Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/47

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SILVAE, I. i. 22–41

Well suited to the work are its surroundings.[1] Here facing it he opens wide his portals, who weary with warfare, by the gift of his adopted son,[2] first showed our deities the way to heaven; and from thy face he learns thy greater gentleness in arms, who not even against the foreigner’s rage art easily stern, but with Cattians and with Dacians makest bond. Under thy leadership both his son-in-law, now the lesser[3] man, and Cato had bowed to Caesar’s sway. Lengthwise thy flanks are guarded, on this hand by the Julian edifice, on that by the high basilica of warlike Paullus; thy back the Sire beholds, and Concord with tranquil brow.

Thou thyself with lofty head enshrined in the pure air dost tower resplendent over the temples, and seemest to look forth to see whether the new Palace, despising the flames, be rising in greater beauty, or whether the brand of Trojan fire keep silent watch, and Vesta now be praising the proved worth of her ministrants.[4] Thy right hand bids battles cease; thy left the Tritonian maiden[5] overburdens not, and holding out Medusa’s severed head incites thy steed as with a goad: never had the goddess choicer resting-place, not even if thou, O Father, didst hold her. Thy breast is such as might avail to solve the riddles of the universe, and thereon

  1. ↑ The statue is opposite the temple of Divus Julius (the first of the Roman Emperors to be deified), dedicated by Augustus in 27 B.C., on either side of it are the Basilicas of Julius Caesar and Aemilius Lepidus respectively, i.e. on the right and left of one looking down the Forum away from the Capitol; behind it is the temple of Jupiter on the Capitol, and that of Concord.
  2. ↑ Julius Caesar adopted Octavian, his great-nephew, as his son.
  3. ↑ The point is that the son-in-law was Pompey “the Great” (Magnus).
  4. ↑ Domitian had recently punished one of the Vestals for unchastity (Suet. Dom. 8). Domitian, looking slightly to his right, would see the temple of Vesta, and the Palatine rising above it; his new buildings there are referred to by Suetonius (Dom. 5). The sacred fire brought from Troy was kept concealed in the temple of Vesta, cf. v. 3. 178 “facis opertae.”
  5. ↑ i.e., Pallas.

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