haerent stagna lacu plenas aequantia ripas praescriptumque timent transiluisse modum; quod superat, fluvius devexa rupe volutus egerit et campi dorsa recurva petit, devehit exceptum nativo spira[90] meatu; 55 in patulas plumbi labitur inde vias; nullo cum strepitu madidis infecta favillis despumat niveum fistula cana salem. multifidas dispergit opes artemque secutus, qua iussere manus, mobile torquet iter 60 et iunctos rapido pontes subtermeat aestu adflatasque vago temperat igne tholos. acrior interius, rauci cum murmure saxi, spumeus eliso pellitur amne vapor.-- hinc pigras repetunt fessi sudore lacunas, 65 frigora quis longae blanda dedere morae. Salve Paeoniae largitor nobilis undae, Dardanii salve gloria magna soli, publica morborum requies, commune medentum auxilium, praesens numen, inempta salus. 70 seu ruptis inferna ruunt incendia ripis et nostro Phlegethon devius orbe calet, sulphuris in venas gelidus seu decidit amnis accensusque fluit (quod manifestat odor), sive pares[91] flammas undarum lance rependens 75 arbiter in foedus mons elementa vocat, ne cedant superata sibi, sed legibus aequis alterius vires possit utrumque pati: [90] _spira_ Heinsius; Birt follows MSS. _spina_. [91] _pares_ EVJ; Birt reads _pari_ (A). If _pari_, probably a juristic formula (= _aequa lance_); cf. Symm. Epp. ii. 56. 1. * * * * * Page 221 in the lake stands motionless, filling it to the brim and fearing to o’erstep its appointed limit. The overflow runs in a stream down a sloping rock and seeks the undulating plain below. A natural but tortuous channel carries the water away and thence it flows into an open conduit of lead. These pipes, noiselessly impregnated with some powderous mineral that the water carries down, produce a snow-white distillation of salt. The streams branch off in all directions carrying with them this natural wealth whithersoever art has directed their going, flexing this way and that their errant courses, flowing in swift torrent below aqueducts and warming the arches with the heat of their rushing waters. Within the arches, amid the roarings of the echoing rock, issues forth fiercer steam and vapour as the water rushes out. Then the sick, weak with sweating, seek next the stagnant pools that long time has made pleasantly cool.