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Home  »  The Oxford Book of Latin Verse  »  Poetry and Time (Prefixed to his Life of Vergil)

Heathcote William Garrod, comp. (1878–1960). The Oxford Book of Latin Verse. 1912.

Phocas circa 500 A.D. (?)

Poetry and Time (Prefixed to his Life of Vergil)

OVETVSTATIS ueneranda custos,

regios actus simul et fugacis

temporum cursus docilis referre,

aurea Clio,

tu nihil magnum sinis interire,

nil mori clarum pateris, reseruans

posteris prisci monumenta saecli

condita libris.

sola fucatis uariare dictis

paginas nescis, set aperta quicquid

ueritas prodit, recinis per aeuum

simplice lingua.

tu senescentis titulos auorum

flore durantis reparas iuuentae;

militat uirtus tibi: te notante

crimina pallent.

tu fori turbas strepitusque litis

effugis dulci moderata cantu,

nec retardari pateris loquellas

conpede metri.

his faue dictis: retegenda uita est

uatis Etrusci, modo qui perenne

Romulae uoci decus adrogauit

carmine sacro.