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