I have exacted a monument more lasting than bronze

higher even than the regal site of pyramids,

which neither eroding rain, nor north wind raging

can destroy nor innumerable

sequences of years and flight of seasons.                  5

Not all of me will die and a large part

will avoid Libitina: I shall continue

to grow afresh in praise to come, so long as

pontifex climbs Capitolium with silent virgin:

I shall be said, where wild Aufidus roars                 10

and where Daunus, poor in water, over rustic

folk once ruled, from humble source a powerful

princeps to have led Aeolian songs into

Italian metres. Put on haughty pride

earned with merit, and willingly,                             15

Melpomene, gird my locks with Delphic laurel.

Exegi monumentum aere perennius

regalique situ pyramidum altius,

quod non imber edax, non aquilo impotens

possit diruere aut innumerabilis

annorum series et fuga temporum.

Non omnis moriar multaque par mei

vitabit Libitinam: usque ego postera

crescam laude recens, dum Capitolium

scandet cum tacita virgine pontifex:

dicar, qua violens obstrepit Aufidus

et qua pauper aquae Daunus agrestium

regnavit populorum, ex humili potens

princeps Aeolium carmen ad Italos

deduxisse modos. sume superbiam

quaesitam meritis et mihi Delphica

lauro cinge volens, Melpomene, comam.

7. Libitina is the goddess of funerals.