Ovid and the Domus Augusta self,theexiledoutcast,asspeculatingaboutwhetheravictoryhadalready
been achieved,or perhaps even a triumph already held; but thoughTibe-
rius and Germanicus did campaign in Germany in.. and , and im-
perial salutations were gained for Augustus and Tiberius, no great victory
was achieved, and no triumph was held. Ovid could still imaginewhat it
wouldbelike,orwouldhavebeen,tobethere(–):
IamferaCaesaribusGermania,totusutorbis,
victapotestflexosuccubuissegenu.
altaquevelenturfortassePalatiasertis,
turaqueinignesonentinficiantquediem,
candidaqueadductacollumpercussasecuri
victimapurpureosanguinepulsethumum,
donaqueamicorumtemplispromissadeorum
redderevictoresCaesaruterqueparent.
etquiCaesareoiuvenessubnominecrescunt,
perpetuoterrasutdomusillaregat,
cumquebonisnuribusprosospiteLivianato
muneradetmeritis,saepedatura,deis,
etparitermatresetquaesinecriminecastos
perpetuaservantvirginitatefocos;
plebspiacumquepialaeteturplebesenatus,
parvaquecuiuseramparsegonupereques:
nosproculexpulsoscommuniagaudiafallunt,
famaquetamlongenonnisiparvavenit.
ergoomnispopuluspoteritspectaretriumphos,
cumqueducumtitulisoppidacaptaleget.
vinclaquecaptivaregescervicegerentes
antecoronatosirevidebitequos.
etcernetvultusaliisprotemporeversos,
terribilesaliisinmemoresquesui.
quorumparscausasetresetnominaquaeret,
parsreferet,quamvisnoveritillaparum.
()AlreadybeforetheCaesarswildGermany,likethewholeworld,/
mayhavefallenindefeatonbendedknee./MaybethehighPalatine
isveiledingarlands,/andincensecracklesinthefireanddyesthe
day,/andthewhitevictimsmittenintheneckbytheliftedaxe/
throbspurplebloodtotheground,/ andthegiftstheyhadpromised
tothetemplesofthefriendlygods/thevictors,eachaCaesar,may
bemakingreadytopresent;/togetherwiththeyoungmenwho