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Iām nĭtĭdūm rĕtĕgēntĕ dĭēm nōctīsquĕ fŭgāntĕ

tēmpŏră Lūcĭfĕrō cădĭt Eūrŭs ĕt ūmĭdă sūrgūnt

nūbĭlă; dānt plăcĭdī cūrsūm rĕdĕūntĭbŭs Aūstrī

Aēăcĭdīs Cĕphălōquĕ, quĭbūs fēlīcĭtĕr āctī

ānte ēxspēctātūm pōrtūs tĕnŭērĕ pĕtītōs.5

Īntĕrĕā Mīnōs Lĕlĕgēĭă lītŏră vāstāt

praētēmptātquĕ sŭī vīrēs Māvōrtĭs ĭn ūrbĕ

Ālcāthoē quām Nīsŭs hăbēt, cuī splēndĭdŭs ōstrō

īntĕr hŏnōrātōs mĕdĭōque īn vērtĭcĕ cānōs

crīnĭs ĭnhaērēbāt, māgnī fīdūcĭă rēgnī.10

Sēxtă rĕsūrgēbānt ŏrĭēntīs cōrnŭă lūnaē

ēt pēndēbăt ădhūc bēllī fōrtūnă dĭūquĕ

īntĕr ŭtrūmquĕ vŏlāt dŭbĭīs Vīctōrĭă pēnnīs.

Rēgĭă tūrrĭs ĕrāt vōcālĭbŭs āddĭtă mūrīs,

īn quĭbŭs aūrātām prōlēs Lētōĭă fērtūr15

dēpŏsŭīssĕ lўrām; sāxō sŏnŭs ēiŭs ĭnhaēsīt.

Saēpe īllūc sŏlĭta ēst āscēndĕrĕ fīlĭă Nīsī

ēt pĕtĕre ēxĭgŭō rĕsŏnāntĭă sāxă lăpīllō

tūm cūm pāx ēssēt; bēllō quŏquĕ saēpĕ sŏlēbāt

spēctāre ēx īllā rĭgĭdī cērtāmĭnă Mārtīs.20

Iāmquĕ mŏrā bēllī prŏcĕrūm quŏquĕ nōmĭnă nōrāt

ārmăque ĕquōsque hăbĭtūsquĕ Cўdōnēāsquĕ phărētrās.

Nōvĕrăt ānte ălĭōs făcĭēm dŭcĭs Eūrōpaēī,

plūs ĕtĭām quām nōssĕ săt ēst. Hāc iūdĭcĕ Mīnōs,

seū căpŭt ābdĭdĕrāt crīstātā cāssĭdĕ pēnnīs,25

īn gălĕā fōrmōsŭs ĕrāt; seū sūmpsĕrăt aērĕ

fūlgēntēm clīpeūm, clīpeūm sūmpsīssĕ dĕcēbāt.

Tōrsĕrăt āddūctīs hāstīlĭă lēntă lăcērtīs;

laūdābāt vīrgō iūnctām cūm vīrĭbŭs ārtēm.

Īmpŏsĭtō călămō pătŭlōs sīnvāvĕrăt ārcūs;30

sīc Phoēbūm sūmptīs iūrābāt stārĕ săgīttīs.

Cūm vērō făcĭēm dēmptō nūdāvĕrăt aērĕ

pūrpŭrĕūsque ālbī strātīs īnsīgnĭă pīctīs

tērgă prĕmēbăt ĕquī spūmāntĭăque ōră rĕgēbāt,

vīx sŭă, vīx sānaē vīrgō Nīsēĭă cōmpōs35

mēntĭs ĕrāt; fēlīx iăcŭlūm, quōd tāngĕrĕt īllĕ,

quaēquĕ mănū prĕmĕrēt, fēlīcĭă frēnă vŏcābāt.

Īmpĕtŭs ēst īllī, lĭcĕāt mŏdŏ, fērrĕ pĕr āgmēn

vīrgĭnĕōs hōstīlĕ grădūs, ēst īmpĕtŭs īllī

tūrrĭbŭs ē sūmmīs īn Gnōsĭă mīttĕrĕ cōrpūs40

cāstră, vĕl aērātās hōstī rēclūdĕrĕ pōrtās,

vēl sīquīd Mīnōs ălĭūd vĕlĭt; ūtquĕ sĕdēbāt

cāndĭdă Dīctaēī spēctāns tēctōrĭă rēgīs:

"Laētĕr" ăīt "dŏlĕāmnĕ gĕrī lăcrĭmābĭlĕ bēllūm,

īn dŭbĭo ēst; dŏlĕō quōd Mīnōs hōstĭs ămānti ēst;45

sēd nĭsĭ bēllă fŏrēnt, nūmquām mĭhĭ cōgnĭtŭs ēssēt.

Mē tămĕn āccēptā pŏtĕrāt dēpōnĕrĕ bēllūm

ōbsĭdĕ; mē cŏmĭtēm, mē pācīs pīgnŭs hăbērēt.

Sī quaē tē pĕpĕrīt tālīs, pūlchērrĭmĕ rēgūm,

quālĭs ĕs, īpsă fŭīt, mĕrĭtō dĕŭs ārsĭt ĭn īllā.50

Ō | ĕgŏ tēr fēlīx, sī pēnnīs lāpsă pĕr aūrās

Gnōsĭăcī pōssēm cāstrīs īnsīstĕrĕ rēgīs

fāssăquĕ mē flāmmāsquĕ mĕās, quā dōtĕ, rŏgārēm,

vēllĕt ĕmī; tāntūm pătrĭās nē pōscĕrĕt ārcēs.

Nām pĕrĕānt pŏtĭūs spērātă cŭbīlĭă quām sīm55

prōdītiōnĕ pŏtēns; quāmvīs saēpe ūtĭlĕ vīncī

vīctōrīs plăcĭdī fēcīt clēmēntĭă mūltīs.

Iūstă gĕrīt cērtē prō nātō bēllă pĕrēmptō

ēt caūsāquĕ vălēt caūsāmquĕ tŭēntĭbŭs ārmīs;

ēt, pŭtŏ, vīncēmūr. Quĭs ĕnīm mănĕt ēxĭtŭs ūrbēm?60

Cūr sŭŭs haēc īllī rĕsĕrēt mĕă moēnĭă Māvōrs

ēt nōn nōstĕr ămōr? Mĕlĭūs sĭnĕ caēdĕ mŏrāquĕ

īmpēnsāquĕ sŭī pŏtĕrīt sŭpĕrārĕ crŭōrīs.

Nōn mĕtŭām cērtē nē quīs tŭă pēctŏră, Mīnōs,

vūlnĕrĕt īmprūdēns; quĭs ĕnīm tām dūrŭs, ŭt īn tē65

dīrĭgĕre īnmītēm nōn īnscĭŭs aūdĕăt hāstām?

Coēptă plăcēnt ēt stāt sēntēntĭă trādĕrĕ mēcūm

dōtālēm pătrĭām fīnēmque īmpōnĕrĕ bēllō.

Vērūm vēllĕ părum ēst; ădĭtūs cūstōdĭă sērvāt

claūstrăquĕ pōrtārūm gĕnĭtōr tĕnĕt; hūnc ĕgŏ sōlūm70

īnfēlīx tĭmĕō, sōlūs mĕă vōtă mŏrātūr.

Dī făcĕrēnt sĭnĕ pātrĕ fŏrēm! Sĭbĭ quīsquĕ prŏfēctō

ēst dĕŭs; īgnāvīs prĕcĭbūs Fōrtūnă rĕpūgnāt.

Āltĕră iāmdūdūm sūccēnsă cŭpīdĭnĕ tāntō

pērdĕrĕ gaūdērēt quōdcūmque ōbstārĕt ămōrī.75

Ēt cūr ūllă fŏrēt mē fōrtĭŏr? Īrĕ pĕr īgnēs

ēt glădĭōs aūsīm; nĕc ĭn hōc tămĕn īgnĭbŭs ūllīs

aūt glădĭīs ŏpŭs ēst; ŏpŭs ēst mĭhĭ crīnĕ pătērnō;

īllĕ mĭhi ēst aūrō prĕtĭōsĭŏr, īllă bĕātām

pūrpŭră mē vōtīquĕ mĕī fāctūră pŏtēntēm."80

Tālĭă dīcēntī cūrārūm māxĭmă nūtrīx

nōx īntērvēnīt tĕnĕbrīsque aūdācĭă crēvīt.

Prīmă quĭēs ădĕrāt quā cūrīs fēssă dĭūrnīs

pēctŏră sōmnŭs hăbēt; thălămōs tăcĭtūrnă pătērnōs

īntrăt ĕt, heū făcĭnūs! fātālī nātă părēntēm85

crīnĕ sŭūm spŏlĭāt praēdāquĕ pŏtītă nĕfāndā

fērt sēcūm spŏlĭūm cĕlĕrīs prōgrēssăquĕ pōrtā

pēr mĕdĭōs hōstīs (mĕrĭtī fīdūcĭă tānta ēst)

pērvĕnĭt ād rēgēm; quēm sīc āffātă păvēntem ēst:

Suāsĭt ămōr făcĭnūs; prōlēs ĕgŏ rēgĭă Nīsī90

Scŷllă tĭbī trādō pătrĭaēquĕ mĕōsquĕ pĕnātēs.

Praēmĭă nūllă pĕtō, nĭsĭ tē; căpĕ pīgnŭs ămōrīs

pūrpŭrĕūm crīnēm nēc mē nūnc trādĕrĕ crīnēm,

sēd pătrĭūm tĭbĭ crēdĕ căpūt;" scĕlĕrātăquĕ dēxtrā

mūnĕră pōrrēxīt. Mīnōs pōrrēctă rĕfūgīt95

tūrbātūsquĕ nŏvī rēspōndĭt ĭmāgĭnĕ fāctī:

"Dī tē sūmmŏvĕānt, ō nōstri īnfāmĭă saēclī,

ōrbĕ sŭō tēllūsquĕ tĭbī pōntūsquĕ nĕgētūr!

Cērte ĕgŏ nōn pătĭār Iŏvĭs īncūnābŭlă, Crētēn,

quī mĕŭs ēst ōrbīs, tāntūm cōntīngĕrĕ mōnstrūm."100

Dīxĭt ĕt, ūt lēgēs cāptīs iūstīssĭmŭs aūctōr

hōstĭbŭs īmpŏsŭīt, clāssīs rĕtĭnācŭlă sōlvī

iūssĭt ĕt aērātās īmplērī rēmĭgĕ pūppēs.

Scŷllă frĕtō pōstquām dēdūctās nārĕ cărīnās

nēc praēstārĕ dŭcēm scĕlĕrīs sĭbĭ praēmĭă vīdīt,105

cōnsūmptīs prĕcĭbūs, vĭŏlēntām trānsĭt ĭn īrām

īntēndēnsquĕ mănūs, pāssīs fŭrĭbūndă căpīllīs:

"Quō fŭgĭs," ēxclāmāt "mĕrĭtōrum aūctōrĕ rĕlīctā,

ō pătrĭaē praēlātĕ mĕaē, praēlātĕ părēntī?

Quō fŭgĭs, īnmītīs, cūiūs vīctōrĭă nōstrūm110

ēt scĕlŭs ēt mĕrĭtum ēst? Nēc tē dătă mūnĕră, nēc tē

nōstĕr ămōr mōvīt, nēc quōd spēs ōmnĭs ĭn ūnūm

tē mĕă cōngēsta ēst? Nām quō dēsērtă rĕvērtār?

Īn pătrĭām? Sŭpĕrātă iăcēt. Sēd fīngĕ mănērĕ;

prōdītiōnĕ mĕā claūsa ēst mĭhĭ. Pātrĭs ăd ōră,115

quēm tĭbĭ dōnāvī? Cīvēs ōdērĕ mĕrēntēm;

fīnĭtĭmi ēxēmplūm mĕtŭūnt; ōbstrūxĭmŭs ōrbēm

tērrārūm nōbīs, ūt Crētē sōlă pătērēt.

Hāc quŏquĕ sī prŏhĭbēs, ēt nōs, īngrātĕ, rĕlīnquīs,

nōn gĕnĕtrīx Eūrōpă tĭbi ēst, sĕd ĭnhōspĭtă Sŷrtīs,120

Ārmĕnĭaē tīgrēs Aūstrōque ăgĭtātă Chărŷbdīs.

Nēc Iŏvĕ tū nātūs, nēc mātĕr ĭmāgĭnĕ taūrī

dūctă tŭa ēst; gĕnĕrīs fālsa ēst ĕă fābŭlă; vērūs

ēt fĕrŭs ēt cāptūs nūllīŭs ămōrĕ iŭvēncaē,

quī tē prōgĕnŭīt, taūrūs fŭĭt. Ēxĭgĕ poēnās,125

Nīsĕ pătēr. Gaūdētĕ mălīs, mŏdŏ prōdĭtă, nōstrīs

moēnĭă. Nām fătĕōr, mērvi ēt sūm dīgnă pĕrīrĕ.

Sēd tămĕn ēx īllīs ălĭquīs, quōs īmpĭă laēsī,

mē pĕrĭmāt. Cūr, quī vīcīstī crīmĭnĕ nōstrō,

īnsĕquĕrīs crīmēn? Scĕlŭs hōc pătrĭaēquĕ pătrīquĕ,130

ōffĭcĭūm tĭbĭ sīt. ē vērō cōniŭgĕ dīgna ēst

quaē tōrvūm līgnō dēcēpĭt ădūltĕră taūrūm

dīscōrdēmque ŭtĕrō fētūm tŭlĭt. Ēcquĭd ăd aūrēs

pērvĕnĭūnt mĕă dīctă tŭās? Ăn ĭnānĭă vēntī

vērbă fĕrūnt īdēmquĕ tŭās, īngrātĕ, cărīnās?135

Iām iām Pāsĭphăēn nōn ēst mīrābĭlĕ taūrūm

praēpŏsŭīssĕ tĭbī; tū plūs fĕrĭtātĭs hăbēbās.

Mē mĭsĕrām! Prŏpĕrārĕ iŭbēt dīvōlsăquĕ rēmīs

ūndă sŏnāt mēcūmquĕ sĭmūl mĕă tērră rĕcēdīt.

Nīl ăgĭs, ō frūstrā mĕrĭtōrum ōblītĕ mĕōrūm;140

īnsĕquăr īnvītūm pūppīmque āmplēxă rĕcūrvām

pēr frĕtă lōngă trăhār." Vīx dīxĕrăt, īnsĭlĭt ūndīs

cōnsĕquĭtūrquĕ rătēs, făcĭēntĕ cŭpīdĭnĕ vīrēs,

Gnōsĭăcaēque haērēt cŏmĕs īnvĭdĭōsă cărīnaē.

Quām pătĕr ūt vīdīt (nām iām pēndēbăt ĭn aūrā145

ēt mŏdŏ fāctŭs ĕrāt fūlvīs hălĭaēĕtŭs ālīs),

ībăt, ŭt haērēntēm rōstrō lăcĕrārĕt ădūncō.

Īllă mĕtū pūppīm dīmīsĭt ĕt aūră cădēntēm

sūstĭnŭīssĕ lĕvīs, nē tāngĕrĕt aēquŏră, vīsa ēst;

plūmă fŭīt; plūmīs ĭn ăvēm mūtātă vŏcātūr150

cīrĭs ĕt ā tōnso ēst hōc nōmĕn ădēptă căpīllō.

Vōtă Iŏvī Mīnōs taūrōrūm cōrpŏră cēntūm

sōlvĭt, ŭt ēgrēssūs rătĭbūs Cūrētĭdă tērrām

cōntĭgĭt, ēt spŏlĭīs dĕcŏrāta ēst rēgĭă fīxīs.

Crēvĕrăt ōpprŏbrĭūm gĕnĕrīs foēdūmquĕ pătēbāt155

mātrĭs ădūltĕrĭūm mōnstrī nŏvĭtātĕ bĭfōrmīs.

Dēstĭnăt hūnc Mīnōs thălămī rĕmŏvērĕ pŭdōrēm

mūltĭplĭcīquĕ dŏmō caēsīsque īnclūdĕrĕ tēctīs.

Daēdălŭs īngĕnĭō fābraē cĕlĕbērrĭmŭs ārtīs

pōnĭt ŏpūs tūrbātquĕ nŏtās ēt lūmĭnă flēxū160

dūcĭt ĭn ērrōrēm vărĭārum āmbāgĕ vĭārūm.

Nōn sĕcŭs āc lĭquĭdīs Phrŷgīūs Maeāndrŭs ĭn ūndīs

lūdĭt ĕt āmbĭgŭō lāpsū rĕflŭītquĕ flŭītquĕ

ōccūrrēnsquĕ sĭbī vēntūrās āspĭcĭt ūndās

ēt nūnc ād fōntēs, nūnc ād mărĕ vērsŭs ăpērtūm165

īncērtās ēxērcĕt ăquās, ĭtă Daēdălŭs īmplēt

īnnŭmĕrās ērrōrĕ vĭās; vīxque īpsĕ rĕvērtī

ād līmēn pŏtŭīt; tānta ēst fāllācĭă tēctī.

Quō pōstquām gĕmĭnām taūrī iŭvĕnīsquĕ fĭgūrām

claūsĭt ĕt Āctaēō bīs pāstūm sānguĭnĕ mōnstrūm170

tērtĭă sōrs ānnīs dŏmŭīt rĕpĕtītă nŏvēnīs

ūtque ŏpĕ vīrgĭnĕā nūllīs ĭtĕrātă prĭōrūm

iānŭă dīffĭcĭlīs fīlo ēst īnvēntă rĕlēctō,

prōtĭnŭs Aēgīdēs rāptā Mīnōĭdĕ Dīām

vēlă dĕdīt cŏmĭtēmquĕ sŭām crūdēlĭs ĭn īllō175

lītŏrĕ dēstĭtŭīt. Dēsērtae ēt mūltă quĕrēntī

āmplēxūs ĕt ŏpēm Lībēr tŭlĭt, ūtquĕ pĕrēnnī

sīdĕrĕ clāră fŏrēt, sūmptām dē frōntĕ cŏrōnām

īmmīsīt caēlō. Tēnvēs vŏlăt īllă pĕr aūrās

dūmquĕ vŏlāt, gēmmaē nĭtĭdōs vērtūntŭr ĭn īgnēs180

cōnsīstūntquĕ lŏcō, spĕcĭē rĕmănēntĕ cŏrōnaē,

quī mĕdĭūs Nīxīquĕ gĕnu ēst Ānguēmquĕ tĕnēntīs.

Daēdălŭs īntĕrĕā Crētēn lōngūmquĕ pĕrōsūs

ēxsĭlĭūm tāctūsquĕ lŏcī nātālĭs ămōrĕ,

claūsŭs ĕrāt pĕlăgō. "Tērrās lĭcĕt" īnquĭt "ĕt ūndās185

ōbstrŭăt, āt caēlūm cērtē pătĕt. Ībĭmŭs īllāc;

ōmnĭă pōssĭdĕāt, nōn pōssĭdĕt āĕră Mīnōs."

Dīxĭt ĕt īgnōtās ănĭmūm dīmīttĭt ĭn ārtēs

nātūrāmquĕ nŏvāt. Nām pōnĭt ĭn ōrdĭnĕ pēnnās,

ā mĭnĭmā coēptās, lōngām brĕvĭōrĕ sĕquēntī,190

ūt clīvō crēvīssĕ pŭtēs; sīc rūstĭcă quōndām

fīstŭlă dīspărĭbūs paūlātīm sūrgĭt ăvēnīs.

Tūm līnō mĕdĭās ēt cērīs āllĭgăt īmās

ātque ĭtă cōmpŏsĭtās pārvō cūrvāmĭnĕ flēctīt,

ūt vērās ĭmĭtētŭr ăvēs. Pŭĕr Īcărŭs ūnā195

stābăt ĕt, īgnārūs sŭă sē trāctārĕ pĕrīclă,

ōrĕ rĕnīdēntī mŏdŏ, quās văgă mōvĕrăt aūră,

cāptābāt plūmās, flāvām mŏdŏ pōllĭcĕ cērām

mōllībāt lūsūquĕ sŭō mīrābĭlĕ pātrīs

īmpĕdĭēbăt ŏpūs. Pōstquām mănŭs ūltĭmă coēptō200

īmpŏsĭta ēst, gĕmĭnās ŏpĭfēx lībrāvĭt ĭn ālās

īpsĕ sŭūm cōrpūs mōtāquĕ pĕpēndĭt ĭn aūrā.

Īnstrŭĭt ēt nātūm: "Mĕdĭō"que "ūt līmĭtĕ cūrrās,

Īcăre," ăīt "mŏnĕō, nē, sī dēmīssĭŏr ībīs,

ūndă grăvēt pēnnās, sī cēlsĭŏr, īgnĭs ădūrāt.205

Īntĕr ŭtrūmquĕ vŏlā. Nēc tē spēctārĕ Bŏōtēn

aūt Hĕlĭcēn iŭbĕō strīctūmque Ōrīŏnĭs ēnsēm;

mē dŭcĕ cārpĕ vĭām." Părĭtēr praēcēptă vŏlāndī

trādĭt ĕt īgnōtās ŭmĕrīs āccōmmŏdăt ālās.

Īntĕr ŏpūs mŏnĭtūsquĕ gĕnaē māduērĕ sĕnīlēs210

ēt pătrĭaē trĕmŭērĕ mănūs. Dĕdĭt ōscŭlă nātō

nōn ĭtĕrūm rĕpĕtēndă sŭō pēnnīsquĕ lĕvātūs

āntĕ vŏlāt cŏmĭtīquĕ tĭmēt, vĕlŭt ālĕs, ăb āltō

quaē tĕnĕrām prōlēm prōdūxĭt ĭn āĕră nīdō;

hōrtātūrquĕ sĕquī dāmnōsāsque ērŭdĭt ārtēs215

ēt mŏvĕt īpsĕ sŭās ēt nātī rēspĭcĭt ālās.

Hōs ălĭquīs trĕmŭlā dūm cāptăt hărūndĭnĕ pīscēs,

aūt pāstōr băcŭlō stīvāve īnnīxŭs ărātōr

vīdĭt ĕt ōbstĭpŭīt, quīque aēthĕră cārpĕrĕ pōssēnt,

crēdĭdĭt ēssĕ dĕōs. Ēt iām Iūnōnĭă laēvā220

pārtĕ Sămōs (fŭĕrānt Dēlōsquĕ Părōsquĕ rĕlīctaē),

dēxtră Lĕbīnthŏs ĕrāt fēcūndăquĕ mēllĕ Călŷmnē,

cūm pŭĕr aūdācī coēpīt gaūdērĕ vŏlātū

dēsērvītquĕ dŭcēm caēlīquĕ cŭpīdĭnĕ trāctūs

āltĭŭs ēgĭt ĭtēr. Răpĭdī vīcīnĭă sōlīs225

mōllĭt ŏdōrātās, pēnnārūm vīncŭlă, cērās;

tābŭĕrānt cēraē; nūdōs quătĭt īllĕ lăcērtōs

rēmĭgĭōquĕ cărēns nōn ūllās pērcĭpĭt aūrās

ōrăquĕ caērŭlĕā pătrĭūm clāmāntĭă nōmēn

ēxcīpiūntŭr ăquā, quaē nōmēn trāxĭt ăb īllō.230

Āt pătĕr īnfēlīx, nēc iām pătĕr: "Īcărĕ," dīxīt

"Īcărĕ," dīxĭt "ŭbi ēs? Quā tē rĕgĭōnĕ rĕquīrām?"

"Īcărĕ," dīcēbāt; pēnnās āspēxĭt ĭn ūndīs

dēvōvītquĕ sŭās ārtēs cōrpūsquĕ sĕpūlcrō

cōndĭdĭt; ēt tēllūs ā nōmĭnĕ dīctă sĕpūltī.235

Hūnc mĭsĕrī tŭmŭlō pōnēntēm cōrpŏră nātī

gārrŭlă līmōsō prōspēxĭt ăb ēlĭcĕ pērdīx

ēt plaūsīt pēnnīs tēstātăquĕ gaūdĭă cāntu ēst;

ūnĭcă tūnc vŏlŭcrīs nēc vīsă prĭōrĭbŭs ānnīs

fāctăquĕ nūpĕr ăvīs, lōngūm tĭbĭ, Daēdălĕ, crīmēn.240

Nāmque huīc trādĭdĕrāt, fātōrum īgnāră, dŏcēndām

prōgĕnĭēm gērmānă sŭām, nātālĭbŭs āctīs

bīs pŭĕrūm sēnīs, ănĭmi ād praēcēptă căpācīs.

Īlle ĕtĭām mĕdĭō spīnās īn pīscĕ nŏtātās

trāxĭt ĭn ēxēmplūm fērrōque īncīdĭt ăcūtō245

pērpĕtŭōs dēntēs ēt sērraē rēppĕrĭt ūsūm.

Prīmŭs ĕt ēx ūnō dŭŏ fērrĕă brācchĭă nōdō

vīnxĭt, ŭt aēquālī spătĭō dīstāntĭbŭs īllīs

āltĕră pārs stārēt, pārs āltĕră dūcĕrĕt ōrbēm.

Daēdălŭs īnvīdīt sācrāque ēx ārcĕ Mĭnērvaē250

praēcĭpĭtēm mīsīt, lāpsūm mēntītŭs; ăt īllūm,

quaē făvĕt īngĕnĭīs, ēxcēpīt Pāllăs ăvēmquĕ

rēddĭdĭt ēt mĕdĭō vēlāvĭt ĭn āĕrĕ pēnnīs.

Sēd vĭgŏr īngĕnĭī quōndām vēlōcĭs ĭn ālās

īnquĕ pĕdēs ăbĭīt; nōmēn, quŏd ĕt āntĕ, rĕmānsīt.255

Nōn tămĕn haēc āltē vŏlŭcrīs sŭă cōrpŏră tōllīt

nēc făcĭt īn rāmīs āltōquĕ căcūmĭnĕ nīdōs;

prōptĕr hŭmūm vŏlĭtāt pōnītque īn saēpĭbŭs ōvă

āntīquīquĕ mĕmōr mĕtŭīt sūblīmĭă cāsūs.

Iāmquĕ fătīgātūm tēllūs Aētnaēă tĕnēbāt260

Daēdălŏn ēt sūmptīs prō sūpplĭcĕ Cōcălŭs ārmīs

mītĭs hăbēbātūr; iām lāmēntābĭle Ăthēnaē

pēndĕrĕ dēsĭĕrānt Thēsēā laūdĕ trĭbūtūm.

Tēmplă cŏrōnāntūr bēllātrīcēmquĕ Mĭnērvām

cūm Iŏvĕ dīsquĕ vŏcānt ălĭīs, quōs sānguĭnĕ vōtō265

mūnĕrĭbūsquĕ dătīs ĕt ăcērvīs tūrĭs ădōrānt.

Spārsĕrăt Ārgŏlĭcās nōmēn văgă fāmă pĕr ūrbēs

Thēsĕŏs ēt pŏpŭlī, quōs dīvĕs Ăchāĭă cēpīt,

hūiŭs ŏpēm māgnīs īmplōrāvērĕ pĕrīclīs.

hūiŭs ŏpēm Călўdōn, quāmvīs Mĕlĕāgrŏn hăbērēt,270

sōllĭcĭtā sūpplēx pĕtĭīt prĕcĕ; caūsă pĕtēndī

sūs ĕrăt, īnfēstaē fămŭlūs vīndēxquĕ Dĭānaē.

Oēnĕă nāmquĕ fĕrūnt plēnī sūccēssĭbŭs ānnī

prīmĭtĭās frūgūm Cĕrĕrī, sŭă vīnă Lўaēō,

Pāllădĭōs flāvaē lătĭcēs lībāssĕ Mĭnērvaē.275

Coēptŭs ăb āgrĭcŏlīs sŭpĕrōs pērvēnĭt ăd ōmnēs

āmbĭtĭōsŭs hŏnōr; sōlās sĭnĕ tūrĕ rĕlīctās,

praētĕrĭtās cēssāssĕ fĕrūnt Lātōĭdŏs ārās.

Tāngĭt ĕt īră dĕōs. "Āt nōn īmpūnĕ fĕrēmūs,

quaēque ĭnhŏnōrātaē, nōn ēt dīcēmŭr ĭnūltaē."280

Īnquĭt ĕt Oēnīōs ūltōrēm sprētă pĕr āgrōs

mīsĭt ăprūm, quāntō māiōrēs hērbĭdă taūrōs

nōn hăbĕt Ēpīrōs sĕd hăbēnt Sĭcŭla ārvă mĭnōrēs.

Sānguĭne ĕt īgnĕ mĭcānt ŏcŭlī, rĕgĕt hōrrĭdă cērvīx

ēt saētaē sĭmĭlēs rĭgĭdīs hāstīlĭbŭs hōrrēnt;285

[stānquĕ vĕlūt vāllūm, vĕlŭt ālta hāstīlĭă saētaē]

fērvĭdă cūm raūcō lātōs strīdōrĕ pĕr ārmōs

spūmă flŭīt, dēntēs aēquāntūr dēntĭbŭs Īndīs;

fūlmĕn ăb ōrĕ vĕnīt, frōndēs āfflātĭbŭs ārdēnt.

Īs mŏdŏ crēscēntēs sĕgĕtēs prōcūlcăt ĭn hērbā,290

nūnc mātūră mĕtīt flētūrī vōtă cŏlōnī

ēt Cĕrĕrem īn spīcīs īntērcĭpĭt. Ārĕă frūstrā

ēt frūstra ēxspēctānt prōmīssās hōrrĕă mēssēs.

Stērnūntūr grăvĭdī lōngō cūm pālmĭtĕ fētūs

bācăquĕ cūm rāmīs sēmpēr frōndēntĭs ŏlīvaē.295

Saēvĭt ĕt īn pĕcŭdēs; nōn hās pāstōrvĕ cănīsvĕ,

nōn ārmēntă trŭcēs pōssūnt dēfēndĕrĕ taūrī.

Dīffŭgĭūnt pŏpŭlī nēc sē nĭsĭ moēnĭbŭs ūrbīs

ēssĕ pŭtānt tūtōs, dōnēc Mĕlĕāgrŏs ĕt ūnā

lēctă mănūs iŭvĕnūm cŏĭērĕ cŭpīdĭnĕ laūdīs;300

Tŷndărĭdaē gĕmĭnī, spēctāndūs caēstĭbŭs āltēr,

āltĕr ĕquō prīmaēquĕ rătīs mōlītŏr Ĭāsōn

ēt cūm Pīrĭthŏō, fēlīx cōncōrdĭă, Thēseūs

ēt dŭŏ Thēstĭădaē, prōlēsque Ăphărēĭă, Lŷnceūs

ēt vēlōx Īdās ēt iām nōn fēmĭnă Caēneūs305

Leūcīppūsquĕ fĕrōx iăcŭlōque īnsīgnĭs Ăcāstūs

Hīppōthoūsquĕ Drўāsque ēt crētŭs Ămŷntŏrĕ Phoēnīx

Āctŏrĭdaēquĕ părēs ēt mīssŭs ăb Ēlĭdĕ Phŷleūs.

Nēc Tĕlămōn ăbĕrāt māgnīquĕ crĕātŏr Ăchīllīs

cūmquĕ Phĕrētĭăde ēt Hŷāntēō | Ĭŏlāō310

īmpĭgĕr Eūrўtĭōn ēt cūrsu īnvīctŭs Ĕchīōn

Nārўcĭūsquĕ Lĕlēx Pănŏpeūsque Hўlĕūsquĕ fĕrōxquĕ

Hīppăsŭs ēt prīmīs ĕtĭāmnūm Nēstŏr ĭn ānnīs

ēt quōs Hīppŏcŏōn āntīquīs mīsĭt Ămŷclīs

Pēnĕlŏpaēquĕ sŏcēr cūm Pārrhăsĭō | Āncaēō315

Āmpўcĭdēsquĕ săgāx ĕt ădhūc ā cōniŭgĕ tūtūs

Oēclīdēs nĕmŏrīsquĕ dĕcūs Tĕgĕaēă Lўcaēī.

Rāsĭlĭs huīc sūmmām mōrdēbāt fībŭlă vēstēm,

crīnĭs ĕrāt sīmplēx, nōdūm cōllēctŭs ĭn ūnūm;

ēx ŭmĕrō pēndēns rĕsŏnābăt ĕbūrnĕă laēvō320

tēlōrūm cūstōs, ārcūm quŏquĕ laēvă tĕnēbāt.

Tālĭs ĕrāt cūltū; făcĭēs, quām dīcĕrĕ vērē

vīrgĭnĕam īn pŭĕrō, pŭĕrīlem īn vīrgĭnĕ pōssīs.

Hānc părĭtēr vīdīt, părĭtēr Călўdōnĭŭs hērōs

ōptāvīt rēnvēntĕ dĕō; flāmmāsquĕ lătēntēs325

haūsĭt ĕt: "Ō fēlīx, sīquēm dīgnābĭtŭr" īnquīt

"īstă vĭrūm!" Nēc plūră sĭnīt tēmpūsquĕ pŭdōrquĕ

dīcĕrĕ; māiŭs ŏpūs māgnī cērtāmĭnĭs ūrgēt.

Sīlvă frĕquēns trăbĭbūs, quām nūllă cĕcīdĕrăt aētās,

īncĭpĭt ā plānō dēvēxăquĕ prōspĭcĭt ārvă.330

Quō pōstquām vēnērĕ vĭrī, pārs rētĭă tēndūnt,

vīncŭlă pārs ădĭmūnt cănĭbūs, pārs prēssă sĕquūntūr

sīgnă pĕdūm cŭpĭūntquĕ sŭūm rĕpĕrīrĕ pĕrīclūm.

Cōncăvă vāllĭs ĕrāt, quō sē dēmīttĕrĕ rīvī

āssŭĕrānt plŭvĭālĭs ăquaē; tĕnĕt īmă lăcūnaē335

lēntă sălīx ūlvaēquĕ lĕvēs iūncīquĕ pălūstrēs

vīmĭnăque ēt lōngā pārvaē sŭb hărūndĭnĕ cānnaē.

Hīnc căpĕr ēxcītūs mĕdĭōs vĭŏlēntŭs ĭn hōstēs

fērtŭr, ŭt ēxcūssīs ēlīsī nūbĭbŭs īgnēs.

Stērnĭtŭr īncūrsū nĕmŭs ēt prōpūlsă frăgōrēm340

sīlvă dăt; ēxclāmānt iŭvĕnēs praētēntăquĕ fōrtī

tēlă tĕnēnt dēxtrā lātō vībrāntĭă fērrō.

Īllĕ rŭīt spārgītquĕ cănēs, ūt quīsquĕ fŭrēntī

ōbstăt, ĕt ōblīquō lātrāntēs dīssĭpăt īctū.

Cūspĭs Ĕchīŏnĭō prīmūm cōntōrtă lăcērtō345

vānă fŭīt trūncōquĕ dĕdīt lĕvĕ vūlnŭs ăcērnō.

Prōxĭmă, sī nĭmĭīs mīttēntīs vīrĭbŭs ūsă

nōn fŏrĕt, īn tērgō vīsa ēst haēsūră pĕtītō;

lōngĭŭs īt; aūctōr tēlī Păgăsaēŭs Ĭāsōn.

"Phoēbe" ăĭt Āmpўcĭdēs "sī tē cŏlŭīquĕ cŏlōquĕ,350

dā mĭhĭ quōd pĕtĭtūr cērtō cōntīngĕrĕ tēlō."

Quā pŏtŭīt, prĕcĭbūs dĕŭs ānnŭĭt; īctŭs ăb īllo ēst,

sēd sĭnĕ vūlnĕre, ăpēr; fērrūm Dīānă vŏlāntī

ābstŭlĕrāt iăcŭlō, līgnūm sĭne ăcūmĭnĕ vēnīt.

Īră fĕrī mōta ēst nēc fūlmĭnĕ lēnĭŭs ārsīt;355

ēmĭcăt ēx ŏcŭlīs, spīrāt quŏquĕ pēctŏrĕ flāmmă;

ūtquĕ vŏlāt mōlēs āddūctō cōncĭtă nērvō,

cūm pĕtĭt aūt mūrōs aūt plēnās mīlĭtĕ tūrrēs,

īn iŭvĕnēs cērtō sīc īmpĕtĕ vūlnĭfĭcūs sūs

fērtŭr ĕt Hīppālmōn Pĕlăgōnăquĕ, dēxtră tŭēntēs360

cōrnŭă, prōstērnīt. Sŏcĭī răpŭērĕ iăcēntēs.

Āt nōn lētĭfĕrōs ēffūgĭt Ĕnaēsĭmŭs īctūs

Hīppŏcŏōntĕ sătūs; trĕpĭdāntem ēt tērgă părāntēm

vērtĕrĕ sūccīsō līquērūnt pōplĭtĕ nērvī.

Fōrsĭtăn ēt Pўlĭūs cītrā Trōiānă pĕrīssēt365

tēmpŏră; sēd sūmptō pŏsĭtā cōnāmĭne ăb hāstā

ārbŏrĭs īnsīlvīt, quaē stābāt prōxĭmă, rāmīs

dēspēxītquĕ, lŏcō tūtūs, quēm fūgĕrăt hōstēm.

Dēntĭbŭs īllĕ fĕrōx īn quērnō stīpĭtĕ trīstīs

īmmĭnĕt ēxĭtĭō fīdēnsquĕ rĕcēntĭbŭs ārmīs370

Eūrўtĭdaē māgnī rōstrō fĕmŭr haūsĭt ădūncō.

Āt gĕmĭnī, nōndūm caēlēstĭă sīdĕră, frātrēs,

āmbō cōnspĭcŭī, nĭvĕ cāndĭdĭōrĭbŭs āmbō

vēctābāntŭr ĕquīs, āmbō vībrātă pĕr aūrās

hāstārūm trĕmŭlō quătĭēbānt spīcŭlă mōtū.375

Vūlnĕră fēcīssēnt, nĭsĭ saētĭgĕr īntĕr ŏpācās

nēc iăcŭlīs īssēt nĕc ĕquō lŏcă pērvĭă sīlvās.

Pērsĕquĭtūr Tĕlămōn stŭdĭōque īncaūtŭs ĕūndī

prōnŭs ăb ārbŏrĕā cĕcĭdīt rādīcĕ rĕtēntūs.

Dūm lĕvăt hūnc Pēleūs, cĕlĕrēm Tĕgĕaēă săgīttām380

īmpŏsŭīt nērvō sĭnŭātōque ēxpŭlĭt ārcū.

Fīxă sŭb aūrĕ fĕrī sūmmūm dēstrīnxĭt hărūndŏ

cōrpŭs ĕt ēxĭgŭō rŭbĕfēcīt sānguĭnĕ saētās;

nēc tămĕn īllă sŭī sūccēssū laētĭŏr īctūs

quām Mĕlĕāgrŏs ĕrāt; prīmūs vīdīssĕ pŭtātūr385

ēt prīmūs sŏcĭīs vīsum ōstēndīssĕ crŭōrēm

ēt "mĕrĭtūm" dīxīssĕ "fĕrēs vīrtūtĭs hŏnōrēm."

Ērŭbŭērĕ vĭrī sēque ēxhōrtāntŭr ĕt āddūnt

cūm clāmōre ănĭmōs iăcĭūntquĕ sĭne ōrdĭnĕ tēlă;

tūrbă nŏcēt iāctīs ēt, quōs pĕtĭt, īmpĕdĭt īctūs.390

Ēccĕ fŭrēns cōntrā sŭă fātă bĭpēnnĭfĕr Ārcās:

"Dīscĭtĕ fēmĭnĕīs quīd tēlă vĭrīlĭă praēstēnt,

ō iŭvĕnēs ŏpĕrīquĕ mĕō cōncēdĭtĕ" dīxīt.

"Īpsă sŭīs lĭcĕt hūnc Lātōnĭă prōtĕgăt ārmīs,

īnvītā tămĕn hūnc pĕrĭmēt mĕă dēxtră Dĭānā."395

Tālĭă māgnĭlŏquō tŭmĭdūs mĕmŏrāvĕrăt ōrĕ

āncĭpĭtēmquĕ mănū tōllēns ūtrāquĕ sĕcūrīm

īnstĭtĕrāt dĭgĭtīs, prīmōs sūspēnsŭs ĭn ārtūs.

Ōccŭpăt aūdēntēm, quāque ēst vĭă prōxĭmă lētō,

sūmmă fĕrūs gĕmĭnōs dīrēxĭt ăd īnguĭnă dēntēs.400

Cōncĭdĭt Āncaēūs glŏmĕrātăquĕ sānguĭnĕ mūltō

vīscĕră lāpsă flŭūnt mădĕfāctăquĕ tērră crŭōre ēst.

Ībăt ĭn ādvērsūm prōlēs Īxīŏnĭs hōstēm

Pīrĭthŏūs, vălĭdā quătĭēns vēnābŭlă dēxtrā.

Cuī: "Prŏcŭl," Aēgīdēs "ō mē mĭhĭ cārĭŏr," īnquīt405

"pārs ănĭmaē cōnsīstĕ mĕaē. Lĭcĕt ēmĭnŭs ēssĕ

fōrtĭbŭs; Āncaēō nŏcŭīt tĕmĕrārĭă vīrtūs."

Dīxĭt ĕt aērātā tōrsīt grăvĕ cūspĭdĕ cōrnūm;

quō bĕnĕ lībrātō vōtīquĕ pŏtēntĕ fŭtūrō,

ōbstīti ābscīsā frōndōsŭs ăb ārbŏrĕ rāmūs.410

Mīsĭt ĕt Aēsŏnĭdēs iăcŭlūm, quōd cāsŭs ăb īllō

vērtĭt ĭn īmmĕrĭtī fātūm Cĕlădōntĭs ĕt īntēr

īlĭă cōniēctūm tēllūrĕ pĕr īlĭă fīxum ēst.

Āt mănŭs Oēnīdaē vărĭāt mīssīsquĕ dŭābūs

hāstă prĭōr tērrā, mĕdĭō stĕtĭt āltĕră tērgō.415

Nēc mŏră, dūm saēvīt, dūm cōrpŏră vērsăt ĭn ōrbēm

strīdēntēmquĕ nŏvō spūmām cūm sānguĭnĕ fūndīt,

vūlnĕrĭs aūctŏr ădēst hōstēmque īrrītăt ăd īrām

splēndĭdăque ādvērsōs vēnābŭlă cōndĭt ĭn ārmōs.

Gaūdĭă tēstāntūr sŏcĭī clāmōrĕ sĕcūndō420

vīctrīcēmquĕ pĕtūnt dēxtraē cōniūngĕrĕ dēxtrām

īmmānēmquĕ fĕrūm mūltā tēllūrĕ iăcēntēm

mīrāntēs spēctānt nĕque ădhūc cōntīngĕrĕ tūtūm

ēssĕ pŭtānt, sēd tēlă tămēn sŭă quīsquĕ crŭēntāt.

Īpsĕ pĕde īmpŏsĭtō căpŭt ēxĭtĭābĭlĕ prēssīt425

ātque ĭtă: "Sūmĕ mĕī spŏlĭūm, Nōnācrĭă, iūrīs"

dīxĭt "ĕt īn pārtēm vĕnĭāt mĕă glōrĭă tēcūm."

Prōtĭnŭs ēxŭvĭās rĭgĭdīs hōrrēntĭă saētīs

tērgă dăt ēt māgnīs īnsīgnĭă dēntĭbŭs ōră.

Īllī laētĭtĭae ēst cūm mūnĕrĕ mūnĕrĭs aūctōr;430

īnvīdēre ălĭī tōtōque ĕrăt āgmĭnĕ mūrmūr.

Ē quĭbŭs īngēntī tēndēntēs brācchĭă vōcĕ:

"Pōne ăgĕ nēc tĭtŭlōs īntērcĭpĕ, fēmĭnă, nōstrōs,"

Thēstĭădaē clāmānt "nēc tē fīdūcĭă fōrmaē

dēcĭpĭāt, nē sīt lōngē tĭbĭ cāptŭs ămōrĕ435

aūctŏr;" ĕt huīc ădĭmūnt mūnūs, iūs mūnĕrĭs īllī.

Nōn tŭlĭt ēt tŭmĭdā frēndēns Māvōrtĭŭs īrā

"dīscĭtĕ, rāptōrēs ălĭēnī" dīxĭt "hŏnōrīs,

fāctă mĭnīs quāntūm dīstēnt;" haūsītquĕ nĕfāndō

pēctŏră Plēxīppī nīl tālĕ tĭmēntĭă fērrō.440

Tōxĕă, quīd făcĭāt dŭbĭūm părĭtērquĕ vŏlēntēm

ūlcīscī frātrēm frātērnăquĕ fātă tĭmēntēm,

haūd pătĭtūr dŭbĭtārĕ dĭū călĭdūmquĕ prĭōrī

caēdĕ rĕcālfēcīt cōnsōrtī sānguĭnĕ tēlūm.

Dōnă dĕūm tēmplīs nātō vīctōrĕ fĕrēbāt,445

cūm vĭdĕt ēxtīnctōs frātrēs Ālthaēă rĕfērrī.

Quaē plāngōrĕ dătō maēstīs clāmōrĭbŭs ūrbēm

īmplĕt ĕt aūrātīs mūtāvīt vēstĭbŭs ātrās;

āt sĭmŭl ēst aūctōr nĕcĭs ēdĭtŭs, ēxcĭdĭt ōmnīs

lūctŭs ĕt ā lăcrĭmīs īn poēnaē vērsŭs ămōrem ēst.450

Stīpĕs ĕrāt, quēm, cūm pārtūs ēnīxă iăcērēt

Thēstĭăs, īn flāmmām trĭplĭcēs pŏsŭērĕ sŏrōrēs;

stāmĭnăque īnprēssō fātālĭă pōllĭcĕ nēntēs:

"Tēmpŏră" dīxērūnt "ĕădēm līgnōquĕ tĭbīquĕ,

ō mŏdŏ nātĕ, dămūs." Quō pōstquām cārmĭnĕ dīctō455

ēxcēssērĕ dĕaē, flāgrāntēm mātĕr ăb īgnĕ

ērĭpŭīt rāmūm spārsītquĕ lĭquēntĭbŭs ūndīs.

Īllĕ dĭū fŭĕrāt pĕnĕtrālĭbŭs ābdĭtŭs īmīs

sērvātūsquĕ tŭōs, iŭvĕnīs, sērvāvĕrăt ānnōs.

Prōtŭlĭt hūnc gĕnĕtrīx taēdāsque ēt frāgmĭnă pōnī460

īmpĕrăt ēt pŏsĭtīs ĭnĭmīcōs ādmŏvĕt īgnēs.

Tūm cōnātă quătēr flāmmīs īmpōnĕrĕ rāmūm,

coēptă quătēr tĕnŭīt; pūgnāt mātērquĕ sŏrōrquĕ

ēt dīvērsă trăhūnt ūnūm dŭŏ nōmĭnă pēctūs.

Saēpĕ mĕtū scĕlĕrīs pāllēbānt ōră fŭtūrī,465

saēpĕ sŭūm fērvēns ŏcŭlīs dăbăt īră rŭbōrēm;

ēt mŏdŏ nēscĭŏ quīd sĭmĭlīs crūdēlĕ mĭnāntī

vūltŭs ĕrāt, mŏdŏ quēm mĭsĕrērī crēdĕrĕ pōssēs;

cūmquĕ fĕrūs lăcrĭmās ănĭmī sīccāvĕrăt ārdōr,

īnvĕnĭēbāntūr lăcrĭmaē tămĕn. Ūtquĕ cărīnă,470

quām vēntūs vēntōquĕ răpīt cōntrārĭŭs aēstūs,

vīm gĕmĭnām sēntīt pārētque īncērtă dŭōbūs.

Thēstĭăs haūd ălĭtēr dŭbĭīs āffēctĭbŭs ērrāt

īnquĕ vĭcēs pōnīt pŏsĭtāmquĕ rĕsūscĭtăt īrām.

Īncĭpĭt ēssĕ tămēn mĕlĭōr gērmānă părēntĕ475

ēt, cōnsānguĭnĕās ūt sānguĭnĕ lēnĭăt ūmbrās,

īmpĭĕtātĕ pĭa ēst. Nām pōstquām pēstĭfĕr īgnīs

cōnvālvīt: "Rŏgŭs īstĕ crĕmēt mĕă vīscĕră" dīxīt

ūtquĕ mănū dīrā līgnūm fātālĕ tĕnēbāt,

āntĕ sĕpūlcrālēs īnfēlīx ādstĭtĭt ārās,480

"Poēnārūm"quĕ "dĕaē trĭplĭcēs, fŭrĭālĭbŭs," īnquīt

"Eūmĕnĭdēs, sācrīs vūltūs ādvērtĭtĕ vēstrōs.

Ūlcīscōr făcĭōquĕ nĕfās; mōrs mōrtĕ pĭānda ēst,

īn scĕlŭs āddēndūm scĕlŭs ēst, īn fūnĕră fūnūs;

pēr cŏăcērvātōs pĕrĕāt dŏmŭs īmpĭă lūctūs.485

Ān fēlīx Oēneūs nātō vīctōrĕ frŭētūr,

Thēstĭŭs ōrbŭs ĕrīt? Mĕlĭūs lūgēbĭtĭs āmbō.

Vīs mŏdŏ, frātērnī mānēs ănĭmaēquĕ rĕcēntēs,

ōffĭcĭūm sēntītĕ mĕūm māgnōquĕ părātās

āccĭpĭte īnfĕrĭās, ŭtĕrī mălă pīgnŏră nōstrī.490

Eī mĭhĭ! Quō răpĭōr? Frātrēs īgnōscĭtĕ mātrī.

Dēfĭcĭūnt ād coēptă mănūs; mĕrŭīssĕ fătēmūr

īllūm cūr pĕrĕāt; mōrtīs mĭhĭ dīsplĭcĕt aūctōr.

Ērgo īmpūnĕ fĕrēt vīvūsque ēt vīctŏr ĕt īpsō

sūccēssū tŭmĭdūs rēgnūm Călўdōnĭs hăbēbīt,495

vōs cĭnĭs ēxĭgŭūs gĕlĭdaēquĕ iăcēbĭtĭs ūmbraē?

Haūd ĕquĭdēm pătĭār; pĕrĕāt scĕlĕrātŭs ĕt īllĕ

spēmquĕ pătrīs rēgnūmquĕ trăhāt pătrĭaēquĕ rŭīnām.

Mēns ŭbĭ mātērna ēst? Ŭbĭ sūnt pĭă iūră părēntūm

ēt quōs sūstĭnŭī bīs mēnsūm quīnquĕ lăbōrēs?500

Ō | ŭtĭnām prīmīs ārsīssēs īgnĭbŭs īnfāns

īdque ĕgŏ pāssă fŏrēm! Vīxīstī mūnĕrĕ nōstrō;

nūnc mĕrĭtō mŏrĭērĕ tŭō: Căpĕ praēmĭă fāctī

dīsquĕ dătām, prīmūm pārtū, mōx stīpĭtĕ rāptō,

rēdde ănĭmām, vēl mē frātērnīs āddĕ sĕpūlcrīs.505

Ēt cŭpĭo ēt nĕquĕō. Quĭd ăgām? Mŏdŏ vūlnĕră frātrūm

ānte ŏcŭlōs mĭhĭ sūnt ēt tāntaē caēdĭs ĭmāgŏ,

nūnc ănĭmūm pĭĕtās mātērnăquĕ nōmĭnă frāngūnt.

Mē mĭsĕrām! Mălĕ vīncētīs, sēd vīncĭtĕ, frātrēs,

dūmmŏdŏ quaē dĕdĕrō vōbīs sōlācĭă vōsquĕ510

īpsă sĕquār." Dīxīt dēxtrāque āvērsă trĕmēntī

fūnĕrĕūm tōrrēm mĕdĭōs cōniēcĭt ĭn īgnēs.

Aūt dĕdĭt aūt vīsūs gĕmĭtūs ēst īllĕ dĕdīssĕ

stīpĕs ĕt īnvītīs cōrrēptŭs ăb īgnĭbŭs ārsīt.

Īnscĭŭs ātque ābsēns flāmmā Mĕlĕāgrŏs ăb īllā515

ūrĭtŭr ēt caēcīs tōrrērī vīscĕră sēntīt

īgnĭbŭs āc māgnōs sŭpĕrāt vīrtūtĕ dŏlōrēs.

Quōd tămĕn īgnāvō cădăt ēt sĭnĕ sānguĭnĕ lētō,

maērĕt ĕt Āncaēī fēlīcĭă vūlnĕră dīcīt;

grāndaēvūmquĕ pătrēm frātrēsquĕ pĭāsquĕ sŏrōrēs520

cūm gĕmĭtū sŏcĭāmquĕ tŏrī vŏcăt ōrĕ sŭprēmō,

fōrsĭtăn ēt mātrēm. Crēscūnt īgnīsquĕ dŏlōrquĕ,

lānguēscūntque ĭtĕrūm; sĭmŭl ēst ēxtīnctŭs ŭtērquĕ

īnquĕ lĕvēs ăbĭīt paūlātīm spīrĭtŭs aūrās,

paūlātīm cānā prūnām vēlāntĕ făvīllā.525

Āltă iăcēt Călўdōn; lūgēnt iŭvĕnēsquĕ sĕnēsquĕ,

vūlgūsquē prŏcĕrēsquĕ gĕmūnt scīssaēquĕ căpīllōs

plāngūntūr mātrēs Călўdōnĭdĕs Ēvēnīnaē.

Pūlvĕrĕ cānĭtĭēm gĕnĭtōr vūltūsquĕ sĕnīlēs

foēdăt hŭmī fūsūs spătĭōsūmque īncrĕpăt aēvūm.530

Nām dē mātrĕ mănūs dīrī sĭbĭ cōnscĭă fāctī

ēxēgīt poēnās āctō pēr vīscĕră fērrō.

Nōn mĭhĭ sī cēntūm dĕŭs ōră sŏnāntĭă līnguīs

īngĕnĭūmquĕ căpāx tōtūmque Hĕlĭcōnă dĕdīssēt,

trīstĭă pērsĕquĕrēr mĭsĕrārūm dīctă sŏrōrūm.535

Īmmĕmŏrēs dĕcŏrīs līvēntĭă pēctŏră tūndūnt;

dūmquĕ mănēt cōrpūs, cōrpūs rĕfŏvēntquĕ fŏvēntquĕ,

ōscŭlă dānt īpsī, pŏsĭtō dānt ōscŭlă lēctō.

pōst cĭnĕrēm cĭnĕrēs haūstōs ād pēctŏră prēssānt,

āffūsaēquĕ iăcēnt tŭmŭlō sīgnātăquĕ sāxō540

nōmĭnă cōmplēxaē lăcrĭmās īn nōmĭnă fūndūnt.

Quās Pārthāŏnĭaē tāndēm Lātōnĭă clādĕ

ēxsătĭātă dŏmūs, praētēr Gōrgēnquĕ nŭrūmquĕ

nōbĭlĭs Ālcmēnaē, nātīs īn cōrpŏrĕ pēnnīs

āllĕvăt ēt lōngās pēr brācchĭă pōrrĭgĭt ālās545

cōrnĕăque ōră făcīt vērsāsquĕ pĕr āĕră mīttīt.

Īntĕrĕā Thēseūs sŏcĭātī pārtĕ lăbōrīs

fūnctŭs Ĕrēchthēās Trītōnĭdŏs ībăt ăd ārcēs.

Claūsĭt ĭtēr fēcītquĕ mŏrās Ăchĕlōŭs ĕūntī

īmbrĕ tŭmēns. "Sūccēdĕ mĕīs," ăĭt "īnclĭtĕ, tĕctĭs,550

Cēcrŏpĭdā, nēc tē cōmmīttĕ răpācĭbŭs ūndīs.

Fērrĕ trăbēs sŏlĭdās ōblīquăquĕ vōlvĕrĕ māgnō

mūrmŭrĕ sāxă sŏlēnt; vīdī cōntērmĭnă rīpaē

cūm grĕgĭbūs stăbŭla āltă trăhī; nēc fōrtĭbŭs īllīc

prōfŭĭt ārmēntīs, nĕc ĕquīs vēlōcĭbŭs ēssĕ.555

Mūltă quŏque hīc tōrrēns nĭvĭbūs dē mōntĕ sŏlūtīs

cōrpŏră tūrbĭnĕō iŭvĕnālĭă flūmĭnĕ mērsīt.

Tūtĭŏr ēst rĕquĭēs, sŏlĭtō dūm flūmĭnĕ cūrrānt

līmĭtĕ, dūm tĕnŭēs căpĭāt sŭŭs ālvĕŭs ūndās."

Ānnŭĭt Aēgīdēs: "Ūtār"que, "Ăchĕlōĕ, dŏmōquĕ560

cōnsĭlĭōquĕ tŭō" rēspōndĭt; ĕt ūsŭs ŭtrōque ēst.

Pūmĭcĕ mūltĭcăvō nēc lēvĭbŭs ātrĭă tōphīs

strūctă sŭbīt; mōllī tēllūs ĕrăt ūmĭdă mūscō,

sūmmă lăcūnābānt āltērnō mūrĭcĕ cōnchaē.

Iāmquĕ dŭās lūcīs pārtēs Hўpĕrīŏnĕ mēnsō565

dīscŭbŭērĕ tŏrīs Thēseūs cŏmĭtēsquĕ lăbōrūm;

hāc Īxīŏnĭdēs, īllā Troēzēnĭŭs hērōs

pārtĕ Lĕlēx, rārīs iām spārsūs tēmpŏră cānīs,

quōsque ălĭōs părĭlī fŭĕrāt dīgnātŭs hŏnōrĕ

āmnĭs Ăcārnānūm laētīssĭmŭs hōspĭtĕ tāntō.570

Prōtĭnŭs āppŏsĭtās nūdaē vēstīgĭă nŷmphaē

īnstrūxēre ĕpŭlīs mēnsās dăpĭbūsquĕ rĕmōtīs

īn gēmmā pŏsŭērĕ mĕrūm. Tūm māxĭmŭs hērōs,

aēquŏră prōspĭcĭēns ŏcŭlīs sūbiēctă: "Quĭs" īnquīt

"īllĕ lŏcūs?". Dĭgĭtōque ōstēndĭt ĕt "īnsŭlă nōmēn575

quōd gĕrĭt īllă, dŏcē, quāmquām nōn ūnă vĭdētūr."

Āmnĭs ăd haēc: "Nōn ēst," īnquīt "quōd cērnĭtĭs, ūnūm;

quīnquĕ iăcēnt tērraē; spătĭūm dīscrīmĭnă fāllīt.

Quōquĕ mĭnūs sprētaē fāctūm mīrērĕ Dĭānaē,

Nāĭdĕs haē fŭĕrānt; quaē cūm bīs quīnquĕ iŭvēncōs580

māctāssēnt rūrīsquĕ dĕōs ād sācră vŏcāssēnt,

īmmĕmŏrēs nōstrī fēstās dūxērĕ chŏrēās.

Īntŭmŭī quāntūsquĕ, fĕrōr cūm plūrĭmŭs ūmquām,

tāntŭs ĕrām părĭtērque ănĭmīs īmmānĭs ĕt ūndīs

ā sīlvīs sīlvās ĕt ăb ārvīs ārvă rĕvēllī585

cūmquĕ lŏcō nŷmphās, mĕmŏrēs tūm dēnĭquĕ nōstrī,

īn frĕtă prōvŏlŭī. Flūctūs nōstērquĕ mărīsquĕ

cōntĭnŭām dīdūxĭt hŭmūm părĭtērquĕ rĕvēllīt

īn tŏtĭdēm, mĕdĭīs quōt cērnĭs Ĕchīnădăs ūndīs.

Ūt tămĕn īpsĕ vĭdēs, prŏcŭl ēn prŏcŭl ānă rĕcēssīt590

īnsŭlă, grātă mĭhī (Pĕrĭmēlēn nāvĭtă dīcīt);

huīc ĕgŏ vīrgīneūm dīlēctaē nōmĕn ădēmī.

Quōd pătĕr Hīppŏdămās aēgrē tŭlĭt īnquĕ prŏfūndūm

prōpŭlĭt ē scŏpŭlō pĕrĭtūraē cōrpŏră nātaē.

Ēxcēpī nāntēmquĕ fĕrēns: "Ō prōxĭmă mūndī595

rēgnă văgaē" dīxī "sōrtītĕ trĭdēntĭfĕr ūndaē,

[īn quō dēsĭnĭmūs, quō sācrī cūrrĭmŭs āmnēs,

hūc ădĕs ātque aūdī plăcĭdūs, Nēptūnĕ, prĕcāntēm.

Huīc ĕgŏ, quām pōrtō, nŏcŭī. Sī mītĭs ĕt aēquūs,

sī pătĕr Hīppŏdămās, aūt sī mĭnŭs īmpĭŭs ēssēt,600

dēbŭĭt īllīūs mĭsĕrēri, īgnōscĕrĕ nōbīs;]

āffĕr ŏpēm mērsaēquĕ prĕcōr fĕrĭtātĕ pătērnā

dā, Nēptūnĕ, lŏcūm; vēl sīt lŏcŭs īpsă lĭcēbīt.

[Hūnc quŏquĕ cōmplēctār!" Mōvīt căpŭt aēquŏrĕūs rēx

cōncūssītquĕ sŭīs ōmnēs āssēnsĭbŭs ūndās.

Ēxtĭmŭīt nŷmphē, nābāt tămĕn. Īpsĕ nătāntīs605

pēctŏră tāngēbām trĕpĭdō sălĭēntĭă mōtū;

dūmque ĕă cōntrēctō, tōtūm dūrēscĕrĕ sēnsī

cōrpŭs ĕt īndūctā cōndī praēcōrdĭă tērrā.]

Dūm lŏquŏr, āmplēxa ēst ārtūs nŏvă tērră nătāntīs

ēt grăvĭs īncrēvīt mūtātīs īnsŭlă mēmbrīs."610

Āmnĭs ăb hīs tăcŭīt. Fāctūm mīrābĭlĕ cūnctōs

mōvĕrăt; īrrīdēt crēdēntēs, ūtquĕ dĕōrūm

sprētŏr ĕrāt mēntīsquĕ fĕrōx Īxīŏnĕ nātūs:

"Fīctă rĕfērs nĭmĭūmquĕ pŭtās, Ăchĕlōĕ, pŏtēntēs

ēssĕ dĕōs," dīxīt "sī dānt ădĭmūntquĕ fĭgūrās."615

Ōbstĭpŭēre ōmnēs, nēc tālĭă dīctă prŏbārūnt;

ānte ōmnēsquĕ Lĕlēx, ănĭmō mātūrŭs ĕt aēvō,

sīc ăĭt: "Īnmēnsa ēst fīnēmquĕ pŏtēntĭă caēlī

nōn hăbĕt ēt quīcquīd sŭpĕrī vōlvērĕ pĕrāctum ēst.

Quōquĕ mĭnūs dŭbĭtēs, tĭlĭaē cōntērmĭnă quērcūs620

cōllĭbŭs ēst Phrўgĭīs, mŏdĭcō cīrcūmdătă mūrō;

īpsĕ lŏcūm vīdī; nām mē Pĕlŏpēĭă Pīttheūs

mīsĭt ĭn ārvă, sŭō quōndām rēgnātă părēntī.

Haūd prŏcŭl hīnc stāgnum ēst, tēllūs hăbĭtābĭlĭs ōlīm,

nūnc cĕlĕbrēs mērgīs fŭlĭcīsquĕ pălūstrĭbŭs ūndaē.625

Iūppĭtĕr hūc spĕcĭē mōrtālī cūmquĕ părēntĕ

vēnĭt Ătlāntĭădēs pŏsĭtīs cādūcĭfĕr ālīs.

Mīllĕ dŏmōs ădĭērĕ lŏcūm rĕquĭēmquĕ pĕtēntēs,

mīllĕ dŏmōs claūsērĕ sĕraē. Tămĕn ūnă rĕcēpīt,

pārvă quĭdēm, stĭpŭlīs ēt cānnā tēctă pălūstrī;630

sēd pĭă Baūcĭs ănūs părĭlīque aētātĕ Phĭlēmōn

īllā sūnt ānnīs iūnctī iŭvĕnālĭbŭs, īllā

cōnsĕnŭērĕ căsā paūpērtātēmquĕ fătēndō

ēffēcērĕ lĕvēm nĕc ĭnīquā mēntĕ fĕrēndō.

Nēc rēfērt dŏmĭnōs īllīc fămŭlōsnĕ rĕquīrās;635

tōtă dŏmūs dŭŏ sūnt, īdēm pārēntquĕ iŭbēntquĕ.

Ērgo ŭbĭ caēlĭcŏlaē pārvōs tĕtĭgērĕ pĕnātēs

sūmmīssōque hŭmĭlēs īntrārūnt vērtĭcĕ pōstēs,

mēmbră sĕnēx pŏsĭtō iūssīt rĕlĕvārĕ sĕdīlī.

Quō sŭpĕr īnĭĕcīt tēxtūm rŭdĕ sēdŭlă Baūcīs640

īnquĕ fŏcō tĕpĭdūm cĭnĕrēm dīmōvĭt ĕt īgnēs

sūscĭtăt hēstērnōs fŏlĭīsque ēt cōrtĭcĕ sīccō

nūtrĭt ĕt ād flāmmās ănĭmā prōdūcĭt ănīlī

mūltĭfĭdāsquĕ făcēs rāmālĭăque ārĭdă tēctō

dētŭlĭt ēt mĭnŭīt pārvōque ādmōvĭt ăēnō.645

Quōdquĕ sŭūs cōniūnx rĭgŭō cōllēgĕrăt hōrtō,

trūncăt hŏlūs fŏlĭīs; fūrcā lĕvăt īllă bĭcōrnī

sōrdĭdă tērgă sŭīs nīgrō pēndēntĭă tīgnō

sērvātōquĕ dĭū rĕsĕcāt dē tērgŏrĕ pārtēm

ēxĭgŭām sēctāmquĕ dŏmāt fērvēntĭbŭs ūndīs.650

Īntĕrĕā mĕdĭās fāllūnt sērmōnĭbŭs hōrās

[sēntīrīquĕ mŏrām prŏhĭbēnt. Ĕrăt ālvĕŭs īllīc

fāgĭnĕūs cūrvā clāvō sūspēnsŭs ăb ānsā.

Īs tĕpĭdīs īmplētŭr ăquīs ārtūsquĕ fŏvēndōs

āccĭpĭt; īn mĕdĭō tŏrŭs ēst dē mōllĭbŭs ūlvīs

īmpŏsĭtūs lēctō, spōndā pĕdĭbūsquĕ sălīgnīs.]655

Cōncŭtĭūntquĕ tŏrūm dē mōllī flūmĭnĭs ūlvā

īmpŏsĭtūm lēctō spōndā pĕdĭbūsquĕ sălīgnīs;

vēstĭbŭs hūnc vēlānt, quās nōn nĭsĭ tēmpŏrĕ fēstō

stērnĕrĕ cōnsŭĕrānt; sĕd ĕt haēc vīlīsquĕ vĕtūsquĕ

vēstĭs ĕrāt, lēctō nōn īndīgnāndă sălīgnō.

Āccŭbŭērĕ dĕī. Mēnsām sūccīnctă trĕmēnsquĕ660

pōnĭt ănūs; mēnsaē sĕd ĕrāt pēs tērtĭŭs īmpār;

tēstă părēm fēcīt; quaē pōstquām sūbdĭtă clīvūm

sūstŭlĭt, aēquātām mēntaē tērsērĕ vĭrēntēs.

Pōnĭtŭr hīc bĭcŏlōr sīncēraē bācă Mĭnērvaē

cōndĭtăque īn lĭquĭdā cōrna aūtūmnālĭă faēcĕ665

īntĭbăque ēt rādīx ēt lāctīs māssă cŏāctī

ōvăquĕ nōn ācrī lĕvĭtēr vērsātă făvīllā,

ōmnĭă fīctĭlĭbūs. Pōst haēc caēlātŭs ĕōdēm

sīstĭtŭr ārgēntō crātēr făbrĭcātăquĕ fāgō

pōcŭlă, quā căvă sūnt, flāvēntĭbŭs īllĭtă cērīs.670

Pārvă mŏra ēst ĕpŭlāsquĕ fŏcī mīsērĕ călēntēs,

nēc lōngaē rūrsūs rĕfĕrūntūr vīnă sĕnēctaē

dāntquĕ lŏcūm mēnsīs paūlūm sēdūctă sĕcūndīs.

Hīc nūx, hīc mīxta ēst rūgōsīs cārĭcă pālmīs

prūnăque ĕt īn pătŭlīs rĕdŏlēntĭă mālă cănīstrīs675

ēt dē pūrpŭrĕīs cōllēctaē vītĭbŭs ūvaē.

Cāndĭdŭs īn mĕdĭō făvŭs ēst; sŭpĕr ōmnĭă vūltūs

āccēssērĕ bŏnī nĕc ĭnērs paūpērquĕ vŏlūntās.

Īntĕrĕā tŏtĭēns haūstūm crātēră rĕplērī

spōntĕ sŭā pēr sēquĕ vĭdēnt sūccrēscĕrĕ vīnă;680

āttŏnĭtī nŏvĭtātĕ păvēnt mănĭbūsquĕ sŭpīnīs

cōncĭpĭūnt Baūcīsquĕ prĕcēs tĭmĭdūsquĕ Phĭlēmōn

ēt vĕnĭām dăpĭbūs nūllīsquĕ părātĭbŭs ōrānt.

Ūnĭcŭs ānsĕr ĕrāt, mĭnĭmaē cūstōdĭă vīllaē,

quēm dīs hōspĭtĭbūs dŏmĭnī māctārĕ părābānt;685

īllĕ cĕlēr pēnnā tārdōs aētātĕ fătīgāt

ēlūdītquĕ dĭū tāndēmque ēst vīsŭs ăd īpsōs

cōnfūgīssĕ dĕōs. Sŭpĕrī vĕtŭērĕ nĕcārī;

"Dī"quĕ "sŭmūs mĕrĭtāsquĕ lŭēt vīcīnĭă poēnās

īmpĭă;" dīxērūnt "vōbīs īnmūnĭbŭs hūiūs690

ēssĕ mălī dăbĭtūr; mŏdŏ vēstră rĕlīnquĭtĕ tēctă

āc nōstrōs cŏmĭtātĕ grădūs ĕt ĭn ārdŭă mōntīs

ītĕ sĭmūl." Pārēnt āmbō băcŭlīsquĕ lĕvātī

[ītĕ sĭmūl. Pārēnt ēt dīs praēeūntĭbŭs āmbō

mēmbră lĕvānt băcŭlīs, tārdīquĕ sĕnīlĭbŭs ānnīs]

nītūntūr lōngō vēstīgĭă pōnĕrĕ clīvō.

Tāntum ăbĕrānt sūmmō quāntūm sĕmĕl īrĕ săgīttă695

mīssă pŏtēst; flēxēre ŏcŭlōs ēt mērsă pălūdĕ

cētĕră prōspĭcĭūnt, tāntūm sŭă tēctă mănērĕ;

dūmque ĕă mīrāntūr, dūm dēflēnt fātă sŭōrūm,

[mērsă vĭdēnt quaērūntquĕ sŭaē pĭă cūlmĭnă vīllaē;

sōlă lŏcō stābānt. Dūm dēflēnt fātă sŭōrūm,]

īllă vĕtūs dŏmĭnīs ĕtĭām căsă pārvă dŭōbūs

vērtĭtŭr īn tēmplūm; fūrcās sŭbĭērĕ cŏlūmnaē700

strāmĭnă flāvēscūnt aūrātăquĕ tēctă vĭdēntūr

caēlātaēquĕ fŏrēs ădŏpērtăquĕ mārmŏrĕ tēllūs.

Tālĭă tūm plăcĭdō Sātūrnĭŭs ēdĭdĭt ōrĕ:

"Dīcĭtĕ, iūstĕ sĕnēx ēt fēmĭnă cōniŭgĕ iūstō

dīgnă, quĭd ōptētīs." Cūm Baūcĭdĕ paūcă lŏcūtūs,705

iūdĭcĭūm sŭpĕrīs ăpĕrīt cōmmūnĕ Phĭlēmōn:

"Ēssĕ săcērdōtēs dēlūbrăquĕ vēstră tŭērī

pōscĭmŭs ēt, quŏnĭām cōncōrdēs ēgĭmŭs ānnōs,

aūfĕrăt hōră dŭōs ĕădēm, nē cōniŭgĭs ūmquām

būstă mĕaē vĭdĕām, neū sīm tŭmŭlāndŭs ăb īllā."710

Vōtă fĭdēs sĕquĭtūr; tēmplī tūtēlă fŭērĕ,

dōnēc vītă dăta ēst. Ānnīs aēvōquĕ sŏlūtī

āntĕ grădūs sācrōs cūm stārēnt fōrtĕ lŏcīquĕ

nārrārēnt cāsūs, frōndērĕ Phĭlēmŏnă Baūcīs,

Baūcĭdă cōnspēxīt sĕnĭōr frōndērĕ Phĭlēmōn.715

Iāmquĕ sŭpēr gĕmĭnōs crēscēntĕ căcūmĭnĕ vūltūs

mūtŭă, dūm lĭcŭīt, rēddēbānt dīctă; "vălē"quĕ,

"ō cōniūnx" dīxērĕ sĭmūl, sĭmŭl ābdĭtă tēxīt

ōră frŭtēx. Ōstēndĭt ădhūc Thŷnēĭŭs īllīc

īncŏlă dē gĕmĭnō vīcīnōs cōrpŏrĕ trūncōs.720

Haēc mĭhĭ nōn vānī, nĕque ĕrāt cūr fāllĕrĕ vēllēnt,

nārrāvērĕ sĕnēs. Ĕquĭdēm pēndēntĭă vīdī

sērtă sŭpēr rāmōs pōnēnsquĕ rĕcēntĭă dīxī:

"cūră dĕūm dī sīnt ēt quī cŏlŭērĕ cŏlāntūr."

Dēsĭĕrāt cūnctōsque ēt rēs ēt mōvĕrăt aūctōr,725

Thēsĕă praēcĭpŭē. Quēm fācta aūdīrĕ vŏlēntēm

mīră dĕum, īnnīxūs cŭbĭtō Călўdōnĭŭs āmnīs

tālĭbŭs āllŏquĭtūr: "Sūnt, ō fōrtīssĭmĕ, quōrūm

fōrmă sĕmēl mōta ēst ĕt ĭn hōc rĕnŏvāmĭnĕ mānsīt;

sūnt quĭbŭs īn plūrēs iūs ēst trānsīrĕ fĭgūrās,730

ūt tĭbĭ, cōmplēxī tērrām mărĭs īncŏlă, Prōteū.

Nām mŏdŏ tē iŭvĕnēm, mŏdŏ tē vīdērĕ lĕōnēm;

nūnc vĭŏlēntŭs ăpēr, nūnc, quēm tĕtĭgīssĕ tĭmērēnt,

ānguĭs ĕrās; mŏdŏ tē făcĭēbānt cōrnŭă taūrūm;

saēpĕ lăpīs pŏtĕrās, ārbōr quŏquĕ saēpĕ vĭdērī;735

īntērdūm, făcĭēm lĭquĭdārum ĭmĭtātŭs ăquārūm,

flūmĕn ĕrās, īntērdum ūndīs cōntrārĭŭs īgnīs.

Nēc mĭnŭs Aūtŏlўcī cōniūnx, Ĕrўsīchthŏnĕ nātă,

iūrĭs hăbēt. Pătĕr hūiŭs ĕrāt quī nūmĭnă dīvūm

spērnĕrĕt ēt nūllōs ārīs ădŏlērĕt ŏdōrēs;740

īlle ĕtĭām Cĕrĕālĕ nĕmūs vĭŏlāssĕ sĕcūrī

dīcĭtŭr ēt lūcōs fērrō tĕmĕrāssĕ vĕtūstōs.

Stābăt ĭn hīs īngēns ānnōsō rōbŏrĕ quērcūs,

ūnă nĕmūs; vīttaē mĕdĭām mĕmŏrēsquĕ tăbēllaē

sērtăquĕ cīngēbānt, vōti ārgūmēntă pŏtēntīs.745

Saēpĕ sŭb hāc Drўădēs fēstās dūxērĕ chŏrēās,

saēpe ĕtĭām mănĭbūs nēxīs ēx ōrdĭnĕ trūncī

cīrcŭĭērĕ mŏdūm mēnsūrăquĕ rōbŏrĭs ūlnās

quīnquĕ tĕr īmplēbāt; nēc nōn ēt cētĕră tāntō

sīlvă sŭb hāc ōmnīs quāntō fŭĭt hērbă sŭb ōmnī.750

Nōn tămĕn īdcīrcō fērrūm Trĭŏpēĭŭs īllā

ābstĭnŭīt fămŭlōsquĕ iŭbēt sūccīdĕrĕ sācrūm

rōbŭr ĕt, ūt iūssōs cūnctārī vīdĭt, ăb ūnō

ēdĭdĭt haēc rāptā scĕlĕrātūs vērbă sĕcūrī:

"Nōn dīlēctă dĕaē sōlūm, sĕd ĕt īpsă lĭcēbīt755

sīt dĕă, iām tāngēt frōndēntĕ căcūmĭnĕ tērrām."

Dīxĭt ĕt, ōblīquōs dūm tēlūm lībrăt ĭn īctūs,

cōntrĕmŭīt gĕmĭtūmquĕ dĕdīt Dēōĭă quērcūs;

ēt părĭtēr frōndēs, părĭtēr pāllēscĕrĕ glāndēs

coēpēre āc lōngī pāllōrēm dūcĕrĕ rāmī.760

Cūiŭs ŭt īn trūncō fēcīt mănŭs īmpĭă vūlnūs,

haūd ălĭtēr flūxīt dīscūssō cōrtĭcĕ sānguīs

quām sŏlĕt, ānte ārās īngēns ŭbĭ vīctĭmă taūrūs

cōncĭdĭt, ābrūptā crŭŏr ē cērvīcĕ prŏfūndī.

Ōbstĭpŭēre ōmnēs ălĭquīsque ēx ōmnĭbŭs aūdēt765

dētērrērĕ nĕfās saēvāmque ĭnhĭbērĕ bĭpēnnēm.

Āspīcīt hūnc, "mēntĭs"quĕ "pĭaē căpĕ praēmĭă" dīxīt

Thēssălŭs īnquĕ vĭrūm cōnvērtĭt ăb ārbŏrĕ fērrūm

dētrūncātquĕ căpūt; rĕpĕtītăquĕ rōbŏră caēdīt,

rēddĭtŭs ēt mĕdĭō sŏnŭs ēst dē rōbŏrĕ tālīs:770

"nŷmphă sŭb hōc ĕgŏ sūm Cĕrĕrī grātīssĭmă līgnō,

quaē tĭbĭ fāctōrūm poēnās īnstārĕ tŭōrūm

vātĭcĭnōr mŏrĭēns, nōstrī sōlācĭă lētī."

Pērsĕquĭtūr scĕlŭs īllĕ sŭūm; lăbĕfāctăquĕ tāndēm

īctĭbŭs īnnŭmĕrīs āddūctăquĕ fūnĭbŭs ārbōr775

cōrrŭĭt ēt mūltām prōstrāvīt pōndĕrĕ sīlvām.

Āttŏnĭtaē Drўădēs dāmnō nĕmŏrūmquĕ sŭōquĕ,

ōmnēs gērmānaē, Cĕrĕrēm cūm vēstĭbŭs ātrīs

maērēntēs ădĕūnt poēnāmque Ĕrўsīchthŏnĭs ōrānt.

Ānnŭĭt hīs căpĭtīsquĕ sŭī pūlchērrĭmă mōtū780

cōncūssīt grăvĭdīs ŏnĕrātōs mēssĭbŭs āgrōs;

mōlītūrquĕ gĕnūs poēnaē mĭsĕrābĭlĕ, sī nōn

īllĕ sŭīs ēssēt nūllī mĭsĕrābĭlĭs āctīs,

pēstĭfĕrā lăcĕrārĕ Fămē. Quaē quātĕnŭs īpsī

nōn ădĕūndă dĕae ēst (nĕque ĕnīm Cĕrĕrēmquĕ Fămēmquĕ785

fātă cŏīrĕ sĭnūnt), mōntānī nūmĭnĭs ūnām

tālĭbŭs āgrēstēm cōmpēllăt Ŏrēădă dīctīs:

"ēst lŏcŭs ēxtrēmīs Scўthĭaē glăcĭālĭs ĭn ōrīs,

trīstĕ sŏlūm, stĕrĭlīs, sĭnĕ frūgĕ, sĭne ārbŏrĕ tēllūs;

frīgŭs ĭnērs īllīc, hăbĭtānt Pāllōrquĕ Trĕmōrquĕ790

ēt iēiūnă Fămēs. Ĕă se īn praēcōrdĭă cōndāt

sācrĭlĕgī scĕlĕrātă, iŭbē; nēc cōpĭă rērūm

vīncăt ĕām sŭpĕrētquĕ mĕās cērtāmĭnĕ vīrēs;

nēvĕ vĭaē spătĭūm tē tērrĕăt, āccĭpĕ cūrrūs,

āccĭpĕ, quōs frēnīs āltē mŏdĕrērĕ, drăcōnēs;"795

ēt dĕdĭt. Īllă dătō sūbvēctă pĕr āĕră cūrrū

dēvĕnĭt īn Scўthĭām rĭgĭdīquĕ căcūmĭnĕ mōntīs

(Caūcăsŏn āppēllānt) sērpēntūm cōllă lĕvāvīt;

Quaēsītāmquĕ Fămēm lăpĭdōsō vīdĭt ĭn āgrō

ūnguĭbŭs ēt rārās vēllēntēm dēntĭbŭs hērbās.800

Hīrtŭs ĕrāt crīnīs. Căvă lūmĭnă, pāllŏr ĭn ōrĕ,

lābra īncānă sĭtū, scābraē rūbīgĭnĕ faūcēs,

dūră cŭtīs, pēr quām spēctārī vīscĕră pōssēnt;

ōssă sŭb īncūrvīs ēxstābānt ārĭdă lūmbīs,

vēntrĭs ĕrāt prō vēntrĕ lŏcūs, pēndērĕ pŭtārēs805

pēctŭs ĕt ā spīnaē tāntūmmŏdŏ crātĕ tĕnērī.

Aūxĕrăt ārtĭcŭlōs măcĭēs gĕnŭūmquĕ tŭmēbāt

ōrbĭs ĕt īnmŏdĭcō prōdībānt tūbĕrĕ tālī.

Hānc prŏcŭl ūt vīdīt (nĕque ĕnim ēst āccēdĕrĕ iūxtā

aūsă), rĕfērt māndātă dĕaē; paūlūmquĕ mŏrātă,810

quāmquam ăbĕrāt lōngē, quāmquām mŏdŏ vēnĕrăt īllūc,

vīsă tămēn sēnsīssĕ fămēm rētrōquĕ drăcōnēs

ēgĭt ĭn Haēmŏnĭām vērsīs sūblīmĭs hăbēnīs.

Dīctă Fămēs Cĕrĕrīs, quāmvīs cōntrārĭă sēmpēr

īllĭŭs ēst ŏpĕrī, pĕrăgīt pērque āĕră vēntō815

ād iūssām dēlātă dŏmum ēst ēt prōtĭnŭs īntrāt

sācrĭlĕgī thălămōs āltōquĕ sŏpōrĕ sŏlūtūm

(nōctĭs ĕrāt tēmpūs) gĕmĭnīs āmplēctĭtŭr ūlnīs

sēquĕ vĭro īnspīrāt faūcēsque ēt pēctŭs ĕt ōră

āfflăt ĕt īn văcŭīs spārgīt iēiūnĭă vēnīs;820

fūnctăquĕ māndātō fēcūndūm dēsĕrĭt ōrbēm

īnquĕ dŏmōs ĭnŏpēs, āssuētă rĕvērtĭtŭr ārvă.

Lēnĭs ădhūc sōmnūs plăcĭdīs Ĕrўsīchthŏnă pēnnīs

mūlcēbāt; pĕtĭt īllĕ dăpēs sŭb ĭmāgĭnĕ sōmnī

ōrăquĕ vānă mŏvēt dēntēmque īn dēntĕ fătīgāt825

ēxērcētquĕ cĭbō dēlūsūm gūttŭr ĭnānī

prōque ĕpŭlīs tĕnŭēs nēquīquām dēvŏrăt aūrās.

Ūt vēro ēst ēxpūlsă quĭēs, fŭrĭt ārdŏr ĕdēndī

pērque ăvĭdās faūcēs īnmēsăquĕ vīscĕră rēgnāt.

Nēc mŏră, quōd pōntūs, quōd tērră, quŏd ēdŭcăt āēr,830

pōscĭt ĕt āppŏsĭtīs quĕrĭtūr iēiūnĭă mēnsīs

īnque ĕpŭlīs ĕpŭlās quaērīt; quōdque ūrbĭbŭs ēssĕ,

quōdquĕ sătīs pŏtĕrāt pŏpŭlō, nōn sūffĭcĭt ūnī;

plūsquĕ cŭpīt quō plūră sŭām dēmīttăt ĭn ālvūm.

Ūtquĕ frĕtūm rĕcĭpīt dē tōtā flūmĭnă tērrā,835

nēc sătĭātŭr ăquīs pĕrĕgrīnōsque ēbĭbĭt āmnēs,

ūtquĕ răpāx īgnīs nōn ūmquam ălĭmēntă rĕcūsāt

īnnŭmĕrāsquĕ trăbēs crĕmăt ēt, quō cōpĭă māiōr

ēst dătă, plūră pĕtīt tūrbāquĕ vŏrācĭŏr īpsa ēst;

sīc ĕpŭlās ōmnēs Ĕrўsīchthŏnĭs ōră prŏfānī840

āccĭpĭūnt pōscūntquĕ sĭmūl; cĭbŭs ōmnĭs ĭn īllō

caūsă cĭbi ēst sēmpērquĕ lŏcūs fĭt ĭnānĭs ĕdēndō.

Iāmquĕ fămē pătrĭās āltīquĕ vŏrāgĭnĕ vēntrīs

āttĕnŭārăt ŏpēs; sĕd ĭnāttĕnŭātă mănēbāt

tūm quŏquĕ dīră fămēs īmplācātaēquĕ vĭgēbāt845

flāmmă gŭlae. Ēt tāndēm, dēmīsso īn vīscĕră cēnsū,

fīlĭă rēstābāt, nōn īllō dīgnă părēntĕ.

Hānc quŏquĕ vēndĭt ĭnōps; dŏmĭnūm gĕnĕrōsă rĕcūsāt

ēt vīcīnă sŭās tēndēns sŭpĕr aēquŏră pālmās:

"Ērĭpĕ mē dŏmĭnō, quī rāptaē praēmĭă nōbīs850

vīrgĭnĭtātĭs hăbēs" ăĭt; haēc Nēptūnŭs hăbēbāt.

Quī prĕcĕ nōn sprētā, quāmvīs mŏdŏ vīsă sĕquēntī

ēssĕt ĕrō, fōrmāmquĕ nŏvāt vūltūmquĕ vĭrīlēm

īndŭĭt ēt cūltūs pīscēm căpĭēntĭbŭs āptōs.

Hānc dŏmĭnūs spēctāns: "Ō quī pēndēntĭă pārvō855

aēră cĭbō cēlās, mŏdĕrātŏr hărūndĭnĭs," īnquīt

"sīc mărĕ cōmpŏsĭtūm, sīc sīt tĭbĭ pīscĭs ĭn ūndā

crēdŭlŭs ēt nūllūs, nĭsĭ fīxūs, sēntĭăt hāmōs;

quaē mŏdŏ cūm vīlī tūrbātīs vēstĕ căpīllīs

lītŏre ĭn hōc stĕtĕrāt, nām stāntem īn lītŏrĕ vīdī,860

dīc ŭbĭ sīt; nĕque ĕnīm vēstīgĭă lōngĭŭs ēxstānt."

Īllă dĕī mūnūs bĕnĕ cēdĕrĕ sēnsĭt ĕt ā sē

sē quaērī gaūdēns, hīs ēst rĕsĕcūtă rŏgāntēm:

"Quīsquĭs ĕs, īgnōscās; īn nūllām lūmĭnă pārtēm

gūrgĭte ăb hōc flēxī stŭdĭōque ŏpĕrātŭs ĭnhaēsī.865

Quōquĕ mĭnūs dŭbĭtēs, sīc hās dĕŭs aēquŏrĭs ārtēs

ādiŭvĕt ūt nēmō iāmdūdūm lītŏre ĭn īstō,

mē tămĕn ēxcēptō, nēc fēmĭnă cōnstĭtĭt ūllă."

Crēdĭdĭt ēt vērsō dŏmĭnūs pĕdĕ prēssĭt hărēnām

ēlūsūsque ăbĭīt; īllī sŭă rēddĭtă fōrma ēst.870

Āst ŭbi hăbērĕ sŭām trānsfōrmĭă cōrpŏră sēnsīt,

saēpĕ pătēr dŏmĭnīs Trĭŏpēĭdă trādĭt; ăt īllă

nūnc ĕquă, nūnc ālēs, mŏdŏ bōs, mŏdŏ cērvŭs ăbībāt

praēbēbātque ăvĭdō nōn iūsta ălĭmēntă părēntī.

Vīs tămĕn īllă mălī pōstquām cōnsūmpsĕrăt ōmnēm875

mātĕrĭām dĕdĕrātquĕ grăvī nŏvă pābŭlă mōrbō,

īpsĕ sŭōs ārtūs lăcĕrō dīvēllĕrĕ mōrsū

coēpĭt ĕt īnfēlīx mīnvēndō cōrpŭs ălēbāt.

Quīd mŏrŏr ēxtērnīs? Ĕtĭām mĭhĭ saēpĕ nŏvāndi ēst

cōrpŏrĭs, ō iŭvĕnīs, nŭmĕrō fīnītă pŏtēstās.880

Nām mŏdŏ quī nūnc sūm vĭdĕōr, mŏdŏ flēctŏr ĭn ānguēm,

ārmēntī mŏdŏ dūx vīrēs īn cōrnŭă sūmō,

cōrnŭă, dūm pŏtŭī; nūnc pārs cărĕt āltĕră tēlō

frōntĭs, ŭt īpsĕ vĭdēs." Gĕmĭtūs sūnt vērbă sĕcūtī.

Iam nitidum retegente diem noctisque fugante

tempora Lucifero cadit Eurus et umida surgunt

nubila; dant placidi cursum redeuntibus Austri

Aeacidis Cephaloque, quibus feliciter acti

5ante exspectatum portus tenuere petitos.

Interea Minos Lelegeia litora vastat

praetemptatque sui vires Mavortis in urbe

Alcathoe quam Nisus habet, cui splendidus ostro

inter honoratos medioque in vertice canos

10crinis inhaerebat, magni fiducia regni.

Sexta resurgebant orientis cornua lunae

et pendebat adhuc belli fortuna diuque

inter utrumque volat dubiis Victoria pennis.

Regia turris erat vocalibus addita muris,

15in quibus auratam proles Letoia fertur

deposuisse lyram; saxo sonus eius inhaesit.

Saepe illuc solita est ascendere filia Nisi

et petere exiguo resonantia saxa lapillo

tum cum pax esset; bello quoque saepe solebat

20spectare ex illa rigidi certamina Martis.

Iamque mora belli procerum quoque nomina norat

armaque equosque habitusque Cydoneasque pharetras.

Noverat ante alios faciem ducis Europaei,

plus etiam quam nosse sat est. Hac iudice Minos,

25seu caput abdiderat cristata casside pennis,

in galea formosus erat; seu sumpserat aere

fulgentem clipeum, clipeum sumpsisse decebat.

Torserat adductis hastilia lenta lacertis;

laudabat virgo iunctam cum viribus artem.

30Imposito calamo patulos sinvaverat arcus;

sic Phoebum sumptis iurabat stare sagittis.

Cum vero faciem dempto nudaverat aere

purpureusque albi stratis insignia pictis

terga premebat equi spumantiaque ora regebat,

35vix sua, vix sanae virgo Niseia compos

mentis erat; felix iaculum, quod tangeret ille,

quaeque manu premeret, felicia frena vocabat.

Impetus est illi, liceat modo, ferre per agmen

virgineos hostile gradus, est impetus illi

40turribus e summis in Gnosia mittere corpus

castra, vel aeratas hosti recludere portas,

vel siquid Minos aliud velit; utque sedebat

candida Dictaei spectans tectoria regis:

"Laeter" ait "doleamne geri lacrimabile bellum,

45in dubio est; doleo quod Minos hostis amanti est;

sed nisi bella forent, numquam mihi cognitus esset.

Me tamen accepta poterat deponere bellum

obside; me comitem, me pacis pignus haberet.

Si quae te peperit talis, pulcherrime regum,

50qualis es, ipsa fuit, merito deus arsit in illa.

O | ego ter felix, si pennis lapsa per auras

Gnosiaci possem castris insistere regis

fassaque me flammasque meas, qua dote, rogarem,

vellet emi; tantum patrias ne posceret arces.

55Nam pereant potius sperata cubilia quam sim

proditione potens; quamvis saepe utile vinci

victoris placidi fecit clementia multis.

Iusta gerit certe pro nato bella perempto

et causaque valet causamque tuentibus armis;

60et, puto, vincemur. Quis enim manet exitus urbem?

Cur suus haec illi reseret mea moenia Mavors

et non noster amor? Melius sine caede moraque

impensaque sui poterit superare cruoris.

Non metuam certe ne quis tua pectora, Minos,

65vulneret imprudens; quis enim tam durus, ut in te

dirigere inmitem non inscius audeat hastam?

Coepta placent et stat sententia tradere mecum

dotalem patriam finemque imponere bello.

Verum velle parum est; aditus custodia servat

70claustraque portarum genitor tenet; hunc ego solum

infelix timeo, solus mea vota moratur.

Di facerent sine patre forem! Sibi quisque profecto

est deus; ignavis precibus Fortuna repugnat.

Altera iamdudum succensa cupidine tanto

75perdere gauderet quodcumque obstaret amori.

Et cur ulla foret me fortior? Ire per ignes

et gladios ausim; nec in hoc tamen ignibus ullis

aut gladiis opus est; opus est mihi crine paterno;

ille mihi est auro pretiosior, illa beatam

80purpura me votique mei factura potentem."

Talia dicenti curarum maxima nutrix

nox intervenit tenebrisque audacia crevit.

Prima quies aderat qua curis fessa diurnis

pectora somnus habet; thalamos taciturna paternos

85intrat et, heu facinus! fatali nata parentem

crine suum spoliat praedaque potita nefanda

fert secum spolium celeris progressaque porta

per medios hostis (meriti fiducia tanta est)

pervenit ad regem; quem sic affata paventem est:

90"Suasit amor facinus; proles ego regia Nisi

Scylla tibi trado patriaeque meosque penates.

Praemia nulla peto, nisi te; cape pignus amoris

purpureum crinem nec me nunc tradere crinem,

sed patrium tibi crede caput;" scelerataque dextra

95munera porrexit. Minos porrecta refugit

turbatusque novi respondit imagine facti:

"Di te summoveant, o nostri infamia saecli,

orbe suo tellusque tibi pontusque negetur!

Certe ego non patiar Iovis incunabula, Creten,

100qui meus est orbis, tantum contingere monstrum."

Dixit et, ut leges captis iustissimus auctor

hostibus imposuit, classis retinacula solvi

iussit et aeratas impleri remige puppes.

Scylla freto postquam deductas nare carinas

105nec praestare ducem sceleris sibi praemia vidit,

consumptis precibus, violentam transit in iram

intendensque manus, passis furibunda capillis:

"Quo fugis," exclamat "meritorum auctore relicta,

o patriae praelate meae, praelate parenti?

110Quo fugis, inmitis, cuius victoria nostrum

et scelus et meritum est? Nec te data munera, nec te

noster amor movit, nec quod spes omnis in unum

te mea congesta est? Nam quo deserta revertar?

In patriam? Superata iacet. Sed finge manere;

115proditione mea clausa est mihi. Patris ad ora,

quem tibi donavi? Cives odere merentem;

finitimi exemplum metuunt; obstruximus orbem

terrarum nobis, ut Crete sola pateret.

Hac quoque si prohibes, et nos, ingrate, relinquis,

120non genetrix Europa tibi est, sed inhospita Syrtis,

Armeniae tigres Austroque agitata Charybdis.

Nec Iove tu natus, nec mater imagine tauri

ducta tua est; generis falsa est ea fabula; verus

et ferus et captus nullius amore iuvencae,

125qui te progenuit, taurus fuit. Exige poenas,

Nise pater. Gaudete malis, modo prodita, nostris

moenia. Nam fateor, merui et sum digna perire.

Sed tamen ex illis aliquis, quos impia laesi,

me perimat. Cur, qui vicisti crimine nostro,

130insequeris crimen? Scelus hoc patriaeque patrique,

officium tibi sit. e vero coniuge digna est

quae torvum ligno decepit adultera taurum

discordemque utero fetum tulit. Ecquid ad aures

perveniunt mea dicta tuas? An inania venti

135verba ferunt idemque tuas, ingrate, carinas?

Iam iam Pasiphaën non est mirabile taurum

praeposuisse tibi; tu plus feritatis habebas.

Me miseram! Properare iubet divolsaque remis

unda sonat mecumque simul mea terra recedit.

140Nil agis, o frustra meritorum oblite meorum;

insequar invitum puppimque amplexa recurvam

per freta longa trahar." Vix dixerat, insilit undis

consequiturque rates, faciente cupidine vires,

Gnosiacaeque haeret comes invidiosa carinae.

145Quam pater ut vidit (nam iam pendebat in aura

et modo factus erat fulvis haliaeetus alis),

ibat, ut haerentem rostro laceraret adunco.

Illa metu puppim dimisit et aura cadentem

sustinuisse levis, ne tangeret aequora, visa est;

150pluma fuit; plumis in avem mutata vocatur

ciris et a tonso est hoc nomen adepta capillo.

Vota Iovi Minos taurorum corpora centum

solvit, ut egressus ratibus Curetida terram

contigit, et spoliis decorata est regia fixis.

155Creverat opprobrium generis foedumque patebat

matris adulterium monstri novitate biformis.

Destinat hunc Minos thalami removere pudorem

multiplicique domo caesisque includere tectis.

Daedalus ingenio fabrae celeberrimus artis

160ponit opus turbatque notas et lumina flexu

ducit in errorem variarum ambage viarum.

Non secus ac liquidis Phrygius Maeandrus in undis

ludit et ambiguo lapsu refluitque fluitque

occurrensque sibi venturas aspicit undas

165et nunc ad fontes, nunc ad mare versus apertum

incertas exercet aquas, ita Daedalus implet

innumeras errore vias; vixque ipse reverti

ad limen potuit; tanta est fallacia tecti.

Quo postquam geminam tauri iuvenisque figuram

170clausit et Actaeo bis pastum sanguine monstrum

tertia sors annis domuit repetita novenis

utque ope virginea nullis iterata priorum

ianua difficilis filo est inventa relecto,

protinus Aegides rapta Minoide Diam

175vela dedit comitemque suam crudelis in illo

litore destituit. Desertae et multa querenti

amplexus et opem Liber tulit, utque perenni

sidere clara foret, sumptam de fronte coronam

immisit caelo. Tenves volat illa per auras

180dumque volat, gemmae nitidos vertuntur in ignes

consistuntque loco, specie remanente coronae,

qui medius Nixique genu est Anguemque tenentis.

Daedalus interea Creten longumque perosus

exsilium tactusque loci natalis amore,

185clausus erat pelago. "Terras licet" inquit "et undas

obstruat, at caelum certe patet. Ibimus illac;

omnia possideat, non possidet aëra Minos."

Dixit et ignotas animum dimittit in artes

naturamque novat. Nam ponit in ordine pennas,

190a minima coeptas, longam breviore sequenti,

ut clivo crevisse putes; sic rustica quondam

fistula disparibus paulatim surgit avenis.

Tum lino medias et ceris alligat imas

atque ita compositas parvo curvamine flectit,

195ut veras imitetur aves. Puer Icarus una

stabat et, ignarus sua se tractare pericla,

ore renidenti modo, quas vaga moverat aura,

captabat plumas, flavam modo pollice ceram

mollibat lusuque suo mirabile patris

200impediebat opus. Postquam manus ultima coepto

imposita est, geminas opifex libravit in alas

ipse suum corpus motaque pependit in aura.

Instruit et natum: "Medio"que "ut limite curras,

Icare," ait "moneo, ne, si demissior ibis,

205unda gravet pennas, si celsior, ignis adurat.

Inter utrumque vola. Nec te spectare Booten

aut Helicen iubeo strictumque Orionis ensem;

me duce carpe viam." Pariter praecepta volandi

tradit et ignotas umeris accommodat alas.

210Inter opus monitusque genae maduere seniles

et patriae tremuere manus. Dedit oscula nato

non iterum repetenda suo pennisque levatus

ante volat comitique timet, velut ales, ab alto

quae teneram prolem produxit in aëra nido;

215hortaturque sequi damnosasque erudit artes

et movet ipse suas et nati respicit alas.

Hos aliquis tremula dum captat harundine pisces,

aut pastor baculo stivave innixus arator

vidit et obstipuit, quique aethera carpere possent,

220credidit esse deos. Et iam Iunonia laeva

parte Samos (fuerant Delosque Parosque relictae),

dextra Lebinthos erat fecundaque melle Calymne,

cum puer audaci coepit gaudere volatu

deservitque ducem caelique cupidine tractus

225altius egit iter. Rapidi vicinia solis

mollit odoratas, pennarum vincula, ceras;

tabuerant cerae; nudos quatit ille lacertos

remigioque carens non ullas percipit auras

oraque caerulea patrium clamantia nomen

230excipiuntur aqua, quae nomen traxit ab illo.

At pater infelix, nec iam pater: "Icare," dixit

"Icare," dixit "ubi es? Qua te regione requiram?"

"Icare," dicebat; pennas aspexit in undis

devovitque suas artes corpusque sepulcro

235condidit; et tellus a nomine dicta sepulti.

Hunc miseri tumulo ponentem corpora nati

garrula limoso prospexit ab elice perdix

et plausit pennis testataque gaudia cantu est;

unica tunc volucris nec visa prioribus annis

240factaque nuper avis, longum tibi, Daedale, crimen.

Namque huic tradiderat, fatorum ignara, docendam

progeniem germana suam, natalibus actis

bis puerum senis, animi ad praecepta capacis.

Ille etiam medio spinas in pisce notatas

245traxit in exemplum ferroque incidit acuto

perpetuos dentes et serrae repperit usum.

Primus et ex uno duo ferrea bracchia nodo

vinxit, ut aequali spatio distantibus illis

altera pars staret, pars altera duceret orbem.

250Daedalus invidit sacraque ex arce Minervae

praecipitem misit, lapsum mentitus; at illum,

quae favet ingeniis, excepit Pallas avemque

reddidit et medio velavit in aëre pennis.

Sed vigor ingenii quondam velocis in alas

255inque pedes abiit; nomen, quod et ante, remansit.

Non tamen haec alte volucris sua corpora tollit

nec facit in ramis altoque cacumine nidos;

propter humum volitat ponitque in saepibus ova

antiquique memor metuit sublimia casus.

260Iamque fatigatum tellus Aetnaea tenebat

Daedalon et sumptis pro supplice Cocalus armis

mitis habebatur; iam lamentabile Athenae

pendere desierant Thesea laude tributum.

Templa coronantur bellatricemque Minervam

265cum Iove disque vocant aliis, quos sanguine voto

muneribusque datis et acervis turis adorant.

Sparserat Argolicas nomen vaga fama per urbes

Theseos et populi, quos dives Achaia cepit,

huius opem magnis imploravere periclis.

270huius opem Calydon, quamvis Meleagron haberet,

sollicita supplex petiit prece; causa petendi

sus erat, infestae famulus vindexque Dianae.

Oenea namque ferunt pleni successibus anni

primitias frugum Cereri, sua vina Lyaeo,

275Palladios flavae latices libasse Minervae.

Coeptus ab agricolis superos pervenit ad omnes

ambitiosus honor; solas sine ture relictas,

praeteritas cessasse ferunt Latoidos aras.

Tangit et ira deos. "At non impune feremus,

280quaeque inhonoratae, non et dicemur inultae."

Inquit et Oenios ultorem spreta per agros

misit aprum, quanto maiores herbida tauros

non habet Epiros sed habent Sicula arva minores.

Sanguine et igne micant oculi, reget horrida cervix

285et saetae similes rigidis hastilibus horrent;

[stanque velut vallum, velut alta hastilia saetae]

fervida cum rauco latos stridore per armos

spuma fluit, dentes aequantur dentibus Indis;

fulmen ab ore venit, frondes afflatibus ardent.

290Is modo crescentes segetes proculcat in herba,

nunc matura metit fleturi vota coloni

et Cererem in spicis intercipit. Area frustra

et frustra exspectant promissas horrea messes.

Sternuntur gravidi longo cum palmite fetus

295bacaque cum ramis semper frondentis olivae.

Saevit et in pecudes; non has pastorve canisve,

non armenta truces possunt defendere tauri.

Diffugiunt populi nec se nisi moenibus urbis

esse putant tutos, donec Meleagros et una

300lecta manus iuvenum coiere cupidine laudis;

Tyndaridae gemini, spectandus caestibus alter,

alter equo primaeque ratis molitor Iason

et cum Pirithoo, felix concordia, Theseus

et duo Thestiadae, prolesque Aphareia, Lynceus

305et velox Idas et iam non femina Caeneus

Leucippusque ferox iaculoque insignis Acastus

Hippothousque Dryasque et cretus Amyntore Phoenix

Actoridaeque pares et missus ab Elide Phyleus.

Nec Telamon aberat magnique creator Achillis

310cumque Pheretiade et Hyanteo | Iolao

impiger Eurytion et cursu invictus Echion

Naryciusque Lelex Panopeusque Hyleusque feroxque

Hippasus et primis etiamnum Nestor in annis

et quos Hippocoon antiquis misit Amyclis

315Penelopaeque socer cum Parrhasio | Ancaeo

Ampycidesque sagax et adhuc a coniuge tutus

Oeclides nemorisque decus Tegeaea Lycaei.

Rasilis huic summam mordebat fibula vestem,

crinis erat simplex, nodum collectus in unum;

320ex umero pendens resonabat eburnea laevo

telorum custos, arcum quoque laeva tenebat.

Talis erat cultu; facies, quam dicere vere

virgineam in puero, puerilem in virgine possis.

Hanc pariter vidit, pariter Calydonius heros

325optavit renvente deo; flammasque latentes

hausit et: "O felix, siquem dignabitur" inquit

"ista virum!" Nec plura sinit tempusque pudorque

dicere; maius opus magni certaminis urget.

Silva frequens trabibus, quam nulla ceciderat aetas,

330incipit a plano devexaque prospicit arva.

Quo postquam venere viri, pars retia tendunt,

vincula pars adimunt canibus, pars pressa sequuntur

signa pedum cupiuntque suum reperire periclum.

Concava vallis erat, quo se demittere rivi

335assuerant pluvialis aquae; tenet ima lacunae

lenta salix ulvaeque leves iuncique palustres

viminaque et longa parvae sub harundine cannae.

Hinc caper excitus medios violentus in hostes

fertur, ut excussis elisi nubibus ignes.

340Sternitur incursu nemus et propulsa fragorem

silva dat; exclamant iuvenes praetentaque forti

tela tenent dextra lato vibrantia ferro.

Ille ruit spargitque canes, ut quisque furenti

obstat, et obliquo latrantes dissipat ictu.

345Cuspis Echionio primum contorta lacerto

vana fuit truncoque dedit leve vulnus acerno.

Proxima, si nimiis mittentis viribus usa

non foret, in tergo visa est haesura petito;

longius it; auctor teli Pagasaeus Iason.

350"Phoebe" ait Ampycides "si te coluique coloque,

da mihi quod petitur certo contingere telo."

Qua potuit, precibus deus annuit; ictus ab illo est,

sed sine vulnere, aper; ferrum Diana volanti

abstulerat iaculo, lignum sine acumine venit.

355Ira feri mota est nec fulmine lenius arsit;

emicat ex oculis, spirat quoque pectore flamma;

utque volat moles adducto concita nervo,

cum petit aut muros aut plenas milite turres,

in iuvenes certo sic impete vulnificus sus

360fertur et Hippalmon Pelagonaque, dextra tuentes

cornua, prosternit. Socii rapuere iacentes.

At non letiferos effugit Enaesimus ictus

Hippocoonte satus; trepidantem et terga parantem

vertere succiso liquerunt poplite nervi.

365Forsitan et Pylius citra Troiana perisset

tempora; sed sumpto posita conamine ab hasta

arboris insilvit, quae stabat proxima, ramis

despexitque, loco tutus, quem fugerat hostem.

Dentibus ille ferox in querno stipite tristis

370imminet exitio fidensque recentibus armis

Eurytidae magni rostro femur hausit adunco.

At gemini, nondum caelestia sidera, fratres,

ambo conspicui, nive candidioribus ambo

vectabantur equis, ambo vibrata per auras

375hastarum tremulo quatiebant spicula motu.

Vulnera fecissent, nisi saetiger inter opacas

nec iaculis isset nec equo loca pervia silvas.

Persequitur Telamon studioque incautus eundi

pronus ab arborea cecidit radice retentus.

380Dum levat hunc Peleus, celerem Tegeaea sagittam

imposuit nervo sinvatoque expulit arcu.

Fixa sub aure feri summum destrinxit harundo

corpus et exiguo rubefecit sanguine saetas;

nec tamen illa sui successu laetior ictus

385quam Meleagros erat; primus vidisse putatur

et primus sociis visum ostendisse cruorem

et "meritum" dixisse "feres virtutis honorem."

Erubuere viri seque exhortantur et addunt

cum clamore animos iaciuntque sine ordine tela;

390turba nocet iactis et, quos petit, impedit ictus.

Ecce furens contra sua fata bipennifer Arcas:

"Discite femineis quid tela virilia praestent,

o iuvenes operique meo concedite" dixit.

"Ipsa suis licet hunc Latonia protegat armis,

395invita tamen hunc perimet mea dextra Diana."

Talia magniloquo tumidus memoraverat ore

ancipitemque manu tollens utraque securim

institerat digitis, primos suspensus in artus.

Occupat audentem, quaque est via proxima leto,

400summa ferus geminos direxit ad inguina dentes.

Concidit Ancaeus glomerataque sanguine multo

viscera lapsa fluunt madefactaque terra cruore est.

Ibat in adversum proles Ixionis hostem

Pirithous, valida quatiens venabula dextra.

405Cui: "Procul," Aegides "o me mihi carior," inquit

"pars animae consiste meae. Licet eminus esse

fortibus; Ancaeo nocuit temeraria virtus."

Dixit et aerata torsit grave cuspide cornum;

quo bene librato votique potente futuro,

410obstiti abscisa frondosus ab arbore ramus.

Misit et Aesonides iaculum, quod casus ab illo

vertit in immeriti fatum Celadontis et inter

ilia coniectum tellure per ilia fixum est.

At manus Oenidae variat missisque duabus

415hasta prior terra, medio stetit altera tergo.

Nec mora, dum saevit, dum corpora versat in orbem

stridentemque novo spumam cum sanguine fundit,

vulneris auctor adest hostemque irritat ad iram

splendidaque adversos venabula condit in armos.

420Gaudia testantur socii clamore secundo

victricemque petunt dextrae coniungere dextram

immanemque ferum multa tellure iacentem

mirantes spectant neque adhuc contingere tutum

esse putant, sed tela tamen sua quisque cruentat.

425Ipse pede imposito caput exitiabile pressit

atque ita: "Sume mei spolium, Nonacria, iuris"

dixit "et in partem veniat mea gloria tecum."

Protinus exuvias rigidis horrentia saetis

terga dat et magnis insignia dentibus ora.

430Illi laetitiae est cum munere muneris auctor;

invidere alii totoque erat agmine murmur.

E quibus ingenti tendentes bracchia voce:

"Pone age nec titulos intercipe, femina, nostros,"

Thestiadae clamant "nec te fiducia formae

435decipiat, ne sit longe tibi captus amore

auctor;" et huic adimunt munus, ius muneris illi.

Non tulit et tumida frendens Mavortius ira

"discite, raptores alieni" dixit "honoris,

facta minis quantum distent;" hausitque nefando

440pectora Plexippi nil tale timentia ferro.

Toxea, quid faciat dubium pariterque volentem

ulcisci fratrem fraternaque fata timentem,

haud patitur dubitare diu calidumque priori

caede recalfecit consorti sanguine telum.

445Dona deum templis nato victore ferebat,

cum videt extinctos fratres Althaea referri.

Quae plangore dato maestis clamoribus urbem

implet et auratis mutavit vestibus atras;

at simul est auctor necis editus, excidit omnis

450luctus et a lacrimis in poenae versus amorem est.

Stipes erat, quem, cum partus enixa iaceret

Thestias, in flammam triplices posuere sorores;

staminaque inpresso fatalia pollice nentes:

"Tempora" dixerunt "eadem lignoque tibique,

455o modo nate, damus." Quo postquam carmine dicto

excessere deae, flagrantem mater ab igne

eripuit ramum sparsitque liquentibus undis.

Ille diu fuerat penetralibus abditus imis

servatusque tuos, iuvenis, servaverat annos.

460Protulit hunc genetrix taedasque et fragmina poni

imperat et positis inimicos admovet ignes.

Tum conata quater flammis imponere ramum,

coepta quater tenuit; pugnat materque sororque

et diversa trahunt unum duo nomina pectus.

465Saepe metu sceleris pallebant ora futuri,

saepe suum fervens oculis dabat ira ruborem;

et modo nescio quid similis crudele minanti

vultus erat, modo quem misereri credere posses;

cumque ferus lacrimas animi siccaverat ardor,

470inveniebantur lacrimae tamen. Utque carina,

quam ventus ventoque rapit contrarius aestus,

vim geminam sentit paretque incerta duobus.

Thestias haud aliter dubiis affectibus errat

inque vices ponit positamque resuscitat iram.

475Incipit esse tamen melior germana parente

et, consanguineas ut sanguine leniat umbras,

impietate pia est. Nam postquam pestifer ignis

convaluit: "Rogus iste cremet mea viscera" dixit

utque manu dira lignum fatale tenebat,

480ante sepulcrales infelix adstitit aras,

"Poenarum"que "deae triplices, furialibus," inquit

"Eumenides, sacris vultus advertite vestros.

Ulciscor facioque nefas; mors morte pianda est,

in scelus addendum scelus est, in funera funus;

485per coacervatos pereat domus impia luctus.

An felix Oeneus nato victore fruetur,

Thestius orbus erit? Melius lugebitis ambo.

Vis modo, fraterni manes animaeque recentes,

officium sentite meum magnoque paratas

490accipite inferias, uteri mala pignora nostri.

Ei mihi! Quo rapior? Fratres ignoscite matri.

Deficiunt ad coepta manus; meruisse fatemur

illum cur pereat; mortis mihi displicet auctor.

Ergo impune feret vivusque et victor et ipso

495successu tumidus regnum Calydonis habebit,

vos cinis exiguus gelidaeque iacebitis umbrae?

Haud equidem patiar; pereat sceleratus et ille

spemque patris regnumque trahat patriaeque ruinam.

Mens ubi materna est? Ubi sunt pia iura parentum

500et quos sustinui bis mensum quinque labores?

O | utinam primis arsisses ignibus infans

idque ego passa forem! Vixisti munere nostro;

nunc merito moriere tuo: Cape praemia facti

disque datam, primum partu, mox stipite rapto,

505redde animam, vel me fraternis adde sepulcris.

Et cupio et nequeo. Quid agam? Modo vulnera fratrum

ante oculos mihi sunt et tantae caedis imago,

nunc animum pietas maternaque nomina frangunt.

Me miseram! Male vincetis, sed vincite, fratres,

510dummodo quae dedero vobis solacia vosque

ipsa sequar." Dixit dextraque aversa trementi

funereum torrem medios coniecit in ignes.

Aut dedit aut visus gemitus est ille dedisse

stipes et invitis correptus ab ignibus arsit.

515Inscius atque absens flamma Meleagros ab illa

uritur et caecis torreri viscera sentit

ignibus ac magnos superat virtute dolores.

Quod tamen ignavo cadat et sine sanguine leto,

maeret et Ancaei felicia vulnera dicit;

520grandaevumque patrem fratresque piasque sorores

cum gemitu sociamque tori vocat ore supremo,

forsitan et matrem. Crescunt ignisque dolorque,

languescuntque iterum; simul est extinctus uterque

inque leves abiit paulatim spiritus auras,

525paulatim cana prunam velante favilla.

Alta iacet Calydon; lugent iuvenesque senesque,

vulgusque proceresque gemunt scissaeque capillos

planguntur matres Calydonides Eveninae.

Pulvere canitiem genitor vultusque seniles

530foedat humi fusus spatiosumque increpat aevum.

Nam de matre manus diri sibi conscia facti

exegit poenas acto per viscera ferro.

Non mihi si centum deus ora sonantia linguis

ingeniumque capax totumque Helicona dedisset,

535tristia persequerer miserarum dicta sororum.

Immemores decoris liventia pectora tundunt;

dumque manet corpus, corpus refoventque foventque,

oscula dant ipsi, posito dant oscula lecto.

post cinerem cineres haustos ad pectora pressant,

540affusaeque iacent tumulo signataque saxo

nomina complexae lacrimas in nomina fundunt.

Quas Parthaoniae tandem Latonia clade

exsatiata domus, praeter Gorgenque nurumque

nobilis Alcmenae, natis in corpore pennis

545allevat et longas per bracchia porrigit alas

corneaque ora facit versasque per aëra mittit.

Interea Theseus sociati parte laboris

functus Erechtheas Tritonidos ibat ad arces.

Clausit iter fecitque moras Achelous eunti

550imbre tumens. "Succede meis," ait "inclite, tectis,

Cecropida, nec te committe rapacibus undis.

Ferre trabes solidas obliquaque volvere magno

murmure saxa solent; vidi contermina ripae

cum gregibus stabula alta trahi; nec fortibus illic

555profuit armentis, nec equis velocibus esse.

Multa quoque hic torrens nivibus de monte solutis

corpora turbineo iuvenalia flumine mersit.

Tutior est requies, solito dum flumine currant

limite, dum tenues capiat suus alveus undas."

560Annuit Aegides: "Utar"que, "Acheloë, domoque

consilioque tuo" respondit; et usus utroque est.

Pumice multicavo nec levibus atria tophis

structa subit; molli tellus erat umida musco,

summa lacunabant alterno murice conchae.

565Iamque duas lucis partes Hyperione menso

discubuere toris Theseus comitesque laborum;

hac Ixionides, illa Troezenius heros

parte Lelex, raris iam sparsus tempora canis,

quosque alios parili fuerat dignatus honore

570amnis Acarnanum laetissimus hospite tanto.

Protinus appositas nudae vestigia nymphae

instruxere epulis mensas dapibusque remotis

in gemma posuere merum. Tum maximus heros,

aequora prospiciens oculis subiecta: "Quis" inquit

575"ille locus?". Digitoque ostendit et "insula nomen

quod gerit illa, doce, quamquam non una videtur."

Amnis ad haec: "Non est," inquit "quod cernitis, unum;

quinque iacent terrae; spatium discrimina fallit.

Quoque minus spretae factum mirere Dianae,

580Naides hae fuerant; quae cum bis quinque iuvencos

mactassent rurisque deos ad sacra vocassent,

immemores nostri festas duxere choreas.

Intumui quantusque, feror cum plurimus umquam,

tantus eram pariterque animis immanis et undis

585a silvis silvas et ab arvis arva revelli

cumque loco nymphas, memores tum denique nostri,

in freta provolvi. Fluctus nosterque marisque

continuam diduxit humum pariterque revellit

in totidem, mediis quot cernis Echinadas undis.

590Ut tamen ipse vides, procul en procul ana recessit

insula, grata mihi (Perimelen navita dicit);

huic ego virgineum dilectae nomen ademi.

Quod pater Hippodamas aegre tulit inque profundum

propulit e scopulo periturae corpora natae.

595Excepi nantemque ferens: "O proxima mundi

regna vagae" dixi "sortite tridentifer undae,

[in quo desinimus, quo sacri currimus amnes,

huc ades atque audi placidus, Neptune, precantem.

Huic ego, quam porto, nocui. Si mitis et aequus,

600si pater Hippodamas, aut si minus impius esset,

debuit illius misereri, ignoscere nobis;]

affer opem mersaeque precor feritate paterna

da, Neptune, locum; vel sit locus ipsa licebit.

[Hunc quoque complectar!" Movit caput aequoreus rex

concussitque suis omnes assensibus undas.

605Extimuit nymphe, nabat tamen. Ipse natantis

pectora tangebam trepido salientia motu;

dumque ea contrecto, totum durescere sensi

corpus et inducta condi praecordia terra.]

Dum loquor, amplexa est artus nova terra natantis

610et gravis increvit mutatis insula membris."

Amnis ab his tacuit. Factum mirabile cunctos

moverat; irridet credentes, utque deorum

spretor erat mentisque ferox Ixione natus:

"Ficta refers nimiumque putas, Acheloë, potentes

615esse deos," dixit "si dant adimuntque figuras."

Obstipuere omnes, nec talia dicta probarunt;

ante omnesque Lelex, animo maturus et aevo,

sic ait: "Inmensa est finemque potentia caeli

non habet et quicquid superi volvere peractum est.

620Quoque minus dubites, tiliae contermina quercus

collibus est Phrygiis, modico circumdata muro;

ipse locum vidi; nam me Pelopeia Pittheus

misit in arva, suo quondam regnata parenti.

Haud procul hinc stagnum est, tellus habitabilis olim,

625nunc celebres mergis fulicisque palustribus undae.

Iuppiter huc specie mortali cumque parente

venit Atlantiades positis caducifer alis.

Mille domos adiere locum requiemque petentes,

mille domos clausere serae. Tamen una recepit,

630parva quidem, stipulis et canna tecta palustri;

sed pia Baucis anus parilique aetate Philemon

illa sunt annis iuncti iuvenalibus, illa

consenvere casa paupertatemque fatendo

effecere levem nec iniqua mente ferendo.

635Nec refert dominos illic famulosne requiras;

tota domus duo sunt, idem parentque iubentque.

Ergo ubi caelicolae parvos tetigere penates

summissoque humiles intrarunt vertice postes,

membra senex posito iussit relevare sedili.

640Quo super iniecit textum rude sedula Baucis

inque foco tepidum cinerem dimovit et ignes

suscitat hesternos foliisque et cortice sicco

nutrit et ad flammas anima producit anili

multifidasque faces ramaliaque arida tecto

645detulit et minuit parvoque admovit aëno.

Quodque suus coniunx riguo collegerat horto,

truncat holus foliis; furca levat illa bicorni

sordida terga suis nigro pendentia tigno

servatoque diu resecat de tergore partem

650exiguam sectamque domat ferventibus undis.

Interea medias fallunt sermonibus horas

[sentirique moram prohibent. Erat alveus illic

fagineus curva clavo suspensus ab ansa.

Is tepidis impletur aquis artusque fovendos

accipit; in medio torus est de mollibus ulvis

655impositus lecto, sponda pedibusque salignis.]

Concutiuntque torum de molli fluminis ulva

impositum lecto sponda pedibusque salignis;

vestibus hunc velant, quas non nisi tempore festo

sternere consuerant; sed et haec vilisque vetusque

vestis erat, lecto non indignanda saligno.

660Accubuere dei. Mensam succincta tremensque

ponit anus; mensae sed erat pes tertius impar;

testa parem fecit; quae postquam subdita clivum

sustulit, aequatam mentae tersere virentes.

Ponitur hic bicolor sincerae baca Minervae

665conditaque in liquida corna autumnalia faece

intibaque et radix et lactis massa coacti

ovaque non acri leviter versata favilla,

omnia fictilibus. Post haec caelatus eodem

sistitur argento crater fabricataque fago

670pocula, qua cava sunt, flaventibus illita ceris.

Parva mora est epulasque foci misere calentes,

nec longae rursus referuntur vina senectae

dantque locum mensis paulum seducta secundis.

Hic nux, hic mixta est rugosis carica palmis

675prunaque et in patulis redolentia mala canistris

et de purpureis collectae vitibus uvae.

Candidus in medio favus est; super omnia vultus

accessere boni nec iners pauperque voluntas.

Interea totiens haustum cratera repleri

680sponte sua per seque vident succrescere vina;

attoniti novitate pavent manibusque supinis

concipiunt Baucisque preces timidusque Philemon

et veniam dapibus nullisque paratibus orant.

Unicus anser erat, minimae custodia villae,

685quem dis hospitibus domini mactare parabant;

ille celer penna tardos aetate fatigat

eluditque diu tandemque est visus ad ipsos

confugisse deos. Superi vetuere necari;

"Di"que "sumus meritasque luet vicinia poenas

690impia;" dixerunt "vobis inmunibus huius

esse mali dabitur; modo vestra relinquite tecta

ac nostros comitate gradus et in ardua montis

ite simul." Parent ambo baculisque levati

[ite simul. Parent et dis praeeuntibus ambo

membra levant baculis, tardique senilibus annis]

nituntur longo vestigia ponere clivo.

695Tantum aberant summo quantum semel ire sagitta

missa potest; flexere oculos et mersa palude

cetera prospiciunt, tantum sua tecta manere;

dumque ea mirantur, dum deflent fata suorum,

[mersa vident quaeruntque suae pia culmina villae;

sola loco stabant. Dum deflent fata suorum,]

illa vetus dominis etiam casa parva duobus

700vertitur in templum; furcas subiere columnae

stramina flavescunt aurataque tecta videntur

caelataeque fores adopertaque marmore tellus.

Talia tum placido Saturnius edidit ore:

"Dicite, iuste senex et femina coniuge iusto

705digna, quid optetis." Cum Baucide pauca locutus,

iudicium superis aperit commune Philemon:

"Esse sacerdotes delubraque vestra tueri

poscimus et, quoniam concordes egimus annos,

auferat hora duos eadem, ne coniugis umquam

710busta meae videam, neu sim tumulandus ab illa."

Vota fides sequitur; templi tutela fuere,

donec vita data est. Annis aevoque soluti

ante gradus sacros cum starent forte locique

narrarent casus, frondere Philemona Baucis,

715Baucida conspexit senior frondere Philemon.

Iamque super geminos crescente cacumine vultus

mutua, dum licuit, reddebant dicta; "vale"que,

"o coniunx" dixere simul, simul abdita texit

ora frutex. Ostendit adhuc Thyneius illic

720incola de gemino vicinos corpore truncos.

Haec mihi non vani, neque erat cur fallere vellent,

narravere senes. Equidem pendentia vidi

serta super ramos ponensque recentia dixi:

"cura deum di sint et qui coluere colantur."

725Desierat cunctosque et res et moverat auctor,

Thesea praecipue. Quem facta audire volentem

mira deum, innixus cubito Calydonius amnis

talibus alloquitur: "Sunt, o fortissime, quorum

forma semel mota est et in hoc renovamine mansit;

730sunt quibus in plures ius est transire figuras,

ut tibi, complexi terram maris incola, Proteu.

Nam modo te iuvenem, modo te videre leonem;

nunc violentus aper, nunc, quem tetigisse timerent,

anguis eras; modo te faciebant cornua taurum;

735saepe lapis poteras, arbor quoque saepe videri;

interdum, faciem liquidarum imitatus aquarum,

flumen eras, interdum undis contrarius ignis.

Nec minus Autolyci coniunx, Erysichthone nata,

iuris habet. Pater huius erat qui numina divum

740sperneret et nullos aris adoleret odores;

ille etiam Cereale nemus violasse securi

dicitur et lucos ferro temerasse vetustos.

Stabat in his ingens annoso robore quercus,

una nemus; vittae mediam memoresque tabellae

745sertaque cingebant, voti argumenta potentis.

Saepe sub hac Dryades festas duxere choreas,

saepe etiam manibus nexis ex ordine trunci

circuiere modum mensuraque roboris ulnas

quinque ter implebat; nec non et cetera tanto

750silva sub hac omnis quanto fuit herba sub omni.

Non tamen idcirco ferrum Triopeius illa

abstinuit famulosque iubet succidere sacrum

robur et, ut iussos cunctari vidit, ab uno

edidit haec rapta sceleratus verba securi:

755"Non dilecta deae solum, sed et ipsa licebit

sit dea, iam tanget frondente cacumine terram."

Dixit et, obliquos dum telum librat in ictus,

contremuit gemitumque dedit Deoia quercus;

et pariter frondes, pariter pallescere glandes

760coepere ac longi pallorem ducere rami.

Cuius ut in trunco fecit manus impia vulnus,

haud aliter fluxit discusso cortice sanguis

quam solet, ante aras ingens ubi victima taurus

concidit, abrupta cruor e cervice profundi.

765Obstipuere omnes aliquisque ex omnibus audet

deterrere nefas saevamque inhibere bipennem.

Aspicit hunc, "mentis"que "piae cape praemia" dixit

Thessalus inque virum convertit ab arbore ferrum

detruncatque caput; repetitaque robora caedit,

770redditus et medio sonus est de robore talis:

"nympha sub hoc ego sum Cereri gratissima ligno,

quae tibi factorum poenas instare tuorum

vaticinor moriens, nostri solacia leti."

Persequitur scelus ille suum; labefactaque tandem

775ictibus innumeris adductaque funibus arbor

corruit et multam prostravit pondere silvam.

Attonitae Dryades damno nemorumque suoque,

omnes germanae, Cererem cum vestibus atris

maerentes adeunt poenamque Erysichthonis orant.

780Annuit his capitisque sui pulcherrima motu

concussit gravidis oneratos messibus agros;

moliturque genus poenae miserabile, si non

ille suis esset nulli miserabilis actis,

pestifera lacerare Fame. Quae quatenus ipsi

785non adeunda deae est (neque enim Cereremque Famemque

fata coire sinunt), montani numinis unam

talibus agrestem compellat Oreada dictis:

"est locus extremis Scythiae glacialis in oris,

triste solum, sterilis, sine fruge, sine arbore tellus;

790frigus iners illic, habitant Pallorque Tremorque

et ieiuna Fames. Ea se in praecordia condat

sacrilegi scelerata, iube; nec copia rerum

vincat eam superetque meas certamine vires;

neve viae spatium te terreat, accipe currus,

795accipe, quos frenis alte moderere, dracones;"

et dedit. Illa dato subvecta per aëra curru

devenit in Scythiam rigidique cacumine montis

(Caucason appellant) serpentum colla levavit;

Quaesitamque Famem lapidoso vidit in agro

800unguibus et raras vellentem dentibus herbas.

Hirtus erat crinis. Cava lumina, pallor in ore,

labra incana situ, scabrae rubigine fauces,

dura cutis, per quam spectari viscera possent;

ossa sub incurvis exstabant arida lumbis,

805ventris erat pro ventre locus, pendere putares

pectus et a spinae tantummodo crate teneri.

Auxerat articulos macies genuumque tumebat

orbis et inmodico prodibant tubere tali.

Hanc procul ut vidit (neque enim est accedere iuxta

810ausa), refert mandata deae; paulumque morata,

quamquam aberat longe, quamquam modo venerat illuc,

visa tamen sensisse famem retroque dracones

egit in Haemoniam versis sublimis habenis.

Dicta Fames Cereris, quamvis contraria semper

815illius est operi, peragit perque aëra vento

ad iussam delata domum est et protinus intrat

sacrilegi thalamos altoque sopore solutum

(noctis erat tempus) geminis amplectitur ulnis

seque viro inspirat faucesque et pectus et ora

820afflat et in vacuis spargit ieiunia venis;

functaque mandato fecundum deserit orbem

inque domos inopes, assueta revertitur arva.

Lenis adhuc somnus placidis Erysichthona pennis

mulcebat; petit ille dapes sub imagine somni

825oraque vana movet dentemque in dente fatigat

exercetque cibo delusum guttur inani

proque epulis tenues nequiquam devorat auras.

Ut vero est expulsa quies, furit ardor edendi

perque avidas fauces inmesaque viscera regnat.

830Nec mora, quod pontus, quod terra, quod educat aër,

poscit et appositis queritur ieiunia mensis

inque epulis epulas quaerit; quodque urbibus esse,

quodque satis poterat populo, non sufficit uni;

plusque cupit quo plura suam demittat in alvum.

835Utque fretum recipit de tota flumina terra,

nec satiatur aquis peregrinosque ebibit amnes,

utque rapax ignis non umquam alimenta recusat

innumerasque trabes cremat et, quo copia maior

est data, plura petit turbaque voracior ipsa est;

840sic epulas omnes Erysichthonis ora profani

accipiunt poscuntque simul; cibus omnis in illo

causa cibi est semperque locus fit inanis edendo.

Iamque fame patrias altique voragine ventris

attenuarat opes; sed inattenuata manebat

845tum quoque dira fames implacataeque vigebat

flamma gulae. Et tandem, demisso in viscera censu,

filia restabat, non illo digna parente.

Hanc quoque vendit inops; dominum generosa recusat

et vicina suas tendens super aequora palmas:

850"Eripe me domino, qui raptae praemia nobis

virginitatis habes" ait; haec Neptunus habebat.

Qui prece non spreta, quamvis modo visa sequenti

esset ero, formamque novat vultumque virilem

induit et cultus piscem capientibus aptos.

855Hanc dominus spectans: "O qui pendentia parvo

aera cibo celas, moderator harundinis," inquit

"sic mare compositum, sic sit tibi piscis in unda

credulus et nullus, nisi fixus, sentiat hamos;

quae modo cum vili turbatis veste capillis

860litore in hoc steterat, nam stantem in litore vidi,

dic ubi sit; neque enim vestigia longius exstant."

Illa dei munus bene cedere sensit et a se

se quaeri gaudens, his est resecuta rogantem:

"Quisquis es, ignoscas; in nullam lumina partem

865gurgite ab hoc flexi studioque operatus inhaesi.

Quoque minus dubites, sic has deus aequoris artes

adiuvet ut nemo iamdudum litore in isto,

me tamen excepto, nec femina constitit ulla."

Credidit et verso dominus pede pressit harenam

870elususque abiit; illi sua reddita forma est.

Ast ubi habere suam transformia corpora sensit,

saepe pater dominis Triopeida tradit; at illa

nunc equa, nunc ales, modo bos, modo cervus abibat

praebebatque avido non iusta alimenta parenti.

875Vis tamen illa mali postquam consumpserat omnem

materiam dederatque gravi nova pabula morbo,

ipse suos artus lacero divellere morsu

coepit et infelix minuendo corpus alebat.

Quid moror externis? Etiam mihi saepe novandi est

880corporis, o iuvenis, numero finita potestas.

Nam modo qui nunc sum videor, modo flector in anguem,

armenti modo dux vires in cornua sumo,

cornua, dum potui; nunc pars caret altera telo

frontis, ut ipse vides." Gemitus sunt verba secuti.