Carmen Saeculare
Latin: after Klingner / Wickham · English: Conington (1872)
Commissioned by Augustus for the Ludi Saeculares (3 June 17 BCE), this hymn was performed by a chorus of 27 boys and 27 girls on the Palatine and Capitoline hills. It addresses Apollo and Diana, then Latona, the Parcae, Tellus, Jupiter and the gods of Rome, praying for the city's eternal prosperity. It is the only one of Horace's works whose performance occasion we know securely from epigraphic evidence (the Acta of the Ludi).
1–4
1
Phoebe silvarumque potens Diana,
Phoebus, and Diana mistress of the woods,
2
lucidum caeli decus, o colendi
bright glory of the heavens, ever to be revered
3
semper et culti, date quae precamur
and ever revered, grant what we pray for
4
tempore sacro,
on this sacred day,
5–8
5
quo Sibyllini monuere versus
on which the Sibylline verses commanded
6
virgines lectas puerosque castos
that chosen maidens and chaste boys
7
dis, quibus septem placuere colles,
should sing a hymn to the gods to whom
8
dicere carmen.
the Seven Hills are pleasing.
9–12
9
Alme Sol, curru nitido diem qui
Kindly Sun, who in your shining chariot
10
promis et celas aliusque et idem
bring forth the day and hide it, and are born
11
nasceris, possis nihil urbe Roma
another and the same — may you behold
12
visere maius.
nothing greater than the city of Rome.
13–16
13
Rite maturos aperire partus
Gentle Ilithyia, duly opening births
14
lenis, Ilithyia, tuere matres,
when their time is full, protect our mothers,
15
sive tu Lucina probas vocari
whether you choose to be called Lucina
16
seu Genitalis:
or Genitalis:
17–20
17
diva, producas subolem, patrumque
goddess, raise up our offspring, and prosper
18
prosperes decreta super iugandis
the decrees of the Fathers concerning the wedding
19
feminis prolisque novae feraci
of women and the marriage law fertile
20
lege marita,
of new progeny,
21–24
21
certus undenos deciens per annos
so that the fixed cycle of ten times eleven years
22
orbis ut cantus referatque ludos
may bring back the songs and bring back the games
23
ter die claro totiensque grata
thronged three times in the bright day and as often
24
nocte frequentes.
in the welcome night.
25–28
25
Vosque, veraces cecinisse, Parcae,
And you, Parcae, truthful in your prophecy —
26
quod semel dictum est stabilisque rerum
as the fixed boundary of things preserves
27
terminus servet, bona iam peractis
what once is spoken — to fates already accomplished
28
iungite fata.
join now good fates to come.
29–32
29
Fertilis frugum pecorisque Tellus
May Earth, fertile in crops and cattle,
30
spicea donet Cererem corona;
give Ceres a crown of wheat-ears;
31
nutriant fetus et aquae salubres
may both the wholesome waters and the breezes
32
et Iovis aurae.
of Jupiter nourish her young.
33–36
33
Condito mitis placidusque telo
Apollo, mild and gentle, with your weapon sheathed,
34
supplices audi pueros, Apollo;
hear the suppliant boys;
35
siderum regina bicornis, audi,
queen of the stars, two-horned, hear,
36
Luna, puellas.
O Moon, the maidens.
37–40
37
Roma si vestrum est opus Iliaeque
If Rome is your work, and Trojan bands
38
litus Etruscum tenuere turmae,
held the Etruscan shore,
39
iussa pars mutare lares et urbem
that part bidden to change household and city
40
sospite cursu,
on a saving course —
41–44
41
cui per ardentem sine fraude Troiam
for whom through burning Troy without harm
42
castus Aeneas patriae superstes
chaste Aeneas, survivor of his fatherland,
43
liberum munivit iter, daturus
cleared a free road, destined to give
44
plura relictis:
more than was left behind:
45–48
45
di, probos mores docili iuventae,
you gods, grant to the teachable youth right morals,
46
di, senectuti placidae quietem,
grant peaceful rest to old age,
47
Romulae genti date remque prolemque
and to the Romulean race grant wealth and offspring
48
et decus omne.
and every honor.
49–52
49
Quaeque vos bobus veneratur albis
And whatever the renowned blood of Anchises
50
clarus Anchisae Venerisque sanguis,
and Venus implores you with white oxen —
51
impetret, bellante prior, iacentem
let him obtain it: superior in war,
52
lenis in hostem.
gentle to the fallen foe.
53–56
53
Iam mari terraque manus potentes
Now the Mede fears the powerful hands
54
Medus Albanasque timet secures,
by sea and land, and the Alban axes;
55
iam Scythae responsa petunt, superbi
now the Scythians, lately so proud, seek answers,
56
nuper, et Indi.
and the Indians too.
57–60
57
Iam Fides et Pax et Honos Pudorque
Now Faith and Peace and Honor and ancient Modesty
58
priscus et neglecta redire Virtus
and neglected Virtue dare
59
audet, apparetque beata pleno
to return, and blessed Plenty appears
60
Copia cornu.
with her full horn.
61–64
61
Augur et fulgente decorus arcu
Phoebus the augur, splendid with his gleaming bow,
62
Phoebus acceptusque novem Camenis,
and beloved of the nine Camenae,
63
qui salutari levat arte fessos
who with healing art relieves the wearied
64
corporis artus,
limbs of the body —
65–68
65
si Palatinas videt aequus aras,
if he looks with favor on the Palatine altars,
66
remque Romanam Latiumque felix
prolongs Roman fortune and fortunate Latium
67
alterum in lustrum meliusque semper
into another lustrum and ever
68
prorogat aevum.
into a better age.
69–72
69
Quaeque Aventinum tenet Algidumque,
And she who holds the Aventine and Algidus,
70
quindecim Diana preces virorum
Diana, attends to the prayers of the Fifteen Men
71
curat et votis puerorum amicas
and lends a friendly ear
72
applicat aures.
to the children's vows.
73–76
73
Haec Iovem sentire deosque cunctos
That Jupiter and all the gods perceive these things,
74
spem bonam certamque domum reporto,
I bear home a good and certain hope —
75
doctus et Phoebi chorusque Dianae
I, the chorus of Phoebus and Diana,
76
dicere laudes.
taught to sing their praises.