ON THE MARCH TO SINOPI
Mithridatis, glorious and powerful,
master of great cities,
possessor of strong armies and fleets,
on his way to Sinopi he passed through
a road in the countryside, far from the center,
where a seer had his home.
Mithridatis sent one of his officers
to ask the seer how much more wealth he would acquire
in he future, how many more forces.
He sent his officer, and then
he carried on his march to Sinopi.
The seer retired to a secret room.
After half an hour he came out
concerned, and said to the officer,
“I could not see clearly enough to understand,
Perhaps today is not the right time.
I saw some shadowy things. I didn’t understand very well.—
However, I think, that the king should be satisfied with all he has.
More will put him in danger.
Remember to tell him this, officer:
with all he has, for God’s sake, let him be content!
Fate has sudden changes.
Tell the king Mithridatis this:
It is very rarely to find someone like the companion of his ancestor,
that noble, who using his spear
wrote these timely words in the dust, “Flee, Mithridatis.”
Libros Libertad 