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Iām, Tārtēssĭăcō quōs sōlvĕrăt aēquŏrĕ Tītān

īn nōctēm dīffūsŭs, ĕquōs iūngēbăt Ĕōīs

lītŏrĭbūs, prīmīquĕ nŏvō Phăĕthōntĕ rĕtēctī

Sērēs lānĭgĕrīs rĕpĕtēbānt vēllĕră lūcīs,

ēt foēda ānte ŏcŭlōs strāgēs prŏpĭūsquĕ pătēbāt5

īnsānī Māvōrtĭs ŏpūs: sĭmŭl ārmă vĭrīquĕ

āc mīxtūs sŏnĭpēs dēxtraēque īn vūlnĕrĕ caēsī

haērēntēs hōstīs, pāssīm clĭpĕīquĕ iŭbaēquĕ

ātque ārtūs trūncī căpĭtūm frāctūsquĕ iăcēbāt

ōssĭbŭs īn dūrīs ēnsīs. nēc cērnĕrĕ dērāt10

frūstrā sēmĭnĕcūm quaērēntĭă lūmĭnă caēlūm.

tūm spūmāns sănĭē lăcŭs ēt flŭĭtāntĭă sūmmō

aētērnūm tŭmŭlīs ōrbātă cădāvĕră pōntō.

Nēc tămĕn ādvērsīs rŭĕrāt tōta Ītălă vīrtūs.

Brūttĭŭs īngēntī mĭsĕrāndaē caēdĭs ăcērvō15

nōn aēquum ōstēntāns cōnfōssō cōrpŏrĕ Mārtēm

ēxtŭlĕrāt vīx trīstĕ căpūt trūncōsquĕ trăhēbāt

pēr strāgēm nērvīs īntērlābēntĭbŭs ārtūs,

tēnuĭs ŏpūm, nōn pātrĕ nĭtēns līnguāvĕ, sĕd āspēr

ēnsē, nēc ē Vōlscā quīsquām vīr gēntĕ rĕdēmīt20

plūs aēvī nĕcĕ māgnănĭmā. pŭĕr āddĕrĕ sēsē

pūbēscēntĕ gĕnā cāstrīs ōptārăt ĕt ācrī

Flāmĭnĭō spēctātŭs ĕrāt, cūm Cēltĭcă vīctōr

ōbrŭĕrēt bēllō dīvīs mĕlĭōrĭbŭs ārvă.

īnde hŏnŏr āc sācraē cūstōdĭă Mārtĕ sŭb ōmnī25

ālĭtĭs; hīnc caūsām nūtrīvīt glōrĭă lētī.

nāmquĕ nĕcīs cērtūs, cāptaē prŏhĭbērĕ nĕquīrēt

cūm Poēnōs ăquĭlaē, pōstquām sūbsīdĕrĕ fātă

vīdĕrăt ēt māgnā pūgnam īnclīnārĕ rŭīnā,

ōccŭlĕre īntērdum ēt tērraē māndārĕ părābāt.30

sēd sŭbĭtīs vīctūs tēlīs lābēntĭă mēmbră

prōstrāvīt sŭpĕr ātque īniēctā mōrtĕ tĕgēbāt.

vērum ŭbĭ lūx nōcte ē Stўgĭā mĭsĕrōquĕ sŏpōrĕ

rēddĭtă, vīcīnī dē strāgĕ cădāvĕrĭs hāstă

ērĭgĭtūr sōlōquĕ vĭgēns cōnāmĭnĕ lātē35

stāgnāntēm caēde ēt făcĭlēm dīscēdĕrĕ tērrām

ēnsĕ fŏdīt claūsāmque ăquĭlae īnfēlīcĭs ădōrāns

ēffĭgĭēm pālmīs lānguēntĭbŭs aēquăt hărēnās.

sūprēmūs fēssī tĕnŭīs tūm cēssĭt ĭn aūrās

hālĭtŭs ēt māgnām mīsīt sūb Tārtără mēntēm.40

Iūxtā cērnĕre ĕrāt mĕrĭtaē sĭbĭ pōscĕrĕ cārmēn

vīrtūtīs sācrām răbĭēm. Laēvīnŭs, ăb āltō

Prīvērnō, vītīs Lătĭaē praēsīgnĭs hŏnōrĕ,

ēxănĭmūm Năsămōnă Tўrēn sŭpĕr īpsĕ iăcēbāt

ēxănĭmīs. nōn hāstă vĭrō, nōn ēnsĭs; ĭn ārtīs45

ābstŭlĕrāt fōrs ārmă. tămēn cērtāmĭnĕ nūdō

īnvēnīt Mārtī tēlūm dŏlŏr: ōrĕ crŭēntō

pūgnātūm, fērrīquĕ vĭcēm dēns praēbŭĭt īraē.

iām lăcĕraē nārēs foēdātăquĕ lūmĭnă mōrsū,

iām trūncūm rāptīs căpŭt aūrĭbŭs, īpsăquĕ dīrīs50

frōns dēpāstă mŏdīs, ēt sānguĭne ăbūndăt hĭātūs.

nēc sătĭās, dōnēc māndēntĭă līnquĕrĕt ōră

spīrĭtŭs ēt plēnōs rīctūs mōrs ātră tĕnērēt.

Tālĭă dūm praēbēt trīstīs mīrācŭlă vīrtūs,

dīvērso īntĕrĕā fŭgĭēntēs saūcĭă tūrbă55

iāctāntūr cāsū sīlvīsquĕ pĕr āvĭă caēcīs

āblātī fūrtīm mūltō cūm vūlnĕrĕ sōlōs

pēr nōctēm mētāntŭr ăgrōs. sŏnŭs ōmnĭs ĕt aūră

ēxtērrēnt pēnnāquĕ lĕvī cōmmōtă vŏlūcrīs.

nōn sŏpŏr aūt mēntī rĕquĭēs. ăgĭt āspĕr ăcērbā60

nūnc Māgo āttŏnĭtōs, nūnc ārdŭŭs Hānnĭbăl hāstā.

Sērrānūs, clārūm nōmēn, tŭă, Rēgŭlĕ, prōlēs,

quī, lōngūm sēmpēr fāmā glīscēntĕ pĕr aēvūm,

īnfīdīs sērvāssĕ fĭdēm mĕmŏrābĕrĕ Poēnīs,

flōrĕ nĭtēns prīmō pătrĭīs heū Pūnĭcă bēllă65

aūspĭcĭīs īngrēssŭs ĕrāt mĭsĕrāmquĕ părēntēm

ēt dūlcēs trīstī rĕpĕtēbāt sōrtĕ pĕnātēs

saūcĭŭs. haūd īllī cŏmĭtūm sŭpĕr ūllŭs ĕt ātrīs

vūlnĕrĭbūs quī fērrĕt ŏpēm. pēr dēvĭă frāctaē

īnnītēns hāstaē fūrtōque ērēptŭs ŏpācaē70

nōctĭs ĭtēr tăcĭtūm Pĕrŭsīnă fĕrēbăt ĭn ārvă.

hīc fēssūs pārvī, quaēcūmque ĭbĭ fātă dărēntūr,

līmĭnă pūlsābāt tēctī, cūm mēmbră cŭbīlī

ēvōlvēns nōn tārdă Mărūs (vĕtŭs īllĕ părēntīs

mīlĕs ĕt haūd sūrdā trāctārāt proēlĭă fāmā)75

prōcēdīt rĕnŏvātă fŏcīs ēt paūpĕrĕ Vēstā

lūmĭnă praētēndēns. ūtque ōra āgnōvĭt ĕt aēgrūm

vūlnĕrĭbūs dūrīs āc, lāmēntābĭlĕ vīsū,

lāpsāntēs fūltūm trūncātā cūspĭdĕ grēssūs,

fūnēstī rūmōrĕ mălī iām saūcĭŭs aūrēs:80

"quōd scĕlŭs, ō nĭmĭūs vītaē nĭmĭūmquĕ fĕrēndīs

ādvērsīs gĕnĭtūs cērnō? tē, māxĭmĕ, vīdī,

dūctōrūm, cūm cāptīvō Cārthāgĭnĭs ārcēm

tērrērēs vūltū, crīmēn cūlpāmquĕ Tŏnāntīs,

ōccĭdĕre ātque haūsī, quēm nōn Sīdōnĭă tēctă85

ēxpŭlĕrīnt ēvērsă mĕō dē cōrdĕ, dŏlōrēm.

ēstĭs ŭbi ēn ĭtĕrūm, sŭpĕrī? dāt pēctŏră fērrō

Rēgŭlŭs, āc stīrpēm tāntaē pĕrĭūră rĕcīdīt

sūrgēntēm Cārthāgŏ dŏmūs." īnde aēgră rĕpōnīt

mēmbră tŏrō nēc fērrĕ rŭdīs mĕdĭcāmĭnă (quīppĕ90

cāllēbāt bēllīs) nūnc pūrgāt vūlnĕră lŷmphā,

nūnc mūlcēt sūcīs. lĭgăt īnde āc vēllĕră mōllī

cīrcūmdāt tāctu ēt tōrpēntēs mītĭgăt ārtūs.

ēxīn cūră sĕnī trīstēm dēpēllĕrĕ fēssō

ōrĕ sĭtim ēt pārcā vīrēs āccērsĕrĕ mēnsā.95

quaē pōstquām prŏpĕrātă, sŏpōr sŭă mūnĕră tāndēm

āpplĭcăt ēt mītēm fūndīt pēr mēmbră quĭētēm.

nēcdum ēxōrtă dĭēs, Mărŭs īnstāt vūlnĕrĭs aēstūs

ēxpērtīs mĕdĭcārĕ mŏdīs grātūmquĕ tĕpōrēm

ēxūtūs sĕnĭūm trĕpĭdā pĭĕtātĕ mĭnīstrāt.100

Hīc iŭvĕnīs maēstōs tōllēns ād sīdĕră vūltūs

cūm gĕmĭtū lăcrĭmīsquĕ sĭmūl "sī cūlmĭnă nōndūm

Tārpēia ēxōsūs dāmnāstī scēptră Quĭrīnī,

ēxtrēmās Ĭtălūm rēs Aūsŏnĭāmquĕ rŭēntēm

āspĭce" ăīt "gĕnĭtōr, tāndēmque ādvērtĕ prŏcēllīs105

aēquōs Īlĭăcīs ŏcŭlōs. āmīsĭmŭs Ālpēs,

nēc deīnde ādvērsīs mŏdŭs ēst: Tīcīnŭs ĕt ātēr

strāgĭbŭs Ērĭdănūs tūque īnsīgnītĕ trŏpaēīs

Sīdŏnĭīs Trĕbĭa ēt tēllūs lăcrĭmābĭlĭs Ārnī.

sēd quĭd ĕgo haēc? grăvĭōr quāntō vīs ēccĕ mălōrūm!110

vīdī crēscēntēs Thrăsўmēnnī caēdĭbŭs ūndās

prōstrātāquĕ vĭrūm mōle, īntēr tēlă cădēntēm

vīdī Flāmĭnĭūm. tēstōr, mĕă nūmĭnă, mānēs

dīgnām mē poēnaē tūm nōbĭlĭtātĕ pătērnaē

strāge hōstīs quaēsīssĕ nĕcēm, nī trīstĭă lētūm115

ūt quōndām pātrī nōbīs quŏquĕ fātă nĕgāssēnt."

Cētĕra ăcērbāntēm quēstū lēnīrĕ lăbōrāns

ēffātūr sĕnĭōr: "pătrĭō, fōrtīssĭmĕ, rītū,

quīcquĭd ădēst dūri ēt rērum īnclīnātă fĕrāmūs.

tālīs lēgĕ dĕūm clīvōsō trāmĭtĕ vītaē120

pēr vărĭōs praēcēps cāsūs rŏtă vōlvĭtŭr aēvī.

sāt tĭbĭ, sāt māgna ēt tōtūm vūlgātă pĕr ōrbēm

stānt dŏcŭmēntă dŏmūs: săcĕr īlle ēt nūmĭnĕ nūllō

īnfĕrĭōr tŭŭs īllĕ părēns dĕcŏra āltă părāvīt

rēstāndo ādvērsīs nēc vīrtūtem ēxŭĭt ūllām,125

āntĕ rĕlūctāntēs līquīt quām spīrĭtŭs ārtūs.

vīx pŭĕrīlĕ mĭhī tēmpūs cōnfēcĕrăt aētās,

cūm prīmō mālās sīgnābāt Rēgŭlŭs aēvō.

āccēssī cŏmĕs, ātque ōmnēs sŏcĭāvĭmŭs ānnōs,

dōnēc dīs Ĭtălaē vīsum ēst ēxstīnguĕrĕ lūmēn130

gēntĭs, ĭn ēgrĕgĭō cūiūs sĭbĭ pēctŏrĕ sēdēm

cēpĕrăt ālmă Fĭdēs mēntēmque āmplēxă tĕnēbāt.

īlle ēnsēm nōbīs māgnōrum hūnc īnstăr hŏnōrūm

vīrtūtīsque ērgō dĕdĭt ēt, sōrdēntĭă fūmō

quaē cērnīs nūnc, frēnă; sĕd ēst ārgēntĕŭs ōllīs135

fūlgōr. nēc cuīquām Mărŭs ēst pōst tālĭă dōnă

nōn praēlātŭs ĕquēs. vērūm sŭpĕrāvĭt hŏnōrēs

ōmnēs hāstă mĕōs. cuī mē lībārĕ Lўaēī

quōd cērnīs lătĭcēs, dīgnūm cōgnōscĕrĕ caūsām.

Tūrbĭdŭs ārēntēs lēntō pĕdĕ sūlcăt hărēnās140

Bāgrădă, nōn ūllō Lĭbўcīs īn fīnĭbŭs āmnĕ

vīctūs līmōsās ēxtēndĕrĕ lātĭŭs ūndās

ēt stāgnāntĕ vădō pătŭlōs īnvōlvĕrĕ cāmpōs.

hīc stŭdĭō lătĭcūm, quōrum ēst haūd prōdĭgă tēllūs,

pēr rīpās laētī saēvīs cōnsēdĭmŭs ārvīs.145

lūcŭs ĭnērs iūxtā Stўgĭūm pāllēntĭbŭs ūmbrīs

sērvābāt sĭnĕ sōlĕ nĕmūs, crāssūsquĕ pĕr aūrās

hālĭtŭs ērūmpēns taētrum ēxspīrābăt ŏdōrēm.

īntūs dīră dŏmūs cūrvōque īmmānĭs ĭn āntrō

sūb tērrās spĕcŭs ēt trīstēs sĭnĕ lūcĕ tĕnēbraē.150

hōrrōr mēntĕ rĕdīt. mōnstrum ēxĭtĭābĭle ĕt īrā

tēllūrīs gĕnĭtūm, cuī pār vīx vīdĕrĭt aētās

ūllă vĭrūm, sērpēns cēntūm pōrrēctŭs ĭn ūlnās

lētālēm rīpam ēt lūcōs hăbĭtābăt Ăvērnōs.

īnglŭvĭem īmmēnsī vēntrīs grăvĭdāmquĕ vĕnēnīs155

ālvūm dēprēnsī sătĭābānt fōntĕ lĕōnēs

aūt ācta ād flŭvĭūm tōrrēntī lāmpădĕ sōlīs

ārmēnta ēt trāctaē foēdā grăvĭtātĕ pĕr aūrās

āc tābe āfflātūs vŏlŭcrēs. sēmēsă iăcēbānt

ōssă sŏlo, īnfōrmī dăpĕ quaē rēplētŭs ĕt āspēr160

vāstātīs grĕgĭbūs nīgrō rūctārăt ĭn āntrō.

īsque ŭbĭ fērvēntī cōncēpta īncēndĭa ăb aēstū

gūrgĭtĕ mūlcēbāt răpĭdo ēt spūmāntĭbŭs ūndīs,

nōndum ĕtĭām tōtō dēmērsūs cōrpŏre ĭn āmnēm

iām căpŭt ādvērsaē pōnēbāt mārgĭnĕ rīpaē.165

īmprūdēns tāntaē pēstīs grădĭēbăr Ăquīnō

Āpēnnīnĭcŏla ātque Ūmbrō cŏmĭtātŭs Ăvēntĕ.

scīrĕ nĕmūs pācēmquĕ lŏci ēxplōrārĕ lĭbēbāt.

Iāmquĕ prŏpīnquāntūm tăcĭtūs pĕnĕtrāvĭt ĭn ārtūs

hōrrŏr ĕt ōccūltō rĭgŭērūnt frīgŏrĕ mēmbră.170

īntrāmūs tămĕn ēt Nŷmphās nūmēnquĕ prĕcāmūr

gūrgĭtĭs īgnōtī trĕpĭdōsque ēt mūltă păvēntēs

ārcānō grēssūs aūdēmūs crēdĕrĕ lūcō.

ēcce ē vēstĭbŭlō prīmīsque ē faūcĭbŭs āntrī

Tārtărĕūs tūrbo ātque īnsānō saēvĭŏr Eūrō175

spīrĭtŭs ērūmpīt, vāstōque ē gūttŭrĕ fūsă

tēmpēstās ŏrĭtūr mīxtām strīdōrĕ prŏcēllām

Cērbĕrĕō tōrquēns. păvĕfāctī clādĕ vĭcīssīm

āspĭcĭmūs. rĕsŏnārĕ sŏlūm tēllūsquĕ mŏvērī

ātque āntrūm rŭĕre ēt vīsī prōcēdĕrĕ mānēs.180

quāntīs ārmātī caēlūm pĕtĭērĕ Gĭgāntēs

ānguĭbŭs, aūt quāntūs Lērnaē lāssāvĭt ĭn ūndīs

Āmphĭtrўōnĭădēn sērpēns, quālīsquĕ cŏmāntēs

aūrō sērvāvīt rāmōs Iūnōnĭŭs ānguīs,

tāntūs dīsiēctā tēllūrĕ sŭb āstră cŏrūscūm185

ēxtŭlĭt ādsūrgēns căpŭt ātque īn nūbĭlă prīmām

dīspērsīt sănĭem ēt caēlūm foēdāvĭt hĭātū.

dīffŭgĭmūs tĕnŭēmquĕ mĕtū cōnāmŭr ănhēlī

tōllĕrĕ clāmōrēm; frūstrā, nām sībĭlă tōtūm

īmplēbānt nĕmŭs, āc sŭbĭtā fōrmīdĭnĕ caēcūs190

ēt fāctī dāmnāndŭs Ăvēns (sēd fātă trăhēbānt)

āntīquaē quērcūs īngēntī rōbŏrĕ sēsē

ōccŭlĭt, īnfāndūm sī pōssēt fāllĕrĕ mōnstrūm

vīx ĕgŏmēt crēdō: spīrīs īngēntĭbŭs ārtĕ

ārbŏrĭs āstrīnxīt mōlēm pĕnĭtūsquĕ rĕvūlsām195

ēvērtīt fūndo ēt rādīcĭbŭs ērŭĭt īmīs.

tūm trĕpĭdum āc sŏcĭōs ēxtrēmā vōcĕ cĭēntēm

cōrrĭpĭt ātque haūstū sōrbēns ēt faūcĭbŭs ātrīs

(vīdī rēspĭcĭēns) ōbscēnā cōndĭdĭt ālvō.

īnfēlīx flŭvĭō sēse ēt tōrrēntĭbŭs ūndīs200

crēdĭdĕrāt cĕlĕrīquĕ fŭgā iām nābăt Ăquīnūs.

hūnc mĕdĭo īnvāsīt flūctū rīpaēquĕ rĕlātōs

(heū gĕnŭs īnfāndūm lētī!) dēpāscĭtŭr ārtūs.

Sīc dīrūm nōbīs ēt lāmēntābĭlĕ mōnstrūm

ēffūgīssĕ dătūr. quāntūm mēns aēgră sĭnēbāt,205

āpprŏpĕrō grēssum ēt dūctōrī sīngŭlă pāndō.

īngĕmŭīt cāsūs iŭvĕnūm mĭsĕrātŭs ăcērbōs,

ūtque ĕrăt īn pūgnās ēt Mārtem ēt proēlĭa ĕt hōstēm

īgnĕŭs ēt māgna aūdēndī flāgrābăt ămōrĕ,

ōcĭŭs ārmă răpi ēt spēctātūm Mārtĕ sŭb ōmnī210

īrĕ iŭbēt cāmpīs ĕquĭtēm. rŭĭt īpsĕ cĭtātūm

quādrŭpĕdēm plāntā fŏdĭēns, scūtātăquĕ rāptīm

cōnsĕquĭtūr iūssō mănŭs ēt mūrālĭă pōrtāt

bāllīstās tōrmēntă grăvēs suētāmquĕ mŏvērĕ

ēxcēlsās tūrrēs īmmēnsaē cūspĭdĭs hāstām.215

iāmque ūbī fĕrălēm strĕpĭtū cīrcūmtŏnăt aūlām

cōrnĕă grāmĭnĕūm pērsūltāns ūngŭlă cāmpūm,

pērcĭtŭs hīnnītū sērpēns ĕvŏlūĭtŭr āntrō

ēt Stўgĭōs aēstūs fūmānti ēxsībĭlăt ōrĕ.

tērrĭbĭlīs gĕmĭnō dē lūmĭnĕ fūlgŭrăt īgnīs.220

āt nĕmŭs ārrēctae ēt prōcēră căcūmĭnă sāltūs

ēxsŭpĕrānt crīstaē. trĭfĭdō vībrātă pĕr aūrās

līnguă mĭcāt mōtu ātque ādsūltāns aēthĕră lāmbīt.

ūt vērō strĕpŭērĕ tŭbaē, cōntērrĭtŭs āltē

īmmēnsum āttōllīt cōrpūs tērgōquĕ rĕsīdēns225

cētĕră sīnuātīs glŏmĕrāt sūb pēctŏrĕ gŷrīs.

dīră dĕhīnc īn bēllă rŭīt răpĭdēquĕ rĕsōlvēns

cōntōrtōs ōrbēs dērēctō cōrpŏrĕ tōtām

ēxtēndīt mōlēm sŭbĭtōquĕ prŏpīnquŭs ĭn ōră

lātō dīstāntūm spătĭō vĕnĭt. ōmnĭs ănhēlāt230

āttŏnĭtūs sērpēntĭs ĕquūs, frēnōquĕ tĕnērī

īmpătĭēns crēbrōs ēxspīrāt nārĭbŭs īgnēs.

ārdŭŭs īllĕ sŭbīt. tŭmĭdīs cērvīcĭbŭs āltūm

nūtăt ŭtrōquĕ căpūt. trĕpĭdōs īnde īncĭtŭs īrā

nūnc sūblīmĕ răpīt, nūnc vāstō pōndĕrĕ gaūdēt235

ēlīsīssĕ prĕmēns. tūnc frāctīs ōssĭbŭs ātrām

ābsōrbēt sănĭem ēt tābō mānāntĕ pĕr ōră

mūtăt hĭāns hōstēm sēmēsăquĕ mēmbră rĕlīnquīt.

cēdēbānt iām sīgnă rĕtrō, vīctōrquĕ cătērvās

lōngĭŭs āvēctās āfflātūs pēstĕ prĕmēbāt,240

cūm dūctōr prŏpĕrē rĕvŏcātam īn proēlĭă tūrmām

vōcĭbŭs īmpēllēns: "sērpēntīne Ītălă pūbēs

tērgă dămūs Lĭbўcīsquĕ părēm nōn ēssĕ fătēmūr

ānguĭbŭs Aūsŏnĭām? sī dēbēllāvĭt ĭnērtēs

hālĭtŭs āc vīsō mēns aēgra ēfflūxĭt hĭātū,245

ībo ălăcēr sōlūsquĕ mănūs cōmpōnĕrĕ mōnstrō

sūffĭcĭām." clāmāns haēc ātque īntērrĭtŭs hāstām

fūlmĭnĕō vŏlŭcrēm tōrquēt pĕr ĭnānĕ lăcērtō.

vēnĭt ĭn ādvērsām nōn vānō tūrbĭnĕ frōntēm

cūspĭs ĕt, haūd paūlūm vīrēs ādiūtă rŭēntīs250

cōntra ārdōrĕ fĕraē căpĭtī trĕmĕbūndă rĕsēdīt.

clāmŏr ăd āstră dătūr, vōcēsquĕ rĕpēntĕ prŏfūsaē

aēthĕrĭās ădĭērĕ dŏmōs. fŭrĭt īlĭcĕt īrā

tērrĭgĕna īmpătĭēns dărĕ tērgă nŏvūsquĕ dŏlōrī

ēt chălўbēm lōngō tūm prīmūm pāssŭs ĭn aēvō.255

nēc frūstrā răpĭdī stĭmŭlāntĕ dŏlōrĕ fŭīssēt

īmpĕtŭs, āblātō nī Rēgŭlŭs ārtĕ rĕgēndī

īnstāntem ēlūsīssĕt ĕquō rūrsūsquĕ sĕcūtūm

cōrnĭpĕdīs gŷrōs flēxī cūrvāmĭnĕ tērgī

dētōrtīs laēvā cĕlĕr ēffūgīssĕt hăbēnīs.260

Āt nōn spēctātōr Mărŭs īntēr tālĭă sēgnī

tōrpēbāt dēxtrā. mĕă tānto īn cōrpŏrĕ mōnstrī

hāstă sĕcūndă fŭīt. iămĭāmque ēxtrēmă trĭsūlcā

lāmbēbāt līnguā fēssī cērtāmĭnĕ tērgă

quādrŭpĕdīs; tōrsī tēlum ātque ūrgēntĭă vēlōx265

īn mēmēt saēvī sērpēntīs proēlĭă vērtō.

hīnc ĭmĭtātă cŏhōrs cērtātīm spīcŭlă dēxtrīs

cōngĕrĭt āltērnāsquĕ fĕrūm dīdūcĭt ĭn īrās,

dōnēc mūrālī bāllīstă cŏērcŭĭt īctū.

tūm frāctūs dēmūm vīrēs; nēc iam āmplĭŭs aēgrā270

cōnsuētum ād nīsūs spīnā praēstāntĕ rĭgōrēm

ūt sŏlĭtum īn nūbēs tōllīt căpŭt. ācrĭŭs īnstāt,

iāmque ālvō pĕnĭtūs dēmērsă phălārĭcă sēdīt,

ēt gĕmĭnūm vŏlŭcrēs lūmēn răpŭērĕ săgīttaē.

iām pătŭlīs vāstō sūb vūlnĕrĕ faūcĭbŭs ātēr275

tābĭfĭcam ēxspīrāt sănĭēm spĕcŭs. ūltĭmă iāmquĕ

īngēstīs caūda ēt iăcŭlīs ēt pōndĕrĕ cōntī

haērĕt hŭmī; lāssōquĕ tămēn mĭnĭtātŭr hĭātū,

dōnēc tōrmēntīs strīdēns māgnōquĕ frăgōrĕ

dīscūssīt trābs āctă căpūt, lōngōquĕ rĕsōlvēns280

āggĕrĕ sē rīpaē tāndem ēxhālāvĭt ĭn aūrās

līvēntēm nĕbŭlām fŭgĭēntĭs ăb ōrĕ vĕnēnī.

ērūpīt trīstī flŭvĭō mūgītŭs ĕt īmīs

mūrmŭră fūsă vădīs, sŭbĭtōque ēt lūcŭs ĕt āntrūm

ēt rĕsŏnaē sīlvīs ŭlŭlārūnt flēbĭlĕ rīpaē.285

heū quāntīs lŭĭmūs mōx trīstĭă proēlĭă dāmnīs,

quāntăquĕ sūpplĭcĭa ēt quālēs ēxhaūsĭmŭs īrās!

nēc tăcŭērĕ pĭī vātēs fămŭlūmquĕ sŏrōrūm

Nāĭădūm, tĕpĭdā quās Bāgrădă nūtrĭt ĭn ūndā,

nōs vĭŏlāssĕ mănū sērīs mŏnŭērĕ pĕrīclīs.290

haēc tūnc hāstă dĕcūs nōbīs prĕtĭūmquĕ sĕcūndī

vūlnĕrĭs ā vēstrō, Sērrānĕ, trĭbūtă părēntĕ,

prīncēps quaē sācrō bĭbĭt ē sērpēntĕ crŭōrēm."

Iāmdūdūm vūltūs lăcrĭmīs ātque ōră rĭgābāt

Sērrānūs mĕdĭōquĕ vĭrī sērmōnĕ prŏfātūr:295

"huīc sī vītă dŭcī nōstrūm dūrāssĕt ĭn aēvūm,

nōn Trĕbĭa īnfaūstās sŭpĕrāssēt sānguĭnĕ rīpās,

nēc, Thrăsўmēnnĕ, tŭūs prĕmĕrēt tōt nōmĭnă gūrgēs."

Tūm sĕnĭōr "māgnās" īnquīt "dē sānguĭnĕ poēnās

praēcēpīt Tўrĭo ēt praēsūmptă pĭācŭlă mōrtīs.300

nām dēfēctă vĭrīs ĕt ŏpēs āttrītă sŭpīnās

Āfrĭcă tēndēbāt pālmās, cūm sīdĕrĕ dīrō

mīsĭt Ăgēnŏrĕīs dūctōrem ănĭmōsă Thĕrāpnē.

nūllă vĭrō spĕcĭēs dĕcŏrīsque ēt frōntĭs ĕgēnūm

cōrpŭs; ĭn ēxĭgŭīs vĭgŏr, ādmīrābĭlĕ, mēmbrīs305

vīvĭdŭs ēt nīsū māgnōs quī vīncĕrĕt ārtūs.

iām Mārtēm scīre ātque āstūs ādiūngĕrĕ fērrō

ēt dūrīs făcĭlēm pĕr ĭnhōspĭtă dūcĕrĕ vītām

haūd īstī, quēm nūnc pĕnĕs ēst sōllērtĭă bēllī,

cēdĕrĕt Hānnĭbălī. vēllem hūnc, ō trīstĭă nōbīs310

Tāўgĕta, hūnc ūnūm nōn dūrāssētĭs ŏpācīs

Eūrōtaē rīpīs! vīdīssēm moēnĭă flāmmīs

Phoēnīssaē rŭĕre aūt cērtē nōn hōrrĭdă fātă

flēvīssēm dŭcĭs ēt, nūllā quōs mōrtĕ nĕc īgnī

ēxūtōs sērvāns pōrtābo īn Tārtără, lūctūs.315

cōnsērtaē cāmpīs ăcĭēs, mūltūsquĕ pĕr ārvă

fērvēbāt Māvōrs, nēc mēns ĕrăt ūllă sĭne īrā.

hīc īntēr mĕdĭōs mĕmŏrāndīs Rēgŭlŭs aūsīs

lāxābāt fērrō cāmpum āc pēr tēlă rŭēbāt

nēc rĕpĕtēndă dăbāt lētālī vūlnĕră dēxtrā.320

sīc ŭbĭ nīgrāntēm tōrquēns strīdēntĭbŭs Aūstrīs

pōrtāt tūrbŏ glŏbūm pĭcĕāque ē nūbĕ rŭīnām

pēndēntēm tērrīs părĭtēr pōntōquĕ mĭnātūr,

ōmnĭs ĕt āgrĭcŏla ēt nĕmŏrōsō vērtĭcĕ pāstōr

ēt pĕlăgō trĕpĭdāt sūbdūctīs nāvĭtă vēlīs.325

āt fraūdēm nēctēns, sŏcĭōs ŭbĭ cōncăvă sāxă

claūdēbānt, vērtīt sŭbĭtō cērtāmĭnă Grāiūs

ēt dāt tērgă cĕlēr fīctā fōrmīdĭnĕ dūctōr,

haūd sĕcŭs āc stăbŭlīs prōcūrāns ōtĭă pāstōr

īn fŏvĕām pārcō tēctām vēlāmĭnĕ frōndīs330

dūcīt nōctĕ lŭpōs pŏsĭtaē bālātĭbŭs āgnaē.

ābrĭpŭīt trāxītquĕ vĭrūm fāx mēntĭs hŏnēstaē

glōrĭa ĕt īncērtī fāllāx fīdūcĭă Mārtīs.

nōn sŏcĭōs cŏmĭtūmvĕ mănūs, nōn ārmă sĕquēntūm

rēspĭcĕre; īnsānō pūgnaē tēndēbăt ămōrĕ335

iām sōlūs, nūbēs sŭbĭtō cūm dēnsă Lăcōnūm

sāxōsīs lătĕbrīs īntēnto ād proēlĭă cīrcūm

fūndĭtŭr, ēt pōne īnsūrgīt vīs saēvă vĭrōrūm.

ō dīrām Lătĭō lūcēm fāstīsquĕ nŏtāndām!

dēdĕcŭs ō, Grādīvĕ, tŭūm! tĭbĭ dēxtĕra ĕt ūrbī340

nātă tŭaē trīstī dāmnātūr sōrtĕ cătēnaē.

haūd ūmquam ābsīstām gĕmĭtū. tē, Rēgŭlĕ, vīdīt

Sīdŏnĭūs cārcēr, tūque huīc sāt māgnă trĭūmphō

vīsa ēs, Cārthāgō, sŭpĕrīs! quaē poēnă sĕquētūr

dīgnă sătīs tālī pōllūtōs Mārtĕ Lăcōnās?345

Āt nŏva Ĕlīssaēī iūrātō foēdĕră pātrēs

cōnsūltānt māndārĕ dŭcī pācīsquĕ sĕquēstrēm

mīttĕrĕ pōscēntīs vīnctam īntēr proēlĭă pūbēm

cāptīvāmquĕ mănūm dūctōrĕ rĕpēndĕrĕ nōstrō.

nēc mŏră iām stābāt prīmīs īn lītŏrĭs ūndīs350

nāvālī prōpūlsă rătīs, iām naūtĭcă pūbēs

aūt sīlvīs strīngūnt rēmōs aūt ābiĕtĕ sēctā

trānstră nŏvānt. hīs īntōrtōs āptārĕ rŭdēntēs,

hīs stŭdĭum ērēctō cōmpōnĕrĕ cārbăsă mālō.

ūncă lŏcānt prōrā cūrvātī pōndĕră fērrī.355

ānte ōmnēs dōctūs pĕlăgī rēctōrquĕ cărīnaē

pūppim āptāt clāvūmquĕ Cŏthōn. mĭcăt aērĕŭs āltā

fūlgŏr ăquā trĭfĭdī splēndēntĭs ĭn aēquŏrĕ rōstrī.

tēlă sĭmūl vărĭāmquĕ fĕrūnt cōntra āspĕră pōntī

rērum ād tēmpŭs ŏpēm. mĕdĭaē stāt mārgĭnĕ pūppīs,360

quī vōce āltērnōs naūtārūm tēmpĕrĕt īctūs

ēt rēmīs dīctēt sŏnĭtūm părĭtērquĕ rĕlātīs

ād nŭmĕrūm plaūdāt rĕsŏnāntĭă caērŭlă tōnsīs.

Pōstquām cōnfēctūm naūtīs ŏpŭs hōrăquĕ cūrsūs

ātque ārmātă rătīs vēntīquĕ dĕdērĕ prŏfūndūm,365

ōmnīs tūrbă rŭīt, mātrēs pŭĕrīquĕ sĕnēsquĕ.

pēr mĕdĭōs coētūs trăhĭt ātque ĭnĭmīcă pĕr ōră

spēctāndūm Fōrtūnă dŭcēm. fērt lūmĭnă cōntrā

pācātūs frōntēm, quālīs cūm lītŏră prīmūm

āttĭgĭt āppūlsā rēctōr Sīdōnĭă clāssĕ.370

āccēssī cŏmĕs haūd īpsō rĕnŭēntĕ rătīquĕ

īmpŏsĭtūs maēstīs sŏcĭūm mē cāsĭbŭs āddō.

īllŭvĭem ātque ĭnŏpēs mēnsās dūrūmquĕ cŭbīlĕ

ēt cērtārĕ mălīs ūrgēntĭbŭs hōstĕ pŭtābāt

dēvīctō māiūs, nēc tām fūgīssĕ căvēndō375

ādvērsa ēgrĕgĭūm, quām pērdŏmŭīssĕ fĕrēndō.

spēs tămĕn ūnă mĭhī, quāmquām bĕnĕ cōgnĭta ĕt ōlīm

ātrōx īllă fĭdēs, ūrbēm mūrōsquĕ dŏmūmquĕ

tāngĕrĕ sī mĭsĕrīs lĭcŭīssēt, cōrdă mŏvērī

pōssĕ vĭri ēt vēstrō cērtē mītēscĕrĕ flētū.380

claūdēbām sūb cōrdĕ mĕtūs lăcrĭmāsquĕ pŭtābām

ēssĕ vĭro ēt nōstraē sĭmĭlem īntēr trīstĭă mēntēm.

cūm tāndēm pătrĭaē Tĭbĕrīno āllābĭmŭr āmnī,

sērvābām vūltūs dŭcĭs āc prōdēntĭă sēnsūm

lūmĭna ĕt ōbtūtū pērstābam īntēntŭs ĕōdēm.385

sī quă fĭdēs, ūnūm, pŭĕr, īntēr mīllĕ lăbōrēs,

ūnum ĕtĭam īn pătrĭā saēvāque ĭn Ăgēnŏrĭs ūrbĕ

ātque ūnūm vīdī poēnaē quŏquĕ tēmpŏrĕ vūltūm.

ōbvĭă cāptīvō cūnctīs sĭmŭl ūrbĭbŭs ībāt

Aūsŏnĭa, ēt cāmpūm tūrbā vīncēntĕ prŏpīnquī390

īmplēntūr cōllēs; strĕpĭt āltīs Ālbŭlă rīpīs.

īpsī Poēnōrūm prŏcĕrēs īmmītĭă cōrdă

ād pătrĭōs cērtānt cūltūs rĕvŏcārĕ, tŏgaēquĕ

āddēbātŭr hŏnōs. stĕtĭt īllăcrĭmāntĕ sĕnātū

ēt mātrūm tūrbā iŭvĕnūmquĕ dŏlōrĕ prŏfūsō395

īntēr tōt gĕmĭtūs īmmōbĭlĭs. āggĕrĕ cōnsūl

tēndēbāt dēxtram ēt pătrĭā vēstīgĭă prīmūs

pōnēntēm tērra ōccūrsū cĕlĕbrābăt ămīcō.

cōllēgīt grēssūm, mŏnĭtūsquĕ rĕcēdĕrĕ cōnsūl

nēc sūmmūm vĭŏlārĕ dĕcūs. cīngēntĕ sŭpērbā400

Poēnōrūm tūrbā cāptīvō tēgmĭnĕ saēptūs

ībăt ĕt īnvĭdĭām caēlō dīvīsquĕ fĕrēbāt.

"Ēccĕ trăhēns gĕmĭnūm nātōrūm Mārcĭă pīgnūs,

īnfēlīx nĭmĭā māgnī vīrtūtĕ mărītī,

squālēntēm crīnem ēt trīstēs lăcĕrābăt ămīctūs.405

āgnōscīsnĕ dĭem? ān tĕnĕrīs nōn haēsĭt ĭn ānnīs?

ātque ĕă, pōstquam hăbĭtū iūxta ēt vēlāmĭnĕ Poēnō

dēfōrmem āspēxīt, fūsīs ŭlŭlātĭbŭs aēgră

lābĭtŭr, ēt gĕlĭdōs mōrtīs cŏlŏr ōccŭpăt ārtūs.

sī quă dĕīs pĭĕtās, tālēs, Cārthāgŏ, vĭdērĕ410

dēnt tĭbĭ Sīdŏnĭās mātrēs. mē vōcĕ quĭētā

āffātūs iŭbĕt ēt vēstrōs ēt cōniŭgĭs ūnā

ārcēre āmplēxūs pătĕr, īmpĕnĕtrābĭlĭs īllĕ

lūctĭbŭs ēt nūmquām sūmmīssūs cōllă dŏlōrī."

Hīc āltō iŭvĕnīs gĕmĭtū lăcrĭmīsquĕ cŏōrtīs415

"māgnĕ părēns" īnquīt "quō māiūs nūmĭnĕ nōbīs

Tārpēiā nĕc ĭn ārcĕ sĕdēt, sī iūră quĕrēlīs

sūnt cōncēssă pĭīs, cūr hōc mātrīquĕ mĭhīquĕ

sōlāmēn, vēl cūr dĕcŭs hōc, ō dūrĕ, nĕgāstī,

tāngĕrĕ sācrātōs vūltūs ātque ōscŭla ăb ōrĕ420

lībāvīssĕ tŭō? dēxtrām mĭhĭ prēndĕrĕ dēxtrā

nōn lĭcĭtūm? lĕvĭōră fŏrēnt haēc vūlnĕră quāntūm,

sī fērre ād mānēs īnfīxōs mēntĕ dărētūr

āmplēxūs, vĕnĕrāndĕ, tŭōs. sēd vānă rĕcōrdōr,

nī, Mărĕ, (nām prīmō tūnc haērēbāmŭs ĭn aēvō)425

hūmānā māiōr spĕcĭēs ĕrăt. hōrrĭdă cānō

vērtĭcĕ dēscēndēns īngēntĭă cōllă tĕgēbāt

caēsărĭēs, frōntīquĕ cŏmā squālēntĕ sĕdēbāt

tērrĭbĭlīs dĕcŏr ātque ănĭmī vĕnĕrābĭlĕ pōndūs.

nīl pōsthāc ŏcŭlīs sĭmĭle īncĭdĭt." ēxcĭpĭt īndĕ430

iām Mărŭs ātque ĭnhĭbēns cōnvēllĕrĕ vūlnĕră quēstū

"quīd, cūm praētĕrĭtīs īnvīsă pĕnātĭbŭs" īnquīt

"hōspĭtĭa ēt sēdēs Poēnōrum īntrāvĭt ăcērbās?

āffīxī clĭpĕī cūrrūsque ēt spīcŭlă nōtă,

aēdĭbŭs īn pārvīs māgnī mŏnŭmēntă trĭūmphī,435

pūlsābānt ŏcŭlōs, cōniūnx īn līmĭnĕ prīmō

clāmābāt: "quō fērs grēssūs? nōn Pūnĭcŭs hīc ēst,

Rēgŭlĕ, quēm fŭgĭās, cārcēr. vēstīgĭă nōstrī

cāstă tŏrī dŏmŭs ēt pătrĭūm sĭnĕ crīmĭnĕ sērvāt

īnvĭŏlātă lărēm. sĕmĕl hīc ĭtĕrūmquĕ (quĭd, ōrō,440

pōllūtum ēst nōbīs?) prōlēm grātāntĕ sĕnātū

ēt pătrĭā sum ēnīxă tĭbī. tŭă, rēspĭcĕ, sēdēs

haēc ēst, ūnde īngēns ŭmĕrīs fūlgēntĭbŭs ōstrō

vīdīstī Lătĭōs cōnsūl prōcēdĕrĕ fāscēs,

ūnde īre īn Mārtēm, quō cāptă rĕfērrĕ sŏlēbās445

ēt vīctōr mēcūm sūspēndĕrĕ pōstĭbŭs ārmă.

nōn ĕgŏ cōmplēxūs ēt sānctaē foēdĕră taēdaē

cōniŭgĭūmvĕ pĕtō. pătrĭōs dāmnārĕ pĕnātēs

ābsīste āc nātīs fās dūc cōncēdĕrĕ nōctēm."

Hōs īntēr flētūs iūnctūs vēstīgĭă Poēnīs450

līmĭnĕ sē clūsīt Tўrĭō quēstūsquĕ rĕlīquīt.

vīxdūm clāră dĭēs sūmmā lūstrābăt ĭn Oētā

Hērcŭlĕī mŏnŭmēntă rŏgī, cūm cōnsŭl ădīrĕ

āccīrīquĕ iŭbēt Lĭbўās. tūm līmĭnă tēmplī

vīdĭmŭs īntrāntēm. quaē cōnsūltātă sĕnātūs455

quāsvĕ vĭrī vōcēs ēxtrēmūm cūrĭă maērēns

aūdĭĕrīt, plăcĭdō nōbīs īpse ēdĭdĭt ōrĕ.

īntŭlĭt ūt grēssūs, cērtātīm vōcĕ mănūquĕ

ād sŏlĭtām sēdem ēt vēstīgĭă nōtă vŏcābānt.

ābnŭĭt āntīquūmquĕ lŏci āspērnātŭr hŏnōrēm.460

āt cīrcūmfūsī nōn sētĭŭs ūndĭquĕ dēxtrām

prēnsāre āc, pătrĭaē dūctōrēm nōmĭnĕ tāntō

rēddĕrĕt, ōrābānt; cāptīvā pōssĕ rĕdēmptūm

pēnsārī tūrba, āc Tўrĭās tūm iūstĭŭs ārcēs

ārsūrās dēxtrā, fŭĕrīt quaē vīnctă cătēnīs.465

Tūm pālmās sĭmŭl āttōllēns āc lūmĭnă caēlō

"iūstĭtĭaē rēctīquĕ dătōr, quī cūnctă gŭbērnās,

nēc lĕvĭōr mĭhĭ dīvă Fĭdēs Sārrānăquĕ Iūnŏ,

quōs rĕdĭtūs tēstēs iūrātā mēntĕ vŏcāvī,

sīt mĭhĭ fās mē dīgnă lŏquī Lătĭōsquĕ tŭērī470

vōcĕ fŏcōs; ībo ād Tўrĭōs nōn sēgnĭŏr" īnquīt

"stāntĕ fĭdē rĕdĭtūs ēt sālvō foēdĕrĕ poēnaē.

sīc nōbīs rērum ēxĭtĭō dēsīstĭte hŏnōrēm

tēndĕrĕ. tōt bēllīs tōtque ānnīs frēgĭmŭs aēvūm.

nūnc ĕtĭām vīnclīs ēt lōngō cārcĕrĕ tōrpēnt475

cāptīvo īn sĕnĭō vīrēs. fŭĭt īllĕ nĕc ūmquām,

dūm fŭĭt, ā dūrō cēssāvīt mūnĕrĕ Mārtīs

Rēgŭlŭs. ēxsānguī spēctātīs cōrpŏrĕ nōmēn.

āt nōn Cārthāgō, fraūdūm dŏmŭs, īnscĭă quāntūm

ē nōbīs rēstēt, iŭvĕnēs părăt, āspĕră fērrō480

pēctŏră, cāptīvōs nōstrā pēnsārĕ sĕnēctā.

ītĕ dŏlōs cōntrā, gēnsque āstū fāllĕrĕ laētă

dīscāt, mē cāptō quāntūm tĭbĭ, Rōmă, sŭpērsīt.

nēc vērō plăcĕāt, nĭsĭ quaē dē mōrĕ părēntūm

pāx ĕrĭt. ēxpōscūnt Lĭbўēs nōbīsquĕ dĕdērĕ485

haēc rĕfĕrēndă părī lĭbĕāt sūspēndĕrĕ bēllūm

foēdĕre ĕt ēx aēquō gĕmĭnās cōnscrībĕrĕ lēgēs.

sēd mĭhĭ sīt Stўgĭōs ānte īntrāvīssĕ pĕnātēs

tālĭă quām vĭdĕām fĕrĭēntēs pāctă Lătīnōs."

Haēc fātūs Tўrĭaē sēsē iām rēddĭdĭt īraē,490

nēc mŏnĭtūs spērnēntĕ grăvēs fīdōsquĕ sĕnātū

Poēnōrūm dīmīssă cŏhōrs. quaē maēstă rĕpūlsā

āc mĭnĭtāns cāptō pătrĭās prŏpĕrābăt ăd ōrās.

prōsĕquĭtūr vūlgūs, pātrēs, āc plānctĭbŭs īngēns

pērsŏnăt ēt lūctū cāmpūs. rĕvŏcārĕ lĭbēbāt495

īntērdum ēt iūstō cāptūm rĕtĭnērĕ dŏlōrĕ.

Āt trĕpĭda ēt sŭbĭtō ceū stāns īn fūnĕrĕ cōniūnx,

ūt vīdīt pūppī prŏpĕrāntem īntrārĕ, trĕmēndūm

vōcĭfĕrāns cĕlĕrēm grēssūm rĕfĕrēbăt ăd ūndās

"tōllĭtĕ mē, Lĭbўēs, cŏmĭtēm poēnaēquĕ nĕcīsquĕ.500

hōc ūnūm, cōniūnx, ŭtĕrī pēr pīgnŏră nōstrī

ūnum ōrō: lĭcĕāt tēcūm quōscūmquĕ fĕrēntēm

tērrārūm pĕlăgīquĕ pătī caēlīquĕ lăbōrēs.

nōn ĕgo Ămŷclaēūm dūctōrem īn proēlĭă mīsī,

nēc nōstrīs tŭă sūnt cīrcūmdătă cōllă cătēnīs.505

cūr ūsque ād Poēnōs mĭsĕrām fŭgĭs? āccĭpĕ mēcūm

hānc prōlēm. fōrsān dūrās Cārthāgĭnĭs īrās

flēctēmūs lăcrĭmīs, aūt sī praēclūsĕrĭt aūrēs

ūrbs ĭnĭmīcă sŭās, ĕădēm tūnc hōră mănēbīt

tēquĕ tŭōsquĕ sĭmūl; vēl sī stāt rūmpĕrĕ vītām,510

īn pătrĭā mŏrĭāmŭr. ădēst cŏmĕs ūltĭmă fātī."

Hās īntēr vōcēs vīnclīs rĕsŏlūtă mŏvērī

paūlātim ēt rīpā coēpīt dēcēdĕrĕ pūppīs.

tūm vēro īnfēlīx mēntēm fŭrĭātă dŏlōrĕ

ēxclāmāt fēssās tēndēns ād lītŏră pālmās:515

"ēn, quī sē iāctāt Lĭbўaē pŏpŭlīsquĕ nĕfāndīs

ātque hōstī sērvārĕ fĭdēm! dătă foēdĕră nōbīs

āc prōmīssă fĭdēs thălămīs ŭbĭ, pērfĭdĕ, nūnc ēst?"

ūltĭmă vōx dūrās haēc tūnc pĕnĕtrāvĭt ăd aūrēs;

cētĕră pērcūssī vĕtŭērūnt nōscĕrĕ rēmī.520

Tūm flŭvĭō rāptim ād pĕlăgī dēvōlvĭmŭr ōrās

āc lĕgĭmūs pōntūm pīnūque īmmānĕ căvātā

aēquŏr ĕt īmmēnsās cūrvā trăbĕ fīndĭmŭs ūndās.

lūdĭbrĭūm nĕcĭs hōrrēscēns, vīs āspĕră pōntī

ōbrŭĕrēt scŏpŭlīsquĕ rătēm fŭrŏr īmprŏbŭs Eūrī525

frāngĕrĕt, ōptābām; lētum īd cōmmūnĕ fŭīssēt.

sēd nōs īn poēnām mŏdĕrātō flāmĭnĕ lēnēs

vēxērūnt Zĕphўrī Tўrĭōquĕ dĕdērĕ fŭrōrī.

Īnfēlīx vīdī pătrĭāmquĕ rĕmīssŭs ĭn ūrbēm

nārrātōr poēnaē dūrā mērcēdĕ rĕvērtī.530

nēc tĭbĭ nūnc rītūs ĭmĭtāntem īrāsquĕ fĕrārūm

Pŷgmălĭōnēām tēmptārem ēxprōmĕrĕ gēntēm,

sī māiūs quīcquām tōtō vīdīssĕt ĭn ōrbĕ

gēns hŏmĭnūm, quām quōd vēstrī vĕnĕrāndă părēntīs

ēdĭdĭt ēxēmplūm vīrtūs. pŭdĕt āddĕrĕ quēstūs535

sūpplĭcĭīs, quaē spēctāvī plăcĭdo ōrĕ fĕrēntēm.

tū quŏquĕ, cārĕ pŭēr, dīgnūm tē sānguĭnĕ tāntō

fīngĕrĕ nē cēssa ātque ŏrĭēntēs cōmprĭmĕ flētūs.

praēfīxō părĭbūs līgnō mūcrōnĭbŭs ōmnēs

ārmāntūr lătĕrūm crātēs, dēnsūsquĕ pĕr ārcām540

tēxĭtŭr ērēctī stāntīsque ēx ōrdĭnĕ fērrī

īnfēlīx stĭmŭlūs, sōmnīsque hāc fraūdĕ nĕgātīs

quōcūmque īnflēxūm prōdūctō tēmpŏrĕ tōrpōr

īnclīnāvĭt ĭnērs, fŏdĭūnt ād vīscĕră cōrpūs.

ābsīste, ō iŭvĕnīs, lăcrĭmīs. pătĭēntĭă cūnctōs545

haēc sŭpĕrāt cūrrūs. lōngō rĕvĭrēscĕt ĭn aēvō

glōrĭă; dūm caēlī sēdēm tērrāsquĕ tĕnēbīt

cāstă Fĭdēs, dūm vīrtūtīs vĕnĕrābĭlĕ nōmēn

vīvĕt; ĕrītquĕ dĭēs, tŭă quō, dūx īnclĭtĕ, fātă

aūdīre hōrrēbūnt ā tē cālcātă mĭnōrēs."550

haēc Mărŭs ēt maēstā rĕfŏvēbāt vūlnĕră cūrā.

Īntĕrĕā răpĭdās pērfūsă crŭōrĭbŭs ālās,

sīcūt sānguĭnĕā Thrăsўmēnnī tīnxĕrăt ūndā,

vēra āc fīctă sĭmūl spārgēbāt Fāmă pĕr ūrbēm.

Āllĭa ĕt īnfāndī Sĕnŏnēs cāptaēquĕ rĕcūrsāt555

āttŏnĭtīs ārcīs făcĭēs. ēxcūssĭt hăbēnās

lūctĭfĭcūs Păvŏr, ēt tēmpēstās aūctă tĭmēndō.

hīc rāptīm rŭĭt īn mūrōs. vōx hōrrĭdă fērtūr

"hōstĭs ădēst", iăcĭūntquĕ sŭdēs ĕt ĭnānĭă tēlă.

āst ălĭaē lăcĕrīs cānēntēs crīnĭbŭs āltă560

vērrūnt tēctă dĕum ēt sērīs pōst fātă sŭōrūm

sōllĭcĭtānt prĕcĭbūs. rĕquĭēm tĕnĕbraēquĕ dĭēsquĕ

āmīsērĕ. iăcēnt pōrtīs ŭlŭlāntĕ dŏlōrĕ

dīspērsūm vūlgūs, rĕmĕāntūmque ōrdĭnĕ lōngō

sērvāt tūrbă grădūs; pēndēnt ēx ōrĕ lŏquēntūm,565

nēc laētīs sāt cērtă fĭdēs, ĭtĕrūmquĕ mŏrāntūr

ōrāndo ēt vūltu īntērdūm sĭnĕ vōcĕ prĕcātī,

quōd rŏgĭtānt, aūdīrĕ păvēnt. hīnc flētŭs, ŭbi aūrēs

pērcūssaē grăvĭōrĕ mălō, mĕtŭs īndĕ, nĕgātūm

sī scīre ēt dŭbĭūs rēspōnsī nūntĭŭs haēsīt.570

iāmque ŭbĭ cōnspēctū rĕdĕūntīs vīsă prŏpīnquō

cōrpŏră, sōllĭcĭtē laētī fūndūntŭr ĕt īpsīs

ōscŭlă vūlnĕrĭbūs fīgūnt sŭpĕrōsquĕ fătīgānt.

Hīc īntēr trĕpĭdōs cūraē vĕnĕrāndŭs ăgēbāt

Sērrānūm Mărŭs, ātque ōlīm pōst fātă mărītī575

nōn ēgrēssă dŏmūm vītātō Mārcĭă coētū

ēt lūcēm caūsā nātōrūm pāssă rŭēbāt

īn lūctūm sĭmĭlem āntīquō. tūrbātă rĕpēntĕ

āgnōscēnsquĕ Mărūm "Fĭdĕī cŏmĕs īnclĭtĕ māgnaē,

hūnc cērtē mĭhĭ rēddĭs" ăīt. "lĕvĕ vūlnŭs? ăn āltē580

ūsque ād nōstră fĕrūs pĕnĕtrāvīt vīscĕră mūcrŏ?

quīcquĭd ĭd ēst, dūm nōn vīnctūm Cārthāgŏ cătēnīs

ābrĭpĭāt poēnaēque īnstaūrēt mōnstră pătērnaē,

grātum ēst, ō sŭpĕrī. quŏtĭēns heū, nātĕ, pĕtēbām,

nē pătrĭās īrās ănĭmōsque īn proēlĭă fērrēs585

neū tē bēllĭgĕrī stĭmŭlārĕt ĭn ārmă părēntīs

trīstĕ dĕcūs. nĭmĭūm vīvācīs dūră sĕnēctaē

sūpplĭcĭa ēxpēndī. quaēsō, iām pārcĭtĕ, sī quā

nūmĭnă pūgnāstīs nōbīs." Āt clādĭs ăcērbaē

dīscūssā ceū nūbĕ pătrēs cōnquīrĕrĕ fēssīs590

iām rēbūs mĕdĭtāntŭr ŏpem, ātque ād mūnĕră bēllī

cērtātūr, pūlsūsquĕ tĭmōr grăvĭōrĕ pĕrīclō.

māxĭmă cūrārūm rēctōrēm pōnĕrĕ cāstrīs,

cuī Lătĭum ēt mōlēs rērūm quāssātă rĕcūmbāt

spēctānte ōccāsūm pătrĭā. Iŏvĭs īllă rŭēntī595

Aūsŏnĭae ātque Ĭtălīs tēmpūs prōtēndĕrĕ rēgnīs

cūră fŭīt; nām Tŷrrhēnōs Poēnūmquĕ sĕcūndīs

Ālbānā sūrgēns rēspēxĕrăt ārcĕ tŭmēntēm,

quī fērre īn mūrōs vīctrīcĭă sīgnă părābāt.

tūm quāssāns căpŭt "haūd ūmquām tĭbĭ Iūppĭtĕr" īnquīt600

"ō iŭvĕnīs, dĕdĕrīt pōrtās trānscēndĕrĕ Rōmaē

ātque īnfērrĕ pĕdēm. Tŷrrhēnās stērnĕrĕ vāllēs

caēdĭbŭs ēt rīpās flŭvĭōrum ēxīrĕ Lătīnō

sānguĭnĕ fās fŭĕrīt. Tārpēium āccēdĕrĕ cōllēm

mūrīsque āspīrārĕ vĕtō." quătĕr īndĕ cŏrūscūm605

cōntōrsīt dēxtrā fūlmēn, quō tōtă rĕlūxīt

Maēŏnĭdūm tēllūs, ātrāmquĕ pĕr aēthĕră vōlvēns

ābrūptō frēgīt caēlō sŭpĕr āgmĭnă nūbēm.

nēc Poēnum āvērtīssĕ sătīs; dāt nūmĭnĕ māgnō

Aēnĕădīs mēntēm grĕmĭō dēpōnĕrĕ tūtō610

Rōmŭlĕām tāndēm Făbĭōquĕ sălūtĭs hăbēnās

crēdĕrĕ dūctōrī. cuī pōstquām trādĭtă bēllī

iūră vĭdēt, "nōn hūnc" īnquīt "sŭpĕrāvĕrĭt ūmquām

īnvĭdĭa aūt blāndō pŏpŭlārīs glōrĭă fūcō,

nōn āstūs fāllāx, nōn praēda ălĭūsvĕ cŭpīdŏ.615

bēllāndī vĕtŭs āc laūdūm clādūmquĕ quĭētā

mēntĕ căpāx. pār īngĕnĭūm cāstrīsquĕ tŏgaēquĕ."

sīc gĕnĭtōr dīvūm rĕcĭpītque ād sīdĕră grēssūm.

Hīc cīrcūmspēctīs nūllī dēprēnsŭs ĭn ārmīs

laūdātūsquĕ Iŏvī Făbĭūs mīrābĭlĕ quāntūm620

gaūdēbāt rĕdŭcēm pătrĭae ānnŭmĕrārĕ rĕvērsūs,

dūxĕrăt ēgrĕdĭēns quām sēcum īn proēlĭă pūbēm.

nēc mēmbrīs quīsquām nātōvĕ pĕpērcĭt ămātō

ācrĭŭs aūt vīdīt sŏcĭūm pēr bēllă crŭōrēm

trīstĭŏr ātque īdēm pērfūsūs sānguĭnĕ vīctōr625

hōstīlī plēnīs rĕpĕtēbāt moēnĭă cāstrīs.

stīrpĕ gĕnūs clārūm caēlōque āffīnĭs ŏrīgŏ.

nām rĕmĕāns lōngīs ōlīm Tīrŷnthĭŭs ōrīs

ēt trīplīcīs mōnstrĭ fămam ēt spēctācŭlă cāptās

mīră bŏvēs hāc, quā fūlgēnt nūnc moēnĭă Rōmaē,630

ēgĭt ŏvāns. tūnc Ārcădĭūs, sīc fāmă, lŏcābāt

īntēr dēsērtōs fūndātă Pălātĭă dūmōs

paūpĕrĕ sūb pŏpŭlō dūctōr, cūm rēgĭă vīrgŏ

hōspĭtĕ vīctă săcrō Făbĭūm dē crīmĭnĕ laētō

prōcrĕăt ēt māgnī cōmmīscēt sēmĭnĭs ōrtūs635

Ārcăs ĭn Hērcŭlĕōs mātēr vēntūră nĕpōtēs.

tēr cēntūm dŏmŭs haēc Făbĭōs ārmāvĭt ĭn hōstēm

līmĭnĕ prōgrēssōs ūnō, pūlchērrĭmă quōrūm

cūnctāndō Făbĭūs sŭpĕrāvīt fāctă dŭcēmquĕ

Hānnĭbălem aēquāndō. tāntūs tūnc, Poēnĕ, fŭīstī.640

Dūm sē pērcūlsī rĕnŏvānt īn bēllă Lătīnī,

tūrbātūs Iŏve ĕt ēxūtā spē moēnĭă Rōmaē

pūlsāndī cōllēs Ūmbrōs ātque ārvă pĕtēbāt

Hānnĭbăl, ēxcēlsō sūmmī quā vērtĭcĕ mōntīs

dēvēxūm lătĕrī pēndēt Tŭdĕr, ātque ŭbĭ lātīs645

prōiēcta īn cāmpīs nĕbŭlās ēxhālăt ĭnērtēs

ēt sĕdĕt īngēntēm pāscēns Mēvānĭă taūrūm,

dōnă Iŏvī. tūm Pāllădĭōs sē fūndĭt ĭn āgrōs,

Pīcēnūm dīvēs praēdae, ātque ērrāntĭbŭs ārmīs,

quō spŏlĭa īnvītānt, trānsfērt pŏpŭlāntĭă sīgnă,650

dōnēc pēstĭfĕrōs mītīs Cāmpānĭă cūrsūs

tārdāvīt bēllūmquĕ sĭnu īndēfēnsă rĕcēpīt.

Hīc dūm stāgnōsī spēctāt tēmplūmquĕ dŏmōsquĕ

Lītērnī dūctōr, vărĭā splēndēntĭă cērnīt

pīctūrā bēllī pătrĭbūs mŏnŭmēntă prĭōrīs655

ēxhaūstī; nām pōrtĭcĭbūs sīgnātă mănēbānt,

quīs ĭnĕrāt lōngūs rērum ēt spēctābĭlĭs ōrdŏ.

prīmūs bēllă trŭcī suādēbāt Rēgŭlŭs ōrĕ,

bēllă nĕgāndă vĭrō, sī nōscĕrĕ fātă dărētūr.

āc prīncēps Poēnīs īndīctā mōrĕ părēntūm660

Āppĭŭs āstābāt pūgnā laūrōquĕ rĕvīnctūs

iūstūm Sārrānā dūcēbāt caēdĕ trĭūmphūm.

aēquŏrĕūm iūxtā dĕcŭs ēt nāvālĕ trŏpaēūm,

rōstră gĕrēns nĭvĕā sūrgēbāt mōlĕ cŏlūmnă:

ēxŭvĭās Mārtī dōnūmquĕ Dŭīlĭŭs āltō665

ānte ōmnēs mērsā Poēnōrūm clāssĕ dĭcābāt.

cuī, nōctūrnŭs hŏnōs, fūnālĭă clāră săcērquĕ

pōst ĕpŭlās tĭbĭcēn ādēst, cāstōsquĕ pĕnātēs

īnsīgnīs laētī rĕpĕtēbāt mūrmŭrĕ cāntūs.

cērnĭt ĕt ēxtrēmōs dēfūnctī cīvĭs hŏnōrēs:670

Scīpĭŏ dūctōrīs cĕlĕbrābāt fūnĕră Poēnī,

Sārdōā vīctōr tērrā. vĭdĕt īndĕ rŭēntēm

lītŏrĭbūs Lĭbўcīs dīspērsă pĕr āgmĭnă pūbēm;

īnstābāt crīstā fūlgēns ēt tērgă prĕmēbāt

Rēgŭlŭs; Aūtŏlŏlēs Nŏmădēsque ēt Maūrŭs ĕt Hāmmōn675

ēt Gărămās pŏsĭtīs dēdēbānt ōppĭdă tēlīs.

lēntŭs hărēnōsō spūmābāt Bāgrădă cāmpō

vīpĕrĕā sănĭē, tūrmīsquĕ mĭnāntĭbŭs ūltrō

pūgnābāt sērpēns ēt cūm dŭcĕ bēllă gĕrēbāt.

nēcnōn prōiēctūm pūppī frūstrāquĕ vŏcāntēm680

nūmĭna Ămŷclaēūm mērgēbāt pērfĭdă pōntō

rēctōrēm mănŭs, ēt sērās tĭbĭ, Rēgŭlĕ, poēnās

Xānthīppūs dīgnī pēndēbăt ĭn aēquŏrĕ lētī.

āddĭdĕrānt gĕmĭnās mĕdĭō cōnsūrgĕrĕ flūctū

Aēgātēs; lăcĕraē cīrcūm frāgmēntă vĭdērēs685

clāssĭs ĕt ēffūsōs flŭĭtāre īn gūrgĭtĕ Poēnōs.

pōssēssōr pĕlăgī prōnāquĕ Lŭtātĭŭs aūrā

cāptīvās pūppēs ād lītŏră vīctŏr ăgēbāt.

haēc īntēr iūnctō rĕlĭgātŭs ĭn ōrdĭne Hămīlcār,

dūctōrīs gĕnĭtōr, cūnctārum ăb ĭmāgĭnĕ rērūm690

tōtĭŭs īn sēsē vūlgī cōnvērtĕrăt ōră.

sēd pācīs făcĭem ēt pōllūtās foēdĕrĭs ārās

dēcēptūmquĕ Iŏvem āc dīctāntēs iūră Lătīnōs

cērnĕre ĕrāt. strīctās trĕpĭdā cērvīcĕ sĕcūrēs

hōrrēbāt Lĭbўs, āc sūmmīssīs ōrdĭnĕ pālmīs695

ōrāntēs vĕnĭām iūrābānt īrrĭtă pāctă.

haēc Ĕrўce ē sūmmō spēctābāt laētă Dĭōnē.

Quaē pōstquam īnfēstō pērcēnsŭĭt ōmnĭă vūltū

ārrīdēns Poēnūs, lēntā prōclāmăt ăb īrā:

"nōn lĕvĭōră dăbīs nōstrīs īnscrībĕrĕ tēctīs700

āctă mĕaē dēxtraē: cāptām, Cārthāgŏ, Săgūntūm

dā spēctārĕ, sĭmūl flāmmā fērrōquĕ rŭēntēm;

pērfŏdĭānt pātrēs nātōrūm mēmbră. nĕc Ālpēs

ēxĭgŭūs dŏmĭtās căpĭēt lŏcŭs; ārdŭă cēlsīs

pērsūltēt iŭgă vīctŏr ĕquīs Gărămāsquĕ Nŏmāsquĕ.705

āddēs Tīcīnī spūmāntēs sānguĭnĕ rīpās

ēt nōstrūm Trĕbĭam ēt Thrăsўmēnnī lītŏră Tūscī

claūsă cădāvĕrĭbūs. rŭăt īngēns cōrpŏre ĕt ārmīs

Flāmĭnĭūs, fŭgĭāt cōnsūl mānāntĕ crŭōrĕ

Scīpĭo ĕt ād sŏcĭōs nātī cērvīcĕ vĕhātūr.710

haēc mītte īn pŏpŭlōs, ĕt ădhūc māiōră dăbūntūr.

flāgrāntem ēffīngēs făcĭbūs, Cārthāgŏ, Lĭbŷssīs

Rōmam ēt dēiēctūm Tārpēiā rūpĕ Tŏnāntēm.

īntĕrĕā vōs, ūt dīgnum ēst, īsta, ōcĭŭs ītĕ,

ō iŭvĕnēs, quōrūm dēxtrīs mĭhĭ tāntă gĕrūntūr,715

īn cĭnĕrēs mŏnŭmēntă dăte ātque īnvōlvĭtĕ flāmmīs.

Iam, Tartessiaco quos solverat aequore Titan

in noctem diffusus, equos iungebat Eois

litoribus, primique novo Phaëthonte retecti

Seres lanigeris repetebant vellera lucis,

5et foeda ante oculos strages propiusque patebat

insani Mavortis opus: simul arma virique

ac mixtus sonipes dextraeque in vulnere caesi

haerentes hostis, passim clipeique iubaeque

atque artus trunci capitum fractusque iacebat

10ossibus in duris ensis. nec cernere derat

frustra seminecum quaerentia lumina caelum.

tum spumans sanie lacus et fluitantia summo

aeternum tumulis orbata cadavera ponto.

Nec tamen adversis ruerat tota Itala virtus.

15Bruttius ingenti miserandae caedis acervo

non aequum ostentans confosso corpore Martem

extulerat vix triste caput truncosque trahebat

per stragem nervis interlabentibus artus,

tenuis opum, non patre nitens linguave, sed asper

20ense, nec e Volsca quisquam vir gente redemit

plus aevi nece magnanima. puer addere sese

pubescente gena castris optarat et acri

Flaminio spectatus erat, cum Celtica victor

obrueret bello divis melioribus arva.

25inde honor ac sacrae custodia Marte sub omni

alitis; hinc causam nutrivit gloria leti.

namque necis certus, captae prohibere nequiret

cum Poenos aquilae, postquam subsidere fata

viderat et magna pugnam inclinare ruina,

30occulere interdum et terrae mandare parabat.

sed subitis victus telis labentia membra

prostravit super atque iniecta morte tegebat.

verum ubi lux nocte e Stygia miseroque sopore

reddita, vicini de strage cadaveris hasta

35erigitur soloque vigens conamine late

stagnantem caede et facilem discedere terram

ense fodit clausamque aquilae infelicis adorans

effigiem palmis languentibus aequat harenas.

supremus fessi tenuis tum cessit in auras

40halitus et magnam misit sub Tartara mentem.

Iuxta cernere erat meritae sibi poscere carmen

virtutis sacram rabiem. Laevinus, ab alto

Priverno, vitis Latiae praesignis honore,

exanimum Nasamona Tyren super ipse iacebat

45exanimis. non hasta viro, non ensis; in artis

abstulerat fors arma. tamen certamine nudo

invenit Marti telum dolor: ore cruento

pugnatum, ferrique vicem dens praebuit irae.

iam lacerae nares foedataque lumina morsu,

50iam truncum raptis caput auribus, ipsaque diris

frons depasta modis, et sanguine abundat hiatus.

nec satias, donec mandentia linqueret ora

spiritus et plenos rictus mors atra teneret.

Talia dum praebet tristis miracula virtus,

55diverso interea fugientes saucia turba

iactantur casu silvisque per avia caecis

ablati furtim multo cum vulnere solos

per noctem metantur agros. sonus omnis et aura

exterrent pennaque levi commota volucris.

60non sopor aut menti requies. agit asper acerba

nunc Mago attonitos, nunc arduus Hannibal hasta.

Serranus, clarum nomen, tua, Regule, proles,

qui, longum semper fama gliscente per aevum,

infidis servasse fidem memorabere Poenis,

65flore nitens primo patriis heu Punica bella

auspiciis ingressus erat miseramque parentem

et dulces tristi repetebat sorte penates

saucius. haud illi comitum super ullus et atris

vulneribus qui ferret opem. per devia fractae

70innitens hastae furtoque ereptus opacae

noctis iter tacitum Perusina ferebat in arva.

hic fessus parvi, quaecumque ibi fata darentur,

limina pulsabat tecti, cum membra cubili

evolvens non tarda Marus (vetus ille parentis

75miles et haud surda tractarat proelia fama)

procedit renovata focis et paupere Vesta

lumina praetendens. utque ora agnovit et aegrum

vulneribus duris ac, lamentabile visu,

lapsantes fultum truncata cuspide gressus,

80funesti rumore mali iam saucius aures:

"quod scelus, o nimius vitae nimiumque ferendis

adversis genitus cerno? te, maxime, vidi,

ductorum, cum captivo Carthaginis arcem

terreres vultu, crimen culpamque Tonantis,

85occidere atque hausi, quem non Sidonia tecta

expulerint eversa meo de corde, dolorem.

estis ubi en iterum, superi? dat pectora ferro

Regulus, ac stirpem tantae periura recidit

surgentem Carthago domus." inde aegra reponit

90membra toro nec ferre rudis medicamina (quippe

callebat bellis) nunc purgat vulnera lympha,

nunc mulcet sucis. ligat inde ac vellera molli

circumdat tactu et torpentes mitigat artus.

exin cura seni tristem depellere fesso

95ore sitim et parca vires accersere mensa.

quae postquam properata, sopor sua munera tandem

applicat et mitem fundit per membra quietem.

necdum exorta dies, Marus instat vulneris aestus

expertis medicare modis gratumque teporem

100exutus senium trepida pietate ministrat.

Hic iuvenis maestos tollens ad sidera vultus

cum gemitu lacrimisque simul "si culmina nondum

Tarpeia exosus damnasti sceptra Quirini,

extremas Italum res Ausoniamque ruentem

105aspice" ait "genitor, tandemque adverte procellis

aequos Iliacis oculos. amisimus Alpes,

nec deinde adversis modus est: Ticinus et ater

stragibus Eridanus tuque insignite tropaeis

Sidoniis Trebia et tellus lacrimabilis Arni.

110sed quid ego haec? gravior quanto vis ecce malorum!

vidi crescentes Thrasymenni caedibus undas

prostrataque virum mole, inter tela cadentem

vidi Flaminium. testor, mea numina, manes

dignam me poenae tum nobilitate paternae

115strage hostis quaesisse necem, ni tristia letum

ut quondam patri nobis quoque fata negassent."

Cetera acerbantem questu lenire laborans

effatur senior: "patrio, fortissime, ritu,

quicquid adest duri et rerum inclinata feramus.

120talis lege deum clivoso tramite vitae

per varios praeceps casus rota volvitur aevi.

sat tibi, sat magna et totum vulgata per orbem

stant documenta domus: sacer ille et numine nullo

inferior tuus ille parens decora alta paravit

125restando adversis nec virtutem exuit ullam,

ante reluctantes liquit quam spiritus artus.

vix puerile mihi tempus confecerat aetas,

cum primo malas signabat Regulus aevo.

accessi comes, atque omnes sociavimus annos,

130donec dis Italae visum est exstinguere lumen

gentis, in egregio cuius sibi pectore sedem

ceperat alma Fides mentemque amplexa tenebat.

ille ensem nobis magnorum hunc instar honorum

virtutisque ergo dedit et, sordentia fumo

135quae cernis nunc, frena; sed est argenteus ollis

fulgor. nec cuiquam Marus est post talia dona

non praelatus eques. verum superavit honores

omnes hasta meos. cui me libare Lyaei

quod cernis latices, dignum cognoscere causam.

140Turbidus arentes lento pede sulcat harenas

Bagrada, non ullo Libycis in finibus amne

victus limosas extendere latius undas

et stagnante vado patulos involvere campos.

hic studio laticum, quorum est haud prodiga tellus,

145per ripas laeti saevis consedimus arvis.

lucus iners iuxta Stygium pallentibus umbris

servabat sine sole nemus, crassusque per auras

halitus erumpens taetrum exspirabat odorem.

intus dira domus curvoque immanis in antro

150sub terras specus et tristes sine luce tenebrae.

horror mente redit. monstrum exitiabile et ira

telluris genitum, cui par vix viderit aetas

ulla virum, serpens centum porrectus in ulnas

letalem ripam et lucos habitabat Avernos.

155ingluviem immensi ventris gravidamque venenis

alvum deprensi satiabant fonte leones

aut acta ad fluvium torrenti lampade solis

armenta et tractae foeda gravitate per auras

ac tabe afflatus volucres. semesa iacebant

160ossa solo, informi dape quae repletus et asper

vastatis gregibus nigro ructarat in antro.

isque ubi ferventi concepta incendia ab aestu

gurgite mulcebat rapido et spumantibus undis,

nondum etiam toto demersus corpore in amnem

165iam caput adversae ponebat margine ripae.

imprudens tantae pestis gradiebar Aquino

Apenninicola atque Umbro comitatus Avente.

scire nemus pacemque loci explorare libebat.

Iamque propinquantum tacitus penetravit in artus

170horror et occulto riguerunt frigore membra.

intramus tamen et Nymphas numenque precamur

gurgitis ignoti trepidosque et multa paventes

arcano gressus audemus credere luco.

ecce e vestibulo primisque e faucibus antri

175Tartareus turbo atque insano saevior Euro

spiritus erumpit, vastoque e gutture fusa

tempestas oritur mixtam stridore procellam

Cerbereo torquens. pavefacti clade vicissim

aspicimus. resonare solum tellusque moveri

180atque antrum ruere et visi procedere manes.

quantis armati caelum petiere Gigantes

anguibus, aut quantus Lernae lassavit in undis

Amphitryoniaden serpens, qualisque comantes

auro servavit ramos Iunonius anguis,

185tantus disiecta tellure sub astra coruscum

extulit adsurgens caput atque in nubila primam

dispersit saniem et caelum foedavit hiatu.

diffugimus tenuemque metu conamur anheli

tollere clamorem; frustra, nam sibila totum

190implebant nemus, ac subita formidine caecus

et facti damnandus Avens (sed fata trahebant)

antiquae quercus ingenti robore sese

occulit, infandum si posset fallere monstrum

vix egomet credo: spiris ingentibus arte

195arboris astrinxit molem penitusque revulsam

evertit fundo et radicibus ervit imis.

tum trepidum ac socios extrema voce cientem

corripit atque haustu sorbens et faucibus atris

(vidi respiciens) obscena condidit alvo.

200infelix fluvio sese et torrentibus undis

crediderat celerique fuga iam nabat Aquinus.

hunc medio invasit fluctu ripaeque relatos

(heu genus infandum leti!) depascitur artus.

Sic dirum nobis et lamentabile monstrum

205effugisse datur. quantum mens aegra sinebat,

appropero gressum et ductori singula pando.

ingemuit casus iuvenum miseratus acerbos,

utque erat in pugnas et Martem et proelia et hostem

igneus et magna audendi flagrabat amore,

210ocius arma rapi et spectatum Marte sub omni

ire iubet campis equitem. ruit ipse citatum

quadrupedem planta fodiens, scutataque raptim

consequitur iusso manus et muralia portat

ballistas tormenta graves suetamque movere

215excelsas turres immensae cuspidis hastam.

iamque ubi feralem strepitu circumtonat aulam

cornea gramineum persultans ungula campum,

percitus hinnitu serpens evolvitur antro

et Stygios aestus fumanti exsibilat ore.

220terribilis gemino de lumine fulgurat ignis.

at nemus arrectae et procera cacumina saltus

exsuperant cristae. trifido vibrata per auras

lingua micat motu atque adsultans aethera lambit.

ut vero strepuere tubae, conterritus alte

225immensum attollit corpus tergoque residens

cetera sinvatis glomerat sub pectore gyris.

dira dehinc in bella ruit rapideque resolvens

contortos orbes derecto corpore totam

extendit molem subitoque propinquus in ora

230lato distantum spatio venit. omnis anhelat

attonitus serpentis equus, frenoque teneri

impatiens crebros exspirat naribus ignes.

arduus ille subit. tumidis cervicibus altum

nutat utroque caput. trepidos inde incitus ira

235nunc sublime rapit, nunc vasto pondere gaudet

elisisse premens. tunc fractis ossibus atram

absorbet saniem et tabo manante per ora

mutat hians hostem semesaque membra relinquit.

cedebant iam signa retro, victorque catervas

240longius avectas afflatus peste premebat,

cum ductor propere revocatam in proelia turmam

vocibus impellens: "serpentine Itala pubes

terga damus Libycisque parem non esse fatemur

anguibus Ausoniam? si debellavit inertes

245halitus ac viso mens aegra effluxit hiatu,

ibo alacer solusque manus componere monstro

sufficiam." clamans haec atque interritus hastam

fulmineo volucrem torquet per inane lacerto.

venit in adversam non vano turbine frontem

250cuspis et, haud paulum vires adiuta ruentis

contra ardore ferae capiti tremebunda resedit.

clamor ad astra datur, vocesque repente profusae

aetherias adiere domos. furit ilicet ira

terrigena impatiens dare terga novusque dolori

255et chalybem longo tum primum passus in aevo.

nec frustra rapidi stimulante dolore fuisset

impetus, ablato ni Regulus arte regendi

instantem elusisset equo rursusque secutum

cornipedis gyros flexi curvamine tergi

260detortis laeva celer effugisset habenis.

At non spectator Marus inter talia segni

torpebat dextra. mea tanto in corpore monstri

hasta secunda fuit. iamiamque extrema trisulca

lambebat lingua fessi certamine terga

265quadrupedis; torsi telum atque urgentia velox

in memet saevi serpentis proelia verto.

hinc imitata cohors certatim spicula dextris

congerit alternasque ferum diducit in iras,

donec murali ballista coërcuit ictu.

270tum fractus demum vires; nec iam amplius aegra

consuetum ad nisus spina praestante rigorem

ut solitum in nubes tollit caput. acrius instat,

iamque alvo penitus demersa phalarica sedit,

et geminum volucres lumen rapuere sagittae.

275iam patulis vasto sub vulnere faucibus ater

tabificam exspirat saniem specus. ultima iamque

ingestis cauda et iaculis et pondere conti

haeret humi; lassoque tamen minitatur hiatu,

donec tormentis stridens magnoque fragore

280discussit trabs acta caput, longoque resolvens

aggere se ripae tandem exhalavit in auras

liventem nebulam fugientis ab ore veneni.

erupit tristi fluvio mugitus et imis

murmura fusa vadis, subitoque et lucus et antrum

285et resonae silvis ulularunt flebile ripae.

heu quantis luimus mox tristia proelia damnis,

quantaque supplicia et quales exhausimus iras!

nec tacuere pii vates famulumque sororum

Naiadum, tepida quas Bagrada nutrit in unda,

290nos violasse manu seris monvere periclis.

haec tunc hasta decus nobis pretiumque secundi

vulneris a vestro, Serrane, tributa parente,

princeps quae sacro bibit e serpente cruorem."

Iamdudum vultus lacrimis atque ora rigabat

295Serranus medioque viri sermone profatur:

"huic si vita duci nostrum durasset in aevum,

non Trebia infaustas superasset sanguine ripas,

nec, Thrasymenne, tuus premeret tot nomina gurges."

Tum senior "magnas" inquit "de sanguine poenas

300praecepit Tyrio et praesumpta piacula mortis.

nam defecta viris et opes attrita supinas

Africa tendebat palmas, cum sidere diro

misit Agenoreis ductorem animosa Therapne.

nulla viro species decorisque et frontis egenum

305corpus; in exiguis vigor, admirabile, membris

vividus et nisu magnos qui vinceret artus.

iam Martem scire atque astus adiungere ferro

et duris facilem per inhospita ducere vitam

haud isti, quem nunc penes est sollertia belli,

310cederet Hannibali. vellem hunc, o tristia nobis

Taygeta, hunc unum non durassetis opacis

Eurotae ripis! vidissem moenia flammis

Phoenissae ruere aut certe non horrida fata

flevissem ducis et, nulla quos morte nec igni

315exutos servans portabo in Tartara, luctus.

consertae campis acies, multusque per arva

fervebat Mavors, nec mens erat ulla sine ira.

hic inter medios memorandis Regulus ausis

laxabat ferro campum ac per tela ruebat

320nec repetenda dabat letali vulnera dextra.

sic ubi nigrantem torquens stridentibus Austris

portat turbo globum piceaque e nube ruinam

pendentem terris pariter pontoque minatur,

omnis et agricola et nemoroso vertice pastor

325et pelago trepidat subductis navita velis.

at fraudem nectens, socios ubi concava saxa

claudebant, vertit subito certamina Graius

et dat terga celer ficta formidine ductor,

haud secus ac stabulis procurans otia pastor

330in foveam parco tectam velamine frondis

ducit nocte lupos positae balatibus agnae.

abripuit traxitque virum fax mentis honestae

gloria et incerti fallax fiducia Martis.

non socios comitumve manus, non arma sequentum

335respicere; insano pugnae tendebat amore

iam solus, nubes subito cum densa Laconum

saxosis latebris intento ad proelia circum

funditur, et pone insurgit vis saeva virorum.

o diram Latio lucem fastisque notandam!

340dedecus o, Gradive, tuum! tibi dextera et urbi

nata tuae tristi damnatur sorte catenae.

haud umquam absistam gemitu. te, Regule, vidit

Sidonius carcer, tuque huic sat magna triumpho

visa es, Carthago, superis! quae poena sequetur

345digna satis tali pollutos Marte Laconas?

At nova Elissaei iurato foedera patres

consultant mandare duci pacisque sequestrem

mittere poscentis vinctam inter proelia pubem

captivamque manum ductore rependere nostro.

350nec mora iam stabat primis in litoris undis

navali propulsa ratis, iam nautica pubes

aut silvis stringunt remos aut abiete secta

transtra novant. his intortos aptare rudentes,

his studium erecto componere carbasa malo.

355unca locant prora curvati pondera ferri.

ante omnes doctus pelagi rectorque carinae

puppim aptat clavumque Cothon. micat aereus alta

fulgor aqua trifidi splendentis in aequore rostri.

tela simul variamque ferunt contra aspera ponti

360rerum ad tempus opem. mediae stat margine puppis,

qui voce alternos nautarum temperet ictus

et remis dictet sonitum pariterque relatis

ad numerum plaudat resonantia caerula tonsis.

Postquam confectum nautis opus horaque cursus

365atque armata ratis ventique dedere profundum,

omnis turba ruit, matres puerique senesque.

per medios coetus trahit atque inimica per ora

spectandum Fortuna ducem. fert lumina contra

pacatus frontem, qualis cum litora primum

370attigit appulsa rector Sidonia classe.

accessi comes haud ipso renvente ratique

impositus maestis socium me casibus addo.

illuviem atque inopes mensas durumque cubile

et certare malis urgentibus hoste putabat

375devicto maius, nec tam fugisse cavendo

adversa egregium, quam perdomuisse ferendo.

spes tamen una mihi, quamquam bene cognita et olim

atrox illa fides, urbem murosque domumque

tangere si miseris licuisset, corda moveri

380posse viri et vestro certe mitescere fletu.

claudebam sub corde metus lacrimasque putabam

esse viro et nostrae similem inter tristia mentem.

cum tandem patriae Tiberino allabimur amni,

servabam vultus ducis ac prodentia sensum

385lumina et obtutu perstabam intentus eodem.

si qua fides, unum, puer, inter mille labores,

unum etiam in patria saevaque in Agenoris urbe

atque unum vidi poenae quoque tempore vultum.

obvia captivo cunctis simul urbibus ibat

390Ausonia, et campum turba vincente propinqui

implentur colles; strepit altis Albula ripis.

ipsi Poenorum proceres immitia corda

ad patrios certant cultus revocare, togaeque

addebatur honos. stetit illacrimante senatu

395et matrum turba iuvenumque dolore profuso

inter tot gemitus immobilis. aggere consul

tendebat dextram et patria vestigia primus

ponentem terra occursu celebrabat amico.

collegit gressum, monitusque recedere consul

400nec summum violare decus. cingente superba

Poenorum turba captivo tegmine saeptus

ibat et invidiam caelo divisque ferebat.

"Ecce trahens geminum natorum Marcia pignus,

infelix nimia magni virtute mariti,

405squalentem crinem et tristes lacerabat amictus.

agnoscisne diem? an teneris non haesit in annis?

atque ea, postquam habitu iuxta et velamine Poeno

deformem aspexit, fusis ululatibus aegra

labitur, et gelidos mortis color occupat artus.

410si qua deis pietas, tales, Carthago, videre

dent tibi Sidonias matres. me voce quieta

affatus iubet et vestros et coniugis una

arcere amplexus pater, impenetrabilis ille

luctibus et numquam summissus colla dolori."

415Hic alto iuvenis gemitu lacrimisque coortis

"magne parens" inquit "quo maius numine nobis

Tarpeia nec in arce sedet, si iura querelis

sunt concessa piis, cur hoc matrique mihique

solamen, vel cur decus hoc, o dure, negasti,

420tangere sacratos vultus atque oscula ab ore

libavisse tuo? dextram mihi prendere dextra

non licitum? leviora forent haec vulnera quantum,

si ferre ad manes infixos mente daretur

amplexus, venerande, tuos. sed vana recordor,

425ni, Mare, (nam primo tunc haerebamus in aevo)

humana maior species erat. horrida cano

vertice descendens ingentia colla tegebat

caesaries, frontique coma squalente sedebat

terribilis decor atque animi venerabile pondus.

430nil posthac oculis simile incidit." excipit inde

iam Marus atque inhibens convellere vulnera questu

"quid, cum praeteritis invisa penatibus" inquit

"hospitia et sedes Poenorum intravit acerbas?

affixi clipei currusque et spicula nota,

435aedibus in parvis magni monumenta triumphi,

pulsabant oculos, coniunx in limine primo

clamabat: "quo fers gressus? non Punicus hic est,

Regule, quem fugias, carcer. vestigia nostri

casta tori domus et patrium sine crimine servat

440inviolata larem. semel hic iterumque (quid, oro,

pollutum est nobis?) prolem gratante senatu

et patria sum enixa tibi. tua, respice, sedes

haec est, unde ingens umeris fulgentibus ostro

vidisti Latios consul procedere fasces,

445unde ire in Martem, quo capta referre solebas

et victor mecum suspendere postibus arma.

non ego complexus et sanctae foedera taedae

coniugiumve peto. patrios damnare penates

absiste ac natis fas duc concedere noctem."

450Hos inter fletus iunctus vestigia Poenis

limine se clusit Tyrio questusque reliquit.

vixdum clara dies summa lustrabat in Oeta

Herculei monumenta rogi, cum consul adire

accirique iubet Libyas. tum limina templi

455vidimus intrantem. quae consultata senatus

quasve viri voces extremum curia maerens

audierit, placido nobis ipse edidit ore.

intulit ut gressus, certatim voce manuque

ad solitam sedem et vestigia nota vocabant.

460abnuit antiquumque loci aspernatur honorem.

at circumfusi non setius undique dextram

prensare ac, patriae ductorem nomine tanto

redderet, orabant; captiva posse redemptum

pensari turba, ac Tyrias tum iustius arces

465arsuras dextra, fuerit quae vincta catenis.

Tum palmas simul attollens ac lumina caelo

"iustitiae rectique dator, qui cuncta gubernas,

nec levior mihi diva Fides Sarranaque Iuno,

quos reditus testes iurata mente vocavi,

470sit mihi fas me digna loqui Latiosque tueri

voce focos; ibo ad Tyrios non segnior" inquit

"stante fide reditus et salvo foedere poenae.

sic nobis rerum exitio desistite honorem

tendere. tot bellis totque annis fregimus aevum.

475nunc etiam vinclis et longo carcere torpent

captivo in senio vires. fuit ille nec umquam,

dum fuit, a duro cessavit munere Martis

Regulus. exsangui spectatis corpore nomen.

at non Carthago, fraudum domus, inscia quantum

480e nobis restet, iuvenes parat, aspera ferro

pectora, captivos nostra pensare senecta.

ite dolos contra, gensque astu fallere laeta

discat, me capto quantum tibi, Roma, supersit.

nec vero placeat, nisi quae de more parentum

485pax erit. exposcunt Libyes nobisque dedere

haec referenda pari libeat suspendere bellum

foedere et ex aequo geminas conscribere leges.

sed mihi sit Stygios ante intravisse penates

talia quam videam ferientes pacta Latinos."

490Haec fatus Tyriae sese iam reddidit irae,

nec monitus spernente graves fidosque senatu

Poenorum dimissa cohors. quae maesta repulsa

ac minitans capto patrias properabat ad oras.

prosequitur vulgus, patres, ac planctibus ingens

495personat et luctu campus. revocare libebat

interdum et iusto captum retinere dolore.

At trepida et subito ceu stans in funere coniunx,

ut vidit puppi properantem intrare, tremendum

vociferans celerem gressum referebat ad undas

500"tollite me, Libyes, comitem poenaeque necisque.

hoc unum, coniunx, uteri per pignora nostri

unum oro: liceat tecum quoscumque ferentem

terrarum pelagique pati caelique labores.

non ego Amyclaeum ductorem in proelia misi,

505nec nostris tua sunt circumdata colla catenis.

cur usque ad Poenos miseram fugis? accipe mecum

hanc prolem. forsan duras Carthaginis iras

flectemus lacrimis, aut si praecluserit aures

urbs inimica suas, eadem tunc hora manebit

510teque tuosque simul; vel si stat rumpere vitam,

in patria moriamur. adest comes ultima fati."

Has inter voces vinclis resoluta moveri

paulatim et ripa coepit decedere puppis.

tum vero infelix mentem furiata dolore

515exclamat fessas tendens ad litora palmas:

"en, qui se iactat Libyae populisque nefandis

atque hosti servare fidem! data foedera nobis

ac promissa fides thalamis ubi, perfide, nunc est?"

ultima vox duras haec tunc penetravit ad aures;

520cetera percussi vetuerunt noscere remi.

Tum fluvio raptim ad pelagi devolvimur oras

ac legimus pontum pinuque immane cavata

aequor et immensas curva trabe findimus undas.

ludibrium necis horrescens, vis aspera ponti

525obrueret scopulisque ratem furor improbus Euri

frangeret, optabam; letum id commune fuisset.

sed nos in poenam moderato flamine lenes

vexerunt Zephyri Tyrioque dedere furori.

Infelix vidi patriamque remissus in urbem

530narrator poenae dura mercede reverti.

nec tibi nunc ritus imitantem irasque ferarum

Pygmalioneam temptarem expromere gentem,

si maius quicquam toto vidisset in orbe

gens hominum, quam quod vestri veneranda parentis

535edidit exemplum virtus. pudet addere questus

suppliciis, quae spectavi placido ore ferentem.

tu quoque, care puer, dignum te sanguine tanto

fingere ne cessa atque orientes comprime fletus.

praefixo paribus ligno mucronibus omnes

540armantur laterum crates, densusque per arcam

texitur erecti stantisque ex ordine ferri

infelix stimulus, somnisque hac fraude negatis

quocumque inflexum producto tempore torpor

inclinavit iners, fodiunt ad viscera corpus.

545absiste, o iuvenis, lacrimis. patientia cunctos

haec superat currus. longo revirescet in aevo

gloria; dum caeli sedem terrasque tenebit

casta Fides, dum virtutis venerabile nomen

vivet; eritque dies, tua quo, dux inclite, fata

550audire horrebunt a te calcata minores."

haec Marus et maesta refovebat vulnera cura.

Interea rapidas perfusa cruoribus alas,

sicut sanguinea Thrasymenni tinxerat unda,

vera ac ficta simul spargebat Fama per urbem.

555Allia et infandi Senones captaeque recursat

attonitis arcis facies. excussit habenas

luctificus Pavor, et tempestas aucta timendo.

hic raptim ruit in muros. vox horrida fertur

"hostis adest", iaciuntque sudes et inania tela.

560ast aliae laceris canentes crinibus alta

verrunt tecta deum et seris post fata suorum

sollicitant precibus. requiem tenebraeque diesque

amisere. iacent portis ululante dolore

dispersum vulgus, remeantumque ordine longo

565servat turba gradus; pendent ex ore loquentum,

nec laetis sat certa fides, iterumque morantur

orando et vultu interdum sine voce precati,

quod rogitant, audire pavent. hinc fletus, ubi aures

percussae graviore malo, metus inde, negatum

570si scire et dubius responsi nuntius haesit.

iamque ubi conspectu redeuntis visa propinquo

corpora, sollicite laeti funduntur et ipsis

oscula vulneribus figunt superosque fatigant.

Hic inter trepidos curae venerandus agebat

575Serranum Marus, atque olim post fata mariti

non egressa domum vitato Marcia coetu

et lucem causa natorum passa ruebat

in luctum similem antiquo. turbata repente

agnoscensque Marum "Fidei comes inclite magnae,

580hunc certe mihi reddis" ait. "leve vulnus? an alte

usque ad nostra ferus penetravit viscera mucro?

quicquid id est, dum non vinctum Carthago catenis

abripiat poenaeque instauret monstra paternae,

gratum est, o superi. quotiens heu, nate, petebam,

585ne patrias iras animosque in proelia ferres

neu te belligeri stimularet in arma parentis

triste decus. nimium vivacis dura senectae

supplicia expendi. quaeso, iam parcite, si qua

numina pugnastis nobis." At cladis acerbae

590discussa ceu nube patres conquirere fessis

iam rebus meditantur opem, atque ad munera belli

certatur, pulsusque timor graviore periclo.

maxima curarum rectorem ponere castris,

cui Latium et moles rerum quassata recumbat

595spectante occasum patria. Iovis illa ruenti

Ausoniae atque Italis tempus protendere regnis

cura fuit; nam Tyrrhenos Poenumque secundis

Albana surgens respexerat arce tumentem,

qui ferre in muros victricia signa parabat.

600tum quassans caput "haud umquam tibi Iuppiter" inquit

"o iuvenis, dederit portas transcendere Romae

atque inferre pedem. Tyrrhenas sternere valles

caedibus et ripas fluviorum exire Latino

sanguine fas fuerit. Tarpeium accedere collem

605murisque aspirare veto." quater inde coruscum

contorsit dextra fulmen, quo tota reluxit

Maeonidum tellus, atramque per aethera volvens

abrupto fregit caelo super agmina nubem.

nec Poenum avertisse satis; dat numine magno

610Aeneadis mentem gremio deponere tuto

Romuleam tandem Fabioque salutis habenas

credere ductori. cui postquam tradita belli

iura videt, "non hunc" inquit "superaverit umquam

invidia aut blando popularis gloria fuco,

615non astus fallax, non praeda aliusve cupido.

bellandi vetus ac laudum cladumque quieta

mente capax. par ingenium castrisque togaeque."

sic genitor divum recipitque ad sidera gressum.

Hic circumspectis nulli deprensus in armis

620laudatusque Iovi Fabius mirabile quantum

gaudebat reducem patriae annumerare reversus,

duxerat egrediens quam secum in proelia pubem.

nec membris quisquam natove pepercit amato

acrius aut vidit socium per bella cruorem

625tristior atque idem perfusus sanguine victor

hostili plenis repetebat moenia castris.

stirpe genus clarum caeloque affinis origo.

nam remeans longis olim Tirynthius oris

et triplicis monstri famam et spectacula captas

630mira boves hac, qua fulgent nunc moenia Romae,

egit ovans. tunc Arcadius, sic fama, locabat

inter desertos fundata Palatia dumos

paupere sub populo ductor, cum regia virgo

hospite victa sacro Fabium de crimine laeto

635procreat et magni commiscet seminis ortus

Arcas in Herculeos mater ventura nepotes.

ter centum domus haec Fabios armavit in hostem

limine progressos uno, pulcherrima quorum

cunctando Fabius superavit facta ducemque

640Hannibalem aequando. tantus tunc, Poene, fuisti.

Dum se perculsi renovant in bella Latini,

turbatus Iove et exuta spe moenia Romae

pulsandi colles Umbros atque arva petebat

Hannibal, excelso summi qua vertice montis

645devexum lateri pendet Tuder, atque ubi latis

proiecta in campis nebulas exhalat inertes

et sedet ingentem pascens Mevania taurum,

dona Iovi. tum Palladios se fundit in agros,

Picenum dives praedae, atque errantibus armis,

650quo spolia invitant, transfert populantia signa,

donec pestiferos mitis Campania cursus

tardavit bellumque sinu indefensa recepit.

Hic dum stagnosi spectat templumque domosque

Literni ductor, varia splendentia cernit

655pictura belli patribus monumenta prioris

exhausti; nam porticibus signata manebant,

quis inerat longus rerum et spectabilis ordo.

primus bella truci suadebat Regulus ore,

bella neganda viro, si noscere fata daretur.

660ac princeps Poenis indicta more parentum

Appius astabat pugna lauroque revinctus

iustum Sarrana ducebat caede triumphum.

aequoreum iuxta decus et navale tropaeum,

rostra gerens nivea surgebat mole columna:

665exuvias Marti donumque Duilius alto

ante omnes mersa Poenorum classe dicabat.

cui, nocturnus honos, funalia clara sacerque

post epulas tibicen adest, castosque penates

insignis laeti repetebat murmure cantus.

670cernit et extremos defuncti civis honores:

Scipio ductoris celebrabat funera Poeni,

Sardoa victor terra. videt inde ruentem

litoribus Libycis dispersa per agmina pubem;

instabat crista fulgens et terga premebat

675Regulus; Autololes Nomadesque et Maurus et Hammon

et Garamas positis dedebant oppida telis.

lentus harenoso spumabat Bagrada campo

viperea sanie, turmisque minantibus ultro

pugnabat serpens et cum duce bella gerebat.

680necnon proiectum puppi frustraque vocantem

numina Amyclaeum mergebat perfida ponto

rectorem manus, et seras tibi, Regule, poenas

Xanthippus digni pendebat in aequore leti.

addiderant geminas medio consurgere fluctu

685Aegates; lacerae circum fragmenta videres

classis et effusos fluitare in gurgite Poenos.

possessor pelagi pronaque Lutatius aura

captivas puppes ad litora victor agebat.

haec inter iuncto religatus in ordine Hamilcar,

690ductoris genitor, cunctarum ab imagine rerum

totius in sese vulgi converterat ora.

sed pacis faciem et pollutas foederis aras

deceptumque Iovem ac dictantes iura Latinos

cernere erat. strictas trepida cervice secures

695horrebat Libys, ac summissis ordine palmis

orantes veniam iurabant irrita pacta.

haec Eryce e summo spectabat laeta Dione.

Quae postquam infesto percensuit omnia vultu

arridens Poenus, lenta proclamat ab ira:

700"non leviora dabis nostris inscribere tectis

acta meae dextrae: captam, Carthago, Saguntum

da spectare, simul flamma ferroque ruentem;

perfodiant patres natorum membra. nec Alpes

exiguus domitas capiet locus; ardua celsis

705persultet iuga victor equis Garamasque Nomasque.

addes Ticini spumantes sanguine ripas

et nostrum Trebiam et Thrasymenni litora Tusci

clausa cadaveribus. ruat ingens corpore et armis

Flaminius, fugiat consul manante cruore

710Scipio et ad socios nati cervice vehatur.

haec mitte in populos, et adhuc maiora dabuntur.

flagrantem effinges facibus, Carthago, Libyssis

Romam et deiectum Tarpeia rupe Tonantem.

interea vos, ut dignum est, ista, ocius ite,

715o iuvenes, quorum dextris mihi tanta geruntur,

in cineres monumenta date atque involvite flammis."