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Carmen Saeculares

O shining Phoebe and forest Diana,
shining ornaments of the sky,
ever gentle and refined, O sacred brows,
give us what we pray for now,

Against what the Sibyl warned,
rich voices of choice virgins and
innocent boys lift in song on behalf
of these seven hills.

Nurturing Sol, shining charioteer,
who brings forth and conceals light,
born each day unaltered, may you
Never see a city greater than Rome.

Gentle Moon, Ilithyia, Lucina,
by whatever name you wish called,
Gentalis, watch over mothers,
may you give them gentle deliveries.

Goddess, bring forth offspring,
May Rome prosper by the Senate?s
new law on marriage and parenthood
with many more boys and girls.

So that in eleven decades of years
new throngs of Romans shall witness
these games and songs, for three
clear days and three long nights.

And you, O Fates, faithful prophets,
keep Rome safe throughout time,
harness her destiny with glories
and a future of great renown.

May Mother Earth, fertile in fruit
and cattle, crown Ceres with wheat,
and nurture the fertility of the land,
healthful waters, and gentle breezes.

Apollo, put aside your bow, and listen
mildly and kindly to the prayers of boys.
Luna, crescent Queen of the Stars,
Listen to the prayers of virgin girls.

Rome was your great work, when Ilians
followed your advice to abandon Troy
and carry their Lares to a safe haven
on Etruscan shores.

Pure Aeneas, passionate and honest,
last of the royal house of Troy,
paved the way for greater glories
than Ilium that he left behind.

Gods, show our children the ways of
virtue. Gods, give our elderly peace and
quiet. Give wealth, offspring, and every
honor to the houses of Romulus.

Tonight with the blood of a white ox
the glorious son of Anchises and Venus
venerates you. Grant that he may long
Be victorious, and lenient on his foes.

Over land and sea Rome?s potent hand now
stretches; the Medes fear for their safety;
and once haughty Scythians and India now
ask for gentle response to their entreaties.

Fidelity, Peace, Honor, and Modesty, and
once neglected Virtue now returns, and
with them plentiful blessing pour on Rome
as fruits from a cornucopia.

Phoebus, augur, archer of the flashing bow
accepted master of the nine Muses
whose arts bring health and eases the ills
of a wearied body,

Be pleased by what you see on the altars
upon the Palatine, and answer our prayers
that lasting prosperity and happiness
you bestow on Rome and the Latins.

Diana, who dwells on the Aventine and
Algidus hilltops, graciously lend your ears
to the prayers of virile men and young boys

May Jove and all the gods approve these
good wishes, that the skilled choir,
singing the praises of Diana and Apollo,
may happily carry home their hopes.

Antonius Mus
Persius
Cato
Catullus
Cicero
Assorted Prayers II
Assorted Prayers I
The Thunder
Tibullus
Anthologia Latina
Apuleius
Valerius Flaccus
Fratres Arvales
Horace
Inscriptions
Martial
Magical Prayers
Propertius
Macrobius
Seneca I
Sillius Italicus
Statius I
Varro
Virgil II
Virgil I
Lucan
Plautus

Carmen Saeculares