Sabaton - Crossing the Rubicon (Latin translation)

Sabaton – Crossing the Rubicon

Latin translation

English

Original lyrics

Crossing the Rubicon

He is crossing the Rubicon

Hundred years before our lord, from the cradle to the sword

A sign of what’s to come, of what can be undone

On to conquest tempting fate, in the footsteps of the great

A consul on the move, he’s building bridges and his

Enemies enter the field

Knowing their fate has been sealed

Africa, Italy, Spain and Gaul will kneel

He is crossing the Rubicon

Heading home to where he belong

Born to rule it alone, the glory of Rome

He is crossing the Rubicon

Over the river at last, the die has been cast

Fortune does favour the brave, from the Senate to the grave

This man would seek it all, this man would heed the call

The republics doom and fall, he’s the man who caused it all

Dictator on the move, he’s burning bridges as his

Grip of the power of Rome

Secured as he heads for the throne

The 15th of March, the knives would cut to the bone

He is crossing the Rubicon (Yeah)

Heading home to where he belong

Born to rule it alone, the glory of Rome

He is crossing the Rubicon

Over the river at last, the die has been cast

He is crossing the Rubicon

Heading home to where he belong

Born to rule it alone, the glory of Rome

He is crossing the Rubicon

Over the river at last, the die has been cast

Latin

Translation

Transitus Rubiconis

Rubiconem transit1.

Centum annis ante Dominum nostrum2, a cunabulis3 ad gladium,

signum rerum venturarum4, earum quae inrita5 fieri possunt,

ad victoriam progrediens, fatum temptans6, in vestigiis7 magnorum,

consul in itinere, pontes construit8 et suos—

hostes in campum9 ineunt,

scientes fatum suum obsignatum esse,

Africa, Italia, Hispania et Gallia genua flectent10.

Rubiconem transit,

domum tendit, ubi proprius11 est locus,

natus ut id12 solus regat, gloria Romae,

Rubiconem transit,

super flumen13 tandem: alea14 iacta est.

Fortuna fortes adiuvat15, a senatu usque ad sepulcrum16,

hic vir solebat17 omnia appetere, hic vir huic voci parebat,

rei publicae exitium et casus—hic est qui cuncta effecit,

dictator in itinere, pontes incendit18 et suos—

potestatem19 imperii Romani tenet,

potestate confirmata, ad solium properat20,

Idibus21 Martiis, ferri acies usque ad ossa secabunt.

Rubiconem transit (euge),

domum tendit, ubi proprius est locus,

natus ut id solus regat, gloria Romae,

Rubiconem transit,

super flumen tandem: alea iacta est.

Rubiconem transit,

domum tendit, ubi proprius est locus,

natus ut id solus regat, gloria Romae,

Rubiconem transit,

super flumen tandem: alea iacta est.

1. Historic present + opening one-liner: matches the source’s abrupt, iconic entrance.
2. Mirrors “before our lord,” preserving the slightly medieval register.
3. Idiomatic for “from the cradle.”
4. Prophetic diction for “what’s to come.”
5. “Undone” as “made void”—legal/political flavor suits the Republic context.
6. Literal calque of “tempting fate,” rather than idiomatic Fortunam provocare.
7. Epic commonplace “in the footsteps (of the great).”
8. Prepares the later antithesis with “pontes incendit.”
9. “Field” as battlefield: metonymy for the war-space.
10. Ceremonial phrase for submission (“will kneel”).
11. Natural Latin for “where he belongs” = “where his proper place is.”
12. Keeps the English ambiguity of “it” (Rome/empire/state).
13. Threshold image—point of no return.
14. Canonical proverb; Caesar tag the lyric invokes.
15. Proverb mirroring “Fortune does favour the brave.”
16. Merism: from public life to the tomb (“Senate → grave”).
17. English “would” as habitual: solebat marks a repeated bent.
18. Closes the antithesis: build ↔ burn bridges (conciliation → rupture).
19. Concise way to render “grip of the power”: potestas + object of rule.
20. Solium = “throne,” pointedly monarchic within a republican lexicon.
21. Roman dating formula—“Ides of March”; keeps the foreshadowing tone.

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