While such complainings Cypria’s grief disclose, In each celestial breast compassion rose: Not gods can alter fate’s resistless will; Yet they foretold by signs the approaching ill. Dreadful were heard, among the clouds, alarms Of echoing trumpets, and of clashing arms; The sun’s pale image gave so faint a light, That the sad earth was almost veil’d in night; The ether’s face with fiery meteors glow’d; With storms of hail were mingled drops of blood; A dusky hue the morning star o’erspread, And the moon’s orb was stain’d with spots of red; In every place portentous shrieks were heard, The fatal warnings of the infernal bird; In every place the marble melts to tears; While in the groves, revered through length of years, Boding and awful sounds the ear invade, And solemn music warbles through the shade; No victim can atone the impious age, No sacrifice the wrathful gods assuage; Dire wars and civil fury threat the state; And every omen points out Caesar’s fate: Around each hallow’d shrine, and sacred dome, Night-howling dogs disturb the peaceful gloom;