LIBER III. CARMEN XIV.

Herculis ritu modo dictus, O plebs, Morte venalem petiisse laurum Caesar Hispana repetit penates Victor ab ora.

Unico gaudens mulier marito
Prodeat iustis operata divis
Et soror clari ducis et decorae
Supplice vitta

Virginum matres iuvenumqne nuper Sospitum. Vos, O pueri et puellae Iam virum expertae, male nominatis Parcite verbis.

BOOK III. ODE XIV.

Cæsar, O people, who was said but now
To have bartered life to win the laurel-bough
Like Hercules, is from the Spanish shore
Coming victorious to his home once more.

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Let her, who in one only spouse delights,
Come forth, and to the righteous Gods do rites ;*
And let the sister of the chief renowned,
And let them, with the suppliant fillet bound,

This day, to me no common holiday,
All melancholy cares shall drive away;
Nor tumult I, nor death by violent blow
Will fear, while Cæsar rules the world below.

Ho! boy, fetch unguents, coronals, a jar
Of wine remembering the Marsian war,
If by a lucky chance throughout the land
A vat 'scaped Spartacus and his roving band.

Bid too Neaera with her voice so clear
Tie quickly in a knot her golden hair;
If the accursed porter cause delay,
Anon, without ado, come, come away.

The temper's calmed, when hairs are turning gray,
Which loved the brawl and wantoned in the fray,
I would not have endured it at the date,
When in hot youth, of Plancus' consulate.

Hic dies vere mihi festus atras Eximet curas: ego nec tumultum Nec mori per vim metuam tenente Caesare terras.

I pete unguentum, puer, et coronas Et cadum Marsi memorem duelli, Spartacum siqua potuit vagantem Fallere testa.

Dic et argutae properet Neaerae
Murreum nodo cohibere crinem .
Si per invisum mora ianitorem
Fiet, abito.

Lenit albescens animos capillus Litium et rixae cupidos protervae ; Non ego hoc ferrem calidus iuventa Consule Planco.