Quis color ille vadis, seras cum propulit umbras Hesperus et viridi perfudit monte Mosellam! tota natant crispis iuga motibus et tremit absens pampinus et vitreis vindemia turget in undis.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The poet describes the vibrant colors and movement of the Moselle river at dusk, noting how the light and water animate the landscape.
- In plain terms
- The river sparkles and moves so much it makes the vines and hills seem alive.
- What can you take from it?
- Nature's movement and light create vivid imagery.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does light change perception?
- What makes a scene vivid?
Another view
The description depends on visual imagination which varies by reader.
More from Ausonius
Jejunis nil scribo: meum post pocula si quis legerit, hic sapiet. Sed magis hic sapiet, si dormiet: et putet ista somnia missa sibi.
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