1impios parrae recinentis omen
Let an omen of a hooting owl escort the wicked
2ducat et praegnans canis aut ab agro
and a pregnant dog, or a tawny she-wolf
3rava decurrens lupa Lanuvino
running down from the region of Lanuvium
4fetaque volpes;
and a pregnant fox;
5rumpat et serpens iter institutum,
Let a snake interrupt the journey they have begun,
6si, per obliquum similis sagittae,
if, coming from the side like an arrow,
7terruit mannos:
it has terrified the horses:
8ego cui timebo
for the person I worry about
9providus auspex,
I, being a far-seeing augur,
10antequam stantes repetat paludes
Before the bird that portends imminent rain-storms
11imbrium divina avis imminentum,
can get even back to the stagnant marshes,
12oscinem corvum prece suscitabo
shall conjure up a prophetic crow
13solis ab ortu.
from the rising of the sun.
14sis licet felix, ubicumque mavis,
May you be happy, wherever you prefer to go,
15et memor nostri, Galatea, vivas,
and may you remember us, Galatea, for the rest of your life,
16teque nec laevus vetet ire picus
and may neither an ill-omened woodpecker prevent your journey
17nec vaga cornix.
nor a wandering magpie.