Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

NEMESIAXUSthe Nile at their birth ; nor let me fail to tell whatcampaigns you first ended, Carinas, beneath theNorthern Bear with ** victorious hand, well-nigh outstrippingeven your divine father, and how yourbrother '' seized on Persia's very heart and thetime-honoured citadels of Babylon, in vengeancefor outrages done to the high dignity of the realmsof Romulus' race/ I shall record also the Parthians'feeble flight, their unopened quivers, unbent bowsand unavailing arrows.Such strains shall my Muses consecrate to youboth, as soon as it is my fortune to see your blestfaces, kindly divinities of this earth. Already myfeelings, intolerant of slow time and disdainful ofdelay, anticipate the joys of my aspiration, and Ifancy I already discern the majestic mien of thebrothers, and therewith Rome, the illustrious senate,the generals trusted for warfare, and the marchinglines of many soldiers, their brave souls stirred withdevotion. The golden standards gleam radiant afarwith their purple drapery, and a light breeze wavesthe folds of the ferocious dragons.^Only do thou, Diana, Latona's great glory, w'hodost roam the peaceful glade and woodland, comequickly, assume thy wonted guise, bow in hand, andhang the coloured quiver from thy shoulder ;goldenbe the weapons, thine arrows ; and let thy gleamingfeet be fitted with purple buskins ; let thy cloaktorious arms to Ctesiphon. Numcrian's subsequent retreatsurprised the Persians.'^The reference is to violations of the Eastern frontiers of theEmpire. Cacumina regni is taken, with ^^'e^nsdorf, to meanJastigium et maitstatem imperii Romani.''They were military emblems from Trajan's time.493