Sunt etenim pennae uolucres mihi Quae celsa conscendant poli. Quas sibi cum uelox mens induit, Terras perosa despicit, Aeris inmensi superat globum, 5 Nubesque postergum uidet, Quique agili motu calet aetheris, Transcendit ignis uerticem, Donec in astriferas surgat domos Phoeboque coniungat uias 10 Aut comitetur iter gelidi senis Miles corusci sideris, Vel quocumque micans nox pingitur, Recurrat astri circulum Atque ubi iam exhausti fuerit satis, 15 Polum relinquat extimum Dorsaque uelocis premat aetheris Compos uerendi luminis. Hic regum sceptrum dominus tenet Orbisque habenas temperat 20 Et uolucrem currum stabilis regit Rerum coruscus arbiter. Huc te si reducem referat uia, Quam nunc requiris immemor: 'Haec,' dices, 'memini, patria est mihi, 25 Hinc ortus; hic sistam gradum." Quod si terrarum placeat tibi Noctem relictam uisere, Quos miseri toruos populi timent Cernes tyrannos exules." 30 I. For I have swift and nimble wings which will ascend the lofty skies, With which when thy quick mind is clad, it will the loathéd earth despise, And go beyond the airy globe, and watery clouds behind thee leave, Passing the fire which scorching heat doth from the heavens' swift course receive, Until it reach the starry house, and get to tread bright Phoebus' ways, Following the chilly sire's path,[143] companion of his flashing rays, And trace the circle of the stars which in the night to us appear, And having stayed there long enough go on beyond the farthest sphere, Sitting upon the highest orb partaker of the glorious light, Where the great King his sceptre holds, and the world's reins doth guide aright, And, firm in his swift chariot, doth everything in order set. Unto this seat when thou art brought, thy country, which thou didst forget, Thou then wilt challenge to thyself, saying: 'This is the glorious land Where I was born, and in this soil my feet for evermore shall stand. Whence if thou pleasest to behold the earthly night which thou hast left, Those tyrants which the people fear will seem of their true home bereft.'" [143] Cf. "frigida Saturni sese quo Stella receptet," Virg. _Georg._ i. 336. II.