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Ōbrŭĭt Hēspĕrĭā Phoēbūm Nōx ūmĭdă pōrtā,

īmpĕrĭīs prŏpĕrātă Iŏvīs; nēc cāstră Pĕlāsgūm

aūt Tўrĭās mĭsĕrātŭs ŏpēs, sēd trīstĕ, tŏt ēxtrā

āgmĭna ĕt īmmĕrĭtās fērrō dēcrēscĕrĕ gēntēs.

Pāndĭtŭr īmmēnsō dēfōrmīs sānguĭnĕ cāmpūs:5

īllīc ārma ĕt ĕquōs, ībānt quĭbŭs āntĕ sŭpērbī,

fūnĕrăque ōrbă rŏgīs nēglēctăquĕ mēmbră rĕlīnquūnt.

tūnc ĭnhŏnōră cŏhōrs lăcĕrīs īnsīgnĭbŭs aēgrās

sēcērnūnt ăcĭēs, pōrtaēque, ĭnĕūntĭbŭs ārmă

āngūstaē pŏpŭlīs, lātaē cēpērĕ rĕvērsōs.10

Pār ūtrīmquĕ dŏlōr; sēd dānt sōlācĭă Thēbīs

quāttŭŏr ērrāntēs Dănăūm sĭnĕ praēsĭdĕ tūrmaē:

ceū mărĕ pēr tŭmĭdūm vĭdŭaē mŏdĕrāntĭbŭs ālnī,

quās dĕŭs ēt cāsūs tēmpēstātēsquĕ gŭbērnānt.

īnde ănĭmūs Tўrĭīs nōn iām sŭă cāstră, sĕd ūltrō15

hōstīlēm sērvārĕ fŭgām, nē fōrtĕ Mўcēnās

cōntēntī rĕdĭīssĕ pĕtānt: dāt tēssĕră sīgnūm

ēxcŭbĭīs, pŏsĭtaēquĕ vĭcēs; dūx nōctĭs ŏpērtaē

sōrtĕ Mĕgēs ūltrōquĕ Lўcūs. Iāmque ōrdĭnĕ iūssō

ārmă, dăpēs īgnēmquĕ fĕrūnt; rēx fīrmăt ĕūntēs:20

"Vīctōrēs Dănăūm - nĕc ĕnīm lūx crāstĭnă lōngē,

nēc quaē prō tĭmĭdīs īntērcēssērĕ tĕnēbraē

sēmpĕr ĕrūnt -, aūgēte ănĭmōs ēt dīgnă sĕcūndīs

pēctŏră fērtĕ dĕīs. Iăcĕt ōmnīs glōrĭă Lērnaē

praēcĭpŭaēquĕ mănūs: sŭbĭīt ūltrīcĭă Tŷdeūs25

Tārtără, Mōrs sŭbĭtām nīgrī stŭpĕt aūgŭrĭs ūmbrām,

Īsmēnōs rāptīs tŭmĕt Hīppŏmĕdōntĭs ŏpīmīs,

Ārcădă bēllĭgĕrīs pŭdĕt ādnŭmĕrārĕ trŏpaēīs.

īn mănĭbūs mērcēs, nūsquām căpĭta ārdŭă bēllī

mōnstrātaēquĕ dŭcūm sēptēnă pĕr āgmĭnă crīstaē;30

scīlĭcĕt Ādrāstī sĕnĭūm frātērquĕ iŭvēntā

pēiŏr ĕt īnsānīs Căpăneūs mĕtŭēndŭs ĭn ārmīs.

Īte ăge ĕt ōbsēssīs vĭgĭlēm cīrcūmdătĕ flāmmām!

nūlli ēx hōstĕ mĕtūs: praēdam āssērvātĭs ŏpēsquĕ

iām vēstrās". Sīc īllĕ trŭcēs hōrtātĭbŭs īmplēt35

Lābdăcĭdās, iŭvăt ēxhaūstōs ĭtĕrārĕ lăbōrēs:

sīcŭt ĕrānt - pūlvīs sūdōrquĕ crŭōrquĕ pĕr ārtūs

mīxtŭs ădhūc - vērtērĕ grădūm; vīx ōbvĭă pāssī

cōllŏquĭa, āmplēxūs ĕtĭām dēxtrāsquĕ sŭōrūm

ēxcūssēre ŭmĕrīs. Tūm frōntem āvērsăquĕ tērgă40

pārtītī lătĕrūmquĕ sĭnūs, vāllum ūndĭquĕ cīngūnt

īgnĭbŭs īnfēstīs. Răbĭdī sīc āgmĭnĕ mūltō

sūb nōctēm cŏĭērĕ lŭpī, quōs ōmnĭbŭs āgrīs

nīl nōn aūsă fămēs lōngō tĕnŭāvĭt hĭātū:

iām stăbŭla īpsă prĕmūnt, tōrquēt spēs īrrĭtă faūcēs,45

bālātūsquĕ trĕmēns pīnguēsque ăb ŏvīlĭbŭs aūraē;

quōd sŭpĕrēst, dūrīs ādfrāngūnt pōstĭbŭs ūnguīs,

pēctŏrăque ēt sīccōs mĭnŭūnt īn līmĭnĕ dēntīs.

Āt prŏcŭl Ārgŏlĭcī sūpplēx īn mārgĭnĕ tēmplī

coētŭs ĕt ād pătrĭās fūsaē Pĕlŏpēĭdĕs ārās50

scēptrĭfĕraē Iūnōnĭs ŏpēm rĕdĭtūmquĕ sŭōrūm

ēxpōscūnt, pīctāsquĕ fŏrēs ēt frīgĭdă vūltū

sāxă tĕrūnt pārvōsquĕ dŏcēnt prōcūmbĕrĕ nātōs.

Cōndĭdĕrānt iām vōtă dĭēm; nōx āddĭtă cūrās

iūngĭt, ĕt īngēstīs vĭgĭlānt āltārĭă flāmmīs.55

Pēplum ĕtĭām dōnō, cūiūs mīrābĭlĕ tēxtūm

nūllă mănū stĕrĭlīs nēc dīssŏcĭātă mărītō

vērsārāt, călăthīs cāstaē vēlāmĭnă dīvaē

haūt spērnēndă fĕrūnt, vărĭīs ŭbĭ plūrĭmă flōrēt

pūrpŭră pīctă mŏdīs mīxtōque īncēndĭtŭr aūrō.60

Īpsa īllīc māgnī thălămō dēspōnsă Tŏnāntīs,

ēxpērs cōnŭbĭi ēt tĭmĭdē pŏsĭtūră sŏrōrēm,

lūmĭnĕ dēmīssō pŭĕrī Iŏvĭs ōscŭlă lībāt

sīmplēx ēt nōndūm fūrtīs ōffēnsă mărītī.

Hōc tūnc Ārgŏlĭcaē sānctūm vēlāmĭnĕ mātrēs65

īndŭĕrānt ĕbŭr, ēt lăcrĭmīs quēstūquĕ rŏgābānt:

"Āspĭcĕ sācrĭlĕgās Cādmēaē paēlĭcĭs ārcēs,

sīdĕrĕī rēgīnă pŏlī, tŭmŭlūmquĕ rĕbēllēm

dīssĭce ĕt īn Thēbās ălĭūd - pŏtĕs - ēxcŭtĕ fūlmēn."

Quīd făcĭāt? Scīt Fātă sŭīs cōntrārĭă Grāīs70

āvērsūmquĕ Iŏvēm, sēd nēc pĕrĭīssĕ prĕcātūs

tāntăquĕ dōnă vĕlīt; tēmpūs tămĕn ōbvĭă māgnī

fōrs dĕdĭt aūxĭlĭī. vĭdĕt ālto ēx aēthĕrĕ clūsă

moēnĭa ĕt īnsōmnī vāllūm stătĭōnĕ tĕnērī:

hōrrŭĭt īrārūm stĭmŭlīs mōtāquĕ vĕrēndūm75

tūrbāvīt dĭădēmă cŏmā: nōn saēvĭŭs ārsīt

Hērcŭlĕaē cūm mātrĭs ŏnūs gĕmĭnōsquĕ Tŏnāntīs

sēcŭbĭtūs văcŭīs īndīgnārētŭr ĭn āstrīs.

Ērgo īntēmpēstā sōmnī dūlcēdĭnĕ cāptōs

dēstĭnăt Āŏnĭōs lētō praēbērĕ, sŭāmquĕ80

ōrbĭbŭs āccīngī sŏlĭtīs iŭbĕt Īrĭn ĕt ōmnĕ

māndăt ŏpūs. pārēt iūssīs dĕă clāră pŏlūmquĕ

līnquĭt ĕt īn tērrās lōngō sūspēndĭtŭr ārcū.

Stāt sŭpĕr ōccĭdŭaē nĕbŭlōsă cŭbīlĭă Nōctīs

Aēthĭŏpāsque ălĭōs, nūllī pĕnĕtrābĭlĭs āstrō,85

lūcŭs ĭnērs, sūbtērquĕ căvīs grăvĕ rūpĭbŭs āntrūm

īt văcŭum īn mōntēm, quā dēsĭdĭs ātrĭă Sōmnī

sēcūrūmquĕ lărēm sēgnīs Nātūră lŏcāvīt.

Līmĕn ŏpācă Quĭēs ēt pīgra Ōblīvĭŏ sērvānt

ēt nūmquām vĭgĭlī tōrpēns Īgnāvĭă vūltū.90

Ōtĭă vēstĭbŭlō prēssīsquĕ Sĭlēntĭă pīnnīs

mūtă sĕdēnt ăbĭgūntquĕ trŭcēs ā cūlmĭnĕ vēntōs

ēt rāmōs ērrārĕ vĕtānt ēt mūrmŭră dēmūnt

ālĭtĭbūs. nōn hīc pĕlăgī, lĭcĕt ōmnĭă clāmēnt

lītŏră, nōn ūllūs caēlī frăgŏr; īpsĕ prŏfūndīs95

vāllĭbŭs ēffŭgĭēns spēlūncaē prōxĭmŭs āmnīs

sāxa īntēr scŏpŭlōsquĕ tăcēt: nīgrāntĭă cīrcūm

ārmēnta, ōmnĕ sŏlō rĕcŭbāt pĕcŭs, ēt nŏvă mārcēnt

gērmĭnă, tērrārūmque īnclīnāt spīrĭtŭs hērbās.

Mīlle īntūs sĭmŭlācră dĕī caēlāvĕrăt ārdēns100

Mūlcĭbĕr: hīc haērēt lătĕrī rĕdĭmītă Vŏlūptās,

hīc cŏmĕs īn rĕquĭēm vērgēns Lăbŏr, ēst ŭbĭ Bācchō,

ēst ŭbĭ Mārtĭgĕnaē sŏcĭūm pūlvīnăr Ămōrī

ōbtĭnĕt. Īntĕrĭūs tēcti īn pĕnĕtrālĭbŭs āltīs

ēt cūm Mōrtĕ iăcēt, nūllīque ĕă trīstĭs ĭmāgŏ105

cērnĭtŭr. haē spĕcĭēs: īpse aūtem ūmēntĭă sūbtēr

āntră sŏpōrĭfĕrō stīpātōs flōrĕ tăpētās

īncŭbăt: ēxhālānt vēstēs ēt cōrpŏrĕ pīgrō

strātă călēnt, sūprāquĕ tŏrūm nĭgĕr ēfflăt ănhēlō

ōrĕ văpōr; mănŭs haēc fūsōs ā tēmpŏrĕ laēvō110

sūstēntāt crīnīs, haēc cōrnu ōblītă rĕmīsīt.

Ādsūnt īnnŭmĕrō cīrcūm văgă Sōmnĭă vūltū,

vēră sĭmūl fālsīs pērmīxtăquĕ †flūmĭnă flāmmīs†.

Nōctĭs ŏpācă cŏhōrs, trăbĭbūsque aūt pōstĭbŭs haērēnt,

aūt tēllūrĕ iăcēnt. tĕnŭīs, quī cīrcŭĭt aūlām,115

īnvălĭdūsquĕ nĭtōr, prīmōsque hōrtāntĭă sōmnōs

lānguĭdă sūccĭdŭīs ēxspīrānt lūmĭnă flāmmīs.

Hūc sē caērŭlĕō lībrāvĭt ăb aēthĕrĕ vīrgŏ

dīscŏlŏr: ēffūlgēnt sīlvaē, tĕnĕbrōsăquĕ tēmpē

ādrīsērĕ dĕae, ēt zōnīs lūcēntĭbŭs īctă120

ēvĭgĭlāt dŏmŭs; īpse aūtēm nēc lāmpădĕ clārā

nēc sŏnĭtū nēc vōcĕ dĕaē pērcūlsŭs ĕōdēm

mōrĕ iăcēt, dōnēc rădĭōs Thaūmāntĭăs ōmnīs

īmpŭlĭt īnque ŏcŭlōs pĕnĭtūs dēscēndĭt ĭnērtēs.

tūnc sīc ōrsă lŏquī nīmbōrūm fūlvă crĕātrīx:125

"Sīdŏnĭōs tē Iūnŏ dŭcēs, mītīssĭmĕ dīvūm

Sōmnĕ, iŭbēt pŏpŭlūmquĕ trŭcīs dēfīgĕrĕ Cādmī,

quī nūnc ēvēntū bēllī tŭmĕfāctŭs Ăchaēūm

pērvĭgĭl āssērvāt vāllum ēt tŭă iūră rĕcūsāt.

Dā prĕcĭbūs tāntīs, rāra ēst hōc pōssĕ făcūltās130

plācātūmquĕ Iŏvēm dēxtrā Iūnōnĕ mĕrērĕ."

Dīxĭt, ĕt īncrĕpĭtāns lānguēntĭă pēctŏră dēxtrā,

nē pĕrĕānt vōcēs, ĭtĕrūmque ĭtĕrūmquĕ mŏnēbāt.

Īllĕ dĕaē iūssīs vūltū, quō nūtăt, ĕōdēm

ādnŭĭt; ēxcēdīt grăvĭōr nīgrāntĭbŭs āntrīs135

Īrĭs ĕt ōbtūnsūm mūltō iŭbăr ēxcĭtăt īmbrī.

Īpsĕ quŏque ēt vŏlŭcrēm grēssum ēt vēntōsă cĭtāvīt

tēmpŏra, ĕt ōbscūrī sīnvātām frīgŏrĕ caēlī

īmplēvīt chlămўdēm, tăcĭtōquĕ pĕr aēthĕră cūrsū

fērtŭr ĕt Āŏnĭīs lōngē grăvĭs īmmĭnĕt ārvīs.140

īllĭŭs aūră sŏlō vŏlŭcrēs pĕcŭdēsquĕ fĕrāsquĕ

ēxplĭcăt, ēt pĕnĭtūs, quēmcūmquĕ sŭpērvŏlăt ōrbēm,

lānguĭdă dē scŏpŭlīs sīdūnt frĕtă, pīgrĭŭs haērēnt

nūbĭlă, dēmīttūnt ēxtrēmă căcūmĭnă sīlvaē,

plūrăquĕ lāxātō cĕcĭdērūnt sīdĕră caēlō.145

Prīmŭs ădēssĕ dĕūm sŭbĭtā cālīgĭnĕ sēnsīt

cāmpŭs, ĕt īnnŭmĕraē vōcēs frĕmĭtūsquĕ vĭrōrūm

sūbmīsērĕ sŏnūm: cūm vēro ūmēntĭbŭs ālīs

īncŭbŭīt pĭcĕāque haūd ūmquām dēnsĭŏr ūmbrā

cāstră sŭbīt, ērrāre ŏcŭlī rĕsŏlūtăquĕ cōllă,150

ēt mĕdĭo āffātū vērba īmpērfēctă rĕlīnquī.

mōx ēt fūlgēntēs clĭpĕōs ēt saēvă rĕmīttūnt

pīlă mănū, lāssīquĕ cădūnt īn pēctŏră vūltūs.

Ēt iām cūnctă sĭlēnt: īpsī iām stārĕ rĕcūsānt

cōrnĭpĕdēs, īpsōs sŭbĭtūs cĭnĭs ābstŭlĭt īgnīs.155

Āt nōn ēt trĕpĭdīs ĕădēm Sŏpŏr ōtĭă Grāīs

suādĕt, ĕt ādiūnctīs ārcēt sŭă nūbĭlă cāstrīs

nōctĭvăgī vīs blāndă dĕī: stānt ūndĭque ĭn ārmīs

foēdam īndīgnāntēs nōctēm vĭgĭlēsquĕ sŭpērbōs.

Ēccĕ rĕpēns sŭpĕrīs ănĭmūm lŷmphāntĭbŭs hōrrōr160

Thīŏdămāntă sŭbīt fōrmīdāndōquĕ tŭmūltū

pāndĕrĕ fātă iŭbēt, sīve hānc Sātūrnĭă mēntēm,

sīvĕ nŏvūm cŏmĭtēm bŏnŭs īnstīgābăt Ăpōllŏ.

Prōsĭlĭt īn mĕdĭōs, vīsu aūdītūquĕ trĕmēndūs

īmpătĭēnsquĕ dĕī, frăgĭlī quēm mēntĕ rĕcēptūm165

nōn căpĭt: ēxūndānt stĭmŭlī, nūdūsquĕ pĕr ōră

stāt fŭrŏr, ēt trĕpĭdās īncērtō sānguĭnĕ tēndīt

ēxhaūrītquĕ gĕnās - ăcĭēs hūc ērrăt ĕt īllūc -

sērtăquĕ mīxtă cŏmīs spārsā cērvīcĕ flăgēllāt.

Sīc Phrўgă tērrĭfĭcīs gĕnĕtrīx Īdaēă crŭēntūm170

ēlĭcĭt ēx ădўtīs cōnsūmptăquĕ brācchĭă fērrō

scīrĕ vĕtāt; quătĭt īllĕ săcrās īn pēctŏră pīnūs

sānguĭnĕōsquĕ rŏtāt crīnēs ēt vūlnĕră cūrsū

ēxănĭmāt: păvĕt ōmnĭs ăgēr rēspērsăquĕ cūltrīx

ārbŏr, ĕt āttŏnĭtī cūrrum ērēxērĕ lĕōnēs.175

Vēntum ād cōncĭlĭī pĕnĕtrālĕ dŏmūmquĕ vĕrēndām

sīgnōrūm, māgnīs ŭbĭ dūdūm clādĭbŭs aēgēr,

rērum ēxtrēmă mŏvēns, frūstrā cōnsūltăt Ădrāstūs.

Stānt cīrcūm sŭbĭtī prŏcĕrēs, ūt quīsquĕ pĕrēmptō

prōxĭmŭs, ēt māgnīs lŏcă dēsōlātă tŭēntūr180

rēgĭbŭs haūd laētī sēque hūc crēvīssĕ dŏlēntēs.

nōn sĕcŭs āmīssō mĕdĭūm cūm praēsĭdĕ pūppīs

frēgĭt ĭtēr, sŭbĭt ād vĭdŭī mŏdĕrāmĭnă clāvī

aūt lătĕrūm cūstōs, aūt quēm pĕnĕs ōbvĭă pōntō

prōră fŭīt: stŭpĕt īpsă rătīs tārdēquĕ sĕquūntūr185

ārmă, nĕc āccēdīt dŏmĭnō tūtēlă mĭnōrī.

Ērgo ălăcēr trĕpĭdōs sīc ērĭgĭt aūgŭr Ăchīvōs:

"Māgnă dĕūm māndātă, dŭcēs, mŏnĭtūsquĕ vĕrēndōs

ādvĕhĭmūs, nōn haē nōstrō dē pēctŏrĕ vōcēs:

īllĕ cănīt, cuī mē fămŭlāri ēt sūmĕrĕ vīttās190

vēstră fĭdēs, īpsō nōn dīscōrdāntĕ, sŭbēgīt.

Nōx fēcūnda ŏpĕrūm pūlchraēque āccōmmŏdă fraūdī

pāndĭtŭr aūgŭrĭō dīvūm; vŏcăt ōbvĭă Vīrtūs,

ēt pōscīt Fōrtūnă mănūs. Stŭpĕt ōbrŭtă sōmnō

Āŏnĭdūm lĕgĭō: tēmpūs nūnc fūnĕră rēgūm195

ūlcīscī mĭsĕrūmquĕ dĭēm; răpĭte ārmă mŏrāsquĕ

frāngĭtĕ pōrtārūm: sŏcĭīs hōc sūbdĕrĕ flāmmās,

hōc tŭmŭlārĕ sŭōs. Ĕquĭdem haēc ēt Mārtĕ dĭūrnō

dūm rēs īnfrāctaē pūlsīque īn tērgă rĕdīmūs

- pēr trĭpŏdās iūro ēt rāptī nŏvă fātă măgīstrī -200

vīdi, ēt mē vŏlŭcrēs cīrcūm plaūsērĕ sĕcūndaē.

Sēd nūnc cērtă fĭdēs. Mŏdŏ mē sūb nōctĕ sĭlēntī

īpse, īpse āssūrgēns ĭtĕrūm tēllūrĕ sŏlūtā,

quālĭs ĕrāt - sōlōs īnfēcĕrăt ūmbră iŭgālīs -,

Āmphĭărāŭs ădīt: nōn vānaē mōnstră quĭētīs,205

nēc sōmnō cōmpērtă lŏquōr. "Tūne" īnquĭt, "ĭnērtīs

Īnăchĭdās - rēdde haēc Pārnāsĭă sērtă mĕōsquĕ

rēddĕ dĕōs - tāntām pătĭēre āmīttĕrĕ nōctēm,

dēgĕnĕr? Haēc ĕgŏmēt caēlī sēcrētă văgōsquĕ

ēdŏcŭī lāpsūs? Văde hĕīa, ūlcīscĕrĕ fērrō210

nōs sāltēm!" dīxīt, mēque haēc ād līmĭnă vīsūs

cūspĭdĕ sūblātā tōtōque īmpēllĕrĕ cūrrū.

Quāre ăgĭte, ūtēndūm sŭpĕrīs; nōn cōmmĭnŭs hōstēs

stērnēndī: bēllūm iăcĕt, ēt saēvīrĕ pŏtēstās.

Ēcqui ădĕrūnt, quōs īngēntī se āttōllĕrĕ fāmā215

nōn pĭgĕāt, dūm fātă sĭnūnt? ĭtĕrum ēccĕ bĕnīgnaē

nōctĭs ăvēs; sĕquŏr, ēt cŏmĭtūm lĭcĕt āgmĭnă cēssēnt,

sōlŭs ĕo! Ātque ădĕō vĕnĭt īlle ēt quāssăt hăbēnās".

Tālĭă vōcĭfĕrāns nōctem ēxtūrbābăt, ĕūntquĕ

nōn sĕcŭs āccēnsī prŏcĕrēs, quām si ōmnĭbŭs īdēm220

cōrdĕ dĕūs: flāgrānt cŏmĭtāri ēt iūngĕrĕ cāsūs.

tēr dēnōs nŭmĕrō, tūrmārūm rōbŏră, iūssūs

īpsĕ lĕgīt; cīrcā frĕmĭt īndīgnātă iŭvēntūs

cētĕră, cūr mănĕānt cāstrīs īgnāvăquĕ sērvēnt

ōtĭă: pārs sūblīmĕ gĕnūs, pārs fāctă sŭōrūm,225

pārs sŭă, sōrtem ălĭī clāmānt, sōrtem ūndĭquĕ pōscūnt.

gaūdĕt ĭn ādvērsīs ănĭmōque āssūrgĭt Ădrāstūs.

Vērtĭcĕ sīc Phŏlŏēs vŏlŭcrūm nūtrītŏr ĕquōrūm,

cūm fētūră grĕgēm pĕcŏrōsō vērĕ nŏvāvīt,

laētātūr cērnēns hōs mōntĭs ĭn ārdŭă nītī,230

hōs īnnārĕ vădīs, cērtārĕ părēntĭbŭs īllōs;

tūnc văcŭō sūb cōrdĕ mŏvēt, quī mōllĕ dŏmāndī

fērrĕ iŭgūm, quī tērgă bŏnī, quĭs ĭn ārmă tŭbāsquĕ

nātŭs, ăd Ēlēās mĕlĭōr quīs sūrgĕrĕ pālmās:

tālĭs ĕrāt tūrmaē dūctōr lōngaēvŭs Ăchīvaē.235

nēc dēēst coēptīs: "Ūnde haēc tām sēră rĕpēntĕ

nūmĭnă? quī frāctōs sŭpĕrī rĕdĭīstĭs ăd Ārgōs?

ēstne hīc īnfēlīx vīrtūs? gēntīquĕ sŭpērstēs

sānguĭs, ĕt īn mĭsĕrīs ănĭmōrūm sēmĭnă dūrānt?

laūdo ĕquĭdem, ēgrĕgĭī iŭvĕnēs, pūlchrāquĕ mĕōrūm240

sēdītiōnĕ frŭōr; sēd fraūdem ĕt ŏpērtă părāmūs

proēlĭă, cēlāndī mōtūs: nūmquam āptă lătēntī

tūrbă dŏlō. Sērvāte ănĭmōs, vĕnĭt ūltŏr ĭn hōstīs

ēccĕ dĭēs; tūnc ārmă pălām, tūnc ībĭmŭs ōmnēs".

hīs tāndēm vīrtūs iŭvĕnūm frēnātă quĭēvīt:245

nōn ălĭtēr mōtō quām sī pătĕr Aēŏlŭs āntrō

pōrtam ĭtĕrūm sāxō prĕmăt īmpĕrĭōsŭs ĕt ōmnĕ

claūdăt ĭtēr, iāmiām spērāntĭbŭs aēquŏră vēntīs.

Īnsŭpĕr Hērcŭlĕūm sĭbĭ iūngĭt Ăgŷllĕă vātēs

Āctŏrăque: hīc āptūs suādēre, hīc rōbŏrĕ iāctāt250

nōn cēssīssĕ pătrī; cŏmĭtēs trĭbŭs ōrdĭnĕ dēnī,

hōrrēndum Āŏnĭīs ēt cōntrā stāntĭbŭs āgmēn.

īpsĕ nŏvī grădĭēns fūrta ād Māvōrtĭă bēllī

pōnĭt ădōrātās, Phoēbēa īnsīgnĭă, frōndēs,

lōngaēvīquĕ dŭcīs grĕmĭō cōmmēndăt hŏnōrēm255

frōntĭs, ĕt ōblātām Pŏlўnīcīs mūnĕrĕ grātō

lōrīcām gălĕāmquĕ sŭbīt. Fĕrŭs Āctŏră māgnō

ēnsĕ grăvāt Căpăneūs, īpse haūd dīgnātŭs ĭn hōstēm

īrĕ dŏlō sŭpĕrōsquĕ sĕquī. Pērmūtăt Ăgŷlleūs

ārmă trŭcīs Nŏmĭī: quĭd ĕnīm fāllēntĭbŭs ūmbrīs260

ārcŭs ĕt Hērcūlēae iūvīssēnt bēllă săgīttaē?

Īndĕ pĕr ābrūptās cāstrōrum ēx āggĕrĕ pīnnās,

nē grăvĭs ēxclāmēt pōrtaē mūgītŭs ăēnaē,

praēcĭpĭtānt sāltū; nēc lōngum, ēt prōtĭnŭs īngēns

praēdă sŏlō ceū iam ēxănĭmēs mūltōquĕ pĕrāctī265

ēnsĕ iăcēnt. "Īte, ō sŏcĭī, quācūmquĕ vŏlūptās

caēdĭs ĭnēxhaūstaē, sŭpĕrīsquĕ făvēntĭbŭs, ōrō,

sūffĭcĭte!" hōrtātūr clārā iām vōcĕ săcērdōs,

"cērnĭtĭs ēxpŏsĭtās tūrpī mārcōrĕ cŏhōrtēs?

Prō pŭdŏr! Ārgŏlĭcās hīne aūsi ōbsīdĕrĕ pōrtās,270

hī sērvārĕ vĭrōs?" Sīc fātŭs, ĕt ēxŭĭt ēnsēm

fūlmĭnĕūm răpĭdāquĕ mănū mŏrĭēntĭă trānsīt

āgmĭnă. quīs nŭmĕrēt caēdēs, aūt nōmĭnĕ tūrbām

ēxănĭmēm sīgnārĕ quĕāt? sŭbĭt ōrdĭnĕ nūllō

tērgăquĕ pēctŏrăque ēt gălĕīs īnclūsă rĕlīnquīt275

mūrmŭră pērmīscētquĕ văgōs īn sānguĭnĕ mānēs:

hūnc tĕmĕre ēxplĭcĭtūm strātīs, hūnc sērŏ rĕmīssīs

grēssĭbŭs īllāpsūm clĭpĕo ēt mălĕ tēlă tĕnēntēm,

coētĭbŭs hōs mĕdĭīs vīna īntĕr ĕt ārmă iăcēntēs,

ācclīnīs clĭpĕīs ălĭōs, ūt quēmquĕ lĭgātūm280

īnfēlīx tēllūrĕ sŏpōr sūprēmăquĕ nūbēs

ōbrŭĕrāt. nēc nūmĕn ăbēst, ārmātăquĕ Iūnŏ

lūnārēm quătĭēns ēxsērtā lāmpădă dēxtrā

pāndĭt ĭtēr fīrmātque ănĭmōs ēt cōrpŏră mōnstrāt.

sēntĭt ădēssĕ dĕām, tăcĭtūs sēd gaūdĭă cēlāt285

Thīŏdămās; iām tārdă mănūs, iām dēbĭlĕ fērrūm

ēt cālīgāntēs nĭmĭīs sūccēssĭbŭs īraē.

Cāspĭă nōn ălĭtēr māgnōrum īn strāgĕ iŭvēncūm

tīgrĭs, ŭbi īmmēnsō răbĭēs plācātă crŭōrĕ

lāssāvītquĕ gĕnās ēt crāssō sōrdĭdă tābō290

cōnfūdīt măcŭlās, spēctāt sŭă fāctă dŏlētquĕ

dēfēcīssĕ fămēm: vīctūs sīc aūgŭr ĭnērrāt

caēdĭbŭs Āŏnĭīs; ōptēt nūnc brācchĭă cēntūm

cēntēnāsque īn bēllă mănūs; iām taēdĕt ĭnānēs

ēxhaūrīrĕ mĭnās, hōstēmque āssūrgĕrĕ māllēt.295

Pārte ălĭā sēgnēs māgnō sătŭs Hērcŭlĕ vāstāt

Sīdŏnĭōs Āctōrque ălĭā, sŭă quēmquĕ crŭēntō

līmĭtĕ tūrbă sŭbīt: stāgnānt nīgrāntĭă tābō

grāmĭnă, sānguĭnĕīs nūtānt tēntōrĭă rīvīs;

fūmăt hŭmūs, sōmnīque ēt mōrtĭs ănhēlĭtŭs ūnā300

vōlvĭtŭr; haūt quīsquām vīsūs aūt ōră iăcēntūm

ērēxīt: tālī mĭsĕrīs dĕŭs ālĭgĕr ūmbrā

īncŭbăt ēt tāntūm mŏrĭēntĭă lūmĭnă sōlvīt.

Trāxĕrăt īnsōmnīs cĭthărā lūdōquĕ sŭprēmă

sīdĕră iām nūllōs vīsūrŭs Ĭālmĕnŭs ōrtūs,305

Sīdŏnĭūm paēānă cănēns; huīc lānguĭdă cērvīx

īn laēvūm cōgēntĕ dĕō mĕdĭāquĕ iăcēbānt

cōllă rĕplīctă lўrā: fērrūm pēr pēctŭs Ăgŷlleūs

ēxĭgĭt āptātāmquĕ căvā tēstūdĭnĕ dēxtrām

pērcŭtĭt ēt dĭgĭtōs īntēr sŭă fīlă trĕmēntēs.310

Prōtūrbāt mēnsās dīrūs lĭquŏr: ūndĭquĕ mānānt

sānguĭnĕ pērmīxtī lătĭcēs ēt Bācchŭs ĭn āltōs

crātērās pătĕrāsquĕ rĕdīt. Fĕrŭs ōccŭpăt Āctōr

īmplĭcĭtūm frātrī Thămўrīn, Tăgŭs haūrĭt Ĕchētlī

tērgă cŏrōnātī, Daūnūs căpŭt āmpŭtăt Hēbrī:315

nēscĭŭs heū răpĭtūr fātīs, hĭlărīsquĕ sŭb ūmbrās

vītă fŭgīt mōrtīsquĕ fĕraē lūcrātă dŏlōrēs.

strātŭs hŭmō gĕlĭdā sūbtēr iŭgă fīdă rŏtāsquĕ

Cālpĕtŭs Āŏnĭōs grāmēn gēntīlĕ mĕtēntēs

prōflātū tērrēbăt ĕquōs: mădĭda ōră rĕdūndānt320

āccēnsūsquĕ mĕrō sŏpŏr aēstŭăt; ēccĕ iăcēntīs

Īnăchĭūs vātēs iŭgŭlūm fŏdĭt, ēxpŭlĭt īngēns

vīnă crŭōr frāctūmquĕ pĕrīt īn sānguĭnĕ mūrmūr.

Fōrs īllī praēsāgă quĭēs, nīgrāsquĕ grăvātūs

pēr sōmnūm Thēbās ēt Thīŏdămāntă vĭdēbāt.325

Quārtă sŏpōrĭfĕraē sŭpĕrābānt tēmpŏră nōctī,

cūm văcŭaē nūbēs ĕt hŏnōr nōn ōmnĭbŭs āstrīs,

ādflātūsquĕ fŭgīt cūrrū māiōrĕ Bŏōtēs.

Iāmque īpsūm dēfēcĭt ŏpūs, cūm prōvĭdŭs Āctōr

Thīŏdămāntă vŏcāt: "Sătĭs haēc ĭnŏpīnă Pĕlāsgīs330

gaūdĭă: vīx ūllōs tāntō rĕŏr āgmĭnĕ saēvām

ēffūgīssĕ nĕcēm, nī quōs dēfōrmĭs ĭn āltō

sānguĭnĕ dēgĕnĕrēs ōccūltāt vītă; sĕcūndīs

pōnĕ mŏdūm: sūnt ēt dīrīs sŭă nūmĭnă Thēbīs.

fōrsĭtăn ēt nōbīs mŏdŏ quaē fāvērĕ, rĕcēdānt."335

Pārŭĭt, ēt mădĭdās tōllēns ād sīdĕră pālmās:

"Phoēbĕ, tĭbi ēxŭvĭās mōnstrātaē praēmĭă nōctīs

nōndum āblūtŭs ăquīs - tĭbi ĕnim haēc ĕgŏ sācră lĭtāvī -

trādŏ fĕrūs mīlēs trĭpŏdūm fīdūsquĕ săcērdōs.

Sī nōn dēdĕcŭī tŭă iūssă tŭlīquĕ prĕmēntēm,340

saēpĕ vĕnī, saēpe hānc dīgnāre īrrūmpĕrĕ mēntēm.

nūnc tĭbĭ crūdŭs hŏnōs, trūnca ārmă crŭōrquĕ vĭrōrūm:

āt pătrĭās sī quāndŏ dŏmōs ōptātăquĕ, Paēān,

tēmplă, Lўcīĕ, dăbīs, tōt dītĭă dōnă săcrātīs

pōstĭbŭs ēt tŏtĭdēm vōtī mĕmŏr ēxĭgĕ taūrōs".345

Dīxĕrăt, ēt laētīs sŏcĭōs rĕvŏcābăt ăb ārmīs.

Vēnĕrăt hōs īntēr fātō Călўdōnĭŭs Hōpleūs

Maēnălĭūsquĕ Dўmās, dīlēctī rēgĭbŭs āmbō,

rēgum āmbō cŏmĭtēs, quōrūm pōst fūnĕră maēstī

vītam īndīgnāntūr. prĭŏr Ārcădă cōncĭtăt Hōpleūs:350

"Nūllănĕ pōst mānēs rēgīs tĭbĭ cūră pĕrēmptī,

cārĕ Dўmā, tĕnĕānt quēm iām fōrtāssĕ vŏlūcrēs

Thēbānīquĕ cănēs? pătrĭaē quīd deīndĕ fĕrētīs,

Ārcădĕs? Ēn rĕdŭcēs cōntrā vĕnĭt āspĕră mātēr:

fūnŭs ŭbi? Āt nōstrō sēmpēr sūb pēctŏrĕ Tŷdeūs355

saēvĭt ĭnōps tŭmŭlī, quāmvīs pătĭēntĭŏr ārtūs

īllĕ nĕc ābrūptīs ădĕō lăcrĭmābĭlĭs ānnīs.

Īrĕ tămēn saēvūmquĕ lĭbēt nūllo ōrdĭnĕ pāssīm

scrūtārī cāmpūm, mĕdĭāsve īrrūmpĕrĕ Thēbās."

Ēxcĭpĭt ōrsă Dўmās: "Pĕr ĕgo haēc văgă sīdĕră iūrō,360

pēr dŭcĭs ērrāntīs īnstār mĭhĭ nūmĭnĭs ūmbrās,

īdem ănĭmūs mĭsĕrō; cŏmĭtēm cīrcūmspĭcĭt ōlīm

mēns hŭmĭlīs lūctū, sēd nūnc prĭŏr ībŏ", vĭāmquĕ

īncŏhăt ēt maēstō cōnvērsŭs ăd aēthĕră vūltū

sīc ăĭt: "Ārcānaē mŏdĕrātrīx Cŷnthĭă nōctīs,365

sī tē tērgĕmĭnīs pĕrhĭbēnt vărĭārĕ fĭgūrīs

nūmĕn ĕt īn sīlvās ălĭō dēscēndĕrĕ vūltū,

īllĕ cŏmēs nūpēr nĕmŏrūmque īnsīgnĭs ălūmnūs,

īllĕ tŭūs, Dīānă, pŭēr - nūnc rēspĭcĕ sāltēm -

quaērĭtŭr". Īncēndīt prōnīs dĕă cōrnĭbŭs ālmūm370

sīdŭs ĕt ādmōtō mōnstrāvīt fūnĕră cūrrū.

Āppārēnt cāmpī Thēbaēque āltūsquĕ Cĭthaērōn:

sīc ŭbĭ nōctūrnūm tŏnĭtrū mălŭs aēthĕră frāngīt

Iūppĭtĕr, ābsĭlĭūnt nūbēs ēt fūlgŭrĕ clārō

āstră lătēnt, sŭbĭtūsque ŏcŭlīs ōstēndĭtŭr ōrbīs.375

Āccēpīt rădĭōs ĕt ĕādēm pērcĭtŭs Hōpleūs

Tŷdĕă lūcĕ vĭdēt; lōngē dānt sīgnă pĕr ūmbrās

mūtŭă laētāntēs, ĕt ămīcūm pōndŭs ŭtērquĕ,

ceū rĕdŭcēs vītaē saēvāque ā mōrtĕ rĕmīssōs,

sūbiēctā cērvīcĕ lĕvānt; nēc vērbă, nĕc aūsī380

flērĕ dĭū: prŏpĕ saēvă dĭēs īndēxquĕ mĭnātūr

ōrtŭs. Ĕūnt tăcĭtī pēr maēstă sĭlēntĭă māgnīs

pāssĭbŭs ēxhaūstāsquĕ dŏlēnt pāllērĕ tĕnēbrās.

Īnvĭdă fātă pĭīs ēt fōrs īngēntĭbŭs aūsīs

rāră cŏmēs. Iām cāstră vĭdēnt ănĭmīsquĕ prŏpīnquānt,385

ēt dēcrēscĭt ŏnūs, sŭbĭtī cūm pūlvĕrĭs ūmbră

ēt sŏnŭs ā tērgō. Mŏnĭtū dŭcĭs ācĕr ăgēbāt

Āmphīōn ĕquĭtēs, nōctēm vĭgĭlātăquĕ cāstră

ēxplōrārĕ dătūs, prīmūsquĕ pĕr āvĭă cāmpī

ūsquĕ prŏcūl - nēcdūm tōtās lūx sōlvĕrăt ūmbrās -390

nēscĭŏ quīd vīsū dŭbĭum īncērtūmquĕ mŏvērī

cōrpŏrăque īrĕ vĭdēt; sŭbĭtūs mōx fraūdĕ rĕpērtā

ēxclāmāt: "Cŏhĭbētĕ grădūm quīcūmquĕ!" sĕd hōstēs

ēssĕ pătēt: mĭsĕrī pērgūnt ānteīrĕ tĭmēntquĕ

nōn sĭbĭ; tūnc mōrtēm trĕpĭdīs mĭnĭtātŭr ĕt hāstām395

ēxpŭlĭt, āc vānōs āltē lĕvăt ēmĭnŭs īctūs,

ādfēctāns ērrārĕ mănūm. Stĕtĭt īllă Dўmāntīs

ānte ŏcŭlōs, quī fōrtĕ prĭōr grēssūmquĕ rĕprēssīt.

Āt nōn māgnănĭmūs cūrāvīt pērdĕrĕ iāctūs

Aēpўtŭs, ēt fīxō trānsvērbĕrăt Hōplĕă tērgō400

pēndēntīsque ĕtĭām pērstrīnxīt Tŷdĕŏs ārmōs.

Lābĭtŭr ēgrĕgĭī nōndūm dŭcĭs īmmĕmŏr Hōpleūs,

ēxspīrātquĕ tĕnēns - fēlīx, sī cōrpŭs ădēmptūm

nēscĭăt -, ēt saēvās tālīs dēscēndĭt ăd ūmbrās.

Vīdĕrăt hōc rētrō cōnvērsŭs ĕt āgmĭnă sēntīt405

iūnctă Dўmās, dŭbĭūs prĕcĭbūsnĕ sŭbīrĕt ăn ārmīs

īnstāntēs; ārma īră dăbāt, fōrtūnă prĕcārī,

nōn aūdērĕ iŭbēt: neūtrī fīdūcĭă coēptō.

Dīstŭlĭt īră prĕcēs; pōnīt mĭsĕrābĭlĕ cōrpūs

āntĕ pĕdēs, tērgōquĕ grăvīs quās fōrtĕ fĕrēbāt,410

tīgrĭdĭs ēxŭvĭās, īn laēvām tōrquĕt ĕt ōbstāt

ēxsērtum ōbiēctāns mūcrōnem, īnque ōmnĭă tēlă

vērsŭs ĕt ād caēdēm iūxtā mōrtēmquĕ părātūs:

ūt lĕă, quām saēvō fētām prēssērĕ cŭbīlī

vēnāntēs Nŭmĭdaē, nātōs ērēctă sŭpērstāt415

mēntĕ sŭi īncērtā, tōrvum āc mĭsĕrābĭlĕ frēndēns;

īllă quĭdēm tūrbārĕ glŏbōs ēt frāngĕrĕ mōrsū

tēlă quĕāt, sēd prōlĭs ămōr crūdēlĭă vīncīt

pēctŏra, ĕt ā mĕdĭā cătŭlōs cīrcūmspĭcĭt īrā.

Ēt iām laēvă vĭrō, quāmvīs saēvīrĕ vĕtārēt420

Āmphīōn, ērēptă mănūs, pŭĕrīquĕ trăhūntūr

ōră sŭpīnă cŏmīs. Sērūs tūnc dēnĭquĕ sūpplēx

dēmīssō mūcrōnĕ rŏgāt: "Mŏdĕrātĭŭs, ōrō,

dūcĭtĕ, fūlmĭnĕī pēr vōs cūnābŭlă Bācchī

Īnōāmquĕ fŭgām vēstrīquĕ Pălaēmŏnĭs ānnōs!425

Sī cuī fōrtĕ dŏmī nātōrūm gaūdĭă, sī quīs

hīc pătĕr, āngūstī pŭĕrō dătĕ pūlvĕrĭs haūstūs

ēxĭgŭāmquĕ făcēm! rŏgăt, ēn rŏgăt īpsĕ iăcēntīs

vūltŭs: ĕgo īnfāndās pŏtĭōr sătĭārĕ vŏlūcrēs,

mē praēbētĕ fĕrīs, ĕgŏ bēlla aūdērĕ cŏēgī".430

"Īmmo" ăĭt Āmphīōn "rēgēm sī tāntă cŭpīdŏ

quīd frācti ēxsānguēsquĕ părēnt; cūncta ōcĭŭs ēffēr,

ēt vītā tŭmŭlōquĕ dŭcīs dōnātŭs ăbītŏ".

Hōrrŭĭt ēt tōtō praēcōrdĭă prōtĭnŭs Ārcās

īmplēvīt căpŭlō. "Sūmmūmne hōc clādĭbŭs" īnquīt,435

"deērăt ŭt ādflīctōs tūrpārem ĕgŏ prōdĭtŏr Ārgōs?

nīl ĕmĭmūs tāntī, nēc sī vĕlĭt īpsĕ crĕmārī".

Sīc ăĭt, ēt māgnō prōscīssūm vūlnĕrĕ pēctūs

īniēcīt pŭĕrō, sūprēmăquĕ mūrmŭră vōlvēns:

"Hōc tămĕn īntĕrĕā mēcūm pŏtĭārĕ sĕpūlcrō"440

Tālēs ōptātīs rēgum īn cōmplēxĭbŭs āmbō,

pār īnsīgne ănĭmīs, Aētōlŭs ĕt īnclĭtŭs Ārcās,

ēgrĕgĭās ēfflānt ănĭmās lētōquĕ frŭūntūr.

Vōs quŏquĕ sācrātī, quāmvīs mĕă cārmĭnă sūrgānt

īnfĕrĭōrĕ lўrā, mĕmŏrēs sŭpĕrābĭtĭs ānnōs.445

fōrsĭtăn ēt cŏmĭtēs nōn āspērnābĭtŭr ūmbrās

Eūrўălūs Phrўgĭīque ādmīttēt glōrĭă Nīsī.

Āt fĕrŭs Āmphīōn, rēgī quī fāctă rĕpōrtēnt

ēdŏcĕāntquĕ dŏlūm cāptīvăquĕ cōrpŏră rēddānt,

mīttĭt ŏvāns; claūsīs īpse īnsūltārĕ Pĕlāsgīs450

tēndĭt ĕt ābscīsōs sŏcĭōrum ōstēndĕrĕ vūltūs.

Īntĕrĕā rĕdŭcēm mūrōrum ē cūlmĭnĕ Grāī

Thīŏdămāntă vĭdēnt nēc iam ērūmpēntĭă cēlānt

gaūdĭa. ŭt ēxsērtōs ēnsēs ēt caēdĕ rĕcēntī

ārmă rŭbērĕ nŏtānt; tūnc āssĭlĭt aēthĕră māgnūm455

clāmŏr, ĕt ē sūmmō pēndēnt cŭpĭda āgmĭnă vāllō

nōscĕrĕ quīsquĕ sŭōs. vŏlŭcrūm sīc tūrbă rĕcēntūm,

cūm rĕdŭcēm lōngō prōspēxĭt ĭn āĕrĕ mātrēm,

īrĕ cŭpīt cōntrā sūmmīque ē mārgĭnĕ nīdī

ēxstăt hĭāns, iāmiāmquĕ cădāt, nī pēctŏrĕ tōtō460

ōbstĕt ăpērtă părēns ĕt ămāntĭbŭs īncrĕpĕt ālīs.

Dūmque ŏpŭs ārcānum ēt tăcĭtī cōmpēndĭă Mārtīs

ēnŭmĕrānt laētīsquĕ sŭōs cōmplēxĭbŭs īmplēnt

Hōplĕăque ēxquīrūnt tārdūmquĕ Dўmāntă quĕrūntūr

ēcce ēt Dīrcaēaē iūxtā dūx cōncĭtŭs ālaē465

vēnĕrăt Āmphīōn; nōn lōngūm caēdĕ rĕcēntī

laētātūs vĭdĕt īnnŭmĕrīs fērvērĕ cătērvīs

tēllūrem ātque ūnā gēntem ēxspīrārĕ rŭīnā.

quī trĕmŏr īnĭcĭtūr caēlī dē lāmpădĕ tāctīs,

hīc fīxīt iŭvĕnēm, părĭtērque hōrrōrĕ sŭb ūnō470

vōx, ăcĭēs sānguīsquĕ pĕrīt, gĕmĭtūsquĕ părāntēm

īpse ūltrō cōnvērtĭt ĕquūs; fŭgĭt ālă rĕtōrtō

pūlvĕrĕ. nōndum īllī Thēbārūm claūstră sŭbībānt,

ēt iam Ārgīvă cŏhōrs nōctūrnō frētă trĭūmphō

prōsĭlĭt īn cāmpōs; pĕr ĕt ārma ēt mēmbră iăcēntūm475

taētrăquĕ cōngĕrĭē sŏlă sēmiănĭmūmquĕ crŭōrēm

cōrnĭpĕdēs īpsīquĕ rŭūnt: grăvĭs ēxtĕrĭt ārtūs

ūngŭlă, sānguĭnĕūs lăvăt īmbĕr ĕt īmpĕdĭt āxēs.

Dūlcĕ vĭrīs hāc īrĕ vĭā, ceū tēctă sŭpērbī

Sīdŏnĭa ātque īpsās cālcēnt īn sānguĭnĕ Thēbās.480

Hōrtātūr Căpăneūs: "Sătĭs ōccūltātă, Pĕlāsgī,

dēlĭtŭīt vīrtūs: nūnc, nūnc mĭhĭ vīncĕrĕ pūlchrūm

tēstĕ dĭē; mēcūm clāmōre ēt pūlvĕre ăpērtō

ītĕ pălām, iŭvĕnēs: sūnt ēt mĭhĭ prōvĭdă dēxtraē

nūmĭna ĕt hōrrēndī strīctō mūcrōnĕ fŭrōrēs."485

sīc ăĭt; ārdēntēs ălăcēr sūccēndĭt Ădrāstūs

Ārgŏlĭcūsquĕ gĕnēr, sĕquĭtūr iām trīstĭŏr aūgūr.

Iāmquĕ prĕmūnt mūrōs - ĕt ădhūc nŏvă fūnĕră nārrāt

Āmphīōn - mĭsĕrāmque īntrābānt prōtĭnŭs ūrbēm,

nī Mĕgăreūs spĕcŭlā cĭtŭs ēxclāmāssĕt ăb āltā:490

"Claūdĕ, vĭgīl, sŭbĕūnt hōstēs, claūde ūndĭquĕ pōrtās!"

Ēst ŭbĭ dāt vīrīs nĭmĭūs tĭmŏr: ōcĭŭs ōmnīs

pōrtă cŏīt; sōlās dūm tārdĭŭs ārtăt Ĕchīōn

Ōgўgĭās, aūdāx ănĭmīs Spārtānă iŭvēntūs

īrrūpīt, caēsīquĕ rŭūnt īn līmĭnĕ prīmō495

īncŏlă Tāўgĕtī Pănŏpeūs rĭgĭdīquĕ nătātōr

Oēbălŭs Eūrōtaē; tūque, ō spēctātĕ pălaēstrīs

ōmnĭbŭs ēt nūpēr Nĕmĕaēo īn pūlvĕrĕ fēlīx,

Ālcĭdămā, prīmīs quēm caēstĭbŭs īpsĕ lĭgārāt

Tŷndărĭdēs, nĭtĭdī mŏrĭēns cōnvēxă măgīstrī500

rēspĭcĭs: āvērsō părĭtēr dĕŭs ōccĭdĭt āstrō.

Tē nĕmŭs Oēbălĭūm, tē lūbrĭcă rīpă Lăcaēnaē

vīrgĭnĭs ēt fālsō gūrgēs cāntātŭs ŏlōrī

flēbĭt, Ămŷclaēīs Trĭvĭaē lūgēbĕrĕ Nŷmphīs,

ēt quaē tē lēgēs praēcēptăquĕ fōrtĭă bēllī505

ērŭdĭīt gĕnĕtrīx, nĭmĭūm dĭdĭcīssĕ quĕrētūr.

Tālĭs Ĕchīŏnĭō Māvōrs īn līmĭnĕ saēvīt.

Tāndem ŭmĕrīs ōbnīxŭs Ăcrōn ēt pēctŏrĕ tōtō

prōnŭs Ĭālmĕnĭdēs aērātaē rōbŏră pōrtaē

tōrsērūnt: quāntā părĭtēr cērvīcĕ gĕmēntēs510

prōfrīngūnt ĭnărātă dĭū Pāngaēă iŭvēncī.

pār ŏpĕrīs iāctūră lŭcrō, quīppe hōstĕ rĕtēntō

ēxclūsērĕ sŭōs; cădĭt īntrā moēnĭă Grāiūs

Ōrmĕnŭs, ēt prōnās tēndēntĭs Ămŷntŏrĭs ūlnās

fūndēntīsquĕ prĕcēs pĕnĭtūs cērvīcĕ rĕmīssā515

vērbă sŏlō vūltūsquĕ cădūnt, cōllōquĕ dĕcōrūs

tōrquĕs ĭn hōstīlēs cĕcĭdīt pēr vūlnŭs hărēnās.

Sōlvĭtŭr īntĕrĕā vāllūm, prīmaēquĕ rĕcūsānt

stārĕ mŏraē; iām sē pĕdĭtūm iūnxērĕ cătērvaē

moēnĭbŭs: āt pătŭlās sāltū trānsmīttĕrĕ fōssās520

hōrrŏr ĕquīs, haērēnt trĕpĭdi ātque īmmānĕ păvēntēs

ābrūptūm mīrāntŭr ĭtēr; nūnc īmpĕtŭs īrĕ

mārgĭne ăb ēxtrēmō, nūnc spōnte īn frēnă rĕcēdūnt.

Hī praēfīxă sŏlō vēllūnt mūnīmĭna, ăt īllī

pōrtārum ōbiēctūs mĭnŭūnt ēt fērrĕă sūdānt525

claūstră rĕmōlīrī, trăbĭbūsque ārtātă sŏnōrō

pēllūnt sāxă lŏcō; pārs ād fāstīgĭă mīssās

ēxsūltānt haēsīssĕ făcēs, pārs īmă lăcēssūnt

scrūtāntūrquĕ căvās caēcā tēstūdĭnĕ tūrrēs.

Āt Tўrĭī, quaē sōlă sălūs, căpŭt ōmnĕ cŏrōnānt530

spīcŭla ĕt ārsūrās caēlī pĕr ĭnānĭă glāndēs

sāxăque ĭn ādvērsōs īpsīs āvūlsă rŏtābānt

moēnĭbŭs: ēxūndānt saēvō fāstīgĭă nīmbō,

ārmātaēquĕ vŏmūnt strīdēntĭă tēlă fĕnēstraē.

Quālĭtĕr aūt Māleān aūt āltă Cĕraūnĭă sūprā535

cēssāntēs īn nūbĕ sĕdēnt nīgrīsquĕ lĕgūntūr

cōllĭbŭs ēt sŭbĭtaē sălĭūnt īn vēlă prŏcēllaē:

tālĭs Ăgēnŏrĕīs Ārgīvum ēxērcĭtŭs ārmīs

ōbrŭĭtūr; nōn ōră vĭrūm, nōn pēctŏră flēctīt

īmbĕr ătrōx, rēctōsquĕ tĕnēnt īn moēnĭă vūltūs540

īmmĕmŏrēs lēti ēt tāntūm sŭă tēlă vĭdēntēs.

Ānthĕă fālcātō lūstrāntēm moēnĭă cūrrū

dēsŭpĕr Ōgўgĭaē pĕpŭlīt grăvĭs īmpĕtŭs hāstaē;

lōra ēxcūssă mănū, rētrōque īn tērgă vŏlūtūs

sēmiănĭmōs ārtūs ŏcrĕīs rĕtĭnēntĭbŭs haērēt;545

mīrāndūm vīsū bēllī scĕlŭs: ārmă trăhūntūr,

fūmāntēsquĕ rŏtaē tēllūrem ēt tērtĭŭs hāstaē

sūlcŭs ărāt; lōngō sĕquĭtūr văgă pūlvĕrĕ cērvīx,

ēt rĕsŭpīnārūm pătĕt ōrbĭtă lātă cŏmārūm.

Āt tŭbă lūctĭfĭcīs pūlsāt clāngōrĭbŭs ūrbēm550

ōbsaēptāsquĕ fŏrēs sŏnĭtū pērfrīngĭt ămārō.

dīvīsēre ădĭtūs, ōmnīque īn līmĭnĕ saēvūs

sīgnĭfĕr ānte ōmnēs sŭă dāmna ēt gaūdĭă pōrtāns.

Dīra īntūs făcĭēs, vīx Māvōrs īpsĕ vĭdēndō

gaūdĕăt; īnsānīs lŷmphātam hōrrōrĭbŭs ūrbēm555

scīndūnt dīssēnsū vărĭō Lūctūsquĕ Fŭrōrquĕ

ēt Păvŏr ēt caēcīs Fŭgă cīrcūmfūsă tĕnēbrīs.

bēllum īntrāssĕ pŭtēs: fērvēnt dīscūrsĭbŭs ārcēs,

mīscēntūr clāmōrĕ vĭaē, fērrum ūndĭque ĕt īgnēs

mēntĕ vĭdēnt, saēvās mēnte āccēpērĕ cătēnās.560

cōnsūmpsīt vēntūră tĭmōr: iām tēctă rĕplērūnt

tēmplăque ĕt īngrātaē vāllāntūr plānctĭbŭs āraē.

ūna ōmnīs ĕădēmquĕ sŭbīt fōrmīdŏ pĕr ānnōs:

pōscūnt fātă sĕnēs, ārdēt pāllētquĕ iŭvēntūs,

ātrĭă fēmĭnĕīs trĕpĭdānt ŭlŭlātă quĕrēlīs.565

flēnt pŭĕri ēt flēndī nĕquĕūnt cōgnōscĕrĕ caūsās

āttŏnĭti ēt tāntūm mātrūm lāmēntă trĕmēntēs.

Īllās cōgĭt ămōr, nĕc hăbēnt ēxtrēmă pŭdōrēm:

īpsaē tēlă vĭrīs, īpsae īram ănĭmōsquĕ mĭnīstrānt,

hōrtāntūrque ūnāquĕ rŭūnt, nĕc ăvītă gĕmēntēs570

līmĭnă nēc pārvōs cēssānt ōstēndĕrĕ nātōs:

sīc ŭbĭ pūmĭcĕō pāstōr rāptūrŭs ăb āntrō

ārmātās ērēxĭt ăpēs, frĕmĭt āspĕră nūbēs,

īnquĕ vĭcēm sēsē strīdōre hōrtāntŭr ĕt ōmnēs

hōstĭs ĭn ōră vŏlānt, mōx dēfĭcĭēntĭbŭs ālīs575

āmplēxaē flāvāmquĕ dŏmūm cāptīvăquĕ plāngūnt

mēllă lăbōrātāsquĕ prĕmūnt ād pēctŏră cērās.

Nēc nōn āncĭpĭtīs pūgnāt sēntēntĭă vūlgī

dīscōrdēsquĕ sĕrīt mōtūs: hī rēddĕrĕ frātrī

- nēc mūssānt, sēd vōcĕ pălām clārōquĕ tŭmūltū -,580

rēddĕrĕ rēgnă iŭbēnt; pĕrĭīt rĕvĕrēntĭă rēgīs

sōllĭcĭtīs: "Vĕnĭāt pāctūmque hīc cōmpŭtĕt ānnūm,

īnfēlīx tĕnĕbrās; cūr aūtem ĕgŏ sānguĭnĕ fraūdēs

ēt pēriūră lŭām rēgālīs crīmĭnă nōxaē?"

Īnde ălĭī: "Sēra īstă fĭdēs, iām vīncĕrĕ māvūlt".585

Tīrēsiān ălĭī lăcrĭmīs ēt sūpplĭcĕ coētū

ōrānt, quōdque ūnūm rēbūs sōlāmĕn ĭn ārtīs,

nōssĕ fŭtūră rŏgānt. tĕnĕt īlle īnclūsă prĕmītquĕ

fātă dĕūm: "Quiāne āntĕ dŭcī bĕnĕ crēdĭtă nōstrō

cōnsĭlĭa ēt mŏnĭtūs, cūm pērfĭdă bēllă vĕtārēm?590

Tē tămĕn, īnfēlīx" īnquīt, "pĕrĭtūrăquĕ Thēbē,

sī tăcĕām, nĕquĕō mĭsĕr ēxaūdīrĕ cădēntēm

Ārgŏlĭcūmque ŏcŭlīs haūrīrĕ văcāntĭbŭs īgnēm.

vīncāmūr, Pĭĕtās; pōne hēia āltārĭă, vīrgŏ,

quaērāmūs sŭpĕrōs." făcĭt īlla, ăcĭēquĕ săgācī595

sānguĭnĕōs flāmmārum ăpĭcēs gĕmĭnūmquĕ pĕr ārās

īgnem ēt clāră tămēn mĕdĭaē fāstīgĭă lūcīs

ōrtă dŏcēt; tūnc īn spĕcĭēm sērpēntĭs ĭnānēm

āncĭpĭtī gŷrō vōlvī frāngīquĕ rŭbōrēm

dēmōnstrāt dŭbĭō, pătrĭāsque īllūmĭnăt ūmbrās.600

Īllĕ cŏrōnātōs iāmdūdum āmplēctĭtŭr īgnēs,

fātĭdĭcūm sōrbēns vūltū flāgrāntĕ văpōrēm.

stānt trīstēs hōrrōrĕ cŏmaē, vīttāsquĕ prĕmēntēs

caēsărĭēs īnsānă lĕvāt: dīdūctă pŭtārēs

lūmĭnă cōnsūmptūmquĕ gĕnīs rĕdĭīssĕ nĭtōrēm.605

Tāndem ēxūndāntī pērmīsīt vērbă fŭrōrī:

"Aūdīte, ō sōntēs, ēxtrēmă lĭtāmĭnă dīvūm,

Lābdăcĭdaē: vĕnĭt ālmă sălūs, sēd līmĭtĕ dūrō.

Mārtĭŭs īnfĕrĭās ēt saēva ēfflāgĭtăt ānguīs

sācră: cădāt gĕnĕrīs quīcūmquĕ nŏvīssĭmŭs ēxstāt610

vīpĕrĕī, dătŭr hōc tāntūm vīctōrĭă pāctō.

fēlīx, quī tāntā lūcēm mērcēdĕ rĕlīnquēt."

Stābāt fātĭdĭcī prŏpĕ saēva āltārĭă vātīs

maēstŭs, ădhūc pătrĭae ēt tāntūm cōmmūnĭă lūgēns

fātă, Crĕōn: grāndēm sŭbĭtī cūm fūlmĭnĭs īctūm,615

nōn sĕcŭs āc tōrtā trāiēctūs cūspĭdĕ pēctūs,

āccĭpĭt ēxănĭmīs sēntītquĕ Mĕnoēcĕă pōscī.

mōnstrăt ĕnīm suādētquĕ tĭmōr; stŭpĕt ānxĭŭs āltō

cōrdă mĕtū glăcĭāntĕ pătēr: Trīnācrĭă quālīs

ōră rĕpērcūssūm Lĭbўcō mărĕ sūmĭt ăb aēstū.620

Mōx plēnūm Phoēbō vātem ēt cĕlĕrārĕ iŭbēntēm

nūnc hŭmĭlīs gĕnŭa āmplēctēns, nūnc ōră cănēntīs

nēquīquām rĕtĭcērĕ rŏgāt; iām Fāmă săcrātām

vōcem āmplēxă vŏlāt, clāmāntque ōrācŭlă Thēbaē.

nūnc, ăgĕ, quīs stĭmŭlōs ēt pūlchraē gaūdĭă mōrtīs625

āddĭdĕrīt iŭvĕnī - nĕque ĕnim haēc ābsēntĭbŭs ūmquām

mēns hŏmĭnī trānsmīssă dĕīs -, mĕmŏr īncĭpĕ Clīō,

saēcŭlă tē quŏnĭām pĕnĕs ēt dīgēstă vĕtūstās.

Dīvă Iŏvīs sŏlĭō iūxtā cŏmĕs, ūndĕ pĕr ōrbēm

rāră dărī tērrīsquĕ sŏlēt cōntīngĕrĕ, Vīrtūs,630

seū pătĕr ōmnĭpŏtēns trĭbŭīt, sīve īpsă căpācīs

ēlēgīt pĕnĕtrārĕ vĭrōs, caēlēstĭbŭs ūt tūnc

dēsĭlŭīt gāvīsă plăgīs! Dānt clāră mĕāntī

āstră lŏcūm quōsque īpsă pŏlīs āffīxĕrăt īgnēs.

Iāmquĕ prĕmīt tērrās, nēc vūltŭs ăb aēthĕrĕ lōngē;635

sēd plăcŭīt mūtārĕ gĕnās, fīt prōvĭdă Māntō,

rēspōnsīs ūt plēnă fĭdēs, ēt fraūdĕ prĭōrēs

ēxŭĭtūr vūltūs. Ăbĭīt hōrrōrquĕ vĭgōrquĕ

ēx ŏcŭlīs, paūlūm dĕcŏrīs pērmānsĭt hŏnōsquĕ

mōllĭŏr, ēt pŏsĭtō vātūm gēstāmĭnă fērrō640

sūbdĭtă; dēscēndūnt vēstēs, tōrvīsquĕ lĭgātūr

vīttă cŏmīs - nām laūrŭs ĕrāt -; tămĕn āspĕră prōdūnt

ōră dĕām nĭmĭīquĕ grădūs. Sīc Lŷdĭă cōniūnx

Āmphĭtrўōnĭădēn ēxūtum hōrrēntĭă tērgă

pērdĕrĕ Sīdŏnĭōs ŭmĕrīs rīdēbăt ămīctūs645

ēt tūrbārĕ cŏlūs ēt tŷmpănă rūmpĕrĕ dēxtrā.

Sēd nĕquĕ te īndĕcŏrēm sācrīs dīgnūmquĕ iŭbērī

tālĭă Dīrcaēā stāntēm prō tūrrĕ, Mĕnoēceū,

īnvĕnĭt; īmmēnsaē rĕsĕrātō līmĭnĕ pōrtaē

stērnēbās Dănăōs, părĭtēr Māvōrtĭŭs Haēmōn.650

Sēd cōnsānguĭnĕī quāmvīs ātque ōmnĭă frātrēs,

tū prĭŏr: ēxănĭmēs cīrcūm cŭmŭlāntŭr ăcērvī;

ōmnĕ sĕdēt tēlūm, nūllī sĭnĕ caēdĭbŭs īctūs

- nēcdum ădĕrāt Vīrtūs -, nōn mēns, nōn dēxtră quĭēscīt,

nōn ăvĭda ārmă văcānt, īpsa īnsānīrĕ vĭdētūr655

Sphīnx gălĕaē cūstōs, vīsōque ănĭmātă crŭōrĕ

ēmĭcăt ēffĭgĭēs ēt spārsa ŏrĭchālcă rĕnīdēnt:

cūm dĕă pūgnāntīs căpŭlūm dēxtrāmquĕ rĕprēssīt:

"Māgnănĭme ō iŭvĕnīs, quō nōn āgnōvĕrĭt ūllūm

cērtĭŭs ārmĭfĕrō Cādmī dē sēmĭnĕ Māvōrs,660

līnque hŭmĭlēs pūgnās, nōn haēc tĭbĭ dēbĭtă vīrtūs:

āstră vŏcānt, caēlōque ănĭmām, plūs cōncĭpĕ, mīttēs.

Iāmdūdum hōc hĭlărīs gĕnĭtōr bācchātŭr ăd ārās,

hōc īgnēs fībraēquĕ vŏlūnt, hōc ūrgĕt Ăpōllŏ:

tērrĭgĕnām cūnctō pătrĭaē prō sānguĭnĕ pōscūnt.665

Fāmă cănīt mŏnĭtūs, gaūdēt Cādmēĭă plēbēs

cērtă tŭī; răpĕ mēntĕ dĕōs, răpĕ nōbĭlĕ fātūm.

Ī, prĕcŏr, āccĕlĕrā, nē prōxĭmŭs ōccŭpĕt Haēmōn".

sīc ăĭt, ēt māgnā cūnctāntīs pēctŏră dēxtrā

pērmūlsīt tăcĭtē sēsēque īn cōrdĕ rĕlīquīt.670

fūlmĭnĭs haūt cĭtĭūs rădĭīs āfflātă cŭprēssūs

cōmbĭbĭt īnfēstās ēt stīrpe ēt vērtĭcĕ flāmmās,

quām iŭvĕnīs mūltō pōssēssūs nūmĭnĕ pēctūs

ērēxīt sēnsūs lētīque īnvāsĭt ămōrēm.

ūt vēro āvērsaē grēssūmque hăbĭtūmquĕ nŏtāvīt675

ēt sŭbĭtam ā tērrīs īn nūbĭlă crēscĕrĕ Māntō,

ōbstĭpŭīt. "Sĕquĭmūr, dīvūm quaēcūmquĕ vŏcāstī,

nēc tārdē pārēmŭs", ăīt; iāmiāmquĕ rĕcēdēns

īnstāntēm vāllō Pўlĭūm tămĕn Āgrĕă fīxīt.

Ārmĭgĕrī fēssum ēxcĭpĭūnt; tūm vūlgŭs ĕūntēm680

aūctōrēm pācīs sērvātōrēmquĕ dĕūmquĕ

cōnclāmāt gaūdēns ātque īgnĭbŭs īmplĕt hŏnēstīs.

Iāmque ĭtĕr ād mūrōs cūrsū fēstīnŭs ănhēlō

ōbtĭnĕt ēt mĭsĕrōs gaūdēt vītāssĕ părēntēs,

cūm gĕnĭtōr -: stĕtĕrūntque āmbo ēt vōx haēsĭt ŭtrīquĕ,685

dēiēctaēquĕ gĕnaē. tāndēm pătĕr āntĕ prŏfātūr:

"Quīs nŏvŭs īncēptīs răpŭīt tē cāsŭs ăb ārmīs?

Quaē bēllō grăvĭōră părās? Dīc, nātĕ, prĕcāntī,

cūr tĭbĭ tōrva ăcĭēs? Cūr hīc trŭcŭlēntŭs ĭn ōrĕ

pāllŏr, ĕt ād pătrĭōs nōn stānt tŭă lūmĭnă vūltūs?690

Aūdīstī rēspōnsă, pălam ēst. Pĕr ĕgo ōrŏ tŭōsquĕ,

nātĕ, mĕōsque ānnōs mĭsĕraēquĕ pĕr ūbĕră mātrīs,

nē vātī, nē crēdĕ, pŭēr! Sŭpĕrīnĕ prŏfānūm

dīgnāntūr stĭmŭlārĕ sĕnēm, cuī vūltŭs ĭnānīs

ēxstīnctīque ōrbēs ēt poēnă sĭmīllĭmă dīrō695

Oēdĭpŏdaē? quīd si īnsĭdĭīs ēt fraūdĕ dŏlōsā

rēx ăgĭt, ēxtrēma ēst cuī nōstra īn sōrtĕ tĭmōrī

nōbĭlĭtās tŭăque āntĕ dŭcēs nōtīssĭmă vīrtūs?

Īllĭŭs haēc fōrsān, rēmūr quaē vērbă dĕōrūm;

īllĕ mŏnēt! Nē frēna ănĭmō pērmīttĕ călēntī,700

dā spătĭūm tĕnŭēmquĕ mŏrām, mălĕ cūnctă mĭnīstrāt

īmpĕtŭs; hōc, ōrō, mūnūs cōncēdĕ părēntī.

Sīc tŭă mātūrīs sīgnēntūr tēmpŏră cānīs,

ēt sīs īpsĕ părēns ĕt ăd hūnc, ănĭmōsĕ, tĭmōrēm

pērvĕnĭās: nē pērgĕ mĕōs ōrbārĕ pĕnātēs.705

Ēxtērnī tē nēmpĕ pătrēs ălĭēnăquĕ tāngūnt

pīgnŏră? sī pŭdŏr ēst, prīmūm mĭsĕrērĕ tŭōrūm.

Haēc pĭĕtās, hīc vērŭs hŏnōs; ĭbĭ glōrĭă tāntūm

vēntōsūmquĕ dĕcūs tĭtŭlīque īn mōrtĕ lătēntēs.

Nēc tĭmĭdūs tē flēctŏ părēns: ī, proēlĭă mīscē,710

ī Dănăās ăcĭēs mĕdĭōsquĕ pĕr ōbvĭŭs ēnsēs;

nōn tĕnĕō: lĭcĕāt mĭsĕrō trĕmĭbūndă lăvārĕ

vūlnĕra ĕt ūndāntēm lăcrĭmīs sīccārĕ crŭōrēm,

tēque ĭtĕrūm saēvīs ĭtĕrūmquĕ rĕmīttĕrĕ bēllīs.

Hōc mālūnt Thēbaē". Sīc cōllă mănūsquĕ tĕnēbāt715

īmplĭcĭtūs; sēd nēc lăcrĭmaē nēc vērbă mŏvēbānt

dīs vōtūm iŭvĕnēm; quīn ēt mōnstrāntĭbŭs īllīs

fraūdĕ pătrēm tăcĭtā sŭbĭt āvērtītquĕ tĭmōrēm:

"Fāllĕrĭs heū vērōsquĕ mĕtūs, pătĕr ōptĭmĕ, nēscīs.

Nōn me ūllī mŏnĭtūs, nēc vātum ēxōrsă fŭrēntūm720

sōllĭcĭtānt vānīsquĕ mŏvēnt: sĭbĭ cāllĭdŭs īstă

Tīrĕsĭās nātaēquĕ cănāt; nōn si īpsĕ rĕclūsīs

cōmmĭnŭs ēx ădўtīs īn me īnsānīrĕt Ăpōllŏ.

sēd grăvĭs ūnănĭmī cāsūs mē frātrĭs ăd ūrbēm

spōntĕ rĕfērt: gĕmĭt Īnăchĭā mĭhĭ saūcĭŭs Haēmōn725

cūspĭdĕ; vīx īllūm mĕdĭō dē pūlvĕrĕ bēllī

īntĕr ŭtrāsque ăcĭēs, iāmiāmquĕ tĕnēntĭbŭs Ārgīs -

sēd mŏrŏr; ī, rĕfŏvē dŭbĭūm tūrbaēquĕ fĕrēntī

dīc, pārcānt lĕvĭtērquĕ vĕhānt; ĕgŏ vūlnĕră dōctūm

iūngĕrĕ sūprēmīquĕ fŭgām rĕvŏcārĕ crŭōrīs730

Āĕthĭōnă pĕtām". sīc īmpērfēctă lŏcūtūs

ēffŭgĭt; īlli ātrā mērsūm cālīgĭnĕ pēctūs

cōnfūdīt sēnsūs; pĭĕtās īncērtă văgātūr

dīscōrdāntquĕ mĕtūs, īmpēllūnt crēdĕrĕ Pārcaē.

Tūrbĭdŭs īntĕrĕā rūptīs vĕnĭēntĭă pōrtīs735

āgmĭnă bēllĭgĕrī Căpăneūs ăgĭt aēquŏrĕ cāmpī,

cōrnŭă nūnc ĕquĭtūm, cŭnĕōs nūnc īllĕ pĕdēstrīs,

ēt prōcūlcāntēs mŏdĕrāntūm fūnĕră cūrrūs;

īdem āltās tūrrēs sāxīs ēt tūrbĭnĕ crēbrō

lāxăt, ăgīt tūrmās īdem ātque īn sānguĭnĕ fūmāt.740

Nūnc spārgīt tōrquēns vŏlŭcrī nŏvă vūlnĕră plūmbō,

nūnc iăcŭlum ēxcūssō rŏtăt īn sūblīmĕ lăcērtō,

nūllăquĕ tēctōrūm sŭbĭt ād fāstīgĭă, quaē nōn

dēfĕrăt hāstă vĭrūm pērfūsăquĕ caēdĕ rĕcūrrāt.

nēc iam aūt Oēnīdēn aūt Hīppŏmĕdōntă pĕrēmptōs745

aūt vātēm Pĕlŏpēă phălānx aūt Ārcădă crēdūnt:

quīn sŏcĭūm cŏĭīsse ănĭmās ēt cōrpŏre ĭn ūnō

stāre ōmnēs, ĭtă cūnctă rĕplēt. nōn ūllĭŭs aētās,

nōn cūltūs, nōn fōrmă mŏvēt; pūgnāntĭbŭs īdēm

sūpplĭcĭbūsquĕ fŭrīt; nōn quīsquam ōbsīstĕrĕ cōntrā,750

nōn bēllī tēmptārĕ vĭcēs: prŏcŭl ārmă fŭrēntīs

tērrĭbĭlīsquĕ iŭbās ēt frōntēm cāssĭdĭs hōrrēnt.

Āt pĭŭs ēlēctā mūrōrum īn pārtĕ Mĕnoēceūs

iām săcĕr āspēctū sŏlĭtōque aūgūstĭŏr ōrĕ,

ceū sŭbĭto īn tērrās sŭpĕrō dēmīssŭs ăb āxĕ,755

cōnstĭtĭt, ēxēmptā mănĭfēstūs cāssĭdĕ nōscī,

dēspēxītque ăcĭēs hŏmĭnum ēt clāmōrĕ prŏfūndō

cōnvērtīt cāmpūm iūssītquĕ sĭlēntĭă bēllō.

"Ārmōrūm sŭpĕrī, tūque ō quī fūnĕrĕ tāntō

īndūlgēs mĭhĭ, Phoēbĕ, mŏrī, dătĕ gaūdĭă Thēbīs,760

quaē pĕpĭgi ēt tōtō quaē sānguĭnĕ prōdĭgŭs ēmī.

Fērtĕ rĕtrō bēllūm cāptaēque īmpīngĭtĕ Lērnaē

rēlĭquĭās tūrpēs, cōnfīxăquĕ tērgă fŏvēntēs

Īnăchŭs īndĕcŏrēs pătĕr āvērsētŭr ălūmnōs.

Āt Tўrĭīs tēmpla, ārvă, dŏmōs, cōnūbĭă, nātōs765

rēddĭtĕ mōrtĕ mĕā: sī vōs plăcĭta hōstĭă iūvī,

sī nōn āttŏnĭtīs vātīs cōnsūltă rĕcēpī

aūrĭbŭs ēt Thēbīs nōndūm crēdēntĭbŭs haūsī,

haēc Āmphīŏnĭīs prō mē pērsōlvĭtĕ tēctīs

āt mĭhĭ dēcēptūm, prĕcŏr, ēxōrātĕ părēntēm."770

Sīc ăĭt, īnsīgnēmque ănĭmām mūcrōnĕ cŏrūscō

dēdīgnāntem ārtūs prīdēm maēstāmquĕ tĕnērī

ārrĭpĭt ātque ūnō quaēsītām vūlnĕrĕ rūmpīt.

sānguĭnĕ tūnc spārgīt tūrrēs ēt moēnĭă lūstrāt,

sēquĕ sŭpēr mĕdĭās ăcĭēs, nōndum ēnsĕ rĕmīssō,775

iēcĭt ĕt īn saēvōs cădĕre ēst cōnātŭs Ăchīvōs.

āst īllum āmplēxaē Pĭĕtās Vīrtūsquĕ fĕrēbānt

lēnĭtĕr ād tērrās cōrpūs; nām spīrĭtŭs ōlīm

āntĕ Iŏvem ēt sūmmīs ăpĭcēm sĭbĭ pōscĭt ĭn āstrīs.

Iāmque īntrā mūrōs nūllō sūdōrĕ rĕcēptūm780

gaūdēntēs hērōă fĕrūnt: ābscēssĕrăt ūltrō

Tāntălĭdūm vĕnĕrātă cŏhōrs; sŭbĭt āgmĭnĕ lōngō

cōlla īntēr iŭvĕnūm, laētīsquĕ făvōrĭbŭs ōmnī

cōncĭnĭtūr vūlgō Cādmum ātque Āmphīŏnă sūprā

cōndĭtŏr; hī sērtīs, hī vērĭs hŏnōrĕ sŏlūtōs785

āccŭmŭlānt ārtūs pătrĭāque īn sēdĕ rĕpōnūnt

cōrpŭs ădōrātūm. Rĕpĕtūnt mōx bēllă pĕrāctīs

laūdĭbŭs; hīc vīctā gĕnĭtōr lăcrĭmābĭlĭs īrā

cōngĕmĭt, ēt tāndēm mātrī dătă flērĕ pŏtēstās:

"Lūstrālēmnĕ fĕrīs ĕgŏ tē, pŭĕr īnclĭtĕ, Thēbīs790

dēvōtūmquĕ căpūt vīlīs ceū mātĕr ălēbām?

Quōd mōlītă nĕfās, cuī tāntum īnvīsă dĕōrūm?

nōn ĕgŏ mōnstrĭfĕrō cŏĭtū rĕvŏlūtă nŏtāvī

pīgnŏră, nēc nātō pĕpĕrī fūnēstă nĕpōtēs.

quīd rēfērt? pŏtĭtūr nātīs Ĭŏcāstă dŭcēsquĕ795

rēgnāntēsquĕ vĭdēt: nōs saēvă pĭācŭlă bēllō

dēmŭs, ŭt āltērnī - plăcĕt hōc tĭbĭ, fūlmĭnĭs aūctōr -

Oēdĭpŏdīŏnĭī mūtēnt dĭădēmătă frātrēs!

Quīd sŭpĕrōs hŏmĭnēsvĕ quĕrōr? Tū, saēvĕ Mĕnoēceū,

tu miseram ante omnis properasti exstinguere matrem.800

Ūnde hīc mōrtĭs ămōr? quaē sācra īnsānĭă mēntī?

tām dīvērsă mĭhī? nīmīrūm Mārtĭŭs ānguīs,

quaēquĕ nŏvīs prŏăvūm tēllūs ēfflōrŭĭt ārmīs -

hīnc ănĭmī trīstēs nĭmĭūsque īn pēctŏrĕ Māvōrs,

ēt dē mātrĕ nĭhīl. spōnte ēn ūltrōquĕ pĕrēmptūs805

īrrūmpīs maēstās fātīs nōlēntĭbŭs ūmbrās.

Āst ĕgŏmēt Dănăōs Căpănēăquĕ tēlă vĕrēbār:

haēc ĕrăt, haēc mĕtŭēndă mănūs fērrūmquĕ, quŏd āmēns

īpsă dĕdī. Vĭdĕn ūt iŭgŭlō cōnsūmpsĕrĭt ēnsēm?

āltĭŭs haūt quīsquām Dănăūm mūcrōnĕ sŭbīssēt."810

Dīcĕrĕt īnfēlīx ĕtĭāmnum ēt cūnctă rĕplērēt

quēstĭbŭs: ābdūcūnt cŏmĭtēs fămŭlaēquĕ pĕrōsām

sōlāntēs thălămōquĕ tĕnēnt, sĕdĕt ērŭtă mūltō

ūnguĕ gĕnās; nōn īllă dĭēm, nōn vērbă prĕcāntūm

rēspĭcĭt aūt vīsūs flēctīt tēllūrĕ rĕlīctōs,815

iām vōcīs, iām mēntĭs ĭnōps. Sīc āspĕră tīgrīs

fētĭbŭs ābrēptīs Scўthĭcō dēsērtă sŭb āntrō

āccŭbăt ēt tĕpĭdī lāmbīt vēstīgĭă sāxī;

nūsquam īraē, sēdīt răbĭdī fĕrĭtāsquĕ fămēsquĕ

ōrĭs, ĕūnt praētēr sēcūra ārmēntă grĕgēsquĕ:820

āspĭcĭt īllă iăcēns; ŭbi ĕnīm, quĭbŭs ūbĕră pāscāt

aūt quōs īngēntī prĕmăt ēxspēctātă răpīnā?

Hāctĕnŭs ārmă, tŭbaē, fērrūmque ēt vūlnĕră: sēd nūnc

cōmmĭnŭs āstrĭgĕrōs Căpăneūs tōllēndŭs ĭn āxīs.

Nōn mĭhĭ iām sŏlĭtō vātūm dē mōrĕ cănēndūm;825

māiŏr ăb Āŏnĭīs pōscēnda āmēntĭă lūcīs:

mēcum ōmnēs aūdētĕ dĕaē! sīve īllĕ prŏfūndā

mīssūs nōctĕ fŭrōr, Căpănēăquĕ sīgnă sĕcūtaē

ārmă Iŏvēm cōntrā Stўgĭaē răpŭērĕ sŏrōrēs,

seū vīrtūs ēgrēssă mŏdūm, seū glōrĭă praēcēps,830

seū māgnaē dătă fātă nĕcī, seū laētă mălōrūm

prīncĭpĭa ēt blāndaē sŭpĕrūm mōrtālĭbŭs īraē.

Iām sōrdēnt tērrēnă vĭrō taēdētquĕ prŏfūndaē

caēdĭs, ĕt ēxhaūstīs ōlīm Grāiūmquĕ sŭīsquĕ

mīssĭlĭbūs lāssā rēspēxĭt ĭn aēthĕră dēxtrā.835

Ārdŭă mōx tōrvō mētītūr cūlmĭnă vīsū,

īnnŭmĕrōsquĕ grădūs gĕmĭnā lătŭs ārbŏrĕ clūsōs,

āĕrĭūm sĭbĭ pōrtăt ĭtēr, lōngēquĕ tĭmēndūs

mūltĭfĭdām quērcūm flāgrāntī lūmĭnĕ vībrāt;

ārmă rŭbēnt ūnā clĭpĕōque īncēndĭtŭr īgnīs.840

"Hāc" ăĭt, "īn Thēbās, hāc mē iŭbĕt ārdŭă vīrtūs

īrĕ, Mĕnoēcēō quā lūbrĭcă sānguĭnĕ tūrrīs.

Ēxpĕrĭār, quīd sācră iŭvēnt, ān fālsŭs Ăpōllŏ".

Dīcĭt, ĕt āltērnō cāptīva īn moēnĭă grēssū

sūrgĭt ŏvāns: quālīs mĕdĭīs īn nūbĭbŭs aēthēr845

vīdĭt Ălōīdās, cūm crēscĕrĕt īmpĭă tēllūs

dēspēctūră dĕōs nĕc ădhūc īmmānĕ vĕnīrēt

Pēliōn ēt trĕpĭdūm iām tāngĕrĕt Ōssă Tŏnāntēm.

Tūm vēro āttŏnĭtī fātōrum īn cārdĭnĕ sūmmō,

ceū sūprēmă lŭēs ūrbī făcĭbūsquĕ crŭēntīs850

aēquātūră sŏlō tūrrēs Bēllōnă sŭbīrēt,

ōmnĭbŭs ē tēctīs cērtātim īngēntĭă sāxă

rōbŏrăque ēt vălĭdās fūndaē Bălĕārĭs hăbēnās

- nām iăcŭlīs caēlōquĕ văgīs spēs ūndĕ săgīttīs? -

vērum ăvĭdī tōrmēntă rŏtānt ēt mōlĭbŭs ūrgēnt.855

Īllĕ nĕc īngēstīs nēc tērgă sĕquēntĭbŭs ūmquām

dētrăhĭtūr tēlīs, văcŭōquĕ sŭb āĕrĕ pēndēns

plānă vĕlūt tērrā cērtūs vēstīgĭă fīgāt,

tēndĭt ĕt īngēntī sŭbĭt ōccūrrēntĕ rŭīnā:

āmnĭs ŭt īncūmbēns lōngaēvī rōbŏră pōntīs860

āssĭdŭīs ōppūgnăt ăquīs; iām sāxă fătīscūnt

ēmōtaēquĕ trăbēs: tāntō vĭŏlēntĭŏr īllĕ

- sēntĭt ĕnīm - māiōrĕ sălō quāssātquĕ trăhītquĕ

mōlem aēgrām, nēxūs dōnēc cĕlĕr ālvĕŭs ōmnīs

ābscĭdĭt ēt cūrsū vīctōr rēspīrăt ăpērtō.865

Ūtquĕ pĕtītă dĭū cēlsūs fāstīgĭă sūprā

ēmĭnŭīt trĕpĭdāmque āssūrgēns dēsŭpĕr ūrbēm

vīdĭt ĕt īngēntī Thēbās ēxtērrŭĭt ūmbrā,

īncrĕpăt āttŏnĭtōs "Haēne īllae Āmphīŏnĭs ārcēs?

Prō pŭdŏr! Hī făcĭlēs cārmēnque īmbēllĕ sĕcūtī,870

hī, mēntītă dĭū Thēbārūm fābŭlă, mūrī?

ēt quīd tam ēgrĕgĭūm prōstērnĕrĕ moēnĭă mōllī

strūctă lўrā?" Sĭmŭl īnsūltāns grēssūquĕ mănūquĕ

mōlĭbŭs ōbstāntīs cŭnĕōs tăbŭlātăquĕ saēvūs

rēstrŭĭt: ābsĭlĭūnt pōntēs, tēctīquĕ prĕmēntīs875

sāxĕă frēnă lăbānt, dīssaēptōque āggĕrĕ rūrsūs

ūtĭtŭr ēt trūncās rūpēs īn tēmplă dŏmōsquĕ

praēcĭpĭtāt frāngītquĕ sŭīs iām moēnĭbŭs ūrbēm.

Iāmquĕ Iŏvēm cīrcā stŭdĭīs dīvērsă frĕmēbānt

Ārgŏlĭcī Tўrĭīquĕ dĕī; pătĕr aēquŭs ŭtrīsquĕ880

āspĭcĭt īngēntēs ārdēntūm cōmmĭnŭs īrās

sēque ōbstārĕ vĭdēt. Gĕmĭt īnsērvāntĕ nŏvērcā

Lībĕr ĕt ōblīquō rēspēctāns lūmĭnĕ pātrēm:

"Nūnc ŭbĭ saēvă mănūs, mĕăque heū cūnābŭlă flāmmaē,

fūlmēn, iō | ŭbĭ fūlmĕn?" ăīt. Gĕmĭt aūctŏr Ăpōllŏ,885

quās dĕdĭt īpsĕ, dŏmōs; Lērnām Thēbāsquĕ rĕpēndīt

maēstŭs ĕt īntēntō dŭbĭtāt Tīrŷnthĭŭs ārcū;

mātērnōs plāngīt vŏlŭcēr Dănăēĭŭs Ārgōs;

flēt Vĕnŭs Hārmŏnĭaē pŏpŭlōs mĕtŭēnsquĕ mărītī

stāt prŏcŭl ēt tăcĭtā Grādīvūm rēspĭcĭt īrā.890

Īncrĕpăt Āŏnĭōs aūdāx Trītōnĭă dīvōs,

Iūnōnēm tăcĭtām fŭrĭbūndă sĭlēntĭă tōrquēnt.

Nōn tămĕn haēc tūrbānt pācēm Iŏvĭs: ēccĕ quĭērānt

iūrgĭă, cūm mĕdĭīs Căpăneūs aūdītŭs ĭn āstrīs.

"Nūllănĕ prō trĕpĭdīs" clāmābāt, "nūmĭnă Thēbīs895

stātĭs? ŭbi īnfāndaē sēgnēs tēllūrĭs ălūmnī,

Bācchŭs ĕt Ālcīdēs? Pŭdĕt īnstīgārĕ mĭnōrēs.

tū pŏtĭūs vĕnĭās - quĭs ĕnīm cōncūrrĕrĕ nōbīs

dīgnĭŏr? Ēn cĭnĕrēs Sĕmĕlēăquĕ būstă tĕnēntūr -,

nūnc ăgĕ, nūnc tōtīs īn mē cōnītĕrĕ flāmmīs,900

Iūppĭtĕr! Ān păvĭdās tŏnĭtrū tūrbārĕ pŭēllās

fōrtĭŭs ēt sŏcĕrī tūrrēs ēxscīndĕrĕ Cādmī?"

Īngĕmŭīt dīctīs sŭpĕrūm dŏlŏr; īpsĕ fŭrēntēm

rīsĭt ĕt īncūssā sānctārūm mōlĕ cŏmārūm:

"Quaēnām spēs hŏmĭnūm tŭmĭdaē pōst proēlĭă Phlēgraē!905

Tūne ĕtĭām fĕrĭēndŭs?" ăīt. Prĕmĭt ūndĭquĕ lēntūm

tūrbă dĕūm frēndēns ēt tēla ūltrīcĭă pōscīt,

nēc iam aūdēt fātīs tūrbāta ōbsīstĕrĕ cōniūnx.

Īpsă dătō nōndūm caēlēstīs rēgĭă sīgnō

spōntĕ tŏnāt, cŏĕūnt īpsaē sĭnĕ flāmĭnĕ nūbēs910

āccūrrūntque īmbrēs: Stўgĭās rūpīssĕ cătēnās

Īăpĕtum aūt vīctām sŭpĕra ād cōnvēxă lĕvārī

Īnărĭmēn Aētnāmvĕ pŭtēs. Pŭdĕt īstă tĭmērĕ

caēlĭcŏlās; sēd cum īn mĕdĭā vērtīgĭnĕ mūndī

stārĕ vĭrum īnsānāsquĕ vĭdēnt dēpōscĕrĕ pūgnās,915

mīrāntūr tăcĭte ēt dŭbĭō prō fūlmĭnĕ pāllēnt.

Coēpĕrăt Ōgўgĭaē sūprā fāstīgĭă tūrrīs

ārcānūm mūgīrĕ pŏlūs caēlūmquĕ tĕnēbrīs

aūfērrī: tĕnĕt īllĕ tămēn, quās nōn vĭdĕt, ārcēs,

fūlgŭrăque āttrītīs quŏtĭēns mĭcŭērĕ prŏcēllīs:920

"Hīs" ăĭt, "īn Thēbās, hīs iām dĕcĕt īgnĭbŭs ūtī,

hīnc rĕnŏvārĕ făcēs lāssāmque āccēndĕrĕ quērcūm."

Tālĭă dīcēntēm tōtō Iŏvĕ fūlmĕn ădāctūm

cōrrĭpŭīt: prīmaē fūgēre īn nūbĭlă crīstaē,

ēt clĭpĕī nĭgĕr ūmbŏ cădīt, iāmque ōmnĭă lūcēnt925

mēmbră vĭrī. Cēdūnt ăcĭēs, ēt tērrŏr ŭtrīmquĕ,

quō rŭăt, ārdēntī fĕrĭāt quās cōrpŏrĕ tūrmās.

Īntrā sē strīdērĕ făcēm gălĕāmquĕ cŏmāsquĕ

quēstŭs, ĕt ūrēntēm thōrācă rĕpēllĕrĕ dēxtrā

cōnātūs fērrī cĭnĕrēm sūb pēctŏrĕ trāctāt.930

Stāt tămĕn, ēxtrēmūmque īn sīdĕră vērsŭs ănhēlāt,

pēctŏrăque īnvīsīs ŏbĭcīt fūmāntĭă mūrīs,

nē cădĕrēt: sēd mēmbră vĭrūm tērrēnă rĕlīnquūnt,

ēxŭĭtūrque ănĭmūs; paūlūm sī tārdĭŭs ārtūs

cēssīssēnt, pŏtŭīt fūlmēn spērārĕ sĕcūndūm.935

Obruit Hesperia Phoebum Nox umida porta,

imperiis properata Iovis; nec castra Pelasgum

aut Tyrias miseratus opes, sed triste, tot extra

agmina et immeritas ferro decrescere gentes.

5Panditur immenso deformis sanguine campus:

illic arma et equos, ibant quibus ante superbi,

funeraque orba rogis neglectaque membra relinquunt.

tunc inhonora cohors laceris insignibus aegras

secernunt acies, portaeque, ineuntibus arma

10angustae populis, latae cepere reversos.

Par utrimque dolor; sed dant solacia Thebis

quattuor errantes Danaum sine praeside turmae:

ceu mare per tumidum viduae moderantibus alni,

quas deus et casus tempestatesque gubernant.

15inde animus Tyriis non iam sua castra, sed ultro

hostilem servare fugam, ne forte Mycenas

contenti rediisse petant: dat tessera signum

excubiis, positaeque vices; dux noctis opertae

sorte Meges ultroque Lycus. Iamque ordine iusso

20arma, dapes ignemque ferunt; rex firmat euntes:

"Victores Danaum - nec enim lux crastina longe,

nec quae pro timidis intercessere tenebrae

semper erunt -, augete animos et digna secundis

pectora ferte deis. Iacet omnis gloria Lernae

25praecipuaeque manus: subiit ultricia Tydeus

Tartara, Mors subitam nigri stupet auguris umbram,

Ismenos raptis tumet Hippomedontis opimis,

Arcada belligeris pudet adnumerare tropaeis.

in manibus merces, nusquam capita ardua belli

30monstrataeque ducum septena per agmina cristae;

scilicet Adrasti senium fraterque iuventa

peior et insanis Capaneus metuendus in armis.

Ite age et obsessis vigilem circumdate flammam!

nulli ex hoste metus: praedam asservatis opesque

35iam vestras". Sic ille truces hortatibus implet

Labdacidas, iuvat exhaustos iterare labores:

sicut erant - pulvis sudorque cruorque per artus

mixtus adhuc - vertere gradum; vix obvia passi

colloquia, amplexus etiam dextrasque suorum

40excussere umeris. Tum frontem aversaque terga

partiti laterumque sinus, vallum undique cingunt

ignibus infestis. Rabidi sic agmine multo

sub noctem coiere lupi, quos omnibus agris

nil non ausa fames longo tenuavit hiatu:

45iam stabula ipsa premunt, torquet spes irrita fauces,

balatusque tremens pinguesque ab ovilibus aurae;

quod superest, duris adfrangunt postibus unguis,

pectoraque et siccos minuunt in limine dentis.

At procul Argolici supplex in margine templi

50coetus et ad patrias fusae Pelopeides aras

sceptriferae Iunonis opem reditumque suorum

exposcunt, pictasque fores et frigida vultu

saxa terunt parvosque docent procumbere natos.

Condiderant iam vota diem; nox addita curas

55iungit, et ingestis vigilant altaria flammis.

Peplum etiam dono, cuius mirabile textum

nulla manu sterilis nec dissociata marito

versarat, calathis castae velamina divae

haut spernenda ferunt, variis ubi plurima floret

60purpura picta modis mixtoque incenditur auro.

Ipsa illic magni thalamo desponsa Tonantis,

expers conubii et timide positura sororem,

lumine demisso pueri Iovis oscula libat

simplex et nondum furtis offensa mariti.

65Hoc tunc Argolicae sanctum velamine matres

induerant ebur, et lacrimis questuque rogabant:

"Aspice sacrilegas Cadmeae paelicis arces,

siderei regina poli, tumulumque rebellem

dissice et in Thebas aliud - potes - excute fulmen."

70Quid faciat? Scit Fata suis contraria Grais

aversumque Iovem, sed nec periisse precatus

tantaque dona velit; tempus tamen obvia magni

fors dedit auxilii. videt alto ex aethere clusa

moenia et insomni vallum statione teneri:

75horruit irarum stimulis motaque verendum

turbavit diadema coma: non saevius arsit

Herculeae cum matris onus geminosque Tonantis

secubitus vacuis indignaretur in astris.

Ergo intempesta somni dulcedine captos

80destinat Aonios leto praebere, suamque

orbibus accingi solitis iubet Irin et omne

mandat opus. paret iussis dea clara polumque

linquit et in terras longo suspenditur arcu.

Stat super occiduae nebulosa cubilia Noctis

85Aethiopasque alios, nulli penetrabilis astro,

lucus iners, subterque cavis grave rupibus antrum

it vacuum in montem, qua desidis atria Somni

securumque larem segnis Natura locavit.

Limen opaca Quies et pigra Oblivio servant

90et numquam vigili torpens Ignavia vultu.

Otia vestibulo pressisque Silentia pinnis

muta sedent abiguntque truces a culmine ventos

et ramos errare vetant et murmura demunt

alitibus. non hic pelagi, licet omnia clament

95litora, non ullus caeli fragor; ipse profundis

vallibus effugiens speluncae proximus amnis

saxa inter scopulosque tacet: nigrantia circum

armenta, omne solo recubat pecus, et nova marcent

germina, terrarumque inclinat spiritus herbas.

100Mille intus simulacra dei caelaverat ardens

Mulciber: hic haeret lateri redimita Voluptas,

hic comes in requiem vergens Labor, est ubi Baccho,

est ubi Martigenae socium pulvinar Amori

obtinet. Interius tecti in penetralibus altis

105et cum Morte iacet, nullique ea tristis imago

cernitur. hae species: ipse autem umentia subter

antra soporifero stipatos flore tapetas

incubat: exhalant vestes et corpore pigro

strata calent, supraque torum niger efflat anhelo

110ore vapor; manus haec fusos a tempore laevo

sustentat crinis, haec cornu oblita remisit.

Adsunt innumero circum vaga Somnia vultu,

vera simul falsis permixtaque †flumina flammis†.

Noctis opaca cohors, trabibusque aut postibus haerent,

115aut tellure iacent. tenuis, qui circuit aulam,

invalidusque nitor, primosque hortantia somnos

languida succiduis exspirant lumina flammis.

Huc se caeruleo libravit ab aethere virgo

discolor: effulgent silvae, tenebrosaque tempe

120adrisere deae, et zonis lucentibus icta

evigilat domus; ipse autem nec lampade clara

nec sonitu nec voce deae perculsus eodem

more iacet, donec radios Thaumantias omnis

impulit inque oculos penitus descendit inertes.

125tunc sic orsa loqui nimborum fulva creatrix:

"Sidonios te Iuno duces, mitissime divum

Somne, iubet populumque trucis defigere Cadmi,

qui nunc eventu belli tumefactus Achaeum

pervigil asservat vallum et tua iura recusat.

130Da precibus tantis, rara est hoc posse facultas

placatumque Iovem dextra Iunone merere."

Dixit, et increpitans languentia pectora dextra,

ne pereant voces, iterumque iterumque monebat.

Ille deae iussis vultu, quo nutat, eodem

135adnuit; excedit gravior nigrantibus antris

Iris et obtunsum multo iubar excitat imbri.

Ipse quoque et volucrem gressum et ventosa citavit

tempora, et obscuri sinvatam frigore caeli

implevit chlamydem, tacitoque per aethera cursu

140fertur et Aoniis longe gravis imminet arvis.

illius aura solo volucres pecudesque ferasque

explicat, et penitus, quemcumque supervolat orbem,

languida de scopulis sidunt freta, pigrius haerent

nubila, demittunt extrema cacumina silvae,

145pluraque laxato ceciderunt sidera caelo.

Primus adesse deum subita caligine sensit

campus, et innumerae voces fremitusque virorum

submisere sonum: cum vero umentibus alis

incubuit piceaque haud umquam densior umbra

150castra subit, errare oculi resolutaque colla,

et medio affatu verba imperfecta relinqui.

mox et fulgentes clipeos et saeva remittunt

pila manu, lassique cadunt in pectora vultus.

Et iam cuncta silent: ipsi iam stare recusant

155cornipedes, ipsos subitus cinis abstulit ignis.

At non et trepidis eadem Sopor otia Grais

suadet, et adiunctis arcet sua nubila castris

noctivagi vis blanda dei: stant undique in armis

foedam indignantes noctem vigilesque superbos.

160Ecce repens superis animum lymphantibus horror

Thiodamanta subit formidandoque tumultu

pandere fata iubet, sive hanc Saturnia mentem,

sive novum comitem bonus instigabat Apollo.

Prosilit in medios, visu audituque tremendus

165impatiensque dei, fragili quem mente receptum

non capit: exundant stimuli, nudusque per ora

stat furor, et trepidas incerto sanguine tendit

exhauritque genas - acies huc errat et illuc -

sertaque mixta comis sparsa cervice flagellat.

170Sic Phryga terrificis genetrix Idaea cruentum

elicit ex adytis consumptaque bracchia ferro

scire vetat; quatit ille sacras in pectora pinus

sanguineosque rotat crines et vulnera cursu

exanimat: pavet omnis ager respersaque cultrix

175arbor, et attoniti currum erexere leones.

Ventum ad concilii penetrale domumque verendam

signorum, magnis ubi dudum cladibus aeger,

rerum extrema movens, frustra consultat Adrastus.

Stant circum subiti proceres, ut quisque perempto

180proximus, et magnis loca desolata tuentur

regibus haud laeti seque huc crevisse dolentes.

non secus amisso medium cum praeside puppis

fregit iter, subit ad vidui moderamina clavi

aut laterum custos, aut quem penes obvia ponto

185prora fuit: stupet ipsa ratis tardeque sequuntur

arma, nec accedit domino tutela minori.

Ergo alacer trepidos sic erigit augur Achivos:

"Magna deum mandata, duces, monitusque verendos

advehimus, non hae nostro de pectore voces:

190ille canit, cui me famulari et sumere vittas

vestra fides, ipso non discordante, subegit.

Nox fecunda operum pulchraeque accommoda fraudi

panditur augurio divum; vocat obvia Virtus,

et poscit Fortuna manus. Stupet obruta somno

195Aonidum legio: tempus nunc funera regum

ulcisci miserumque diem; rapite arma morasque

frangite portarum: sociis hoc subdere flammas,

hoc tumulare suos. Equidem haec et Marte diurno

dum res infractae pulsique in terga redimus

200- per tripodas iuro et rapti nova fata magistri -

vidi, et me volucres circum plausere secundae.

Sed nunc certa fides. Modo me sub nocte silenti

ipse, ipse assurgens iterum tellure soluta,

qualis erat - solos infecerat umbra iugalis -,

205Amphiaraus adit: non vanae monstra quietis,

nec somno comperta loquor. "Tune" inquit, "inertis

Inachidas - redde haec Parnasia serta meosque

redde deos - tantam patiere amittere noctem,

degener? Haec egomet caeli secreta vagosque

210edocui lapsus? Vade heia, ulciscere ferro

nos saltem!" dixit, meque haec ad limina visus

cuspide sublata totoque impellere curru.

Quare agite, utendum superis; non comminus hostes

sternendi: bellum iacet, et saevire potestas.

215Ecqui aderunt, quos ingenti se attollere fama

non pigeat, dum fata sinunt? iterum ecce benignae

noctis aves; sequor, et comitum licet agmina cessent,

solus eo! Atque adeo venit ille et quassat habenas".

Talia vociferans noctem exturbabat, euntque

220non secus accensi proceres, quam si omnibus idem

corde deus: flagrant comitari et iungere casus.

ter denos numero, turmarum robora, iussus

ipse legit; circa fremit indignata iuventus

cetera, cur maneant castris ignavaque servent

225otia: pars sublime genus, pars facta suorum,

pars sua, sortem alii clamant, sortem undique poscunt.

gaudet in adversis animoque assurgit Adrastus.

Vertice sic Pholoës volucrum nutritor equorum,

cum fetura gregem pecoroso vere novavit,

230laetatur cernens hos montis in ardua niti,

hos innare vadis, certare parentibus illos;

tunc vacuo sub corde movet, qui molle domandi

ferre iugum, qui terga boni, quis in arma tubasque

natus, ad Eleas melior quis surgere palmas:

235talis erat turmae ductor longaevus Achivae.

nec deest coeptis: "Unde haec tam sera repente

numina? qui fractos superi rediistis ad Argos?

estne hic infelix virtus? gentique superstes

sanguis, et in miseris animorum semina durant?

240laudo equidem, egregii iuvenes, pulchraque meorum

seditione fruor; sed fraudem et operta paramus

proelia, celandi motus: numquam apta latenti

turba dolo. Servate animos, venit ultor in hostis

ecce dies; tunc arma palam, tunc ibimus omnes".

245his tandem virtus iuvenum frenata quievit:

non aliter moto quam si pater Aeolus antro

portam iterum saxo premat imperiosus et omne

claudat iter, iamiam sperantibus aequora ventis.

Insuper Herculeum sibi iungit Agyllea vates

250Actoraque: hic aptus suadere, hic robore iactat

non cessisse patri; comites tribus ordine deni,

horrendum Aoniis et contra stantibus agmen.

ipse novi gradiens furta ad Mavortia belli

ponit adoratas, Phoebea insignia, frondes,

255longaevique ducis gremio commendat honorem

frontis, et oblatam Polynicis munere grato

loricam galeamque subit. Ferus Actora magno

ense gravat Capaneus, ipse haud dignatus in hostem

ire dolo superosque sequi. Permutat Agylleus

260arma trucis Nomii: quid enim fallentibus umbris

arcus et Herculeae iuvissent bella sagittae?

Inde per abruptas castrorum ex aggere pinnas,

ne gravis exclamet portae mugitus aenae,

praecipitant saltu; nec longum, et protinus ingens

265praeda solo ceu iam exanimes multoque peracti

ense iacent. "Ite, o socii, quacumque voluptas

caedis inexhaustae, superisque faventibus, oro,

sufficite!" hortatur clara iam voce sacerdos,

"cernitis expositas turpi marcore cohortes?

270Pro pudor! Argolicas hine ausi obsidere portas,

hi servare viros?" Sic fatus, et exuit ensem

fulmineum rapidaque manu morientia transit

agmina. quis numeret caedes, aut nomine turbam

exanimem signare queat? subit ordine nullo

275tergaque pectoraque et galeis inclusa relinquit

murmura permiscetque vagos in sanguine manes:

hunc temere explicitum stratis, hunc sero remissis

gressibus illapsum clipeo et male tela tenentem,

coetibus hos mediis vina inter et arma iacentes,

280acclinis clipeis alios, ut quemque ligatum

infelix tellure sopor supremaque nubes

obruerat. nec numen abest, armataque Iuno

lunarem quatiens exserta lampada dextra

pandit iter firmatque animos et corpora monstrat.

285sentit adesse deam, tacitus sed gaudia celat

Thiodamas; iam tarda manus, iam debile ferrum

et caligantes nimiis successibus irae.

Caspia non aliter magnorum in strage iuvencum

tigris, ubi immenso rabies placata cruore

290lassavitque genas et crasso sordida tabo

confudit maculas, spectat sua facta doletque

defecisse famem: victus sic augur inerrat

caedibus Aoniis; optet nunc bracchia centum

centenasque in bella manus; iam taedet inanes

295exhaurire minas, hostemque assurgere mallet.

Parte alia segnes magno satus Hercule vastat

Sidonios Actorque alia, sua quemque cruento

limite turba subit: stagnant nigrantia tabo

gramina, sanguineis nutant tentoria rivis;

300fumat humus, somnique et mortis anhelitus una

volvitur; haut quisquam visus aut ora iacentum

erexit: tali miseris deus aliger umbra

incubat et tantum morientia lumina solvit.

Traxerat insomnis cithara ludoque suprema

305sidera iam nullos visurus Ialmenus ortus,

Sidonium paeana canens; huic languida cervix

in laevum cogente deo mediaque iacebant

colla replicta lyra: ferrum per pectus Agylleus

exigit aptatamque cava testudine dextram

310percutit et digitos inter sua fila trementes.

Proturbat mensas dirus liquor: undique manant

sanguine permixti latices et Bacchus in altos

crateras paterasque redit. Ferus occupat Actor

implicitum fratri Thamyrin, Tagus haurit Echetli

315terga coronati, Daunus caput amputat Hebri:

nescius heu rapitur fatis, hilarisque sub umbras

vita fugit mortisque ferae lucrata dolores.

stratus humo gelida subter iuga fida rotasque

Calpetus Aonios gramen gentile metentes

320proflatu terrebat equos: madida ora redundant

accensusque mero sopor aestuat; ecce iacentis

Inachius vates iugulum fodit, expulit ingens

vina cruor fractumque perit in sanguine murmur.

Fors illi praesaga quies, nigrasque gravatus

325per somnum Thebas et Thiodamanta videbat.

Quarta soporiferae superabant tempora nocti,

cum vacuae nubes et honor non omnibus astris,

adflatusque fugit curru maiore Bootes.

Iamque ipsum defecit opus, cum providus Actor

330Thiodamanta vocat: "Satis haec inopina Pelasgis

gaudia: vix ullos tanto reor agmine saevam

effugisse necem, ni quos deformis in alto

sanguine degeneres occultat vita; secundis

pone modum: sunt et diris sua numina Thebis.

335forsitan et nobis modo quae favere, recedant."

Parvit, et madidas tollens ad sidera palmas:

"Phoebe, tibi exuvias monstratae praemia noctis

nondum ablutus aquis - tibi enim haec ego sacra litavi -

trado ferus miles tripodum fidusque sacerdos.

340Si non dedecui tua iussa tulique prementem,

saepe veni, saepe hanc dignare irrumpere mentem.

nunc tibi crudus honos, trunca arma cruorque virorum:

at patrias si quando domos optataque, Paean,

templa, Lycie, dabis, tot ditia dona sacratis

345postibus et totidem voti memor exige tauros".

Dixerat, et laetis socios revocabat ab armis.

Venerat hos inter fato Calydonius Hopleus

Maenaliusque Dymas, dilecti regibus ambo,

regum ambo comites, quorum post funera maesti

350vitam indignantur. prior Arcada concitat Hopleus:

"Nullane post manes regis tibi cura perempti,

care Dyma, teneant quem iam fortasse volucres

Thebanique canes? patriae quid deinde feretis,

Arcades? En reduces contra venit aspera mater:

355funus ubi? At nostro semper sub pectore Tydeus

saevit inops tumuli, quamuis patientior artus

ille nec abruptis adeo lacrimabilis annis.

Ire tamen saevumque libet nullo ordine passim

scrutari campum, mediasve irrumpere Thebas."

360Excipit orsa Dymas: "Per ego haec vaga sidera iuro,

per ducis errantis instar mihi numinis umbras,

idem animus misero; comitem circumspicit olim

mens humilis luctu, sed nunc prior ibo", viamque

incohat et maesto conversus ad aethera vultu

365sic ait: "Arcanae moderatrix Cynthia noctis,

si te tergeminis perhibent variare figuris

numen et in silvas alio descendere vultu,

ille comes nuper nemorumque insignis alumnus,

ille tuus, Diana, puer - nunc respice saltem -

370quaeritur". Incendit pronis dea cornibus almum

sidus et admoto monstravit funera curru.

Apparent campi Thebaeque altusque Cithaeron:

sic ubi nocturnum tonitru malus aethera frangit

Iuppiter, absiliunt nubes et fulgure claro

375astra latent, subitusque oculis ostenditur orbis.

Accepit radios et eadem percitus Hopleus

Tydea luce videt; longe dant signa per umbras

mutua laetantes, et amicum pondus uterque,

ceu reduces vitae saevaque a morte remissos,

380subiecta cervice levant; nec verba, nec ausi

flere diu: prope saeva dies indexque minatur

ortus. Eunt taciti per maesta silentia magnis

passibus exhaustasque dolent pallere tenebras.

Invida fata piis et fors ingentibus ausis

385rara comes. Iam castra vident animisque propinquant,

et decrescit onus, subiti cum pulveris umbra

et sonus a tergo. Monitu ducis acer agebat

Amphion equites, noctem vigilataque castra

explorare datus, primusque per avia campi

390usque procul - necdum totas lux solverat umbras -

nescio quid visu dubium incertumque moveri

corporaque ire videt; subitus mox fraude reperta

exclamat: "Cohibete gradum quicumque!" sed hostes

esse patet: miseri pergunt anteire timentque

395non sibi; tunc mortem trepidis minitatur et hastam

expulit, ac vanos alte levat eminus ictus,

adfectans errare manum. Stetit illa Dymantis

ante oculos, qui forte prior gressumque repressit.

At non magnanimus curavit perdere iactus

400Aepytus, et fixo transuerberat Hoplea tergo

pendentisque etiam perstrinxit Tydeos armos.

Labitur egregii nondum ducis immemor Hopleus,

exspiratque tenens - felix, si corpus ademptum

nesciat -, et saevas talis descendit ad umbras.

405Viderat hoc retro conversus et agmina sentit

iuncta Dymas, dubius precibusne subiret an armis

instantes; arma ira dabat, fortuna precari,

non audere iubet: neutri fiducia coepto.

Distulit ira preces; ponit miserabile corpus

410ante pedes, tergoque gravis quas forte ferebat,

tigridis exuvias, in laevam torquet et obstat

exsertum obiectans mucronem, inque omnia tela

versus et ad caedem iuxta mortemque paratus:

ut lea, quam saevo fetam pressere cubili

415venantes Numidae, natos erecta superstat

mente sui incerta, torvum ac miserabile frendens;

illa quidem turbare globos et frangere morsu

tela queat, sed prolis amor crudelia vincit

pectora, et a media catulos circumspicit ira.

420Et iam laeva viro, quamuis saevire vetaret

Amphion, erepta manus, puerique trahuntur

ora supina comis. Serus tunc denique supplex

demisso mucrone rogat: "Moderatius, oro,

ducite, fulminei per vos cunabula Bacchi

425Inoamque fugam vestrique Palaemonis annos!

Si cui forte domi natorum gaudia, si quis

hic pater, angusti puero date pulveris haustus

exiguamque facem! rogat, en rogat ipse iacentis

vultus: ego infandas potior satiare volucres,

430me praebete feris, ego bella audere coëgi".

"Immo" ait Amphion "regem si tanta cupido

quid fracti exsanguesque parent; cuncta ocius effer,

et vita tumuloque ducis donatus abito".

Horruit et toto praecordia protinus Arcas

435implevit capulo. "Summumne hoc cladibus" inquit,

"deerat ut adflictos turparem ego proditor Argos?

nil emimus tanti, nec si velit ipse cremari".

Sic ait, et magno proscissum vulnere pectus

iniecit puero, supremaque murmura volvens:

440"Hoc tamen interea mecum potiare sepulcro"

Tales optatis regum in complexibus ambo,

par insigne animis, Aetolus et inclitus Arcas,

egregias efflant animas letoque fruuntur.

Vos quoque sacrati, quamuis mea carmina surgant

445inferiore lyra, memores superabitis annos.

forsitan et comites non aspernabitur umbras

Euryalus Phrygiique admittet gloria Nisi.

At ferus Amphion, regi qui facta reportent

edoceantque dolum captivaque corpora reddant,

450mittit ovans; clausis ipse insultare Pelasgis

tendit et abscisos sociorum ostendere vultus.

Interea reducem murorum e culmine Grai

Thiodamanta vident nec iam erumpentia celant

gaudia. ut exsertos enses et caede recenti

455arma rubere notant; tunc assilit aethera magnum

clamor, et e summo pendent cupida agmina vallo

noscere quisque suos. volucrum sic turba recentum,

cum reducem longo prospexit in aëre matrem,

ire cupit contra summique e margine nidi

460exstat hians, iamiamque cadat, ni pectore toto

obstet aperta parens et amantibus increpet alis.

Dumque opus arcanum et taciti compendia Martis

enumerant laetisque suos complexibus implent

Hopleaque exquirunt tardumque Dymanta queruntur

465ecce et Dircaeae iuxta dux concitus alae

venerat Amphion; non longum caede recenti

laetatus videt innumeris fervere catervis

tellurem atque una gentem exspirare ruina.

qui tremor inicitur caeli de lampade tactis,

470hic fixit iuvenem, pariterque horrore sub uno

vox, acies sanguisque perit, gemitusque parantem

ipse ultro convertit equus; fugit ala retorto

pulvere. nondum illi Thebarum claustra subibant,

et iam Argiva cohors nocturno freta triumpho

475prosilit in campos; per et arma et membra iacentum

taetraque congerie sola semianimumque cruorem

cornipedes ipsique ruunt: gravis exterit artus

ungula, sanguineus lavat imber et impedit axes.

Dulce viris hac ire via, ceu tecta superbi

480Sidonia atque ipsas calcent in sanguine Thebas.

Hortatur Capaneus: "Satis occultata, Pelasgi,

delituit virtus: nunc, nunc mihi vincere pulchrum

teste die; mecum clamore et pulvere aperto

ite palam, iuvenes: sunt et mihi provida dextrae

485numina et horrendi stricto mucrone furores."

sic ait; ardentes alacer succendit Adrastus

Argolicusque gener, sequitur iam tristior augur.

Iamque premunt muros - et adhuc nova funera narrat

Amphion - miseramque intrabant protinus urbem,

490ni Megareus specula citus exclamasset ab alta:

"Claude, vigil, subeunt hostes, claude undique portas!"

Est ubi dat viris nimius timor: ocius omnis

porta coit; solas dum tardius artat Echion

Ogygias, audax animis Spartana iuventus

495irrupit, caesique ruunt in limine primo

incola Taygeti Panopeus rigidique natator

Oebalus Eurotae; tuque, o spectate palaestris

omnibus et nuper Nemeaeo in pulvere felix,

Alcidama, primis quem caestibus ipse ligarat

500Tyndarides, nitidi moriens convexa magistri

respicis: averso pariter deus occidit astro.

Te nemus Oebalium, te lubrica ripa Lacaenae

virginis et falso gurges cantatus olori

flebit, Amyclaeis Triviae lugebere Nymphis,

505et quae te leges praeceptaque fortia belli

erudiit genetrix, nimium didicisse queretur.

Talis Echionio Mavors in limine saevit.

Tandem umeris obnixus Acron et pectore toto

pronus Ialmenides aeratae robora portae

510torserunt: quanta pariter cervice gementes

profringunt inarata diu Pangaea iuvenci.

par operis iactura lucro, quippe hoste retento

exclusere suos; cadit intra moenia Graius

Ormenus, et pronas tendentis Amyntoris ulnas

515fundentisque preces penitus cervice remissa

verba solo vultusque cadunt, colloque decorus

torques in hostiles cecidit per vulnus harenas.

Solvitur interea vallum, primaeque recusant

stare morae; iam se peditum iunxere catervae

520moenibus: at patulas saltu transmittere fossas

horror equis, haerent trepidi atque immane paventes

abruptum mirantur iter; nunc impetus ire

margine ab extremo, nunc sponte in frena recedunt.

Hi praefixa solo vellunt munimina, at illi

525portarum obiectus minuunt et ferrea sudant

claustra remoliri, trabibusque artata sonoro

pellunt saxa loco; pars ad fastigia missas

exsultant haesisse faces, pars ima lacessunt

scrutanturque cavas caeca testudine turres.

530At Tyrii, quae sola salus, caput omne coronant

spicula et arsuras caeli per inania glandes

saxaque in adversos ipsis avulsa rotabant

moenibus: exundant saevo fastigia nimbo,

armataeque vomunt stridentia tela fenestrae.

535Qualiter aut Malean aut alta Ceraunia supra

cessantes in nube sedent nigrisque leguntur

collibus et subitae saliunt in vela procellae:

talis Agenoreis Argivum exercitus armis

obruitur; non ora virum, non pectora flectit

540imber atrox, rectosque tenent in moenia vultus

immemores leti et tantum sua tela videntes.

Anthea falcato lustrantem moenia curru

desuper Ogygiae pepulit gravis impetus hastae;

lora excussa manu, retroque in terga volutus

545semianimos artus ocreis retinentibus haeret;

mirandum visu belli scelus: arma trahuntur,

fumantesque rotae tellurem et tertius hastae

sulcus arat; longo sequitur vaga pulvere cervix,

et resupinarum patet orbita lata comarum.

550At tuba luctificis pulsat clangoribus urbem

obsaeptasque fores sonitu perfringit amaro.

divisere aditus, omnique in limine saevus

signifer ante omnes sua damna et gaudia portans.

Dira intus facies, vix Mavors ipse videndo

555gaudeat; insanis lymphatam horroribus urbem

scindunt dissensu vario Luctusque Furorque

et Pavor et caecis Fuga circumfusa tenebris.

bellum intrasse putes: fervent discursibus arces,

miscentur clamore viae, ferrum undique et ignes

560mente vident, saevas mente accepere catenas.

consumpsit ventura timor: iam tecta replerunt

templaque et ingratae vallantur planctibus arae.

una omnis eademque subit formido per annos:

poscunt fata senes, ardet palletque iuventus,

565atria femineis trepidant ululata querelis.

flent pueri et flendi nequeunt cognoscere causas

attoniti et tantum matrum lamenta trementes.

Illas cogit amor, nec habent extrema pudorem:

ipsae tela viris, ipsae iram animosque ministrant,

570hortanturque unaque ruunt, nec avita gementes

limina nec parvos cessant ostendere natos:

sic ubi pumiceo pastor rapturus ab antro

armatas erexit apes, fremit aspera nubes,

inque vicem sese stridore hortantur et omnes

575hostis in ora volant, mox deficientibus alis

amplexae flavamque domum captivaque plangunt

mella laboratasque premunt ad pectora ceras.

Nec non ancipitis pugnat sententia vulgi

discordesque serit motus: hi reddere fratri

580- nec mussant, sed voce palam claroque tumultu -,

reddere regna iubent; periit reverentia regis

sollicitis: "Ueniat pactumque hic computet annum,

infelix tenebras; cur autem ego sanguine fraudes

et periura luam regalis crimina noxae?"

585Inde alii: "Sera ista fides, iam vincere mavult".

Tiresian alii lacrimis et supplice coetu

orant, quodque unum rebus solamen in artis,

nosse futura rogant. tenet ille inclusa premitque

fata deum: "Quiane ante duci bene credita nostro

590consilia et monitus, cum perfida bella vetarem?

Te tamen, infelix" inquit, "perituraque Thebe,

si taceam, nequeo miser exaudire cadentem

Argolicumque oculis haurire vacantibus ignem.

vincamur, Pietas; pone heia altaria, virgo,

595quaeramus superos." facit illa, acieque sagaci

sanguineos flammarum apices geminumque per aras

ignem et clara tamen mediae fastigia lucis

orta docet; tunc in speciem serpentis inanem

ancipiti gyro volvi frangique ruborem

600demonstrat dubio, patriasque illuminat umbras.

Ille coronatos iamdudum amplectitur ignes,

fatidicum sorbens vultu flagrante vaporem.

stant tristes horrore comae, vittasque prementes

caesaries insana levat: diducta putares

605lumina consumptumque genis rediisse nitorem.

Tandem exundanti permisit verba furori:

"Audite, o sontes, extrema litamina divum,

Labdacidae: venit alma salus, sed limite duro.

Martius inferias et saeva efflagitat anguis

610sacra: cadat generis quicumque novissimus exstat

viperei, datur hoc tantum victoria pacto.

felix, qui tanta lucem mercede relinquet."

Stabat fatidici prope saeva altaria vatis

maestus, adhuc patriae et tantum communia lugens

615fata, Creon: grandem subiti cum fulminis ictum,

non secus ac torta traiectus cuspide pectus,

accipit exanimis sentitque Menoecea posci.

monstrat enim suadetque timor; stupet anxius alto

corda metu glaciante pater: Trinacria qualis

620ora repercussum Libyco mare sumit ab aestu.

Mox plenum Phoebo vatem et celerare iubentem

nunc humilis genua amplectens, nunc ora canentis

nequiquam reticere rogat; iam Fama sacratam

vocem amplexa volat, clamantque oracula Thebae.

625nunc, age, quis stimulos et pulchrae gaudia mortis

addiderit iuveni - neque enim haec absentibus umquam

mens homini transmissa deis -, memor incipe Clio,

saecula te quoniam penes et digesta vetustas.

Diva Iovis solio iuxta comes, unde per orbem

630rara dari terrisque solet contingere, Virtus,

seu pater omnipotens tribuit, sive ipsa capacis

elegit penetrare viros, caelestibus ut tunc

desilvit gavisa plagis! Dant clara meanti

astra locum quosque ipsa polis affixerat ignes.

635Iamque premit terras, nec vultus ab aethere longe;

sed placuit mutare genas, fit provida Manto,

responsis ut plena fides, et fraude priores

exuitur vultus. Abiit horrorque vigorque

ex oculis, paulum decoris permansit honosque

640mollior, et posito vatum gestamina ferro

subdita; descendunt vestes, torvisque ligatur

vitta comis - nam laurus erat -; tamen aspera produnt

ora deam nimiique gradus. Sic Lydia coniunx

Amphitryoniaden exutum horrentia terga

645perdere Sidonios umeris ridebat amictus

et turbare colus et tympana rumpere dextra.

Sed neque te indecorem sacris dignumque iuberi

talia Dircaea stantem pro turre, Menoeceu,

invenit; immensae reserato limine portae

650sternebas Danaos, pariter Mavortius Haemon.

Sed consanguinei quamuis atque omnia fratres,

tu prior: exanimes circum cumulantur acervi;

omne sedet telum, nulli sine caedibus ictus

- necdum aderat Virtus -, non mens, non dextra quiescit,

655non avida arma vacant, ipsa insanire videtur

Sphinx galeae custos, visoque animata cruore

emicat effigies et sparsa orichalca renident:

cum dea pugnantis capulum dextramque repressit:

"Magnanime o iuvenis, quo non agnoverit ullum

660certius armifero Cadmi de semine Mavors,

linque humiles pugnas, non haec tibi debita virtus:

astra vocant, caeloque animam, plus concipe, mittes.

Iamdudum hoc hilaris genitor bacchatur ad aras,

hoc ignes fibraeque volunt, hoc urget Apollo:

665terrigenam cuncto patriae pro sanguine poscunt.

Fama canit monitus, gaudet Cadmeia plebes

certa tui; rape mente deos, rape nobile fatum.

I, precor, accelera, ne proximus occupet Haemon".

sic ait, et magna cunctantis pectora dextra

670permulsit tacite seseque in corde reliquit.

fulminis haut citius radiis afflata cupressus

combibit infestas et stirpe et vertice flammas,

quam iuvenis multo possessus numine pectus

erexit sensus letique invasit amorem.

675ut vero aversae gressumque habitumque notavit

et subitam a terris in nubila crescere Manto,

obstipuit. "Sequimur, divum quaecumque vocasti,

nec tarde paremus", ait; iamiamque recedens

instantem vallo Pylium tamen Agrea fixit.

680Armigeri fessum excipiunt; tum vulgus euntem

auctorem pacis servatoremque deumque

conclamat gaudens atque ignibus implet honestis.

Iamque iter ad muros cursu festinus anhelo

obtinet et miseros gaudet vitasse parentes,

685cum genitor -: steteruntque ambo et vox haesit utrique,

deiectaeque genae. tandem pater ante profatur:

"Quis novus inceptis rapuit te casus ab armis?

Quae bello graviora paras? Dic, nate, precanti,

cur tibi torva acies? Cur hic truculentus in ore

690pallor, et ad patrios non stant tua lumina vultus?

Audisti responsa, palam est. Per ego oro tuosque,

nate, meosque annos miseraeque per ubera matris,

ne vati, ne crede, puer! Superine profanum

dignantur stimulare senem, cui vultus inanis

695exstinctique orbes et poena simillima diro

Oedipodae? quid si insidiis et fraude dolosa

rex agit, extrema est cui nostra in sorte timori

nobilitas tuaque ante duces notissima virtus?

Illius haec forsan, remur quae verba deorum;

700ille monet! Ne frena animo permitte calenti,

da spatium tenuemque moram, male cuncta ministrat

impetus; hoc, oro, munus concede parenti.

Sic tua maturis signentur tempora canis,

et sis ipse parens et ad hunc, animose, timorem

705pervenias: ne perge meos orbare penates.

Externi te nempe patres alienaque tangunt

pignora? si pudor est, primum miserere tuorum.

Haec pietas, hic verus honos; ibi gloria tantum

ventosumque decus titulique in morte latentes.

710Nec timidus te flecto parens: i, proelia misce,

i Danaas acies mediosque per obvius enses;

non teneo: liceat misero tremibunda lavare

vulnera et undantem lacrimis siccare cruorem,

teque iterum saevis iterumque remittere bellis.

715Hoc malunt Thebae". Sic colla manusque tenebat

implicitus; sed nec lacrimae nec verba movebant

dis votum iuvenem; quin et monstrantibus illis

fraude patrem tacita subit avertitque timorem:

"Falleris heu verosque metus, pater optime, nescis.

720Non me ulli monitus, nec vatum exorsa furentum

sollicitant vanisque movent: sibi callidus ista

Tiresias nataeque canat; non si ipse reclusis

comminus ex adytis in me insaniret Apollo.

sed gravis unanimi casus me fratris ad urbem

725sponte refert: gemit Inachia mihi saucius Haemon

cuspide; vix illum medio de pulvere belli

inter utrasque acies, iamiamque tenentibus Argis -

sed moror; i, refove dubium turbaeque ferenti

dic, parcant leviterque vehant; ego vulnera doctum

730iungere supremique fugam revocare cruoris

Aethiona petam". sic imperfecta locutus

effugit; illi atra mersum caligine pectus

confudit sensus; pietas incerta vagatur

discordantque metus, impellunt credere Parcae.

735Turbidus interea ruptis venientia portis

agmina belligeri Capaneus agit aequore campi,

cornua nunc equitum, cuneos nunc ille pedestris,

et proculcantes moderantum funera currus;

idem altas turres saxis et turbine crebro

740laxat, agit turmas idem atque in sanguine fumat.

Nunc spargit torquens volucri nova vulnera plumbo,

nunc iaculum excusso rotat in sublime lacerto,

nullaque tectorum subit ad fastigia, quae non

deferat hasta virum perfusaque caede recurrat.

745nec iam aut Oeniden aut Hippomedonta peremptos

aut vatem Pelopea phalanx aut Arcada credunt:

quin socium coiisse animas et corpore in uno

stare omnes, ita cuncta replet. non ullius aetas,

non cultus, non forma movet; pugnantibus idem

750supplicibusque furit; non quisquam obsistere contra,

non belli temptare vices: procul arma furentis

terribilisque iubas et frontem cassidis horrent.

At pius electa murorum in parte Menoeceus

iam sacer aspectu solitoque augustior ore,

755ceu subito in terras supero demissus ab axe,

constitit, exempta manifestus casside nosci,

despexitque acies hominum et clamore profundo

convertit campum iussitque silentia bello.

"Armorum superi, tuque o qui funere tanto

760indulges mihi, Phoebe, mori, date gaudia Thebis,

quae pepigi et toto quae sanguine prodigus emi.

Ferte retro bellum captaeque impingite Lernae

reliquias turpes, confixaque terga foventes

Inachus indecores pater aversetur alumnos.

765At Tyriis templa, arva, domos, conubia, natos

reddite morte mea: si vos placita hostia iuvi,

si non attonitis vatis consulta recepi

auribus et Thebis nondum credentibus hausi,

haec Amphioniis pro me persolvite tectis

770at mihi deceptum, precor, exorate parentem."

Sic ait, insignemque animam mucrone corusco

dedignantem artus pridem maestamque teneri

arripit atque uno quaesitam vulnere rumpit.

sanguine tunc spargit turres et moenia lustrat,

775seque super medias acies, nondum ense remisso,

iecit et in saevos cadere est conatus Achivos.

ast illum amplexae Pietas Virtusque ferebant

leniter ad terras corpus; nam spiritus olim

ante Iovem et summis apicem sibi poscit in astris.

780Iamque intra muros nullo sudore receptum

gaudentes heroa ferunt: abscesserat ultro

Tantalidum venerata cohors; subit agmine longo

colla inter iuvenum, laetisque favoribus omni

concinitur vulgo Cadmum atque Amphiona supra

785conditor; hi sertis, hi veris honore solutos

accumulant artus patriaque in sede reponunt

corpus adoratum. Repetunt mox bella peractis

laudibus; hic victa genitor lacrimabilis ira

congemit, et tandem matri data flere potestas:

790"Lustralemne feris ego te, puer inclite, Thebis

devotumque caput vilis ceu mater alebam?

Quod molita nefas, cui tantum invisa deorum?

non ego monstrifero coitu revoluta notavi

pignora, nec nato peperi funesta nepotes.

795quid refert? potitur natis Iocasta ducesque

regnantesque videt: nos saeva piacula bello

demus, ut alterni - placet hoc tibi, fulminis auctor -

Oedipodionii mutent diademata fratres!

Quid superos hominesve queror? Tu, saeve Menoeceu,

800tu miseram ante omnis properasti exstinguere matrem.

Unde hic mortis amor? quae sacra insania menti?

tam diversa mihi? nimirum Martius anguis,

quaeque novis proavum tellus efflorvit armis -

hinc animi tristes nimiusque in pectore Mavors,

805et de matre nihil. sponte en ultroque peremptus

irrumpis maestas fatis nolentibus umbras.

Ast egomet Danaos Capaneaque tela verebar:

haec erat, haec metuenda manus ferrumque, quod amens

ipsa dedi. Viden ut iugulo consumpserit ensem?

810altius haut quisquam Danaum mucrone subisset."

Diceret infelix etiamnum et cuncta repleret

questibus: abducunt comites famulaeque perosam

solantes thalamoque tenent, sedet eruta multo

ungue genas; non illa diem, non verba precantum

815respicit aut visus flectit tellure relictos,

iam vocis, iam mentis inops. Sic aspera tigris

fetibus abreptis Scythico deserta sub antro

accubat et tepidi lambit vestigia saxi;

nusquam irae, sedit rabidi feritasque famesque

820oris, eunt praeter secura armenta gregesque:

aspicit illa iacens; ubi enim, quibus ubera pascat

aut quos ingenti premat exspectata rapina?

Hactenus arma, tubae, ferrumque et vulnera: sed nunc

comminus astrigeros Capaneus tollendus in axis.

825Non mihi iam solito vatum de more canendum;

maior ab Aoniis poscenda amentia lucis:

mecum omnes audete deae! sive ille profunda

missus nocte furor, Capaneaque signa secutae

arma Iovem contra Stygiae rapuere sorores,

830seu virtus egressa modum, seu gloria praeceps,

seu magnae data fata neci, seu laeta malorum

principia et blandae superum mortalibus irae.

Iam sordent terrena viro taedetque profundae

caedis, et exhaustis olim Graiumque suisque

835missilibus lassa respexit in aethera dextra.

Ardua mox torvo metitur culmina visu,

innumerosque gradus gemina latus arbore clusos,

aërium sibi portat iter, longeque timendus

multifidam quercum flagranti lumine vibrat;

840arma rubent una clipeoque incenditur ignis.

"Hac" ait, "in Thebas, hac me iubet ardua virtus

ire, Menoeceo qua lubrica sanguine turris.

Experiar, quid sacra iuvent, an falsus Apollo".

Dicit, et alterno captiva in moenia gressu

845surgit ovans: qualis mediis in nubibus aether

vidit Aloidas, cum cresceret impia tellus

despectura deos nec adhuc immane veniret

Pelion et trepidum iam tangeret Ossa Tonantem.

Tum vero attoniti fatorum in cardine summo,

850ceu suprema lues urbi facibusque cruentis

aequatura solo turres Bellona subiret,

omnibus e tectis certatim ingentia saxa

roboraque et validas fundae Balearis habenas

- nam iaculis caeloque vagis spes unde sagittis? -

855verum avidi tormenta rotant et molibus urgent.

Ille nec ingestis nec terga sequentibus umquam

detrahitur telis, vacuoque sub aëre pendens

plana velut terra certus vestigia figat,

tendit et ingenti subit occurrente ruina:

860amnis ut incumbens longaevi robora pontis

assiduis oppugnat aquis; iam saxa fatiscunt

emotaeque trabes: tanto violentior ille

- sentit enim - maiore salo quassatque trahitque

molem aegram, nexus donec celer alveus omnis

865abscidit et cursu victor respirat aperto.

Utque petita diu celsus fastigia supra

eminuit trepidamque assurgens desuper urbem

vidit et ingenti Thebas exterruit umbra,

increpat attonitos "Haene illae Amphionis arces?

870Pro pudor! Hi faciles carmenque imbelle secuti,

hi, mentita diu Thebarum fabula, muri?

et quid tam egregium prosternere moenia molli

structa lyra?" Simul insultans gressuque manuque

molibus obstantis cuneos tabulataque saevus

875restruit: absiliunt pontes, tectique prementis

saxea frena labant, dissaeptoque aggere rursus

utitur et truncas rupes in templa domosque

praecipitat frangitque suis iam moenibus urbem.

Iamque Iovem circa studiis diversa fremebant

880Argolici Tyriique dei; pater aequus utrisque

aspicit ingentes ardentum comminus iras

seque obstare videt. Gemit inservante noverca

Liber et obliquo respectans lumine patrem:

"Nunc ubi saeva manus, meaque heu cunabula flammae,

885fulmen, io | ubi fulmen?" ait. Gemit auctor Apollo,

quas dedit ipse, domos; Lernam Thebasque rependit

maestus et intento dubitat Tirynthius arcu;

maternos plangit volucer Danaëius Argos;

flet Venus Harmoniae populos metuensque mariti

890stat procul et tacita Gradivum respicit ira.

Increpat Aonios audax Tritonia divos,

Iunonem tacitam furibunda silentia torquent.

Non tamen haec turbant pacem Iovis: ecce quierant

iurgia, cum mediis Capaneus auditus in astris.

895"Nullane pro trepidis" clamabat, "numina Thebis

statis? ubi infandae segnes telluris alumni,

Bacchus et Alcides? Pudet instigare minores.

tu potius venias - quis enim concurrere nobis

dignior? En cineres Semeleaque busta tenentur -,

900nunc age, nunc totis in me conitere flammis,

Iuppiter! An pavidas tonitru turbare puellas

fortius et soceri turres exscindere Cadmi?"

Ingemuit dictis superum dolor; ipse furentem

risit et incussa sanctarum mole comarum:

905"Quaenam spes hominum tumidae post proelia Phlegrae!

Tune etiam feriendus?" ait. Premit undique lentum

turba deum frendens et tela ultricia poscit,

nec iam audet fatis turbata obsistere coniunx.

Ipsa dato nondum caelestis regia signo

910sponte tonat, coëunt ipsae sine flamine nubes

accurruntque imbres: Stygias rupisse catenas

Iapetum aut victam supera ad convexa levari

Inarimen Aetnamve putes. Pudet ista timere

caelicolas; sed cum in media vertigine mundi

915stare virum insanasque vident deposcere pugnas,

mirantur tacite et dubio pro fulmine pallent.

Coeperat Ogygiae supra fastigia turris

arcanum mugire polus caelumque tenebris

auferri: tenet ille tamen, quas non videt, arces,

920fulguraque attritis quotiens micuere procellis:

"His" ait, "in Thebas, his iam decet ignibus uti,

hinc renovare faces lassamque accendere quercum."

Talia dicentem toto Iove fulmen adactum

corripuit: primae fugere in nubila cristae,

925et clipei niger umbo cadit, iamque omnia lucent

membra viri. Cedunt acies, et terror utrimque,

quo ruat, ardenti feriat quas corpore turmas.

Intra se stridere facem galeamque comasque

questus, et urentem thoraca repellere dextra

930conatus ferri cinerem sub pectore tractat.

Stat tamen, extremumque in sidera versus anhelat,

pectoraque invisis obicit fumantia muris,

ne caderet: sed membra virum terrena relinquunt,

exuiturque animus; paulum si tardius artus

935cessissent, potuit fulmen sperare secundum.