Q. H. Flaccus.
Dellius, that car which, night and day,
Lightnings and thunders arm and scourge —
Tumultuous down the Appian Way —
Be slow to urge.
Though reckless Lydia bid thee fly,
And Telephus o'ertaking jeer,
Nay, sit and strongly occupy
The lower gear.
They call, the road consenting, "Haste!" —
Such as delight in dust collected —
Until arrives (I too have raced!)
The unexpected.
What ox not doomed to die alone,
Or inauspicious hound, may bring
Thee 'twixt two kisses to the throne
Of Hades' King,
I cannot tell; the Furies send
No warning ere their bolts arrive.
'Tis best to reach our chosen end
Late but alive.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1927.
The author died in 1936, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 80 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.