Frātērnās ăcĭēs āltērnăquĕ rēgnă prŏfānīs
dēcērtāta ŏdĭīs sōntīsque ēvōlvĕrĕ Thēbās,
Pīĕrĭūs mēntī călŏr īncĭdĭt. Ūndĕ iŭbētīs
īrĕ, dĕaē? Gēntīsnĕ cănām prīmōrdĭă dīraē,
Sīdŏnĭōs rāptūs ĕt ĭnēxōrābĭlĕ pāctūm
lēgĭs Ăgēnŏrĕaē scrūtāntēmque aēquŏră Cādmūm?
lōngă rĕtrō sĕrĭēs, trĕpĭdūm sī Mārtĭs ŏpērtī
āgrĭcŏlam īnfāndīs cōndēntēm proēlĭă sūlcīs
ēxpĕdĭām pĕnĭtūsquĕ sĕquār, quō cārmĭnĕ mūrīs
iūssĕrĭt Āmphīōn Tўrĭōs āccēdĕrĕ mōntēs,
ūndĕ grăvēs īraē cōgnāta īn moēnĭă Bācchō,
quōd saēvaē Iūnōnĭs ŏpūs, cuī sūmpsĕrĭt ārcūs
īnfēlīx Ăthămās, cūr nōn ēxpāvĕrĭt īngēns
Īŏnĭūm sŏcĭō cāsūră Pălaēmŏnĕ mātēr.
Ātque ădĕō iām nūnc gĕmĭtūs ēt prōspĕră Cādmī
praētĕrĭīssĕ sĭnām: līmēs mĭhĭ cārmĭnĭs ēstŏ
Oēdĭpŏdaē cōnfūsă dŏmūs, quāndo Ītălă nōndūm
sīgnă nĕc Ārctōōs aūsīm spērārĕ trĭūmphōs
bīsquĕ iŭgō Rhēnūm, bĭs ădāctūm lēgĭbŭs Hīstrūm
ēt cōniūrātō dēiēctōs vērtĭcĕ Dācōs
aūt dēfēnsă prĭūs vīx pūbēscēntĭbŭs ānnīs
bēllă Iŏvīs tēque, ō Lătĭaē dĕcŭs āddĭtĕ fāmaē,
quēm nŏvă mātūrē sŭbĕūntem ēxōrsă părēntīs
aētērnūm sĭbĭ Rōmă cŭpīt - lĭcĕt ārtĭŏr ōmnīs
līmĕs ăgāt stēllās ēt tē plăgă lūcĭdă caēlī,
Plēĭădūm Bŏrĕaēque ĕt hĭūlcī fūlmĭnĭs ēxpērs,
sōllĭcĭtēt, lĭcĕt īgnĭpĕdūm frēnātŏr ĕquōrūm
īpsĕ tŭīs āltē rădĭāntēm crīnĭbŭs ārcūm
īmprĭmăt aūt māgnī cēdāt tĭbĭ Iūppĭtĕr aēquā
pārtĕ pŏlī -, mănĕās hŏmĭnūm cōntēntŭs hăbēnīs,
ūndārūm tērraēquĕ pŏtēns, ēt sīdĕră dōnēs.
Tēmpŭs ĕrīt, cūm Pīĕrĭō tŭă fōrtĭŏr oēstrō
fāctă cănām: nūnc tēndŏ chĕlŷn sătĭs ārmă rĕfērrĕ
Āŏnĭa ēt gĕmĭnīs scēptrum ēxĭtĭālĕ tўrānnīs
nēc fŭrĭīs pōst fātă mŏdūm flāmmāsquĕ rĕbēllīs
sēdītiōnĕ rŏgī tŭmŭlīsquĕ cărēntĭă rēgūm
fūnĕra ĕt ēgēstās āltērnīs mōrtĭbŭs ūrbēs,
caērŭlă cūm rŭbŭīt Lērnaēō sānguĭnĕ Dīrcē
ēt Thĕtĭs ārēntīs ādsuētūm strīngĕrĕ rīpās
hōrrŭĭt īngēntī vĕnĭēntem Īsmēnŏn ăcērvō.
Quēm prĭŭs hērōūm, Clīō, dăbĭs? Īmmŏdĭcum īraē
Tŷdĕă? Laūrĭgĕrī sŭbĭtōs ān vātĭs hĭātūs?
Ūrgĕt ĕt hōstīlēm prōpēllēns caēdĭbŭs āmnēm
tūrbĭdŭs Hīppŏmĕdōn, plōrāndăquĕ bēllă prŏtērvī
Ārcădŏs ātque ălĭō Căpăneūs hōrrōrĕ cănēndūs.
Īmpĭă iām mĕrĭtā scrūtātūs lūmĭnă dēxtrā
mērsĕrăt aētērnā dāmnātūm nōctĕ pŭdōrēm
Oēdĭpŏdēs lōngāque ănĭmām sūb mōrtĕ tĕnēbāt.
Īllum īndūlgēntēm tĕnĕbrīs īmaēquĕ rĕcēssū
sēdĭs ĭnāspēctōs caēlō rădĭīsquĕ pĕnātēs
sērvāntēm tămĕn ādsĭdŭīs cīrcūmvŏlăt ālīs
saēvă dĭēs ănĭmī scĕlĕrūmque īn pēctŏrĕ Dīraē.
Tūnc văcŭōs ōrbēs, crūdum āc mĭsĕrābĭlĕ vītaē
sūpplĭcĭum, ōstēntāt caēlō mănĭbūsquĕ crŭēntīs
pūlsăt ĭnānĕ sŏlūm saēvāque ĭtă vōcĕ prĕcātūr:
"Dī, sōntēs ănĭmās āngūstăquĕ Tārtără poēnīs
quī rĕgĭtīs, tūque ūmbrĭfĕrō Stŷx līvĭdă fūndō,
quām vĭdĕō, mūltūmquĕ mĭhī cōnsuētă vŏcārī
ādnŭĕ, Tīsĭphŏnē, pĕrŭērsăquĕ vōtă sĕcūndā:
sī bĕnĕ quīd mĕrŭī, sī mē dē mātrĕ cădēntēm
fōvīstī grĕmĭo ēt trāiēctūm vūlnĕrĕ plāntās
fīrmāstī, sī stāgnă pĕtī Cīrrhaēă bĭcōrnī
īntērfūsă iŭgō, pōssēm cūm dēgĕrĕ fālsō
cōntēntūs Pŏlўbō, trĭfĭdaēque īn Phōcĭdŏs ārtō
lōngaēvum īmplĭcŭī rēgēm sĕcŭīquĕ trĕmēntīs
ōră sĕnīs, dūm quaērŏ pătrēm, sī Sphīngŏs ĭnīquaē
cāllĭdŭs āmbāgēs tē praēmōnstrāntĕ rĕsōlvī,
sī dūlcīs fŭrĭās ēt lāmēntābĭlĕ mātrīs
cōnŭbĭūm gāvīsŭs ĭnī nōctēmquĕ nĕfāndām
saēpĕ tŭlī nātōsquĕ tĭbī, scīs īpsă, părāvī,
mōx ăvĭdūs poēnaē dĭgĭtīs caēdēntĭbŭs ūltrō
īncŭbŭī mĭsĕrāque ŏcŭlōs īn mātrĕ rĕlīquī:
ēxaūdī, sī dīgnă prĕcōr quaēque īpsă fŭrēntī
sūbĭcĕrēs. ōrbūm vīsū rēgnīsquĕ cărēntēm
nōn rĕgĕre aūt dīctīs maērēntēm flēctĕre ădōrtī,
quōs gĕnŭī quōcūmquĕ tŏrō; quīn ēccĕ sŭpērbī
prō dŏlŏr!) ēt nōstrō iāmdūdūm fūnĕrĕ rēgēs
īnsūltānt tĕnĕbrīs gĕmĭtūsque ōdērĕ pătērnōs.
Hīsne ĕtĭām fūnēstŭs ĕgo? Ēt vĭdĕt īstă dĕōrūm
īgnāvūs gĕnĭtōr? Tū sāltēm dēbĭtă vīndēx
hūc ădĕs ēt tōtōs īn poēnam ōrdīrĕ nĕpōtēs.
Īndŭĕ quōd mădĭdūm tābō dĭădēmă crŭēntīs
ūnguĭbŭs ābrĭpŭī, vōtīsque īnstīnctă pătērnīs
ī mĕdĭa īn frātrēs, gĕnĕrīs cōnsōrtĭă fērrō
dīssĭlĭānt. Dā, Tārtărĕī rēgīnă bărāthrī,
quōd cŭpĭām vīdīssĕ nĕfās, nēc tārdă sĕquētūr
mēns iŭvĕnūm; mŏdŏ dīgnă vĕnī: mĕă pīgnŏră nōscēs."
Tālĭă dīcēntī crūdēlīs dīvă sĕvērōs
ādvērtīt vūltūs. Ĭnămoēnūm fōrtĕ sĕdēbāt
Cōcŷtōn iūxtā, rĕsŏlūtăquĕ vērtĭcĕ crīnēs
lāmbĕrĕ sūlpŭrĕās pērmīsĕrăt ānguĭbŭs ūndās.
Īlĭcĕt īgnĕ Iŏvīs lāpsīsquĕ cĭtātĭŏr āstrīs
trīstĭbŭs ēxĭlŭīt rīpīs: dīscēdĭt ĭnānĕ
vūlgŭs ĕt ōccūrsūs dŏmĭnaē păvĕt; īllă pĕr ūmbrās
ēt cālīgāntēs ănĭmārum ēxāmĭnĕ cāmpōs
Taēnărĭaē līmēn pĕtĭt īrrĕmĕābĭlĕ pōrtaē.
Sēnsĭt ădēssĕ Dĭēs, pĭcĕō Nōx ōbvĭă nīmbō
lūcēntēs tūrbāvĭt ĕquōs; prŏcŭl ārdŭŭs Ātlāns
hōrrŭĭt ēt dŭbĭā caēlūm cērvīcĕ rĕmīsīt.
ārrĭpĭt ēxtēmplō Mălĕaē dē vāllĕ rĕsūrgēns
nōtum ĭtĕr ād Thēbās; nĕque ĕnīm vēlōcĭŏr ūllās
ītquĕ rĕdītquĕ vĭās cōgnātăvĕ Tārtără māvūlt.
Cēntum īllī stāntēs ūmbrābānt ōră cĕrāstaē,
tūrbă mĭnāx dīrī căpĭtīs; sĕdĕt īntŭs ăbāctīs
fērrĕă lūx ŏcŭlīs, quālīs pēr nūbĭlă Phoēbēs
Ātrăcĭā rŭbĕt ārtĕ lăbōr; sūffūsă vĕnēnō
tēndĭtŭr āc sănĭē glīscīt cŭtĭs; īgnĕŭs ātrō
ōrĕ văpōr, quō lōngă sĭtīs mōrbīquĕ fămēsquĕ
ēt pŏpŭlīs mōrs ūnă vĕnīt; rĭgĕt hōrrĭdă tērgō
pālla, ēt caērŭlĕī rĕdĕūnt īn pēctŏră nōdī:
Ātrŏpŏs hōs ātque īpsă nŏvāt Prōsērpĭnă cūltūs.
Tūnc gĕmĭnās quătĭt īră mănūs: haēc īgnĕ rŏgālī
fūlgŭrăt, haēc vīvō mănŭs āĕră vērbĕrăt hŷdrō.
Ūt stĕtĭt, ābrūptā quā plūrĭmŭs ārcĕ Cĭthaērōn
ōccūrrīt caēlō, fĕră sībĭlă crīnĕ vĭrēntī
cōngĕmĭnāt, sīgnūm tērrīs, ūnde ōmnĭs Ăchaēī
ōră mărīs lātē Pĕlŏpēăquĕ rēgnă rĕsūltānt.
Aūdĭĭt ēt mĕdĭūs caēlī Pārnāsŏs ĕt āspēr
Eūrōtās, dŭbĭāmquĕ iŭgō frăgŏr īmpŭlĭt Oētēn
īn lătŭs, ēt gĕmĭnīs vīx flūctĭbŭs ōbstĭtĭt Īsthmōs.
Īpsă sŭūm gĕnĕtrīx cūrvō dēlphīnĕ văgāntēm
ābrĭpŭīt frēnīs grĕmĭōquĕ Pălaēmŏnă prēssīt.
Ātque ĕă Cādmēō praēcēps ŭbĭ cūlmĭnĕ prīmūm
cōnstĭtĭt āssuētāque īnfēcīt nūbĕ pĕnātēs,
prōtĭnŭs āttŏnĭtī frātrūm sūb pēctŏrĕ mōtūs,
gēntīlīsque ănĭmōs sŭbĭīt fŭrŏr aēgrăquĕ laētīs
īnvĭdĭa ātquĕ părēns ŏdĭī mĕtŭs, īndĕ rĕgēndī
saēvŭs ămōr, rūptaēquĕ vĭcēs iūrīsquĕ sĕcūndī
āmbĭtŭs īmpătĭēns, ēt sūmmō dūlcĭŭs ūnūm
stārĕ lŏcō, sŏcĭīsquĕ cŏmēs dīscōrdĭă rēgnīs.
Sīc ŭbĭ dēlēctōs pēr tōrva ārmēntă iŭvēncōs
āgrĭcŏla īmpŏsĭtō sŏcĭāre ādfēctăt ărātrō,
īlli īndīgnāntēs, quīs nōndūm vōmĕrĕ mūltō
ārdŭă nōdōsōs cērvīx dēscēndĭt ĭn ārmōs,
īn dīvērsă trăhūnt ātque aēquīs vīncŭlă lāxānt
vīrĭbŭs ēt vărĭō cōnfūndūnt līmĭtĕ sūlcōs:
haūd sĕcŭs īndŏmĭtōs praēcēps dīscōrdĭă frātrēs
āspĕrăt. Āltērnī plăcŭīt sūb lēgĭbŭs ānnī
ēxsĭlĭō mūtārĕ dŭcēm. Sīc iūrĕ mălīgnō
fōrtūnām trānsīrĕ iŭbēnt, ūt scēptră tĕnēntēm
foēdĕrĕ praēcĭpĭtī sēmpēr nŏvŭs āngĕrĕt hērēs.
Haēc īntēr frātrēs pĭĕtās ĕrăt, haēc mŏră pūgnaē
sōlă nĕc īn rēgēm pērdūrātūră sĕcūndūm.
Ēt nōndūm crāssō lăquĕārĭă fūlvă mĕtāllō,
mōntĭbŭs aūt āltē Grāīs ēffūltă nĭtēbānt
ātrĭă, cōngēstōs sătĭs ēxplĭcĭtūră clĭēntīs;
nōn īmpācātīs rēgum ādvĭgĭlāntĭă sōmnīs
pīlă, nĕc āltērnā fērrī stătĭōnĕ gĕmēntēs
ēxcŭbĭaē nēc cūră mĕrō cōmmīttĕrĕ gēmmās
ātque aūrūm vĭŏlārĕ cĭbīs: sēd nūdă pŏtēstās
ārmāvīt frātrēs, pūgna ēst dē paūpĕrĕ rēgnō.
Dūmque ŭtĕr āngūstaē squālēntĭă iūgĕră Dīrcēs
vērtĕrĕt aūt Tўrĭī sŏlĭō nōn āltŭs ŏvārēt
ēxsŭlĭs āmbĭgĭtūr, pĕrĭīt iūs fāsquĕ bŏnūmquĕ
ēt vītaē mōrtīsquĕ pŭdōr. Quō tēndĭtĭs īrās,
ā, mĭsĕrī? Quīd sī pĕtĕrētūr crīmĭnĕ tāntō
līmĕs ŭtērquĕ pŏlī, quēm Sōl ēmīssŭs Ĕōō
cārdĭnĕ, quēm pōrtū vērgēns prōspēctăt Hĭbērō,
quāsquĕ prŏcūl tērrās ōblīquō sīdĕrĕ tāngīt
āvĭŭs aūt Bŏrĕā gĕlĭdās mădĭdīvĕ tĕpēntēs
īgnĕ Nŏtī? quīd sī Phrўgĭaē Tўrĭaēquĕ sŭb ūnūm
cōnvēctēntŭr ŏpēs. Lŏcă dīra ārcēsquĕ nĕfāndaē
sūffēcēre ŏdĭō, fŭrĭīsque īmmānĭbŭs ēmptūm
Oēdĭpŏdaē sēdīssĕ lŏcō. Iām sōrtĕ cărēbāt
dīlātūs Pŏlўnīcĭs hŏnōs. Quīs tūnc tĭbĭ, saēvĕ,
quīs fŭĭt īllĕ dĭēs, văcŭā cūm sōlŭs ĭn aūlā
rēspĭcĕrēs iūs ōmnĕ tŭūm cūnctōsquĕ mĭnōrēs,
ēt nūsquām pār stārĕ căpūt? Iām mūrmŭră sērpūnt
plēbĭs Ĕchīŏnĭaē, tăcĭtūmque ā prīncĭpĕ vūlgūs
dīssĭdĕt, ēt, quī mōs pŏpŭlīs, vēntūrŭs ămātūr.
Ātque ălĭquīs, cuī mēns hŭmĭlī laēsīssĕ vĕnēnō
sūmmă nĕc īmpŏsĭtōs ūmquām cērvīcĕ vŏlēntī
fērrĕ dŭcēs: "Hāncne Ōgўgĭīs" ăĭt "āspĕră rēbūs
fātă tŭlērĕ vĭcēm, tŏtĭēns mūtārĕ tĭmēndōs
āltērnōquĕ iŭgō dŭbĭtāntĭă sūbdĕrĕ cōllă?
Pārtītī vērsānt pŏpŭlōrūm fātă mănūquĕ
fōrtūnām fēcērĕ lĕvēm. Sēmpērnĕ vĭcīssīm
ēxŭlĭbūs sērvīrĕ dăbōr? tĭbĭ, sūmmĕ dĕōrūm
tērrārūmquĕ sătōr, sŏcĭīs hānc āddĕrĕ mēntēm
sēdĭt? Ăn īndĕ vĕtūs Thēbīs ēxtēndĭtŭr ōmēn,
ēx quō Sīdŏnĭī nēquīquām blāndă iŭvēncī
pōndĕră Cārpăthĭō iūssūs sălĕ quaērĕrĕ Cādmūs
ēxsŭl Hўāntēōs īnvēnīt rēgnă pĕr āgrōs,
frātērnāsque ăcĭēs fētaē tēllūrĭs hĭātū
aūgŭrĭūm sērōs dīmīsĭt ăd ūsquĕ nĕpōtēs?
Cērnĭs, ŭt ērēctūm tōrvā sūb frōntĕ mĭnētūr
saēvĭŏr āssūrgēns dēmptō cōnsōrtĕ pŏtēstās.
Quās gĕrĭt ōrĕ mĭnās, quāntō prĕmĭt ōmnĭă fāstū!
Hīcne ūmquām prīvātŭs ĕrīt? Tămĕn īllĕ prĕcāntī
mītĭs ĕt ādfātū bŏnŭs ēt pătĭēntĭŏr aēquī.
quīd mīrūm? Nōn sōlŭs ĕrāt. Nōs vīlĭs ĭn ōmnīs
prōmptă mănūs cāsūs, dŏmĭnō cuīcūmquĕ părātī.
quālĭtĕr hīnc gĕlĭdūs Bŏrĕās, hīnc nūbĭfĕr Eūrūs
vēlă trăhūnt, nūtāt mĕdĭaē fōrtūnă cărīnaē,
- heū dŭbĭō sūspēnsă mĕtū tŏlĕrāndăquĕ nūllīs
āspĕră sōrs pŏpŭlīs! - hīc īmpĕrăt, īllĕ mĭnātūr".
Āt Iŏvĭs īmpĕrĭō răpĭdī sŭpĕr ātrĭă caēlī
lēctūs cōncĭlĭō dīvūm cōnvēnĕrăt ōrdŏ
īntĕrĭōrĕ pŏlō. spătĭīs hīnc ōmnĭă iūxtā,
prīmaēque ōccĭdŭaēquĕ dŏmūs ēt fūsă sŭb ōmnī
tērra ātque ūndă dĭē. Mĕdĭīs sēse ārdŭŭs īnfērt
īpsĕ dĕīs, plăcĭdō quătĭēns tămĕn ōmnĭă vūltū,
stēllāntīquĕ lŏcāt sŏlĭō; nēc prōtĭnŭs aūsī
caēlĭcŏlaē, vĕnĭām dōnēc pătĕr īpsĕ sĕdēndī
trānquīllā iŭbĕt ēssĕ mănū. Mōx tūrbă văgōrūm
sēmĭdĕum ēt sūmmīs cōgnātī nūbĭbŭs Āmnēs
ēt cōmprēssă mĕtū sērvāntēs mūrmŭră Vēntī
aūrĕă tēctă rĕplēnt. Mīxtā cōnvēxă dĕōrūm
māiēstātĕ trĕmūnt, rădĭānt māiōrĕ sĕrēnō
cūlmĭna ĕt ārcānō flōrēntēs lūmĭnĕ pōstēs.
Pōstquām iūssă quĭēs sĭlŭītque ēxtērrĭtŭs ōrbīs,
īncĭpĭt ēx āltō - grăve ĕt īmmūtābĭlĕ sānctīs
pōndŭs ădēst vērbīs, ēt vōcēm fātă sĕquūntūr -:
"Tērrārūm dēlīctă nĕc ēxsătŭrābĭlĕ Dīrīs
īngĕnĭūm mōrtālĕ quĕrōr. Quōnam ūsquĕ nŏcēntūm
ēxĭgăr īn poēnās? taēdēt saēvīrĕ cŏrūscō
fūlmĭnĕ, iām prīdēm Cŷclōpum ŏpĕrōsă fătīscūnt
brācchĭa ĕt Aēŏlĭīs dēsūnt īncūdĭbŭs īgnēs.
Ātque ădĕō tŭlĕrām fālsō rēctōrĕ sŏlūtōs
Sōlĭs ĕquōs, caēlūmquĕ rŏtīs ērrāntĭbŭs ūrī,
ēt Phăĕthōntēā mūndūm squālērĕ făvīllā.
Nīl āctūm, nĕquĕ tū vălĭdā quōd cūspĭdĕ lātē
īrĕ pĕr īllĭcĭtūm pĕlăgō, gērmānĕ, dĕdīstī.
nūnc gĕmĭnās pūnīrĕ dŏmōs, quīs sānguĭnĭs aūctōr
īpse ĕgŏ, dēscēndō. Pērsēōs āltĕr ĭn Ārgōs
scīndĭtŭr, Āŏnĭās flŭĭt hīc ăb ŏrīgĭnĕ Thēbās.
Mēns cūnctīs īmpōstă mănēt: quīs fūnĕră Cādmī
nēscĭăt ēt tŏtĭēns ēxcītam ā sēdĭbŭs īmīs
Eūmĕnĭdūm bēllāsse ăcĭēm, mălă gaūdĭă mātrūm
ērrōrēsquĕ fĕrōs nĕmŏrum ēt rĕtĭcēndă dĕōrūm
crīmĭnă? Vīx lūcīs spătĭō, vīx nōctĭs ăbāctaē
ēnŭmĕrārĕ quĕām mōrēs gēntēmquĕ prŏfānām.
Scāndĕrĕ quīn ĕtĭām thălămōs hīc īmpĭŭs hērēs
pātrĭs ĕt īmmĕrĭtaē grĕmĭum īncēstārĕ părēntīs
āppĕtĭīt, prŏprĭōs mōnstrō rĕvŏlūtŭs ĭn ōrtūs.
Īllĕ tămēn sŭpĕrīs aētērnă pĭācŭlă sōlvīt
prōĭĕcītquĕ dĭēm, nēc iam āmplĭŭs aēthĕrĕ nōstrō
vēscĭtŭr; āt nātī - făcĭnūs sĭnĕ mōrĕ! - cădēntēs
cālcāvēre ŏcŭlōs. iām iām rătă vōtă tŭlīstī
dīrĕ sĕnēx! Mĕrŭērĕ tŭaē, mĕrŭērĕ tĕnēbraē
ūltōrēm spērārĕ Iŏvēm. Nŏvă sōntĭbŭs ārmă
īnĭcĭām rēgnīs, tōtūmque ā stīrpĕ rĕvēllām
ēxĭtĭālĕ gĕnūs. Bēllī mĭhĭ sēmĭnă sūntō
Ādrāstūs sŏcĕr ēt sŭpĕrīs ādiūnctă sĭnīstrīs
cōnŭbĭa. Hānc ĕtĭām poēnīs īncēssĕrĕ gēntēm
dēcrētūm; nĕque ĕnim ārcānō dē pēctŏrĕ fāllāx
Tāntălŭs ēt saēvaē pĕrĭīt īniūrĭă mēnsaē".
Sīc pătĕr ōmnĭpŏtēns. āst īllī saūcĭă dīctīs
flāmmātō vērsāns ĭnŏpīnūm cōrdĕ dŏlōrēm
tālĭă Iūnŏ rĕfērt: "Mēne, ō iūstīssĭmĕ dīvūm,
mē bēllō cērtārĕ iŭbēs? Scīs, sēmpĕr ŭt ārcēs
Cŷclōpūm māgnīquĕ Phŏrōnĕŏs īnclĭtă fāmā
scēptră vĭrīs ŏpĭbūsquĕ iŭvēm, lĭcĕt īmprŏbŭs īllīc
cūstōdēm Phărĭaē sōmnō lētōquĕ iŭvēncaē
ēxstīnguās, saēptīs ēt tūrrĭbŭs aūrĕŭs īntrēs.
Mēntītīs īgnōscŏ tŏrīs: īllam ōdĭmŭs ūrbēm,
quām vūltū cōnfēssŭs ădīs, ŭbĭ cōnscĭă māgnī
sīgnă tŏrī tŏnĭtrūs ăgĭs ēt mĕă fūlmĭnă tōrquēs.
Fāctā luānt Thēbaē: cūr hōstēs ēlĭgĭs Ārgōs?
quīn ăgĕ, sī tānta ēst thălămī dīscōrdĭă sānctī,
ēt Sămŏn ēt vĕtĕrēs ārmīs ēxscīndĕ Mўcēnās,
vērtĕ sŏlō Spārtēn. Cūr ūsquām sānguĭnĕ fēstō
cōniŭgĭs āră tŭaē, cŭmŭlō cūr tūrĭs Ĕōī
laētă călēt? Mĕlĭūs vōtīs Mărĕōtĭcă fūmāt
Cōptŏs ĕt aērĭsŏnī lūgēntĭă flūmĭnă Nīlī.
Quōd sī prīscă lŭūnt aūctōrūm crīmĭnă gēntēs
sūbvēnītquĕ tŭīs sēra haēc sēntēntĭă cūrīs,
pērcēnsēre aēvī sĕnĭūm, quō tēmpŏrĕ tāndēm
tērrārūm fŭrĭās ăbŏlēre ēt saēcŭlă rētrō
ēmēndārĕ săt ēst? iāmdūdum āb sēdĭbŭs īllīs
īncĭpĕ, flūctĭvăgā quā praētērlābĭtŭr ūndā
Sīcănĭōs lōngē rĕlĕgēns Ālphēŏs ămōrēs.
Ārcădĕs hīc tŭă - nēc pŭdŏr ēst - dēlūbră nĕfāstīs
īmpŏsŭērĕ lŏcīs, īllīc Māvōrtĭŭs āxīs
Oēnŏmăī Gĕtĭcōquĕ pĕcūs stăbŭlārĕ sŭb Haēmō
dīgnĭŭs, ābrūptīs ĕtĭāmnum ĭnhŭmātă prŏcōrūm
rēlĭquĭīs trūnca ōră rĭgēnt. tămĕn hīc tĭbĭ tēmplī
grātŭs hŏnōs, plăcĕt Īdă nŏcēns mēntītăquĕ mānēs
Crētă tŭōs. Mē Tāntălĕīs cōnsīstĕrĕ tēctīs,
quaē tāndem īnvĭdĭa ēst? bēllī dēflēctĕ tŭmūltūs
ēt gĕnĕrīs mĭsĕrēscĕ tŭī. Sūnt īmpĭă lātē
rēgnă tĭbī, mĕlĭūs gĕnĕrōs pāssūră nŏcēntēs."
Fīnĭĕrāt prĕcĭbūs mīscēns cōnvīcĭă Iūnŏ.
Āt nōn īllĕ grăvīs dīctīs, quāmquam āspĕră mōtū,
rēddĭdĭt haēc: "Ĕquĭdem haūd rēbār tē mēntĕ sĕcūndā
lātūrām, quōdcūmquĕ tŭōs, lĭcĕt aēquŭs, ĭn Ārgōs
cōnsŭlĕrēm, nĕquĕ mē, sī dētūr cōpĭă, fāllīt
mūltă sŭpēr Thēbīs Bācchum aūsūrāmquĕ Dĭōnēn
dīcĕrĕ, sēd nōstrī rĕvĕrēntĭă pōndĕrĭs ōbstāt.
Hōrrēndōs ĕtĕnīm lătĭcēs, Stўgĭa aēquŏră frātrīs
ōbtēstōr, mānsūrum ātque īrrĕvŏcābĭlĕ vērbūm,
nīl fŏrĕ, quōd dīctīs flēctār! quāre īmpĭgĕr ālīs
pōrtāntēs praēcēdĕ Nŏtōs, Cŷllēnĭă prōlēs,
āĕră pēr lĭquĭdūm rēgnīsque īllāpsŭs ŏpācīs
dīc pătrŭō: sŭpĕrās sĕnĭōr se āttōllăt ăd aūrās
Lāĭŭs, ēxstīnctūm nātī quēm vūlnĕrĕ nōndūm
ūltĕrĭōr Lēthēs āccēpīt rīpă prŏfūndī
lēge Ĕrĕbī; fĕrăt hīc dīrō mĕă iūssă nĕpōtī:
gērmānum ēxsĭlĭō frētum Ārgŏlĭcīsquĕ tŭmēntēm
hōspĭtĭīs, quōd spōntĕ cŭpīt, prŏcŭl īmpĭŭs aūlā
ārcĕăt, āltērnūm rēgni īnfĭtĭātŭs hŏnōrēm.
Hīnc caūsae īrārūm, cērtō rĕlĭqua ōrdĭnĕ dūcām".
Pārĕt Ătlāntĭădēs dīctīs gĕnĭtōrĭs ĕt īndĕ
sūmmă pĕdūm prŏpĕrē plāntārĭbŭs īllĭgăt ālīs,
ōbnūbītquĕ cŏmās ēt tēmpĕrăt āstră gălērō.
Tūm dēxtraē vīrgam īnsĕrŭīt, quā pēllĕrĕ dūlcēs
aūt suādēre ĭtĕrūm sōmnōs, quā nīgră sŭbīrĕ
Tārtăra ĕt ēxsānguīs ănĭmāre āssuēvĕrăt ūmbrās.
Dēsĭlŭīt, tĕnŭīque ēxcēptŭs ĭnhōrrŭĭt aūrā.
Nēc mŏră, sūblīmīs rāptīm pĕr ĭnānĕ vŏlātūs
cārpĭt ĕt īngēntī dēsīgnāt nūbĭlă gŷrō.
Īntĕrĕā pătrĭīs ōlīm văgŭs ēxsŭl ăb ōrīs
Oēdĭpŏdīŏnĭdēs fūrtō dēsērtă pĕrērrāt
Āŏnĭaē. iāmiāmque ănĭmīs mălĕ dēbĭtă rēgnă
cōncĭpĭt, ēt lōngūm sīgnīs cūnctāntĭbŭs ānnūm
stārĕ gĕmīt. Tĕnĕt ūnă dĭēs nōctēsquĕ rĕcūrsāns
cūră vĭrūm, sī quāndo hŭmĭlēm dēcēdĕrĕ rēgnō
gērmānum ēt sēmēt Thēbīs ŏpĭbūsquĕ pŏtītūm
cērnĕrĕt; hāc aēvūm cŭpĭāt prō lūcĕ păcīscī.
Nūnc quĕrĭtūr ceū tārdă fŭgaē dīspēndĭă, sēd mōx
āttōllīt flātūs dŭcĭs ēt sēdīssĕ sŭpērbūs
dēiēctō iām frātrĕ pŭtāt: spēs ānxĭă mēntēm
ēxtrăhĭt ēt lōngō cōnsūmīt gaūdĭă vōtō.
Tūnc sĕdĕt, Īnăchĭās ūrbēs Dănăēĭăque ārvă
ēt cālīgāntēs ābrūptō sōlĕ Mўcēnās
fērre ĭtĕr īmpăvĭdūm, seū praēvĭă dūcĭt Ĕrīnŷs,
seū fōrs īllă vĭaē, sīve hāc īmmōtă vŏcābāt
Ātrŏpŏs. Ōgўgĭīs ŭlŭlātă fŭrōrĭbŭs āntră
dēsĕrĭt ēt pīnguēs Bācchēō sānguĭnĕ cōllēs.
Īndĕ plăgām, quā mōllĕ sĕdēns īn plānă Cĭthaērōn
pōrrĭgĭtūr lāssūmque īnclīnăt ăd aēquŏră mōntēm,
praētĕrĭt. Hīnc ārtē scŏpŭlōso īn līmĭtĕ pēndēns
īnfāmēs Scīrōnĕ pĕtrās Scŷllaēăquĕ rūră
pūrpŭrĕō rēgnātă sĕnī mītēmquĕ Cŏrīnthōn
līnquĭt ĕt īn mĕdĭīs aūdīt dŭŏ lītŏră cāmpīs.
Iāmquĕ pĕr ēmĕrĭtī sūrgēns cōnfīnĭă Phoēbī
Tītānīs lātē, mūndō sūbvēctă sĭlēntī,
rōrĭfĕrā gĕlĭdūm tĕnŭāvĕrăt āĕră bīgā;
iām pĕcŭdēs vŏlŭcrēsquĕ tăcēnt, iām Sōmnŭs ăvārīs
īrrēpsīt cūrīs prōnūsque ēx aēthĕrĕ nūtāt,
grātă lăbōrātaē rĕfĕrēns ōblīvĭă vītaē.
Sēd nēc pūnĭcĕō rĕdĭtūrūm nūbĭlă caēlō
prōmīsērĕ iŭbār, nēc rārēscēntĭbŭs ūmbrīs
lōngă rĕpērcūssō nĭtŭērĕ crĕpūscŭlă Phoēbō:
dēnsĭŏr ā tērrīs ēt nūllī pērvĭă flāmmaē
sūbtēxīt nōx ātră pŏlōs. Iām claūstră rĭgēntīs
Aēŏlĭaē pērcūssă sŏnānt, vēntūrăquĕ raūcō
ōrĕ mĭnātŭr hĭēmps, vēntī trānsvērsă frĕmēntēs
cōnflīgūnt āxēmque ēmōtō cārdĭnĕ vēllūnt,
dūm caēlūm sĭbĭ quīsquĕ răpīt; sēd plūrĭmŭs Aūstēr
īnglŏmĕrāt nōctēm, tĕnĕbrōsă vŏlūmĭnă tōrquēns,
dēfūndītque īmbrēs, sīccō quōs āspĕr hĭātū
praēsŏlĭdāt Bŏrĕās; nēc nōn ābrūptă trĕmīscūnt
fūlgŭra, ĕt āttrītūs sŭbĭtā făcĕ rūmpĭtŭr aēthēr.
Iām Nĕmĕā, iām Taēnărĭīs cōntērmĭnă lūcīs
Ārcădĭaē căpĭta āltă mădēnt; rŭĭt āgmĭnĕ māgnō
Īnăchŭs ēt gĕlĭdās sūrgēns Ĕrăsīnŭs ĭn ūndās.
Pūlvĕrŭlēntă prĭūs cālcātăquĕ flūmĭnă nūllaē
āggĕrĭbūs tĕnŭērĕ mŏraē, stāgnōquĕ rĕfūsāst
fūndĭtŭs ēt vĕtĕrī spūmāvīt Lērnă vĕnēnō.
Frāngĭtŭr ōmnĕ nĕmūs, răpĭūnt āntīquă prŏcēllaē
brācchĭă sīlvārūm, nūllīsque āspēctă pĕr aēvūm
sōlĭbŭs ūmbrōsī pătŭēre aēstīvă Lўcaēī.
Īllĕ tămēn, mŏdŏ sāxă iŭgīs fŭgĭēntĭă rūptīs
mīrātūs, mŏdŏ nūbĭgĕnās ē mōntĭbŭs āmnēs
aūrĕ păvēns pāssīmque īnsānō tūrbĭnĕ rāptās
pāstōrūm pĕcŏrūmquĕ dŏmōs, nōn sēgnĭŭs āmēns
īncērtūsquĕ vĭaē pēr nīgră sĭlēntĭă vāstūm
haūrĭt ĭtēr; pūlsāt mĕtŭs ūndĭque ĕt ūndĭquĕ frātēr.
Āc vĕlŭt hībērnō dēprēnsūs nāvĭtă pōntō,
cuī nĕquĕ Tēmŏ pĭgēr nĕque ămīcō sīdĕrĕ mōnstrāt
Lūnă vĭās, mĕdĭō caēlī pĕlăgīquĕ tŭmūltū
stāt rătĭōnĭs ĭnōps, iāmiāmque aūt sāxă mălīgnīs
ēxspēctāt sūbmērsă vădīs aūt vērtĭce ăcūtō
spūmāntēs scŏpŭlōs ērēctae īncūrrĕrĕ prōraē:
tālĭs ŏpācă lĕgēns nĕmŏrūm Cādmēĭŭs hērōs
āccĕlĕrāt, vāstō mĕtŭēnda ūmbōnĕ fĕrārūm
ēxcŭtĭēns stăbŭla, ēt prōnō vīrgūltă rĕfrīngīt
pēctŏrĕ; dāt stĭmŭlōs ănĭmō vīs maēstă tĭmōrīs,
dōnĕc ăb Īnăchĭīs vīctā cālīgĭnĕ tēctīs
ēmĭcŭīt lūcēm dēvēxa īn moēnĭă fūndēns
Lārīsaēŭs ăpēx. Īllō spē cōncĭtŭs ōmnī
ēvŏlăt, hīnc cēlsaē Iūnōnĭă tēmplă Prŏsŷmnaē
laēvŭs hăbēns, hīnc Hērcŭlĕō sīgnātă văpōrĕ
Lērnaēī stāgna ātră vădī, tāndēmquĕ rĕclūsīs
īnfērtūr pōrtīs. Āctūtūm rēgĭă cērnīt
vēstĭbŭla; hīc ārtūs īmbrī vēntōquĕ rĭgēntīs
prōĭcĭt īgnōtaēque ācclīnīs pōstĭbŭs aūlaē
īnvītāt tĕnŭīs ād dūră cŭbīlĭă sōmnōs.
Rēx ĭbĭ trānquīllē, mĕdĭō dē līmĭtĕ vītaē
īn sĕnĭūm vērgēns, pŏpŭlōs Ādrāstŭs hăbēbāt,
dīvĕs ăvīs ĕt ŭtrōquĕ Iŏvēm dē sānguĭnĕ dūcēns.
Hīc sēxūs mĕlĭōrĭs ĭnōps, sēd prōlĕ vĭrēbāt
fēmĭnĕā, gĕmĭnō nātārūm pīgnŏrĕ fūltūs.
Cuī Phoēbūs gĕnĕrōs - mōnstrum ēxĭtĭābĭlĕ dīctū!
mōx ădăpērtă fĭdēs - fātō dūcēntĕ cănēbāt
saētĭgĕrūmquĕ sŭem ēt fūlvum ādvēntārĕ lĕōnēm.
Īd vōlvēns nōn īpsĕ pătēr, nōn dōctĕ fŭtūrī
Āmphĭărāĕ vĭdēs, ĕtĕnīm vĕtăt aūctŏr Ăpōllŏ.
tāntum īn cōrdĕ sĕdēns aēgrēscīt cūră părēntī.
Ēcce aūtem āntīquām fātō Călўdōnă rĕlīnquēns
Ōlĕnĭūs Tŷdeūs - frātērnī sānguĭnĭs īllūm
cōnscĭŭs hōrrŏr ăgīt - ĕădēm sūb nōctĕ sŏpōrā
lūstră tĕrīt, sĭmĭlīsquĕ Nŏtōs dēquēstŭs ĕt īmbrēs,
īnfūsām tērgō glăcĭem ēt līquēntĭă nīmbīs
ōră cŏmāsquĕ gĕrēns sŭbĭt ūnō tēgmĭnĕ, cūiūs
fūsŭs hŭmō gĕlĭdā pārtēm prĭŏr hōspĕs hăbēbāt.
hīc vēro āmbōbūs răbĭēm fōrtūnă crŭēntām
āttŭlĭt: haūd pāssī sŏcĭīs dēfēndĕrĕ nōctēm
cūlmĭnĭbūs, paūlum āltērnīs īn vērbă mĭnāsquĕ
cūnctāntūr; mōx ūt iāctīs sērmōnĭbŭs īraē
īntŭmŭērĕ sătīs, tūm vēro ērēctŭs ŭtērquĕ
ēxsērtāre ŭmĕrōs nūdāmquĕ lăcēssĕrĕ pūgnām.
Cēlsĭŏr īllĕ grădū prōcēra īn mēmbră sĭmūlquĕ
īntĕgĕr ānnōrūm, sēd nōn ēt vīrĭbŭs īnfrā
Tŷdĕă fērt ănĭmūs, tōtōsque īnfūsă pĕr ārtūs
māiŏr ĭn ēxĭgŭō rēgnābāt cōrpŏrĕ vīrtūs.
Iām crēbrōs īctūs ōra ēt căvă tēmpŏră cīrcūm
ōbnīxi īngĕmĭnānt, tēlōrum aūt grāndĭnĭs īnstār
Rhīpaēaē, flēxōquĕ gĕnū văcŭa īlĭă tūndūnt.
Nōn ălĭtēr quām Pīsaēō sŭă lūstră Tŏnāntī
cūm rĕdĕūnt crūdīsquĕ vĭrūm sūdōrĭbŭs ārdēt
pūlvĭs; ăt hīnc tĕnĕrōs căvĕaē dīssēnsŭs ĕphēbōs
cōncĭtăt, ēxclūsaēque ēxspēctānt praēmĭă mātrēs:
sīc ălăcrēs ŏdĭō nūllāquĕ cŭpīdĭnĕ laūdīs
āccēnsi īncūrrūnt, scrūtātŭr ĕt īntĭmă vūltūs
ūncă mănūs pĕnĭtūsque ŏcŭlīs cēdēntĭbŭs īntrāt.
Fōrsăn ĕt āccīnctōs lătĕrī - sīc īră fĕrēbāt -
nūdāssēnt ēnsēs, mĕlĭūsque hōstīlĭbŭs ārmīs
lūgēndūs frātrī, iŭvĕnīs Thēbānĕ, iăcērēs,
nī rēx, īnsŏlĭtūm clāmōrem ēt pēctŏre ăb āltō
strīdēntēs gĕmĭtūs nōctīs mīrātŭs ĭn ūmbrīs,
mōvīssēt grēssūs, māgnīs cuī sōbrĭă cūrīs
pēndēbāt sōmnō iām dētĕrĭōrĕ sĕnēctūs.
Īsque ŭbĭ prōgrĕdĭēns nŭmĕrōsā lūcĕ pĕr āltă
ātrĭă dīmōtīs ādvērsō līmĭnĕ claūstrīs
tērrĭbĭlēm dīctū făcĭēm, lăcĕra ōră pŭtrēsquĕ
sānguĭnĕō vĭdĕt īmbrĕ gĕnās: "Quaē caūsă fŭrōrīs,
ēxtērnī iŭvĕnēs - nĕque ĕnīm mĕŭs aūdĕăt īstās
cīvĭs ĭn ūsquĕ mănūs -, quīsnam īmplācābĭlĭs ārdōr
ēxtūrbāre ŏdĭīs trānquīllă sĭlēntĭă nōctīs?
Ūsque ādeōne āngūstă dĭēs ēt trīstĕ, părūmpēr
pācem ănĭmō sōmnūmquĕ pătī? sēd prōdĭtĕ tāndēm,
ūnde ōrtī, quō fērtĭs ĭtēr, quaē iūrgĭă? nām vōs
haūd hŭmĭlēs tānta īră dŏcēt, gĕnĕrīsquĕ sŭpērbī
māgnă pĕr ēffūsūm clārēscūnt sīgnă crŭōrēm".
Vīx ĕă, cūm mīxtō clāmōre ōblīquă tŭēntēs
īncĭpĭūnt ūnā: "Rēx ō mītīssĭme Ăchīvūm,
quīd vērbīs ŏpŭs? Īpse ūndāntīs sānguĭnĕ vūltūs
āspĭcĭs". Haēc pāssīm tūrbātīs vōcĭs ămāraē
cōnfūdērĕ sŏnīs; īnde ōrsŭs ĭn ōrdĭnĕ Tŷdeūs
cōntĭnŭāt: "Maēstī cŭpĭēns sōlācĭă cāsūs
mōnstrĭfĕraē Călўdōnĭs ŏpēs Ăchĕlōĭăque ārvă
dēsĕrŭī; vēstrīs haēc me ēcce īn fīnĭbŭs īngēns
nōx ŏpĕrīt. tēctō caēlūm prŏhĭbērĕ quĭs īstĕ
ārcŭĭt? ān quŏnĭām prĭŏr haēc ād līmĭnă fōrtĕ
mōlītūs grēssūs? părĭtēr stăbŭlārĕ bĭmēmbrēs
Cēntaūrōs ūnāquĕ fĕrūnt Cŷclōpăs ĭn Aētnā
cōmpŏsĭtōs. Sūnt ēt răbĭdīs iūra īnsĭtă mōnstrīs
fāsquĕ sŭūm: nōbīs sŏcĭārĕ cŭbīlĭă tērraē.
Sēd quĭd ĕgo? aūt hŏdĭē spŏlĭīs gāvīsŭs ăbībīs,
quīsquĭs ĕs, hīs, aūt mē, sī nōn ēffētŭs ŏbōrtō
sānguĭs hĕbēt lūctū, māgnī dē stīrpĕ crĕātūm
Oēnĕŏs ēt Mārtī nōn dēgĕnĕrārĕ pătērnō
āccĭpĭēs". "Nēc nōs ănĭmī nēc stīrpĭs ĕgēntēs"
īllĕ rĕfērt cōntrā, sēd mēns sĭbĭ cōnscĭă fātī
cūnctātūr prōfērrĕ pătrēm. tūnc mītĭs Ădrāstūs:
"Īmmo ăgĭte, ēt pŏsĭtīs, quās nōx ĭnŏpīnăquĕ suāsīt
aūt vīrtūs aūt īră, mĭnīs sūccēdĭtĕ tēctō.
Iām părĭtēr cŏĕānt ănĭmōrum īn pīgnŏră dēxtraē.
Nōn haēc īncāssūm dīvīsque ābsēntĭbŭs āctă;
fōrsăn ĕt hās vēntūrŭs ămōr praēmīsĕrĭt īrās,
ūt mĕmĭnīssĕ iŭvēt". nēc vānā vōcĕ lŏcūtūs
fātă sĕnēx, sĭquĭdem hānc pĕrhĭbēnt pēr vūlnĕră iūnctīs
ēssĕ fĭdēm, quāntā pārtītum ēxtrēmă prŏtērvō
Thēsĕă Pīrĭthŏō, vĕl ĭnānēm mēntĭs Ŏrēstēn
ōppŏsĭtō răbĭdām Pўlădē vītāssĕ Mĕgaērām.
Tūnc quŏquĕ mūlcēntēm dīctīs cōrda āspĕră rēgēm
iām făcĭlēs, vēntīs ūt dēcērtātă rĕsīdūnt
aēquŏră, lāxātīsquĕ dĭū tămĕn aūră sŭpērstēs
īmmŏrĭtūr vēlīs, pāssī sŭbĭērĕ pĕnātēs.
Hīc prīmūm lūstrāre ŏcŭlīs cūltūsquĕ vĭrōrūm
tēlăquĕ māgnă văcāt: tērgō vĭdĕt hūiŭs ĭnānēm
īmpēxīs ūtrīmquĕ iŭbīs hōrrērĕ lĕōnēm,
īllĭŭs īn spĕcĭēm, quēm pēr Teūmēsĭă tēmpē
Āmphĭtrўōnĭădēs frāctūm iŭvĕnālĭbŭs ānnīs
āntĕ Clĕōnaēī vēstītūs proēlĭă mōnstrī.
Tērrĭbĭlēs cōntrā saētīs āc dēntĕ rĕcūrvō
Tŷdĕă pēr lātōs ŭmĕrōs āmbīrĕ lăbōrānt
ēxŭvĭaē, Călўdōnĭs hŏnōs. Stŭpĕt ōmĭnĕ tāntō
dēfīxūs sĕnĭōr, dīvīna ōrācŭlă Phoēbī
āgnōscēns mŏnĭtūsquĕ dătōs vōcālĭbŭs āntrīs.
Ōbtūtū gĕlĭda ōră prĕmīt, laētūsquĕ pĕr ārtūs
hōrrŏr ĭīt; sēnsīt mănĭfēstō nūmĭnĕ dūctōs
ādfŏrĕ, quōs nēxīs āmbāgĭbŭs aūgŭr Ăpōllŏ
pōrtēndī gĕnĕrōs, vūltū fāllēntĕ fĕrārūm,
ēdĭdĕrāt. tūnc sīc tēndēns ād sīdĕră pālmās:
"Nōx, quaē tērrārūm caēlīque āmplēxă lăbōrēs
īgnĕă mūltĭvăgō trānsmīttīs sīdĕră lāpsū,
īndūlgēns rĕpărāre ănĭmūm, dūm prōxĭmŭs aēgrīs
īnfūndāt Tītān ăgĭlēs ănĭmāntĭbŭs ōrtūs,
tū mĭhĭ pērplēxīs quaēsītam ērrōrĭbŭs ūltrō
ādvĕhĭs ālmă fĭdēm vĕtĕrīsque ēxōrdĭă fātī
dētĕgĭs: āssīstās ŏpĕrī tŭăque ōmĭnă fīrmēs.
Sēmpĕr hŏnōrātām dīmēnsīs ōrbĭbŭs ānnī
tē dŏmŭs īstă cŏlēt; nīgrī tĭbĭ, dīvă, lĭtābūnt
ēlēctā cērvīcĕ grĕgēs, lūstrālĭăque ēxtă
lāctĕ nŏvō pērfūsŭs ĕdēt Vūlcānĭŭs īgnīs.
Sālvē prīscă fĭdēs trĭpŏdum ōbscūrīquĕ rĕcēssūs!
Dēprēndī, Fōrtūnă, dĕōs!" Sīc fātŭs, ĕt āmbōs
īnnēctēns mănĭbūs tēcta īntĕrĭōrĭs ăd aūlaē
prōgrĕdĭtūr. Cānīs ĕtĭāmnum āltārĭbŭs īgnēs
sōpītūm cĭnĕrem ēt tĕpĭdī lībāmĭnă sācrī
sērvābānt; ădŏlērĕ fŏcōs ĕpŭlāsquĕ rĕcēntēs
īnstaūrārĕ iŭbēt. Dīctīs pārērĕ mĭnīstrī
cērtātim āccĕlĕrānt; vărĭō strĕpĭt īctă tŭmūltū
rēgĭă: pārs ōstrō tĕnŭēs aūrōquĕ sŏnāntēs
ēmūnīrĕ tŏrōs āltēque īnfērrĕ tăpētās,
pārs tĕrĕtīs lēvārĕ mănu āc dīspōnĕrĕ mēnsās.
Āst ălĭī tĕnĕbrās ĕt ŏpācām vīncĕrĕ nōctēm
ādgrēssī tēndūnt aūrātīs vīncŭlă lŷchnīs.
Hīs lăbŏr īnsērtō tōrrēre ēxsānguĭă fērrō
vīscĕră caēsārūm pĕcŭdum, hīs cŭmŭlārĕ cănīstrīs
pērdŏmĭtām sāxō Cĕrĕrēm. Laētātŭr Ădrāstūs
ōbsĕquĭō fērvērĕ dŏmūm, iāmque īpsĕ sŭpērbīs
fūlgēbāt strātīs sŏlĭōque ēffūltŭs ĕbūrnō.
Pārte ălĭā iŭvĕnēs sīccātī vūlnĕră lŷmphīs
dīscūmbūnt, sĭmŭl ōră nŏtīs foēdātă tŭēntūr
īnquĕ vĭcem īgnōscūnt. Tūnc rēx lōngaēvŭs Ăcāstēn
- nātārum haēc āltrīx ĕădem ēt fīdīssĭmă cūstōs
lēctă săcrūm iūstaē Vĕnĕri ōccūltārĕ pŭdōrēm -
īmpĕrăt āccīrī tăcĭtāque īmmūrmŭrăt aūrĕ.
Nēc mŏră praēcēptīs, cūm prōtĭnŭs ūtrăquĕ vīrgŏ
ārcāno ēgrēssaē thălămō: mīrābĭlĕ vīsū,
Pāllădŏs ārmĭsŏnaē phărĕtrātaēque ōră Dĭānaē
aēquă fĕrūnt, tērrōrĕ mĭnūs. Nŏvă deīndĕ pŭdōrī
vīsă vĭrūm făcĭēs: părĭtēr pāllōrquĕ rŭbōrquĕ
pūrpŭrĕās haūsērĕ gĕnās, ŏcŭlīquĕ vĕrēntēs
ād sānctūm rĕdĭērĕ pătrēm. Pōstquam ōrdĭnĕ mēnsaē
vīctă fămēs, sīgnīs pērfēctam aūrōquĕ nĭtēntēm
Īăsĭdēs pătĕrām fămŭlōs ēx mōrĕ pŏpōscīt,
quā Dănăūs lībārĕ dĕīs sĕnĭōrquĕ Phŏrōneūs
āssuētī. tĕnĕt haēc ŏpĕrūm caēlātă fĭgūrās:
Pērseūs ānguĭcŏmām praēsēctō Gōrgŏnă cōllō
ālĕs hăbēt, iāmiāmquĕ văgās - ĭtă vīsŭs - ĭn aūrās
ēxsĭlĭt; īllă grăvīs ŏcŭlōs lānguēntĭăque ōră
paēnĕ mŏvēt vīvōque ĕtĭām pāllēscĭt ĭn aūrō.
Hīnc Phrўgĭūs fūlvīs vēnātōr tōllĭtŭr ālīs,
Gārgără dēsīdūnt sūrgēnti ēt Trōiă rĕcēdīt,
stānt maēstī cŏmĭtēs, frūstrāquĕ sŏnāntĭă lāssānt
ōră cănēs ūmbrāmquĕ pĕtūnt ēt nūbĭlă lātrānt.
Hānc ūndāntĕ mĕrō fūndēns vŏcăt ōrdĭnĕ cūnctōs
caēlĭcŏlās, Phoēbum ānte ălĭōs, Phoēbum ōmnĭs ăd ārām
laūdĕ cĭēt cŏmĭtūm fămŭlūmque ēvīnctă pŭdīcā
frōndĕ mănūs, cuī fēstă dĭēs lārgōquĕ rĕfēctī
tūrĕ văpōrātīs lūcēnt āltārĭbŭs īgnēs.
Fōrsĭtăn, ō iŭvĕnēs, quaē sīnt ĕă sācră quĭbūsquĕ
praēcĭpŭūm caūsīs Phoēbi ōbtēstēmŭr hŏnōrēm"
rēx ăĭt, "ēxquīrānt ănĭmī. Nōn īnscĭă suāsīt
rēlĭgĭō, māgnīs ēxērcĭtă clādĭbŭs ōlīm
plēbs Ārgīvă lĭtānt; ănĭmōs ādvērtĭtĕ, pāndām.
Pōstquām caērŭlĕī sĭnŭōsă vŏlūmĭnă mōnstrī,
tērrĭgĕnām Pŷthōnă dĕūs sēptem ōrbĭbŭs ātrīs
āmplēxām Dēlphōs squāmīsque ānnōsă tĕrēntēm
rōbŏră, Cāstălĭīs dūm fōntĭbŭs ōrĕ trĭsūlcō
fūsŭs hĭāt nīgrō sĭtĭēns ălĭmēntă vĕnēnō,
pērcŭlĭt, ābsūmptīs nŭmĕrōsa īn vūlnĕră tēlīs,
Cīrrhaēīquĕ dĕdīt cēntūm pēr iūgĕră cāmpī
vīx tāndem ēxplĭcĭtūm, nŏvă deīndĕ pĭācŭlă caēdīs
pērquīrēns nōstrī tēcta haūd ŏpŭlēntă Crŏtōpī
āttĭgĭt. Huīc prīmīs ēt pūbem ĭnĕūntĭbŭs ānnīs
mīră dĕcōrĕ pĭō sērvābāt nātă pĕnātēs
īntĕmĕrātă tŏrīs. Fēlīx, sī Dēlĭă nūmquām
fūrtă nĕc ōccūltūm Phoēbō sŏcĭāssĕt ămōrēm!
Nāmque ūt pāssă dĕūm Nĕmĕaēi ād flūmĭnĭs ūndām,
bīs quīnōs plēnā cūm frōntĕ rĕsūmĕrĕt ōrbēs
Cŷnthĭă, sīdĕrĕūm Lātōnaē fētă nĕpōtēm
ēdĭdĭt; āc poēnām mĕtŭēns - nĕque ĕnim īllĕ cŏāctīs
dōnāssēt thălămīs vĕnĭām pătĕr - āvĭă rūră
ēlĭgĭt āc nātūm saēpta īntĕr ŏvīlĭă fūrtīm
mōntĭvăgō pĕcŏrīs cūstōdī māndăt ălēndūm.
Nōn tĭbĭ dīgnă, pŭēr, gĕnĕrīs cūnābŭlă tāntī
grāmĭnĕōs dĕdĭt hērbă tŏrōs ēt vīmĭnĕ quērnō
tēxtă dŏmūs; claūsa ārbŭtĕī sūb cōrtĭcĕ lībrī
mēmbră tĕpēnt, suādētquĕ lĕvēs căvă fīstŭlă sōmnōs,
ēt pĕcŏrī cōmmūnĕ sŏlūm. Sēd fātă nĕc īllūm
cōncēssērĕ lărēm; vĭrĭdī nām caēspĭtĕ tērraē
prōiēctūm tĕmĕre ēt pătŭlō caēlum ōrĕ trăhēntēm
dīră cănūm răbĭēs, mōrsū dēpāstă crŭēntō,
dīssĭcĭt. hīc vēro āttŏnĭtās ūt nūntĭŭs aūrēs
mātrĭs ădīt, pūlsi ēx ănĭmō gĕnĭtōrquĕ pŭdōrquĕ
ēt mĕtŭs: īpsa ūltrō saēvīs plāngōrĭbŭs āmēns
tēctă rĕplēt, văcŭūmquĕ fĕrēns vēlāmĭnĕ pēctūs
ōccūrrīt cōnfēssă pătrī; nēc mōtŭs ĕt ātrō
īmpĕrăt - īnfāndūm! - cŭpĭēntem ōccūmbĕrĕ lētō.
Sērŏ mĕmōr thălămī maēstaē sōlācĭă mōrtī,
Phoēbĕ, părās mōnstrum īnfāndīs Ăchĕrōntĕ sŭb īmō
cōncēptum Eūmĕnĭdūm thălămīs, cuī vīrgĭnĭs ōră
pēctŏrăque; aētērnūm strīdēns ā vērtĭcĕ sūrgīt
ēt fērrūgĭnĕām frōntēm dīscrīmĭnăt ānguīs.
Haēc tūm dīră lŭēs nōctūrnō squālĭdă pāssū
īllābī thălămīs, ănĭmāsque ā stīrpĕ rĕcēntīs
ābrĭpĕre āltrīcūm grĕmĭīs mōrsūquĕ crŭēntō
dēvēsci ēt mūltūm pătrĭō pīnguēscĕrĕ lūctū.
Haūt tŭlĭt ārmōrūm praēstāns ănĭmīquĕ Cŏroēbūs
sēque ūltrō lēctīs iŭvĕnūm, quī rōbŏrĕ prīmī
fāmām pōsthăbĭtā făcĭlēs ēxtēndĕrĕ vītā,
ōbtŭlĭt. īllă nŏvōs ībāt pŏpŭlātă pĕnātēs
pōrtārum īn bĭvĭō - lătĕrī dŭŏ cōrpŏră pārvūm
dēpēndēnt, ēt iam ūncă mănūs vītālĭbŭs haērēt
fērrātīque ūnguēs tĕnĕrō sūb cōrdĕ tĕpēscūnt -:
ōbvĭŭs huīc, lătŭs ōmnĕ vĭrūm stīpāntĕ cŏrōnā,
fīt iŭvĕnīs, fērrūmque īngēns sūb pēctŏrĕ dūrō
cōndĭdĭt, ātque īmās ănĭmaē mūcrōnĕ cŏrūscō
scrūtātūs lătĕbrās tāndēm sŭă mōnstră prŏfūndō
rēddĭt hăbērĕ Iŏvi. iŭvăt īre ēt vīsĕrĕ iūxtā
līvēntīs īn mōrte ŏcŭlōs ŭtĕrīquĕ nĕfāndām
prōlŭvĭem ēt crāssō squālēntĭă pēctŏră tābō,
quā nōstraē cĕcĭdēre ănĭmaē. Stŭpĕt Īnăchă pūbēs,
māgnăquĕ pōst lăcrĭmās ĕtĭāmnūnc gaūdĭă pāllēnt.
Hī trăbĭbūs dūrīs, sōlācĭă vānă dŏlōrī,
prōtĕrĕre ēxănĭmōs ārtūs āsprōsquĕ mŏlārēs
dēcūlcārĕ gĕnīs, nĕquĭt īram ēxplērĕ pŏtēstās.
Īllam ēt nōctūrnō cīrcūm strīdōrĕ vŏlāntēs
īmpāstaē fūgīstĭs ăvēs, răbĭdāmquĕ cănūm vīm
ōrăquĕ sīccă fĕrūnt trĕpĭdōrum ĭnhĭāssĕ lŭpōrūm.
Saēvĭŏr īn mĭsĕrōs fātīs ūltrīcĭs ădēmptaē
Dēlĭŭs īnsūrgīt, sūmmāquĕ bĭvērtĭcĭs ūmbrā
Pārnāsī rĕsĭdēns ārcū crūdēlĭs ĭnīquō
pēstĭfĕra ārmă iăcīt, cāmpōsque ēt cēlsă Cўclōpūm
tēctă sŭpēriēctō nĕbŭlārum īncēndĭt ămīctū.
Lābūntūr dūlcēs ănĭmaē, Mōrs fīlă Sŏrōrūm
ēnsĕ mĕtīt cāptāmquĕ tĕnēns fērt mānĭbŭs ūrbēm.
Quaērēntī, quaē caūsă, dŭcī, quĭs ăb aēthĕrĕ laēvūs
īgnĭs ĕt īn tōtūm rēgnārēt Sīrĭŭs ānnūm,
īdem aūctōr Paēān rūrsūs iŭbĕt īrĕ crŭēntō
īnfĕrĭās mōnstrō iŭvĕnēs, quī caēdĕ pŏtītī.
fōrtūnāte ănĭmī lōngūmque īn saēcŭlă dīgnē
prōmĕrĭtūrĕ dĭēm! Nōn tū pĭă dēgĕnĕr ārmă
ōccŭlĭs aūt cērtaē trĕpĭdās ōccūrrĕrĕ mōrtī.
cōmmĭnŭs ōră fĕrēns Cīrrhaēi īn līmĭnĕ tēmplī
cōnstĭtĭt ēt sācrās ĭtă vōcĭbŭs āspĕrăt īrās:
"Nōn mīssūs, Thŷmbraēĕ, tŭōs sūpplēxvĕ pĕnātēs
ādvĕnĭō: mĕă mē pĭĕtās ēt cōnscĭă vīrtūs
hās ēgērĕ vĭās. Ĕgŏ sūm, quī caēdĕ sŭbēgī,
Phoēbĕ, tŭūm mōrtālĕ nĕfās, quēm nūbĭbŭs ātrīs
ēt squālēntĕ dĭē, nīgrā quēm tābĕ sĭnīstrī
quaērĭs, ĭnīquĕ, pŏlī. Quōdsī mōnstra ēffĕră māgnīs
cāra ădĕō sŭpĕrīs, iāctūrăquĕ vīlĭŏr ōrbī
mōrs hŏmĭnum ēt saēvō tānta īnclēmēntĭă caēlōst,
quīd mĕrŭēre Ārgī? Mē, mē, dīvum ōptĭmĕ, sōlūm
ōbiēcīssĕ căpūt fātīs praēstābăt. Ăn īllūd
lēnĕ măgīs cōrdī, quōd dēsōlātă dŏmōrūm
tēctă vĭdēs, īgnīquĕ dătīs cūltōrĭbŭs ōmnīs
lūgĕt ăgēr? sēd quīd fāndō tŭă tēlă mănūsquĕ
dēmŏrŏr? ēxspēctānt mātrēs, sūprēmăquĕ fīūnt
vōtă mĭhī. sătĭs ēst: mĕrŭī, nē pārcĕrĕ vēllēs.
Proīndĕ mŏvē phărĕtrās ārcūsque īntēndĕ sŏnōrōs
īnsīgnēmque ănĭmām lētō dēmīttĕ; sĕd īllūm,
pāllĭdŭs Īnăchĭīs quī dēsŭpĕr īmmĭnĕt Ārgīs,
dūm mŏrĭōr, dīspēllĕ glŏbūm". sōrs aēquă mĕrēntēs
rēspĭcĭt. Ārdēntēm tĕnŭīt rĕvĕrēntĭă caēdīs
Lētŏĭdēn, trīstēmquĕ vĭrō sūbmīssŭs hŏnōrēm
lārgītūr vītaē; nōstrō mălă nūbĭlă caēlō
dīffŭgĭūnt, āt tū stŭpĕfācti ā līmĭnĕ Phoēbī
ēxōrātŭs ăbīs. Īnde haēc stătă sācră quŏtānnīs
sōllēmnēs rĕcŏlūnt ĕpŭlaē, Phoēbēăquĕ plācāt
tēmplă nŏvātŭs hŏnōs. hās fōrte īnvīsĭtĭs ārās
vōs quaē prōgĕnĭēs? Quāmquām Călўdōnĭŭs Oēneūs,
ēt Pārthāŏnĭaē, sī dūdūm cērtŭs ăd aūrēs
clāmŏr ĭīt, tĭbĭ iūră dŏmūs. Tū pāndĕ, quĭs Ārgōs
ādvĕnĭās, quāndo haē vărĭīs sērmōnĭbŭs hōraē".
Dēiēcīt maēstōs ēxtēmplo Īsmēnĭŭs hērōs
īn tērrām vūltūs, tăcĭtēque ād Tŷdĕă laēsūm
ōblīquāre ŏcŭlōs; tūm lōngă sĭlēntĭă mōvīt:
"Nōn sŭpĕr hōs dīvūm tĭbĭ sūm quaērēndŭs hŏnōrēs,
ūndĕ gĕnūs, quaē tērră mĭhī, quīs dēflŭăt ōrdŏ
sānguĭnĭs āntīquī: pĭgĕt īntēr sācră fătērī.
Sēd sī praēcĭpĭtānt mĭsĕrūm cōgnōscĕrĕ cūraē,
Cādmŭs ŏrīgŏ pătrūm, tēllūs Māvōrtĭă Thēbē,
ēst gĕnĕtrīx Ĭŏcāstă mĭhī". Tūm mōtŭs Ădrāstūs
hōspĭtĭīs - āgnōvĭt ĕnīm -: "Quīd nōtă rĕcōndīs?
Scīmŭs" ăīt "nēc sīc āvērsūm fāmă Mўcēnīs
vōlvĭt ĭtēr. rēgnum ēt fŭrĭās ŏcŭlōsquĕ pŭdēntēs
nōvĭt ĕt Ārctōīs sī quīs dē sōlĭbŭs hōrrēt
quīquĕ bĭbīt Gāngēn aūt nīgrum ōccāsĭbŭs īntrāt
Ōcĕănum, ēt sī quōs īncērtō lītŏrĕ Sŷrtēs
dēstĭtŭūnt. Nē pērgĕ quĕrī cāsūsquĕ prĭōrūm
ānnŭmĕrārĕ tĭbī: nōstrō quŏquĕ sānguĭnĕ mūltūm
ērrāvīt pĭĕtās, nēc cūlpă nĕpōtĭbŭs ōbstāt.
Tū mŏdŏ dīssĭmĭlīs rēbūs mĕrĕārĕ sĕcūndīs
ēxcūsārĕ tŭōs. ēt iām tēmōnĕ sŭpīnō
lānguĕt Hўpērbŏrĕaē glăcĭālīs pōrtĭtŏr Ūrsaē.
Fūndĭtĕ vīnă fŏcīs, sērvātōrēmquĕ părēntūm
Lētŏĭdēn vōtīs ĭtĕrūmque ĭtĕrūmquĕ cănāmūs.
Phoēbĕ părēns, seū tē Lўcĭaē Pătărēă nĭvōsīs
ēxērcēnt dūmētă iŭgīs, seū rōrĕ pŭdīcō
Cāstălĭaē flāvōs ămŏr ēst tĭbĭ mērgĕrĕ crīnēs,
seū Troīām Thŷmbraēŭs hăbēs, ŭbĭ fāmă vŏlēntēm
īngrātīs Phrўgĭōs ŭmĕrīs sŭbĭīssĕ mŏlārēs,
seū iŭvăt Aēgaēūm fĕrĭēns Lātōnĭŭs ūmbrā
Cŷnthŭs ĕt āssĭdŭām pĕlăgō nōn quaērĕrĕ Dēlōn:
tēlă tĭbī lōngēquĕ fĕrōs lēntāndŭs ĭn hōstēs
ārcŭs, ĕt aēthĕrĭī dōnō cēssērĕ părēntēs
aētērnūm flōrērĕ gĕnās, tū dōctŭs ĭnīquās
Pārcārūm praēnōssĕ mănūs fātūmquĕ quŏd ūltrāst
ēt sūmmō plăcĭtūră Iŏvī, quīs lētĭfĕr ānnūs,
bēllă quĭbūs pŏpŭlīs, quaē mūtēnt scēptră cŏmētaē,
tū Phrўgă sūbmīttīs cĭthăraē, tū mātrĭs hŏnōrī
tērrĭgĕnām Tĭtўōn Stўgĭīs ēxtēndĭs hărēnīs.
Tē vĭrĭdīs Pŷthōn Thēbānăquĕ mātĕr ŏvāntēm
hōrrŭĭt īn phărĕtrīs, ūltrīx tĭbĭ tōrvă Mĕgaēră
iēiūnūm Phlĕgўān sūbtēr căvă sāxă iăcēntēm
aētērnō prĕmĭt āccŭbĭtū dăpĭbūsquĕ prŏfānīs
īnstĭmŭlāt, sēd mīxtă fămēm fāstīdĭă vīncūnt:
ādsīs, ō mĕmŏr hōspĭtĭī, Iūnōnĭăque ārvă
dēxtĕr ămēs, seū tē rŏsĕūm Tītānă vŏcārī
gēntĭs Ăchaēmĕnĭaē rītū, seū praēstăt Ŏsīrīm
frūgĭfĕrūm, seū Pērsaēī sūb rūpĭbŭs āntrī
īndīgnātă sĕquī tōrquēntēm cōrnŭă Mīthrām."
Fraternas acies alternaque regna profanis
decertata odiis sontisque euoluere Thebas,
Pierius menti calor incidit. Vnde iubetis
ire, deae? Gentisne canam primordia dirae,
Sidonios raptus et inexorabile pactum
legis Agenoreae scrutantemque aequora Cadmum?
longa retro series, trepidum si Martis operti
agricolam infandis condentem proelia sulcis
expediam penitusque sequar, quo carmine muris
iusserit Amphion Tyrios accedere montes,
unde graues irae cognata in moenia Baccho,
quod saeuae Iunonis opus, cui sumpserit arcus
infelix Athamas, cur non expauerit ingens
Ionium socio casura Palaemone mater.
Atque adeo iam nunc gemitus et prospera Cadmi
praeteriisse sinam: limes mihi carminis esto
Oedipodae confusa domus, quando Itala nondum
signa nec Arctoos ausim sperare triumphos
bisque iugo Rhenum, bis adactum legibus Histrum
et coniurato deiectos uertice Dacos
aut defensa prius uix pubescentibus annis
bella Iouis teque, o Latiae decus addite famae,
quem noua mature subeuntem exorsa parentis
aeternum sibi Roma cupit - licet artior omnis
limes agat stellas et te plaga lucida caeli,
Pleiadum Boreaeque et hiulci fulminis expers,
sollicitet, licet ignipedum frenator equorum
ipse tuis alte radiantem crinibus arcum
imprimat aut magni cedat tibi Iuppiter aequa
parte poli -, maneas hominum contentus habenis,
undarum terraeque potens, et sidera dones.
Tempus erit, cum Pierio tua fortior oestro
facta canam: nunc tendo chelyn satis arma referre
Aonia et geminis sceptrum exitiale tyrannis
nec furiis post fata modum flammasque rebellis
seditione rogi tumulisque carentia regum
funera et egestas alternis mortibus urbes,
caerula cum rubuit Lernaeo sanguine Dirce
et Thetis arentis adsuetum stringere ripas
horruit ingenti uenientem Ismenon aceruo.
Quem prius heroum, Clio, dabis? Immodicum irae
Tydea? Laurigeri subitos an uatis hiatus?
Vrget et hostilem propellens caedibus amnem
turbidus Hippomedon, plorandaque bella proterui
Arcados atque alio Capaneus horrore canendus.
Impia iam merita scrutatus lumina dextra
merserat aeterna damnatum nocte pudorem
Oedipodes longaque animam sub morte tenebat.
Illum indulgentem tenebris imaeque recessu
sedis inaspectos caelo radiisque penates
seruantem tamen adsiduis circumuolat alis
saeua dies animi scelerumque in pectore Dirae.
Tunc uacuos orbes, crudum ac miserabile uitae
supplicium, ostentat caelo manibusque cruentis
pulsat inane solum saeuaque ita uoce precatur:
"Di, sontes animas angustaque Tartara poenis
qui regitis, tuque umbrifero Styx liuida fundo,
quam uideo, multumque mihi consueta uocari
adnue, Tisiphone, peruersaque uota secunda:
si bene quid merui, si me de matre cadentem
fouisti gremio et traiectum uulnere plantas
firmasti, si stagna peti Cirrhaea bicorni
interfusa iugo, possem cum degere falso
contentus Polybo, trifidaeque in Phocidos arto
longaeuum implicui regem secuique trementis
ora senis, dum quaero patrem, si Sphingos iniquae
callidus ambages te praemonstrante resolui,
si dulcis furias et lamentabile matris
conubium gauisus ini noctemque nefandam
saepe tuli natosque tibi, scis ipsa, paraui,
mox auidus poenae digitis caedentibus ultro
incubui miseraque oculos in matre reliqui:
exaudi, si digna precor quaeque ipsa furenti
subiceres. orbum uisu regnisque carentem
non regere aut dictis maerentem flectere adorti,
quos genui quocumque toro; quin ecce superbi
pro dolor!) et nostro iamdudum funere reges
insultant tenebris gemitusque odere paternos.
Hisne etiam funestus ego? Et uidet ista deorum
ignauus genitor? Tu saltem debita uindex
huc ades et totos in poenam ordire nepotes.
Indue quod madidum tabo diadema cruentis
unguibus abripui, uotisque instincta paternis
i media in fratres, generis consortia ferro
dissiliant. Da, Tartarei regina barathri,
quod cupiam uidisse nefas, nec tarda sequetur
mens iuuenum; modo digna ueni: mea pignora nosces."
Talia dicenti crudelis diua seueros
aduertit uultus. Inamoenum forte sedebat
Cocyton iuxta, resolutaque uertice crines
lambere sulpureas permiserat anguibus undas.
Ilicet igne Iouis lapsisque citatior astris
tristibus exiluit ripis: discedit inane
uulgus et occursus dominae pauet; illa per umbras
et caligantes animarum examine campos
Taenariae limen petit irremeabile portae.
Sensit adesse Dies, piceo Nox obuia nimbo
lucentes turbauit equos; procul arduus Atlans
horruit et dubia caelum ceruice remisit.
arripit extemplo Maleae de ualle resurgens
notum iter ad Thebas; neque enim uelocior ullas
itque reditque uias cognataue Tartara mauult.
Centum illi stantes umbrabant ora cerastae,
turba minax diri capitis; sedet intus abactis
ferrea lux oculis, qualis per nubila Phoebes
Atracia rubet arte labor; suffusa ueneno
tenditur ac sanie gliscit cutis; igneus atro
ore uapor, quo longa sitis morbique famesque
et populis mors una uenit; riget horrida tergo
palla, et caerulei redeunt in pectora nodi:
Atropos hos atque ipsa nouat Proserpina cultus.
Tunc geminas quatit ira manus: haec igne rogali
fulgurat, haec uiuo manus aëra uerberat hydro.
Vt stetit, abrupta qua plurimus arce Cithaeron
occurrit caelo, fera sibila crine uirenti
congeminat, signum terris, unde omnis Achaei
ora maris late Pelopeaque regna resultant.
Audiit et medius caeli Parnasos et asper
Eurotas, dubiamque iugo fragor impulit Oeten
in latus, et geminis uix fluctibus obstitit Isthmos.
Ipsa suum genetrix curuo delphine uagantem
abripuit frenis gremioque Palaemona pressit.
Atque ea Cadmeo praeceps ubi culmine primum
constitit assuetaque infecit nube penates,
protinus attoniti fratrum sub pectore motus,
gentilisque animos subiit furor aegraque laetis
inuidia atque parens odii metus, inde regendi
saeuus amor, ruptaeque uices iurisque secundi
ambitus impatiens, et summo dulcius unum
stare loco, sociisque comes discordia regnis.
Sic ubi delectos per torua armenta iuuencos
agricola imposito sociare adfectat aratro,
illi indignantes, quis nondum uomere multo
ardua nodosos ceruix descendit in armos,
in diuersa trahunt atque aequis uincula laxant
uiribus et uario confundunt limite sulcos:
haud secus indomitos praeceps discordia fratres
asperat. Alterni placuit sub legibus anni
exsilio mutare ducem. Sic iure maligno
fortunam transire iubent, ut sceptra tenentem
foedere praecipiti semper nouus angeret heres.
Haec inter fratres pietas erat, haec mora pugnae
sola nec in regem perduratura secundum.
Et nondum crasso laquearia fulua metallo,
montibus aut alte Grais effulta nitebant
atria, congestos satis explicitura clientis;
non impacatis regum aduigilantia somnis
pila, nec alterna ferri statione gementes
excubiae nec cura mero committere gemmas
atque aurum uiolare cibis: sed nuda potestas
armauit fratres, pugna est de paupere regno.
Dumque uter angustae squalentia iugera Dirces
uerteret aut Tyrii solio non altus ouaret
exsulis ambigitur, periit ius fasque bonumque
et uitae mortisque pudor. Quo tenditis iras,
a, miseri? Quid si peteretur crimine tanto
limes uterque poli, quem Sol emissus Eoo
cardine, quem portu uergens prospectat Hibero,
quasque procul terras obliquo sidere tangit
auius aut Borea gelidas madidiue tepentes
igne Noti? quid si Phrygiae Tyriaeque sub unum
conuectentur opes. Loca dira arcesque nefandae
suffecere odio, furiisque immanibus emptum
Oedipodae sedisse loco. Iam sorte carebat
dilatus Polynicis honos. Quis tunc tibi, saeue,
quis fuit ille dies, uacua cum solus in aula
respiceres ius omne tuum cunctosque minores,
et nusquam par stare caput? Iam murmura serpunt
plebis Echioniae, tacitumque a principe uulgus
dissidet, et, qui mos populis, uenturus amatur.
Atque aliquis, cui mens humili laesisse ueneno
summa nec impositos umquam ceruice uolenti
ferre duces: "Hancne Ogygiis" ait "aspera rebus
fata tulere uicem, totiens mutare timendos
alternoque iugo dubitantia subdere colla?
Partiti uersant populorum fata manuque
fortunam fecere leuem. Semperne uicissim
exulibus seruire dabor? tibi, summe deorum
terrarumque sator, sociis hanc addere mentem
sedit? An inde uetus Thebis extenditur omen,
ex quo Sidonii nequiquam blanda iuuenci
pondera Carpathio iussus sale quaerere Cadmus
exsul Hyanteos inuenit regna per agros,
fraternasque acies fetae telluris hiatu
augurium seros dimisit ad usque nepotes?
Cernis, ut erectum torua sub fronte minetur
saeuior assurgens dempto consorte potestas.
Quas gerit ore minas, quanto premit omnia fastu!
Hicne umquam priuatus erit? Tamen ille precanti
mitis et adfatu bonus et patientior aequi.
quid mirum? Non solus erat. Nos uilis in omnis
prompta manus casus, domino cuicumque parati.
qualiter hinc gelidus Boreas, hinc nubifer Eurus
uela trahunt, nutat mediae fortuna carinae,
- heu dubio suspensa metu tolerandaque nullis
aspera sors populis! - hic imperat, ille minatur".
At Iouis imperio rapidi super atria caeli
lectus concilio diuum conuenerat ordo
interiore polo. spatiis hinc omnia iuxta,
primaeque occiduaeque domus et fusa sub omni
terra atque unda die. Mediis sese arduus infert
ipse deis, placido quatiens tamen omnia uultu,
stellantique locat solio; nec protinus ausi
caelicolae, ueniam donec pater ipse sedendi
tranquilla iubet esse manu. Mox turba uagorum
semideum et summis cognati nubibus Amnes
et compressa metu seruantes murmura Venti
aurea tecta replent. Mixta conuexa deorum
maiestate tremunt, radiant maiore sereno
culmina et arcano florentes lumine postes.
Postquam iussa quies siluitque exterritus orbis,
incipit ex alto - graue et immutabile sanctis
pondus adest uerbis, et uocem fata sequuntur -:
"Terrarum delicta nec exsaturabile Diris
ingenium mortale queror. Quonam usque nocentum
exigar in poenas? taedet saeuire corusco
fulmine, iam pridem Cyclopum operosa fatiscunt
bracchia et Aeoliis desunt incudibus ignes.
Atque adeo tuleram falso rectore solutos
Solis equos, caelumque rotis errantibus uri,
et Phaëthontea mundum squalere fauilla.
Nil actum, neque tu ualida quod cuspide late
ire per illicitum pelago, germane, dedisti.
nunc geminas punire domos, quis sanguinis auctor
ipse ego, descendo. Perseos alter in Argos
scinditur, Aonias fluit hic ab origine Thebas.
Mens cunctis imposta manet: quis funera Cadmi
nesciat et totiens excitam a sedibus imis
Eumenidum bellasse aciem, mala gaudia matrum
erroresque feros nemorum et reticenda deorum
crimina? Vix lucis spatio, uix noctis abactae
enumerare queam mores gentemque profanam.
Scandere quin etiam thalamos hic impius heres
patris et immeritae gremium incestare parentis
appetiit, proprios monstro reuolutus in ortus.
Ille tamen superis aeterna piacula soluit
proiecitque diem, nec iam amplius aethere nostro
uescitur; at nati - facinus sine more! - cadentes
calcauere oculos. iam iam rata uota tulisti
dire senex! Meruere tuae, meruere tenebrae
ultorem sperare Iouem. Noua sontibus arma
iniciam regnis, totumque a stirpe reuellam
exitiale genus. Belli mihi semina sunto
Adrastus socer et superis adiuncta sinistris
conubia. Hanc etiam poenis incessere gentem
decretum; neque enim arcano de pectore fallax
Tantalus et saeuae periit iniuria mensae".
Sic pater omnipotens. ast illi saucia dictis
flammato uersans inopinum corde dolorem
talia Iuno refert: "Mene, o iustissime diuum,
me bello certare iubes? Scis, semper ut arces
Cyclopum magnique Phoroneos inclita fama
sceptra uiris opibusque iuuem, licet improbus illic
custodem Phariae somno letoque iuuencae
exstinguas, saeptis et turribus aureus intres.
Mentitis ignosco toris: illam odimus urbem,
quam uultu confessus adis, ubi conscia magni
signa tori tonitrus agis et mea fulmina torques.
Facta luant Thebae: cur hostes eligis Argos?
quin age, si tanta est thalami discordia sancti,
et Samon et ueteres armis exscinde Mycenas,
uerte solo Sparten. Cur usquam sanguine festo
coniugis ara tuae, cumulo cur turis Eoi
laeta calet? Melius uotis Mareotica fumat
Coptos et aerisoni lugentia flumina Nili.
Quod si prisca luunt auctorum crimina gentes
subuenitque tuis sera haec sententia curis,
percensere aeui senium, quo tempore tandem
terrarum furias abolere et saecula retro
emendare sat est? iamdudum ab sedibus illis
incipe, fluctiuaga qua praeterlabitur unda
Sicanios longe relegens Alpheos amores.
Arcades hic tua - nec pudor est - delubra nefastis
imposuere locis, illic Mauortius axis
Oenomai Geticoque pecus stabulare sub Haemo
dignius, abruptis etiamnum inhumata procorum
reliquiis trunca ora rigent. tamen hic tibi templi
gratus honos, placet Ida nocens mentitaque manes
Creta tuos. Me Tantaleis consistere tectis,
quae tandem inuidia est? belli deflecte tumultus
et generis miseresce tui. Sunt impia late
regna tibi, melius generos passura nocentes."
Finierat precibus miscens conuicia Iuno.
At non ille grauis dictis, quamquam aspera motu,
reddidit haec: "Equidem haud rebar te mente secunda
laturam, quodcumque tuos, licet aequus, in Argos
consulerem, neque me, si detur copia, fallit
multa super Thebis Bacchum ausuramque Dionen
dicere, sed nostri reuerentia ponderis obstat.
Horrendos etenim latices, Stygia aequora fratris
obtestor, mansurum atque irreuocabile uerbum,
nil fore, quod dictis flectar! quare impiger alis
portantes praecede Notos, Cyllenia proles,
aëra per liquidum regnisque illapsus opacis
dic patruo: superas senior se attollat ad auras
Laius, exstinctum nati quem uulnere nondum
ulterior Lethes accepit ripa profundi
lege Erebi; ferat hic diro mea iussa nepoti:
germanum exsilio fretum Argolicisque tumentem
hospitiis, quod sponte cupit, procul impius aula
arceat, alternum regni infitiatus honorem.
Hinc causae irarum, certo reliqua ordine ducam".
Paret Atlantiades dictis genitoris et inde
summa pedum propere plantaribus illigat alis,
obnubitque comas et temperat astra galero.
Tum dextrae uirgam inseruit, qua pellere dulces
aut suadere iterum somnos, qua nigra subire
Tartara et exsanguis animare assueuerat umbras.
Desiluit, tenuique exceptus inhorruit aura.
Nec mora, sublimis raptim per inane uolatus
carpit et ingenti designat nubila gyro.
Interea patriis olim uagus exsul ab oris
Oedipodionides furto deserta pererrat
Aoniae. iamiamque animis male debita regna
concipit, et longum signis cunctantibus annum
stare gemit. Tenet una dies noctesque recursans
cura uirum, si quando humilem decedere regno
germanum et semet Thebis opibusque potitum
cerneret; hac aeuum cupiat pro luce pacisci.
Nunc queritur ceu tarda fugae dispendia, sed mox
attollit flatus ducis et sedisse superbus
deiecto iam fratre putat: spes anxia mentem
extrahit et longo consumit gaudia uoto.
Tunc sedet, Inachias urbes Danaëiaque arua
et caligantes abrupto sole Mycenas
ferre iter impauidum, seu praeuia ducit Erinys,
seu fors illa uiae, siue hac immota uocabat
Atropos. Ogygiis ululata furoribus antra
deserit et pingues Baccheo sanguine colles.
Inde plagam, qua molle sedens in plana Cithaeron
porrigitur lassumque inclinat ad aequora montem,
praeterit. Hinc arte scopuloso in limite pendens
infames Scirone petras Scyllaeaque rura
purpureo regnata seni mitemque Corinthon
linquit et in mediis audit duo litora campis.
Iamque per emeriti surgens confinia Phoebi
Titanis late, mundo subuecta silenti,
rorifera gelidum tenuauerat aëra biga;
iam pecudes uolucresque tacent, iam Somnus auaris
irrepsit curis pronusque ex aethere nutat,
grata laboratae referens obliuia uitae.
Sed nec puniceo rediturum nubila caelo
promisere iubar, nec rarescentibus umbris
longa repercusso nituere crepuscula Phoebo:
densior a terris et nulli peruia flammae
subtexit nox atra polos. Iam claustra rigentis
Aeoliae percussa sonant, uenturaque rauco
ore minatur hiemps, uenti transuersa frementes
confligunt axemque emoto cardine uellunt,
dum caelum sibi quisque rapit; sed plurimus Auster
inglomerat noctem, tenebrosa uolumina torquens,
defunditque imbres, sicco quos asper hiatu
praesolidat Boreas; nec non abrupta tremiscunt
fulgura, et attritus subita face rumpitur aether.
Iam Nemea, iam Taenariis contermina lucis
Arcadiae capita alta madent; ruit agmine magno
Inachus et gelidas surgens Erasinus in undas.
Puluerulenta prius calcataque flumina nullae
aggeribus tenuere morae, stagnoque refusast
funditus et ueteri spumauit Lerna ueneno.
Frangitur omne nemus, rapiunt antiqua procellae
bracchia siluarum, nullisque aspecta per aeuum
solibus umbrosi patuere aestiua Lycaei.
Ille tamen, modo saxa iugis fugientia ruptis
miratus, modo nubigenas e montibus amnes
aure pauens passimque insano turbine raptas
pastorum pecorumque domos, non segnius amens
incertusque uiae per nigra silentia uastum
haurit iter; pulsat metus undique et undique frater.
Ac uelut hiberno deprensus nauita ponto,
cui neque Temo piger neque amico sidere monstrat
Luna uias, medio caeli pelagique tumultu
stat rationis inops, iamiamque aut saxa malignis
exspectat submersa uadis aut uertice acuto
spumantes scopulos erectae incurrere prorae:
talis opaca legens nemorum Cadmeius heros
accelerat, uasto metuenda umbone ferarum
excutiens stabula, et prono uirgulta refringit
pectore; dat stimulos animo uis maesta timoris,
donec ab Inachiis uicta caligine tectis
emicuit lucem deuexa in moenia fundens
Larisaeus apex. Illo spe concitus omni
euolat, hinc celsae Iunonia templa Prosymnae
laeuus habens, hinc Herculeo signata uapore
Lernaei stagna atra uadi, tandemque reclusis
infertur portis. Actutum regia cernit
uestibula; hic artus imbri uentoque rigentis
proicit ignotaeque acclinis postibus aulae
inuitat tenuis ad dura cubilia somnos.
Rex ibi tranquille, medio de limite uitae
in senium uergens, populos Adrastus habebat,
diues auis et utroque Iouem de sanguine ducens.
Hic sexus melioris inops, sed prole uirebat
feminea, gemino natarum pignore fultus.
Cui Phoebus generos - monstrum exitiabile dictu!
mox adaperta fides - fato ducente canebat
saetigerumque suem et fuluum aduentare leonem.
Id uoluens non ipse pater, non docte futuri
Amphiaraë uides, etenim uetat auctor Apollo.
tantum in corde sedens aegrescit cura parenti.
Ecce autem antiquam fato Calydona relinquens
Olenius Tydeus - fraterni sanguinis illum
conscius horror agit - eadem sub nocte sopora
lustra terit, similisque Notos dequestus et imbres,
infusam tergo glaciem et liquentia nimbis
ora comasque gerens subit uno tegmine, cuius
fusus humo gelida partem prior hospes habebat.
hic uero ambobus rabiem fortuna cruentam
attulit: haud passi sociis defendere noctem
culminibus, paulum alternis in uerba minasque
cunctantur; mox ut iactis sermonibus irae
intumuere satis, tum uero erectus uterque
exsertare umeros nudamque lacessere pugnam.
Celsior ille gradu procera in membra simulque
integer annorum, sed non et uiribus infra
Tydea fert animus, totosque infusa per artus
maior in exiguo regnabat corpore uirtus.
Iam crebros ictus ora et caua tempora circum
obnixi ingeminant, telorum aut grandinis instar
Rhipaeae, flexoque genu uacua ilia tundunt.
Non aliter quam Pisaeo sua lustra Tonanti
cum redeunt crudisque uirum sudoribus ardet
puluis; at hinc teneros caueae dissensus ephebos
concitat, exclusaeque exspectant praemia matres:
sic alacres odio nullaque cupidine laudis
accensi incurrunt, scrutatur et intima uultus
unca manus penitusque oculis cedentibus intrat.
Forsan et accinctos lateri - sic ira ferebat -
nudassent enses, meliusque hostilibus armis
lugendus fratri, iuuenis Thebane, iaceres,
ni rex, insolitum clamorem et pectore ab alto
stridentes gemitus noctis miratus in umbris,
mouisset gressus, magnis cui sobria curis
pendebat somno iam deteriore senectus.
Isque ubi progrediens numerosa luce per alta
atria dimotis aduerso limine claustris
terribilem dictu faciem, lacera ora putresque
sanguineo uidet imbre genas: "Quae causa furoris,
externi iuuenes - neque enim meus audeat istas
ciuis in usque manus -, quisnam implacabilis ardor
exturbare odiis tranquilla silentia noctis?
Vsque adeone angusta dies et triste, parumper
pacem animo somnumque pati? sed prodite tandem,
unde orti, quo fertis iter, quae iurgia? nam uos
haud humiles tanta ira docet, generisque superbi
magna per effusum clarescunt signa cruorem".
Vix ea, cum mixto clamore obliqua tuentes
incipiunt una: "Rex o mitissime Achiuum,
quid uerbis opus? Ipse undantis sanguine uultus
aspicis". Haec passim turbatis uocis amarae
confudere sonis; inde orsus in ordine Tydeus
continuat: "Maesti cupiens solacia casus
monstriferae Calydonis opes Acheloiaque arua
deserui; uestris haec me ecce in finibus ingens
nox operit. tecto caelum prohibere quis iste
arcuit? an quoniam prior haec ad limina forte
molitus gressus? pariter stabulare bimembres
Centauros unaque ferunt Cyclopas in Aetna
compositos. Sunt et rabidis iura insita monstris
fasque suum: nobis sociare cubilia terrae.
Sed quid ego? aut hodie spoliis gauisus abibis,
quisquis es, his, aut me, si non effetus oborto
sanguis hebet luctu, magni de stirpe creatum
Oeneos et Marti non degenerare paterno
accipies". "Nec nos animi nec stirpis egentes"
ille refert contra, sed mens sibi conscia fati
cunctatur proferre patrem. tunc mitis Adrastus:
"Immo agite, et positis, quas nox inopinaque suasit
aut uirtus aut ira, minis succedite tecto.
Iam pariter coëant animorum in pignora dextrae.
Non haec incassum diuisque absentibus acta;
forsan et has uenturus amor praemiserit iras,
ut meminisse iuuet". nec uana uoce locutus
fata senex, siquidem hanc perhibent per uulnera iunctis
esse fidem, quanta partitum extrema proteruo
Thesea Pirithoo, uel inanem mentis Oresten
opposito rabidam Pylade uitasse Megaeram.
Tunc quoque mulcentem dictis corda aspera regem
iam faciles, uentis ut decertata residunt
aequora, laxatisque diu tamen aura superstes
immoritur uelis, passi subiere penates.
Hic primum lustrare oculis cultusque uirorum
telaque magna uacat: tergo uidet huius inanem
impexis utrimque iubis horrere leonem,
illius in speciem, quem per Teumesia tempe
Amphitryoniades fractum iuuenalibus annis
ante Cleonaei uestitus proelia monstri.
Terribiles contra saetis ac dente recuruo
Tydea per latos umeros ambire laborant
exuuiae, Calydonis honos. Stupet omine tanto
defixus senior, diuina oracula Phoebi
agnoscens monitusque datos uocalibus antris.
Obtutu gelida ora premit, laetusque per artus
horror iit; sensit manifesto numine ductos
adfore, quos nexis ambagibus augur Apollo
portendi generos, uultu fallente ferarum,
ediderat. tunc sic tendens ad sidera palmas:
"Nox, quae terrarum caelique amplexa labores
ignea multiuago transmittis sidera lapsu,
indulgens reparare animum, dum proximus aegris
infundat Titan agiles animantibus ortus,
tu mihi perplexis quaesitam erroribus ultro
aduehis alma fidem ueterisque exordia fati
detegis: assistas operi tuaque omina firmes.
Semper honoratam dimensis orbibus anni
te domus ista colet; nigri tibi, diua, litabunt
electa ceruice greges, lustraliaque exta
lacte nouo perfusus edet Vulcanius ignis.
Salue prisca fides tripodum obscurique recessus!
Deprendi, Fortuna, deos!" Sic fatus, et ambos
innectens manibus tecta interioris ad aulae
progreditur. Canis etiamnum altaribus ignes
sopitum cinerem et tepidi libamina sacri
seruabant; adolere focos epulasque recentes
instaurare iubet. Dictis parere ministri
certatim accelerant; uario strepit icta tumultu
regia: pars ostro tenues auroque sonantes
emunire toros alteque inferre tapetas,
pars teretis leuare manu ac disponere mensas.
Ast alii tenebras et opacam uincere noctem
adgressi tendunt auratis uincula lychnis.
His labor inserto torrere exsanguia ferro
uiscera caesarum pecudum, his cumulare canistris
perdomitam saxo Cererem. Laetatur Adrastus
obsequio feruere domum, iamque ipse superbis
fulgebat stratis solioque effultus eburno.
Parte alia iuuenes siccati uulnera lymphis
discumbunt, simul ora notis foedata tuentur
inque uicem ignoscunt. Tunc rex longaeuus Acasten
- natarum haec altrix eadem et fidissima custos
lecta sacrum iustae Veneri occultare pudorem -
imperat acciri tacitaque immurmurat aure.
Nec mora praeceptis, cum protinus utraque uirgo
arcano egressae thalamo: mirabile uisu,
Pallados armisonae pharetrataeque ora Dianae
aequa ferunt, terrore minus. Noua deinde pudori
uisa uirum facies: pariter pallorque ruborque
purpureas hausere genas, oculique uerentes
ad sanctum rediere patrem. Postquam ordine mensae
uicta fames, signis perfectam auroque nitentem
Iasides pateram famulos ex more poposcit,
qua Danaus libare deis seniorque Phoroneus
assueti. tenet haec operum caelata figuras:
Perseus anguicomam praesecto Gorgona collo
ales habet, iamiamque uagas - ita uisus - in auras
exsilit; illa grauis oculos languentiaque ora
paene mouet uiuoque etiam pallescit in auro.
Hinc Phrygius fuluis uenator tollitur alis,
Gargara desidunt surgenti et Troia recedit,
stant maesti comites, frustraque sonantia lassant
ora canes umbramque petunt et nubila latrant.
Hanc undante mero fundens uocat ordine cunctos
caelicolas, Phoebum ante alios, Phoebum omnis ad aram
laude ciet comitum famulumque euincta pudica
fronde manus, cui festa dies largoque refecti
ture uaporatis lucent altaribus ignes.
Forsitan, o iuuenes, quae sint ea sacra quibusque
praecipuum causis Phoebi obtestemur honorem"
rex ait, "exquirant animi. Non inscia suasit
religio, magnis exercita cladibus olim
plebs Argiua litant; animos aduertite, pandam.
Postquam caerulei sinuosa uolumina monstri,
terrigenam Pythona deus septem orbibus atris
amplexam Delphos squamisque annosa terentem
robora, Castaliis dum fontibus ore trisulco
fusus hiat nigro sitiens alimenta ueneno,
perculit, absumptis numerosa in uulnera telis,
Cirrhaeique dedit centum per iugera campi
uix tandem explicitum, noua deinde piacula caedis
perquirens nostri tecta haud opulenta Crotopi
attigit. Huic primis et pubem ineuntibus annis
mira decore pio seruabat nata penates
intemerata toris. Felix, si Delia numquam
furta nec occultum Phoebo sociasset amorem!
Namque ut passa deum Nemeaei ad fluminis undam,
bis quinos plena cum fronte resumeret orbes
Cynthia, sidereum Latonae feta nepotem
edidit; ac poenam metuens -neque enim ille coactis
donasset thalamis ueniam pater- auia rura
eligit ac natum saepta inter ouilia furtim
montiuago pecoris custodi mandat alendum.
Non tibi digna, puer, generis cunabula tanti
gramineos dedit herba toros et uimine querno
texta domus; clausa arbutei sub cortice libri
membra tepent, suadetque leues caua fistula somnos,
et pecori commune solum. Sed fata nec illum
concessere larem; uiridi nam caespite terrae
proiectum temere et patulo caelum ore trahentem
dira canum rabies, morsu depasta cruento,
dissicit. hic uero attonitas ut nuntius aures
matris adit, pulsi ex animo genitorque pudorque
et metus: ipsa ultro saeuis plangoribus amens
tecta replet, uacuumque ferens uelamine pectus
occurrit confessa patri; nec motus et atro
imperat - infandum! - cupientem occumbere leto.
Sero memor thalami maestae solacia morti,
Phoebe, paras monstrum infandis Acheronte sub imo
conceptum Eumenidum thalamis, cui uirginis ora
pectoraque; aeternum stridens a uertice surgit
et ferrugineam frontem discriminat anguis.
Haec tum dira lues nocturno squalida passu
illabi thalamis, animasque a stirpe recentis
abripere altricum gremiis morsuque cruento
deuesci et multum patrio pinguescere luctu.
Haut tulit armorum praestans animique Coroebus
seque ultro lectis iuuenum, qui robore primi
famam posthabita faciles extendere uita,
obtulit. illa nouos ibat populata penates
portarum in biuio - lateri duo corpora paruum
dependent, et iam unca manus uitalibus haeret
ferratique ungues tenero sub corde tepescunt-:
obuius huic, latus omne uirum stipante corona,
fit iuuenis, ferrumque ingens sub pectore duro
condidit, atque imas animae mucrone corusco
scrutatus latebras tandem sua monstra profundo
reddit habere Ioui. iuuat ire et uisere iuxta
liuentis in morte oculos uterique nefandam
proluuiem et crasso squalentia pectora tabo,
qua nostrae cecidere animae. Stupet Inacha pubes,
magnaque post lacrimas etiamnunc gaudia pallent.
Hi trabibus duris, solacia uana dolori,
proterere exanimos artus asprosque molares
deculcare genis, nequit iram explere potestas.
Illam et nocturno circum stridore uolantes
impastae fugistis aues, rabidamque canum uim
oraque sicca ferunt trepidorum inhiasse luporum.
Saeuior in miseros fatis ultricis ademptae
Delius insurgit, summaque biuerticis umbra
Parnasi residens arcu crudelis iniquo
pestifera arma iacit, camposque et celsa Cyclopum
tecta superiecto nebularum incendit amictu.
Labuntur dulces animae, Mors fila Sororum
ense metit captamque tenens fert manibus urbem.
Quaerenti, quae causa, duci, quis ab aethere laeuus
ignis et in totum regnaret Sirius annum,
idem auctor Paean rursus iubet ire cruento
inferias monstro iuuenes, qui caede potiti.
fortunate animi longumque in saecula digne
promeriture diem! Non tu pia degener arma
occulis aut certae trepidas occurrere morti.
comminus ora ferens Cirrhaei in limine templi
constitit et sacras ita uocibus asperat iras:
"Non missus, Thymbraee, tuos supplexue penates
aduenio: mea me pietas et conscia uirtus
has egere uias. Ego sum, qui caede subegi,
Phoebe, tuum mortale nefas, quem nubibus atris
et squalente die, nigra quem tabe sinistri
quaeris, inique, poli. Quodsi monstra effera magnis
cara adeo superis, iacturaque uilior orbi
mors hominum et saeuo tanta inclementia caelost,
quid meruere Argi? Me, me, diuum optime, solum
obiecisse caput fatis praestabat. An illud
lene magis cordi, quod desolata domorum
tecta uides, ignique datis cultoribus omnis
luget ager? sed quid fando tua tela manusque
demoror? exspectant matres, supremaque fiunt
uota mihi. satis est: merui, ne parcere uelles.
Proinde moue pharetras arcusque intende sonoros
insignemque animam leto demitte; sed illum,
pallidus Inachiis qui desuper imminet Argis,
dum morior, dispelle globum". sors aequa merentes
respicit. Ardentem tenuit reuerentia caedis
Letoiden, tristemque uiro submissus honorem
largitur uitae; nostro mala nubila caelo
diffugiunt, at tu stupefacti a limine Phoebi
exoratus abis. Inde haec stata sacra quotannis
sollemnes recolunt epulae, Phoebeaque placat
templa nouatus honos. has forte inuisitis aras
uos quae progenies? Quamquam Calydonius Oeneus,
et Parthaoniae, si dudum certus ad aures
clamor iit, tibi iura domus. Tu pande, quis Argos
aduenias, quando hae uariis sermonibus horae".
Deiecit maestos extemplo Ismenius heros
in terram uultus, taciteque ad Tydea laesum
obliquare oculos; tum longa silentia mouit:
"Non super hos diuum tibi sum quaerendus honores,
unde genus, quae terra mihi, quis defluat ordo
sanguinis antiqui: piget inter sacra fateri.
Sed si praecipitant miserum cognoscere curae,
Cadmus origo patrum, tellus Mauortia Thebe,
est genetrix Iocasta mihi". Tum motus Adrastus
hospitiis - agnouit enim -: "Quid nota recondis?
Scimus" ait "nec sic auersum fama Mycenis
uoluit iter. regnum et furias oculosque pudentes
nouit et Arctois si quis de solibus horret
quique bibit Gangen aut nigrum occasibus intrat
Oceanum, et si quos incerto litore Syrtes
destituunt. Ne perge queri casusque priorum
annumerare tibi: nostro quoque sanguine multum
errauit pietas, nec culpa nepotibus obstat.
Tu modo dissimilis rebus mereare secundis
excusare tuos. et iam temone supino
languet Hyperboreae glacialis portitor Vrsae.
Fundite uina focis, seruatoremque parentum
Letoiden uotis iterumque iterumque canamus.
Phoebe parens, seu te Lyciae Patarea niuosis
exercent dumeta iugis, seu rore pudico
Castaliae flauos amor est tibi mergere crines,
seu Troiam Thymbraeus habes, ubi fama uolentem
ingratis Phrygios umeris subiisse molares,
seu iuuat Aegaeum feriens Latonius umbra
Cynthus et assiduam pelago non quaerere Delon:
tela tibi longeque feros lentandus in hostes
arcus, et aetherii dono cessere parentes
aeternum florere genas, tu doctus iniquas
Parcarum praenosse manus fatumque quod ultrast
et summo placitura Ioui, quis letifer annus,
bella quibus populis, quae mutent sceptra cometae,
tu Phryga submittis citharae, tu matris honori
terrigenam Tityon Stygiis extendis harenis.
Te uiridis Python Thebanaque mater ouantem
horruit in pharetris, ultrix tibi torua Megaera
ieiunum Phlegyan subter caua saxa iacentem
aeterno premit accubitu dapibusque profanis
instimulat, sed mixta famem fastidia uincunt:
adsis, o memor hospitii, Iunoniaque arua
dexter ames, seu te roseum Titana uocari
gentis Achaemeniae ritu, seu praestat Osirim
frugiferum, seu Persaei sub rupibus antri
indignata sequi torquentem cornua Mithram."