Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Carmina 1.2.25-44

Horace asks which god the Roman people should call upon in their crisis, and addresses a series of divine candidates: Apollo the augur, the laughing Venus of Eryx, Mars grown weary of his long sport of war, and finally Mercury, son of Maia, who may have taken on the form of a young man on earth to serve as the avenger of Caesar.

 

Tier 1

Quem deum populus civitatis vocet rebus ruentis (when everything is falling apart)? Qua prece virgines sanctae vocent Vestam quae non audit preces eorum?

Cui Iuppiter dabit officium expiandi (of atoning for) scelus nostrum? Rogamus tandem (at last) venias Apollo et nubes tegat claros umeros tuos,

Sive tu vis, Venus ridens, circum quam Iocus et Cupido volant, sive pater (Mars) respicis neglectum genus et nepotes (descendants),

Heu o Mars satiate nimis longo bello, tu cui clamor et galeae leves (polished helms) placent, et acra facies in hostem saguineum Mauri peditis,

Sive tu Mercuri, filius almae Maiae, figura tua mutata tu imitaris iuvenem in terris, patiens vocari ultor Caesaris (an avenger of Caesar- so Octavian).

Written by Robert Amstutz