February 13th | Fastorum Liber Secundus: Februarius
D • EID • NP | Idibus | II.193-242, Ovid describes the valiant sacrifice of the Fabii family as they fought for Rome in 477 B.C.
Idibus agrestis fumant altaria Fauni
hic, ubi discretas insula rumpit aquas.
haec fuit illa dies, in qua Veientibus armis 195
ter centum Fabii ter cecidere duo.
una domus vires et onus susceperat urbis:
sumunt gentiles arma professa manus.
egreditur castris miles generosus ab isdem,
e quis dux fieri quilibet aptus erat. 200
Carmentis portae dextro est via proxima iano:
ire per hanc noli, quisquis es; omen habet.
illa fama refert Fabios exisse trecentos:
porta vacat culpa, sed tamen omen habet.
ut celeri passu Cremeram tetigere rapacem 205
(turbidus hibernis ille fluebat aquis),
castra loco ponunt: destrictis ensibus ipsi
Tyrrhenum valido Marte per agmen eunt,
non aliter quam cum Libyca de gente leones
invadunt sparsos lata per arva greges. 210
diffugiunt hostes inhonestaque volnera tergo
accipiunt: Tusco sanguine terra rubet.
sic iterum, sic saepe cadunt. ubi vincere aperte
non datur, insidias armaque tecta parant.
campus erat, campi claudebant ultima colles 215
silvaque montanas occulere apta feras.
in medio paucos armentaque rara relinquunt,
cetera virgultis abdita turba latet.
ecce velut torrens undis pluvialibus auctus
aut nive, quae Zephyro victa tepente fluit, 220
per sata perque vias fertur nec, ut ante solebat,
riparum clausas margine finit aquas:
sic Fabii vallem latis discursibus implent,
quodque vident, sternunt, nec metus alter inest.
quo ruitis, generosa domus? male creditis hosti: 225
simplex nobilitas, perfida tela cave!
fraude perit virtus: in apertos undique campos
prosiliunt hostes et latus omne tenent.
quid faciant pauci contra tot milia fortes?
quidve, quod in misero tempore restet, adest? 230
sicut aper longe silvis latratibus actus
fulmineo celeres dissipat ore canes,
mox tamen ipse perit, sic non moriuntur inulti
volneraque alterna dantque feruntque manu.
una dies Fabios ad bellum miserat omnes: 235
ad bellum missos perdidit una dies.
ut tamen Herculeae superessent semina gentis,
credibile est ipsos consuluisse deos;
nam puer impubes et adhuc non utilis armis
unus de Fabia gente relictus erat, 240
scilicet ut posses olim tu, Maxime, nasci,
cui res cunctando restituenda foret.
193 On the Ides the altars of rustic Faunus smoke, there where the island1 breaks the parted waters. This was the day on which thrice a hundred and thrice two Fabii fell by Veientine arms.2 A single house had undertaken the defence and burden of the city: the right hands of a single clan proffered and drew their swords. From the same camp a noble soldiery marched forth, of whom any one was fit to be a leader. The nearest way is by the right-hand arch of Carmentis’ gate:3 go not that way, whoe’er thou art: ’tis ominous. By it, the rumour runs, the three hundred Fabii went forth. No blame attaches to the gate, but still ’tis ominous. When at quick pace they reached the rushing Cremera4 (it flowed turbid with winter rain) they pitched their camp on the spot, and with drawn swords broke through the Tyrrhenian array right valiantly, even as lions of the Libyan breed attack herds scattered through spacious fields. The foemen flee dispersed, stabbed in the back with wounds dishonourable: with Tuscan blood the earth is red. So yet again, so oft they fall. When open victory was denied them, they set an ambush of armed men in wait. A plain there was, bounded by hills and forest, where the mountain beasts could find commodious lair. In the midst the foe left a few of their number and some scattered herds: the rest of the host lurked hidden in the thickets. Lo, as a torrent, swollen by rain or snow which the warm West Wind has melted, sweeps across the cornfields, across the roads, nor keeps its waters pent within the wonted limit of its banks, so the Fabii rushed here and there broadcast about the vale; all that they saw they felled; no other fear they knew. Whither away, ye scions of an illustrious house? ’Tis ill to trust the foe. Ο noble hearts and simple, beware of treacherous blades! By fraud is valour vanquished: from every hand the foe leaps forth into the open plain, and every side they hold. What can a handful of the brave do against so many thousands? Or what help is left for them in such extremity? As a boar, driven afar from the woods by the pack, scatters the swift hounds with thunderous snout, but soon himself is slain, so do they die not unavenged, giving and taking wounds alternately. One day sent forth to war the Fabii all: one day undid all that were sent to war. Yet may we believe that the gods themselves took thought to save the seed of the Herculean5 house; for a boy under age, too young to bear arms, was left alone of all the Fabian clan, to the end, no doubt, that thou, Maximus,6 mightest one day be born to save the commonwealth by biding time.
The island of the Tiber.
The family of the Fabii offered to carry on the war against Veii alone. Three hundred and six went forth through the Carmental gate, and built a fort by the Cremera, which they held for two years. But in 477 B.C. they were all destroyed by an ambush. See Livy ii. 48–50.
The right-hand arch of the Porta Carmentalis, next to the temple of Janus, was unlucky.
A stream near Veii.
The Fabii claimed descent from Hercules and Evander.
Q. Fabius Maximus Cunctator.