Cæsar, true child of a god, who shall establish again for Latium a golden age in that very region where Saturn 10 once reigned, while he stretches his sway alike beyond Garamantian and Indian. See, the land is lying outside the stars, outside the sun’s yearly path, where heaven-carrier Atlas turns round on his shoulder the pole, studded with burning constellations. In view of his approach, a 15 shiver runs already by oracular warning through Caspian realms and Mæotian land, and there is stir and confusion at the mouths of seven-fold Nile. Nay, even Alcides traversed no such length of earth, though he stalked the brazen-footed deer, or tamed Erymanthus’ savage wilds, 20 and appalled Lerna with his arrows: no, nor he who guides his triumphal car with reins of ivy-leaf, Bacchus, driving his tigers down from Nysa’s lofty top. And do we still hesitate to let prowess give scope to power, or does fear prevent our setting foot on Ausonian soil? 25 But who is he in the distance, conspicuous with a wreath of olive, with sacred vessels in his hand? Ah! I know the hoary hair and beard of the king of Rome, who shall give the infant city the support of law, sent from his homely Cures and a land of poverty into a mighty empire. 30 Next shall come one doomed to break his country’s peace, and stir up with the war-cry of his name, Tullus, warriors rusting in ease and squadrons that have forgotten their triumphs. Ancus follows, a greater boaster, even now too ready to catch the breath of a popular cheer. Would 35 you look too at the kings of Tarquin’s house, at the haughty spirit of Brutus the avenger, and the fasces[228] retrieved? He shall be the first to take the consul’s power and the axes of doom: the father will bring his rebel sons to death, all for fair freedom’s sake. Unhappy man! let after ages speak of that deed as they will, strong over all will be patriot passion and unmeasured thirst of praise. Look, there are the Drusi[229] and the Decii,[230] and Torquatus[231] 5 with his unpitying axe, and Camillus[232] the restorer of the standards. But those whom you see there, dressed alike in gleaming armour—spirits at harmony now and so long as they are confined in darkness—alas! how vast a war will they wage, each with each, if they shall attain 10 the light of day, what arraying of hosts, what carnage will there be! Father-in-law and son-in-law,[233] the one coming down from Alpine ramparts and the stronghold of Monœcus: the other drawn up against him with the forces of the east. Do not, do not, my children, make 15 wars like these familiar to your spirits: turn not your country’s valour against your country’s vitals: and you, restrain yourself the first: you, whose lineage is from heaven, drop the steel from your grasp, heir of Anchises’ blood.