Roman Poetry Quotes

“Celebrate my heart, at ease or on fire, in my usual featherbrained way.

Horace, Roman Poet
Ode I-6, 23 BCE”
― Vivian Swift, When Wanderers Cease to Roam: A Traveler's Journal of Staying Put

“Villicus Vadum: Soldier Of Fortune by Stewart Stafford

I am the ghost of lupine Romulus,
Founder of Rome, hear my tale,
Of Villicus Vadum - young, driven,
Steward to Senator Lucius Flavius.

Villicus wanted Flavia, the senator’s daughter,
But she was betrothed to Marcus Brutus;
A consul of noble and virtuous stock,
Villicus conspired to take Flavia's hand.

Treachery and deception were his tools,
Knavish peacock of Rome's epic stage,
Sought to take Flavia from Marcus Brutus,
To snatch and cage his treasured gem.

Bribed a false soothsayer to trap her,
Believing her beloved began with V,
Flavia agreed to elope with him to Gaul,
With Brutus vowing deadly vengeance.

Fleeing to the bosom of Rome's enemy -
Vercingetorix, at war with Julius Caesar,
Villicus offered to spy on the Senate,
While plotting to seize Gaul's throne.

Queen Verica also caught his eye,
Villicus was captured by Mark Antony,
Taken to Caesar's camp as a traitor;
Brutus challenged him to a duel.

Brutus slashed him but spared his life,
They dragged Villicus to Rome in chains,
To try him for his now infamous crimes;
Cicero in defence, Cato as prosecutor.

Cicero argued Villicus acted out of love,
And that his ambition merited mercy,
Cato wanted death for his wicked threat,
Julius Caesar pondered a final verdict.

Villicus - pardoned but banished from Rome,
Immediate death if he returned to Flavia,
Villicus kissed the emperor's foot for naught,
Flavia refused to join him in fallen exile.

Now learn from this outcast's example, friends,
That I, Romulus, warn you to avoid at your peril,
Villicus Vadum, the wrath of the gods upon him,
Until time ceases, sole spectre of night's edge.

© Stewart Stafford, 2023. All rights reserved.”
― Stewart Stafford