Āt trĕpĭdam īn thălămīs ēt iām sŭă fāctă păvēntēm
Cōlchĭdă cīrca ōmnēs părĭtēr fŭrĭaēquĕ mĭnaēquĕ
pātrĭs hăbēnt, nēc caērŭlĕī tĭmŏr aēquŏrĭs ūltrā
nēc mĭsĕraē tērra ūllă prŏcūl; quāscūmquĕ pĕr ūndās
fērrĕ fŭgām, quāmcūmquĕ cŭpīt iām scāndĕrĕ pūppēm.
ūltĭmă vīrgĭnĕīs tūnc flēns dĕdĭt ōscŭlă vīttīs
quōsquĕ fŭgīt cōmplēxă tŏrōs crīnēmquĕ gĕnāsquĕ
aēgră pĕr āntīquī cārpsīt vēstīgĭă sōmnī
ātque haēc īmprēssō gĕmŭīt mĭsĕrāndă cŭbīlī:
"ō mĭhĭ sī prŏfŭgaē gĕnĭtōr nūnc īpsĕ sŭprēmōs
āmplēxūs, Aēētă, dărēs flētūsquĕ vĭdērēs
ēccĕ mĕōs! nē crēdĕ, pătēr, nōn cārĭŏr īllēst
quēm sĕquĭmūr; tŭmĭdīs ŭtĭnām sĭmŭl ōbrŭăr ūndīs.
tū prĕcŏr haēc lōngā plăcĭdūs mōx scēptră sĕnēctā
tūtă gĕrās mĕlĭōrquĕ tĭbī sīt cētĕră prōlēs."
dīxĭt ĕt Haēmŏnĭō nūnquām spērnēndă mărītō
cōndĭtă lētĭfĕrīs prōmīt mĕdĭcāmĭnă cīstīs
vīrgĭnĕōsquĕ sĭnūs īpsūmquĕ mŏnīlĕ vĕnēnīs
īmplĭcăt āc saēvūm sŭpĕr ōmnĭbŭs āddĭdĭt ēnsēm.
īndĕ vĕlūt tōrtō Fŭrĭārum ērēctă flăgēllō
prōsĭlĭt, āttŏnĭtō quālīs pĕdĕ prōsĭlĭt Īnō
īn frĕtă nēc pārvī mĕmĭnīt cōntērrĭtă nātī
quēm tĕnĕt; ēxtrēmūm cōniūnx fĕrĭt īnrĭtŭs Īsthmōn.
Iām prĭŏr īn lūcōs cūrīs ūrgēntĭbŭs hērōs
vēnĕrăt ēt nĕmŏrīs sācrā sē nōctĕ tĕgēbāt
tūm quŏquĕ sīdĕrĕā clārūs prŏcŭl ōră iŭvēntā.
quālĭs ădhūc spārsīs cŏmĭtūm pēr lūstră cătērvīs
Lātmĭŭs aēstīvā rĕsĭdēt vēnātŏr ĭn ūmbrā
dīgnŭs ămōrĕ dĕaē, vēlātīs cōrnĭbŭs ēt iām
Lūnă vĕnīt; rŏsĕō tālīs pēr nūbĭlă dūctōr
īmplĕt hŏnōrĕ nĕmūs tālēmque ēxspēctăt ămāntēm.
ēcce aūtēm păvĭdaē vīrgō dē mōrĕ cŏlūmbaē
quaē sŭpĕr īngēntī cīrcūmdătă praēpĕtĭs ūmbrā
īn quēmcūmquĕ trĕmēns hŏmĭnēm cădĭt, haūd sĕcŭs īllă
āctă tĭmōrĕ grăvī mĕdĭām sē mīsĭt; ăt īllĕ
ēxcēpīt blāndōquĕ prĭōr sīc ōrĕ lŏcūtūs:
"ō dĕcŭs īn nōstrōs māgnūm vēntūră pĕnātēs
sōlăquĕ tāntārūm vīrgo haūd īndīgnă vĭārūm
caūsă rĕpērtă mĭhī, iām ‹iām› nōn ūllă rĕquīrō
vēllĕră tēquĕ mĕaē sătĭs ēst quaēsīssĕ cărīnaē.
vērum ăge ĕt hōc ĕtĭām, quāndō pŏtĕs, ādĭcĕ tāntīs
mūnĕrĭbūs mĕrĭtīsquĕ tŭīs; nāmque aūrĕă iūssī
tērgă rĕfērrĕ sŭmūs; sŏcĭōs ĕă glōrĭă tāngīt."
sīc ăĭt ēt prīmīs sūpplēx dĕdĭt ōscŭlă pālmīs.
Cōntrā vīrgŏ nŏvīs ĭtĕrūm sīngūltĭbŭs ōrsāst:
"līnquŏ dŏmōs pătrĭās tē prōptĕr ŏpēsquĕ mĕōrūm
nēc iām nūnc rēgīnă lŏquōr scēptrīsquĕ rĕlīctīs
vōtă sĕquōr; sērva hānc prŏfŭgaē, prĭŏr īpsĕ dĕdīstī
quām (scīs nēmpĕ) fĭdēm. dī nōstrīs vōcĭbŭs ādsūnt
sīdĕra ĕt haēc tē mēquĕ vĭdēnt. tēcum aēquŏră, tēcūm
ēxpĕrĭār quāscūmquĕ vĭās, mŏdŏ nēquĭs ăbāctām
hūc rĕfĕrāt mē fōrtĕ dĭēs ŏcŭlīsquĕ părēntīs
īngĕrăr; hōc sŭpĕrōs, hōc tē quŏquĕ dēprĕcŏr, hōspēs."
Haēc ăĭt ātquĕ fŭrēns răpĭdō pēr dēvĭă pāssū
tōllĭtŭr. īlle haērēt cŏmĕs ēt mīrātŭr ĕūntēm,
cūm sŭbĭto īngēntēm mĕdĭa īntēr nūbĭlă flāmmām
cōnspĭcĭt ēt saēvā vībrāntēs lūcĕ tĕnēbrās.
"quīs rŭbŏr īstĕ pŏlī? quōd tām lūgūbrĕ rĕfūlsīt
sīdŭs?" ăīt; rēddīt trĕpĭdō cuī tālĭă vīrgŏ:
"īpsĭŭs ēn ŏcŭlōs ēt lūmĭnă tōrvă drăcōnīs
āspĭcĭs; īllĕ sŭīs haēc vībrāt fūlgŭră crīstīs
mēquĕ păvēns cōntrā sōlām vĭdĕt āc vŏcăt ūltrō,
ceū sŏlĕt, ēt blāndā pōscīt mē pābŭlă līnguā.
dīc ăgĕ nūnc ūtrūm vĭgĭlānti hōstēmquĕ vĭdēntī
ēxŭvĭās aūfērrĕ vĕlīs, ān lūmĭnă sōmnō
mērgĭmŭs ēt dŏmĭtūm pŏtĭūs tĭbĭ trādĭmŭs ānguēm?"
īllĕ sĭlēt, tāntūs sŭbĭīt tūm vīrgĭnĭs hōrrōr.
Iāmquĕ mănūs Cōlchīs vīmēnque īntēndĕrăt āstrīs
cārmĭnă bārbărĭcō fūndēns pĕdĕ, tēquĕ cĭēbāt,
Sōmnĕ pătēr. "Sōmne ōmnĭpŏtēns, tē Cōlchĭs ăb ōmnī
ōrbĕ vŏco īnque ūnūm iŭbĕō nūnc īrĕ drăcōnēm,
quaē frĕtă saēpĕ tŭō dŏmŭī, quaē nūbĭlă cōrnū
fūlmĭnăque ēt tōtō quīcquīd mĭcăt aēthĕrĕ; sēd nūnc,
nūnc ăgĕ māiŏr ădēs frātrīquĕ sĭmīllĭmĕ Lētō.
tē quŏquĕ, Phrīxēaē pĕcŭdīs fīdīssĭmĕ cūstōs,
tēmpŭs ăb hāc ŏcŭlōs tāndēm dēflēctĕrĕ cūrā.
quēm mĕtŭīs me ādstāntĕ dŏlūm? sērvābŏ părūmpēr
īpsă nĕmūs; lōngum īntĕrĕā tū pōnĕ lăbōrēm."
īlle haūd Aēŏlĭō dīscēdĕrĕ fēssŭs ăb aūrō
nēc dărĕ pērmīssaē, quāmvīs iŭvĕt, ōră quĭētī
sūstĭnĕt, āc prīmī pērcūssūs nūbĕ sŏpōrīs
hōrrŭĭt ēt dūlcēs ēxcūssĭt ăb ārbŏrĕ sōmnōs.
cōntrā Tārtărĕīs Cōlchīs spūmārĕ ‹vĕnēnīs›
cūnctăquĕ Lēthaēī quāssārĕ sĭlēntĭă rāmī
pērstăt ĕt ādvērsō lūctāntĭă lūmĭnă cāntū
ōbrŭĭt ātque ōmnēm līnguāquĕ mănūquĕ fătīgāt
vīm Stўgĭam ārdēntēs dōnēc sŏpŏr ōccŭpĕt īrās.
iāmque āltaē cĕcĭdērĕ iŭbaē nūtātquĕ cŏāctūm
iām căpŭt ātque īngēns ēxtrā sŭă vēllĕră cērvīx,
ceū rĕflŭēns Pădŭs aūt sēptēm prōiēctŭs ĭn āmnēs
Nīlŭs ĕt Hēspĕrĭūm vĕnĭēns Ālphēŏs ĭn ōrbēm.
īpsă căpūt cārī pōstquām Mēdēă drăcōnīs
vīdĭt hŭmī fūsīs cīrcūm prōiēctă lăcērtīs
sēquĕ sŭūmquĕ sĭmūl flēvīt crūdēlĭs ălūmnūm.
"nōn ĕgŏ tē sērā tālēm sūb nōctĕ vĭdēbām
sācră fĕrēns ĕpŭlāsquĕ tĭbī, nēc tālĭs hĭāntī
mēllă dăbam āc nōstrīs nūtrībām fīdă vĕnēnīs.
quām grăvĭdā nūnc mōlĕ iăcēs, quām sēgnĭs ĭnērtēm
flātŭs hăbēt! nēc tē sāltēm, mĭsĕrāndĕ, pĕrēmī.
heū saēvūm pāssūrĕ dĭēm, iām nūllă vĭdēbīs
vēllĕră, nūllă tŭā fūlgēntĭă dōnă sŭb ūmbrā.
cēde ădĕo īnque ălĭīs sĕnĭūm nūnc dīgĕrĕ lūcīs
īmmĕmŏr, ōrŏ, mĕī, nēc mē tŭă sībĭlă tōtō
ēxăgĭtēnt īnfēstă mărī. sēd tū quŏquĕ cūnctās,
Aēsŏnĭdē, dīmīttĕ mŏrās ātque ēffŭgĕ rāptīs
vēllĕrĭbūs. pătrĭōs ēxstīnxī nōxĭă taūrōs;
tērrĭgĕnās īn fātă dĕdī; fūsum ēccĕ drăcōnīs
cōrpŭs hăbēs, iāmque ōmnĕ nĕfās, iām, spērŏ, pĕrēgī."
quaērēntī tūnc deīndĕ vĭām quā se ārdŭŭs hērōs
fērrĕt ăd aūrĭgĕraē căpŭt ārbŏrĭs "hēiă pĕr īpsūm
scānde ăge ĕt ādvērsō grēssūs" ăĭt "īmprĭmĕ dōrsō."
nēc mŏră fīt; dīctīs fīdēns Crēthēĭă prōlēs
cālcăt ĕt āĕrĭām squāmīs pērfērtŭr ăd ōrnūm
cūiŭs ădhūc rŭtĭlām sērvābānt brācchĭă pēllēm
nūbĭbŭs āccēnsīs sĭmĭlem aūt cūm vēstĕ rĕcīnctā
lābĭtŭr ārdēntī Thaūmāntĭăs ōbvĭă Phoēbō.
cōrrĭpĭt ōptātūm dĕcŭs ēxtrēmūmquĕ lăbōrēm
Aēsŏnĭdēs, lōngōsquĕ sĭbī gēstātă pĕr ānnōs
Phrīxēaē mŏnŭmēntă fŭgaē vīx rēddĭdĭt ārbōr
cūm gĕmĭtū, trīstēsquĕ sŭpēr cŏĭērĕ tĕnēbraē.
ēgrēssī rĕlĕgūnt cāmpōs ēt flūmĭnĭs ōră
sūmmă pĕtūnt. mĭcăt ōmnĭs ăgēr, vīvīsquĕ cŏmāntēm
sīdĕrĕīs tōtōs pēllēm nūnc fūndĭt ĭn ārtūs,
nūnc īn cōllă rĕfērt, nūnc īmplĭcăt īllĕ sĭnīstraē.
tālĭs ăb Īnăchĭīs Nĕmĕaē Tīrŷnthĭŭs āntrīs
ībăt ădhūc āptāns ŭmĕrīs căpĭtīquĕ lĕōnēm.
ūt vērō sŏcĭīs, quī tūnc praēdīctă tĕnēbānt
ōstĭă, pēr lōngās āppārŭĭt aūrĕŭs ūmbrās,
clāmŏr ăb Haēmŏnĭō sūrgīt grĕgĕ; sē quŏquĕ gaūdēns
prōmŏvĕt ād prīmās iŭvĕnī rătĭs ōbvĭă rīpās.
praēcĭpĭtēs ăgĭt īllĕ grădūs ātque aūrĕă mīsīt
tērgă prĭūs, mōx āttŏnĭtā cūm vīrgĭnĕ pūppēm
īnsĭlĭt āc rāptā vīctōr cōnsīstĭt ĭn hāstā.
Īntĕrĕā pătrĭās saēvūs vĕnĭt hōrrŏr ăd aūrēs
fātă dŏmūs lūctūmquĕ fĕrēns fraūdēmquĕ fŭgāmquĕ
vīrgĭnĭs. hīnc sŭbĭtīs īnfēlīx frātĕr ĭn ārmīs,
ūrbs ĕtĭām mōx tōtă cŏīt, vŏlăt īpsĕ sĕnēctaē
īmmĕmŏr Aēētēs, cōmplēntūr lītŏră bēllō
nēquīquām, fŭgĭt īmmīssīs nām pūppĭs hăbēnīs.
Mātĕr ădhūc āmbās tēndēbăt ĭn aēquŏră pālmās
ēt sŏrŏr ātque ōmnēs ălĭaē mātrēsquĕ nŭrūsquĕ
Cōlchĭdĕs aēquālēsquĕ tĭbī, Mēdēă, pŭēllaē.
ēxstāt sōlă părēns īmplētque ŭlŭlātĭbŭs aūrās.
"sīstĕ fŭgām, mĕdĭō rĕfĕr hūc ēx aēquŏrĕ pūppēm,
nātă; pŏtēs. quō" clāmăt "ăbīs? hīc tūrbă tŭōrūm
ōmnĭs ĕt īrātūs nōndūm pătĕr; haēc tŭă tēllūs
scēptrăquĕ. quīd tērrīs sōlām tē crēdĭs Ăchaēīs?
quīs lŏcŭs Īnăchĭās īntēr tĭbĭ, bārbără, nātās?
īstănĕ vōtă dŏmūs ēxspēctātīque hўmĕnaēī?
hūnc pĕtĭī grāndaēvă dĭēm? vēllem ūnguĭbŭs ūncīs
ūt vŏlŭcrīs pōssēm praēdōnĭs ĭn īpsĭŭs ōră
īrĕ rătēmquĕ sŭprā clārōquĕ rĕpōscĕrĕ cāntū
quām gĕnŭi. Ālbānō fŭĭt haēc prōmīssă tўrānnō,
nōn tĭbĭ; nīl tēcūm mĭsĕrī pĕpĭgērĕ părēntēs,
Aēsŏnĭdē; nōn hōc Pĕlĭās ēvādĕrĕ fūrtō
tē iŭbĕt aūt ūllās Cōlchīs ābdūcĕrĕ nātās.
vēllŭs hăbe ēt nōstrīs sīquīd sŭpĕr āccĭpĕ tēmplīs.
sēd quĭd ăgō quēmque īmmĕrĭtīs īncūsŏ quĕrēllīs?
īpsă fŭgīt tāntōquĕ (nĕfās) īpsa ārdĕt ămōrĕ.
hōc ĕrăt, īnfēlīx, rĕdĕūnt nām sīngŭlă mēntī,
ēx quō Thēssălĭcī sŭbĭērūnt ‹lītŏră rēmī›
quōd nūllaē tē, nātă, dăpēs, nōn ūllă iŭvābānt
tēmpŏră. nōn ūllūs tĭbĭ tūm cŏlŏr aēgrăquĕ vērbă
ērrāntēsquĕ gĕnae ātque ălĭēnō gaūdĭă vūltū
sēmpĕr ĕrānt. cūr tāntă mĭhī nōn prōdĭtă pēstīs
ūt gĕnĕr Aēsŏnĭdēs nōstrā cōnsīdĕrĕt aūlā
nēc tālēm pătĕrērĕ fŭgām, cōmmūnĕ fŭīssēt
aūt cērtē nūnc ōmnĕ nĕfās īrēmŭs ĕt āmbaē
īn quāscūmquĕ vĭās? părĭtēr pĕtĭīssĕ iŭvārēt
Thēssălĭam ēt saēvī, quaēcūmque ‹ēst›, hōspĭtĭs ūrbēm."
sīc gĕnĕtrīx, sĭmĭlīque īmplēt sŏrŏr ōmnĭă quēstū
ēxŭlŭlāns; fămŭlaē părĭtēr clāmōrĕ sŭprēmō
īn văcŭōs dānt vērbă Nŏtōs dŏmĭnāmquĕ rĕclāmānt
nōmĭnĕ; tē vēntī prŏcŭl ēt tŭă fātă fĕrēbānt.
Īndĕ dĭēm nōctēmquĕ vŏlānt. rĕdĕūntĭbŭs aūră
grātĭŏr ēt nōtaē Mĭnўīs trānscūrrĕrĕ tērraē
cūm sŭbĭto Ērgīnūs pūppī sīc fātŭr ăb āltā:
"vōs" ăĭt "Aēsŏnĭdē, cōntēntī vēllĕrĕ cāptō
nēc vĭă quaē sŭpĕrēt nēc quaē fōrtūnă vĭdētīs.
crāstĭnă nāmquĕ dĭēs trŭcĭs ād cōnfīnĭă Pōntī
Cŷănĕāsquĕ vŏcāt, mĕmĭnīque, ō Tīphў, tŭōrūm
sāxă pĕr īllă, pătēr, mĕmĭnī, vĕnĕrāndĕ, lăbōrūm.
mūtāndum, ō sŏcĭī, nōbīs ĭtĕr; āltĕră pōntī
ēlūctāndă vĭa ēt cūrsū quēm fābŏr ĕūndūmst.
haūd prŏcŭl hīnc īngēns Scўthĭcī rŭĭt ēxĭtŭs Hīstrī,
fūndĕrĕ nōn ūnō tāntūm quēm flūmĭnă cōrnū
āccĭpĭmūs; sēptem ēxĭt ăquīs, sēptem ōstĭă pāndīt.
īllĭŭs ādvērsī nūnc ōră pĕtāmŭs ĕt ūndām
quaē lătŭs īn laēvūm Pōntī cădĭt; īndĕ sĕquēmūr
īpsĭŭs āmnĭs ĭtēr dōnēc nōs flūmĭnĕ cērtō
pērfĕrăt īnque ălĭūd rēddāt mărĕ. sīnt ăgĕ tāntī,
Aēsŏnĭdē, quaēcūmquĕ mŏraē quām saēvă sŭbīrĕ
sāxa ĭtĕrūm, quām Cŷănĕōs pērrūmpĕrĕ mōntēs.
sāt mĭhĭ, nōn tōtīs Ārgō rĕdĭt ēccĕ cŏrŷmbīs."
haēc ăĭt īgnārūs fīxās iām nūmĭnĕ rūpēs
stārĕ nĕque ādvērsīs ūltrā cōncūrrĕrĕ sāxīs.
rēddĭdĭt Aēsŏnĭdēs "ēt tē, fīdīssĭmĕ rēctōr,
haūd vānī tĕtĭgērĕ mĕtūs nēc me īrĕ rĕcūsō
lōngĭŭs ēt cūnctīs rĕdĕūntem ōstēndĕrĕ tērrīs."
prōtĭnŭs īnde ălĭōs flēctūnt rēgēsquĕ lŏcōsquĕ
ādsuētūmquĕ pĕtūnt plaūstrīs mīgrāntĭbŭs aēquōr.
Pūppĕ prŏcūl sūmmā vĭgĭlīs pōst tērgă măgīstrī
haēsĕrăt aūrātaē gĕnĭbūs Mēdēă Mĭnērvaē
ātque ĭbĭ dēiēctā rĕsĭdēns īn lūmĭnă pāllā
flēbăt ădhūc, quāmquam Haēmŏnĭīs cūm rēgĭbŭs īrēt
sōlă tămēn nēc cōniŭgĭī sēcūră fŭtūrī.
īllām Sārmătĭcī mĭsĕrāntūr lītŏră pōntī,
īllă Thŏāntēaē trānsīt dēflētă Dĭānaē.
nūllă pălūs, nūllūs Scўthĭaē nōn maērĕt ĕūntēm
āmnĭs; Hўpērbŏrĕās mōvīt cōnspēctă prŭīnās
tōt mŏdŏ rēgnă tĕnēns; īpsī quŏquĕ mūrmŭră pōnūnt
iām Mĭnўaē, iām fērrĕ vŏlūnt. vīx ādlĕvăt ōră
ād sērās sīquāndŏ dăpēs quās cārŭs Ĭāsōn
īpsĕ dăbāt, iām nūbĭfĕrām trānsīrĕ Cărāmbīn
sīgnĭfĭcāns, iām rēgnă Lўcī, tŏtĭēnsquĕ gĕmēntēm
fāllĭt ăd Haēmŏnĭōs hōrtātūs sūrgĕrĕ mōntēs.
Īnsŭlă Sārmătĭcaē Peūcē stāt nōmĭnĕ nŷmphaē
tōrvŭs ŭbi ēt rīpā sēmpēr mĕtŭēndŭs ŭtrāquĕ
īn frĕtă pēr saēvōs Hīstēr dēscēndĭt ălūmnōs.
sōlvĕre ĭn hōc tāndēm rĕsĭdēs dūx lītŏrĕ cūrās
āc prīmūm sŏcĭōs aūsūs sŭă pāctă dŏcērĕ
prōmīssāmquĕ fĭdēm thălămī foēdūsquĕ iŭgālĕ.
ūltro ōmnēs laēti īnstīgānt mĕrĭtāmquĕ fătēntūr.
īpse aūtem īnvītaē iām Pāllădŏs ērĭgĭt ārās
īncĭpĭt Īdălĭaē nūmēn nēc spērnĕrĕ dīvaē
praēcĭpŭēquĕ sŭī sīquāndo īn tēmpŏrĕ pūlchēr
cōniŭgĭī Mĭnўās nūnquām măgĭs ēmĭnĕt īntēr;
quālīs sānguĭnĕō ‹vīctōr› Grādīvŭs ăb Hēbrō
Īdălĭūm fūrtō sŭbĭt aūt dīlēctă Cўthēră,
seū cūm caēlēstēs Ālcīdae īnvīsĕrĕ mēnsās
iām văcăt ēt fēssūm Iūnōnĭă sūstĭnĕt Hēbē.
ādsūnt ūnănĭmēs Vĕnŭs hōrtātōrquĕ Cŭpīdŏ
sūscĭtăt ādfīxām maēstīs Aēētĭdă cūrīs;
īpsă sŭās īllī crŏcĕō sūbtēgmĭnĕ vēstēs
īndŭĭt, īpsă sŭām dŭplĭcēm Cўthĕrēă cŏrōnām
dōnăt ĕt ārsūrās ălĭā cūm vīrgĭnĕ gēmmās.
tūm nŏvŭs īmplēvīt vūltūs hŏnŏr āc sŭă flāvīs
rēddĭtă cūră cŏmīs, grădĭtūrque ōblītă mălōrūm.
sīc ŭbĭ Mŷgdŏnĭōs plānctūs săcĕr āblŭĭt Ālmŏ
laētăquĕ iām Cўbĕlē fēstaēquĕ pĕr ōppĭdă taēdaē,
quīs mŏdŏ tām saēvōs ădўtīs flūxīssĕ crŭōrēs
cōgĭtĕt, aūt īpsī quī iām mĕmĭnērĕ mĭnīstrī?
īnde ŭbĭ sācrĭfĭcās cūm cōniŭgĕ vēnĭt ăd ārās
Aēsŏnĭdēs ūnāque ădĕūnt părĭtērquĕ prĕcārī
īncĭpĭūnt, īgnēm Pōllūx ūndāmquĕ iŭgālēm
praētŭlĭt, ēt dēxtrūm părĭtēr vērtūntŭr ĭn ōrbēm.
sēd nĕquĕ sē pīnguēs tūm cāndĭdă flāmmă pĕr aūrās
ēxplĭcŭīt nēc tūră vĭdēt cōncōrdĭă Mōpsūs
prōmīssām nēc stārĕ fĭdēm, brĕvĕ tēmpŭs ămōrūm.
ōdĭt ŭtrūmquĕ sĭmūl, sĭmŭl ēt mĭsĕrātŭr ŭtrūmquĕ
ēt tĭbĭ tūm nūllōs ōptāvīt, bārbără, nātōs.
mōx ĕpŭlās ēt sācră părānt; sīlvēstrĭă laētīs
praēmĭă vēnātū făcĭlī quaēsītă sŭpērsūnt;
pārs vĕrĭbūs, pārs ūndāntī dēspūmăt ăēnō.
grāmĭnĕīs āst īndĕ tŏrīs dīscūmbĭtŭr, ōlīm
Hīstĕr ănhēlāntēm Peūcēn quō prēssĕrăt āntrō.
īpsi īntēr mĕdĭōs rŏsĕā rădĭāntĕ iŭvēntā
āltĭŭs īnquĕ sŭī stērnūntūr vēllĕrĭs aūrō.
Quīs nŏvŭs īncēptōs tĭmŏr īmpĕdĭīt hўmĕnaēōs
tūrbāvītquĕ tŏrōs ēt sācră călēntĭă rūpīt?
Ābsŷrtūs sŭbĭtā praēcēps cūm clāssĕ părēntīs
ādvĕhĭtūr prŏfŭgīs īnfēstām lāmpădă Grāīs
cōncŭtĭēns dīrāmquĕ prĕmēns clāmōrĕ sŏrōrēm
ātque "hānc, ō sīquīs vōbīs dŏlŏr īrăquĕ, Cōlchī,
āccĕlĕrātĕ vĭām; nĕque ĕnīm fŭgĭt aēquŏrĕ rāptōr
Iūppĭtĕr aūt fālsī sĕquĭmūr vēstīgĭă taūrī.
pūppĕ, nĕfās, ūnā praēdō Phrīxēă rĕpōrtāt
vēllĕră, quā lĭbŭīt rĕmĕāt cūm vīrgĭnĕ; nōbīs,
ō pŭdŏr, ēt mūrōs ēt stāntĭă tēctă rĕlīquīt.
quīd mĭhĭ deīndĕ sătīs? nēc quaērō vēllĕră nēc tē
āccĭpĭō, gērmānă, dătām; nēc foēdĕrĭs ūllă
spēs ĕrĭt aūt īraē quīsquām mŏdŭs. īndĕ rĕvērtī
pātrĭs ăd ōră mĕī tām pārvo īn tēmpŏrĕ fās sīt?
quīnquāgīnta ănĭmaē mē scīlĭcĕt ūnăquĕ mērsă
sūffĭcĭēt plācārĕ rătīs? tē, Graēcĭă fāllāx,
pērsĕquŏr ātquĕ tŭīs hūnc quāssō moēnĭbŭs īgnēm.
nēc tĭbĭ dīgnă, sŏrōr, dēsum ād cōnūbĭă frātēr
prīmŭs ĕt ēccĕ fĕrō quătĭōque hānc lāmpădă vēstrō
cōniŭgĭō, prīmūs cĕlĕbrō dōtālĭă sācră,
quī pŏtŭī; pătrĭaē vĕnĭām dā, quaēsŏ, sĕnēctaē.
quīn ōmnēs ălĭī părĭtēr pŏpŭlīquĕ pătrēsquĕ
mēcum ādsūnt. māgnī vīrgō nē rēgĭă Sōlīs
Haēmŏnĭī thălămōs ădĕās dēspēctă mărītī
tōt dĕcŭīt cŏĭīssĕ rătēs, tōt fūlgĕrĕ taēdās."
Dīxĕrăt ātque ōrāns ĭtĕrūm vēntōsquĕ vĭrōsquĕ
pērquĕ rătīs sūpplēx ēt rēmĭgĭs īpsĕ rĕcēntīs
trānstră rŭīt pāndītquĕ nŏvīs vēxīllă măgīstrīs.
īlli aūtem īntōrquēnt trūncīs frōndēntĭbŭs ūndām
quaēquĕ dĭē fŭĕrāt rāptīm fōrmātă sŭb ūnō
ēt tāntūm dēiēctă sŭīs ā mōntĭbŭs ārbōr
(quīd dŏlŏr ēt vĕtĕrūm pŏtŭīt nōn īră vĭrōrūm?)
haūd lōngīs iām dīstăt ăquīs, sĕquĭtūrquĕ vŏlāntēm
bārbără Pāllădĭām pūppēm rătĭs, ōstĭă dōnēc
Dānŭvĭī vĭrĭdēmquĕ vĭdēnt ānte ōstĭă Peūcēn
ūltĭmăque āgnōscūnt Ārgōī cōrnŭă mālī.
tūm vērō clāmōrem ōmnēs ĭnĭmīcăquĕ tōllūnt
gaūdĭă, tūm grăvĭōr rēmīs frăgŏr, ūt prŏcŭl Ārgō
vīsă vĭrīs, ūnāmquĕ pĕtūnt rōstra ōmnĭă pūppēm.
prīncēps nāvālēm nōdōsī rōbŏrĭs ūncūm
ārrĭpĭt ēt lōngā Stŷrūs prōspēctăt ăb ūndā
cōniŭgĭo ātque ĭtĕrūm spōnsaē flāmmātŭs ămōrĕ.
iāmque ălĭī clĭpĕōs ēt tēlă trăbālĭă dēxtrīs
ēxpĕdĭūnt, ārmānt ălĭī pĭcĭs ūnguĭnĕ flāmmās.
īmpătĭēns trĕmĭt hāstă mŏraē nēc lōngĭŭs īntēr
quām quōd tēlă vĕtēt sŭpĕrēst mărĕ. vōcĭbŭs ūrgēnt
īntĕrĕa ēt pĕdĭbūs pūlsānt tăbŭlātă frĕmēntēs.
Cūm sŭbĭtās vīdērĕ rătēs vībrātăquĕ flāmmīs
aēquŏră nōn ūnā Mĭnўaē fōrmīdĭnĕ sūrgūnt,
prīmŭs ĕt īn pūppēm dēsērtā vīrgĭnĕ dūctōr
prōsĭlĭt ēt sūmmā gălĕām răpĭt āltŭs ăb hāstā,
ēnsĕ sĭmūl clĭpĕōquĕ mĭcāt, nēc cētĕră pūbēs
sēgnĭŭs ārrēptīs īn lītŏrĕ cōnstĭtĭt ārmīs.
āt tĭbĭ quaē scĕlĕrūm făcĭēs, Mēdēă, tŭōrūm
quīsvĕ pŭdōr Cōlchōs ĭtĕrūm frātrēmquĕ vĭdēntī
quīcquĭd ĕt ābscīsūm vāstō iām tūtă prŏfūndō
crēdĭdĕrās! ērgo īnfaūstō sēse ōccŭlĭt āntrō
nōn ălĭūd quām cērtă mŏrī seū cārŭs Ĭāsōn
seū frātēr Grāiā vīctūs cĕcĭdīssĕt ăb hāstā.
Haūd ĭtă sēd sūmmō sēgnīs sĕdĕt aēthĕrĕ Iūnŏ
aūt sĭnĭt ēxtrēmā Mĭnўās dēcērnĕrĕ pūgnā,
nēc nŭmĕrō quŏnĭām Cōlchīs nēc pūppĭbŭs aēquī.
ērgo ŭbĭ dīvă rătēs hōstēmque āccēdĕrĕ cērnīt
īpsă sŭbīt tērrās tēmpēstātūmquĕ rĕfrīngīt
vēntōrūmquĕ dŏmōs. vŏlŭcrūm gēns tūrbĭdă frātrūm
ērūmpīt, clāssēm dēxtrā Sātūrnĭă mōnstrāt.
vīdēre īnque ūnūm părĭtēr mărĕ prōtĭnŭs ōmnēs
īnfēstō clāmōrĕ rŭūnt ĭnĭmīcăquĕ Cōlchīs
aēquŏra ĕt ādvērsōs stătŭūnt ā lītŏrĕ flūctūs.
Tōllĭtŭr ātque īnfrā Mĭnўās Ārgōăquĕ vēlă
Stŷrŭs hăbēt; vāstō rūrsūs dēsīdĭt hĭātū
ābrūptā rĕvŏlūtŭs ăquā. iāmque ōmnĭs ĭn āstră
ītquĕ rĕdītquĕ rătīs, lāpsōquĕ rĕcīprŏcă flūctū
dēscēndīt. vŏrăt hōs vērtēx, hōs āgmĭnĕ tōtō
gūrgĕs ăgīt. sĭmŭl īn vūltūs mĭcăt ūndĭquĕ tērrōr;
crēbră rŭīnă pŏlī caēlēstĭă līmĭnă lāxāt.
nōn tămĕn ārdēntīs Stŷrī vĭŏlēntĭă cēdīt,
hōrtātūr sŏcĭōs mĕdĭa īntēr proēlĭă dīvūm.
"trānsfĕrĕt ērgŏ mĕās īn quaē vŏlĕt ōppĭdă dōtēs
Cōlchĭs, ĕt Haēmŏnĭūs nōbīs sūccēdĕt ădūltēr,
nēc mĭhĭ tōt māgnōs īntēr rēgēsquĕ prŏcōsquĕ
prōfŭĕrīt prōna haūd dŭbĭī sēntēntĭă pātrīs?
ān vīrtūs praēlātă vĭri ēst ēt fōrtĭŏr īllĕ
quēm sĕquĭtūr? iūngam īgnĭfĕrōs sĭnĕ cārmĭnĕ taūrōs
saēvăque Ĕchīŏnĭī fērrō sătă pērsĕquăr hŷdrī.
hōc ădĕo īntĕrĕā spēctā dē lītŏrĕ pūgnās
āmbōrūm: vīctōrĭs ĕrīs. iām dīgnă vĭdēbīs
proēlĭă iāmque īllūd cārūm căpŭt īrĕ crŭēntă
sūb frĕtă, sēmĭvĭrī nēc mūrrā cōrpŭs Ăchīvī
sēd pĭcĕ, sēd flāmmīs ĕt ŏlēntēs sūlphŭrĕ crīnēs.
vōs mŏdŏ vēl sōlum hōc, flūctūs, ēxpēllĭtĕ cōrpūs:
nōn te, Aēētă pătēr, gĕnĕri aūt, Sōl māgnĕ, pŭdēbīt.
fāllŏr, ăn hōs nōbīs măgĭcō nūnc cārmĭnĕ vēntōs
īpsă mŏvēt dīrāquĕ lĕvāt mărĭa ārdŭă līnguā
ātque ĭtĕrum Aēsŏnĭdēs, ĭtĕrūm dēfēndĭtŭr ārtĕ
quā sŏlĕt? haūd īllī cāntūs ēt fūtĭlĕ mūrmūr
prōdĕrĭt. ītĕ, rătēs, ēt frāngĭtĕ vīrgĭnĭs ūndām."
dīxĭt ĕt īntōrtīs sŏcĭō cūm mīlĭtĕ rēmīs
prōsĭlĭt; āt flūctū pūppīs lăbĕfāctă rĕvērsō
sōlvĭtŭr ēffūndītquĕ vĭrōs īpsūmquĕ mĭnāntēm
tūm quŏque ĕt ēlātā quaērēntēm lītŏră dēxtrā.
ībăt ĕt ārmă fĕrēns ēt strīctūm naūfrăgŭs ēnsēm
īncĭpĭt ēt rēmōs ēt quaērĕrĕ trānstră sŏlūtaē
spārsă rătīs maēstās‹que› āltīs īntēndĕrĕ vōcēs
pūppĭbŭs; āst īntēr tāntōs sūccūrrĕrĕ flūctūs
nūllă pŏtēst aūt īllĕ sĕquī, quŏtĭēnsquĕ prŏpīnquāt
tūnc ălĭūd rūrsūs dĭrĭmīt mărĕ. iām tămĕn ēnāt
iāmque ăbĭīt fūndōque ĭtĕrūm vĭŏlēntŭs ăb īmō
ērĭgĭtūr; sēd flūctŭs ădēst māgnōquĕ sŭb āltīs
tūrbĭnĕ fīgĭt ăquīs, ēt tāndēm vīrgĭnĕ cēssīt.
Ābsŷrtūs vīsū maērēt dēfīxŭs ăcērbō.
heū quĭd ăgāt? quā vī pōrtūs ēt prīmă căpēssāt
ōstĭă? quā pōssīt Mĭnўās īnvādĕrĕ claūsōs,
quōs vĭdĕt āgnōscītquĕ frĕmēns? mărĭa ōbvĭă cōntrā
saēvăquĕ pūgnăt hĭēms tōtūsque īn vērtĭcĕ pōntūs.
ābscēssīt tāndēm vānāquĕ rĕsēdĭt ăb īrā
ēt tāntā dē clādĕ †rătēs† lătŭs īndĕ sĭnīstrūm
ādvērsāmquĕ prŏcūl Peūcaē dēfērtŭr ĭn ōrām
cūm sŏcĭīs; gĕmĭnō nām scīndĭtŭr īnsŭlă flēxū
Dānŭvĭi. hāc dūdūm Mĭnўaē Păgăsaēăquĕ pūppīs
īn stătĭōnĕ mănēnt; īllīnc Aēētĭŭs hērōs
ōbsĭdĕt ādvērsā tēntōrĭă Thēssălă clāssĕ
īmpătĭēns, pūgnaēquĕ dătūr nōn ūllă pŏtēstās.
nōctēs ātquĕ dĭēs vāstīs mărĕ flūctĭbŭs īntēr
pērfŭrĭt, ēxpĕdĭānt dōnēc Iūnōnĭă sēsē
cōnsĭlĭa ātque ălĭquēm bēllō fĕrăt ānxĭă fīnēm.
Āt Mĭnўaē tāntī rĕpŭtāntēs ūltĭmă bēllī
ūrgēnt ēt prĕcĭbūs cūnctī frĕmĭtūquĕ fătīgānt
Aēsŏnĭdēn. quīd se ēxtērnā prō vīrgĭnĕ claūsōs
ōbĭcĭāt quīdve īllă pătī dīscrīmĭnă cōgāt?
rēspĭcĕrēt plūrēsque ănĭmās māiōrăquĕ fātă
tōt cŏmĭtūm quī nōn fŭrĭīs nĕc ămōrĕ nĕfāndō
pēr frĕtă sēd sōlā sēsē vīrtūtĕ sĕquāntūr.
ān vēro ūt thălămīs rāptīsque īndūlgĕăt ūnūs
cōniŭgĭīs? īd tēmpŭs ĕnīm. sāt vēllĕră Grāīs,
ēt pōsse ōblātā cōmpōnĕrĕ vīrgĭnĕ bēllūm.
quēmquĕ sŭās sĭnăt īrĕ dŏmōs nēc Mārtĕ crŭēntō
Eūrōpam ātque Ăsĭām prīma haēc cōmmīttăt Ĕrīnŷs.
nāmquĕ dătum hōc fātīs trĕpĭdūs sūpplēxquĕ cănēbāt
Mōpsŭs ŭt īn sērōs īrēnt măgĭs īstă nĕpōtēs
ātque ălĭūs lŭĕrēt tām dīra īncēndĭă rāptōr.
Īllĕ trăhēns gĕmĭtūm tāntīs āc vōcĭbŭs īmpār
quāmquām iūră dĕum ēt sācrī sĭbĭ cōnscĭă pāctī
rēlĭgĭō dūlcīsquĕ mŏvēnt prīmōrdĭă taēdaē,
cūnctātūr mōrtēmquĕ cŭpīt sŏcĭāmquĕ pĕrīclī
cōgĭtăt, haūd ūltrā sŏcĭīs ōbsīstĕrĕ pērgīt.
haēc ŭbĭ fīxă vĭrīs tēmpūs flūctūsquĕ quĭētōs
ēxspēctānt: īpsam īntĕrĕā quīd rēstĕt ămāntēm
īgnōrārĕ sĭnūnt dēcrētăquĕ trīstĭă sērvānt.
Sēd mĭsĕr ūt vānōs, vērōs ĭtă saēpĕ tĭmōrēs
vērsăt ămōr fāllīquĕ sĭnīt nēc vīrgĭnĭs ānnōs,
āc prĭŏr īpsă dŏlōs ēt quāmlĭbĕt īntĭmă sēnsīt
nōn fīdī iām sīgnă vĭrī nĭmĭūmquĕ sĭlēntēs
ūna ōmnēs. haūd īllă sŭī tămĕn īmmĕmŏr ūnquām
nēc sŭbĭtīs tūrbātă mĭnīs prĭŏr ōccŭpăt ūnūm
Aēsŏnĭdēn lōngēquĕ trăhīt, mōx tālĭbŭs īnfīt:
"mē quŏquĕ quīd tēcūm Mĭnўaē, fōrtīssĭmă pūbēs,
nōctĕ dĭēquĕ mŏvēnt; lĭcĕāt cōgnōscĕrĕ tāndēm,
sī mŏdŏ Pēlĭăcaē nōn sūm cāptīvă cărīnaē
nēc dŏmĭnōs dēcēptă sĕquōr cōnsūltăquĕ vēstră
fās aūdīrĕ mĭhī. vĕrĕōr, fīdīssĭmĕ cōniūnx,
nīl ĕquĭdēm; mĭsĕrērĕ tămēn prōmīssăquĕ sērvā
ūsque ād Thēssălĭcōs sāltēm cōnūbĭă pōrtūs
īnquĕ tŭā mē spērnĕ dŏmō. scīs tē mĭhĭ cērtē,
nōn sŏcĭōs iūrāssĕ tŭōs. hī rēddĕrĕ fōrsān
fās hăbĕānt, tĭbĭ nōn ĕădēm pērmīssă pŏtēstās
tēquĕ sĭmūl mēcum īpsă trăhām; nōn sōlă rĕpōscōr
vīrgŏ nŏcēns ātque hāc părĭtēr rătĕ fūgĭmŭs ōmnēs.
ān frātrīs tē bēllă mĕī pătrĭaēquĕ bĭrēmēs
tērrĭfĭcānt māgnōque īmpār ūrgērĭs ăb hōstĕ?
fīngĕ rătēs ălĭās ĕt ădhūc māiōră cŏīrĕ
āgmĭnă; nūllă fĭdēs, nūllīs ĕgŏ dīgnă pĕrīclīs?
nōn mĕrŭī mōrtēmquĕ tŭām cŏmĭtūmquĕ tŭōrūm?
vēllem ĕquĭdēm nōstrī tĕtĭgīssēnt lītŏră pātrīs
tē sĭnĕ dūxque īllīs ălĭūs quīcūmquĕ fŭīssēt;
nūnc rĕmĕānt mēque ēccĕ, nĕfās, ēt rēddĕrĕ pōssūnt
nēc spēs ūllă sŭpēr. quīn tū mĕă rēspĭcĕ sāltēm
cōnsĭlĭa ēt nĭmĭō cŏmĭtūm nē cēdĕ tĭmōrī.
crēdĭdĭt ārdēntēs quīs tē tūnc iūngĕrĕ taūrōs
pōssĕ, quĭs ād saēvī vēntūrūm tēmplă drăcōnīs?
o | ŭtĭnam ērgŏ mĕūs prō tē nōn ōmnĭă pōssēt
ātque ălĭquīd dŭbĭtārĕt ămōr. quīn nūnc quŏquĕ quaērō
nēscĭŏquīd tŭŭs īstĕ pŭdōr? mēne, ōptĭmĕ quōndām
Aēsŏnĭdē, mē fērrĕ prĕcēs ēt sūpplĭcĭs ōră
fās ĕrăt? haūd hōc nūnc gĕnĭtōr pŭtăt aūt dărĕ poēnās
iām scĕlĕrīs dŏmĭnūmquĕ pătī." sīc fātă părāntēm
rēddĕrĕ dīctă vĭrūm fŭrĭātā mēntĕ rĕfūgīt
vōcĭfĕrāns. quālem Ōgўgĭās cūm tōllĭt ĭn ārcēs
Bācchŭs ĕt Āŏnĭīs īllīdīt Thŷiădă trūncīs
tālĭs ĕrāt tālēmquĕ iŭgīs sē vīrgŏ fĕrēbāt
cūnctă păvēns; fŭgĭt īnfēstōs vībrāntĭbŭs hāstīs
tērrĭgĕnās, fŭgĭt ārdēntēs ēxtērrĭtă taūrōs,
sī Păgăsās vēl Pēlĭăcās hīnc dēnĭquĕ nūbēs
cērnĕrĕt ēt Tēmpē ‹tĕnŭī› lūcēntĭă fūmō,
hōc vīsū cōntēntă mŏrī. tūnc tōtă quĕrēllīs
ēgĕrĭtūr quēstūquĕ dĭēs, ĕădēmquĕ sŭb āstrīs
sōlă mŏvēt, maēstīs vĕlŭtī nōx īllă sŏnārēt
plēnă lŭpīs quătĕrēntquĕ trŭcēs iēiūnă lĕōnēs
ōră vĕl ōrbātaē trăhĕrēnt sūspīrĭă vāccaē.
prōcēdīt; nōn gēntĭs hŏnōs, nōn ‹glōrĭă māgnī›
Sōlĭs ăvī, nōn bārbărĭcaē dĕcŏr īllĕ iŭvēntaē,
quīd iŭbĕās. heū dūrĕ sĭlēs, māgnūmquĕ mĭnātūr
quālĭs ĕrāt cūm Chāŏnĭō rădĭāntĭă trūncō
vēllĕră vēxĭt ŏvāns īntērque īngēntĭă Grāiūm
nōmĭnă Pāllădĭā vīrgō stĕtĭt āltĕră prōrā.
haērĕt ĕt hīnc praēsēns pŭdŏr, hīnc dēcrētă sŭōrūm
dūră prĕmūnt. ūtcūmquĕ tămēn mūlcērĕ gĕmēntēm
tēmptăt ĕt īpsĕ gĕmēns ēt dīctīs tēmpĕrăt īrās.
"mēne ălĭquīd mĕrŭīssĕ pŭtās, mē tālĭă vēllĕ?"
At trepidam in thalamis et iam sua facta pauentem
Colchida circa omnes pariter furiaeque minaeque
patris habent, nec caerulei timor aequoris ultra
nec miserae terra ulla procul; quascumque per undas
ferre fugam, quamcumque cupit iam scandere puppem.
ultima uirgineis tunc flens dedit oscula uittis
quosque fugit complexa toros crinemque genasque
aegra per antiqui carpsit uestigia somni
atque haec impresso gemuit miseranda cubili:
"o mihi si profugae genitor nunc ipse supremos
amplexus, Aeeta, dares fletusque uideres
ecce meos! ne crede, pater, non carior illest
quem sequimur; tumidis utinam simul obruar undis.
tu precor haec longa placidus mox sceptra senecta
tuta geras meliorque tibi sit cetera proles."
dixit et Haemonio nunquam spernenda marito
condita letiferis promit medicamina cistis
uirgineosque sinus ipsumque monile uenenis
implicat ac saeuum super omnibus addidit ensem.
inde uelut torto Furiarum erecta flagello
prosilit, attonito qualis pede prosilit Ino
in freta nec parui meminit conterrita nati
quem tenet; extremum coniunx ferit inritus Isthmon.
Iam prior in lucos curis urgentibus heros
uenerat et nemoris sacra se nocte tegebat
tum quoque siderea clarus procul ora iuuenta.
qualis adhuc sparsis comitum per lustra cateruis
Latmius aestiua residet uenator in umbra
dignus amore deae, uelatis cornibus et iam
Luna uenit; roseo talis per nubila ductor
implet honore nemus talemque exspectat amantem.
ecce autem pauidae uirgo de more columbae
quae super ingenti circumdata praepetis umbra
in quemcumque tremens hominem cadit, haud secus illa
acta timore graui mediam se misit; at ille
excepit blandoque prior sic ore locutus:
"o decus in nostros magnum uentura penates
solaque tantarum uirgo haud indigna uiarum
causa reperta mihi, ‹iam› iam non ulla requiro
uellera teque meae satis est quaesisse carinae.
uerum age et hoc etiam, quando potes, adice tantis
muneribus meritisque tuis; namque aurea iussi
terga referre sumus; socios ea gloria tangit."
sic ait et primis supplex dedit oscula palmis.
Contra uirgo nouis iterum singultibus orsast:
"linquo domos patrias te propter opesque meorum
nec iam nunc regina loquor sceptrisque relictis
uota sequor; serua hanc profugae, prior ipse dedisti
quam (scis nempe) fidem. di nostris uocibus adsunt
sidera et haec te meque uident. tecum aequora, tecum
experiar quascumque uias, modo nequis abactam
huc referat me forte dies oculisque parentis
ingerar; hoc superos, hoc te quoque deprecor, hospes."
Haec ait atque furens rapido per deuia passu
tollitur. ille haeret comes et miratur euntem,
cum subito ingentem media inter nubila flammam
conspicit et saeua uibrantes luce tenebras.
"quis rubor iste poli? quod tam lugubre refulsit
sidus?" ait; reddit trepido cui talia uirgo:
"ipsius en oculos et lumina torua draconis
aspicis; ille suis haec uibrat fulgura cristis
meque pauens contra solam uidet ac uocat ultro,
ceu solet, et blanda poscit me pabula lingua.
dic age nunc utrum uigilanti hostemque uidenti
exuuias auferre uelis, an lumina somno
mergimus et domitum potius tibi tradimus anguem?"
ille silet, tantus subiit tum uirginis horror.
Iamque manus Colchis uimenque intenderat astris
carmina barbarico fundens pede, teque ciebat,
Somne pater. "Somne omnipotens, te Colchis ab omni
orbe uoco iuque unum iubeo nunc ire draconem,
quae freta saepe tuo domui, quae nubila cornu
fulminaque et toto quicquid micat aethere; sed nunc,
nunc age maior ades fratrique simillime Leto.
te quoque, Phrixeae pecudis fidissime custos,
tempus ab hac oculos tandem deflectere cura.
quem metuis me adstante dolum? seruabo parumper
ipsa nemus; longum interea tu pone laborem."
ille haud Aeolio discedere fessus ab auro
nec dare permissae, quamuis iuuet, ora quieti
sustinet, ac primi percussus nube soporis
horruit et dulces excussit ab arbore somnos.
contra Tartareis Colchis spumare ‹uenenis›
cunctaque Lethaei quassare silentia rami
perstat et aduerso luctantia lumina cantu
obruit atque omnem linguaque manuque fatigat
uim Stygiam ardentes donec sopor occupet iras.
iamque altae cecidere iubae nutatque coactum
iam caput atque ingens extra sua uellera ceruix,
ceu refluens Padus aut septem proiectus in amnes
Nilus et Hesperium ueniens Alpheos in orbem.
ipsa caput cari postquam Medea draconis
uidit humi fusis circum proiecta lacertis
seque suumque simul fleuit crudelis alumnum.
"non ego te sera talem sub nocte uidebam
sacra ferens epulasque tibi, nec talis hianti
mella dabam ac nostris nutribam fida uenenis.
quam grauida nunc mole iaces, quam segnis inertem
flatus habet! nec te saltem, miserande, peremi.
heu saeuum passure diem, iam nulla uidebis
uellera, nulla tua fulgentia dona sub umbra.
cede adeo inque aliis senium nunc digere lucis
immemor, oro, mei, nec me tua sibila toto
exagitent infesta mari. sed tu quoque cunctas,
Aesonide, dimitte moras atque effuge raptis
uelleribus. patrios exstinxi noxia tauros;
terrigenas in fata dedi; fusum ecce draconis
corpus habes, iamque omne nefas, iam, spero, peregi."
quaerenti tunc deinde uiam qua se arduus heros
ferret ad aurigerae caput arboris "heia per ipsum
scande age et aduerso gressus" ait "imprime dorso."
nec mora fit; dictis fidens Cretheia proles
calcat et aëriam squamis perfertur ad ornum
cuius adhuc rutilam seruabant bracchia pellem
nubibus accensis similem aut cum ueste recincta
labitur ardenti Thaumantias obuia Phoebo.
corripit optatum decus extremumque laborem
Aesonides, longosque sibi gestata per annos
Phrixeae monumenta fugae uix reddidit arbor
cum gemitu, tristesque super coiere tenebrae.
egressi relegunt campos et fluminis ora
summa petunt. micat omnis ager, uiuisque comantem
sidereis totos pellem nunc fundit in artus,
nunc in colla refert, nunc implicat ille sinistrae.
talis ab Inachiis Nemeae Tirynthius antris
ibat adhuc aptans umeris capitique leonem.
ut uero sociis, qui tunc praedicta tenebant
ostia, per longas apparuit aureus umbras,
clamor ab Haemonio surgit grege; se quoque gaudens
promouet ad primas iuueni ratis obuia ripas.
praecipites agit ille gradus atque aurea misit
terga prius, mox attonita cum uirgine puppem
insilit ac rapta uictor consistit in hasta.
Interea patrias saeuus uenit horror ad aures
fata domus luctumque ferens fraudemque fugamque
uirginis. hinc subitis infelix frater in armis,
urbs etiam mox tota coit, uolat ipse senectae
immemor Aeetes, complentur litora bello
nequiquam, fugit immissis nam puppis habenis.
Mater adhuc ambas tendebat in aequora palmas
et soror atque omnes aliae matresque nurusque
Colchides aequalesque tibi, Medea, puellae.
exstat sola parens impletque ululatibus auras.
"siste fugam, medio refer huc ex aequore puppem,
nata; potes. quo" clamat "abis? hic turba tuorum
omnis et iratus nondum pater; haec tua tellus
sceptraque. quid terris solam te credis Achaeis?
quis locus Inachias inter tibi, barbara, natas?
istane uota domus exspectatique hymenaei?
hunc petii grandaeua diem? uellem unguibus uncis
ut uolucris possem praedonis in ipsius ora
ire ratemque supra claroque reposcere cantu
quam genui. Albano fuit haec promissa tyranno,
non tibi; nil tecum miseri pepigere parentes,
Aesonide; non hoc Pelias euadere furto
te iubet aut ullas Colchis abducere natas.
uellus habe et nostris siquid super accipe templis.
sed quid ago quemque immeritis incuso querellis?
ipsa fugit tantoque (nefas) ipsa ardet amore.
hoc erat, infelix, redeunt nam singula menti,
ex quo Thessalici subierunt ‹litora remi›
quod nullae te, nata, dapes, non ulla iuuabant
tempora. non ullus tibi tum color aegraque uerba
errantesque genae atque alieno gaudia uultu
semper erant. cur tanta mihi non prodita pestis
ut gener Aesonides nostra consideret aula
nec talem paterere fugam, commune fuisset
aut certe nunc omne nefas iremus et ambae
in quascumque uias? pariter petiisse iuuaret
Thessaliam et saeui, quaecumque ‹est›, hospitis urbem."
sic genetrix, similique implet soror omnia questu
exululans; famulae pariter clamore supremo
in uacuos dant uerba Notos dominamque reclamant
nomine; te uenti procul et tua fata ferebant.
Inde diem noctemque uolant. redeuntibus aura
gratior et notae Minyis transcurrere terrae
cum subito Erginus puppi sic fatur ab alta:
"uos" ait "Aesonide, contenti uellere capto
nec uia quae superet nec quae fortuna uidetis.
crastina namque dies trucis ad confinia Ponti
Cyaneasque uocat, meminique, o Tiphy, tuorum
saxa per illa, pater, memini, uenerande, laborum.
mutandum, o socii, nobis iter; altera ponti
eluctanda uia et cursu quem fabor eundumst.
haud procul hinc ingens Scythici ruit exitus Histri,
fundere non uno tantum quem flumina cornu
accipimus; septem exit aquis, septem ostia pandit.
illius aduersi nunc ora petamus et undam
quae latus in laeuum Ponti cadit; inde sequemur
ipsius amnis iter donec nos flumine certo
perferat inque aliud reddat mare. sint age tanti,
Aesonide, quaecumque morae quam saeua subire
saxa iterum, quam Cyaneos perrumpere montes.
sat mihi, non totis Argo redit ecce corymbis."
haec ait ignarus fixas iam numine rupes
stare neque aduersis ultra concurrere saxis.
reddidit Aesonides "et te, fidissime rector,
haud uani tetigere metus nec me ire recuso
longius et cunctis redeuntem ostendere terris."
protinus inde alios flectunt regesque locosque
adsuetumque petunt plaustris migrantibus aequor.
Puppe procul summa uigilis post terga magistri
haeserat auratae genibus Medea Mineruae
atque ibi deiecta residens in lumina palla
flebat adhuc, quamquam Haemoniis cum regibus iret
sola tamen nec coniugii secura futuri.
illam Sarmatici miserantur litora ponti,
illa Thoanteae transit defleta Dianae.
nulla palus, nullus Scythiae non maeret euntem
amnis; Hyperboreas mouit conspecta pruinas
tot modo regna tenens; ipsi quoque murmura ponunt
iam Minyae, iam ferre uolunt. uix adleuat ora
ad seras siquando dapes quas carus Iason
ipse dabat, iam nubiferam transire Carambin
significans, iam regna Lyci, totiensque gementem
fallit ad Haemonios hortatus surgere montes.
Insula Sarmaticae Peuce stat nomine nymphae
toruus ubi et ripa semper metuendus utraque
in freta per saeuos Hister descendit alumnos.
soluere in hoc tandem resides dux litore curas
ac primum socios ausus sua pacta docere
promissamque fidem thalami foedusque iugale.
ultro omnes laeti instigant meritamque fatentur.
ipse autem inuitae iam Pallados erigit aras
incipit Idaliae numen nec spernere diuae
praecipueque sui siquando in tempore pulcher
coniugii Minyas nunquam magis eminet inter;
qualis sanguineo ‹uictor› Gradiuus ab Hebro
Idalium furto subit aut dilecta Cythera,
seu cum caelestes Alcidae inuisere mensas
iam uacat et fessum Iunonia sustinet Hebe.
adsunt unanimes Venus hortatorque Cupido
suscitat adfixam maestis Aeetida curis;
ipsa suas illi croceo subtegmine uestes
induit, ipsa suam duplicem Cytherea coronam
donat et arsuras alia cum uirgine gemmas.
tum nouus impleuit uultus honor ac sua flauis
reddita cura comis, graditurque oblita malorum.
sic ubi Mygdonios planctus sacer abluit Almo
laetaque iam Cybele festaeque per oppida taedae,
quis modo tam saeuos adytis fluxisse cruores
cogitet, aut ipsi qui iam meminere ministri?
inde ubi sacrificas cum coniuge uenit ad aras
Aesonides unaque adeunt pariterque precari
incipiunt, ignem Pollux undamque iugalem
praetulit, et dextrum pariter uertuntur in orbem.
sed neque se pingues tum candida flamma per auras
explicuit nec tura uidet concordia Mopsus
promissam nec stare fidem, breue tempus amorum.
odit utrumque simul, simul et miseratur utrumque
et tibi tum nullos optauit, barbara, natos.
mox epulas et sacra parant; siluestria laetis
praemia uenatu facili quaesita supersunt;
pars ueribus, pars undanti despumat aeno.
gramineis ast inde toris discumbitur, olim
Hister anhelantem Peucen quo presserat antro.
ipsi inter medios rosea radiante iuuenta
altius inque sui sternuntur uelleris auro.
Quis nouus inceptos timor impediit hymenaeos
turbauitque toros et sacra calentia rupit?
Absyrtus subita praeceps cum classe parentis
aduehitur profugis infestam lampada Grais
concutiens diramque premens clamore sororem
atque "hanc, o siquis uobis dolor iraque, Colchi,
accelerate uiam; neque enim fugit aequore raptor
Iuppiter aut falsi sequimur uestigia tauri.
puppe, nefas, una praedo Phrixea reportat
uellera, qua libuit remeat cum uirgine; nobis,
o pudor, et muros et stantia tecta reliquit.
quid mihi deinde satis? nec quaero uellera nec te
accipio, germana, datam; nec foederis ulla
spes erit aut irae quisquam modus. inde reuerti
patris ad ora mei tam paruo in tempore fas sit?
quinquaginta animae me scilicet unaque mersa
sufficiet placare ratis? te, Graecia fallax,
persequor atque tuis hunc quasso moenibus ignem.
nec tibi digna, soror, desum ad conubia frater
primus et ecce fero quatioque hanc lampada uestro
coniugio, primus celebro dotalia sacra,
qui potui; patriae ueniam da, quaeso, senectae.
quin omnes alii pariter populique patresque
mecum adsunt. magni uirgo ne regia Solis
Haemonii thalamos adeas despecta mariti
tot decuit coiisse rates, tot fulgere taedas."
Dixerat atque orans iterum uentosque uirosque
perque ratis supplex et remigis ipse recentis
transtra ruit panditque nouis uexilla magistris.
illi autem intorquent truncis frondentibus undam
quaeque die fuerat raptim formata sub uno
et tantum deiecta suis a montibus arbor
(quid dolor et ueterum potuit non ira uirorum?)
haud longis iam distat aquis, sequiturque uolantem
barbara Palladiam puppem ratis, ostia donec
Danuuii uiridemque uident ante ostia Peucen
ultimaque agnoscunt Argoi cornua mali.
tum uero clamorem omnes inimicaque tollunt
gaudia, tum grauior remis fragor, ut procul Argo
uisa uiris, unamque petunt rostra omnia puppem.
princeps naualem nodosi roboris uncum
arripit et longa Styrus prospectat ab unda
coniugio atque iterum sponsae flammatus amore.
iamque alii clipeos et tela trabalia dextris
expediunt, armant alii picis unguine flammas.
impatiens tremit hasta morae nec longius inter
quam quod tela uetet superest mare. uocibus urgent
interea et pedibus pulsant tabulata frementes.
Cum subitas uidere rates uibrataque flammis
aequora non una Minyae formidine surgunt,
primus et in puppem deserta uirgine ductor
prosilit et summa galeam rapit altus ab hasta,
ense simul clipeoque micat, nec cetera pubes
segnius arreptis in litore constitit armis.
at tibi quae scelerum facies, Medea, tuorum
quisue pudor Colchos iterum fratremque uidenti
quicquid et abscisum uasto iam tuta profundo
credideras! ergo infausto sese occulit antro
non aliud quam certa mori seu carus Iason
seu frater Graia uictus cecidisset ab hasta.
Haud ita sed summo segnis sedet aethere Iuno
aut sinit extrema Minyas decernere pugna,
nec numero quoniam Colchis nec puppibus aequi.
ergo ubi diua rates hostemque accedere cernit
ipsa subit terras tempestatumque refringit
uentorumque domos. uolucrum gens turbida fratrum
erumpit, classem dextra Saturnia monstrat.
uidere inque unum pariter mare protinus omnes
infesto clamore ruunt inimicaque Colchis
aequora et aduersos statuunt a litore fluctus.
Tollitur atque infra Minyas Argoaque uela
Styrus habet; uasto rursus desidit hiatu
abrupta reuolutus aqua. iamque omnis in astra
itque reditque ratis, lapsoque reciproca fluctu
descendit. uorat hos uertex, hos agmine toto
gurges agit. simul in uultus micat undique terror;
crebra ruina poli caelestia limina laxat.
non tamen ardentis Styri uiolentia cedit,
hortatur socios media inter proelia diuum.
"transferet ergo meas in quae uolet oppida dotes
Colchis, et Haemonius nobis succedet adulter,
nec mihi tot magnos inter regesque procosque
profuerit prona haud dubii sententia patris?
an uirtus praelata uiri est et fortior ille
quem sequitur? iungam igniferos sine carmine tauros
saeuaque Echionii ferro sata persequar hydri.
hoc adeo interea specta de litore pugnas
amborum: uictoris eris. iam digna uidebis
proelia iamque illud carum caput ire cruenta
sub freta, semiuiri nec murra corpus Achiui
sed pice, sed flammis et olentes sulphure crines.
uos modo uel solum hoc, fluctus, expellite corpus:
non te, Aeeta pater, generi aut, Sol magne, pudebit.
fallor, an hos nobis magico nunc carmine uentos
ipsa mouet diraque leuat maria ardua lingua
atque iterum Aesonides, iterum defenditur arte
qua solet? haud illi cantus et futile murmur
proderit. ite, rates, et frangite uirginis undam."
dixit et intortis socio cum milite remis
prosilit; at fluctu puppis labefacta reuerso
soluitur effunditque uiros ipsumque minantem
tum quoque et elata quaerentem litora dextra.
ibat et arma ferens et strictum naufragus ensem
incipit et remos et quaerere transtra solutae
sparsa ratis maestas‹que› altis intendere uoces
puppibus; ast inter tantos succurrere fluctus
nulla potest aut ille sequi, quotiensque propinquat
tunc aliud rursus dirimit mare. iam tamen enat
iamque abiit fundoque iterum uiolentus ab imo
erigitur; sed fluctus adest magnoque sub altis
turbine figit aquis, et tandem uirgine cessit.
Absyrtus uisu maeret defixus acerbo.
heu quid agat? qua ui portus et prima capessat
ostia? qua possit Minyas inuadere clausos,
quos uidet agnoscitque fremens? maria obuia contra
saeuaque pugnat hiems totusque in uertice pontus.
abscessit tandem uanaque resedit ab ira
et tanta de clade †rates† latus inde sinistrum
aduersamque procul Peucae defertur in oram
cum sociis; gemino nam scinditur insula flexu
Danuuii. hac dudum Minyae Pagasaeaque puppis
in statione manent; illinc Aeetius heros
obsidet aduersa tentoria Thessala classe
impatiens, pugnaeque datur non ulla potestas.
noctes atque dies uastis mare fluctibus inter
perfurit, expediant donec Iunonia sese
consilia atque aliquem bello ferat anxia finem.
At Minyae tanti reputantes ultima belli
urgent et precibus cuncti fremituque fatigant
Aesoniden. quid se externa pro uirgine clausos
obiciat quidue illa pati discrimina cogat?
respiceret pluresque animas maioraque fata
tot comitum qui non furiis nec amore nefando
per freta sed sola sese uirtute sequantur.
an uero ut thalamis raptisque indulgeat unus
coniugiis? id tempus enim. sat uellera Grais,
et posse oblata componere uirgine bellum.
quemque suas sinat ire domos nec Marte cruento
Europam atque Asiam prima haec committat Erinys.
namque datum hoc fatis trepidus supplexque canebat
Mopsus ut in seros irent magis ista nepotes
atque alius lueret tam dira incendia raptor.
Ille trahens gemitum tantis ac uocibus impar
quamquam iura deum et sacri sibi conscia pacti
religio dulcisque mouent primordia taedae,
cunctatur mortemque cupit sociamque pericli
cogitat, haud ultra sociis obsistere pergit.
haec ubi fixa uiris tempus fluctusque quietos
exspectant: ipsam interea quid restet amantem
ignorare sinunt decretaque tristia seruant.
Sed miser ut uanos, ueros ita saepe timores
uersat amor fallique sinit nec uirginis annos,
ac prior ipsa dolos et quamlibet intima sensit
non fidi iam signa uiri nimiumque silentes
una omnes. haud illa sui tamen immemor unquam
nec subitis turbata minis prior occupat unum
Aesoniden longeque trahit, mox talibus infit:
"me quoque quid tecum Minyae, fortissima pubes,
nocte dieque mouent; liceat cognoscere tandem,
si modo Peliacae non sum captiua carinae
nec dominos decepta sequor consultaque uestra
fas audire mihi. uereor, fidissime coniunx,
nil equidem; miserere tamen promissaque serua
usque ad Thessalicos saltem conubia portus
inque tua me sperne domo. scis te mihi certe,
non socios iurasse tuos. hi reddere forsan
fas habeant, tibi non eadem permissa potestas
teque simul mecum ipsa traham; non sola reposcor
uirgo nocens atque hac pariter rate fugimus omnes.
an fratris te bella mei patriaeque biremes
terrificant magnoque impar urgeris ab hoste?
finge rates alias et adhuc maiora coire
agmina; nulla fides, nullis ego digna periclis?
non merui mortemque tuam comitumque tuorum?
uellem equidem nostri tetigissent litora patris
te sine duxque illis alius quicumque fuisset;
nunc remeant meque ecce, nefas, et reddere possunt
nec spes ulla super. quin tu mea respice saltem
consilia et nimio comitum ne cede timori.
credidit ardentes quis te tunc iungere tauros
posse, quis ad saeui uenturum templa draconis?
o | utinam ergo meus pro te non omnia posset
atque aliquid dubitaret amor. quin nunc quoque quaero
nescioquid tuus iste pudor? mene, optime quondam
Aesonide, me ferre preces et supplicis ora
fas erat? haud hoc nunc genitor putat aut dare poenas
iam sceleris dominumque pati." sic fata parantem
reddere dicta uirum furiata mente refugit
uociferans. qualem Ogygias cum tollit in arces
Bacchus et Aoniis illidit Thyiada truncis
talis erat talemque iugis se uirgo ferebat
cuncta pauens; fugit infestos uibrantibus hastis
terrigenas, fugit ardentes exterrita tauros,
si Pagasas uel Peliacas hinc denique nubes
cerneret et Tempe ‹tenui› lucentia fumo,
hoc uisu contenta mori. tunc tota querellis
egeritur questuque dies, eademque sub astris
sola mouet, maestis ueluti nox illa sonaret
plena lupis quaterentque truces ieiuna leones
ora uel orbatae traherent suspiria uaccae.
procedit; non gentis honos, non ‹gloria magni›
Solis aui, non barbaricae decor ille iuuentae,
quid iubeas. heu dure siles, magnumque minatur
qualis erat cum Chaonio radiantia trunco
uellera uexit ouans interque ingentia Graium
nomina Palladia uirgo stetit altera prora.
haeret et hinc praesens pudor, hinc decreta suorum
dura premunt. utcumque tamen mulcere gementem
temptat et ipse gemens et dictis temperat iras.
"mene aliquid meruisse putas, me talia uelle?"