Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Epodes 16.25-34
In this passage, Horace has the Romans swear an oath that makes their departure permanent: they will only return home when the impossible becomes possible — when rocks float up from the ocean floor, when the Po floods the Matine peaks, when the Apennines sink into the sea, and when nature itself is turned upside down: tigers consorting with deer, doves mating with hawks, and goats loving the saltwater. The oath is a list of adynata — poetic impossibilities — sealing Rome's abandonment as final.
Tier 1
Sed iuremus in haec verba: 'modo sit fas redire, simul saxa levata imis aquis;
Demus vela conversa domum, quando Padus fluvius laverit Matina montes,
seu celsus Appenninus cucurrit in mare, et mirabilis amor iunxerit monstra nova libidine,
ut tigris velit se dare libidine cervis, et columba adulteretur miluo,
nec creduli greges timeant flavos leones et levis hircus amet salsa aequora.'
Tier 2
Sed iuremus in haec: 'simul saxa levata imis vadis renaverint, ne sit nefas redire;
neu pigeat dare lintea conversa domum, quando Padus laverit Matina cacumina,
seu celsus Appenninus procurrerit in mare, mirusque amor iunxerit monstra nova libidine,
ut iuvet tigris subsidere cervis, et columba adulteretur miluo,
nec credula armenta timeant ravos leones ametque levis hircus salsa aequora.'
Tier 3 - Carmen Ipsum
- sed iuremus in haec: 'simul imis saxa renarint
- vadis levata, ne redire sit nefas;
- neu conversa domum pigeat dare lintea, quando
- Padus Matina laverit cacumina,
- in mare seu celsus procurrerit Appenninus
- novaque monstra iunxerit libidine
- mirus amor, iuvet ut tigris subsidere cervis,
- adulteretur et columba miluo,
- credula nec ravos timeant armenta leones
- ametque salsa levis hircus aequora.'
Written by Robert Amstutz