0

Āt nōn Āŏnĭaē mŏdĕrātōr pērfĭdŭs ōraē

nōctĕ sŭb āncĭpĭtī, quāmvīs ūmēntĭbŭs āstrīs

lōngŭs ăd aūrōrām sŭpĕrēt lăbŏr, ōtĭă sōmnī

āccĭpĭt; īnvĭgĭlānt ănĭmō scĕlĕrīsquĕ părātī

sūpplĭcĭum ēxērcēnt cūraē; tūm plūrĭmă vērsāt5

pēssĭmŭs īn dŭbĭīs aūgūr tĭmŏr. "Eī mĭhĭ" clāmāt,

"ūndĕ mŏraē?" - nām prōnă rătūs făcĭlēmquĕ tŏt ārmīs

Tŷdĕă, nēc nŭmĕrō vīrtūtem ănĭmūmquĕ rĕpēndīt -

"nūm rĕgĭō dīvērsă vĭaē? nūm mīssŭs ăb Ārgīs

sūbsĭdĭō glŏbŭs? ān scĕlĕrīs dătă fāmă pĕr ūrbēs10

fīnĭtĭmās? paūcōsnĕ, pătēr Grādīvĕ, mănūvĕ

lēgĭmŭs īndĕcŏrēs? ăt ĕnīm fōrtīssĭmŭs īllīc

ēt Chrŏmĭs ēt Dŏrўlās ēt nōstrīs tūrrĭbŭs aēquī

Thēspĭădaē tōtōs răpĕrēnt mĭhĭ fūndĭtŭs Ārgōs.

Nēc tămĕn īllĕ mĕīs, rĕŏr, īmpĕnĕtrābĭlĭs ārmīs15

aērĕ gĕrēns sŏlĭdōquĕ dătōs ădămāntĕ lăcērtōs

vēnĕrăt; heū sēgnēs, quōrūm lăbŏr haērĕt ĭn ūnō,

sī cōnsērtă mănūs". Vărĭō sīc tūrbĭdŭs aēstū

āngĭtŭr āc sēsē cūlpāt sŭpĕr ōmnĭă, quī nōn

ōrāntem īn mĕdĭīs lēgātūm coētĭbŭs ēnsĕ20

pērcŭlĕrīt foēdāsquĕ pălām sătĭāvĕrĭt īrās.

Iām pŭdĕt īncēptī, iām paēnĭtĕt. Āc vĕlŭt īllĕ

flūctĭbŭs Īŏnĭīs Călăbraē dătŭs ārbĭtĕr ālnō

nēc rŭdĭs ūndārūm - pōrtūs sēd līnquĕre ămīcōs

pūrĭŏr Ōlĕnĭī frūstrā grădŭs īmpŭlĭt āstrī -,25

cūm frăgŏr hībērnī sŭbĭtūs Iŏvĭs, ōmnĭă mūndī

claūstră tŏnānt mūltūsquĕ pŏlōs īnclīnăt Ŏrīōn,

īpsĕ quĭdēm mālīt tērrās pūgnātquĕ rĕvērtī,

fērt īngēns ā pūppĕ nŏtūs, tūnc ārtĕ rĕlīctā

īngĕmĭt ēt caēcās sĕquĭtūr iām nēscĭŭs ūndās:30

tālĭs Ăgēnŏrĕūs dūctōr caēlōquĕ mŏrāntēm

Lūcĭfĕrum ēt sērōs maērēntĭbŭs īncrĕpăt ōrtūs.

Ēccĕ sŭb ōccĭdŭās vērsaē iām Nōctĭs hăbēnās

āstrōrūmque ŏbĭtūs, ŭbĭ prīmūm māxĭmă Tēthŷs

īmpŭlĭt Ēōō cūnctāntem Hўpĕrīŏnă pōntō,35

īmă flăgēllātīs, sīgnūm lūgūbrĕ mălōrūm,

pōndĕrĭbūs trĕpĭdāvĭt hŭmūs, mōtūsquĕ Cĭthaērōn

āntīquās dĕdĭt īrĕ nĭvēs; tūnc vīsă lĕvārī

cūlmĭnă sēptēnaēquĕ iŭgō cōncūrrĕrĕ pōrtaē.

Ēt prŏpĕ sūnt caūsaē: gĕlĭdō rĕmĕābăt Ĕōō40

īrātūs fātīs ēt trīstīs mōrtĕ nĕgātā

Haēmŏnĭdēs; nēcdum ōră pătēnt, dŭbĭūsquĕ nŏtārī

sīgnă dăbāt māgnaē lōngē mănĭfēstă rŭīnaē

plānctūque ēt gĕmĭtū; lăcrĭmās nām prōtĭnŭs ōmnīs

fūdĕrăt. Haūd ălĭtēr sāltū dēvērtĭtŭr ōrbūs45

pāstŏr ăb āgrēstūm nōctūrnā strāgĕ lŭpōrūm,

cūiŭs ĕrīlĕ pĕcūs sīlvīs ĭnŏpīnŭs ăbēgīt

īmbĕr ĕt hībērnaē vēntōsă căcūmĭnă lūnaē:

lūcĕ pătēnt caēdēs; dŏmĭnō pērfērrĕ rĕcēntēs

īpsĕ tĭmēt cāsūs, haūstāque īnfōrmĭs hărēnā50

quēstĭbŭs īmplĕt ăgrōs, stăbŭlīquĕ sĭlēntĭă māgnī

ōdĭt ĕt āmīssōs lōngō cĭĕt ōrdĭnĕ taūrōs.

Īllūm cōngēstaē pōrtārum ād līmĭnă mātrēs

ūt sōlūm vīdērĕ - nĕfās! - nūlla āgmĭnă cīrcūm

māgnănĭmōsquĕ dŭcēs, nīl aūsaē quaērĕrĕ tōllūnt55

clāmōrēm, quālīs bēllō sūprēmŭs ăpērtīs

ūrbĭbŭs, aūt pĕlăgō iām dēscēndēntĕ cărīnā.

Ūt prīmum īnvīsī cŭpĭdō dătă cōpĭă rēgīs:

"Hānc tĭbĭ dē tāntō dōnāt fĕrŭs āgmĭnĕ Tŷdeūs

īnfēlīcem ănĭmām, sīve haēc sēntēntĭă dīvūm,60

seū fōrtūnă fŭīt, seū, quōd pŭdĕt īră fătērī,

vīs īnvīctă vĭrī. Vīx crēdo ēt nūntĭŭs: ōmnēs

prōcŭbŭēre, ōmnēs. Nōctīs văgă lūmĭnă tēstōr

ēt sŏcĭūm mānēs ēt tē, mălă prōtĭnŭs ālēs,

quā rĕdĕō, nōn hānc lăcrĭmīs mĕrŭīssĕ nĕc āstū65

crūdēlēm vĕnĭam ātque ĭnhŏnōraē mūnĕră lūcīs.

Sēd mĭhĭ iūssă dĕūm plăcĭtōque īgnāră mŏvērī

Ātrŏpŏs ātque ōlīm nōn haēc dătă iānŭă lētī

ērĭpŭērĕ nĕcēm. iāmque ūt mĭhĭ prōdĭgă vītaē

pēctŏra ĕt ēxtrēmām nĭhĭl hōrrēscēntĭă mōrtēm70

āspĭcĭās: bēllum īnfāndum ōmĭnĭbūsquĕ nĕgātām

mōvīstī, fūnēste, ăcĭēm; dūm pēllĕrĕ lēgēs

ēt cōnsānguĭnĕō gēstīs rēgnārĕ sŭpērbūs

ēxsŭlĕ, tē sĕrĭēs ōrbārum ēxcīsă dŏmōrūm

plānctĭbŭs āssĭdŭīs, tē dīro hōrrōrĕ vŏlāntēs75

quīnquāgīnta ănĭmaē cīrcūm nōctēsquĕ dĭēsquĕ

āssĭlĭēnt; nĕque ĕnim īpsĕ mŏrōr." iām mōvĕrăt īrās

rēx fĕrŭs, ēt trīstēs īgnēscūnt sānguĭnĕ vūltūs.

Īnde ūltrō Phlĕgўās ēt nōn cūnctātŏr ĭnīquī

Lābdăcŭs - hōs rēgnī fērrūm pĕnĕs - īrĕ mănūquĕ80

prōtūrbārĕ părānt. sēd iām nūdāvĕrăt ēnsēm

māgnănĭmūs vātēs, ēt nūnc trŭcĭs ōră tўrānnī,

nūnc fērrum āspēctāns: "Nūmquām tĭbĭ sānguĭnĭs hūiūs

iūs ĕrĭt aūt māgnō fĕrĭēs īmpērdĭtă Tŷdeō

pēctŏră; vādo ĕquĭdem ēxsūltāns ērēptăquĕ fātă85

īnsĕquŏr ēt cŏmĭtēs fĕrŏr ēxspēctātŭs ăd ūmbrās.

Tē sŭpĕrīs frātrīque" - ēt iām mĕdĭa ōrsă lŏquēntīs

ābscĭdĕrāt plēnūm căpŭlō lătŭs; īllĕ dŏlōrī

pūgnăt ĕt īngēntēm nīsū dŭplĭcātŭs ĭn īctūm

cōrrŭĭt, ēxtrēmīsque ănĭmaē sīngūltĭbŭs ērrāns90

āltērnūs nūnc ōrĕ vĕnīt, nūnc vūlnĕrĕ sānguīs.

Ēxcūssaē prŏcĕrūm mēntēs, tūrbātăquĕ mūssānt

cōncĭlĭa; āst īllūm cōniūnx fīdīquĕ părēntēs

sērvāntēm vūltūs ēt tōrvum īn mōrtĕ pĕrāctā,

nōn lōngūm rĕdŭcēm laētāti, īn tēctă fĕrēbānt.95

Sēd dŭcĭs īnfāndī răbĭdaē nōn hāctĕnŭs īraē

stārĕ quĕūnt; vĕtăt īgnĕ răpī, pācēmquĕ sĕpūlcrī

īmpĭŭs īgnārīs nēquīquām mānĭbŭs ārcēt.

Tū tămĕn ēgrĕgĭūs fātī mēntīsquĕ nĕc ūmquām

- sīc dīgnum ēst - pāssūrĕ sĭtūm, quī cōmmĭnŭs aūsūs100

vādĕrĕ cōntēmptūm rēgēs, quāque āmplă vĕnīrēt

lībērtās, sāncīrĕ vĭām: quō cārmĭnĕ dīgnām,

quō sătĭs ōrĕ tŭīs fāmām vīrtūtĭbŭs āddām,

aūgŭr ămātĕ dĕīs? Nōn tē caēlēstĭă frūstrā

ēdŏcŭīt laūrōquĕ sŭā dīgnātŭs Ăpōllōst:105

ēt nĕmŏrūm Dōdōnă părēns Cīrrhaēăquĕ vīrgŏ

aūdēbīt tăcĭtō pŏpŭlōs sūspēndĕrĕ Phoēbō.

Nūnc quŏquĕ Tārtărĕō mūltūm dīvīsŭs Ăvērnō

Ēlўsĭās, ī, cārpĕ plăgās, ŭbĭ mānĭbŭs āxīs

īnvĭŭs Ōgўgĭīs nēc sōntĭs ĭnīquă tўrānnī110

iūssă vălēnt; dūrānt hăbĭtūs ēt mēmbră crŭēntīs

īnvĭŏlātă fĕrīs, nūdōquĕ sŭb āxĕ iăcēntēm

ēt nĕmŭs ēt trīstīs vŏlŭcrūm rĕvĕrēntĭă sērvāt.

Āt nūptae ēxănĭmēs pŭĕrīque aēgrīquĕ părēntēs

moēnĭbŭs ēffūsī pēr plānă, pĕr āvĭă, pāssīm115

quīsquĕ sŭās ăvĭdi ād lăcrĭmās mĭsĕrābĭlĕ cūrrūnt

cērtāmēn, quōs dēnsă grădū cŏmĭtāntŭr ĕūntēs

mīlĭă sōlāndī stŭdĭō, pārs vīsĕrĕ flāgrānt

ūnĭŭs āctă vĭri ēt tāntōs īn nōctĕ lăbōrēs.

fērvĕt ĭtēr gĕmĭtu ēt plāngōrĭbŭs ārvă rĕclāmānt.120

ūt vēro īnfāmēs scŏpŭlōs sīlvāmquĕ nĕfāndām

pērvēntūm, ceū nūllă prĭūs lāmēntă nĕc ātrī

mānāssēnt īmbrēs, sīc ōrĕ mĭsērrĭmŭs ūnō

ēxŏrĭtūr frăgŏr, āspēctūque āccēnsă crŭēntō

tūrbă fŭrīt: stāt sānguĭnĕō dīscīssŭs ămīctū125

Lūctŭs ătrōx caēsōque īnvītāt pēctŏrĕ mātrēs.

Scrūtāntūr gălĕās frīgēntum īnvēntăquĕ mōnstrānt

cōrpŏră, prōcĭdŭaē sŭpĕr ēxtērnōsquĕ sŭōsquĕ.

Haē prēssānt īn tābĕ cŏmās, haē lūmĭnă sīgnānt

vūlnĕrăque āltă rĭgānt lăcrĭmīs, pārs spīcŭlă dēxtrā130

nēquīquām pārcēntĕ trăhūnt, pārs mōllĭtĕr āptānt

brācchĭă trūncă lŏco ēt cērvīcĭbŭs ōră rĕpōnūnt.

Āt văgă pēr dūmōs văcŭīque īn pūlvĕrĕ cāmpī

māgnă părēns iŭvĕnūm, gĕmĭnī nūnc fūnĕrĭs, Īdē

squālēntēm sūblātă cŏmām līvēntĭăque ōră135

ūnguĕ prĕmēns - nēc iam īnfēlīx mĭsĕrāndăquĕ, vērūm

tērrŏr ĭnēst lăcrĭmīs -, pĕr ĕt ārma ēt cōrpŏră pāssīm

cānĭtĭem īmpēxām dīrā tēllūrĕ vŏlūtāns

quaērĭt ĭnōps nātōs ōmnīque īn cōrpŏrĕ plāngīt.

Thēssălĭs haūd ălĭtēr bēllō gāvīsă rĕcēntī,140

cuī gēntīlĕ nĕfās hŏmĭnēm rĕnŏvārĕ cănēndō,

mūltĭfĭda āttōllēns āntīquā lūmĭnă cēdrō

nōctĕ sŭbīt cāmpōs vērsātque īn sānguĭnĕ fūnctūm

vūlgŭs ĕt ēxplōrāt mānēs, cuī plūrĭmă būstō

īmpĕrĕt ād sŭpĕrōs: ănĭmārūm maēstă quĕrūntūr145

cōncĭlĭa, ēt nīgrī pătĕr īndīgnātŭr Ăvērnī.

Īlli īn sēcēssū părĭtēr sūb rūpĕ iăcēbānt

fēlīcēs, quōs ūnă dĭēs, mănŭs ābstŭlĭt ūnă,

pērvĭă vūlnĕrĭbūs mĕdĭā trăbĕ pēctŏră nēxī.

ūt vīdīt lăcrĭmīsque ŏcŭlī pătŭērĕ prŏfūsīs:150

"Hōsne ĕgŏ cōmplēxūs gĕnĕtrīx, haēc ōscŭlă, nātī,

vēstră tŭōr? Sīc vōs ēxtrēmo īn fīnĕ lĭgāvīt

īngĕnĭūm crūdēlĕ nĕcīs? Quaē vūlnĕră trāctēm,

quaē prĭŭs ōră prĕmām? Vōsne īllă pŏtēntĭă mātrīs,

vōs ŭtĕrī fōrtūnă mĕī, quā tāngĕrĕ dīvōs155

rēbăr ĕt Ōgўgĭās tĭtŭlīs ānteīrĕ părēntēs?

ā, quāntō mĕlĭūs dēxtrāque īn sōrtĕ iŭgātaē,

quīs stĕrĭlēs thălămī nūllōque ŭlŭlātă dŏlōrĕ

rēspēxīt Lūcīnă dŏmūm! Mĭhĭ quīppĕ mălōrūm

caūsă lăbōr; sēd nēc bēllōrum īn lūcĕ pătēntī160

cōnspĭcŭī fātīs aētērnăquĕ gēntĭbŭs aūsī

quaēsīstīs mĭsĕraē vūlnūs mĕmŏrābĭlĕ mātrī,

sēd mōrtem ōbscūrām nŭmĕrōsăquĕ fūnĕră pāssī,

heū quāntūs fūrtō crŭŏr ēt sĭnĕ laūdĕ iăcētīs!

Quīn ĕgŏ nōn dēxtrās mĭsĕrīs cōmplēxĭbŭs aūsīm165

dīvĭdĕre ēt tāntī cōnsōrtĭă rūmpĕrĕ lētī:

ītĕ dĭū frātrēs īndīscrētīquĕ sŭprēmīs

īgnĭbŭs ēt cārōs ūrnā cōnfūndĭtĕ mānēs!"

Nēc mĭnŭs īntĕrĕā dīgēstā strāgĕ sŭōrūm

hīc Chthŏnĭūm cōniūnx, hīc mātēr Pēnthĕă clāmāt170

Āstўŏchē, pŭĕrīquĕ rŭdēs, tŭă, Phaēdĭmĕ, prōlēs,

āmīssūm dĭdĭcērĕ pătrēm, Mārpēssăquĕ pāctūm

Phŷllĕă, sānguĭnĕūmquĕ lăvānt Ăcămāntă sŏrōrēs.

Tūnc fērrō rĕtĕgūnt sīlvās cōllīsquĕ prŏpīnquī

ānnōsūm trūncānt ăpĭcēm, quī cōnscĭŭs āctīs175

nōctĭs ĕt īnspēxīt gĕmĭtūs; ĭbĭ grāndĭŏr aēvō

āntĕ rŏgōs, dūm quīsquĕ sŭō nĕquĭt īgnĕ rĕvēllī,

cōncĭlĭum īnfaūstūm dīctīs mūlcēbăt Ălētēs:

"Saēpĕ quĭdem īnfēlīx vărĭōque ēxērcĭtă lūdō

fātōrūm gēns nōstră fŭīt, Sīdōnĭŭs ēx quō180

hōspĕs ĭn Āŏnĭōs iēcīt sătă fērrĕă sūlcōs,

ūndĕ nŏvī fētūs ēt fōrmīdātă cŏlōnīs

ārvă sŭīs. Sēd nēc vĕtĕrīs cūm rēgĭă Cādmī

fūlmĭnĕum īn cĭnĕrēm mŏnĭtīs Iūnōnĭs ĭnīquaē

cōnsēdīt, nĕquĕ fūnĕrĕā cūm laūdĕ pŏtītūs185

īnfēlīx Ăthămās trĕpĭdō dē mōntĕ vĕnīrēt,

sēmiănĭmem heū laētō rĕfĕrēns clāmōrĕ Lĕārchūm,

hīc gĕmĭtūs Thēbīs, nēc tēmpŏrĕ clārĭŭs īllō

Phoēnīssaē sŏnŭērĕ dŏmūs, cūm lāssă fŭrōrēm

vīcĭt ĕt ād cŏmĭtūm lăcrĭmās ēxpāvĭt Ăgāvē.190

Ūnă dĭēs sĭmĭlīs fātō spĕcĭēquĕ mălōrūm

aēquă fŭīt, quā māgnĭlŏquōs lŭĭt īmpĭă flātūs

Tāntălĭs, īnnŭmĕrīs cūm cīrcūmfūsă rŭīnīs

cōrpŏră tōt răpĕrēt tērrā, tōt quaērĕrĕt īgnēs.

tālĭs ĕrāt vūlgī stătŭs, ēt sīc ūrbĕ rĕlīctā195

prīmaēvīquĕ sĕnēsque ēt lōngo ēxāmĭnĕ mātrēs

īnvĭdĭām plānxērĕ dĕīs mĭsĕrōquĕ tŭmūltū

bīnă pĕr īngēntēs stīpābānt fūnĕră pōrtās.

Mēque īpsūm mĕmĭnī - nēcdum āptă lăbōrĭbŭs aētās

flēssĕ tămēn gĕmĭtūquĕ mĕōs aēquāssĕ părēntēs. -200

Īllă tămēn sŭpĕrī. Nēc quōd tĭbĭ, Dēlĭă, cāstōs

prōlāpsum ād fōntīs spĕcŭlā tĕmĕrārĕ prŏfānā

heū dŏmĭnum īnsānī nĭhĭl āgnōvērĕ Mŏlōssī,

dēflērīm măgĭs, aūt vērsō quōd sānguĭnĕ flūxīt

īn sŭbĭtōs rēgīnă lăcūs: sīc dūră Sŏrōrūm205

pēnsă dăbānt vīsūmquĕ Iŏvī. Nūnc rēgĭs ĭnīquī

ōb nōxam īmmĕrĭtōs pătrĭaē tōt cūlmĭnă cīvēs

ēxŭĭmūs, nĕc ădhūc cālcātī foēdĕrĭs Ārgōs

fāmă sŭbīt, ēt iām bēllōrum ēxtrēmă dŏlēmūs.

quāntŭs ĕquīs quāntūsquĕ vĭrīs īn pūlvĕrĕ crāssō210

sūdŏr! Ĭō quāntī crūdēlĕ rŭbēbĭtĭs āmnēs!

Vīdĕrĭt haēc bēllō vĭrĭdīs mănŭs: āst ĕgŏ dōnēr

dūm lĭcĕt īgnĕ mĕō tērrāque īnstērnăr ăvītā!"

haēc sĕnĭōr, mūltūmquĕ nĕfās Ĕtĕōclĭs ăcērbāt

crūdēlem īnfāndūmquĕ vŏcāns poēnāsquĕ dătūrūm.215

Ūnde ĕă lībērtās? Iūxta īllī fīnĭs ĕt aētās

tōtă rĕtrō, sēraēquĕ dĕcūs vĕlĭt āddĕrĕ mōrtī.

Haēc sătŏr āstrōrūm iāmdūdum ē vērtĭcĕ mūndī

prōspēctāns prīmōque īmbūtās sānguĭnĕ gēntēs

Grādīvum āccīrī prŏpĕrē iŭbĕt. īllĕ fŭrēntēs220

Bīstŏnăs ēt Gĕtĭcās pŏpŭlātūs caēdĭbŭs ūrbēs

tūrbĭdŭs aēthĕrĭās cūrrūs ūrguēbăt ăd ārcēs,

fūlmĭnĕ crīstātūm gălĕaē iŭbăr ārmăque ĭn aūrō

trīstĭă, tērrĭfĭcīs mōnstrōrum ănĭmātă fĭgūrīs,

īncŭtĭēns: tŏnăt āxĕ pŏlūs clĭpĕīquĕ crŭēntă225

lūx rŭbĕt, ēt sōlēm lōngē fĕrĭt aēmŭlŭs ōrbīs.

hūnc ŭbĭ Sārmătĭcōs ĕtĭāmnum ēfflārĕ lăbōrēs

Iūppĭtĕr ēt tōtā pērfūsūm pēctŏră bēllī

tēmpēstātĕ vĭdēt: "Tālīs mĭhĭ, nātĕ, pĕr Ārgōs,

tālĭs ăbī, sīc ēnsĕ mădēns, hāc nūbĭlŭs īrā.230

ēxtūrbēnt rĕsĭdēs frēnōs ēt cūnctă pĕrōsī

tē cŭpĭānt, tĭbĭ praēcĭpĭtēs ănĭmāsquĕ mănūsquĕ

dēvŏvĕānt, răpĕ cūnctāntēs ēt foēdĕră tūrbā,

cuī dĕdĭmūs, tĭbĭ fās īpsōs īncēndĕrĕ bēllō

caēlĭcŏlās pācēmquĕ mĕām. Iām sēmĭnă pūgnaē235

īpsĕ dĕdī: rĕmĕāt pōrtāns īmmānĭă Tŷdeūs

aūsă, dŭcīs scĕlŭs ēt tūrpīs, prīmōrdĭă bēllī,

īnsĭdĭās fraūdēsquĕ, sŭīs quās ūltŭs ĭn ārmīs.

āddĕ fĭdēm. vōs ō sŭpĕrī, mĕŭs ōrdĭnĕ sānguīs,

nē pūgnāre ŏdĭīs, neū mē tēmptārĕ prĕcāndō240

cērtētīs; sīc Fātă mĭhī nīgraēquĕ Sŏrōrūm

iūrāvērĕ cŏlūs: mănĕt haēc ăb ŏrīgĭnĕ mūndī

fīxă dĭēs bēllō, pŏpŭlīque īn proēlĭă nātī.

Quōdnī mē vĕtĕrūm poēnās sāncīrĕ mălōrūm

gēntĭbŭs ēt dīrōs sĭnĭtīs pūnīrĕ nĕpōtēs245

- ārcem hānc aētērnām, mēntīs sācrārĭă nōstraē,

tēstŏr ĕt Ēlўsĭōs, ĕtĭām mĭhĭ nūmĭnă, fōntēs -,

īpsĕ mănū Thēbās cōrrēptăquĕ moēnĭă fūndō

ēxcŭtĭām vērsāsquĕ sŏlō sŭpĕr Īnăchă tēctă

ēffūndām tūrrēs aūt stāgna īn caērŭlă vērrām250

īmbrĕ sŭpēriēctō, lĭcĕt īpsa īn tūrbĭnĕ rērūm

Iūnŏ sŭōs cōllēs tēmplūmque āmplēxă lăbōrēt."

Dīxĭt, ĕt āttŏnĭtī iūssīs. Mōrtālĭă crēdās

pēctŏră, sīc cūnctī vōcēmque ănĭmōsquĕ tĕnēbānt.

Nōn sĕcŭs āc lōngā vēntōrūm pācĕ sŏlūtūm255

aēquŏr ĕt īmbēllī rĕcŭbānt ŭbĭ lītŏră sōmnō,

sīlvārūmquĕ cŏmās ĕt ăbāctō flāmĭnĕ nūbēs

mūlcĕt ĭnērs aēstās; tūnc stāgnă lăcūsquĕ sŏnōrī

dētŭmŭērĕ, tăcēnt ēxūstī sōlĭbŭs āmnēs.

Gaūdĕt ŏvāns iūssīs ĕt ădhūc tēmōnĕ călēntī260

fērvĭdŭs īn laēvūm tōrsīt Grādīvŭs hăbēnās.

iāmque ĭtĕr ēxtrēmūm caēlīque ābrūptă tĕnēbāt,

cūm Vĕnŭs ānte īpsōs nūllā fōrmīdĭnĕ grēssūm

fīgĭt ĕquōs; cēssērĕ rĕtrō iāmiāmquĕ rĭgēntēs

sūpplĭcĭtēr pŏsŭērĕ iŭbās. Tūnc pēctŏră sūmmō265

ācclīnātă iŭgō vūltūmque ōblīquă mădēntēm

īncĭpĭt - īntĕrĕā dŏmĭnaē vēstīgĭă iūxtā

spūmāntēm prōnī māndūnt ădămāntă iŭgālēs -:

"Bēlla ĕtĭam īn Thēbās, sŏcĕr ō pūlchērrĭmĕ, bēllă

īpsĕ părās fērrōquĕ tŭōs ăbŏlērĕ nĕpōtēs?270

Nēc gĕnŭs Hārmŏnĭaē nēc tē cōnūbĭă caēlō

fēstă nĕc haē quīcquām lăcrĭmaē, fŭrĭbūndĕ, mŏrāntūr?

Crīmĭnĭs haēc mērcēs? Hōc fāmă pŭdōrquĕ rĕlīctūs,

hōc mĭhĭ Lēmnĭăcaē dē tē mĕrŭērĕ cătēnaē?

Pērgĕ lĭbēns; āt nōn ĕădēm Vūlcānĭă nōbīs275

ōbsĕquĭa, ēt laēsī sērvīt tămĕn īră mărītī!

Īllum ĕgŏ pērpĕtŭīs mĭhĭ dēsūdārĕ cămīnīs

sī iŭbĕām vĭgĭlēsque ŏpĕrī trānsmīttĕrĕ nōctēs,

gaūdĕăt ōrnātūsquĕ nŏvōs īpsīquĕ lăbōrēt

ārmă tĭbī; tū! - sēd scŏpŭlōs ĕt ăēnă prĕcāndō280

flēctĕrĕ cōrdă părō; sōlum hōc tămĕn ānxĭă, sōlūm

ōbtēstōr, quīd mē Tўrĭō sŏcĭārĕ mărītō

prōgĕnĭēm cāram īnfaūstīsquĕ dăbās hўmĕnaēīs?

dūm fŏrĕ praēclārōs ārmīs ēt vīvĭdă rēbūs

pēctŏră vīpĕrĕō Tўrĭōs dē sānguĭnĕ iāctās285

dēmīssūmquĕ Iŏvīs sĕrĭē gĕnŭs. Ā! mĕă quāntō

Sīthŏnĭā māllēm nūpsīssēt vīrgŏ sŭb Ārctō

trāns Bŏrĕān Thrācāsquĕ tŭōs. Īndīgnă părūmnĕ

pērtŭlĭmūs, dīvaē Vĕnĕrīs quōd fīlĭă lōngūm

rēptăt ĕt Īllўrĭcās dēiēctāt vīrŭs ĭn hērbās?290

Nūnc gēntem īmmĕrĭtām -". Lăcrĭmās nōn pērtŭlĭt ūltrā

Bēllĭpŏtēns, hāstām laēvā trānsūmĭt ĕt āltō,

haūt mŏră, dēsĭlŭīt cūrrū, clĭpĕōquĕ rĕcēptām

laēdĭt ĭn āmplēxū dīctīsque ĭtă mūlcĕt ămīcīs:

"Ō mĭhĭ bēllōrūm rĕquĭēs ēt sācră vŏlūptās295

ūnăquĕ pāx ănĭmō! Sōlī cuī tāntă pŏtēstās

dīvōrūmque hŏmĭnūmquĕ mĕīs ōccūrrĕrĕ tēlīs

īmpūne ēt mĕdĭā quāmvīs īn caēdĕ frĕmēntīs

hōs ādsīstĕre ĕquōs, hūnc ēnsem āvēllĕrĕ dēxtrā.

Nēc mĭhĭ Sīdŏnĭī gĕnĭālĭă foēdĕră Cādmī300

nēc tŭă cāră fĭdēs - nē fālsa īncēssĕrĕ gaūdē! -

ēxcĭdĕrūnt: prĭŭs īn pătrŭī dĕŭs īnfĕră mērgār

stāgna ēt pāllēntēs ăgăr ēxārmātŭs ăd ūmbrās.

Sēd nūnc fātōrūm mŏnĭtūs mēntēmquĕ sŭprēmī

iūssŭs ŏbīrĕ pătrīs - nĕque ĕnīm Vūlcānĭă tālī305

īmpĕrĭō mănŭs āptă lĕgī -, quō pēctŏrĕ cōntrā

īrĕ Iŏvēm dīctāsquĕ părēm cōntēmnĕrĕ lēgēs,

cuī mŏdŏ - prō vīrēs! - tērrās caēlūmquĕ frĕtūmquĕ

āttrĕmĕre ōrāntī tāntōsque ēx ōrdĭnĕ vīdī

dēlĭtŭīssĕ dĕōs? Sēd nē mĭhĭ cōrdĕ sŭprēmōs310

cōncĭpĕ, cāră, mĕtūs! Quāndo haēc mūtārĕ pŏtēstās

nūllă dătūr - cūm iām Tўrĭīs sūb moēnĭbŭs āmbaē

bēllābūnt gēntēs, ădĕro ēt sŏcĭa ārmă iŭvābō.

Tūnc mē sānguĭnĕō lātē dēfērvĕrĕ cāmpō

rēs sŭpĕr Ārgŏlĭcās haūd sīc dēiēctă vĭdēbīs;315

hōc mĭhĭ iūs, nēc fātă vĕtānt". Sīc ōrsŭs ăpērtō

flāgrāntēs īmmīsĭt ĕquōs. nōn ōcĭŭs āltī

īn tērrās cădĭt īră Iŏvīs, sī quāndŏ nĭvālēm

Ōthrўn ĕt Ārctōaē gĕlĭdūm căpŭt īnstĭtĭt Ōssaē

ārmāvītque īn nūbĕ mănūm: vŏlăt īgnĕă mōlēs320

saēvă dĕī māndātă fĕrēns, caēlūmquĕ trĭsūlcā

tērrĭtăt ōmnĕ cŏmā iāmdūdum aūt dītĭbŭs āgrīs

sīgnă dăre aūt pōntō mĭsĕrōs īnvōlvĕrĕ naūtās.

Iāmquĕ rĕmēnsŭs ĭtēr fēssō Dānaēĭă Tŷdeūs

ārvă grădū vĭrĭdīsquĕ lĕgīt dēvēxă Prŏsŷmnaē325

tērrĭbĭlīs vīsū: stānt fūltī pūlvĕrĕ crīnēs,

squālĭdŭs ēx ŭmĕrīs cădĭt ālta īn vūlnĕră sūdōr,

īnsōmnīsque ŏcŭlōs rŭbŏr ēxcĭtăt, ōrăquĕ rētrō

sōlvĭt ănhēlă sĭtīs; mēns āltūm spīrăt hŏnōrēm

cōnscĭă fāctōrūm. Sīc nōta īn pāscŭă taūrūs330

bēllātōr rĕdĭt, ādvērsō cuī cōllă sŭōquĕ

sānguĭnĕ prōscīssīsquĕ nătānt pălĕārĭbŭs ārmī;

tūnc quŏquĕ lāssă tŭmēt vīrtūs mūltūmquĕ sŭpērbīt

pēctŏrĕ dēspēctō; văcŭā iăcĕt hōstĭs hărēnā

tūrpĕ gĕmēns crūdōsquĕ vĕtāt sēntīrĕ lăbōrēs.335

tālĭs ĕrāt; mĕdĭās ĕtĭām nōn dēstĭtĭt ūrbēs,

quīdquĭd ĕt Āsōpōn vĕtĕrēsque īntēriăcĕt Ārgōs,

īnflāmmāre ŏdĭīs, mūltūmque ĕt ŭbīquĕ rĕtēxēns

lēgātūm sēsē Grāiā dē gēntĕ pĕtēndīs

īssĕ sŭpēr rēgnīs prŏfŭgī Pŏlўnīcĭs, ăt īndĕ340

vīm, nōctēm, scĕlŭs, ārmă, dŏlōs, ĕă foēdĕră pāssūm

rēgĭs Ĕchīŏnĭī, frātrī sŭă iūră nĕgārī.

Prōnă fĭdēs pŏpŭlīs; dĕŭs ōmnĭă crēdĕrĕ suādēt

ārmĭpŏtēns, gĕmĭnātque āccēptōs fāmă păvōrēs.

Vtque īntrōgrēssūs pōrtās - ēt fōrtĕ vĕrēndūs345

cōncĭlĭō pătĕr īpsĕ dŭcēs cōgēbăt Ădrāstūs -,

īmprōvīsŭs ădēst, iam īllīnc ā pōstĭbŭs aūlaē

vōcĭfĕrāns: "Ārma, ārmă vĭrī, tūque ōptĭmĕ Lērnaē

dūctōr, māgnănĭmūm sī quīs tĭbĭ sānguĭs ăvōrūm,

ārmă părā! Nūsquām pĭĕtās, nōn gēntĭbŭs aēquūm350

fās aūt cūră Iŏvīs; mĕlĭūs lēgātŭs ădīssēm

Saūrŏmătās ăvĭdōs sērvātōrēmquĕ crŭēntūm

Bēbrўcĭī nĕmŏrīs. Nēc iūssa īncūsŏ pĭgētvĕ

ōffĭcĭī: iŭvāt īssĕ, iŭvāt, Thēbāsquĕ nŏcēntēs

ēxplōrāssĕ mănū; bēllō mē, crēdĭtĕ, bēllō,355

ceū tūrrēm vălĭdam aūt ārtām cōmpāgĭbŭs ūrbēm,

dēlēcti īnsĭdĭīs īnstrūctīque ōmnĭbŭs ārmīs

nōctĕ dŏlōquĕ vĭrī nūdum īgnārūmquĕ lŏcōrūm

nēquīquām claūsērĕ; iăcēnt īn sānguĭnĕ mīxtī

ānte ūrbēm văcŭām. Nūnc ō, nūnc tēmpŭs ĭn hōstīs,360

dūm trĕpĭdi ēxsānguēsquĕ mĕtū, dūm fūnĕră pōrtānt,

nūnc, sŏcĕr, haēc dūm nōn mănŭs ēxcĭdĭt; īpse ĕgŏ fēssūs

quīnquāgīnta īllīs hērōum īmmānĭbŭs ūmbrīs

vūlnĕrăque īstă fĕrēns pūtri īnsīccātă crŭōrĕ

prōtĭnŭs īrĕ pĕtō!" trĕpĭdī dē sēdĭbŭs āstānt365

Īnăchĭdaē, cūnctīsquĕ prĭōr Cādmēĭŭs hērōs

āccūrrīt vūltūm dēiēctŭs ĕt "Ō | ĕgŏ dīvīs

īnvīsūs vītaēquĕ nŏcēns haēc vūlnĕră cērnō

īntĕgĕr! hōsnĕ mĭhī rĕdĭtūs, gērmānĕ, părābās?

Īn me haēc tēlă mĕī! Prō vītaē foēdă cŭpīdŏ!370

Īnfēlīx, frātrī făcĭnūs tām grāndĕ nĕgāvī.

Ēt nūnc vēstră quĭdēm mănĕānt īn pācĕ quĭētā

moēnĭă, nēc vōbīs tāntī sīm caūsă tŭmūltūs

hōspĕs ădhūc. Scĭŏ - nēc me ădĕō rēs dēxtră lĕvāvīt -,

quām dūrūm nātīs, thălămō quām trīstĕ rĕvēllī,375

quām pătrĭā; nōn me ūllīūs dŏmŭs ānxĭă cūlpēt

rēspēctēntvĕ trŭcēs ōblīquō lūmĭnĕ mātrēs.

ībŏ lĭbēns cērtūsquĕ mŏrī, lĭcĕt ōptĭmă cōniūnx

†aūdītūsque ĭtĕrūm† rĕvŏcēt sŏcĕr; hūnc ĕgŏ Thēbīs,

hūnc, gērmānĕ, tĭbī iŭgŭlum ēt tĭbĭ, māxĭmĕ Tŷdeū,380

dēbĕŏ". Sīc vărĭīs pērtēmptāt pēctŏră dīctīs

ōblīquātquĕ prĕcēs. Cōmmōtaē quēstĭbŭs īraē

ēt mīxtūs lăcrĭmīs călŭīt dŏlŏr; ōmnĭbŭs ūltrō

nōn iŭvĕnūm mŏdŏ, sēd gĕlĭdīs ĕt ĭnērtĭbŭs aēvō

pēctŏrĭbūs mēns ūnă sŭbīt, vĭdŭārĕ pĕnātēs,385

fīnĭtĭmās ădhĭbērĕ mănūs, iāmque īrĕ. Sĕd āltūs

cōnsĭlĭīs pătĕr īmpĕrĭīque haūt flēctĕrĕ mōlēm

īnscĭŭs: "Īstă quĭdēm sŭpĕrīs cūraēquĕ mĕdēndă

līnquĭtĕ, quaēsŏ, mĕaē, nēc tē gērmānŭs ĭnūltō

scēptră gĕrēt, nĕquĕ nōs ăvĭdī prōmīttĕrĕ bēllūm.390

āt nūnc ēgrĕgĭūm tāntōque īn sānguĭne ŏvāntēm

ēxcĭpĭte Oēnīdēn, ănĭmōsăquĕ pēctŏră lāxēt

sēră quĭēs: nōbīs dŏlŏr haūt rătĭōnĭs ĕgēbīt".

Tūrbāti ēxtēmplō cŏmĭtēs ēt pāllĭdă cōniūnx

Tŷdĕă cīrcum ōmnēs fēssūm bēllīquĕ vĭaēquĕ395

stīpāntūr. Laētūs mĕdĭīs īn sēdĭbŭs aūlaē

cōnstĭtĭt, īngēntīque ēxcēptūs tērgă cŏlūmnā,

vūlnĕră dūm lŷmphīs Ĕpĭdaūrĭŭs ēlŭĭt Īdmōn,

nūnc vēlōx fērrō, nūnc īllĕ tĕpēntĭbŭs hērbīs

mītĭŏr, īpse āltā sēdūctūs mēntĕ rĕnārrāt400

prīncĭpĭa īrārūm, quaēque ōrsŭs ŭtērquĕ vĭcīssīm,

quīs lŏcŭs īnsĭdĭīs, tăcĭtō quaē tēmpŏră bēllō,

quī cōntrā quāntīquĕ dŭcēs, ŭbĭ māxĭmŭs īllī

sūdŏr, ĕt īndĭcĭō sērvātūm Maēŏnă trīstī

ēxpōnīt. Cuī fīdă mănūs prŏcĕrēsquĕ sŏcērquĕ405

āstŭpĕt ōrāntī, Tўrĭūsque īncēndĭtŭr ēxūl.

Sōlvĕrăt Hēspĕrĭī dēvēxō mārgĭnĕ pōntī

flāgrāntēs Sōl prōnŭs ĕquōs rŭtĭlāmquĕ lăvābāt

Ōcĕănī sūb fōntĕ cŏmām, cuī tūrbă prŏfūndī

Nērĕŏs ēt răpĭdīs āccūrrūnt pāssĭbŭs Hōraē,410

frēnăque ĕt aūrātaē tēxtūm sūblīmĕ cŏrōnaē

dērĭpĭūnt, lāxānt călĭdīs ūmēntĭă lōrīs

pēctŏră; pārs mĕrĭtōs vērtūnt ād mōllĕ iŭgālēs

grāmĕn ĕt ērēctō cūrrūm tēmōnĕ sŭpīnānt.

Nōx sŭbĭīt cūrāsque hŏmĭnūm mōtūsquĕ fĕrārūm415

cōmpŏsŭīt nīgrōquĕ pŏlōs īnvōlvĭt ămīctū,

īllă quĭdēm cūnctīs, sēd nōn tĭbĭ mītĭs, Ădrāstĕ,

Lābdăcĭōquĕ dŭcī: nām Tŷdĕă lārgŭs hăbēbāt

pērfūsūm māgnā vīrtūtĭs ĭmāgĭnĕ sōmnūs.

ēt iām nōctĭvăgās īntēr dĕŭs ārmĭfĕr ūmbrās420

dēsŭpĕr Ārcădĭaē fīnēs Nĕmĕaēăquĕ rūră

Taēnărĭūmquĕ căcūmĕn Ăpōllĭnĕāsquĕ Thĕrāpnās

ārmōrūm tŏnĭtrū fĕrĭt ēt trĕpĭdāntĭă cōrdă

īmplĕt ămōrĕ sŭī. Cōmūnt Fŭrŏr Īrăquĕ crīstās,

frēnă mĭnīstrăt ĕquīs Păvŏr ārmĭgĕr. Āt vĭgĭl ōmnī425

Fāmă sŏnō vānōs rērūm sūccīnctă tŭmūltūs

āntĕvŏlāt cūrrūm flātūque īmpūlsă gĕmēntūm

ālĭpĕdūm trĕpĭdās dēnsō cūm mūrmŭrĕ plūmās

ēxcŭtĭt: ūrguĕt ĕnīm stĭmŭlīs aūrīgă crŭēntīs

fācta, īnfēctă lŏquī, cūrrūque īnfēstŭs ăb āltō430

tērgă cŏmāmquĕ dĕaē Scўthĭcā pătĕr īncrĕpăt hāstā.

quālĭs ŭbi Aēŏlĭō dīmīssōs cārcĕrĕ vēntōs

dūx praē sē Nēptūnŭs ăgīt māgnōquĕ vŏlēntēs

īncĭtăt Aēgaēō; trīstīs cŏmĭtātŭs ĕūntī

cīrcūm lōră frĕmūnt nīmbīque hĭĕmēsquĕ prŏfūndaē435

nūbĭlăque ēt vūlsō tērrārūm sōrdĭdă fūndō

tēmpēstās: dŭbĭaē mōtīs rādīcĭbŭs ōbstānt

Cŷclădĕs, īpsă tŭā Mўcŏnō Gўărōquĕ rĕvēllī,

Dēlĕ, tĭmēs māgnīquĕ fĭdēm tēstārĭs ălūmnī.

Sēptĭmă iām nĭtĭdūm tērrīs Aūrōră dĕīsquĕ440

pūrpŭrĕō vĕhĭt ōrĕ dĭēm, Pērsēĭŭs hērōs

cūm prīmum ārcānā sĕnĭōr sēse ēxtŭlĭt aūlā,

mūltă sŭpēr bēllō gĕnĕrīsquĕ tŭmēntĭbŭs āmēns

īncērtūsque ănĭmī, dărĕt ārmīs iūră nŏvōsquĕ

gēntĭbŭs īncŭtĕrēt stĭmŭlōs, ān frēnă tĕnērēt445

īrārum ēt mōtōs căpŭlīs āstrīngĕrĕt ēnsēs.

Hīnc pācīs trānquīllă mŏvēnt, ātque īndĕ pŭdōrī

foēdă quĭēs, flēctīquĕ nŏvā dūlcēdĭnĕ pūgnaē

dīffĭcĭlēs pŏpŭlī; dŭbĭō sēntēntĭă tāndēm

sēră plăcēt, vātūm mēntīs ēt prōvĭdă vērī450

sācră mŏvērĕ dĕūm. Sōllērs tĭbĭ cūră fŭtūrī,

Āmphĭărāĕ, dătūr, iūxtāque Ămўthārŏnĕ crētūs

iām sĕnĭōr - sēd mēntĕ vĭrēt Phoēbōquĕ Mĕlāmpūs

āssŏcĭāt pāssūs: dŭbĭūm, cuī prōnŭs Ăpōllŏ

ōrăquĕ Cīrrhaēā sătĭārīt lārgĭŭs ūndā.455

Prīncĭpĭō fībrīs pĕcŭdūmque īn sānguĭnĕ dīvōs

ēxplōrānt; iām tūnc păvĭdīs măcŭlōsă bĭdēntūm

cōrdă nĕgānt dīrāquĕ nĕfās mĭnĭtāntĭă vēnā.

īrĕ tămēn văcŭōquĕ sĕdēt pĕtĕre ōmĭnă caēlō.

Mōns ĕrăt aūdācī sēdūctŭs ĭn aēthĕră dōrsō460

- nōmĭnĕ Lērnaēī mĕmŏrānt Ăphĕsāntă cŏlōnī -,

gēntĭbŭs Ārgŏlĭcīs ōlīm săcĕr; īndĕ fĕrēbānt

nūbĭlă sūspēnsō cĕlĕrēm tĕmĕrāssĕ vŏlātū

Pērsĕă, cūm rāptōs pŭĕrī pērtērrĭtă mātēr

prōspēxīt dē rūpĕ grădūs āc paēnĕ sĕcūtāst.465

Hūc gĕmĭnī vātēs sānctām cānēntĭs ŏlīvaē

frōndĕ cŏmam ēt nĭvĕīs ōrnātī tēmpŏră vīttīs

ēvādūnt părĭtēr, mădĭdōs ŭbĭ lūcĭdŭs āgrōs

ōrtŭs ĕt ālgēntēs lāxāvīt sōlĕ prŭīnās.

Āc prĭŏr Oēclīdēs sŏlĭtūm prĕcĕ nūmĕn ămīcāt:470

"Iūppĭtĕr ōmnĭpŏtēns - nām tē pērnīcĭbŭs ālīs

āddĕrĕ cōnsĭlĭūm vŏlŭcrēsque īmplērĕ fŭtūrī

ōmĭnăque ēt caūsās caēlō dēfērrĕ lătēntēs

āccĭpĭmūs -, nōn Cīrrhă dĕūm prōmīsĕrĭt āntrō

cērtĭŭs, aūt frōndēs lūcīs quās fāmă Mŏlōssīs475

Chāŏnĭās sŏnŭīssĕ tĭbī, lĭcĕt ārĭdŭs Hāmmōn

īnvĭdĕāt Lўcĭaēquĕ părēnt cōntēndĕrĕ sōrtēs

Nīlĭăcūmquĕ pĕcūs pătrĭōque aēquālĭs hŏnōrī

Brānchŭs, ĕt ūndōsaē quēm rūstĭcŭs āccŏlă Pīsaē

Pānă Lўcāŏnĭā nōctūrnum ēxaūdĭt ĭn ūmbrā:480

dītĭŏr īlle ănĭmī, cuī tū, Dīctaēĕ, sĕcūndās

īmpŭlĕrīs mănĭfēstŭs ăvēs. mīrum ūndĕ, sĕd ōlīmst

hīc hŏnŏr ālĭtĭbūs, sŭpĕraē seū cōndĭtŏr aūlaē

sīc dĕdĭt ēffūsūm chăŏs īn nŏvă sēmĭnă tēxēns,

seū quĭă mūtātaē nōstrāque ăb ŏrīgĭnĕ vērsīs485

cōrpŏrĭbūs sŭbĭērĕ nŏtōs, seū pūrĭŏr āxīs

āmōtūmquĕ nĕfās ēt rārum īnsīstĕrĕ tērrīs

vēră dŏcēnt; tĭbĭ, sūmmĕ sătōr tērraēquĕ dĕūmquĕ,

scīrĕ lĭcēt. Nōs Ārgŏlĭcaē prīmōrdĭă pūgnaē

vēntūrūmquĕ sĭnās caēlō praēnōssĕ lăbōrēm.490

Sī dătŭr ēt dūrīs sĕdĕt haēc sēntēntĭă Pārcīs

sōlvĕre Ĕchīŏnĭās Lērnaēā cūspĭdĕ pōrtās,

sīgnă fĕrās laēvūsquĕ tŏnēs; tūnc ōmnĭs ĭn āstrīs

cōnsŏnĕt ārcānā vŏlŭcrīs bŏnă mūrmŭră līnguā.

Sī prŏhĭbēs, hīc nēctĕ mŏrās dēxtrīsquĕ prŏfūndūm495

ālĭtĭbūs praētēxĕ dĭēm". Sīc fātŭs, ĕt āltō

mēmbră lŏcāt scŏpŭlō; tūnc plūra īgnōtăquĕ iūngīt

nūmĭna ĕt īmmēnsī frŭĭtūr cālīgĭnĕ mūndī.

Pōstquām rītĕ dĭū pārtītī sīdĕră cūnctīs

pērlēgēre ănĭmīs ŏcŭlīsquĕ sĕquācĭbŭs aūrās,500

tūnc Ămўthāŏnĭūs lōngō pōst tēmpŏrĕ vātēs:

"Nōnnĕ sŭb ēxcēlsō spīrāntīs līmĭtĕ caēlī,

Āmphĭărāĕ, vĭdēs, cūrsūs ūt nūllă sĕrēnōs

ālĕs ăgāt lĭquĭdōquĕ pŏlūm cōmplēxă mĕātū

pēndĕăt aūt fŭgĭēns plācābĭlĕ plānxĕrĭt ōmēn?505

nōn cŏmĕs ōbscūrūs trĭpŏdūm, nōn fūlmĭnĭs ārdēns

vēctŏr ădēst flāvaēquĕ sŏnāns ăvĭs ūncă Mĭnērvaē,

nōn vĕnĭt aūgŭrĭīs mĕlĭōr, quīn vūltŭr ĕt āltīs

dēsŭpĕr āccĭpĭtrēs ēxsūltāvērĕ răpīnīs.

mōnstră vŏlānt, dīraē strīdūnt īn nūbĕ vŏlūcrēs,510

nōctūrnaēquĕ gĕmūnt strĭgĕs ēt fērālĭă būbŏ

dāmnă cănēns. quaē prīmă dĕūm pōrtēntă sĕquāmūr?

hīsnĕ dărī, Thŷmbraēĕ, pŏlūm? sĭmŭl ōră rĕcūrvō

ūnguĕ sĕcānt răbĭdaē plānctūmque ĭmĭtāntĭbŭs ālīs

ēxăgĭtānt Zĕphўrōs ēt plūmĕă pēctŏră caēdūnt".515

īllĕ sŭb haēc: "Ĕquĭdēm vărĭī, pătĕr, ōmĭnă Phoēbī

saēpĕ tŭlī: iām tūm, prīmā cūm pūbĕ vĭrēntēm

sēmĭdĕōs īntēr pīnūs mē Thēssălă rēgēs

dūcĕrĕt, hīc cāsūs tērraēquĕ mărīsquĕ cănēntēm

ōbstĭpŭērĕ dŭcēs, nēc mē vēntūră lŏcūtō520

saēpĭŭs īn dŭbĭīs aūdītŭs Ĭāsŏnĭ Mōpsūs.

sēd sĭmĭlīs nōn āntĕ mĕtūs aūt āstră nŏtāvī

prōdĭgĭōsă măgīs; quāmquām māiōră părāntūr.

hūc ādvērte ănĭmūm: clārā rĕgĭōnĕ prŏfūndī

aēthĕrŏs īnnŭmĕrī stătŭērūnt āgmĭnă cŷcnī,525

sīve hōs Strŷmŏnĭā Bŏrĕās ēiēcĭt ăb Ārctō,

seū fēcūndă rĕfērt plăcĭdī clēmēntĭă Nīlī.

Fīxērūnt cūrsūs: hās rēre ĭn ĭmāgĭnĕ Thēbās;

nām sēse īmmōtī gŷro ātque īn pācĕ sĭlēntēs

ceū mūrīs vāllōquĕ tĕnēnt. Sēd fōrtĭŏr ēccĕ530

ādvēntāt pĕr ĭnānĕ cŏhōrs; sēptem ōrdĭnĕ fūlvō

ārmĭgĕrās sūmmī Iŏvĭs ēxsūltāntĕ cătērvā

īntŭŏr: Īnăchĭī sīnt hī tĭbĭ, cōncĭpĕ, rēgēs.

Īnvāsērĕ glŏbūm nĭvĕī grĕgĭs ūncăquĕ pāndūnt

caēdĭbŭs ōră nŏvīs ēt strīctīs ūnguĭbŭs īnstānt.535

cērnĭs ĭnēxpērtō rōrāntēs sānguĭnĕ vēntōs,

ēt plūmīs stīllārĕ dĭēm? quaē saēvă rĕpēntĕ

vīctōrēs ăgĭtāt lētō Iŏvĭs īră sĭnīstrī?

Hīc ēxcēlsă pĕtēns sŭbĭtā făcĕ sōlĭs ĭnārsīt

sūbmīsītque ănĭmōs, īllūm vēstīgĭa ădōrtūm540

māiōrūm vŏlŭcrūm tĕnĕraē dēpōnĭtĭs ālaē.

Hīc hōsti īmplĭcĭtūs părĭtēr rŭĭt, hūnc fŭgă rētrō

vōlvĭt ăgēns sŏcĭaē līnquēntēm fātă cătērvaē.

Hīc nīmbō glŏmĕrātŭs ŏbīt, hīc praēpĕtĕ vīvā

pāscĭtŭr īmmŏrĭēns; spārgīt căvă nūbĭlă sānguīs.545

"Quīd fūrtim īllăcrĭmās?" "Īllūm, vĕnĕrāndĕ Mĕlāmpū,

quī cădĭt, āgnōscō". Trĕpĭdōs sīc mōlĕ fŭtūrī

cūnctăquĕ iām rērūm cērtā sŭb ĭmāgĭnĕ pāssōs

tērrŏr hăbēt vātēs; pĭgĕt īrrūpīssĕ vŏlāntūm

cōncĭlĭa ēt caēlō mēntem īnsērtāssĕ vĕtāntī,550

aūdītīque ōdērĕ dĕōs. Ūnde īstĕ pĕr ōrbēm

prīmūs vēntūrī mĭsĕrīs ănĭmāntĭbŭs aēgēr

crēvĭt ămōr? Dīvūmnĕ fĕrās hōc mūnŭs, ăn īpsī,

gēns ăvĭda ēt pārtō nōn ūmquām stārĕ quĭētī,

ērŭĭmūs, quaē prīmă dĭēs, ŭbĭ tērmĭnŭs aēvī,555

quīd bŏnŭs īllĕ dĕūm gĕnĭtōr, quīd fērrĕă Clōthō

cōgĭtĕt? Hīnc fībrae ēt vŏlŭcrūm pēr nūbĭlă sērmŏ

āstrōrūmquĕ vĭcēs nŭmĕrātăquĕ sēmĭnă lūnaē

Thēssălĭcūmquĕ nĕfās. āt nōn prĭŏr aūrĕŭs īllĕ

sānguĭs ăvūm scŏpŭlīsquĕ sătaē vēl rōbŏrĕ gēntēs560

mēntĭbŭs hīs ūsaē; sīlvās ămŏr ūnŭs hŭmūmquĕ

ēdŏmŭīssĕ mănū; quīd crāstĭnă vōlvĕrĕt aētās,

scīrĕ nĕfās hŏmĭnī. nōs prāvum ēt flēbĭlĕ vūlgūs

scrūtārī pĕnĭtūs sŭpĕrōs: hīnc pāllŏr ĕt īraē,

hīnc scĕlŭs īnsĭdĭaēque ēt nūllă mŏdēstĭă vōtī.565

Ērgŏ mănū vīttās dāmnātăquĕ vērtĭcĕ sērtă

dērĭpĭt ābiēctāque ĭnhŏnōrūs frōndĕ săcērdōs

īnvīsō dē mōntĕ rĕdīt; iām bēllă tŭbaēquĕ

cōmmĭnŭs, ābsēntēsquĕ frĕmūnt sūb pēctŏrĕ Thēbaē.

īllĕ nĕc āspēctūm vūlgī, nēc fīdă tўrānnī570

cōllŏquĭa aūt coētūs prŏcĕrūm pērfērrĕ, sĕd ātrā

sēdĕ tĕgi, ēt sŭpĕrūm claūsūs nĕgăt āctă fătērī

- tē pŭdŏr ēt cūraē rĕtĭnēnt pēr rūră, Mĕlāmpū -:

bīssēnōs prĕmĭt ōră dĭēs pŏpŭlūmquĕ dŭcēsquĕ

ēxtrăhĭt īncērtīs. Ēt iām sūprēmă Tŏnāntīs575

iūssă frĕmūnt āgrōsquĕ vĭrīs ānnōsăquĕ vāstānt

ōppĭdă; bēllĭpŏtēns praē sē dĕŭs āgmĭnă pāssīm

mīllĕ răpīt; līquērĕ dŏmōs dīlēctăquĕ laētī

cōnŭbĭa ēt prīmō plōrāntīs līmĭnĕ nātōs:

tāntŭs ĭn āttŏnĭtōs cĕcĭdīt dĕŭs. Ārmă pătērnīs580

pōstĭbŭs ēt fīxōs sŭpĕrum ād pĕnĕtrālĭă cūrrūs

vēllĕre ămōr; tūnc fēssă pŭtrī rōbīgĭnĕ pīlă

hōrrēntēsquĕ sĭtū glădĭōs īn saēvă rĕcūrānt

vūlnĕra ĕt āttrītō cōgūnt iŭvĕnēscĕrĕ sāxō.

Hī tĕrĕtēs gălĕās māgnōrūmque aērĕă sūtă585

thōrācum ēt tŭnĭcās chălўbūm squālōrĕ crĕpāntēs

pēctŏrĭbūs tēmptāre, ălĭī Cōrtŷnĭă lēntānt

cōrnŭă; iām fālcēs ăvĭdīs ĕt ărātră cămīnīs

rāstrăque ĕt īncūrvī saēvūm rŭbŭērĕ lĭgōnēs.

caēdĕrĕ nēc vălĭdās sānctīs ē stīrpĭbŭs hāstās,590

nēc pŭdŏr ēmĕrĭtō clĭpĕūm vēstīssĕ iŭvēncō.

Īrrūpēre Ārgōs maēstīque ād līmĭnă rēgīs

bēlla ănĭmīs, bēlla ōrĕ frĕmūnt; īt clāmŏr ăd aūrās,

quāntūs Tŷrrhēnī gĕmĭtūs sălĭs, aūt ŭbĭ tēmptāt

Ēncĕlădūs mūtārĕ lătūs; sŭpĕr īgnĕŭs āntrīs595

mōns tŏnăt, ēxūndānt ăpĭcēs flūctūsquĕ Pĕlōrūs

cōntrăhĭt, ēt spērāt tēllūs ābrūptă rĕvērtī.

Ātque hīc īngēntī Căpăneūs Māvōrtĭs ămōrĕ

ēxcĭtŭs ēt lōngām prīdem īndīgnāntĭă pācēm

cōrdă tŭmēns - huīc āmplă quĭdēm dē sānguĭnĕ prīscō600

nōbĭlĭtās; sĕd ĕnim īpsĕ mănū praēgrēssŭs ăvōrūm

fāctă, dĭū tūtō sŭpĕrūm cōntēmptŏr ĕt aēquī

īmpătĭēns lārgūsque ănĭmaē, mŏdŏ suāsĕrĭt īră -,

ūnŭs ŭt ē sīlvīs Phŏlŏēs hăbĭtātŏr ŏpācaē

īntĕr ĕt Aētnaēōs aēquūs cōnsūrgĕrĕ frātrēs,605

āntĕ fŏrēs, ŭbĭ tūrbă dŭcūm vūlgīquĕ frĕmēntīs,

Āmphĭărāĕ, tŭās: "Quaē tānta īgnāvĭă" clāmāt,

"Īnăchĭdaē vōsque ō sŏcĭō dē sānguĭne Ăchīvī?

ūnĭŭs - heū pŭdĕāt! - plēbēia ād līmĭnă cīvīs

tōt fērro āccīnctaē gēntēs ănĭmīsquĕ părātaē610

pēndēmūs? nōn si īpsĕ căvō sūb vērtĭcĕ Cīrrhaē,

quīsquĭs ĭs ēst, tĭmĭdīs fāmaēque ĭtă vīsŭs, Ăpōllŏ

mūgĭăt īnsānō pĕnĭtūs sēclūsŭs ĭn āntrō,

ēxspēctārĕ quĕām, dūm pāllĭdă vīrgŏ trĕmēndās

nūntĭĕt āmbāgēs. Vīrtūs mĭhĭ nūmĕn ĕt ēnsīs,615

quēm tĕnĕō! Iāmque hīc tĭmĭdā cūm fraūdĕ săcērdōs

ēxĕăt, aūt hŏdĭē, vŏlŭcrūm quaē tāntă pŏtēstās,

ēxpĕrĭār". laētūm frĕmĭt āssēnsūquĕ fŭrēntēm

īmplĕt Ăchaēă mănūs. Tāndēm prōrūmpĕre ădāctūs

Oēclīdēs: "ălĭō cūrārum ăgĭtāntĕ tŭmūltū620

nōn ĕquĭdem ēffrēnō iŭvĕnīs clāmōrĕ prŏfānī

dīctōrūmquĕ mĕtū, lĭcĕt hīc īnsānă mĭnētūr,

ēlĭcĭōr tĕnĕbrīs; ălĭō mĭhĭ dēbĭtă fātō

sūmmă dĭēs, vĕtĭtūmquĕ dărī mōrtālĭbŭs ārmīs.

Sēd mē vēstĕr ămōr nĭmĭūsque ārcānă prŏfārī625

Phoēbŭs ăgīt; vōbīs vēntūra ātque ōmnĕ, quŏd ūltrāst,

pāndĕrĕ maēstŭs ĕō; nām tē, vēsānĕ, mŏnērī

āntĕ nĕfās, ūnīquĕ tăcēt tĭbĭ nōstĕr Ăpōllŏ.

quō, mĭsĕrī, fātīs sŭpĕrīsque ōbstāntĭbŭs ārmă,

quō răpĭtīs? Quaē vōs Fŭrĭārūm vērbĕră caēcōs630

ēxăgĭtānt? ădĕōne ănĭmārūm taēdĕt? ĕt Ārgōs

ēxōsī? nīl dūlcĕ dŏmī? nūlla ōmĭnă cūraē?

quīd mē Pērsēī sēcrēta ād cūlmĭnă mōntīs

īrĕ grădū trĕpĭdō sŭpĕrūmque īrrūmpĕrĕ coētūs

ēgīstīs? pŏtŭī părĭtēr nēscīrĕ, quĭs ārmīs635

cāsŭs, ŭbi ātră dĭēs, quaē fāti ēxōrdĭă cūnctīs,

quaē mĭhĭ. cōnsūltī tēstōr pĕnĕtrālĭă mūndī

ēt vŏlŭcrum ādfātūs ēt tē, Thŷmbraēĕ, vŏcāntī

nōn ălĭās tām saēvĕ mĭhī, quaē sīgnă fŭtūrī

pērtŭlĕrīm: vīdi īngēntīs pōrtēntă rŭīnaē,640

vīdi hŏmĭnūm dīvūmquĕ mĕtūs hĭlărēmquĕ Mĕgaērām

ēt Lăchĕsīn pūtrī văcŭāntēm saēcŭlă pēnsō.

Prōĭcĭte ārmă mănū: dĕŭs ēccĕ fŭrēntĭbŭs ōbstāt,

ēccĕ dĕūs! mĭsĕrī, quīd pūlchrūm sānguĭnĕ vēstrō

Āŏnĭam ēt dīrī sătŭrārĕ nŏvālĭă Cādmī?645

Sēd quīd vānă cănō, quīd fīxōs ārcĕŏ cāsūs?

Ībĭmŭs." Hīc prēssō gĕmŭīt sĕmĕl ōrĕ săcērdōs.

Īllum ĭtĕrūm Căpăneūs: "Tŭŭs ō fŭrŏr aūgŭrĕt ūnī

īstă tĭbi, ūt sērvēs văcŭōs īnglōrĭŭs ānnōs

ēt tŭă nōn ūmquām Tŷrrhēnūs tēmpŏră cīrcūm650

clāngŏr ĕāt. Quīd vōtă vĭrūm mĕlĭōră mŏrārīs?

Scīlĭcĕt ūt vānīs ăvĭbūs nātōquĕ dŏmōquĕ

ēt thălămīs pŏtĭārĕ iăcēns, sĭlĕāmŭs ĭnūltī

Tŷdĕŏs ēgrĕgĭī pērfōssūm pēctŭs ĕt ārmă

foēdĕrĭs ābrūptī? Quōdsī bēlla ēffĕră Grāiōs655

fērrĕ vĕtās, ī Sīdŏnĭōs lēgātŭs ăd hōstēs:

haēc pācēm tĭbĭ sērtă dăbūnt. tŭă prōrsŭs ĭnānī

vērbă pŏlō caūsās ābstrūsăquĕ nōmĭnă rērūm

ēlĭcĭūnt: mĭsĕrēt sŭpĕrūm, sī cārmĭnă cūraē

hūmānaēquĕ prĕcēs! Quĭd ĭnērtĭă pēctŏră tērrēs?660

Prīmŭs ĭn ōrbĕ dĕōs fēcīt tĭmŏr! Ēt tĭbĭ tūtō

nūnc ĕăt īstĕ fŭrōr; sēd prīma ād clāssĭcă cūm iām

hōstīlem Īsmēnōn gălĕīs Dīrcēnquĕ bĭbēmūs,

nē mĭhĭ tūnc, mŏnĕō, lĭtŭōs ātque ārmă vŏlēntī

ōbvĭŭs īrĕ părēs vēnīsque aūt ālĭtĕ vīsā665

bēllōrūm prōfērrĕ dĭēm: prŏcŭl haēc tĭbĭ mōllīs

īnfŭlă tērrĭfĭcīque ăbĕrīt dēmēntĭă Phoēbī:

īllīc aūgŭr ĕgo ēt mēcūm quīcūmquĕ părātī

īnsānīrĕ mănū." rūrsūs frăgŏr īntŏnăt īngēns

hōrtāntum ēt vāstō sūbtērvŏlăt āstră tŭmūltū.670

Ūt răpĭdūs tōrrēns, ănĭmōs cuī vērnă mĭnīstrānt

flāmĭna ĕt ēxūtī cōncrētō frīgŏrĕ mōntēs,

cūm văgŭs īn cāmpōs frūstrā prŏhĭbēntĭbŭs ēxīt

ōbĭcĭbūs, rĕsŏnānt pērmīxtō tūrbĭnĕ tēctă,

ārva, ārmēntă, vĭrī, dōnēc stĕtĭt īmprŏbŭs āltō675

cōllĕ mĭnōr māgnōque īnvēnĭt ĭn āggĕrĕ rīpās.

haēc āltērnă dŭcūm nōx īntērfūsă dĭrēmīt.

Āt gĕmĭtūs Ārgīă vĭrī nōn āmplĭŭs aēquō

cōrdĕ fĕrēns sŏcĭūmque ănĭmō mĭsĕrātă dŏlōrēm,

sīcŭt ĕrāt lăcĕrīs prīdēm tūrpātă căpīllīs680

ēt flētū sīgnātă gĕnās, ād cēlsă vĕrēndī

ībāt tēctă pătrīs, pārvūmquĕ sŭb ūbĕrĕ cārō

Thēssāndrūm pōrtābăt ăvō iām nōctĕ sŭprēmā

āntĕ nŏvōs ōrtūs, ŭbĭ sōlă sŭpērstĭtĕ plaūstrō

Ārctŏs ăd ōceānūm fŭgĭēntĭbŭs īnvĭdĕt āstrīs.685

ūtquĕ fŏrēs ĭnĭīt māgnōque āffūsă părēntīst:

"Cūr tŭă cūm lăcrĭmīs maēstō sĭnĕ cōniŭgĕ sūpplēx

līmĭnă nōctĕ pĕtām, cēssēm lĭcĕt īpsă prŏfārī,

scīs gĕnĭtōr. Sēd iūră dĕūm gĕnĭālĭă tēstōr

tēquĕ pătēr, nōn īllĕ iŭbēt, sēd pērvĭgĭl āngōr;690

ēx quō prīmŭs Hўmēn mōvītque īnfaūstă sĭnīstrām

Iūnŏ făcēm, sēmpēr lăcrĭmīs gĕmĭtūquĕ prŏpīnquō

ēxtūrbātă quĭēs. nōn sī mĭhĭ tīgrĭdĭs hōrrōr

aēquŏrĕaēquĕ sŭpēr rīgeānt praēcōrdĭă caūtēs,

fērrĕ quĕām; tū sōlŭs ŏpēm, tū sūmmă mĕdēndī695

iūră tĕnēs; dā bēllă, pătēr, gĕnĕrīquĕ iăcēntīs

āspĭcĕ rēs hŭmĭlēs, ātque hānc, pătĕr, āspĭcĕ prōlēm

ēxŭlĭs; huīc ōlīm gĕnĕrīs pŭdŏr. ō | ŭbĭ prīmă

hōspĭtĭa ēt iūnctaē tēstātō nūmĭnĕ dēxtraē!

hīc cērte ēst quēm fātă dăbānt, quēm dīxĭt Ăpōllŏ;700

nōn ĕgŏmēt tăcĭtōs Vĕnĕrīs fūrātă călōrēs

cūlpātāmvĕ făcēm: tŭă iūssă vĕrēndă tŭōsquĕ

dīlēxī mŏnĭtūs. Nūnc quā fĕrĭtātĕ dŏlēntīs

dēspĭcĭām quēstūs? Nēscīs, pătĕr ōptĭmĕ, nēscīs,

quāntŭs ămōr cāstaē mĭsĕrō nūpsīssĕ mărītō.705

ēt nūnc maēstă quĭdēm grăve ĕt īllaētābĭlĕ mūnūs,

ūt tĭmĕām dŏlĕāmquĕ, rŏgō; sēd cum ōscŭlă rūmpēt

maēstă dĭēs, cūm raūcă dăbūnt ăbĕūntĭbŭs ārmīs

sīgnă tŭbaē saēvōquĕ gĕnās fūlgēbĭtĭs aūrō,

eī mĭhĭ! cārĕ părēns, ĭtĕrūm fōrtāssĕ rŏgābō."710

Īllĭŭs ūmēntī cārpēns pătĕr ōscŭlă vūltū:

"Nōn ĕquĭdem hās ūmquām cūlpārīm, nātă, quĕrēlās;

pōnĕ mĕtūs, laūdāndă rŏgās nēc dīgnă nĕgārī.

Sēd mĭhĭ mūltă dĕī - nēc tū spērārĕ, quŏd ūrgēs,

dēsĭnĕ -, mūltă mĕtūs rēgnīquĕ vŏlūbĭlĕ pōndūs715

sūbĭcĭūnt ănĭmō. Vĕnĭēt, quī dēbĭtŭs īstīs,

nātă, mŏdūs, nĕquĕ te īncāssūm flēvīssĕ quĕrērīs.

Tū sōlārĕ vĭrūm, neū sīnt dīspēndĭă iūstaē

dūră mŏraē: māgnōs cūnctāmūr, nātă, părātūs.

Prōfĭcĭtūr bēllō". Dīcēntēm tālĭă nāscēns720

lūx mŏnĕt īngēntēsquĕ iŭbēnt āssūrgĕrĕ cūraē.

At non Aoniae moderator perfidus orae

nocte sub ancipiti, quamuis umentibus astris

longus ad auroram superet labor, otia somni

accipit; invigilant animo scelerisque parati

5supplicium exercent curae; tum plurima versat

pessimus in dubiis augur timor. "Ei mihi" clamat,

"unde morae?" - nam prona ratus facilemque tot armis

Tydea, nec numero virtutem animumque rependit -

"num regio diversa viae? num missus ab Argis

10subsidio globus? an sceleris data fama per urbes

finitimas? paucosne, pater Gradive, manvve

legimus indecores? at enim fortissimus illic

et Chromis et Dorylas et nostris turribus aequi

Thespiadae totos raperent mihi funditus Argos.

15Nec tamen ille meis, reor, impenetrabilis armis

aere gerens solidoque datos adamante lacertos

venerat; heu segnes, quorum labor haeret in uno,

si conserta manus". Vario sic turbidus aestu

angitur ac sese culpat super omnia, qui non

20orantem in mediis legatum coetibus ense

perculerit foedasque palam satiaverit iras.

Iam pudet incepti, iam paenitet. Ac velut ille

fluctibus Ioniis Calabrae datus arbiter alno

nec rudis undarum - portus sed linquere amicos

25purior Olenii frustra gradus impulit astri -,

cum fragor hiberni subitus Iovis, omnia mundi

claustra tonant multusque polos inclinat Orion,

ipse quidem malit terras pugnatque reverti,

fert ingens a puppe notus, tunc arte relicta

30ingemit et caecas sequitur iam nescius undas:

talis Agenoreus ductor caeloque morantem

Luciferum et seros maerentibus increpat ortus.

Ecce sub occiduas versae iam Noctis habenas

astrorumque obitus, ubi primum maxima Tethys

35impulit Eoo cunctantem Hyperiona ponto,

ima flagellatis, signum lugubre malorum,

ponderibus trepidavit humus, motusque Cithaeron

antiquas dedit ire nives; tunc visa levari

culmina septenaeque iugo concurrere portae.

40Et prope sunt causae: gelido remeabat Eoo

iratus fatis et tristis morte negata

Haemonides; necdum ora patent, dubiusque notari

signa dabat magnae longe manifesta ruinae

planctuque et gemitu; lacrimas nam protinus omnis

45fuderat. Haud aliter saltu devertitur orbus

pastor ab agrestum nocturna strage luporum,

cuius erile pecus silvis inopinus abegit

imber et hibernae ventosa cacumina lunae:

luce patent caedes; domino perferre recentes

50ipse timet casus, haustaque informis harena

questibus implet agros, stabulique silentia magni

odit et amissos longo ciet ordine tauros.

Illum congestae portarum ad limina matres

ut solum videre - nefas! - nulla agmina circum

55magnanimosque duces, nil ausae quaerere tollunt

clamorem, qualis bello supremus apertis

urbibus, aut pelago iam descendente carina.

Ut primum invisi cupido data copia regis:

"Hanc tibi de tanto donat ferus agmine Tydeus

60infelicem animam, sive haec sententia divum,

seu fortuna fuit, seu, quod pudet ira fateri,

vis invicta viri. Vix credo et nuntius: omnes

procubuere, omnes. Noctis vaga lumina testor

et socium manes et te, mala protinus ales,

65qua redeo, non hanc lacrimis meruisse nec astu

crudelem veniam atque inhonorae munera lucis.

Sed mihi iussa deum placitoque ignara moveri

Atropos atque olim non haec data ianua leti

eripuere necem. iamque ut mihi prodiga vitae

70pectora et extremam nihil horrescentia mortem

aspicias: bellum infandum ominibusque negatam

movisti, funeste, aciem; dum pellere leges

et consanguineo gestis regnare superbus

exsule, te series orbarum excisa domorum

75planctibus assiduis, te diro horrore volantes

quinquaginta animae circum noctesque diesque

assilient; neque enim ipse moror." iam moverat iras

rex ferus, et tristes ignescunt sanguine vultus.

Inde ultro Phlegyas et non cunctator iniqui

80Labdacus - hos regni ferrum penes - ire manuque

proturbare parant. sed iam nudaverat ensem

magnanimus vates, et nunc trucis ora tyranni,

nunc ferrum aspectans: "Numquam tibi sanguinis huius

ius erit aut magno feries imperdita Tydeo

85pectora; vado equidem exsultans ereptaque fata

insequor et comites feror exspectatus ad umbras.

Te superis fratrique -" et iam media orsa loquentis

absciderat plenum capulo latus; ille dolori

pugnat et ingentem nisu duplicatus in ictum

90corruit, extremisque animae singultibus errans

alternus nunc ore venit, nunc vulnere sanguis.

Excussae procerum mentes, turbataque mussant

concilia; ast illum coniunx fidique parentes

servantem vultus et torvum in morte peracta,

95non longum reducem laetati, in tecta ferebant.

Sed ducis infandi rabidae non hactenus irae

stare queunt; vetat igne rapi, pacemque sepulcri

impius ignaris nequiquam manibus arcet.

Tu tamen egregius fati mentisque nec umquam

100- sic dignum est - passure situm, qui comminus ausus

vadere contemptum reges, quaque ampla veniret

libertas, sancire viam: quo carmine dignam,

quo satis ore tuis famam virtutibus addam,

augur amate deis? Non te caelestia frustra

105edocuit lauroque sua dignatus Apollost:

et nemorum Dodona parens Cirrhaeaque virgo

audebit tacito populos suspendere Phoebo.

Nunc quoque Tartareo multum divisus Averno

Elysias, i, carpe plagas, ubi manibus axis

110invius Ogygiis nec sontis iniqua tyranni

iussa valent; durant habitus et membra cruentis

inviolata feris, nudoque sub axe iacentem

et nemus et tristis volucrum reverentia servat.

At nuptae exanimes puerique aegrique parentes

115moenibus effusi per plana, per avia, passim

quisque suas avidi ad lacrimas miserabile currunt

certamen, quos densa gradu comitantur euntes

milia solandi studio, pars visere flagrant

unius acta viri et tantos in nocte labores.

120fervet iter gemitu et plangoribus arva reclamant.

ut vero infames scopulos silvamque nefandam

perventum, ceu nulla prius lamenta nec atri

manassent imbres, sic ore miserrimus uno

exoritur fragor, aspectuque accensa cruento

125turba furit: stat sanguineo discissus amictu

Luctus atrox caesoque invitat pectore matres.

Scrutantur galeas frigentum inventaque monstrant

corpora, prociduae super externosque suosque.

Hae pressant in tabe comas, hae lumina signant

130vulneraque alta rigant lacrimis, pars spicula dextra

nequiquam parcente trahunt, pars molliter aptant

bracchia trunca loco et cervicibus ora reponunt.

At vaga per dumos vacuique in pulvere campi

magna parens iuvenum, gemini nunc funeris, Ide

135squalentem sublata comam liventiaque ora

ungue premens - nec iam infelix miserandaque, verum

terror inest lacrimis -, per et arma et corpora passim

canitiem impexam dira tellure volutans

quaerit inops natos omnique in corpore plangit.

140Thessalis haud aliter bello gavisa recenti,

cui gentile nefas hominem renovare canendo,

multifida attollens antiqua lumina cedro

nocte subit campos versatque in sanguine functum

vulgus et explorat manes, cui plurima busto

145imperet ad superos: animarum maesta queruntur

concilia, et nigri pater indignatur Averni.

Illi in secessu pariter sub rupe iacebant

felices, quos una dies, manus abstulit una,

pervia vulneribus media trabe pectora nexi.

150ut vidit lacrimisque oculi patuere profusis:

"Hosne ego complexus genetrix, haec oscula, nati,

vestra tuor? Sic vos extremo in fine ligavit

ingenium crudele necis? Quae vulnera tractem,

quae prius ora premam? Vosne illa potentia matris,

155vos uteri fortuna mei, qua tangere divos

rebar et Ogygias titulis anteire parentes?

a, quanto melius dextraque in sorte iugatae,

quis steriles thalami nulloque ululata dolore

respexit Lucina domum! Mihi quippe malorum

160causa labor; sed nec bellorum in luce patenti

conspicui fatis aeternaque gentibus ausi

quaesistis miserae vulnus memorabile matri,

sed mortem obscuram numerosaque funera passi,

heu quantus furto cruor et sine laude iacetis!

165Quin ego non dextras miseris complexibus ausim

dividere et tanti consortia rumpere leti:

ite diu fratres indiscretique supremis

ignibus et caros urna confundite manes!"

Nec minus interea digesta strage suorum

170hic Chthonium coniunx, hic mater Penthea clamat

Astyoche, puerique rudes, tua, Phaedime, proles,

amissum didicere patrem, Marpessaque pactum

Phyllea, sanguineumque lavant Acamanta sorores.

Tunc ferro retegunt silvas collisque propinqui

175annosum truncant apicem, qui conscius actis

noctis et inspexit gemitus; ibi grandior aevo

ante rogos, dum quisque suo nequit igne revelli,

concilium infaustum dictis mulcebat Aletes:

"Saepe quidem infelix varioque exercita ludo

180fatorum gens nostra fuit, Sidonius ex quo

hospes in Aonios iecit sata ferrea sulcos,

unde novi fetus et formidata colonis

arva suis. Sed nec veteris cum regia Cadmi

fulmineum in cinerem monitis Iunonis iniquae

185consedit, neque funerea cum laude potitus

infelix Athamas trepido de monte veniret,

semianimem heu laeto referens clamore Learchum,

hic gemitus Thebis, nec tempore clarius illo

Phoenissae sonuere domus, cum lassa furorem

190vicit et ad comitum lacrimas expavit Agave.

Una dies similis fato specieque malorum

aequa fuit, qua magniloquos luit impia flatus

Tantalis, innumeris cum circumfusa ruinis

corpora tot raperet terra, tot quaereret ignes.

195talis erat vulgi status, et sic urbe relicta

primaevique senesque et longo examine matres

invidiam planxere deis miseroque tumultu

bina per ingentes stipabant funera portas.

Meque ipsum memini - necdum apta laboribus aetas -

200flesse tamen gemituque meos aequasse parentes.

Illa tamen superi. Nec quod tibi, Delia, castos

prolapsum ad fontis specula temerare profana

heu dominum insani nihil agnovere Molossi,

deflerim magis, aut verso quod sanguine fluxit

205in subitos regina lacus: sic dura Sororum

pensa dabant visumque Iovi. Nunc regis iniqui

ob noxam immeritos patriae tot culmina cives

exuimus, nec adhuc calcati foederis Argos

fama subit, et iam bellorum extrema dolemus.

210quantus equis quantusque viris in pulvere crasso

sudor! Io quanti crudele rubebitis amnes!

Viderit haec bello viridis manus: ast ego doner

dum licet igne meo terraque insternar avita!"

haec senior, multumque nefas Eteoclis acerbat

215crudelem infandumque vocans poenasque daturum.

Unde ea libertas? Iuxta illi finis et aetas

tota retro, seraeque decus velit addere morti.

Haec sator astrorum iamdudum e vertice mundi

prospectans primoque imbutas sanguine gentes

220Gradivum acciri propere iubet. ille furentes

Bistonas et Geticas populatus caedibus urbes

turbidus aetherias currus urguebat ad arces,

fulmine cristatum galeae iubar armaque in auro

tristia, terrificis monstrorum animata figuris,

225incutiens: tonat axe polus clipeique cruenta

lux rubet, et solem longe ferit aemulus orbis.

hunc ubi Sarmaticos etiamnum efflare labores

Iuppiter et tota perfusum pectora belli

tempestate videt: "Talis mihi, nate, per Argos,

230talis abi, sic ense madens, hac nubilus ira.

exturbent resides frenos et cuncta perosi

te cupiant, tibi praecipites animasque manusque

devoveant, rape cunctantes et foedera turba,

cui dedimus, tibi fas ipsos incendere bello

235caelicolas pacemque meam. Iam semina pugnae

ipse dedi: remeat portans immania Tydeus

ausa, ducis scelus et turpis, primordia belli,

insidias fraudesque, suis quas ultus in armis.

adde fidem. vos o superi, meus ordine sanguis,

240ne pugnare odiis, neu me temptare precando

certetis; sic Fata mihi nigraeque Sororum

iuravere colus: manet haec ab origine mundi

fixa dies bello, populique in proelia nati.

Quodni me veterum poenas sancire malorum

245gentibus et diros sinitis punire nepotes

- arcem hanc aeternam, mentis sacraria nostrae,

testor et Elysios, etiam mihi numina, fontes -,

ipse manu Thebas correptaque moenia fundo

excutiam versasque solo super Inacha tecta

250effundam turres aut stagna in caerula verram

imbre superiecto, licet ipsa in turbine rerum

Iuno suos colles templumque amplexa laboret."

Dixit, et attoniti iussis. Mortalia credas

pectora, sic cuncti vocemque animosque tenebant.

255Non secus ac longa ventorum pace solutum

aequor et imbelli recubant ubi litora somno,

silvarumque comas et abacto flamine nubes

mulcet iners aestas; tunc stagna lacusque sonori

detumuere, tacent exusti solibus amnes.

260Gaudet ovans iussis et adhuc temone calenti

fervidus in laevum torsit Gradivus habenas.

iamque iter extremum caelique abrupta tenebat,

cum Venus ante ipsos nulla formidine gressum

figit equos; cessere retro iamiamque rigentes

265suppliciter posuere iubas. Tunc pectora summo

acclinata iugo vultumque obliqua madentem

incipit - interea dominae vestigia iuxta

spumantem proni mandunt adamanta iugales -:

"Bella etiam in Thebas, socer o pulcherrime, bella

270ipse paras ferroque tuos abolere nepotes?

Nec genus Harmoniae nec te conubia caelo

festa nec hae quicquam lacrimae, furibunde, morantur?

Criminis haec merces? Hoc fama pudorque relictus,

hoc mihi Lemniacae de te meruere catenae?

275Perge libens; at non eadem Vulcania nobis

obsequia, et laesi servit tamen ira mariti!

Illum ego perpetuis mihi desudare caminis

si iubeam vigilesque operi transmittere noctes,

gaudeat ornatusque novos ipsique laboret

280arma tibi; tu! - sed scopulos et aena precando

flectere corda paro; solum hoc tamen anxia, solum

obtestor, quid me Tyrio sociare marito

progeniem caram infaustisque dabas hymenaeis?

dum fore praeclaros armis et vivida rebus

285pectora vipereo Tyrios de sanguine iactas

demissumque Iovis serie genus. A! mea quanto

Sithonia mallem nupsisset virgo sub Arcto

trans Borean Thracasque tuos. Indigna parumne

pertulimus, divae Veneris quod filia longum

290reptat et Illyricas deiectat virus in herbas?

Nunc gentem immeritam -". Lacrimas non pertulit ultra

Bellipotens, hastam laeva transumit et alto,

haut mora, desilvit curru, clipeoque receptam

laedit in amplexu dictisque ita mulcet amicis:

295"O mihi bellorum requies et sacra voluptas

unaque pax animo! Soli cui tanta potestas

divorumque hominumque meis occurrere telis

impune et media quamuis in caede frementis

hos adsistere equos, hunc ensem avellere dextra.

300Nec mihi Sidonii genialia foedera Cadmi

nec tua cara fides - ne falsa incessere gaude! -

exciderunt: prius in patrui deus infera mergar

stagna et pallentes agar exarmatus ad umbras.

Sed nunc fatorum monitus mentemque supremi

305iussus obire patris - neque enim Vulcania tali

imperio manus apta legi -, quo pectore contra

ire Iovem dictasque parem contemnere leges,

cui modo - pro vires! - terras caelumque fretumque

attremere oranti tantosque ex ordine vidi

310delituisse deos? Sed ne mihi corde supremos

concipe, cara, metus! Quando haec mutare potestas

nulla datur - cum iam Tyriis sub moenibus ambae

bellabunt gentes, adero et socia arma iuvabo.

Tunc me sanguineo late defervere campo

315res super Argolicas haud sic deiecta videbis;

hoc mihi ius, nec fata vetant". Sic orsus aperto

flagrantes immisit equos. non ocius alti

in terras cadit ira Iovis, si quando nivalem

Othryn et Arctoae gelidum caput institit Ossae

320armavitque in nube manum: volat ignea moles

saeva dei mandata ferens, caelumque trisulca

territat omne coma iamdudum aut ditibus agris

signa dare aut ponto miseros involvere nautas.

Iamque remensus iter fesso Danaeia Tydeus

325arva gradu viridisque legit devexa Prosymnae

terribilis visu: stant fulti pulvere crines,

squalidus ex umeris cadit alta in vulnera sudor,

insomnisque oculos rubor excitat, oraque retro

solvit anhela sitis; mens altum spirat honorem

330conscia factorum. Sic nota in pascua taurus

bellator redit, adverso cui colla suoque

sanguine proscissisque natant palearibus armi;

tunc quoque lassa tumet virtus multumque superbit

pectore despecto; vacua iacet hostis harena

335turpe gemens crudosque vetat sentire labores.

talis erat; medias etiam non destitit urbes,

quidquid et Asopon veteresque interiacet Argos,

inflammare odiis, multumque et ubique retexens

legatum sese Graia de gente petendis

340isse super regnis profugi Polynicis, at inde

vim, noctem, scelus, arma, dolos, ea foedera passum

regis Echionii, fratri sua iura negari.

Prona fides populis; deus omnia credere suadet

armipotens, geminatque acceptos fama pavores.

345Utque introgressus portas - et forte verendus

concilio pater ipse duces cogebat Adrastus -,

improvisus adest, iam illinc a postibus aulae

vociferans: "Arma, arma viri, tuque optime Lernae

ductor, magnanimum si quis tibi sanguis avorum,

350arma para! Nusquam pietas, non gentibus aequum

fas aut cura Iovis; melius legatus adissem

Sauromatas avidos servatoremque cruentum

Bebrycii nemoris. Nec iussa incuso pigetve

officii: iuvat isse, iuvat, Thebasque nocentes

355explorasse manu; bello me, credite, bello,

ceu turrem validam aut artam compagibus urbem,

delecti insidiis instructique omnibus armis

nocte doloque viri nudum ignarumque locorum

nequiquam clausere; iacent in sanguine mixti

360ante urbem vacuam. Nunc o, nunc tempus in hostis,

dum trepidi exsanguesque metu, dum funera portant,

nunc, socer, haec dum non manus excidit; ipse ego fessus

quinquaginta illis heroum immanibus umbris

vulneraque ista ferens putri insiccata cruore

365protinus ire peto!" trepidi de sedibus astant

Inachidae, cunctisque prior Cadmeius heros

accurrit vultum deiectus et "O | ego divis

invisus vitaeque nocens haec vulnera cerno

integer! hosne mihi reditus, germane, parabas?

370In me haec tela mei! Pro vitae foeda cupido!

Infelix, fratri facinus tam grande negavi.

Et nunc vestra quidem maneant in pace quieta

moenia, nec vobis tanti sim causa tumultus

hospes adhuc. Scio - nec me adeo res dextra levavit -,

375quam durum natis, thalamo quam triste revelli,

quam patria; non me ullius domus anxia culpet

respectentve truces obliquo lumine matres.

ibo libens certusque mori, licet optima coniunx

†auditusque iterum† revocet socer; hunc ego Thebis,

380hunc, germane, tibi iugulum et tibi, maxime Tydeu,

debeo". Sic variis pertemptat pectora dictis

obliquatque preces. Commotae questibus irae

et mixtus lacrimis calvit dolor; omnibus ultro

non iuvenum modo, sed gelidis et inertibus aevo

385pectoribus mens una subit, viduare penates,

finitimas adhibere manus, iamque ire. Sed altus

consiliis pater imperiique haut flectere molem

inscius: "Ista quidem superis curaeque medenda

linquite, quaeso, meae, nec te germanus inulto

390sceptra geret, neque nos avidi promittere bellum.

at nunc egregium tantoque in sanguine ovantem

excipite Oeniden, animosaque pectora laxet

sera quies: nobis dolor haut rationis egebit".

Turbati extemplo comites et pallida coniunx

395Tydea circum omnes fessum bellique viaeque

stipantur. Laetus mediis in sedibus aulae

constitit, ingentique exceptus terga columna,

vulnera dum lymphis Epidaurius elvit Idmon,

nunc velox ferro, nunc ille tepentibus herbis

400mitior, ipse alta seductus mente renarrat

principia irarum, quaeque orsus uterque vicissim,

quis locus insidiis, tacito quae tempora bello,

qui contra quantique duces, ubi maximus illi

sudor, et indicio servatum Maeona tristi

405exponit. Cui fida manus proceresque socerque

astupet oranti, Tyriusque incenditur exul.

Solverat Hesperii devexo margine ponti

flagrantes Sol pronus equos rutilamque lavabat

Oceani sub fonte comam, cui turba profundi

410Nereos et rapidis accurrunt passibus Horae,

frenaque et auratae textum sublime coronae

deripiunt, laxant calidis umentia loris

pectora; pars meritos vertunt ad molle iugales

gramen et erecto currum temone supinant.

415Nox subiit curasque hominum motusque ferarum

composuit nigroque polos involvit amictu,

illa quidem cunctis, sed non tibi mitis, Adraste,

Labdacioque duci: nam Tydea largus habebat

perfusum magna virtutis imagine somnus.

420et iam noctivagas inter deus armifer umbras

desuper Arcadiae fines Nemeaeaque rura

Taenariumque cacumen Apollineasque Therapnas

armorum tonitru ferit et trepidantia corda

implet amore sui. Comunt Furor Iraque cristas,

425frena ministrat equis Pavor armiger. At vigil omni

Fama sono vanos rerum succincta tumultus

antevolat currum flatuque impulsa gementum

alipedum trepidas denso cum murmure plumas

excutit: urguet enim stimulis auriga cruentis

430facta, infecta loqui, curruque infestus ab alto

terga comamque deae Scythica pater increpat hasta.

qualis ubi Aeolio dimissos carcere ventos

dux prae se Neptunus agit magnoque volentes

incitat Aegaeo; tristis comitatus eunti

435circum lora fremunt nimbique hiemesque profundae

nubilaque et vulso terrarum sordida fundo

tempestas: dubiae motis radicibus obstant

Cyclades, ipsa tua Mycono Gyaroque revelli,

Dele, times magnique fidem testaris alumni.

440Septima iam nitidum terris Aurora deisque

purpureo vehit ore diem, Perseius heros

cum primum arcana senior sese extulit aula,

multa super bello generisque tumentibus amens

incertusque animi, daret armis iura novosque

445gentibus incuteret stimulos, an frena teneret

irarum et motos capulis astringeret enses.

Hinc pacis tranquilla movent, atque inde pudori

foeda quies, flectique nova dulcedine pugnae

difficiles populi; dubio sententia tandem

450sera placet, vatum mentis et provida veri

sacra movere deum. Sollers tibi cura futuri,

Amphiaraë, datur, iuxtaque Amythaone cretus

iam senior - sed mente viret Phoeboque - Melampus

associat passus: dubium, cui pronus Apollo

455oraque Cirrhaea satiarit largius unda.

Principio fibris pecudumque in sanguine divos

explorant; iam tunc pavidis maculosa bidentum

corda negant diraque nefas minitantia vena.

ire tamen vacuoque sedet petere omina caelo.

460Mons erat audaci seductus in aethera dorso

- nomine Lernaei memorant Aphesanta coloni -,

gentibus Argolicis olim sacer; inde ferebant

nubila suspenso celerem temerasse volatu

Persea, cum raptos pueri perterrita mater

465prospexit de rupe gradus ac paene secutast.

Huc gemini vates sanctam canentis olivae

fronde comam et niveis ornati tempora vittis

evadunt pariter, madidos ubi lucidus agros

ortus et algentes laxavit sole pruinas.

470Ac prior Oeclides solitum prece numen amicat:

"Iuppiter omnipotens - nam te pernicibus alis

addere consilium volucresque implere futuri

ominaque et causas caelo deferre latentes

accipimus -, non Cirrha deum promiserit antro

475certius, aut frondes lucis quas fama Molossis

Chaonias sonuisse tibi, licet aridus Hammon

invideat Lyciaeque parent contendere sortes

Niliacumque pecus patrioque aequalis honori

Branchus, et undosae quem rusticus accola Pisae

480Pana Lycaonia nocturnum exaudit in umbra:

ditior ille animi, cui tu, Dictaee, secundas

impuleris manifestus aves. mirum unde, sed olimst

hic honor alitibus, superae seu conditor aulae

sic dedit effusum chaos in nova semina texens,

485seu quia mutatae nostraque ab origine versis

corporibus subiere notos, seu purior axis

amotumque nefas et rarum insistere terris

vera docent; tibi, summe sator terraeque deumque,

scire licet. Nos Argolicae primordia pugnae

490venturumque sinas caelo praenosse laborem.

Si datur et duris sedet haec sententia Parcis

solvere Echionias Lernaea cuspide portas,

signa feras laevusque tones; tunc omnis in astris

consonet arcana volucris bona murmura lingua.

495Si prohibes, hic necte moras dextrisque profundum

alitibus praetexe diem". Sic fatus, et alto

membra locat scopulo; tunc plura ignotaque iungit

numina et immensi fruitur caligine mundi.

Postquam rite diu partiti sidera cunctis

500perlegere animis oculisque sequacibus auras,

tunc Amythaonius longo post tempore vates:

"Nonne sub excelso spirantis limite caeli,

Amphiaraë, vides, cursus ut nulla serenos

ales agat liquidoque polum complexa meatu

505pendeat aut fugiens placabile planxerit omen?

non comes obscurus tripodum, non fulminis ardens

vector adest flavaeque sonans avis unca Minervae,

non venit auguriis melior, quin vultur et altis

desuper accipitres exsultavere rapinis.

510monstra volant, dirae stridunt in nube volucres,

nocturnaeque gemunt striges et feralia bubo

damna canens. quae prima deum portenta sequamur?

hisne dari, Thymbraee, polum? simul ora recurvo

ungue secant rabidae planctumque imitantibus alis

515exagitant Zephyros et plumea pectora caedunt".

ille sub haec: "Equidem varii, pater, omina Phoebi

saepe tuli: iam tum, prima cum pube virentem

semideos inter pinus me Thessala reges

duceret, hic casus terraeque marisque canentem

520obstipuere duces, nec me ventura locuto

saepius in dubiis auditus Iasoni Mopsus.

sed similis non ante metus aut astra notavi

prodigiosa magis; quamquam maiora parantur.

huc adverte animum: clara regione profundi

525aetheros innumeri statuerunt agmina cycni,

sive hos Strymonia Boreas eiecit ab Arcto,

seu fecunda refert placidi clementia Nili.

Fixerunt cursus: has rere in imagine Thebas;

nam sese immoti gyro atque in pace silentes

530ceu muris valloque tenent. Sed fortior ecce

adventat per inane cohors; septem ordine fulvo

armigeras summi Iovis exsultante caterva

intuor: Inachii sint hi tibi, concipe, reges.

Invasere globum nivei gregis uncaque pandunt

535caedibus ora novis et strictis unguibus instant.

cernis inexperto rorantes sanguine ventos,

et plumis stillare diem? quae saeva repente

victores agitat leto Iovis ira sinistri?

Hic excelsa petens subita face solis inarsit

540submisitque animos, illum vestigia adortum

maiorum volucrum tenerae deponitis alae.

Hic hosti implicitus pariter ruit, hunc fuga retro

volvit agens sociae linquentem fata catervae.

Hic nimbo glomeratus obit, hic praepete viva

545pascitur immoriens; spargit cava nubila sanguis.

"Quid furtim illacrimas?" "Illum, venerande Melampu,

qui cadit, agnosco". Trepidos sic mole futuri

cunctaque iam rerum certa sub imagine passos

terror habet vates; piget irrupisse volantum

550concilia et caelo mentem insertasse vetanti,

auditique odere deos. Unde iste per orbem

primus venturi miseris animantibus aeger

crevit amor? Divumne feras hoc munus, an ipsi,

gens avida et parto non umquam stare quieti,

555ervimus, quae prima dies, ubi terminus aevi,

quid bonus ille deum genitor, quid ferrea Clotho

cogitet? Hinc fibrae et volucrum per nubila sermo

astrorumque vices numerataque semina lunae

Thessalicumque nefas. at non prior aureus ille

560sanguis avum scopulisque satae vel robore gentes

mentibus his usae; silvas amor unus humumque

edomuisse manu; quid crastina volveret aetas,

scire nefas homini. nos pravum et flebile vulgus

scrutari penitus superos: hinc pallor et irae,

565hinc scelus insidiaeque et nulla modestia voti.

Ergo manu vittas damnataque vertice serta

deripit abiectaque inhonorus fronde sacerdos

inviso de monte redit; iam bella tubaeque

comminus, absentesque fremunt sub pectore Thebae.

570ille nec aspectum vulgi, nec fida tyranni

colloquia aut coetus procerum perferre, sed atra

sede tegi, et superum clausus negat acta fateri

- te pudor et curae retinent per rura, Melampu -:

bissenos premit ora dies populumque ducesque

575extrahit incertis. Et iam suprema Tonantis

iussa fremunt agrosque viris annosaque vastant

oppida; bellipotens prae se deus agmina passim

mille rapit; liquere domos dilectaque laeti

conubia et primo plorantis limine natos:

580tantus in attonitos cecidit deus. Arma paternis

postibus et fixos superum ad penetralia currus

vellere amor; tunc fessa putri robigine pila

horrentesque situ gladios in saeva recurant

vulnera et attrito cogunt iuvenescere saxo.

585Hi teretes galeas magnorumque aerea suta

thoracum et tunicas chalybum squalore crepantes

pectoribus temptare, alii Cortynia lentant

cornua; iam falces avidis et aratra caminis

rastraque et incurvi saevum rubuere ligones.

590caedere nec validas sanctis e stirpibus hastas,

nec pudor emerito clipeum vestisse iuvenco.

Irrupere Argos maestique ad limina regis

bella animis, bella ore fremunt; it clamor ad auras,

quantus Tyrrheni gemitus salis, aut ubi temptat

595Enceladus mutare latus; super igneus antris

mons tonat, exundant apices fluctusque Pelorus

contrahit, et sperat tellus abrupta reverti.

Atque hic ingenti Capaneus Mavortis amore

excitus et longam pridem indignantia pacem

600corda tumens - huic ampla quidem de sanguine prisco

nobilitas; sed enim ipse manu praegressus avorum

facta, diu tuto superum contemptor et aequi

impatiens largusque animae, modo suaserit ira -,

unus ut e silvis Pholoës habitator opacae

605inter et Aetnaeos aequus consurgere fratres,

ante fores, ubi turba ducum vulgique frementis,

Amphiaraë, tuas: "Quae tanta ignavia" clamat,

"Inachidae vosque o socio de sanguine Achivi?

unius - heu pudeat! - plebeia ad limina civis

610tot ferro accinctae gentes animisque paratae

pendemus? non si ipse cavo sub vertice Cirrhae,

quisquis is est, timidis famaeque ita visus, Apollo

mugiat insano penitus seclusus in antro,

exspectare queam, dum pallida virgo tremendas

615nuntiet ambages. Virtus mihi numen et ensis,

quem teneo! Iamque hic timida cum fraude sacerdos

exeat, aut hodie, volucrum quae tanta potestas,

experiar". laetum fremit assensuque furentem

implet Achaea manus. Tandem prorumpere adactus

620Oeclides: "alio curarum agitante tumultu

non equidem effreno iuvenis clamore profani

dictorumque metu, licet hic insana minetur,

elicior tenebris; alio mihi debita fato

summa dies, vetitumque dari mortalibus armis.

625Sed me vester amor nimiusque arcana profari

Phoebus agit; vobis ventura atque omne, quod ultrast,

pandere maestus eo; nam te, vesane, moneri

ante nefas, unique tacet tibi noster Apollo.

quo, miseri, fatis superisque obstantibus arma,

630quo rapitis? Quae vos Furiarum verbera caecos

exagitant? adeone animarum taedet? et Argos

exosi? nil dulce domi? nulla omina curae?

quid me Persei secreta ad culmina montis

ire gradu trepido superumque irrumpere coetus

635egistis? potui pariter nescire, quis armis

casus, ubi atra dies, quae fati exordia cunctis,

quae mihi. consulti testor penetralia mundi

et volucrum adfatus et te, Thymbraee, vocanti

non alias tam saeve mihi, quae signa futuri

640pertulerim: vidi ingentis portenta ruinae,

vidi hominum divumque metus hilaremque Megaeram

et Lachesin putri vacuantem saecula penso.

Proicite arma manu: deus ecce furentibus obstat,

ecce deus! miseri, quid pulchrum sanguine vestro

645Aoniam et diri saturare novalia Cadmi?

Sed quid vana cano, quid fixos arceo casus?

Ibimus." Hic presso gemuit semel ore sacerdos.

Illum iterum Capaneus: "Tuus o furor auguret uni

ista tibi, ut serves vacuos inglorius annos

650et tua non umquam Tyrrhenus tempora circum

clangor eat. Quid vota virum meliora moraris?

Scilicet ut vanis avibus natoque domoque

et thalamis potiare iacens, sileamus inulti

Tydeos egregii perfossum pectus et arma

655foederis abrupti? Quodsi bella effera Graios

ferre vetas, i Sidonios legatus ad hostes:

haec pacem tibi serta dabunt. tua prorsus inani

verba polo causas abstrusaque nomina rerum

eliciunt: miseret superum, si carmina curae

660humanaeque preces! Quid inertia pectora terres?

Primus in orbe deos fecit timor! Et tibi tuto

nunc eat iste furor; sed prima ad classica cum iam

hostilem Ismenon galeis Dircenque bibemus,

ne mihi tunc, moneo, lituos atque arma volenti

665obvius ire pares venisque aut alite visa

bellorum proferre diem: procul haec tibi mollis

infula terrificique aberit dementia Phoebi:

illic augur ego et mecum quicumque parati

insanire manu." rursus fragor intonat ingens

670hortantum et vasto subtervolat astra tumultu.

Ut rapidus torrens, animos cui verna ministrant

flamina et exuti concreto frigore montes,

cum vagus in campos frustra prohibentibus exit

obicibus, resonant permixto turbine tecta,

675arva, armenta, viri, donec stetit improbus alto

colle minor magnoque invenit in aggere ripas.

haec alterna ducum nox interfusa diremit.

At gemitus Argia viri non amplius aequo

corde ferens sociumque animo miserata dolorem,

680sicut erat laceris pridem turpata capillis

et fletu signata genas, ad celsa verendi

ibat tecta patris, parvumque sub ubere caro

Thessandrum portabat avo iam nocte suprema

ante novos ortus, ubi sola superstite plaustro

685Arctos ad oceanum fugientibus invidet astris.

utque fores iniit magnoque affusa parentist:

"Cur tua cum lacrimis maesto sine coniuge supplex

limina nocte petam, cessem licet ipsa profari,

scis genitor. Sed iura deum genialia testor

690teque pater, non ille iubet, sed pervigil angor;

ex quo primus Hymen movitque infausta sinistram

Iuno facem, semper lacrimis gemituque propinquo

exturbata quies. non si mihi tigridis horror

aequoreaeque super rigeant praecordia cautes,

695ferre queam; tu solus opem, tu summa medendi

iura tenes; da bella, pater, generique iacentis

aspice res humiles, atque hanc, pater, aspice prolem

exulis; huic olim generis pudor. o ubi prima

hospitia et iunctae testato numine dextrae!

700hic certe est quem fata dabant, quem dixit Apollo;

non egomet tacitos Veneris furata calores

culpatamve facem: tua iussa verenda tuosque

dilexi monitus. Nunc qua feritate dolentis

despiciam questus? Nescis, pater optime, nescis,

705quantus amor castae misero nupsisse marito.

et nunc maesta quidem grave et illaetabile munus,

ut timeam doleamque, rogo; sed cum oscula rumpet

maesta dies, cum rauca dabunt abeuntibus armis

signa tubae saevoque genas fulgebitis auro,

710ei mihi! care parens, iterum fortasse rogabo."

Illius umenti carpens pater oscula vultu:

"Non equidem has umquam culparim, nata, querelas;

pone metus, laudanda rogas nec digna negari.

Sed mihi multa dei - nec tu sperare, quod urges,

715desine -, multa metus regnique volubile pondus

subiciunt animo. Veniet, qui debitus istis,

nata, modus, neque te incassum flevisse quereris.

Tu solare virum, neu sint dispendia iustae

dura morae: magnos cunctamur, nata, paratus.

720Proficitur bello". Dicentem talia nascens

lux monet ingentesque iubent assurgere curae.