To the civil war This night shall bring completion, and shall give To peoples slain fit offerings, and send That life the world demands beneath the shades.
Rise then in all your hardihood and smite This Caesar down, and let the Roman youths Strike for themselves, and Lagos for its King.
Nor do thou tarry: full of wine and feast Thou'lt fall upon him in the lists of love; Then dare the venture, and the heavenly gods Shall grant of Cato's and of Brutus' prayers To thee fulfilment." Nor was Achillas slow To hear the voice that counselled him to crime.
No sounding clarion summoned, as is wont, His troops to arms; nor trumpet blare betrayed Their nightly march: but rapidly he seized All needed instruments of blood and war.
Of Latian race the most part of his train, Yet to barbarian customs were their minds By long forgetfulness of Rome debased: Else had it shamed to serve the Pharian King; But now his vassal and his minion's word Compel obedience.

Those who serve in camps Lose faith and love of kin: their pittance earned (21) Makes just the deed: and for their sordid pay, Not for themselves, they threaten Caesar's life.
Where finds the piteous destiny of the realm Rome with herself at peace?
The host withdrawn From dread Thessalia raves on Nilus' banks As all the race of Rome.

What more had dared, With Magnus welcomed, the Lagean house?
Each hand must render to the gods their due, Nor son of Rome may cease from civil war; By Heaven's command our state was rent in twain; Nor love for husband nor regard for sire Parted our peoples.

'Twas a slave who stirred Afresh the conflict, and Achillas grasped In turn the sword of Rome: nay more, had won, Had not the fates adverse restrained his hand From Caesar's slaughter.
For the murderous pair Ripe for their plot were met; the spacious hall Still busied with the feast.

So might have flowed Into the kingly cups a stream of gore, And in mid banquet fallen Caesar's head.
Yet did they fear lest in the nightly strife (The fates permitting) some incautious hand -- So did they trust the sword -- might slay the King.
Thus stayed the deed, for in the minds of slaves The chance of doing Caesar to the death Might bear postponement: when the day arose Then should he suffer; and a night of life Thus by Pothinus was to Caesar given.
Now from the Casian rock looked forth the Sun Flooding the land of Egypt with a day Warm from its earliest dawn, when from the walls Not wandering in disorder are they seen, But drown in close array, as though to meet A foe opposing; ready to receive Or give the battle.