Sī, Cominī, populī arbitriō tua cāna senectūs
spurcāta impūrīs mōribus intereat,
nōn equidem dubitō quīn prīmum inimīca bonōrum
lingua exsecta avidō sit data vulturiō,
effossōs oculōs voret ātrō gutture corvus, 5
intestīna canēs, cētera membra lupī.
vocabulary
Cominius –a um: Roman nomen gentile in poem 108
arbitrium arbitrī(ī) n.: arbitration; authority; will
cānus –a –um: white, whitened
senectūs senectūtis f.: old age
spurcātus –a –um: morally contaminated, depraved
impūrus –a –um: dirty; morally foul, impure
intereō interīre interīvī/interiī interitus: die
equidem: part., I for my part
bonī –ōrum m. pl.: men of substance and social standing
exsecō exsecāre exsecuī exsectus or execror –ārī: cut out
avidus –a –um: greedy; ardently desirous, passionate
volturius –iī m.: vulture
effodiō –ere –fōdī –fossus: dig or gouge out 5
vorō vorāre vorāvī vorātus: devour, eat up
āter atra atrum: black, dark-complexioned
guttur –uris n.: throat
corvus –ī m.: raven
intestīnus –a –um: internal, personal
lupus lupī m.: wolf