Īntĕrĕā gĕlĭdīs Māiā sătŭs ālĭgĕr ūmbrīs
iūssă gĕrēns māgnī rĕmĕāt Iŏvĭs; ūndĭquĕ pīgraē
īrĕ vĕtānt nūbēs ēt tūrbĭdŭs īmplĭcăt āēr,
nēc Zĕphўrī răpŭērĕ grădūm, sēd foēdă sĭlēntīs
aūră pŏlī. Stŷx īndĕ nŏvēm cīrcūmflŭă cāmpīs,
hīnc ōbiēctă vĭās tōrrēntum īncēndĭă claūdūnt.
Pōnĕ sĕnēx trĕpĭdā sūccēdīt Lāĭŭs ūmbrā
vūlnĕrĕ tārdŭs ădhūc; căpŭlō nām lārgĭŭs īllī
trānsăbĭīt ănĭmām cōgnātīs īctĭbŭs ēnsīs
īmpĭŭs, ēt prīmās Fŭrĭārūm pērtŭlĭt īrās;
īt tămĕn ēt mĕdĭcā fīrmāt vēstīgĭă vīrgā.
Tūm stĕrĭlēs lūcī pōssēssăquĕ mānĭbŭs ārvă
ēt fērrūgĭnĕūm nĕmŭs āstŭpĕt, īpsăquĕ tēllūs
mīrātūr pătŭīssĕ rĕtrō, nēc līvĭdă tābēs
īnvĭdĭaē fūnctīs quāmquam ēt iām lūmĭnĕ cāssīs
dēfŭĭt. Ūnŭs ĭbi ānte ălĭōs, cuī laēvă vŏlūntās
sēmpĕr ĕt ād sŭpĕrōs - hīnc ēt grăvĭs ēxĭtŭs aēvī -
īnsūltārĕ mălīs rēbūsque aēgrēscĕrĕ laētīs:
"Vāde" ăĭt "ō fēlīx, quōscūmquĕ vŏcārĭs ĭn ūsūs,
seū Iŏvĭs īmpĕrĭō, seū māiŏr ădēgĭt Ĕrīnŷs
īrĕ dĭēm cōntrā, seū tē fŭrĭātă săcērdōs
Thēssălĭs ārcānō iŭbĕt ēmīgrārĕ sĕpūlcrō,
heū dūlcīs vīsūrĕ pŏlōs sōlēmquĕ rĕlīctūm
ēt vĭrĭdēs tērrās ēt pūrōs fōntĭbŭs āmnēs,
trīstĭŏr hās ĭtĕrūm tămĕn īntrātūrĕ tĕnēbrās".
Īllōs ūt caēcō rĕcŭbāns īn līmĭnĕ sēnsīt
Cērbĕrŭs ātque ōmnīs căpĭtūm sūbrēxĭt hĭātūs
- saēvŭs ĕt īntrāntī pŏpŭlō -, iām nīgră tŭmēbāt
cōllă mĭnāx, iām spārsă sŏlō tūrbāvĕrăt ōssă,
nī dĕŭs hōrrēntēm Lēthaēō vīmĭnĕ mūlcēns
fērrĕă tērgĕmĭnō dŏmŭīssēt lūmĭnă sōmnō.
Ēst lŏcŭs - Īnăchĭaē dīxērūnt Taēnără gēntēs -,
quā fōrmīdātūm Mălĕaē spūmāntĭs ĭn aūrās
īt căpŭt ēt nūllōs ādmīttīt cūlmĭnĕ vīsūs.
Stāt sūblīmĭs ăpēx vēntōsque īmbrēsquĕ sĕrēnūs
dēspĭcĭt ēt tāntūm fēssīs īnsīdĭtŭr āstrīs.
Īllīc ēxhaūstī pŏsŭērĕ cŭbīlĭă vēntī,
fūlmĭnĭbūsque ĭtĕr ēst; mĕdĭūm căvă nūbĭlă mōntīs
īnsūmpsērĕ lătūs, sūmmōs nēc praēpĕtĭs ālaē
plaūsŭs ădīt cōllēs, nēc raūcă tŏnītrŭă pūlsānt.
Āst ŭbĭ prōnă dĭēs, lōngōs sŭpĕr aēquŏră fīnēs
ēxĭgĭt ātque īngēns mĕdĭō nătăt ūmbră prŏfūndō.
Īntĕrĭōrĕ sĭnū frāngēntĭă lītŏră cūrvāt
Taēnărŏs, ēxpŏsĭtōs nōn aūdāx scāndĕrĕ flūctūs.
Īllīc Aēgaēō Nēptūnūs gūrgĭtĕ fēssōs
īn pōrtūm dēdūcĭt ĕquōs, prĭŏr haūrĭt hărēnās
ūngŭlă, pōstrēmī sōlvūntŭr ĭn aēquŏră pīscēs.
Hōc, ūt fāmă, lŏcō pāllēntīs dēvĭŭs ūmbrās
trāmĕs ăgīt nīgrīquĕ Iŏvīs văcŭa ātrĭă dītāt
mōrtĭbŭs. Ārcădĭī pĕrhĭbēnt sī vēră cŏlōnī,
strīdŏr ĭbi ēt gĕmĭtūs poēnārum, ātrōquĕ tŭmūltū
fērvĕt ăgēr; saēpe Eūmĕnĭdūm vōcēsquĕ mănūsquĕ
īn mĕdĭūm sōnvērĕ dĭēm, Lētīquĕ trĭfōrmīs
iānĭtŏr āgrĭcŏlās cāmpīs aūdītŭs ăbēgīt.
Hāc ēt tūnc fūscā vŏlŭcēr dĕŭs ōbsĭtŭs ūmbrā
ēxsĭlĭt ād sŭpĕrōs, īnfērnăquĕ nūbĭlă vūltū
dīscŭtĭt ēt vīvīs ādflātĭbŭs ōră sĕrēnāt.
Īndĕ pĕr Ārctūrūm mĕdĭaēquĕ sĭlēntĭă Lūnaē
ārvă sŭpēr pŏpŭlōsquĕ mĕāt. Sŏpŏr ōbvĭŭs īllī
Nōctĭs ăgēbăt ĕquōs, trĕpĭdūsque āssūrgĭt hŏnōrī
nūmĭnĭs ēt rēctō dēcēdīt līmĭtĕ caēlī.
Īnfĕrĭōr vŏlăt ūmbră dĕō, praērēptăquĕ nōscīt
sīdĕră prīncĭpĭūmquĕ sŭī; iāmque ārdŭă Cīrrhaē
pōllūtāmquĕ sŭō dēspēctāt Phōcĭdă būstō.
Vēntum ĕrăt ād Thēbās; gĕmŭīt prŏpĕ līmĭnă nātī
Lāĭŭs ēt nōtōs cūnctātŭs ĭnīrĕ pĕnātēs.
Ūt vēro ēt cēlsīs sŭămēt iŭgă nīxă cŏlūmnīs
vīdĭt ĕt īnfēctōs ĕtĭāmnūm sānguĭnĕ cūrrūs,
paēnĕ rĕtrō tūrbātŭs ăbīt: nēc sūmmă Tŏnāntīs
iūssă nĕc Ārcădĭaē rĕtĭnēnt spīrāmĭnă vīrgaē.
Ēt tūnc fōrtĕ dĭēs nōtō sīgnātă Tŏnāntīs
fūlmĭnĕ, praērūptī cūm tē, tĕnĕr Eūhĭĕ, pārtūs
trānsmīsērĕ pătrī. Tўrĭīs ĕă caūsă cŏlōnīs
īnsōmnēm lūdō cērtātim ēdūcĕrĕ nōctēm
suāsĕrăt; ēffūsī pāssīm pēr tēctă, pĕr āgrōs,
sērta īntēr văcŭōsquĕ mĕrō crātērăs ănhēlūm
prōflābānt sūb lūcĕ dĕūm; tūnc plūrĭmă būxūs
aērăquĕ taūrīnōs sŏnĭtū vīncēntĭă pūlsūs.
Īpse ĕtĭām gaūdēns nĕmŏrōsă pĕr āvĭă sānās
īmpŭlĕrāt mātrēs Bācchō mĕlĭōrĕ Cĭthaērōn.
Quālĭă pēr Rhŏdŏpēn răbĭdō cōnvīvĭă coētū
Bīstŏnĕs aūt mĕdĭaē pōnūnt cōnvāllĭbŭs Ōssaē.
Īllīs sēmiănĭmūm pĕcŭs ēxcūssaēquĕ lĕōnūm
ōrĕ dăpēs, ēt lāctĕ nŏvō dŏmŭīssĕ fŭrōrēm
lūxŭs: ăt Ōgўgĭī sī quāndo ādflāvĭt Ĭācchī
saēvŭs ŏdōr, tūnc sāxă mănū, tūnc pōcŭlă pūlchrūm
spārgĕre ĕt īmmĕrĭtō sŏcĭōrūm sānguĭnĕ fūsō
īnstaūrārĕ dĭēm fēstāsquĕ rĕpōnĕrĕ mēnsās.
Nōx ĕă, cūm tăcĭtā vŏlŭcēr Cŷllēnĭŭs aūrā
rēgĭs Ĕchīŏnĭī strātīs ādlāpsŭs, ŭbi īngēns
fūdĕrăt Āssўrĭīs ēxstrūctă tăpētĭbŭs āltō
mēmbră tŏrō. prō gnāră nĭhīl mōrtālĭă fātī
cōrdă sŭī! Căpĭt īllĕ dăpēs, hăbĕt īllĕ sŏpōrēm.
Tūnc sĕnĭōr quaē iūssŭs ăgīt, neū fālsă vĭdērī
nōctĭs ĭmāgŏ quĕāt, lōngaēvī vātĭs ŏpācōs
Tīrĕsĭaē vūltūs vōcēmque ēt vēllĕră nōtă
īndŭĭtūr. Mānsērĕ cŏmaē prōpēxăquĕ mēntō
cānĭtĭēs pāllōrquĕ sŭūs, sēd fālsă cŭcūrrīt
īnfŭlă pēr crīnēs, glaūcaēque īnnēxŭs ŏlīvaē
vīttārūm prōvēnĭt hŏnōs: deīn tāngĕrĕ rāmō
pēctŏra ĕt hāc vīsūs fātōrum ēxprōmĕrĕ vōcēs:
"Nōn sōmnī tĭbĭ tēmpŭs, ĭnērs quī nōctĕ sŭb āltā,
gērmānī sēcūrĕ, iăcēs, īngēntĭă dūdūm
āctă vŏcānt rērūmquĕ grăvēs, īgnāvĕ, părātūs.
Tū vĕlŭtī, māgnūm sī iām tōllēntĭbŭs aūstrīs
Īŏnĭūm nīgrā iăcĕāt sūb nūbĕ, măgīstēr
īmmĕmŏr ārmōrūm vērsāntīsque aēquŏră clāvī
cūnctārīs. iāmque īllĕ nŏvīs (scīt fāmă) sŭpērbīt
cōnŭbĭīs vīrēsquĕ părāt, quīs rēgnă căpēssāt,
quīs nĕgĕt, īnquĕ tŭā sĕnĭūm sĭbĭ dēstĭnăt aūlā.
Dānt ănĭmōs sŏcĕr aūgŭrĭō fātālĭs Ădrāstūs
dōtālēsque Ārgī, nēc nōn īn foēdĕră vītaē
pōllūtūs plăcŭīt frātērnō sānguĭnĕ Tŷdeūs.
Hīnc tŭmŏr, ēt lōngūs frātrī prōmīttĕrĭs ēxsūl.
Īpsĕ dĕūm gĕnĭtōr tĭbĭ mē mĭsĕrātŭs ăb āltō
mīttĭt: hăbē Thēbās, caēcūmquĕ cŭpīdĭnĕ rēgnī
aūsūrūmque ĕădēm gērmānum ēxpēllĕ, nĕc ūltrā
frātērnōs ĭnhĭāntem ŏbĭtūs sĭnĕ fīdĕrĕ coēptīs
fraūdĭbŭs aūt Cādmō dŏmĭnās īnfērrĕ Mўcēnās."
Dīxĭt, ĕt ābscēdēns - ĕtĕnīm iām pāllĭdă tūrbānt
sīdĕră lūcĭs ĕquī - rāmōs āc vēllĕră frōntī
dērĭpŭīt, cōnfēssŭs ăvūm, dīrīquĕ nĕpōtīs
īncŭbŭīt strātīs, iŭgŭlūm mōx caēdĕ pătēntēm
nūdăt ĕt ūndāntī pērfūndīt vūlnĕrĕ sōmnūm.
Īllī rūptă quĭēs, āttōllīt mēmbră tŏrōquĕ
ērĭpĭtūr plēnūs mōnstrīs, vānūmquĕ crŭōrēm
ēxcŭtĭēns sĭmŭl hōrrĕt ăvūm frātrēmquĕ rĕquīrīt.
Quālĭs ŭbi aūdītō vēnāntūm mūrmŭrĕ tīgrīs
hōrrŭĭt īn măcŭlās sōmnōsque ēxcūssĭt ĭnērtēs,
bēllă cŭpīt lāxātquĕ gĕnās ēt tēmpĕrăt ūnguēs,
mōx rŭĭt īn tūrmās nātīsque ălĭmēntă crŭēntīs
spīrāntēm fērt ōrĕ vĭrūm: sīc ēxcĭtŭs īrā
dūctŏr ĭn ābsēntēm cōnsūmīt proēlĭă frātrēm.
Ēt iām Mŷgdŏnĭīs ēlātă cŭbīlĭbŭs āltō
īmpŭlĕrāt caēlō gĕlĭdās Aūrōră tĕnēbrās,
rōrāntīs ēxcūssă cŏmās mūltūmquĕ sĕquēntī
Sōlĕ rŭbēns; īllī rŏsĕūs pēr nūbĭlă sērās
ādvērtīt flāmmās ălĭēnūmque aēthĕră tārdō
Lūcĭfĕr ēxĭt ĕquō, dōnēc pătĕr īgnĕŭs ōrbēm
īmplĕăt ātque īpsī rădĭōs vĕtĕt ēssĕ sŏrōrī,
cūm sĕnĭōr Tālāiŏnĭdēs nēc lōngă mŏrātī
Dīrcaēūsquĕ grădūm părĭtērque Ăchĕlōĭŭs hērōs
cōrrĭpŭērĕ tŏrīs. Īllōs pōst vērbĕră fēssōs
ēxcēptāmque hĭĕmēm cōrnū pērfūdĕrăt ōmnī
Sōmnŭs; ăt Īnăchĭō tĕnŭīs sūb pēctŏrĕ rēgī
trāctă quĭēs, dūm mēntĕ dĕōs īncēptăquĕ vērsāt
hōspĭtĭa, ēt quaē sīnt gĕnĕrīs āscītă rĕpērtīs
fātă mŏvēt. Pōstquām mĕdĭīs īn sēdĭbŭs aūlaē
cōngrēssi īnquĕ vĭcēm dēxtrās iūnxērĕ lŏcūmquĕ,
quō sĕrĕre ārcānās āptum ātque ēvōlvĕrĕ cūrās,
īnsīdūnt, prĭŏr hīs dŭbĭōs cōmpēllăt Ădrāstūs:
"Ēgrĕgĭī iŭvĕnūm, quōs nōn sĭnĕ nūmĭnĕ rēgnīs
īnvēxīt nōx dēxtră mĕīs, quĭbŭs īpsĕ pĕr īmbrēs
fūlmĭnĭbūs mīxtōs īntēmpēstūmquĕ Tŏnāntēm
hās mĕŭs ūsquĕ dŏmūs vēstīgĭă fēcĭt Ăpōllŏ,
nōn ĕquĭdem ōbscūrūm vōbīs plēbīquĕ Pĕlāsgaē
ēssĕ rĕār, quāntīs cōnūbĭă nōstră prŏcōrūm
tūrbă pĕtānt stŭdĭīs; gĕmĭnaē mĭhĭ nāmquĕ, nĕpōtūm
laētă fĭdēs, aēquō pūbēscūnt sīdĕrĕ nātaē.
Quāntŭs hŏnōs quāntūsquĕ pŭdōr, nē crēdĭtĕ pātrī,
ēt sŭpĕr hēstērnās lĭcŭīt cōgnōscĕrĕ mēnsās.
Hās tŭmĭdī sŏlĭo ēt lātē dŏmĭnāntĭbŭs ārmīs
ōptāvērĕ vĭrī - lōngum ēnŭmĕrārĕ Phĕraēōs
Oēbălĭōsquĕ dŭcēs - ĕt Ăchaēă pĕr ōppĭdă mātrēs
spēm gĕnĕrīs, nēc plūră tŭūs dēspēxĕrăt Oēneūs
foēdĕră Pīsaēīsquĕ sŏcēr mĕtŭēndŭs hăbēnīs.
sēd mĭhĭ nēc Spārtā gĕnĭtōs nĕc ăb Ēlĭdĕ mīssōs
iūngĕrĕ fās gĕnĕrōs: vōbīs hīc sānguĭs ĕt aūlaē
cūră mĕaē lōngō prōmīttĭtŭr ōrdĭnĕ fātī.
Dī bĕnĕ, quōd tālēs stīrpēmque ănĭmōsquĕ vĕnītīs,
ūt rēspōnsă iŭvēnt: hīc dūraē tēmpŏrĕ nōctīs
pārtŭs hŏnōs, haēc īllă vĕnīt pōst vērbĕră mērcēs".
Aūdĭĕrānt, fīxōsque ŏcŭlōs pēr mūtŭă paūlūm
ōră tĕnēnt, vīsīque īntēr sēse ōrdĭnĕ fāndī
cēdĕrĕ. Sēd cūnctīs Tŷdeūs aūdēntĭŏr āctīs
īncĭpĭt: "Ō quām tē pārcum īn praēcōnĭă fāmaē
mēns ăgĭtāt mātūră tŭaē, quāntūmquĕ fĕrēntēm
fōrtūnām vīrtūtĕ dŏmās! Cuī cēdăt Ădrāstūs
īmpĕrĭīs? quīs tē sŏlĭō Sĭcўōnĭs ăvītaē
ēxcītum īnfrēnōs cōmpōnĕrĕ lēgĭbŭs Ārgōs
nēscĭăt? ātque ŭtĭnam hīs mănĭbūs pērmīttĕrĕ gēntīs,
Iūppĭtĕr aēquĕ, vĕlīs, quās Dōrĭcŭs āllĭgăt īntūs
Īsthmŏs ĕt āltērnō quās mārgĭnĕ sūbmŏvĕt īnfrā!
Nōn fŭgĕrēt dīrās lūx īntērcīsă Mўcēnās,
saēvă nĕc Ēlēaē gĕmĕrēnt cērtāmĭnă vāllēs,
Eūmĕnĭdēsque ălĭīs ălĭaē sūb rēgĭbŭs, ēt quaē
tū pŏtĭōr, Thēbānĕ, quĕrī: nōs vērŏ vŏlēntēs
ēxpŏsĭtīque ănĭmīs." hīc īntērfātŭs ĕt āltēr
sūbĭcĭt: "Ānne ălĭquīs sŏcĕrōs āccēdĕrĕ tālīs
ābnŭăt? Ēxsŭlĭbūs quāmquām pătrĭāquĕ fŭgātīs
nōndūm laētă Vĕnūs, tămĕn ōmnīs cōrdĕ rĕsēdīt
trīstĭtĭa, ādfīxīque ănĭmō cēssērĕ dŏlōrēs.
Nēc mĭnŭs haēc laētī trăhĭmūs sōlācĭă, quām sī
praēcĭpĭtī cōnvūlsă Nŏtō prōspēctĕt ămīcām
pūppĭs hŭmūm. Iŭvăt īngrēssōs fēlīcĭă rēgnī
ōmĭnă, quōd sŭpĕrēst fātī vītaēquĕ lăbōrūm
fōrtūnā trānsīrĕ tŭā". Nēc plūră mŏrātī
cōnsūrgūnt, dīctīs īmpēnsĭŭs āggĕrăt ōmnĕ
prōmīssum Īnăchĭūs pătĕr, aūxĭlĭōquĕ fŭtūrūm
ēt pătrĭīs spōndēt rĕdŭcēs īndūcĕrĕ rēgnīs.
Ērgo ălăcrēs Ārgī, fūsō rūmōrĕ pĕr ūrbēm
ādvēnīssĕ dŭcī gĕnĕrōs prīmīsque hўmĕnaēīs
ēgrēgīam Ārgiān nēc fōrmaē laūdĕ sĕcūndām
Dēĭpўlēn tŭmĭdā iām vīrgĭnĭtātĕ iŭgārī,
gaūdĭă mēntĕ părānt; sŏcĭās īt Fāmă pĕr ūrbēs,
fīnĭtĭmīsque ăgĭtātŭr ăgrīs prŏcŭl ūsquĕ Lўcaēōs
Pārthĕnĭōsquĕ sŭpēr sāltūs Ĕphўraēăquĕ rūră
nēc mĭnŭs Ōgўgĭās ĕădēm dĕă tūrbĭdă Thēbās
īnsĭlĭt ēt tōtīs pērfūndīt moēnĭă pīnnīs
Lābdăcĭūmquĕ dŭcēm praēmīssaē cōnsŏnă nōctī
tērrĭtăt; hōspĭtĭa ēt thălămōs ēt foēdĕră rēgnī
pērmīxtūmquĕ gĕnūs - quaē tāntă lĭcēntĭă mōnstrō,
quīs fŭrŏr ēst? -, iām bēllă cănīt. Dīffūdĕrăt Ārgōs
ēxspēctātă dĭēs: laētō rēgālĭă coētū
ātrĭă cōmplēntūr, spĕcĭēs ēst cērnĕre ăvōrūm
cōmmĭnŭs ēt vīvīs cērtāntĭă vūltĭbŭs aēră.
Tāntum aūsaē pērfērrĕ mănūs! Pătĕr īpsĕ bĭcōrnīs
īn laēvūm prōnā nīxūs sĕdĕt Īnăchŭs ūrnā;
hūnc tĕgĭt Īăsĭūsquĕ sĕnēx plăcĭdūsquĕ Phŏrōneūs,
ēt bēllātŏr Ăbās īndīgnātūsquĕ Tŏnāntēm
Ācrĭsĭūs nūdōquĕ fĕrēns căpŭt ēnsĕ Cŏroēbūs,
tōrvăquĕ iām Dănăī făcĭnūs mĕdĭtāntĭs ĭmāgŏ;
ēxīn mīllĕ dŭcēs. fŏrĭbūs tum īmmīssă sŭpērbīs
ūndă frĕmīt vūlgī, prŏcĕrūm mănŭs ōmnĭs ĕt āltō
quīs prŏpĭōr dē rēgĕ grădūs, stānt ōrdĭnĕ prīmī.
Īntĕrĭōr sācrīs călĕt ēt sŏnăt aūlă tŭmūltū
fēmĭnĕō; cāstā mātrēm cīnxērĕ cŏrōnā
Ārgŏlĭdēs, pārs vīrgĭnĭbūs cīrcum ūndĭquĕ fūsaē
foēdĕră cōncĭlĭānt nŏvă sōlāntūrquĕ tĭmōrēm.
Ībānt īnsīgnēs vūltūque hăbĭtūquĕ vĕrēndō
cāndĭdă pūrpŭrĕūm fūsaē sŭpĕr ōră pŭdōrēm
dēiēctaēquĕ gĕnās; tăcĭtē sŭbĭt īllĕ sŭprēmūs
vīrgĭnĭtātĭs ămōr, prīmaēquĕ mŏdēstĭă cūlpaē
cōnfūndīt vūltūs; tūnc ōră rĭgāntŭr hŏnēstīs
īmbrĭbŭs, ēt tĕnĕrōs lăcrĭmaē iūvērĕ părēntēs.
Nōn sĕcŭs āc sŭpĕrō părĭtēr sī cārdĭnĕ lāpsaē
Pāllăs ĕt āspĕrĭōr Phoēbī sŏrŏr, ūtrăquĕ tēlīs,
ūtrăquĕ tōrvă gĕnīs flāvōque īn vērtĭcĕ nōdō,
īllă sŭās Cŷnthō cŏmĭtēs ăgăt, haēc Ărăcŷnthō;
tūnc, sī fās ŏcŭlīs, nōn ūmquām lōngă tŭēndō
ēxpĕdĭās, cuī māiŏr hŏnōs, cuī grātĭŏr, aūt plūs
dē Iŏvĕ, mūtātōsquĕ vĕlīnt trānsūmĕrĕ cūltūs,
ēt Pāllās dĕcĕāt phărĕtrās ēt Dēlĭă crīstās.
Cērtānt laētĭtĭā sŭpĕrōsque īn vōtă fătīgānt
Īnăchĭdaē, quaē cuīquĕ dŏmūs sācrīquĕ făcūltās.
Hī fībrīs ănĭmāquĕ lĭtānt, hī caēspĭtĕ nūdō,
nēc mĭnŭs aūdītī, sī mēns āccēptă, mĕrēntūr
tūrĕ dĕōs, frāctīsque ōbtēndūnt līmĭnă sīlvīs.
Ēccĕ mĕtū sŭbĭtō - Lăchĕsīs sīc dūră iŭbēbāt -
īmpūlsaē mēntēs, ēxcūssăquĕ gaūdĭă pātrī,
ēt tūrbātă dĭēs. īnnūpto īn līmĭne ădībānt
Pāllădă, Mūnўchĭīs cuī nōn Ārgīvă pĕr ūrbēs
pōsthăbĭta ēst Lārīssă iŭgīs; hīc mōrĕ părēntūm
Īăsĭdēs, thălămīs ŭbĭ cāsta ădŏlēscĕrĕt aētās,
vīrgĭnĕās lībārĕ cŏmās prīmōsquĕ sŏlēbānt
ēxcūsārĕ tŏrōs. Cēlsām sŭbĕūntĭbŭs ārcēm
īn grădĭbūs sūmmī dēlāpsūs cūlmĭnĕ tēmplī,
Ārcădŏs Eūhīppī spŏlĭūm, cădĭt aērĕŭs ōrbīs,
praēmīssāsquĕ făcēs, fēstūm nūbēntĭbŭs īgnēm,
ōbrŭĭt, ēque ădўtīs sĭmŭl ēxaūdītă rĕmōtīs
nōndum aūsōs fīrmārĕ grădūm tŭbă tērrŭĭt īngēns.
Īn rēgēm cōnvērsi ōmnēs fōrmīdĭnĕ prīmā,
mōx aūdīssĕ nĕgānt; cūnctōs tămĕn ōmĭnă rērūm
dīră mŏvēnt, vărĭīsquĕ mĕtūm sērmōnĭbŭs aūgēnt.
Nēc mīrūm: nām tum īnfaūstōs dōnāntĕ mărītō
ōrnātūs, Ārgīă, gĕrīs dīrūmquĕ mŏnīlĕ
Hārmŏnĭaē. Lōnga ēst sĕrĭēs, sēd nōtă mălōrūm
pērsĕquăr, ūndĕ nŏvīs tām saēvă pŏtēntĭă dōnīs.
Lēmnĭŭs haēc, ūt prīscă fĭdēs, Māvōrtĭă lōngūm
fūrtă dŏlēns, cāptō pōstquām nīl ōbstăt ămōrī
poēnă nĕc ūltrīcēs cāstīgāvērĕ cătēnaē,
Hārmŏnĭaē dōtālĕ dĕcūs sūb lūcĕ iŭgālī
strūxĕrăt. Hōc, dōctī quāmquām māiōră, lăbōrānt
Cŷclōpēs, nōtīque ŏpĕrūm Tēlchīnĕs ămīcā
cērtātīm iūvērĕ mănū; sēd plūrĭmŭs īpsī
sūdŏr. Ĭbi ārcānō flōrēntīs īgnĕ zmărāgdōs
cīngĭt ĕt īnfaūstās pērcūssum ădămāntă fĭgūrās
Gōrgŏnĕōsque ōrbēs Sĭcŭlāque īncūdĕ rĕlīctōs
fūlmĭnĭs ēxtrēmī cĭnĕrēs vĭrĭdūmquĕ drăcōnūm
lūcēntēs ā frōntĕ iŭbās; hīc flēbĭlĕ gērmēn
Hēspĕrĭdum ēt dīrūm Phrīxēī vēllĕrĭs aūrūm;
tūm vărĭās pēstēs rāptūmque īntērplĭcăt ātrō
Tīsĭphŏnēs dē crīnĕ dŭcem, ēt quaē pēssĭmă cēstōn
vīs prŏbăt; haēc cīrcūm spūmīs lūnārĭbŭs ūngīt
cāllĭdŭs ātque hĭlărī pērfūndīt cūnctă vĕnēnō.
Nōn hōc Pāsĭthĕā blāndārūm prīmă sŏrōrūm,
nōn Dĕcŏr Īdălĭūsquĕ pŭēr, sēd Lūctŭs ĕt Īraē
ēt Dŏlŏr ēt tōtā prēssīt Dīscōrdĭă dēxtrā.
Prīmă fĭdēs ŏpĕrī, Cādmūm cŏmĭtātă iăcēntēm
Hārmŏnĭā vērsīs īn sībĭlă dīră quĕrēllīs
Īllўrĭcōs lōngō sūlcāvīt pēctŏrĕ cāmpōs.
Īmprŏbă mōx Sĕmĕlē vīx dōnă nŏcēntĭă cōllō
īndŭĭt, ēt fāllāx īntrāvīt līmĭnă Iūnŏ.
Tēque ĕtĭam, īnfēlīx, pĕrhĭbēnt, Iōcāstă, dĕcōrūm
pōssēdīssĕ nĕfās; vūltūs hāc laūdĕ cŏlēbās,
heū quĭbŭs, heū plăcĭtūră tŏrīs! pōst lōngĭŏr ōrdŏ.
Tūnc dōnīs Ārgīă nĭtēt vīlīsquĕ sŏrōrīs
ōrnātūs sācrō praēcūltă sŭpērvĕnĭt aūrō.
Vīdĕrăt hōc cōniūnx pĕrĭtūrī vātĭs ĕt ārās
ānte ōmnīs ĕpŭlāsquĕ trŭcēm sēcrētă cŏquēbāt
īnvĭdĭām, saēvīs dētūr sī quāndŏ pŏtīrī
cūltĭbŭs, heū nĭhĭl aūgŭrĭīs ādiūtă prŏpīnquīs.
Quōs ōptāt gĕmĭtūs, quāntās cŭpĭt īmpĭă clādēs!
Dīgnă quĭdēm, sēd quīd mĭsĕrī dēcēptă mărītī
ārmă, quĭd īnsōntēs nātī mĕrŭērĕ fŭrōrēs?
Pōstquām rēgālēs ĕpŭlās ēt gaūdĭă vūlgī
bīssēnī clūsērĕ dĭēs, Īsmēnĭŭs hērōs
rēspĭcĕre ād Thēbās iāmque ēt sŭă quaērĕrĕ rēgnă.
Quīppe ănĭmūm sŭbĭt īllă dĭēs, quā, sōrtĕ bĕnīgnā
frātrĭs, Ĕchīŏnĭā stĕtĕrāt prīvātŭs ĭn aūlā,
rēspĭcĭēns dēscīssĕ dĕōs trĕpĭdōquĕ tŭmūltū
dīlāpsōs cŏmĭtēs, nūdūm lătŭs ōmnĕ fŭgāmquĕ
fōrtūnaē. Nāmque ūnă sŏrōr prōdūcĕrĕ trīstīs
ēxŭlĭs aūsă vĭās; ĕtĭam hānc īn līmĭnĕ prīmō
līquĕrăt ēt māgnā lăcrĭmās īnclūsĕrăt īrā.
Tūnc quōs ēxcēdēns hĭlărīs, quīs cūltŭs ĭnīquī
praēcĭpŭūs dŭcĭs, ēt prŏfŭgō quōs īpsĕ nŏtārāt
īngĕmŭīssĕ sĭbī, pēr nōctem āc lūcĕ sŭb ōmnī
dīgĕrĭt; ēxēdēre ănĭmūm dŏlŏr īrăquĕ dēmēns
ēt, quā nōn grăvĭōr mōrtālĭbŭs āddĭtă cūrīs,
spēs, ŭbĭ lōngă vĕnīt. Tālēm sūb pēctŏrĕ nūbēm
cōnsĭlĭī vōlvēns Dīrcēn Cādmīquĕ nĕgātās
āppărăt īrĕ dŏmōs: vĕlŭtī dūx taūrŭs ămātā
vāllĕ cărēns, pūlsūm sŏlĭtō quēm grāmĭnĕ vīctōr
iūssĭt ăb ērēptā lōngē mūgīrĕ iŭvēncā,
cūm prŏfŭgō plăcŭērĕ tŏrī cērvīxquĕ rĕcēptō
sānguĭnĕ māgnă rĕdīt frāctaēque īn pēctŏră quērcūs,
bēllă cŭpīt pāstūsque ēt cāpta ārmēntă rĕpōscīt
iām pĕdĕ, iām cōrnū mĕlĭōr - păvĕt īpsĕ rĕvērsūm
vīctŏr, ĕt āttŏnĭtī vīx āgnōvērĕ măgīstrī -:
nōn ălĭās tăcĭtā iŭvĕnīs Teūmēsĭŭs īrās
mēnte ăcŭīt. Sēd fīdă vĭās ārcānăquĕ cōniūnx
sēnsĕrăt; ūtquĕ tŏrīs prīmō cōmplēxă iăcēbāt
aūrōraē pāllōrĕ vĭrūm: "Quōs, cāllĭdĕ, mōtūs
quāmvĕ fŭgām mōlīrĭs?" ăīt "nīl trānsĭt ămāntēs.
Sēntĭŏ, pērvĭgĭlēs ăcŭūnt sūspīrĭă quēstūs,
nūmquam īn pācĕ sŏpōr. Quŏtĭēns haēc ōră nătārĕ
flētĭbŭs ēt māgnās lātrāntĭă pēctŏră cūrās
ādmōtā dēprēndŏ mănū? Nīl foēdĕrĕ rūptō
cōnŭbĭīsvĕ sŭpēr mŏvĕōr vĭdŭāquĕ iŭvēntā,
ētsī crūdŭs ămōr nēcdūm pōst flāmmĕă tōtī
īntĕpŭērĕ tŏrī: tŭă mē, prŏpĕrābŏ fătērī,
āngĭt, ămātĕ, sălūs. tūne īncŏmĭtātŭs, ĭnērmīs
rēgnă pĕtēs pŏtĕrīsquĕ tŭīs dēcēdĕrĕ Thēbīs,
sī nĕgĕt? Ātque īllūm sōllērs dēprēndĕrĕ sēmpēr
Fāmă dŭcēs tŭmĭdūm nārrāt rāptōquĕ sŭpērbūm
dīffĭcĭlēmquĕ tĭbī: nēcdūm cōnsūmpsĕrĭt ānnūm.
Mē quŏquĕ nūnc vātēs, nūnc ēxtă mĭnāntĭă dīvōs
aūt ăvĭūm lāpsūs aūt tūrbĭdă nōctĭs ĭmāgŏ
tērrĕt, ĕt ā, mĕmĭnī, nūmquām mĭhĭ fālsă pĕr ūmbrās
Iūnŏ vĕnīt. quō tēndĭs ĭtēr? nī cōnscĭŭs ārdōr
dūcĭt ĕt ād Thēbās mĕlĭōr sŏcĕr". Hīc brĕvĕ tāndēm
rīsĭt Ĕchīŏnĭūs iŭvĕnīs tĕnĕrūmquĕ dŏlōrēm
cōniŭgĭs āmplēxū sōlātŭs ĕt ōscŭlă maēstīs
tēmpēstīvă gĕnīs pŏsŭīt lăcrĭmāsquĕ rĕprēssīt:
"Sōlvĕ mĕtūs ănĭmō, dăbĭtūr, mĭhĭ crēdĕ, mĕrēntūm
cōnsĭlĭīs trānquīllă dĭēs; tē fōrtĭŏr ānnīs
nōndūm cūră dĕcēt. Scĭăt haēc Sātūrnĭŭs ōlīm
fātă părēns, ŏcŭlōsquĕ pŏlō dēmīttĕrĕ sī quōs
Iūstĭtĭa ēt rēctūm tērrīs dēfēndĕrĕ cūrāt:
fōrs ădĕrīt lūx īllă tĭbī, quā moēnĭă cērnēs
cōniŭgĭs ēt gĕmĭnās ībīs rēgīnă pĕr ūrbēs".
Sīc ăĭt, ēt cārō rāptīm sē līmĭnĕ prōfērt.
Tŷdĕă iām sŏcĭūm coēptīs, iām pēctŏrĕ fīdō
aēquāntēm cūrās - tāntūs pōst iūrgĭă mēntēs
vīnxĭt ămōr - sŏcĕrūmque ādfātūr trīstĭs Ădrāstūm.
Fīt mŏră cōnsĭlĭō, cūm mūltă mŏvēntĭbŭs ūnă
iām pŏtĭōr cūnctīs sēdīt sēntēntĭă, frātrīs
pērtēmptārĕ fĭdēm tūtōsque īn rēgnă prĕcāndō
ēxplōrāre ădĭtūs. Aūdāx ĕă mūnĕră Tŷdeūs
spōntĕ sŭbīt; nēc nōn ēt tē, fōrtīssĭmĕ gēntīs
Aētōlūm, mūltūm lăcrĭmīs cōnātă mŏrārī
Dēĭpўlē, sēd iūssă pătrīs tūtīquĕ rĕgrēssūs
lēgātō iūstaēquĕ prĕcēs vīcērĕ sŏrōrīs.
Iāmque ēmēnsŭs ĭtēr sīlvīs āc lītŏrĕ dūrūm,
quā Lērnaēă pălūs āmbūstăquĕ sōntĭbŭs āltē
īntĕpĕt hŷdră vădīs, ēt quā vīx cārmĭnĕ rārō
lōngă sŏnāt Nĕmĕā nōndūm pāstōrĭbŭs aūsīs,
quā lătŭs Ēōōs Ĕphўrēs quōd vērgĭt ăd eūrōs
Sīsўphĭīquĕ sĕdēnt pōrtūs īrātăquĕ tērraē
cūrvă Pălaēmŏnĭō sēclūdĭtŭr ūndă Lĕchaēō.
Hīnc praētērvēctūs Nīsum ēt tē, mītĭs Ĕleūsīn,
laēvŭs ăbīt, iāmque ārvă grădū Teūmēsĭa ĕt ārcēs
īntrăt Ăgēnŏrĕās; ĭbĭ dūrum Ĕtĕōclĕă cērnīt
sūblīmēm sŏlĭō saēptūmque hōrrēntĭbŭs ārmīs.
Iūră fĕrūs pŏpŭlō trāns lēgem āc tēmpŏră rēgnī
iām frātrīs dē pārtĕ dăbāt; sĕdĕt ōmnĕ părātūs
īn făcĭnūs quĕrĭtūrquĕ fĭdēm tām sērŏ rĕpōscī.
Cōnstĭtĭt īn mĕdĭīs - rāmūs mănĭfēstăt ŏlīvaē
lēgātūm - caūsāsquĕ vĭaē nōmēnquĕ rŏgātūs
ēdĭdĭt; ūtquĕ rŭdīs fāndī prōnūsquĕ călōrī
sēmpĕr ĕrāt, iūstīs mīscēns tămĕn āspĕră coēpīt:
"Sī tĭbĭ plānă fĭdēs ēt dīctī cūră mănērēt
foēdĕrĭs, ād frātrēm cōmplētō iūstĭŭs ānnō
lēgātōs hīnc īrĕ fŭīt tēque ōrdĭnĕ cērtō
fōrtūnam ēxŭĕre ēt laētūm dēscēndĕrĕ rēgnō,
ūt văgŭs īllĕ dĭū pāssūsque haūd dīgnă pĕr ūrbēs
īgnōtās pāctaē tāndēm sūccēdĕrĕt aūlaē.
Sēd quĭă dūlcĭs ămōr rēgnī blāndūmquĕ pŏtēstās,
pōscĕrĭs: āstrĭfĕrūm iām vēlōx cīrcŭlŭs ōrbēm
tōrsĭt ĕt āmīssaē rĕdĭērūnt mōntĭbŭs ūmbraē,
ēx quō frātĕr ĭnōps īgnōtă pĕr ōppĭdă trīstēs
ēxŭl ăgīt cāsūs; ēt tē iām tēmpŭs ăpērtō
sūb Iŏvĕ fērrĕ dĭēs tērrēnăquĕ frīgŏră mēmbrīs
dūcĕre ĕt ēxtērnōs sūbmīssum āmbīrĕ pĕnātēs.
Pōnĕ mŏdūm laētīs; sătĭs ōstrō dīvĕs ĕt aūrō
cōnspĭcŭūs tĕnŭēm gērmānī paūpĕrĭs ānnūm
rīsīstī; mŏnĕō, rēgnōrūm gaūdĭă tēmēt
dēdŏcĕās pātiēnsquĕ fŭgaē mĕrĕārĕ rĕvērtī".
Dīxĕrăt. Āst īllī tăcĭtō sūb pēctŏrĕ dūdūm
īgnĕă cōrdă frĕmūnt, iāctō vĕlŭt āspĕră sāxō
cōmmĭnŭs ērĭgĭtūr sērpēns, cuī sūbtĕr ĭnānēs
lōngă sĭtīs lătĕbrās tōtūmque ăgĭtātă pĕr ārtūs
cōnvŏcăt īn faūcēs ēt squāmĕă cōllă vĕnēnūm:
"Cōgnĭtă sī dŭbĭīs frātrīs mĭhĭ iūrgĭă sīgnīs
āntĕ fŏrēnt nēc clāra ŏdĭōrum ārcānă pătērēnt,
sūffĭcĕrēt vēl sōlă fĭdēs, quām tōrvŭs ĕt īllūm
mēntĕ gĕrēns, ceū saēptă nŏvūs iām moēnĭă lāxēt
fōssŏr ĕt hōstīlēs ĭnĭmīcēnt clāssĭcă tūrmās,
praēfŭrĭs. īn mĕdĭōs sī cōmmĭnŭs ōrsă tŭlīssēs
Bīstŏnăs aūt rĕfŭgō pāllēntēs sōlĕ Gĕlōnōs,
pārcĭŏr ēlŏquĭo ēt mĕdĭī rĕvĕrēntĭŏr aēquī
īncĭpĕrēs. Nĕquĕ tē fŭrĭbūndaē crīmĭnĕ mēntīs
ārgŭĕrīm: māndātă rĕfērs. Nūnc ōmnĭă quāndō
plēnă mĭnīs, nēc scēptră fĭdē nēc pācĕ sĕquēstrā
pōscĭtĭs, ēt prŏpĭōr căpŭlō mănŭs, haēc mĕă rēgī
Ārgŏlĭcō, nōndum aēquă tŭīs, vĭcĕ dīctă rĕpōrtā:
quaē sōrs iūstă mĭhī, quaē nōn īndēbĭtŭs ānnīs
scēptră dĭcāvĭt hŏnōs, tĕnĕō lōngūmquĕ tĕnēbō.
Tē pĕnĕs Īnăchĭaē dōtālīs rēgĭă dōnō
cōniŭgĭs, ēt Dănăaē - quĭd ĕnīm māiōrĭbŭs āctīs
īnvĭdĕām? - cŭmŭlēntŭr ŏpēs, fēlīcĭbŭs Ārgōs
aūspĭcĭīs Lērnāmquĕ rĕgās; nōs hōrrĭdă Dīrcēs
pāscŭa ĕt Eūbŏĭcīs ārtātās flūctĭbŭs ōrās,
nōn īndīgnātī mĭsĕrūm dīxīssĕ părēntēm
Oēdĭpŏdēn: tĭbĭ lārgă - Pĕlōps ēt Tāntălŭs aūctōr! -
nōbĭlĭtās, prŏpĭōrquĕ flŭāt dē sānguĭnĕ iūnctō
Iūppĭtĕr. ānnĕ fĕrēt lūxū cōnsuētă pătērnō
hūnc rēgīnă lărēm? Nōstraē cuī iūrĕ sŏrōrēs
ānxĭă pēnsă trăhānt, lōngō quām sōrdĭdă lūctū
mātĕr ĕt ēx īmīs aūdītūs fōrtĕ tĕnēbrīs
ōffēndāt săcĕr īllĕ sĕnēx! Iām pēctŏră vūlgī
ādsuēvērĕ iŭgō: pŭdĕt heū! plēbīsquĕ pătrūmquĕ,
nē tŏtĭēns īncērtă fĕrānt mūtēntquĕ gĕmēntēs
īmpĕrĭa ēt dŭbĭō pĭgĕāt pārērĕ tўrānnō.
Nōn pārcīt pŏpŭlīs rēgnūm brĕvĕ; rēspĭcĕ, quāntūs
hōrrŏr ĕt āttŏnĭtī nōstro īn dīscrīmĭnĕ cīvēs!
Hōsne ĕgŏ, quīs cērta ēst sūb tē dŭcĕ poēnă, rĕlīnquām?
Īrātūs, gērmānĕ, vĕnīs. Fāc vēllĕ: nĕc īpsī,
sī mŏdŏ nōtŭs ămōr mĕrĭtīque ēst grātĭă, pātrēs
rēddĕrĕ rēgnă sĭnēnt". Nōn ūltrā pāssŭs ĕt ōrsă
īniēcīt mĕdĭīs sērmōnĭbŭs ōbvĭă: "Rēddēs",
īngĕmĭnāt, "rēddēs; nōn sī tē fērrĕŭs āggēr
āmbĭăt aūt trĭplĭcēs ălĭō tĭbĭ cārmĭnĕ mūrōs
Āmphīōn aūdītŭs ăgāt, nīl tēlă nĕc īgnēs
ōbstĭtĕrīnt, quīn aūsă lŭās nōstrīsquĕ sŭb ārmīs
cāptīvō mŏrĭbūndŭs hŭmūm dĭădēmătĕ pūlsēs.
Tū mĕrĭto; āst hōrūm mĭsĕrēt, quōs sānguĭnĕ vīlīs
cōniŭgĭbūs nātīsque īnfānda ād proēlĭă rāptōs
prōĭcĭs ēxcĭdĭō, bŏnĕ rēx. Ō quāntă Cĭthaērōn
fūnĕră sānguĭnĕūsquĕ vădīs, Īsmēnĕ, rŏtābīs!
Haēc pĭĕtās, haēc māgnă fĭdēs! Nēc crīmĭnă gēntīs
mīra ĕquĭdēm dūcō: sīc prīmūs sānguĭnĭs aūctōr
īncēstīquĕ pătrūm thălămī; sēd fāllĭt ŏrīgŏ:
Oēdĭpŏdīs tū sōlŭs ĕrās, haēc praēmĭă mōrūm
āc scĕlĕrīs, vĭŏlēntĕ, fĕrēs! Nōs pōscĭmŭs ānnūm;
sēd mŏrŏr". Haēc aūdāx ĕtĭāmnum īn līmĭnĕ rētrō
vōcĭfĕrāns iām tūnc īmpūlsă pĕr āgmĭnă praēcēps
ēvŏlăt. Oēnēaē vīndēx sīc īllĕ Dĭānaē
ērēctūs saētīs ĕt ădūncaē fūlmĭnĕ mālaē,
cūm prĕmĕrēt Pĕlŏpēă phălānx, sāxa ōbvĭă vōlvēns
frāctăquĕ pērfōssīs ārbūsta Ăchĕlōĭă rīpīs,
iām Tĕlămōnă sŏlō, iām strātum Īxīŏnă līnquēns
tē, Mĕlĕāgrĕ, sŭbīt: tĭbĭ dēmūm cūspĭdĕ lātā
haēsĭt ĕt ōbnīxō fērrūm lāxāvĭt ĭn ārmō.
Tālĭs ădhūc trĕpĭdūm līnquīt Călўdōnĭŭs hērōs
cōncĭlĭum īnfrēndēns, īpsī ceū rēgnă nĕgēntūr,
fēstīnātquĕ vĭās rāmūmquĕ prĕcāntĭs ŏlīvaē
ābĭcĭt. āttŏnĭtaē tēctōrum ē cūlmĭnĕ sūmmō
āspēctānt mātrēs, saēvōque īnfāndă prĕcāntūr
Oēnīdaē tăcĭtōquĕ sĭmūl sūb pēctŏrĕ rēgī.
Nēc pĭgĕr īngĕnĭō scĕlĕrūm fraūdīsquĕ nĕfāndaē
rēctŏr ĕgēt. Iŭvĕnūm fīdōs, lēctīssĭmă bēllō
cōrpŏră, nūnc prĕtĭō, nūnc īlle hōrtāntĭbŭs ārdēns
sōllĭcĭtāt dīctīs, nōctūrnăquĕ proēlĭă saēvūs
īnstrŭĭt, ēt sānctūm pŏpŭlīs pēr saēcŭlă nōmēn
lēgātum īnsĭdĭīs tăcĭtōque īnvādĕrĕ fērrō
- quīd rēgnīs nōn vīlĕ? cŭpīt. - Quās quaērĕrĕt ārtēs,
sī frātrēm, Fōrtūnă, dărēs! ō caēcă nŏcēntūm
cōnsĭlĭa! Ō sēmpēr tĭmĭdūm scĕlŭs! Ēxĭt ĭn ūnūm
plēbs fērrō iūrātă căpūt; ceū cāstră sŭbīrĕ
āppărĕt aūt cēlsūm crēbri āriĕtĭs īctĭbŭs ūrbīs
īnclīnārĕ lătūs: dēnsī sīc āgmĭnĕ fāctō
quīnquāgīnta āltīs fūndūntŭr ĭn ōrdĭnĕ pōrtīs.
Mācte ănĭmī, tāntīs dīgnūs quī crēdĕrĭs ārmīs!
Fērt vĭă pēr dūmōs prŏpĭōr, quā cāllĕ lătēntī
praēcĕlĕrānt dēnsaēquĕ lĕgūnt cōmpēndĭă sīlvaē.
Lēctă dŏlīs sēdēs: gĕmĭnī prŏcŭl ūrbĕ mălīgnīs
faūcĭbŭs ūrguēntūr cōllēs, quōs ūmbră sŭpērnē
mōntĭs ĕt īncūrvīs claūdūnt iŭgă frōndĕă sīlvīs;
īnsĭdĭās nātūră lŏcō caēcāmquĕ lătēndī
strūxĭt ŏpēm; mĕdĭāsque ārtē sĕcăt āspĕră rūpēs
sēmĭtă, quām sūbtēr cāmpī dēvēxăquĕ lātīs
ārvă iăcēnt spătĭīs. Cōntra īmpōrtūnă crĕpīdŏ,
Oēdĭpŏdīŏnĭaē dŏmŭs ālĭtĭs; hīc fĕră quōndām
pāllēntīs ērēctă gĕnās sūffūsăquĕ tābō
lūmĭnă, cōncrētīs īnfāndō sānguĭnĕ plūmīs
rēlĭquĭās āmplēxă vĭrūm sēmēsăquĕ nūdīs
pēctŏrĭbūs stĕtĭt ōssă prĕmēns vīsūquĕ trĕmēndō
cōllūstrāt cāmpōs, sī quīs cōncūrrĕrĕ dīctīs
hōspĕs ĭnēxplĭcĭtīs aūt cōmmĭnŭs īrĕ vĭātōr
aūdĕăt ēt dīraē cōmmērcĭă iūngĕrĕ līnguaē;
nēc mŏră, quīn ăcŭēns ēxsērtōs prōtĭnŭs ūnguēs
līvēntīsquĕ mănūs frāctōsque īn vūlnĕră dēntēs
tērrĭbĭli āpplaūsū cīrcum hōspĭtă sūrgĕrĕt ōră;
ēt lătŭērĕ dŏlī, dōnēc dē rūpĕ crŭēntā
heū! sĭmĭlī dēprēnsă vĭrō, cēssāntĭbŭs ālīs,
trīstĭs ĭnēxplētām scŏpŭlīs ādflīgĕrĕt ālvūm.
Mōnstrāt sīlvă nĕfās, hōrrēnt vīcīnă iŭvēncī
grāmĭnă, dāmnātīs ăvĭdūm pĕcŭs ābstĭnĕt hērbīs.
Nōn Drўădūm plăcĕt ūmbră chŏrīs, nōn cōmmŏdă sācrīs
Faūnōrūm, dīraēque ĕtĭām fūgērĕ vŏlūcrēs
prōdĭgĭālĕ nĕmūs. Tăcĭtīs hūc grēssĭbŭs āctī
dēvĕnĭūnt pĕrĭtūră cŏhōrs, hōstēmquĕ sŭpērbūm
ādnīxī iăcŭlīs ĕt hŭmī pŏsĭta ārmă tĕnēntēs
ēxspēctānt dēnsāquĕ nĕmūs stătĭōnĕ cŏrōnānt.
Coēpĕrăt ūmēntī Phoēbūm sūbtēxĕrĕ pāllā
Nōx ēt caērŭlĕām tērrīs īnfūdĕrăt ūmbrām.
Īllĕ prŏpīnquābāt sīlvīs ĕt ăb āggĕrĕ cēlsō
scūtă vĭrūm gălĕāsquĕ vĭdēt rŭtĭlārĕ cŏmāntīs,
quā lāxānt rāmī nĕmŭs ādvērsāquĕ sŭb ūmbrā
flāmmĕŭs aērātīs lūnaē trĕmŏr ērrăt ĭn ārmīs.
Ōbstĭpŭīt vīsīs, ībāt tămĕn, hōrrĭdă tāntūm
spīcŭla ĕt īnclūsūm căpŭlō tĕnŭs ādmŏvĕt ēnsēm,
āc prĭŏr: "Ūndĕ, vĭrī, quīdve ōccūltātĭs ĭn ārmīs?"
nōn hŭmĭlī tērrōrĕ rŏgāt. Nēc rēddĭtă cōntrā
vōx, fīdāmquĕ nĕgānt sūspēctă sĭlēntĭă pācēm.
Ēcce aūtēm vāstō Chthŏnĭī cōntōrtă lăcērtō,
quō dŭcĕ frētă cŏhōrs, fūscās īntērvŏlăt aūrās
hāstă; sĕd aūdēntī dĕŭs ēt fōrtūnă rĕcēssīt.
Pēr tămĕn Ōlĕnĭī tĕgĭmēn sŭĭs ātrăquĕ saētīs
tērgă sŭpēr laēvōs ŭmĕrōs vīcīnă crŭōrī
ēffŭgĭt ēt vĭdŭō iŭgŭlūm fĕrĭt īrrĭtă līgnō.
Tūnc hōrrērĕ cŏmaē sānguīsque īn cōrdă gĕlārī.
Hūc fĕrŭs ātque īllūc ănĭmūm pāllēntĭăque īrā
ōră fĕrēns - nēc tāntă pŭtāt sĭbĭ bēllă părārī -:
"Fērtĕ grădūm cōntrā cāmpōque ērūmpĭte ăpērtō!
Quīs tĭmŏr aūdēndī, quaē tānta īgnāvĭă? Sōlūs,
sōlŭs ĭn ārmă vŏcō". nĕque ĭn hīs mŏră; quōs ŭbĭ plūrēs,
quām rătŭs, īnnŭmĕrīs vĭdĕt ēxcūrsārĕ lătēbrīs,
hōs prōdīrĕ iŭgīs, īllōs ē vāllĭbŭs īmīs
crēscĕrĕ, nēc paūcōs cāmpō, tōtūmquĕ sŭb ārmīs
cōllūcēre ĭtĕr, ūt claūsās īndāgĭnĕ prōfērt
īn mĕdĭūm vōx prīmă fĕrās, quaē sōlă mĕdēndī
tūrbātā rătĭōnĕ vĭa ēst, pĕtĭt ārdŭă dīraē
Sphīngŏs ĕt ābscīsīs īnfrīngēns caūtĭbŭs ūncās
ēxsŭpĕrāt iŭgă dīră mănūs, scŏpŭlōquĕ pŏtītūs,
ūndĕ prŏcūl tērgō mĕtŭs ēt vĭă prōnă nŏcēndī,
sāxum īngēns, quōd vīx plēnā cērvīcĕ gĕmēntēs
vērtĕre hŭmō mūrīsquĕ vălēnt īnfērrĕ iŭvēncī,
rūpĭbŭs ēvēllīt; deīn tōtō sānguĭnĕ nīxūs
sūstĭnĕt, īmmānēm quaērēns lībrārĕ rŭīnām,
quālĭs ĭn ādvērsōs Lăpĭthās ērēxĭt ĭnānēm
māgnănĭmūs crātēră Phŏlūs. Stŭpĕt ōbvĭă lētō
tūrbă sŭpērstāntem ātque ēmīssī tūrbĭnĕ mōntīs
ōbrŭĭtūr; sĭmŭl ōră vĭrūm, sĭmŭl ārmă mănūsquĕ
frāctăquĕ cōmmīxtō sēdērūnt pēctŏră fērrō.
Quāttŭŏr hīc ădĕō dīsiēctī mōlĕ sŭb ūnā
cōngĕmŭērĕ, fŭgā trĕmĕfāctūm prōtĭnŭs āgmēn
ēxcŭtĭtūr coēptīs. Nĕque ĕnīm tēmnēndă iăcēbānt
fūnĕră: fūlmĭnĕūs Dŏrўlās, quēm rēgĭbŭs ārdēns
aēquābāt vīrtūs, Mārtīsque ē sēmĭnĕ Thērōn
tērrĭgĕnās cōnfīsŭs ăvōs, nēc vērtĕrĕ cuīquām
frēnă sĕcūndŭs Hălŷs, sēd tūnc pĕdĕs ōccŭbăt ārvīs,
Pēnthēūmquĕ trăhēns nōndūm tē Phaēdĭmŭs aēquō,
Bācchĕ, gĕnūs. Quōrum ūt sŭbĭtīs ēxtērrĭtă fātīs
āgmĭnă tūrbātām vīdīt lāxārĕ cătērvām,
quaē dŭŏ sōlă mănū gēstāns ācclīnĭă mōntī
fīxĕrăt, īntōrquēt iăcŭla ēt fŭgĭēntĭbŭs āddīt.
Mōx īn plānă lĭbēns, nūdō nē pēctŏrĕ tēlă
īncĭdĕrēnt, sāltū praēcēps dēfērtŭr ĕt ōrbēm,
quēm prŏcŭl ōpprēssō vīdīt Thērōnĕ vŏlūtūm,
cōrrĭpŭīt, tērgōque ēt vērtĭcĕ tēgmĭnă nōtă
saēptŭs ĕt hōstīlī prōpūgnāns pēctŏră pārmā
cōnstĭtĭt. īnde ĭtĕrūm dēnsī glŏmĕrāntŭr ĭn ūnūm
Ōgўgĭdaē fīrmāntquĕ grădūm; trăhĭt ōcĭŭs ēnsēm
Bīstŏnĭūm Tŷdeūs, Māvōrtĭă mūnĕră māgnī
Oēnĕŏs, ēt pārtēs părĭtēr dīvīsŭs ĭn ōmnēs
hōs ŏbĭt ātque īllōs fērrōquĕ mĭcāntĭă tēlă
dēcŭtĭt; īmpĕdĭtānt nŭmĕrō sēque īpsă vĭcīssīm
ārmă prĕmūnt, nēc vīs cōnātĭbŭs ūllă, sĕd īpsaē
īn sŏcĭōs ērrārĕ mănūs ēt cōrpŏră tūrbā
īnvōlvī prōlāpsă sŭā; mănĕt īllĕ rŭēntīs
āngūstūs tēlīs ĕt ĭnēxpūgnābĭlĭs ōbstāt.
Nōn ălĭtēr - Gĕtĭcaē sī fās ēst crēdĕrĕ Phlēgraē -
ārmātum īmmēnsūs Brĭăreūs stĕtĭt aēthĕră cōntrā,
hīnc Phoēbī phărĕtrās, hīnc tōrvaē Pāllădŏs ānguīs,
īndĕ Pĕlēthrŏnĭām praēfīxā cūspĭdĕ pīnūm
Mārtĭs, ĕt hīnc lāssō mūtātă Pўrācmŏnĕ tēmnēns
fūlmĭnă, cūm tōtō nēquīquam ōbsēssŭs Ŏlŷmpō
tōt quĕrĭtūr cēssārĕ mănūs: nōn sēgnĭŏr ārdēt
hūc īllūc clĭpeŭm ōbiēctāns, sēque īpsĕ rĕcēdēns
cīrcŭĭt, īntērdūm trĕpĭdīs ōccūrrĭt ĕt īnstāt
spīcŭlă dēvēllēns, clĭpĕō quā plūrĭmă tōtō
fīxă trĕmūnt ārmāntquĕ vĭrūm saēpe āspĕră pāssūm
vūlnĕră, sēd nūllūm vītae īn sēcrētă rĕcēptūm
nēc mōrtēm spērārĕ vălēt. Rŏtăt īpsĕ fŭrēntēm
Dēĭlŏchūm, cŏmĭtēmque īllī iŭbĕt īrĕ sŭb ūmbrās
Phēgĕă sūblātā mĭnĭtāntēm bēllă sĕcūrī
Dīrcaēūmquĕ Gўān ĕt Ĕchīŏnĭūm Lўcŏphōntēm.
Iām trĕpĭdī sēsē quaērūnt nŭmĕrāntquĕ, nĕc īdēm
caēdĭs ămōr, plēnāmquĕ dŏlēnt rārēscĕrĕ tūrbām.
Ēccĕ Chrŏmīs Tўrĭī dēmīssŭs ŏrīgĭnĕ Cādmī
- hūnc ŭtĕrō quōndām Drўŏpē Phoēnīssă grăvātō
rāptă rĕpēntĕ chŏrīs ŏnĕrīsque ōblītă fĕrēbāt,
dūmquĕ trăhīt prēnsīs taūrūm tĭbĭ cōrnĭbŭs, Eūhān,
prōcĭdĭt īmpūlsūs nĭmĭīs cōnātĭbŭs īnfāns -
tūnc aūdāx iăcŭlīs ēt cāptī pēllĕ lĕōnīs
pīnĕă nōdōsām quāssābāt rōbŏră clāvām
īncrĕpĭtāns: "Ūnūsnĕ, vĭrī, tōt caēdĭbŭs ūnūs
ībĭt ŏvāns Ārgōs? vīx crēdēt fāmă rĕvērsō.
Heūs sŏcĭī, nūllaēnĕ mănūs, nūlla ārmă vălēbūnt?
Haēc rēgī prōmīssă, Cўdōn, haēc, Lāmpĕ, dăbāmūs?"
Dūm clāmāt, sŭbĭt ōrĕ căvō Teūmēsĭă cōrnūs,
nēc prŏhĭbēnt faūcēs; ātque īllī vōcĕ rĕplētā
īntērcēptă nătāt prōrūpto īn sānguĭnĕ līnguă.
Stābăt ădhūc, dōnēc trānsmīssā mōrtĕ pĕr ārtūs
lābĭtŭr īmmōrsāquĕ cădēns ōbmūtŭĭt hāstā.
Vōs quŏquĕ, Thēspĭădaē, cūr īnfĭtĭātŭs hŏnōrā
ārcŭĕrīm fāmā? Frātrīs mŏrĭbūndă lĕvābāt
mēmbră sŏlō Pĕrĭphās - nīl īndŏlĕ clārĭŭs īllā
nēc pĭĕtātĕ fŭīt -, laēvā mārcēntĭă cōllă
sūstēntāns dēxtrāquĕ lătūs; sīngūltĭbŭs ārtūm
ēxhaūrīt thōrācă dŏlōr, nēc vīnclă cŏērcēnt
ūndāntēm flētū gălĕām, cūm mūltă gĕmēntī
pōnĕ grăvīs cūrvās pērfrīngīt lāncĕă cōstās.
Ēxĭt ĕt īn frātrēm, cōgnātăquĕ pēctŏră tēlō
cōnsĕrĭt; īlle ŏcŭlōs ĕtĭāmnum īn lūcĕ nătāntēs
sīstĭt ĕt āspēctā gērmānī mōrtĕ rĕsōlvīt.
Āt cuī vītă rĕcēns ĕt ădhūc īn vūlnĕrĕ vīrēs:
"Hōs tĭbĭ cōmplēxūs, haēc dēnt" ăĭt "ōscŭlă nātī".
Prōcŭbŭērĕ părēs fātīs, mĭsĕrābĭlĕ vōtūm
mōrtĭs, ĕt āltērnā claūsērūnt lūmĭnă dēxtrā.
Prōtĭnŭs īdem ūltrō iăcŭlō pārmāquĕ Mĕnoētēn
prōtērrēbăt ăgēns trĕpĭdīs vēstīgĭă rētrō
pāssĭbŭs ūrguēntēm, dōnēc dēfēcĭt ĭnīquā
lāpsŭs hŭmō, părĭtērquĕ mănūs dīstrāctŭs ĭn āmbās
ōrăt ĕt ā iŭgŭlō nītēntēm sūstĭnĕt hāstām:
"Pārcĕ pĕr hās stēllīs īntērlābēntĭbŭs ūmbrās,
pēr sŭpĕrōs nōctēmquĕ tŭām; sĭnĕ, trīstĭă Thēbīs
nūntĭŭs āctă fĕrām vūlgīquĕ pĕr ōră păvēntīs
cōntēmptō tē rēgĕ cănām: sīc īrrĭtă nōbīs
tēlă cădānt, nūllīquĕ tŭūm pĕnĕtrābĭlĕ fērrō
pēctŭs, ĕt ōptāntī vīctōr rĕvĕhārĭs ămīcō".
Dīxĕrăt. Īllĕ nĭhīl vūltūm mūtātŭs "ĭnānīs
pērdĭs" ăīt "lăcrĭmās: ēt tū, nī fāllŏr, ĭnīquō
pōllĭcĭtūs mĕă cōllă dŭcī. nūnc ārmă dĭēmquĕ
prōĭcĕ; quīd tĭmĭdaē sĕquĕrīs cōmpēndĭă vītaē?
bēllă mănēnt". Sĭmŭl haēc, ēt crāssūm sānguĭnĕ tēlūm
iām rĕdĭt: īllĕ sŭpēr dīctīs īnfēnsŭs ămārīs
prōsĕquĭtūr vīctōs: "Nōn haēc trĭĕtērĭcă vōbīs
nōx pătrĭō dē mōrĕ vĕnīt, nōn ōrgĭă Cādmī
cērnĭtĭs aūt ăvĭdās Bācchūm scĕlĕrārĕ părēntēs.
Nēbrĭdăs ēt frăgĭlēs thŷrsōs pōrtārĕ pŭtāstīs
īmbēllem ād sŏnĭtūm mărĭbūsque īncōgnĭtă vērīs
foēdă Cĕlaēnaēā cōmmīttĕrĕ proēlĭă būxō?
Hīc ălĭaē caēdēs, ălĭūs fŭrŏr: ītĕ sŭb ūmbrās,
ō tĭmĭdī paūcīque!" Haēc īntŏnăt; āst tămĕn īllī
mēmbră nĕgānt, lāssūsquĕ fĕrīt praēcōrdĭă sānguīs.
Iām sūblātă mănūs cāssōs dēfērtŭr ĭn īctūs,
tārdătĭquē grādūs, clĭpĕūm nēc sūstĭnĕt ūmbŏ
mūtātūm spŏlĭīs, gĕlĭdūs cădĭt īmbĕr ănhēlō
pēctŏrĕ, tūm crīnēs ārdēntĭăque ōră crŭēntīs
rōrĭbŭs ēt taētrā mŏrĭēntum āspārgĭnĕ mānānt:
ūt lĕŏ, quī cāmpīs lōngē cūstōdĕ fŭgātō
Māssŷlās dēpāstŭs ŏvēs, ŭbĭ sānguĭnĕ mūltō
lūxŭrĭātă fămēs cērvīxque ēt tābĕ grăvātaē
cōnsēdērĕ iŭbaē, mĕdĭīs īn caēdĭbŭs āstāt
aēgĕr, hĭāns vīctūsquĕ cĭbīs; nēc iam āmplĭŭs īraē
crūdēscūnt: tāntūm văcŭīs fĕrĭt āĕră mālīs
mōllĭăque ēiēctā dēlāmbīt vēllĕră līnguā.
Īlle ĕtĭām Thēbās spŏlĭīs ēt sānguĭnĕ plēnūs
īssĕt ĕt āttŏnĭtīs sēsē pŏpŭlōquĕ dŭcīquĕ
ōstēntāssĕt ŏvāns, nī tū, Trītōnĭă vīrgŏ,
flāgrāntēm mūltāque ŏpĕrīs cālīgĭnĕ plēnūm
cōnsĭlĭō dīgnātă vĭrūm: "Sătĕ gēntĕ sŭpērbī
Oēnĕŏs, ābsēntīs cuī dūdūm vīncĕrĕ Thēbās
ānnŭĭmūs, iām pōnĕ mŏdūm nĭmĭūmquĕ sĕcūndīs
pārcĕ dĕīs: huīc ūnă fĭdēs ōptāndă lăbōrī.
Fōrtūnā sătĭs ūsŭs ăbī". Rēstābăt ăcērbīs
fūnĕrĭbūs sŏcĭōquĕ grĕgī nōn spōntĕ sŭpērstēs
Haēmŏnĭdēs - īlle haēc praēvīdĕrăt, ōmĭnă dōctūs
āĕrĭs ēt nūllā dēcēptŭs ăb ālĭtĕ - Maēōn,
nēc vĕrĭtūs prŏhĭbērĕ dŭcēm, sēd fātă mŏnēntēm
prīvāvērĕ fĭdē. vītā mĭsĕrāndŭs ĭnērtī
dāmnātūr; trĕpĭdō Tŷdeūs īmmītĭă māndāt:
"Quīsquĭs ĕs Āŏnĭdūm, quēm crāstĭnă mūnĕrĕ nōstrō
mānĭbŭs ēxēmptūm mĕdĭīs Aūrōră vĭdēbīt,
haēc iŭbĕō pērfērrĕ dŭcī: cīnge āggĕrĕ pōrtās,
tēlă nŏvā, frăgĭlēs aēvō cīrcum īnspĭcĕ mūrōs,
praēcĭpŭē stīpārĕ vĭrōs dēnsāsquĕ mĕmēntŏ
mūltĭplĭcāre ăcĭēs! Fūmāntem hūnc āspĭcĕ lātē
ēnsĕ mĕō cāmpūm: tālēs īn bēllă vĕnīmūs."
Haēc ăĭt, ēt mĕrĭtaē pūlchrūm tĭbĭ, Pāllăs, hŏnōrēm
sānguĭnĕā dē strāgĕ părāt, praēdāmquĕ iăcēntēm
cōmpōrtāt gaūdēns īngēntĭăque āctă rĕcēnsēt.
Quērcŭs ĕrāt tĕnĕraē iām lōngum ōblītă iŭvēntaē
āggĕrĕ cāmpōrūm mĕdĭō, quām plūrĭmŭs āmbīt
frōndĭbŭs īncūrvīs ēt crūdō rōbŏrĕ cōrtēx.
Huīc lēvēs gălĕās pērfōssăquĕ vūlnĕrĕ crēbrō
īnsĕrĭt ārmă fĕrēns, huīc trūncōs īctĭbŭs ēnsēs
sūblĭgăt ēt trāctās mēmbrīs spīrāntĭbŭs hāstās.
Cōrpŏră tūnc ātque ārmă sĭmūl cŭmŭlātă sŭpērstāns
īncĭpĭt - ōrāntī nōx ēt iŭgă lōngă rĕsūltānt -:
"Dīvă fĕrōx, māgnī dĕcŭs īngĕnĭūmquĕ părēntīs,
bēllĭpŏtēns, cuī tōrvă gĕnīs hōrrōrĕ dĕcōrō
cāssĭs ĕt āspērsō crūdēscīt sānguĭnĕ Gōrgōn,
nēc măgĭs ārdēntēs Māvōrs hāstātăquĕ pūgnaē
īmpŭlĕrīt Bēllōnă tŭbās, huīc ādnŭĕ sācrō,
seū Pāndīŏnĭō nōstrās īnvīsĕrĕ nōctēs
mōntĕ vĕnīs, sīve Āŏnĭā dēvērtĭs Ĭtōnē
laētă chŏrīs, seū tū Lĭbўcō Trītōnĕ rĕpēxās
lōtă cŏmās, quā tē bĭiŭgō tēmōnĕ frĕmēntēm
īntĕmĕrātārūm vŏlŭcēr răpĭt āxĭs ĕquārūm:
nūnc tĭbĭ frāctă vĭrūm spŏlĭa īnfōrmīsquĕ dĭcāmūs
ēxŭvĭās. Āt sī pătrĭīs Pārthāŏnĭs ārvīs
īnfĕrăr ēt rĕdŭcī pătĕāt mĭhĭ Mārtĭă Pleūrōn,
aūrĕă tūnc mĕdĭīs ūrbīs tĭbĭ tēmplă dĭcābō
cōllĭbŭs, Īŏnĭās quā dēspēctārĕ prŏcēllās
dūlcĕ sĭt, ēt flāvō tōllēns ŭbĭ vērtĭcĕ pōntūm
tūrbĭdŭs ōbiēctās Ăchĕlōŭs Ĕchīnădăs ēxīt.
Hīc ĕgŏ māiōrūm pūgnās vūltūsquĕ trĕmēndōs
māgnănĭmum ēffīngām rēgūm, fīgāmquĕ sŭpērbīs
ārmă thŏlīs, quaēque īpsĕ mĕō quaēsītă rĕvēxī
sānguĭnĕ, quaēquĕ dăbīs cāptīs, Trītōnĭă, Thēbīs.
Cēntum ĭbĭ vīrgĭnĕīs vōtaē Călўdōnĭdĕs ārīs
Āctaēās tĭbĭ rītĕ făcēs ĕt ăb ārbŏrĕ cāstā
nēctēnt pūrpŭrĕās nĭvĕō dīscrīmĭnĕ vīttās,
pērvĭgĭlēmquĕ fŏcīs īgnēm lōngaēvă săcērdōs
nūtrĭĕt, ārcānūm nūmquām sprētūră pŭdōrēm.
Tū bēllīs, tū pācĕ fĕrēs dē mōrĕ frĕquēntēs
prīmĭtĭās ŏpĕrūm, nōn īndīgnāntĕ Dĭānā".
dīxĕrăt, ēt dūlcēs ĭtĕr īnstaūrābăt ăd Ārgōs.
Interea gelidis Maia satus aliger umbris
iussa gerens magni remeat Iouis; undique pigrae
ire uetant nubes et turbidus implicat aër,
nec Zephyri rapuere gradum, sed foeda silentis
aura poli. Styx inde nouem circumflua campis,
hinc obiecta uias torrentum incendia claudunt.
Pone senex trepida succedit Laius umbra
uulnere tardus adhuc; capulo nam largius illi
transabiit animam cognatis ictibus ensis
impius, et primas Furiarum pertulit iras;
it tamen et medica firmat uestigia uirga.
Tum steriles luci possessaque manibus arua
et ferrugineum nemus astupet, ipsaque tellus
miratur patuisse retro, nec liuida tabes
inuidiae functis quamquam et iam lumine cassis
defuit. Vnus ibi ante alios, cui laeua uoluntas
semper et ad superos - hinc et grauis exitus aeui -
insultare malis rebusque aegrescere laetis:
"Vade" ait "o felix, quoscumque uocaris in usus,
seu Iouis imperio, seu maior adegit Erinys
ire diem contra, seu te furiata sacerdos
Thessalis arcano iubet emigrare sepulcro,
heu dulcis uisure polos solemque relictum
et uirides terras et puros fontibus amnes,
tristior has iterum tamen intrature tenebras".
Illos ut caeco recubans in limine sensit
Cerberus atque omnis capitum subrexit hiatus
- saeuus et intranti populo -, iam nigra tumebat
colla minax, iam sparsa solo turbauerat ossa,
ni deus horrentem Lethaeo uimine mulcens
ferrea tergemino domuisset lumina somno.
Est locus - Inachiae dixerunt Taenara gentes -,
qua formidatum Maleae spumantis in auras
it caput et nullos admittit culmine uisus.
Stat sublimis apex uentosque imbresque serenus
despicit et tantum fessis insiditur astris.
Illic exhausti posuere cubilia uenti,
fulminibusque iter est; medium caua nubila montis
insumpsere latus, summos nec praepetis alae
plausus adit colles, nec rauca tonitrua pulsant.
Ast ubi prona dies, longos super aequora fines
exigit atque ingens medio natat umbra profundo.
Interiore sinu frangentia litora curuat
Taenaros, expositos non audax scandere fluctus.
Illic Aegaeo Neptunus gurgite fessos
in portum deducit equos, prior haurit harenas
ungula, postremi soluuntur in aequora pisces.
Hoc, ut fama, loco pallentis deuius umbras
trames agit nigrique Iouis uacua atria ditat
mortibus. Arcadii perhibent si uera coloni,
stridor ibi et gemitus poenarum, atroque tumultu
feruet ager; saepe Eumenidum uocesque manusque
in medium sonuere diem, Letique triformis
ianitor agricolas campis auditus abegit.
Hac et tunc fusca uolucer deus obsitus umbra
exsilit ad superos, infernaque nubila uultu
discutit et uiuis adflatibus ora serenat.
Inde per Arcturum mediaeque silentia Lunae
arua super populosque meat. Sopor obuius illi
Noctis agebat equos, trepidusque assurgit honori
numinis et recto decedit limite caeli.
Inferior uolat umbra deo, praereptaque noscit
sidera principiumque sui; iamque ardua Cirrhae
pollutamque suo despectat Phocida busto.
Ventum erat ad Thebas; gemuit prope limina nati
Laius et notos cunctatus inire penates.
Vt uero et celsis suamet iuga nixa columnis
uidit et infectos etiamnum sanguine currus,
paene retro turbatus abit: nec summa Tonantis
iussa nec Arcadiae retinent spiramina uirgae.
Et tunc forte dies noto signata Tonantis
fulmine, praerupti cum te, tener Euhie, partus
transmisere patri. Tyriis ea causa colonis
insomnem ludo certatim educere noctem
suaserat; effusi passim per tecta, per agros,
serta inter uacuosque mero crateras anhelum
proflabant sub luce deum; tunc plurima buxus
aeraque taurinos sonitu uincentia pulsus.
Ipse etiam gaudens nemorosa per auia sanas
impulerat matres Baccho meliore Cithaeron.
Qualia per Rhodopen rabido conuiuia coetu
Bistones aut mediae ponunt conuallibus Ossae.
Illis semianimum pecus excussaeque leonum
ore dapes, et lacte nouo domuisse furorem
luxus: at Ogygii si quando adflauit Iacchi
saeuus odor, tunc saxa manu, tunc pocula pulchrum
spargere et immerito sociorum sanguine fuso
instaurare diem festasque reponere mensas.
Nox ea, cum tacita uolucer Cyllenius aura
regis Echionii stratis adlapsus, ubi ingens
fuderat Assyriis exstructa tapetibus alto
membra toro. pro gnara nihil mortalia fati
corda sui! Capit ille dapes, habet ille soporem.
Tunc senior quae iussus agit, neu falsa uideri
noctis imago queat, longaeui uatis opacos
Tiresiae uultus uocemque et uellera nota
induitur. Mansere comae propexaque mento
canities pallorque suus, sed falsa cucurrit
infula per crines, glaucaeque innexus oliuae
uittarum prouenit honos: dein tangere ramo
pectora et hac uisus fatorum expromere uoces:
"Non somni tibi tempus, iners qui nocte sub alta,
germani secure, iaces, ingentia dudum
acta uocant rerumque graues, ignaue, paratus.
Tu ueluti, magnum si iam tollentibus austris
Ionium nigra iaceat sub nube, magister
immemor armorum uersantisque aequora claui
cunctaris. iamque ille nouis (scit fama) superbit
conubiis uiresque parat, quis regna capessat,
quis neget, inque tua senium sibi destinat aula.
Dant animos socer augurio fatalis Adrastus
dotalesque Argi, nec non in foedera uitae
pollutus placuit fraterno sanguine Tydeus.
Hinc tumor, et longus fratri promitteris exsul.
Ipse deum genitor tibi me miseratus ab alto
mittit: habe Thebas, caecumque cupidine regni
ausurumque eadem germanum expelle, nec ultra
fraternos inhiantem obitus sine fidere coeptis
fraudibus aut Cadmo dominas inferre Mycenas."
Dixit, et abscedens - etenim iam pallida turbant
sidera lucis equi - ramos ac uellera fronti
deripuit, confessus auum, dirique nepotis
incubuit stratis, iugulum mox caede patentem
nudat et undanti perfundit uulnere somnum.
Illi rupta quies, attollit membra toroque
eripitur plenus monstris, uanumque cruorem
excutiens simul horret auum fratremque requirit.
Qualis ubi audito uenantum murmure tigris
horruit in maculas somnosque excussit inertes,
bella cupit laxatque genas et temperat ungues,
mox ruit in turmas natisque alimenta cruentis
spirantem fert ore uirum: sic excitus ira
ductor in absentem consumit proelia fratrem.
Et iam Mygdoniis elata cubilibus alto
impulerat caelo gelidas Aurora tenebras,
rorantis excussa comas multumque sequenti
Sole rubens; illi roseus per nubila seras
aduertit flammas alienumque aethera tardo
Lucifer exit equo, donec pater igneus orbem
impleat atque ipsi radios uetet esse sorori,
cum senior Talaionides nec longa morati
Dircaeusque gradum pariterque Acheloius heros
corripuere toris. Illos post uerbera fessos
exceptamque hiemem cornu perfuderat omni
Somnus; at Inachio tenuis sub pectore regi
tracta quies, dum mente deos inceptaque uersat
hospitia, et quae sint generis ascita repertis
fata mouet. Postquam mediis in sedibus aulae
congressi inque uicem dextras iunxere locumque,
quo serere arcanas aptum atque euoluere curas,
insidunt, prior his dubios compellat Adrastus:
"Egregii iuuenum, quos non sine numine regnis
inuexit nox dextra meis, quibus ipse per imbres
fulminibus mixtos intempestumque Tonantem
has meus usque domus uestigia fecit Apollo,
non equidem obscurum uobis plebique Pelasgae
esse rear, quantis conubia nostra procorum
turba petant studiis; geminae mihi namque, nepotum
laeta fides, aequo pubescunt sidere natae.
Quantus honos quantusque pudor, ne credite patri,
et super hesternas licuit cognoscere mensas.
Has tumidi solio et late dominantibus armis
optauere uiri - longum enumerare Pheraeos
Oebaliosque duces - et Achaea per oppida matres
spem generis, nec plura tuus despexerat Oeneus
foedera Pisaeisque socer metuendus habenis.
sed mihi nec Sparta genitos nec ab Elide missos
iungere fas generos: uobis hic sanguis et aulae
cura meae longo promittitur ordine fati.
Di bene, quod tales stirpemque animosque uenitis,
ut responsa iuuent: hic durae tempore noctis
partus honos, haec illa uenit post uerbera merces".
Audierant, fixosque oculos per mutua paulum
ora tenent, uisique inter sese ordine fandi
cedere. Sed cunctis Tydeus audentior actis
incipit: "O quam te parcum in praeconia famae
mens agitat matura tuae, quantumque ferentem
fortunam uirtute domas! Cui cedat Adrastus
imperiis? quis te solio Sicyonis auitae
excitum infrenos componere legibus Argos
nesciat? atque utinam his manibus permittere gentis,
Iuppiter aeque, uelis, quas Doricus alligat intus
Isthmos et alterno quas margine submouet infra!
Non fugeret diras lux intercisa Mycenas,
saeua nec Eleae gemerent certamina ualles,
Eumenidesque aliis aliae sub regibus, et quae
tu potior, Thebane, queri: nos uero uolentes
expositique animis." hic interfatus et alter
subicit: "Anne aliquis soceros accedere talis
abnuat? Exsulibus quamquam patriaque fugatis
nondum laeta Venus, tamen omnis corde resedit
tristitia, adfixique animo cessere dolores.
Nec minus haec laeti trahimus solacia, quam si
praecipiti conuulsa Noto prospectet amicam
puppis humum. Iuuat ingressos felicia regni
omina, quod superest fati uitaeque laborum
fortuna transire tua". Nec plura morati
consurgunt, dictis impensius aggerat omne
promissum Inachius pater, auxilioque futurum
et patriis spondet reduces inducere regnis.
Ergo alacres Argi, fuso rumore per urbem
aduenisse duci generos primisque hymenaeis
egregiam Argian nec formae laude secundam
Deipylen tumida iam uirginitate iugari,
gaudia mente parant; socias it Fama per urbes,
finitimisque agitatur agris procul usque Lycaeos
Partheniosque super saltus Ephyraeaque rura
nec minus Ogygias eadem dea turbida Thebas
insilit et totis perfundit moenia pinnis
Labdaciumque ducem praemissae consona nocti
territat; hospitia et thalamos et foedera regni
permixtumque genus - quae tanta licentia monstro,
quis furor est? -, iam bella canit. Diffuderat Argos
exspectata dies: laeto regalia coetu
atria complentur, species est cernere auorum
comminus et uiuis certantia uultibus aera.
Tantum ausae perferre manus! Pater ipse bicornis
in laeuum prona nixus sedet Inachus urna;
hunc tegit Iasiusque senex placidusque Phoroneus,
et bellator Abas indignatusque Tonantem
Acrisius nudoque ferens caput ense Coroebus,
toruaque iam Danai facinus meditantis imago;
exin mille duces. foribus tum immissa superbis
unda fremit uulgi, procerum manus omnis et alto
quis propior de rege gradus, stant ordine primi.
Interior sacris calet et sonat aula tumultu
femineo; casta matrem cinxere corona
Argolides, pars uirginibus circum undique fusae
foedera conciliant noua solanturque timorem.
Ibant insignes uultuque habituque uerendo
candida purpureum fusae super ora pudorem
deiectaeque genas; tacite subit ille supremus
uirginitatis amor, primaeque modestia culpae
confundit uultus; tunc ora rigantur honestis
imbribus, et teneros lacrimae iuuere parentes.
Non secus ac supero pariter si cardine lapsae
Pallas et asperior Phoebi soror, utraque telis,
utraque torua genis flauoque in uertice nodo,
illa suas Cyntho comites agat, haec Aracyntho;
tunc, si fas oculis, non umquam longa tuendo
expedias, cui maior honos, cui gratior, aut plus
de Ioue, mutatosque uelint transumere cultus,
et Pallas deceat pharetras et Delia cristas.
Certant laetitia superosque in uota fatigant
Inachidae, quae cuique domus sacrique facultas.
Hi fibris animaque litant, hi caespite nudo,
nec minus auditi, si mens accepta, merentur
ture deos, fractisque obtendunt limina siluis.
Ecce metu subito - Lachesis sic dura iubebat -
impulsae mentes, excussaque gaudia patri,
et turbata dies. innupto in limine adibant
Pallada, Munychiis cui non Argiua per urbes
posthabita est Larissa iugis; hic more parentum
Iasides, thalamis ubi casta adolesceret aetas,
uirgineas libare comas primosque solebant
excusare toros. Celsam subeuntibus arcem
in gradibus summi delapsus culmine templi,
Arcados Euhippi spolium, cadit aereus orbis,
praemissasque faces, festum nubentibus ignem,
obruit, eque adytis simul exaudita remotis
nondum ausos firmare gradum tuba terruit ingens.
In regem conuersi omnes formidine prima,
mox audisse negant; cunctos tamen omina rerum
dira mouent, uariisque metum sermonibus augent.
Nec mirum: nam tum infaustos donante marito
ornatus, Argia, geris dirumque monile
Harmoniae. Longa est series, sed nota malorum
persequar, unde nouis tam saeua potentia donis.
Lemnius haec, ut prisca fides, Mauortia longum
furta dolens, capto postquam nil obstat amori
poena nec ultrices castigauere catenae,
Harmoniae dotale decus sub luce iugali
struxerat. Hoc, docti quamquam maiora, laborant
Cyclopes, notique operum Telchines amica
certatim iuuere manu; sed plurimus ipsi
sudor. Ibi arcano florentis igne zmaragdos
cingit et infaustas percussum adamanta figuras
Gorgoneosque orbes Siculaque incude relictos
fulminis extremi cineres uiridumque draconum
lucentes a fronte iubas; hic flebile germen
Hesperidum et dirum Phrixei uelleris aurum;
tum uarias pestes raptumque interplicat atro
Tisiphones de crine ducem, et quae pessima ceston
uis probat; haec circum spumis lunaribus ungit
callidus atque hilari perfundit cuncta ueneno.
Non hoc Pasithea blandarum prima sororum,
non Decor Idaliusque puer, sed Luctus et Irae
et Dolor et tota pressit Discordia dextra.
Prima fides operi, Cadmum comitata iacentem
Harmonia uersis in sibila dira querellis
Illyricos longo sulcauit pectore campos.
Improba mox Semele uix dona nocentia collo
induit, et fallax intrauit limina Iuno.
Teque etiam, infelix, perhibent, Iocasta, decorum
possedisse nefas; uultus hac laude colebas,
heu quibus, heu placitura toris! post longior ordo.
Tunc donis Argia nitet uilisque sororis
ornatus sacro praeculta superuenit auro.
Viderat hoc coniunx perituri uatis et aras
ante omnis epulasque trucem secreta coquebat
inuidiam, saeuis detur si quando potiri
cultibus, heu nihil auguriis adiuta propinquis.
Quos optat gemitus, quantas cupit impia clades!
Digna quidem, sed quid miseri decepta mariti
arma, quid insontes nati meruere furores?
Postquam regales epulas et gaudia uulgi
bisseni clusere dies, Ismenius heros
respicere ad Thebas iamque et sua quaerere regna.
Quippe animum subit illa dies, qua, sorte benigna
fratris, Echionia steterat priuatus in aula,
respiciens descisse deos trepidoque tumultu
dilapsos comites, nudum latus omne fugamque
fortunae. Namque una soror producere tristis
exulis ausa uias; etiam hanc in limine primo
liquerat et magna lacrimas incluserat ira.
Tunc quos excedens hilaris, quis cultus iniqui
praecipuus ducis, et profugo quos ipse notarat
ingemuisse sibi, per noctem ac luce sub omni
digerit; exedere animum dolor iraque demens
et, qua non grauior mortalibus addita curis,
spes, ubi longa uenit. Talem sub pectore nubem
consilii uoluens Dircen Cadmique negatas
apparat ire domos: ueluti dux taurus amata
ualle carens, pulsum solito quem gramine uictor
iussit ab erepta longe mugire iuuenca,
cum profugo placuere tori ceruixque recepto
sanguine magna redit fractaeque in pectora quercus,
bella cupit pastusque et capta armenta reposcit
iam pede, iam cornu melior - pauet ipse reuersum
uictor, et attoniti uix agnouere magistri -:
non alias tacita iuuenis Teumesius iras
mente acuit. Sed fida uias arcanaque coniunx
senserat; utque toris primo complexa iacebat
aurorae pallore uirum: "Quos, callide, motus
quamue fugam moliris?" ait "nil transit amantes.
Sentio, peruigiles acuunt suspiria questus,
numquam in pace sopor. Quotiens haec ora natare
fletibus et magnas latrantia pectora curas
admota deprendo manu? Nil foedere rupto
conubiisue super moueor uiduaque iuuenta,
etsi crudus amor necdum post flammea toti
intepuere tori: tua me, properabo fateri,
angit, amate, salus. tune incomitatus, inermis
regna petes poterisque tuis decedere Thebis,
si neget? Atque illum sollers deprendere semper
Fama duces tumidum narrat raptoque superbum
difficilemque tibi: necdum consumpserit annum.
Me quoque nunc uates, nunc exta minantia diuos
aut auium lapsus aut turbida noctis imago
terret, et a, memini, numquam mihi falsa per umbras
Iuno uenit. quo tendis iter? ni conscius ardor
ducit et ad Thebas melior socer". Hic breue tandem
risit Echionius iuuenis tenerumque dolorem
coniugis amplexu solatus et oscula maestis
tempestiua genis posuit lacrimasque repressit:
"Solue metus animo, dabitur, mihi crede, merentum
consiliis tranquilla dies; te fortior annis
nondum cura decet. Sciat haec Saturnius olim
fata parens, oculosque polo demittere si quos
Iustitia et rectum terris defendere curat:
fors aderit lux illa tibi, qua moenia cernes
coniugis et geminas ibis regina per urbes".
Sic ait, et caro raptim se limine profert.
Tydea iam socium coeptis, iam pectore fido
aequantem curas - tantus post iurgia mentes
uinxit amor - socerumque adfatur tristis Adrastum.
Fit mora consilio, cum multa mouentibus una
iam potior cunctis sedit sententia, fratris
pertemptare fidem tutosque in regna precando
explorare aditus. Audax ea munera Tydeus
sponte subit; nec non et te, fortissime gentis
Aetolum, multum lacrimis conata morari
Deipyle, sed iussa patris tutique regressus
legato iustaeque preces uicere sororis.
Iamque emensus iter siluis ac litore durum,
qua Lernaea palus ambustaque sontibus alte
intepet hydra uadis, et qua uix carmine raro
longa sonat Nemea nondum pastoribus ausis,
qua latus Eoos Ephyres quod uergit ad euros
Sisyphiique sedent portus irataque terrae
curua Palaemonio secluditur unda Lechaeo.
Hinc praeteruectus Nisum et te, mitis Eleusin,
laeuus abit, iamque arua gradu Teumesia et arces
intrat Agenoreas; ibi durum Eteoclea cernit
sublimem solio saeptumque horrentibus armis.
Iura ferus populo trans legem ac tempora regni
iam fratris de parte dabat; sedet omne paratus
in facinus queriturque fidem tam sero reposci.
Constitit in mediis - ramus manifestat oliuae
legatum - causasque uiae nomenque rogatus
edidit; utque rudis fandi pronusque calori
semper erat, iustis miscens tamen aspera coepit:
"Si tibi plana fides et dicti cura maneret
foederis, ad fratrem completo iustius anno
legatos hinc ire fuit teque ordine certo
fortunam exuere et laetum descendere regno,
ut uagus ille diu passusque haud digna per urbes
ignotas pactae tandem succederet aulae.
Sed quia dulcis amor regni blandumque potestas,
posceris: astriferum iam uelox circulus orbem
torsit et amissae redierunt montibus umbrae,
ex quo frater inops ignota per oppida tristes
exul agit casus; et te iam tempus aperto
sub Ioue ferre dies terrenaque frigora membris
ducere et externos submissum ambire penates.
Pone modum laetis; satis ostro diues et auro
conspicuus tenuem germani pauperis annum
risisti; moneo, regnorum gaudia temet
dedoceas patiensque fugae mereare reuerti".
Dixerat. Ast illi tacito sub pectore dudum
ignea corda fremunt, iacto uelut aspera saxo
comminus erigitur serpens, cui subter inanes
longa sitis latebras totumque agitata per artus
conuocat in fauces et squamea colla uenenum:
"Cognita si dubiis fratris mihi iurgia signis
ante forent nec clara odiorum arcana paterent,
sufficeret uel sola fides, quam toruus et illum
mente gerens, ceu saepta nouus iam moenia laxet
fossor et hostiles inimicent classica turmas,
praefuris. in medios si comminus orsa tulisses
Bistonas aut refugo pallentes sole Gelonos,
parcior eloquio et medii reuerentior aequi
inciperes. Neque te furibundae crimine mentis
arguerim: mandata refers. Nunc omnia quando
plena minis, nec sceptra fide nec pace sequestra
poscitis, et propior capulo manus, haec mea regi
Argolico, nondum aequa tuis, uice dicta reporta:
quae sors iusta mihi, quae non indebitus annis
sceptra dicauit honos, teneo longumque tenebo.
Te penes Inachiae dotalis regia dono
coniugis, et Danaae - quid enim maioribus actis
inuideam? - cumulentur opes, felicibus Argos
auspiciis Lernamque regas; nos horrida Dirces
pascua et Euboicis artatas fluctibus oras,
non indignati miserum dixisse parentem
Oedipoden: tibi larga - Pelops et Tantalus auctor! -
nobilitas, propiorque fluat de sanguine iuncto
Iuppiter. anne feret luxu consueta paterno
hunc regina larem? Nostrae cui iure sorores
anxia pensa trahant, longo quam sordida luctu
mater et ex imis auditus forte tenebris
offendat sacer ille senex! Iam pectora uulgi
adsueuere iugo: pudet heu! plebisque patrumque,
ne totiens incerta ferant mutentque gementes
imperia et dubio pigeat parere tyranno.
Non parcit populis regnum breue; respice, quantus
horror et attoniti nostro in discrimine ciues!
Hosne ego, quis certa est sub te duce poena, relinquam?
Iratus, germane, uenis. Fac uelle: nec ipsi,
si modo notus amor meritique est gratia, patres
reddere regna sinent". Non ultra passus et orsa
iniecit mediis sermonibus obuia: "Reddes",
ingeminat, "reddes; non si te ferreus agger
ambiat aut triplices alio tibi carmine muros
Amphion auditus agat, nil tela nec ignes
obstiterint, quin ausa luas nostrisque sub armis
captiuo moribundus humum diademate pulses.
Tu merito; ast horum miseret, quos sanguine uilis
coniugibus natisque infanda ad proelia raptos
proicis excidio, bone rex. O quanta Cithaeron
funera sanguineusque uadis, Ismene, rotabis!
Haec pietas, haec magna fides! Nec crimina gentis
mira equidem duco: sic primus sanguinis auctor
incestique patrum thalami; sed fallit origo:
Oedipodis tu solus eras, haec praemia morum
ac sceleris, uiolente, feres! Nos poscimus annum;
sed moror". Haec audax etiamnum in limine retro
uociferans iam tunc impulsa per agmina praeceps
euolat. Oeneae uindex sic ille Dianae
erectus saetis et aduncae fulmine malae,
cum premeret Pelopea phalanx, saxa obuia uoluens
fractaque perfossis arbusta Acheloia ripis,
iam Telamona solo, iam stratum Ixiona linquens
te, Meleagre, subit: tibi demum cuspide lata
haesit et obnixo ferrum laxauit in armo.
Talis adhuc trepidum linquit Calydonius heros
concilium infrendens, ipsi ceu regna negentur,
festinatque uias ramumque precantis oliuae
abicit. attonitae tectorum e culmine summo
aspectant matres, saeuoque infanda precantur
Oenidae tacitoque simul sub pectore regi.
Nec piger ingenio scelerum fraudisque nefandae
rector eget. Iuuenum fidos, lectissima bello
corpora, nunc pretio, nunc ille hortantibus ardens
sollicitat dictis, nocturnaque proelia saeuus
instruit, et sanctum populis per saecula nomen
legatum insidiis tacitoque inuadere ferro
- quid regnis non uile? - cupit. Quas quaereret artes,
si fratrem, Fortuna, dares! o caeca nocentum
consilia! O semper timidum scelus! Exit in unum
plebs ferro iurata caput; ceu castra subire
apparet aut celsum crebri arietis ictibus urbis
inclinare latus: densi sic agmine facto
quinquaginta altis funduntur in ordine portis.
Macte animi, tantis dignus qui crederis armis!
Fert uia per dumos propior, qua calle latenti
praecelerant densaeque legunt compendia siluae.
Lecta dolis sedes: gemini procul urbe malignis
faucibus urguentur colles, quos umbra superne
montis et incuruis claudunt iuga frondea siluis;
insidias natura loco caecamque latendi
struxit opem; mediasque arte secat aspera rupes
semita, quam subter campi deuexaque latis
arua iacent spatiis. Contra importuna crepido,
Oedipodioniae domus alitis; hic fera quondam
pallentis erecta genas suffusaque tabo
lumina, concretis infando sanguine plumis
reliquias amplexa uirum semesaque nudis
pectoribus stetit ossa premens uisuque tremendo
collustrat campos, si quis concurrere dictis
hospes inexplicitis aut comminus ire uiator
audeat et dirae commercia iungere linguae;
nec mora, quin acuens exsertos protinus ungues
liuentisque manus fractosque in uulnera dentes
terribili applausu circum hospita surgeret ora;
et latuere doli, donec de rupe cruenta
heu! simili deprensa uiro, cessantibus alis,
tristis inexpletam scopulis adfligeret aluum.
Monstrat silua nefas, horrent uicina iuuenci
gramina, damnatis auidum pecus abstinet herbis.
Non Dryadum placet umbra choris, non commoda sacris
Faunorum, diraeque etiam fugere uolucres
prodigiale nemus. Tacitis huc gressibus acti
deueniunt peritura cohors, hostemque superbum
adnixi iaculis et humi posita arma tenentes
exspectant densaque nemus statione coronant.
Coeperat umenti Phoebum subtexere palla
Nox et caeruleam terris infuderat umbram.
Ille propinquabat siluis et ab aggere celso
scuta uirum galeasque uidet rutilare comantis,
qua laxant rami nemus aduersaque sub umbra
flammeus aeratis lunae tremor errat in armis.
Obstipuit uisis, ibat tamen, horrida tantum
spicula et inclusum capulo tenus admouet ensem,
ac prior: "Vnde, uiri, quidue occultatis in armis?"
non humili terrore rogat. Nec reddita contra
uox, fidamque negant suspecta silentia pacem.
Ecce autem uasto Chthonii contorta lacerto,
quo duce freta cohors, fuscas interuolat auras
hasta; sed audenti deus et fortuna recessit.
Per tamen Olenii tegimen suis atraque saetis
terga super laeuos umeros uicina cruori
effugit et uiduo iugulum ferit irrita ligno.
Tunc horrere comae sanguisque in corda gelari.
Huc ferus atque illuc animum pallentiaque ira
ora ferens - nec tanta putat sibi bella parari -:
"Ferte gradum contra campoque erumpite aperto!
Quis timor audendi, quae tanta ignauia? Solus,
solus in arma uoco". neque in his mora; quos ubi plures,
quam ratus, innumeris uidet excursare latebris,
hos prodire iugis, illos e uallibus imis
crescere, nec paucos campo, totumque sub armis
collucere iter, ut clausas indagine profert
in medium uox prima feras, quae sola medendi
turbata ratione uia est, petit ardua dirae
Sphingos et abscisis infringens cautibus uncas
exsuperat iuga dira manus, scopuloque potitus,
unde procul tergo metus et uia prona nocendi,
saxum ingens, quod uix plena ceruice gementes
uertere humo murisque ualent inferre iuuenci,
rupibus euellit; dein toto sanguine nixus
sustinet, immanem quaerens librare ruinam,
qualis in aduersos Lapithas erexit inanem
magnanimus cratera Pholus. Stupet obuia leto
turba superstantem atque emissi turbine montis
obruitur; simul ora uirum, simul arma manusque
fractaque commixto sederunt pectora ferro.
Quattuor hic adeo disiecti mole sub una
congemuere, fuga tremefactum protinus agmen
excutitur coeptis. Neque enim temnenda iacebant
funera: fulmineus Dorylas, quem regibus ardens
aequabat uirtus, Martisque e semine Theron
terrigenas confisus auos, nec uertere cuiquam
frena secundus Halys, sed tunc pedes occubat aruis,
Pentheumque trahens nondum te Phaedimus aequo,
Bacche, genus. Quorum ut subitis exterrita fatis
agmina turbatam uidit laxare cateruam,
quae duo sola manu gestans acclinia monti
fixerat, intorquet iacula et fugientibus addit.
Mox in plana libens, nudo ne pectore tela
inciderent, saltu praeceps defertur et orbem,
quem procul oppresso uidit Therone uolutum,
corripuit, tergoque et uertice tegmina nota
saeptus et hostili propugnans pectora parma
constitit. inde iterum densi glomerantur in unum
Ogygidae firmantque gradum; trahit ocius ensem
Bistonium Tydeus, Mauortia munera magni
Oeneos, et partes pariter diuisus in omnes
hos obit atque illos ferroque micantia tela
decutit; impeditant numero seque ipsa uicissim
arma premunt, nec uis conatibus ulla, sed ipsae
in socios errare manus et corpora turba
inuolui prolapsa sua; manet ille ruentis
angustus telis et inexpugnabilis obstat.
Non aliter - Geticae si fas est credere Phlegrae -
armatum immensus Briareus stetit aethera contra,
hinc Phoebi pharetras, hinc toruae Pallados anguis,
inde Pelethroniam praefixa cuspide pinum
Martis, et hinc lasso mutata Pyracmone temnens
fulmina, cum toto nequiquam obsessus Olympo
tot queritur cessare manus: non segnior ardet
huc illuc clipeum obiectans, seque ipse recedens
circuit, interdum trepidis occurrit et instat
spicula deuellens, clipeo qua plurima toto
fixa tremunt armantque uirum saepe aspera passum
uulnera, sed nullum uitae in secreta receptum
nec mortem sperare ualet. Rotat ipse furentem
Deilochum, comitemque illi iubet ire sub umbras
Phegea sublata minitantem bella securi
Dircaeumque Gyan et Echionium Lycophontem.
Iam trepidi sese quaerunt numerantque, nec idem
caedis amor, plenamque dolent rarescere turbam.
Ecce Chromis Tyrii demissus origine Cadmi
- hunc utero quondam Dryope Phoenissa grauato
rapta repente choris onerisque oblita ferebat,
dumque trahit prensis taurum tibi cornibus, Euhan,
procidit impulsus nimiis conatibus infans -
tunc audax iaculis et capti pelle leonis
pinea nodosam quassabat robora clauam
increpitans: "Vnusne, uiri, tot caedibus unus
ibit ouans Argos? uix credet fama reuerso.
Heus socii, nullaene manus, nulla arma ualebunt?
Haec regi promissa, Cydon, haec, Lampe, dabamus?"
Dum clamat, subit ore cauo Teumesia cornus,
nec prohibent fauces; atque illi uoce repleta
intercepta natat prorupto in sanguine lingua.
Stabat adhuc, donec transmissa morte per artus
labitur immorsaque cadens obmutuit hasta.
Vos quoque, Thespiadae, cur infitiatus honora
arcuerim fama? Fratris moribunda leuabat
membra solo Periphas - nil indole clarius illa
nec pietate fuit -, laeua marcentia colla
sustentans dextraque latus; singultibus artum
exhaurit thoraca dolor, nec uincla coërcent
undantem fletu galeam, cum multa gementi
pone grauis curuas perfringit lancea costas.
Exit et in fratrem, cognataque pectora telo
conserit; ille oculos etiamnum in luce natantes
sistit et aspecta germani morte resoluit.
At cui uita recens et adhuc in uulnere uires:
"Hos tibi complexus, haec dent" ait "oscula nati".
Procubuere pares fatis, miserabile uotum
mortis, et alterna clauserunt lumina dextra.
Protinus idem ultro iaculo parmaque Menoeten
proterrebat agens trepidis uestigia retro
passibus urguentem, donec defecit iniqua
lapsus humo, pariterque manus distractus in ambas
orat et a iugulo nitentem sustinet hastam:
"Parce per has stellis interlabentibus umbras,
per superos noctemque tuam; sine, tristia Thebis
nuntius acta feram uulgique per ora pauentis
contempto te rege canam: sic irrita nobis
tela cadant, nullique tuum penetrabile ferro
pectus, et optanti uictor reueharis amico".
Dixerat. Ille nihil uultum mutatus "inanis
perdis" ait "lacrimas: et tu, ni fallor, iniquo
pollicitus mea colla duci. nunc arma diemque
proice; quid timidae sequeris compendia uitae?
bella manent". Simul haec, et crassum sanguine telum
iam redit: ille super dictis infensus amaris
prosequitur uictos: "Non haec trieterica uobis
nox patrio de more uenit, non orgia Cadmi
cernitis aut auidas Bacchum scelerare parentes.
Nebridas et fragiles thyrsos portare putastis
imbellem ad sonitum maribusque incognita ueris
foeda Celaenaea committere proelia buxo?
Hic aliae caedes, alius furor: ite sub umbras,
o timidi paucique!" Haec intonat; ast tamen illi
membra negant, lassusque ferit praecordia sanguis.
Iam sublata manus cassos defertur in ictus,
tardatique gradus, clipeum nec sustinet umbo
mutatum spoliis, gelidus cadit imber anhelo
pectore, tum crines ardentiaque ora cruentis
roribus et taetra morientum aspargine manant:
ut leo, qui campis longe custode fugato
Massylas depastus oues, ubi sanguine multo
luxuriata fames ceruixque et tabe grauatae
consedere iubae, mediis in caedibus astat
aeger, hians uictusque cibis; nec iam amplius irae
crudescunt: tantum uacuis ferit aera malis
molliaque eiecta delambit uellera lingua.
Ille etiam Thebas spoliis et sanguine plenus
isset et attonitis sese populoque ducique
ostentasset ouans, ni tu, Tritonia uirgo,
flagrantem multaque operis caligine plenum
consilio dignata uirum: "Sate gente superbi
Oeneos, absentis cui dudum uincere Thebas
annuimus, iam pone modum nimiumque secundis
parce deis: huic una fides optanda labori.
Fortuna satis usus abi". Restabat acerbis
funeribus socioque gregi non sponte superstes
Haemonides - ille haec praeuiderat, omina doctus
aëris et nulla deceptus ab alite - Maeon,
nec ueritus prohibere ducem, sed fata monentem
priuauere fide. uita miserandus inerti
damnatur; trepido Tydeus immitia mandat:
"Quisquis es Aonidum, quem crastina munere nostro
manibus exemptum mediis Aurora uidebit,
haec iubeo perferre duci: cinge aggere portas,
tela noua, fragiles aeuo circum inspice muros,
praecipue stipare uiros densasque memento
multiplicare acies! Fumantem hunc aspice late
ense meo campum: tales in bella uenimus."
Haec ait, et meritae pulchrum tibi, Pallas, honorem
sanguinea de strage parat, praedamque iacentem
comportat gaudens ingentiaque acta recenset.
Quercus erat tenerae iam longum oblita iuuentae
aggere camporum medio, quam plurimus ambit
frondibus incuruis et crudo robore cortex.
Huic leues galeas perfossaque uulnere crebro
inserit arma ferens, huic truncos ictibus enses
subligat et tractas membris spirantibus hastas.
Corpora tunc atque arma simul cumulata superstans
incipit - oranti nox et iuga longa resultant -:
"Diua ferox, magni decus ingeniumque parentis,
bellipotens, cui torua genis horrore decoro
cassis et asperso crudescit sanguine Gorgon,
nec magis ardentes Mauors hastataque pugnae
impulerit Bellona tubas, huic adnue sacro,
seu Pandionio nostras inuisere noctes
monte uenis, siue Aonia deuertis Itone
laeta choris, seu tu Libyco Tritone repexas
lota comas, qua te biiugo temone frementem
intemeratarum uolucer rapit axis equarum:
nunc tibi fracta uirum spolia informisque dicamus
exuuias. At si patriis Parthaonis aruis
inferar et reduci pateat mihi Martia Pleuron,
aurea tunc mediis urbis tibi templa dicabo
collibus, Ionias qua despectare procellas
dulce sit, et flauo tollens ubi uertice pontum
turbidus obiectas Achelous Echinadas exit.
Hic ego maiorum pugnas uultusque tremendos
magnanimum effingam regum, figamque superbis
arma tholis, quaeque ipse meo quaesita reuexi
sanguine, quaeque dabis captis, Tritonia, Thebis.
Centum ibi uirgineis uotae Calydonides aris
Actaeas tibi rite faces et ab arbore casta
nectent purpureas niueo discrimine uittas,
peruigilemque focis ignem longaeua sacerdos
nutriet, arcanum numquam spretura pudorem.
Tu bellis, tu pace feres de more frequentes
primitias operum, non indignante Diana".
dixerat, et dulces iter instaurabat ad Argos.