Chapter 14

[330]Enceladum calcabat equis: inmania finduntmembra rotae pressaque Gigas cervice laboratSicaniam cum Dite ferens temptatque moveri160debilis et fessis serpentibus impedit axem:fumida sulphureo praelabitur orbita dorso.ac velut occultus securum pergit in hostemmiles et effossi subter fundamina campitransilit inclusos arcano limite muros165turbaque deceptas victrix erumpit in arcesterrigenas imitata viros: sic tertius heresSaturni latebrosa vagis rimatur habenisdevia, fraternum cupiens exire sub orbem.ianua nulla patet; prohibebant undique rupes170oppositae duraque deum compage tenebant:non tulit ille moras indignatusque trabalisaxa ferit sceptro. Siculae sonuere cavernae;turbatur Lipare; stupuit fornace relictaMulciber et trepidus deiecit fulmina Cyclops.175audiit et si quem glacies Alpina coërcetet qui te, Latiis nondum praecincte tropaeisThybri, natat missamque Pado qui remigat alnum.Sic, cum Thessaliam scopulis inclusa teneretPeneo stagnante palus et mersa negaret180arva coli, trifida Neptunus cuspide montesimpulit adversos: tunc forti saucius ictudissiluit gelido vertex Ossaeus Olympo;carceribus laxantur aquae factoque meaturedduntur fluviusque mari tellusque colonis.185[331]beneath the weight of his massy steeds. His chariot-wheels severed the monstrous limbs, and the giant struggles, bearing Sicily along with Pluto on his burdened neck, and feebly essays to move and entangle the wheels with his weary serpents; still o’er his blazing back passes the smoking chariot. And as sappers seek to issue forth upon their unsuspecting enemy and, following a minèd path beneath the foundations of the tunnelled field, pass unmarked beyond the foe-invested walls of the city to break out, a victorious party, into the citadel of the outwitted enemy, seeming sprung from earth, even so Saturn’s third son scours the devious darkness whithersoever his team hurries him, all eager to come forth beneath his brother’s sky. No door lies open for him; rocks bar his egress on every side and detain the god in their escapeless prison. He brooked not the delay but wrathfully smote the crags with his beam-like staff. Sicily’s caverns thundered, Lipare’s isle was confounded, Vulcan left his forge in amaze and the Cyclops let drop their thunderbolts in fear. The pent-up denizens of the frozen Alps heard the uproar and he who then swam thy wave, father Tiber, thy brows not as yet graced with the crown of Italy’s triumphs; there heard it he who rows his bark down Padus’ stream.So when the rock-encircled lake, ere Peneus’ wave rolled seaward, covered all Thessaly and allowed not its submerged fields to be tilled, Neptune smote the imprisoning mountain with his trident. Then did the peak of Ossa, riven with the mighty blow, spring apart from snowy Olympus; a passage was made and the waters were released, whereby the sea won back her feeding streams and the husbandman his fields.

[330]

Enceladum calcabat equis: inmania finduntmembra rotae pressaque Gigas cervice laboratSicaniam cum Dite ferens temptatque moveri160debilis et fessis serpentibus impedit axem:fumida sulphureo praelabitur orbita dorso.ac velut occultus securum pergit in hostemmiles et effossi subter fundamina campitransilit inclusos arcano limite muros165turbaque deceptas victrix erumpit in arcesterrigenas imitata viros: sic tertius heresSaturni latebrosa vagis rimatur habenisdevia, fraternum cupiens exire sub orbem.ianua nulla patet; prohibebant undique rupes170oppositae duraque deum compage tenebant:non tulit ille moras indignatusque trabalisaxa ferit sceptro. Siculae sonuere cavernae;turbatur Lipare; stupuit fornace relictaMulciber et trepidus deiecit fulmina Cyclops.175audiit et si quem glacies Alpina coërcetet qui te, Latiis nondum praecincte tropaeisThybri, natat missamque Pado qui remigat alnum.Sic, cum Thessaliam scopulis inclusa teneretPeneo stagnante palus et mersa negaret180arva coli, trifida Neptunus cuspide montesimpulit adversos: tunc forti saucius ictudissiluit gelido vertex Ossaeus Olympo;carceribus laxantur aquae factoque meaturedduntur fluviusque mari tellusque colonis.185

Enceladum calcabat equis: inmania findunt

membra rotae pressaque Gigas cervice laborat

Sicaniam cum Dite ferens temptatque moveri160

debilis et fessis serpentibus impedit axem:

fumida sulphureo praelabitur orbita dorso.

ac velut occultus securum pergit in hostem

miles et effossi subter fundamina campi

transilit inclusos arcano limite muros165

turbaque deceptas victrix erumpit in arces

terrigenas imitata viros: sic tertius heres

Saturni latebrosa vagis rimatur habenis

devia, fraternum cupiens exire sub orbem.

ianua nulla patet; prohibebant undique rupes170

oppositae duraque deum compage tenebant:

non tulit ille moras indignatusque trabali

saxa ferit sceptro. Siculae sonuere cavernae;

turbatur Lipare; stupuit fornace relicta

Mulciber et trepidus deiecit fulmina Cyclops.175

audiit et si quem glacies Alpina coërcet

et qui te, Latiis nondum praecincte tropaeis

Thybri, natat missamque Pado qui remigat alnum.

Sic, cum Thessaliam scopulis inclusa teneret

Peneo stagnante palus et mersa negaret180

arva coli, trifida Neptunus cuspide montes

impulit adversos: tunc forti saucius ictu

dissiluit gelido vertex Ossaeus Olympo;

carceribus laxantur aquae factoque meatu

redduntur fluviusque mari tellusque colonis.185

[331]beneath the weight of his massy steeds. His chariot-wheels severed the monstrous limbs, and the giant struggles, bearing Sicily along with Pluto on his burdened neck, and feebly essays to move and entangle the wheels with his weary serpents; still o’er his blazing back passes the smoking chariot. And as sappers seek to issue forth upon their unsuspecting enemy and, following a minèd path beneath the foundations of the tunnelled field, pass unmarked beyond the foe-invested walls of the city to break out, a victorious party, into the citadel of the outwitted enemy, seeming sprung from earth, even so Saturn’s third son scours the devious darkness whithersoever his team hurries him, all eager to come forth beneath his brother’s sky. No door lies open for him; rocks bar his egress on every side and detain the god in their escapeless prison. He brooked not the delay but wrathfully smote the crags with his beam-like staff. Sicily’s caverns thundered, Lipare’s isle was confounded, Vulcan left his forge in amaze and the Cyclops let drop their thunderbolts in fear. The pent-up denizens of the frozen Alps heard the uproar and he who then swam thy wave, father Tiber, thy brows not as yet graced with the crown of Italy’s triumphs; there heard it he who rows his bark down Padus’ stream.So when the rock-encircled lake, ere Peneus’ wave rolled seaward, covered all Thessaly and allowed not its submerged fields to be tilled, Neptune smote the imprisoning mountain with his trident. Then did the peak of Ossa, riven with the mighty blow, spring apart from snowy Olympus; a passage was made and the waters were released, whereby the sea won back her feeding streams and the husbandman his fields.

[331]

beneath the weight of his massy steeds. His chariot-wheels severed the monstrous limbs, and the giant struggles, bearing Sicily along with Pluto on his burdened neck, and feebly essays to move and entangle the wheels with his weary serpents; still o’er his blazing back passes the smoking chariot. And as sappers seek to issue forth upon their unsuspecting enemy and, following a minèd path beneath the foundations of the tunnelled field, pass unmarked beyond the foe-invested walls of the city to break out, a victorious party, into the citadel of the outwitted enemy, seeming sprung from earth, even so Saturn’s third son scours the devious darkness whithersoever his team hurries him, all eager to come forth beneath his brother’s sky. No door lies open for him; rocks bar his egress on every side and detain the god in their escapeless prison. He brooked not the delay but wrathfully smote the crags with his beam-like staff. Sicily’s caverns thundered, Lipare’s isle was confounded, Vulcan left his forge in amaze and the Cyclops let drop their thunderbolts in fear. The pent-up denizens of the frozen Alps heard the uproar and he who then swam thy wave, father Tiber, thy brows not as yet graced with the crown of Italy’s triumphs; there heard it he who rows his bark down Padus’ stream.

So when the rock-encircled lake, ere Peneus’ wave rolled seaward, covered all Thessaly and allowed not its submerged fields to be tilled, Neptune smote the imprisoning mountain with his trident. Then did the peak of Ossa, riven with the mighty blow, spring apart from snowy Olympus; a passage was made and the waters were released, whereby the sea won back her feeding streams and the husbandman his fields.

[332]Postquam victa manu duros Trinacria nexussolvit et inmenso late discessit hiatu,adparet subitus caelo timor; astra viarummutavere fidem; vetito se proluit Arctosaequore; praecipitat pigrum formido Booten;190horruit Orion. audito palluit Atlashinnitu: rutilos obscurat anhelitus axesdiscolor et longa solitos caligine pasciterruit orbis equos; pressis haesere lupatisattoniti meliore polo rursusque verendum195in chaos obliquo certant temone reverti.mox ubi pulsato senserunt verbera tergoet solem didicere pati, torrentius amnehiberno tortaque ruunt pernicius hasta:quantum non iaculum Parthi, non impetus Austri,200non leve sollicitae mentis discurrit acumen.sanguine frena calent; corrumpit spiritus aurasletifer; infectae spumis vitiantur harenae.Diffugiunt Nymphae: rapitur Proserpina curruimploratque deas. iam Gorgonis ora revelat205Pallas et intento festinat Delia telonec patruo cedunt: stimulat communis in armavirginitas crimenque feri raptoris acerbat.ille velut stabuli decus armentique iuvencamcum leo possedit nudataque viscera fodit210unguibus et rabiem totos exegit in armos:stat crassa turpis sanie nodosque iubarumexcutit et viles pastorum despicit iras.“Ignavi domitor vulgi, deterrime fratrum,”[333]When Trinacria beneath Pluto’s stroke loosed her rocky bonds and yawned wide with cavernous cleft, sudden fear seized upon the sky. The stars deserted their accustomed courses; the Bear bathed him in forbidden Ocean; terror hurried sluggish Boötes to his setting; Orion trembled. Atlas paled as he heard the neighing coursers; their smoky breath obscures the bright heavens and the sun’s orb affrighted them, so long fed on darkness. They stood biting the curb astonied at the brighter air, and struggle to turn the chariot and hurry back to dread Chaos. But soon, when they felt the lash on their backs and learned to bear the sun’s brightness, they gallop on more rapidly than a winter torrent and more fleet than the hurtling spear; swifter than the Parthian’s dart, the south wind’s fury or nimble thought of anxious mind. Their bits are warm with blood, their death-bringing breath infects the air, the polluted dust is poisoned with their foam.The Nymphs fly in all directions; Proserpine is hurried away in the chariot, imploring aid of the goddesses. Now Pallas unveils the Gorgon’s head, Diana strings her bow and hastes to help. Neither yields to her uncle’s violence; a common virginity compels them to fight and enrages them at the crime of the fierce ravisher. Pluto is like a lion when he has seized upon a heifer, the pride of the stall and the herd, and has torn with his claws the defenceless flesh and has sated his fury on all its limbs, and so stands all befouled with clotted blood and shakes his tangled mane and scorns the shepherds’ feeble rage.“Lord of the strengthless dead,” cries Pallas,

[332]

Postquam victa manu duros Trinacria nexussolvit et inmenso late discessit hiatu,adparet subitus caelo timor; astra viarummutavere fidem; vetito se proluit Arctosaequore; praecipitat pigrum formido Booten;190horruit Orion. audito palluit Atlashinnitu: rutilos obscurat anhelitus axesdiscolor et longa solitos caligine pasciterruit orbis equos; pressis haesere lupatisattoniti meliore polo rursusque verendum195in chaos obliquo certant temone reverti.mox ubi pulsato senserunt verbera tergoet solem didicere pati, torrentius amnehiberno tortaque ruunt pernicius hasta:quantum non iaculum Parthi, non impetus Austri,200non leve sollicitae mentis discurrit acumen.sanguine frena calent; corrumpit spiritus aurasletifer; infectae spumis vitiantur harenae.Diffugiunt Nymphae: rapitur Proserpina curruimploratque deas. iam Gorgonis ora revelat205Pallas et intento festinat Delia telonec patruo cedunt: stimulat communis in armavirginitas crimenque feri raptoris acerbat.ille velut stabuli decus armentique iuvencamcum leo possedit nudataque viscera fodit210unguibus et rabiem totos exegit in armos:stat crassa turpis sanie nodosque iubarumexcutit et viles pastorum despicit iras.“Ignavi domitor vulgi, deterrime fratrum,”

Postquam victa manu duros Trinacria nexus

solvit et inmenso late discessit hiatu,

adparet subitus caelo timor; astra viarum

mutavere fidem; vetito se proluit Arctos

aequore; praecipitat pigrum formido Booten;190

horruit Orion. audito palluit Atlas

hinnitu: rutilos obscurat anhelitus axes

discolor et longa solitos caligine pasci

terruit orbis equos; pressis haesere lupatis

attoniti meliore polo rursusque verendum195

in chaos obliquo certant temone reverti.

mox ubi pulsato senserunt verbera tergo

et solem didicere pati, torrentius amne

hiberno tortaque ruunt pernicius hasta:

quantum non iaculum Parthi, non impetus Austri,200

non leve sollicitae mentis discurrit acumen.

sanguine frena calent; corrumpit spiritus auras

letifer; infectae spumis vitiantur harenae.

Diffugiunt Nymphae: rapitur Proserpina curru

imploratque deas. iam Gorgonis ora revelat205

Pallas et intento festinat Delia telo

nec patruo cedunt: stimulat communis in arma

virginitas crimenque feri raptoris acerbat.

ille velut stabuli decus armentique iuvencam

cum leo possedit nudataque viscera fodit210

unguibus et rabiem totos exegit in armos:

stat crassa turpis sanie nodosque iubarum

excutit et viles pastorum despicit iras.

“Ignavi domitor vulgi, deterrime fratrum,”

[333]When Trinacria beneath Pluto’s stroke loosed her rocky bonds and yawned wide with cavernous cleft, sudden fear seized upon the sky. The stars deserted their accustomed courses; the Bear bathed him in forbidden Ocean; terror hurried sluggish Boötes to his setting; Orion trembled. Atlas paled as he heard the neighing coursers; their smoky breath obscures the bright heavens and the sun’s orb affrighted them, so long fed on darkness. They stood biting the curb astonied at the brighter air, and struggle to turn the chariot and hurry back to dread Chaos. But soon, when they felt the lash on their backs and learned to bear the sun’s brightness, they gallop on more rapidly than a winter torrent and more fleet than the hurtling spear; swifter than the Parthian’s dart, the south wind’s fury or nimble thought of anxious mind. Their bits are warm with blood, their death-bringing breath infects the air, the polluted dust is poisoned with their foam.The Nymphs fly in all directions; Proserpine is hurried away in the chariot, imploring aid of the goddesses. Now Pallas unveils the Gorgon’s head, Diana strings her bow and hastes to help. Neither yields to her uncle’s violence; a common virginity compels them to fight and enrages them at the crime of the fierce ravisher. Pluto is like a lion when he has seized upon a heifer, the pride of the stall and the herd, and has torn with his claws the defenceless flesh and has sated his fury on all its limbs, and so stands all befouled with clotted blood and shakes his tangled mane and scorns the shepherds’ feeble rage.“Lord of the strengthless dead,” cries Pallas,

[333]

When Trinacria beneath Pluto’s stroke loosed her rocky bonds and yawned wide with cavernous cleft, sudden fear seized upon the sky. The stars deserted their accustomed courses; the Bear bathed him in forbidden Ocean; terror hurried sluggish Boötes to his setting; Orion trembled. Atlas paled as he heard the neighing coursers; their smoky breath obscures the bright heavens and the sun’s orb affrighted them, so long fed on darkness. They stood biting the curb astonied at the brighter air, and struggle to turn the chariot and hurry back to dread Chaos. But soon, when they felt the lash on their backs and learned to bear the sun’s brightness, they gallop on more rapidly than a winter torrent and more fleet than the hurtling spear; swifter than the Parthian’s dart, the south wind’s fury or nimble thought of anxious mind. Their bits are warm with blood, their death-bringing breath infects the air, the polluted dust is poisoned with their foam.

The Nymphs fly in all directions; Proserpine is hurried away in the chariot, imploring aid of the goddesses. Now Pallas unveils the Gorgon’s head, Diana strings her bow and hastes to help. Neither yields to her uncle’s violence; a common virginity compels them to fight and enrages them at the crime of the fierce ravisher. Pluto is like a lion when he has seized upon a heifer, the pride of the stall and the herd, and has torn with his claws the defenceless flesh and has sated his fury on all its limbs, and so stands all befouled with clotted blood and shakes his tangled mane and scorns the shepherds’ feeble rage.

“Lord of the strengthless dead,” cries Pallas,

[334]Pallas ait “quae te stimulis facibusque profanis215Eumenides movere? tua cur sede relictaaudes Tartareis caelum incestare quadrigis?sunt tibi deformes Dirae, sunt altera Lethesnumina, sunt tristes Furiae, te coniuge dignae.fratris linque domos, alienam desere sortem;220nocte tua contentus abi. quid viva sepultisadmisces? nostrum quid proteris advena mundum?”Talia vociferans avidos transire minacicornipedes umbone ferit clipeique retardatobice Gorgoneisque premens adsibilat hydris225praetentaque operit crista; libratur in ictumfraxinus et nigros inluminat obvia currusmissaque paene foret, ni Iuppiter aethere summopacificas rubri torsisset fulminis alasconfessus socerum: nimbis hymenaeus hiulcis230intonat et testes firmant conubia flammae.Invitae cessere deae. compescuit arcumcum gemitu talesque dedit Latonia voces:“Sis memor o longumque vale. reverentia patrisobstitit auxilio, nec nos defendere contra235possumus: imperio vinci maiore fatemur.in te coniurat genitor populoque silentitraderis, heu! cupidas non adspectura sororesaequalemque chorum. quae te fortuna supernisabstulit et tanto damnavit sidera luctu?240[335]“wickedest of thy brothers, what Furies have stirred thee with their goads and accursed torches? Why hast thou left thy seat and how darest thou pollute the upper world with thy hellish team? Thou hast the hideous Curses, the other deities of Hell, the dread Furies—any of them would be a worthy spouse for thee. Quit thy brother’s realm, begone from the kingdom allotted to another. Get thee hence; let thine own night suffice thee. Why mix the quick with the dead? Why treadest thou our world, an unwelcome visitant?”So exclaiming she smote with her threatening shield the horses who sought to advance and barred their way with the bulk of her targe, thrusting them back with the hissing snake-hair of Medusa’s head and o’ershadowing them with its outstretched plumes. She poised for throwing her beechen shaft whose radiance met and illumed Pluto’s black chariot. Almost had she cast it had not Jove from heaven’s height hurled his red thunderbolt on peaceful wings, acknowledging his new son; mid the riven clouds thunders the marriage-paean and attesting fires confirm the union.All unwilling the goddesses yielded, and weeping Diana laid aside her weapons and thus spake: “Fare well, a long farewell; forget us not. Reverence for our sire forbade our help, and against his will we cannot defend thee. We acknowledge defeat by a power greater than our own. The Father hath conspired against thee and betrayed thee to the realms of silence, no more, alas! to behold the sisters and companions who crave sight of thee. What fate hath reft thee from the upper air and condemned the heavens to so deep mourning? Now no more

[334]

Pallas ait “quae te stimulis facibusque profanis215Eumenides movere? tua cur sede relictaaudes Tartareis caelum incestare quadrigis?sunt tibi deformes Dirae, sunt altera Lethesnumina, sunt tristes Furiae, te coniuge dignae.fratris linque domos, alienam desere sortem;220nocte tua contentus abi. quid viva sepultisadmisces? nostrum quid proteris advena mundum?”Talia vociferans avidos transire minacicornipedes umbone ferit clipeique retardatobice Gorgoneisque premens adsibilat hydris225praetentaque operit crista; libratur in ictumfraxinus et nigros inluminat obvia currusmissaque paene foret, ni Iuppiter aethere summopacificas rubri torsisset fulminis alasconfessus socerum: nimbis hymenaeus hiulcis230intonat et testes firmant conubia flammae.Invitae cessere deae. compescuit arcumcum gemitu talesque dedit Latonia voces:“Sis memor o longumque vale. reverentia patrisobstitit auxilio, nec nos defendere contra235possumus: imperio vinci maiore fatemur.in te coniurat genitor populoque silentitraderis, heu! cupidas non adspectura sororesaequalemque chorum. quae te fortuna supernisabstulit et tanto damnavit sidera luctu?240

Pallas ait “quae te stimulis facibusque profanis215

Eumenides movere? tua cur sede relicta

audes Tartareis caelum incestare quadrigis?

sunt tibi deformes Dirae, sunt altera Lethes

numina, sunt tristes Furiae, te coniuge dignae.

fratris linque domos, alienam desere sortem;220

nocte tua contentus abi. quid viva sepultis

admisces? nostrum quid proteris advena mundum?”

Talia vociferans avidos transire minaci

cornipedes umbone ferit clipeique retardat

obice Gorgoneisque premens adsibilat hydris225

praetentaque operit crista; libratur in ictum

fraxinus et nigros inluminat obvia currus

missaque paene foret, ni Iuppiter aethere summo

pacificas rubri torsisset fulminis alas

confessus socerum: nimbis hymenaeus hiulcis230

intonat et testes firmant conubia flammae.

Invitae cessere deae. compescuit arcum

cum gemitu talesque dedit Latonia voces:

“Sis memor o longumque vale. reverentia patris

obstitit auxilio, nec nos defendere contra235

possumus: imperio vinci maiore fatemur.

in te coniurat genitor populoque silenti

traderis, heu! cupidas non adspectura sorores

aequalemque chorum. quae te fortuna supernis

abstulit et tanto damnavit sidera luctu?240

[335]“wickedest of thy brothers, what Furies have stirred thee with their goads and accursed torches? Why hast thou left thy seat and how darest thou pollute the upper world with thy hellish team? Thou hast the hideous Curses, the other deities of Hell, the dread Furies—any of them would be a worthy spouse for thee. Quit thy brother’s realm, begone from the kingdom allotted to another. Get thee hence; let thine own night suffice thee. Why mix the quick with the dead? Why treadest thou our world, an unwelcome visitant?”So exclaiming she smote with her threatening shield the horses who sought to advance and barred their way with the bulk of her targe, thrusting them back with the hissing snake-hair of Medusa’s head and o’ershadowing them with its outstretched plumes. She poised for throwing her beechen shaft whose radiance met and illumed Pluto’s black chariot. Almost had she cast it had not Jove from heaven’s height hurled his red thunderbolt on peaceful wings, acknowledging his new son; mid the riven clouds thunders the marriage-paean and attesting fires confirm the union.All unwilling the goddesses yielded, and weeping Diana laid aside her weapons and thus spake: “Fare well, a long farewell; forget us not. Reverence for our sire forbade our help, and against his will we cannot defend thee. We acknowledge defeat by a power greater than our own. The Father hath conspired against thee and betrayed thee to the realms of silence, no more, alas! to behold the sisters and companions who crave sight of thee. What fate hath reft thee from the upper air and condemned the heavens to so deep mourning? Now no more

[335]

“wickedest of thy brothers, what Furies have stirred thee with their goads and accursed torches? Why hast thou left thy seat and how darest thou pollute the upper world with thy hellish team? Thou hast the hideous Curses, the other deities of Hell, the dread Furies—any of them would be a worthy spouse for thee. Quit thy brother’s realm, begone from the kingdom allotted to another. Get thee hence; let thine own night suffice thee. Why mix the quick with the dead? Why treadest thou our world, an unwelcome visitant?”

So exclaiming she smote with her threatening shield the horses who sought to advance and barred their way with the bulk of her targe, thrusting them back with the hissing snake-hair of Medusa’s head and o’ershadowing them with its outstretched plumes. She poised for throwing her beechen shaft whose radiance met and illumed Pluto’s black chariot. Almost had she cast it had not Jove from heaven’s height hurled his red thunderbolt on peaceful wings, acknowledging his new son; mid the riven clouds thunders the marriage-paean and attesting fires confirm the union.

All unwilling the goddesses yielded, and weeping Diana laid aside her weapons and thus spake: “Fare well, a long farewell; forget us not. Reverence for our sire forbade our help, and against his will we cannot defend thee. We acknowledge defeat by a power greater than our own. The Father hath conspired against thee and betrayed thee to the realms of silence, no more, alas! to behold the sisters and companions who crave sight of thee. What fate hath reft thee from the upper air and condemned the heavens to so deep mourning? Now no more

[336]iam neque Partheniis innectere retia lustrisnec pharetram gestare libet: securus ubiquespumet aper saevique fremant impune leones.te iuga Taygeti, posito te Maenala flebuntvenatu maestoque diu lugebere Cyntho.245Delphica quin etiam fratris delubra tacebunt.”Interea volucri fertur Proserpina currucaesariem diffusa Noto planctuque lacertosverberat et questus ad nubila tendit inanes:“Cur non torsisti manibus fabricata Cyclopum250in nos tela, pater? sic me crudelibus umbristradere, sic toto placuit depellere mundo?nullane te flectit pietas nihilumque paternaementis inest? tantas quo crimine movimus iras?non ego, cum rapido saeviret Phlegra tumultu,255signa deis adversa tuli; non robore nostroOssa pruinosum vexit glacialis Olympum.quod conata nefas aut cuius conscia culpaeexul ad inmanes Erebi detrudor hiatus?o fortunatas alii quascumque tulere260raptores! saltem communi sole fruuntur.sed mihi virginitas pariter caelumque negatur,eripitur cum luce pudor, terrisque relictisservitum Stygio ducor captiva tyranno.o male dilecti flores despectaque matris265consilia! o Veneris deprensae serius artes!mater, io! seu te Phrygiis in vallibus IdaeMygdonio buxus circumsonat horrida cantu,[337]can we rejoice to set Parthenius’ steep with nets nor wear the quiver; at large as he lists let the wild boar, raven and the lion roar savagely with none to say him nay. Thee, Taygetus’ crest, thee Maenalus’ height shall weep, their hunting laid aside. Long shalt thou be food for weeping on sorrowing Cynthus’ slopes. E’en my brother’s shrine at Delphi shall speak no more.”Meanwhile Proserpine is borne away in the winged car, her hair streaming before the wind, beating her arms in lamentation and calling in vain remonstrance to the clouds: “Why hast thou not hurled at me, father, bolts forged by the Cyclops’ hands? Was this thy will to deliver thy daughter to the cruel shades and drive her for ever from this world? Does love move thee not at all? Hast thou nothing of a father’s feeling? What ill deed of men has stirred such anger in thee? When Phlegra raged with war’s madness I bore no standard against the gods; ’twas through no strength of mine that ice-bound Ossa supported frozen Olympus. For attempt of what crime, for complicity with what guilt, am I thrust down in banishment to the bottomless pit of Hell? Happy girls whom other ravishers have stolen; they at least enjoy the general light of day, while I, together with my virginity, lose the air of heaven; stolen from me alike is innocence and daylight. Needs must I quit this world and be led a captive bride to serve Hell’s tyrant. Ye flowers that I loved in so evil an hour, oh, why did I scorn my mother’s warning? Too late did I detect the wiles of Venus. Mother, my mother, whether in the vales of Phrygian Ida the dread pipe sounds about thine ears with Lydian

[336]

iam neque Partheniis innectere retia lustrisnec pharetram gestare libet: securus ubiquespumet aper saevique fremant impune leones.te iuga Taygeti, posito te Maenala flebuntvenatu maestoque diu lugebere Cyntho.245Delphica quin etiam fratris delubra tacebunt.”Interea volucri fertur Proserpina currucaesariem diffusa Noto planctuque lacertosverberat et questus ad nubila tendit inanes:“Cur non torsisti manibus fabricata Cyclopum250in nos tela, pater? sic me crudelibus umbristradere, sic toto placuit depellere mundo?nullane te flectit pietas nihilumque paternaementis inest? tantas quo crimine movimus iras?non ego, cum rapido saeviret Phlegra tumultu,255signa deis adversa tuli; non robore nostroOssa pruinosum vexit glacialis Olympum.quod conata nefas aut cuius conscia culpaeexul ad inmanes Erebi detrudor hiatus?o fortunatas alii quascumque tulere260raptores! saltem communi sole fruuntur.sed mihi virginitas pariter caelumque negatur,eripitur cum luce pudor, terrisque relictisservitum Stygio ducor captiva tyranno.o male dilecti flores despectaque matris265consilia! o Veneris deprensae serius artes!mater, io! seu te Phrygiis in vallibus IdaeMygdonio buxus circumsonat horrida cantu,

iam neque Partheniis innectere retia lustris

nec pharetram gestare libet: securus ubique

spumet aper saevique fremant impune leones.

te iuga Taygeti, posito te Maenala flebunt

venatu maestoque diu lugebere Cyntho.245

Delphica quin etiam fratris delubra tacebunt.”

Interea volucri fertur Proserpina curru

caesariem diffusa Noto planctuque lacertos

verberat et questus ad nubila tendit inanes:

“Cur non torsisti manibus fabricata Cyclopum250

in nos tela, pater? sic me crudelibus umbris

tradere, sic toto placuit depellere mundo?

nullane te flectit pietas nihilumque paternae

mentis inest? tantas quo crimine movimus iras?

non ego, cum rapido saeviret Phlegra tumultu,255

signa deis adversa tuli; non robore nostro

Ossa pruinosum vexit glacialis Olympum.

quod conata nefas aut cuius conscia culpae

exul ad inmanes Erebi detrudor hiatus?

o fortunatas alii quascumque tulere260

raptores! saltem communi sole fruuntur.

sed mihi virginitas pariter caelumque negatur,

eripitur cum luce pudor, terrisque relictis

servitum Stygio ducor captiva tyranno.

o male dilecti flores despectaque matris265

consilia! o Veneris deprensae serius artes!

mater, io! seu te Phrygiis in vallibus Idae

Mygdonio buxus circumsonat horrida cantu,

[337]can we rejoice to set Parthenius’ steep with nets nor wear the quiver; at large as he lists let the wild boar, raven and the lion roar savagely with none to say him nay. Thee, Taygetus’ crest, thee Maenalus’ height shall weep, their hunting laid aside. Long shalt thou be food for weeping on sorrowing Cynthus’ slopes. E’en my brother’s shrine at Delphi shall speak no more.”Meanwhile Proserpine is borne away in the winged car, her hair streaming before the wind, beating her arms in lamentation and calling in vain remonstrance to the clouds: “Why hast thou not hurled at me, father, bolts forged by the Cyclops’ hands? Was this thy will to deliver thy daughter to the cruel shades and drive her for ever from this world? Does love move thee not at all? Hast thou nothing of a father’s feeling? What ill deed of men has stirred such anger in thee? When Phlegra raged with war’s madness I bore no standard against the gods; ’twas through no strength of mine that ice-bound Ossa supported frozen Olympus. For attempt of what crime, for complicity with what guilt, am I thrust down in banishment to the bottomless pit of Hell? Happy girls whom other ravishers have stolen; they at least enjoy the general light of day, while I, together with my virginity, lose the air of heaven; stolen from me alike is innocence and daylight. Needs must I quit this world and be led a captive bride to serve Hell’s tyrant. Ye flowers that I loved in so evil an hour, oh, why did I scorn my mother’s warning? Too late did I detect the wiles of Venus. Mother, my mother, whether in the vales of Phrygian Ida the dread pipe sounds about thine ears with Lydian

[337]

can we rejoice to set Parthenius’ steep with nets nor wear the quiver; at large as he lists let the wild boar, raven and the lion roar savagely with none to say him nay. Thee, Taygetus’ crest, thee Maenalus’ height shall weep, their hunting laid aside. Long shalt thou be food for weeping on sorrowing Cynthus’ slopes. E’en my brother’s shrine at Delphi shall speak no more.”

Meanwhile Proserpine is borne away in the winged car, her hair streaming before the wind, beating her arms in lamentation and calling in vain remonstrance to the clouds: “Why hast thou not hurled at me, father, bolts forged by the Cyclops’ hands? Was this thy will to deliver thy daughter to the cruel shades and drive her for ever from this world? Does love move thee not at all? Hast thou nothing of a father’s feeling? What ill deed of men has stirred such anger in thee? When Phlegra raged with war’s madness I bore no standard against the gods; ’twas through no strength of mine that ice-bound Ossa supported frozen Olympus. For attempt of what crime, for complicity with what guilt, am I thrust down in banishment to the bottomless pit of Hell? Happy girls whom other ravishers have stolen; they at least enjoy the general light of day, while I, together with my virginity, lose the air of heaven; stolen from me alike is innocence and daylight. Needs must I quit this world and be led a captive bride to serve Hell’s tyrant. Ye flowers that I loved in so evil an hour, oh, why did I scorn my mother’s warning? Too late did I detect the wiles of Venus. Mother, my mother, whether in the vales of Phrygian Ida the dread pipe sounds about thine ears with Lydian

[338]seu tu sanguineis ululantia Dindyma Gallisincolis et strictos Curetum respicis enses:270exitio succurre meo! compesce furentem!comprime ferales torvi praedonis habenas!”Talibus ille ferox dictis fletuque decorovincitur et primi suspiria sensit amoris.tunc ferrugineo lacrimas deterget amictu275et placida maestum solatur voce dolorem:“Desine funestis animum, Proserpina, curiset vano vexare metu. maiora dabuntursceptra nec indigni taedas patiere mariti.ille ego Saturni proles, cui machina rerum280servit et inmensum tendit per inane potestas.amissum ne crede diem: sunt altera nobissidera, sunt orbes alii, lumenque videbispurius Elysiumque magis mirabere solemcultoresque pios; illic pretiosior aetas,285aurea progenies habitat, semperque tenemusquod superi meruere semel. nec mollia desuntprata tibi; Zephyris illic melioribus halantperpetui flores, quos nec tua protulit Henna.est etiam lucis arbor praedives opacis290fulgentes viridi ramos curvata metallo:haec tibi sacra datur fortunatumque tenebisautumnum et fulvis semper ditabere pomis.parva loquor: quidquid liquidus complectitur aër,quidquid alit tellus, quidquid maris aequora verrunt,295quod fluvii volvunt, quod nutrivere paludes,cuncta tuis pariter cedent animalia regnislunari subiecta globo, qui Septimus aurasambit et aeternis mortalia separat astris.[339]strains, or thou hauntest mount Dindymus, ahowl with self-mutilated Galli, and beholdest the naked swords of the Curetes, aid me in my bitter need; frustrate Pluto’s mad lust and stay the funereal reins of my fierce ravisher.”Her words and those becoming tears mastered e’en that rude heart as Pluto first learned to feel love’s longings. The tears he wiped away with his murky cloak, quieting her sad grief with these soothing words: “Cease, Proserpine, to vex thy heart with gloomy cares and causeless fear. A prouder sceptre shall be thine, nor shalt thou face marriage with a husband unworthy of thee. I am that scion of Saturn whose will the framework of the world obeys, whose power stretches through the limitless void. Think not thou hast lost the light of day; other stars are mine and other courses; a purer light shalt thou see and wonder rather at Elysium’s sun and blessed habitants. There a richer age, a golden race has its home, and we possess for ever what men win but once. Soft meads shall fail thee not, and ever-blooming flowers, such as thy Henna ne’er produced, breathe to gentler zephyrs. There is, moreover, a precious tree in the leafy groves whose curving branches gleam with living ore—a tree consecrate to thee. Thou shalt be queen of blessed autumn and ever enriched with golden fruit. Nay more; whatsoe’er the limpid air embraces, whatever earth nourishes, the salt seas sweep, the rivers roll, or the marsh-lands feed, all living things alike shall yield them to thy sway, all, I say, that dwell beneath the orb of the moon that is the seventh of the planets and in its ethereal journey separates things mortal from the deathless

[338]

seu tu sanguineis ululantia Dindyma Gallisincolis et strictos Curetum respicis enses:270exitio succurre meo! compesce furentem!comprime ferales torvi praedonis habenas!”Talibus ille ferox dictis fletuque decorovincitur et primi suspiria sensit amoris.tunc ferrugineo lacrimas deterget amictu275et placida maestum solatur voce dolorem:“Desine funestis animum, Proserpina, curiset vano vexare metu. maiora dabuntursceptra nec indigni taedas patiere mariti.ille ego Saturni proles, cui machina rerum280servit et inmensum tendit per inane potestas.amissum ne crede diem: sunt altera nobissidera, sunt orbes alii, lumenque videbispurius Elysiumque magis mirabere solemcultoresque pios; illic pretiosior aetas,285aurea progenies habitat, semperque tenemusquod superi meruere semel. nec mollia desuntprata tibi; Zephyris illic melioribus halantperpetui flores, quos nec tua protulit Henna.est etiam lucis arbor praedives opacis290fulgentes viridi ramos curvata metallo:haec tibi sacra datur fortunatumque tenebisautumnum et fulvis semper ditabere pomis.parva loquor: quidquid liquidus complectitur aër,quidquid alit tellus, quidquid maris aequora verrunt,295quod fluvii volvunt, quod nutrivere paludes,cuncta tuis pariter cedent animalia regnislunari subiecta globo, qui Septimus aurasambit et aeternis mortalia separat astris.

seu tu sanguineis ululantia Dindyma Gallis

incolis et strictos Curetum respicis enses:270

exitio succurre meo! compesce furentem!

comprime ferales torvi praedonis habenas!”

Talibus ille ferox dictis fletuque decoro

vincitur et primi suspiria sensit amoris.

tunc ferrugineo lacrimas deterget amictu275

et placida maestum solatur voce dolorem:

“Desine funestis animum, Proserpina, curis

et vano vexare metu. maiora dabuntur

sceptra nec indigni taedas patiere mariti.

ille ego Saturni proles, cui machina rerum280

servit et inmensum tendit per inane potestas.

amissum ne crede diem: sunt altera nobis

sidera, sunt orbes alii, lumenque videbis

purius Elysiumque magis mirabere solem

cultoresque pios; illic pretiosior aetas,285

aurea progenies habitat, semperque tenemus

quod superi meruere semel. nec mollia desunt

prata tibi; Zephyris illic melioribus halant

perpetui flores, quos nec tua protulit Henna.

est etiam lucis arbor praedives opacis290

fulgentes viridi ramos curvata metallo:

haec tibi sacra datur fortunatumque tenebis

autumnum et fulvis semper ditabere pomis.

parva loquor: quidquid liquidus complectitur aër,

quidquid alit tellus, quidquid maris aequora verrunt,295

quod fluvii volvunt, quod nutrivere paludes,

cuncta tuis pariter cedent animalia regnis

lunari subiecta globo, qui Septimus auras

ambit et aeternis mortalia separat astris.

[339]strains, or thou hauntest mount Dindymus, ahowl with self-mutilated Galli, and beholdest the naked swords of the Curetes, aid me in my bitter need; frustrate Pluto’s mad lust and stay the funereal reins of my fierce ravisher.”Her words and those becoming tears mastered e’en that rude heart as Pluto first learned to feel love’s longings. The tears he wiped away with his murky cloak, quieting her sad grief with these soothing words: “Cease, Proserpine, to vex thy heart with gloomy cares and causeless fear. A prouder sceptre shall be thine, nor shalt thou face marriage with a husband unworthy of thee. I am that scion of Saturn whose will the framework of the world obeys, whose power stretches through the limitless void. Think not thou hast lost the light of day; other stars are mine and other courses; a purer light shalt thou see and wonder rather at Elysium’s sun and blessed habitants. There a richer age, a golden race has its home, and we possess for ever what men win but once. Soft meads shall fail thee not, and ever-blooming flowers, such as thy Henna ne’er produced, breathe to gentler zephyrs. There is, moreover, a precious tree in the leafy groves whose curving branches gleam with living ore—a tree consecrate to thee. Thou shalt be queen of blessed autumn and ever enriched with golden fruit. Nay more; whatsoe’er the limpid air embraces, whatever earth nourishes, the salt seas sweep, the rivers roll, or the marsh-lands feed, all living things alike shall yield them to thy sway, all, I say, that dwell beneath the orb of the moon that is the seventh of the planets and in its ethereal journey separates things mortal from the deathless

[339]

strains, or thou hauntest mount Dindymus, ahowl with self-mutilated Galli, and beholdest the naked swords of the Curetes, aid me in my bitter need; frustrate Pluto’s mad lust and stay the funereal reins of my fierce ravisher.”

Her words and those becoming tears mastered e’en that rude heart as Pluto first learned to feel love’s longings. The tears he wiped away with his murky cloak, quieting her sad grief with these soothing words: “Cease, Proserpine, to vex thy heart with gloomy cares and causeless fear. A prouder sceptre shall be thine, nor shalt thou face marriage with a husband unworthy of thee. I am that scion of Saturn whose will the framework of the world obeys, whose power stretches through the limitless void. Think not thou hast lost the light of day; other stars are mine and other courses; a purer light shalt thou see and wonder rather at Elysium’s sun and blessed habitants. There a richer age, a golden race has its home, and we possess for ever what men win but once. Soft meads shall fail thee not, and ever-blooming flowers, such as thy Henna ne’er produced, breathe to gentler zephyrs. There is, moreover, a precious tree in the leafy groves whose curving branches gleam with living ore—a tree consecrate to thee. Thou shalt be queen of blessed autumn and ever enriched with golden fruit. Nay more; whatsoe’er the limpid air embraces, whatever earth nourishes, the salt seas sweep, the rivers roll, or the marsh-lands feed, all living things alike shall yield them to thy sway, all, I say, that dwell beneath the orb of the moon that is the seventh of the planets and in its ethereal journey separates things mortal from the deathless

[340]sub tua purpurei venient vestigia reges300deposito luxu turba cum paupere mixti(omnia mors aequat); tu damnatura nocentes,tu requiem latura piis; te iudice sontesimproba cogentur vitae commissa fateri.accipe Lethaeo famulas cum gurgite Parcas,305sitque ratum quodcumque voles.”Haec fatus ovantesexhortatur equos et Tartara mitior intrat.conveniunt animae, quantas violentior Austerdecutit arboribus frondes aut nubibus imbrescolligit aut frangit fluctus aut torquet harenas;310cunctaque praecipiti stipantur saecula cursuinsignem visura nurum. mox ipse serenusingreditur facili passus mollescere risudissimilisque sui. dominis intrantibus ingensadsurgit Phlegethon: flagrantibus hispida rivis315barba madet totoque fluunt incendia vultu.Occurrunt properi lecta de plebe ministri:pars altos revocant currus frenisque solutisvertunt emeritos ad pascua nota iugales;pars aulaea tenent; alii praetexere ramis320limina et in thalamum cultas extollere vestes.reginam casto cinxerunt agmine matresElysiae teneroque levant sermone timoreset sparsos religant crines et vultibus adduntflammea sollicitum praevelatura pudorem.325Pallida laetatur regio gentesque sepultae[341]stars. To thy feet shall come purple-clothed kings, stripped of their pomp, and mingling with the unmoneyed throng; for death renders all equal. Thou shalt give doom to the guilty and rest to the virtuous. Before thy judgement-throne the wicked must confess the crimes of their evil lives. Lethe’s stream shall obey thee and the Fates be thy handmaidens. Be thy will done.”So speaking he urges on his triumphant steeds and enters Tartarus in gentler wise. The shades assemble, thick as the leaves the stormy south wind shakes down from the trees, dense as the rainclouds it masses, countless as the billows it curls or the sand it scatters. The dead of every age throng with hastening foot to see so illustrious a bride. Soon Pluto himself enters with joyful mien submitting him to the softening influence of pleasant laughter, all unlike his former self. At the incoming of his lord and mistress huge Phlegethon rises; his bristly beard is wet with burning streams and flames dart o’er all his countenance.There hasten to greet the pair slaves chosen from out the number. Some put away the lofty chariot, take the bits from the mouths of the toil-freed horses and turn them out to graze in their accustomed pastures. Some hold back the curtains, others decorate the doorway with branches and fasten broidered hangings in the bridal chamber. In chaste bands the matrons of Elysium throng their queen, and with sweet converse banish her fear; they gather and braid her dishevelled hair and place the wedding-veil upon her head to hide her troubled blushes.Joy fills that grey land, the buried throng holds

[340]

sub tua purpurei venient vestigia reges300deposito luxu turba cum paupere mixti(omnia mors aequat); tu damnatura nocentes,tu requiem latura piis; te iudice sontesimproba cogentur vitae commissa fateri.accipe Lethaeo famulas cum gurgite Parcas,305sitque ratum quodcumque voles.”Haec fatus ovantesexhortatur equos et Tartara mitior intrat.conveniunt animae, quantas violentior Austerdecutit arboribus frondes aut nubibus imbrescolligit aut frangit fluctus aut torquet harenas;310cunctaque praecipiti stipantur saecula cursuinsignem visura nurum. mox ipse serenusingreditur facili passus mollescere risudissimilisque sui. dominis intrantibus ingensadsurgit Phlegethon: flagrantibus hispida rivis315barba madet totoque fluunt incendia vultu.Occurrunt properi lecta de plebe ministri:pars altos revocant currus frenisque solutisvertunt emeritos ad pascua nota iugales;pars aulaea tenent; alii praetexere ramis320limina et in thalamum cultas extollere vestes.reginam casto cinxerunt agmine matresElysiae teneroque levant sermone timoreset sparsos religant crines et vultibus adduntflammea sollicitum praevelatura pudorem.325Pallida laetatur regio gentesque sepultae

sub tua purpurei venient vestigia reges300

deposito luxu turba cum paupere mixti

(omnia mors aequat); tu damnatura nocentes,

tu requiem latura piis; te iudice sontes

improba cogentur vitae commissa fateri.

accipe Lethaeo famulas cum gurgite Parcas,305

sitque ratum quodcumque voles.”

Haec fatus ovantes

exhortatur equos et Tartara mitior intrat.

conveniunt animae, quantas violentior Auster

decutit arboribus frondes aut nubibus imbres

colligit aut frangit fluctus aut torquet harenas;310

cunctaque praecipiti stipantur saecula cursu

insignem visura nurum. mox ipse serenus

ingreditur facili passus mollescere risu

dissimilisque sui. dominis intrantibus ingens

adsurgit Phlegethon: flagrantibus hispida rivis315

barba madet totoque fluunt incendia vultu.

Occurrunt properi lecta de plebe ministri:

pars altos revocant currus frenisque solutis

vertunt emeritos ad pascua nota iugales;

pars aulaea tenent; alii praetexere ramis320

limina et in thalamum cultas extollere vestes.

reginam casto cinxerunt agmine matres

Elysiae teneroque levant sermone timores

et sparsos religant crines et vultibus addunt

flammea sollicitum praevelatura pudorem.325

Pallida laetatur regio gentesque sepultae

[341]stars. To thy feet shall come purple-clothed kings, stripped of their pomp, and mingling with the unmoneyed throng; for death renders all equal. Thou shalt give doom to the guilty and rest to the virtuous. Before thy judgement-throne the wicked must confess the crimes of their evil lives. Lethe’s stream shall obey thee and the Fates be thy handmaidens. Be thy will done.”So speaking he urges on his triumphant steeds and enters Tartarus in gentler wise. The shades assemble, thick as the leaves the stormy south wind shakes down from the trees, dense as the rainclouds it masses, countless as the billows it curls or the sand it scatters. The dead of every age throng with hastening foot to see so illustrious a bride. Soon Pluto himself enters with joyful mien submitting him to the softening influence of pleasant laughter, all unlike his former self. At the incoming of his lord and mistress huge Phlegethon rises; his bristly beard is wet with burning streams and flames dart o’er all his countenance.There hasten to greet the pair slaves chosen from out the number. Some put away the lofty chariot, take the bits from the mouths of the toil-freed horses and turn them out to graze in their accustomed pastures. Some hold back the curtains, others decorate the doorway with branches and fasten broidered hangings in the bridal chamber. In chaste bands the matrons of Elysium throng their queen, and with sweet converse banish her fear; they gather and braid her dishevelled hair and place the wedding-veil upon her head to hide her troubled blushes.Joy fills that grey land, the buried throng holds

[341]

stars. To thy feet shall come purple-clothed kings, stripped of their pomp, and mingling with the unmoneyed throng; for death renders all equal. Thou shalt give doom to the guilty and rest to the virtuous. Before thy judgement-throne the wicked must confess the crimes of their evil lives. Lethe’s stream shall obey thee and the Fates be thy handmaidens. Be thy will done.”

So speaking he urges on his triumphant steeds and enters Tartarus in gentler wise. The shades assemble, thick as the leaves the stormy south wind shakes down from the trees, dense as the rainclouds it masses, countless as the billows it curls or the sand it scatters. The dead of every age throng with hastening foot to see so illustrious a bride. Soon Pluto himself enters with joyful mien submitting him to the softening influence of pleasant laughter, all unlike his former self. At the incoming of his lord and mistress huge Phlegethon rises; his bristly beard is wet with burning streams and flames dart o’er all his countenance.

There hasten to greet the pair slaves chosen from out the number. Some put away the lofty chariot, take the bits from the mouths of the toil-freed horses and turn them out to graze in their accustomed pastures. Some hold back the curtains, others decorate the doorway with branches and fasten broidered hangings in the bridal chamber. In chaste bands the matrons of Elysium throng their queen, and with sweet converse banish her fear; they gather and braid her dishevelled hair and place the wedding-veil upon her head to hide her troubled blushes.

Joy fills that grey land, the buried throng holds

[342]luxuriant epulisque vacant genialibus umbrae.grata coronati peragunt convivia Manes;rumpunt insoliti tenebrosa silentia cantus;sedantur gemitus. Erebi se sponte relaxat330squalor et aeternam patitur rarescere noctem,urna nec incertas versat Minoia sortes.verbera nulla sonant nulloque frementia luctuimpia dilatis respirant Tartara poenis:non rota suspensum praeceps Ixiona torquet;335non aqua Tantaleis subducitur invida labris.solvitur Ixion et Tantalus invenit undaset Tityos tandem spatiosos erigit artussqualentisque novem detexit iugera campi(tantus erat), laterisque piger sulcator opaci340invitus trahitur lasso de pectore vulturabreptasque dolet iam non sibi crescere fibras.Oblitae scelerum formidatique furorisEumenides cratera parant et vina ferocicrine bibunt flexisque minis iam lene canentes345extendunt socios ad pocula plena cerastaset festas alio succendunt lumine taedas.tunc et pestiferi pacatum flumen Averniinnocuae transistis, aves, flatumque repressitAmsanctus: fixo tacuit torrente vorago.350tunc Acheronteos mutato gurgite fonteslacte novo tumuisse ferunt, hederisque virentemCocyton dulci perhibent undasse Lyaeo.stamina nec rumpit Lachesis; nec turbida sacrisobstrepitant lamenta choris. mors nulla vagatur355[343]high festival, and the ghosts sport them at the nuptial feast. The flower-crowned Manes sit at a joyous banquet and unwonted song breaks the gloomy silence; wailing is hushed. Hell’s murk gladly disperses and suffers the darkness of age-long night to grow less impenetrable. Minos’ urn of judgement throws no ambiguous lots; the sound of blows is stilled, and Tartarus, the prison of the wicked, is hushed and still, for punishments are intermitted. No longer is Ixion tortured by the ever-turning wheel to which he is bound; from Tantalus’ lips no more is the flying water withdrawn. Ixion is freed, Tantalus reaches the stream, and Tityus at length straightens out his huge limbs and uncovers nine acres of foul ground (such was his size), and the vulture, that burrows lazily into the dark side, is dragged off from his wearied breast sore against its will, lamenting that no longer is the devoured flesh renewed for it.The Furies, forgetful of crimes and dread wrath, make ready the wine-bowl and drink therefrom for all their snaky hair. Nay, with gentle song, their threatenings laid aside, they stretch out their snakes to the full cups and kindle the festal torches with unusual flame. Then, too, the birds flew unhurt over the now appeasèd stream of poisonous Avernus, and Lake Amsanctus checked his deadly exhalations; the stream was stayed and the whirlpool grew still. They say that then the springs of Acheron were changed and welled up with new milk, while Cocytus, enwreathed with ivy, flowed along in streams of sweet wine. Lachesis slit not the thread of life nor did funeral dirge sound in challenge to the holy chant. Death walked not

[342]

luxuriant epulisque vacant genialibus umbrae.grata coronati peragunt convivia Manes;rumpunt insoliti tenebrosa silentia cantus;sedantur gemitus. Erebi se sponte relaxat330squalor et aeternam patitur rarescere noctem,urna nec incertas versat Minoia sortes.verbera nulla sonant nulloque frementia luctuimpia dilatis respirant Tartara poenis:non rota suspensum praeceps Ixiona torquet;335non aqua Tantaleis subducitur invida labris.solvitur Ixion et Tantalus invenit undaset Tityos tandem spatiosos erigit artussqualentisque novem detexit iugera campi(tantus erat), laterisque piger sulcator opaci340invitus trahitur lasso de pectore vulturabreptasque dolet iam non sibi crescere fibras.Oblitae scelerum formidatique furorisEumenides cratera parant et vina ferocicrine bibunt flexisque minis iam lene canentes345extendunt socios ad pocula plena cerastaset festas alio succendunt lumine taedas.tunc et pestiferi pacatum flumen Averniinnocuae transistis, aves, flatumque repressitAmsanctus: fixo tacuit torrente vorago.350tunc Acheronteos mutato gurgite fonteslacte novo tumuisse ferunt, hederisque virentemCocyton dulci perhibent undasse Lyaeo.stamina nec rumpit Lachesis; nec turbida sacrisobstrepitant lamenta choris. mors nulla vagatur355

luxuriant epulisque vacant genialibus umbrae.

grata coronati peragunt convivia Manes;

rumpunt insoliti tenebrosa silentia cantus;

sedantur gemitus. Erebi se sponte relaxat330

squalor et aeternam patitur rarescere noctem,

urna nec incertas versat Minoia sortes.

verbera nulla sonant nulloque frementia luctu

impia dilatis respirant Tartara poenis:

non rota suspensum praeceps Ixiona torquet;335

non aqua Tantaleis subducitur invida labris.

solvitur Ixion et Tantalus invenit undas

et Tityos tandem spatiosos erigit artus

squalentisque novem detexit iugera campi

(tantus erat), laterisque piger sulcator opaci340

invitus trahitur lasso de pectore vultur

abreptasque dolet iam non sibi crescere fibras.

Oblitae scelerum formidatique furoris

Eumenides cratera parant et vina feroci

crine bibunt flexisque minis iam lene canentes345

extendunt socios ad pocula plena cerastas

et festas alio succendunt lumine taedas.

tunc et pestiferi pacatum flumen Averni

innocuae transistis, aves, flatumque repressit

Amsanctus: fixo tacuit torrente vorago.350

tunc Acheronteos mutato gurgite fontes

lacte novo tumuisse ferunt, hederisque virentem

Cocyton dulci perhibent undasse Lyaeo.

stamina nec rumpit Lachesis; nec turbida sacris

obstrepitant lamenta choris. mors nulla vagatur355

[343]high festival, and the ghosts sport them at the nuptial feast. The flower-crowned Manes sit at a joyous banquet and unwonted song breaks the gloomy silence; wailing is hushed. Hell’s murk gladly disperses and suffers the darkness of age-long night to grow less impenetrable. Minos’ urn of judgement throws no ambiguous lots; the sound of blows is stilled, and Tartarus, the prison of the wicked, is hushed and still, for punishments are intermitted. No longer is Ixion tortured by the ever-turning wheel to which he is bound; from Tantalus’ lips no more is the flying water withdrawn. Ixion is freed, Tantalus reaches the stream, and Tityus at length straightens out his huge limbs and uncovers nine acres of foul ground (such was his size), and the vulture, that burrows lazily into the dark side, is dragged off from his wearied breast sore against its will, lamenting that no longer is the devoured flesh renewed for it.The Furies, forgetful of crimes and dread wrath, make ready the wine-bowl and drink therefrom for all their snaky hair. Nay, with gentle song, their threatenings laid aside, they stretch out their snakes to the full cups and kindle the festal torches with unusual flame. Then, too, the birds flew unhurt over the now appeasèd stream of poisonous Avernus, and Lake Amsanctus checked his deadly exhalations; the stream was stayed and the whirlpool grew still. They say that then the springs of Acheron were changed and welled up with new milk, while Cocytus, enwreathed with ivy, flowed along in streams of sweet wine. Lachesis slit not the thread of life nor did funeral dirge sound in challenge to the holy chant. Death walked not

[343]

high festival, and the ghosts sport them at the nuptial feast. The flower-crowned Manes sit at a joyous banquet and unwonted song breaks the gloomy silence; wailing is hushed. Hell’s murk gladly disperses and suffers the darkness of age-long night to grow less impenetrable. Minos’ urn of judgement throws no ambiguous lots; the sound of blows is stilled, and Tartarus, the prison of the wicked, is hushed and still, for punishments are intermitted. No longer is Ixion tortured by the ever-turning wheel to which he is bound; from Tantalus’ lips no more is the flying water withdrawn. Ixion is freed, Tantalus reaches the stream, and Tityus at length straightens out his huge limbs and uncovers nine acres of foul ground (such was his size), and the vulture, that burrows lazily into the dark side, is dragged off from his wearied breast sore against its will, lamenting that no longer is the devoured flesh renewed for it.

The Furies, forgetful of crimes and dread wrath, make ready the wine-bowl and drink therefrom for all their snaky hair. Nay, with gentle song, their threatenings laid aside, they stretch out their snakes to the full cups and kindle the festal torches with unusual flame. Then, too, the birds flew unhurt over the now appeasèd stream of poisonous Avernus, and Lake Amsanctus checked his deadly exhalations; the stream was stayed and the whirlpool grew still. They say that then the springs of Acheron were changed and welled up with new milk, while Cocytus, enwreathed with ivy, flowed along in streams of sweet wine. Lachesis slit not the thread of life nor did funeral dirge sound in challenge to the holy chant. Death walked not

[344]in terris, nullique rogum planxere parentes.navita non moritur fluctu, non cuspide miles;oppida funerei pollent inmunia leti,impexamque senex velavit harundine frontemportitor et vacuos egit cum carmine remos.360Iam suus inferno processerat Hesperus orbi:ducitur in thalamum virgo. stat pronuba iuxtastellantes Nox picta sinus tangensque cubileomina perpetuo genitalia foedere sancit;exultant cum voce pii Ditisque sub aula365talia pervigili sumunt exordia plausu:“Nostra potens Iuno tuque o germane Tonantiset gener, unanimi consortia discite somnimutuaque alternis innectite vota lacertis.iam felix oritur proles; iam laeta futuros370expectat Natura deos. nova numina rebusaddite et optatos Cereri proferte nepotes.”LIBER TERTIUS(XXXVI.)Iuppiter interea cinctam Thaumantida nimbisire iubet totoque deos arcessere mundo.illa colorato Zephyros illapsa volatunumina conclamat pelagi Nymphasque morantesincrepat et Fluvios umentibus evocat antris.5[345]on earth and no parents wept beside the funeral pyre. The wave brought not destruction to the sailor nor the spear to the warrior. Cities flourished and knew not death, the destroyer. Charon crowned his uncombed locks with sedge and singing plied his weightless oars.And now its own evening-star had shone upon the underworld. The maiden is led into the bridal chamber. Night, clad in starry raiment, stands by her as her brideswoman; she touches the couch and blesses the union of marriage with a bond that cannot be broken. The blessed shades raise their voices and beneath the palace roof of Dis thus begin their song with sleepless acclaim: “Proserpine, queen of our realm, and thou, Pluto, at once the brother and the son-in-law of Jove, the Thunderer, be it yours to know the alliance of conjoined sleep; pledge mutual troth as ye hold each other in intertwining arms. Happy offspring shall be yours; joyous Nature awaits gods yet to be born. Give the world a new divinity and Ceres the grandchildren she longs for.”BOOK III(XXXVI.)Meanwhile Jove bids cloud-girt Iris go gather the gods from the whole universe. She, outstripping the breezes in her rainbow flight, calls to the sea-deities, chides the Nymphs for their delay, and summons forth the river-gods from their moist

[344]

in terris, nullique rogum planxere parentes.navita non moritur fluctu, non cuspide miles;oppida funerei pollent inmunia leti,impexamque senex velavit harundine frontemportitor et vacuos egit cum carmine remos.360Iam suus inferno processerat Hesperus orbi:ducitur in thalamum virgo. stat pronuba iuxtastellantes Nox picta sinus tangensque cubileomina perpetuo genitalia foedere sancit;exultant cum voce pii Ditisque sub aula365talia pervigili sumunt exordia plausu:“Nostra potens Iuno tuque o germane Tonantiset gener, unanimi consortia discite somnimutuaque alternis innectite vota lacertis.iam felix oritur proles; iam laeta futuros370expectat Natura deos. nova numina rebusaddite et optatos Cereri proferte nepotes.”

in terris, nullique rogum planxere parentes.

navita non moritur fluctu, non cuspide miles;

oppida funerei pollent inmunia leti,

impexamque senex velavit harundine frontem

portitor et vacuos egit cum carmine remos.360

Iam suus inferno processerat Hesperus orbi:

ducitur in thalamum virgo. stat pronuba iuxta

stellantes Nox picta sinus tangensque cubile

omina perpetuo genitalia foedere sancit;

exultant cum voce pii Ditisque sub aula365

talia pervigili sumunt exordia plausu:

“Nostra potens Iuno tuque o germane Tonantis

et gener, unanimi consortia discite somni

mutuaque alternis innectite vota lacertis.

iam felix oritur proles; iam laeta futuros370

expectat Natura deos. nova numina rebus

addite et optatos Cereri proferte nepotes.”

(XXXVI.)

Iuppiter interea cinctam Thaumantida nimbisire iubet totoque deos arcessere mundo.illa colorato Zephyros illapsa volatunumina conclamat pelagi Nymphasque morantesincrepat et Fluvios umentibus evocat antris.5

Iuppiter interea cinctam Thaumantida nimbis

ire iubet totoque deos arcessere mundo.

illa colorato Zephyros illapsa volatu

numina conclamat pelagi Nymphasque morantes

increpat et Fluvios umentibus evocat antris.5

[345]on earth and no parents wept beside the funeral pyre. The wave brought not destruction to the sailor nor the spear to the warrior. Cities flourished and knew not death, the destroyer. Charon crowned his uncombed locks with sedge and singing plied his weightless oars.And now its own evening-star had shone upon the underworld. The maiden is led into the bridal chamber. Night, clad in starry raiment, stands by her as her brideswoman; she touches the couch and blesses the union of marriage with a bond that cannot be broken. The blessed shades raise their voices and beneath the palace roof of Dis thus begin their song with sleepless acclaim: “Proserpine, queen of our realm, and thou, Pluto, at once the brother and the son-in-law of Jove, the Thunderer, be it yours to know the alliance of conjoined sleep; pledge mutual troth as ye hold each other in intertwining arms. Happy offspring shall be yours; joyous Nature awaits gods yet to be born. Give the world a new divinity and Ceres the grandchildren she longs for.”BOOK III(XXXVI.)Meanwhile Jove bids cloud-girt Iris go gather the gods from the whole universe. She, outstripping the breezes in her rainbow flight, calls to the sea-deities, chides the Nymphs for their delay, and summons forth the river-gods from their moist

[345]

on earth and no parents wept beside the funeral pyre. The wave brought not destruction to the sailor nor the spear to the warrior. Cities flourished and knew not death, the destroyer. Charon crowned his uncombed locks with sedge and singing plied his weightless oars.

And now its own evening-star had shone upon the underworld. The maiden is led into the bridal chamber. Night, clad in starry raiment, stands by her as her brideswoman; she touches the couch and blesses the union of marriage with a bond that cannot be broken. The blessed shades raise their voices and beneath the palace roof of Dis thus begin their song with sleepless acclaim: “Proserpine, queen of our realm, and thou, Pluto, at once the brother and the son-in-law of Jove, the Thunderer, be it yours to know the alliance of conjoined sleep; pledge mutual troth as ye hold each other in intertwining arms. Happy offspring shall be yours; joyous Nature awaits gods yet to be born. Give the world a new divinity and Ceres the grandchildren she longs for.”

(XXXVI.)

Meanwhile Jove bids cloud-girt Iris go gather the gods from the whole universe. She, outstripping the breezes in her rainbow flight, calls to the sea-deities, chides the Nymphs for their delay, and summons forth the river-gods from their moist

[346]ancipites trepidique ruunt, quae causa quietosexcierit, tanto quae res agitanda tumultu.ut patuit stellata domus, considere iussi,nec confusus honor: caelestibus ordine sedesprima datur; tractum proceres tenuere secundum10aequorei, placidus Nereus reverendaque Phorcicanities; Glaucum series extrema biformemaccipit et certo mansurum Protea vultu.nec non et senibus Fluviis concessa sedendigloria; plebeio stat cetera more iuventus,15mille Amnes. liquidis incumbunt patribus udaeNaides et taciti mirantur sidera Fauni.Tum gravis ex alto genitor sic orsus Olympo:“abduxere meas iterum mortalia curasiam pridem neglecta mihi, Saturnia postquam20otia et ignavi senium cognovimus aevi;sopitosque diu populos torpore paternosollicitae placuit stimulis impellere vitae,incultis ne sponte seges grandesceret arvis,undaret neu silva favis, neu vina tumerent25fontibus et totae fremerent in pocula ripae(haud equidem invideo—neque enim livescere fas estvel nocuisse deos—sed, quod dissuasor honestiluxus et humanas oblimat copia mentes),provocet ut segnes animos rerumque remotas30ingeniosa vias paulatim exploret egestasutque artes pariat sollertia, nutriat usus.“Nunc mihi cum magnis instat Natura querellis[347]caverns. Out they haste in doubt and fear what this disturbance of their peace may signify or what has caused so great an upheaval. The starry heaven is thrown open and the gods are bidden take their seats as merit, not chance, dictates. The first places are accorded to the heavenly powers, next come the ocean-deities, calm Nereus and grey-haired Phorcus, last twiform Glaucus and Proteus, for once of unvarying shape. The agèd river-gods, too, are privileged to take their seats; the other rivers, a thousand strong, stand as stands the youth of an earthly assembly. Dripping water-nymphs lean on their moist sires and Fauns in silence marvel at the stars.Then the grave Father from his seat on high Olympus thus began: “Once more the affairs of men have won care from me, affairs long neglected since I looked upon the repose of Saturn’s reign and knew the torpor of that stagnant age, when I had fain urged the race of man, long sunk in lethargy by reason of my sire’s sluggish rule, with the goads of anxious life, whereby their crops should no more grow to maturity of their own accord in the untilled fields nor yet the forest trees drip with honey nor wine flow from springs nor every stream course sounding into cups. ’Twas not that I grudged their blessings—gods may not envy nor hurt—but because luxury is a foe to a godly life, and plenty dulls the mind of men; therefore I bade necessity, invention’s mother, provoke their sluggish spirits and little by little search out the hidden tracks of things; bade industry give birth to civilization and practice nourish it.“Nature now with ceaseless complaint bids me

[346]

ancipites trepidique ruunt, quae causa quietosexcierit, tanto quae res agitanda tumultu.ut patuit stellata domus, considere iussi,nec confusus honor: caelestibus ordine sedesprima datur; tractum proceres tenuere secundum10aequorei, placidus Nereus reverendaque Phorcicanities; Glaucum series extrema biformemaccipit et certo mansurum Protea vultu.nec non et senibus Fluviis concessa sedendigloria; plebeio stat cetera more iuventus,15mille Amnes. liquidis incumbunt patribus udaeNaides et taciti mirantur sidera Fauni.Tum gravis ex alto genitor sic orsus Olympo:“abduxere meas iterum mortalia curasiam pridem neglecta mihi, Saturnia postquam20otia et ignavi senium cognovimus aevi;sopitosque diu populos torpore paternosollicitae placuit stimulis impellere vitae,incultis ne sponte seges grandesceret arvis,undaret neu silva favis, neu vina tumerent25fontibus et totae fremerent in pocula ripae(haud equidem invideo—neque enim livescere fas estvel nocuisse deos—sed, quod dissuasor honestiluxus et humanas oblimat copia mentes),provocet ut segnes animos rerumque remotas30ingeniosa vias paulatim exploret egestasutque artes pariat sollertia, nutriat usus.“Nunc mihi cum magnis instat Natura querellis

ancipites trepidique ruunt, quae causa quietos

excierit, tanto quae res agitanda tumultu.

ut patuit stellata domus, considere iussi,

nec confusus honor: caelestibus ordine sedes

prima datur; tractum proceres tenuere secundum10

aequorei, placidus Nereus reverendaque Phorci

canities; Glaucum series extrema biformem

accipit et certo mansurum Protea vultu.

nec non et senibus Fluviis concessa sedendi

gloria; plebeio stat cetera more iuventus,15

mille Amnes. liquidis incumbunt patribus udae

Naides et taciti mirantur sidera Fauni.

Tum gravis ex alto genitor sic orsus Olympo:

“abduxere meas iterum mortalia curas

iam pridem neglecta mihi, Saturnia postquam20

otia et ignavi senium cognovimus aevi;

sopitosque diu populos torpore paterno

sollicitae placuit stimulis impellere vitae,

incultis ne sponte seges grandesceret arvis,

undaret neu silva favis, neu vina tumerent25

fontibus et totae fremerent in pocula ripae

(haud equidem invideo—neque enim livescere fas est

vel nocuisse deos—sed, quod dissuasor honesti

luxus et humanas oblimat copia mentes),

provocet ut segnes animos rerumque remotas30

ingeniosa vias paulatim exploret egestas

utque artes pariat sollertia, nutriat usus.

“Nunc mihi cum magnis instat Natura querellis

[347]caverns. Out they haste in doubt and fear what this disturbance of their peace may signify or what has caused so great an upheaval. The starry heaven is thrown open and the gods are bidden take their seats as merit, not chance, dictates. The first places are accorded to the heavenly powers, next come the ocean-deities, calm Nereus and grey-haired Phorcus, last twiform Glaucus and Proteus, for once of unvarying shape. The agèd river-gods, too, are privileged to take their seats; the other rivers, a thousand strong, stand as stands the youth of an earthly assembly. Dripping water-nymphs lean on their moist sires and Fauns in silence marvel at the stars.Then the grave Father from his seat on high Olympus thus began: “Once more the affairs of men have won care from me, affairs long neglected since I looked upon the repose of Saturn’s reign and knew the torpor of that stagnant age, when I had fain urged the race of man, long sunk in lethargy by reason of my sire’s sluggish rule, with the goads of anxious life, whereby their crops should no more grow to maturity of their own accord in the untilled fields nor yet the forest trees drip with honey nor wine flow from springs nor every stream course sounding into cups. ’Twas not that I grudged their blessings—gods may not envy nor hurt—but because luxury is a foe to a godly life, and plenty dulls the mind of men; therefore I bade necessity, invention’s mother, provoke their sluggish spirits and little by little search out the hidden tracks of things; bade industry give birth to civilization and practice nourish it.“Nature now with ceaseless complaint bids me

[347]

caverns. Out they haste in doubt and fear what this disturbance of their peace may signify or what has caused so great an upheaval. The starry heaven is thrown open and the gods are bidden take their seats as merit, not chance, dictates. The first places are accorded to the heavenly powers, next come the ocean-deities, calm Nereus and grey-haired Phorcus, last twiform Glaucus and Proteus, for once of unvarying shape. The agèd river-gods, too, are privileged to take their seats; the other rivers, a thousand strong, stand as stands the youth of an earthly assembly. Dripping water-nymphs lean on their moist sires and Fauns in silence marvel at the stars.

Then the grave Father from his seat on high Olympus thus began: “Once more the affairs of men have won care from me, affairs long neglected since I looked upon the repose of Saturn’s reign and knew the torpor of that stagnant age, when I had fain urged the race of man, long sunk in lethargy by reason of my sire’s sluggish rule, with the goads of anxious life, whereby their crops should no more grow to maturity of their own accord in the untilled fields nor yet the forest trees drip with honey nor wine flow from springs nor every stream course sounding into cups. ’Twas not that I grudged their blessings—gods may not envy nor hurt—but because luxury is a foe to a godly life, and plenty dulls the mind of men; therefore I bade necessity, invention’s mother, provoke their sluggish spirits and little by little search out the hidden tracks of things; bade industry give birth to civilization and practice nourish it.

“Nature now with ceaseless complaint bids me

[348]humanum relevare genus, durumque tyrannuminmitemque vocat regnataque saecula patri35commemorat parcumque Iovem se divite clamat,qui campos horrere situ dumisque replerirura velim, nullis exornem fructibus annum.se iam, quae genetrix mortalibus ante fuisset,in dirae subito mores transisse novercae;40‘quid mentem traxisse polo, quid profuit altumerexisse caput, pecudum si more pererrantavia, si frangunt communia pabula glandes?haecine vita iuvat silvestribus abdita[127]lustris,indiscreta feris?’ tales cum saepe parentis45pertulerim questus, tandem clementior orbiChaonio statui gentes avertere victu:atque adeo Cererem, quae nunc ignara malorumverberat Idaeos torva cum matre leones,per mare, per terras avido discurrere luctu50decretum, natae donec laetata repertaeindicio tribuat fruges, currusque feraturnubibus ignotas populis sparsurus aristaset iuga caerulei subeant Actaea dracones.quodsi quis Cereri raptorem prodere divum55audeat, imperii molem pacemque profundamobtestor rerum, natus licet ille sororvevel coniunx fuerit natarumve agminis una,se licet illa meo conceptam vertice iactet:sentiet iratum procul aegide, sentiet ictum60fulminis et genitum divina sorte pigebitoptabitque mori: tunc vulnere saucius ipsi[127]abditaς; Birt readsaddita, following the otherMSS.[349]succour the race of man, calls me cruel and implacable tyrant, calls to mind the centuries of my sire’s empery and dubs me miser of her riches, for that I would have the world a wilderness and the land covered with scrub and would beautify the year with no fruits. She complained that she, who was erstwhile the mother of all living things, had suddenly taken upon her the hated guise of a stepmother. ‘Of what avail that man derived his intelligence from above, that he has held up his head to heaven, if he wander like the beasts through trackless places, if with them he crushes acorns for food? Can such a life as this bring him happiness, hid in the forest glades, indistinguishable from the life of animals?’ Since I bore so often such complaints from the lips of mother Nature, at length I took pity on the world and decided to make man to cease from his oak-tree food; wherefore I have decreed that Ceres, who now, ignorant of her loss, lashes the lions of Mount Ida, accompanying her dread mother, should wander over sea and land in anxious grief, until, in her joy at finding the traces of her lost daughter, she grant man the gift of corn and her chariot is borne aloft through the clouds to scatter among the people ears before unknown and the steel-blue serpents submit them to the Attic yoke.[128]But if any of the gods dare inform Ceres who is the ravisher, I swear by the immensity of mine empire, by the firm-stablished peace of the world, be he son or sister, spouse or daughter, vaunt he his birth as from mine own head, he shall feel afar the wrath of mine arms, the thunderbolt’s blow, and be sorry he was born a god and pray for death. Then, sore wounded, he shall be handed[128]Attic, because Ceres in her wanderings came to Eleusis where she instructed Triptolemus, son of Celeus, King of Eleusis, in the art of agriculture.

[348]

humanum relevare genus, durumque tyrannuminmitemque vocat regnataque saecula patri35commemorat parcumque Iovem se divite clamat,qui campos horrere situ dumisque replerirura velim, nullis exornem fructibus annum.se iam, quae genetrix mortalibus ante fuisset,in dirae subito mores transisse novercae;40‘quid mentem traxisse polo, quid profuit altumerexisse caput, pecudum si more pererrantavia, si frangunt communia pabula glandes?haecine vita iuvat silvestribus abdita[127]lustris,indiscreta feris?’ tales cum saepe parentis45pertulerim questus, tandem clementior orbiChaonio statui gentes avertere victu:atque adeo Cererem, quae nunc ignara malorumverberat Idaeos torva cum matre leones,per mare, per terras avido discurrere luctu50decretum, natae donec laetata repertaeindicio tribuat fruges, currusque feraturnubibus ignotas populis sparsurus aristaset iuga caerulei subeant Actaea dracones.quodsi quis Cereri raptorem prodere divum55audeat, imperii molem pacemque profundamobtestor rerum, natus licet ille sororvevel coniunx fuerit natarumve agminis una,se licet illa meo conceptam vertice iactet:sentiet iratum procul aegide, sentiet ictum60fulminis et genitum divina sorte pigebitoptabitque mori: tunc vulnere saucius ipsi

humanum relevare genus, durumque tyrannum

inmitemque vocat regnataque saecula patri35

commemorat parcumque Iovem se divite clamat,

qui campos horrere situ dumisque repleri

rura velim, nullis exornem fructibus annum.

se iam, quae genetrix mortalibus ante fuisset,

in dirae subito mores transisse novercae;40

‘quid mentem traxisse polo, quid profuit altum

erexisse caput, pecudum si more pererrant

avia, si frangunt communia pabula glandes?

haecine vita iuvat silvestribus abdita[127]lustris,

indiscreta feris?’ tales cum saepe parentis45

pertulerim questus, tandem clementior orbi

Chaonio statui gentes avertere victu:

atque adeo Cererem, quae nunc ignara malorum

verberat Idaeos torva cum matre leones,

per mare, per terras avido discurrere luctu50

decretum, natae donec laetata repertae

indicio tribuat fruges, currusque feratur

nubibus ignotas populis sparsurus aristas

et iuga caerulei subeant Actaea dracones.

quodsi quis Cereri raptorem prodere divum55

audeat, imperii molem pacemque profundam

obtestor rerum, natus licet ille sororve

vel coniunx fuerit natarumve agminis una,

se licet illa meo conceptam vertice iactet:

sentiet iratum procul aegide, sentiet ictum60

fulminis et genitum divina sorte pigebit

optabitque mori: tunc vulnere saucius ipsi

[127]abditaς; Birt readsaddita, following the otherMSS.

[349]succour the race of man, calls me cruel and implacable tyrant, calls to mind the centuries of my sire’s empery and dubs me miser of her riches, for that I would have the world a wilderness and the land covered with scrub and would beautify the year with no fruits. She complained that she, who was erstwhile the mother of all living things, had suddenly taken upon her the hated guise of a stepmother. ‘Of what avail that man derived his intelligence from above, that he has held up his head to heaven, if he wander like the beasts through trackless places, if with them he crushes acorns for food? Can such a life as this bring him happiness, hid in the forest glades, indistinguishable from the life of animals?’ Since I bore so often such complaints from the lips of mother Nature, at length I took pity on the world and decided to make man to cease from his oak-tree food; wherefore I have decreed that Ceres, who now, ignorant of her loss, lashes the lions of Mount Ida, accompanying her dread mother, should wander over sea and land in anxious grief, until, in her joy at finding the traces of her lost daughter, she grant man the gift of corn and her chariot is borne aloft through the clouds to scatter among the people ears before unknown and the steel-blue serpents submit them to the Attic yoke.[128]But if any of the gods dare inform Ceres who is the ravisher, I swear by the immensity of mine empire, by the firm-stablished peace of the world, be he son or sister, spouse or daughter, vaunt he his birth as from mine own head, he shall feel afar the wrath of mine arms, the thunderbolt’s blow, and be sorry he was born a god and pray for death. Then, sore wounded, he shall be handed[128]Attic, because Ceres in her wanderings came to Eleusis where she instructed Triptolemus, son of Celeus, King of Eleusis, in the art of agriculture.

[349]

succour the race of man, calls me cruel and implacable tyrant, calls to mind the centuries of my sire’s empery and dubs me miser of her riches, for that I would have the world a wilderness and the land covered with scrub and would beautify the year with no fruits. She complained that she, who was erstwhile the mother of all living things, had suddenly taken upon her the hated guise of a stepmother. ‘Of what avail that man derived his intelligence from above, that he has held up his head to heaven, if he wander like the beasts through trackless places, if with them he crushes acorns for food? Can such a life as this bring him happiness, hid in the forest glades, indistinguishable from the life of animals?’ Since I bore so often such complaints from the lips of mother Nature, at length I took pity on the world and decided to make man to cease from his oak-tree food; wherefore I have decreed that Ceres, who now, ignorant of her loss, lashes the lions of Mount Ida, accompanying her dread mother, should wander over sea and land in anxious grief, until, in her joy at finding the traces of her lost daughter, she grant man the gift of corn and her chariot is borne aloft through the clouds to scatter among the people ears before unknown and the steel-blue serpents submit them to the Attic yoke.[128]But if any of the gods dare inform Ceres who is the ravisher, I swear by the immensity of mine empire, by the firm-stablished peace of the world, be he son or sister, spouse or daughter, vaunt he his birth as from mine own head, he shall feel afar the wrath of mine arms, the thunderbolt’s blow, and be sorry he was born a god and pray for death. Then, sore wounded, he shall be handed

[128]Attic, because Ceres in her wanderings came to Eleusis where she instructed Triptolemus, son of Celeus, King of Eleusis, in the art of agriculture.

[350]tradetur genero, passurus prodita regna,et sciet an propriae conspirent Tartara causae.hoc sanctum; mansura fluant hoc ordine fata.”65dixit et horrendo concussit sidera motu.At procul armisoni Cererem sub rupibus antrisecuram placidamque diu iam certa peractiterrebant simulacra mali, noctesque timoremingeminant omnique perit Proserpina somno.70namque modo adversis invadi viscera telis,nunc sibi mutatas horret nigrescere vestes,nunc steriles mediis frondere penatibus ornos.stabat praeterea luco dilectior omnilaurus, virgineos quondam quae fronde pudica75umbrabat thalamos: hanc imo stipite caesamvidit et incomptos foedari pulvere ramosquaesivitque nefas. Dryades dixere gementesTartarea Furias debellavisse bipenni.Sed tunc ipsa sui iam non ambagibus ullis80nuntia materno facies ingesta sopori:namque videbatur tenebroso obtecta recessucarceris et saevis Proserpina vincta catenis,non qualem Siculis olim mandaverat arvisnec qualem roseis nuper convallibus Aetnae85suspexere deae: squalebat pulchrior aurocaesaries et nox oculorum infecerat ignesexhaustusque gelu pallet rubor, ille superbiflammeus oris honos, et non cessura pruinismembra colorantur picei caligine regni.90[351]over to my son-in-law, Pluto himself, for punishment in those regions he had fain betray. There he shall learn whether Hell is true to her own monarch’s cause. Such is my will; thus let the unchangeable fates fulfil my decree.” He spake and shook the stars with his dread nod.But, far from Sicily, no uncertain suspicions of the loss she had suffered alarmed Ceres, where long she had dwelt peaceful and secure beneath the rocky roof of the cave resounding with arms. Dreams doubled her dread and a vision of Proserpine lost troubled her every sleep. Now she dreams that an enemy’s spear is piercing her body, now (oh horror!) that her raiment is changed and is become black, now that the infecund ash is budding in the midst of her house. Moreover, there stood a laurel, loved above all the grove, that used with maiden leaf to o’ershadow the virgin bower of Proserpine. This she saw hewn down to the roots, its straggling branches fouled with dust, and when she asked the cause of this disaster weeping dryads told her that the Furies had destroyed it with an axe of Hell.Next her very image appeared in the mother’s dreams, announcing her fate in no uncertain manner. She saw Proserpine shut in the dark confines of a prison-house and bound with cruel chains. Yet not so had she entrusted her to the fields of Sicily, not so had the wondering goddesses beheld her in Etna’s flowery meadows. Foul was now that hair, more beauteous erstwhile than gold; night had dimmed the fire of her eyes and frost banished the roses from her pale cheeks. The gracious flush of her skin and those limbs whose whiteness matched the hoar-frost are alike turned to hell-tinctured

[350]

tradetur genero, passurus prodita regna,et sciet an propriae conspirent Tartara causae.hoc sanctum; mansura fluant hoc ordine fata.”65dixit et horrendo concussit sidera motu.At procul armisoni Cererem sub rupibus antrisecuram placidamque diu iam certa peractiterrebant simulacra mali, noctesque timoremingeminant omnique perit Proserpina somno.70namque modo adversis invadi viscera telis,nunc sibi mutatas horret nigrescere vestes,nunc steriles mediis frondere penatibus ornos.stabat praeterea luco dilectior omnilaurus, virgineos quondam quae fronde pudica75umbrabat thalamos: hanc imo stipite caesamvidit et incomptos foedari pulvere ramosquaesivitque nefas. Dryades dixere gementesTartarea Furias debellavisse bipenni.Sed tunc ipsa sui iam non ambagibus ullis80nuntia materno facies ingesta sopori:namque videbatur tenebroso obtecta recessucarceris et saevis Proserpina vincta catenis,non qualem Siculis olim mandaverat arvisnec qualem roseis nuper convallibus Aetnae85suspexere deae: squalebat pulchrior aurocaesaries et nox oculorum infecerat ignesexhaustusque gelu pallet rubor, ille superbiflammeus oris honos, et non cessura pruinismembra colorantur picei caligine regni.90

tradetur genero, passurus prodita regna,

et sciet an propriae conspirent Tartara causae.

hoc sanctum; mansura fluant hoc ordine fata.”65

dixit et horrendo concussit sidera motu.

At procul armisoni Cererem sub rupibus antri

securam placidamque diu iam certa peracti

terrebant simulacra mali, noctesque timorem

ingeminant omnique perit Proserpina somno.70

namque modo adversis invadi viscera telis,

nunc sibi mutatas horret nigrescere vestes,

nunc steriles mediis frondere penatibus ornos.

stabat praeterea luco dilectior omni

laurus, virgineos quondam quae fronde pudica75

umbrabat thalamos: hanc imo stipite caesam

vidit et incomptos foedari pulvere ramos

quaesivitque nefas. Dryades dixere gementes

Tartarea Furias debellavisse bipenni.

Sed tunc ipsa sui iam non ambagibus ullis80

nuntia materno facies ingesta sopori:

namque videbatur tenebroso obtecta recessu

carceris et saevis Proserpina vincta catenis,

non qualem Siculis olim mandaverat arvis

nec qualem roseis nuper convallibus Aetnae85

suspexere deae: squalebat pulchrior auro

caesaries et nox oculorum infecerat ignes

exhaustusque gelu pallet rubor, ille superbi

flammeus oris honos, et non cessura pruinis

membra colorantur picei caligine regni.90

[351]over to my son-in-law, Pluto himself, for punishment in those regions he had fain betray. There he shall learn whether Hell is true to her own monarch’s cause. Such is my will; thus let the unchangeable fates fulfil my decree.” He spake and shook the stars with his dread nod.But, far from Sicily, no uncertain suspicions of the loss she had suffered alarmed Ceres, where long she had dwelt peaceful and secure beneath the rocky roof of the cave resounding with arms. Dreams doubled her dread and a vision of Proserpine lost troubled her every sleep. Now she dreams that an enemy’s spear is piercing her body, now (oh horror!) that her raiment is changed and is become black, now that the infecund ash is budding in the midst of her house. Moreover, there stood a laurel, loved above all the grove, that used with maiden leaf to o’ershadow the virgin bower of Proserpine. This she saw hewn down to the roots, its straggling branches fouled with dust, and when she asked the cause of this disaster weeping dryads told her that the Furies had destroyed it with an axe of Hell.Next her very image appeared in the mother’s dreams, announcing her fate in no uncertain manner. She saw Proserpine shut in the dark confines of a prison-house and bound with cruel chains. Yet not so had she entrusted her to the fields of Sicily, not so had the wondering goddesses beheld her in Etna’s flowery meadows. Foul was now that hair, more beauteous erstwhile than gold; night had dimmed the fire of her eyes and frost banished the roses from her pale cheeks. The gracious flush of her skin and those limbs whose whiteness matched the hoar-frost are alike turned to hell-tinctured

[351]

over to my son-in-law, Pluto himself, for punishment in those regions he had fain betray. There he shall learn whether Hell is true to her own monarch’s cause. Such is my will; thus let the unchangeable fates fulfil my decree.” He spake and shook the stars with his dread nod.

But, far from Sicily, no uncertain suspicions of the loss she had suffered alarmed Ceres, where long she had dwelt peaceful and secure beneath the rocky roof of the cave resounding with arms. Dreams doubled her dread and a vision of Proserpine lost troubled her every sleep. Now she dreams that an enemy’s spear is piercing her body, now (oh horror!) that her raiment is changed and is become black, now that the infecund ash is budding in the midst of her house. Moreover, there stood a laurel, loved above all the grove, that used with maiden leaf to o’ershadow the virgin bower of Proserpine. This she saw hewn down to the roots, its straggling branches fouled with dust, and when she asked the cause of this disaster weeping dryads told her that the Furies had destroyed it with an axe of Hell.

Next her very image appeared in the mother’s dreams, announcing her fate in no uncertain manner. She saw Proserpine shut in the dark confines of a prison-house and bound with cruel chains. Yet not so had she entrusted her to the fields of Sicily, not so had the wondering goddesses beheld her in Etna’s flowery meadows. Foul was now that hair, more beauteous erstwhile than gold; night had dimmed the fire of her eyes and frost banished the roses from her pale cheeks. The gracious flush of her skin and those limbs whose whiteness matched the hoar-frost are alike turned to hell-tinctured

[352]ergo hanc ut dubio vix tandem agnoscere visuevaluit: “cuius tot poenae criminis?” inquit“unde haec informis macies? cui tanta potestasin me saevitiae? rigidi cur vincula ferrivix aptanda feris molles meruere lacerti?95tu mea, tu proles? an vana fallimur umbra?”Illa refert: “heu dira parens nataeque peremptaeimmemor! heu fulvas animo transgressa leaenas!tantane te nostri tenuere oblivia? tantumunica despicior? certe Proserpina nomen100dulce tibi, tali quae nunc, ut cernis, hiatusuppliciis inclusa teror! tu saeva choreisindulges? Phrygias vel nunc interstrepis urbes?quodsi non omnem pepulisti pectore matrem,si tua nata, Ceres, et non me Caspia tigris105edidit, his, oro, miseram defende cavernisinque superna refer, prohibent si fata reverti,vel tantum visura veni.”Sic fata trementestendere conatur palmas. vis improba ferriimpedit et motae somnum solvere catenae.110obriguit visis; gaudet non vera fuisse;complexu caruisse dolet. penetralibus amensprosilit et tali compellat voce Cybeben:“Iam non ulterius Phrygia tellure morabor,sancta parens: revocat tandem custodia cari115pignoris et cunctis obiecti fraudibus anni.[353]grain. When, therefore, she was at last able to recognize her daughter, albeit with doubtful gaze, she cried: “What crime hath merited these many punishments? Whence comes this dreadful wasting away? Who hath power to wreak such cruelty upon me? How have thy soft arms deserved fetters of stubborn iron, scarce fitted for beasts? Art thou my daughter or does a vain shadow deceive me?”Thus she answered: “Cruel mother, forgetful of thy daughter’s fate, more hard of heart than the tawny lioness! Could’st thou be so heedless of me? Didst thou hold me cheap for that I am thy sole daughter? Dear indeed to thee must be the name of Proserpine who now, shut in this vast cavern, as thou seest, am plagued with torment! Hast thou heart to dance, cruel mother? Canst thou revel through the cities of Phrygia? If thou hast not banished the mother from thy breast, if thou, Ceres, art really my mother and ’twas no Hyrcanian tiger gave me birth, save me, I pray thee, from this prison and restore me to the upper world. If the fates forbid my return come thou down at least and visit me.”So spake she and strove to hold out her trembling hands. The iron’s ruthless strength forbade it, and the clangour of the chains awoke her sleeping mother. Ceres lay stiff with terror at the vision, rejoices that it was not true, but grieves that she cannot embrace her daughter. Maddened with fear she rushes out of the cavern and thus addresses Cybele: “No longer now will I tarry in the land of Phrygia, holy mother; the duty of protecting my dear daughter calls me back after so long an absence, for she is of an age that is exposed to many dangers. I put not

[352]

ergo hanc ut dubio vix tandem agnoscere visuevaluit: “cuius tot poenae criminis?” inquit“unde haec informis macies? cui tanta potestasin me saevitiae? rigidi cur vincula ferrivix aptanda feris molles meruere lacerti?95tu mea, tu proles? an vana fallimur umbra?”Illa refert: “heu dira parens nataeque peremptaeimmemor! heu fulvas animo transgressa leaenas!tantane te nostri tenuere oblivia? tantumunica despicior? certe Proserpina nomen100dulce tibi, tali quae nunc, ut cernis, hiatusuppliciis inclusa teror! tu saeva choreisindulges? Phrygias vel nunc interstrepis urbes?quodsi non omnem pepulisti pectore matrem,si tua nata, Ceres, et non me Caspia tigris105edidit, his, oro, miseram defende cavernisinque superna refer, prohibent si fata reverti,vel tantum visura veni.”Sic fata trementestendere conatur palmas. vis improba ferriimpedit et motae somnum solvere catenae.110obriguit visis; gaudet non vera fuisse;complexu caruisse dolet. penetralibus amensprosilit et tali compellat voce Cybeben:“Iam non ulterius Phrygia tellure morabor,sancta parens: revocat tandem custodia cari115pignoris et cunctis obiecti fraudibus anni.

ergo hanc ut dubio vix tandem agnoscere visu

evaluit: “cuius tot poenae criminis?” inquit

“unde haec informis macies? cui tanta potestas

in me saevitiae? rigidi cur vincula ferri

vix aptanda feris molles meruere lacerti?95

tu mea, tu proles? an vana fallimur umbra?”

Illa refert: “heu dira parens nataeque peremptae

immemor! heu fulvas animo transgressa leaenas!

tantane te nostri tenuere oblivia? tantum

unica despicior? certe Proserpina nomen100

dulce tibi, tali quae nunc, ut cernis, hiatu

suppliciis inclusa teror! tu saeva choreis

indulges? Phrygias vel nunc interstrepis urbes?

quodsi non omnem pepulisti pectore matrem,

si tua nata, Ceres, et non me Caspia tigris105

edidit, his, oro, miseram defende cavernis

inque superna refer, prohibent si fata reverti,

vel tantum visura veni.”

Sic fata trementes

tendere conatur palmas. vis improba ferri

impedit et motae somnum solvere catenae.110

obriguit visis; gaudet non vera fuisse;

complexu caruisse dolet. penetralibus amens

prosilit et tali compellat voce Cybeben:

“Iam non ulterius Phrygia tellure morabor,

sancta parens: revocat tandem custodia cari115

pignoris et cunctis obiecti fraudibus anni.

[353]grain. When, therefore, she was at last able to recognize her daughter, albeit with doubtful gaze, she cried: “What crime hath merited these many punishments? Whence comes this dreadful wasting away? Who hath power to wreak such cruelty upon me? How have thy soft arms deserved fetters of stubborn iron, scarce fitted for beasts? Art thou my daughter or does a vain shadow deceive me?”Thus she answered: “Cruel mother, forgetful of thy daughter’s fate, more hard of heart than the tawny lioness! Could’st thou be so heedless of me? Didst thou hold me cheap for that I am thy sole daughter? Dear indeed to thee must be the name of Proserpine who now, shut in this vast cavern, as thou seest, am plagued with torment! Hast thou heart to dance, cruel mother? Canst thou revel through the cities of Phrygia? If thou hast not banished the mother from thy breast, if thou, Ceres, art really my mother and ’twas no Hyrcanian tiger gave me birth, save me, I pray thee, from this prison and restore me to the upper world. If the fates forbid my return come thou down at least and visit me.”So spake she and strove to hold out her trembling hands. The iron’s ruthless strength forbade it, and the clangour of the chains awoke her sleeping mother. Ceres lay stiff with terror at the vision, rejoices that it was not true, but grieves that she cannot embrace her daughter. Maddened with fear she rushes out of the cavern and thus addresses Cybele: “No longer now will I tarry in the land of Phrygia, holy mother; the duty of protecting my dear daughter calls me back after so long an absence, for she is of an age that is exposed to many dangers. I put not

[353]

grain. When, therefore, she was at last able to recognize her daughter, albeit with doubtful gaze, she cried: “What crime hath merited these many punishments? Whence comes this dreadful wasting away? Who hath power to wreak such cruelty upon me? How have thy soft arms deserved fetters of stubborn iron, scarce fitted for beasts? Art thou my daughter or does a vain shadow deceive me?”

Thus she answered: “Cruel mother, forgetful of thy daughter’s fate, more hard of heart than the tawny lioness! Could’st thou be so heedless of me? Didst thou hold me cheap for that I am thy sole daughter? Dear indeed to thee must be the name of Proserpine who now, shut in this vast cavern, as thou seest, am plagued with torment! Hast thou heart to dance, cruel mother? Canst thou revel through the cities of Phrygia? If thou hast not banished the mother from thy breast, if thou, Ceres, art really my mother and ’twas no Hyrcanian tiger gave me birth, save me, I pray thee, from this prison and restore me to the upper world. If the fates forbid my return come thou down at least and visit me.”

So spake she and strove to hold out her trembling hands. The iron’s ruthless strength forbade it, and the clangour of the chains awoke her sleeping mother. Ceres lay stiff with terror at the vision, rejoices that it was not true, but grieves that she cannot embrace her daughter. Maddened with fear she rushes out of the cavern and thus addresses Cybele: “No longer now will I tarry in the land of Phrygia, holy mother; the duty of protecting my dear daughter calls me back after so long an absence, for she is of an age that is exposed to many dangers. I put not

[354]nec mihi Cyclopum quamvis extructa caminisculmina fida satis. timeo ne fama latebrasprodiderit leviusque meum Trinacria celetdepositum. terret nimium vulgata locorum120nobilitas. aliis sedes obscurior orisexquirenda mihi; gemitu flammisque propinquisEnceladi nequeunt umbracula nostra taceri.somnia quin etiam variis infausta figurissaepe monent, nullusque dies non triste minatur125augurium. quotiens flaventia serta comarumsponte cadunt! quotiens exundat ab ubere sanguis!larga vel invito prorumpunt flumina vultuiniussaeque manus mirantia pectora tundunt.si buxus inflare velim, ferale gemiscunt;130tympana si quatiam, planctus mihi tympana reddunt.ah vereor, ne quid portendant omina veri!hae longae nocuere morae!”“Procul inrita ventidicta ferant” subicit Cybele; “nec tanta Tonantisegnities, ut non pro pignore fulmina mittat.135i tamen et nullo turbata revertere casu.”Haec ubi, digreditur templis. sed nulla ruentimobilitas: tardos queritur non ire draconesinmeritasque movens alterno verbere pennasSicaniam quaerit, cum necdum absconderit Idam.140cuncta pavet speratque nihil. sic aestuat ales,quae teneros humili fetus commiserit ornoadlatura cibos, et plurima cogitat absens:ne gracilem ventus decusserit arbore nidum,ne furtum pateant homini, ne praeda colubris.145[355]complete trust in my palace, though built with iron from the Cyclops’ furnace. I fear lest rumour disclose her hiding-place and Sicily too lightly guard my trust. The fame of that place too widely bruited abroad alarms me; needs must I find elsewhere some obscurer abode. Our retreat must be on all men’s tongues by reason of the groanings of Enceladus and the neighbour flames. Ill-omened dreams, too, with diverse visions often give me pause, and no day passes but brings some inauspicious hap. How often has my crown of golden ears fallen of itself! How often blood flowed from my breast! In mine own despite streams of tears course down my cheeks and unbidden my hands beat my astonished breast. Would I blow up the flute, funereal is the note; do I shake the cymbals, the cymbals echo a sound of mourning. Alas! I fear there is some trouble in these portents. This long sojourn, has wrought me woe.”“May the wind carry far away thy vain words,” replies Cybele; “not such the Thunderer’s want of care that he would not hurl his bolt in his daughter’s defence. Yet go and return, dismayed by no evil hap.”This said, Ceres left the temple; but no speed is enough for her haste; she complains that her sluggish dragons scarce move, and, lashing the wings now of this one and now of that (though little they deserved it), she hopes to reach Sicily e’er yet out of sight of Ida. She fears everything and hopes nothing, anxious as the bird that has entrusted its unfledged brood to a low-growing ash and while absent gathering food has many fears lest perchance the wind has blown the fragile nest from the tree, lest her young ones be exposed to the theft of man or the greed of snakes.

[354]

nec mihi Cyclopum quamvis extructa caminisculmina fida satis. timeo ne fama latebrasprodiderit leviusque meum Trinacria celetdepositum. terret nimium vulgata locorum120nobilitas. aliis sedes obscurior orisexquirenda mihi; gemitu flammisque propinquisEnceladi nequeunt umbracula nostra taceri.somnia quin etiam variis infausta figurissaepe monent, nullusque dies non triste minatur125augurium. quotiens flaventia serta comarumsponte cadunt! quotiens exundat ab ubere sanguis!larga vel invito prorumpunt flumina vultuiniussaeque manus mirantia pectora tundunt.si buxus inflare velim, ferale gemiscunt;130tympana si quatiam, planctus mihi tympana reddunt.ah vereor, ne quid portendant omina veri!hae longae nocuere morae!”“Procul inrita ventidicta ferant” subicit Cybele; “nec tanta Tonantisegnities, ut non pro pignore fulmina mittat.135i tamen et nullo turbata revertere casu.”Haec ubi, digreditur templis. sed nulla ruentimobilitas: tardos queritur non ire draconesinmeritasque movens alterno verbere pennasSicaniam quaerit, cum necdum absconderit Idam.140cuncta pavet speratque nihil. sic aestuat ales,quae teneros humili fetus commiserit ornoadlatura cibos, et plurima cogitat absens:ne gracilem ventus decusserit arbore nidum,ne furtum pateant homini, ne praeda colubris.145

nec mihi Cyclopum quamvis extructa caminis

culmina fida satis. timeo ne fama latebras

prodiderit leviusque meum Trinacria celet

depositum. terret nimium vulgata locorum120

nobilitas. aliis sedes obscurior oris

exquirenda mihi; gemitu flammisque propinquis

Enceladi nequeunt umbracula nostra taceri.

somnia quin etiam variis infausta figuris

saepe monent, nullusque dies non triste minatur125

augurium. quotiens flaventia serta comarum

sponte cadunt! quotiens exundat ab ubere sanguis!

larga vel invito prorumpunt flumina vultu

iniussaeque manus mirantia pectora tundunt.

si buxus inflare velim, ferale gemiscunt;130

tympana si quatiam, planctus mihi tympana reddunt.

ah vereor, ne quid portendant omina veri!

hae longae nocuere morae!”

“Procul inrita venti

dicta ferant” subicit Cybele; “nec tanta Tonanti

segnities, ut non pro pignore fulmina mittat.135

i tamen et nullo turbata revertere casu.”

Haec ubi, digreditur templis. sed nulla ruenti

mobilitas: tardos queritur non ire dracones

inmeritasque movens alterno verbere pennas

Sicaniam quaerit, cum necdum absconderit Idam.140

cuncta pavet speratque nihil. sic aestuat ales,

quae teneros humili fetus commiserit orno

adlatura cibos, et plurima cogitat absens:

ne gracilem ventus decusserit arbore nidum,

ne furtum pateant homini, ne praeda colubris.145

[355]complete trust in my palace, though built with iron from the Cyclops’ furnace. I fear lest rumour disclose her hiding-place and Sicily too lightly guard my trust. The fame of that place too widely bruited abroad alarms me; needs must I find elsewhere some obscurer abode. Our retreat must be on all men’s tongues by reason of the groanings of Enceladus and the neighbour flames. Ill-omened dreams, too, with diverse visions often give me pause, and no day passes but brings some inauspicious hap. How often has my crown of golden ears fallen of itself! How often blood flowed from my breast! In mine own despite streams of tears course down my cheeks and unbidden my hands beat my astonished breast. Would I blow up the flute, funereal is the note; do I shake the cymbals, the cymbals echo a sound of mourning. Alas! I fear there is some trouble in these portents. This long sojourn, has wrought me woe.”“May the wind carry far away thy vain words,” replies Cybele; “not such the Thunderer’s want of care that he would not hurl his bolt in his daughter’s defence. Yet go and return, dismayed by no evil hap.”This said, Ceres left the temple; but no speed is enough for her haste; she complains that her sluggish dragons scarce move, and, lashing the wings now of this one and now of that (though little they deserved it), she hopes to reach Sicily e’er yet out of sight of Ida. She fears everything and hopes nothing, anxious as the bird that has entrusted its unfledged brood to a low-growing ash and while absent gathering food has many fears lest perchance the wind has blown the fragile nest from the tree, lest her young ones be exposed to the theft of man or the greed of snakes.

[355]

complete trust in my palace, though built with iron from the Cyclops’ furnace. I fear lest rumour disclose her hiding-place and Sicily too lightly guard my trust. The fame of that place too widely bruited abroad alarms me; needs must I find elsewhere some obscurer abode. Our retreat must be on all men’s tongues by reason of the groanings of Enceladus and the neighbour flames. Ill-omened dreams, too, with diverse visions often give me pause, and no day passes but brings some inauspicious hap. How often has my crown of golden ears fallen of itself! How often blood flowed from my breast! In mine own despite streams of tears course down my cheeks and unbidden my hands beat my astonished breast. Would I blow up the flute, funereal is the note; do I shake the cymbals, the cymbals echo a sound of mourning. Alas! I fear there is some trouble in these portents. This long sojourn, has wrought me woe.”

“May the wind carry far away thy vain words,” replies Cybele; “not such the Thunderer’s want of care that he would not hurl his bolt in his daughter’s defence. Yet go and return, dismayed by no evil hap.”

This said, Ceres left the temple; but no speed is enough for her haste; she complains that her sluggish dragons scarce move, and, lashing the wings now of this one and now of that (though little they deserved it), she hopes to reach Sicily e’er yet out of sight of Ida. She fears everything and hopes nothing, anxious as the bird that has entrusted its unfledged brood to a low-growing ash and while absent gathering food has many fears lest perchance the wind has blown the fragile nest from the tree, lest her young ones be exposed to the theft of man or the greed of snakes.

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