Médéa, régis fília, Iásonem adamávit, et ubi audívit eum tantum perículum subitúrum esse, rem aegré ferébat. Intellegébat enim patrem suum hunc labórem próposuisse eó ipsó cónsilió, ut Iásón morerétur. Quae cum ita essent, Médéa, quae summam scientiam medicínae habébat, hóc cónsilium iniit. Mediá nocte ínsciente patre ex urbe évásit, et postquam in montís fínitimós vénit, herbás quásdam carpsit; tum súcó expressó unguentum parávit quod ví suá corpus aleret nervósque cónfírmáret. Hóc factó Iásoní unguentum dedit; praecépit autem ut eó dié quó istí labórés cónficiendí essent corpus suum et arma máne oblineret. Iásón etsí paene omnibus hominibus mágnitúdine et víribus corporis antecellébat (víta enim omnis in vénátiónibus atque in studió reí mílitáris cónsúmébátur), tamen hóc cónsilium nón neglegendum esse cénsébat.
Ubi is diés vénit quem réx ad arandum agrum édíxerat, Iásón ortá lúce cum sociís ad locum cónstitútum sé contulit. Ibi stabulum ingéns repperit, in quó taurí erant inclúsí; tum portís apertís taurós in lúcem tráxit, et summá cum difficultáte iugum imposuit. At Aeétés cum vidéret taurós nihil contrá Iásonem valére, mágnopere mírátus est; nesciébat enim fíliam suam auxilium eí dedisse. Tum Iásón omnibus aspicientibus agrum aráre coepit, quá in ré tantam díligentiam praebuit ut ante merídiem tótum opus cónfécerit. Hóc factó ad locum ubi réx sedébat adiit et dentís dracónis postulávit; quós ubi accépit, in agrum quem aráverat mágná cum díligentiá sparsit. Hórum autem dentium nátúra erat tális ut in eó locó ubi sémentés factae essent virí armátí míró quódam modó gígnerentur.
Nóndum tamen Iásón tótum opus cónfécerat; imperáverat enim eí Aeétés ut armátós virós quí é dentibus gígnerentur sólus interficeret. Postquam igitur omnís dentís in agrum sparsit, Iásón lassitúdine exanimátus quiétí sé trádidit, dum virí istí gígnerentur. Paucás hórás dormiébat, sub vesperum tamen é somnó subitó excitátus rem ita événisse ut praedictum esset cógnóvit; nam in omnibus agrí partibus virí ingentí mágnitúdine corporis gladiís galeísque armátí mírum in modum é terrá oriébantur. Hóc cógnitó Iásón cónsilium quod dedisset Médéa nón omittendum esse putábat. Saxum igitur ingéns (ita enim Médéa praecéperat) in mediós virós coniécit. Illí undique ad locum concurrérunt, et cum quisque sibi id saxum nesció cúr habére vellet, mágna contróversia orta est. Mox strictís gladiís inter sé púgnáre coepérunt, et cum hóc modó plúrimí occísí essent, reliquí vulneribus cónfectí á Iásone núlló negótió interfectí sunt.
Réx Aeétés ubi Iásonem labórem própositum cónfécisse cógnóvit, írá graviter commótus est; id enim per dolum factum esse intellegébat; nec dubitábat quín Médéa eí auxilium tulisset. Médéa autem cum intellegeret sé in mágnó fore perículó sí in régiá manéret, fugá salútem petere cónstituit. Omnibus rébus igitur ad fugam parátís mediá nocte ínsciente patre cum frátre Absyrtó évásit, et quam celerrimé ad locum ubi Argó subducta erat sé contulit. Eó cum vénisset, ad pedés Iásonis sé próiécit, et multís cum lacrimís eum obsecrávit né in tantó discrímine mulierem désereret quae eí tantum prófuisset. Ille quod memoriá tenébat sé per éius auxilium é mágnó perículó évásisse, libenter eam excépit, et postquam causam veniendí audívit, hortátus est né patris íram timéret. Prómísit autem sé quam prímum eam in náví suá ávectúrum.
Postrídié éius diéí Iásón cum sociís suís ortá lúce návem dédúxit, et tempestátem idóneam nactí ad eum locum rémís contendérunt, quó in locó Médéa vellus célátum esse démónstrábat. Cum eó vénissent, Iásón in terram égressus est, et sociís ad mare relictís, quí praesidió náví essent, ipse cum Médéá in silvás sé contulit. Pauca mília passuum per silvam prógressus vellus quod quaerébat ex arbore suspénsum vídit. Id tamen auferre erat summae difficultátis; nón modo enim locus ipse égregié et nátúrá et arte erat múnítus, sed etiam dracó quídam specié terribilí arborem custódiébat. Tum Médéa, quae, ut suprá démónstrávimus, medicínae summam scientiam habuit, rámum quem dé arbore proximá déripuerat venénó ínfécit. Hóc factó ad locum appropinquávit, et dracónem, quí faucibus apertís éius adventum exspectábat, venénó sparsit; deinde, dum dracó somnó oppressus dormit, Iásón vellus aureum dé arbore déripuit et cum Médéá quam celerrimé pedem rettulit.
Dum autem ea geruntur, Argonautae, quí ad mare relictí erant, ánxió animó reditum Iásonis exspectábant; id enim negótium summí esse perículí intellegébant. Postquam igitur ad occásum sólis frústrá exspectávérunt, dé éius salúte déspéráre coepérunt, nec dubitábant quín aliquí cásus accidisset. Quae cum ita essent, mátúrandum sibi cénsuérunt, ut ducí auxilium ferrent; sed dum proficíscí parant, lúmen quoddam subitó cónspiciunt mírum in modum intrá silvás refulgéns, et mágnopere mírátí quae causa esset éius reí ad locum concurrunt. Quó cum vénissent, Iásoní et Médéae advenientibus occurrérunt, et vellus aureum lúminis éius causam esse cógnóvérunt. Omní timóre sublátó mágnó cum gaudió ducem suum excépérunt, et dís grátiás máximás égérunt quod rés tam félíciter événisset.
Hís rébus gestís omnés sine morá návem rúrsus cónscendérunt, et sublátís ancorís prímá vigiliá solvérunt; neque enim satis tútum esse arbitrátí sunt in eó locó manére. At réx Aeétés, quí iam ante inimícó in eós fuerat animó, ubi cógnóvit fíliam suam nón modo ad Argonautás sé recépisse sed etiam ad vellus auferendum auxilium tulisse, hóc dolóre gravius exársit. Návem longam quam celerrimé dédúcí iussit, et mílitibus impositís fugientís ínsecútus est. Argonautae, quí rem in discrímine esse bene sciébant, omnibus víribus rémís contendébant; cum tamen návis quá vehébantur ingentí esset mágnitúdine, nón eádem celeritáte quá Colchí prógredí poterant. Quó factum est ut minimum abesset quín á Colchís sequentibus caperentur, neque enim longius intererat quam quó télum adicí posset. At Médéa cum vídisset quó in locó rés essent, paene omní spé dépositá ínfandum hóc cónsilium cépit.
Erat in náví Argonautárum fílius quídam régis Aeétae, nómine Absyrtus, quem, ut suprá démónstrávimus, Médéa ex urbe fugiéns sécum abdúxerat. Hunc puerum Médéa interficere cónstituit eó cónsilió, ut membrís éius in mare coniectís cursum Colchórum impedíret; certó enim sciébat Aeétem, cum membra fílí vídisset, nón longius prósecútúrum esse. Neque opínió Médéam fefellit, omnia enim ita événérunt ut spéráverat. Aeétés ubi prímum membra vídit, ad ea conligenda návem tenérí iussit. Dum tamen ea geruntur, Argonautae nón intermissó rémigandí labóre mox é cónspectú hostium auferébantur, neque prius fugere déstitérunt quam ad flúmen Éridanum pervénérunt. Aeétés nihil sibi prófutúrum esse arbitrátus sí longius prógressus esset, animó démissó domum revertit, ut fílí corpus ad sepultúram daret.
Tandem post multa perícula Iásón in eundem locum pervénit unde profectus erat. Tum é náví égressus ad régem Peliam, quí régnum adhúc obtinébat, statim sé contulit, et vellere aureó mónstrátó ab eó postulávit ut régnum sibi tráderétur; Peliás enim pollicitus erat, sí Iásón vellus rettulisset, sé régnum eí tráditúrum. Postquam Iásón quid fierí vellet ostendit, Peliás prímó nihil respondit, sed diú in eádem trístitiá tacitus permánsit; tandem ita locútus est: "Vidés mé aetáte iam esse cónfectum, neque dubium est quín diés suprémus mihi appropinquet. Liceat igitur mihi, dum vívam, hóc régnum obtinére; cum autem tandem décesseró, tú mihi succédés." Hác órátióne adductus Iásón respondit sé id factúrum quod ille rogásset.
Hís rébus cógnitís Médéa rem aegré tulit, et régní cupiditáte adducta mortem régí per dolum ínferre cónstituit. Hóc cónstitútó ad fíliás régis vénit atque ita locúta est: "Vidétis patrem vestrum aetáte iam esse cónfectum neque ad labórem régnandí perferendum satis valére. Vultisne eum rúrsus iuvenem fierí?" Tum fíliae régis ita respondérunt: "Num hóc fierí potest? Quis enim umquam é sene iuvenis factus est?" At Médéa respondit: "Mé medicínae summam habére scientiam scítis. Nunc igitur vóbis démónstrábó quó modó haec rés fierí possit." Postquam fínem loquendí fécit, arietem aetáte iam cónfectum interfécit et membra éius in váse aéneó posuit, atque ígní suppositó in aquam herbás quásdam infúdit. Tum, dum aqua effervésceret, carmen magicum cantábat. Mox ariés é váse exsiluit et víribus refectís per agrós currébat.
Dum fíliae régis hóc míráculum stupentés intuentur, Médéa ita locúta est: "Vidétis quantum valeat medicína. Vós igitur, sí vultis patrem vestrum in aduléscentiam redúcere, id quod fécí ipsae faciétis. Vós patris membra in vás conicite; ego herbás magicás praebébó." Quod ubi audítum est, fíliae régis cónsilium quod dedisset Médéa nón omittendum putávérunt. Patrem igitur Peliam necávérunt et membra éius in vás aéneum coniécérunt; nihil autem dubitábant quín hóc máximé eí prófutúrum esset. At rés omnínó aliter événit ac spéráverant, Médéa enim nón eásdem herbás dedit quibus ipsa úsa erat. Itaque postquam diú frústrá exspectávérunt, patrem suum ré vérá mortuum esse intelléxérunt. Hís rébus gestís Médéa sé cum coniuge suó régnum acceptúram esse spérábat; sed cívés cum intellegerent quó modó Peliás periisset, tantum scelus aegré tulérunt. Itaque Iásone et Médéá é régnó expulsís Acastum régem creávérunt.
Iásón et Médéa é Thessaliá expulsí ad urbem Corinthum vénérunt, cúius urbis Creón quídam régnum tum obtinébat. Erat autem Creontí fília úna, nómine Glaucé. Quam cum vídisset, Iásón cónstituit Médéae uxórí suae núntium mittere eó cónsilió, ut Glaucén in mátrimónium dúceret. At Médéa ubi intelléxit quae ille in animó habéret, írá graviter commóta iúre iúrandó cónfírmávit sé tantam iniúriam ultúram. Hóc igitur cónsilium cépit. Vestem parávit summá arte textam et variís colóribus ínfectam; hanc mortiferó quódam venénó tinxit, cúius vís tális erat ut sí quis eam vestem induisset, corpus éius quasi ígní úrerétur. Hóc factó vestem ad Glaucén mísit; illa autem nihil malí suspicáns dónum libenter accépit, et vestem novam móre féminárum statim induit.
Vix vestem induerat Glaucé cum dolórem gravem per omnia membra sénsit, et pauló post crúdélí cruciátú adfecta é vítá excessit. Hís rébus gestís Médéa furóre atque ámentiá impulsa fíliós suós necávit; tum mágnum sibi fore perículum arbitráta sí in Thessaliá manéret, ex eá regióne fugere cónstituit. Hóc cónstitútó sólem órávit ut in tantó perículó auxilium sibi praebéret. Sól autem hís precibus commótus currum mísit cui erant iúnctí dracónés álís ínstrúctí. Médéa nón omittendam tantam occásiónem arbitráta currum ascendit, itaque per áera vecta incolumis ad urbem Athénás pervénit. Iásón ipse breví tempore míró modó occísus est. Accidit síve cású síve cónsilió deórum ut sub umbrá návis suae, quae in lítus subducta erat, dormíret. Mox návis, quae adhúc érécta steterat, in eam partem ubi Iásón iacébat subitó délapsa virum ínfélícem oppressit.
[Illustration: MEDEA MEDITATING THE MURDER OF HER SONS]
Ulysses, a famous Greek hero, took a prominent part in the long siege of Troy. After the fall of the city, he set out with his followers on his homeward voyage to Ithaca, an island of which he was king; but being driven out of his course by northerly winds, he was compelled to touch at the country of the Lotus-eaters, who are supposed to have lived on the north coast of Africa. Some of his comrades were so delighted with the lotus fruit that they wished to remain in the country, but Ulysses compelled them to embark again and continued his voyage. He next came to the island of Sicily, and fell into the hands of the giant Polyphémus, one of the Cyclópes. After several of his comrades had been killed by this monster, Ulysses made his escape by stratagem and reached the country of the winds. Here he received the help of Aeolus, king of the winds, and having set sail again, arrived within sight of Ithaca; but owing to the folly of his companions, the winds became suddenly adverse and he was again driven back. He then touched at an island which was the home of Circe, a powerful enchantress, who exercised her charms on his companions and turned them into swine. By the help of the god Mercury, Ulysses not only escaped this fate himself, but also forced Circe to restore her victims to human shape. After staying a year with Circe, he again set out and eventually reached his home.
Urbem Tróiam á Graecís decem annós obsessam esse satis cónstat; dé hóc enim belló Homérus, máximus poétárum Graecórum, Íliadem opus nótissimum scrípsit. Tróiá tandem per ínsidiás captá, Graecí longó belló fessí domum redíre mátúrávérunt. Omnibus rébus igitur ad profectiónem parátís návís dédúxérunt, et tempestátem idóneam nactí mágnó cum gaudió solvérunt. Erat inter prímós Graecórum Ulixés quídam, vir summae virtútis ac prúdentiae, quem dícunt nónnúllí dolum istum excógitásse quó Tróiam captam esse cónstat. Híc régnum ínsulae Ithacae obtinuerat, et pauló antequam cum reliquís Graecís ad bellum profectus est, puellam fórmósissimam, nómine Pénelopén, in mátrimónium dúxerat. Nunc igitur cum iam decem annós quasi in exsilió cónsúmpsisset, mágná cupiditáte patriae et uxóris videndae árdébat.
Postquam tamen pauca mília passuum á lítore Tróiae progressí sunt, tanta tempestás subitó coorta est ut núlla návium cursum tenére posset, sed aliae aliás in partís disicerentur. Návis autem quá ipse Ulixés vehébátur ví tempestátis ad merídiem déláta decimó dié ad lítus Libyae appulsa est. Ancorís iactís Ulixés cónstituit nónnúllós é sociís in terram expónere, quí aquam ad návem referrent et quális esset nátúra éius regiónis cógnóscerent. Hí igitur é náví égressí imperáta facere parábant. Dum tamen fontem quaerunt, quibusdam ex incolís obviam factí ab iís hospitió acceptí sunt. Accidit autem ut máior pars víctús eórum hominum in míró quódam frúctú quem lótum appellábant cónsisteret. Quam cum Graecí gustássent, patriae et sociórum statim oblítí cónfírmávérunt sé semper in eá terrá mánsúrós, ut dulcí illó cibó in perpetuum véscerentur.
Ulixés cum ab hórá septimá ad vesperum exspectásset, veritus né socií suí in perículó versárentur, nónnúllós é reliquís mísit, ut quae causa esset morae cógnóscerent. Hí igitur in terram exposití ad vícum quí nón longé aberat sé contulérunt; quó cum vénissent, sociós suós quasi vínó ébriós repperérunt. Tum ubi causam veniendí docuérunt, iís persuádére cónábantur ut sécum ad návem redírent. Illí tamen resistere ac manú sé défendere coepérunt, saepe clámitantés sé numquam ex eó locó abitúrós. Quae cum ita essent, núntií ré ínfectá ad Ulixem rediérunt. Hís rébus cógnitís ipse cum omnibus quí in náví relictí erant ad locum vénit; et sociós suós frústrá hortátus ut suá sponte redírent, manibus eórum post terga vinctís invítós ad návem reportávit. Tum ancorís sublátís quam celerrimé é portú solvit.
Postquam eá tótá nocte rémís contendérunt, postrídié ad terram ígnótam návem appulérunt. Tum, quod nátúram éius regiónis ígnórábat, ipse Ulixés cum duodecim é sociís in terram égressus loca explóráre cónstituit. Paulum á lítore prógressí ad spéluncam ingentem pervénérunt, quam habitárí sénsérunt; éius enim introitum et nátúrá locí et manú múnítum esse animadvertérunt. Mox, etsí intellegébant sé nón sine perículó id factúrós, spéluncam intrávérunt; quod cum fécissent, mágnam cópiam lactis in vásís ingentibus conditam invénérunt. Dum tamen mírantur quis in eá séde habitáret, sonitum terribilem audívérunt, et oculís ad portam tortís mónstrum horribile vídérunt, húmáná quidem specié et figúrá, sed ingentí mágnitúdine corporis. Cum autem animadvertissent mónstrum únum oculum tantum habére in mediá fronte positum, intelléxérunt hunc esse únum é Cyclópibus, dé quibus fámam iam accéperant.
Cyclópés autem pástórés erant quídam quí ínsulam Siciliam et praecipué montem Aetnam incolébant; ibi enim Volcánus, praeses fabrórum et ígnis repertor, cúius serví Cyclópés erant, officínam suam habébat.
Graecí igitur simul ac mónstrum vídérunt, terróre paene exanimátí in interiórem partem spéluncae refúgérunt et sé ibi abdere cónábantur. Polyphémus autem (síc enim Cyclóps appellábátur) pecus suum in spéluncam compulit; deinde, cum saxó ingentí portam obstrúxisset, ígnem in mediá spéluncá fécit. Hóc factó, oculó omnia perlústrábat, et cum sénsisset hominés in interióre parte spéluncae esse abditós, mágná vóce exclámávit: "Quí hominés estis? Mercátórés an latrónés?" Tum Ulixés respondit sé neque mercátórés esse neque praedandí causá vénisse; sed á Tróiá redeuntís ví tempestátum á réctó cursú dépulsós esse. Órávit etiam ut sibi sine iniúriá abíre licéret. Tum Polyphémus quaesívit ubi esset návis quá vectí essent; sed Ulixés cum sibi máximé praecavendum esse bene intellegeret, respondit návem suam in rúpís coniectam omnínó fráctam esse. Polyphémus autem núlló respónsó dató duo é sociís manú corripuit, et membrís eórum dívulsís carnem dévoráre coepit.
Dum haec geruntur, Graecórum animós tantus terror occupávit ut né vócem quidem édere possent, sed omní spé salútis dépositá mortem praesentem exspectárent. Polyphémus, postquam famés hác tam horribilí céná dépulsa est, humí próstrátus somnó sé dedit. Quod cum vídisset Ulixés, tantam occásiónem reí gerendae nón omittendam arbitrátus, in eó erat ut pectus mónstrí gladió tránsfígeret. Cum tamen nihil temeré agendum exístimáret, cónstituit explóráre, antequam hóc faceret, quá ratióne ex spéluncá évádere possent. At cum saxum animadvertisset quó introitus obstrúctus erat, nihil sibi prófutúrum intelléxit sí Polyphémum interfécisset. Tanta enim erat éius saxí mágnitúdó ut né á decem quidem hominibus ámovérí posset. Quae cum ita essent, Ulixés hóc cónátú déstitit et ad sociós rediit; quí cum intelléxissent quó in locó rés essent, núllá spé salútis oblátá dé fortúnís suís déspéráre coepérunt. Ille tamen né animós démitterent vehementer hortátus est; démónstrávit sé iam anteá é multís et mágnís perículís évásisse, neque dubium esse quín in tantó discrímine dí auxilium látúrí essent.
Ortá lúce Polyphémus iam é somnó excitátus idem quod hesternó dié fécit; correptís enim duóbus é reliquís virís carnem eórum sine morá dévorávit. Tum, cum saxum ámóvisset, ipse cum pecore suó ex spéluncá prógressus est; quod cum Graecí vidérent, mágnam in spem sé post paulum évásúrós vénérunt. Mox tamen ab hác spé repulsí sunt; nam Polyphémus, postquam omnés ovés exiérunt, saxum in locum restituit. Reliquí omní spé salútis dépositá lámentís lacrimísque sé dédidérunt; Ulixés véró, quí, ut suprá démónstrávimus, vir mágní fuit cónsilí, etsí intellegébat rem in discrímine esse, nóndum omnínó déspérábat. Tandem, postquam diú haec tótó animó cógitávit, hóc cónsilium cépit. É lígnís quae in spéluncá reposita erant pálum mágnum délégit. Hunc summá cum díligentiá praeacútum fécit; tum, postquam sociís quid fierí vellet ostendit, reditum Polyphémí exspectábat.
Sub vesperum Polyphémus ad spéluncam rediit, et eódem modó quó anteá cénávit. Tum Ulixés útrem víní prómpsit, quem forte (id quod eí erat salútí) sécum attulerat; et postquam mágnum póculum vínó complévit, mónstrum ad bibendum próvocávit. Polyphémus, quí numquam anteá vínum gustáverat, tótum póculum statim exhausit; quod cum fécisset, tantam voluptátem percépit ut iterum et tertium póculum replérí iusserit. Tum, cum quaesívisset quó nómine Ulixés appellárétur, ille respondit sé Néminem appellarí; quod cum audívisset, Polyphémus ita locútus est: "Hanc, tibi grátiam pró tantó benefició referam; té postrémum omnium dévorábó." Hóc cum díxisset, cibó vínóque gravis recubuit et breví tempore somnó oppressus est. Tum Ulixés sociís convocátís, "Habémus," inquit, "quam petiimus facultátem; né igitur tantam occásiónem reí gerendae omittámus."
Hác órátióne habitá, postquam extrémum pálum ígní calefécit, oculum Polyphémí dormientis ferventí lígnó perfódit; quó factó omnés in díversás spéluncae partís sé abdidérunt. At ille subitó illó dolóre oculí é somnó excitátus clámórem terribilem sustulit, et dum per spéluncam errat, Ulixem manú prehendere cónábátur; cum tamen iam omnínó caecus esset, núlló modó hóc efficere potuit. Intereá reliquí Cyclópés clámóre audító undique ad spéluncam convénérunt, et ad introitum adstantés quid Polyphémus ageret quaesívérunt, et quam ob causam tantum clámórem sustulisset. Ille respondit sé graviter vulnerátum esse et mágnó dolóre adficí. Cum tamen posteá quaesívissent quis eí vim intulisset, respondit ille Néminem id fécisse; quibus rébus audítís únus é Cyclópibus: "At sí némó," inquit, "té vulnerávit, haud dubium est quín cónsilió deórum, quibus resistere nec possumus nec volumus, hóc supplició adficiáris." Hóc cum díxisset, abiérunt Cyclópés eum in ínsániam incidisse arbitrátí.
Polyphémus ubi sociós suós abiisse sénsit, furóre atque ámentiá impulsus Ulixem iterum quaerere coepit; tandem cum portam invénisset, saxum quó obstrúcta erat ámóvit, ut pecus in agrós exíret. Tum ipse in introitú cónsédit, et ut quaeque ovis ad hunc locum vénerat, éius tergum manibus tráctábat, né virí inter ovís exíre possent. Quod cum animadvertisset Ulixés, intelléxit omnem spem salútis in doló magis quam in virtúte póní. Itaque hóc cónsilium iniit. Prímum trís quás vidit pinguissimás ex ovibus délégit, quás cum inter sé viminibus coniúnxisset, únum ex sociís suís ventribus eárum ita subiécit ut omnínó latéret; deinde ovís hominem sécum ferentís ad portam égit. Id accidit quod fore suspicátus erat. Polyphémus enim postquam terga ovium manibus tráctávit, eás praeteríre passus est. Ulixés ubi rem tam félíciter événisse vídit, omnís sociós suós ex órdine eódem modó émísit; quó factó ipse novissimus évásit.
Iís rébus ita cónfectís, Ulixés veritus né Polyphémus fraudem sentíret, cum sociís quam celerrimé ad lítus contendit; quó cum vénissent, ab iís quí náví praesidió relictí erant mágná cum laetitiá exceptí sunt. Hí enim cum ánxiís animís iam trís diés continuós reditum eórum exspectávissent, eós in aliquod perículum mágnum incidisse (id quidem quod erat) suspicátí, ipsí auxiliandí causá égredí parábant. Tum Ulixés nón satis tútum arbitrátus in eó locó manére, quam celerrimé profisíscí cónstituit. Iussit igitur omnís návem cónscendere, et ancorís sublátís paulum á lítore in altum próvectus est. Tum mágná vóce exclámávit: "Tú, Polyphéme, quí iúra hospití spernis, iústam et débitam poenam immánitátis tuae solvistí." Hác vóce audítá Polyphémus írá vehementer commótus ad mare sé contulit, et ubi návem paulum á lítore remótam esse intelléxit, saxum ingéns manú correptum in eam partem coniécit unde vócem veníre sénsit. Graecí autem, etsí nón multum áfuit quín submergerentur, núlló damnó acceptó cursum tenuérunt.
Pauca mília passuum ab eó locó prógressus Ulixés ad ínsulam Aeoliam návem appulit. Haec patria erat ventórum,
"Híc vástó réx Aeolus antró luctantís ventós tempestátésque sonórás imperió premit ac vinclís et carcere frénat."
Ibi réx ipse Graecós hospitió excépit, atque iís persuásit ut ad recuperandás vírís paucós diés in eá regióne commorárentur. Septimó dié cum socií é labóribus sé recépissent, Ulixés, né anní tempore á návigátióne exclúderétur, sibi sine morá proficíscendum statuit. Tum Aeolus, quí sciébat Ulixem cupidissimum esse patriae videndae, eí iam profectúró mágnum saccum é corió cónfectum dedit, in quó ventós omnís praeter únum inclúserat. Zephyrum tantum solverat, quod ille ventus ab ínsulá Aeoliá ad Ithacam návigantí est secundus. Ulixés hóc dónum libenter accépit, et grátiís pró tantó benefició áctís saccum ad málum adligávit. Tum omnibus rébus ad profectiónem parátís merídiánó feré tempore é portú solvit.
Novem diés secundissimó ventó cursum tenuérunt, iamque in cónspectum patriae suae vénerant, cum Ulixés lassitúdine cónfectus (ipse enim gubernábat) ad quiétem capiendam recubuit. At socií, quí iam dúdum mírábantur quid in illó saccó inclúsum esset, cum ducem somnó oppressum vidérent, tantam occásiónem nón omittendam arbitrátí sunt; crédébant enim aurum et argentum ibi esse céláta. Itaque spé lucrí adductí saccum sine morá solvérunt, quó factó ventí
"velut ágmine factó quá data porta ruunt, et terrás turbine perflant."
Híc tanta tempestás subitó coorta est ut illí cursum tenére nón possent sed in eandem partem unde erant profectí referrentur. Ulixés é somnó excitátus quó in locó rés esset statim intelléxit; saccum solútum, Ithacam post tergum relictam vídit. Tum véró írá vehementer exársit sociósque obiúrgábat quod cupiditáte pecúniae adductí spem patriae videndae próiécissent.
Breví spatió intermissó Graecí ínsulae cuidam appropinquávérunt in quá Circé, fília Sólis, habitábat. Quó cum návem appulisset, Ulixés in terram frúmentandí causá égrediendum esse statuit; nam cógnóverat frúmentum quod in náví habérent iam déficere. Sociís igitur ad sé convocátís quó in locó rés esset et quid fierí vellet ostendit. Cum tamen omnés memoriá tenérent quam crúdélí morte necátí essent ií quí núper é náví égressí essent, némó repertus est quí hóc negótium suscipere vellet. Quae cum ita essent, rés ad contróversiam déducta est. Tandem Ulixés cónsénsú omnium sociós in duás partís dívísit, quárum alterí Eurylochus, vir summae virtútis, alterí ipse praeesse. Tum hí inter sé sortítí sunt uter in terram égrederétur. Hóc factó, Eurylochó sorte événit ut cum duóbus et vígintí sociís rem susciperet.
Hís rébus ita cónstitútis ií quí sortítí erant in interiórem partem ínsulae profectí sunt. Tantus tamen timor animós eórum occupáverat ut nihil dubitárent quín mortí obviam írent. Vix quidem poterant ií quí in náví relictí erant lacrimás tenére; crédébant enim sé sociós suós numquam post hóc tempus vísúrós. Illí autem aliquantum itineris prógressí ad víllam quandam pervénérunt summá mágnificentiá aedificátam, cúius ad óstium cum adiissent, cantum dulcissimum audívérunt. Tanta autem fuit éius vócis dulcédó ut núlló modó retinérí possent quín iánuam pulsárent. Hóc factó ipsa Circé forás exiit, et summá cum benígnitáte omnís in hospitium invítávit. Eurylochus ínsidiás sibi comparárí suspicátus forís exspectáre cónstituit, sed reliquí reí novitáte adductí intrávérunt. Cénam mágnificam omnibus rébus ínstrúctam invénérunt et iússú dominae libentissimé accubuérunt. At Circé vínum quod serví apposuérunt medicámentó quódam miscuerat; quod cum Graecí bibissent, graví somnó subitó oppressí sunt.
Tum Circé, quae artis magicae summam scientiam habébat, baculó aureó quod gerébat capita eórum tetigit; quó factó omnés in porcós subitó conversí sunt. Intereá Eurylochus ígnárus quid in aedibus agerétur ad óstium sedébat; postquam tamen ad sólis occásum ánxió animó et sollicitó exspectávit, sólus ad návem regredí cónstituit. Eó cum vénisset, sollicitúdine ac timóre tam perturbátus fuit ut quae vídisset vix dílúcidé nárráre posset. Ulixés autem satis intelléxit sociós suós in perículó versárí, et gladió correptó Eurylochó imperávit ut sine morá viam ad istam domum démónstráret. Ille tamen multís cum lacrimís Ulixem complexus obsecráre coepit né in tantum perículum sé committeret; sí quid gravius eí accidisset, omnium salútem in summó discrímine futúram. Ulixés autem respondit sé néminem invítum sécum adductúrum; eí licére, sí mállet, in náví manére; sé ipsum sine úlló praesidió rem susceptúrum. Hóc cum mágná vóce díxisset, é náví désiluit et núlló sequente sólus in viam sé dedit.
Aliquantum itineris prógressus ad víllam mágnificam pervénit, quam cum oculís perlústrásset, statim intráre statuit; intelléxit enim hanc esse eandem domum dé quá Eurylochus mentiónem fécisset. At cum in eó esset ut límen intráret, subitó eí obviam stetit aduléscéns fórmá pulcherrimá aureum baculum geréns. Híc Ulixem iam domum intrantem manú corripuit et, "Quó ruis?" inquit. "Nónne scís hanc esse Circés domum? Híc inclúsí sunt amící tuí ex húmáná specié in porcós conversí. Num vís ipse in eandem calamitátem veníre?" Ulixés simul ac vócem audívit, deum Mercurium ágnóvit; núllís tamen precibus ab ínstitútó cónsilió déterrérí potuit. Quod cum Mercurius sénsisset, herbam quandam eí dedit, quam contrá carmina multum valére dícébat. "Hanc cape," inquit, "et ubi Circé té baculó tetigerit, tú strictó gladió impetum in eam vidé ut faciás." Mercurius postquam fínem loquendí fécit,
"mortálís vísús medió sermóne relíquit, et procul in tenuem ex oculís évánuit auram."
Breví intermissó spatió Ulixés ad omnia perícula subeunda parátus iánuam pulsávit, et foribus patefactís ab ipsá Circé benígné exceptus est. Omnia eódem modó atque anteá facta sunt. Cénam mágnificé ínstrúctam vídit et accumbere iússus est. Mox, ubi famés cibó dépulsa est, Circé póculum aureum vínó replétum Ulixí dedit. Ille etsí suspicátus est venénum sibi parátum esse, póculum exhausit; quó factó Circé postquam caput éius baculó tetigit, ea verba locúta est quibus sociós éius anteá in porcós converterat. Rés tamen omnínó aliter événit atque illa spéráverat. Tanta enim vís erat éius herbae quam Ulixí Mercurius dederat ut neque venénum neque verba quicquam efficere possent. Ulixés autem, ut eí praeceptum erat, gladió strictó impetum in eam fécit et mortem minitábátur. Circé cum artem suam nihil valére sénsisset, multís cum lacrimís eum obsecráre coepit né sibi vítam adimeret.
Ulixés autem ubi sénsit eam timóre perterritam esse, postulávit ut sociós suós sine morá in húmánam speciem redúceret (certior enim factus erat á deó Mercurió eós in porcós conversós esse); nisi id factum esset, sé débitás poenás súmptúrum ostendit. Circé hís rébus graviter commóta eí ad pedés sé próiécit, et multís cum lacrimís iúre iúrandó cónfírmávit sé quae ille imperásset omnia factúram. Tum porcós in átrium immittí iussit. Illí dató sígnó inruérunt, et cum ducem suum ágnóvissent, mágnó dolóre adfectí sunt quod núlló modó eum dé rébus suís certiórem facere poterant. Circé tamen unguentó quódam corpora eórum únxit; quó factó sunt omnés statim in húmánam speciem reductí. Mágnó cum gaudió Ulixés suós amícós ágnóvit, et núntium ad lítus mísit, quí reliquís Graecís sociós receptós esse díceret. Illí autem hís rébus cógnitís statim ad domum Circaeam sé contulérunt; quó cum vénissent, úniversí laetitiae sé dédidérunt.
[Illustration: ULYSSES AND CIRCE]
Postrídié éius diéí Ulixés ex hác ínsulá quam celerrimé discédere in animó habébat. Circé tamen cum haec cógnóvisset, ex odió ad amórem conversa omnibus precibus eum óráre et obtestárí coepit ut paucós diés apud sé morárétur; quá ré tandem impetrátá tanta beneficia in eum contulit ut facile eí persuásum sit ut diútius manéret. Postquam tamen tótum annum apud Circén cónsúmpserat, Ulixés mágnó désíderió patriae suae mótus est. Sociís igitur ad sé convocátís quid in animó habéret ostendit. Ubi tamen ad lítus déscendit, návem suam tempestátibus tam adflíctam invénit ut ad návigandum paene inútilis esset. Hác ré cógnitá omnia quae ad návís reficiendás úsuí essent comparárí iussit, quá in ré tantam díligentiam omnés adhibébant ut ante tertium diem opus perfécerint. At Circé ubi omnia ad profectiónem paráta esse vídit, rem aegré ferébat et Ulixem vehementer obsecrábat ut eó cónsilió désisteret. Ille tamen, né anní tempore a návigátióne exclúderétur, mátúrandum sibi exístimávit, et tempestátem idóneam nactus návem solvit. Multa quidem perícula Ulixí subeunda erant antequam in patriam suam perveníret, quae tamen hóc locó longum est perscríbere.
The numbers refer to the page of text and the line on the page respectively.
3.6. Danaé. Many proper names in this book are words borrowed by Latin from Greek, and have forms not given in the regular Latin declensions. It will not be necessary to learn the declension of such words.
7. enim. This word commonly stands second in its clause.
8. turbábat. Notice that this verb and dormiébat below are in the imperfect tense to denote a state of things existing at the past time indicated by territa est.
autem. This word has the same peculiarity of position as enim; so also igitur, which occurs in line 11.
12. Seríphum. Notice that Latin says 'the island Seriphos,' but English more often 'the island of Seriphos.'
13. appulsa est. Postquam is regularly followed by the perfect or present indicative, but the English translation usually requires the pluperfect.
15. quódam.Quídammeans 'certain' as applied to some person or thing not fully described, whilecertusmeans 'certain' in the sense of 'determined.' 'sure,'
ad domum. This means 'to the house'; 'to be brought home' would bedomum addúcí, without the preposition.
16. Ille is often used, as here, when the subject is changed to a person mentioned in the preceding sentence. In this use it is to be translated 'he.'
18. benefició. See the derivation of this word in the vocabulary.
20. multós annós. Duration of time is regularly expressed in the accusative case.
22. eam. Latin has no pronoun of the third person, andisoften takes the place of one; it is then to be translated 'he,' 'she,' 'it,' 'they,' according to its form.
25. haec. The literal translation would be 'these things,' but we must say 'thus' or 'as follows.'
4. 1. es. With iam dúdum and similar expressions of duration, the present indicative is often used to denote an action or state begun in the past but continuing in the present. The English equivalent is the perfect.
híc, is not the pronoun, but an adverb.
2. mihi. This dative may be translated 'for me.' How would 'to me' with a verb of motion be put?
3. refer.Dícó, dúcó, fació, andferóhave the imperative formsdíc, dúc, fac, andfer, instead ofdíce, etc.
4. Perseus. When the subordinate and the principal clause of a Latin sentence have the same subject, this usually stands first, followed by the subordinate clause.
haec. Here a different rendering is required from that suggested in the note on 3, 25. What is it? Notice that it is necessary to know the literal significance of the Latin words, but that the translation must often be something quite different if it is to be acceptable English. The rule for translation is: Discover the exact meaning of the original; then express the same idea correctly and, if you can, elegantly in the language into which you are translating.
5. continentem. What is the derivation of this word?
vénit. Is this present or perfect? How do you know?
8. Graeás. The Graeae were three old women who had one eye and one tooth in common, and took turns in using them.
9. galeam. This belonged to Pluto, the god of the underworld of the dead, and whosoever wore it was invisible. The story is that Perseus compelled the Graeae to tell him how to obtain the helps to his enterprise by seizing their tooth and eye.
11. pedibus, 'on his feet,' dative of indirect object.
induit. See the note on 3, 13.
áera.Áéris borrowed from Greek, and keeps this Greek form for its accusative.
12. volábat. Distinguish betweenvoló, voláre, andvoló, velle.
13. céterís.Céteríis used to denote all not already named ('the other'), whilealiídenotes some of those who have not been already named ('other').
14. specié horribilí, 'of terrible appearance.' ablative of description. A noun never stands alone in this construction,
eárum. See the note on 3, 22.
15. contécta. This and factae below are used as predicate adjectives, not to form the pluperfect passive with erant. Translate, therefore, 'were covered.' not 'had been covered.'
18. vertébantur. The imperfect here denotes customary action, one of its regular uses.
19. Ille. See the note on 3, 16.
20. hóc modó, ablative of manner.
21. vénit, dormiébat. The perfect simply expresses an action which took place in past time, the imperfect tells of a state of things existing at that past time.
25. fugit. When dum means 'while,' 'as,' it is followed by the present indicative, even when used of past events.
26. fécit. Likepostquam, ubi has the present or perfect indicative, where English would use the pluperfect.
5. 2. illó tempore, ablative of time.
régnábat. Observe the force of the tense, and try to find the reason for each change of tense in this paragraph.
Híc. This must here be translated simply 'he.' Compare the use of Ille, 3, 16.
4. veniébat. See the note on 4, 18.
6. omnium, 'of all men.' or 'of all.' The adjective is used as a noun, as in the second of the English expressions.
óráculum. It was believed in antiquity that the will of the gods and a knowledge of future events might be learned at certain shrines, of which the most famous were those of Apollo at Delphi, of Zeus or Jupiter at Dodona, and of Hammon in Egypt. Hammon was really an Egyptian god, represented as having the horns of a ram, but he was identified by the Greeks with Zeus and by the Romans with Jupiter.
7. fíliam. Where there is no ambiguity, the possessive is often omitted in Latin.
8. autem, often, as here, simply introduces an explanation ('now'),
nómine, 'by name.'
9. Cépheus. See the note onPerseus, 4, 4.
10. cívís suós, 'his subjects.'
13. certam. See the note onquódam, 3, 15.Diésis regularly masculine, but when used of an appointed day it is often feminine.
omnia, 'all things,' 'everything,' or 'all.' See the note onomnium, line 6.
16. déplórábant, tenébant. Be careful to show the meaning of the tense by your translation.
18. quaerit. The present is often used of a past action instead of the perfect, to bring the action more vividly before us as if it were taking place now. This is called the historical present.
19. haec geruntur, 'this is going on.'
20. horribilí. Here the adjective is made emphatic by being put before its noun; in 4, 14 the same effect is gained by puttinghorribilílast in its clause.
22. omnibus, dative of indirect object after the compound verb(in+iació). Translate 'inspired in all,' but the literal meaning is 'threw into all.'
26. induit. See the note on 3, 13.
áera. See the note on 4, 11.
6. 2. suó, éius. Distinguish carefully between these words.Suusis used of something belonging to the subject,éiusof something belonging to some other person or thing just mentioned.
5. volat. See the note on 4, 25.
7. sustulit. Notice that the perfect forms oftollóare the same as those ofsufferó (sub + feró), 'endure.'
8. neque, here to be translated 'and … not.'Nequeis thus used regularly foret nón.
13. exanimáta, used here as a predicate adjective.
16. rettulit. 'To give thanks' or 'thank' is usuallygrátiás agere, as in 3, 19;grátiam referremeans 'to show one's gratitude,' 'to recompense' or 'requite.'
18. dúxit. This word came to mean 'marry,' because the bridegroom 'led' his bride in a wedding procession to his own home. It will be seen, therefore, that it can be used only of the man.
Paucós annós. See the note on 3, 20.
20. omnís. What does the quantity of theitell you about the form?
7. 1. quod, not the relative pronoun, but a conjunction.
3. eó, the adverb.
in átrium. Although inrúpit means 'burstinto,' the preposition is nevertheless required with the noun to express the place into which he burst.
6. ille. See the note onPerseus, 4, 4.
8. Acrisí. In Nepos, Caesar, Cicero, and Vergil, the genitive singular of second-declension nouns in-iusand-iumends iní, notií; but the nominative plural ends inií, and the dative and ablative plural iniís.
10. istud. Remember thatisteis commonly used of something connected with the person addressed. Here the meaning may be 'that oracle I told you of.' See 3, 4.
12. Lárísam. See the note on 3, 12.
neque enim, 'for … not,' as if simplynón enim, but Latin usesnequeto connect the clauses.
14. in omnís partís, 'in all directions' or 'in every direction.'
15. Multí. See the note onomnium, 5, 6.
17. discórum. The discus was a round, flat piece of stone or metal, and the athletes tried to see who could throw it farthest.
18. cású. This is one of the ablatives of manner that do not takecum.
19. stábat. Notice the tense.
9. 2. omnium hominum. This means 'all men' in the sense of 'all mankind.'
3. óderat.Ódíis perfect in form, but present in meaning; and the pluperfect has in like manner the force of an imperfect. 5. mediá nocte, 'in the middle of the night,' 'in the dead of night.'
7. Nec tamen, 'not … however.' See the note onneque enim,7, 12.
8. movébant. Contrast this tense with appropinquáverant and excitátí sunt.
13. Tálí modó =hóc modó, 4, 20.
20. á pueró, 'from a boy,' 'from boyhood.'
exercébat, the imperfect of customary action, as is also cónsúmébat.
24. autem. See the note on 5, 8.
25. artí, dative of indirect object with the intransitive verb studébat.
10. 2. omnibus víribus, 'with all his might,' ablative of manner.
3. é vítá. Notice that the preposition denoting separation appears both with the noun and in the verb. Comparein átrium inrúpit, 7, 3.
4. neque quisquam, 'and not any one,'i.e. 'and no one.'Quisquamis used chiefly in negative sentences.
5. voluit, 'was willing.'
7. facit. See the note on 4, 25.
8. nómine. See the note on 5, 8.
9. vir crúdélissimus, not 'cruelest man,' but 'most cruel man.' The superlative is often thus used to denote simply a high degree of the quality.
cónsuéverat. Inceptive verbs end inscóand denote the beginning of an action or state. The perfect and pluperfect of such verbs often represent the state of things resulting from the completion of the action, and are then to be translated as present and imperfect respectively. Socónsuéscó= 'I am becoming accustomed,'cónsuéví= 'I have become accustomed' or 'am accustomed,'cónsuéveram= 'I had become accustomed' or 'was accustomed.'
11. sacrifició, 'for the sacrifice,' dative of purpose.
ea. Why is diés feminine here? See the note oncertam, 5, 13.
12. omnia. See the note on 5, 13.
15. capitibus, dative of indirect object after the compound verb(in + pónó).
16. iam. The omission of the conjunction that would naturally join this clause with the preceding, and the repetition ofiam, which thus in a way connects the two clauses, reflect the imminence of the danger and heighten our anxiety for the hero. Observe too how the tenses of the verbs contribute to the vividness of the picture. We see Hercules at the altar and the priest, knife in hand, about to give the fatal blow.
18. alteró. Supplyíctú.
19. Thébís, locative case. Notice that some names of towns are plural in form.
21. Thébánís, dative with the adjective fínitimí.
autem, 'now.'
22. Thébás. Names of towns are used without a preposition to express the place to which.
23. veniébant, postulábant, imperfect of customary action.
25. cívís suós, 'his fellow-citizens.' Compare 5, 10.
hóc stípendió, ablative of separation.
27. atque. This conjunction adds an important statement by way of supplement. Here the meaning is something like 'and not only that, but.'
11. 11. conversa.Estandsuntare frequently not expressed with the perfect participle.
17. suós ipse suá. Notice how the enormity of the crime is emphasized by the use of all these words repeating the same idea.
23. óráculum Delphicum. See the note on 5, 6.
hóc óráculum omnium =hóc omnium óráculórum.
25. Hóc in templó. Monosyllabic prepositions often stand between the noun and an adjective modifying it.
12. 1. quí. Remember that the relative pronoun agrees in gender, number, and person with its antecedent; that its case depends upon its use. How are the person and number of quí shown?
2. hominibus. See the note on 9, 2.
4. neque. See the note on 6, 8.
7. Tíryntha. This is a Greek accusative form. See the note onáera, 4, 11.
10. Duodecim annós, accusative of duration of time.
11. Eurystheó. The English verb 'serve' is transitive, butservió('be subject to') is intransitive and takes an indirect object.
14. quae. See the note on line 1. What is the case of quae?
16. Prímum is chiefly used in enumeration, prímó (line 6) in contrasting an action or state with one that follows it.
19. sécum. The prepositioncumfollows and is joined to the reflexive and personal pronouns, usually also to the relative pronoun.
22. neque enim. See the note on 7, 12.
26. respírandí, the genitive of the gerund. It modifies facultás. The gerund corresponds to the English verbal noun in-ing.
13. 5. Hóc. We might expecthaecreferring to Hydram, but a demonstrative pronoun is commonly attracted into the gender of the predicate noun (here mónstrum).
cui erant, 'which had,' literally 'to which there were.' This construction is found only withsum. It is called the dative of possession.
8. rés. In rendering this word choose always with great freedom the most suitable English word.
13. 8. mágní perículí. We say 'one of great danger.'
9. éius. What possessive would be used to modify sinistrá?
11. hóc cónátú, ablative of separation.
14. comprehendérunt. See the note on 3, 13.
unde =ex quibus.
16. auxilió Hydrae, 'to the aid of the Hydra,' but literally for aid (i.e. as aid) to the Hydra,' for Hydrae is dative. This is called the double dative construction, auxilió the dative of purpose, and Hydrae the dative of reference, i.e. the dative denoting the person interested.
17. abscídit. See the note on 4, 25.
mordébat, 'kept biting,' the imperfect of repeated action.
18. tálí modó. See the note on 9, 13.
interfécit. We have now had several verbs meaning 'kill.'Interficióis the most general of these;necó(line 4) is used of killing by unusual or cruel means, as by poison;occídó(12, 23) is most commonly used of the 'cutting down' of an enemy in battle.
19. reddidit, as well as imbuit, has sagittás for its object, but we must translate as if we hadeáswith reddidit.
22. ad sé. Compare this construction with the use of the dative in 4, 2. Notice that sé does not refer to Herculem, the subject of referre, but to Eurystheus, the subject of Iussit. When the reflexive thus refers to the subject of the principal verb rather than to the subject of the subordinate verb with which it s directly connected, it is called indirect.
23. tantae audáciae. The genitive of description, like the ablative of description, consists always of a noun with some modifying word. Comparespecié horribilí, 4, 14.
autem. Compare 5, 8 and 10, 21.
24. incrédibilí celeritáte, ablative of description.
25. vestígiís, ablative of means.
26. ipsum, contrasts cervum with vestígiís.
27. omnibus víribus. See the note on 10, 2.
14. 1. currébat, 'he kept running.'
sibi, dative of reference. It need not be translated,
ad quiétem, 'for rest.' Purpose is frequently thus expressed byad.
3. cucurrerat. The pluperfect is sometimes used with postquam when the lapse of time is denoted.
4. cursú, ablative of cause.
exanimátum =quí exanimátus erat. The participle is often equivalent to a relative clause.
5. rettulit. See the note on 13, 19.
8. rem. See the note onrés, 13, 8.
10. apró, dative of indirect object after the compound verb (ob + curró).
11. tímóre perterritus. It is not necessary to translate both words.
13. iniécit, i.e. upon the boar.
summá cum difficultáte. Compare this withomnibus víribus, 13, 27, and notice thatcummay be omitted with the ablative of manner when there is an adjective. For the position of cum, see the note on 11, 25.
15. ad Eurystheum. We are told elsewhere that Eurystheus was so frightened when he saw the boar that he hid in a cask.
vívus. Why have we the nominative here, but the accusative (vívum) in line 5?
17. quartó. The capture of the Erymanthian boar is usually given as the third labor and the capture of the Cerynean stag as the fourth.
nárrávimus. The writer sometimes uses the first person plural in speaking of himself, instead of the first person singular. This is called the plural of modesty, and is the same as the English usage.
18. in Arcadiam. How does this differ in meaning fromin Arcadiá?
20. appeteret. The subjunctive introduced by cum, 'since,' may express the reason for the action of the main verb.
23. Herculés. See the note onPerseus, 4, 4.
26. quod, conjunction, not pronoun.
reliquós centaurós, 'the rest of the centaurs,' 'the other centaurs.' Comparemediá nocte, 9, 5. Notice thatreliquímeans about the same ascéterí, and see the note on 4, 13.
28. inquit, historical present. This verb is used parenthetically with direct quotations.
15. 1. dabó. Notice that Latin is more exact than English in the use of the future tense in subordinate clauses. In English we often use the present in the subordinate clause and leave it to the principal verb to show that the time is future.
7. pervénérunt. See the note on 4, 26.
10. cónstitit, fromcónsistó, notcónstó.
16. fugá. Latin says 'by flight,' not 'in flight.'
17. ex spéluncá. See the note on 10, 3.
21. locum, the direct object of Adiit, which is here transitive. We might also havead locumwithadeóused intransitively.
16. 4. Herculí. See the note on 10, 15.
labórem. This labor is usually given as the sixth, the destruction of the Stymphalian birds as the fifth.
6. tria mília boum, 'three thousand cattle,' literally 'three thousands of cattle.' The partitive genitive is the regular construction with the pluralmília, but the singularmílleis commonly used as an adjective, like English 'thousand.' Thus 'one thousand cattle' would bemílle bovés.
7. ingentís mágnitúdinis. See the note ontantae audáciae, 13, 23.
8. neque enim umquam, 'for … never.' See the note onneque enim, 7, 12.
11. multae operae. See the note onmágní perículí, 13, 8.
12. duodévígintí pedum, i.e. in width.
dúxit. This word is used with reference to the progress of work on a wall or ditch from one end of it to the other.
15. opus. Compare this word with operae and labóre, line 12.Laboris used of heavy or exhausting labor,operaof voluntary exertion or effort,opusof that upon which one labors or of the completed work.
17. imperáverat. This verb takes an indirect object to express the person ordered (eí). The action commanded is expressed by the subjunctive in a clause introduced byutand used as the object ofimperó(ut necáret). Notice that this may be translated 'that he should kill' or 'to kill.' Compare now the construction withiubeó, 13, 22, with which the command is expressed by the accusative and infinitive (Herculem referre).
19. carne.Véscoris an intransitive verb and governs the ablative.
22. appropinquandí. See the note on 12, 26.
23. cónstitit, fromcónstó. Compare 15, 10.
pedibus, 'on foot,' literally 'by his feet.'
25. consúmpsisset. The imperfect and pluperfect tenses of the subjunctive are used with cum, 'when,' to describe the circumstances of the action of the main verb. Compare 14, 20, and the note.
26. hóc cónátú. See the note on 13, 11.
27. peteret. The subjunctive is used with ut to express purpose. The best translation is usually the infinitive ('to ask'), but the Latin infinitive is not used in model prose to express purpose.
17. 3. ávolárent. This is not subjunctive of purpose, but of result, as is indicated by tam.
6. ex. Compare this withab, 16, 21, anddé, 16, 13. We commonly translate all of these 'from,' but the real meanings are 'out of,' 'away from,' and 'down from' respectively.
Crétá. See the note on 3, 12.
7. esset. See the note on 14, 20.
8. ínsulae, dative with the compound verb (ad+propinquó).
appropinquáret. See the note on 16, 25.
9. tanta … ut. Notice how frequently the clause of result is connected with a demonstrative word in the main clause.
12. návigandí imperítus, 'ignorant of navigation,' 'inexperienced in sailing.' See the note on 12, 26.
21. cum, the conjunction.
ingentí labóre. See the note onsummá cum difficultáte, 14, 13.
25. ut redúceret. See the note on 16, 27.
26. carne. See the note on 16, 19.
véscébantur, imperfect of customary action.
18. 3. ut tráderentur. Notice thatpostuló, likeimperó, takes an object-clause introduced byutand having its verb in the subjunctive.
sibi, the indirect reflexive. See the note on 13, 22.
4. írá … interfécit, 'became furiously angry and killed the king,' literally 'moved by wrath killed the king.' The participle is frequently best rendered by a finite verb.
18. 4. cadáver. The subject of an infinitive stands in the accusative case. We might translate here 'and gave orders that his body should be thrown.' See the note on 16, 17.
6. míra rérum commútátió. When a noun has both an adjective and a genitive modifier, this order of the words is common.
7. cum cruciátú, ablative of manner.
necáverat. See the note oninterfécit, 13, 18.
10. referébant. See the note on 6, 16.
modo. This is the adverb, not a case ofmodus, the dative and ablative singular of which would bemodó. Make a practice of carefully observing the quantity of vowels.
11. órábant. Notice that this verb, likeimperóandpostuló, takesutand the subjunctive.
14. ad návigandum. See the note onad quiétem, 14, 1.
16. post, here an adverb of time.
18. dícitur. Notice that the Latin construction is personal ('the nation is said to have consisted'), while English commonly has the impersonal construction ('it is said that the nation consisted').
19. reí mílitáris, 'the art of war.'
25. mandávit. See the note on 16, 17.
26. Amázonibus, dative after the compound verb.
19. 1. persuásit. Notice that this verb governs the same construction that we have already found used withimperóandmandó.
2. sécum. See the note on 12, 19.
5. appulit. Supplynávem.
6. docéret. A clause of purpose is frequently introduced by a relative. Translate like theut-clause of purpose, here 'to make known,' literally 'who was to make known.'
14. mágnó interválló, ablative of degree of difference.
16. nón mágna. The effect of the position of these words may be reproduced by translating 'but not a large one.'
neutrí. The plural is used because the reference is to two parties, each composed of several individuals. 'Neither' of two individuals would beneuter.
17. volébant, dedit. Consider the tenses. Each army waited for some time for the other to cross; finally Hercules gave the signal.
22. occíderint. The perfect subjunctive is sometimes used in result clauses after a past tense in the principal clause. This is contrary to the general principle of the sequence of tenses, which requires the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive after a past tense, the present or perfect subjunctive after a present or future tense.
23. Virí. Compare this withhominibus, 12, 2.
24. praestábant. Compare the tense with praestitérunt, line 21.
27. neu. Asnequeornecis used for 'and not,' sonéveorneufor 'and that not' in an object-clause or a clause of purpose.
20. 1. quibus, 'and by these,' The relative is much used in Latin to connect a new sentence with the one preceding. When so used, it is generally best rendered by 'and' or 'but' and a demonstrative or personal pronoun.
ita … ut. See the note on 17, 9.
2. essent, most easily explained as the subjunctive of attraction. By this is meant that the verb is attracted into the mood of the clause upon which it depends.
4. púgnátum est, 'the battle raged' or 'they fought,' literally 'it was fought,' Intransitive verbs are often thus used impersonally in the passive, with the subject implied in the verb itself, as púgnátum est =púgna púgnáta est.
11. aestátis, partitive genitive. Notice that multum is used as a noun.
13. nactus. The perfect active participle is wanting in Latin, but the perfect participle of deponent verbs is active in meaning.
24. specié horribilí. See the note on 4, 14.
26. timóre perterrití. See the note on 14, 11.
continébantur, 'kept themselves shut up.' This is the so-called reflexive use of the passive, in which the subject is represented as acting upon itself.
pecora. This word is used of herds of cattle, pecudés (line 25) of single animals, especially sheep.
28. commótus cónsuluit. See the note on 18, 4.
21. 3. líberáret. See the note on 16, 27.
óráculó. Notice that párére is intransitive and has the dative of indirect object, while 'obey' is transitive. It may help to understand the Latin construction if you translate such verbs aspáreóby intransitives, here 'to submit to.'
4. sacrifició. See the note on 10, 11.
5. ipsó temporis punctó quó, 'at the very moment when.'
8. égressus. See the note on 20, 13.
dé rébus … factus est, 'was informed of the state of things,' literally 'was made more certain about the things which were being done.' In what gender, number, person, and case is quae? Give a reason for each.
11. posset. The subjunctive is used because the words of the king are quoted indirectly. He saidsí potes, 'if you can.'
19. Ipse. Notice the use of this word in contrasts, frequently, as here, of a person with that which belongs to him or with his subordinates.
20. inter sé, 'to one another.'
22. esset, subjunctive in an indirect question. The direct form would beQuantum perículum est? ('How great is the danger?'). multás terrás, just as we say 'many lands,'
23. Európae. CompareThébánís, 10, 21.
24. in utróque lítore, 'on each shore,' 'on both shores.'
25. columnás. The ancients believed that the Rock of Gibraltar was the pillar set up by Hercules on the European side.