Testi della poesia latinaTesti della poesia latinaPōstquām māgnănĭmūs fŭrĭās vīrtūtĭs ĭnīquaē
cōnsūmpsīt Căpăneūs ēxspīrāvītquĕ rĕcēptūm
fūlmĕn ĕt ād tērrās lōngē cŏmĭtātă cădēntēm
sīgnāvīt mūrōs ūltrīcīs sēmĭtă flāmmaē,
cōmpōnīt dēxtrā vīctōr cōncūssă plăgārūm5
Iūppĭtĕr ēt vūltū caēlūmquĕ dĭēmquĕ rĕdūcīt:
grātāntūr sŭpĕrī, Phlēgraē ceū fēssŭs ănhēlēt
proēlĭa ĕt Ēncĕlădō fūmāntem īmprēssĕrĭt Aētnām.
Īllĕ iăcēt lăcĕraē cōmplēxūs frāgmĭnă tūrrīs,
tōrvŭs ădhūc vīsū mĕmŏrāndăquĕ fāctă rĕlīnquēns10
gēntĭbŭs ātque īpsī nōn īllaūdātă Tŏnāntī.
Quāntŭs Ăpōllĭnĕaē tĕmĕrātōr mātrĭs Ăvērnō
tēndĭtŭr; īpsae hōrrēnt, sī quāndō pēctŏre ăb āltō
ēmērgūnt, vŏlŭcrēs īmmēnsăquĕ mēmbră iăcēntīs
spēctānt, dūm mĭsĕraē crēscūnt īn pābŭlă fībraē:15
sīc grăvăt īniēctūs tērrās hōstīlĭăque ūrīt
ārva ĕt ănhēlāntēm caēlēstī sūlpŭrĕ cāmpūm.
Rēspīrānt Thēbaē, tēmplīsquĕ iăcēntĭă sūrgūnt
āgmĭnă; iām fīnīs vōtīs fīnīsquĕ sŭprēmīs
plānctĭbŭs, ēt nātōs aūsaē dēpōnĕrĕ mātrēs.20
Āt văgă pāllēntēs cāmpō fŭgă vōlvĭt Ăchīvōs.
Nēc iam hōstēs tūrmae aūt fērrūm mōrtālĕ tĭmētūr:
ōmnĭbŭs ānte ŏcŭlōs īraē Iŏvĭs, ōmnĭbŭs ārdēnt
ārmă mĕtū gălĕaēquĕ tŏnānt, vīsūsquĕ păvēntēs
īpsĕ sĕqui ēt prŏfŭgīs ōppōnĕrĕ Iūppĭtĕr īgnīs.25
Īnstăt Ăgēnŏrĕūs mīlēs caēlīquĕ tŭmūltū
ūtĭtŭr: īndŏmĭtōs ūt cūm Māssŷlă pĕr ārvă
ārmēntī rēgēs māgnō lĕŏ frēgĭt hĭātū
ēt cōntēntŭs ăbīt; raūcī tūnc cōmmĭnŭs ūrsī,
tūnc ăvĭdī vēnērĕ lŭpī, răbĭēquĕ rĕmīssā30
lāmbūnt dēgĕnĕrēs ălĭēnaē vūlnĕră praēdaē.
Hīnc prĕmĭt Eūrўmĕdōn, cuī rūstĭcŭs hōrrŏr ĭn ārmīs,
rūstĭcă tēlă mănū, pătrĭūmque ăgĭtārĕ tŭmūltūs:
Pān īllī gĕnĭtōr; tĕnĕr hīnc cōnātĭbŭs ānnōs
ēgrĕdĭtūr iŭvĕnēmquĕ pătrēm pŭĕr aēquăt Ălātreūs:35
fēlīcēs āmbō, sēd fōrtūnātĭŏr īllĕ,
quēm gĕnŭīssĕ iŭvāt; nēc iām dīnōscĕrĕ prōmptūm,
quaē măgĭs ārmă sŏnēnt, quō plūs ĕăt hāstă lăcērtō.
Ārtātūr dēnsō fŭgĭēntum ēxāmĭnĕ vāllūm.
Quās vōlvīs, Grādīvĕ, vĭcēs! Mŏdŏ moēnĭă Cādmī40
scāndēbānt: sŭă nūnc dēfēndūnt tēctă Pĕlāsgī!
Ceū rĕdĕūnt nūbēs, ceū cīrcūmflāntĭbŭs aūstrīs
āltērnūs prōcūmbĭt ăgēr, ceū gūrgĭtĕ cānō
nūnc rĕtĕgīt bĭbŭlās, nūnc īndŭĭt aēstŭs hărēnās.
Ēxspīrāt lātē pūbēs Tīrŷnthĭa, ălūmnī45
ēxŭvĭās ĭmĭtātă dĕī; trūx maērĕt ăb āstrīs
Āmphĭtrўōnĭădēs Nĕmĕaēa īn sānguĭnĕ tērgă
ēt sĭmĭlēs rāmōs sĭmĭlēsquĕ vĭdērĕ phărētrās.
Stābăt ĭn Ārgŏlĭcaē fērrātō cūlmĭnĕ tūrrīs
ēgrĕgĭūs lĭtŭō dēxtrī Māvōrtĭs Ĕnŷeūs50
hōrtātōr; sēd tūnc mĭsĕrīs dăbăt ūtĭlĕ sīgnūm
suādēbātquĕ fŭgam ēt tūtōs īn cāstră rĕcēptūs:
cūm sŭbĭtum ōblīquō dēscēndĭt ăb āĕrĕ vūlnūs,
ūrgēntīsquĕ sŏnūm laēvā mănŭs aūrĕ rĕtēntāst,
sīcŭt ĕrāt; fŭgĭt īn văcŭās iām spīrĭtŭs aūrās,55
iām gĕlĭda ōră tăcēnt, cārmēn tŭbă sōlă pĕrēgīt.
Iāmquĕ pŏtēns scĕlĕrūm gĕmĭnaēque ēxērcĭtă gēntīs
sānguĭnĕ Tīsĭphŏnē frātērnā clūdĕrĕ quaērīt
bēllă tŭbā: nēc sē tānta īn cērtāmĭnă fīdīt
sūffĭcĕre, īnfērnā cŏmĭtēm nī sēdĕ Mĕgaērām60
ēt cōnsānguĭnĕōs īn proēlĭă sūscĭtĕt ānguēs.
ērgŏ prŏcūl văcŭā cōnsēdīt vāllĕ sŏlūmquĕ
ēnsĕ fŏdīt Stўgĭō tērraēque īmmūrmŭrăt ābsēns
nōmĕn ĕt - Ēlўsĭīs sīgnum īndŭbĭtābĭlĕ rēgnīs -
crīnālem āttōllīt lōngō strīdōrĕ cĕrāstēn:65
caērŭlĕaē dūx īllĕ cŏmaē, quō prōtĭnŭs ōmnīs
hōrrŭĭt aūdītō tēllūs pōntūsquĕ pŏlūsquĕ,
ēt pătĕr Aētnaēōs ĭtĕrūm rēspēxĭt ăd īgnēs.
āccĭpĭt īllă sŏnūm; stābāt tūnc fōrtĕ părēntī
prōxĭmă, dūm coētū Căpăneūs laūdātŭr ăb ōmnī70
Dītĭs ĕt īnsīgnēm Stўgĭīs fŏvĕt āmnĭbŭs ūmbrām.
prōtĭnŭs ābrūptā tērrārūm mōlĕ sŭb āstrīs
cōnstĭtĭt, ēxsūltānt mānēs, quāntūmquĕ prŏfūndaē
rārēscūnt tĕnĕbraē, tāntūm dē lūcĕ rĕcēssīt.
Ēxcĭpĭt ātră sŏrōr dēxtraēque īnnēxă prŏfātūr:75
"Hāc, gērmānă, tĕnūs Stўgĭī mĕtŭēndă părēntīs
īmpĕrĭa ēt iūssōs pŏtŭī tŏlĕrārĕ fŭrōrēs,
sōlă sŭpēr tērrās hōstīlīque ōbvĭă mūndō,
dūm vōs Ēlўsĭum ēt făcĭlēs cōmpēscĭtĭs ūmbrās.
Nēc prĕtĭūm dēfōrmĕ mŏraē cāssīquĕ lăbōrēs:80
hōc quōdcūmquĕ mădēnt cāmpī, quōd sānguĭnĕ fūmānt
stāgnă, quŏd īnnŭmĕrō Lēthaēa ēxāmĭnĕ gaūdēt
rīpă, mĕaē vīrēs, mĕă laēta īnsīgnĭă. sēd quīd
haēc ĕgŏ? Mārs hăbĕāt, vūlgātăquĕ iāctĕt Ĕnŷō.
vīdīstī - Stўgĭīs cērtē mănĭfēstŭs ĭn ūmbrīs -85
sānguĭnĕ foēdātūm rīctūs ātrōquĕ mădēntēm
ōră dŭcēm tābō: mĭsĕri īnsătĭābĭlĭs ēdīt
mē trādēntĕ căpūt. Mŏdŏ nēmpe hōrrēndŭs ăb āstrīs
dēscēndīt vōs ūsquĕ frăgōr: mē sācră prĕmēbāt
tēmpēstās, ĕgŏ mīxtă vĭrīs fŭrĭālĭbŭs ārmīs90
bēllă dĕum ēt māgnās rīdēbām fūlmĭnĭs īrās.
Sēd iam - ēffābŏr ĕnīm - lōngō sūdōrĕ fătīscūnt
cōrdă, sŏrōr, tārdaēquĕ mănūs; hĕbĕt īnfĕră caēlō
tāxŭs ĕt īnsuētōs ānguēs nĭmĭa āstră sŏpōrānt.
tū, cuī tōtŭs ădhūc fŭrŏr ēxsūltāntquĕ rĕcēntēs95
Cōcŷtī dē fōntĕ cŏmaē, dā iūngĕrĕ vīrēs.
Nōn sŏlĭtās ăcĭēs nēc Mārtĭă bēllă părāmūs,
sēd frātrūm - lĭcĕt ālmă Fĭdēs Pĭĕtāsquĕ rĕpūgnēnt,
vīncēntūr -, frātrūm strīngēndī cōmmĭnŭs ēnsēs.
Grānde ŏpŭs! Īpsae ŏdĭīs, īpsaē dīscōrdĭbŭs ārmīs100
āptēmūr. quīd lēntă vĕnīs? ăgĕdum ēlĭgĕ cūiūs
sīgnă fĕrās. Āmbō făcĭlēs nōstrīquĕ; sĕd āncēps
vūlgŭs ĕt ādfātūs mātrīs blāndāmquĕ prĕcātū
Āntĭgŏnēn tĭmĕō, paūlūm nē nōstră rĕtārdēnt
cōnsĭlĭa. Īpse ĕtĭām, quī nōs lāssārĕ prĕcāndō105
suētŭs ĕt ūltrīcēs ŏcŭlōrum ēxpōscĕrĕ Dīrās,
iām pătĕr ēst: coētū fērtūr iām sōlŭs ăb ōmnī
flērĕ sĭbi; ātque ădĕō mŏrŏr īpsa īrrūmpĕrĕ Thēbās
āssuētūmquĕ lărēm. tĭbĭ pārĕăt īmpĭŭs ēxūl,
Ārgŏlĭcūmque īmpēllĕ nĕfās; neū mītĭs Ădrāstūs110
praēvălĕāt plēbēsquĕ, căvē, Lērnaēă mŏrētūr.
vāde, ĕt ĭn āltērnās ĭnĭmīcă rĕvērtĕrĕ pūgnās."
Tālĭă pārtītaē dīvērsum ăbĭērĕ sŏrōrēs:
ūt Nŏtŭs ēt Bŏrĕās gĕmĭnō dē cārdĭnĕ mūndī,
hīc nĭvĕ Rīphaēā, Lĭbўcīs hīc pāstŭs hărēnīs,115
bēllă cĭēnt: clāmānt āmnēs, frĕtă, nūbĭlă, sīlvaē,
iāmquĕ pătēnt strāgēs; plāngūnt sŭă dāmnă cŏlōnī,
ēt tămĕn ōpprēssōs mĭsĕrāntŭr ĭn aēquŏrĕ naūtās.
īllās ūt sūmmō vīdīt pătĕr āltŭs Ŏlŷmpō
īncēstārĕ dĭēm trĕpĭdūmque Hўpĕrīŏnĭs ōrbēm120
sūffūndī măcŭlīs, tōrvō sīc īncŏhăt ōrĕ:
"Vīdĭmŭs ārmĭfĕrōs, quō fās ĕrăt ūsquĕ, fŭrōrēs,
caēlĭcŏlaē, lĭcĭtāsque ăcĭēs, ētsi īmpĭă bēllă
ūnŭs ĭnīt aūsūsquĕ mĕā prōcūmbĕrĕ dēxtrā.
Nūnc pār īnfāndūm mĭsĕrīsque īncōgnĭtă tērrīs125
pūgnă sŭbēst: aūfērte ŏcŭlōs! ābsēntĭbŭs aūsīnt
īstă dĕīs lătĕāntquĕ Iŏvēm; sāt fūnĕră mēnsaē
Tāntălĕae ēt sōntēs vīdīssĕ Lўcāŏnĭs ārās
ēt fēstīnă pŏlō dūcēntēs āstră Mўcēnās.
Nūnc ĕtĭām tūrbāndă dĭēs: mălă nūbĭlă, tēllūs,130
āccĭpĕ, sēcēdāntquĕ pŏlī: stāt pārcĕrĕ mūndō
caēlĭtĭbūsquĕ mĕīs; sāltēm nē vīrgĭnĭs ālmaē
sīdĕră, Lēdaēī vĭdĕānt neū tālĭă frātrēs".
sīc pătĕr ōmnĭpŏtēns, vīsūsquĕ nŏcēntĭbŭs ārvīs
ābstŭlĭt, ēt dūlcī tērraē cărŭērĕ sĕrēnō.135
Iāmquĕ pĕr Ārgŏlĭcās Ĕrĕbō sătă vīrgŏ cŏhōrtīs
vēstīgāt Pŏlўnīcĭs ĭtēr pōrtīsquĕ sŭb īpsīs
īnvĕnĭt, īncērtūm lētō tŏt ĭnīquă fŭgānĕ
ēxĕăt. ēt dŭbĭōs tūrbārānt ōmĭnă sēnsūs:
vīdĕrăt, ōbscūrā vāllūm dūm nōctĕ pĕrērrāt140
aēgēr cōnsĭlĭī cūrīsquĕ nŏvīssĭmă vōlvēns,
cōniŭgĭs Ārgīaē lăcĕrām cūm lāmpădĕ maēstā
ēffĭgĭēm - sūnt mōnstră dĕūm, sīc īrĕ părābāt,
hās lātūră vĭrō taēdās ĕrăt! -: ērgŏ rŏgāntī,
quaē vĭă quīsvĕ dŏlōr, cūr maēsta īnsīgnĭă, tāntūm145
flēvĕrăt ātquĕ mănū tăcĭtōs āvērtĕrăt īgnēs.
Scīt mēntēm vīdīssĕ nĕfās; ĕtĕnim ūndĕ Mўcēnīs
ādfŏrĕt ēt vāllūm cōniūnx ĭnŏpīnă sŭbīrēt?
Sēd fātī mŏnĭtūs vīcīnăquĕ fūnĕră sēntīt,
āc sēntīrĕ tĭmēt. Cūm vēro Ăchĕrōntĭs ăpērtī150
Dīră tĕr ādmōtō tĕtĭgīt thōrācă flăgēllō,
ārdĕt ĭnōps ănĭmī, nēc tām cōnsīdĕrĕ rēgnō,
quām scĕlŭs ēt caēdem ēt pērfōssi īn sānguĭnĕ frātrīs
ēxspīrārĕ cŭpīt, sŭbĭtūsque āffātŭr Ădrāstūm:
"Sēră quĭdem, ēxtrēmūs sŏcĭūm gēntīsquĕ sŭpērstēs155
Ārgŏlĭcaē, cōnsūltă, pătēr, iām rēbŭs ĭn ārtīs
ādgrĕdĭōr; tūnc tēmpŭs ĕrāt, cūm sānguĭs Ăchīvūm
īntĕgĕr, īre ūltrō prŏprĭāmquĕ căpēssĕrĕ pūgnām,
nōn plēbīs Dănăaē flōrēm rēgūmquĕ vĕrēndās
ōbiēctāre ănĭmās, ūt lāmēntābĭlĕ tāntīs160
ūrbĭbŭs īndŭĕrēm căpĭtī dĕcŭs. Āspĕră quāndō
praētĕrĭīt vīrtūs, nūnc sāltem ēxsōlvĕrĕ fās sīt,
quaē mĕrŭī. Scīs nāmquĕ, sŏcēr, lĭcĕt āltă rĕcōndās
vūlnĕra ĕt ādflīctūm gĕnĕrī vĕrĕārĕ pŭdōrēm:
īlle ĕgŏ sūm, quī tē pācem ēt pĭă iūră tĕgēntēm165
- īnfēlīx ŭtĭnāmque ălĭīs dătŭs ūrbĭbŭs hōspēs! -
ēxtōrrēm pătrĭā rēgnōquĕ - sĕd ēxĭgĕ tāndēm
sūpplĭcĭūm: frātrēm sūprēma īn bēllă - quĭd hōrrēs?
dēcrētum ēst fīxūmquĕ - vŏcō; dēsīstĕ mŏrārī,
nēc pŏtĕrīs. Nōn si ātră părēns mĭsĕraēquĕ sŏrōrēs170
īn mĕdĭa ārmă cădānt, nōn si īpse ād bēllă rŭēntī
ōbstĕt ĕt ēxstīnctōs gălĕaē pătĕr īngĕrăt ōrbēs,
dēfĭcĭam. Ānnĕ bĭbām sŭpĕrēst quōdcūmquĕ crŭōrīs
Īnăchĭi ēt vēstrīs ĕtĭāmnūm mōrtĭbŭs ūtār?
Vīdi ĕgŏ mē prōptēr rūptōs tēllūrĭs hĭātūs175
nēc sŭbĭī; vīdi ēxănĭmūm fēcīquĕ nŏcēntēm
Tŷdĕă; mē Tĕgĕē rēgem īndēfēnsă rĕpōscīt,
ōrbăquĕ Pārrhăsĭīs ŭlŭlāt mĭhĭ mātĕr ĭn āntrīs.
Īpsĕ nĕc Īsmēnī rīpās, dūm stāgnă crŭēntāt
Hīppŏmĕdōn, Tўrĭās pŏtŭī nēc scāndĕrĕ tūrrēs,180
dūm tŏnăt, ēt tēcūm, Căpăneū, mīscērĕ fŭrōrēs.
quīs tāntūs prō lūcĕ tĭmōr? sēd dīgnă rĕpēndām.
Cōnvĕnĭānt ŭbĭ quaēquĕ nŭrūs mātrēsquĕ Pĕlāsgaē
lōngaēvīquĕ pătrēs, quōrūm tōt gaūdĭă cārpsī
ōrbāvīquĕ dŏmōs: frātrī cōncūrrŏ, quĭd ūltrāst?185
Spēctēnt ēt vōtīs vīctōrem Ĕtĕōclĕă pōscānt.
Iāmquĕ vălē, cōniūnx, dūlcēsquĕ vălētĕ Mўcēnaē!
Āt tū, cārĕ sŏcēr - nĕc ĕnim ōmnīs cūlpă mălōrūm
mē pĕnĕs, ēt sŭpĕrī mēcūm Pārcaēquĕ nŏcēntēs -,
sīs lēnīs cĭnĕrī, mēque haēc pōst proēlĭă rāptūm190
ālĭtĭbūs frātrīquĕ tĕgās ūrnāmquĕ rĕpōrtēs
- hōc tāntum - ēt nātaē mĕlĭūs cōnūbĭă iūngās".
Ībānt īn lăcrĭmās, vĕlŭtī cūm vērĕ rĕvērsō
Bīstŏnĭaē tĕpŭērĕ nĭvēs, sūbmīttĭtŭr īngēns
Haēmŭs ĕt āngūstōs Rhŏdŏpē dēscēndĭt ĭn āmnēs.195
Coēpĕrăt ēt lēnī sĕnĭōr mūlcērĕ fŭrēntēm
ādlŏquĭō: scĭdĭt ōrsă nŏvō tērrōrĕ crŭēntă
Eūmĕnĭs, ālĭpĕdēmquĕ cĭtūm fātālĭăque ārmă
prōtĭnŭs, Īnăchĭī vūltūs ēxprēssă Phĕrēclī,
ōbtŭlĭt āc fīdās ēxclūsīt cāssĭdĕ vōcēs.200
āc sŭpĕr haēc: "Ābrūmpĕ mŏrās, cĕlĕrēmŭs! ĕt īllūm
ādvēntārĕ fĕrūnt pōrtīs". Sīc ōmnĭă vīcīt,
cōrrēptūmque ĭnĭēcĭt ĕquō; vŏlăt aēquŏre ăpērtō
pāllĭdŭs īnstāntēmquĕ dĕaē cīrcūmspĭcĭt ūmbrām.
Sācră Iŏvī mĕrĭtō Tўrĭūs prō fūlmĭnĕ dūctōr205
nēquīquām Dănăōs rătŭs ēxārmāssĕ fĕrēbāt.
Nēc pătĕr aēthĕrĭūs dīvūmque hās ūllŭs ăd ārās,
sēd mălă Tīsĭphŏnē trĕpĭdīs īnsērtă mĭnīstrīs
ādstăt ĕt īnfērnō praēvērtīt vōtă Tŏnāntī.
"Sūmmĕ dĕūm, tĭbĭ nāmquĕ mĕaē prīmōrdĭă Thēbaē210
- līvĕăt īnfāndūm lĭcĕt Ārgŏs ĕt āspĕră Iūnŏ -
dēbēnt, Sīdŏnĭōs ēx quō pēr lītŏră rāptōr
tūrbāstī thĭăsōs, dīgnātūs vīrgĭnĕ nōstrā
tērgă prĕmi ēt plăcĭdās fālsūm mūgīrĕ pĕr ūndās!
nēc tē vānă fĭdēs ĭtĕrūm Cādmēĭa ădēptūm215
cōnŭbĭa ēt Tўrĭōs nĭmĭum īrrūpīssĕ pĕnātēs:
tāndem, īnquām, sŏcĕrōs dīlēctăquĕ moēnĭă grātūs
rēspĭcĭs ādsērtōrquĕ tŏnās; ceū rēgĭă caēlī
āttēmptātă tŭī, sīc tē prō tūrrĭbŭs āltīs
vīdĭmŭs ūrgēntēm nūbēs, laētīquĕ bĕnīgnūm220
fūlmĕn ĕt aūdītōs prŏăvīs āgnōscĭmŭs īgnēs.
Āccĭpĕ nūnc pĕcŭdēs ēt māgnī tūrĭs ăcērvōs
vōtīvūmquĕ mărēm; dīgnās sēd pēndĕrĕ grātīs
haūd mōrtāle ŏpŭs ēst; cērtēnt tĭbĭ rēddĕrĕ Bācchūs
nōstĕr ĕt Ālcīdēs, īllīs haēc moēnĭă sērvās".225
Dīxĕrăt: āst īllī nĭgĕr īgnĭs ĭn ōră gĕnāsquĕ
prōsĭlŭīt rāptūmquĕ cŏmīs dĭădēmă crĕmāvīt.
Tūnc fĕrŭs ānte īctūm spūmīs dēlūbră crŭēntāt
taūrŭs ĕt ōbstāntūm mĕdĭīs ē coētĭbŭs ēxīt
tūrbĭdŭs īnsānōquĕ fĕrēns āltārĭă cōrnū.230
dīffŭgĭūnt fămŭli ēt rēgēm sōlātŭr hărūspēx.
Īpse īnstaūrārī sācrūm mălĕ fōrtĭs ăgīquĕ
īmpĕrăt, ēt māgnōs fīctō prĕmĭt ōrĕ tĭmōrēs.
Quālĭs ŭbi īmplĭcĭtūm Tīrŷnthĭŭs ōssĭbŭs īgnēm
sēnsĭt ĕt Oētaēās mēmbrīs āccēdĕrĕ vēstēs,235
vōta īncēptă tămēn lībātăquĕ tūră fĕrēbāt
dūrŭs ădhūc pătĭēnsquĕ mălī; mōx grāndĕ cŏāctūs
īngĕmŭīt, vīctōrquĕ fŭrīt pēr vīscĕră Nēssūs.
Nūntĭŭs ēxănĭmī sūspēnsūs pēctŏră cūrsū
Aēpўtŭs ād rēgēm pōrtaē stătĭōnĕ rĕlīctā240
tēndĭt ĕt haēc trĕpĭdō vīx īntēllēctŭs ănhēlāt:
"Rūmpĕ pĭōs cūltūs īntēmpēstīvăquĕ, rēctōr,
sācră dĕūm: frātēr mūrīs cīrcum ōmnĭbŭs īnstāt
pōrtārūmquĕ mŏrās frēnīs āssūltăt ĕt hāstīs,
nōmĭnĕ tē crēbrō, tē sōlum īn proēlĭă pōscēns.245
Flēnt maēstī rētrō cŏmĭtēs, ĕt ŭtērquĕ lŏquēntī
ādgĕmĭt ēt pūlsīs ēxērcĭtŭs ōbstrĕpĭt ārmīs.
Īllĕ vŏcāt. Nūnc tēmpŭs ĕrāt, sătŏr ōptĭmĕ dīvūm!
Quīd mĕrŭīt Căpăneūs?" Tūrbātŭs ĭnhōrrŭĭt āltīs
rēx ŏdĭīs, mĕdĭāquĕ tămēn gāvīsŭs ĭn īrāst.250
Sīc ŭbĭ rēgnātōr pōst ēxsŭlĭs ōtĭă taūrī
mūgītum hōstīlēm sūmmā tŭlĭt aūrĕ iŭvēncūs
āgnōvītquĕ mĭnās, māgnā stāt fērvĭdŭs īrā
āntĕ grĕgēm spūmīsque ănĭmōs ārdēntĭbŭs ēfflāt,
nūnc pĕdĕ tōrvŭs hŭmūm, nūnc cōrnĭbŭs āĕră fīndēns;255
hōrrĕt ăgēr, trĕpĭdaēque ēxspēctānt proēlĭă vāllēs.
Nēc dēsūnt rēgnī cŏmĭtēs: "Sĭnĕ, moēnĭă pūlsēt
īrrĭtŭs". "Īlle aūtēm frāctīs hūc aūdĕăt ūsquĕ
vīrĭbŭs?" "Hīc mĭsĕrīs fŭrŏr ēst īnstārĕ pĕrīclō,
nēc lībrārĕ mĕtūs ēt tūta ōdīssĕ". "Rĕsīstĕ260
hīc frētūs sŏlĭō, nōs prōpūlsābĭmŭs hōstēm,
nōs bēllārĕ iŭbē." sīc prōxĭmă tūrbă, sĕd ārdēns
ēcce ădĕrāt lūctū dīctūrūsque ōmnĭă bēllī
lībērtātĕ Crĕōn: ūrīt fĕră cōrdă Mĕnoēceūs;
nūllă pătrī rĕquĭēs, īllūm quaērītquĕ tĕnētquĕ;265
īllūm sānguĭnĕōs prōflāntēm pēctŏrĕ rīvōs
āspĭcĭt ēt saēvā sēmpēr dē tūrrĕ cădēntēm.
Ūt dŭbĭum ēt pūgnās cūnctāntem Ĕtĕōclĕă vīdīt:
"Ībĭs" ăīt, "nĕquĕ te ūltĕrĭūs frātrēmquĕ dŭcēmquĕ,
pēssĭmĕ, fūnĕrĭbūs pătrĭaē lăcrĭmīsquĕ pŏtēntēm,270
Eūmĕnĭdūm bēllīquĕ rĕūm, pătĭēmŭr ĭnūltī.
sāt tŭă nōn aēquīs lŭĭmūs pĕrĭūrĭă dīvīs.
ūrbem ārmīs ŏpĭbūsquĕ grăvem ēt mŏdŏ cīvĭbŭs ārtām,
ceū caēlō dēiēctă lŭēs ĭnĭmīcăvĕ tēllūs,
haūsīstī văcŭāmquĕ tămēn sūblīmĭs ŏbūmbrās?275
deēst tĭbĭ sērvĭtĭō plēbēs: hōs īgnĭs ĕgēntīs
fērt hŭmŭs, hōs pĕlăgō pătrĭūs iām dētŭlĭt āmnīs;
hī quaērūnt ārtūs, īlli ānxĭă vūlnĕră cūrānt.
rēdde ăgĕdūm mĭsĕrīs frātrēs nātōsquĕ pătrēsquĕ,
rēdde ārvīs dŏmĭbūsquĕ vĭrōs! Ŭbĭ māxĭmŭs Hŷpseūs280
fīnĭtĭmūsquĕ Drўās, ŭbĭ Phōcĭdŏs ārmă sŏnōraē
Eūbŏĭcīquĕ dŭcēs? Īllōs tămĕn aēquă dŭēllī
fōrs tŭlĭt ād mānēs: āt tū, pŭdĕt! hōstĭă rēgnī,
hōstĭă, nātĕ, iăcēs, ceū mūtŭs ĕt ē grĕgĕ sānguīs,
eī mĭhĭ! prīmĭtĭīs ārārum ēt rītĕ nĕfāstō285
lībătŭs iūssūsquē mōri: ēt cūnctābĭtŭr ūltrā
īstĕ nĕc ādvērsō nūnc sāltēm Mārtĕ vŏcātūs
stābĭt? Ăn īn pūgnās ălĭūm iŭbĕt īrĕ prŏfānūs
Tīrĕsĭās ĭtĕrūmquĕ mĕōs ōrācŭlă nēctīt
īn gĕmĭtūs? quĭd ĕnīm mĭsĕrō sŭpĕr ūnĭcŭs Haēmōn?290
Īllĕ iŭbē sŭbĕāt, tūque hīnc spēctātŏr ăb āltā
tūrrĕ sĕdē! Quīd saēvă frĕmīs fămŭlāmquĕ cŏhōrtēm
rēspēctās? Hī te īrĕ vŏlūnt, hī pēndĕrĕ poēnās;
īpsa ĕtĭām gĕnĕtrīx īpsaēque ōdērĕ sŏrōrēs.
Īn te ārdēns frātēr fērrūm mōrtēmquĕ mĭnātūr295
saēvăquĕ pōrtārūm cōnvēllīt claūstră, nĕc aūdīs?"
Sīc pătĕr īnfrēndēns, mĭsĕrāque ēxaēstŭăt īrā.
īllĕ sŭb haēc "Nōn fāllĭs" ăīt "nēc te īnclĭtă nātī
fātă mŏvēnt: cănĕre īllă pătrem ēt iāctārĕ dĕcēbāt.
Sēd spēs sūb lăcrĭmīs, spēs ātque ōccūltă cŭpīdŏ300
hīs lătĕt: īnsānō praētēndīs fūnĕră vōtō,
mēquĕ prĕmīs frūstrā văcŭaē ceū prōxĭmŭs aūlaē.
Nōn ĭtă Sīdŏnĭām Fōrtūnă rĕlīquĕrĭt ūrbēm,
īn te ūt scēptră cădānt, tānto īndīgnīssĭmĕ nātō.
nēc mĭhĭ dīffĭcĭlīs praēsēns vīndīctă; sĕd ārmă,305
ārmă prĭūs, fămŭlī! cŏĕānt īn proēlĭă frātrēs.
vūlt gĕmĭtūs lēnīrĕ Crĕōn: lūcrārĕ fŭrōrēm;
vīctōrī mĭhĭ cūnctă lŭēs". Sīc iūrgĭă paūlūm
dīstŭlĭt ātque ēnsēm, quēm iām dăbăt īră, rĕprēssīt.
Īctŭs ŭt īncērtō pāstōrīs vūlnĕrĕ sērpēns310
ērĭgĭtūr gŷrō lōngūmque ē cōrpŏrĕ tōtō
vīrŭs ĭn ōră lĕgīt; paūlūm sī dēvĭŭs hōstīs
tōrsĭt ĭtēr, cĕcĭdērĕ mĭnaē tŭmĕfāctăquĕ frūstrā
cōllă sĕdēnt, īrāsquĕ sŭī bĭbĭt īpsĕ vĕnēnī.
Āt gĕnĕtrīx prīmām fūnēstaē sōrtĭs ŭt āmēns315
ēxpāvīt fāmām - nēc tārdē crēdĭdĭt -, ībāt
scīssă cŏmām vūltūsque ēt pēctŏrĕ nūdă crŭēntō,
nōn sēxūs dĕcŏrīsvĕ mĕmōr: Pēnthēĭă quālīs
mātĕr ăd īnsānī scāndēbāt cūlmĭnă mōntīs,
prōmīssūm saēvō căpŭt ādlātūră Lўaēō.320
Nōn cŏmĭtēs, nōn fērrĕ pĭaē vēstīgĭă nātaē
aēquă vălēnt: tāntūm mĭsĕraē dŏlŏr ūltĭmŭs āddīt
rōbŭr, ĕt ēxsānguēs crūdēscūnt lūctĭbŭs ānnī.
Iāmquĕ dĕcūs gălĕaē, iām spīcŭlă saēvă lĭgābāt
dūctŏr ĕt ād lĭtŭōs hĭlărem īntrĕpĭdūmquĕ tŭbārūm325
prōspĭcĭēbăt ĕquūm, sŭbĭtō cum āppārŭĭt īngēns
mātĕr, ĕt īpsĕ mĕtū fămŭlūmque ēxpāllŭĭt ōmnīs
coētŭs, ĕt ōblātām rētrō dĕdĭt ārmĭgĕr hāstām.
"Quīs fŭrŏr? Ūnde ĭtĕrūm rēgni īntēgrātă rĕsūrgīt
Eūmĕnĭs? Īpsi ĕtĭām pōst ōmnĭă, cōmmĭnŭs īpsī330
stābĭtĭs? ūsque ădĕō gĕmĭnās dūxīssĕ cŏhōrtēs
ēt făcĭnūs māndāssĕ părum ēst? Quō deīndĕ rĕdībīt
vīctŏr? Ĭn hōsnĕ sĭnūs? Ō dīrī cōniŭgĭs ōlīm
fēlīcēs tĕnĕbraē! Dătĭs, īmprŏbă lūmĭnă, poēnās:
haēc spēctāndă dĭēs? quō, saēvĕ, mĭnāntĭă flēctīs335
ōră? Quĭd āltērnūs vūltūs pāllōrquĕ rŭbōrquĕ
mūtăt, ĕt ōbnīxī frāngūnt mălă mūrmŭră dēntēs?
mē mĭsĕrām, vīncēs! prĭŭs haēc tămĕn ārmă nĕcēssēst
ēxpĕrĭārĕ dŏmī: stābo īpso īn līmĭnĕ pōrtaē
aūspĭcĭum īnfēlīx scĕlĕrūmque īmmānĭs ĭmāgŏ.340
Haēc tĭbĭ cānĭtĭēs, haēc sūnt cālcāndă, nĕfāndĕ,
ūbĕră, pērque ŭtĕrūm sŏnĭpēs hīc mātrĭs ăgēndūs.
Pārcĕ: quĭd ōppŏsĭtām căpŭlō pārmāquĕ rĕpēllīs?
Nōn ĕgŏ tē cōntrā Stўgĭīs fērālĭă sānxī
vōtă dĕīs, caēcō nĕc Ĕrīnўăs ōrĕ rŏgāvī.345
Ēxaūdī mĭsĕrām: gĕnĕtrīx tē, saēvĕ, prĕcātūr,
nōn pătĕr; āddĕ mŏrām scĕlĕri ēt mētīrĕ, quŏd aūdēs.
sēd pūlsāt mūrōs gērmānŭs ĕt īmpĭă cōntrā
bēllă cĭēt. Nōn mātĕr ĕnīm, nōn ōbstăt ĕūntī
ūllă sŏrōr. tē cūnctă rŏgānt, hīc plāngĭmŭs ōmnēs;350
āst ĭbĭ vīx ūnūs pūgnās dīssuādĕt Ădrāstūs,
aūt fōrtāssĕ iŭbēt. Tū līmĭna ăvītă dĕōsquĕ
līnquĭs ĕt ā nōstrīs īn frātrem āmplēxĭbŭs ēxīs?"
Āt pārte ēx ălĭā tăcĭtōs ōbstāntĕ tŭmūltū
Āntĭgŏnē fūrātă grădūs - nēc cāstă rĕtārdāt355
vīrgĭnĭtās - vŏlăt Ōgўgĭī fāstīgĭă mūrī
ēxsŭpĕrārĕ fŭrēns; sĕnĭōr cŏmĕs haērĕt ĕūntī
Āctŏr, ĕt hīc sūmmās nōn dūrātūrŭs ăd ārcēs.
ūtquĕ prŏcūl vīsīs paūlūm dŭbĭtāvĭt ĭn ārmīs,
āgnōvītquĕ - nĕfās! - iăcŭlīs ēt vōcĕ sŭpērbā360
tēcta īncēssēntēm, māgnō prĭŭs ōmnĭă plānctū
īmplĕt ĕt ēx mūrīs ceū dēscēnsūră prŏfātūr:
"Cōmprĭmĕ tēlă mănū paūlūmque hānc rēspĭcĕ tūrrēm,
frātĕr, ĕt hōrrēntēs rĕfĕr īn mĕă lūmĭnă crīstās!
āgnōscīsne hōstēs? sīc ānnŭă pāctă fĭdēmquĕ365
pōscĭmŭs? hī quēstūs, haēc ēst bŏnă caūsă mŏdēstī
ēxsŭlĭs? Ārgŏlĭcōs pēr tē, gērmānĕ, pĕnātēs
- nām Tўrĭīs iām nūllŭs hŏnōs -, pēr sī quĭd ĭn īllā
dūlcĕ dŏmō, sūbmītte ănĭmōs: ēn ūtrăquĕ gēntīs
tūrbă rŏgānt āmbaēque ăcĭēs; rŏgăt īllă sŭōrūm370
Āntĭgŏnē dēvōtă mălīs sūspēctăquĕ rēgī,
ēt tāntūm tŭă, dūrĕ, sŏrōr. sāltem ōră trŭcēsquĕ
sōlvĕ gĕnās; lĭcĕāt vūltūs fōrtāssĕ sŭprēmūm
nōscĕrĕ dīlēctōs ĕt ăd haēc lāmēntă vĭdērĕ,
ānnĕ flĕās. Īllūm gĕmĭtū iām sūpplĭcĕ mātēr375
frāngĭt ĕt ēxsērtūm dīmīttĕrĕ dīcĭtŭr ēnsēm:
tū mĭhĭ fōrtĭs ădhūc? Mĭhĭ, quaē tŭă nōctĕ dĭēquĕ
ēxsĭlĭa ērrōrēsquĕ flĕō, iāmiāmquĕ tŭmēntēm
plācāvī tĭbĭ saēpĕ pătrēm? Quīd crīmĭnĕ sōlvīs
gērmānūm? nēmpe īllĕ fĭdem ēt stătă foēdĕră rūpīt,380
īllĕ nŏcēns saēvūsquĕ sŭīs; tămĕn ēccĕ vŏcātūs
nōn vĕnĭt". hīs paūlūm fŭrŏr ēlānguēscĕrĕ dīctīs
coēpĕrăt, ōbstrĕpĕrēt quāmquam ātque ōbstārĕt Ĕrīnŷs;
iām sūbmīssă mănūs, lēntē iām flēctĭt hăbēnās,
iām tăcĕt; ērūmpūnt gĕmĭtūs, lăcrĭmāsquĕ fătētūr385
cāssĭs; hĕbēnt īraē, părĭtērque ĕt ăbīrĕ nŏcēntēm
ēt vēnīssĕ pŭdēt: sŭbĭtō cūm mātrĕ rĕpūlsā
Eūmĕnĭs ēiēcīt frāctīs Ĕtĕōclĕă pōrtīs
clāmāntēm: "Vĕnĭō sōlūmquĕ quŏd āntĕ vŏcāstī
īnvĭdĕō; ne īncēssĕ mŏrās, grăvĭs ārmă tĕnēbāt390
mātĕr; ĭō pătrĭa, ō rēgum īncērtīssĭmă tēllūs,
nūnc cērtē vīctōrĭs ĕrīs!" nēc mītĭŏr īllĕ
"Tāndem" īnquīt "scīs saēvĕ fĭdem ēt dēscēndĭs ĭn aēquūm?
Ō mĭhĭ nūnc prīmūm lōngō pōst tēmpŏrĕ frātēr,
cōngrĕdĕre: haē lēgēs, haēc foēdĕră sōlă sŭpērsūnt".395
Sīc hōstīlĕ tŭēns frātrēm; nāmque ūrĭtŭr āltō
cōrdĕ, quŏd īnnŭmĕrī cŏmĭtēs, quōd rēgĭă cāssīs
īnstrātūsque ōstrō sŏnĭpēs, quōd fūlvă mĕtāllō
pārmă mĭcēt, quāmquam haūd ārmīs ĭnhŏnōrŭs ĕt īpsĕ
nēc pāllā vūlgārĕ nĭtēns: ŏpŭs īpsă nŏvārāt400
Maēŏnĭīs Ārgīă mŏdīs āc pōllĭcĕ dōctō
stāmĭnă pūrpŭrĕaē sŏcĭāvĕrăt aūrĕă tēlaē.
Iāmque īn pūlvĕrĕūm Fŭrĭīs hōrtāntĭbŭs aēquōr
prōsĭlĭūnt, sŭă quēmquĕ cŏmēs stĭmŭlātquĕ mŏnētquĕ.
Frēnă tĕnēnt īpsaē phălĕrāsque ēt lūcĭdă cōmūnt405
ārmă mănū mīxtīsquĕ iŭbās sērpēntĭbŭs aūgēnt.
Stāt cōnsānguĭnĕūm cāmpō scĕlŭs, ūnĭŭs īngēns
bēllum ŭtĕrī, cŏĕūntquĕ părēs sūb cāssĭdĕ vūltūs.
sīgnă păvēnt, sĭlŭērĕ tŭbaē, stŭpĕfāctăquĕ Mārtīs
cōrnŭă; tēr nīgrīs ăvĭdūs rēgnātŏr ăb ōrīs410
īntōnvīt tērque īmă sŏlī cōncūssĭt, ĕt īpsī
ārmōrūm fūgērĕ dĕī: nūsquam īnclĭtă Vīrtūs,
rēstīnxīt Bēllōnă făcēs, lōngēquĕ păvēntēs
Mārs răpŭīt cūrrūs, ēt Gōrgŏnĕ crūdă vĭrāgŏ
ābstĭtĭt, īnquĕ vĭcēm Stўgĭaē sŭbĭērĕ sŏrōrēs.415
Prōmĭnĕt ēxcēlsīs vūlgūs mĭsĕrābĭlĕ tēctīs,
cūnctă mădēnt lăcrĭmīs ĕt ăb ōmnī plāngĭtŭr ārcĕ.
Hīnc quēstī vīxīssĕ sĕnēs, hīnc pēctŏrĕ nūdō
stānt mātrēs pārvōsquĕ vĕtānt āttēndĕrĕ nātōs.
īpsĕ quŏque Ōgўgĭōs mōnstra ād gēntīlĭă mānēs420
Tārtărĕūs rēctōr pōrtā iŭbĕt īrĕ rĕclūsā.
Mōntĭbŭs īnsīdūnt pătrĭīs trīstīquĕ cŏrōnā
īnfēcērĕ dĭem ēt vīncī sŭă crīmĭnă gaūdēnt.
Īllōs ūt stĭmŭlīs īre īn dīscrīmĕn ăpērtīs
aūdĭĭt ēt scĕlĕrī nūllūm iam ōbstārĕ pŭdōrēm,425
ādvŏlăt ēt mĕdĭās īmmīttĭt Ădrāstŭs hăbēnās,
īpsĕ quĭdem ēt rēgnīs mūltum ēt vĕnĕrābĭlĭs aēvō.
Sēd quĭd ăpūd tālēs, quīs nēc sŭă pīgnŏră cūraē,
ēxtĕr hŏnōs? Tămĕn īllĕ rŏgāt: "Spēctābĭmŭs ērgo hōc,
Īnăchĭdaē Tўrĭīquĕ, nĕfās? Ŭbĭ iūră dĕīquĕ,430
bēlla ŭbĭ? Nē pērstāte ănĭmīs. Tē dēprĕcŏr, hōstīs
- quāmquam, haēc īră sĭnāt, nēc tū mĭhĭ sānguĭnĕ lōngē -,
tē, gĕnĕr, ēt iŭbĕō; scēptrī sī tāntă cŭpīdōst,
ēxŭŏ rēgālēs hăbĭtūs, tū Lērnăn ĕt Ārgōs
sōlŭs hăbē!" Nōn vērbă măgīs suādēntĭă frāngūnt435
āccēnsōs, sūmptīsquĕ sĕmēl cōnātĭbŭs ōbstānt,
quām Scўthă cūrvātīs ērēctūs flūctĭbŭs ūmquām
Pōntūs Cŷănĕōs vĕtŭīt cōncūrrĕrĕ mōntēs.
Ūt pĕrĭīssĕ prĕcēs gĕmĭnōque ād proēlĭă fūsōs
pūlvĕrĕ cōrnĭpĕdēs ēxplōrārīquĕ fŭrēntūm440
īn dĭgĭtīs āmēntă vĭdēt, fŭgĭt ōmnĭă līnquēns,
cāstră, vĭrōs, gĕnĕrūm, Thēbās, āc fātă mŏnēntēm
cōnvērsūmquĕ iŭgō prōpēllĭt Ărīŏnă: quālīs
dēmīssūs cūrrū laēvaē pōst praēmĭă sōrtīs
ūmbrārūm cūstōs mūndīquĕ nŏvīssĭmŭs hērēs445
pāllŭĭt, āmīssō vĕnĭēns īn Tārtără caēlō.
Nōn tămĕn īndūlsīt pūgnaē cūnctātăquĕ prīmō
sūbstĭtĭt īn scĕlĕre ēt paūlūm Fōrtūnă mŏrātāst.
bīs cāssaē pĕrĭērĕ vĭaē, bīs cōmmĭnŭs āctōs
āvērtīt bŏnŭs ērrŏr ĕquōs, pūraēquĕ nĕfāndī450
sānguĭnĭs ōblīquīs cĕcĭdērūnt īctĭbŭs hāstaē.
tēndūnt frēnă mănū, saēvīs cālcārĭbŭs ūrgēnt
īmmĕrĭtōs; mŏvĕt ēt gĕmĭnās vĕnĕrābĭlĕ dīvūm
prōdĭgĭūm tūrmās, āltērnăquĕ mūrmŭră vōlvūnt
mūssāntēs: ĭtĕrāre ăcĭēs, prōcūrrĕrĕ saēpĕ455
īmpĕtŭs ēt tōtūm mĭsĕrīs ōppōnĕrĕ bēllūm.
Iāmdūdūm tērrīs coētūque ōffēnsă dĕōrūm
āvērsā caēlī Pĭĕtās īn pārtĕ sĕdēbāt,
nōn hăbĭtū, quō nōtă prĭūs, nōn ōrĕ sĕrēnō,
sēd vīttīs ēxūtă cŏmām, frātērnăquĕ bēllă,460
ceū sŏrŏr īnfēlīx pūgnāntum aūt ānxĭă mātēr,
dēflēbāt, saēvūmquĕ Iŏvēm Pārcāsquĕ nŏcēntēs
vōcĭfĕrāns, sēsēquĕ pŏlīs ēt lūcĕ rĕlīctā
dēscēnsūram Ĕrĕbo ēt Stўgĭōs iām māllĕ pĕnātēs.
"Quīd me" ăĭt, "ūt saēvīs ănĭmāntum āc saēpĕ dĕōrūm465
ōbstātūram ănĭmīs, prīncēps Nātūră, crĕābās?
Nīl iam ĕgŏ pēr pŏpŭlōs, nūsquām rĕvĕrēntĭă nōstrī.
ō fŭrŏr, ō | hŏmĭnēs dīraēquĕ Prŏmēthĕŏs ārtēs!
Quām bĕnĕ pōst Pŷrrhām tēllūs pōntūsquĕ văcābānt!
Ēn mōrtālĕ gĕnūs!" Dīxīt, spĕcŭlātăquĕ tēmpūs470
aūxĭlĭō: "Tēmptēmŭs" ăīt, "lĭcĕt īrrĭtă cōnēr".
Dēsĭlŭītquĕ pŏlō, nĭvĕūs sūb nūbĭbŭs ātrīs
quāmquām maēstă dĕaē sĕquĭtūr vēstīgĭă līmēs.
vīx stĕtĕrāt cāmpō, sŭbĭtā mānsuēscĕrĕ pācĕ
āgmĭnă sēntīrīquĕ nĕfās; tūnc ōră mădēscūnt475
pēctŏrăque, ēt tăcĭtūs sūbrēpsīt frātrĭbŭs hōrrōr.
ārma ĕtĭām sĭmŭlātă gĕrēns cūltūsquĕ vĭrīlēs,
nūnc hīs, nūnc īllīs: "Ăgĭte, īte, ōbsīstĭtĕ", clāmāt,
"quīs nātī frātrēsquĕ dŏmī, quīs pīgnŏră tāntă!
Hīc quŏquĕ... Nōnnĕ pălam ēst ūltrō mĭsĕrēscĕrĕ dīvōs?480
Tēlă cădūnt, cūnctāntŭr ĕquī, fōrs īpsă rĕpūgnāt".
Nōnnĭhĭl īmpŭlĕrāt dŭbĭōs, nī tōrvă nŏtāssēt
Tīsĭphŏnē fraūdēs caēlēstīque ōcĭŏr īgnĕ
ādfŏrĕt īncrĕpĭtāns: "Quīd bēlli ōbvērtĕrĭs aūsīs,
nūmĕn ĭnērs pācīquĕ dătūm? cēde, īmprŏbă: nōstēr485
hīc cāmpūs nōstērquĕ dĭēs; nūnc sēră nŏcēntēs
dēfēndīs Thēbās. ŭbĭ tūnc, cūm bēllă cĭērēt
Bācchŭs ĕt ārmātās fŭrĭārēnt ōrgĭă mātrēs?
Aūt ŭbĭ sēgnĭs ĕrās, dūm Mārtĭŭs īmpĭă sērpēns
stāgnă bĭbīt, dūm Cādmŭs ărāt, dūm vīctă cădīt Sphīnx,490
dūm rŏgăt Oēdĭpŏdēn gĕnĭtōr, dūm lāmpădĕ nōstrā
īn thălămōs Ĭŏcāstă vĕnīt?" sīc ūrgĕt, ĕt ūltrō
vītāntem āspēctūs ĕtĭām pŭdĭbūndăquĕ lōngē
ōră rĕdūcēntēm prĕmĭt āstrīdēntĭbŭs hŷdrīs
īntēntātquĕ făcēs; dēiēctam īn lūmĭnă pāllām495
dīvă trăhīt māgnōquĕ fŭgīt quēstūră Tŏnāntī.
Tūnc vēro āccēnsaē stĭmŭlīs māiōrĭbŭs īraē:
ārmă plăcēnt, vērsaēquĕ vŏlūnt spēctārĕ cŏhōrtēs.
īnstaūrānt crūdēlĕ nĕfās; rēx īmpĭŭs āptāt
tēla ēt fūnēstaē cāsūm prĭŏr ōccŭpăt hāstaē.500
Īllă vĭām mĕdĭūm clĭpĕī cōnātă pĕr ōrbēm
nōn pērfērt īctūs ātque āltō vīncĭtŭr aūrō.
Tūnc ēxsūl sŭbĭt ēt clārē fūnēstă prĕcātūr:
"Dī, quōs ēffōssō nōn īrrĭtŭs ōrĕ rŏgāvīt
Oēdĭpŏdēs flāmmārĕ nĕfās, nōn īmprŏbă pōscō505
vōtă: pĭābŏ mănūs ĕt ĕōdēm pēctŏră fērrō
rēscīndām, dūm mē mŏrĭēns hīc scēptră tĕnēntēm
līnquăt ĕt hūnc sēcūm pōrtēt mĭnŏr ūmbră dŏlōrēm."
Hāstă sŭbīt vēlōx ĕquĭtīs fĕmŭr īntĕr ĕquīquĕ
īlĭă, lētum ūtrīquĕ vŏlēns; sēd plāgă sĕdēntīs510
lāxātō vītātă gĕnū, tămĕn īrrĭtă vōtī
cūspĭs ĭn ōblīquīs īnvēnīt vūlnĕră cōstīs.
Īt praēcēps sŏnĭpēs strīctaē cōntēmptŏr hăbēnaē
ārvăquĕ sānguĭnĕō scrībīt rŭtĭlāntĭă gŷrō.
ēxsūltāt frātrīs crēdēns hūnc īllĕ crŭōrēm:515
crēdĭt ĕt īpsĕ mĕtū; tōtīs iāmque ēxsŭl hăbēnīs
īndūlgēt caēcūsque ăvĭdōs īllīdĭt ĭn aēgrūm
cōrnĭpĕdēm cūrsūs. Mīscēntūr frēnă mănūsquĕ
tēlăque, ĕt ād tērrām tūrbātīs grēssĭbŭs āmbō
praēcĭpĭtānt. ūt nōctĕ rătēs, quās nūbĭlŭs aūstēr520
īmplĭcŭīt, frāngūnt tōnsās mūtāntquĕ rŭdēntēs,
lūctātaēquĕ dĭū tĕnĕbrīs hĭĕmīquĕ sĭbīquĕ,
sīcŭt ĕrānt, īmō părĭtēr sēdērĕ prŏfūndō:
haēc pūgnaē făcĭēs. cōëūnt sĭnĕ mōrĕ, sĭne ārtĕ,
tāntum ănĭmōs īrāsque ātque īgnēscēntĭă cērnūnt525
pēr gălĕās ŏdĭa ēt vūltūs rīmāntŭr ăcērbō
lūmĭnĕ: nīl ădĕō mĕdĭaē tēllūrĭs, ĕt ēnsēs
īmplĭcĭti īnnēxaēquĕ mănūs, āltērnăquĕ saēvī
mūrmŭră ceū lĭtŭōs răpĭūnt aūt sīgnă tŭbārūm.
Fūlmĭnĕōs vĕlŭtī praēcēps cūm cōmmĭnŭs ēgīt530
īră sŭēs strīctīsque ērēxīt tērgŏră saētīs:
īgnĕ trĕmūnt ŏcŭlī, lūnātăquĕ dēntĭbŭs ūncīs
ōră sŏnānt; spēctāt pūgnās dē rūpĕ prŏpīnquā
vēnātōr pāllēns cănĭbūsquĕ sĭlēntĭă suādēt:
sīc ăvĭdi īncūrrūnt; nēcdūm lētālĭă mīscēnt535
vūlnĕră, sēd coēptūs sānguīs, făcĭnūsquĕ pĕrāctūmst.
nēc iam ŏpŭs ēst Fŭrĭīs; tāntūm mīrāntŭr ĕt āstānt
laūdāntēs, hŏmĭnūmquĕ dŏlēnt plūs pōssĕ fŭrōrēs.
Frātrĭs ŭtērquĕ fŭrēns cŭpĭt ādfēctātquĕ crŭōrēm
ēt nēscīt mānārĕ sŭūm; tāndem īrrŭĭt ēxsūl,540
hōrtātūsquĕ mănūm, cuī fōrtĭŏr īră nĕfāsquĕ
iūstĭŭs, ālte ēnsēm gērmāni īn cōrpŏrĕ prēssīt,
quā mălĕ iām plūmīs īmūs tĕgĭt īnguĭnă thōrāx.
Īllĕ dŏlēns nōndūm, sēd fērrī frīgŏrĕ prīmō
tērrĭtŭs īn clĭpĕūm tūrbātōs cōllĭgĭt ārtūs;545
mōx īntēllēctō măgĭs āc măgĭs aēgĕr ănhēlāt
vūlnĕrĕ. nēc pārcīt cēdēnti ātque īncrĕpăt hōstīs:
Quō rĕtrăhīs, gērmānĕ, grădūs? Hōc lānguĭdă sōmnō,
hōc rēgnīs ēffētă quĭēs, hōc lōngă sŭb ūmbrā
īmpĕrĭa! Ēxsĭlĭō rēbūsque ēxērcĭta ĕgēnīs550
mēmbră vĭdēs; dīsce ārmă pătī nēc fīdĕrĕ laētīs".
Sīc pūgnānt mĭsĕrī; rēstābāt lāssă nĕfāndō
vītă dŭcī sūmmūsquĕ crŭōr, pŏtĕrāntquĕ părūmpēr
stārĕ grădūs; sēd spōntĕ rŭīt fraūdēmquĕ sŭprēmām
īn mĕdĭā iām mōrtĕ părāt. Clāmōrĕ Cĭthaērōn555
ērĭgĭtūr, frātērquĕ rătūs vīcīssĕ lĕvāvīt
ād caēlūm pālmās: "Bĕne hăbēt! nōn īrrĭtă vōvī,
cērnŏ grăvīs ŏcŭlōs ātque ōră nătāntĭă lētō.
Hūc ălĭquīs prŏpĕrē scēptrum ātque īnsīgnĕ cŏmārūm,
dūm vĭdĕt. haēc dīcēns grēssūs ādmōvĭt ĕt ārmă,560
ceū tēmplīs dĕcŭs ēt pătrĭaē lātūrŭs ŏvāntī,
ārma ĕtĭām spŏlĭārĕ cŭpīt; nōndum īllĕ pĕrāctīs
mānĭbŭs ūltrīcēs ănĭmām sērvābăt ĭn īrās.
ūtquĕ sŭpērstāntēm prōnūmque īn pēctŏră sēnsīt,
ērĭgĭt ōccūltē fērrūm vītaēquĕ lăbāntīs565
rēlĭquĭās tĕnŭēs ŏdĭō sūpplēvĭt, ĕt ēnsēm
iām laētūs fātī frātērno īn cōrdĕ rĕlīquīt.
īlle aūtēm: "Vīvīsne ăn ădhūc mănĕt īră sŭpērstēs,
pērfĭdĕ, nēc sēdēs ūmquām mĕrĭtūrĕ quĭētās?
hūc mēcum ād mānēs! īllīc quŏquĕ pāctă rĕpōscām,570
sī mŏdo Ăgēnŏrĕī stāt Gnōsĭă iūdĭcĭs ūrnă,
quā rēgēs pūnīrĕ dătūr". Nēc plūră lŏcūtūs
cōncĭdĭt ēt tōtīs frātrēm grăvĭs ōbrŭĭt ārmīs.
Ītĕ trŭcēs ănĭmaē fūnēstăquĕ Tārtără lētō
pōllŭĭte ēt cūnctās Ĕrĕbī cōnsūmĭtĕ poēnās!575
vōsquĕ mălīs hŏmĭnūm, Stўgĭaē, iām pārcĭtĕ, dīvaē:
ōmnĭbŭs īn tērrīs scĕlŭs hōc ōmnīquĕ sŭb aēvō
vīdĕrĭt ūnă dĭēs, mōnstrūmque īnfāmĕ fŭtūrīs
ēxcĭdăt, ēt sōlī mĕmŏrēnt haēc proēlĭă rēgēs.
Āt gĕnĭtōr scĕlĕrīs cōmpērtō fīnĕ prŏfūndīs580
ērūpīt tĕnĕbrīs, saēvōque īn līmĭnĕ prōfērt
mōrtem īmpērfēctām: vĕtĕrī stāt sōrdĭdă tābō
ūtrăquĕ cānĭtĭēs, ēt dūrūs sānguĭnĕ crīnīs
ōbnūbīt fŭrĭālĕ căpūt; prŏcŭl ōră gĕnaēquĕ
īntŭs ĕt ēffōssaē squālēnt vēstīgĭă lūcīs.585
vīrgo aūtem īmpŏsĭtaē sūstēntāt pōndĕră laēvaē,
dēxtră sĕdēt băcŭlō. Quālīs sī pūppĕ rĕlīctā
ēxōsūs mānēs pīgrī sūlcātŏr Ăvērnī
ēxĕăt ād sŭpĕrōs sōlēmque ēt pāllĭdă tūrbēt
āstră, nĕc īpsĕ dĭū fōrtīs pātiēnsquĕ sŭpērnī590
āĕrĭs; īntĕrĕā lōngūm cēssāntĕ măgīstrō
crēscăt ŏnūs, sōlīsque ēxspēctēnt saēcŭlă rīpīs:
tālĭs ĭnīt cāmpūm, cŏmĭtīque ēxtrēmă gĕmēntī:
Dūc" ăĭt, "ād nātōs pātrēmquĕ rĕcēntĭbŭs, ōrō,
īnĭcĕ fūnĕrĭbūs!" Cūnctātūr nēscĭă vīrgŏ,595
quīd părĕt; īmpĕdĭūnt ĭtĕr īmplĭcĭtōsquĕ mŏrāntūr
ārmă, vĭrī, cūrrūs, āltāque īn strāgĕ sĕnīlēs
dēfĭcĭūnt grēssūs ēt dūx mĭsĕrāndă lăbōrāt.
ūt quaēsītă dĭū mōnstrāvīt cōrpŏră clāmōr
vīrgĭnĭs, īnstērnīt tōtōs frīgēntĭbŭs ārtūs.600
Nēc vōx ūllă sĕnī: iăcĕt īmmūgītquĕ crŭēntīs
vūlnĕrĭbūs nēc vērbă dĭū tēmptātă sĕquūntūr.
dūm trāctāt gălĕās ātque ōră lătēntĭă quaērīt,
tāndēm mūtă dĭū gĕnĭtōr sūspīrĭă sōlvīt:
"Tārdă mĕām, Pĭĕtās, lōngō pōst tēmpŏrĕ mēntēm605
pērcŭtĭs? Ēstnĕ sŭb hōc hŏmĭnīs clēmēntĭă cōrdĕ?
vīncĭs ĭō mĭsĕrūm, vīncīs, Nātūră, părēntēm!
ēn hăbĕō gĕmĭtūs lăcrĭmaēquĕ pĕr ārĭdă sērpūnt
vūlnĕra ĕt īn mōllēs sĕquĭtūr mănŭs īmpĭă plānctūs.
āccĭpĭte īnfāndaē iūsta ēxsĕquĭālĭă mōrtīs,610
crūdēlēs, nĭmĭūmquĕ mĕī! Nēc nōscĕrĕ nātōs
ādlŏquĭūmque āptārĕ lĭcēt; dīc, vīrgŏ, prĕcāntī,
quēm tĕnĕō? quō nūnc vēstrās ĕgŏ saēvŭs hŏnōrĕ
prōsĕquăr īnfĕrĭās? Ō sī fŏdĭēndă rĕdīrēnt
lūmĭna ĕt īn vūltūs saēvīre ēx mōrĕ pŏtēstās!615
Heū dŏlŏr, heū iūstō măgĭs ēxaūdītă părēntīs
vōtă mălaēquĕ prĕcēs! Quīsnām fŭĭt īllĕ dĕōrūm,
quī stĕtĭt ōrāntēm iūxtā praērēptăquĕ vērbă
dīctāvīt Fātīs? Fŭrŏr īlla ēt mōvĭt Ĕrīnŷs
ēt pătĕr ēt gĕnĕtrīx ēt rēgna ŏcŭlīquĕ cădēntēs;620
nīl ĕgŏ: pēr Dītēm iūrō dūlcēsquĕ tĕnēbrās
īmmĕrĭtāmquĕ dŭcēm, sŭbĕām sīc Tārtără dīgnā
mōrtĕ nĕc īrātā fŭgĭāt mē Lāĭŭs ūmbrā.
eī mĭhĭ, quōs nēxūs frātrūm, quaē vūlnĕră trāctō!
Sōlvĭtĕ quaēsŏ mănūs īnfēstăquĕ vīncŭlă tāndēm625
dīvĭdĭte, ēt mĕdĭūm nūnc sāltem ādmīttĭtĕ pātrēm."
tālĭă dēquēstūs paūlātim īnsūmpsĕrăt īrās
mōrtĭs, ĕt ōccūltē tēlūm, nī nātă vĕtārēt,
quaērēbāt; sēd cāstă mănū sūbtrāxĕrăt ēnsēs
Āntĭgŏnē. fŭrĭt īndĕ sĕnēx: "Ŭbĭ nōxĭă tēlă?630
Heū Fŭrĭaē! Nūm tōtum ăbĭīt īn cōrpŏră fērrūm?"
Dīcēntēm cŏmĕs aēgră lĕvāt mūtūmquĕ dŏlōrēm
īpsă prĕmīt, saēvūm gaūdēns plānxīssĕ părēntēm.
Ōlim aūtem īncēptaē clāmōre ēxtērrĭtă pūgnaē
rēgīna ēxtŭlĕrāt nōtūm pĕnĕtrālĭbŭs ēnsēm,635
ēnsēm scēptrĭfĕrī spŏlĭūm lăcrĭmābĭlĕ Lāī.
Mūltăquĕ cūm sŭpĕrīs ēt dīrō quēstă cŭbīlī
ēt nātī fŭrĭīs ēt prīmī cōniŭgĭs ūmbrīs,
lūctāta ēst dēxtra, ēt prōnō vīx pēctŏrĕ fērrūm
īntrāvīt tāndēm: vēnās pērrūmpĭt ănīlēs640
vūlnŭs ĕt īnfēlīx lūstrātūr sānguĭnĕ lēctūs.
Īllĭŭs ēxīlī strīdēntem īn pēctŏrĕ plāgām
Īsmēnē cōllāpsă sŭpēr lăcrĭmīsquĕ cŏmīsquĕ
sīccābāt plāngēns: quālīs Mărăthōnĭdĕ sīlvā
flēbĭlĭs Ērĭgŏnē caēsī prŏpĕ fūnĕră pātrīs645
quēstĭbŭs ābsūmptīs trīstēm iām iūngĕrĕ nōdūm
coēpĕrăt ēt fōrtēs rāmōs mŏrĭtūră lĭgābāt.
Ēt iām laētă dŭcūm spēs ēlūsīssĕ dŭōrūm
rēs Āmphīŏnĭās ălĭō scēptrūmquĕ mălīgnā
trānstŭlĕrāt Fōrtūnă mănū, Cādmīquĕ tĕnēbāt650
iūră Crĕōn. Mĭsĕr heū bēllōrūm tērmĭnŭs! Īllī
pūgnārānt frātrēs. hūnc ēt Māvōrtĭă clāmānt
sēmĭna, ĕt īmpēnsūs pătrĭaē paūlo āntĕ Mĕnoēceūs
cōncĭlĭāt pŏpŭlīs. scāndīt fātālĕ tўrānnīs
flēbĭlĭs Āŏnĭaē sŏlĭūm: prō blāndă pŏtēstās655
ēt scēptrī mălĕsuādŭs ămōr! Nūmquāmnĕ prĭōrūm
haērēbūnt dŏcŭmēntă nŏvīs? Iŭvăt ēccĕ nĕfāstō
stārĕ lŏcō rĕgĭmēnquĕ mănū trāctārĕ crŭēntūm!
quīd mĕlĭōr Fōrtūnă pŏtēst? iām flēctĕrĕ pātrēm
īncĭpĭt ātquĕ dătīs ăbŏlērĕ Mĕnoēcĕă rēgnīs.660
Prīmum ădĕō saēvīs īmbūtūs mōrĭbŭs aūlaē
īndĭcĭūm spĕcĭmēnquĕ sŭī iŭbĕt īgnĕ sŭprēmō
ārcērī Dănăōs, nūdōquĕ sŭb āxĕ rĕlīnquī
īnfēlīx bēllum ēt trīstēs sĭnĕ sēdĭbŭs ūmbrās.
Mōx rĕdŭcem Ōgўgĭaē cōngrēssūs līmĭnĕ pōrtaē665
Oēdĭpŏdēn tĭmŭīt paūlūm, sēsēquĕ mĭnōrēm
cōnfēssūs tăcĭtē, prōmptāmquĕ cŏērcŭĭt īrām;
sēd rĕdĭt īn rēgēm caēcūmque aūdēntĭŭs hōstēm
īncrĕpĭtāns: "Prŏcŭl" īnquĭt, "ăbī, vīctōrĭbŭs ōmēn
īnvīsum, ēt Fŭrĭās āvērte āc moēnĭă lūstrā670
dīscēssū Thēbānă tŭō! spēs lōngă pĕrāctāst:
vādĕ, iăcēnt nātī. quaē iām tĭbĭ vōtă sŭpērsūnt?"
Hōrrŭĭt īnstīnctū răbĭdō, stĕtĕrūntquĕ trĕmēntēs
ceū vīsū squālōrĕ gĕnaē, sĕnĭūmquĕ rĕcēssīt.
Tūnc nātām băcŭlūmquĕ mănū dīmīsĭt, ĕt īraē675
īnnīxūs tŭmĭdō vōcēm dē pēctŏrĕ rūmpīt:
"Iāmnĕ văcāt saēvīrĕ, Crĕōn? mŏdŏ pērfĭdă rēgnă
fōrtūnaēquĕ lŏcūm nōstraē, mĭsĕrāndĕ, sŭbīstī,
ēt tĭbĭ iām fās ēst rēgūm cālcārĕ rŭīnās?
Iām tŭmŭlīs vīctōs, sŏcĭōs iām moēnĭbŭs ārcēs?680
Māctĕ, pŏtēs dīgnē Thēbārūm scēptră tŭērī.
Haēc tŭă prīmă dĭēs, sēd cūr nŏvă cōntrăhĭs āmēns
iūră? quĭd āngūstē tāntōs mētīrĭs hŏnōrēs?
ēxĭlĭum īntēndīs. tĭmĭda īnclēmēntĭă rēgūm
īstă! fĕrōs ăvĭdūs quīn prōtĭnŭs īmbŭĭs ēnsēs?685
Crēdĕ, lĭcēt, vĕnĭāt cŭpĭdūs pārērĕ sătēllēs
īntrĕpĭdūsquĕ sĕcēt nōn ēvītāntĭă cōllă.
Īncĭpe! Ăn ēxspēctās, ūt prōnūs sūpplĭcĕ dēxtrā
stērnăr ĕt īmmītīs dŏmĭnī vēstīgĭă quaērām?
fīnge aūtēm tēmptārĕ, sĭnēs? mĭhĭne ūllă mĭnārīs690
sūpplĭcĭa, aūt ūllōs rērīs sŭpĕrēssĕ tĭmōrēs?
Līnquĕrĕ tēctă iŭbēs? Caēlūm tērrāmquĕ rĕlīquī
spōnte ātque ūltrīcēm crūdēlĭs ĭn ōră rĕtōrsī
nōn ūllō cōgēntĕ mănūm: quīd tālĕ iŭbērĕ,
rēx ĭnĭmīcĕ, pŏtēs? Fŭgĭo ēxcēdōquĕ nĕfāndīs695
sēdĭbŭs; ān rēfērt quō fūnĕră lōngă mĕāsquĕ
trānspōrtēm tĕnĕbrās? Nē nōn gēns cūnctă prĕcāntī
cōncēdāt, pătrĭaē quāntūm mĭsĕr īncŭbŏ tērraē?
Sēd dūlcēs Thēbaē. Nīmīrum hīc clārĭŏr ōrtūs,
ēt mĕlĭōră mĕōs pērmūlcēnt sīdĕră vūltūs,700
hīc gĕnĕtrīx nātīque. hăbĕās Thēbānă rĕgāsquĕ
moēnĭă, quō Cādmūs, quō Lāĭŭs ōmĭnĕ rēxīt
quōque ĕgŏ; sīc thălămōs, sīc pīgnŏră fīdă căpēssās,
nēc tĭbĭ sīt vīrtūs fōrtūnam ēvādĕrĕ dēxtrā.
sēd lūcēm dēprēnsŭs ămēs. sătĭs ōmĭnă sānxī,705
dūc, ăgĕ, nātă prŏcūl. Quīd te aūtēm lūctĭbŭs āddō?
dā, rēx māgnĕ, dŭcēm." tĭmŭīt mĭsĕrāndă rĕlīnquī
Āntĭgŏnē mūtātquĕ prĕcēs: "Fēlīcĭă pēr tē
rēgnă, vĕrēndĕ Crĕōn, sānctāsquĕ Mĕnoēcĕŏs ūmbrās:
dā vĕnĭam ādflīctō dīctīsque īgnōscĕ sŭpērbīs.710
Hūnc mōrēm fāndī lōngaē fēcērĕ quĕrēlaē;
nēc sōlī fĕrŭs īstĕ tĭbī: sīc fātă dĕōsquĕ
ādlŏquĭtūr, dūrūs lūctū, făcĭlīsquĕ nĕc īpsī
saēpĕ mĭhī; prīdem īndŏmĭtō sūb pēctŏrĕ vīvīt
lībērtās mĭsĕra ēt saēvaē spēs āspĕră mōrtīs.715
ēt nūnc ēccĕ tŭās īrrītāt cāllĭdŭs īrās
sūpplĭcĭūmquĕ cŭpīt; sēd tū māiōrĭbŭs, ōrō,
īmpĕrĭī pŏtĭārĕ bŏnīs āltūsquĕ iăcēntēs
praētĕrĕās, ēt māgnă dŭcūm vĕrĕārĕ prĭōrūm
fūnĕra. ĕt hīc quōndām sŏlĭō sūblīmĭs ĕt ārmīs720
saēptŭs ŏpēm mĭsĕrīs ēt iūră, pŏtēntĭbŭs aēquūs
sūpplĭcĭbūsquĕ, dăbāt, cuī nūnc ēx āgmĭnĕ tāntō
ūnă cŏmēs, nēcdum ēxsŭl ĕrāt. Fēlīcĭbŭs hīcnĕ
ōbstăt? ĭn hūnc ŏdĭīs ēt rēgnī vīrĭbŭs ēxīs,
hūnc ăbĭgīs tēctīs? Ān nē prŏpĕ līmĭnă clārūm725
īngĕmăt ēt vōtīs īntēmpēstīvŭs ŏbērrēt?
Pōnĕ mĕtūm, prŏcŭl ūsquĕ tŭā sūbmōtŭs ăb aūlā
flēbĭt; ĕgo ērēctūm sŭbĭgam ēt sērvīrĕ dŏcēbō,
coētĭbŭs ābdūcām sōlāque īn sēdĕ rĕcōndām.
Ēxsŭl ĕrīt. Nām quaē mīgrānti ēxtērnă pătēbūnt730
moēnĭă? vīs Ārgōs ĕăt hōstīlēsquĕ Mўcēnās
squālĭdŭs īrrēptēt, vīctīque ād līmĕn Ădrāstī
Āŏnĭās rĕfĕrāt clādēs, tĕnŭēmquĕ prĕcētūr
rēx Thēbānŭs ŏpēm? Mĭsĕraē quīd crīmĭnă gēntīs
pāndĕrĕ, quīd cāsūs iŭvăt ōstēntārĕ pŭdēndōs?735
Cōndĕ, prĕcōr, quōdcūmquĕ sŭmūs, nēc lōngă prĕcāmūr
dōnă, Crĕōn: mĭsĕrērĕ sĕnīs, maēstōsquĕ părēntīs
hīc, prĕcŏr, hīc mānēs īndūlgē pōnĕrĕ: cērtē
Thēbānōs sĕpĕlīrĕ lĭcēt". Sīc ōrăt hŭmīquĕ
vōlvĭtŭr; ābdūcīt gĕnĭtōr saēvūmquĕ mĭnātūr740
īndīgnāns vĕnĭām. Quālīs lĕŏ rūpĕ sŭb āltā,
quēm vĭrĭdēm quōndām sīlvaē mōntēsquĕ trĕmēbānt,
iām pĭgĕr ēt lōngō iăcĕt ēxārmātŭs ăb aēvō,
māgnă tămēn făcĭēs ēt nōn ădĕūndă sĕnēctūs;
ēt sī dēmīssās vĕnĭāt mūgītŭs ăd aūrēs,745
ērĭgĭtūr mĕmĭnītquĕ sŭī, vīrēsquĕ sŏlūtās
īngĕmĭt ēt cāmpīs ălĭōs rēgnārĕ lĕōnēs.
Flēctĭtŭr ādfātū, sēd nōn tămĕn ōmnĭă rēctōr
sūpplĭcĭs īndūlgēt lăcrĭmīs pārtēmquĕ rĕcīdīt
mūnĕrĭs. "Haūd" īnquīt, "pătrĭīs prŏhĭbēbĕrĕ lōngē750
fīnĭbŭs, ōccūrsū dūm nōn pĭă tēmplă dŏmōsquĕ
cōmmăcŭlēs. Hăbĕānt tē lūstră tŭūsquĕ Cĭthaērōn;
ātque haēc ēccĕ tŭīs tēllūs hăbĭtābĭlĭs ūmbrīs,
quā bēllūm gĕmĭnaēquĕ iăcēnt īn sānguĭnĕ gēntēs".
Sīc ăĭt, ēt fīctō cŏmĭtūm vūlgīquĕ gĕmēntīs755
āssēnsū līmēn tŭmĭdūs rēgālĕ pĕtēbāt.
Īntĕrĕā pūlsī vāllum ēxĭtĭālĕ Pĕlāsgī
dēstĭtŭūnt fūrtō; nūllī sŭă sīgnă sŭūsquĕ
dūctŏr: ĕūnt tăcĭtī pāssim ēt prō fūnĕrĕ pūlchrō
dēdĕcŏrem āmplēxī vītām rĕdĭtūsquĕ pŭdēndōs.760
nōx făvĕt ēt grātā prŏfŭgōs āmplēctĭtŭr ūmbrā.
Postquam magnanimus furias virtutis iniquae
consumpsit Capaneus exspiravitque receptum
fulmen et ad terras longe comitata cadentem
signavit muros ultricis semita flammae,
5componit dextra victor concussa plagarum
Iuppiter et vultu caelumque diemque reducit:
gratantur superi, Phlegrae ceu fessus anhelet
proelia et Encelado fumantem impresserit Aetnam.
Ille iacet lacerae complexus fragmina turris,
10torvus adhuc visu memorandaque facta relinquens
gentibus atque ipsi non illaudata Tonanti.
Quantus Apollineae temerator matris Averno
tenditur; ipsae horrent, si quando pectore ab alto
emergunt, volucres immensaque membra iacentis
15spectant, dum miserae crescunt in pabula fibrae:
sic gravat iniectus terras hostiliaque urit
arva et anhelantem caelesti sulpure campum.
Respirant Thebae, templisque iacentia surgunt
agmina; iam finis votis finisque supremis
20planctibus, et natos ausae deponere matres.
At vaga pallentes campo fuga volvit Achivos.
Nec iam hostes turmae aut ferrum mortale timetur:
omnibus ante oculos irae Iovis, omnibus ardent
arma metu galeaeque tonant, visusque paventes
25ipse sequi et profugis opponere Iuppiter ignis.
Instat Agenoreus miles caelique tumultu
utitur: indomitos ut cum Massyla per arva
armenti reges magno leo fregit hiatu
et contentus abit; rauci tunc comminus ursi,
30tunc avidi venere lupi, rabieque remissa
lambunt degeneres alienae vulnera praedae.
Hinc premit Eurymedon, cui rusticus horror in armis,
rustica tela manu, patriumque agitare tumultus:
Pan illi genitor; tener hinc conatibus annos
35egreditur iuvenemque patrem puer aequat Alatreus:
felices ambo, sed fortunatior ille,
quem genuisse iuvat; nec iam dinoscere promptum,
quae magis arma sonent, quo plus eat hasta lacerto.
Artatur denso fugientum examine vallum.
40Quas volvis, Gradive, vices! Modo moenia Cadmi
scandebant: sua nunc defendunt tecta Pelasgi!
Ceu redeunt nubes, ceu circumflantibus austris
alternus procumbit ager, ceu gurgite cano
nunc retegit bibulas, nunc induit aestus harenas.
45Exspirat late pubes Tirynthia, alumni
exuvias imitata dei; trux maeret ab astris
Amphitryoniades Nemeaea in sanguine terga
et similes ramos similesque videre pharetras.
Stabat in Argolicae ferrato culmine turris
50egregius lituo dextri Mavortis Enyeus
hortator; sed tunc miseris dabat utile signum
suadebatque fugam et tutos in castra receptus:
cum subitum obliquo descendit ab aëre vulnus,
urgentisque sonum laeva manus aure retentast,
55sicut erat; fugit in vacuas iam spiritus auras,
iam gelida ora tacent, carmen tuba sola peregit.
Iamque potens scelerum geminaeque exercita gentis
sanguine Tisiphone fraterna cludere quaerit
bella tuba: nec se tanta in certamina fidit
60sufficere, inferna comitem ni sede Megaeram
et consanguineos in proelia suscitet angues.
ergo procul vacua consedit valle solumque
ense fodit Stygio terraeque immurmurat absens
nomen et - Elysiis signum indubitabile regnis -
65crinalem attollit longo stridore cerasten:
caeruleae dux ille comae, quo protinus omnis
horruit audito tellus pontusque polusque,
et pater Aetnaeos iterum respexit ad ignes.
accipit illa sonum; stabat tunc forte parenti
70proxima, dum coetu Capaneus laudatur ab omni
Ditis et insignem Stygiis fovet amnibus umbram.
protinus abrupta terrarum mole sub astris
constitit, exsultant manes, quantumque profundae
rarescunt tenebrae, tantum de luce recessit.
75Excipit atra soror dextraeque innexa profatur:
"Hac, germana, tenus Stygii metuenda parentis
imperia et iussos potui tolerare furores,
sola super terras hostilique obvia mundo,
dum vos Elysium et faciles compescitis umbras.
80Nec pretium deforme morae cassique labores:
hoc quodcumque madent campi, quod sanguine fumant
stagna, quod innumero Lethaea examine gaudet
ripa, meae vires, mea laeta insignia. sed quid
haec ego? Mars habeat, vulgataque iactet Enyo.
85vidisti - Stygiis certe manifestus in umbris -
sanguine foedatum rictus atroque madentem
ora ducem tabo: miseri insatiabilis edit
me tradente caput. Modo nempe horrendus ab astris
descendit vos usque fragor: me sacra premebat
90tempestas, ego mixta viris furialibus armis
bella deum et magnas ridebam fulminis iras.
Sed iam - effabor enim - longo sudore fatiscunt
corda, soror, tardaeque manus; hebet infera caelo
taxus et insuetos angues nimia astra soporant.
95tu, cui totus adhuc furor exsultantque recentes
Cocyti de fonte comae, da iungere vires.
Non solitas acies nec Martia bella paramus,
sed fratrum - licet alma Fides Pietasque repugnent,
vincentur -, fratrum stringendi comminus enses.
100Grande opus! Ipsae odiis, ipsae discordibus armis
aptemur. quid lenta venis? agedum elige cuius
signa feras. Ambo faciles nostrique; sed anceps
vulgus et adfatus matris blandamque precatu
Antigonen timeo, paulum ne nostra retardent
105consilia. Ipse etiam, qui nos lassare precando
suetus et ultrices oculorum exposcere Diras,
iam pater est: coetu fertur iam solus ab omni
flere sibi; atque adeo moror ipsa irrumpere Thebas
assuetumque larem. tibi pareat impius exul,
110Argolicumque impelle nefas; neu mitis Adrastus
praevaleat plebesque, cave, Lernaea moretur.
vade, et in alternas inimica revertere pugnas."
Talia partitae diversum abiere sorores:
ut Notus et Boreas gemino de cardine mundi,
115hic nive Riphaea, Libycis hic pastus harenis,
bella cient: clamant amnes, freta, nubila, silvae,
iamque patent strages; plangunt sua damna coloni,
et tamen oppressos miserantur in aequore nautas.
illas ut summo vidit pater altus Olympo
120incestare diem trepidumque Hyperionis orbem
suffundi maculis, torvo sic incohat ore:
"Vidimus armiferos, quo fas erat usque, furores,
caelicolae, licitasque acies, etsi impia bella
unus init aususque mea procumbere dextra.
125Nunc par infandum miserisque incognita terris
pugna subest: auferte oculos! absentibus ausint
ista deis lateantque Iovem; sat funera mensae
Tantaleae et sontes vidisse Lycaonis aras
et festina polo ducentes astra Mycenas.
130Nunc etiam turbanda dies: mala nubila, tellus,
accipe, secedantque poli: stat parcere mundo
caelitibusque meis; saltem ne virginis almae
sidera, Ledaei videant neu talia fratres".
sic pater omnipotens, visusque nocentibus arvis
135abstulit, et dulci terrae carvere sereno.
Iamque per Argolicas Erebo sata virgo cohortis
vestigat Polynicis iter portisque sub ipsis
invenit, incertum leto tot iniqua fugane
exeat. et dubios turbarant omina sensus:
140viderat, obscura vallum dum nocte pererrat
aeger consilii curisque novissima volvens,
coniugis Argiae laceram cum lampade maesta
effigiem - sunt monstra deum, sic ire parabat,
has latura viro taedas erat! -: ergo roganti,
145quae via quisve dolor, cur maesta insignia, tantum
fleverat atque manu tacitos averterat ignes.
Scit mentem vidisse nefas; etenim unde Mycenis
adforet et vallum coniunx inopina subiret?
Sed fati monitus vicinaque funera sentit,
150ac sentire timet. Cum vero Acherontis aperti
Dira ter admoto tetigit thoraca flagello,
ardet inops animi, nec tam considere regno,
quam scelus et caedem et perfossi in sanguine fratris
exspirare cupit, subitusque affatur Adrastum:
155"Sera quidem, extremus socium gentisque superstes
Argolicae, consulta, pater, iam rebus in artis
adgredior; tunc tempus erat, cum sanguis Achivum
integer, ire ultro propriamque capessere pugnam,
non plebis Danaae florem regumque verendas
160obiectare animas, ut lamentabile tantis
urbibus induerem capiti decus. Aspera quando
praeteriit virtus, nunc saltem exsolvere fas sit,
quae merui. Scis namque, socer, licet alta recondas
vulnera et adflictum generi vereare pudorem:
165ille ego sum, qui te pacem et pia iura tegentem
- infelix utinamque aliis datus urbibus hospes! -
extorrem patria regnoque- sed exige tandem
supplicium: fratrem suprema in bella - quid horres?
decretum est fixumque - voco; desiste morari,
170nec poteris. Non si atra parens miseraeque sorores
in media arma cadant, non si ipse ad bella ruenti
obstet et exstinctos galeae pater ingerat orbes,
deficiam. Anne bibam superest quodcumque cruoris
Inachii et vestris etiamnum mortibus utar?
175Vidi ego me propter ruptos telluris hiatus
nec subii; vidi exanimum fecique nocentem
Tydea; me Tegee regem indefensa reposcit,
orbaque Parrhasiis ululat mihi mater in antris.
Ipse nec Ismeni ripas, dum stagna cruentat
180Hippomedon, Tyrias potui nec scandere turres,
dum tonat, et tecum, Capaneu, miscere furores.
quis tantus pro luce timor? sed digna rependam.
Conveniant ubi quaeque nurus matresque Pelasgae
longaevique patres, quorum tot gaudia carpsi
185orbavique domos: fratri concurro, quid ultrast?
Spectent et votis victorem Eteoclea poscant.
Iamque vale, coniunx, dulcesque valete Mycenae!
At tu, care socer - nec enim omnis culpa malorum
me penes, et superi mecum Parcaeque nocentes -,
190sis lenis cineri, meque haec post proelia raptum
alitibus fratrique tegas urnamque reportes
- hoc tantum - et natae melius conubia iungas".
Ibant in lacrimas, veluti cum vere reverso
Bistoniae tepuere nives, submittitur ingens
195Haemus et angustos Rhodope descendit in amnes.
Coeperat et leni senior mulcere furentem
adloquio: scidit orsa novo terrore cruenta
Eumenis, alipedemque citum fataliaque arma
protinus, Inachii vultus expressa Pherecli,
200obtulit ac fidas exclusit casside voces.
ac super haec: "Abrumpe moras, celeremus! et illum
adventare ferunt portis". Sic omnia vicit,
correptumque iniecit equo; volat aequore aperto
pallidus instantemque deae circumspicit umbram.
205Sacra Iovi merito Tyrius pro fulmine ductor
nequiquam Danaos ratus exarmasse ferebat.
Nec pater aetherius divumque has ullus ad aras,
sed mala Tisiphone trepidis inserta ministris
adstat et inferno praevertit vota Tonanti.
210"Summe deum, tibi namque meae primordia Thebae
- liveat infandum licet Argos et aspera Iuno -
debent, Sidonios ex quo per litora raptor
turbasti thiasos, dignatus virgine nostra
terga premi et placidas falsum mugire per undas!
215nec te vana fides iterum Cadmeia adeptum
conubia et Tyrios nimium irrupisse penates:
tandem, inquam, soceros dilectaque moenia gratus
respicis adsertorque tonas; ceu regia caeli
attemptata tui, sic te pro turribus altis
220vidimus urgentem nubes, laetique benignum
fulmen et auditos proavis agnoscimus ignes.
Accipe nunc pecudes et magni turis acervos
votivumque marem; dignas sed pendere gratis
haud mortale opus est; certent tibi reddere Bacchus
225noster et Alcides, illis haec moenia servas".
Dixerat: ast illi niger ignis in ora genasque
prosilvit raptumque comis diadema cremavit.
Tunc ferus ante ictum spumis delubra cruentat
taurus et obstantum mediis e coetibus exit
230turbidus insanoque ferens altaria cornu.
diffugiunt famuli et regem solatur haruspex.
Ipse instaurari sacrum male fortis agique
imperat, et magnos ficto premit ore timores.
Qualis ubi implicitum Tirynthius ossibus ignem
235sensit et Oetaeas membris accedere vestes,
vota incepta tamen libataque tura ferebat
durus adhuc patiensque mali; mox grande coactus
ingemuit, victorque furit per viscera Nessus.
Nuntius exanimi suspensus pectora cursu
240Aepytus ad regem portae statione relicta
tendit et haec trepido vix intellectus anhelat:
"Rumpe pios cultus intempestivaque, rector,
sacra deum: frater muris circum omnibus instat
portarumque moras frenis assultat et hastis,
245nomine te crebro, te solum in proelia poscens.
Flent maesti retro comites, et uterque loquenti
adgemit et pulsis exercitus obstrepit armis.
Ille vocat. Nunc tempus erat, sator optime divum!
Quid meruit Capaneus?" Turbatus inhorruit altis
250rex odiis, mediaque tamen gavisus in irast.
Sic ubi regnator post exsulis otia tauri
mugitum hostilem summa tulit aure iuvencus
agnovitque minas, magna stat fervidus ira
ante gregem spumisque animos ardentibus efflat,
255nunc pede torvus humum, nunc cornibus aëra findens;
horret ager, trepidaeque exspectant proelia valles.
Nec desunt regni comites: "Sine, moenia pulset
irritus". "Ille autem fractis huc audeat usque
viribus?" "Hic miseris furor est instare periclo,
260nec librare metus et tuta odisse". "Resiste
hic fretus solio, nos propulsabimus hostem,
nos bellare iube." sic proxima turba, sed ardens
ecce aderat luctu dicturusque omnia belli
libertate Creon: urit fera corda Menoeceus;
265nulla patri requies, illum quaeritque tenetque;
illum sanguineos proflantem pectore rivos
aspicit et saeva semper de turre cadentem.
Ut dubium et pugnas cunctantem Eteoclea vidit:
"Ibis" ait, "neque te ulterius fratremque ducemque,
270pessime, funeribus patriae lacrimisque potentem,
Eumenidum bellique reum, patiemur inulti.
sat tua non aequis luimus periuria divis.
urbem armis opibusque gravem et modo civibus artam,
ceu caelo deiecta lues inimicave tellus,
275hausisti vacuamque tamen sublimis obumbras?
deest tibi servitio plebes: hos ignis egentis
fert humus, hos pelago patrius iam detulit amnis;
hi quaerunt artus, illi anxia vulnera curant.
redde agedum miseris fratres natosque patresque,
280redde arvis domibusque viros! Ubi maximus Hypseus
finitimusque Dryas, ubi Phocidos arma sonorae
Euboicique duces? Illos tamen aequa duelli
fors tulit ad manes: at tu, pudet! hostia regni,
hostia, nate, iaces, ceu mutus et e grege sanguis,
285ei mihi! primitiis ararum et rite nefasto
libatus iussusque mori: et cunctabitur ultra
iste nec adverso nunc saltem Marte vocatus
stabit? An in pugnas alium iubet ire profanus
Tiresias iterumque meos oracula nectit
290in gemitus? quid enim misero super unicus Haemon?
Ille iube subeat, tuque hinc spectator ab alta
turre sede! Quid saeva fremis famulamque cohortem
respectas? Hi te ire volunt, hi pendere poenas;
ipsa etiam genetrix ipsaeque odere sorores.
295In te ardens frater ferrum mortemque minatur
saevaque portarum convellit claustra, nec audis?"
Sic pater infrendens, miseraque exaestuat ira.
ille sub haec "Non fallis" ait "nec te inclita nati
fata movent: canere illa patrem et iactare decebat.
300Sed spes sub lacrimis, spes atque occulta cupido
his latet: insano praetendis funera voto,
meque premis frustra vacuae ceu proximus aulae.
Non ita Sidoniam Fortuna reliquerit urbem,
in te ut sceptra cadant, tanto indignissime nato.
305nec mihi difficilis praesens vindicta; sed arma,
arma prius, famuli! coëant in proelia fratres.
vult gemitus lenire Creon: lucrare furorem;
victori mihi cuncta lues". Sic iurgia paulum
distulit atque ensem, quem iam dabat ira, repressit.
310Ictus ut incerto pastoris vulnere serpens
erigitur gyro longumque e corpore toto
virus in ora legit; paulum si devius hostis
torsit iter, cecidere minae tumefactaque frustra
colla sedent, irasque sui bibit ipse veneni.
315At genetrix primam funestae sortis ut amens
expavit famam - nec tarde credidit -, ibat
scissa comam vultusque et pectore nuda cruento,
non sexus decorisve memor: Pentheia qualis
mater ad insani scandebat culmina montis,
320promissum saevo caput adlatura Lyaeo.
Non comites, non ferre piae vestigia natae
aequa valent: tantum miserae dolor ultimus addit
robur, et exsangues crudescunt luctibus anni.
Iamque decus galeae, iam spicula saeva ligabat
325ductor et ad lituos hilarem intrepidumque tubarum
prospiciebat equum, subito cum apparuit ingens
mater, et ipse metu famulumque expalluit omnis
coetus, et oblatam retro dedit armiger hastam.
"Quis furor? Unde iterum regni integrata resurgit
330Eumenis? Ipsi etiam post omnia, comminus ipsi
stabitis? usque adeo geminas duxisse cohortes
et facinus mandasse parum est? Quo deinde redibit
victor? In hosne sinus? O diri coniugis olim
felices tenebrae! Datis, improba lumina, poenas:
335haec spectanda dies? quo, saeve, minantia flectis
ora? Quid alternus vultus pallorque ruborque
mutat, et obnixi frangunt mala murmura dentes?
me miseram, vinces! prius haec tamen arma necessest
experiare domi: stabo ipso in limine portae
340auspicium infelix scelerumque immanis imago.
Haec tibi canities, haec sunt calcanda, nefande,
ubera, perque uterum sonipes hic matris agendus.
Parce: quid oppositam capulo parmaque repellis?
Non ego te contra Stygiis feralia sanxi
345vota deis, caeco nec Erinyas ore rogavi.
Exaudi miseram: genetrix te, saeve, precatur,
non pater; adde moram sceleri et metire, quod audes.
sed pulsat muros germanus et impia contra
bella ciet. Non mater enim, non obstat eunti
350ulla soror. te cuncta rogant, hic plangimus omnes;
ast ibi vix unus pugnas dissuadet Adrastus,
aut fortasse iubet. Tu limina avita deosque
linquis et a nostris in fratrem amplexibus exis?"
At parte ex alia tacitos obstante tumultu
355Antigone furata gradus - nec casta retardat
virginitas - volat Ogygii fastigia muri
exsuperare furens; senior comes haeret eunti
Actor, et hic summas non duraturus ad arces.
utque procul visis paulum dubitavit in armis,
360agnovitque - nefas! - iaculis et voce superba
tecta incessentem, magno prius omnia planctu
implet et ex muris ceu descensura profatur:
"Comprime tela manu paulumque hanc respice turrem,
frater, et horrentes refer in mea lumina cristas!
365agnoscisne hostes? sic annua pacta fidemque
poscimus? hi questus, haec est bona causa modesti
exsulis? Argolicos per te, germane, penates
- nam Tyriis iam nullus honos -, per si quid in illa
dulce domo, submitte animos: en utraque gentis
370turba rogant ambaeque acies; rogat illa suorum
Antigone devota malis suspectaque regi,
et tantum tua, dure, soror. saltem ora trucesque
solve genas; liceat vultus fortasse supremum
noscere dilectos et ad haec lamenta videre,
375anne fleas. Illum gemitu iam supplice mater
frangit et exsertum dimittere dicitur ensem:
tu mihi fortis adhuc? Mihi, quae tua nocte dieque
exsilia erroresque fleo, iamiamque tumentem
placavi tibi saepe patrem? Quid crimine solvis
380germanum? nempe ille fidem et stata foedera rupit,
ille nocens saevusque suis; tamen ecce vocatus
non venit". his paulum furor elanguescere dictis
coeperat, obstreperet quamquam atque obstaret Erinys;
iam submissa manus, lente iam flectit habenas,
385iam tacet; erumpunt gemitus, lacrimasque fatetur
cassis; hebent irae, pariterque et abire nocentem
et venisse pudet: subito cum matre repulsa
Eumenis eiecit fractis Eteoclea portis
clamantem: "Uenio solumque quod ante vocasti
390invideo; ne incesse moras, gravis arma tenebat
mater; io patria, o regum incertissima tellus,
nunc certe victoris eris!" nec mitior ille
"Tandem" inquit "scis saeve fidem et descendis in aequum?
O mihi nunc primum longo post tempore frater,
395congredere: hae leges, haec foedera sola supersunt".
Sic hostile tuens fratrem; namque uritur alto
corde, quod innumeri comites, quod regia cassis
instratusque ostro sonipes, quod fulva metallo
parma micet, quamquam haud armis inhonorus et ipse
400nec palla vulgare nitens: opus ipsa novarat
Maeoniis Argia modis ac pollice docto
stamina purpureae sociaverat aurea telae.
Iamque in pulvereum Furiis hortantibus aequor
prosiliunt, sua quemque comes stimulatque monetque.
405Frena tenent ipsae phalerasque et lucida comunt
arma manu mixtisque iubas serpentibus augent.
Stat consanguineum campo scelus, unius ingens
bellum uteri, coëuntque pares sub casside vultus.
signa pavent, silvere tubae, stupefactaque Martis
410cornua; ter nigris avidus regnator ab oris
intonuit terque ima soli concussit, et ipsi
armorum fugere dei: nusquam inclita Virtus,
restinxit Bellona faces, longeque paventes
Mars rapuit currus, et Gorgone cruda virago
415abstitit, inque vicem Stygiae subiere sorores.
Prominet excelsis vulgus miserabile tectis,
cuncta madent lacrimis et ab omni plangitur arce.
Hinc questi vixisse senes, hinc pectore nudo
stant matres parvosque vetant attendere natos.
420ipse quoque Ogygios monstra ad gentilia manes
Tartareus rector porta iubet ire reclusa.
Montibus insidunt patriis tristique corona
infecere diem et vinci sua crimina gaudent.
Illos ut stimulis ire in discrimen apertis
425audiit et sceleri nullum iam obstare pudorem,
advolat et medias immittit Adrastus habenas,
ipse quidem et regnis multum et venerabilis aevo.
Sed quid apud tales, quis nec sua pignora curae,
exter honos? Tamen ille rogat: "Spectabimus ergo hoc,
430Inachidae Tyriique, nefas? Ubi iura deique,
bella ubi? Ne perstate animis. Te deprecor, hostis
- quamquam, haec ira sinat, nec tu mihi sanguine longe -,
te, gener, et iubeo; sceptri si tanta cupidost,
exuo regales habitus, tu Lernan et Argos
435solus habe!" Non verba magis suadentia frangunt
accensos, sumptisque semel conatibus obstant,
quam Scytha curvatis erectus fluctibus umquam
Pontus Cyaneos vetuit concurrere montes.
Ut periisse preces geminoque ad proelia fusos
440pulvere cornipedes explorarique furentum
in digitis amenta videt, fugit omnia linquens,
castra, viros, generum, Thebas, ac fata monentem
conversumque iugo propellit Ariona: qualis
demissus curru laevae post praemia sortis
445umbrarum custos mundique novissimus heres
palluit, amisso veniens in Tartara caelo.
Non tamen indulsit pugnae cunctataque primo
substitit in scelere et paulum Fortuna moratast.
bis cassae periere viae, bis comminus actos
450avertit bonus error equos, puraeque nefandi
sanguinis obliquis ceciderunt ictibus hastae.
tendunt frena manu, saevis calcaribus urgent
immeritos; movet et geminas venerabile divum
prodigium turmas, alternaque murmura volvunt
455mussantes: iterare acies, procurrere saepe
impetus et totum miseris opponere bellum.
Iamdudum terris coetuque offensa deorum
aversa caeli Pietas in parte sedebat,
non habitu, quo nota prius, non ore sereno,
460sed vittis exuta comam, fraternaque bella,
ceu soror infelix pugnantum aut anxia mater,
deflebat, saevumque Iovem Parcasque nocentes
vociferans, seseque polis et luce relicta
descensuram Erebo et Stygios iam malle penates.
465"Quid me" ait, "ut saevis animantum ac saepe deorum
obstaturam animis, princeps Natura, creabas?
Nil iam ego per populos, nusquam reverentia nostri.
o furor, o | homines diraeque Prometheos artes!
Quam bene post Pyrrham tellus pontusque vacabant!
470En mortale genus!" Dixit, speculataque tempus
auxilio: "Temptemus" ait, "licet irrita coner".
Desilvitque polo, niveus sub nubibus atris
quamquam maesta deae sequitur vestigia limes.
vix steterat campo, subita mansuescere pace
475agmina sentirique nefas; tunc ora madescunt
pectoraque, et tacitus subrepsit fratribus horror.
arma etiam simulata gerens cultusque viriles,
nunc his, nunc illis: "Agite, ite, obsistite", clamat,
"quis nati fratresque domi, quis pignora tanta!
480Hic quoque... Nonne palam est ultro miserescere divos?
Tela cadunt, cunctantur equi, fors ipsa repugnat".
Nonnihil impulerat dubios, ni torva notasset
Tisiphone fraudes caelestique ocior igne
adforet increpitans: "Quid belli obuerteris ausis,
485numen iners pacique datum? cede, improba: noster
hic campus nosterque dies; nunc sera nocentes
defendis Thebas. ubi tunc, cum bella cieret
Bacchus et armatas furiarent orgia matres?
Aut ubi segnis eras, dum Martius impia serpens
490stagna bibit, dum Cadmus arat, dum victa cadit Sphinx,
dum rogat Oedipoden genitor, dum lampade nostra
in thalamos Iocasta venit?" sic urget, et ultro
vitantem aspectus etiam pudibundaque longe
ora reducentem premit astridentibus hydris
495intentatque faces; deiectam in lumina pallam
diva trahit magnoque fugit questura Tonanti.
Tunc vero accensae stimulis maioribus irae:
arma placent, versaeque volunt spectare cohortes.
instaurant crudele nefas; rex impius aptat
500tela et funestae casum prior occupat hastae.
Illa viam medium clipei conata per orbem
non perfert ictus atque alto vincitur auro.
Tunc exsul subit et clare funesta precatur:
"Di, quos effosso non irritus ore rogavit
505Oedipodes flammare nefas, non improba posco
vota: piabo manus et eodem pectora ferro
rescindam, dum me moriens hic sceptra tenentem
linquat et hunc secum portet minor umbra dolorem."
Hasta subit velox equitis femur inter equique
510ilia, letum utrique volens; sed plaga sedentis
laxato vitata genu, tamen irrita voti
cuspis in obliquis invenit vulnera costis.
It praeceps sonipes strictae contemptor habenae
arvaque sanguineo scribit rutilantia gyro.
515exsultat fratris credens hunc ille cruorem:
credit et ipse metu; totis iamque exsul habenis
indulget caecusque avidos illidit in aegrum
cornipedem cursus. Miscentur frena manusque
telaque, et ad terram turbatis gressibus ambo
520praecipitant. ut nocte rates, quas nubilus auster
implicuit, frangunt tonsas mutantque rudentes,
luctataeque diu tenebris hiemique sibique,
sicut erant, imo pariter sedere profundo:
haec pugnae facies. coëunt sine more, sine arte,
525tantum animos irasque atque ignescentia cernunt
per galeas odia et vultus rimantur acerbo
lumine: nil adeo mediae telluris, et enses
impliciti innexaeque manus, alternaque saevi
murmura ceu lituos rapiunt aut signa tubarum.
530Fulmineos veluti praeceps cum comminus egit
ira sues strictisque erexit tergora saetis:
igne tremunt oculi, lunataque dentibus uncis
ora sonant; spectat pugnas de rupe propinqua
venator pallens canibusque silentia suadet:
535sic avidi incurrunt; necdum letalia miscent
vulnera, sed coeptus sanguis, facinusque peractumst.
nec iam opus est Furiis; tantum mirantur et astant
laudantes, hominumque dolent plus posse furores.
Fratris uterque furens cupit adfectatque cruorem
540et nescit manare suum; tandem irruit exsul,
hortatusque manum, cui fortior ira nefasque
iustius, alte ensem germani in corpore pressit,
qua male iam plumis imus tegit inguina thorax.
Ille dolens nondum, sed ferri frigore primo
545territus in clipeum turbatos colligit artus;
mox intellecto magis ac magis aeger anhelat
vulnere. nec parcit cedenti atque increpat hostis:
Quo retrahis, germane, gradus? Hoc languida somno,
hoc regnis effeta quies, hoc longa sub umbra
550imperia! Exsilio rebusque exercita egenis
membra vides; disce arma pati nec fidere laetis".
Sic pugnant miseri; restabat lassa nefando
vita duci summusque cruor, poterantque parumper
stare gradus; sed sponte ruit fraudemque supremam
555in media iam morte parat. Clamore Cithaeron
erigitur, fraterque ratus vicisse levavit
ad caelum palmas: "Bene habet! non irrita vovi,
cerno gravis oculos atque ora natantia leto.
Huc aliquis propere sceptrum atque insigne comarum,
560dum videt. haec dicens gressus admovit et arma,
ceu templis decus et patriae laturus ovanti,
arma etiam spoliare cupit; nondum ille peractis
manibus ultrices animam servabat in iras.
utque superstantem pronumque in pectora sensit,
565erigit occulte ferrum vitaeque labantis
reliquias tenues odio supplevit, et ensem
iam laetus fati fraterno in corde reliquit.
ille autem: "Vivisne an adhuc manet ira superstes,
perfide, nec sedes umquam meriture quietas?
570huc mecum ad manes! illic quoque pacta reposcam,
si modo Agenorei stat Gnosia iudicis urna,
qua reges punire datur". Nec plura locutus
concidit et totis fratrem gravis obruit armis.
Ite truces animae funestaque Tartara leto
575polluite et cunctas Erebi consumite poenas!
vosque malis hominum, Stygiae, iam parcite, divae:
omnibus in terris scelus hoc omnique sub aevo
viderit una dies, monstrumque infame futuris
excidat, et soli memorent haec proelia reges.
580At genitor sceleris comperto fine profundis
erupit tenebris, saevoque in limine profert
mortem imperfectam: veteri stat sordida tabo
utraque canities, et durus sanguine crinis
obnubit furiale caput; procul ora genaeque
585intus et effossae squalent vestigia lucis.
virgo autem impositae sustentat pondera laevae,
dextra sedet baculo. Qualis si puppe relicta
exosus manes pigri sulcator Averni
exeat ad superos solemque et pallida turbet
590astra, nec ipse diu fortis patiensque superni
aëris; interea longum cessante magistro
crescat onus, solisque exspectent saecula ripis:
talis init campum, comitique extrema gementi:
Duc" ait, "ad natos patremque recentibus, oro,
595inice funeribus!" Cunctatur nescia virgo,
quid paret; impediunt iter implicitosque morantur
arma, viri, currus, altaque in strage seniles
deficiunt gressus et dux miseranda laborat.
ut quaesita diu monstravit corpora clamor
600virginis, insternit totos frigentibus artus.
Nec vox ulla seni: iacet immugitque cruentis
vulneribus nec verba diu temptata sequuntur.
dum tractat galeas atque ora latentia quaerit,
tandem muta diu genitor suspiria solvit:
605"Tarda meam, Pietas, longo post tempore mentem
percutis? Estne sub hoc hominis clementia corde?
vincis io miserum, vincis, Natura, parentem!
en habeo gemitus lacrimaeque per arida serpunt
vulnera et in molles sequitur manus impia planctus.
610accipite infandae iusta exsequialia mortis,
crudeles, nimiumque mei! Nec noscere natos
adloquiumque aptare licet; dic, virgo, precanti,
quem teneo? quo nunc vestras ego saevus honore
prosequar inferias? O si fodienda redirent
615lumina et in vultus saevire ex more potestas!
Heu dolor, heu iusto magis exaudita parentis
vota malaeque preces! Quisnam fuit ille deorum,
qui stetit orantem iuxta praereptaque verba
dictavit Fatis? Furor illa et movit Erinys
620et pater et genetrix et regna oculique cadentes;
nil ego: per Ditem iuro dulcesque tenebras
immeritamque ducem, subeam sic Tartara digna
morte nec irata fugiat me Laius umbra.
ei mihi, quos nexus fratrum, quae vulnera tracto!
625Solvite quaeso manus infestaque vincula tandem
dividite, et medium nunc saltem admittite patrem."
talia dequestus paulatim insumpserat iras
mortis, et occulte telum, ni nata vetaret,
quaerebat; sed casta manu subtraxerat enses
630Antigone. furit inde senex: "Ubi noxia tela?
Heu Furiae! Num totum abiit in corpora ferrum?"
Dicentem comes aegra levat mutumque dolorem
ipsa premit, saevum gaudens planxisse parentem.
Olim autem inceptae clamore exterrita pugnae
635regina extulerat notum penetralibus ensem,
ensem sceptriferi spolium lacrimabile Lai.
Multaque cum superis et diro questa cubili
et nati furiis et primi coniugis umbris,
luctata est dextra, et prono vix pectore ferrum
640intravit tandem: venas perrumpit aniles
vulnus et infelix lustratur sanguine lectus.
Illius exili stridentem in pectore plagam
Ismene collapsa super lacrimisque comisque
siccabat plangens: qualis Marathonide silva
645flebilis Erigone caesi prope funera patris
questibus absumptis tristem iam iungere nodum
coeperat et fortes ramos moritura ligabat.
Et iam laeta ducum spes elusisse duorum
res Amphionias alio sceptrumque maligna
650transtulerat Fortuna manu, Cadmique tenebat
iura Creon. Miser heu bellorum terminus! Illi
pugnarant fratres. hunc et Mavortia clamant
semina, et impensus patriae paulo ante Menoeceus
conciliat populis. scandit fatale tyrannis
655flebilis Aoniae solium: pro blanda potestas
et sceptri malesuadus amor! Numquamne priorum
haerebunt documenta novis? Ivvat ecce nefasto
stare loco regimenque manu tractare cruentum!
quid melior Fortuna potest? iam flectere patrem
660incipit atque datis abolere Menoecea regnis.
Primum adeo saevis imbutus moribus aulae
indicium specimenque sui iubet igne supremo
arceri Danaos, nudoque sub axe relinqui
infelix bellum et tristes sine sedibus umbras.
665Mox reducem Ogygiae congressus limine portae
Oedipoden timuit paulum, seseque minorem
confessus tacite, promptamque coërcuit iram;
sed redit in regem caecumque audentius hostem
increpitans: "Procul" inquit, "abi, victoribus omen
670invisum, et Furias averte ac moenia lustra
discessu Thebana tuo! spes longa peractast:
vade, iacent nati. quae iam tibi vota supersunt?"
Horruit instinctu rabido, steteruntque trementes
ceu visu squalore genae, seniumque recessit.
675Tunc natam baculumque manu dimisit, et irae
innixus tumido vocem de pectore rumpit:
"Iamne vacat saevire, Creon? modo perfida regna
fortunaeque locum nostrae, miserande, subisti,
et tibi iam fas est regum calcare ruinas?
680Iam tumulis victos, socios iam moenibus arces?
Macte, potes digne Thebarum sceptra tueri.
Haec tua prima dies, sed cur nova contrahis amens
iura? quid anguste tantos metiris honores?
exilium intendis. timida inclementia regum
685ista! feros avidus quin protinus imbuis enses?
Crede, licet, veniat cupidus parere satelles
intrepidusque secet non evitantia colla.
Incipe! An exspectas, ut pronus supplice dextra
sternar et immitis domini vestigia quaeram?
690finge autem temptare, sines? mihine ulla minaris
supplicia, aut ullos reris superesse timores?
Linquere tecta iubes? Caelum terramque reliqui
sponte atque ultricem crudelis in ora retorsi
non ullo cogente manum: quid tale iubere,
695rex inimice, potes? Fugio excedoque nefandis
sedibus; an refert quo funera longa measque
transportem tenebras? Ne non gens cuncta precanti
concedat, patriae quantum miser incubo terrae?
Sed dulces Thebae. Nimirum hic clarior ortus,
700et meliora meos permulcent sidera vultus,
hic genetrix natique. habeas Thebana regasque
moenia, quo Cadmus, quo Laius omine rexit
quoque ego; sic thalamos, sic pignora fida capessas,
nec tibi sit virtus fortunam evadere dextra.
705sed lucem deprensus ames. satis omina sanxi,
duc, age, nata procul. Quid te autem luctibus addo?
da, rex magne, ducem." timuit miseranda relinqui
Antigone mutatque preces: "Felicia per te
regna, verende Creon, sanctasque Menoeceos umbras:
710da veniam adflicto dictisque ignosce superbis.
Hunc morem fandi longae fecere querelae;
nec soli ferus iste tibi: sic fata deosque
adloquitur, durus luctu, facilisque nec ipsi
saepe mihi; pridem indomito sub pectore vivit
715libertas misera et saevae spes aspera mortis.
et nunc ecce tuas irritat callidus iras
suppliciumque cupit; sed tu maioribus, oro,
imperii potiare bonis altusque iacentes
praetereas, et magna ducum vereare priorum
720funera. et hic quondam solio sublimis et armis
saeptus opem miseris et iura, potentibus aequus
supplicibusque, dabat, cui nunc ex agmine tanto
una comes, necdum exsul erat. Felicibus hicne
obstat? in hunc odiis et regni viribus exis,
725hunc abigis tectis? An ne prope limina clarum
ingemat et votis intempestivus oberret?
Pone metum, procul usque tua submotus ab aula
flebit; ego erectum subigam et servire docebo,
coetibus abducam solaque in sede recondam.
730Exsul erit. Nam quae migranti externa patebunt
moenia? vis Argos eat hostilesque Mycenas
squalidus irreptet, victique ad limen Adrasti
Aonias referat clades, tenuemque precetur
rex Thebanus opem? Miserae quid crimina gentis
735pandere, quid casus iuvat ostentare pudendos?
Conde, precor, quodcumque sumus, nec longa precamur
dona, Creon: miserere senis, maestosque parentis
hic, precor, hic manes indulge ponere: certe
Thebanos sepelire licet". Sic orat humique
740volvitur; abducit genitor saevumque minatur
indignans veniam. Qualis leo rupe sub alta,
quem viridem quondam silvae montesque tremebant,
iam piger et longo iacet exarmatus ab aevo,
magna tamen facies et non adeunda senectus;
745et si demissas veniat mugitus ad aures,
erigitur meminitque sui, viresque solutas
ingemit et campis alios regnare leones.
Flectitur adfatu, sed non tamen omnia rector
supplicis indulget lacrimis partemque recidit
750muneris. "Haud" inquit, "patriis prohibebere longe
finibus, occursu dum non pia templa domosque
commacules. Habeant te lustra tuusque Cithaeron;
atque haec ecce tuis tellus habitabilis umbris,
qua bellum geminaeque iacent in sanguine gentes".
755Sic ait, et ficto comitum vulgique gementis
assensu limen tumidus regale petebat.
Interea pulsi vallum exitiale Pelasgi
destituunt furto; nulli sua signa suusque
ductor: eunt taciti passim et pro funere pulchro
760dedecorem amplexi vitam reditusque pudendos.
nox favet et grata profugos amplectitur umbra.
