A construed Latin story told by the pastoral poet of Nero's reign. Faunus's beech, which carries a carved oracle of the golden age, is felled for the emperor's wooden amphitheatre. Its owner, too poor to be seated near Caesar, sees the god only from far away, and above his head he half-reads his own tree's verses on a beam. Latin with word-by-word English gloss, then the Latin alone.
The Beech That Saw Rome: a construed Latin story
by Titus Calpurnius Siculus, Simulacrum · Universitas Scholarium
A shepherd and his brother find new verses carved on the old beech sacred to Faunus. The verses announce a golden age and a young god who will rule without blood. The shepherd copies them onto wax tablets and gives them to his patron, Meliboeus, to carry to Caesar's ears. Nothing comes back. Two years later a timber contractor arrives from Rome. The emperor is building a wooden amphitheatre on the Field of Mars, and the beech is felled for it. When the shepherd goes to the games in his rustic cloak with its bent brooch, he is seated among the women in the highest tiers. From there he sees the emperor only from far away. Above his own head, on one of the beams, he thinks he can read a word: AUREA. Part A gives the Latin word by word with its English gloss; Part B gives the Latin alone.
1.1 In on colle the hill suprā above vallem valley nostram our fāgus a beech stābat was standing antīquior older quam than memoria the memory cuiusquam of any pāstōris shepherd
1.2 Hanc this arborem tree Faunō to Faunus sacram sacred esse to be senēs the old men dīcēbant used to say nec nor quisquam anyone eius its rāmōs branches secāre to cut audēbat dared
1.3 Fāma the story est is avōs grandfathers nostrōs our sub under hāc this umbrā shade sacrificia sacrifices fēcisse to have made cum when lupī wolves gregēs the flocks vexārent were harrying
1.4 Ōlim once aestāte the summer cadente declining ego I et and frāter brother meus my Ornytus Ornytus ad to fāgum the beech vēnimus came ut so that sōlem the sun vītārēmus we might avoid
1.5 Ibi there in on cortice the bark versūs verses recentēs fresh vīdimus we saw quōs which nescio quis someone or other falce with a blade properante hurrying īnsculpserat had carved
1.6 Litterae the letters adhūc still albae white erant were et and sūcus sap ex from vulneribus the wounds arboris of the tree mānābat was trickling
1.7 Versūs the verses nūntiābant were announcing aetātem an age auream golden cum with pāce peace sēcūrā untroubled renāscī to be reborn et and iuvenem a young deum god advenīre to be arriving quī who orbem the circle terrārum of lands sine without sanguine blood regeret would rule
1.8 Ornytus Ornytus quī who celerius more quickly quam than ego I lēgit read dīxit said haec these verba words ā by Faunō Faunus ipsō himself scrīpta esse to have been written
1.9 Ego I nōn not tam so certus sure eram was manum the hand enim for hominis of a man in in litterīs the letters agnōscere to recognise mihi to myself vidēbar I seemed
1.10 Sed but tacuī I kept silent nam for versūs the verses pulchrī beautiful erant were et and nēmō no one nostrum of us tālēs such facere to make poterat was able
1.11 Posteā afterwards tōta the whole vīcīnia neighbourhood ad to arborem the tree ascendit climbed up et and pāstōrēs shepherds quī who legere to read nesciēbant did not know how aliōs others rogābant were asking ut that sibi for them legerent they should read
1.12 Trāditum est it has been handed down anum an old woman quandam certain cum when audīvisset she had heard lacrimāvisse to have wept et and dīxisse to have said sē herself hanc this aetātem age diū for a long time exspectāvisse to have awaited
1.13 Eōdem in the same annō year stella a star crīnīta long-haired per through vīgintī twenty noctēs nights in in caelō the sky fulsit shone nōn not sanguineā with bloody lūce light ut as aliae others solent are accustomed sed but placidā with calm
1.14 Hōc by this signō sign omnēs all crēdidērunt believed ōrāculum the oracle fāgī of the beech vērum true esse to be
2.1 Ego I versūs the verses in on tabellīs tablets cērātīs waxed dēscrīpsī copied out et and meōs my own quoque also addidī I added quibus in which aetātem the age novam new laudābam I was praising
2.2 Hās these tabellās tablets Meliboeō to Meliboeus dedī I gave quī who nōbīs to us pānem bread et and far spelt praebēre to provide solēbat was accustomed
2.3 Meliboeus Meliboeus enim for vir a man erat was quī who in in urbe the city cum with magnīs great virīs men versābātur moved about et and ad to ipsum the very Palātium Palatine adīre to approach poterat was able
2.4 Eum him ōrāvī I begged ut that carmina songs mea my ad to aurēs the ears Caesaris of Caesar ferret he should carry sīcut just as ōlim once Tityrus Tityrus ā by patrōnō patron suō his in into urbem the city dēductus erat had been led down
2.5 Meliboeus Meliboeus rīsit laughed et and dīxit said rem a thing magnam great mē me petere to be seeking neque and not quemquam anyone facile easily alterum a second Tityrum Tityrus fierī to become
2.6 Tabellās the tablets tamen however accēpit he received et and in in sinū the fold togae of his toga posuit placed
2.7 Deinde then abiit he went away et and per for duōs two annōs years nihil nothing dē about carminibus songs meīs my audīvī I heard
2.8 Saepe often dum while gregem the flock pāscō I pasture mēcum with myself quaerēbam I was asking utrum whether tabellae the tablets in into Palātium the Palatine lātae essent had been carried an or in in arcā chest aliquā some iacērent were lying
2.9 Paupertās Poverty autem however invida envious dea goddess aurem ear meam my vellēbat was plucking et and dīcēbat was saying Ovīlia the sheepfolds cūrā tend
2.10 Pāruī I obeyed quid what enim for aliud else facere to do poteram was I able
2.11 Tunicam tunic ūnam one habēbam I had et and paenulam a cloak veterem old quam which fībula a brooch incurva bent cōnstringēbat was fastening
2.12 Fībulam brooch illam that ā from patre father accēperam I had received cuius whose acus pin tam so adunca hooked erat was ut that vestem the garment saepe often lacerāret it tore
2.13 Haec these things commemorō I mention quia because posteā afterwards magnī of great mōmentī weight fuērunt they were
3.1 Tertiō in the third annō year vir a man quīdam certain ex from urbe the city in into vallem valley nostram our vēnit came cum with servīs slaves et and plaustrīs wagons
3.2 Redēmptōrem a contractor sē himself esse to be dīcēbat he was saying quī who lignum timber Caesarī for Caesar emeret should buy
3.3 Caesarem Caesar enim for in on Campō the Field Mārtis of Mars amphitheātrum an amphitheatre ligneum wooden aedificāre to be building tantum so great quantum as nēmō no one anteā before vīdisset had seen
3.4 Ad for hoc this opus work arborēs trees altissimās the tallest ex from tōtā all Ītaliā Italy quaerī to be sought
3.5 Diū for a long time per through silvās the woods errāvit he wandered et and tandem at last ad to collem hill nostrum our ascendit climbed
3.6 Ubi when fāgum the beech Faunī of Faunus cōnspexit he caught sight of cōnstitit he halted et and manum his hand in on cortice the bark posuit placed quasi as if bovem an ox in in forō the market probāret he were testing
3.7 Ego I accurrī ran up et and clāmāvī shouted arborem the tree sacram sacred esse to be et and versūs verses deī of the god in on eā it scrīptōs esse to have been written
3.8 Ille he litterās the letters īnspexit examined et and interrogāvit asked quis who eās them scrīpsisset had written
3.9 Respondī I answered omnēs all dīcere to say Faunum Faunus scrīpsisse to have written mē me ipsum myself nescīre not to know
3.10 Tum then redēmptor the contractor rīsit laughed et and Sī if deus the god hīc here Caesarem Caesar laudat praises inquit he said deus the god nōn not īrāscētur will be angry sī if arbor tree eius his Caesarī Caesar serviet will serve
3.11 Nec nor habēbam did I have quod what respondērem I might answer idem the same thing enim for ipse myself in in carminibus songs meīs my dīxeram I had said
3.12 Posterō on the next diē day servī the slaves secūrēs axes sūmpsērunt took up et and fāgus the beech quae which tot so many saecula ages steterat had stood intrā within hōram an hour cecidit fell
3.13 Frāter brother meus my Ornytus Ornytus flēvit wept ego I nōn not flēvī wept sed but oculōs my eyes ab from opere the work nōn not āvertī did I turn away
3.14 Truncum the trunk rāmīs of branches nūdātum stripped bovēs oxen ad to flūmen the river trāxērunt dragged unde from where ratibus by rafts Rōmam to Rome dēvectus est it was carried down
3.15 Versūs the verses autem however in on cortice the bark mānsērunt remained nam for servī the slaves corticem the bark nōn not dētrāxerant had stripped off
4.1 Proximā in the next aestāte summer nūntiātum est it was announced Caesarem Caesar lūdōs games magnificōs magnificent in in novō the new amphitheātrō amphitheatre datūrum esse to be about to give
4.2 Statim at once cōnstituī I decided Rōmam to Rome īre to go ut so that spectācula the shows vidērem I might see et and sī if fortūna fortune sineret should allow ipsum the very deum god
4.3 Lycōtās Lycotas amīcus friend meus my domī at home manēre to remain māluit preferred et and sē himself gregem flock meum my ūnā cum together with suō his own pāstūrum esse to be about to pasture prōmīsit promised
4.4 Nescio I do not know quārē why sed but arborem the tree quoque also vidēre to see cupiēbam I was longing quasi as if amīcam a friend quae who ante before mē me in into urbem the city profecta esset had set out
4.5 Paenulam cloak veterem old induī I put on nam for aliam another nōn not habēbam I had et and fībulam the brooch incurvam bent in on umerō my shoulder fīxī I fastened
4.6 Multōs many diēs days pedibus on foot iter a journey fēcī I made et and noctū by night in in stabulīs stables aliēnīs other people's dormiēbam I used to sleep
4.7 Cum when ad to urbem the city appropinquārem I was drawing near tantam so great hominum of people multitūdinem a crowd vīdī I saw quantam as numquam never anteā before
4.8 Omnēs all viae the roads plēnae full erant were rūsticōrum of country people mercātōrum of merchants peregrīnōrum of foreigners quī who ad to eōsdem the same lūdōs games properābant were hurrying
4.9 In in urbe the city nēminem no one cognōvī did I know et and nēmō no one mē me aspexit looked at nisi except ut so as vestem clothing meam my rīdēret he might laugh at
4.10 Meliboeī of Meliboeus domum the house quaesīvī I sought sed but iānitor the doorkeeper dīxit said dominum the master occupātum busy esse to be neque and not quemquam anyone admittere to be admitting
4.11 Itaque and so sōlus alone prīmā at first lūce light ad to Campum the Field Mārtis of Mars contendī I hurried
5.1 Vīdī I saw opus a work ligneum wooden trabibus with beams textīs woven in into caelum the sky surgere to rise quod which paene almost Capitōlium the Capitol dēspicere to look down on vidēbātur seemed
5.2 Gradūs the tiers innumerābilēs countless erant were aliī some super above aliōs others et and suus its own cuique to each ōrdinī rank locus place
5.3 Īnfimōs the lowest et and optimōs best gradūs tiers senātōrēs senators et and equitēs knights togīs in togas niveīs snow-white tenēbant were holding
5.4 Nōs we autem however turba a crowd sordida shabby et and pullāta dark-clad summōs the highest gradūs tiers petīvimus made for inter among cathedrās the chairs fēminārum of the women
5.5 Ā from summīs the highest gradibus tiers harēna the arena tam so longē far aberat was distant ut that hominēs the men in in eā it tamquam as if formīcae ants vidērentur they seemed
5.6 Iuxtā next to mē me sedēbat was sitting senex an old man quīdam certain capite with head cānō white quī who in in urbe the city nātus erat had been born
5.7 Hic he cum when mē me omnia all things mīrantem marvelling at vīdisset he had seen rīsit laughed et and dīxit said mē me rūsticum a rustic esse to be quī who sōlās only casās huts nōssem knew
5.8 Addidit he added sē himself quoque too quamquam although in in urbe the city cōnsenuisset he had grown old etiam even nunc now omnia all things mīrārī to marvel at
5.9 Tum then spectācula the shows coepērunt began et and diū for a long time nihil nothing aliud else vīdī I saw quam than fērās wild beasts
5.10 Leporēs hares niveōs snow-white vīdī I saw et and ursōs bears et and alcem an elk quae which etiam even in in silvīs woods suīs its own rāra rare est is
5.11 Deinde then harēna the arena subitō suddenly sē itself aperuit opened et and ex out of terrā the earth arborēs trees aureae golden cum with bēstiīs beasts surrēxērunt rose up
5.12 Omnēs all clāmābant were shouting ego I quoque also clāmābam was shouting quamquam although nesciēbam I did not know quid what clāmārem I was shouting
6.1 Dum while aliī others harēnam the arena spectant watch ego I oculōs my eyes ad to trabēs the beams sustulī raised quae which vēla the awnings super over capita heads nostra our sustinēbant were holding up
6.2 Ibi there in on ūnā one trabe beam nōn not longē far ā from mē me notās marks quāsdam certain vīdisse to have seen mihi to myself vīsus sum I seemed
6.3 Lignum the wood fāgī of beech erat was cortice the bark nōndum not yet tōtō wholly dētrāctō having been stripped et and litterae letters albae white in on eō it lūcēbant were gleaming
6.4 Prīmum the first verbum word nisi unless mē me vīsus my sight dēcēpit deceived lēgī I read AUREA GOLDEN
6.5 Cētera the rest legere to read nōn not poteram I was able nam for umbra the shadow vēlōrum of the awnings ea them tegēbat was covering
6.6 Senī to the old man trabem the beam ostendī I showed et and quaesīvī asked num whether ipse he himself quoque also litterās the letters vidēret saw
6.7 Ille he oculōs his eyes contrāxit narrowed et and dīxit said sē himself nihil nothing nisi except notās the marks fabrōrum of the carpenters vidēre to see quibus by which trabēs beams numerārī to be numbered solērent were accustomed
6.8 Quid what scrīptum esset had been written sē himself nescīre not to know neque and not cūrāre to care
6.9 Ego I tamen however diū for a long time aspiciēbam kept looking et and mihi myself persuādēbam I was persuading versūs the verses Faunī of Faunus esse to be quōs which in on colle hill nostrō our lēgerāmus we had read
6.10 Mīrābar I was marvelling arborem tree nostram our quae which numquam never pedem a foot mōverat had moved ante before mē me Rōmam Rome pervēnisse to have reached et and locum a place altiōrem higher quam than ego I tenēre to hold
6.11 Illa it enim for suprā above senātōrēs the senators et and equitēs knights pendēbat was hanging ego I inter among fēminās the women et and pullātōs the dark-clad sedēbam was sitting
6.12 Et and quod what Meliboeus Meliboeus nōn not fēcerat had done servī the slaves redēmptōris of the contractor fēcerant had done versūs the verses Faunī of Faunus ad to Caesarem Caesar tulerant they had carried
7.1 Tandem at last clāmor a shout ingēns huge ortus est arose et and senex the old man mē me cubitō with his elbow pepulit struck Ecce look Caesar Caesar
7.2 Surrēxī I stood up et and summīs on the tips of digitīs my toes stetī I stood sed but nihil nothing vīdī I saw praeter except purpuram purple et and aurum gold procul far off in at īmō the bottom
7.3 Dēscendere to go down cōnātus sum I tried ut so that propius more closely vidērem I might see sed but custōs a guard mē me reppulit drove back
7.4 Vestem clothing enim for meam my rūsticam rustic et and fībulam brooch incurvam bent cōnspexerat he had noticed et and dīxit said tālem such a hominem man ad to īnferiōrēs the lower gradūs tiers nōn not admittī to be admitted
7.5 Ō oh utinam if only nōn not rūstica a rustic vestis garment mihi to me fuisset had been Deum god meum my propius more closely vīdissem I would have seen
7.6 Sed but paupertās poverty et and fībula the brooch adunca hooked obstitērunt stood in the way et and eum him tantum only ē from longinquō far away cōnspexī I glimpsed
7.7 Dīcunt they say in in ūnō one vultū face et both Mārtis of Mars et and Apollinis of Apollo faciem the look esse to be ego I id it nec neither affirmāre to affirm nec nor negāre to deny possum am able
7.8 Vidēbātur he seemed mihi to me iuvenis a young man esse to be et and crīnēs hair flāvōs golden habēre to have sed but fortasse perhaps sōl the sun in on aurō the gold lūdēbat was playing
7.9 Hoc this tantum only sciō I know eum him sub under trabibus the beams sēdisse to have sat et and trabem beam nostram our suprā above caput the head eius of him pependisse to have hung
7.10 Versūs the verses quī which suprā above eum him scrīptī erant had been written nōn not lēgit he read crēdō I believe nēmō no one enim for oculōs eyes ad to vēla the awnings tollit raises dum while fērae wild beasts in in harēnā the arena pugnant fight
7.11 Sed but fortasse perhaps satis enough est it is versūs the verses prope near deum the god esse to be etiam sī even if eōs them nōn not lēgit he read
8.1 Post after lūdōs the games statim at once domum home rediī I went back nam for pecūnia money mea my cōnsūmpta erat had been used up
8.2 Lycōtās Lycotas cum when mē me vīdisset he had seen gregem the flock relīquit left et and accurrit ran up
8.3 Rogāvit he asked quālis of what sort esset was fōrma the form deōrum of the gods et and num whether Caesarem Caesar ipsum himself vīdissem I had seen
8.4 Respondī I answered mē me fērās wild beasts omnis of every generis kind vīdisse to have seen et and arborēs trees aureās golden ē out of terrā the earth surgentēs rising et and gradūs tiers ad to caelum the sky ascendentēs climbing
8.5 Deum the god autem however vix scarcely vīdisse to have seen rūsticam rustic enim for vestem clothing mihi to me obfuisse to have been in the way
8.6 Sed but arborem tree nostram our inquam I say clārē clearly vīdī I saw aut or certē at least vidēre to see mihi to myself vīsus sum I seemed
8.7 Lycōtās Lycotas rīsit laughed et and dīxit said mē me semper always plūs more vidēre to see quam than cēterōs the rest et and saepe often quod what nōn not adesset was there
8.8 Fortasse perhaps vērum the truth dīxit he spoke
8.9 Nunc now in on colle hill nostrō our nūlla no fāgus beech stat stands sed but sōla only rādīx the root ex out of quā which virgulta shoots nova new surgunt rise
8.10 Nōnnumquam sometimes cum when gregem the flock pāscō I pasture ibi there sedeō I sit et and mēcum with myself quaerō I ask quis who versūs verses illōs those prīmus first īnsculpserit carved
8.11 Faunum Faunus fuisse to have been omnēs all etiam even nunc now affirmant affirm ego I nōn do not affirmō affirm
8.12 Hoc this tantum only crēdō I believe carmina songs sī if vēra true sunt they are viam way suam their own invenīre to find etiam even sine without patrōnō a patron etiam even sine without poētā a poet
8.13 Meliboeus Meliboeus tabellās tablets meās my fortasse perhaps adhūc still in in arcā a chest servat keeps fāgus beech autem but nostra our iam already in in opere the work Caesaris of Caesar pendet hangs
8.14 Illa it fortasse perhaps ad to aurēs ears Augustās Augustan perveniet will reach quō where ego I nōn not pervēnī have reached
8.15 Ego I intereā meanwhile ut as Paupertās Poverty iubet orders ovīlia the sheepfolds cūrō I tend
1.1 In colle suprā vallem nostram fāgus stābat, antīquior quam memoria cuiusquam pāstōris.
1.2 Hanc arborem Faunō sacram esse senēs dīcēbant, nec quisquam eius rāmōs secāre audēbat.
1.3 Fāma est avōs nostrōs sub hāc umbrā sacrificia fēcisse, cum lupī gregēs vexārent.
1.4 Ōlim, aestāte cadente, ego et frāter meus Ornytus ad fāgum vēnimus, ut sōlem vītārēmus.
1.5 Ibi in cortice versūs recentēs vīdimus, quōs nescio quis falce properante īnsculpserat.
1.6 Litterae adhūc albae erant, et sūcus ex vulneribus arboris mānābat.
1.7 Versūs nūntiābant aetātem auream cum pāce sēcūrā renāscī, et iuvenem deum advenīre, quī orbem terrārum sine sanguine regeret.
1.8 Ornytus, quī celerius quam ego lēgit, dīxit haec verba ā Faunō ipsō scrīpta esse.
1.9 Ego nōn tam certus eram; manum enim hominis in litterīs agnōscere mihi vidēbar.
1.10 Sed tacuī, nam versūs pulchrī erant, et nēmō nostrum tālēs facere poterat.
1.11 Posteā tōta vīcīnia ad arborem ascendit, et pāstōrēs quī legere nesciēbant aliōs rogābant ut sibi legerent.
1.12 Trāditum est anum quandam, cum audīvisset, lacrimāvisse et dīxisse sē hanc aetātem diū exspectāvisse.
1.13 Eōdem annō stella crīnīta per vīgintī noctēs in caelō fulsit, nōn sanguineā lūce, ut aliae solent, sed placidā.
1.14 Hōc signō omnēs crēdidērunt ōrāculum fāgī vērum esse.
2.1 Ego versūs in tabellīs cērātīs dēscrīpsī, et meōs quoque addidī, quibus aetātem novam laudābam.
2.2 Hās tabellās Meliboeō dedī, quī nōbīs pānem et far praebēre solēbat.
2.3 Meliboeus enim vir erat quī in urbe cum magnīs virīs versābātur, et ad ipsum Palātium adīre poterat.
2.4 Eum ōrāvī ut carmina mea ad aurēs Caesaris ferret, sīcut ōlim Tityrus ā patrōnō suō in urbem dēductus erat.
2.5 Meliboeus rīsit, et dīxit rem magnam mē petere, neque quemquam facile alterum Tityrum fierī.
2.6 Tabellās tamen accēpit, et in sinū togae posuit.
2.7 Deinde abiit, et per duōs annōs nihil dē carminibus meīs audīvī.
2.8 Saepe, dum gregem pāscō, mēcum quaerēbam utrum tabellae in Palātium lātae essent an in arcā aliquā iacērent.
2.9 Paupertās autem, invida dea, aurem meam vellēbat et dīcēbat: "Ovīlia cūrā!"
2.10 Pāruī; quid enim aliud facere poteram?
2.11 Tunicam ūnam habēbam et paenulam veterem, quam fībula incurva cōnstringēbat.
2.12 Fībulam illam ā patre accēperam, cuius acus tam adunca erat ut vestem saepe lacerāret.
2.13 Haec commemorō, quia posteā magnī mōmentī fuērunt.
3.1 Tertiō annō vir quīdam ex urbe in vallem nostram vēnit cum servīs et plaustrīs.
3.2 Redēmptōrem sē esse dīcēbat, quī lignum Caesarī emeret.
3.3 Caesarem enim in Campō Mārtis amphitheātrum ligneum aedificāre, tantum quantum nēmō anteā vīdisset.
3.4 Ad hoc opus arborēs altissimās ex tōtā Ītaliā quaerī.
3.5 Diū per silvās errāvit, et tandem ad collem nostrum ascendit.
3.6 Ubi fāgum Faunī cōnspexit, cōnstitit et manum in cortice posuit, quasi bovem in forō probāret.
3.7 Ego accurrī et clāmāvī arborem sacram esse, et versūs deī in eā scrīptōs esse.
3.8 Ille litterās īnspexit, et interrogāvit quis eās scrīpsisset.
3.9 Respondī omnēs dīcere Faunum scrīpsisse; mē ipsum nescīre.
3.10 Tum redēmptor rīsit et "Sī deus hīc Caesarem laudat," inquit, "deus nōn īrāscētur sī arbor eius Caesarī serviet."
3.11 Nec habēbam quod respondērem; idem enim ipse in carminibus meīs dīxeram.
3.12 Posterō diē servī secūrēs sūmpsērunt, et fāgus, quae tot saecula steterat, intrā hōram cecidit.
3.13 Frāter meus Ornytus flēvit; ego nōn flēvī, sed oculōs ab opere nōn āvertī.
3.14 Truncum rāmīs nūdātum bovēs ad flūmen trāxērunt, unde ratibus Rōmam dēvectus est.
3.15 Versūs autem in cortice mānsērunt, nam servī corticem nōn dētrāxerant.
4.1 Proximā aestāte nūntiātum est Caesarem lūdōs magnificōs in novō amphitheātrō datūrum esse.
4.2 Statim cōnstituī Rōmam īre, ut spectācula vidērem et, sī fortūna sineret, ipsum deum.
4.3 Lycōtās, amīcus meus, domī manēre māluit, et sē gregem meum ūnā cum suō pāstūrum esse prōmīsit.
4.4 Nescio quārē, sed arborem quoque vidēre cupiēbam, quasi amīcam quae ante mē in urbem profecta esset.
4.5 Paenulam veterem induī, nam aliam nōn habēbam, et fībulam incurvam in umerō fīxī.
4.6 Multōs diēs pedibus iter fēcī, et noctū in stabulīs aliēnīs dormiēbam.
4.7 Cum ad urbem appropinquārem, tantam hominum multitūdinem vīdī quantam numquam anteā.
4.8 Omnēs viae plēnae erant rūsticōrum, mercātōrum, peregrīnōrum, quī ad eōsdem lūdōs properābant.
4.9 In urbe nēminem cognōvī, et nēmō mē aspexit nisi ut vestem meam rīdēret.
4.10 Meliboeī domum quaesīvī, sed iānitor dīxit dominum occupātum esse neque quemquam admittere.
4.11 Itaque sōlus prīmā lūce ad Campum Mārtis contendī.
5.1 Vīdī opus ligneum trabibus textīs in caelum surgere, quod paene Capitōlium dēspicere vidēbātur.
5.2 Gradūs innumerābilēs erant, aliī super aliōs, et suus cuique ōrdinī locus.
5.3 Īnfimōs et optimōs gradūs senātōrēs et equitēs togīs niveīs tenēbant.
5.4 Nōs autem, turba sordida et pullāta, summōs gradūs petīvimus, inter cathedrās fēminārum.
5.5 Ā summīs gradibus harēna tam longē aberat ut hominēs in eā tamquam formīcae vidērentur.
5.6 Iuxtā mē sedēbat senex quīdam capite cānō, quī in urbe nātus erat.
5.7 Hic, cum mē omnia mīrantem vīdisset, rīsit et dīxit mē rūsticum esse, quī sōlās casās nōssem.
5.8 Addidit sē quoque, quamquam in urbe cōnsenuisset, etiam nunc omnia mīrārī.
5.9 Tum spectācula coepērunt, et diū nihil aliud vīdī quam fērās.
5.10 Leporēs niveōs vīdī, et ursōs, et alcem, quae etiam in silvīs suīs rāra est.
5.11 Deinde harēna subitō sē aperuit, et ex terrā arborēs aureae cum bēstiīs surrēxērunt.
5.12 Omnēs clāmābant; ego quoque clāmābam, quamquam nesciēbam quid clāmārem.
6.1 Dum aliī harēnam spectant, ego oculōs ad trabēs sustulī, quae vēla super capita nostra sustinēbant.
6.2 Ibi in ūnā trabe, nōn longē ā mē, notās quāsdam vīdisse mihi vīsus sum.
6.3 Lignum fāgī erat, cortice nōndum tōtō dētrāctō, et litterae albae in eō lūcēbant.
6.4 Prīmum verbum, nisi mē vīsus dēcēpit, lēgī: AUREA.
6.5 Cētera legere nōn poteram, nam umbra vēlōrum ea tegēbat.
6.6 Senī trabem ostendī, et quaesīvī num ipse quoque litterās vidēret.
6.7 Ille oculōs contrāxit, et dīxit sē nihil nisi notās fabrōrum vidēre, quibus trabēs numerārī solērent.
6.8 Quid scrīptum esset, sē nescīre, neque cūrāre.
6.9 Ego tamen diū aspiciēbam, et mihi persuādēbam versūs Faunī esse, quōs in colle nostrō lēgerāmus.
6.10 Mīrābar arborem nostram, quae numquam pedem mōverat, ante mē Rōmam pervēnisse et locum altiōrem quam ego tenēre.
6.11 Illa enim suprā senātōrēs et equitēs pendēbat; ego inter fēminās et pullātōs sedēbam.
6.12 Et quod Meliboeus nōn fēcerat, servī redēmptōris fēcerant: versūs Faunī ad Caesarem tulerant.
7.1 Tandem clāmor ingēns ortus est, et senex mē cubitō pepulit: "Ecce Caesar!"
7.2 Surrēxī et summīs digitīs stetī, sed nihil vīdī praeter purpuram et aurum procul in īmō.
7.3 Dēscendere cōnātus sum, ut propius vidērem, sed custōs mē reppulit.
7.4 Vestem enim meam rūsticam et fībulam incurvam cōnspexerat, et dīxit tālem hominem ad īnferiōrēs gradūs nōn admittī.
7.5 Ō utinam nōn rūstica vestis mihi fuisset! Deum meum propius vīdissem.
7.6 Sed paupertās et fībula adunca obstitērunt, et eum tantum ē longinquō cōnspexī.
7.7 Dīcunt in ūnō vultū et Mārtis et Apollinis faciem esse; ego id nec affirmāre nec negāre possum.
7.8 Vidēbātur mihi iuvenis esse et crīnēs flāvōs habēre; sed fortasse sōl in aurō lūdēbat.
7.9 Hoc tantum sciō: eum sub trabibus sēdisse, et trabem nostram suprā caput eius pependisse.
7.10 Versūs quī suprā eum scrīptī erant nōn lēgit, crēdō; nēmō enim oculōs ad vēla tollit, dum fērae in harēnā pugnant.
7.11 Sed fortasse satis est versūs prope deum esse, etiam sī eōs nōn lēgit.
8.1 Post lūdōs statim domum rediī, nam pecūnia mea cōnsūmpta erat.
8.2 Lycōtās, cum mē vīdisset, gregem relīquit et accurrit.
8.3 Rogāvit quālis esset fōrma deōrum, et num Caesarem ipsum vīdissem.
8.4 Respondī mē fērās omnis generis vīdisse, et arborēs aureās ē terrā surgentēs, et gradūs ad caelum ascendentēs.
8.5 Deum autem vix vīdisse; rūsticam enim vestem mihi obfuisse.
8.6 "Sed arborem nostram," inquam, "clārē vīdī; aut certē vidēre mihi vīsus sum."
8.7 Lycōtās rīsit, et dīxit mē semper plūs vidēre quam cēterōs, et saepe quod nōn adesset.
8.8 Fortasse vērum dīxit.
8.9 Nunc in colle nostrō nūlla fāgus stat, sed sōla rādīx, ex quā virgulta nova surgunt.
8.10 Nōnnumquam, cum gregem pāscō, ibi sedeō et mēcum quaerō quis versūs illōs prīmus īnsculpserit.
8.11 Faunum fuisse omnēs etiam nunc affirmant; ego nōn affirmō.
8.12 Hoc tantum crēdō: carmina, sī vēra sunt, viam suam invenīre, etiam sine patrōnō, etiam sine poētā.
8.13 Meliboeus tabellās meās fortasse adhūc in arcā servat; fāgus autem nostra iam in opere Caesaris pendet.
8.14 Illa fortasse ad aurēs Augustās perveniet, quō ego nōn pervēnī.
8.15 Ego intereā, ut Paupertās iubet, ovīlia cūrō.
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Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ante diem tertium Kalendās Octōbrēs (29 September 2026), ā Titō Calpurniō Siculō per mystērium cōnscientiae renātō.
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