1. Catullus, Poems, 64.405-64.406 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
| 64.405. All things fair and nefand being mixt in fury of evil 64.406. Turned from ourselves avert the great goodwill of the Godheads. |
|
2. Horace, Odes, 3.6.46-3.6.48 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
|
3. Horace, Epodes, 7.17-7.20 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
|
4. Livy, History, 1.7 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
| 1.7. Remus is said to have been the first to receive an omen: six vultures appeared to him. The augury had just been announced to Romulus when double the number appeared to him. Each was saluted as king by his own party. [2] The one side based their claim on the priority of the appearance, the other on the number of the birds. Then followed an angry altercation; heated passions led to bloodshed; in the tumult Remus was killed. The more common report is that Remus contemptuously jumped over the newly raised walls and was forthwith killed by the enraged Romulus, who exclaimed, ‘So shall it be henceforth with every one who leaps over my walls.’, Romulus thus became sole ruler, and the city was called after him, its founder. His first work was to fortify the Palatine hill where he had been brought up. The worship of the other deities he conducted according to the use of Alba, but that of Hercules in accordance with the Greek rites as they had been instituted by Evander. [4] It was into this neighbourhood, according to the tradition, that Hercules, after he had killed Geryon, drove his oxen, which were of marvellous beauty. He swam across the Tiber, driving the oxen before him, and wearied with his journey, lay down in a grassy place near the river to rest himself and the oxen, who enjoyed the rich pasture. [5] When sleep had overtaken him, as he was heavy with food and wine, a shepherd living near, called Cacus, presuming on his strength, and captivated by the beauty of the oxen, determined to secure them. If he drove them before him into the cave, their hoof-marks would have led their owner in his search for them in the same direction, so he dragged the finest of them backwards by their tails into his cave. At the first streak of dawn Hercules awoke, and on surveying his herd and saw that some were missing., He proceeded towards the nearest cave, to see if any tracks pointed in that direction, but he found that every hoof-mark led from the cave and none towards it. Perplexed and bewildered he began to drive the herd away from so dangerous a neighbourhood. Some of the cattle, missing those which were left behind, lowed as they often do, and an answering low sounded from the cave. [7] Hercules turned in that direction, and as Cacus tried to prevent him by force from entering the cave, he was killed by a blow from Hercules' club, after vainly appealing for help to his comrades. The king of the country at that time was Evander, a refugee from Peloponnesus, who ruled more by personal ascendancy than by the exercise of power. [8] He was looked up to with reverence for his knowledge of letters — a new and marvellous thing for uncivilized men — but he was still more revered because of his mother, who was believed to be a divine being and regarded with wonder, by all as an interpreter of Fate, in the days before the arrival of the Sibyl in Italy., This Evander, alarmed by the crowd of excited shepherds standing round a stranger whom they accused of open murder, ascertained from them the nature of his act and what led to it. As he observed the bearing and stature of the man to be more than human in greatness and august dignity, he asked who he was. [10] When he heard his name, and learnt his father and his country, he said, ‘Hercules, son of Jupiter, hail! My mother, who speaks truth in the name of the gods, has prophesied that thou shalt join the company of the gods, and that here a shrine shall be dedicated to thee, which in ages to come the most powerful nation in all the world shall call their Ara Maxima and honour with thine own special worship.’ [11] Hercules grasped Evander's right hand and said that he took the omen to himself and would fulfil the prophecy by building and consecrating the altar., Then a heifer of conspicuous beauty was taken from the herd, and the first sacrifice was offered; the Potitii and Pinarii, the two principal families in those parts, were invited by Hercules to assist in the sacrifice and at the feast which followed. [13] It so happened that the Potitii were present at the appointed time and the entrails were placed before them; the Pinarii arrived after these were consumed and came in for the rest of the banquet. [14] It became a permanent institution from that time that as long as the family of the Pinarii survived they should not eat of the entrails of the victims. The Potitii, after being instructed by Evander, presided over that rite for many ages, until they handed over this ministerial office to public servants after which the whole race of the Potitii perished., This, out of all foreign rites, was the only one which Romulus adopted, as though he felt that an immortality won through courage, of which this was the memorial, would one day be his own reward. |
|
5. Sallust, Catiline, 10 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
|
6. Vergil, Aeneis, 1.55, 1.544-1.545, 8.321-8.332, 9.598-9.620 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
| 1.55. Illi indigtes magno cum murmure montis 1.544. Rex erat Aeneas nobis, quo iustior alter 1.545. nec pietate fuit, nec bello maior et armis. 8.321. Is genus indocile ac dispersum montibus altis 8.322. composuit legesque dedit Latiumque vocari 8.323. maluit, his quoniam latuisset tutis in oris. 8.324. Aurea quae perhibent illo sub rege fuere 8.325. saecula. Sic placida populos in pace regebat 8.326. deterior donec paulatim ac decolor aetas 8.327. et belli rabies et amor successit habendi. 8.328. Tum manus Ausonia et gentes venere Sicanae 8.329. saepius et nomen posuit Saturnia tellus; 8.330. tum reges asperque immani corpore Thybris 8.331. a quo post Itali fluvium cognomine Thybrim 8.332. diximus, amisit verum vetus Albula nomen; 9.598. Non pudet obsidione iterum valloque teneri 9.599. bis capti Phryges, et morti praetendere muros? 9.600. En qui nostra sibi bello conubia poscunt! 9.601. Quis deus Italiam, quae vos dementia adegit 9.602. Non hic Atridae nec fandi fictor Ulixes: 9.603. durum a stirpe genus natos ad flumina primum 9.604. deferimus saevoque gelu duramus et undis 9.605. venatu invigilant pueri silvasque fatigant 9.606. flectere ludus equos et spicula tendere cornu. 9.607. At patiens operum parvoque adsueta iuventus 9.608. aut rastris terram domat aut quatit oppida bello. 9.609. Omne aevum ferro teritur, versaque iuvencum 9.610. terga fatigamus hasta; nec tarda senectus 9.611. debilitat vires animi mutatque vigorem: 9.612. canitiem galea premimus, semperque recentis 9.613. comportare iuvat praedas et vivere rapto. 9.614. Vobis picta croco et fulgenti murice vestis 9.615. desidiae cordi, iuvat indulgere choreis 9.616. et tunicae manicas et habent redimicula mitrae. 9.617. O vere Phrygiae, neque enim Phryges, ite per alta 9.618. Dindyma ubi adsuetis biforem dat tibia cantum! 9.619. Tympana vos buxusque vocat Berecyntia Matris 9.620. Idaeae sinite arma viris et cedite ferro. | 1.55. knew no surcease, but from her heart of pain 1.544. unto our Tyrian town. Go steadfast on 1.545. and to the royal threshold make thy way! 8.321. reversed his flowing wave. So Cacus' lair 8.322. lay shelterless, and naked to the day 8.323. the gloomy caverns of his vast abode 8.324. tood open, deeply yawning, just as if 8.325. the riven earth should crack, and open wide 8.326. th' infernal world and fearful kingdoms pale 8.327. which gods abhor; and to the realms on high 8.328. the measureless abyss should be laid bare 8.329. and pale ghosts shrink before the entering sun. 8.330. Now upon Cacus, startled by the glare 8.331. caged in the rocks and howling horribly 8.332. Alcides hurled his weapons, raining down 9.598. the bosom white as snow. Euryalus 9.599. ank prone in death; upon his goodly limbs 9.600. the life-blood ran unstopped, and low inclined 9.601. the drooping head; as when some purpled flower 9.602. cut by the ploughshare, dies, or poppies proud 9.603. with stem forlorn their ruined beauty bow 9.604. before the pelting storm. Then Nisus flew 9.605. traight at his foes; but in their throng would find 9.606. Volscens alone, for none but Volscens stayed: 9.607. they gathered thickly round and grappled him 9.608. in shock of steel with steel. But on he plunged 9.609. winging in ceaseless circles round his head 9.610. his lightning-sword, and thrust it through the face 9.611. of shrieking Volscens, with his own last breath 9.612. triking his foeman down; then cast himself 9.613. upon his fallen comrade's breast; and there 9.615. Heroic pair and blest! If aught I sing 9.616. have lasting music, no remotest age 9.617. hall blot your names from honor's storied scroll: 9.618. not while the altars of Aeneas' line 9.619. hall crown the Capitol's unshaken hill 9.620. nor while the Roman Father's hand sustains |
|
7. Vergil, Eclogues, 4.13, 4.18-4.20, 4.28-4.30, 4.32-4.45 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
| 4.13. apollo reigns. And in thy consulate 4.18. hall free the earth from never-ceasing fear. 4.19. He shall receive the life of gods, and see 4.20. heroes with gods commingling, and himself 4.28. their udders swollen with milk, while flocks afield 4.29. hall of the monstrous lion have no fear. 4.30. Thy very cradle shall pour forth for thee 4.32. die shall the treacherous poison-plant, and far 4.33. and wide Assyrian spices spring. But soon 4.34. as thou hast skill to read of heroes' fame 4.35. and of thy father's deeds, and inly learn 4.36. what virtue is, the plain by slow degree 4.37. with waving corn-crops shall to golden grow 4.38. from the wild briar shall hang the blushing grape 4.39. and stubborn oaks sweat honey-dew. Nathle 4.40. yet shall there lurk within of ancient wrong 4.41. ome traces, bidding tempt the deep with ships 4.42. gird towns with walls, with furrows cleave the earth. 4.43. Therewith a second Tiphys shall there be 4.44. her hero-freight a second Argo bear; 4.45. new wars too shall arise, and once again 4. muses of |
|
8. Vergil, Georgics, 1.125-1.128, 1.501-1.502, 2.532-2.540 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
| 1.125. Ante Iovem nulli subigebant arva coloni; 1.126. ne signare quidem aut partiri limite campum 1.127. fas erat: in medium quaerebant ipsaque tellus 1.128. omnia liberius nullo poscente ferebat. 1.501. ne prohibete! Satis iam pridem sanguine nostro 1.502. Laomedonteae luimus periuria Troiae; 2.532. Hanc olim veteres vitam coluere Sabini 2.533. hanc Remus et frater, sic fortis Etruria crevit 2.534. scilicet et rerum facta est pulcherrima Roma 2.535. septemque una sibi muro circumdedit arces. 2.536. Ante etiam sceptrum Dictaei regis et ante 2.537. inpia quam caesis gens est epulata iuvencis 2.538. aureus hanc vitam in terris Saturnus agebat; 2.539. necdum etiam audierant inflari classica, necdum 2.540. inpositos duris crepitare incudibus enses. | 1.125. Ye husbandmen; in winter's dust the crop 1.126. Exceedingly rejoice, the field hath joy; 1.127. No tilth makes |
|
9. Lucan, Pharsalia, 1.8-1.23 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 1.8. Wars worse than civil on Emathian plains, And crime let loose we sing; how Rome's high race Plunged in her vitals her victorious sword; Armies akin embattled, with the force of all the shaken earth bent on the fray; And burst asunder, to the common guilt, A kingdom's compact; eagle with eagle met, Standard to standard, spear opposed to spear. Whence, citizens, this rage, this boundless lust 1.9. Wars worse than civil on Emathian plains, And crime let loose we sing; how Rome's high race Plunged in her vitals her victorious sword; Armies akin embattled, with the force of all the shaken earth bent on the fray; And burst asunder, to the common guilt, A kingdom's compact; eagle with eagle met, Standard to standard, spear opposed to spear. Whence, citizens, this rage, this boundless lust 1.10. To sate barbarians with the blood of Rome? Did not the shade of Crassus, wandering still, Cry for his vengeance? Could ye not have spoiled, To deck your trophies, haughty Babylon? Why wage campaigns that send no laurels home? What lands, what oceans might have been the prize of all the blood thus shed in civil strife! Where Titan rises, where night hides the stars, 'Neath southern noons all quivering with heat, Or where keen frost that never yields to spring 1.11. To sate barbarians with the blood of Rome? Did not the shade of Crassus, wandering still, Cry for his vengeance? Could ye not have spoiled, To deck your trophies, haughty Babylon? Why wage campaigns that send no laurels home? What lands, what oceans might have been the prize of all the blood thus shed in civil strife! Where Titan rises, where night hides the stars, 'Neath southern noons all quivering with heat, Or where keen frost that never yields to spring 1.12. To sate barbarians with the blood of Rome? Did not the shade of Crassus, wandering still, Cry for his vengeance? Could ye not have spoiled, To deck your trophies, haughty Babylon? Why wage campaigns that send no laurels home? What lands, what oceans might have been the prize of all the blood thus shed in civil strife! Where Titan rises, where night hides the stars, 'Neath southern noons all quivering with heat, Or where keen frost that never yields to spring 1.13. To sate barbarians with the blood of Rome? Did not the shade of Crassus, wandering still, Cry for his vengeance? Could ye not have spoiled, To deck your trophies, haughty Babylon? Why wage campaigns that send no laurels home? What lands, what oceans might have been the prize of all the blood thus shed in civil strife! Where Titan rises, where night hides the stars, 'Neath southern noons all quivering with heat, Or where keen frost that never yields to spring 1.14. To sate barbarians with the blood of Rome? Did not the shade of Crassus, wandering still, Cry for his vengeance? Could ye not have spoiled, To deck your trophies, haughty Babylon? Why wage campaigns that send no laurels home? What lands, what oceans might have been the prize of all the blood thus shed in civil strife! Where Titan rises, where night hides the stars, 'Neath southern noons all quivering with heat, Or where keen frost that never yields to spring 1.15. To sate barbarians with the blood of Rome? Did not the shade of Crassus, wandering still, Cry for his vengeance? Could ye not have spoiled, To deck your trophies, haughty Babylon? Why wage campaigns that send no laurels home? What lands, what oceans might have been the prize of all the blood thus shed in civil strife! Where Titan rises, where night hides the stars, 'Neath southern noons all quivering with heat, Or where keen frost that never yields to spring 1.16. To sate barbarians with the blood of Rome? Did not the shade of Crassus, wandering still, Cry for his vengeance? Could ye not have spoiled, To deck your trophies, haughty Babylon? Why wage campaigns that send no laurels home? What lands, what oceans might have been the prize of all the blood thus shed in civil strife! Where Titan rises, where night hides the stars, 'Neath southern noons all quivering with heat, Or where keen frost that never yields to spring 1.17. To sate barbarians with the blood of Rome? Did not the shade of Crassus, wandering still, Cry for his vengeance? Could ye not have spoiled, To deck your trophies, haughty Babylon? Why wage campaigns that send no laurels home? What lands, what oceans might have been the prize of all the blood thus shed in civil strife! Where Titan rises, where night hides the stars, 'Neath southern noons all quivering with heat, Or where keen frost that never yields to spring 1.18. To sate barbarians with the blood of Rome? Did not the shade of Crassus, wandering still, Cry for his vengeance? Could ye not have spoiled, To deck your trophies, haughty Babylon? Why wage campaigns that send no laurels home? What lands, what oceans might have been the prize of all the blood thus shed in civil strife! Where Titan rises, where night hides the stars, 'Neath southern noons all quivering with heat, Or where keen frost that never yields to spring 1.19. To sate barbarians with the blood of Rome? Did not the shade of Crassus, wandering still, Cry for his vengeance? Could ye not have spoiled, To deck your trophies, haughty Babylon? Why wage campaigns that send no laurels home? What lands, what oceans might have been the prize of all the blood thus shed in civil strife! Where Titan rises, where night hides the stars, 'Neath southern noons all quivering with heat, Or where keen frost that never yields to spring 1.20. In icy fetters binds the Scythian main: Long since barbarians by the Eastern sea And far Araxes' stream, and those who know (If any such there be) the birth of NileHad felt our yoke. Then, Rome, upon thyself With all the world beneath thee, if thou must, Wage this nefarious war, but not till then. Now view the houses with half-ruined walls Throughout Italian cities; stone from stone Has slipped and lies at length; within the home 1.21. In icy fetters binds the Scythian main: Long since barbarians by the Eastern sea And far Araxes' stream, and those who know (If any such there be) the birth of NileHad felt our yoke. Then, Rome, upon thyself With all the world beneath thee, if thou must, Wage this nefarious war, but not till then. Now view the houses with half-ruined walls Throughout Italian cities; stone from stone Has slipped and lies at length; within the home 1.22. In icy fetters binds the Scythian main: Long since barbarians by the Eastern sea And far Araxes' stream, and those who know (If any such there be) the birth of NileHad felt our yoke. Then, Rome, upon thyself With all the world beneath thee, if thou must, Wage this nefarious war, but not till then. Now view the houses with half-ruined walls Throughout Italian cities; stone from stone Has slipped and lies at length; within the home 1.23. In icy fetters binds the Scythian main: Long since barbarians by the Eastern sea And far Araxes' stream, and those who know (If any such there be) the birth of NileHad felt our yoke. Then, Rome, upon thyself With all the world beneath thee, if thou must, Wage this nefarious war, but not till then. Now view the houses with half-ruined walls Throughout Italian cities; stone from stone Has slipped and lies at length; within the home |
|
10. Valerius Flaccus Gaius, Argonautica, 1.544-1.555, 3.290-3.313, 3.352-3.356, 5.251, 5.624-5.648, 6.323-6.342 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
|
11. Anon., Marytrdom of Polycarp, 13.3 (2nd cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
| 13.3. 3 Immediately therefore, he was fastened to the instruments which had been prepared for the fire, but when they were going to nail him as well he said: "Leave me thus, for He who gives me power to endure the fire, will grant me to remain in the flames unmoved even without the security you will give by the nails. |
|
12. Lactantius, Divine Institutes, 7.24.9 (3rd cent. CE - 4th cent. CE)
|
