Chapter 7

Peliaco quondam prognatae vertice pinusDicuntur liquidas Neptuni nasse per undasPhasidos ad fluctus et fines Aeetaeos,Cum lecti iuvenes, Argivae robora pubis,5Auratam optantes Colchis avertere pellemAusi sunt vada salsa cita decurrere puppi,Caerula verrentes abiegnis aequora palmis.Diva quibus retinens in summis urbibus arcesIpsa levi fecit volitantem flamine currum,10Pinea coniungens inflexae texta carinae.Illa rudem cursu prima imbuit Amphitriten.Quae simulac rostro ventosum proscidit aequor,Tortaque remigio spumis incanduit unda,Emersere freti canenti e gurgite vultus15Aequoreae monstrum Nereides admirantes.Atque illic alma viderunt luce marinasMortales oculi nudato corpore NymphasNutricum tenus extantes e gurgite cano.Tum Thetidis Peleus incensus fertur amore,20Tum Thetis humanos non despexit hymenaeos,Tum Thetidi pater ipse iugandum Pelea sanxit.O nimis optato saeclorum tempore natiHeroes, salvete, deum genus, o bona matrumProgenies, salvete iterumplacidique favete.Vos ego saepe meo, vos carmine conpellabo,25Teque adeo eximie taedis felicibus aucteThessaliae columen Peleu, cui Iuppiter ipse,Ipse suos divom genitor concessit amores.Tene Thetis tenuit pulcherrima Nereine?Tene suam Tethys concessit ducere neptem,30Oceanusque, mari totum qui amplectitur orbem?Quoi simul optatae finito tempore lucesAdvenere, domum conventu tota frequentatThessalia, oppletur laetanti regia coetu:Dona ferunt prae se, declarant gaudia voltu.35Deseritur Cieros, linquunt Phthiotica tempe,Crannonisque domos ac moenia Larisaea,Pharsalum coeunt, Pharsalia tecta frequentant.Rura colit nemo, mollescunt colla iuvencis,Non humilis curvis purgatur vinea rastris,41Non falx attenuat frondatorum arboris umbram,40Non glaebam prono convellit vomere taurus,Squalida desertis rubigo infertur aratris.Ipsius at sedes, quacumque opulenta recessitRegia, fulgenti splendent auro atque argento.45Candet ebur soliis, collucent pocula mensae,Tota domus gaudet regali splendida gaza.Pulvinar vero divae geniale locaturSedibus in mediis, Indo quod dente politumTincta tegit roseo conchyli purpura fuco.50Haec vestis priscis hominum variata figurisHeroum mira virtutes indicat arte.Namque fluentisono prospectans litore DiaeThesea cedentem celeri cum classe tueturIndomitos in corde gerens Ariadna furores,55Necdum etiam sese quae visit visere credit,Vt pote fallaci quae tum primum excita somnoDesertam in sola miseram se cernat arena.Inmemor at iuvenis fugiens pellit vada remis,Inrita ventosae linquens promissa procellae.60Quem procul ex alga maestis Minois ocellis,Saxea ut effigies bacchantis, prospicit, eheu,Prospicit et magnis curarum fluctuat undis,Non flavo retinens subtilem vertice mitram,Non contecta levi † velatum pectus amictu,65Non tereti strophio lactantes vincta papillas,Omnia quae toto delapsa e corpore passimIpsius ante pedes fluctus salis adludebant.Set neque tum mitrae neque tum fluitantis amictusIlla vicem curans toto ex te pectore, Theseu,70Toto animo, tota pendebat perdita mente.A misera, adsiduis quam luctibus externavitSpinosas Erycina serens in pectore curasIlla tempestate, ferox quom robore TheseusEgressus curvis e litoribus Piraei75Attigit iniusti regis Gortynia tecta.Nam perhibent olim crudeli peste coactamAndrogeoneae poenas exolvere caedisElectos iuvenes simul et decus innuptarumCecropiam solitam esse dapem dare Minotauro.80Quis angusta malis cum moenia vexarentur,Ipse suom Theseus pro caris corpus AthenisProicere optavit potius quam talia CretamFunera Cecropiae nec funera portarentur,Atque ita nave levi nitens ac lenibus auris85Magnanimum ad Minoa venit sedesque superbas.Hunc simulac cupido conspexit lumine virgoRegia, quam suavis expirans castus odoresLectulus in molli conplexu matris alebat,Quales Eurotae progignunt flumina myrtus90Aurave distinctos educit verna colores,Non prius ex illo flagrantia declinavitLumina, quam cuncto concepit corpore flammamFunditus atque imis exarsit tota medullis.Heu misere exagitans inmiti corde furores95Sancte puer, curis hominum qui gaudia misces,Quaeque regis Golgos quaeque Idalium frondosum,Qualibus incensam iactastis mente puellamFluctibus in flavo saepe hospite suspirantem!Quantos illa tulit languenti corde timores!100Quam tum saepe magis † fulgore expalluit auri!Cum saevom cupiens contra contendere monstrumAut mortem oppeteret Theseus aut praemia laudis.Non ingrata tamen frustra munuscula divisPromittens tacito succepit vota labello.105Nam velut in summo quatientem brachia TauroQuercum aut conigeram sudanti cortice pinumIndomitum turben contorquens flamine roburEruit (illa procul radicitus exturbataProna cadit, late quast impetus obvia frangens),110Sic domito saevom prostravit corpore TheseusNequiquam vanis iactantem cornua ventis.Inde pedem sospes multa cum laude reflexitErrabunda regens tenui vestigia filo,Ne labyrintheis e flexibus egredientem115Tecti frustraretur inobservabilis error.Sed quid ego a primo digressus carmine pluraConmemorem, ut linquens genitoris filia voltum,Vt consanguineae conplexum, ut denique matris,Quae misera in gnata deperdita laetabatur,120Omnibus his Thesei dulcem praeoptarit amorem,Aut ut vecta rati spumosa ad litora DiaeVenerit, aut ut eam devinctam lumina somnoLiquerit inmemori discedens pectore coniunx?Saepe illam perhibent ardenti corde furentem125Clarisonas imo fudisse e pectore voces,Ac tum praeruptos tristem conscendere montes,Vnde aciem in pelagi vastos protenderet aestus,Tum tremuli salis adversas procurrere in undasMollia nudatae tollentem tegmina surae,130Atque haec extremis maestam dixisse querellis,Frigidulos udo singultus ore cientem.'Sicine me patriis avectam, perfide, ab oris,Perfide, deserto liquisti in litore, Theseu?Sicine discedens neglecto numine divom135Inmemor a, devota domum periuria portas?Nullane res potuit crudelis flectere mentisConsilium? tibi nulla fuit clementia praesto,Inmite ut nostri vellet miserescere pectus?At non haec quondam nobis promissa dedisti,140Vane: mihi non haec miserae sperare iubebas,Sed conubia laeta, sed optatos hymenaeos:Quae cuncta aerii discerpunt irrita venti.Iam iam nulla viro iuranti femina credat,Nulla viri speret sermones esse fideles;145Quis dum aliquid cupiens animus praegestit apisci,Nil metuunt iurare, nihil promittere parcunt:Sed simulac cupidae mentis satiata libidost,Dicta nihil meminere, nihil periuria curant.Certe ego te in medio versantem turbine leti150Eripui, et potius germanum amittere crevi,Quam tibi fallaci supremo in tempore dessem.Pro quo dilaceranda feris dabor alitibusquePraeda, neque iniecta tumulabor mortua terra.Quaenam te genuit sola sub rupe leaena?155Quod mare conceptum spumantibus expuit undis?Quae Syrtis, quae Scylla rapax, quae vasta Charybdis?Talia qui reddis pro dulci praemia vita.Si tibi non cordi fuerant conubia nostra,Saeva quod horrebas prisci praecepta parentis,160At tamen in vostras potuisti ducere sedes,Quae tibi iocundo famularer serva labore,Candida permulcens liquidis vestigia lymphisPurpureave tuum consternens veste cubile.Sed quid ego ignaris nequiquam conqueror auris,165Externata malo, quae nullis sensibus auctaeNec missas audire queunt nec reddere voces?Ille autem prope iam mediis versatur in undis,Nec quisquam adparet vacua mortalis in alga.Sic nimis insultans extremo tempore saeva170Fors etiam nostris invidit questibus aures.Iuppiter omnipotens, utinam ne tempore primoGnosia Cecropiae tetigissent litora puppes,Indomito nec dira ferens stipendia tauroPerfidus in Creta religasset navita funem,175Nec malus hic celans dulci crudelia formaConsilia in nostris requiesset sedibus hospes!Nam quo me referam? quali spe perdita nitar?Idomeneosne petam montes? a, gurgite latoDiscernens ponti truculentum ubi dividit aequor?180An patris auxilium sperem? quemne ipsa reliqui,Respersum iuvenem fraterna caede secuta?Coniugis an fido consoler memet amore,Quine fugit lentos incurvans gurgite remos?Praeterea nullo litus, sola insula, tecto,185Nec patet egressus pelagi cingentibus undis:Nulla fugae ratio, nulla spes: omnia muta,Omnia sunt deserta, ostentant omnia letum.Non tamen ante mihi languescent lumina morte,Nec prius a fesso secedent corpore sensus,190Quam iustam a divis exposcam prodita multam,Caelestumque fidem postrema conprecer hora.Quare facta virum multantes vindice poena,Eumenides, quibus anguino redimita capilloFrons expirantis praeportat pectoris iras,195Huc huc adventate, meas audite querellas,Quas ego vae! misera extremis proferre medullisCogor inops, ardens, amenti caeca furore.Quae quoniam verae nascuntur pectore ab imo,Vos nolite pati nostrum vanescere luctum,200Sed quali solam Theseus me mente reliquit,Tali mente, deae, funestet seque suosque.'Has postquam maesto profudit pectore voces,Supplicium saevis exposcens anxia factis,Adnuit invicto caelestum numine rector,205Quo motu tellus atque horrida contremueruntAequora concussitque micantia sidera mundus.Ipse autem caeca mentem caligine TheseusConsitus oblito dimisit pectore cuncta,Quae mandata prius constanti mente tenebat,210Dulcia nec maesto sustollens signa parentiSospitem Erechtheum se ostendit visere portum.Namque ferunt olim, castae cum moenia divaeLinquentem gnatum ventis concrederet Aegeus,Talia conplexum iuveni mandata dedisse.215'Gnate, mihi longa iocundior unice vita,217Reddite in extrema nuper mihi fine senectae,216Gnate, ego quem in dubios cogor dimittere casus,Quandoquidem fortuna mea ac tua fervida virtusEripit invito mihi te, cui languida nondum220Lumina sunt gnati cara saturata figura:Non ego te gaudens laetanti pectore mittam,Nec te ferre sinam fortunae signa secundae,Sed primum multas expromam mente querellas,Canitiem terra atque infuso pulvere foedans,225Inde infecta vago suspendam lintea malo,Nostros ut luctus nostraeque incendia mentisCarbasus obscurata decet ferrugine Hibera.Quod tibi si sancti concesserit incola Itoni,Quae nostrum genus ac sedes defendere Erechthei230Adnuit, ut tauri respergas sanguine dextram,Tum vero facito ut memori tibi condita cordeHaec vigeant mandata, nec ulla oblitteret aetas,Vt simulac nostros invisent lumina colles,Funestam antennae deponant undique vestem,235Candidaque intorti sustollant vela rudentes,235bLucida qua splendent summi carchesia mali,Quam primum cernens ut laeta gaudia menteAgnoscam, cum te reducem aetas prospera sistet.'Haec mandata prius constanti mente tenentemThesea ceu pulsae ventorum flamine nubes240Aerium nivei montis liquere cacumen.At pater, ut summa prospectum ex arce petebat,Anxia in adsiduos absumens lumina fletus,Cum primum infecti conspexit lintea veli,Praecipitem sese scopulorum e vertice iecit,245Amissum credens inmiti Thesea fato.Sic funesta domus ingressus tecta paternaMorte ferox Theseus qualem Minoidi luctumObtulerat mente inmemori talem ipse recepit.Quae tamen aspectans cedentem maesta carinam250Multiplices animo volvebat saucia curas.At parte ex alia florens volitabat IacchusCum thiaso Satyrorum et Nysigenis Silenis,Te quaerens, Ariadna, tuoque incensus amore.* * * *Quae tum alacres passim lymphata mente furebant255Euhoe bacchantes, euhoe capita inflectentes.Harum pars tecta quatiebant cuspide thyrsos,Pars e divolso iactabant membra iuvenco,Pars sese tortis serpentibus incingebant,Pars obscura cavis celebrabant orgia cistis,260Orgia, quae frustra cupiunt audire profani,Plangebant aliae proceris tympana palmisAut tereti tenues tinnitus aere ciebant,Multis raucisonos efflabant cornua bombosBarbaraque horribili stridebat tibia cantu.265Talibus amplifice vestis decorata figurisPulvinar conplexa suo velabat amictu.Quae postquam cupide spectando Thessala pubesExpletast, sanctis coepit decedere divis.Hic, qualis flatu placidum mare matutino270Horrificans Zephyrus proclivas incitat undasAurora exoriente vagi sub limina Solis,Quae tarde primum clementi flamine pulsaeProcedunt (leni resonant plangore cachinni),Post vento crescente magis magis increbescunt275Purpureaque procul nantes a luce refulgent,Sic ibi vestibuli linquentes regia tectaAd se quisque vago passim pede discedebant.Quorum post abitum princeps e vertice PeleiAdvenit Chiron portans silvestria dona:280Nam quoscumque ferunt campi, quos Thessala magnisMontibus ora creat, quos propter fluminis undasAura parit flores tepidi fecunda Favoni,Hos indistinctis plexos tulit ipse corollis,Quo permulsa domus iocundo risit odore.285Confestim Penios adest, viridantia Tempe,Tempe, quae silvae cingunt super inpendentes,† Minosim linquens crebris celebranda choreis,Non vacuos: namque ille tulit radicitus altasFagos ac recto proceras stipite laurus,290Non sine nutanti platano lentaque sororeFlammati Phaethontis et aeria cupressu.Haec circum sedes late contexta locavit,Vestibulum ut molli velatum fronde vireret.Post hunc consequitur sollerti corde Prometheus,295Extenuata gerens veteris vestigia poenae,Quam quondam scythicis restrictus membra catenaPersolvit pendens e verticibus praeruptis.Inde pater divom sancta cum coniuge natisqueAdvenit caelo, te solum, Phoebe, relinquens300Vnigenamque simul cultricem montibus Idri:Pelea nam tecum pariter soror aspernatastNec Thetidis taedas voluit celebrare iugalis,Qui postquam niveis flexerunt sedibus artus,Large multiplici constructae sunt dape mensae,305Cum interea infirmo quatientes corpora motuVeridicos Parcae coeperunt edere cantus.His corpus tremulum conplectens undique vestisCandida purpurea talos incinxerat ora,Annoso niveae residebant vertice vittae,310Aeternumque manus carpebant rite laborem.Laeva colum molli lana retinebat amictum,Dextera tum leviter deducens fila supinisFormabat digitis, tum prono in pollice torquensLibratum tereti versabat turbine fusum,315Atque ita decerpens aequabat semper opus dens,Laneaque aridulis haerebant morsa labellis,Quae prius in levi fuerant extantia filo:Ante pedes autem candentis mollia lanaeVellera virgati custodibant calathisci.320Haec tum clarisona pectentes vellera voceTalia divino fuderunt carmine fata,Carmine, perfidiae quod post nulla arguet aetas.O decus eximium magnis virtutibus augens,Emathiae tutamen opis, clarissime nato,325Accipe, quod laeta tibi pandunt luce sorores,Veridicum oraclum. sed vos, quae fata sequuntur,Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Adveniet tibi iam portans optata maritisHesperus, adveniet fausto cum sidere coniunx,330Quae tibi flexanimo mentem perfundat amoreLanguidulosque paret tecum coniungere somnos,Levia substernens robusto brachia collo.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Nulla domus tales umquam conexit amores,335Nullus amor tali coniunxit foedere amantes,Qualis adest Thetidi, qualis concordia Peleo.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Nascetur vobis expers terroris Achilles,Hostibus haud tergo, sed forti pectore notus,340Quae persaepe vago victor certamine cursusFlammea praevertet celeris vestigia cervae.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Non illi quisquam bello se conferet heros,Cum Phrygii Teucro manabunt sanguine † tenen,345Troicaque obsidens longinquo moenia belloPeriuri Pelopis vastabit tertius heres.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Illius egregias virtutes claraque factaSaepe fatebuntur gnatorum in funere matres,350Cum in cinerem canos solvent a vertice crinesPutridaque infirmis variabunt pectora palmis.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Namque velut densas praecerpens cultor aristasSole sub ardenti flaventia demetit arva,355Troiugenum infesto prosternet corpora ferro.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Testis erit magnis virtutibus unda Scamandri,Quae passim rapido diffunditur Hellesponto,Cuius iter caesis angustans corporum acervis360Alta tepefaciet permixta flumina caede.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Denique testis erit morti quoque reddita praeda,Cum terrae ex celso coacervatum aggere bustumExcipiet niveos percussae virginis artus.365Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Nam simul ac fessis dederit fors copiam AchivisVrbis Dardaniae Neptunia solvere vincla,Alta Polyxenia madefient caede sepulcra,Quae, velut ancipiti succumbens victima ferro,370Proiciet truncum submisso poplite corpus.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Quare agite optatos animi coniungite amores.Accipiat coniunx felici foedere divam,Dedatur cupido iandudum nupta marito.375Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Non illam nutrix orienti luce revisensHesterno collum poterit circumdare filo,[Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi]Anxia nec mater discordis maesta puellae380Secubitu caros mittet sperare nepotes.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.Talia praefantes quondam felicia PeleiCarmina divino cecinerunt pectore Parcae.Praesentes namque ante domos invisere castas385Heroum et sese mortali ostendere coetuCaelicolae nondum spreta pietate solebant.Saepe pater divom templo in fulgente residens,Annua cum festis venissent sacra diebus,Conspexit terra centum procumbere tauros.390Saepe vagus Liber Parnasi vertice summoThyiadas effusis euhantes crinibus egit.* * * *Cum Delphi tota certatim ex urbe ruentesAcciperent laeti divom fumantibus aris.Saepe in letifero belli certamine Mavors395Aut rapidi Tritonis era aut Rhamnusia virgoArmatas hominumst praesens hortata catervas.Sed postquam tellus scelerest imbuta nefando,Iustitiamque omnes cupida de mente fugarunt,Perfudere manus fraterno sanguine fratres,400Destitit extinctos natus lugere parentes,Optavit genitor primaevi funera nati,Liber ut innuptae poteretur flore novercae,Ignaro mater substernens se inpia natoInpia non veritast divos scelerare penates:405Omnia fanda nefanda malo permixta furoreIustificam nobis mentem avertere deorum.Quare nec tales dignantur visere coetus,Nec se contingi patiuntur lumine claro.

Peliaco quondam prognatae vertice pinus

Dicuntur liquidas Neptuni nasse per undas

Phasidos ad fluctus et fines Aeetaeos,

Cum lecti iuvenes, Argivae robora pubis,

Auratam optantes Colchis avertere pellem

Ausi sunt vada salsa cita decurrere puppi,

Caerula verrentes abiegnis aequora palmis.

Diva quibus retinens in summis urbibus arces

Ipsa levi fecit volitantem flamine currum,

Pinea coniungens inflexae texta carinae.

Illa rudem cursu prima imbuit Amphitriten.

Quae simulac rostro ventosum proscidit aequor,

Tortaque remigio spumis incanduit unda,

Emersere freti canenti e gurgite vultus

Aequoreae monstrum Nereides admirantes.

Atque illic alma viderunt luce marinas

Mortales oculi nudato corpore Nymphas

Nutricum tenus extantes e gurgite cano.

Tum Thetidis Peleus incensus fertur amore,

Tum Thetis humanos non despexit hymenaeos,

Tum Thetidi pater ipse iugandum Pelea sanxit.

O nimis optato saeclorum tempore nati

Heroes, salvete, deum genus, o bona matrum

Progenies, salvete iterumplacidique favete.

Vos ego saepe meo, vos carmine conpellabo,

Teque adeo eximie taedis felicibus aucte

Thessaliae columen Peleu, cui Iuppiter ipse,

Ipse suos divom genitor concessit amores.

Tene Thetis tenuit pulcherrima Nereine?

Tene suam Tethys concessit ducere neptem,

Oceanusque, mari totum qui amplectitur orbem?

Quoi simul optatae finito tempore luces

Advenere, domum conventu tota frequentat

Thessalia, oppletur laetanti regia coetu:

Dona ferunt prae se, declarant gaudia voltu.

Deseritur Cieros, linquunt Phthiotica tempe,

Crannonisque domos ac moenia Larisaea,

Pharsalum coeunt, Pharsalia tecta frequentant.

Rura colit nemo, mollescunt colla iuvencis,

Non humilis curvis purgatur vinea rastris,

Non falx attenuat frondatorum arboris umbram,

Non glaebam prono convellit vomere taurus,

Squalida desertis rubigo infertur aratris.

Ipsius at sedes, quacumque opulenta recessit

Regia, fulgenti splendent auro atque argento.

Candet ebur soliis, collucent pocula mensae,

Tota domus gaudet regali splendida gaza.

Pulvinar vero divae geniale locatur

Sedibus in mediis, Indo quod dente politum

Tincta tegit roseo conchyli purpura fuco.

Haec vestis priscis hominum variata figuris

Heroum mira virtutes indicat arte.

Namque fluentisono prospectans litore Diae

Thesea cedentem celeri cum classe tuetur

Indomitos in corde gerens Ariadna furores,

Necdum etiam sese quae visit visere credit,

Vt pote fallaci quae tum primum excita somno

Desertam in sola miseram se cernat arena.

Inmemor at iuvenis fugiens pellit vada remis,

Inrita ventosae linquens promissa procellae.

Quem procul ex alga maestis Minois ocellis,

Saxea ut effigies bacchantis, prospicit, eheu,

Prospicit et magnis curarum fluctuat undis,

Non flavo retinens subtilem vertice mitram,

Non contecta levi † velatum pectus amictu,

Non tereti strophio lactantes vincta papillas,

Omnia quae toto delapsa e corpore passim

Ipsius ante pedes fluctus salis adludebant.

Set neque tum mitrae neque tum fluitantis amictus

Illa vicem curans toto ex te pectore, Theseu,

Toto animo, tota pendebat perdita mente.

A misera, adsiduis quam luctibus externavit

Spinosas Erycina serens in pectore curas

Illa tempestate, ferox quom robore Theseus

Egressus curvis e litoribus Piraei

Attigit iniusti regis Gortynia tecta.

Nam perhibent olim crudeli peste coactam

Androgeoneae poenas exolvere caedis

Electos iuvenes simul et decus innuptarum

Cecropiam solitam esse dapem dare Minotauro.

Quis angusta malis cum moenia vexarentur,

Ipse suom Theseus pro caris corpus Athenis

Proicere optavit potius quam talia Cretam

Funera Cecropiae nec funera portarentur,

Atque ita nave levi nitens ac lenibus auris

Magnanimum ad Minoa venit sedesque superbas.

Hunc simulac cupido conspexit lumine virgo

Regia, quam suavis expirans castus odores

Lectulus in molli conplexu matris alebat,

Quales Eurotae progignunt flumina myrtus

Aurave distinctos educit verna colores,

Non prius ex illo flagrantia declinavit

Lumina, quam cuncto concepit corpore flammam

Funditus atque imis exarsit tota medullis.

Heu misere exagitans inmiti corde furores

Sancte puer, curis hominum qui gaudia misces,

Quaeque regis Golgos quaeque Idalium frondosum,

Qualibus incensam iactastis mente puellam

Fluctibus in flavo saepe hospite suspirantem!

Quantos illa tulit languenti corde timores!

100

Quam tum saepe magis † fulgore expalluit auri!

Cum saevom cupiens contra contendere monstrum

Aut mortem oppeteret Theseus aut praemia laudis.

Non ingrata tamen frustra munuscula divis

Promittens tacito succepit vota labello.

105

Nam velut in summo quatientem brachia Tauro

Quercum aut conigeram sudanti cortice pinum

Indomitum turben contorquens flamine robur

Eruit (illa procul radicitus exturbata

Prona cadit, late quast impetus obvia frangens),

110

Sic domito saevom prostravit corpore Theseus

Nequiquam vanis iactantem cornua ventis.

Inde pedem sospes multa cum laude reflexit

Errabunda regens tenui vestigia filo,

Ne labyrintheis e flexibus egredientem

115

Tecti frustraretur inobservabilis error.

Sed quid ego a primo digressus carmine plura

Conmemorem, ut linquens genitoris filia voltum,

Vt consanguineae conplexum, ut denique matris,

Quae misera in gnata deperdita laetabatur,

120

Omnibus his Thesei dulcem praeoptarit amorem,

Aut ut vecta rati spumosa ad litora Diae

Venerit, aut ut eam devinctam lumina somno

Liquerit inmemori discedens pectore coniunx?

Saepe illam perhibent ardenti corde furentem

125

Clarisonas imo fudisse e pectore voces,

Ac tum praeruptos tristem conscendere montes,

Vnde aciem in pelagi vastos protenderet aestus,

Tum tremuli salis adversas procurrere in undas

Mollia nudatae tollentem tegmina surae,

130

Atque haec extremis maestam dixisse querellis,

Frigidulos udo singultus ore cientem.

'Sicine me patriis avectam, perfide, ab oris,

Perfide, deserto liquisti in litore, Theseu?

Sicine discedens neglecto numine divom

135

Inmemor a, devota domum periuria portas?

Nullane res potuit crudelis flectere mentis

Consilium? tibi nulla fuit clementia praesto,

Inmite ut nostri vellet miserescere pectus?

At non haec quondam nobis promissa dedisti,

140

Vane: mihi non haec miserae sperare iubebas,

Sed conubia laeta, sed optatos hymenaeos:

Quae cuncta aerii discerpunt irrita venti.

Iam iam nulla viro iuranti femina credat,

Nulla viri speret sermones esse fideles;

145

Quis dum aliquid cupiens animus praegestit apisci,

Nil metuunt iurare, nihil promittere parcunt:

Sed simulac cupidae mentis satiata libidost,

Dicta nihil meminere, nihil periuria curant.

Certe ego te in medio versantem turbine leti

150

Eripui, et potius germanum amittere crevi,

Quam tibi fallaci supremo in tempore dessem.

Pro quo dilaceranda feris dabor alitibusque

Praeda, neque iniecta tumulabor mortua terra.

Quaenam te genuit sola sub rupe leaena?

155

Quod mare conceptum spumantibus expuit undis?

Quae Syrtis, quae Scylla rapax, quae vasta Charybdis?

Talia qui reddis pro dulci praemia vita.

Si tibi non cordi fuerant conubia nostra,

Saeva quod horrebas prisci praecepta parentis,

160

At tamen in vostras potuisti ducere sedes,

Quae tibi iocundo famularer serva labore,

Candida permulcens liquidis vestigia lymphis

Purpureave tuum consternens veste cubile.

Sed quid ego ignaris nequiquam conqueror auris,

165

Externata malo, quae nullis sensibus auctae

Nec missas audire queunt nec reddere voces?

Ille autem prope iam mediis versatur in undis,

Nec quisquam adparet vacua mortalis in alga.

Sic nimis insultans extremo tempore saeva

170

Fors etiam nostris invidit questibus aures.

Iuppiter omnipotens, utinam ne tempore primo

Gnosia Cecropiae tetigissent litora puppes,

Indomito nec dira ferens stipendia tauro

Perfidus in Creta religasset navita funem,

175

Nec malus hic celans dulci crudelia forma

Consilia in nostris requiesset sedibus hospes!

Nam quo me referam? quali spe perdita nitar?

Idomeneosne petam montes? a, gurgite lato

Discernens ponti truculentum ubi dividit aequor?

180

An patris auxilium sperem? quemne ipsa reliqui,

Respersum iuvenem fraterna caede secuta?

Coniugis an fido consoler memet amore,

Quine fugit lentos incurvans gurgite remos?

Praeterea nullo litus, sola insula, tecto,

185

Nec patet egressus pelagi cingentibus undis:

Nulla fugae ratio, nulla spes: omnia muta,

Omnia sunt deserta, ostentant omnia letum.

Non tamen ante mihi languescent lumina morte,

Nec prius a fesso secedent corpore sensus,

190

Quam iustam a divis exposcam prodita multam,

Caelestumque fidem postrema conprecer hora.

Quare facta virum multantes vindice poena,

Eumenides, quibus anguino redimita capillo

Frons expirantis praeportat pectoris iras,

195

Huc huc adventate, meas audite querellas,

Quas ego vae! misera extremis proferre medullis

Cogor inops, ardens, amenti caeca furore.

Quae quoniam verae nascuntur pectore ab imo,

Vos nolite pati nostrum vanescere luctum,

200

Sed quali solam Theseus me mente reliquit,

Tali mente, deae, funestet seque suosque.'

Has postquam maesto profudit pectore voces,

Supplicium saevis exposcens anxia factis,

Adnuit invicto caelestum numine rector,

205

Quo motu tellus atque horrida contremuerunt

Aequora concussitque micantia sidera mundus.

Ipse autem caeca mentem caligine Theseus

Consitus oblito dimisit pectore cuncta,

Quae mandata prius constanti mente tenebat,

210

Dulcia nec maesto sustollens signa parenti

Sospitem Erechtheum se ostendit visere portum.

Namque ferunt olim, castae cum moenia divae

Linquentem gnatum ventis concrederet Aegeus,

Talia conplexum iuveni mandata dedisse.

215

'Gnate, mihi longa iocundior unice vita,

217

Reddite in extrema nuper mihi fine senectae,

216

Gnate, ego quem in dubios cogor dimittere casus,

Quandoquidem fortuna mea ac tua fervida virtus

Eripit invito mihi te, cui languida nondum

220

Lumina sunt gnati cara saturata figura:

Non ego te gaudens laetanti pectore mittam,

Nec te ferre sinam fortunae signa secundae,

Sed primum multas expromam mente querellas,

Canitiem terra atque infuso pulvere foedans,

225

Inde infecta vago suspendam lintea malo,

Nostros ut luctus nostraeque incendia mentis

Carbasus obscurata decet ferrugine Hibera.

Quod tibi si sancti concesserit incola Itoni,

Quae nostrum genus ac sedes defendere Erechthei

230

Adnuit, ut tauri respergas sanguine dextram,

Tum vero facito ut memori tibi condita corde

Haec vigeant mandata, nec ulla oblitteret aetas,

Vt simulac nostros invisent lumina colles,

Funestam antennae deponant undique vestem,

235

Candidaque intorti sustollant vela rudentes,

235b

Lucida qua splendent summi carchesia mali,

Quam primum cernens ut laeta gaudia mente

Agnoscam, cum te reducem aetas prospera sistet.'

Haec mandata prius constanti mente tenentem

Thesea ceu pulsae ventorum flamine nubes

240

Aerium nivei montis liquere cacumen.

At pater, ut summa prospectum ex arce petebat,

Anxia in adsiduos absumens lumina fletus,

Cum primum infecti conspexit lintea veli,

Praecipitem sese scopulorum e vertice iecit,

245

Amissum credens inmiti Thesea fato.

Sic funesta domus ingressus tecta paterna

Morte ferox Theseus qualem Minoidi luctum

Obtulerat mente inmemori talem ipse recepit.

Quae tamen aspectans cedentem maesta carinam

250

Multiplices animo volvebat saucia curas.

At parte ex alia florens volitabat Iacchus

Cum thiaso Satyrorum et Nysigenis Silenis,

Te quaerens, Ariadna, tuoque incensus amore.

* * * *

Quae tum alacres passim lymphata mente furebant

255

Euhoe bacchantes, euhoe capita inflectentes.

Harum pars tecta quatiebant cuspide thyrsos,

Pars e divolso iactabant membra iuvenco,

Pars sese tortis serpentibus incingebant,

Pars obscura cavis celebrabant orgia cistis,

260

Orgia, quae frustra cupiunt audire profani,

Plangebant aliae proceris tympana palmis

Aut tereti tenues tinnitus aere ciebant,

Multis raucisonos efflabant cornua bombos

Barbaraque horribili stridebat tibia cantu.

265

Talibus amplifice vestis decorata figuris

Pulvinar conplexa suo velabat amictu.

Quae postquam cupide spectando Thessala pubes

Expletast, sanctis coepit decedere divis.

Hic, qualis flatu placidum mare matutino

270

Horrificans Zephyrus proclivas incitat undas

Aurora exoriente vagi sub limina Solis,

Quae tarde primum clementi flamine pulsae

Procedunt (leni resonant plangore cachinni),

Post vento crescente magis magis increbescunt

275

Purpureaque procul nantes a luce refulgent,

Sic ibi vestibuli linquentes regia tecta

Ad se quisque vago passim pede discedebant.

Quorum post abitum princeps e vertice Pelei

Advenit Chiron portans silvestria dona:

280

Nam quoscumque ferunt campi, quos Thessala magnis

Montibus ora creat, quos propter fluminis undas

Aura parit flores tepidi fecunda Favoni,

Hos indistinctis plexos tulit ipse corollis,

Quo permulsa domus iocundo risit odore.

285

Confestim Penios adest, viridantia Tempe,

Tempe, quae silvae cingunt super inpendentes,

† Minosim linquens crebris celebranda choreis,

Non vacuos: namque ille tulit radicitus altas

Fagos ac recto proceras stipite laurus,

290

Non sine nutanti platano lentaque sorore

Flammati Phaethontis et aeria cupressu.

Haec circum sedes late contexta locavit,

Vestibulum ut molli velatum fronde vireret.

Post hunc consequitur sollerti corde Prometheus,

295

Extenuata gerens veteris vestigia poenae,

Quam quondam scythicis restrictus membra catena

Persolvit pendens e verticibus praeruptis.

Inde pater divom sancta cum coniuge natisque

Advenit caelo, te solum, Phoebe, relinquens

300

Vnigenamque simul cultricem montibus Idri:

Pelea nam tecum pariter soror aspernatast

Nec Thetidis taedas voluit celebrare iugalis,

Qui postquam niveis flexerunt sedibus artus,

Large multiplici constructae sunt dape mensae,

305

Cum interea infirmo quatientes corpora motu

Veridicos Parcae coeperunt edere cantus.

His corpus tremulum conplectens undique vestis

Candida purpurea talos incinxerat ora,

Annoso niveae residebant vertice vittae,

310

Aeternumque manus carpebant rite laborem.

Laeva colum molli lana retinebat amictum,

Dextera tum leviter deducens fila supinis

Formabat digitis, tum prono in pollice torquens

Libratum tereti versabat turbine fusum,

315

Atque ita decerpens aequabat semper opus dens,

Laneaque aridulis haerebant morsa labellis,

Quae prius in levi fuerant extantia filo:

Ante pedes autem candentis mollia lanae

Vellera virgati custodibant calathisci.

320

Haec tum clarisona pectentes vellera voce

Talia divino fuderunt carmine fata,

Carmine, perfidiae quod post nulla arguet aetas.

O decus eximium magnis virtutibus augens,Emathiae tutamen opis, clarissime nato,325Accipe, quod laeta tibi pandunt luce sorores,Veridicum oraclum. sed vos, quae fata sequuntur,Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

O decus eximium magnis virtutibus augens,

Emathiae tutamen opis, clarissime nato,

325

Accipe, quod laeta tibi pandunt luce sorores,

Veridicum oraclum. sed vos, quae fata sequuntur,

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Adveniet tibi iam portans optata maritisHesperus, adveniet fausto cum sidere coniunx,330Quae tibi flexanimo mentem perfundat amoreLanguidulosque paret tecum coniungere somnos,Levia substernens robusto brachia collo.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Adveniet tibi iam portans optata maritis

Hesperus, adveniet fausto cum sidere coniunx,

330

Quae tibi flexanimo mentem perfundat amore

Languidulosque paret tecum coniungere somnos,

Levia substernens robusto brachia collo.

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Nulla domus tales umquam conexit amores,335Nullus amor tali coniunxit foedere amantes,Qualis adest Thetidi, qualis concordia Peleo.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Nulla domus tales umquam conexit amores,

335

Nullus amor tali coniunxit foedere amantes,

Qualis adest Thetidi, qualis concordia Peleo.

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Nascetur vobis expers terroris Achilles,Hostibus haud tergo, sed forti pectore notus,340Quae persaepe vago victor certamine cursusFlammea praevertet celeris vestigia cervae.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Nascetur vobis expers terroris Achilles,

Hostibus haud tergo, sed forti pectore notus,

340

Quae persaepe vago victor certamine cursus

Flammea praevertet celeris vestigia cervae.

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Non illi quisquam bello se conferet heros,Cum Phrygii Teucro manabunt sanguine † tenen,345Troicaque obsidens longinquo moenia belloPeriuri Pelopis vastabit tertius heres.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Non illi quisquam bello se conferet heros,

Cum Phrygii Teucro manabunt sanguine † tenen,

345

Troicaque obsidens longinquo moenia bello

Periuri Pelopis vastabit tertius heres.

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Illius egregias virtutes claraque factaSaepe fatebuntur gnatorum in funere matres,350Cum in cinerem canos solvent a vertice crinesPutridaque infirmis variabunt pectora palmis.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Illius egregias virtutes claraque facta

Saepe fatebuntur gnatorum in funere matres,

350

Cum in cinerem canos solvent a vertice crines

Putridaque infirmis variabunt pectora palmis.

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Namque velut densas praecerpens cultor aristasSole sub ardenti flaventia demetit arva,355Troiugenum infesto prosternet corpora ferro.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Namque velut densas praecerpens cultor aristas

Sole sub ardenti flaventia demetit arva,

355

Troiugenum infesto prosternet corpora ferro.

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Testis erit magnis virtutibus unda Scamandri,Quae passim rapido diffunditur Hellesponto,Cuius iter caesis angustans corporum acervis360Alta tepefaciet permixta flumina caede.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Testis erit magnis virtutibus unda Scamandri,

Quae passim rapido diffunditur Hellesponto,

Cuius iter caesis angustans corporum acervis

360

Alta tepefaciet permixta flumina caede.

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Denique testis erit morti quoque reddita praeda,Cum terrae ex celso coacervatum aggere bustumExcipiet niveos percussae virginis artus.365Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Denique testis erit morti quoque reddita praeda,

Cum terrae ex celso coacervatum aggere bustum

Excipiet niveos percussae virginis artus.

365

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Nam simul ac fessis dederit fors copiam AchivisVrbis Dardaniae Neptunia solvere vincla,Alta Polyxenia madefient caede sepulcra,Quae, velut ancipiti succumbens victima ferro,370Proiciet truncum submisso poplite corpus.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Nam simul ac fessis dederit fors copiam Achivis

Vrbis Dardaniae Neptunia solvere vincla,

Alta Polyxenia madefient caede sepulcra,

Quae, velut ancipiti succumbens victima ferro,

370

Proiciet truncum submisso poplite corpus.

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Quare agite optatos animi coniungite amores.Accipiat coniunx felici foedere divam,Dedatur cupido iandudum nupta marito.375Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Quare agite optatos animi coniungite amores.

Accipiat coniunx felici foedere divam,

Dedatur cupido iandudum nupta marito.

375

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Non illam nutrix orienti luce revisensHesterno collum poterit circumdare filo,[Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi]Anxia nec mater discordis maesta puellae380Secubitu caros mittet sperare nepotes.Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Non illam nutrix orienti luce revisens

Hesterno collum poterit circumdare filo,

[Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi]

Anxia nec mater discordis maesta puellae

380

Secubitu caros mittet sperare nepotes.

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi.

Talia praefantes quondam felicia PeleiCarmina divino cecinerunt pectore Parcae.Praesentes namque ante domos invisere castas385Heroum et sese mortali ostendere coetuCaelicolae nondum spreta pietate solebant.Saepe pater divom templo in fulgente residens,Annua cum festis venissent sacra diebus,Conspexit terra centum procumbere tauros.390Saepe vagus Liber Parnasi vertice summoThyiadas effusis euhantes crinibus egit.* * * *Cum Delphi tota certatim ex urbe ruentesAcciperent laeti divom fumantibus aris.Saepe in letifero belli certamine Mavors395Aut rapidi Tritonis era aut Rhamnusia virgoArmatas hominumst praesens hortata catervas.Sed postquam tellus scelerest imbuta nefando,Iustitiamque omnes cupida de mente fugarunt,Perfudere manus fraterno sanguine fratres,400Destitit extinctos natus lugere parentes,Optavit genitor primaevi funera nati,Liber ut innuptae poteretur flore novercae,Ignaro mater substernens se inpia natoInpia non veritast divos scelerare penates:405Omnia fanda nefanda malo permixta furoreIustificam nobis mentem avertere deorum.Quare nec tales dignantur visere coetus,Nec se contingi patiuntur lumine claro.

Talia praefantes quondam felicia Pelei

Carmina divino cecinerunt pectore Parcae.

Praesentes namque ante domos invisere castas

385

Heroum et sese mortali ostendere coetu

Caelicolae nondum spreta pietate solebant.

Saepe pater divom templo in fulgente residens,

Annua cum festis venissent sacra diebus,

Conspexit terra centum procumbere tauros.

390

Saepe vagus Liber Parnasi vertice summo

Thyiadas effusis euhantes crinibus egit.

* * * *

Cum Delphi tota certatim ex urbe ruentes

Acciperent laeti divom fumantibus aris.

Saepe in letifero belli certamine Mavors

395

Aut rapidi Tritonis era aut Rhamnusia virgo

Armatas hominumst praesens hortata catervas.

Sed postquam tellus scelerest imbuta nefando,

Iustitiamque omnes cupida de mente fugarunt,

Perfudere manus fraterno sanguine fratres,

400

Destitit extinctos natus lugere parentes,

Optavit genitor primaevi funera nati,

Liber ut innuptae poteretur flore novercae,

Ignaro mater substernens se inpia nato

Inpia non veritast divos scelerare penates:

405

Omnia fanda nefanda malo permixta furore

Iustificam nobis mentem avertere deorum.

Quare nec tales dignantur visere coetus,

Nec se contingi patiuntur lumine claro.

LXIIII.

Marriage of Peleus and Thetis.

(Fragment of an Epos.)

Pine-trees gendered whilòme upon soaring Peliac summitSwam (as the tale is told) through liquid surges of NeptuneFar as the Phasis-flood and frontier-land Æëtéan;Whenas the youths elect, of Argive vigour the oak-heart,5Longing the Golden Fleece of the Colchis-region to harry,Dared in a poop swift-paced to span salt seas and their shallows,Sweeping the deep blue seas with sweeps a-carven of fir-wood.She, that governing Goddess of citadels crowning the cities,Builded herself their car fast-flitting with lightest of breezes,10Weaving plants of the pine conjoined in curve of the kelson;Foremost of all to imbue rude Amphitrité with ship-lore.Soon as her beak had burst through wind-rackt spaces of ocean,While th'oar-tortured wave with spumy whiteness was blanching,Surged from the deep abyss and hoar-capped billows the faces15Seaborn, Nereids eyeing the prodigy wonder-smitten.There too mortal orbs through softened spendours regardedOcean-nymphs who exposed bodies denuded of raimentBare to the breast upthrust from hoar froth capping the sea-depths.Then Thetis Péleus fired (men say) a-sudden with love-lowe,20Then Thetis nowise spurned to mate and marry wi' mortal,Then Thetis' Sire himself her yoke with Peleus sanctioned.Oh, in those happier days now fondly yearned-for, ye heroesBorn; (all hail!) of the Gods begotten, and excellent issueBred by your mothers, all hail! and placid deal me your favour.Oft wi' the sound of me, in strains and spells I'll invoke you;25Thee too by wedding-torch so happily, highly augmented,Peleus, Thessaly's ward, whomunto Jupiter's self deignedYield of the freest gree his loves though gotten of Godheads.Thee Thetis, fairest of maids Nereian, vouchsafed to marry?Thee did Tethys empower to woo and wed with her grandchild;30Nor less Oceanus, with water compassing th' Earth-globe?But when ended the term, and wisht-for light of the day-tideUprose, flocks to the house in concourse mighty convenèd,Thessaly all, with glad assembly the Palace fulfilling:Presents afore they bring, and joy in faces declare they.35Scyros desert abides: they quit Phthiotican Tempe,Homesteads of Crannon-town, eke bulwarkt walls of Larissa;Meeting at Pharsálus, and roof Pharsálian seeking.None will the fields now till; soft wax all necks of the oxen,Never the humble vine is purged by curve of the rake-tooth,41Never a pruner's hook thins out the shade of the tree-tufts,40Never a bull up-plows broad glebe with bend of the coulter,Over whose point unuse displays the squalor of rust-stain.But in the homestead's heart, where'er that opulent palaceHides a retreat, all shines with splendour of gold and of silver.45Ivory blanches the seats, bright gleam the flagons a-table,All of the mansion joys in royal riches and grandeur.But for the Diva's use bestrewn is the genial bedstead,Hidden in midmost stead, and its polisht framework of IndianTusk underlies its cloth empurpled by juice of the dye-shell.50This be a figured cloth with forms of manhood primevalShowing by marvel-art the gifts and graces of heroes.Here upon Dia's strand wave-resonant, ever-regardingTheseus borne from sight outside by fleet of the fleetest,Stands Ariadne with heart full-filled with furies unbated,55Nor can her sense as yet believe she 'spies the espied,When like one that awakes new roused from slumber deceptive,Sees she her hapless self lone left on loneliest sandbank:While as the mindless youth with oars disturbeth the shallows,Casts to the windy storms what vows he vainly had vowèd.60Him through the sedges afar the sad-eyed maiden of Minos,Likest a Bacchant-girl stone-carven, (O her sorrow!)'Spies, a-tossing the while on sorest billows of love-care.Now no more on her blood-hued hair fine fillets retains she,No more now light veil conceals her bosom erst hidden,65Now no more smooth zone contains her milky-hued paplets:All gear dropping adown from every part of her personThrown, lie fronting her feet to the briny wavelets a sea-toy.But at such now no more of her veil or her fillet a-floatingHad she regard: on thee, O Theseus! all of her heart-strength,70All of her sprite, her mind, forlorn, were evermore hanging.Ah, sad soul, by grief and grievance driven beside thee,Sowed Erycína first those brambly cares in thy bosom,What while issuing fierce with will enstarkenèd, TheseusForth from the bow-bent shore Piræan putting a-seawards75Reacht the Gortynian roofs where dwelt th' injurious Monarch.For 'twas told of yore how forced by pestilence cruel,Eke as a blood rite due for th' Androgéonian murthur,Many a chosen youth and the bloom of damsels unmarriedFood for the Minotaur, Cecropia was wont to befurnish.80Seeing his narrow walls in such wise vexed with evils,Theseus of freest will for dear-loved Athens his bodyOffered a victim so that no more to Crete be deportedLives by Cecropia doomed to burials burying nowise;Then with a swifty ship and soft breathed breezes a-stirring,85Sought he Minos the Haughty where homed in proudest of Mansions.Him as with yearning glance forthright espièd the royalMaiden, whom pure chaste couch aspiring delicate odoursCherisht, in soft embrace of a mother comforted all-whiles,(E'en as the myrtles begot by the flowing floods of Eurotas,90Or as the tincts distinct brought forth by breath of the springtide)Never the burning lights of her eyes from gazing upon himTurned she, before fierce flame in all her body conceived sheDown in its deepest depths and burning amiddle her marrow.Ah, with unmitigate heart exciting wretchedmost furies,95Thou, Boy sacrosanct! man's grief and gladness commingling,Thou too of Golgos Queen and Lady of leafy Idalium,Whelm'd ye in what manner waves that maiden phantasy-firèd,All for a blond-haired youth suspiring many a singulf!Whiles how dire was the dread she dreed in languishing heart-strings;100How yet more, ever more, with golden splendour she palèd!Whenas yearning to mate his might wi' the furious monsterTheseus braved his death or sought the prizes of praises.Then of her gifts to gods not ingrate, nor profiting naught,Promise with silent lip, addressed she timidly vowing.105For as an oak that shakes on topmost summit of TaurusIts boughs, or cone-growing pine from bole bark resin exuding,Whirlwind of passing might that twists the stems with its storm-blasts,Uproots, deracinates, forthright its trunk to the farthest,Prone falls, shattering wide what lies in line of its downfall,—110Thus was that wildling flung by Theseus and vanquisht of body,Vainly tossing its horns and goring the wind to no purpose.Thence with abounding praise returned he, guiding his footsteps,Whiles did a fine drawn thread check steps in wander abounding,Lest when issuing forth of the winding maze labyrinthine115Baffled become his track by inobservable error.But for what cause should I, from early subject digressing,Tell of the daughter who the face of her sire unseeing,Eke her sister's embrace nor less her mother's endearments,Who in despair bewept her hapless child that so gladly120Chose before every and each the lively wooing of Theseus?Or how borne by the ship to the yeasting shore-line of DiaCame she? or how when bound her eyes in bondage of slumberLeft her that chosen mate with mind unmindful departing?Often (they tell) with heart inflamed by fiery fury125Poured she shrilling of shrieks from deepest depths of her bosom;Now she would sadly scale the broken faces of mountains,Whence she might overglance the boundless boiling of billows,Then she would rush to bestem the salt-plain's quivering waveletAnd from her ankles bare the dainty garment uplifting,130Spake she these words ('tis said) from sorrow's deepest abysses,Whiles from her tear-drencht face outburst cold shivering singulfs."Thus fro' my patrial shore, O traitor, hurried to exile,Me on a lonely strand hast left, perfidious Theseus?Thus wise farest, despite the godhead of Deities spurned,135(Reckless, alas!) to thy home convoying perjury-curses?Naught, then, ever availed that mind of cruelest counselAlter? No saving grace in thee was evermore ready,That to have pity on me vouchsafed thy pitiless bosom?Natheless not in past time such were the promises wordy140Lavishèd; nor such hopes to me the hapless were bidden;But the glad married joys, the longed-for pleasures of wedlock.All now empty and vain, by breath of the breezes bescattered!Now, let woman no more trust her to man when he sweareth,Ne'er let her hope to find or truth or faith in his pleadings,145Who whenas lustful thought forelooks to somewhat attaining,Never an oath they fear, shall spare no promise to promise.Yet no sooner they sate all lewdness and lecherous fancy,Nothing remember of words and reck they naught of fore-swearing.Certès, thee did I snatch from midmost whirlpool of ruin150Deadly, and held it cheap loss of a brother to sufferRather than fail thy need (O false!) at hour the supremest.Therefor my limbs are doomed to be torn of birds, and of feralsPrey, nor shall upheapt Earth afford a grave to my body.Say me, what lioness bare thee 'neath lone rock of the desert?155What sea spued thee conceived from out the spume of his surges!What manner Syrt, what ravening Scylla, what vasty Charybdis?Thou who for sweet life saved such meeds art lief of returning!If never willed thy breast with me to mate thee in marriage,Hating the savage law decreed by primitive parent,160Still of your competence 'twas within your household to home me,Where I might serve as slave in gladsome service familiar,Laving thy snow-white feet in clearest chrystalline watersOr with its purpling gear thy couch in company strewing.Yet for what cause should I 'plain in vain to the winds that unknow me,165(I so beside me with grief!) which ne'er of senses enduèdHear not the words sent forth nor aught avail they to answer?Now be his course well-nigh engaged in midway of ocean,Nor any mortal shape appears in barrens of seawrack.Thus at the latest hour with insults over-sufficient170E'en to my plaints fere Fate begrudges ears that would hear me.Jupiter! Lord of All-might, Oh would in days that are bygoneNe'er had Cecropian poops toucht ground at Gnossian foreshore,Nor to th' unconquered Bull that tribute direful conveyingHad the false Seaman bound to Cretan island his hawser,175Nor had yon evil wight, 'neath shape the softest hard purposeHiding, enjoyed repose within our mansion beguested!Whither can wend I now? What hope lends help to the lost one?Idomenéan mounts shall I scale? Ah, parted by whirlpoolsWidest, yon truculent main where yields it power of passage?180Aid of my sire can I crave? Whom I willing abandoned,Treading in tracks of a youth bewrayed with blood of a brother!Can I console my soul wi' the helpful love of a helpmateWho flies me with pliant oars, flies overbounding the sea-depths?Nay, an this Coast I quit, this lone isle lends me no roof-tree,185Nor aught issue allows begirt by billows of Ocean:Nowhere is path for flight: none hope shows: all things are silent:All be a desolate waste: all makes display of destruction.Yet never close these eyne in latest languor of dying,Ne'er from my wearied frame go forth slow-ebbing my senses,190Ere from the Gods just doom implore I, treason-betrayed,And with my breath supreme firm faith of Celestials invoke I.Therefore, O ye who 'venge man's deed with penalties direful,Eumenides! aye wont to bind with viperous hair-locksForeheads,—Oh, deign outspeak fierce wrath from bosom outbreathing,195Hither, Oh hither, speed, and lend ye all ear to my grievance,Which now sad I (alas!) outpour from innermost vitalsMaugre my will, sans help, blind, fired with furious madness.And, as indeed all spring from veriest core of my bosom,Suffer ye not the cause of grief and woe to evanish;200But wi' the Will wherewith could Theseus leave me in loneness,Goddesses! bid that Will lead him, lead his, to destruction."E'en as she thus poured forth these words from anguish of bosom,And for this cruel deed, distracted, sued she for vengeance,Nodded the Ruler of Gods Celestial, matchless of All-might,205When at the gest earth-plain and horrid spaces of oceanTrembled, and every sphere rockt stars and planets resplendent.Meanwhile Theseus himself, obscured in blindness of darknessAs to his mind, dismiss'd from breast oblivious all thingsErewhile enjoined and held hereto in memory constant,210Nor for his saddened sire the gladness-signals uphoistingHeralded safe return within sight of the Erechthean harbour.For 'twas told of yore, when from walls of the Virginal DeëssÆgeus speeding his son, to the care of breezes committed,Thus with a last embrace to the youth spake words of commandment:215"Son! far nearer my heart (sole thou) than life of the longest,Son, I perforce dismiss to doubtful, dangerous chances,Lately restored to me when eld draws nearest his ending,Sithence such fortune in me, and in thee such boiling of valourTear thee away from me so loath, whose eyne in their languor220Never are sated with sight of my son, all-dearest of figures.Nor will I send thee forth with joy that gladdens my bosom,Nor will I suffer thee show boon signs of favouring Fortune,But fro' my soul I'll first express an issue of sorrow,Soiling my hoary hairs with dust and ashes commingled;225Then will I hang stained sails fast-made to the wavering yard-arms,So shall our mourning thought and burning torture of spiritShow by the dark sombre-dye of Iberian canvas spread.But, an grant me the grace Who dwells in Sacred Itone,(And our issue to guard and ward the seats of Erechtheus230Sware She) that be thy right besprent with blood of the Man-Bull,Then do thou so-wise act, and storèd in memory's heart-coreDwell these mandates of me, no time their traces untracing.Dip, when first shall arise our hills to gladden thy eye-glance,Down from thine every mast th'ill-omened vestments of mourning,235Then let the twisten ropes upheave the whitest of canvas,235bWherewith splendid shall gleam the tallest spars of the top-mast,These seeing sans delay with joy exalting my spiritWell shall I wot boon Time sets thee returning before me."Such were the mandates which stored at first in memory constantFaded from Theseus' mind like mists, compelled by the whirlwind,240Fleet from äerial crests of mountains hoary with snow-drifts.But as the sire had sought the citadel's summit for outlook,Wasting his anxious eyes with tear-floods evermore flowing,Forthright e'en as he saw the sail-gear darkened with dye-stain,Headlong himself flung he from the sea-cliff's pinnacled summit245Holding his Theseus lost by doom of pitiless Fortune.Thus as he came to the home funest, his roof-tree paternal,Theseus (vaunting the death), what dule to the maiden of MinosDealt with unminding mind so dree'd he similar dolour.She too gazing in grief at the kelson vanishing slowly,250Self-wrapt, manifold cares revolved, in spirit perturbèd.

Pine-trees gendered whilòme upon soaring Peliac summit

Swam (as the tale is told) through liquid surges of Neptune

Far as the Phasis-flood and frontier-land Æëtéan;

Whenas the youths elect, of Argive vigour the oak-heart,

Longing the Golden Fleece of the Colchis-region to harry,

Dared in a poop swift-paced to span salt seas and their shallows,

Sweeping the deep blue seas with sweeps a-carven of fir-wood.

She, that governing Goddess of citadels crowning the cities,

Builded herself their car fast-flitting with lightest of breezes,

Weaving plants of the pine conjoined in curve of the kelson;

Foremost of all to imbue rude Amphitrité with ship-lore.

Soon as her beak had burst through wind-rackt spaces of ocean,

While th'oar-tortured wave with spumy whiteness was blanching,

Surged from the deep abyss and hoar-capped billows the faces

Seaborn, Nereids eyeing the prodigy wonder-smitten.

There too mortal orbs through softened spendours regarded

Ocean-nymphs who exposed bodies denuded of raiment

Bare to the breast upthrust from hoar froth capping the sea-depths.

Then Thetis Péleus fired (men say) a-sudden with love-lowe,

Then Thetis nowise spurned to mate and marry wi' mortal,

Then Thetis' Sire himself her yoke with Peleus sanctioned.

Oh, in those happier days now fondly yearned-for, ye heroes

Born; (all hail!) of the Gods begotten, and excellent issue

Bred by your mothers, all hail! and placid deal me your favour.

Oft wi' the sound of me, in strains and spells I'll invoke you;

Thee too by wedding-torch so happily, highly augmented,

Peleus, Thessaly's ward, whomunto Jupiter's self deigned

Yield of the freest gree his loves though gotten of Godheads.

Thee Thetis, fairest of maids Nereian, vouchsafed to marry?

Thee did Tethys empower to woo and wed with her grandchild;

Nor less Oceanus, with water compassing th' Earth-globe?

But when ended the term, and wisht-for light of the day-tide

Uprose, flocks to the house in concourse mighty convenèd,

Thessaly all, with glad assembly the Palace fulfilling:

Presents afore they bring, and joy in faces declare they.

Scyros desert abides: they quit Phthiotican Tempe,

Homesteads of Crannon-town, eke bulwarkt walls of Larissa;

Meeting at Pharsálus, and roof Pharsálian seeking.

None will the fields now till; soft wax all necks of the oxen,

Never the humble vine is purged by curve of the rake-tooth,

Never a pruner's hook thins out the shade of the tree-tufts,

Never a bull up-plows broad glebe with bend of the coulter,

Over whose point unuse displays the squalor of rust-stain.

But in the homestead's heart, where'er that opulent palace

Hides a retreat, all shines with splendour of gold and of silver.

Ivory blanches the seats, bright gleam the flagons a-table,

All of the mansion joys in royal riches and grandeur.

But for the Diva's use bestrewn is the genial bedstead,

Hidden in midmost stead, and its polisht framework of Indian

Tusk underlies its cloth empurpled by juice of the dye-shell.

This be a figured cloth with forms of manhood primeval

Showing by marvel-art the gifts and graces of heroes.

Here upon Dia's strand wave-resonant, ever-regarding

Theseus borne from sight outside by fleet of the fleetest,

Stands Ariadne with heart full-filled with furies unbated,

Nor can her sense as yet believe she 'spies the espied,

When like one that awakes new roused from slumber deceptive,

Sees she her hapless self lone left on loneliest sandbank:

While as the mindless youth with oars disturbeth the shallows,

Casts to the windy storms what vows he vainly had vowèd.

Him through the sedges afar the sad-eyed maiden of Minos,

Likest a Bacchant-girl stone-carven, (O her sorrow!)

'Spies, a-tossing the while on sorest billows of love-care.

Now no more on her blood-hued hair fine fillets retains she,

No more now light veil conceals her bosom erst hidden,

Now no more smooth zone contains her milky-hued paplets:

All gear dropping adown from every part of her person

Thrown, lie fronting her feet to the briny wavelets a sea-toy.

But at such now no more of her veil or her fillet a-floating

Had she regard: on thee, O Theseus! all of her heart-strength,

All of her sprite, her mind, forlorn, were evermore hanging.

Ah, sad soul, by grief and grievance driven beside thee,

Sowed Erycína first those brambly cares in thy bosom,

What while issuing fierce with will enstarkenèd, Theseus

Forth from the bow-bent shore Piræan putting a-seawards

Reacht the Gortynian roofs where dwelt th' injurious Monarch.

For 'twas told of yore how forced by pestilence cruel,

Eke as a blood rite due for th' Androgéonian murthur,

Many a chosen youth and the bloom of damsels unmarried

Food for the Minotaur, Cecropia was wont to befurnish.

Seeing his narrow walls in such wise vexed with evils,

Theseus of freest will for dear-loved Athens his body

Offered a victim so that no more to Crete be deported

Lives by Cecropia doomed to burials burying nowise;

Then with a swifty ship and soft breathed breezes a-stirring,

Sought he Minos the Haughty where homed in proudest of Mansions.

Him as with yearning glance forthright espièd the royal

Maiden, whom pure chaste couch aspiring delicate odours

Cherisht, in soft embrace of a mother comforted all-whiles,

(E'en as the myrtles begot by the flowing floods of Eurotas,

Or as the tincts distinct brought forth by breath of the springtide)

Never the burning lights of her eyes from gazing upon him

Turned she, before fierce flame in all her body conceived she

Down in its deepest depths and burning amiddle her marrow.

Ah, with unmitigate heart exciting wretchedmost furies,

Thou, Boy sacrosanct! man's grief and gladness commingling,

Thou too of Golgos Queen and Lady of leafy Idalium,

Whelm'd ye in what manner waves that maiden phantasy-firèd,

All for a blond-haired youth suspiring many a singulf!

Whiles how dire was the dread she dreed in languishing heart-strings;

100

How yet more, ever more, with golden splendour she palèd!

Whenas yearning to mate his might wi' the furious monster

Theseus braved his death or sought the prizes of praises.

Then of her gifts to gods not ingrate, nor profiting naught,

Promise with silent lip, addressed she timidly vowing.

105

For as an oak that shakes on topmost summit of Taurus

Its boughs, or cone-growing pine from bole bark resin exuding,

Whirlwind of passing might that twists the stems with its storm-blasts,

Uproots, deracinates, forthright its trunk to the farthest,

Prone falls, shattering wide what lies in line of its downfall,—

110

Thus was that wildling flung by Theseus and vanquisht of body,

Vainly tossing its horns and goring the wind to no purpose.

Thence with abounding praise returned he, guiding his footsteps,

Whiles did a fine drawn thread check steps in wander abounding,

Lest when issuing forth of the winding maze labyrinthine

115

Baffled become his track by inobservable error.

But for what cause should I, from early subject digressing,

Tell of the daughter who the face of her sire unseeing,

Eke her sister's embrace nor less her mother's endearments,

Who in despair bewept her hapless child that so gladly

120

Chose before every and each the lively wooing of Theseus?

Or how borne by the ship to the yeasting shore-line of Dia

Came she? or how when bound her eyes in bondage of slumber

Left her that chosen mate with mind unmindful departing?

Often (they tell) with heart inflamed by fiery fury

125

Poured she shrilling of shrieks from deepest depths of her bosom;

Now she would sadly scale the broken faces of mountains,

Whence she might overglance the boundless boiling of billows,

Then she would rush to bestem the salt-plain's quivering wavelet

And from her ankles bare the dainty garment uplifting,

130

Spake she these words ('tis said) from sorrow's deepest abysses,

Whiles from her tear-drencht face outburst cold shivering singulfs.

"Thus fro' my patrial shore, O traitor, hurried to exile,

Me on a lonely strand hast left, perfidious Theseus?

Thus wise farest, despite the godhead of Deities spurned,

135

(Reckless, alas!) to thy home convoying perjury-curses?

Naught, then, ever availed that mind of cruelest counsel

Alter? No saving grace in thee was evermore ready,

That to have pity on me vouchsafed thy pitiless bosom?

Natheless not in past time such were the promises wordy

140

Lavishèd; nor such hopes to me the hapless were bidden;

But the glad married joys, the longed-for pleasures of wedlock.

All now empty and vain, by breath of the breezes bescattered!

Now, let woman no more trust her to man when he sweareth,

Ne'er let her hope to find or truth or faith in his pleadings,

145

Who whenas lustful thought forelooks to somewhat attaining,

Never an oath they fear, shall spare no promise to promise.

Yet no sooner they sate all lewdness and lecherous fancy,

Nothing remember of words and reck they naught of fore-swearing.

Certès, thee did I snatch from midmost whirlpool of ruin

150

Deadly, and held it cheap loss of a brother to suffer

Rather than fail thy need (O false!) at hour the supremest.

Therefor my limbs are doomed to be torn of birds, and of ferals

Prey, nor shall upheapt Earth afford a grave to my body.

Say me, what lioness bare thee 'neath lone rock of the desert?

155

What sea spued thee conceived from out the spume of his surges!

What manner Syrt, what ravening Scylla, what vasty Charybdis?

Thou who for sweet life saved such meeds art lief of returning!

If never willed thy breast with me to mate thee in marriage,

Hating the savage law decreed by primitive parent,

160

Still of your competence 'twas within your household to home me,

Where I might serve as slave in gladsome service familiar,

Laving thy snow-white feet in clearest chrystalline waters

Or with its purpling gear thy couch in company strewing.

Yet for what cause should I 'plain in vain to the winds that unknow me,

165

(I so beside me with grief!) which ne'er of senses enduèd

Hear not the words sent forth nor aught avail they to answer?

Now be his course well-nigh engaged in midway of ocean,

Nor any mortal shape appears in barrens of seawrack.

Thus at the latest hour with insults over-sufficient

170

E'en to my plaints fere Fate begrudges ears that would hear me.

Jupiter! Lord of All-might, Oh would in days that are bygone

Ne'er had Cecropian poops toucht ground at Gnossian foreshore,

Nor to th' unconquered Bull that tribute direful conveying

Had the false Seaman bound to Cretan island his hawser,

175

Nor had yon evil wight, 'neath shape the softest hard purpose

Hiding, enjoyed repose within our mansion beguested!

Whither can wend I now? What hope lends help to the lost one?

Idomenéan mounts shall I scale? Ah, parted by whirlpools

Widest, yon truculent main where yields it power of passage?

180

Aid of my sire can I crave? Whom I willing abandoned,

Treading in tracks of a youth bewrayed with blood of a brother!

Can I console my soul wi' the helpful love of a helpmate

Who flies me with pliant oars, flies overbounding the sea-depths?

Nay, an this Coast I quit, this lone isle lends me no roof-tree,

185

Nor aught issue allows begirt by billows of Ocean:

Nowhere is path for flight: none hope shows: all things are silent:

All be a desolate waste: all makes display of destruction.

Yet never close these eyne in latest languor of dying,

Ne'er from my wearied frame go forth slow-ebbing my senses,

190

Ere from the Gods just doom implore I, treason-betrayed,

And with my breath supreme firm faith of Celestials invoke I.

Therefore, O ye who 'venge man's deed with penalties direful,

Eumenides! aye wont to bind with viperous hair-locks

Foreheads,—Oh, deign outspeak fierce wrath from bosom outbreathing,

195

Hither, Oh hither, speed, and lend ye all ear to my grievance,

Which now sad I (alas!) outpour from innermost vitals

Maugre my will, sans help, blind, fired with furious madness.

And, as indeed all spring from veriest core of my bosom,

Suffer ye not the cause of grief and woe to evanish;

200

But wi' the Will wherewith could Theseus leave me in loneness,

Goddesses! bid that Will lead him, lead his, to destruction."

E'en as she thus poured forth these words from anguish of bosom,

And for this cruel deed, distracted, sued she for vengeance,

Nodded the Ruler of Gods Celestial, matchless of All-might,

205

When at the gest earth-plain and horrid spaces of ocean

Trembled, and every sphere rockt stars and planets resplendent.

Meanwhile Theseus himself, obscured in blindness of darkness

As to his mind, dismiss'd from breast oblivious all things

Erewhile enjoined and held hereto in memory constant,

210

Nor for his saddened sire the gladness-signals uphoisting

Heralded safe return within sight of the Erechthean harbour.

For 'twas told of yore, when from walls of the Virginal Deëss

Ægeus speeding his son, to the care of breezes committed,

Thus with a last embrace to the youth spake words of commandment:

215

"Son! far nearer my heart (sole thou) than life of the longest,

Son, I perforce dismiss to doubtful, dangerous chances,

Lately restored to me when eld draws nearest his ending,

Sithence such fortune in me, and in thee such boiling of valour

Tear thee away from me so loath, whose eyne in their languor

220

Never are sated with sight of my son, all-dearest of figures.

Nor will I send thee forth with joy that gladdens my bosom,

Nor will I suffer thee show boon signs of favouring Fortune,

But fro' my soul I'll first express an issue of sorrow,

Soiling my hoary hairs with dust and ashes commingled;

225

Then will I hang stained sails fast-made to the wavering yard-arms,

So shall our mourning thought and burning torture of spirit

Show by the dark sombre-dye of Iberian canvas spread.

But, an grant me the grace Who dwells in Sacred Itone,

(And our issue to guard and ward the seats of Erechtheus

230

Sware She) that be thy right besprent with blood of the Man-Bull,

Then do thou so-wise act, and storèd in memory's heart-core

Dwell these mandates of me, no time their traces untracing.

Dip, when first shall arise our hills to gladden thy eye-glance,

Down from thine every mast th'ill-omened vestments of mourning,

235

Then let the twisten ropes upheave the whitest of canvas,

235b

Wherewith splendid shall gleam the tallest spars of the top-mast,

These seeing sans delay with joy exalting my spirit

Well shall I wot boon Time sets thee returning before me."

Such were the mandates which stored at first in memory constant

Faded from Theseus' mind like mists, compelled by the whirlwind,

240

Fleet from äerial crests of mountains hoary with snow-drifts.

But as the sire had sought the citadel's summit for outlook,

Wasting his anxious eyes with tear-floods evermore flowing,

Forthright e'en as he saw the sail-gear darkened with dye-stain,

Headlong himself flung he from the sea-cliff's pinnacled summit

245

Holding his Theseus lost by doom of pitiless Fortune.

Thus as he came to the home funest, his roof-tree paternal,

Theseus (vaunting the death), what dule to the maiden of Minos

Dealt with unminding mind so dree'd he similar dolour.

She too gazing in grief at the kelson vanishing slowly,

250

Self-wrapt, manifold cares revolved, in spirit perturbèd.

On Another Part of the Coverlet.

But fro' the further side came flitting bright-faced IacchusGirded by Satyr-crew and Nysa-rearèd SileniBurning wi' love unto thee (Ariadne!) and greeting thy presence.* * * *Who flocking eager to fray did rave with infuriate spirit,255"Evoë" phrensying loud, with heads at "Evoë" rolling.Brandisht some of the maids their thyrsi sheathèd of spear-point,Some snatcht limbs and joints of sturlings rended to pieces,These girt necks and waists with writhing bodies of vipers,Those wi' the gear enwombed in crates dark orgies ordainèd—260Orgies that ears prophane must vainly lust for o'er hearing—Others with palms on high smote hurried strokes on the cymbal,Or from the polisht brass woke thin-toned tinkling music,While from the many there boomed and blared hoarse blast of the horn-trump,And with its horrid skirl loud shrilled the barbarous bag-pipe,265Showing such varied forms, that richly-decorate couch-clothFolded in strait embrace the bedding drapery-veilèd.This when the Théssalan youths had eyed with eager inspectionFulfilled, place they began to provide for venerate Godheads,Even as Zephyrus' breath, seas couching placid at dawn-tide,270Roughens, then stings and spurs the wavelets slantingly fretted—Rising Aurora the while 'neath Sol the wanderer's threshold—Tardy at first they flow by the clement breathing of breezesUrgèd, and echo the shores with soft-toned ripples of laughter,But as the winds wax high so waves wax higher and higher,275Flashing and floating afar to outswim morn's purpurine splendours,—So did the crowd fare forth, the royal vestibule leaving,And to their house each wight with vaguing paces departed.After their wending, the first, foremost from Pelion's summit,Chiron came to the front with woodland presents surchargèd:280Whatso of blooms and flowers bring forth Thessalian uplandsMighty with mountain crests, whate'er of riverine lea flowersReareth Favonius' air, bud-breeding, tepidly breathing,All in his hands brought he, unseparate in woven garlands,Whereat laughèd the house as soothed by pleasure of perfume.285Presently Péneus appears, deserting verdurous Tempe—Tempe girt by her belts of greenwood ever impending,Left for the Mamonides with frequent dances to worship—Nor is he empty of hand, for bears he tallest of beechesDeracinate, and bays with straight boles lofty and stately,290Not without nodding plane-tree nor less the flexible sisterFire-slain Phaëton left, and not without cypresses airy.These in a line wide-broke set he, the Mansion surrounding,So by the soft leaves screened, the porch might flourish in verdure.Follows hard on his track with active spirit Prometheus,295Bearing extenuate sign of penalties suffer'd in bygones.Paid erewhiles what time fast-bound as to every member,Hung he in carkanet slung from the Scythian rock-tor.Last did the Father of Gods with his sacred spouse and his offspring,Proud from the Heavens proceed, thee leaving (Phœbus) in loneness,300Lone wi' thy sister twin who haunteth mountains of Idrus:For that the Virgin spurned as thou the person of Peleus,Nor Thetis' nuptial torch would greet by act of her presence.When they had leaned their limbs upon snowy benches reposing,Tables largely arranged with various viands were garnisht.305But, ere opened the feast, with infirm gesture their semblanceShaking, the Parcae fell to chaunting veridique verses.Robed were their tremulous frames all o'er in muffle of garmentsBright-white, purple of hem enfolding heels in its edges;Snowy the fillets that bound heads agèd by many a year-tide,310And, as their wont aye was, their hands plied labour unceasing.Each in her left upheld with soft fleece clothèd a distaff,Then did the right that drew forth thread with upturn of fingersGently fashion the yarn which deftly twisted by thumb-ballSpeeded the spindle poised by thread-whorl perfect of polish;315Thus as the work was wrought, the lengths were trimmed wi' the fore-teeth,While to their thin, dry lips stuck wool-flecks severed by biting,Which at the first outstood from yarn-hanks evenly fine-drawn.Still at their feet in front soft fleece-flecks white as the snow-flakeLay in the trusty guard of wickers woven in withies.320Always a-carding the wool, with clear-toned voices resoundingTold they such lots as these in song divinely directed,Chaunts which none after-time shall 'stablish falsehood-convicted.

But fro' the further side came flitting bright-faced Iacchus

Girded by Satyr-crew and Nysa-rearèd Sileni

Burning wi' love unto thee (Ariadne!) and greeting thy presence.

* * * *

Who flocking eager to fray did rave with infuriate spirit,

255

"Evoë" phrensying loud, with heads at "Evoë" rolling.

Brandisht some of the maids their thyrsi sheathèd of spear-point,

Some snatcht limbs and joints of sturlings rended to pieces,

These girt necks and waists with writhing bodies of vipers,

Those wi' the gear enwombed in crates dark orgies ordainèd—

260

Orgies that ears prophane must vainly lust for o'er hearing—

Others with palms on high smote hurried strokes on the cymbal,

Or from the polisht brass woke thin-toned tinkling music,

While from the many there boomed and blared hoarse blast of the horn-trump,

And with its horrid skirl loud shrilled the barbarous bag-pipe,

265

Showing such varied forms, that richly-decorate couch-cloth

Folded in strait embrace the bedding drapery-veilèd.

This when the Théssalan youths had eyed with eager inspection

Fulfilled, place they began to provide for venerate Godheads,

Even as Zephyrus' breath, seas couching placid at dawn-tide,

270

Roughens, then stings and spurs the wavelets slantingly fretted—

Rising Aurora the while 'neath Sol the wanderer's threshold—

Tardy at first they flow by the clement breathing of breezes

Urgèd, and echo the shores with soft-toned ripples of laughter,

But as the winds wax high so waves wax higher and higher,

275

Flashing and floating afar to outswim morn's purpurine splendours,—

So did the crowd fare forth, the royal vestibule leaving,

And to their house each wight with vaguing paces departed.

After their wending, the first, foremost from Pelion's summit,

Chiron came to the front with woodland presents surchargèd:

280

Whatso of blooms and flowers bring forth Thessalian uplands

Mighty with mountain crests, whate'er of riverine lea flowers

Reareth Favonius' air, bud-breeding, tepidly breathing,

All in his hands brought he, unseparate in woven garlands,

Whereat laughèd the house as soothed by pleasure of perfume.

285

Presently Péneus appears, deserting verdurous Tempe—

Tempe girt by her belts of greenwood ever impending,

Left for the Mamonides with frequent dances to worship—

Nor is he empty of hand, for bears he tallest of beeches

Deracinate, and bays with straight boles lofty and stately,

290

Not without nodding plane-tree nor less the flexible sister

Fire-slain Phaëton left, and not without cypresses airy.

These in a line wide-broke set he, the Mansion surrounding,

So by the soft leaves screened, the porch might flourish in verdure.

Follows hard on his track with active spirit Prometheus,

295

Bearing extenuate sign of penalties suffer'd in bygones.

Paid erewhiles what time fast-bound as to every member,

Hung he in carkanet slung from the Scythian rock-tor.

Last did the Father of Gods with his sacred spouse and his offspring,

Proud from the Heavens proceed, thee leaving (Phœbus) in loneness,

300

Lone wi' thy sister twin who haunteth mountains of Idrus:

For that the Virgin spurned as thou the person of Peleus,

Nor Thetis' nuptial torch would greet by act of her presence.

When they had leaned their limbs upon snowy benches reposing,

Tables largely arranged with various viands were garnisht.

305

But, ere opened the feast, with infirm gesture their semblance

Shaking, the Parcae fell to chaunting veridique verses.

Robed were their tremulous frames all o'er in muffle of garments

Bright-white, purple of hem enfolding heels in its edges;

Snowy the fillets that bound heads agèd by many a year-tide,

310

And, as their wont aye was, their hands plied labour unceasing.

Each in her left upheld with soft fleece clothèd a distaff,

Then did the right that drew forth thread with upturn of fingers

Gently fashion the yarn which deftly twisted by thumb-ball

Speeded the spindle poised by thread-whorl perfect of polish;

315

Thus as the work was wrought, the lengths were trimmed wi' the fore-teeth,

While to their thin, dry lips stuck wool-flecks severed by biting,

Which at the first outstood from yarn-hanks evenly fine-drawn.

Still at their feet in front soft fleece-flecks white as the snow-flake

Lay in the trusty guard of wickers woven in withies.

320

Always a-carding the wool, with clear-toned voices resounding

Told they such lots as these in song divinely directed,

Chaunts which none after-time shall 'stablish falsehood-convicted.

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