Augustus Takes Command of Rome
You rise above the crowd and stride toward the heights.
You take your place among the finest, first in rank, honored and admired.
Heaven's grace bestows upon you wealth, glory, and every blessing.
May your fortune be as boundless as the sea, your years as enduring as the mountains.
The empire is yours—go forth in glory.
The Legacy of Augustus
After Julius Caesar’s assassination, the young Octavian entered a dangerous contest for Rome. Through alliance, patience, and victory over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium, he became Augustus, Rome’s first emperor. He presented himself as the first citizen rather than a king, stabilized the state, reorganized its institutions, and inaugurated the long Pax Romana. His ascent was neither sudden luck nor inherited ease: it was the result of preparation, political discipline, and the ability to act decisively when the moment arrived.
Meaning of This Lot
This lot expresses its lesson through Augustus Takes Command of Rome. You rise above the crowd and stride toward the heights. You take your place among the finest, first in rank, honored and admired.
Its practical counsel is therefore specific: career: Great success and recognition.; wealth: Prosperity flows to you abundantly.; love: A harmonious union blossoms.; health: Vigorous health and long life.; relationships: Help from noble people, friendships thrive.; travel: Safe journeys, broader horizons. The overall judgment is great fortune, so act in proportion to that sign—welcome openings where they are offered, but respect every warning contained in the verses.