobis

est ignota Venus, quae ritu caeca ferarum

polluit innumeris leges et foedera taedae

400coniugibus thalamique patent secreta nefandi

inter mille nurus? Epulis vesana meroque

regia non ullis exceptos legibus audet

concubitus; tot femineis complexibus unum

non lassat nox tota marem. Iacuere sorores

405in regum thalamis sacrataque pignora matres.

Damnat apud gentes sceleris non sponte peracti

Oedipodionias infelix fabula Thebas:

Parthorum dominus quotiens sic sanguine mixto

nascitur Arsacides? cui fas implere parentem,

410quid rear esse nefas? Proles tam clara Metelli

stabit barbarico coniux millesima lecto.

Quamquam non ulli plus regia, Magne, vacabit

saevitia stimulata Venus titulisque virorum;

nam quo plura iuvent Parthum portenta, fuisse

415hanc sciet et Crassi; ceu pridem debita fatis

Assyriis trahitur cladis captiva vetustae.

Haereat Eoae vulnus miserabile sortis:

non solum auxilium funesto ab rege petisse,

sed gessisse prius bellum civile pudebit.

420Nam quod apud populos crimen socerique tuumque

maius erit quam quod vobis miscentibus arma

Crassorum vindicta perit? Incurrere cuncti

debuerant in Bactra duces et, ne qua vacarent

arma, vel arctoum Dacis Rhenique catervis

425imperii nudare latus, dum perfida Susa

in tumulos prolapsa ducum Babylonque iaceret.

Assyriae paci finem, Fortuna, precamur;

et, si Thessalia bellum civile peractumst,

ad Parthos qui vicit eat. gens unica mundist

430de qua Caesareis possim gaudere triumphis.

Non tibi, cum primum gelidum transibis Araxen,

umbra senis maesti Scythicis confixa sagittis

ingeret has voces? "Tu, quem post funera nostra

ultorem cinerum nudae speravimus umbrae,

435ad foedus pacemque venis?" Tunc plurima cladis

occurrent monimenta tibi: quae moenia trunci

lustrarunt cervice duces, ubi nomina tanta

obruit Euphrates et nostra cadavera Tigris

detulit in terras ac reddidit. Ire per ista

440si potes, in media socerum quoque, Magne, sedentem

Thessalia placare potes. quin respicis orbem

Romanum? Si regna times proiecta sub austro

infidumque Iubam, petimus Pharon arvaque Lagi.

Syrtibus hinc Libycis tuta est Aegyptos; at inde

445gurgite septeno rapidus mare summovet amnis.

Terra suis contenta bonis, non indiga mercis

aut Iovis; in solo tanta est fiducia Nilo.

Sceptra puer Ptolomaeus habet tibi debita, Magne,

tutelae commissa tuae. quis nominis umbram

450horreat? innocua est aetas; ne iura fidemque

respectumque deum veteri speraveris aula:

nil pudet adsuetos sceptris, mitissima sors est

regnorum sub rege novo." Non plura locutus

impulit huc animos. Quantum spes ultima rerum

455libertatis habet! victa est sententia Magni.

Tum Cilicum liquere solum Cyproque citatas

immisere rates, nullas cui praetulit aras

undae diva memor Paphiae, si numina nasci

credimus aut quemquam fas est coepisse deorum.

460Haec ubi deservit Pompeius litora, totos

emensus Cypri scopulos, quibus exit in austrum,

inde maris vasti transuerso vertitur aestu;

nec tenuit gratum nocturno lumine montem

infimaque Aegypti pugnaci litora velo

465vix tetigit, qua dividui pars maxima Nili

in vada decurrit Pelusia septimus amnis.

Tempus erat quo Libra pares examinat horas,

non uno plus aequa die, noctique rependit

lux minor hibernae verni solacia damni.

470Comperit ut regem Casio se monte tenere,

flectit iter; nec Phoebus adhuc nec carbasa languent.

Iam rapido speculator eques per litora cursu

hospitis adventu pavidam compleverat aulam.

Consilii vix tempus erat; tamen omnia monstra

475Pellaeae coiere domus, quos inter Acoreus

iam placidus senio fractisque modestior annis

(hunc genuit custos Nili crescentis in arva

Memphis vana sacris; illo cultore deorum

lustra suae Phoebes non unus vixerat Apis)

480consilii vox prima fuit meritumque fidemque

sacraque defuncti iactavit pignora patris.

Sed melior suadere malis et nosse tyrannos

ausus Pompeium leto damnare Pothinus:

"Ius et fas multos faciunt, Ptolomaee, nocentes;

485dat poenas laudata fides, cum sustinet" inquit

"quos fortuna premit. Fatis accede deisque

et cole felices, miseros fuge. Sidera terra

ut distant et flamma mari, sic utile recto.

Sceptrorum vis tota perit, si pendere iusta

490incipit, evertitque arces respectus honesti.

Libertas scelerum est, quae regna invisa tuetur,

sublatusque modus gladiis. Facere omnia saeve

non impune licet, nisi cum facis. exeat aula

qui vult esse pius. virtus et summa potestas

495non coeunt; semper metuet quem saeva pudebunt.

Non impune tuos Magnus contempserit annos,

qui te nec victos arcere a litore nostro

posse putat. Neu nos sceptris privaverit hospes,

pignora sunt propiora tibi: Nilumque Pharonque,

500si regnare piget, damnatae redde sorori.

Aegyptum certe Latiis tueamur ab armis.

Quicquid non fuerit Magni, dum bella geruntur,

nec victoris erit. Toto iam pulsus ab orbe,

postquam nulla manet rerum fiducia, quaerit

505cum qua gente cadat. Rapitur civilibus umbris.

Nec soceri tantum arma fugit: fugit ora senatus,

cuius Thessalicas saturat pars magna volucres,

et metuit gentes, quas uno in sanguine mixtas

deservit, regesque timet, quorum omnia mersit;

510Thessaliaeque reus nulla tellure receptus

sollicitat nostrum, quem nondum perdidit, orbem.

Iustior in Magnum nobis, Ptolomaee, querellae

causa data est: quid sepositam semperque quietam

crimine bellorum maculas Pharon arvaque nostra

515victori suspecta facis? cur sola cadenti

haec placuit tellus, in quam Pharsalica fata

conferres poenasque tuas? Iam crimen habemus

purgandum gladio: quod nobis sceptra senatus

te suadente dedit, votis tua fovimus arma.

520Hoc ferrum, quod fata iubent proferre, paravi

non tibi, sed victo; feriam tua viscera, Magne,

malveram soceri: rapimur quo cuncta feruntur.

Tene mihi dubitas an sit violare necesse,

cum liceat? Quae te nostri fiducia regni

525huc agit, infelix? Populum non cernis inermem

arvaque vix refugo fodientem mollia Nilo?

Metiri sua regna decet viresque fateri.

Tu, Ptolomaee, potes Magni fulcire ruinam,

sub qua Roma iacet? bustum cineresque movere

530Thessalicos audes bellumque in regna vocare?

Ante aciem Emathiam nullis accessimus armis:

Pompei nunc castra placent, quae deserit orbis?

nunc victoris opes et cognita fata lacessis?

Aduersis non desse decet, sed laeta secutos;

535nulla fides umquam miseros elegit amicos."

Adsensere omnes sceleri. Laetatur honore

rex puer insueto, quod iam sibi tanta iubere

permittant famuli. Sceleri delectus Achillas,

perfida qua tellus Casiis excurrit harenis

540et vada testantur iunctas Aegyptia Syrtes,

exiguam sociis monstri gladiisque carinam

instruit. O superi, Nilusne et barbara Memphis

et Pelusiaci tam mollis turba Canopi

hos animos! Sic fata premunt civilia mundum?

545sic Romana iacent? ullusne in cladibus istis

est locus Aegypto, Phariusque admittitur ensis?

Hanc certe servate fidem, civilia bella:

cognatas praestate manus externaque monstra

pellite, si meruit tam claro nomine Magnus

550Caesaris esse nefas. Tanti, Ptolomaee, ruinam

nominis haut metuis caeloque tonante profanas

inservisse manus, impure ac semivir, audes?

Non domitor mundi nec ter Capitolia curru

invectus regumque potens vindexque senatus

555victorisque gener: Phario satis esse tyranno

quod poterat, Romanus erat. Quid viscera nostra

scrutaris gladio? nescis, puer improbe, nescis,

quo tua sit fortuna loco; iam iure sine ullo

Nili sceptra tenes; cecidit civilibus armis,

560qui tibi regna dedit. Iam vento vela negarat

Magnus et auxilio remorum infanda petebat

litora; quem contra non longa vecta biremi

appulerat scelerata manus, Magnoque patere

fingens regna Phari, celsae de puppe carinae

565in parvam iubet ire ratem litusque malignum

incusat bimaremque vadis frangentibus aestum,

qui vetet externas terris adpellere classes.

Quod nisi fatorum leges intentaque iussu

ordinis aeterni miserae vicinia mortis

570damnatum leto traherent ad litora Magnum,

non ulli comitum sceleris praesagia derant:

quippe fides si pura foret, si regia Magno,

sceptrorum auctori, vera pietate pateret,

venturum tota Pharium cum classe tyrannum.

575Sed cedit fatis classemque relinquere iussus

obsequitur, letumque iuvat praeferre timori.

Ibat in hostilem praeceps Cornelia puppem,

hoc magis impatiens egresso desse marito

quod metuit clades. "Remane, temeraria coniux,

580et tu, nate, precor, longeque e litore casus

exspectate meos et in hac cervice tyranni

explorate fidem." Dixit; sed surda vetanti

tendebat geminas amens Cornelia palmas:

"Quo sine me, crudelis, abis? Iterumne relinquor,

585Thessalicis summota malis? Numquam omine laeto

distrahimur miseri. Poteras non flectere puppim,

cum fugeres, alio latebrisque relinquere Lesbi,

omnibus a terris si nos arcere parabas?

An tantum in fluctus placeo comes?" Haec ubi frustra

590effudit, prima pendet tamen anxia puppe

attonitoque metu nec quoquam avertere visus

nec Magnum spectare potest. Stetit anxia classis

ad ducis eventum, metuens non arma nefasque

sed ne summissis precibus Pompeius adoret

595sceptra sua donata manu. Transire parantem

Romanus Pharia miles de puppe salutat

Septimius, qui (pro superum pudor!) arma satelles

regia gestabat posito deformia pilo,

immanis, violentus, atrox nullaque ferarum

600mitior in caedes. Quis non, Fortuna, putasset

parcere te populis, quod bello haec dextra vacaret,

Thessaliaque procul tam noxia tela fugasses?

Disponis gladios, ne quo non fiat in orbe,

heu! facinus civile tibi. victoribus ipsis

605dedecus et numquam superum caritura pudore

fabula: Romanus regi sic parvit ensis,

Pellaeusque puer gladio tibi colla recidit,

Magne, tuo. qua posteritas in saecula mittet

Septimium fama? Scelus hoc quo nomine dicent,

610qui Bruti dixere nefas? Iam venerat horae

terminus extremae, Phariamque ablatus in alnum

perdiderat iam iura sui. Tum stringere ferrum

regia monstra parant. ut vidit comminus ensis,

involvit vultus atque, indignatus apertum

615Fortunae praebere, caput; tunc lumina pressit

continuitque animam, ne quas effundere voces

vellet et aeternam fletu corrumpere famam.

Sed postquam mucrone latus funestus Achillas

perfodit, nullo gemitu consensit ad ictum

620respexitque nefas servatque immobile corpus

seque probat moriens atque haec in pectore volvit:

"Saecula Romanos numquam tacitura labores

attendunt, aevumque sequens speculatur ab omni

orbe ratem Phariamque fidem: nunc consule famae.

625Fata tibi longae fluxerunt prospera vitae;

ignorant populi, si non in morte probaris,

an scieris adversa pati. Ne cede pudori

auctoremque dole fati: quacumque feriris,

crede manum soceri. spargant lacerentque licebit,

630sum tamen, o superi, felix, nullique potestas

hoc auferre deo. Mutantur prospera vita:

non fit morte miser. videt hanc Cornelia caedem

Pompeiusque meus. Tanto patientius, oro,

clude, dolor, gemitus; natus coniuxque peremptum,

635si mirantur, amant." Talis custodia Magno

mentis erat; ius hoc animi morientis habebat.

At non tam patiens Cornelia cernere saevum,

quam perferre, nefas, miserandis aethera complet

vocibus: "O coniux, ego te scelerata peremi.

640Letiferae tibi causa morae fuit avia Lesbos,

et prior in Nili pervenit litora Caesar;

nam cui ius alii sceleris? Sed quisquis in istud

a superis immisse caput vel Caesaris irae

vel tibi prospiciens, nescis, crudelis, ubi ipsa

645viscera sint Magni; properas atque ingeris ictus,

qua votum est victo. Poenas non morte minores

pendat et ante meum videat caput. haut ego culpa

libera bellorum, quae matrum sola per undas

et per castra comes nullis absterrita fatis,

650victum, quod reges etiam timuere, recepi.

Hoc merui, coniux, in tuta puppe relinqui?

perfide, parcebas? te fata extrema petente

vita digna fui? Moriar, nec munere regis.

Aut mihi praecipitem, nautae, permittite saltum,

655aut laqueum collo tortosque aptare rudentis,

aut aliquis Magno dignus comes exigat ensem;

Pompeio praestare potest quod Caesaris armis

imputet. O saevi, properantem in fata tenetis?

Vivis adhuc, coniunx, et iam Cornelia non est

660iuris, Magne, sui: prohibent accersere mortem,

servor victori." Sic fata interque suorum

lapsa manus rapitur trepida fugiente carina.

At Magni cum terga sonent et pectora ferro,

permansisse decus sacrae venerabile formae

665iratamque deis faciem, nil ultima mortis

ex habitu vultuque viri mutasse fatentur

qui lacerum videre caput. Nam saevus in ipso

Septimius sceleris maius scelus invenit actu

ac retegit sacros scisso velamine vultus

670semianimis Magni spirantiaque occupat ora

collaque in obliquo ponit languentia transtro.

Tunc nervos venasque secat nodosaque frangit

ossa diu; nondum artis erat caput ense rotare.

At postquam trunco cervix abscisa recessit,

675vindicat hoc Pharius dextra gestare satelles.

Degener atque operae miles Romane secundae,

Pompei diro sacrum caput ense recidis,

ut non ipse feras? O summi fata pudoris!

Impius ut Magnum nosset puer, illa verenda

680regibus hirta coma et generosa fronte decora

caesaries comprensa manu est, Pharioque veruto,

dum vivunt vultus atque os in murmura pulsant

singultus animae, dum lumina nuda rigescunt,

suffixum caput est, quo numquam bella iubente

685pax fuit; hoc leges Campumque et rostra movebat,

hac facie Fortuna tibi Romana placebas.

Nec satis infando fuit hoc vidisse tyranno,

vult sceleris superesse fidem. Tunc arte nefanda

summota est capiti tabes, raptoque cerebro

690adsiccata cutis, putrisque effluxit ab alto

umor, et infuso facies solidata venenost.

Ultima Lageae stirpis perituraque proles,

degener, incestae sceptris cessure sorori,

cum tibi sacrato Macedon servetur in antro

695et regum cineres exstructo monte quiescant,

cum Ptolomaeorum manes seriemque pudendam

pyramides claudant indignaque Mausolea,

litora Pompeium feriunt, truncusque vadosis

huc illuc iactatur aquis! adeone molesta

700totum cura fuit socero servare cadaver?

Hac Fortuna fide Magni tam prospera fata

pertulit, hac illum summo de culmine rerum

morte petit cladesque omnis exegit in uno

saeva die, quibus inmunes tot praestitit annos

705Pompeiusque fuit qui numquam mixta videret

laeta malis, felix nullo turbante deorum

et nullo parcente miser; semel impulit illum

dilata Fortuna manu. Pulsatur harenis,

carpitur in scopulis hausto per vulnera fluctu,

710ludibrium pelagi, nullaque manente figura

una nota est Magno capitis iactura revulsi.

Ante tamen Pharias victor quam tangat harenas,

Pompeio raptim tumulum fortuna paravit,

ne iaceat nullo vel ne meliore sepulchro:

715e latebris pavidus decurrit ad aequora Cordus;

quaestor ab Idalio Cinyraeae litore Cypri

infaustus Magni fuerat comes. Ille per umbras

ausus ferre gradum victum pietate timorem

compulit, ut mediis quaesitum corpus in undis

720duceret ad terram traheretque in litora Magnum.

Lucis maesta parum per densas Cynthia nubes

praebebat; cano sed discolor aequore truncus

conspicitur. Tenet ille ducem complexibus artis

eripiente mari; tunc victus pondere tanto

725exspectat fluctus pelagoque iuvante cadaver

impellit. Postquam sicco iam litore sedit,

incubuit Magno lacrimasque effundit in omne

vulnus et ad superos obscuraque sidera fatur:

"Non pretiosa petit cumulato ture sepulchra

730Pompeius, Fortuna, tuus, non pinguis ad astra

ut ferat e membris Eoos fumus odores,

ut Romana suum gestent pia colla parentem,

praeferat ut veteres feralis pompa triumphos,

ut resonent tristi cantu fora, totus ut ignes

735proiectis maerens exercitus ambiat armis.

Da vilem Magno plebei funeris arcam,

quae lacerum corpus siccos effundat in ignes;

robora non desint misero nec sordidus ustor.

Sit satis, o superi, quod non Cornelia fuso

740crine iacet subicique facem complexa maritum

imperat, extremo sed abest a munere busti

infelix coniunx nec adhuc a litore longest."

Sic fatus parvos iuvenis procul aspicit ignes

corpus vile suis nullo custode cremantis.

745Inde rapit flammas semustaque robora membris

subducit. Quaecumque es" ait "neglecta nec ulli

cara tuo, sed Pompeio felicior umbra,

quod iam compositum violat manus hospita bustum,

da veniam; si quid sensus post fata relictum,

750cedis et ipsa rogo paterisque haec damna sepulchri,

teque pudet sparsis Pompei manibus uri."

Sic fatus plenusque sinus ardente favilla

pervolat ad truncum, qui fluctu paene relatus

litore pendebat. Summas dimovit harenas

755et collecta procul lacerae fragmenta carinae

exigua trepidus posuit scrobe. Nobile corpus

robora nulla premunt, nulla strue membra recumbunt;

admotus Magnum, non subditus, accipit ignis.

Ille sedens iuxta flammas: "O maxime" dixit

760"ductor et Hesperii maiestas nominis una,

si tibi iactatu pelagi, si funere nullo

tristior iste rogus, manes animamque potentem

officiis averte meis: iniuria fati

hoc fas esse iubet; ne ponti belua quicquam,

765ne fera, ne volucres, ne saevi Caesaris ira

audeat, exiguam, quantum potes, accipe flammam:

Romana succensa manu est. Fortuna recursus

si det in Hesperiam, non hac in sede quiescent

tam sacri cineres; sed te Cornelia, Magne,

770accipiet notaque manu transfundet in urnam.

Interea parvo signemus litora saxo,

ut nota sit busti; si quis placare peremptum

forte volet plenos et reddere mortis honores,

inveniat trunci cineres et norit harenas,

775ad quas, Magne, tuum referat caput." Haec ubi fatus,

excitat invalidas admoto fomite flammas.

Carpitur et lentum Magnus destillat in ignem

tabe fovens bustum. Sed iam percusserat astra

aurorae promissa dies: ille ordine rupto

780funeris attonitus latebras in litore quaerit.

Quam metuis, demens, isto pro crimine poenam,

quo te Fama loquax omnis accepit in annos?

Condita laudabit Magni socer impius ossa.

I modo securus veniae fassusque sepulchrum

785posce caput. Cogit pietas imponere finem

officio. Semusta rapit resolutaque nondum

ossa satis nervis et inustis plena medullis

aequorea restinguit aqua congestaque in unum

parva clusit humo. Tunc, ne levis aura retectos

790auferret cineres, saxo compressit harenam,

nautaque ne bustum religato fune moveret,

inscripsit sacrum semusto stipite nomen:

"Hic situs est Magnus." Placet hoc, Fortuna, sepulchrum

dicere Pompei, quo condi malvit illum,

795quam terra carvisse socer? Temeraria dextra,

cur obicis Magno tumulum manesque vagantis

includis? Situs est, qua terra extrema refuso

pendet in Oceano: Romanum nomen et omne

imperium Magno tumuli est modus; obrue saxa

800crimine plena deum: si tota est Herculis Oete

et iuga tota vacant Bromio Nyseia, quare

unus in Aegypto est Magni lapis? omnia Lagi

rura tenere potest. Si nullo caespite nomen

haeserit, erremus populi cinerumque tuorum,

805Magne, metu nullas Nili calcemus harenas.

Quod si tam sacro dignaris nomine saxum,

adde actus tantos monumentaque maxima rerum,

adde trucis Lepidi motus Alpinaque bella

armaque Sertori revocato consule victa

810et currus quos egit eques, commercia tuta

gentibus et pavidos Cilicas maris; adde subactam

barbariem gentesque vagas et quicquid in euro

regnorum boreaque iacet. Dic semper ab armis

civilem repetisse togam, ter curribus actis

815contentum multos patriae donasse triumphos.

Quis capit haec tumulus? surgit miserabile bustum

non ullis plenum titulis, non ordine tanto

fastorum, solitumque legi super alta deorum

culmina et exstructos spoliis hostilibus arcus

820haut procul est ima Pompei nomen harena

depressum tumulo, quod non legat advena rectus,

quod nisi monstratum Romanus transeat hospes.

Noxia civili tellus Aegyptia fato,

haut equidem inmerito Cumanae carmine vatis

825cautum, ne Nili Pelusia tangeret ora

Hesperius miles ripasque aestate tumentis.

Quid tibi, saeva, precer pro tanto crimine, tellus?

Vertat aquas Nilus, quo nascitur, orbe retentus,

et steriles egeant hibernis imbribus agri,

830totaque in Aethiopum putres solvaris harenas.

Nos in templa tuam Romana accepimus Isim

semideosque canes et sistra iubentia luctus

et, quem tu plangens hominem testaris, Osirim:

tu nostros, Aegypte, tenes in pulvere manes.

835Tu quoque, cum saevo dederis iam templa tyranno,

nondum Pompei cineres, o Roma, petisti;

exul adhuc iacet umbra ducis. Si saecula prima

victoris timuere minas, nunc excipe saltem

ossa tui Magni, si nondum subruta fluctu

840invisa tellure sedent. Quis busta timebit?

quis sacris dignam movisse verebitur umbram?

Imperet hoc nobis utinam scelus et velit uti

nostro Roma sinu: satis o nimiumque beatus,

si mihi contingat manes transferre revulsos

845Ausoniam, si tale ducis violare sepulchrum.

Forsitan aut sulco sterili cum poscere finem

a superis aut Roma volet feralibus austris

ignibus aut nimiis aut terrae tecta moventi,

consilio iussuque deum transibis in urbem,

850Magne, tuam, summusque feret tua busta sacerdos.

Nam quis ad exustam Cancro torrente Syenen

ibit et imbrifera siccas sub Pliade Thebas

spectator Nili, quis rubri stagna profundi

aut Arabum portus mercis mutator Eoae,

855Magne, petet, quem non tumuli venerabile saxum

et cinis in summis forsan turbatus harenis

avertet manesque tuos placare iubebit

et Casio praeferre Iovi? Nil ista nocebunt

famae busta tuae: templis auroque sepultus

860vilior umbra fores; nunc es pro numine summo

hoc tumulo, Fortuna, iacens: augustius aris

victoris Libyco pulsatur in aequore saxum.

Tarpeis qui saepe deis sua tura negarunt,

inclusum Tusco venerantur caespite fulmen.

865Proderit hoc olim, quod non mansura futuris

ardua marmoreo surrexit pondere moles.

Pulveris exigui sparget non longa vetustas

congeriem, bustumque cadet, mortisque peribunt

argumenta tuae. veniet felicior aetas,

870qua sit nulla fides saxum monstrantibus illud,

atque erit Aegyptus populis fortasse nepotum

tam mendax Magni tumulo, quam Creta Tonantis.