So did the Rhaeti and Vindelici
See Drusus 'neath their Alpine boundaries Carrying on war. I shrink from asking why That people's custom through all time has been The Amazonian axe to brandish high
In the right hand: all things to know were sin. But when their bands, far and wide conquering, Conquered by a youth's strategy were seen, They learnt what mind, what heart beneath the wing Of fortunate home-nurture may be reared:
What fruit, the youthful Neros tutoring, Augustus's paternal soul prepared.
Brave men are gendered by the good and brave : Ever in steers, in horses, has appeared
The courage of the sire: fierce eagles have Never as progeny unwarlike doves.
Yet do all natures strengthening culture crave, And learning native energy improves : Wherever morals do not find a home Polluting vice the germs of good removes. What to the Neros is thy debt, oh Rome,
Witness is Metro's stream, and Asdrubal Vanquished, and that bright day that through the gloom First smiled on Latium at victory's call;
When, as the flame through pine-forest, or through Sicilian waves east wind, through Italy's Pale cities, Africa's dire horseman flew. With aye successful exploits after this
The Roman youth advanced: temples anew, Restored from impious Punic ravages,
Videre Raetis bella sub Alpibus Drusum gerentem Vindelici; quibus Mos unde deductus per omne
Tempus Amazonia securi Dextras obarmet, quaerere distuli; Nec scire fas est omnia. Sed diu Lateque victrices catervae
Consiliis juvenis revictae,
Sensere, quid mens rite, quid indoles Nutrita faustis sub.penetralibus Posset, quid Augusti paternus
In pueros animus Nerones. Fortes creantur fortibus et bonis; Est in juvencis, est in equis patrum Virtus: neque imbellem feroces
Progenerant aquilae columbam. Doctrina sed vim promovet insitam, Rectique cultus pectora roborant: Utcunque defecere mores,
Indecorant bene nata culpae. Quid debeas, o Roma, Neronibus, Testis Metaurum flumen, et Hasdrubal Devictus, et pulcher fugatis
Ille dies Latio tenebris,
Qui primus alma risit adorea,
Dirus per urbes Afer ut Italas,
Ceu flamma per taedas, vel Eurus
Per Siculas equitavit undas. Post hoc secundis usque laboribus Romana pubes crevit, et impio
Their rightful gods received. Outspake at last Perfidious Hannibal: As deer do we,
Meet food for ravening wolves, pursue in haste, When to escape were utmost victory.
This hardy race, from Troy, by fire laid waste, After long tossing on the Tuscan main, Their gods, their sons, their aged fathers led Hither, to cities of Ausonia's plain:
As doth an oak by ruthless hatchet shred, On Algid's thickly leaved black forest, gain E'en from its loss and lopping, and is fed With strength and spirit by that selfsame steel. The severed Hydra did not firmlier grow 'Gainst Ercles, grieving o'er his baffled skill: No greater prodigy did Colchos show, Neither did Thebes in Echion reveal.
Merged in the deep, they rise with livelier glow: Encountered, they strike down their conqueror With plentiful renown, and battles fight For wives to talk of. Ne'er, as heretofore,
Shall I my boastful envoys expedite
To Carthage. Now, with Asdrubal no more,
Our name's whole hope and fortune take to flight. Naught is there that the Claudian family May not achieve. Them Jupiter defends With grace benign. Prudent sagacity In war's keen peril upon them attends.'
Vastata Poenorum tumultu
Fana deos habuere rectos.
Dixitque tandem perfidus Hannibal; Cervi, luporum praeda rapacium, Sectamur ultro quos opimus
Fallere et effugere est triumphus. Gens, quae cremato fortis ab Ilio Jactata Tuscis aequoribus sacra Natosque maturosque patres Pertulit Ausonias ad urbes; Duris ut ilex tonsa bipennibus Nigrae feraci frondis in Algido, Per damna, per caedes, ab ipso Ducit opes animumque ferro. Non Hydra secto corpore firmior Vinci dolentem crevit in Herculem; Monstrumve submisere Colchi Majus, Echioniaeve Thebae.
Merses profundo, pulchrior evenit: Luctere, multa proruet integrum Cum laude victorem, geretque
Proelia conjugibus loquenda. Karthagini jam non ego nuntios Mittam superbos: occidit, occidit Spes omnis, et fortuna nostri
Nominis, Hasdrubale interempto. Nil Claudiae non perficient manus: Quas et benigno numine Juppiter Defendit, et curae sagaces
Expediunt per acuta belli.
This was written after the German victories celebrated in odes 4 and 14, and was perhaps sent to Augustus in Gaul, whence he did not return to Rome until two years after setting out on his expedition against the Sicambri. Possibly he may have delayed designedly, because it was his policy to make his absence felt; and it may be that Horace's language represented the sentiments of large numbers at Rome who felt the want of that presiding genius which had brought the city through its long troubles, and given it comparative peace.
BEST guardian of the Romulèan race,
Born under gods propitious, from our midst Absent already for too lengthened space- Thou to the Senate's sacred council didst Swift return promise. Now thy course retrace.
Light to thy country, virtuous chief, restore; For when, like that of spring, thy countenance Hath shone upon the citizens, with more Of gracious influence doth the day advance, A richer brilliance do the sunbeams pour.
As on a stripling, whom the adverse blast Of the south wind, beyond the watery plain Of the Carpathian, tarrying there, holds fast, Nor his loved home permits him to regain Till more than a full year is overpast—
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