num tractu in medio bibulus vorat alveus undam fluminis et subito stagna absorbentur hiatu, ne sulcos operire vadis neve arida possint Aegypti per plana trahi glebasque rigentes infusis ad pingue lutum mollire fluentis, unde seges late crinitis fluctuet agris, densius et gravidis se vestiat aequor aristis? respice, num Libyci desistat ruris arator frumentis onerare rates et ad ostia Thybris mittere triticeos in pastum plebis acervos, numne Leontini sulcator solvere campi cesset frugiferas Lilybeo ex litore cumbas nec det vela fretis Romana nec horrea rumpat Sardorum congesta vehens granaria classis.
Does its thirsty channel engulf the water of the river in mid course? Is its stream suddenly swallowed down some gaping hole and prevented from covering the furrows with its shallow sea and spreading over the dry plains of Egypt, softening the stiff clods into rich clay soil with the inpouring of its flood, so that corn may wave like locks of hair far over the fields and the expanse of land clothe itself more thickly with full ears? See if the farmer of the African country-side is ceasing to load ships with his grain and send to Tibers mouth his heaps of wheat to feed the people, if he who furrows the plain of Leontini is behind-hand in sailing his corn-ships from the shore of Lilybaeum, and the fleet that brings the gathered stores of Sardinian barns no longer spreading its canvas on the sea and filling the store-houses of Rome to bursting.
final_alignments\Prudentius_Reply_to_Symmachus_Book2.json