RAPE OF PROSERPINE

BOOK I PREFACE

(XXXII.)

He who first made a ship and clave therewith the deep, troubling the waters with roughly hewn oars, who first dared trust his alder-bark to the uncertain winds and who by his skill devised a way forbidden of nature, fearfully at the first essayed smooth seas, hugging the shore in an unadventurous course. But soon he began to attempt the crossing of broad bays, to leave the land and spread his canvas to the gentle south wind; and, as little by little his growing courage led him on, and as his heart forgot numbing fear, sailing now at large, he burst upon the open sea and, with the signs of heaven to guide him, passed triumphant through the storms of the Aegean and the Ionian main.

BOOK I

(XXXIII.)

My full heart bids me boldly sing the horses of the ravisher from the underworld and the stars darkened by the shadow of his infernal chariot

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mens congesta iubet. gressus removete profani.

iam furor humanos nostro de pectore sensus 5

expulit et totum spirant praecordia Phoebum;

iam mihi cernuntur trepidis delubra moveri

sedibus et claram dispergere limina lucem

adventum testata dei; iam magnus ab imis

auditur fremitus terris templumque remugit 10

Cecropium sanctasque faces extollit Eleusis.

angues Triptolemi strident et squamea curvis

colla levant attrita iugis lapsuque sereno

erecti roseas tendunt ad carmina cristas.

ecce procul ternis Hecate variata figuris 15

exoritur, levisque simul procedit Iacchus

crinali florens hedera, quem Parthica velat

tigris et auratos in nodum colligit ungues:

ebria Maeonius firmat vestigia thyrsus.

Di, quibus innumerum vacui famulatur Averni 20

vulgus iners, opibus quorum donatur avaris

quidquid in orbe perit, quos Styx liventibus ambit

interfusa vadis et quos fumantia torquens

aequora gurgitibus Phlegethon perlustrat anhelis—

vos mihi sacrarum penetralia pandite rerum 25

et vestri secreta poli: qua lampade Ditem

flexit Amor; quo ducta ferox Proserpina raptu

possedit dotale Chaos quantasque per oras

sollicito genetrix erraverit anxia cursu;

unde datae populis fruges et glande relicta 30

cesserit inventis Dodonia quercus aristis.

Dux Erebi quondam tumidas exarsit in iras

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and the gloomy chambers of the queen of Hell. Come not nigh, ye uninitiate. Now has divine madness driven all mortal thoughts from my breast, and my heart is filled with Phoebus’ inspiration; now see I the shrine reel and its foundations totter while the threshold glows with radiant light telling that the god is at hand. And now I hear a loud din from the depths of the earth, the temple of Cecrops re-echoes and Eleusis waves its holy torches. The hissing snakes of Triptolemus raise their scaly necks chafed by the curving collar, and, uptowering as they glide smoothly along, stretch forth their rosy crests towards the chant. See from afar rises Hecate with her three various heads and with her comes forth Iacchus smooth of skin, his temples crowned with ivy. There clothes him the pelt of a Parthian tiger, its gilded claws knotted together, and the Lydian thyrsus guides his drunken footsteps.

Ye gods, whom the numberless host of the dead serves in ghostly Avernus, into whose greedy treasury is paid all that perishes upon earth, ye whose fields the pale streams of intertwining Styx surround, while Phlegethon, his rapids tossed in spray, flows through them with steaming eddies—do you unfold for me the mysteries of your sacred story and the secrets of your world. Say with what torch the god of love overcame Dis, and tell how Proserpine was stolen away in her maiden pride to win Chaos as a dower; and how through many lands Ceres, sore troubled, pursued her anxious search; whence corn was given to man whereby he laid aside his acorn food, and the new-found ear made useless Dodona’s oaks.

Once on a time the lord of Erebus blazed forth

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proelia moturus superis, quod solus egeret

conubiis sterilesque diu consumeret annos

impatiens nescire torum nullasque mariti 35

inlecebras nec dulce patris cognoscere nomen.

iam quaecumque latent ferali monstra barathro

in turmas aciemque ruunt contraque Tonantem

coniurant Furiae, crinitaque sontibus hydris

Tesiphone quatiens infausto lumine pinum 40

armatos ad castra vocat pallentia Manes,

paene reluctatis iterum pugnantia rebus

rupissent elementa fidem penitusque revulso

carcere laxatis pubes Titania vinclis

vidisset caeleste iubar rursusque cruentus 45

Aegaeon positis aucto de corpore nodis

obvia centeno vexasset fulmina motu.

Sed Parcae vetuere minas orbique timentes

ante pedes soliumque ducis fudere severam

canitiem genibusque suas cum supplice fletu 50

admovere manus, quarum sub iure tenentur

omnia, quae seriem fatorum pollice ducunt

longaque ferratis evolvunt saecula fusis.

prima fero Lachesis clamabat talia regi

incultas dispersa comas:

“O maxime noctis 55

arbiter umbrarumque potens, cui nostra laborant

stamina, qui finem cunctis et semina praebes

nascendique vices alterna morte rependis,

qui vitam letumque regis (nam quidquid ubique

gignit materies, hoc te donante creatur 60

debeturque tibi certisque ambagibus aevi

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in swelling anger, threatening war upon the gods, because he alone was unwed and had long wasted the years in childless state, brooking no longer to lack the joys of wedlock and a husband’s happiness nor ever to know the dear name of father. Now all the monsters that lurk in Hell’s abyss rush together in warlike bands, and the Furies bind themselves with an oath against the Thunderer. Tisiphone, the bloody snakes clustering on her head, shakes the lurid pine-torch and summons to the ghostly camp the armèd shades. Almost had the elements, once more at war with reluctant nature, broken their bond; the Titan brood, their deep prison-house thrown open and their fetters cast off, had again seen heaven’s light; and once more bloody Aegaeon, bursting the knotted ropes that bound his huge form, had warred against the thunderbolts of Jove with hundred-handed blows.

But the dread Fates brought these threats to naught, and, fearing for the world, gravely laid their hoary locks before the feet and throne of the lord of Hell, and with suppliant tears touched his knees with their hands—those hands beneath whose rule are all things set, whose thumbs twist the thread of fate and spin the long ages with their iron spindles. First Lachesis, her hair unkempt and disordered, thus called out upon the cruel king: “Great lord of night, ruler over the shades, thou at whose command our threads are spun, who appointest the end and origin of all things and ordainest the alternation of birth and destruction; arbiter thou of life and death—for whatsoever thing comes anywhere into being it is by thy gift that it is created and owes its life to thee, and after a fixed

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rursus corporeos animae mittuntur in artus):

ne pete firmatas pacis dissolvere leges,

quas dedimus nevitque colus, neu foedera fratrum

civili converte tuba. cur impia tollis 65

signa? quid incestis aperis Titanibus auras?

posce Iovem; dabitur coniunx.”

Vix illa[119]: pepercit

erubuitque preces, animusque relanguit atrox

quamvis indocilis flecti: ceu turbine rauco

cum gravis armatur Boreas glacieque nivali 70

hispidus et Getica concretus grandine pennas

disrumpit pelagus, silvas camposque sonoro

flamine rapturus; si forte adversus aënos

Aeolus obiecit postes, vanescit inanis

impetus et fractae redeunt in claustra procellae. 75

Tunc Maia genitum, qui fervida dicta reportet,

imperat acciri. Cyllenius adstitit ales

somniferam quatiens virgam tectusque galero.

ipse rudi fultus solio nigraque verendus

maiestate sedet: squalent inmania foedo 80

sceptra situ; sublime caput maestissima nubes

asperat et dirae riget inclementia formae;

terrorem dolor augebat. tunc talia celso

ore tonat (tremefacta silent dicente tyranno

atria: latratum triplicem compescuit ingens 85

ianitor et presso lacrimarum fonte resedit

Cocytos tacitisque Acheron obmutuit undis

et Phlegethonteae requierunt murmura ripae):

[119] illa ς; Birt reads ille with the better MSS.

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cycle of years them sendest souls once more into mortal bodies—seek not to break the stablished treaty of peace which our distaffs have spun and given thee, and overturn not in civil war the compact fixed ’twixt thee and thy two brothers. Why raisest thou unrighteous standards of war? Why freest the foul band of Titans to the open air? Ask of Jove; he will give thee a wife.”

Scarce had she spoken when Pluto stopped, shamed by her prayer, and his grim spirit grew mild though little wont to be curbed: even so great Boreas, armed with strident blasts and tempestuous with congealed snow, his wings all frozen with Getic hail as he seeks battle, threatens to overwhelm the sea, the woods, and the fields with sounding storm; but should Aeolus chance to bar against him the brazen doors idly his fury dies away and his storms retire baulked to their prison-house.

Then he bids summon Mercury, the son of Maia, that he may carry these flaming words to Jove. Straightway the wingèd god of Cyllene stands at his side shaking his sleepy wand, his herald cap upon his head. Pluto himself sits propped on his rugged throne, awful in funereal majesty; foul with age-long dust is his mighty sceptre; boding clouds make grim his lofty head; unpitying is the stiffness of his dread shape; rage heightened the terror of his aspect. Then with uplifted head he thunders forth these words, while, as the tyrant speaks, his halls tremble and are still; the massy hound, guardian of the gate, restrains the barking of his triple head, and Cocytus sinks back repressing his fount of tears; Acheron is dumb with silent wave, and the banks of Phlegethon cease their murmuring.

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“Atlantis Tegeaee nepos, commune profundis

et superis numen, qui fas per limen utrumque 90

solus habes geminoque facis commercia mundo,

i celer et proscinde Notos et iussa superbo

redde Iovi: ‘tantumne tibi, saevissime frater,

in me iuris erit? sic nobis noxia vires

cum caelo Fortuna tulit? num robur et arma 95

perdidimus, si rapta dies? an forte iacentes

ignavosque putas, quod non Cyclopia tela

stringimus aut vanas tonitru deludimus auras?

nonne satis visum, grati quod luminis expers

tertia supremae patior dispendia sortis 100

informesque plagas, cum te laetissimus ornet

Signifer et vario cingant splendore Triones;

sed thalamis etiam prohibes? Nereia glauco

Neptunum gremio complectitur Amphitrite;

te consanguineo recipit post fulmina fessum 105

Iuno sinu. quid enim narrem Latonia furta,

quid Cererem magnamque Themin? tibi tanta creandi

copia; te felix natorum turba coronat.

ast ego deserta maerens inglorius aula

implacidas nullo solabor pignore curas? 110

non adeo toleranda quies. primordia testor

noctis et horrendae stagna intemerata paludis:

si dicto parere negas, patefacta ciebo

Tartara, Saturni veteres laxabo catenas,

obducam tenebris solem, compage soluta 115

lucidus umbroso miscebitur axis Averno.’”

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“Grandchild of Atlas, Arcadian-born, deity that sharest hell and heaven, thou who alone hast the right to cross either threshold, and art the intermediary between the two worlds, go swiftly, cleave the winds, and bear these my behests to proud Jove. ‘Hast thou, cruel brother, such complete authority over me? Did injurious fortune rob me at once of power and light? Because day was reft from me, lost I therefore strength and weapons? Thinkest thou me humble and cowed because I hurl not bolts forged by the Cyclops and fool not the empty air with thunder? Is it not enough that deprived of the pleasant light of day I submit to the ill-fortune of the third and final choice and these hideous realms, whilst thee the starry heavens adorn and the Wain surrounds with twinkling brilliance—must thou also forbid our marriage? Amphitrite, daughter of Nereus, holds Neptune in her sea-grey embrace; Juno, thy sister and thy wife, takes thee to her bosom when wearied thou layest aside thy thunderbolts. What need to tell of thy secret love for Lato or Ceres or great Themis? How manifold a hope of offspring was thine! Now a crowd of happy children surrounds thee. And shall I in this empty palace, sans joy, sans fame, know no child’s love to still instant care? I will not brook so dull a life. I swear by elemental night and the unexplored shallows of the Stygian lake, if thou refuse to hearken to my word I will throw open Hell and call forth her monsters, will break Saturn’s old chains, and shroud the sun in darkness. The framework of the world shall be loosened and the shining heavens mingle with Avernus’ shades.’”

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Vix ea fatus erat, iam nuntius astra tenebat.

audierat mandata Pater secumque volutat

diversos ducens animos, quae tale sequatur

coniugium Stygiosque velit pro sole recessus. 120

certa requirenti tandem sententia sedit.

Hennaeae Cereri proles optata virebat

unica, nec tribuit subolem Lucina secundam

fessaque post primos haeserunt viscera partus

infecunda quidem; sed cunctis altior extat 125

matribus et numeri damnum Proserpina pensat.

hanc fovet, hanc sequitur: vitulam non blandius ambit

torva parens, pedibus quae nondum proterit arva

nec nova lunatae curvavit germina frontis.

iam matura toro plenis adoleverat annis 130

virginitas, tenerum iam pronuba flamma pudorem

sollicitat mixtaque tremit formidine votum.

personat aula procis: pariter pro virgine certant

Mars clipeo melior, Phoebus praestantior arcu;

Mars donat Rhodopen, Phoebus largitur Amyclas 135

et Delon Clariosque lares; hinc aemula Iuno,

hinc poscit Latona nurum. despexit utrumque

flava Ceres raptusque timens (heu caeca futuri!)

commendat Siculis furtim sua gaudia terris

[infidis Laribus natam commisit alendam, 140

aethera deseruit Siculasque relegat in oras][120]

ingenio confisa loci.

Trinacria quondam

Italiae pars iuncta fuit; sed pontus et aestus

mutavere situm. rupit confinia Nereus

victor et abscissos interluit aequore montes, 145

[120] Heinsius bracketed these lines as spurious, and neither D nor V has l. 140.

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Scarce had he spoken when his messenger trod the stars. The Father heard the message and, communing with himself, debated long who would dare such a marriage, who would wish to exchange the sun for the caves of Styx. He would fain decide and at length his fixed purpose grew.

Ceres, whose temple is at Henna, had but one youthful daughter, a child long prayed for; for the goddess of birth granted no second offspring, and her womb, exhausted by that first labour, became unfruitful. Yet prouder is the mother above all mothers, and Proserpine such as to take the place of many. Her mother’s care and darling is she; not more lovingly does the fierce mother cow tend her calf that cannot as yet scamper over the fields and whose growing horns curve not yet moonwise over her forehead. As the years were fulfilled she had grown a maiden ripe for marriage, and thoughts of the torch of wedlock stir her girlish modesty, but while she longs for a husband she yet fears to plight troth. The voice of suitors is heard throughout the palace; two gods woo the maiden, Mars, more skilled with the shield, and Phoebus, the mightier bowman. Mars offers Rhodope, Phoebus would give Amyclae, and Delos and his temple at Claros; in rivalry Juno and Latona claim her for a son’s wife. But golden-haired Ceres disdains both, and fearing lest her daughter should be stolen away (how blind to the future!) secretly entrusts her jewel to the land of Sicily, confident in the safe nature of this hiding-place.

Trinacria was once a part of Italy but sea and tide changed the face of the land. Victorious Nereus brake his bounds and interflowed the cleft mountains

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parvaque cognatas prohibent discrimina terras.

nunc illam socia ruptam tellure trisulcam

opposuit Natura mari: caput inde Pachyni

respuit Ionias praetentis rupibus iras;

hinc latrat Gaetula Thetis Lilybaeaque pulsat 150

brachia consurgens; hinc indignata teneri

concutit obiectum rabies Tyrrhena Pelorum.

in medio scopulis se porrigit Aetna perustis,

Aetna Giganteos numquam tacitura triumphos,

Enceladi bustum, qui saucia terga revinctus 155

spirat inexhaustum flagranti vulnere sulphur

et, quotiens detractat onus cervice rebelli

in laevum dextrumque latus, tunc insula fundo

vellitur et dubiae nutant cum moenibus urbes.

Aetnaeos apices solo cognoscere visu, 160

non aditu temptare licet, pars cetera frondet

arboribus; teritur nullo cultore cacumen.

nunc movet indigenas nimbos piceaque gravatum

foedat nube diem, nunc motibus astra lacessit

terrificis damnisque suis incendia nutrit. 165

sed quamvis nimio fervens exuberet aestu,

scit nivibus servare fidem pariterque favillis

durescit glacies tanti secura vaporis,

arcano defensa gelu, fumoque fideli

lambit contiguas innoxia flamma pruinas. 170

quae scopulos tormenta rotant? quae tanta cavernas

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with his waves whereby a narrow channel now separates these kindred lands. Nature now thrusts out into the sea the three-cornered island, cut off from the mainland to which it once belonged. At one extremity the promontory of Pachynum hurls back with jutting crags the furious waves of the Ionian main, round another roars the African sea that rises and beats upon the curving harbour of Lilybaeum, at the third the raging Tyrrhenian flood, impatient of restraint, shakes the obstacle of Cape Pelorus. In the midst of the island rise the charred cliffs of Aetna, eloquent monument of Jove’s victory over the Giants, the tomb of Enceladus, whose bound and bruised body breathes forth endless sulphur clouds from its burning wounds. Whene’er his rebellious shoulders shift their burden to the right or left, the island is shaken from its foundations and the walls of tottering cities sway this way and that.

The peaks of Aetna thou must know by sight alone; to them no foot may approach. The rest is clothed with foliage but the summit no husbandman tills. Now it sends forth native smoke and with pitch-black cloud darkens and oppresses the day, now with awful stirrings it threatens the stars and feeds its flame with the dread fruit of its own body. But though it boils and bursts forth with such great heat yet it knows how to observe a truce with the snow, and together with glowing ashes the ice grows hard, protected from the great heat and secured by indwelling cold, so that the harmless flame licks the neighbouring frost with breath that keeps its compact. What huge engine hurls those rocks; what vast force piles rock on

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vis glomerat? quo fonte ruit Vulcanius amnis?

sive quod obicibus discurrens ventus opertis

offenso rimosa furit per saxa meatu,

dum scrutatur iter, libertatemque reposcens 175

putria multivagis populatur flatibus antra;

seu mare sulphurei ductum per viscera montis

oppressis ignescit aquis et pondera librat.

Hic ubi servandum mater fidissima pignus

abdidit, ad Phrygios tendit secura penates 180

turrigeramque petit Cybelen sinuosa draconum

membra regens, volucri qui pervia nubila tractu

signant et placidis umectant frena venenis:

frontem crista tegit; pingunt maculosa virentes

terga notae; rutilum squamis intermicat aurum. 185

nunc spiris Zephyros tranant; nunc arva volatu

inferiore secant, cano rota pulvere labens

sulcatam fecundat humum: flavescit aristis

orbita; surgentes condunt vestigia fruges;

vestit iter comitata seges.

Iam linquitur Aetna 190

totaque decrescit refugo Trinacria visu.

heu quotiens praesaga mali violavit oborto

rore genas! quotiens oculos ad tecta retorsit

talia voce movens: “salve, gratissima tellus,

quam nos praetulimus caelo, tibi gaudia nostri 195

sanguinis et caros uteri commendo labores.

praemia digna manent: nullos patiere ligones

et nullo rigidi versabere vomeris ictu.

sponte tuus florebit ager; cessante iuvenco

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rock? Whence flows forth that fiery stream? Whether it be that the wind, forcing its way past hidden barriers, rages amid the fissured rocks that seek to bar its passage and, seeking a way of escape, sweeps the crumbling caverns with its wandering blasts in its bid for freedom, or that the sea, flowing in through the bowels of the sulphurous mountain, bursts into flame when its waters are compressed and casts up great rocks, I know not.

When the loving mother had entrusted her charge to the secret keeping of Henna she went freed from care to visit tower-crowned Cybele in her Phrygian home, driving a car drawn by twining serpents which cleave the pervious clouds on their wingèd course and fleck the bit with harmless poison. Their heads are crested and spots of green mottle their backs while sparkling gold glints amid their scales. Now they swim circling through the air, now they skim the fields with low-driven course. The passing wheels sow the plough-land with golden grain and their track grows yellow with corn. Sprouting stalks cover their traces and attendant crops clothe the path of the goddess.

Now is left behind Aetna, and all Sicily sinks lessening into the distance. Ah, how often, foreknowing of coming ill, did she mar her cheek with welling tears; how often look back upon her home with words like these: “Be happy, dear land, dearer than heaven to me, into thy safe keeping I commend my daughter, my sole joy, loved fruit of my labour. No despicable reward shall be thine, for thou shalt suffer no hoe nor shall the cruel iron of the ploughshare know thy soil. Untilled thy fields shall bear fruit, and though thine oxen plough not, a richer

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ditior oblatas mirabitur incola messes.” 200

sic ait et fulvis tetigit serpentibus Idam.

Hic sedes augusta deae templique colendi

relligiosa silex, densis quam pinus obumbrat

frondibus et nulla lucos agitante procella

stridula coniferis modulatur carmina ramis. 205

terribiles intus thiasi vesanaque mixto

concentu delubra gemunt; ululatibus Ide

bacchatur; timidas inclinant Gargara silvas.

postquam visa Ceres, mugitum tympana frenant;

conticuere chori; Corybas non impulit ensem; 210

non buxus, non aera sonant blandasque leones

summisere iubas. adytis gavisa Cybebe

exilit et pronas intendit ad oscula turres.

Viderat haec dudum summa speculatus ab arce

Iuppiter ac Veneri mentis penetralia pandit: 215

“curarum, Cytherea, tibi secreta fatebor.

candida Tartareo nuptum Proserpina regi

iam pridem decreta dari: sic Atropos urget;

sic cecinit longaeva Themis. nunc matre remota

rem peragi tempus. fines invade Sicanos 220

et Cereris prolem patulis inludere campis,

crastina puniceos cum lux detexerit ortus,

coge tuis armata dolis, quibus urere cuncta,

me quoque, saepe soles, cur ultima regna quiescunt?

nulla sit inmunis regio nullumque sub umbris 225

pectus inaccensum Veneri. iam tristis Erinys

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husbandman shall view with wonder the self-sown harvest.” So spake she and reached Mount Ida, drawn by her yellow serpents.

Here is the queenly seat of the goddess and in her holy temple the sacred statue, o’ershadowed by the thick leaves of the pine wood which, though no storm wind shakes the grove, gives forth creakings with its cone-bearing branches. Within are the dread bands of the initiate with whose wild chantings the shrine rings; Ida is loud with howlings and Gargarus bends his woods in fear. As soon as Ceres appears the drums restrain their rattle; the choirs are silent and the Corybantes stay the flourish of their knives. Pipes and cymbals are still, and the lions sink their manes in greeting. Cybele[121] rejoicing runs forth from the shrine and bends her towered head to kiss her guest.

Long had Jove seen this, watching from his lofty seat, and to Venus he thus enfolded the secrets of his heart: “Goddess of Cythera, I will impart to thee my hidden troubles; long ago I decided that fair Proserpine should be given in marriage to the lord of Hell; such is Atropos’ bidding, such old Themis’ prophecy. Now that her mother has left her is the time for action. Do thou visit the confines of Sicily, and armed with thy wiles, lead Ceres’ daughter to sport in the level meads what time to-morrow’s light has unfolded the rosy dawn; employ those arts with which thou art wont to inflame all things, often even myself. Why should the nether kingdoms know not love? Let no land be free and no breast even amid the shades unfired by Venus. At last let the gloomy Fury

[121] Cybele and Cybebe are alternative forms in Latin. The normal English form is Cybele.

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sentiat ardores; Acheron Ditisque severi

ferrea lascivis mollescant corda sagittis.”

Accelerat praecepta Venus; iussuque parentis

Pallas et inflexo quae terret Maenala cornu 230

addunt se comites. divino semita gressu

claruit, augurium qualis laturus iniquum

praepes sanguineo dilabitur igne cometes

prodigiale rubens: non illum navita tuto,

non impune vident populi, sed crine minaci 235

nuntiat aut ratibus ventos aut urbibus hostes.

devenere locum, Cereris quo tecta nitebant

Cyclopum firmata manu: stant ardua ferro

moenia, ferrati postes, inmensaque nectit

claustra chalybs. nullum tanto sudore Pyragmon 240

nec Steropes construxit opus: non talibus umquam

spiravere Notis animae nec flumine tanto

incoctum maduit lassa cervice metallum.

atria cingit ebur; trabibus solidatur aënis

culmen et in celsas surgunt electra columnas. 245

Ipsa domum tenero mulcens Proserpina cantu

inrita texebat rediturae munera matri.

hic elementorum seriem sedesque paternas

insignibat acu, veterem qua lege tumultum

discrevit Natura parens et semina iustis 250

discessere locis: quidquid leve, fertur in altum;

in medium graviora cadunt; incanduit aër;

legit flamma polum; fluxit mare; terra pependit.

nec color unus erat: stellas accendit in auro,

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feel the sting of passion and Acheron and the steely heart of stern Dis grow tender with love’s arrows.”

Venus hastes to do his bidding; and at their sire’s behest there join her Pallas and Diana whose bent bow affrights all Maenalus’ slopes. Neath her divine feet the path shone bright, even as a comet, fraught with augury of ill, falls headlong, a glowing portent of blood-red fire; no sailor may look on it and live, no people view it but to their destruction; the message of its threatening tail is storm to ships and an enemy’s attack to cities. They reached the place where shone Ceres’ palace, firm-built by the Cyclops’ hands; up tower the iron walls, iron stand the gates, and steel bars secure the massy doors. Neither Pyragmon nor Steropes e’er builded a work with toil so great as that, nor ever did bellows breathe forth such blasts nor the molten mass of metal flow in a stream so deep that the very furnaces were weary of heating it. The hall was walled with ivory; the roof strengthened with beams of bronze and supported by lofty columns of electron.

Proserpine herself, soothing the house with sweet song, was sewing all in vain a gift against her mother’s return. In this cloth she embroidered with her needle the concourse of atoms and the dwelling of the Father of the gods and pictured how mother Nature ordered elemental chaos, and how the first principles of things sprang apart, each to his proper place—those that were light being born aloft, the heavier ones falling to a centre. The air grew bright and fire chose the pole as its seat. Here flowed the sea; there hung the earth suspended. Many were the colours she employed, tricking the stars with gold and flooding the sea

[312]

ostro fundit aquas, attollit litora gemmis 255

filaque mentitos iamiam caelantia fluctus

arte tument: credas inlidi cautibus algam

et raucum bibulis inserpere murmur harenis.

addit quinque plagas: mediam subtegmine rubro

obsessam fervore notat; squalebat inustus 260

limes et adsiduo sitiebant stamina sole.

vitales utrimque duas, quas mitis oberrat

temperies habitanda viris; in fine supremo

torpentes traxit geminas brumaque perenni

foedat et aeterno contristat frigore telas. 265

nec non et patrui pingit sacraria Ditis

fatalesque sibi Manes; nec defuit omen,

praescia nam subitis maduerunt fletibus ora.

Coeperat et vitreis summo iam margine texti

Oceanum sinuare vadis; sed cardine verso 270

cernit adesse deas imperfectumque laborem

deserit et niveos infecit purpura vultus

per liquidas succensa genas castaeque pudoris

inluxere faces: non sic decus ardet eburnum,

Lydia Sidonio quod femina tinxerit ostro. 275

Merserat unda diem; sparso nox umida somno

languida caeruleis invexerat otia bigis,

iamque viam Pluto superas molitur ad auras

germani monitu. torvos invisa iugales

Allecto temone ligat, qui pascua mandunt 280

Cocyti pratisque Erebi nigrantibus errant

[313]

with purple. The shore she embossed with precious stones and cunningly employed raised threadwork to imitate the swelling billows. You might have thought you saw the seaweed dashed against the rocks and heard the murmur of the hissing waves flooding up the thirsty sands. Five zones she added; indicating that the centre was the torrid zone by embroidering it with red yarn: its desert confines are parched and the thread she used was dried by the sun’s unfailing heat. On either side lay the two habitable zones, blessed with a mild climate fit for the life of man. At the top and bottom she set the two frozen zones, portraying eternal winter’s horror in her weaving and the gloom of never-ceasing cold. Further she embroidered the accursèd seat of her uncle, Dis, and the nether gods, her destined fellows. Nor did the omen pass unmarked, for prophetic of the future her cheeks grew wet with sudden tears.

Next she began to trace Ocean’s glassy shallows at the tapestry’s farthest edge, but at that moment the doors opened, she saw the goddesses enter, and left her work unfinished. A glowing blush that mantled to her clear cheeks suffused her fair countenance and lit the torches of stainless purity. Not so beautiful even the glow of ivory which a Lydian maid has stained with Sidon’s scarlet dye.

Now the sun was dipped in Ocean and misty night scattering sleep had brought for mortals ease and leisure in her black two-horsed chariot; when Pluto, warned by his brother, made his way to the upper air. The dread fury Allecto yokes to the chariot-pole the two fierce pairs of steeds that grace Cocytus’ banks and roam the dark meads of Erebus, and,

[314]

stagnaque tranquillae potantes marcida Lethes

aegra soporatis spumant oblivia linguis:

Orphnaeus crudele micans Aethonque sagitta

ocior et Stygii sublimis gloria Nycteus 285

armenti Ditisque nota signatus Alastor.

stabant ante fores iuncti saevumque fremebant

crastina venturae spectantes gaudia praedae.

LIBRI SECUNDI PRAEFATIO

(XXXIV.)

Otia sopitis ageret cum cantibus Orpheus

neglectumque diu deposuisset opus,

lugebant erepta sibi solacia Nymphae,

quaerebant dulces flumina maesta modos.

saeva feris natura redit metuensque leonem 5

implorat citharae vacca tacentis opem.

illius et duri flevere silentia montes

silvaque Bistoniam saepe secuta chelyn.

Sed postquam Inachiis Alcides missus ab Argis

Thracia pacifero contigit arva pede 10

diraque sanguinei vertit praesaepia regis

et Diomedeos gramine pavit equos,

tunc patriae festo laetatus tempore vates

desuetae repetit fila canora lyrae

[315]

drinking the rotting pools of sluggish Lethe, let dark oblivion drip from their slumbrous lips—Orphnaeus, savage and fleet, Aethon, swifter than an arrow, great Nyctaeus, proud glory of Hell’s steeds, and Alastor, branded with the mark of Dis. These stood harnessed before the door and savagely champed the bit all eager for the morrow’s enjoyment of their destined booty.

BOOK II PREFACE

(XXXIV.)

When Orpheus sought repose and, lulling his song to sleep, had long laid aside his neglected task, the Nymphs complained that their joy had been reft from them and the sad rivers mourned the loss of his tuneful lays. Nature’s savagery returned and the heifer in terror of the lion looked in vain for help from the now voiceless lyre. The rugged mountains lamented his silence and the woods that had so often followed his Thracian lute.

But after that Hercules, setting forth from Inachian Argos, reached the plains of Thrace on his mission of salvation, and destroying the stables of Diomede, fed the horses of the bloody tyrant on grass, then it was that the poet, o’erjoyed at his country’s happy fate, took up once more the tuneful strings of his lute long laid aside, and touching its

[316]

et resides levi modulatus pectine nervos 15

pollice festivo nobile duxit ebur.

vix auditus erat: venti frenantur et undae,

pigrior adstrictis torpuit Hebrus aquis,

porrexit Rhodope sitientes carmina rupes,

excussit gelidas pronior Ossa nives; 20

ardua nudato descendit populus Haemo

et comitem quercum pinus amica trahit,

Cirrhaeasque dei quamvis despexerit artes,

Orpheis laurus vocibus acta venit.

securum blandi leporem fovere Molossi 25

vicinumque lupo praebuit agna latus.

concordes varia ludunt cum tigride dammae;

Massylam cervi non timuere iubam.

Ille novercales stimulos actusque canebat

Herculis et forti monstra subacta manu, 30

quod timidae matri pressos ostenderit angues

intrepidusque fero riserit ore puer:

“te neque Dictaeas quatiens mugitibus urbes

taurus nec Stygii terruit ira canis,

non leo sidereos caeli rediturus ad axes, 35

non Erymanthei gloria montis aper.

solvis Amazonios cinctus, Stymphalidas arcu

adpetis, occiduo ducis ab orbe greges

tergeminique ducis numerosos deicis artus

et totiens uno victor ab hoste redis. 40

non cadere Antaeo, non crescere profuit hydrae;

nec cervam volucres eripuere pedes.

Caci flamma perit; rubuit Busiride Nilus;

prostratis maduit nubigenis Pholoë.

[317]

idle chords with the smooth quill, plied the famed ivory with festal fingers. Scarce had they heard him when the winds and waves were stilled; Hebrus flowed more sluggishly with reluctant stream, Rhodope stretched out her rocks all eager for the song, and Ossa, his summit less exalted, shook off his coat of snow. The tall poplar and the pine, accompanied by the oak, left the slopes of treeless Haemus, and even the laurel came, allured by the voice of Orpheus, though erstwhile it had despised Apollo’s art. Molossian dogs fawned playfully on fearless hares, and the lamb made room for the wolf by her side. Does sported in amity with the striped tiger and hinds had no fear of the lion’s mane.

He sang the stings of a step-dame’s ire[122] and the deeds of Hercules, the monsters overcome by his strong right arm; how while yet a child he had shown the strangled snakes to his terrified mother, and had laughed, fearlessly scorning such dangers. “Thee nor the bull that shook with his bellowing the cities of Crete alarmed, nor the savagery of the hound of Hell; thee not the lion, soon to become a constellation in the heavens, nor the wild boar that brought renown to Erymanthus’ height. Thou hast stripped the Amazons of their girdles, shot with thy bow the birds of Stymphalus, and driven home the cattle of the western clime. Thou hast o’erthrown the many limbs of the triple-headed monster and returned thrice victorious from a single foe. Vain the falls of Antaeus, vain the sprouting of the Hydra’s new heads. Its winged feet availed not to save Diana’s deer from thy hand. Cacus’ flames were quenched and Nile ran rich with Busiris’ blood. Pholoë’s slopes reeked with the slaughter of the

[122] Juno is called the stepmother of Hercules.

[318]

te Libyci stupuere sinus, te maxima Tethys 45

horruit, imposito cum premerere polo:

firmior Herculea mundus cervice pependit;

lustrarunt umeros Phoebus et astra tuos.”

Thracius haec vates. sed tu Tirynthius alter,

Florentine, mihi: tu mea plectra moves 50

antraque Musarum longo torpentia somno

excutis et placidos ducis in orbe choros.

LIBER SECUNDUS

(XXXV.)

Impulit Ionios praemisso lumine fluctus

nondum pura dies; tremulis vibratur in undis

ardor et errantes ludunt per caerula flammae.

iamque audax animi fidaeque oblita parentis

fraude Dionaea riguos Proserpina saltus 5

(sic Parcae iussere) petit. ter cardine verso

praesagum cecinere fores; ter conscia fati

flebile terrificis gemuit mugitibus Aetna,

nullis illa tamen monstris nulloque tenetur

prodigio. comites gressum iunxere sorores. 10

Prima dolo gaudens et tanto concita voto

it Venus et raptus metitur corde futuros,

iam dirum flexura chaos, iam Dite subacto

ingenti famulos Manes ductura triumpho.

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cloud-born Centaurs. Thee the curving shore of Libya held in awe; thee the mighty Ocean gazed at in amaze when thou laidst the world’s bulk on thy back; on the neck of Hercules the heaven was poised more surely; the sun and stars coursed over thy shoulders.”

So sang the Thracian bard. But thou, Florentinus,[123] art a second Hercules to me. ’Tis thou causest my quill to stir, ’tis thou disturbest the Muses’ cavern long plunged in sleep and leadest their gentle bands in the dance.

BOOK II

(XXXV.)

Not yet had bright day with herald beams struck the waves of the Ionian main; the light of dawn shimmered on the waters and the straying brilliance flickered over the deep blue sea. And now bold Proserpine, forgetful of her mother’s jealous care and tempted by the wiles of Venus, seeks the stream-fed vale. Such was the Fates’ decree. Thrice did the doors sound a warning note as the hinges turned; thrice did prophetic Aetna rumble mournfully with awful thunders. But her can no portent, no omen detain. The sister goddesses bore her company.

First goes Venus exulting in her trickery and inspired by her great mission. In her heart she takes account of the coming rape; soon she will rule dread Chaos, soon, Dis once subdued, she will lead the subject ghosts. Her hair, parted into many

[123] See Introduction, p. xiv.

[320]

illi multifidos crinis sinuatur in orbes 15

Idalia divisus acu; sudata marito

fibula purpureos gemma suspendit amictus.

Candida Parrhasii post hanc regina Lycaei

et Pandionias quae cuspide protegit arces,

utraque virgo, ruunt: haec tristibus aspera bellis, 20

haec metuenda feris. Tritonia casside fulva

caelatum Typhona gerit, qui summa peremptus

ima parte viget, moriens et parte superstes;

hastaque terribili surgens per nubila ferro

instar habet silvae; tantum stridentia colla 25

Gorgonis obtentu pallae fulgentis inumbrat.

at Triviae lenis species et multus in ore

frater erat, Phoebique genas et lumina Phoebi

esse putes, solusque dabat discrimina sexus.

brachia nuda nitent; levibus proiecerat auris 30

indociles errare comas, arcuque remisso

otia nervus agit; pendent post terga sagittae.

crispatur gemino vestis Gortynia cinctu

poplite fusa tenus, motoque in stamine Delos

errat et aurato trahitur circumflua ponto. 35

Quas inter Cereris proles, nunc gloria matris,

mox dolor, aequali tendit per gramina passu

nec membris nec honore minor potuitque videri

Pallas, si clipeum ferret, si spicula, Phoebe.

collectae tereti nodantur iaspide vestes. 40

pectinis ingenio numquam felicior artis

contigit eventus; nulli sic consona telae

fila nec in tantum veri duxere figuras.

hic Hyperionio Solem de semine nasci

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locks, is braided round her head and secured by a Cyprian pin, and a brooch cunningly fabricated by her spouse Vulcan supports her cloak thick studded with purple jewels.

Behind her hasten Diana, fair queen of Arcadian Lycaeus, and Pallas who, with her spear, protects the citadel of Athens—virgins both; Pallas, cruel goddess of war, Diana bane of wild creatures. On her burnished helmet the Triton-born goddess wore a carved figure of Typhon, the upper part of his body lifeless, the lower limbs yet writhing, part dead, part quick. Her terrible spear, piercing the clouds as she brandished it, resembled a tree; only the Gorgon’s hissing neck she hid in the spread of her glittering cloak. But mild was Diana’s gaze and very like her brother looked she; Phoebus’ own one had thought her cheeks and eyes, her sex alone disclosed the difference. Her shining arms were bare, her straying locks fluttered in the gentle breeze, and the chord of her unstrung bow hung idle, her arrows slung behind her back. Her Cretan tunic, gathered with girdles twain, flows down to her knees, and on her waving dress Delos wanders and stretches surrounded by a golden sea.

Between the two Ceres’ child, now her mother’s pride, so soon to be her sorrow, treads the grass with equal pace, their equal, too, in stature and beauty; Pallas you might have thought her, had she carried a shield, Diana, if a javelin. A brooch of polished jasper secured her girded dress. Never did art give happier issue to the shuttle’s skill; never was cloth so beautifully made nor embroidery so lifelike. In it she had worked the birth of the sun from the seed of Hyperion, the birth, too, of the moon,

[322]

fecerat et pariter, forma sed dispare, Lunam, 45

aurorae noctisque duces; cunabula Tethys

praebet et infantes gremio solatur anhelos

caeruleusque sinus roseis radiatur alumnis.

invalidum dextro portat Titana lacerto

nondum luce gravem nec pubescentibus alte 50

cristatum radiis: primo clementior aevo

fingitur et tenerum vagitu despuit ignem.

laeva parte soror vitrei libamina potat

uberis et parvo signatur tempora cornu.

Tali luxuriat cultu. comitantur euntem 55

Naides et socia stipant utrimque caterva,

quae fontes, Crinise, tuos et saxa rotantem

Pantagiam nomenque Gelam qui praebuit urbi

concelebrant, quas pigra vado Camerina palustri,

quas Arethusaei latices, quas advena nutrit 60

Alpheus; Cyane totum supereminet agmen:

qualis Amazonidum peltis exultat aduncis

pulchra cohors, quotiens Arcton populata virago

Hippolyte niveas ducit post proelia turmas,

seu flavos stravere Getas seu forte rigentem 65

Thermodontiaca Tanaim fregere securi;

aut quales referunt Baccho sollemnia Nymphae

Maeoniae, quas Hermus alit, ripasque paternas

percurrunt auro madidae: laetatur in antro

amnis et undantem declinat prodigus urnam. 70

Viderat herboso sacrum de vertice vulgus

Henna parens florum curvaque in valle sedentem

[323]

though diverse was her shape—of sun and moon that bring the dawning and the night. Tethys affords them a cradle and soothes in her bosom their infant sobs; the rosy light of her foster-children irradiates her dark blue plains. On her right shoulder she carried the infant Titan, too young as yet to vex with his light, and his encircling beams not grown; he is pictured as more gentle in those tender years, and from his mouth issues a soft flame that accompanies his infant cries. The moon, his sister, carried on Tethys’ left shoulder, sucks the milk of that bright breast, her forehead marked with a little horn.

Such is the wonder of Proserpine’s dress. The Naiads bear her company and on either side crowd around her, those who haunt thy streams, Crinisus, and Pantagia’s rocky torrent and Gela’s who gives his name to the city; those whom Camerina, the unmoved, nurtures in her shallow marshes, whose home is Arethusa’s flood or the stream of Alpheus, her foreign lover; tallest of their company is Cyane. So move they as the beauteous band of Amazons, brandishing their moon-shaped shields what time the maiden warrior Hippolyte, after laying waste the regions of the north, leads home her fair army after battle, whether they have o’erthrown the yellow-haired Getae or cloven frozen Tanais with the axe of their native Thermodon; or as the Lydian Nymphs celebrate the festivals of Bacchus—the Nymphs whose sire was Hermus along whose banks they course, splashed with his golden waters: the river-god rejoices in his cavern home and pours forth the flooding urn with generous hand.

Henna, mother of blossoms, had espied the goddess’ company from her grassy summit and thus addressed

[324]

compellat Zephyrum: “pater o gratissime veris,

qui mea lascivo regnas per prata meatu

semper et adsiduis inroras flatibus annum, 75

respice Nympharum coetus et celsa Tonantis

germina per nostros dignantia ludere campos.

nunc adsis faveasque, precor; nunc omnia fetu

pubescant virgulta velis, ut fertilis Hybla

invideat vincique suos non abnuat hortos. 80

quidquid turiferis spirat Panchaia silvis,

quidquid odoratus longe blanditur Hydaspes,

quidquid ab extremis ales longaeva colonis

colligit optato repetens exordia leto,[124]

in venas disperge meas et flamine largo 85

rura fove. merear divino pollice carpi

et nostris cupiant ornari numina sertis.”

Dixerat; ille novo madidantes nectare pennas

concutit et glaebas fecundo rore maritat,

quaque volat vernus sequitur rubor; omnis in herbas

turget humus medioque patent convexa sereno. 91

sanguineo splendore rosas, vaccinia nigro

imbuit et dulci violas ferrugine pingit.

Parthica quae tantis variantur cingula gemmis

regales vinctura sinus? quae vellera tantum 95

ditibus Assyrii spumis fucantur aëni?

non tales volucer pandit Iunonius alas,

nec sic innumeros arcu mutante colores

incipiens redimitur hiems, cum tramite flexo

semita discretis interviret umida nimbis. 100

Forma loci superat flores: curvata tumore

parvo planities et mollibus edita clivis

creverat in collem; vivo de pumice fontes

[124] leto Heinsius; Birt saeclo (FDWB1V1).

[325]

Zephyrus, lurking in the winding vale: “Gracious father of the spring, thou who ever rulest over my meads with errant breeze and bringest rain upon the summer lands with thine unceasing breath, behold this company of Nymphs and Jove’s tall daughters who deign to sport them in my meadows. Be present to bless, I pray. Grant that now all the trees be thick with newly-grown fruit, that fertile Hybla may be jealous and admit her paradise surpassed. All the sweet airs of Panchaea’s incense-bearing woods, all the honied odours of Hydaspes’ distant stream, all the spices which from furthest fields the long-lived Phoenix gathers, seeking new birth from wished for death—spread thou all these through my veins and with generous breath refresh my country. May I be worthy to be plundered by divine fingers and goddesses seek to be decked with my garlands.”

So spake she, and Zephyrus shook his wings adrip with fresh nectar and drenches the ground with their life-giving dew. Wheresoe’er he flies spring’s brilliance follows. The fields grow lush with verdure and heaven’s dome shines cloudless above them. He paints the bright roses red, the hyacinths blue and the sweet violets purple. What girdles of Babylon, meet cincture of a royal breast, are adorned with such varied jewels? What fleece so dyed in the rich juice of the murex where stand the brazen towers of Tyre? Not the wings of Juno’s own bird display such colouring. Not thus do the many-changing hues of the rainbow span young winter’s sky when in curved arch its rainy path glows green amid the parting clouds.

Even more lovely than the flowers is the country. The plain, with gentle swell and gradual slopes, rose into a hill; issuing from the living rock gushing

[326]

roscida mobilibus lambebant gramina rivis,

silvaque torrentes ramorum frigore soles 105

temperat et medio brumam sibi vindicat aestu:

apta fretis abies, bellis accommoda cornus,

quercus amica Iovi, tumulos tectura cupressus,

ilex plena favis, venturi praescia laurus;

fluctuat hic denso crispata cacumine buxus, 110

hic hederae serpunt, hic pampinus induit ulmos.

haud procul inde lacus (Pergum dixere Sicani)

panditur et nemorum frondoso margine cinctus

vicinis pallescit aquis: admittit in altum

cernentes oculos et late pervius umor 115

ducit inoffensos liquido sub flumine visus

imaque perspicui prodit secreta profundi.

[huc elapsa cohors gaudet per florida rura.][125]

Hortatur Cytherea legant. “nunc ite, sorores,

dum matutinis praesudat solibus aër, 120

dum meus umectat flaventes Lucifer agros

roranti praevectus equo.” sic fata doloris

carpit signa sui. varios tum cetera saltus

invasere cohors: credas examina fundi

Hyblaeum raptura thymum, cum cerea reges 125

castra movent fagique cava dimissus ab alvo

mellifer electis exercitus obstrepit herbis.

pratorum spoliatur honos: haec lilia fuscis

intexit violis; hanc mollis amaracus ornat;

haec graditur stellata rosis, haec alba ligustris. 130

te quoque, flebilibus maerens Hyacinthe figuris,

[125] Written into F by a later hand. Doubtless an interpolation and as such erased in C. It anticipates the saltus invasere cohors of 123.

[327]

streams bedewed their grassy banks. With the shade of its branches a wood tempers the sun’s fierce heat and at summer’s height makes for itself the cold of winter. There grows the pine, useful for seafaring, the cornel-tree for weapons of war, the oak, friendly to Jove, the cypress, sentinel of graves, the holm filled with honeycombs, and the laurel foreknowing of the future; here the box-tree waves its thick crown of leaves, here creeps the ivy, here the vine clothes the elm. Not far from here lies a lake called by the Sicani Pergus, girt with a cincture of leafy woods close around its pallid waters. Deep down therein the eye of whoso would can see, and the everywhere transparent water invites an untrammelled gaze into its oozy depths and betrays the uttermost secrets of its pellucid gulfs. [Hither came their company well pleased with the flowery climb.]

Venus bids them gather flowers. “Come, sisters, while yet the morning sun shines through the moist air, and while Lucifer, my harbinger of dawn, yet drives his dewy steeds and waters the flower-bright field.” So spake she and gathered the flower that testifies to her own woe.[126] Her companions ranged the various vales. You could have believed a swarm of bees was on the wing, eager to gather its sweetness from Hyblaean thyme, where the king bees lead out their wax-housed armies and the honey-bearing host, issuing from the beech-tree’s hollow bole, buzzes around its favourite flowers. The meadows are despoiled of their glory; this goddess weaves lilies with dark violets, another decks herself with pliant marjoram, a third steps forth rose-crowned, another wreathed with white privet. Thee also, Hyacinthus,

[126] Traditionally said to be the anemone, which is supposed to have sprung up red from the spot where Adonis was killed by the boar.

[328]

Narcissumque metunt, nunc inclita germina veris,

praestantes olim pueros: tu natus Amyclis,

hunc Helicon genuit; disci te perculit error,

hunc fontis decepit amor; te fronte retusa 135

Delius, hunc fracta Cephisus harundine luget.

Aestuat ante alias avido fervore legendi

frugiferae spes una deae: nunc vimine texto

ridentes calathos spoliis agrestibus implet;

nunc sociat flores seseque ignara coronat, 140

augurium fatale tori. quin ipsa tubarum

armorumque potens dextram, qua fortia turbat

agmina, qua stabiles portas et moenia vellit,

iam levibus laxat studiis hastamque reponit

insuetisque docet galeam mitescere sertis; 145

ferratus lascivit apex horrorque recessit

Martius et cristae pacato fulgure vernant.

nec, quae Parthenium canibus scrutatur odorem,

aspernata choros libertatemque comarum

iniecta voluit tantum frenare corona. 150

Talia virgineo passim dum more geruntur,

ecce repens mugire fragor, confligere turres

pronaque vibratis radicibus oppida verti.

causa latet; dubios agnovit sola tumultus

diva Paphi mixtoque metu perterrita gaudet. 155

iamque per anfractus animarum rector opacos

sub terris quaerebat iter gravibusque gementem

[329]

they gather, thy flower inscribed with woe, and Narcissus too—once lovely boys, now the pride of flowering spring. Thou, Hyacinthus, wert born at Amyclae, Narcissus was Helicon’s child; thee the errant discus slew; him the amorous water-nymphs beguiled; for thee weeps Delos’ god with sorrow-weighted brow; for him Cephisus with his broken reeds.

But beyond her fellows she, the one hope of the corn-bearing goddess, burned with a fierce desire to gather flowers. Now she fills with the spoil of the fields her laughing baskets, osier-woven; now she twines a wreath of flowers and crowns herself therewith, little seeing in this a foreshadowing of the marriage fate holds in store for her. E’en Pallas herself, goddess of the trumpets and of the weapons of war, devotes to gentler pursuits the hand wherewith she o’erwhelms the host of battle and throws down stout gates and city walls. She lays aside her spear and wreaths her helmet with soft flowers—strange aureole! The iron peak is gay, o’ershadowed the fierce martial glint, and the plumes, erstwhile levin bolts, now nod with blossoms. Nor does Diana, who scours Mount Parthenius with her keen-scented hounds, disdain this company but would fain bind her free-flowing tresses with a flowery crown.

But while the maidens so disport themselves, wandering through the fields, a sudden roar is heard, towers crash and towns, shaken to their foundations, totter and fall. None knows whence comes the tumult; Paphus’ goddess alone recognized the sound that set her companions in amaze, and fear mixed with joy fills her heart. For now the king of souls was pricking his way through the dim labyrinth of the underworld and crushing Enceladus, groaning

[330]

Enceladum calcabat equis: inmania findunt

membra rotae pressaque Gigas cervice laborat

Sicaniam cum Dite ferens temptatque moveri 160

debilis et fessis serpentibus impedit axem:

fumida sulphureo praelabitur orbita dorso.

ac velut occultus securum pergit in hostem

miles et effossi subter fundamina campi

transilit inclusos arcano limite muros 165

turbaque deceptas victrix erumpit in arces

terrigenas imitata viros: sic tertius heres

Saturni latebrosa vagis rimatur habenis

devia, fraternum cupiens exire sub orbem.

ianua nulla patet; prohibebant undique rupes 170

oppositae duraque deum compage tenebant:

non tulit ille moras indignatusque trabali

saxa ferit sceptro. Siculae sonuere cavernae;

turbatur Lipare; stupuit fornace relicta

Mulciber et trepidus deiecit fulmina Cyclops. 175

audiit et si quem glacies Alpina coërcet

et qui te, Latiis nondum praecincte tropaeis

Thybri, natat missamque Pado qui remigat alnum.

Sic, cum Thessaliam scopulis inclusa teneret

Peneo stagnante palus et mersa negaret 180

arva coli, trifida Neptunus cuspide montes

impulit adversos: tunc forti saucius ictu

dissiluit gelido vertex Ossaeus Olympo;

carceribus laxantur aquae factoque meatu

redduntur fluviusque mari tellusque colonis. 185

[331]

beneath the weight of his massy steeds. His chariot-wheels severed the monstrous limbs, and the giant struggles, bearing Sicily along with Pluto on his burdened neck, and feebly essays to move and entangle the wheels with his weary serpents; still o’er his blazing back passes the smoking chariot. And as sappers seek to issue forth upon their unsuspecting enemy and, following a minèd path beneath the foundations of the tunnelled field, pass unmarked beyond the foe-invested walls of the city to break out, a victorious party, into the citadel of the outwitted enemy, seeming sprung from earth, even so Saturn’s third son scours the devious darkness whithersoever his team hurries him, all eager to come forth beneath his brother’s sky. No door lies open for him; rocks bar his egress on every side and detain the god in their escapeless prison. He brooked not the delay but wrathfully smote the crags with his beam-like staff. Sicily’s caverns thundered, Lipare’s isle was confounded, Vulcan left his forge in amaze and the Cyclops let drop their thunderbolts in fear. The pent-up denizens of the frozen Alps heard the uproar and he who then swam thy wave, father Tiber, thy brows not as yet graced with the crown of Italy’s triumphs; there heard it he who rows his bark down Padus’ stream.

So when the rock-encircled lake, ere Peneus’ wave rolled seaward, covered all Thessaly and allowed not its submerged fields to be tilled, Neptune smote the imprisoning mountain with his trident. Then did the peak of Ossa, riven with the mighty blow, spring apart from snowy Olympus; a passage was made and the waters were released, whereby the sea won back her feeding streams and the husbandman his fields.

[332]

Postquam victa manu duros Trinacria nexus

solvit et inmenso late discessit hiatu,

adparet subitus caelo timor; astra viarum

mutavere fidem; vetito se proluit Arctos

aequore; praecipitat pigrum formido Booten; 190

horruit Orion. audito palluit Atlas

hinnitu: rutilos obscurat anhelitus axes

discolor et longa solitos caligine pasci

terruit orbis equos; pressis haesere lupatis

attoniti meliore polo rursusque verendum 195

in chaos obliquo certant temone reverti.

mox ubi pulsato senserunt verbera tergo

et solem didicere pati, torrentius amne

hiberno tortaque ruunt pernicius hasta:

quantum non iaculum Parthi, non impetus Austri, 200

non leve sollicitae mentis discurrit acumen.

sanguine frena calent; corrumpit spiritus auras

letifer; infectae spumis vitiantur harenae.

Diffugiunt Nymphae: rapitur Proserpina curru

imploratque deas. iam Gorgonis ora revelat 205

Pallas et intento festinat Delia telo

nec patruo cedunt: stimulat communis in arma

virginitas crimenque feri raptoris acerbat.

ille velut stabuli decus armentique iuvencam

cum leo possedit nudataque viscera fodit 210

unguibus et rabiem totos exegit in armos:

stat crassa turpis sanie nodosque iubarum

excutit et viles pastorum despicit iras.

“Ignavi domitor vulgi, deterrime fratrum,”

[333]

When Trinacria beneath Pluto’s stroke loosed her rocky bonds and yawned wide with cavernous cleft, sudden fear seized upon the sky. The stars deserted their accustomed courses; the Bear bathed him in forbidden Ocean; terror hurried sluggish Boötes to his setting; Orion trembled. Atlas paled as he heard the neighing coursers; their smoky breath obscures the bright heavens and the sun’s orb affrighted them, so long fed on darkness. They stood biting the curb astonied at the brighter air, and struggle to turn the chariot and hurry back to dread Chaos. But soon, when they felt the lash on their backs and learned to bear the sun’s brightness, they gallop on more rapidly than a winter torrent and more fleet than the hurtling spear; swifter than the Parthian’s dart, the south wind’s fury or nimble thought of anxious mind. Their bits are warm with blood, their death-bringing breath infects the air, the polluted dust is poisoned with their foam.

The Nymphs fly in all directions; Proserpine is hurried away in the chariot, imploring aid of the goddesses. Now Pallas unveils the Gorgon’s head, Diana strings her bow and hastes to help. Neither yields to her uncle’s violence; a common virginity compels them to fight and enrages them at the crime of the fierce ravisher. Pluto is like a lion when he has seized upon a heifer, the pride of the stall and the herd, and has torn with his claws the defenceless flesh and has sated his fury on all its limbs, and so stands all befouled with clotted blood and shakes his tangled mane and scorns the shepherds’ feeble rage.

“Lord of the strengthless dead,” cries Pallas,

[334]

Pallas ait “quae te stimulis facibusque profanis 215

Eumenides movere? tua cur sede relicta

audes Tartareis caelum incestare quadrigis?

sunt tibi deformes Dirae, sunt altera Lethes

numina, sunt tristes Furiae, te coniuge dignae.

fratris linque domos, alienam desere sortem; 220

nocte tua contentus abi. quid viva sepultis

admisces? nostrum quid proteris advena mundum?”

Talia vociferans avidos transire minaci

cornipedes umbone ferit clipeique retardat

obice Gorgoneisque premens adsibilat hydris 225

praetentaque operit crista; libratur in ictum

fraxinus et nigros inluminat obvia currus

missaque paene foret, ni Iuppiter aethere summo

pacificas rubri torsisset fulminis alas

confessus socerum: nimbis hymenaeus hiulcis 230

intonat et testes firmant conubia flammae.

Invitae cessere deae. compescuit arcum

cum gemitu talesque dedit Latonia voces:

“Sis memor o longumque vale. reverentia patris

obstitit auxilio, nec nos defendere contra 235

possumus: imperio vinci maiore fatemur.

in te coniurat genitor populoque silenti

traderis, heu! cupidas non adspectura sorores

aequalemque chorum. quae te fortuna supernis

abstulit et tanto damnavit sidera luctu? 240

[335]

“wickedest of thy brothers, what Furies have stirred thee with their goads and accursed torches? Why hast thou left thy seat and how darest thou pollute the upper world with thy hellish team? Thou hast the hideous Curses, the other deities of Hell, the dread Furies—any of them would be a worthy spouse for thee. Quit thy brother’s realm, begone from the kingdom allotted to another. Get thee hence; let thine own night suffice thee. Why mix the quick with the dead? Why treadest thou our world, an unwelcome visitant?”

So exclaiming she smote with her threatening shield the horses who sought to advance and barred their way with the bulk of her targe, thrusting them back with the hissing snake-hair of Medusa’s head and o’ershadowing them with its outstretched plumes. She poised for throwing her beechen shaft whose radiance met and illumed Pluto’s black chariot. Almost had she cast it had not Jove from heaven’s height hurled his red thunderbolt on peaceful wings, acknowledging his new son; mid the riven clouds thunders the marriage-paean and attesting fires confirm the union.

All unwilling the goddesses yielded, and weeping Diana laid aside her weapons and thus spake: “Fare well, a long farewell; forget us not. Reverence for our sire forbade our help, and against his will we cannot defend thee. We acknowledge defeat by a power greater than our own. The Father hath conspired against thee and betrayed thee to the realms of silence, no more, alas! to behold the sisters and companions who crave sight of thee. What fate hath reft thee from the upper air and condemned the heavens to so deep mourning? Now no more

[336]

iam neque Partheniis innectere retia lustris

nec pharetram gestare libet: securus ubique

spumet aper saevique fremant impune leones.

te iuga Taygeti, posito te Maenala flebunt

venatu maestoque diu lugebere Cyntho. 245

Delphica quin etiam fratris delubra tacebunt.”

Interea volucri fertur Proserpina curru

caesariem diffusa Noto planctuque lacertos

verberat et questus ad nubila tendit inanes:

“Cur non torsisti manibus fabricata Cyclopum 250

in nos tela, pater? sic me crudelibus umbris

tradere, sic toto placuit depellere mundo?

nullane te flectit pietas nihilumque paternae

mentis inest? tantas quo crimine movimus iras?

non ego, cum rapido saeviret Phlegra tumultu, 255

signa deis adversa tuli; non robore nostro

Ossa pruinosum vexit glacialis Olympum.

quod conata nefas aut cuius conscia culpae

exul ad inmanes Erebi detrudor hiatus?

o fortunatas alii quascumque tulere 260

raptores! saltem communi sole fruuntur.

sed mihi virginitas pariter caelumque negatur,

eripitur cum luce pudor, terrisque relictis

servitum Stygio ducor captiva tyranno.

o male dilecti flores despectaque matris 265

consilia! o Veneris deprensae serius artes!

mater, io! seu te Phrygiis in vallibus Idae

Mygdonio buxus circumsonat horrida cantu,

[337]

can we rejoice to set Parthenius’ steep with nets nor wear the quiver; at large as he lists let the wild boar, raven and the lion roar savagely with none to say him nay. Thee, Taygetus’ crest, thee Maenalus’ height shall weep, their hunting laid aside. Long shalt thou be food for weeping on sorrowing Cynthus’ slopes. E’en my brother’s shrine at Delphi shall speak no more.”

Meanwhile Proserpine is borne away in the winged car, her hair streaming before the wind, beating her arms in lamentation and calling in vain remonstrance to the clouds: “Why hast thou not hurled at me, father, bolts forged by the Cyclops’ hands? Was this thy will to deliver thy daughter to the cruel shades and drive her for ever from this world? Does love move thee not at all? Hast thou nothing of a father’s feeling? What ill deed of men has stirred such anger in thee? When Phlegra raged with war’s madness I bore no standard against the gods; ’twas through no strength of mine that ice-bound Ossa supported frozen Olympus. For attempt of what crime, for complicity with what guilt, am I thrust down in banishment to the bottomless pit of Hell? Happy girls whom other ravishers have stolen; they at least enjoy the general light of day, while I, together with my virginity, lose the air of heaven; stolen from me alike is innocence and daylight. Needs must I quit this world and be led a captive bride to serve Hell’s tyrant. Ye flowers that I loved in so evil an hour, oh, why did I scorn my mother’s warning? Too late did I detect the wiles of Venus. Mother, my mother, whether in the vales of Phrygian Ida the dread pipe sounds about thine ears with Lydian

[338]

seu tu sanguineis ululantia Dindyma Gallis

incolis et strictos Curetum respicis enses: 270

exitio succurre meo! compesce furentem!

comprime ferales torvi praedonis habenas!”

Talibus ille ferox dictis fletuque decoro

vincitur et primi suspiria sensit amoris.

tunc ferrugineo lacrimas deterget amictu 275

et placida maestum solatur voce dolorem:

“Desine funestis animum, Proserpina, curis

et vano vexare metu. maiora dabuntur

sceptra nec indigni taedas patiere mariti.

ille ego Saturni proles, cui machina rerum 280

servit et inmensum tendit per inane potestas.

amissum ne crede diem: sunt altera nobis

sidera, sunt orbes alii, lumenque videbis

purius Elysiumque magis mirabere solem

cultoresque pios; illic pretiosior aetas, 285

aurea progenies habitat, semperque tenemus

quod superi meruere semel. nec mollia desunt

prata tibi; Zephyris illic melioribus halant

perpetui flores, quos nec tua protulit Henna.

est etiam lucis arbor praedives opacis 290

fulgentes viridi ramos curvata metallo:

haec tibi sacra datur fortunatumque tenebis

autumnum et fulvis semper ditabere pomis.

parva loquor: quidquid liquidus complectitur aër,

quidquid alit tellus, quidquid maris aequora verrunt, 295

quod fluvii volvunt, quod nutrivere paludes,

cuncta tuis pariter cedent animalia regnis

lunari subiecta globo, qui Septimus auras

ambit et aeternis mortalia separat astris.

[339]

strains, or thou hauntest mount Dindymus, ahowl with self-mutilated Galli, and beholdest the naked swords of the Curetes, aid me in my bitter need; frustrate Pluto’s mad lust and stay the funereal reins of my fierce ravisher.”

Her words and those becoming tears mastered e’en that rude heart as Pluto first learned to feel love’s longings. The tears he wiped away with his murky cloak, quieting her sad grief with these soothing words: “Cease, Proserpine, to vex thy heart with gloomy cares and causeless fear. A prouder sceptre shall be thine, nor shalt thou face marriage with a husband unworthy of thee. I am that scion of Saturn whose will the framework of the world obeys, whose power stretches through the limitless void. Think not thou hast lost the light of day; other stars are mine and other courses; a purer light shalt thou see and wonder rather at Elysium’s sun and blessed habitants. There a richer age, a golden race has its home, and we possess for ever what men win but once. Soft meads shall fail thee not, and ever-blooming flowers, such as thy Henna ne’er produced, breathe to gentler zephyrs. There is, moreover, a precious tree in the leafy groves whose curving branches gleam with living ore—a tree consecrate to thee. Thou shalt be queen of blessed autumn and ever enriched with golden fruit. Nay more; whatsoe’er the limpid air embraces, whatever earth nourishes, the salt seas sweep, the rivers roll, or the marsh-lands feed, all living things alike shall yield them to thy sway, all, I say, that dwell beneath the orb of the moon that is the seventh of the planets and in its ethereal journey separates things mortal from the deathless

[340]

sub tua purpurei venient vestigia reges 300

deposito luxu turba cum paupere mixti

(omnia mors aequat); tu damnatura nocentes,

tu requiem latura piis; te iudice sontes

improba cogentur vitae commissa fateri.

accipe Lethaeo famulas cum gurgite Parcas, 305

sitque ratum quodcumque voles.”

Haec fatus ovantes

exhortatur equos et Tartara mitior intrat.

conveniunt animae, quantas violentior Auster

decutit arboribus frondes aut nubibus imbres

colligit aut frangit fluctus aut torquet harenas; 310

cunctaque praecipiti stipantur saecula cursu

insignem visura nurum. mox ipse serenus

ingreditur facili passus mollescere risu

dissimilisque sui. dominis intrantibus ingens

adsurgit Phlegethon: flagrantibus hispida rivis 315

barba madet totoque fluunt incendia vultu.

Occurrunt properi lecta de plebe ministri:

pars altos revocant currus frenisque solutis

vertunt emeritos ad pascua nota iugales;

pars aulaea tenent; alii praetexere ramis 320

limina et in thalamum cultas extollere vestes.

reginam casto cinxerunt agmine matres

Elysiae teneroque levant sermone timores

et sparsos religant crines et vultibus addunt

flammea sollicitum praevelatura pudorem. 325

Pallida laetatur regio gentesque sepultae

[341]

stars. To thy feet shall come purple-clothed kings, stripped of their pomp, and mingling with the unmoneyed throng; for death renders all equal. Thou shalt give doom to the guilty and rest to the virtuous. Before thy judgement-throne the wicked must confess the crimes of their evil lives. Lethe’s stream shall obey thee and the Fates be thy handmaidens. Be thy will done.”

So speaking he urges on his triumphant steeds and enters Tartarus in gentler wise. The shades assemble, thick as the leaves the stormy south wind shakes down from the trees, dense as the rainclouds it masses, countless as the billows it curls or the sand it scatters. The dead of every age throng with hastening foot to see so illustrious a bride. Soon Pluto himself enters with joyful mien submitting him to the softening influence of pleasant laughter, all unlike his former self. At the incoming of his lord and mistress huge Phlegethon rises; his bristly beard is wet with burning streams and flames dart o’er all his countenance.

There hasten to greet the pair slaves chosen from out the number. Some put away the lofty chariot, take the bits from the mouths of the toil-freed horses and turn them out to graze in their accustomed pastures. Some hold back the curtains, others decorate the doorway with branches and fasten broidered hangings in the bridal chamber. In chaste bands the matrons of Elysium throng their queen, and with sweet converse banish her fear; they gather and braid her dishevelled hair and place the wedding-veil upon her head to hide her troubled blushes.

Joy fills that grey land, the buried throng holds

[342]

luxuriant epulisque vacant genialibus umbrae.

grata coronati peragunt convivia Manes;

rumpunt insoliti tenebrosa silentia cantus;

sedantur gemitus. Erebi se sponte relaxat 330

squalor et aeternam patitur rarescere noctem,

urna nec incertas versat Minoia sortes.

verbera nulla sonant nulloque frementia luctu

impia dilatis respirant Tartara poenis:

non rota suspensum praeceps Ixiona torquet; 335

non aqua Tantaleis subducitur invida labris.

solvitur Ixion et Tantalus invenit undas

et Tityos tandem spatiosos erigit artus

squalentisque novem detexit iugera campi

(tantus erat), laterisque piger sulcator opaci 340

invitus trahitur lasso de pectore vultur

abreptasque dolet iam non sibi crescere fibras.

Oblitae scelerum formidatique furoris

Eumenides cratera parant et vina feroci

crine bibunt flexisque minis iam lene canentes 345

extendunt socios ad pocula plena cerastas

et festas alio succendunt lumine taedas.

tunc et pestiferi pacatum flumen Averni

innocuae transistis, aves, flatumque repressit

Amsanctus: fixo tacuit torrente vorago. 350

tunc Acheronteos mutato gurgite fontes

lacte novo tumuisse ferunt, hederisque virentem

Cocyton dulci perhibent undasse Lyaeo.

stamina nec rumpit Lachesis; nec turbida sacris

obstrepitant lamenta choris. mors nulla vagatur 355

[343]

high festival, and the ghosts sport them at the nuptial feast. The flower-crowned Manes sit at a joyous banquet and unwonted song breaks the gloomy silence; wailing is hushed. Hell’s murk gladly disperses and suffers the darkness of age-long night to grow less impenetrable. Minos’ urn of judgement throws no ambiguous lots; the sound of blows is stilled, and Tartarus, the prison of the wicked, is hushed and still, for punishments are intermitted. No longer is Ixion tortured by the ever-turning wheel to which he is bound; from Tantalus’ lips no more is the flying water withdrawn. Ixion is freed, Tantalus reaches the stream, and Tityus at length straightens out his huge limbs and uncovers nine acres of foul ground (such was his size), and the vulture, that burrows lazily into the dark side, is dragged off from his wearied breast sore against its will, lamenting that no longer is the devoured flesh renewed for it.

The Furies, forgetful of crimes and dread wrath, make ready the wine-bowl and drink therefrom for all their snaky hair. Nay, with gentle song, their threatenings laid aside, they stretch out their snakes to the full cups and kindle the festal torches with unusual flame. Then, too, the birds flew unhurt over the now appeasèd stream of poisonous Avernus, and Lake Amsanctus checked his deadly exhalations; the stream was stayed and the whirlpool grew still. They say that then the springs of Acheron were changed and welled up with new milk, while Cocytus, enwreathed with ivy, flowed along in streams of sweet wine. Lachesis slit not the thread of life nor did funeral dirge sound in challenge to the holy chant. Death walked not

[344]

in terris, nullique rogum planxere parentes.

navita non moritur fluctu, non cuspide miles;

oppida funerei pollent inmunia leti,

impexamque senex velavit harundine frontem

portitor et vacuos egit cum carmine remos. 360

Iam suus inferno processerat Hesperus orbi:

ducitur in thalamum virgo. stat pronuba iuxta

stellantes Nox picta sinus tangensque cubile

omina perpetuo genitalia foedere sancit;

exultant cum voce pii Ditisque sub aula 365

talia pervigili sumunt exordia plausu:

“Nostra potens Iuno tuque o germane Tonantis

et gener, unanimi consortia discite somni

mutuaque alternis innectite vota lacertis.

iam felix oritur proles; iam laeta futuros 370

expectat Natura deos. nova numina rebus

addite et optatos Cereri proferte nepotes.”

LIBER TERTIUS

(XXXVI.)

Iuppiter interea cinctam Thaumantida nimbis

ire iubet totoque deos arcessere mundo.

illa colorato Zephyros illapsa volatu

numina conclamat pelagi Nymphasque morantes

increpat et Fluvios umentibus evocat antris. 5

[345]

on earth and no parents wept beside the funeral pyre. The wave brought not destruction to the sailor nor the spear to the warrior. Cities flourished and knew not death, the destroyer. Charon crowned his uncombed locks with sedge and singing plied his weightless oars.

And now its own evening-star had shone upon the underworld. The maiden is led into the bridal chamber. Night, clad in starry raiment, stands by her as her brideswoman; she touches the couch and blesses the union of marriage with a bond that cannot be broken. The blessed shades raise their voices and beneath the palace roof of Dis thus begin their song with sleepless acclaim: “Proserpine, queen of our realm, and thou, Pluto, at once the brother and the son-in-law of Jove, the Thunderer, be it yours to know the alliance of conjoined sleep; pledge mutual troth as ye hold each other in intertwining arms. Happy offspring shall be yours; joyous Nature awaits gods yet to be born. Give the world a new divinity and Ceres the grandchildren she longs for.”

BOOK III

(XXXVI.)

Meanwhile Jove bids cloud-girt Iris go gather the gods from the whole universe. She, outstripping the breezes in her rainbow flight, calls to the sea-deities, chides the Nymphs for their delay, and summons forth the river-gods from their moist

[346]

ancipites trepidique ruunt, quae causa quietos

excierit, tanto quae res agitanda tumultu.

ut patuit stellata domus, considere iussi,

nec confusus honor: caelestibus ordine sedes

prima datur; tractum proceres tenuere secundum 10

aequorei, placidus Nereus reverendaque Phorci

canities; Glaucum series extrema biformem

accipit et certo mansurum Protea vultu.

nec non et senibus Fluviis concessa sedendi

gloria; plebeio stat cetera more iuventus, 15

mille Amnes. liquidis incumbunt patribus udae

Naides et taciti mirantur sidera Fauni.

Tum gravis ex alto genitor sic orsus Olympo:

“abduxere meas iterum mortalia curas

iam pridem neglecta mihi, Saturnia postquam 20

otia et ignavi senium cognovimus aevi;

sopitosque diu populos torpore paterno

sollicitae placuit stimulis impellere vitae,

incultis ne sponte seges grandesceret arvis,

undaret neu silva favis, neu vina tumerent 25

fontibus et totae fremerent in pocula ripae

(haud equidem invideo—neque enim livescere fas est

vel nocuisse deos—sed, quod dissuasor honesti

luxus et humanas oblimat copia mentes),

provocet ut segnes animos rerumque remotas 30

ingeniosa vias paulatim exploret egestas

utque artes pariat sollertia, nutriat usus.

“Nunc mihi cum magnis instat Natura querellis

[347]

caverns. Out they haste in doubt and fear what this disturbance of their peace may signify or what has caused so great an upheaval. The starry heaven is thrown open and the gods are bidden take their seats as merit, not chance, dictates. The first places are accorded to the heavenly powers, next come the ocean-deities, calm Nereus and grey-haired Phorcus, last twiform Glaucus and Proteus, for once of unvarying shape. The agèd river-gods, too, are privileged to take their seats; the other rivers, a thousand strong, stand as stands the youth of an earthly assembly. Dripping water-nymphs lean on their moist sires and Fauns in silence marvel at the stars.

Then the grave Father from his seat on high Olympus thus began: “Once more the affairs of men have won care from me, affairs long neglected since I looked upon the repose of Saturn’s reign and knew the torpor of that stagnant age, when I had fain urged the race of man, long sunk in lethargy by reason of my sire’s sluggish rule, with the goads of anxious life, whereby their crops should no more grow to maturity of their own accord in the untilled fields nor yet the forest trees drip with honey nor wine flow from springs nor every stream course sounding into cups. ’Twas not that I grudged their blessings—gods may not envy nor hurt—but because luxury is a foe to a godly life, and plenty dulls the mind of men; therefore I bade necessity, invention’s mother, provoke their sluggish spirits and little by little search out the hidden tracks of things; bade industry give birth to civilization and practice nourish it.

“Nature now with ceaseless complaint bids me

[348]

humanum relevare genus, durumque tyrannum

inmitemque vocat regnataque saecula patri 35

commemorat parcumque Iovem se divite clamat,

qui campos horrere situ dumisque repleri

rura velim, nullis exornem fructibus annum.

se iam, quae genetrix mortalibus ante fuisset,

in dirae subito mores transisse novercae; 40

‘quid mentem traxisse polo, quid profuit altum

erexisse caput, pecudum si more pererrant

avia, si frangunt communia pabula glandes?

haecine vita iuvat silvestribus abdita[127] lustris,

indiscreta feris?’ tales cum saepe parentis 45

pertulerim questus, tandem clementior orbi

Chaonio statui gentes avertere victu:

atque adeo Cererem, quae nunc ignara malorum

verberat Idaeos torva cum matre leones,

per mare, per terras avido discurrere luctu 50

decretum, natae donec laetata repertae

indicio tribuat fruges, currusque feratur

nubibus ignotas populis sparsurus aristas

et iuga caerulei subeant Actaea dracones.

quodsi quis Cereri raptorem prodere divum 55

audeat, imperii molem pacemque profundam

obtestor rerum, natus licet ille sororve

vel coniunx fuerit natarumve agminis una,

se licet illa meo conceptam vertice iactet:

sentiet iratum procul aegide, sentiet ictum 60

fulminis et genitum divina sorte pigebit

optabitque mori: tunc vulnere saucius ipsi

[127] abdita ς; Birt reads addita, following the other MSS.

[349]

succour the race of man, calls me cruel and implacable tyrant, calls to mind the centuries of my sire’s empery and dubs me miser of her riches, for that I would have the world a wilderness and the land covered with scrub and would beautify the year with no fruits. She complained that she, who was erstwhile the mother of all living things, had suddenly taken upon her the hated guise of a stepmother. ‘Of what avail that man derived his intelligence from above, that he has held up his head to heaven, if he wander like the beasts through trackless places, if with them he crushes acorns for food? Can such a life as this bring him happiness, hid in the forest glades, indistinguishable from the life of animals?’ Since I bore so often such complaints from the lips of mother Nature, at length I took pity on the world and decided to make man to cease from his oak-tree food; wherefore I have decreed that Ceres, who now, ignorant of her loss, lashes the lions of Mount Ida, accompanying her dread mother, should wander over sea and land in anxious grief, until, in her joy at finding the traces of her lost daughter, she grant man the gift of corn and her chariot is borne aloft through the clouds to scatter among the people ears before unknown and the steel-blue serpents submit them to the Attic yoke.[128] But if any of the gods dare inform Ceres who is the ravisher, I swear by the immensity of mine empire, by the firm-stablished peace of the world, be he son or sister, spouse or daughter, vaunt he his birth as from mine own head, he shall feel afar the wrath of mine arms, the thunderbolt’s blow, and be sorry he was born a god and pray for death. Then, sore wounded, he shall be handed

[128] Attic, because Ceres in her wanderings came to Eleusis where she instructed Triptolemus, son of Celeus, King of Eleusis, in the art of agriculture.

[350]

tradetur genero, passurus prodita regna,

et sciet an propriae conspirent Tartara causae.

hoc sanctum; mansura fluant hoc ordine fata.” 65

dixit et horrendo concussit sidera motu.

At procul armisoni Cererem sub rupibus antri

securam placidamque diu iam certa peracti

terrebant simulacra mali, noctesque timorem

ingeminant omnique perit Proserpina somno. 70

namque modo adversis invadi viscera telis,

nunc sibi mutatas horret nigrescere vestes,

nunc steriles mediis frondere penatibus ornos.

stabat praeterea luco dilectior omni

laurus, virgineos quondam quae fronde pudica 75

umbrabat thalamos: hanc imo stipite caesam

vidit et incomptos foedari pulvere ramos

quaesivitque nefas. Dryades dixere gementes

Tartarea Furias debellavisse bipenni.

Sed tunc ipsa sui iam non ambagibus ullis 80

nuntia materno facies ingesta sopori:

namque videbatur tenebroso obtecta recessu

carceris et saevis Proserpina vincta catenis,

non qualem Siculis olim mandaverat arvis

nec qualem roseis nuper convallibus Aetnae 85

suspexere deae: squalebat pulchrior auro

caesaries et nox oculorum infecerat ignes

exhaustusque gelu pallet rubor, ille superbi

flammeus oris honos, et non cessura pruinis

membra colorantur picei caligine regni. 90

[351]

over to my son-in-law, Pluto himself, for punishment in those regions he had fain betray. There he shall learn whether Hell is true to her own monarch’s cause. Such is my will; thus let the unchangeable fates fulfil my decree.” He spake and shook the stars with his dread nod.

But, far from Sicily, no uncertain suspicions of the loss she had suffered alarmed Ceres, where long she had dwelt peaceful and secure beneath the rocky roof of the cave resounding with arms. Dreams doubled her dread and a vision of Proserpine lost troubled her every sleep. Now she dreams that an enemy’s spear is piercing her body, now (oh horror!) that her raiment is changed and is become black, now that the infecund ash is budding in the midst of her house. Moreover, there stood a laurel, loved above all the grove, that used with maiden leaf to o’ershadow the virgin bower of Proserpine. This she saw hewn down to the roots, its straggling branches fouled with dust, and when she asked the cause of this disaster weeping dryads told her that the Furies had destroyed it with an axe of Hell.

Next her very image appeared in the mother’s dreams, announcing her fate in no uncertain manner. She saw Proserpine shut in the dark confines of a prison-house and bound with cruel chains. Yet not so had she entrusted her to the fields of Sicily, not so had the wondering goddesses beheld her in Etna’s flowery meadows. Foul was now that hair, more beauteous erstwhile than gold; night had dimmed the fire of her eyes and frost banished the roses from her pale cheeks. The gracious flush of her skin and those limbs whose whiteness matched the hoar-frost are alike turned to hell-tinctured

[352]

ergo hanc ut dubio vix tandem agnoscere visu

evaluit: “cuius tot poenae criminis?” inquit

“unde haec informis macies? cui tanta potestas

in me saevitiae? rigidi cur vincula ferri

vix aptanda feris molles meruere lacerti? 95

tu mea, tu proles? an vana fallimur umbra?”

Illa refert: “heu dira parens nataeque peremptae

immemor! heu fulvas animo transgressa leaenas!

tantane te nostri tenuere oblivia? tantum

unica despicior? certe Proserpina nomen 100

dulce tibi, tali quae nunc, ut cernis, hiatu

suppliciis inclusa teror! tu saeva choreis

indulges? Phrygias vel nunc interstrepis urbes?

quodsi non omnem pepulisti pectore matrem,

si tua nata, Ceres, et non me Caspia tigris 105

edidit, his, oro, miseram defende cavernis

inque superna refer, prohibent si fata reverti,

vel tantum visura veni.”

Sic fata trementes

tendere conatur palmas. vis improba ferri

impedit et motae somnum solvere catenae. 110

obriguit visis; gaudet non vera fuisse;

complexu caruisse dolet. penetralibus amens

prosilit et tali compellat voce Cybeben:

“Iam non ulterius Phrygia tellure morabor,

sancta parens: revocat tandem custodia cari 115

pignoris et cunctis obiecti fraudibus anni.

[353]

grain. When, therefore, she was at last able to recognize her daughter, albeit with doubtful gaze, she cried: “What crime hath merited these many punishments? Whence comes this dreadful wasting away? Who hath power to wreak such cruelty upon me? How have thy soft arms deserved fetters of stubborn iron, scarce fitted for beasts? Art thou my daughter or does a vain shadow deceive me?”

Thus she answered: “Cruel mother, forgetful of thy daughter’s fate, more hard of heart than the tawny lioness! Could’st thou be so heedless of me? Didst thou hold me cheap for that I am thy sole daughter? Dear indeed to thee must be the name of Proserpine who now, shut in this vast cavern, as thou seest, am plagued with torment! Hast thou heart to dance, cruel mother? Canst thou revel through the cities of Phrygia? If thou hast not banished the mother from thy breast, if thou, Ceres, art really my mother and ’twas no Hyrcanian tiger gave me birth, save me, I pray thee, from this prison and restore me to the upper world. If the fates forbid my return come thou down at least and visit me.”

So spake she and strove to hold out her trembling hands. The iron’s ruthless strength forbade it, and the clangour of the chains awoke her sleeping mother. Ceres lay stiff with terror at the vision, rejoices that it was not true, but grieves that she cannot embrace her daughter. Maddened with fear she rushes out of the cavern and thus addresses Cybele: “No longer now will I tarry in the land of Phrygia, holy mother; the duty of protecting my dear daughter calls me back after so long an absence, for she is of an age that is exposed to many dangers. I put not

[354]

nec mihi Cyclopum quamvis extructa caminis

culmina fida satis. timeo ne fama latebras

prodiderit leviusque meum Trinacria celet

depositum. terret nimium vulgata locorum 120

nobilitas. aliis sedes obscurior oris

exquirenda mihi; gemitu flammisque propinquis

Enceladi nequeunt umbracula nostra taceri.

somnia quin etiam variis infausta figuris

saepe monent, nullusque dies non triste minatur 125

augurium. quotiens flaventia serta comarum

sponte cadunt! quotiens exundat ab ubere sanguis!

larga vel invito prorumpunt flumina vultu

iniussaeque manus mirantia pectora tundunt.

si buxus inflare velim, ferale gemiscunt; 130

tympana si quatiam, planctus mihi tympana reddunt.

ah vereor, ne quid portendant omina veri!

hae longae nocuere morae!”

“Procul inrita venti

dicta ferant” subicit Cybele; “nec tanta Tonanti

segnities, ut non pro pignore fulmina mittat. 135

i tamen et nullo turbata revertere casu.”

Haec ubi, digreditur templis. sed nulla ruenti

mobilitas: tardos queritur non ire dracones

inmeritasque movens alterno verbere pennas

Sicaniam quaerit, cum necdum absconderit Idam. 140

cuncta pavet speratque nihil. sic aestuat ales,

quae teneros humili fetus commiserit orno

adlatura cibos, et plurima cogitat absens:

ne gracilem ventus decusserit arbore nidum,

ne furtum pateant homini, ne praeda colubris. 145

[355]

complete trust in my palace, though built with iron from the Cyclops’ furnace. I fear lest rumour disclose her hiding-place and Sicily too lightly guard my trust. The fame of that place too widely bruited abroad alarms me; needs must I find elsewhere some obscurer abode. Our retreat must be on all men’s tongues by reason of the groanings of Enceladus and the neighbour flames. Ill-omened dreams, too, with diverse visions often give me pause, and no day passes but brings some inauspicious hap. How often has my crown of golden ears fallen of itself! How often blood flowed from my breast! In mine own despite streams of tears course down my cheeks and unbidden my hands beat my astonished breast. Would I blow up the flute, funereal is the note; do I shake the cymbals, the cymbals echo a sound of mourning. Alas! I fear there is some trouble in these portents. This long sojourn, has wrought me woe.”

“May the wind carry far away thy vain words,” replies Cybele; “not such the Thunderer’s want of care that he would not hurl his bolt in his daughter’s defence. Yet go and return, dismayed by no evil hap.”

This said, Ceres left the temple; but no speed is enough for her haste; she complains that her sluggish dragons scarce move, and, lashing the wings now of this one and now of that (though little they deserved it), she hopes to reach Sicily e’er yet out of sight of Ida. She fears everything and hopes nothing, anxious as the bird that has entrusted its unfledged brood to a low-growing ash and while absent gathering food has many fears lest perchance the wind has blown the fragile nest from the tree, lest her young ones be exposed to the theft of man or the greed of snakes.

[356]

Ut domus excubiis incustodita remotis

et resupinati neglecto cardine postes

flebilis et tacitae species adparuit aulae,

non expectato respectu cladis amictus

conscidit et fractas cum crine avellit aristas. 150

haeserunt lacrimae; nec vox aut spiritus oris

redditur, atque imis vibrat tremor ossa medullis;

succidui titubant gressus; foribusque reclusis,

dum vacuas sedes et desolata pererrat

atria, semirutas confuso stamine telas 155

atque interceptas agnoscit pectinis artes.

divinus perit ille labor, spatiumque relictum

audax sacrilego supplebat aranea textu.

Nec deflet plangitve malum; tantum oscula telae

figit et abrumpit mutas in fila querellas; 160

attritosque manu radios proiectaque pensa

cunctaque virgineo sparsa oblectamina ludo

ceu natam pressat gremio; castumque cubile

desertosque toros et, sicubi sederat olim,

perlegit: attonitus stabulo ceu pastor inani, 165

cui pecus aut rabies Poenorum inopina leonum

aut populatrices infestavere catervae;

serus at ille redit vastataque pascua lustrans

non responsuros ciet imploratque iuvencos.

Atque ibi secreta tectorum in parte iacentem 170

conspicit Electram, natae quae sedula nutrix

Oceani priscas inter notissima Nymphas.

par Cereri pietas; haec post cunabula dulci

ferre sinu summoque Iovi deducere parvam

sueverat et genibus ludentem aptare paternis. 175

[357]

When she saw the gate-keepers fled, the house unguarded, the rusted hinges, the overthrown doorposts, and the miserable state of the silent halls, pausing not to look again at the disaster, she rent her garment and tore away the shattered corn-ears along with her hair. She could not weep nor speak nor breathe and a trembling shook the very marrow of her bones; her faltering steps tottered. She flung open the doors and wandering through the empty rooms and deserted halls, recognized the half-ruined warp with its disordered threads and the work of the loom broken off. The goddess’ labours had come to naught, and what remained to be done, that the bold spider was finishing with her sacrilegious web.

She weeps not nor bewails the ill; only kisses the loom and stifles her dumb complaints amid the threads, clasping to her bosom, as though it had been her child, the spindles her child’s hand had touched, the wool she had cast aside, and all the toys scattered in maiden sport. She scans the virgin bed, the deserted couch, and the chair where Proserpine had sat: even as a herd, whose drove the unexpected fury of an African lion or bands of marauding beasts have attacked, gazes in amaze at the vacant stall, and, too late returned, wanders through the emptied pastures, sadly calling to the unreplying steers.

And there, in the innermost parts of the house, she saw lying Electra, loving nurse of Proserpine, best known among the old Nymphs of Ocean; she who loved Proserpine as did Ceres. ’Twas she who, when Proserpine had left her cradle, would bear her in her loving bosom and bring the little girl to mighty Jove and set her to play on her father’s

[358]

haec comes, haec custos, haec proxima mater haberi.

tunc laceras effusa comas et pulvere cano

sordida sidereae raptus lugebat alumnae.

Hanc adgressa Ceres, postquam suspiria tandem

laxavit frenosque dolor: “quod cernimus” inquit 180

“excidium? cui praeda feror? regnatne maritus

an caelum Titanes habent? quae talia vivo

ausa Tonante manus? rupitne Typhoia cervix

Inarimen? fractane iugi compage Vesevi

Alcyoneus Tyrrhena pedes per stagna cucurrit? 185

an vicina mihi quassatis faucibus Aetna

protulit Enceladum? nostros an forte penates

adpetiit centum Briareia turba lacertis?

heu, ubi nunc es, nata, mihi? quo, mille ministrae,

quo, Cyane? volucres quae vis Sirenas abegit? 190

haecine vestra fides? sic fas aliena tueri

pignora?”

Contremuit nutrix, maerorque pudori

cedit, et adspectus miserae non ferre parentis

emptum morte velit longumque inmota moratur

auctorem dubium certumque expromere funus. 195

vix tamen haec:

“Acies utinam vesana Gigantum

hanc dederit cladem! levius communia tangunt.

sed divae, multoque minus quod rere, sorores

in nostras (nimium!) coniuravere ruinas.

insidias superum, cognatae vulnera cernis 200

invidiae. Phlegra nobis infensior aether.

“Florebat tranquilla domus; nec limina virgo

[359]

knee. She was her companion, her guardian, and could be deemed her second mother. There, with torn and dishevelled hair, all foul with grey dust, she was lamenting the rape of her divine foster-child.

Ceres approached her, and when at length her grief allowed her sighs free rein: “What ruin is here?” she said. “Of what enemy am I become the victim? Does my husband yet rule or do the Titans hold heaven? What hand hath dared this, if the Thunderer be still alive? Have Typhon’s shoulders forced up Inarime or does Alcyoneus course on foot through the Etruscan Sea, having burst the bonds of imprisoning Vesuvius? Or has the neighbouring mountain of Etna oped her jaws and expelled Enceladus? Perchance Briareus with his hundred arms has attacked my house? Ah, my daughter, where art thou now? Whither are fled my thousand servants, whither Cyane? What violence has driven away the winged Sirens? Is this your faith? Is this the way to guard another’s treasure?”

The nurse trembled and her sorrow gave place to shame; fain would she have died could she so escape the gaze of that unhappy mother, and long stayed she motionless, hesitating to disclose the suspected criminal and the all too certain death. Scarce could she thus speak: “Would that the raging band of Giants had wrought this ruin! Easier to bear is a common lot. ’Tis the goddesses, and, though thou wilt scarce credit it, her own sisters, who have conspired to our undoing. Thou seest the devices of gods and wounds inflicted by sisters’ jealousy. Heaven is a more cruel enemy than Hell.

“All quiet was the house, the maiden dared not

[360]

linquere nec virides audebat visere saltus

praeceptis obstricta tuis. telae labor illi;

Sirenes requies. sermonum gratia mecum, 205

mecum somnus erat cautique per atria ludi:

cum subito (dubium quonam monstrante latebras

rescierit) Cytherea venit suspectaque nobis

ne foret, hinc Phoeben comites, hinc Pallada iunxit.

protinus effuso laetam se fingere risu 210

nec semel amplecti nomenque iterare sororis

et dura de matre queri, quae tale recessu

maluerit damnare decus vetitamque dearum

colloquio patriis procul amandaverit astris.

nostra rudis gaudere malis et nectare largo 215

instaurare dapes. nunc arma habitumque Dianae

induitur digitisque attemptat mollibus arcum,

nunc crinita iubis galeam, laudante Minerva,

implet et ingentem clipeum gestare laborat.

“Prima Venus campos Aetnaeaque rura maligno 220

ingerit adflatu. vicinos callida flores

ingeminat meritumque loci velut inscia quaerit

nec credit, quod bruma rosas innoxia servet,

quod gelidi rubeant alieno genuine menses

verna nec iratum timeant virgulta Booten. 225

dum loca miratur, studio dum flagrat eundi,

persuadet; teneris heu lubrica moribus aetas!

quos ego nequidquam planctus, quas inrita fudi

[361]

o’erstep the threshold nor visit the grassy pastures, close bound by thy commands. The loom gave her work, the Sirens with their song relaxation—with me she held pleasant converse, with me she slept; safe delights were hers within the halls. Then suddenly Cytherea came (who showed her the way to our hid abode I know not), and, that she might not rouse our suspicions, she brought with her Diana and Minerva, attending her on either side. Straightway with beaming smiles she put on a pretence of joy, kissed Proserpine many a time, and repeated the name of sister, complaining of that hard-hearted mother who chose to condemn such beauty to imprisonment and complaining that by forbidding her intercourse with the goddesses she had removed her far from her father’s heaven. My unwitting charge rejoiced in these evil words and bade a feast be spread with plentiful nectar. Now she dons Diana’s arms and dress and tries her bow with her soft fingers. Now crowned with horse-hair plumes she puts on the helmet, Minerva commending her, and strives to carry her huge shield.

“Venus was the first with guileful suggestion to mention fields and the vale of Henna. Cunningly she harps upon the nearness of the flowery mead, and as though she knew it not, asks what merits the place boasts, pretending not to believe that a harmless winter allows the roses to bloom, that the cold months are bright with flowers not rightly theirs, and that the spring thickets fear not there Boötes’ wrath. So with her wonderment, her passion to see the spot, she persuades Proserpine. Alas! how easily does youth err with its weak ways! What tears did I not shed to no purpose, what vain

[362]

ore preces! ruit illa tamen confisa sororum

praesidio; famulae longo post ordine Nymphae. 230

“Itur in aeterno vestitos gramine colles

et prima sub luce legunt, cum rore serenus

albet ager sparsosque bibunt violaria sucos.

sed postquam medio sol altior institit axi,

ecce polum nox foeda rapit tremefactaque nutat 235

insula cornipedum pulsu strepituque rotarum.

nosse nec aurigam licuit: seu mortifer ille

seu Mors ipsa fuit. livor permanat in herbas;

deficiunt rivi; squalent rubigine prata

et nihil adflatum vivit: pallere ligustra, 240

expirare rosas, decrescere lilia vidi.

ut rauco reduces tractu detorsit habenas,

nox sua prosequitur currum, lux redditur orbi.

Persephone nusquam. voto rediere peracto

nec mansere deae. mediis invenimus arvis 245

exanimem Cyanen: cervix redimita iacebat

et caligantes marcebant fronte coronae.

adgredimur subito et casus scitamur eriles

(nam propior cladi steterat): quis vultus equorum?

quis regat? illa nihil, tacito sed laesa veneno 250

solvitur in laticem: subrepit crinibus umor;

liquitur in roremque pedes et brachia manant

nostraque mox lambit vestigia perspicuus fons.

discedunt aliae. rapidis Acheloides alis

sublatae Siculi latus obsedere Pelori 255

[363]

entreaties did my lips not utter! Away she flew, trusting to the sisters’ protection; the scattered company of attendant nymphs followed after her.

“They went to the hills clothed with undying grass and gather flowers ’neath the twilight of dawn, when the quiet meads are white with dew and violets drink the scattered moisture. But when the sun had mounted to higher air at noon, behold! murky night hid the sky and the island trembled and shook beneath the beat of horses’ hoofs and the rumble of wheels. Who the charioteer was none might tell—whether he was the harbinger of death or it was Death himself. Gloom spread through the meadows, the rivers stayed their courses, the fields were blighted, nor did aught live, once touched with those horses’ breath. I saw the bryony pale, the roses fade, the lilies wither. When in his roaring course the driver turned back his steeds the night it brought accompanied the chariot and light was restored to the world. Proserpine was nowhere to be seen. Their vows fulfilled, the goddesses had returned and tarried not. We found Cyane half dead amid the fields; there she lay, a garland round her neck and the blackened wreaths faded upon her forehead. At once we approached her and inquired after her mistress’s fortune, for she had been a witness of the disaster. What, we asked, was the aspect of the horses; who their driver? Naught said she, but corrupted with some hidden venom, dissolved into water. Water crept amid her hair; legs and arms melted and flowed away, and soon a clear stream washed our feet. The rest are gone; the Sirens, Achelous’ daughters, rising on rapid wing, have occupied the coast of Sicilian Pelorus, and in wrath

[364]

accensaeque malo iam non impune canoras

in pestem vertere lyras: vox blanda carinas

adligat; audito frenantur carmine remi.

sola domi luctu senium tractura relinquor.”

Haeret adhuc suspensa Ceres et singula demens 260

ceu nondum transacta timet; mox lumina torquens

vultu ad caelicolas furiato pectore fertur.

arduus Hyrcana quatitur sic matre Niphates,

cuius Achaemenio regi ludibria natos

advexit tremebundus eques: fremit illa marito 265

mobilior Zephyro totamque virentibus iram

dispergit maculis timidumque hausura profundo

ore virum vitreae tardatur imagine formae.

Haud aliter toto genetrix bacchatur Olympo

“reddite” vociferans. “non me vagus edidit amnis; 270

non Dryadum de plebe sumus. turrita Cybebe

me quoque Saturno genuit. quo iura deorum,

quo leges cecidere poli? quid vivere recte

proderit? en audet noti Cytherea pudoris

ostentare suos post Lemnia vincula vultus! 275

hos animos bonus ille sopor castumque cubile

praebuit! amplexus hoc promeruere pudici!

nec mirum, si turpe nihil post talia ducit.

quid vos expertes thalami? tantumne relictus

[365]

at this crime now turned their lyres to man’s destruction, tuneful now for ill. Their sweet voices stay ships, but once that song is heard the oars can move no more. I alone am left in the house to drag out an old age of mourning.”

Ceres is still a prey to anxiety; half distraught she fears everything as though all were not yet accomplished. Anon she turns her head and eyes to heaven and with raging breast inveighs against its denizens; even as lofty Niphates shakes to the roaring of the Hyrcan tigress whose cubs the terrified horseman has carried off to be the playthings of Persia’s king. Speedier than the west wind that is her paramour[129] rushes the tigress, anger blazing from her stripes, but just as she is about to engulf the terrified hunter in her capacious maw, she is checked by the mirrored image of her own form[130]: so the mother of Proserpine rages over all Olympus crying: “Give her back; no wandering stream gave me birth; I spring not from the Dryad rabble. Towered Cybele bare me also to Saturn. Where are the ordinances of the gods, where the laws of heaven? What boots it to live a good life? See, Cytherea dares show her face (modest goddess!) even after her Lemnian[131] bondage! ’Tis that chaste sleep and a loverless couch have given her this courage! This is, I suppose, the reward of those maidenly embraces! Small wonder that after such infamy she account nothing disgraceful. Ye goddesses that have known not marriage, is it thus that ye neglect the honour due to virginity?

[129] marito Zephyro (ll. 265, 266) refers to the theory of impregnation by wind commonly accepted by the ancients (see Arist. H.A. vi. 19; Verg. Georg. iii. 275, etc.).

[130] It was supposed that the robbed tigress on being confronted with a convex mirror supposed the reduced image to be her cub and contentedly retired with the mirror in her mouth. Another story makes the tigress vent her anger on an ordinary (not convex) mirror.

[131] A reference to the binding by Hephaestus (to whom Lemnos was sacred) of Ares and Aphrodite whom he had surprised in adulterous intercourse. The story is told in Homer (Θ 266 et sqq.). Statius (Silv. i. 2. 60) uses this very phrase “Lemnia vincula.”

[366]

virginitatis honos? tantum mutata voluntas? 280

iam Veneri iunctae, sociis raptoribus, itis?

o templis Scythiae atque hominem sitientibus aris

utraque digna coli! tanti quae causa furoris?

quam mea vel tenui dicto Proserpina laesit?

scilicet aut caris pepulit te, Delia, silvis 285

aut tibi commissas rapuit, Tritonia, pugnas.

an gravis eloquio? vestros an forte petebat

importuna choros? atqui Trinacria longe,

esset ne vobis oneri, deserta colebat.

quid latuisse iuvat? rabiem livoris acerbi 290

nulla potest placare quies.”

His increpat omnes

vocibus. ast illae (prohibet sententia patris)

aut reticent aut nosse negant responsaque matri

dant lacrimas. quid agat? rursus se victa remittit

inque humiles devecta preces:

“Ignoscite, si quid 295

intumuit pietas, si quid flagrantius actum

quam miseros decuit. supplex miserandaque vestris

advolvor genibus: liceat cognoscere sortem:

hoc tantum liceat—certos habuisse dolores.

scire peto, quae forma mali; quamcumque dedistis 300

fortunam, sit nota: feram fatumque putabo,

non scelus. adspectum, precor, indulgete parenti;

non repetam. quaesita manu securus habeto

quisquis es; adfirmo praedam; desiste vereri.

quodsi nos aliquo praevenit foedere raptor, 305

tu certe, Latona, refer; confessa Diana

forte tibi. nosti quid sit Lucina, quis horror

[367]

Have ye so changed your counsel? Do ye now go allied with Venus and her accomplice ravishers? Worthy each of you to be worshipped in Scythian temples and at altars that lust after human blood. What hath caused such great anger? Which of you has my Proserpine wronged even in her slightest word? Doubtless she drove thee, Delian goddess, from thy loved woods, or deprived thee, Triton-born, of some battle thou hadst joined. Did she plague you with talk? Break rudely upon your dances? Nay, that she might be no burden to you, she dwelt far away in the solitudes of Sicily. What good hath her retirement done her? No peace can still the madness of bitter jealousy.”

Thus she upbraids them all. But they, obedient to the Father’s word, keep silence or say they know nothing, and make tears their answer to the mother’s questionings. What can she do? She ceases, beaten, and in turn descends to humble entreaty. “If a mother’s love swelled too high or if I have done aught more boldly than befitted misery, oh forgive! A suppliant and wretched I fling me at your feet; grant me to learn my doom; grant me at least this much—sure knowledge of my woes. Fain would I know the manner of this ill; whatsoever fortune ye have visited upon me that will I bear and account it fate, not injustice. Grant a parent the sight of her child; I ask her not back. Whosoever thou art, possess in peace what thine hand has taken. The prey is thine, fear not. But if the ravisher has thwarted me, binding you by some oath, yet do thou, at least, Latona, tell me his name; to thee mayhap Diana hath confessed her knowledge. Thou hast known childbirth, the anxiety

[368]

pro genitis et quantus amor, partusque tulisti

tu geminos: haec una mihi. sic crine fruaris

semper Apollineo, sic me felicior aevum 310

mater agas.”

Largis tunc imbribus ora madescunt.

“quid? tantum dignum fleri dignumque taceri?

hei mihi, discedunt omnes. quid vana moraris

ulterius? non bella palam caelestia sentis?

quin potius natam pelago terrisque requiris? 315

accingar lustrare diem, per devia rerum

indefessa ferar. nulla cessabitur hora,

non requies, non somnus erit, dum pignus ademptum

inveniam, gremio quamvis mergatur Hiberae

Tethyos et Rubro iaceat vallata profundo. 320

non Rheni glacies, non me Riphaea tenebunt

frigora; non dubio Syrtis cunctabitur aestu.

stat finem penetrare Noti Boreaeque nivalem

vestigare domum; primo calcabitur Atlas

occasu facibusque meis lucebit Hydaspes. 325

impius errantem videat per rura, per urbes

Iuppiter; extincta satietur paelice Iuno.

insultate mihi, caelo regnate superbi,

ducite praeclarum Cereris de stirpe triumphum!”

Haec fatur notaeque iugis inlabitur Aetnae 330

noctivago taedas informatura labori.

Lucus erat prope flumen Acin, quod candida praefert

saepe mari pulchroque secat Galatea natatu,

densus et innexis Aetnaea cacumina ramis

qua licet usque tegens. illic posuisse cruentam 335

[369]

and love for children; to offspring twain hast thou given birth; this was mine only child. So mayest thou ever enjoy Apollo’s locks, so mayest thou live a happier mother than I.”

Plenteous tears then bedewed her cheeks. She continued: “Why these tears? why this silence? Woe is me; all desert me. Why tarriest thou yet to no purpose? Seest thou not ’tis open war with heaven? were it not better to seek again thy daughter by sea and land? I will gird myself and scour the world, unwearied I will penetrate its every corner, nor ever stay my search, nor rest nor sleep till I find my reft treasure, though she lie whelmed in the Spanish Ocean bed or hedged around in the depths of the Red Sea. Neither ice-bound Rhine nor Alpine frosts shall stay me; the treacherous tides of Syrtes shall not give me pause. My purpose holds to penetrate the fastnesses of the North and to tread the snowy home of Boreas. I will climb Atlas on the brink of the sunset and illumine Hydaspes’ stream with my torches. Let wicked Jove behold me wandering through towns and country, and Juno’s jealousy be sated with her rival’s ruin. Have your sport with me, triumph in heaven, proud gods, celebrate your illustrious victory o’er Ceres’ conquered daughter.”

So spake she and glides down upon Etna’s familiar slopes, there to fashion torches to aid her night-wandering labours.

There was a wood, hard by the stream of Acis, which fair Galatea oft chooses in preference to Ocean and cleaves in swimming with her snowy breast—a wood dense with foliage that closed in Etna’s summit on all sides with interwoven branches. “Tis there that Jove is said to have laid down his

[370]

aegida captivamque pater post proelia praedam

advexisse datur. Phlegraeis silva superbit

exuviis totumque nemus victoria vestit.

hic patuli rictus et prodigiosa Gigantum

tergora dependent, et adhuc crudele minantur 340

adfixae truncis facies, inmaniaque ossa

serpentum passim cumulis exanguibus albent,

et rigidae multo suspirant fulmine pelles;

nullaque non magni iactat se nominis arbor:

haec centumgemini strictos Aegaeonis enses 345

curvata vix fronde levat; liventibus illa

exultat Coei spoliis; haec arma Mimantis

sustinet; hos onerat ramos exutus Ophion.

altior at cunctis abies umbrosaque late

ipsius Enceladi fumantia gestat opima, 350

summi terrigenum regis, caderetque gravata

pondere, ni lassam fulciret proxima quercus.

inde timor numenque loco, nemorisque senectae

parcitur, aetheriisque nefas nocuisse tropaeis.

pascere nullus oves nec robora laedere Cyclops 355

audet et ipse fugit sacra Polyphemus ab umbra.

Non tamen hoc tardata Ceres. accenditur ultro

relligione loci vibratque infesta securim

ipsum etiam feritura Iovem: succidere pinus

aut magis enodes dubitat prosternere cedros 360

exploratque habiles truncos rectique tenorem

stipitis et certo pertemptat brachia nisu.

sic, qui vecturus longinqua per aequora merces

molitur tellure ratem vitamque procellis

obiectare parat, fagos metitur et alnos 365

[371]

bloody shield and set his captured spoil after the battle. The grove glories in trophies from the plain of Phlegra and signs of victory clothe its every tree. Here hang the gaping jaws and monstrous skins of the Giants; affixed to trees their faces still threaten horribly, and heaped up on all sides bleach the huge bones of slaughtered serpents. Their stiffening sloughs smoke with the blow of many a thunderbolt, and every tree boasts some illustrious name. This one scarce supports on its down-bended branches the naked swords of hundred-handed Aegaeon; that glories in the murky trophies of Coeus; this bears up the arms of Mimas; spoiled Ophion weighs down those branches. But higher than all the other trees towers a pine, its shady branches spread wide, and bears the reeking arms of Enceladus himself, all powerful king of the Earth-born giants; it would have fallen beneath the heavy burden did not a neighbouring oak-tree support its wearied weight. Therefore the spot wins awe and sanctity; none touches the aged grove, and ’tis accounted a crime to violate the trophies of the gods. No Cyclops dares pasture there his flock nor hew down the trees, Polyphemus himself flies from the hallowed shade.

Not for that did Ceres stay her steps; the very sanctity of the place inflames her wrath; with angry hand she brandishes her axe, ready to strike Jove himself. She hesitates whether to cut down pines or lay low knotless cedars, scans likely trunks and lofty trees and shakes their branches with vigorous hand. Even so when a man, fain to carry merchandise over distant seas, builds a ship on dry land and makes ready to expose his life to the tempest, he hews down

[372]

et varium rudibus silvis accommodat usum:

quae longa est, tumidis praebebit cornua velis;

quae fortis, clavo potior; quae lenta, favebit

remigio: stagni patiens aptanda carinae.

Tollebant geminae capita inviolata cupressus 370

caespite vicino: quales non rupibus Idae

miratur Simois, quales non divite ripa

lambit Apollinei nemoris nutritor Orontes.

germanas adeo credas; sic frontibus aequis

adstant et socio despectant vertice lucum. 375

hae placuere faces. pernix invadit utramque

cincta sinus, exerta manus, armata bipenni

alternasque ferit totisque obnixa trementes

viribus impellit. pariter traxere ruinam

et pariter posuere comas campoque recumbunt, 380

Faunorum Dryadumque dolor. complectitur ambas,

sicut erant, alteque levat retroque solutis

crinibus ascendit fastigia montis anheli

exuperatque aestus et nulli pervia saxa

atque indignantes vestigia calcat harenas: 385

qualis pestiferas animare ad crimina taxos

torva Megaera ruit, Cadmi seu moenia poscat

sive Thyesteis properet saevire Mycenis:

dant tenebrae manesque locum plantisque resultant

Tartara ferratis, donec Phlegethontis ad undam 390

constitit et plenos excepit lampade fluctus.

Postquam perventum scopuli flagrantis in ora,

protinus arsuras aversa fronte cupressus

faucibus iniecit mediis lateque cavernas

texit et undantem flammarum obstruxit hiatum. 395

[373]

beech and elm and marks the diverse utility of the yet growing forest; the lofty tree he selects as yardarms for the swelling sail; the strong he prefers as a mast; the pliant will make good oars; the waterproof is suitable for the keel.

Two cypresses in the grass hard by raised their inviolate heads to heaven; Simois looks not on such in amaze amid the crags of Ida, nor does Orontes water their like, Orontes that feeds Apollo’s grove and harbours rich cities on his banks. You would know them for sisters for they tower equal in height and look down upon the wood with twin tops. These she would have as torches; she attacks each with vigorous blows, her gown girt back, her arms bared and armed with the axe. First one she strikes, then the other, and rains blows upon their trembling trunks with might and main. Together they crash to the ground, lay their foliage in the dust and lie upon the plain, wept of Fauns and wood-nymphs. She seizes both just as they are, uplifts them and, with hair out-streaming behind her, climbs panting the slopes of the mountain, passes beyond the flames and inaccessible precipices, and treads the lava that brooks no mortal footstep: even as the grim Megaera hastens to kindle yew-trees to light her to crime, speeding her journey to the walls of Cadmus’ city or meaning to work her devilment in Thyestean Mycenae; darkness and the shades give her passage, and Hell rings to her iron tread, till she halts beside Phlegethon’s wave and fires her torch from its brimming waves.

When she had climbed to the mouth of the burning rock, straightway, turning aside her head, she thrust the kindling cypresses into its inmost depths, thus closing in the cavern on all sides and stopping up the

[374]

compresso mons igne tonat claususque laborat

Mulciber: obducti nequeunt exire vapores.

coniferi micuere apices crevitque favillis

Aetna novis: strident admisso sulphure rami.

tum, ne deficerent tantis erroribus, ignes 400

semper inocciduos insopitosque manere

iussit et arcano perfudit robora suco,

quo Phaëthon inrorat equos, quo Luna iuvencos.

Iamque soporiferas nocturna silentia terris

explicuere vices: laniato pectore longas 405

incohat illa vias et sic ingressa profatur:

“Non tales gestare tibi, Proserpina, taedas

sperabam; sed vota mihi communia matrum

et thalami festaeque faces caeloque canendus

ante oculos hymenaeus erat. sic numina fatis 410

volvimur et nullo Lachesis discrimine saevit?

quam nuper sublimis eram quantisque procorum

cingebar studiis! quae non mihi pignus ob unum

cedebat numerosa parens! tu prima voluptas,

tu postrema mihi; per te fecunda ferebar. 415

o decus, o requies, o grata superbia matris,

qua gessi florente deam, qua sospite numquam

inferior Iunone fui: nunc squalida, vilis.

hoc placitum patri. cur autem adscribimus illum

his lacrimis? ego te, fateor, crudelis ademi, 420

quae te deserui solamque instantibus ultro

hostibus exposui. raucis secura fruebar

nimirum thiasis et laeta sonantibus armis

[375]

blazing exit of the flames. The mountain thunders with repressed fire and Vulcan is shut in a grievous prison; the enclosed smoke cannot escape. The cone-bearing tops of the cypresses blaze and Etna grows with new ashes; the branches crackle, kindled with the sulphur. Then, lest their long journey should cause them to fail, she bids the flames never die nor sleep and drenches the wood with that secret drug[132] wherewith Phaëthon bedews his steeds and the Moon her bulls.

Silent night had now in her turn visited upon the world her gift of sleep. Ceres, with her wounded breast, starts on her long journey and, as she sets out, speaks as follows: “Little thought I, Proserpine, to carry for thee such torches as these. I had hoped what every mother hopes; marriage and festal torches and a wedding-song to be sung in heaven—such was my expectation. Are we divinities thus the sport of fate? does Lachesis vent her spleen on us as on mankind? How lofty was but now mine estate, surrounded with suitors innumerable for my daughter’s hand! What mother of many children but would have owned her my inferior by reason of my only daughter! Thou wast my first joy and my last; I was called prolific for that I bare thee. Thou wert my glory, my comfort, dear object of a mother’s pride; with thee alive I was goddess indeed, with thee safe I was Juno’s equal. Now am I outcast, beggared. ’Tis the Father’s will. Yet why make Jove answerable for my tears? ’Twas I who so cruelly undid thee, I confess it, for I deserted thee and heedlessly exposed thee to threatening foes. Too deeply was I enmeshed in careless enjoyment of shrill-voiced revel, and, happy amid the din of arms,

[132] A magic drug or herb on which the sun is said to have fed his horses in order to render them non-inflammable. Ovid tells how Phaëthon was treated by his father in a like way (Met. ii. 122).

[376]

iungebam Phrygios, cum tu raperere, leones.

accipe quas merui poenas. en ora fatiscunt 425

vulneribus grandesque rubent in pectore sulci.

immemor en uterus crebro contunditur ictu.

“Qua te parte poli, quo te sub cardine quaeram?

quis monstrator erit? quae me vestigia ducent?

qui currus? ferus ipse quis est? terraene, marisne 430

incola? quae volucrum deprendam signa rotarum?

ibo, ibo quocumque pedes, quocumque iubebit

casus; sic Venerem quaerat deserta Dione.

“Efficietne labor? rursus te, nata, licebit

amplecti? manet ille decor, manet ille genarum 435

fulgor? an infelix talem fortasse videbo,

qualis nocte venis, qualem per somnia vidi?”

Sic ait et prima gressus molitur ab Aetna

exitiique reos flores ipsumque rapinae

detestata locum sequitur dispersa viarum 440

indicia et pleno rimatur lumine campos

inclinatque faces, omnis madet orbita fletu;

omnibus admugit,[133] quocumque it in aequore, sulcis.[134]

adnatat umbra fretis extremaque lucis imago

Italiam Libyamque ferit: clarescit Etruscum 445

litus et accenso resplendent aequore Syrtes.

antra procul Scyllaea petit canibusque reductis

pars stupefacta silet, pars nondum exterrita latrat.

[133] Birt omnibus admugit. quocumque it in aequore, fulvis adnatat.…

[134] sulcis ς; fulvis FSV; silvis W.

[377]

I was yoking Phrygian lions whilst thou wast being carried off. Yet see the punishment visited upon me. My face is seared with wounds and long gashes furrow my bloody breast. My womb, forgetful that it gave thee birth, is beaten with continual blows.

“Where under heaven shall I find thee? Beneath what quarter of the sky? Who shall point the way, what path shall lead me? What chariot was it? Who was that cruel ravisher? A denizen of earth or sea? What traces of his wingèd wheels can I discover? Whithersoever my steps lead me or chance direct, thither will I go. Even so may Dione be deserted and seek for Venus!

“Will my labours be successful? Shall I ever again be blest with thine embrace, my daughter? Art thou still fair; still glows the brightness of thy cheeks? Or shall I perchance see thee as thou cam’st in my nightly vision; as I saw thee in my dreams?”

So spake she and from Etna first she drags her steps, and, cursing its guilty flowers and the spot whence Proserpine was ravaged, she follows the straying tracks of the chariot-wheels and examines the fields in the full light of her lowered torch. Every rut is wet with her tears; she weeps at each trace she espies in her wanderings over the plain. She glides a shadow o’er the sea and the farthest ray of her torches’ gleam strikes the coasts of Italy and Libya. The Tuscan shore grows bright and the Syrtes gleam with kindled wave. The light reaches the distant cave of Scylla, of whose dogs some shrink back and are still in dumb amaze, others, not yet horrified into silence, continue to bark.[135]

[135] For the unfinished state of the poem see Introduction, p. xiv.

[378]


[379]

INDEX OF POEMS

[The numbers in the right-hand column are those of Gesner’s edition retained by Birt]

Panegyricus Probini et OlybriiI.
In Rufinum I. praef.II.
In Rufinum IIII.
In Rufinum II. praef.IV.
In Rufinum IIV.
Bellum Gildonicum IXV.
In Eutropium IXVIII.
In Eutropium II. praef.XIX.
In Eutropium IIXX.
Fescennina de nuptiis Honorii IXI.
Fescennina IIXII.
Fescennina IIIXIII.
Fescennina IVXIV.
Epithalamii de nuptiis Honorii praef.IX.
Epithalamium de nuptiis HonoriiX.
De tertio consulatu Honorii praef.VI.
De tertio consulatu HonoriiVII.
De quarto consulatu HonoriiVIII.
Panegyrici Manlii Theodori praef.XVI.
Panegyricus Manlii TheodoriXVII.
De consulatu Stilichonis IXXI.
De consulatu Stilichonis II[XXII.]
De consulatu Stilichonis III. praef.[XXIII.]
De consulatu Stilichonis III[XXIV.]
De sexto consulatu Honorii praef.[XXVII.]
De sexto consulatu Honorii[XXVIII.]
De bello Gothico praef.[XXV.]
De bello Gothico[XXVI.]
[380]c. m. I.: Ad Stilichonem[XIII.]
c. m. II.: Descriptio portus Smyrnensis[LXXXV.]
c. m. III.: Ad Aeternalem[LXXXI.]
c. m. IV.: Descriptio armenti[LIV.]
c. m. V.: Est in conspectu l.l.[LXXXVI.]
c. m. VI.: Rimanti telum ira facit[LXXVIII.]
c. m. VII.: De quadriga marmorea[LXXXVII.]
c. m. VIII.: De Polycaste et Perdicca[LXIX.]
c. m. IX.: De hystrice[XLV.]
c. m. X.: De birro castoreo[XCII.]
c. m. XI.: In sepulchrum speciosae[XCI.]
c. m. XII.: De balneis Quintianis[LXXXIV.]
c. m. XIII.: In podagrum[LXXIX.]
c. m. XIV.: Ad Maximum[LXXXII.]
c. m. XV.: De paupere amante[LXXXIX.]
c. m. XVI.: De eodem[XC.]
c. m. XVII.: De piis fratribus[L.]
c. m. XVIII.: De mulabus Gallicis[LI.]
c. m. XIX.: Ad Gennadium[XLIII.]
c. m. XX.: De sene Veronensi[LII.]
c. m. XXI.: De Theodoro et Hadriano[LXXX.]
c. m. XXII.: Deprecatio ad Hadrianum[XXXIX.]
c. m. XXIII.: Deprecatio in Alethium[LXXIV.]
c. m. XXIV.: De locusta[LXXXIII.]
c. m. XXV.: Epithalamium Palladii[XXX., XXXI.]
c. m. XXVI.: Aponus[XLIX.]
c. m. XXVII.: Phoenix[XLIV.]
c. m. XXVIII.: Nilus[XLVII.]
c. m. XXIX.: Magnes[XLVIII.]
c. m. XXX.: Laus Serenae[XXIX.]
c. m. XXXI.: Epistula ad Serenam[XL.]
c. m. XXXII.: De Salvatore[XCV.]
c. m. XXXIII.-XXXIX.: De crystallo[LVI-LXII.]
c. m. XL.: Epistula ad Olybrium[XLI.]
c. m. XLI.: Ad Probinum[XLII.]
c. m. XLII.: De apro et leone[LIII.]
c. m. XLIII.: In Curetium[LXXV.]
c. m. XLIV.: In eundem Curetium[LXXVI.]
c. m. XLV.: De concha[LV.]
c. m. XLVI.: De chlamyde et frenis[LXXII.]
c. m. XLVII.: De equo dono dato[LXXIII.]
c. m. XLVIII.: De zona equi regii[LXX.]
[381]c. m. XLIX.: De torpedine[XLVI.]
c. m. L.: In Iacobum[LXXVII.]
c. m. LI.: In sphaeram Archimedis[LXVIII.]
c. m. LII.: Gigantomachia[XXXVII.]
De raptu Proserpinae I. praef.[XXXII.]
De raptu Proserpinae I.[XXXIII.]
De raptu Proserpinae II. praef.[XXXIV.]
De raptu Proserpinae II.[XXXV.]
De raptu Proserpinae III.[XXXVI.]

[382]


[383]

INDEX OF PROPER NAMES

[c. m. = Carmina minora]

END OF VOL. II

Printed in Great Britain by R. & R. Clark, Limited, Edinburgh.