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Protinus aërii mellis caelestia dona

exsequar: hanc etiam, Maecenas, aspice partem.

Admiranda tibi levium spectacula rerum

magnanimosque duces totiusque ordine gentis

mores et studia et populos et proelia dicam.

In tenui labor; at tenuis non gloria siquem

numina laeva sinunt, auditque vocatus Apollo.

Principio sedes apibus statioque petenda,

quo neque sit ventis aditus - nam pabula venti

ferre domum prohibent -, neque oves haedique petulci

floribus insultent, aut errans bucula campo

decutiat rorem, et surgentes atterat herbas.

Absint et picti squalentia terga lacerti

pinguibus a stabulis, meropesque aliaeque volucres,

et manibus Procne pectus signata cruentis:

omnia nam late vastant, ipsasque volantes

ore ferunt, dulcem nidis immitibus escam.

At liquidi fontes et stagna virentia musco

adsint, et tenuis fugiens per gramina rivus,

palmaque vestibulum aut ingens oleaster inumbret,

ut, cum prima novi ducent examina reges

vere suo, ludetque favis emissa iuventus,

vicina invitet decedere ripa calori,

obviaque hospitiis teneat frondentibus arbos.

In medium, seu stabit iners seu profluet umor,

transversas salices et grandia conice saxa,

pontibus ut crebris possint consistere, et alas

pandere ad aestivum solem, si forte morantes

sparserit, aut praeceps Neptuno immerserit Eurus.

Haec circum casiae virides et olentia late

serpylla, et graviter spirantis copia thymbrae

floreat, irriguumque bibant violaria fontem.

Ipsa autem, seu corticibus tibi suta cavatis,

seu lento fuerint alvaria vimine texta,

angustos habeant aditus: nam frigore mella

cogit hiems, eademque calor liquefacta remittit.

Utraque vis apibus pariter metuenda; neque illae

nequiquam in tectis certatim tenuia cera

spiramenta linunt, fucoque et floribus oras

explent, collectumque haec ipsa ad munera gluten

et visco et Phrygiae servant pice lentius Idae.

Saepe etiam effossis, si vera est fama, latebris

sub terra fovere larem, penitusque repertae

pumicibus cavis exesaeque arboris antro.

Tu tamen et levi rimosa cubilia limo

unge fovens circum, et raras superinice frondes.

Neu propius tectis taxum sine, neve rubentes

ure foco cancros, altae neu crede paludi,

aut ubi odor caeni gravis, aut ubi concava pulsu

saxa sonant, vocisque offensa resultat imago.

Quod superest, ubi pulsam hiemem sol aureus egit

sub terras, caelumque aestiva luce reclusit,

illae continuo saltus silvasque peragrant,

purpureosque metunt flores, et flumina libant

summa leves. Hinc, nescio qua dulcedine laetae,

progeniem nidosque fovent, hinc arte recentes

excudunt ceras, et mella tenacia fingunt.

Hic, ubi emissum caveis ad sidera caeli

nare per aestatem liquidam suspexeris agmen,

obscuramque trahi vento mirabere nubem,

contemplator: aquas dulces et frondea semper

tecta petunt. Huc tu iussos asperge sapores,

trita melisphylla et cerinthae ignobile gramen,

tinnitusque cie, et Matris quate cymbala circum:

ipsae consident medicatis sedibus, ipsae

intima more suo sese in cunabula condent.

Sin autem ad pugnam exierint - nam saepe duobus

regibus incessit magno discordia motu;

continuoque animos vulgi et trepidantia bello

corda licet longe praesciscere: namque morantes

martius ille aeris rauci canor increpat, et vox

auditur fractos sonitus imitata tubarum;

tum trepidae inter se coeunt, pennisque coruscant,

spiculaque exacuunt rostris, aptantque lacertos,

et circa regem atque ipsa ad praetoria densae

miscentur, magnisque vocant clamoribus hostem -:

ergo, ubi ver nactae sudum camposque patentes,

erumpunt portis; concurritur; aethere in alto

fit sonitus; magnum mixtae glomerantur in orbem,

praecipitesque cadunt; non densior aëre grando,

nec de concussa tantum pluit ilice glandis.

Ipsi per medias acies insignibus alis

ingentes animos angusto in pectore versant,

usque adeo obnixi non cedere, dum gravis aut hos

aut hos versa fuga victor dare terga subegit.

Hi motus animorum atque haec certamina tanta

pulveris exigui iactu compressa quiescent.

Verum ubi ductores acie revocaveris ambo,

deterior qui visus, eum, ne prodigus obsit,

dede neci; melior vacua sine regnet in aula.

Alter erit maculis auro squalentibus ardens -

nam duo sunt genera -; hic melior insignis et ore

et rutilis clarus squamis; ille horridus alter

desidia, latamque trahens inglorius alvum.

Ut binae regum facies, ita corpora plebis.

Namque aliae turpes horrent, ceu pulvere ab alto

cum venit, et sicco terram spuit ore viator

aridus; elucent aliae, et fulgore coruscant

ardentes auro et paribus lita corpora guttis.

Haec potior suboles; hinc caeli tempore certo

dulcia mella premes, nec tantum dulcia, quantum

et liquida et durum Bacchi domitura saporem.

At cum incerta volant, caeloque examina ludunt,

contemnuntque favos, et frigida tecta relinquunt,

instabiles animos ludo prohibebis inani.

Nec magnus prohibere labor: tu regibus alas

eripe; non illis quisquam cunctantibus altum

ire iter, aut castris audebit vellere signa.

Invitent croceis halantes floribus horti,

et custos furum atque avium cum falce saligna

Hellespontiaci servet tutela Priapi.

Ipse thymum pinosque ferens de montibus altis

tecta serat late circum, cui talia curae;

ipse labore manum duro terat, ipse feraces

figat humo plantas, et amicos irriget imbres.

Atque equidem, extremo ni iam sub fine laborum

vela traham, et terris festinem advertere proram,

forsitan et, pingues hortos quae cura colendi

ornaret, canerem, biferique rosaria Paesti,

quoque modo potis gauderent intiba rivis,

et virides apio ripae, tortusque per herbam

cresceret in ventrem cucumis; nec sera comantem

narcissum, aut flexi tacuissem vimen acanthi

pallentesque hederas et amantes litora myrtos.

Namque sub Oebaliae memini me turribus altis,

qua niger umectat flaventia culta Galaesus,

Corycium vidisse senem, cui pauca relicti

iugera ruris erant, nec fertilis illa iuvencis

nec pecori opportuna seges nec commoda Baccho.

Hic rarum tamen in dumis olus albaque circum

lilia verbenasque premens vescumque papaver,

regum aequabat opes animis, seraque revertens

nocte domum dapibus mensas onerabat inemptis.

Primus vere rosam atque autumno carpere poma,

et cum tristis hiems etiamnum frigore saxa

rumperet, et glacie cursus frenaret aquarum,

ille comam mollis iam tondebat hyacinthi,

aestatem increpitans seram Zephyrosque morantes.

Ergo apibus fetis idem atque examine multo

primus abundare et spumantia cogere pressis

mella favis; illi tiliae atque uberrima pinus,

quotque in flore novo pomis se fertilis arbos

induerat, totidem autumno matura tenebat.

Ille etiam seras in versum distulit ulmos

eduramque pirum et spinos iam pruna ferentes

iamque ministrantem platanum potantibus umbras.

Verum haec ipse equidem spatiis exclusus iniquis

praetereo, atque aliis post me memoranda relinquo.

Nunc age, naturas apibus quas Iuppiter ipse

addidit, expediam, pro qua mercede canoros

Curetum sonitus crepitantiaque aera secutae

Dictaeo caeli regem pavere sub antro.

Solae communes natos, consortia tecta

urbis habent, magnisque agitant sub legibus aevum,

et patriam solae et certos novere Penates;

venturaeque hiemis memores, aestate laborem

experiuntur, et in medium quaesita reponunt.

Namque aliae victu invigilant, et foedere pacto

exercentur agris; pars intra saepta domorum

narcissi lacrimam et lentum de cortice gluten

prima favis ponunt fundamina, deinde tenaces

suspendunt ceras; aliae spem gentis adultos

educunt fetus; aliae purissima mella

stipant, et liquido distendunt nectare cellas.

Sunt quibus ad portas cecidit custodia sorti,

inque vicem speculantur aquas et nubila caeli,

aut onera accipiunt venientum, aut agmine facto

ignavum fucos pecus a praesepibus arcent.

Fervet opus, redolentque thymo flagrantia mella.

Ac veluti lentis Cyclopes fulmina massis

cum properant, alii taurinis follibus auras

accipiunt redduntque, alii stridentia tingunt

aera lacu; gemit impositis incudibus Aetna;

illi inter sese magna vi bracchia tollunt

in numerum, versantque tenaci forcipe ferrum,

non aliter, si parva licet componere magnis,

Cecropias innatus apes amor urget habendi

munere quamque suo. Grandaevis oppida curae,

et munire favos, et daedala fingere tecta.

At fessae multa referunt se nocte minores,

crura thymo plenae; pascuntur et arbuta passim

et glaucas salices casiamque crocumque rubentem

et pinguem tiliam et ferrugineos hyacinthos.

Omnibus una quies operum, labor omnibus unus;

mane ruunt portis; nusquam mora; rursus easdem

vesper ubi e pastu tandem decedere campis

admonuit, tum tecta petunt, tum corpora curant;

fit sonitus, mussantque oras et limina circum.

Post, ubi iam thalamis se composuere, siletur

in noctem, fessosque sopor suus occupat artus.

Nec vero a stabulis pluvia inpendente recedunt

longius, aut credunt caelo adventantibus Euris;

sed circum tutae sub moenibus urbis aquantur,

excursusque breves temptant, et saepe lapillos,

ut cumbae instabiles fluctu iactante saburram,

tollunt; his sese per inania nubila librant.

Illum adeo placuisse apibus mirabere morem,

quod neque concubitu indulgent, nec corpora segnes

in Venerem solvunt, aut fetus nixibus edunt;

verum ipsae e foliis natos et suavibus herbis

ore legunt, ipsae regem parvosque Quirites

sufficiunt, aulasque et cerea regna refigunt.

Saepe etiam duris errando in cotibus alas

attrivere, ultroque animam sub fasce dedere:

tantus amor florum et generandi gloria mellis!

Ergo ipsas quamvis angusti terminus aevi

excipiat -neque enim plus septima ducitur aestas -,

at genus immortale manet, multosque per annos

stat fortuna domus, et avi numerantur avorum.

Praeterea regem non sic Aegyptos et ingens

Lydia nec populi Parthorum aut Medus Hydaspes

observant. Rege incolumi mens omnibus una est;

amisso rupere fidem, constructaque mella

diripuere ipsae, et crates solvere favorum.

Ille operum custos, illum admirantur, et omnes

circumstant fremitu denso, stipantque frequentes,

et saepe attollunt umeris, et corpora bello

obiectant, pulchramque petunt per vulnera mortem.

His quidam signis atque haec exempla secuti,

esse apibus partem divinae mentis et haustus

aetherios dixere: deum namque ire per omnes

terrasque tractusque maris caelumque profundum;

hinc pecudes, armenta, viros, genus omne ferarum,

quemque sibi tenues nascentem arcessere vitas;

scilicet huc reddi deinde ac resoluta referri

omnia, nec morti esse locum, sed viva volare

sideris in numerum, atque alto succedere caelo.

Si quando sedem angustam servataque mella

thesauris relines, prius haustu sparsus aquarum

ore fave, fumosque manu praetende sequaces.

Bis gravidos cogunt fetus, duo tempora messis:

Taygete simul os terris ostendit honestum

Pleias, et Oceani spretos pede reppulit amnes,

aut eadem sidus fugiens ubi Piscis aquosi

tristior hibernas caelo descendit in undas.

Illis ira modum supra est, laesaeque venenum

morsibus inspirant, et spicula caeca relinquunt

affixae venis, animasque in vulnere ponunt.

Sin duram metues hiemem, parcesque futuro,

contususque animos et res miserabere fractas:

at suffire thymo cerasque recidere inanes

quis dubitet? Nam saepe favos ignotus adedit

stellio, et lucifugis congesta cubilia blattis;

immunisque sedens aliena ad pabula fucus,

aut asper crabro imparibus se immiscuit armis,

aut dirum tineae genus, aut invisa Minervae

laxos in foribus suspendit aranea casses.

Quo magis exhaustae fuerint, hoc acrius omnes

incumbent generis lapsi sarcire ruinas,

complebuntque foros, et floribus horrea texent.

Si vero, quoniam casus apibus quoque nostros

vita tulit, tristi languebunt corpora morbo -

quod iam non dubiis poteris cognoscere signis:

continuo est aegris alius color; horrida vultum

deformat macies; tum corpora luce carentum

exportant tectis et tristia funera ducunt;

aut illae pedibus connexae ad limina pendent,

aut intus clausis cunctantur in aedibus, omnes

ignavaeque fame et contracto frigore pigrae;

tum sonus auditur gravior, tractimque susurrant,

frigidus ut quondam silvis immurmurat Auster,

ut mare sollicitum stridit refluentibus undis,

aestuat ut clausis rapidus fornacibus ignis -;

hic iam galbaneos suadebo incendere odores,

mellaque arundineis inferre canalibus, ultro

hortantem et fessas ad pabula nota vocantem.

Proderit et tunsum gallae admiscere saporem

arentesque rosas, aut igni pinguia multo

defruta, vel psithia passos de vite racemos

Cecropiumque thymum et grave olentia centaurea.

Est etiam flos in pratis, cui nomen amello

fecere agricolae, facilis quaerentibus herba:

namque uno ingentem tollit de caespite silvam,

aureus ipse, sed in foliis, quae plurima circum

funduntur, violae sublucet purpura nigrae;

saepe deum nexis ornatae torquibus arae;

asper in ore sapor; tonsis in vallibus illum

pastores et curva legunt prope flumina Mellae.

Huius odorato radices incoque Baccho,

pabulaque in foribus plenis appone canistris.

Sed siquem proles subito defecerit omnis,

nec, genus unde novae stirpis revocetur, habebit,

tempus et Arcadii memoranda inventa magistri

pandere, quoque modo caesis iam saepe iuvencis

insincerus apes tulerit cruor. Altius omnem

expediam prima repetens ab origine famam.

Nam, qua Pellaei gens fortunata Canopi

accolit effuso stagnantem flumine Nilum,

et circum pictis vehitur sua rura phaselis,

quaque pharetratae vicinia Persidis urget,

et viridem Aegyptum nigra fecundat arena,

et diversa ruens septem discurrit in ora

usque coloratis amnis devexus ab Indis,

omnis in hac certam regio iacit arte salutem.

Exiguus primum atque ipsos contractus in usus

eligitur locus; hunc angustique imbrice tecti

parietibus premunt artis; et quattuor addunt,

quattuor a ventis obliqua luce fenestras.

Tum vitulus bima curvans iam cornua fronte

quaeritur; huic geminae nares et spiritus oris

multa reluctanti obstruitur, plagisque perempto

tunsa per integram solvuntur viscera pellem.

Sic positum in clauso linquunt, et ramea costis

subiciunt fragmenta, thymum casiasque recentes.

Hoc geritur Zephyris primum impellentibus undas,

ante novis rubeant quam prata coloribus, ante

garrula quam tignis nidum suspendat hirundo.

Interea teneris tepefactus in ossibus umor

aestuat, et visenda modis animalia miris,

trunca pedum primo, mox et stridentia pennis,

miscentur, tenuemque magis magis aëra carpunt,

donec ut aestivus effusus nubibus imber

erupere, aut ut nervo pulsante sagittae,

prima leves ineunt siquando proelia Parthi.

Quis deus hanc, Musae, quis nobis extudit artem?

Unde nova ingressus hominum experientia cepit?

Pastor Aristaeus fugiens Peneia Tempe

amissis, ut fama apibus morboque fameque,

tristis ad extremi sacrum caput adstitit amnis,

multa querens, atque hac effatus voce parentem:

"Mater, Cyrene mater, quae gurgitis huius

ima tenes, quid me praeclara stirpe deorum -

si modo, quem perhibes, pater est Thymbraeus Apollo -

invisum fatis genuisti? Aut quo tibi nostri

pulsus amor? Quid me caelum sperare iubebas?

En, etiam hunc ipsum vitae mortalis honorem,

quem mihi vix frugum et pecudum custodia sollers

omnia temptanti extuderat, te matre relinquo.

Quin age, et ipsa manu felices erue silvas,

fer stabulis inimicum ignem, atque interfice messes,

ure sata, et validam in vites molire bipennem,

tanta meae si te ceperunt taedia laudis.

At mater sonitum thalamo sub fluminis alti

sensit. Eam circum Milesia vellera Nymphae

carpebant hyali saturo fucata colore,

Drymoque Xanthoque Ligeaque Phyllodoceque,

caesariem effusae nitidam per candida colla,

Nesaee Spioque Thaliaque Cymodoceque

Cydippeque et flava Lycorias, altera virgo,

altera tum primos Lucinae experta labores,

Clioque et Beroe soror, Oceanitides ambae,

ambae auro, pictis incinctae pellibus ambae;

atque Ephyre | atque Opis et Asia Deiopea,

et tandem positis velox Arethusa sagittis.

Inter quas curam Clymene narrabat inanem

Vulcani, Martisque dolos et dulcia furta,

atque Chao densos divum numerabat amores.

Carmine quo captae dum fusis mollia pensa

devolvunt, iterum maternas impulit aures

luctus Aristaei, vitreisque sedilibus omnes

obstupuere; sed ante alias Arethusa sorores

prospiciens summa flavum caput extulit unda,

et procul: "O gemitu non frustra exterrita tanto,

Cyrene soror, ipse tibi, tua maxima cura,

tristis Aristaeus Penei genitoris ad undam

stat lacrimans, et te crudelem nomine dicit."

Huic, percussa nova mentem formidine mater:

"Duc, age, duc ad nos; fas illi limina divum

tangere" ait. Simul alta iubet discedere late

flumina, qua iuvenis gressus inferret. At illum

curvata in montis faciem circumstetit unda,

accepitque sinu vasto, misitque sub amnem.

Iamque domum mirans genitricis et umida regna

speluncisque lacus clausos lucosque sonantes

ibat, et ingenti motu stupefactus aquarum

omnia sub magna labentia flumina terra

spectabat, diversa locis, Phasimque Lycumque

et caput, unde altus primum se erumpit Enipeus,

unde pater Tiberinus, et unde Aniena fluenta,

saxosumque sonans Hypanis, Mysusque Caicus,

et gemina auratus taurino cornua vultu

Eridanus, quo non alius per pinguia culta

in mare purpureum violentior effluit amnis.

Postquam est in thalami pendentia pumice tecta

perventum, et nati fletus cognovit inanes

Cyrene, manibus liquidos dant ordine frontes

germanae, tonsisque ferunt mantelia villis;

pars epulis onerant mensas, et plena reponunt

pocula; Panchaeis adolescunt ignibus arae;

et mater: "Cape Maeonii carchesia Bacchi:

Oceano libemus" ait. Simul ipsa precatur

Oceanumque patrem rerum Nymphasque sorores,

centum quae silvas, centum quae flumina servant.

Ter liquido ardentem perfudit nectare Vestam,

ter flamma ad summum tecti subiecta reluxit.

Omine quo firmans animum, sic incipit ipsa:

"Est in Carpathio Neptuni, gurgite vates

caeruleus Proteus, magnum qui piscibus aequor

et iuncto bipedum curru metitur equorum.

Hic nunc Emathiae portus patriamque revisit

Pallenen; hunc et Nymphae veneramur, et ipse

grandaevus Nereus: novit namque omnia vates,

quae sint, quae fuerint, quae mox ventura trahantur:

quippe ita Neptuno visum est, immania cuius

armenta et turpes pascit sub gurgite phocas.

Hic tibi, nate, prius vinclis capiendus, ut omnem

expediat morbi causam, eventusque secundet.

Nam sine vi non ulla dabit praecepta, neque illum

orando flectes: vim duram et vincula capto

tende; doli circum haec demum frangentur inanes.

Ipsa ego te, medios cum sol accenderit aestus,

cum sitiunt herbae et pecori iam gratior umbra est,

in secreta senis ducam, quo fessus ab undis

se recipit, facile ut somno aggrediare iacentem.

Verum ubi correptum manibus vinclisque tenebis,

tum variae eludent species atque ora ferarum:

fiet enim subito sus horridus atraque tigris

squamosusque draco et fulva cervice leaena,

aut acrem flammae sonitum dabit, atque ita vinclis

excidet, aut in aquas tenues dilapsus abibit.

Sed quanto ille magis formas se vertet in omnes,

tam tu, nate, magis contende tenacia vincla,

donec talis erit mutato corpore, qualem

videris, incepto tegeret cum lumina somno."

Haec ait, et liquidum ambrosiae diffundit odorem,

quo totum nati corpus perduxit; at illi

dulcis compositis spiravit crinibus aura,

atque habilis membris venit vigor. Est specus ingens

exesi latere in montis, quo plurima vento

cogitur, inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos,

deprensis olim statio tutissima nautis;

intus se vasti Proteus tegit obice saxi.

Hic iuvenem in latebris aversum a lumine Nympha

collocat; ipsa procul nebulis obscura resistit.

Iam rapidus torrens sitientes Sirius Indos

ardebat caelo, et medium sol igneus orbem

hauserat; arebant herbae, et cava flumina siccis

faucibus ad limum radii tepefacta coquebant:

cum Proteus consueta petens e fluctibus antra

ibat; eum vasti circum gens umida ponti

exsultans rorem late dispergit amarum.

Sternunt se somno diversae in litore phocae;

ipse, velut stabuli custos in montibus olim,

Vesper ubi e pastu vitulos ad tecta reducit,

auditisque lupos acuunt balatibus agni,

considit scopulo medius, numerumque recenset.

Cuius Aristaeo quoniam est oblata facultas,

vix defessa senem passus componere membra,

cum clamore ruit magno, manicisque iacentem

occupat. Ille suae contra non immemor artis

omnia transformat sese in miracula rerum,

ignemque horribilemque feram fluviumque liquentem.

Verum ubi nulla fugam reperit fallacia, victus

in sese redit, atque hominis tandem ore locutus:

"Nam quis te, iuvenum confidentissime, nostras

iussit adire domos? Quidve hinc petis?" inquit. At ille:

"Scis, Proteu, scis ipse; neque est te fallere quicquam;

sed tu desine velle. Deum praecepta secuti

venimus, hinc lapsis quaesitum oracula rebus."

Tantum effatus. Ad haec vates vi denique multa

ardentes oculos intorsit lumine glauco,

et graviter frendens sic fatis ora resolvit:

"Non te nullius exercent numinis irae;

magna luis commissa: tibi hac miserabilis Orpheus

haudquaquam ob meritum, poenas, ni fata resistant,

suscitat, et rapta graviter pro coniuge saevit.

Illa quidem, dum te fugeret per flumina praeceps,

immanem ante pedes hydrum, moritura puella,

servantem ripas alta non vidit in herba.

At chorus aequalis Dryadum clamore supremos

implerunt montes; flerunt Rhodopeiae | arces

altaque Pangaea et Rhesi Mavortia tellus,

atque Getae atque Hebrus et Actias Orithyia.

Ipse cava solans aegrum testudine amorem

te, dulcis coniunx, te solo in litore secum,

te veniente die, te decedente canebat.

Taenarias etiam fauces, alta ostia Ditis,

et caligantem nigra formidine lucum

ingressus, Manesque adiit regemque tremendum

nesciaque humanis precibus mansuescere corda.

At cantu commotae, Erebi de sedibus imis

umbrae ibant tenues simulacraque luce carentum,

quam multa in foliis avium se milia condunt,

Vesper ubi aut hibernus agit de montibus imber,

matres atque viri, defunctaque corpora vita

magnanimum heroum, pueri innuptaeque puellae,

impositique rogis iuvenes ante ora parentum,

quos circum limus niger et deformis arundo

Cocyti, tardaque palus inamabilis unda

alligat, et novies Styx interfusa coërcet.

Quin ipsae stupuere domus atque intima Leti

Tartara, caeruleosque implexae crinibus angues

Eumenides, tenuitque inhians tria Cerberus ora,

atque Ixionii vento rota constitit orbis.

Iamque pedem referens casus evaserat omnes,

redditaque Eurydice superas veniebat ad auras

pone sequens - namque hanc dederat Proserpina legem -,

cum subita incautum dementia cepit amantem,

ignoscenda quidem, scirent si ignoscere Manes:

restitit, Eurydicenque suam iam luce sub ipsa

immemor, heu, victusque animi respexit. Ibi omnis

effusus labor, atque immitis rupta tyranni

foedera, terque fragor stagnis auditus Avernis.

Illa: "Quis et me" inquit "miseram et te perdidit, Orpheu,

quis tantus furor? En, iterum crudelia retro

fata vocant, conditque natantia lumina somnus.

Iamque vale: feror ingenti circumdata nocte,

invalidasque tibi tendens, heu non tua, palmas!"

Dixit, et ex oculis subito, ceu fumus in auras

commixtus tenues, fugit diversa, neque illum

prensantem nequiquam umbras, et multa volentem

dicere, praeterea vidit, nec portitor Orci

amplius obiectam passus transire paludem.

Quid faceret? Quo se rapta bis coniuge ferret?

Quo fletu Manes, qua numina voce moveret?

Illa quidem Stygia nabat iam frigida cumba.

Septem illum totos perhibent ex ordine menses

rupe sub aëria deserti ad Strymonis undam

flevisse, et gelidis haec evolvisse sub antris

mulcentem tigres et agentem carmine quercus:

qualis populea maerens philomela sub umbra

amissos queritur fetus, quos durus arator

observans nido implumes detraxit; at illa

flet noctem, ramoque sedens miserabile carmen

integrat, et maestis late loca quaestibus implet.

Nulla Venus, non ulli animum flexere hymenaei.

Solus Hyperboreas glacies Tanaimque nivalem

arvaque Riphaeis numquam viduata pruinis

lustrabat, raptam Eurydicen atque irrita Ditis

dona querens; spretae Ciconum quo munere matres

inter sacra deum nocturnique orgia Bacchi

discerptum latos iuvenem sparsere per agros.

Tum quoque, marmorea caput a cervice revulsum

gurgite cum medio portans Oeagrius Hebrus

volveret, Eurydicen vox ipsa et frigida lingua,

"A miseram Eurydicen!" anima fugiente vocabat,

Eurydicen toto referebant flumine ripae."

Haec Proteus, et se iactu dedit aequor in altum,

quaque dedit, spumantem undam sub vortice torsit.

At non Cyrene: namque ultro affata timentem:

"Nate, licet tristes animo deponere curas.

Haec omnis morbi causa, hinc miserabile Nymphae,

cum quibus illa choros lucis agitabat in altis,

exitium misere apibus. Tu munera supplex

tende petens pacem, et faciles venerare Napaeas:

namque dabunt veniam votis, irasque remittent,

sed modus orandi qui sit, prius ordine dicam.

Quattuor eximios praestanti corpore tauros,

qui tibi nunc viridis depascunt summa Lycaei,

delige, et intacta totidem cervice iuvencas.

Quattuor his aras alta ad delubra dearum

constitue, et sacrum iugulis demitte cruorem,

corporaque ipsa boum frondoso desere luco.

Post, ubi nona suos Aurora ostenderit ortus,

inferias Orphei Lethaea papavera mittes,

et nigram mactabis ovem, lucumque revises;

placatam Eurydicen vitula venerabere caesa."

Haud mora; continuo matris praecepta facessit:

ad delubra venit, monstratas excitat aras,

quattuor eximios praestanti corpore tauros

ducit et intacta totidem cervice iuvencas.

Post, ubi nona suos Aurora induxerat ortus,

inferias Orphei mittit, lucumque revisit.

Hic vero subitum ac dictu mirabile monstrum

aspiciunt: liquefacta boum per viscera toto

stridere apes utero, et ruptis effervere costis,

immensasque trahi nubes, iamque arbore summa

confluere, et lentis uvam demittere ramis.

Haec super arvorum cultu pecorumque canebam

et super arboribus, Caesar dum magnus ad altum

fulminat Euphraten bello, victorque volentes

per populos dat iura, viamque affectat Olympo.

Illo Vergilium me tempore dulcis alebat

Parthenope studiis florentem ignobilis oti,

carmina qui lusi pastorum, audaxque iuventa,

Tityre, te patulae cecini sub tegmine fagi.

Prōtĭnŭs āĕrĭī mēllīs caēlēstĭă dōnă

ēxsĕquăr: hānc ĕtĭām, Maēcēnās, āspĭcĕ pārtēm.

Ādmīrāndă tĭbī lĕvĭūm spēctācŭlă rērūm

māgnănĭmōsquĕ dŭcēs tōtīūsque ōrdĭnĕ gēntīs

mōrēs ēt stŭdĭa ēt pŏpŭlōs ēt proēlĭă dīcām.

Īn tĕnŭī lăbŏr; āt tĕnŭīs nōn glōrĭă sīquēm

nūmĭnă laēvă sĭnūnt, aūdītquĕ vŏcātŭs Ăpōllō.

Prīncĭpĭō sēdēs ăpĭbūs stătĭōquĕ pĕtēndă,

quō nĕquĕ sīt vēntīs ădĭtūs - nām pābŭlă vēntī

fērrĕ dŏmūm prŏhĭbēnt, - nĕque ŏvēs haēdīquĕ pĕtūlcī

flōrĭbŭs īnsūltēnt, aūt ērrāns būcŭlă cāmpō

dēcŭtĭāt rōrem, ēt sūrgēntēs āttĕrăt hērbās.

Ābsīnt ēt pīctī squālēntĭă tērgă lăcērtī

pīnguĭbŭs ā stăbŭlīs, mĕrŏpēsque ălĭaēquĕ vŏlūcrēs,

ēt mănĭbūs Prōcnē pēctūs sīgnātă crŭēntīs:

ōmnĭă nām lātē vāstānt, īpsāsquĕ vŏlāntēs

ōrĕ fĕrūnt, dūlcēm nīdīs īmmītĭbŭs ēscām.

Āt lĭquĭdī fōntēs ēt stāgnă vĭrēntĭă mūscō

ādsīnt, ēt tĕnŭīs fŭgĭēns pēr grāmĭnă rīvūs,

pālmăquĕ vēstĭbŭlum aūt īngēns ŏlĕāstĕr ĭnūmbrēt,

ūt, cūm prīmă nŏvī dūcēnt ēxāmĭnă rēgēs

vērĕ sŭō, lūdētquĕ făvīs ēmīssă iŭvēntūs,

vīcīna īnvītēt dēcēdĕrĕ rīpă călōrī,

ōbvĭăque hōspĭtĭīs tĕnĕāt frōndēntĭbŭs ārbōs.

Īn mĕdĭūm, seū stābĭt ĭnērs seū prōflŭĕt ūmōr,

trānsvērsās sălĭcēs ēt grāndĭă cōnĭcĕ sāxă,

pōntĭbŭs ūt crēbrīs pōssīnt cōnsīstĕre, ĕt ālās

pāndĕre ăd aēstīvūm sōlēm, sī fōrtĕ mŏrāntēs

spārsĕrĭt, aūt praēcēps Nēptūno īmmērsĕrĭt Eūrūs.

Haēc cīrcūm căsĭaē vĭrĭdēs ĕt ŏlēntĭă lātē

sērpŷlla, ēt grăvĭtēr spīrāntīs cōpĭă thŷmbraē

flōrĕăt, īrrĭgŭūmquĕ bĭbānt vĭŏlārĭă fōntēm.

Īpsa aūtēm, seū cōrtĭcĭbūs tĭbĭ sūtă căvātīs,

seū lēntō fŭĕrīnt ālvārĭă vīmĭnĕ tēxtă,

āngūstōs hābeānt ădĭtūs: nām frīgŏrĕ mēllă

cōgĭt hĭēms, ĕădēmquĕ călōr lĭquĕfāctă rĕmīttīt.

Ūtrăquĕ vīs ăpĭbūs părĭtēr mĕtŭēndă; nĕque īllaē

nēquīquam īn tēctīs cērtātīm tēnŭiă cērā

spīrāmēntă lĭnūnt, fūcōque ēt flōrĭbŭs ōrās

ēxplēnt, cōllēctūmque haēc īpsa ād mūnĕră glūtēn

ēt vīsco ēt Phrўgĭaē sērvānt pĭcĕ lēntĭŭs Īdaē.

Saēpe ĕtĭam ēffōssīs, sī vēra ēst fāmă, lătēbrīs

sūb tērrā fōvērĕ lărēm, pĕnĭtūsquĕ rĕpērtaē

pūmĭcĭbūs cāvīs ēxēsaēque ārbŏrĭs āntrō.

Tū tămĕn ēt lēvī rīmōsă cŭbīlĭă līmō

ūngĕ fŏvēns cīrcum, ēt rārās sŭpĕrīnĭcĕ frōndēs.

Neū prŏpĭūs tēctīs tāxūm sĭnĕ, nēvĕ rŭbēntēs

ūrĕ fŏcō cāncrōs, āltaē neū crēdĕ pălūdī,

aūt ŭbi ŏdōr caēnī grăvĭs, aūt ŭbĭ cōncăvă pūlsū

sāxă sŏnānt, vōcīsque ōffēnsă rĕsūltăt ĭmāgō.

Quōd sŭpĕrēst, ŭbĭ pūlsam hĭĕmēm sōl aūrĕŭs ēgīt

sūb tērrās, caēlūmque aēstīvā lūcĕ rĕclūsīt,

īllaē cōntĭnŭō sāltūs sīlvāsquĕ pĕrāgrānt,

pūrpŭrĕōsquĕ mĕtūnt flōrēs, ēt flūmĭnă lībānt

sūmmă lĕvēs. Hīnc, nēscĭŏ quā dūlcēdĭnĕ laētaē,

prōgĕnĭēm nīdōsquĕ fŏvēnt, hīnc ārtĕ rĕcēntēs

ēxcūdūnt cērās, ēt mēllă tĕnācĭă fīngūnt.

Hīc, ūbi ēmīssūm căvĕīs ād sīdĕră caēlī

nārĕ pĕr aēstātēm lĭquĭdām sūspēxĕrĭs āgmēn,

ōbscūrāmquĕ trăhī vēntō mīrābĕrĕ nūbēm,

cōntēmplātŏr: ăquās dūlcēs ēt frōndĕă sēmpēr

tēctă pĕtūnt. Hūc tū iūssōs āspērgĕ săpōrēs,

trītă mĕlīsphŷlla ēt cērīnthae īgnōbĭlĕ grāmēn,

tīnnītūsquĕ cĭe, ēt Mātrīs quătĕ cŷmbălă cīrcūm:

īpsaē cōnsīdēnt mĕdĭcātīs sēdĭbŭs, īpsaē

īntĭmă mōrĕ sŭō sēse īn cūnābŭlă cōndēnt.

Sīn aūtem ād pūgnam ēxĭĕrīnt - nām saēpĕ dŭōbūs

rēgĭbŭs īncēssīt māgnō dīscōrdĭă mōtū;

cōntĭnŭōque ănĭmōs vūlgi ēt trĕpĭdāntĭă bēllō

cōrdă lĭcēt lōngē praēscīscĕrĕ: nāmquĕ mŏrāntēs

mārtĭŭs īlle aērīs raūcī cănŏr īncrĕpăt, ēt vōx

aūdītūr frāctōs sŏnĭtūs ĭmĭtātă tŭbārūm;

tūm trĕpĭdae īntēr sē coēūnt, pēnnīsquĕ cŏrūscānt,

spīcŭlăque ēxăcŭūnt rōstrīs, āptāntquĕ lăcērtōs,

ēt cīrcā rēgem ātque īpsa ād praētōrĭă dēnsaē

mīscēntūr, māgnīsquĕ vŏcānt clāmōrĭbŭs hōstēm -:

ērgo, ŭbĭ vēr nāctaē sūdūm cāmpōsquĕ pătēntēs,

ērūmpūnt pōrtīs; cōncūrrĭtŭr; aēthĕre ĭn āltō

fīt sŏnĭtūs; māgnūm mīxtaē glŏmĕrāntŭr ĭn ōrbēm,

praēcĭpĭtēsquĕ cădūnt; nōn dēnsĭŏr āĕrĕ grāndō,

nēc dē cōncūssā tāntūm plŭĭt īlĭcĕ glāndīs.

Īpsī pēr mĕdĭās ăcĭēs īnsīgnĭbŭs ālīs

īngēntēs ănĭmōs āngūsto īn pēctŏrĕ vērsānt,

ūsque ădĕo ōbnīxī nōn cēdĕrĕ, dūm grăvĭs aūt hōs

aūt hōs vērsă fŭgā vīctōr dărĕ tērgă sŭbēgīt.

Hī mōtūs ănĭmōrum ātque haēc cērtāmĭnă tāntă

pūlvĕrĭs ēxĭgŭī iāctū cōmprēssă quĭēscēnt.

Vērum ŭbĭ dūctōrēs ăcĭē rĕvŏcāvĕrĭs āmbō,

dētĕrĭōr quī vīsūs, eūm, nē prōdĭgŭs ōbsīt,

dēdĕ nĕcī; mĕlĭōr văcŭā sĭnĕ rēgnĕt ĭn aūlā.

Āltĕr ĕrīt măcŭlīs aūrō squālēntĭbŭs ārdēns -

nām dŭŏ sūnt gĕnĕra -; hīc mĕlĭōr īnsīgnĭs ĕt ōrĕ

ēt rŭtĭlīs clārūs squāmīs; īlle hōrrĭdŭs āltēr

dēsĭdĭā, lātāmquĕ trăhēns īnglōrĭŭs ālvūm.

Ūt bīnaē rēgūm făcĭēs, ĭtă cōrpŏră plēbīs.

Nāmque ălĭaē tūrpēs hōrrēnt, ceū pūlvĕre ăb āltō

cūm vĕnĭt, ēt sīccō tērrām spŭĭt ōrĕ vĭātōr

ārĭdŭs; ēlūcēnt ălĭae, ēt fūlgōrĕ cŏrūscānt

ārdēntēs aūro ēt părĭbūs lĭtă cōrpŏră gūttīs.

Haēc pŏtĭōr sŭbŏlēs; hīnc caēlī tēmpŏrĕ cērtō

dūlcĭă mēllă prĕmēs, nēc tāntūm dūlcĭă, quāntūm

ēt lĭquĭda ēt dūrūm Bācchī dŏmĭtūră săpōrēm.

Āt cum īncērtă vŏlānt, caēlōque ēxāmĭnă lūdūnt,

cōntēmnūntquĕ făvōs, ēt frīgĭdă tēctă rĕlīnquūnt,

īnstăbĭlēs ănĭmōs lūdō prŏhĭbēbĭs ĭnānī.

Nēc māgnūs prŏhĭbērĕ lăbōr: tū rēgĭbŭs ālās

ērĭpĕ; nōn īllīs quīsquām cūnctāntĭbŭs āltūm

īre ĭtĕr, aūt cāstrīs aūdēbīt vēllĕrĕ sīgnă.

Īnvītēnt crŏcĕīs hālāntēs flōrĭbŭs hōrtī,

ēt cūstōs fūrum ātque ăvĭūm cūm fālcĕ sălīgnā

Hēllēspōntĭăcī sērvēt tūtēlă Prĭāpī.

Īpsĕ thўmūm pīnōsquĕ fĕrēns dē mōntĭbŭs āltīs

tēctă sĕrāt lātē cīrcūm, cuī tālĭă cūraē;

īpsĕ lăbōrĕ mănūm dūrō tĕrăt, īpsĕ fĕrācēs

fīgăt hŭmō plāntās, ĕt ămīcōs īrrĭgĕt īmbrēs.

Ātque ĕquĭdem, ēxtrēmō nī iām sūb fīnĕ lăbōrūm

vēlă trăham, ēt tērrīs fēstīnem ādvērtĕrĕ prōrām,

fōrsĭtăn ēt, pīnguēs hōrtōs quaē cūră cŏlēndī

ōrnārēt, cănĕrēm, bĭfĕrīquĕ rŏsārĭă Paēstī,

quōquĕ mŏdō pōtīs gaūdērēnt īntĭbă rīvīs,

ēt vĭrĭdēs ăpĭō rīpaē, tōrtūsquĕ pĕr hērbām

crēscĕrĕt īn vēntrēm cŭcŭmīs; nēc sēră cŏmāntēm

nārcīssum, aūt flēxī tăcŭīssēm vīmĕn ăcānthī

pāllēntēsque hĕdĕrās ĕt ămāntēs lītŏră mŷrtōs.

Nāmquĕ sŭb Oēbălĭaē mĕmĭnī mē tūrrĭbŭs āltīs,

quā nĭgĕr ūmēctāt flāvēntĭă cūltă Gălaēsūs,

Cōrўcĭūm vīdīssĕ sĕnēm, cuī paūcă rĕlīctī

iūgĕră rūrĭs ĕrānt, nēc fērtĭlĭs īllă iŭvēncīs

nēc pĕcŏri ōppōrtūnă sĕgēs nēc cōmmŏdă Bācchō.

Hīc rārūm tămĕn īn dūmīs ŏlŭs ālbăquĕ cīrcūm

līlĭă vērbēnāsquĕ prĕmēns vēscūmquĕ păpāvēr,

rēgum aēquābăt ŏpēs ănĭmīs, sērāquĕ rĕvērtēns

nōctĕ dŏmūm dăpĭbūs mēnsās ŏnĕrābăt ĭnēmptīs.

Prīmūs vērĕ rŏsam ātque aūtūmnō cārpĕrĕ pōmă,

ēt cūm trīstĭs hĭēms ĕtĭāmnūm frīgŏrĕ sāxă

rūmpĕrĕt, ēt glăcĭē cūrsūs frēnārĕt ăquārūm,

īllĕ cŏmām mōllīs iām tōndēbāt hўăcīnthī,

aēstātem īncrĕpĭtāns sērām Zĕphўrōsquĕ mŏrāntēs.

Ērgo ăpĭbūs fētīs īdem ātque ēxāmĭnĕ mūltō

prīmŭs ăbūndāre ēt spūmāntĭă cōgĕrĕ prēssīs

mēllă făvīs; īllī tĭlĭae ātque ūbērrĭmă pīnūs,

quōtque īn flōrĕ nŏvō pōmīs sē fērtĭlĭs ārbōs

īndŭĕrāt, tŏtĭdem aūtūmnō mātūră tĕnēbāt.

Īlle ĕtĭām sērās īn vērsūm dīstŭlĭt ūlmōs

ēdūrāmquĕ pĭrum ēt spīnōs iām prūnă fĕrēntēs

iāmquĕ mĭnīstrāntēm plătănūm pōtāntĭbŭs ūmbrās.

Vērum haēc īpse ĕquĭdēm spătĭīs ēxclūsŭs ĭnīquīs

praētĕrĕo, ātque ălĭīs pōst mē mĕmŏrāndă rĕlīnquō.

Nūnc ăgĕ, nātūrās ăpĭbūs quās Iūppĭtĕr īpsĕ

āddĭdĭt, ēxpĕdĭām, prō quā mērcēdĕ cănōrōs

Cūrētūm sŏnĭtūs crĕpĭtāntĭăque aēră sĕcūtaē

Dīctaēō caēlī rēgēm pāvērĕ sŭb āntrō.

Sōlaē cōmmūnēs nātōs, cōnsōrtĭă tēctă

ūrbĭs hăbēnt, māgnīsque ăgĭtānt sūb lēgĭbŭs aēvūm,

ēt pătrĭām sōlae ēt cērtōs nōvērĕ Pĕnātēs;

vēntūraēque hĭĕmīs mĕmŏrēs, aēstātĕ lăbōrēm

ēxpēriūntŭr, ĕt īn mĕdĭūm quaēsītă rĕpōnūnt.

Nāmque ălĭaē vīctu īnvĭgĭlānt, ēt foēdĕrĕ pāctō

ēxērcēntŭr ăgrīs; pārs īntrā saēptă dŏmōrūm

nārcīssī lăcrĭmam ēt lēntūm dē cōrtĭcĕ glūtēn

prīmă făvīs pōnūnt fūndāmĭnă, deīndĕ tĕnācēs

sūspēndūnt cērās; ălĭaē spēm gēntĭs ădūltōs

ēdūcūnt fētūs; ălĭaē pūrīssĭmă mēllă

stīpānt, ēt lĭquĭdō dīstēndūnt nēctărĕ cēllās.

Sūnt quĭbŭs ād pōrtās cĕcĭdīt cūstōdĭă sōrtī,

īnquĕ vĭcēm spĕcŭlāntŭr ăquās ēt nūbĭlă caēlī,

aūt ŏnĕra āccĭpĭūnt vĕnĭēntum, aūt āgmĭnĕ fāctō

īgnāvūm fūcōs pĕcŭs ā praēsēpĭbŭs ārcēnt.

Fērvĕt ŏpūs, rĕdŏlēntquĕ thўmō flāgrāntĭă mēllă.

Āc vĕlŭtī lēntīs Cŷclōpēs fūlmĭnă māssīs

cūm prŏpĕrānt, ălĭī taūrīnīs fōllĭbŭs aūrās

āccĭpĭūnt rēddūntque, ălĭī strīdēntĭă tīngūnt

aēră lăcū; gĕmĭt īmpŏsĭtīs īncūdĭbŭs Aētnă;

īlli īntēr sēsē māgnā vī brācchĭă tōllūnt

īn nŭmĕrūm, vērsāntquĕ tĕnācī fōrcĭpĕ fērrūm,

nōn ălĭtēr, sī pārvă lĭcēt cōmpōnĕrĕ māgnīs,

Cēcrŏpĭās īnnātŭs ăpēs ămŏr ūrgĕt hăbēndī

mūnĕrĕ quāmquĕ sŭō. Grāndaēvīs ōppĭdă cūraē,

ēt mūnīrĕ făvōs, ēt daēdălă fīngĕrĕ tēctă.

Āt fēssaē mūltā rĕfĕrūnt sē nōctĕ mĭnōrēs,

crūră thўmō plēnaē; pāscūntŭr ĕt ārbŭtă pāssīm

ēt glaūcās sălĭcēs căsĭāmquĕ crŏcūmquĕ rŭbēntēm

ēt pīnguēm tĭlĭam ēt fērrūgĭnĕōs hўăcīnthōs.

Ōmnĭbŭs ūnă quĭēs ŏpĕrūm, lăbŏr ōmnĭbŭs ūnūs;

mānĕ rŭūnt pōrtīs; nūsquām mŏră; rūrsŭs ĕāsdēm

vēspĕr ŭbi ē pāstū tāndēm dēcēdĕrĕ cāmpīs

ādmōnvīt, tūm tēctă pĕtūnt, tūm cōrpŏră cūrānt;

fīt sŏnĭtūs, mūssāntque ōrās ēt līmĭnă cīrcūm.

Pōst, ŭbĭ iām thălămīs sē cōmpŏsŭērĕ, sĭlētūr

īn nōctēm, fēssōsquĕ sŏpōr sŭŭs ōccŭpăt ārtūs.

Nēc vēro ā stăbŭlīs plŭvĭa īnpēndēntĕ rĕcēdūnt

lōngĭŭs, aūt crēdūnt caēlo ādvēntāntĭbŭs Eūrīs;

sēd cīrcūm tūtaē sūb moēnĭbŭs ūrbĭs ăquāntūr,

ēxcūrsūsquĕ brĕvēs tēmptānt, ēt saēpĕ lăpīllōs,

ūt cūmbae īnstăbĭlēs flūctū iāctāntĕ săbūrrām,

tōllūnt; hīs sēsē pĕr ĭnānĭă nūbĭlă lībrānt.

Īllum ădĕō plăcŭīsse ăpĭbūs mīrābĕrĕ mōrēm,

quōd nĕquĕ cōncŭbĭtu īndūlgēnt, nēc cōrpŏră sēgnēs

īn Vĕnĕrēm sōlvūnt, aūt fētūs nīxĭbŭs ēdūnt;

vērum īpsae ē fŏlĭīs nātōs ēt suāvĭbŭs hērbīs

ōrĕ lĕgūnt, īpsaē rēgēm pārvōsquĕ Quĭrītēs

sūffĭcĭūnt, aūlāsque ēt cērĕă rēgnă rĕfīgūnt.

Saēpe ĕtĭām dūrīs ērrāndo īn cōtĭbŭs ālās

āttrīvēre, ūltrōque ănĭmām sūb fāscĕ dĕdērĕ:

tāntŭs ămōr flōrum ēt gĕnĕrāndī glōrĭă mēllīs!

Ērgo īpsās quāmvīs āngūstī tērmĭnŭs aēvī

ēxcĭpĭāt - nĕque ĕnīm plūs sēptĭmă dūcĭtŭr aēstās, -

āt gĕnŭs īmmōrtālĕ mănēt, mūltōsquĕ pĕr ānnōs

stāt fōrtūnă dŏmūs, ĕt ăvī nŭmĕrāntŭr ăvōrūm.

Praētĕrĕā rēgēm nōn sīc Aēgŷptŏs ĕt īngēns

Lŷdĭă nēc pŏpŭlī Pārthōrum aūt Mēdŭs Hўdāspēs

ōbsērvānt. Rēge īncŏlŭmī mēns ōmnĭbŭs ūna ēst;

āmīssō rūpērĕ fĭdēm, cōnstrūctăquĕ mēllă

dīrĭpŭēre īpsae, ēt crātēs sōlvērĕ făvōrūm.

Īlle ŏpĕrūm cūstōs, īllum ādmīrāntŭr, ĕt ōmnēs

cīrcūmstānt frĕmĭtū dēnsō, stīpāntquĕ frĕquēntēs,

ēt saēpe āttōllūnt ŭmĕrīs, ēt cōrpŏră bēllō

ōbiēctānt, pūlchrāmquĕ pĕtūnt pēr vūlnĕră mōrtēm.

Hīs quīdām sīgnīs ātque haēc ēxēmplă sĕcūtī,

ēsse ăpĭbūs pārtēm dīvīnaē mēntĭs ĕt haūstūs

aēthĕrĭōs dīxērĕ: dĕūm nāmque īrĕ pĕr ōmnēs

tērrāsquē trāctūsquĕ mărīs caēlūmquĕ prŏfūndūm;

hīnc pĕcŭdēs, ārmēntă, vĭrōs, gĕnŭs ōmnĕ fĕrārūm,

quēmquĕ sĭbī tĕnŭēs nāscēntem ārcēssĕrĕ vītās;

scīlĭcĕt hūc rēddī deīnde āc rĕsŏlūtă rĕfērrī

ōmnĭă, nēc mōrti ēssĕ lŏcūm, sēd vīvă vŏlārĕ

sīdĕrĭs īn nŭmĕrum, ātque āltō sūccēdĕrĕ caēlō.

Sī quāndō sēdem āngūstām sērvātăquĕ mēllă

thēsaūrīs rĕlĭnēs, prĭŭs haūstū spārsŭs ăquārūm

ōrĕ făvē, fūmōsquĕ mănū praētēndĕ sĕquācēs.

Bīs grăvĭdōs cōgūnt fētūs, dŭŏ tēmpŏră mēssīs:

Tāўgĕtē sĭmŭl ōs tērrīs ōstēndĭt hŏnēstūm

Plēĭăs, ēt Ŏcĕānĭ sprĕtōs pĕdĕ rēppŭlĭt āmnēs,

aūt ĕădēm sīdūs fŭgĭēns ŭbĭ Pīscĭs ăquōsī

trīstĭŏr hībērnās caēlō dēscēndĭt ĭn ūndās.

Īllīs īră mŏdūm sūpra ēst, laēsaēquĕ vĕnēnūm

mōrsĭbŭs īnspīrānt, ēt spīcŭlă caēcă rĕlīnquūnt

āffīxaē vēnīs, ănĭmāsque īn vūlnĕrĕ pōnūnt.

Sīn dūrām mĕtŭēs hĭĕmēm, pārcēsquĕ fŭtūrō,

cōntūsūsque ănĭmōs ēt rēs mĭsĕrābĕrĕ frāctās:

āt sūffīrĕ thўmō cērāsquĕ rĕcīdĕre ĭnānēs

quīs dŭbĭtēt? Nām saēpĕ făvōs īgnōtŭs ădēdīt

stēllĭo, ĕt lūcĭfŭgīs cōngēstă cŭbīlĭă blāttīs;

īmmūnīsquĕ sĕdēns āliēna ād pābŭlă fūcūs,

aūt āspēr crābro īmpărĭbūs se īmmīscŭĭt ārmīs,

aūt dīrūm tĭnĕaē gĕnŭs, aūt īnvīsă Mĭnērvaē

lāxōs īn fŏrĭbūs sūspēndĭt ărānĕă cāssēs.

Quō măgĭs ēxhaūstaē fŭĕrīnt, hōc ācrĭŭs ōmnēs

īncūmbēnt gĕnĕrīs lāpsī sārcīrĕ rŭīnās,

cōmplēbūntquĕ fŏrōs, ēt flōrĭbŭs hōrrĕă tēxēnt.

Sī vērō, quŏnĭām cāsūs ăpĭbūs quŏquĕ nōstrōs

vītă tŭlīt, trīstī lānguēbūnt cōrpŏră mōrbō -

quōd iām nōn dŭbĭīs pŏtĕrīs cōgnōscĕrĕ sīgnīs:

cōntĭnŭo ēst aēgrīs ălĭūs cŏlŏr; hōrrĭdă vūltūm

dēfōrmāt măcĭēs; tūm cōrpŏră lūcĕ cărēntūm

ēxpōrtānt tēctīs ēt trīstĭă fūnĕră dūcūnt;

aūt īllaē pĕdĭbūs cōnnēxae ād līmĭnă pēndēnt,

aūt īntūs claūsīs cūnctāntŭr ĭn aēdĭbŭs, ōmnēs

īgnāvaēquĕ făme ēt cōntrāctō frīgŏrĕ pīgraē;

tūm sŏnŭs aūdītūr grăvĭōr, trāctīmquĕ sŭsūrrānt,

frīgĭdŭs ūt quōndām sīlvīs īmmūrmŭrăt Aūstēr,

ūt mărĕ sōllĭcĭtūm strīdīt rēfluēntĭbŭs ūndīs,

aēstŭăt ūt claūsīs răpĭdūs fōrnācĭbŭs īgnīs -;

hīc iām gālbănĕōs suādēbo īncēndĕre ŏdōrēs,

mēllăque ărūndĭnĕīs īnfērrĕ cănālĭbŭs, ūltrō

hōrtāntem ēt fēssās ād pābŭlă nōtă vŏcāntēm.

Prōdĕrĭt ēt tūnsūm gāllae ādmīscērĕ săpōrēm

ārēntēsquĕ rŏsās, aūt īgnī pīnguĭă mūltō

dēfrŭtă, vēl psĭthĭā pāssōs dē vītĕ răcēmōs

Cēcrŏpĭūmquĕ thўmum ēt grăve ŏlēntĭă cēntaūrēă.

Ēst ĕtĭām flōs īn prātīs, cuī nōmĕn ămēllō

fēcēre āgrĭcŏlaē, făcĭlīs quaērēntĭbŭs hērbă:

nāmque ūno īngēntēm tōllīt dē caēspĭtĕ sīlvām,

aūrĕŭs īpsĕ, sĕd īn fŏlĭīs, quaē plūrĭmă cīrcūm

fūndūntūr, vĭŏlaē sūblūcēt pūrpŭră nīgraē;

saēpĕ dĕūm nēxīs ōrnātaē tōrquĭbŭs āraē;

āspĕr ĭn ōrĕ săpōr; tōnsīs īn vāllĭbŭs īllūm

pāstōrēs ēt cūrvă lĕgūnt prŏpĕ flūmĭnă Mēllaē.

Hūiŭs ŏdōrātō rādīcēs īncŏquĕ Bācchō,

pābŭlăque īn fŏrĭbūs plēnīs āppōnĕ cănīstrīs.

Sēd sīquēm prōlēs sŭbĭtō dēfēcĕrĭt ōmnīs,

nēc, gĕnŭs ūndĕ nŏvaē stīrpīs rĕvŏcētŭr, hăbēbīt,

tēmpŭs ĕt Ārcădĭī mĕmŏrānda īnvēntă măgīstrī

pāndĕrĕ, quōquĕ mŏdō caēsīs iām saēpĕ iŭvēncīs

īnsīncērŭs ăpēs tŭlĕrīt crŭŏr. Āltĭŭs ōmnēm

ēxpĕdĭām prīmā rĕpĕtēns ăb ŏrīgĭnĕ fāmām.

Nām, quā Pēllaēī gēns fōrtūnātă Cănōpī

āccŏlĭt ēffūsō stāgnāntēm flūmĭnĕ Nīlūm,

ēt cīrcūm pīctīs vĕhĭtūr sŭă rūră phăsēlīs,

quāquĕ phărētrātaē vīcīnĭă Pērsĭdĭs ūrgēt,

ēt vĭrĭdem Aēgŷptūm nīgrā fēcūndăt ărēnā,

ēt dīvērsā ruēns sēptēm dīscūrrĭt ĭn ōră

ūsquĕ cŏlōrātīs āmnīs dēvēxŭs ăb Īndīs,

ōmnĭs ĭn hāc cērtām rĕgĭō iăcĭt ārtĕ sălūtēm.

Ēxĭgŭūs prīmum ātque īpsōs cōntrāctŭs ĭn ūsūs

ēlĭgĭtūr lŏcŭs; hūnc āngūstīque īmbrĭcĕ tēctī

pāriĕtĭbūs prēmūnt ārtīs; ēt quāttŭŏr āddūnt,

quāttŭŏr ā vēntīs ōblīquā lūcĕ fĕnēstrās.

Tūm vĭtŭlūs bīmā cūrvāns iām cōrnŭă frōntĕ

quaērĭtŭr; huīc gĕmĭnaē nārēs ēt spīrĭtŭs ōrīs

mūltă rĕlūctānti ōbstrŭĭtūr, plāgīsquĕ pĕrēmptō

tūnsă pĕr īntēgrām sōlvūntūr vīscĕră pēllēm.

Sīc pŏsĭtum īn claūsō līnquūnt, ēt rāmĕă cōstīs

sūbĭcĭūnt frāgmēntă, thўmūm căsĭāsquĕ rĕcēntēs.

Hōc gĕrĭtūr Zĕphўrīs prīmum īmpēllēntĭbŭs ūndās,

āntĕ nŏvīs rŭbĕānt quām prātă cŏlōrĭbŭs, āntĕ

gārrŭlă quām tīgnīs nīdūm sūspēndăt hĭrūndō.

Īntĕrĕā tĕnĕrīs tĕpĕfāctŭs ĭn ōssĭbŭs ūmōr

aēstŭăt, ēt vīsēndă mŏdīs ănĭmālĭă mīrīs,

trūncă pĕdūm prīmō, mōx ēt strīdēntĭă pēnnīs,

mīscēntūr, tĕnŭēmquĕ măgīs măgĭs āĕră cārpūnt,

dōnĕc ŭt aēstīvūs ēffūsūs nūbĭbŭs īmbēr

ērūpēre, aūt ūt nērvō pūlsāntĕ săgīttaē,

prīmă lĕvēs ĭnĕūnt sīquāndō proēlĭă Pārthī.

Quīs dĕŭs hānc, Mūsaē, quīs nōbīs ēxtŭdĭt ārtēm?

Ūndĕ nŏva īngrēssūs hŏmĭnum ēxpĕrĭēntĭă cēpīt?

Pāstŏr Ărīstaēūs fŭgĭēns Pēnēĭă Tēmpē

āmīssīs, ūt fāma ăpĭbūs mōrbōquĕ fămēquĕ,

trīstĭs ăd ēxtrēmī sācrūm căpŭt ādstĭtĭt āmnīs,

mūltă quĕrēns, ātque hāc ēffātūs vōcĕ părēntēm:

"Mātēr, Cŷrēnē mātēr, quaē gūrgĭtĭs hūiūs

īmă tĕnēs, quīd mē praēclārā stīrpĕ dĕōrūm -

sī mŏdŏ, quēm pĕrhĭbēs, pătĕr ēst Thŷmbraēŭs Ăpōllō -

īnvīsūm fātīs gĕnŭīsti? Aūt quō tĭbĭ nōstrī

pūlsŭs ămōr? Quīd mē caēlūm spērārĕ iŭbēbās?

Ēn, ĕtĭam hūnc īpsūm vītaē mōrtālĭs hŏnōrēm,

quēm mĭhĭ vīx frūgum ēt pĕcŭdūm cūstōdĭă sōllērs

ōmnĭă tēmptānti ēxtŭdĕrāt, tē mātrĕ rĕlīnquō.

Quīn ăge, ĕt īpsă mănū fēlīcēs ērŭĕ sīlvās,

fēr stăbŭlīs ĭnĭmīcum īgnem, ātque īntērfĭcĕ mēssēs,

ūrĕ săta, ēt vălĭdam īn vītēs mōlīrĕ bĭpēnnēm,

tāntă mĕaē sī tē cēpērūnt taēdĭă laūdīs.

Āt mātēr sŏnĭtūm thălămō sūb flūmĭnĭs āltī

sēnsĭt. Ĕām cīrcūm Mīlēsĭă vēllĕră Nŷmphaē

cārpēbānt hўălī sătŭrō fūcātă cŏlōrĕ,

Drŷmōquē Xānthōquĕ Lĭgēăquĕ Phŷllŏdŏcēquĕ,

caēsărĭem ēffūsaē nĭtĭdām pēr cāndĭdă cōllă,

Nēsaēē Spīōquĕ Thălīăquĕ Cŷmŏdŏcēquĕ

Cŷdīppēque ēt flāvă Lўcōrĭăs, āltĕră vīrgō,

āltĕră tūm prīmōs Lūcīnae ēxpērtă lăbōrēs,

Clīōque ēt Bēroē sŏrŏr, Ōcĕănītĭdĕs āmbaē,

āmbae aūrō, pīctīs īncīnctaē pēllĭbŭs āmbaē;

ātque Ĕphўrē | ātque Ōpĭs ĕt Āsĭă Dēĭŏpēă,

ēt tāndēm pŏsĭtīs vēlōx Ărĕthūsă săgīttīs.

Īntēr quās cūrām Clўmĕnē nārrābăt ĭnānēm

Vūlcānī, Mārtīsquĕ dŏlōs ēt dūlcĭă fūrtă,

ātquĕ Chăō dēnsōs dīvūm nŭmĕrābăt ămōrēs.

Cārmĭnĕ quō cāptaē dūm fūsīs mōllĭă pēnsă

dēvōlvūnt, ĭtĕrūm mātērnās īmpŭlĭt aūrēs

lūctŭs Ărīstaēī, vĭtrĕīsquĕ sĕdīlĭbŭs ōmnēs

ōbstŭpŭērĕ; sĕd ānte ălĭās Ărĕthūsă sŏrōrēs

prōspĭcĭēns sūmmā flāvūm căpŭt ēxtŭlĭt ūndā,

ēt prŏcŭl: "Ō gĕmĭtū nōn frūstra ēxtērrĭtă tāntō,

Cŷrēnē sŏrŏr, īpsĕ tĭbī, tŭă māxĭmă cūră,

trīstĭs Ărīstaēūs Pĕnĕī gĕnĭtōrĭs ăd ūndām

stāt lăcrĭmāns, ēt tē crūdēlēm nōmĭnĕ dīcīt."

Huīc, pērcūssă nŏvā mēntēm fōrmīdĭnĕ mātēr:

"Dūc, ăgĕ, dūc ād nōs; fās īllī līmĭnă dīvūm

tāngĕre" ăīt. Sĭmŭl āltă iŭbēt dīscēdĕrĕ lātē

flūmĭnă, quā iŭvĕnīs grēssūs īnfērrĕt. Ăt īllūm

cūrvāta īn mōntīs făcĭēm cīrcūmstĕtĭt ūndă,

āccēpītquĕ sĭnū vāstō, mīsītquĕ sŭb āmnēm.

Iāmquĕ dŏmūm mīrāns gĕnĭtrīcĭs ĕt ūmĭdă rēgnă

spēlūncīsquĕ lăcūs claūsōs lūcōsquĕ sŏnāntēs

ībăt, ĕt īngēntī mōtū stŭpĕfāctŭs ăquārūm

ōmnĭă sūb māgnā lābēntĭă flūmĭnă tērrā

spēctābāt, dīvērsă lŏcīs, Phāsīmquĕ Lўcūmquĕ

ēt căpŭt, ūnde āltūs prīmūm se ērūmpĭt Ĕnīpeūs,

ūndĕ pătēr Tĭbĕrīnŭs, ĕt ūnde Ănĭēnă flŭēntă,

sāxōsūmquĕ sŏnāns Hўpănīs, Mŷsūsquĕ Căīcūs,

ēt gĕmĭna aūrātūs taūrīnō cōrnŭă vūltū

Ērĭdănūs, quō nōn ălĭūs pēr pīnguĭă cūltă

īn mărĕ pūrpŭrĕūm vĭŏlēntĭŏr ēfflŭĭt āmnīs.

Pōstquam ēst īn thălămī pēndēntĭă pūmĭcĕ tēctă

pērvēntum, ēt nātī flētūs cōgnōvĭt ĭnānēs

Cŷrēnē, mănĭbūs lĭquĭdōs dānt ōrdĭnĕ frōntēs

gērmānaē, tōnsīsquĕ fĕrūnt māntēlĭă vīllīs;

pārs ĕpŭlīs ŏnĕrānt mēnsās, ēt plēnă rĕpōnūnt

pōcŭlă; Pānchaēīs ădŏlēscūnt īgnĭbŭs āraē;

ēt mātēr: "Căpĕ Maēŏnĭī cārchēsĭă Bācchī:

Ōcĕănō lībēmŭs" ăīt. Sĭmŭl īpsă prĕcātūr

Ōcĕănūmquĕ pătrēm rērūm Nŷmphāsquĕ sŏrōrēs,

cēntūm quaē sīlvās, cēntūm quaē flūmĭnă sērvānt.

Tēr lĭquĭdo ārdēntēm pērfūdīt nēctărĕ Vēstām,

tēr flāmma ād sūmmūm tēctī sūbiēctă rĕlūxīt.

Ōmĭnĕ quō fīrmāns ănĭmūm, sīc īncĭpĭt īpsă:

"Ēst īn Cārpăthĭō Nēptūnī, gūrgĭtĕ vātēs

caērŭlĕūs Prōteūs, māgnūm quī pīscĭbŭs aēquōr

ēt iūnctō bĭpĕdūm cūrrū mētītŭr ĕquōrūm.

Hīc nūnc Ēmăthĭaē pōrtūs pătrĭāmquĕ rĕvīsīt

Pāllēnēn; hūnc ēt Nŷmphaē vĕnĕrāmŭr, ĕt īpsĕ

grāndaēvūs Nĕrĕūs: nōvīt nāmque ōmnĭă vātēs,

quaē sīnt, quaē fŭĕrīnt, quaē mōx vēntūră trăhāntūr:

quīppe ĭtă Nēptūnō vīsum ēst, īmmānĭă cūiūs

ārmēnta ēt tūrpēs pāscīt sūb gūrgĭtĕ phōcās.

Hīc tĭbĭ, nātĕ, prĭūs vīnclīs căpĭēndŭs, ŭt ōmnēm

ēxpĕdĭāt mōrbī caūsam, ēvēntūsquĕ sĕcūndēt.

Nām sĭnĕ vī nōn ūllă dăbīt praēcēptă, nĕque īllūm

ōrāndō flēctēs: vīm dūram ēt vīncŭlă cāptō

tēndĕ; dŏlī cīrcum haēc dēmūm frāngēntŭr ĭnānēs.

Īpsa ĕgŏ tē, mĕdĭōs cūm sōl āccēndĕrĭt aēstūs,

cūm sĭtĭūnt hērbae ēt pĕcŏrī iām grātĭŏr ūmbra ēst,

īn sēcrētă sĕnīs dūcām, quō fēssŭs ăb ūndīs

sē rĕcĭpīt, făcĭle ūt sōmno āggrĕdĭārĕ iăcēntēm.

Vērum ŭbĭ cōrrēptūm mănĭbūs vīnclīsquĕ tĕnēbīs,

tūm vărĭae ēlūdēnt spĕcĭēs ātque ōră fĕrārūm:

fīĕt ĕnīm sŭbĭtō sūs hōrrĭdŭs ātrăquĕ tīgrīs

squāmōsūsquĕ drăco ēt fūlvā cērvīcĕ lĕaēnă,

aūt ācrēm flāmmaē sŏnĭtūm dăbĭt, ātque ĭtă vīnclīs

ēxcĭdĕt, aūt ĭn ăquās tĕnŭēs dīlāpsŭs ăbībīt.

Sēd quānto īllĕ măgīs fōrmās sē vērtĕt ĭn ōmnēs,

tām tū, nātĕ, măgīs cōntēndĕ tĕnācĭă vīnclă,

dōnēc tālĭs ĕrīt mūtātō cōrpŏrĕ, quālēm

vīdĕrĭs, īncēptō tĕgĕrēt cūm lūmĭnă sōmnō."

Haēc ăĭt, ēt lĭquĭdum āmbrŏsĭaē dīffūndĭt ŏdōrēm,

quō tōtūm nātī cōrpūs pērdūxĭt; ăt īllī

dūlcīs cōmpŏsĭtīs spīrāvīt crīnĭbŭs aūră,

ātque hăbĭlīs mēmbrīs vēnīt vĭgŏr. Ēst spĕcŭs īngēns

ēxēsī lătĕre īn mōntīs, quō plūrĭmă vēntō

cōgĭtŭr, īnquĕ sĭnūs scīndīt sēse ūndă rĕdūctōs,

dēprēnsīs ōlīm stătĭō tūtīssĭmă naūtīs;

īntūs sē vāstī Prōteūs tĕgĭt ōbĭcĕ sāxī.

Hīc iŭvĕnem īn lătĕbrīs āvērsum ā lūmĭnĕ Nŷmphă

cōllŏcăt; īpsă prŏcūl nĕbŭlīs ōbscūră rĕsīstīt.

Iām răpĭdūs tōrrēns sĭtĭēntēs Sīrĭŭs Īndōs

ārdēbāt caēlo, ēt mĕdĭūm sōl īgnĕŭs ōrbēm

haūsĕrăt; ārēbānt hērbae, ēt căvă flūmĭnă sīccīs

faūcĭbŭs ād līmūm rădĭī tĕpĕfāctă cŏquēbānt:

cūm Prōteūs cōnsuētă pĕtēns ē flūctĭbŭs āntră

ībāt; eūm vāstī cīrcūm gēns ūmĭdă pōntī

ēxsūltāns rōrēm lātē dīspērgĭt ămārūm.

Stērnūnt sē sōmnō dīvērsae īn lītŏrĕ phōcaē;

īpsĕ, vĕlūt stăbŭlī cūstōs īn mōntĭbŭs ōlīm,

Vēspĕr ŭbi ē pāstū vĭtŭlōs ād tēctă rĕdūcīt,

aūdītīsquĕ lŭpōs ăcŭūnt bālātĭbŭs āgnī,

cōnsīdīt scŏpŭlō mĕdĭūs, nŭmĕrūmquĕ rĕcēnsēt.

Cūiŭs Ărīstaēō quŏnĭam ēst ōblātă făcūltās,

vīx dēfēssă sĕnēm pāssūs cōmpōnĕrĕ mēmbră,

cūm clāmōrĕ rŭīt māgnō, mănĭcīsquĕ iăcēntēm

ōccŭpăt. Īllĕ sŭaē cōntrā nōn īmmĕmŏr ārtīs

ōmnĭă trānsfōrmāt sēse īn mīrācŭlă rērūm,

īgnēmque hōrrĭbĭlēmquĕ fĕrām flŭvĭūmquĕ lĭquēntēm.

Vērum ŭbĭ nūllă fŭgām rĕpĕrīt fāllācĭă, vīctūs

īn sēsē rĕdĭt, ātque hŏmĭnīs tāndem ōrĕ lŏcūtūs:

"Nām quīs tē, iŭvĕnūm cōnfīdēntīssĭmĕ, nōstrās

iūssĭt ădīrĕ dŏmōs? Quīdve hīnc pĕtĭs?" īnquĭt. Ăt īllĕ:

"Scīs, Prōteū, scīs īpsĕ; nĕque ēst tē fāllĕrĕ quīcquām;

sēd tū dēsĭnĕ vēllĕ. Dĕūm praēcēptă sĕcūtī

vēnĭmŭs, hīnc lāpsīs quaēsītum ōrācŭlă rēbūs."

Tāntum ēffātŭs. Ăd haēc vātēs vī dēnĭquĕ mūltā

ārdēntēs ŏcŭlōs īntōrsīt lūmĭnĕ glaūcō,

ēt grăvĭtēr frēndēns sīc fātīs ōră rĕsōlvīt:

"Nōn tē nūllīūs ēxērcēnt nūmĭnĭs īraē;

māgnă lŭīs cōmmīssă: tĭbi hāc mĭsĕrābĭlĭs Ōrpheūs

haūdquāquam ōb mĕrĭtūm, poēnās, nī fātă rĕsīstānt,

sūscĭtăt, ēt rāptā grăvĭtēr prō cōniŭgĕ saēvīt.

Īllă quĭdēm, dūm tē fŭgĕrēt pēr flūmĭnă praēcēps,

īmmānem āntĕ pĕdēs hŷdrūm, mŏrĭtūră pŭēllă,

sērvāntēm rīpās āltā nōn vīdĭt ĭn hērbā.

Āt chŏrŭs aēquālīs Drўădūm clāmōrĕ sŭprēmōs

īmplērūnt mōntēs; flērūnt Rhŏdŏpēĭaĕ | ārcēs

āltăquĕ Pāngaēa ēt Rhēsī Māvōrtĭă tēllūs,

ātquĕ Gĕtae ātque Hēbrūs ēt Āctĭăs Ōrīthyīă.

Īpsĕ căvā sōlāns aēgrūm tēstūdĭne ămōrēm

tē, dūlcīs cōniūnx, tē sōlo īn lītŏrĕ sēcūm,

tē vĕnĭēntĕ dĭē, tē dēcēdēntĕ cănēbāt.

Taēnărĭās ĕtĭām faūcēs, ālta ōstĭă Dītīs,

ēt cālīgāntēm nīgrā fōrmīdĭnĕ lūcūm

īngrēssūs, Mānēsque ădĭīt rēgēmquĕ trĕmēndūm

nēscĭăque hūmānīs prĕcĭbūs mānsuēscĕrĕ cōrdă.

Āt cāntū cōmmōtae, Ĕrĕbī dē sēdĭbŭs īmīs

ūmbrae ībānt tĕnŭēs sĭmŭlācrăquĕ lūcĕ cărēntūm,

quām mūlta īn fŏlĭīs ăvĭūm sē mīlĭă cōndūnt,

Vēspĕr ŭbi aūt hībērnŭs ăgīt dē mōntĭbŭs īmbēr,

mātrēs ātquĕ vĭrī, dēfūnctăquĕ cōrpŏră vītā

māgnănĭmum hērōūm, pŭĕri īnnūptaēquĕ pŭēllaē,

īmpŏsĭtīquĕ rŏgīs iŭvĕnēs ānte ōră părēntūm,

quōs cīrcūm līmūs nĭgĕr ēt dēfōrmĭs ărūndō

Cōcŷtī, tārdāquĕ pălūs ĭnămābĭlĭs ūndā

āllĭgăt, ēt nŏvĭēs Stŷx īntērfūsă cŏērcēt.

Quīn īpsaē stŭpŭērĕ dŏmūs ātque īntĭmă Lētī

Tārtără, caērŭlĕōsque īmplēxaē crīnĭbŭs ānguēs

Eūmĕnĭdēs, tĕnŭītque īnhiāns trĭă Cērbĕrŭs ōră,

ātque Īxīŏnĭī vēntō rŏtă cōnstĭtĭt ōrbīs.

Iāmquĕ pĕdēm rĕfĕrēns cāsūs ēvāsĕrăt ōmnēs,

rēddĭtăque Eūrўdĭcē sŭpĕrās vĕnĭēbăt ăd aūrās

pōnĕ sĕquēns - nāmque hānc dĕdĕrāt Prōsērpĭnă lēgēm -,

cūm sŭbĭta īncaūtūm dēmēntĭă cēpĭt ămāntēm,

īgnōscēndă quĭdēm, scīrēnt si īgnōscĕrĕ Mānēs:

rēstĭtĭt, Eūrўdĭcēnquĕ sŭām iām lūcĕ sŭb īpsā

īmmĕmŏr, heū, vīctūsque ănĭmī rēspēxĭt. Ĭbi ōmnīs

ēffūsūs lăbŏr, ātque īmmītīs rūptă tўrānnī

foēdĕră, tērquĕ frăgōr stāgnīs aūdītŭs Ăvērnīs.

Īllă: "Quĭs ēt me" īnquīt "mĭsĕram ēt tē pērdĭdĭt, Ōrpheū,

quīs tāntūs fŭrŏr? Ēn, ĭtĕrūm crūdēlĭă rētrō

fātă vŏcānt, cōndītquĕ nătāntĭă lūmĭnă sōmnūs.

Iāmquĕ vălē: fĕrŏr īngēntī cīrcūmdătă nōctĕ,

īnvălĭdāsquĕ tĭbī tēndēns, heū nōn tŭă, pālmās!"

Dīxĭt, ĕt ēx ŏcŭlīs sŭbĭtō, ceū fūmŭs ĭn aūrās

cōmmīxtūs tĕnŭēs, fūgīt dīvērsă, nĕque īllūm

prēnsāntēm nēquīquam ūmbrās, ēt mūltă vŏlēntēm

dīcĕrĕ, praētĕrĕā vīdīt, nēc pōrtĭtŏr Ōrcī

āmplĭŭs ōbiēctām pāssūs trānsīrĕ pălūdēm.

Quīd făcĕrēt? Quō sē rāptā bīs cōniŭgĕ fērrēt?

Quō flētū Mānēs, quā nūmĭnă vōcĕ mŏvērēt?

Īllă quĭdēm Stўgĭā nābāt iām frīgĭdă cūmbā.

Sēptem īllūm tōtōs pĕrhĭbēnt ēx ōrdĭnĕ mēnsēs

rūpĕ sŭb āĕrĭā dēsērti ād Strŷmŏnĭs ūndām

flēvīsse, ēt gĕlĭdīs haēc ēvŏlŭīssĕ sŭb āntrīs

mūlcēntēm tīgrēs ĕt ăgēntēm cārmĭnĕ quērcūs:

quālīs pōpŭlĕā maērēns phĭlŏmēlă sŭb ūmbrā

āmīssōs quĕrĭtūr fētūs, quōs dūrŭs ărātōr

ōbsērvāns nīdo īmplūmēs dētrāxĭt; ăt īllă

flēt nōctēm, rāmōquĕ sĕdēns mĭsĕrābĭlĕ cārmēn

īntĕgrăt, ēt maēstīs lātē lŏcă quaēstĭbŭs īmplēt.

Nūllă Vĕnūs, nōn ūlli ănĭmūm flēxēre hўmĕnaēī.

Sōlŭs Hўpērbŏrĕās glăcĭēs Tănăīmquĕ nĭvālēm

ārvăquĕ Rīphaēīs nūmquām vĭdŭātă prŭīnīs

lūstrābāt, rāptam Eūrўdĭcēn ātque īrrĭtă Dītīs

dōnă quĕrēns; sprētaē Cĭcŏnūm quō mūnĕrĕ mātrēs

īntēr sācră dĕūm nōctūrnīque ōrgĭă Bācchī

dīscērptūm lātōs iŭvĕnēm spārsērĕ pĕr āgrōs.

Tūm quŏquĕ, mārmŏrĕā căpŭt ā cērvīcĕ rĕvūlsūm

gūrgĭtĕ cūm mĕdĭō pōrtāns Oēāgrĭŭs Hēbrūs

vōlvĕrĕt, Eūrўdĭcēn vōx īpsa ēt frīgĭdă līnguă,

"Ā mĭsĕram Eūrўdĭcēn!" ănĭmā fŭgĭēntĕ vŏcābāt,

Eūrўdĭcēn tōtō rĕfĕrēbānt flūmĭnĕ rīpaē."

Haēc Prōteūs, ēt sē iāctū dĕdĭt aēquŏr ĭn āltūm,

quāquĕ dĕdīt, spūmāntem ūndām sūb vōrtĭcĕ tōrsīt.

Āt nōn Cŷrēnē: nāmque ūltro āffātă tĭmēntēm:

"Nātĕ, lĭcēt trīstēs ănĭmō dēpōnĕrĕ cūrās.

Haēc ōmnīs mōrbī caūsa, hīnc mĭsĕrābĭlĕ Nŷmphaē,

cūm quĭbŭs īllă chŏrōs lūcīs ăgĭtābăt ĭn āltīs,

ēxĭtĭūm mīsēre ăpĭbūs. Tū mūnĕră sūpplēx

tēndĕ pĕtēns pācem, ēt făcĭlēs vĕnĕrārĕ Năpaēās:

nāmquĕ dăbūnt vĕnĭām vōtīs, īrāsquĕ rĕmīttēnt,

sēd mŏdŭs ōrāndī quī sīt, prĭŭs ōrdĭnĕ dīcām.

Quāttŭŏr ēxĭmĭōs praēstāntī cōrpŏrĕ taūrōs,

quī tĭbĭ nūnc vĭrĭdīs dēpāscūnt sūmmă Lўcaēī,

dēlĭge, ĕt īntāctā tŏtĭdēm cērvīcĕ iŭvēncās.

Quāttŭŏr hīs ārās ālta ād dēlūbră dĕārūm

cōnstĭtŭe, ēt sācrūm iŭgŭlīs dēmīttĕ crŭōrēm,

cōrpŏrăque īpsă bŏūm frōndōsō dēsĕrĕ lūcō.

Pōst, ŭbĭ nōnă sŭōs Aūrōra ōstēndĕrĭt ōrtūs,

īnfĕrĭās Ōrphēĭ Lĕthaēă păpāvĕră mīttēs,

ēt nīgrām māctābĭs ŏvēm, lūcūmquĕ rĕvīsēs;

plācātam Eūrўdĭcēn vĭtŭlā vĕnĕrābĕrĕ caēsā."

Haūd mŏră; cōntĭnŭō mātrīs praēcēptă făcēssīt:

ād dēlūbră vĕnīt, mōnstrātās ēxcĭtăt ārās,

quāttŭŏr ēxĭmĭōs praēstāntī cōrpŏrĕ taūrōs

dūcĭt ĕt īntāctā tŏtĭdēm cērvīcĕ iŭvēncās.

Pōst, ŭbĭ nōnă sŭōs Aūrōra īndūxĕrăt ōrtūs,

īnfĕrĭās Ōrpheī mīttīt, lūcūmquĕ rĕvīsīt.

Hīc vērō sŭbĭtum āc dīctū mīrābĭlĕ mōnstrūm

āspĭcĭūnt: lĭquĕfāctă bŏūm pēr vīscĕră tōtō

strīdĕre ăpēs ŭtĕro, ēt rūptīs ēffērvĕrĕ cōstīs,

īmmēnsāsquĕ trăhī nūbēs, iāmque ārbŏrĕ sūmmā

cōnflŭĕre, ēt lēntīs ūvām dēmīttĕrĕ rāmīs.

Haēc sŭpĕr ārvōrūm cūltū pĕcŏrūmquĕ cănēbām

ēt sŭpĕr ārbŏrĭbūs, Caēsār dūm māgnŭs ăd āltūm

fūlmĭnăt Eūphrātēn bēllō, vīctōrquĕ vŏlēntēs

pēr pŏpŭlōs dāt iūră, vĭāmque āffēctăt Ŏlŷmpō.

Īllō Vērgĭlĭūm mē tēmpŏrĕ dūlcĭs ălēbāt

Pārthĕnŏpē stŭdĭīs flōrēntem īgnōbĭlĭs ōtī,

cārmĭnă quī lūsī pāstōrum, aūdāxquĕ iŭvēntā,

Tītўrĕ, tē pătŭlaē cĕcĭnī sūb tēgmĭnĕ fāgī.