PROPERTIUS, III. (IV.) xxii. 5-26, 39-42.
+Subject.+ Go where thou wilt, my Tullus, know that all the sights and marvels of all lands, from West to East, are outdone by those of thine own Italy. A truly famous land! A land ever victorious, ever merciful; full of fair lakes and streams. Here, Tullus, is thy true abode: here seek a life of honour and a home.
[Linenotes: 8. +Phorcidos ora+ = _the head of Medusa_, the daughter of Phorcus. 15. +Ortygii Caystri.+ Ortygia, an old name for Ephesus, near the mouth of the R. Cayster: the haunt of _quails_ (_Ortygia_, ὄρτυξ). 16. +temperat septenas vias+ = _moderates its seven channels_, of the delta of the Nile. --Ramsay. 19-22. Cf. Verg. _Aen._ vi. 853 _Parcere subiectis et debellare superbos._ 19. +commoda noxae+ = _disposed to harm_. --North Pinder. 24. +Marcius umor+, i.e. the aqueduct of Q. Marcius Rex; built 145 B.C. 25. The Alban and Arician Lakes (+Nemorensis+ = mod. _Nemi_) are close together. 26. i.e. the well Iuturna in the Forum (‘the well that springs by Vesta’s fane’) at which the Dioscuri washed their horses after their hot ride from Lake Regillus. 41. +ad eloquium cives+ = _citizens to hear and profit by your eloquence_. --N. P.]
Haec est in gremium victos quae sola recepit 150 Humanumque genus communi nomine fovit Matris, non dominae ritu: civesque vocavit Quos domuit, nexuque pio longinqua revinxit. Huius pacificis debemus moribus omnes Quod veluti patriis regionibus utitur hospes: 155 Quod sedem mutare licet: quod cernere Thulen Lusus, et horrendos quondam penetrare recessus: Quod bibimus passim Rhodanum, potamus Orontem; Quod cuncti gens una sumus. Nec terminus unquam Romanae dicionis erit. Nam cetera regna 160 Luxuries vitiis odiisque superbia vertit. Sic male sublimes fregit Spartanus Athenas Atque idem Thebas cecidit. Sic Medus ademit Assyrio, Medoque tulit moderamina Perses: Subiecit Macedo Persen, cessurus et ipse 165 Romanis. Haec auguriis firmata Sibyllae, Haec sacris animata Numae: huic fulmina vibrat Iuppiter: hanc tota Tritonia Gorgone velat. Arcanas huc Vesta faces, huc orgia Bacchus Transtulit, et Phrygios genetrix turrita leones. 170 Huc defensurus morbos Epidaurius hospes Reptavit placido tractu, vectumque per undas Insula Paeonium texit Tiberina draconem.