Āt nōn Āŏnĭaē mŏdĕrātōr pērfĭdŭs ōraē
nōctĕ sŭb āncĭpĭtī, quāmvīs ūmēntĭbŭs āstrīs
lōngŭs ăd aūrōrām sŭpĕrēt lăbŏr, ōtĭă sōmnī
āccĭpĭt; īnvĭgĭlānt ănĭmō scĕlĕrīsquĕ părātī
sūpplĭcĭum ēxērcēnt cūraē; tūm plūrĭmă vērsāt
pēssĭmŭs īn dŭbĭīs aūgūr tĭmŏr. "Eī mĭhĭ" clāmāt,
"ūndĕ mŏraē?" - nām prōnă rătūs făcĭlēmquĕ tŏt ārmīs
Tŷdĕă, nēc nŭmĕrō vīrtūtem ănĭmūmquĕ rĕpēndīt -
"nūm rĕgĭō dīvērsă vĭaē? nūm mīssŭs ăb Ārgīs
sūbsĭdĭō glŏbŭs? ān scĕlĕrīs dătă fāmă pĕr ūrbēs
fīnĭtĭmās? paūcōsnĕ, pătēr Grādīvĕ, mănūvĕ
lēgĭmŭs īndĕcŏrēs? ăt ĕnīm fōrtīssĭmŭs īllīc
ēt Chrŏmĭs ēt Dŏrўlās ēt nōstrīs tūrrĭbŭs aēquī
Thēspĭădaē tōtōs răpĕrēnt mĭhĭ fūndĭtŭs Ārgōs.
Nēc tămĕn īllĕ mĕīs, rĕŏr, īmpĕnĕtrābĭlĭs ārmīs
aērĕ gĕrēns sŏlĭdōquĕ dătōs ădămāntĕ lăcērtōs
vēnĕrăt; heū sēgnēs, quōrūm lăbŏr haērĕt ĭn ūnō,
sī cōnsērtă mănūs". Vărĭō sīc tūrbĭdŭs aēstū
āngĭtŭr āc sēsē cūlpāt sŭpĕr ōmnĭă, quī nōn
ōrāntem īn mĕdĭīs lēgātūm coētĭbŭs ēnsĕ
pērcŭlĕrīt foēdāsquĕ pălām sătĭāvĕrĭt īrās.
Iām pŭdĕt īncēptī, iām paēnĭtĕt. Āc vĕlŭt īllĕ
flūctĭbŭs Īŏnĭīs Călăbraē dătŭs ārbĭtĕr ālnō
nēc rŭdĭs ūndārūm - pōrtūs sēd līnquĕre ămīcōs
pūrĭŏr Ōlĕnĭī frūstrā grădŭs īmpŭlĭt āstrī -,
cūm frăgŏr hībērnī sŭbĭtūs Iŏvĭs, ōmnĭă mūndī
claūstră tŏnānt mūltūsquĕ pŏlōs īnclīnăt Ŏrīōn,
īpsĕ quĭdēm mālīt tērrās pūgnātquĕ rĕvērtī,
fērt īngēns ā pūppĕ nŏtūs, tūnc ārtĕ rĕlīctā
īngĕmĭt ēt caēcās sĕquĭtūr iām nēscĭŭs ūndās:
tālĭs Ăgēnŏrĕūs dūctōr caēlōquĕ mŏrāntēm
Lūcĭfĕrum ēt sērōs maērēntĭbŭs īncrĕpăt ōrtūs.
Ēccĕ sŭb ōccĭdŭās vērsaē iām Nōctĭs hăbēnās
āstrōrūmque ŏbĭtūs, ŭbĭ prīmūm māxĭmă Tēthŷs
īmpŭlĭt Ēōō cūnctāntem Hўpĕrīŏnă pōntō,
īmă flăgēllātīs, sīgnūm lūgūbrĕ mălōrūm,
pōndĕrĭbūs trĕpĭdāvĭt hŭmūs, mōtūsquĕ Cĭthaērōn
āntīquās dĕdĭt īrĕ nĭvēs; tūnc vīsă lĕvārī
cūlmĭnă sēptēnaēquĕ iŭgō cōncūrrĕrĕ pōrtaē.
Ēt prŏpĕ sūnt caūsaē: gĕlĭdō rĕmĕābăt Ĕōō
īrātūs fātīs ēt trīstīs mōrtĕ nĕgātā
Haēmŏnĭdēs; nēcdum ōră pătēnt, dŭbĭūsquĕ nŏtārī
sīgnă dăbāt māgnaē lōngē mănĭfēstă rŭīnaē
plānctūque ēt gĕmĭtū; lăcrĭmās nām prōtĭnŭs ōmnīs
fūdĕrăt. Haūd ălĭtēr sāltū dēvērtĭtŭr ōrbūs
pāstŏr ăb āgrēstūm nōctūrnā strāgĕ lŭpōrūm,
cūiŭs ĕrīlĕ pĕcūs sīlvīs ĭnŏpīnŭs ăbēgīt
īmbĕr ĕt hībērnaē vēntōsă căcūmĭnă lūnaē:
lūcĕ pătēnt caēdēs; dŏmĭnō pērfērrĕ rĕcēntēs
īpsĕ tĭmēt cāsūs, haūstāque īnfōrmĭs hărēnā
quēstĭbŭs īmplĕt ăgrōs, stăbŭlīquĕ sĭlēntĭă māgnī
ōdĭt ĕt āmīssōs lōngō cĭĕt ōrdĭnĕ taūrōs.
Īllūm cōngēstaē pōrtārum ād līmĭnă mātrēs
ūt sōlūm vīdērĕ - nĕfās! - nūlla āgmĭnă cīrcūm
māgnănĭmōsquĕ dŭcēs, nīl aūsaē quaērĕrĕ tōllūnt
clāmōrēm, quālīs bēllō sūprēmŭs ăpērtīs
ūrbĭbŭs, aūt pĕlăgō iām dēscēndēntĕ cărīnā.
Ūt prīmum īnvīsī cŭpĭdō dătă cōpĭă rēgīs:
"Hānc tĭbĭ dē tāntō dōnāt fĕrŭs āgmĭnĕ Tŷdeūs
īnfēlīcem ănĭmām, sīve haēc sēntēntĭă dīvūm,
seū fōrtūnă fŭīt, seū, quōd pŭdĕt īră fătērī,
vīs īnvīctă vĭrī. Vīx crēdo ēt nūntĭŭs: ōmnēs
prōcŭbŭēre, ōmnēs. Nōctīs văgă lūmĭnă tēstōr
ēt sŏcĭūm mānēs ēt tē, mălă prōtĭnŭs ālēs,
quā rĕdĕō, nōn hānc lăcrĭmīs mĕrŭīssĕ nĕc āstū
crūdēlēm vĕnĭam ātque ĭnhŏnōraē mūnĕră lūcīs.
Sēd mĭhĭ iūssă dĕūm plăcĭtōque īgnāră mŏvērī
Ātrŏpŏs ātque ōlīm nōn haēc dătă iānŭă lētī
ērĭpŭērĕ nĕcēm. iāmque ūt mĭhĭ prōdĭgă vītaē
pēctŏra ĕt ēxtrēmām nĭhĭl hōrrēscēntĭă mōrtēm
āspĭcĭās: bēllum īnfāndum ōmĭnĭbūsquĕ nĕgātām
mōvīstī, fūnēste, ăcĭēm; dūm pēllĕrĕ lēgēs
ēt cōnsānguĭnĕō gēstīs rēgnārĕ sŭpērbūs
ēxsŭlĕ, tē sĕrĭēs ōrbārum ēxcīsă dŏmōrūm
plānctĭbŭs āssĭdŭīs, tē dīro hōrrōrĕ vŏlāntēs
quīnquāgīnta ănĭmaē cīrcūm nōctēsquĕ dĭēsquĕ
āssĭlĭēnt; nĕque ĕnim īpsĕ mŏrōr." iām mōvĕrăt īrās
rēx fĕrŭs, ēt trīstēs īgnēscūnt sānguĭnĕ vūltūs.
Īnde ūltrō Phlĕgўās ēt nōn cūnctātŏr ĭnīquī
Lābdăcŭs - hōs rēgnī fērrūm pĕnĕs - īrĕ mănūquĕ
prōtūrbārĕ părānt. sēd iām nūdāvĕrăt ēnsēm
māgnănĭmūs vātēs, ēt nūnc trŭcĭs ōră tўrānnī,
nūnc fērrum āspēctāns: "Nūmquām tĭbĭ sānguĭnĭs hūiūs
iūs ĕrĭt aūt māgnō fĕrĭēs īmpērdĭtă Tŷdeō
pēctŏră; vādo ĕquĭdem ēxsūltāns ērēptăquĕ fātă
īnsĕquŏr ēt cŏmĭtēs fĕrŏr ēxspēctātŭs ăd ūmbrās.
Tē sŭpĕrīs frātrīque" - ēt iām mĕdĭa ōrsă lŏquēntīs
ābscĭdĕrāt plēnūm căpŭlō lătŭs; īllĕ dŏlōrī
pūgnăt ĕt īngēntēm nīsū dŭplĭcātŭs ĭn īctūm
cōrrŭĭt, ēxtrēmīsque ănĭmaē sīngūltĭbŭs ērrāns
āltērnūs nūnc ōrĕ vĕnīt, nūnc vūlnĕrĕ sānguīs.
Ēxcūssaē prŏcĕrūm mēntēs, tūrbātăquĕ mūssānt
cōncĭlĭa; āst īllūm cōniūnx fīdīquĕ părēntēs
sērvāntēm vūltūs ēt tōrvum īn mōrtĕ pĕrāctā,
nōn lōngūm rĕdŭcēm laētāti, īn tēctă fĕrēbānt.
Sēd dŭcĭs īnfāndī răbĭdaē nōn hāctĕnŭs īraē
stārĕ quĕūnt; vĕtăt īgnĕ răpī, pācēmquĕ sĕpūlcrī
īmpĭŭs īgnārīs nēquīquām mānĭbŭs ārcēt.
Tū tămĕn ēgrĕgĭūs fātī mēntīsquĕ nĕc ūmquām
- sīc dīgnum ēst - pāssūrĕ sĭtūm, quī cōmmĭnŭs aūsūs
vādĕrĕ cōntēmptūm rēgēs, quāque āmplă vĕnīrēt
lībērtās, sāncīrĕ vĭām: quō cārmĭnĕ dīgnām,
quō sătĭs ōrĕ tŭīs fāmām vīrtūtĭbŭs āddām,
aūgŭr ămātĕ dĕīs? Nōn tē caēlēstĭă frūstrā
ēdŏcŭīt laūrōquĕ sŭā dīgnātŭs Ăpōllōst:
ēt nĕmŏrūm Dōdōnă părēns Cīrrhaēăquĕ vīrgŏ
aūdēbīt tăcĭtō pŏpŭlōs sūspēndĕrĕ Phoēbō.
Nūnc quŏquĕ Tārtărĕō mūltūm dīvīsŭs Ăvērnō
Ēlўsĭās, ī, cārpĕ plăgās, ŭbĭ mānĭbŭs āxīs
īnvĭŭs Ōgўgĭīs nēc sōntĭs ĭnīquă tўrānnī
iūssă vălēnt; dūrānt hăbĭtūs ēt mēmbră crŭēntīs
īnvĭŏlātă fĕrīs, nūdōquĕ sŭb āxĕ iăcēntēm
ēt nĕmŭs ēt trīstīs vŏlŭcrūm rĕvĕrēntĭă sērvāt.
Āt nūptae ēxănĭmēs pŭĕrīque aēgrīquĕ părēntēs
moēnĭbŭs ēffūsī pēr plānă, pĕr āvĭă, pāssīm
quīsquĕ sŭās ăvĭdi ād lăcrĭmās mĭsĕrābĭlĕ cūrrūnt
cērtāmēn, quōs dēnsă grădū cŏmĭtāntŭr ĕūntēs
mīlĭă sōlāndī stŭdĭō, pārs vīsĕrĕ flāgrānt
ūnĭŭs āctă vĭri ēt tāntōs īn nōctĕ lăbōrēs.
fērvĕt ĭtēr gĕmĭtu ēt plāngōrĭbŭs ārvă rĕclāmānt.
ūt vēro īnfāmēs scŏpŭlōs sīlvāmquĕ nĕfāndām
pērvēntūm, ceū nūllă prĭūs lāmēntă nĕc ātrī
mānāssēnt īmbrēs, sīc ōrĕ mĭsērrĭmŭs ūnō
ēxŏrĭtūr frăgŏr, āspēctūque āccēnsă crŭēntō
tūrbă fŭrīt: stāt sānguĭnĕō dīscīssŭs ămīctū
Lūctŭs ătrōx caēsōque īnvītāt pēctŏrĕ mātrēs.
Scrūtāntūr gălĕās frīgēntum īnvēntăquĕ mōnstrānt
cōrpŏră, prōcĭdŭaē sŭpĕr ēxtērnōsquĕ sŭōsquĕ.
Haē prēssānt īn tābĕ cŏmās, haē lūmĭnă sīgnānt
vūlnĕrăque āltă rĭgānt lăcrĭmīs, pārs spīcŭlă dēxtrā
nēquīquām pārcēntĕ trăhūnt, pārs mōllĭtĕr āptānt
brācchĭă trūncă lŏco ēt cērvīcĭbŭs ōră rĕpōnūnt.
Āt văgă pēr dūmōs văcŭīque īn pūlvĕrĕ cāmpī
māgnă părēns iŭvĕnūm, gĕmĭnī nūnc fūnĕrĭs, Īdē
squālēntēm sūblātă cŏmām līvēntĭăque ōră
ūnguĕ prĕmēns - nēc iam īnfēlīx mĭsĕrāndăquĕ, vērūm
tērrŏr ĭnēst lăcrĭmīs -, pĕr ĕt ārma ēt cōrpŏră pāssīm
cānĭtĭem īmpēxām dīrā tēllūrĕ vŏlūtāns
quaērĭt ĭnōps nātōs ōmnīque īn cōrpŏrĕ plāngīt.
Thēssălĭs haūd ălĭtēr bēllō gāvīsă rĕcēntī,
cuī gēntīlĕ nĕfās hŏmĭnēm rĕnŏvārĕ cănēndō,
mūltĭfĭda āttōllēns āntīquā lūmĭnă cēdrō
nōctĕ sŭbīt cāmpōs vērsātque īn sānguĭnĕ fūnctūm
vūlgŭs ĕt ēxplōrāt mānēs, cuī plūrĭmă būstō
īmpĕrĕt ād sŭpĕrōs: ănĭmārūm maēstă quĕrūntūr
cōncĭlĭa, ēt nīgrī pătĕr īndīgnātŭr Ăvērnī.
Īlli īn sēcēssū părĭtēr sūb rūpĕ iăcēbānt
fēlīcēs, quōs ūnă dĭēs, mănŭs ābstŭlĭt ūnă,
pērvĭă vūlnĕrĭbūs mĕdĭā trăbĕ pēctŏră nēxī.
ūt vīdīt lăcrĭmīsque ŏcŭlī pătŭērĕ prŏfūsīs:
"Hōsne ĕgŏ cōmplēxūs gĕnĕtrīx, haēc ōscŭlă, nātī,
vēstră tŭōr? Sīc vōs ēxtrēmo īn fīnĕ lĭgāvīt
īngĕnĭūm crūdēlĕ nĕcīs? Quaē vūlnĕră trāctēm,
quaē prĭŭs ōră prĕmām? Vōsne īllă pŏtēntĭă mātrīs,
vōs ŭtĕrī fōrtūnă mĕī, quā tāngĕrĕ dīvōs
rēbăr ĕt Ōgўgĭās tĭtŭlīs ānteīrĕ părēntēs?
ā, quāntō mĕlĭūs dēxtrāque īn sōrtĕ iŭgātaē,
quīs stĕrĭlēs thălămī nūllōque ŭlŭlātă dŏlōrĕ
rēspēxīt Lūcīnă dŏmūm! Mĭhĭ quīppĕ mălōrūm
caūsă lăbōr; sēd nēc bēllōrum īn lūcĕ pătēntī
cōnspĭcŭī fātīs aētērnăquĕ gēntĭbŭs aūsī
quaēsīstīs mĭsĕraē vūlnūs mĕmŏrābĭlĕ mātrī,
sēd mōrtem ōbscūrām nŭmĕrōsăquĕ fūnĕră pāssī,
heū quāntūs fūrtō crŭŏr ēt sĭnĕ laūdĕ iăcētīs!
Quīn ĕgŏ nōn dēxtrās mĭsĕrīs cōmplēxĭbŭs aūsīm
dīvĭdĕre ēt tāntī cōnsōrtĭă rūmpĕrĕ lētī:
ītĕ dĭū frātrēs īndīscrētīquĕ sŭprēmīs
īgnĭbŭs ēt cārōs ūrnā cōnfūndĭtĕ mānēs!"
Nēc mĭnŭs īntĕrĕā dīgēstā strāgĕ sŭōrūm
hīc Chthŏnĭūm cōniūnx, hīc mātēr Pēnthĕă clāmāt
Āstўŏchē, pŭĕrīquĕ rŭdēs, tŭă, Phaēdĭmĕ, prōlēs,
āmīssūm dĭdĭcērĕ pătrēm, Mārpēssăquĕ pāctūm
Phŷllĕă, sānguĭnĕūmquĕ lăvānt Ăcămāntă sŏrōrēs.
Tūnc fērrō rĕtĕgūnt sīlvās cōllīsquĕ prŏpīnquī
ānnōsūm trūncānt ăpĭcēm, quī cōnscĭŭs āctīs
nōctĭs ĕt īnspēxīt gĕmĭtūs; ĭbĭ grāndĭŏr aēvō
āntĕ rŏgōs, dūm quīsquĕ sŭō nĕquĭt īgnĕ rĕvēllī,
cōncĭlĭum īnfaūstūm dīctīs mūlcēbăt Ălētēs:
"Saēpĕ quĭdem īnfēlīx vărĭōque ēxērcĭtă lūdō
fātōrūm gēns nōstră fŭīt, Sīdōnĭŭs ēx quō
hōspĕs ĭn Āŏnĭōs iēcīt sătă fērrĕă sūlcōs,
ūndĕ nŏvī fētūs ēt fōrmīdātă cŏlōnīs
ārvă sŭīs. Sēd nēc vĕtĕrīs cūm rēgĭă Cādmī
fūlmĭnĕum īn cĭnĕrēm mŏnĭtīs Iūnōnĭs ĭnīquaē
cōnsēdīt, nĕquĕ fūnĕrĕā cūm laūdĕ pŏtītūs
īnfēlīx Ăthămās trĕpĭdō dē mōntĕ vĕnīrēt,
sēmiănĭmem heū laētō rĕfĕrēns clāmōrĕ Lĕārchūm,
hīc gĕmĭtūs Thēbīs, nēc tēmpŏrĕ clārĭŭs īllō
Phoēnīssaē sŏnŭērĕ dŏmūs, cūm lāssă fŭrōrēm
vīcĭt ĕt ād cŏmĭtūm lăcrĭmās ēxpāvĭt Ăgāvē.
Ūnă dĭēs sĭmĭlīs fātō spĕcĭēquĕ mălōrūm
aēquă fŭīt, quā māgnĭlŏquōs lŭĭt īmpĭă flātūs
Tāntălĭs, īnnŭmĕrīs cūm cīrcūmfūsă rŭīnīs
cōrpŏră tōt răpĕrēt tērrā, tōt quaērĕrĕt īgnēs.
tālĭs ĕrāt vūlgī stătŭs, ēt sīc ūrbĕ rĕlīctā
prīmaēvīquĕ sĕnēsque ēt lōngo ēxāmĭnĕ mātrēs
īnvĭdĭām plānxērĕ dĕīs mĭsĕrōquĕ tŭmūltū
bīnă pĕr īngēntēs stīpābānt fūnĕră pōrtās.
Mēque īpsūm mĕmĭnī - nēcdum āptă lăbōrĭbŭs aētās
flēssĕ tămēn gĕmĭtūquĕ mĕōs aēquāssĕ părēntēs. -
Īllă tămēn sŭpĕrī. Nēc quōd tĭbĭ, Dēlĭă, cāstōs
prōlāpsum ād fōntīs spĕcŭlā tĕmĕrārĕ prŏfānā
heū dŏmĭnum īnsānī nĭhĭl āgnōvērĕ Mŏlōssī,
dēflērīm măgĭs, aūt vērsō quōd sānguĭnĕ flūxīt
īn sŭbĭtōs rēgīnă lăcūs: sīc dūră Sŏrōrūm
pēnsă dăbānt vīsūmquĕ Iŏvī. Nūnc rēgĭs ĭnīquī
ōb nōxam īmmĕrĭtōs pătrĭaē tōt cūlmĭnă cīvēs
ēxŭĭmūs, nĕc ădhūc cālcātī foēdĕrĭs Ārgōs
fāmă sŭbīt, ēt iām bēllōrum ēxtrēmă dŏlēmūs.
quāntŭs ĕquīs quāntūsquĕ vĭrīs īn pūlvĕrĕ crāssō
sūdŏr! Ĭō quāntī crūdēlĕ rŭbēbĭtĭs āmnēs!
Vīdĕrĭt haēc bēllō vĭrĭdīs mănŭs: āst ĕgŏ dōnēr
dūm lĭcĕt īgnĕ mĕō tērrāque īnstērnăr ăvītā!"
haēc sĕnĭōr, mūltūmquĕ nĕfās Ĕtĕōclĭs ăcērbāt
crūdēlem īnfāndūmquĕ vŏcāns poēnāsquĕ dătūrūm.
Ūnde ĕă lībērtās? Iūxta īllī fīnĭs ĕt aētās
tōtă rĕtrō, sēraēquĕ dĕcūs vĕlĭt āddĕrĕ mōrtī.
Haēc sătŏr āstrōrūm iāmdūdum ē vērtĭcĕ mūndī
prōspēctāns prīmōque īmbūtās sānguĭnĕ gēntēs
Grādīvum āccīrī prŏpĕrē iŭbĕt. īllĕ fŭrēntēs
Bīstŏnăs ēt Gĕtĭcās pŏpŭlātūs caēdĭbŭs ūrbēs
tūrbĭdŭs aēthĕrĭās cūrrūs ūrguēbăt ăd ārcēs,
fūlmĭnĕ crīstātūm gălĕaē iŭbăr ārmăque ĭn aūrō
trīstĭă, tērrĭfĭcīs mōnstrōrum ănĭmātă fĭgūrīs,
īncŭtĭēns: tŏnăt āxĕ pŏlūs clĭpĕīquĕ crŭēntă
lūx rŭbĕt, ēt sōlēm lōngē fĕrĭt aēmŭlŭs ōrbīs.
hūnc ŭbĭ Sārmătĭcōs ĕtĭāmnum ēfflārĕ lăbōrēs
Iūppĭtĕr ēt tōtā pērfūsūm pēctŏră bēllī
tēmpēstātĕ vĭdēt: "Tālīs mĭhĭ, nātĕ, pĕr Ārgōs,
tālĭs ăbī, sīc ēnsĕ mădēns, hāc nūbĭlŭs īrā.
ēxtūrbēnt rĕsĭdēs frēnōs ēt cūnctă pĕrōsī
tē cŭpĭānt, tĭbĭ praēcĭpĭtēs ănĭmāsquĕ mănūsquĕ
dēvŏvĕānt, răpĕ cūnctāntēs ēt foēdĕră tūrbā,
cuī dĕdĭmūs, tĭbĭ fās īpsōs īncēndĕrĕ bēllō
caēlĭcŏlās pācēmquĕ mĕām. Iām sēmĭnă pūgnaē
īpsĕ dĕdī: rĕmĕāt pōrtāns īmmānĭă Tŷdeūs
aūsă, dŭcīs scĕlŭs ēt tūrpīs, prīmōrdĭă bēllī,
īnsĭdĭās fraūdēsquĕ, sŭīs quās ūltŭs ĭn ārmīs.
āddĕ fĭdēm. vōs ō sŭpĕrī, mĕŭs ōrdĭnĕ sānguīs,
nē pūgnāre ŏdĭīs, neū mē tēmptārĕ prĕcāndō
cērtētīs; sīc Fātă mĭhī nīgraēquĕ Sŏrōrūm
iūrāvērĕ cŏlūs: mănĕt haēc ăb ŏrīgĭnĕ mūndī
fīxă dĭēs bēllō, pŏpŭlīque īn proēlĭă nātī.
Quōdnī mē vĕtĕrūm poēnās sāncīrĕ mălōrūm
gēntĭbŭs ēt dīrōs sĭnĭtīs pūnīrĕ nĕpōtēs
- ārcem hānc aētērnām, mēntīs sācrārĭă nōstraē,
tēstŏr ĕt Ēlўsĭōs, ĕtĭām mĭhĭ nūmĭnă, fōntēs -,
īpsĕ mănū Thēbās cōrrēptăquĕ moēnĭă fūndō
ēxcŭtĭām vērsāsquĕ sŏlō sŭpĕr Īnăchă tēctă
ēffūndām tūrrēs aūt stāgna īn caērŭlă vērrām
īmbrĕ sŭpēriēctō, lĭcĕt īpsa īn tūrbĭnĕ rērūm
Iūnŏ sŭōs cōllēs tēmplūmque āmplēxă lăbōrēt."
Dīxĭt, ĕt āttŏnĭtī iūssīs. Mōrtālĭă crēdās
pēctŏră, sīc cūnctī vōcēmque ănĭmōsquĕ tĕnēbānt.
Nōn sĕcŭs āc lōngā vēntōrūm pācĕ sŏlūtūm
aēquŏr ĕt īmbēllī rĕcŭbānt ŭbĭ lītŏră sōmnō,
sīlvārūmquĕ cŏmās ĕt ăbāctō flāmĭnĕ nūbēs
mūlcĕt ĭnērs aēstās; tūnc stāgnă lăcūsquĕ sŏnōrī
dētŭmŭērĕ, tăcēnt ēxūstī sōlĭbŭs āmnēs.
Gaūdĕt ŏvāns iūssīs ĕt ădhūc tēmōnĕ călēntī
fērvĭdŭs īn laēvūm tōrsīt Grādīvŭs hăbēnās.
iāmque ĭtĕr ēxtrēmūm caēlīque ābrūptă tĕnēbāt,
cūm Vĕnŭs ānte īpsōs nūllā fōrmīdĭnĕ grēssūm
fīgĭt ĕquōs; cēssērĕ rĕtrō iāmiāmquĕ rĭgēntēs
sūpplĭcĭtēr pŏsŭērĕ iŭbās. Tūnc pēctŏră sūmmō
ācclīnātă iŭgō vūltūmque ōblīquă mădēntēm
īncĭpĭt - īntĕrĕā dŏmĭnaē vēstīgĭă iūxtā
spūmāntēm prōnī māndūnt ădămāntă iŭgālēs -:
"Bēlla ĕtĭam īn Thēbās, sŏcĕr ō pūlchērrĭmĕ, bēllă
īpsĕ părās fērrōquĕ tŭōs ăbŏlērĕ nĕpōtēs?
Nēc gĕnŭs Hārmŏnĭaē nēc tē cōnūbĭă caēlō
fēstă nĕc haē quīcquām lăcrĭmaē, fŭrĭbūndĕ, mŏrāntūr?
Crīmĭnĭs haēc mērcēs? Hōc fāmă pŭdōrquĕ rĕlīctūs,
hōc mĭhĭ Lēmnĭăcaē dē tē mĕrŭērĕ cătēnaē?
Pērgĕ lĭbēns; āt nōn ĕădēm Vūlcānĭă nōbīs
ōbsĕquĭa, ēt laēsī sērvīt tămĕn īră mărītī!
Īllum ĕgŏ pērpĕtŭīs mĭhĭ dēsūdārĕ cămīnīs
sī iŭbĕām vĭgĭlēsque ŏpĕrī trānsmīttĕrĕ nōctēs,
gaūdĕăt ōrnātūsquĕ nŏvōs īpsīquĕ lăbōrēt
ārmă tĭbī; tū! - sēd scŏpŭlōs ĕt ăēnă prĕcāndō
flēctĕrĕ cōrdă părō; sōlum hōc tămĕn ānxĭă, sōlūm
ōbtēstōr, quīd mē Tўrĭō sŏcĭārĕ mărītō
prōgĕnĭēm cāram īnfaūstīsquĕ dăbās hўmĕnaēīs?
dūm fŏrĕ praēclārōs ārmīs ēt vīvĭdă rēbūs
pēctŏră vīpĕrĕō Tўrĭōs dē sānguĭnĕ iāctās
dēmīssūmquĕ Iŏvīs sĕrĭē gĕnŭs. Ā! mĕă quāntō
Sīthŏnĭā māllēm nūpsīssēt vīrgŏ sŭb Ārctō
trāns Bŏrĕān Thrācāsquĕ tŭōs. Īndīgnă părūmnĕ
pērtŭlĭmūs, dīvaē Vĕnĕrīs quōd fīlĭă lōngūm
rēptăt ĕt Īllўrĭcās dēiēctāt vīrŭs ĭn hērbās?
Nūnc gēntem īmmĕrĭtām -". Lăcrĭmās nōn pērtŭlĭt ūltrā
Bēllĭpŏtēns, hāstām laēvā trānsūmĭt ĕt āltō,
haūt mŏră, dēsĭlŭīt cūrrū, clĭpĕōquĕ rĕcēptām
laēdĭt ĭn āmplēxū dīctīsque ĭtă mūlcĕt ămīcīs:
"Ō mĭhĭ bēllōrūm rĕquĭēs ēt sācră vŏlūptās
ūnăquĕ pāx ănĭmō! Sōlī cuī tāntă pŏtēstās
dīvōrūmque hŏmĭnūmquĕ mĕīs ōccūrrĕrĕ tēlīs
īmpūne ēt mĕdĭā quāmvīs īn caēdĕ frĕmēntīs
hōs ādsīstĕre ĕquōs, hūnc ēnsem āvēllĕrĕ dēxtrā.
Nēc mĭhĭ Sīdŏnĭī gĕnĭālĭă foēdĕră Cādmī
nēc tŭă cāră fĭdēs - nē fālsa īncēssĕrĕ gaūdē! -
ēxcĭdĕrūnt: prĭŭs īn pătrŭī dĕŭs īnfĕră mērgār
stāgna ēt pāllēntēs ăgăr ēxārmātŭs ăd ūmbrās.
Sēd nūnc fātōrūm mŏnĭtūs mēntēmquĕ sŭprēmī
iūssŭs ŏbīrĕ pătrīs - nĕque ĕnīm Vūlcānĭă tālī
īmpĕrĭō mănŭs āptă lĕgī -, quō pēctŏrĕ cōntrā
īrĕ Iŏvēm dīctāsquĕ părēm cōntēmnĕrĕ lēgēs,
cuī mŏdŏ - prō vīrēs! - tērrās caēlūmquĕ frĕtūmquĕ
āttrĕmĕre ōrāntī tāntōsque ēx ōrdĭnĕ vīdī
dēlĭtŭīssĕ dĕōs? Sēd nē mĭhĭ cōrdĕ sŭprēmōs
cōncĭpĕ, cāră, mĕtūs! Quāndo haēc mūtārĕ pŏtēstās
nūllă dătūr - cūm iām Tўrĭīs sūb moēnĭbŭs āmbaē
bēllābūnt gēntēs, ădĕro ēt sŏcĭa ārmă iŭvābō.
Tūnc mē sānguĭnĕō lātē dēfērvĕrĕ cāmpō
rēs sŭpĕr Ārgŏlĭcās haūd sīc dēiēctă vĭdēbīs;
hōc mĭhĭ iūs, nēc fātă vĕtānt". Sīc ōrsŭs ăpērtō
flāgrāntēs īmmīsĭt ĕquōs. nōn ōcĭŭs āltī
īn tērrās cădĭt īră Iŏvīs, sī quāndŏ nĭvālēm
Ōthrўn ĕt Ārctōaē gĕlĭdūm căpŭt īnstĭtĭt Ōssaē
ārmāvītque īn nūbĕ mănūm: vŏlăt īgnĕă mōlēs
saēvă dĕī māndātă fĕrēns, caēlūmquĕ trĭsūlcā
tērrĭtăt ōmnĕ cŏmā iāmdūdum aūt dītĭbŭs āgrīs
sīgnă dăre aūt pōntō mĭsĕrōs īnvōlvĕrĕ naūtās.
Iāmquĕ rĕmēnsŭs ĭtēr fēssō Dānaēĭă Tŷdeūs
ārvă grădū vĭrĭdīsquĕ lĕgīt dēvēxă Prŏsŷmnaē
tērrĭbĭlīs vīsū: stānt fūltī pūlvĕrĕ crīnēs,
squālĭdŭs ēx ŭmĕrīs cădĭt ālta īn vūlnĕră sūdōr,
īnsōmnīsque ŏcŭlōs rŭbŏr ēxcĭtăt, ōrăquĕ rētrō
sōlvĭt ănhēlă sĭtīs; mēns āltūm spīrăt hŏnōrēm
cōnscĭă fāctōrūm. Sīc nōta īn pāscŭă taūrūs
bēllātōr rĕdĭt, ādvērsō cuī cōllă sŭōquĕ
sānguĭnĕ prōscīssīsquĕ nătānt pălĕārĭbŭs ārmī;
tūnc quŏquĕ lāssă tŭmēt vīrtūs mūltūmquĕ sŭpērbīt
pēctŏrĕ dēspēctō; văcŭā iăcĕt hōstĭs hărēnā
tūrpĕ gĕmēns crūdōsquĕ vĕtāt sēntīrĕ lăbōrēs.
tālĭs ĕrāt; mĕdĭās ĕtĭām nōn dēstĭtĭt ūrbēs,
quīdquĭd ĕt Āsōpōn vĕtĕrēsque īntēriăcĕt Ārgōs,
īnflāmmāre ŏdĭīs, mūltūmque ĕt ŭbīquĕ rĕtēxēns
lēgātūm sēsē Grāiā dē gēntĕ pĕtēndīs
īssĕ sŭpēr rēgnīs prŏfŭgī Pŏlўnīcĭs, ăt īndĕ
vīm, nōctēm, scĕlŭs, ārmă, dŏlōs, ĕă foēdĕră pāssūm
rēgĭs Ĕchīŏnĭī, frātrī sŭă iūră nĕgārī.
Prōnă fĭdēs pŏpŭlīs; dĕŭs ōmnĭă crēdĕrĕ suādēt
ārmĭpŏtēns, gĕmĭnātque āccēptōs fāmă păvōrēs.
Vtque īntrōgrēssūs pōrtās - ēt fōrtĕ vĕrēndūs
cōncĭlĭō pătĕr īpsĕ dŭcēs cōgēbăt Ădrāstūs -,
īmprōvīsŭs ădēst, iam īllīnc ā pōstĭbŭs aūlaē
vōcĭfĕrāns: "Ārma, ārmă vĭrī, tūque ōptĭmĕ Lērnaē
dūctōr, māgnănĭmūm sī quīs tĭbĭ sānguĭs ăvōrūm,
ārmă părā! Nūsquām pĭĕtās, nōn gēntĭbŭs aēquūm
fās aūt cūră Iŏvīs; mĕlĭūs lēgātŭs ădīssēm
Saūrŏmătās ăvĭdōs sērvātōrēmquĕ crŭēntūm
Bēbrўcĭī nĕmŏrīs. Nēc iūssa īncūsŏ pĭgētvĕ
ōffĭcĭī: iŭvāt īssĕ, iŭvāt, Thēbāsquĕ nŏcēntēs
ēxplōrāssĕ mănū; bēllō mē, crēdĭtĕ, bēllō,
ceū tūrrēm vălĭdam aūt ārtām cōmpāgĭbŭs ūrbēm,
dēlēcti īnsĭdĭīs īnstrūctīque ōmnĭbŭs ārmīs
nōctĕ dŏlōquĕ vĭrī nūdum īgnārūmquĕ lŏcōrūm
nēquīquām claūsērĕ; iăcēnt īn sānguĭnĕ mīxtī
ānte ūrbēm văcŭām. Nūnc ō, nūnc tēmpŭs ĭn hōstīs,
dūm trĕpĭdi ēxsānguēsquĕ mĕtū, dūm fūnĕră pōrtānt,
nūnc, sŏcĕr, haēc dūm nōn mănŭs ēxcĭdĭt; īpse ĕgŏ fēssūs
quīnquāgīnta īllīs hērōum īmmānĭbŭs ūmbrīs
vūlnĕrăque īstă fĕrēns pūtri īnsīccātă crŭōrĕ
prōtĭnŭs īrĕ pĕtō!" trĕpĭdī dē sēdĭbŭs āstānt
Īnăchĭdaē, cūnctīsquĕ prĭōr Cādmēĭŭs hērōs
āccūrrīt vūltūm dēiēctŭs ĕt "Ō | ĕgŏ dīvīs
īnvīsūs vītaēquĕ nŏcēns haēc vūlnĕră cērnō
īntĕgĕr! hōsnĕ mĭhī rĕdĭtūs, gērmānĕ, părābās?
Īn me haēc tēlă mĕī! Prō vītaē foēdă cŭpīdŏ!
Īnfēlīx, frātrī făcĭnūs tām grāndĕ nĕgāvī.
Ēt nūnc vēstră quĭdēm mănĕānt īn pācĕ quĭētā
moēnĭă, nēc vōbīs tāntī sīm caūsă tŭmūltūs
hōspĕs ădhūc. Scĭŏ - nēc me ădĕō rēs dēxtră lĕvāvīt -,
quām dūrūm nātīs, thălămō quām trīstĕ rĕvēllī,
quām pătrĭā; nōn me ūllīūs dŏmŭs ānxĭă cūlpēt
rēspēctēntvĕ trŭcēs ōblīquō lūmĭnĕ mātrēs.
ībŏ lĭbēns cērtūsquĕ mŏrī, lĭcĕt ōptĭmă cōniūnx
†aūdītūsque ĭtĕrūm† rĕvŏcēt sŏcĕr; hūnc ĕgŏ Thēbīs,
hūnc, gērmānĕ, tĭbī iŭgŭlum ēt tĭbĭ, māxĭmĕ Tŷdeū,
dēbĕŏ". Sīc vărĭīs pērtēmptāt pēctŏră dīctīs
ōblīquātquĕ prĕcēs. Cōmmōtaē quēstĭbŭs īraē
ēt mīxtūs lăcrĭmīs călŭīt dŏlŏr; ōmnĭbŭs ūltrō
nōn iŭvĕnūm mŏdŏ, sēd gĕlĭdīs ĕt ĭnērtĭbŭs aēvō
pēctŏrĭbūs mēns ūnă sŭbīt, vĭdŭārĕ pĕnātēs,
fīnĭtĭmās ădhĭbērĕ mănūs, iāmque īrĕ. Sĕd āltūs
cōnsĭlĭīs pătĕr īmpĕrĭīque haūt flēctĕrĕ mōlēm
īnscĭŭs: "Īstă quĭdēm sŭpĕrīs cūraēquĕ mĕdēndă
līnquĭtĕ, quaēsŏ, mĕaē, nēc tē gērmānŭs ĭnūltō
scēptră gĕrēt, nĕquĕ nōs ăvĭdī prōmīttĕrĕ bēllūm.
āt nūnc ēgrĕgĭūm tāntōque īn sānguĭne ŏvāntēm
ēxcĭpĭte Oēnīdēn, ănĭmōsăquĕ pēctŏră lāxēt
sēră quĭēs: nōbīs dŏlŏr haūt rătĭōnĭs ĕgēbīt".
Tūrbāti ēxtēmplō cŏmĭtēs ēt pāllĭdă cōniūnx
Tŷdĕă cīrcum ōmnēs fēssūm bēllīquĕ vĭaēquĕ
stīpāntūr. Laētūs mĕdĭīs īn sēdĭbŭs aūlaē
cōnstĭtĭt, īngēntīque ēxcēptūs tērgă cŏlūmnā,
vūlnĕră dūm lŷmphīs Ĕpĭdaūrĭŭs ēlŭĭt Īdmōn,
nūnc vēlōx fērrō, nūnc īllĕ tĕpēntĭbŭs hērbīs
mītĭŏr, īpse āltā sēdūctūs mēntĕ rĕnārrāt
prīncĭpĭa īrārūm, quaēque ōrsŭs ŭtērquĕ vĭcīssīm,
quīs lŏcŭs īnsĭdĭīs, tăcĭtō quaē tēmpŏră bēllō,
quī cōntrā quāntīquĕ dŭcēs, ŭbĭ māxĭmŭs īllī
sūdŏr, ĕt īndĭcĭō sērvātūm Maēŏnă trīstī
ēxpōnīt. Cuī fīdă mănūs prŏcĕrēsquĕ sŏcērquĕ
āstŭpĕt ōrāntī, Tўrĭūsque īncēndĭtŭr ēxūl.
Sōlvĕrăt Hēspĕrĭī dēvēxō mārgĭnĕ pōntī
flāgrāntēs Sōl prōnŭs ĕquōs rŭtĭlāmquĕ lăvābāt
Ōcĕănī sūb fōntĕ cŏmām, cuī tūrbă prŏfūndī
Nērĕŏs ēt răpĭdīs āccūrrūnt pāssĭbŭs Hōraē,
frēnăque ĕt aūrātaē tēxtūm sūblīmĕ cŏrōnaē
dērĭpĭūnt, lāxānt călĭdīs ūmēntĭă lōrīs
pēctŏră; pārs mĕrĭtōs vērtūnt ād mōllĕ iŭgālēs
grāmĕn ĕt ērēctō cūrrūm tēmōnĕ sŭpīnānt.
Nōx sŭbĭīt cūrāsque hŏmĭnūm mōtūsquĕ fĕrārūm
cōmpŏsŭīt nīgrōquĕ pŏlōs īnvōlvĭt ămīctū,
īllă quĭdēm cūnctīs, sēd nōn tĭbĭ mītĭs, Ădrāstĕ,
Lābdăcĭōquĕ dŭcī: nām Tŷdĕă lārgŭs hăbēbāt
pērfūsūm māgnā vīrtūtĭs ĭmāgĭnĕ sōmnūs.
ēt iām nōctĭvăgās īntēr dĕŭs ārmĭfĕr ūmbrās
dēsŭpĕr Ārcădĭaē fīnēs Nĕmĕaēăquĕ rūră
Taēnărĭūmquĕ căcūmĕn Ăpōllĭnĕāsquĕ Thĕrāpnās
ārmōrūm tŏnĭtrū fĕrĭt ēt trĕpĭdāntĭă cōrdă
īmplĕt ămōrĕ sŭī. Cōmūnt Fŭrŏr Īrăquĕ crīstās,
frēnă mĭnīstrăt ĕquīs Păvŏr ārmĭgĕr. Āt vĭgĭl ōmnī
Fāmă sŏnō vānōs rērūm sūccīnctă tŭmūltūs
āntĕvŏlāt cūrrūm flātūque īmpūlsă gĕmēntūm
ālĭpĕdūm trĕpĭdās dēnsō cūm mūrmŭrĕ plūmās
ēxcŭtĭt: ūrguĕt ĕnīm stĭmŭlīs aūrīgă crŭēntīs
fācta, īnfēctă lŏquī, cūrrūque īnfēstŭs ăb āltō
tērgă cŏmāmquĕ dĕaē Scўthĭcā pătĕr īncrĕpăt hāstā.
quālĭs ŭbi Aēŏlĭō dīmīssōs cārcĕrĕ vēntōs
dūx praē sē Nēptūnŭs ăgīt māgnōquĕ vŏlēntēs
īncĭtăt Aēgaēō; trīstīs cŏmĭtātŭs ĕūntī
cīrcūm lōră frĕmūnt nīmbīque hĭĕmēsquĕ prŏfūndaē
nūbĭlăque ēt vūlsō tērrārūm sōrdĭdă fūndō
tēmpēstās: dŭbĭaē mōtīs rādīcĭbŭs ōbstānt
Cŷclădĕs, īpsă tŭā Mўcŏnō Gўărōquĕ rĕvēllī,
Dēlĕ, tĭmēs māgnīquĕ fĭdēm tēstārĭs ălūmnī.
Sēptĭmă iām nĭtĭdūm tērrīs Aūrōră dĕīsquĕ
pūrpŭrĕō vĕhĭt ōrĕ dĭēm, Pērsēĭŭs hērōs
cūm prīmum ārcānā sĕnĭōr sēse ēxtŭlĭt aūlā,
mūltă sŭpēr bēllō gĕnĕrīsquĕ tŭmēntĭbŭs āmēns
īncērtūsque ănĭmī, dărĕt ārmīs iūră nŏvōsquĕ
gēntĭbŭs īncŭtĕrēt stĭmŭlōs, ān frēnă tĕnērēt
īrārum ēt mōtōs căpŭlīs āstrīngĕrĕt ēnsēs.
Hīnc pācīs trānquīllă mŏvēnt, ātque īndĕ pŭdōrī
foēdă quĭēs, flēctīquĕ nŏvā dūlcēdĭnĕ pūgnaē
dīffĭcĭlēs pŏpŭlī; dŭbĭō sēntēntĭă tāndēm
sēră plăcēt, vātūm mēntīs ēt prōvĭdă vērī
sācră mŏvērĕ dĕūm. Sōllērs tĭbĭ cūră fŭtūrī,
Āmphĭărāĕ, dătūr, iūxtāque Ămўthārŏnĕ crētūs
iām sĕnĭōr - sēd mēntĕ vĭrēt Phoēbōquĕ Mĕlāmpūs
āssŏcĭāt pāssūs: dŭbĭūm, cuī prōnŭs Ăpōllŏ
ōrăquĕ Cīrrhaēā sătĭārīt lārgĭŭs ūndā.
Prīncĭpĭō fībrīs pĕcŭdūmque īn sānguĭnĕ dīvōs
ēxplōrānt; iām tūnc păvĭdīs măcŭlōsă bĭdēntūm
cōrdă nĕgānt dīrāquĕ nĕfās mĭnĭtāntĭă vēnā.
īrĕ tămēn văcŭōquĕ sĕdēt pĕtĕre ōmĭnă caēlō.
Mōns ĕrăt aūdācī sēdūctŭs ĭn aēthĕră dōrsō
- nōmĭnĕ Lērnaēī mĕmŏrānt Ăphĕsāntă cŏlōnī -,
gēntĭbŭs Ārgŏlĭcīs ōlīm săcĕr; īndĕ fĕrēbānt
nūbĭlă sūspēnsō cĕlĕrēm tĕmĕrāssĕ vŏlātū
Pērsĕă, cūm rāptōs pŭĕrī pērtērrĭtă mātēr
prōspēxīt dē rūpĕ grădūs āc paēnĕ sĕcūtāst.
Hūc gĕmĭnī vātēs sānctām cānēntĭs ŏlīvaē
frōndĕ cŏmam ēt nĭvĕīs ōrnātī tēmpŏră vīttīs
ēvādūnt părĭtēr, mădĭdōs ŭbĭ lūcĭdŭs āgrōs
ōrtŭs ĕt ālgēntēs lāxāvīt sōlĕ prŭīnās.
Āc prĭŏr Oēclīdēs sŏlĭtūm prĕcĕ nūmĕn ămīcāt:
"Iūppĭtĕr ōmnĭpŏtēns - nām tē pērnīcĭbŭs ālīs
āddĕrĕ cōnsĭlĭūm vŏlŭcrēsque īmplērĕ fŭtūrī
ōmĭnăque ēt caūsās caēlō dēfērrĕ lătēntēs
āccĭpĭmūs -, nōn Cīrrhă dĕūm prōmīsĕrĭt āntrō
cērtĭŭs, aūt frōndēs lūcīs quās fāmă Mŏlōssīs
Chāŏnĭās sŏnŭīssĕ tĭbī, lĭcĕt ārĭdŭs Hāmmōn
īnvĭdĕāt Lўcĭaēquĕ părēnt cōntēndĕrĕ sōrtēs
Nīlĭăcūmquĕ pĕcūs pătrĭōque aēquālĭs hŏnōrī
Brānchŭs, ĕt ūndōsaē quēm rūstĭcŭs āccŏlă Pīsaē
Pānă Lўcāŏnĭā nōctūrnum ēxaūdĭt ĭn ūmbrā:
dītĭŏr īlle ănĭmī, cuī tū, Dīctaēĕ, sĕcūndās
īmpŭlĕrīs mănĭfēstŭs ăvēs. mīrum ūndĕ, sĕd ōlīmst
hīc hŏnŏr ālĭtĭbūs, sŭpĕraē seū cōndĭtŏr aūlaē
sīc dĕdĭt ēffūsūm chăŏs īn nŏvă sēmĭnă tēxēns,
seū quĭă mūtātaē nōstrāque ăb ŏrīgĭnĕ vērsīs
cōrpŏrĭbūs sŭbĭērĕ nŏtōs, seū pūrĭŏr āxīs
āmōtūmquĕ nĕfās ēt rārum īnsīstĕrĕ tērrīs
vēră dŏcēnt; tĭbĭ, sūmmĕ sătōr tērraēquĕ dĕūmquĕ,
scīrĕ lĭcēt. Nōs Ārgŏlĭcaē prīmōrdĭă pūgnaē
vēntūrūmquĕ sĭnās caēlō praēnōssĕ lăbōrēm.
Sī dătŭr ēt dūrīs sĕdĕt haēc sēntēntĭă Pārcīs
sōlvĕre Ĕchīŏnĭās Lērnaēā cūspĭdĕ pōrtās,
sīgnă fĕrās laēvūsquĕ tŏnēs; tūnc ōmnĭs ĭn āstrīs
cōnsŏnĕt ārcānā vŏlŭcrīs bŏnă mūrmŭră līnguā.
Sī prŏhĭbēs, hīc nēctĕ mŏrās dēxtrīsquĕ prŏfūndūm
ālĭtĭbūs praētēxĕ dĭēm". Sīc fātŭs, ĕt āltō
mēmbră lŏcāt scŏpŭlō; tūnc plūra īgnōtăquĕ iūngīt
nūmĭna ĕt īmmēnsī frŭĭtūr cālīgĭnĕ mūndī.
Pōstquām rītĕ dĭū pārtītī sīdĕră cūnctīs
pērlēgēre ănĭmīs ŏcŭlīsquĕ sĕquācĭbŭs aūrās,
tūnc Ămўthāŏnĭūs lōngō pōst tēmpŏrĕ vātēs:
"Nōnnĕ sŭb ēxcēlsō spīrāntīs līmĭtĕ caēlī,
Āmphĭărāĕ, vĭdēs, cūrsūs ūt nūllă sĕrēnōs
ālĕs ăgāt lĭquĭdōquĕ pŏlūm cōmplēxă mĕātū
pēndĕăt aūt fŭgĭēns plācābĭlĕ plānxĕrĭt ōmēn?
nōn cŏmĕs ōbscūrūs trĭpŏdūm, nōn fūlmĭnĭs ārdēns
vēctŏr ădēst flāvaēquĕ sŏnāns ăvĭs ūncă Mĭnērvaē,
nōn vĕnĭt aūgŭrĭīs mĕlĭōr, quīn vūltŭr ĕt āltīs
dēsŭpĕr āccĭpĭtrēs ēxsūltāvērĕ răpīnīs.
mōnstră vŏlānt, dīraē strīdūnt īn nūbĕ vŏlūcrēs,
nōctūrnaēquĕ gĕmūnt strĭgĕs ēt fērālĭă būbŏ
dāmnă cănēns. quaē prīmă dĕūm pōrtēntă sĕquāmūr?
hīsnĕ dărī, Thŷmbraēĕ, pŏlūm? sĭmŭl ōră rĕcūrvō
ūnguĕ sĕcānt răbĭdaē plānctūmque ĭmĭtāntĭbŭs ālīs
ēxăgĭtānt Zĕphўrōs ēt plūmĕă pēctŏră caēdūnt".
īllĕ sŭb haēc: "Ĕquĭdēm vărĭī, pătĕr, ōmĭnă Phoēbī
saēpĕ tŭlī: iām tūm, prīmā cūm pūbĕ vĭrēntēm
sēmĭdĕōs īntēr pīnūs mē Thēssălă rēgēs
dūcĕrĕt, hīc cāsūs tērraēquĕ mărīsquĕ cănēntēm
ōbstĭpŭērĕ dŭcēs, nēc mē vēntūră lŏcūtō
saēpĭŭs īn dŭbĭīs aūdītŭs Ĭāsŏnĭ Mōpsūs.
sēd sĭmĭlīs nōn āntĕ mĕtūs aūt āstră nŏtāvī
prōdĭgĭōsă măgīs; quāmquām māiōră părāntūr.
hūc ādvērte ănĭmūm: clārā rĕgĭōnĕ prŏfūndī
aēthĕrŏs īnnŭmĕrī stătŭērūnt āgmĭnă cŷcnī,
sīve hōs Strŷmŏnĭā Bŏrĕās ēiēcĭt ăb Ārctō,
seū fēcūndă rĕfērt plăcĭdī clēmēntĭă Nīlī.
Fīxērūnt cūrsūs: hās rēre ĭn ĭmāgĭnĕ Thēbās;
nām sēse īmmōtī gŷro ātque īn pācĕ sĭlēntēs
ceū mūrīs vāllōquĕ tĕnēnt. Sēd fōrtĭŏr ēccĕ
ādvēntāt pĕr ĭnānĕ cŏhōrs; sēptem ōrdĭnĕ fūlvō
ārmĭgĕrās sūmmī Iŏvĭs ēxsūltāntĕ cătērvā
īntŭŏr: Īnăchĭī sīnt hī tĭbĭ, cōncĭpĕ, rēgēs.
Īnvāsērĕ glŏbūm nĭvĕī grĕgĭs ūncăquĕ pāndūnt
caēdĭbŭs ōră nŏvīs ēt strīctīs ūnguĭbŭs īnstānt.
cērnĭs ĭnēxpērtō rōrāntēs sānguĭnĕ vēntōs,
ēt plūmīs stīllārĕ dĭēm? quaē saēvă rĕpēntĕ
vīctōrēs ăgĭtāt lētō Iŏvĭs īră sĭnīstrī?
Hīc ēxcēlsă pĕtēns sŭbĭtā făcĕ sōlĭs ĭnārsīt
sūbmīsītque ănĭmōs, īllūm vēstīgĭa ădōrtūm
māiōrūm vŏlŭcrūm tĕnĕraē dēpōnĭtĭs ālaē.
Hīc hōsti īmplĭcĭtūs părĭtēr rŭĭt, hūnc fŭgă rētrō
vōlvĭt ăgēns sŏcĭaē līnquēntēm fātă cătērvaē.
Hīc nīmbō glŏmĕrātŭs ŏbīt, hīc praēpĕtĕ vīvā
pāscĭtŭr īmmŏrĭēns; spārgīt căvă nūbĭlă sānguīs.
"Quīd fūrtim īllăcrĭmās?" "Īllūm, vĕnĕrāndĕ Mĕlāmpū,
quī cădĭt, āgnōscō". Trĕpĭdōs sīc mōlĕ fŭtūrī
cūnctăquĕ iām rērūm cērtā sŭb ĭmāgĭnĕ pāssōs
tērrŏr hăbēt vātēs; pĭgĕt īrrūpīssĕ vŏlāntūm
cōncĭlĭa ēt caēlō mēntem īnsērtāssĕ vĕtāntī,
aūdītīque ōdērĕ dĕōs. Ūnde īstĕ pĕr ōrbēm
prīmūs vēntūrī mĭsĕrīs ănĭmāntĭbŭs aēgēr
crēvĭt ămōr? Dīvūmnĕ fĕrās hōc mūnŭs, ăn īpsī,
gēns ăvĭda ēt pārtō nōn ūmquām stārĕ quĭētī,
ērŭĭmūs, quaē prīmă dĭēs, ŭbĭ tērmĭnŭs aēvī,
quīd bŏnŭs īllĕ dĕūm gĕnĭtōr, quīd fērrĕă Clōthō
cōgĭtĕt? Hīnc fībrae ēt vŏlŭcrūm pēr nūbĭlă sērmŏ
āstrōrūmquĕ vĭcēs nŭmĕrātăquĕ sēmĭnă lūnaē
Thēssălĭcūmquĕ nĕfās. āt nōn prĭŏr aūrĕŭs īllĕ
sānguĭs ăvūm scŏpŭlīsquĕ sătaē vēl rōbŏrĕ gēntēs
mēntĭbŭs hīs ūsaē; sīlvās ămŏr ūnŭs hŭmūmquĕ
ēdŏmŭīssĕ mănū; quīd crāstĭnă vōlvĕrĕt aētās,
scīrĕ nĕfās hŏmĭnī. nōs prāvum ēt flēbĭlĕ vūlgūs
scrūtārī pĕnĭtūs sŭpĕrōs: hīnc pāllŏr ĕt īraē,
hīnc scĕlŭs īnsĭdĭaēque ēt nūllă mŏdēstĭă vōtī.
Ērgŏ mănū vīttās dāmnātăquĕ vērtĭcĕ sērtă
dērĭpĭt ābiēctāque ĭnhŏnōrūs frōndĕ săcērdōs
īnvīsō dē mōntĕ rĕdīt; iām bēllă tŭbaēquĕ
cōmmĭnŭs, ābsēntēsquĕ frĕmūnt sūb pēctŏrĕ Thēbaē.
īllĕ nĕc āspēctūm vūlgī, nēc fīdă tўrānnī
cōllŏquĭa aūt coētūs prŏcĕrūm pērfērrĕ, sĕd ātrā
sēdĕ tĕgi, ēt sŭpĕrūm claūsūs nĕgăt āctă fătērī
- tē pŭdŏr ēt cūraē rĕtĭnēnt pēr rūră, Mĕlāmpū -:
bīssēnōs prĕmĭt ōră dĭēs pŏpŭlūmquĕ dŭcēsquĕ
ēxtrăhĭt īncērtīs. Ēt iām sūprēmă Tŏnāntīs
iūssă frĕmūnt āgrōsquĕ vĭrīs ānnōsăquĕ vāstānt
ōppĭdă; bēllĭpŏtēns praē sē dĕŭs āgmĭnă pāssīm
mīllĕ răpīt; līquērĕ dŏmōs dīlēctăquĕ laētī
cōnŭbĭa ēt prīmō plōrāntīs līmĭnĕ nātōs:
tāntŭs ĭn āttŏnĭtōs cĕcĭdīt dĕŭs. Ārmă pătērnīs
pōstĭbŭs ēt fīxōs sŭpĕrum ād pĕnĕtrālĭă cūrrūs
vēllĕre ămōr; tūnc fēssă pŭtrī rōbīgĭnĕ pīlă
hōrrēntēsquĕ sĭtū glădĭōs īn saēvă rĕcūrānt
vūlnĕra ĕt āttrītō cōgūnt iŭvĕnēscĕrĕ sāxō.
Hī tĕrĕtēs gălĕās māgnōrūmque aērĕă sūtă
thōrācum ēt tŭnĭcās chălўbūm squālōrĕ crĕpāntēs
pēctŏrĭbūs tēmptāre, ălĭī Cōrtŷnĭă lēntānt
cōrnŭă; iām fālcēs ăvĭdīs ĕt ărātră cămīnīs
rāstrăque ĕt īncūrvī saēvūm rŭbŭērĕ lĭgōnēs.
caēdĕrĕ nēc vălĭdās sānctīs ē stīrpĭbŭs hāstās,
nēc pŭdŏr ēmĕrĭtō clĭpĕūm vēstīssĕ iŭvēncō.
Īrrūpēre Ārgōs maēstīque ād līmĭnă rēgīs
bēlla ănĭmīs, bēlla ōrĕ frĕmūnt; īt clāmŏr ăd aūrās,
quāntūs Tŷrrhēnī gĕmĭtūs sălĭs, aūt ŭbĭ tēmptāt
Ēncĕlădūs mūtārĕ lătūs; sŭpĕr īgnĕŭs āntrīs
mōns tŏnăt, ēxūndānt ăpĭcēs flūctūsquĕ Pĕlōrūs
cōntrăhĭt, ēt spērāt tēllūs ābrūptă rĕvērtī.
Ātque hīc īngēntī Căpăneūs Māvōrtĭs ămōrĕ
ēxcĭtŭs ēt lōngām prīdem īndīgnāntĭă pācēm
cōrdă tŭmēns - huīc āmplă quĭdēm dē sānguĭnĕ prīscō
nōbĭlĭtās; sĕd ĕnim īpsĕ mănū praēgrēssŭs ăvōrūm
fāctă, dĭū tūtō sŭpĕrūm cōntēmptŏr ĕt aēquī
īmpătĭēns lārgūsque ănĭmaē, mŏdŏ suāsĕrĭt īră -,
ūnŭs ŭt ē sīlvīs Phŏlŏēs hăbĭtātŏr ŏpācaē
īntĕr ĕt Aētnaēōs aēquūs cōnsūrgĕrĕ frātrēs,
āntĕ fŏrēs, ŭbĭ tūrbă dŭcūm vūlgīquĕ frĕmēntīs,
Āmphĭărāĕ, tŭās: "Quaē tānta īgnāvĭă" clāmāt,
"Īnăchĭdaē vōsque ō sŏcĭō dē sānguĭne Ăchīvī?
ūnĭŭs - heū pŭdĕāt! - plēbēia ād līmĭnă cīvīs
tōt fērro āccīnctaē gēntēs ănĭmīsquĕ părātaē
pēndēmūs? nōn si īpsĕ căvō sūb vērtĭcĕ Cīrrhaē,
quīsquĭs ĭs ēst, tĭmĭdīs fāmaēque ĭtă vīsŭs, Ăpōllŏ
mūgĭăt īnsānō pĕnĭtūs sēclūsŭs ĭn āntrō,
ēxspēctārĕ quĕām, dūm pāllĭdă vīrgŏ trĕmēndās
nūntĭĕt āmbāgēs. Vīrtūs mĭhĭ nūmĕn ĕt ēnsīs,
quēm tĕnĕō! Iāmque hīc tĭmĭdā cūm fraūdĕ săcērdōs
ēxĕăt, aūt hŏdĭē, vŏlŭcrūm quaē tāntă pŏtēstās,
ēxpĕrĭār". laētūm frĕmĭt āssēnsūquĕ fŭrēntēm
īmplĕt Ăchaēă mănūs. Tāndēm prōrūmpĕre ădāctūs
Oēclīdēs: "ălĭō cūrārum ăgĭtāntĕ tŭmūltū
nōn ĕquĭdem ēffrēnō iŭvĕnīs clāmōrĕ prŏfānī
dīctōrūmquĕ mĕtū, lĭcĕt hīc īnsānă mĭnētūr,
ēlĭcĭōr tĕnĕbrīs; ălĭō mĭhĭ dēbĭtă fātō
sūmmă dĭēs, vĕtĭtūmquĕ dărī mōrtālĭbŭs ārmīs.
Sēd mē vēstĕr ămōr nĭmĭūsque ārcānă prŏfārī
Phoēbŭs ăgīt; vōbīs vēntūra ātque ōmnĕ, quŏd ūltrāst,
pāndĕrĕ maēstŭs ĕō; nām tē, vēsānĕ, mŏnērī
āntĕ nĕfās, ūnīquĕ tăcēt tĭbĭ nōstĕr Ăpōllŏ.
quō, mĭsĕrī, fātīs sŭpĕrīsque ōbstāntĭbŭs ārmă,
quō răpĭtīs? Quaē vōs Fŭrĭārūm vērbĕră caēcōs
ēxăgĭtānt? ădĕōne ănĭmārūm taēdĕt? ĕt Ārgōs
ēxōsī? nīl dūlcĕ dŏmī? nūlla ōmĭnă cūraē?
quīd mē Pērsēī sēcrēta ād cūlmĭnă mōntīs
īrĕ grădū trĕpĭdō sŭpĕrūmque īrrūmpĕrĕ coētūs
ēgīstīs? pŏtŭī părĭtēr nēscīrĕ, quĭs ārmīs
cāsŭs, ŭbi ātră dĭēs, quaē fāti ēxōrdĭă cūnctīs,
quaē mĭhĭ. cōnsūltī tēstōr pĕnĕtrālĭă mūndī
ēt vŏlŭcrum ādfātūs ēt tē, Thŷmbraēĕ, vŏcāntī
nōn ălĭās tām saēvĕ mĭhī, quaē sīgnă fŭtūrī
pērtŭlĕrīm: vīdi īngēntīs pōrtēntă rŭīnaē,
vīdi hŏmĭnūm dīvūmquĕ mĕtūs hĭlărēmquĕ Mĕgaērām
ēt Lăchĕsīn pūtrī văcŭāntēm saēcŭlă pēnsō.
Prōĭcĭte ārmă mănū: dĕŭs ēccĕ fŭrēntĭbŭs ōbstāt,
ēccĕ dĕūs! mĭsĕrī, quīd pūlchrūm sānguĭnĕ vēstrō
Āŏnĭam ēt dīrī sătŭrārĕ nŏvālĭă Cādmī?
Sēd quīd vānă cănō, quīd fīxōs ārcĕŏ cāsūs?
Ībĭmŭs." Hīc prēssō gĕmŭīt sĕmĕl ōrĕ săcērdōs.
Īllum ĭtĕrūm Căpăneūs: "Tŭŭs ō fŭrŏr aūgŭrĕt ūnī
īstă tĭbi, ūt sērvēs văcŭōs īnglōrĭŭs ānnōs
ēt tŭă nōn ūmquām Tŷrrhēnūs tēmpŏră cīrcūm
clāngŏr ĕāt. Quīd vōtă vĭrūm mĕlĭōră mŏrārīs?
Scīlĭcĕt ūt vānīs ăvĭbūs nātōquĕ dŏmōquĕ
ēt thălămīs pŏtĭārĕ iăcēns, sĭlĕāmŭs ĭnūltī
Tŷdĕŏs ēgrĕgĭī pērfōssūm pēctŭs ĕt ārmă
foēdĕrĭs ābrūptī? Quōdsī bēlla ēffĕră Grāiōs
fērrĕ vĕtās, ī Sīdŏnĭōs lēgātŭs ăd hōstēs:
haēc pācēm tĭbĭ sērtă dăbūnt. tŭă prōrsŭs ĭnānī
vērbă pŏlō caūsās ābstrūsăquĕ nōmĭnă rērūm
ēlĭcĭūnt: mĭsĕrēt sŭpĕrūm, sī cārmĭnă cūraē
hūmānaēquĕ prĕcēs! Quĭd ĭnērtĭă pēctŏră tērrēs?
Prīmŭs ĭn ōrbĕ dĕōs fēcīt tĭmŏr! Ēt tĭbĭ tūtō
nūnc ĕăt īstĕ fŭrōr; sēd prīma ād clāssĭcă cūm iām
hōstīlem Īsmēnōn gălĕīs Dīrcēnquĕ bĭbēmūs,
nē mĭhĭ tūnc, mŏnĕō, lĭtŭōs ātque ārmă vŏlēntī
ōbvĭŭs īrĕ părēs vēnīsque aūt ālĭtĕ vīsā
bēllōrūm prōfērrĕ dĭēm: prŏcŭl haēc tĭbĭ mōllīs
īnfŭlă tērrĭfĭcīque ăbĕrīt dēmēntĭă Phoēbī:
īllīc aūgŭr ĕgo ēt mēcūm quīcūmquĕ părātī
īnsānīrĕ mănū." rūrsūs frăgŏr īntŏnăt īngēns
hōrtāntum ēt vāstō sūbtērvŏlăt āstră tŭmūltū.
Ūt răpĭdūs tōrrēns, ănĭmōs cuī vērnă mĭnīstrānt
flāmĭna ĕt ēxūtī cōncrētō frīgŏrĕ mōntēs,
cūm văgŭs īn cāmpōs frūstrā prŏhĭbēntĭbŭs ēxīt
ōbĭcĭbūs, rĕsŏnānt pērmīxtō tūrbĭnĕ tēctă,
ārva, ārmēntă, vĭrī, dōnēc stĕtĭt īmprŏbŭs āltō
cōllĕ mĭnōr māgnōque īnvēnĭt ĭn āggĕrĕ rīpās.
haēc āltērnă dŭcūm nōx īntērfūsă dĭrēmīt.
Āt gĕmĭtūs Ārgīă vĭrī nōn āmplĭŭs aēquō
cōrdĕ fĕrēns sŏcĭūmque ănĭmō mĭsĕrātă dŏlōrēm,
sīcŭt ĕrāt lăcĕrīs prīdēm tūrpātă căpīllīs
ēt flētū sīgnātă gĕnās, ād cēlsă vĕrēndī
ībāt tēctă pătrīs, pārvūmquĕ sŭb ūbĕrĕ cārō
Thēssāndrūm pōrtābăt ăvō iām nōctĕ sŭprēmā
āntĕ nŏvōs ōrtūs, ŭbĭ sōlă sŭpērstĭtĕ plaūstrō
Ārctŏs ăd ōceānūm fŭgĭēntĭbŭs īnvĭdĕt āstrīs.
ūtquĕ fŏrēs ĭnĭīt māgnōque āffūsă părēntīst:
"Cūr tŭă cūm lăcrĭmīs maēstō sĭnĕ cōniŭgĕ sūpplēx
līmĭnă nōctĕ pĕtām, cēssēm lĭcĕt īpsă prŏfārī,
scīs gĕnĭtōr. Sēd iūră dĕūm gĕnĭālĭă tēstōr
tēquĕ pătēr, nōn īllĕ iŭbēt, sēd pērvĭgĭl āngōr;
ēx quō prīmŭs Hўmēn mōvītque īnfaūstă sĭnīstrām
Iūnŏ făcēm, sēmpēr lăcrĭmīs gĕmĭtūquĕ prŏpīnquō
ēxtūrbātă quĭēs. nōn sī mĭhĭ tīgrĭdĭs hōrrōr
aēquŏrĕaēquĕ sŭpēr rīgeānt praēcōrdĭă caūtēs,
fērrĕ quĕām; tū sōlŭs ŏpēm, tū sūmmă mĕdēndī
iūră tĕnēs; dā bēllă, pătēr, gĕnĕrīquĕ iăcēntīs
āspĭcĕ rēs hŭmĭlēs, ātque hānc, pătĕr, āspĭcĕ prōlēm
ēxŭlĭs; huīc ōlīm gĕnĕrīs pŭdŏr. ō | ŭbĭ prīmă
hōspĭtĭa ēt iūnctaē tēstātō nūmĭnĕ dēxtraē!
hīc cērte ēst quēm fātă dăbānt, quēm dīxĭt Ăpōllŏ;
nōn ĕgŏmēt tăcĭtōs Vĕnĕrīs fūrātă călōrēs
cūlpātāmvĕ făcēm: tŭă iūssă vĕrēndă tŭōsquĕ
dīlēxī mŏnĭtūs. Nūnc quā fĕrĭtātĕ dŏlēntīs
dēspĭcĭām quēstūs? Nēscīs, pătĕr ōptĭmĕ, nēscīs,
quāntŭs ămōr cāstaē mĭsĕrō nūpsīssĕ mărītō.
ēt nūnc maēstă quĭdēm grăve ĕt īllaētābĭlĕ mūnūs,
ūt tĭmĕām dŏlĕāmquĕ, rŏgō; sēd cum ōscŭlă rūmpēt
maēstă dĭēs, cūm raūcă dăbūnt ăbĕūntĭbŭs ārmīs
sīgnă tŭbaē saēvōquĕ gĕnās fūlgēbĭtĭs aūrō,
eī mĭhĭ! cārĕ părēns, ĭtĕrūm fōrtāssĕ rŏgābō."
Īllĭŭs ūmēntī cārpēns pătĕr ōscŭlă vūltū:
"Nōn ĕquĭdem hās ūmquām cūlpārīm, nātă, quĕrēlās;
pōnĕ mĕtūs, laūdāndă rŏgās nēc dīgnă nĕgārī.
Sēd mĭhĭ mūltă dĕī - nēc tū spērārĕ, quŏd ūrgēs,
dēsĭnĕ -, mūltă mĕtūs rēgnīquĕ vŏlūbĭlĕ pōndūs
sūbĭcĭūnt ănĭmō. Vĕnĭēt, quī dēbĭtŭs īstīs,
nātă, mŏdūs, nĕquĕ te īncāssūm flēvīssĕ quĕrērīs.
Tū sōlārĕ vĭrūm, neū sīnt dīspēndĭă iūstaē
dūră mŏraē: māgnōs cūnctāmūr, nātă, părātūs.
Prōfĭcĭtūr bēllō". Dīcēntēm tālĭă nāscēns
lūx mŏnĕt īngēntēsquĕ iŭbēnt āssūrgĕrĕ cūraē.
At non Aoniae moderator perfidus orae
nocte sub ancipiti, quamuis umentibus astris
longus ad auroram superet labor, otia somni
accipit; inuigilant animo scelerisque parati
supplicium exercent curae; tum plurima uersat
pessimus in dubiis augur timor. "Ei mihi" clamat,
"unde morae?" - nam prona ratus facilemque tot armis
Tydea, nec numero uirtutem animumque rependit -
"num regio diuersa uiae? num missus ab Argis
subsidio globus? an sceleris data fama per urbes
finitimas? paucosne, pater Gradiue, manuue
legimus indecores? at enim fortissimus illic
et Chromis et Dorylas et nostris turribus aequi
Thespiadae totos raperent mihi funditus Argos.
Nec tamen ille meis, reor, impenetrabilis armis
aere gerens solidoque datos adamante lacertos
uenerat; heu segnes, quorum labor haeret in uno,
si conserta manus". Vario sic turbidus aestu
angitur ac sese culpat super omnia, qui non
orantem in mediis legatum coetibus ense
perculerit foedasque palam satiauerit iras.
Iam pudet incepti, iam paenitet. Ac uelut ille
fluctibus Ioniis Calabrae datus arbiter alno
nec rudis undarum - portus sed linquere amicos
purior Olenii frustra gradus impulit astri -,
cum fragor hiberni subitus Iouis, omnia mundi
claustra tonant multusque polos inclinat Orion,
ipse quidem malit terras pugnatque reuerti,
fert ingens a puppe notus, tunc arte relicta
ingemit et caecas sequitur iam nescius undas:
talis Agenoreus ductor caeloque morantem
Luciferum et seros maerentibus increpat ortus.
Ecce sub occiduas uersae iam Noctis habenas
astrorumque obitus, ubi primum maxima Tethys
impulit Eoo cunctantem Hyperiona ponto,
ima flagellatis, signum lugubre malorum,
ponderibus trepidauit humus, motusque Cithaeron
antiquas dedit ire niues; tunc uisa leuari
culmina septenaeque iugo concurrere portae.
Et prope sunt causae: gelido remeabat Eoo
iratus fatis et tristis morte negata
Haemonides; necdum ora patent, dubiusque notari
signa dabat magnae longe manifesta ruinae
planctuque et gemitu; lacrimas nam protinus omnis
fuderat. Haud aliter saltu deuertitur orbus
pastor ab agrestum nocturna strage luporum,
cuius erile pecus siluis inopinus abegit
imber et hibernae uentosa cacumina lunae:
luce patent caedes; domino perferre recentes
ipse timet casus, haustaque informis harena
questibus implet agros, stabulique silentia magni
odit et amissos longo ciet ordine tauros.
Illum congestae portarum ad limina matres
ut solum uidere - nefas! - nulla agmina circum
magnanimosque duces, nil ausae quaerere tollunt
clamorem, qualis bello supremus apertis
urbibus, aut pelago iam descendente carina.
Vt primum inuisi cupido data copia regis:
"Hanc tibi de tanto donat ferus agmine Tydeus
infelicem animam, siue haec sententia diuum,
seu fortuna fuit, seu, quod pudet ira fateri,
uis inuicta uiri. Vix credo et nuntius: omnes
procubuere, omnes. Noctis uaga lumina testor
et socium manes et te, mala protinus ales,
qua redeo, non hanc lacrimis meruisse nec astu
crudelem ueniam atque inhonorae munera lucis.
Sed mihi iussa deum placitoque ignara moueri
Atropos atque olim non haec data ianua leti
eripuere necem. iamque ut mihi prodiga uitae
pectora et extremam nihil horrescentia mortem
aspicias: bellum infandum ominibusque negatam
mouisti, funeste, aciem; dum pellere leges
et consanguineo gestis regnare superbus
exsule, te series orbarum excisa domorum
planctibus assiduis, te diro horrore uolantes
quinquaginta animae circum noctesque diesque
assilient; neque enim ipse moror." iam mouerat iras
rex ferus, et tristes ignescunt sanguine uultus.
Inde ultro Phlegyas et non cunctator iniqui
Labdacus - hos regni ferrum penes - ire manuque
proturbare parant. sed iam nudauerat ensem
magnanimus uates, et nunc trucis ora tyranni,
nunc ferrum aspectans: "Numquam tibi sanguinis huius
ius erit aut magno feries imperdita Tydeo
pectora; uado equidem exsultans ereptaque fata
insequor et comites feror exspectatus ad umbras.
Te superis fratrique -" et iam media orsa loquentis
absciderat plenum capulo latus; ille dolori
pugnat et ingentem nisu duplicatus in ictum
corruit, extremisque animae singultibus errans
alternus nunc ore uenit, nunc uulnere sanguis.
Excussae procerum mentes, turbataque mussant
concilia; ast illum coniunx fidique parentes
seruantem uultus et toruum in morte peracta,
non longum reducem laetati, in tecta ferebant.
Sed ducis infandi rabidae non hactenus irae
stare queunt; uetat igne rapi, pacemque sepulcri
impius ignaris nequiquam manibus arcet.
Tu tamen egregius fati mentisque nec umquam
- sic dignum est - passure situm, qui comminus ausus
uadere contemptum reges, quaque ampla ueniret
libertas, sancire uiam: quo carmine dignam,
quo satis ore tuis famam uirtutibus addam,
augur amate deis? Non te caelestia frustra
edocuit lauroque sua dignatus Apollost:
et nemorum Dodona parens Cirrhaeaque uirgo
audebit tacito populos suspendere Phoebo.
Nunc quoque Tartareo multum diuisus Auerno
Elysias, i, carpe plagas, ubi manibus axis
inuius Ogygiis nec sontis iniqua tyranni
iussa ualent; durant habitus et membra cruentis
inuiolata feris, nudoque sub axe iacentem
et nemus et tristis uolucrum reuerentia seruat.
At nuptae exanimes puerique aegrique parentes
moenibus effusi per plana, per auia, passim
quisque suas auidi ad lacrimas miserabile currunt
certamen, quos densa gradu comitantur euntes
milia solandi studio, pars uisere flagrant
unius acta uiri et tantos in nocte labores.
feruet iter gemitu et plangoribus arua reclamant.
ut uero infames scopulos siluamque nefandam
peruentum, ceu nulla prius lamenta nec atri
manassent imbres, sic ore miserrimus uno
exoritur fragor, aspectuque accensa cruento
turba furit: stat sanguineo discissus amictu
Luctus atrox caesoque inuitat pectore matres.
Scrutantur galeas frigentum inuentaque monstrant
corpora, prociduae super externosque suosque.
Hae pressant in tabe comas, hae lumina signant
uulneraque alta rigant lacrimis, pars spicula dextra
nequiquam parcente trahunt, pars molliter aptant
bracchia trunca loco et ceruicibus ora reponunt.
At uaga per dumos uacuique in puluere campi
magna parens iuuenum, gemini nunc funeris, Ide
squalentem sublata comam liuentiaque ora
ungue premens - nec iam infelix miserandaque, uerum
terror inest lacrimis -, per et arma et corpora passim
canitiem impexam dira tellure uolutans
quaerit inops natos omnique in corpore plangit.
Thessalis haud aliter bello gauisa recenti,
cui gentile nefas hominem renouare canendo,
multifida attollens antiqua lumina cedro
nocte subit campos uersatque in sanguine functum
uulgus et explorat manes, cui plurima busto
imperet ad superos: animarum maesta queruntur
concilia, et nigri pater indignatur Auerni.
Illi in secessu pariter sub rupe iacebant
felices, quos una dies, manus abstulit una,
peruia uulneribus media trabe pectora nexi.
ut uidit lacrimisque oculi patuere profusis:
"Hosne ego complexus genetrix, haec oscula, nati,
uestra tuor? Sic uos extremo in fine ligauit
ingenium crudele necis? Quae uulnera tractem,
quae prius ora premam? Vosne illa potentia matris,
uos uteri fortuna mei, qua tangere diuos
rebar et Ogygias titulis anteire parentes?
a, quanto melius dextraque in sorte iugatae,
quis steriles thalami nulloque ululata dolore
respexit Lucina domum! Mihi quippe malorum
causa labor; sed nec bellorum in luce patenti
conspicui fatis aeternaque gentibus ausi
quaesistis miserae uulnus memorabile matri,
sed mortem obscuram numerosaque funera passi,
heu quantus furto cruor et sine laude iacetis!
Quin ego non dextras miseris complexibus ausim
diuidere et tanti consortia rumpere leti:
ite diu fratres indiscretique supremis
ignibus et caros urna confundite manes!"
Nec minus interea digesta strage suorum
hic Chthonium coniunx, hic mater Penthea clamat
Astyoche, puerique rudes, tua, Phaedime, proles,
amissum didicere patrem, Marpessaque pactum
Phyllea, sanguineumque lauant Acamanta sorores.
Tunc ferro retegunt siluas collisque propinqui
annosum truncant apicem, qui conscius actis
noctis et inspexit gemitus; ibi grandior aeuo
ante rogos, dum quisque suo nequit igne reuelli,
concilium infaustum dictis mulcebat Aletes:
"Saepe quidem infelix uarioque exercita ludo
fatorum gens nostra fuit, Sidonius ex quo
hospes in Aonios iecit sata ferrea sulcos,
unde noui fetus et formidata colonis
arua suis. Sed nec ueteris cum regia Cadmi
fulmineum in cinerem monitis Iunonis iniquae
consedit, neque funerea cum laude potitus
infelix Athamas trepido de monte ueniret,
semianimem heu laeto referens clamore Learchum,
hic gemitus Thebis, nec tempore clarius illo
Phoenissae sonuere domus, cum lassa furorem
uicit et ad comitum lacrimas expauit Agaue.
Vna dies similis fato specieque malorum
aequa fuit, qua magniloquos luit impia flatus
Tantalis, innumeris cum circumfusa ruinis
corpora tot raperet terra, tot quaereret ignes.
talis erat uulgi status, et sic urbe relicta
primaeuique senesque et longo examine matres
inuidiam planxere deis miseroque tumultu
bina per ingentes stipabant funera portas.
Meque ipsum memini - necdum apta laboribus aetas -
flesse tamen gemituque meos aequasse parentes.
Illa tamen superi. Nec quod tibi, Delia, castos
prolapsum ad fontis specula temerare profana
heu dominum insani nihil agnouere Molossi,
deflerim magis, aut uerso quod sanguine fluxit
in subitos regina lacus: sic dura Sororum
pensa dabant uisumque Ioui. Nunc regis iniqui
ob noxam immeritos patriae tot culmina ciues
exuimus, nec adhuc calcati foederis Argos
fama subit, et iam bellorum extrema dolemus.
quantus equis quantusque uiris in puluere crasso
sudor! Io quanti crudele rubebitis amnes!
Viderit haec bello uiridis manus: ast ego doner
dum licet igne meo terraque insternar auita!"
haec senior, multumque nefas Eteoclis acerbat
crudelem infandumque uocans poenasque daturum.
Vnde ea libertas? Iuxta illi finis et aetas
tota retro, seraeque decus uelit addere morti.
Haec sator astrorum iamdudum e uertice mundi
prospectans primoque imbutas sanguine gentes
Gradiuum acciri propere iubet. ille furentes
Bistonas et Geticas populatus caedibus urbes
turbidus aetherias currus urguebat ad arces,
fulmine cristatum galeae iubar armaque in auro
tristia, terrificis monstrorum animata figuris,
incutiens: tonat axe polus clipeique cruenta
lux rubet, et solem longe ferit aemulus orbis.
hunc ubi Sarmaticos etiamnum efflare labores
Iuppiter et tota perfusum pectora belli
tempestate uidet: "Talis mihi, nate, per Argos,
talis abi, sic ense madens, hac nubilus ira.
exturbent resides frenos et cuncta perosi
te cupiant, tibi praecipites animasque manusque
deuoueant, rape cunctantes et foedera turba,
cui dedimus, tibi fas ipsos incendere bello
caelicolas pacemque meam. Iam semina pugnae
ipse dedi: remeat portans immania Tydeus
ausa, ducis scelus et turpis, primordia belli,
insidias fraudesque, suis quas ultus in armis.
adde fidem. uos o superi, meus ordine sanguis,
ne pugnare odiis, neu me temptare precando
certetis; sic Fata mihi nigraeque Sororum
iurauere colus: manet haec ab origine mundi
fixa dies bello, populique in proelia nati.
Quodni me ueterum poenas sancire malorum
gentibus et diros sinitis punire nepotes
- arcem hanc aeternam, mentis sacraria nostrae,
testor et Elysios, etiam mihi numina, fontes -,
ipse manu Thebas correptaque moenia fundo
excutiam uersasque solo super Inacha tecta
effundam turres aut stagna in caerula uerram
imbre superiecto, licet ipsa in turbine rerum
Iuno suos colles templumque amplexa laboret."
Dixit, et attoniti iussis. Mortalia credas
pectora, sic cuncti uocemque animosque tenebant.
Non secus ac longa uentorum pace solutum
aequor et imbelli recubant ubi litora somno,
siluarumque comas et abacto flamine nubes
mulcet iners aestas; tunc stagna lacusque sonori
detumuere, tacent exusti solibus amnes.
Gaudet ouans iussis et adhuc temone calenti
feruidus in laeuum torsit Gradiuus habenas.
iamque iter extremum caelique abrupta tenebat,
cum Venus ante ipsos nulla formidine gressum
figit equos; cessere retro iamiamque rigentes
suppliciter posuere iubas. Tunc pectora summo
acclinata iugo uultumque obliqua madentem
incipit - interea dominae uestigia iuxta
spumantem proni mandunt adamanta iugales -:
"Bella etiam in Thebas, socer o pulcherrime, bella
ipse paras ferroque tuos abolere nepotes?
Nec genus Harmoniae nec te conubia caelo
festa nec hae quicquam lacrimae, furibunde, morantur?
Criminis haec merces? Hoc fama pudorque relictus,
hoc mihi Lemniacae de te meruere catenae?
Perge libens; at non eadem Vulcania nobis
obsequia, et laesi seruit tamen ira mariti!
Illum ego perpetuis mihi desudare caminis
si iubeam uigilesque operi transmittere noctes,
gaudeat ornatusque nouos ipsique laboret
arma tibi; tu! - sed scopulos et aena precando
flectere corda paro; solum hoc tamen anxia, solum
obtestor, quid me Tyrio sociare marito
progeniem caram infaustisque dabas hymenaeis?
dum fore praeclaros armis et uiuida rebus
pectora uipereo Tyrios de sanguine iactas
demissumque Iouis serie genus. A! mea quanto
Sithonia mallem nupsisset uirgo sub Arcto
trans Borean Thracasque tuos. Indigna parumne
pertulimus, diuae Veneris quod filia longum
reptat et Illyricas deiectat uirus in herbas?
Nunc gentem immeritam -". Lacrimas non pertulit ultra
Bellipotens, hastam laeua transumit et alto,
haut mora, desiluit curru, clipeoque receptam
laedit in amplexu dictisque ita mulcet amicis:
"O mihi bellorum requies et sacra uoluptas
unaque pax animo! Soli cui tanta potestas
diuorumque hominumque meis occurrere telis
impune et media quamuis in caede frementis
hos adsistere equos, hunc ensem auellere dextra.
Nec mihi Sidonii genialia foedera Cadmi
nec tua cara fides - ne falsa incessere gaude! -
exciderunt: prius in patrui deus infera mergar
stagna et pallentes agar exarmatus ad umbras.
Sed nunc fatorum monitus mentemque supremi
iussus obire patris - neque enim Vulcania tali
imperio manus apta legi -, quo pectore contra
ire Iouem dictasque parem contemnere leges,
cui modo - pro uires! - terras caelumque fretumque
attremere oranti tantosque ex ordine uidi
delituisse deos? Sed ne mihi corde supremos
concipe, cara, metus! Quando haec mutare potestas
nulla datur - cum iam Tyriis sub moenibus ambae
bellabunt gentes, adero et socia arma iuuabo.
Tunc me sanguineo late deferuere campo
res super Argolicas haud sic deiecta uidebis;
hoc mihi ius, nec fata uetant". Sic orsus aperto
flagrantes immisit equos. non ocius alti
in terras cadit ira Iouis, si quando niualem
Othryn et Arctoae gelidum caput institit Ossae
armauitque in nube manum: uolat ignea moles
saeua dei mandata ferens, caelumque trisulca
territat omne coma iamdudum aut ditibus agris
signa dare aut ponto miseros inuoluere nautas.
Iamque remensus iter fesso Danaeia Tydeus
arua gradu uiridisque legit deuexa Prosymnae
terribilis uisu: stant fulti puluere crines,
squalidus ex umeris cadit alta in uulnera sudor,
insomnisque oculos rubor excitat, oraque retro
soluit anhela sitis; mens altum spirat honorem
conscia factorum. Sic nota in pascua taurus
bellator redit, aduerso cui colla suoque
sanguine proscissisque natant palearibus armi;
tunc quoque lassa tumet uirtus multumque superbit
pectore despecto; uacua iacet hostis harena
turpe gemens crudosque uetat sentire labores.
talis erat; medias etiam non destitit urbes,
quidquid et Asopon ueteresque interiacet Argos,
inflammare odiis, multumque et ubique retexens
legatum sese Graia de gente petendis
isse super regnis profugi Polynicis, at inde
uim, noctem, scelus, arma, dolos, ea foedera passum
regis Echionii, fratri sua iura negari.
Prona fides populis; deus omnia credere suadet
armipotens, geminatque acceptos fama pauores.
Vtque introgressus portas - et forte uerendus
concilio pater ipse duces cogebat Adrastus -,
improuisus adest, iam illinc a postibus aulae
uociferans: "Arma, arma uiri, tuque optime Lernae
ductor, magnanimum si quis tibi sanguis auorum,
arma para! Nusquam pietas, non gentibus aequum
fas aut cura Iouis; melius legatus adissem
Sauromatas auidos seruatoremque cruentum
Bebrycii nemoris. Nec iussa incuso pigetue
officii: iuuat isse, iuuat, Thebasque nocentes
explorasse manu; bello me, credite, bello,
ceu turrem ualidam aut artam compagibus urbem,
delecti insidiis instructique omnibus armis
nocte doloque uiri nudum ignarumque locorum
nequiquam clausere; iacent in sanguine mixti
ante urbem uacuam. Nunc o, nunc tempus in hostis,
dum trepidi exsanguesque metu, dum funera portant,
nunc, socer, haec dum non manus excidit; ipse ego fessus
quinquaginta illis heroum immanibus umbris
uulneraque ista ferens putri insiccata cruore
protinus ire peto!" trepidi de sedibus astant
Inachidae, cunctisque prior Cadmeius heros
accurrit uultum deiectus et "O | ego diuis
inuisus uitaeque nocens haec uulnera cerno
integer! hosne mihi reditus, germane, parabas?
In me haec tela mei! Pro uitae foeda cupido!
Infelix, fratri facinus tam grande negaui.
Et nunc uestra quidem maneant in pace quieta
moenia, nec uobis tanti sim causa tumultus
hospes adhuc. Scio - nec me adeo res dextra leuauit -,
quam durum natis, thalamo quam triste reuelli,
quam patria; non me ullius domus anxia culpet
respectentue truces obliquo lumine matres.
ibo libens certusque mori, licet optima coniunx
†auditusque iterum† reuocet socer; hunc ego Thebis,
hunc, germane, tibi iugulum et tibi, maxime Tydeu,
debeo". Sic uariis pertemptat pectora dictis
obliquatque preces. Commotae questibus irae
et mixtus lacrimis caluit dolor; omnibus ultro
non iuuenum modo, sed gelidis et inertibus aeuo
pectoribus mens una subit, uiduare penates,
finitimas adhibere manus, iamque ire. Sed altus
consiliis pater imperiique haut flectere molem
inscius: "Ista quidem superis curaeque medenda
linquite, quaeso, meae, nec te germanus inulto
sceptra geret, neque nos auidi promittere bellum.
at nunc egregium tantoque in sanguine ouantem
excipite Oeniden, animosaque pectora laxet
sera quies: nobis dolor haut rationis egebit".
Turbati extemplo comites et pallida coniunx
Tydea circum omnes fessum bellique uiaeque
stipantur. Laetus mediis in sedibus aulae
constitit, ingentique exceptus terga columna,
uulnera dum lymphis Epidaurius eluit Idmon,
nunc uelox ferro, nunc ille tepentibus herbis
mitior, ipse alta seductus mente renarrat
principia irarum, quaeque orsus uterque uicissim,
quis locus insidiis, tacito quae tempora bello,
qui contra quantique duces, ubi maximus illi
sudor, et indicio seruatum Maeona tristi
exponit. Cui fida manus proceresque socerque
astupet oranti, Tyriusque incenditur exul.
Soluerat Hesperii deuexo margine ponti
flagrantes Sol pronus equos rutilamque lauabat
Oceani sub fonte comam, cui turba profundi
Nereos et rapidis accurrunt passibus Horae,
frenaque et auratae textum sublime coronae
deripiunt, laxant calidis umentia loris
pectora; pars meritos uertunt ad molle iugales
gramen et erecto currum temone supinant.
Nox subiit curasque hominum motusque ferarum
composuit nigroque polos inuoluit amictu,
illa quidem cunctis, sed non tibi mitis, Adraste,
Labdacioque duci: nam Tydea largus habebat
perfusum magna uirtutis imagine somnus.
et iam noctiuagas inter deus armifer umbras
desuper Arcadiae fines Nemeaeaque rura
Taenariumque cacumen Apollineasque Therapnas
armorum tonitru ferit et trepidantia corda
implet amore sui. Comunt Furor Iraque cristas,
frena ministrat equis Pauor armiger. At uigil omni
Fama sono uanos rerum succincta tumultus
anteuolat currum flatuque impulsa gementum
alipedum trepidas denso cum murmure plumas
excutit: urguet enim stimulis auriga cruentis
facta, infecta loqui, curruque infestus ab alto
terga comamque deae Scythica pater increpat hasta.
qualis ubi Aeolio dimissos carcere uentos
dux prae se Neptunus agit magnoque uolentes
incitat Aegaeo; tristis comitatus eunti
circum lora fremunt nimbique hiemesque profundae
nubilaque et uulso terrarum sordida fundo
tempestas: dubiae motis radicibus obstant
Cyclades, ipsa tua Mycono Gyaroque reuelli,
Dele, times magnique fidem testaris alumni.
Septima iam nitidum terris Aurora deisque
purpureo uehit ore diem, Perseius heros
cum primum arcana senior sese extulit aula,
multa super bello generisque tumentibus amens
incertusque animi, daret armis iura nouosque
gentibus incuteret stimulos, an frena teneret
irarum et motos capulis astringeret enses.
Hinc pacis tranquilla mouent, atque inde pudori
foeda quies, flectique noua dulcedine pugnae
difficiles populi; dubio sententia tandem
sera placet, uatum mentis et prouida ueri
sacra mouere deum. Sollers tibi cura futuri,
Amphiaraë, datur, iuxtaque Amythaone cretus
iam senior - sed mente uiret Phoeboque - Melampus
associat passus: dubium, cui pronus Apollo
oraque Cirrhaea satiarit largius unda.
Principio fibris pecudumque in sanguine diuos
explorant; iam tunc pauidis maculosa bidentum
corda negant diraque nefas minitantia uena.
ire tamen uacuoque sedet petere omina caelo.
Mons erat audaci seductus in aethera dorso
- nomine Lernaei memorant Aphesanta coloni -,
gentibus Argolicis olim sacer; inde ferebant
nubila suspenso celerem temerasse uolatu
Persea, cum raptos pueri perterrita mater
prospexit de rupe gradus ac paene secutast.
Huc gemini uates sanctam canentis oliuae
fronde comam et niueis ornati tempora uittis
euadunt pariter, madidos ubi lucidus agros
ortus et algentes laxauit sole pruinas.
Ac prior Oeclides solitum prece numen amicat:
"Iuppiter omnipotens - nam te pernicibus alis
addere consilium uolucresque implere futuri
ominaque et causas caelo deferre latentes
accipimus -, non Cirrha deum promiserit antro
certius, aut frondes lucis quas fama Molossis
Chaonias sonuisse tibi, licet aridus Hammon
inuideat Lyciaeque parent contendere sortes
Niliacumque pecus patrioque aequalis honori
Branchus, et undosae quem rusticus accola Pisae
Pana Lycaonia nocturnum exaudit in umbra:
ditior ille animi, cui tu, Dictaee, secundas
impuleris manifestus aues. mirum unde, sed olimst
hic honor alitibus, superae seu conditor aulae
sic dedit effusum chaos in noua semina texens,
seu quia mutatae nostraque ab origine uersis
corporibus subiere notos, seu purior axis
amotumque nefas et rarum insistere terris
uera docent; tibi, summe sator terraeque deumque,
scire licet. Nos Argolicae primordia pugnae
uenturumque sinas caelo praenosse laborem.
Si datur et duris sedet haec sententia Parcis
soluere Echionias Lernaea cuspide portas,
signa feras laeuusque tones; tunc omnis in astris
consonet arcana uolucris bona murmura lingua.
Si prohibes, hic necte moras dextrisque profundum
alitibus praetexe diem". Sic fatus, et alto
membra locat scopulo; tunc plura ignotaque iungit
numina et immensi fruitur caligine mundi.
Postquam rite diu partiti sidera cunctis
perlegere animis oculisque sequacibus auras,
tunc Amythaonius longo post tempore uates:
"Nonne sub excelso spirantis limite caeli,
Amphiaraë, uides, cursus ut nulla serenos
ales agat liquidoque polum complexa meatu
pendeat aut fugiens placabile planxerit omen?
non comes obscurus tripodum, non fulminis ardens
uector adest flauaeque sonans auis unca Mineruae,
non uenit auguriis melior, quin uultur et altis
desuper accipitres exsultauere rapinis.
monstra uolant, dirae stridunt in nube uolucres,
nocturnaeque gemunt striges et feralia bubo
damna canens. quae prima deum portenta sequamur?
hisne dari, Thymbraee, polum? simul ora recuruo
ungue secant rabidae planctumque imitantibus alis
exagitant Zephyros et plumea pectora caedunt".
ille sub haec: "Equidem uarii, pater, omina Phoebi
saepe tuli: iam tum, prima cum pube uirentem
semideos inter pinus me Thessala reges
duceret, hic casus terraeque marisque canentem
obstipuere duces, nec me uentura locuto
saepius in dubiis auditus Iasoni Mopsus.
sed similis non ante metus aut astra notaui
prodigiosa magis; quamquam maiora parantur.
huc aduerte animum: clara regione profundi
aetheros innumeri statuerunt agmina cycni,
siue hos Strymonia Boreas eiecit ab Arcto,
seu fecunda refert placidi clementia Nili.
Fixerunt cursus: has rere in imagine Thebas;
nam sese immoti gyro atque in pace silentes
ceu muris ualloque tenent. Sed fortior ecce
aduentat per inane cohors; septem ordine fuluo
armigeras summi Iouis exsultante caterua
intuor: Inachii sint hi tibi, concipe, reges.
Inuasere globum niuei gregis uncaque pandunt
caedibus ora nouis et strictis unguibus instant.
cernis inexperto rorantes sanguine uentos,
et plumis stillare diem? quae saeua repente
uictores agitat leto Iouis ira sinistri?
Hic excelsa petens subita face solis inarsit
submisitque animos, illum uestigia adortum
maiorum uolucrum tenerae deponitis alae.
Hic hosti implicitus pariter ruit, hunc fuga retro
uoluit agens sociae linquentem fata cateruae.
Hic nimbo glomeratus obit, hic praepete uiua
pascitur immoriens; spargit caua nubila sanguis.
"Quid furtim illacrimas?" "Illum, uenerande Melampu,
qui cadit, agnosco". Trepidos sic mole futuri
cunctaque iam rerum certa sub imagine passos
terror habet uates; piget irrupisse uolantum
concilia et caelo mentem insertasse uetanti,
auditique odere deos. Vnde iste per orbem
primus uenturi miseris animantibus aeger
creuit amor? Diuumne feras hoc munus, an ipsi,
gens auida et parto non umquam stare quieti,
eruimus, quae prima dies, ubi terminus aeui,
quid bonus ille deum genitor, quid ferrea Clotho
cogitet? Hinc fibrae et uolucrum per nubila sermo
astrorumque uices numerataque semina lunae
Thessalicumque nefas. at non prior aureus ille
sanguis auum scopulisque satae uel robore gentes
mentibus his usae; siluas amor unus humumque
edomuisse manu; quid crastina uolueret aetas,
scire nefas homini. nos prauum et flebile uulgus
scrutari penitus superos: hinc pallor et irae,
hinc scelus insidiaeque et nulla modestia uoti.
Ergo manu uittas damnataque uertice serta
deripit abiectaque inhonorus fronde sacerdos
inuiso de monte redit; iam bella tubaeque
comminus, absentesque fremunt sub pectore Thebae.
ille nec aspectum uulgi, nec fida tyranni
colloquia aut coetus procerum perferre, sed atra
sede tegi, et superum clausus negat acta fateri
- te pudor et curae retinent per rura, Melampu -:
bissenos premit ora dies populumque ducesque
extrahit incertis. Et iam suprema Tonantis
iussa fremunt agrosque uiris annosaque uastant
oppida; bellipotens prae se deus agmina passim
mille rapit; liquere domos dilectaque laeti
conubia et primo plorantis limine natos:
tantus in attonitos cecidit deus. Arma paternis
postibus et fixos superum ad penetralia currus
uellere amor; tunc fessa putri robigine pila
horrentesque situ gladios in saeua recurant
uulnera et attrito cogunt iuuenescere saxo.
Hi teretes galeas magnorumque aerea suta
thoracum et tunicas chalybum squalore crepantes
pectoribus temptare, alii Cortynia lentant
cornua; iam falces auidis et aratra caminis
rastraque et incurui saeuum rubuere ligones.
caedere nec ualidas sanctis e stirpibus hastas,
nec pudor emerito clipeum uestisse iuuenco.
Irrupere Argos maestique ad limina regis
bella animis, bella ore fremunt; it clamor ad auras,
quantus Tyrrheni gemitus salis, aut ubi temptat
Enceladus mutare latus; super igneus antris
mons tonat, exundant apices fluctusque Pelorus
contrahit, et sperat tellus abrupta reuerti.
Atque hic ingenti Capaneus Mauortis amore
excitus et longam pridem indignantia pacem
corda tumens - huic ampla quidem de sanguine prisco
nobilitas; sed enim ipse manu praegressus auorum
facta, diu tuto superum contemptor et aequi
impatiens largusque animae, modo suaserit ira -,
unus ut e siluis Pholoës habitator opacae
inter et Aetnaeos aequus consurgere fratres,
ante fores, ubi turba ducum uulgique frementis,
Amphiaraë, tuas: "Quae tanta ignauia" clamat,
"Inachidae uosque o socio de sanguine Achiui?
unius - heu pudeat! - plebeia ad limina ciuis
tot ferro accinctae gentes animisque paratae
pendemus? non si ipse cauo sub uertice Cirrhae,
quisquis is est, timidis famaeque ita uisus, Apollo
mugiat insano penitus seclusus in antro,
exspectare queam, dum pallida uirgo tremendas
nuntiet ambages. Virtus mihi numen et ensis,
quem teneo! Iamque hic timida cum fraude sacerdos
exeat, aut hodie, uolucrum quae tanta potestas,
experiar". laetum fremit assensuque furentem
implet Achaea manus. Tandem prorumpere adactus
Oeclides: "alio curarum agitante tumultu
non equidem effreno iuuenis clamore profani
dictorumque metu, licet hic insana minetur,
elicior tenebris; alio mihi debita fato
summa dies, uetitumque dari mortalibus armis.
Sed me uester amor nimiusque arcana profari
Phoebus agit; uobis uentura atque omne, quod ultrast,
pandere maestus eo; nam te, uesane, moneri
ante nefas, unique tacet tibi noster Apollo.
quo, miseri, fatis superisque obstantibus arma,
quo rapitis? Quae uos Furiarum uerbera caecos
exagitant? adeone animarum taedet? et Argos
exosi? nil dulce domi? nulla omina curae?
quid me Persei secreta ad culmina montis
ire gradu trepido superumque irrumpere coetus
egistis? potui pariter nescire, quis armis
casus, ubi atra dies, quae fati exordia cunctis,
quae mihi. consulti testor penetralia mundi
et uolucrum adfatus et te, Thymbraee, uocanti
non alias tam saeue mihi, quae signa futuri
pertulerim: uidi ingentis portenta ruinae,
uidi hominum diuumque metus hilaremque Megaeram
et Lachesin putri uacuantem saecula penso.
Proicite arma manu: deus ecce furentibus obstat,
ecce deus! miseri, quid pulchrum sanguine uestro
Aoniam et diri saturare noualia Cadmi?
Sed quid uana cano, quid fixos arceo casus?
Ibimus." Hic presso gemuit semel ore sacerdos.
Illum iterum Capaneus: "Tuus o furor auguret uni
ista tibi, ut serues uacuos inglorius annos
et tua non umquam Tyrrhenus tempora circum
clangor eat. Quid uota uirum meliora moraris?
Scilicet ut uanis auibus natoque domoque
et thalamis potiare iacens, sileamus inulti
Tydeos egregii perfossum pectus et arma
foederis abrupti? Quodsi bella effera Graios
ferre uetas, i Sidonios legatus ad hostes:
haec pacem tibi serta dabunt. tua prorsus inani
uerba polo causas abstrusaque nomina rerum
eliciunt: miseret superum, si carmina curae
humanaeque preces! Quid inertia pectora terres?
Primus in orbe deos fecit timor! Et tibi tuto
nunc eat iste furor; sed prima ad classica cum iam
hostilem Ismenon galeis Dircenque bibemus,
ne mihi tunc, moneo, lituos atque arma uolenti
obuius ire pares uenisque aut alite uisa
bellorum proferre diem: procul haec tibi mollis
infula terrificique aberit dementia Phoebi:
illic augur ego et mecum quicumque parati
insanire manu." rursus fragor intonat ingens
hortantum et uasto subteruolat astra tumultu.
Vt rapidus torrens, animos cui uerna ministrant
flamina et exuti concreto frigore montes,
cum uagus in campos frustra prohibentibus exit
obicibus, resonant permixto turbine tecta,
arua, armenta, uiri, donec stetit improbus alto
colle minor magnoque inuenit in aggere ripas.
haec alterna ducum nox interfusa diremit.
At gemitus Argia uiri non amplius aequo
corde ferens sociumque animo miserata dolorem,
sicut erat laceris pridem turpata capillis
et fletu signata genas, ad celsa uerendi
ibat tecta patris, paruumque sub ubere caro
Thessandrum portabat auo iam nocte suprema
ante nouos ortus, ubi sola superstite plaustro
Arctos ad oceanum fugientibus inuidet astris.
utque fores iniit magnoque affusa parentist:
"Cur tua cum lacrimis maesto sine coniuge supplex
limina nocte petam, cessem licet ipsa profari,
scis genitor. Sed iura deum genialia testor
teque pater, non ille iubet, sed peruigil angor;
ex quo primus Hymen mouitque infausta sinistram
Iuno facem, semper lacrimis gemituque propinquo
exturbata quies. non si mihi tigridis horror
aequoreaeque super rigeant praecordia cautes,
ferre queam; tu solus opem, tu summa medendi
iura tenes; da bella, pater, generique iacentis
aspice res humiles, atque hanc, pater, aspice prolem
exulis; huic olim generis pudor. o ubi prima
hospitia et iunctae testato numine dextrae!
hic certe est quem fata dabant, quem dixit Apollo;
non egomet tacitos Veneris furata calores
culpatamue facem: tua iussa uerenda tuosque
dilexi monitus. Nunc qua feritate dolentis
despiciam questus? Nescis, pater optime, nescis,
quantus amor castae misero nupsisse marito.
et nunc maesta quidem graue et illaetabile munus,
ut timeam doleamque, rogo; sed cum oscula rumpet
maesta dies, cum rauca dabunt abeuntibus armis
signa tubae saeuoque genas fulgebitis auro,
ei mihi! care parens, iterum fortasse rogabo."
Illius umenti carpens pater oscula uultu:
"Non equidem has umquam culparim, nata, querelas;
pone metus, laudanda rogas nec digna negari.
Sed mihi multa dei - nec tu sperare, quod urges,
desine -, multa metus regnique uolubile pondus
subiciunt animo. Veniet, qui debitus istis,
nata, modus, neque te incassum fleuisse quereris.
Tu solare uirum, neu sint dispendia iustae
dura morae: magnos cunctamur, nata, paratus.
Proficitur bello". Dicentem talia nascens
lux monet ingentesque iubent assurgere curae.