Metrum 6

Meter: Dactylic tetrameter catalectic + ionic dimeter. The two units are separated by diaeresis.

line 4

ut: sc. dedit; "just as he gave . . ."

line 5

animos celsa sede petitos: implies a pre-existence of the soul in some form.

line 6

germen: here, "origin, seed."

line 7

strepitis: here transitive: "why do you bleat on about family and forefathers?"

line 8

degener: literally, "unlike its own genus," hence "base, degenerate."

line 9

uitiis: ablative of means.