BOOK II ODE I To Pollio Writing a History of the Civil Wars THOU art treating of the civil strife that with Metellus' consulship began, the causes of the war, its blunders, and its phases, and Fortune's game, friendships of leaders that boded ill, and weapons stained with blood as yet unexpiated—a task full of dangerous hazard--and art walking, as it were, over fires hidden beneath treacherous ashes. For a brief time only let it be that thy stern tragic muse is missing from the stage; but soon, when thou hast chronicled events of state, renew thy lofty calling in the Attic buskin, Pollio, famed support of anxious clients and bulwark of the Senate in its councils, thou for whom, too, the laurel won lasting glory in thy Dalmatian triumph. Even now with threaten ing blare of horns thou strik'st our ears; even now the clarions sound; even now the gleam of weapons strikes terror into timid horses and into the horsemen's faces. Already I seem to hear the shouts of mighty captains begrimed with no inglorious dust, and to see all the world subdued, except stern Cato's soul. Juno and all the gods who, friendlier to Africa, had helplessly withdrawn, powerless to avenge the land, have offered on Jugurtha's grave the grandsons of his conquerors. What plain is not enriched with Latin blood, to bear witness with its graves to our unholy strife and to the sound of Hesperia's fall, heard even by the Medes! What pool or stream has failed to taste the dismal war! What sea has Italian slaughter not discoloured! What coast knows not our blood! But, lest, O heedless Muse, thou leave sportive themes and essay again the Cean dirge, seek with me in the shadow of some Dionean grotto measures of lighter mood! II NVLLVS argento color est avaris abdito terris, inimice lamnae Crispe Sallusti, nisi temperato splendeat usu. vivet extento Proculeius aevo, notus in fratres animi paterni: illum aget pinna metuente solvi Fama superstes. latius regnes avidum domando spiritum, quam si Libyam remotis Gadibus iungas et uterque Poenus serviat uni. crescit indulgens sibi dirus hydrops, nec sitim pellit, nisi causa morbi fugerit venis et aquosus albo corpore languor. redditum Cyri solio Phraaten dissidens plebi) numero beatorum eximit Virtus populumque falsis dedocet uti vocibus, regnum et diadema tutum deferens uni propriamque laurum, quisquis ingentes oculo inretorto spectat acervos. 10 20 |