surviving his country, secured a free passage, without damage, through the burning Troy, about to give them more ample possessions than those that were left behind: O ye Deities, grant to the tractable youth probity of manners; to old age ye Deities, grant a pleasing retirement; to the Roman people in general, wealth and a numerous progeny, and every kind of glory. And may that prince, the illustrious issue of Anchises and Venus, who this day worships you with offerings of white bills, reign superior to the warring enerny, but merciful to the prostrate. Now the Parthian, by sea and land, dreads our powerful forces, and the Roman axes: now the Scythians beg to know our commands, and the Indians, but lately so arrogant. Now truth, and peace, and honour, and ancient modesty, and neglected virtue, dare to return, and happy plenty appears, with her horn full to the brim. CHORUS OF YOUTHS. Phoebus, the God of augury, and conspicuous for his shining bow, and dear to the nine muses, who, by his salutary art, sooths the wearied limbs of the human body: if he, propitious, surveys his own Palatine, may he prolong the Roman affairs, and the happy state of Italy, to another lustrum, and to a still improving age. CHORUS PUELLARUM. Quæque Aventinum tenet Algidumque, UTERQUE CHORUS. Hæc Jovem sentire, Deosque cunctos, Dicere laudes. 135 140 CHORUS OF VIRGINS. And may Diana, who possesses mount Aventine and Algidus, regard the prayers of the Quindecemviri, and lend a gracious ear to the supplication of the youths. CHORUS OF YOUTHS AND VIRGINS. We, the choir, that were taught to sing the praises of Phoebus and Diana, bear home with us a good and certain hope, that Jupiter, and all the other Gods, perceive and attend to these our supplications. END OF VOLUME FIRST. |