Classic Poem

Like to the thunderbolt's attendant bird,
On whom, found faithful when of Ganymede fair
He had the charge, the king of gods conferred
Kingship o'er all the fowls that roam the air,

Erewhile by youth and inborn force of race
Urged from the nest, ere of life's labours aught
He knew, while the spring winds, rain clouds that chase,
His fluttering breast unwonted strivings taught,

Soon with impetuous rush upon his prey,
The sheep-cotes, down to swoop by instinct sped,
And now 'gainst snakes, that quail not from the fray,
By hunger and the love of fighting led;

Or like a weanling lion, from the side
Of tawny dam forth driven, that, too late,
A kid rich pasture nibbling has espied,
Ere from his fresh-cut tooth she meets her fate;

Such Drusus 'neath the Alps at war the eyes
Of Rhaetian Vindelici beheld—
Tribe that on Amazons' axe for arms relies
By custom, whence derived, I have not spelled

The riddle yet, nor doth heaven's law to learn
All things permit. But troops that long their will,
Victorious far and wide, had wrought, in turn
Vanquished by a boy leader's martial skill,

Found to their cost the might of mind and heart
Nurtured in home that omens fair attend,
And, when in war young Neros play their part,
What aid Augustus' fatherly counsels lend.

The brave from parents brave and good proceed.
In oxen, and in horses too, a root
Of good stock tells, nor, when fierce eagles breed,
Are of their union timid doves the fruit.

But natural parts, instructed, more avail;
And character from sound training vigour gains.
We see, whenever public manners fail,
Vice even upon the well-born set her stains.

How great the debt Rome to the Neros owes,
Metaurus river, and the field where fell
Hasdrubal, attest, and that fair dawn that rose
The gloomy night of Latium to dispel,

The day that first with cheering victory smiled,
Since Italy's towns the accursed African,
As flame through pine forest, or east wind wild
Riding the sea of Sicily, o'erran.

Thenceforward, with success unbroken paid,
The efforts of our youths aye greater grew;
And temples wrecked by impious Punic raid
Saw their god's images upright anew.

Then treacherous Hannibal spoke at last his mind:
‘Deer we, of ravening wolves the prey, presume
To attack those whom 'twere triumph rare to find
Means to elude, and so escape our doom.

‘That race, that issued strong from Ilion's fires,
And o'er the sea, by Tuscan billows tossed,
Bearing its native gods, its aged sires,
And children, to Ausonian cities crossed,

‘Like oak which lopped by strokes hard axes deal
Yet hale at heart on dark-leaved Algidus towers,
Through loss and havoc from the very steel
That wounds it gathers fuller life and powers.

‘Not with cleft body rose more stubbornly
Hydra 'gainst Hercules chafing at defeat,
Not Colchians' land a greater prodigy
Put forth, or Thebes, Echion's royal seat.

‘In the deep plunge it, 'twill emerge to light
The fairer. Wrestle with it, 'twill o'erthrow
'Mid loud applause its conqueror, and fight
Battles, for mourning wives a tale of woe.

‘Not by proud envoys now shall I proclaim
The news to Carthage. Dead for evermore
Lie all the hope and fortune of our name,
Slain by the blow that death to Hasdrubal bore.’

Naught is there Claudian hands will not achieve.
Them Jove's kind power with sure defence provides;
And the wise fostering care that they receive
To prosperous issue through war perils guides.

Born when gods kindly smiled, best guardian thou
Of Romulus' race too long abroad hast stayed.
Return with speed then mindful of thy vow
To Senate's hallowed council made.

Bring light back to thy land. For when thy face
Like spring, dear chief, has cast its cheerful beams
Upon Rome's folk, the day an added grace
Takes on, the sunshine brighter seems.

As mother for her boy, who has long past
The season of his yearly trade remained
Lingering beyond the sea, by south wind's blast
Unkind from his dear home detained,

Prays, offers vows, and anxiously inquires
Of omens, nor from gazing seaward turns,
Even so for Caesar with wistful desires
Smitten his loyal country yearns.

The ox roams through the fields bold and unharmed,
Fields blessed by Ceres and boon Plenty's hands.
Sailors ply to and fro on sea disarmed.
Untouched by blame our credit stands.

Our innocent homes no shameful scandal hide.
Custom and law the taint of vice prevent.
Babes like her husband are a mother's pride.
On crime close follows punishment.

Who would fear Parthian, Scyth, the child of frost,
Or teeming hordes that rugged Germany sends,
With Caesar safe at hand? Who count the cost
Of war that savage Spain intends?

Each on his own hillside sees day depart,
While vine he weds again to widowed tree;
Then home to sup, and pay with joyous heart
Worship at second course to thee.

Thee oft with prayer he sues, and wine out-poured
From chalice high, joining thy name in pleas
To house-gods, as the memory Greece adored
Of Castor and great Hercules.

‘O Italy with long feast time be it thine,
Dear chief, to endow!’ ere day has yet begun,
Sober at dawn we cry, and soaked with wine
When down in ocean sinks the sun.