LIBER III.

CARMEN XXIV.

Intactis opulentior

Thesauris Arabum et divitis Indiae
Caementis licet occupes

Terrenum omne tuis et mare publicum,
Si figit adamantinos

Summis verticibus dira Necessitas

Clavos, non animum metu, Non mortis laqueis expedies caput. Campestres melius Scythae,

Quorum plaustra vagas rite trahunt domos, Vivunt et regidi Getae,

Inmetata quibus iugera liberas

Fruges et Cererem ferunt,

Nec cultura placet longior annua,
Defunctumque laboribus

Aequali recreat sorte vicarius.

BOOK III. ODE XXIV.

Though wealthier than rich Ind you be, And the unpillaged treasuries of Araby,

And though you make with quarried stone The universal earth and the high seas your own, If dire Necessity deep-strikes

Upon your topmost roof her adamantine spikes,
You will not free your soul from dread,

Nor disentangle from the snares of death your head.
Better the Scythians of the plains,

Their wandering habitations duly drawn on wains; Better the rigid Getæ fare,

For them unmeasured acres unrestricted bear

Fruitage and corn for all to share,

Nor like they tillage longer lasting than a year;
When one his turn of toil has done,

A steadsman him relieves on like condition.

Illic matre carentibus

Privignis mulier temperat innocens,
Nec dotata regit virum
Coniunx nec nitido fidit adultero.

Dos est magna parentium

Virtus et metuens alterius viri

Certo foedere castitas,

Et peccare nefas aut pretium est mori.
O quisquis volet impias
Caedes et rabiem tollere civicam,
Si quaeret pater urbium

Subscribi statuis, indomitam audeat

Refrenare licentiam,

Clarus post genitis: quatenus, heu nefas,
Virtutem incolumem odimus,
Sublatam ex oculis quaerimus invidi.
Quid tristes querimoniae,

Si non supplicio culpa reciditur,
Quid leges sine moribus

Vanae proficiunt, si neque fervidis

Pars inclusa caloribus

Mundi nec boreae finitimum latus

Durataeque solo nives

Mercatorem abigunt, horrida callidi

Children bereft of mothers there-
Stepmothers, innocent withal, towards them forbear;
No dowered consort lords it o'er
Her husband, nor is trustful to gay paramour;
The highest dower's a parentage

Of virtuousness, and chastity with steadfast gage
Guarding against adulteries,

And to transgress is sacrilege, and death the price.
O whosoe'er will take away

Impious blood-shedding and the rage of civic fray,
If as his country's Father he

Shall seek to be engraven by the statuary,
Let him ungoverned licence rein,

Famed by men born hereafter, for alas! profane!
While Virtue lives, we hate it; when

'Tis taken from our eyes, we seek it-envious men ! Of what avail is sad complaint,

If wickedness is not cut back by punishment?
Of what avail are laws alone,

Effectless without morals, if not even the zone,
Compassed about with fervent heat,

Nor that side of the world which borders Boreas' seat

And frost-bound snows on every side

Drive back the trader; if the Ocean's roughened tide

BB

Vincunt aequora navitae, Magnum pauperies obprobrium iubet Quidvis et facere et pati, Virtutisque viam deserit arduae ? Vel nos in Capitolium,

Quo clamor vocat et turba faventium,
Vel nos in mare proximum
Gemmas et lapides, aurum et inutile,
Summi materiem mali,

Mittamus, scelerum si bene paenitet
Eradenda cupidinis

Pravi sunt elementa et tenerae nimis
Mentes asperioribus

Formandae studiis. Nescit equo rudis
Haerere ingenuus puer

Venarique timet, ludere doctior,

Seu Graeco iubeas trocho Seu malis vetita legibus alea,

Cum periura patris fides

Consortem socium fallat et hospites,

Indignoque pecuniam

Heredi properet. Scilicet improbae
Crescunt divitiae: tamen

Curtae nescio quid semper abest rei.