Metamorphoses XV.752-879

The gods are concerned with the fate of Julius Caesar.

scilicet aequoreos plus est domuisse Britannos

perque papyriferi septemflua flumina Nili

victrices egisse rates Numidasque rebelles

Cinyphiumque Iubam Mithridateisque tumentem               755

nominibus Pontum populo adiecisse Quirini

et multos meruisse, aliquos egisse triumphos,

quam tantum genuisse virum, quo praeside rerum

humano generi, superi, favistis abunde!

ne foret hic igitur mortali semine cretus,               760

ille deus faciendus erat; quod ut aurea vidit

Aeneae genetrix, vidit quoque triste parari

pontifici letum et coniurata arma moveri,

palluit et cunctis, ut cuique erat obvia, divis

‘adspice,’ dicebat ‘quanta mihi mole parentur               765

insidiae, quantaque caput cum fraude petatur,

quod de Dardanio solum mihi restat Iulo.

solane semper ero iustis exercita curis,

quam modo Tydidae Calydonia vulneret hasta,

nunc male defensae confundant moenia Troiae,               770

quae videam natum longis erroribus actum

iactarique freto sedesque intrare silentum

bellaque cum Turno gerere, aut, si vera fatemur,

cum Iunone magis? quid nunc antiqua recordor

damna mei generis? timor hic meminisse priorum               775

non sinit; en acui sceleratos cernitis enses.

quos prohibete, precor, facinusque repellite neve

caede sacerdotis flammas exstinguite Vestae!’

     Talia nequiquam toto Venus anxia caelo

verba iacit superosque movet, qui rumpere quamquam               780

ferrea non possunt veterum decreta sororum,

signa tamen luctus dant haut incerta futuri;

arma ferunt inter nigras crepitantia nubes

terribilesque tubas auditaque cornua caelo

praemonuisse nefas; solis quoque tristis imago               785

lurida sollicitis praebebat lumina terris;

saepe faces visae mediis ardere sub astris,

saepe inter nimbos guttae cecidere cruentae;

caerulus et vultum ferrugine Lucifer atra

sparsus erat, sparsi lunares sanguine currus;               790

tristia mille locis Stygius dedit omina bubo,

mille locis lacrimavit ebur, cantusque feruntur

auditi sanctis et verba minantia lucis.

victima nulla litat, magnosque instare tumultus

fibra monet, caesumque caput reperitur in extis,               795

inque foro circumque domos et templa deorum

nocturnos ululasse canes umbrasque silentum

erravisse ferunt motamque tremoribus urbem.

non tamen insidias venturaque vincere fata

praemonitus potuere deum, strictique feruntur               800

in templum gladii: neque enim locus ullus in urbe

ad facinus diramque placet nisi curia caedem.

tum vero Cytherea manu percussit utraque

pectus et Aeneaden molitur condere nube,

qua prius infesto Paris est ereptus Atridae,               805

et Diomedeos Aeneas fugerat enses.

talibus hanc genitor: ‘sola insuperabile fatum,

nata, movere paras? intres licet ipsa sororum

tecta trium: cernes illic molimine vasto

ex aere et solido rerum tabularia ferro,               810

quae neque concursum caeli neque fulminis iram

nec metuunt ullas tuta atque aeterna ruinas;

invenies illic incisa adamante perenni

fata tui generis: legi ipse animoque notavi

et referam, ne sis etiamnum ignara futuri.               815

hic sua conplevit, pro quo, Cytherea, laboras,

tempora, perfectis, quos terrae debuit, annis.

ut deus accedat caelo templisque colatur,

tu facies natusque suus, qui nominis heres

inpositum feret unus onus caesique parentis               820

nos in bella suos fortissimus ultor habebit.

illius auspiciis obsessae moenia pacem

victa petent Mutinae, Pharsalia sentiet illum,

Emathiique iterum madefient caede Philippi,

et magnum Siculis nomen superabitur undis,               825

Romanique ducis coniunx Aegyptia taedae

non bene fisa cadet, frustraque erit illa minata,

servitura suo Capitolia nostra Canopo.

quid tibi barbariam gentesque ab utroque iacentes

oceano numerem? quodcunque habitabile tellus               830

sustinet, huius erit: pontus quoque serviet illi!

     ‘Pace data terris animum ad civilia vertet

iura suum legesque feret iustissimus auctor

exemploque suo mores reget inque futuri

temporis aetatem venturorumque nepotum               835

prospiciens prolem sancta de coniuge natam

ferre simul nomenque suum curasque iubebit,

nec nisi cum senior meritis aequaverit annos,

aetherias sedes cognataque sidera tanget.

hanc animam interea caeso de corpore raptam               840

fac iubar, ut semper Capitolia nostra forumque

divus ab excelsa prospectet Iulius aede!’

     Vix ea fatus erat, medi cum sede senatus

constitit alma Venus nulli cernenda suique

Caesaris eripuit membris nec in aera solvi               845

passa recentem animam caelestibus intulit astris

dumque tulit, lumen capere atque ignescere sensit

emisitque sinu: luna volat altius illa

flammiferumque trahens spatioso limite crinem

stella micat natique videns bene facta fatetur               850

esse suis maiora et vinci gaudet ab illo.

hic sua praeferri quamquam vetat acta paternis,

libera fama tamen nullisque obnoxia iussis

invitum praefert unaque in parte repugnat:

sic magnus cedit titulis Agamemnonis Atreus,               855

Aegea sic Theseus, sic Pelea vicit Achilles;

denique, ut exemplis ipsos aequantibus utar,

sic et Saturnus minor est Iove: Iuppiter arces

temperat aetherias et mundi regna triformis,

terra sub Augusto est; pater est et rector uterque.               860

di, precor, Aeneae comites, quibus ensis et ignis

cesserunt, dique Indigetes genitorque Quirine

urbis et invicti genitor Gradive Quirini

Vestaque Caesareos inter sacrata penates,

et cum Caesarea tu, Phoebe domestice, Vesta,               865

quique tenes altus Tarpeias Iuppiter arces,

quosque alios vati fas appellare piumque est:

tarda sit illa dies et nostro serior aevo,

qua caput Augustum, quem temperat, orbe relicto

accedat caelo faveatque precantibus absens!               870

     Iamque opus exegi, quod nec Iovis ira nec ignis

nec poterit ferrum nec edax abolere vetustas.

cum volet, illa dies, quae nil nisi corporis huius

ius habet, incerti spatium mihi finiat aevi:

parte tamen meliore mei super alta perennis               875

astra ferar, nomenque erit indelebile nostrum,

quaque patet domitis Romana potentia terris,

ore legar populi, perque omnia saecula fama,

siquid habent veri vatum praesagia, vivam.

---

Is it indeed a greater thing to have subdued the sea-girt Britons, to have led his victorious fleet up the seven-mouthed stream of the papyrus-bearing Nile, to have added the rebellious Numidians, Libyan Juba, and Pontus, swelling with threats of the mighty name of Mithridates, to the sway of the people of Quirinus, to have celebrated some triumphs and to have earned many more—than to have begotten so great a man? With him as ruler of the world, you have indeed, O heavenly ones, showered rich blessings upon the human race! So then, that his son might not be born of mortal seed, Caesar must needs be made a god. When the golden mother of Aeneas saw this, and saw also that dire destruction was being plotted against her high-priest and that an armed conspiracy was forming, she paled with fear and cried to all the gods as she met them in turn: “Behold what a crushing weight of plots is prepared against me, and with what snares that life is sought which alone remains to me from Dardanian Iülus. Shall I alone for ever be harassed by well-founded cares, since now the Calydonian spear of Diomede wounds me and now the falling walls of ill-defended Troy o’erwhelm me, since I see my son driven by long wanderings, tossed on the sea, entering the abodes of the silent shades and waging war with Turnus, or, if we speak plain truth, with Juno rather? But why do I now recall the ancient sufferings of my race? This present fear of mine does not permit me to remember former woes. Look! You see that impious daggers are being sharpened up. Ward them off, I pray, prevent this crime and let not Vesta’s fires be extinguished by her high-priest’s blood!”

The anxious goddess cried these complaints throughout the sky, but all in vain. The gods were moved indeed; and although they were not able to break the iron decrees of the ancient sisters, still they gave no uncertain portents of the woe that was at hand. They say that the clashing of arms amid the dark storm-clouds and fear-inspiring trumpets and horns heard in the sky forewarned men of the crime; also the darkened face of the sun shone with lurid light upon the troubled lands. Often firebrands were seen to flash amidst the stars; often drops of blood fell down from the clouds; the morning-star was of dusky hue and his face was blotched with dark red spots, and Luna’s chariot was stained with blood. In a thousand places the Stygian owl gave forth his mournful warnings; in a thousand places ivory statues dripped tears, and in the sacred groves wailing notes and threatening words were heard. No victim sufficed for expiation; the liver warned that portentous struggles were at hand and its lobe was found cleft amidst the entrails. In the marketplace and around men’s houses and the temples of the gods dogs howled by night, the shades of the silent dead walked abroad and the city was shaken with earthquakes. Yet even so, the warnings of the gods were unable to check the plots of men and the advancing fates. Naked swords were brought into the sacred curia; for no place in the whole city would do for this crime, this dreadful deed of blood, save only that. Then indeed did Cytherea smite on her breast with both her hands and strive to hide her Caesar in a cloud in which of old Paris had been rescued from the murderous Atrides and in which Aeneas had escaped the sword of Diomede. Then thus the Father spoke: “Dost thou, by thy sole power, my daughter, think to move the changeless fates? Thou thyself mayst enter the abode of the three sisters. Thou shalt there behold the records of all that happens on tablets of brass and solid iron, a massive structure, tablets which fear neither warfare in the heavens, nor the lightning’s fearful power, nor any destructive shocks which may befall, being eternal and secure. There shalt thou find engraved on everlasting adamant thy descendant’s fates.¹ have myself read these and marked them well in mind; and these will I relate, that thou mayst be no longer ignorant of that which is to come. This son of thine, goddess of Gythera, for whom thou grievest, has fulfilled his allotted time, and his years are finished which he owed to earth. That as a god he may enter heaven and have his place in temples on the earth, thou shalt accomplish, thou and his son. He as successor to the name shall bear alone the burden placed on him, and, as the most valiant avenger of his father’s murder, he shall have us as ally for his wars. Under his command the conquered walls of leaguered Mutina shall sue for peace; Pharsalia shall feel his power; Emathian² Philippi shall reek again³ with blood; and he of the great name3 shall be overcome on Sicilian waters. A Roman general’s Egyptian mistress, who did not well to rely upon the union, shall fall before him, and in vain shall she have threatened that our Capitol shall bow to her Canopus. But why should I recall barbaric lands to you and nations lying on. either ocean-shore? Nay, whatsoever habitable land the earth contains shall be his, and the sea also shall come beneath his sway!

“When peace has been bestowed upon all lands he shall turn his mind to the rights of citizens, and as a most righteous jurist promote the laws. By his own good example shall he direct the ways of men, and, looking forward to future time and coming generations, he shall bid the son,⁴ born of his chaste wife, to bear his name and the burden of his cares; and not till old age, when his years have equalled his benefactions, shall he attain the heavenly seats and his related stars. Meanwhile do thou catch up this⁵ soul from the slain body and make him a star in order that ever it may be the divine Julius who looks forth upon our Capitol and Forum from his lofty temple.”

Scarce had he spoken when fostering Venus took her place within the senate-house, unseen of all, caught up the passing soul of her Caesar from his body, and not suffering it to vanish into air, she bore it towards the stars of heaven. And as she bore it she felt it glow and burn, and released it from her bosom. Higher than the moon it mounted up and, leaving behind it a fiery train, gleamed as a star. And now, beholding the good deeds of his son, he confesses that they are greater than his own, and rejoices to be surpassed by him. And, though the son forbids that his own deeds be set above his father’s, still fame, unfettered and obedient to no one’s will, exalts him spite of his desire, and in this one thing opposes his commands. So does the great Atreus yield in honour to his son, Agamemnon; so does Theseus rival Aegeus, and Achilles, Peleus; finally, to quote an instance worthy of them both, is Saturn less than Jove. Jupiter controls the heights of heaven and the kingdoms of the triformed universe; but the earth is under Augustus’ sway. Each is both sire and ruler. O gods, I pray you, comrades of Aeneas, before whom both fire and sword gave way, and ye native gods of Italy, and thou, Quirinus, father of our city, and Gradivus, invincible Quirinus’ sire, and Vesta, who hast ever held a sacred place midst Caesar’s household gods, and thou Apollo, linked in worship with our Caesar’s Vesta, and Jupiter, whose temple sits high on Tarpeia’s rock, and all ye other gods to whom it is fitting for the bard to make appeal: far distant be that day and later than our own time when Augustus, abandoning the world he rules, shall mount to heaven and there, removed from our presence, listen to our prayers!

And now my work is done, which neither the wrath of Jove, nor fire, nor sword, nor the gnawing tooth of time shall ever be able to undo. When it will, let that day come which has no power save over this mortal frame, and end the span of my uncertain years. Still in my better part I shall be borne immortal far beyond the lofty stars and I shall have an undying name. Wherever Rome’s power extends over the conquered world, I shall have mention on men’s lips, and, if the prophecies of bards have any truth, through all the ages shall I live in fame.

1. i.e. Macedonian; Emathia was a district of Macedonia.

2. Though Philippi is in Macedonia and Pharsalus in Thessaly, Ovid with poetic daring practically identifies the two great battlefields.

3. Sextus Pompeius, youngest son of Pompey the Great. He seems also to have assumed the name Magnus.

4. Tiberius, son of Livia and Ti. Claudius Nero.

5. i.e. of Julius Caesar.