June 24 | Fastorum Liber Sextus: Iunius
G C | VIII Kal. | VI.771-784, today is the festival day of the goddess Fors Fortuna.
Tempora labuntur, tacitisque senescimus annis,
et fugiunt freno non remorante dies.
quam cito venerunt Fortunae Fortis honores!
post septem luces Iunius actus erit.
ite, deam laeti Fortem celebrate, Quirites: 775
in Tiberis ripa munera regis habet.
pars pede, pars etiam celeri decurrite cumba,
nec pudeat potos inde redire domum.
ferte coronatae iuvenum convivia lintres,
multaque per medias vina bibantur aquas. 780
plebs colit hanc, quia qui posuit de plebe fuisse
fertur et ex humili sceptra tulisse loco.
convenit et servis, serva quia Tullius ortus
constituit dubiae templa propinqua deae.
771 Time slips away, and we grow old with silent lapse of years; there is no bridle that can curb the flying days. How quickly has come round the festival of Fors Fortuna! Yet seven days and June will be over. Come, Quirites, celebrate with joy the goddess Fors! On Tiber’s bank she has her royal foundations. Speed some of you on foot, and some in the swift boat, and think no shame to return tipsy home from your ramble. Ye flower-crowned skiffs, bear bands of youthful revellers, and let them quaff deep draughts of wine on the bosom of the stream. The common folk worship this goddess because the founder of her temple is said to have been of their number and to have risen to the crown from humble rank. Her worship is also appropriate for slaves, because Tullius, who instituted the neighbouring temples of the fickle goddess, was born of a slave woman.