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Āspĕrăt Āŏnĭōs răbĭēs aūdītă crŭēntī

Tŷdĕŏs; īpsi ĕtĭām mĭnŭs īngĕmŭērĕ iăcēntēm

Īnăchĭdaē, cūlpāntquĕ vĭrum ēt rūpīssĕ quĕrūntūr

fās ŏdĭī; quīn tē, dīvum īmplăcĭdīssĭmĕ, quāmquām

praēcĭpŭūm tūnc caēdĭs ŏpūs, Grādīvĕ, fŭrēbās,5

ōffēnsūm vīrtūtĕ fĕrūnt, nēc cōmmĭnŭs īpsūm

ōră, sĕd ēt trĕpĭdōs ălĭō tōrsīssĕ iŭgālēs.

Ērgŏ prŏfānātūm Mĕlănīppī fūnŭs ăcērbō

vūlnĕrĕ nōn ălĭīs ūltūm Cādmēĭă prōlēs

īnsūrgūnt stĭmŭlīs, quām sī tūrbātă sĕpūlcrīs10

ōssă pătrūm mōnstrīsquĕ dătaē crūdēlĭbŭs ūrnaē.

āccēndīt rēx īpsĕ sŭpēr: "Quīsquāmnĕ Pĕlāsgūs

mītĭs ădhūc hŏmĭnēmquĕ gĕrīt? Iām mōrsĭbŭs ūncīs

prō fŭrŏr! - ūsque ădĕō tēla ēxsătĭāvĭmŭs! - ārtūs

dīlăcĕrānt. Nōnne Hŷrcānīs bēllārĕ pŭtātīs15

tīgrĭbŭs, aūt saēvōs Lĭbўaē cōntra īrĕ lĕōnēs?

Ēt nūnc īllĕ iăcēt - pūlchra ō sōlācĭă lētī!-

ōrĕ tĕnēns hōstīlĕ căpūt, dūlcīquĕ nĕfāndūs

īmmŏrĭtūr tābō; nōs fērrum īmmītĕ făcēsquĕ,

īllīs nūda ŏdĭa, ēt fĕrĭtās iām nōn ĕgĕt ārmīs.20

sīc pērgānt răbĭdī clārāque hāc laūdĕ frŭāntūr,

dūm vĭdĕās haēc, sūmmĕ pătēr. sĕd ĕnim hīscĕrĕ cāmpōs

cōnquēstī tērraēquĕ fŭgām mīrāntŭr; ăn īstōs

vēl sŭă pōrtĕt hŭmūs?" Māgnō sīc fātŭs ăgēbāt

prōcūrsū frĕmĭtūquĕ vĭrōs, fŭrŏr ōmnĭbŭs īdēm25

Tŷdĕŏs īnvīsī spŏlĭīs rāptōquĕ pŏtīrī

cōrpŏrĕ. Nōn ălĭtēr sūbtēxūnt āstră cătērvaē

īncēstārum ăvĭūm, lōngē quĭbŭs aūră nŏcēntēm

āĕră dēsērtāsquĕ tŭlīt sĭnĕ fūnĕrĕ mōrtēs;

īllo ăvĭdaē cūm vōcĕ rŭūnt, sŏnăt ārdŭŭs aēthēr30

plaūsĭbŭs, ēt caēlō vŏlŭcrēs cēssērĕ mĭnōrēs.

Fāmă pĕr Āŏnĭūm răpĭdō văgă mūrmŭrĕ cāmpūm

spārgĭtŭr īn tūrmās, sŏlĭtō pērnīcĭŏr īndēx

cūm lūgēndă rĕfērt, dōnēc, cuī māxĭmă fāndō

dāmnă vĕhīt, trĕpĭdās lāpsa ēst Pŏlўnīcĭs ăd aūrēs.35

dīrĭgŭīt iŭvĕnīs lăcrĭmaēque haēsērĕ părātaē,

ēt cūnctātă fĭdēs; nĭmĭūm nām cōgnĭtă vīrtūs

Oēnīdaē crēdī lētūm suādētquĕ vĕtātquĕ.

sēd pōstquam haūd dŭbĭō clādēs aūctōrĕ rĕpērtāst,

nōx ŏcŭlōs mēntēmquĕ răpīt; tūm sānguĭnĕ fīxō40

mēmbră sĭmūl, sĭmŭl ārmă rŭūnt: mădĕt ārdŭă flētū

iām gălĕa ātque ŏcrĕaē clĭpeŭm ēxcēpērĕ cădēntēm.

īt maēstūs gĕnŭa aēgră trăhēns hāstāmquĕ sĕquēntēm,

vūlnĕrĭbūs ceū mīllĕ grăvīs tōtōsquĕ pĕr ārtūs

saūcĭŭs, ābsīstūnt sŏcĭī mōnstrāntquĕ gĕmēntēs.45

Tāndem īlle ābiēctīs, vīx quaē pōrtāvĕrăt, ārmīs

nūdŭs ĭn ēgrĕgĭī văcŭūm iām cōrpŭs ămīcī

prōcĭdĭt ēt tālī lăcrĭmās cūm vōcĕ prŏfūdīt:

"Hāsnĕ tĭbi, ārmōrūm spēs ō sūprēmă mĕōrūm,

Oēnīdē, grātīs, haēc praēmĭă dīgnă rĕpēndī,50

nūdŭs ŭt īnvīsā Cādmī tēllūrĕ iăcērēs

sōspĭtĕ mē? Nūnc ēxsŭl ĕgo aētērnūmquĕ fŭgātūs,

quāndo ălĭūs mĭsĕro āc mĕlĭōr mĭhĭ frātĕr ădēmptūs.

Nēc iām sōrtītūs vĕtĕrēs rēgnīquĕ nŏcēntīs

pēriūrūm dĭădēmă pĕtō: quō gaūdĭă tāntī55

ēmptă mĭhi aūt scēptrūm, quōd nōn tŭă dēxtĕră trādēt?

ītĕ, vĭrī, tōtūmquĕ fĕrō mē līnquĭtĕ frātrī:

nīl ŏpŭs ārma ūltrā tēmptāre ēt pērgĕrĕ mōrtīs;

ītĕ, prĕcōr; quīd iām dăbĭtīs mĭhĭ dēnĭquĕ māiūs?

Tŷdĕă cōnsūmpsī! Quānam hōc ĕgŏ mōrtĕ pĭābō?60

ō sŏcĕr, ō | Ārgi! ēt prīmaē bŏnă iūrgĭă nōctīs,

āltērnaēquĕ mănūs ēt lōngī pīgnŭs ămōrīs

īră brĕvīs; nōn me ēnsĕ tŭō tūm, māxĭmĕ Tŷdeū,

- ēt pŏtĕrās - nōstrī māctātum īn līmĭne Ădrāstī!

Quīn ĕtĭām Thēbās mē prōptĕr ĕt īmpĭă frātrīs65

tēctă lĭbēns, ūnde haūd ălĭūs rĕmĕāssĕt, ădīstī,

ceū tĭbĭmēt scēptra ēt prŏprĭōs lātūrŭs hŏnōrēs.

Iām Tĕlămōnă pĭūm, iām Thēsĕă fāmă tăcēbāt.

quālĭs ĕt ēccĕ iăcēs? quaē prīmūm vūlnĕră mīrēr?

Quīs tŭŭs hīc, quĭs ăb hōstĕ crŭōr? Quaē te āgmĭnă quīvĕ70

īnnŭmĕrī strāvērĕ glŏbī? nūm Pāllăs ĕt īpsĕ

īnvīdīt pătĕr ēt tōtā Mārs īmpŭlĭt hāstā?"

Sīc ăĭt, ēt maērēns ĕtĭāmnūm lūbrĭcă tābō

ōră vĭrī tērgīt lăcrĭmīs dēxtrāquĕ rĕpōnīt.

"Tūnĕ mĕōs hōstīs hūcūsque ēxōsŭs, ĕt ūltrā75

sōspĕs ĕgo?" Ēxŭĕrāt vāgīnā tūrbĭdŭs ēnsēm

āptābātquĕ nĕcī: cŏmĭtēs tĕnŭērĕ, sŏcērquĕ

cāstīgāt bēllīquĕ vĭcēs āc fātă rĕvōlvēns

sōlātūr tŭmĭdūm, lōngēque ā cōrpŏrĕ cārō

paūlātim, ūndĕ dŏlōr lētīque ănĭmōsă vŏlūntās,80

āmŏvĕt āc tăcĭtē fērrum īntēr vērbă rĕpōnīt.

Dūcĭtŭr āmīssō quālīs cōnsōrtĕ lăbōrūm

dēsĕrĭt īncēptūm mĕdĭa īntēr iūgĕră sūlcūm

taūrŭs ĭnērs cōllōquĕ iŭgūm dēfōrmĕ rĕmīssō

pārtĕ trăhīt, pārtēm lăcrĭmāns sūstēntăt ărātōr.85

Ēcce aūtem hōrtātūs Ĕtĕōclĭs ĕt ārmă sĕcūtī,

lēctă mănūs, iŭvĕnēs, quōs nēc Trītōnĭă bēllō,

nēc prŏpĕ cōllātā sprēvīssēt cūspĭdĕ Māvōrs,

ādvēntānt; cōntrā cōllēcta ūt pēctŏră pārmaē

fīxĕrăt ātque hāstām lōngē prōtēndĕrăt, haērēt90

ārdŭŭs Hīppŏmĕdōn: ceū flūctĭbŭs ōbvĭă rūpēs,

cuī nĕquĕ dē caēlō mĕtŭs ēt frācta aēquŏră cēdūnt,

stāt cūnctīs īmmōtă mĭnīs, fŭgĭt īpsĕ rĭgēntēm

pōntŭs ĕt ēx āltō mĭsĕraē nōvērĕ cărīnaē.

Tūnc prĭŏr Āŏnĭdēs - vălĭdām sĭmŭl ēlĭgĭt hāstām- :95

"Nōn pŭdĕt hōs mānīs, haēc īnfāmāntĭă bēllūm

fūnĕră dīs cōram ēt caēlo īnspēctāntĕ tŭērī?

scīlĭcĕt ēgrĕgĭūs sūdōr mĕmŏrāndăquĕ vīrtūs

hānc tŭmŭlārĕ fĕrām? Nē nōn maērēntĭbŭs Ārgōs

ēxsĕquĭīs lăcrĭmāndŭs ĕāt, mōllīquĕ fĕrētrō100

īnfāndam ēiēctāns sănĭēm! Dīmīttĭtĕ cūrām.

Nūllae īllūm vŏlŭcrēs, nūlla īmpĭă mōnstră nĕc īpsĕ,

sī dēmūs, pĭŭs īgnĭs ĕdāt". Nēc plūră, sĕd īngēns

īntōrquēt iăcŭlūm, dūrō quŏd ĭn aērĕ mŏrātūm

trānsmīssūmquĕ tămēn clĭpĕī stĕtĭt ōrbĕ sĕcūndō.105

Īndē Phērĕs ăcērquĕ Lўcūs; sēd cāssă Phĕrētīs

hāstă rĕdīt, Lўcŭs ēxcēlsō tērrōrĕ cŏmāntēm

pērstrīngīt gălĕām: cōnvūlsaē cūspĭdĕ lōngē

dīffūgērĕ iŭbaē pătŭītque īnglōrĭă cāssīs.

Īpsĕ nĕc īrĕ rĕtrō, nĕc ĭn ōbvĭă cōncĭtŭs ārmă110

ēxsĭlĭt, īnque ĕădēm sēsē vēstīgĭă sēmpēr

ōbvērsūs cūnctīs prōfērt rĕcĭpītquĕ, nĕc ūmquām

lōngĭŭs īndūlgēt dēxtraē mōtūsquĕ pĕr ōmnīs

cōrpŭs ămāt, cōrpūs sērvāns cīrcūmquĕ sŭprāquĕ

vērtĭtŭr. Īmbēllēm nōn sīc āmplēxă iŭvēncūm115

īnfēstāntĕ lŭpō tūnc prīmūm fētă tŭētūr

mātĕr ĕt āncĭpĭtī cīrcūmfērt cōrnŭă gŷrō;

īpsă nĭhīl mĕtŭēns sēxūsque ōblītă mĭnōrīs

spūmăt ĕt īngēntīs ĭmĭtātūr fēmĭnă taūrōs.

Tāndem īntērmīssā iăcŭlāntūm nūbĕ pŏtēstās120

rēddĕrĕ tēlă fŭīt; iāmque ēt Sĭcўōnĭŭs Ālcōn

vēnĕrăt aūxĭlĭō, Pīsaēăquĕ praēpĕtĭs Īdaē

tūrmă sŭbīt cŭnĕūmquĕ rĕplēnt. īs laētŭs ĭn hōstīs

Lērnaēām iăcĭt īpsĕ trăbēm, vŏlăt īllă săgīttīs

aēquă fŭgā mĕdĭūmquĕ nĭhīl cūnctātă Pŏlītēn125

trānsăbĭt ēt iūnctī clĭpĕūm căvăt īmprŏbă Mōpsī.

Phōcĕă tūm Cŷdōnă Tănāgraēūmquĕ Phălānthūm

ātque Ĕrўcem, hūnc rētrō cōnvērsum ēt tēlă pĕtēntēm,

dūm spēs nūllă nĕcīs, crīnīto ā vērtĭcĕ fīgīt;

faūcĭbŭs īllĕ căvīs hāstām nōn ōrĕ rĕcēptām130

mīrātūr mŏrĭēns, părĭtērque ēt mūrmŭrĕ plēnūs

sānguĭs ĕt ēxpūlsī sălĭērūnt cūspĭdĕ dēntēs.

aūsŭs ĕrāt fūrtō dēxtram īniēctārĕ Lĕōnteūs,

pōnĕ vĭrōs ātque ārmă lătēns, pŏsĭtūmquĕ trăhēbāt

prēnsō crīnĕ căpūt: vīdīt, quāmquam ūndĭquĕ crēbraē,135

Hīppŏmĕdōn, ānte ōră mĭnaē, saēvōquĕ prŏtērvām

ābstŭlĭt ēnsĕ mănūm; sĭmŭl īncrĕpăt: "Hānc tĭbĭ Tŷdeūs,

Tŷdeūs īpsĕ răpīt; pōst ēt cōnfēctă vĭrōrūm

fātă tĭmē māgnōsquĕ mĭsēr fŭgĕ tāngĕrĕ mānīs!"

Tēr Cādmēă phălānx tōrvum ābdūxērĕ cădāvēr,140

tēr rĕtrăhūnt Dănăī: Sĭcŭlī vĕlŭt ānxĭă pūppīs

sēdītiōnĕ mărīs nēquīquam ōbstāntĕ măgīstrō

ērrăt ĕt āvērsō rĕdĭt īn vēstīgĭă vēlō.

Nōn ĭbĭ Sīdŏnĭaē vălŭīssēnt pēllĕrĕ coēptō

Hīppŏmĕdōntă mănūs, nōn īllum īmpāctă mŏvērēnt145

tōrmēnta ōppŏsĭtūm, fōrmīdātīquĕ sŭpērbīs

tūrrĭbŭs īmpūlsūs tēmptāto ūmbōnĕ rĕdīssēnt.

Sēd mĕmŏr Ēlўsĭī rēgīs nōxāsquĕ rĕcēnsēns

Tŷdĕŏs īn mĕdĭōs āstū sŭbĭt īmpĭă cāmpōs

Tīsĭphŏnē: sēnsēre ăcĭēs sŭbĭtūsquĕ cŭcūrrīt150

sūdŏr ĕquīs sūdōrquĕ vĭrīs, quāmquam ōrĕ rĕmīssō

Īnăchĭūm fīngēbăt Hălŷn, nūsquam īmpĭŭs īgnīs

vērbĕrăque, ēt iūssī tĕnŭērĕ sĭlēntĭă crīnēs.

Ārmă gĕrīt iūxtāquĕ fĕrī lătŭs Hīppŏmĕdōntīs

blāndă gĕnās vōcēmquĕ vĕnīt, tămĕn īllĕ lŏquēntīs155

ēxtĭmŭīt vūltūs ādmīrātūrquĕ tĭmōrēm.

Īlla aūtēm lăcrĭmāns "Tū nūnc" ăĭt "īnclĭtĕ, frūstrā

ēxănĭmēs sŏcĭōs ĭnhŭmātăquĕ cōrpŏră Grāiūm

- scīlĭcĕt īs nōbīs mĕtŭs, aūt iām cūră sĕpūlcrī? -

prōtĕgĭs; īpsĕ mănū Tўrĭā tĭbĭ cāptŭs Ădrāstūs160

rāptātūr, tēque ānte ălĭōs, tē vōcĕ mănūquĕ

īnvŏcăt; heū quālēm lāpsāre īn sānguĭnĕ vīdī,

ēxūtūm cānōs lăcĕrō dĭădēmătĕ crīnēs!

Nēc prŏcŭl hīnc, ādvērte ŏcŭlōs: ŭbĭ plūrĭmŭs īllĕ

pūlvĭs, ŭbi īllĕ glŏbūs". Paūlūm stĕtĭt ānxĭŭs hērōs165

lībrābātquĕ mĕtūs; prĕmĭt āspĕră vīrgŏ: "Quĭd haērēs?

īmŭs? ăn hī rĕtĭnēnt mānēs, ēt vīlĭŏr īllĕ

quī sŭpĕrēst?" Mĭsĕrūm sŏcĭīs ŏpŭs ēt sŭă māndāt

proēlĭa ĕt ūnănĭmī vādīt dēsērtŏr ămīcī,

rēspĭcĭēns tămĕn ēt rĕvŏcēnt sī fōrtĕ părātūs.170

Īndĕ lĕgēns tūrbātă trŭcīs vēstīgĭă dīvaē

hūc īllūc frūstrā rŭĭt āvĭŭs, īmpĭă dōnēc

Eūmĕnĭs ēx ŏcŭlīs rēiēctā caērŭlă pārmā

fūgĭt ĕt īnnŭmĕrī gălĕām rūpērĕ cĕrāstaē.

Āspĭcĭt īnfēlīx dīscūssā nūbĕ quĭētōs175

Īnăchĭdās cūrrūmquĕ nĭhīl mĕtŭēntĭs Ădrāstī.

Ēt Tўrĭī iām cōrpŭs hăbēnt, iām gaūdĭă māgnaē

tēstāntūr vōcēs, vīctōrque ŭlŭlātŭs ădērrāt

aūrĭbŭs ōccūltōquĕ fĕrīt praēcōrdĭă lūctū.

Dūcĭtŭr hōstīlī - prō dūră pŏtēntĭă fātī! -180

Tŷdeūs īllĕ sŏlō, mŏdŏ cuī Thēbānă sĕquēntī

āgmĭnă, sīvĕ grădūs seū frēna ēffūndĕrĕt, īngēns

līmĕs ŭtrīmquĕ dătūs; nūmquam ārmă mănūsquĕ quĭēscūnt

nūllă vĭrī fĕrĭtās: iŭvăt ōră rĭgēntĭă lētō

ēt fōrmīdātōs īmpūnĕ lăcēssĕrĕ vūltūs.185

Hīc ămŏr, hōc ūnā tĭmĭdī fōrtēsquĕ sĕquūntūr

nōbĭlĭtārĕ mănūs, īnfēctăquĕ sānguĭnĕ tēlă

cōniŭgĭbūs sērvānt pārvīsque ōstēndĕrĕ nātīs.

Sīc ŭbĭ Maūră dĭū pŏpŭlātūm rūră lĕōnēm,

quēm prōptēr claūsīquĕ grĕgēs vĭgĭlāntquĕ măgīstrī,190

pāstōrūm lāssaē dēbēllāvērĕ cŏhōrtēs:

gaūdĕt ăgēr, māgnō sŭbĕūnt clāmōrĕ cŏlōnī,

praēcērpūntquĕ iŭbās īmmānĭăque ōră rĕclūdūnt

dāmnăquĕ cōmmĕmŏrānt, seū iām sūb cūlmĭnĕ fīxūs

ēxcŭbăt, āntīquō seū pēndēt glōrĭă lūcō.195

Āt fĕrŭs Hīppŏmĕdōn quāmquām iām sēntĭt ĭnānĕ

aūxĭlĭum ēt sērām rāptō prō cōrpŏrĕ pūgnām,

īt tămĕn ēt caēcūm rŏtăt īrrĕvŏcābĭlĭs ēnsēm,

vīx sŏcĭōs hōstēsquĕ, nĭhīl dūm tārdĕt ĕūntēm,

sēcērnēns; sēd caēdĕ nŏvā iām lūbrĭcă tēllūs200

ārmăquĕ sēmĭnĕcēsquĕ vĭrī cūrrūsquĕ sŏlūtī

īmpĕdĭūnt laēvūmquĕ fĕmūr, quōd cūspĭdĕ fīxūm

rēgĭs Ĕchīŏnĭī, sēd dīssĭmŭlāvĕrăt ārdēns,

sīve ĭbĭ nēscĭĕrāt. maēstūm vĭdĕt Hōplĕă tāndēm;

Tŷdĕŏs hīc māgnī fīdūs cŏmĕs ēt mŏdŏ frūstrā205

ārmĭgĕr ālĭpĕdēm prōnā cērvīcĕ tĕnēbāt

fātōrum īgnārūm dŏmĭnī sōlūmquĕ frĕmēntēm,

quōd văcĕt, īnque ăcĭēs aūdēntĭŏr īllĕ pĕdēstrēs.

Hūnc āspērnāntēm tŭmĭdō nŏvă pōndĕră tērgō

- ūnām quīppĕ mănūm dŏmĭtīs ēxpērtŭs ăb ānnīs -210

cōrrĭpĭt ādfātūrquĕ: "Quĭd ō nŏvă fātă rĕcūsās,

īnfēlīx sŏnĭpēs? Nūmquām tĭbĭ dūlcĕ sŭpērbī

rēgĭs ŏnūs; nōn iam Aētōlō sătĭābĕrĕ cāmpō

gaūdēntēmquĕ iŭbām pēr stāgna Ăchĕlōĭă sōlvēs.

quōd sŭpĕrēst, cārōs, ī, sāltem ūlcīscĕrĕ mānēs215

aūt sĕquĕre ēxtōrrēm, nē tū quŏquĕ laēsĕrĭs ūmbrās

cāptīvūs tŭmĭdūmque ĕquĭtēm pōst Tŷdĕă pōrtēs".

Aūdīsse āccēnsūmquĕ pŭtēs: hōc fūlmĭnĕ rāptūm

ābstŭlĭt ēt sĭmĭlēs mĭnŭs īndīgnātŭr hăbēnās.

sēmĭfĕr āĕrĭā tālīs Cēntaūrŭs ăb Ōssā220

dēsĭlĭt īn vāllēs, īpsūm nĕmŏra āltă trĕmēscūnt,

cāmpŭs ĕquūm. Trĕpĭdī cūrsū glŏmĕrāntŭr ănhēlō

Lābdăcĭdaē, prĕmĭt īllĕ sŭpēr, nĕcŏpīnăquĕ fērrō

cōllă mĕtēns līnquīt trūncōs pōst tērgă cădēntēs.

Vēntum ĕrăt ād flŭvĭūm; sŏlĭtō tūnc plēnĭŏr ālveō225

- sīgnă mălī - māgnā sē mōle Īsmēnŏs ăgēbāt.

Īllă brĕvīs rĕquĭēs, īllō tĭmĭda āgmĭnă lāssām

dē cāmpīs ēgērĕ fŭgām; stŭpĕt hōspĭtă bēllī

ūndă vĭrōs clārāque ārmōrum īncēndĭtŭr ūmbrā.

Īnsĭlŭērĕ vădīs, māgnōquĕ frăgōrĕ sŏlūtūs230

āggĕr ĕt ādvērsaē lătŭērūnt pūlvĕrĕ rīpaē.

īllĕ quŏque hōstīlēs sāltū māiōrĕ pĕr ūndās

īrrŭĭt āttŏnĭtīs - lōngūm dīmīttĕre hăbēnās -,

sīcŭt ĕrāt, tāntūm vĭrĭdī dēfīxă părūmpēr

caēspĭtĕ pōpŭlĕō cōmmēndāt spīcŭlă trūncō.235

Tūnc vēro ēxănĭmēs trādūnt răpĭēntĭbŭs ūltrō

ārmă vădīs: ălĭī dēmīssā cāssĭdĕ, quāntūm

tēndĕrĕ cōnātūs ănĭmaē vălŭērĕ, sŭb ūndīs

tūrpĕ lătēnt; mūltī flŭvĭūm trānsmīttĕrĕ nāndō

ādgrēssī, sēd vīnclă tĕnēnt lătĕrīquĕ rĕpūgnāt240

bāltĕŭs ēt mădĭdūs dēdūcīt pēctŏră thōrāx.

Quālīs caērŭlĕīs tŭmĭdō sūb gūrgĭtĕ tērrōr

pīscĭbŭs, ārcānī quŏtĭēns dēvēxă prŏfūndī

scrūtāntēm dēlphīnă vĭdēnt; fŭgĭt ōmnĭs ĭn īmōs

tūrbă lăcūs vĭrĭdīsquĕ mĕtū stīpāntŭr ĭn ālgās:245

nēc prĭŭs ēmērsī, quām sūmmă pĕr aēquŏră flēxūs

ēmĭcĕt ēt vīsīs mālīt cērtārĕ cărīnīs:

tālĭs ăgīt spārsōs mĕdĭīsque īn flūctĭbŭs hērōs

frēnă mănū părĭtēr, părĭtēr rĕgĭt ārmă, pĕdūmquĕ

rēmĭgĭō sūstēntăt ĕquūs; cōnsuētăquĕ cāmpō250

flūctŭăt ēt mērsās lĕvĭs ūngŭlă quaērĭt hărēnās.

stērnĭt Ĭōnă Chrŏmīs, Chrŏmĭn Āntĭphŏs, Āntĭphŏn Hŷpseūs,

Hŷpseūs Āstўăgēn ēvāsūrūmquĕ rĕlīctō

āmnĕ Lĭnūm, nī fātă vĕtēnt ēt stāmĭnĕ prīmō

āblātūm tēllūrĕ mŏrī. Prĕmĭt āgmĭnă Thēbēs255

Hīppŏmĕdōn, tūrbāt Dănăōs Āsōpĭŭs Hŷpseūs:

āmnĭs ŭtrūmquĕ tĭmēt, crāssō vădă mūtăt ŭtērquĕ

sānguĭne, ĕt ē flŭvĭō neūtrī fātālĕ rĕvērtī.

iām lăcĕrī prōnīs vōlvūntūr cūrsĭbŭs ārtūs

ōrăque ĕt ābscīsaē rĕdĕūnt īn pēctŏră dēxtraē,260

spīcŭlă iām clĭpĕōsquĕ lĕvēs ārcūsquĕ rĕmīssōs

ūndă vĕhīt, gălĕāsquĕ vĕtānt dēscēndĕrĕ crīstaē:

sūmmă văgīs lātē stērnūntūr flūmĭnă tēlīs,

īmă vĭrīs; īllīc lūctāntūr cōrpŏră lētō,

ēfflāntīsque ănĭmās rētrō prĕmĭt ōbvĭŭs āmnīs.265

Flūmĭnĕām răpĭēntĕ vădō pŭĕr Ārgĭpŭs ūlmūm

prēndĕrăt, īnsīgnīs ŭmĕrōs fĕrŭs ēnsĕ Mĕnoēceūs

āmpŭtăt; īllĕ cădēns, nōndūm cōnāmĭne ădēmptō,

trūncŭs ĭn ēxcēlsīs spēctāt sŭă brācchĭă rāmīs.

Hŷpsĕŏs hāstă Tăgēn īngēntī vūlnĕrĕ mērsīt,270

īllĕ mănēt fūndō, rĕdĭīt prō cōrpŏrĕ sānguīs.

Dēsĭlŭīt rīpīs frātrēm rāptūrŭs Ăgēnōr

heū! mĭsĕr ēt tĕnŭīt, sēd saūcĭŭs īllĕ lĕvāntēm

dēgrăvăt āmplēxū: pŏtĕrāt rĕsŏlūtŭs Ăgēnōr

ēmērsīssĕ vădīs, pĭgŭīt sĭnĕ frātrĕ rĕvērtī.275

Sūrgēntēm dēxtrā Căpĕtūm vūlnūsquĕ mĭnāntēm

sōrbēbāt răpĭdūs nōdātō gūrgĭtĕ vērtēx;

iām vūltū, iām crīnĕ lătēt, iām dēxtĕră nūsquām,

ūltĭmŭs ābrēptās ēnsīs dēscēndĭt ĭn ūndās.

Mīllĕ mŏdīs lētī mĭsĕrōs mōrs ūnă fătīgāt.280

Īndŭĭt ā tērgō Mўcălēsĭă cūspĭs Ăgŷrtēn;

rēspēxīt: nūsquam aūctŏr ĕrāt, sēd cōncĭtă trāctū

gūrgĭtĭs ēffŭgĭēns īnvēnĕrăt hāstă crŭōrēm.

Fīgĭtŭr ēt vălĭdōs sŏnĭpēs Aētōlŭs ĭn ārmōs,

ēxsĭlŭītque āltē vī mōrtĭs ĕt āĕră pēndēns285

vērbĕrăt; haūd tămĕn ēst tūrbātūs flūmĭnĕ dūctōr,

sēd mĭsĕrātŭr ĕquūm, māgnōque ēx vūlnĕrĕ tēlūm

ēxŭĭt īpsĕ gĕmēns ēt spōntĕ rĕmīsĭt hăbēnās.

īndĕ pĕdēs rĕpĕtīt pūgnās grēssūquĕ mănūquĕ

cērtĭŏr, ēt sēgnēm Nŏmĭūm fōrtēmquĕ Mĭmāntă290

Thēbaēūmquĕ Lĭchān Ānthēdŏnĭūmquĕ Lўcētūm

cōntĭnŭāt fērrō gĕmĭnīsque ē frātrĭbŭs ūnūm

Thēspĭădēn; ĕădēm pōscēntī fātă Pănēmō:

"Vīvĕ sŭpērstĕs" ăīt "dīraēque ād moēnĭă Thēbēs

sōlŭs ăbī, mĭsĕrōs nōn dēcēptūrĕ părēntēs.295

Dī bĕnĕ, quōd pūgnās răpĭdūm dēiēcĭt ĭn āmnēm

sānguĭnĕā Bēllōnă mănū: trăhĭt ūndă tĭmēntēs

gūrgĭtĕ gēntīlī, nūdā nēc flēbĭlĭs ūmbrā

strīdēbīt vēstrōs Tŷdeūs ĭnhŭmātŭs ăd īgnēs;

ībĭtĭs aēquŏrĕīs crūdēlĭă pābŭlă mōnstrīs,300

īllūm tērră vĕhīt sŭăque īn prīmōrdĭă sōlvēt".

Sīc prĕmĭt ādvērsōs ĕt ăcērbāt vūlnĕră dīctīs

āc nūnc ēnsĕ fŭrīt, nūnc tēlă nătāntĭă cāptāns

īngĕrĭt: īnnūptaē cŏmĭtēm Thērōnă Dĭānaē,

rūrĭcŏlāmquĕ Gўān cūm flūctĭvăgō | Ērgīnō,305

īntōnsūmque Hērsēn cōntēmptōrēmquĕ prŏfūndī

Crēthĕă, nīmbōsām quī saēpĕ Căphērĕŏs ārcēm

Eūbŏĭcāsque hĭĕmēs pārvā trānsfūgĕrăt ālnō.

Quīd nōn fātă quĕānt? Trāiēctūs pēctŏră fērrō

vōlvĭtŭr īn flūctūs, heū cūiūs naūfrăgŭs ūndaē!310

Tē quŏquĕ sūblīmī trānāntēm flūmĭnă cūrrū,

dūm sŏcĭōs, Phārsālĕ, pĕtīs, rĕsŭpīnăt ădēmptīs

Dōrĭcă cūspĭs ĕquīs; īllōs vĭŏlēntĭă saēvī

gūrgĭtĭs īnfēlīxquĕ iŭgī cōncōrdĭă mērgīt.

Nūnc ăgĕ, quīs tŭmĭdīs māgnum īnclīnāvĕrĭt ūndīs315

Hīppŏmĕdōntă lăbōr, cūr īpse ēxcītŭs ĭn ārmă

Īsmēnōs, dōctaē nōsse īndūlgētĕ sŏrōrēs:

vēstrum ŏpŭs īrĕ rĕtro ēt sĕnĭūm dēpēllĕrĕ fāmaē.

Gaūdēbāt Faūnō Nŷmphāque Īsmēnĭdĕ nātūs

mātērnīs bēllārĕ tĕnēr Crēnaēŭs ĭn ūndīs,320

Crēnaēūs, cuī prīmă dĭēs īn gūrgĭtĕ fīdō

ēt nātālĕ vădum ēt vĭrĭdēs cūnābŭlă rīpaē.

Ērgŏ rătūs nĭhĭl Ēlўsĭās ĭbĭ pōssĕ Sŏrōrēs,

laētŭs ădūlāntēm nūnc hōc nūnc mārgĭne ăb īllō

trānsĭt ăvūm, lĕvăt ūndă grădūs, seū dēflŭŭs īllĕ,325

sīve ōblīquŭs ĕāt; nēc cūm sŭbĭt ōbvĭŭs, ūllās

stāgnă dĕdērĕ mŏrās părĭtērquĕ rĕvērtĭtŭr āmnīs.

Nōn Ānthēdŏnĭī tĕgĭt hōspĭtĭs īnguĭnă pōntūs

blāndĭŏr, aēstīvō nēc sē măgĭs aēquŏrĕ Trītōn

ēxsĕrĭt, aūt cāraē fēstīnŭs ăd ōscŭlă mātrīs330

cūm rĕmĕāt tārdūmquĕ fĕrīt dēlphīnă Pălaēmōn.

Ārmă dĕcēnt ŭmĕrōs, clĭpĕūsque īnsīgnĭs ĕt aūrō

lūcĭdŭs Āŏnĭaē caēlātŭr ŏrīgĭnĕ gēntīs.

Sīdŏnĭs hīc blāndī pēr cāndĭdă tērgă iŭvēncī,

iām sēcūră mărīs, tĕnĕrīs iām cōrnŭă pālmīs335

nōn tĕnĕt, ēxtrēmīs ādlūdūnt aēquŏră plāntīs;

īrĕ pŭtēs clĭpĕō flūctūsquĕ sĕcārĕ iŭvēncūm.

Ādiŭvăt ūndă fĭdēm pĕlăgō nēc dīscŏlŏr āmnīs.

Tūnc aūdāx părĭtēr tēlīs ēt vōcĕ prŏtērvā

Hīppŏmĕdōntă pĕtīt: "Nōn haēc fēcūndă vĕnēnō340

Lērnă, nĕc Hērcŭlĕīs haūstaē sērpēntĭbŭs ūndaē:

sācrum āmnē, sācrum - ēt mĭsĕr ēxpĕrĭērĕ! - dĕūmquĕ

āltrīcēs īrrūmpĭs ăquās". nĭhĭl īllĕ, sĕd ībāt

cōmmĭnŭs; ōppŏsŭīt cŭmŭlō sē dēnsĭŏr āmnīs

tārdāvītquĕ mănūm, vūlnūs tămĕn īllă rĕtēntūm345

pērtŭlĭt ātque ănĭmaē tōta īn pĕnĕtrālĭă sēdīt.

Hōrrŭĭt ūndă nĕfās, sīlvaē flēvīstĭs ŭtraēquĕ,

ēt grăvĭōră căvaē sŏnuērūnt mūrmŭră rīpaē.

Ūltĭmŭs īllĕ sŏnūs mŏrĭbūndo ēmērsĭt ăb ōrĕ:

"Mātĕr!" Ĭn hānc mĭsĕrī cĕcĭdērūnt flūmĭnă vōcēm.350

Āt gĕnĕtrīx coētū glaūcārūm cīnctă sŏrōrūm

prōtĭnŭs īctă mălō vĭtrĕā dē vāllĕ sŏlūtīs

ēxsĭlŭīt fŭrĭbūndă cŏmīs, āc vērbĕrĕ crēbrō

ōrăquĕ pēctŏrăque ēt vĭrĭdēm scĭdĭt hōrrĭdă vēstēm.

Ūtque ĕrŭpīt āquīs ĭtĕrūmque ĭtĕrūmquĕ trĕmēntī355

īngĕmĭnāt "Crēnaēĕ" sŏnō: nūsquam īllĕ, sĕd īndēx

dēsŭpĕr, ā mĭsĕraē nĭmĭūm nōscēndă părēntī,

pārmă nătāt; iăcĕt īpsĕ prŏcūl, quā mīxtă sŭprēmūm

Īsmēnōn prīmī mūtānt cōnfīnĭă pōntī.

flūctĭvăgām sīc saēpĕ dŏmūm mădĭdōsquĕ pĕnātēs360

Ālcўŏnē dēsērtă gĕmīt, cūm pīgnŏră saēvūs

Aūstĕr ĕt ālgēntīs răpŭīt Thĕtĭs īnvĭdă nīdōs.

mērgĭtŭr ōrba ĭtĕrūm, pĕnĭtūsque ōccūltă sŭb ūndīs

līmĭtĕ nōn ūnō, lĭquĭdūm quā sūbtĕr ĕūntī

lūcĕt ĭtēr, mĭsĕrī nēquīquām fūnĕră nātī365

vēstīgāt, plāngītquĕ tămēn; saēpe hōrrĭdŭs āmnīs

ōbstăt, ĕt ōbdūctō cālīgānt sānguĭnĕ vīsūs.

īllă tămēn praēcēps īn tēla ōffēndĭt ĕt ēnsēs

scrūtātūrquĕ mănū gălĕās ēt prōnă rĕclīnāt

cōrpŏră; nēc pōntō sūbmōta īntrābăt ămārām370

Dōrĭdă, pōssēssūm dōnēc iām flūctĭbŭs āltīs

Nērĕĭdūm mĭsĕrātă cŏhōrs ād pēctŏră mātrīs

īmpŭlĭt. Īllă mănū ceū vīvum āmplēxă rĕpōrtāt

īnstērnītquĕ tŏrīs rīpārum ātque ūmĭdă sīccāt

mōllĭbŭs ōră cŏmīs, ātque haēc ŭlŭlātĭbŭs āddīt:375

"Hōc tĭbĭ sēmĭdĕī mūnūs trĭbŭērĕ părēntēs

nēc mōrtālĭs ăvūs? Sīc nōstro īn gūrgĭtĕ rēgnās?

Mītĭŏr haēc mĭsĕrō dīscōrs ălĭēnăquĕ tēllūs,

mītĭŏr ūndă mărīs, quaē iūxtā flūmĭnă cōrpūs

rēttŭlĭt ēt mĭsĕrām vīsa ēxspēctāssĕ părēntēm.380

hīnĕ mĕī vūltūs? haēc tōrvī lūmĭnă pātrīs?

hī crīnēs ūndāntĭs ăvī? tū nōbĭlĕ quōndām

ūndārūm nĕmŏrūmquĕ dĕcūs, quō sōspĭtĕ māiōr

dīva ēt nŷmphārūm lōngē rēgīnă fĕrēbār.

Heū | ŭbĭnam īllĕ frĕquēns mŏdŏ cīrcā līmĭnă mātrīs385

āmbĭtŭs ōrāntēsquĕ tĭbī sērvīrĕ Năpaēaē?

cūr nūnc tē, mĕlĭūs saēvō mānsūrĕ prŏfūndō,

āmplēxū mĭsĕrō tŭmŭlīs, Crēnaēĕ, rĕpōrtō

nōn mĭhĭ? Nēc tāntaē pŭdĕt heū mĭsĕrētquĕ rŭīnaē,

dūrĕ părēns? Quaē te ālta ĕt ĭnēlūctābĭlĭs īmō390

cōndĭdĭt āmnĕ pălūs, quō nēc tām crūdă nĕpōtīs

fūnĕră, nēc nōstrī vălĕānt pērrūmpĕrĕ plānctūs?

ēccĕ fŭrīt iāctātquĕ tŭō se īn gūrgĭtĕ māiōr

Hīppŏmĕdōn, īllūm rīpaēque ūndaēquĕ trĕmēscūnt,

īllĭŭs īmpūlsū nōstrūm bĭbĭt ūndă crŭōrēm:395

tū pĭgĕr ēt trŭcĭbūs făcĭlīs sērvīrĕ Pĕlāsgīs.

Ād cĭnĕrēs sāltēm sūprēmăquĕ iūstă tŭōrūm,

saēvĕ, vĕnī, nōn hīc sōlum āccēnsūrĕ nĕpōtēm".

Hīs mīscēt plānctūs mūltūmque īndīgnă crŭēntāt

pēctŏră, caērŭlĕaē rĕfĕrūnt lāmēntă sŏrōrēs:400

quālĭtĕr Īsthmĭăcō nōndūm Nērēĭdă pōrtū

Leūcŏthĕān plānxīssĕ fĕrūnt, dūm pēctŏre ănhēlō

frīgĭdŭs īn mātrēm saēvūm mărĕ rēspŭĭt īnfāns.

Āt pătĕr ārcānō rĕsĭdēns Īsmēnŏs ĭn āntrō,

ūnde aūraē nūbēsquĕ bĭbūnt ātque īmbrĭfĕr ārcūs405

pāscĭtŭr ēt Tўrĭōs mĕlĭōr vĕnĭt ānnŭs ĭn āgrōs,

ūt lāmēntă prŏcūl, quāmquām strĕpĭt īpsĕ, nŏvōsquĕ

āccēpīt nātaē gĕmĭtūs, lĕvăt āspĕră mūscō

cōllă grăvēmquĕ gĕlū crīnēm, cĕcĭdītquĕ sŏlūtă

pīnŭs ădūltă mănū dīmīssăquĕ vōlvĭtŭr ūrnă.410

Īllūm pēr rīpās ānnōsō scrūpĕă līmō

ōra ēxsērtāntēm sīlvaē flŭvĭīquĕ mĭnōrēs

mīrāntūr: tāntūs tŭmĭdō dē gūrgĭtĕ sūrgīt,

spūmōsum āttōllēns ăpĭcēm lāpsūquĕ sŏnōrō

pēctŏră caērŭlĕaē rīvīs mānāntĭă bārbaē.415

Ōbvĭă cōgnātōs gĕmĭtūs cāsūmquĕ nĕpōtīs

Nŷmphārūm dŏcĕt ūnă pătrēm mōnstrātquĕ crŭēntūm

aūctōrēm dēxtrāmquĕ prĕmīt: stĕtĭt ārdŭŭs āltō

āmnĕ, mănūquĕ gĕnās ēt nēxă vĭrēntĭbŭs ūlvīs

cōrnŭă cōncŭtĭēns sīc tūrbĭdŭs ōrĕ prŏfūndō420

īncĭpĭt: "Hūncnĕ mĭhī, sŭpĕrūm rēgnātŏr, hŏnōrēm,

quōd tŏtĭēns hōspēsquĕ tŭīs ēt cōnscĭŭs āctīs

- nēc mĕmŏrārĕ tĭmōr - fālsā nūnc īmprŏbă frōntĕ

cōrnŭă, nūnc vĕtĭtām cūrrūs dēiūngĕrĕ Phoēbēn,

dōtālēsquĕ rŏgōs dēcēptăquĕ fūlmĭnă vīdī425

praēcĭpŭōsque ālvī nātōrum? Ān vīlĭs ĕt īllīs

grātĭa? Ăd hūnc cērtē rēpsīt Tīrŷnthĭŭs āmnēm,

hāc tĭbĭ flāgrāntēm Brŏmĭūm rēstīnxĭmŭs ūndā.

āspĭcĕ quās flŭvĭō caēdēs, quaē fūnĕră pōrtēm,

cōntĭnŭūs tēlīs ălĭōque ădŏpērtŭs ăcērvō.430

Ōmnĕ vădūm bēllī sĕrĭēs tĕnĕt, ōmnĭs ănhēlāt

ūndă nĕfās, sūbtērque ănĭmaē sūprāquĕ rĕcēntēs

ērrānt ēt gĕmĭnās iūngūnt cālīgĭnĕ rīpās.

Īlle ĕgŏ clāmātūs sācrīs ŭlŭlātĭbŭs āmnīs,

quī mōllēs thŷrsōs Bācchēăquĕ cōrnŭă pūrō435

fōntĕ lăvārĕ fĕrōr, stīpātūs caēdĭbŭs ārtās

īn frĕtă quaērŏ vĭās; nōn Strŷmŏnŏs īmpĭă tāntō

stāgnă crŭōrĕ nătānt, nōn spūmĭfĕr āltĭŭs Hēbrūs

Grādīvō bēllāntĕ rŭbēt. Nēc te ādmŏnĕt āltrīx

ūndă tŭāsquĕ mănūs, iām prīdem ōblītĕ părēntūm440

Lībĕr? Ăn Ēōūs mĕlĭūs pācātŭr Hўdāspēs?

āt tū, quī tŭmĭdūs spŏlĭīs ēt sānguĭnĕ gaūdēs

īnsōntīs pŭĕrī, nōn hōc ēx āmnĕ pŏtēntēm

Īnăchŏn aūt saēvās vīctōr rĕvĕhērĕ Mўcēnās,

nī mōrtālĭs ĕgo ēt tĭbĭ dūctŭs ăb aēthĕrĕ sānguīs".445

Sīc ăĭt īnfrēndēns ēt spōntĕ fŭrēntĭbŭs ūndīs

sīgnă dĕdīt: mīttīt gĕlĭdūs mōntānă Cĭthaērōn

aūxĭlĭa āntīquāsquĕ nĭvēs ēt pābŭlă brūmaē

īrĕ iŭbēt; frātēr tăcĭtās Āsōpŏs ĕūntī

cōncĭlĭāt vīrēs ĕt hĭūlcīs flūmĭnă vēnīs450

sūggĕrĭt. Īpsĕ căvaē scrūtātūr vīscĕră tērraē

stāgnăquĕ tōrpēntīsquĕ lăcūs pīgrāsquĕ pălūdēs

ēxcŭtĭt, ātque ăvĭdōs tōllēns ād sīdĕră vūltūs

ūmēntīs nĕbŭlās ēxhaūrĭt ĕt āĕră sīccāt.

Iāmquĕ sŭpēr rīpās ūtrōque ēxstāntĭŏr ībāt455

āggĕrĕ, iām mĕdĭūm mŏdŏ quī sŭpĕrāvĕrăt āmnēm

Hīppŏmĕdōn īntāctŭs ăquīs ŭmĕrōsquĕ mănūsquĕ,

mīrātūr crēvīssĕ vădūm sēsēquĕ mĭnōrēm.

Hīnc ātque hīnc tŭmĭdī flūctūs ănĭmōsăquĕ sūrgīt

tēmpēstās īnstār pĕlăgī, cūm Plīădăs haūrīt460

aūt nīgrūm trĕpĭdīs īmpīngĭt Ŏrīŏnă naūtīs.

nōn sĕcŭs aēquŏrĕō iāctāt Teūmēsĭŭs āmnīs

Hīppŏmĕdōntă sălō, sēmpērque ūmbōnĕ sĭnīstrō

tōllĭtŭr ēt clĭpĕūm nīgrāntĕ sŭpērvĕnĭt aēstū

spūmĕŭs āssūltāns, frāctāquĕ rĕfūndĭtŭr ūndā465

ēt cŭmŭlō māiōrĕ rĕdīt; nēc mōlĕ lĭquēntī

cōntēntūs cārpīt pūtrēs sērvāntĭă rīpās

ārbūsta ānnōsāsquĕ trăbēs ēiēctăquĕ fūndō

sāxă rŏtāt. Stāt pūgna īmpār āmnīsquĕ vĭrīquĕ,

īndīgnāntĕ dĕō; nĕc ĕnīm dāt tērgă nĕc ūllīs470

frāngĭtŭr īllĕ mĭnīs, vĕnĭēntēsque ōbvĭŭs ūndās

īntrăt ĕt ōbiēctā dīspēllīt flūmĭnă pārmā.

Stānt tērrā fŭgĭēntĕ grădūs, ēt pōplĭtĕ tēnsō

lūbrĭcă sāxă tĕnēt, gĕnĭbūsque ōbnīxŭs ĕt haērēns

sūbrŭtă fāllācī sērvāt vēstīgĭă līmō,475

sīc ĕtĭam īncrĕpĭtāns: "Ūnde haēc, Īsmēnĕ, rĕpēntĕ

īră tĭbī? quōve hās trāxīstī gūrgĭtĕ vīrēs,

īmbēllī fămŭlātĕ dĕō sōlūmquĕ crŭōrēm

fēmĭnĕīs ēxpērtĕ chŏrīs, cūm Bācchĭcă mūgīt

būxŭs ĕt īnsānaē măcŭlānt trĭĕtērĭdă mātrēs?"480

Dīxĕrăt; ātque īllī sēsē dĕŭs ōbtŭlĭt ūltrō

tūrbĭdŭs īmbrĕ gĕnās ēt nūbĕ nătāntĭs hărēnaē,

nēc saēvīt dīctīs, trūncā sēd pēctŏră quērcū

tēr quătĕr ōppŏsĭtī, quāntum īră dĕūsquĕ vălēbāt,

īmpŭlĭt āssūrgēns: tāndēm vēstīgĭă flēxīt485

ēxcūssūmquĕ mănū tĕgĭmēn, cōnvērsăquĕ lēntē

tērgă rĕfērt. īnstānt ūndaē sĕquĭtūrquĕ lăbāntēm

āmnĭs ŏvāns; nēc nōn sāxīs ēt grāndĭnĕ fērrī

dēsŭpĕr īnfēstānt Tўrĭī gĕmĭnōquĕ rĕpēllūnt

āggĕrĕ. quīd făcĭāt bēllīs ōbsēssŭs ĕt ūndīs?490

Nēc fŭgă iām mĭsĕrō, nēc māgnaē cōpĭă mōrtīs.

Stābāt grāmĭnĕaē prōdūctă crĕpīdĭnĕ rīpaē

ūndārum āc tērraē dŭbĭō, sĕd ămīcĭŏr ūndīs,

frāxĭnŭs īngēntīquĕ vădūm pōssēdĕrăt ūmbrā.

Hūiŭs ŏpēm - nām quā tērrās īnvādĕrĕt? - ūncā495

ārrĭpŭīt dēxtrā: nēc pērtŭlĭt īllă trăhēntēm;

sēd māiōrĕ sŭpēr, quām stābāt, pōndĕrĕ vīctă

sōlvĭtŭr, ēt quā stāgnă sŭbīt rādīcĕ quĭbūsquĕ

ārēntēm mōrdēbăt hŭmūm dīmīssă sŭpērnē

īniēcīt sēsē trĕpĭdō rīpāmquĕ, nĕc ūltrā500

pāssă vĭrūm sŭbĭtaē vāllāvīt pōntĕ rŭīnaē.

Hūc ūndaē cŏĕūnt, ĕt ĭnēlūctābĭlĕ caēnō

vērtĭcĭbūsquĕ căvīs sīdīt crēscītquĕ bărāthrūm.

Iāmque ŭmĕrōs, iām cōllă dŭcīs sĭnŭōsă vŏrāgŏ

cīrcŭĭt: hīc dēmūm vīctūs sūprēmă fătērī505

ēxclāmāt: "Flŭviŏnē - pūdēt! -, Mārs īnclĭtĕ, mērgīs

hānc ănĭmām, sēgnēsquĕ lăcūs ēt stāgnă sŭbībō

ceū pĕcŏrīs cūstōs, sŭbĭtī tōrrēntĭs ĭnīquīs

īntērcēptŭs ăquīs? Ădĕōne ōccūmbĕrĕ fērrō

nōn mĕrŭī?" Tāndēm prĕcĭbūs cōmmōtă Tŏnāntēm510

Iūnŏ sŭbīt: "Quōnām mĭsĕrōs, sătŏr īnclĭtĕ dīvūm,

Īnăchĭdās, quōnam ūsquĕ prĕmēs? Iām Pāllăs ĕt ōdīt

Tŷdĕă, iām rāptō tăcŭērūnt aūgŭrĕ Dēlphī:

ēn mĕŭs Hīppŏmĕdōn, cuī gēntĭs ŏrīgŏ Mўcēnaē

Ārgŏlĭcīquĕ lărēs nūmēnque ānte ōmnĭă Iūnŏ515

- sīc ĕgŏ fīdă mĕīs? -, pĕlăgī crūdēlĭbŭs ībīt

praēdă fĕrīs? cērtē tŭmŭlōs sūprēmăquĕ vīctīs

iūstă dăbās; ŭbĭ Cēcrŏpĭaē pōst proēlĭă flāmmaē,

Thēsĕŏs īgnĭs ŭbi ēst?" Nōn spērnīt cōniŭgĭs aēquās

īllĕ prĕcēs, lĕvĭtērque ŏcŭlōs ād moēnĭă Cādmī520

rēttŭlĭt, ēt vīsō sēdērūnt flūmĭnă nūtū.

īllĭŭs ēxsānguēs ŭmĕri ēt pērfōssă pătēscūnt

pēctŏră: ceū vēntīs āltē cum ēlātă rĕsēdīt

tēmpēstās, sūrgūnt scŏpŭlī quaēsītăquĕ naūtīs

tērra, ĕt ăb īnfēstīs dēscēndūnt aēquŏră sāxīs.525

Quīd rīpās tĕnŭīssĕ iŭvāt? Prĕmĭt ūndĭquĕ nīmbō

tēlōrūm Phoēnīssă cŏhōrs, nēc tēgmĭnă mēmbrīs

ūlla, ōmnīsquĕ pătēt lētō; tūnc vūlnĕră mānānt,

quīquĕ sŭb āmnĕ dĭū stŭpŭīt crŭŏr, āĕrĕ nūdō

sōlvĭtŭr ēt tĕnŭēs vēnārūm lāxăt hĭātūs,530

īncērtīquĕ lăbānt ūndārum ē frīgŏrĕ grēssūs.

Prōcūmbīt, Gĕtĭcō quālīs prōcūmbĭt ĭn Haēmō

seū Bŏrĕaē fŭrĭīs pūtrī seū rōbŏrĕ quērcūs

caēlō mīxtă cŏmās, īngēntēmque āĕră lāxāt:

īllām nūtāntēm nĕmŭs ēt mōns īpsĕ trĕmēscīt,535

quā tēllūrĕ cădāt, quās ōbrŭăt ōrdĭnĕ sīlvās.

Nōn tămĕn aūt ēnsēm gălĕāmve aūdācĭă cuīquām

tāngĕrĕ; vīx crēdūnt ŏcŭlīs īngēntĭăque hōrrēnt

fūnĕra, ĕt āstrīctīs āccēdūnt cōmmĭnŭs ārmīs.

Tāndem ădĭīt Hŷpseūs tēlūmque īn mōrtĕ tĕnēntī540

ēxtrăhĭt ēt tōrvōs lāxāvīt cāssĭdĕ vūltūs;

ītquĕ pĕr Āŏnĭōs āltē mūcrōnĕ cŏrūscō

sūspēnsam ōstēntāns gălĕam ēt clāmōrĕ sŭpērbīt:

Hīc fĕrŭs Hīppŏmĕdōn, hīc fōrmīdābĭlĭs ūltōr

Tŷdĕŏs īnfāndī dēbēllātōrquĕ crŭēntī545

gūrgĭtĭs!" Āgnōvīt lōngē prēssītquĕ dŏlōrēm

māgnănĭmūs Căpăneūs, tēlūmque īmmānĕ lăcērtūm

hōrtātūr lībrāns: "Ădĕs ō mĭhĭ, dēxtĕră, tāntūm

tū praēsēns bēllīs ĕt ĭnēvītābĭlĕ nūmēn,

tē vŏcŏ, tē sōlām sŭpĕrūm cōntēmptŏr ădōrō".550

sīc ăĭt, ēt vōtī sēsē făcĭt īpsĕ pŏtēntēm.

īt trĕmĕbūnda ăbĭēs clĭpĕūm pĕr ĕt aērĕă tēxtă

lōrīcaē tāndēmque ănĭmām sūb pēctŏrĕ māgnō

dēprēndīt: rŭĭt haūd ălĭō quām cēlsă frăgōrĕ

tūrrĭs, ŭbi īnnŭmĕrōs pĕnĭtūs quāssātă pĕr īctūs555

lābĭtŭr ēffrāctāmque ăpĕrīt vīctōrĭbŭs ūrbēm.

Cuī sŭpĕr āssīstēns: "Nōn īnfĭtĭāmŭr hŏnōrēm

mōrtĭs" ăīt: "rĕfĕr hūc ŏcŭlōs, ĕgŏ vūlnĕrĭs aūctōr;

laētŭs ăbī mūltūmque ălĭīs iāctāntĭŏr ūmbrīs!"

tūnc ēnsēm gălĕāmquĕ răpīt clĭpĕūmquĕ rĕvēllīt560

īpsĭŭs; ēxănĭmūmquĕ tĕnēns sŭpĕr Hīppŏmĕdōntă

"Āccĭpe" ăīt, "sĭmŭl hōstīlēs, dūx māgnĕ, tŭāsquĕ

ēxŭvĭās, vĕnĭēt cĭnĕrī dĕcŭs ēt sŭŭs ōrdŏ

mānĭbŭs; īntĕrĕā iūstōs dūm rēddĭmŭs īgnēs,

hōc ūltōr Căpăneūs ŏpĕrīt tŭă mēmbră sĕpūlcrō".565

sīc āncēps dūrā bēllī vĭcĕ mūtŭă Grāīs

Sīdŏnĭīsquĕ sĭmūl nēctēbāt vūlnĕră Māvōrs:

hīc fĕrŭs Hīppŏmĕdōn, īllīc nōn sēgnĭŏr Hŷpseūs

flētŭr, ĕt āltērnī praēbēnt sōlācĭă lūctūs.

Trīstĭbŭs īntĕrĕā sōmnūm tūrbātă fĭgūrīs570

tōrvă săgīttĭfĕrī mātēr Tĕgĕātĭs ĕphēbī,

crīnĕ dătō pāssīm plāntīsque ēx mōrĕ sŏlūtīs,

āntĕ dĭēm gĕlĭdās ībāt Lādōnĭs ăd ūndās

pūrgātūră mălūm flŭvĭō vīvēntĕ sŏpōrēm.

Nāmquĕ pĕr āttŏnĭtās cūrārūm pōndĕrĕ nōctēs575

saēpe ēt dēlāpsās ădўtīs, quās īpsă dĭcārāt,

ēxŭvĭās, sēque īgnōtīs ērrārĕ sĕpūlcrīs

ēxtōrrēm nĕmŏrūm Drўădūmque ā plēbĕ fŭgātām,

saēpĕ nŏvōs nātī bēllō rĕdĭīssĕ trĭūmphōs,

ārmăque ĕt ālĭpĕdēm nōtūm cŏmĭtēsquĕ vĭdēbāt,580

nūmquam īpsūm, nūnc ēx ŭmĕrīs flūxīssĕ phărētrās,

ēffĭgĭēsquĕ sŭās sĭmŭlācrăquĕ nōtă crĕmārī.

Praēcĭpŭōs sĕd ĕnim īllă mĕtūs pōrtēndĕrĕ vīsāst

nōx mĭsĕraē tōtōque ērēxīt pēctŏrĕ mātrēm.

Nōtă pĕr Ārcădĭās fēlīcī rōbŏrĕ sīlvās585

quērcŭs ĕrāt, Trĭvĭaē quām dēsācrāvĕrăt īpsă

ēlēctām tūrbā nĕmŏrūm nūmēnquĕ cŏlēndō

fēcĕrăt: hīc ārcūs ēt fēssă rĕpōnĕrĕ tēlă,

ārmăquĕ cūrvă sŭum ēt văcŭōrūm tērgă lĕōnūm

fīgĕre ĕt īngēntēs aēquāntĭă cōrnŭă sīlvās.590

Vīx rāmīs lŏcŭs, āgrēstēs ădĕo ōmnĭă cīngūnt

ēxŭvĭae, ēt vĭrĭdēm fērrī nĭtŏr īmpĕdĭt ūmbrām.

Hānc, ūt fōrtĕ iŭgīs lōngō dēfēssă rĕdībāt

vēnātū, mŏdŏ rāptă fĕrōx Ĕrўmānthĭdŏs ūrsaē

ōră fĕrēns, mūltō prōscīssām vūlnĕrĕ cērnīt595

dēpŏsŭīssĕ cŏmam ēt rōrāntēs sānguĭnĕ rāmōs

ēxspīrārĕ sŏlō; quaērēntī Nŷmphă crŭēntās

Maēnădăs ātque hōstēm dīxīt saēvīssĕ Lўaēūm.

Dūm gĕmĭt ēt plānctū cīrcūmdāt pēctŭs ĭnānī,

ābrūpēre ŏcŭlī nōctēm maēstōquĕ cŭbīlī600

ēxsĭlĭt ēt fālsōs quaērīt pēr lūmĭnă flētūs.

Ērgo ŭt ĭn āmnĕ nĕfās mērsō tēr crīnĕ pĭāvīt

vērbăquĕ sōllĭcĭtās mātrūm sōlāntĭă cūrās

āddĭdĭt, ārmātaē rŭĭt ād dēlūbră Dĭānaē

rōrĕ sŭb Ēōō, nōtāsque ēx ōrdĭnĕ sīlvās605

ēt quērcūm gāvīsă vĭdēt. tūnc līmĭnă dīvaē

āstĭtĭt ēt tālī nēquīquām vōcĕ prĕcātūr:

"Vīrgŏ pŏtēns nĕmŏrūm, cūiūs nōn mōllĭă sīgnă

mīlĭtĭāmquĕ trŭcēm sēxum īndīgnātă frĕquēntō

mōrĕ nĭhīl Grāiō - nēc tē gēns āspĕră rītū610

Cōlchĭs Ămāzŏnĭaēvĕ măgīs cŏlŭērĕ cătērvaē -:

sī mĭhĭ nōn ūmquām thĭăsī lūdūsvĕ prŏtērvaē

nōctĭs ĕt, īnvīsō quāmvīs tĕmĕrātă cŭbīlī,

nōn tămĕn aūt tĕrĕtēs thŷrsōs aūt mōllĭă gēssī

pēnsă, sĕd īn tĕtrĭcīs ēt pōst cōnūbĭă lūstrīs,615

sīc quŏquĕ vēnātrīx ănĭmūmque īnnūptă rĕmānsī;

nēc mĭhĭ sēcrētīs cūlpam ōccūltārĕ sŭb āntrīs

cūră, sĕd ōstēndī prōlēm pŏsŭīquĕ trĕmēntēm

āntĕ tŭōs cōnfēssă pĕdēs; nēc dēgĕnĕr īllĕ

sānguĭnĭs īnquĕ mĕōs rēptāvīt prōtĭnŭs ārcūs,620

tēlă pŭēr lăcrĭmīs ēt prīmā vōcĕ pŏpōscīt:

hūnc mĭhĭ - quīd trĕpĭdaē nōctēs sōmnūsquĕ mĭnāntūr? -

hūnc, prĕcŏr, aūdācī quī nūnc ād proēlĭă vōtō

heū nĭmĭūm tĭbĭ fīsŭs ăbīt, dā vīsĕrĕ bēllī

vīctōrēm, vēl, si āmplă pĕtō, dā vīsĕrĕ tāntūm!625

Hīc sūdēt tŭăque ārmă fĕrāt. Prĕmĕ dīră mălōrūm

sīgnă; quĭd īn nōstrīs, nĕmŏrālīs Dēlĭă, sīlvīs

Maēnădĕs hōstīlēs Thēbānăquĕ nūmĭnă rēgnānt?

Eī mĭhĭ! Cūr pĕnĭtūs sīmque aūgūr cāssă fŭtūrī!,

cūr pĕnĭtūs māgnōque īntērprĕtŏr ōmĭnĕ quērcūm?630

quōd sī vēră sŏpōr mĭsĕraē praēsāgĭă mīttīt,

pēr tē mātērnōs, mītīs Dīctŷnnă, lăbōrēs

frātērnūmquĕ dĕcūs, cūnctīs hūnc fīgĕ săgīttīs

īnfēlīcem ŭtĕrūm; mĭsĕraē sĭnĕ fūnĕră mātrīs

aūdĭăt īllĕ prĭōr!" Dīxīt, flētūquĕ sŏlūtō635

āspĭcĭt ēt nĭvĕaē sāxūm mădŭīssĕ Dĭānaē.

Īllām dīvă fĕrōx ĕtĭāmnum īn līmĭnĕ sācrō

ēxpŏsĭtam ēt gĕlĭdās vērrēntēm crīnĭbŭs ārās

līnquĭt, ĕt īn mĕdĭīs frōndēntēm Maēnălŏn āstrīs

ēxsŭpĕrāt sāltū grēssūmque ād moēnĭă Cādmī640

dēstĭnăt, īntĕrĭōr caēlī quā sēmĭtă dūcīt

dīs tāntum, ēt cūnctās iūxtā vĭdĕt ārdŭă tērrās.

iāmquĕ fĕrē mĕdĭūm Pārnāsī frōndĕă praētēr

cōllă tĕnēbăt ĭtēr, cūm frātrem īn nūbĕ cŏrūscā

āspĭcĭt haūd sŏlĭtō vīsū: rĕmĕābăt ăb ārmīs645

maēstŭs Ĕchīŏnĭīs, dēmērsī fūnĕră lūgēns

aūgŭrĭs. īrrŭbŭīt caēlī plăgă sīdĕrĕ mīxtō,

ōccūrsūquĕ săcrō părĭtēr iŭbăr ārsĭt ŭtrīmquĕ,

ēt cŏĭēre ārcūs ēt rēspōndērĕ phărētraē.

īllĕ prĭōr: "Scĭŏ, Lābdăcĭās, gērmānă, cŏhōrtēs650

ēt nĭmĭūm fōrtēs aūsūm pĕtĭs Ārcădă pūgnās.

Fīdă rŏgāt gĕnĕtrīx: ŭtĭnam īndūlgērĕ prĕcāntī

fātă dărēnt! ēn īpsĕ mĕī - pŭdĕt! - īrrĭtŭs ārmă

cūltōrīs frōndēsquĕ săcrās ăd ĭnānĭă vīdī

Tārtăra ĕt īn mēmēt vērsōs dēscēndĕrĕ vūltūs;655

nēc tĕnŭī cūrrūs tērraēque ābrūptă cŏēgī,

saēvŭs ĕgo īmmĕrĭtūsquĕ cŏlī. Lūgēntĭă cērnīs

āntră, sŏrōr, mūtāsquĕ dŏmōs: haēc sōlă rĕpēndō

dōnă pĭō cŏmĭtī; nēc tū pĕrĭtūră mŏvērĕ

aūxĭlĭa ēt maēstōs īn vānūm pērgĕ lăbōrēs.660

Fīnĭs ădēst iŭvĕnī, nōn hōc mūtābĭlĕ fātūm,

nēc tē dē dŭbĭīs frātērna ōrācŭlă fāllūnt".

Sēd dĕcŭs ēxtrēmūm cērtē" cōnfūsă vĭcīssīm

vīrgŏ rĕfērt, "vēraēquĕ lĭcēt sōlācĭă mōrtī

quaērĕrĕ, nēc fŭgĭēt poēnās, quīcūmquĕ nĕfāndām665

īnsōntīs pŭĕrī scĕlĕrārīt sānguĭnĕ dēxtrām

īmpĭŭs, ēt nōstrīs fās sīt saēvīrĕ săgīttīs".

Sīc ēffātă mŏvēt grēssūs lībāndăquĕ frātrī

pārcĭŭs ōră tŭlīt, Thēbāsque īnfēstă pĕtīvīt.

Āt pūgna ērēptīs māiōr crūdēscĭt ŭtrīmquĕ670

rēgĭbŭs, āltērnōsquĕ cĭēt vīndīctă fŭrōrēs.

Hŷpsĕŏs hīnc tūrmaē dēsōlātūmquĕ măgīstrō

āgmĕn, ăt hīnc grăvĭūs frĕmĭt Hīppŏmĕdōntĭs ădēmptī

ōrbă cŏhōrs; praēbēnt ōbnīxī cōrpŏră fērrō,

īdem ārdōr răbĭdīs ēxtērnum haūrīrĕ crŭōrēm675

āc fūdīssĕ sŭūm, nēc sē vēstīgĭă mūtānt:

stāt cŭnĕō dēfīxa ăcĭēs, hōstīquĕ crŭēntō

dānt ănĭmās ēt tērgă nĕgānt: cūm lāpsă pĕr aūrās

vērtĭcĕ Dīrcaēī vēlōx Lātōnĭă mōntīs

āstĭtĭt; āgnōscūnt cōllēs nōtāmquĕ trĕmēscīt680

sīlvă dĕām, saēvīs ŭbĭ quōndam ēxsērtă săgīttīs

fēcūndām lāssō Nĭŏbēn cōnsūmpsĕrăt ārcū.

Īllum ăcĭēs īntēr coēptā iām caēdĕ sŭpērbūm

nēscĭŭs ārmōrum ēt prīmās tūnc pāssŭs hăbēnās

vēnātōr rāptābăt ĕquūs, quēm dīscŏlŏr āmbīt685

tīgrĭs ĕt aūrātīs ādvērbĕrăt ūnguĭbŭs ārmōs.

Cōllă sĕdēnt nōdīs ēt cāstīgātă iŭbārūm

lībērtās, nĕmŏrīsquĕ nŏtaē sūb pēctŏrĕ prīmō

iāctāntūr nĭvĕō lūnātă mŏnīlĭă dēntĕ.

Īpsĕ bĭs Oēbălĭō sătŭrātām mūrĭcĕ pāllām690

lūcēntēsque aūrō tŭnĭcās - hōc nēvĕrăt ūnūm

mātĕr ŏpūs - tĕnŭī cōllēctŭs ĭn īlĭă vīnclō,

cōrnĭpĕdīs laēvō clĭpĕūm dēmīsĕrăt ārmō,

ēnsĕ grăvīs nĭmĭō: tĕrĕtī iŭvāt aūrĕă mōrsū

fībŭlă pēndēntīs cīrcūm lătĕra āspĕră cīnctūs,695

vāgīnaēquĕ sŏnūm trĕmŭlūmque aūdīrĕ phărētraē

mūrmŭr ĕt ā cōnō mīssās īn tērgă cătēnās;

īntērdūm crīstās hĭlărīs iāctārĕ cŏmāntīs

ēt pīctūm gēmmīs gălĕaē iŭbăr. Āst ŭbĭ pūgnaē

cāssĭs ănhēlă călēt, rĕsŏlūtō vērtĭcĕ nūdūs700

ēxŏrĭtūr: tūnc dūlcĕ cŏmaē rădĭīsquĕ trĕmēntēs

dūlcĕ nĭtēnt vīsūs ēt, quās dŏlĕt īpsĕ mŏrārī,

nōndūm mūtātaē rŏsĕā lānūgĭnĕ mālaē.

nēc fōrmaē sĭbĭ laūdĕ plăcēt mūltūmquĕ sĕvērīs

āspĕrăt ōră mĭnīs, sēd frōntīs sērvăt hŏnōrēm705

īră dĕcēns. Dāt spōntĕ lŏcūm Thēbānă iŭvēntūs,

nātōrūm mĕmŏrēs, īntēntăquĕ tēlă rĕtōrquēnt,

sēd prĕmĭt ēt saēvās mĭsĕrāntĭbŭs īngĕrĭt hāstās.

Īllum ēt Sīdŏnĭaē iŭgă pēr Teūmēsĭă Nŷmphaē

bēllāntem ātque īpsō sūdōre ēt pūlvĕrĕ grātūm710

laūdānt, ēt tăcĭtō dūcūnt sūspīrĭă vōtō.

Tālĭă cērnēntī mītīs sŭbĭt āltă Dĭānaē

cōrdă dŏlōr, flētūquĕ gĕnās vĭŏlātă "Quŏd" īnquīt,

"nūnc tĭbĭ, quōd lētī quaērām, dĕă fīdă, prŏpīnquī

ēffŭgĭum? Haēcne ūltrō prŏpĕrāsti īn proēlĭă, saēvĕ715

āc mĭsĕrāndĕ pŭēr? crūda heū fēstīnăquĕ vīrtūs

suāsĭt ĕt hōrtātrīx ănĭmōsī glōrĭă lētī.

scīlĭcĕt āngūstūm iāmdūdum ūrgēntĭbŭs ānnīs

Maēnălĭūm tĭbĭ, pārvĕ, nĕmūs, pērque āntră fĕrārūm

vīx tūtaē sĭnĕ mātrĕ vĭaē, sīlvēstrĭă cūiūs720

nōndūm tēlă prŏcāx ārcūmque īmplērĕ vălēbās.

Ēt nūnc īllă mĕās īngēntēm plāngĭt ăd ārās

īnvĭdĭām sūrdāsquĕ fŏrēs ēt līmĭnă lāssāt:

tū dūlcēs lĭtŭōs ŭlŭlātăquĕ proēlĭă gaūdēs

fēlīx ēt mĭsĕraē tāntūm pĕrĭtūrĕ părēntī".725

Nē tămĕn ēxtrēmō frūstrā mŏrĭēntĭs hŏnōrī

ādfŭĕrīt, vĕnĭt īn mĕdĭōs cālīgĭnĕ fūrvā

saēptă glŏbōs, prīmūmquĕ lĕvīs fūrātă săgīttās

aūdācīs tērgō pŭĕrī caēlēstĭbŭs īmplēt

cōrŷtōn tēlīs, quōrūm sĭnĕ sānguĭnĕ nūllūm730

dēcĭdĭt; āmbrŏsĭō tūm spārgīt mēmbră lĭquōrĕ,

spārgĭt ĕquūm, nē quō vĭŏlētūr vūlnĕrĕ cōrpūs

āntĕ nĕcēm, cāntūsquĕ săcrōs ēt cōnscĭă mīscēt

mūrmŭră, sēcrētīs quaē Cōlchĭdăs īpsă sŭb āntrīs

nōctĕ dŏcēt mōnstrātquĕ fĕrās quaērēntĭbŭs hērbās.735

Tūnc vēro ēxsērtō cīrcūmvŏlăt īgnĕŭs ārcū

nēc sē mēntĕ rĕgīt pătrĭā, mātrīsquĕ sŭīquĕ

īmmĕmŏr, ēt nĭmĭūm caēlēstĭbŭs ūtĭtŭr ārmīs:

ūt lĕŏ, cuī pārvō mātēr Gaētūlă crŭēntōs

sūggĕrĭt īpsă cĭbōs, cūm prīmūm crēscĕrĕ sēnsīt740

cōllă iŭbīs tōrvōsquĕ nŏvōs rēspēxĭt ăd ūnguēs,

īndīgnātŭr ălī, tāndēmque ēffūsŭs ăpērtōs

lībĕr ămāt cāmpōs ēt nēscĭt ĭn āntră rĕvērtī.

Quōs, ăgĕ, Pārrhăsĭō stērnīs, pŭĕr īmprŏbĕ, cōrnū?

Prīmă Tănāgraēūm tūrbāvĭt hărūndŏ Cŏroēbūm745

ēxtrēmō gălĕaē prīmōque īn mārgĭnĕ pārmaē

āngūstā trānsmīssă vĭā, stāt faūcĭbŭs ūndă

sānguĭnĭs, ēt sācrī făcĭēs rŭbĕt īgnĕ vĕnēnī.

Saēvĭŭs Eūrўtĭōn, cuī lūmĭnĭs ōrbĕ sĭnīstrō

cāllĭdă tērgĕmĭnīs ăcĭēs sē cōndĭdĭt ūncīs.750

Īllĕ trăhēns ŏcŭlō plēnām lābēntĕ săgīttām

ībăt ĭn aūctōrēm: sēd dīvūm fōrtĭă quīd nōn

tēlă quĕānt? Ălĭō gĕmĭnātūm lūmĭnĕ vūlnūs

ēxplēvīt tĕnĕbrās; sĕquĭtūr tămĕn īmprŏbŭs hōstēm,

quā mĕmĭnīt, fūsūm dōnēc prōlāpsŭs ĭn Īdān755

dēcĭdĭt: hīc saēvī mĭsĕr īntēr fūnĕră bēllī

pālpĭtăt ēt mōrtēm sŏcĭōsque hōstēsquĕ prĕcātūr.

Āddĭt Ăbāntĭădās, īnsīgnēm crīnĭbŭs Ārgūm

ēt mălĕ dīlēctūm mĭsĕraē Cŷdōnă sŏrōrī.

**

Huīc gĕmĭnum ōblīquā trāiēcĭt hărūndĭnĕ tēmpūs,760

ēxsĭlĭt hāc fērrūm, vēlōx hāc pīnnă rĕmānsīt:

flūxĭt ŭtrīmquĕ crŭōr. Nūllī tēla āspĕră mōrtīs

dānt vĕnĭām, nōn fōrmă Lămūm, nōn īnfŭlă Lŷgdūm,

nōn pūbēscēntēs tēxērūnt Aēŏlŏn ānnī:

fīgĭtŭr ōră Lămūs, flēt saūcĭŭs īnguĭnă Lŷgdūs,765

pērfōssūs tēlō nĭvĕām gĕmĭs, Aēŏlĕ, frōntēm.

Tē praēcēps Eūboēă tŭlīt, tē cāndĭdă Thīsbē

mīsĕrăt, hūnc vĭrĭdēs nōn ēxcĭpĭētĭs Ămŷclaē.

Nūmquām cāssă mănūs, nūllūm sĭnĕ nūmĭnĕ fūgīt

mīssĭlĕ, nēc rĕquĭēs dēxtraē, sŏnĭtūmquĕ prĭōrī770

iūngĭt hărūndŏ sĕquēns. Ūnūm quīs crēdĕrĕt ārcūm

aūt ūnām saēvīrĕ mănūm? Mŏdŏ dērĭgĭt īctūs,

nūnc lătĕre āltērnō dŭbĭūs cōnāmĭnă mūtāt,

nūnc fŭgĭt īnstāntēs ēt sōlō rēspĭcĭt ārcū.

Ēt iām mīrāntēs īndīgnāntēsquĕ cŏībānt775

Lābdăcĭdaē, prīmūsquĕ Iŏvīs dē sānguĭnĕ clārō

Āmphīōn īgnārŭs ădhūc, quaē fūnĕră cāmpīs

īllĕ dărēt: "Quōnam ūsquĕ mŏrām lūcrābĕrĕ fātī,

ō mūltūm mĕrĭtōs pŭĕr ōrbātūrĕ părēntēs?

quīn ĕtĭām mēntī tŭmŏr ātque aūdācĭă glīscīt,780

cōngrēssūs dūm nēmŏ tŭōs pūgnāmquĕ mĭnōrēm

dīgnātūr bēllīs īrāquĕ rĕlīnquĕrĭs īnfrā.

Ī, rĕpĕte Ārcădĭām mīxtūsque aēquālĭbŭs īllīc,

dūm fĕrŭs hīc vērō dēsaēvīt pūlvĕrĕ Māvōrs,

proēlĭă lūdĕ dŏmī: quōdsī tē maēstă sĕpūlcrī785

fāmă mŏvēt, dăbĭmūs lētō mŏrĭārĕ vĭrōrūm!"

Iāmdūdum hūnc cōntrā stĭmŭlīs grăvĭōrĭbŭs ārdēt

trūx Ătălāntĭădēs; nēcdum īllĕ quĭērăt, ĕt īnfīt:

"Sēra ĕtĭam īn Thēbās, quārum hīc ēxērcĭtŭs, ārmă

prōfĕrŏ; quīsnam ădĕō pŭĕr ūt bēllārĕ rĕcūsēt790

tālĭbŭs? Ārcădĭaē stīrpem ēt fĕră sēmĭnă gēntīs,

nōn Thēbānă vĭdēs: nōn mē sūb nōctĕ sĭlēntī

thŷiăs Ĕchīŏnĭō gĕnĕtrīx fămŭlātă Lўaēō

ēdĭdĭt, haūd ūmquām dēfōrmīs vērtĭcĕ mītrās

īndŭĭmūs tūrpīquĕ mănū iāctāvĭmŭs hāstām.795

prōtĭnŭs āstrīctōs dĭdĭcī rēptārĕ pĕr āmnēs

hōrrēndāsquĕ dŏmūs māgnārum īntrārĕ fĕrārūm

ēt - Quīd plūră lŏquār? Fērrūm mĕă sēmpĕr ĕt ārcūs

mātĕr hăbēt, vēstrī fĕrĭūnt căvă tŷmpănă pātrēs".

Nōn tŭlĭt Āmphīōn vūltūmque ĕt ĭn ōră lŏquēntīs800

tēlum īmmānĕ rŏtāt; sēd fērrī lūmĭnĕ dīrō

tūrbātūs sŏnĭpēs sēsē dŏmĭnūmquĕ rĕtōrsīt

īn lătŭs ātque ăvĭdām trānsmīsīt dēvĭŭs hāstām.

Ācrĭŏr hōc iŭvĕnēm strīctō mūcrōnĕ pĕtēbāt

Āmphīōn, cūm sē mĕdĭō Lātōnĭă cāmpō805

iēcĭt ĕt ānte ŏcŭlōs ōmnīs stĕtĭt ōbvĭă vūltū.

Haērĕbăt iūvēnī dēvīnctŭs ămōrĕ pŭdīcō

Maēnălĭūs Dōrceūs, cuī bēllă sŭūmquĕ tĭmōrēm

mātĕr ĕt aūdācēs pŭĕrī māndāvĕrăt ānnōs.

Hūiūs tūm vūltū dĕă dīssĭmŭlātă prŏfātūr:810

"Hāctĕnŭs Ōgўgĭās sătĭs īnfēstāssĕ cătērvās,

Pārthĕnŏpaēĕ, sătīs; mĭsĕraē iām pārcĕ părēntī,

pārcĕ dĕīs, quīcūmquĕ făvēnt". Nēc tērrĭtŭs īllĕ:

"Hūnc sĭnĕ mē - nōn plūră pĕtām -, fīdīssĭmĕ Dōrceū,

stērnĕre hŭmī, quī tēlă mĕīs gĕrĭt aēmŭlă tēlīs815

ēt sĭmĭlēs cūltūs ēt frēnă sŏnāntĭă iāctāt.

Frēnă rĕgām, cūltūs Trĭvĭaē pēndēbĭtĭs āltō

līmĭnĕ, cāptīvīs mātrēm dōnābŏ phărētrīs".

Aūdĭĭt ēt mīxtō rīsīt Lātōnĭă flētū.

Vīdĕrăt hānc caēlī iāmdūdum īn pārtĕ rĕmōtā820

Grādīvūm cōmplēxă Vĕnūs, dūmque ānxĭă Thēbās

cōmmĕmŏrāt Cādmūmquĕ vĭrō cāraēquĕ nĕpōtēs

Hārmŏnĭaē, prēssūm tăcĭtō sūb cōrdĕ dŏlōrēm

tēmpēstīvă mŏvēt: "Nōnne hānc, Grādīvĕ, prŏtērvām

vīrgĭnĭtātĕ vĭdēs mĕdĭām sē fērrĕ vĭrōrūm825

coētĭbŭs? Ūtque ăcĭēs aūdāx ēt Mārtĭă sīgnă

tēmpĕrĕt? Ēn ĕtĭām dōnāt praēbētquĕ nĕcāndōs

tōt nōstrā dē gēntĕ vĭrōs. Huīc trādĭtă vīrtūs,

huīc fŭrŏr? āgrēstīs sŭpĕrēst tĭbĭ fīgĕrĕ dāmmās".

dēsĭlŭīt iūstīs cōmmōtŭs ĭn ārmă quĕrēlīs830

Bēllĭpŏtēns, cuī sōlă văgūm pĕr ĭnānĕ rŭēntī

Īră cŏmēs, rĕlĭquī sūdānt ād bēllă Fŭrōrēs.

Nēc mŏră, cūm maēstām mŏnĭtū Lātōĭdă dūrō

īncrĕpăt āssīstēns: "Nōn haēc tĭbĭ proēlĭă dīvūm

dāt pătĕr; ārmĭfĕrūm nī prōtĭnŭs īmprŏbă cāmpūm835

dēsĕrĭs, huīc aēquām nōscēs nēc Pāllădă dēxtraē".

Quīd făcĭāt cōntrā? Prĕmĭt hīnc Māvōrtĭă cūspīs,

hīnc plēnaē tĭbĭ, pārvĕ, cŏlūs, Iŏvĭs īndĕ sĕvērī

vūltŭs: ăbīt sōlō pōst haēc ēvīctă pŭdōrĕ.

Āt pătĕr Ōgўgĭās Māvōrs cīrcūmspĭcĭt ālās840

hōrrēndūmquĕ Drўāntă mŏvēt, cuī sānguĭnĭs aūctōr

tūrbĭdŭs Ōrīōn, cŏmĭtēsque ōdīssĕ Dĭānaē;

īndĕ fŭrīt. prīmum hīnc tūrbātōs ārrĭpĭt ēnsĕ

Ārcădăs ēxārmātquĕ dŭcēm; cădĭt āgmĭnĕ lōngō

Cŷllēnēs pŏpŭlūs Tĕgĕēsque hăbĭtātŏr ŏpācaē,845

Aēpўtĭīquĕ dŭcēs Tēlphūsĭăcaēquĕ phălāngēs.

Īpsum aūtem ēt lāssā fīdīt prōstērnĕrĕ dēxtrā,

nēc sērvāt vīrēs: ĕtĕnim hūc iām fēssŭs ĕt īllūc

mūtābāt tūrmās; ūrgēnt praēsāgĭă mīllĕ

fūnĕrĭs, ēt nīgraē praēcēdūnt nūbĭlă mōrtīs.850

Iāmquĕ mĭsēr rārōs cŏmĭtēs vērūmquĕ vĭdēbāt

Dōrcĕă, iām vīrīs paūlātim ābscēdĕrĕ sēnsīt.

sēnsĭt ĕt ēxhaūstās ŭmĕrō lĕvĭōrĕ phărētrās,

iām mĭnŭs ātquĕ mĭnūs fērt ārmă pŭērquĕ vĭdētūr

ēt sĭbĭ, cūm tōrvā clĭpĕī mĕtŭēndŭs ŏbārsīt855

lūcĕ Drўās: trĕmŏr ōră rĕpēns āc vīscĕră tōrsīt

Ārcădŏs; ūtquĕ fĕrī vēctōrēm fūlmĭnĭs ālbūs

cūm sūprā rēspēxĭt ŏlōr, cŭpĭt hīscĕrĕ rīpām

Strŷmŏnŏs ēt trĕpĭdās īn pēctŏră cōntrăhĭt ālās:

sīc iŭvĕnēm saēvī cōnspēctā mōlĕ Drўāntīs860

iām nōn īră sŭbīt, sēd lētī nūntĭŭs hōrrōr.

Ārmă tămēn, frūstrā sŭpĕrōs Trĭvĭāmquĕ prĕcātūs,

mōlītūr pāllēns ēt sūrdōs ēxpĕdĭt ārcūs.

iāmque īnstāt tēlīs ĕt ŭtrāmque ōblīquŭs ĭn ūlnām

cōrnŭă cōntīngīt mūcrōne ēt pēctŏră nērvō,865

cūm dŭcĭs Āŏnĭī māgnō cĭtă tūrbĭnĕ cūspīs

fērtŭr ĭn ādvērsūm nērvīque ōblīquă sŏnōrī

vīnclă sĕcāt: pĕrĕūnt īctūs mănĭbūsquĕ rĕmīssīs

vānă sŭpīnātō cĕcĭdērūnt spīcŭlă cōrnū.

Tūnc mĭsĕr ēt frēnōs tūrbātŭs ĕt ārmă rĕmīsīt,870

vūlnĕrĭs īmpătĭēns, ŭmĕrī quōd tēgmĭnĕ dēxtrī

īntrārāt făcĭlēmquĕ cŭtēm: sŭbĭt āltĕră cūspīs

cōrnĭpĕdīsquĕ fŭgām sūccīsō pōplĭtĕ sīstīt.

Tūnc cădĭt īpsĕ Drўās - mīrūm - nēc vūlnĕrĭs ūmquām

cōnscĭŭs: ōlim aūctōr tēlī caūsaēquĕ pătēbūnt.875

Āt pŭĕr īnfūsūs sŏcĭīs īn dēvĭă cāmpī

tōllĭtŭr - heū sīmplēx aētās! - mŏrĭēnsquĕ iăcēntēm

flēbăt ĕquūm; cĕcĭdīt lāxātā cāssĭdĕ vūltūs,

aēgrăquĕ pēr trĕpĭdōs ēxspīrāt grātĭă vīsūs,

ēt prēnsīs cōncūssă cŏmīs tēr cōllă quătērquĕ880

stārĕ nĕgānt, īpsīsquĕ nĕfās lăcrĭmābĭlĕ Thēbīs,

ībāt pūrpŭrĕūs nĭvĕō dē pēctŏrĕ sānguīs.

Tāndem haēc sīngūltū vērba īncīdēntĕ prŏfātūr:

"Lābĭmŭr, ī, mĭsĕrām, Dōrceū, sōlārĕ părēntēm.

Īllă quĭdēm, sī vēră fĕrūnt praēsāgĭă cūraē,885

aūt sōmnō iām trīstĕ nĕfās aūt ōmĭnĕ vīdīt.

Tū tămĕn ārtĕ pĭā trĕpĭdām sūspēndĕ dĭūquĕ

dēcĭpĭtō; neū tū sŭbĭtūs nēve ārmă tĕnēntī

vēnĕrĭs, ēt tāndēm, cūm iām cōgērĕ fătērī,

dīc: "Mĕrŭī, gĕnĕtrīx, poēnās īnvītă căpēssĕ;890

ārmă pŭēr răpŭī, nēc tē rĕtĭnēntĕ quĭēvī,

nēc tĭbĭ sōllĭcĭtaē tāndem īntēr bēllă pĕpērcī.

Vīve ĭgĭtūr pŏtĭūsque ănĭmīs īrāscĕrĕ nōstrīs,

ēt iām pōnĕ mĕtūs. Frūstrā dē cōllĕ Lўcaēī

ānxĭă prōspēctās, sī quīs pēr nūbĭlă lōngē895

aūt sŏnŭs aūt nōstrō sūblātŭs ăb āgmĭnĕ pūlvīs:

frīgĭdŭs ēt nūdā iăcĕō tēllūrĕ, nĕc ūsquām

tū prŏpĕ, quaē vūltūs ēfflāntĭăque ōră tĕnērēs.

Hūnc tămĕn, ōrbă părēns, crīnēm" - dēxtrāquĕ sĕcāndūm

praēbŭĭt - "hūnc tōtō căpĭēs prō cōrpŏrĕ crīnēm,900

cōmĕrĕ quēm frūstrā mē dēdīgnāntĕ sŏlēbās.

huīc dăbĭs ēxsĕquĭās, ātque īntēr iūstă mĕmēntŏ,

nē quĭs ĭnēxpērtīs hĕbĕtēt mĕă tēlă lăcērtīs

dīlēctōsquĕ cănēs ūllīs ăgăt āmplĭŭs āntrīs.

Haēc aūtēm prīmīs ārma īnfēlīcĭă cāstrīs905

ūrĕ, vĕl īngrātaē crīmēn sūspēndĕ Dĭānaē".

Asperat Aonios rabies audita cruenti

Tydeos; ipsi etiam minus ingemuere iacentem

Inachidae, culpantque virum et rupisse queruntur

fas odii; quin te, divum implacidissime, quamquam

5praecipuum tunc caedis opus, Gradive, furebas,

offensum virtute ferunt, nec comminus ipsum

ora, sed et trepidos alio torsisse iugales.

Ergo profanatum Melanippi funus acerbo

vulnere non aliis ultum Cadmeia proles

10insurgunt stimulis, quam si turbata sepulcris

ossa patrum monstrisque datae crudelibus urnae.

accendit rex ipse super: "Quisquamne Pelasgus

mitis adhuc hominemque gerit? Iam morsibus uncis

- pro furor! usque adeo tela exsatiavimus! - artus

15dilacerant. Nonne Hyrcanis bellare putatis

tigribus, aut saevos Libyae contra ire leones?

Et nunc ille iacet - pulchra o solacia leti! -

ore tenens hostile caput, dulcique nefandus

immoritur tabo; nos ferrum immite facesque,

20illis nuda odia, et feritas iam non eget armis.

sic pergant rabidi claraque hac laude fruantur,

dum videas haec, summe pater. sed enim hiscere campos

conquesti terraeque fugam mirantur; an istos

vel sua portet humus?" Magno sic fatus agebat

25procursu fremituque viros, furor omnibus idem

Tydeos invisi spoliis raptoque potiri

corpore. Non aliter subtexunt astra catervae

incestarum avium, longe quibus aura nocentem

aëra desertasque tulit sine funere mortes;

30illo avidae cum voce ruunt, sonat arduus aether

plausibus, et caelo volucres cessere minores.

Fama per Aonium rapido vaga murmure campum

spargitur in turmas, solito pernicior index

cum lugenda refert, donec, cui maxima fando

35damna vehit, trepidas lapsa est Polynicis ad aures.

diriguit iuvenis lacrimaeque haesere paratae,

et cunctata fides; nimium nam cognita virtus

Oenidae credi letum suadetque vetatque.

sed postquam haud dubio clades auctore repertast,

40nox oculos mentemque rapit; tum sanguine fixo

membra simul, simul arma ruunt: madet ardua fletu

iam galea atque ocreae clipeum excepere cadentem.

it maestus genua aegra trahens hastamque sequentem,

vulneribus ceu mille gravis totosque per artus

45saucius, absistunt socii monstrantque gementes.

Tandem ille abiectis, vix quae portaverat, armis

nudus in egregii vacuum iam corpus amici

procidit et tali lacrimas cum voce profudit:

"Hasne tibi, armorum spes o suprema meorum,

50Oenide, gratis, haec praemia digna rependi,

nudus ut invisa Cadmi tellure iaceres

sospite me? Nunc exsul ego aeternumque fugatus,

quando alius misero ac melior mihi frater ademptus.

Nec iam sortitus veteres regnique nocentis

55periurum diadema peto: quo gaudia tanti

empta mihi aut sceptrum, quod non tua dextera tradet?

ite, viri, totumque fero me linquite fratri:

nil opus arma ultra temptare et pergere mortis;

ite, precor; quid iam dabitis mihi denique maius?

60Tydea consumpsi! Quanam hoc ego morte piabo?

o socer, o | Argi! et primae bona iurgia noctis,

alternaeque manus et longi pignus amoris

ira brevis; non me ense tuo tum, maxime Tydeu,

- et poteras - nostri mactatum in limine Adrasti!

65Quin etiam Thebas me propter et impia fratris

tecta libens, unde haud alius remeasset, adisti,

ceu tibimet sceptra et proprios laturus honores.

Iam Telamona pium, iam Thesea fama tacebat.

qualis et ecce iaces? quae primum vulnera mirer?

70Quis tuus hic, quis ab hoste cruor? Quae te agmina quive

innumeri stravere globi? num Pallas et ipse

invidit pater et tota Mars impulit hasta?"

Sic ait, et maerens etiamnum lubrica tabo

ora viri tergit lacrimis dextraque reponit.

75"Tune meos hostis hucusque exosus, et ultra

sospes ego?" Exuerat vagina turbidus ensem

aptabatque neci: comites tenuere, socerque

castigat bellique vices ac fata revolvens

solatur tumidum, longeque a corpore caro

80paulatim, unde dolor letique animosa voluntas,

amovet ac tacite ferrum inter verba reponit.

Ducitur amisso qualis consorte laborum

deserit inceptum media inter iugera sulcum

taurus iners colloque iugum deforme remisso

85parte trahit, partem lacrimans sustentat arator.

Ecce autem hortatus Eteoclis et arma secuti,

lecta manus, iuvenes, quos nec Tritonia bello,

nec prope collata sprevisset cuspide Mavors,

adventant; contra collecta ut pectora parmae

90fixerat atque hastam longe protenderat, haeret

arduus Hippomedon: ceu fluctibus obvia rupes,

cui neque de caelo metus et fracta aequora cedunt,

stat cunctis immota minis, fugit ipse rigentem

pontus et ex alto miserae novere carinae.

95Tunc prior Aonides - validam simul eligit hastam -:

"Non pudet hos manis, haec infamantia bellum

funera dis coram et caelo inspectante tueri?

scilicet egregius sudor memorandaque virtus

hanc tumulare feram? Ne non maerentibus Argos

100exsequiis lacrimandus eat, mollique feretro

infandam eiectans saniem! Dimittite curam.

Nullae illum volucres, nulla impia monstra nec ipse,

si demus, pius ignis edat". Nec plura, sed ingens

intorquet iaculum, duro quod in aere moratum

105transmissumque tamen clipei stetit orbe secundo.

Inde Pheres acerque Lycus; sed cassa Pheretis

hasta redit, Lycus excelso terrore comantem

perstringit galeam: convulsae cuspide longe

diffugere iubae patuitque ingloria cassis.

110Ipse nec ire retro, nec in obvia concitus arma

exsilit, inque eadem sese vestigia semper

obuersus cunctis profert recipitque, nec umquam

longius indulget dextrae motusque per omnis

corpus amat, corpus servans circumque supraque

115vertitur. Imbellem non sic amplexa iuvencum

infestante lupo tunc primum feta tuetur

mater et ancipiti circumfert cornua gyro;

ipsa nihil metuens sexusque oblita minoris

spumat et ingentis imitatur femina tauros.

120Tandem intermissa iaculantum nube potestas

reddere tela fuit; iamque et Sicyonius Alcon

venerat auxilio, Pisaeaque praepetis Idae

turma subit cuneumque replent. is laetus in hostis

Lernaeam iacit ipse trabem, volat illa sagittis

125aequa fuga mediumque nihil cunctata Politen

transabit et iuncti clipeum cavat improba Mopsi.

Phocea tum Cydona Tanagraeumque Phalanthum

atque Erycem, hunc retro conversum et tela petentem,

dum spes nulla necis, crinito a vertice figit;

130faucibus ille cavis hastam non ore receptam

miratur moriens, pariterque et murmure plenus

sanguis et expulsi salierunt cuspide dentes.

ausus erat furto dextram iniectare Leonteus,

pone viros atque arma latens, positumque trahebat

135prenso crine caput: vidit, quamquam undique crebrae,

Hippomedon, ante ora minae, saevoque protervam

abstulit ense manum; simul increpat: "Hanc tibi Tydeus,

Tydeus ipse rapit; post et confecta virorum

fata time magnosque miser fuge tangere manis!"

140Ter Cadmea phalanx torvum abduxere cadaver,

ter retrahunt Danai: Siculi velut anxia puppis

seditione maris nequiquam obstante magistro

errat et averso redit in vestigia velo.

Non ibi Sidoniae valuissent pellere coepto

145Hippomedonta manus, non illum impacta moverent

tormenta oppositum, formidatique superbis

turribus impulsus temptato umbone redissent.

Sed memor Elysii regis noxasque recensens

Tydeos in medios astu subit impia campos

150Tisiphone: sensere acies subitusque cucurrit

sudor equis sudorque viris, quamquam ore remisso

Inachium fingebat Halyn, nusquam impius ignis

verberaque, et iussi tenuere silentia crines.

Arma gerit iuxtaque feri latus Hippomedontis

155blanda genas vocemque venit, tamen ille loquentis

extimuit vultus admiraturque timorem.

Illa autem lacrimans "Tu nunc" ait "inclite, frustra

exanimes socios inhumataque corpora Graium

- scilicet is nobis metus, aut iam cura sepulcri? -

160protegis; ipse manu Tyria tibi captus Adrastus

raptatur, teque ante alios, te voce manuque

invocat; heu qualem lapsare in sanguine vidi,

exutum canos lacero diademate crines!

Nec procul hinc, adverte oculos: ubi plurimus ille

165pulvis, ubi ille globus". Paulum stetit anxius heros

librabatque metus; premit aspera virgo: "Quid haeres?

imus? an hi retinent manes, et vilior ille

qui superest?" Miserum sociis opus et sua mandat

proelia et unanimi vadit desertor amici,

170respiciens tamen et revocent si forte paratus.

Inde legens turbata trucis vestigia divae

huc illuc frustra ruit avius, impia donec

Eumenis ex oculis reiecta caerula parma

fugit et innumeri galeam rupere cerastae.

175Aspicit infelix discussa nube quietos

Inachidas currumque nihil metuentis Adrasti.

Et Tyrii iam corpus habent, iam gaudia magnae

testantur voces, victorque ululatus aderrat

auribus occultoque ferit praecordia luctu.

180Ducitur hostili - pro dura potentia fati! -

Tydeus ille solo, modo cui Thebana sequenti

agmina, sive gradus seu frena effunderet, ingens

limes utrimque datus; numquam arma manusque quiescunt

- nulla viri feritas -: iuvat ora rigentia leto

185et formidatos impune lacessere vultus.

Hic amor, hoc una timidi fortesque sequuntur

nobilitare manus, infectaque sanguine tela

coniugibus servant parvisque ostendere natis.

Sic ubi Maura diu populatum rura leonem,

190quem propter clausique greges vigilantque magistri,

pastorum lassae debellavere cohortes:

gaudet ager, magno subeunt clamore coloni,

praecerpuntque iubas immaniaque ora recludunt

damnaque commemorant, seu iam sub culmine fixus

195excubat, antiquo seu pendet gloria luco.

At ferus Hippomedon quamquam iam sentit inane

auxilium et seram rapto pro corpore pugnam,

it tamen et caecum rotat irrevocabilis ensem,

vix socios hostesque, nihil dum tardet euntem,

200secernens; sed caede nova iam lubrica tellus

armaque seminecesque viri currusque soluti

impediunt laevumque femur, quod cuspide fixum

regis Echionii, sed dissimulaverat ardens,

sive ibi nescierat. maestum videt Hoplea tandem;

205Tydeos hic magni fidus comes et modo frustra

armiger alipedem prona cervice tenebat

fatorum ignarum domini solumque frementem,

quod vacet, inque acies audentior ille pedestres.

Hunc aspernantem tumido nova pondera tergo

210- unam quippe manum domitis expertus ab annis -

corripit adfaturque: "Quid o nova fata recusas,

infelix sonipes? Numquam tibi dulce superbi

regis onus; non iam Aetolo satiabere campo

gaudentemque iubam per stagna Acheloia solves.

215quod superest, caros, i, saltem ulciscere manes

aut sequere extorrem, ne tu quoque laeseris umbras

captivus tumidumque equitem post Tydea portes".

Audisse accensumque putes: hoc fulmine raptum

abstulit et similes minus indignatur habenas.

220semifer aëria talis Centaurus ab Ossa

desilit in valles, ipsum nemora alta tremescunt,

campus equum. Trepidi cursu glomerantur anhelo

Labdacidae, premit ille super, necopinaque ferro

colla metens linquit truncos post terga cadentes.

225Ventum erat ad fluvium; solito tunc plenior alveo

- signa mali - magna se mole Ismenos agebat.

Illa brevis requies, illo timida agmina lassam

de campis egere fugam; stupet hospita belli

unda viros claraque armorum incenditur umbra.

230Insilvere vadis, magnoque fragore solutus

agger et adversae latuerunt pulvere ripae.

ille quoque hostiles saltu maiore per undas

irruit attonitis - longum dimittere habenas -,

sicut erat, tantum viridi defixa parumper

235caespite populeo commendat spicula trunco.

Tunc vero exanimes tradunt rapientibus ultro

arma vadis: alii demissa casside, quantum

tendere conatus animae valuere, sub undis

turpe latent; multi fluvium transmittere nando

240adgressi, sed vincla tenent laterique repugnat

balteus et madidus deducit pectora thorax.

Qualis caeruleis tumido sub gurgite terror

piscibus, arcani quotiens devexa profundi

scrutantem delphina vident; fugit omnis in imos

245turba lacus viridisque metu stipantur in algas:

nec prius emersi, quam summa per aequora flexus

emicet et visis malit certare carinis:

talis agit sparsos mediisque in fluctibus heros

frena manu pariter, pariter regit arma, pedumque

250remigio sustentat equus; consuetaque campo

fluctuat et mersas levis ungula quaerit harenas.

sternit Iona Chromis, Chromin Antiphos, Antiphon Hypseus,

Hypseus Astyagen evasurumque relicto

amne Linum, ni fata vetent et stamine primo

255ablatum tellure mori. Premit agmina Thebes

Hippomedon, turbat Danaos Asopius Hypseus:

amnis utrumque timet, crasso vada mutat uterque

sanguine, et e fluvio neutri fatale reverti.

iam laceri pronis volvuntur cursibus artus

260oraque et abscisae redeunt in pectora dextrae,

spicula iam clipeosque leves arcusque remissos

unda vehit, galeasque vetant descendere cristae:

summa vagis late sternuntur flumina telis,

ima viris; illic luctantur corpora leto,

265efflantisque animas retro premit obvius amnis.

Flumineam rapiente vado puer Argipus ulmum

prenderat, insignis umeros ferus ense Menoeceus

amputat; ille cadens, nondum conamine adempto,

truncus in excelsis spectat sua bracchia ramis.

270Hypseos hasta Tagen ingenti vulnere mersit,

ille manet fundo, rediit pro corpore sanguis.

Desilvit ripis fratrem rapturus Agenor

heu! miser et tenuit, sed saucius ille levantem

degravat amplexu: poterat resolutus Agenor

275emersisse vadis, piguit sine fratre reverti.

Surgentem dextra Capetum vulnusque minantem

sorbebat rapidus nodato gurgite vertex;

iam vultu, iam crine latet, iam dextera nusquam,

ultimus abreptas ensis descendit in undas.

280Mille modis leti miseros mors una fatigat.

Induit a tergo Mycalesia cuspis Agyrten;

respexit: nusquam auctor erat, sed concita tractu

gurgitis effugiens invenerat hasta cruorem.

Figitur et validos sonipes Aetolus in armos,

285exsilvitque alte vi mortis et aëra pendens

verberat; haud tamen est turbatus flumine ductor,

sed miseratur equum, magnoque ex vulnere telum

exuit ipse gemens et sponte remisit habenas.

inde pedes repetit pugnas gressuque manuque

290certior, et segnem Nomium fortemque Mimanta

Thebaeumque Lichan Anthedoniumque Lycetum

continuat ferro geminisque e fratribus unum

Thespiaden; eadem poscenti fata Panemo:

"Vive superstes" ait "diraeque ad moenia Thebes

295solus abi, miseros non decepture parentes.

Di bene, quod pugnas rapidum deiecit in amnem

sanguinea Bellona manu: trahit unda timentes

gurgite gentili, nuda nec flebilis umbra

stridebit vestros Tydeus inhumatus ad ignes;

300ibitis aequoreis crudelia pabula monstris,

illum terra vehit suaque in primordia solvet".

Sic premit adversos et acerbat vulnera dictis

ac nunc ense furit, nunc tela natantia captans

ingerit: innuptae comitem Therona Dianae,

305ruricolamque Gyan cum fluctivago | Ergino,

intonsumque Hersen contemptoremque profundi

Crethea, nimbosam qui saepe Caphereos arcem

Euboicasque hiemes parva transfugerat alno.

Quid non fata queant? Traiectus pectora ferro

310volvitur in fluctus, heu cuius naufragus undae!

Te quoque sublimi tranantem flumina curru,

dum socios, Pharsale, petis, resupinat ademptis

Dorica cuspis equis; illos violentia saevi

gurgitis infelixque iugi concordia mergit.

315Nunc age, quis tumidis magnum inclinaverit undis

Hippomedonta labor, cur ipse excitus in arma

Ismenos, doctae nosse indulgete sorores:

vestrum opus ire retro et senium depellere famae.

Gaudebat Fauno Nymphaque Ismenide natus

320maternis bellare tener Crenaeus in undis,

Crenaeus, cui prima dies in gurgite fido

et natale vadum et virides cunabula ripae.

Ergo ratus nihil Elysias ibi posse Sorores,

laetus adulantem nunc hoc nunc margine ab illo

325transit avum, levat unda gradus, seu defluus ille,

sive obliquus eat; nec cum subit obvius, ullas

stagna dedere moras pariterque revertitur amnis.

Non Anthedonii tegit hospitis inguina pontus

blandior, aestivo nec se magis aequore Triton

330exserit, aut carae festinus ad oscula matris

cum remeat tardumque ferit delphina Palaemon.

Arma decent umeros, clipeusque insignis et auro

lucidus Aoniae caelatur origine gentis.

Sidonis hic blandi per candida terga iuvenci,

335iam secura maris, teneris iam cornua palmis

non tenet, extremis adludunt aequora plantis;

ire putes clipeo fluctusque secare iuvencum.

Adiuvat unda fidem pelago nec discolor amnis.

Tunc audax pariter telis et voce proterva

340Hippomedonta petit: "Non haec fecunda veneno

Lerna, nec Herculeis haustae serpentibus undae:

sacrum amne, sacrum - et miser experiere! - deumque

altrices irrumpis aquas". nihil ille, sed ibat

comminus; opposuit cumulo se densior amnis

345tardavitque manum, vulnus tamen illa retentum

pertulit atque animae tota in penetralia sedit.

Horruit unda nefas, silvae flevistis utraeque,

et graviora cavae sonuerunt murmura ripae.

Ultimus ille sonus moribundo emersit ab ore:

350"Mater!" In hanc miseri ceciderunt flumina vocem.

At genetrix coetu glaucarum cincta sororum

protinus icta malo vitrea de valle solutis

exsilvit furibunda comis, ac verbere crebro

oraque pectoraque et viridem scidit horrida vestem.

355Utque erupit aquis iterumque iterumque trementi

ingeminat "Crenaee" sono: nusquam ille, sed index

desuper, a miserae nimium noscenda parenti,

parma natat; iacet ipse procul, qua mixta supremum

Ismenon primi mutant confinia ponti.

360fluctivagam sic saepe domum madidosque penates

Alcyone deserta gemit, cum pignora saevus

Auster et algentis rapuit Thetis invida nidos.

mergitur orba iterum, penitusque occulta sub undis

limite non uno, liquidum qua subter eunti

365lucet iter, miseri nequiquam funera nati

vestigat, plangitque tamen; saepe horridus amnis

obstat, et obducto caligant sanguine visus.

illa tamen praeceps in tela offendit et enses

scrutaturque manu galeas et prona reclinat

370corpora; nec ponto submota intrabat amaram

Dorida, possessum donec iam fluctibus altis

Nereidum miserata cohors ad pectora matris

impulit. Illa manu ceu vivum amplexa reportat

insternitque toris riparum atque umida siccat

375mollibus ora comis, atque haec ululatibus addit:

"Hoc tibi semidei munus tribuere parentes

nec mortalis avus? Sic nostro in gurgite regnas?

Mitior haec misero discors alienaque tellus,

mitior unda maris, quae iuxta flumina corpus

380rettulit et miseram visa exspectasse parentem.

hine mei vultus? haec torvi lumina patris?

hi crines undantis avi? tu nobile quondam

undarum nemorumque decus, quo sospite maior

diva et nympharum longe regina ferebar.

385Heu | ubinam ille frequens modo circa limina matris

ambitus orantesque tibi servire Napaeae?

cur nunc te, melius saevo mansure profundo,

amplexu misero tumulis, Crenaee, reporto

non mihi? Nec tantae pudet heu miseretque ruinae,

390dure parens? Quae te alta et ineluctabilis imo

condidit amne palus, quo nec tam cruda nepotis

funera, nec nostri valeant perrumpere planctus?

ecce furit iactatque tuo se in gurgite maior

Hippomedon, illum ripaeque undaeque tremescunt,

395illius impulsu nostrum bibit unda cruorem:

tu piger et trucibus facilis servire Pelasgis.

Ad cineres saltem supremaque iusta tuorum,

saeve, veni, non hic solum accensure nepotem".

His miscet planctus multumque indigna cruentat

400pectora, caeruleae referunt lamenta sorores:

qualiter Isthmiaco nondum Nereida portu

Leucothean planxisse ferunt, dum pectore anhelo

frigidus in matrem saevum mare respuit infans.

At pater arcano residens Ismenos in antro,

405unde aurae nubesque bibunt atque imbrifer arcus

pascitur et Tyrios melior venit annus in agros,

ut lamenta procul, quamquam strepit ipse, novosque

accepit natae gemitus, levat aspera musco

colla gravemque gelu crinem, ceciditque soluta

410pinus adulta manu dimissaque volvitur urna.

Illum per ripas annoso scrupea limo

ora exsertantem silvae fluviique minores

mirantur: tantus tumido de gurgite surgit,

spumosum attollens apicem lapsuque sonoro

415pectora caeruleae rivis manantia barbae.

Obuia cognatos gemitus casumque nepotis

Nympharum docet una patrem monstratque cruentum

auctorem dextramque premit: stetit arduus alto

amne, manuque genas et nexa virentibus ulvis

420cornua concutiens sic turbidus ore profundo

incipit: "Huncne mihi, superum regnator, honorem,

quod totiens hospesque tuis et conscius actis

- nec memorare timor - falsa nunc improba fronte

cornua, nunc vetitam currus deiungere Phoeben,

425dotalesque rogos deceptaque fulmina vidi

praecipuosque alvi natorum? An vilis et illis

gratia? Ad hunc certe repsit Tirynthius amnem,

hac tibi flagrantem Bromium restinximus unda.

aspice quas fluvio caedes, quae funera portem,

430continuus telis alioque adopertus acervo.

Omne vadum belli series tenet, omnis anhelat

unda nefas, subterque animae supraque recentes

errant et geminas iungunt caligine ripas.

Ille ego clamatus sacris ululatibus amnis,

435qui molles thyrsos Baccheaque cornua puro

fonte lavare feror, stipatus caedibus artas

in freta quaero vias; non Strymonos impia tanto

stagna cruore natant, non spumifer altius Hebrus

Gradivo bellante rubet. Nec te admonet altrix

440unda tuasque manus, iam pridem oblite parentum

Liber? An Eous melius pacatur Hydaspes?

at tu, qui tumidus spoliis et sanguine gaudes

insontis pueri, non hoc ex amne potentem

Inachon aut saevas victor revehere Mycenas,

445ni mortalis ego et tibi ductus ab aethere sanguis".

Sic ait infrendens et sponte furentibus undis

signa dedit: mittit gelidus montana Cithaeron

auxilia antiquasque nives et pabula brumae

ire iubet; frater tacitas Asopos eunti

450conciliat vires et hiulcis flumina venis

suggerit. Ipse cavae scrutatur viscera terrae

stagnaque torpentisque lacus pigrasque paludes

excutit, atque avidos tollens ad sidera vultus

umentis nebulas exhaurit et aëra siccat.

455Iamque super ripas utroque exstantior ibat

aggere, iam medium modo qui superaverat amnem

Hippomedon intactus aquis umerosque manusque,

miratur crevisse vadum seseque minorem.

Hinc atque hinc tumidi fluctus animosaque surgit

460tempestas instar pelagi, cum Pliadas haurit

aut nigrum trepidis impingit Oriona nautis.

non secus aequoreo iactat Teumesius amnis

Hippomedonta salo, semperque umbone sinistro

tollitur et clipeum nigrante supervenit aestu

465spumeus assultans, fractaque refunditur unda

et cumulo maiore redit; nec mole liquenti

contentus carpit putres servantia ripas

arbusta annosasque trabes eiectaque fundo

saxa rotat. Stat pugna impar amnisque virique,

470indignante deo; nec enim dat terga nec ullis

frangitur ille minis, venientesque obvius undas

intrat et obiecta dispellit flumina parma.

Stant terra fugiente gradus, et poplite tenso

lubrica saxa tenet, genibusque obnixus et haerens

475subruta fallaci servat vestigia limo,

sic etiam increpitans: "Unde haec, Ismene, repente

ira tibi? quove has traxisti gurgite vires,

imbelli famulate deo solumque cruorem

femineis experte choris, cum Bacchica mugit

480buxus et insanae maculant trieterida matres?"

Dixerat; atque illi sese deus obtulit ultro

turbidus imbre genas et nube natantis harenae,

nec saevit dictis, trunca sed pectora quercu

ter quater oppositi, quantum ira deusque valebat,

485impulit assurgens: tandem vestigia flexit

excussumque manu tegimen, conversaque lente

terga refert. instant undae sequiturque labantem

amnis ovans; nec non saxis et grandine ferri

desuper infestant Tyrii geminoque repellunt

490aggere. quid faciat bellis obsessus et undis?

Nec fuga iam misero, nec magnae copia mortis.

Stabat gramineae producta crepidine ripae

undarum ac terrae dubio, sed amicior undis,

fraxinus ingentique vadum possederat umbra.

495Huius opem - nam qua terras invaderet? - unca

arripuit dextra: nec pertulit illa trahentem;

sed maiore super, quam stabat, pondere victa

solvitur, et qua stagna subit radice quibusque

arentem mordebat humum dimissa superne

500iniecit sese trepido ripamque, nec ultra

passa virum subitae vallavit ponte ruinae.

Huc undae coëunt, et ineluctabile caeno

verticibusque cavis sidit crescitque barathrum.

Iamque umeros, iam colla ducis sinvosa vorago

505circuit: hic demum victus suprema fateri

exclamat: "Fluvione - pudet! -, Mars inclite, mergis

hanc animam, segnesque lacus et stagna subibo

ceu pecoris custos, subiti torrentis iniquis

interceptus aquis? Adeone occumbere ferro

510non merui?" Tandem precibus commota Tonantem

Iuno subit: "Quonam miseros, sator inclite divum,

Inachidas, quonam usque premes? Iam Pallas et odit

Tydea, iam rapto tacuerunt augure Delphi:

en meus Hippomedon, cui gentis origo Mycenae

515Argolicique lares numenque ante omnia Iuno

- sic ego fida meis? -, pelagi crudelibus ibit

praeda feris? certe tumulos supremaque victis

iusta dabas; ubi Cecropiae post proelia flammae,

Theseos ignis ubi est?" Non spernit coniugis aequas

520ille preces, leviterque oculos ad moenia Cadmi

rettulit, et viso sederunt flumina nutu.

illius exsangues umeri et perfossa patescunt

pectora: ceu ventis alte cum elata resedit

tempestas, surgunt scopuli quaesitaque nautis

525terra, et ab infestis descendunt aequora saxis.

Quid ripas tenuisse iuvat? Premit undique nimbo

telorum Phoenissa cohors, nec tegmina membris

ulla, omnisque patet leto; tunc vulnera manant,

quique sub amne diu stupuit cruor, aëre nudo

530solvitur et tenues venarum laxat hiatus,

incertique labant undarum e frigore gressus.

Procumbit, Getico qualis procumbit in Haemo

seu Boreae furiis putri seu robore quercus

caelo mixta comas, ingentemque aëra laxat:

535illam nutantem nemus et mons ipse tremescit,

qua tellure cadat, quas obruat ordine silvas.

Non tamen aut ensem galeamve audacia cuiquam

tangere; vix credunt oculis ingentiaque horrent

funera, et astrictis accedunt comminus armis.

540Tandem adiit Hypseus telumque in morte tenenti

extrahit et torvos laxavit casside vultus;

itque per Aonios alte mucrone corusco

suspensam ostentans galeam et clamore superbit:

Hic ferus Hippomedon, hic formidabilis ultor

545Tydeos infandi debellatorque cruenti

gurgitis!" Agnovit longe pressitque dolorem

magnanimus Capaneus, telumque immane lacertum

hortatur librans: "Ades o mihi, dextera, tantum

tu praesens bellis et inevitabile numen,

550te voco, te solam superum contemptor adoro".

sic ait, et voti sese facit ipse potentem.

it tremebunda abies clipeum per et aerea texta

loricae tandemque animam sub pectore magno

deprendit: ruit haud alio quam celsa fragore

555turris, ubi innumeros penitus quassata per ictus

labitur effractamque aperit victoribus urbem.

Cui super assistens: "Non infitiamur honorem

mortis" ait: "refer huc oculos, ego vulneris auctor;

laetus abi multumque aliis iactantior umbris!"

560tunc ensem galeamque rapit clipeumque revellit

ipsius; exanimumque tenens super Hippomedonta

"Accipe" ait, "simul hostiles, dux magne, tuasque

exuvias, veniet cineri decus et suus ordo

manibus; interea iustos dum reddimus ignes,

565hoc ultor Capaneus operit tua membra sepulcro".

sic anceps dura belli vice mutua Grais

Sidoniisque simul nectebat vulnera Mavors:

hic ferus Hippomedon, illic non segnior Hypseus

fletur, et alterni praebent solacia luctus.

570Tristibus interea somnum turbata figuris

torva sagittiferi mater Tegeatis ephebi,

crine dato passim plantisque ex more solutis,

ante diem gelidas ibat Ladonis ad undas

purgatura malum fluvio vivente soporem.

575Namque per attonitas curarum pondere noctes

saepe et delapsas adytis, quas ipsa dicarat,

exuvias, seque ignotis errare sepulcris

extorrem nemorum Dryadumque a plebe fugatam,

saepe novos nati bello rediisse triumphos,

580armaque et alipedem notum comitesque videbat,

numquam ipsum, nunc ex umeris fluxisse pharetras,

effigiesque suas simulacraque nota cremari.

Praecipuos sed enim illa metus portendere visast

nox miserae totoque erexit pectore matrem.

585Nota per Arcadias felici robore silvas

quercus erat, Triviae quam desacraverat ipsa

electam turba nemorum numenque colendo

fecerat: hic arcus et fessa reponere tela,

armaque curva suum et vacuorum terga leonum

590figere et ingentes aequantia cornua silvas.

Vix ramis locus, agrestes adeo omnia cingunt

exuviae, et viridem ferri nitor impedit umbram.

Hanc, ut forte iugis longo defessa redibat

venatu, modo rapta ferox Erymanthidos ursae

595ora ferens, multo proscissam vulnere cernit

deposuisse comam et rorantes sanguine ramos

exspirare solo; quaerenti Nympha cruentas

Maenadas atque hostem dixit saevisse Lyaeum.

Dum gemit et planctu circumdat pectus inani,

600abrupere oculi noctem maestoque cubili

exsilit et falsos quaerit per lumina fletus.

Ergo ut in amne nefas merso ter crine piavit

verbaque sollicitas matrum solantia curas

addidit, armatae ruit ad delubra Dianae

605rore sub Eoo, notasque ex ordine silvas

et quercum gavisa videt. tunc limina divae

astitit et tali nequiquam voce precatur:

"Virgo potens nemorum, cuius non mollia signa

militiamque trucem sexum indignata frequento

610more nihil Graio - nec te gens aspera ritu

Colchis Amazoniaeve magis coluere catervae -:

si mihi non umquam thiasi ludusve protervae

noctis et, inviso quamuis temerata cubili,

non tamen aut teretes thyrsos aut mollia gessi

615pensa, sed in tetricis et post conubia lustris,

sic quoque venatrix animumque innupta remansi;

nec mihi secretis culpam occultare sub antris

cura, sed ostendi prolem posuique trementem

ante tuos confessa pedes; nec degener ille

620sanguinis inque meos reptavit protinus arcus,

tela puer lacrimis et prima voce poposcit:

hunc mihi - quid trepidae noctes somnusque minantur? -

hunc, precor, audaci qui nunc ad proelia voto

heu nimium tibi fisus abit, da visere belli

625victorem, vel, si ampla peto, da visere tantum!

Hic sudet tuaque arma ferat. Preme dira malorum

signa; quid in nostris, nemoralis Delia, silvis

Maenades hostiles Thebanaque numina regnant?

Ei mihi! Cur penitus - simque augur cassa futuri! -,

630cur penitus magnoque interpretor omine quercum?

quod si vera sopor miserae praesagia mittit,

per te maternos, mitis Dictynna, labores

fraternumque decus, cunctis hunc fige sagittis

infelicem uterum; miserae sine funera matris

635audiat ille prior!" Dixit, fletuque soluto

aspicit et niveae saxum maduisse Dianae.

Illam diva ferox etiamnum in limine sacro

expositam et gelidas verrentem crinibus aras

linquit, et in mediis frondentem Maenalon astris

640exsuperat saltu gressumque ad moenia Cadmi

destinat, interior caeli qua semita ducit

dis tantum, et cunctas iuxta videt ardua terras.

iamque fere medium Parnasi frondea praeter

colla tenebat iter, cum fratrem in nube corusca

645aspicit haud solito visu: remeabat ab armis

maestus Echioniis, demersi funera lugens

auguris. irrubuit caeli plaga sidere mixto,

occursuque sacro pariter iubar arsit utrimque,

et coiere arcus et respondere pharetrae.

650ille prior: "Scio, Labdacias, germana, cohortes

et nimium fortes ausum petis Arcada pugnas.

Fida rogat genetrix: utinam indulgere precanti

fata darent! en ipse mei - pudet! - irritus arma

cultoris frondesque sacras ad inania vidi

655Tartara et in memet versos descendere vultus;

nec tenui currus terraeque abrupta coëgi,

saevus ego immeritusque coli. Lugentia cernis

antra, soror, mutasque domos: haec sola rependo

dona pio comiti; nec tu peritura movere

660auxilia et maestos in vanum perge labores.

Finis adest iuveni, non hoc mutabile fatum,

nec te de dubiis fraterna oracula fallunt".

Sed decus extremum certe" confusa vicissim

virgo refert, "veraeque licet solacia morti

665quaerere, nec fugiet poenas, quicumque nefandam

insontis pueri scelerarit sanguine dextram

impius, et nostris fas sit saevire sagittis".

Sic effata movet gressus libandaque fratri

parcius ora tulit, Thebasque infesta petivit.

670At pugna ereptis maior crudescit utrimque

regibus, alternosque ciet vindicta furores.

Hypseos hinc turmae desolatumque magistro

agmen, at hinc gravius fremit Hippomedontis adempti

orba cohors; praebent obnixi corpora ferro,

675idem ardor rabidis externum haurire cruorem

ac fudisse suum, nec se vestigia mutant:

stat cuneo defixa acies, hostique cruento

dant animas et terga negant: cum lapsa per auras

vertice Dircaei velox Latonia montis

680astitit; agnoscunt colles notamque tremescit

silva deam, saevis ubi quondam exserta sagittis

fecundam lasso Nioben consumpserat arcu.

Illum acies inter coepta iam caede superbum

nescius armorum et primas tunc passus habenas

685venator raptabat equus, quem discolor ambit

tigris et auratis adverberat unguibus armos.

Colla sedent nodis et castigata iubarum

libertas, nemorisque notae sub pectore primo

iactantur niveo lunata monilia dente.

690Ipse bis Oebalio saturatam murice pallam

lucentesque auro tunicas - hoc neverat unum

mater opus - tenui collectus in ilia vinclo,

cornipedis laevo clipeum demiserat armo,

ense gravis nimio: tereti iuvat aurea morsu

695fibula pendentis circum latera aspera cinctus,

vaginaeque sonum tremulumque audire pharetrae

murmur et a cono missas in terga catenas;

interdum cristas hilaris iactare comantis

et pictum gemmis galeae iubar. Ast ubi pugnae

700cassis anhela calet, resoluto vertice nudus

exoritur: tunc dulce comae radiisque trementes

dulce nitent visus et, quas dolet ipse morari,

nondum mutatae rosea lanugine malae.

nec formae sibi laude placet multumque severis

705asperat ora minis, sed frontis servat honorem

ira decens. Dat sponte locum Thebana iuventus,

natorum memores, intentaque tela retorquent,

sed premit et saevas miserantibus ingerit hastas.

Illum et Sidoniae iuga per Teumesia Nymphae

710bellantem atque ipso sudore et pulvere gratum

laudant, et tacito ducunt suspiria voto.

Talia cernenti mitis subit alta Dianae

corda dolor, fletuque genas violata "Quod" inquit,

"nunc tibi, quod leti quaeram, dea fida, propinqui

715effugium? Haecne ultro properasti in proelia, saeve

ac miserande puer? cruda heu festinaque virtus

suasit et hortatrix animosi gloria leti.

scilicet angustum iamdudum urgentibus annis

Maenalium tibi, parve, nemus, perque antra ferarum

720vix tutae sine matre viae, silvestria cuius

nondum tela procax arcumque implere valebas.

Et nunc illa meas ingentem plangit ad aras

invidiam surdasque fores et limina lassat:

tu dulces lituos ululataque proelia gaudes

725felix et miserae tantum periture parenti".

Ne tamen extremo frustra morientis honori

adfuerit, venit in medios caligine furva

saepta globos, primumque levis furata sagittas

audacis tergo pueri caelestibus implet

730coryton telis, quorum sine sanguine nullum

decidit; ambrosio tum spargit membra liquore,

spargit equum, ne quo violetur vulnere corpus

ante necem, cantusque sacros et conscia miscet

murmura, secretis quae Colchidas ipsa sub antris

735nocte docet monstratque feras quaerentibus herbas.

Tunc vero exserto circumuolat igneus arcu

nec se mente regit patria, matrisque suique

immemor, et nimium caelestibus utitur armis:

ut leo, cui parvo mater Gaetula cruentos

740suggerit ipsa cibos, cum primum crescere sensit

colla iubis torvosque novos respexit ad ungues,

indignatur ali, tandemque effusus apertos

liber amat campos et nescit in antra reverti.

Quos, age, Parrhasio sternis, puer improbe, cornu?

745Prima Tanagraeum turbavit harundo Coroebum

extremo galeae primoque in margine parmae

angusta transmissa via, stat faucibus unda

sanguinis, et sacri facies rubet igne veneni.

Saevius Eurytion, cui luminis orbe sinistro

750callida tergeminis acies se condidit uncis.

Ille trahens oculo plenam labente sagittam

ibat in auctorem: sed divum fortia quid non

tela queant? Alio geminatum lumine vulnus

explevit tenebras; sequitur tamen improbus hostem,

755qua meminit, fusum donec prolapsus in Idan

decidit: hic saevi miser inter funera belli

palpitat et mortem sociosque hostesque precatur.

Addit Abantiadas, insignem crinibus Argum

et male dilectum miserae Cydona sorori.

**

760Huic geminum obliqua traiecit harundine tempus,

exsilit hac ferrum, velox hac pinna remansit:

fluxit utrimque cruor. Nulli tela aspera mortis

dant veniam, non forma Lamum, non infula Lygdum,

non pubescentes texerunt Aeolon anni:

765figitur ora Lamus, flet saucius inguina Lygdus,

perfossus telo niveam gemis, Aeole, frontem.

Te praeceps Euboea tulit, te candida Thisbe

miserat, hunc virides non excipietis Amyclae.

Numquam cassa manus, nullum sine numine fugit

770missile, nec requies dextrae, sonitumque priori

iungit harundo sequens. Unum quis crederet arcum

aut unam saevire manum? Modo derigit ictus,

nunc latere alterno dubius conamina mutat,

nunc fugit instantes et solo respicit arcu.

775Et iam mirantes indignantesque coibant

Labdacidae, primusque Iovis de sanguine claro

Amphion ignarus adhuc, quae funera campis

ille daret: "Quonam usque moram lucrabere fati,

o multum meritos puer orbature parentes?

780quin etiam menti tumor atque audacia gliscit,

congressus dum nemo tuos pugnamque minorem

dignatur bellis iraque relinqueris infra.

I, repete Arcadiam mixtusque aequalibus illic,

dum ferus hic vero desaevit pulvere Mavors,

785proelia lude domi: quodsi te maesta sepulcri

fama movet, dabimus leto moriare virorum!"

Iamdudum hunc contra stimulis gravioribus ardet

trux Atalantiades; necdum ille quierat, et infit:

"Sera etiam in Thebas, quarum hic exercitus, arma

790profero; quisnam adeo puer ut bellare recuset

talibus? Arcadiae stirpem et fera semina gentis,

non Thebana vides: non me sub nocte silenti

thyias Echionio genetrix famulata Lyaeo

edidit, haud umquam deformis vertice mitras

795induimus turpique manu iactavimus hastam.

protinus astrictos didici reptare per amnes

horrendasque domus magnarum intrare ferarum

et - Quid plura loquar? Ferrum mea semper et arcus

mater habet, vestri feriunt cava tympana patres".

800Non tulit Amphion vultumque et in ora loquentis

telum immane rotat; sed ferri lumine diro

turbatus sonipes sese dominumque retorsit

in latus atque avidam transmisit devius hastam.

Acrior hoc iuvenem stricto mucrone petebat

805Amphion, cum se medio Latonia campo

iecit et ante oculos omnis stetit obvia vultu.

Haerebat iuveni devinctus amore pudico

Maenalius Dorceus, cui bella suumque timorem

mater et audaces pueri mandaverat annos.

810Huius tum vultu dea dissimulata profatur:

"Hactenus Ogygias satis infestasse catervas,

Parthenopaee, satis; miserae iam parce parenti,

parce deis, quicumque favent". Nec territus ille:

"Hunc sine me - non plura petam -, fidissime Dorceu,

815sternere humi, qui tela meis gerit aemula telis

et similes cultus et frena sonantia iactat.

Frena regam, cultus Triviae pendebitis alto

limine, captivis matrem donabo pharetris".

Audiit et mixto risit Latonia fletu.

820Viderat hanc caeli iamdudum in parte remota

Gradivum complexa Venus, dumque anxia Thebas

commemorat Cadmumque viro caraeque nepotes

Harmoniae, pressum tacito sub corde dolorem

tempestiva movet: "Nonne hanc, Gradive, protervam

825virginitate vides mediam se ferre virorum

coetibus? Utque acies audax et Martia signa

temperet? En etiam donat praebetque necandos

tot nostra de gente viros. Huic tradita virtus,

huic furor? agrestis superest tibi figere dammas".

830desilvit iustis commotus in arma querelis

Bellipotens, cui sola vagum per inane ruenti

Ira comes, reliqui sudant ad bella Furores.

Nec mora, cum maestam monitu Latoida duro

increpat assistens: "Non haec tibi proelia divum

835dat pater; armiferum ni protinus improba campum

deseris, huic aequam nosces nec Pallada dextrae".

Quid faciat contra? Premit hinc Mavortia cuspis,

hinc plenae tibi, parve, colus, Iovis inde severi

vultus: abit solo post haec evicta pudore.

840At pater Ogygias Mavors circumspicit alas

horrendumque Dryanta movet, cui sanguinis auctor

turbidus Orion, comitesque odisse Dianae;

inde furit. primum hinc turbatos arripit ense

Arcadas exarmatque ducem; cadit agmine longo

845Cyllenes populus Tegeesque habitator opacae,

Aepytiique duces Telphusiacaeque phalanges.

Ipsum autem et lassa fidit prosternere dextra,

nec servat vires: etenim huc iam fessus et illuc

mutabat turmas; urgent praesagia mille

850funeris, et nigrae praecedunt nubila mortis.

Iamque miser raros comites verumque videbat

Dorcea, iam viris paulatim abscedere sensit.

sensit et exhaustas umero leviore pharetras,

iam minus atque minus fert arma puerque videtur

855et sibi, cum torva clipei metuendus obarsit

luce Dryas: tremor ora repens ac viscera torsit

Arcados; utque feri vectorem fulminis albus

cum supra respexit olor, cupit hiscere ripam

Strymonos et trepidas in pectora contrahit alas:

860sic iuvenem saevi conspecta mole Dryantis

iam non ira subit, sed leti nuntius horror.

Arma tamen, frustra superos Triviamque precatus,

molitur pallens et surdos expedit arcus.

iamque instat telis et utramque obliquus in ulnam

865cornua contingit mucrone et pectora nervo,

cum ducis Aonii magno cita turbine cuspis

fertur in adversum nervique obliqua sonori

vincla secat: pereunt ictus manibusque remissis

vana supinato ceciderunt spicula cornu.

870Tunc miser et frenos turbatus et arma remisit,

vulneris impatiens, umeri quod tegmine dextri

intrarat facilemque cutem: subit altera cuspis

cornipedisque fugam succiso poplite sistit.

Tunc cadit ipse Dryas - mirum - nec vulneris umquam

875conscius: olim auctor teli causaeque patebunt.

At puer infusus sociis in devia campi

tollitur - heu simplex aetas! - moriensque iacentem

flebat equum; cecidit laxata casside vultus,

aegraque per trepidos exspirat gratia visus,

880et prensis concussa comis ter colla quaterque

stare negant, ipsisque nefas lacrimabile Thebis,

ibat purpureus niveo de pectore sanguis.

Tandem haec singultu verba incidente profatur:

"Labimur, i, miseram, Dorceu, solare parentem.

885Illa quidem, si vera ferunt praesagia curae,

aut somno iam triste nefas aut omine vidit.

Tu tamen arte pia trepidam suspende diuque

decipito; neu tu subitus neve arma tenenti

veneris, et tandem, cum iam cogere fateri,

890dic: "Merui, genetrix, poenas invita capesse;

arma puer rapui, nec te retinente quievi,

nec tibi sollicitae tandem inter bella peperci.

Vive igitur potiusque animis irascere nostris,

et iam pone metus. Frustra de colle Lycaei

895anxia prospectas, si quis per nubila longe

aut sonus aut nostro sublatus ab agmine pulvis:

frigidus et nuda iaceo tellure, nec usquam

tu prope, quae vultus efflantiaque ora teneres.

Hunc tamen, orba parens, crinem" - dextraque secandum

900praebuit - "hunc toto capies pro corpore crinem,

comere quem frustra me dedignante solebas.

huic dabis exsequias, atque inter iusta memento,

ne quis inexpertis hebetet mea tela lacertis

dilectosque canes ullis agat amplius antris.

905Haec autem primis arma infelicia castris

ure, vel ingratae crimen suspende Dianae".