CARMEN SAECULARE O PHOEBUS, and Diana, queen of forests, radiant glory of the heavens, O ye ever cherished and ever to be cherished, grant the blessings that we pray for at the holy season when the verses of the Sibyl have commanded chosen maidens and spotless youths to sing the hymn in honour of the gods who love the Seven Hills. O quickening Sun, that in thy shining car usherest in the day and hidest it, and art reborn another and yet the same, ne'er mayst thou be able to view aught greater than the city of Rome! O Ilithyia, that, according to thy office, art gracious. to bring issue in due season, protect our matrons, whether thou preferrest to be invoked as "Lucina " or as "Genitalis." Rear up our youth, O goddess, and bless the Fathers' edicts concerning wedlock and the marriage-law, destined, we pray, to be prolific in new offspring, that the sure cycle of ten times eleven certus undenos deciens per annos vosque veraces cecinisse, Parcae, fertilis frugum pecorisque tellus spicea donet Cererem corona ; condito mitis placidusque telo Roma si vestrum est opus Iliaeque iussa pars mutare Lares et urbem sospite cursu, cui per ardentem sine fraude Troiam castus Aeneas patriae superstes liberum munivit iter, daturus plura relictis: 30 40 1 servat poorly supported by MSS. (which mostly read servet), but demanded by the sense. years may bring round again music and games thronged on three bright days and as many gladsome nights! And ye, O Fates, truthful in foretelling what once for all has been ordained, and what the unyielding order of events confirms, link happy destinies to those already past. Bountiful in crops and cattle, may Mother Earth deck Ceres with a crown of corn; and may Jove's wholesome rains and breezes give increase to the harvest! Do thou, Apollo, gracious and benign, put aside thy weapon and give ear to thy suppliant sons! And do thou, () Luna, the constellations' crescent queen to the maidens lend thine ear! If Rome be your handiwork, and if from Ilium hailed the bands that gained the Tuscan shore (the remnant bidden to change their homes and city in auspicious course), they for whom righteous Aeneas, survivor of his country, unscathed 'mid blazing Troy, prepared a way to liberty, destined to bestow more di, probos mores docili iuventae, than had been left behind,-then do ye, O gods, make teachable our youth and grant them virtuous ways; to the aged give tranquil peace; and to the race of Romulus, riches and offspring and every glory! And what the glorious scion of Anchises and of Venus, with sacrifice of milk-white steers, entreats of you, that may he obtain, triumphant o'er the warring foe, but generous to the fallen! Already the Parthian fears the hosts mighty on land and sea, and fears the Alban axes. Already the Indians and Scythians, but recently disdainful, are asking for our answer. Already Faith and Peace and Honour and ancient Modesty and neglected Virtue have courage to come back, and blessed Plenty with her full horn is seen. May Phoebus, the prophet, who goes adorned with the shining bow, who is dear to the Muses nine, and with his healing art relieves the body's weary frame -may he, if he looks with favour on the altars of the Palatine, prolong the Roman power and Latium's prosperity to cycles ever new and ages ever better! |