Mosella by Ausonius
Contents
The Journey ;
The Hymn ;
Looking into the depths ;
The Fishes ;
The Vineyards ;
The gods ;
Reflections in the River ;
Boatmen at Play ;
The Anglers ;
Riverside Villas ;
Some of the Villas Described ;
Tributaries of the Moselle ;
A Salutation ;
One day Ausonius will write of eminent Belgians ;
The Moselle flows into the Rhine ;
Ausonius on himself ;
There is so much more to sing ;
All other rivers will bow to the Moselle
1. The Journey
The Roman bridge at Bingen
I made an early start.
Mist was still on the Nahe, swift-flowing.
I crossed, and from the bridge looked back at
old Bingen town with its brand new walls.
Once there was a battle there, bloody as Cannae,
and pitiful companies lie unwept on its fields.
That was the start of my solitary journey.
No road; just woods. No sign of human cultivation.
Then Denzen, thirsty town -
The land was parched all round as I passed.
Next Tabernae, well-watered. Its spring never fails.
Now fields of Sauromates,
newly marked out by settlers, and now,
at long last, on the borders of Belgian territory, I see
Neumagen. Constantine built his famous camp here.
Oh yes! the air is clearer here. The sun unclouded
Spreads out a brilliant heaven, serene and bright.
After the woodland journey, where thick branches,
General view of Neumagen
interlacing, shut out the sky with green shade,
the clear air of this generous morning
shows limpid sunlight and red-gold sky.
And the view! I can’t help thinking
of radiant Bordeaux, my homeland,
its beauty, its farms. Look! roofs of farmhouses perched
on hanging banks, hills bright green with vines,
and the pleasant stream below
of the gently murmuring Moselle.
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