But culture wakes the spark innate,
And discipline assures the breast:
Where slighted morals mar the state,
Fair nature sinks in vice opprest.

What debt, O Rome, to Nero's sons is owed?
Say, bloody tale of Asdrubal's disgrace, [flowed,
Say, death-clogged stream, whose waters purpling
Say, joyous day, that darkness first could chase,

When victory fair propitious on us smiled ;

And, as through pine-groves bursts the raging flame,

Or o'er the bellowing deep the storm breaks wild, Afric's fell chief on wond'ring Latium came.

Hence sped our Roman arms afar

Our manly youth—hence fanes, o'erthrown

By Carthage and her impious war,

Their former Gods and ancient rites have known;

And thus false Hannibal at length:

"As timid deer to wolves a prey,

In danger's jaws we madly stay,
From foe like this escape or flight,
We well may deem no triumph light;

Gens, quæ cremato fortis ab Ilio, Jactata Tuscis æquoribus sacra, Natosque, maturosque patres, Pertulit Ausonias ad urbes,

Duris ut ilex tonsa bipennibus Nigræ feraci frondis in Algido, Per damna, per cædes, ab ipso Ducit opes animumque ferro.

Non Hydra secto corpore firmior Vinci dolentem crevit in Herculem, Monstrumve summisere Colchi Majus, Echioniæve Thebæ.

Merses profundo, pulchrior evenit! Luctere, multa proruet integrum Cum laude victorem, geretque Prælia conjugibus loquenda.

Carthagini jam non ego nuntios Mittam superbos: occidit, occidit Spes omnis, et fortuna nostri Nominis, Asdrubale interempto!

"A race that braved the tempest's rage, And safe their gods from Ilium bore, And childhood weak, and tottering age, Exulting placed on Latium's shore.

"As some tall oak whose branches fall
Beneath the axe on mountain side,
Though waste and havoc wide appal,
By loss a bolder growth's supplied.

"The Hydra not more wondrous rose, In triple form 'neath Hercules' blows; Nor from the dragon's teeth upsprings Such din of arms as round us rings.

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Plunged in the deep, they prouder rise! Vanquished, too sure their victor dies, They quick renew the storied fight,

Long theme for maiden's converse light.

"Of routed foes no more I tell

My name-my country's fortune fell, When Asdrubal disastrous bled,

O then, for ever, victory fled!

Nil Claudiæ non perficient manus, Quas et benigno numine Jupiter Defendit, et curæ sagaces Expediunt per acuta belli.”

"Vain to oppose the Claudian power, Which Jove protects in danger's hour; Sage councils ever guide their course: They mock deceit—they conquer force."