Cum pariter victi foemina virque jacent.
Hi tibi servandus tenor est, cum libera dantur
Otia; furtivum nec timor urget opus.
Cum mora non tuta est, totis incumbere remis
Utile, et admisso subdere calcar equo.
There is an end now of my task; grant me the palm, ye grateful youths, and present the myrtle garlands to my perfumed locks. As great as was Podalirius [992] among the Greeks in the art of healing, as the descendant of Æacus with his right hand, as Nestor with his eloquence; as great as Calchas [993] was in soothsaying, as the son of Telamon was in arms, as Automedon [994] was in guiding the chariot, so great a Lover am I. Celebrate me as your bard, ye men, to me repeat my praises; let my name be sung throughout all the earth. Arms have I given to you; to Achilles Vulcan gave arms. With the gifts presented to you, prove victorious, as he proved victorious. But whoever subdues the Amazon with my weapons, let him inscribe upon his spoil [995] —"Naso was my preceptor."
And lo! the charming fair are asking me to give them my precepts. You then shall be the next care of my song.——