VI. THE SLANDERER. 1. Outline of the Poem: Why dost thou worry helpless strangers only, thou coward cur? Come, turn thy empty threats on me, who have no fear for thee! Like the Molossian hound, I'll track thee out. Thy howl is but a cry for food. Beware! Or else thou'lt smart as did Archilochus or Bupalus's keen foe. When I'm attacked with savage tooth, am I to play the boy and plunge in tears? 2. Time: Uncertain; not after 29 B.C. 3. Metre: Iambic Strophe. Introd. § 51. Quid immerentis hospites vexas, canis Quin huc inanis, si potes, vertis minas, Et me remorsurum petis? Nam qualis aut Molossus aut fulvos Laco, Amica vis pastoribus, Agam per altas aure sublata nives, Quaecumque praecedet fera; 5 VII. A THREATENED RENEWAL OF CIVIL STRIFE. 1. Occasion of the Poem: From 43 to 39 B.C. there had been incessant civil strife. In the latter year the promise of permanent peace seemed to be secured by the treaty of Misenum, negotiated with Sextus Pompeius by Octavian and Antony. The poem apparently belongs soon after this, when fresh hostilities with Pompeius were threatening. 2. Outline of the Poem: a) Whither, whither, are ye madly rushing? Why draw again the sword once sheathed? Has not enough of Roman blood been shed on flood and field? Not that the foe might grace our triumphs, but that the city should perish by its own hand. But even wolves and lions do not slay their kind, 1-12; b) What is the cause? Is it blind fury, or some cruel spell, or some ancient sin? This last, I ween; the curse of Romu lus is ours, 13-20. 3. Time: Probably 38 B.C. 4. Metre: Iambic Strophe. Introd. § 51. Quo, quo scelesti ruitis? Aut cur dexteris Parumne campis atque Neptuno super Non ut superbas invidae Carthaginis 5 Intactus aut Britannus ut descenderet Sacra catenatus Via, Sed ut secundum vota Parthorum sua 10 Urbs haec periret dextera. Neque hic lupis mos nec fuit leonibus, An culpa? Responsum date! Tacent, et ora pallor albus inficit, Sic est acerba fata Romanos agunt Scelusque fraternae necis, Ut immerentis fluxit in terram Remi Sacer nepotibus cruor. 15 20 VIII. The brutal coarseness of this epode leads to omission of an outline of its contents. Rogare longo putidam te saeculo, Vires quid enervet meas, Cum sit tibi dens ater et rugis vetus Frontem senectus exaret, Hietque turpis inter aridas natis Podex velut crudae bovis ! Sed incitat me pectus et mammae putres, Equina quales ubera, Venterque mollis et femur tumentibus Exile suris additum. Esto beata, funus atque imagines Ducant triumphales tuom. Nec sit marita, quae rotundioribus 5 10 IX. AFTER ACTIUM. 1. Outline of the Poem: a) When, O Maecenas, shall I celebrate with thee in feast and song great Caesar's victory, as but a short time since when Neptune's favored son, Pompeius, fled, driven from the seas? 1-10; b) At a woman's beck our Roman troops have served, have bowed to eunuchs, and have courted Eastern ease. What wonder the Galatians turned away, and ships lay still in port? 11-20; c) 'Tis hard to wait to celebrate our triumph, for greater victor ne'er came back to Rome, no not from Carthage even, 21-26; d) In mourning garb, our foe is fleeing fast o'er unknown seas. Therefore bring beakers of the largest size and Chian, Lesbian, Caecuban. With Bacchus's gifts we'll banish all our care, 27-38. 2. Time: Autumn, 31 B.C. 3. Metre: Iambic Strophe. Introd. § 51. Quando repostum Caecubum ad festas dapes Victore laetus Caesare Tecum sub alta · sic Iovi gratum — domo, Beate Maecenas, bibam Sonante mixtum tibiis carmen lyra, Hac Dorium, illis barbarum? Ut nuper, actus cum freto Neptunius Minatus urbi vincla, quae detraxerat Romanus eheu-posteri negabitis — Fert vallum et arma miles et spadonibus Servire rugosis potest, 5 10 Interque signa turpe militaria Sol adspicit conopium. Ad hoc frementis verterunt bis mille equos Galli, canentes Caesarem, Puppes sinistrorsum citae. Io Triumphe, tu moraris aureos Io Triumphe, nec Iugurthino parem Neque Africanum, cui super Carthaginem Terra marique victus hostis punico Lugubre mutavit sagum. Aut ille centum nobilem Cretam urbibus, Exercitatas aut petit Syrtis Noto, Aut fertur incerto mari. Vel quod fluentem nauseam coerceat Curam metumque Caesaris rerum iuvat X. ILL LUCK TO MEVIUS. 1. Occasion of the Poem: Mevius and Bavius were two poetasters, who apparently had earned the contempt of all decent men. Cf. Virgil, Ecl. iii. 90 f.: Qui Bavium non odit, amet tua carmina, Mevi, |