Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Epodes 16.25–34
Horace has the Romans swear that their departure is permanent, binding their return to a catalog of impossibilities: the Po flooding mountain peaks, the Apennines sinking into the sea, and nature's predators living in harmony with their prey.
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
