offspring, and two-faced Janus, the potency of the gods
below and the shrine of relentless Pluto: and let the
Father too give ear, who ratifies covenants with thunder. 30
My hand is on the altars; I adjure the fires and powers
that part us: so far as rests with Italy, no length of time
shall break this bond of friendship, let things issue as they
may: no violence shall make me swerve in will, not though
deluge and chaos come again, ruining the earth into the 35
water and crushing down heaven into Tartarus: even
as this sceptre”—for a sceptre chanced to be in his hand—“shall