Āt nōn Ālcĭthŏē Mĭnўēĭăs ōrgĭă cēnsēt
āccĭpĭēndă dĕī, sĕd ădhūc tĕmĕrārĭă Bācchūm
prōgĕnĭēm nĕgăt ēssĕ Iŏvīs sŏcĭāsquĕ sŏrōrēs
īmpĭĕtātĭs hăbēt. Fēstūm cĕlĕbrārĕ săcērdōs
īmmūnēsque ŏpĕrūm fămŭlās dŏmĭnāsquĕ sŭōrūm
pēctŏră pēllĕ tĕgī, crīnālīs sōlvĕrĕ vīttās,
sērtă cŏmā, mănĭbūs frōndēntīs sūmĕrĕ thŷrsōs
iūssĕrăt ēt saēvām laēsī fŏrĕ nūmĭnĭs īrām
vātĭcĭnātŭs ĕrāt. Pārēnt mātrēsquĕ nŭrūsquĕ
tēlāsquē călăthōsque īnfēctăquĕ pēnsă rĕpōnūnt
tūrăquĕ dānt Bācchūmquĕ vŏcānt Brŏmĭūmquĕ Lўaēūmque
īgnĭgĕnāmquĕ sătūmque ĭtĕrūm sōlūmquĕ bĭmātrēm;
āddĭtŭr hīs Nŷseūs īndētōnsūsquĕ Thўōneūs
ēt cūm Lēnaēō gĕnĭālīs cōnsĭtŏr ūvaē
Nŷctĕlĭūsque Ĕlĕleūsquĕ părēns ēt Iācchŭs ĕt Eūhān
ēt quaē praētĕrĕā pēr Grāiās plūrĭmă gēntēs
nōmĭnă, Lībĕr, hăbēs; tĭbi ĕnim īncōnsūmptă iŭvēnta ēst,
tū pŭĕr aētērnūs, tū fōrmōsīssĭmŭs āltō
cōnspĭcĕrīs caēlō; tĭbĭ, cūm sĭnĕ cōrnĭbŭs āstās,
vīrgīneūm căpŭt ēst; Ŏrĭēns tĭbĭ vīctŭs ădūsquĕ
dēcŏlŏr ēxtrēmō quā cīngĭtŭr Īndĭă Gāngĕ;
Pēnthĕă tū, vĕnĕrāndĕ, bĭpēnnĭfĕrūmquĕ Lўcūrgūm
sācrĭlĕgōs māctās Tŷrrhēnăquĕ mīttĭs ĭn aēquōr
cōrpŏră; tū bĭiŭgūm pīctīs īnsīgnĭă frēnīs
cōllă prĕmīs lŷncūm; bācchaē sătўrīquĕ sĕquūntūr
quīquĕ sĕnēx fĕrŭlā tĭtŭbāntīs ēbrĭŭs ārtūs
sūstĭnĕt ēt pāndō nōn fōrtĭtĕr haērĕt ăsēllō.
Quācūmque īngrĕdĕrīs, clāmōr iŭvĕnālĭs ĕt ūnā
fēmĭnĕaē vōcēs īnpūlsăquĕ tŷmpănă pālmīs
cōncăvăque aēră sŏnānt lōngōquĕ fŏrāmĭnĕ būxūs.
Plācātūs mītīsquĕ rŏgānt Īsmēnĭdĕs ādsīs
iūssăquĕ sācră cŏlūnt; sōlaē Mĭnўēĭdĕs īntūs
īntēmpēstīvā tūrbāntēs fēstă Mĭnērvā
aūt dūcūnt lānās, aūt stāmĭnă pōllĭcĕ vērsānt,
aūt haērēnt tēlaē fămŭlāsquĕ lăbōrĭbŭs ūrgēnt.
Ē quĭbŭs ūnă lĕvī dēdūcēns pōllĭcĕ fīlūm:
"Dūm cēssānt ălĭaē cōmmēntăquĕ sācră frĕquēntānt,
nōs quŏquĕ, quās Pāllās, mĕlĭōr dĕă, dētĭnĕt," īnquīt
"ūtĭle ŏpūs mănŭūm vărĭō sērmōnĕ lĕvēmūs
pērquĕ vĭcēs ălĭquīd, quōd tēmpŏră lōngă vĭdērī
nōn sĭnăt, īn mĕdĭūm văcŭās rĕfĕrāmŭs ăd aūrēs."
Dīctă prŏbānt prīmāmquĕ iŭbēnt nārrārĕ sŏrōrēs.
Īllă quĭd ē mūltīs rĕfĕrāt (nām plūrĭmă nōrāt)
cōgĭtăt ēt dŭbĭa ēst dē tē, Băbўlōnĭă, nārrēt,
Dērcētī, quām vērsă squămīs vēlāntĭbŭs ārtūs
stāgnă Pălaēstīnī crēdūnt mōtāssĕ fĭgūrā;
ān măgĭs ūt sūmptīs īllīūs fīlĭă pēnnīs
ēxtrēmōs ālbīs īn tūrrĭbŭs ēgĕrĭt ānnōs;
Nāĭs ăn ūt cāntū nĭmĭūmquĕ pŏtēntĭbŭs hērbīs
vērtĕrĭt īn tăcĭtōs iŭvĕnālĭă cōrpŏră pīscēs,
dōnĕc ĭdēm pāssa ēst; ān, quaē pōma ālbă fĕrēbāt,
ūt nūnc nīgră fĕrāt cōntāctū sānguĭnĭs ārbōr.
Hōc plăcĕt; haēc quŏnĭām vūlgārīs fābŭlă nōn ēst,
tālĭbŭs ōrsă mŏdīs, lānā sŭă fīlă sĕquēntĕ.
"Pŷrămŭs ēt Thīsbē, iŭvĕnūm pūlchērrĭmŭs āltēr,
āltĕră, quās Ŏrĭēns hăbŭīt, praēlātă pŭēllīs,
cōntĭgŭās tĕnŭērĕ dŏmōs, ŭbĭ dīcĭtŭr āltām
cōctĭlĭbūs mūrīs cīnxīssĕ Sĕmīrămĭs ūrbēm.
Nōtĭtĭām prīmōsquĕ grădūs vīcīnĭă fēcīt;
tēmpŏrĕ crēvĭt ămōr; taēdaē quŏquĕ iūrĕ cŏīssēnt,
sēd vĕtŭērĕ pătrēs; quōd nōn pŏtŭērĕ vĕtārĕ,
ēx aēquō cāptīs ārdēbānt mēntĭbŭs āmbō.
Cōnscĭŭs ōmnĭs ăbēst; nūtū sīgnīsquĕ lŏcūntūr,
quōquĕ măgīs tĕgĭtūr, tēctūs măgĭs aēstŭăt īgnīs.
Fīssŭs ĕrāt tĕnŭī rīmā, quām dūxĕrăt ōlīm,
cūm fĭĕrēt, părĭēs dŏmŭī cōmmūnĭs ŭtrīquĕ.
Īd vĭtĭūm, nūllī pēr saēcŭlă lōngă nŏtātūm
(quīd nōn sēntĭt ămōr?), prīmī vīdīstĭs, ămāntēs,
ēt vōcīs fēcīstĭs ĭtēr; tūtaēquĕ pĕr īllūd
mūrmŭrĕ blāndĭtĭaē mĭnĭmō trānsīrĕ sŏlēbānt.
Saēpe, ŭbĭ cōnstĭtĕrānt hīnc Thīsbē, Pŷrămŭs īllīnc,
īnquĕ vĭcēs fŭĕrāt cāptātŭs ănhēlĭtŭs ōrīs:
`Īnvĭdĕ` dīcēbānt `părĭēs, quĭd ămāntĭbŭs ōbstās?
Quāntum ĕrăt ūt sĭnĕrēs tōtō nōs cōrpŏrĕ iūngī,
aūt hōc sī nĭmĭum ēst, vĕl ăd ōscŭlă dāndă pătērēs?
Nēc sŭmŭs īngrātī; tĭbĭ nōs dēbērĕ fătēmūr
quōd dătŭs ēst vērbīs ăd ămīcās trānsĭtŭs aūrīs.`
Tālĭă dīvērsā nēquīquām sēdĕ lŏcūtī
sūb nōctēm dīxērĕ vălē, pārtīquĕ dĕdērĕ
ōscŭlă quīsquĕ sŭaē nōn pērvĕnĭēntĭă cōntrā.
Pōstĕră nōctūrnōs aūrōră rĕmōvĕrăt īgnēs
sōlquĕ prŭīnōsās rădĭīs sīccāvĕrăt hērbās;
ād sŏlĭtūm cŏĭērĕ lŏcūm. Tūm mūrmŭrĕ pārvō
mūltă prĭūs quēstī, stătŭūnt ūt nōctĕ sĭlēntī
fāllĕrĕ cūstōdēs fŏrĭbūsque ēxcēdĕrĕ tēmptēnt
cūmquĕ dŏmo ēxĭĕrīnt, ūrbīs quŏquĕ tēctă rĕlīnquānt;
nēvĕ sĭt ērrāndūm lātō spătĭāntĭbŭs ārvō,
cōnvĕnĭānt ād būstă Nĭnī lătĕāntquĕ sŭb ūmbrā
ārbŏrĭs; ārbŏr ĭbī nĭvĕīs ūbērrĭmă pōmīs,
ārdŭă mōrŭs, ĕrāt, gĕlĭdō cōntērmĭnă fōntī.
Pāctă plăcēnt; ēt lūx, tārdē dīscēdĕrĕ vīsă,
praēcĭpĭtātŭr ăquīs ĕt ăquīs nōx ēxĭt ăb īsdēm.
Cāllĭdă pēr tĕnĕbrās, vērsātō cārdĭnĕ, Thīsbē
ēgrĕdĭtūr fāllītquĕ sŭōs ădŏpērtăquĕ vūltūm
pērvĕnĭt ād tŭmŭlūm dīctāquĕ sŭb ārbŏrĕ sēdīt;
aūdācēm făcĭēbăt ămōr. Vĕnĭt ēccĕ rĕcēntī
caēdĕ lĕaēnă bŏūm spūmāntīs ōblĭtă rīctūs,
dēpŏsĭtūră sĭtīm vīcīnī fōntĭs ĭn ūndā.
Quām prŏcŭl ād lūnaē rădĭōs Băbўlōnĭă Thīsbē
vīdĭt ĕt ōbscūrūm tĭmĭdō pĕdĕ fūgĭt ĭn āntrūm;
dūmquĕ fŭgīt, tērgō vēlāmĭnă lāpsă rĕlīquīt.
Ūt lĕă saēvă sĭtīm mūltā cōmpēscŭĭt ūndā,
dūm rĕdĭt īn sīlvās, īnvēntōs fōrtĕ sĭne īpsā
ōrĕ crŭēntātō tĕnŭēs lănĭāvĭt ămīctūs.
Sērĭŭs ēgrēssūs vēstīgĭă vīdĭt ĭn āltō
pūlvĕrĕ cērtă fĕraē tōtōque ēxpāllŭĭt ōrĕ
Pŷrămŭs; ūt vērō vēstēm quŏquĕ sānguĭnĕ tīnctām
rēppĕrĭt: `Ūnă dŭōs` īnquīt `nōx pērdĕt ămāntēs;
ē quĭbŭs īllă fŭīt lōngā dīgnīssĭmă vītā,
nōstră nŏcēns ănĭma ēst; ĕgŏ tē, mĭsĕrāndă, pĕrēmī,
īn lŏcă plēnă mĕtūs quī iūssī nōctĕ vĕnīrēs
nēc prĭŏr hūc vēnī. Nōstrūm dīvēllĭtĕ cōrpūs
ēt scĕlĕrātă fĕrō cōnsūmĭtĕ vīscĕră mōrsū,
ō quīcūmquĕ sŭb hāc hăbĭtātīs rūpĕ, lĕōnēs.
Sēd tĭmĭdi ēst ōptārĕ nĕcēm.` Vēlāmĭnă Thīsbēs
tōllĭt ĕt ād pāctaē sēcūm fērt ārbŏrĭs ūmbrām
ūtquĕ dĕdīt nōtaē lăcrĭmās, dĕdĭt ōscŭlă vēstī:
`Āccĭpĕ nūnc` īnquīt `nōstrī quŏquĕ sānguĭnĭs haūstūs.`
Quōque ĕrăt āccīnctūs, dēmīsĭt ĭn īlĭă fērrūm,
nēc mŏră, fērvēntī mŏrĭēns ē vūlnĕrĕ trāxīt
ēt iăcŭīt rĕsŭpīnŭs hŭmō; crŭŏr ēmĭcăt āltē,
nōn ălĭtēr quām cūm vĭtĭātō fīstŭlă plūmbō
scīndĭtŭr ēt tĕnŭī strīdēntĕ fŏrāmĭnĕ lōngās
eiaculatur aquas atque ictibus aera rumpit.
Ārbŏrĕī fētūs āspērgĭnĕ caēdĭs ĭn ātrām
vērtūntūr făcĭēm mădĕfāctăquĕ sānguĭnĕ rādīx
pūrpŭrĕō tīngīt pēndēntĭă mōră cŏlōrĕ.
Ēccĕ mĕtū nōndūm pŏsĭtō, nē fāllăt ămāntēm,
īllă rĕdīt iŭvĕnēmque ŏcŭlīs ănĭmīquĕ rĕquīrīt
quāntăquĕ vītārīt nārrārĕ pĕrīcŭlă gēstīt;
ūtquĕ lŏcum ēt vīsā cōgnōscĭt ĭn ārbŏrĕ fōrmām,
sīc făcĭt īncērtām pōmī cŏlŏr; haērĕt, ăn haēc sīt.
Dūm dŭbĭtāt, trĕmĕbūndă vĭdēt pūlsārĕ crŭēntūm
mēmbră sŏlūm rētrōquĕ pĕdēm tŭlĭt ōrăquĕ būxō
pāllĭdĭōră gĕrēns, ēxhōrrŭĭt aēquŏrĭs īnstār,
quōd trĕmĭt, ēxĭgŭā cūm sūmmūm strīngĭtŭr aūrā.
Sēd pōstquām rĕmŏrātă sŭōs cōgnōvĭt ămōrēs,
pērcŭtĭt īndīgnōs clārō plāngōrĕ lăcērtōs
ēt lănĭātă cŏmās āmplēxăquĕ cōrpŭs ămātūm
vūlnĕră sūpplēvīt lăcrĭmīs flētūmquĕ crŭōrī
mīscŭĭt ēt gĕlĭdīs īn vūltĭbŭs ōscŭlă fīgēns:
"Pŷrămĕ" clāmāvīt "quīs tē mĭhĭ cāsŭs ădēmīt?
Pŷrămĕ, rēspōndē; tŭă tē cārīssĭmă Thīsbē
nōmĭnăt; ēxaūdī vūltūsque āttōllĕ iăcēntīs."
Ād nōmēn Thīsbēs ŏcŭlōs ā mōrtĕ grăvātōs
Pŷrămŭs ērēxīt vīsāquĕ rĕcōndĭdĭt īllā.
Quaē pōstquām vēstēmquĕ sŭām cōgnōvĭt ĕt ēnsĕ
vīdĭt ĕbūr văcŭūm: "Tŭă tē mănŭs" īnquĭt "ămōrquĕ
pērdĭdĭt, īnfēlīx! Ēst ēt mĭhĭ fōrtĭs ĭn ūnūm
hōc mănŭs, ēst ĕt ămōr; dăbĭt hīc īn vūlnĕră vīrēs.
Pērsĕquăr ēxtīnctūm lētīquĕ mĭsērrĭmă dīcār
caūsă cŏmēsquĕ tŭī; quīque ā mē mōrtĕ rĕvēllī
heū! sōlā pŏtĕrās, pŏtĕrīs nēc mōrtĕ rĕvēllī.
Hōc tămĕn āmbōrūm vērbīs ēstōtĕ rŏgātī,
ō mūltūm mĭsĕrī, mĕŭs īllīūsquĕ părēntēs,
ūt quōs cērtŭs ămōr, quŏs hŏrā nōvīssĭmă iūnxīt,
cōmpōnī tŭmŭlō nōn īnvĭdĕātĭs ĕōdēm.
Āt tū, quaē rāmīs ārbōr mĭsĕrābĭlĕ cōrpūs
nūnc tĕgĭs ūnīūs, mōx ēs tēctūră dŭōrūm,
sīgnă tĕnē caēdīs pūllōsque ēt lūctĭbŭs āptōs
sēmpĕr hăbē fētūs, gĕmĭnī mŏnŭmēntă crŭōrīs."
Dīxĭt ĕt āptātō pēctūs mūcrōnĕ sŭb īmūm
īncŭbŭīt fērrō, quŏd ădhūc ā caēdĕ tĕpēbāt.
Vōtă tămēn tĕtĭgērĕ dĕōs, tĕtĭgērĕ părēntēs;
nām cŏlŏr īn pōmo ēst, ŭbĭ pērmātūrŭĭt ātēr,
quōdquĕ rŏgīs sŭpĕrēst, ūnā rĕquĭēscĭt ĭn ūrnā."
Dēsĭĕrāt; mĕdĭūmquĕ fŭīt brĕvĕ tēmpŭs ĕt ōrsa ēst
dīcĕrĕ Leūcŏnŏē; vōcēm tĕnŭērĕ sŏrōrēs.
"Hūnc quŏquĕ, sīdĕrĕā quī tēmpĕrăt ōmnĭă lūcĕ,
cēpĭt ămōr Sōlēm; Sōlīs rĕfĕrēmŭs ămōrēs.
Prīmŭs ădūltĕrĭūm Vĕnĕrīs cūm Mārtĕ pŭtātūr
hīc vīdīssĕ dĕūs; vĭdĕt hīc dĕŭs ōmnĭă prīmūs.
Īndŏlŭīt fāctō Iūnōnĭgĕnaēquĕ mărītō
fūrtă tŏrī fūrtīquĕ lŏcūm mōnstrāvĭt. Ăt īllī
ēt mēns ēt quŏd ŏpūs fābrīlīs dēxtră tĕnēbāt
ēxcĭdĭt; ēxtēmplō grăcĭlēs ēx aērĕ cătēnās
rētĭăque ēt lăquĕōs, quaē lūmĭnă fāllĕrĕ pōssēnt,
ēlīmāt; nōn īllŭd ŏpūs tĕnŭīssĭmă vīncānt
stāmĭnă, nōn sūmmō quaē pēndĕt ărānĕă tīgnō;
ūtquĕ lĕvīs tāctūs mōmēntăquĕ pārvă sĕquāntūr
ēffĭcĭt ēt lēctō cīrcūmdătă cōllŏcăt āptē.
Ūt vēnērĕ tŏrūm cōniūnx ĕt ădūltĕr ĭn ūnūm,
ārtĕ vĭrī vīnclīsquĕ nŏvā rătĭōnĕ părātīs
īn mĕdĭīs āmbō dēprēnsi āmplēxĭbŭs haērēnt.
Lēmnĭŭs ēxtēmplō vālvās pătĕfēcĭt ĕbūrnās
īmmīsītquĕ dĕōs; īllī iăcŭērĕ lĭgātī
tūrpĭtĕr; ātque ălĭquīs dē dīs nōn trīstĭbŭs ōptāt
sīc fĭĕrī tūrpīs; sŭpĕrī rīsērĕ dĭūquĕ
haēc fŭĭt īn tōtō nōtīssĭmă fābŭlă caēlō.
Ēxĭgĭt īndĭcĭī mĕmŏrēm Cўthĕrēĭă poēnām
īnquĕ vĭcēs īllūm, tēctōs quī laēsĭt ămōrēs,
laēdĭt ămōrĕ părī. Quīd nūnc, Hўpĕrīŏnĕ nātĕ,
fōrmă cŏlōrquĕ tĭbī rădĭātăquĕ lūmĭnă prōsūnt?
Nēmpĕ tŭīs ōmnēs quī tērrās īgnĭbŭs ūrīs,
ūrĕrĭs īgnĕ nŏvō; quīque ōmnĭă cērnĕrĕ dēbēs,
Leūcŏthŏēn spēctās ēt vīrgĭnĕ fīgĭs ĭn ūnā,
quōs mūndō dēbēs, ŏcŭlōs. Mŏdŏ sūrgĭs Ĕōō
tēmpĕrĭūs caēlō, mŏdŏ sērĭŭs īncĭdĭs ūndīs
spēctāndīquĕ mŏrā brūmālīs pōrrĭgĭs hōrās;
dēfĭcĭs īntērdūm vĭtĭūmque īn lūmĭnă mēntīs
trānsĭt ĕt ōbscūrūs mōrtālĭă pēctŏră tērrēs.
Nēc, tĭbĭ quōd lūnaē tērrīs prŏpĭōrĭs ĭmāgŏ
ōbstĭtĕrīt, pāllēs; făcĭt hūnc ămŏr īstĕ cŏlōrēm.
Dīlĭgĭs hānc ūnām; nēc tē Clўmĕnēquĕ Rhŏdōsquĕ
nēc tĕnĕt Aēaēaē gĕnĕtrīx pūlchērrĭmă Cīrcēs
quaēquĕ tŭōs Clўtĭē quāmvīs dēspēctă pĕtēbāt
cōncŭbĭtūs īpsōque īllō grăvĕ vūlnŭs hăbēbāt
tēmpŏrĕ; Leūcŏthŏē mūltārum ōblīvĭă fēcīt,
gēntĭs ŏdōrĭfĕraē quām fōrmōsīssĭmă pārtū
ēdĭdĭt Eūrўnŏmē; sēd pōstquām fīlĭă crēvīt,
quām mātēr cūnctās, tām mātrēm fīlĭă vīcīt.
Rēxĭt Ăchaēmĕnĭās ūrbēs pătĕr Ōrchămŭs īsquĕ
sēptĭmŭs ā prīscō nŭmĕrātŭr ŏrīgĭnĕ Bēlō.
Āxĕ sŭb Hēspĕrĭō sūnt pāscŭă Sōlĭs ĕquōrūm;
āmbrŏsĭām prō grāmĭne hăbēnt; ĕă fēssă dĭūrnīs
mēmbră mĭnīstĕrĭīs nūtrīt rĕpărātquĕ lăbōrī.
Dūmque ĭbĭ quādrĭpĕdēs caēlēstĭă pābŭlă cārpūnt
nōxquĕ vĭcēm pĕrăgīt, thălămōs dĕŭs īntrăt ămātōs
vērsŭs ĭn Eūrўnŏmēs făcĭēm gĕnĕtrīcĭs ĕt īntēr
bīs sēd Leūcŏthŏēn fămŭlās ād lūmĭnă cērnīt
lēvĭă vērsātō dūcēntēm stāmĭnă fūsō.
Ērgo ŭbĭ ceū mātēr cāraē dĕdĭt ōscŭlă nātaē,
"rēs" ăĭt "ārcāna ēst: fămŭlaē, dīscēdĭtĕ nēvĕ
ērĭpĭte ārbĭtrĭūm mātrī sēcrētă lŏquēndī."
Pārvērānt; thălămōquĕ dĕūs sĭnĕ tēstĕ rĕlīctō:
"Īlle ĕgŏ sūm" dīxīt "quī lōngūm mētĭŏr ānnūm,
ōmnĭă quī vĭdĕō, pēr quēm vĭdĕt ōmnĭă tēllūs,
mūndi ŏcŭlūs. Mĭhĭ, crēdĕ, plăcēs." Păvĕt īllă mĕtūquĕ
ēt cŏlŭs ēt fūsī dĭgĭtīs cĕcĭdērĕ rĕmīssīs.
Īpsĕ tĭmōr dĕcŭīt. Nēc lōngĭŭs īllĕ mŏrātūs
īn vērām rĕdĭīt spĕcĭēm sŏlĭtūmquĕ nĭtōrēm;
āt vīrgō, quāmvīs ĭnŏpīnō tērrĭtă vīsū,
vīctă nĭtōrĕ dĕī pŏsĭtā vīm pāssă quĕrēlla ēst.
Īnvīdīt Clўtĭē (nĕque ĕnīm mŏdĕrātŭs ĭn īllā
sōlĭs ămōr fŭĕrāt) stĭmŭlātăquĕ paēlĭcĭs īră
vūlgăt ădūltĕrĭūm dīffāmātūmquĕ părēntī
īndĭcăt. Īllĕ fĕrōx īnmānsuētūsquĕ prĕcāntēm
tēndēntēmquĕ mănūs ād lūmĭnă Sōlĭs ĕt "īllĕ
vīm tŭlĭt īnvītaē" dīcēntēm dēfŏdĭt āltā
crūdŭs hŭmō tŭmŭlūmquĕ sŭpēr grăvĭs āddĭt hărēnaē.
Dīssĭpăt hūnc rădĭīs Hўpĕrīŏnĕ nātŭs ĭtērquĕ
dāt tĭbĭ, quā pōssīs dēfōssōs prōmĕrĕ vūltūs;
nēc tū iām pŏtĕrās ēnēctūm pōndĕrĕ tērraē
tōllĕrĕ, nŷmphă, căpūt cōrpūsque ēxsānguĕ iăcēbās.
Nīl īllō fērtūr vŏlŭcrūm mŏdĕrātŏr ĕquōrūm
pōst Phăĕthōntēōs vīdīssĕ dŏlēntĭŭs īgnēs.
Īllĕ quĭdēm gĕlĭdōs rădĭōrūm vīrĭbŭs ārtūs,
sī quĕăt, īn vīvūm tēmptāt rĕvŏcārĕ călōrēm;
sēd quŏnĭām tāntīs fātūm cōnātĭbŭs ōbstāt,
nēctăre ŏdōrātō spārsīt cōrpūsquĕ lŏcūmquĕ
mūltăquĕ praēquēstūs: "Tāngēs tămĕn aēthĕră" dīxīt.
Prōtĭnŭs īmbūtūm caēlēstī nēctărĕ cōrpūs
dēlĭcŭīt tērrāmquĕ sŭō mădĕfēcĭt ŏdōrĕ;
vīrgăquĕ pēr glaēbās sēnsīm rādīcĭbŭs āctīs
tūrĕă sūrrēxīt tŭmŭlūmquĕ căcūmĭnĕ rūpīt.
Āt Clўtĭēn, quāmvīs ămŏr ēxcūsārĕ dŏlōrēm
īndĭcĭūmquĕ dŏlōr pŏtĕrāt, nōn āmplĭŭs aūctōr
lūcĭs ădīt Vĕnĕrīsquĕ mŏdūm sĭbĭ fēcĭt ĭn īllā.
Tābŭĭt ēx īllō dēmēntĕr ămōrĭbŭs ūsă
nŷmphārum īmpătĭēns ēt sūb Iŏvĕ nōctĕ dĭēquĕ
sēdĭt hŭmō nūdā nūdīs īncōmptă căpīllīs
pērquĕ nŏvēm lūcēs ēxpērs ūndaēquĕ cĭbīquĕ
rōrĕ mĕrō lăcrĭmīsquĕ sŭīs iēiūnĭă pāvīt
nēc sē mōvĭt hŭmō; tāntūm spēctābăt ĕūntīs
ōră dĕī vūltūsquĕ sŭōs flēctēbăt ăd īllūm.
Mēmbră fĕrūnt haēsīssĕ sŏlō pārtēmquĕ cŏlōrīs
lūrĭdŭs ēxsānguēs pāllōr cōnvērtĭt ĭn hērbās;
ēst īn pārtĕ rŭbōr vĭŏlaēquĕ sĭmīllĭmŭs ōră
flōs tĕgĭt; īllă sŭūm, quāmvīs rādīcĕ tĕnētūr,
vērtĭtŭr ād Sōlēm mūtātăquĕ sērvăt ămōrēm."
Dīxĕrăt ēt fāctūm mīrābĭlĕ cēpĕrăt aūrīs;
pārs fĭĕrī pŏtŭīssĕ nĕgānt, pārs ōmnĭă vērōs
pōssĕ dĕōs mĕmŏrānt; sēd nōn ēt Bācchŭs ĭn īllīs.
Pōscĭtŭr Ālcīthoē, pōstquām sīlvērĕ sŏrōrēs.
Quaē rădĭō stāntīs pērcūrrēns stāmĭnă tēlaē:
"Vūlgātōs tăcĕō" dīxīt "pāstōrĭs ămōrēs
Dāphnĭdĭs Īdaēī, quēm nŷmphē paēlĭcĭs īrā
cōntŭlĭt īn sāxūm; tāntūs dŏlŏr ūrĭt ămāntēs;
nēc lŏquŏr ūt quōndām, nātūraē iūrĕ nŏvātō,
āmbĭgŭūs fŭĕrīt mŏdŏ vīr, mŏdŏ fēmĭnă Sīthōn.
Tē quŏquĕ, nūnc ădămās, quōndām fīdīssĭmĕ pārvō,
Cēlmĭ, Iŏvī lārgōquĕ sătōs Cūrētăs ăb īmbrī
ēt Crŏcŏn īn pārvōs vērsūm cūm Smīlăcĕ flōrēs
praētĕrĕō dūlcīque ănĭmōs nŏvĭtātĕ tĕnēbō.
Ūndĕ sĭt īnfāmīs, quārē mălĕ fōrtĭbŭs ūndīs
Sālmăcĭs ēnērvēt tāctōsquĕ rĕmōllĭăt ārtūs,
dīscĭtĕ; caūsă lătēt; vīs ēst nōtīssĭmă fōntīs.
Mērcŭrĭō pŭĕrūm dīvā Cўthĕrēĭdĕ nātūm
Nāĭdĕs Īdaēīs ēnūtrīvērĕ sŭb āntrīs;
cūiŭs ĕrāt făcĭēs īn quā mātērquĕ pătērquĕ
cōgnōscī pōssēnt; nōmēn quŏquĕ trāxĭt ăb īllīs.
Īs trĭă cūm prīmūm fēcīt quīnquēnnĭă, mōntēs
dēsĕrŭīt pătrĭōs Īdāque āltrīcĕ rĕlīctā
īgnōtīs ērrārĕ lŏcīs, īgnōtă vĭdērĕ
flūmĭnă gaūdēbāt, stŭdĭō mīnvēntĕ lăbōrēm.
Īlle ĕtĭām Lўcĭās ūrbēs Lўcĭaēquĕ prŏpīnquōs
Cārăs ădīt; vĭdĕt hīc stāgnūm lūcēntĭs ăd īmūm
ūsquĕ sŏlūm lŷmphaē; nōn īllīc cānnă pălūstrīs
nēc stĕrĭlēs ūlvaē nĕc ăcūtā cūspĭdĕ iūncī;
pērspĭcŭūs lĭquŏr ēst; stāgnī tămĕn ūltĭmă vīvō
caēspĭtĕ cīngūntūr sēmpērquĕ vĭrēntĭbŭs hērbīs.
Nŷmphă cŏlīt, sēd nēc vēnātĭbŭs āptă nĕc ārcūs
flēctĕrĕ quaē sŏlĕāt nēc quaē cōntēndĕrĕ cūrsū
sōlăquĕ Nāĭădūm cĕlĕrī nōn nōtă Dĭānaē.
Saēpĕ sŭās īllī fāma ēst dīxīssĕ sŏrōrēs:
"Sālmăcĭ, vēl iăcŭlūm, vēl pīctās sūmĕ phărētrās,
ēt tŭă cūm dūrīs vēnātĭbŭs ōtĭă mīscē."
Nēc iăcŭlūm sūmīt nēc pīctās īllă phărētrās
nēc sŭă cūm dūrīs vēnātĭbŭs ōtĭă mīscēt;
sēd mŏdŏ fōntĕ sŭō fōrmōsōs pērlŭĭt ārtūs,
saēpĕ Cўtōrĭăcō dēdūcīt pēctĭnĕ crīnēs
ēt quīd sē dĕcĕāt spēctātās cōnsŭlĭt ūndās.
Nūnc pērlūcēntī cīrcūmdătă cōrpŭs ămīctū
mōllĭbŭs aūt fŏlĭīs aūt mōllĭbŭs īncŭbăt hērbīs;
saēpĕ lĕgīt flōrēs. Ēt tūnc quŏquĕ fōrtĕ lĕgēbāt,
cūm pŭĕrūm vīdīt vīsūmque ōptāvĭt hăbērĕ.
Nēc tămĕn ānte ădĭīt, ētsī prŏpĕrābăt ădīrĕ,
quām sē cōmpŏsŭīt, quām cīrcūmspēxĭt ămīctūs
ēt fīnxīt vūltum ēt mērvīt fōrmōsă vĭdērī.
Tūnc sīc ōrsă lŏquī: "Pŭĕr ō dīgnīssĭmĕ crēdī
ēssĕ dĕūs, seū tū dĕŭs ēs, pŏtĕs ēssĕ Cŭpīdŏ,
sīve ēs mōrtālīs, quī tē gĕnŭērĕ, bĕātī
ēt frātēr fēlīx ēt fōrtūnātă prŏfēctō,
sīquă tĭbī sŏrŏr ēst, ēt quaē dĕdĭt ūbĕră nūtrīx;
sēd lōngē cūnctīs lōngēquĕ bĕātĭŏr īllă,
sīquă tĭbī spōnsa ēst, sīquām dīgnābĕrĕ taēdā!
Haēc tĭbĭ sīve ălĭqua ēst, mĕă sīt fūrtīvă vŏlūptās;
seū nūlla ēst, ĕgŏ sīm thălămūmque ĭnĕāmŭs ĕūndēm."
Nāĭs ăb hīs tăcŭīt; pŭĕrī rŭbŏr ōră nŏtāvīt
(nēscĭt ĕnīm quĭd ămōr); sĕd ĕt ērŭbŭīssĕ dĕcēbāt.
Hīc cŏlŏr āprīcā pēndēntĭbŭs ārbŏrĕ pōmīs
aūt ĕbŏrī tīncto ēst aūt sūb cāndōrĕ rŭbēntī,
cūm frūstrā rĕsŏnānt aēra aūxĭlĭārĭă, lūnaē.
Pōscēntī nŷmphaē sĭnĕ fīnĕ sŏrōrĭă sāltēm
ōscŭlă iāmquĕ mănūs ăd ĕbūrnĕă cōllă fĕrēntī:
"Dēsĭnĭs? Ān fŭgĭō tēcūmque" ăĭt "ĭstă rĕlīnquō?"
Sālmăcĭs ēxtĭmŭīt: "Lŏcă"quĕ "haēc tĭbĭ lībĕră trādō,
hōspĕs," ăīt sĭmŭlātquĕ grădū dīscēdĕrĕ vērsō;
tūm quŏquĕ rēspĭcĭēns frŭtĭcūmquĕ rĕcōndĭtă sīlvā
dēlĭtŭīt flēxūmquĕ gĕnū sūbmīsĭt. Ăt īllĕ,
scīlĭcĕt ūt văcŭīs ĕt ĭnōbsērvātŭs ĭn hērbīs,
hūc ĭt ĕt hīnc īllūc ĕt ĭn ādlūdēntĭbŭs ūndīs
sūmmă pĕdūm tālōquĕ tĕnūs vēstīgĭă tīngīt;
nēc mŏră, tēmpĕrĭē blāndārūm cāptŭs ăquārūm
mōllĭă dē tĕnĕrō vēlāmĭnă cōrpŏrĕ pōnīt.
Tūm vērō plăcŭīt nūdaēquĕ cŭpīdĭnĕ fōrmaē
Sālmăcĭs ēxārsīt; flāgrānt quŏquĕ lūmĭnă nŷmphaē,
nōn ălĭtēr quām cūm pūrō nĭtĭdīssĭmŭs ōrbĕ
ōppŏsĭtā spĕcŭlī rĕfĕrītŭr ĭmāgĭnĕ Phoēbūs;
vīxquĕ mŏrām pătĭtūr, vīx iām sŭă gaūdĭă dīffērt,
iām cŭpĭt āmplēctī, iām sē mălĕ cōntĭnĕt āmēns.
Īllĕ căvīs vēlōx āpplaūsō cōrpŏrĕ pālmīs
dēsĭlĭt īn lătĭcēs āltērnăquĕ brācchĭă dūcēns
īn nĭtĭdīs trānslūcĕt ăquīs, ŭt ĕbūrnĕă sīquīs
sīgnă tĕgāt clārō vēl cāndĭdă līlĭă vītrō.
"Vīcĭmŭs ēt mĕŭs ēst!" ēxclāmāt nāĭs ĕt, ōmnī
vēstĕ prŏcūl iāctā, mĕdĭīs īnmīttĭtŭr ūndīs
pūgnāntēmquĕ tĕnēt lūctāntĭăque ōscŭlă cārpīt
sūbiēctātquĕ mănūs īnvītăquĕ pēctŏră tāngīt
ēt nūnc hāc iŭvĕnī, nūnc cīrcūmfūndĭtŭr īllāc.
Dēnĭquĕ nītēntēm cōntra ēlābīquĕ vŏlēntēm
īnplĭcăt ūt sērpēns quām rēgĭă sūstĭnĕt ālēs
sūblīmēnquĕ răpīt; pēndēns căpŭt īllă pĕdēsquĕ
ādlĭgăt ēt caūdā spătĭāntēs īnplĭcăt ālās;
ūtquĕ sŏlēnt hĕdĕraē lōngōs īntēxĕrĕ trūncōs,
ūtquĕ sŭb aēquŏrĭbūs dēprēnsūm pōlўpŭs hōstēm
cōntĭnĕt ēx ōmnī dīmīssīs pārtĕ flăgēllīs.
Pērstăt Ătlāntĭădēs spērātăquĕ gaūdĭă nŷmphaē
dēnĕgăt; īllă prĕmīt cōmmīssăquĕ cōrpŏrĕ tōtō
sīcŭt ĭnhaērēbāt: "Pūgnēs lĭcĕt, īmprŏbĕ," dīxīt
"nōn tămĕn ēffŭgĭēs; ĭtă dī iŭbĕātĭs ĕt īstūm
nūllă dĭēs ā mē nēc mē dēdūcăt ăb īstō!"
Vōtă sŭōs hăbŭērĕ dĕōs; nām mīxtă dŭōrūm
cōrpŏră iūngūntūr făcĭēsque īndūcĭtŭr īllīs
ūnă, vĕlūt, sīquīs cōndūcāt cōrtĭcĕ rāmōs,
crēscēndō iūngī părĭtērque ădŏlēscĕrĕ cērnīt;
sīc ŭbĭ cōmplēxū cŏĭērūnt mēmbră tĕnācī,
nēc dŭŏ sūnt sēd fōrmă dŭplēx, nēc fēmĭnă dīcī
nēc pŭĕr ūt pōssīt; neūtrūmque ĕt ŭtrūmquĕ vĭdētūr.
Ērgo ŭbĭ sē lĭquĭdās, quō vīr dēscēndĕrăt, ūndās
sēmĭmărēm fēcīssĕ vĭdēt mōllītăque ĭn īllīs
mēmbră, mănūs tēndēns, sēd iām nōn vōcĕ vĭrīlī,
Hērmăphrŏdītŭs ăīt: "Nātō dătĕ mūnĕră vēstrō,
ēt pătĕr ēt gĕnĕtrīx, āmbōrūm nōmĕn hăbēntī;
quīsquĭs ĭn hōs fōntēs vīr vēnĕrĭt, ēxĕăt īndĕ
sēmĭvĭr ēt tāctīs sŭbĭtō mōllēscăt ĭn ūndīs."
Mōtŭs ŭtērquĕ părēns nātī rătă vērbă bĭfōrmīs
fēcĭt ĕt īncēstō fōntēm mĕdĭcāmĭnĕ tīnxīt."
Fīnĭs ĕrāt dīctīs; ĕt ădhūc Mĭnўēĭă prōlēs
ūrgĕt ŏpūs spērnītquĕ dĕūm fēstūmquĕ prŏfānāt,
tŷmpănă cūm sŭbĭtō nōn āppārēntĭă raūcīs
ōbstrĕpŭērĕ sŏnīs ĕt ădūncō tībĭă cōrnū
tīnnŭlăque aēră sŏnānt ĕt ŏlēnt mūrraēquĕ crŏcīquĕ;
rēsquē fīdĕ măiōr, coēpērĕ vĭrēscĕrĕ tēlaē
īnque hĕdĕraē făcĭēm pēndēns frōndēscĕrĕ vēstīs.
Pārs ăbĭt īn vītēs ēt quaē mŏdŏ fīlă fŭērūnt
pālmĭtĕ mūtāntūr; dē stāmĭnĕ pāmpĭnŭs ēxīt;
pūrpŭră fūlgōrēm pīctīs āccōmmŏdăt ūvīs.
Iāmquĕ dĭēs ēxāctŭs ĕrāt tēmpūsquĕ sŭbībāt,
quōd tū nēc tĕnĕbrās nēc pōssēs dīcĕrĕ lūcēm,
sēd cūm lūcĕ tămēn dŭbĭaē cōnfīnĭă nōctīs;
tēctă rĕpēntĕ quătī pīnguēsque ārdērĕ vĭdēntūr
lāmpădĕs ēt rŭtĭlīs cōllūcēre īgnĭbŭs aēdēs
fālsăquĕ saēvārūm sĭmŭlācra ŭlŭlārĕ fĕrārūm.
Fūmĭdă iāmdūdūm ‹cūrrūnt› pēr tēctă sŏrōrēs
dīvērsaēquĕ lŏcīs īgnēs āc lūmĭnă vītānt;
dūmquĕ pĕtūnt tĕnĕbrās, pārvōs mēmbrānă pĕr ārtūs
pōrrĭgĭtūr tĕnŭīque īnclūdūnt brācchĭă pēnnā;
nēc quā pērdĭdĕrīnt vĕtĕrēm rătĭōnĕ fĭgūrām,
scīrĕ sĭnūnt tĕnĕbraē. Nōn īllās plūmă lĕvāvīt;
sūstĭnŭērĕ tămēn sē pērlūcēntĭbŭs ālīs
cōnātaēquĕ lŏquī mĭnĭmam ēt prō cōrpŏrĕ vōcēm
ēmīttūnt pĕrăgūntquĕ lĕvēs strīdōrĕ quĕrēllās
tēctăquĕ, nōn sīlvās, cĕlĕbrānt lūcēmquĕ pĕrōsaē
nōctĕ vŏlānt sērōquĕ tĕnēnt ā vēspĕrĕ nōmēn.
Tūm vērō tōtīs Bācchī mĕmŏrābĭlĕ Thēbīs
nūmĕn ĕrāt māgnāsquĕ nŏvī mātērtĕră vīrēs
nārrăt ŭbīquĕ dĕī dē tōtquĕ sŏrōrĭbŭs ēxpērs
ūnă dŏlōrĭs ĕrāt, nĭsĭ quēm fēcērĕ sŏrōrēs.
Āspĭcĭt hānc nātīs thălămōque Ăthămāntĭs hăbēntēm
sūblīmēs ănĭmōs ĕt ălūmnō nūmĭnĕ Iūnō
nēc tŭlĭt ēt sēcūm: "Pŏtŭīt dē paēlĭcĕ nātūs
vērtĕrĕ Maēŏnĭōs pĕlăgōque īnmērgĕrĕ naūtās
ēt lăcĕrāndă sŭaē nātī dărĕ vīscĕră mātrī
ēt trĭplĭcēs ŏpĕrīrĕ nŏvīs Mĭnўēĭdăs ālīs;
nīl pŏtĕrīt Iūnō nĭsi ĭnūltōs flērĕ dŏlōrēs?
Īdquĕ mĭhī sătĭs ēst? Haēc ūnă pŏtēntĭă nōstra ēst?
Īpsĕ dŏcēt quĭd ăgām; fās ēst ĕt ăb hōstĕ dŏcērī;
quīdquĕ fŭrōr vălĕāt Pēnthēā caēdĕ sătīsquĕ
āc sŭpĕr ōstēndīt; cūr nōn stĭmŭlētŭr ĕātquĕ
pēr cōgnātă sŭīs ēxēmplă fŭrōrĭbŭs Īnō?"
Ēst vĭă dēclīvīs fūnēstā nūbĭlă tāxō;
dūcĭt ăd īnfērnās pēr mūtă sĭlēntĭă sēdēs;
Stŷx nĕbŭlās ēxhālăt ĭnērs ūmbraēquĕ rĕcēntēs
dēscēndūnt īllāc sĭmŭlācrăquĕ fūnctă sĕpūlcrīs.
Pāllŏr hĭēmsquĕ tĕnēnt lātē lŏcă sēntă nŏvīquĕ,
quā sĭt ĭtēr, mānēs, Stўgĭām quā dūcăt ăd ūrbēm,
īgnōrānt, ŭbĭ sīt nīgrī fĕră rēgĭă Dītīs.
Mīllĕ căpāx ădĭtūs ĕt ăpērtās ūndĭquĕ pōrtās
ūrbs hăbĕt; ūtquĕ frĕtūm dē tōtā flūmĭnă tērrā,
sīc ōmnēs ănĭmās lŏcŭs āccĭpĭt īllĕ nĕc ūllī
ēxĭgŭūs pŏpŭlo ēst tūrbāmve āccēdĕrĕ sēntīt.
Ērrānt ēxsānguēs sĭnĕ cōrpŏre ĕt ōssĭbŭs ūmbraē
pārsquĕ fŏrūm cĕlĕbrānt, pārs īmī tēctă tўrānnī,
pārs ălĭquās ārtēs, āntīquae ĭmĭtāmĭnă vītaē,
ēxērcēnt, ălĭām pārtēm sŭă poēnă cŏērcēt.
Sūstĭnĕt īre īllūc, caēlēstī sēdĕ rĕlīctā,
(tāntum ŏdĭīs īraēquĕ dăbāt), Sātūrnĭă Iūnō.
Quō sĭmŭl īntrāvīt sācrōque ā cōrpŏrĕ prēssūm
īngĕmŭīt līmēn, trĭă Cērbĕrŭs ēxtŭlĭt ōră
ēt trēs lātrātūs sĕmĕl ēdĭdĭt. Īllă sŏrōrēs
nōctĕ vŏcāt gĕnĭtās, grăve ĕt īmplācābĭlĕ nūmēn.
Cārcĕrĭs āntĕ fŏrēs claūsās ădămāntĕ sĕdēbānt
deque suis atros pectebant crinibus angues;
quām sĭmŭl āgnōrūnt īntēr cālīgĭnĭs ūmbrās,
sūrrēxērĕ dĕaē. Sēdēs scĕlĕrātă vŏcātūr;
vīscĕră praēbēbāt Tĭtўōs lāniāndă nŏvēmquĕ
iūgĕrĭbūs dīstrāctŭs ĕrāt; tĭbĭ, Tāntălĕ, nūllaē
dēprēndūntŭr ăquaē quaēque īmmĭnĕt ēffŭgĭt ārbōr;
aūt pĕtĭs aūt ūrgēs rĕdĭtūrūm Sīsўphĕ, sāxūm;
vōlŭĭtūr Īxiōn ēt sē sĕquĭtūrquĕ fŭgītquĕ;
mōlīrīquĕ sŭīs lētūm pătrŭēlĭbŭs aūsaē
āssĭdŭaē rĕpĕtūnt, quās pērdānt, Bēlĭdĕs ūndās.
Quōs ōmnēs ăcĭē pōstquām Sātūrnĭă tōrvā
vīdĭt ĕt ānte ōmnēs Īxīŏnă, rūrsŭs ăb īllō
Sīsўphŏn āspĭcĭēns: "Cūr hīc ē frātrĭbŭs" īnquīt
"pērpĕtŭās pătĭtūr poēnās, Ăthămāntă sŭpērbūm
rēgĭă dīvĕs hăbēt, quī mē cūm cōniŭgĕ sēmpēr
sprēvĭt?" Ĕt ēxpōnīt caūsās ŏdĭīquĕ vĭaēquĕ
quīdquĕ vĕlīt; quōd vēllĕt, ĕrāt nē rēgĭă Cādmī
stārĕt ĕt īn făcĭnūs trăhĕrēnt Ăthămāntă fŭrōrēs.
Īmpĕrĭūm, prōmīssă, prĕcēs cōnfūndĭt ĭn ūnūm
sōllĭcĭtātquĕ dĕās. Sīc haēc Iūnōnĕ lŏcūtā,
Tīsĭphŏnē, cānōs ŭt ĕrāt tūrbātă căpīllōs,
mōvĭt ĕt ōbstāntēs rĕĭēcĭt ăb ōrĕ cŏlūbrās
ātque ĭtă: "Nōn lōngīs ŏpŭs ēst āmbāgĭbŭs" īnquīt;
"fāctă pŭtā quaēcūmquĕ iŭbēs. Ĭnămābĭlĕ rēgnūm
dēsĕrĕ tēquĕ rĕfēr caēlī mĕlĭōrĭs ăd aūrās."
Laētă rĕdīt Iūnō, quām caēlum īntrārĕ părāntēm
rōrātīs lūstrāvĭt ăquīs Thaūmāntĭăs Īrīs.
Nēc mŏră, Tīsĭphŏnē mădĕfāctām sānguĭnĕ sūmīt
īmpōrtūnă făcēm flŭĭdōquĕ crŭōrĕ rŭbēntēm
īndŭĭtūr pāllām tōrtōque īncīngĭtŭr ānguĕ
ēgrĕdĭtūrquĕ dŏmō. Lūctūs cŏmĭtātŭr ĕūntēm
ēt Păvŏr ēt Tērrōr trĕpĭdōque Īnsānĭă vūltū.
Līmĭnĕ cōnstĭtĕrāt; pōstēs trĕmŭīssĕ fĕrūntūr
Aēŏlĭī pāllōrquĕ fŏrēs īnfēcĭt ăcērnās
sōlquĕ lŏcūm fūgīt. Mōnstrīs ēxtērrĭtă cōniūnx,
tērrĭtŭs ēst Ăthămās; tēctōque ēxīrĕ părābānt;
ōbstĭtĭt īnfēlīx ădĭtūmque ōbsēdĭt Ĕrīnŷs
nēxăquĕ vīpĕrĕīs dīstēndēns brācchĭă nōdīs
caēsărĭem ēxcūssīt; mōtaē sōnvērĕ cŏlūbraē
pārsquĕ iăcēnt ŭmĕrīs, pārs cīrcūm pēctŏră lāpsaē
sībĭlă dānt sănĭēmquĕ vŏmūnt līnguīsquĕ cŏrūscānt.
Inde duos mediis abrumpit crinibus angues
pēstĭfĕrāquĕ mănū rāptōs īnmīsĭt; ăt īllī
Īnōōsquĕ sĭnūs Ăthămāntēōsquĕ pĕrērrānt
īnspīrāntquĕ grăvēs ănĭmās; nēc vūlnĕră mēmbrīs
ūllă fĕrūnt: mēns ēst quaē dīrōs sēntĭăt īctūs.
Āttŭlĕrāt sēcūm lĭquĭdī quŏquĕ mōnstră vĕnēnī,
ōrīs Cērbĕrĕī spūmās ēt vīrŭs Ĕchīdnaē
ērrōrēsquĕ văgōs caēcaēque ōblīvĭă mēntīs
ēt scĕlŭs ēt lăcrĭmās răbĭēmque ēt caēdĭs ămōrēm,
ōmnĭă trītă sĭmūl, quaē sānguĭnĕ mīxtă rĕcēntī
cōxĕrăt aērĕ căvō, vĭrĭdī vērsātă cĭcūtā;
dūmquĕ păvēnt īllī, vērtīt fŭrĭālĕ vĕnēnūm
pēctŭs ĭn āmbōrūm praēcōrdĭăque īntĭmă mōvīt.
Tūm făcĕ iāctātā pĕr ĕūndēm saēpĭŭs ōrbēm,
cōnsĕquĭtūr mōtīs vēlōcĭtĕr īgnĭbŭs īgnēs.
Sīc vīctrīx iūssīquĕ pŏtēns ăd ĭnānĭă māgnī
rēgnă dĕdīt Dītīs sūmptūmquĕ rĕcīngĭtŭr ānguēm.
Prōtĭnŭs Aēŏlĭdēs mĕdĭā fŭrĭbūndŭs ĭn aūlā
clāmăt: "Ĭō, cŏmĭtēs, hīs rētĭă tēndĭtĕ sīlvīs!
Hīc mŏdŏ cūm gĕmĭnā vīsa ēst mĭhĭ prōlĕ lĕaēnă;"
ūtquĕ fĕraē sĕquĭtūr vēstīgĭă cōniŭgĭs āmēns
dēquĕ sĭnū mātrīs rīdēntem ēt pārvă Lĕārchūm
brācchĭă tēndēntēm răpĭt ēt bīs tērquĕ pĕr aūrās
mōrĕ rŏtāt fūndaē rĭgĭdōque īnfāntĭă sāxō
dīscŭtĭt ōră fĕrōx. Tūm dēnĭquĕ cōncĭtă mātēr,
seū dŏlŏr hōc fēcīt seū spārsī caūsă vĕnēnī,
ēxŭlŭlāt pāssīsquĕ fŭgīt mălĕ sānă căpīllīs
tēquĕ fĕrēns pārvūm nūdīs, Mĕlĭcērtă, lăcērtīs:
"Eūhoē Bācchĕ", sŏnāt; Bācchī sūb nōmĭnĕ Iūnō
rīsĭt ĕt: "Hōs ūsūs praēstēt tĭbĭ" dīxĭt "ălūmnūs."
Īmmĭnĕt aēquŏrĭbūs scŏpŭlūs; pārs īmă căvātūr
flūctĭbŭs ēt tēctās dēfēndĭt ăb īmbrĭbŭs ūndās,
sūmmă rĭgēt frōntēmque ĭn ăpērtūm pōrrĭgĭt aēquōr.
Ōccŭpăt hūnc (vīrēs īnsānĭă fēcĕrăt) Īnō
sēquĕ sŭpēr pōntūm nūllō tārdātă tĭmōrĕ
mīttĭt ŏnūsquĕ sŭūm; pērcūssă rĕcāndŭĭt ūndă.
Āt Vĕnŭs īnmĕrĭtaē nēptīs mĭsĕrātă lăbōrēs,
sīc pătrŭō blāndītă sŭo ēst: "Ō nūmĕn ăquārūm,
prōxĭmă cuī caēlō cēssīt, Nēptūnĕ, pŏtēstās,
māgnă quĭdēm pōscō, sēd tū mĭsĕrērĕ mĕōrūm,
iāctārī quōs cērnĭs ĭn Īŏnĭō | īnmēnsō,
ēt dīs āddĕ tŭīs. Ălĭqua ēt mĭhĭ grātĭă pōnto ēst,
sī tămĕn īn mĕdĭō quōndām cōncrētă prŏfūndō
spūmă fŭī Grāiūmquĕ mănēt mĭhĭ nōmĕn ăb īllā."
Ānnŭĭt ōrāntī Nēptūnŭs ĕt ābstŭlĭt īllīs
quōd mōrtālĕ fŭīt măĭēstātēmquĕ vĕrēndām
īmpŏsŭīt nōmēnquĕ sĭmūl făcĭēmquĕ nŏvāvīt
Leūcŏthĕēquĕ dĕūm cūm mātrĕ Pălaēmŏnă dīxīt.
Sīdŏnĭaē cŏmĭtēs, quāntūm vālvērĕ, sĕcūtaē
sīgnă pĕdūm, prīmō vīdērĕ nŏvīssĭmă sāxō;
nēc dŭbĭūm dē mōrtĕ rătaē, Cādmēĭdă pālmīs
dēplānxērĕ dŏmūm, scīssaē cūm vēstĕ căpīllōs,
ūtquĕ părūm iūstaē nĭmĭūmque īn paēlĭcĕ saēvaē
īnvĭdĭām fēcērĕ dĕaē. Cōnvīcĭă Iūnō
nōn tŭlĭt ēt: "Făcĭām vōs īpsās māxĭmă" dīxīt
"saēvĭtĭaē mŏnĭmēntă mĕaē". Rēs dīctă sĕcūta ēst.
Nām quaē praēcĭpŭē fŭĕrāt pĭă: "Pērsĕquăr" īnquīt
"īn frĕtă rēgīnām" sāltūmquĕ dătūră mŏvērī
haūd ūsquām pŏtŭīt scŏpŭlōque āffīxă cŏhaēsīt.
Āltĕră, dūm sŏlĭtō tēmptāt plāngōrĕ fĕrīrĕ
pēctŏră, tēmptātōs sēnsīt rĭgŭīssĕ lăcērtōs;
īllă, mănūs ūt fōrtĕ tĕtēndĕrăt īn mărĭs ūndās,
sāxĕă fāctă mănūs ĭn ĕāsdēm pōrrĭgĭt ūndās;
hūiŭs, ŭt ārrēptūm lănĭābāt vērtĭcĕ crīnēm,
dūrātōs sŭbĭtō dĭgĭtōs īn crīnĕ vĭdērēs;
quō quaēque īn gēstū dēprēnsa ēst, haēsĭt ĭn īllō.
Pārs vŏlŭcrēs fāctaē; quaē nūnc quŏquĕ gūrgĭte ĭn īllō
aēquŏră dēstrīngūnt sūmmīs Īsmēnĭdĭs ālīs.
Nēscĭt Ăgēnŏrĭdēs nātām pārvūmquĕ nĕpōtēm
aēquŏrĭs ēssĕ dĕōs; lūctū sĕrĭēquĕ mălōrūm
vīctŭs ĕt ōstēntīs, quaē plūrĭmă vīdĕrăt, ēxīt
cōndĭtŏr ūrbĕ sŭā, tāmquām fōrtūnă lŏcōrūm,
nōn sŭă sē prĕmĕrēt; lōngīsque ērrōrĭbŭs āctūs
cōntĭgĭt Īllўrĭcōs prŏfŭgā cūm cōniŭgĕ fīnēs.
Iāmquĕ mălīs ānnīsquĕ grăvēs, dūm prīmă rĕtrāctānt
fātă dŏmūs rĕlĕgūntquĕ sŭōs sērmōnĕ lăbōrēs:
"Nūm săcĕr īllĕ mĕā trāiēctūs cūspĭdĕ sērpēns"
Cādmŭs ăīt "fŭĕrāt, tūm cūm Sīdōnĕ prŏfēctūs
vīpĕrĕōs spārsī pĕr hŭmūm, nŏvă sēmĭnă, dēntēs?
Quēm sī cūră dĕūm tām cērtā vīndĭcăt īrā,
īpsĕ prĕcōr sērpēns īn lōngām pōrrĭgăr ālvūm."
Dīxĭt ĕt ūt sērpēns īn lōngām tēndĭtŭr ālvūm
dūrātaēquĕ cŭtī squāmās īncrēscĕrĕ sēntīt
nīgrăquĕ caērŭlĕīs vărĭārī cōrpŏră gūttīs
īn pēctūsquĕ cădīt prōnūs cōmmīssăque ĭn ūnūm
paūlātīm tĕrĕtī tĕnŭāntŭr ăcūmĭnĕ crūră.
Brācchĭă iām rēstānt; quaē rēstānt brācchĭă tēndīt
ēt lăcrĭmīs pĕr ădhūc hūmānă flŭēntĭbŭs ōră:
"Āccēde, ō cōniūnx, āccēdĕ, mĭsērrĭmă" dīxīt
"dūmque ălĭquīd sŭpĕrēst dē mē, mē tāngĕ mănūmquĕ
āccĭpĕ, dūm mănŭs ēst, dūm nōn tōtum ōccŭpăt ānguīs."
Īllĕ quĭdēm vūlt plūră lŏquī, sēd līnguă rĕpēntĕ
īn pārtēs ēst fīssă dŭās; nēc vērbă lŏquēntī
sūffĭcĭūnt, quōtiēnsque ălĭquōs părăt ēdĕrĕ quēstūs,
sībĭlăt; hānc īllī vōcēm nātūră rĕlīquīt.
Nūdă mănū fĕrĭēns ēxclāmāt pēctŏră cōniūnx:
"Cādmĕ, mănē, tēque, īnfēlīx, hīs ēxŭĕ mōnstrīs.
Cādmĕ, quĭd hōc? Ŭbĭ pēs? Ŭbĭ sūnt ŭmĕrīquĕ mănūsquĕ
ēt cŏlŏr ēt făcĭēs ēt, dūm lŏquŏr, ōmnĭă? Cūr nōn
mē quŏquĕ, caēlēstēs, ĭn ĕāndēm vērtĭtĭs ānguēm?"
Dīxĕrăt; īllĕ sŭaē lāmbēbāt cōniŭgĭs ōră
īnquĕ sĭnūs cārōs, vĕlŭtī cōgnōscĕrĕt, ībāt
ēt dăbăt āmplēxūs āssuētăquĕ cōllă pĕtēbāt.
Quīsquĭs ădēst (ădĕrānt cŏmĭtēs) tērrētŭr; ăt īllă
lūbrĭcă pērmūlcēt crīstātī cōllă drăcōnīs
ēt sŭbĭtō dŭŏ sūnt iūnctōquĕ vŏlūmĭnĕ sērpūnt,
dōnĕc ĭn ōppŏsĭtī nĕmŏrīs sŭbĭērĕ lătēbrās.
Nūnc quŏquĕ nēc fŭgĭūnt hŏmĭnēm nēc vūlnĕrĕ laēdūnt,
quīdquĕ prĭūs fŭĕrīnt plăcĭdī mĕmĭnērĕ drăcōnēs.
Sēd tămĕn āmbōbūs vērsaē sōlācĭă fōrmaē
māgnă nĕpōs dĕdĕrāt, quēm dēbēllātă cŏlēbāt
Īndĭă, quēm pŏsĭtīs cĕlĕbrābăt Ăchāĭă tēmplīs.
Sōlŭs Ăbāntĭădēs ăb ŏrīgĭnĕ crētŭs ĕādēm
Ācrĭsĭūs sŭpĕrēst, quī moēnĭbŭs ārcĕăt ūrbīs
Ārgŏlĭcaē cōntrāquĕ dĕūm fĕrăt ārmă gĕnūsquĕ
nōn pŭtĕt ēssĕ dĕūm; nĕque ĕnīm Iŏvĭs ēssĕ pŭtābāt
Pērsĕă, quēm plŭvĭō Dănăē cōncēpĕrăt aūrō.
Mōx tămĕn Ācrĭsĭūm (tānta ēst praēsēntĭă vērī)
tām vĭŏlāssĕ dĕūm quām nōn āgnōssĕ nĕpōtēm
paēnĭtĕt; īmpŏsĭtūs iām caēlo ēst āltĕr: ăt āltēr,
vīpĕrĕī rĕfĕrēns spŏlĭūm mĕmŏrābĭlĕ mōnstrī,
aērā cārpēbāt tĕnĕrūm strīdēntĭbŭs ālīs;
cūmquĕ sŭpēr Lĭbўcās vīctōr pēndērĕt hărēnās,
Gōrgŏnĕī căpĭtīs gūttaē cĕcĭdērĕ crŭēntaē,
quās hŭmŭs ēxcēptās vărĭōs ănĭmāvĭt ĭn ānguēs,
ūndĕ frĕquēns īlla ēst īnfēstăquĕ tērră cŏlūbrīs.
Īndĕ, pĕr īmmēnsūm vēntīs dīscōrdĭbŭs āctūs,
nūnc hūc nūnc īllūc ēxēmplō nūbĭs ăquōsaē
fērtŭr ĕt ēx āltō sēdūctās aēthĕrĕ lōngē
dēspēctāt tērrās tōtūmquĕ sŭpērvŏlăt ōrbēm.
Tēr gĕlĭdās Ārctōs, tēr Cāncrī brācchĭă vīdīt;
saēpĕ sŭb ōccāsūs, saēpe ēst āblātŭs ĭn ōrtūs.
Iāmquĕ cădēntĕ dĭē, vĕrĭtūs sē crēdĕrĕ nōctī,
cōnstĭtĭt Hēspĕrĭō, rēgnīs Ātlāntĭs, ĭn ōrbĕ
ēxĭgŭāmquĕ pĕtīt rĕquĭēm, dūm Lūcĭfĕr īgnēs
ēvŏcĕt Aūrōraē, cūrrūs Aūrōră dĭūrnōs.
Hīc hŏmĭnūm cūnctōs īngēntī cōrpŏrĕ praēstāns
Īăpĕtīŏnĭdēs Ātlās fŭĭt; ūltĭmă tēllūs
rēgĕ sŭb hōc ēt pōntŭs ĕrāt, quī Sōlĭs ănhēlīs
aēquŏră sūbdĭt ĕquīs ēt fēssōs ēxcĭpĭt āxēs.
Mīllĕ grĕgēs īllī tŏtĭdēmque ārmēntă pĕr hērbās
ērrābānt ĕt hŭmūm vīcīnĭă nūllă prĕmēbānt.
Ārbŏrĕaē frōndēs aūrō rădĭāntĕ nĭtēntēs
ēx aūrō rāmōs, ēx aūrō pōmă tĕgēbānt.
"Hōspĕs" ăīt Pērseūs īllī "seū glōrĭă tāngīt
tē gĕnĕrīs māgnī, gĕnĕrīs mĭhĭ Iūppĭtĕr aūctōr;
sīve ēs mīrātōr rērūm, mīrābĕrĕ nōstrās;
hōspĭtĭūm rĕquĭēmquĕ pĕtō." Mĕmŏr īllĕ vĕtūstaē
sōrtĭs ĕrāt; Thĕmĭs hānc dĕdĕrāt Pārnāsĭă sōrtēm:
"Tēmpŭs, Ătlā, vĕnĭēt, tŭă quō spŏlĭābĭtŭr aūrō
ārbŏr ĕt hūnc praēdaē tĭtŭlūm Iŏvĕ nātŭs hăbēbīt."
Īd mĕtŭēns sŏlĭdīs pōmārĭă claūsĕrăt Ātlās
mōntĭbŭs ēt vāstō dĕdĕrāt sērvāndă drăcōnī
ārcēbātquĕ sŭīs ēxtērnōs fīnĭbŭs ōmnēs.
Huīc quŏquĕ: "Vādĕ prŏcūl, nē lōngē glōrĭă rērūm,
quām mēntīrĭs," ăīt "lōngē tĭbĭ Iūppĭtĕr ābsīt;"
vīmquĕ mĭnīs āddīt mănĭbūsque ēxpēllĕrĕ tēmptāt
cūnctāntem ēt plăcĭdīs mīscēntēm fōrtĭă dīctīs.
Vīrĭbŭs īnfĕrĭōr (quĭs ĕnīm pār ēssĕt Ătlāntīs
vīrĭbŭs?): "Āt quŏnĭām pārvī tĭbĭ grātĭă nōstra ēst,
āccĭpĕ mūnŭs;" ăīt laēvāque ā pārtĕ Mĕdūsaē
īpsĕ rĕtrōvērsūs squālēntĭă prōtŭlĭt ōră.
Quāntŭs ĕrāt, mōns fāctŭs Ătlās; nām bārbă cŏmaēquĕ
īn sīlvās ăbĕūnt, iŭgă sūnt ŭmĕrīquĕ mănūsquĕ,
quōd căpŭt āntĕ fŭīt sūmmo ēst īn mōntĕ căcūmēn,
ōssă lăpīs fīūnt. Tūm pārtēs āltŭs ĭn ōmnēs
crēvĭt ĭn īmmēnsūm (sīc dī stătŭīstĭs) ĕt ōmnĕ
cūm tōt sīdĕrĭbūs caēlūm rĕquĭēvĭt ĭn īllō.
Claūsĕrăt Hīppŏtădēs aētērnō cārcĕrĕ vēntōs
ādmŏnĭtōrque ŏpĕrūm caēlō clārīssĭmŭs āltō
Lūcĭfĕr ōrtŭs ĕrāt; pēnnīs lĭgăt īllĕ rĕsūmptīs
pārte ăb ŭtrāquĕ pĕdēs tēlōque āccīngĭtŭr ūncō
ēt lĭquĭdūm mōtīs tālārĭbŭs āĕră fīndīt.
Gēntĭbŭs īnnŭmĕrīs cīrcūmque īnfrāquĕ rĕlīctīs,
Aēthĭŏpūm pŏpŭlōs Cēphēiăquĕ cōnspĭcĭt ārvă.
Īllīc īnmĕrĭtām mātērnaē pēndĕrĕ līnguaē
Āndrŏmĕdān poēnās ĭnĭūstūs iūssĕrăt Āmmōn.
Quām sĭmŭl ād dūrās rĕlĭgātām brācchĭă caūtēs
vīdĭt Ăbāntĭădēs (nĭsĭ quōd lĕvĭs aūră căpīllōs
mōvĕrăt ēt tĕpĭdō mānābānt lūmĭnă flētū,
mārmŏrĕūm rătŭs ēssĕt ŏpūs), trăhĭt īnscĭŭs īgnēs
ēt stŭpĕt; ēxĭmĭaē cōrrēptŭs ĭmāgĭnĕ fōrmaē
paēnĕ sŭās quătĕre ēst ōblītŭs ĭn āĕrĕ pēnnās.
Ūt stĕtĭt: "Ō" dīxīt "nōn īstīs dīgnă cătēnīs,
sēd quĭbŭs īntēr sē cŭpĭdī iūngūntŭr ămāntēs,
pāndĕ rĕquīrēntī nōmēn tērraēquĕ tŭūmquĕ
ēt cūr vīnclă gĕrās." Prīmō sĭlĕt īllă nĕc aūdēt
āppēllārĕ vĭrūm vīrgō mănĭbūsquĕ mŏdēstōs
cēlāssēt vūltūs, sī nōn rĕlĭgātă fŭīssēt;
lūmĭnă, quōd pŏtŭīt, lăcrĭmīs īmplēvĭt ŏbōrtīs.
Saēpĭŭs īnstāntī, sŭă nē dēlīctă fătērī
nōllĕ vĭdērētūr, nōmēn tērraēquĕ sŭūmquĕ,
quāntăquĕ mātērnaē fŭĕrīt fīdūcĭă fōrmaē,
īndĭcăt; ēt nōndūm mĕmŏrātīs ōmnĭbŭs ūndă
īnsŏnŭīt vĕnĭēnsque īnmēnsō bēlŭă pōntō
īmmĭnĕt ēt lātūm sūb pēctŏrĕ pōssĭdĕt aēquōr.
Cōnclāmāt vīrgō; gĕnĭtōr lūgūbrĭs ĕt ūnā
mātĕr ădēst, āmbō mĭsĕrī, sēd iūstĭŭs īllă.
Nēc sēcum aūxĭlĭūm, sēd dīgnōs tēmpŏrĕ flētūs
plāngōrēmquĕ fĕrūnt, vīnctōque īn cōrpŏre ădhaērēnt,
cūm sīc hōspĕs ăīt: "Lăcrĭmārūm lōngă mănērĕ
tēmpŏră vōs pŏtĕrūnt; ăd ŏpēm brĕvĭs hōră fĕrēndam ēst.
Hānc ĕgŏ sī pĕtĕrēm Pērseūs Iŏvĕ nātŭs ĕt īllā
quām claūsam īmplēvīt fēcūndō Iūppĭtĕr aūrō,
Gōrgŏnĭs ānguĭcŏmaē Pērseūs sŭpĕrātŏr ĕt ālīs
aēthĕrĭās aūsūs iāctātīs īrĕ pĕr aūrās,
praēfērrēr cūnctīs cērtē gĕnĕr; āddĕrĕ tāntīs
dōtĭbŭs ēt mĕrĭtūm, făvĕānt mŏdŏ nūmĭnă, tēmptō.
Ūt mĕă sīt sērvātă mĕā vīrtūtĕ, păcīscōr."
Āccĭpĭūnt lēgēm (quĭs ĕnīm dŭbĭtārĕt?) ĕt ōrānt
prōmīttūntquĕ sŭpēr rēgnūm dōtālĕ părēntēs.
Ēccĕ vĕlūt nāvīs praēfīxō cōncĭtă rōstrō
sūlcăt ăquās, iŭvĕnūm sūdāntĭbŭs āctă lăcērtīs,
sīc fĕră, dīmōtīs īmpūlsū pēctŏrĭs ūndīs,
tāntum ăbĕrāt scŏpŭlīs quāntūm Bălĕārĭcă tōrtō
fūndă pŏtēst plūmbō mĕdĭī trānsmīttĕrĕ caēlī,
cūm sŭbĭtō iŭvĕnīs pĕdĭbūs tēllūrĕ rĕpūlsā
ārdŭŭs īn nūbēs ăbĭīt. Ŭt ĭn aēquŏrĕ sūmmō
ūmbră vĭrī vīsa ēst, vīsā fĕră saēvĭt ĭn ūmbrā;
ūtquĕ Iŏvīs praēpēs, văcŭō cūm vīdĭt ĭn ārvō
praēbēntēm Phoēbō līvēntĭă tērgă drăcōnēm,
ōccŭpăt āvērsūm, neū saēvă rĕtōrquĕăt ōră,
squāmĭgĕrīs ăvĭdōs fīgīt cērvīcĭbŭs ūnguēs,
sīc cĕlĕrī mīssūs praēcēps pĕr ĭnānĕ vŏlātū
tērgă fĕraē prēssīt dēxtrōquĕ frĕmēntĭs ĭn ārmō
Īnăchĭdēs fērrūm cūrvō tĕnŭs ābdĭdĭt hāmō.
Vūlnĕrĕ laēsă grăvī mŏdŏ sē sūblīmĭs ĭn aūrās
āttōllīt, mŏdŏ sūbdĭt ăquīs, mŏdŏ mōrĕ fĕrōcīs
vērsăt ăprī, quēm tūrbă cănūm cīrcūmsŏnă tērrēt.
Īlle ăvĭdōs mōrsūs vēlōcĭbŭs ēffŭgĭt ālīs;
quāquĕ pătēt, nūnc tērgă căvīs sŭpĕr ōbsĭtă cōnchīs,
nūnc lătĕrūm cōstās, nūnc quā tĕnŭīssĭmă caūdă
dēsĭnĭt īn pīscēm, fālcātō vūlnĕrăt ēnsĕ.
Bēlŭă pūnĭcĕō mīxtōs cūm sānguĭnĕ flūctūs
ōrĕ vŏmīt; mădŭērĕ grăvēs āspērgĭnĕ pēnnaē;
nēc bĭbŭlīs ūltrā Pērseūs tālārĭbŭs aūsūs
crēdĕrĕ cōnspēxīt scŏpŭlūm, quī vērtĭcĕ sūmmō
stāntĭbŭs ēxstăt ăquīs, ŏpĕrītŭr ăb aēquŏrĕ mōtō.
Nīxŭs ĕō rūpīsquĕ tĕnēns iŭgă prīmă sĭnīstrā,
tēr quătĕr ēxēgīt rĕpĕtītă pĕr īlĭă fērrūm.
Lītŏră cūm plaūsū clāmōr sŭpĕrāsquĕ dĕōrūm
īmplēvērĕ dŏmōs; gaūdēnt gĕnĕrūmquĕ sălūtānt
aūxĭlĭūmquĕ dŏmūs sērvātōrēmquĕ fătēntūr
Cāssĭŏpē Cēpheūsquĕ pătēr; rĕsŏlūtă cătēnīs
īncēdīt vīrgō, prĕtĭūmque ēt caūsă lăbōrīs.
Īpsĕ mănūs haūstā vīctrīcēs āblŭĭt ūndā;
ānguĭfĕrūmquĕ căpūt dūrā nē laēdăt hărēnā,
mōllĭt hŭmūm fŏlĭīs nātāsquĕ sŭb aēquŏrĕ vīrgās
stērnĭt ĕt īmpōnīt Phōrcŷnĭdŏs ōră Mĕdūsaē.
Vīrgă rĕcēns bĭbŭlāque ĕtĭāmnūnc vīvă mĕdūllā
vīm răpŭīt mōnstrī trāctūque īndūrŭĭt hūiūs
pērcēpītquĕ nŏvūm rāmīs ēt frōndĕ rĭgōrēm.
Āt pĕlăgī nŷmphaē fāctūm mīrābĭlĕ tēmptānt
plūrĭbŭs īn vīrgīs ĕt ĭdēm cōntīngĕrĕ gaūdēnt
sēmĭnăque ēx īllīs ŭt ĕrānt iāctātă pĕr ūndās,
nūnc quŏquĕ cūrălĭīs ĕădēm nātūră rĕmānsīt,
dūrĭtĭām tāctō căpĭānt ŭt ăb āĕrĕ, quōdquĕ
vīmĕn ĭn aēquŏre ĕrāt, fīāt sŭpĕr aēquŏră sāxūm.
Dīs trĭbŭs īllĕ fŏcōs tŏtĭdēm dē caēspĭtĕ pōnīt,
laēvūm Mērcŭrĭō, dēxtrūm tĭbĭ, bēllĭcă vīrgŏ;
āră Iŏvīs mĕdĭa ēst; māctātūr vāccă Mĭnērvaē,
Ālĭpĕdī vĭtŭlūs, taūrūs tĭbĭ, sūmmĕ dĕōrūm.
Prōtĭnŭs Āndrŏmĕdān ēt tāntī praēmĭă fāctī
īndōtātă răpīt; taēdās Hўmĕnaēŭs Ămōrquĕ
praēcŭtĭūnt; lārgīs sātiāntŭr ŏdōrĭbŭs īgnēs
sērtăquĕ dēpēndēnt tēctīs ĕt ŭbīquĕ lўraēquĕ
tībĭăque ēt cāntūs, ănĭmī fēlīcĭă laētī
ārgūmēntă, sŏnānt; rĕsĕrātīs aūrĕă vālvīs
ātrĭă tōtă pătēnt pūlchrōque īnstrūctă părātū
Cēphēnī prŏcĕrēs ĭnĕūnt cōnvīvĭă rēgīs.
Pōstquam ĕpŭlīs fūnctī gĕnĕrōsī mūnĕrĕ Bācchī
dīffūdēre ănĭmōs, cūltūsquĕ gĕnūsquĕ lŏcōrūm
quaērīt Lŷncīdēs mōrēsque ănĭmūmquĕ vĭrōrūm.
[quaērĭt Ăbāntĭădēs; quaērēntī prōtĭnŭs ūnūs
nārrāt Lŷncīdēs mōrēsque ănĭmūmquĕ vĭrōrūm.]
Quī sĭmŭl ēdŏcŭīt: "Nūnc, ō fōrtīssĭmĕ," dīxīt
"fārĕ, prĕcōr, Pērseū, quāntā vīrtūtĕ quĭbūsquĕ
ārtĭbŭs ābstŭlĕrīs crīnītă drăcōnĭbŭs ōră."
Nārrăt Ăgēnŏrĭdēs gĕlĭdō sŭb Ătlāntĕ iăcēntēm
ēssĕ lŏcūm sŏlĭdaē tūtūm mūnīmĭnĕ mōlīs;
cūiŭs ĭn īntrŏĭtū gĕmĭnās hăbĭtāssĕ sŏrōrēs
Phōrcĭdăs, ūnīūs pārtītās lūmĭnĭs ūsūm;
īd sē sōllērtī fūrtīm, dūm trādĭtŭr, āstū
sūppŏsĭtā cēpīssĕ mănū pērque ābdĭtă lōngē
dēvĭăque ēt sīlvīs hōrrēntĭă sāxă frăgōsīs
Gōrgŏnĕās tĕtĭgīssĕ dŏmōs; pāssīmquĕ pĕr āgrōs
pērquĕ vĭās vīdīsse hŏmĭnūm sĭmŭlācră fĕrārūmque
īn sĭlĭcem ēx īpsīs vīsā cōnvērsă Mĕdūsā;
sē tămĕn hōrrēndaē clĭpĕī, quōd laēvă gĕrēbāt,
aērĕ rĕpērcūssō fōrmam āspēxīssĕ Mĕdūsaē;
dūmquĕ grăvīs sōmnūs cŏlŭbrāsque īpsāmquĕ tĕnēbāt,
ērĭpŭīssĕ căpūt cōllō pēnnīsquĕ fŭgācēm
Pēgăsŏn ēt frātrēm mātrīs dē sānguĭnĕ nātōs.
Āddĭdĭt ēt lōngī nōn fālsă pĕrīcŭlă cūrsūs,
quaē frĕtă, quās tērrās sūb sē vīdīssĕt ăb āltō
ēt quaē iāctātīs tĕtĭgīssēt sīdĕră pēnnīs.
Ānte ēxspēctātūm tăcŭīt tămĕn; ēxcĭpĭt ūnūs
ēx nŭmĕrō prŏcĕrūm, quaērēns cūr sōlă sŏrōrūm
gēssĕrĭt āltērnīs īnmīxtōs crīnĭbŭs ānguēs.
Hōspĕs ăīt: "Quŏnĭām scītārīs dīgnă rĕlātū,
āccĭpĕ quaēsītī caūsām. Clārīssĭmă fōrmā
mūltōrūmquĕ fŭīt spēs īnvĭdĭōsă prŏcōrūm
īllă, nĕque īn tōtā cōnspēctĭŏr ūllă căpīllīs
pārs fŭĭt; īnvēnī, quī sē vīdīssĕ rĕfērrēt.
Hānc pĕlăgī rēctōr tēmplō vĭtĭāssĕ Mĭnērvaē
dīcĭtŭr; āvērsa ēst ēt cāstōs aēgĭdĕ vūltūs
nātă Iŏvīs tēxīt; nēve hōc īmpūnĕ fŭīssēt,
Gōrgŏnĕūm crīnēm tūrpēs mūtāvĭt ĭn hŷdrōs.
Nūnc quŏque, ŭt āttŏnĭtōs fōrmīdĭnĕ tērrĕăt hōstēs,
pēctŏre ĭn ādvērsō, quōs fēcīt, sūstĭnĕt ānguēs."
At non Alcithoë Minyeias orgia censet
accipienda dei, sed adhuc temeraria Bacchum
progeniem negat esse Iovis sociasque sorores
impietatis habet. Festum celebrare sacerdos
immunesque operum famulas dominasque suorum
pectora pelle tegi, crinalis solvere vittas,
serta coma, manibus frondentis sumere thyrsos
iusserat et saevam laesi fore numinis iram
vaticinatus erat. Parent matresque nurusque
telasque calathosque infectaque pensa reponunt
turaque dant Bacchumque vocant Bromiumque Lyaeumque
ignigenamque satumque iterum solumque bimatrem;
additur his Nyseus indetonsusque Thyoneus
et cum Lenaeo genialis consitor uvae
Nycteliusque Eleleusque parens et Iacchus et Euhan
et quae praeterea per Graias plurima gentes
nomina, Liber, habes; tibi enim inconsumpta iuventa est,
tu puer aeternus, tu formosissimus alto
conspiceris caelo; tibi, cum sine cornibus astas,
virgineum caput est; Oriens tibi victus adusque
decolor extremo qua cingitur India Gange;
Penthea tu, venerande, bipenniferumque Lycurgum
sacrilegos mactas Tyrrhenaque mittis in aequor
corpora; tu biiugum pictis insignia frenis
colla premis lyncum; bacchae satyrique sequuntur
quique senex ferula titubantis ebrius artus
sustinet et pando non fortiter haeret asello.
Quacumque ingrederis, clamor iuvenalis et una
femineae voces inpulsaque tympana palmis
concavaque aera sonant longoque foramine buxus.
Placatus mitisque rogant Ismenides adsis
iussaque sacra colunt; solae Minyeides intus
intempestiva turbantes festa Minerva
aut ducunt lanas, aut stamina pollice versant,
aut haerent telae famulasque laboribus urgent.
E quibus una levi deducens pollice filum:
"Dum cessant aliae commentaque sacra frequentant,
nos quoque, quas Pallas, melior dea, detinet," inquit
"utile opus manuum vario sermone levemus
perque vices aliquid, quod tempora longa videri
non sinat, in medium vacuas referamus ad aures."
Dicta probant primamque iubent narrare sorores.
Illa quid e multis referat (nam plurima norat)
cogitat et dubia est de te, Babylonia, narret,
Derceti, quam versa squamis velantibus artus
stagna Palaestini credunt motasse figura;
an magis ut sumptis illius filia pennis
extremos albis in turribus egerit annos;
Nais an ut cantu nimiumque potentibus herbis
verterit in tacitos iuvenalia corpora pisces,
donec idem passa est; an, quae poma alba ferebat,
ut nunc nigra ferat contactu sanguinis arbor.
Hoc placet; haec quoniam vulgaris fabula non est,
talibus orsa modis, lana sua fila sequente.
"Pyramus et Thisbe, iuvenum pulcherrimus alter,
altera, quas Oriens habuit, praelata puellis,
contiguas tenuere domos, ubi dicitur altam
coctilibus muris cinxisse Semiramis urbem.
Notitiam primosque gradus vicinia fecit;
tempore crevit amor; taedae quoque iure coissent,
sed vetuere patres; quod non potuere vetare,
ex aequo captis ardebant mentibus ambo.
Conscius omnis abest; nutu signisque locuntur,
quoque magis tegitur, tectus magis aestuat ignis.
Fissus erat tenui rima, quam duxerat olim,
cum fieret, paries domui communis utrique.
Id vitium, nulli per saecula longa notatum
(quid non sentit amor?), primi vidistis, amantes,
et vocis fecistis iter; tutaeque per illud
murmure blanditiae minimo transire solebant.
Saepe, ubi constiterant hinc Thisbe, Pyramus illinc,
inque vices fuerat captatus anhelitus oris:
`Invide` dicebant `paries, quid amantibus obstas?
Quantum erat ut sineres toto nos corpore iungi,
aut hoc si nimium est, vel ad oscula danda pateres?
Nec sumus ingrati; tibi nos debere fatemur
quod datus est verbis ad amicas transitus auris.`
Talia diversa nequiquam sede locuti
sub noctem dixere vale, partique dedere
oscula quisque suae non pervenientia contra.
Postera nocturnos aurora removerat ignes
solque pruinosas radiis siccaverat herbas;
ad solitum coiere locum. Tum murmure parvo
multa prius questi, statuunt ut nocte silenti
fallere custodes foribusque excedere temptent
cumque domo exierint, urbis quoque tecta relinquant;
neve sit errandum lato spatiantibus arvo,
conveniant ad busta Nini lateantque sub umbra
arboris; arbor ibi niveis uberrima pomis,
ardua morus, erat, gelido contermina fonti.
Pacta placent; et lux, tarde discedere visa,
praecipitatur aquis et aquis nox exit ab isdem.
Callida per tenebras, versato cardine, Thisbe
egreditur fallitque suos adopertaque vultum
pervenit ad tumulum dictaque sub arbore sedit;
audacem faciebat amor. Venit ecce recenti
caede leaena boum spumantis oblita rictus,
depositura sitim vicini fontis in unda.
Quam procul ad lunae radios Babylonia Thisbe
vidit et obscurum timido pede fugit in antrum;
dumque fugit, tergo velamina lapsa reliquit.
Ut lea saeva sitim multa compescuit unda,
dum redit in silvas, inventos forte sine ipsa
ore cruentato tenues laniavit amictus.
Serius egressus vestigia vidit in alto
pulvere certa ferae totoque expalluit ore
Pyramus; ut vero vestem quoque sanguine tinctam
repperit: `Una duos` inquit `nox perdet amantes;
e quibus illa fuit longa dignissima vita,
nostra nocens anima est; ego te, miseranda, peremi,
in loca plena metus qui iussi nocte venires
nec prior huc veni. Nostrum divellite corpus
et scelerata fero consumite viscera morsu,
o quicumque sub hac habitatis rupe, leones.
Sed timidi est optare necem.` Velamina Thisbes
tollit et ad pactae secum fert arboris umbram
utque dedit notae lacrimas, dedit oscula vesti:
`Accipe nunc` inquit `nostri quoque sanguinis haustus.`
Quoque erat accinctus, demisit in ilia ferrum,
nec mora, ferventi moriens e vulnere traxit
et iacuit resupinus humo; cruor emicat alte,
non aliter quam cum vitiato fistula plumbo
scinditur et tenui stridente foramine longas
eiaculatur aquas atque ictibus aera rumpit.
Arborei fetus aspergine caedis in atram
vertuntur faciem madefactaque sanguine radix
purpureo tingit pendentia mora colore.
Ecce metu nondum posito, ne fallat amantem,
illa redit iuvenemque oculis animique requirit
quantaque vitarit narrare pericula gestit;
utque locum et visa cognoscit in arbore formam,
sic facit incertam pomi color; haeret, an haec sit.
Dum dubitat, tremebunda videt pulsare cruentum
membra solum retroque pedem tulit oraque buxo
pallidiora gerens, exhorruit aequoris instar,
quod tremit, exigua cum summum stringitur aura.
Sed postquam remorata suos cognovit amores,
percutit indignos claro plangore lacertos
et laniata comas amplexaque corpus amatum
vulnera supplevit lacrimis fletumque cruori
miscuit et gelidis in vultibus oscula figens:
"Pyrame" clamavit "quis te mihi casus ademit?
Pyrame, responde; tua te carissima Thisbe
nominat; exaudi vultusque attolle iacentis."
Ad nomen Thisbes oculos a morte gravatos
Pyramus erexit visaque recondidit illa.
Quae postquam vestemque suam cognovit et ense
vidit ebur vacuum: "Tua te manus" inquit "amorque
perdidit, infelix! Est et mihi fortis in unum
hoc manus, est et amor; dabit hic in vulnera vires.
Persequar extinctum letique miserrima dicar
causa comesque tui; quique a me morte revelli
heu! sola poteras, poteris nec morte revelli.
Hoc tamen amborum verbis estote rogati,
o multum miseri, meus illiusque parentes,
ut quos certus amor, quos hora novissima iunxit,
componi tumulo non invideatis eodem.
At tu, quae ramis arbor miserabile corpus
nunc tegis unius, mox es tectura duorum,
signa tene caedis pullosque et luctibus aptos
semper habe fetus, gemini monumenta cruoris."
Dixit et aptato pectus mucrone sub imum
incubuit ferro, quod adhuc a caede tepebat.
Vota tamen tetigere deos, tetigere parentes;
nam color in pomo est, ubi permaturuit ater,
quodque rogis superest, una requiescit in urna."
Desierat; mediumque fuit breve tempus et orsa est
dicere Leuconoë; vocem tenuere sorores.
"Hunc quoque, siderea qui temperat omnia luce,
cepit amor Solem; Solis referemus amores.
Primus adulterium Veneris cum Marte putatur
hic vidisse deus; videt hic deus omnia primus.
Indoluit facto Iunonigenaeque marito
furta tori furtique locum monstravit. At illi
et mens et quod opus fabrilis dextra tenebat
excidit; extemplo graciles ex aere catenas
retiaque et laqueos, quae lumina fallere possent,
elimat; non illud opus tenuissima vincant
stamina, non summo quae pendet aranea tigno;
utque levis tactus momentaque parva sequantur
efficit et lecto circumdata collocat apte.
Ut venere torum coniunx et adulter in unum,
arte viri vinclisque nova ratione paratis
in mediis ambo deprensi amplexibus haerent.
Lemnius extemplo valvas patefecit eburnas
immisitque deos; illi iacuere ligati
turpiter; atque aliquis de dis non tristibus optat
sic fieri turpis; superi risere diuque
haec fuit in toto notissima fabula caelo.
Exigit indicii memorem Cythereia poenam
inque vices illum, tectos qui laesit amores,
laedit amore pari. Quid nunc, Hyperione nate,
forma colorque tibi radiataque lumina prosunt?
Nempe tuis omnes qui terras ignibus uris,
ureris igne novo; quique omnia cernere debes,
Leucothoën spectas et virgine figis in una,
quos mundo debes, oculos. Modo surgis Eoo
temperius caelo, modo serius incidis undis
spectandique mora brumalis porrigis horas;
deficis interdum vitiumque in lumina mentis
transit et obscurus mortalia pectora terres.
Nec, tibi quod lunae terris propioris imago
obstiterit, palles; facit hunc amor iste colorem.
Diligis hanc unam; nec te Clymeneque Rhodosque
nec tenet Aeaeae genetrix pulcherrima Circes
quaeque tuos Clytie quamvis despecta petebat
concubitus ipsoque illo grave vulnus habebat
tempore; Leucothoë multarum oblivia fecit,
gentis odoriferae quam formosissima partu
edidit Eurynome; sed postquam filia crevit,
quam mater cunctas, tam matrem filia vicit.
Rexit Achaemenias urbes pater Orchamus isque
septimus a prisco numeratur origine Belo.
Axe sub Hesperio sunt pascua Solis equorum;
ambrosiam pro gramine habent; ea fessa diurnis
membra ministeriis nutrit reparatque labori.
Dumque ibi quadripedes caelestia pabula carpunt
noxque vicem peragit, thalamos deus intrat amatos
versus in Eurynomes faciem genetricis et inter
bis sed Leucothoën famulas ad lumina cernit
levia versato ducentem stamina fuso.
Ergo ubi ceu mater carae dedit oscula natae,
"res" ait "arcana est: famulae, discedite neve
eripite arbitrium matri secreta loquendi."
Paruerant; thalamoque deus sine teste relicto:
"Ille ego sum" dixit "qui longum metior annum,
omnia qui video, per quem videt omnia tellus,
mundi oculus. Mihi, crede, places." Pavet illa metuque
et colus et fusi digitis cecidere remissis.
Ipse timor decuit. Nec longius ille moratus
in veram rediit speciem solitumque nitorem;
at virgo, quamvis inopino territa visu,
victa nitore dei posita vim passa querella est.
Invidit Clytie (neque enim moderatus in illa
solis amor fuerat) stimulataque paelicis ira
vulgat adulterium diffamatumque parenti
indicat. Ille ferox inmansuetusque precantem
tendentemque manus ad lumina Solis et "ille
vim tulit invitae" dicentem defodit alta
crudus humo tumulumque super gravis addit harenae.
Dissipat hunc radiis Hyperione natus iterque
dat tibi, qua possis defossos promere vultus;
nec tu iam poteras enectum pondere terrae
tollere, nympha, caput corpusque exsangue iacebas.
Nil illo fertur volucrum moderator equorum
post Phaëthonteos vidisse dolentius ignes.
Ille quidem gelidos radiorum viribus artus,
si queat, in vivum temptat revocare calorem;
sed quoniam tantis fatum conatibus obstat,
nectare odorato sparsit corpusque locumque
multaque praequestus: "Tanges tamen aethera" dixit.
Protinus imbutum caelesti nectare corpus
delicuit terramque suo madefecit odore;
virgaque per glaebas sensim radicibus actis
turea surrexit tumulumque cacumine rupit.
At Clytien, quamvis amor excusare dolorem
indiciumque dolor poterat, non amplius auctor
lucis adit Venerisque modum sibi fecit in illa.
Tabuit ex illo dementer amoribus usa
nympharum impatiens et sub Iove nocte dieque
sedit humo nuda nudis incompta capillis
perque novem luces expers undaeque cibique
rore mero lacrimisque suis ieiunia pavit
nec se movit humo; tantum spectabat euntis
ora dei vultusque suos flectebat ad illum.
Membra ferunt haesisse solo partemque coloris
luridus exsangues pallor convertit in herbas;
est in parte rubor violaeque simillimus ora
flos tegit; illa suum, quamvis radice tenetur,
vertitur ad Solem mutataque servat amorem."
Dixerat et factum mirabile ceperat auris;
pars fieri potuisse negant, pars omnia veros
posse deos memorant; sed non et Bacchus in illis.
Poscitur Alcithoe, postquam siluere sorores.
Quae radio stantis percurrens stamina telae:
"Vulgatos taceo" dixit "pastoris amores
Daphnidis Idaei, quem nymphe paelicis ira
contulit in saxum; tantus dolor urit amantes;
nec loquor ut quondam, naturae iure novato,
ambiguus fuerit modo vir, modo femina Sithon.
Te quoque, nunc adamas, quondam fidissime parvo,
Celmi, Iovi largoque satos Curetas ab imbri
et Crocon in parvos versum cum Smilace flores
praetereo dulcique animos novitate tenebo.
Unde sit infamis, quare male fortibus undis
Salmacis enervet tactosque remolliat artus,
discite; causa latet; vis est notissima fontis.
Mercurio puerum diva Cythereide natum
Naides Idaeis enutrivere sub antris;
cuius erat facies in qua materque paterque
cognosci possent; nomen quoque traxit ab illis.
Is tria cum primum fecit quinquennia, montes
deseruit patrios Idaque altrice relicta
ignotis errare locis, ignota videre
flumina gaudebat, studio minuente laborem.
Ille etiam Lycias urbes Lyciaeque propinquos
Caras adit; videt hic stagnum lucentis ad imum
usque solum lymphae; non illic canna palustris
nec steriles ulvae nec acuta cuspide iunci;
perspicuus liquor est; stagni tamen ultima vivo
caespite cinguntur semperque virentibus herbis.
Nympha colit, sed nec venatibus apta nec arcus
flectere quae soleat nec quae contendere cursu
solaque Naiadum celeri non nota Dianae.
Saepe suas illi fama est dixisse sorores:
"Salmaci, vel iaculum, vel pictas sume pharetras,
et tua cum duris venatibus otia misce."
Nec iaculum sumit nec pictas illa pharetras
nec sua cum duris venatibus otia miscet;
sed modo fonte suo formosos perluit artus,
saepe Cytoriaco deducit pectine crines
et quid se deceat spectatas consulit undas.
Nunc perlucenti circumdata corpus amictu
mollibus aut foliis aut mollibus incubat herbis;
saepe legit flores. Et tunc quoque forte legebat,
cum puerum vidit visumque optavit habere.
Nec tamen ante adiit, etsi properabat adire,
quam se composuit, quam circumspexit amictus
et finxit vultum et meruit formosa videri.
Tunc sic orsa loqui: "Puer o dignissime credi
esse deus, seu tu deus es, potes esse Cupido,
sive es mortalis, qui te genuere, beati
et frater felix et fortunata profecto,
siqua tibi soror est, et quae dedit ubera nutrix;
sed longe cunctis longeque beatior illa,
siqua tibi sponsa est, siquam dignabere taeda!
Haec tibi sive aliqua est, mea sit furtiva voluptas;
seu nulla est, ego sim thalamumque ineamus eundem."
Nais ab his tacuit; pueri rubor ora notavit
(nescit enim quid amor); sed et erubuisse decebat.
Hic color aprica pendentibus arbore pomis
aut ebori tincto est aut sub candore rubenti,
cum frustra resonant aera auxiliaria, lunae.
Poscenti nymphae sine fine sororia saltem
oscula iamque manus ad eburnea colla ferenti:
"Desinis? An fugio tecumque" ait "ista relinquo?"
Salmacis extimuit: "Loca"que "haec tibi libera trado,
hospes," ait simulatque gradu discedere verso;
tum quoque respiciens fruticumque recondita silva
delituit flexumque genu submisit. At ille,
scilicet ut vacuis et inobservatus in herbis,
huc it et hinc illuc et in adludentibus undis
summa pedum taloque tenus vestigia tingit;
nec mora, temperie blandarum captus aquarum
mollia de tenero velamina corpore ponit.
Tum vero placuit nudaeque cupidine formae
Salmacis exarsit; flagrant quoque lumina nymphae,
non aliter quam cum puro nitidissimus orbe
opposita speculi referitur imagine Phoebus;
vixque moram patitur, vix iam sua gaudia differt,
iam cupit amplecti, iam se male continet amens.
Ille cavis velox applauso corpore palmis
desilit in latices alternaque bracchia ducens
in nitidis translucet aquis, ut eburnea siquis
signa tegat claro vel candida lilia vitro.
"Vicimus et meus est!" exclamat nais et, omni
veste procul iacta, mediis inmittitur undis
pugnantemque tenet luctantiaque oscula carpit
subiectatque manus invitaque pectora tangit
et nunc hac iuveni, nunc circumfunditur illac.
Denique nitentem contra elabique volentem
inplicat ut serpens quam regia sustinet ales
sublimenque rapit; pendens caput illa pedesque
adligat et cauda spatiantes inplicat alas;
utque solent hederae longos intexere truncos,
utque sub aequoribus deprensum polypus hostem
continet ex omni dimissis parte flagellis.
Perstat Atlantiades sperataque gaudia nymphae
denegat; illa premit commissaque corpore toto
sicut inhaerebat: "Pugnes licet, improbe," dixit
"non tamen effugies; ita di iubeatis et istum
nulla dies a me nec me deducat ab isto!"
Vota suos habuere deos; nam mixta duorum
corpora iunguntur faciesque inducitur illis
una, velut, siquis conducat cortice ramos,
crescendo iungi pariterque adolescere cernit;
sic ubi complexu coierunt membra tenaci,
nec duo sunt sed forma duplex, nec femina dici
nec puer ut possit; neutrumque et utrumque videtur.
Ergo ubi se liquidas, quo vir descenderat, undas
semimarem fecisse videt mollitaque in illis
membra, manus tendens, sed iam non voce virili,
Hermaphroditus ait: "Nato date munera vestro,
et pater et genetrix, amborum nomen habenti;
quisquis in hos fontes vir venerit, exeat inde
semivir et tactis subito mollescat in undis."
Motus uterque parens nati rata verba biformis
fecit et incesto fontem medicamine tinxit."
Finis erat dictis; et adhuc Minyeia proles
urget opus spernitque deum festumque profanat,
tympana cum subito non apparentia raucis
obstrepuere sonis et adunco tibia cornu
tinnulaque aera sonant et olent murraeque crocique;
resque fide maior, coepere virescere telae
inque hederae faciem pendens frondescere vestis.
Pars abit in vites et quae modo fila fuerunt
palmite mutantur; de stamine pampinus exit;
purpura fulgorem pictis accommodat uvis.
Iamque dies exactus erat tempusque subibat,
quod tu nec tenebras nec posses dicere lucem,
sed cum luce tamen dubiae confinia noctis;
tecta repente quati pinguesque ardere videntur
lampades et rutilis collucere ignibus aedes
falsaque saevarum simulacra ululare ferarum.
Fumida iamdudum ‹currunt› per tecta sorores
diversaeque locis ignes ac lumina vitant;
dumque petunt tenebras, parvos membrana per artus
porrigitur tenuique includunt bracchia penna;
nec qua perdiderint veterem ratione figuram,
scire sinunt tenebrae. Non illas pluma levavit;
sustinuere tamen se perlucentibus alis
conataeque loqui minimam et pro corpore vocem
emittunt peraguntque leves stridore querellas
tectaque, non silvas, celebrant lucemque perosae
nocte volant seroque tenent a vespere nomen.
Tum vero totis Bacchi memorabile Thebis
numen erat magnasque novi matertera vires
narrat ubique dei de totque sororibus expers
una doloris erat, nisi quem fecere sorores.
Aspicit hanc natis thalamoque Athamantis habentem
sublimes animos et alumno numine Iuno
nec tulit et secum: "Potuit de paelice natus
vertere Maeonios pelagoque inmergere nautas
et laceranda suae nati dare viscera matri
et triplices operire novis Minyeidas alis;
nil poterit Iuno nisi inultos flere dolores?
Idque mihi satis est? Haec una potentia nostra est?
Ipse docet quid agam; fas est et ab hoste doceri;
quidque furor valeat Penthea caede satisque
ac super ostendit; cur non stimuletur eatque
per cognata suis exempla furoribus Ino?"
Est via declivis funesta nubila taxo;
ducit ad infernas per muta silentia sedes;
Styx nebulas exhalat iners umbraeque recentes
descendunt illac simulacraque functa sepulcris.
Pallor hiemsque tenent late loca senta novique,
qua sit iter, manes, Stygiam qua ducat ad urbem,
ignorant, ubi sit nigri fera regia Ditis.
Mille capax aditus et apertas undique portas
urbs habet; utque fretum de tota flumina terra,
sic omnes animas locus accipit ille nec ulli
exiguus populo est turbamve accedere sentit.
Errant exsangues sine corpore et ossibus umbrae
parsque forum celebrant, pars imi tecta tyranni,
pars aliquas artes, antiquae imitamina vitae,
exercent, aliam partem sua poena coërcet.
Sustinet ire illuc, caelesti sede relicta,
(tantum odiis iraeque dabat), Saturnia Iuno.
Quo simul intravit sacroque a corpore pressum
ingemuit limen, tria Cerberus extulit ora
et tres latratus semel edidit. Illa sorores
nocte vocat genitas, grave et implacabile numen.
Carceris ante fores clausas adamante sedebant
deque suis atros pectebant crinibus angues;
quam simul agnorunt inter caliginis umbras,
surrexere deae. Sedes scelerata vocatur;
viscera praebebat Tityos lanianda novemque
iugeribus distractus erat; tibi, Tantale, nullae
deprenduntur aquae quaeque imminet effugit arbor;
aut petis aut urges rediturum Sisyphe, saxum;
volvitur Ixion et se sequiturque fugitque;
molirique suis letum patruelibus ausae
assiduae repetunt, quas perdant, Belides undas.
Quos omnes acie postquam Saturnia torva
vidit et ante omnes Ixiona, rursus ab illo
Sisyphon aspiciens: "Cur hic e fratribus" inquit
"perpetuas patitur poenas, Athamanta superbum
regia dives habet, qui me cum coniuge semper
sprevit?" Et exponit causas odiique viaeque
quidque velit; quod vellet, erat ne regia Cadmi
staret et in facinus traherent Athamanta furores.
Imperium, promissa, preces confundit in unum
sollicitatque deas. Sic haec Iunone locuta,
Tisiphone, canos ut erat turbata capillos,
movit et obstantes reiecit ab ore colubras
atque ita: "Non longis opus est ambagibus" inquit;
"facta puta quaecumque iubes. Inamabile regnum
desere teque refer caeli melioris ad auras."
Laeta redit Iuno, quam caelum intrare parantem
roratis lustravit aquis Thaumantias Iris.
Nec mora, Tisiphone madefactam sanguine sumit
importuna facem fluidoque cruore rubentem
induitur pallam tortoque incingitur angue
egrediturque domo. Luctus comitatur euntem
et Pavor et Terror trepidoque Insania vultu.
Limine constiterat; postes tremuisse feruntur
Aeolii pallorque fores infecit acernas
solque locum fugit. Monstris exterrita coniunx,
territus est Athamas; tectoque exire parabant;
obstitit infelix aditumque obsedit Erinys
nexaque vipereis distendens bracchia nodis
caesariem excussit; motae sonuere colubrae
parsque iacent umeris, pars circum pectora lapsae
sibila dant saniemque vomunt linguisque coruscant.
Inde duos mediis abrumpit crinibus angues
pestiferaque manu raptos inmisit; at illi
Inoosque sinus Athamanteosque pererrant
inspirantque graves animas; nec vulnera membris
ulla ferunt: mens est quae diros sentiat ictus.
Attulerat secum liquidi quoque monstra veneni,
oris Cerberei spumas et virus Echidnae
erroresque vagos caecaeque oblivia mentis
et scelus et lacrimas rabiemque et caedis amorem,
omnia trita simul, quae sanguine mixta recenti
coxerat aere cavo, viridi versata cicuta;
dumque pavent illi, vertit furiale venenum
pectus in amborum praecordiaque intima movit.
Tum face iactata per eundem saepius orbem,
consequitur motis velociter ignibus ignes.
Sic victrix iussique potens ad inania magni
regna dedit Ditis sumptumque recingitur anguem.
Protinus Aeolides media furibundus in aula
clamat: "Io, comites, his retia tendite silvis!
Hic modo cum gemina visa est mihi prole leaena;"
utque ferae sequitur vestigia coniugis amens
deque sinu matris ridentem et parva Learchum
bracchia tendentem rapit et bis terque per auras
more rotat fundae rigidoque infantia saxo
discutit ora ferox. Tum denique concita mater,
seu dolor hoc fecit seu sparsi causa veneni,
exululat passisque fugit male sana capillis
teque ferens parvum nudis, Melicerta, lacertis:
"Euhoe Bacche", sonat; Bacchi sub nomine Iuno
risit et: "Hos usus praestet tibi" dixit "alumnus."
Imminet aequoribus scopulus; pars ima cavatur
fluctibus et tectas defendit ab imbribus undas,
summa riget frontemque in apertum porrigit aequor.
Occupat hunc (vires insania fecerat) Ino
seque super pontum nullo tardata timore
mittit onusque suum; percussa recanduit unda.
At Venus inmeritae neptis miserata labores,
sic patruo blandita suo est: "O numen aquarum,
proxima cui caelo cessit, Neptune, potestas,
magna quidem posco, sed tu miserere meorum,
iactari quos cernis in Ionio | inmenso,
et dis adde tuis. Aliqua et mihi gratia ponto est,
si tamen in medio quondam concreta profundo
spuma fui Graiumque manet mihi nomen ab illa."
Annuit oranti Neptunus et abstulit illis
quod mortale fuit maiestatemque verendam
imposuit nomenque simul faciemque novavit
Leucotheeque deum cum matre Palaemona dixit.
Sidoniae comites, quantum valuere, secutae
signa pedum, primo videre novissima saxo;
nec dubium de morte ratae, Cadmeida palmis
deplanxere domum, scissae cum veste capillos,
utque parum iustae nimiumque in paelice saevae
invidiam fecere deae. Convicia Iuno
non tulit et: "Faciam vos ipsas maxima" dixit
"saevitiae monimenta meae". Res dicta secuta est.
Nam quae praecipue fuerat pia: "Persequar" inquit
"in freta reginam" saltumque datura moveri
haud usquam potuit scopuloque affixa cohaesit.
Altera, dum solito temptat plangore ferire
pectora, temptatos sensit riguisse lacertos;
illa, manus ut forte tetenderat in maris undas,
saxea facta manus in easdem porrigit undas;
huius, ut arreptum laniabat vertice crinem,
duratos subito digitos in crine videres;
quo quaeque in gestu deprensa est, haesit in illo.
Pars volucres factae; quae nunc quoque gurgite in illo
aequora destringunt summis Ismenidis alis.
Nescit Agenorides natam parvumque nepotem
aequoris esse deos; luctu serieque malorum
victus et ostentis, quae plurima viderat, exit
conditor urbe sua, tamquam fortuna locorum,
non sua se premeret; longisque erroribus actus
contigit Illyricos profuga cum coniuge fines.
Iamque malis annisque graves, dum prima retractant
fata domus releguntque suos sermone labores:
"Num sacer ille mea traiectus cuspide serpens"
Cadmus ait "fuerat, tum cum Sidone profectus
vipereos sparsi per humum, nova semina, dentes?
Quem si cura deum tam certa vindicat ira,
ipse precor serpens in longam porrigar alvum."
Dixit et ut serpens in longam tenditur alvum
durataeque cuti squamas increscere sentit
nigraque caeruleis variari corpora guttis
in pectusque cadit pronus commissaque in unum
paulatim tereti tenuantur acumine crura.
Bracchia iam restant; quae restant bracchia tendit
et lacrimis per adhuc humana fluentibus ora:
"Accede, o coniunx, accede, miserrima" dixit
"dumque aliquid superest de me, me tange manumque
accipe, dum manus est, dum non totum occupat anguis."
Ille quidem vult plura loqui, sed lingua repente
in partes est fissa duas; nec verba loquenti
sufficiunt, quotiensque aliquos parat edere questus,
sibilat; hanc illi vocem natura reliquit.
Nuda manu feriens exclamat pectora coniunx:
"Cadme, mane, teque, infelix, his exue monstris.
Cadme, quid hoc? Ubi pes? Ubi sunt umerique manusque
et color et facies et, dum loquor, omnia? Cur non
me quoque, caelestes, in eandem vertitis anguem?"
Dixerat; ille suae lambebat coniugis ora
inque sinus caros, veluti cognosceret, ibat
et dabat amplexus assuetaque colla petebat.
Quisquis adest (aderant comites) terretur; at illa
lubrica permulcet cristati colla draconis
et subito duo sunt iunctoque volumine serpunt,
donec in oppositi nemoris subiere latebras.
Nunc quoque nec fugiunt hominem nec vulnere laedunt,
quidque prius fuerint placidi meminere dracones.
Sed tamen ambobus versae solacia formae
magna nepos dederat, quem debellata colebat
India, quem positis celebrabat Achaia templis.
Solus Abantiades ab origine cretus eadem
Acrisius superest, qui moenibus arceat urbis
Argolicae contraque deum ferat arma genusque
non putet esse deum; neque enim Iovis esse putabat
Persea, quem pluvio Danaë conceperat auro.
Mox tamen Acrisium (tanta est praesentia veri)
tam violasse deum quam non agnosse nepotem
paenitet; impositus iam caelo est alter: at alter,
viperei referens spolium memorabile monstri,
aera carpebat tenerum stridentibus alis;
cumque super Libycas victor penderet harenas,
Gorgonei capitis guttae cecidere cruentae,
quas humus exceptas varios animavit in angues,
unde frequens illa est infestaque terra colubris.
Inde, per immensum ventis discordibus actus,
nunc huc nunc illuc exemplo nubis aquosae
fertur et ex alto seductas aethere longe
despectat terras totumque supervolat orbem.
Ter gelidas Arctos, ter Cancri bracchia vidit;
saepe sub occasus, saepe est ablatus in ortus.
Iamque cadente die, veritus se credere nocti,
constitit Hesperio, regnis Atlantis, in orbe
exiguamque petit requiem, dum Lucifer ignes
evocet Aurorae, currus Aurora diurnos.
Hic hominum cunctos ingenti corpore praestans
Iapetionides Atlas fuit; ultima tellus
rege sub hoc et pontus erat, qui Solis anhelis
aequora subdit equis et fessos excipit axes.
Mille greges illi totidemque armenta per herbas
errabant et humum vicinia nulla premebant.
Arboreae frondes auro radiante nitentes
ex auro ramos, ex auro poma tegebant.
"Hospes" ait Perseus illi "seu gloria tangit
te generis magni, generis mihi Iuppiter auctor;
sive es mirator rerum, mirabere nostras;
hospitium requiemque peto." Memor ille vetustae
sortis erat; Themis hanc dederat Parnasia sortem:
"Tempus, Atla, veniet, tua quo spoliabitur auro
arbor et hunc praedae titulum Iove natus habebit."
Id metuens solidis pomaria clauserat Atlas
montibus et vasto dederat servanda draconi
arcebatque suis externos finibus omnes.
Huic quoque: "Vade procul, ne longe gloria rerum,
quam mentiris," ait "longe tibi Iuppiter absit;"
vimque minis addit manibusque expellere temptat
cunctantem et placidis miscentem fortia dictis.
Viribus inferior (quis enim par esset Atlantis
viribus?): "At quoniam parvi tibi gratia nostra est,
accipe munus;" ait laevaque a parte Medusae
ipse retroversus squalentia protulit ora.
Quantus erat, mons factus Atlas; nam barba comaeque
in silvas abeunt, iuga sunt umerique manusque,
quod caput ante fuit summo est in monte cacumen,
ossa lapis fiunt. Tum partes altus in omnes
crevit in immensum (sic di statuistis) et omne
cum tot sideribus caelum requievit in illo.
Clauserat Hippotades aeterno carcere ventos
admonitorque operum caelo clarissimus alto
Lucifer ortus erat; pennis ligat ille resumptis
parte ab utraque pedes teloque accingitur unco
et liquidum motis talaribus aëra findit.
Gentibus innumeris circumque infraque relictis,
Aethiopum populos Cepheiaque conspicit arva.
Illic inmeritam maternae pendere linguae
Andromedan poenas iniustus iusserat Ammon.
Quam simul ad duras religatam bracchia cautes
vidit Abantiades (nisi quod levis aura capillos
moverat et tepido manabant lumina fletu,
marmoreum ratus esset opus), trahit inscius ignes
et stupet; eximiae correptus imagine formae
paene suas quatere est oblitus in aëre pennas.
Ut stetit: "O" dixit "non istis digna catenis,
sed quibus inter se cupidi iunguntur amantes,
pande requirenti nomen terraeque tuumque
et cur vincla geras." Primo silet illa nec audet
appellare virum virgo manibusque modestos
celasset vultus, si non religata fuisset;
lumina, quod potuit, lacrimis implevit obortis.
Saepius instanti, sua ne delicta fateri
nolle videretur, nomen terraeque suumque,
quantaque maternae fuerit fiducia formae,
indicat; et nondum memoratis omnibus unda
insonuit veniensque inmenso belua ponto
imminet et latum sub pectore possidet aequor.
Conclamat virgo; genitor lugubris et una
mater adest, ambo miseri, sed iustius illa.
Nec secum auxilium, sed dignos tempore fletus
plangoremque ferunt, vinctoque in corpore adhaerent,
cum sic hospes ait: "Lacrimarum longa manere
tempora vos poterunt; ad opem brevis hora ferendam est.
Hanc ego si peterem Perseus Iove natus et illa
quam clausam implevit fecundo Iuppiter auro,
Gorgonis anguicomae Perseus superator et alis
aetherias ausus iactatis ire per auras,
praeferrer cunctis certe gener; addere tantis
dotibus et meritum, faveant modo numina, tempto.
Ut mea sit servata mea virtute, paciscor."
Accipiunt legem (quis enim dubitaret?) et orant
promittuntque super regnum dotale parentes.
Ecce velut navis praefixo concita rostro
sulcat aquas, iuvenum sudantibus acta lacertis,
sic fera, dimotis impulsu pectoris undis,
tantum aberat scopulis quantum Balearica torto
funda potest plumbo medii transmittere caeli,
cum subito iuvenis pedibus tellure repulsa
arduus in nubes abiit. Ut in aequore summo
umbra viri visa est, visa fera saevit in umbra;
utque Iovis praepes, vacuo cum vidit in arvo
praebentem Phoebo liventia terga draconem,
occupat aversum, neu saeva retorqueat ora,
squamigeris avidos figit cervicibus ungues,
sic celeri missus praeceps per inane volatu
terga ferae pressit dextroque frementis in armo
Inachides ferrum curvo tenus abdidit hamo.
Vulnere laesa gravi modo se sublimis in auras
attollit, modo subdit aquis, modo more ferocis
versat apri, quem turba canum circumsona terret.
Ille avidos morsus velocibus effugit alis;
quaque patet, nunc terga cavis super obsita conchis,
nunc laterum costas, nunc qua tenuissima cauda
desinit in piscem, falcato vulnerat ense.
Belua puniceo mixtos cum sanguine fluctus
ore vomit; maduere graves aspergine pennae;
nec bibulis ultra Perseus talaribus ausus
credere conspexit scopulum, qui vertice summo
stantibus exstat aquis, operitur ab aequore moto.
Nixus eo rupisque tenens iuga prima sinistra,
ter quater exegit repetita per ilia ferrum.
Litora cum plausu clamor superasque deorum
implevere domos; gaudent generumque salutant
auxiliumque domus servatoremque fatentur
Cassiope Cepheusque pater; resoluta catenis
incedit virgo, pretiumque et causa laboris.
Ipse manus hausta victrices abluit unda;
anguiferumque caput dura ne laedat harena,
mollit humum foliis natasque sub aequore virgas
sternit et imponit Phorcynidos ora Medusae.
Virga recens bibulaque etiamnunc viva medulla
vim rapuit monstri tractuque induruit huius
percepitque novum ramis et fronde rigorem.
At pelagi nymphae factum mirabile temptant
pluribus in virgis et idem contingere gaudent
seminaque ex illis ut erant iactata per undas,
nunc quoque curaliis eadem natura remansit,
duritiam tacto capiant ut ab aëre, quodque
vimen in aequore erat, fiat super aequora saxum.
Dis tribus ille focos totidem de caespite ponit,
laevum Mercurio, dextrum tibi, bellica virgo;
ara Iovis media est; mactatur vacca Minervae,
Alipedi vitulus, taurus tibi, summe deorum.
Protinus Andromedan et tanti praemia facti
indotata rapit; taedas Hymenaeus Amorque
praecutiunt; largis satiantur odoribus ignes
sertaque dependent tectis et ubique lyraeque
tibiaque et cantus, animi felicia laeti
argumenta, sonant; reseratis aurea valvis
atria tota patent pulchroque instructa paratu
Cepheni proceres ineunt convivia regis.
Postquam epulis functi generosi munere Bacchi
diffudere animos, cultusque genusque locorum
quaerit Lyncides moresque animumque virorum...
[quaerit Abantiades; quaerenti protinus unus
narrat Lyncides moresque animumque virorum.]
Qui simul edocuit: "Nunc, o fortissime," dixit
"fare, precor, Perseu, quanta virtute quibusque
artibus abstuleris crinita draconibus ora."
Narrat Agenorides gelido sub Atlante iacentem
esse locum solidae tutum munimine molis;
cuius in introitu geminas habitasse sorores
Phorcidas, unius partitas luminis usum;
id se sollerti furtim, dum traditur, astu
supposita cepisse manu perque abdita longe
deviaque et silvis horrentia saxa fragosis
Gorgoneas tetigisse domos; passimque per agros
perque vias vidisse hominum simulacra ferarumque
in silicem ex ipsis visa conversa Medusa;
se tamen horrendae clipei, quod laeva gerebat,
aere repercusso formam aspexisse Medusae;
dumque gravis somnus colubrasque ipsamque tenebat,
eripuisse caput collo pennisque fugacem
Pegason et fratrem matris de sanguine natos.
Addidit et longi non falsa pericula cursus,
quae freta, quas terras sub se vidisset ab alto
et quae iactatis tetigisset sidera pennis.
Ante exspectatum tacuit tamen; excipit unus
ex numero procerum, quaerens cur sola sororum
gesserit alternis inmixtos crinibus angues.
Hospes ait: "Quoniam scitaris digna relatu,
accipe quaesiti causam. Clarissima forma
multorumque fuit spes invidiosa procorum
illa, neque in tota conspectior ulla capillis
pars fuit; inveni, qui se vidisse referret.
Hanc pelagi rector templo vitiasse Minervae
dicitur; aversa est et castos aegide vultus
nata Iovis texit; neve hoc impune fuisset,
Gorgoneum crinem turpes mutavit in hydros.
Nunc quoque, ut attonitos formidine terreat hostes,
pectore in adverso, quos fecit, sustinet angues."