lays of ancient rome(古罗马方位)-第17章
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he has never thought of inquiring whether these things existed in the age
of Romulus。
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Lays of Ancient Rome
The Prophecy of Capys
A Lay Sung at the Banquet in the Capitol； on the
Day Whereon Manius Curius Dentatus； a Second
Time Consul； Triumphed Over King Pyrrhus and the
Tarentines； in the Year of the City CCCCLXXIX
I
Now slain is King Amulius； Of the great Sylvian line； Who
reigned in Alba Longa； On the throne of Aventine。 Slain is the
Ponfiff Camers； Who spake the words of doom： ‘‘The children to
the Tiber； The mother to the tomb。''
II
In Alba's lake no fisher His net to…day is flinging； On the dark
rind of Alba's oaks To…day no axe is ringing； The yoke hangs o'er
the manger； The scythe lies in the hay： Through all the Alban
villages No work is done to…day。
III
And every Alban burgher Hath donned his whitest gown； And
every head in Alba Weareth a poplar crown； And every Alban door…
post With boughs and flowers is gay； For to…day the dead are living；
The lost are found to…day。
IV
They were doomed by a bloody king； They were doomed by a
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lying priest； They were cast on the raging flood； They were tracked
by the raging beast； Raging beast and raging flood Alike have
spared the prey； And to…day the dead are living； The lost are found
to…day。
V
The troubled river knew them； And smoothed his yellow foam；
And gently rocked the cradle That bore the fate of Rome。 The
ravening she…wolf knew them； And licked them o'er and o'er； And
gave them of her own fierce milk； Rich with raw flesh and gore。
Twenty winters； twenty springs； Since then have rolled away； And
to…day the dead are living： The lost are found to…day。
VI
Blithe it was to see the twins； Right goodly youths and tall；
Marching from Alba Longa To their old grandsire's hall。 Along their
path fresh garlands Are hung from tree to tree： Before them stride
the pipers； Piping a note of glee。
VII
On the right goes Romulus； With arms to the elbows red； And in
his hand a broadsword； And on the blade a head A head in an iron
helmet； With horse…hair hanging down； A shaggy head； a swarthy
head； Fixed in a ghastly frown The head of King Amulius
Of the great Sylvian line； Who reigned in Alba Longa； On the
throne of Aventine。
VIII
On the left side goes Remus； With wrists and fingers red； And
in his hand a boar…spear； And on the point a head A wrinkled head
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and aged； With silver beard and hair； And holy fillets round it；
Such as the pontiffs wear The head of ancient Camers； Who spake
the words of doom： ‘‘The children to the Tiber； The mother to the
tomb。''
IX
Two and two behind the twins Their trusty comrades go； Four
and forty valiant men； With club； and axe； and bow。 On each side
every hamlet Pours forth its joyous crowd； Shouting lads and
baying dogs； And children laughing loud； And old men weeping
fondly As Rhea's boys go by； And maids who shriek to see the
heads； Yet； shrieking； press more nigh。
X
So marched they along the lake； They marched by fold and stall；
By cornfield and by vineyard； Unto the old man's hall。
XI
In the hall…gate sat Capys； Capys； the sightless seer； From head
to foot he trembled As Romulus drew near。 And up stood stiff his
thin white hair； And his blind eyes flashed fire： ‘‘Hail！ foster child
of the wondrous nurse！ Hail！ son of the wondrous sire！''
XII
‘‘But thouwhat dost thou here In the old man's peaceful hall？
What doth the eagle in the coop； The bison in the stall？ Our corn
fills many a garner； Our vines clasp many a tree； Our flocks are
white on many a hill： But these are not for thee。
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XIII
‘‘For thee no treasure ripens In the Tartessian mine； For thee no
ship brings precious bales Across the Libyan brine； Thou shalt not
drink from amber； Thou shalt not rest on down； Arabia shall not
steep thy locks； Nor Sidon tinge thy gown。
XIV
‘‘Leave gold and myrrh and jewels； Rich table and soft bed； To
them who of man's seed are born； Whom woman's milk have fed。
Thou wast not made for lucre； For pleasure； nor for rest； Thou； that
art sprung from the War…god's loins； And hast tugged at the she…
wolf's breast。
XV
‘‘From sunrise unto sunset All earth shall hear thy fame： A
glorious city thou shalt build； And name it by thy name： And there；
unquenched through ages； Like Vesta's sacred fire； Shall live the
spirit of thy nurse； The spirit of thy sire。
XVI
‘‘The ox toils through the furrow； Obedient to the goad； The
patient ass； up flinty paths； Plods with his weary load： With whine
and bound the spaniel His master's whistle hears； And the sheep
yields her patiently To the loud…clashing shears。
XVII
‘‘But thy nurse will hear no master； Thy nurse will bear no load；
And woe to them that shear her； And woe to them that goad！ When
all the pack； loud baying； Her bloody lair surrounds； She dies in
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silence； biting hard； Amidst the dying hounds。
XVIII
Pomona loves the orchard； And Liber loves the vine； And Pales
loves the straw…built shed Warm with the breath of kine； And Venus
loves the whispers Of plighted youth and maid； In April's ivory
moonlight Beneath the chestnut shade。
XIX
‘‘But thy father loves the clashing Of broadsword and of shield：
He loves to drink the steam that reeks From the fresh battlefield： He
smiles a smile more dreadful Than his own dreadful frown； When
he sees the thick black cloud of smoke Go up from the conquered
town。
XX
‘‘And such as is the War…god； The author of thy line； And such
as she who suckled thee； Even such be thou and thine。 Leave to the
soft Campanian His baths and his perfumes； Leave to the sordid
race of Tyre Their dyeing…vats and looms； Leave to the sons of
Carthage The rudder and the oar； Leave to the Greek his marble
Nymphs And scrolls of wordy lore。
XXI
‘‘Thine； Roman； is the pilum： Roman； the sword is thine； The
even trench； the bristling mound； The legion's ordered line； And
thine the wheels of triumph； Which with their laurelled train Move
slowly up the shouting streets To Jove's eternal flame。
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XXII
Beneath thy yoke the Volscian Shall vail his lofty brow； Soft
Capua's curled revellers Before thy chairs shall bow： The
Lucumoes of Arnus Shall quake thy rods to see； And the proud
Samnite's heart of steel Shall yield to only thee。
XXIII
‘‘The Gaul shall come against thee From the land of snow and
night； Thou shalt give his fair…haired armies To the raven and the
kite。
XXIV
‘‘The Greek shall come against thee； The conqueror of the East。
Beside him stalks to battle The huge earth…shaking beast； The beast
on whom the castle With all its guards doth stand； The beast who
hath between his eyes The serpent for a hand。 First march the bold
Epirotes； Wedged close with shield and spear And the ranks of false
Tarentum Are glittering in the rear。
XXV
The ranks of false Tarentum Like hunted sheep shall fly： In vain
the bold Epirotes Shall round their standards die： And Apennine's
gray vultures Shall have a noble feast On
