INDEX OF POEMS

[356]Ut domus excubiis incustodita remotiset resupinati neglecto cardine postesflebilis et tacitae species adparuit aulae,non expectato respectu cladis amictusconscidit et fractas cum crine avellit aristas.150haeserunt lacrimae; nec vox aut spiritus orisredditur, atque imis vibrat tremor ossa medullis;succidui titubant gressus; foribusque reclusis,dum vacuas sedes et desolata pererratatria, semirutas confuso stamine telas155atque interceptas agnoscit pectinis artes.divinus perit ille labor, spatiumque relictumaudax sacrilego supplebat aranea textu.Nec deflet plangitve malum; tantum oscula telaefigit et abrumpit mutas in fila querellas;160attritosque manu radios proiectaque pensacunctaque virgineo sparsa oblectamina ludoceu natam pressat gremio; castumque cubiledesertosque toros et, sicubi sederat olim,perlegit: attonitus stabulo ceu pastor inani,165cui pecus aut rabies Poenorum inopina leonumaut populatrices infestavere catervae;serus at ille redit vastataque pascua lustransnon responsuros ciet imploratque iuvencos.Atque ibi secreta tectorum in parte iacentem170conspicit Electram, natae quae sedula nutrixOceani priscas inter notissima Nymphas.par Cereri pietas; haec post cunabula dulciferre sinu summoque Iovi deducere parvamsueverat et genibus ludentem aptare paternis.175[357]When she saw the gate-keepers fled, the house unguarded, the rusted hinges, the overthrown doorposts, and the miserable state of the silent halls, pausing not to look again at the disaster, she rent her garment and tore away the shattered corn-ears along with her hair. She could not weep nor speak nor breathe and a trembling shook the very marrow of her bones; her faltering steps tottered. She flung open the doors and wandering through the empty rooms and deserted halls, recognized the half-ruined warp with its disordered threads and the work of the loom broken off. The goddess’ labours had come to naught, and what remained to be done, that the bold spider was finishing with her sacrilegious web.She weeps not nor bewails the ill; only kisses the loom and stifles her dumb complaints amid the threads, clasping to her bosom, as though it had been her child, the spindles her child’s hand had touched, the wool she had cast aside, and all the toys scattered in maiden sport. She scans the virgin bed, the deserted couch, and the chair where Proserpine had sat: even as a herd, whose drove the unexpected fury of an African lion or bands of marauding beasts have attacked, gazes in amaze at the vacant stall, and, too late returned, wanders through the emptied pastures, sadly calling to the unreplying steers.And there, in the innermost parts of the house, she saw lying Electra, loving nurse of Proserpine, best known among the old Nymphs of Ocean; she who loved Proserpine as did Ceres. ’Twas she who, when Proserpine had left her cradle, would bear her in her loving bosom and bring the little girl to mighty Jove and set her to play on her father’s

[356]

Ut domus excubiis incustodita remotiset resupinati neglecto cardine postesflebilis et tacitae species adparuit aulae,non expectato respectu cladis amictusconscidit et fractas cum crine avellit aristas.150haeserunt lacrimae; nec vox aut spiritus orisredditur, atque imis vibrat tremor ossa medullis;succidui titubant gressus; foribusque reclusis,dum vacuas sedes et desolata pererratatria, semirutas confuso stamine telas155atque interceptas agnoscit pectinis artes.divinus perit ille labor, spatiumque relictumaudax sacrilego supplebat aranea textu.Nec deflet plangitve malum; tantum oscula telaefigit et abrumpit mutas in fila querellas;160attritosque manu radios proiectaque pensacunctaque virgineo sparsa oblectamina ludoceu natam pressat gremio; castumque cubiledesertosque toros et, sicubi sederat olim,perlegit: attonitus stabulo ceu pastor inani,165cui pecus aut rabies Poenorum inopina leonumaut populatrices infestavere catervae;serus at ille redit vastataque pascua lustransnon responsuros ciet imploratque iuvencos.Atque ibi secreta tectorum in parte iacentem170conspicit Electram, natae quae sedula nutrixOceani priscas inter notissima Nymphas.par Cereri pietas; haec post cunabula dulciferre sinu summoque Iovi deducere parvamsueverat et genibus ludentem aptare paternis.175

Ut domus excubiis incustodita remotis

et resupinati neglecto cardine postes

flebilis et tacitae species adparuit aulae,

non expectato respectu cladis amictus

conscidit et fractas cum crine avellit aristas.150

haeserunt lacrimae; nec vox aut spiritus oris

redditur, atque imis vibrat tremor ossa medullis;

succidui titubant gressus; foribusque reclusis,

dum vacuas sedes et desolata pererrat

atria, semirutas confuso stamine telas155

atque interceptas agnoscit pectinis artes.

divinus perit ille labor, spatiumque relictum

audax sacrilego supplebat aranea textu.

Nec deflet plangitve malum; tantum oscula telae

figit et abrumpit mutas in fila querellas;160

attritosque manu radios proiectaque pensa

cunctaque virgineo sparsa oblectamina ludo

ceu natam pressat gremio; castumque cubile

desertosque toros et, sicubi sederat olim,

perlegit: attonitus stabulo ceu pastor inani,165

cui pecus aut rabies Poenorum inopina leonum

aut populatrices infestavere catervae;

serus at ille redit vastataque pascua lustrans

non responsuros ciet imploratque iuvencos.

Atque ibi secreta tectorum in parte iacentem170

conspicit Electram, natae quae sedula nutrix

Oceani priscas inter notissima Nymphas.

par Cereri pietas; haec post cunabula dulci

ferre sinu summoque Iovi deducere parvam

sueverat et genibus ludentem aptare paternis.175

[357]When she saw the gate-keepers fled, the house unguarded, the rusted hinges, the overthrown doorposts, and the miserable state of the silent halls, pausing not to look again at the disaster, she rent her garment and tore away the shattered corn-ears along with her hair. She could not weep nor speak nor breathe and a trembling shook the very marrow of her bones; her faltering steps tottered. She flung open the doors and wandering through the empty rooms and deserted halls, recognized the half-ruined warp with its disordered threads and the work of the loom broken off. The goddess’ labours had come to naught, and what remained to be done, that the bold spider was finishing with her sacrilegious web.She weeps not nor bewails the ill; only kisses the loom and stifles her dumb complaints amid the threads, clasping to her bosom, as though it had been her child, the spindles her child’s hand had touched, the wool she had cast aside, and all the toys scattered in maiden sport. She scans the virgin bed, the deserted couch, and the chair where Proserpine had sat: even as a herd, whose drove the unexpected fury of an African lion or bands of marauding beasts have attacked, gazes in amaze at the vacant stall, and, too late returned, wanders through the emptied pastures, sadly calling to the unreplying steers.And there, in the innermost parts of the house, she saw lying Electra, loving nurse of Proserpine, best known among the old Nymphs of Ocean; she who loved Proserpine as did Ceres. ’Twas she who, when Proserpine had left her cradle, would bear her in her loving bosom and bring the little girl to mighty Jove and set her to play on her father’s

[357]

When she saw the gate-keepers fled, the house unguarded, the rusted hinges, the overthrown doorposts, and the miserable state of the silent halls, pausing not to look again at the disaster, she rent her garment and tore away the shattered corn-ears along with her hair. She could not weep nor speak nor breathe and a trembling shook the very marrow of her bones; her faltering steps tottered. She flung open the doors and wandering through the empty rooms and deserted halls, recognized the half-ruined warp with its disordered threads and the work of the loom broken off. The goddess’ labours had come to naught, and what remained to be done, that the bold spider was finishing with her sacrilegious web.

She weeps not nor bewails the ill; only kisses the loom and stifles her dumb complaints amid the threads, clasping to her bosom, as though it had been her child, the spindles her child’s hand had touched, the wool she had cast aside, and all the toys scattered in maiden sport. She scans the virgin bed, the deserted couch, and the chair where Proserpine had sat: even as a herd, whose drove the unexpected fury of an African lion or bands of marauding beasts have attacked, gazes in amaze at the vacant stall, and, too late returned, wanders through the emptied pastures, sadly calling to the unreplying steers.

And there, in the innermost parts of the house, she saw lying Electra, loving nurse of Proserpine, best known among the old Nymphs of Ocean; she who loved Proserpine as did Ceres. ’Twas she who, when Proserpine had left her cradle, would bear her in her loving bosom and bring the little girl to mighty Jove and set her to play on her father’s

[358]haec comes, haec custos, haec proxima mater haberi.tunc laceras effusa comas et pulvere canosordida sidereae raptus lugebat alumnae.Hanc adgressa Ceres, postquam suspiria tandemlaxavit frenosque dolor: “quod cernimus” inquit180“excidium? cui praeda feror? regnatne maritusan caelum Titanes habent? quae talia vivoausa Tonante manus? rupitne Typhoia cervixInarimen? fractane iugi compage VeseviAlcyoneus Tyrrhena pedes per stagna cucurrit?185an vicina mihi quassatis faucibus Aetnaprotulit Enceladum? nostros an forte penatesadpetiit centum Briareia turba lacertis?heu, ubi nunc es, nata, mihi? quo, mille ministrae,quo, Cyane? volucres quae vis Sirenas abegit?190haecine vestra fides? sic fas aliena tueripignora?”Contremuit nutrix, maerorque pudoricedit, et adspectus miserae non ferre parentisemptum morte velit longumque inmota moraturauctorem dubium certumque expromere funus.195vix tamen haec:“Acies utinam vesana Gigantumhanc dederit cladem! levius communia tangunt.sed divae, multoque minus quod rere, sororesin nostras (nimium!) coniuravere ruinas.insidias superum, cognatae vulnera cernis200invidiae. Phlegra nobis infensior aether.“Florebat tranquilla domus; nec limina virgo[359]knee. She was her companion, her guardian, and could be deemed her second mother. There, with torn and dishevelled hair, all foul with grey dust, she was lamenting the rape of her divine foster-child.Ceres approached her, and when at length her grief allowed her sighs free rein: “What ruin is here?” she said. “Of what enemy am I become the victim? Does my husband yet rule or do the Titans hold heaven? What hand hath dared this, if the Thunderer be still alive? Have Typhon’s shoulders forced up Inarime or does Alcyoneus course on foot through the Etruscan Sea, having burst the bonds of imprisoning Vesuvius? Or has the neighbouring mountain of Etna oped her jaws and expelled Enceladus? Perchance Briareus with his hundred arms has attacked my house? Ah, my daughter, where art thou now? Whither are fled my thousand servants, whither Cyane? What violence has driven away the winged Sirens? Is this your faith? Is this the way to guard another’s treasure?”The nurse trembled and her sorrow gave place to shame; fain would she have died could she so escape the gaze of that unhappy mother, and long stayed she motionless, hesitating to disclose the suspected criminal and the all too certain death. Scarce could she thus speak: “Would that the raging band of Giants had wrought this ruin! Easier to bear is a common lot. ’Tis the goddesses, and, though thou wilt scarce credit it, her own sisters, who have conspired to our undoing. Thou seest the devices of gods and wounds inflicted by sisters’ jealousy. Heaven is a more cruel enemy than Hell.“All quiet was the house, the maiden dared not

[358]

haec comes, haec custos, haec proxima mater haberi.tunc laceras effusa comas et pulvere canosordida sidereae raptus lugebat alumnae.Hanc adgressa Ceres, postquam suspiria tandemlaxavit frenosque dolor: “quod cernimus” inquit180“excidium? cui praeda feror? regnatne maritusan caelum Titanes habent? quae talia vivoausa Tonante manus? rupitne Typhoia cervixInarimen? fractane iugi compage VeseviAlcyoneus Tyrrhena pedes per stagna cucurrit?185an vicina mihi quassatis faucibus Aetnaprotulit Enceladum? nostros an forte penatesadpetiit centum Briareia turba lacertis?heu, ubi nunc es, nata, mihi? quo, mille ministrae,quo, Cyane? volucres quae vis Sirenas abegit?190haecine vestra fides? sic fas aliena tueripignora?”Contremuit nutrix, maerorque pudoricedit, et adspectus miserae non ferre parentisemptum morte velit longumque inmota moraturauctorem dubium certumque expromere funus.195vix tamen haec:“Acies utinam vesana Gigantumhanc dederit cladem! levius communia tangunt.sed divae, multoque minus quod rere, sororesin nostras (nimium!) coniuravere ruinas.insidias superum, cognatae vulnera cernis200invidiae. Phlegra nobis infensior aether.“Florebat tranquilla domus; nec limina virgo

haec comes, haec custos, haec proxima mater haberi.

tunc laceras effusa comas et pulvere cano

sordida sidereae raptus lugebat alumnae.

Hanc adgressa Ceres, postquam suspiria tandem

laxavit frenosque dolor: “quod cernimus” inquit180

“excidium? cui praeda feror? regnatne maritus

an caelum Titanes habent? quae talia vivo

ausa Tonante manus? rupitne Typhoia cervix

Inarimen? fractane iugi compage Vesevi

Alcyoneus Tyrrhena pedes per stagna cucurrit?185

an vicina mihi quassatis faucibus Aetna

protulit Enceladum? nostros an forte penates

adpetiit centum Briareia turba lacertis?

heu, ubi nunc es, nata, mihi? quo, mille ministrae,

quo, Cyane? volucres quae vis Sirenas abegit?190

haecine vestra fides? sic fas aliena tueri

pignora?”

Contremuit nutrix, maerorque pudori

cedit, et adspectus miserae non ferre parentis

emptum morte velit longumque inmota moratur

auctorem dubium certumque expromere funus.195

vix tamen haec:

“Acies utinam vesana Gigantum

hanc dederit cladem! levius communia tangunt.

sed divae, multoque minus quod rere, sorores

in nostras (nimium!) coniuravere ruinas.

insidias superum, cognatae vulnera cernis200

invidiae. Phlegra nobis infensior aether.

“Florebat tranquilla domus; nec limina virgo

[359]knee. She was her companion, her guardian, and could be deemed her second mother. There, with torn and dishevelled hair, all foul with grey dust, she was lamenting the rape of her divine foster-child.Ceres approached her, and when at length her grief allowed her sighs free rein: “What ruin is here?” she said. “Of what enemy am I become the victim? Does my husband yet rule or do the Titans hold heaven? What hand hath dared this, if the Thunderer be still alive? Have Typhon’s shoulders forced up Inarime or does Alcyoneus course on foot through the Etruscan Sea, having burst the bonds of imprisoning Vesuvius? Or has the neighbouring mountain of Etna oped her jaws and expelled Enceladus? Perchance Briareus with his hundred arms has attacked my house? Ah, my daughter, where art thou now? Whither are fled my thousand servants, whither Cyane? What violence has driven away the winged Sirens? Is this your faith? Is this the way to guard another’s treasure?”The nurse trembled and her sorrow gave place to shame; fain would she have died could she so escape the gaze of that unhappy mother, and long stayed she motionless, hesitating to disclose the suspected criminal and the all too certain death. Scarce could she thus speak: “Would that the raging band of Giants had wrought this ruin! Easier to bear is a common lot. ’Tis the goddesses, and, though thou wilt scarce credit it, her own sisters, who have conspired to our undoing. Thou seest the devices of gods and wounds inflicted by sisters’ jealousy. Heaven is a more cruel enemy than Hell.“All quiet was the house, the maiden dared not

[359]

knee. She was her companion, her guardian, and could be deemed her second mother. There, with torn and dishevelled hair, all foul with grey dust, she was lamenting the rape of her divine foster-child.

Ceres approached her, and when at length her grief allowed her sighs free rein: “What ruin is here?” she said. “Of what enemy am I become the victim? Does my husband yet rule or do the Titans hold heaven? What hand hath dared this, if the Thunderer be still alive? Have Typhon’s shoulders forced up Inarime or does Alcyoneus course on foot through the Etruscan Sea, having burst the bonds of imprisoning Vesuvius? Or has the neighbouring mountain of Etna oped her jaws and expelled Enceladus? Perchance Briareus with his hundred arms has attacked my house? Ah, my daughter, where art thou now? Whither are fled my thousand servants, whither Cyane? What violence has driven away the winged Sirens? Is this your faith? Is this the way to guard another’s treasure?”

The nurse trembled and her sorrow gave place to shame; fain would she have died could she so escape the gaze of that unhappy mother, and long stayed she motionless, hesitating to disclose the suspected criminal and the all too certain death. Scarce could she thus speak: “Would that the raging band of Giants had wrought this ruin! Easier to bear is a common lot. ’Tis the goddesses, and, though thou wilt scarce credit it, her own sisters, who have conspired to our undoing. Thou seest the devices of gods and wounds inflicted by sisters’ jealousy. Heaven is a more cruel enemy than Hell.

“All quiet was the house, the maiden dared not

[360]linquere nec virides audebat visere saltuspraeceptis obstricta tuis. telae labor illi;Sirenes requies. sermonum gratia mecum,205mecum somnus erat cautique per atria ludi:cum subito (dubium quonam monstrante latebrasrescierit) Cytherea venit suspectaque nobisne foret, hinc Phoeben comites, hinc Pallada iunxit.protinus effuso laetam se fingere risu210nec semel amplecti nomenque iterare sororiset dura de matre queri, quae tale recessumaluerit damnare decus vetitamque dearumcolloquio patriis procul amandaverit astris.nostra rudis gaudere malis et nectare largo215instaurare dapes. nunc arma habitumque Dianaeinduitur digitisque attemptat mollibus arcum,nunc crinita iubis galeam, laudante Minerva,implet et ingentem clipeum gestare laborat.“Prima Venus campos Aetnaeaque rura maligno220ingerit adflatu. vicinos callida floresingeminat meritumque loci velut inscia quaeritnec credit, quod bruma rosas innoxia servet,quod gelidi rubeant alieno genuine mensesverna nec iratum timeant virgulta Booten.225dum loca miratur, studio dum flagrat eundi,persuadet; teneris heu lubrica moribus aetas!quos ego nequidquam planctus, quas inrita fudi[361]o’erstep the threshold nor visit the grassy pastures, close bound by thy commands. The loom gave her work, the Sirens with their song relaxation—with me she held pleasant converse, with me she slept; safe delights were hers within the halls. Then suddenly Cytherea came (who showed her the way to our hid abode I know not), and, that she might not rouse our suspicions, she brought with her Diana and Minerva, attending her on either side. Straightway with beaming smiles she put on a pretence of joy, kissed Proserpine many a time, and repeated the name of sister, complaining of that hard-hearted mother who chose to condemn such beauty to imprisonment and complaining that by forbidding her intercourse with the goddesses she had removed her far from her father’s heaven. My unwitting charge rejoiced in these evil words and bade a feast be spread with plentiful nectar. Now she dons Diana’s arms and dress and tries her bow with her soft fingers. Now crowned with horse-hair plumes she puts on the helmet, Minerva commending her, and strives to carry her huge shield.“Venus was the first with guileful suggestion to mention fields and the vale of Henna. Cunningly she harps upon the nearness of the flowery mead, and as though she knew it not, asks what merits the place boasts, pretending not to believe that a harmless winter allows the roses to bloom, that the cold months are bright with flowers not rightly theirs, and that the spring thickets fear not there Boötes’ wrath. So with her wonderment, her passion to see the spot, she persuades Proserpine. Alas! how easily does youth err with its weak ways! What tears did I not shed to no purpose, what vain

[360]

linquere nec virides audebat visere saltuspraeceptis obstricta tuis. telae labor illi;Sirenes requies. sermonum gratia mecum,205mecum somnus erat cautique per atria ludi:cum subito (dubium quonam monstrante latebrasrescierit) Cytherea venit suspectaque nobisne foret, hinc Phoeben comites, hinc Pallada iunxit.protinus effuso laetam se fingere risu210nec semel amplecti nomenque iterare sororiset dura de matre queri, quae tale recessumaluerit damnare decus vetitamque dearumcolloquio patriis procul amandaverit astris.nostra rudis gaudere malis et nectare largo215instaurare dapes. nunc arma habitumque Dianaeinduitur digitisque attemptat mollibus arcum,nunc crinita iubis galeam, laudante Minerva,implet et ingentem clipeum gestare laborat.“Prima Venus campos Aetnaeaque rura maligno220ingerit adflatu. vicinos callida floresingeminat meritumque loci velut inscia quaeritnec credit, quod bruma rosas innoxia servet,quod gelidi rubeant alieno genuine mensesverna nec iratum timeant virgulta Booten.225dum loca miratur, studio dum flagrat eundi,persuadet; teneris heu lubrica moribus aetas!quos ego nequidquam planctus, quas inrita fudi

linquere nec virides audebat visere saltus

praeceptis obstricta tuis. telae labor illi;

Sirenes requies. sermonum gratia mecum,205

mecum somnus erat cautique per atria ludi:

cum subito (dubium quonam monstrante latebras

rescierit) Cytherea venit suspectaque nobis

ne foret, hinc Phoeben comites, hinc Pallada iunxit.

protinus effuso laetam se fingere risu210

nec semel amplecti nomenque iterare sororis

et dura de matre queri, quae tale recessu

maluerit damnare decus vetitamque dearum

colloquio patriis procul amandaverit astris.

nostra rudis gaudere malis et nectare largo215

instaurare dapes. nunc arma habitumque Dianae

induitur digitisque attemptat mollibus arcum,

nunc crinita iubis galeam, laudante Minerva,

implet et ingentem clipeum gestare laborat.

“Prima Venus campos Aetnaeaque rura maligno220

ingerit adflatu. vicinos callida flores

ingeminat meritumque loci velut inscia quaerit

nec credit, quod bruma rosas innoxia servet,

quod gelidi rubeant alieno genuine menses

verna nec iratum timeant virgulta Booten.225

dum loca miratur, studio dum flagrat eundi,

persuadet; teneris heu lubrica moribus aetas!

quos ego nequidquam planctus, quas inrita fudi

[361]o’erstep the threshold nor visit the grassy pastures, close bound by thy commands. The loom gave her work, the Sirens with their song relaxation—with me she held pleasant converse, with me she slept; safe delights were hers within the halls. Then suddenly Cytherea came (who showed her the way to our hid abode I know not), and, that she might not rouse our suspicions, she brought with her Diana and Minerva, attending her on either side. Straightway with beaming smiles she put on a pretence of joy, kissed Proserpine many a time, and repeated the name of sister, complaining of that hard-hearted mother who chose to condemn such beauty to imprisonment and complaining that by forbidding her intercourse with the goddesses she had removed her far from her father’s heaven. My unwitting charge rejoiced in these evil words and bade a feast be spread with plentiful nectar. Now she dons Diana’s arms and dress and tries her bow with her soft fingers. Now crowned with horse-hair plumes she puts on the helmet, Minerva commending her, and strives to carry her huge shield.“Venus was the first with guileful suggestion to mention fields and the vale of Henna. Cunningly she harps upon the nearness of the flowery mead, and as though she knew it not, asks what merits the place boasts, pretending not to believe that a harmless winter allows the roses to bloom, that the cold months are bright with flowers not rightly theirs, and that the spring thickets fear not there Boötes’ wrath. So with her wonderment, her passion to see the spot, she persuades Proserpine. Alas! how easily does youth err with its weak ways! What tears did I not shed to no purpose, what vain

[361]

o’erstep the threshold nor visit the grassy pastures, close bound by thy commands. The loom gave her work, the Sirens with their song relaxation—with me she held pleasant converse, with me she slept; safe delights were hers within the halls. Then suddenly Cytherea came (who showed her the way to our hid abode I know not), and, that she might not rouse our suspicions, she brought with her Diana and Minerva, attending her on either side. Straightway with beaming smiles she put on a pretence of joy, kissed Proserpine many a time, and repeated the name of sister, complaining of that hard-hearted mother who chose to condemn such beauty to imprisonment and complaining that by forbidding her intercourse with the goddesses she had removed her far from her father’s heaven. My unwitting charge rejoiced in these evil words and bade a feast be spread with plentiful nectar. Now she dons Diana’s arms and dress and tries her bow with her soft fingers. Now crowned with horse-hair plumes she puts on the helmet, Minerva commending her, and strives to carry her huge shield.

“Venus was the first with guileful suggestion to mention fields and the vale of Henna. Cunningly she harps upon the nearness of the flowery mead, and as though she knew it not, asks what merits the place boasts, pretending not to believe that a harmless winter allows the roses to bloom, that the cold months are bright with flowers not rightly theirs, and that the spring thickets fear not there Boötes’ wrath. So with her wonderment, her passion to see the spot, she persuades Proserpine. Alas! how easily does youth err with its weak ways! What tears did I not shed to no purpose, what vain

[362]ore preces! ruit illa tamen confisa sororumpraesidio; famulae longo post ordine Nymphae.230“Itur in aeterno vestitos gramine colleset prima sub luce legunt, cum rore serenusalbet ager sparsosque bibunt violaria sucos.sed postquam medio sol altior institit axi,ecce polum nox foeda rapit tremefactaque nutat235insula cornipedum pulsu strepituque rotarum.nosse nec aurigam licuit: seu mortifer illeseu Mors ipsa fuit. livor permanat in herbas;deficiunt rivi; squalent rubigine prataet nihil adflatum vivit: pallere ligustra,240expirare rosas, decrescere lilia vidi.ut rauco reduces tractu detorsit habenas,nox sua prosequitur currum, lux redditur orbi.Persephone nusquam. voto rediere peractonec mansere deae. mediis invenimus arvis245exanimem Cyanen: cervix redimita iacebatet caligantes marcebant fronte coronae.adgredimur subito et casus scitamur eriles(nam propior cladi steterat): quis vultus equorum?quis regat? illa nihil, tacito sed laesa veneno250solvitur in laticem: subrepit crinibus umor;liquitur in roremque pedes et brachia manantnostraque mox lambit vestigia perspicuus fons.discedunt aliae. rapidis Acheloides alissublatae Siculi latus obsedere Pelori255[363]entreaties did my lips not utter! Away she flew, trusting to the sisters’ protection; the scattered company of attendant nymphs followed after her.“They went to the hills clothed with undying grass and gather flowers ’neath the twilight of dawn, when the quiet meads are white with dew and violets drink the scattered moisture. But when the sun had mounted to higher air at noon, behold! murky night hid the sky and the island trembled and shook beneath the beat of horses’ hoofs and the rumble of wheels. Who the charioteer was none might tell—whether he was the harbinger of death or it was Death himself. Gloom spread through the meadows, the rivers stayed their courses, the fields were blighted, nor did aught live, once touched with those horses’ breath. I saw the bryony pale, the roses fade, the lilies wither. When in his roaring course the driver turned back his steeds the night it brought accompanied the chariot and light was restored to the world. Proserpine was nowhere to be seen. Their vows fulfilled, the goddesses had returned and tarried not. We found Cyane half dead amid the fields; there she lay, a garland round her neck and the blackened wreaths faded upon her forehead. At once we approached her and inquired after her mistress’s fortune, for she had been a witness of the disaster. What, we asked, was the aspect of the horses; who their driver? Naught said she, but corrupted with some hidden venom, dissolved into water. Water crept amid her hair; legs and arms melted and flowed away, and soon a clear stream washed our feet. The rest are gone; the Sirens, Achelous’ daughters, rising on rapid wing, have occupied the coast of Sicilian Pelorus, and in wrath

[362]

ore preces! ruit illa tamen confisa sororumpraesidio; famulae longo post ordine Nymphae.230“Itur in aeterno vestitos gramine colleset prima sub luce legunt, cum rore serenusalbet ager sparsosque bibunt violaria sucos.sed postquam medio sol altior institit axi,ecce polum nox foeda rapit tremefactaque nutat235insula cornipedum pulsu strepituque rotarum.nosse nec aurigam licuit: seu mortifer illeseu Mors ipsa fuit. livor permanat in herbas;deficiunt rivi; squalent rubigine prataet nihil adflatum vivit: pallere ligustra,240expirare rosas, decrescere lilia vidi.ut rauco reduces tractu detorsit habenas,nox sua prosequitur currum, lux redditur orbi.Persephone nusquam. voto rediere peractonec mansere deae. mediis invenimus arvis245exanimem Cyanen: cervix redimita iacebatet caligantes marcebant fronte coronae.adgredimur subito et casus scitamur eriles(nam propior cladi steterat): quis vultus equorum?quis regat? illa nihil, tacito sed laesa veneno250solvitur in laticem: subrepit crinibus umor;liquitur in roremque pedes et brachia manantnostraque mox lambit vestigia perspicuus fons.discedunt aliae. rapidis Acheloides alissublatae Siculi latus obsedere Pelori255

ore preces! ruit illa tamen confisa sororum

praesidio; famulae longo post ordine Nymphae.230

“Itur in aeterno vestitos gramine colles

et prima sub luce legunt, cum rore serenus

albet ager sparsosque bibunt violaria sucos.

sed postquam medio sol altior institit axi,

ecce polum nox foeda rapit tremefactaque nutat235

insula cornipedum pulsu strepituque rotarum.

nosse nec aurigam licuit: seu mortifer ille

seu Mors ipsa fuit. livor permanat in herbas;

deficiunt rivi; squalent rubigine prata

et nihil adflatum vivit: pallere ligustra,240

expirare rosas, decrescere lilia vidi.

ut rauco reduces tractu detorsit habenas,

nox sua prosequitur currum, lux redditur orbi.

Persephone nusquam. voto rediere peracto

nec mansere deae. mediis invenimus arvis245

exanimem Cyanen: cervix redimita iacebat

et caligantes marcebant fronte coronae.

adgredimur subito et casus scitamur eriles

(nam propior cladi steterat): quis vultus equorum?

quis regat? illa nihil, tacito sed laesa veneno250

solvitur in laticem: subrepit crinibus umor;

liquitur in roremque pedes et brachia manant

nostraque mox lambit vestigia perspicuus fons.

discedunt aliae. rapidis Acheloides alis

sublatae Siculi latus obsedere Pelori255

[363]entreaties did my lips not utter! Away she flew, trusting to the sisters’ protection; the scattered company of attendant nymphs followed after her.“They went to the hills clothed with undying grass and gather flowers ’neath the twilight of dawn, when the quiet meads are white with dew and violets drink the scattered moisture. But when the sun had mounted to higher air at noon, behold! murky night hid the sky and the island trembled and shook beneath the beat of horses’ hoofs and the rumble of wheels. Who the charioteer was none might tell—whether he was the harbinger of death or it was Death himself. Gloom spread through the meadows, the rivers stayed their courses, the fields were blighted, nor did aught live, once touched with those horses’ breath. I saw the bryony pale, the roses fade, the lilies wither. When in his roaring course the driver turned back his steeds the night it brought accompanied the chariot and light was restored to the world. Proserpine was nowhere to be seen. Their vows fulfilled, the goddesses had returned and tarried not. We found Cyane half dead amid the fields; there she lay, a garland round her neck and the blackened wreaths faded upon her forehead. At once we approached her and inquired after her mistress’s fortune, for she had been a witness of the disaster. What, we asked, was the aspect of the horses; who their driver? Naught said she, but corrupted with some hidden venom, dissolved into water. Water crept amid her hair; legs and arms melted and flowed away, and soon a clear stream washed our feet. The rest are gone; the Sirens, Achelous’ daughters, rising on rapid wing, have occupied the coast of Sicilian Pelorus, and in wrath

[363]

entreaties did my lips not utter! Away she flew, trusting to the sisters’ protection; the scattered company of attendant nymphs followed after her.

“They went to the hills clothed with undying grass and gather flowers ’neath the twilight of dawn, when the quiet meads are white with dew and violets drink the scattered moisture. But when the sun had mounted to higher air at noon, behold! murky night hid the sky and the island trembled and shook beneath the beat of horses’ hoofs and the rumble of wheels. Who the charioteer was none might tell—whether he was the harbinger of death or it was Death himself. Gloom spread through the meadows, the rivers stayed their courses, the fields were blighted, nor did aught live, once touched with those horses’ breath. I saw the bryony pale, the roses fade, the lilies wither. When in his roaring course the driver turned back his steeds the night it brought accompanied the chariot and light was restored to the world. Proserpine was nowhere to be seen. Their vows fulfilled, the goddesses had returned and tarried not. We found Cyane half dead amid the fields; there she lay, a garland round her neck and the blackened wreaths faded upon her forehead. At once we approached her and inquired after her mistress’s fortune, for she had been a witness of the disaster. What, we asked, was the aspect of the horses; who their driver? Naught said she, but corrupted with some hidden venom, dissolved into water. Water crept amid her hair; legs and arms melted and flowed away, and soon a clear stream washed our feet. The rest are gone; the Sirens, Achelous’ daughters, rising on rapid wing, have occupied the coast of Sicilian Pelorus, and in wrath

[364]accensaeque malo iam non impune canorasin pestem vertere lyras: vox blanda carinasadligat; audito frenantur carmine remi.sola domi luctu senium tractura relinquor.”Haeret adhuc suspensa Ceres et singula demens260ceu nondum transacta timet; mox lumina torquensvultu ad caelicolas furiato pectore fertur.arduus Hyrcana quatitur sic matre Niphates,cuius Achaemenio regi ludibria natosadvexit tremebundus eques: fremit illa marito265mobilior Zephyro totamque virentibus iramdispergit maculis timidumque hausura profundoore virum vitreae tardatur imagine formae.Haud aliter toto genetrix bacchatur Olympo“reddite” vociferans. “non me vagus edidit amnis;270non Dryadum de plebe sumus. turrita Cybebeme quoque Saturno genuit. quo iura deorum,quo leges cecidere poli? quid vivere recteproderit? en audet noti Cytherea pudorisostentare suos post Lemnia vincula vultus!275hos animos bonus ille sopor castumque cubilepraebuit! amplexus hoc promeruere pudici!nec mirum, si turpe nihil post talia ducit.quid vos expertes thalami? tantumne relictus[365]at this crime now turned their lyres to man’s destruction, tuneful now for ill. Their sweet voices stay ships, but once that song is heard the oars can move no more. I alone am left in the house to drag out an old age of mourning.”Ceres is still a prey to anxiety; half distraught she fears everything as though all were not yet accomplished. Anon she turns her head and eyes to heaven and with raging breast inveighs against its denizens; even as lofty Niphates shakes to the roaring of the Hyrcan tigress whose cubs the terrified horseman has carried off to be the playthings of Persia’s king. Speedier than the west wind that is her paramour[129]rushes the tigress, anger blazing from her stripes, but just as she is about to engulf the terrified hunter in her capacious maw, she is checked by the mirrored image of her own form[130]: so the mother of Proserpine rages over all Olympus crying: “Give her back; no wandering stream gave me birth; I spring not from the Dryad rabble. Towered Cybele bare me also to Saturn. Where are the ordinances of the gods, where the laws of heaven? What boots it to live a good life? See, Cytherea dares show her face (modest goddess!) even after her Lemnian[131]bondage! ’Tis that chaste sleep and a loverless couch have given her this courage! This is, I suppose, the reward of those maidenly embraces! Small wonder that after such infamy she account nothing disgraceful. Ye goddesses that have known not marriage, is it thus that ye neglect the honour due to virginity?[129]marito Zephyro(ll. 265, 266) refers to the theory of impregnation by wind commonly accepted by the ancients (see Arist.H.A.vi. 19; Verg.Georg.iii. 275, etc.).[130]It was supposed that the robbed tigress on being confronted with a convex mirror supposed the reduced image to be her cub and contentedly retired with the mirror in her mouth. Another story makes the tigress vent her anger on an ordinary (not convex) mirror.[131]A reference to the binding by Hephaestus (to whom Lemnos was sacred) of Ares and Aphrodite whom he had surprised in adulterous intercourse. The story is told in Homer (Θ 266et sqq.). Statius (Silv.i. 2. 60) uses this very phrase “Lemnia vincula.”

[364]

accensaeque malo iam non impune canorasin pestem vertere lyras: vox blanda carinasadligat; audito frenantur carmine remi.sola domi luctu senium tractura relinquor.”Haeret adhuc suspensa Ceres et singula demens260ceu nondum transacta timet; mox lumina torquensvultu ad caelicolas furiato pectore fertur.arduus Hyrcana quatitur sic matre Niphates,cuius Achaemenio regi ludibria natosadvexit tremebundus eques: fremit illa marito265mobilior Zephyro totamque virentibus iramdispergit maculis timidumque hausura profundoore virum vitreae tardatur imagine formae.Haud aliter toto genetrix bacchatur Olympo“reddite” vociferans. “non me vagus edidit amnis;270non Dryadum de plebe sumus. turrita Cybebeme quoque Saturno genuit. quo iura deorum,quo leges cecidere poli? quid vivere recteproderit? en audet noti Cytherea pudorisostentare suos post Lemnia vincula vultus!275hos animos bonus ille sopor castumque cubilepraebuit! amplexus hoc promeruere pudici!nec mirum, si turpe nihil post talia ducit.quid vos expertes thalami? tantumne relictus

accensaeque malo iam non impune canoras

in pestem vertere lyras: vox blanda carinas

adligat; audito frenantur carmine remi.

sola domi luctu senium tractura relinquor.”

Haeret adhuc suspensa Ceres et singula demens260

ceu nondum transacta timet; mox lumina torquens

vultu ad caelicolas furiato pectore fertur.

arduus Hyrcana quatitur sic matre Niphates,

cuius Achaemenio regi ludibria natos

advexit tremebundus eques: fremit illa marito265

mobilior Zephyro totamque virentibus iram

dispergit maculis timidumque hausura profundo

ore virum vitreae tardatur imagine formae.

Haud aliter toto genetrix bacchatur Olympo

“reddite” vociferans. “non me vagus edidit amnis;270

non Dryadum de plebe sumus. turrita Cybebe

me quoque Saturno genuit. quo iura deorum,

quo leges cecidere poli? quid vivere recte

proderit? en audet noti Cytherea pudoris

ostentare suos post Lemnia vincula vultus!275

hos animos bonus ille sopor castumque cubile

praebuit! amplexus hoc promeruere pudici!

nec mirum, si turpe nihil post talia ducit.

quid vos expertes thalami? tantumne relictus

[365]at this crime now turned their lyres to man’s destruction, tuneful now for ill. Their sweet voices stay ships, but once that song is heard the oars can move no more. I alone am left in the house to drag out an old age of mourning.”Ceres is still a prey to anxiety; half distraught she fears everything as though all were not yet accomplished. Anon she turns her head and eyes to heaven and with raging breast inveighs against its denizens; even as lofty Niphates shakes to the roaring of the Hyrcan tigress whose cubs the terrified horseman has carried off to be the playthings of Persia’s king. Speedier than the west wind that is her paramour[129]rushes the tigress, anger blazing from her stripes, but just as she is about to engulf the terrified hunter in her capacious maw, she is checked by the mirrored image of her own form[130]: so the mother of Proserpine rages over all Olympus crying: “Give her back; no wandering stream gave me birth; I spring not from the Dryad rabble. Towered Cybele bare me also to Saturn. Where are the ordinances of the gods, where the laws of heaven? What boots it to live a good life? See, Cytherea dares show her face (modest goddess!) even after her Lemnian[131]bondage! ’Tis that chaste sleep and a loverless couch have given her this courage! This is, I suppose, the reward of those maidenly embraces! Small wonder that after such infamy she account nothing disgraceful. Ye goddesses that have known not marriage, is it thus that ye neglect the honour due to virginity?[129]marito Zephyro(ll. 265, 266) refers to the theory of impregnation by wind commonly accepted by the ancients (see Arist.H.A.vi. 19; Verg.Georg.iii. 275, etc.).[130]It was supposed that the robbed tigress on being confronted with a convex mirror supposed the reduced image to be her cub and contentedly retired with the mirror in her mouth. Another story makes the tigress vent her anger on an ordinary (not convex) mirror.[131]A reference to the binding by Hephaestus (to whom Lemnos was sacred) of Ares and Aphrodite whom he had surprised in adulterous intercourse. The story is told in Homer (Θ 266et sqq.). Statius (Silv.i. 2. 60) uses this very phrase “Lemnia vincula.”

[365]

at this crime now turned their lyres to man’s destruction, tuneful now for ill. Their sweet voices stay ships, but once that song is heard the oars can move no more. I alone am left in the house to drag out an old age of mourning.”

Ceres is still a prey to anxiety; half distraught she fears everything as though all were not yet accomplished. Anon she turns her head and eyes to heaven and with raging breast inveighs against its denizens; even as lofty Niphates shakes to the roaring of the Hyrcan tigress whose cubs the terrified horseman has carried off to be the playthings of Persia’s king. Speedier than the west wind that is her paramour[129]rushes the tigress, anger blazing from her stripes, but just as she is about to engulf the terrified hunter in her capacious maw, she is checked by the mirrored image of her own form[130]: so the mother of Proserpine rages over all Olympus crying: “Give her back; no wandering stream gave me birth; I spring not from the Dryad rabble. Towered Cybele bare me also to Saturn. Where are the ordinances of the gods, where the laws of heaven? What boots it to live a good life? See, Cytherea dares show her face (modest goddess!) even after her Lemnian[131]bondage! ’Tis that chaste sleep and a loverless couch have given her this courage! This is, I suppose, the reward of those maidenly embraces! Small wonder that after such infamy she account nothing disgraceful. Ye goddesses that have known not marriage, is it thus that ye neglect the honour due to virginity?

[129]marito Zephyro(ll. 265, 266) refers to the theory of impregnation by wind commonly accepted by the ancients (see Arist.H.A.vi. 19; Verg.Georg.iii. 275, etc.).

[130]It was supposed that the robbed tigress on being confronted with a convex mirror supposed the reduced image to be her cub and contentedly retired with the mirror in her mouth. Another story makes the tigress vent her anger on an ordinary (not convex) mirror.

[131]A reference to the binding by Hephaestus (to whom Lemnos was sacred) of Ares and Aphrodite whom he had surprised in adulterous intercourse. The story is told in Homer (Θ 266et sqq.). Statius (Silv.i. 2. 60) uses this very phrase “Lemnia vincula.”

[366]virginitatis honos? tantum mutata voluntas?280iam Veneri iunctae, sociis raptoribus, itis?o templis Scythiae atque hominem sitientibus arisutraque digna coli! tanti quae causa furoris?quam mea vel tenui dicto Proserpina laesit?scilicet aut caris pepulit te, Delia, silvis285aut tibi commissas rapuit, Tritonia, pugnas.an gravis eloquio? vestros an forte petebatimportuna choros? atqui Trinacria longe,esset ne vobis oneri, deserta colebat.quid latuisse iuvat? rabiem livoris acerbi290nulla potest placare quies.”His increpat omnesvocibus. ast illae (prohibet sententia patris)aut reticent aut nosse negant responsaque matridant lacrimas. quid agat? rursus se victa remittitinque humiles devecta preces:“Ignoscite, si quid295intumuit pietas, si quid flagrantius actumquam miseros decuit. supplex miserandaque vestrisadvolvor genibus: liceat cognoscere sortem:hoc tantum liceat—certos habuisse dolores.scire peto, quae forma mali; quamcumque dedistis300fortunam, sit nota: feram fatumque putabo,non scelus. adspectum, precor, indulgete parenti;non repetam. quaesita manu securus habetoquisquis es; adfirmo praedam; desiste vereri.quodsi nos aliquo praevenit foedere raptor,305tu certe, Latona, refer; confessa Dianaforte tibi. nosti quid sit Lucina, quis horror[367]Have ye so changed your counsel? Do ye now go allied with Venus and her accomplice ravishers? Worthy each of you to be worshipped in Scythian temples and at altars that lust after human blood. What hath caused such great anger? Which of you has my Proserpine wronged even in her slightest word? Doubtless she drove thee, Delian goddess, from thy loved woods, or deprived thee, Triton-born, of some battle thou hadst joined. Did she plague you with talk? Break rudely upon your dances? Nay, that she might be no burden to you, she dwelt far away in the solitudes of Sicily. What good hath her retirement done her? No peace can still the madness of bitter jealousy.”Thus she upbraids them all. But they, obedient to the Father’s word, keep silence or say they know nothing, and make tears their answer to the mother’s questionings. What can she do? She ceases, beaten, and in turn descends to humble entreaty. “If a mother’s love swelled too high or if I have done aught more boldly than befitted misery, oh forgive! A suppliant and wretched I fling me at your feet; grant me to learn my doom; grant me at least this much—sure knowledge of my woes. Fain would I know the manner of this ill; whatsoever fortune ye have visited upon me that will I bear and account it fate, not injustice. Grant a parent the sight of her child; I ask her not back. Whosoever thou art, possess in peace what thine hand has taken. The prey is thine, fear not. But if the ravisher has thwarted me, binding you by some oath, yet do thou, at least, Latona, tell me his name; to thee mayhap Diana hath confessed her knowledge. Thou hast known childbirth, the anxiety

[366]

virginitatis honos? tantum mutata voluntas?280iam Veneri iunctae, sociis raptoribus, itis?o templis Scythiae atque hominem sitientibus arisutraque digna coli! tanti quae causa furoris?quam mea vel tenui dicto Proserpina laesit?scilicet aut caris pepulit te, Delia, silvis285aut tibi commissas rapuit, Tritonia, pugnas.an gravis eloquio? vestros an forte petebatimportuna choros? atqui Trinacria longe,esset ne vobis oneri, deserta colebat.quid latuisse iuvat? rabiem livoris acerbi290nulla potest placare quies.”His increpat omnesvocibus. ast illae (prohibet sententia patris)aut reticent aut nosse negant responsaque matridant lacrimas. quid agat? rursus se victa remittitinque humiles devecta preces:“Ignoscite, si quid295intumuit pietas, si quid flagrantius actumquam miseros decuit. supplex miserandaque vestrisadvolvor genibus: liceat cognoscere sortem:hoc tantum liceat—certos habuisse dolores.scire peto, quae forma mali; quamcumque dedistis300fortunam, sit nota: feram fatumque putabo,non scelus. adspectum, precor, indulgete parenti;non repetam. quaesita manu securus habetoquisquis es; adfirmo praedam; desiste vereri.quodsi nos aliquo praevenit foedere raptor,305tu certe, Latona, refer; confessa Dianaforte tibi. nosti quid sit Lucina, quis horror

virginitatis honos? tantum mutata voluntas?280

iam Veneri iunctae, sociis raptoribus, itis?

o templis Scythiae atque hominem sitientibus aris

utraque digna coli! tanti quae causa furoris?

quam mea vel tenui dicto Proserpina laesit?

scilicet aut caris pepulit te, Delia, silvis285

aut tibi commissas rapuit, Tritonia, pugnas.

an gravis eloquio? vestros an forte petebat

importuna choros? atqui Trinacria longe,

esset ne vobis oneri, deserta colebat.

quid latuisse iuvat? rabiem livoris acerbi290

nulla potest placare quies.”

His increpat omnes

vocibus. ast illae (prohibet sententia patris)

aut reticent aut nosse negant responsaque matri

dant lacrimas. quid agat? rursus se victa remittit

inque humiles devecta preces:

“Ignoscite, si quid295

intumuit pietas, si quid flagrantius actum

quam miseros decuit. supplex miserandaque vestris

advolvor genibus: liceat cognoscere sortem:

hoc tantum liceat—certos habuisse dolores.

scire peto, quae forma mali; quamcumque dedistis300

fortunam, sit nota: feram fatumque putabo,

non scelus. adspectum, precor, indulgete parenti;

non repetam. quaesita manu securus habeto

quisquis es; adfirmo praedam; desiste vereri.

quodsi nos aliquo praevenit foedere raptor,305

tu certe, Latona, refer; confessa Diana

forte tibi. nosti quid sit Lucina, quis horror

[367]Have ye so changed your counsel? Do ye now go allied with Venus and her accomplice ravishers? Worthy each of you to be worshipped in Scythian temples and at altars that lust after human blood. What hath caused such great anger? Which of you has my Proserpine wronged even in her slightest word? Doubtless she drove thee, Delian goddess, from thy loved woods, or deprived thee, Triton-born, of some battle thou hadst joined. Did she plague you with talk? Break rudely upon your dances? Nay, that she might be no burden to you, she dwelt far away in the solitudes of Sicily. What good hath her retirement done her? No peace can still the madness of bitter jealousy.”Thus she upbraids them all. But they, obedient to the Father’s word, keep silence or say they know nothing, and make tears their answer to the mother’s questionings. What can she do? She ceases, beaten, and in turn descends to humble entreaty. “If a mother’s love swelled too high or if I have done aught more boldly than befitted misery, oh forgive! A suppliant and wretched I fling me at your feet; grant me to learn my doom; grant me at least this much—sure knowledge of my woes. Fain would I know the manner of this ill; whatsoever fortune ye have visited upon me that will I bear and account it fate, not injustice. Grant a parent the sight of her child; I ask her not back. Whosoever thou art, possess in peace what thine hand has taken. The prey is thine, fear not. But if the ravisher has thwarted me, binding you by some oath, yet do thou, at least, Latona, tell me his name; to thee mayhap Diana hath confessed her knowledge. Thou hast known childbirth, the anxiety

[367]

Have ye so changed your counsel? Do ye now go allied with Venus and her accomplice ravishers? Worthy each of you to be worshipped in Scythian temples and at altars that lust after human blood. What hath caused such great anger? Which of you has my Proserpine wronged even in her slightest word? Doubtless she drove thee, Delian goddess, from thy loved woods, or deprived thee, Triton-born, of some battle thou hadst joined. Did she plague you with talk? Break rudely upon your dances? Nay, that she might be no burden to you, she dwelt far away in the solitudes of Sicily. What good hath her retirement done her? No peace can still the madness of bitter jealousy.”

Thus she upbraids them all. But they, obedient to the Father’s word, keep silence or say they know nothing, and make tears their answer to the mother’s questionings. What can she do? She ceases, beaten, and in turn descends to humble entreaty. “If a mother’s love swelled too high or if I have done aught more boldly than befitted misery, oh forgive! A suppliant and wretched I fling me at your feet; grant me to learn my doom; grant me at least this much—sure knowledge of my woes. Fain would I know the manner of this ill; whatsoever fortune ye have visited upon me that will I bear and account it fate, not injustice. Grant a parent the sight of her child; I ask her not back. Whosoever thou art, possess in peace what thine hand has taken. The prey is thine, fear not. But if the ravisher has thwarted me, binding you by some oath, yet do thou, at least, Latona, tell me his name; to thee mayhap Diana hath confessed her knowledge. Thou hast known childbirth, the anxiety

[368]pro genitis et quantus amor, partusque tulistitu geminos: haec una mihi. sic crine fruarissemper Apollineo, sic me felicior aevum310mater agas.”Largis tunc imbribus ora madescunt.“quid? tantum dignum fleri dignumque taceri?hei mihi, discedunt omnes. quid vana morarisulterius? non bella palam caelestia sentis?quin potius natam pelago terrisque requiris?315accingar lustrare diem, per devia rerumindefessa ferar. nulla cessabitur hora,non requies, non somnus erit, dum pignus ademptuminveniam, gremio quamvis mergatur HiberaeTethyos et Rubro iaceat vallata profundo.320non Rheni glacies, non me Riphaea tenebuntfrigora; non dubio Syrtis cunctabitur aestu.stat finem penetrare Noti Boreaeque nivalemvestigare domum; primo calcabitur Atlasoccasu facibusque meis lucebit Hydaspes.325impius errantem videat per rura, per urbesIuppiter; extincta satietur paelice Iuno.insultate mihi, caelo regnate superbi,ducite praeclarum Cereris de stirpe triumphum!”Haec fatur notaeque iugis inlabitur Aetnae330noctivago taedas informatura labori.Lucus erat prope flumen Acin, quod candida praefertsaepe mari pulchroque secat Galatea natatu,densus et innexis Aetnaea cacumina ramisqua licet usque tegens. illic posuisse cruentam335[369]and love for children; to offspring twain hast thou given birth; this was mine only child. So mayest thou ever enjoy Apollo’s locks, so mayest thou live a happier mother than I.”Plenteous tears then bedewed her cheeks. She continued: “Why these tears? why this silence? Woe is me; all desert me. Why tarriest thou yet to no purpose? Seest thou not ’tis open war with heaven? were it not better to seek again thy daughter by sea and land? I will gird myself and scour the world, unwearied I will penetrate its every corner, nor ever stay my search, nor rest nor sleep till I find my reft treasure, though she lie whelmed in the Spanish Ocean bed or hedged around in the depths of the Red Sea. Neither ice-bound Rhine nor Alpine frosts shall stay me; the treacherous tides of Syrtes shall not give me pause. My purpose holds to penetrate the fastnesses of the North and to tread the snowy home of Boreas. I will climb Atlas on the brink of the sunset and illumine Hydaspes’ stream with my torches. Let wicked Jove behold me wandering through towns and country, and Juno’s jealousy be sated with her rival’s ruin. Have your sport with me, triumph in heaven, proud gods, celebrate your illustrious victory o’er Ceres’ conquered daughter.”So spake she and glides down upon Etna’s familiar slopes, there to fashion torches to aid her night-wandering labours.There was a wood, hard by the stream of Acis, which fair Galatea oft chooses in preference to Ocean and cleaves in swimming with her snowy breast—a wood dense with foliage that closed in Etna’s summit on all sides with interwoven branches. “Tis there that Jove is said to have laid down his

[368]

pro genitis et quantus amor, partusque tulistitu geminos: haec una mihi. sic crine fruarissemper Apollineo, sic me felicior aevum310mater agas.”Largis tunc imbribus ora madescunt.“quid? tantum dignum fleri dignumque taceri?hei mihi, discedunt omnes. quid vana morarisulterius? non bella palam caelestia sentis?quin potius natam pelago terrisque requiris?315accingar lustrare diem, per devia rerumindefessa ferar. nulla cessabitur hora,non requies, non somnus erit, dum pignus ademptuminveniam, gremio quamvis mergatur HiberaeTethyos et Rubro iaceat vallata profundo.320non Rheni glacies, non me Riphaea tenebuntfrigora; non dubio Syrtis cunctabitur aestu.stat finem penetrare Noti Boreaeque nivalemvestigare domum; primo calcabitur Atlasoccasu facibusque meis lucebit Hydaspes.325impius errantem videat per rura, per urbesIuppiter; extincta satietur paelice Iuno.insultate mihi, caelo regnate superbi,ducite praeclarum Cereris de stirpe triumphum!”Haec fatur notaeque iugis inlabitur Aetnae330noctivago taedas informatura labori.Lucus erat prope flumen Acin, quod candida praefertsaepe mari pulchroque secat Galatea natatu,densus et innexis Aetnaea cacumina ramisqua licet usque tegens. illic posuisse cruentam335

pro genitis et quantus amor, partusque tulisti

tu geminos: haec una mihi. sic crine fruaris

semper Apollineo, sic me felicior aevum310

mater agas.”

Largis tunc imbribus ora madescunt.

“quid? tantum dignum fleri dignumque taceri?

hei mihi, discedunt omnes. quid vana moraris

ulterius? non bella palam caelestia sentis?

quin potius natam pelago terrisque requiris?315

accingar lustrare diem, per devia rerum

indefessa ferar. nulla cessabitur hora,

non requies, non somnus erit, dum pignus ademptum

inveniam, gremio quamvis mergatur Hiberae

Tethyos et Rubro iaceat vallata profundo.320

non Rheni glacies, non me Riphaea tenebunt

frigora; non dubio Syrtis cunctabitur aestu.

stat finem penetrare Noti Boreaeque nivalem

vestigare domum; primo calcabitur Atlas

occasu facibusque meis lucebit Hydaspes.325

impius errantem videat per rura, per urbes

Iuppiter; extincta satietur paelice Iuno.

insultate mihi, caelo regnate superbi,

ducite praeclarum Cereris de stirpe triumphum!”

Haec fatur notaeque iugis inlabitur Aetnae330

noctivago taedas informatura labori.

Lucus erat prope flumen Acin, quod candida praefert

saepe mari pulchroque secat Galatea natatu,

densus et innexis Aetnaea cacumina ramis

qua licet usque tegens. illic posuisse cruentam335

[369]and love for children; to offspring twain hast thou given birth; this was mine only child. So mayest thou ever enjoy Apollo’s locks, so mayest thou live a happier mother than I.”Plenteous tears then bedewed her cheeks. She continued: “Why these tears? why this silence? Woe is me; all desert me. Why tarriest thou yet to no purpose? Seest thou not ’tis open war with heaven? were it not better to seek again thy daughter by sea and land? I will gird myself and scour the world, unwearied I will penetrate its every corner, nor ever stay my search, nor rest nor sleep till I find my reft treasure, though she lie whelmed in the Spanish Ocean bed or hedged around in the depths of the Red Sea. Neither ice-bound Rhine nor Alpine frosts shall stay me; the treacherous tides of Syrtes shall not give me pause. My purpose holds to penetrate the fastnesses of the North and to tread the snowy home of Boreas. I will climb Atlas on the brink of the sunset and illumine Hydaspes’ stream with my torches. Let wicked Jove behold me wandering through towns and country, and Juno’s jealousy be sated with her rival’s ruin. Have your sport with me, triumph in heaven, proud gods, celebrate your illustrious victory o’er Ceres’ conquered daughter.”So spake she and glides down upon Etna’s familiar slopes, there to fashion torches to aid her night-wandering labours.There was a wood, hard by the stream of Acis, which fair Galatea oft chooses in preference to Ocean and cleaves in swimming with her snowy breast—a wood dense with foliage that closed in Etna’s summit on all sides with interwoven branches. “Tis there that Jove is said to have laid down his

[369]

and love for children; to offspring twain hast thou given birth; this was mine only child. So mayest thou ever enjoy Apollo’s locks, so mayest thou live a happier mother than I.”

Plenteous tears then bedewed her cheeks. She continued: “Why these tears? why this silence? Woe is me; all desert me. Why tarriest thou yet to no purpose? Seest thou not ’tis open war with heaven? were it not better to seek again thy daughter by sea and land? I will gird myself and scour the world, unwearied I will penetrate its every corner, nor ever stay my search, nor rest nor sleep till I find my reft treasure, though she lie whelmed in the Spanish Ocean bed or hedged around in the depths of the Red Sea. Neither ice-bound Rhine nor Alpine frosts shall stay me; the treacherous tides of Syrtes shall not give me pause. My purpose holds to penetrate the fastnesses of the North and to tread the snowy home of Boreas. I will climb Atlas on the brink of the sunset and illumine Hydaspes’ stream with my torches. Let wicked Jove behold me wandering through towns and country, and Juno’s jealousy be sated with her rival’s ruin. Have your sport with me, triumph in heaven, proud gods, celebrate your illustrious victory o’er Ceres’ conquered daughter.”

So spake she and glides down upon Etna’s familiar slopes, there to fashion torches to aid her night-wandering labours.

There was a wood, hard by the stream of Acis, which fair Galatea oft chooses in preference to Ocean and cleaves in swimming with her snowy breast—a wood dense with foliage that closed in Etna’s summit on all sides with interwoven branches. “Tis there that Jove is said to have laid down his

[370]aegida captivamque pater post proelia praedamadvexisse datur. Phlegraeis silva superbitexuviis totumque nemus victoria vestit.hic patuli rictus et prodigiosa Gigantumtergora dependent, et adhuc crudele minantur340adfixae truncis facies, inmaniaque ossaserpentum passim cumulis exanguibus albent,et rigidae multo suspirant fulmine pelles;nullaque non magni iactat se nominis arbor:haec centumgemini strictos Aegaeonis enses345curvata vix fronde levat; liventibus illaexultat Coei spoliis; haec arma Mimantissustinet; hos onerat ramos exutus Ophion.altior at cunctis abies umbrosaque lateipsius Enceladi fumantia gestat opima,350summi terrigenum regis, caderetque gravatapondere, ni lassam fulciret proxima quercus.inde timor numenque loco, nemorisque senectaeparcitur, aetheriisque nefas nocuisse tropaeis.pascere nullus oves nec robora laedere Cyclops355audet et ipse fugit sacra Polyphemus ab umbra.Non tamen hoc tardata Ceres. accenditur ultrorelligione loci vibratque infesta securimipsum etiam feritura Iovem: succidere pinusaut magis enodes dubitat prosternere cedros360exploratque habiles truncos rectique tenoremstipitis et certo pertemptat brachia nisu.sic, qui vecturus longinqua per aequora mercesmolitur tellure ratem vitamque procellisobiectare parat, fagos metitur et alnos365[371]bloody shield and set his captured spoil after the battle. The grove glories in trophies from the plain of Phlegra and signs of victory clothe its every tree. Here hang the gaping jaws and monstrous skins of the Giants; affixed to trees their faces still threaten horribly, and heaped up on all sides bleach the huge bones of slaughtered serpents. Their stiffening sloughs smoke with the blow of many a thunderbolt, and every tree boasts some illustrious name. This one scarce supports on its down-bended branches the naked swords of hundred-handed Aegaeon; that glories in the murky trophies of Coeus; this bears up the arms of Mimas; spoiled Ophion weighs down those branches. But higher than all the other trees towers a pine, its shady branches spread wide, and bears the reeking arms of Enceladus himself, all powerful king of the Earth-born giants; it would have fallen beneath the heavy burden did not a neighbouring oak-tree support its wearied weight. Therefore the spot wins awe and sanctity; none touches the aged grove, and ’tis accounted a crime to violate the trophies of the gods. No Cyclops dares pasture there his flock nor hew down the trees, Polyphemus himself flies from the hallowed shade.Not for that did Ceres stay her steps; the very sanctity of the place inflames her wrath; with angry hand she brandishes her axe, ready to strike Jove himself. She hesitates whether to cut down pines or lay low knotless cedars, scans likely trunks and lofty trees and shakes their branches with vigorous hand. Even so when a man, fain to carry merchandise over distant seas, builds a ship on dry land and makes ready to expose his life to the tempest, he hews down

[370]

aegida captivamque pater post proelia praedamadvexisse datur. Phlegraeis silva superbitexuviis totumque nemus victoria vestit.hic patuli rictus et prodigiosa Gigantumtergora dependent, et adhuc crudele minantur340adfixae truncis facies, inmaniaque ossaserpentum passim cumulis exanguibus albent,et rigidae multo suspirant fulmine pelles;nullaque non magni iactat se nominis arbor:haec centumgemini strictos Aegaeonis enses345curvata vix fronde levat; liventibus illaexultat Coei spoliis; haec arma Mimantissustinet; hos onerat ramos exutus Ophion.altior at cunctis abies umbrosaque lateipsius Enceladi fumantia gestat opima,350summi terrigenum regis, caderetque gravatapondere, ni lassam fulciret proxima quercus.inde timor numenque loco, nemorisque senectaeparcitur, aetheriisque nefas nocuisse tropaeis.pascere nullus oves nec robora laedere Cyclops355audet et ipse fugit sacra Polyphemus ab umbra.Non tamen hoc tardata Ceres. accenditur ultrorelligione loci vibratque infesta securimipsum etiam feritura Iovem: succidere pinusaut magis enodes dubitat prosternere cedros360exploratque habiles truncos rectique tenoremstipitis et certo pertemptat brachia nisu.sic, qui vecturus longinqua per aequora mercesmolitur tellure ratem vitamque procellisobiectare parat, fagos metitur et alnos365

aegida captivamque pater post proelia praedam

advexisse datur. Phlegraeis silva superbit

exuviis totumque nemus victoria vestit.

hic patuli rictus et prodigiosa Gigantum

tergora dependent, et adhuc crudele minantur340

adfixae truncis facies, inmaniaque ossa

serpentum passim cumulis exanguibus albent,

et rigidae multo suspirant fulmine pelles;

nullaque non magni iactat se nominis arbor:

haec centumgemini strictos Aegaeonis enses345

curvata vix fronde levat; liventibus illa

exultat Coei spoliis; haec arma Mimantis

sustinet; hos onerat ramos exutus Ophion.

altior at cunctis abies umbrosaque late

ipsius Enceladi fumantia gestat opima,350

summi terrigenum regis, caderetque gravata

pondere, ni lassam fulciret proxima quercus.

inde timor numenque loco, nemorisque senectae

parcitur, aetheriisque nefas nocuisse tropaeis.

pascere nullus oves nec robora laedere Cyclops355

audet et ipse fugit sacra Polyphemus ab umbra.

Non tamen hoc tardata Ceres. accenditur ultro

relligione loci vibratque infesta securim

ipsum etiam feritura Iovem: succidere pinus

aut magis enodes dubitat prosternere cedros360

exploratque habiles truncos rectique tenorem

stipitis et certo pertemptat brachia nisu.

sic, qui vecturus longinqua per aequora merces

molitur tellure ratem vitamque procellis

obiectare parat, fagos metitur et alnos365

[371]bloody shield and set his captured spoil after the battle. The grove glories in trophies from the plain of Phlegra and signs of victory clothe its every tree. Here hang the gaping jaws and monstrous skins of the Giants; affixed to trees their faces still threaten horribly, and heaped up on all sides bleach the huge bones of slaughtered serpents. Their stiffening sloughs smoke with the blow of many a thunderbolt, and every tree boasts some illustrious name. This one scarce supports on its down-bended branches the naked swords of hundred-handed Aegaeon; that glories in the murky trophies of Coeus; this bears up the arms of Mimas; spoiled Ophion weighs down those branches. But higher than all the other trees towers a pine, its shady branches spread wide, and bears the reeking arms of Enceladus himself, all powerful king of the Earth-born giants; it would have fallen beneath the heavy burden did not a neighbouring oak-tree support its wearied weight. Therefore the spot wins awe and sanctity; none touches the aged grove, and ’tis accounted a crime to violate the trophies of the gods. No Cyclops dares pasture there his flock nor hew down the trees, Polyphemus himself flies from the hallowed shade.Not for that did Ceres stay her steps; the very sanctity of the place inflames her wrath; with angry hand she brandishes her axe, ready to strike Jove himself. She hesitates whether to cut down pines or lay low knotless cedars, scans likely trunks and lofty trees and shakes their branches with vigorous hand. Even so when a man, fain to carry merchandise over distant seas, builds a ship on dry land and makes ready to expose his life to the tempest, he hews down

[371]

bloody shield and set his captured spoil after the battle. The grove glories in trophies from the plain of Phlegra and signs of victory clothe its every tree. Here hang the gaping jaws and monstrous skins of the Giants; affixed to trees their faces still threaten horribly, and heaped up on all sides bleach the huge bones of slaughtered serpents. Their stiffening sloughs smoke with the blow of many a thunderbolt, and every tree boasts some illustrious name. This one scarce supports on its down-bended branches the naked swords of hundred-handed Aegaeon; that glories in the murky trophies of Coeus; this bears up the arms of Mimas; spoiled Ophion weighs down those branches. But higher than all the other trees towers a pine, its shady branches spread wide, and bears the reeking arms of Enceladus himself, all powerful king of the Earth-born giants; it would have fallen beneath the heavy burden did not a neighbouring oak-tree support its wearied weight. Therefore the spot wins awe and sanctity; none touches the aged grove, and ’tis accounted a crime to violate the trophies of the gods. No Cyclops dares pasture there his flock nor hew down the trees, Polyphemus himself flies from the hallowed shade.

Not for that did Ceres stay her steps; the very sanctity of the place inflames her wrath; with angry hand she brandishes her axe, ready to strike Jove himself. She hesitates whether to cut down pines or lay low knotless cedars, scans likely trunks and lofty trees and shakes their branches with vigorous hand. Even so when a man, fain to carry merchandise over distant seas, builds a ship on dry land and makes ready to expose his life to the tempest, he hews down

[372]et varium rudibus silvis accommodat usum:quae longa est, tumidis praebebit cornua velis;quae fortis, clavo potior; quae lenta, favebitremigio: stagni patiens aptanda carinae.Tollebant geminae capita inviolata cupressus370caespite vicino: quales non rupibus Idaemiratur Simois, quales non divite ripalambit Apollinei nemoris nutritor Orontes.germanas adeo credas; sic frontibus aequisadstant et socio despectant vertice lucum.375hae placuere faces. pernix invadit utramquecincta sinus, exerta manus, armata bipennialternasque ferit totisque obnixa trementesviribus impellit. pariter traxere ruinamet pariter posuere comas campoque recumbunt,380Faunorum Dryadumque dolor. complectitur ambas,sicut erant, alteque levat retroque solutiscrinibus ascendit fastigia montis anheliexuperatque aestus et nulli pervia saxaatque indignantes vestigia calcat harenas:385qualis pestiferas animare ad crimina taxostorva Megaera ruit, Cadmi seu moenia poscatsive Thyesteis properet saevire Mycenis:dant tenebrae manesque locum plantisque resultantTartara ferratis, donec Phlegethontis ad undam390constitit et plenos excepit lampade fluctus.Postquam perventum scopuli flagrantis in ora,protinus arsuras aversa fronte cupressusfaucibus iniecit mediis lateque cavernastexit et undantem flammarum obstruxit hiatum.395[373]beech and elm and marks the diverse utility of the yet growing forest; the lofty tree he selects as yardarms for the swelling sail; the strong he prefers as a mast; the pliant will make good oars; the waterproof is suitable for the keel.Two cypresses in the grass hard by raised their inviolate heads to heaven; Simois looks not on such in amaze amid the crags of Ida, nor does Orontes water their like, Orontes that feeds Apollo’s grove and harbours rich cities on his banks. You would know them for sisters for they tower equal in height and look down upon the wood with twin tops. These she would have as torches; she attacks each with vigorous blows, her gown girt back, her arms bared and armed with the axe. First one she strikes, then the other, and rains blows upon their trembling trunks with might and main. Together they crash to the ground, lay their foliage in the dust and lie upon the plain, wept of Fauns and wood-nymphs. She seizes both just as they are, uplifts them and, with hair out-streaming behind her, climbs panting the slopes of the mountain, passes beyond the flames and inaccessible precipices, and treads the lava that brooks no mortal footstep: even as the grim Megaera hastens to kindle yew-trees to light her to crime, speeding her journey to the walls of Cadmus’ city or meaning to work her devilment in Thyestean Mycenae; darkness and the shades give her passage, and Hell rings to her iron tread, till she halts beside Phlegethon’s wave and fires her torch from its brimming waves.When she had climbed to the mouth of the burning rock, straightway, turning aside her head, she thrust the kindling cypresses into its inmost depths, thus closing in the cavern on all sides and stopping up the

[372]

et varium rudibus silvis accommodat usum:quae longa est, tumidis praebebit cornua velis;quae fortis, clavo potior; quae lenta, favebitremigio: stagni patiens aptanda carinae.Tollebant geminae capita inviolata cupressus370caespite vicino: quales non rupibus Idaemiratur Simois, quales non divite ripalambit Apollinei nemoris nutritor Orontes.germanas adeo credas; sic frontibus aequisadstant et socio despectant vertice lucum.375hae placuere faces. pernix invadit utramquecincta sinus, exerta manus, armata bipennialternasque ferit totisque obnixa trementesviribus impellit. pariter traxere ruinamet pariter posuere comas campoque recumbunt,380Faunorum Dryadumque dolor. complectitur ambas,sicut erant, alteque levat retroque solutiscrinibus ascendit fastigia montis anheliexuperatque aestus et nulli pervia saxaatque indignantes vestigia calcat harenas:385qualis pestiferas animare ad crimina taxostorva Megaera ruit, Cadmi seu moenia poscatsive Thyesteis properet saevire Mycenis:dant tenebrae manesque locum plantisque resultantTartara ferratis, donec Phlegethontis ad undam390constitit et plenos excepit lampade fluctus.Postquam perventum scopuli flagrantis in ora,protinus arsuras aversa fronte cupressusfaucibus iniecit mediis lateque cavernastexit et undantem flammarum obstruxit hiatum.395

et varium rudibus silvis accommodat usum:

quae longa est, tumidis praebebit cornua velis;

quae fortis, clavo potior; quae lenta, favebit

remigio: stagni patiens aptanda carinae.

Tollebant geminae capita inviolata cupressus370

caespite vicino: quales non rupibus Idae

miratur Simois, quales non divite ripa

lambit Apollinei nemoris nutritor Orontes.

germanas adeo credas; sic frontibus aequis

adstant et socio despectant vertice lucum.375

hae placuere faces. pernix invadit utramque

cincta sinus, exerta manus, armata bipenni

alternasque ferit totisque obnixa trementes

viribus impellit. pariter traxere ruinam

et pariter posuere comas campoque recumbunt,380

Faunorum Dryadumque dolor. complectitur ambas,

sicut erant, alteque levat retroque solutis

crinibus ascendit fastigia montis anheli

exuperatque aestus et nulli pervia saxa

atque indignantes vestigia calcat harenas:385

qualis pestiferas animare ad crimina taxos

torva Megaera ruit, Cadmi seu moenia poscat

sive Thyesteis properet saevire Mycenis:

dant tenebrae manesque locum plantisque resultant

Tartara ferratis, donec Phlegethontis ad undam390

constitit et plenos excepit lampade fluctus.

Postquam perventum scopuli flagrantis in ora,

protinus arsuras aversa fronte cupressus

faucibus iniecit mediis lateque cavernas

texit et undantem flammarum obstruxit hiatum.395

[373]beech and elm and marks the diverse utility of the yet growing forest; the lofty tree he selects as yardarms for the swelling sail; the strong he prefers as a mast; the pliant will make good oars; the waterproof is suitable for the keel.Two cypresses in the grass hard by raised their inviolate heads to heaven; Simois looks not on such in amaze amid the crags of Ida, nor does Orontes water their like, Orontes that feeds Apollo’s grove and harbours rich cities on his banks. You would know them for sisters for they tower equal in height and look down upon the wood with twin tops. These she would have as torches; she attacks each with vigorous blows, her gown girt back, her arms bared and armed with the axe. First one she strikes, then the other, and rains blows upon their trembling trunks with might and main. Together they crash to the ground, lay their foliage in the dust and lie upon the plain, wept of Fauns and wood-nymphs. She seizes both just as they are, uplifts them and, with hair out-streaming behind her, climbs panting the slopes of the mountain, passes beyond the flames and inaccessible precipices, and treads the lava that brooks no mortal footstep: even as the grim Megaera hastens to kindle yew-trees to light her to crime, speeding her journey to the walls of Cadmus’ city or meaning to work her devilment in Thyestean Mycenae; darkness and the shades give her passage, and Hell rings to her iron tread, till she halts beside Phlegethon’s wave and fires her torch from its brimming waves.When she had climbed to the mouth of the burning rock, straightway, turning aside her head, she thrust the kindling cypresses into its inmost depths, thus closing in the cavern on all sides and stopping up the

[373]

beech and elm and marks the diverse utility of the yet growing forest; the lofty tree he selects as yardarms for the swelling sail; the strong he prefers as a mast; the pliant will make good oars; the waterproof is suitable for the keel.

Two cypresses in the grass hard by raised their inviolate heads to heaven; Simois looks not on such in amaze amid the crags of Ida, nor does Orontes water their like, Orontes that feeds Apollo’s grove and harbours rich cities on his banks. You would know them for sisters for they tower equal in height and look down upon the wood with twin tops. These she would have as torches; she attacks each with vigorous blows, her gown girt back, her arms bared and armed with the axe. First one she strikes, then the other, and rains blows upon their trembling trunks with might and main. Together they crash to the ground, lay their foliage in the dust and lie upon the plain, wept of Fauns and wood-nymphs. She seizes both just as they are, uplifts them and, with hair out-streaming behind her, climbs panting the slopes of the mountain, passes beyond the flames and inaccessible precipices, and treads the lava that brooks no mortal footstep: even as the grim Megaera hastens to kindle yew-trees to light her to crime, speeding her journey to the walls of Cadmus’ city or meaning to work her devilment in Thyestean Mycenae; darkness and the shades give her passage, and Hell rings to her iron tread, till she halts beside Phlegethon’s wave and fires her torch from its brimming waves.

When she had climbed to the mouth of the burning rock, straightway, turning aside her head, she thrust the kindling cypresses into its inmost depths, thus closing in the cavern on all sides and stopping up the

[374]compresso mons igne tonat claususque laboratMulciber: obducti nequeunt exire vapores.coniferi micuere apices crevitque favillisAetna novis: strident admisso sulphure rami.tum, ne deficerent tantis erroribus, ignes400semper inocciduos insopitosque manereiussit et arcano perfudit robora suco,quo Phaëthon inrorat equos, quo Luna iuvencos.Iamque soporiferas nocturna silentia terrisexplicuere vices: laniato pectore longas405incohat illa vias et sic ingressa profatur:“Non tales gestare tibi, Proserpina, taedassperabam; sed vota mihi communia matrumet thalami festaeque faces caeloque canendusante oculos hymenaeus erat. sic numina fatis410volvimur et nullo Lachesis discrimine saevit?quam nuper sublimis eram quantisque procorumcingebar studiis! quae non mihi pignus ob unumcedebat numerosa parens! tu prima voluptas,tu postrema mihi; per te fecunda ferebar.415o decus, o requies, o grata superbia matris,qua gessi florente deam, qua sospite numquaminferior Iunone fui: nunc squalida, vilis.hoc placitum patri. cur autem adscribimus illumhis lacrimis? ego te, fateor, crudelis ademi,420quae te deserui solamque instantibus ultrohostibus exposui. raucis secura fruebarnimirum thiasis et laeta sonantibus armis[375]blazing exit of the flames. The mountain thunders with repressed fire and Vulcan is shut in a grievous prison; the enclosed smoke cannot escape. The cone-bearing tops of the cypresses blaze and Etna grows with new ashes; the branches crackle, kindled with the sulphur. Then, lest their long journey should cause them to fail, she bids the flames never die nor sleep and drenches the wood with that secret drug[132]wherewith Phaëthon bedews his steeds and the Moon her bulls.Silent night had now in her turn visited upon the world her gift of sleep. Ceres, with her wounded breast, starts on her long journey and, as she sets out, speaks as follows: “Little thought I, Proserpine, to carry for thee such torches as these. I had hoped what every mother hopes; marriage and festal torches and a wedding-song to be sung in heaven—such was my expectation. Are we divinities thus the sport of fate? does Lachesis vent her spleen on us as on mankind? How lofty was but now mine estate, surrounded with suitors innumerable for my daughter’s hand! What mother of many children but would have owned her my inferior by reason of my only daughter! Thou wast my first joy and my last; I was called prolific for that I bare thee. Thou wert my glory, my comfort, dear object of a mother’s pride; with thee alive I was goddess indeed, with thee safe I was Juno’s equal. Now am I outcast, beggared. ’Tis the Father’s will. Yet why make Jove answerable for my tears? ’Twas I who so cruelly undid thee, I confess it, for I deserted thee and heedlessly exposed thee to threatening foes. Too deeply was I enmeshed in careless enjoyment of shrill-voiced revel, and, happy amid the din of arms,[132]A magic drug or herb on which the sun is said to have fed his horses in order to render them non-inflammable. Ovid tells how Phaëthon was treated by his father in a like way (Met.ii. 122).

[374]

compresso mons igne tonat claususque laboratMulciber: obducti nequeunt exire vapores.coniferi micuere apices crevitque favillisAetna novis: strident admisso sulphure rami.tum, ne deficerent tantis erroribus, ignes400semper inocciduos insopitosque manereiussit et arcano perfudit robora suco,quo Phaëthon inrorat equos, quo Luna iuvencos.Iamque soporiferas nocturna silentia terrisexplicuere vices: laniato pectore longas405incohat illa vias et sic ingressa profatur:“Non tales gestare tibi, Proserpina, taedassperabam; sed vota mihi communia matrumet thalami festaeque faces caeloque canendusante oculos hymenaeus erat. sic numina fatis410volvimur et nullo Lachesis discrimine saevit?quam nuper sublimis eram quantisque procorumcingebar studiis! quae non mihi pignus ob unumcedebat numerosa parens! tu prima voluptas,tu postrema mihi; per te fecunda ferebar.415o decus, o requies, o grata superbia matris,qua gessi florente deam, qua sospite numquaminferior Iunone fui: nunc squalida, vilis.hoc placitum patri. cur autem adscribimus illumhis lacrimis? ego te, fateor, crudelis ademi,420quae te deserui solamque instantibus ultrohostibus exposui. raucis secura fruebarnimirum thiasis et laeta sonantibus armis

compresso mons igne tonat claususque laborat

Mulciber: obducti nequeunt exire vapores.

coniferi micuere apices crevitque favillis

Aetna novis: strident admisso sulphure rami.

tum, ne deficerent tantis erroribus, ignes400

semper inocciduos insopitosque manere

iussit et arcano perfudit robora suco,

quo Phaëthon inrorat equos, quo Luna iuvencos.

Iamque soporiferas nocturna silentia terris

explicuere vices: laniato pectore longas405

incohat illa vias et sic ingressa profatur:

“Non tales gestare tibi, Proserpina, taedas

sperabam; sed vota mihi communia matrum

et thalami festaeque faces caeloque canendus

ante oculos hymenaeus erat. sic numina fatis410

volvimur et nullo Lachesis discrimine saevit?

quam nuper sublimis eram quantisque procorum

cingebar studiis! quae non mihi pignus ob unum

cedebat numerosa parens! tu prima voluptas,

tu postrema mihi; per te fecunda ferebar.415

o decus, o requies, o grata superbia matris,

qua gessi florente deam, qua sospite numquam

inferior Iunone fui: nunc squalida, vilis.

hoc placitum patri. cur autem adscribimus illum

his lacrimis? ego te, fateor, crudelis ademi,420

quae te deserui solamque instantibus ultro

hostibus exposui. raucis secura fruebar

nimirum thiasis et laeta sonantibus armis

[375]blazing exit of the flames. The mountain thunders with repressed fire and Vulcan is shut in a grievous prison; the enclosed smoke cannot escape. The cone-bearing tops of the cypresses blaze and Etna grows with new ashes; the branches crackle, kindled with the sulphur. Then, lest their long journey should cause them to fail, she bids the flames never die nor sleep and drenches the wood with that secret drug[132]wherewith Phaëthon bedews his steeds and the Moon her bulls.Silent night had now in her turn visited upon the world her gift of sleep. Ceres, with her wounded breast, starts on her long journey and, as she sets out, speaks as follows: “Little thought I, Proserpine, to carry for thee such torches as these. I had hoped what every mother hopes; marriage and festal torches and a wedding-song to be sung in heaven—such was my expectation. Are we divinities thus the sport of fate? does Lachesis vent her spleen on us as on mankind? How lofty was but now mine estate, surrounded with suitors innumerable for my daughter’s hand! What mother of many children but would have owned her my inferior by reason of my only daughter! Thou wast my first joy and my last; I was called prolific for that I bare thee. Thou wert my glory, my comfort, dear object of a mother’s pride; with thee alive I was goddess indeed, with thee safe I was Juno’s equal. Now am I outcast, beggared. ’Tis the Father’s will. Yet why make Jove answerable for my tears? ’Twas I who so cruelly undid thee, I confess it, for I deserted thee and heedlessly exposed thee to threatening foes. Too deeply was I enmeshed in careless enjoyment of shrill-voiced revel, and, happy amid the din of arms,[132]A magic drug or herb on which the sun is said to have fed his horses in order to render them non-inflammable. Ovid tells how Phaëthon was treated by his father in a like way (Met.ii. 122).

[375]

blazing exit of the flames. The mountain thunders with repressed fire and Vulcan is shut in a grievous prison; the enclosed smoke cannot escape. The cone-bearing tops of the cypresses blaze and Etna grows with new ashes; the branches crackle, kindled with the sulphur. Then, lest their long journey should cause them to fail, she bids the flames never die nor sleep and drenches the wood with that secret drug[132]wherewith Phaëthon bedews his steeds and the Moon her bulls.

Silent night had now in her turn visited upon the world her gift of sleep. Ceres, with her wounded breast, starts on her long journey and, as she sets out, speaks as follows: “Little thought I, Proserpine, to carry for thee such torches as these. I had hoped what every mother hopes; marriage and festal torches and a wedding-song to be sung in heaven—such was my expectation. Are we divinities thus the sport of fate? does Lachesis vent her spleen on us as on mankind? How lofty was but now mine estate, surrounded with suitors innumerable for my daughter’s hand! What mother of many children but would have owned her my inferior by reason of my only daughter! Thou wast my first joy and my last; I was called prolific for that I bare thee. Thou wert my glory, my comfort, dear object of a mother’s pride; with thee alive I was goddess indeed, with thee safe I was Juno’s equal. Now am I outcast, beggared. ’Tis the Father’s will. Yet why make Jove answerable for my tears? ’Twas I who so cruelly undid thee, I confess it, for I deserted thee and heedlessly exposed thee to threatening foes. Too deeply was I enmeshed in careless enjoyment of shrill-voiced revel, and, happy amid the din of arms,

[132]A magic drug or herb on which the sun is said to have fed his horses in order to render them non-inflammable. Ovid tells how Phaëthon was treated by his father in a like way (Met.ii. 122).

[376]iungebam Phrygios, cum tu raperere, leones.accipe quas merui poenas. en ora fatiscunt425vulneribus grandesque rubent in pectore sulci.immemor en uterus crebro contunditur ictu.“Qua te parte poli, quo te sub cardine quaeram?quis monstrator erit? quae me vestigia ducent?qui currus? ferus ipse quis est? terraene, marisne430incola? quae volucrum deprendam signa rotarum?ibo, ibo quocumque pedes, quocumque iubebitcasus; sic Venerem quaerat deserta Dione.“Efficietne labor? rursus te, nata, licebitamplecti? manet ille decor, manet ille genarum435fulgor? an infelix talem fortasse videbo,qualis nocte venis, qualem per somnia vidi?”Sic ait et prima gressus molitur ab Aetnaexitiique reos flores ipsumque rapinaedetestata locum sequitur dispersa viarum440indicia et pleno rimatur lumine camposinclinatque faces, omnis madet orbita fletu;omnibus admugit,[133]quocumque it in aequore, sulcis.[134]adnatat umbra fretis extremaque lucis imagoItaliam Libyamque ferit: clarescit Etruscum445litus et accenso resplendent aequore Syrtes.antra procul Scyllaea petit canibusque reductispars stupefacta silet, pars nondum exterrita latrat.[133]Birtomnibus admugit. quocumque it in aequore, fulvis adnatat.…[134]sulcisς;fulvisFSV;silvisW.[377]I was yoking Phrygian lions whilst thou wast being carried off. Yet see the punishment visited upon me. My face is seared with wounds and long gashes furrow my bloody breast. My womb, forgetful that it gave thee birth, is beaten with continual blows.“Where under heaven shall I find thee? Beneath what quarter of the sky? Who shall point the way, what path shall lead me? What chariot was it? Who was that cruel ravisher? A denizen of earth or sea? What traces of his wingèd wheels can I discover? Whithersoever my steps lead me or chance direct, thither will I go. Even so may Dione be deserted and seek for Venus!“Will my labours be successful? Shall I ever again be blest with thine embrace, my daughter? Art thou still fair; still glows the brightness of thy cheeks? Or shall I perchance see thee as thou cam’st in my nightly vision; as I saw thee in my dreams?”So spake she and from Etna first she drags her steps, and, cursing its guilty flowers and the spot whence Proserpine was ravaged, she follows the straying tracks of the chariot-wheels and examines the fields in the full light of her lowered torch. Every rut is wet with her tears; she weeps at each trace she espies in her wanderings over the plain. She glides a shadow o’er the sea and the farthest ray of her torches’ gleam strikes the coasts of Italy and Libya. The Tuscan shore grows bright and the Syrtes gleam with kindled wave. The light reaches the distant cave of Scylla, of whose dogs some shrink back and are still in dumb amaze, others, not yet horrified into silence, continue to bark.[135][135]For the unfinished state of the poem see Introduction, p. xiv.

[376]

iungebam Phrygios, cum tu raperere, leones.accipe quas merui poenas. en ora fatiscunt425vulneribus grandesque rubent in pectore sulci.immemor en uterus crebro contunditur ictu.“Qua te parte poli, quo te sub cardine quaeram?quis monstrator erit? quae me vestigia ducent?qui currus? ferus ipse quis est? terraene, marisne430incola? quae volucrum deprendam signa rotarum?ibo, ibo quocumque pedes, quocumque iubebitcasus; sic Venerem quaerat deserta Dione.“Efficietne labor? rursus te, nata, licebitamplecti? manet ille decor, manet ille genarum435fulgor? an infelix talem fortasse videbo,qualis nocte venis, qualem per somnia vidi?”Sic ait et prima gressus molitur ab Aetnaexitiique reos flores ipsumque rapinaedetestata locum sequitur dispersa viarum440indicia et pleno rimatur lumine camposinclinatque faces, omnis madet orbita fletu;omnibus admugit,[133]quocumque it in aequore, sulcis.[134]adnatat umbra fretis extremaque lucis imagoItaliam Libyamque ferit: clarescit Etruscum445litus et accenso resplendent aequore Syrtes.antra procul Scyllaea petit canibusque reductispars stupefacta silet, pars nondum exterrita latrat.

iungebam Phrygios, cum tu raperere, leones.

accipe quas merui poenas. en ora fatiscunt425

vulneribus grandesque rubent in pectore sulci.

immemor en uterus crebro contunditur ictu.

“Qua te parte poli, quo te sub cardine quaeram?

quis monstrator erit? quae me vestigia ducent?

qui currus? ferus ipse quis est? terraene, marisne430

incola? quae volucrum deprendam signa rotarum?

ibo, ibo quocumque pedes, quocumque iubebit

casus; sic Venerem quaerat deserta Dione.

“Efficietne labor? rursus te, nata, licebit

amplecti? manet ille decor, manet ille genarum435

fulgor? an infelix talem fortasse videbo,

qualis nocte venis, qualem per somnia vidi?”

Sic ait et prima gressus molitur ab Aetna

exitiique reos flores ipsumque rapinae

detestata locum sequitur dispersa viarum440

indicia et pleno rimatur lumine campos

inclinatque faces, omnis madet orbita fletu;

omnibus admugit,[133]quocumque it in aequore, sulcis.[134]

adnatat umbra fretis extremaque lucis imago

Italiam Libyamque ferit: clarescit Etruscum445

litus et accenso resplendent aequore Syrtes.

antra procul Scyllaea petit canibusque reductis

pars stupefacta silet, pars nondum exterrita latrat.

[133]Birtomnibus admugit. quocumque it in aequore, fulvis adnatat.…

[134]sulcisς;fulvisFSV;silvisW.

[377]I was yoking Phrygian lions whilst thou wast being carried off. Yet see the punishment visited upon me. My face is seared with wounds and long gashes furrow my bloody breast. My womb, forgetful that it gave thee birth, is beaten with continual blows.“Where under heaven shall I find thee? Beneath what quarter of the sky? Who shall point the way, what path shall lead me? What chariot was it? Who was that cruel ravisher? A denizen of earth or sea? What traces of his wingèd wheels can I discover? Whithersoever my steps lead me or chance direct, thither will I go. Even so may Dione be deserted and seek for Venus!“Will my labours be successful? Shall I ever again be blest with thine embrace, my daughter? Art thou still fair; still glows the brightness of thy cheeks? Or shall I perchance see thee as thou cam’st in my nightly vision; as I saw thee in my dreams?”So spake she and from Etna first she drags her steps, and, cursing its guilty flowers and the spot whence Proserpine was ravaged, she follows the straying tracks of the chariot-wheels and examines the fields in the full light of her lowered torch. Every rut is wet with her tears; she weeps at each trace she espies in her wanderings over the plain. She glides a shadow o’er the sea and the farthest ray of her torches’ gleam strikes the coasts of Italy and Libya. The Tuscan shore grows bright and the Syrtes gleam with kindled wave. The light reaches the distant cave of Scylla, of whose dogs some shrink back and are still in dumb amaze, others, not yet horrified into silence, continue to bark.[135][135]For the unfinished state of the poem see Introduction, p. xiv.

[377]

I was yoking Phrygian lions whilst thou wast being carried off. Yet see the punishment visited upon me. My face is seared with wounds and long gashes furrow my bloody breast. My womb, forgetful that it gave thee birth, is beaten with continual blows.

“Where under heaven shall I find thee? Beneath what quarter of the sky? Who shall point the way, what path shall lead me? What chariot was it? Who was that cruel ravisher? A denizen of earth or sea? What traces of his wingèd wheels can I discover? Whithersoever my steps lead me or chance direct, thither will I go. Even so may Dione be deserted and seek for Venus!

“Will my labours be successful? Shall I ever again be blest with thine embrace, my daughter? Art thou still fair; still glows the brightness of thy cheeks? Or shall I perchance see thee as thou cam’st in my nightly vision; as I saw thee in my dreams?”

So spake she and from Etna first she drags her steps, and, cursing its guilty flowers and the spot whence Proserpine was ravaged, she follows the straying tracks of the chariot-wheels and examines the fields in the full light of her lowered torch. Every rut is wet with her tears; she weeps at each trace she espies in her wanderings over the plain. She glides a shadow o’er the sea and the farthest ray of her torches’ gleam strikes the coasts of Italy and Libya. The Tuscan shore grows bright and the Syrtes gleam with kindled wave. The light reaches the distant cave of Scylla, of whose dogs some shrink back and are still in dumb amaze, others, not yet horrified into silence, continue to bark.[135]

[135]For the unfinished state of the poem see Introduction, p. xiv.

[378]

[379]

[The numbers in the right-hand column are those of Gesner’s edition retained by Birt]

[382]

[383]

[c. m. =Carmina minora]

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