§406et tuta alumnis.
and safe for its fosterlings.
alia sed suboles minus §407conspecta mitis, tertium sollers genus §408novas ad artes extitit, sanctum tamen; §409mox inquietum, quod sequi cursu feras §410auderet acres, fluctibus tectos gravi §411extrahere pisces rete vel calamo levi §412decipere volucres crate vel §413tenere laqueo, premere subiectos iugo §414tauros feroces, vomere immunem prius §415sulcare terram, laesa quae fruges suas §416interius alte condidit sacro sinu.
But another offspring, less seen as mild, a third skilled race arose for new arts, yet still sacred; soon restless, which dared to pursue in running fierce wild beasts, to drag out fish hidden in the waves with a heavy net, or to deceive birds with a light reed, or to hold them with a wicker net or a snare, to press down under the yoke fierce bulls, to furrow with a plow the land previously exempt, which, having been wounded, hid its fruits deep within its sacred bosom.
§417sed in parentis viscera intravit suae §418deterior aetas: eruit ferrum grave §419aurumque, saevas mox et armavit manus; §420partita fines regna constituit, novas §421extruxit urbes/ tecta defendit sua, §422aliena telis aut petit praedae imminens.
But into the vitals of its own parent entered a worse age: it dug out heavy iron and gold, and soon armed its savage hands; having divided boundaries, it established kingdoms, built new cities, defended its own dwellings, or attacked those of others with weapons, intent on plunder.
§423neglecta terras fugit et mores feros §424hominum et cruenta caede pollutas manus §425Astraea virgo, siderum magnum decus.
Neglected, she fled the lands and the fierce manners of men, and hands polluted with bloody slaughter, the virgin Astraea, the great glory of the stars.
§426cupido belli crevit atque auri fames §427totum per orbem, maximum exortum est malum §428luxuria, pestis blanda, cui vires dedit §429roburque longum tempus atque error gravis.
The desire for war grew, and the hunger for gold, throughout the whole world, and the greatest evil arose, luxury, a flattering plague, to which long time and grave error gave strength and power.
§430collecta vitia per tot aetates diu §431in nos redundant: saeculo premimur gravi, §432quo scelera regnant, saevit impietas furens, §433turpi libido Venere dominatur potens, §434luxuria victrix orbis immensas opes §435iam pridem avaris manibus, ut perdat, rapit.
Vices collected for so long through so many ages overflow upon us: we are pressed by a heavy epoch, in which crimes reign, raging impiety runs wild, lust dominates powerful with shameful Venus, and victorious luxury, with greedy hands, has long since snatched the immense wealth of the world, in order to ruin it.
But behold, Nero comes with bewildered step and grim face; I shudder at what he may be carrying in his mind.
Accomplish what was ordered: send someone to bring to me the severed head of the slain Plautus and Sulla.
§439Iussa haud morabor: castra confestim petam.
I shall not delay your orders: I shall seek the camp immediately.
§440Nihil in propinquos temere constitui decet.
It is not fitting to decide anything rashly against relatives.
§441Iustum esse facile est cui vacat pectus metu.
It is easy to be just for one whose breast is free from fear.
§442Magnum timoris remedium clementia est.
Clemency is a great remedy for fear.
§443Extinguere hostem maxima est virtus ducis.
To extinguish an enemy is the greatest virtue of a leader.
§444Servare cives maior est patriae patri.
To preserve citizens is greater for the father of his country.
§445Praecipere mitem convenit pueris senem.
It is fitting for a mild old man to lecture boys.
§446Regenda magis est fervida adolescentia.
Hot youth is rather to be ruled.
§447Aetate in hac sat esse consilii reor.
At this age I believe there is sufficient wisdom.
§448Vt facta superi comprobent semper tua.
May the gods above always approve of your deeds.
§449Stulte verebor, ipse cum faciam, deos.
Shall I foolishly fear the gods, when I myself make them?
§450Hoc plus verere quod licet tantum tibi.
Fear this all the more, because so much is permitted to you.
§451Fortuna nostra cuncta permittit mihi.
Our fortune permits everything to me.
§452Crede obsequenti parcius: levis est dea.
Trust the compliant one more sparingly: she is a fickle goddess.
§453Inertis est nescire quid liceat sibi.
It belongs to the sluggish not to know what is permitted to oneself.
§454Id facere laus est quod decet, non quod licet.
It is a praise to do what is fitting, not what is permitted.
§455Calcat iacentem vulgus.
The crowd tramples on the fallen.
§456Ferrum tuetur principem.
The sword protects the prince.
§457Decet timeri Caesarem.
It is fitting for Caesar to be feared.
It is necessary that they fear— And obey our orders.
§460Statuam ipse.
I myself shall decide.
§461Respectus ensis faciet.
Respect for the sword will bring it about.
Or shall I suffer our blood to be sought further, so that unavenged and despised I may be suddenly overwhelmed?
§464exilia non fregere summotos procul §465Plautum atque Sullam, pertinax quorum furor §466armat ministros sceleris in caedem meam, §467absentium cum maneat etiam ingens favor §468in urbe nostra, qui fovet spes exulum.
Exiles did not break, though removed far away, Plautus and Sulla, whose stubborn madness arms the servants of crime for my murder, while even in their absence a huge favor remains in our city, which cherishes the hopes of the exiles.
§469tollantur hostes ense suspecti mihi, §470invisa coniunx pereat et carum sibi §471fratrem sequatur, quicquid excelsum est cadat.
Let the enemies suspected by me be removed by the sword, let the hated wife perish and follow her dear brother; let whatever is high fall.
§472Pulcrum eminere est inter illustres viros, §473consulere patriae, parcere afflictis, fera §474caede abstinere tempus atque irae dare, §475orbi quietem, saeculo pacem suo.
It is beautiful to stand out among illustrious men, to consult for the fatherland, to spare the afflicted, to abstain from fierce slaughter, to give time to anger, quiet to the world, peace to one's own age.
§476haec summa virtus, petitur hac caelum via.
This is the highest virtue; by this way heaven is sought.
Thus that first father of his country, Augustus, embraced the stars and is worshipped in temples as a god.
§479illum tamen Fortuna iactavit diu §480terra marique per graves belli vices, §481hostes parentis donec oppressit, sui; §482tibi numen incruenta summisit suum §483et dedit habenas imperi facili manu §484nutuque terras maria subiecit tuo.
Yet Fortune tossed him for a long time on land and sea through the heavy changes of war, until he crushed the enemies of his father, of his own; To you, Fortune submitted her divine power without bloodshed and gave the reins of empire with an easy hand, and subjected lands and seas to your nod.
§485invidia tristis victa consensu pio §486cessit; senatus, equitis accensus favor; §487plebisque votis atque iudicio patrum §488tu pacis auctor, generis humani arbiter §489electus orbem iam sacra specie regis §490patriae parens: quod nomen ut serves petit §491suosque cives Roma commendat tibi.
Gloomy envy, conquered by pious consensus, withdrew; the support of the senate and the equestrian class was kindled; And by the vows of the plebs and the judgment of the fathers, you, the author of peace, the arbiter of the human race, elected, now rule the world with a sacred appearance, the father of his country: Rome begs that you preserve this name, and commends her own citizens to you.