Ūt sŭbĭtūs vātēs pāllēntĭbŭs īncĭdĭt ūmbrīs
lētĭfĕrāsquĕ dŏmōs rēgīsque ārcānă sĕpūltī
rūpĭt ĕt ārmātō tūrbāvīt fūnĕrĕ mānīs,
hōrrŏr hăbēt cūnctōs, Stўgĭīs mīrāntŭr ĭn ōrīs
tēla ĕt ĕquōs cōrpūsquĕ nŏvūm; nĕc ĕnim īgnĭbŭs ārtūs
cōndĭtŭs aūt maēstā nĭgĕr ādvēntābăt ăb ūrnā,
sēd bēllī sūdōrĕ călēns, clĭpĕūmquĕ crŭēntīs
rōrĭbŭs ēt scīssī rēspērsūs pūlvĕrĕ cāmpī.
Nēcdum īllum aūt trūncā lūstrāvĕrăt ōbvĭă tāxō
Eūmēnīs, aūt fūrvŏ Prŏsērpĭnă pōstĕ nŏtārāt
coētĭbŭs āssūmptūm fūnctīs; quīn cōmmĭnŭs īpsă
fātōrūm dēprēnsă cŏlūs, vīsōquĕ păvēntēs
aūgŭrĕ tūnc dēmūm rūmpēbānt stāmĭnă Pārcaē.
Īllum ēt sēcūrī cīrcūmspēxērĕ frăgōrēm
Ēlўsĭi, ēt sī quōs prŏcŭl ūltĕrĭōrĕ bărāthrō
āltĕră nōx ălĭīsquĕ grăvāt plăgă caēcă tĕnēbrīs.
Tūnc rĕgĕmūnt pīgrīquĕ lăcūs ūstaēquĕ pălūdēs,
ūmbrĭfĕraēquĕ frĕmīt sūlcātōr pāllĭdŭs ūndaē
dīssĭlŭīssĕ nŏvō pĕnĭtūs tēllūrĭs hĭātū
Tārtăra ĕt ādmīssōs nōn pēr sŭă flūmĭnă mānīs.
Fōrtĕ sĕdēns mĕdĭā rēgni īnfēlīcĭs ĭn ārcĕ
dūx Ĕrĕbī pŏpŭlōs pōscēbāt crīmĭnă vītaē,
nīl hŏmĭnūm mĭsĕrāns īrātūsque ōmnĭbŭs ūmbrīs.
Stānt Fŭrĭaē cīrcūm vărĭaēque ēx ōrdĭnĕ Mōrtēs,
saēvăquĕ mūltĭsŏnās ēxsērtāt Poēnă cătēnās;
Fātă sĕrūnt ănĭmās ĕt ĕōdēm pōllĭcĕ dāmnānt:
vīncĭt ŏpūs. Iūxtā Mīnōs cūm frātrĕ vĕrēndō
iūră bŏnūs mĕlĭōră mŏnēt rēgēmquĕ crŭēntūm
tēmpĕrăt; āssīstūnt lăcrĭmīs ātque īgnĕ tŭmēntēs
Cōcŷtōs Phlĕgĕthōnque, ēt Stŷx pēriūrĭă dīvūm
ārgŭĭt. Īlle aūtēm sŭpĕrā cōmpāgĕ sŏlūtā
nēc sŏlĭtūs sēntīrĕ mĕtūs ēxpāvĭt ŏbōrtā
sīdĕră, iūcūndāque ōffēnsūs lūcĕ prŏfātūr:
Quaē sŭpĕrūm lābēs ĭnĭmīcum īmpēgĭt Ăvērnō
aēthĕră? Quīs rūpīt tĕnĕbrās vītaēquĕ sĭlēntīs
ādmŏnĕt? ūndĕ mĭnās? ŭtĕr haēc mĭhĭ proēlĭă frātrūm?
cōngrĕdĭōr, pĕrĕānt ăgĕdūm dīscrīmĭnă rērūm.
Nām cuī dūlcĕ măgīs? Māgnō mē tērtĭă vīctūm
dēiēcīt Fōrtūnă pŏlō, mūndūmquĕ nŏcēntēm
sērvŏ: nĕc īstĕ mĕūs dīrīsque ēn pērvĭŭs āstrīs
īnspĭcĭtūr. tŭmĭdūsnĕ mĕās rēgnātŏr Ŏlŷmpī
ēxplōrāt vīrīs? hăbĕō iām quāssă Gĭgāntūm
vīncŭla ĕt aēthĕrĭūm cŭpĭdōs ēxīrĕ sŭb āxēm
Tītānās mĭsĕrūmquĕ pătrēm: quīd me ōtĭă maēstă
saēvŭs ĕt īmplăcĭdām prŏhĭbēt pērfērrĕ quĭētēm
āmīssūmque ōdīssĕ dĭēm? Pāndam ōmnĭă rēgnă,
sī plăcĕt, ēt Stўgĭō praētēxam Hўpĕrīŏnă caēlō.
Ārcădă nēc sŭpĕrīs - quĭd ĕnīm mĭhĭ nūntĭŭs āmbās
ītquĕ rĕdītquĕ dŏmōs? - ēmīttam ĕt ŭtrūmquĕ tĕnēbō
Tŷndărĭdēn. Cūr aūtem ăvĭdīs Īxīŏnă frāngō
vērtĭcĭbūs? cūr nōn ēxspēctānt Tāntălŏn ūndaē?
Ānnĕ prŏfānātūm tŏtĭēns chăŏs hōspĭtĕ vīvō
pērpĕtĭār? Mē Pīrĭthŏī tĕmĕrārĭŭs ārdōr
tēmptăt ĕt aūdācī Thēseūs iūrātŭs ămīcō,
mē fĕrŭs Ālcīdēs, tūm cūm cūstōdĕ rĕmōtō
fērrĕă Cērbĕrĕaē tăcŭērūnt līmĭnă pōrtaē;
Ōdrўsĭīs ĕtĭām pŭdĕt heū! pătŭīssĕ quĕrēlīs
Tārtără: vīdi ĕgŏmēt blānda īntēr cārmĭnă tūrpīs
Eūmĕnĭdūm lăcrĭmās ĭtĕrātăquĕ pēnsă Sŏrōrūm;
mē quŏquĕ... Sēd dūraē mĕlĭōr vĭŏlēntĭă lēgīs.
āst ĕgŏ vīx ūnūm, nēc cēlsa ād sīdĕră, fūrtō
aūsŭs ĭtēr Sĭcŭlō răpŭī cōnūbĭă cāmpō:
nēc lĭcŭīssĕ fĕrūnt; īniūstaēque ā Iŏvĕ lēgēs
prōtĭnŭs, ēt sēctūm gĕnĕtrīx mĭhĭ cōmpŭtăt ānnūm.
sēd quĭd ĕgo haēc? ī, Tārtărĕās ūlcīscĕrĕ sēdēs,
Tīsĭphŏnē; sī quāndŏ nŏvīs āspērrĭmă mōnstrīs,
trīste, īnsuētum, īngēns, quōd nōndūm vīdĕrĭt aēthēr,
ēdĕ nĕfās, quōd mīrĕr ĕgo īnvĭdĕāntquĕ Sŏrōrēs.
Ātque ădĕō frātrēs - nōstrīque haēc ōmĭnă sūntō
prīma ŏdĭī -, frātrēs āltērna īn vūlnĕră laētō
Mārtĕ rŭānt; sīt, quī răbĭdārūm mōrĕ fĕrārūm
māndăt ătrōx hōstīlĕ căpūt, quīque īgnĕ sŭprēmō
ārcĕăt ēxănĭmēs ēt mānĭbŭs aēthĕră nūdīs
cōmmăcŭlēt; iŭvĕt īstă fĕrūm spēctārĕ Tŏnāntēm.
Praētĕrĕā, nē sōlă fŭrōr mĕă rēgnă lăcēssāt,
quaērĕ dĕīs quī bēllă fĕrāt, quī fūlmĭnĭs īgnīs
īnfēstūmquĕ Iŏvēm clĭpĕō fūmāntĕ rĕpēllāt.
fāxo haūd sīt cūnctīs lĕvĭōr mĕtŭs ātră mŏvērĕ
Tārtără, frōndēntī quām iūngĕrĕ Pēlĭŏn Ōssaē".
Dīxĕrăt; ātque īllī iāmdūdūm rēgĭă trīstīs
āttrĕmĭt ōrāntī, sŭăque ēt quaē dēsŭpĕr ūrgēt
nūtābāt tēllūs: nōn fōrtĭŭs aēthĕră vūltū
tōrquĕt ĕt āstrĭfĕrōs īnclīnāt Iūppĭtĕr āxīs.
"Āt tĭbĭ quōs" īnquīt "mānīs, quī līmĭtĕ praēcēps
nōn lĭcĭtō pĕr ĭnānĕ rŭīs?" Sŭbĭt īllĕ mĭnāntēm
iām tĕnŭīs vīsū, iām vānēscēntĭbŭs ārmīs,
iām pĕdĕs: ēxstīnctō tămĕn īntērcēptŭs ĭn ōrĕ
aūgŭrĭī pērdūrăt hŏnōs, ōbscūrăquĕ frōntī
vīttă mănēt, rāmūmquĕ tĕnēt mŏrĭēntĭs ŏlīvaē.
"Sī lĭcĕt ēt sānctīs hīc ōră rĕsōlvĕrĕ fās ēst
mānĭbŭs, ō cūnctīs fīnītōr māxĭmĕ rērūm,
āt mĭhĭ, quī quōndām caūsās ĕlĕmēntăquĕ nōrām,
ēt sătŏr, ōrŏ, mĭnās stĭmŭlātăquĕ cōrdă rĕmūlcē,
nēve īrā dīgnāre hŏmĭnem ēt tŭă iūră tĭmēntēm,
nām nĕc ăd Hērcŭlĕōs - ūnde haēc mĭhĭ proēlĭă? - rāptūs,
nēc Vĕnĕrem īllĭcĭtām - crēde hīs īnsīgnĭbŭs - aūsī
īntrāmūs Lēthēn: fŭgĭāt nē trīstĭs ĭn āntrūm
Cērbĕrŭs, aūt nōstrōs tĭmĕāt Prōsērpĭnă cūrrūs.
Aūgŭr Ăpōllĭnĕīs mŏdŏ dīlēctīssĭmŭs ārīs,
tēstŏr ĭnānĕ chăōs - quĭd ĕnim hīc iūrāndŭs Ăpōllŏ? -,
crīmĭnĕ nōn ūllō sŭbĕō nŏvă fātă, nĕc ālmā
sīc mĕrŭī dē lūcĕ răpī; scīt iūdĭcĭs ūrnă
Dīctaēī vērūmquĕ pŏtēst dēprēndĕrĕ Mīnōs.
Cōniŭgĭs īnsĭdĭīs ĕt ĭnīquō vēndĭtŭs aūrō
Ārgŏlĭcās ăcĭēs - ūnde haēc tĭbĭ tūrbă rĕcēntūm
ūmbrārum, ēt nōstraē vĕnĭūnt quŏquĕ fūnĕră dēxtraē -
nōn īgnārŭs ĭnī: sŭbĭtō mē tūrbĭnĕ mūndī
- hōrrĕt ădhūc ănĭmūs - mĕdĭīs ē mīlĭbŭs haūsīt
nōx tŭă. Quaē mĭhĭ mēns, dūm pēr căvă vīscĕră tērraē
vādŏ dĭū pēndēns ĕt ĭn ăĕrē vōlvŏr ŏpērtō?
eī mĭhĭ! nīl ēx mē sŏcĭīs pătrĭaēquĕ rĕlīctūm,
vēl cāptūm Thēbīs; iām nōn Lērnaēă vĭdēbō
tēctă nĕc āttŏnĭtō sāltēm cĭnĭs ībŏ părēntī.
nōn tŭmŭlō, nōn īgnĕ mĭsēr lăcrĭmīsquĕ mĕōrūm
prōdūctūs, tōtō părĭtēr tĭbĭ fūnĕrĕ vēnī,
nīl īstīs aūsūrŭs ĕquīs; nēc dēprĕcŏr ūmbrām
āccĭpĕre ēt trĭpŏdūm iām nōn mĕmĭnīssĕ mĕōrūm.
Nām tĭbĭ praēsāgī quīs iām sŭpĕr aūgŭrĭs ūsūs,
cūm Pārcaē tŭă iūssă trăhānt? Sēd pēctŏră flēctās
ēt mĕlĭōr sīs, quaēsŏ, dĕīs. Sī quāndŏ nĕfāndă
hūc ădĕrīt cōniūnx, īllī fūnēstă rĕsērvā
sūpplĭcĭa: īllă tŭā, rēctōr bŏnĕ, dīgnĭŏr īrā".
Āccĭpĭt īllĕ prĕcēs īndīgnātūrquĕ mŏvērī.
Ūt lĕŏ Māssŷlī cūm lūx stĕtĭt ōbvĭă fērrī,
tūnc īrās, tūnc ārmă cĭtāt; sī dēcĭdĭt hōstīs,
īrĕ sŭprā sătĭs ēst vītāmquĕ rĕlīnquĕrĕ vīctō.
Īntĕrĕā vīttīs laūrōque īnsīgnĭs ŏpīmā
cūrrŭs ĕt ēgrĕgĭīs mŏdŏ fōrmīdātŭs ĭn ārmīs
lūcĕ pălām, fūsūs nūllī nūllīquĕ fŭgātūs,
quaērĭtŭr: ābsīstūnt tūrmaē, sūspēctăquĕ tēllūs
ōmnĭbŭs, īnfīdī mīlēs vēstīgĭă cāmpī
cīrcŭĭt, ātque ăvĭdaē trīstīs lŏcŭs īllĕ rŭīnaē
cēssăt ĕt īnfērnī vītātŭr hŏnōrĕ sĕpūlcrī.
nūntīūs hōrtāntĭ dĭvērsa īn pārtĕ mănīplōs
Ādrāstō, vīx īpsĕ rătūs vīdīssĕ, Pălaēmōn
ādvŏlăt ēt trĕpĭdāns - stĕtĕrāt nām fōrtĕ cădēntī
prōxĭmŭs īnspēctōquĕ mĭsēr pāllēbăt hĭātū -:
"Vērtĕ grădūm, fŭgĕ, rēctŏr" ăīt "sī Dōrĭcă sāltēm
tērră lŏcō pătrĭaēquĕ mănēnt, ŭbĭ līquĭmŭs, ārcēs.
Nōn ārmīs, nōn sānguĭne ŏpūs: quĭd ĭnūtĭlĕ fērrūm
strīngĭmŭs īn Thēbās? Cūrrūs hŭmŭs īmpĭă sōrbēt
ārmăquĕ bēllāntīsquĕ vĭrōs; fŭgĕre ēccĕ vĭdētūr
hīc ĕtĭām quō stāmŭs ăgēr. vīdi īpsĕ prŏfūndaē
nōctĭs ĭtēr rūptāquĕ sŏlī cōmpāgĕ rŭēntēm
īllum heū, praēsāgīs quō nūllŭs ămīcĭŏr āstrīs,
Oēclīdēn, frūstrāquĕ mănūs cūm vōcĕ tĕtēndīt.
Mīră lŏquōr, sūlcōs ĕtĭāmnūm, rēctŏr, ĕquōrūm
fūmāntēmquĕ lŏcum ēt spūmīs mădĭda ārvă rĕlīquīt.
Nēc cōmmūnĕ mălum ēst: tēllūs āgnōscĭt ălūmnōs,
stāt Thēbāna ăcĭēs". Stŭpĕt haēc ēt crēdĕre Ădrāstūs
cūnctātūr; sēd Mōpsŭs ĭdēm trĕpĭdūsquĕ fĕrēbāt
Āctŏr ĭdēm. iām Fāmă nŏvīs tērrōrĭbŭs aūdāx
nōn ūnūm cĕcĭdīssĕ rĕfērt. Spōnte āgmĭnă rētrō
nōn ēxspēctātō rĕvŏcāntūm mōrĕ tŭbārūm
praēcĭpĭtānt: sēd tōrpĕt ĭtēr, fāllūntquĕ rŭēntīs
gēnuă vĭrōs; īpsīquĕ - pŭtēs sēnsīssĕ - rĕpūgnānt
cōrnĭpĕdēs nūllōquĕ trŭcēs hōrtāmĭnĕ pārēnt,
nēc cĕlĕrārĕ grădūm nēc tōllĕrĕ lūmĭnă tērrā.
fōrtĭŭs īncūrsānt Tўrĭī, sēd Vēspĕr ŏpācūs
lūnārīs iām dūcĭt ĕquōs; dătă foēdĕrĕ pārvō
maēstă vĭrīs rĕquĭēs ēt nōx aūctūră tĭmōrēs.
Quaē tĭbĭ tūnc făcĭēs, pōstquām pērmīssă gĕmēndī
cōpĭă! quī flētūs gălĕīs cĕcĭdērĕ sŏlūtīs!
nīl sŏlĭtūm fēssōs iŭvăt; ābiēcērĕ mădēntīs,
sīcŭt ĕrānt, clĭpĕōs, nēc quīsquām spīcŭlă tērsīt,
nēc laūdāvĭt ĕquūm, nĭtĭdaē nēc cāssĭdĭs āltām
cōmpsĭt ădōrnāvītquĕ iŭbām; vīx māgnă lăvārĕ
vūlnĕra ĕt ēfflāntīs lĭbĕt īntērnēctĕrĕ plāgās:
tāntŭs ŭbīquĕ dŏlōr. Mēnsās ălĭmēntăquĕ bēllō
dēbĭtă nēc pūgnaē suāsīt tĭmŏr: ōmnĭă laūdēs,
Āmphĭărāĕ, tŭās fēcūndăquĕ pēctŏră vērī
cōmmĕmŏrānt lăcrĭmīs, ēt pēr tēntōrĭă sērmŏ
ūnŭs: ăbīssĕ dĕōs dīlāpsăquĕ nūmĭnă cāstrīs.
Heū | ŭbĭ laūrĭgĕrī cūrrūs sōllēmnĭăque ārmă
ēt gălĕaē vīttātŭs ăpēx? Mōc āntră lăcūsquĕ
Cāstălĭī trĭpŏdūmquĕ fĭdēs? Sīc grātŭs Ăpōllŏ?
quīs mĭhĭ sīdĕrĕōs lāpsūs mēntēmquĕ sĭnīstrī
fūlgŭrĭs, aūt caēsīs sălĭāt quōd nūmĕn ĭn ēxtīs,
quāndo ĭtĕr, ūndĕ mŏraē, quaē saēvīs ūtĭlĭs ārmīs,
quaē pācēm măgĭs hōră vĕlīt? Quīs iam ōmnĕ fŭtūrūm
prōfĕrĕt, aūt cūm quō vŏlŭcrēs mĕă fātă lŏquēntūr?
Hōs quŏquĕ bēllōrūm cāsūs nōbīsquĕ tĭbīquĕ
praēscĭĕrās, - ēt quāntă săcrō sūb pēctŏrĕ vīrtūs! -
vēnīstī tămĕn ēt mĭsĕrīs cŏmĕs āddĭtŭs ārmīs.
Ēt cūm tē tēllūs fātālīsque hōră vŏcārēt,
tū Tўrĭās ăcĭēs āvērsăquĕ sīgnă văcāstī
stērnĕrĕ; tūnc ĕtĭām mĕdĭā dē mōrtĕ tĭmēndūm
hōstĭbŭs īnfēstāque ăbĕūntēm vīdĭmŭs hāstā.
Ēt nūnc tē quīs cāsŭs hăbēt? Pŏtĕrīsnĕ rĕvērtī
sēdĭbŭs ā Stўgĭīs āltāque ērūmpĕrĕ tērrā?
Ānnĕ sĕdēs hĭlărīs iūxtā tŭă nūmĭnă Pārcās
ēt vĭcĕ cōncōrdī dīscīs vēntūră dŏcēsquĕ?
Ān tĭbĭ fēlīcīs lūcōs mĭsĕrātŭs Ăvērnī
rēctŏr ĕt Ēlўsĭās dĕdĭt īnsērvārĕ vŏlūcrēs?
Quīdquĭd ĕs, aētērnūs Phoēbō dŏlŏr ēt nŏvă clādēs
sēmpĕr ĕrīs mūtīsquĕ dĭū plōrābĕrĕ Dēlphīs.
Hīc Tĕnĕdōn Chrŷsēnquĕ dĭēs pārtūquĕ lĭgātām
Dēlŏn ĕt īntōnsī claūdēt pĕnĕtrālĭă Brānchī,
nēc Clărĭās hāc lūcĕ fŏrīs Dĭdўmaēăquĕ quīsquām
līmĭnă nēc Lўcĭām sūpplēx cōnsūltŏr ădībīt.
quīn ēt cōrnĭgĕrī vātīs nĕmŭs ātquĕ Mŏlōssī
quērcŭs ănhēlă Iŏvīs Trōiānăquĕ Thŷmbră tăcēbīt.
Īpsi āmnēs īpsaēquĕ vŏlēnt ārēscĕrĕ laūrūs,
īpsĕ nĭhīl cērtūm sāgīs clāngōrĭbŭs aēthēr
praēcĭnĕt, ēt nūllā fĕrĭēntŭr ăb ālĭtĕ nūbēs.
Iāmque ĕrĭt īllĕ dĭēs, quō tē quŏquĕ cōnscĭă fātīs
tēmplă cŏlānt rēddātquĕ tŭūs rēspōnsă săcērdōs".
Tālĭă fātĭdĭcō pĕrăgūnt sōllēmnĭă rēgī,
ceū flāmmās āc dōnă rŏgō trīstīsquĕ rĕpēndānt
ēxsĕquĭās mōllīque ănĭmām tēllūrĕ rĕpōnānt.
Frāctă dĕhīnc cūnctīs āvērsăquĕ pēctŏră bēllō.
Sīc fōrtīs Mĭnўās sŭbĭtō cūm fūnĕrĕ Tīphŷs
dēstĭtŭīt, nōn ārmă sĕquī, nōn fērrĕ vĭdētūr
rēmŭs ăquās, īpsīquĕ mĭnūs iām dūcĕrĕ vēntī.
Iām fēssī gĕmĭtū paūlātim ēt cōrdă lĕvāvīt
ēxhaūstūs sērmōnĕ dŏlōr, nōx āddĭtă cūrās
ōbrŭĭt ēt făcĭlīs lăcrĭmīs īrrēpĕrĕ sōmnūs.
Āt nōn Sīdŏnĭām dīvērsa īn pārtĕ pĕr ūrbēm
nōx ĕădēm: vărĭō prōdūcūnt sīdĕră lūdō
āntĕ dŏmōs īntrāque, īpsaēque ād moēnĭă mārcēnt
ēxcŭbĭaē; gĕmĭna aēră sŏnānt Īdaēăquĕ tērgă
ēt mŏdĕrātă sŏnūm vărĭō spīrāmĭnĕ būxūs.
tūnc dūlcēs sŭpĕrōs ātque ōmne ēx ōrdĭne ălūmnūm
nūmĕn ŭbīquĕ săcrī rĕsŏnānt paēānĕs, ŭbīquĕ
sērtă cŏrōnātūmquĕ mĕrūm. Nūnc fūnĕră rīdēnt
aūgŭrĭs īgnārī, cōntrāque īn tēmpŏrĕ cērtānt
Tīrĕsĭān laūdārĕ sŭūm; nūnc fātă rĕvōlvūnt
māiōrūm vĕtĕrēsquĕ cănūnt ăb ŏrīgĭnĕ Thēbās:
hī mărĕ Sīdŏnĭūm mănĭbūsque āttrītă Tŏnāntīs
cōrnŭa ĕt īngēntī sūlcātūm Nērĕă taūrō,
hī Cādmūm lāssāmquĕ bŏvēm fētōsquĕ crŭēntī
Mārtĭs ăgrōs, ălĭī Tўrĭām rēptāntĭă sāxă
ād chĕlўn ēt dūrās ănĭmāntem Āmphīŏnă caūtēs,
hī grăvĭdām Sĕmĕlēn, īllī Cўthĕrēĭă laūdānt
cōnŭbĭa ēt mūltā dēdūctām lāmpădĕ frātrūm
Hārmŏnĭām: nūllīs dēēst sŭă fābŭlă mēnsīs.
ceū mŏdŏ gēmmĭfĕrūm thŷrsō pŏpŭlātŭs Hўdāspēn
Ēōāsquĕ dŏmōs nīgrī vēxīllă trĭūmphī
Lībĕr ĕt īgnōtōs pŏpŭlīs ōstēndĕrĕt Īndōs.
Tūm prīmum ād coētūs sŏcĭaēque ād foēdĕră mēnsaē
sēmpĕr ĭnāspēctūm dīrāque īn sēdĕ lătēntēm
Oēdĭpŏdēn ēxīssĕ fĕrūnt vūltūquĕ sĕrēnō
cānĭtĭēm nīgrām squālōre ēt sōrdĭdă fūsīs
ōră cŏmīs lāxāssĕ mănū sŏcĭūmquĕ bĕnīgnōs
ādfātūs ĕt ăbāctă prĭūs sōlācĭă pāssūm,
quīn haūsīssĕ dăpēs īnsīccātūmquĕ crŭōrēm
dēiēcīssĕ gĕnīs. Cūnctōs aūdītquĕ rĕfērtquĕ,
quī Dītem ēt Fŭrĭās tāntum ēt sī quāndŏ rĕgēntēm
Āntĭgŏnēn maēstīs sŏlĭtūs pūlsārĕ quĕrēlīs.
caūsă lătēt. nōn hūnc Tўrĭī fōrs prōspĕră bēllī,
tāntūm bēllă iŭvānt; nātum hōrtātūrquĕ prŏbātquĕ,
nēc vīcīssĕ vĕlīt; sēd prīmōs cōmmĭnŭs ēnsēs
ēt scĕlĕrīs tăcĭtō rīmātūr sēmĭnă vōtō.
īnde ĕpŭlaē dūlcēs īgnōtăquĕ gaūdĭă vūltū.
Quālīs pōst lōngaē Phīneūs iēiūnĭă poēnaē,
nīl strīdērĕ dŏmī vŏlŭcrēs ūt sēnsĭt ăbāctās
- nēcdūm tōtă fĭdēs -, hĭlărīs mēnsāsquĕ tŏrōsquĕ
nēc tūrbātă fĕrīs trāctāvīt pōcŭlă pīnnīs.
Cētĕră Grāiōrūm cūrīs ārmīsquĕ iăcēbāt
fēssă cŏhōrs; āltō cāstrōrum ēx āggĕre Ădrāstūs
laētĭfĭcōs tĕnŭī cāptābāt cōrdĕ tŭmūltūs,
quāmquam aēgēr sĕnĭō, sĕd ăgīt mĭsĕrāndă pŏtēstās
īnvĭgĭlārĕ mălīs. Īllum aērĕŭs ūndĭquĕ clāmōr
Thēbānīque ūrūnt sŏnĭtūs, ĕt ămāră lăcēssīt
tībĭă, tūm nĭmĭō vōcēs mārcōrĕ sŭpērbaē
īncērtaēquĕ făcēs ēt iām mălĕ pērvĭgĭl īgnīs.
Sīc ŭbĭ pēr flūctūs ūnō rătĭs ōbrŭtă sōmnō
cōntĭcŭīt, tāntīquĕ mărīs sēcūră iŭvēntūs
māndāvēre ănĭmās: sōlūs stāt pūppĕ măgīstēr
pērvĭgĭl īnscrīptāquĕ dĕūs quī nāvĭgăt ālnō.
Tēmpŭs ĕrāt, iūnctōs cūm iām sŏrŏr īgnĕă Phoēbī
sēnsĭt ĕquōs pĕnĭtūsquĕ căvām sūb lūcĕ părātā
Ōcĕănī mūgīrĕ dŏmūm, sēsēquĕ văgāntēm
cōllĭgĭt ēt lĕvĭtēr mōtō fŭgăt āstră flăgēllō:
cōncĭlĭūm rēx trīstĕ vŏcāt, quaērūntquĕ gĕmēntēs,
quīs trĭpŏdās sūccēssŏr ăgāt, quō prōvĭdă laūrūs
trānsĕăt ātque ōrbūm vīttaē dĕcŭs. Haūd mŏră, cūnctī
īnsīgnēm fāmā sānctōquĕ Mĕlāmpŏdĕ crētūm
Thīŏdămāntă vŏlūnt, quīcum īpse ārcānă dĕōrūm
pārtīri ēt vīsās ūnī sŏcĭārĕ sŏlēbāt
Āmphĭărāŭs ăvīs, tāntaēque haūd īnvĭdŭs ārtīs
gaūdēbāt dīcī sĭmĭlēm iūxtāquĕ sĕcūndūm.
īllum īngēns cōnfūndĭt hŏnōs ĭnŏpīnăquĕ tūrbāt
glōrĭa ĕt ōblātās frōndēs sūbmīssŭs ădōrāt,
sēque ŏnĕrī nĕgăt ēssĕ părēm cōgīquĕ mĕrētūr.
sīcŭt Ăchaēmĕnĭūs sŏlĭūm gēntēsquĕ pătērnās
ēxcēpīt sī fōrtĕ pŭēr, cuī vīvĕrĕ pātrēm
tūtĭŭs, īncērtā fōrmīdĭnĕ gaūdĭă lībrāt,
ān fīdī prŏcĕrēs, nē pūgnēt vūlgŭs hăbēnīs,
cuī lătŭs Eūphrātaē, cuī Cāspĭă līmĭnă māndēt,
sūmĕrĕ tūnc ārcūs īpsūmque ŏnĕrārĕ vĕrētūr
pātrĭs ĕquūm, vīsūsquĕ sĭbī nēc scēptră căpācī
sūstēntārĕ mănū nĕc ădhūc īmplērĕ tĭārām.
Ātque ĭs ŭbi īntōrtō sīgnāvīt vēllĕrĕ crīnēm
cōnvēnītquĕ dĕīs, hĭlărī pēr cāstră tŭmūltū
vādĭt ŏvāns āc, prīmă sŭī dŏcŭmēntă, săcērdōs
tēllūrēm plācārĕ părāt: nēc fūttĭlĕ maēstīs
īd vīsūm Dănăīs. Gĕmĭnās ērgo īlĭcĕt ārās
ārbŏrĭbūs vīvīs ĕt ădūltō caēspĭtĕ tēxī
īmpĕrăt, īnnŭmĕrōsquĕ dĕaē, sŭă mūnĕră, flōrēs
ēt cŭmŭlōs frūgum ēt quīdquīd nŏvăt īmpĭgĕr ānnūs,
āddĭt ĕt īntāctō spārgēns āltārĭă lāctĕ
īncĭpĭt: "Ō | hŏmĭnūm dīvūmque aētērnă crĕātrīx,
quaē flŭvĭōs sīlvāsque ănĭmārum ēt sēmĭnă mūndō
cūnctă Prŏmēthēāsquĕ mănūs Pŷrrhaēăquĕ sāxă
gīgnĭs, ĕt īmpāstīs quaē prīma ălĭmēntă dĕdīstī
mūtāstīquĕ vĭrīs, quaē pōntum āmbīsquĕ vĕhīsquĕ:
tē pĕnĕs ēt pĕcŭdūm gēns mītĭs ĕt īră fĕrārūm
ēt vŏlŭcrūm rĕquĭēs; fīrmum ātque īmmōbĭlĕ mūndī
rōbŭr ĭnōccĭdŭī, tē vēlōx māchĭnă caēlī
āĕrĕ pēndēntēm văcŭō, tē cūrrŭs ŭtērquĕ
cīrcŭĭt, ō rērūm mĕdĭa īndīvīsăquĕ māgnīs
frātrĭbŭs! Ērgŏ sĭmūl tōt gēntĭbŭs ālmă, tŏt āltīs
ūrbĭbŭs āc pŏpŭlīs, sūbtērque āc dēsŭpĕr ūnā
sūffĭcĭs, āstrĭgĕrūmquĕ dŏmōs Ātlāntă sŭpērnās
fērrĕ lăbōrāntēm nūllō vĕhĭs īpsă lăbōrĕ:
nōs tāntūm pōrtārĕ nĕgās, nōs, dīvă, grăvārīs?
Quōd, prĕcŏr, īgnārī lŭĭmūs scĕlŭs? Ān quĭă plēbēs
ēxtērna Īnăchĭīs hūc ādvēntāmŭs ăb ōrīs?
Ōmne hŏmĭnī nātālĕ sŏlūm, nēc te, ōptĭmă, saēvō
tāmque hŭmĭlī pŏpŭlōs dĕcĕāt dīstīnguĕrĕ fīnĕ
ūndĭque ŭbīquĕ tŭōs; mănĕās cōmmūnĭs ĕt ārmă
hīnc ātque īndĕ fĕrās; lĭcĕāt, prĕcŏr, ōrdĭnĕ bēllī
pūgnācīs ēfflāre ănĭmās ēt rēddĕrĕ caēlō.
nē răpĕ tām sŭbĭtīs spīrāntĭă cōrpŏră būstīs,
nē prŏpĕrā: vĕnĭēmŭs ĕnīm, quō līmĭtĕ cūnctī,
quā lĭcĕt īrĕ vĭā; tāntum ēxōrātă Pĕlāsgīs
sīstĕ lĕvēm cāmpūm, cĕlĕrēs neū praēcĭpĕ Pārcās.
Āt tū, cārĕ dĕīs, quēm nōn mănŭs ūllă nĕc ēnsēs
Sīdŏnĭī, sēd māgnă sĭnū Nātūră sŏlūtō,
ceū tē Cīrrhaēō mĕrĭtūm tŭmŭlārĕt hĭātū,
sīc āmplēxă cŏīt, hĭlărīs dēs, ōrŏ, prĕcātūs
nōssĕ tŭōs, caēlōque ēt vēră mŏnēntĭbŭs ārīs
cōncĭlĭēs, ēt quaē pŏpŭlīs prōfērrĕ părābās,
mē dŏcĕās: tĭbĭ sācră fĕrām praēsāgă, tŭīquĕ
nūmĭnĭs īntērprēs tē Phoēbo ābsēntĕ vŏcābō.
Īllĕ mĭhī Dēlō Cīrrhāquĕ pŏtēntĭŏr ōmnī,
quō rŭĭs, īlle ădўtīs mĕlĭōr lŏcŭs." haēc ŭbĭ dīctă,
nīgrāntīs tērraē pĕcŭdēs ōbscūrăquĕ mērgīt
ārmēnta, āc vīvīs cŭmŭlōs ūndāntĭs hărēnaē
āggĕrăt ēt vātī mōrtīs sĭmŭlācră rĕpēndīt.
Tālĭa ăpūd Grāiōs, cūm iām Māvōrtĭă cōntrā
cōrnŭă, iām saēvōs frăgŏr aērĕŭs ēxcĭtăt ēnsēs.
Āddĭt ăcērbă sŏnūm Teūmēsi ē vērtĭcĕ crīnēm
īncŭtĭēns ăcŭītquĕ tŭbās ēt sībĭlă mīscēt
Tīsĭphŏnē: stŭpĕt īnsŏlĭtō clāngōrĕ Cĭthaērōn
mārcĭdŭs ēt tūrrēs cārmēn nōn tālĕ sĕcūtaē.
iām trĕpĭdās Bēllōnă fŏrēs ārmātăquĕ pūlsāt
līmĭnă, iām mūltō lāxāntūr cārdĭnĕ Thēbaē.
Tūrbăt ĕquēs pĕdĭtēs, cūrrūs prŏpĕrāntĭbŭs ōbstānt,
ceū Dănăī pōst tērgă prĕmānt: sīc ōmnĭbŭs ālaē
ārtāntūr pōrtīs sēptēmque ēxcūrsĭbŭs haērēnt.
Ōgўgĭīs īt sōrtĕ Crĕōn, Ĕtĕōclĕă mīttūnt
Nēīstaē, cēlsās Hŏmŏlōĭdăs ōccŭpăt Haēmōn,
Hŷpsĕă Proētīaē, cēlsūm fūdērĕ Drўāntă
Ēlēctraē, quătĭt Hŷpsīstās mănŭs Eūrўmĕdōntīs,
cūlmĭnă māgnănĭmūs stīpāt Dīrcaēă Mĕnoēceūs.
Quālĭs ŭbi āvērsī sēcrētūs pābŭlă caēlī
Nīlŭs ĕt Ēōās māgnō bĭbĭt ōrĕ prŭīnās,
scīndīt fōntĭs ŏpēs sēptēmquĕ pătēntĭbŭs ārvīs
īn mărĕ fērt hĭĕmēs; pĕnĭtūs cēssērĕ fŭgātaē
Nērĕĭdēs dūlcīquĕ tĭmēnt ōccūrrĕrĕ pōntō.
Trīstĭs ăt īndĕ grădūm tārdē mŏvĕt Īnăchă pūbēs,
praēcĭpŭe Ēlēaē Lăcĕdaēmŏnĭaēquĕ cŏhōrtēs
ēt Pўlĭī; sŭbĭtūm nām Thīŏdămāntă sĕquūntūr
aūgŭrĕ fraūdātī, nēcdum āccēssērĕ rĕgēntī.
Nēc tŭă tē, prīncēps trĭpŏdūm, sōla āgmĭnă quaērūnt:
cūnctă phălānx sĭbĭ deēssĕ pŭtāt; mĭnŏr īllĕ pĕr ālās
sēptĭmŭs ēxstăt ăpēx. Lĭquĭdō vĕlŭt aēthĕrĕ nūbēs
īnvĭdă Pārrhăsĭīs ūnūm sī dētrăhăt āstrīs,
trūncŭs hŏnōr Plaūstrī, nĕc ĭdēm rĭgĕt īgnĕ rĕcīsō
āxĭs, ĕt īncērtī nŭmĕrānt sŭă sīdĕră naūtaē.
Sēd iām bēllă vŏcānt: ălĭās nŏvă sūggĕrĕ vīrēs,
Cāllĭŏpē, māiōrquĕ chĕlŷn mĭhĭ tēndăt Ăpōllŏ.
fātālēm pŏpŭlīs ūltrō pōscēntĭbŭs hōrām
ādmŏvĕt ātră dĭēs, Stўgĭīsque ēmīssă tĕnēbrīs
Mōrs frŭĭtūr caēlō bēllātōrēmquĕ vŏlāndō
cāmpum ŏpĕrīt nīgrōquĕ vĭrōs īnvītăt hĭātū,
nīl vūlgārĕ lĕgēns, sēd quaē dīgnīssĭmă vītā
fūnĕră, praēcĭpŭōs ānnīs ănĭmīsquĕ crŭēntō
ūnguĕ nŏtāt; iāmque īn mĭsĕrōs pēnsum ōmnĕ Sŏrōrūm
scīndĭtŭr, ēt Fŭrĭaē răpŭērūnt līcĭă Pārcīs.
Stāt mĕdĭūs cāmpīs ĕtĭāmnūm cūspĭdĕ sīccā
Bēllĭpŏtēns, iāmque hōs clĭpĕūm, iām vērtĭt ăd īllōs
ārmă cĭēns, ăbŏlētquĕ dŏmōs, cōnūbĭă, nātōs.
Pēllĭtŭr ēt pătrĭae ēt, quī mēntĕ nŏvīssĭmŭs ēxīt,
lūcĭs ămōr; tĕnĕt īn căpŭlīs hāstīsquĕ părātās
īră mănūs ănĭmōsque ūltrā thōrācăs ănhēlōs
cōnātūr, gălĕaēquĕ trĕmūnt hōrrōrĕ cŏmārūm.
Quīd mīrūm călŭīssĕ vĭrōs? Flāmmāntŭr ĭn hōstēm
cōrnĭpĕdēs nĭvĕōquĕ rĭgānt sŏlă pūtrĭă nīmbō,
cōrpŏră ceū mīxtī dŏmĭnīs īrāsquĕ sĕdēntūm
īndŭĕrīnt: sīc frēnă tĕrūnt, sīc proēlĭă pōscūnt
hīnnītū tōllūntque ārmōs ĕquĭtēsquĕ sŭpīnānt.
Iāmquĕ rŭūnt, prīmūsquĕ vĭrūm cōncūrrĕrĕ pūlvīs
īncĭpĭt, ēt spătĭīs ūtrīmque aēquālĭbŭs āctī
ādvēntānt mĕdĭūmquĕ vĭdēnt dēcrēscĕrĕ cāmpūm.
Iām clĭpĕūs clĭpĕīs, ūmbōnĕ rĕpēllĭtŭr ūmbŏ,
ēnsĕ mĭnāx ēnsīs, pĕdĕ pēs ēt cūspĭdĕ cūspīs:
sīc ōbnīxa ăcĭēs părĭtēr sūspīrĭă fūmānt,
ādmōtaēquĕ nĭtēnt ălĭēna īn cāssĭdĕ crīstaē.
Pūlchĕr ădhūc bēllī vūltūs: stānt vērtĭcĕ cōnī,
plēna ārmēntă vĭrīs, nūllī sĭnĕ praēsĭdĕ cūrrūs,
ārmă lŏcō, splēndēnt clĭpĕī phărĕtraēquĕ dĕcōraē
cīngŭlăque ēt nōndūm dēfōrmĕ crŭōrĭbŭs aūrūm.
āt pōstquām răbĭēs ēt vītaē prōdĭgă vīrtūs
ēmīsēre ănĭmōs, nōn tāntă cădēntĭbŭs Haēdīs
āĕrĭām Rhŏdŏpēn sŏlĭdā nĭvĕ vērbĕrăt Ārctōs,
nēc frăgŏr Aūsŏnĭaē tāntūs, cūm Iūppĭtĕr ōmnī
ārcĕ tŏnāt, tāntā quătĭtūr nēc grāndĭnĕ Sŷrtīs,
cūm Lĭbўaē Bŏrĕās Ĭtălōs nĭgĕr āttŭlĭt īmbrēs.
Ēxclūsērĕ dĭēm tēlīs, stānt fērrĕă caēlō
nūbĭlă, nēc iăcŭlīs ārtātūs sūffĭcĭt āēr.
Hī pĕrĕūnt mīssīs, īllī rĕdĕūntĭbŭs hāstīs,
cōncūrrūnt pĕr ĭnānĕ sŭdēs ēt mūtŭă pērdūnt
vūlnĕră, cōncūrrūnt hāstaē, strīdēntĭă fūndaē
sāxă plŭūnt, vŏlŭcrēs ĭmĭtāntūr fūlgŭră glāndēs
ēt fōrmīdāndaē nōn ūnā mōrtĕ săgīttaē.
nōn lŏcŭs ād tērrām tēlīs: īn cōrpŏră fērrūm
ōmnĕ cădīt; saēpe īgnārī pĕrĭmūntquĕ cădūntquĕ.
Cāsŭs ăgīt vīrtūtĭs ŏpūs: nūnc tūrbă rĕcēdīt,
nūnc prĕmĭt, āc vĭcĭbūs tēllūrem āmīttĭt ĕt aūfērt.
Ūt vēntīs nīmbīsquĕ mĭnāx cūm sōlvĭt hăbēnās
Iūppĭtĕr āltērnōque ādflīgīt tūrbĭnĕ mūndūm:
stāt caēlī dīvērsa ăcĭēs, nūnc fōrtĭŏr Aūstrī,
nūnc Ăquĭlōnĭs hĭēms, dōnēc pūgnāntĕ prŏcēllā
aūt nĭmĭīs hīc vīcĭt ăquīs, aūt īllĕ sĕrēnō.
Prīncĭpĭūm pūgnaē tūrmās Āsōpĭŭs Hŷpseūs
Oēbălĭās - nāmque haē māgnum ēt gēntīlĕ tŭmēntēs
Eūbŏĭcūm dūrīs rūmpūnt ūmbōnĭbŭs āgmēn -
rēppŭlĭt ērēptō cŭnĕī dūctōrĕ Mĕnālcā.
Hīc ēt mēntĕ Lăcōn, crūdī tōrrēntĭs ălūmnūs
- nēc tūrpāvĭt ăvōs -, hāstam ūltrā pēctŭs ĕūntēm,
nē pŭdŏr īn tērgō, pĕr ĕt ōssa ēt vīscĕră rētrō
ēxtrăhĭt ātque hōstī dēxtrā lābēntĕ rĕmīttīt
sānguĭnĕām: dīlēctă gĕnīs mŏrĭēntĭs ŏbērrānt
Tāўgĕta ēt pūgnaē laūdātăquĕ pēctŏră mātrī.
Phaēdĭmŏn Īăsĭdēn ārcū Dīrcaēŭs Ămŷntās
dēstĭnăt: heū cĕlĕrēs Pārcaē! Iām pālpĭtăt ārvīs
Phaēdĭmŭs, ēt cērtī nōndūm tăcĕt ārcŭs Ămŷntaē.
Ābstŭlĭt ēx ŭmĕrō dēxtrām Călўdōnĭŭs Āgreūs
Phēgĕŏs: īllă sŭūm tērrā tĕnĕt īmprŏbă fērrūm
ēt mŏvĕt; ēxtĭmŭīt spārsa īntēr tēlă iăcēntēm
praēgrĕdĭēns trūncāmquĕ tămēn pērcūssĭt Ăcoētēs.
Īphĭn ătrōx Ăcămās, Ārgūm fĕrŭs īmpŭlĭt Hŷpseūs,
strāvĭt Ăbāntă Phĕrēs, dīvērsăquĕ vūlnĕră flēntēs
Īphĭs ĕquēs, pĕdĕs Ārgŭs, Ăbās aūrīgă iăcēbānt.
Īnăchĭdaē gĕmĭnī gĕmĭnōs ē sānguĭnĕ Cādmī
ōccūltōs gălĕīs - saēva īgnōrāntĭă bēllī -
pērcŭlĕrānt fērrō; sēd dūm spŏlĭa ōmnĭă caēsīs
ērĭpĭūnt, vīdērĕ nĕfās, ēt maēstŭs ŭtērquĕ
rēspĭcĭt ād frātrēm părĭtērque ērrāssĕ quĕrūntūr.
Cūltŏr Ĭōn Pīsaē cūltōrēm Dāphnĕă Cīrrhaē
tūrbātīs prōstrāvĭt ĕquīs; hūnc laūdăt ăb āltō
Iūppĭtĕr, hūnc tārdūs frūstrā mĭsĕrātŭr Ăpōllŏ.
Īngēntīs Fōrtūnă vĭrōs īllūstrăt ŭtrīmquĕ
sānguĭne ĭn ādvērsō: Dănăōs Cādmēĭŭs Haēmōn
sternit agitque, furens sequitur Tyria agmina Tydeus;
Pāllās huīc praēsēns, īllūm Tīrŷnthĭŭs īmplēt.
Quālĭtĕr hībērnī sūmmīs dŭŏ mōntĭbŭs āmnēs
frāngūntūr gĕmĭnāquĕ cădūnt īn plānă rŭīnā:
cōntēndīssĕ pŭtēs, ŭtĕr ārva ārbūstăquĕ tōllāt
āltĭŭs aūt sŭpĕrēt pōntīs; ēt cum ūnă rĕcēptās
cōnfūndīt iām vāllĭs ăquās, sĭbĭ quīsquĕ sŭpērbūs
īrĕ cŭpīt, pōntōquĕ nĕgānt dēscēndĕrĕ mīxtī.
Ībāt fūmĭfĕrām quătĭēns Ōnchēstĭŭs Īdās
lāmpădă pēr mĕdĭōs tūrbābātque āgmĭnă Grāiūm,
īgnĕ vĭām rūmpēns; māgnō quēm cōmmĭnŭs īctū
Tŷdĕŏs hāstă fĕrī dīspūlsā cāssĭdĕ fīxīt.
Īlle īngēns īn tērgă iăcēt, stāt frōntĕ sŭpērstēs
lāncĕă, cōllāpsaē vĕnĭūnt īn tēmpŏră flāmmaē.
prōsĕquĭtūr Tŷdeūs: "Saēvōs nē dīxĕrĭs Ārgōs,
īgnĕ tŭō, Thēbānĕ, - rŏgūm cōncēdĭmŭs - ārdē!"
Īndĕ, vĕlūt prīmō tīgrīs gāvīsă crŭōrĕ
pēr tōtūm cŭpĭt īrĕ pĕcūs, sīc Āŏnă sāxō,
ēnsĕ Phŏlūm, Chrŏmĭn ēnsĕ, dŭōs Hĕlĭcāŏnăs hāstă
trānsĭgĭt, Aēgaēaē Vĕnĕrīs quōs Maēră săcērdōs
ēdĭdĕrāt prŏhĭbēntĕ dĕā; vōs praēdă crŭēntī
Tŷdĕŏs, īt saēvās ĕtĭāmnūm mātĕr ăd ārās.
Nēc mĭnŭs Hērcŭlĕūm cōntrā văgŭs Haēmŏnă dūcīt
sānguĭs: ĭnēxplētō răpĭtūr pēr mīlĭă fērrō,
nūnc tŭmĭdaē Călўdōnĭs ŏpēs, nūnc tōrvă Pўlēnēs
āgmĭnă, nūnc maēstaē fūndēns Pleūrōnĭs ălūmnōs,
dōnĕc ĭn Ōlĕnĭūm fēssā iām cūspĭdĕ Būtēn
īncĭdĭt. Hūnc tūrmīs ōbvērsum ĕt ăbīrĕ vĕtāntēm
ādgrĕdĭtūr; pŭĕr īllĕ, pŭēr mālāsquĕ cŏmāmquĕ
īntĕgĕr, īgnārō cuī tūnc Thēbānă bĭpēnnīs
īn gălĕām lībrātă vĕnīt: fūndūntŭr ŭtrōquĕ
tēmpŏră dīvĭdŭīquĕ cădūnt īn brācchĭă crīnēs,
ēt nōn hōc mĕtŭēns ĭnŏpīnō līmĭnĕ vītă
ēxsĭlŭīt. Tūnc flāvum Hўpănīn flāvūmquĕ Pŏlītēn
- īllĕ gĕnās Phoēbō, crīnem hīc pāscēbăt Ĭācchō:
saēvŭs ŭtērquĕ dĕūs -, vīctīs Hўpĕrēnŏră iūngīt
cōnvērsūmquĕ fŭgā Dămăsūm; sēd lāpsă pĕr ārmōs
hāstă vĭrī trāns pēctŭs ăbīt pārmāmquĕ tĕnēntī
ēxcŭtĭt ēt sūmmā fŭgĭēns īn cūspĭdĕ pōrtāt.
Stērnĕrĕt ādvērsōs ĕtĭāmnum Īsmēnĭŭs Haēmōn
Īnăchĭdās nām tēlă rĕgīt vīrīsquĕ mĭnīstrāt
Āmphĭtrўōnĭădēs -, saēvūm sēd Tŷdĕă cōntrā
Pāllăs ăgīt. Iāmque ādvērsō vēnērĕ făvōrĕ
cōmmĭnŭs, ēt plăcĭdō prĭŏr haēc Tīrŷnthĭŭs ōrĕ:
"Fīdă sŏrōr, quaēnam hūnc bēllī cālīgĭnĕ nōbīs
cōngrēssūm fōrtūnă tŭlīt? Nūm rēgĭă Iūnŏ
hōc mōlītă nĕfās? Cĭtĭūs mē fūlmĭnă cōntrā
- īnfāndūm! - rŭĕre ēt māgnō bēllārĕ părēntī
āspĭcĭāt. Gĕnŭs huīc... Sēd mītto āgnōscĕrĕ, quāndō
tū dīvērsă fŏvēs, nēc si īpsūm cōmmĭnŭs Hŷllūm
Tŷdĕŏs hāstă tŭī Stўgĭōque ēx ōrbĕ rĕmīssūm
Āmphĭtrўōnă pĕtāt; tĕnĕo aētērnūmquĕ tĕnēbō
quāntum haēc dīvă mănūs, quŏtĭēns sūdāvĕrĭt aēgīs
īstă mĭhī, dūrīs fămŭlūs dūm cāsĭbŭs ōmnīs
lūstrŏ văgūs tērrās; īpsa heū! cŏmĕs īnvĭă mēcūm
Tārtără, nī sŭpĕrōs Ăchĕrōn ēxclūdĕrĕt, īssēs.
Tū pătrĭām caēlūmquĕ mĭhī, quīs tāntă rĕlātū
aēquĕt? hăbē tōtās, sī mēns ēxscīndĕrĕ, Thēbās.
Cēdo ĕquĭdēm vĕnĭāmquĕ prĕcōr". Sīc ōrsŭs ăbībāt.
Pāllădă mūlcĕt hŏnōs: rĕdĭīt ārdōrĕ rĕmīssō
vūltŭs ĕt ērēctī sēdērūnt pēctŏrĭs ānguēs.
Sēnsĭt ăbēssĕ dĕūm, lĕvĭūs Cādmēĭŭs Haēmōn
tēlă rŏtāt nūllōquĕ mănūm cōgnōscĭt ĭn īctū.
Tūnc măgĭs ātquĕ măgīs vīrēs ănĭmūsquĕ rĕcēdūnt,
nēc pŭdŏr īrĕ rĕtrō; cēdēntem Ăchĕlōĭŭs hērōs
īmpĕdĭt, ēt lībrāns ūnī sĭbĭ mīssĭlĕ tēlūm
dīrēxīt iāctūs, sūmmaē quā mārgĭnĕ pārmaē
īmă sĕdēt gălĕa ēt iŭgŭlī vītālĭă lūcēnt.
Nēc frūstrātă mănūs, mōrtēmque īnvēnĕrăt hāstă;
sēd prŏhĭbēt paūlūmque ŭmĕrī lībārĕ sĭnīstrī
praēbŭĭt ēt mĕrĭtō pārcīt Trītōnĭă frātrī.
Īllĕ tămēn nēc stārĕ lŏcō nēc cōmmĭnŭs īrĕ
āmplĭŭs aūt vūltūs aūdēt pērfērrĕ crŭēntī
Tŷdĕŏs, aēgra ănĭmō vīs āc fīdūcĭă cēssīt.
Quālīs saētĭgĕrām Lūcānā cūspĭdĕ frōntēm
strīctŭs ăpēr, pĕnĭtūs cuī nōn īnfōssă cĕrēbrō
vūlnĕră, nēc fēlīx dēxtraē tĕnŏr, īn lătŭs īrās
frāngĭt, ĕt ēxpērtaē iām nōn vĕnĭt ōbvĭŭs hāstaē.
Ēccĕ dŭcēm tūrmaē cērta īndīgnātŭs ĭn hōstēm
spīcŭlă fēlīcī Prŏthŏūm tōrquērĕ lăcērtō,
tūrbĭdŭs Oēnīdēs ūnā dŭŏ cōrpŏră pīnū,
cōrnĭpĕdēmque ĕquĭtēmquĕ, fĕrīt: rŭĭt īllĕ rŭēntēm
īn Prŏthŏūm lāpsāsquĕ mănū quaērēntĭs hăbēnās
īn vūltūs gălĕām clĭpĕūmque īn pēctŏră cālcāt,
saūcĭŭs ēxtrēmō dōnēc cūm sānguĭnĕ frēnōs
rēspŭĭt ēt iūnctā dŏmĭnō cērvīcĕ rĕcūmbīt.
Sīc ūlmūs vītīsquĕ, dŭplēx iāctūră cŏlēntī,
Gaūrānō dē mōntĕ cădūnt, sēd maēstĭŏr ūlmūs
quaērĭt ŭtrūmquĕ nĕmūs, nēc tām sŭă brācchĭă lābēns
quām gĕmĭt āssuētās īnvītăquĕ prōtĕrĭt ūvās.
Sūmpsĕrăt īn Dănăōs Hĕlĭcōnĭŭs ārmă Cŏrŷmbūs,
āntĕ cŏmēs Mūsīs, Stўgĭī cuī cōnscĭă pēnsī
īpsă dĭū pŏsĭtīs lētūm praēdīxĕrăt āstrīs
Ūrănĭē. cŭpĭt īllĕ tămēn pūgnāsquĕ vĭrōsquĕ,
fōrsĭtăn ūt cănĕrēt; lōngā iăcĕt īpsĕ cănēndūs
laūdĕ, sĕd āmīssūm mūtaē flēvērĕ sŏrōrēs.
Pāctŭs Ăgēnŏrĕām prīmīs Ătўs ībăt ăb ānnīs
Īsmēnēn, Tўrĭī iŭvĕnīs nōn ādvĕnă bēllī.
Quāmvīs Cīrrhă dŏmūs, sŏcĕrōs nēc trīstĭbŭs āctīs
āvērsātŭs ĕrāt; spōnsām quīn cāstŭs ămāntī
squālŏr ĕt īndīgnī cōmmēndāt grātĭă lūctūs.
Īpsĕ quŏque ēgrĕgĭūs, nēc pēctŏră vīrgĭnĭs īllī
dīvērsa, īnquĕ vĭcēm, sĭnĕrēt fōrtūnă, plăcēbānt.
bēllă vĕtānt taēdās, iŭvĕnīque hīnc māiŏr ĭn hōstēs
īră; rŭīt prīmīs īmmīxtŭs ĕt āgmĭnă Lērnaē
nūnc pĕdĕs ēnsĕ văgō, prēnsīs nūnc cēlsŭs hăbēnīs,
ceū spēctētŭr, ăgīt. Trĭplĭcī vēlāvĕrăt ōstrō
sūrgēntēs ĕtĭāmnum ŭmĕrōs ēt lēvĭă mātēr
pēctŏră; nūnc aūrō phălĕrās aūrōquĕ săgīttās
cīngŭlăque ēt mănĭcās, nē cōniŭgĕ vīlĭŏr īrēt,
prēssĕrăt ēt mīxtūm cōnō crīspāvĕrăt aūrūm.
tālĭbŭs heū! fīdēns vŏcăt ūltro īn proēlĭă Grāiōs.
āc prīmum īn făcĭlīs grāssātūs cūspĭdĕ tūrmās
ārmă rĕfērt sŏcĭīs ĕt ĭn āgmĭnă fīdă pĕrāctā
caēdĕ rĕdīt. Sīc Hŷrcānā lĕŏ Cāspĭŭs ūmbrā
nūdŭs ădhūc nūllōquĕ iŭbaē flāvēntĭs hŏnōrĕ
tērrĭbĭlīs māgnīque ĕtĭāmnūm sānguĭnĭs īnsōns,
haūd prŏcŭl ā stăbŭlīs cāptāt cūstōdĕ rĕmōtō
sēgnĕ pĕcūs tĕnĕrāquĕ fămēm cōnsūmĭt ĭn āgnā.
Mōx īgnōtum ārmīs āc sōlō cōrpŏrĕ mēnsūs
Tŷdĕă nōn tĭmŭīt, frăgĭlīquĕ lăcēssĕrĕ tēlō
saēpĭŭs īnfrēndēntem ălĭīs ălĭōsquĕ sĕquēntēm
aūsŭs ĕrāt. Tāndem īnvălĭdōs Aētōlŭs ăd īctūs
fōrtĕ rĕfērt ŏcŭlōs ēt fōrmīdābĭlĕ rīdēns:
"Iāmdūdūm vĭdĕō, māgnūm cŭpĭs, īmprŏbĕ, lētī
nōmĕn" ăīt; sĭmŭl aūdācēm nōn ēnsĕ nĕc hāstā
dīgnātūs lĕvĭtēr dĭgĭtīs īmbēllĕ sŏlūtīs
ābiēcīt iăcŭlūm: lătĕbrās tămĕn īnguĭnĭs āltē
mīssĭlĕ, ceū tōtīs īntōrtūm vīrĭbŭs, haūsīt.
Praētĕrĭt haūd dŭbĭūm fāti ēt spŏlĭārĕ sŭpērbīt
Oēnīdēs. "Nĕque ĕnim hās Mārti aūt tĭbĭ, bēllĭcă Pāllās,
ēxŭvĭās fīgēmŭs" ăīt, "prŏcŭl ārcĕăt īpsūm
fērrĕ pŭdōr; vīx, sī bēllūm cŏmĭtātă rĕlīctīs
Dēĭpўlē thălămīs, īlli īllaūdāndă tŭlīssēm."
sīc ăĭt, ēt bēllī māiōra ād praēmĭă mēntĕ
dūcĭtŭr: īnnŭmĕrīs vĕlŭtī lĕŏ fōrtĕ pŏtītūs
caēdĭbŭs īmbēllīs vĭtŭlōs mōllēsquĕ iŭvēncās
trānsmīttīt: māgnō fŭrŏr ēst īn sānguĭnĕ mērgī,
nēc nĭsĭ rēgnāntīs cērvīcĕ rĕcūmbĕrĕ taūrī.
Āt nōn sēmiănĭmī clāmōrĕ Mĕnoēcĕă lāpsūs
fāllĭt Ătŷs: praēvērtĭt ĕquōs cūrrūquĕ cĭtātō
dēsĭlĭt: īnstābāt pūbēs Tĕgĕaēă iăcēntī,
nēc prŏhĭbēnt Tўrĭī. "Pŭdĕāt, Cādmēă iŭvēntūs,
tērrĭgĕnās mēntītă pătrēs! Quō tēndĭtĭs" īnquīt,
"dēgĕnĕrēs? mĕlĭūsnĕ iăcēt prō sānguĭnĕ nōstrō
hōspĕs Ătŷs? Tāntum hōspĕs ădhūc ēt cōniŭgĭs ūltōr
īnfēlīx nōndum īstĕ sŭaē; nōs pīgnŏră tāntă
prōdĭmŭs?" Īnsūrgūnt iūstō fīrmātă pŭdōrĕ
āgmĭnă, cuīquĕ sŭaē rĕdĭēre īn pēctŏră cūraē.
Īntĕrĕā thălămī sēcrēta īn pārtĕ sŏrōrēs,
pār ălĭūd mōrūm mĭsĕrīque īnnōxĭă prōlēs
Oēdĭpŏdaē, vărĭās mīscēnt sērmōnĕ quĕrēlās.
Nēc mălă quaē iūxtā, sēd lōnga ăb ŏrīgĭnĕ fātī,
haēc mātrīs taēdās, ŏcŭlōs āst īllă pătērnōs,
āltĕră rēgnāntēm, prŏfŭgūm gĕmĭt āltĕră frātrēm,
bēlla āmbaē. grăvĭs hīnc mīstī cūnctātĭŏ vōtī:
nūtăt ŭtrōquĕ tĭmōr, quēmnam hōc cērtāmĭnĕ vīctūm,
quēm vīcīssĕ vĕlīnt: tăcĭtē praēpōndĕrăt ēxsūl.
sīc Pāndīŏnĭaē rĕpĕtūnt ŭbĭ fīdă vŏlūcrēs
hōspĭtĭa ātquĕ lărēm brūmā pūlsāntĕ rĕlīctūm,
stāntquĕ sŭpēr nīdōs vĕtĕrīsque ēxōrdĭă fātī
ādnārrānt tēctīs, īt trūncum āc flēbĭlĕ mūrmūr
vērbă pŭtānt, vōxque īllă tămēn nōn dīssŏnă vērbīs.
Ātque ĭbĭ pōst lăcrĭmās ēt lōngă sĭlēntĭă rūrsūs
īnchŏăt Īsmēnē: "Quīsnam hīc mōrtālĭbŭs ērrōr?
Quaē dēcēptă fĭdēs? Cūram īnvĭgĭlārĕ quĭētī
clārăquĕ pēr sōmnōs ănĭmī sĭmŭlācră rĕvērtī?
Ēcce ĕgŏ, quaē thălămōs, nēc sī pāx āltă mănērēt,
trāctārēm sēnsū - pŭdĕt heū! -, cōnūbĭă vīdī
nōctĕ, sŏrōr; spōnsum ūndĕ mĭhī sŏpŏr āttŭlĭt āmēns
vīx nōtūm vīsū? Sĕmĕl hīs īn sēdĭbŭs īllūm,
dūm mĕă nēscĭŏ quō spōndēntūr foēdĕră pāctō,
rēspēxī nōn spōntĕ, sŏrōr. Tūrbātă rĕpēntĕ
ōmnĭă cērnēbām, sŭbĭtūsque īntērcĭdĭt īgnīs,
mēquĕ sĕquēbātūr răbĭdō clāmōrĕ rĕpōscēns
mātĕr Ătŷn. Quaēnam haēc dŭbĭaē praēsāgĭă clādīs?
Nēc tĭmĕō, dūm tūtă dŏmūs mīlēsquĕ sŭpērstēs
Dōrĭcŭs ēt tŭmĭdōs lĭcĕāt cōmpōnĕrĕ frātrēs".
Tālĭă nēctēbānt, sŭbĭtō cūm pīgră tŭmūltū
ēxpāvīt dŏmŭs, ēt mūltō sūdōrĕ rĕcēptūs
fērtŭr Ătŷs, sērvāns ănĭmām iām sānguĭnĕ nūllō,
cuī mănŭs īn plāgā, dēpēndēt lānguĭdă cērvīx
ēxtĕrĭōr clĭpĕō, crīnēsque ā frōntĕ sŭpīnī.
Prīmă vĭdēt cārāmquĕ trĕmēns Ĭŏcāstă vŏcābāt
Īsmēnēn: nāmque hōc sōlūm mŏrĭbūndă prĕcātūr
vōx gĕnĕrī, sōlum hōc gĕlĭdīs iām nōmĕn ĭnērrāt
faūcĭbŭs. ēxclāmānt fămŭlaē, tōllēbăt ĭn ōră
vīrgŏ mănūs, tĕnŭīt saēvūs pŭdŏr; āttămĕn īrĕ
cōgĭtŭr, īndūlgēt sūmmum hōc Ĭŏcāstă iăcēntī,
ōstēndītque ōffērtquĕ. quătēr iām mōrtĕ sŭb īpsā
ād nōmēn vīsūs dēfēctăquĕ fōrtĭtĕr ōră
sūstŭlĭt; īllam ūnām nēglēctō lūmĭnĕ caēlī
āspĭcĭt ēt vūltū nōn ēxsătĭātŭr ămātō.
Tūnc quĭă nēc gĕnĕtrīx iūxtā pŏsĭtūsquĕ bĕātā
mōrtĕ pătēr, spōnsaē mūnūs mĭsĕrābĭlĕ trādūnt
dēclīnārĕ gĕnās; ĭbĭ dēmūm tēstĕ rĕmōtō
fāssă pĭōs gĕmĭtūs lăcrĭmāsque īn lūmĭnă fūdīt.
Dūmque ĕă pēr Thēbās, ălĭīs sērpēntĭbŭs ārdēns
ēt făcĕ mūtātā bēllum īntēgrābăt Ĕnŷō.
Ārmă vŏlūnt, prīmōs vĕlŭtī mŏdŏ cōmmĭnŭs īctūs
sūstŭlĕrīnt ōmnīsque ĕtĭāmnūm lūcĕăt ēnsīs.
Ēmĭnĕt Oēnīdēs. Quāmvīs ĕt hărūndĭnĕ cērtā
Pārthĕnŏpaēŭs ăgāt, mŏrĭēntūmque ōră fŭrēntī
Hīppŏmĕdōn prōcūlcĕt ĕquō, Căpănēăquĕ pīnūs
iām prŏcŭl Āŏnĭīs vŏlĕt āgnōscēndă cătērvīs:
Tŷdĕŏs īllă dĭēs, īllūm fŭgĭūntquĕ trĕmūntquĕ
clāmāntēm: "Quō tērgă dătīs? lĭcĕt ēccĕ pĕrēmptōs
ūlcīscī sŏcĭōs maēstāmquĕ rĕpēndĕrĕ nōctēm.
Īlle ĕgo ĭnēxplētīs sōlūs quī caēdĭbŭs haūsī
quīnquāgīnta ănĭmās: tŏtĭdēm, tŏtĭdem hēiă grĕgātīm
fērtĕ mănūs! nūllīnĕ pătrēs, nūllīnĕ iăcēntūm
ūnănĭmī frātrēs? Quaē tānta ōblīvĭŏ lūctūs?
Quām pŭdĕt Īnăchĭās cōntēntum ăbĭīssĕ Mўcēnās!
Hīnĕ sŭpēr Thēbīs? Haēc rōbŏră rēgĭs? Ŭbi aūtēm
ēgrĕgĭūs dūx īllĕ mĭhī?" Sĭmŭl ōrdĭnĕ laēvō
īpsum ēxhōrtāntēm cŭnĕōs căpĭtīsquĕ sŭpērbī
īnsīgnēm fūlgōrĕ vĭdēt; nēc sēgnĭŭs ārdēns
ōccūrrīt, nĭvĕō quām flāmmĭgĕr ālĕs ŏlōrī
īmmĭnĕt ēt māgnā trĕpĭdūm cīrcūmlĭgăt ūmbrā.
Tūnc prĭŏr: "Āŏnĭaē rēx ō iūstīssĭmĕ gēntīs,
īmŭs ĭn ārmă pălām tāndēmque ōstēndĭmŭs ēnsēs,
ān nōctem ēt sŏlĭtās plăcĕt ēxspēctārĕ tĕnēbrās?"
īllĕ nĭhīl cōntrā, sēd strīdŭlă cōrnŭs ĭn hōstēm
īt rĕfĕrēns māndātă dŭcīs, quām prōvĭdŭs hērōs
iāmiam īn fīnĕ vĭaē pērcūssam ōblīquăt, ĕt īpsĕ
tēlum īngēns ăvĭde ēt quāntō nōn āntĕ lăcērtō
īmpŭlĭt: ībăt ătrōx fīnēm pŏsĭtūră dŭēllō
lāncĕă. Cōnvērtēre ŏcŭlōs ūtrīmquĕ făvēntīs
Sīdŏnĭī Grāīquĕ dĕī; crūdēlĭs Ĕrīnŷs
ōbstăt ĕt īnfāndō dīffērt Ĕtĕōclĕă frātrī:
cūspĭs ĭn ārmĭgĕrūm Phlĕgўān pēccāvĭt. Ĭbi īngēns
pūgnă vĭrūm, strīctō nām saēvĭŏr īrrŭĭt ēnsĕ
Aētōlūs, rētrōquĕ dătūm Thēbānă tĕgēbānt
ārmă dŭcēm. sīc dēnsă lŭpūm iām nōctĕ sŭb ātrā
ārcĕt ăb āpprēnsō pāstōrūm tūrbă iŭvēncō;
īmprŏbŭs ērĭgĭtūr cōntrā, nēc cūră vĕtāntēs
īmpĕtĕre: īllum, īllūm, sĕmĕl īn quēm vēnĕrăt, ūrgēt.
Nōn sĕcŭs ōbiēctās ăcĭēs tūrbāmquĕ mĭnōrēm
dīssĭmŭlāt trānsītquĕ mănū; tămĕn ōră Thŏāntīs,
pēctŏră Dēĭlŏchī, Clŏnĭī lătŭs, īlĭă tōrvī
pērfŏrăt Hīppŏtădaē; trūncīs sŭă mēmbră rĕmīttīt
īntērdūm gălĕāsquĕ rŏtāt pēr nūbĭlă plēnās.
Ēt iām cōrpŏrĭbūs sēsē spŏlĭīsquĕ cădēntūm
claūsĕrăt; ūnum ăcĭēs cīrcūm cōnsūmĭtŭr, ūnūm
ōmnĭă tēlă vŏvēnt: sūmmīs haēc ōssĭbŭs haērēnt,
pārs frūstrātă cădūnt, pārtēm Trītōnĭă vēllīt,
mūltă rĭgēnt clĭpĕō. Dēnsīs iām cōnsĭtŭs hāstīs
fērrātūm quătĭt ūmbŏ nĕmūs, tērgōquĕ fătīscīt
ātque ŭmĕrīs gēntīlĭs ăpēr; nūsquam ārdŭă cōnī
glōrĭă, quīque ăpĭcēm tōrvaē Grādīvŭs hăbēbāt
cāssĭdĭs, haūt laētūm dŏmĭnō rŭĭt ōmĕn: ĭnūstă
tēmpŏrĭbūs nūda aēră sĕdēnt, cīrcūmquĕ sŏnōrī
vērtĭcĕ pērcūssō vōlvūntŭr ĭn ārmă mŏlārēs.
Iām crŭŏr īn gălĕā, iām saūcĭă prōlŭĭt ātēr
pēctŏră pērmīxtūs sūdōre ēt sānguĭnĕ tōrrēns.
Rēspĭcĭt hōrtāntēs sŏcĭōs ēt Pāllădă fīdām,
lōngĭŭs ōppŏsĭtā cēlāntēm lūmĭnă pārmā:
ībăt ĕnīm māgnūm lăcrĭmīs īnflēctĕrĕ pātrēm.
Ēccĕ sĕcāt Zĕphўrōs īngēntēm frāxĭnŭs īrām
fōrtūnāmquĕ fĕrēns, tēlī nōn ēmĭnĕt aūctōr:
Āstăcĭdēs Mĕlănīppŭs ĕrāt, nēc prōdĭdĭt īpsĕ,
ēt vēllēt lătŭīssĕ mănūm, sēd gaūdĭă tūrmaē
mōnstrābānt trĕpĭdūm; nām flēxŭs ĭn īlĭă Tŷdeūs
sūbmīssūm lătŭs ēt clĭpĕī lāxāvĕrăt ōrbēm.
Clāmōrem Āŏnĭī mīscēnt gĕmĭtūmquĕ Pĕlāsgī,
ōbiēctāntquĕ mănūs īndīgnāntēmquĕ tŭēntūr.
Īllĕ pĕr ōppŏsĭtōs lōngē rīmātŭs ămārūm
Āstăcĭdēn, tōtīs ănĭmaē sē cōgĭt ĭn īctūm
rēlĭquĭīs tēlūmquĕ iăcīt, quōd prōxĭmŭs Hōpleūs
praēbŭĕrāt: pĕrĭt ēxprēssūs cōnāmĭnĕ sānguīs.
tūnc trīstēs sŏcĭī cŭpĭdūm bēllārĕ - quĭs ārdōr! -
ēt pōscēntem hāstās mĕdĭāque īn mōrtĕ nĕgāntēm
ēxspīrārĕ trăhūnt, sūmmīque īn mārgĭnĕ cāmpī
ēffūltūm gĕmĭnā lătĕra īnclīnāntĭă pārmā
pōnūnt, āc saēvī rĕdĭtūrum ād proēlĭă Mārtīs
prōmīttūnt flēntēs. Sĕd ĕt īpsĕ rĕcēdĕrĕ caēlūm
īngēntēsque ănĭmōs ēxtrēmō frīgŏrĕ lābī
sēnsĭt, ĕt īnnīxūs tērraē: "Mĭsĕrēscĭtĕ" clāmāt,
Īnăchĭdaē: nōn ōssă prĕcōr rĕfĕrāntŭr ŭt Ārgōs
Aētōlūmvĕ lărēm; nĕc ĕnīm mĭhĭ cūră sŭprēmī
fūnĕrĭs: ōdi ārtūs frăgĭlēmque hūnc cōrpŏrĭs ūsūm,
dēsērtōrem ănĭmī. Căpŭt, ō căpŭt, ō mĭhĭ sī quīs
āppōrtēt, Mĕlănīppĕ, tŭūm! nām vōlvĕrĭs ārvīs,
fīdo ĕquĭdēm, nēc mē vīrtūs sūprēmă fĕfēllīt.
ī, prĕcŏr, Ārgēī sī quīd tĭbĭ sānguĭnĭs ūmquām,
Hīppŏmĕdōn, vāde, ō prīmīs pŭĕr īnclĭtĕ bēllīs
Ārcăs, ĕt Ārgŏlĭcaē Căpăneū iām māxĭmĕ tūrmaē".
Mōti ōmnēs, sēd prīmŭs ăbīt prīmūsquĕ rĕpērtūm
Āstăcĭdēn mĕdĭō Căpăneūs ē pūlvĕrĕ tōllīt
spīrāntēm laēvāquĕ sŭpēr cērvīcĕ rĕpōrtāt,
tērgă crŭēntāntēm cōncūssī vūlnĕrĭs ūndā:
quālĭs ăb Ārcădĭō rĕdĭīt Tīrŷnthĭŭs āntrō
cāptīvūmquĕ sŭēm clāmāntĭbŭs īntŭlĭt Ārgīs.
Ērĭgĭtūr Tŷdeūs vūltūque ōccūrrĭt ĕt āmēns
laētĭtĭāque īrāque, ūt sīngūltāntĭă vīdīt
ōră trăhīque ŏcŭlōs sēsēque āgnōvĭt ĭn īllō,
īmpĕrăt ābscīsūm pōrgī, laēvāquĕ rĕcēptūm
spēctăt ătrōx hōstīlĕ căpūt, glīscītquĕ tĕpēntīs
lūmĭnă tōrvă vĭdēns ĕt ădhūc dŭbĭtāntĭă fīgī.
Īnfēlīx cōntēntŭs ĕrāt: plūs ēxĭgĭt ūltrīx
Tīsĭphŏnē; iāmque īnflēxō Trītōnĭă pātrĕ
vēnĕrăt ēt mĭsĕrō dĕcŭs īmmōrtālĕ fĕrēbāt,
ātque īllum ēffrāctī pērfūsūm tābĕ cĕrēbrī
āspĭcĭt ēt vīvō scĕlĕrāntēm sānguĭnĕ faūcēs
- nēc cŏmĭtēs aūfērrĕ vălēnt -: stĕtĭt āspĕră Gōrgōn
crīnĭbŭs ēmīssīs rēctīque ānte ōră cĕrāstaē
vēlāvērĕ dĕām; fŭgĭt āvērsātă iăcēntēm,
nēc prĭŭs āstră sŭbīt, quām mŷstĭcă lāmpăs ĕt īnsōns
Ēlīsōs mūltā pūrgāvīt lūmĭnă lŷmphā.
Vt subitus uates pallentibus incidit umbris
letiferasque domos regisque arcana sepulti
rupit et armato turbauit funere manis,
horror habet cunctos, Stygiis mirantur in oris
tela et equos corpusque nouum; nec enim ignibus artus
conditus aut maesta niger aduentabat ab urna,
sed belli sudore calens, clipeumque cruentis
roribus et scissi respersus puluere campi.
Necdum illum aut trunca lustrauerat obuia taxo
Eumenis, aut furuo Proserpina poste notarat
coetibus assumptum functis; quin comminus ipsa
fatorum deprensa colus, uisoque pauentes
augure tunc demum rumpebant stamina Parcae.
Illum et securi circumspexere fragorem
Elysii, et si quos procul ulteriore barathro
altera nox aliisque grauat plaga caeca tenebris.
Tunc regemunt pigrique lacus ustaeque paludes,
umbriferaeque fremit sulcator pallidus undae
dissiluisse nouo penitus telluris hiatu
Tartara et admissos non per sua flumina manis.
Forte sedens media regni infelicis in arce
dux Erebi populos poscebat crimina uitae,
nil hominum miserans iratusque omnibus umbris.
Stant Furiae circum uariaeque ex ordine Mortes,
saeuaque multisonas exsertat Poena catenas;
Fata serunt animas et eodem pollice damnant:
uincit opus. Iuxta Minos cum fratre uerendo
iura bonus meliora monet regemque cruentum
temperat; assistunt lacrimis atque igne tumentes
Cocytos Phlegethonque, et Styx periuria diuum
arguit. Ille autem supera compage soluta
nec solitus sentire metus expauit oborta
sidera, iucundaque offensus luce profatur:
Quae superum labes inimicum impegit Auerno
aethera? Quis rupit tenebras uitaeque silentis
admonet? unde minas? uter haec mihi proelia fratrum?
congredior, pereant agedum discrimina rerum.
Nam cui dulce magis? Magno me tertia uictum
deiecit Fortuna polo, mundumque nocentem
seruo: nec iste meus dirisque en peruius astris
inspicitur. tumidusne meas regnator Olympi
explorat uiris? habeo iam quassa Gigantum
uincula et aetherium cupidos exire sub axem
Titanas miserumque patrem: quid me otia maesta
saeuus et implacidam prohibet perferre quietem
amissumque odisse diem? Pandam omnia regna,
si placet, et Stygio praetexam Hyperiona caelo.
Arcada nec superis - quid enim mihi nuntius ambas
itque reditque domos? - emittam et utrumque tenebo
Tyndariden. Cur autem auidis Ixiona frango
uerticibus? cur non exspectant Tantalon undae?
Anne profanatum totiens chaos hospite uiuo
perpetiar? Me Pirithoi temerarius ardor
temptat et audaci Theseus iuratus amico,
me ferus Alcides, tum cum custode remoto
ferrea Cerbereae tacuerunt limina portae;
Odrysiis etiam pudet heu! patuisse querelis
Tartara: uidi egomet blanda inter carmina turpis
Eumenidum lacrimas iterataque pensa Sororum;
me quoque... Sed durae melior uiolentia legis.
ast ego uix unum, nec celsa ad sidera, furto
ausus iter Siculo rapui conubia campo:
nec licuisse ferunt; iniustaeque a Ioue leges
protinus, et sectum genetrix mihi computat annum.
sed quid ego haec? i, Tartareas ulciscere sedes,
Tisiphone; si quando nouis asperrima monstris,
triste, insuetum, ingens, quod nondum uiderit aether,
ede nefas, quod mirer ego inuideantque Sorores.
Atque adeo fratres - nostrique haec omina sunto
prima odii -, fratres alterna in uulnera laeto
Marte ruant; sit, qui rabidarum more ferarum
mandat atrox hostile caput, quique igne supremo
arceat exanimes et manibus aethera nudis
commaculet; iuuet ista ferum spectare Tonantem.
Praeterea, ne sola furor mea regna lacessat,
quaere deis qui bella ferat, qui fulminis ignis
infestumque Iouem clipeo fumante repellat.
faxo haud sit cunctis leuior metus atra mouere
Tartara, frondenti quam iungere Pelion Ossae".
Dixerat; atque illi iamdudum regia tristis
attremit oranti, suaque et quae desuper urget
nutabat tellus: non fortius aethera uultu
torquet et astriferos inclinat Iuppiter axis.
"At tibi quos" inquit "manis, qui limite praeceps
non licito per inane ruis?" Subit ille minantem
iam tenuis uisu, iam uanescentibus armis,
iam pedes: exstincto tamen interceptus in ore
augurii perdurat honos, obscuraque fronti
uitta manet, ramumque tenet morientis oliuae.
"Si licet et sanctis hic ora resoluere fas est
manibus, o cunctis finitor maxime rerum,
at mihi, qui quondam causas elementaque noram,
et sator, oro, minas stimulataque corda remulce,
neue ira dignare hominem et tua iura timentem,
nam nec ad Herculeos - unde haec mihi proelia? - raptus,
nec Venerem illicitam - crede his insignibus - ausi
intramus Lethen: fugiat ne tristis in antrum
Cerberus, aut nostros timeat Proserpina currus.
Augur Apollineis modo dilectissimus aris,
testor inane chaos - quid enim hic iurandus Apollo? -,
crimine non ullo subeo noua fata, nec alma
sic merui de luce rapi; scit iudicis urna
Dictaei uerumque potest deprendere Minos.
Coniugis insidiis et iniquo uenditus auro
Argolicas acies - unde haec tibi turba recentum
umbrarum, et nostrae ueniunt quoque funera dextrae -
non ignarus ini: subito me turbine mundi
- horret adhuc animus - mediis e milibus hausit
nox tua. Quae mihi mens, dum per caua uiscera terrae
uado diu pendens et in aëre uoluor operto?
ei mihi! nil ex me sociis patriaeque relictum,
uel captum Thebis; iam non Lernaea uidebo
tecta nec attonito saltem cinis ibo parenti.
non tumulo, non igne miser lacrimisque meorum
productus, toto pariter tibi funere ueni,
nil istis ausurus equis; nec deprecor umbram
accipere et tripodum iam non meminisse meorum.
Nam tibi praesagi quis iam super auguris usus,
cum Parcae tua iussa trahant? Sed pectora flectas
et melior sis, quaeso, deis. Si quando nefanda
huc aderit coniunx, illi funesta reserua
supplicia: illa tua, rector bone, dignior ira".
Accipit ille preces indignaturque moueri.
Vt leo Massyli cum lux stetit obuia ferri,
tunc iras, tunc arma citat; si decidit hostis,
ire supra satis est uitamque relinquere uicto.
Interea uittis lauroque insignis opima
currus et egregiis modo formidatus in armis
luce palam, fusus nulli nullique fugatus,
quaeritur: absistunt turmae, suspectaque tellus
omnibus, infidi miles uestigia campi
circuit, atque auidae tristis locus ille ruinae
cessat et inferni uitatur honore sepulcri.
nuntius hortanti diuersa in parte maniplos
Adrasto, uix ipse ratus uidisse, Palaemon
aduolat et trepidans - steterat nam forte cadenti
proximus inspectoque miser pallebat hiatu -:
"Verte gradum, fuge, rector" ait "si Dorica saltem
terra loco patriaeque manent, ubi liquimus, arces.
Non armis, non sanguine opus: quid inutile ferrum
stringimus in Thebas? Currus humus impia sorbet
armaque bellantisque uiros; fugere ecce uidetur
hic etiam quo stamus ager. uidi ipse profundae
noctis iter ruptaque soli compage ruentem
illum heu, praesagis quo nullus amicior astris,
Oecliden, frustraque manus cum uoce tetendit.
Mira loquor, sulcos etiamnum, rector, equorum
fumantemque locum et spumis madida arua reliquit.
Nec commune malum est: tellus agnoscit alumnos,
stat Thebana acies". Stupet haec et credere Adrastus
cunctatur; sed Mopsus idem trepidusque ferebat
Actor idem. iam Fama nouis terroribus audax
non unum cecidisse refert. Sponte agmina retro
non exspectato reuocantum more tubarum
praecipitant: sed torpet iter, falluntque ruentis
genua uiros; ipsique - putes sensisse - repugnant
cornipedes nulloque truces hortamine parent,
nec celerare gradum nec tollere lumina terra.
fortius incursant Tyrii, sed Vesper opacus
lunaris iam ducit equos; data foedere paruo
maesta uiris requies et nox auctura timores.
Quae tibi tunc facies, postquam permissa gemendi
copia! qui fletus galeis cecidere solutis!
nil solitum fessos iuuat; abiecere madentis,
sicut erant, clipeos, nec quisquam spicula tersit,
nec laudauit equum, nitidae nec cassidis altam
compsit adornauitque iubam; uix magna lauare
uulnera et efflantis libet internectere plagas:
tantus ubique dolor. Mensas alimentaque bello
debita nec pugnae suasit timor: omnia laudes,
Amphiaraë, tuas fecundaque pectora ueri
commemorant lacrimis, et per tentoria sermo
unus: abisse deos dilapsaque numina castris.
Heu | ubi laurigeri currus sollemniaque arma
et galeae uittatus apex? Moc antra lacusque
Castalii tripodumque fides? Sic gratus Apollo?
quis mihi sidereos lapsus mentemque sinistri
fulguris, aut caesis saliat quod numen in extis,
quando iter, unde morae, quae saeuis utilis armis,
quae pacem magis hora uelit? Quis iam omne futurum
proferet, aut cum quo uolucres mea fata loquentur?
Hos quoque bellorum casus nobisque tibique
praescieras, et - quanta sacro sub pectore uirtus! -
uenisti tamen et miseris comes additus armis.
Et cum te tellus fatalisque hora uocaret,
tu Tyrias acies auersaque signa uacasti
sternere; tunc etiam media de morte timendum
hostibus infestaque abeuntem uidimus hasta.
Et nunc te quis casus habet? Poterisne reuerti
sedibus a Stygiis altaque erumpere terra?
Anne sedes hilaris iuxta tua numina Parcas
et uice concordi discis uentura docesque?
An tibi felicis lucos miseratus Auerni
rector et Elysias dedit inseruare uolucres?
Quidquid es, aeternus Phoebo dolor et noua clades
semper eris mutisque diu plorabere Delphis.
Hic Tenedon Chrysenque dies partuque ligatam
Delon et intonsi claudet penetralia Branchi,
nec Clarias hac luce foris Didymaeaque quisquam
limina nec Lyciam supplex consultor adibit.
quin et cornigeri uatis nemus atque Molossi
quercus anhela Iouis Troianaque Thymbra tacebit.
Ipsi amnes ipsaeque uolent arescere laurus,
ipse nihil certum sagis clangoribus aether
praecinet, et nulla ferientur ab alite nubes.
Iamque erit ille dies, quo te quoque conscia fatis
templa colant reddatque tuus responsa sacerdos".
Talia fatidico peragunt sollemnia regi,
ceu flammas ac dona rogo tristisque rependant
exsequias mollique animam tellure reponant.
Fracta dehinc cunctis auersaque pectora bello.
Sic fortis Minyas subito cum funere Tiphys
destituit, non arma sequi, non ferre uidetur
remus aquas, ipsique minus iam ducere uenti.
Iam fessi gemitu paulatim et corda leuauit
exhaustus sermone dolor, nox addita curas
obruit et facilis lacrimis irrepere somnus.
At non Sidoniam diuersa in parte per urbem
nox eadem: uario producunt sidera ludo
ante domos intraque, ipsaeque ad moenia marcent
excubiae; gemina aera sonant Idaeaque terga
et moderata sonum uario spiramine buxus.
tunc dulces superos atque omne ex ordine alumnum
numen ubique sacri resonant paeanes, ubique
serta coronatumque merum. Nunc funera rident
auguris ignari, contraque in tempore certant
Tiresian laudare suum; nunc fata reuoluunt
maiorum ueteresque canunt ab origine Thebas:
hi mare Sidonium manibusque attrita Tonantis
cornua et ingenti sulcatum Nerea tauro,
hi Cadmum lassamque bouem fetosque cruenti
Martis agros, alii Tyriam reptantia saxa
ad chelyn et duras animantem Amphiona cautes,
hi grauidam Semelen, illi Cythereia laudant
conubia et multa deductam lampade fratrum
Harmoniam: nullis deest sua fabula mensis.
ceu modo gemmiferum thyrso populatus Hydaspen
Eoasque domos nigri uexilla triumphi
Liber et ignotos populis ostenderet Indos.
Tum primum ad coetus sociaeque ad foedera mensae
semper inaspectum diraque in sede latentem
Oedipoden exisse ferunt uultuque sereno
canitiem nigram squalore et sordida fusis
ora comis laxasse manu sociumque benignos
adfatus et abacta prius solacia passum,
quin hausisse dapes insiccatumque cruorem
deiecisse genis. Cunctos auditque refertque,
qui Ditem et Furias tantum et si quando regentem
Antigonen maestis solitus pulsare querelis.
causa latet. non hunc Tyrii fors prospera belli,
tantum bella iuuant; natum hortaturque probatque,
nec uicisse uelit; sed primos comminus enses
et sceleris tacito rimatur semina uoto.
inde epulae dulces ignotaque gaudia uultu.
Qualis post longae Phineus ieiunia poenae,
nil stridere domi uolucres ut sensit abactas
- necdum tota fides -, hilaris mensasque torosque
nec turbata feris tractauit pocula pinnis.
Cetera Graiorum curis armisque iacebat
fessa cohors; alto castrorum ex aggere Adrastus
laetificos tenui captabat corde tumultus,
quamquam aeger senio, sed agit miseranda potestas
inuigilare malis. Illum aereus undique clamor
Thebanique urunt sonitus, et amara lacessit
tibia, tum nimio uoces marcore superbae
incertaeque faces et iam male peruigil ignis.
Sic ubi per fluctus uno ratis obruta somno
conticuit, tantique maris secura iuuentus
mandauere animas: solus stat puppe magister
peruigil inscriptaque deus qui nauigat alno.
Tempus erat, iunctos cum iam soror ignea Phoebi
sensit equos penitusque cauam sub luce parata
Oceani mugire domum, seseque uagantem
colligit et leuiter moto fugat astra flagello:
concilium rex triste uocat, quaeruntque gementes,
quis tripodas successor agat, quo prouida laurus
transeat atque orbum uittae decus. Haud mora, cuncti
insignem fama sanctoque Melampode cretum
Thiodamanta uolunt, quicum ipse arcana deorum
partiri et uisas uni sociare solebat
Amphiaraus auis, tantaeque haud inuidus artis
gaudebat dici similem iuxtaque secundum.
illum ingens confundit honos inopinaque turbat
gloria et oblatas frondes submissus adorat,
seque oneri negat esse parem cogique meretur.
sicut Achaemenius solium gentesque paternas
excepit si forte puer, cui uiuere patrem
tutius, incerta formidine gaudia librat,
an fidi proceres, ne pugnet uulgus habenis,
cui latus Euphratae, cui Caspia limina mandet,
sumere tunc arcus ipsumque onerare ueretur
patris equum, uisusque sibi nec sceptra capaci
sustentare manu nec adhuc implere tiaram.
Atque is ubi intorto signauit uellere crinem
conuenitque deis, hilari per castra tumultu
uadit ouans ac, prima sui documenta, sacerdos
tellurem placare parat: nec futtile maestis
id uisum Danais. Geminas ergo ilicet aras
arboribus uiuis et adulto caespite texi
imperat, innumerosque deae, sua munera, flores
et cumulos frugum et quidquid nouat impiger annus,
addit et intacto spargens altaria lacte
incipit: "O | hominum diuumque aeterna creatrix,
quae fluuios siluasque animarum et semina mundo
cuncta Prometheasque manus Pyrrhaeaque saxa
gignis, et impastis quae prima alimenta dedisti
mutastique uiris, quae pontum ambisque uehisque:
te penes et pecudum gens mitis et ira ferarum
et uolucrum requies; firmum atque immobile mundi
robur inoccidui, te uelox machina caeli
aëre pendentem uacuo, te currus uterque
circuit, o rerum media indiuisaque magnis
fratribus! Ergo simul tot gentibus alma, tot altis
urbibus ac populis, subterque ac desuper una
sufficis, astrigerumque domos Atlanta supernas
ferre laborantem nullo uehis ipsa labore:
nos tantum portare negas, nos, diua, grauaris?
Quod, precor, ignari luimus scelus? An quia plebes
externa Inachiis huc aduentamus ab oris?
Omne homini natale solum, nec te, optima, saeuo
tamque humili populos deceat distinguere fine
undique ubique tuos; maneas communis et arma
hinc atque inde feras; liceat, precor, ordine belli
pugnacis efflare animas et reddere caelo.
ne rape tam subitis spirantia corpora bustis,
ne propera: ueniemus enim, quo limite cuncti,
qua licet ire uia; tantum exorata Pelasgis
siste leuem campum, celeres neu praecipe Parcas.
At tu, care deis, quem non manus ulla nec enses
Sidonii, sed magna sinu Natura soluto,
ceu te Cirrhaeo meritum tumularet hiatu,
sic amplexa coit, hilaris des, oro, precatus
nosse tuos, caeloque et uera monentibus aris
concilies, et quae populis proferre parabas,
me doceas: tibi sacra feram praesaga, tuique
numinis interpres te Phoebo absente uocabo.
Ille mihi Delo Cirrhaque potentior omni,
quo ruis, ille adytis melior locus." haec ubi dicta,
nigrantis terrae pecudes obscuraque mergit
armenta, ac uiuis cumulos undantis harenae
aggerat et uati mortis simulacra rependit.
Talia apud Graios, cum iam Mauortia contra
cornua, iam saeuos fragor aereus excitat enses.
Addit acerba sonum Teumesi e uertice crinem
incutiens acuitque tubas et sibila miscet
Tisiphone: stupet insolito clangore Cithaeron
marcidus et turres carmen non tale secutae.
iam trepidas Bellona fores armataque pulsat
limina, iam multo laxantur cardine Thebae.
Turbat eques pedites, currus properantibus obstant,
ceu Danai post terga premant: sic omnibus alae
artantur portis septemque excursibus haerent.
Ogygiis it sorte Creon, Eteoclea mittunt
Neistae, celsas Homoloidas occupat Haemon,
Hypsea Proetiae, celsum fudere Dryanta
Electrae, quatit Hypsistas manus Eurymedontis,
culmina magnanimus stipat Dircaea Menoeceus.
Qualis ubi auersi secretus pabula caeli
Nilus et Eoas magno bibit ore pruinas,
scindit fontis opes septemque patentibus aruis
in mare fert hiemes; penitus cessere fugatae
Nereides dulcique timent occurrere ponto.
Tristis at inde gradum tarde mouet Inacha pubes,
praecipue Eleae Lacedaemoniaeque cohortes
et Pylii; subitum nam Thiodamanta sequuntur
augure fraudati, necdum accessere regenti.
Nec tua te, princeps tripodum, sola agmina quaerunt:
cuncta phalanx sibi deesse putat; minor ille per alas
septimus exstat apex. Liquido uelut aethere nubes
inuida Parrhasiis unum si detrahat astris,
truncus honor Plaustri, nec idem riget igne reciso
axis, et incerti numerant sua sidera nautae.
Sed iam bella uocant: alias noua suggere uires,
Calliope, maiorque chelyn mihi tendat Apollo.
fatalem populis ultro poscentibus horam
admouet atra dies, Stygiisque emissa tenebris
Mors fruitur caelo bellatoremque uolando
campum operit nigroque uiros inuitat hiatu,
nil uulgare legens, sed quae dignissima uita
funera, praecipuos annis animisque cruento
ungue notat; iamque in miseros pensum omne Sororum
scinditur, et Furiae rapuerunt licia Parcis.
Stat medius campis etiamnum cuspide sicca
Bellipotens, iamque hos clipeum, iam uertit ad illos
arma ciens, aboletque domos, conubia, natos.
Pellitur et patriae et, qui mente nouissimus exit,
lucis amor; tenet in capulis hastisque paratas
ira manus animosque ultra thoracas anhelos
conatur, galeaeque tremunt horrore comarum.
Quid mirum caluisse uiros? Flammantur in hostem
cornipedes niueoque rigant sola putria nimbo,
corpora ceu mixti dominis irasque sedentum
induerint: sic frena terunt, sic proelia poscunt
hinnitu tolluntque armos equitesque supinant.
Iamque ruunt, primusque uirum concurrere puluis
incipit, et spatiis utrimque aequalibus acti
aduentant mediumque uident decrescere campum.
Iam clipeus clipeis, umbone repellitur umbo,
ense minax ensis, pede pes et cuspide cuspis:
sic obnixa acies pariter suspiria fumant,
admotaeque nitent aliena in casside cristae.
Pulcher adhuc belli uultus: stant uertice coni,
plena armenta uiris, nulli sine praeside currus,
arma loco, splendent clipei pharetraeque decorae
cingulaque et nondum deforme cruoribus aurum.
at postquam rabies et uitae prodiga uirtus
emisere animos, non tanta cadentibus Haedis
aëriam Rhodopen solida niue uerberat Arctos,
nec fragor Ausoniae tantus, cum Iuppiter omni
arce tonat, tanta quatitur nec grandine Syrtis,
cum Libyae Boreas Italos niger attulit imbres.
Exclusere diem telis, stant ferrea caelo
nubila, nec iaculis artatus sufficit aër.
Hi pereunt missis, illi redeuntibus hastis,
concurrunt per inane sudes et mutua perdunt
uulnera, concurrunt hastae, stridentia fundae
saxa pluunt, uolucres imitantur fulgura glandes
et formidandae non una morte sagittae.
non locus ad terram telis: in corpora ferrum
omne cadit; saepe ignari perimuntque caduntque.
Casus agit uirtutis opus: nunc turba recedit,
nunc premit, ac uicibus tellurem amittit et aufert.
Vt uentis nimbisque minax cum soluit habenas
Iuppiter alternoque adfligit turbine mundum:
stat caeli diuersa acies, nunc fortior Austri,
nunc Aquilonis hiems, donec pugnante procella
aut nimiis hic uicit aquis, aut ille sereno.
Principium pugnae turmas Asopius Hypseus
Oebalias - namque hae magnum et gentile tumentes
Euboicum duris rumpunt umbonibus agmen -
reppulit erepto cunei ductore Menalca.
Hic et mente Lacon, crudi torrentis alumnus
- nec turpauit auos -, hastam ultra pectus euntem,
ne pudor in tergo, per et ossa et uiscera retro
extrahit atque hosti dextra labente remittit
sanguineam: dilecta genis morientis oberrant
Taygeta et pugnae laudataque pectora matri.
Phaedimon Iasiden arcu Dircaeus Amyntas
destinat: heu celeres Parcae! Iam palpitat aruis
Phaedimus, et certi nondum tacet arcus Amyntae.
Abstulit ex umero dextram Calydonius Agreus
Phegeos: illa suum terra tenet improba ferrum
et mouet; extimuit sparsa inter tela iacentem
praegrediens truncamque tamen percussit Acoetes.
Iphin atrox Acamas, Argum ferus impulit Hypseus,
strauit Abanta Pheres, diuersaque uulnera flentes
Iphis eques, pedes Argus, Abas auriga iacebant.
Inachidae gemini geminos e sanguine Cadmi
occultos galeis - saeua ignorantia belli -
perculerant ferro; sed dum spolia omnia caesis
eripiunt, uidere nefas, et maestus uterque
respicit ad fratrem pariterque errasse queruntur.
Cultor Ion Pisae cultorem Daphnea Cirrhae
turbatis prostrauit equis; hunc laudat ab alto
Iuppiter, hunc tardus frustra miseratur Apollo.
Ingentis Fortuna uiros illustrat utrimque
sanguine in aduerso: Danaos Cadmeius Haemon
sternit agitque, furens sequitur Tyria agmina Tydeus;
Pallas huic praesens, illum Tirynthius implet.
Qualiter hiberni summis duo montibus amnes
franguntur geminaque cadunt in plana ruina:
contendisse putes, uter arua arbustaque tollat
altius aut superet pontis; et cum una receptas
confundit iam uallis aquas, sibi quisque superbus
ire cupit, pontoque negant descendere mixti.
Ibat fumiferam quatiens Onchestius Idas
lampada per medios turbabatque agmina Graium,
igne uiam rumpens; magno quem comminus ictu
Tydeos hasta feri dispulsa casside fixit.
Ille ingens in terga iacet, stat fronte superstes
lancea, collapsae ueniunt in tempora flammae.
prosequitur Tydeus: "Saeuos ne dixeris Argos,
igne tuo, Thebane, - rogum concedimus - arde!"
Inde, uelut primo tigris gauisa cruore
per totum cupit ire pecus, sic Aona saxo,
ense Pholum, Chromin ense, duos Helicaonas hasta
transigit, Aegaeae Veneris quos Maera sacerdos
ediderat prohibente dea; uos praeda cruenti
Tydeos, it saeuas etiamnum mater ad aras.
Nec minus Herculeum contra uagus Haemona ducit
sanguis: inexpleto rapitur per milia ferro,
nunc tumidae Calydonis opes, nunc torua Pylenes
agmina, nunc maestae fundens Pleuronis alumnos,
donec in Olenium fessa iam cuspide Buten
incidit. Hunc turmis obuersum et abire uetantem
adgreditur; puer ille, puer malasque comamque
integer, ignaro cui tunc Thebana bipennis
in galeam librata uenit: funduntur utroque
tempora diuiduique cadunt in bracchia crines,
et non hoc metuens inopino limine uita
exsiluit. Tunc flauum Hypanin flauumque Politen
- ille genas Phoebo, crinem hic pascebat Iaccho:
saeuus uterque deus -, uictis Hyperenora iungit
conuersumque fuga Damasum; sed lapsa per armos
hasta uiri trans pectus abit parmamque tenenti
excutit et summa fugiens in cuspide portat.
Sterneret aduersos etiamnum Ismenius Haemon
Inachidas - nam tela regit uirisque ministrat
Amphitryoniades -, saeuum sed Tydea contra
Pallas agit. Iamque aduerso uenere fauore
comminus, et placido prior haec Tirynthius ore:
"Fida soror, quaenam hunc belli caligine nobis
congressum fortuna tulit? Num regia Iuno
hoc molita nefas? Citius me fulmina contra
- infandum! - ruere et magno bellare parenti
aspiciat. Genus huic... Sed mitto agnoscere, quando
tu diuersa foues, nec si ipsum comminus Hyllum
Tydeos hasta tui Stygioque ex orbe remissum
Amphitryona petat; teneo aeternumque tenebo
quantum haec diua manus, quotiens sudauerit aegis
ista mihi, duris famulus dum casibus omnis
lustro uagus terras; ipsa heu! comes inuia mecum
Tartara, ni superos Acheron excluderet, isses.
Tu patriam caelumque mihi, quis tanta relatu
aequet? habe totas, si mens exscindere, Thebas.
Cedo equidem ueniamque precor". Sic orsus abibat.
Pallada mulcet honos: rediit ardore remisso
uultus et erecti sederunt pectoris angues.
Sensit abesse deum, leuius Cadmeius Haemon
tela rotat nulloque manum cognoscit in ictu.
Tunc magis atque magis uires animusque recedunt,
nec pudor ire retro; cedentem Acheloius heros
impedit, et librans uni sibi missile telum
direxit iactus, summae qua margine parmae
ima sedet galea et iuguli uitalia lucent.
Nec frustrata manus, mortemque inuenerat hasta;
sed prohibet paulumque umeri libare sinistri
praebuit et merito parcit Tritonia fratri.
Ille tamen nec stare loco nec comminus ire
amplius aut uultus audet perferre cruenti
Tydeos, aegra animo uis ac fiducia cessit.
Qualis saetigeram Lucana cuspide frontem
strictus aper, penitus cui non infossa cerebro
uulnera, nec felix dextrae tenor, in latus iras
frangit, et expertae iam non uenit obuius hastae.
Ecce ducem turmae certa indignatus in hostem
spicula felici Prothoum torquere lacerto,
turbidus Oenides una duo corpora pinu,
cornipedemque equitemque, ferit: ruit ille ruentem
in Prothoum lapsasque manu quaerentis habenas
in uultus galeam clipeumque in pectora calcat,
saucius extremo donec cum sanguine frenos
respuit et iuncta domino ceruice recumbit.
Sic ulmus uitisque, duplex iactura colenti,
Gaurano de monte cadunt, sed maestior ulmus
quaerit utrumque nemus, nec tam sua bracchia labens
quam gemit assuetas inuitaque proterit uuas.
Sumpserat in Danaos Heliconius arma Corymbus,
ante comes Musis, Stygii cui conscia pensi
ipsa diu positis letum praedixerat astris
Vranie. cupit ille tamen pugnasque uirosque,
forsitan ut caneret; longa iacet ipse canendus
laude, sed amissum mutae fleuere sorores.
Pactus Agenoream primis Atys ibat ab annis
Ismenen, Tyrii iuuenis non aduena belli.
Quamuis Cirrha domus, soceros nec tristibus actis
auersatus erat; sponsam quin castus amanti
squalor et indigni commendat gratia luctus.
Ipse quoque egregius, nec pectora uirginis illi
diuersa, inque uicem, sineret fortuna, placebant.
bella uetant taedas, iuuenique hinc maior in hostes
ira; ruit primis immixtus et agmina Lernae
nunc pedes ense uago, prensis nunc celsus habenis,
ceu spectetur, agit. Triplici uelauerat ostro
surgentes etiamnum umeros et leuia mater
pectora; nunc auro phaleras auroque sagittas
cingulaque et manicas, ne coniuge uilior iret,
presserat et mixtum cono crispauerat aurum.
talibus heu! fidens uocat ultro in proelia Graios.
ac primum in facilis grassatus cuspide turmas
arma refert sociis et in agmina fida peracta
caede redit. Sic Hyrcana leo Caspius umbra
nudus adhuc nulloque iubae flauentis honore
terribilis magnique etiamnum sanguinis insons,
haud procul a stabulis captat custode remoto
segne pecus teneraque famem consumit in agna.
Mox ignotum armis ac solo corpore mensus
Tydea non timuit, fragilique lacessere telo
saepius infrendentem aliis aliosque sequentem
ausus erat. Tandem inualidos Aetolus ad ictus
forte refert oculos et formidabile ridens:
"Iamdudum uideo, magnum cupis, improbe, leti
nomen" ait; simul audacem non ense nec hasta
dignatus leuiter digitis imbelle solutis
abiecit iaculum: latebras tamen inguinis alte
missile, ceu totis intortum uiribus, hausit.
Praeterit haud dubium fati et spoliare superbit
Oenides. "Neque enim has Marti aut tibi, bellica Pallas,
exuuias figemus" ait, "procul arceat ipsum
ferre pudor; uix, si bellum comitata relictis
Deipyle thalamis, illi illaudanda tulissem."
sic ait, et belli maiora ad praemia mente
ducitur: innumeris ueluti leo forte potitus
caedibus imbellis uitulos mollesque iuuencas
transmittit: magno furor est in sanguine mergi,
nec nisi regnantis ceruice recumbere tauri.
At non semianimi clamore Menoecea lapsus
fallit Atys: praeuertit equos curruque citato
desilit: instabat pubes Tegeaea iacenti,
nec prohibent Tyrii. "Pudeat, Cadmea iuuentus,
terrigenas mentita patres! Quo tenditis" inquit,
"degeneres? meliusne iacet pro sanguine nostro
hospes Atys? Tantum hospes adhuc et coniugis ultor
infelix nondum iste suae; nos pignora tanta
prodimus?" Insurgunt iusto firmata pudore
agmina, cuique suae rediere in pectora curae.
Interea thalami secreta in parte sorores,
par aliud morum miserique innoxia proles
Oedipodae, uarias miscent sermone querelas.
Nec mala quae iuxta, sed longa ab origine fati,
haec matris taedas, oculos ast illa paternos,
altera regnantem, profugum gemit altera fratrem,
bella ambae. grauis hinc misti cunctatio uoti:
nutat utroque timor, quemnam hoc certamine uictum,
quem uicisse uelint: tacite praeponderat exsul.
sic Pandioniae repetunt ubi fida uolucres
hospitia atque larem bruma pulsante relictum,
stantque super nidos ueterisque exordia fati
adnarrant tectis, it truncum ac flebile murmur
uerba putant, uoxque illa tamen non dissona uerbis.
Atque ibi post lacrimas et longa silentia rursus
inchoat Ismene: "Quisnam hic mortalibus error?
Quae decepta fides? Curam inuigilare quieti
claraque per somnos animi simulacra reuerti?
Ecce ego, quae thalamos, nec si pax alta maneret,
tractarem sensu - pudet heu! -, conubia uidi
nocte, soror; sponsum unde mihi sopor attulit amens
uix notum uisu? Semel his in sedibus illum,
dum mea nescio quo spondentur foedera pacto,
respexi non sponte, soror. Turbata repente
omnia cernebam, subitusque intercidit ignis,
meque sequebatur rabido clamore reposcens
mater Atyn. Quaenam haec dubiae praesagia cladis?
Nec timeo, dum tuta domus milesque superstes
Doricus et tumidos liceat componere fratres".
Talia nectebant, subito cum pigra tumultu
expauit domus, et multo sudore receptus
fertur Atys, seruans animam iam sanguine nullo,
cui manus in plaga, dependet languida ceruix
exterior clipeo, crinesque a fronte supini.
Prima uidet caramque tremens Iocasta uocabat
Ismenen: namque hoc solum moribunda precatur
uox generi, solum hoc gelidis iam nomen inerrat
faucibus. exclamant famulae, tollebat in ora
uirgo manus, tenuit saeuus pudor; attamen ire
cogitur, indulget summum hoc Iocasta iacenti,
ostenditque offertque. quater iam morte sub ipsa
ad nomen uisus defectaque fortiter ora
sustulit; illam unam neglecto lumine caeli
aspicit et uultu non exsatiatur amato.
Tunc quia nec genetrix iuxta positusque beata
morte pater, sponsae munus miserabile tradunt
declinare genas; ibi demum teste remoto
fassa pios gemitus lacrimasque in lumina fudit.
Dumque ea per Thebas, aliis serpentibus ardens
et face mutata bellum integrabat Enyo.
Arma uolunt, primos ueluti modo comminus ictus
sustulerint omnisque etiamnum luceat ensis.
Eminet Oenides. Quamuis et harundine certa
Parthenopaeus agat, morientumque ora furenti
Hippomedon proculcet equo, Capaneaque pinus
iam procul Aoniis uolet agnoscenda cateruis:
Tydeos illa dies, illum fugiuntque tremuntque
clamantem: "Quo terga datis? licet ecce peremptos
ulcisci socios maestamque rependere noctem.
Ille ego inexpletis solus qui caedibus hausi
quinquaginta animas: totidem, totidem heia gregatim
ferte manus! nulline patres, nulline iacentum
unanimi fratres? Quae tanta obliuio luctus?
Quam pudet Inachias contentum abiisse Mycenas!
Hine super Thebis? Haec robora regis? Vbi autem
egregius dux ille mihi?" Simul ordine laeuo
ipsum exhortantem cuneos capitisque superbi
insignem fulgore uidet; nec segnius ardens
occurrit, niueo quam flammiger ales olori
imminet et magna trepidum circumligat umbra.
Tunc prior: "Aoniae rex o iustissime gentis,
imus in arma palam tandemque ostendimus enses,
an noctem et solitas placet exspectare tenebras?"
ille nihil contra, sed stridula cornus in hostem
it referens mandata ducis, quam prouidus heros
iamiam in fine uiae percussam obliquat, et ipse
telum ingens auide et quanto non ante lacerto
impulit: ibat atrox finem positura duello
lancea. Conuertere oculos utrimque fauentis
Sidonii Graique dei; crudelis Erinys
obstat et infando differt Eteoclea fratri:
cuspis in armigerum Phlegyan peccauit. Ibi ingens
pugna uirum, stricto nam saeuior irruit ense
Aetolus, retroque datum Thebana tegebant
arma ducem. sic densa lupum iam nocte sub atra
arcet ab apprenso pastorum turba iuuenco;
improbus erigitur contra, nec cura uetantes
impetere: illum, illum, semel in quem uenerat, urget.
Non secus obiectas acies turbamque minorem
dissimulat transitque manu; tamen ora Thoantis,
pectora Deilochi, Clonii latus, ilia torui
perforat Hippotadae; truncis sua membra remittit
interdum galeasque rotat per nubila plenas.
Et iam corporibus sese spoliisque cadentum
clauserat; unum acies circum consumitur, unum
omnia tela uouent: summis haec ossibus haerent,
pars frustrata cadunt, partem Tritonia uellit,
multa rigent clipeo. Densis iam consitus hastis
ferratum quatit umbo nemus, tergoque fatiscit
atque umeris gentilis aper; nusquam ardua coni
gloria, quique apicem toruae Gradiuus habebat
cassidis, haut laetum domino ruit omen: inusta
temporibus nuda aera sedent, circumque sonori
uertice percusso uoluuntur in arma molares.
Iam cruor in galea, iam saucia proluit ater
pectora permixtus sudore et sanguine torrens.
Respicit hortantes socios et Pallada fidam,
longius opposita celantem lumina parma:
ibat enim magnum lacrimis inflectere patrem.
Ecce secat Zephyros ingentem fraxinus iram
fortunamque ferens, teli non eminet auctor:
Astacides Melanippus erat, nec prodidit ipse,
et uellet latuisse manum, sed gaudia turmae
monstrabant trepidum; nam flexus in ilia Tydeus
submissum latus et clipei laxauerat orbem.
Clamorem Aonii miscent gemitumque Pelasgi,
obiectantque manus indignantemque tuentur.
Ille per oppositos longe rimatus amarum
Astaciden, totis animae se cogit in ictum
reliquiis telumque iacit, quod proximus Hopleus
praebuerat: perit expressus conamine sanguis.
tunc tristes socii cupidum bellare - quis ardor! -
et poscentem hastas mediaque in morte negantem
exspirare trahunt, summique in margine campi
effultum gemina latera inclinantia parma
ponunt, ac saeui rediturum ad proelia Martis
promittunt flentes. Sed et ipse recedere caelum
ingentesque animos extremo frigore labi
sensit, et innixus terrae: "Miserescite" clamat,
Inachidae: non ossa precor referantur ut Argos
Aetolumue larem; nec enim mihi cura supremi
funeris: odi artus fragilemque hunc corporis usum,
desertorem animi. Caput, o caput, o mihi si quis
apportet, Melanippe, tuum! nam uolueris aruis,
fido equidem, nec me uirtus suprema fefellit.
i, precor, Argei si quid tibi sanguinis umquam,
Hippomedon, uade, o primis puer inclite bellis
Arcas, et Argolicae Capaneu iam maxime turmae".
Moti omnes, sed primus abit primusque repertum
Astaciden medio Capaneus e puluere tollit
spirantem laeuaque super ceruice reportat,
terga cruentantem concussi uulneris unda:
qualis ab Arcadio rediit Tirynthius antro
captiuumque suem clamantibus intulit Argis.
Erigitur Tydeus uultuque occurrit et amens
laetitiaque iraque, ut singultantia uidit
ora trahique oculos seseque agnouit in illo,
imperat abscisum porgi, laeuaque receptum
spectat atrox hostile caput, gliscitque tepentis
lumina torua uidens et adhuc dubitantia figi.
Infelix contentus erat: plus exigit ultrix
Tisiphone; iamque inflexo Tritonia patre
uenerat et misero decus immortale ferebat,
atque illum effracti perfusum tabe cerebri
aspicit et uiuo scelerantem sanguine fauces
- nec comites auferre ualent -: stetit aspera Gorgon
crinibus emissis rectique ante ora cerastae
uelauere deam; fugit auersata iacentem,
nec prius astra subit, quam mystica lampas et insons
Elisos multa purgauit lumina lympha.