Lucretii "Aeneadum genitrix" ("De rerum natura", I, 1-43) of Lucretius|of the Aeneid|mother|of|things|nature|book 1 Mother of the Aeneads, pleasure of men and gods, nurturing Venus, under the sliding signs of heaven, you who fill the navigable sea and the fruitful lands, since through you every kind of living being is conceived and sees the light of the sun: you, goddess, the winds flee from you, the clouds of heaven and your arrival, to you the sweet, skillful earth offers flowers, to you the seas smile and the sky shines with diffused light.

Aeneadum genetrix, hominum divomque voluptas, alma Venus, caeli subter labentia signa quae mare navigerum, quae terras frugiferentis concelebras, per te quoniam genus omne animantum concipitur visitque exortum lumina solis: te, dea, te fugiunt venti, te nubila caeli adventumque tuum, tibi suavis daedala tellus summittit flores, tibi rident aequora ponti placatumque nitet diffuso lumine caelum. of the Aeneid|mother|of men|and of gods|pleasure|nurturing|Venus|of heaven|beneath|gliding|signs|which|sea|ship-bearing|which|lands|fruit-bearing|you celebrate|through|you|since|race|all|of living beings|is conceived|and it sees|rising|light|of the sun|you|goddess|you|they flee|winds|you|clouds|of heaven|and arrival|your|to you|sweet|skillful|earth|it brings forth|flowers|to you|they smile|seas|of the ocean|and calm|it shines|spread|light|sky For as soon as the appearance of the vernal day is revealed and the life-giving breeze of the west wind is unsealed, the airborne birds first signify you, goddess, and their hearts are struck by your power. nam simul ac species patefactast verna diei et reserata viget genitabilis aura favoni, aeriae primum volucris te, diva, tuumque significant initum perculsae corda tua vi. for|as soon as|and|appearance|it has been revealed|spring|of day|and|unlocked|it thrives|life-giving|breeze|west wind|airy|first|birds|you|goddess|and your|they signal|beginning|struck|hearts|your|by your power Then the wild beasts leap for joyful pastures and swim across the swift rivers: thus captivated by your charm, they eagerly follow you wherever you lead them. inde ferae pecudes persultant pabula laeta et rapidos tranant amnis: ita capta lepore te sequitur cupide quo quamque inducere pergis. then|wild|herds|they leap|pastures|rich|and|swift|they cross|rivers|thus|captivated|by delight|you|it follows|eagerly|wherever|each|to lead|you continue Then wild beasts leap over the happy pastures and swiftly swim through the rivers: so captivated by delight, they eagerly follow you wherever you persist in leading them. denique per maria ac montis fluviosque rapacis frondiferasque domos avium camposque virentis finally|through|seas|and|mountains|and rivers|greedy|and leafy|homes|of birds|and fields|green Finally, through the seas and mountains, the swift rivers and leafy homes of birds, and the green fields.

omnibus incutiens blandum per pectora amorem efficis ut cupide generatim saecla propagent. to all|instilling|gentle|through|hearts|love|you make|that|eagerly|generally|generations|they may propagate You instill a gentle love in all hearts, making them eager to propagate generations. quae quoniam rerum naturam sola gubernas nec sine te quicquam dias in luminis oras exoritur neque fit laetum neque amabile quicquam, te sociam studeo scribendis versibus esse, quos ego de rerum natura pangere conor Memmiadae nostro, quem tu, dea, tempore in omni omnibus ornatum voluisti excellere rebus. which|since|of things|nature|alone|you govern|and not|without|you|anything|divine|in|light|shores|it arises|and not|it becomes|joyful|and not|lovable|anything|you|companion|I strive|to writing|verses|to be|which|I|about|of things|nature|to compose|I try|to our Memmius|our|whom|you|goddess|in time|in|all|to all|adorned|you wished|to excel|in matters Since you alone govern the nature of things, and nothing arises in the realms of light without you, nor does anything joyful or lovely come to be, I strive to have you as a companion in writing verses, which I attempt to compose about the nature of things for our Memmius, whom you, goddess, wished to excel in all matters at all times. quo magis aeternum da dictis, diva, leporem. therefore|more|eternal|give|to the words|goddess|delight Therefore, grant eternal charm to my words, goddess. effice ut interea fera moenera militiai per maria ac terras omnis sopita quiescant; nam tu sola potes tranquilla pace iuvare mortalis, quoniam belli fera moenera Mavors armipotens regit, in gremium qui saepe tuum se reiicit aeterno devictus vulnere amoris, atque ita suspiciens tereti cervice reposta pascit amore avidos inhians in te, dea, visus eque tuo pendet resupini spiritus ore. make|that|meanwhile|wild|burdens|of war|through|seas|and|lands|all|having been lulled|||you|alone|you are able|peaceful|with peace|to help|mortals|since|of war|wild|burdens|Mars|powerful in arms|he rules|in|lap|who|often|your|himself|he throws|eternal|having been conquered|wound|of love|and|thus|looking up|slender|neck|having been laid back|he feeds|with love|eager|gazing|at|you|goddess|having been seen|and|your|it hangs|lying on his back|breath|mouth Make it so that in the meantime the fierce horrors of war may rest, lulled to sleep across the seas and lands; for you alone can help mortals with peaceful tranquility, since the fierce horrors of war are ruled by Mavors, the mighty god of war, who often throws himself into your lap, defeated by the eternal wound of love, and thus looking up, with his smooth neck laid back, he feeds on love, eagerly gazing at you, goddess, whose spirit hangs from your upturned mouth. hunc tu, diva, tuo recubantem corpore sancto circum fusa super, suavis ex ore loquellas funde petens placidam Romanis, incluta, pacem; nam neque nos agere hoc patriai tempore iniquo possumus aequo animo nec Memmi clara propago talibus in rebus communi desse saluti. this|you|goddess|your|lying down|body|holy|around|having been poured|above|sweet|from|mouth|little speeches|pour|seeking|peaceful|to the Romans|renowned|||nor|we|to act|this|of the homeland|time|unfavorable|we are able|with even|mind|nor|of Memmius|bright|lineage|such|in|matters|common|to fail|to safety You, goddess, pour forth sweet words from your mouth, seeking to grant peaceful tranquility to the renowned Romans, while reclining around your holy body; for neither can we act in this unjust time for our homeland with a calm mind, nor can the illustrious offspring of Memmi fail to contribute to the common safety in such matters.