LIBER III. CARMEN XXIV. Intactis opulentior Thesauris Arabum et divitis Indiae Terrenum omne tuis et mare publicum, 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, 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, Nor disentangle from the snares of death your head. 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; A steadsman him relieves on like condition. Illic matre carentibus Privignis mulier temperat innocens, Dos est magna parentium Virtus et metuens alterius viri Certo foedere castitas, Et peccare nefas aut pretium est mori. Subscribi statuis, indomitam audeat Refrenare licentiam, Clarus post genitis: quatenus, heu nefas, Si non supplicio culpa reciditur, 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- Of virtuousness, and chastity with steadfast gage And to transgress is sacrilege, and death the price. Impious blood-shedding and the rage of civic fray, Shall seek to be engraven by the statuary, Famed by men born hereafter, for alas! profane! 'Tis taken from our eyes, we seek it-envious men ! Of what avail is sad complaint, If wickedness is not cut back by punishment? Effectless without morals, if not even the zone, 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, Mittamus, scelerum si bene paenitet Pravi sunt elementa et tenerae nimis Formandae studiis. Nescit equo rudis 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 Curtae nescio quid semper abest rei. |