At the first kindling of Orpheus' marriage-torch when festive Hymen filled the countryside of Thrace the beasts and gay-plumaged birds strove among themselves what best gifts they could bring their poet. Mindful of the cave whose sounding rocks had offered a wondrous theatre for his tuneful lyre, the lynxes brought him crystal from the summits of Caucasus; griffins golden nuggets from regions of the north; doves wreaths of roses and other flowers which they had flown to gather from Venus' meadow; the swan bore from the stream of its native Padus amber broken from the boughs of the famed sisters 1; while the cranes, after their war with the pygmies, recrossed the Nile and gathered in their mouths the precious pearls of the Red Sea. There came, too, immortal Phoenix from the distant East, bearing rare spices in his curved talons. No bird nor beast was there but brought to that marriage-feast tribute so richly deserved by Orpheus' lyre. Busily Calliopea decked her son's bride with her riches and all the treasures of Helicon, and, moreover, with a mother's pride dared to invite to her son's wedding the queen of starry heaven herself. The queen of the gods spurned not her request either out of respect for Calliopea herself or because she was drawn by a just affection for the pious poet who had so often in her honour chanted his songs before her altars, hymning Juno's godhead with his sweet voice and telling of the battles of her lord the Thunderer waged on the plains of Phlegra, and of the menace of Enceladus and the Titans there broken. Straightway, counting the marriage - night worthy of her presence, she brought heavenly gifts to deck the bridal, gifts such as stoop not to adorn mortals, gifts that the gods alone may possess. But as Juno showed herself gracious to Thracian Orpheus, so wilt thou, Serena, be favourable to my prayers. The stars, her slaves, obey the nod of her head; thee land and sea, subdued beneath thy feet, obey. I did not, as other suitors use, promise at my courtship fields where graze unnumbered flocks nor hills covered with countless vines, nor rich olive-trees waving in the breeze their grey foliage, nor harvests reaped by a thousand scythes, nor a lofty palace with golden pillars. Enough was the mandate of a goddess; thy letter, Serena, stands me in stead of flocks, of harvests, of palace. The shadow of thy name has won over her parents and an imperial prayer concealed my poverty. When Serena writes, what with such words could not the empire's spirit or duteous love accomplish? 1 Would heaven had allowed me to solemnize the longed-for day in the light of thy presence, in thy lord's camp, before thy son-in-law's throne. The royal purple would have been a good omen for our union, the august assembly of the court would have graced the ceremony and the hand which, by writing that letter, promised me my bride would have kindled the torch to light her to the altar. Now that the envious sea deprives me of my fondest hopes and stretches between thee and the coasts of Libya, yet, though absent, be gracious unto me, O queen, and of thy goodness grant me a safe return as by a nod of thy head thou, a goddess, canst do. Make straight the paths of earth; bid but gentle breezes blow and a calm sea prosper my voyage, that the Muses and Aganippe's stream, the fount of song, may hymn thy praises in gratitude for the saving of their servant, the poet. 1
Orphea cum primae sociarent numina taedaeruraque compleret Thracia festus Hymen,certavere ferae picturataeque volucres,dona sue vati quae potiora darent,quippe antri memores, cautes ubi saepe sonoraepraebuerant dulci mira theatra lyrae.Caucasio crystalla ferunt de vertice lynces,grypes Hyperborei pondera fulva soli,furatae Veneris prato per inane columbaeflorea conexis serta tulere rosis,fractaque nobilium ramis electra sororumcycnus oloriferi vexit ab amne Padi,et Nilo Pygmaea grues post bella remensoore legunt Rubri germina cara maris,venit et extremo Phoenix longaevus ab Euroadportans unco cinnama rara pede.nulla avium pecudumque fuit, quae ferre negaretvectigal meritae conubiale lyrae.Tunc opibus totoque Heliconis sedula regnoornabat propriam Calliopea nurum.ipsam praeterea dominam stellantis Olympiad nati thalamos ausa rogare parens,nec sprevit regina deum vel matris honorevel iusto vatis ducta favor e pii,qui sibi carminibus totiens lustraverat arasIunonis blanda numina voce canensproeliaque altisoni referens Phlegraea mariti,Titanum fractas Enceladique minas.ilicet adventu noctem dignata iugaleraaddidit augendis munera sacra toris,munera mortales non admittentia cultus,munera, quae solos fas habuisse deos.sed quod Threicio Iuno placabilis Orphei,hoc poteris votis esse, Serena, meis.illius expectent famulantia sidera nutum;sub pedibus regitur terra fretumque tuis.non ego, cum peterem, sollemni more procorumpromisi gregibus pascua plena meisnec, quod mille mihi lateant sub palmite collesfluctuet et glauca pinguis oliva coma,nec, quod nostra Ceres numerosa falce laboretaurataeque ferant culmina celsa trabes.suffecit mandasse deam: tua littera nobiset pecus et segetes et domus ampla fuit.inflexit soceros et maiestate petenditexit pauperiem nominis umbra tui.quid non perficeret scribentis voce Serenaevel genius regni vel pietatis amor?Atque utinam sub luce tui contingeret orisconiugis et castris et solio generioptatum celebrare diem! me iungeret auspexpurpura, me sancto cingeret aula choro.et mihi quam scriptis desponderat ante puellam,coniugiis eadem pronuba dextra daret.nunc medium quoniam votis maioribus aequorInvidet et Libycae dissidet ora plagae,saltem absens, regina, fave reditusque secundosadnue sidereo laeta supercilio.terrarum tu pande vias, tu mitibus Eurisaequora pacari prosperiora iube,ut tibi Pierides doctumque fluens Aganippedebita servato vota cliente canant.
of the Saviour Christ, lord of the world, founder of a new age of gold, voice and wisdom of the Most High, proceeding from the Father's lofty mind and given by that Father a share in the governance of this great universe, thou hast overcome the sins of this our mortal life, for thou hast suffered thy Godhead to be clothed in human form and hath allowed mankind to address thee face to face and confess thee man. The swelling womb of the Virgin Mary conceived thee after that she had been visited by the angel, and the unwed mother, destined to give birth to her own creator, was astonished at the unborn child that grew within her body. A mortal womb hid the artificer of the heavens: the creator of the world became a part of human nature. In one body was conceived the God who embraces the whole wide world; and he whom nor earth nor sea nor sky can contain was enclosed by the limbs of a little child. Thou wert punished and didst suffer too, for our sins, to save us from destruction, and didst by thy death overcome Death. Then didst Thou ascend into Heaven, returning to the Father who rejoiced at the salvation of the world. Bless Thou our Emperor that at holy seasons he may for many years to come observe the fast-days of the calendar.
Christe potens rerum. redeuntis conditor aevi,vox summi sensusque dei, quem fudit ab altamente pater tantique dedit consortia regni,impia tu nostrae domuisti crimina vitaepassus corporea numen 1 vestire figuraadfarique palam populos hominemque fateri;quemque utero inclusum Mariae mox numine visovirginei tumuere sinus, innuptaque materarcano stupuit compleri viscera partuauctorem paritura suum: mortalia cordaartificem texere poli, mundique repertorpars fuit humani generis, latuitque sub unopectore, qui totum late complectitur orbem,et qui non spatiis terrae, non aequoris undanec capitur caelo, parvos confluxit in artus.quin et supplicii nomen nexusque subisti,ut nos subriperes leto mortemque fugaresmorte tua, mox aetherias evectus in auraspurgata repetens laetum tellure parentem.Augustum foveas, festis ut saepe diebusannua sinceri celebret ieiunia sacri.
This piece of ice still shows traces of its original nature: part of it has become stone, part resisted the cold. It is a freak of winter's, more precious by reason of its incomplete crystallization, for that the jewel contains within itself living water.
Possedit glacies naturae signa prioriset fit parte lapis, frigora parte negat.sollers lusit hiems, imperfectoque rigorenobilior vivis gemma tumescit aquis.
Ye waters, who confine waters in a prison akin to them, ye that are liquid still and ye that were so, what wit has united you? By what trick of freezing is the marvellous stone at once hard and wet? What contained heat has protected those enclosed waters? what warm wind melted that heart of ice? How comes it that the jewel in whose heart the water ebbs and flows was either made solid or liquid by frost?
Lymphae, quae tegitis cognato carcere lymphas.et, quae nunc estis quaeque fuistis, aquae,quod vos ingenium iunxit? qua frigoris artetorpuit et maduit prodigiosa silex?quis tepor inclusus securas vindicat undas?interior glacies quo liquefacta Noto?gemma quibus causis arcano mobilis aestuvel concreta fuit vel resoluta gelu?
Alpine ice was becoming so hard that the sun could not melt it, and this excess of cold was like to make it precious as diamond. But it could not imitate that stone in its entirety for at its heart lay a drop of water which betrayed its nature. As crystal its value is enhanced, for this liquid rock is accounted a miracle and the water enclosed within it increases its rarity.
Solibus indomitum glacies Alpina rigoremsumebat nimio iam pretiosa gelunec potuit toto mentiri corpore gemmam,sed medio mansit proditor orbe latex,auctus honor; liquidi crescunt miracula saxi,et conservatae plus meruistis aquae.
See this vein which runs in a bright streak through the translucent ice. This hidden water fears not any blast of Boreas nor winter's chill but runs this way and that. It is not frozen by December's cold, nor dried up by July's sun, nor wasted away by all-consuming time.
Adspice porrectam splendenti fragmine venam,qua trahitur limes lucidiore gelu.hic nullum Borean nec brumam sentit opacusumor, sed varias itque reditque vias.non illum constrinxit hiems, non Sirius axis,aetatis spatium non tenuavit edax.
Safely hidden away in this round covering is a stream, an errant spring, enclosed within frozen waters. Mark you not how the crystal is all awash in its cavernous heart where living waters surge this way and that, and how, when the sun penetrates its frozen depths, the hues of the rainbow are reflected in it? Wonderful stone, wonderful water: stranger than all rivers and all stones because it is a stone and yet fluid.
Clauditur inmunis convexo tegmine rivus,duratisque vagus fons operitur aquis.nonne vides, propriis ut spumet gemma lacuniset refluos ducant pocula viva sinusudaque pingatur radiis obstantibus Iris,secretas hiemes sollicitante die?mira silex mirusque latex, et flumina vincitet lapides merito, quod fluit et lapis est.
Children love to handle this shining crystal and turn its chilly mass over and over in their little hands; they see imprisoned in the transparent rock the water which alone winter forebore to freeze. Placing the dry sphere against their thirsty lips they press useless kisses on that which guards the waters they desire.
Dum crystalla puer contingere lubrica gaudetet gelidum tenero pollice versat onus,vidit perspicuo deprensas marmore lymphas,dura quibus solis parcere novit hiems,et siccum relegens labris sitientibus orbeminrita quaesitis oscula fixit aquis.
Do not despise this sphere of rock-crystal. Kings' palaces contain no rarer jewel, nor are the Red Sea's pearls of greater value. It may be shapeless ice, unpolished rock, a rough, uncarven mass, yet is it accounted among the most precious of riches.
Marmoreum ne sperne globum: spectacula transitregia nec Rubro vilior iste mari.informis glacies, saxum rude, nulla figuraegratia, sed raras inter habetur opes.
What am I to think, that you send me no greeting, that no “Good wishes” traced by your fingers come back to me in turn? Is writing so difficult? Nay, who so eloquent as thou whether thou dost compose verses or, a second Cicero, thunder forth thy speeches? Greater even than thy riches is thy genius, greater thine eloquence even than thy wealth. Are the posts infrequent? Nay, couriers' feet never allow the dust to lie on the Flaminian Way. If, then, thou hast the power to write and messengers in plenty to carry thy letters what reason hast thou for thy silence unless indeed thou wish to slight me? I take it thou hast abandoned thy poet and wilt have none of him (though I can scarce believe it); or distance has made thy heart less fond. Dost thou forget me? Now shall Hydaspes lay the day to rest, and thou, O sun, rise from out the seas of Spain; now shall Egypt change her nature and glisten with Getic frost and the Bear bathe him in forbidden waters. No, if Olybrius now disdains my love then 'tis sure Orestes' loyalty availed nought. Nay come, banish delay and to console thy friend speak to him from far away with richer eloquence; hither let many a letter hasten with winged speech, to find its way to my shelves and to my heart. Augustus disdained not to write to poor Vergil and my muse shall never bring thee shame. Farewell.
Quid rear, adfatus quod non mihi dirigis ullosnec redit alterno pollice ducta salus?scribendine labor? sed quae tam prona facultas,carmina seu fundis seu Cicerone tonas?cedere divitiis animi fortuna fateturet tantas oris copia vincit opes.An rarus qui scripta ferat? quin tempore nullocessant Flaminiae pulverulenta viae,cum fluat ingenium, cum sit qui dicta reportet,quae, nisi contemnor, causa relicta tibi?despicis ergo tuum, si fas est credere, vatemperfidus, et spatio debilitatur amor.Excidimusne tibi? lucem iam condet Hydaspes,et Tartesiaco, Sol, oriere vado,candescet Geticis Meroe conversa pruinisclaraque se vetito proluet Ursa mari,et, si iam nostros fastidit Olybrius ignes,constat Oresteam nil valuisse fidem.Quin age rumpe moras solaturusque sodalemabsens eloquio fertiliore doce,crebraque facundo festinet littera cursulibris atque animis insinuanda meis.dignatus tenui Caesar scripsisse Maroni,nec tibi dedecori Musa futura. vale.
How long, pray, shall there be silence between us? When shall a welcome letter win a dear return? Is it right to call me timid or rather thee proud? Surely each shares the other's fault. The days slip away and while each is ashamed to be the first to write our hesitation leads to an unbroken silence. Yet what am I to do? Respect forbids me to write first; love encourages me to do so. Let love have his way. Fortune favours the brave, as the old poet sang. Under her guidance I could not hesitate to speak, though thou still keep silence. If I shall seem overbold or guilty of some grave fault, thou mayst blame but I shall not bear the burden of ingratitude. 'Twas when thou wert consul that I first drank of the stream of Latin song and that my Muse, deserting Hellas, assumed the Roman toga. 2 From thy consulship my youth drew its omens and to thee I shall owe my future destiny. Be moved by my importunity and after so long a delay answer my letter. Farewell, Probinus; be thy father's fortune thine.
Quem, precor, inter nos habitura silentia finem?quando dabit caras littera grata vices?me timidum vel te potius dixisse superbumconvenit? alterius crimen utrumque tenet,transfluxere dies et, dum scripsisse priorempaenitet, aeternas itur in usque moras,sed quid agam? coepisse vetat reverentia vestri;hinc amor hortatur scribere. vincat amor.“fors iuvat audentes” prisci sententia vatis.hac duce non dubitem te reticente loqui;audax aut si quid penitus peccasse videbor,arguar, ingrati non subiturus onus.Romanos bibimus primum te consule fonteset Latiae accessit Graia Thalia togae,incipiensque tuis a fascibus omina cepifataque debebo posteriora tibi.ergo lacessitus tandem rescribe rogantiet patria florens sorte, Probine, vale.
A dark boar and a tawny lion met once in battle, each exulting in his strength: the one shook his cruel bristles, the other his dreadful mane. One was Mars' favourite, the other Cybele's: both are kings of the mountains, both engaged the labours of Hercules.
Torvus aper fulvusque leo coiere superbisviribus, hic saeta saevior, ille iuba;hunc Mars, hunc laudat Cybele. dominatur uterquemontibus; Herculeus sudor uterque fuit.
Uranius, Curetius' father, could set deceptive stars in a sphere of glass, gloomily shake his head over the errant course of Saturn, or ensure for a trifle the favourable influence of Jupiter. The father's chicanery meets with its punishment, so long deferred, in the son whose mouth needs must pay the just penalty. For filthy are his delights and he wastes all his substance in wantoning and debauchery. And so the tongue of the son has squandered all the riches which that of his lying father gathered together.
Fallaces vitreo Stellas componere mundoet vaga Saturni sidera saepe queriventurumque Iovem paucis promittere nummisCureti genitor noverat Uranius.in prolem dilata ruunt periuria patriset poenam merito filius ore luit.nam spurcos avidae lambit meretricis hiatusconsumens luxu flagitiisque domumet, quas fallacis collegit lingua parentis,has eadem nati lingua refundit opes.
Wouldst thou, Curetius, have sure knowledge of thy horoscope, I can give it thee better than even thy father. Thy madness thou owest to the evil influence of Mars; thine ignorance of poetry to en- feebling Mercury; thy shameful disease and premature decay to lady Moon and lady Venus; Saturn has robbed thee of thy property. But this one fact is beyond me: — what causes thy filthy ways?
Si tua, Cureti, penitus cognoscere quaerissidera, patre tuo certius ipse loquar.quod furis, adversi dedit inclementia Martis;quod procul a Musis, debilis Areas crat;quod turpem pateris iam cano podice morbum,femineis signis Luna Venusque fuit;attrivit Saturnus opes, hoc prorsus in unohaereo: quae cunnum lambere causa facit?
Nymph, come from Helicon and pour herein thy limpid waters; fill all the vast extent of this wondrous shell. Surely the water that has bathed the face of the poetess Serena will have more virtue than all the streams of Castalia.
Transferat huc liquidos fontes Heliconia Naiset patulo conchae divitis orbe fluat.namque latex doctae qui laverit ora Serenae,ultra Pegaseas numen habebit aquas.
His loving mother did not always fashion for her dear son Achilles those round shields that did affright the world; she did not constantly approach the fiery caverns of the god of Lemnos, begging a plumed helmet for her son. She gave him, besides these, garments of peace and unwarlike adornments wherewith, after the toils of war, he might shine conspicuous among the chiefs of the Achaeans. With her own hand she wove him cloaks of purple and gold and with patient care studded with ocean gems bridles to adorn his fleet steeds, Xanthus and Balius. On thee, most puissant emperor, thy wife's parents bestow diverse presents. Stilicho gives thee warlike gifts — slaughter of barbarians and victories on the Rhine; Serena, content to do such work as befits a queen, plies her busy loom to weave thee raiment.
Non semper clipei metuendum gentibus orbemdilecto studiosa parens fabricabat Achilli,Lemnia nec semper supplex ardentis adibatantra dei nato galeam factura comantem,sed placidos etiam cinctus et mitia pacisornamenta dabat, bello quibus ille peractoconspicuus reges inter fulgeret Achivos.ipsa manu chlamydes ostro texebat et auro,frenaque, quae volucrem Xanthum Baliumque decerent,aequore quaesitis onerabat sedula gemmis.At tibi diversis, princeps altissime, certantobsequiis soceri. Stilicho Mavortia confertmunera, barbaricas strages Rhenique triumphos.reginae contenta modum servare Serenain tua sollicitas urget velamina telas.
Happy steed, whose good fortune it is to obey the directing hand of a god and to be guided by a sacred bit. Whether on the plains of Spain the wind tossed thy mane in sport, or thou didst bathe in the melted snows of Mount Argaeus, in some fertile valley of Cappadocia, or thou didst scour the rich pasture-lands of Thessaly in wind-swift course, receive this royal harness and, tossing thy proud mane, fleck with foam the bridle studded with emeralds. Arch thy haughty neck beneath its collar of pearls; let cloth of purple and gold clothe thy shoulders and a belt of many colours worked by Serena's chaste hands pass beneath thy belly. 'Tis an ornament worthy the kings of Persia. Such is her motherly love that to enhance her son-in-law's glory she disdains not to embroider the very harness of his horses.
O felix sonipes, tanti cui frena mererinuminis et sacris licuit servire lupatis,seu tua per campos vento iuba lusit Hiberos,seu te Cappadocum gelida sub valle natantemArgaeae lavere nives, seu laeta solebasThessaliae rapido perstringere pascua cursu:accipe regales cultus et crine superbuserecto virides spumis perfunde smaragdos.luxurient tumido gemmata monilia collo,nobilis auratos iam purpura vestiat armos,et medium te zona liget variata colorumfloribus et castae manibus sudata Serenae,Persarum gentile decus. sic quippe laboratmaternis studiis nec dedignatur equestresmoliri phaleras genero latura decor em.
Receive at a sister's hand a small gift, revered prince, a gift embroidered by her own hand; the bridle of thy champing steed is of gold, his head- harness studded with jewels; use now this strap to pass beneath his belly. Whether his home was the grassy plain of Armenia, or by the Halys, swollen with the melted snows of Mount Argaeus wherein he was wont to bathe, he well deserves an emeraldencrusted bit to champ in his blood-flecked mouth and cloth of Tyrian purple to adorn his back. How conscious he is of his own beauty as he steps high and shakes his flowing mane over his proud neck! The slight nature of the present is dignified by the affection of Serena who for her brothers decks even their swift steeds.
Accipe parva tuae, princeps venerande, sororismunera, quae manibus texuit ipsa suis,dumque auro phalerae, gemmis dum frena renident,hac uterum zona cinge frementis equi,sive illum Armeniis aluerunt gramina campisturbidus Argaea seu nive lavit Halys,sanguineo virides morsu vexare smaragdoset Tyrio dignum terga rubere tore.o quantum formae sibi conscius erigit armosspargit et excussis colla superba iubis!augescit brevitas doni pietate Serenae,quae volucres etiam fratribus ornat equos,
Who has not heard of the invincible skill of the dread torpedo and of the powers that win it its name? Its body is soft and its motion slow. Scarcely does it mark the sand o'er which it crawls so sluggishly. But nature has armed its flanks with a numbing poison and mingled with its marrow chill to freeze all living creatures, hiding as it were its own winter in its heart. The fish seconds nature's efforts with its own guilefulness; knowing its own capabilities, it employs cunning, and trusting to its power of touch hes stretched full length among the seaweed and so attacks its prey. It stays motionless; all that have touched it he benumbed. Then, when success has crowned its efforts, it springs up and greedily devours without fear the living limbs of its victim. Should it carelessly swallow a piece of bait that hides a hook of bronze and feel the pull of the jagged barbs, it does not swim away nor seek to free itself by vainly biting at the line; but artfully approaches the dark line and, though a prisoner, forgets not its skill, emitting from its poisonous veins an effluence which spreads far and wide through the water. The poison's bane leaves the sea and creeps up the line; it will soon prove too much for the distant fisherman. The dread paralysing force rises above the water's level and climbing up the drooping line, passes down the jointed rod, and congeals, e'er he is even aware of it, the blood of the fisherman's victorious hand. He casts away his dangerous burden and lets go his rebel prey, returning home disarmed without his rod.
Quis non indomitam dirae torpedinis artemaudiit et merito signatas nomine vires?Ilia quidem mollis segnique obnixa natatureptat et attritis vix languida serpit harenis.sed latus armavit gelido natura veneno,et frigus, quo cuncta rigent animata 1, medullismiscuit et proprias hiemes per viscera duxit.naturam iuvat ipsa dolis et conscia sortisutitur ingenio longeque extenta per algasattactu confisa subit. inmobilis haeret:qui tetigere iacent. successu laeta resurgitet vivos impune ferox depascitur artus.Si quando vestita cibis incautior aerahauserit et curvis frenari senserit hamis,non fugit aut vano conatur vellere morsu,sed propius nigrae iungit se callida saetaeet meminit captiva sui longeque per undaspigra venenatis effundit flamina venis.per saetam vis alta meat fluctusque relinquitabsentem victura virum: metuendus ab imisemicat horror aquis et pendula fila secutusVtransit harundineos arcano frigore nodosvictricemque ligat concreto sanguine dextram.damnosum piscator onus praedamque rebellemiactat et amissa redit exarmatus avena.
By the ashes of S. Paul and the shrine of revered S. Peter, do not pull my verses to pieces. General James. So may S. Thomas prove a buckler to protect thy breast and S. Bartholomew bear thee company to the wars; so may the blessed saints prevent the barbarians from crossing the Alps and Suzanna 2 endow thee with her strength; so, should any savage foe seek to swim across the Danube, let him be drowned therein like the swift chariots of Pharaoh; so may an avenging javelin strike the Getic hordes and the favour of Thecla 3 guide the armies of Rome; so may thy guests dying in their efforts to out-drink thee assure thy board its triumph of hospitality and the broached casks o'ercome thy thirst; so may thy hand ne'er be red with an enemy's blood — do not, I say, pull my verses to pieces.
Per cineres Pauli, per cani limina Petri,ne laceres versus, dux Iacobe, meos.sic tua pro clipeo defendat pectora Thomaset comes ad bellum Bartholomaeus eat;sic ope sanctorum non barbarus inruat Alpes,sic tibi det vires sancta Susanna suas;sic quicumque ferox gelidum transnaverit Histrum,mergatur volucres ceu Pharaonis equi;sic Geticas ultrix feriat romphaea catervasRomanasque regat prospera Thecla manus;sic tibi det magnum moriens conviva triumphumatque tuam vincant dolia fusa sitim;sic numquam hostili maculetur sanguine dextra:ne laceres versus, dux Iacobe, meos.
When Jove looked down and saw the heavens figured in a sphere of glass he laughed and said to the other gods: “Has the power of mortal effort gone so far? Is my handiwork now mimicked in a fragile globe? An old man of Syracuse has imitated on earth the laws of the heavens, the order of nature, and the ordinances of the gods. Some hidden influence within the sphere directs the various courses of the stars and actuates the lifelike mass with definite motions. A false zodiac runs through a year of its own, and a toy moon waxes and wanes month by month. Now bold invention rejoices to make its own heaven revolve and sets the stars in motion by human wit. Why should I take umbrage at harmless Salmoneus and his mock thunder? Here the feeble hand of man has proved Nature's rival.”
Iuppiter in parvo cum cerneret aethera vitro,risit et ad superos talia dicta dedit;“hucine mortalis progressa potentia curae?iam meus in fragili luditur orbe labor?iura poli rerumque fidem legesque deorumecce Syracusius transtulit arte senex.inclusus variis famulatur spiritus astriset vivum certis motibus urget opus,percurrit proprium mentitus Signifer annum,et simulata novo Cynthia mense redit,iamque suum volvens audax industria mundumgaudet et humana sidera mente regit.quid falso insontem tonitru Salmonea miror?aemula naturae parva reperta manus.”
Once upon a time mother Earth, jealous of the heavenly kingdoms and in pity for the ceaseless woes of the Titans, filled all Tartarus with a monster brood, thus giving birth to that which proved a very bane. Her womb swollen with this monstrous birth she opened Phlegra's side and brought forth foes against heaven. With a noise as of thunder they burst forth in profusion and, scarce born, prepare their hands for war, as with twofold trail 1 they writhe their hissing course. Suddenly the stars grow pale, Phoebus turns his rosy steeds and, impelled by fear, retraces his steps. The Bear takes refuge in the Ocean, and the unsetting Triones learned to endure setting. Then their angry mother stirred up her sons to war with words such as these: “Children, ye shall conquer heaven: all that ye see is the prize of victory; win, and the universe is yours. At last shall Saturn's son feel the weight of my wrath; shall recognize Earth's power. What! can any force conquer me? Has Cybele born sons superior to mine? Why has Earth no honour? Why is she ever condemned to bitter loss? Has any form of injury passed me by? There hangs luckless Prometheus in yon Scythian vale, feeding the vulture on his living breast; yonder, Atlas supports the weight of the starry heavens upon his head, and his grey hair is frozen stiff with cruel cold. What need to tell of Tityus whose liver is ever renewed beneath the savage vulture's beak, to contend with his heavy punishment? Up, army of avengers, the hour is come at last, free the Titans from their chains; defend your mother. Here are seas and mountains, limbs of my body, but care not for that. Use them as weapons. Never would I hesitate to be a weapon for the destruction of Jove. Go forth and conquer; throw heaven into confusion, tear down the towers of the sky. Let Typhoeus seize the thunderbolt and the sceptre; Enceladus, rule the sea, and another in place of the sun guide the reins of dawn's coursers. Porphyrion, wreathe thou thy head with Delphi's laurel and take Cirrha for thy sanctuary.” This exhortation filled their minds with vain hopes. They think themselves already victors o'er the gods, imagine they have thrown Neptune into chains and dragged him a prisoner from Ocean's bed. One thinks to lay Mars low, one to tear Phoebus' locks from his head; one assigns Venus to himself, another anticipates in thought his marriage with Diana, and another is all aflame to do violence to chaste Minerva. Meanwhile Iris, messenger of the gods, summons the immortal council. There come the deities of river and lake; the very ghosts were there in heaven's defence. Hell's shady portals could not hold Proserpine afar; the king of the silent himself advances in his Lethaean chariot. His horses fear the light which hitherto their astonished eyes have never looked upon and, swerving this way and that, they breathe forth thick vapour from their soot-black nostrils. As, when an enemy's siege-engine affrights a town, the citizens run together from all sides to defend their citadel, so gods of all shapes and forms came together to protect their father's home. Them Jove thus addressed: “Deathless army, whose dwelling-place is, and must ever be, the sky, ye whom no adverse fortune can ever harm, mark ye how Earth with her new children conspires against our kingdom and undismayed has given birth to another brood? Wherefore, for all the sons she bore, let us give back to their mother as many dead; let her mourning last through the ages as she weeps by as many graves as she now has children.” The clouds echo the blast of heaven's trumpets; on this side Heaven, on that Earth, sounds the attack. Once more Nature is thrown into confusion and fears for her lord. The puissant company of the giants confounds all differences between things; islands abandon the deep; mountains He hidden in the sea. Many a river is left dry or has altered its ancient course. One giant brandishes Thessalian Oeta in his mighty hand, another gathers all his strength and hurls Pangaeus at the foe, Athos with his snows arms another; this one roots up Ossa, that tears out Rhodope and Hebrus' source, dividing the waters that before were one; Enipeus, gathered up with its beetling crags, scatters its waters over yon giant's shoulders: robbed of her mountains Earth sank into level plains, parted among her own sons. On all sides a horrid din resounds and only the air divides the rival armies. First impetuous Mars urges against the horrid band his Thracian steeds that oft have driven in rout Getae or Geloni. Brighter than flame shines his golden shield, high towers the crest of his gleaming helmet. Dashing into the fray he first encounters Pelorus and transfixes him with his sword, where about the groin the two-bodied serpent unites with his own giant form, and thus with one blow puts an end to three lives. Exulting in his victory he drives his chariot over the dying giant's limbs till the wheels ran red with blood. Mimas ran forward to avenge his brother. He had torn Lemnos and with it Vulcan's fiery house from out the foaming main, and was on the point of hurling it when Mars' javelin prevented him, scattering the brain from his shattered skull. What was giant in him died, but the serpent legs still lived, and, hissing vengeance, sought to attack the victor after Mimas' death. Minerva rushed forward presenting her breast whereon glittered the Gorgon's head. The sight of this, she knew, was enough: she needed not to use a spear. One look sufficed. Pallas drew no nearer, rage as he might, for he was the first to be changed into a rock. When, at a distance from his foe, without a wound, he found himself rooted to the ground, and felt the murderous visage turn him, little by little, to stone (and all but stone he was) he called out, “What is happening to me? What is this ice that creeps o'er all my limbs? What is this numbness that holds me prisoner in these marble fetters?” Scarce had he uttered these few words when he was what he feared, and savage Damastor, seeking a weapon wherewith to repel the foe, hurled at them in place of a rock his brother's stony corpse. Then Echion, marvelling, all ignorant, at his brother's death, even as he seeks to assail the author of the deed, turned his gaze upon thee, goddess, whom alone no man may see twice. Beaten audacity well deserved its punishment and in death he learned to know the goddess. But Palleneus, mad with anger, turning his eyes aside, rushed at Minerva, striking at her with undirected sword. Nigh at hand the goddess smote him with her sword, and at the same time the snakes froze at the Gorgon's glance, so that of one body a part was killed by a weapon and a part by a mere look. Impious Porphyrion, carried by his serpents into the middle of the sea, tries to uproot trembling Delos, wishing to hurl it at the sky. The Aegean was affrighted; Thetis and her agèd sire fled from their watery caverns; the palace of Neptune, regarded with awe by all the denizens of the deep, lay deserted. The summit of Cynthus rang with the cries of the gentle nymphs who had taught Phoebus' unpractised hand to shoot at the wandering beasts with his bow, they who first had prepared the bed for weeping Latona when, in labour with the lights of heaven, she blessed the world with twin offspring. Delos in terror called her lord Phoebus to help her and begged him for aid. “In remembrance of the time when Latona entrusted thine infant life to my care, help me who thus call upon thee. Behold, once more they seek to uproot me....” 1 a final portion which has been lost. But it is more likely that they come from some other poet's work and that the abrupt end of Claudian's poem is due not to loss but to the poet's sudden death.
Terra parens quondam caelestibus invida regnisTitanumque simul crebros miserata doloresomnia monstrifero complebat Tartara fetuinvisum genitura nefas Phlegramque retexittanta prole tumens et in aethera protulit hostes.fit sonus: erumpunt crebri necdumque creatiiam dextras in bella parant superosque lacessuntstridula volventes gemino vestigia lapsu.pallescunt subito stellae flectitque rubentesPhoebus equos docuitque timor revocare meatus.Oceanum petit Arctos inocciduique Trionesoccasum didicere pati. tum fervida natostalibus hortatur genetrix in proelia dictis:“O pubes domitura deos, quodcumque videtis,pugnando dabitur; praestat victoria munduin.sentiet ille meas tandem Saturnius iras,cognoscet, quid Terra potest, si viribus ullisvincor, si Cybele nobis meliora creavit!cur nullus Telluris honos? cur semper acerbisme damnis urgere solet? quae forma nocendidefuit? hinc volucrem vivo sub pectore pascitinfelix Scythica fixus convalle Prometheus;hinc Atlantis apex flammantia pondera fulcitet per canitiem glacies asperrima durat.quid dicam Tityon, cuius sub vulture saevoviscera nascuntur gravibus certantia poenis?sed vos, o tandem veniens exercitus ultor,solvite Titanas vinclis, defendite matrem.sunt freta, sunt montes: nostris ne parcite membris;in Iovis exitium telum non esse recuso.ite, precor, miscete polum, rescindite turressidereas. rapiat fulmen sceptrumque Typhoeus;Enceladi iussis mare serviat; alter habenasAurorae pro Sole regat: te Delphica laurusstringet, Porphyrion, Cirrhaeaque templa tenebis.”His ubi consiliis animos elusit inanes,iam credunt vicisse deos mediisque revinctumNeptunum traxisse fretis; hic sternere Martemcogitat, hic Phoebi laceros divellere crines;hic sibi promittit Venerem speratque Dianaeconiugium castamque cupit violare Minervam.Interea superos praenuntia convocat Iris,qui fluvios, qui stagna colunt, cinguntur et ipsiauxilio Manes; nec te, Proserpina, longeumbrosae tenuere fores; rex ipse silentumLethaeo vehitur curru lucemque timentesinsolitam mirantur equi trepidoque volatuspissas caeruleis tenebras e naribus efflant.ac velut hostilis cum machina terruit urbem,undique concurrunt arcem defendere cives:haud secus omnigenis coeuntia numina turmisad patris venere domes, tum Iuppiter infit:“O numquam peritura cohors, o debita sempercaelo progenies, nullis obnoxia fatis:cernitis ut Tellus nostrum coniuret in orbemprole nova dederitque alios interrita partus?ergo, quot dederit natos, tot funera matrireddamus: longo maneat per saecula luctutanto pro numero paribus damnata sepulcris.”Iam tuba nimborum sonuit, iam signa ruendihis Aether, his Terra dedit confusaque rursuspro domino Natura timet, discrimina rerummiscet turba potens: nunc insula deserit aequor,nunc scopuli latuere mari. quot litora restantnuda! quot antiquas mutarunt flumina ripas!hic rotat Haemonium praeduris viribus Oeten;hic iuga conixus manibus Pangaea coruscat;hunc armat glacialis Athos; hoc Ossa movent etollitur; hic Rhodopen Hebri cum fonte revellitet socias truncavit aquas summaque levatusrupe Giganteos umeros inrorat Enipeus:subsedit patulis Tellus sine culmine campisin natos divisa suos. Horrendus ubiqueit fragor et pugnae spatium discriminat aer.primus terrificum Mavors non segnis in agmenOdrysios impellit equos, quibus ille Gelonossive Getas turbare solet: splendentior igniaureus ardescit clipeus, galeamque nitentesadrexere iubae. tum concitus ense Pelorumtransigit adverse, femorum qua fine volutusduplex semifero conectitur ilibus anguis,atque uno ternas animas interficit ictu.tum super insultans avidus languentia currumembra terit multumque rotae sparsere cruorem.Occurrit pro fratre Mimas Lemnumque calentemcum lare Vulcani spumantibus eruit undiset prope torsisset, si non Mavortia cuspisante revelato cerebrum fudisset ab ore.ille, viro toto moriens, serpentibus imisvivit adhuc stridore ferox et parte rebellivictorem post fata petit. Tritonia virgoprosilit ostendens rutila cum Gorgone pectus;adspectu contenta suo non utitur hasta(nam satis est vidisse semel) primumque furentemlongius in faciem saxi Pallanta reformat.ille procul subitis fixus sine vulnere nodisut se letifero sensit durescere visu(et steterat iam paene lapis) “quo vertimur?” inquit,“quae serpit per membra silex? qui torpor inertemmarmorea me peste ligat?” vix pauca locutus,quod timuit, iam totus erat; saevusque Damastor,ad depellendos iaculum cum quaereret hostes,germani rigidum misit pro rupe cadaver.Hic vero interitum fratris miratus Echioninscius, auctorem dum vult temptare nocendo,te, Dea, respexit, solam quam cernere nullibis licuit. meruit sublata audacia poenaset didicit cum morte deam. sed turbidus iraPalleneus, oculis aversa tuentibus atrox,ingreditur caecasque manus in Pallada tendit.hunc mucrone ferit dea comminus; ac simul anguesGorgoneo riguere gelu corpusque per unumpars moritur ferro, partes periere videndo.Ecce autem medium spiris delapsus in aequorPorphyrion trepidam conatur rumpere Delon,scilicet ad superos ut torqueat improbus axes,horruit Aegaeus; stagnantibus exilit antrislongaevo cum patre Thetis desertaque mansitregia Neptuni famulis veneranda profundis.exclamant placidae Cynthi de vertice Nymphae,Nymphae, quae rudibus Phoebum docuere sagittiserrantes agitare feras primumque gementiLatonae struxere torum, cum lumina caeliparturiens geminis ornaret fetibus orbem.implorat Paeana suum conterrita Delesauxiliumque rogat: “si te gratissima fuditin nostros Latona sinus, succurre precanti.en iterum convulsa feror.”