P. PAPINII STATII - THEBAIDOS LIBER V

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Pūlsă sĭtīs flŭvĭō, pŏpŭlātăquĕ gūrgĭtĭs ālveūm

āgmĭnă līnquēbānt rīpās āmnēmquĕ mĭnōrēm;

ācrĭŏr ēt cāmpūm sŏnĭpēs răpĭt ēt pĕdĕs ārvă

īmplĕt ŏvāns, rĕdĭērĕ vĭrīs ănĭmīquĕ mĭnaēquĕ

vōtăquĕ, sānguĭnĕīs mīxtūm ceū fōntĭbŭs īgnēm

haūsīssēnt bēllī māgnāsque īn proēlĭă mēntēs.

Dīspŏsĭti īn tūrmās rūrsūs lēgēmquĕ sĕvērī

ōrdĭnĭs, ūt cuīque āntĕ lŏcūs dūctōrquĕ, mŏnēntūr

īnstaūrārĕ vĭās. Tēllūs iām pūlvĕrĕ prīmō

crēscĭt, ĕt ārmōrūm trānsmīttūnt fūlgŭră sīlvaē.

Quālĭă trāns pōntūm Phărĭīs dēprēnsă sĕrēnīs

raūcă Păraētŏnĭō dēcēdūnt āgmĭnă Nīlō,

quō fĕră cōgĭt hĭēmps: īllaē clāngōrĕ fŭgācī,

ūmbră frĕtīs ārvīsquĕ, vŏlānt, sŏnăt āvĭŭs aēthēr.

Iām Bŏrĕān īmbrēsquĕ pătī, iām nārĕ sŏlūtīs

āmnĭbŭs ēt nūdō iŭvăt aēstīvārĕ sŭb Haēmō.

Hīc rūrsūs sĭmĭlī prŏcĕrūm vāllāntĕ cŏrōnā

dūx Tālāiŏnĭdēs, āntīqua ūt fōrtĕ sŭb ōrnō

stābăt ĕt ādmōtī nīxūs Pŏlўnīcĭs ĭn hāstām:

"Āt tămĕn, ō quaēcūmque ĕs" ăīt, "cuī, glōrĭă tāntāst,

vēnĭmŭs īnnŭmĕraē fātō dēbērĕ cŏhōrtēs,

quēm nōn īpsĕ dĕūm sătŏr āspērnētŭr hŏnōrēm,

dīc ăgĕ, quāndŏ tŭīs ălăcrēs ābsīstĭmŭs ūndīs,

quaē dŏmŭs aūt tēllūs, ănĭmām quĭbŭs haūsĕrĭs āstrīs?

Dīc, quĭs ĕt īllĕ pătēr? Nĕque ĕnīm tĭbĭ nūmĭnă lōngē,

trānsĭĕrīt fōrtūnă lĭcēt, māiōrquĕ pĕr ōră

sānguĭs, ĕt ādflīctō spīrāt rĕvĕrēntĭă vūltū".

Īngĕmĭt, ēt paūlūm flētū cūnctātă mŏdēstō

Lēmnĭăs ōrsă rĕfērt: "Īmmānĭă vūlnĕră, rēctōr,

īntēgrārĕ iŭbēs, Fŭrĭās ēt Lēmnŏn ĕt ārtīs

ārma īnsērtă tŏrīs dēbēllātōsquĕ pŭdēndō

ēnsĕ mărēs; rĕdĭt ēccĕ nĕfās ēt frīgĭdă cōrdī

Eūmĕnĭs. Ō mĭsĕraē, quĭbŭs hīc fŭrŏr āddĭtŭs! Ō nōx!

Ō pătĕr! Īlla ĕgŏ nām, pŭdĕāt nē fōrtĕ bĕnīgnaē

hōspĭtĭs, īllă, dŭcēs, rāptūm quaē sōlă părēntēm

ōccŭlŭī. quīd lōngă mălīs ēxōrdĭă nēctō?

Ēt vōs ārmă vŏcānt māgnīque īn cōrdĕ părātūs.

Hōc mĕmŏrāssĕ săt ēst: clārō gĕnĕrātă Thŏāntĕ

sērvĭtĭum Hŷpsĭpўlē vēstrī fĕrŏ cāptă Lўcūrgī."

Ādvērtēre ănĭmōs, māiōrque ĕt hŏnōră vĭdērī

pārque ŏpĕrī tāntō; cūnctīs tūnc nōscĕrĕ cāsūs

ōrtŭs ămōr, pătĕr ānte ălĭōs hōrtātŭr Ădrāstūs:

"Īmmo ăgĕ, dūm prīmī lōngē dămŭs āgmĭnă vūlgī

nēc făcĭlīs Nĕmĕā lātās ēvōlvĕrĕ vīrīs,

quīppe ōbtēntă cŏmīs ĕt ĭnēlūctābĭlĭs ūmbră,

pāndĕ nĕfās laūdēsquĕ tŭās gĕmĭtūsquĕ tŭōrūm,

ūnde hōs ādvĕnĭās rēgnō dēiēctă lăbōrēs."

Dūlcĕ lŏquī mĭsĕrīs vĕtĕrēsquĕ rĕdūcĕrĕ quēstūs.

Īncĭpĭt: Aēgaēō prĕmĭtūr cīrcūmflŭă Nēreō

Lēmnŏs, ŭbi īgnĭfĕrā fēssūs rēspīrăt ăb Aētnā

Mūlcĭbĕr; īngēntī tēllūrēm prōxĭmŭs ūmbrā

vēstĭt Ăthōs nĕmŏrūmque ōbscūrăt ĭmāgĭnĕ pōntūm;

Thrācĕs ărānt cōntrā, Thrācūm fātālĭă nōbīs

lītŏra, ĕt īndĕ nĕfās. Flōrēbāt dīvĕs ălūmnīs

tērră, nĕc īllă Sămō fāmā Dēlōvĕ sŏnāntī

pēiŏr ĕt īnnŭmĕrīs quās spūmĭfĕr āssĭlĭt Aēgōn.

Dīs vīsūm tūrbārĕ dŏmōs, nēc pēctŏră cūlpā

nōstră văcānt: nūllōs Vĕnĕrī sācrāvĭmŭs īgnīs,

nūllă dĕaē sēdēs; mŏvĕt ēt caēlēstĭă quōndām

cōrdă dŏlōr lēntōque īrrēpūnt āgmĭnĕ Poēnaē.

Īllă Păphōn vĕtĕrēm cēntūmque āltārĭă līnquēns

nēc vūltū nēc crīnĕ prĭōr sōlvīssĕ iŭgālēm

cēstŏn ĕt Īdălĭās prŏcŭl āblēgāssĕ vŏlūcrēs

fērtŭr. Ĕrānt cērtē, mĕdĭā quaē nōctĭs ĭn ūmbrā

dīvam ălĭōs īgnīs māiōrăquĕ tēlă gĕrēntēm

Tārtărĕās īntēr thălămīs vŏlĭtāssĕ sŏrōrēs

vūlgārēnt; ūtque īmplĭcĭtīs ārcānă dŏmōrūm

ānguĭbŭs ēt saēvā fōrmīdĭnĕ nūptă rĕplēssēt

līmĭnă, nēc fīdī pŏpŭlūm mĭsĕrātă mărītī,

prōtĭnŭs ā Lēmnō tĕnĕrī fūgīstĭs Ămōrēs,

mūtŭs Hўmēn vērsaēquĕ făcēs ēt frīgĭdă iūstī

cūră tŏrī! Nūllaē rĕdĕūnt īn gaūdĭă nōctēs,

nūllŭs ĭn āmplēxū sŏpŏr ēst, Ŏdĭa āspĕra ŭbīquĕ

ēt Fŭrŏr ēt mĕdĭō rĕcŭbāt Dīscōrdĭă lēctō.

cūră vĭrīs tŭmĭdōs ādvērsā Thrācăs ĭn ōrā

ērŭĕre ēt saēvām bēllāndō frāngĕrĕ gēntēm.

Cūmquĕ dŏmūs cōntrā stāntēsque īn lītŏrĕ nātī,

dūlcĭŭs Ēdōnās hĭĕmēs Ārctōnquĕ prĕmēntēm

ēxcĭpĕre, aūt tāndēm tăcĭtā pōst proēlĭă nōctĕ

frāctōrūm sŭbĭtās tōrrēntum aūdīrĕ rŭīnās.

īllae aūtēm trīstēs - nām mē tūnc lībĕră cūrīs

vīrgĭnĭtās ānnīquĕ tĕgūnt - sūb nōctĕ dĭēquĕ

āssĭdŭīs aēgrae īn lăcrĭmīs sōlāntĭă mīscēnt

cōllŏquĭa, aūt saēvām spēctānt trāns aēquŏră Thrācēn.

Sōl ŏpĕrūm mĕdĭūs sūmmō lībrābăt Ŏlŷmpō

lūcēntīs, ceū stārĕt, ĕquōs; quătĕr āxĕ sĕrēnō

īntŏnŭīt, quătĕr āntră dĕī fūmāntĭs ănhēlōs

ēxsĕrŭēre ăpĭcēs, vēntīsque ābsēntĭbŭs Aēgōn

mōtŭs ĕt īngēntī pērcūssīt lītŏră pōntō:

cūm sŭbĭto hōrrēndās aēvī mātūră Pŏlŷxō

tōllĭtŭr īn fŭrĭās thălămīsque īnsuētă rĕlīctīs

ēvŏlăt. Īnsānō vĕlŭtī Teūmēsĭă Thŷiās

rāptă dĕō, cūm sācră vŏcānt Īdaēăquĕ suādēt

būxŭs ĕt ā sūmmīs aūdītūs mōntĭbŭs Eūhān:

sīc ērēctă gĕnās ăcĭēmque ōffūsă trĕmēntī

sānguĭnĕ dēsērtām răbĭdīs clāmōrĭbŭs ūrbēm

ēxăgĭtāt, claūsāsquĕ dŏmōs ēt līmĭnă pūlsāns

cōncĭlĭūm vŏcăt; īnfēlīx cŏmĭtātŭs ĕūntī

haērēbānt nāti. ātque īllaē nōn sēgnĭŭs ōmnēs

ērūmpūnt tēctīs, sūmmāsque ād Pāllădŏs ārcēs

īmpĕtŭs: hūc prŏpĕrē stīpāmŭr ĕt ōrdĭnĕ nūllō

cōngēstaē; strīctō mōx ēnsĕ sĭlēntĭă iūssīt

hōrtātrīx scĕlĕrum ēt mĕdĭō sīc aūsă prŏfārī:

"Rēm sūmmam īnstīnctū sŭpĕrūm mĕrĭtīquĕ dŏlōrīs,

ō vĭdŭaē (fīrmāte ănĭmōs ēt pēllĭtĕ sēxūm!)

Lēmnĭădēs, sāncīrĕ părō; sī taēdĕt ĭnānēs

aētērnūm sērvārĕ dŏmōs tūrpēmquĕ iŭvēntaē

flōrĕ sĭtum ēt lōngīs stĕrĭlīs īn lūctĭbŭs ānnōs,

īnvēnī, prōmīttŏ, vĭām - nēc nūmĭnă dēsūnt -,

quā rĕnŏvāndă Vĕnūs: mŏdŏ pār īnsūmĭtĕ rōbūr

lūctĭbŭs, ātque ădĕō prīmum hōc mĭhĭ nōscĕrĕ dētūr.

tērtĭă cānĕt hĭēmps; cuī cōnŭbĭālĭă vīnclă

aūt thălămī sēcrētŭs hŏnōs? Cŭĭ cōniŭgĕ pēctūs

īntĕpŭīt? cūiūs vīdīt Lūcīnă lăbōrēs,

dīcĭtĕ, vēl iūstōs cūiūs pūlsāntĭă mēnsīs

vōtă tŭmēnt? Quā pācĕ fĕrās vŏlŭcrēsquĕ iŭgārī

mōs dătŭs. heū sēgnēs! pŏtŭītne ūltrīcĭă Grāiūs

vīrgĭnĭbūs dărĕ tēlă pătēr laētūsquĕ dŏlōrūm

sānguĭnĕ sēcūrōs iŭvĕnūm pērfūndĕrĕ sōmnōs:

āt nōs vūlgŭs ĭnērs? quōdsī prŏpĭōrĭbŭs āctīs

ēst ŏpŭs, ēcce ănĭmōs dŏcĕāt Rhŏdŏpēĭă cōniūnx,

ūltă mănū thălămōs părĭtērque ĕpŭlātă mărītō.

Nēc vōs īmmūnīs scĕlĕrūm sēcūrăvĕ cōgō.

Plēnă mĭhī dŏmŭs ātque īngēns, ēn cērnĭtĕ, sūdōr.

Quāttŭŏr hōs ūnā, dĕcŭs ēt sōlācĭă pātrīs,

īn grĕmĭō, lĭcĕt āmplēxū lăcrĭmīsquĕ mŏrēntūr,

trānsădĭgām fērrō sănĭēmque ēt vūlnĕră frātrūm

mīscēbō pātrēmquĕ sŭpēr spīrāntĭbŭs āddām.

Ēcquă tŏt īn caēdēs ănĭmūm prōmīttĭt?" ăgēbāt

plūrĭbŭs; ādvērsō nĭtŭērūnt vēlă prŏfūndō:

Lēmnĭă clāssĭs ĕrāt. Răpŭīt gāvīsă Pŏlŷxō

fōrtūnam ātque ĭtĕrāt: "Sŭpĕrīsnĕ vŏcāntĭbŭs ūltrō

dēsŭmŭs? Ēccĕ rătēs! Deūs hōs, dĕŭs ūltŏr ĭn īrās

ādpōrtāt coēptīsquĕ făvēt. Nĕc ĭmāgŏ quĭētīs

vānă mĕaē: nūdō stābāt Vĕnŭs ēnsĕ, vĭdērī

clāră mĭhī sōmnōsquĕ sŭpēr: "Quīd pērdĭtĭs aēvūm?"

īnquĭt, 'ăge āvērsīs thălămōs pūrgātĕ mărītīs.

Īpsă făcēs ălĭās mĕlĭōrăquĕ foēdĕră iūngām'.

Dīxĭt, ĕt hōc fērrūm strātīs, hōc, crēdĭtĕ, fērrūm

īmpŏsŭīt. Quīn ō mĭsĕraē, dūm tēmpŭs ăgī rēm,

cōnsŭlĭte; ēn vălĭdīs spūmānt ēvērsă lăcērtīs

aēquŏră, Bīstŏnĭdēs vĕnĭūnt fōrtāssĕ mărītaē".

Hīnc stĭmŭli īngēntēs, māgnūsque ādvōlvĭtŭr āstrīs

clāmŏr. Ămāzŏnĭō Scўthĭām fērvērĕ tŭmūltū

lūnātūmquĕ pŭtēs āgmēn dēscēndĕre, ŭbi ārmă

īndūlgēt pătĕr ēt saēvī mŏvĕt ōstĭă Bēllī.

Nēc vărĭūs frĕmŏr aūt stŭdĭa īn cōntrārĭă rāptī

dīssēnsūs, ūt plēbĕ sŏlēt: fŭrŏr ōmnĭbŭs īdēm,

īdem ănĭmūs sōlārĕ dŏmōs iŭvĕnūmquĕ sĕnūmquĕ

praēcĭpĭtārĕ cŏlūs plēnīsque āffrāngĕrĕ pārvōs

ūbĕrĭbūs fērrōque ōmnīs ēxīrĕ pĕr ānnōs.

Tūnc vĭrĭdī lūcō - lūcūs iŭgă cēlsă Mĭnērvaē

prōptĕr ŏpācăt hŭmūm nĭgĕr īpsĕ, sĕd īnsŭpĕr īngēns

mōns prĕmĭt ēt gĕmĭnā pĕrĕūnt cālīgĭnĕ sōlēs -,

hīc sānxērĕ fĭdēm, tū Mārtĭă tēstĭs Ĕnŷō

ātque īnfērnă Cĕrēs, Stўgĭaēque Ăchĕrōntĕ rĕclūsō

āntĕ prĕcēs vēnērĕ dĕaē; sēd fāllĭt ŭbīquĕ

mīxtă Vĕnūs, Vĕnŭs ārmă tĕnēt, Vĕnŭs ādmŏvĕt īrās.

Nēc dē mōrĕ crŭōr: nātūm Chărŏpēĭă cōniūnx

ōbtŭlĭt, āccīngūnt sēse ēt mīrāntĭă fērrō

pēctŏră cōngēstīsque ăvĭdaē sĭmŭl ūndĭquĕ dēxtrīs

pērfrīngūnt, āc dūlcĕ nĕfās īn sānguĭnĕ vīvō

cōniūrānt, mātrēmquĕ rĕcēns cīrcūmvŏlăt ūmbră.

Tālĭă cērnēntī mĭhĭ quāntŭs ĭn ōssĭbŭs hōrrōr,

quīsvĕ pĕr ōră cŏlōr! Quālīs cūm cērvă crŭēntīs

cīrcūmuēntă lŭpīs, nūllūm cuī pēctŏrĕ mōllī

rōbŭr ĕt īn vŏlŭcrī tĕnŭīs fīdūcĭă cūrsū,

praēcĭpĭtāt sūspēnsă fŭgām, iāmiāmquĕ tĕnērī

crēdĭt ĕt ēlūsōs aūdīt cōncūrrĕrĕ mōrsūs.

Īlli ădĕrānt, prīmīs iāmque ōffēndērĕ cărīnaē

lītŏrĭbūs, cērtānt sāltū cōntīngĕrĕ tērrām

praēcĭpĭtēs. Mĭsĕrī, quōs nōn aūt hōrrĭdă vīrtūs

Mārtĕ sŭb Ōdrўsĭo, aūt mĕdĭi īnclēmēntĭă pōntī

haūsĕrĭt! Ālta ĕtĭām sŭpĕrūm dēlūbră văpōrānt

prōmīssāsquĕ trăhūnt pĕcŭdēs: nĭgĕr ōmnĭbŭs ārīs

īgnĭs, ĕt īn nūllīs spīrāt dĕŭs īntĕgĕr ēxtīs.

Tārdĭŭs ūmēntī nōctēm dēiēcĭt Ŏlŷmpō

Iūppĭtĕr ēt vērsūm mītī, rĕŏr, aēthĕră cūrā

sūstĭnŭīt, dūm fātă vĕtānt, nēc lōngĭŭs ūmquām

cēssāvērĕ nŏvaē pērfēctō sōlĕ tĕnēbraē.

Sēră tămēn mūndō vēnērūnt āstră, sĕd īllīs

ēt Părŏs ēt nĕmŏrōsă Thăsōs crēbraēquĕ rĕlūcēnt

Cŷclădĕs; ūnă grăvī pĕnĭtūs lătĕt ōbrŭtă caēlō

Lēmnŏs, ĭn hānc trīstēs nĕbŭlae, ēt plăgă caēcă sŭpērnē

tēxĭtŭr, ūnă văgīs Lēmnōs nōn āgnĭtă naūtīs.

tūm dŏmĭbūs fūsi ēt nĕmŏrūm pĕr ŏpācă săcrōrūm

dītĭbŭs īndūlgēnt ĕpŭlīs văcŭāntquĕ prŏfūndō

aūrum īmmānĕ mĕrō, dūm quaē pēr Strŷmŏnă pūgnaē,

quīs Rhŏdŏpē gĕlĭdōvĕ lăbōr sūdātŭs ĭn Haēmō,

ēnŭmĕrārĕ văcāt. Nēc nōn, mănŭs īmpĭă, nūptaē

sērta īntēr fēstāsquĕ dăpēs quō māxĭmă cūltū

quaēquĕ iăcēnt; dĕdĕrāt mītīs Cўthĕrēă sŭprēmā

nōctĕ vĭrōs lōngōquĕ brĕvēm pōst tēmpŏrĕ pācēm

nēquīquam ēt mĭsĕrōs pĕrĭtūro ādflāvĕrăt īgnī.

Cōntĭcŭērĕ chŏrī, dăpĭbūs lūdōquĕ lĭcēntī

fīt mŏdŭs ēt prīmaē dēcrēscūnt mūrmŭră nōctīs,

cūm cōnsānguĭnĕī mīxtūs cālīgĭnĕ Lētī

rōrĕ mădēns Stўgĭō mŏrĭtūram āmplēctĭtŭr ūrbēm

Sōmnŭs ĕt īmplăcĭdō fūndīt grăvĭa ōtĭă cōrnū

sēcērnītquĕ vĭrōs. vĭgĭlānt nūptaēquĕ nŭrūsquĕ

īn scĕlŭs, ātque hĭlărēs ăcŭūnt fĕră tēlă Sŏrōrēs.

Īnvāsērĕ nĕfās, cūnctō sŭă rēgnăt Ĕrīnŷs

pēctŏrĕ. Nōn ălĭtēr Scўthĭcōs ārmēntă pĕr āgrōs

Hŷrcānaē claūsērĕ lĕaē, quās ēxĭgĭt ōrtū

prīmă fămēs, ăvĭdīque īmplōrānt ūbĕră nātī.

Quōs tĭbĭ nām, dŭbĭtō, scĕlĕrūm dē mīllĕ fĭgūrīs

ēxpĕdĭām cāsūs? Hĕlўmūm tĕmĕrārĭă Gōrgē

ēvīnctūm rāmīs āltāque īn mōlĕ tăpētūm

ēfflāntēm sōmnō crēscēntĭă vīnă sŭpērstāns

vūlnĕră dīsiēctā rīmātūr vēstĕ, sĕd īllūm

īnfēlīx sŏpŏr ādmōtā sūb mōrtĕ rĕfūgīt.

Tūrbĭdŭs īncērtūmque ŏcŭlīs vĭgĭlāntĭbŭs hōstēm

ōccŭpăt āmplēxū, nēc sēgnĭŭs īllă tĕnēntīs

pōne ădĭgīt cōstās, dōnēc sŭă pēctŏră fērrō

tāngĕrĕt. īs dēmūm scĕlĕrī mŏdŭs; ōră sŭpīnāt

blāndŭs ădhūc ŏcŭlīsquĕ trĕmēns ēt mūrmŭrĕ Gōrgēn

quaērĭt ĕt īndīgnō nōn sōlvīt brācchĭă cōllō.

Nōn ĕgŏ nūnc vūlgī quāmquām crūdēlĭă pāndām

fūnĕră, sēd prŏprĭā lūctūs dē stīrpĕ rĕcōrdōr:

quōd tē, flāvĕ Cўdōn, quōd tē pēr cōllă rĕfūsīs

īntāctūm, Crēnaēĕ, cŏmīs, quĭbŭs ūbĕră mēcūm

ōblīquūmque ā pātrĕ gĕnūs, fōrtēmquĕ, tĭmēbām

quēm dēspōnsă, Gўān vīdī lāpsārĕ crŭēntaē

vūlnĕrĕ Mŷrmĭdŏnēs, quōdque īntēr sērtă tŏrōsquĕ

bārbără lūdēntēm fŏdĭēbăt Ĕpōpĕă mātēr.

Flēt sŭpĕr aēquaēvūm sŏrŏr ēxārmātă Lўcāstē

Cŷdĭmŏn, heū sĭmĭlīs pĕrĭtūro īn cōrpŏrĕ vūltūs

āspĭcĭēns flōrēmquĕ gĕnae ēt quās fīnxĕrăt aūrō

īpsă cŏmās, cūm saēvă părēns iām cōniŭgĕ fūsō

āstĭtĭt īmpēllītquĕ mĭnīs ātque īngĕrĭt ēnsēm.

Ūt fĕră, quaē răbĭē plăcĭdō dēsuētă măgīstrō

tārdĭŭs ārmă mŏvēt stĭmŭlīsque ēt vērbĕrĕ crēbrō

īn mōrēs nĕgăt īrĕ sŭōs, sīc īllă iăcēntī

īncĭdĭt ūndāntēmquĕ sĭnū cōllāpsă crŭōrēm

ēxcĭpĭt ēt lăcĕrōs prĕmĭt īn nŏvă vūlnĕră crīnīs.

Ūt vēro Ālcĭmĕdēn ĕtĭāmnum īn mūrmŭrĕ trūncōs

fērrĕ pătrīs vūltūs ĕt ĕgēntēm sānguĭnĭs ēnsēm

cōnspēxī, rĭgŭērĕ cŏmae ātque īn vīscĕră saēvūs

hōrrŏr ĭīt: mĕŭs īllĕ Thŏās, mĕă dīră vĭdērī

dēxtră mĭhi! Ēxtēmplō thălămīs tūrbātă pătērnīs

īnfĕrŏr. īllĕ quĭdēm dūdūm - quīs māgnă tŭēntī

sōmnŭs? - ăgīt vērsāns sēcum, ētsī lātă rĕcēssīt

ūrbĕ dŏmūs, quīnām strĕpĭtūs, quaē mūrmŭră nōctīs,

cūr frĕmĭbūndă quĭēs? Trĕpĭdō scĕlŭs ōrdĭnĕ pāndō,

quīs dŏlŏr, ūnde ănĭmī: "Vīs nūlla ārcērĕ fŭrēntēs;

hāc sĕquĕre, ō mĭsĕrāndĕ; prĕmūnt ădĕrūntquĕ mŏrāntī,

ēt mēcūm fōrtāssĕ cădēs". Hīs mōtŭs ĕt ārtūs

ērēxīt strātīs. Fĕrĭmūr pēr dēvĭă vāstaē

ūrbĭs ĕt īngēntēm nōctūrnaē caēdĭs ăcērvūm

pāssim, ūt quōsquĕ săcrīs crūdēlīs vēspĕră lūcīs

strāvĕrăt, ōccūltā spĕcŭlāmūr nūbĕ lătēntēs.

Hīc īmprēssā tōrĭs ŏra ēxstāntēsquĕ rĕclūsīs

pēctŏrĭbūs căpŭlōs māgnārum ēt frāgmĭnă trūncă

hāstārum ēt fērrō lăcĕrās pēr cōrpŏră vēstēs,

crātērās prōnōs ĕpŭlāsque īn caēdĕ nătāntīs

cērnĕre ĕrāt, iŭgŭlīsquĕ mŏdō tōrrēntĭs ăpērtīs

sānguĭnĕ pērmīxtō rĕdĕūntem īn pōcŭlă Bācchūm.

Hīc iŭvĕnūm mănŭs ēt nūllīs vĭŏlābĭlĭs ārmīs

tūrbă sĕnēs, pŏsĭtīquĕ pătrūm sŭpĕr ōră gĕmēntūm

sēmĭnĕcēs pŭĕrī trĕpĭdās īn līmĭnĕ vītaē

sīngūltānt ănĭmās. Gĕlĭdā nōn saēvĭŭs Ōssā

lūxŭrĭānt Lăpĭthārum ĕpŭlaē, sī quāndŏ prŏfūndō

Nūbĭgĕnaē cālvērĕ mĕrō; vīx prīmŭs ăb īrā

pāllŏr, ĕt īmpūlsīs sūrgūnt ād proēlĭă mēnsīs.

Tūnc prīmūm sēsē trĕpĭdīs sūb nōctĕ Thўōneūs

dētēxīt, nātō pōrtāns ēxtrēmă Thŏāntī

sūbsĭdĭa, ēt mūltā sŭbĭtūs cūm lūcĕ rĕfūlsīt.

Āgnōvī: nōn īllĕ quĭdēm tūrgēntĭă sērtīs

tēmpŏră nēc flāvā crīnēm dēstrīnxĕrăt ūvā:

nūbĭlŭs īndīgnūmque ŏcŭlīs līquēntĭbŭs īmbrēm

ādlŏquĭtūr: "Dūm fātă dăbānt tĭbĭ, nātĕ, pŏtēntēm

Lēmnŏn ĕt ēxtērnīs ĕtĭām sērvārĕ tĭmēndām

gēntĭbŭs, haūd ūmquām iūstō mĕă cūră lăbōrī

dēstĭtĭt: ābscĭdĕrūnt trīstēs crūdēlĭă Pārcaē

stāmĭnă, nēc dīctīs, sūpplēx quaē plūrĭmă fūdī

āntĕ Iŏvēm frūstrā, lăcrĭmīsque āvērtĕrĕ lūctūs

cōntĭgĭt; īnfāndūm nātaē cōncēssĭt hŏnōrēm.

Āccĕlĕrātĕ fŭgām, tūque, ō mĕă dīgnă prŏpāgŏ,

hāc rĕgĕ, vīrgŏ, pătrēm, gĕmĭnī quā brācchĭă mūrī

lītŭs ĕūnt: īllā, quā rērĕ sĭlēntĭă, pōrtā

stāt fūnēstă Vĕnūs fērrōque āccīnctă fŭrēntēs

ādiŭvăt - ūndĕ mănūs, ūnde haēc Māvōrtĭă dīvaē

pēctŏră? tū lātō pātrēm cōmmīttĕ prŏfūndō.

Sūccēdām cūrīs." ĭtă fātŭs ĭn āĕră rūrsūs

sōlvĭtŭr ēt nōstrūm, vīsūs ārcēntĭbŭs ūmbrīs,

mītĭs ĭtēr lōngaē clārāvīt līmĭtĕ flāmmaē.

Quā dătă sīgnă, sĕquōr; deīn cūrvō rōbŏrĕ claūsūm

dīs pĕlăgī vēntīsque ēt Cŷclădăs Aēgaēōnī

āmplēxō cōmmēndŏ pătrēm, nēc flētĭbŭs ūmquām

fīt mŏdŭs āltērnīs, nī iām dīmīttăt Ĕōō

Lūcĭfĕr āstră pŏlō. Tūnc dēmūm lītŏrĕ raūcō

mūltă mĕtū rĕpŭtāns ēt vīx cōnfīsă Lўaēō

dīvĭdŏr, īpsă grădū nītēntĕ, sĕd ānxĭă rētrō

pēctŏră, nēc rĕquĭēs, quīn ēt sūrgēntĭă caēlō

flāmĭna ĕt ē cūnctīs prōspēctēm cōllĭbŭs ūndās.

Ēxŏrĭtūr pŭdĭbūndă dĭēs, caēlūmquĕ rĕtēxēns

āvērsūm Lēmnō iŭbăr ēt dēclīnĭă Tītān

ōppŏsĭtā iŭgă nūbĕ rĕfērt. Pătŭērĕ fŭrōrēs

nōctūrnī, lūcīsquĕ nŏvaē fōrmīdĭnĕ cūnctīs,

quāmquam īntēr sĭmĭlēs, sŭbĭtūs pŭdŏr; īmpĭă tērraē

īnfŏdĭūnt scĕlĕra aūt fēstīnīs īgnĭbŭs ūrūnt.

Iām mănŭs Eūmĕnĭdūm cāptāsquĕ rĕfūgĕrăt ārcēs

ēxsătŭrātă Vĕnūs; lĭcŭīt sēntīrĕ quĭd aūsaē,

ēt tūrbārĕ cŏmās ēt lūmĭnă tīnguĕrĕ flētū.

Īnsŭlă dīvĕs ăgrīs ŏpĭbūsque ārmīsquĕ vĭrīsquĕ,

nōtă sĭtu ēt Gĕtĭcō nūpēr dītātă trĭūmphō,

nōn mărĭs īncūrsū, nōn hōstĕ, nĕc aēthĕrĕ laēvō

pērdĭdĭt ūna ōmnēs ōrbāta ēxcūssăquĕ fūndō

īndĭgĕnās: nōn ārvă vĭrī, nōn aēquŏră vērtūnt,

cōntĭcŭērĕ dŏmūs, crŭŏr āltŭs ĕt ōblĭtă crāssō

cūnctă rŭbēnt tābō, māgnaēque īn moēnĭbŭs ūrbīs

nōs tāntum ēt saēvī spīrānt pēr cūlmĭnă mānēs.

Īpsă quŏque ārcānīs tēcti īn pĕnĕtrālĭbŭs āltō

mōlĭŏr īgnĕ pўrām, scēptrūm sŭpĕr ārmăquĕ pātrīs

īnĭcĭo ēt nōtās rēgūm vēlāmĭnă vēstēs,

āc prŏpĕ maēstă rŏgūm cōnfūsīs īgnĭbŭs āstō

ēnsĕ crŭēntātō, fraūdēmque ĕt ĭnānĭă būstă

plāngŏ mĕtū, sī fōrtĕ prĕmānt, cāssūmquĕ părēntī

ōmĕn ĕt hāc dŭbĭōs lētī prĕcŏr īrĕ tĭmōrēs.

Hīs mĭhĭ prō mĕrĭtīs, ūt fālsī crīmĭnĭs āstū

pārtă fĭdēs, rēgno ēt sŏlĭō cōnsīdĕrĕ pātrīs

- sūpplĭcĭūm! - dătŭr. Ānne īllīs ōbsēssă nĕgārēm?

Āccēssī, saēpe āntĕ dĕōs tēstātă fĭdēmquĕ

īmmĕrĭtāsquĕ mănūs; sŭbĕō - prō dīră pŏtēstās! -

ēxsāngue īmpĕrĭum ēt maēstām sĭnĕ cūlmĭnĕ Lēmnōn.

Iām măgĭs ātquĕ măgīs vĭgĭlēs dŏlŏr āngĕrĕ sēnsūs,

ēt gĕmĭtūs clāri, ēt paūlātim īnvīsă Pŏlŷxō,

iām mĕmĭnīssĕ nĕfās, iām pōnĕrĕ mānĭbŭs ārās

cōncēssum ēt mūltūm cĭnĕrēs iūrārĕ sĕpūltōs.

Sīc ŭbĭ dūctōrēm trĕpĭdaē stăbŭlīquĕ mărītūm,

quēm pĕnĕs ēt sāltūs ĕt ădūltaē glōrĭă gēntīs,

Māssŷlō frāngī stŭpŭērĕ sŭb hōstĕ iŭvēncaē,

īt trūncūm sĭne hŏnōrĕ pĕcūs, rēgēmquĕ pĕrēmptūm

īpse ăgĕr, īpsi āmnēs ēt mūta ārmēntă quĕrūntūr.

Ēcce aūtem aērātā dīspēllēns aēquŏră prōrā

Pēlĭăs īntāctī lātē sŭbĭt hōspĭtă pōntī

pīnŭs; ăgūnt Mĭnўaē, gĕmĭnūs frăgŏr ārdŭă cānēt

pēr lătĕra, ābrūptām crēdās rādīcĭbŭs īrĕ

Ōrtўgĭam aūt frāctūm pĕlăgō dēcūrrĕrĕ mōntēm.

Āst ŭbĭ sūspēnsīs sĭlŭērūnt aēquŏră tōnsīs,

mītĭŏr ēt sĕnĭbūs cŷgnīs ēt pēctĭnĕ Phoēbī

vōx mĕdĭā dē pūppĕ vĕnīt, mărĭa īpsă cărīnaē

āccēdūnt. Pōst nōssĕ dătum ēst: Oēāgrĭŭs īllīc

ācclīnīs mālō mĕdĭīs īntērsŏnăt Ōrpheūs

rēmĭgĭīs tāntōsquĕ iŭbēt nēscīrĕ lăbōrēs.

Īllīs īn Scўthĭcūm Bŏrĕān ĭtĕr ōrăquĕ prīmī

Cŷănĕīs ārtātă mărīs. Nōs Thrācĭă vīsū

bēllă rătaē vărĭō tēcta īncūrsārĕ tŭmūltū,

dēnsārūm pĕcŭdum aūt fŭgĭēntūm mōrĕ vŏlūcrūm.

Heū | ŭbĭ nūnc fŭrĭaē? Pōrtūs āmplēxăquĕ lītūs

moēnĭă, quā lōngē pĕlăgō dēspēctŭs ăpērtō,

scāndĭmŭs ēt cēlsās tūrrēs; hūc sāxă sŭdēsquĕ

ārmăquĕ maēstă vĭrum ātque īnfēctōs caēdĭbŭs ēnsēs

sūbvēctānt trĕpĭdaē; quīn ēt squālēntĭă tēxtă

thōrācum ēt vūltū gălĕās īntrārĕ sŏlūtō

nōn pŭdĕt; aūdācēs rŭbŭīt mīrātă cătērvās

Pāllăs ĕt ādvērsō rīsīt Grādīvŭs ĭn Haēmō.

Tūnc prīmum ēx ănĭmīs praēcēps āmēntĭă cēssīt,

nēc rătĭs īllă sălō, sēd dīvūm sēră pĕr aēquōr

iūstĭtĭa ēt poēnaē scĕlĕrum ādvēntārĕ vĭdēntūr.

Iāmque ăbĕrānt tērrīs, quāntūm Cōrtŷnĭă cūrrūnt

spīcŭlă, caērŭlĕō grăvĭdām cūm Iūppĭtĕr īmbrī

īpsă sŭpēr nūbēm rătĭs ārmāmēntă Pĕlāsgaē

sīstĭt ăgēns; īnde hōrrŏr ăquīs ēt rāptŭs ăb ōmnī

sōlĕ dĭēs mīscēt tĕnĕbrās, quīs prōtĭnŭs ūndă

cōncŏlŏr; ōbnīxī lăcĕrānt căvă nūbĭlă vēntī

dīrĭpĭūntquĕ frĕtūm, nīgrīs rĕdĭt ūmĭdă tēllūs

vērtĭcĭbūs, tōtūmquĕ nŏtīs cērtāntĭbŭs aēquōr

pēndĕt ĕt ārquātō iāmiām prŏpĕ sīdĕră dōrsō

frāngĭtŭr, īncērtaē nēc iām prĭŏr īmpĕtŭs ālnō,

sēd lăbăt ēxstāntēm rōstrīs mŏdŏ gūrgĭte ĭn īmō,

nūnc caēlō Trītōnă fĕrēns. nēc rōbŏră prōsūnt

sēmĭdĕum hērōūm, pūppēmque īnsānă flăgēllāt

ārbŏr ĕt īnstăbĭlī prōcūmbēns pōndĕrĕ cūrvās

rāptăt ăquās, rēmīquĕ cădūnt īn pēctŭs ĭnānēs.

nōs quŏquĕ pēr rūpēs mūrōrūmque āggĕre ăb ōmnī,

dūm lăbŏr īllĕ vĭrīs frĕtăque īndīgnāntŭr ĕt Aūstrōs,

dēsŭpĕr īnvălĭdīs flŭĭtāntĭă tēlă lăcērtīs

- quīd nōn aūsă mănūs? - Tĕlămōna ēt Pēlĕă cōntrā

spārgĭmŭs, ēt nōstrō pĕtĭtūr Tīrŷnthĭŭs ārcū.

Īllī - quīppĕ sĭmūl bēllō pĕlăgōquĕ lăbōrānt -

pārs clĭpĕīs mūnīrĕ rătēm, pārs aēquŏră fūndō

ēgĕrĕre; āst ălĭī pūgnānt, sĕd ĭnērtĭă mōtū

cōrpŏră, sūspēnsaēquĕ cărēnt cōnāmĭnĕ vīrēs.

Īnstāmūs iāctū tēlōrum, ēt fērrĕă nīmbīs

cērtăt hĭēms, vāstaēquĕ sŭdēs frāctīquĕ mŏlārēs

spīcŭlăque ēt mūltā crīnītūm mīssĭlĕ flāmmā

nūnc pĕlăgō, nūnc pūppĕ cădūnt, dăt ŏpērtă frăgōrēm

pīnŭs, ĕt ābiūnctīs rĕgĕmūnt tăbŭlātă căvērnīs.

Tālĭs Hўpērbŏrĕā vĭrĭdīs nĭvĕ vērbĕrăt āgrōs

Iūppĭtĕr; ōbrŭĭtūr cāmpīs gĕnŭs ōmnĕ fĕrārūm,

dēprēnsaēquĕ cădūnt vŏlŭcrēs, ēt mēssĭs ămārō

strātă gĕlū, frăgŏr īndĕ iŭgīs, īnde āmnĭbŭs īraē.

Ūt vēro ēlīsīt nūbēs Iŏvĕ tōrtŭs ăb āltō

īgnĭs ĕt īngēntēs pătŭēre īn fūlmĭnĕ naūtaē,

dīrĭgŭēre ănĭmī, mănĭbūsque hōrrōrĕ rĕmīssīs

ārma ălĭēnă cădūnt, rĕdĭīt īn pēctŏră sēxūs.

cērnĭmŭs Aēăcĭdās mūrīsque īmmānĕ mĭnāntēm

Āncaēum ēt lōngā pēllēntēm cūspĭdĕ rūpēs

Īphĭtŏn; āttŏnĭtō mănĭfēstŭs ĭn āgmĭnĕ sūprāst

Āmphĭtrўōnĭădēs pūppēmque āltērnŭs ŭtrīmquĕ

īngrăvăt ēt mĕdĭās ārdēt dēscēndĕre ĭn ūndās.

Āt lĕvĭs ēt mĭsĕraē nōndūm mĭhĭ nōtŭs Ĭāsōn

trānstră pĕr ēt rēmōs īmprēssăquĕ tērgă vĭrōrūm

nūnc māgnum Oēnīdēn, nūnc īlle hōrtātĭbŭs Īdān

ēt Tălăum ēt cānā rōrāntem āspārgĭnĕ pōntī

Tŷndărĭdēn ĭtĕrāns gĕlĭdīque īn nūbĕ părēntīs

vēlă lăbōrāntī Călăīn sūbnēctĕrĕ mālō

vōcĕ mănūquĕ rŏgāt; quătĭūnt īmpūlsĭbŭs īllī

nūnc frĕtă, nūnc mūrōs, sēd nēc spūmāntĭă cēdūnt

aēquŏra ĕt īncūssaē rĕdĕūnt ā tūrrĭbŭs hāstaē.

Īpsĕ grăvīs flūctūs clāvūmque aūdīrĕ nĕgāntēm

lāssăt ăgēns Tīphŷs pāllētque ēt plūrĭmă mūtāt

īmpĕrĭa āc laēvās dēxtrāsque ōbtōrquĕt ĭn ūndās

prōrām nāvĭfrăgīs ăvĭdām cōncūrrĕrĕ sāxīs,

dōnĕc ăb ēxtrēmaē cŭnĕō rătĭs Aēsŏnĕ nātūs

Pāllădĭōs ŏlĕaē, Mōpsī gēstāmĭnă, rāmōs

ēxtŭlĭt ēt sŏcĭūm tūrbā prŏhĭbēntĕ pŏpōscīt

foēdĕră; praēcĭpĭtēs vōcem īnvōlvērĕ prŏcēllaē.

tūnc mŏdŭs ārmōrūm, părĭtērque ēxhaūstă quĭērānt

flāmĭnă, cōnfūsōquĕ dĭēs rēspēxĭt Ŏlŷmpō.

quīnquāgīnta īllī, trăbĭbūs dē mōrĕ rĕvīnctīs,

ēmĭnŭs ābrūptō quătĭūnt nŏvă lītŏră sāltū,

māgnōrūm dĕcŏra āltă pătrūm, iām frōntĕ sĕrēnī

nōscēndīque hăbĭtū, pōstquām tŭmŏr īrăquĕ cēssīt

vūltĭbŭs. Ārcānā sīc fāma ērūmpĕrĕ pōrtā

caēlĭcŏlās, sī quāndŏ dŏmōs lītūsquĕ rŭbēntūm

Aēthĭŏpum ēt mēnsās ămŏr ēst īntrārĕ mĭnōrēs;

dānt flŭvĭī mōntēsquĕ lŏcūm, tūm tērră sŭpērbīt

grēssĭbŭs ēt paūlūm rēspīrāt caēlĭfĕr Ātlās.

hīc ĕt ăb āssērtō nūpēr Mărăthōnĕ sŭpērbūm

Thēsĕa ĕt Īsmărĭōs, Ăquĭlōnĭă pīgnŏră, frātrēs,

ūtrăquĕ quīs rŭtĭlā strīdēbānt tēmpŏră pīnnā,

cērnĭmŭs, hīc Phoēbō nōn īndīgnāntĕ prĭōrēm

Ādmētum ēt dūraē sĭmĭlēm nĭhĭl Ōrphĕă Thrācaē,

tūnc prōlēm Călўdōnĕ sătām gĕnĕrūmquĕ prŏfūndī

Nērĕŏs. Āmbĭgŭō vīsūs ērrōrĕ lăcēssūnt

Oēbălĭdaē gĕmĭnī; chlămўs huīc, chlămўs ārdĕt ĕt īllī,

āmbo hāstīlĕ gĕrūnt, ŭmĕrōs ēxsērtŭs ŭtērquĕ,

nūdŭs ŭtērquĕ gĕnās, sĭmĭlī cŏmă fūlgŭrăt āstrō.

aūdĕt ĭtēr māgnīquĕ sĕquēns vēstīgĭă mūtāt

Hērcŭlĭs ēt tārdā quāmvīs sē mōlĕ fĕrēntēm

vīx cūrsū tĕnĕr aēquăt Hўlās Lērnaēăquĕ tōllēns

ārmă sŭb īngēntī gaūdēt sūdārĕ phărētrā.

ērgo ĭtĕrūm Vĕnŭs ēt tăcĭtīs cōrda āspĕră flāmmīs

Lēmnĭădūm pērtēmptăt Ămōr. Tūnc rēgĭă Iūnŏ

ārma hăbĭtūsquĕ vĭrūm pūlchraēque īnsīgnĭă gēntīs

mēntĭbŭs īnsĭnŭāt, cērtātīmque ōrdĭnĕ cūnctaē

hōspĭtĭbūs pătŭērĕ fŏrēs; tūnc prīmŭs ĭn ārīs

īgnĭs, ĕt īnfāndīs vēnēre ōblīvĭă cūrīs;

tūnc ĕpŭlaē fēlīxquĕ sŏpōr nōctēsquĕ quĭētaē,

nēc sŭpĕrūm sĭnĕ mēntĕ, rĕōr, plăcŭērĕ fătēntēs.

fōrsĭtăn ēt nōstraē fātum ēxcūsābĭlĕ cūlpaē

nōscĕrĕ cūră, dŭcēs. Cĭnĕrēs fŭrĭāsquĕ mĕōrūm

tēstŏr: ŭt ēxtērnās nōn spōnte aūt crīmĭnĕ taēdās

āttĭgĕrīm - scīt cūră dĕum -, ētsī blāndŭs Ĭāsōn

vīrgĭnĭbūs dărĕ vīnclă nŏvīs; sŭă iūră crŭēntūm

Phāsĭn hăbēnt, ălĭōs Cōlchī gĕnĕrātĭs ămōrēs.

Iāmque ēxūtă gĕlū tĕpŭērūnt sīdĕră lōngīs

sōlĭbŭs, ēt vēlōx īn tērgă rĕvōlvĭtŭr ānnūs.

Iām nŏvă prōgĕnĭēs pārtūsque īn vōtă sŏlūtī,

ēt nōn spērātīs clāmātūr Lēmnŏs ălūmnīs.

Nēc nōn īpsă tămēn thălămī mŏnĭmēntă cŏāctī

ēnītōr gĕmĭnōs, dūrōquĕ sŭb hōspĭtĕ mātēr

nōmĕn ăvī rĕnŏvō; nēc quaē fōrtūnă rĕlīctīs

nōssĕ dătūr, iām plēnă quătēr quīnquēnnĭă vērgūnt,

sī mŏdŏ fātă sĭnūnt ălŭītquĕ rŏgātă Lўcāstē.

Dētŭmŭēre ănĭmī mărĭs, ēt clēmēntĭŏr Aūstēr

vēlă vŏcāt: rătĭs īpsă mŏrām pōrtūsquĕ quĭētōs

ōdĭt ĕt āssērtī tēndīt rĕtĭnācŭlă sāxī.

īndĕ fŭgām Mĭnўaē, sŏcĭōsque āppēllăt Ĭāsōn

ēffĕrŭs, ō | ŭtĭnām iām tūnc mĕă lītŏră rēctīs

praētērvēctŭs ăquīs, cuī nōn sŭă pīgnŏră cōrdī,

nōn prōmīssă fĭdēs; cērtē stāt fāmă rĕmōtīs

gēntĭbŭs: aēquŏrĕī rĕdĭērūnt vēllĕră Phrīxī.

Ūt stătă lūx pĕlăgō vēntūrūmque aēthĕră sēnsīt

Tīphўs ĕt ōccĭdŭī rŭbŭērĕ cŭbīlĭă Phoēbī,

heū | ĭtĕrūm gĕmĭtūs, ĭtĕrūmquĕ nŏvīssĭmă nōx ēst.

vīx rĕsĕrātă dĭēs, ēt iām rătĕ cēlsŭs Ĭāsōn

īrĕ iŭbēt, prīmōquĕ fĕrīt dūx vērbĕrĕ pōntūm.

Īllōs ē scŏpŭlīs ēt sūmmō vērtĭcĕ mōntīs

spūmĕă pōrrēctī dĭrĭmēntīs tērgă prŏfūndī

prōsĕquĭmūr vīsū, dōnēc lāssāvĭt hĭāntīs

lūx ŏcŭlōs lōngūmquĕ pŏlō cōntēxĕrĕ vīsāst

aēquŏr ĕt ēxtrēmī prēssīt frĕtă mārgĭnĕ caēlī.

Fāmă sŭbīt pōrtūs, vēctūm trāns āltă Thŏāntă

frātērnā rēgnārĕ Chĭō, mĭhĭ crīmĭnă nūllă,

ēt văcŭōs ārsīssĕ rŏgōs; frĕmĭt īmpĭă plēbēs,

sōntĭbŭs āccēnsaē stĭmŭlīs făcĭnūsquĕ rĕpōscūnt.

quīn ĕtĭam ōccūltaē vūlgo īncrēbrēscĕrĕ vōcēs:

"Sōlănĕ fīdă sŭīs, nōs aūtem īn fūnĕră laētaē?

nōn dĕŭs haēc fātūmquĕ! quĭd īmpĕrăt ūrbĕ nĕfāndā?"

Tālĭbŭs ēxănĭmīs dīctīs - ēt trīstĕ prŏpīnquāt

sūpplĭcĭūm, nēc rēgnă iŭvānt - văgă lītŏră fūrtīm

īncŏmĭtātă sĕquōr fūnēstăquĕ moēnĭă līnquō,

quā fŭgă nōtă pătrīs; sēd nōn ĭtĕrum ōbvĭŭs Eūhān,

nām mē praēdōnūm mănŭs hūc āppūlsă tăcēntēm

ābrĭpĭt ēt vēstrās fămŭlām trānsmīttĭt ĭn ōrās".

Tālĭă Lērnaēīs ĭtĕrāt dūm rēgĭbŭs ēxūl

Lēmnĭăs ēt lōngā sōlātūr dāmnă quĕrēlā,

īmmĕmŏr ābsēntīs - sīc dī suāsīstĭs! - ălūmnī,

īllĕ grăvīs ŏcŭlōs lānguēntĭăque ōră cŏmāntī

mērgĭt hŭmō, fēssūsquĕ dĭū pŭĕrīlĭbŭs āctīs

lābĭtŭr īn sōmnōs, prēnsā mănŭs haērĕt ĭn hērbā.

Īntĕrĕā cāmpīs, nĕmŏrīs săcĕr hōrrŏr Ăchaēī,

tērrĭgĕna ēxŏrĭtūr sērpēns, trāctūquĕ sŏlūtō

īmmānēm sēsē vĕhĭt āc pōst tērgă rĕlīnquīt.

Līvĭdă fāx ŏcŭlīs, tŭmĭdī stăt ĭn ōrĕ vĕnēnī

spūmă vĭrēns, tēr līnguă vĭbrāt, tērna āgmĭna ădūncī

dēntĭs, ĕt aūrātaē crūdēlīs glōrĭă frōntīs

prōmĭnĕt. Īnăchĭō sānctūm dīxērĕ Tŏnāntī

āgrĭcŏlaē, cuī cūră lŏci ēt sīlvēstrĭbŭs ārīs

paūpĕr hŏnōs; nūnc īllĕ dĕī cīrcūmdărĕ tēmplă

ōrbĕ văgō lābēns, mĭsĕraē nūnc rōbŏră sīlvaē

āttĕrĭt ēt vāstās tĕnŭāt cōmplēxĭbŭs ōrnōs;

saēpĕ sŭpēr flŭvĭōs gĕmĭnaē iăcĕt āggĕrĕ rīpaē

cōntĭnŭūs, squāmīsque īncīsŭs ădaēstŭăt āmnīs.

Sēd nūnc, Ōgўgĭī iūssīs quāndo ōmnĭs ănhēlāt

tērră dĕī trĕpĭdaēquĕ lătēnt īn pūlvĕrĕ Nŷmphaē,

saēvĭŏr ānfrāctū lătĕrūm sĭnŭōsă rĕtōrquēns

tērgă sŏlō sīccīquĕ nŏcēns fŭrĭt īgnĕ vĕnēnī.

Stāgnă pĕr ārēntēsquĕ lăcūs fōntēsquĕ rĕprēssōs

vōlvĭtŭr ēt văcŭīs flŭvĭōrum īn vāllĭbŭs ērrāt,

īncēnsūsquĕ sĭtī lĭquĭdūm nūnc āĕră lāmbīt

ōrĕ sŭpīnātō, nūnc ārvă gĕmēntĭă rādēns

prōnŭs ădhaērĕt hŭmō, sī quīd vĭrĭdāntĭă sūdēnt

grāmĭnă; pērcūssaē călĭdīs ādflātĭbŭs hērbaē,

quā tŭlĭt ōră, cădūnt, mŏrĭtūrque ād sībĭlă cāmpūs:

quāntŭs ăb Ārctōīs dīscrīmĭnăt aēthĕră plaūstrīs

Ānguĭs ĕt ūsquĕ Nŏtōs ălĭēnūmque ēxĭt ĭn ōrbēm;

quāntŭs ĕt īllĕ săcrī spīrīs īntōrtă mŏvēbāt

cōrnŭă Pārnāsī, dōnēc tĭbĭ, Dēlĭĕ, fīxūs

vēxĭt hărūndĭnĕām cēntēnō vūlnĕrĕ sīlvām.

Quīs tĭbĭ, pārvĕ, dĕūs tām māgnī pōndĕră fātī

sōrtĕ dĕdīt? Tūne hōc vīx prīma ād līmĭnă vītaē

hōstĕ iăcēs? Ăn ŭt īndĕ săcēr pēr saēcŭlă Grāīs

gēntĭbŭs ēt tāntō dīgnūs mŏrĕrērĕ sĕpūlcrō?

Ōccĭdĭs ēxtrēmaē dēstrīctūs vērbĕrĕ caūdaē

īgnārō sērpēntĕ pŭēr, fŭgĭt īlĭcĕt ārtūs

sōmnŭs ĕt īn sōlām pătŭērūnt lūmĭnă mōrtēm.

Cūm tămĕn āttŏnĭtō mŏrĭēns vāgītŭs ĭn aūrās

ēxcĭdĭt ēt rūptīs īmmūtŭĭt ōrĕ quĕrēlīs,

quālĭă nōn tōtās pĕrăgūnt īnsōmnĭă vōcēs,

aūdĭĭt Hŷpsĭpўlē, făcĭlēmquĕ nĕgāntĭă cūrsūm

ēxănĭmīs gĕnŭa aēgră răpīt; iām cērtă mălōrūm

mēntĭs ăb aūgŭrĭō spārsōquĕ pĕr ōmnĭă vīsū

lūstrăt hŭmūm quaērēns ēt nōtă vŏcābŭlă pārvō

nēquīquam īngĕmĭnāns: nūsquam īlle, ēt prātă rĕcēntīs

āmīsērĕ nŏtās. vĭrĭdī pĭgĕr āccŭbăt hōstīs

cōllēctūs gŷrō spătĭōsăquĕ iūgĕră cōmplēt

sīc ĕtĭam, ōblīquā cērvīcem ēxpōstŭs ĭn ālvō.

Hōrrŭĭt īnfēlīx vīsū lōngōquĕ prŏfūndūm

īncēndīt clāmōrĕ nĕmūs; nēc tērrĭtŭs īllĕ,

sēd iăcĕt. Ārgŏlĭcās ŭlŭlātūs flēbĭlĭs aūrīs

īmpŭlĭt; ēxtēmplō mŏnĭtū dŭcĭs ādvŏlăt ārdēns

Ārcăs ĕquēs caūsāmquĕ rĕfērt. tūnc squāmĕă dēmūm

tōrvŭs ăd ārmōrūm rădĭōs frĕmĭtūmquĕ vĭrōrūm

cōllă mŏvēt: răpĭt īngēntī cōnāmĭnĕ sāxūm,

quō dīscrētŭs ăgēr, văcŭāsque īmpēllĭt ĭn aūrās

ārdŭŭs Hīppŏmĕdōn, quō tūrbĭnĕ bēllĭcă quōndām

lībrātī sălĭūnt pōrtārum īn claūstră mŏlārēs.

Cāssă dŭcīs vīrtūs: iām mōllĭă cōllă rĕfūsūs

īn tērgūm sērpēns vĕnĭēntem ēxhaūsĕrăt īctūm.

Dāt sŏnĭtūm tēllūs, nĕmŏrūmquĕ pĕr āvĭă dēnsī

dīssūltānt nēxūs. "Āt nōn mĕă vūlnĕră" clāmāt

ēt trăbĕ frāxĭnĕā Căpăneūs sŭbĭt ōbvĭŭs "ūmquām

ēffŭgĭēs, seū tū păvĭdī fĕrŭs īncŏlă lūcī,

sīvĕ dĕīs, ŭtĭnāmquĕ dĕīs, cōncēssă vŏlūptās,

nōn, sī cōnsērtūm sŭpĕr haēc mĭhĭ mēmbră Gĭgāntă

sūbvĕhĕrēs". vŏlăt hāstă trĕmēns ĕt hĭāntĭă mōnstrī

ōră sŭbīt līnguaēquĕ sĕcāt fĕră vīnclă trĭsūlcaē,

pērquĕ iŭbās stāntīs căpĭtīsque īnsīgnĕ cŏrūscī

ēmĭcăt, ēt nīgrī sănĭē pērfūsă cĕrēbrī

fīgĭtŭr āltă sŏlō. lōngūs vīx tōtă pĕrēgīt

mēmbră dŏlōr, răpĭdō cĕlĕr īllĕ vŏlūmĭnĕ tēlūm

cīrcŭmĭt āvūlsūmquĕ fĕrēns ĭn ŏpācă rĕfūgīt

tēmplă dĕi; hīc māgnō tēllūrēm pōndĕrĕ mēnsūs

īmplōrāntem ănĭmām dŏmĭnīs āssībĭlăt ārīs.

Īllum ēt cōgnātaē stāgna īndīgnāntĭă Lērnaē,

flōrĭbŭs ēt vērnīs āssuētaē spārgĕrĕ Nŷmphaē,

ēt Nĕmĕēs rēptātŭs ăgēr, lūcōsquĕ pĕr ōmnīs

sīlvĭcŏlaē frāctā gĕmŭīstĭs hărūndĭnĕ, Faūnī.

Īpse ĕtĭam ē sūmmā iām tēlă pŏpōscĕrăt aēthră

Iūppĭtĕr, ēt dūdūm nīmbīque hĭĕmēsquĕ cŏībānt,

nī mĭnŏr īră dĕō grăvĭōrăquĕ tēlă mĕrērī

sērvātūs Căpăneūs; mōtī tămĕn aūră cŭcūrrīt

fūlmĭnĭs ēt sūmmās lībāvīt vērtĭcĕ crīstās.

Iāmquĕ pĕrērrātīs īnfēlīx Lēmnĭă cāmpīs,

lībĕr ŭt ānguĕ lŏcūs, mŏdĭcō sŭpĕr āggĕrĕ lōngē

pāllĭdă sānguĭnĕīs īnfēctās rōrĭbŭs hērbās

prōspĭcĭt. Hūc māgnō cūrsūm răpĭt ēffĕră lūctū

āgnōscītquĕ nĕfās, tērraēque īllīsă nŏcēntī

fūlmĭnĭs īn mōrēm nōn vērba īn fūnĕrĕ prīmō,

nōn lăcrĭmās hăbĕt: īngĕmĭnāt mĭsĕra ōscŭlă tāntūm

īncūmbēns ănĭmaēquĕ fŭgām pēr mēmbră tĕpēntēm

quaērĭt hĭāns. nōn ōră lŏcō, nōn pēctŏră rēstānt,

rāptă cŭtīs, tĕnŭia ōssă pătēnt nēxūsquĕ mădēntēs

sānguĭnĭs īmbrĕ nŏvī, tōtūmque īn vūlnĕrĕ cōrpūs.

Āc vĕlŭt ālĭgĕraē sēdēm fētūsquĕ părēntīs

cūm pĭgĕr ūmbrōsā pŏpŭlātŭs ĭn īlĭcĕ sērpēns,

īllă rĕdīt quĕrŭlaēquĕ dŏmūs mīrātă quĭētēm

iām stŭpĕt īmpēndēns ādvēctōsque hōrrĭdă maēstō

ēxcŭtĭt ōrĕ cĭbōs, cūm sōlŭs ĭn ārbŏrĕ pārēt

sānguĭs ĕt ērrāntēs pēr cāptă cŭbīlĭă plūmaē.

Ūt lăcĕrōs ārtūs grĕmĭō mĭsĕrāndă rĕcēpīt

īntēxītquĕ cŏmīs, tāndēm lāxātă dŏlōrī

vōx īnvēnĭt ĭtēr, gĕmĭtūsque īn vērbă sŏlūtī:

Ō mĭhĭ dēsērtaē nātōrūm dūlcĭs ĭmāgŏ,

Ārchĕmŏre, ō rērum ēt pătrĭaē sōlāmĕn ădēmptaē

sērvĭtĭīquĕ dĕcūs, quī tē, mĕă gaūdĭă, sōntēs

ēxstīnxērĕ dĕī, mŏdŏ quēm dīgrēssă rĕlīquī

lāscīvum ēt prōnō vēxāntēm grāmĭnă cūrsū?

heū | ŭbĭ sīdĕrĕī vūltūs? ŭbĭ vērbă lĭgātīs

īmpērfēctă sŏnīs rīsūsque ēt mūrmŭră sōlī

īntēllēctă mĭhī? Quŏtĭēns tĭbĭ Lēmnŏn ĕt Ārgō

suētă lŏqui ēt lōngā sōmnūm suādērĕ quĕrēlā:

sīc ĕquĭdēm lūctūs sōlābăr ĕt ūbĕră pārvō

iām mātērnă dăbām, cuī nūnc vĕnĭt īrrĭtŭs ōrbaē

lāctĭs ĕt īnfēlīx īn vūlnĕră līquĭtŭr īmbēr.

nōscŏ dĕōs: ō vēră mĕī praēsāgĭă sōmnī

nōctūrnīquĕ mĕtūs, ēt nūmquam īmpūnĕ pĕr ūmbrās

āttŏnĭtaē mĭhĭ vīsă Vĕnūs! quōs ārgŭŏ dīvōs?

Īpsa ĕgŏ tē - quĭd ĕnīm tĭmĕām mŏrĭtūră fătērī? -

ēxpŏsŭī fātīs. Quaē mēntem īnsānĭă trāxīt?

Tāntănĕ mē tāntaē tĕnŭēre ōblīvĭă cūraē?

Dūm pătrĭōs cāsūs fāmaēque ēxōrsă rĕtrāctō

āmbĭtĭōsă mĕaē - pĭĕtās haēc māgnă fĭdēsquĕ! -,

ēxsōlvī tĭbĭ, Lēmnĕ, nĕfās; ŭbĭ lētĭfĕr ānguīs,

fērtĕ, dŭcēs, mĕrĭtī sī qua ēst mĭhĭ grātĭă dūrī,

sī quĭs hŏnōs dīctīs, aūt vōs ēxstīnguĭtĕ fērrō,

nē trīstīs dŏmĭnōs ōrbāmque ĭnĭmīcă rĕvīsām

Eūrўdĭcēn, quāmquam haūd īllī mĕă cūră dŏlēndō

cēssĕrĭt. hōcnĕ fĕrēns ŏnŭs īllaētābĭlĕ mātrīs

trānsfūndām grĕmĭō? Quaē mē prĭŭs īmă sŭb ūmbrās

mērgăt hŭmūs!" Sĭmŭl haēc tērrāque ēt sānguĭnĕ vūltūm

sōrdĭdă māgnōrūm cīrcā vēstīgĭă rēgūm

vērtĭtŭr, ēt tăcĭtē maērēntĭbŭs īmpŭtăt ūndās.

Ēt iām sācrĭfĭcī sŭbĭtūs pēr tēctă Lўcūrgī

nūntĭŭs īmplērāt lăcrĭmīs īpsūmquĕ dŏmūmquĕ,

īpsum ādvēntāntēm Pērsēī vērtĭcĕ sānctō

mōntĭs, ŭbi āvērsō dĕdĕrāt prōsēctă Tŏnāntī,

ēt căpŭt īrātīs rĕdĭēns quāssābăt ăb ēxtīs.

Hīc sēse Ārgŏlĭcīs īmmūnēm sērvăt ăb ārmīs

haūd ănĭmī văcŭūs, sēd tēmpla āraēquĕ tĕnēbānt.

Nēcdum ĕtĭām rēspōnsă dĕūm mŏnĭtūsquĕ vĕtūstī

ēxcĭdĕrānt vōxque ēx ădўtīs āccēptă prŏfūndīs:

"Prīmă, Lўcūrgĕ, dăbīs Dīrcaēō fūnĕră bēllō".

Īd căvĕt, ēt maēstūs vīcīnī pūlvĕrĕ Mārtīs

āngĭtŭr ād lĭtŭōs pĕrĭtūrūsque īnvĭdĕt ārmīs.

Ēccĕ - fĭdēs sŭpĕrūm! - lăcĕrās cŏmĭtātă Thŏāntīs

ādvĕhĭt ēxsĕquĭās, cōntrā sŭbĭt ōbvĭă mātēr,

fēmĭnĕōs coētūs plāngēntĭăque āgmĭnă dūcēns.

Āt nōn māgnănĭmō pĭĕtās īgnāvă Lўcūrgō:

fōrtĭŏr īllĕ mălīs, lăcrĭmāsque īnsānă rĕsōrbēt

īră pătrīs, lōngō răpĭt ārvă mŏrāntĭă pāssū

vōcĭfĕrāns: "Īlla aūtem ŭbĭnām, cuī pārvă crŭōrīs

laētăvĕ dāmnă mĕī? Vīvītne? Īmpēllĭtĕ rāptām,

fērtĕ cĭtī cŏmĭtēs; fāxo ōmnīs fābŭlă Lēmnī

ēt pătĕr ēt tŭmĭdaē gĕnĕrīs mēndācĭă sācrī

ēxcĭdĕrīnt". Ībāt lētūmque īnfērrĕ părābāt

ēnsĕ fŭrēns rāptō; vĕnĭēnti Oēnēĭŭs hērōs

īmpĭgĕr ōbiēctā prōtūrbāt pēctŏră pārmā,

āc sĭmŭl īnfrēndēns: "Sīste hūnc, vēsānĕ, fŭrōrēm,

quīsquĭs ĕs!" Ēt părĭtēr Căpăneūs ācērquĕ rĕdūctō

ādfŭĭt Hīppŏmĕdōn rēctōque Ĕrўmānthĭŭs ēnsĕ,

āc iŭvĕnēm mūltō praēstrīngūnt lūmĭne; ăt īndĕ

āgrēstūm prō rēgĕ mănūs. Quōs īntĕr Ădrāstūs

mītĭŭs ēt sŏcĭaē vĕrĭtūs cōmmērcĭă vīttaē

Āmphĭărāŭs ăīt "Nē, quaēso; ābsīstĭtĕ fērrō,

ūnŭs ăvūm sānguīs, nēve īndūlgētĕ fŭrōrī,

tūquĕ prĭōr". Sēd nōn sēdātō pēctōrĕ Tўdeūs

sūbĭcĭt: "Ānnĕ dŭcēm sērvātrīcēmquĕ cŏhōrtīs

Īnăchĭae īngrātīs cōrām tōt mīlĭbŭs aūsīs

māctāre īn tŭmŭlōs - quāntī prō fūnĕrĭs ūltōr! -,

cuī rēgnūm gĕnĭtōrquĕ Thŏās ēt lūcĭdŭs Eūhān

stīrpĭs ăvūs? Tĭmĭdōnĕ părūm, quōd gēntĭbŭs āctīs

ūndĭque ĭn ārmă tŭīs īntēr răpĭda āgmĭnă pācēm

sōlŭs hăbēs? Hăbĕāsque, ēt tē vīctōrĭă Grāiūm

īnvĕnĭāt tŭmŭlīs ĕtĭāmnum haēc fātă gĕmēntēm".

Dīxĕrăt, ēt tāndēm cūnctāntĕ mŏdēstĭŏr īrā

īllĕ rĕfērt: "Ĕquĭdēm nōn vōs ād moēnĭă Thēbēs

rēbăr, ăt hōstīlīs hūc ādvēnīssĕ cătērvās.

Pērgĭte ĭn ēxcĭdĭūm sŏcĭī, sī tāntă vŏlūptās,

sānguĭnĭs, īmbŭĭte ārmă dŏmi, ātque haēc īrrĭtă dūdūm

tēmplă Iŏvīs - quĭd ĕnim haūd lĭcĭtūm? - fĕrăt īmpĭŭs īgnīs,

sī vīlēm, tāntī prĕmĕrēnt cūm pēctŏră lūctūs,

īn fămŭlām iūs ēssĕ rătūs dŏmĭnōquĕ dŭcīquĕ.

Sēd vĭdĕt haēc, vĭdĕt īllĕ dĕūm rēgnātŏr, ĕt aūsīs

sēră quĭdēm, mănĕt īră tămēn". Sīc fātŭs, ĕt ārcēs

rēspĭcĭt. Ātque īllīc ălĭō cērtāmĭnĕ bēllī

tēctă frĕmūnt; vŏlŭcrēs ĕquĭtūm praēvērtĕrăt ālās

fāmă rĕcēns, gĕmĭnōs ālīs āmplēxă tŭmūltūs:

īlli ād fātă răpi ātque īllī iam ōccūmbĕrĕ lētō,

sīc mĕrĭtam Hŷpsĭpўlēn ĭtĕrānt, crēdūntquĕ, nĕc īraē

fīt mŏră, iāmquĕ făcēs ēt tēlă pĕnātĭbŭs īnstānt,

vērtĕrĕ rēgnă frĕmūnt rāptūmque aūfērrĕ Lўcūrgūm

cūm Iŏvĕ cūmque ārīs; rĕsŏnānt ŭlŭlātĭbŭs aēdēs

fēmĭnĕīs, vērsūsquĕ dŏlōr dāt tērgă tĭmōrī.

Ālĭpĕdūm cūrrū sĕd ĕnīm sūblīmĭs Ădrāstūs

sēcum ānte ōră vĭrūm frĕmĭbūndă Thŏāntĭdă pōrtāns

īt mĕdĭūs tūrmīs, ēt: "Pārcĭtĕ, pārcĭtĕ!" clāmāt,

Nīl āctūm saēvē, mĕrĭtūs nēc tālĕ Lўcūrgūs

ēxcĭdĭūm, grātīque īnvēntrīx flūmĭnĭs ēccĕ".

Sīc ŭbĭ dīvērsīs mărĭa ēvērtērĕ prŏcēllīs

hīnc Bŏrĕās Eūrūsque, īllīnc nĭgĕr īmbrĭbŭs Aūstēr,

pūlsă dĭēs rēgnāntque hĭĕmēs, vĕnĭt aēquŏrĭs āltī

rēx sūblīmĭs ĕquīs, gĕmĭnūsque ād spūmĕă Trītōn

frēnă nătāns lātē pĕlăgō dāt sīgnă cădēndī,

ēt iām plānă Thĕtīs, mōntēsque ēt lītŏră crēscūnt.

Quīs sŭpĕrūm tāntō sōlātūs fūnĕră vōtō

pēnsāvīt lăcrĭmās ĭnŏpīnăquĕ gaūdĭă maēstaē

rēttŭlĭt Hŷpsĭpўlaē? Tū gēntīs cōndĭtŏr, Eūhān,

quī gĕmĭnōs iŭvĕnēs Lēmnī dē lītŏrĕ vēctōs

īntŭlĕrās Nĕmĕaē mīrāndăquĕ fātă părābās.

Caūsă vĭaē gĕnĕtrīx, nĕc ĭnhōspĭtă tēctă Lўcūrgī

praēbŭĕrānt ădĭtūs, ēt prōtĭnŭs īllĕ tўrānnō

nūntĭŭs ēxstīnctaē mĭsĕrāndō vūlnĕrĕ prōlīs.

Ērgo ādsūnt cŏmĭtēs - prō fōrs ēt caēcă fŭtūrī

mēns hŏmĭnūm! - rēgīquĕ făvēnt; sēd Lēmnŏs ăd aūrīs

ūt prīmūm dīctūsquĕ Thŏās, pēr tēlă mănūsquĕ

īrrŭĕrānt, mātrēmque ăvĭdīs cōmplēxĭbŭs āmbō

dīrĭpĭūnt flēntēs āltērnăquĕ pēctŏră mūtānt.

Īllă vĕlūt rūpēs īmmōtō sāxĕă vīsū

haērĕt ĕt ēxpērtīs nōn aūdēt crēdĕrĕ dīvīs.

Ūt vēro ēt vūltūs ēt sīgna Ārgōă rĕlīctīs

ēnsĭbŭs ātque ŭmĕrīs āmbōrum īntēxtŭs Ĭāsōn,

cēssērūnt lūctūs, tūrbātăquĕ mūnĕrĕ tāntō

cōrrŭĭt, ātque ălĭō mădŭērūnt lūmĭnă flētū.

Āddĭtă sīgnă pŏlō, laētōque ŭlŭlāntĕ tŭmūltū

tērgăque ĕt aēră dĕī mōtās crĕpŭērĕ pĕr aūrās.

Tūnc pĭŭs Oēclīdēs, ūt prīmă sĭlēntĭă vūlgī

mōllĭŏr īră dĕdīt plăcĭdāsque āccēssŭs ăd aūrīs:

"Aūdīte, ō dūctōr Nĕmĕaē lēctīquĕ pŏtēntēs

Īnăchĭdaē, quaē cērtŭs ăgī mănĭfēstăt Ăpōllŏ.

Īstĕ quĭdem Ārgŏlĭcīs haūd ōlim īndēbĭtŭs ārmīs

lūctŭs ădēst, rēctō dēscēndūnt līmĭtĕ Pārcaē:

ēt sĭtĭs īntĕrĭtū flŭvĭōrum ēt lētĭfĕr ānguīs,

ēt pŭĕr, heū nōstrī sīgnātūs nōmĭnĕ fātī,

Ārchĕmŏrūs, cūncta haēc sŭpĕrūm dēmīssă sŭprēmā

mēntĕ flŭūnt. Dīffērte ănĭmōs fēstīnăquĕ tēlă

pōnĭtĕ; mānsūrīs dōnāndŭs hŏnōrĭbŭs īnfāns.

ēt mĕrŭīt; dēt pūlchră sŭīs lībāmĭnă vīrtūs

mānĭbŭs, ātque ŭtĭnām plūrīs īnnēctĕrĕ pērgās,

Phoēbĕ, mŏrās, sēmpērquĕ nŏvīs bēllārĕ vĕtēmūr

cāsĭbŭs, ēt sēmpēr Thēbē fūnēstă rĕcēdās!

Āt vōs māgnōrūm trānsgrēssī fātă părēntūm

fēlīcēs, lōngūm quĭbŭs hīnc pēr saēcŭlă nōmēn,

dūm Lērnaēă pălūs ēt dūm pătĕr Īnăchŭs ībīt,

dūm Nĕmĕā trĕmŭlās cāmpīs iăcŭlābĭtŭr ūmbrās,

nē flētū vĭŏlātĕ săcrūm, nē plāngĭtĕ dīvōs:

nām dĕŭs īstĕ, dĕūs, Pўlĭaē nēc fātă sĕnēctaē

mālŭĕrīt, Phrўgĭīs aūt dēgĕrĕ lōngĭŭs ānnīs".

Fīnĭĕrāt, caēlōquĕ căvām nōx īndŭĭt ūmbrām.

Pulsa sitis fluuio, populataque gurgitis alueum

agmina linquebant ripas amnemque minorem;

acrior et campum sonipes rapit et pedes arua

implet ouans, rediere uiris animique minaeque

uotaque, sanguineis mixtum ceu fontibus ignem

hausissent belli magnasque in proelia mentes.

Dispositi in turmas rursus legemque seueri

ordinis, ut cuique ante locus ductorque, monentur

instaurare uias. Tellus iam puluere primo

crescit, et armorum transmittunt fulgura siluae.

Qualia trans pontum Phariis deprensa serenis

rauca Paraetonio decedunt agmina Nilo,

quo fera cogit hiemps: illae clangore fugaci,

umbra fretis aruisque, uolant, sonat auius aether.

Iam Borean imbresque pati, iam nare solutis

amnibus et nudo iuuat aestiuare sub Haemo.

Hic rursus simili procerum uallante corona

dux Talaionides, antiqua ut forte sub orno

stabat et admoti nixus Polynicis in hastam:

"At tamen, o quaecumque es" ait, "cui, gloria tantast,

uenimus innumerae fato debere cohortes,

quem non ipse deum sator aspernetur honorem,

dic age, quando tuis alacres absistimus undis,

quae domus aut tellus, animam quibus hauseris astris?

Dic, quis et ille pater? Neque enim tibi numina longe,

transierit fortuna licet, maiorque per ora

sanguis, et adflicto spirat reuerentia uultu".

Ingemit, et paulum fletu cunctata modesto

Lemnias orsa refert: "Immania uulnera, rector,

integrare iubes, Furias et Lemnon et artis

arma inserta toris debellatosque pudendo

ense mares; redit ecce nefas et frigida cordi

Eumenis. O miserae, quibus hic furor additus! O nox!

O pater! Illa ego nam, pudeat ne forte benignae

hospitis, illa, duces, raptum quae sola parentem

occului. quid longa malis exordia necto?

Et uos arma uocant magnique in corde paratus.

Hoc memorasse sat est: claro generata Thoante

seruitium Hypsipyle uestri fero capta Lycurgi."

Aduertere animos, maiorque et honora uideri

parque operi tanto; cunctis tunc noscere casus

ortus amor, pater ante alios hortatur Adrastus:

"Immo age, dum primi longe damus agmina uulgi

nec facilis Nemea latas euoluere uiris,

quippe obtenta comis et ineluctabilis umbra,

pande nefas laudesque tuas gemitusque tuorum,

unde hos aduenias regno deiecta labores."

Dulce loqui miseris ueteresque reducere questus.

Incipit: "Aegaeo premitur circumflua Nereo

Lemnos, ubi ignifera fessus respirat ab Aetna

Mulciber; ingenti tellurem proximus umbra

uestit Athos nemorumque obscurat imagine pontum;

Thraces arant contra, Thracum fatalia nobis

litora, et inde nefas. Florebat diues alumnis

terra, nec illa Samo fama Deloue sonanti

peior et innumeris quas spumifer assilit Aegon.

Dis uisum turbare domos, nec pectora culpa

nostra uacant: nullos Veneri sacrauimus ignis,

nulla deae sedes; mouet et caelestia quondam

corda dolor lentoque irrepunt agmine Poenae.

Illa Paphon ueterem centumque altaria linquens

nec uultu nec crine prior soluisse iugalem

ceston et Idalias procul ablegasse uolucres

fertur. Erant certe, media quae noctis in umbra

diuam alios ignis maioraque tela gerentem

Tartareas inter thalamis uolitasse sorores

uulgarent; utque implicitis arcana domorum

anguibus et saeua formidine nupta replesset

limina, nec fidi populum miserata mariti,

protinus a Lemno teneri fugistis Amores,

mutus Hymen uersaeque faces et frigida iusti

cura tori! Nullae redeunt in gaudia noctes,

nullus in amplexu sopor est, Odia aspera ubique

et Furor et medio recubat Discordia lecto.

cura uiris tumidos aduersa Thracas in ora

eruere et saeuam bellando frangere gentem.

Cumque domus contra stantesque in litore nati,

dulcius Edonas hiemes Arctonque prementem

excipere, aut tandem tacita post proelia nocte

fractorum subitas torrentum audire ruinas.

illae autem tristes - nam me tunc libera curis

uirginitas annique tegunt - sub nocte dieque

assiduis aegrae in lacrimis solantia miscent

colloquia, aut saeuam spectant trans aequora Thracen.

Sol operum medius summo librabat Olympo

lucentis, ceu staret, equos; quater axe sereno

intonuit, quater antra dei fumantis anhelos

exseruere apices, uentisque absentibus Aegon

motus et ingenti percussit litora ponto:

cum subito horrendas aeui matura Polyxo

tollitur in furias thalamisque insueta relictis

euolat. Insano ueluti Teumesia Thyias

rapta deo, cum sacra uocant Idaeaque suadet

buxus et a summis auditus montibus Euhan:

sic erecta genas aciemque offusa trementi

sanguine desertam rabidis clamoribus urbem

exagitat, clausasque domos et limina pulsans

concilium uocat; infelix comitatus eunti

haerebant nati. atque illae non segnius omnes

erumpunt tectis, summasque ad Pallados arces

impetus: huc propere stipamur et ordine nullo

congestae; stricto mox ense silentia iussit

hortatrix scelerum et medio sic ausa profari:

"Rem summam instinctu superum meritique doloris,

o uiduae (firmate animos et pellite sexum!)

Lemniades, sancire paro; si taedet inanes

aeternum seruare domos turpemque iuuentae

flore situm et longis sterilis in luctibus annos,

inueni, promitto, uiam - nec numina desunt -,

qua renouanda Venus: modo par insumite robur

luctibus, atque adeo primum hoc mihi noscere detur.

tertia canet hiemps; cui conubialia uincla

aut thalami secretus honos? Cui coniuge pectus

intepuit? cuius uidit Lucina labores,

dicite, uel iustos cuius pulsantia mensis

uota tument? Qua pace feras uolucresque iugari

mos datus. heu segnes! potuitne ultricia Graius

uirginibus dare tela pater laetusque dolorum

sanguine securos iuuenum perfundere somnos:

at nos uulgus iners? quodsi propioribus actis

est opus, ecce animos doceat Rhodopeia coniunx,

ulta manu thalamos pariterque epulata marito.

Nec uos immunis scelerum securaue cogo.

Plena mihi domus atque ingens, en cernite, sudor.

Quattuor hos una, decus et solacia patris,

in gremio, licet amplexu lacrimisque morentur,

transadigam ferro saniemque et uulnera fratrum

miscebo patremque super spirantibus addam.

Ecqua tot in caedes animum promittit?" agebat

pluribus; aduerso nituerunt uela profundo:

Lemnia classis erat. Rapuit gauisa Polyxo

fortunam atque iterat: "Superisne uocantibus ultro

desumus? Ecce rates! Deus hos, deus ultor in iras

adportat coeptisque fauet. Nec imago quietis

uana meae: nudo stabat Venus ense, uideri

clara mihi somnosque super: "Quid perditis aeuum?"

inquit, 'age auersis thalamos purgate maritis.

Ipsa faces alias melioraque foedera iungam'.

Dixit, et hoc ferrum stratis, hoc, credite, ferrum

imposuit. Quin o miserae, dum tempus agi rem,

consulite; en ualidis spumant euersa lacertis

aequora, Bistonides ueniunt fortasse maritae".

Hinc stimuli ingentes, magnusque aduoluitur astris

clamor. Amazonio Scythiam feruere tumultu

lunatumque putes agmen descendere, ubi arma

indulget pater et saeui mouet ostia Belli.

Nec uarius fremor aut studia in contraria rapti

dissensus, ut plebe solet: furor omnibus idem,

idem animus solare domos iuuenumque senumque

praecipitare colus plenisque affrangere paruos

uberibus ferroque omnis exire per annos.

Tunc uiridi luco - lucus iuga celsa Mineruae

propter opacat humum niger ipse, sed insuper ingens

mons premit et gemina pereunt caligine soles -,

hic sanxere fidem, tu Martia testis Enyo

atque inferna Ceres, Stygiaeque Acheronte recluso

ante preces uenere deae; sed fallit ubique

mixta Venus, Venus arma tenet, Venus admouet iras.

Nec de more cruor: natum Charopeia coniunx

obtulit, accingunt sese et mirantia ferro

pectora congestisque auidae simul undique dextris

perfringunt, ac dulce nefas in sanguine uiuo

coniurant, matremque recens circumuolat umbra.

Talia cernenti mihi quantus in ossibus horror,

quisue per ora color! Qualis cum cerua cruentis

circumuenta lupis, nullum cui pectore molli

robur et in uolucri tenuis fiducia cursu,

praecipitat suspensa fugam, iamiamque teneri

credit et elusos audit concurrere morsus.

Illi aderant, primis iamque offendere carinae

litoribus, certant saltu contingere terram

praecipites. Miseri, quos non aut horrida uirtus

Marte sub Odrysio, aut medii inclementia ponti

hauserit! Alta etiam superum delubra uaporant

promissasque trahunt pecudes: niger omnibus aris

ignis, et in nullis spirat deus integer extis.

Tardius umenti noctem deiecit Olympo

Iuppiter et uersum miti, reor, aethera cura

sustinuit, dum fata uetant, nec longius umquam

cessauere nouae perfecto sole tenebrae.

Sera tamen mundo uenerunt astra, sed illis

et Paros et nemorosa Thasos crebraeque relucent

Cyclades; una graui penitus latet obruta caelo

Lemnos, in hanc tristes nebulae, et plaga caeca superne

texitur, una uagis Lemnos non agnita nautis.

tum domibus fusi et nemorum per opaca sacrorum

ditibus indulgent epulis uacuantque profundo

aurum immane mero, dum quae per Strymona pugnae,

quis Rhodope gelidoue labor sudatus in Haemo,

enumerare uacat. Nec non, manus impia, nuptae

serta inter festasque dapes quo maxima cultu

quaeque iacent; dederat mitis Cytherea suprema

nocte uiros longoque breuem post tempore pacem

nequiquam et miseros perituro adflauerat igni.

Conticuere chori, dapibus ludoque licenti

fit modus et primae decrescunt murmura noctis,

cum consanguinei mixtus caligine Leti

rore madens Stygio morituram amplectitur urbem

Somnus et implacido fundit grauia otia cornu

secernitque uiros. uigilant nuptaeque nurusque

in scelus, atque hilares acuunt fera tela Sorores.

Inuasere nefas, cuncto sua regnat Erinys

pectore. Non aliter Scythicos armenta per agros

Hyrcanae clausere leae, quas exigit ortu

prima fames, auidique implorant ubera nati.

Quos tibi nam, dubito, scelerum de mille figuris

expediam casus? Helymum temeraria Gorge

euinctum ramis altaque in mole tapetum

efflantem somno crescentia uina superstans

uulnera disiecta rimatur ueste, sed illum

infelix sopor admota sub morte refugit.

Turbidus incertumque oculis uigilantibus hostem

occupat amplexu, nec segnius illa tenentis

pone adigit costas, donec sua pectora ferro

tangeret. is demum sceleri modus; ora supinat

blandus adhuc oculisque tremens et murmure Gorgen

quaerit et indigno non soluit bracchia collo.

Non ego nunc uulgi quamquam crudelia pandam

funera, sed propria luctus de stirpe recordor:

quod te, flaue Cydon, quod te per colla refusis

intactum, Crenaee, comis, quibus ubera mecum

obliquumque a patre genus, fortemque, timebam

quem desponsa, Gyan uidi lapsare cruentae

uulnere Myrmidones, quodque inter serta torosque

barbara ludentem fodiebat Epopea mater.

Flet super aequaeuum soror exarmata Lycaste

Cydimon, heu similis perituro in corpore uultus

aspiciens floremque genae et quas finxerat auro

ipsa comas, cum saeua parens iam coniuge fuso

astitit impellitque minis atque ingerit ensem.

Vt fera, quae rabie placido desueta magistro

tardius arma mouet stimulisque et uerbere crebro

in mores negat ire suos, sic illa iacenti

incidit undantemque sinu collapsa cruorem

excipit et laceros premit in noua uulnera crinis.

Vt uero Alcimeden etiamnum in murmure truncos

ferre patris uultus et egentem sanguinis ensem

conspexi, riguere comae atque in uiscera saeuus

horror iit: meus ille Thoas, mea dira uideri

dextra mihi! Extemplo thalamis turbata paternis

inferor. ille quidem dudum - quis magna tuenti

somnus? - agit uersans secum, etsi lata recessit

urbe domus, quinam strepitus, quae murmura noctis,

cur fremibunda quies? Trepido scelus ordine pando,

quis dolor, unde animi: "Vis nulla arcere furentes;

hac sequere, o miserande; premunt aderuntque moranti,

et mecum fortasse cades". His motus et artus

erexit stratis. Ferimur per deuia uastae

urbis et ingentem nocturnae caedis aceruum

passim, ut quosque sacris crudelis uespera lucis

strauerat, occulta speculamur nube latentes.

Hic impressa toris ora exstantesque reclusis

pectoribus capulos magnarum et fragmina trunca

hastarum et ferro laceras per corpora uestes,

crateras pronos epulasque in caede natantis

cernere erat, iugulisque modo torrentis apertis

sanguine permixto redeuntem in pocula Bacchum.

Hic iuuenum manus et nullis uiolabilis armis

turba senes, positique patrum super ora gementum

semineces pueri trepidas in limine uitae

singultant animas. Gelida non saeuius Ossa

luxuriant Lapitharum epulae, si quando profundo

Nubigenae caluere mero; uix primus ab ira

pallor, et impulsis surgunt ad proelia mensis.

Tunc primum sese trepidis sub nocte Thyoneus

detexit, nato portans extrema Thoanti

subsidia, et multa subitus cum luce refulsit.

Agnoui: non ille quidem turgentia sertis

tempora nec flaua crinem destrinxerat uua:

nubilus indignumque oculis liquentibus imbrem

adloquitur: "Dum fata dabant tibi, nate, potentem

Lemnon et externis etiam seruare timendam

gentibus, haud umquam iusto mea cura labori

destitit: absciderunt tristes crudelia Parcae

stamina, nec dictis, supplex quae plurima fudi

ante Iouem frustra, lacrimisque auertere luctus

contigit; infandum natae concessit honorem.

Accelerate fugam, tuque, o mea digna propago,

hac rege, uirgo, patrem, gemini qua bracchia muri

litus eunt: illa, qua rere silentia, porta

stat funesta Venus ferroque accincta furentes

adiuuat - unde manus, unde haec Mauortia diuae

pectora? tu lato patrem committe profundo.

Succedam curis." ita fatus in aëra rursus

soluitur et nostrum, uisus arcentibus umbris,

mitis iter longae clarauit limite flammae.

Qua data signa, sequor; dein curuo robore clausum

dis pelagi uentisque et Cycladas Aegaeoni

amplexo commendo patrem, nec fletibus umquam

fit modus alternis, ni iam dimittat Eoo

Lucifer astra polo. Tunc demum litore rauco

multa metu reputans et uix confisa Lyaeo

diuidor, ipsa gradu nitente, sed anxia retro

pectora, nec requies, quin et surgentia caelo

flamina et e cunctis prospectem collibus undas.

Exoritur pudibunda dies, caelumque retexens

auersum Lemno iubar et declinia Titan

opposita iuga nube refert. Patuere furores

nocturni, lucisque nouae formidine cunctis,

quamquam inter similes, subitus pudor; impia terrae

infodiunt scelera aut festinis ignibus urunt.

Iam manus Eumenidum captasque refugerat arces

exsaturata Venus; licuit sentire quid ausae,

et turbare comas et lumina tinguere fletu.

Insula diues agris opibusque armisque uirisque,

nota situ et Getico nuper ditata triumpho,

non maris incursu, non hoste, nec aethere laeuo

perdidit una omnes orbata excussaque fundo

indigenas: non arua uiri, non aequora uertunt,

conticuere domus, cruor altus et oblita crasso

cuncta rubent tabo, magnaeque in moenibus urbis

nos tantum et saeui spirant per culmina manes.

Ipsa quoque arcanis tecti in penetralibus alto

molior igne pyram, sceptrum super armaque patris

inicio et notas regum uelamina uestes,

ac prope maesta rogum confusis ignibus asto

ense cruentato, fraudemque et inania busta

plango metu, si forte premant, cassumque parenti

omen et hac dubios leti precor ire timores.

His mihi pro meritis, ut falsi criminis astu

parta fides, regno et solio considere patris

- supplicium! - datur. Anne illis obsessa negarem?

Accessi, saepe ante deos testata fidemque

immeritasque manus; subeo - pro dira potestas! -

exsangue imperium et maestam sine culmine Lemnon.

Iam magis atque magis uigiles dolor angere sensus,

et gemitus clari, et paulatim inuisa Polyxo,

iam meminisse nefas, iam ponere manibus aras

concessum et multum cineres iurare sepultos.

Sic ubi ductorem trepidae stabulique maritum,

quem penes et saltus et adultae gloria gentis,

Massylo frangi stupuere sub hoste iuuencae,

it truncum sine honore pecus, regemque peremptum

ipse ager, ipsi amnes et muta armenta queruntur.

Ecce autem aerata dispellens aequora prora

Pelias intacti late subit hospita ponti

pinus; agunt Minyae, geminus fragor ardua canet

per latera, abruptam credas radicibus ire

Ortygiam aut fractum pelago decurrere montem.

Ast ubi suspensis siluerunt aequora tonsis,

mitior et senibus cygnis et pectine Phoebi

uox media de puppe uenit, maria ipsa carinae

accedunt. Post nosse datum est: Oeagrius illic

acclinis malo mediis intersonat Orpheus

remigiis tantosque iubet nescire labores.

Illis in Scythicum Borean iter oraque primi

Cyaneis artata maris. Nos Thracia uisu

bella ratae uario tecta incursare tumultu,

densarum pecudum aut fugientum more uolucrum.

Heu | ubi nunc furiae? Portus amplexaque litus

moenia, qua longe pelago despectus aperto,

scandimus et celsas turres; huc saxa sudesque

armaque maesta uirum atque infectos caedibus enses

subuectant trepidae; quin et squalentia texta

thoracum et uultu galeas intrare soluto

non pudet; audaces rubuit mirata cateruas

Pallas et aduerso risit Gradiuus in Haemo.

Tunc primum ex animis praeceps amentia cessit,

nec ratis illa salo, sed diuum sera per aequor

iustitia et poenae scelerum aduentare uidentur.

Iamque aberant terris, quantum Cortynia currunt

spicula, caeruleo grauidam cum Iuppiter imbri

ipsa super nubem ratis armamenta Pelasgae

sistit agens; inde horror aquis et raptus ab omni

sole dies miscet tenebras, quis protinus unda

concolor; obnixi lacerant caua nubila uenti

diripiuntque fretum, nigris redit umida tellus

uerticibus, totumque notis certantibus aequor

pendet et arquato iamiam prope sidera dorso

frangitur, incertae nec iam prior impetus alno,

sed labat exstantem rostris modo gurgite in imo,

nunc caelo Tritona ferens. nec robora prosunt

semideum heroum, puppemque insana flagellat

arbor et instabili procumbens pondere curuas

raptat aquas, remique cadunt in pectus inanes.

nos quoque per rupes murorumque aggere ab omni,

dum labor ille uiris fretaque indignantur et Austros,

desuper inualidis fluitantia tela lacertis

- quid non ausa manus? - Telamona et Pelea contra

spargimus, et nostro petitur Tirynthius arcu.

Illi - quippe simul bello pelagoque laborant -

pars clipeis munire ratem, pars aequora fundo

egerere; ast alii pugnant, sed inertia motu

corpora, suspensaeque carent conamine uires.

Instamus iactu telorum, et ferrea nimbis

certat hiems, uastaeque sudes fractique molares

spiculaque et multa crinitum missile flamma

nunc pelago, nunc puppe cadunt, dat operta fragorem

pinus, et abiunctis regemunt tabulata cauernis.

Talis Hyperborea uiridis niue uerberat agros

Iuppiter; obruitur campis genus omne ferarum,

deprensaeque cadunt uolucres, et messis amaro

strata gelu, fragor inde iugis, inde amnibus irae.

Vt uero elisit nubes Ioue tortus ab alto

ignis et ingentes patuere in fulmine nautae,

diriguere animi, manibusque horrore remissis

arma aliena cadunt, rediit in pectora sexus.

cernimus Aeacidas murisque immane minantem

Ancaeum et longa pellentem cuspide rupes

Iphiton; attonito manifestus in agmine suprast

Amphitryoniades puppemque alternus utrimque

ingrauat et medias ardet descendere in undas.

At leuis et miserae nondum mihi notus Iason

transtra per et remos impressaque terga uirorum

nunc magnum Oeniden, nunc ille hortatibus Idan

et Talaum et cana rorantem aspargine ponti

Tyndariden iterans gelidique in nube parentis

uela laboranti Calain subnectere malo

uoce manuque rogat; quatiunt impulsibus illi

nunc freta, nunc muros, sed nec spumantia cedunt

aequora et incussae redeunt a turribus hastae.

Ipse grauis fluctus clauumque audire negantem

lassat agens Tiphys palletque et plurima mutat

imperia ac laeuas dextrasque obtorquet in undas

proram nauifragis auidam concurrere saxis,

donec ab extremae cuneo ratis Aesone natus

Palladios oleae, Mopsi gestamina, ramos

extulit et socium turba prohibente poposcit

foedera; praecipites uocem inuoluere procellae.

tunc modus armorum, pariterque exhausta quierant

flamina, confusoque dies respexit Olympo.

quinquaginta illi, trabibus de more reuinctis,

eminus abrupto quatiunt noua litora saltu,

magnorum decora alta patrum, iam fronte sereni

noscendique habitu, postquam tumor iraque cessit

uultibus. Arcana sic fama erumpere porta

caelicolas, si quando domos litusque rubentum

Aethiopum et mensas amor est intrare minores;

dant fluuii montesque locum, tum terra superbit

gressibus et paulum respirat caelifer Atlas.

hic et ab asserto nuper Marathone superbum

Thesea et Ismarios, Aquilonia pignora, fratres,

utraque quis rutila stridebant tempora pinna,

cernimus, hic Phoebo non indignante priorem

Admetum et durae similem nihil Orphea Thracae,

tunc prolem Calydone satam generumque profundi

Nereos. Ambiguo uisus errore lacessunt

Oebalidae gemini; chlamys huic, chlamys ardet et illi,

ambo hastile gerunt, umeros exsertus uterque,

nudus uterque genas, simili coma fulgurat astro.

audet iter magnique sequens uestigia mutat

Herculis et tarda quamuis se mole ferentem

uix cursu tener aequat Hylas Lernaeaque tollens

arma sub ingenti gaudet sudare pharetra.

ergo iterum Venus et tacitis corda aspera flammis

Lemniadum pertemptat Amor. Tunc regia Iuno

arma habitusque uirum pulchraeque insignia gentis

mentibus insinuat, certatimque ordine cunctae

hospitibus patuere fores; tunc primus in aris

ignis, et infandis uenere obliuia curis;

tunc epulae felixque sopor noctesque quietae,

nec superum sine mente, reor, placuere fatentes.

forsitan et nostrae fatum excusabile culpae

noscere cura, duces. Cineres furiasque meorum

testor: ut externas non sponte aut crimine taedas

attigerim - scit cura deum -, etsi blandus Iason

uirginibus dare uincla nouis; sua iura cruentum

Phasin habent, alios Colchi generatis amores.

Iamque exuta gelu tepuerunt sidera longis

solibus, et uelox in terga reuoluitur annus.

Iam noua progenies partusque in uota soluti,

et non speratis clamatur Lemnos alumnis.

Nec non ipsa tamen thalami monimenta coacti

enitor geminos, duroque sub hospite mater

nomen aui renouo; nec quae fortuna relictis

nosse datur, iam plena quater quinquennia uergunt,

si modo fata sinunt aluitque rogata Lycaste.

Detumuere animi maris, et clementior Auster

uela uocat: ratis ipsa moram portusque quietos

odit et asserti tendit retinacula saxi.

inde fugam Minyae, sociosque appellat Iason

efferus, o | utinam iam tunc mea litora rectis

praeteruectus aquis, cui non sua pignora cordi,

non promissa fides; certe stat fama remotis

gentibus: aequorei redierunt uellera Phrixi.

Vt stata lux pelago uenturumque aethera sensit

Tiphys et occidui rubuere cubilia Phoebi,

heu | iterum gemitus, iterumque nouissima nox est.

uix reserata dies, et iam rate celsus Iason

ire iubet, primoque ferit dux uerbere pontum.

Illos e scopulis et summo uertice montis

spumea porrecti dirimentis terga profundi

prosequimur uisu, donec lassauit hiantis

lux oculos longumque polo contexere uisast

aequor et extremi pressit freta margine caeli.

Fama subit portus, uectum trans alta Thoanta

fraterna regnare Chio, mihi crimina nulla,

et uacuos arsisse rogos; fremit impia plebes,

sontibus accensae stimulis facinusque reposcunt.

quin etiam occultae uulgo increbrescere uoces:

"Solane fida suis, nos autem in funera laetae?

non deus haec fatumque! quid imperat urbe nefanda?"

Talibus exanimis dictis - et triste propinquat

supplicium, nec regna iuuant - uaga litora furtim

incomitata sequor funestaque moenia linquo,

qua fuga nota patris; sed non iterum obuius Euhan,

nam me praedonum manus huc appulsa tacentem

abripit et uestras famulam transmittit in oras".

Talia Lernaeis iterat dum regibus exul

Lemnias et longa solatur damna querela,

immemor absentis - sic di suasistis! - alumni,

ille grauis oculos languentiaque ora comanti

mergit humo, fessusque diu puerilibus actis

labitur in somnos, prensa manus haeret in herba.

Interea campis, nemoris sacer horror Achaei,

terrigena exoritur serpens, tractuque soluto

immanem sese uehit ac post terga relinquit.

Liuida fax oculis, tumidi stat in ore ueneni

spuma uirens, ter lingua uibrat, terna agmina adunci

dentis, et auratae crudelis gloria frontis

prominet. Inachio sanctum dixere Tonanti

agricolae, cui cura loci et siluestribus aris

pauper honos; nunc ille dei circumdare templa

orbe uago labens, miserae nunc robora siluae

atterit et uastas tenuat complexibus ornos;

saepe super fluuios geminae iacet aggere ripae

continuus, squamisque incisus adaestuat amnis.

Sed nunc, Ogygii iussis quando omnis anhelat

terra dei trepidaeque latent in puluere Nymphae,

saeuior anfractu laterum sinuosa retorquens

terga solo siccique nocens furit igne ueneni.

Stagna per arentesque lacus fontesque repressos

uoluitur et uacuis fluuiorum in uallibus errat,

incensusque siti liquidum nunc aëra lambit

ore supinato, nunc arua gementia radens

pronus adhaeret humo, si quid uiridantia sudent

gramina; percussae calidis adflatibus herbae,

qua tulit ora, cadunt, moriturque ad sibila campus:

quantus ab Arctois discriminat aethera plaustris

Anguis et usque Notos alienumque exit in orbem;

quantus et ille sacri spiris intorta mouebat

cornua Parnasi, donec tibi, Delie, fixus

uexit harundineam centeno uulnere siluam.

Quis tibi, parue, deus tam magni pondera fati

sorte dedit? Tune hoc uix prima ad limina uitae

hoste iaces? An ut inde sacer per saecula Grais

gentibus et tanto dignus morerere sepulcro?

Occidis extremae destrictus uerbere caudae

ignaro serpente puer, fugit ilicet artus

somnus et in solam patuerunt lumina mortem.

Cum tamen attonito moriens uagitus in auras

excidit et ruptis immutuit ore querelis,

qualia non totas peragunt insomnia uoces,

audiit Hypsipyle, facilemque negantia cursum

exanimis genua aegra rapit; iam certa malorum

mentis ab augurio sparsoque per omnia uisu

lustrat humum quaerens et nota uocabula paruo

nequiquam ingeminans: nusquam ille, et prata recentis

amisere notas. uiridi piger accubat hostis

collectus gyro spatiosaque iugera complet

sic etiam, obliqua ceruicem expostus in aluo.

Horruit infelix uisu longoque profundum

incendit clamore nemus; nec territus ille,

sed iacet. Argolicas ululatus flebilis auris

impulit; extemplo monitu ducis aduolat ardens

Arcas eques causamque refert. tunc squamea demum

toruus ad armorum radios fremitumque uirorum

colla mouet: rapit ingenti conamine saxum,

quo discretus ager, uacuasque impellit in auras

arduus Hippomedon, quo turbine bellica quondam

librati saliunt portarum in claustra molares.

Cassa ducis uirtus: iam mollia colla refusus

in tergum serpens uenientem exhauserat ictum.

Dat sonitum tellus, nemorumque per auia densi

dissultant nexus. "At non mea uulnera" clamat

et trabe fraxinea Capaneus subit obuius "umquam

effugies, seu tu pauidi ferus incola luci,

siue deis, utinamque deis, concessa uoluptas,

non, si consertum super haec mihi membra Giganta

subueheres". uolat hasta tremens et hiantia monstri

ora subit linguaeque secat fera uincla trisulcae,

perque iubas stantis capitisque insigne corusci

emicat, et nigri sanie perfusa cerebri

figitur alta solo. longus uix tota peregit

membra dolor, rapido celer ille uolumine telum

circumit auulsumque ferens in opaca refugit

templa dei; hic magno tellurem pondere mensus

implorantem animam dominis assibilat aris.

Illum et cognatae stagna indignantia Lernae,

floribus et uernis assuetae spargere Nymphae,

et Nemees reptatus ager, lucosque per omnis

siluicolae fracta gemuistis harundine, Fauni.

Ipse etiam e summa iam tela poposcerat aethra

Iuppiter, et dudum nimbique hiemesque coibant,

ni minor ira deo grauioraque tela mereri

seruatus Capaneus; moti tamen aura cucurrit

fulminis et summas libauit uertice cristas.

Iamque pererratis infelix Lemnia campis,

liber ut angue locus, modico super aggere longe

pallida sanguineis infectas roribus herbas

prospicit. Huc magno cursum rapit effera luctu

agnoscitque nefas, terraeque illisa nocenti

fulminis in morem non uerba in funere primo,

non lacrimas habet: ingeminat misera oscula tantum

incumbens animaeque fugam per membra tepentem

quaerit hians. non ora loco, non pectora restant,

rapta cutis, tenuia ossa patent nexusque madentes

sanguinis imbre noui, totumque in uulnere corpus.

Ac uelut aligerae sedem fetusque parentis

cum piger umbrosa populatus in ilice serpens,

illa redit querulaeque domus mirata quietem

iam stupet impendens aduectosque horrida maesto

excutit ore cibos, cum solus in arbore paret

sanguis et errantes per capta cubilia plumae.

Vt laceros artus gremio miseranda recepit

intexitque comis, tandem laxata dolori

uox inuenit iter, gemitusque in uerba soluti:

O mihi desertae natorum dulcis imago,

Archemore, o rerum et patriae solamen ademptae

seruitiique decus, qui te, mea gaudia, sontes

exstinxere dei, modo quem digressa reliqui

lasciuum et prono uexantem gramina cursu?

heu | ubi siderei uultus? ubi uerba ligatis

imperfecta sonis risusque et murmura soli

intellecta mihi? Quotiens tibi Lemnon et Argo

sueta loqui et longa somnum suadere querela:

sic equidem luctus solabar et ubera paruo

iam materna dabam, cui nunc uenit irritus orbae

lactis et infelix in uulnera liquitur imber.

nosco deos: o uera mei praesagia somni

nocturnique metus, et numquam impune per umbras

attonitae mihi uisa Venus! quos arguo diuos?

Ipsa ego te - quid enim timeam moritura fateri? -

exposui fatis. Quae mentem insania traxit?

Tantane me tantae tenuere obliuia curae?

Dum patrios casus famaeque exorsa retracto

ambitiosa meae - pietas haec magna fidesque! -,

exsolui tibi, Lemne, nefas; ubi letifer anguis,

ferte, duces, meriti si qua est mihi gratia duri,

si quis honos dictis, aut uos exstinguite ferro,

ne tristis dominos orbamque inimica reuisam

Eurydicen, quamquam haud illi mea cura dolendo

cesserit. hocne ferens onus illaetabile matris

transfundam gremio? Quae me prius ima sub umbras

mergat humus!" Simul haec terraque et sanguine uultum

sordida magnorum circa uestigia regum

uertitur, et tacite maerentibus imputat undas.

Et iam sacrifici subitus per tecta Lycurgi

nuntius implerat lacrimis ipsumque domumque,

ipsum aduentantem Persei uertice sancto

montis, ubi auerso dederat prosecta Tonanti,

et caput iratis rediens quassabat ab extis.

Hic sese Argolicis immunem seruat ab armis

haud animi uacuus, sed templa araeque tenebant.

Necdum etiam responsa deum monitusque uetusti

exciderant uoxque ex adytis accepta profundis:

"Prima, Lycurge, dabis Dircaeo funera bello".

Id cauet, et maestus uicini puluere Martis

angitur ad lituos periturusque inuidet armis.

Ecce - fides superum! - laceras comitata Thoantis

aduehit exsequias, contra subit obuia mater,

femineos coetus plangentiaque agmina ducens.

At non magnanimo pietas ignaua Lycurgo:

fortior ille malis, lacrimasque insana resorbet

ira patris, longo rapit arua morantia passu

uociferans: "Illa autem ubinam, cui parua cruoris

laetaue damna mei? Viuitne? Impellite raptam,

ferte citi comites; faxo omnis fabula Lemni

et pater et tumidae generis mendacia sacri

exciderint". Ibat letumque inferre parabat

ense furens rapto; uenienti Oeneius heros

impiger obiecta proturbat pectora parma,

ac simul infrendens: "Siste hunc, uesane, furorem,

quisquis es!" Et pariter Capaneus acerque reducto

adfuit Hippomedon rectoque Erymanthius ense,

ac iuuenem multo praestringunt lumine; at inde

agrestum pro rege manus. Quos inter Adrastus

mitius et sociae ueritus commercia uittae

Amphiaraus ait "Ne, quaeso; absistite ferro,

unus auum sanguis, neue indulgete furori,

tuque prior". Sed non sedato pectore Tydeus

subicit: "Anne ducem seruatricemque cohortis

Inachiae ingratis coram tot milibus ausis

mactare in tumulos - quanti pro funeris ultor! -,

cui regnum genitorque Thoas et lucidus Euhan

stirpis auus? Timidone parum, quod gentibus actis

undique in arma tuis inter rapida agmina pacem

solus habes? Habeasque, et te uictoria Graium

inueniat tumulis etiamnum haec fata gementem".

Dixerat, et tandem cunctante modestior ira

ille refert: "Equidem non uos ad moenia Thebes

rebar, at hostilis huc aduenisse cateruas.

Pergite in excidium socii, si tanta uoluptas,

sanguinis, imbuite arma domi, atque haec irrita dudum

templa Iouis - quid enim haud licitum? - ferat impius ignis,

si uilem, tanti premerent cum pectora luctus,

in famulam ius esse ratus dominoque ducique.

Sed uidet haec, uidet ille deum regnator, et ausis

sera quidem, manet ira tamen". Sic fatus, et arces

respicit. Atque illic alio certamine belli

tecta fremunt; uolucres equitum praeuerterat alas

fama recens, geminos alis amplexa tumultus:

illi ad fata rapi atque illi iam occumbere leto,

sic meritam Hypsipylen iterant, creduntque, nec irae

fit mora, iamque faces et tela penatibus instant,

uertere regna fremunt raptumque auferre Lycurgum

cum Ioue cumque aris; resonant ululatibus aedes

femineis, uersusque dolor dat terga timori.

Alipedum curru sed enim sublimis Adrastus

secum ante ora uirum fremibunda Thoantida portans

it medius turmis, et: "Parcite, parcite!" clamat,

Nil actum saeue, meritus nec tale Lycurgus

excidium, gratique inuentrix fluminis ecce".

Sic ubi diuersis maria euertere procellis

hinc Boreas Eurusque, illinc niger imbribus Auster,

pulsa dies regnantque hiemes, uenit aequoris alti

rex sublimis equis, geminusque ad spumea Triton

frena natans late pelago dat signa cadendi,

et iam plana Thetis, montesque et litora crescunt.

Quis superum tanto solatus funera uoto

pensauit lacrimas inopinaque gaudia maestae

rettulit Hypsipylae? Tu gentis conditor, Euhan,

qui geminos iuuenes Lemni de litore uectos

intuleras Nemeae mirandaque fata parabas.

Causa uiae genetrix, nec inhospita tecta Lycurgi

praebuerant aditus, et protinus ille tyranno

nuntius exstinctae miserando uulnere prolis.

Ergo adsunt comites - pro fors et caeca futuri

mens hominum! - regique fauent; sed Lemnos ad auris

ut primum dictusque Thoas, per tela manusque

irruerant, matremque auidis complexibus ambo

diripiunt flentes alternaque pectora mutant.

Illa uelut rupes immoto saxea uisu

haeret et expertis non audet credere diuis.

Vt uero et uultus et signa Argoa relictis

ensibus atque umeris amborum intextus Iason,

cesserunt luctus, turbataque munere tanto

corruit, atque alio maduerunt lumina fletu.

Addita signa polo, laetoque ululante tumultu

tergaque et aera dei motas crepuere per auras.

Tunc pius Oeclides, ut prima silentia uulgi

mollior ira dedit placidasque accessus ad auris:

"Audite, o ductor Nemeae lectique potentes

Inachidae, quae certus agi manifestat Apollo.

Iste quidem Argolicis haud olim indebitus armis

luctus adest, recto descendunt limite Parcae:

et sitis interitu fluuiorum et letifer anguis,

et puer, heu nostri signatus nomine fati,

Archemorus, cuncta haec superum demissa suprema

mente fluunt. Differte animos festinaque tela

ponite; mansuris donandus honoribus infans.

et meruit; det pulchra suis libamina uirtus

manibus, atque utinam pluris innectere pergas,

Phoebe, moras, semperque nouis bellare uetemur

casibus, et semper Thebe funesta recedas!

At uos magnorum transgressi fata parentum

felices, longum quibus hinc per saecula nomen,

dum Lernaea palus et dum pater Inachus ibit,

dum Nemea tremulas campis iaculabitur umbras,

ne fletu uiolate sacrum, ne plangite diuos:

nam deus iste, deus, Pyliae nec fata senectae

maluerit, Phrygiis aut degere longius annis".

Finierat, caeloque cauam nox induit umbram.