622Reveal now, Muses, divinities who stand by poets (for you know, and far-reaching antiquity does not deceive you), how the island encircled by the deep Tiber added the son of Coronis to the sacred rites of Romulus' city. 626Once a dire plague had tainted the Latin air, and bodies lay pale and wasted with a bloodless disease. 628When, weary of funerals, they see that human efforts avail nothing, that the arts of physicians avail nothing, they seek heavenly aid and go to Delphi, which holds the middle of the world's earth, the oracle of Phoebus, and they pray that he will be willing to help their wretched state with a health-bringing response and end the ills of so great a city: both the place and the laurel and the quivers that the god himself carries trembled at once, and the tripod gave out this voice from the depths of the shrine and stirred their terrified hearts: 'What you seek from here, Roman, you should have sought from a nearer place, and seek it now from a nearer place!
638You have no need of Apollo to lessen your sorrows, but of Apollo's son. 640Go with good omens and summon my offspring!' 641When the wise senate had received the god's commands, they find out what city the young son of Phoebus inhabits, and send men to reach the shores of Epidaurus with the winds. 644As soon as the envoys touched them with their curved keel, they approached the council and the Greek elders and begged them to give the god who by his presence might end the deaths of the Ausonian race: so, they said, the sure oracle declared. 648Opinion is divided and varies; some think help should not be refused, many advise keeping their own protection and not letting it go nor handing over their deity: while they hesitate, twilight had driven away the late light, and the shadow of the earth had brought darkness over the world, when the helping god seemed in your dreams, Roman, to stand before your couch, but such as he usually is in his temple, holding a rustic staff in his left hand and stroking the hair of his long beard with his right, and to utter such words from his calm breast: 'Put aside your fears!
658I shall come, and leave my images behind. 659Only look at this serpent which twines its coils around my staff, and mark it well with your eyes, so that you can recognise it! 661I shall be turned into this, but I shall be larger and shall appear as great as heavenly bodies ought to be when they are transformed.' 663At once with the voice the god, with the voice and the god sleep departs, and kindly daylight followed the flight of sleep. 665The next dawn had put the starry fires to flight: uncertain what to do, the leading men come to the sumptuous temple of the god they sought, and pray that he would show by heavenly signs in what abode he himself wishes to stay.
669They had scarcely finished when the god, golden, with high crest, in the form of a serpent, sent forth hisses as heralds, and by his coming shook the statue and the altars and the doors and the marble floor and the golden roof, and, raised up to his chest, stood in the middle of the temple and cast around his eyes flashing with fire. 675The terrified crowd quakes. 675The priest, his chaste hair bound with a white ribbon, recognised the deity: 'Behold the god, it is the god! 677Keep holy silence in mind and tongue, whoever is present!' 678he said. 678'O most beautiful one, may you have been seen to our good, and may you help the peoples who worship at your rites!'