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Rēgĭă Sōlĭs ĕrāt sūblīmĭbŭs āltă cŏlūmnīs,

clāră mĭcānte aūrō flāmmāsque ĭmĭtāntĕ pўrōpō;

cūiŭs ĕbūr nĭtĭdūm fāstīgĭă sūmmă tĕgēbāt,

ārgēntī bĭfŏrēs rădĭābānt lūmĭnĕ vālvaē.

Mātĕrĭām sŭpĕrābăt ŏpūs; nām Mūlcĭbĕr īllīc

aēquŏră caēlārāt mĕdĭās cīngēntĭă tērrās

tērrārūmque ōrbēm caēlūmquĕ, quŏd īmmĭnĕt ōrbī.

Caērŭlĕōs hăbĕt ūndă dĕōs, Trītōnă cănōrūm

Prōtĕăque āmbĭgŭūm bāllēnārūmquĕ prĕmēntēm

Aēgaēōnă sŭīs īmmānĭă tērgă lăcērtīs

Dōrĭdăque ēt nātās, quārūm pārs nārĕ vĭdētūr,

pārs īn mōlĕ sĕdēns vĭrĭdīs sīccārĕ căpīllōs,

pīscĕ vĕhī quaēdām; făcĭēs nōn ōmnĭbŭs ūnă,

nōn dīvērsă tămēn, quālēm dĕcĕt ēssĕ sŏrōrūm.

Tērră vĭrōs ūrbēsquĕ gĕrīt sīlvāsquĕ fĕrāsquĕ

flūmĭnăque ēt nŷmphās ēt cētĕră nūmĭnă rūrīs.

Haēc sŭpĕr īnpŏsĭta ēst caēlī fūlgēntĭs ĭmāgŏ

sīgnăquĕ sēx fŏrĭbūs dēxtrīs tŏtĭdēmquĕ sĭnīstrīs.

Quō sĭmŭl ādclīvī Clўmĕnēĭă līmĭtĕ prōlēs

vēnti ēt īntrāvīt dŭbĭtātī tēctă părēntīs,

prōtĭnŭs ād pătrĭōs sŭă fērt vēstīgĭă vūltūs

cōnsīstītquĕ prŏcūl; nĕque ĕnīm prŏpĭōră fĕrēbāt

lūmĭnă; pūrpŭrĕā vēlātūs vēstĕ sĕdēbāt

īn sŏlĭō Phoēbūs clārīs lūcēntĕ zmărāgdīs.

Ā dēxtrā laēvāquĕ Dĭēs ēt Mēnsĭs ĕt Ānnūs

Saēcŭlăque ēt pŏsĭtaē spătĭīs aēquālĭbŭs Hōraē

Vērquĕ nŏvūm stābāt cīnctūm flōrēntĕ cŏrōnā,

stābāt nūda Aēstās ēt spīcĕă sērtă gĕrēbāt,

stābăt ĕt Aūtūmnūs, cālcātīs sōrdĭdŭs ūvīs,

ēt glăcĭālĭs Hĭēms, cānōs hīrsūtă căpīllōs.

Īndĕ lŏcō mĕdĭūs rērūm nŏvĭtātĕ păvēntēm

Sōl ŏcŭlīs iŭvĕnēm, quĭbŭs ādspĭcĭt ōmnĭă, vīdīt:

"Quaē"quĕ "vĭaē tĭbĭ caūsă? Quĭd hāc" ăĭt "ārcĕ pĕtīstī,

prōgĕnĭēs, Phăĕthōn, haūd īnfītiāndă părēntī?"

Īllĕ rĕfērt: "Ō lūx īnmēnsī pūblĭcă mūndī,

Phoēbĕ pătēr, sī dās ūsūm mĭhĭ nōmĭnĭs hūiūs

nēc fālsā Clўmĕnē cūlpām sŭb ĭmāgĭnĕ cēlāt,

pīgnŏră dā, gĕnĭtōr, pēr quaē tŭă vēră prŏpāgŏ

crēdăr ĕt hūnc ănĭmīs ērrōrēm dētrăhĕ nōstrīs."

Dīxĕrăt; āt gĕnĭtōr cīrcūm căpŭt ōmnĕ mĭcāntēs

dēpŏsŭīt rădĭōs prŏpĭūsque āccēdĕrĕ iūssīt

āmplēxūquĕ dătō: "Nēc tū mĕŭs ēssĕ nĕgārī

dīgnŭs ĕs ēt Clўmĕnē vĕrŏs" āīt "ēdĭdĭt ōrtūs;

quōquĕ mĭnūs dŭbĭtēs, quōdvīs pĕtĕ mūnŭs, ŭt īllūd

mē trībuēntĕ fĕrās; prōmīssīs tēstĭs ădēstō

dīs iūrāndă pălūs, ŏcŭlīs īncōgnĭtă nōstrīs."

Vīx bĕnĕ dēsĭĕrāt; cūrrūs rŏgăt īllĕ pătērnōs

īnquĕ dĭem ālĭpĕdūm iūs ēt mŏdĕrāmĕn ĕquōrūm.

Paēnĭtŭīt iūrāssĕ pătrēm, quī tērquĕ quătērquĕ

cōncŭtĭēns īnlūstrĕ căpūt: "Tĕmĕrārĭă" dīxīt

"vōx mĕă fāctă tŭa ēst. Ŭtĭnām prōmīssă lĭcērēt

nōn dărĕ! Cōnfĭtĕōr, sōlum hōc tĭbĭ, nātĕ nĕgārēm.

Dīssuādērĕ lĭcēt; nōn ēst tŭă tūtă vŏlūntās;

māgnă pĕtīs, Phăĕthōn, ēt quaē nēc vīrĭbŭs īstīs

mūnĕră cōnvĕnĭānt nēc tām pŭĕrīlĭbŭs ānnīs.

Sōrs tŭă mōrtālīs; nōn ēst mōrtālĕ quŏd ōptās.

Plūs ĕtĭām quām quōd sŭpĕrīs cōntīngĕrĕ pōssīt

nēscĭŭs ādfēctās; plăcĕāt sĭbĭ quīsquĕ lĭcēbīt.

Nōn tămĕn īgnĭfĕrō quīsquām cōnsīstĕre ĭn āxĕ

mē vălĕt ēxcēptō; vāstī quŏquĕ rēctŏr Ŏlŷmpī,

quī fĕră tērrĭbĭlī iăcŭlātūr fūlmĭnă dēxtrā,

nōn ăgĕt hōs cūrrūs; ēt quīd Iŏvĕ māiŭs hăbēmūs?

Ārdŭă prīmă vĭa ēst ēt quā vīx mānĕ rĕcēntēs

ēnītūntŭr ĕquī; mĕdĭa ēst āltīssĭmă caēlō,

ūndĕ măre ēt tērrās īpsī mĭhĭ saēpĕ vĭdērĕ

sīt tĭmŏr ēt păvĭdā trĕpĭdēt fōrmīdĭnĕ pēctūs;

ūltĭmă prōnă vĭa ēst ĕt ĕgēt mŏdĕrāmĭnĕ cērtō;

tūnc ĕtĭām quaē mē sūbiēctīs ēxcĭpĭt ūndīs

nē fĕrăr īn praēcēps Tēthŷs sŏlĕt īpsă vĕrērī.

Āddĕ quŏd āssĭdŭā răpĭtūr vērtīgĭnĕ caēlūm

sīdĕrăque āltă trăhīt cĕlĕrīquĕ vŏlūmĭnĕ tōrquēt.

Nītŏr ĭn ādvērsūm nēc mē, quī cētĕră, vīncīt

īmpĕtŭs ēt răpĭdō cōntrārĭŭs ēvĕhŏr ōrbī.

Fīngĕ dătōs cūrrūs; quĭd ăgēs? Pŏtĕrīsnĕ rŏrātīs

ōbvĭŭs īrĕ pŏlīs, nē tē cĭtŭs aūfĕrăt āxīs?

Fōrsĭtăn ēt lūcōs īllīc ūrbēsquĕ dĕōrūm

cōncĭpĭās ănĭmō dēlūbrăquĕ dītĭă dōnīs

ēssĕ; pĕr īnsĭdĭās ĭtĕr ēst fōrmāsquĕ fĕrārūm.

Ūtquĕ vĭām tĕnĕās nūllōque ērrōrĕ trăhārīs,

pēr tămĕn ādvērsī grădĭērīs cōrnŭă Taūrī

Haēmŏnĭōsque ārcūs vĭŏlēntīque ōră Lĕōnīs

saēvăquĕ cīrcŭĭtū cūrvāntēm brācchĭă lōngō

Scōrpiōn ātque ălĭtēr cūrvāntēm brācchĭă Cāncrūm.

Nēc tĭbĭ quādrĭpĕdēs ănĭmōsōs īgnĭbŭs īllīs,

quōs īn pēctŏre hăbēnt, quōs ōre ēt nārĭbŭs ēfflānt,

īn prōmptū rĕgĕre ēst; vīx mē pātiūntŭr, ŭt ācrēs

īncālvēre ănĭmī, cērvīxquĕ rĕpūgnăt hăbēnīs.

Āt tū, fūnēstī nē sīm tĭbĭ mūnĕrĭs aūctōr,

nātĕ, căvē, dūm rēsquĕ sĭnīt, tŭă cōrrĭgĕ vōtă.

Scīlĭcĕt ūt nōstrō gĕnĭtūm tē sānguĭnĕ crēdās,

pīgnŏră cērtă pĕtīs? Dō pīgnŏră cērtă tĭmēndō

ēt pătrĭō pătĕr ēssĕ mĕtū prŏbŏr. Āspĭcĕ vūltūs

ēccĕ mĕōs; ŭtĭnāmque ŏcŭlōs īn pēctŏră pōssēs

īnsĕrĕre ēt pătrĭās īntūs dēprēndĕrĕ cūrās!

Dēnĭquĕ quīcquĭd hăbēt dīvēs, cīrcūmspĭcĕ, mūndūs

dēquĕ tŏt āc tāntīs caēlī tērraēquĕ mărīsquĕ

pōscĕ bŏnīs ălĭquīd; nūllām pătĭērĕ rĕpūlsām.

Dēprĕcŏr hōc ūnūm, quōd vērō nōmĭnĕ poēnă,

nōn hŏnŏr ēst; poēnām, Phăĕthōn, prō mūnĕrĕ pōscīs.

Quīd mĕă cōllă tĕnēs blāndīs, īgnārĕ, lăcērtīs?

Nē dŭbĭtā, dăbĭtūr (stўgĭās iūrāvĭmŭs ūndās)

quōdcūmque ōptārīs; sēd tū săpĭēntĭŭs ōptā."

fīnĭĕrāt mŏnĭtūs; dīctīs tămĕn īllĕ rĕpūgnāt

prōpŏsĭtūmquĕ prĕmīt flāgrātquĕ cŭpīdĭnĕ cūrrūs.

Ērgō quā lĭcŭīt gĕnĭtōr cūnctātŭs ăd āltōs

dēdūcīt iŭvĕnēm, Vōlcānĭă mūnĕră, cūrrūs.

Aūrĕŭs āxĭs ĕrāt, tēmo aūrĕŭs, aūrĕă sūmmaē

cūrvātūră rŏtaē, rădĭōrum ārgēntĕŭs ōrdŏ;

pēr iŭgă chrŷsŏlĭthī pŏsĭtaēque ēx ōrdĭnĕ gēmmaē

clāră rĕpērcūssō rēddēbānt lūmĭnă Phoēbō.

Dūmque ĕă māgnănĭmūs Phăĕthōn mīrātŭr ŏpūsquĕ

pērspĭcĭt, ēccĕ vĭgīl nĭtĭdō pătĕfēcĭt ăb ōrtū

pūrpŭrĕās Aūrōră fŏrēs ēt plēnă rŏsārūm

ātrĭă; dīffŭgĭūnt stēllaē, quārum āgmĭnă cōgīt

lūcĭfĕr ēt caēlī stătĭōnĕ nŏvīssĭmŭs ēxīt.

Quēm pĕtĕre ūt tērrās mūndūmquĕ rŭbēscĕrĕ vīdīt

cōrnŭăque ēxtrēmaē vĕlŭt ēvānēscĕrĕ lūnaē,

iūngĕre ĕquōs Tītān vēlōcĭbŭs īmpĕrăt Hōrīs.

Iūssă dĕaē cĕlĕrēs pĕrăgūnt īgnēmquĕ vŏmēntīs,

āmbrŏsĭaē sūcō sătŭrōs, praēsēpĭbŭs āltīs

quādrĭpĕdēs dūcūnt āddūntquĕ sŏnāntĭă frēnă.

Tūm pătĕr ōră sŭī sācrō mĕdĭcāmĭnĕ nātī

cōntĭgĭt ēt răpĭdaē fēcīt pătĭēntĭă flāmmaē

īnpŏsŭītquĕ cŏmaē rădĭōs praēsāgăquĕ lūctūs

pēctŏrĕ sōllĭcĭtō rĕpĕtēns sūspīrĭă dīxīt:

"Sī pŏtĕs hīs sāltēm mŏnĭtīs pārērĕ părēntīs,

pārcĕ, pŭēr, stĭmŭlīs ēt fōrtĭŭs ūtĕrĕ lōrīs;

spōntĕ sŭā prŏpĕrānt; lăbŏr ēst ĭnhĭbērĕ vŏlēntēs.

Nēc tĭbĭ dīrēctōs plăcĕāt vĭă quīnquĕ pĕr ārcūs;

sēctŭs ĭn ōblīquum ēst lātō cūrvāmĭnĕ līmēs,

zōnārūmquĕ trĭūm cōntēntūs fīnĕ pŏlūmquĕ

ēffŭgĭt aūstrālēm iūnctāmque ăquĭlōnĭbŭs Ārctōn;

hāc sĭt ĭtēr; mănĭfēstă rŏtaē vēstīgĭă cērnēs.

Ūtquĕ fĕrānt aēquōs ēt caēlum ēt tērră călōrēs,

nēc prĕmĕ nēc sūmmūm mōlīrĕ pĕr aēthĕră cūrrūm.

Āltĭŭs ēgrēssūs caēlēstĭă tēctă crĕmābīt,

īnfĕrĭūs tērrās; mĕdĭō tūtīssĭmŭs ībīs.

Neu te dexterior tortum declinet ad Anguem,

nēvĕ sĭnīstĕrĭōr prēssām rŏtă dūcăt ăd Ārām,

īntĕr ŭtrūmquĕ tĕnē; Fōrtūnaē cētĕră māndō,

quaē iŭvĕt ēt mĕlĭūs, quām tū tĭbĭ, cōnsŭlăt ōptō.

Dūm lŏquŏr, Hēspĕrĭō pŏsĭtās īn lītŏrĕ mētās

ūmĭdă nōx tĕtĭgīt; nōn ēst mŏră lībĕră nōbīs;

pōscĭmŭr ēt fūlgēt tĕnĕbrīs aūrōră fŭgātīs.

Cōrrĭpĕ lōră mănū, vēl, sī mūtābĭlĕ pēctūs

ēst tĭbĭ, cōnsĭlĭīs, nōn cūrrĭbŭs ūtĕrĕ nōstrīs,

dūm pŏtĕs ēt sŏlĭdīs ĕtĭāmnūnc sēdĭbŭs āstās

dūmquĕ măle ōptātōs nōndūm prĕmĭs īnscĭŭs āxēs.

Quaē tūtūs spēctēs, sĭnĕ mē dărĕ lūmĭnă tērrīs."

Ōccŭpăt īllĕ lĕvēm iŭvĕnālī cōrpŏrĕ cūrrūm

stātquĕ sŭpēr mănĭbūsquĕ lĕvēs cōntīngĕre hăbēnās

gaūdĕt ĕt īnvītō grātēs ăgĭt īndĕ părēntī.

Īntĕrĕā vŏlŭcrēs Pўrŏīs ĕt Ĕōŭs ĕt Aēthōn,

sōlĭs ĕquī, quārtūsquĕ Phlĕgōn hīnnītĭbŭs aūrās

flāmmĭfĕrīs īnplēnt pĕdĭbūsquĕ rĕpāgŭlă pūlsānt.

Quaē pōstquām Tēthŷs, fātōrum īgnāră nĕpōtīs,

rēppŭlĭt ēt fācta ēst īnmēnsī cōpĭă caēlī,

cōrrĭpŭērĕ vĭām pĕdĭbūsquĕ pĕr āĕră mōtīs

ōbstāntēs scīndūnt nĕbŭlās pēnnīsquĕ lĕvātī

praētĕrĕūnt ōrtōs īsdēm dē pārtĭbŭs Eūrōs.

Sēd lĕvĕ pōndŭs ĕrāt nēc quōd cōgnōscĕrĕ pōssēnt

sōlĭs ĕquī sŏlĭtāquĕ iŭgūm grăvĭtātĕ cărēbāt;

ūtquĕ lăbānt cūrvaē iūstō sĭnĕ pōndĕrĕ nāvēs

pērquĕ măre īnstăbĭlīs nĭmĭā lĕvĭtātĕ fĕrūntūr,

sīc ŏnĕre ādsuētō văcŭōs dăt ĭn āĕrĕ sāltūs

sūccŭtĭtūrque āltē sĭmĭlīsque ēst cūrrŭs ĭnānī.

Quōd sĭmŭl āc sēnsērĕ, rŭūnt trītūmquĕ rĕlīnquūnt

quādrĭiŭgī spătĭūm nēc, quō prĭŭs, ōrdĭnĕ cūrrūnt.

Īpsĕ păvēt nēc quā cōmmīssās flēctĕt hăbēnās,

nēc scīt quā sĭt ĭtēr, nūnc, sī scĭăt, īmpĕrĕt īllīs.

Tūm prīmūm rădĭīs gĕlĭdī călŭērĕ Trĭōnēs

ēt vĕtĭtō frūstrā tēmptārūnt aēquŏrĕ tīngī

quaēquĕ pŏlō pŏsĭta ēst glăcĭālī prōxĭmă Sērpēns,

frīgŏrĕ pīgră prĭūs nēc fōrmīdābĭlĭs ūllī,

īncālvīt sūmpsītquĕ nŏvās fērvōrĭbŭs īrās.

Tē quŏquĕ tūrbātūm mĕmŏrānt fūgīssĕ, Bŏōtē,

quāmvīs tārdŭs ĕrās ēt tē tŭă plaūstră tĕnēbānt.

Ūt vērō sūmmō dēspēxĭt ăb aēthĕrĕ tērrās

īnfēlīx Phăĕthōn pĕnĭtūs pĕnĭtūsquĕ pătēntīs,

pāllŭĭt ēt sŭbĭtō gĕnŭa īntrĕmŭērĕ tĭmōrĕ

sūntque ŏcŭlīs tĕnĕbraē pēr tāntūm lūmĕn ŏbōrtaē;

ēt iām māllĕt ĕquōs nūmquām tĕtĭgīssĕ pătērnōs,

iām cōgnōssĕ gĕnūs pĭgĕt ēt vălŭīssĕ rŏgāndō;

iām Mĕrŏpīs dīcī cŭpĭēns ĭtă fērtŭr ŭt āctă

praēcĭpĭtī pīnūs Bŏrĕā, cuī vīnctă rĕmīsīt

frēnă sŭūs rēctōr, quām dīs vōtīsquĕ rĕlīquīt.

Quīd făcĭāt? Mūltūm caēlī pōst tērgă rĕlīctūm,

ānte ŏcŭlōs plūs ēst; ănĭmō mētītŭr ŭtrūmquĕ

ēt mŏdŏ, quōs īllī fātūm cōntīngĕrĕ nōn ēst,

prōspĭcĭt ōccāsūs, īntērdūm rēspĭcĭt ōrtūs;

quīdque ăgăt īgnārūs stŭpĕt ēt nēc frēnă rĕmīttīt

nēc rĕtĭnērĕ vălēt nēc nōmĭnă nōvĭt ĕquōrūm.

Spārsă quŏque īn vărĭō pāssīm mīrācŭlă caēlō

vāstārūmquĕ vĭdēt trĕpĭdūs sĭmŭlācră fĕrārūm.

Ēst lŏcŭs īn gĕmĭnōs ŭbĭ brācchĭă cōncăvăt ārcūs

Scōrpĭŭs ēt caūdā flēxīsque ūtrīnquĕ lăcērtīs

pōrrĭgĭt īn spătĭūm sīgnōrūm mēmbră dŭōrūm.

Hūnc pŭĕr ūt nīgrī mădĭdūm sūdōrĕ vĕnēnī

vūlnĕră cūrvātā mĭnĭtāntēm cūspĭdĕ vīdīt,

mēntĭs ĭnōps gĕlĭdā fōrmīdĭnĕ lōră rĕmīsīt.

Quaē pōstquām sūmmūm tĕtĭgērĕ iăcēntĭă tērgūm,

ēxspātiāntŭr ĕquī nūllōque ĭnhĭbēntĕ pĕr aūrās

īgnōtaē rĕgĭōnĭs ĕūnt, quāque īmpĕtŭs ēgīt,

hāc sĭnĕ lēgĕ rŭūnt āltōquĕ sŭb aēthĕrĕ fīxīs

īncūrsānt stēllīs răpĭūntquĕ pĕr āvĭă cūrrūm

ēt mŏdŏ sūmmă pĕtūnt, mŏdŏ pēr dēclīvĕ vĭāsquĕ

praēcĭpĭtēs spătĭō tērraē prŏpĭōrĕ fĕrūntūr;

īnfĕrĭūsquĕ sŭīs frātērnōs cūrrĕrĕ Lūnă

ādmīrātŭr ĕquōs āmbūstăquĕ nūbĭlă fūmānt.

Cōrrĭpĭtūr flāmmīs, ūt quaēque āltīssĭmă, tēllūs

fīssăque ăgīt rīmās ēt sūcīs ārĕt ădēmptīs;

pābŭlă cānēscūnt, cūm frōndĭbŭs ūrĭtŭr ārbōr

mātĕrĭāmquĕ sŭō praēbēt sĕgĕs ārĭdă dāmnō.

Pārvă quĕrōr; māgnaē pĕrĕūnt cūm moēnĭbŭs ūrbēs

cūmquĕ sŭīs tōtās pŏpŭlīs īncēndĭă gēntēs

īn cĭnĕrēm vērtūnt. Sīlvaē cūm mōntĭbŭs ārdēnt,

ārdĕt Ăthōs Taūrūsquĕ Cĭlīx ēt Tmōlŭs ĕt Oētē

ēt tūm sīccă, prĭūs crēbērrĭmă fōntĭbŭs, Īdē

vīrgīneūsque Hĕlĭcōn ēt nōndum Oēāgrĭŭs Haēmūs.

Ārdĕt ĭn īnmēnsūm gĕmĭnātīs īgnĭbŭs Aētnē

Pārnāsūsquĕ bĭcēps ĕt Ĕrŷx ēt Cŷnthŭs ĕt Ōthrŷs

ēt tāndēm nĭvĭbūs Rhŏdŏpē cărĭtūră Mĭmāsquĕ

Dīndўmăque ēt Mўcălē nātūsque ād sācră Cĭthaērōn.

Nēc prōsūnt Scўthĭaē sŭă frīgŏră; Caūcăsŭs ārdēt

ōssăquĕ cūm Pīndō māiōrque āmbōbŭs Ŏlŷmpūs

āĕrĭaēque Ālpēs ēt nūbĭfĕr Āppēnnīnūs.

Tūm vērō Phăĕthōn cūnctīs ē pārtĭbŭs ōrbēm

ādspĭcĭt āccēnsūm nēc tāntōs sūstĭnĕt aēstūs

fērvēntīsque aūrās vĕlŭt ē fōrnācĕ prŏfūndā

ōrĕ trăhīt cūrrūsquĕ sŭōs cāndēscĕrĕ sēntīt;

ēt nĕquĕ iām cĭnĕrēs ēiēctātāmquĕ făvīllām

fērrĕ pŏtēst călĭdōque īnvōlvĭtŭr ūndĭquĕ fūmō

quōque ĕăt, aūt ŭbĭ sīt, pĭcĕā cālīgĭnĕ tēctūs,

nēscĭt ĕt ārbĭtrĭō vŏlŭcrūm rāptātŭr ĕquōrūm.

Sānguĭnĕ tūm crēdūnt īn cōrpŏră sūmmă vŏcātō

Aēthĭŏpūm pŏpŭlōs nīgrūm trāxīssĕ cŏlōrēm;

tūm fācta ēst Lĭbўē rāptīs ūmōrĭbŭs aēstū

ārĭdă, tūm nŷmphaē pāssīs fōntēsquĕ lăcūsquĕ

dēflūērĕ cŏmīs; quaērīt Boēōtĭă Dīrcēn,

Ārgŏs Ămŷmōnēn, Ĕphўrē Pīrēnĭdăs ūndās.

nēc sōrtītă lŏcō dīstāntēs flūmĭnă rīpās

tūtă mănēnt; mĕdĭīs Tănăīs fūmāvĭt ĭn ūndīs

Pēnēōsquĕ sĕnēx Teūthrāntēūsquĕ Căīcūs

ēt cĕlĕr Īsmēnōs cūm Phēgĭăcō | Ĕrўmānthō

ārsūrūsque ĭtĕrūm Xānthūs flāvūsquĕ Lўcōrmās

quīquĕ rĕcūrvātīs lūdīt Maēāndrŭs ĭn ūndīs

Mŷgdŏnĭūsquĕ Mĕlās ēt Taēnărĭūs Eūrōtās.

Ārsĭt ĕt Eūphrātēs Băbўlōnĭŭs, ārsĭt Ŏrōntēs

Thērmōdōnquĕ cĭtūs Gāngēsque ēt Phāsĭs ĕt Hīstēr.

Aēstŭăt Ālphēōs, rīpaē Spērchēĭdĕs ārdēnt;

quōdquĕ sŭō Tăgŭs āmnĕ vĕhīt, flŭĭt īgnĭbŭs aūrūm

ēt quaē Maēŏnĭās cĕlĕbrābānt cārmĭnĕ rīpās

flūmĭnĕaē vŏlŭcrēs mĕdĭō călŭērĕ Căŷstrō.

Nīlŭs ĭn ēxtrēmūm fūgīt pērtērrĭtŭs ōrbēm

ōccŭlŭītquĕ căpūt, quŏd ădhūc lătĕt; ōstĭă sēptēm

pūlvĕrŭlēntă văcānt, sēptēm sĭnĕ flūmĭnĕ vāllēs.

Fōrs ĕădem Īsmărĭōs Hēbrūm cūm Strŷmŏnĕ sīccāt

Hēspĕrĭōsque āmnēs Rhēnūm Rhŏdănūmquĕ Pădūmquĕ,

cuīquĕ fŭīt rērūm prōmīssă pŏtēntĭă, Thŷbrīm.

Dīssĭlĭt ōmnĕ sŏlūm pĕnĕtrātque īn Tārtără rīmīs

lūmĕn ĕt īnfērnūm tērrēt cūm cōniŭgĕ rēgēm

ēt mărĕ cōntrăhĭtūr sīccaēque ēst cāmpŭs hărēnaē

quōd mŏdŏ pōntŭs ĕrāt; quōsque āltūm tēxĕrăt aēquōr,

ēxsīstūnt mōntēs ēt spārsās Cŷclădăs aūgēnt.

Īmă pĕtūnt pīscēs nēc sē sŭpĕr aēquŏră cūrvī

tōllĕrĕ cōnsuētās aūdēnt dēlphīnĕs ĭn aūrās;

cōrpŏră phōcārūm sūmmō rĕsŭpīnă prŏfūndō

ēxănĭmātă nătānt. Īpsūm quŏquĕ Nērĕă fāma ēst

Dōrĭdăque ēt nātās tĕpĭdīs lătŭīssĕ sŭb āntrīs.

Tēr Nēptūnŭs ăquīs cūm tōrvō brācchĭă vōltū

ēxsĕrĕre aūsŭs ĕrāt; tēr nōn tŭlĭt āĕrĭs īgnēs.

Ālmă tămēn Tēllūs, ŭt ĕrāt cīrcūmdătă pōntō,

īntĕr ăquās pĕlăgī cōntrāctōs ūndĭquĕ fōntēs,

quī sē cōndĭdĕrānt ĭn ŏpācaē vīscĕră mātrīs,

sūstŭlĭt ōpprēssōs cōllō tĕnŭs ārĭdă vōltūs

ōppŏsŭītquĕ mănūm frōntī māgnōquĕ trĕmōrĕ

ōmnĭă cōncŭtĭēns paūlūm sūbsēdĭt ĕt īnfrā,

quām sŏlĕt ēssĕ, fŭīt sācrāque ĭtă vōcĕ lŏcūta ēst:

"Sī plăcĕt hōc mĕrŭīquĕ, quĭd ō tŭă fūlmĭnă cēssānt,

sūmmĕ dĕūm? Lĭcĕāt pĕrĭtūraē vīrĭbŭs īgnīs

īgnĕ pĕrīrĕ tŭō clādēmque aūctōrĕ lĕvārĕ.

Vīx ĕquĭdēm faūcēs haēc īpsa īn vērbă rĕsōlvō;"

(prēssĕrăt ōră văpōr) "tōstōs ēn āspĭcĕ crīnēs

īnque ŏcŭlīs tāntūm, tāntūm sŭpĕr ōră făvīllaē!

Hōsnĕ mĭhī frūctūs, hūnc fērtĭlĭtātĭs hŏnōrēm

ōffĭcĭīquĕ rĕfērs, quŏd ădūncī vūlnĕra ărātrī

rāstrōrūmquĕ fĕrō tōtōque ēxērcĕŏr ānnō,

quōd pĕcŏrī frōndēs ălĭmēntăquĕ mītĭă, frūgēs,

hūmānō gĕnĕrī, vōbīs quŏquĕ tūră mĭnīstrō?

Sēd tămĕn ēxĭtĭūm fāc mē mērvīssĕ; quĭd ūndaē,

quīd mĕrŭīt frātēr? Cūr īllī trādĭtă sōrtĕ

aēquŏră dēcrēscūnt ĕt ăb aēthĕrĕ lōngĭŭs ābsūnt?

Quōdsī nēc frātrīs nēc tē mĕă grātĭă tāngīt,

āt caēlī mĭsĕrērĕ tŭī; cīrcūmspĭce ŭtrūmquĕ,

fūmăt ŭtērquĕ pŏlūs; quōs sī vĭtĭāvĕrĭt īgnīs,

ātrĭă vēstrā ruēnt. Ātlāns ēn īpsĕ lăbōrāt

vīxquĕ sŭīs ŭmĕrīs cāndēntēm sūstĭnĕt āxēm.

Sī frĕtă, sī tērraē pĕrĕūnt, sī rēgĭă caēlī,

īn chăŏs āntīquūm cōnfūndĭmŭr. Ērĭpĕ flāmmīs

sīquĭd ădhūc sŭpĕrēst ēt rērūm cōnsŭlĕ sūmmaē."

Dīxĕrăt haēc tēllūs; nĕque ĕnīm tŏlĕrārĕ văpōrēm

ūltĕrĭūs pŏtŭīt nēc dīcĕrĕ plūră sŭūmquĕ

rēttŭlĭt ōs īn sē prŏpĭōrăquĕ mānĭbŭs āntră.

Āt pătĕr ōmnĭpŏtēns, sŭpĕrōs tēstātŭs ĕt īpsūm

quī dĕdĕrāt cūrrūs, nĭsi ŏpēm fĕrăt, ōmnĭă fātō

īntĕrĭtūră grăvī, sūmmām pĕtĭt ārdŭŭs ārcēm,

ūndĕ sŏlēt nūbēs lātīs īndūcĕrĕ tērrīs,

ūndĕ mŏvēt tŏnĭtrūs vībrātăquĕ fūlmĭnă iāctāt.

Sēd nĕquĕ quās pōssēt tērrīs īndūcĕrĕ nūbēs

tūnc hăbŭīt nēc quōs caēlō dēmīttĕrĕt īmbrēs.

Īntŏnăt ēt dēxtrā lībrātūm fūlmĕn ăb aūrĕ

mīsĭt ĭn aūrīgām părĭtērque ănĭmāquĕ rŏtīsquĕ

ēxpŭlĭt ēt saēvīs cōmpēscŭĭt īgnĭbŭs īgnēs.

Cōnstērnāntŭr ĕqui ēt sāltu īn cōntrārĭă fāctō

cōllă iŭgo ērĭpĭūnt ābrūptăquĕ lōră rĕlīnquūnt.

Īllīc frēnă iăcēnt, īllīc tēmōnĕ rĕvūlsūs

āxĭs, ĭn hāc rădĭī frāctārūm pārtĕ rŏtārūm

spārsăquĕ sūnt lātē lăcĕrī vēstīgĭă cūrrūs.

Āt Phăĕthōn, rŭtĭlōs flāmmā pŏpŭlāntĕ căpīllōs,

vōlvĭtŭr īn praēcēps lōngōquĕ pĕr āĕră trāctū

fērtŭr, ŭt īntērdūm dē caēlō stēllă sĕrēnō,

ētsī nōn cĕcĭdīt, pŏtŭīt cĕcĭdīssĕ vĭdērī.

Quēm prŏcŭl ā pătrĭā dīvērsō māxĭmŭs ōrbĕ

ēxcĭpĭt Ērĭdănūs fūmāntĭăque āblŭĭt ōră.

Nāĭdĕs Hēspĕrĭaē trĭfĭdā fūmāntĭă flāmmā

cōrpŏră dānt tŭmŭlō, sīgnānt quŏquĕ cārmĭnĕ sāxūm:

"Hīc sĭtŭs ēst Phăĕthōn cūrrūs aūrīgă pătērnī;

quēm sī nōn tĕnŭīt, māgnīs tămĕn ēxcĭdĭt aūsīs."

Nām pătĕr ōbdūctōs, lūctū mĭsĕrābĭlĭs aēgrō,

cōndĭdĕrāt vūltūs ēt, sī mŏdŏ crēdĭmŭs, ūnūm

īssĕ dĭēm sĭnĕ sōlĕ fĕrūnt; īncēndĭă lūmēn

praēbēbānt ălĭquīsquĕ mălō fŭĭt ūsŭs ĭn īllō.

Āt Clўmĕnē, pōstquām dīxīt quaēcūmquĕ fŭērūnt

īn tāntīs dīcēndă mălīs, lūgūbrĭs ĕt āmēns

ēt lănĭātă sĭnūs tōtūm pērcēnsŭĭt ōrbēm

ēxănĭmēsque ārtūs prīmō, mōx ōssă rĕquīrēns,

rēppĕrĭt ōssă tămēn pĕrĕgrīnā cōndĭtă rīpā

īncŭbŭītquĕ lŏcō nōmēnque īn mārmŏrĕ lēctūm

pērfūdīt lăcrĭmīs ĕt ăpērtō pēctŏrĕ fōvīt.

Nēc mĭnŭs Hēlĭădēs lūgēnt ĕt ĭnānĭă mōrtī

mūnĕră dānt lăcrĭmās ēt caēsaē pēctŏră pālmīs

nōn aūdītūrūm mĭsĕrās Phăĕthōntă quĕrēllās

nōctĕ dĭēquĕ vŏcānt ādstērnūntūrquĕ sĕpūlcrō.

Lūnă quătēr iūnctīs īmplērāt cōrnĭbŭs ōrbēm;

īllaē mōrĕ sŭō, nām mōrēm fēcĕrăt ūsūs,

plāngōrēm dĕdĕrānt. Ē quīs Phăĕthūsă, sŏrōrūm

māxĭmă, cūm vēllēt tērrā prōcūmbĕrĕ, quēsta ēst

dērĭgŭīssĕ pĕdēs; ād quām cōnātă vĕnīrĕ

cāndĭdă Lāmpĕtĭē sŭbĭtā rādīcĕ rĕtēnta ēst;

tērtĭă, cūm crīnēm mănĭbūs lănĭārĕ părārēt,

āvēllīt frōndēs; haēc stīpĭtĕ crūră tĕnērī,

īllă dŏlēt fĭĕrī lōngōs sŭă brācchĭă rāmōs.

Dūmque ĕă mīrāntūr, cōmplēctĭtŭr īnguĭnă cōrtēx

pērquĕ grădūs ŭtĕrūm pēctūsque ŭmĕrōsquĕ mănūsquĕ

āmbĭt ĕt ēxstābānt tāntum ōră vŏcāntĭă mātrēm.

Quīd făcĭāt mātēr, nĭsĭ, quō trăhĭt īmpĕtŭs īllām,

hūc ĕăt ātque īllūc ēt, dūm lĭcĕt, ōscŭlă iūngāt?

Nōn sătĭs ēst; trūncīs āvēllĕrĕ cōrpŏră tēmptāt

ēt tĕnĕrōs mănĭbūs rāmōs ābrūmpĭt; ăt īndĕ

sānguĭnĕaē mānānt, tāmquām dē vūlnĕrĕ, gūttaē.

"Pārcĕ, prĕcōr, mātēr," quaēcūmque ēst saūcĭă, clāmāt,

"Pārcĕ, prĕcōr; nōstrūm lăcĕrātŭr ĭn ārbŏrĕ cōrpūs.

Iāmquĕ vălē". Cōrtēx īn vērbă nŏvīssĭmă vēnīt.

Īndĕ flŭūnt lăcrĭmaē stīllātăquĕ sōlĕ rĭgēscūnt

dē rāmīs ēlēctră nŏvīs, quaē lūcĭdŭs āmnīs

ēxcĭpĭt ēt nŭrĭbūs mīttīt gēstāndă Lătīnīs.

Ādfūīt huīc mōnstrō prōlēs Sthĕnĕlēĭă Cŷgnūs,

quī tĭbĭ mātērnō quāmvīs ā sānguĭnĕ iūnctūs,

mēntĕ tămēn, Phăĕthōn, prŏpĭōr fŭĭt. Īllĕ rĕlīctō

(nām Lĭgŭrūm pŏpŭlōs ēt māgnās rēxĕrăt ūrbēs)

īmpĕrĭō, rīpās vĭrĭdēs āmnēmquĕ quĕrēllīs

Ērĭdănum īnplērāt sīlvāmquĕ sŏrōrĭbŭs aūctām,

cūm vōx ēst tĕnŭātă vĭrō cānaēquĕ căpīllōs

dīssĭmŭlānt plūmaē cōllūmque ā pēctŏrĕ lōngē

pōrrĭgĭtūr dĭgĭtōsquĕ lĭgāt iūnctūră rŭbēntīs,

pēnnă lătūs vēlāt, tĕnĕt ōs sĭne ăcūmĭnĕ rōstrūm.

Fīt nŏvă Cŷgnŭs ăvīs nēc sē caēlōquĕ Iŏvīquĕ

crēdĭt, ŭt īniūstē mīssī mĕmŏr īgnĭs ăb īllō;

stāgnă pĕtīt pătŭlōsquĕ lăcūs īgnēmquĕ pĕrōsūs

quaē cŏlăt, ēlēgīt cōntrārĭă flūmĭnă flāmmīs.

Squālĭdŭs īntĕrĕā gĕnĭtōr Phăĕthōntĭs ĕt ēxpērs

īpsĕ sŭī dĕcŏrīs, quālīs, cūm dēfĭcĭt ōrbēm,

ēssĕ sŏlēt, lūcēmque ōdīt sēque īpsĕ dĭēmquĕ

dātque ănĭmum īn lūctūs ēt lūctĭbŭs ādĭcĭt īrām

ōffĭcĭūmquĕ nĕgāt mūndō. "Sătĭs" īnquĭt "ăb aēvī

sōrs mĕă prīncĭpĭīs fŭĭt īnrĕquĭētă pĭgētquĕ

āctōrūm sĭnĕ fīnĕ mĭhī, sĭne hŏnōrĕ lăbōrūm.

Quīlĭbĕt āltĕr ăgāt pōrtāntēs lūmĭnă cūrrūs!

Sī nēmo ēst ōmnēsquĕ dĕī nōn pōssĕ fătēntūr,

īpse ăgăt, ūt sāltēm, dūm nōstrās tēmptăt hăbēnās,

ōrbātūră pătrēs ălĭquāndō fūlmĭnă pōnāt.

Tūm scĭĕt, īgnĭfĕrūm vīrēs ēxpērtŭs ĕquōrūm,

nōn mērvīssĕ nĕcēm quī nōn bĕnĕ rēxĕrĭt īllōs."

tālĭă dīcēntēm cīrcūmstānt ōmnĭă Sōlēm

nūmĭnă, nēquĕ vĕlīt tĕnĕbrās īndūcĕrĕ rēbūs,

sūpplĭcĕ vōcĕ rŏgānt; mīssōs quŏquĕ Iūppĭtĕr īgnēs

ēxcūsāt prĕcĭbūsquĕ mĭnās rēgālĭtĕr āddīt.

Cōllĭgĭt āmēntēs ĕt ădhūc tērrōrĕ păvēntēs

Phoēbŭs ĕquōs stĭmŭlōquĕ dŏlēns ēt vērbĕrĕ caēdīt;

saēvĭt ĕnīm nātūmque ōbiēctăt ĕt īnpŭtăt īllīs.

Āt pătĕr ōmnĭpŏtēns īngēntĭă moēnĭă caēlī

cīrcŭĭt ēt, nē quīd lăbĕfāctūm vīrĭbŭs īgnīs

cōrrŭăt, ēxplōrāt. Quaē pōstquām fīrmă sŭīquĕ

rōbŏrĭs ēssĕ vĭdēt, tērrās hŏmĭnūmquĕ lăbōrēs

pērspĭcĭt. Ārcădĭaē tămĕn ēst īnpēnsĭŏr īllī

cūră sŭaē; fōntēsque ēt nōndum aūdēntĭă lābī

flūmĭnă rēstĭtŭīt, dāt tērraē grāmĭnă, frōndēs

ārbŏrĭbūs laēsāsquĕ iŭbēt rĕvĭrēscĕrĕ sīlvās.

Dūm rĕdĭt ītquĕ frĕquēns, īn vīrgĭnĕ Nōnācrīnā

haēsĭt ĕt āccēptī cālvērĕ sĭbi ōssĭbŭs īgnēs.

Nōn ĕrăt hūiŭs ŏpūs lānām mōllīrĕ trăhēndō

nēc pŏsĭtū vărĭārĕ cŏmās; ŭbĭ fībŭlă vēstēm,

vīttā coērcŭĕrāt nēglēctōs ālbă căpīllōs

ēt mŏdŏ lēvĕ mănū iăcŭlūm, mŏdŏ sūmpsĕrăt ārcūm,

mīlĕs ĕrāt Phoēbēs, nēc Maēnălŏn āttĭgĭt ūllă

grātĭŏr hāc Trĭvĭaē; sēd nūllă pŏtēntĭă lōnga ēst.

Ūltĕrĭūs mĕdĭō spătĭūm sōl āltŭs hăbēbāt,

cūm sŭbĭt īllă nĕmūs, quōd nūllă cĕcīdĕrăt aētās.

Ēxŭĭt hīc ŭmĕrō phărĕtrām lēntōsquĕ rĕtēndīt

ārcūs īnquĕ sŏlō, quōd tēxĕrăt hērbă, iăcēbāt

ēt pīctām pŏsĭtā phărĕtrām cērvīcĕ prĕmēbāt.

Iūppĭtĕr ūt vīdīt fēssam ēt cūstōdĕ văcāntēm:

"Hōc cērtē fūrtūm cōniūnx mĕă nēscĭĕt" īnquīt

"aūt sī rēscĭĕrīt, sūnt, ō sūnt iūrgĭă tāntī!"

Prōtĭnŭs īndŭĭtūr făcĭēm cūltūmquĕ Dĭānaē

ātque ăĭt: "Ō cŏmĭtūm, vīrgō, pārs ūnă mĕārūm,

īn quĭbŭs ēs vēnātă iŭgīs?" Dē caēspĭtĕ vīrgŏ

sē lĕvăt ēt: "Sālvē, nūmēn, mē iūdĭcĕ," dīxīt

"aūdĭăt īpsĕ lĭcēt, māiūs Iŏvĕ." Rīdĕt ĕt aūdīt

ēt sĭbĭ praēfērrī sē gaūdĕt ĕt ōscŭlă iūngīt

nēc mŏdĕrātă sătīs nēc sīc ā vīrgĭnĕ dāndă.

Quā vēnātă fŏrēt sīlvā nārrārĕ părāntēm

īnpĕdĭt āmplēxū nēc sē sĭnĕ crīmĭnĕ prōdīt.

Īllă quĭdēm cōntrā, quāntūm mŏdŏ fēmĭnă pōssēt,

(āspĭcĕrēs ŭtĭnām, Sātūrnĭă! Mītĭŏr ēssēs)

īllă quĭdēm pūgnāt; sēd quēm sŭpĕrārĕ pŭēllă,

quīsvĕ Iŏvēm pŏtĕrāt sŭpĕrūm? Pĕtĭt aēthĕră vīctōr

Iūppĭtĕr; huīc ŏdĭō nĕmŭs ēst ēt cōnscĭă sīlvă;

ūndĕ pĕdēm rĕfĕrēns paēne ēst ōblītă phărētrām

tōllĕrĕ cūm tēlīs ēt, quēm sūspēndĕrăt, ārcūm.

Ēccĕ sŭō cŏmĭtātă chŏrō Dīctŷnnă pĕr āltūm

Maēnălŏn īngrĕdĭēns ēt caēdĕ sŭpērbă fĕrārūm

āspĭcĭt hānc vīsāmquĕ vŏcāt; clāmātă rĕfūgīt

ēt tĭmŭīt prīmō, nē Iūppĭtĕr ēssĕt ĭn īllā.

Sēd pōstquām părĭtēr nŷmphās īncēdĕrĕ vīdīt,

sēnsĭt ăbēssĕ dŏlōs nŭmĕrūmque āccēssĭt ăd hārūm.

Heū quām dīffĭcĭle ēst crīmēn nōn prōdĕrĕ vūltū!

Vīx ŏcŭlōs āttōllĭt hŭmō nĕc, ŭt āntĕ sŏlēbāt,

iūnctă dĕaē lătĕrī nēc tōto ēst āgmĭnĕ prīmă;

sēd sĭlĕt ēt laēsī dāt sīgnă rŭbōrĕ pŭdōrīs;

ēt, nĭsĭ quōd vīrgo ēst, pŏtĕrāt sēntīrĕ Dĭānă

mīllĕ nŏtīs cūlpām; nŷmphaē sēnsīssĕ fĕrūntūr.

Ōrbĕ rĕsūrgēbānt lūnārĭă cōrnŭă nōnō,

cūm dĕă, vēnātū frātērnīs lānguĭdă flāmmīs,

nāctă nĕmūs gĕlĭdūm, dē quō cūm mūrmŭrĕ lābēns

ībăt ĕt āttrītās vērsābāt rīvŏs hărēnās.

Ūt lŏcă laūdāvīt, sūmmās pĕdĕ cōntĭgĭt ūndās;

hīs quŏquĕ laūdātīs: "Prŏcŭl ēst" ăĭt "ārbĭtĕr ōmnīs;

nūdă sŭpērfūsīs tīngāmūs cōrpŏră lŷmphīs."

Pārrhăsĭs ērŭbŭīt; cūnctaē vēlāmĭnă pōnūnt;

ūnă mŏrās quaērīt; dŭbĭtāntī vēstĭs ădēmpta ēst,

quā pŏsĭtā nūdō pătŭīt cūm cōrpŏrĕ crīmēn.

Āttŏnĭtaē mănĭbūsquĕ vĕrūm cēlārĕ vŏlēntī:

"Ī prŏcŭl hīnc" dīxīt "nēc sācrōs pōllŭĕ fōntīs,"

Cŷnthĭă dēquĕ sŭō iūssīt sēcēdĕrĕ coētū.

Sēnsĕrăt hōc ōlīm māgnī mātrōnă Tŏnāntīs

dīstŭlĕrātquĕ grăvēs ĭn ĭdōnĕă tēmpŏră poēnās.

Caūsă mŏraē nūlla ēst ēt iām pŭĕr Ārcăs (ĭd īpsūm

īndŏlŭīt Iūnō) fŭĕrāt dē paēlĭcĕ nātūs.

Quō sĭmŭl ōbvērtīt saēvām cūm lūmĭnĕ mēntēm:

"Scīlĭcĕt hōc ĕtĭām rēstābăt, ădūltĕră," dīxīt

"ūt fēcūndă fŏrēs fĭĕrētque īniūrĭă pārtū

nōtă Iŏvīsquĕ mĕī tēstātūm dēdĕcŭs ēssēt.

Haūd īnpūnĕ fĕrēs; ădĭmām tĭbĭ nāmquĕ fĭgūrām

quā tĭbĭ quāquĕ plăcēs nōstro, īnpōrtūnă, mărītō."

Dīxĭt ĕt ādvērsām prēnsīs ā frōntĕ căpīllīs

strāvĭt hŭmī prōnām. Tēndēbāt brācchĭă sūpplēx;

brācchĭă coēpērūnt nīgrīs hōrrēscĕrĕ vīllīs

cūrvārīquĕ mănūs ĕt ădūncōs crēscĕre ĭn ūnguīs

ōffĭcĭōquĕ pĕdūm fūngī laūdātăquĕ quōndām

ōră Iŏvī lātō fĭĕrī dēfōrmĭă rīctū.

Nēvĕ prĕcēs ănĭmōs ēt vērbă prĕcāntĭă flēctānt,

pōssĕ lŏqui ērĭpĭtūr; vōx īrācūndă mĭnāxquĕ

plēnăquĕ tērrōrīs raūcō dē gūttŭrĕ fērtūr.

Mēns āntīquă mănēt (fāctā quŏquĕ mānsĭt ĭn ūrsā)

āssĭdŭōquĕ sŭōs gĕmĭtū tēstātă dŏlōrēs

quālēscūmquĕ mănūs ād caēlum ēt sīdĕră tōllīt

īngrātūmquĕ Iŏvēm, nĕquĕāt cūm dīcĕrĕ, sēntīt.

Ā! Quŏtĭēns, sōlā nōn aūsă quĭēscĕrĕ sīlvā,

āntĕ dŏmūm quōndāmquĕ sŭīs ērrāvĭt ĭn āgrīs!

Ā! Quŏtĭēns pēr sāxă cănūm lātrātĭbŭs ācta ēst

vēnātrīxquĕ mĕtū vēnāntūm tērrĭtă fūgīt!

Saēpĕ fĕrīs lătŭīt vīsīs, ōblītă quĭd ēssēt,

ūrsăquĕ cōnspēctōs īn mōntĭbŭs hōrrŭĭt ūrsōs

pērtĭmŭītquĕ lŭpōs, quāmvīs pătĕr ēssĕt ĭn īllīs.

Ēccĕ, Lўcāŏnĭaē prōlēs īgnāră părēntīs,

Ārcăs ădēst, tēr quīnquĕ fĕrē nātālĭbŭs āctīs;

dūmquĕ fĕrās sĕquĭtūr, dūm sāltūs ēlĭgĭt āptōs

nēxĭlĭbūsquĕ plăgīs sīlvās Ĕrўmānthĭdăs āmbīt,

īncĭdĭt īn mātrēm, quaē rēstĭtĭt Ārcădĕ vīsō

ēt cōgnōscēntī sĭmĭlīs fŭĭt; īllĕ rĕfūgīt

īnmōtōsque ŏcŭlōs īn sē sĭnĕ fīnĕ tĕnēntēm

nēscĭŭs ēxtĭmŭīt prŏpĭūsque āccēdĕre ăvēntī

vōlnĭfĭcō fŭĕrāt fīxūrūs pēctŏră tēlō.

Ārcŭĭt ōmnĭpŏtēns părĭtērque īpsōsquĕ nĕfāsquĕ

sūstŭlĭt ēt părĭtēr rāptōs pĕr ĭnānĭă vēntō

īnpŏsŭīt caēlō vīcīnăquĕ sīdĕră fēcīt.

Īntŭmŭīt Iūnō, pōstquam īntēr sīdĕră paēlēx

fūlsĭt ĕt ād cānām dēscēndĭt ĭn aēquŏră Tēthŷn

Ōcĕănūmquĕ sĕnēm, quōrūm rĕvĕrēntĭă mōvīt

saēpĕ dĕōs, caūsāmquĕ vĭaē scītāntĭbŭs īnfīt:

"Quaērĭtĭs aēthĕrĭīs quārē rēgīnă dĕōrūm

sēdĭbŭs hīc ādsīm? Prō mē tĕnĕt āltĕră caēlūm.

Mēntĭŏr, ōbscūrūm nĭsĭ nōx cūm fēcĕrĭt ōrbēm,

nūpĕr hŏnōrātās sūmmō, mĕă vūlnĕră, caēlō

vīdĕrĭtīs stēllās īllīc, ŭbĭ cīrcŭlŭs āxēm

ūltĭmŭs ēxtrēmūm spătĭōquĕ brĕvīssĭmŭs āmbīt.

Ēst vērō quīs quī Iūnōnēm laēdĕrĕ nōlīt

ōffēnsāmquĕ trĕmāt, quaē prōsūm sōlă nŏcēndō?

Ō | ĕgŏ quāntum ēgī! Quām vāstă pŏtēntĭă nōstra ēst!

Ēsse hŏmĭnēm vĕtŭī, fācta ēst dĕă. Sīc ĕgŏ poēnās

sōntĭbŭs īnpōnō, sīc ēst mĕă māgnă pŏtēstās.

Vīndĭcĕt āntīquām făcĭēm vūltūsquĕ fĕrīnōs

dētrăhăt, Ārgŏlĭcā quŏd ĭn āntĕ Phŏrōnĭdĕ fēcīt!

Cūr nōn ēt pūlsā dūcīt Iūnōnĕ mĕōquĕ

cōllŏcăt īn thălămō sŏcĕrūmquĕ Lўcāŏnă sūmīt?

Āt vōs sī laēsaē tāngīt cōntēmptŭs ălūmnaē,

gūrgĭtĕ caērŭlĕō Sēptēm prŏhĭbētĕ trĭōnēs

sīdĕrăque īn caēlō stūprī mērcēdĕ rĕcēptā

pēllĭtĕ, nē pūrō tīngātŭr ĭn aēquŏrĕ paēlēx."

Dī mărĭs ādnŭĕrānt: hăbĭlī Sātūrnĭă cūrrū

īngrĕdĭtūr lĭquĭdūm pāvōnĭbŭs aēthĕră pīctīs,

tām nūpēr pīctīs caēsō pāvōnĭbŭs Ārgō

quām tū nūpĕr ĕrās, cūm cāndĭdŭs āntĕ fŭīssēs,

cōrvĕ lŏquāx, sŭbĭtō nīgrāntīs vērsŭs ĭn ālās.

Nām fŭĭt haēc quōndām nĭvĕīs ārgēntĕă pēnnīs

ālĕs, ŭt aēquārēt tōtās sĭnĕ lābĕ cŏlūmbās

nēc sērvātūrīs vĭgĭlī Căpĭtōlĭă vōcĕ

cēdĕrĕt ānsĕrĭbūs nĕc ămāntī flūmĭnă cŷgnō.

Līnguă fŭīt dāmnō; līnguā făcĭēntĕ lŏquācī,

quī cŏlŏr ālbŭs ĕrāt nūnc ēst cōntrārĭŭs ālbō.

Pūlchrĭŏr īn tōtā quām Lārīssaēă Cŏrōnīs

nōn fŭĭt Haēmŏnĭā; plăcŭīt tĭbĭ, Dēlphĭcĕ, cērtē,

dūm vēl cāstă fŭīt vĕl ĭnōbsērvātă; sĕd ālēs

sēnsĭt ădūltĕrĭūm Phoēbēĭŭs ūtquĕ lătēntēm

dētĕgĕrēt cūlpām, nōn ēxōrābĭlĭs īndēx

ād dŏmĭnūm tēndēbăt ĭtēr; quēm gārrŭlă mōtīs

cōnsĕquĭtūr pēnnīs, scītētŭr ŭt ōmnĭă, cōrnīx

aūdītāquĕ vĭaē caūsā: "Nōn ūtĭlĕ cārpīs"

īnquĭt "ĭtēr; nē spērnĕ mĕaē praēsāgĭă līnguaē.

Quīd fŭĕrīm quīd sīmquĕ vĭdē, mĕrĭtūmquĕ rĕquīrĕ;

īnvĕnĭēs nŏcŭīssĕ fĭdēm. Nām tēmpŏrĕ quōdām

Pāllăs Ĕrīchthŏnĭūm, prōlēm sĭnĕ mātrĕ crĕātūm,

claūsĕrăt Āctaēō tēxtā dē vīmĭnĕ cīstā

vīrgĭnĭbūsquĕ trĭbūs gĕmĭnō dē Cēcrŏpĕ nātīs

ēt lēgēm dĕdĕrāt, sŭă nē sēcrētă vĭdērēnt.

Ābdĭtă frōndĕ lĕvī dēnsā spĕcŭlābăr ăb ūlmō

quīd făcĕrēnt; cōmmīssă dŭaē sĭnĕ fraūdĕ tŭēntūr,

Pāndrŏsŏs ātque Hērsē; tĭmĭdās vŏcăt ūnă sŏrōrēs

Āglaūrōs nōdōsquĕ mănū dīdūcĭt ĕt īntūs

īnfāntēmquĕ vĭdēnt ādpōrrēctūmquĕ drăcōnēm.

Āctĕ dĕaē rĕfĕrō; prō quō mĭhĭ grātĭă tālīs

rēddĭtŭr ūt dīcār tūtēlā pūlsă Mĭnērvaē

ēt pōnār pōst nōctĭs ăvēm. Mĕă poēnă vŏlūcrēs

ādmōnvīssĕ pŏtēst nē vōcĕ pĕrīcŭlă quaērānt.

Āt, pŭtŏ, nōn ūltrō nēc quīcquām tālĕ rŏgāntēm

mē pĕtĭīt! Īpsā lĭcĕt hōc ā Pāllădĕ quaērās;

quāmvīs īrāta ēst, nōn hōc īrātă nĕgābīt.

Nām mē Phōcăĭcā clārūs tēllūrĕ Cŏrōneūs,

nōtă lŏquōr, gĕnŭīt fŭĕrāmque ĕgŏ rēgĭă vīrgŏ

dīvĭtĭbūsquĕ prŏcīs, nē mē cōntēmnĕ, pĕtēbār.

Fōrmă mĭhī nŏcŭīt; nām cūm pēr lītŏră lēntīs

pāssĭbŭs, ūt sŏlĕō, sūmmā spătĭārĕr hărēnā,

vīdĭt ĕt īncālvīt pĕlăgī dĕŭs; ūtquĕ prĕcāndō

tēmpŏră cūm blāndīs ābsūmpsĭt ĭnānĭă vērbīs,

vīm părăt ēt sĕquĭtūr. Fŭgĭō dēnsūmquĕ rĕlīnquō

lītŭs ĕt īn mōllī nēquīquām lāssŏr hărēnā.

Īndĕ dĕōs hŏmĭnēsquĕ vŏcō nēc cōntĭgĭt ūllūm

vōx mĕă mōrtālēm; mōta ēst prō vīrgĭnĕ vīrgŏ

aūxĭlĭūmquĕ tŭlīt. Tēndēbām brācchĭă caēlō;

brācchĭă coēpērūnt lĕvĭbūs nīgrēscĕrĕ pēnnīs.

Rēĭcĕre ēx ŭmĕrīs vēstēm mŏlĭēbăr; ăt īllă

plūma ĕrăt īnquĕ cŭtēm rādīcēs ēgĕrăt īmās.

Plāngĕrĕ nūdă mĕīs cōnābār pēctŏră pālmīs;

sēd nĕquĕ iām pālmās nēc pēctŏră nūdă gĕrēbām.

Cūrrēbām nĕc, ŭt āntĕ, pĕdēs rĕtĭnēbăt hărēnă,

sēd sūmmā tōllēbăr hŭmō. Mōx āctă pĕr aūrās

ēvĕhŏr ēt dătă sūm cŏmĕs īncūlpātă Mĭnērvaē.

Quīd tămĕn hōc prōdēst, sī dīrō fāctă vŏlūcrīs

crīmĭnĕ Nŷctĭmĕnē nōstrō sūccēssĭt hŏnōrī?

Ān, quaē pēr tōtām rēs ēst nōtīssĭmă Lēsbōn,

nōn aūdītă tĭbi ēst, pătrĭūm tĕmĕrāssĕ cŭbīlĕ

Nŷctĭmĕnēn? Ăvĭs īllă quĭdēm, sēd cōnscĭă cūlpaē

cōnspēctūm lūcēmquĕ fŭgīt tĕnĕbrīsquĕ pŭdōrēm

cēlăt ĕt ā cūnctīs ēxpēllĭtŭr aēthĕrĕ tōtō."

Tālĭă dīcēntī: "Tĭbi" ăīt "rĕvŏcāmĭnă" cōrvūs

"sīnt prĕcŏr īstă mălō; nōs vānūm spērnĭmŭs ōmēn."

Nēc coēptūm dīmīttĭt ĭtēr dŏmĭnōquĕ iăcēntēm

cūm iŭvĕne Haēmŏnĭō vīdīssĕ Cŏrōnĭdă nārrāt.

Laūrĕă dēlāpsa ēst aūdītō crīmĭne ămāntīs

ēt părĭtēr vūltūsquĕ dĕō plēctrūmquĕ cŏlōrquĕ

ēxcĭdĭt; ūtque ănĭmūs tŭmĭdā fērvēbăt ăb īrā,

ārma ādsuētă căpīt flēxūmque ā cōrnĭbŭs ārcūm

tēndĭt ĕt īllă sŭō tŏtĭēns cūm pēctŏrĕ iūnctă

īndēvītātō trāiēcīt pēctŏră tēlō.

Iāctă dĕdīt gĕmĭtūm trāctāque ā cōrpŏrĕ fērrō

cāndĭdă pūnĭcĕō pērfūdīt mēmbră crŭōrĕ

ēt dīxīt: "Pŏtŭī poēnās tĭbĭ, Phoēbĕ, dĕdīssĕ,

sēd pĕpĕrīssĕ prĭūs; dŭŏ nūnc mŏrĭēmŭr ĭn ūnā."

Hāctĕnŭs ēt părĭtēr vītām cūm sānguĭnĕ fūdīt;

cōrpŭs ĭnāne ănĭmaē frīgūs lētālĕ sĕcūtum ēst.

Paēnĭtĕt heū! sērō poēnaē crūdēlĭs ămāntēm

sēquĕ quŏd aūdĭĕrīt, quōd sīc ēxārsĕrĭt, ōdīt;

ōdĭt ăvēm pēr quām crīmēn caūsāmquĕ dŏlēndī

scīrĕ cŏāctŭs ĕrāt nēc nōn ārcūmquĕ mănūmquĕ

ōdīt cūmquĕ mănū tĕmĕrārĭă tēlă, săgīttās;

cōnlāpsāmquĕ fŏvēt sērāque ŏpĕ vīncĕrĕ fātă

nītĭtŭr ēt mĕdĭcās ēxērcĕt ĭnānĭtĕr ārtēs.

Quaē pōstquām frūstrā tēmptātă rŏgūmquĕ părārī

vīdĭt ĕt ārsūrōs sūprēmīs īgnĭbŭs ārtūs,

tūm vērō gĕmĭtūs (nĕque ĕnīm caēlēstĭă tīnguī

ōră lĭcēt lăcrĭmīs) āltō dē cōrdĕ pĕtītōs

ēdĭdĭt, haūd ălĭtēr quām cūm, spēctāntĕ iŭvēncā,

lāctēntīs vĭtŭlī dēxtrā lībrātŭs ăb aūrĕ

tēmpŏră dīscūssīt clārā căvă māllĕŭs īctū.

Ūt tămĕn īngrātōs īn pēctŏră fūdĭt ŏdōrēs

ēt dĕdĭt āmplēxūs ĭnĭūstăquĕ iūstă pĕrēgīt,

nōn tŭlĭt īn cĭnĕrēs lābī sŭă Phoēbŭs ĕōsdēm

sēmĭnă, sēd nātūm flāmmīs ŭtĕrōquĕ părēntīs

ērĭpŭīt gĕmĭnīquĕ tŭlīt Chīrōnĭs ĭn āntrūm

spērāntēmquĕ sĭbī nōn fālsaē praēmĭă līnguaē

īntĕr ăvēs ālbās vĕtŭīt cōnsīstĕrĕ cōrvūm.

Sēmĭfĕr īntĕrĕā dīvīnaē stīrpĭs ălūmnō

laētŭs ĕrāt mīxtōque ŏnĕrī gaūdēbăt hŏnōrĕ.

Ēccĕ vĕnīt rŭtĭlīs ŭmĕrōs prōtēctă căpīllīs

fīlĭă Cēntaūrī, quām quōndām nŷmphă Chărīclō

flūmĭnĭs īn răpĭdī rīpīs ēnīxă vŏcāvīt

Ōcŷrhoēn. Nōn haēc ārtēs cōntēntă pătērnās

ēdĭdĭcīssĕ fŭīt; fātōrum ārcānă cănēbāt.

Ērgo ŭbĭ vātĭcĭnōs cōncēpīt mēntĕ fŭrōrēs

īncālvītquĕ dĕō, quēm claūsūm pēctŏre hăbēbāt,

āspĭcĭt īnfāntēm: "Tōtō"quĕ "sălūtĭfĕr ōrbī

crēscĕ, pŭēr;" dīxīt "tĭbĭ sē mōrtālĭă saēpĕ

cōrpŏră dēbēbūnt, ănĭmās tĭbĭ rēddĕre ădēmptās

fās ĕrĭt īdquĕ sĕmēl dīs īndīgnāntĭbŭs aūsūs,

pōssĕ dăre hōc ĭtĕrūm flāmmā prŏhĭbēbĕre ăvītā

ēquĕ dĕō cōrpūs fĭĕs ēxsāngūĕ dĕūsquĕ,

quī mŏdŏ cōrpŭs ĕrās, ēt bīs tŭă fātă nŏvābīs.

Tū quŏquĕ, cārĕ pătēr, nūnc īnmōrtālĭs ĕt aēvīs

ōmnĭbŭs ūt mănĕās, nāscēndī lēgĕ crĕātūs,

pōssĕ mŏrī cŭpĭēs, tūm cūm crŭcĭābĕrĕ dīraē

sānguĭnĕ sērpēntīs pēr saūcĭă mēmbră rĕcēptō;

tēque ēx aētērnō pătĭēntēm nūmĭnă mōrtīs

ēffĭcĭēnt trĭplĭcēsquĕ dĕaē tŭă fīlă rĕsōlvēnt."

Rēstābāt fātīs ălĭquīd; sūspīrăt ăb īmīs

pēctŏrĭbūs lăcrĭmaēquĕ gĕnīs lābūntŭr ŏbōrtaē;

ātque ĭtă: "Praēvērtūnt" īnquīt "mē fātă vĕtōrquĕ

plūră lŏquī vōcīsquĕ mĕaē praēclūdĭtŭr ūsūs.

Nōn fŭĕrānt ārtēs tāntī, quaē nūmĭnĭs īrām

cōntrāxērĕ mĭhī; māllēm nēscīssĕ fŭtūră.

Iām mĭhĭ sūbdūcī făcĭēs hūmānă vĭdētūr,

iām cĭbŭs hērbă plăcēt, iām lātīs cūrrĕrĕ cāmpīs

īmpĕtŭs ēst; ĭn ĕquām cōgnātăquĕ cōrpŏră vērtōr.

Tōtă tămēn quārē? Pătĕr ēst mĭhĭ nēmpĕ bĭfōrmīs."

Tālĭă dīcēntī pārs ēst ēxtrēmă quĕrēllaē

īntēllēctă părūm cōnfūsăquĕ vērbă fŭērūnt;

mōx nēc vērbă quĭdēm nĕc ĕquaē sŏnŭs īllĕ vĭdētūr,

sēd sĭmŭlāntĭs ĕquām; pārvōque īn tēmpŏrĕ cērtōs

ēdĭdĭt hīnnītūs ēt brācchĭă mōvĭt ĭn hērbās.

Tūm dĭgĭtī cŏĕūnt ēt quīnōs āllĭgăt ūnguēs

pērpĕtŭō cōrnū lĕvĭs ūngŭlă crēscĭt ĕt ōrīs

ēt cōllī spătĭūm; lōngaē pārs māxĭmă pāllaē

caūdă fĭt, ūtquĕ văgī crīnēs pēr cōllă iăcēbānt,

īn dēxtrās ăbĭērĕ iŭbās; părĭtērquĕ nŏvāta ēst

ēt vōx ēt făcĭēs; nōmēn quŏquĕ mōnstră dĕdērĕ.

Flēbăt ŏpēmquĕ tŭām frūstrā Phĭlўrēĭŭs hērōs,

Dēlphĭcĕ, pōscēbāt; nām nēc rēscīndĕrĕ māgnī

iūssă Iŏvīs pŏtĕrās, nēc, sī rēscīndĕrĕ pōssēs,

tūnc ădĕrās; Ēlīm Mēssēnĭăque ārvă cŏlēbās.

Īllŭd ĕrāt tēmpūs quō tē pāstōrĭă pēllīs

tēxĭt ŏnūsquĕ fŭīt băcŭlūm sīlvēstrĕ sĭnīstraē,

āltĕrĭūs dīspār sēptēnīs fīstŭlă cānnīs.

Dūmque ămŏr ēst cūraē, dūm tē tŭă fīstŭlă mūlcēt,

īncūstōdītaē Pўlĭōs mĕmŏrāntŭr ĭn āgrōs

prōcēssīssĕ bŏvēs; vĭdĕt hās Ātlāntĭdĕ Māiā

nātŭs ĕt ārtĕ sŭā sīlvīs ōccūltăt ăbāctās.

Sēnsĕrăt hōc fūrtūm nēmō nĭsĭ nōtŭs ĭn īllō

rūrĕ sĕnēx; Bāttūm vīcīnĭă tōtă vŏcābānt.

Dīvĭtĭs hīc sāltūs hērbōsăquĕ pāscŭă Nēleī

nōbĭlĭūmquĕ grĕgēs cūstōs sērvābăt ĕquārūm.

Hūnc tĭmŭīt blāndāquĕ mănū sēdūxĭt ĕt īllī:

"Quīsquĭs ĕs, hōspĕs," ăīt "sī fōrte ārmēntă rĕquīrēt

haēc ălĭquīs, vīdīssĕ nĕgā; neū grātĭă fāctō

nūllă rĕpēndātūr, nĭtĭdām căpĕ praēmĭă vāccām;"

ēt dĕdĭt. Āccēptā, vōcēs hās rēddĭdĭt hōspēs:

"Tūtŭs ĕās; lăpĭs īstĕ prĭūs tŭă fūrtă lŏquētūr;"

ēt lăpĭdem ōstēndīt. Sĭmŭlāt Iŏvĕ nātŭs ăbīrĕ;

mōx rĕdĭt ēt vērsā părĭtēr cūm vōcĕ fĭgūrā:

"Rūstĭcĕ, vīdīstī sīquās hōc līmĭtĕ" dīxīt

"īrĕ bŏvēs, fĕr ŏpēm fūrtōquĕ sĭlēntĭă dēmĕ;

iūnctă sŭō părĭtēr dăbĭtūr tĭbĭ praēmĭă taūrō."

Āt sĕnĭōr, pōstquam ēst mērcēs gĕmĭnātă: "Sŭb īllīs

mōntĭbŭs" īnquĭt "ĕrūnt;" ĕt ĕrānt sūb mōntĭbŭs īllīs.

Rīsĭt Ătlāntīdēs ēt: "Mē mĭhĭ, pērfĭdĕ, prōdīs?

Mē mĭhĭ prōdĭs?" ăīt; pĕrĭūrăquĕ pēctŏră vērtīt

īn dūrūm sĭlĭcēm, quī nūnc quŏquĕ dīcĭtŭr īndēx,

īnquĕ nĭhīl mĕrĭtō vĕtŭs ēst īnfāmĭă sāxō.

Hīnc sē sūstŭlĕrāt părĭbūs Cādūcĭfĕr ālīs

Mūnўchĭōsquĕ vŏlāns āgrōs grātāmquĕ Mĭnērvaē

dēspēctābăt hŭmūm cūltīque ārbūstă Lўcēī.

Īllā fōrtĕ dĭē cāstaē dē mōrĕ pŭēllaē

vērtĭcĕ sūppŏsĭtō fēstās īn Pāllădĭs ārcēs

pūră cŏrōnātīs pōrtābānt sācră cănīstrīs.

Īndĕ rĕvērtēntēs dĕŭs āspĭcĭt ālĕs ĭtērquĕ

nōn ăgĭt īn rēctūm, sĕd ĭn ōrbēm cūrvăt ĕūndēm.

Ūt vŏlŭcrīs vīsīs răpĭdīssĭmă mīlŭŭs ēxtīs,

dūm tĭmĕt ēt dēnsī cīrcūmstānt sācră mĭnīstrī,

flēctĭtŭr īn gŷrūm nēc lōngĭŭs aūdĕt ăbīrĕ

spēmquĕ sŭām mōtīs ăvĭdūs cīrcūmvŏlăt ālīs;

sīc sŭpĕr Āctaēās ăgĭlīs Cŷllēnĭŭs ārcēs

īnclīnāt cūrsūs ĕt ĕāsdēm cīrcĭnăt aūrās.

Quāntō splēndĭdĭōr quām cētĕră sīdĕră fūlgēt

Lūcĭfĕr ēt quāntō quām Lūcĭfĕr aūrĕă Phoēbē,

tāntō vīrgĭnĭbūs praēstāntĭŏr ōmnĭbŭs Hērsē

ībăt ĕrātquĕ dĕcūs pōmpaē cŏmĭtūmquĕ sŭārūm.

Ōbstĭpŭīt fōrmā Iŏvĕ nātŭs ĕt aēthĕrĕ pēndēns

nōn sĕcŭs ēxārsīt quām cūm Bălĕārĭcă plūmbūm

fūndă iăcīt; vŏlăt īllŭd ĕt īncāndēscĭt ĕūndō

ēt, quōs nōn hăbŭīt, sūb nūbĭbŭs īnvĕnĭt īgnīs.

Vērtĭt ĭtēr caēlōquĕ pĕtīt tērrēnă rĕlīctō

nēc sē dīssĭmŭlāt; tānta ēst fīdūcĭă fōrmaē.

Quaē quāmquām iūsta ēst, cŭră tāmĕn ădīŭvăt īllām

pērmūlcētquĕ cŏmās chlămўdēmque, ūt pēndĕăt āptē,

cōnlŏcăt, ūt līmbūs tōtūmque āppārĕăt aūrūm,

ūt tĕrĕs īn dēxtrā, quā sōmnōs dūcĭt ĕt ārcēt,

vīrgă sĭt, ūt tērsīs nĭtĕānt tālārĭă plāntīs.

Pārs sēcrētă dŏmūs ĕbŏre ēt tēstūdĭnĕ cūltōs

trīs hăbŭīt thălămōs, quōrūm tū, Pāndrŏsĕ, dēxtrūm,

Āglaūrōs laēvūm, mĕdĭūm pōssēdĕrăt Hērsē.

Quaē tĕnŭīt laēvūm vĕnĭēntēm prīmă nŏtāvīt

Mērcŭrĭūm nōmēnquĕ dĕī scītārĭĕr aūsa ēst

ēt caūsam ādvēntūs. Cŭĭ sīc rēspōndĭt: "Ătlāntīs

Plēiōnēsquĕ nĕpōs ĕgŏ sūm, quī iūssă pĕr aūrās

vērbă pătrīs pōrtō; pătĕr ēst mĭhĭ Iūppĭtĕr īpsĕ.

Nēc fīngām caūsās; tū tāntūm fīdă sŏrōrī

ēssĕ vĕlīs prōlīsquĕ mĕaē mātērtĕră dīcī.

Hērsē caūsă vĭaē; făvĕās ōrāmŭs ămāntī."

āspĭcĭt hūnc ŏcŭlīs īsdēm quĭbŭs ābdĭtă nūpēr

vīdĕrăt Āglaūrōs flāvaē sēcrētă Mĭnērvaē

prōquĕ mĭnīstĕrĭō māgnī sĭbĭ pōndĕrĭs aūrūm

pōstŭlăt; īntĕrĕā tēctīs ēxcēdĕrĕ cōgīt.

Vērtĭt ăd hānc tōrvī dĕă bēllĭcă lūmĭnĭs ōrbēm

ēt tāntō pĕnĭtūs trāxīt sūspīrĭă mōtū

ūt părĭtēr pēctūs pŏsĭtāmque īn pēctŏrĕ fōrtī

aēgĭdă cōncŭtĕrēt. Sŭbĭt hānc ārcānă prŏfānā

dētēxīssĕ mănū tūm cūm sĭnĕ mātrĕ crĕātām

Lēmnĭcŏlaē stīrpēm cōntrā dătă foēdĕră vīdīt

ēt grātāmquĕ dĕō fŏrĕ iām grātāmquĕ sŏrōrī

ēt dītēm sūmptō, quŏd ăvāră pŏpōscĕrăt, aūrō.

Prōtĭnŭs Īnvĭdĭaē nīgrō squālēntĭă tābō

tēctă pĕtīt; dŏmŭs ēst īmīs īn vāllĭbŭs hūiūs

ābdĭtă, sōlĕ cărēns, nōn ūllī pērvĭă vēntō,

trīstĭs ĕt īgnāvī plēnīssĭmă frīgŏrĭs ēt quaē

īgnĕ văcēt sēmpēr, cālīgĭnĕ sēmpĕr ăbūndēt.

Hūc ŭbĭ pērvēnīt bēllī mĕtŭēndă vĭrāgŏ,

cōnstĭtĭt āntĕ dŏmūm, nĕque ĕnīm sūccēdĕrĕ tēctīs

fās hăbĕt, ēt pōstēs ēxtrēmā cūspĭdĕ pūlsāt.

Cōncūssaē pătŭērĕ fŏrēs; vĭdĕt īntŭs ĕdēntēm

vīpĕrĕās cārnēs, vĭtĭōrum ălĭmēntă sŭōrūm.

Īnvĭdĭām vīsāque ŏcŭlōs āvērtĭt. Ăt īllă

sūrgĭt hŭmō pīgrā sēmēsārūmquĕ rĕlīnquīt

cōrpŏră sērpēntūm pāssūque īncēdĭt ĭnērtī;

ūtquĕ dĕām vīdīt fōrmāque ārmīsquĕ dĕcōrām,

īngĕmŭīt vūltūmque īma ād sūspīrĭă dūxīt.

Pāllŏr ĭn ōrĕ sĕdēt, măcĭēs īn cōrpŏrĕ tōtō,

nūsquām rēcta ăcĭēs, līvēnt rūbīgĭnĕ dēntēs,

pēctŏră fēllĕ vĭrēnt, līngua ēst sūffūsă vĕnēnō;

rīsŭs ăbēst, nĭsĭ quēm vīsī mōvērĕ dŏlōrēs,

nēc frŭĭtūr sōmnō, vĭgĭlāntĭbŭs ēxcĭtă cūrīs,

sēd vĭdĕt īngrātōs, īntābēscītquĕ vĭdēndō,

sūccēssūs hŏmĭnūm cārpītque ēt cārpĭtŭr ūnā

sūpplĭcĭūmquĕ sŭum ēst. Quāmvīs tămĕn ōdĕrăt īllām,

tālĭbŭs ādfāta ēst brĕvĭtēr Trītōnĭă dīctīs:

"Īnfĭcĕ tābĕ tŭā nātārūm Cēcrŏpĭs ūnām.

Sīc ŏpŭs ēst; Āglaūrŏs ĕa ēst." Haūd plūră lŏcūtă

fūgĭt ĕt īnprēssā tēllūrēm rēppŭlĭt hāstā.

Īllă dĕam ōblīquō fŭgĭēntēm lūmĭnĕ cērnēns

mūrmŭră pārvă dĕdīt sūccēssūrūmquĕ Mĭnērvaē

īndŏlŭīt băcŭlūmquĕ căpīt, quōd spīnĕă tōtūm

vīncŭlă cīngēbānt, ădŏpērtăquĕ nūbĭbŭs ātrīs,

quācūmque īngrĕdĭtūr, flōrēntĭă prōtĕrĭt ārvă

ēxūrītque hērbās ēt sūmmă păpāvĕră cārpīt

ādflātūquĕ sŭō pŏpŭlōs ūrbēsquĕ dŏmōsquĕ

pōllŭĭt; ēt tāndēm Trītōnĭdă cōnspĭcĭt ārcēm

īngĕnĭīs ŏpĭbūsque ēt fēstā pācĕ vĭrēntēm

vīxquĕ tĕnēt lăcrĭmās, quĭă nīl lăcrĭmābĭlĕ cērnīt.

Sēd pōstquām thălămōs īntrāvīt Cēcrŏpĕ nātaē,

iūssă făcīt pēctūsquĕ mănū fērrūgĭnĕ tīnctā

tāngĭt ĕt hāmātīs praēcōrdĭă sēntĭbŭs īnplēt

īnspīrātquĕ nŏcēns vīrūs pīceūmquĕ pĕr ōssă

dīssĭpăt ēt mĕdĭō spārgīt pūlmōnĕ vĕnēnūm.

Nēvĕ mălī caūsaē spătĭūm pēr lātĭŭs ērrēnt,

gērmānam ānte ŏcŭlōs fōrtūnātūmquĕ sŏrōrīs

cōniŭgĭūm pūlchrāquĕ dĕūm sŭb ĭmāgĭnĕ pōnīt

cūnctăquĕ māgnă făcīt. Quĭbŭs īrrītātă, dŏlōrĕ

Cēcrŏpĭs ōccūltō mōrdētŭr ĕt ānxĭă nōctĕ,

ānxĭă lūcĕ gĕmīt lēntāquĕ mĭsērrĭmă tābĕ

līquĭtŭr, ūt glăcĭēs īncērtō saūcĭă sōlĕ,

fēlīcīsquĕ bŏnīs nōn lēnĭŭs ūrĭtŭr Hērsēs

quām cūm spīnōsīs īgnīs sūppōnĭtŭr hērbīs,

quaē nĕquĕ dānt flāmmās lēnīquĕ tĕpōrĕ crĕmāntūr.

Saēpĕ mŏrī vŏlŭīt, nē quīcquām tālĕ vĭdērēt,

saēpĕ, vĕlūt crīmēn, rĭgĭdō nārrārĕ părēntī;

dēnĭque ĭn ādvērsō vĕnĭēntem īn līmĭnĕ sēdīt

ēxclūsūră dĕūm. Cuī blāndīmēntă prĕcēsquĕ

vērbăquĕ iāctāntī mītīssĭmă: "Dēsĭnĕ;" dīxīt

"hīnc ĕgŏ mē nōn sūm nĭsĭ tē mōtūră rĕpūlsō."

"Stēmŭs" ăīt "pāctō" vēlōx Cŷllēnĭŭs "īstō;"

caēlēstīquĕ fŏrēs vīrgā pătĕfēcĭt; ăt īllī

sūrgĕrĕ cōnāntī pārtēs, quāscūmquĕ sĕdēndō

flēctĭtŭr, īgnāvā nĕquĕūnt grăvĭtātĕ mŏvērī.

Īllă quĭdēm pūgnāt rēctō se āttōllĕrĕ trūncō,

sēd gĕnŭūm iūnctūră rĭgēt frīgūsquĕ pĕr ūnguēs

lābĭtŭr ēt pāllēnt āmīssō sānguĭnĕ vēnaē;

ūtquĕ mălūm lātē sŏlĕt īnmĕdĭcābĭlĕ cāncēr

sērpĕre ĕt īnlaēsās vĭtĭātīs āddĕrĕ pārtēs,

sīc lētālĭs hĭēms paūlātim īn pēctŏră vēnīt

vītālēsquĕ vĭās ēt rēspīrāmĭnă clūsīt;

nēc cōnātă lŏqui ēst nēc, sī cōnātă fŭīssēt,

vōcĭs hăbēbăt ĭtēr; sāxūm iām cōllă tĕnēbāt

ōrăquĕ dūrvērānt sīgnūmque ēxsānguĕ sĕdēbāt;

nēc lăpĭs ālbŭs ĕrāt; sŭă mēns īnfēcĕrăt īllām.

Hās ŭbĭ vērbōrūm poēnās mēntīsquĕ prŏfānaē

cēpĭt Ătlāntĭădēs, dīctās ā Pāllădĕ tērrās

līnquĭt ĕt īngrĕdĭtūr iāctātīs aēthĕră pēnnīs.

Sēvŏcăt hīnc gĕnĭtōr nēc caūsām fāssŭs ămōrīs:

"Fīdĕ mĭnīstĕr" ăīt "iūssōrūm, nātĕ, mĕōrūm,

pēllĕ mŏrām sŏlĭtōquĕ cĕlēr dēlābĕrĕ cūrsū

quaēquĕ tŭām mātrēm tēllūs ā pārtĕ sĭnīstrā

sūspĭcĭt (īndĭgĕnaē Sĭdŏnīă nŏmīnĕ dĭcūnt),

hānc pĕtĕ, quōdquĕ prŏcūl mōntānō grāmĭnĕ pāscī

ārmēntūm rēgālĕ vĭdēs, ād lītŏră vērtĕ."

Dīxĭt ĕt ēxpūlsī iāmdūdūm mōntĕ iŭvēncī

lītŏră iūssă pĕtūnt, ŭbĭ māgnī fīlĭă rēgīs

lūdĕrĕ vīrgĭnĭbūs Tўrĭīs cŏmĭtātă sŏlēbāt.

Nōn bĕnĕ cōnvĕnĭūnt nĕc ĭn ūnā sēdĕ mŏrāntūr

māiēstās ĕt ămōr; scēptrī grăvĭtātĕ rĕlīctā,

īllĕ pătēr rēctōrquĕ dĕūm, cuī dēxtră trĭsūlcīs

īgnĭbŭs ārmāta ēst, quī nūtū cōncŭtĭt ōrbēm,

īndŭĭtūr făcĭēm taūrī mīxtūsquĕ iŭvēncīs

mūgĭt ĕt īn tĕnĕrīs fōrmōsŭs ŏbāmbŭlăt hērbīs.

Quīppĕ cŏlōr nĭvĭs ēst, quām nēc vēstīgĭă dūrī

cālcāvērĕ pĕdīs nēc sōlvĭt ăquātĭcŭs Aūstēr.

Cōllă tŏrīs ēxstānt, ārmīs pălĕārĭă pēndēnt;

cōrnŭă pārvă quĭdēm, sēd quaē cōntēndĕrĕ pōssīs

fāctă mănū pūrāquĕ măgīs pērlūcĭdă gēmmā.

Nūllae īn frōntĕ mĭnaē nēc fōrmīdābĭlĕ lūmēn;

pācēm vūltŭs hăbēt. Mīrātŭr Ăgēnŏrĕ nātă

quōd tām fōrmōsūs, quōd proēlĭă nūllă mĭnētūr;

sēd quāmvīs mītēm, mĕtŭīt cōntīngĕrĕ prīmō.

Mōx ădĭt ēt flōrēs ād cāndĭdă pōrrĭgĭt ōră.

Gaūdĕt ămāns ēt, dūm vĕnĭāt spērātă vŏlūptās,

ōscŭlă dāt mănĭbūs; vīx iām, vīx cētĕră dīffērt.

Ēt nūnc āllūdīt vĭrĭdīque ēxsūltăt ĭn hērbā

nūnc lătŭs īn fūlvīs nĭvĕūm dēpōnĭt hărēnīs;

paūlātīmquĕ mĕtū dēmptō, mŏdŏ pēctŏră praēbēt

vīrgĭnĕā plaūdēndă mănū, mŏdŏ cōrnŭă sērtīs

īnpĕdĭēndă nŏvīs. Aūsa ēst quŏquĕ rēgĭă vīrgŏ,

nēscĭă quēm prĕmĕrēt, tērgō cōnsīstĕrĕ taūrī,

cūm dĕŭs ā tērrā sīccōque īn lītŏrĕ sēnsīm

fālsă pĕdūm prīmō vēstīgĭă pōnĭt ĭn ūndīs,

īnde ăbĭt ūltĕrĭūs mĕdĭīquĕ pĕr aēquŏră pōntī

fērt praēdām. Păvĕt haēc lītūsque āblātă rĕlīctūm

rēspĭcĭt ēt dēxtrā cōrnūm tĕnĕt, āltĕră dōrsō

īmpŏsĭta ēst; trĕmŭlaē sĭnŭāntūr flāmĭnĕ vēstēs.

Regia Solis erat sublimibus alta columnis,

clara micante auro flammasque imitante pyropo;

cuius ebur nitidum fastigia summa tegebat,

argenti bifores radiabant lumine valvae.

Materiam superabat opus; nam Mulciber illic

aequora caelarat medias cingentia terras

terrarumque orbem caelumque, quod imminet orbi.

Caeruleos habet unda deos, Tritona canorum

Proteaque ambiguum ballenarumque prementem

Aegaeona suis immania terga lacertis

Doridaque et natas, quarum pars nare videtur,

pars in mole sedens viridis siccare capillos,

pisce vehi quaedam; facies non omnibus una,

non diversa tamen, qualem decet esse sororum.

Terra viros urbesque gerit silvasque ferasque

fluminaque et nymphas et cetera numina ruris.

Haec super inposita est caeli fulgentis imago

signaque sex foribus dextris totidemque sinistris.

Quo simul adclivi Clymeneia limite proles

venti et intravit dubitati tecta parentis,

protinus ad patrios sua fert vestigia vultus

consistitque procul; neque enim propiora ferebat

lumina; purpurea velatus veste sedebat

in solio Phoebus claris lucente zmaragdis.

A dextra laevaque Dies et Mensis et Annus

Saeculaque et positae spatiis aequalibus Horae

Verque novum stabat cinctum florente corona,

stabat nuda Aestas et spicea serta gerebat,

stabat et Autumnus, calcatis sordidus uvis,

et glacialis Hiems, canos hirsuta capillos.

Inde loco medius rerum novitate paventem

Sol oculis iuvenem, quibus adspicit omnia, vidit:

"Quae"que "viae tibi causa? Quid hac" ait "arce petisti,

progenies, Phaëthon, haud infitianda parenti?"

Ille refert: "O lux inmensi publica mundi,

Phoebe pater, si das usum mihi nominis huius

nec falsa Clymene culpam sub imagine celat,

pignora da, genitor, per quae tua vera propago

credar et hunc animis errorem detrahe nostris."

Dixerat; at genitor circum caput omne micantes

deposuit radios propiusque accedere iussit

amplexuque dato: "Nec tu meus esse negari

dignus es et Clymene veros" ait "edidit ortus;

quoque minus dubites, quodvis pete munus, ut illud

me tribuente feras; promissis testis adesto

dis iuranda palus, oculis incognita nostris."

Vix bene desierat; currus rogat ille paternos

inque diem alipedum ius et moderamen equorum.

Paenituit iurasse patrem, qui terque quaterque

concutiens inlustre caput: "Temeraria" dixit

"vox mea facta tua est. Utinam promissa liceret

non dare! Confiteor, solum hoc tibi, nate negarem.

Dissuadere licet; non est tua tuta voluntas;

magna petis, Phaëthon, et quae nec viribus istis

munera conveniant nec tam puerilibus annis.

Sors tua mortalis; non est mortale quod optas.

Plus etiam quam quod superis contingere possit

nescius adfectas; placeat sibi quisque licebit.

Non tamen ignifero quisquam consistere in axe

me valet excepto; vasti quoque rector Olympi,

qui fera terribili iaculatur fulmina dextra,

non aget hos currus; et quid Iove maius habemus?

Ardua prima via est et qua vix mane recentes

enituntur equi; media est altissima caelo,

unde mare et terras ipsi mihi saepe videre

sit timor et pavida trepidet formidine pectus;

ultima prona via est et eget moderamine certo;

tunc etiam quae me subiectis excipit undis

ne ferar in praeceps Tethys solet ipsa vereri.

Adde quod assidua rapitur vertigine caelum

sideraque alta trahit celerique volumine torquet.

Nitor in adversum nec me, qui cetera, vincit

impetus et rapido contrarius evehor orbi.

Finge datos currus; quid ages? Poterisne roratis

obvius ire polis, ne te citus auferat axis?

Forsitan et lucos illic urbesque deorum

concipias animo delubraque ditia donis

esse; per insidias iter est formasque ferarum.

Utque viam teneas nulloque errore traharis,

per tamen adversi gradieris cornua Tauri

Haemoniosque arcus violentique ora Leonis

saevaque circuitu curvantem bracchia longo

Scorpion atque aliter curvantem bracchia Cancrum.

Nec tibi quadripedes animosos ignibus illis,

quos in pectore habent, quos ore et naribus efflant,

in promptu regere est; vix me patiuntur, ut acres

incaluere animi, cervixque repugnat habenis.

At tu, funesti ne sim tibi muneris auctor,

nate, cave, dum resque sinit, tua corrige vota.

Scilicet ut nostro genitum te sanguine credas,

pignora certa petis? Do pignora certa timendo

et patrio pater esse metu probor. Aspice vultus

ecce meos; utinamque oculos in pectora posses

inserere et patrias intus deprendere curas!

Denique quicquid habet dives, circumspice, mundus

deque tot ac tantis caeli terraeque marisque

posce bonis aliquid; nullam patiere repulsam.

Deprecor hoc unum, quod vero nomine poena,

non honor est; poenam, Phaëthon, pro munere poscis.

Quid mea colla tenes blandis, ignare, lacertis?

Ne dubita, dabitur (stygias iuravimus undas)

quodcumque optaris; sed tu sapientius opta."

finierat monitus; dictis tamen ille repugnat

propositumque premit flagratque cupidine currus.

Ergo qua licuit genitor cunctatus ad altos

deducit iuvenem, Volcania munera, currus.

Aureus axis erat, temo aureus, aurea summae

curvatura rotae, radiorum argenteus ordo;

per iuga chrysolithi positaeque ex ordine gemmae

clara repercusso reddebant lumina Phoebo.

Dumque ea magnanimus Phaëthon miratur opusque

perspicit, ecce vigil nitido patefecit ab ortu

purpureas Aurora fores et plena rosarum

atria; diffugiunt stellae, quarum agmina cogit

lucifer et caeli statione novissimus exit.

Quem petere ut terras mundumque rubescere vidit

cornuaque extremae velut evanescere lunae,

iungere equos Titan velocibus imperat Horis.

Iussa deae celeres peragunt ignemque vomentis,

ambrosiae suco saturos, praesepibus altis

quadripedes ducunt adduntque sonantia frena.

Tum pater ora sui sacro medicamine nati

contigit et rapidae fecit patientia flammae

inposuitque comae radios praesagaque luctus

pectore sollicito repetens suspiria dixit:

"Si potes his saltem monitis parere parentis,

parce, puer, stimulis et fortius utere loris;

sponte sua properant; labor est inhibere volentes.

Nec tibi directos placeat via quinque per arcus;

sectus in obliquum est lato curvamine limes,

zonarumque trium contentus fine polumque

effugit australem iunctamque aquilonibus Arcton;

hac sit iter; manifesta rotae vestigia cernes.

Utque ferant aequos et caelum et terra calores,

nec preme nec summum molire per aethera currum.

Altius egressus caelestia tecta cremabit,

inferius terras; medio tutissimus ibis.

Neu te dexterior tortum declinet ad Anguem,

neve sinisterior pressam rota ducat ad Aram,

inter utrumque tene; Fortunae cetera mando,

quae iuvet et melius, quam tu tibi, consulat opto.

Dum loquor, Hesperio positas in litore metas

umida nox tetigit; non est mora libera nobis;

poscimur et fulget tenebris aurora fugatis.

Corripe lora manu, vel, si mutabile pectus

est tibi, consiliis, non curribus utere nostris,

dum potes et solidis etiamnunc sedibus astas

dumque male optatos nondum premis inscius axes.

Quae tutus spectes, sine me dare lumina terris."

Occupat ille levem iuvenali corpore currum

statque super manibusque leves contingere habenas

gaudet et invito grates agit inde parenti.

Interea volucres Pyrois et Eous et Aethon,

solis equi, quartusque Phlegon hinnitibus auras

flammiferis inplent pedibusque repagula pulsant.

Quae postquam Tethys, fatorum ignara nepotis,

reppulit et facta est inmensi copia caeli,

corripuere viam pedibusque per aëra motis

obstantes scindunt nebulas pennisque levati

praetereunt ortos isdem de partibus Euros.

Sed leve pondus erat nec quod cognoscere possent

solis equi solitaque iugum gravitate carebat;

utque labant curvae iusto sine pondere naves

perque mare instabilis nimia levitate feruntur,

sic onere adsueto vacuos dat in aëre saltus

succutiturque alte similisque est currus inani.

Quod simul ac sensere, ruunt tritumque relinquunt

quadriiugi spatium nec, quo prius, ordine currunt.

Ipse pavet nec qua commissas flectet habenas,

nec scit qua sit iter, nunc, si sciat, imperet illis.

Tum primum radiis gelidi caluere Triones

et vetito frustra temptarunt aequore tingi

quaeque polo posita est glaciali proxima Serpens,

frigore pigra prius nec formidabilis ulli,

incaluit sumpsitque novas fervoribus iras.

Te quoque turbatum memorant fugisse, Boote,

quamvis tardus eras et te tua plaustra tenebant.

Ut vero summo despexit ab aethere terras

infelix Phaëthon penitus penitusque patentis,

palluit et subito genua intremuere timore

suntque oculis tenebrae per tantum lumen obortae;

et iam mallet equos numquam tetigisse paternos,

iam cognosse genus piget et valuisse rogando;

iam Meropis dici cupiens ita fertur ut acta

praecipiti pinus Borea, cui vincta remisit

frena suus rector, quam dis votisque reliquit.

Quid faciat? Multum caeli post terga relictum,

ante oculos plus est; animo metitur utrumque

et modo, quos illi fatum contingere non est,

prospicit occasus, interdum respicit ortus;

quidque agat ignarus stupet et nec frena remittit

nec retinere valet nec nomina novit equorum.

Sparsa quoque in vario passim miracula caelo

vastarumque videt trepidus simulacra ferarum.

Est locus in geminos ubi bracchia concavat arcus

Scorpius et cauda flexisque utrinque lacertis

porrigit in spatium signorum membra duorum.

Hunc puer ut nigri madidum sudore veneni

vulnera curvata minitantem cuspide vidit,

mentis inops gelida formidine lora remisit.

Quae postquam summum tetigere iacentia tergum,

exspatiantur equi nulloque inhibente per auras

ignotae regionis eunt, quaque impetus egit,

hac sine lege ruunt altoque sub aethere fixis

incursant stellis rapiuntque per avia currum

et modo summa petunt, modo per declive viasque

praecipites spatio terrae propiore feruntur;

inferiusque suis fraternos currere Luna

admiratur equos ambustaque nubila fumant.

Corripitur flammis, ut quaeque altissima, tellus

fissaque agit rimas et sucis aret ademptis;

pabula canescunt, cum frondibus uritur arbor

materiamque suo praebet seges arida damno.

Parva queror; magnae pereunt cum moenibus urbes

cumque suis totas populis incendia gentes

in cinerem vertunt. Silvae cum montibus ardent,

ardet Athos Taurusque Cilix et Tmolus et Oete

et tum sicca, prius creberrima fontibus, Ide

virgineusque Helicon et nondum Oeagrius Haemus.

Ardet in inmensum geminatis ignibus Aetne

Parnasusque biceps et Eryx et Cynthus et Othrys

et tandem nivibus Rhodope caritura Mimasque

Dindymaque et Mycale natusque ad sacra Cithaeron.

Nec prosunt Scythiae sua frigora; Caucasus ardet

ossaque cum Pindo maiorque ambobus Olympus

aëriaeque Alpes et nubifer Appenninus.

Tum vero Phaëthon cunctis e partibus orbem

adspicit accensum nec tantos sustinet aestus

ferventisque auras velut e fornace profunda

ore trahit currusque suos candescere sentit;

et neque iam cineres eiectatamque favillam

ferre potest calidoque involvitur undique fumo

quoque eat, aut ubi sit, picea caligine tectus,

nescit et arbitrio volucrum raptatur equorum.

Sanguine tum credunt in corpora summa vocato

Aethiopum populos nigrum traxisse colorem;

tum facta est Libye raptis umoribus aestu

arida, tum nymphae passis fontesque lacusque

defluere comis; quaerit Boeotia Dircen,

Argos Amymonen, Ephyre Pirenidas undas.

nec sortita loco distantes flumina ripas

tuta manent; mediis Tanais fumavit in undis

Peneosque senex Teuthranteusque Caicus

et celer Ismenos cum Phegiaco Erymantho

arsurusque iterum Xanthus flavusque Lycormas

quique recurvatis ludit Maeandrus in undis

Mygdoniusque Melas et Taenarius Eurotas.

Arsit et Euphrates Babylonius, arsit Orontes

Thermodonque citus Gangesque et Phasis et Hister.

Aestuat Alpheos, ripae Spercheides ardent;

quodque suo Tagus amne vehit, fluit ignibus aurum

et quae Maeonias celebrabant carmine ripas

flumineae volucres medio caluere Caystro.

Nilus in extremum fugit perterritus orbem

occuluitque caput, quod adhuc latet; ostia septem

pulverulenta vacant, septem sine flumine valles.

Fors eadem Ismarios Hebrum cum Strymone siccat

Hesperiosque amnes Rhenum Rhodanumque Padumque,

cuique fuit rerum promissa potentia, Thybrim.

Dissilit omne solum penetratque in Tartara rimis

lumen et infernum terret cum coniuge regem

et mare contrahitur siccaeque est campus harenae

quod modo pontus erat; quosque altum texerat aequor,

exsistunt montes et sparsas Cycladas augent.

Ima petunt pisces nec se super aequora curvi

tollere consuetas audent delphines in auras;

corpora phocarum summo resupina profundo

exanimata natant. Ipsum quoque Nerea fama est

Doridaque et natas tepidis latuisse sub antris.

Ter Neptunus aquis cum torvo bracchia voltu

exserere ausus erat; ter non tulit aëris ignes.

Alma tamen Tellus, ut erat circumdata ponto,

inter aquas pelagi contractos undique fontes,

qui se condiderant in opacae viscera matris,

sustulit oppressos collo tenus arida voltus

opposuitque manum fronti magnoque tremore

omnia concutiens paulum subsedit et infra,

quam solet esse, fuit sacraque ita voce locuta est:

"Si placet hoc meruique, quid o tua fulmina cessant,

summe deum? Liceat periturae viribus ignis

igne perire tuo clademque auctore levare.

Vix equidem fauces haec ipsa in verba resolvo;"

(presserat ora vapor) "tostos en aspice crines

inque oculis tantum, tantum super ora favillae!

Hosne mihi fructus, hunc fertilitatis honorem

officiique refers, quod adunci vulnera aratri

rastrorumque fero totoque exerceor anno,

quod pecori frondes alimentaque mitia, fruges,

humano generi, vobis quoque tura ministro?

Sed tamen exitium fac me meruisse; quid undae,

quid meruit frater? Cur illi tradita sorte

aequora decrescunt et ab aethere longius absunt?

Quodsi nec fratris nec te mea gratia tangit,

at caeli miserere tui; circumspice utrumque,

fumat uterque polus; quos si vitiaverit ignis,

atria vestra ruent. Atlans en ipse laborat

vixque suis umeris candentem sustinet axem.

Si freta, si terrae pereunt, si regia caeli,

in chaos antiquum confundimur. Eripe flammis

siquid adhuc superest et rerum consule summae."

Dixerat haec tellus; neque enim tolerare vaporem

ulterius potuit nec dicere plura suumque

rettulit os in se propioraque manibus antra.

At pater omnipotens, superos testatus et ipsum

qui dederat currus, nisi opem ferat, omnia fato

interitura gravi, summam petit arduus arcem,

unde solet nubes latis inducere terris,

unde movet tonitrus vibrataque fulmina iactat.

Sed neque quas posset terris inducere nubes

tunc habuit nec quos caelo demitteret imbres.

Intonat et dextra libratum fulmen ab aure

misit in aurigam pariterque animaque rotisque

expulit et saevis compescuit ignibus ignes.

Consternantur equi et saltu in contraria facto

colla iugo eripiunt abruptaque lora relinquunt.

Illic frena iacent, illic temone revulsus

axis, in hac radii fractarum parte rotarum

sparsaque sunt late laceri vestigia currus.

At Phaëthon, rutilos flamma populante capillos,

volvitur in praeceps longoque per aëra tractu

fertur, ut interdum de caelo stella sereno,

etsi non cecidit, potuit cecidisse videri.

Quem procul a patria diverso maximus orbe

excipit Eridanus fumantiaque abluit ora.

Naides Hesperiae trifida fumantia flamma

corpora dant tumulo, signant quoque carmine saxum:

"Hic situs est Phaëthon currus auriga paterni;

quem si non tenuit, magnis tamen excidit ausis."

Nam pater obductos, luctu miserabilis aegro,

condiderat vultus et, si modo credimus, unum

isse diem sine sole ferunt; incendia lumen

praebebant aliquisque malo fuit usus in illo.

At Clymene, postquam dixit quaecumque fuerunt

in tantis dicenda malis, lugubris et amens

et laniata sinus totum percensuit orbem

exanimesque artus primo, mox ossa requirens,

repperit ossa tamen peregrina condita ripa

incubuitque loco nomenque in marmore lectum

perfudit lacrimis et aperto pectore fovit.

Nec minus Heliades lugent et inania morti

munera dant lacrimas et caesae pectora palmis

non auditurum miseras Phaëthonta querellas

nocte dieque vocant adsternunturque sepulcro.

Luna quater iunctis implerat cornibus orbem;

illae more suo, nam morem fecerat usus,

plangorem dederant. E quis Phaëthusa, sororum

maxima, cum vellet terra procumbere, questa est

deriguisse pedes; ad quam conata venire

candida Lampetie subita radice retenta est;

tertia, cum crinem manibus laniare pararet,

avellit frondes; haec stipite crura teneri,

illa dolet fieri longos sua bracchia ramos.

Dumque ea mirantur, complectitur inguina cortex

perque gradus uterum pectusque umerosque manusque

ambit et exstabant tantum ora vocantia matrem.

Quid faciat mater, nisi, quo trahit impetus illam,

huc eat atque illuc et, dum licet, oscula iungat?

Non satis est; truncis avellere corpora temptat

et teneros manibus ramos abrumpit; at inde

sanguineae manant, tamquam de vulnere, guttae.

"Parce, precor, mater," quaecumque est saucia, clamat,

"Parce, precor; nostrum laceratur in arbore corpus.

Iamque vale". Cortex in verba novissima venit.

Inde fluunt lacrimae stillataque sole rigescunt

de ramis electra novis, quae lucidus amnis

excipit et nuribus mittit gestanda Latinis.

Adfuit huic monstro proles Stheneleia Cygnus,

qui tibi materno quamvis a sanguine iunctus,

mente tamen, Phaëthon, propior fuit. Ille relicto

(nam Ligurum populos et magnas rexerat urbes)

imperio, ripas virides amnemque querellis

Eridanum inplerat silvamque sororibus auctam,

cum vox est tenuata viro canaeque capillos

dissimulant plumae collumque a pectore longe

porrigitur digitosque ligat iunctura rubentis,

penna latus velat, tenet os sine acumine rostrum.

Fit nova Cygnus avis nec se caeloque Iovique

credit, ut iniuste missi memor ignis ab illo;

stagna petit patulosque lacus ignemque perosus

quae colat, elegit contraria flumina flammis.

Squalidus interea genitor Phaëthontis et expers

ipse sui decoris, qualis, cum deficit orbem,

esse solet, lucemque odit seque ipse diemque

datque animum in luctus et luctibus adicit iram

officiumque negat mundo. "Satis" inquit "ab aevi

sors mea principiis fuit inrequieta pigetque

actorum sine fine mihi, sine honore laborum.

Quilibet alter agat portantes lumina currus!

Si nemo est omnesque dei non posse fatentur,

ipse agat, ut saltem, dum nostras temptat habenas,

orbatura patres aliquando fulmina ponat.

Tum sciet, igniferum vires expertus equorum,

non meruisse necem qui non bene rexerit illos."

talia dicentem circumstant omnia Solem

numina, neque velit tenebras inducere rebus,

supplice voce rogant; missos quoque Iuppiter ignes

excusat precibusque minas regaliter addit.

Colligit amentes et adhuc terrore paventes

Phoebus equos stimuloque dolens et verbere caedit;

saevit enim natumque obiectat et inputat illis.

At pater omnipotens ingentia moenia caeli

circuit et, ne quid labefactum viribus ignis

corruat, explorat. Quae postquam firma suique

roboris esse videt, terras hominumque labores

perspicit. Arcadiae tamen est inpensior illi

cura suae; fontesque et nondum audentia labi

flumina restituit, dat terrae gramina, frondes

arboribus laesasque iubet revirescere silvas.

Dum redit itque frequens, in virgine Nonacrina

haesit et accepti caluere sibi ossibus ignes.

Non erat huius opus lanam mollire trahendo

nec positu variare comas; ubi fibula vestem,

vitta coercuerat neglectos alba capillos

et modo leve manu iaculum, modo sumpserat arcum,

miles erat Phoebes, nec Maenalon attigit ulla

gratior hac Triviae; sed nulla potentia longa est.

Ulterius medio spatium sol altus habebat,

cum subit illa nemus, quod nulla ceciderat aetas.

Exuit hic umero pharetram lentosque retendit

arcus inque solo, quod texerat herba, iacebat

et pictam posita pharetram cervice premebat.

Iuppiter ut vidit fessam et custode vacantem:

"Hoc certe furtum coniunx mea nesciet" inquit

"aut si rescierit, sunt, o sunt iurgia tanti!"

Protinus induitur faciem cultumque Dianae

atque ait: "O comitum, virgo, pars una mearum,

in quibus es venata iugis?" De caespite virgo

se levat et: "Salve, numen, me iudice," dixit

"audiat ipse licet, maius Iove." Ridet et audit

et sibi praeferri se gaudet et oscula iungit

nec moderata satis nec sic a virgine danda.

Qua venata foret silva narrare parantem

inpedit amplexu nec se sine crimine prodit.

Illa quidem contra, quantum modo femina posset,

(aspiceres utinam, Saturnia! Mitior esses)

illa quidem pugnat; sed quem superare puella,

quisve Iovem poterat superum? Petit aethera victor

Iuppiter; huic odio nemus est et conscia silva;

unde pedem referens paene est oblita pharetram

tollere cum telis et, quem suspenderat, arcum.

Ecce suo comitata choro Dictynna per altum

Maenalon ingrediens et caede superba ferarum

aspicit hanc visamque vocat; clamata refugit

et timuit primo, ne Iuppiter esset in illa.

Sed postquam pariter nymphas incedere vidit,

sensit abesse dolos numerumque accessit ad harum.

Heu quam difficile est crimen non prodere vultu!

Vix oculos attollit humo nec, ut ante solebat,

iuncta deae lateri nec toto est agmine prima;

sed silet et laesi dat signa rubore pudoris;

et, nisi quod virgo est, poterat sentire Diana

mille notis culpam; nymphae sensisse feruntur.

Orbe resurgebant lunaria cornua nono,

cum dea, venatu fraternis languida flammis,

nacta nemus gelidum, de quo cum murmure labens

ibat et attritas versabat rivos harenas.

Ut loca laudavit, summas pede contigit undas;

his quoque laudatis: "Procul est" ait "arbiter omnis;

nuda superfusis tingamus corpora lymphis."

Parrhasis erubuit; cunctae velamina ponunt;

una moras quaerit; dubitanti vestis adempta est,

qua posita nudo patuit cum corpore crimen.

Attonitae manibusque uerum celare volenti:

"I procul hinc" dixit "nec sacros pollue fontis,"

Cynthia deque suo iussit secedere coetu.

Senserat hoc olim magni matrona Tonantis

distuleratque graves in idonea tempora poenas.

Causa morae nulla est et iam puer Arcas (id ipsum

indoluit Iuno) fuerat de paelice natus.

Quo simul obvertit saevam cum lumine mentem:

"Scilicet hoc etiam restabat, adultera," dixit

"ut fecunda fores fieretque iniuria partu

nota Iovisque mei testatum dedecus esset.

Haud inpune feres; adimam tibi namque figuram

qua tibi quaque places nostro, inportuna, marito."

Dixit et adversam prensis a fronte capillis

stravit humi pronam. Tendebat bracchia supplex;

bracchia coeperunt nigris horrescere villis

curvarique manus et aduncos crescere in unguis

officioque pedum fungi laudataque quondam

ora Iovi lato fieri deformia rictu.

Neve preces animos et verba precantia flectant,

posse loqui eripitur; vox iracunda minaxque

plenaque terroris rauco de gutture fertur.

Mens antiqua manet (facta quoque mansit in ursa)

assiduoque suos gemitu testata dolores

qualescumque manus ad caelum et sidera tollit

ingratumque Iovem, nequeat cum dicere, sentit.

A! Quotiens, sola non ausa quiescere silva,

ante domum quondamque suis erravit in agris!

A! Quotiens per saxa canum latratibus acta est

venatrixque metu venantum territa fugit!

Saepe feris latuit visis, oblita quid esset,

ursaque conspectos in montibus horruit ursos

pertimuitque lupos, quamvis pater esset in illis.

Ecce, Lycaoniae proles ignara parentis,

Arcas adest, ter quinque fere natalibus actis;

dumque feras sequitur, dum saltus eligit aptos

nexilibusque plagis silvas Erymanthidas ambit,

incidit in matrem, quae restitit Arcade viso

et cognoscenti similis fuit; ille refugit

inmotosque oculos in se sine fine tenentem

nescius extimuit propiusque accedere aventi

volnifico fuerat fixurus pectora telo.

Arcuit omnipotens pariterque ipsosque nefasque

sustulit et pariter raptos per inania vento

inposuit caelo vicinaque sidera fecit.

Intumuit Iuno, postquam inter sidera paelex

fulsit et ad canam descendit in aequora Tethyn

Oceanumque senem, quorum reverentia movit

saepe deos, causamque viae scitantibus infit:

"Quaeritis aetheriis quare regina deorum

sedibus hic adsim? Pro me tenet altera caelum.

Mentior, obscurum nisi nox cum fecerit orbem,

nuper honoratas summo, mea vulnera, caelo

videritis stellas illic, ubi circulus axem

ultimus extremum spatioque brevissimus ambit.

Est vero quis qui Iunonem laedere nolit

offensamque tremat, quae prosum sola nocendo?

O | ego quantum egi! Quam vasta potentia nostra est!

Esse hominem vetui, facta est dea. Sic ego poenas

sontibus inpono, sic est mea magna potestas.

Vindicet antiquam faciem vultusque ferinos

detrahat, Argolica quod in ante Phoronide fecit!

Cur non et pulsa ducit Iunone meoque

collocat in thalamo socerumque Lycaona sumit?

At vos si laesae tangit contemptus alumnae,

gurgite caeruleo Septem prohibete triones

sideraque in caelo stupri mercede recepta

pellite, ne puro tingatur in aequore paelex."

Di maris adnuerant: habili Saturnia curru

ingreditur liquidum pavonibus aethera pictis,

tam nuper pictis caeso pavonibus Argo

quam tu nuper eras, cum candidus ante fuisses,

corve loquax, subito nigrantis versus in alas.

Nam fuit haec quondam niveis argentea pennis

ales, ut aequaret totas sine labe columbas

nec servaturis vigili Capitolia voce

cederet anseribus nec amanti flumina cygno.

Lingua fuit damno; lingua faciente loquaci,

qui color albus erat nunc est contrarius albo.

Pulchrior in tota quam Larissaea Coronis

non fuit Haemonia; placuit tibi, Delphice, certe,

dum vel casta fuit vel inobservata; sed ales

sensit adulterium Phoebeius utque latentem

detegeret culpam, non exorabilis index

ad dominum tendebat iter; quem garrula motis

consequitur pennis, scitetur ut omnia, cornix

auditaque viae causa: "Non utile carpis"

inquit "iter; ne sperne meae praesagia linguae.

Quid fuerim quid simque vide, meritumque require;

invenies nocuisse fidem. Nam tempore quodam

Pallas Erichthonium, prolem sine matre creatum,

clauserat Actaeo texta de vimine cista

virginibusque tribus gemino de Cecrope natis

et legem dederat, sua ne secreta viderent.

Abdita fronde levi densa speculabar ab ulmo

quid facerent; commissa duae sine fraude tuentur,

Pandrosos atque Herse; timidas vocat una sorores

Aglauros nodosque manu diducit et intus

infantemque vident adporrectumque draconem.

Acte deae refero; pro quo mihi gratia talis

redditur ut dicar tutela pulsa Minervae

et ponar post noctis avem. Mea poena volucres

admonuisse potest ne voce pericula quaerant.

At, puto, non ultro nec quicquam tale rogantem

me petiit! Ipsa licet hoc a Pallade quaeras;

quamvis irata est, non hoc irata negabit.

Nam me Phocaica clarus tellure Coroneus,

nota loquor, genuit fueramque ego regia virgo

divitibusque procis, ne me contemne, petebar.

Forma mihi nocuit; nam cum per litora lentis

passibus, ut soleo, summa spatiarer harena,

vidit et incaluit pelagi deus; utque precando

tempora cum blandis absumpsit inania verbis,

vim parat et sequitur. Fugio densumque relinquo

litus et in molli nequiquam lassor harena.

Inde deos hominesque voco nec contigit ullum

vox mea mortalem; mota est pro virgine virgo

auxiliumque tulit. Tendebam bracchia caelo;

bracchia coeperunt levibus nigrescere pennis.

Reicere ex umeris vestem moliebar; at illa

pluma erat inque cutem radices egerat imas.

Plangere nuda meis conabar pectora palmis;

sed neque iam palmas nec pectora nuda gerebam.

Currebam nec, ut ante, pedes retinebat harena,

sed summa tollebar humo. Mox acta per auras

evehor et data sum comes inculpata Minervae.

Quid tamen hoc prodest, si diro facta volucris

crimine Nyctimene nostro successit honori?

An, quae per totam res est notissima Lesbon,

non audita tibi est, patrium temerasse cubile

Nyctimenen? Avis illa quidem, sed conscia culpae

conspectum lucemque fugit tenebrisque pudorem

celat et a cunctis expellitur aethere toto."

Talia dicenti: "Tibi" ait "revocamina" corvus

"sint precor ista malo; nos vanum spernimus omen."

Nec coeptum dimittit iter dominoque iacentem

cum iuvene Haemonio vidisse Coronida narrat.

Laurea delapsa est audito crimine amantis

et pariter vultusque deo plectrumque colorque

excidit; utque animus tumida fervebat ab ira,

arma adsueta capit flexumque a cornibus arcum

tendit et illa suo totiens cum pectore iuncta

indevitato traiecit pectora telo.

Iacta dedit gemitum tractaque a corpore ferro

candida puniceo perfudit membra cruore

et dixit: "Potui poenas tibi, Phoebe, dedisse,

sed peperisse prius; duo nunc moriemur in una."

Hactenus et pariter vitam cum sanguine fudit;

corpus inane animae frigus letale secutum est.

Paenitet heu! sero poenae crudelis amantem

seque quod audierit, quod sic exarserit, odit;

odit avem per quam crimen causamque dolendi

scire coactus erat nec non arcumque manumque

odit cumque manu temeraria tela, sagittas;

conlapsamque fovet seraque ope vincere fata

nititur et medicas exercet inaniter artes.

Quae postquam frustra temptata rogumque parari

vidit et arsuros supremis ignibus artus,

tum vero gemitus (neque enim caelestia tingui

ora licet lacrimis) alto de corde petitos

edidit, haud aliter quam cum, spectante iuvenca,

lactentis vituli dextra libratus ab aure

tempora discussit clara cava malleus ictu.

Ut tamen ingratos in pectora fudit odores

et dedit amplexus iniustaque iusta peregit,

non tulit in cineres labi sua Phoebus eosdem

semina, sed natum flammis uteroque parentis

eripuit geminique tulit Chironis in antrum

sperantemque sibi non falsae praemia linguae

inter aves albas vetuit consistere corvum.

Semifer interea divinae stirpis alumno

laetus erat mixtoque oneri gaudebat honore.

Ecce venit rutilis umeros protecta capillis

filia Centauri, quam quondam nympha Chariclo

fluminis in rapidi ripis enixa vocavit

Ocyrhoen. Non haec artes contenta paternas

edidicisse fuit; fatorum arcana canebat.

Ergo ubi vaticinos concepit mente furores

incaluitque deo, quem clausum pectore habebat,

aspicit infantem: "Toto"que "salutifer orbi

cresce, puer;" dixit "tibi se mortalia saepe

corpora debebunt, animas tibi reddere ademptas

fas erit idque semel dis indignantibus ausus,

posse dare hoc iterum flamma prohibebere avita

eque deo corpus fies exsangue deusque,

qui modo corpus eras, et bis tua fata novabis.

Tu quoque, care pater, nunc inmortalis et aevis

omnibus ut maneas, nascendi lege creatus,

posse mori cupies, tum cum cruciabere dirae

sanguine serpentis per saucia membra recepto;

teque ex aeterno patientem numina mortis

efficient triplicesque deae tua fila resolvent."

Restabat fatis aliquid; suspirat ab imis

pectoribus lacrimaeque genis labuntur obortae;

atque ita: "Praevertunt" inquit "me fata vetorque

plura loqui vocisque meae praecluditur usus.

Non fuerant artes tanti, quae numinis iram

contraxere mihi; mallem nescisse futura.

Iam mihi subduci facies humana videtur,

iam cibus herba placet, iam latis currere campis

impetus est; in equam cognataque corpora vertor.

Tota tamen quare? Pater est mihi nempe biformis."

Talia dicenti pars est extrema querellae

intellecta parum confusaque verba fuerunt;

mox nec verba quidem nec equae sonus ille videtur,

sed simulantis equam; parvoque in tempore certos

edidit hinnitus et bracchia movit in herbas.

Tum digiti coëunt et quinos alligat ungues

perpetuo cornu levis ungula crescit et oris

et colli spatium; longae pars maxima pallae

cauda fit, utque vagi crines per colla iacebant,

in dextras abiere iubas; pariterque novata est

et vox et facies; nomen quoque monstra dedere.

Flebat opemque tuam frustra Philyreius heros,

Delphice, poscebat; nam nec rescindere magni

iussa Iovis poteras, nec, si rescindere posses,

tunc aderas; Elim Messeniaque arva colebas.

Illud erat tempus quo te pastoria pellis

texit onusque fuit baculum silvestre sinistrae,

alterius dispar septenis fistula cannis.

Dumque amor est curae, dum te tua fistula mulcet,

incustoditae Pylios memorantur in agros

processisse boves; videt has Atlantide Maia

natus et arte sua silvis occultat abactas.

Senserat hoc furtum nemo nisi notus in illo

rure senex; Battum vicinia tota vocabant.

Divitis hic saltus herbosaque pascua Nelei

nobiliumque greges custos servabat equarum.

Hunc timuit blandaque manu seduxit et illi:

"Quisquis es, hospes," ait "si forte armenta requiret

haec aliquis, vidisse nega; neu gratia facto

nulla rependatur, nitidam cape praemia vaccam;"

et dedit. Accepta, voces has reddidit hospes:

"Tutus eas; lapis iste prius tua furta loquetur;"

et lapidem ostendit. Simulat Iove natus abire;

mox redit et versa pariter cum voce figura:

"Rustice, vidisti siquas hoc limite" dixit

"ire boves, fer opem furtoque silentia deme;

iuncta suo pariter dabitur tibi praemia tauro."

At senior, postquam est merces geminata: "Sub illis

montibus" inquit "erunt;" et erant sub montibus illis.

Risit Atlantides et: "Me mihi, perfide, prodis?

Me mihi prodis?" ait; periuraque pectora vertit

in durum silicem, qui nunc quoque dicitur index,

inque nihil merito vetus est infamia saxo.

Hinc se sustulerat paribus Caducifer alis

Munychiosque volans agros gratamque Minervae

despectabat humum cultique arbusta Lycei.

Illa forte die castae de more puellae

vertice supposito festas in Palladis arces

pura coronatis portabant sacra canistris.

Inde revertentes deus aspicit ales iterque

non agit in rectum, sed in orbem curvat eundem.

Ut volucris visis rapidissima miluus extis,

dum timet et densi circumstant sacra ministri,

flectitur in gyrum nec longius audet abire

spemque suam motis avidus circumvolat alis;

sic super Actaeas agilis Cyllenius arces

inclinat cursus et easdem circinat auras.

Quanto splendidior quam cetera sidera fulget

Lucifer et quanto quam Lucifer aurea Phoebe,

tanto virginibus praestantior omnibus Herse

ibat eratque decus pompae comitumque suarum.

Obstipuit forma Iove natus et aethere pendens

non secus exarsit quam cum Balearica plumbum

funda iacit; volat illud et incandescit eundo

et, quos non habuit, sub nubibus invenit ignis.

Vertit iter caeloque petit terrena relicto

nec se dissimulat; tanta est fiducia formae.

Quae quamquam iusta est, cura tamen adiuvat illam

permulcetque comas chlamydemque, ut pendeat apte,

conlocat, ut limbus totumque appareat aurum,

ut teres in dextra, qua somnos ducit et arcet,

virga sit, ut tersis niteant talaria plantis.

Pars secreta domus ebore et testudine cultos

tris habuit thalamos, quorum tu, Pandrose, dextrum,

Aglauros laevum, medium possederat Herse.

Quae tenuit laevum venientem prima notavit

Mercurium nomenque dei scitarier ausa est

et causam adventus. Cui sic respondit: "Atlantis

Pleionesque nepos ego sum, qui iussa per auras

verba patris porto; pater est mihi Iuppiter ipse.

Nec fingam causas; tu tantum fida sorori

esse velis prolisque meae matertera dici.

Herse causa viae; faveas oramus amanti."

aspicit hunc oculis isdem quibus abdita nuper

viderat Aglauros flavae secreta Minervae

proque ministerio magni sibi ponderis aurum

postulat; interea tectis excedere cogit.

Vertit ad hanc torvi dea bellica luminis orbem

et tanto penitus traxit suspiria motu

ut pariter pectus positamque in pectore forti

aegida concuteret. Subit hanc arcana profana

detexisse manu tum cum sine matre creatam

Lemnicolae stirpem contra data foedera vidit

et gratamque deo fore iam gratamque sorori

et ditem sumpto, quod avara poposcerat, auro.

Protinus Invidiae nigro squalentia tabo

tecta petit; domus est imis in vallibus huius

abdita, sole carens, non ulli pervia vento,

tristis et ignavi plenissima frigoris et quae

igne vacet semper, caligine semper abundet.

Huc ubi pervenit belli metuenda virago,

constitit ante domum, neque enim succedere tectis

fas habet, et postes extrema cuspide pulsat.

Concussae patuere fores; videt intus edentem

vipereas carnes, vitiorum alimenta suorum.

Invidiam visaque oculos avertit. At illa

surgit humo pigra semesarumque relinquit

corpora serpentum passuque incedit inerti;

utque deam vidit formaque armisque decoram,

ingemuit vultumque ima ad suspiria duxit.

Pallor in ore sedet, macies in corpore toto,

nusquam recta acies, livent rubigine dentes,

pectora felle virent, lingua est suffusa veneno;

risus abest, nisi quem visi movere dolores,

nec fruitur somno, vigilantibus excita curis,

sed videt ingratos, intabescitque videndo,

successus hominum carpitque et carpitur una

suppliciumque suum est. Quamvis tamen oderat illam,

talibus adfata est breviter Tritonia dictis:

"Infice tabe tua natarum Cecropis unam.

Sic opus est; Aglauros ea est." Haud plura locuta

fugit et inpressa tellurem reppulit hasta.

Illa deam obliquo fugientem lumine cernens

murmura parva dedit successurumque Minervae

indoluit baculumque capit, quod spinea totum

vincula cingebant, adopertaque nubibus atris,

quacumque ingreditur, florentia proterit arva

exuritque herbas et summa papavera carpit

adflatuque suo populos urbesque domosque

polluit; et tandem Tritonida conspicit arcem

ingeniis opibusque et festa pace virentem

vixque tenet lacrimas, quia nil lacrimabile cernit.

Sed postquam thalamos intravit Cecrope natae,

iussa facit pectusque manu ferrugine tincta

tangit et hamatis praecordia sentibus inplet

inspiratque nocens virus piceumque per ossa

dissipat et medio spargit pulmone venenum.

Neve mali causae spatium per latius errent,

germanam ante oculos fortunatumque sororis

coniugium pulchraque deum sub imagine ponit

cunctaque magna facit. Quibus irritata, dolore

Cecropis occulto mordetur et anxia nocte,

anxia luce gemit lentaque miserrima tabe

liquitur, ut glacies incerto saucia sole,

felicisque bonis non lenius uritur Herses

quam cum spinosis ignis supponitur herbis,

quae neque dant flammas lenique tepore cremantur.

Saepe mori voluit, ne quicquam tale videret,

saepe, velut crimen, rigido narrare parenti;

denique in adverso venientem in limine sedit

exclusura deum. Cui blandimenta precesque

verbaque iactanti mitissima: "Desine;" dixit

"hinc ego me non sum nisi te motura repulso."

"Stemus" ait "pacto" velox Cyllenius "isto;"

caelestique fores virga patefecit; at illi

surgere conanti partes, quascumque sedendo

flectitur, ignava nequeunt gravitate moveri.

Illa quidem pugnat recto se attollere trunco,

sed genuum iunctura riget frigusque per ungues

labitur et pallent amisso sanguine venae;

utque malum late solet inmedicabile cancer

serpere et inlaesas vitiatis addere partes,

sic letalis hiems paulatim in pectora venit

vitalesque vias et respiramina clusit;

nec conata loqui est nec, si conata fuisset,

vocis habebat iter; saxum iam colla tenebat

oraque duruerant signumque exsangue sedebat;

nec lapis albus erat; sua mens infecerat illam.

Has ubi verborum poenas mentisque profanae

cepit Atlantiades, dictas a Pallade terras

linquit et ingreditur iactatis aethera pennis.

Sevocat hinc genitor nec causam fassus amoris:

"Fide minister" ait "iussorum, nate, meorum,

pelle moram solitoque celer delabere cursu

quaeque tuam matrem tellus a parte sinistra

suspicit (indigenae Sidonia nomine dicunt),

hanc pete, quodque procul montano gramine pasci

armentum regale vides, ad litora verte."

Dixit et expulsi iamdudum monte iuvenci

litora iussa petunt, ubi magni filia regis

ludere virginibus Tyriis comitata solebat.

Non bene conveniunt nec in una sede morantur

maiestas et amor; sceptri gravitate relicta,

ille pater rectorque deum, cui dextra trisulcis

ignibus armata est, qui nutu concutit orbem,

induitur faciem tauri mixtusque iuvencis

mugit et in teneris formosus obambulat herbis.

Quippe color nivis est, quam nec vestigia duri

calcavere pedis nec solvit aquaticus Auster.

Colla toris exstant, armis palearia pendent;

cornua parva quidem, sed quae contendere possis

facta manu puraque magis perlucida gemma.

Nullae in fronte minae nec formidabile lumen;

pacem vultus habet. Miratur Agenore nata

quod tam formosus, quod proelia nulla minetur;

sed quamvis mitem, metuit contingere primo.

Mox adit et flores ad candida porrigit ora.

Gaudet amans et, dum veniat sperata voluptas,

oscula dat manibus; vix iam, vix cetera differt.

Et nunc alludit viridique exsultat in herba

nunc latus in fulvis niveum deponit harenis;

paulatimque metu dempto, modo pectora praebet

virginea plaudenda manu, modo cornua sertis

inpedienda novis. Ausa est quoque regia virgo,

nescia quem premeret, tergo consistere tauri,

cum deus a terra siccoque in litore sensim

falsa pedum primo vestigia ponit in undis,

inde abit ulterius mediique per aequora ponti

fert praedam. Pavet haec litusque ablata relictum

respicit et dextra cornum tenet, altera dorso

imposita est; tremulae sinuantur flamine vestes.