Testi della poesia latinaTesti della poesia latinaDūmque ĕă Cēphēnūm mĕdĭō Dănăēĭŭs hērōs
āgmĭnĕ cōmmĕmŏrāt, frĕmĭdā rēgālĭă tūrbā
ātrĭă cōmplēntūr, nēc cōniŭgĭālĭă fēstă
quī cănăt ēst clāmōr, sēd quī fĕră nūntĭĕt ārmă;
īnquĕ rĕpēntīnōs cōnvīvĭă vērsă tŭmūltūs5
āssĭmĭlārĕ frĕtō pōssīs, quōd saēvă quĭētūm
vēntōrūm răbĭēs mōtīs ēxāspĕrăt ūndīs.
Prīmŭs ĭn hīs Phīneūs, bēllī tĕmĕrārĭŭs aūctōr,
frāxĭnĕām quătĭēns aērātaē cūspĭdĭs hāstām:
"Ēn," ăĭt "ēn ādsūm praērēptaē cōniŭgĭs ūltōr;10
nēc mĭhĭ tē pēnnaē, nēc fālsūm vērsŭs ĭn aūrūm
Iūppĭtĕr ērĭpĭēt." Cōnāntī mīttĕrĕ Cēpheūs:
"Quīd făcĭs?" ēxclāmāt, "quaē tē, gērmānĕ, fŭrēntēm
mēns ăgĭt īn făcĭnūs? Mĕrĭtīsne haēc grātĭă tāntīs
rēddĭtŭr? Hāc vītām sērvātaē dōtĕ rĕpēndīs?15
Quām tĭbĭ nōn Pērseūs, vērūm sī quaērĭs, ădēmīt,
sēd grăvĕ Nērĕĭdūm nūmēn, sēd cōrnĭgĕr Āmmōn,
sēd quaē vīscĕrĭbūs vĕnĭēbāt bēlŭă pōntī
ēxsătŭrāndă mĕīs. Īllō tĭbĭ tēmpŏrĕ rāpta ēst,
quō pĕrĭtūră fŭīt; nĭsĭ sī crūdēlĭs ĭd īpsūm20
ēxĭgĭs, ūt pĕrĕāt, lūctūquĕ lĕvābĕrĕ nōstrō.
Scīlĭcĕt haūd sătĭs ēst, quōd tē spēctāntĕ rĕvīncta ēst
ēt nūllām quŏd ŏpēm pătrŭūs spōnsūsvĕ tŭlīstī;
īnsŭpĕr, ā quōquām quōd sīt sērvātă, dŏlēbīs
praēmĭăque ērĭpĭēs? Quaē sī tĭbĭ māgnă vĭdēntūr,25
ēx īllīs scŏpŭlīs, ŭbi ĕrānt āffīxă, pĕtīssēs;
nūnc sĭnĕ quī pĕtĭīt, pēr quem haēc nōn ōrbă sĕnēctūs,
fērrĕ quŏd ēt mĕrĭtīs ēt vōce ēst pāctŭs ĕūmquĕ
nōn tĭbĭ, sēd cērtaē praēlātum īntēllĕgĕ mōrtī."
Īllĕ nĭhīl cōntrā; sĕd ĕt hūnc ēt Pērsĕă vūltū30
āltērnō spēctāns, pĕtăt hūnc, īgnōrăt, ăn īllūm;
cūnctātūsquĕ brĕvī cōntōrtām vīrĭbŭs hāstām,
quāntās īră dăbāt, nēquīquam īn Pērsĕă mīsīt.
Ūt stĕtĭt īllă tŏrō, strātīs tūm dēnĭquĕ Pērseūs
ēxsĭlŭīt tēlōquĕ fĕrōx ĭnĭmīcă rĕmīssō35
pēctŏră rūpīssēt, nĭsĭ pōst āltārĭă Phīneūs
īssĕt; ĕt (īndīgnūm!) scĕlĕrātō prōfŭĭt āră.
Frōntĕ tămēn Rhoētī nōn īrrĭtă cūspĭs ădhaēsīt;
quī pōstquām cĕcĭdīt fērrūmque ēx ōssĕ rĕvūlsum ēst,
cālcĭtrăt ēt pŏsĭtās āspērgīt sānguĭnĕ mēnsās.40
Tūm vēro īndŏmĭtās ārdēscīt vūlgŭs ĭn īrās
tēlăquĕ cōnĭcĭūnt ēt sūnt quī Cēphĕă dīcūnt
cūm gĕnĕrō dēbērĕ mŏrī; sēd līmĭnĕ tēctī
ēxĭĕrāt Cēpheūs, tēstātūs iūsquĕ fĭdēmquĕ
hōspĭtĭīquĕ dĕōs ĕă sē prŏhĭbēntĕ mŏvērī.45
Bēllĭcă Pāllăs ădēst ēt prōtĕgĭt aēgĭdĕ frātrēm
dātque ănĭmōs. Ĕrăt Īndŭs Ăthīs, quēm flūmĭnĕ Gāngĕ
ēdĭtă Līmnaēē vĭtrĕīs pĕpĕrīssĕ sŭb ūndīs
crēdĭtŭr, ēgrĕgĭūs fōrmā, quām dīvĭtĕ cūltū
aūgēbāt, bĭs ădhūc ōctōnīs īntĕgĕr ānnīs,50
īndūtūs chlămўdēm Tўrĭām, quām līmbŭs ŏbībāt
aūrĕŭs; ōrnābānt aūrātă mŏnīlĭă cōllūm
ēt mădĭdōs mūrrā cūrvūm crīnālĕ căpīllōs.
Īllĕ quĭdēm iăcŭlō quāmvīs dīstāntĭă mīssō
fīgĕrĕ dōctŭs ĕrāt, sēd tēndĕrĕ dōctĭŏr ārcūs.55
Tūm quŏquĕ lēntă mănū flēctēntēm cōrnŭă Pērseūs
stīpĭtĕ, quī mĕdĭā pŏsĭtūs fūmābăt ĭn ārā,
pērcŭlĭt ēt frāctīs cōnfūdĭt ĭn ōssĭbŭs ōră.
Hūnc ŭbĭ laūdātōs iāctāntem īn sānguĭnĕ vūltūs
Āssўrĭūs vīdīt Lўcăbās, iūnctīssĭmŭs īllī60
ēt cŏmĕs ēt vērī nōn dīssĭmŭlātŏr ămōrīs,
pōstquam ēxhālāntēm sŭb ăcērbō vūlnĕrĕ vītām
dēplōrāvĭt Ăthīn, quōs īllĕ tĕtēndĕrăt ārcūs
ārrĭpĭt ēt: "Mēcūm tĭbĭ sīnt cērtāmĭnă" dīxīt
"nēc lōngūm pŭĕrī fātō laētābĕrĕ, quō plūs65
īnvĭdĭaē quām laūdĭs hăbēs." Haēc ōmnĭă nōndūm
dīxĕrăt, ēmĭcŭīt nērvō pĕnĕtrābĭlĕ tēlūm
vītātūmquĕ tămēn sĭnŭōsā vēstĕ pĕpēndīt.
Vērtĭt ĭn hūnc hārpēn spēctātām caēdĕ Mĕdūsaē
Ācrĭsĭōnĭădēs ădĕgītque īn pēctŭs; ăt īllĕ70
iām mŏrĭēns, ŏcŭlīs sūb nōctĕ nătāntĭbŭs ātrā,
cīrcūmspēxĭt Ăthīn sēque ācclīnāvĭt ăd īllūm
ēt tŭlĭt ād mānēs iūnctaē sōlācĭă mōrtīs.
Ēccĕ Sўēnītēs, gĕnĭtūs Mētīŏnĕ, Phōrbās
ēt Lĭbўs Āmphĭmĕdōn, ăvĭdī cōmmīttĕrĕ pūgnām,75
sānguĭnĕ, quō lātē tēllūs mădĕfāctă tĕpēbāt,
cōncĭdĕrānt lāpsī; sūrgēntĭbŭs ōbstĭtĭt ēnsīs,
āltĕrĭūs cōstīs, iŭgŭlō Phōrbāntĭs ădāctūs.
Āt nōn Āctŏrĭdēn Ĕrўtūm, cuī lātă bĭpēnnīs
tēlum ĕrăt, hāmātō Pērseūs pĕtĭt ēnsĕ, sĕd āltīs80
ēxstāntēm sīgnīs mūltaēque īn pōndĕrĕ māssaē
īngēntēm mănĭbūs tōllīt crātēră dŭābūs
īnflīgītquĕ vĭrō; rŭtĭlūm vŏmĭt īllĕ crŭōrēm
ēt rĕsŭpīnŭs hŭmūm mŏrĭbūndō vērtĭcĕ pūlsāt.
Īndĕ Sĕmīrămĭō Pŏlўdēgmŏnă sānguĭnĕ crētūm85
Caūcăsĭūmque Ăbărīn Spērchīŏnĭdēnquĕ Lўcētūm
īntōnsūmquĕ cŏmās Hĕlĭcēn Phlĕgўāmquĕ Clўtūmquĕ
stērnĭt ĕt ēxstrūctōs mŏrĭēntūm cālcăt ăcērvōs.
Nēc Phīneūs aūsūs cōncūrrĕrĕ cōmmĭnŭs hōstī
īntōrquēt iăcŭlūm, quōd dētŭlĭt ērrŏr ĭn Īdān,90
ēxpērtēm frūstrā bēlli ēt neūtra ārmă sĕcūtūm.
Īllĕ tŭēns ŏcŭlīs īnmītēm Phīnĕă tōrvīs:
"Quāndŏquĭdem īn pārtēs" ăĭt "ābstrăhŏr, āccĭpĕ, Phīneū,
quēm fēcīsti hōstēm pēnsāque hōc vūlnĕrĕ vūlnūs."
Iāmquĕ rĕmīssūrūs trāctūm dē cōrpŏrĕ tēlūm95
sānguĭnĕ dēfēctōs cĕcĭdīt cōllāpsŭs ĭn ārtūs.
Tūm quŏquĕ Cēphēnūm pōst rēgēm prīmŭs Hŏdītēs
ēnsĕ iăcēt Clўmĕnī; Prōthoēnŏră pērcŭtĭt Hŷpseūs,
Hŷpsĕă Lŷncīdēs. Fŭĭt ēt grāndaēvŭs ĭn īllīs
Ēmāthiōn, aēquī cūltōr tĭmĭdūsquĕ dĕōrūm;100
quī, quŏnĭām prŏhĭbēnt ānnī bēllārĕ, lŏquēndō
pūgnăt ĕt īncēssīt scĕlĕrātăquĕ dēvŏvĕt ārmă.
Huīc Chrŏmĭs āmplēxō trĕmŭlīs āltārĭă pālmīs
dēcŭtĭt ēnsĕ căpūt; quōd prōtĭnŭs īncĭdĭt āraē
ātque ĭbĭ sēmiănĭmī vērba ēxsēcrāntĭă līnguā105
ēdĭdĭt ēt mĕdĭōs ănĭmam ēxspīrāvĭt ĭn īgnēs.
Hīnc gĕmĭnī frātrēs Brŏtĕāsque ēt caēstĭbŭs Āmmōn
īnvīctūs, vīncī sī pōssēnt caēstĭbŭs ēnsēs,
Phīnĕă cēcīdērĕ mănū Cĕrĕrīsquĕ săcērdōs
Āmpўcŭs, ālbēntī vēlātūs tēmpŏră vīttā;110
tū quŏquĕ, Lāmpĕtĭdē, nōn hōs ădhĭbēndŭs ăd ūsūs,
sēd quī, pācĭs ŏpūs, cĭthărām cūm vōcĕ mŏvērēs,
iūssŭs ĕrās cĕlĕbrārĕ dăpēs fēstūmquĕ cănēndō.
Quēm prŏcŭl āstāntēm plēctrūmque īnbēllĕ tĕnēntēm
Pēttălŭs īrrīdēns: "Stўgĭīs cănĕ cētĕră" dīxīt115
"Mānĭbŭs" ēt laēvō mūcrōnēm tēmpŏrĕ fīxīt.
Cōncĭdĭt ēt dĭgĭtīs mŏrĭēntĭbŭs īllĕ rĕtēmptāt
fīlă lўraē cāsūquĕ fŭīt mĭsĕrābĭlĕ cārmēn.
Nēc sĭnĭt hūnc īmpūnĕ fĕrōx cĕcĭdīssĕ Lўcōrmās
rāptăquĕ dē dēxtrō rōbūstă rĕpāgŭlă pōstī120
ōssĭbŭs īllīsīt mĕdĭaē cērvīcĭs; ăt īllĕ
prōcŭbŭīt tērraē māctātī mōrĕ iŭvēncī.
Dēmĕrĕ tēmptābāt laēvī quŏquĕ rōbŏră pōstīs
Cīnўphĭūs Pĕlătēs; tēmptāntī dēxtĕră fīxa ēst
cūspĭdĕ Mārmărĭdaē Cŏrўthī līgnōquĕ cŏhaēsīt.125
Haērēntī lătŭs haūsĭt Ăbās; nēc cōrrŭĭt īllĕ,
sēd rĕtĭnēntĕ mănūm mŏrĭēns ē pōstĕ pĕpēndīt.
Stērnĭtŭr ēt Mĕlăneūs, Pērsēĭă cāstră sĕcūtūs,
ēt Năsămōnĭăcī Dŏrўlās dītīssĭmŭs āgrī,
dīvĕs ăgrī Dŏrўlās, quō nōn pōssēdĕrăt āltēr130
lātĭŭs aūt tŏtĭdēm tōllēbāt tūrĭs ăcērvōs.
Hūĭŭs īn ŏblĭquō mīssūm stĕtĭt īnguĭnĕ fērrūm;
lētĭfĕr īllĕ lŏcūs. Quēm pōstquām vūlnĕrĭs aūctōr
sīngūltāntem ănĭmam ēt vērsāntēm lūmĭnă vīdīt
Bāctrĭŭs Hālcўŏneūs: "Hōc quōd prĕmĭs" īnquĭt "hăbētō135
dē tŏt ăgrīs tērraē" cōrpūsque ēxsānguĕ rĕlīquīt.
Tōrquĕt ĭn hūnc hāstām călĭdō dē vūlnĕrĕ rāptām
ūltŏr Ăbāntĭădēs, mĕdĭā quaē nārĕ rĕcēptā
cērvīce ēxācta ēst īn pārtēsque ēmĭnĕt āmbās;
dūmquĕ mănūm Fōrtūnă iŭvāt, Clўtĭūmquĕ Clănīnquĕ,140
mātrĕ sătōs ūnā, dīvērsō vūlnĕrĕ fūdīt;
nām Clўtĭī pĕr ŭtrūmquĕ grăvī lībrātă lăcērtō
frāxĭnŭs āctă fĕmūr; iăcŭlūm Clănĭs ōrĕ mŏmōrdīt.
Ōccĭdĭt ēt Cĕlădōn Mēndēsĭŭs; ōccĭdĭt Āstreūs,
mātrĕ Pălaēstīnā, dŭbĭō gĕnĭtōrĕ crĕātūs;145
Aēthīōnquĕ săgāx quōndām vēntūră vĭdērĕ,
tūnc ăvĕ dēcēptūs fālsā; rēgīsquĕ Thŏāctēs
ārmĭgĕr ēt caēsō gĕnĭtōre īnfāmĭs Ăgŷrtēs.
Plūs tămĕn ēxhaūstō sŭpĕrēst; nāmque ōmnĭbŭs ūnūm
ōpprĭmĕre ēst ănĭmūs; cōniūrāta ūndĭquĕ pūgnānt150
āgmĭnă prō caūsā mĕrĭtum īnpūgnāntĕ fĭdēmquĕ.
Hāc prō pārtĕ sŏcēr frūstrā pĭŭs ēt nŏvă cōniūnx
cūm gĕnĭtrīcĕ făvēnt ŭlŭlātūque ātrĭă cōmplēnt;
sēd sŏnŭs ārmōrūm sŭpĕrāt gĕmĭtūsquĕ cădēntūm
pōllūtōsquĕ sĭmūl mūltō Bēllōnă pĕnātēs155
sānguĭnĕ pērfūndīt rĕnŏvātăquĕ proēlĭă mīscēt.
Cīrcŭmĕūnt ūnūm Phīneūs ēt mīllĕ sĕcūtī
Phīnĕă; tēlă vŏlānt hībērnā grāndĭnĕ plūră
praētĕr ŭtrūmquĕ lătūs praētērque ēt lūmĕn ĕt aūrēs.
Āpplĭcăt hīc ŭmĕrōs ād māgnaē sāxă cŏlūmnaē160
tūtăquĕ tērgă gĕrēns ādvērsăque ĭn āgmĭnă vērsūs
sūstĭnĕt īnstāntēs; īnstābāt pārtĕ sĭnīstrā
Chāŏnĭūs Mōlpeūs, dēxtrā Năbătaēŭs Ĕchēmmōn.
Tīgrĭs ŭt, aūdītīs dīvērsā vāllĕ dŭōrūm
ēxstĭmŭlātă fămē mūgītĭbŭs ārmēntōrūm,165
nēscĭt ŭtrō pŏtĭūs rŭăt ēt rŭĕre ārdĕt ŭtrōquĕ;
sīc dŭbĭūs Pērseūs, dēxtrā laēvānĕ fĕrātūr,
Mōlpĕă trāiēctī sūbmōvīt vūlnĕrĕ crūrīs,
cōntēntūsquĕ fŭga ēst; nĕque ĕnīm dāt tēmpŭs Ĕchēmmōn,
sēd fŭrĭt ēt, cŭpĭēns āltō dărĕ vūlnĕră cōllō,170
nōn cīrcūmspēctīs ēxāctūm vīrĭbŭs ēnsēm
frēgĭt ĕt ēxtrēmā pērcūssaē pārtĕ cŏlūmnaē
lāmĭnă dīssīlvīt dŏmĭnīque īn gūttŭrĕ fīxa ēst.
Nōn tămĕn ād lētūm caūsās sătĭs īllă vălēntēs
plāgă dĕdīt; trĕpĭdūm Pērseūs ĕt ĭnērtĭă frūstrā175
brācchĭă tēndēntēm Cŷllēnĭdĕ cōnfŏdĭt hārpĕ.
Vērum ŭbĭ vīrtūtēm tūrbaē sūccūmbĕrĕ vīdīt:
"Aūxĭlĭūm," Pērseūs "quŏnĭām sīc cōgĭtĭs īpsī,"
dīxĭt "ăb hōstĕ pĕtām. Vūltūs āvērtĭtĕ vēstrōs,
sīquĭs ămīcŭs ădēst;" ēt Gōrgŏnĭs ēxtŭlĭt ōră.180
"Quaēre ălĭūm, tŭă quēm mŏvĕānt mīrācŭlă," dīxīt
Thēscĕlŭs; ūtquĕ mănū iăcŭlūm fātālĕ părābāt
mīttĕre, ĭn hōc haēsīt sīgnūm dē mārmŏrĕ gēstū.
Prōxĭmŭs huīc Āmpŷx ănĭmī plēnīssĭmă māgnī
pēctŏră Lŷncīdaē glădĭō pĕtĭt; īnquĕ pĕtēndō185
dēxtĕră dērĭgŭīt nēc cītrā mōtă nĕc ūltra ēst.
Āt Nīleūs, quī sē gĕnĭtūm sēptēmplĭcĕ Nīlō
ēmēntītŭs ĕrāt, clĭpĕō quŏquĕ flūmĭnă sēptēm
ārgēntō pārtīm, pārtīm caēlāvĕrăt aūrō:
"Āspĭce," ăīt "Pērseū, nōstraē prīmōrdĭă gēntīs;190
māgnă fĕrēs tăcĭtās sōlācĭă mōrtĭs ăd ūmbrās
ā tāntō cĕcĭdīssĕ vĭrō." Pārs ūltĭmă vōcīs
īn mĕdĭō sūpprēssă sŏno ēst ădăpērtăquĕ vēllĕ
ōră lŏquī crēdās, nēc sūnt ĕă pērvĭă vērbīs.
Īncrĕpăt hōs: "Vĭtĭō"que "ănĭmī, nōn vīrĭbŭs" īnquīt195
"Gōrgŏnĕīs tōrpētĭs," Ĕrŷx "īncūrrĭtĕ mēcūm
ēt prōstērnĭte hŭmī iŭvĕnēm măgĭca ārmă mŏvēntēm."
Īncūrsūrŭs ĕrāt; tĕnŭīt vēstīgĭă tēllūs
īmmōtūsquĕ sĭlēx ārmātăquĕ mānsĭt ĭmāgŏ.
Hī tămĕn ēx mĕrĭtō poēnās sŭbĭērĕ; sĕd ūnūs200
mīlĕs ĕrāt Pērseī, prō quō dūm pūgnăt, Ăcōnteūs,
Gōrgŏnĕ cōnspēctā sāxō cōncrēvĭt ŏbōrtō.
Quēm rătŭs Āstўăgēs ĕtĭāmnūm vīvĕrĕ, lōngō
ēnsĕ fĕrīt; sōnvīt tīnnītĭbŭs ēnsĭs ăcūtīs.
Dūm stŭpĕt Āstўăgēs, nātūrām trāxĭt ĕāndēm205
mārmŏrĕōquĕ mănēt vūltūs mīrāntĭs ĭn ōrĕ.
Nōmĭnă lōngă mŏra ēst mĕdĭā dē plēbĕ vĭrōrūm
dīcĕrĕ; bīs cēntūm rēstābānt cōrpŏră pūgnaē,
Gōrgŏnĕ bīs cēntūm rĭgŭērūnt cōrpŏră vīsā.
Paēnĭtĕt īniūstī tūm dēnĭquĕ Phīnĕă bēllī;210
sēd quĭd ăgāt? Sĭmŭlācră vĭdēt dīvērsă fĭgūrīs
āgnōscītquĕ sŭōs ēt nōmĭnĕ quēmquĕ vŏcātūm
pōscĭt ŏpēm crēdēnsquĕ părūm sĭbĭ prōxĭmă tāngīt
cōrpŏră; mārmŏr ĕrānt; āvērtĭtŭr ātque ĭtă sūpplēx
cōnfōssāsquĕ mănūs ōblīquăquĕ brācchĭă tēndēns:215
"Uīncĭs" ăīt "Pērseū; rĕmŏvē tŭă mōnstră tŭaēquĕ
sāxĭfĭcōs vūltūs, quaēcūmque ĕă, tōllĕ Mĕdūsaē;
tōllĕ, prĕcōr. Nōn nōs ŏdĭūm rēgnīquĕ cŭpīdŏ
cōmpŭlĭt ād bēllūm; prō cōniŭgĕ mōvĭmŭs ārmă.
Caūsă fŭīt mĕrĭtīs mĕlĭōr tŭă, tēmpŏrĕ nōstră.220
Nōn cēssīssĕ pĭgēt. Nĭhĭl, ō fōrtīssĭmĕ, praētēr
hānc ănĭmām cōncēdĕ mĭhī; tŭă cētĕră sūntō."
Tālĭă dīcēntī nĕque ĕūm quēm vōcĕ rŏgābāt
rēspĭcĕre aūdēntī: "Quŏd," ăīt "tĭmĭdīssĭmĕ Phīneū,
ēt pōssūm trĭbŭīsse ēt māgnum ēst mūnŭs ĭnērtī225
(pōnĕ mĕtūm) trĭbŭām; nūllō vĭŏlābĕrĕ fērrō.
Quīn ĕtĭām mānsūră dăbō mŏnĭmēntă pĕr aēvūm
īnquĕ dŏmō sŏcĕrī sēmpēr spēctābĕrĕ nōstrī,
ūt mĕă sē spōnsī sōlētŭr ĭmāgĭnĕ cōniūnx."
Dīxĭt ĕt īn pārtēm Phōrcŷnĭdă trānstŭlĭt īllām230
ād quām sē trĕpĭdō Phīneūs ōbvērtĕrăt ōrĕ.
Tūm quŏquĕ cōnāntī sŭă vērtĕrĕ lūmĭnă cērvīx
dērĭgŭīt sāxōque ŏcŭlōrum īndūrŭĭt ūmōr;
sēd tămĕn ōs tĭmĭdūm vūltūsque īn mārmŏrĕ sūpplēx
sūmmīssaēquĕ mănūs făcĭēsque ōbnōxĭă mānsīt.235
Vīctŏr Ăbāntĭădēs pătrĭōs cūm cōniŭgĕ mūrōs
īntrăt ĕt īnmĕrĭtī vīndēx ūltōrquĕ părēntīs
āggrĕdĭtūr Proētūm; nām, frātrĕ pĕr ārmă fŭgātō,
Ācrĭsĭōnēās Proētūs pōssēdĕrăt ārcēs.
Sēd nĕc ŏpe ārmōrūm, nēc, quām mălĕ cēpĕrăt, ārcĕ240
tōrvă cŏlūbrĭfĕrī sŭpĕrāvīt lūmĭnă mōnstrī.
Tē tămĕn, ō pārvaē rēctōr, Pŏlўdēctă, Sĕrīphī,
nēc iŭvĕnīs vīrtūs pēr tōt spēctātă lăbōrēs
nēc mălă mōllĭĕrānt; sĕd ĭnēxōrābĭlĕ dūrūs
ēxērcēs ŏdĭūm, nĕc ĭnīquā fīnĭs ĭn īra ēst.245
Dētrēctās ĕtĭām laūdēm fīctāmquĕ Mĕdūsaē
ārgŭĭs ēssĕ nĕcēm. "Dăbĭmūs tĭbĭ pīgnĕră vērī.
Pārcĭtĕ lūmĭnĭbūs" Pērseūs ăĭt ōrăquĕ rēgīs
ōrĕ Mĕdūsaēō sĭlĭcēm sĭnĕ sānguĭnĕ fēcīt.
Hāctĕnŭs aūrĭgĕnaē cŏmĭtēm Trītōnĭă frātrī250
sē dĕdĭt; īndĕ căvā cīrcūmdătă nūbĕ Sĕrīphōn
dēsĕrĭt, ā dēxtrā Cŷthnō Gўărōquĕ rĕlīctīs,
quāquĕ sŭpēr pōntūm vĭă vīsă brĕvīssĭmă, Thēbās
vīrgĭnĕūmque Hĕlĭcōnă pĕtīt. Quō mōntĕ pŏtītă
cōnstĭtĭt ēt dōctās sīc ēst ēffātă sŏrōrēs:255
"Fāmă nŏvī fōntīs nōstrās pērvēnĭt ăd aūrēs,
dūră Mĕdūsaēī quēm praēpĕtĭs ūngŭlă rūpīt.
Īs mĭhĭ caūsă vĭaē; vŏlŭī mīrābĭlĕ fāctūm
cērnĕrĕ; vīdi īpsūm mātērnō sānguĭnĕ nāscī."
Ēxcĭpĭt Ūrănĭē: "Quaēcūmque ēst caūsă vĭdēndī260
hās tĭbĭ, dīvă, dŏmōs, ănĭmō grātīssĭmă nōstro ēst.
Vēră tămēn fāma ēst ēt Pēgăsŭs hūiŭs ŏrīgŏ
fōntĭs;" ĕt ād lătĭcēs dēdūxīt Pāllădă sācrōs.
Quaē mīrātă dĭū fāctās pĕdĭs īctĭbŭs ūndās,
sīlvārūm lūcīs cīrcūmspĭcĭt āntīquārūm265
āntrăque ĕt īnnŭmĕrīs dīstīnctās flōrĭbŭs hērbās
fēlīcēsquĕ vŏcāt părĭtēr stŭdĭōquĕ lŏcōquĕ
Mnēmŏnĭdās. Quām sīc āffāta ēst ūnă sŏrōrūm:
"Ō, nĭsĭ tē vīrtūs ŏpĕra ād māiōră tŭlīssēt,
īn pārtēm vēntūră chŏrī Trītōnĭă nōstrī,270
vēră rĕfērs mĕrĭtōquĕ prŏbās ārtēmquĕ lŏcūmquĕ;
ēt grātām sōrtēm, tūtaē mŏdŏ sīmŭs, hăbēmūs.
Sēd (vĕtĭtum ēst ădĕō scĕlĕrī nĭhĭl) ōmnĭă tērrēnt
vīrgĭnĕās mēntēs dīrūsque ānte ōră Pўrēneūs
vērtĭtŭr ēt nōndūm tōtā mē mēntĕ rĕcēpī.275
Daūlĭdă Thrēĭcĭō Phōcēăquĕ mīlĭtĕ rūră
cēpĕrăt īllĕ fĕrōx ĭnĭūstăquĕ rēgnă tĕnēbāt.
Tēmplă pĕtēbāmūs Pārnāsĭă; vīdĭt ĕūntēs
nōstrăquĕ fāllācī vĕnĕrātūs nūmĭnă vūltū:
"Mnēmŏnĭdēs," (cōgnōrăt ĕnīm) "cōnsīstĭtĕ" dīxīt280
"nēc dŭbĭtātĕ, prĕcōr, tēctō grăvĕ sīdŭs ĕt īmbrēm"
(īmbĕr ĕrāt) "vītārĕ mĕō; sŭbĭērĕ mĭnōrēs
saēpĕ căsās sŭpĕrī." Dīctīs ēt tēmpŏrĕ mōtaē
ānnŭĭmūsquĕ vĭrō prīmāsque īntrāvĭmŭs aēdēs.
Dēsĭĕrānt īmbrēs vīctōque Ăquĭlōnĭbŭs Aūstrō285
fūscă rĕpūrgātō fŭgĭēbānt nūbĭlă caēlō.
Īmpĕtŭs īrĕ fŭīt; claūdīt sŭă tēctă Pўrēneūs
vīmquĕ părāt, quām nōs sūmptīs ēffūgĭmŭs ālīs.
Īpsĕ sĕcūtūrō sĭmĭlīs stĕtĭt ārdŭŭs ārcĕ,
"Quā"quĕ "vĭa ēst vōbīs, ĕrĭt ēt mĭhĭ" dīxĭt "ĕādēm;"290
sēquĕ iăcīt vēcōrs ē sūmmō cūlmĭnĕ tūrrīs
ēt cădĭt īn vūltūs dīscūssīsque ōssĭbŭs ōrīs
tūndĭt hŭmūm mŏrĭēns scĕlĕrātō sānguĭnĕ tīnctām."
Mūsă lŏquēbātūr; pēnnaē sŏnŭērĕ pĕr aūrās
vōxquĕ sălūtāntūm rāmīs vĕnĭēbăt ăb āltīs.295
Sūspĭcĭt ēt līnguaē quaērīt tām cērtă lŏquēntīs
ūndĕ sŏnēnt hŏmĭnēmquĕ pŭtāt Iŏvĕ nātă lŏcūtūm.
Ālĕs ĕrāt; nŭmĕrōquĕ nŏvēm, sŭă fātă quĕrēntēs,
īnstĭtĕrānt rāmīs ĭmĭtāntēs ōmnĭă pīcaē.
Mīrāntī sīc ōrsă dĕaē dĕă: "Nūpĕr ĕt īstaē300
aūxērūnt vŏlŭcrūm vīctaē cērtāmĭnĕ tūrbām.
Pīĕrŏs hās gĕnŭīt Pēllaēīs dīvĕs ĭn ārvīs,
Paēŏnĭs Eūīppē mātēr fŭĭt; īllă pŏtēntēm
Lūcīnām nŏvĭēs, nŏvĭēs părĭtūră, vŏcāvīt.
Īntŭmŭīt nŭmĕrō stŏlĭdārūm tūrbă sŏrōrūm305
pērquĕ tŏt Haēmŏnĭās ēt pēr tŏt Ăchāĭdăs ūrbēs
hūc vĕnĭt ēt tālī cōmmīttīt proēlĭă vōcĕ:
"Dēsĭnĭte īndōctūm vānā dūlcēdĭnĕ vūlgūs
fāllĕrĕ; nōbīscūm, sī qua ēst fīdūcĭă vōbīs,
Thēspĭădēs, cērtātĕ, dĕaē. Nēc vōcĕ nĕc ārtĕ310
vīncēmūr tŏtĭdēmquĕ sŭmūs; vēl cēdĭtĕ vīctaē
fōntĕ Mĕdūsaēō | ĕt Hўāntēā | Ăgănīppē,
vēl nōs Ēmăthĭīs ād Paēŏnăs ūsquĕ nĭvōsōs
cēdēmūs cāmpīs. Dĭrĭmānt cērtāmĭnă nŷmphaē."
Tūrpĕ quĭdēm cōntēndĕre ĕrāt, sēd cēdĕrĕ vīsūm315
tūrpĭŭs; ēlēctaē iūrānt pēr flūmĭnă nŷmphaē;
fāctăquĕ dē vīvō prēssērĕ sĕdīlĭă sāxō.
Tūnc sĭnĕ sōrtĕ prĭōr quaē sē cērtārĕ prŏfēssa ēst
bēllă cănīt sŭpĕrūm fālsōque ĭn hŏnōrĕ Gĭgāntās
pōnĭt ĕt ēxtĕnŭāt māgnōrūm fāctă dĕōrūm;320
ēmīssūmque īmā dē sēdĕ Tўphōĕă tērraē
caēlĭtĭbūs fēcīssĕ mĕtūm cūnctōsquĕ dĕdīssĕ
tērgă fŭgaē, dōnēc fēssōs Aēgŷptĭă tēllūs
cēpĕrĭt ēt sēptēm dīscrētŭs ĭn ōstĭă Nīlūs.
Hūc quŏquĕ tērrĭgĕnām vēnīssĕ Tўphōĕă nārrāt325
ēt sē mēntītīs sŭpĕrōs cēlāssĕ fĭgūrīs:
"Dūxquĕ grĕgīs" dīxīt "fīt Iūppĭtĕr, ūndĕ rĕcūrvīs
nūnc quŏquĕ fōrmātūs Lĭbўs ēst cūm cōrnĭbŭs Āmmōn;
Dēlĭŭs īn cōrvo ēst; prōlēs Sĕmĕlēĭă cāprō,
fēlĕ sŏrōr Phoēbī, nĭvĕā Sātūrnĭă vāccā,330
pīscĕ Vĕnūs lătŭīt, Cŷllēnĭŭs ībĭdĭs ālīs."
Hāctĕnŭs ād cĭthărām vōcālĭă mōvĕrăt ōră;
pōscĭmŭr Āŏnĭdēs; sēd fōrsĭtăn ōtĭă nōn sīnt
nēc nōstrīs praēbērĕ văcēt tĭbĭ cāntĭbŭs aūrēs."
"Nē dŭbĭtā vēstrūmquĕ mĭhī rĕfĕr ōrdĭnĕ cārmēn,"335
Pāllăs ăīt nĕmŏrīsquĕ lĕvī cōnsēdĭt ĭn ūmbrā.
Mūsă rĕfērt: "Dĕdĭmūs sūmmām cērtāmĭnĭs ūnī;
sūrgĭt ĕt īnmīssōs hĕdĕrā cōllēctă căpīllōs
Cāllĭŏpē quĕrŭlās praētēmptāt pōllĭcĕ chōrdās
ātque haēc pērcūssīs sūbiūngīt cārmĭnă nērvīs:340
"Prīmă Cĕrēs ūncō glaēbām dīmōvĭt ărātrō,
prīmă dĕdīt frūgēs ălĭmēntăquĕ mītĭă tērrīs,
prīmă dĕdīt lēgēs; Cĕrĕrīs sūnt ōmnĭă mūnūs;
īllă cănēndă mĭhi ēst; ŭtĭnām mŏdŏ dīcĕrĕ pōssīm
cārmĭnă dīgnă dĕā! Cērtē dĕă cārmĭnĕ dīgna ēst.345
Vāstă Gĭgāntēīs īngēsta ēst īnsŭlă mēmbrīs
Trīnăcrĭs ēt māgnīs sūbiēctūm mōlĭbŭs ūrgēt
Aēthĕrĭās aūsūm spērārĕ Tўphōĕă sēdēs.
Nītĭtŭr īllĕ quĭdēm pūgnātquĕ rĕsūrgĕrĕ saēpĕ;
dēxtră sĕd Aūsŏnĭō mănŭs ēst sūbiēctă Pĕlōrō,350
laēvă, Păchŷnĕ, tĭbī; Lĭlўbaēō crūră prĕmūntūr,
dēgrăvăt Aētnă căpūt, sūb quā rĕsŭpīnŭs hărēnās
ēiēctāt flāmmāmquĕ fĕrōx vŏmĭt ōrĕ Tўphōeūs.
Saēpĕ rĕmōlīrī lūctātūr pōndĕră tērraē
ōppĭdăque ēt māgnōs dēvōlvĕrĕ cōrpŏrĕ mōntēs;355
īndĕ trĕmīt tēllūs ēt rēx păvĕt īpsĕ sĭlēntūm.
Nē pătĕāt lātōquĕ sŏlūm rĕtĕgātŭr hĭātū
īmmīssūsquĕ dĭēs trĕpĭdāntēs tērrĕăt ūmbrās.
Hānc mĕtŭēns clādēm tĕnĕbrōsā sēdĕ tўrānnūs
ēxĭĕrāt cūrrūque ātrōrūm vēctŭs ĕquōrūm360
āmbībāt Sĭcŭlaē caūtūs fūndāmĭnă tērraē.
Pōstquam ēxplōrātūm sătĭs ēst lŏcă nūllă lăbārĕ
dēpŏsĭtōquĕ mĕtū, vĭdĕt hūnc Ĕrўcīnă văgāntēm
mōntĕ sŭō rĕsĭdēns nātūmque āmplēxă vŏlūcrēm
"ārmă mănūsquĕ mĕaē, mĕă, nātĕ, pŏtēntĭă," dīxīt365
"īllă, quĭbūs sŭpĕrās ōmnēs, căpĕ tēlă, Cŭpīdŏ.
Īnquĕ dĕī pēctūs cĕlĕrēs mōlīrĕ săgīttās,
cuī trĭplĭcīs cēssīt fōrtūnă nŏvīssĭmă rēgnī.
Tū sŭpĕrōs īpsūmquĕ Iŏvēm, tū nūmĭnă pōntī
vīctă dŏmās īpsūmquĕ rĕgīt quī nūmĭnă pōntī;370
Tārtără quīd cēssānt? Cūr nōn mātrīsquĕ tŭūmquĕ
īmpĕrĭūm prōfērs? Ăgĭtūr pārs tērtĭă mūndī.
Ēt tămĕn īn caēlō, quaē iām pătĭēntĭă nōstra ēst,
spērnĭmŭr āc mēcūm vīrēs mĭnŭūntŭr Ămōrīs.
Pāllădă nōnnĕ vĭdēs iăcŭlātrīcēmquĕ Dĭānām375
ābscēssīssĕ mĭhī? Cĕrĕrīs quŏquĕ fīlĭă vīrgŏ,
sī pătĭēmŭr, ĕrīt; nām spēs āffēctăt ĕāsdēm.
Āt tū prō sŏcĭō, sīqua ēst ĕă grātĭă, rēgnō
iūngĕ dĕām pătrŭō." Dīxīt Vĕnŭs; īllĕ phărētrām
sōlvĭt ĕt ārbĭtrĭō mātrīs dē mīllĕ săgīttīs380
ūnām sēpŏsŭīt, sēd quā nĕc ăcūtĭŏr ūllă
nēc mĭnŭs īncērta ēst nēc quaē măgĭs aūdĭăt ārcūm;
ōppŏsĭtōquĕ gĕnū cūrvāvīt flēxĭlĕ cōrnūm
īnquĕ cŏr hāmātā pērcūssĭt hărūndĭnĕ Dītēm.
Haūd prŏcŭl Hēnnaēīs lăcŭs ēst ā moēnĭbŭs āltaē,385
nōmĭnĕ pērgŭs, ăquaē; nōn īllō plūră Căŷstrōs
cārmĭnă cŷgnōrūm lābēntĭbŭs aūdĭt ĭn ūndīs.
Sīlvă cŏrōnăt ăquās cīngēns lătŭs ōmnĕ sŭīsquĕ
frōndĭbŭs ēt vēlō Phoēbēōs sūmmŏvĕt īgnēs.
Frīgŏră dānt rāmī, Tўrĭōs hŭmŭs ūmĭdă flōrēs;390
pērpĕtŭūm vēr ēst. Quō dūm Prōsērpĭnă lūcō
lūdĭt ĕt aūt vĭŏlās aūt cāndĭdă līlĭă cārpīt
dūmquĕ pŭēllārī stŭdĭō călăthōsquĕ sĭnūmquĕ
īmplĕt ĕt aēquālēs cērtāt sŭpĕrārĕ lĕgēndō,
paēnĕ sĭmūl vīsa ēst dīlēctăquĕ rāptăquĕ Dītī;395
ūsque ădĕo ēst prŏpĕrātŭs ămōr. Dĕă tērrĭtă maēstō
ēt mātrem ēt cŏmĭtēs, sēd mātrēm saēpĭŭs, ōrĕ
clāmăt; ĕt, ūt sūmmā vēstēm lănĭārăt ăb ōrā,
cōllēctī flōrēs tŭnĭcīs cĕcĭdērĕ rĕmīssīs;
tāntăquĕ sīmplĭcĭtās pŭĕrīlĭbŭs ādfŭĭt ānnīs,400
haēc quŏquĕ vīrgīneūm mōnvīt iāctūră dŏlōrēm.
Rāptŏr ăgīt cūrrūs ēt nōmĭnĕ quēmquĕ vŏcāndō
ēxhōrtātŭr ĕquōs, quōrūm pēr cōllă iŭbāsquĕ
ēxcŭtĭt ōbscūrā tīnctās fērrūgĭne hăbēnās;
pērquĕ lăcūs āltōs ĕt ŏlēntĭă sūlphŭrĕ fērtūr405
stāgnă Pălīcōrūm, rūptā fērvēntĭă tērrā,
ēt quā Bācchĭădaē, bĭmărī gēns ōrtă Cŏrīnthō,
īntĕr ĭnaēquālēs pŏsŭērūnt moēnĭă pōrtūs.
Ēst mĕdĭūm Cўănēs ēt Pīsaēaē | Ărĕthūsaē
quōd cŏĭt āngūstīs īnclūsūm cōrnĭbŭs aēquōr.410
Hīc fŭĭt, ā cūiūs stāgnūm quŏquĕ nōmĭnĕ dīctum ēst,
īntēr Sīcĕlĭdās Cўănē cĕlĕbērrĭmă nŷmphās.
Gūrgĭtĕ quaē mĕdĭō sūmmā tĕnŭs ēxstĭtĭt ālvō
ādgnōvītquĕ dĕām: "Nēc lōngĭŭs ībĭtĭs;" īnquīt
"nōn pŏtĕs īnvītaē Cĕrĕrīs gĕnĕr ēssĕ; rŏgāndă,415
nōn răpĭēndă fŭīt. Quōdsī cōmpōnĕrĕ māgnīs
pārvă mĭhī fās ēst, ēt mē dīlēxĭt Ănāpīs;
ēxōrātă tămēn, nĕc, ŭt haēc, ēxtērrĭtă nūpsī."
Dīxĭt ĕt īn pārtēs dīvērsās brācchĭă tēndēns
ōbstĭtĭt; haūd ūltrā tĕnŭīt Sātūrnĭŭs īrām,420
tērrĭbĭlīsque hōrtātŭs ĕquōs īn gūrgĭtĭs īmă
cōntōrtūm vălĭdō scēptrūm rēgālĕ lăcērtō
cōndĭdĭt; īctă vĭām tēllūs īn Tārtără fēcīt
ēt prōnōs cūrrūs mĕdĭō crātērĕ rĕcēpīt.
Āt Cўănē, rāptāmquĕ dĕām cōntēmptăquĕ fōntīs425
iūră sŭī maērēns, īncōnsōlābĭlĕ vūlnūs
mēntĕ gĕrīt tăcĭtā lăcrĭmīsque ābsūmĭtŭr ōmnīs
ēt quārūm fŭĕrāt māgnūm mŏdŏ nūmĕn, ĭn īllās
ēxtĕnŭātŭr ăquās. Mōllīrī mēmbră vĭdērēs,
ōssă pătī flēxūs, ūnguēs pŏsŭīssĕ rĭgōrēm;430
prīmăquĕ dē tōtā tĕnŭīssĭmă quaēquĕ lĭquēscūnt,
caērŭlĕī crīnēs dĭgĭtīque ēt crūră pĕdēsquĕ;
nām brĕvĭs īn gĕlĭdās mēmbrīs ēxīlĭbŭs ūndās
trānsĭtŭs ēst; pōst haēc ŭmĕrī tērgūsquĕ lătūsquĕ
pēctŏrăque īn tĕnŭēs ăbĕūnt ēvānĭdă rīvōs;435
dēnĭquĕ prō vīvō vĭtĭātās sānguĭnĕ vēnās
lŷmphă sŭbīt rēstātquĕ nĭhīl quōd prēndĕrĕ pōssīs.
Īntĕrĕā păvĭdaē nēquīquām fīlĭă mātrī
ōmnĭbŭs ēst tērrīs, ōmnī quaēsītă prŏfūndō.
Īllām nōn ūdīs vĕnĭēns Aūrōră căpīllīs440
cēssāntēm vīdīt, nōn Hēspĕrŭs. Īllă dŭābūs
flāmmĭfĕrās pīnūs mănĭbūs sūccēndĭt ĭn Aētnā
pērquĕ prŭīnōsās tŭlĭt īnrĕquĭētă tĕnēbrās;
rūrsŭs ŭbi ālmă dĭēs hĕbĕtārāt sīdĕră, nātām
sōlĭs ăb ōccāsū sōlīs quaērēbăt ăd ōrtūs.445
Fēssă lăbōrĕ sĭtīm cōncēpĕrăt ōrăquĕ nūllī
cōllŭĕrānt fōntēs, cūm tēctām strāmĭnĕ vīdīt
fōrtĕ căsām pārvāsquĕ fŏrēs pūlsāvĭt; ăt īndĕ
prōdĭt ănūs dīvāmquĕ vĭdēt lŷmphāmquĕ rŏgāntī
dūlcĕ dĕdīt, tōstā quōd tēxĕrăt āntĕ pŏlēntā.450
Dūm bĭbĭt īllă dătūm, dūrī pŭĕr ōrĭs ĕt aūdāx
cōnstĭtĭt āntĕ dĕām rīsītque ăvĭdāmquĕ vŏcāvīt.
Ōffēnsa ēst nĕque ădhūc ēpōtā pārtĕ lŏquēntĕ
cūm lĭquĭdō mīxtā pērfūdīt dīvă pŏlēntā.
Cōmbĭbĭt ōs măcŭlās ēt, quaē mŏdŏ brācchĭă gēssīt,455
crūră gĕrīt; caūda ēst mūtātīs āddĭtă mēmbrīs;
īnquĕ brĕvēm fōrmām, nē sīt vīs māgnă nŏcēndī,
cōntrăhĭtūr pārvāquĕ mĭnōr mēnsūră lăcērta ēst.
Mīrāntēm flēntēmque ēt tāngĕrĕ mōnstră părāntēm
fūgĭt ănūm lătĕbrāmquĕ pĕtīt; āptūmquĕ cŏlōrī460
nōmĕn hăbēt, vărĭīs stēllātūs cōrpŏră gūttīs.
Quās dĕă pēr tērrās ēt quās ērrāvĕrĭt ūndās,
dīcĕrĕ lōngă mŏra ēst; quērēntī dēfŭĭt ōrbīs.
Sīcănĭām rĕpĕtīt; dūmque ōmnĭă lūstrăt ĕūndō,
vēnĭt ĕt ād Cўănēn. Ĕă nī mūtātă fŭīssēt,465
ōmnĭă nārrāssēt; sĕd ĕt ōs ēt līnguă vŏlēntī
dīcĕrĕ nōn ădĕrānt, nēc quā lŏquĕrētŭr hăbēbāt.
Sīgnă tămēn mănĭfēstă dĕdīt nōtāmquĕ părēntī
īllō fōrtĕ lŏcō dēlāpsam īn gūrgĭtĕ sācrō
Pērsĕphŏnēs zōnām sūmmīs ōstēndĭt ĭn ūndīs.470
Quām sĭmŭl āgnōvīt, tāmquām tūnc dēnĭquĕ rāptām
scīssĕt, ĭnōrnātōs lănĭāvīt dīvă căpīllōs
ēt rĕpĕtītă sŭīs pērcūssīt pēctŏră pālmīs.
Nēscĭt ădhūc ŭbĭ sīt; tērrās tămĕn īncrĕpăt ōmnēs
īngrātāsquĕ vŏcāt nēc frūgūm mūnĕrĕ dīgnās,475
Trīnăcrĭam ānte ălĭās, īn quā vēstīgĭă dāmnī
rēppĕrĭt. Ērgo īllīc saēvā vērtēntĭă glaēbās
frēgĭt ărātră mănū părĭtērque īrātă cŏlōnōs
rūrĭcŏlāsquĕ bŏvēs lētō dĕdĭt ārvăquĕ iūssīt
fāllĕrĕ dēpŏsĭtūm vĭtĭātăquĕ sēmĭnă fēcīt.480
Fērtĭlĭtās tērraē lātūm vūlgātă pĕr ōrbēm
fālsă iăcēt; prīmīs sĕgĕtēs mŏrĭūntŭr ĭn hērbīs
ēt mŏdŏ sōl nĭmĭūs, nĭmĭūs mŏdŏ cōrrĭpĭt īmbēr,
sīdĕrăquē vēntīquĕ nŏcēnt ăvĭdaēquĕ vŏlūcrēs
sēmĭnă iāctă lĕgūnt; lŏlĭūm trĭbŭlīquĕ fătīgānt485
trītĭcĕās mēssēs ĕt ĭnēxpūgnābĭlĕ grāmēn.
Tūm căpŭt Ēlēīs Ālphēĭăs ēxtŭlĭt ūndīs
rōrāntēsquĕ cŏmās ā frōntĕ rĕmōvĭt ăd aūrēs
ātque ăĭt: "Ō tōtō quaēsītaē vīrgĭnĭs ōrbĕ
ēt frūgūm gĕnĕtrīx, īnmēnsōs sīstĕ lăbōrēs,490
nēvĕ tĭbī fīdaē vĭŏlēnta īrāscĕrĕ tērraē.
Tērră nĭhīl mērvīt pătŭītque īnvītă răpīnaē.
Nēc sūm prō pătrĭā sūpplēx; hūc hōspĭtă vēnī;
Pīsă mĭhī pătrĭa ēst ĕt ăb Ēlĭdĕ dūcĭmŭs ōrtūs;
Sīcănĭām pĕrĕgrīnă cŏlō; sēd grātĭŏr ōmnī495
haēc mĭhĭ tērră sŏlo ēst; hōs nūnc Ărĕthūsă pĕnātēs,
hānc hăbĕō sēdēm; quēm tū, mītīssĭmă, sērvā.
Mōtă lŏcō cūr sīm tāntīquĕ pĕr aēquŏrĭs ūndās
ādvĕhăr Ōrtўgĭām, vĕnĭēt nārrātĭbŭs hōră
tēmpēstīvă mĕīs, cūm tū cūrāquĕ lĕvātā500
ēt vūltūs mĕlĭōrĭs ĕrīs. Mĭhĭ pērvĭă tēllūs
praēbĕt ĭtēr sūbtērque īmās āblātă căvērnās
hīc căpŭt āttōllō dĕsŭētăquĕ sīdĕră cērnō.
Ērgō dūm Stўgĭō sūb tērrīs gūrgĭtĕ lābōr,
vīsă tŭa ēst ŏcŭlīs īllīc Prōsērpĭnă nōstrīs;505
īllă quĭdēm trīstīs nĕque ădhūc īntērrĭtă vūltū,
sēd rēgīnă tămēn, sĕd ŏpācī māxĭmă mūndī,
sēd tămĕn īnfērnī pōllēns mātrōnă tўrānnī."
Mātĕr ăd aūdītās stŭpŭīt ceū sāxĕă vōcēs
āttŏnĭtaēquĕ dĭū sĭmĭlīs fŭĭt; ūtquĕ dŏlōrĕ510
pūlsă grăvī grăvĭs ēst āmēntĭă, cūrrĭbŭs aūrās
ēxĭt ĭn aēthĕrĭās. Ĭbĭ tōtō nūbĭlă vūltū
āntĕ Iŏvēm pāssīs stĕtĭt īnvĭdĭōsă căpīllīs:
"Prō"quĕ "mĕō vēnī sūpplēx tĭbĭ, Iūppĭtĕr," īnquīt
"sānguĭnĕ prōquĕ tŭō. Sī nūlla ēst grātĭă mātrīs,515
nātă pătrēm mŏvĕāt; neū sīt tĭbĭ cūră, prĕcāmūr,
vīlĭŏr īllīūs, quōd nōstro ēst ēdĭtă pārtū.
Ēn quaēsītă dĭū tāndēm mĭhĭ nātă rĕpērta ēst,
sī rĕpĕrīrĕ vŏcās āmīttĕrĕ cērtĭŭs, aūt sī
scīre, ŭbĭ sīt, rĕpĕrīrĕ vŏcās. Quōd rāptă, fĕrēmūs,520
dūmmŏdŏ rēddăt ĕām; nĕque ĕnīm praēdōnĕ mărītō
fīlĭă dīgnă tŭa ēst, sī iām mĕă fīlĭă nōn ēst."
Iūppĭtĕr ēxcēpīt: "Cōmmūne ēst pīgnŭs ŏnūsquĕ
nātă mĭhī tēcūm; sēd sī mŏdŏ nōmĭnă rēbūs
āddĕrĕ vēră plăcēt, nōn hōc īniūrĭă fāctūm,525
vērum ămŏr ēst; nĕque ĕrīt nōbīs gĕnĕr īllĕ pŭdōrī,
tū mŏdŏ, dīvă, vĕlīs. Ūt dēsīnt cētĕră, quāntum ēst
ēssĕ Iŏvīs frātrēm! Quīd quōd nōn cētĕră dēsūnt
nēc cēdīt nĭsĭ sōrtĕ mĭhī? Sēd tāntă cŭpīdŏ
sī tĭbĭ dīscĭdĭi ēst, rĕpĕtēt Prōsērpĭnă caēlūm,530
lēgĕ tămēn cērtā, sī nūllōs cōntĭgĭt īllīc
ōrĕ cĭbōs; nām sīc Pārcārūm foēdĕrĕ caūtum ēst."
Dīxĕrăt; āt Cĕrĕrī cērtum ēst ēdūcĕrĕ nātām;
nōn ĭtă fātă sĭnūnt, quŏnĭām iēiūnĭă vīrgŏ
sōlvĕrăt ēt, cūltīs dūm sīmplēx ērrăt ĭn hōrtīs,535
pūnīceūm cūrvā dēcērpsĕrăt ārbŏrĕ pōmūm
sūmptăquĕ pāllēntī sēptēm dē cōrtĭcĕ grānă
prēssĕrăt ōrĕ sŭō; sōlūsque ēx ōmnĭbŭs īllūd
Āscălăphūs vīdīt, quēm quōndām dīcĭtŭr Ōrphnē,
īntĕr Ăvērnālēs haūd īgnōtīssĭmă lŷmphās,540
ēx Ăchĕrōntĕ sŭō sīlvīs pĕpĕrīssĕ sŭb ātrīs;
vīdĭt ĕt īndĭcĭō rĕdĭtūm crūdēlĭs ădēmīt.
Īngĕmŭīt rēgīna Ĕrĕbī tēstēmquĕ prŏfānām
fēcĭt ăvēm spārsūmquĕ căpūt Phlĕgĕthōntĭdĕ lŷmphā
īn rōstrum ēt plūmās ēt grāndĭă lūmĭnă vērtīt.545
Īllĕ sĭbi āblātūs fūlvīs ămĭcītŭr ĭn ālīs
īnquĕ căpūt crēscīt lōngōsquĕ rĕflēctĭtŭr ūnguēs
vīxquĕ mŏvēt nātās pĕr ĭnērtĭă brācchĭă pēnnās;
foēdăquĕ fīt vŏlŭcrīs, vēntūrī nūntĭă lūctūs,
īgnāvūs būbō, dīrūm mōrtālĭbŭs ōmēn.550
Hīc tămĕn īndĭcĭō poēnām līnguāquĕ vĭdērī
cōmmĕrŭīssĕ pŏtēst; vōbīs, Ăchĕlōĭdĕs, ūndĕ
plūmă pĕdēsque ăvĭūm, cūm vīrgĭnĭs ōră gĕrātīs?
Ān quĭă, cūm lĕgĕrēt vērnōs Prōsērpĭnă flōrēs,
īn cŏmĭtūm nŭmĕrō, dōctaē Sīrēnĕs, ĕrātīs?555
Quām pōstquām tōtō frūstrā quaēsīstĭs ĭn ōrbĕ,
prōtĭnŭs ūt vēstrām sēntīrēnt aēquŏră cūrām,
pōssĕ sŭpēr flūctūs ālārum īnsīstĕrĕ rēmīs
ōptāstīs făcĭlēsquĕ dĕōs hăbŭīstĭs ĕt ārtūs
vīdīstīs vēstrōs sŭbĭtīs flāvēscĕrĕ pēnnīs.560
Nē tămĕn īllĕ cănōr mūlcēndās nātŭs ăd aūrēs
tāntăquĕ dōs ōrīs līnguaē dēpērdĕrĕt ūsūm,
vīrgĭnĕī vūltūs ēt vōx hūmānă rĕmānsīt.
Āt mĕdĭūs frātrīsquĕ sŭī maēstaēquĕ sŏrōrīs
Iūppĭtĕr ēx aēquō vōlvēntēm dīvĭdĭt ānnūm;565
nūnc dĕă, rēgnōrūm nūmēn cōmmūnĕ dŭōrūm,
cūm mātre ēst tŏtĭdēm, tŏtĭdēm cūm cōniŭgĕ mēnsēs.
Vērtĭtŭr ēxtēmplō făcĭēs ēt mēntĭs ĕt ōrīs;
nām mŏdŏ quaē pŏtĕrāt Dītī quŏquĕ maēstă vĭdērī,
laētă dĕaē frōns ēst, ūt sōl, quī tēctŭs ăquōsīs570
nūbĭbŭs āntĕ fŭīt, vīctīs ē nūbĭbŭs ēxīt.
Ēxĭgĭt ālmă Cĕrēs, nātā sēcūră rĕcēptā,
quaē tĭbĭ caūsă fŭgaē, cūr sīs, Ărĕthūsă, săcēr fōns.
Cōntĭcŭēre ūndaē, quārūm dĕă sūstŭlĭt āltō
fōntĕ căpūt vĭrĭdēsquĕ mănū sīccātă căpīllōs575
flūmĭnĭs Ēlēī vĕtĕrēs nārrāvĭt ămōrēs.
"Pārs ĕgŏ nŷmphārūm quaē sūnt ĭn Ăchāĭdĕ" dīxīt
"ūnă fŭī; nēc mē stŭdĭōsĭŭs āltĕră sāltūs
lēgīt nēc pŏsŭīt stŭdĭōsĭŭs āltĕră cāssēs.
Sēd quāmvīs fōrmaē nūmquām mĭhĭ fāmă pĕtīta ēst,580
quāmvīs fōrtĭs ĕrām, fōrmōsaē nōmĕn hăbēbām.
Nēc mĕă mē făcĭēs nĭmĭūm laūdātă iŭvābāt;
quāque ălĭaē gaūdērĕ sŏlēnt, ĕgŏ rūstĭcă dōtĕ
cōrpŏrĭs ērŭbŭī crīmēnquĕ plăcērĕ pŭtāvī.
Lāssă rĕvērtēbār, mĕmĭnī, Stŷmphālĭdĕ sīlvā;585
aēstŭs ĕrāt māgnūmquĕ lăbōr gĕmĭnāvĕrăt aēstūm.
Īnvĕnĭō sĭnĕ vērtĭce ăquās, sĭnĕ mūrmŭre ĕūntēs,
pērspĭcŭās ăd hŭmūm, pēr quās nŭmĕrābĭlĭs āltē
cālcŭlŭs ōmnĭs ĕrāt, quās tū vīx īrĕ pŭtārēs.
Cānă sălīctă dăbānt nūtrītăquĕ pōpŭlŭs ūndā590
spōntĕ sŭā nātās rīpīs dēclīvĭbŭs ūmbrās.
Āccēssī prīmūmquĕ pĕdīs vēstīgĭă tīnxī,
pōplĭtĕ deīndĕ tĕnūs; nĕque ĕō cōntēntă, rĕcīngōr
mōllĭăque īmpōnō sălĭcī vēlāmĭnă cūrvaē
nūdăquĕ mērgŏr ăquīs. Quās dūm fĕrĭōquĕ trăhōquĕ595
mīllĕ mŏdīs lābēns ēxcūssăquĕ brācchĭă iāctō,
nēscĭŏ quōd mĕdĭō sēnsī sūb gūrgĭtĕ mūrmūr
tērrĭtăque īnsīstō prŏpĭōrī mārgĭnĕ fōntīs.
"Quō prŏpĕrās, Ărĕthūsă?" sŭīs Ālphēŭs ăb ūndīs
"quō prŏpĕrās?" ĭtĕrūm raūcō mĭhĭ dīxĕrăt ōrĕ.600
Sīcŭt ĕrām, fŭgĭō sĭnĕ vēstĭbŭs; āltĕră vēstēs
rīpă mĕās hăbŭīt; tāntō măgĭs īnstăt ĕt ārdēt
ēt, quĭă nūdă fŭī, sūm vīsă părātĭŏr īllī.
Sīc ĕgŏ cūrrēbām, sīc mē fĕrŭs īllĕ prĕmēbāt
ūt fŭgĕre āccĭpĭtrēm pēnnā trĕpĭdāntĕ cŏlūmbaē,605
ūt sŏlĕt āccĭpĭtēr trĕpĭdās ūrgērĕ cŏlūmbās.
Ūsquĕ sŭb Ōrchŏmĕnōn Psōphīdăquĕ Cŷllēnēnquĕ
Maēnălĭōsquĕ sĭnūs gĕlĭdūmque Ĕrўmānthŏn ĕt Ēlīm
cūrrĕrĕ sūstĭnŭī, nēc mē vēlōcĭŏr īllĕ;
sēd tŏlĕrārĕ dĭū cūrsūs ĕgŏ, vīrĭbŭs īmpār,610
nōn pŏtĕrām; lōngī pătĭēns ĕrăt īllĕ lăbōrīs.
Pēr tămĕn ēt cāmpōs, pĕr ŏpērtōs ārbŏrĕ mōntēs,
sāxă quŏque ēt rūpēs ēt, quā vĭă nūllă, cŭcūrrī.
Sōl ĕrăt ā tērgō; vīdī praēcēdĕrĕ lōngām
āntĕ pĕdēs ūmbrām, nĭsĭ sī tĭmŏr īllă vĭdēbāt;615
sēd cērtē sŏnĭtūsquĕ pĕdūm tērrēbăt ĕt īngēns
crīnālīs vīttās āfflābăt ănhēlĭtŭs ōrīs.
Fēssă lăbōrĕ fŭgaē: "Fĕr ŏpēm, dēprēndĭmŭr," īnquām
"ārmĭgĕraē, Dīānă, tŭaē, cuī saēpĕ dĕdīstī
fērrĕ tŭōs ārcūs īnclūsăquĕ tēlă phărētrā."620
Mōtă dĕa ēst spīssīsquĕ fĕrēns ē nūbĭbŭs ūnām
mē sŭpĕr īniēcīt. Lūstrāt cālīgĭnĕ tēctām
āmnĭs ĕt īgnārūs cīrcūm căvă nūbĭlă quaērīt
bīsquĕ lŏcūm, quō mē dĕă tēxĕrăt, īnscĭŭs āmbīt
ēt bĭs: "Ĭō | Ărĕthūsă, | ĭō | Ărĕthūsă!" vŏcāvīt.625
Quīd mĭhĭ tūm | ănĭmī mĭsĕraē fŭĭt? Ānnĕ quŏd āgnae ēst,
sīquă lŭpōs aūdīt cīrcūm stăbŭla āltă frĕmēntēs,
aūt lĕpŏrī, quī vēprĕ lătēns hōstīlĭă cērnīt
ōră cănūm nūllōsque aūdēt dărĕ cōrpŏrĕ mōtūs?
Nōn tămĕn ābscēdīt; nĕque ĕnīm vēstīgĭă cērnīt630
lōngĭŭs ūllă pĕdūm; sērvāt nūbēmquĕ lŏcūmquĕ.
Ōccŭpăt ōbsēssōs sūdōr mĭhĭ frīgĭdŭs ārtūs
caērŭlĕaēquĕ cădūnt tōtō dē cōrpŏrĕ gūttaē;
quāquĕ pĕdēm mōvī, mānāt lŏcŭs ēquĕ căpīllīs
rōs cădĭt ēt cĭtĭūs, quām nūnc tĭbĭ fāctă rĕnārrō,635
īn lătĭcēs mūtōr. Sĕd ĕnīm cōgnōscĭt ămātās
āmnĭs ăquās pŏsĭtōquĕ vĭrī, quōd sūmpsĕrăt, ōrĕ,
vērtĭtŭr īn prŏprĭās, ūt sē mĭhĭ mīscĕăt, ūndās.
Dēlĭă rūpĭt hŭmūm caēcīsque ĕgŏ mērsă căvērnīs
ādvĕhŏr Ōrtўgĭām, quaē mē, cōgnōmĭnĕ dīvaē640
grātă mĭhī, sŭpĕrās ēdūxīt prīmă sŭb aūrās."
Hāc Ărĕthūsă tĕnūs. Gĕmĭnōs dĕă fērtĭlĭs ānguīs
cūrrĭbŭs ādmōvīt frēnīsquĕ cŏērcŭĭt ōră
ēt mĕdĭūm caēlī tērraēquĕ pĕr āĕră vēcta ēst
ātquĕ lĕvēm cūrrūm Trītōnĭdă mīsĭt ĭn ūrbēm645
Trīptŏlĕmō pārtīmquĕ rŭdī dătă sēmĭnă iūssīt
spārgĕre hŭmō, pārtīm pōst tēmpŏră lōngă rĕcūltaē.
Iām sŭpĕr Eūrōpēn sūblīmĭs ĕt Āsĭdă tērrām
vēctŭs ĕrāt iŭvĕnīs; Scўthĭcās ādvēhĭtŭr ōrās.
Rēx ĭbĭ Lŷncŭs ĕrāt; rēgīs sŭbĭt īllĕ pĕnātēs.650
Quā vĕnĭāt caūsāmquĕ vĭaē nōmēnquĕ rŏgātūs
ēt pătrĭām: "Pătrĭa ēst clāraē mĭhĭ" dīxĭt "Ăthēnaē,
Trīptŏlĕmūs nōmēn. Vēnī nēc pūppĕ pĕr ūndās,
nēc pĕdĕ pēr tērrās; pătŭīt mĭhĭ pērvĭŭs aēthēr.
Dōnă fĕrō Cĕrĕrīs, lātōs quaē spārsă pĕr āgrōs655
frūgĭfĕrās mēssēs ălĭmēntăquĕ mītĭă rēddānt."
Bārbărŭs īnvīdīt tāntīque ūt mūnĕrĭs aūctōr
īpsĕ sĭt, hōspĭtĭō rĕcĭpīt sōmnōquĕ grăvātūm
āggrĕdĭtūr fērrō; cōnāntēm fīgĕrĕ pēctūs
Lŷncă Cĕrēs fēcīt rūrsūsquĕ pĕr āĕră iūssīt660
Mōpsŏpĭūm iŭvĕnēm sācrōs ăgĭtārĕ iŭgālēs."
Fīnĭĕrāt dōctōs ē nōbīs māxĭmă cāntūs;
āt nŷmphaē vīcīssĕ dĕās Hĕlĭcōnă cŏlēntēs
cōncōrdī dīxērĕ sŏnō. Cōnvīcĭă vīctaē
cūm iăcĕrēnt: "Quŏnĭām" dīxīt "cērtāmĭnĕ vōbīs665
sūpplĭcĭūm mērvīssĕ părum ēst mălĕdīctăquĕ cūlpaē
āddĭtĭs ēt nōn ēst pătĭēntĭă lībĕră nōbīs,
ībĭmŭs īn poēnās ēt, quā vŏcăt īră, sĕquēmūr."
Rīdēnt Ēmăthĭdēs spērnūntquĕ mĭnācĭă vērbă;
cōnāntēsquĕ lŏqui ēt māgnō clāmōrĕ prŏtērvās670
īntēntārĕ mănūs, pēnnās ēxīrĕ pĕr ūnguēs
āspēxērĕ sŭōs, ŏpĕrīrī brācchĭă plūmīs
āltĕrăque āltĕrĭūs rĭgĭdō cōncrēscĕrĕ rōstrō
ōră vĭdēt vŏlŭcrēsquĕ nŏvās āccēdĕrĕ sīlvīs.
Dūmquĕ vŏlūnt plāngī, pēr brācchĭă mōtă lĕvātaē675
āĕrĕ pēndēbānt, nĕmŏrūm cōnvīcĭă, pīcaē.
Nūnc quŏque ĭn ālĭtĭbūs fācūndĭă prīscă rĕmānsīt
raūcăquĕ gārrŭlĭtās stŭdĭūmque īmmānĕ lŏquēndī."
Dumque ea Cephenum medio Danaëius heros
agmine commemorat, fremida regalia turba
atria complentur, nec coniugialia festa
qui canat est clamor, sed qui fera nuntiet arma;
5inque repentinos convivia versa tumultus
assimilare freto possis, quod saeva quietum
ventorum rabies motis exasperat undis.
Primus in his Phineus, belli temerarius auctor,
fraxineam quatiens aeratae cuspidis hastam:
10"En," ait "en adsum praereptae coniugis ultor;
nec mihi te pennae, nec falsum versus in aurum
Iuppiter eripiet." Conanti mittere Cepheus:
"Quid facis?" exclamat, "quae te, germane, furentem
mens agit in facinus? Meritisne haec gratia tantis
15redditur? Hac vitam servatae dote rependis?
Quam tibi non Perseus, verum si quaeris, ademit,
sed grave Nereidum numen, sed corniger Ammon,
sed quae visceribus veniebat belua ponti
exsaturanda meis. Illo tibi tempore rapta est,
20quo peritura fuit; nisi si crudelis id ipsum
exigis, ut pereat, luctuque levabere nostro.
Scilicet haud satis est, quod te spectante revincta est
et nullam quod opem patruus sponsusve tulisti;
insuper, a quoquam quod sit servata, dolebis
25praemiaque eripies? Quae si tibi magna videntur,
ex illis scopulis, ubi erant affixa, petisses;
nunc sine qui petiit, per quem haec non orba senectus,
ferre quod et meritis et voce est pactus eumque
non tibi, sed certae praelatum intellege morti."
30Ille nihil contra; sed et hunc et Persea vultu
alterno spectans, petat hunc, ignorat, an illum;
cunctatusque brevi contortam viribus hastam,
quantas ira dabat, nequiquam in Persea misit.
Ut stetit illa toro, stratis tum denique Perseus
35exsilvit teloque ferox inimica remisso
pectora rupisset, nisi post altaria Phineus
isset; et (indignum!) scelerato profuit ara.
Fronte tamen Rhoeti non irrita cuspis adhaesit;
qui postquam cecidit ferrumque ex osse revulsum est,
40calcitrat et positas aspergit sanguine mensas.
Tum vero indomitas ardescit vulgus in iras
telaque coniciunt et sunt qui Cephea dicunt
cum genero debere mori; sed limine tecti
exierat Cepheus, testatus iusque fidemque
45hospitiique deos ea se prohibente moveri.
Bellica Pallas adest et protegit aegide fratrem
datque animos. Erat Indus Athis, quem flumine Gange
edita Limnaee vitreis peperisse sub undis
creditur, egregius forma, quam divite cultu
50augebat, bis adhuc octonis integer annis,
indutus chlamydem Tyriam, quam limbus obibat
aureus; ornabant aurata monilia collum
et madidos murra curvum crinale capillos.
Ille quidem iaculo quamvis distantia misso
55figere doctus erat, sed tendere doctior arcus.
Tum quoque lenta manu flectentem cornua Perseus
stipite, qui media positus fumabat in ara,
perculit et fractis confudit in ossibus ora.
Hunc ubi laudatos iactantem in sanguine vultus
60Assyrius vidit Lycabas, iunctissimus illi
et comes et veri non dissimulator amoris,
postquam exhalantem sub acerbo vulnere vitam
deploravit Athin, quos ille tetenderat arcus
arripit et: "Mecum tibi sint certamina" dixit
65"nec longum pueri fato laetabere, quo plus
invidiae quam laudis habes." Haec omnia nondum
dixerat, emicuit nervo penetrabile telum
vitatumque tamen sinvosa veste pependit.
Vertit in hunc harpen spectatam caede Medusae
70Acrisioniades adegitque in pectus; at ille
iam moriens, oculis sub nocte natantibus atra,
circumspexit Athin seque acclinavit ad illum
et tulit ad manes iunctae solacia mortis.
Ecce Syenites, genitus Metione, Phorbas
75et Libys Amphimedon, avidi committere pugnam,
sanguine, quo late tellus madefacta tepebat,
conciderant lapsi; surgentibus obstitit ensis,
alterius costis, iugulo Phorbantis adactus.
At non Actoriden Erytum, cui lata bipennis
80telum erat, hamato Perseus petit ense, sed altis
exstantem signis multaeque in pondere massae
ingentem manibus tollit cratera duabus
infligitque viro; rutilum vomit ille cruorem
et resupinus humum moribundo vertice pulsat.
85Inde Semiramio Polydegmona sanguine cretum
Caucasiumque Abarin Sperchionidenque Lycetum
intonsumque comas Helicen Phlegyamque Clytumque
sternit et exstructos morientum calcat acervos.
Nec Phineus ausus concurrere comminus hosti
90intorquet iaculum, quod detulit error in Idan,
expertem frustra belli et neutra arma secutum.
Ille tuens oculis inmitem Phinea torvis:
"Quandoquidem in partes" ait "abstrahor, accipe, Phineu,
quem fecisti hostem pensaque hoc vulnere vulnus."
95Iamque remissurus tractum de corpore telum
sanguine defectos cecidit collapsus in artus.
Tum quoque Cephenum post regem primus Hodites
ense iacet Clymeni; Prothoenora percutit Hypseus,
Hypsea Lyncides. Fuit et grandaevus in illis
100Emathion, aequi cultor timidusque deorum;
qui, quoniam prohibent anni bellare, loquendo
pugnat et incessit scelerataque devovet arma.
Huic Chromis amplexo tremulis altaria palmis
decutit ense caput; quod protinus incidit arae
105atque ibi semianimi verba exsecrantia lingua
edidit et medios animam exspiravit in ignes.
Hinc gemini fratres Broteasque et caestibus Ammon
invictus, vinci si possent caestibus enses,
Phinea cecidere manu Cererisque sacerdos
110Ampycus, albenti velatus tempora vitta;
tu quoque, Lampetide, non hos adhibendus ad usus,
sed qui, pacis opus, citharam cum voce moveres,
iussus eras celebrare dapes festumque canendo.
Quem procul astantem plectrumque inbelle tenentem
115Pettalus irridens: "Stygiis cane cetera" dixit
"Manibus" et laevo mucronem tempore fixit.
Concidit et digitis morientibus ille retemptat
fila lyrae casuque fuit miserabile carmen.
Nec sinit hunc impune ferox cecidisse Lycormas
120raptaque de dextro robusta repagula posti
ossibus illisit mediae cervicis; at ille
procubuit terrae mactati more iuvenci.
Demere temptabat laevi quoque robora postis
Cinyphius Pelates; temptanti dextera fixa est
125cuspide Marmaridae Corythi lignoque cohaesit.
Haerenti latus hausit Abas; nec corruit ille,
sed retinente manum moriens e poste pependit.
Sternitur et Melaneus, Perseia castra secutus,
et Nasamoniaci Dorylas ditissimus agri,
130dives agri Dorylas, quo non possederat alter
latius aut totidem tollebat turis acervos.
Huius in obliquo missum stetit inguine ferrum;
letifer ille locus. Quem postquam vulneris auctor
singultantem animam et versantem lumina vidit
135Bactrius Halcyoneus: "Hoc quod premis" inquit "habeto
de tot agris terrae" corpusque exsangue reliquit.
Torquet in hunc hastam calido de vulnere raptam
ultor Abantiades, media quae nare recepta
cervice exacta est in partesque eminet ambas;
140dumque manum Fortuna iuvat, Clytiumque Claninque,
matre satos una, diverso vulnere fudit;
nam Clytii per utrumque gravi librata lacerto
fraxinus acta femur; iaculum Clanis ore momordit.
Occidit et Celadon Mendesius; occidit Astreus,
145matre Palaestina, dubio genitore creatus;
Aethionque sagax quondam ventura videre,
tunc ave deceptus falsa; regisque Thoactes
armiger et caeso genitore infamis Agyrtes.
Plus tamen exhausto superest; namque omnibus unum
150opprimere est animus; coniurata undique pugnant
agmina pro causa meritum inpugnante fidemque.
Hac pro parte socer frustra pius et nova coniunx
cum genitrice favent ululatuque atria complent;
sed sonus armorum superat gemitusque cadentum
155pollutosque simul multo Bellona penates
sanguine perfundit renovataque proelia miscet.
Circumeunt unum Phineus et mille secuti
Phinea; tela volant hiberna grandine plura
praeter utrumque latus praeterque et lumen et aures.
160Applicat hic umeros ad magnae saxa columnae
tutaque terga gerens adversaque in agmina versus
sustinet instantes; instabat parte sinistra
Chaonius Molpeus, dextra Nabataeus Echemmon.
Tigris ut, auditis diversa valle duorum
165exstimulata fame mugitibus armentorum,
nescit utro potius ruat et ruere ardet utroque;
sic dubius Perseus, dextra laevane feratur,
Molpea traiecti submovit vulnere cruris,
contentusque fuga est; neque enim dat tempus Echemmon,
170sed furit et, cupiens alto dare vulnera collo,
non circumspectis exactum viribus ensem
fregit et extrema percussae parte columnae
lamina dissilvit dominique in gutture fixa est.
Non tamen ad letum causas satis illa valentes
175plaga dedit; trepidum Perseus et inertia frustra
bracchia tendentem Cyllenide confodit harpe.
Verum ubi virtutem turbae succumbere vidit:
"Auxilium," Perseus "quoniam sic cogitis ipsi,"
dixit "ab hoste petam. Vultus avertite vestros,
180siquis amicus adest;" et Gorgonis extulit ora.
"Quaere alium, tua quem moveant miracula," dixit
Thescelus; utque manu iaculum fatale parabat
mittere, in hoc haesit signum de marmore gestu.
Proximus huic Ampyx animi plenissima magni
185pectora Lyncidae gladio petit; inque petendo
dextera deriguit nec citra mota nec ultra est.
At Nileus, qui se genitum septemplice Nilo
ementitus erat, clipeo quoque flumina septem
argento partim, partim caelaverat auro:
190"Aspice," ait "Perseu, nostrae primordia gentis;
magna feres tacitas solacia mortis ad umbras
a tanto cecidisse viro." Pars ultima vocis
in medio suppressa sono est adapertaque velle
ora loqui credas, nec sunt ea pervia verbis.
195Increpat hos: "Vitio"que "animi, non viribus" inquit
"Gorgoneis torpetis," Eryx "incurrite mecum
et prosternite humi iuvenem magica arma moventem."
Incursurus erat; tenuit vestigia tellus
immotusque silex armataque mansit imago.
200Hi tamen ex merito poenas subiere; sed unus
miles erat Persei, pro quo dum pugnat, Aconteus,
Gorgone conspecta saxo concrevit oborto.
Quem ratus Astyages etiamnum vivere, longo
ense ferit; sonuit tinnitibus ensis acutis.
205Dum stupet Astyages, naturam traxit eandem
marmoreoque manet vultus mirantis in ore.
Nomina longa mora est media de plebe virorum
dicere; bis centum restabant corpora pugnae,
Gorgone bis centum riguerunt corpora visa.
210Paenitet iniusti tum denique Phinea belli;
sed quid agat? Simulacra videt diversa figuris
agnoscitque suos et nomine quemque vocatum
poscit opem credensque parum sibi proxima tangit
corpora; marmor erant; avertitur atque ita supplex
215confossasque manus obliquaque bracchia tendens:
"Vincis" ait "Perseu; remove tua monstra tuaeque
saxificos vultus, quaecumque ea, tolle Medusae;
tolle, precor. Non nos odium regnique cupido
compulit ad bellum; pro coniuge movimus arma.
220Causa fuit meritis melior tua, tempore nostra.
Non cessisse piget. Nihil, o fortissime, praeter
hanc animam concede mihi; tua cetera sunto."
Talia dicenti neque eum quem voce rogabat
respicere audenti: "Quod," ait "timidissime Phineu,
225et possum tribuisse et magnum est munus inerti
(pone metum) tribuam; nullo violabere ferro.
Quin etiam mansura dabo monimenta per aevum
inque domo soceri semper spectabere nostri,
ut mea se sponsi soletur imagine coniunx."
230Dixit et in partem Phorcynida transtulit illam
ad quam se trepido Phineus obverterat ore.
Tum quoque conanti sua vertere lumina cervix
deriguit saxoque oculorum induruit umor;
sed tamen os timidum vultusque in marmore supplex
235summissaeque manus faciesque obnoxia mansit.
Victor Abantiades patrios cum coniuge muros
intrat et inmeriti vindex ultorque parentis
aggreditur Proetum; nam, fratre per arma fugato,
Acrisioneas Proetus possederat arces.
240Sed nec ope armorum, nec, quam male ceperat, arce
torva colubriferi superavit lumina monstri.
Te tamen, o parvae rector, Polydecta, Seriphi,
nec iuvenis virtus per tot spectata labores
nec mala mollierant; sed inexorabile durus
245exerces odium, nec iniqua finis in ira est.
Detrectas etiam laudem fictamque Medusae
arguis esse necem. "Dabimus tibi pignera veri.
Parcite luminibus" Perseus ait oraque regis
ore Medusaeo silicem sine sanguine fecit.
250Hactenus aurigenae comitem Tritonia fratri
se dedit; inde cava circumdata nube Seriphon
deserit, a dextra Cythno Gyaroque relictis,
quaque super pontum via visa brevissima, Thebas
virgineumque Helicona petit. Quo monte potita
255constitit et doctas sic est effata sorores:
"Fama novi fontis nostras pervenit ad aures,
dura Medusaei quem praepetis ungula rupit.
Is mihi causa viae; volvi mirabile factum
cernere; vidi ipsum materno sanguine nasci."
260Excipit Uranie: "Quaecumque est causa videndi
has tibi, diva, domos, animo gratissima nostro est.
Vera tamen fama est et Pegasus huius origo
fontis;" et ad latices deduxit Pallada sacros.
Quae mirata diu factas pedis ictibus undas,
265silvarum lucis circumspicit antiquarum
antraque et innumeris distinctas floribus herbas
felicesque vocat pariter studioque locoque
Mnemonidas. Quam sic affata est una sororum:
"O, nisi te virtus opera ad maiora tulisset,
270in partem ventura chori Tritonia nostri,
vera refers meritoque probas artemque locumque;
et gratam sortem, tutae modo simus, habemus.
Sed (vetitum est adeo sceleri nihil) omnia terrent
virgineas mentes dirusque ante ora Pyreneus
275vertitur et nondum tota me mente recepi.
Daulida Threicio Phoceaque milite rura
ceperat ille ferox iniustaque regna tenebat.
Templa petebamus Parnasia; vidit euntes
nostraque fallaci veneratus numina vultu:
280"Mnemonides," (cognorat enim) "consistite" dixit
"nec dubitate, precor, tecto grave sidus et imbrem"
(imber erat) "vitare meo; subiere minores
saepe casas superi." Dictis et tempore motae
annuimusque viro primasque intravimus aedes.
285Desierant imbres victoque Aquilonibus Austro
fusca repurgato fugiebant nubila caelo.
Impetus ire fuit; claudit sua tecta Pyreneus
vimque parat, quam nos sumptis effugimus alis.
Ipse secuturo similis stetit arduus arce,
290"Qua"que "via est vobis, erit et mihi" dixit "eadem;"
seque iacit vecors e summo culmine turris
et cadit in vultus discussisque ossibus oris
tundit humum moriens scelerato sanguine tinctam."
Musa loquebatur; pennae sonuere per auras
295voxque salutantum ramis veniebat ab altis.
Suspicit et linguae quaerit tam certa loquentis
unde sonent hominemque putat Iove nata locutum.
Ales erat; numeroque novem, sua fata querentes,
institerant ramis imitantes omnia picae.
300Miranti sic orsa deae dea: "Nuper et istae
auxerunt volucrum victae certamine turbam.
Pieros has genuit Pellaeis dives in arvis,
Paeonis Evippe mater fuit; illa potentem
Lucinam novies, novies paritura, vocavit.
305Intumuit numero stolidarum turba sororum
perque tot Haemonias et per tot Achaidas urbes
huc venit et tali committit proelia voce:
"Desinite indoctum vana dulcedine vulgus
fallere; nobiscum, si qua est fiducia vobis,
310Thespiades, certate, deae. Nec voce nec arte
vincemur totidemque sumus; vel cedite victae
fonte Medusaeo | et Hyantea | Aganippe,
vel nos Emathiis ad Paeonas usque nivosos
cedemus campis. Dirimant certamina nymphae."
315Turpe quidem contendere erat, sed cedere visum
turpius; electae iurant per flumina nymphae;
factaque de vivo pressere sedilia saxo.
Tunc sine sorte prior quae se certare professa est
bella canit superum falsoque in honore Gigantas
320ponit et extenuat magnorum facta deorum;
emissumque ima de sede Typhoea terrae
caelitibus fecisse metum cunctosque dedisse
terga fugae, donec fessos Aegyptia tellus
ceperit et septem discretus in ostia Nilus.
325Huc quoque terrigenam venisse Typhoea narrat
et se mentitis superos celasse figuris:
"Duxque gregis" dixit "fit Iuppiter, unde recurvis
nunc quoque formatus Libys est cum cornibus Ammon;
Delius in corvo est; proles Semeleia capro,
330fele soror Phoebi, nivea Saturnia vacca,
pisce Venus latuit, Cyllenius ibidis alis."
Hactenus ad citharam vocalia moverat ora;
poscimur Aonides; sed forsitan otia non sint
nec nostris praebere vacet tibi cantibus aures."
335"Ne dubita vestrumque mihi refer ordine carmen,"
Pallas ait nemorisque levi consedit in umbra.
Musa refert: "Dedimus summam certaminis uni;
surgit et inmissos hedera collecta capillos
Calliope querulas praetemptat pollice chordas
340atque haec percussis subiungit carmina nervis:
"Prima Ceres unco glaebam dimovit aratro,
prima dedit fruges alimentaque mitia terris,
prima dedit leges; Cereris sunt omnia munus;
illa canenda mihi est; utinam modo dicere possim
345carmina digna dea! Certe dea carmine digna est.
Vasta Giganteis ingesta est insula membris
Trinacris et magnis subiectum molibus urget
Aetherias ausum sperare Typhoea sedes.
Nititur ille quidem pugnatque resurgere saepe;
350dextra sed Ausonio manus est subiecta Peloro,
laeva, Pachyne, tibi; Lilybaeo crura premuntur,
degravat Aetna caput, sub qua resupinus harenas
eiectat flammamque ferox vomit ore Typhoeus.
Saepe remoliri luctatur pondera terrae
355oppidaque et magnos devolvere corpore montes;
inde tremit tellus et rex pavet ipse silentum.
Ne pateat latoque solum retegatur hiatu
immissusque dies trepidantes terreat umbras.
Hanc metuens cladem tenebrosa sede tyrannus
360exierat curruque atrorum vectus equorum
ambibat Siculae cautus fundamina terrae.
Postquam exploratum satis est loca nulla labare
depositoque metu, videt hunc Erycina vagantem
monte suo residens natumque amplexa volucrem
365"arma manusque meae, mea, nate, potentia," dixit
"illa, quibus superas omnes, cape tela, Cupido.
Inque dei pectus celeres molire sagittas,
cui triplicis cessit fortuna novissima regni.
Tu superos ipsumque Iovem, tu numina ponti
370victa domas ipsumque regit qui numina ponti;
Tartara quid cessant? Cur non matrisque tuumque
imperium profers? Agitur pars tertia mundi.
Et tamen in caelo, quae iam patientia nostra est,
spernimur ac mecum vires minuuntur Amoris.
375Pallada nonne vides iaculatricemque Dianam
abscessisse mihi? Cereris quoque filia virgo,
si patiemur, erit; nam spes affectat easdem.
At tu pro socio, siqua est ea gratia, regno
iunge deam patruo." Dixit Venus; ille pharetram
380solvit et arbitrio matris de mille sagittis
unam seposuit, sed qua nec acutior ulla
nec minus incerta est nec quae magis audiat arcum;
oppositoque genu curvavit flexile cornum
inque cor hamata percussit harundine Ditem.
385Haud procul Hennaeis lacus est a moenibus altae,
nomine pergus, aquae; non illo plura Caystros
carmina cygnorum labentibus audit in undis.
Silva coronat aquas cingens latus omne suisque
frondibus et velo Phoebeos summovet ignes.
390Frigora dant rami, Tyrios humus umida flores;
perpetuum ver est. Quo dum Proserpina luco
ludit et aut violas aut candida lilia carpit
dumque puellari studio calathosque sinumque
implet et aequales certat superare legendo,
395paene simul visa est dilectaque raptaque Diti;
usque adeo est properatus amor. Dea territa maesto
et matrem et comites, sed matrem saepius, ore
clamat; et, ut summa vestem laniarat ab ora,
collecti flores tunicis cecidere remissis;
400tantaque simplicitas puerilibus adfuit annis,
haec quoque virgineum monvit iactura dolorem.
Raptor agit currus et nomine quemque vocando
exhortatur equos, quorum per colla iubasque
excutit obscura tinctas ferrugine habenas;
405perque lacus altos et olentia sulphure fertur
stagna Palicorum, rupta ferventia terra,
et qua Bacchiadae, bimari gens orta Corintho,
inter inaequales posuerunt moenia portus.
Est medium Cyanes et Pisaeae | Arethusae
410quod coit angustis inclusum cornibus aequor.
Hic fuit, a cuius stagnum quoque nomine dictum est,
inter Sicelidas Cyane celeberrima nymphas.
Gurgite quae medio summa tenus exstitit alvo
adgnovitque deam: "Nec longius ibitis;" inquit
415"non potes invitae Cereris gener esse; roganda,
non rapienda fuit. Quodsi componere magnis
parva mihi fas est, et me dilexit Anapis;
exorata tamen, nec, ut haec, exterrita nupsi."
Dixit et in partes diversas bracchia tendens
420obstitit; haud ultra tenuit Saturnius iram,
terribilisque hortatus equos in gurgitis ima
contortum valido sceptrum regale lacerto
condidit; icta viam tellus in Tartara fecit
et pronos currus medio cratere recepit.
425At Cyane, raptamque deam contemptaque fontis
iura sui maerens, inconsolabile vulnus
mente gerit tacita lacrimisque absumitur omnis
et quarum fuerat magnum modo numen, in illas
extenuatur aquas. Molliri membra videres,
430ossa pati flexus, ungues posuisse rigorem;
primaque de tota tenuissima quaeque liquescunt,
caerulei crines digitique et crura pedesque;
nam brevis in gelidas membris exilibus undas
transitus est; post haec umeri tergusque latusque
435pectoraque in tenues abeunt evanida rivos;
denique pro vivo vitiatas sanguine venas
lympha subit restatque nihil quod prendere possis.
Interea pavidae nequiquam filia matri
omnibus est terris, omni quaesita profundo.
440Illam non udis veniens Aurora capillis
cessantem vidit, non Hesperus. Illa duabus
flammiferas pinus manibus succendit in Aetna
perque pruinosas tulit inrequieta tenebras;
rursus ubi alma dies hebetarat sidera, natam
445solis ab occasu solis quaerebat ad ortus.
Fessa labore sitim conceperat oraque nulli
colluerant fontes, cum tectam stramine vidit
forte casam parvasque fores pulsavit; at inde
prodit anus divamque videt lymphamque roganti
450dulce dedit, tosta quod texerat ante polenta.
Dum bibit illa datum, duri puer oris et audax
constitit ante deam risitque avidamque vocavit.
Offensa est neque adhuc epota parte loquente
cum liquido mixta perfudit diva polenta.
455Combibit os maculas et, quae modo bracchia gessit,
crura gerit; cauda est mutatis addita membris;
inque brevem formam, ne sit vis magna nocendi,
contrahitur parvaque minor mensura lacerta est.
Mirantem flentemque et tangere monstra parantem
460fugit anum latebramque petit; aptumque colori
nomen habet, variis stellatus corpora guttis.
Quas dea per terras et quas erraverit undas,
dicere longa mora est; querenti defuit orbis.
Sicaniam repetit; dumque omnia lustrat eundo,
465venit et ad Cyanen. Ea ni mutata fuisset,
omnia narrasset; sed et os et lingua volenti
dicere non aderant, nec qua loqueretur habebat.
Signa tamen manifesta dedit notamque parenti
illo forte loco delapsam in gurgite sacro
470Persephones zonam summis ostendit in undis.
Quam simul agnovit, tamquam tunc denique raptam
scisset, inornatos laniavit diva capillos
et repetita suis percussit pectora palmis.
Nescit adhuc ubi sit; terras tamen increpat omnes
475ingratasque vocat nec frugum munere dignas,
Trinacriam ante alias, in qua vestigia damni
repperit. Ergo illic saeva vertentia glaebas
fregit aratra manu pariterque irata colonos
ruricolasque boves leto dedit arvaque iussit
480fallere depositum vitiataque semina fecit.
Fertilitas terrae latum vulgata per orbem
falsa iacet; primis segetes moriuntur in herbis
et modo sol nimius, nimius modo corripit imber,
sideraque ventique nocent avidaeque volucres
485semina iacta legunt; lolium tribulique fatigant
triticeas messes et inexpugnabile gramen.
Tum caput Eleis Alpheias extulit undis
rorantesque comas a fronte removit ad aures
atque ait: "O toto quaesitae virginis orbe
490et frugum genetrix, inmensos siste labores,
neve tibi fidae violenta irascere terrae.
Terra nihil meruit patuitque invita rapinae.
Nec sum pro patria supplex; huc hospita veni;
Pisa mihi patria est et ab Elide ducimus ortus;
495Sicaniam peregrina colo; sed gratior omni
haec mihi terra solo est; hos nunc Arethusa penates,
hanc habeo sedem; quem tu, mitissima, serva.
Mota loco cur sim tantique per aequoris undas
advehar Ortygiam, veniet narratibus hora
500tempestiva meis, cum tu curaque levata
et vultus melioris eris. Mihi pervia tellus
praebet iter subterque imas ablata cavernas
hic caput attollo desuetaque sidera cerno.
Ergo dum Stygio sub terris gurgite labor,
505visa tua est oculis illic Proserpina nostris;
illa quidem tristis neque adhuc interrita vultu,
sed regina tamen, sed opaci maxima mundi,
sed tamen inferni pollens matrona tyranni."
Mater ad auditas stupuit ceu saxea voces
510attonitaeque diu similis fuit; utque dolore
pulsa gravi gravis est amentia, curribus auras
exit in aetherias. Ibi toto nubila vultu
ante Iovem passis stetit invidiosa capillis:
"Pro"que "meo veni supplex tibi, Iuppiter," inquit
515"sanguine proque tuo. Si nulla est gratia matris,
nata patrem moveat; neu sit tibi cura, precamur,
vilior illius, quod nostro est edita partu.
En quaesita diu tandem mihi nata reperta est,
si reperire vocas amittere certius, aut si
520scire, ubi sit, reperire vocas. Quod rapta, feremus,
dummodo reddat eam; neque enim praedone marito
filia digna tua est, si iam mea filia non est."
Iuppiter excepit: "Commune est pignus onusque
nata mihi tecum; sed si modo nomina rebus
525addere vera placet, non hoc iniuria factum,
verum amor est; neque erit nobis gener ille pudori,
tu modo, diva, velis. Ut desint cetera, quantum est
esse Iovis fratrem! Quid quod non cetera desunt
nec cedit nisi sorte mihi? Sed tanta cupido
530si tibi discidii est, repetet Proserpina caelum,
lege tamen certa, si nullos contigit illic
ore cibos; nam sic Parcarum foedere cautum est."
Dixerat; at Cereri certum est educere natam;
non ita fata sinunt, quoniam ieiunia virgo
535solverat et, cultis dum simplex errat in hortis,
puniceum curva decerpserat arbore pomum
sumptaque pallenti septem de cortice grana
presserat ore suo; solusque ex omnibus illud
Ascalaphus vidit, quem quondam dicitur Orphne,
540inter Avernales haud ignotissima lymphas,
ex Acheronte suo silvis peperisse sub atris;
vidit et indicio reditum crudelis ademit.
Ingemuit regina Erebi testemque profanam
fecit avem sparsumque caput Phlegethontide lympha
545in rostrum et plumas et grandia lumina vertit.
Ille sibi ablatus fulvis amicitur in alis
inque caput crescit longosque reflectitur ungues
vixque movet natas per inertia bracchia pennas;
foedaque fit volucris, venturi nuntia luctus,
550ignavus bubo, dirum mortalibus omen.
Hic tamen indicio poenam linguaque videri
commeruisse potest; vobis, Acheloides, unde
pluma pedesque avium, cum virginis ora geratis?
An quia, cum legeret vernos Proserpina flores,
555in comitum numero, doctae Sirenes, eratis?
Quam postquam toto frustra quaesistis in orbe,
protinus ut vestram sentirent aequora curam,
posse super fluctus alarum insistere remis
optastis facilesque deos habuistis et artus
560vidistis vestros subitis flavescere pennis.
Ne tamen ille canor mulcendas natus ad aures
tantaque dos oris linguae deperderet usum,
virginei vultus et vox humana remansit.
At medius fratrisque sui maestaeque sororis
565Iuppiter ex aequo volventem dividit annum;
nunc dea, regnorum numen commune duorum,
cum matre est totidem, totidem cum coniuge menses.
Vertitur extemplo facies et mentis et oris;
nam modo quae poterat Diti quoque maesta videri,
570laeta deae frons est, ut sol, qui tectus aquosis
nubibus ante fuit, victis e nubibus exit.
Exigit alma Ceres, nata secura recepta,
quae tibi causa fugae, cur sis, Arethusa, sacer fons.
Conticuere undae, quarum dea sustulit alto
575fonte caput viridesque manu siccata capillos
fluminis Elei veteres narravit amores.
"Pars ego nympharum quae sunt in Achaide" dixit
"una fui; nec me studiosius altera saltus
legit nec posuit studiosius altera casses.
580Sed quamvis formae numquam mihi fama petita est,
quamvis fortis eram, formosae nomen habebam.
Nec mea me facies nimium laudata iuvabat;
quaque aliae gaudere solent, ego rustica dote
corporis erubui crimenque placere putavi.
585Lassa revertebar, memini, Stymphalide silva;
aestus erat magnumque labor geminaverat aestum.
Invenio sine vertice aquas, sine murmure euntes,
perspicuas ad humum, per quas numerabilis alte
calculus omnis erat, quas tu vix ire putares.
590Cana salicta dabant nutritaque populus unda
sponte sua natas ripis declivibus umbras.
Accessi primumque pedis vestigia tinxi,
poplite deinde tenus; neque eo contenta, recingor
molliaque impono salici velamina curvae
595nudaque mergor aquis. Quas dum ferioque trahoque
mille modis labens excussaque bracchia iacto,
nescio quod medio sensi sub gurgite murmur
territaque insisto propiori margine fontis.
"Quo properas, Arethusa?" suis Alpheus ab undis
600"quo properas?" iterum rauco mihi dixerat ore.
Sicut eram, fugio sine vestibus; altera vestes
ripa meas habuit; tanto magis instat et ardet
et, quia nuda fui, sum visa paratior illi.
Sic ego currebam, sic me ferus ille premebat
605ut fugere accipitrem penna trepidante columbae,
ut solet accipiter trepidas urgere columbas.
Usque sub Orchomenon Psophidaque Cyllenenque
Maenaliosque sinus gelidumque Erymanthon et Elim
currere sustinui, nec me velocior ille;
610sed tolerare diu cursus ego, viribus impar,
non poteram; longi patiens erat ille laboris.
Per tamen et campos, per opertos arbore montes,
saxa quoque et rupes et, qua via nulla, cucurri.
Sol erat a tergo; vidi praecedere longam
615ante pedes umbram, nisi si timor illa videbat;
sed certe sonitusque pedum terrebat et ingens
crinalis vittas afflabat anhelitus oris.
Fessa labore fugae: "Fer opem, deprendimur," inquam
"armigerae, Diana, tuae, cui saepe dedisti
620ferre tuos arcus inclusaque tela pharetra."
Mota dea est spissisque ferens e nubibus unam
me super iniecit. Lustrat caligine tectam
amnis et ignarus circum cava nubila quaerit
bisque locum, quo me dea texerat, inscius ambit
625et bis: "Io | Arethusa, | io | Arethusa!" vocavit.
Quid mihi tum | animi miserae fuit? Anne quod agnae est,
siqua lupos audit circum stabula alta frementes,
aut lepori, qui vepre latens hostilia cernit
ora canum nullosque audet dare corpore motus?
630Non tamen abscedit; neque enim vestigia cernit
longius ulla pedum; servat nubemque locumque.
Occupat obsessos sudor mihi frigidus artus
caeruleaeque cadunt toto de corpore guttae;
quaque pedem movi, manat locus eque capillis
635ros cadit et citius, quam nunc tibi facta renarro,
in latices mutor. Sed enim cognoscit amatas
amnis aquas positoque viri, quod sumpserat, ore,
vertitur in proprias, ut se mihi misceat, undas.
Delia rupit humum caecisque ego mersa cavernis
640advehor Ortygiam, quae me, cognomine divae
grata mihi, superas eduxit prima sub auras."
Hac Arethusa tenus. Geminos dea fertilis anguis
curribus admovit frenisque coërcuit ora
et medium caeli terraeque per aëra vecta est
645atque levem currum Tritonida misit in urbem
Triptolemo partimque rudi data semina iussit
spargere humo, partim post tempora longa recultae.
Iam super Europen sublimis et Asida terram
vectus erat iuvenis; Scythicas advehitur oras.
650Rex ibi Lyncus erat; regis subit ille penates.
Qua veniat causamque viae nomenque rogatus
et patriam: "Patria est clarae mihi" dixit "Athenae,
Triptolemus nomen. Veni nec puppe per undas,
nec pede per terras; patuit mihi pervius aether.
655Dona fero Cereris, latos quae sparsa per agros
frugiferas messes alimentaque mitia reddant."
Barbarus invidit tantique ut muneris auctor
ipse sit, hospitio recipit somnoque gravatum
aggreditur ferro; conantem figere pectus
660Lynca Ceres fecit rursusque per aëra iussit
Mopsopium iuvenem sacros agitare iugales."
Finierat doctos e nobis maxima cantus;
at nymphae vicisse deas Helicona colentes
concordi dixere sono. Convicia victae
665cum iacerent: "Quoniam" dixit "certamine vobis
supplicium meruisse parum est maledictaque culpae
additis et non est patientia libera nobis,
ibimus in poenas et, qua vocat ira, sequemur."
Rident Emathides spernuntque minacia verba;
670conantesque loqui et magno clamore protervas
intentare manus, pennas exire per ungues
aspexere suos, operiri bracchia plumis
alteraque alterius rigido concrescere rostro
ora videt volucresque novas accedere silvis.
675Dumque volunt plangi, per bracchia mota levatae
aëre pendebant, nemorum convicia, picae.
Nunc quoque in alitibus facundia prisca remansit
raucaque garrulitas studiumque immane loquendi."
