Pūlsă sĭtīs flŭvĭō, pŏpŭlātăquĕ gūrgĭtĭs ālveūm
āgmĭnă līnquēbānt rīpās āmnēmquĕ mĭnōrēm;
ācrĭŏr ēt cāmpūm sŏnĭpēs răpĭt ēt pĕdĕs ārvă
īmplĕt ŏvāns, rĕdĭērĕ vĭrīs ănĭmīquĕ mĭnaēquĕ
vōtăquĕ, sānguĭnĕīs mīxtūm ceū fōntĭbŭs īgnēm
haūsīssēnt bēllī māgnāsque īn proēlĭă mēntēs.
Dīspŏsĭti īn tūrmās rūrsūs lēgēmquĕ sĕvērī
ōrdĭnĭs, ūt cuīque āntĕ lŏcūs dūctōrquĕ, mŏnēntūr
īnstaūrārĕ vĭās. Tēllūs iām pūlvĕrĕ prīmō
crēscĭt, ĕt ārmōrūm trānsmīttūnt fūlgŭră sīlvaē.
Quālĭă trāns pōntūm Phărĭīs dēprēnsă sĕrēnīs
raūcă Păraētŏnĭō dēcēdūnt āgmĭnă Nīlō,
quō fĕră cōgĭt hĭēmps: īllaē clāngōrĕ fŭgācī,
ūmbră frĕtīs ārvīsquĕ, vŏlānt, sŏnăt āvĭŭs aēthēr.
Iām Bŏrĕān īmbrēsquĕ pătī, iām nārĕ sŏlūtīs
āmnĭbŭs ēt nūdō iŭvăt aēstīvārĕ sŭb Haēmō.
Hīc rūrsūs sĭmĭlī prŏcĕrūm vāllāntĕ cŏrōnā
dūx Tālāiŏnĭdēs, āntīqua ūt fōrtĕ sŭb ōrnō
stābăt ĕt ādmōtī nīxūs Pŏlўnīcĭs ĭn hāstām:
"Āt tămĕn, ō quaēcūmque ĕs" ăīt, "cuī, glōrĭă tāntāst,
vēnĭmŭs īnnŭmĕraē fātō dēbērĕ cŏhōrtēs,
quēm nōn īpsĕ dĕūm sătŏr āspērnētŭr hŏnōrēm,
dīc ăgĕ, quāndŏ tŭīs ălăcrēs ābsīstĭmŭs ūndīs,
quaē dŏmŭs aūt tēllūs, ănĭmām quĭbŭs haūsĕrĭs āstrīs?
Dīc, quĭs ĕt īllĕ pătēr? Nĕque ĕnīm tĭbĭ nūmĭnă lōngē,
trānsĭĕrīt fōrtūnă lĭcēt, māiōrquĕ pĕr ōră
sānguĭs, ĕt ādflīctō spīrāt rĕvĕrēntĭă vūltū".
Īngĕmĭt, ēt paūlūm flētū cūnctātă mŏdēstō
Lēmnĭăs ōrsă rĕfērt: "Īmmānĭă vūlnĕră, rēctōr,
īntēgrārĕ iŭbēs, Fŭrĭās ēt Lēmnŏn ĕt ārtīs
ārma īnsērtă tŏrīs dēbēllātōsquĕ pŭdēndō
ēnsĕ mărēs; rĕdĭt ēccĕ nĕfās ēt frīgĭdă cōrdī
Eūmĕnĭs. Ō mĭsĕraē, quĭbŭs hīc fŭrŏr āddĭtŭs! Ō nōx!
Ō pătĕr! Īlla ĕgŏ nām, pŭdĕāt nē fōrtĕ bĕnīgnaē
hōspĭtĭs, īllă, dŭcēs, rāptūm quaē sōlă părēntēm
ōccŭlŭī. quīd lōngă mălīs ēxōrdĭă nēctō?
Ēt vōs ārmă vŏcānt māgnīque īn cōrdĕ părātūs.
Hōc mĕmŏrāssĕ săt ēst: clārō gĕnĕrātă Thŏāntĕ
sērvĭtĭum Hŷpsĭpўlē vēstrī fĕrŏ cāptă Lўcūrgī."
Ādvērtēre ănĭmōs, māiōrque ĕt hŏnōră vĭdērī
pārque ŏpĕrī tāntō; cūnctīs tūnc nōscĕrĕ cāsūs
ōrtŭs ămōr, pătĕr ānte ălĭōs hōrtātŭr Ădrāstūs:
"Īmmo ăgĕ, dūm prīmī lōngē dămŭs āgmĭnă vūlgī
nēc făcĭlīs Nĕmĕā lātās ēvōlvĕrĕ vīrīs,
quīppe ōbtēntă cŏmīs ĕt ĭnēlūctābĭlĭs ūmbră,
pāndĕ nĕfās laūdēsquĕ tŭās gĕmĭtūsquĕ tŭōrūm,
ūnde hōs ādvĕnĭās rēgnō dēiēctă lăbōrēs."
Dūlcĕ lŏquī mĭsĕrīs vĕtĕrēsquĕ rĕdūcĕrĕ quēstūs.
Īncĭpĭt: Aēgaēō prĕmĭtūr cīrcūmflŭă Nēreō
Lēmnŏs, ŭbi īgnĭfĕrā fēssūs rēspīrăt ăb Aētnā
Mūlcĭbĕr; īngēntī tēllūrēm prōxĭmŭs ūmbrā
vēstĭt Ăthōs nĕmŏrūmque ōbscūrăt ĭmāgĭnĕ pōntūm;
Thrācĕs ărānt cōntrā, Thrācūm fātālĭă nōbīs
lītŏra, ĕt īndĕ nĕfās. Flōrēbāt dīvĕs ălūmnīs
tērră, nĕc īllă Sămō fāmā Dēlōvĕ sŏnāntī
pēiŏr ĕt īnnŭmĕrīs quās spūmĭfĕr āssĭlĭt Aēgōn.
Dīs vīsūm tūrbārĕ dŏmōs, nēc pēctŏră cūlpā
nōstră văcānt: nūllōs Vĕnĕrī sācrāvĭmŭs īgnīs,
nūllă dĕaē sēdēs; mŏvĕt ēt caēlēstĭă quōndām
cōrdă dŏlōr lēntōque īrrēpūnt āgmĭnĕ Poēnaē.
Īllă Păphōn vĕtĕrēm cēntūmque āltārĭă līnquēns
nēc vūltū nēc crīnĕ prĭōr sōlvīssĕ iŭgālēm
cēstŏn ĕt Īdălĭās prŏcŭl āblēgāssĕ vŏlūcrēs
fērtŭr. Ĕrānt cērtē, mĕdĭā quaē nōctĭs ĭn ūmbrā
dīvam ălĭōs īgnīs māiōrăquĕ tēlă gĕrēntēm
Tārtărĕās īntēr thălămīs vŏlĭtāssĕ sŏrōrēs
vūlgārēnt; ūtque īmplĭcĭtīs ārcānă dŏmōrūm
ānguĭbŭs ēt saēvā fōrmīdĭnĕ nūptă rĕplēssēt
līmĭnă, nēc fīdī pŏpŭlūm mĭsĕrātă mărītī,
prōtĭnŭs ā Lēmnō tĕnĕrī fūgīstĭs Ămōrēs,
mūtŭs Hўmēn vērsaēquĕ făcēs ēt frīgĭdă iūstī
cūră tŏrī! Nūllaē rĕdĕūnt īn gaūdĭă nōctēs,
nūllŭs ĭn āmplēxū sŏpŏr ēst, Ŏdĭa āspĕra ŭbīquĕ
ēt Fŭrŏr ēt mĕdĭō rĕcŭbāt Dīscōrdĭă lēctō.
cūră vĭrīs tŭmĭdōs ādvērsā Thrācăs ĭn ōrā
ērŭĕre ēt saēvām bēllāndō frāngĕrĕ gēntēm.
Cūmquĕ dŏmūs cōntrā stāntēsque īn lītŏrĕ nātī,
dūlcĭŭs Ēdōnās hĭĕmēs Ārctōnquĕ prĕmēntēm
ēxcĭpĕre, aūt tāndēm tăcĭtā pōst proēlĭă nōctĕ
frāctōrūm sŭbĭtās tōrrēntum aūdīrĕ rŭīnās.
īllae aūtēm trīstēs - nām mē tūnc lībĕră cūrīs
vīrgĭnĭtās ānnīquĕ tĕgūnt - sūb nōctĕ dĭēquĕ
āssĭdŭīs aēgrae īn lăcrĭmīs sōlāntĭă mīscēnt
cōllŏquĭa, aūt saēvām spēctānt trāns aēquŏră Thrācēn.
Sōl ŏpĕrūm mĕdĭūs sūmmō lībrābăt Ŏlŷmpō
lūcēntīs, ceū stārĕt, ĕquōs; quătĕr āxĕ sĕrēnō
īntŏnŭīt, quătĕr āntră dĕī fūmāntĭs ănhēlōs
ēxsĕrŭēre ăpĭcēs, vēntīsque ābsēntĭbŭs Aēgōn
mōtŭs ĕt īngēntī pērcūssīt lītŏră pōntō:
cūm sŭbĭto hōrrēndās aēvī mātūră Pŏlŷxō
tōllĭtŭr īn fŭrĭās thălămīsque īnsuētă rĕlīctīs
ēvŏlăt. Īnsānō vĕlŭtī Teūmēsĭă Thŷiās
rāptă dĕō, cūm sācră vŏcānt Īdaēăquĕ suādēt
būxŭs ĕt ā sūmmīs aūdītūs mōntĭbŭs Eūhān:
sīc ērēctă gĕnās ăcĭēmque ōffūsă trĕmēntī
sānguĭnĕ dēsērtām răbĭdīs clāmōrĭbŭs ūrbēm
ēxăgĭtāt, claūsāsquĕ dŏmōs ēt līmĭnă pūlsāns
cōncĭlĭūm vŏcăt; īnfēlīx cŏmĭtātŭs ĕūntī
haērēbānt nāti. ātque īllaē nōn sēgnĭŭs ōmnēs
ērūmpūnt tēctīs, sūmmāsque ād Pāllădŏs ārcēs
īmpĕtŭs: hūc prŏpĕrē stīpāmŭr ĕt ōrdĭnĕ nūllō
cōngēstaē; strīctō mōx ēnsĕ sĭlēntĭă iūssīt
hōrtātrīx scĕlĕrum ēt mĕdĭō sīc aūsă prŏfārī:
"Rēm sūmmam īnstīnctū sŭpĕrūm mĕrĭtīquĕ dŏlōrīs,
ō vĭdŭaē (fīrmāte ănĭmōs ēt pēllĭtĕ sēxūm!)
Lēmnĭădēs, sāncīrĕ părō; sī taēdĕt ĭnānēs
aētērnūm sērvārĕ dŏmōs tūrpēmquĕ iŭvēntaē
flōrĕ sĭtum ēt lōngīs stĕrĭlīs īn lūctĭbŭs ānnōs,
īnvēnī, prōmīttŏ, vĭām - nēc nūmĭnă dēsūnt -,
quā rĕnŏvāndă Vĕnūs: mŏdŏ pār īnsūmĭtĕ rōbūr
lūctĭbŭs, ātque ădĕō prīmum hōc mĭhĭ nōscĕrĕ dētūr.
tērtĭă cānĕt hĭēmps; cuī cōnŭbĭālĭă vīnclă
aūt thălămī sēcrētŭs hŏnōs? Cŭĭ cōniŭgĕ pēctūs
īntĕpŭīt? cūiūs vīdīt Lūcīnă lăbōrēs,
dīcĭtĕ, vēl iūstōs cūiūs pūlsāntĭă mēnsīs
vōtă tŭmēnt? Quā pācĕ fĕrās vŏlŭcrēsquĕ iŭgārī
mōs dătŭs. heū sēgnēs! pŏtŭītne ūltrīcĭă Grāiūs
vīrgĭnĭbūs dărĕ tēlă pătēr laētūsquĕ dŏlōrūm
sānguĭnĕ sēcūrōs iŭvĕnūm pērfūndĕrĕ sōmnōs:
āt nōs vūlgŭs ĭnērs? quōdsī prŏpĭōrĭbŭs āctīs
ēst ŏpŭs, ēcce ănĭmōs dŏcĕāt Rhŏdŏpēĭă cōniūnx,
ūltă mănū thălămōs părĭtērque ĕpŭlātă mărītō.
Nēc vōs īmmūnīs scĕlĕrūm sēcūrăvĕ cōgō.
Plēnă mĭhī dŏmŭs ātque īngēns, ēn cērnĭtĕ, sūdōr.
Quāttŭŏr hōs ūnā, dĕcŭs ēt sōlācĭă pātrīs,
īn grĕmĭō, lĭcĕt āmplēxū lăcrĭmīsquĕ mŏrēntūr,
trānsădĭgām fērrō sănĭēmque ēt vūlnĕră frātrūm
mīscēbō pātrēmquĕ sŭpēr spīrāntĭbŭs āddām.
Ēcquă tŏt īn caēdēs ănĭmūm prōmīttĭt?" ăgēbāt
plūrĭbŭs; ādvērsō nĭtŭērūnt vēlă prŏfūndō:
Lēmnĭă clāssĭs ĕrāt. Răpŭīt gāvīsă Pŏlŷxō
fōrtūnam ātque ĭtĕrāt: "Sŭpĕrīsnĕ vŏcāntĭbŭs ūltrō
dēsŭmŭs? Ēccĕ rătēs! Deūs hōs, dĕŭs ūltŏr ĭn īrās
ādpōrtāt coēptīsquĕ făvēt. Nĕc ĭmāgŏ quĭētīs
vānă mĕaē: nūdō stābāt Vĕnŭs ēnsĕ, vĭdērī
clāră mĭhī sōmnōsquĕ sŭpēr: "Quīd pērdĭtĭs aēvūm?"
īnquĭt, 'ăge āvērsīs thălămōs pūrgātĕ mărītīs.
Īpsă făcēs ălĭās mĕlĭōrăquĕ foēdĕră iūngām'.
Dīxĭt, ĕt hōc fērrūm strātīs, hōc, crēdĭtĕ, fērrūm
īmpŏsŭīt. Quīn ō mĭsĕraē, dūm tēmpŭs ăgī rēm,
cōnsŭlĭte; ēn vălĭdīs spūmānt ēvērsă lăcērtīs
aēquŏră, Bīstŏnĭdēs vĕnĭūnt fōrtāssĕ mărītaē".
Hīnc stĭmŭli īngēntēs, māgnūsque ādvōlvĭtŭr āstrīs
clāmŏr. Ămāzŏnĭō Scўthĭām fērvērĕ tŭmūltū
lūnātūmquĕ pŭtēs āgmēn dēscēndĕre, ŭbi ārmă
īndūlgēt pătĕr ēt saēvī mŏvĕt ōstĭă Bēllī.
Nēc vărĭūs frĕmŏr aūt stŭdĭa īn cōntrārĭă rāptī
dīssēnsūs, ūt plēbĕ sŏlēt: fŭrŏr ōmnĭbŭs īdēm,
īdem ănĭmūs sōlārĕ dŏmōs iŭvĕnūmquĕ sĕnūmquĕ
praēcĭpĭtārĕ cŏlūs plēnīsque āffrāngĕrĕ pārvōs
ūbĕrĭbūs fērrōque ōmnīs ēxīrĕ pĕr ānnōs.
Tūnc vĭrĭdī lūcō - lūcūs iŭgă cēlsă Mĭnērvaē
prōptĕr ŏpācăt hŭmūm nĭgĕr īpsĕ, sĕd īnsŭpĕr īngēns
mōns prĕmĭt ēt gĕmĭnā pĕrĕūnt cālīgĭnĕ sōlēs -,
hīc sānxērĕ fĭdēm, tū Mārtĭă tēstĭs Ĕnŷō
ātque īnfērnă Cĕrēs, Stўgĭaēque Ăchĕrōntĕ rĕclūsō
āntĕ prĕcēs vēnērĕ dĕaē; sēd fāllĭt ŭbīquĕ
mīxtă Vĕnūs, Vĕnŭs ārmă tĕnēt, Vĕnŭs ādmŏvĕt īrās.
Nēc dē mōrĕ crŭōr: nātūm Chărŏpēĭă cōniūnx
ōbtŭlĭt, āccīngūnt sēse ēt mīrāntĭă fērrō
pēctŏră cōngēstīsque ăvĭdaē sĭmŭl ūndĭquĕ dēxtrīs
pērfrīngūnt, āc dūlcĕ nĕfās īn sānguĭnĕ vīvō
cōniūrānt, mātrēmquĕ rĕcēns cīrcūmvŏlăt ūmbră.
Tālĭă cērnēntī mĭhĭ quāntŭs ĭn ōssĭbŭs hōrrōr,
quīsvĕ pĕr ōră cŏlōr! Quālīs cūm cērvă crŭēntīs
cīrcūmuēntă lŭpīs, nūllūm cuī pēctŏrĕ mōllī
rōbŭr ĕt īn vŏlŭcrī tĕnŭīs fīdūcĭă cūrsū,
praēcĭpĭtāt sūspēnsă fŭgām, iāmiāmquĕ tĕnērī
crēdĭt ĕt ēlūsōs aūdīt cōncūrrĕrĕ mōrsūs.
Īlli ădĕrānt, prīmīs iāmque ōffēndērĕ cărīnaē
lītŏrĭbūs, cērtānt sāltū cōntīngĕrĕ tērrām
praēcĭpĭtēs. Mĭsĕrī, quōs nōn aūt hōrrĭdă vīrtūs
Mārtĕ sŭb Ōdrўsĭo, aūt mĕdĭi īnclēmēntĭă pōntī
haūsĕrĭt! Ālta ĕtĭām sŭpĕrūm dēlūbră văpōrānt
prōmīssāsquĕ trăhūnt pĕcŭdēs: nĭgĕr ōmnĭbŭs ārīs
īgnĭs, ĕt īn nūllīs spīrāt dĕŭs īntĕgĕr ēxtīs.
Tārdĭŭs ūmēntī nōctēm dēiēcĭt Ŏlŷmpō
Iūppĭtĕr ēt vērsūm mītī, rĕŏr, aēthĕră cūrā
sūstĭnŭīt, dūm fātă vĕtānt, nēc lōngĭŭs ūmquām
cēssāvērĕ nŏvaē pērfēctō sōlĕ tĕnēbraē.
Sēră tămēn mūndō vēnērūnt āstră, sĕd īllīs
ēt Părŏs ēt nĕmŏrōsă Thăsōs crēbraēquĕ rĕlūcēnt
Cŷclădĕs; ūnă grăvī pĕnĭtūs lătĕt ōbrŭtă caēlō
Lēmnŏs, ĭn hānc trīstēs nĕbŭlae, ēt plăgă caēcă sŭpērnē
tēxĭtŭr, ūnă văgīs Lēmnōs nōn āgnĭtă naūtīs.
tūm dŏmĭbūs fūsi ēt nĕmŏrūm pĕr ŏpācă săcrōrūm
dītĭbŭs īndūlgēnt ĕpŭlīs văcŭāntquĕ prŏfūndō
aūrum īmmānĕ mĕrō, dūm quaē pēr Strŷmŏnă pūgnaē,
quīs Rhŏdŏpē gĕlĭdōvĕ lăbōr sūdātŭs ĭn Haēmō,
ēnŭmĕrārĕ văcāt. Nēc nōn, mănŭs īmpĭă, nūptaē
sērta īntēr fēstāsquĕ dăpēs quō māxĭmă cūltū
quaēquĕ iăcēnt; dĕdĕrāt mītīs Cўthĕrēă sŭprēmā
nōctĕ vĭrōs lōngōquĕ brĕvēm pōst tēmpŏrĕ pācēm
nēquīquam ēt mĭsĕrōs pĕrĭtūro ādflāvĕrăt īgnī.
Cōntĭcŭērĕ chŏrī, dăpĭbūs lūdōquĕ lĭcēntī
fīt mŏdŭs ēt prīmaē dēcrēscūnt mūrmŭră nōctīs,
cūm cōnsānguĭnĕī mīxtūs cālīgĭnĕ Lētī
rōrĕ mădēns Stўgĭō mŏrĭtūram āmplēctĭtŭr ūrbēm
Sōmnŭs ĕt īmplăcĭdō fūndīt grăvĭa ōtĭă cōrnū
sēcērnītquĕ vĭrōs. vĭgĭlānt nūptaēquĕ nŭrūsquĕ
īn scĕlŭs, ātque hĭlărēs ăcŭūnt fĕră tēlă Sŏrōrēs.
Īnvāsērĕ nĕfās, cūnctō sŭă rēgnăt Ĕrīnŷs
pēctŏrĕ. Nōn ălĭtēr Scўthĭcōs ārmēntă pĕr āgrōs
Hŷrcānaē claūsērĕ lĕaē, quās ēxĭgĭt ōrtū
prīmă fămēs, ăvĭdīque īmplōrānt ūbĕră nātī.
Quōs tĭbĭ nām, dŭbĭtō, scĕlĕrūm dē mīllĕ fĭgūrīs
ēxpĕdĭām cāsūs? Hĕlўmūm tĕmĕrārĭă Gōrgē
ēvīnctūm rāmīs āltāque īn mōlĕ tăpētūm
ēfflāntēm sōmnō crēscēntĭă vīnă sŭpērstāns
vūlnĕră dīsiēctā rīmātūr vēstĕ, sĕd īllūm
īnfēlīx sŏpŏr ādmōtā sūb mōrtĕ rĕfūgīt.
Tūrbĭdŭs īncērtūmque ŏcŭlīs vĭgĭlāntĭbŭs hōstēm
ōccŭpăt āmplēxū, nēc sēgnĭŭs īllă tĕnēntīs
pōne ădĭgīt cōstās, dōnēc sŭă pēctŏră fērrō
tāngĕrĕt. īs dēmūm scĕlĕrī mŏdŭs; ōră sŭpīnāt
blāndŭs ădhūc ŏcŭlīsquĕ trĕmēns ēt mūrmŭrĕ Gōrgēn
quaērĭt ĕt īndīgnō nōn sōlvīt brācchĭă cōllō.
Nōn ĕgŏ nūnc vūlgī quāmquām crūdēlĭă pāndām
fūnĕră, sēd prŏprĭā lūctūs dē stīrpĕ rĕcōrdōr:
quōd tē, flāvĕ Cўdōn, quōd tē pēr cōllă rĕfūsīs
īntāctūm, Crēnaēĕ, cŏmīs, quĭbŭs ūbĕră mēcūm
ōblīquūmque ā pātrĕ gĕnūs, fōrtēmquĕ, tĭmēbām
quēm dēspōnsă, Gўān vīdī lāpsārĕ crŭēntaē
vūlnĕrĕ Mŷrmĭdŏnēs, quōdque īntēr sērtă tŏrōsquĕ
bārbără lūdēntēm fŏdĭēbăt Ĕpōpĕă mātēr.
Flēt sŭpĕr aēquaēvūm sŏrŏr ēxārmātă Lўcāstē
Cŷdĭmŏn, heū sĭmĭlīs pĕrĭtūro īn cōrpŏrĕ vūltūs
āspĭcĭēns flōrēmquĕ gĕnae ēt quās fīnxĕrăt aūrō
īpsă cŏmās, cūm saēvă părēns iām cōniŭgĕ fūsō
āstĭtĭt īmpēllītquĕ mĭnīs ātque īngĕrĭt ēnsēm.
Ūt fĕră, quaē răbĭē plăcĭdō dēsuētă măgīstrō
tārdĭŭs ārmă mŏvēt stĭmŭlīsque ēt vērbĕrĕ crēbrō
īn mōrēs nĕgăt īrĕ sŭōs, sīc īllă iăcēntī
īncĭdĭt ūndāntēmquĕ sĭnū cōllāpsă crŭōrēm
ēxcĭpĭt ēt lăcĕrōs prĕmĭt īn nŏvă vūlnĕră crīnīs.
Ūt vēro Ālcĭmĕdēn ĕtĭāmnum īn mūrmŭrĕ trūncōs
fērrĕ pătrīs vūltūs ĕt ĕgēntēm sānguĭnĭs ēnsēm
cōnspēxī, rĭgŭērĕ cŏmae ātque īn vīscĕră saēvūs
hōrrŏr ĭīt: mĕŭs īllĕ Thŏās, mĕă dīră vĭdērī
dēxtră mĭhi! Ēxtēmplō thălămīs tūrbātă pătērnīs
īnfĕrŏr. īllĕ quĭdēm dūdūm - quīs māgnă tŭēntī
sōmnŭs? - ăgīt vērsāns sēcum, ētsī lātă rĕcēssīt
ūrbĕ dŏmūs, quīnām strĕpĭtūs, quaē mūrmŭră nōctīs,
cūr frĕmĭbūndă quĭēs? Trĕpĭdō scĕlŭs ōrdĭnĕ pāndō,
quīs dŏlŏr, ūnde ănĭmī: "Vīs nūlla ārcērĕ fŭrēntēs;
hāc sĕquĕre, ō mĭsĕrāndĕ; prĕmūnt ădĕrūntquĕ mŏrāntī,
ēt mēcūm fōrtāssĕ cădēs". Hīs mōtŭs ĕt ārtūs
ērēxīt strātīs. Fĕrĭmūr pēr dēvĭă vāstaē
ūrbĭs ĕt īngēntēm nōctūrnaē caēdĭs ăcērvūm
pāssim, ūt quōsquĕ săcrīs crūdēlīs vēspĕră lūcīs
strāvĕrăt, ōccūltā spĕcŭlāmūr nūbĕ lătēntēs.
Hīc īmprēssā tōrĭs ŏra ēxstāntēsquĕ rĕclūsīs
pēctŏrĭbūs căpŭlōs māgnārum ēt frāgmĭnă trūncă
hāstārum ēt fērrō lăcĕrās pēr cōrpŏră vēstēs,
crātērās prōnōs ĕpŭlāsque īn caēdĕ nătāntīs
cērnĕre ĕrāt, iŭgŭlīsquĕ mŏdō tōrrēntĭs ăpērtīs
sānguĭnĕ pērmīxtō rĕdĕūntem īn pōcŭlă Bācchūm.
Hīc iŭvĕnūm mănŭs ēt nūllīs vĭŏlābĭlĭs ārmīs
tūrbă sĕnēs, pŏsĭtīquĕ pătrūm sŭpĕr ōră gĕmēntūm
sēmĭnĕcēs pŭĕrī trĕpĭdās īn līmĭnĕ vītaē
sīngūltānt ănĭmās. Gĕlĭdā nōn saēvĭŭs Ōssā
lūxŭrĭānt Lăpĭthārum ĕpŭlaē, sī quāndŏ prŏfūndō
Nūbĭgĕnaē cālvērĕ mĕrō; vīx prīmŭs ăb īrā
pāllŏr, ĕt īmpūlsīs sūrgūnt ād proēlĭă mēnsīs.
Tūnc prīmūm sēsē trĕpĭdīs sūb nōctĕ Thўōneūs
dētēxīt, nātō pōrtāns ēxtrēmă Thŏāntī
sūbsĭdĭa, ēt mūltā sŭbĭtūs cūm lūcĕ rĕfūlsīt.
Āgnōvī: nōn īllĕ quĭdēm tūrgēntĭă sērtīs
tēmpŏră nēc flāvā crīnēm dēstrīnxĕrăt ūvā:
nūbĭlŭs īndīgnūmque ŏcŭlīs līquēntĭbŭs īmbrēm
ādlŏquĭtūr: "Dūm fātă dăbānt tĭbĭ, nātĕ, pŏtēntēm
Lēmnŏn ĕt ēxtērnīs ĕtĭām sērvārĕ tĭmēndām
gēntĭbŭs, haūd ūmquām iūstō mĕă cūră lăbōrī
dēstĭtĭt: ābscĭdĕrūnt trīstēs crūdēlĭă Pārcaē
stāmĭnă, nēc dīctīs, sūpplēx quaē plūrĭmă fūdī
āntĕ Iŏvēm frūstrā, lăcrĭmīsque āvērtĕrĕ lūctūs
cōntĭgĭt; īnfāndūm nātaē cōncēssĭt hŏnōrēm.
Āccĕlĕrātĕ fŭgām, tūque, ō mĕă dīgnă prŏpāgŏ,
hāc rĕgĕ, vīrgŏ, pătrēm, gĕmĭnī quā brācchĭă mūrī
lītŭs ĕūnt: īllā, quā rērĕ sĭlēntĭă, pōrtā
stāt fūnēstă Vĕnūs fērrōque āccīnctă fŭrēntēs
ādiŭvăt - ūndĕ mănūs, ūnde haēc Māvōrtĭă dīvaē
pēctŏră? tū lātō pātrēm cōmmīttĕ prŏfūndō.
Sūccēdām cūrīs." ĭtă fātŭs ĭn āĕră rūrsūs
sōlvĭtŭr ēt nōstrūm, vīsūs ārcēntĭbŭs ūmbrīs,
mītĭs ĭtēr lōngaē clārāvīt līmĭtĕ flāmmaē.
Quā dătă sīgnă, sĕquōr; deīn cūrvō rōbŏrĕ claūsūm
dīs pĕlăgī vēntīsque ēt Cŷclădăs Aēgaēōnī
āmplēxō cōmmēndŏ pătrēm, nēc flētĭbŭs ūmquām
fīt mŏdŭs āltērnīs, nī iām dīmīttăt Ĕōō
Lūcĭfĕr āstră pŏlō. Tūnc dēmūm lītŏrĕ raūcō
mūltă mĕtū rĕpŭtāns ēt vīx cōnfīsă Lўaēō
dīvĭdŏr, īpsă grădū nītēntĕ, sĕd ānxĭă rētrō
pēctŏră, nēc rĕquĭēs, quīn ēt sūrgēntĭă caēlō
flāmĭna ĕt ē cūnctīs prōspēctēm cōllĭbŭs ūndās.
Ēxŏrĭtūr pŭdĭbūndă dĭēs, caēlūmquĕ rĕtēxēns
āvērsūm Lēmnō iŭbăr ēt dēclīnĭă Tītān
ōppŏsĭtā iŭgă nūbĕ rĕfērt. Pătŭērĕ fŭrōrēs
nōctūrnī, lūcīsquĕ nŏvaē fōrmīdĭnĕ cūnctīs,
quāmquam īntēr sĭmĭlēs, sŭbĭtūs pŭdŏr; īmpĭă tērraē
īnfŏdĭūnt scĕlĕra aūt fēstīnīs īgnĭbŭs ūrūnt.
Iām mănŭs Eūmĕnĭdūm cāptāsquĕ rĕfūgĕrăt ārcēs
ēxsătŭrātă Vĕnūs; lĭcŭīt sēntīrĕ quĭd aūsaē,
ēt tūrbārĕ cŏmās ēt lūmĭnă tīnguĕrĕ flētū.
Īnsŭlă dīvĕs ăgrīs ŏpĭbūsque ārmīsquĕ vĭrīsquĕ,
nōtă sĭtu ēt Gĕtĭcō nūpēr dītātă trĭūmphō,
nōn mărĭs īncūrsū, nōn hōstĕ, nĕc aēthĕrĕ laēvō
pērdĭdĭt ūna ōmnēs ōrbāta ēxcūssăquĕ fūndō
īndĭgĕnās: nōn ārvă vĭrī, nōn aēquŏră vērtūnt,
cōntĭcŭērĕ dŏmūs, crŭŏr āltŭs ĕt ōblĭtă crāssō
cūnctă rŭbēnt tābō, māgnaēque īn moēnĭbŭs ūrbīs
nōs tāntum ēt saēvī spīrānt pēr cūlmĭnă mānēs.
Īpsă quŏque ārcānīs tēcti īn pĕnĕtrālĭbŭs āltō
mōlĭŏr īgnĕ pўrām, scēptrūm sŭpĕr ārmăquĕ pātrīs
īnĭcĭo ēt nōtās rēgūm vēlāmĭnă vēstēs,
āc prŏpĕ maēstă rŏgūm cōnfūsīs īgnĭbŭs āstō
ēnsĕ crŭēntātō, fraūdēmque ĕt ĭnānĭă būstă
plāngŏ mĕtū, sī fōrtĕ prĕmānt, cāssūmquĕ părēntī
ōmĕn ĕt hāc dŭbĭōs lētī prĕcŏr īrĕ tĭmōrēs.
Hīs mĭhĭ prō mĕrĭtīs, ūt fālsī crīmĭnĭs āstū
pārtă fĭdēs, rēgno ēt sŏlĭō cōnsīdĕrĕ pātrīs
- sūpplĭcĭūm! - dătŭr. Ānne īllīs ōbsēssă nĕgārēm?
Āccēssī, saēpe āntĕ dĕōs tēstātă fĭdēmquĕ
īmmĕrĭtāsquĕ mănūs; sŭbĕō - prō dīră pŏtēstās! -
ēxsāngue īmpĕrĭum ēt maēstām sĭnĕ cūlmĭnĕ Lēmnōn.
Iām măgĭs ātquĕ măgīs vĭgĭlēs dŏlŏr āngĕrĕ sēnsūs,
ēt gĕmĭtūs clāri, ēt paūlātim īnvīsă Pŏlŷxō,
iām mĕmĭnīssĕ nĕfās, iām pōnĕrĕ mānĭbŭs ārās
cōncēssum ēt mūltūm cĭnĕrēs iūrārĕ sĕpūltōs.
Sīc ŭbĭ dūctōrēm trĕpĭdaē stăbŭlīquĕ mărītūm,
quēm pĕnĕs ēt sāltūs ĕt ădūltaē glōrĭă gēntīs,
Māssŷlō frāngī stŭpŭērĕ sŭb hōstĕ iŭvēncaē,
īt trūncūm sĭne hŏnōrĕ pĕcūs, rēgēmquĕ pĕrēmptūm
īpse ăgĕr, īpsi āmnēs ēt mūta ārmēntă quĕrūntūr.
Ēcce aūtem aērātā dīspēllēns aēquŏră prōrā
Pēlĭăs īntāctī lātē sŭbĭt hōspĭtă pōntī
pīnŭs; ăgūnt Mĭnўaē, gĕmĭnūs frăgŏr ārdŭă cānēt
pēr lătĕra, ābrūptām crēdās rādīcĭbŭs īrĕ
Ōrtўgĭam aūt frāctūm pĕlăgō dēcūrrĕrĕ mōntēm.
Āst ŭbĭ sūspēnsīs sĭlŭērūnt aēquŏră tōnsīs,
mītĭŏr ēt sĕnĭbūs cŷgnīs ēt pēctĭnĕ Phoēbī
vōx mĕdĭā dē pūppĕ vĕnīt, mărĭa īpsă cărīnaē
āccēdūnt. Pōst nōssĕ dătum ēst: Oēāgrĭŭs īllīc
ācclīnīs mālō mĕdĭīs īntērsŏnăt Ōrpheūs
rēmĭgĭīs tāntōsquĕ iŭbēt nēscīrĕ lăbōrēs.
Īllīs īn Scўthĭcūm Bŏrĕān ĭtĕr ōrăquĕ prīmī
Cŷănĕīs ārtātă mărīs. Nōs Thrācĭă vīsū
bēllă rătaē vărĭō tēcta īncūrsārĕ tŭmūltū,
dēnsārūm pĕcŭdum aūt fŭgĭēntūm mōrĕ vŏlūcrūm.
Heū | ŭbĭ nūnc fŭrĭaē? Pōrtūs āmplēxăquĕ lītūs
moēnĭă, quā lōngē pĕlăgō dēspēctŭs ăpērtō,
scāndĭmŭs ēt cēlsās tūrrēs; hūc sāxă sŭdēsquĕ
ārmăquĕ maēstă vĭrum ātque īnfēctōs caēdĭbŭs ēnsēs
sūbvēctānt trĕpĭdaē; quīn ēt squālēntĭă tēxtă
thōrācum ēt vūltū gălĕās īntrārĕ sŏlūtō
nōn pŭdĕt; aūdācēs rŭbŭīt mīrātă cătērvās
Pāllăs ĕt ādvērsō rīsīt Grādīvŭs ĭn Haēmō.
Tūnc prīmum ēx ănĭmīs praēcēps āmēntĭă cēssīt,
nēc rătĭs īllă sălō, sēd dīvūm sēră pĕr aēquōr
iūstĭtĭa ēt poēnaē scĕlĕrum ādvēntārĕ vĭdēntūr.
Iāmque ăbĕrānt tērrīs, quāntūm Cōrtŷnĭă cūrrūnt
spīcŭlă, caērŭlĕō grăvĭdām cūm Iūppĭtĕr īmbrī
īpsă sŭpēr nūbēm rătĭs ārmāmēntă Pĕlāsgaē
sīstĭt ăgēns; īnde hōrrŏr ăquīs ēt rāptŭs ăb ōmnī
sōlĕ dĭēs mīscēt tĕnĕbrās, quīs prōtĭnŭs ūndă
cōncŏlŏr; ōbnīxī lăcĕrānt căvă nūbĭlă vēntī
dīrĭpĭūntquĕ frĕtūm, nīgrīs rĕdĭt ūmĭdă tēllūs
vērtĭcĭbūs, tōtūmquĕ nŏtīs cērtāntĭbŭs aēquōr
pēndĕt ĕt ārquātō iāmiām prŏpĕ sīdĕră dōrsō
frāngĭtŭr, īncērtaē nēc iām prĭŏr īmpĕtŭs ālnō,
sēd lăbăt ēxstāntēm rōstrīs mŏdŏ gūrgĭte ĭn īmō,
nūnc caēlō Trītōnă fĕrēns. nēc rōbŏră prōsūnt
sēmĭdĕum hērōūm, pūppēmque īnsānă flăgēllāt
ārbŏr ĕt īnstăbĭlī prōcūmbēns pōndĕrĕ cūrvās
rāptăt ăquās, rēmīquĕ cădūnt īn pēctŭs ĭnānēs.
nōs quŏquĕ pēr rūpēs mūrōrūmque āggĕre ăb ōmnī,
dūm lăbŏr īllĕ vĭrīs frĕtăque īndīgnāntŭr ĕt Aūstrōs,
dēsŭpĕr īnvălĭdīs flŭĭtāntĭă tēlă lăcērtīs
- quīd nōn aūsă mănūs? - Tĕlămōna ēt Pēlĕă cōntrā
spārgĭmŭs, ēt nōstrō pĕtĭtūr Tīrŷnthĭŭs ārcū.
Īllī - quīppĕ sĭmūl bēllō pĕlăgōquĕ lăbōrānt -
pārs clĭpĕīs mūnīrĕ rătēm, pārs aēquŏră fūndō
ēgĕrĕre; āst ălĭī pūgnānt, sĕd ĭnērtĭă mōtū
cōrpŏră, sūspēnsaēquĕ cărēnt cōnāmĭnĕ vīrēs.
Īnstāmūs iāctū tēlōrum, ēt fērrĕă nīmbīs
cērtăt hĭēms, vāstaēquĕ sŭdēs frāctīquĕ mŏlārēs
spīcŭlăque ēt mūltā crīnītūm mīssĭlĕ flāmmā
nūnc pĕlăgō, nūnc pūppĕ cădūnt, dăt ŏpērtă frăgōrēm
pīnŭs, ĕt ābiūnctīs rĕgĕmūnt tăbŭlātă căvērnīs.
Tālĭs Hўpērbŏrĕā vĭrĭdīs nĭvĕ vērbĕrăt āgrōs
Iūppĭtĕr; ōbrŭĭtūr cāmpīs gĕnŭs ōmnĕ fĕrārūm,
dēprēnsaēquĕ cădūnt vŏlŭcrēs, ēt mēssĭs ămārō
strātă gĕlū, frăgŏr īndĕ iŭgīs, īnde āmnĭbŭs īraē.
Ūt vēro ēlīsīt nūbēs Iŏvĕ tōrtŭs ăb āltō
īgnĭs ĕt īngēntēs pătŭēre īn fūlmĭnĕ naūtaē,
dīrĭgŭēre ănĭmī, mănĭbūsque hōrrōrĕ rĕmīssīs
ārma ălĭēnă cădūnt, rĕdĭīt īn pēctŏră sēxūs.
cērnĭmŭs Aēăcĭdās mūrīsque īmmānĕ mĭnāntēm
Āncaēum ēt lōngā pēllēntēm cūspĭdĕ rūpēs
Īphĭtŏn; āttŏnĭtō mănĭfēstŭs ĭn āgmĭnĕ sūprāst
Āmphĭtrўōnĭădēs pūppēmque āltērnŭs ŭtrīmquĕ
īngrăvăt ēt mĕdĭās ārdēt dēscēndĕre ĭn ūndās.
Āt lĕvĭs ēt mĭsĕraē nōndūm mĭhĭ nōtŭs Ĭāsōn
trānstră pĕr ēt rēmōs īmprēssăquĕ tērgă vĭrōrūm
nūnc māgnum Oēnīdēn, nūnc īlle hōrtātĭbŭs Īdān
ēt Tălăum ēt cānā rōrāntem āspārgĭnĕ pōntī
Tŷndărĭdēn ĭtĕrāns gĕlĭdīque īn nūbĕ părēntīs
vēlă lăbōrāntī Călăīn sūbnēctĕrĕ mālō
vōcĕ mănūquĕ rŏgāt; quătĭūnt īmpūlsĭbŭs īllī
nūnc frĕtă, nūnc mūrōs, sēd nēc spūmāntĭă cēdūnt
aēquŏra ĕt īncūssaē rĕdĕūnt ā tūrrĭbŭs hāstaē.
Īpsĕ grăvīs flūctūs clāvūmque aūdīrĕ nĕgāntēm
lāssăt ăgēns Tīphŷs pāllētque ēt plūrĭmă mūtāt
īmpĕrĭa āc laēvās dēxtrāsque ōbtōrquĕt ĭn ūndās
prōrām nāvĭfrăgīs ăvĭdām cōncūrrĕrĕ sāxīs,
dōnĕc ăb ēxtrēmaē cŭnĕō rătĭs Aēsŏnĕ nātūs
Pāllădĭōs ŏlĕaē, Mōpsī gēstāmĭnă, rāmōs
ēxtŭlĭt ēt sŏcĭūm tūrbā prŏhĭbēntĕ pŏpōscīt
foēdĕră; praēcĭpĭtēs vōcem īnvōlvērĕ prŏcēllaē.
tūnc mŏdŭs ārmōrūm, părĭtērque ēxhaūstă quĭērānt
flāmĭnă, cōnfūsōquĕ dĭēs rēspēxĭt Ŏlŷmpō.
quīnquāgīnta īllī, trăbĭbūs dē mōrĕ rĕvīnctīs,
ēmĭnŭs ābrūptō quătĭūnt nŏvă lītŏră sāltū,
māgnōrūm dĕcŏra āltă pătrūm, iām frōntĕ sĕrēnī
nōscēndīque hăbĭtū, pōstquām tŭmŏr īrăquĕ cēssīt
vūltĭbŭs. Ārcānā sīc fāma ērūmpĕrĕ pōrtā
caēlĭcŏlās, sī quāndŏ dŏmōs lītūsquĕ rŭbēntūm
Aēthĭŏpum ēt mēnsās ămŏr ēst īntrārĕ mĭnōrēs;
dānt flŭvĭī mōntēsquĕ lŏcūm, tūm tērră sŭpērbīt
grēssĭbŭs ēt paūlūm rēspīrāt caēlĭfĕr Ātlās.
hīc ĕt ăb āssērtō nūpēr Mărăthōnĕ sŭpērbūm
Thēsĕa ĕt Īsmărĭōs, Ăquĭlōnĭă pīgnŏră, frātrēs,
ūtrăquĕ quīs rŭtĭlā strīdēbānt tēmpŏră pīnnā,
cērnĭmŭs, hīc Phoēbō nōn īndīgnāntĕ prĭōrēm
Ādmētum ēt dūraē sĭmĭlēm nĭhĭl Ōrphĕă Thrācaē,
tūnc prōlēm Călўdōnĕ sătām gĕnĕrūmquĕ prŏfūndī
Nērĕŏs. Āmbĭgŭō vīsūs ērrōrĕ lăcēssūnt
Oēbălĭdaē gĕmĭnī; chlămўs huīc, chlămўs ārdĕt ĕt īllī,
āmbo hāstīlĕ gĕrūnt, ŭmĕrōs ēxsērtŭs ŭtērquĕ,
nūdŭs ŭtērquĕ gĕnās, sĭmĭlī cŏmă fūlgŭrăt āstrō.
aūdĕt ĭtēr māgnīquĕ sĕquēns vēstīgĭă mūtāt
Hērcŭlĭs ēt tārdā quāmvīs sē mōlĕ fĕrēntēm
vīx cūrsū tĕnĕr aēquăt Hўlās Lērnaēăquĕ tōllēns
ārmă sŭb īngēntī gaūdēt sūdārĕ phărētrā.
ērgo ĭtĕrūm Vĕnŭs ēt tăcĭtīs cōrda āspĕră flāmmīs
Lēmnĭădūm pērtēmptăt Ămōr. Tūnc rēgĭă Iūnŏ
ārma hăbĭtūsquĕ vĭrūm pūlchraēque īnsīgnĭă gēntīs
mēntĭbŭs īnsĭnŭāt, cērtātīmque ōrdĭnĕ cūnctaē
hōspĭtĭbūs pătŭērĕ fŏrēs; tūnc prīmŭs ĭn ārīs
īgnĭs, ĕt īnfāndīs vēnēre ōblīvĭă cūrīs;
tūnc ĕpŭlaē fēlīxquĕ sŏpōr nōctēsquĕ quĭētaē,
nēc sŭpĕrūm sĭnĕ mēntĕ, rĕōr, plăcŭērĕ fătēntēs.
fōrsĭtăn ēt nōstraē fātum ēxcūsābĭlĕ cūlpaē
nōscĕrĕ cūră, dŭcēs. Cĭnĕrēs fŭrĭāsquĕ mĕōrūm
tēstŏr: ŭt ēxtērnās nōn spōnte aūt crīmĭnĕ taēdās
āttĭgĕrīm - scīt cūră dĕum -, ētsī blāndŭs Ĭāsōn
vīrgĭnĭbūs dărĕ vīnclă nŏvīs; sŭă iūră crŭēntūm
Phāsĭn hăbēnt, ălĭōs Cōlchī gĕnĕrātĭs ămōrēs.
Iāmque ēxūtă gĕlū tĕpŭērūnt sīdĕră lōngīs
sōlĭbŭs, ēt vēlōx īn tērgă rĕvōlvĭtŭr ānnūs.
Iām nŏvă prōgĕnĭēs pārtūsque īn vōtă sŏlūtī,
ēt nōn spērātīs clāmātūr Lēmnŏs ălūmnīs.
Nēc nōn īpsă tămēn thălămī mŏnĭmēntă cŏāctī
ēnītōr gĕmĭnōs, dūrōquĕ sŭb hōspĭtĕ mātēr
nōmĕn ăvī rĕnŏvō; nēc quaē fōrtūnă rĕlīctīs
nōssĕ dătūr, iām plēnă quătēr quīnquēnnĭă vērgūnt,
sī mŏdŏ fātă sĭnūnt ălŭītquĕ rŏgātă Lўcāstē.
Dētŭmŭēre ănĭmī mărĭs, ēt clēmēntĭŏr Aūstēr
vēlă vŏcāt: rătĭs īpsă mŏrām pōrtūsquĕ quĭētōs
ōdĭt ĕt āssērtī tēndīt rĕtĭnācŭlă sāxī.
īndĕ fŭgām Mĭnўaē, sŏcĭōsque āppēllăt Ĭāsōn
ēffĕrŭs, ō | ŭtĭnām iām tūnc mĕă lītŏră rēctīs
praētērvēctŭs ăquīs, cuī nōn sŭă pīgnŏră cōrdī,
nōn prōmīssă fĭdēs; cērtē stāt fāmă rĕmōtīs
gēntĭbŭs: aēquŏrĕī rĕdĭērūnt vēllĕră Phrīxī.
Ūt stătă lūx pĕlăgō vēntūrūmque aēthĕră sēnsīt
Tīphўs ĕt ōccĭdŭī rŭbŭērĕ cŭbīlĭă Phoēbī,
heū | ĭtĕrūm gĕmĭtūs, ĭtĕrūmquĕ nŏvīssĭmă nōx ēst.
vīx rĕsĕrātă dĭēs, ēt iām rătĕ cēlsŭs Ĭāsōn
īrĕ iŭbēt, prīmōquĕ fĕrīt dūx vērbĕrĕ pōntūm.
Īllōs ē scŏpŭlīs ēt sūmmō vērtĭcĕ mōntīs
spūmĕă pōrrēctī dĭrĭmēntīs tērgă prŏfūndī
prōsĕquĭmūr vīsū, dōnēc lāssāvĭt hĭāntīs
lūx ŏcŭlōs lōngūmquĕ pŏlō cōntēxĕrĕ vīsāst
aēquŏr ĕt ēxtrēmī prēssīt frĕtă mārgĭnĕ caēlī.
Fāmă sŭbīt pōrtūs, vēctūm trāns āltă Thŏāntă
frātērnā rēgnārĕ Chĭō, mĭhĭ crīmĭnă nūllă,
ēt văcŭōs ārsīssĕ rŏgōs; frĕmĭt īmpĭă plēbēs,
sōntĭbŭs āccēnsaē stĭmŭlīs făcĭnūsquĕ rĕpōscūnt.
quīn ĕtĭam ōccūltaē vūlgo īncrēbrēscĕrĕ vōcēs:
"Sōlănĕ fīdă sŭīs, nōs aūtem īn fūnĕră laētaē?
nōn dĕŭs haēc fātūmquĕ! quĭd īmpĕrăt ūrbĕ nĕfāndā?"
Tālĭbŭs ēxănĭmīs dīctīs - ēt trīstĕ prŏpīnquāt
sūpplĭcĭūm, nēc rēgnă iŭvānt - văgă lītŏră fūrtīm
īncŏmĭtātă sĕquōr fūnēstăquĕ moēnĭă līnquō,
quā fŭgă nōtă pătrīs; sēd nōn ĭtĕrum ōbvĭŭs Eūhān,
nām mē praēdōnūm mănŭs hūc āppūlsă tăcēntēm
ābrĭpĭt ēt vēstrās fămŭlām trānsmīttĭt ĭn ōrās".
Tālĭă Lērnaēīs ĭtĕrāt dūm rēgĭbŭs ēxūl
Lēmnĭăs ēt lōngā sōlātūr dāmnă quĕrēlā,
īmmĕmŏr ābsēntīs - sīc dī suāsīstĭs! - ălūmnī,
īllĕ grăvīs ŏcŭlōs lānguēntĭăque ōră cŏmāntī
mērgĭt hŭmō, fēssūsquĕ dĭū pŭĕrīlĭbŭs āctīs
lābĭtŭr īn sōmnōs, prēnsā mănŭs haērĕt ĭn hērbā.
Īntĕrĕā cāmpīs, nĕmŏrīs săcĕr hōrrŏr Ăchaēī,
tērrĭgĕna ēxŏrĭtūr sērpēns, trāctūquĕ sŏlūtō
īmmānēm sēsē vĕhĭt āc pōst tērgă rĕlīnquīt.
Līvĭdă fāx ŏcŭlīs, tŭmĭdī stăt ĭn ōrĕ vĕnēnī
spūmă vĭrēns, tēr līnguă vĭbrāt, tērna āgmĭna ădūncī
dēntĭs, ĕt aūrātaē crūdēlīs glōrĭă frōntīs
prōmĭnĕt. Īnăchĭō sānctūm dīxērĕ Tŏnāntī
āgrĭcŏlaē, cuī cūră lŏci ēt sīlvēstrĭbŭs ārīs
paūpĕr hŏnōs; nūnc īllĕ dĕī cīrcūmdărĕ tēmplă
ōrbĕ văgō lābēns, mĭsĕraē nūnc rōbŏră sīlvaē
āttĕrĭt ēt vāstās tĕnŭāt cōmplēxĭbŭs ōrnōs;
saēpĕ sŭpēr flŭvĭōs gĕmĭnaē iăcĕt āggĕrĕ rīpaē
cōntĭnŭūs, squāmīsque īncīsŭs ădaēstŭăt āmnīs.
Sēd nūnc, Ōgўgĭī iūssīs quāndo ōmnĭs ănhēlāt
tērră dĕī trĕpĭdaēquĕ lătēnt īn pūlvĕrĕ Nŷmphaē,
saēvĭŏr ānfrāctū lătĕrūm sĭnŭōsă rĕtōrquēns
tērgă sŏlō sīccīquĕ nŏcēns fŭrĭt īgnĕ vĕnēnī.
Stāgnă pĕr ārēntēsquĕ lăcūs fōntēsquĕ rĕprēssōs
vōlvĭtŭr ēt văcŭīs flŭvĭōrum īn vāllĭbŭs ērrāt,
īncēnsūsquĕ sĭtī lĭquĭdūm nūnc āĕră lāmbīt
ōrĕ sŭpīnātō, nūnc ārvă gĕmēntĭă rādēns
prōnŭs ădhaērĕt hŭmō, sī quīd vĭrĭdāntĭă sūdēnt
grāmĭnă; pērcūssaē călĭdīs ādflātĭbŭs hērbaē,
quā tŭlĭt ōră, cădūnt, mŏrĭtūrque ād sībĭlă cāmpūs:
quāntŭs ăb Ārctōīs dīscrīmĭnăt aēthĕră plaūstrīs
Ānguĭs ĕt ūsquĕ Nŏtōs ălĭēnūmque ēxĭt ĭn ōrbēm;
quāntŭs ĕt īllĕ săcrī spīrīs īntōrtă mŏvēbāt
cōrnŭă Pārnāsī, dōnēc tĭbĭ, Dēlĭĕ, fīxūs
vēxĭt hărūndĭnĕām cēntēnō vūlnĕrĕ sīlvām.
Quīs tĭbĭ, pārvĕ, dĕūs tām māgnī pōndĕră fātī
sōrtĕ dĕdīt? Tūne hōc vīx prīma ād līmĭnă vītaē
hōstĕ iăcēs? Ăn ŭt īndĕ săcēr pēr saēcŭlă Grāīs
gēntĭbŭs ēt tāntō dīgnūs mŏrĕrērĕ sĕpūlcrō?
Ōccĭdĭs ēxtrēmaē dēstrīctūs vērbĕrĕ caūdaē
īgnārō sērpēntĕ pŭēr, fŭgĭt īlĭcĕt ārtūs
sōmnŭs ĕt īn sōlām pătŭērūnt lūmĭnă mōrtēm.
Cūm tămĕn āttŏnĭtō mŏrĭēns vāgītŭs ĭn aūrās
ēxcĭdĭt ēt rūptīs īmmūtŭĭt ōrĕ quĕrēlīs,
quālĭă nōn tōtās pĕrăgūnt īnsōmnĭă vōcēs,
aūdĭĭt Hŷpsĭpўlē, făcĭlēmquĕ nĕgāntĭă cūrsūm
ēxănĭmīs gĕnŭa aēgră răpīt; iām cērtă mălōrūm
mēntĭs ăb aūgŭrĭō spārsōquĕ pĕr ōmnĭă vīsū
lūstrăt hŭmūm quaērēns ēt nōtă vŏcābŭlă pārvō
nēquīquam īngĕmĭnāns: nūsquam īlle, ēt prātă rĕcēntīs
āmīsērĕ nŏtās. vĭrĭdī pĭgĕr āccŭbăt hōstīs
cōllēctūs gŷrō spătĭōsăquĕ iūgĕră cōmplēt
sīc ĕtĭam, ōblīquā cērvīcem ēxpōstŭs ĭn ālvō.
Hōrrŭĭt īnfēlīx vīsū lōngōquĕ prŏfūndūm
īncēndīt clāmōrĕ nĕmūs; nēc tērrĭtŭs īllĕ,
sēd iăcĕt. Ārgŏlĭcās ŭlŭlātūs flēbĭlĭs aūrīs
īmpŭlĭt; ēxtēmplō mŏnĭtū dŭcĭs ādvŏlăt ārdēns
Ārcăs ĕquēs caūsāmquĕ rĕfērt. tūnc squāmĕă dēmūm
tōrvŭs ăd ārmōrūm rădĭōs frĕmĭtūmquĕ vĭrōrūm
cōllă mŏvēt: răpĭt īngēntī cōnāmĭnĕ sāxūm,
quō dīscrētŭs ăgēr, văcŭāsque īmpēllĭt ĭn aūrās
ārdŭŭs Hīppŏmĕdōn, quō tūrbĭnĕ bēllĭcă quōndām
lībrātī sălĭūnt pōrtārum īn claūstră mŏlārēs.
Cāssă dŭcīs vīrtūs: iām mōllĭă cōllă rĕfūsūs
īn tērgūm sērpēns vĕnĭēntem ēxhaūsĕrăt īctūm.
Dāt sŏnĭtūm tēllūs, nĕmŏrūmquĕ pĕr āvĭă dēnsī
dīssūltānt nēxūs. "Āt nōn mĕă vūlnĕră" clāmāt
ēt trăbĕ frāxĭnĕā Căpăneūs sŭbĭt ōbvĭŭs "ūmquām
ēffŭgĭēs, seū tū păvĭdī fĕrŭs īncŏlă lūcī,
sīvĕ dĕīs, ŭtĭnāmquĕ dĕīs, cōncēssă vŏlūptās,
nōn, sī cōnsērtūm sŭpĕr haēc mĭhĭ mēmbră Gĭgāntă
sūbvĕhĕrēs". vŏlăt hāstă trĕmēns ĕt hĭāntĭă mōnstrī
ōră sŭbīt līnguaēquĕ sĕcāt fĕră vīnclă trĭsūlcaē,
pērquĕ iŭbās stāntīs căpĭtīsque īnsīgnĕ cŏrūscī
ēmĭcăt, ēt nīgrī sănĭē pērfūsă cĕrēbrī
fīgĭtŭr āltă sŏlō. lōngūs vīx tōtă pĕrēgīt
mēmbră dŏlōr, răpĭdō cĕlĕr īllĕ vŏlūmĭnĕ tēlūm
cīrcŭmĭt āvūlsūmquĕ fĕrēns ĭn ŏpācă rĕfūgīt
tēmplă dĕi; hīc māgnō tēllūrēm pōndĕrĕ mēnsūs
īmplōrāntem ănĭmām dŏmĭnīs āssībĭlăt ārīs.
Īllum ēt cōgnātaē stāgna īndīgnāntĭă Lērnaē,
flōrĭbŭs ēt vērnīs āssuētaē spārgĕrĕ Nŷmphaē,
ēt Nĕmĕēs rēptātŭs ăgēr, lūcōsquĕ pĕr ōmnīs
sīlvĭcŏlaē frāctā gĕmŭīstĭs hărūndĭnĕ, Faūnī.
Īpse ĕtĭam ē sūmmā iām tēlă pŏpōscĕrăt aēthră
Iūppĭtĕr, ēt dūdūm nīmbīque hĭĕmēsquĕ cŏībānt,
nī mĭnŏr īră dĕō grăvĭōrăquĕ tēlă mĕrērī
sērvātūs Căpăneūs; mōtī tămĕn aūră cŭcūrrīt
fūlmĭnĭs ēt sūmmās lībāvīt vērtĭcĕ crīstās.
Iāmquĕ pĕrērrātīs īnfēlīx Lēmnĭă cāmpīs,
lībĕr ŭt ānguĕ lŏcūs, mŏdĭcō sŭpĕr āggĕrĕ lōngē
pāllĭdă sānguĭnĕīs īnfēctās rōrĭbŭs hērbās
prōspĭcĭt. Hūc māgnō cūrsūm răpĭt ēffĕră lūctū
āgnōscītquĕ nĕfās, tērraēque īllīsă nŏcēntī
fūlmĭnĭs īn mōrēm nōn vērba īn fūnĕrĕ prīmō,
nōn lăcrĭmās hăbĕt: īngĕmĭnāt mĭsĕra ōscŭlă tāntūm
īncūmbēns ănĭmaēquĕ fŭgām pēr mēmbră tĕpēntēm
quaērĭt hĭāns. nōn ōră lŏcō, nōn pēctŏră rēstānt,
rāptă cŭtīs, tĕnŭia ōssă pătēnt nēxūsquĕ mădēntēs
sānguĭnĭs īmbrĕ nŏvī, tōtūmque īn vūlnĕrĕ cōrpūs.
Āc vĕlŭt ālĭgĕraē sēdēm fētūsquĕ părēntīs
cūm pĭgĕr ūmbrōsā pŏpŭlātŭs ĭn īlĭcĕ sērpēns,
īllă rĕdīt quĕrŭlaēquĕ dŏmūs mīrātă quĭētēm
iām stŭpĕt īmpēndēns ādvēctōsque hōrrĭdă maēstō
ēxcŭtĭt ōrĕ cĭbōs, cūm sōlŭs ĭn ārbŏrĕ pārēt
sānguĭs ĕt ērrāntēs pēr cāptă cŭbīlĭă plūmaē.
Ūt lăcĕrōs ārtūs grĕmĭō mĭsĕrāndă rĕcēpīt
īntēxītquĕ cŏmīs, tāndēm lāxātă dŏlōrī
vōx īnvēnĭt ĭtēr, gĕmĭtūsque īn vērbă sŏlūtī:
Ō mĭhĭ dēsērtaē nātōrūm dūlcĭs ĭmāgŏ,
Ārchĕmŏre, ō rērum ēt pătrĭaē sōlāmĕn ădēmptaē
sērvĭtĭīquĕ dĕcūs, quī tē, mĕă gaūdĭă, sōntēs
ēxstīnxērĕ dĕī, mŏdŏ quēm dīgrēssă rĕlīquī
lāscīvum ēt prōnō vēxāntēm grāmĭnă cūrsū?
heū | ŭbĭ sīdĕrĕī vūltūs? ŭbĭ vērbă lĭgātīs
īmpērfēctă sŏnīs rīsūsque ēt mūrmŭră sōlī
īntēllēctă mĭhī? Quŏtĭēns tĭbĭ Lēmnŏn ĕt Ārgō
suētă lŏqui ēt lōngā sōmnūm suādērĕ quĕrēlā:
sīc ĕquĭdēm lūctūs sōlābăr ĕt ūbĕră pārvō
iām mātērnă dăbām, cuī nūnc vĕnĭt īrrĭtŭs ōrbaē
lāctĭs ĕt īnfēlīx īn vūlnĕră līquĭtŭr īmbēr.
nōscŏ dĕōs: ō vēră mĕī praēsāgĭă sōmnī
nōctūrnīquĕ mĕtūs, ēt nūmquam īmpūnĕ pĕr ūmbrās
āttŏnĭtaē mĭhĭ vīsă Vĕnūs! quōs ārgŭŏ dīvōs?
Īpsa ĕgŏ tē - quĭd ĕnīm tĭmĕām mŏrĭtūră fătērī? -
ēxpŏsŭī fātīs. Quaē mēntem īnsānĭă trāxīt?
Tāntănĕ mē tāntaē tĕnŭēre ōblīvĭă cūraē?
Dūm pătrĭōs cāsūs fāmaēque ēxōrsă rĕtrāctō
āmbĭtĭōsă mĕaē - pĭĕtās haēc māgnă fĭdēsquĕ! -,
ēxsōlvī tĭbĭ, Lēmnĕ, nĕfās; ŭbĭ lētĭfĕr ānguīs,
fērtĕ, dŭcēs, mĕrĭtī sī qua ēst mĭhĭ grātĭă dūrī,
sī quĭs hŏnōs dīctīs, aūt vōs ēxstīnguĭtĕ fērrō,
nē trīstīs dŏmĭnōs ōrbāmque ĭnĭmīcă rĕvīsām
Eūrўdĭcēn, quāmquam haūd īllī mĕă cūră dŏlēndō
cēssĕrĭt. hōcnĕ fĕrēns ŏnŭs īllaētābĭlĕ mātrīs
trānsfūndām grĕmĭō? Quaē mē prĭŭs īmă sŭb ūmbrās
mērgăt hŭmūs!" Sĭmŭl haēc tērrāque ēt sānguĭnĕ vūltūm
sōrdĭdă māgnōrūm cīrcā vēstīgĭă rēgūm
vērtĭtŭr, ēt tăcĭtē maērēntĭbŭs īmpŭtăt ūndās.
Ēt iām sācrĭfĭcī sŭbĭtūs pēr tēctă Lўcūrgī
nūntĭŭs īmplērāt lăcrĭmīs īpsūmquĕ dŏmūmquĕ,
īpsum ādvēntāntēm Pērsēī vērtĭcĕ sānctō
mōntĭs, ŭbi āvērsō dĕdĕrāt prōsēctă Tŏnāntī,
ēt căpŭt īrātīs rĕdĭēns quāssābăt ăb ēxtīs.
Hīc sēse Ārgŏlĭcīs īmmūnēm sērvăt ăb ārmīs
haūd ănĭmī văcŭūs, sēd tēmpla āraēquĕ tĕnēbānt.
Nēcdum ĕtĭām rēspōnsă dĕūm mŏnĭtūsquĕ vĕtūstī
ēxcĭdĕrānt vōxque ēx ădўtīs āccēptă prŏfūndīs:
"Prīmă, Lўcūrgĕ, dăbīs Dīrcaēō fūnĕră bēllō".
Īd căvĕt, ēt maēstūs vīcīnī pūlvĕrĕ Mārtīs
āngĭtŭr ād lĭtŭōs pĕrĭtūrūsque īnvĭdĕt ārmīs.
Ēccĕ - fĭdēs sŭpĕrūm! - lăcĕrās cŏmĭtātă Thŏāntīs
ādvĕhĭt ēxsĕquĭās, cōntrā sŭbĭt ōbvĭă mātēr,
fēmĭnĕōs coētūs plāngēntĭăque āgmĭnă dūcēns.
Āt nōn māgnănĭmō pĭĕtās īgnāvă Lўcūrgō:
fōrtĭŏr īllĕ mălīs, lăcrĭmāsque īnsānă rĕsōrbēt
īră pătrīs, lōngō răpĭt ārvă mŏrāntĭă pāssū
vōcĭfĕrāns: "Īlla aūtem ŭbĭnām, cuī pārvă crŭōrīs
laētăvĕ dāmnă mĕī? Vīvītne? Īmpēllĭtĕ rāptām,
fērtĕ cĭtī cŏmĭtēs; fāxo ōmnīs fābŭlă Lēmnī
ēt pătĕr ēt tŭmĭdaē gĕnĕrīs mēndācĭă sācrī
ēxcĭdĕrīnt". Ībāt lētūmque īnfērrĕ părābāt
ēnsĕ fŭrēns rāptō; vĕnĭēnti Oēnēĭŭs hērōs
īmpĭgĕr ōbiēctā prōtūrbāt pēctŏră pārmā,
āc sĭmŭl īnfrēndēns: "Sīste hūnc, vēsānĕ, fŭrōrēm,
quīsquĭs ĕs!" Ēt părĭtēr Căpăneūs ācērquĕ rĕdūctō
ādfŭĭt Hīppŏmĕdōn rēctōque Ĕrўmānthĭŭs ēnsĕ,
āc iŭvĕnēm mūltō praēstrīngūnt lūmĭne; ăt īndĕ
āgrēstūm prō rēgĕ mănūs. Quōs īntĕr Ădrāstūs
mītĭŭs ēt sŏcĭaē vĕrĭtūs cōmmērcĭă vīttaē
Āmphĭărāŭs ăīt "Nē, quaēso; ābsīstĭtĕ fērrō,
ūnŭs ăvūm sānguīs, nēve īndūlgētĕ fŭrōrī,
tūquĕ prĭōr". Sēd nōn sēdātō pēctōrĕ Tўdeūs
sūbĭcĭt: "Ānnĕ dŭcēm sērvātrīcēmquĕ cŏhōrtīs
Īnăchĭae īngrātīs cōrām tōt mīlĭbŭs aūsīs
māctāre īn tŭmŭlōs - quāntī prō fūnĕrĭs ūltōr! -,
cuī rēgnūm gĕnĭtōrquĕ Thŏās ēt lūcĭdŭs Eūhān
stīrpĭs ăvūs? Tĭmĭdōnĕ părūm, quōd gēntĭbŭs āctīs
ūndĭque ĭn ārmă tŭīs īntēr răpĭda āgmĭnă pācēm
sōlŭs hăbēs? Hăbĕāsque, ēt tē vīctōrĭă Grāiūm
īnvĕnĭāt tŭmŭlīs ĕtĭāmnum haēc fātă gĕmēntēm".
Dīxĕrăt, ēt tāndēm cūnctāntĕ mŏdēstĭŏr īrā
īllĕ rĕfērt: "Ĕquĭdēm nōn vōs ād moēnĭă Thēbēs
rēbăr, ăt hōstīlīs hūc ādvēnīssĕ cătērvās.
Pērgĭte ĭn ēxcĭdĭūm sŏcĭī, sī tāntă vŏlūptās,
sānguĭnĭs, īmbŭĭte ārmă dŏmi, ātque haēc īrrĭtă dūdūm
tēmplă Iŏvīs - quĭd ĕnim haūd lĭcĭtūm? - fĕrăt īmpĭŭs īgnīs,
sī vīlēm, tāntī prĕmĕrēnt cūm pēctŏră lūctūs,
īn fămŭlām iūs ēssĕ rătūs dŏmĭnōquĕ dŭcīquĕ.
Sēd vĭdĕt haēc, vĭdĕt īllĕ dĕūm rēgnātŏr, ĕt aūsīs
sēră quĭdēm, mănĕt īră tămēn". Sīc fātŭs, ĕt ārcēs
rēspĭcĭt. Ātque īllīc ălĭō cērtāmĭnĕ bēllī
tēctă frĕmūnt; vŏlŭcrēs ĕquĭtūm praēvērtĕrăt ālās
fāmă rĕcēns, gĕmĭnōs ālīs āmplēxă tŭmūltūs:
īlli ād fātă răpi ātque īllī iam ōccūmbĕrĕ lētō,
sīc mĕrĭtam Hŷpsĭpўlēn ĭtĕrānt, crēdūntquĕ, nĕc īraē
fīt mŏră, iāmquĕ făcēs ēt tēlă pĕnātĭbŭs īnstānt,
vērtĕrĕ rēgnă frĕmūnt rāptūmque aūfērrĕ Lўcūrgūm
cūm Iŏvĕ cūmque ārīs; rĕsŏnānt ŭlŭlātĭbŭs aēdēs
fēmĭnĕīs, vērsūsquĕ dŏlōr dāt tērgă tĭmōrī.
Ālĭpĕdūm cūrrū sĕd ĕnīm sūblīmĭs Ădrāstūs
sēcum ānte ōră vĭrūm frĕmĭbūndă Thŏāntĭdă pōrtāns
īt mĕdĭūs tūrmīs, ēt: "Pārcĭtĕ, pārcĭtĕ!" clāmāt,
Nīl āctūm saēvē, mĕrĭtūs nēc tālĕ Lўcūrgūs
ēxcĭdĭūm, grātīque īnvēntrīx flūmĭnĭs ēccĕ".
Sīc ŭbĭ dīvērsīs mărĭa ēvērtērĕ prŏcēllīs
hīnc Bŏrĕās Eūrūsque, īllīnc nĭgĕr īmbrĭbŭs Aūstēr,
pūlsă dĭēs rēgnāntque hĭĕmēs, vĕnĭt aēquŏrĭs āltī
rēx sūblīmĭs ĕquīs, gĕmĭnūsque ād spūmĕă Trītōn
frēnă nătāns lātē pĕlăgō dāt sīgnă cădēndī,
ēt iām plānă Thĕtīs, mōntēsque ēt lītŏră crēscūnt.
Quīs sŭpĕrūm tāntō sōlātūs fūnĕră vōtō
pēnsāvīt lăcrĭmās ĭnŏpīnăquĕ gaūdĭă maēstaē
rēttŭlĭt Hŷpsĭpўlaē? Tū gēntīs cōndĭtŏr, Eūhān,
quī gĕmĭnōs iŭvĕnēs Lēmnī dē lītŏrĕ vēctōs
īntŭlĕrās Nĕmĕaē mīrāndăquĕ fātă părābās.
Caūsă vĭaē gĕnĕtrīx, nĕc ĭnhōspĭtă tēctă Lўcūrgī
praēbŭĕrānt ădĭtūs, ēt prōtĭnŭs īllĕ tўrānnō
nūntĭŭs ēxstīnctaē mĭsĕrāndō vūlnĕrĕ prōlīs.
Ērgo ādsūnt cŏmĭtēs - prō fōrs ēt caēcă fŭtūrī
mēns hŏmĭnūm! - rēgīquĕ făvēnt; sēd Lēmnŏs ăd aūrīs
ūt prīmūm dīctūsquĕ Thŏās, pēr tēlă mănūsquĕ
īrrŭĕrānt, mātrēmque ăvĭdīs cōmplēxĭbŭs āmbō
dīrĭpĭūnt flēntēs āltērnăquĕ pēctŏră mūtānt.
Īllă vĕlūt rūpēs īmmōtō sāxĕă vīsū
haērĕt ĕt ēxpērtīs nōn aūdēt crēdĕrĕ dīvīs.
Ūt vēro ēt vūltūs ēt sīgna Ārgōă rĕlīctīs
ēnsĭbŭs ātque ŭmĕrīs āmbōrum īntēxtŭs Ĭāsōn,
cēssērūnt lūctūs, tūrbātăquĕ mūnĕrĕ tāntō
cōrrŭĭt, ātque ălĭō mădŭērūnt lūmĭnă flētū.
Āddĭtă sīgnă pŏlō, laētōque ŭlŭlāntĕ tŭmūltū
tērgăque ĕt aēră dĕī mōtās crĕpŭērĕ pĕr aūrās.
Tūnc pĭŭs Oēclīdēs, ūt prīmă sĭlēntĭă vūlgī
mōllĭŏr īră dĕdīt plăcĭdāsque āccēssŭs ăd aūrīs:
"Aūdīte, ō dūctōr Nĕmĕaē lēctīquĕ pŏtēntēs
Īnăchĭdaē, quaē cērtŭs ăgī mănĭfēstăt Ăpōllŏ.
Īstĕ quĭdem Ārgŏlĭcīs haūd ōlim īndēbĭtŭs ārmīs
lūctŭs ădēst, rēctō dēscēndūnt līmĭtĕ Pārcaē:
ēt sĭtĭs īntĕrĭtū flŭvĭōrum ēt lētĭfĕr ānguīs,
ēt pŭĕr, heū nōstrī sīgnātūs nōmĭnĕ fātī,
Ārchĕmŏrūs, cūncta haēc sŭpĕrūm dēmīssă sŭprēmā
mēntĕ flŭūnt. Dīffērte ănĭmōs fēstīnăquĕ tēlă
pōnĭtĕ; mānsūrīs dōnāndŭs hŏnōrĭbŭs īnfāns.
ēt mĕrŭīt; dēt pūlchră sŭīs lībāmĭnă vīrtūs
mānĭbŭs, ātque ŭtĭnām plūrīs īnnēctĕrĕ pērgās,
Phoēbĕ, mŏrās, sēmpērquĕ nŏvīs bēllārĕ vĕtēmūr
cāsĭbŭs, ēt sēmpēr Thēbē fūnēstă rĕcēdās!
Āt vōs māgnōrūm trānsgrēssī fātă părēntūm
fēlīcēs, lōngūm quĭbŭs hīnc pēr saēcŭlă nōmēn,
dūm Lērnaēă pălūs ēt dūm pătĕr Īnăchŭs ībīt,
dūm Nĕmĕā trĕmŭlās cāmpīs iăcŭlābĭtŭr ūmbrās,
nē flētū vĭŏlātĕ săcrūm, nē plāngĭtĕ dīvōs:
nām dĕŭs īstĕ, dĕūs, Pўlĭaē nēc fātă sĕnēctaē
mālŭĕrīt, Phrўgĭīs aūt dēgĕrĕ lōngĭŭs ānnīs".
Fīnĭĕrāt, caēlōquĕ căvām nōx īndŭĭt ūmbrām.
Pulsa sitis fluuio, populataque gurgitis alueum
agmina linquebant ripas amnemque minorem;
acrior et campum sonipes rapit et pedes arua
implet ouans, rediere uiris animique minaeque
uotaque, sanguineis mixtum ceu fontibus ignem
hausissent belli magnasque in proelia mentes.
Dispositi in turmas rursus legemque seueri
ordinis, ut cuique ante locus ductorque, monentur
instaurare uias. Tellus iam puluere primo
crescit, et armorum transmittunt fulgura siluae.
Qualia trans pontum Phariis deprensa serenis
rauca Paraetonio decedunt agmina Nilo,
quo fera cogit hiemps: illae clangore fugaci,
umbra fretis aruisque, uolant, sonat auius aether.
Iam Borean imbresque pati, iam nare solutis
amnibus et nudo iuuat aestiuare sub Haemo.
Hic rursus simili procerum uallante corona
dux Talaionides, antiqua ut forte sub orno
stabat et admoti nixus Polynicis in hastam:
"At tamen, o quaecumque es" ait, "cui, gloria tantast,
uenimus innumerae fato debere cohortes,
quem non ipse deum sator aspernetur honorem,
dic age, quando tuis alacres absistimus undis,
quae domus aut tellus, animam quibus hauseris astris?
Dic, quis et ille pater? Neque enim tibi numina longe,
transierit fortuna licet, maiorque per ora
sanguis, et adflicto spirat reuerentia uultu".
Ingemit, et paulum fletu cunctata modesto
Lemnias orsa refert: "Immania uulnera, rector,
integrare iubes, Furias et Lemnon et artis
arma inserta toris debellatosque pudendo
ense mares; redit ecce nefas et frigida cordi
Eumenis. O miserae, quibus hic furor additus! O nox!
O pater! Illa ego nam, pudeat ne forte benignae
hospitis, illa, duces, raptum quae sola parentem
occului. quid longa malis exordia necto?
Et uos arma uocant magnique in corde paratus.
Hoc memorasse sat est: claro generata Thoante
seruitium Hypsipyle uestri fero capta Lycurgi."
Aduertere animos, maiorque et honora uideri
parque operi tanto; cunctis tunc noscere casus
ortus amor, pater ante alios hortatur Adrastus:
"Immo age, dum primi longe damus agmina uulgi
nec facilis Nemea latas euoluere uiris,
quippe obtenta comis et ineluctabilis umbra,
pande nefas laudesque tuas gemitusque tuorum,
unde hos aduenias regno deiecta labores."
Dulce loqui miseris ueteresque reducere questus.
Incipit: "Aegaeo premitur circumflua Nereo
Lemnos, ubi ignifera fessus respirat ab Aetna
Mulciber; ingenti tellurem proximus umbra
uestit Athos nemorumque obscurat imagine pontum;
Thraces arant contra, Thracum fatalia nobis
litora, et inde nefas. Florebat diues alumnis
terra, nec illa Samo fama Deloue sonanti
peior et innumeris quas spumifer assilit Aegon.
Dis uisum turbare domos, nec pectora culpa
nostra uacant: nullos Veneri sacrauimus ignis,
nulla deae sedes; mouet et caelestia quondam
corda dolor lentoque irrepunt agmine Poenae.
Illa Paphon ueterem centumque altaria linquens
nec uultu nec crine prior soluisse iugalem
ceston et Idalias procul ablegasse uolucres
fertur. Erant certe, media quae noctis in umbra
diuam alios ignis maioraque tela gerentem
Tartareas inter thalamis uolitasse sorores
uulgarent; utque implicitis arcana domorum
anguibus et saeua formidine nupta replesset
limina, nec fidi populum miserata mariti,
protinus a Lemno teneri fugistis Amores,
mutus Hymen uersaeque faces et frigida iusti
cura tori! Nullae redeunt in gaudia noctes,
nullus in amplexu sopor est, Odia aspera ubique
et Furor et medio recubat Discordia lecto.
cura uiris tumidos aduersa Thracas in ora
eruere et saeuam bellando frangere gentem.
Cumque domus contra stantesque in litore nati,
dulcius Edonas hiemes Arctonque prementem
excipere, aut tandem tacita post proelia nocte
fractorum subitas torrentum audire ruinas.
illae autem tristes - nam me tunc libera curis
uirginitas annique tegunt - sub nocte dieque
assiduis aegrae in lacrimis solantia miscent
colloquia, aut saeuam spectant trans aequora Thracen.
Sol operum medius summo librabat Olympo
lucentis, ceu staret, equos; quater axe sereno
intonuit, quater antra dei fumantis anhelos
exseruere apices, uentisque absentibus Aegon
motus et ingenti percussit litora ponto:
cum subito horrendas aeui matura Polyxo
tollitur in furias thalamisque insueta relictis
euolat. Insano ueluti Teumesia Thyias
rapta deo, cum sacra uocant Idaeaque suadet
buxus et a summis auditus montibus Euhan:
sic erecta genas aciemque offusa trementi
sanguine desertam rabidis clamoribus urbem
exagitat, clausasque domos et limina pulsans
concilium uocat; infelix comitatus eunti
haerebant nati. atque illae non segnius omnes
erumpunt tectis, summasque ad Pallados arces
impetus: huc propere stipamur et ordine nullo
congestae; stricto mox ense silentia iussit
hortatrix scelerum et medio sic ausa profari:
"Rem summam instinctu superum meritique doloris,
o uiduae (firmate animos et pellite sexum!)
Lemniades, sancire paro; si taedet inanes
aeternum seruare domos turpemque iuuentae
flore situm et longis sterilis in luctibus annos,
inueni, promitto, uiam - nec numina desunt -,
qua renouanda Venus: modo par insumite robur
luctibus, atque adeo primum hoc mihi noscere detur.
tertia canet hiemps; cui conubialia uincla
aut thalami secretus honos? Cui coniuge pectus
intepuit? cuius uidit Lucina labores,
dicite, uel iustos cuius pulsantia mensis
uota tument? Qua pace feras uolucresque iugari
mos datus. heu segnes! potuitne ultricia Graius
uirginibus dare tela pater laetusque dolorum
sanguine securos iuuenum perfundere somnos:
at nos uulgus iners? quodsi propioribus actis
est opus, ecce animos doceat Rhodopeia coniunx,
ulta manu thalamos pariterque epulata marito.
Nec uos immunis scelerum securaue cogo.
Plena mihi domus atque ingens, en cernite, sudor.
Quattuor hos una, decus et solacia patris,
in gremio, licet amplexu lacrimisque morentur,
transadigam ferro saniemque et uulnera fratrum
miscebo patremque super spirantibus addam.
Ecqua tot in caedes animum promittit?" agebat
pluribus; aduerso nituerunt uela profundo:
Lemnia classis erat. Rapuit gauisa Polyxo
fortunam atque iterat: "Superisne uocantibus ultro
desumus? Ecce rates! Deus hos, deus ultor in iras
adportat coeptisque fauet. Nec imago quietis
uana meae: nudo stabat Venus ense, uideri
clara mihi somnosque super: "Quid perditis aeuum?"
inquit, 'age auersis thalamos purgate maritis.
Ipsa faces alias melioraque foedera iungam'.
Dixit, et hoc ferrum stratis, hoc, credite, ferrum
imposuit. Quin o miserae, dum tempus agi rem,
consulite; en ualidis spumant euersa lacertis
aequora, Bistonides ueniunt fortasse maritae".
Hinc stimuli ingentes, magnusque aduoluitur astris
clamor. Amazonio Scythiam feruere tumultu
lunatumque putes agmen descendere, ubi arma
indulget pater et saeui mouet ostia Belli.
Nec uarius fremor aut studia in contraria rapti
dissensus, ut plebe solet: furor omnibus idem,
idem animus solare domos iuuenumque senumque
praecipitare colus plenisque affrangere paruos
uberibus ferroque omnis exire per annos.
Tunc uiridi luco - lucus iuga celsa Mineruae
propter opacat humum niger ipse, sed insuper ingens
mons premit et gemina pereunt caligine soles -,
hic sanxere fidem, tu Martia testis Enyo
atque inferna Ceres, Stygiaeque Acheronte recluso
ante preces uenere deae; sed fallit ubique
mixta Venus, Venus arma tenet, Venus admouet iras.
Nec de more cruor: natum Charopeia coniunx
obtulit, accingunt sese et mirantia ferro
pectora congestisque auidae simul undique dextris
perfringunt, ac dulce nefas in sanguine uiuo
coniurant, matremque recens circumuolat umbra.
Talia cernenti mihi quantus in ossibus horror,
quisue per ora color! Qualis cum cerua cruentis
circumuenta lupis, nullum cui pectore molli
robur et in uolucri tenuis fiducia cursu,
praecipitat suspensa fugam, iamiamque teneri
credit et elusos audit concurrere morsus.
Illi aderant, primis iamque offendere carinae
litoribus, certant saltu contingere terram
praecipites. Miseri, quos non aut horrida uirtus
Marte sub Odrysio, aut medii inclementia ponti
hauserit! Alta etiam superum delubra uaporant
promissasque trahunt pecudes: niger omnibus aris
ignis, et in nullis spirat deus integer extis.
Tardius umenti noctem deiecit Olympo
Iuppiter et uersum miti, reor, aethera cura
sustinuit, dum fata uetant, nec longius umquam
cessauere nouae perfecto sole tenebrae.
Sera tamen mundo uenerunt astra, sed illis
et Paros et nemorosa Thasos crebraeque relucent
Cyclades; una graui penitus latet obruta caelo
Lemnos, in hanc tristes nebulae, et plaga caeca superne
texitur, una uagis Lemnos non agnita nautis.
tum domibus fusi et nemorum per opaca sacrorum
ditibus indulgent epulis uacuantque profundo
aurum immane mero, dum quae per Strymona pugnae,
quis Rhodope gelidoue labor sudatus in Haemo,
enumerare uacat. Nec non, manus impia, nuptae
serta inter festasque dapes quo maxima cultu
quaeque iacent; dederat mitis Cytherea suprema
nocte uiros longoque breuem post tempore pacem
nequiquam et miseros perituro adflauerat igni.
Conticuere chori, dapibus ludoque licenti
fit modus et primae decrescunt murmura noctis,
cum consanguinei mixtus caligine Leti
rore madens Stygio morituram amplectitur urbem
Somnus et implacido fundit grauia otia cornu
secernitque uiros. uigilant nuptaeque nurusque
in scelus, atque hilares acuunt fera tela Sorores.
Inuasere nefas, cuncto sua regnat Erinys
pectore. Non aliter Scythicos armenta per agros
Hyrcanae clausere leae, quas exigit ortu
prima fames, auidique implorant ubera nati.
Quos tibi nam, dubito, scelerum de mille figuris
expediam casus? Helymum temeraria Gorge
euinctum ramis altaque in mole tapetum
efflantem somno crescentia uina superstans
uulnera disiecta rimatur ueste, sed illum
infelix sopor admota sub morte refugit.
Turbidus incertumque oculis uigilantibus hostem
occupat amplexu, nec segnius illa tenentis
pone adigit costas, donec sua pectora ferro
tangeret. is demum sceleri modus; ora supinat
blandus adhuc oculisque tremens et murmure Gorgen
quaerit et indigno non soluit bracchia collo.
Non ego nunc uulgi quamquam crudelia pandam
funera, sed propria luctus de stirpe recordor:
quod te, flaue Cydon, quod te per colla refusis
intactum, Crenaee, comis, quibus ubera mecum
obliquumque a patre genus, fortemque, timebam
quem desponsa, Gyan uidi lapsare cruentae
uulnere Myrmidones, quodque inter serta torosque
barbara ludentem fodiebat Epopea mater.
Flet super aequaeuum soror exarmata Lycaste
Cydimon, heu similis perituro in corpore uultus
aspiciens floremque genae et quas finxerat auro
ipsa comas, cum saeua parens iam coniuge fuso
astitit impellitque minis atque ingerit ensem.
Vt fera, quae rabie placido desueta magistro
tardius arma mouet stimulisque et uerbere crebro
in mores negat ire suos, sic illa iacenti
incidit undantemque sinu collapsa cruorem
excipit et laceros premit in noua uulnera crinis.
Vt uero Alcimeden etiamnum in murmure truncos
ferre patris uultus et egentem sanguinis ensem
conspexi, riguere comae atque in uiscera saeuus
horror iit: meus ille Thoas, mea dira uideri
dextra mihi! Extemplo thalamis turbata paternis
inferor. ille quidem dudum - quis magna tuenti
somnus? - agit uersans secum, etsi lata recessit
urbe domus, quinam strepitus, quae murmura noctis,
cur fremibunda quies? Trepido scelus ordine pando,
quis dolor, unde animi: "Vis nulla arcere furentes;
hac sequere, o miserande; premunt aderuntque moranti,
et mecum fortasse cades". His motus et artus
erexit stratis. Ferimur per deuia uastae
urbis et ingentem nocturnae caedis aceruum
passim, ut quosque sacris crudelis uespera lucis
strauerat, occulta speculamur nube latentes.
Hic impressa toris ora exstantesque reclusis
pectoribus capulos magnarum et fragmina trunca
hastarum et ferro laceras per corpora uestes,
crateras pronos epulasque in caede natantis
cernere erat, iugulisque modo torrentis apertis
sanguine permixto redeuntem in pocula Bacchum.
Hic iuuenum manus et nullis uiolabilis armis
turba senes, positique patrum super ora gementum
semineces pueri trepidas in limine uitae
singultant animas. Gelida non saeuius Ossa
luxuriant Lapitharum epulae, si quando profundo
Nubigenae caluere mero; uix primus ab ira
pallor, et impulsis surgunt ad proelia mensis.
Tunc primum sese trepidis sub nocte Thyoneus
detexit, nato portans extrema Thoanti
subsidia, et multa subitus cum luce refulsit.
Agnoui: non ille quidem turgentia sertis
tempora nec flaua crinem destrinxerat uua:
nubilus indignumque oculis liquentibus imbrem
adloquitur: "Dum fata dabant tibi, nate, potentem
Lemnon et externis etiam seruare timendam
gentibus, haud umquam iusto mea cura labori
destitit: absciderunt tristes crudelia Parcae
stamina, nec dictis, supplex quae plurima fudi
ante Iouem frustra, lacrimisque auertere luctus
contigit; infandum natae concessit honorem.
Accelerate fugam, tuque, o mea digna propago,
hac rege, uirgo, patrem, gemini qua bracchia muri
litus eunt: illa, qua rere silentia, porta
stat funesta Venus ferroque accincta furentes
adiuuat - unde manus, unde haec Mauortia diuae
pectora? tu lato patrem committe profundo.
Succedam curis." ita fatus in aëra rursus
soluitur et nostrum, uisus arcentibus umbris,
mitis iter longae clarauit limite flammae.
Qua data signa, sequor; dein curuo robore clausum
dis pelagi uentisque et Cycladas Aegaeoni
amplexo commendo patrem, nec fletibus umquam
fit modus alternis, ni iam dimittat Eoo
Lucifer astra polo. Tunc demum litore rauco
multa metu reputans et uix confisa Lyaeo
diuidor, ipsa gradu nitente, sed anxia retro
pectora, nec requies, quin et surgentia caelo
flamina et e cunctis prospectem collibus undas.
Exoritur pudibunda dies, caelumque retexens
auersum Lemno iubar et declinia Titan
opposita iuga nube refert. Patuere furores
nocturni, lucisque nouae formidine cunctis,
quamquam inter similes, subitus pudor; impia terrae
infodiunt scelera aut festinis ignibus urunt.
Iam manus Eumenidum captasque refugerat arces
exsaturata Venus; licuit sentire quid ausae,
et turbare comas et lumina tinguere fletu.
Insula diues agris opibusque armisque uirisque,
nota situ et Getico nuper ditata triumpho,
non maris incursu, non hoste, nec aethere laeuo
perdidit una omnes orbata excussaque fundo
indigenas: non arua uiri, non aequora uertunt,
conticuere domus, cruor altus et oblita crasso
cuncta rubent tabo, magnaeque in moenibus urbis
nos tantum et saeui spirant per culmina manes.
Ipsa quoque arcanis tecti in penetralibus alto
molior igne pyram, sceptrum super armaque patris
inicio et notas regum uelamina uestes,
ac prope maesta rogum confusis ignibus asto
ense cruentato, fraudemque et inania busta
plango metu, si forte premant, cassumque parenti
omen et hac dubios leti precor ire timores.
His mihi pro meritis, ut falsi criminis astu
parta fides, regno et solio considere patris
- supplicium! - datur. Anne illis obsessa negarem?
Accessi, saepe ante deos testata fidemque
immeritasque manus; subeo - pro dira potestas! -
exsangue imperium et maestam sine culmine Lemnon.
Iam magis atque magis uigiles dolor angere sensus,
et gemitus clari, et paulatim inuisa Polyxo,
iam meminisse nefas, iam ponere manibus aras
concessum et multum cineres iurare sepultos.
Sic ubi ductorem trepidae stabulique maritum,
quem penes et saltus et adultae gloria gentis,
Massylo frangi stupuere sub hoste iuuencae,
it truncum sine honore pecus, regemque peremptum
ipse ager, ipsi amnes et muta armenta queruntur.
Ecce autem aerata dispellens aequora prora
Pelias intacti late subit hospita ponti
pinus; agunt Minyae, geminus fragor ardua canet
per latera, abruptam credas radicibus ire
Ortygiam aut fractum pelago decurrere montem.
Ast ubi suspensis siluerunt aequora tonsis,
mitior et senibus cygnis et pectine Phoebi
uox media de puppe uenit, maria ipsa carinae
accedunt. Post nosse datum est: Oeagrius illic
acclinis malo mediis intersonat Orpheus
remigiis tantosque iubet nescire labores.
Illis in Scythicum Borean iter oraque primi
Cyaneis artata maris. Nos Thracia uisu
bella ratae uario tecta incursare tumultu,
densarum pecudum aut fugientum more uolucrum.
Heu | ubi nunc furiae? Portus amplexaque litus
moenia, qua longe pelago despectus aperto,
scandimus et celsas turres; huc saxa sudesque
armaque maesta uirum atque infectos caedibus enses
subuectant trepidae; quin et squalentia texta
thoracum et uultu galeas intrare soluto
non pudet; audaces rubuit mirata cateruas
Pallas et aduerso risit Gradiuus in Haemo.
Tunc primum ex animis praeceps amentia cessit,
nec ratis illa salo, sed diuum sera per aequor
iustitia et poenae scelerum aduentare uidentur.
Iamque aberant terris, quantum Cortynia currunt
spicula, caeruleo grauidam cum Iuppiter imbri
ipsa super nubem ratis armamenta Pelasgae
sistit agens; inde horror aquis et raptus ab omni
sole dies miscet tenebras, quis protinus unda
concolor; obnixi lacerant caua nubila uenti
diripiuntque fretum, nigris redit umida tellus
uerticibus, totumque notis certantibus aequor
pendet et arquato iamiam prope sidera dorso
frangitur, incertae nec iam prior impetus alno,
sed labat exstantem rostris modo gurgite in imo,
nunc caelo Tritona ferens. nec robora prosunt
semideum heroum, puppemque insana flagellat
arbor et instabili procumbens pondere curuas
raptat aquas, remique cadunt in pectus inanes.
nos quoque per rupes murorumque aggere ab omni,
dum labor ille uiris fretaque indignantur et Austros,
desuper inualidis fluitantia tela lacertis
- quid non ausa manus? - Telamona et Pelea contra
spargimus, et nostro petitur Tirynthius arcu.
Illi - quippe simul bello pelagoque laborant -
pars clipeis munire ratem, pars aequora fundo
egerere; ast alii pugnant, sed inertia motu
corpora, suspensaeque carent conamine uires.
Instamus iactu telorum, et ferrea nimbis
certat hiems, uastaeque sudes fractique molares
spiculaque et multa crinitum missile flamma
nunc pelago, nunc puppe cadunt, dat operta fragorem
pinus, et abiunctis regemunt tabulata cauernis.
Talis Hyperborea uiridis niue uerberat agros
Iuppiter; obruitur campis genus omne ferarum,
deprensaeque cadunt uolucres, et messis amaro
strata gelu, fragor inde iugis, inde amnibus irae.
Vt uero elisit nubes Ioue tortus ab alto
ignis et ingentes patuere in fulmine nautae,
diriguere animi, manibusque horrore remissis
arma aliena cadunt, rediit in pectora sexus.
cernimus Aeacidas murisque immane minantem
Ancaeum et longa pellentem cuspide rupes
Iphiton; attonito manifestus in agmine suprast
Amphitryoniades puppemque alternus utrimque
ingrauat et medias ardet descendere in undas.
At leuis et miserae nondum mihi notus Iason
transtra per et remos impressaque terga uirorum
nunc magnum Oeniden, nunc ille hortatibus Idan
et Talaum et cana rorantem aspargine ponti
Tyndariden iterans gelidique in nube parentis
uela laboranti Calain subnectere malo
uoce manuque rogat; quatiunt impulsibus illi
nunc freta, nunc muros, sed nec spumantia cedunt
aequora et incussae redeunt a turribus hastae.
Ipse grauis fluctus clauumque audire negantem
lassat agens Tiphys palletque et plurima mutat
imperia ac laeuas dextrasque obtorquet in undas
proram nauifragis auidam concurrere saxis,
donec ab extremae cuneo ratis Aesone natus
Palladios oleae, Mopsi gestamina, ramos
extulit et socium turba prohibente poposcit
foedera; praecipites uocem inuoluere procellae.
tunc modus armorum, pariterque exhausta quierant
flamina, confusoque dies respexit Olympo.
quinquaginta illi, trabibus de more reuinctis,
eminus abrupto quatiunt noua litora saltu,
magnorum decora alta patrum, iam fronte sereni
noscendique habitu, postquam tumor iraque cessit
uultibus. Arcana sic fama erumpere porta
caelicolas, si quando domos litusque rubentum
Aethiopum et mensas amor est intrare minores;
dant fluuii montesque locum, tum terra superbit
gressibus et paulum respirat caelifer Atlas.
hic et ab asserto nuper Marathone superbum
Thesea et Ismarios, Aquilonia pignora, fratres,
utraque quis rutila stridebant tempora pinna,
cernimus, hic Phoebo non indignante priorem
Admetum et durae similem nihil Orphea Thracae,
tunc prolem Calydone satam generumque profundi
Nereos. Ambiguo uisus errore lacessunt
Oebalidae gemini; chlamys huic, chlamys ardet et illi,
ambo hastile gerunt, umeros exsertus uterque,
nudus uterque genas, simili coma fulgurat astro.
audet iter magnique sequens uestigia mutat
Herculis et tarda quamuis se mole ferentem
uix cursu tener aequat Hylas Lernaeaque tollens
arma sub ingenti gaudet sudare pharetra.
ergo iterum Venus et tacitis corda aspera flammis
Lemniadum pertemptat Amor. Tunc regia Iuno
arma habitusque uirum pulchraeque insignia gentis
mentibus insinuat, certatimque ordine cunctae
hospitibus patuere fores; tunc primus in aris
ignis, et infandis uenere obliuia curis;
tunc epulae felixque sopor noctesque quietae,
nec superum sine mente, reor, placuere fatentes.
forsitan et nostrae fatum excusabile culpae
noscere cura, duces. Cineres furiasque meorum
testor: ut externas non sponte aut crimine taedas
attigerim - scit cura deum -, etsi blandus Iason
uirginibus dare uincla nouis; sua iura cruentum
Phasin habent, alios Colchi generatis amores.
Iamque exuta gelu tepuerunt sidera longis
solibus, et uelox in terga reuoluitur annus.
Iam noua progenies partusque in uota soluti,
et non speratis clamatur Lemnos alumnis.
Nec non ipsa tamen thalami monimenta coacti
enitor geminos, duroque sub hospite mater
nomen aui renouo; nec quae fortuna relictis
nosse datur, iam plena quater quinquennia uergunt,
si modo fata sinunt aluitque rogata Lycaste.
Detumuere animi maris, et clementior Auster
uela uocat: ratis ipsa moram portusque quietos
odit et asserti tendit retinacula saxi.
inde fugam Minyae, sociosque appellat Iason
efferus, o | utinam iam tunc mea litora rectis
praeteruectus aquis, cui non sua pignora cordi,
non promissa fides; certe stat fama remotis
gentibus: aequorei redierunt uellera Phrixi.
Vt stata lux pelago uenturumque aethera sensit
Tiphys et occidui rubuere cubilia Phoebi,
heu | iterum gemitus, iterumque nouissima nox est.
uix reserata dies, et iam rate celsus Iason
ire iubet, primoque ferit dux uerbere pontum.
Illos e scopulis et summo uertice montis
spumea porrecti dirimentis terga profundi
prosequimur uisu, donec lassauit hiantis
lux oculos longumque polo contexere uisast
aequor et extremi pressit freta margine caeli.
Fama subit portus, uectum trans alta Thoanta
fraterna regnare Chio, mihi crimina nulla,
et uacuos arsisse rogos; fremit impia plebes,
sontibus accensae stimulis facinusque reposcunt.
quin etiam occultae uulgo increbrescere uoces:
"Solane fida suis, nos autem in funera laetae?
non deus haec fatumque! quid imperat urbe nefanda?"
Talibus exanimis dictis - et triste propinquat
supplicium, nec regna iuuant - uaga litora furtim
incomitata sequor funestaque moenia linquo,
qua fuga nota patris; sed non iterum obuius Euhan,
nam me praedonum manus huc appulsa tacentem
abripit et uestras famulam transmittit in oras".
Talia Lernaeis iterat dum regibus exul
Lemnias et longa solatur damna querela,
immemor absentis - sic di suasistis! - alumni,
ille grauis oculos languentiaque ora comanti
mergit humo, fessusque diu puerilibus actis
labitur in somnos, prensa manus haeret in herba.
Interea campis, nemoris sacer horror Achaei,
terrigena exoritur serpens, tractuque soluto
immanem sese uehit ac post terga relinquit.
Liuida fax oculis, tumidi stat in ore ueneni
spuma uirens, ter lingua uibrat, terna agmina adunci
dentis, et auratae crudelis gloria frontis
prominet. Inachio sanctum dixere Tonanti
agricolae, cui cura loci et siluestribus aris
pauper honos; nunc ille dei circumdare templa
orbe uago labens, miserae nunc robora siluae
atterit et uastas tenuat complexibus ornos;
saepe super fluuios geminae iacet aggere ripae
continuus, squamisque incisus adaestuat amnis.
Sed nunc, Ogygii iussis quando omnis anhelat
terra dei trepidaeque latent in puluere Nymphae,
saeuior anfractu laterum sinuosa retorquens
terga solo siccique nocens furit igne ueneni.
Stagna per arentesque lacus fontesque repressos
uoluitur et uacuis fluuiorum in uallibus errat,
incensusque siti liquidum nunc aëra lambit
ore supinato, nunc arua gementia radens
pronus adhaeret humo, si quid uiridantia sudent
gramina; percussae calidis adflatibus herbae,
qua tulit ora, cadunt, moriturque ad sibila campus:
quantus ab Arctois discriminat aethera plaustris
Anguis et usque Notos alienumque exit in orbem;
quantus et ille sacri spiris intorta mouebat
cornua Parnasi, donec tibi, Delie, fixus
uexit harundineam centeno uulnere siluam.
Quis tibi, parue, deus tam magni pondera fati
sorte dedit? Tune hoc uix prima ad limina uitae
hoste iaces? An ut inde sacer per saecula Grais
gentibus et tanto dignus morerere sepulcro?
Occidis extremae destrictus uerbere caudae
ignaro serpente puer, fugit ilicet artus
somnus et in solam patuerunt lumina mortem.
Cum tamen attonito moriens uagitus in auras
excidit et ruptis immutuit ore querelis,
qualia non totas peragunt insomnia uoces,
audiit Hypsipyle, facilemque negantia cursum
exanimis genua aegra rapit; iam certa malorum
mentis ab augurio sparsoque per omnia uisu
lustrat humum quaerens et nota uocabula paruo
nequiquam ingeminans: nusquam ille, et prata recentis
amisere notas. uiridi piger accubat hostis
collectus gyro spatiosaque iugera complet
sic etiam, obliqua ceruicem expostus in aluo.
Horruit infelix uisu longoque profundum
incendit clamore nemus; nec territus ille,
sed iacet. Argolicas ululatus flebilis auris
impulit; extemplo monitu ducis aduolat ardens
Arcas eques causamque refert. tunc squamea demum
toruus ad armorum radios fremitumque uirorum
colla mouet: rapit ingenti conamine saxum,
quo discretus ager, uacuasque impellit in auras
arduus Hippomedon, quo turbine bellica quondam
librati saliunt portarum in claustra molares.
Cassa ducis uirtus: iam mollia colla refusus
in tergum serpens uenientem exhauserat ictum.
Dat sonitum tellus, nemorumque per auia densi
dissultant nexus. "At non mea uulnera" clamat
et trabe fraxinea Capaneus subit obuius "umquam
effugies, seu tu pauidi ferus incola luci,
siue deis, utinamque deis, concessa uoluptas,
non, si consertum super haec mihi membra Giganta
subueheres". uolat hasta tremens et hiantia monstri
ora subit linguaeque secat fera uincla trisulcae,
perque iubas stantis capitisque insigne corusci
emicat, et nigri sanie perfusa cerebri
figitur alta solo. longus uix tota peregit
membra dolor, rapido celer ille uolumine telum
circumit auulsumque ferens in opaca refugit
templa dei; hic magno tellurem pondere mensus
implorantem animam dominis assibilat aris.
Illum et cognatae stagna indignantia Lernae,
floribus et uernis assuetae spargere Nymphae,
et Nemees reptatus ager, lucosque per omnis
siluicolae fracta gemuistis harundine, Fauni.
Ipse etiam e summa iam tela poposcerat aethra
Iuppiter, et dudum nimbique hiemesque coibant,
ni minor ira deo grauioraque tela mereri
seruatus Capaneus; moti tamen aura cucurrit
fulminis et summas libauit uertice cristas.
Iamque pererratis infelix Lemnia campis,
liber ut angue locus, modico super aggere longe
pallida sanguineis infectas roribus herbas
prospicit. Huc magno cursum rapit effera luctu
agnoscitque nefas, terraeque illisa nocenti
fulminis in morem non uerba in funere primo,
non lacrimas habet: ingeminat misera oscula tantum
incumbens animaeque fugam per membra tepentem
quaerit hians. non ora loco, non pectora restant,
rapta cutis, tenuia ossa patent nexusque madentes
sanguinis imbre noui, totumque in uulnere corpus.
Ac uelut aligerae sedem fetusque parentis
cum piger umbrosa populatus in ilice serpens,
illa redit querulaeque domus mirata quietem
iam stupet impendens aduectosque horrida maesto
excutit ore cibos, cum solus in arbore paret
sanguis et errantes per capta cubilia plumae.
Vt laceros artus gremio miseranda recepit
intexitque comis, tandem laxata dolori
uox inuenit iter, gemitusque in uerba soluti:
O mihi desertae natorum dulcis imago,
Archemore, o rerum et patriae solamen ademptae
seruitiique decus, qui te, mea gaudia, sontes
exstinxere dei, modo quem digressa reliqui
lasciuum et prono uexantem gramina cursu?
heu | ubi siderei uultus? ubi uerba ligatis
imperfecta sonis risusque et murmura soli
intellecta mihi? Quotiens tibi Lemnon et Argo
sueta loqui et longa somnum suadere querela:
sic equidem luctus solabar et ubera paruo
iam materna dabam, cui nunc uenit irritus orbae
lactis et infelix in uulnera liquitur imber.
nosco deos: o uera mei praesagia somni
nocturnique metus, et numquam impune per umbras
attonitae mihi uisa Venus! quos arguo diuos?
Ipsa ego te - quid enim timeam moritura fateri? -
exposui fatis. Quae mentem insania traxit?
Tantane me tantae tenuere obliuia curae?
Dum patrios casus famaeque exorsa retracto
ambitiosa meae - pietas haec magna fidesque! -,
exsolui tibi, Lemne, nefas; ubi letifer anguis,
ferte, duces, meriti si qua est mihi gratia duri,
si quis honos dictis, aut uos exstinguite ferro,
ne tristis dominos orbamque inimica reuisam
Eurydicen, quamquam haud illi mea cura dolendo
cesserit. hocne ferens onus illaetabile matris
transfundam gremio? Quae me prius ima sub umbras
mergat humus!" Simul haec terraque et sanguine uultum
sordida magnorum circa uestigia regum
uertitur, et tacite maerentibus imputat undas.
Et iam sacrifici subitus per tecta Lycurgi
nuntius implerat lacrimis ipsumque domumque,
ipsum aduentantem Persei uertice sancto
montis, ubi auerso dederat prosecta Tonanti,
et caput iratis rediens quassabat ab extis.
Hic sese Argolicis immunem seruat ab armis
haud animi uacuus, sed templa araeque tenebant.
Necdum etiam responsa deum monitusque uetusti
exciderant uoxque ex adytis accepta profundis:
"Prima, Lycurge, dabis Dircaeo funera bello".
Id cauet, et maestus uicini puluere Martis
angitur ad lituos periturusque inuidet armis.
Ecce - fides superum! - laceras comitata Thoantis
aduehit exsequias, contra subit obuia mater,
femineos coetus plangentiaque agmina ducens.
At non magnanimo pietas ignaua Lycurgo:
fortior ille malis, lacrimasque insana resorbet
ira patris, longo rapit arua morantia passu
uociferans: "Illa autem ubinam, cui parua cruoris
laetaue damna mei? Viuitne? Impellite raptam,
ferte citi comites; faxo omnis fabula Lemni
et pater et tumidae generis mendacia sacri
exciderint". Ibat letumque inferre parabat
ense furens rapto; uenienti Oeneius heros
impiger obiecta proturbat pectora parma,
ac simul infrendens: "Siste hunc, uesane, furorem,
quisquis es!" Et pariter Capaneus acerque reducto
adfuit Hippomedon rectoque Erymanthius ense,
ac iuuenem multo praestringunt lumine; at inde
agrestum pro rege manus. Quos inter Adrastus
mitius et sociae ueritus commercia uittae
Amphiaraus ait "Ne, quaeso; absistite ferro,
unus auum sanguis, neue indulgete furori,
tuque prior". Sed non sedato pectore Tydeus
subicit: "Anne ducem seruatricemque cohortis
Inachiae ingratis coram tot milibus ausis
mactare in tumulos - quanti pro funeris ultor! -,
cui regnum genitorque Thoas et lucidus Euhan
stirpis auus? Timidone parum, quod gentibus actis
undique in arma tuis inter rapida agmina pacem
solus habes? Habeasque, et te uictoria Graium
inueniat tumulis etiamnum haec fata gementem".
Dixerat, et tandem cunctante modestior ira
ille refert: "Equidem non uos ad moenia Thebes
rebar, at hostilis huc aduenisse cateruas.
Pergite in excidium socii, si tanta uoluptas,
sanguinis, imbuite arma domi, atque haec irrita dudum
templa Iouis - quid enim haud licitum? - ferat impius ignis,
si uilem, tanti premerent cum pectora luctus,
in famulam ius esse ratus dominoque ducique.
Sed uidet haec, uidet ille deum regnator, et ausis
sera quidem, manet ira tamen". Sic fatus, et arces
respicit. Atque illic alio certamine belli
tecta fremunt; uolucres equitum praeuerterat alas
fama recens, geminos alis amplexa tumultus:
illi ad fata rapi atque illi iam occumbere leto,
sic meritam Hypsipylen iterant, creduntque, nec irae
fit mora, iamque faces et tela penatibus instant,
uertere regna fremunt raptumque auferre Lycurgum
cum Ioue cumque aris; resonant ululatibus aedes
femineis, uersusque dolor dat terga timori.
Alipedum curru sed enim sublimis Adrastus
secum ante ora uirum fremibunda Thoantida portans
it medius turmis, et: "Parcite, parcite!" clamat,
Nil actum saeue, meritus nec tale Lycurgus
excidium, gratique inuentrix fluminis ecce".
Sic ubi diuersis maria euertere procellis
hinc Boreas Eurusque, illinc niger imbribus Auster,
pulsa dies regnantque hiemes, uenit aequoris alti
rex sublimis equis, geminusque ad spumea Triton
frena natans late pelago dat signa cadendi,
et iam plana Thetis, montesque et litora crescunt.
Quis superum tanto solatus funera uoto
pensauit lacrimas inopinaque gaudia maestae
rettulit Hypsipylae? Tu gentis conditor, Euhan,
qui geminos iuuenes Lemni de litore uectos
intuleras Nemeae mirandaque fata parabas.
Causa uiae genetrix, nec inhospita tecta Lycurgi
praebuerant aditus, et protinus ille tyranno
nuntius exstinctae miserando uulnere prolis.
Ergo adsunt comites - pro fors et caeca futuri
mens hominum! - regique fauent; sed Lemnos ad auris
ut primum dictusque Thoas, per tela manusque
irruerant, matremque auidis complexibus ambo
diripiunt flentes alternaque pectora mutant.
Illa uelut rupes immoto saxea uisu
haeret et expertis non audet credere diuis.
Vt uero et uultus et signa Argoa relictis
ensibus atque umeris amborum intextus Iason,
cesserunt luctus, turbataque munere tanto
corruit, atque alio maduerunt lumina fletu.
Addita signa polo, laetoque ululante tumultu
tergaque et aera dei motas crepuere per auras.
Tunc pius Oeclides, ut prima silentia uulgi
mollior ira dedit placidasque accessus ad auris:
"Audite, o ductor Nemeae lectique potentes
Inachidae, quae certus agi manifestat Apollo.
Iste quidem Argolicis haud olim indebitus armis
luctus adest, recto descendunt limite Parcae:
et sitis interitu fluuiorum et letifer anguis,
et puer, heu nostri signatus nomine fati,
Archemorus, cuncta haec superum demissa suprema
mente fluunt. Differte animos festinaque tela
ponite; mansuris donandus honoribus infans.
et meruit; det pulchra suis libamina uirtus
manibus, atque utinam pluris innectere pergas,
Phoebe, moras, semperque nouis bellare uetemur
casibus, et semper Thebe funesta recedas!
At uos magnorum transgressi fata parentum
felices, longum quibus hinc per saecula nomen,
dum Lernaea palus et dum pater Inachus ibit,
dum Nemea tremulas campis iaculabitur umbras,
ne fletu uiolate sacrum, ne plangite diuos:
nam deus iste, deus, Pyliae nec fata senectae
maluerit, Phrygiis aut degere longius annis".
Finierat, caeloque cauam nox induit umbram.