“Mantua, the home of the Muses, raised to the skies by immortal verse, and a match for the lyre of Homer.”

— Silius Italicus , Punica

Book VIII, lines 593–594
Punica

Original

Mantua, Musarum domus atque ad sidera cantu evecta Aonio et Smyrnaeis aemula plectris.

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Silius Italicus 31

Roman consul, orator, and Latin epic poet 26–101

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“O heavenly Muse, that not with fading bays
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“Mantua, the home of the Muses, raised to the skies by immortal verse, and a match for the lyre of Homer.”

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Silius Italicus 31

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