Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/109

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SILVAE, I. vi. 83–102

loving enthusiasm they salute their Lord. This liberty[1] alone did Caesar forbid them.

Scarce was dusky night shrouding the world, when through the dense gloom a ball of flame fell gleaming into the arena’s midst, surpassing the brightness of the Gnosian crown.[2] The sky was ablaze with fire, and suffered not the reign of darkness: sluggish Quiet fled, and lazy Sleep betook himself to other cities at the sight. Who can sing of the spectacle, the unrestrained mirth, the banqueting, the unbought feast, the lavish streams of wine? Ah! now I faint, and drunken with thy liquor drag myself at last to sleep.

For how many years shall this festival abide! Never shall age destroy so holy a day! While the hills of Latium remain and father Tiber, while thy Rome stands and the Capitol thou hast restored to the world, it shall continue.

  1. ↑ i.e., to salute him as “Dominus”: for Domitian’s titles of “Dominus et Deus” see Suet. Dom. 13.
  2. ↑ The constellation called Ariadne’s crown.

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