700

spargitur, arva nova Neptunia caede rubescunt. 695
regina in mediis patrio vocat agmina sistro,
necdum etiam geminos a tergo respicit anguis.
omnigenumque deum monstra et latrator Anubis
contra Neptunum et Venerem contraque Minervam
tela tenent. saevit medio in certamine Mavors
caelatus ferro, tristesque ex aethere Dirae,
et scissa gaudens vadit Discordia palla,
quam cum sanguineo sequitur Bellona flagello.
Actius haec cernens arcum intendebat Apollo
desuper omnis eo terrore Aegyptus et Indi,
omnis Arabs, omnes vertebant terga Sabaei.
ipsa videbatur ventis regina vocatis

vela dare et laxos iam iamque immittere funis.
illam inter caedes pallentem morte futura
fecerat Ignipotens undis et Iapyge ferri,
contra autem magno maerentem corpore Nilum
pandentemque sinus et tota veste vocantem
caeruleum in gremium latebrosaque flumina victos.
at Caesar, triplici invectus Romana triumpho
moenia, dis Italis votum immortale sacrabat,
maxima ter centum totam delubra per urbem.
laetitia ludisque viae plausuque fremebant;
omnibus in templis matrum chorus, omnibus arae;
ante aras terram caesi stravere iuvenci.
ipse, sedens niveo candentis limine Phoebi,
dona recognoscit populorum aptatque superbis
postibus; incedunt victae longo ordine gentes,

698 nigenumque M1, hence
amnigenumque Hoffmann.
701 divae M2R.

719 iuvencis M1y1.

705

710

715

720

Niligenumque Lachmann, and 700 tenens Py1.

704 tendebat Py.

722 gentes] matres R.

1 The twin snakes are a symbol of death. cf. Aen. 11. 203, VII. 450, VIII. 289.

Neptune's fields redden with fresh slaughter. In the midst the queen calls upon her hosts with their native cymbal, nor as yet casts back a glance at the twin snakes behind.1 Monstrous gods of every form and barking Anubis wield weapons against Neptune and Venus and against Minerva. In the midst of the fray storms Mavors, embossed in steel, with the fell Furies from on high; and in rent robe Discord strides exultant, while Bellona follows her with bloody scourge. Actian Apollo saw the sight, and from above was bending his bow; at that terror all Egypt and India, all Arabians, all Sabaeans, turned to flee. The queen herself was seen to woo the winds, spread sail, and now, even now, fling loose the slackened sheets. Her, amid the carnage, the Lord of Fire had fashioned pale at the coming of death, borne on by waves and the wind of Iapyx; while over against her was the mourning Nile, of mighty frame, opening wide his folds and with all his raiment welcoming the vanquished to his azure lap and sheltering streams.2 But Caesar, entering the walls of Rome in triple triumph, was dedicating to Italy's gods his immortal votive gift-three hundred mighty fanes throughout the city. The streets rang with gladness and games and shouting; in all the temples was a band of matrons, in all were altars, and before the altars slain steers strewed the ground. Himself, seated at the snowy threshold of shining Phoebus, reviews the gifts of nations and hangs them on the proud portals. The conquered peoples move in long

3

2 The Nile-god "would be represented with a watercoloured robe, the bosom of which he would throw open" (Conington).

3 In August, 29 B. C., Augustus celebrated a triple triumph for victories in Dalmatia, at Actium, and at Alexandria.

quam variae linguis, habitu tam vestis et armis. hic Nomadum genus et discinctos Mulciber Afros, hic Lelegas Carasque sagittiferosque Gelonos finxerat; Euphrates ibat iam mollior undis, extremique hominum Morini, Rhenusque bicornis, indomitique Dahae, et pontem indignatus Araxes. Talia per clipeum Volcani, dona parentis, miratur rerumque ignarus imagine gaudet, attollens umero famamque et fata nepotum.

724 hinc Py.
726 tinxerat R.

726 hinc Py.

731 fata] facta c, Servius.

725

730

array, as diverse in fashion of dress and arms as in tongues. Here Mulciber had portrayed the Nomad race and the ungirt Africans, here the Leleges and Carians and quivered Gelonians. Euphrates moved now with humbler waves, and the Morini were there, furthest of mankind and the Rhine of double horn,1 the untamed Dahae, and Araxes chafing at his bridge.

729 Such sights he admires on the shield of Vulcan, his mother's gift, and, though he knows not the deeds, he rejoices in their portraiture, uplifting on his shoulder the fame and fortunes of his children's children.

1 cf. 77 above, and see note 2 on Geory. IV. 372. Here there may be a reference to the two mouths, the Rhine and the Waal.

LIBER IX

ATQUE ea diversa penitus dum parte geruntur,
Irim de caelo misit Saturnia Iuno

audacem ad Turnum. luco tum forte parentis
Pilumni Turnus sacrata valle sedebat.

ad quem

sic roseo Thaumantias ore locuta est: "Turne, quod optanti divum promittere nemo auderet, volvenda dies en attulit ultro.

Aeneas urbe et sociis et classe relicta sceptra Palatini sedemque petit Euandri.

MPR

5

nec satis: extremas Corythi penetravit ad urbes 10 Lydorumque manum collectos armat agrestis.

quid dubitas? nunc tempus equos, nunc poscere currus. rumpe moras omnis et turbata arripe castra." dixit et in caelum paribus se sustulit alis ingentemque fuga secuit sub nubibus arcum. adgnovit iuvenis duplicisque ad sidera palmas sustulit ac tali fugientem est voce secutus:

66

Iri, decus caeli, quis te mihi nubibus actam detulit in terras? unde haec tam clara repente tempestas? medium video discedere caelum palantisque polo stellas. sequor omina tanta,

15

20

1 Corythus had founded Cortona, the principal Etruscan

city.