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Ōbrŭĭt Hēspĕrĭā Phoēbūm Nōx ūmĭdă pōrtā,

īmpĕrĭīs prŏpĕrātă Iŏvīs; nēc cāstră Pĕlāsgūm

aūt Tўrĭās mĭsĕrātŭs ŏpēs, sēd trīstĕ, tŏt ēxtrā

āgmĭna ĕt īmmĕrĭtās fērrō dēcrēscĕrĕ gēntēs.

Pāndĭtŭr īmmēnsō dēfōrmīs sānguĭnĕ cāmpūs:

īllīc ārma ĕt ĕquōs, ībānt quĭbŭs āntĕ sŭpērbī,

fūnĕrăque ōrbă rŏgīs nēglēctăquĕ mēmbră rĕlīnquūnt.

tūnc ĭnhŏnōră cŏhōrs lăcĕrīs īnsīgnĭbŭs aēgrās

sēcērnūnt ăcĭēs, pōrtaēque, ĭnĕūntĭbŭs ārmă

āngūstaē pŏpŭlīs, lātaē cēpērĕ rĕvērsōs.

Pār ūtrīmquĕ dŏlōr; sēd dānt sōlācĭă Thēbīs

quāttŭŏr ērrāntēs Dănăūm sĭnĕ praēsĭdĕ tūrmaē:

ceū mărĕ pēr tŭmĭdūm vĭdŭaē mŏdĕrāntĭbŭs ālnī,

quās dĕŭs ēt cāsūs tēmpēstātēsquĕ gŭbērnānt.

īnde ănĭmūs Tўrĭīs nōn iām sŭă cāstră, sĕd ūltrō

hōstīlēm sērvārĕ fŭgām, nē fōrtĕ Mўcēnās

cōntēntī rĕdĭīssĕ pĕtānt: dāt tēssĕră sīgnūm

ēxcŭbĭīs, pŏsĭtaēquĕ vĭcēs; dūx nōctĭs ŏpērtaē

sōrtĕ Mĕgēs ūltrōquĕ Lўcūs. Iāmque ōrdĭnĕ iūssō

ārmă, dăpēs īgnēmquĕ fĕrūnt; rēx fīrmăt ĕūntēs:

"Vīctōrēs Dănăūm - nĕc ĕnīm lūx crāstĭnă lōngē,

nēc quaē prō tĭmĭdīs īntērcēssērĕ tĕnēbraē

sēmpĕr ĕrūnt -, aūgēte ănĭmōs ēt dīgnă sĕcūndīs

pēctŏră fērtĕ dĕīs. Iăcĕt ōmnīs glōrĭă Lērnaē

praēcĭpŭaēquĕ mănūs: sŭbĭīt ūltrīcĭă Tŷdeūs

Tārtără, Mōrs sŭbĭtām nīgrī stŭpĕt aūgŭrĭs ūmbrām,

Īsmēnōs rāptīs tŭmĕt Hīppŏmĕdōntĭs ŏpīmīs,

Ārcădă bēllĭgĕrīs pŭdĕt ādnŭmĕrārĕ trŏpaēīs.

īn mănĭbūs mērcēs, nūsquām căpĭta ārdŭă bēllī

mōnstrātaēquĕ dŭcūm sēptēnă pĕr āgmĭnă crīstaē;

scīlĭcĕt Ādrāstī sĕnĭūm frātērquĕ iŭvēntā

pēiŏr ĕt īnsānīs Căpăneūs mĕtŭēndŭs ĭn ārmīs.

Īte ăge ĕt ōbsēssīs vĭgĭlēm cīrcūmdătĕ flāmmām!

nūlli ēx hōstĕ mĕtūs: praēdam āssērvātĭs ŏpēsquĕ

iām vēstrās". Sīc īllĕ trŭcēs hōrtātĭbŭs īmplēt

Lābdăcĭdās, iŭvăt ēxhaūstōs ĭtĕrārĕ lăbōrēs:

sīcŭt ĕrānt - pūlvīs sūdōrquĕ crŭōrquĕ pĕr ārtūs

mīxtŭs ădhūc - vērtērĕ grădūm; vīx ōbvĭă pāssī

cōllŏquĭa, āmplēxūs ĕtĭām dēxtrāsquĕ sŭōrūm

ēxcūssēre ŭmĕrīs. Tūm frōntem āvērsăquĕ tērgă

pārtītī lătĕrūmquĕ sĭnūs, vāllum ūndĭquĕ cīngūnt

īgnĭbŭs īnfēstīs. Răbĭdī sīc āgmĭnĕ mūltō

sūb nōctēm cŏĭērĕ lŭpī, quōs ōmnĭbŭs āgrīs

nīl nōn aūsă fămēs lōngō tĕnŭāvĭt hĭātū:

iām stăbŭla īpsă prĕmūnt, tōrquēt spēs īrrĭtă faūcēs,

bālātūsquĕ trĕmēns pīnguēsque ăb ŏvīlĭbŭs aūraē;

quōd sŭpĕrēst, dūrīs ādfrāngūnt pōstĭbŭs ūnguīs,

pēctŏrăque ēt sīccōs mĭnŭūnt īn līmĭnĕ dēntīs.

Āt prŏcŭl Ārgŏlĭcī sūpplēx īn mārgĭnĕ tēmplī

coētŭs ĕt ād pătrĭās fūsaē Pĕlŏpēĭdĕs ārās

scēptrĭfĕraē Iūnōnĭs ŏpēm rĕdĭtūmquĕ sŭōrūm

ēxpōscūnt, pīctāsquĕ fŏrēs ēt frīgĭdă vūltū

sāxă tĕrūnt pārvōsquĕ dŏcēnt prōcūmbĕrĕ nātōs.

Cōndĭdĕrānt iām vōtă dĭēm; nōx āddĭtă cūrās

iūngĭt, ĕt īngēstīs vĭgĭlānt āltārĭă flāmmīs.

Pēplum ĕtĭām dōnō, cūiūs mīrābĭlĕ tēxtūm

nūllă mănū stĕrĭlīs nēc dīssŏcĭātă mărītō

vērsārāt, călăthīs cāstaē vēlāmĭnă dīvaē

haūt spērnēndă fĕrūnt, vărĭīs ŭbĭ plūrĭmă flōrēt

pūrpŭră pīctă mŏdīs mīxtōque īncēndĭtŭr aūrō.

Īpsa īllīc māgnī thălămō dēspōnsă Tŏnāntīs,

ēxpērs cōnŭbĭi ēt tĭmĭdē pŏsĭtūră sŏrōrēm,

lūmĭnĕ dēmīssō pŭĕrī Iŏvĭs ōscŭlă lībāt

sīmplēx ēt nōndūm fūrtīs ōffēnsă mărītī.

Hōc tūnc Ārgŏlĭcaē sānctūm vēlāmĭnĕ mātrēs

īndŭĕrānt ĕbŭr, ēt lăcrĭmīs quēstūquĕ rŏgābānt:

"Āspĭcĕ sācrĭlĕgās Cādmēaē paēlĭcĭs ārcēs,

sīdĕrĕī rēgīnă pŏlī, tŭmŭlūmquĕ rĕbēllēm

dīssĭce ĕt īn Thēbās ălĭūd - pŏtĕs - ēxcŭtĕ fūlmēn."

Quīd făcĭāt? Scīt Fātă sŭīs cōntrārĭă Grāīs

āvērsūmquĕ Iŏvēm, sēd nēc pĕrĭīssĕ prĕcātūs

tāntăquĕ dōnă vĕlīt; tēmpūs tămĕn ōbvĭă māgnī

fōrs dĕdĭt aūxĭlĭī. vĭdĕt ālto ēx aēthĕrĕ clūsă

moēnĭa ĕt īnsōmnī vāllūm stătĭōnĕ tĕnērī:

hōrrŭĭt īrārūm stĭmŭlīs mōtāquĕ vĕrēndūm

tūrbāvīt dĭădēmă cŏmā: nōn saēvĭŭs ārsīt

Hērcŭlĕaē cūm mātrĭs ŏnūs gĕmĭnōsquĕ Tŏnāntīs

sēcŭbĭtūs văcŭīs īndīgnārētŭr ĭn āstrīs.

Ērgo īntēmpēstā sōmnī dūlcēdĭnĕ cāptōs

dēstĭnăt Āŏnĭōs lētō praēbērĕ, sŭāmquĕ

ōrbĭbŭs āccīngī sŏlĭtīs iŭbĕt Īrĭn ĕt ōmnĕ

māndăt ŏpūs. pārēt iūssīs dĕă clāră pŏlūmquĕ

līnquĭt ĕt īn tērrās lōngō sūspēndĭtŭr ārcū.

Stāt sŭpĕr ōccĭdŭaē nĕbŭlōsă cŭbīlĭă Nōctīs

Aēthĭŏpāsque ălĭōs, nūllī pĕnĕtrābĭlĭs āstrō,

lūcŭs ĭnērs, sūbtērquĕ căvīs grăvĕ rūpĭbŭs āntrūm

īt văcŭum īn mōntēm, quā dēsĭdĭs ātrĭă Sōmnī

sēcūrūmquĕ lărēm sēgnīs Nātūră lŏcāvīt.

Līmĕn ŏpācă Quĭēs ēt pīgra Ōblīvĭŏ sērvānt

ēt nūmquām vĭgĭlī tōrpēns Īgnāvĭă vūltū.

Ōtĭă vēstĭbŭlō prēssīsquĕ Sĭlēntĭă pīnnīs

mūtă sĕdēnt ăbĭgūntquĕ trŭcēs ā cūlmĭnĕ vēntōs

ēt rāmōs ērrārĕ vĕtānt ēt mūrmŭră dēmūnt

ālĭtĭbūs. nōn hīc pĕlăgī, lĭcĕt ōmnĭă clāmēnt

lītŏră, nōn ūllūs caēlī frăgŏr; īpsĕ prŏfūndīs

vāllĭbŭs ēffŭgĭēns spēlūncaē prōxĭmŭs āmnīs

sāxa īntēr scŏpŭlōsquĕ tăcēt: nīgrāntĭă cīrcūm

ārmēnta, ōmnĕ sŏlō rĕcŭbāt pĕcŭs, ēt nŏvă mārcēnt

gērmĭnă, tērrārūmque īnclīnāt spīrĭtŭs hērbās.

Mīlle īntūs sĭmŭlācră dĕī caēlāvĕrăt ārdēns

Mūlcĭbĕr: hīc haērēt lătĕrī rĕdĭmītă Vŏlūptās,

hīc cŏmĕs īn rĕquĭēm vērgēns Lăbŏr, ēst ŭbĭ Bācchō,

ēst ŭbĭ Mārtĭgĕnaē sŏcĭūm pūlvīnăr Ămōrī

ōbtĭnĕt. Īntĕrĭūs tēcti īn pĕnĕtrālĭbŭs āltīs

ēt cūm Mōrtĕ iăcēt, nūllīque ĕă trīstĭs ĭmāgŏ

cērnĭtŭr. haē spĕcĭēs: īpse aūtem ūmēntĭă sūbtēr

āntră sŏpōrĭfĕrō stīpātōs flōrĕ tăpētās

īncŭbăt: ēxhālānt vēstēs ēt cōrpŏrĕ pīgrō

strātă călēnt, sūprāquĕ tŏrūm nĭgĕr ēfflăt ănhēlō

ōrĕ văpōr; mănŭs haēc fūsōs ā tēmpŏrĕ laēvō

sūstēntāt crīnīs, haēc cōrnu ōblītă rĕmīsīt.

Ādsūnt īnnŭmĕrō cīrcūm văgă Sōmnĭă vūltū,

vēră sĭmūl fālsīs pērmīxtăquĕ †flūmĭnă flāmmīs†.

Nōctĭs ŏpācă cŏhōrs, trăbĭbūsque aūt pōstĭbŭs haērēnt,

aūt tēllūrĕ iăcēnt. tĕnŭīs, quī cīrcŭĭt aūlām,

īnvălĭdūsquĕ nĭtōr, prīmōsque hōrtāntĭă sōmnōs

lānguĭdă sūccĭdŭīs ēxspīrānt lūmĭnă flāmmīs.

Hūc sē caērŭlĕō lībrāvĭt ăb aēthĕrĕ vīrgŏ

dīscŏlŏr: ēffūlgēnt sīlvaē, tĕnĕbrōsăquĕ tēmpē

ādrīsērĕ dĕae, ēt zōnīs lūcēntĭbŭs īctă

ēvĭgĭlāt dŏmŭs; īpse aūtēm nēc lāmpădĕ clārā

nēc sŏnĭtū nēc vōcĕ dĕaē pērcūlsŭs ĕōdēm

mōrĕ iăcēt, dōnēc rădĭōs Thaūmāntĭăs ōmnīs

īmpŭlĭt īnque ŏcŭlōs pĕnĭtūs dēscēndĭt ĭnērtēs.

tūnc sīc ōrsă lŏquī nīmbōrūm fūlvă crĕātrīx:

"Sīdŏnĭōs tē Iūnŏ dŭcēs, mītīssĭmĕ dīvūm

Sōmnĕ, iŭbēt pŏpŭlūmquĕ trŭcīs dēfīgĕrĕ Cādmī,

quī nūnc ēvēntū bēllī tŭmĕfāctŭs Ăchaēūm

pērvĭgĭl āssērvāt vāllum ēt tŭă iūră rĕcūsāt.

Dā prĕcĭbūs tāntīs, rāra ēst hōc pōssĕ făcūltās

plācātūmquĕ Iŏvēm dēxtrā Iūnōnĕ mĕrērĕ."

Dīxĭt, ĕt īncrĕpĭtāns lānguēntĭă pēctŏră dēxtrā,

nē pĕrĕānt vōcēs, ĭtĕrūmque ĭtĕrūmquĕ mŏnēbāt.

Īllĕ dĕaē iūssīs vūltū, quō nūtăt, ĕōdēm

ādnŭĭt; ēxcēdīt grăvĭōr nīgrāntĭbŭs āntrīs

Īrĭs ĕt ōbtūnsūm mūltō iŭbăr ēxcĭtăt īmbrī.

Īpsĕ quŏque ēt vŏlŭcrēm grēssum ēt vēntōsă cĭtāvīt

tēmpŏra, ĕt ōbscūrī sīnvātām frīgŏrĕ caēlī

īmplēvīt chlămўdēm, tăcĭtōquĕ pĕr aēthĕră cūrsū

fērtŭr ĕt Āŏnĭīs lōngē grăvĭs īmmĭnĕt ārvīs.

īllĭŭs aūră sŏlō vŏlŭcrēs pĕcŭdēsquĕ fĕrāsquĕ

ēxplĭcăt, ēt pĕnĭtūs, quēmcūmquĕ sŭpērvŏlăt ōrbēm,

lānguĭdă dē scŏpŭlīs sīdūnt frĕtă, pīgrĭŭs haērēnt

nūbĭlă, dēmīttūnt ēxtrēmă căcūmĭnă sīlvaē,

plūrăquĕ lāxātō cĕcĭdērūnt sīdĕră caēlō.

Prīmŭs ădēssĕ dĕūm sŭbĭtā cālīgĭnĕ sēnsīt

cāmpŭs, ĕt īnnŭmĕraē vōcēs frĕmĭtūsquĕ vĭrōrūm

sūbmīsērĕ sŏnūm: cūm vēro ūmēntĭbŭs ālīs

īncŭbŭīt pĭcĕāque haūd ūmquām dēnsĭŏr ūmbrā

cāstră sŭbīt, ērrāre ŏcŭlī rĕsŏlūtăquĕ cōllă,

ēt mĕdĭo āffātū vērba īmpērfēctă rĕlīnquī.

mōx ēt fūlgēntēs clĭpĕōs ēt saēvă rĕmīttūnt

pīlă mănū, lāssīquĕ cădūnt īn pēctŏră vūltūs.

Ēt iām cūnctă sĭlēnt: īpsī iām stārĕ rĕcūsānt

cōrnĭpĕdēs, īpsōs sŭbĭtūs cĭnĭs ābstŭlĭt īgnīs.

Āt nōn ēt trĕpĭdīs ĕădēm Sŏpŏr ōtĭă Grāīs

suādĕt, ĕt ādiūnctīs ārcēt sŭă nūbĭlă cāstrīs

nōctĭvăgī vīs blāndă dĕī: stānt ūndĭque ĭn ārmīs

foēdam īndīgnāntēs nōctēm vĭgĭlēsquĕ sŭpērbōs.

Ēccĕ rĕpēns sŭpĕrīs ănĭmūm lŷmphāntĭbŭs hōrrōr

Thīŏdămāntă sŭbīt fōrmīdāndōquĕ tŭmūltū

pāndĕrĕ fātă iŭbēt, sīve hānc Sātūrnĭă mēntēm,

sīvĕ nŏvūm cŏmĭtēm bŏnŭs īnstīgābăt Ăpōllŏ.

Prōsĭlĭt īn mĕdĭōs, vīsu aūdītūquĕ trĕmēndūs

īmpătĭēnsquĕ dĕī, frăgĭlī quēm mēntĕ rĕcēptūm

nōn căpĭt: ēxūndānt stĭmŭlī, nūdūsquĕ pĕr ōră

stāt fŭrŏr, ēt trĕpĭdās īncērtō sānguĭnĕ tēndīt

ēxhaūrītquĕ gĕnās - ăcĭēs hūc ērrăt ĕt īllūc -

sērtăquĕ mīxtă cŏmīs spārsā cērvīcĕ flăgēllāt.

Sīc Phrўgă tērrĭfĭcīs gĕnĕtrīx Īdaēă crŭēntūm

ēlĭcĭt ēx ădўtīs cōnsūmptăquĕ brācchĭă fērrō

scīrĕ vĕtāt; quătĭt īllĕ săcrās īn pēctŏră pīnūs

sānguĭnĕōsquĕ rŏtāt crīnēs ēt vūlnĕră cūrsū

ēxănĭmāt: păvĕt ōmnĭs ăgēr rēspērsăquĕ cūltrīx

ārbŏr, ĕt āttŏnĭtī cūrrum ērēxērĕ lĕōnēs.

Vēntum ād cōncĭlĭī pĕnĕtrālĕ dŏmūmquĕ vĕrēndām

sīgnōrūm, māgnīs ŭbĭ dūdūm clādĭbŭs aēgēr,

rērum ēxtrēmă mŏvēns, frūstrā cōnsūltăt Ădrāstūs.

Stānt cīrcūm sŭbĭtī prŏcĕrēs, ūt quīsquĕ pĕrēmptō

prōxĭmŭs, ēt māgnīs lŏcă dēsōlātă tŭēntūr

rēgĭbŭs haūd laētī sēque hūc crēvīssĕ dŏlēntēs.

nōn sĕcŭs āmīssō mĕdĭūm cūm praēsĭdĕ pūppīs

frēgĭt ĭtēr, sŭbĭt ād vĭdŭī mŏdĕrāmĭnă clāvī

aūt lătĕrūm cūstōs, aūt quēm pĕnĕs ōbvĭă pōntō

prōră fŭīt: stŭpĕt īpsă rătīs tārdēquĕ sĕquūntūr

ārmă, nĕc āccēdīt dŏmĭnō tūtēlă mĭnōrī.

Ērgo ălăcēr trĕpĭdōs sīc ērĭgĭt aūgŭr Ăchīvōs:

"Māgnă dĕūm māndātă, dŭcēs, mŏnĭtūsquĕ vĕrēndōs

ādvĕhĭmūs, nōn haē nōstrō dē pēctŏrĕ vōcēs:

īllĕ cănīt, cuī mē fămŭlāri ēt sūmĕrĕ vīttās

vēstră fĭdēs, īpsō nōn dīscōrdāntĕ, sŭbēgīt.

Nōx fēcūnda ŏpĕrūm pūlchraēque āccōmmŏdă fraūdī

pāndĭtŭr aūgŭrĭō dīvūm; vŏcăt ōbvĭă Vīrtūs,

ēt pōscīt Fōrtūnă mănūs. Stŭpĕt ōbrŭtă sōmnō

Āŏnĭdūm lĕgĭō: tēmpūs nūnc fūnĕră rēgūm

ūlcīscī mĭsĕrūmquĕ dĭēm; răpĭte ārmă mŏrāsquĕ

frāngĭtĕ pōrtārūm: sŏcĭīs hōc sūbdĕrĕ flāmmās,

hōc tŭmŭlārĕ sŭōs. Ĕquĭdem haēc ēt Mārtĕ dĭūrnō

dūm rēs īnfrāctaē pūlsīque īn tērgă rĕdīmūs

- pēr trĭpŏdās iūro ēt rāptī nŏvă fātă măgīstrī -

vīdi, ēt mē vŏlŭcrēs cīrcūm plaūsērĕ sĕcūndaē.

Sēd nūnc cērtă fĭdēs. Mŏdŏ mē sūb nōctĕ sĭlēntī

īpse, īpse āssūrgēns ĭtĕrūm tēllūrĕ sŏlūtā,

quālĭs ĕrāt - sōlōs īnfēcĕrăt ūmbră iŭgālīs -,

Āmphĭărāŭs ădīt: nōn vānaē mōnstră quĭētīs,

nēc sōmnō cōmpērtă lŏquōr. "Tūne" īnquĭt, "ĭnērtīs

Īnăchĭdās - rēdde haēc Pārnāsĭă sērtă mĕōsquĕ

rēddĕ dĕōs - tāntām pătĭēre āmīttĕrĕ nōctēm,

dēgĕnĕr? Haēc ĕgŏmēt caēlī sēcrētă văgōsquĕ

ēdŏcŭī lāpsūs? Văde hĕīa, ūlcīscĕrĕ fērrō

nōs sāltēm!" dīxīt, mēque haēc ād līmĭnă vīsūs

cūspĭdĕ sūblātā tōtōque īmpēllĕrĕ cūrrū.

Quāre ăgĭte, ūtēndūm sŭpĕrīs; nōn cōmmĭnŭs hōstēs

stērnēndī: bēllūm iăcĕt, ēt saēvīrĕ pŏtēstās.

Ēcqui ădĕrūnt, quōs īngēntī se āttōllĕrĕ fāmā

nōn pĭgĕāt, dūm fātă sĭnūnt? ĭtĕrum ēccĕ bĕnīgnaē

nōctĭs ăvēs; sĕquŏr, ēt cŏmĭtūm lĭcĕt āgmĭnă cēssēnt,

sōlŭs ĕo! Ātque ădĕō vĕnĭt īlle ēt quāssăt hăbēnās".

Tālĭă vōcĭfĕrāns nōctem ēxtūrbābăt, ĕūntquĕ

nōn sĕcŭs āccēnsī prŏcĕrēs, quām si ōmnĭbŭs īdēm

cōrdĕ dĕūs: flāgrānt cŏmĭtāri ēt iūngĕrĕ cāsūs.

tēr dēnōs nŭmĕrō, tūrmārūm rōbŏră, iūssūs

īpsĕ lĕgīt; cīrcā frĕmĭt īndīgnātă iŭvēntūs

cētĕră, cūr mănĕānt cāstrīs īgnāvăquĕ sērvēnt

ōtĭă: pārs sūblīmĕ gĕnūs, pārs fāctă sŭōrūm,

pārs sŭă, sōrtem ălĭī clāmānt, sōrtem ūndĭquĕ pōscūnt.

gaūdĕt ĭn ādvērsīs ănĭmōque āssūrgĭt Ădrāstūs.

Vērtĭcĕ sīc Phŏlŏēs vŏlŭcrūm nūtrītŏr ĕquōrūm,

cūm fētūră grĕgēm pĕcŏrōsō vērĕ nŏvāvīt,

laētātūr cērnēns hōs mōntĭs ĭn ārdŭă nītī,

hōs īnnārĕ vădīs, cērtārĕ părēntĭbŭs īllōs;

tūnc văcŭō sūb cōrdĕ mŏvēt, quī mōllĕ dŏmāndī

fērrĕ iŭgūm, quī tērgă bŏnī, quĭs ĭn ārmă tŭbāsquĕ

nātŭs, ăd Ēlēās mĕlĭōr quīs sūrgĕrĕ pālmās:

tālĭs ĕrāt tūrmaē dūctōr lōngaēvŭs Ăchīvaē.

nēc dēēst coēptīs: "Ūnde haēc tām sēră rĕpēntĕ

nūmĭnă? quī frāctōs sŭpĕrī rĕdĭīstĭs ăd Ārgōs?

ēstne hīc īnfēlīx vīrtūs? gēntīquĕ sŭpērstēs

sānguĭs, ĕt īn mĭsĕrīs ănĭmōrūm sēmĭnă dūrānt?

laūdo ĕquĭdem, ēgrĕgĭī iŭvĕnēs, pūlchrāquĕ mĕōrūm

sēdītiōnĕ frŭōr; sēd fraūdem ĕt ŏpērtă părāmūs

proēlĭă, cēlāndī mōtūs: nūmquam āptă lătēntī

tūrbă dŏlō. Sērvāte ănĭmōs, vĕnĭt ūltŏr ĭn hōstīs

ēccĕ dĭēs; tūnc ārmă pălām, tūnc ībĭmŭs ōmnēs".

hīs tāndēm vīrtūs iŭvĕnūm frēnātă quĭēvīt:

nōn ălĭtēr mōtō quām sī pătĕr Aēŏlŭs āntrō

pōrtam ĭtĕrūm sāxō prĕmăt īmpĕrĭōsŭs ĕt ōmnĕ

claūdăt ĭtēr, iāmiām spērāntĭbŭs aēquŏră vēntīs.

Īnsŭpĕr Hērcŭlĕūm sĭbĭ iūngĭt Ăgŷllĕă vātēs

Āctŏrăque: hīc āptūs suādēre, hīc rōbŏrĕ iāctāt

nōn cēssīssĕ pătrī; cŏmĭtēs trĭbŭs ōrdĭnĕ dēnī,

hōrrēndum Āŏnĭīs ēt cōntrā stāntĭbŭs āgmēn.

īpsĕ nŏvī grădĭēns fūrta ād Māvōrtĭă bēllī

pōnĭt ădōrātās, Phoēbēa īnsīgnĭă, frōndēs,

lōngaēvīquĕ dŭcīs grĕmĭō cōmmēndăt hŏnōrēm

frōntĭs, ĕt ōblātām Pŏlўnīcīs mūnĕrĕ grātō

lōrīcām gălĕāmquĕ sŭbīt. Fĕrŭs Āctŏră māgnō

ēnsĕ grăvāt Căpăneūs, īpse haūd dīgnātŭs ĭn hōstēm

īrĕ dŏlō sŭpĕrōsquĕ sĕquī. Pērmūtăt Ăgŷlleūs

ārmă trŭcīs Nŏmĭī: quĭd ĕnīm fāllēntĭbŭs ūmbrīs

ārcŭs ĕt Hērcūlēae iūvīssēnt bēllă săgīttaē?

Īndĕ pĕr ābrūptās cāstrōrum ēx āggĕrĕ pīnnās,

nē grăvĭs ēxclāmēt pōrtaē mūgītŭs ăēnaē,

praēcĭpĭtānt sāltū; nēc lōngum, ēt prōtĭnŭs īngēns

praēdă sŏlō ceū iam ēxănĭmēs mūltōquĕ pĕrāctī

ēnsĕ iăcēnt. "Īte, ō sŏcĭī, quācūmquĕ vŏlūptās

caēdĭs ĭnēxhaūstaē, sŭpĕrīsquĕ făvēntĭbŭs, ōrō,

sūffĭcĭte!" hōrtātūr clārā iām vōcĕ săcērdōs,

"cērnĭtĭs ēxpŏsĭtās tūrpī mārcōrĕ cŏhōrtēs?

Prō pŭdŏr! Ārgŏlĭcās hīne aūsi ōbsīdĕrĕ pōrtās,

hī sērvārĕ vĭrōs?" Sīc fātŭs, ĕt ēxŭĭt ēnsēm

fūlmĭnĕūm răpĭdāquĕ mănū mŏrĭēntĭă trānsīt

āgmĭnă. quīs nŭmĕrēt caēdēs, aūt nōmĭnĕ tūrbām

ēxănĭmēm sīgnārĕ quĕāt? sŭbĭt ōrdĭnĕ nūllō

tērgăquĕ pēctŏrăque ēt gălĕīs īnclūsă rĕlīnquīt

mūrmŭră pērmīscētquĕ văgōs īn sānguĭnĕ mānēs:

hūnc tĕmĕre ēxplĭcĭtūm strātīs, hūnc sērŏ rĕmīssīs

grēssĭbŭs īllāpsūm clĭpĕo ēt mălĕ tēlă tĕnēntēm,

coētĭbŭs hōs mĕdĭīs vīna īntĕr ĕt ārmă iăcēntēs,

ācclīnīs clĭpĕīs ălĭōs, ūt quēmquĕ lĭgātūm

īnfēlīx tēllūrĕ sŏpōr sūprēmăquĕ nūbēs

ōbrŭĕrāt. nēc nūmĕn ăbēst, ārmātăquĕ Iūnŏ

lūnārēm quătĭēns ēxsērtā lāmpădă dēxtrā

pāndĭt ĭtēr fīrmātque ănĭmōs ēt cōrpŏră mōnstrāt.

sēntĭt ădēssĕ dĕām, tăcĭtūs sēd gaūdĭă cēlāt

Thīŏdămās; iām tārdă mănūs, iām dēbĭlĕ fērrūm

ēt cālīgāntēs nĭmĭīs sūccēssĭbŭs īraē.

Cāspĭă nōn ălĭtēr māgnōrum īn strāgĕ iŭvēncūm

tīgrĭs, ŭbi īmmēnsō răbĭēs plācātă crŭōrĕ

lāssāvītquĕ gĕnās ēt crāssō sōrdĭdă tābō

cōnfūdīt măcŭlās, spēctāt sŭă fāctă dŏlētquĕ

dēfēcīssĕ fămēm: vīctūs sīc aūgŭr ĭnērrāt

caēdĭbŭs Āŏnĭīs; ōptēt nūnc brācchĭă cēntūm

cēntēnāsque īn bēllă mănūs; iām taēdĕt ĭnānēs

ēxhaūrīrĕ mĭnās, hōstēmque āssūrgĕrĕ māllēt.

Pārte ălĭā sēgnēs māgnō sătŭs Hērcŭlĕ vāstāt

Sīdŏnĭōs Āctōrque ălĭā, sŭă quēmquĕ crŭēntō

līmĭtĕ tūrbă sŭbīt: stāgnānt nīgrāntĭă tābō

grāmĭnă, sānguĭnĕīs nūtānt tēntōrĭă rīvīs;

fūmăt hŭmūs, sōmnīque ēt mōrtĭs ănhēlĭtŭs ūnā

vōlvĭtŭr; haūt quīsquām vīsūs aūt ōră iăcēntūm

ērēxīt: tālī mĭsĕrīs dĕŭs ālĭgĕr ūmbrā

īncŭbăt ēt tāntūm mŏrĭēntĭă lūmĭnă sōlvīt.

Trāxĕrăt īnsōmnīs cĭthărā lūdōquĕ sŭprēmă

sīdĕră iām nūllōs vīsūrŭs Ĭālmĕnŭs ōrtūs,

Sīdŏnĭūm paēānă cănēns; huīc lānguĭdă cērvīx

īn laēvūm cōgēntĕ dĕō mĕdĭāquĕ iăcēbānt

cōllă rĕplīctă lўrā: fērrūm pēr pēctŭs Ăgŷlleūs

ēxĭgĭt āptātāmquĕ căvā tēstūdĭnĕ dēxtrām

pērcŭtĭt ēt dĭgĭtōs īntēr sŭă fīlă trĕmēntēs.

Prōtūrbāt mēnsās dīrūs lĭquŏr: ūndĭquĕ mānānt

sānguĭnĕ pērmīxtī lătĭcēs ēt Bācchŭs ĭn āltōs

crātērās pătĕrāsquĕ rĕdīt. Fĕrŭs ōccŭpăt Āctōr

īmplĭcĭtūm frātrī Thămўrīn, Tăgŭs haūrĭt Ĕchētlī

tērgă cŏrōnātī, Daūnūs căpŭt āmpŭtăt Hēbrī:

nēscĭŭs heū răpĭtūr fātīs, hĭlărīsquĕ sŭb ūmbrās

vītă fŭgīt mōrtīsquĕ fĕraē lūcrātă dŏlōrēs.

strātŭs hŭmō gĕlĭdā sūbtēr iŭgă fīdă rŏtāsquĕ

Cālpĕtŭs Āŏnĭōs grāmēn gēntīlĕ mĕtēntēs

prōflātū tērrēbăt ĕquōs: mădĭda ōră rĕdūndānt

āccēnsūsquĕ mĕrō sŏpŏr aēstŭăt; ēccĕ iăcēntīs

Īnăchĭūs vātēs iŭgŭlūm fŏdĭt, ēxpŭlĭt īngēns

vīnă crŭōr frāctūmquĕ pĕrīt īn sānguĭnĕ mūrmūr.

Fōrs īllī praēsāgă quĭēs, nīgrāsquĕ grăvātūs

pēr sōmnūm Thēbās ēt Thīŏdămāntă vĭdēbāt.

Quārtă sŏpōrĭfĕraē sŭpĕrābānt tēmpŏră nōctī,

cūm văcŭaē nūbēs ĕt hŏnōr nōn ōmnĭbŭs āstrīs,

ādflātūsquĕ fŭgīt cūrrū māiōrĕ Bŏōtēs.

Iāmque īpsūm dēfēcĭt ŏpūs, cūm prōvĭdŭs Āctōr

Thīŏdămāntă vŏcāt: "Sătĭs haēc ĭnŏpīnă Pĕlāsgīs

gaūdĭă: vīx ūllōs tāntō rĕŏr āgmĭnĕ saēvām

ēffūgīssĕ nĕcēm, nī quōs dēfōrmĭs ĭn āltō

sānguĭnĕ dēgĕnĕrēs ōccūltāt vītă; sĕcūndīs

pōnĕ mŏdūm: sūnt ēt dīrīs sŭă nūmĭnă Thēbīs.

fōrsĭtăn ēt nōbīs mŏdŏ quaē fāvērĕ, rĕcēdānt."

Pārŭĭt, ēt mădĭdās tōllēns ād sīdĕră pālmās:

"Phoēbĕ, tĭbi ēxŭvĭās mōnstrātaē praēmĭă nōctīs

nōndum āblūtŭs ăquīs - tĭbi ĕnim haēc ĕgŏ sācră lĭtāvī -

trādŏ fĕrūs mīlēs trĭpŏdūm fīdūsquĕ săcērdōs.

Sī nōn dēdĕcŭī tŭă iūssă tŭlīquĕ prĕmēntēm,

saēpĕ vĕnī, saēpe hānc dīgnāre īrrūmpĕrĕ mēntēm.

nūnc tĭbĭ crūdŭs hŏnōs, trūnca ārmă crŭōrquĕ vĭrōrūm:

āt pătrĭās sī quāndŏ dŏmōs ōptātăquĕ, Paēān,

tēmplă, Lўcīĕ, dăbīs, tōt dītĭă dōnă săcrātīs

pōstĭbŭs ēt tŏtĭdēm vōtī mĕmŏr ēxĭgĕ taūrōs".

Dīxĕrăt, ēt laētīs sŏcĭōs rĕvŏcābăt ăb ārmīs.

Vēnĕrăt hōs īntēr fātō Călўdōnĭŭs Hōpleūs

Maēnălĭūsquĕ Dўmās, dīlēctī rēgĭbŭs āmbō,

rēgum āmbō cŏmĭtēs, quōrūm pōst fūnĕră maēstī

vītam īndīgnāntūr. prĭŏr Ārcădă cōncĭtăt Hōpleūs:

"Nūllănĕ pōst mānēs rēgīs tĭbĭ cūră pĕrēmptī,

cārĕ Dўmā, tĕnĕānt quēm iām fōrtāssĕ vŏlūcrēs

Thēbānīquĕ cănēs? pătrĭaē quīd deīndĕ fĕrētīs,

Ārcădĕs? Ēn rĕdŭcēs cōntrā vĕnĭt āspĕră mātēr:

fūnŭs ŭbi? Āt nōstrō sēmpēr sūb pēctŏrĕ Tŷdeūs

saēvĭt ĭnōps tŭmŭlī, quāmvīs pătĭēntĭŏr ārtūs

īllĕ nĕc ābrūptīs ădĕō lăcrĭmābĭlĭs ānnīs.

Īrĕ tămēn saēvūmquĕ lĭbēt nūllo ōrdĭnĕ pāssīm

scrūtārī cāmpūm, mĕdĭāsve īrrūmpĕrĕ Thēbās."

Ēxcĭpĭt ōrsă Dўmās: "Pĕr ĕgo haēc văgă sīdĕră iūrō,

pēr dŭcĭs ērrāntīs īnstār mĭhĭ nūmĭnĭs ūmbrās,

īdem ănĭmūs mĭsĕrō; cŏmĭtēm cīrcūmspĭcĭt ōlīm

mēns hŭmĭlīs lūctū, sēd nūnc prĭŏr ībŏ", vĭāmquĕ

īncŏhăt ēt maēstō cōnvērsŭs ăd aēthĕră vūltū

sīc ăĭt: "Ārcānaē mŏdĕrātrīx Cŷnthĭă nōctīs,

sī tē tērgĕmĭnīs pĕrhĭbēnt vărĭārĕ fĭgūrīs

nūmĕn ĕt īn sīlvās ălĭō dēscēndĕrĕ vūltū,

īllĕ cŏmēs nūpēr nĕmŏrūmque īnsīgnĭs ălūmnūs,

īllĕ tŭūs, Dīānă, pŭēr - nūnc rēspĭcĕ sāltēm -

quaērĭtŭr". Īncēndīt prōnīs dĕă cōrnĭbŭs ālmūm

sīdŭs ĕt ādmōtō mōnstrāvīt fūnĕră cūrrū.

Āppārēnt cāmpī Thēbaēque āltūsquĕ Cĭthaērōn:

sīc ŭbĭ nōctūrnūm tŏnĭtrū mălŭs aēthĕră frāngīt

Iūppĭtĕr, ābsĭlĭūnt nūbēs ēt fūlgŭrĕ clārō

āstră lătēnt, sŭbĭtūsque ŏcŭlīs ōstēndĭtŭr ōrbīs.

Āccēpīt rădĭōs ĕt ĕādēm pērcĭtŭs Hōpleūs

Tŷdĕă lūcĕ vĭdēt; lōngē dānt sīgnă pĕr ūmbrās

mūtŭă laētāntēs, ĕt ămīcūm pōndŭs ŭtērquĕ,

ceū rĕdŭcēs vītaē saēvāque ā mōrtĕ rĕmīssōs,

sūbiēctā cērvīcĕ lĕvānt; nēc vērbă, nĕc aūsī

flērĕ dĭū: prŏpĕ saēvă dĭēs īndēxquĕ mĭnātūr

ōrtŭs. Ĕūnt tăcĭtī pēr maēstă sĭlēntĭă māgnīs

pāssĭbŭs ēxhaūstāsquĕ dŏlēnt pāllērĕ tĕnēbrās.

Īnvĭdă fātă pĭīs ēt fōrs īngēntĭbŭs aūsīs

rāră cŏmēs. Iām cāstră vĭdēnt ănĭmīsquĕ prŏpīnquānt,

ēt dēcrēscĭt ŏnūs, sŭbĭtī cūm pūlvĕrĭs ūmbră

ēt sŏnŭs ā tērgō. Mŏnĭtū dŭcĭs ācĕr ăgēbāt

Āmphīōn ĕquĭtēs, nōctēm vĭgĭlātăquĕ cāstră

ēxplōrārĕ dătūs, prīmūsquĕ pĕr āvĭă cāmpī

ūsquĕ prŏcūl - nēcdūm tōtās lūx sōlvĕrăt ūmbrās -

nēscĭŏ quīd vīsū dŭbĭum īncērtūmquĕ mŏvērī

cōrpŏrăque īrĕ vĭdēt; sŭbĭtūs mōx fraūdĕ rĕpērtā

ēxclāmāt: "Cŏhĭbētĕ grădūm quīcūmquĕ!" sĕd hōstēs

ēssĕ pătēt: mĭsĕrī pērgūnt ānteīrĕ tĭmēntquĕ

nōn sĭbĭ; tūnc mōrtēm trĕpĭdīs mĭnĭtātŭr ĕt hāstām

ēxpŭlĭt, āc vānōs āltē lĕvăt ēmĭnŭs īctūs,

ādfēctāns ērrārĕ mănūm. Stĕtĭt īllă Dўmāntīs

ānte ŏcŭlōs, quī fōrtĕ prĭōr grēssūmquĕ rĕprēssīt.

Āt nōn māgnănĭmūs cūrāvīt pērdĕrĕ iāctūs

Aēpўtŭs, ēt fīxō trānsvērbĕrăt Hōplĕă tērgō

pēndēntīsque ĕtĭām pērstrīnxīt Tŷdĕŏs ārmōs.

Lābĭtŭr ēgrĕgĭī nōndūm dŭcĭs īmmĕmŏr Hōpleūs,

ēxspīrātquĕ tĕnēns - fēlīx, sī cōrpŭs ădēmptūm

nēscĭăt -, ēt saēvās tālīs dēscēndĭt ăd ūmbrās.

Vīdĕrăt hōc rētrō cōnvērsŭs ĕt āgmĭnă sēntīt

iūnctă Dўmās, dŭbĭūs prĕcĭbūsnĕ sŭbīrĕt ăn ārmīs

īnstāntēs; ārma īră dăbāt, fōrtūnă prĕcārī,

nōn aūdērĕ iŭbēt: neūtrī fīdūcĭă coēptō.

Dīstŭlĭt īră prĕcēs; pōnīt mĭsĕrābĭlĕ cōrpūs

āntĕ pĕdēs, tērgōquĕ grăvīs quās fōrtĕ fĕrēbāt,

tīgrĭdĭs ēxŭvĭās, īn laēvām tōrquĕt ĕt ōbstāt

ēxsērtum ōbiēctāns mūcrōnem, īnque ōmnĭă tēlă

vērsŭs ĕt ād caēdēm iūxtā mōrtēmquĕ părātūs:

ūt lĕă, quām saēvō fētām prēssērĕ cŭbīlī

vēnāntēs Nŭmĭdaē, nātōs ērēctă sŭpērstāt

mēntĕ sŭi īncērtā, tōrvum āc mĭsĕrābĭlĕ frēndēns;

īllă quĭdēm tūrbārĕ glŏbōs ēt frāngĕrĕ mōrsū

tēlă quĕāt, sēd prōlĭs ămōr crūdēlĭă vīncīt

pēctŏra, ĕt ā mĕdĭā cătŭlōs cīrcūmspĭcĭt īrā.

Ēt iām laēvă vĭrō, quāmvīs saēvīrĕ vĕtārēt

Āmphīōn, ērēptă mănūs, pŭĕrīquĕ trăhūntūr

ōră sŭpīnă cŏmīs. Sērūs tūnc dēnĭquĕ sūpplēx

dēmīssō mūcrōnĕ rŏgāt: "Mŏdĕrātĭŭs, ōrō,

dūcĭtĕ, fūlmĭnĕī pēr vōs cūnābŭlă Bācchī

Īnōāmquĕ fŭgām vēstrīquĕ Pălaēmŏnĭs ānnōs!

Sī cuī fōrtĕ dŏmī nātōrūm gaūdĭă, sī quīs

hīc pătĕr, āngūstī pŭĕrō dătĕ pūlvĕrĭs haūstūs

ēxĭgŭāmquĕ făcēm! rŏgăt, ēn rŏgăt īpsĕ iăcēntīs

vūltŭs: ĕgo īnfāndās pŏtĭōr sătĭārĕ vŏlūcrēs,

mē praēbētĕ fĕrīs, ĕgŏ bēlla aūdērĕ cŏēgī".

"Īmmo" ăĭt Āmphīōn "rēgēm sī tāntă cŭpīdŏ

quīd frācti ēxsānguēsquĕ părēnt; cūncta ōcĭŭs ēffēr,

ēt vītā tŭmŭlōquĕ dŭcīs dōnātŭs ăbītŏ".

Hōrrŭĭt ēt tōtō praēcōrdĭă prōtĭnŭs Ārcās

īmplēvīt căpŭlō. "Sūmmūmne hōc clādĭbŭs" īnquīt,

"deērăt ŭt ādflīctōs tūrpārem ĕgŏ prōdĭtŏr Ārgōs?

nīl ĕmĭmūs tāntī, nēc sī vĕlĭt īpsĕ crĕmārī".

Sīc ăĭt, ēt māgnō prōscīssūm vūlnĕrĕ pēctūs

īniēcīt pŭĕrō, sūprēmăquĕ mūrmŭră vōlvēns:

"Hōc tămĕn īntĕrĕā mēcūm pŏtĭārĕ sĕpūlcrō"

Tālēs ōptātīs rēgum īn cōmplēxĭbŭs āmbō,

pār īnsīgne ănĭmīs, Aētōlŭs ĕt īnclĭtŭs Ārcās,

ēgrĕgĭās ēfflānt ănĭmās lētōquĕ frŭūntūr.

Vōs quŏquĕ sācrātī, quāmvīs mĕă cārmĭnă sūrgānt

īnfĕrĭōrĕ lўrā, mĕmŏrēs sŭpĕrābĭtĭs ānnōs.

fōrsĭtăn ēt cŏmĭtēs nōn āspērnābĭtŭr ūmbrās

Eūrўălūs Phrўgĭīque ādmīttēt glōrĭă Nīsī.

Āt fĕrŭs Āmphīōn, rēgī quī fāctă rĕpōrtēnt

ēdŏcĕāntquĕ dŏlūm cāptīvăquĕ cōrpŏră rēddānt,

mīttĭt ŏvāns; claūsīs īpse īnsūltārĕ Pĕlāsgīs

tēndĭt ĕt ābscīsōs sŏcĭōrum ōstēndĕrĕ vūltūs.

Īntĕrĕā rĕdŭcēm mūrōrum ē cūlmĭnĕ Grāī

Thīŏdămāntă vĭdēnt nēc iam ērūmpēntĭă cēlānt

gaūdĭa. ŭt ēxsērtōs ēnsēs ēt caēdĕ rĕcēntī

ārmă rŭbērĕ nŏtānt; tūnc āssĭlĭt aēthĕră māgnūm

clāmŏr, ĕt ē sūmmō pēndēnt cŭpĭda āgmĭnă vāllō

nōscĕrĕ quīsquĕ sŭōs. vŏlŭcrūm sīc tūrbă rĕcēntūm,

cūm rĕdŭcēm lōngō prōspēxĭt ĭn āĕrĕ mātrēm,

īrĕ cŭpīt cōntrā sūmmīque ē mārgĭnĕ nīdī

ēxstăt hĭāns, iāmiāmquĕ cădāt, nī pēctŏrĕ tōtō

ōbstĕt ăpērtă părēns ĕt ămāntĭbŭs īncrĕpĕt ālīs.

Dūmque ŏpŭs ārcānum ēt tăcĭtī cōmpēndĭă Mārtīs

ēnŭmĕrānt laētīsquĕ sŭōs cōmplēxĭbŭs īmplēnt

Hōplĕăque ēxquīrūnt tārdūmquĕ Dўmāntă quĕrūntūr

ēcce ēt Dīrcaēaē iūxtā dūx cōncĭtŭs ālaē

vēnĕrăt Āmphīōn; nōn lōngūm caēdĕ rĕcēntī

laētātūs vĭdĕt īnnŭmĕrīs fērvērĕ cătērvīs

tēllūrem ātque ūnā gēntem ēxspīrārĕ rŭīnā.

quī trĕmŏr īnĭcĭtūr caēlī dē lāmpădĕ tāctīs,

hīc fīxīt iŭvĕnēm, părĭtērque hōrrōrĕ sŭb ūnō

vōx, ăcĭēs sānguīsquĕ pĕrīt, gĕmĭtūsquĕ părāntēm

īpse ūltrō cōnvērtĭt ĕquūs; fŭgĭt ālă rĕtōrtō

pūlvĕrĕ. nōndum īllī Thēbārūm claūstră sŭbībānt,

ēt iam Ārgīvă cŏhōrs nōctūrnō frētă trĭūmphō

prōsĭlĭt īn cāmpōs; pĕr ĕt ārma ēt mēmbră iăcēntūm

taētrăquĕ cōngĕrĭē sŏlă sēmiănĭmūmquĕ crŭōrēm

cōrnĭpĕdēs īpsīquĕ rŭūnt: grăvĭs ēxtĕrĭt ārtūs

ūngŭlă, sānguĭnĕūs lăvăt īmbĕr ĕt īmpĕdĭt āxēs.

Dūlcĕ vĭrīs hāc īrĕ vĭā, ceū tēctă sŭpērbī

Sīdŏnĭa ātque īpsās cālcēnt īn sānguĭnĕ Thēbās.

Hōrtātūr Căpăneūs: "Sătĭs ōccūltātă, Pĕlāsgī,

dēlĭtŭīt vīrtūs: nūnc, nūnc mĭhĭ vīncĕrĕ pūlchrūm

tēstĕ dĭē; mēcūm clāmōre ēt pūlvĕre ăpērtō

ītĕ pălām, iŭvĕnēs: sūnt ēt mĭhĭ prōvĭdă dēxtraē

nūmĭna ĕt hōrrēndī strīctō mūcrōnĕ fŭrōrēs."

sīc ăĭt; ārdēntēs ălăcēr sūccēndĭt Ădrāstūs

Ārgŏlĭcūsquĕ gĕnēr, sĕquĭtūr iām trīstĭŏr aūgūr.

Iāmquĕ prĕmūnt mūrōs - ĕt ădhūc nŏvă fūnĕră nārrāt

Āmphīōn - mĭsĕrāmque īntrābānt prōtĭnŭs ūrbēm,

nī Mĕgăreūs spĕcŭlā cĭtŭs ēxclāmāssĕt ăb āltā:

"Claūdĕ, vĭgīl, sŭbĕūnt hōstēs, claūde ūndĭquĕ pōrtās!"

Ēst ŭbĭ dāt vīrīs nĭmĭūs tĭmŏr: ōcĭŭs ōmnīs

pōrtă cŏīt; sōlās dūm tārdĭŭs ārtăt Ĕchīōn

Ōgўgĭās, aūdāx ănĭmīs Spārtānă iŭvēntūs

īrrūpīt, caēsīquĕ rŭūnt īn līmĭnĕ prīmō

īncŏlă Tāўgĕtī Pănŏpeūs rĭgĭdīquĕ nătātōr

Oēbălŭs Eūrōtaē; tūque, ō spēctātĕ pălaēstrīs

ōmnĭbŭs ēt nūpēr Nĕmĕaēo īn pūlvĕrĕ fēlīx,

Ālcĭdămā, prīmīs quēm caēstĭbŭs īpsĕ lĭgārāt

Tŷndărĭdēs, nĭtĭdī mŏrĭēns cōnvēxă măgīstrī

rēspĭcĭs: āvērsō părĭtēr dĕŭs ōccĭdĭt āstrō.

Tē nĕmŭs Oēbălĭūm, tē lūbrĭcă rīpă Lăcaēnaē

vīrgĭnĭs ēt fālsō gūrgēs cāntātŭs ŏlōrī

flēbĭt, Ămŷclaēīs Trĭvĭaē lūgēbĕrĕ Nŷmphīs,

ēt quaē tē lēgēs praēcēptăquĕ fōrtĭă bēllī

ērŭdĭīt gĕnĕtrīx, nĭmĭūm dĭdĭcīssĕ quĕrētūr.

Tālĭs Ĕchīŏnĭō Māvōrs īn līmĭnĕ saēvīt.

Tāndem ŭmĕrīs ōbnīxŭs Ăcrōn ēt pēctŏrĕ tōtō

prōnŭs Ĭālmĕnĭdēs aērātaē rōbŏră pōrtaē

tōrsērūnt: quāntā părĭtēr cērvīcĕ gĕmēntēs

prōfrīngūnt ĭnărātă dĭū Pāngaēă iŭvēncī.

pār ŏpĕrīs iāctūră lŭcrō, quīppe hōstĕ rĕtēntō

ēxclūsērĕ sŭōs; cădĭt īntrā moēnĭă Grāiūs

Ōrmĕnŭs, ēt prōnās tēndēntĭs Ămŷntŏrĭs ūlnās

fūndēntīsquĕ prĕcēs pĕnĭtūs cērvīcĕ rĕmīssā

vērbă sŏlō vūltūsquĕ cădūnt, cōllōquĕ dĕcōrūs

tōrquĕs ĭn hōstīlēs cĕcĭdīt pēr vūlnŭs hărēnās.

Sōlvĭtŭr īntĕrĕā vāllūm, prīmaēquĕ rĕcūsānt

stārĕ mŏraē; iām sē pĕdĭtūm iūnxērĕ cătērvaē

moēnĭbŭs: āt pătŭlās sāltū trānsmīttĕrĕ fōssās

hōrrŏr ĕquīs, haērēnt trĕpĭdi ātque īmmānĕ păvēntēs

ābrūptūm mīrāntŭr ĭtēr; nūnc īmpĕtŭs īrĕ

mārgĭne ăb ēxtrēmō, nūnc spōnte īn frēnă rĕcēdūnt.

Hī praēfīxă sŏlō vēllūnt mūnīmĭna, ăt īllī

pōrtārum ōbiēctūs mĭnŭūnt ēt fērrĕă sūdānt

claūstră rĕmōlīrī, trăbĭbūsque ārtātă sŏnōrō

pēllūnt sāxă lŏcō; pārs ād fāstīgĭă mīssās

ēxsūltānt haēsīssĕ făcēs, pārs īmă lăcēssūnt

scrūtāntūrquĕ căvās caēcā tēstūdĭnĕ tūrrēs.

Āt Tўrĭī, quaē sōlă sălūs, căpŭt ōmnĕ cŏrōnānt

spīcŭla ĕt ārsūrās caēlī pĕr ĭnānĭă glāndēs

sāxăque ĭn ādvērsōs īpsīs āvūlsă rŏtābānt

moēnĭbŭs: ēxūndānt saēvō fāstīgĭă nīmbō,

ārmātaēquĕ vŏmūnt strīdēntĭă tēlă fĕnēstraē.

Quālĭtĕr aūt Māleān aūt āltă Cĕraūnĭă sūprā

cēssāntēs īn nūbĕ sĕdēnt nīgrīsquĕ lĕgūntūr

cōllĭbŭs ēt sŭbĭtaē sălĭūnt īn vēlă prŏcēllaē:

tālĭs Ăgēnŏrĕīs Ārgīvum ēxērcĭtŭs ārmīs

ōbrŭĭtūr; nōn ōră vĭrūm, nōn pēctŏră flēctīt

īmbĕr ătrōx, rēctōsquĕ tĕnēnt īn moēnĭă vūltūs

īmmĕmŏrēs lēti ēt tāntūm sŭă tēlă vĭdēntēs.

Ānthĕă fālcātō lūstrāntēm moēnĭă cūrrū

dēsŭpĕr Ōgўgĭaē pĕpŭlīt grăvĭs īmpĕtŭs hāstaē;

lōra ēxcūssă mănū, rētrōque īn tērgă vŏlūtūs

sēmiănĭmōs ārtūs ŏcrĕīs rĕtĭnēntĭbŭs haērēt;

mīrāndūm vīsū bēllī scĕlŭs: ārmă trăhūntūr,

fūmāntēsquĕ rŏtaē tēllūrem ēt tērtĭŭs hāstaē

sūlcŭs ărāt; lōngō sĕquĭtūr văgă pūlvĕrĕ cērvīx,

ēt rĕsŭpīnārūm pătĕt ōrbĭtă lātă cŏmārūm.

Āt tŭbă lūctĭfĭcīs pūlsāt clāngōrĭbŭs ūrbēm

ōbsaēptāsquĕ fŏrēs sŏnĭtū pērfrīngĭt ămārō.

dīvīsēre ădĭtūs, ōmnīque īn līmĭnĕ saēvūs

sīgnĭfĕr ānte ōmnēs sŭă dāmna ēt gaūdĭă pōrtāns.

Dīra īntūs făcĭēs, vīx Māvōrs īpsĕ vĭdēndō

gaūdĕăt; īnsānīs lŷmphātam hōrrōrĭbŭs ūrbēm

scīndūnt dīssēnsū vărĭō Lūctūsquĕ Fŭrōrquĕ

ēt Păvŏr ēt caēcīs Fŭgă cīrcūmfūsă tĕnēbrīs.

bēllum īntrāssĕ pŭtēs: fērvēnt dīscūrsĭbŭs ārcēs,

mīscēntūr clāmōrĕ vĭaē, fērrum ūndĭque ĕt īgnēs

mēntĕ vĭdēnt, saēvās mēnte āccēpērĕ cătēnās.

cōnsūmpsīt vēntūră tĭmōr: iām tēctă rĕplērūnt

tēmplăque ĕt īngrātaē vāllāntūr plānctĭbŭs āraē.

ūna ōmnīs ĕădēmquĕ sŭbīt fōrmīdŏ pĕr ānnōs:

pōscūnt fātă sĕnēs, ārdēt pāllētquĕ iŭvēntūs,

ātrĭă fēmĭnĕīs trĕpĭdānt ŭlŭlātă quĕrēlīs.

flēnt pŭĕri ēt flēndī nĕquĕūnt cōgnōscĕrĕ caūsās

āttŏnĭti ēt tāntūm mātrūm lāmēntă trĕmēntēs.

Īllās cōgĭt ămōr, nĕc hăbēnt ēxtrēmă pŭdōrēm:

īpsaē tēlă vĭrīs, īpsae īram ănĭmōsquĕ mĭnīstrānt,

hōrtāntūrque ūnāquĕ rŭūnt, nĕc ăvītă gĕmēntēs

līmĭnă nēc pārvōs cēssānt ōstēndĕrĕ nātōs:

sīc ŭbĭ pūmĭcĕō pāstōr rāptūrŭs ăb āntrō

ārmātās ērēxĭt ăpēs, frĕmĭt āspĕră nūbēs,

īnquĕ vĭcēm sēsē strīdōre hōrtāntŭr ĕt ōmnēs

hōstĭs ĭn ōră vŏlānt, mōx dēfĭcĭēntĭbŭs ālīs

āmplēxaē flāvāmquĕ dŏmūm cāptīvăquĕ plāngūnt

mēllă lăbōrātāsquĕ prĕmūnt ād pēctŏră cērās.

Nēc nōn āncĭpĭtīs pūgnāt sēntēntĭă vūlgī

dīscōrdēsquĕ sĕrīt mōtūs: hī rēddĕrĕ frātrī

- nēc mūssānt, sēd vōcĕ pălām clārōquĕ tŭmūltū -,

rēddĕrĕ rēgnă iŭbēnt; pĕrĭīt rĕvĕrēntĭă rēgīs

sōllĭcĭtīs: "Vĕnĭāt pāctūmque hīc cōmpŭtĕt ānnūm,

īnfēlīx tĕnĕbrās; cūr aūtem ĕgŏ sānguĭnĕ fraūdēs

ēt pēriūră lŭām rēgālīs crīmĭnă nōxaē?"

Īnde ălĭī: "Sēra īstă fĭdēs, iām vīncĕrĕ māvūlt".

Tīrēsiān ălĭī lăcrĭmīs ēt sūpplĭcĕ coētū

ōrānt, quōdque ūnūm rēbūs sōlāmĕn ĭn ārtīs,

nōssĕ fŭtūră rŏgānt. tĕnĕt īlle īnclūsă prĕmītquĕ

fātă dĕūm: "Quiāne āntĕ dŭcī bĕnĕ crēdĭtă nōstrō

cōnsĭlĭa ēt mŏnĭtūs, cūm pērfĭdă bēllă vĕtārēm?

Tē tămĕn, īnfēlīx" īnquīt, "pĕrĭtūrăquĕ Thēbē,

sī tăcĕām, nĕquĕō mĭsĕr ēxaūdīrĕ cădēntēm

Ārgŏlĭcūmque ŏcŭlīs haūrīrĕ văcāntĭbŭs īgnēm.

vīncāmūr, Pĭĕtās; pōne hēia āltārĭă, vīrgŏ,

quaērāmūs sŭpĕrōs." făcĭt īlla, ăcĭēquĕ săgācī

sānguĭnĕōs flāmmārum ăpĭcēs gĕmĭnūmquĕ pĕr ārās

īgnem ēt clāră tămēn mĕdĭaē fāstīgĭă lūcīs

ōrtă dŏcēt; tūnc īn spĕcĭēm sērpēntĭs ĭnānēm

āncĭpĭtī gŷrō vōlvī frāngīquĕ rŭbōrēm

dēmōnstrāt dŭbĭō, pătrĭāsque īllūmĭnăt ūmbrās.

Īllĕ cŏrōnātōs iāmdūdum āmplēctĭtŭr īgnēs,

fātĭdĭcūm sōrbēns vūltū flāgrāntĕ văpōrēm.

stānt trīstēs hōrrōrĕ cŏmaē, vīttāsquĕ prĕmēntēs

caēsărĭēs īnsānă lĕvāt: dīdūctă pŭtārēs

lūmĭnă cōnsūmptūmquĕ gĕnīs rĕdĭīssĕ nĭtōrēm.

Tāndem ēxūndāntī pērmīsīt vērbă fŭrōrī:

"Aūdīte, ō sōntēs, ēxtrēmă lĭtāmĭnă dīvūm,

Lābdăcĭdaē: vĕnĭt ālmă sălūs, sēd līmĭtĕ dūrō.

Mārtĭŭs īnfĕrĭās ēt saēva ēfflāgĭtăt ānguīs

sācră: cădāt gĕnĕrīs quīcūmquĕ nŏvīssĭmŭs ēxstāt

vīpĕrĕī, dătŭr hōc tāntūm vīctōrĭă pāctō.

fēlīx, quī tāntā lūcēm mērcēdĕ rĕlīnquēt."

Stābāt fātĭdĭcī prŏpĕ saēva āltārĭă vātīs

maēstŭs, ădhūc pătrĭae ēt tāntūm cōmmūnĭă lūgēns

fātă, Crĕōn: grāndēm sŭbĭtī cūm fūlmĭnĭs īctūm,

nōn sĕcŭs āc tōrtā trāiēctūs cūspĭdĕ pēctūs,

āccĭpĭt ēxănĭmīs sēntītquĕ Mĕnoēcĕă pōscī.

mōnstrăt ĕnīm suādētquĕ tĭmōr; stŭpĕt ānxĭŭs āltō

cōrdă mĕtū glăcĭāntĕ pătēr: Trīnācrĭă quālīs

ōră rĕpērcūssūm Lĭbўcō mărĕ sūmĭt ăb aēstū.

Mōx plēnūm Phoēbō vātem ēt cĕlĕrārĕ iŭbēntēm

nūnc hŭmĭlīs gĕnŭa āmplēctēns, nūnc ōră cănēntīs

nēquīquām rĕtĭcērĕ rŏgāt; iām Fāmă săcrātām

vōcem āmplēxă vŏlāt, clāmāntque ōrācŭlă Thēbaē.

nūnc, ăgĕ, quīs stĭmŭlōs ēt pūlchraē gaūdĭă mōrtīs

āddĭdĕrīt iŭvĕnī - nĕque ĕnim haēc ābsēntĭbŭs ūmquām

mēns hŏmĭnī trānsmīssă dĕīs -, mĕmŏr īncĭpĕ Clīō,

saēcŭlă tē quŏnĭām pĕnĕs ēt dīgēstă vĕtūstās.

Dīvă Iŏvīs sŏlĭō iūxtā cŏmĕs, ūndĕ pĕr ōrbēm

rāră dărī tērrīsquĕ sŏlēt cōntīngĕrĕ, Vīrtūs,

seū pătĕr ōmnĭpŏtēns trĭbŭīt, sīve īpsă căpācīs

ēlēgīt pĕnĕtrārĕ vĭrōs, caēlēstĭbŭs ūt tūnc

dēsĭlŭīt gāvīsă plăgīs! Dānt clāră mĕāntī

āstră lŏcūm quōsque īpsă pŏlīs āffīxĕrăt īgnēs.

Iāmquĕ prĕmīt tērrās, nēc vūltŭs ăb aēthĕrĕ lōngē;

sēd plăcŭīt mūtārĕ gĕnās, fīt prōvĭdă Māntō,

rēspōnsīs ūt plēnă fĭdēs, ēt fraūdĕ prĭōrēs

ēxŭĭtūr vūltūs. Ăbĭīt hōrrōrquĕ vĭgōrquĕ

ēx ŏcŭlīs, paūlūm dĕcŏrīs pērmānsĭt hŏnōsquĕ

mōllĭŏr, ēt pŏsĭtō vātūm gēstāmĭnă fērrō

sūbdĭtă; dēscēndūnt vēstēs, tōrvīsquĕ lĭgātūr

vīttă cŏmīs - nām laūrŭs ĕrāt -; tămĕn āspĕră prōdūnt

ōră dĕām nĭmĭīquĕ grădūs. Sīc Lŷdĭă cōniūnx

Āmphĭtrўōnĭădēn ēxūtum hōrrēntĭă tērgă

pērdĕrĕ Sīdŏnĭōs ŭmĕrīs rīdēbăt ămīctūs

ēt tūrbārĕ cŏlūs ēt tŷmpănă rūmpĕrĕ dēxtrā.

Sēd nĕquĕ te īndĕcŏrēm sācrīs dīgnūmquĕ iŭbērī

tālĭă Dīrcaēā stāntēm prō tūrrĕ, Mĕnoēceū,

īnvĕnĭt; īmmēnsaē rĕsĕrātō līmĭnĕ pōrtaē

stērnēbās Dănăōs, părĭtēr Māvōrtĭŭs Haēmōn.

Sēd cōnsānguĭnĕī quāmvīs ātque ōmnĭă frātrēs,

tū prĭŏr: ēxănĭmēs cīrcūm cŭmŭlāntŭr ăcērvī;

ōmnĕ sĕdēt tēlūm, nūllī sĭnĕ caēdĭbŭs īctūs

- nēcdum ădĕrāt Vīrtūs -, nōn mēns, nōn dēxtră quĭēscīt,

nōn ăvĭda ārmă văcānt, īpsa īnsānīrĕ vĭdētūr

Sphīnx gălĕaē cūstōs, vīsōque ănĭmātă crŭōrĕ

ēmĭcăt ēffĭgĭēs ēt spārsa ŏrĭchālcă rĕnīdēnt:

cūm dĕă pūgnāntīs căpŭlūm dēxtrāmquĕ rĕprēssīt:

"Māgnănĭme ō iŭvĕnīs, quō nōn āgnōvĕrĭt ūllūm

cērtĭŭs ārmĭfĕrō Cādmī dē sēmĭnĕ Māvōrs,

līnque hŭmĭlēs pūgnās, nōn haēc tĭbĭ dēbĭtă vīrtūs:

āstră vŏcānt, caēlōque ănĭmām, plūs cōncĭpĕ, mīttēs.

Iāmdūdum hōc hĭlărīs gĕnĭtōr bācchātŭr ăd ārās,

hōc īgnēs fībraēquĕ vŏlūnt, hōc ūrgĕt Ăpōllŏ:

tērrĭgĕnām cūnctō pătrĭaē prō sānguĭnĕ pōscūnt.

Fāmă cănīt mŏnĭtūs, gaūdēt Cādmēĭă plēbēs

cērtă tŭī; răpĕ mēntĕ dĕōs, răpĕ nōbĭlĕ fātūm.

Ī, prĕcŏr, āccĕlĕrā, nē prōxĭmŭs ōccŭpĕt Haēmōn".

sīc ăĭt, ēt māgnā cūnctāntīs pēctŏră dēxtrā

pērmūlsīt tăcĭtē sēsēque īn cōrdĕ rĕlīquīt.

fūlmĭnĭs haūt cĭtĭūs rădĭīs āfflātă cŭprēssūs

cōmbĭbĭt īnfēstās ēt stīrpe ēt vērtĭcĕ flāmmās,

quām iŭvĕnīs mūltō pōssēssūs nūmĭnĕ pēctūs

ērēxīt sēnsūs lētīque īnvāsĭt ămōrēm.

ūt vēro āvērsaē grēssūmque hăbĭtūmquĕ nŏtāvīt

ēt sŭbĭtam ā tērrīs īn nūbĭlă crēscĕrĕ Māntō,

ōbstĭpŭīt. "Sĕquĭmūr, dīvūm quaēcūmquĕ vŏcāstī,

nēc tārdē pārēmŭs", ăīt; iāmiāmquĕ rĕcēdēns

īnstāntēm vāllō Pўlĭūm tămĕn Āgrĕă fīxīt.

Ārmĭgĕrī fēssum ēxcĭpĭūnt; tūm vūlgŭs ĕūntēm

aūctōrēm pācīs sērvātōrēmquĕ dĕūmquĕ

cōnclāmāt gaūdēns ātque īgnĭbŭs īmplĕt hŏnēstīs.

Iāmque ĭtĕr ād mūrōs cūrsū fēstīnŭs ănhēlō

ōbtĭnĕt ēt mĭsĕrōs gaūdēt vītāssĕ părēntēs,

cūm gĕnĭtōr -: stĕtĕrūntque āmbo ēt vōx haēsĭt ŭtrīquĕ,

dēiēctaēquĕ gĕnaē. tāndēm pătĕr āntĕ prŏfātūr:

"Quīs nŏvŭs īncēptīs răpŭīt tē cāsŭs ăb ārmīs?

Quaē bēllō grăvĭōră părās? Dīc, nātĕ, prĕcāntī,

cūr tĭbĭ tōrva ăcĭēs? Cūr hīc trŭcŭlēntŭs ĭn ōrĕ

pāllŏr, ĕt ād pătrĭōs nōn stānt tŭă lūmĭnă vūltūs?

Aūdīstī rēspōnsă, pălam ēst. Pĕr ĕgo ōrŏ tŭōsquĕ,

nātĕ, mĕōsque ānnōs mĭsĕraēquĕ pĕr ūbĕră mātrīs,

nē vātī, nē crēdĕ, pŭēr! Sŭpĕrīnĕ prŏfānūm

dīgnāntūr stĭmŭlārĕ sĕnēm, cuī vūltŭs ĭnānīs

ēxstīnctīque ōrbēs ēt poēnă sĭmīllĭmă dīrō

Oēdĭpŏdaē? quīd si īnsĭdĭīs ēt fraūdĕ dŏlōsā

rēx ăgĭt, ēxtrēma ēst cuī nōstra īn sōrtĕ tĭmōrī

nōbĭlĭtās tŭăque āntĕ dŭcēs nōtīssĭmă vīrtūs?

Īllĭŭs haēc fōrsān, rēmūr quaē vērbă dĕōrūm;

īllĕ mŏnēt! Nē frēna ănĭmō pērmīttĕ călēntī,

dā spătĭūm tĕnŭēmquĕ mŏrām, mălĕ cūnctă mĭnīstrāt

īmpĕtŭs; hōc, ōrō, mūnūs cōncēdĕ părēntī.

Sīc tŭă mātūrīs sīgnēntūr tēmpŏră cānīs,

ēt sīs īpsĕ părēns ĕt ăd hūnc, ănĭmōsĕ, tĭmōrēm

pērvĕnĭās: nē pērgĕ mĕōs ōrbārĕ pĕnātēs.

Ēxtērnī tē nēmpĕ pătrēs ălĭēnăquĕ tāngūnt

pīgnŏră? sī pŭdŏr ēst, prīmūm mĭsĕrērĕ tŭōrūm.

Haēc pĭĕtās, hīc vērŭs hŏnōs; ĭbĭ glōrĭă tāntūm

vēntōsūmquĕ dĕcūs tĭtŭlīque īn mōrtĕ lătēntēs.

Nēc tĭmĭdūs tē flēctŏ părēns: ī, proēlĭă mīscē,

ī Dănăās ăcĭēs mĕdĭōsquĕ pĕr ōbvĭŭs ēnsēs;

nōn tĕnĕō: lĭcĕāt mĭsĕrō trĕmĭbūndă lăvārĕ

vūlnĕra ĕt ūndāntēm lăcrĭmīs sīccārĕ crŭōrēm,

tēque ĭtĕrūm saēvīs ĭtĕrūmquĕ rĕmīttĕrĕ bēllīs.

Hōc mālūnt Thēbaē". Sīc cōllă mănūsquĕ tĕnēbāt

īmplĭcĭtūs; sēd nēc lăcrĭmaē nēc vērbă mŏvēbānt

dīs vōtūm iŭvĕnēm; quīn ēt mōnstrāntĭbŭs īllīs

fraūdĕ pătrēm tăcĭtā sŭbĭt āvērtītquĕ tĭmōrēm:

"Fāllĕrĭs heū vērōsquĕ mĕtūs, pătĕr ōptĭmĕ, nēscīs.

Nōn me ūllī mŏnĭtūs, nēc vātum ēxōrsă fŭrēntūm

sōllĭcĭtānt vānīsquĕ mŏvēnt: sĭbĭ cāllĭdŭs īstă

Tīrĕsĭās nātaēquĕ cănāt; nōn si īpsĕ rĕclūsīs

cōmmĭnŭs ēx ădўtīs īn me īnsānīrĕt Ăpōllŏ.

sēd grăvĭs ūnănĭmī cāsūs mē frātrĭs ăd ūrbēm

spōntĕ rĕfērt: gĕmĭt Īnăchĭā mĭhĭ saūcĭŭs Haēmōn

cūspĭdĕ; vīx īllūm mĕdĭō dē pūlvĕrĕ bēllī

īntĕr ŭtrāsque ăcĭēs, iāmiāmquĕ tĕnēntĭbŭs Ārgīs -

sēd mŏrŏr; ī, rĕfŏvē dŭbĭūm tūrbaēquĕ fĕrēntī

dīc, pārcānt lĕvĭtērquĕ vĕhānt; ĕgŏ vūlnĕră dōctūm

iūngĕrĕ sūprēmīquĕ fŭgām rĕvŏcārĕ crŭōrīs

Āĕthĭōnă pĕtām". sīc īmpērfēctă lŏcūtūs

ēffŭgĭt; īlli ātrā mērsūm cālīgĭnĕ pēctūs

cōnfūdīt sēnsūs; pĭĕtās īncērtă văgātūr

dīscōrdāntquĕ mĕtūs, īmpēllūnt crēdĕrĕ Pārcaē.

Tūrbĭdŭs īntĕrĕā rūptīs vĕnĭēntĭă pōrtīs

āgmĭnă bēllĭgĕrī Căpăneūs ăgĭt aēquŏrĕ cāmpī,

cōrnŭă nūnc ĕquĭtūm, cŭnĕōs nūnc īllĕ pĕdēstrīs,

ēt prōcūlcāntēs mŏdĕrāntūm fūnĕră cūrrūs;

īdem āltās tūrrēs sāxīs ēt tūrbĭnĕ crēbrō

lāxăt, ăgīt tūrmās īdem ātque īn sānguĭnĕ fūmāt.

Nūnc spārgīt tōrquēns vŏlŭcrī nŏvă vūlnĕră plūmbō,

nūnc iăcŭlum ēxcūssō rŏtăt īn sūblīmĕ lăcērtō,

nūllăquĕ tēctōrūm sŭbĭt ād fāstīgĭă, quaē nōn

dēfĕrăt hāstă vĭrūm pērfūsăquĕ caēdĕ rĕcūrrāt.

nēc iam aūt Oēnīdēn aūt Hīppŏmĕdōntă pĕrēmptōs

aūt vātēm Pĕlŏpēă phălānx aūt Ārcădă crēdūnt:

quīn sŏcĭūm cŏĭīsse ănĭmās ēt cōrpŏre ĭn ūnō

stāre ōmnēs, ĭtă cūnctă rĕplēt. nōn ūllĭŭs aētās,

nōn cūltūs, nōn fōrmă mŏvēt; pūgnāntĭbŭs īdēm

sūpplĭcĭbūsquĕ fŭrīt; nōn quīsquam ōbsīstĕrĕ cōntrā,

nōn bēllī tēmptārĕ vĭcēs: prŏcŭl ārmă fŭrēntīs

tērrĭbĭlīsquĕ iŭbās ēt frōntēm cāssĭdĭs hōrrēnt.

Āt pĭŭs ēlēctā mūrōrum īn pārtĕ Mĕnoēceūs

iām săcĕr āspēctū sŏlĭtōque aūgūstĭŏr ōrĕ,

ceū sŭbĭto īn tērrās sŭpĕrō dēmīssŭs ăb āxĕ,

cōnstĭtĭt, ēxēmptā mănĭfēstūs cāssĭdĕ nōscī,

dēspēxītque ăcĭēs hŏmĭnum ēt clāmōrĕ prŏfūndō

cōnvērtīt cāmpūm iūssītquĕ sĭlēntĭă bēllō.

"Ārmōrūm sŭpĕrī, tūque ō quī fūnĕrĕ tāntō

īndūlgēs mĭhĭ, Phoēbĕ, mŏrī, dătĕ gaūdĭă Thēbīs,

quaē pĕpĭgi ēt tōtō quaē sānguĭnĕ prōdĭgŭs ēmī.

Fērtĕ rĕtrō bēllūm cāptaēque īmpīngĭtĕ Lērnaē

rēlĭquĭās tūrpēs, cōnfīxăquĕ tērgă fŏvēntēs

Īnăchŭs īndĕcŏrēs pătĕr āvērsētŭr ălūmnōs.

Āt Tўrĭīs tēmpla, ārvă, dŏmōs, cōnūbĭă, nātōs

rēddĭtĕ mōrtĕ mĕā: sī vōs plăcĭta hōstĭă iūvī,

sī nōn āttŏnĭtīs vātīs cōnsūltă rĕcēpī

aūrĭbŭs ēt Thēbīs nōndūm crēdēntĭbŭs haūsī,

haēc Āmphīŏnĭīs prō mē pērsōlvĭtĕ tēctīs

āt mĭhĭ dēcēptūm, prĕcŏr, ēxōrātĕ părēntēm."

Sīc ăĭt, īnsīgnēmque ănĭmām mūcrōnĕ cŏrūscō

dēdīgnāntem ārtūs prīdēm maēstāmquĕ tĕnērī

ārrĭpĭt ātque ūnō quaēsītām vūlnĕrĕ rūmpīt.

sānguĭnĕ tūnc spārgīt tūrrēs ēt moēnĭă lūstrāt,

sēquĕ sŭpēr mĕdĭās ăcĭēs, nōndum ēnsĕ rĕmīssō,

iēcĭt ĕt īn saēvōs cădĕre ēst cōnātŭs Ăchīvōs.

āst īllum āmplēxaē Pĭĕtās Vīrtūsquĕ fĕrēbānt

lēnĭtĕr ād tērrās cōrpūs; nām spīrĭtŭs ōlīm

āntĕ Iŏvem ēt sūmmīs ăpĭcēm sĭbĭ pōscĭt ĭn āstrīs.

Iāmque īntrā mūrōs nūllō sūdōrĕ rĕcēptūm

gaūdēntēs hērōă fĕrūnt: ābscēssĕrăt ūltrō

Tāntălĭdūm vĕnĕrātă cŏhōrs; sŭbĭt āgmĭnĕ lōngō

cōlla īntēr iŭvĕnūm, laētīsquĕ făvōrĭbŭs ōmnī

cōncĭnĭtūr vūlgō Cādmum ātque Āmphīŏnă sūprā

cōndĭtŏr; hī sērtīs, hī vērĭs hŏnōrĕ sŏlūtōs

āccŭmŭlānt ārtūs pătrĭāque īn sēdĕ rĕpōnūnt

cōrpŭs ădōrātūm. Rĕpĕtūnt mōx bēllă pĕrāctīs

laūdĭbŭs; hīc vīctā gĕnĭtōr lăcrĭmābĭlĭs īrā

cōngĕmĭt, ēt tāndēm mātrī dătă flērĕ pŏtēstās:

"Lūstrālēmnĕ fĕrīs ĕgŏ tē, pŭĕr īnclĭtĕ, Thēbīs

dēvōtūmquĕ căpūt vīlīs ceū mātĕr ălēbām?

Quōd mōlītă nĕfās, cuī tāntum īnvīsă dĕōrūm?

nōn ĕgŏ mōnstrĭfĕrō cŏĭtū rĕvŏlūtă nŏtāvī

pīgnŏră, nēc nātō pĕpĕrī fūnēstă nĕpōtēs.

quīd rēfērt? pŏtĭtūr nātīs Ĭŏcāstă dŭcēsquĕ

rēgnāntēsquĕ vĭdēt: nōs saēvă pĭācŭlă bēllō

dēmŭs, ŭt āltērnī - plăcĕt hōc tĭbĭ, fūlmĭnĭs aūctōr -

Oēdĭpŏdīŏnĭī mūtēnt dĭădēmătă frātrēs!

Quīd sŭpĕrōs hŏmĭnēsvĕ quĕrōr? Tū, saēvĕ Mĕnoēceū,

tu miseram ante omnis properasti exstinguere matrem.

Ūnde hīc mōrtĭs ămōr? quaē sācra īnsānĭă mēntī?

tām dīvērsă mĭhī? nīmīrūm Mārtĭŭs ānguīs,

quaēquĕ nŏvīs prŏăvūm tēllūs ēfflōrŭĭt ārmīs -

hīnc ănĭmī trīstēs nĭmĭūsque īn pēctŏrĕ Māvōrs,

ēt dē mātrĕ nĭhīl. spōnte ēn ūltrōquĕ pĕrēmptūs

īrrūmpīs maēstās fātīs nōlēntĭbŭs ūmbrās.

Āst ĕgŏmēt Dănăōs Căpănēăquĕ tēlă vĕrēbār:

haēc ĕrăt, haēc mĕtŭēndă mănūs fērrūmquĕ, quŏd āmēns

īpsă dĕdī. Vĭdĕn ūt iŭgŭlō cōnsūmpsĕrĭt ēnsēm?

āltĭŭs haūt quīsquām Dănăūm mūcrōnĕ sŭbīssēt."

Dīcĕrĕt īnfēlīx ĕtĭāmnum ēt cūnctă rĕplērēt

quēstĭbŭs: ābdūcūnt cŏmĭtēs fămŭlaēquĕ pĕrōsām

sōlāntēs thălămōquĕ tĕnēnt, sĕdĕt ērŭtă mūltō

ūnguĕ gĕnās; nōn īllă dĭēm, nōn vērbă prĕcāntūm

rēspĭcĭt aūt vīsūs flēctīt tēllūrĕ rĕlīctōs,

iām vōcīs, iām mēntĭs ĭnōps. Sīc āspĕră tīgrīs

fētĭbŭs ābrēptīs Scўthĭcō dēsērtă sŭb āntrō

āccŭbăt ēt tĕpĭdī lāmbīt vēstīgĭă sāxī;

nūsquam īraē, sēdīt răbĭdī fĕrĭtāsquĕ fămēsquĕ

ōrĭs, ĕūnt praētēr sēcūra ārmēntă grĕgēsquĕ:

āspĭcĭt īllă iăcēns; ŭbi ĕnīm, quĭbŭs ūbĕră pāscāt

aūt quōs īngēntī prĕmăt ēxspēctātă răpīnā?

Hāctĕnŭs ārmă, tŭbaē, fērrūmque ēt vūlnĕră: sēd nūnc

cōmmĭnŭs āstrĭgĕrōs Căpăneūs tōllēndŭs ĭn āxīs.

Nōn mĭhĭ iām sŏlĭtō vātūm dē mōrĕ cănēndūm;

māiŏr ăb Āŏnĭīs pōscēnda āmēntĭă lūcīs:

mēcum ōmnēs aūdētĕ dĕaē! sīve īllĕ prŏfūndā

mīssūs nōctĕ fŭrōr, Căpănēăquĕ sīgnă sĕcūtaē

ārmă Iŏvēm cōntrā Stўgĭaē răpŭērĕ sŏrōrēs,

seū vīrtūs ēgrēssă mŏdūm, seū glōrĭă praēcēps,

seū māgnaē dătă fātă nĕcī, seū laētă mălōrūm

prīncĭpĭa ēt blāndaē sŭpĕrūm mōrtālĭbŭs īraē.

Iām sōrdēnt tērrēnă vĭrō taēdētquĕ prŏfūndaē

caēdĭs, ĕt ēxhaūstīs ōlīm Grāiūmquĕ sŭīsquĕ

mīssĭlĭbūs lāssā rēspēxĭt ĭn aēthĕră dēxtrā.

Ārdŭă mōx tōrvō mētītūr cūlmĭnă vīsū,

īnnŭmĕrōsquĕ grădūs gĕmĭnā lătŭs ārbŏrĕ clūsōs,

āĕrĭūm sĭbĭ pōrtăt ĭtēr, lōngēquĕ tĭmēndūs

mūltĭfĭdām quērcūm flāgrāntī lūmĭnĕ vībrāt;

ārmă rŭbēnt ūnā clĭpĕōque īncēndĭtŭr īgnīs.

"Hāc" ăĭt, "īn Thēbās, hāc mē iŭbĕt ārdŭă vīrtūs

īrĕ, Mĕnoēcēō quā lūbrĭcă sānguĭnĕ tūrrīs.

Ēxpĕrĭār, quīd sācră iŭvēnt, ān fālsŭs Ăpōllŏ".

Dīcĭt, ĕt āltērnō cāptīva īn moēnĭă grēssū

sūrgĭt ŏvāns: quālīs mĕdĭīs īn nūbĭbŭs aēthēr

vīdĭt Ălōīdās, cūm crēscĕrĕt īmpĭă tēllūs

dēspēctūră dĕōs nĕc ădhūc īmmānĕ vĕnīrēt

Pēliōn ēt trĕpĭdūm iām tāngĕrĕt Ōssă Tŏnāntēm.

Tūm vēro āttŏnĭtī fātōrum īn cārdĭnĕ sūmmō,

ceū sūprēmă lŭēs ūrbī făcĭbūsquĕ crŭēntīs

aēquātūră sŏlō tūrrēs Bēllōnă sŭbīrēt,

ōmnĭbŭs ē tēctīs cērtātim īngēntĭă sāxă

rōbŏrăque ēt vălĭdās fūndaē Bălĕārĭs hăbēnās

- nām iăcŭlīs caēlōquĕ văgīs spēs ūndĕ săgīttīs? -

vērum ăvĭdī tōrmēntă rŏtānt ēt mōlĭbŭs ūrgēnt.

Īllĕ nĕc īngēstīs nēc tērgă sĕquēntĭbŭs ūmquām

dētrăhĭtūr tēlīs, văcŭōquĕ sŭb āĕrĕ pēndēns

plānă vĕlūt tērrā cērtūs vēstīgĭă fīgāt,

tēndĭt ĕt īngēntī sŭbĭt ōccūrrēntĕ rŭīnā:

āmnĭs ŭt īncūmbēns lōngaēvī rōbŏră pōntīs

āssĭdŭīs ōppūgnăt ăquīs; iām sāxă fătīscūnt

ēmōtaēquĕ trăbēs: tāntō vĭŏlēntĭŏr īllĕ

- sēntĭt ĕnīm - māiōrĕ sălō quāssātquĕ trăhītquĕ

mōlem aēgrām, nēxūs dōnēc cĕlĕr ālvĕŭs ōmnīs

ābscĭdĭt ēt cūrsū vīctōr rēspīrăt ăpērtō.

Ūtquĕ pĕtītă dĭū cēlsūs fāstīgĭă sūprā

ēmĭnŭīt trĕpĭdāmque āssūrgēns dēsŭpĕr ūrbēm

vīdĭt ĕt īngēntī Thēbās ēxtērrŭĭt ūmbrā,

īncrĕpăt āttŏnĭtōs "Haēne īllae Āmphīŏnĭs ārcēs?

Prō pŭdŏr! Hī făcĭlēs cārmēnque īmbēllĕ sĕcūtī,

hī, mēntītă dĭū Thēbārūm fābŭlă, mūrī?

ēt quīd tam ēgrĕgĭūm prōstērnĕrĕ moēnĭă mōllī

strūctă lўrā?" Sĭmŭl īnsūltāns grēssūquĕ mănūquĕ

mōlĭbŭs ōbstāntīs cŭnĕōs tăbŭlātăquĕ saēvūs

rēstrŭĭt: ābsĭlĭūnt pōntēs, tēctīquĕ prĕmēntīs

sāxĕă frēnă lăbānt, dīssaēptōque āggĕrĕ rūrsūs

ūtĭtŭr ēt trūncās rūpēs īn tēmplă dŏmōsquĕ

praēcĭpĭtāt frāngītquĕ sŭīs iām moēnĭbŭs ūrbēm.

Iāmquĕ Iŏvēm cīrcā stŭdĭīs dīvērsă frĕmēbānt

Ārgŏlĭcī Tўrĭīquĕ dĕī; pătĕr aēquŭs ŭtrīsquĕ

āspĭcĭt īngēntēs ārdēntūm cōmmĭnŭs īrās

sēque ōbstārĕ vĭdēt. Gĕmĭt īnsērvāntĕ nŏvērcā

Lībĕr ĕt ōblīquō rēspēctāns lūmĭnĕ pātrēm:

"Nūnc ŭbĭ saēvă mănūs, mĕăque heū cūnābŭlă flāmmaē,

fūlmēn, iō | ŭbĭ fūlmĕn?" ăīt. Gĕmĭt aūctŏr Ăpōllŏ,

quās dĕdĭt īpsĕ, dŏmōs; Lērnām Thēbāsquĕ rĕpēndīt

maēstŭs ĕt īntēntō dŭbĭtāt Tīrŷnthĭŭs ārcū;

mātērnōs plāngīt vŏlŭcēr Dănăēĭŭs Ārgōs;

flēt Vĕnŭs Hārmŏnĭaē pŏpŭlōs mĕtŭēnsquĕ mărītī

stāt prŏcŭl ēt tăcĭtā Grādīvūm rēspĭcĭt īrā.

Īncrĕpăt Āŏnĭōs aūdāx Trītōnĭă dīvōs,

Iūnōnēm tăcĭtām fŭrĭbūndă sĭlēntĭă tōrquēnt.

Nōn tămĕn haēc tūrbānt pācēm Iŏvĭs: ēccĕ quĭērānt

iūrgĭă, cūm mĕdĭīs Căpăneūs aūdītŭs ĭn āstrīs.

"Nūllănĕ prō trĕpĭdīs" clāmābāt, "nūmĭnă Thēbīs

stātĭs? ŭbi īnfāndaē sēgnēs tēllūrĭs ălūmnī,

Bācchŭs ĕt Ālcīdēs? Pŭdĕt īnstīgārĕ mĭnōrēs.

tū pŏtĭūs vĕnĭās - quĭs ĕnīm cōncūrrĕrĕ nōbīs

dīgnĭŏr? Ēn cĭnĕrēs Sĕmĕlēăquĕ būstă tĕnēntūr -,

nūnc ăgĕ, nūnc tōtīs īn mē cōnītĕrĕ flāmmīs,

Iūppĭtĕr! Ān păvĭdās tŏnĭtrū tūrbārĕ pŭēllās

fōrtĭŭs ēt sŏcĕrī tūrrēs ēxscīndĕrĕ Cādmī?"

Īngĕmŭīt dīctīs sŭpĕrūm dŏlŏr; īpsĕ fŭrēntēm

rīsĭt ĕt īncūssā sānctārūm mōlĕ cŏmārūm:

"Quaēnām spēs hŏmĭnūm tŭmĭdaē pōst proēlĭă Phlēgraē!

Tūne ĕtĭām fĕrĭēndŭs?" ăīt. Prĕmĭt ūndĭquĕ lēntūm

tūrbă dĕūm frēndēns ēt tēla ūltrīcĭă pōscīt,

nēc iam aūdēt fātīs tūrbāta ōbsīstĕrĕ cōniūnx.

Īpsă dătō nōndūm caēlēstīs rēgĭă sīgnō

spōntĕ tŏnāt, cŏĕūnt īpsaē sĭnĕ flāmĭnĕ nūbēs

āccūrrūntque īmbrēs: Stўgĭās rūpīssĕ cătēnās

Īăpĕtum aūt vīctām sŭpĕra ād cōnvēxă lĕvārī

Īnărĭmēn Aētnāmvĕ pŭtēs. Pŭdĕt īstă tĭmērĕ

caēlĭcŏlās; sēd cum īn mĕdĭā vērtīgĭnĕ mūndī

stārĕ vĭrum īnsānāsquĕ vĭdēnt dēpōscĕrĕ pūgnās,

mīrāntūr tăcĭte ēt dŭbĭō prō fūlmĭnĕ pāllēnt.

Coēpĕrăt Ōgўgĭaē sūprā fāstīgĭă tūrrīs

ārcānūm mūgīrĕ pŏlūs caēlūmquĕ tĕnēbrīs

aūfērrī: tĕnĕt īllĕ tămēn, quās nōn vĭdĕt, ārcēs,

fūlgŭrăque āttrītīs quŏtĭēns mĭcŭērĕ prŏcēllīs:

"Hīs" ăĭt, "īn Thēbās, hīs iām dĕcĕt īgnĭbŭs ūtī,

hīnc rĕnŏvārĕ făcēs lāssāmque āccēndĕrĕ quērcūm."

Tālĭă dīcēntēm tōtō Iŏvĕ fūlmĕn ădāctūm

cōrrĭpŭīt: prīmaē fūgēre īn nūbĭlă crīstaē,

ēt clĭpĕī nĭgĕr ūmbŏ cădīt, iāmque ōmnĭă lūcēnt

mēmbră vĭrī. Cēdūnt ăcĭēs, ēt tērrŏr ŭtrīmquĕ,

quō rŭăt, ārdēntī fĕrĭāt quās cōrpŏrĕ tūrmās.

Īntrā sē strīdērĕ făcēm gălĕāmquĕ cŏmāsquĕ

quēstŭs, ĕt ūrēntēm thōrācă rĕpēllĕrĕ dēxtrā

cōnātūs fērrī cĭnĕrēm sūb pēctŏrĕ trāctāt.

Stāt tămĕn, ēxtrēmūmque īn sīdĕră vērsŭs ănhēlāt,

pēctŏrăque īnvīsīs ŏbĭcīt fūmāntĭă mūrīs,

nē cădĕrēt: sēd mēmbră vĭrūm tērrēnă rĕlīnquūnt,

ēxŭĭtūrque ănĭmūs; paūlūm sī tārdĭŭs ārtūs

cēssīssēnt, pŏtŭīt fūlmēn spērārĕ sĕcūndūm.

Obruit Hesperia Phoebum Nox umida porta,

imperiis properata Iouis; nec castra Pelasgum

aut Tyrias miseratus opes, sed triste, tot extra

agmina et immeritas ferro decrescere gentes.

Panditur immenso deformis sanguine campus:

illic arma et equos, ibant quibus ante superbi,

funeraque orba rogis neglectaque membra relinquunt.

tunc inhonora cohors laceris insignibus aegras

secernunt acies, portaeque, ineuntibus arma

angustae populis, latae cepere reuersos.

Par utrimque dolor; sed dant solacia Thebis

quattuor errantes Danaum sine praeside turmae:

ceu mare per tumidum uiduae moderantibus alni,

quas deus et casus tempestatesque gubernant.

inde animus Tyriis non iam sua castra, sed ultro

hostilem seruare fugam, ne forte Mycenas

contenti rediisse petant: dat tessera signum

excubiis, positaeque uices; dux noctis opertae

sorte Meges ultroque Lycus. Iamque ordine iusso

arma, dapes ignemque ferunt; rex firmat euntes:

"Victores Danaum - nec enim lux crastina longe,

nec quae pro timidis intercessere tenebrae

semper erunt -, augete animos et digna secundis

pectora ferte deis. Iacet omnis gloria Lernae

praecipuaeque manus: subiit ultricia Tydeus

Tartara, Mors subitam nigri stupet auguris umbram,

Ismenos raptis tumet Hippomedontis opimis,

Arcada belligeris pudet adnumerare tropaeis.

in manibus merces, nusquam capita ardua belli

monstrataeque ducum septena per agmina cristae;

scilicet Adrasti senium fraterque iuuenta

peior et insanis Capaneus metuendus in armis.

Ite age et obsessis uigilem circumdate flammam!

nulli ex hoste metus: praedam asseruatis opesque

iam uestras". Sic ille truces hortatibus implet

Labdacidas, iuuat exhaustos iterare labores:

sicut erant - puluis sudorque cruorque per artus

mixtus adhuc - uertere gradum; uix obuia passi

colloquia, amplexus etiam dextrasque suorum

excussere umeris. Tum frontem auersaque terga

partiti laterumque sinus, uallum undique cingunt

ignibus infestis. Rabidi sic agmine multo

sub noctem coiere lupi, quos omnibus agris

nil non ausa fames longo tenuauit hiatu:

iam stabula ipsa premunt, torquet spes irrita fauces,

balatusque tremens pinguesque ab ouilibus aurae;

quod superest, duris adfrangunt postibus unguis,

pectoraque et siccos minuunt in limine dentis.

At procul Argolici supplex in margine templi

coetus et ad patrias fusae Pelopeides aras

sceptriferae Iunonis opem reditumque suorum

exposcunt, pictasque fores et frigida uultu

saxa terunt paruosque docent procumbere natos.

Condiderant iam uota diem; nox addita curas

iungit, et ingestis uigilant altaria flammis.

Peplum etiam dono, cuius mirabile textum

nulla manu sterilis nec dissociata marito

uersarat, calathis castae uelamina diuae

haut spernenda ferunt, uariis ubi plurima floret

purpura picta modis mixtoque incenditur auro.

Ipsa illic magni thalamo desponsa Tonantis,

expers conubii et timide positura sororem,

lumine demisso pueri Iouis oscula libat

simplex et nondum furtis offensa mariti.

Hoc tunc Argolicae sanctum uelamine matres

induerant ebur, et lacrimis questuque rogabant:

"Aspice sacrilegas Cadmeae paelicis arces,

siderei regina poli, tumulumque rebellem

dissice et in Thebas aliud - potes - excute fulmen."

Quid faciat? Scit Fata suis contraria Grais

auersumque Iouem, sed nec periisse precatus

tantaque dona uelit; tempus tamen obuia magni

fors dedit auxilii. uidet alto ex aethere clusa

moenia et insomni uallum statione teneri:

horruit irarum stimulis motaque uerendum

turbauit diadema coma: non saeuius arsit

Herculeae cum matris onus geminosque Tonantis

secubitus uacuis indignaretur in astris.

Ergo intempesta somni dulcedine captos

destinat Aonios leto praebere, suamque

orbibus accingi solitis iubet Irin et omne

mandat opus. paret iussis dea clara polumque

linquit et in terras longo suspenditur arcu.

Stat super occiduae nebulosa cubilia Noctis

Aethiopasque alios, nulli penetrabilis astro,

lucus iners, subterque cauis graue rupibus antrum

it uacuum in montem, qua desidis atria Somni

securumque larem segnis Natura locauit.

Limen opaca Quies et pigra Obliuio seruant

et numquam uigili torpens Ignauia uultu.

Otia uestibulo pressisque Silentia pinnis

muta sedent abiguntque truces a culmine uentos

et ramos errare uetant et murmura demunt

alitibus. non hic pelagi, licet omnia clament

litora, non ullus caeli fragor; ipse profundis

uallibus effugiens speluncae proximus amnis

saxa inter scopulosque tacet: nigrantia circum

armenta, omne solo recubat pecus, et noua marcent

germina, terrarumque inclinat spiritus herbas.

Mille intus simulacra dei caelauerat ardens

Mulciber: hic haeret lateri redimita Voluptas,

hic comes in requiem uergens Labor, est ubi Baccho,

est ubi Martigenae socium puluinar Amori

obtinet. Interius tecti in penetralibus altis

et cum Morte iacet, nullique ea tristis imago

cernitur. hae species: ipse autem umentia subter

antra soporifero stipatos flore tapetas

incubat: exhalant uestes et corpore pigro

strata calent, supraque torum niger efflat anhelo

ore uapor; manus haec fusos a tempore laeuo

sustentat crinis, haec cornu oblita remisit.

Adsunt innumero circum uaga Somnia uultu,

uera simul falsis permixtaque †flumina flammis†.

Noctis opaca cohors, trabibusque aut postibus haerent,

aut tellure iacent. tenuis, qui circuit aulam,

inualidusque nitor, primosque hortantia somnos

languida succiduis exspirant lumina flammis.

Huc se caeruleo librauit ab aethere uirgo

discolor: effulgent siluae, tenebrosaque tempe

adrisere deae, et zonis lucentibus icta

euigilat domus; ipse autem nec lampade clara

nec sonitu nec uoce deae perculsus eodem

more iacet, donec radios Thaumantias omnis

impulit inque oculos penitus descendit inertes.

tunc sic orsa loqui nimborum fulua creatrix:

"Sidonios te Iuno duces, mitissime diuum

Somne, iubet populumque trucis defigere Cadmi,

qui nunc euentu belli tumefactus Achaeum

peruigil asseruat uallum et tua iura recusat.

Da precibus tantis, rara est hoc posse facultas

placatumque Iouem dextra Iunone merere."

Dixit, et increpitans languentia pectora dextra,

ne pereant uoces, iterumque iterumque monebat.

Ille deae iussis uultu, quo nutat, eodem

adnuit; excedit grauior nigrantibus antris

Iris et obtunsum multo iubar excitat imbri.

Ipse quoque et uolucrem gressum et uentosa citauit

tempora, et obscuri sinuatam frigore caeli

impleuit chlamydem, tacitoque per aethera cursu

fertur et Aoniis longe grauis imminet aruis.

illius aura solo uolucres pecudesque ferasque

explicat, et penitus, quemcumque superuolat orbem,

languida de scopulis sidunt freta, pigrius haerent

nubila, demittunt extrema cacumina siluae,

pluraque laxato ceciderunt sidera caelo.

Primus adesse deum subita caligine sensit

campus, et innumerae uoces fremitusque uirorum

submisere sonum: cum uero umentibus alis

incubuit piceaque haud umquam densior umbra

castra subit, errare oculi resolutaque colla,

et medio affatu uerba imperfecta relinqui.

mox et fulgentes clipeos et saeua remittunt

pila manu, lassique cadunt in pectora uultus.

Et iam cuncta silent: ipsi iam stare recusant

cornipedes, ipsos subitus cinis abstulit ignis.

At non et trepidis eadem Sopor otia Grais

suadet, et adiunctis arcet sua nubila castris

noctiuagi uis blanda dei: stant undique in armis

foedam indignantes noctem uigilesque superbos.

Ecce repens superis animum lymphantibus horror

Thiodamanta subit formidandoque tumultu

pandere fata iubet, siue hanc Saturnia mentem,

siue nouum comitem bonus instigabat Apollo.

Prosilit in medios, uisu audituque tremendus

impatiensque dei, fragili quem mente receptum

non capit: exundant stimuli, nudusque per ora

stat furor, et trepidas incerto sanguine tendit

exhauritque genas - acies huc errat et illuc -

sertaque mixta comis sparsa ceruice flagellat.

Sic Phryga terrificis genetrix Idaea cruentum

elicit ex adytis consumptaque bracchia ferro

scire uetat; quatit ille sacras in pectora pinus

sanguineosque rotat crines et uulnera cursu

exanimat: pauet omnis ager respersaque cultrix

arbor, et attoniti currum erexere leones.

Ventum ad concilii penetrale domumque uerendam

signorum, magnis ubi dudum cladibus aeger,

rerum extrema mouens, frustra consultat Adrastus.

Stant circum subiti proceres, ut quisque perempto

proximus, et magnis loca desolata tuentur

regibus haud laeti seque huc creuisse dolentes.

non secus amisso medium cum praeside puppis

fregit iter, subit ad uidui moderamina claui

aut laterum custos, aut quem penes obuia ponto

prora fuit: stupet ipsa ratis tardeque sequuntur

arma, nec accedit domino tutela minori.

Ergo alacer trepidos sic erigit augur Achiuos:

"Magna deum mandata, duces, monitusque uerendos

aduehimus, non hae nostro de pectore uoces:

ille canit, cui me famulari et sumere uittas

uestra fides, ipso non discordante, subegit.

Nox fecunda operum pulchraeque accommoda fraudi

panditur augurio diuum; uocat obuia Virtus,

et poscit Fortuna manus. Stupet obruta somno

Aonidum legio: tempus nunc funera regum

ulcisci miserumque diem; rapite arma morasque

frangite portarum: sociis hoc subdere flammas,

hoc tumulare suos. Equidem haec et Marte diurno

dum res infractae pulsique in terga redimus

- per tripodas iuro et rapti noua fata magistri -

uidi, et me uolucres circum plausere secundae.

Sed nunc certa fides. Modo me sub nocte silenti

ipse, ipse assurgens iterum tellure soluta,

qualis erat - solos infecerat umbra iugalis -,

Amphiaraus adit: non uanae monstra quietis,

nec somno comperta loquor. "Tune" inquit, "inertis

Inachidas - redde haec Parnasia serta meosque

redde deos - tantam patiere amittere noctem,

degener? Haec egomet caeli secreta uagosque

edocui lapsus? Vade heia, ulciscere ferro

nos saltem!" dixit, meque haec ad limina uisus

cuspide sublata totoque impellere curru.

Quare agite, utendum superis; non comminus hostes

sternendi: bellum iacet, et saeuire potestas.

Ecqui aderunt, quos ingenti se attollere fama

non pigeat, dum fata sinunt? iterum ecce benignae

noctis aues; sequor, et comitum licet agmina cessent,

solus eo! Atque adeo uenit ille et quassat habenas".

Talia uociferans noctem exturbabat, euntque

non secus accensi proceres, quam si omnibus idem

corde deus: flagrant comitari et iungere casus.

ter denos numero, turmarum robora, iussus

ipse legit; circa fremit indignata iuuentus

cetera, cur maneant castris ignauaque seruent

otia: pars sublime genus, pars facta suorum,

pars sua, sortem alii clamant, sortem undique poscunt.

gaudet in aduersis animoque assurgit Adrastus.

Vertice sic Pholoës uolucrum nutritor equorum,

cum fetura gregem pecoroso uere nouauit,

laetatur cernens hos montis in ardua niti,

hos innare uadis, certare parentibus illos;

tunc uacuo sub corde mouet, qui molle domandi

ferre iugum, qui terga boni, quis in arma tubasque

natus, ad Eleas melior quis surgere palmas:

talis erat turmae ductor longaeuus Achiuae.

nec deest coeptis: "Vnde haec tam sera repente

numina? qui fractos superi rediistis ad Argos?

estne hic infelix uirtus? gentique superstes

sanguis, et in miseris animorum semina durant?

laudo equidem, egregii iuuenes, pulchraque meorum

seditione fruor; sed fraudem et operta paramus

proelia, celandi motus: numquam apta latenti

turba dolo. Seruate animos, uenit ultor in hostis

ecce dies; tunc arma palam, tunc ibimus omnes".

his tandem uirtus iuuenum frenata quieuit:

non aliter moto quam si pater Aeolus antro

portam iterum saxo premat imperiosus et omne

claudat iter, iamiam sperantibus aequora uentis.

Insuper Herculeum sibi iungit Agyllea uates

Actoraque: hic aptus suadere, hic robore iactat

non cessisse patri; comites tribus ordine deni,

horrendum Aoniis et contra stantibus agmen.

ipse noui gradiens furta ad Mauortia belli

ponit adoratas, Phoebea insignia, frondes,

longaeuique ducis gremio commendat honorem

frontis, et oblatam Polynicis munere grato

loricam galeamque subit. Ferus Actora magno

ense grauat Capaneus, ipse haud dignatus in hostem

ire dolo superosque sequi. Permutat Agylleus

arma trucis Nomii: quid enim fallentibus umbris

arcus et Herculeae iuuissent bella sagittae?

Inde per abruptas castrorum ex aggere pinnas,

ne grauis exclamet portae mugitus aenae,

praecipitant saltu; nec longum, et protinus ingens

praeda solo ceu iam exanimes multoque peracti

ense iacent. "Ite, o socii, quacumque uoluptas

caedis inexhaustae, superisque fauentibus, oro,

sufficite!" hortatur clara iam uoce sacerdos,

"cernitis expositas turpi marcore cohortes?

Pro pudor! Argolicas hine ausi obsidere portas,

hi seruare uiros?" Sic fatus, et exuit ensem

fulmineum rapidaque manu morientia transit

agmina. quis numeret caedes, aut nomine turbam

exanimem signare queat? subit ordine nullo

tergaque pectoraque et galeis inclusa relinquit

murmura permiscetque uagos in sanguine manes:

hunc temere explicitum stratis, hunc sero remissis

gressibus illapsum clipeo et male tela tenentem,

coetibus hos mediis uina inter et arma iacentes,

acclinis clipeis alios, ut quemque ligatum

infelix tellure sopor supremaque nubes

obruerat. nec numen abest, armataque Iuno

lunarem quatiens exserta lampada dextra

pandit iter firmatque animos et corpora monstrat.

sentit adesse deam, tacitus sed gaudia celat

Thiodamas; iam tarda manus, iam debile ferrum

et caligantes nimiis successibus irae.

Caspia non aliter magnorum in strage iuuencum

tigris, ubi immenso rabies placata cruore

lassauitque genas et crasso sordida tabo

confudit maculas, spectat sua facta doletque

defecisse famem: uictus sic augur inerrat

caedibus Aoniis; optet nunc bracchia centum

centenasque in bella manus; iam taedet inanes

exhaurire minas, hostemque assurgere mallet.

Parte alia segnes magno satus Hercule uastat

Sidonios Actorque alia, sua quemque cruento

limite turba subit: stagnant nigrantia tabo

gramina, sanguineis nutant tentoria riuis;

fumat humus, somnique et mortis anhelitus una

uoluitur; haut quisquam uisus aut ora iacentum

erexit: tali miseris deus aliger umbra

incubat et tantum morientia lumina soluit.

Traxerat insomnis cithara ludoque suprema

sidera iam nullos uisurus Ialmenus ortus,

Sidonium paeana canens; huic languida ceruix

in laeuum cogente deo mediaque iacebant

colla replicta lyra: ferrum per pectus Agylleus

exigit aptatamque caua testudine dextram

percutit et digitos inter sua fila trementes.

Proturbat mensas dirus liquor: undique manant

sanguine permixti latices et Bacchus in altos

crateras paterasque redit. Ferus occupat Actor

implicitum fratri Thamyrin, Tagus haurit Echetli

terga coronati, Daunus caput amputat Hebri:

nescius heu rapitur fatis, hilarisque sub umbras

uita fugit mortisque ferae lucrata dolores.

stratus humo gelida subter iuga fida rotasque

Calpetus Aonios gramen gentile metentes

proflatu terrebat equos: madida ora redundant

accensusque mero sopor aestuat; ecce iacentis

Inachius uates iugulum fodit, expulit ingens

uina cruor fractumque perit in sanguine murmur.

Fors illi praesaga quies, nigrasque grauatus

per somnum Thebas et Thiodamanta uidebat.

Quarta soporiferae superabant tempora nocti,

cum uacuae nubes et honor non omnibus astris,

adflatusque fugit curru maiore Bootes.

Iamque ipsum defecit opus, cum prouidus Actor

Thiodamanta uocat: "Satis haec inopina Pelasgis

gaudia: uix ullos tanto reor agmine saeuam

effugisse necem, ni quos deformis in alto

sanguine degeneres occultat uita; secundis

pone modum: sunt et diris sua numina Thebis.

forsitan et nobis modo quae fauere, recedant."

Paruit, et madidas tollens ad sidera palmas:

"Phoebe, tibi exuuias monstratae praemia noctis

nondum ablutus aquis - tibi enim haec ego sacra litaui -

trado ferus miles tripodum fidusque sacerdos.

Si non dedecui tua iussa tulique prementem,

saepe ueni, saepe hanc dignare irrumpere mentem.

nunc tibi crudus honos, trunca arma cruorque uirorum:

at patrias si quando domos optataque, Paean,

templa, Lycie, dabis, tot ditia dona sacratis

postibus et totidem uoti memor exige tauros".

Dixerat, et laetis socios reuocabat ab armis.

Venerat hos inter fato Calydonius Hopleus

Maenaliusque Dymas, dilecti regibus ambo,

regum ambo comites, quorum post funera maesti

uitam indignantur. prior Arcada concitat Hopleus:

"Nullane post manes regis tibi cura perempti,

care Dyma, teneant quem iam fortasse uolucres

Thebanique canes? patriae quid deinde feretis,

Arcades? En reduces contra uenit aspera mater:

funus ubi? At nostro semper sub pectore Tydeus

saeuit inops tumuli, quamuis patientior artus

ille nec abruptis adeo lacrimabilis annis.

Ire tamen saeuumque libet nullo ordine passim

scrutari campum, mediasue irrumpere Thebas."

Excipit orsa Dymas: "Per ego haec uaga sidera iuro,

per ducis errantis instar mihi numinis umbras,

idem animus misero; comitem circumspicit olim

mens humilis luctu, sed nunc prior ibo", uiamque

incohat et maesto conuersus ad aethera uultu

sic ait: "Arcanae moderatrix Cynthia noctis,

si te tergeminis perhibent uariare figuris

numen et in siluas alio descendere uultu,

ille comes nuper nemorumque insignis alumnus,

ille tuus, Diana, puer - nunc respice saltem -

quaeritur". Incendit pronis dea cornibus almum

sidus et admoto monstrauit funera curru.

Apparent campi Thebaeque altusque Cithaeron:

sic ubi nocturnum tonitru malus aethera frangit

Iuppiter, absiliunt nubes et fulgure claro

astra latent, subitusque oculis ostenditur orbis.

Accepit radios et eadem percitus Hopleus

Tydea luce uidet; longe dant signa per umbras

mutua laetantes, et amicum pondus uterque,

ceu reduces uitae saeuaque a morte remissos,

subiecta ceruice leuant; nec uerba, nec ausi

flere diu: prope saeua dies indexque minatur

ortus. Eunt taciti per maesta silentia magnis

passibus exhaustasque dolent pallere tenebras.

Inuida fata piis et fors ingentibus ausis

rara comes. Iam castra uident animisque propinquant,

et decrescit onus, subiti cum pulueris umbra

et sonus a tergo. Monitu ducis acer agebat

Amphion equites, noctem uigilataque castra

explorare datus, primusque per auia campi

usque procul - necdum totas lux soluerat umbras -

nescio quid uisu dubium incertumque moueri

corporaque ire uidet; subitus mox fraude reperta

exclamat: "Cohibete gradum quicumque!" sed hostes

esse patet: miseri pergunt anteire timentque

non sibi; tunc mortem trepidis minitatur et hastam

expulit, ac uanos alte leuat eminus ictus,

adfectans errare manum. Stetit illa Dymantis

ante oculos, qui forte prior gressumque repressit.

At non magnanimus curauit perdere iactus

Aepytus, et fixo transuerberat Hoplea tergo

pendentisque etiam perstrinxit Tydeos armos.

Labitur egregii nondum ducis immemor Hopleus,

exspiratque tenens - felix, si corpus ademptum

nesciat -, et saeuas talis descendit ad umbras.

Viderat hoc retro conuersus et agmina sentit

iuncta Dymas, dubius precibusne subiret an armis

instantes; arma ira dabat, fortuna precari,

non audere iubet: neutri fiducia coepto.

Distulit ira preces; ponit miserabile corpus

ante pedes, tergoque grauis quas forte ferebat,

tigridis exuuias, in laeuam torquet et obstat

exsertum obiectans mucronem, inque omnia tela

uersus et ad caedem iuxta mortemque paratus:

ut lea, quam saeuo fetam pressere cubili

uenantes Numidae, natos erecta superstat

mente sui incerta, toruum ac miserabile frendens;

illa quidem turbare globos et frangere morsu

tela queat, sed prolis amor crudelia uincit

pectora, et a media catulos circumspicit ira.

Et iam laeua uiro, quamuis saeuire uetaret

Amphion, erepta manus, puerique trahuntur

ora supina comis. Serus tunc denique supplex

demisso mucrone rogat: "Moderatius, oro,

ducite, fulminei per uos cunabula Bacchi

Inoamque fugam uestrique Palaemonis annos!

Si cui forte domi natorum gaudia, si quis

hic pater, angusti puero date pulueris haustus

exiguamque facem! rogat, en rogat ipse iacentis

uultus: ego infandas potior satiare uolucres,

me praebete feris, ego bella audere coëgi".

"Immo" ait Amphion "regem si tanta cupido

quid fracti exsanguesque parent; cuncta ocius effer,

et uita tumuloque ducis donatus abito".

Horruit et toto praecordia protinus Arcas

impleuit capulo. "Summumne hoc cladibus" inquit,

"deerat ut adflictos turparem ego proditor Argos?

nil emimus tanti, nec si uelit ipse cremari".

Sic ait, et magno proscissum uulnere pectus

iniecit puero, supremaque murmura uoluens:

"Hoc tamen interea mecum potiare sepulcro"

Tales optatis regum in complexibus ambo,

par insigne animis, Aetolus et inclitus Arcas,

egregias efflant animas letoque fruuntur.

Vos quoque sacrati, quamuis mea carmina surgant

inferiore lyra, memores superabitis annos.

forsitan et comites non aspernabitur umbras

Euryalus Phrygiique admittet gloria Nisi.

At ferus Amphion, regi qui facta reportent

edoceantque dolum captiuaque corpora reddant,

mittit ouans; clausis ipse insultare Pelasgis

tendit et abscisos sociorum ostendere uultus.

Interea reducem murorum e culmine Grai

Thiodamanta uident nec iam erumpentia celant

gaudia. ut exsertos enses et caede recenti

arma rubere notant; tunc assilit aethera magnum

clamor, et e summo pendent cupida agmina uallo

noscere quisque suos. uolucrum sic turba recentum,

cum reducem longo prospexit in aëre matrem,

ire cupit contra summique e margine nidi

exstat hians, iamiamque cadat, ni pectore toto

obstet aperta parens et amantibus increpet alis.

Dumque opus arcanum et taciti compendia Martis

enumerant laetisque suos complexibus implent

Hopleaque exquirunt tardumque Dymanta queruntur

ecce et Dircaeae iuxta dux concitus alae

uenerat Amphion; non longum caede recenti

laetatus uidet innumeris feruere cateruis

tellurem atque una gentem exspirare ruina.

qui tremor inicitur caeli de lampade tactis,

hic fixit iuuenem, pariterque horrore sub uno

uox, acies sanguisque perit, gemitusque parantem

ipse ultro conuertit equus; fugit ala retorto

puluere. nondum illi Thebarum claustra subibant,

et iam Argiua cohors nocturno freta triumpho

prosilit in campos; per et arma et membra iacentum

taetraque congerie sola semianimumque cruorem

cornipedes ipsique ruunt: grauis exterit artus

ungula, sanguineus lauat imber et impedit axes.

Dulce uiris hac ire uia, ceu tecta superbi

Sidonia atque ipsas calcent in sanguine Thebas.

Hortatur Capaneus: "Satis occultata, Pelasgi,

delituit uirtus: nunc, nunc mihi uincere pulchrum

teste die; mecum clamore et puluere aperto

ite palam, iuuenes: sunt et mihi prouida dextrae

numina et horrendi stricto mucrone furores."

sic ait; ardentes alacer succendit Adrastus

Argolicusque gener, sequitur iam tristior augur.

Iamque premunt muros - et adhuc noua funera narrat

Amphion - miseramque intrabant protinus urbem,

ni Megareus specula citus exclamasset ab alta:

"Claude, uigil, subeunt hostes, claude undique portas!"

Est ubi dat uiris nimius timor: ocius omnis

porta coit; solas dum tardius artat Echion

Ogygias, audax animis Spartana iuuentus

irrupit, caesique ruunt in limine primo

incola Taygeti Panopeus rigidique natator

Oebalus Eurotae; tuque, o spectate palaestris

omnibus et nuper Nemeaeo in puluere felix,

Alcidama, primis quem caestibus ipse ligarat

Tyndarides, nitidi moriens conuexa magistri

respicis: auerso pariter deus occidit astro.

Te nemus Oebalium, te lubrica ripa Lacaenae

uirginis et falso gurges cantatus olori

flebit, Amyclaeis Triuiae lugebere Nymphis,

et quae te leges praeceptaque fortia belli

erudiit genetrix, nimium didicisse queretur.

Talis Echionio Mauors in limine saeuit.

Tandem umeris obnixus Acron et pectore toto

pronus Ialmenides aeratae robora portae

torserunt: quanta pariter ceruice gementes

profringunt inarata diu Pangaea iuuenci.

par operis iactura lucro, quippe hoste retento

exclusere suos; cadit intra moenia Graius

Ormenus, et pronas tendentis Amyntoris ulnas

fundentisque preces penitus ceruice remissa

uerba solo uultusque cadunt, colloque decorus

torques in hostiles cecidit per uulnus harenas.

Soluitur interea uallum, primaeque recusant

stare morae; iam se peditum iunxere cateruae

moenibus: at patulas saltu transmittere fossas

horror equis, haerent trepidi atque immane pauentes

abruptum mirantur iter; nunc impetus ire

margine ab extremo, nunc sponte in frena recedunt.

Hi praefixa solo uellunt munimina, at illi

portarum obiectus minuunt et ferrea sudant

claustra remoliri, trabibusque artata sonoro

pellunt saxa loco; pars ad fastigia missas

exsultant haesisse faces, pars ima lacessunt

scrutanturque cauas caeca testudine turres.

At Tyrii, quae sola salus, caput omne coronant

spicula et arsuras caeli per inania glandes

saxaque in aduersos ipsis auulsa rotabant

moenibus: exundant saeuo fastigia nimbo,

armataeque uomunt stridentia tela fenestrae.

Qualiter aut Malean aut alta Ceraunia supra

cessantes in nube sedent nigrisque leguntur

collibus et subitae saliunt in uela procellae:

talis Agenoreis Argiuum exercitus armis

obruitur; non ora uirum, non pectora flectit

imber atrox, rectosque tenent in moenia uultus

immemores leti et tantum sua tela uidentes.

Anthea falcato lustrantem moenia curru

desuper Ogygiae pepulit grauis impetus hastae;

lora excussa manu, retroque in terga uolutus

semianimos artus ocreis retinentibus haeret;

mirandum uisu belli scelus: arma trahuntur,

fumantesque rotae tellurem et tertius hastae

sulcus arat; longo sequitur uaga puluere ceruix,

et resupinarum patet orbita lata comarum.

At tuba luctificis pulsat clangoribus urbem

obsaeptasque fores sonitu perfringit amaro.

diuisere aditus, omnique in limine saeuus

signifer ante omnes sua damna et gaudia portans.

Dira intus facies, uix Mauors ipse uidendo

gaudeat; insanis lymphatam horroribus urbem

scindunt dissensu uario Luctusque Furorque

et Pauor et caecis Fuga circumfusa tenebris.

bellum intrasse putes: feruent discursibus arces,

miscentur clamore uiae, ferrum undique et ignes

mente uident, saeuas mente accepere catenas.

consumpsit uentura timor: iam tecta replerunt

templaque et ingratae uallantur planctibus arae.

una omnis eademque subit formido per annos:

poscunt fata senes, ardet palletque iuuentus,

atria femineis trepidant ululata querelis.

flent pueri et flendi nequeunt cognoscere causas

attoniti et tantum matrum lamenta trementes.

Illas cogit amor, nec habent extrema pudorem:

ipsae tela uiris, ipsae iram animosque ministrant,

hortanturque unaque ruunt, nec auita gementes

limina nec paruos cessant ostendere natos:

sic ubi pumiceo pastor rapturus ab antro

armatas erexit apes, fremit aspera nubes,

inque uicem sese stridore hortantur et omnes

hostis in ora uolant, mox deficientibus alis

amplexae flauamque domum captiuaque plangunt

mella laboratasque premunt ad pectora ceras.

Nec non ancipitis pugnat sententia uulgi

discordesque serit motus: hi reddere fratri

- nec mussant, sed uoce palam claroque tumultu -,

reddere regna iubent; periit reuerentia regis

sollicitis: "Veniat pactumque hic computet annum,

infelix tenebras; cur autem ego sanguine fraudes

et periura luam regalis crimina noxae?"

Inde alii: "Sera ista fides, iam uincere mauult".

Tiresian alii lacrimis et supplice coetu

orant, quodque unum rebus solamen in artis,

nosse futura rogant. tenet ille inclusa premitque

fata deum: "Quiane ante duci bene credita nostro

consilia et monitus, cum perfida bella uetarem?

Te tamen, infelix" inquit, "perituraque Thebe,

si taceam, nequeo miser exaudire cadentem

Argolicumque oculis haurire uacantibus ignem.

uincamur, Pietas; pone heia altaria, uirgo,

quaeramus superos." facit illa, acieque sagaci

sanguineos flammarum apices geminumque per aras

ignem et clara tamen mediae fastigia lucis

orta docet; tunc in speciem serpentis inanem

ancipiti gyro uolui frangique ruborem

demonstrat dubio, patriasque illuminat umbras.

Ille coronatos iamdudum amplectitur ignes,

fatidicum sorbens uultu flagrante uaporem.

stant tristes horrore comae, uittasque prementes

caesaries insana leuat: diducta putares

lumina consumptumque genis rediisse nitorem.

Tandem exundanti permisit uerba furori:

"Audite, o sontes, extrema litamina diuum,

Labdacidae: uenit alma salus, sed limite duro.

Martius inferias et saeua efflagitat anguis

sacra: cadat generis quicumque nouissimus exstat

uiperei, datur hoc tantum uictoria pacto.

felix, qui tanta lucem mercede relinquet."

Stabat fatidici prope saeua altaria uatis

maestus, adhuc patriae et tantum communia lugens

fata, Creon: grandem subiti cum fulminis ictum,

non secus ac torta traiectus cuspide pectus,

accipit exanimis sentitque Menoecea posci.

monstrat enim suadetque timor; stupet anxius alto

corda metu glaciante pater: Trinacria qualis

ora repercussum Libyco mare sumit ab aestu.

Mox plenum Phoebo uatem et celerare iubentem

nunc humilis genua amplectens, nunc ora canentis

nequiquam reticere rogat; iam Fama sacratam

uocem amplexa uolat, clamantque oracula Thebae.

nunc, age, quis stimulos et pulchrae gaudia mortis

addiderit iuueni - neque enim haec absentibus umquam

mens homini transmissa deis -, memor incipe Clio,

saecula te quoniam penes et digesta uetustas.

Diua Iouis solio iuxta comes, unde per orbem

rara dari terrisque solet contingere, Virtus,

seu pater omnipotens tribuit, siue ipsa capacis

elegit penetrare uiros, caelestibus ut tunc

desiluit gauisa plagis! Dant clara meanti

astra locum quosque ipsa polis affixerat ignes.

Iamque premit terras, nec uultus ab aethere longe;

sed placuit mutare genas, fit prouida Manto,

responsis ut plena fides, et fraude priores

exuitur uultus. Abiit horrorque uigorque

ex oculis, paulum decoris permansit honosque

mollior, et posito uatum gestamina ferro

subdita; descendunt uestes, toruisque ligatur

uitta comis - nam laurus erat -; tamen aspera produnt

ora deam nimiique gradus. Sic Lydia coniunx

Amphitryoniaden exutum horrentia terga

perdere Sidonios umeris ridebat amictus

et turbare colus et tympana rumpere dextra.

Sed neque te indecorem sacris dignumque iuberi

talia Dircaea stantem pro turre, Menoeceu,

inuenit; immensae reserato limine portae

sternebas Danaos, pariter Mauortius Haemon.

Sed consanguinei quamuis atque omnia fratres,

tu prior: exanimes circum cumulantur acerui;

omne sedet telum, nulli sine caedibus ictus

- necdum aderat Virtus -, non mens, non dextra quiescit,

non auida arma uacant, ipsa insanire uidetur

Sphinx galeae custos, uisoque animata cruore

emicat effigies et sparsa orichalca renident:

cum dea pugnantis capulum dextramque repressit:

"Magnanime o iuuenis, quo non agnouerit ullum

certius armifero Cadmi de semine Mauors,

linque humiles pugnas, non haec tibi debita uirtus:

astra uocant, caeloque animam, plus concipe, mittes.

Iamdudum hoc hilaris genitor bacchatur ad aras,

hoc ignes fibraeque uolunt, hoc urget Apollo:

terrigenam cuncto patriae pro sanguine poscunt.

Fama canit monitus, gaudet Cadmeia plebes

certa tui; rape mente deos, rape nobile fatum.

I, precor, accelera, ne proximus occupet Haemon".

sic ait, et magna cunctantis pectora dextra

permulsit tacite seseque in corde reliquit.

fulminis haut citius radiis afflata cupressus

combibit infestas et stirpe et uertice flammas,

quam iuuenis multo possessus numine pectus

erexit sensus letique inuasit amorem.

ut uero auersae gressumque habitumque notauit

et subitam a terris in nubila crescere Manto,

obstipuit. "Sequimur, diuum quaecumque uocasti,

nec tarde paremus", ait; iamiamque recedens

instantem uallo Pylium tamen Agrea fixit.

Armigeri fessum excipiunt; tum uulgus euntem

auctorem pacis seruatoremque deumque

conclamat gaudens atque ignibus implet honestis.

Iamque iter ad muros cursu festinus anhelo

obtinet et miseros gaudet uitasse parentes,

cum genitor -: steteruntque ambo et uox haesit utrique,

deiectaeque genae. tandem pater ante profatur:

"Quis nouus inceptis rapuit te casus ab armis?

Quae bello grauiora paras? Dic, nate, precanti,

cur tibi torua acies? Cur hic truculentus in ore

pallor, et ad patrios non stant tua lumina uultus?

Audisti responsa, palam est. Per ego oro tuosque,

nate, meosque annos miseraeque per ubera matris,

ne uati, ne crede, puer! Superine profanum

dignantur stimulare senem, cui uultus inanis

exstinctique orbes et poena simillima diro

Oedipodae? quid si insidiis et fraude dolosa

rex agit, extrema est cui nostra in sorte timori

nobilitas tuaque ante duces notissima uirtus?

Illius haec forsan, remur quae uerba deorum;

ille monet! Ne frena animo permitte calenti,

da spatium tenuemque moram, male cuncta ministrat

impetus; hoc, oro, munus concede parenti.

Sic tua maturis signentur tempora canis,

et sis ipse parens et ad hunc, animose, timorem

peruenias: ne perge meos orbare penates.

Externi te nempe patres alienaque tangunt

pignora? si pudor est, primum miserere tuorum.

Haec pietas, hic uerus honos; ibi gloria tantum

uentosumque decus titulique in morte latentes.

Nec timidus te flecto parens: i, proelia misce,

i Danaas acies mediosque per obuius enses;

non teneo: liceat misero tremibunda lauare

uulnera et undantem lacrimis siccare cruorem,

teque iterum saeuis iterumque remittere bellis.

Hoc malunt Thebae". Sic colla manusque tenebat

implicitus; sed nec lacrimae nec uerba mouebant

dis uotum iuuenem; quin et monstrantibus illis

fraude patrem tacita subit auertitque timorem:

"Falleris heu uerosque metus, pater optime, nescis.

Non me ulli monitus, nec uatum exorsa furentum

sollicitant uanisque mouent: sibi callidus ista

Tiresias nataeque canat; non si ipse reclusis

comminus ex adytis in me insaniret Apollo.

sed grauis unanimi casus me fratris ad urbem

sponte refert: gemit Inachia mihi saucius Haemon

cuspide; uix illum medio de puluere belli

inter utrasque acies, iamiamque tenentibus Argis -

sed moror; i, refoue dubium turbaeque ferenti

dic, parcant leuiterque uehant; ego uulnera doctum

iungere supremique fugam reuocare cruoris

Aethiona petam". sic imperfecta locutus

effugit; illi atra mersum caligine pectus

confudit sensus; pietas incerta uagatur

discordantque metus, impellunt credere Parcae.

Turbidus interea ruptis uenientia portis

agmina belligeri Capaneus agit aequore campi,

cornua nunc equitum, cuneos nunc ille pedestris,

et proculcantes moderantum funera currus;

idem altas turres saxis et turbine crebro

laxat, agit turmas idem atque in sanguine fumat.

Nunc spargit torquens uolucri noua uulnera plumbo,

nunc iaculum excusso rotat in sublime lacerto,

nullaque tectorum subit ad fastigia, quae non

deferat hasta uirum perfusaque caede recurrat.

nec iam aut Oeniden aut Hippomedonta peremptos

aut uatem Pelopea phalanx aut Arcada credunt:

quin socium coiisse animas et corpore in uno

stare omnes, ita cuncta replet. non ullius aetas,

non cultus, non forma mouet; pugnantibus idem

supplicibusque furit; non quisquam obsistere contra,

non belli temptare uices: procul arma furentis

terribilisque iubas et frontem cassidis horrent.

At pius electa murorum in parte Menoeceus

iam sacer aspectu solitoque augustior ore,

ceu subito in terras supero demissus ab axe,

constitit, exempta manifestus casside nosci,

despexitque acies hominum et clamore profundo

conuertit campum iussitque silentia bello.

"Armorum superi, tuque o qui funere tanto

indulges mihi, Phoebe, mori, date gaudia Thebis,

quae pepigi et toto quae sanguine prodigus emi.

Ferte retro bellum captaeque impingite Lernae

reliquias turpes, confixaque terga fouentes

Inachus indecores pater auersetur alumnos.

At Tyriis templa, arua, domos, conubia, natos

reddite morte mea: si uos placita hostia iuui,

si non attonitis uatis consulta recepi

auribus et Thebis nondum credentibus hausi,

haec Amphioniis pro me persoluite tectis

at mihi deceptum, precor, exorate parentem."

Sic ait, insignemque animam mucrone corusco

dedignantem artus pridem maestamque teneri

arripit atque uno quaesitam uulnere rumpit.

sanguine tunc spargit turres et moenia lustrat,

seque super medias acies, nondum ense remisso,

iecit et in saeuos cadere est conatus Achiuos.

ast illum amplexae Pietas Virtusque ferebant

leniter ad terras corpus; nam spiritus olim

ante Iouem et summis apicem sibi poscit in astris.

Iamque intra muros nullo sudore receptum

gaudentes heroa ferunt: abscesserat ultro

Tantalidum uenerata cohors; subit agmine longo

colla inter iuuenum, laetisque fauoribus omni

concinitur uulgo Cadmum atque Amphiona supra

conditor; hi sertis, hi ueris honore solutos

accumulant artus patriaque in sede reponunt

corpus adoratum. Repetunt mox bella peractis

laudibus; hic uicta genitor lacrimabilis ira

congemit, et tandem matri data flere potestas:

"Lustralemne feris ego te, puer inclite, Thebis

deuotumque caput uilis ceu mater alebam?

Quod molita nefas, cui tantum inuisa deorum?

non ego monstrifero coitu reuoluta notaui

pignora, nec nato peperi funesta nepotes.

quid refert? potitur natis Iocasta ducesque

regnantesque uidet: nos saeua piacula bello

demus, ut alterni - placet hoc tibi, fulminis auctor -

Oedipodionii mutent diademata fratres!

Quid superos hominesue queror? Tu, saeue Menoeceu,

tu miseram ante omnis properasti exstinguere matrem.

Vnde hic mortis amor? quae sacra insania menti?

tam diuersa mihi? nimirum Martius anguis,

quaeque nouis proauum tellus effloruit armis -

hinc animi tristes nimiusque in pectore Mauors,

et de matre nihil. sponte en ultroque peremptus

irrumpis maestas fatis nolentibus umbras.

Ast egomet Danaos Capaneaque tela uerebar:

haec erat, haec metuenda manus ferrumque, quod amens

ipsa dedi. Viden ut iugulo consumpserit ensem?

altius haut quisquam Danaum mucrone subisset."

Diceret infelix etiamnum et cuncta repleret

questibus: abducunt comites famulaeque perosam

solantes thalamoque tenent, sedet eruta multo

ungue genas; non illa diem, non uerba precantum

respicit aut uisus flectit tellure relictos,

iam uocis, iam mentis inops. Sic aspera tigris

fetibus abreptis Scythico deserta sub antro

accubat et tepidi lambit uestigia saxi;

nusquam irae, sedit rabidi feritasque famesque

oris, eunt praeter secura armenta gregesque:

aspicit illa iacens; ubi enim, quibus ubera pascat

aut quos ingenti premat exspectata rapina?

Hactenus arma, tubae, ferrumque et uulnera: sed nunc

comminus astrigeros Capaneus tollendus in axis.

Non mihi iam solito uatum de more canendum;

maior ab Aoniis poscenda amentia lucis:

mecum omnes audete deae! siue ille profunda

missus nocte furor, Capaneaque signa secutae

arma Iouem contra Stygiae rapuere sorores,

seu uirtus egressa modum, seu gloria praeceps,

seu magnae data fata neci, seu laeta malorum

principia et blandae superum mortalibus irae.

Iam sordent terrena uiro taedetque profundae

caedis, et exhaustis olim Graiumque suisque

missilibus lassa respexit in aethera dextra.

Ardua mox toruo metitur culmina uisu,

innumerosque gradus gemina latus arbore clusos,

aërium sibi portat iter, longeque timendus

multifidam quercum flagranti lumine uibrat;

arma rubent una clipeoque incenditur ignis.

"Hac" ait, "in Thebas, hac me iubet ardua uirtus

ire, Menoeceo qua lubrica sanguine turris.

Experiar, quid sacra iuuent, an falsus Apollo".

Dicit, et alterno captiua in moenia gressu

surgit ouans: qualis mediis in nubibus aether

uidit Aloidas, cum cresceret impia tellus

despectura deos nec adhuc immane ueniret

Pelion et trepidum iam tangeret Ossa Tonantem.

Tum uero attoniti fatorum in cardine summo,

ceu suprema lues urbi facibusque cruentis

aequatura solo turres Bellona subiret,

omnibus e tectis certatim ingentia saxa

roboraque et ualidas fundae Balearis habenas

- nam iaculis caeloque uagis spes unde sagittis? -

uerum auidi tormenta rotant et molibus urgent.

Ille nec ingestis nec terga sequentibus umquam

detrahitur telis, uacuoque sub aëre pendens

plana uelut terra certus uestigia figat,

tendit et ingenti subit occurrente ruina:

amnis ut incumbens longaeui robora pontis

assiduis oppugnat aquis; iam saxa fatiscunt

emotaeque trabes: tanto uiolentior ille

- sentit enim - maiore salo quassatque trahitque

molem aegram, nexus donec celer alueus omnis

abscidit et cursu uictor respirat aperto.

Vtque petita diu celsus fastigia supra

eminuit trepidamque assurgens desuper urbem

uidit et ingenti Thebas exterruit umbra,

increpat attonitos "Haene illae Amphionis arces?

Pro pudor! Hi faciles carmenque imbelle secuti,

hi, mentita diu Thebarum fabula, muri?

et quid tam egregium prosternere moenia molli

structa lyra?" Simul insultans gressuque manuque

molibus obstantis cuneos tabulataque saeuus

restruit: absiliunt pontes, tectique prementis

saxea frena labant, dissaeptoque aggere rursus

utitur et truncas rupes in templa domosque

praecipitat frangitque suis iam moenibus urbem.

Iamque Iouem circa studiis diuersa fremebant

Argolici Tyriique dei; pater aequus utrisque

aspicit ingentes ardentum comminus iras

seque obstare uidet. Gemit inseruante nouerca

Liber et obliquo respectans lumine patrem:

"Nunc ubi saeua manus, meaque heu cunabula flammae,

fulmen, io | ubi fulmen?" ait. Gemit auctor Apollo,

quas dedit ipse, domos; Lernam Thebasque rependit

maestus et intento dubitat Tirynthius arcu;

maternos plangit uolucer Danaëius Argos;

flet Venus Harmoniae populos metuensque mariti

stat procul et tacita Gradiuum respicit ira.

Increpat Aonios audax Tritonia diuos,

Iunonem tacitam furibunda silentia torquent.

Non tamen haec turbant pacem Iouis: ecce quierant

iurgia, cum mediis Capaneus auditus in astris.

"Nullane pro trepidis" clamabat, "numina Thebis

statis? ubi infandae segnes telluris alumni,

Bacchus et Alcides? Pudet instigare minores.

tu potius uenias - quis enim concurrere nobis

dignior? En cineres Semeleaque busta tenentur -,

nunc age, nunc totis in me conitere flammis,

Iuppiter! An pauidas tonitru turbare puellas

fortius et soceri turres exscindere Cadmi?"

Ingemuit dictis superum dolor; ipse furentem

risit et incussa sanctarum mole comarum:

"Quaenam spes hominum tumidae post proelia Phlegrae!

Tune etiam feriendus?" ait. Premit undique lentum

turba deum frendens et tela ultricia poscit,

nec iam audet fatis turbata obsistere coniunx.

Ipsa dato nondum caelestis regia signo

sponte tonat, coëunt ipsae sine flamine nubes

accurruntque imbres: Stygias rupisse catenas

Iapetum aut uictam supera ad conuexa leuari

Inarimen Aetnamue putes. Pudet ista timere

caelicolas; sed cum in media uertigine mundi

stare uirum insanasque uident deposcere pugnas,

mirantur tacite et dubio pro fulmine pallent.

Coeperat Ogygiae supra fastigia turris

arcanum mugire polus caelumque tenebris

auferri: tenet ille tamen, quas non uidet, arces,

fulguraque attritis quotiens micuere procellis:

"His" ait, "in Thebas, his iam decet ignibus uti,

hinc renouare faces lassamque accendere quercum."

Talia dicentem toto Ioue fulmen adactum

corripuit: primae fugere in nubila cristae,

et clipei niger umbo cadit, iamque omnia lucent

membra uiri. Cedunt acies, et terror utrimque,

quo ruat, ardenti feriat quas corpore turmas.

Intra se stridere facem galeamque comasque

questus, et urentem thoraca repellere dextra

conatus ferri cinerem sub pectore tractat.

Stat tamen, extremumque in sidera uersus anhelat,

pectoraque inuisis obicit fumantia muris,

ne caderet: sed membra uirum terrena relinquunt,

exuiturque animus; paulum si tardius artus

cessissent, potuit fulmen sperare secundum.