Now Lucifer unveiled the glorious day,and as the session of the night dissolved,the cool east wind declined, and vapors wreathedthe moistened valleys. Veering to the souththe welcome wind gave passage to the sonsof Aeacus, and wafted Cephaluson his returning way, propitious; wherebefore the wonted hour, they entered port.King Minos, while the fair wind moved their ship,was laying waste the land of Megara.He gathered a great army round the wallsbuilt by Alcathous, where reigned in splendorKing Nisus—mighty and renowned in war—upon the center of whose hoary heada lock of purple hair was growing.—Itsproved virtue gave protection to his throne.Six times the horns of rising Phoebe grew,and still the changing fortune of the warwas in suspense; so, Victory day by daybetween them hovered on uncertain wings.Within that city was a regal toweron tuneful walls; where once Apollo laidhis golden harp; and in the throbbing stonethe sounds remained. And there, in times of peacethe daughter of king Nisus loved to mountthe walls and strike the sounding stone with pebbles:so, when the war began, she often viewedthe dreadful contest from that height;until, so long the hostile camp remained,she had become acquainted with the names,and knew the habits, horses and the armsof many a chief, and could discern the signsof their Cydonean quivers.More than all,the features of King Minos were engravedupon the tablets of her mind. And whenhe wore his helmet, crested with gay plumes,she deemed it glorious; when he held his shieldshining with gold, no other seemed so grand;and when he poised to hurl the tough spear home,she praised his skill and strength; and when he benthis curving bow with arrow on the cord,she pictured him as Phoebus taking aim,—but when, arrayed in purple, and uponthe back of his white war horse, proudly deckedwith richly broidered housings, he reined inthe nervous steed, and took his helmet off,showing his fearless features, then the maid,daughter of Nisus, could control herselfno longer; and a frenzy seized her mind.She called the javelin happy which he touched,and blessed were the reins within his hand.She had an impulse to direct her steps,a tender virgin, through the hostile ranks,or cast her body from the topmost towersinto the Gnossian camp. She had a wilddesire to open to the enemythe heavy brass-bound gates, or anythingthat Minos could desire.And as she satbeholding the white tents, she cried, “Alas!Should I rejoice or grieve to see this war?I grieve that Minos is the enemyof her who loves him; but unless the warhad brought him, how could he be known to me?But should he take me for a hostage? Thatmight end the war—a pledge of peace, he mightkeep me for his companion.“O, supremeof mankind! she who bore you must have beenas beautiful as you are; ample causefor Jove to lose his heart.“O, happy hour!If moving upon wings through yielding air,I could alight within the hostile campin front of Minos, and declare to himmy name and passion!“Then would I implorewhat dowry he could wish, and would providewhatever he might ask, except alonethe city of my father. Perish allmy secret hopes before one act of mineshould offer treason to accomplish it.And yet, the kindness of a conquerorhas often proved a blessing, manifestto those who were defeated. Certainlythe war he carries on is justifiedby his slain son.“He is a mighty king,thrice strengthened in his cause. Undoubtedlywe shall be conquered, and, if such a fateawaits our city, why should he by forceinstead of my consuming love, prevailto open the strong gates? Without delayand dreadful slaughter, it is best for himto conquer and decide this savage war.“Ah, Minos, how I fear the bitter fateshould any warrior hurl his cruel spearand pierce you by mischance, for surely nonecan be so hardened to transfix your breastwith purpose known.”Oh, let her love prevailto open for his army the great gates.Only the thought of it, has filled her soul;she is determined to deliver upher country as a dowry with herself,and so decide the war! But what availsthis idle talk.“A guard surrounds the gates,my father keeps the keys, and he aloneis my obstruction, and the innocentaccount of my despair. Would to the GodsI had no father! Is not man the Godof his own fortune, though his idle prayersavail not to compel his destiny?“Another woman crazed with passionate desires,which now inflame me, would not hesitate,but with a fierce abandon would destroywhatever checked her passion. Who is therewith love to equal mine? I dare to gothrough flames and swords; but swords and flamesare not now needed, for I only needmy royal father's lock of purple hair.More precious than fine gold, it has a powerto give my heart all that it may desire.”
Iam nitidum retegente diem noctisque fugantetempora Lucifero cadit eurus, et umida surguntnubila: dant placidi cursum redeuntibus austriAeacidis Cephaloque, quibus feliciter actiante exspectatum portus tenuere petitos.Interea Minos Lelegeia litora vastatpraetemptatque sui vires Mavortis in urbeAlcathoi, quam Nisus habet, cui splendidus ostrointer honoratos medioque in vertice canoscrinis inhaerebat, magni fiducia regni.Sexta resurgebant orientis cornua lunae,et pendebat adhuc belli fortuna: diuqueinter utrumque volat dubiis Victoria pennis.Regia turris erat vocalibus addita muris,in quibus auratam proles Letoia ferturdeposuisse lyram: saxo sonus eius inhaesit.Saepe illuc solita est ascendere filia Nisiet petere exiguo resonantia saxa lapillo,tum cum pax esset: bello quoque saepe solebatspectare ex illa rigidi certamina Martis.Iamque mora belli procerum quoque nomina noratarmaque equosque habitusque Cydonaeasque pharetras.Noverat ante alios faciem ducis Europaei,plus etiam, quam nosse sat est. Hac iudice Minos,seu caput abdiderat cristata casside pennis,in galea formosus erat; seu sumpserat aerefulgentem clipeum, clipeum sumpsisse decebat.Torserat adductis hastilia lenta lacertis:laudabat virgo iunctam cum viribus artem.Imposito calamo patulos sinuaverat arcus:sic Phoebum sumptis iurabat stare sagittis.Cum vero faciem dempto nudaverat aerepurpureusque albi stratis insignia pictisterga premebat equi spumantiaque ora regebat,vix sua, vix sanae virgo Niseia composmentis erat. Felix iaculum, quod tangeret ille,quaeque manu premeret, felicia frena vocabat.Impetus est illi, liceat modo, ferre per agmenvirgineos hostile gradus, est impetus illiturribus e summis in Gnosia mittere corpuscastra, vel aeratas hosti recludere portas,vel siquid Minos aliud velit. Utque sedebatcandida Dictaei spectans tentoria regis,“laeter,” ait “doleamne geri lacrimabile bellum,in dubio est. Doleo, quod Minos hostis amanti est:sed nisi bella forent, numquam mihi cognitus esset.Me tamen accepta poterat deponere bellumobside, me comitem, me pacis pignus haberet.Si quae te peperit, talis, pulcherrime rerum,qualis es ipsa fuit, merito deus arsit in illa.O ego ter felix, si pennis lapsa per aurasGnosiaci possem castris insistere regisfassaque me flammasque meas, qua dote, rogarem,vellet emi! tantum patrias ne posceret arces.Nam pereant potius sperata cubilia, quam simproditione potens! — Quamvis saepe utile vincivictoris placidi fecit clementia multis:iusta gerit certe pro nato bella peremptoet causaque valet causamque tenentibus armis,et, puto, vincemur. Quis enim manet exitus urbem,cum suus haec illi reserabit moenia Mavorset non noster amor? Melius sine caede moraqueimpensaque sui poterit superare cruoris.Non metuam certe, ne quis tua pectora, Minos,vulneret imprudens. Quis enim tam durus, ut in tedirigere inmitem non inscius audeat hastam?Coepta placent, et stat sententia tradere mecumdotalem patriam finemque imponere bello.Verum velle parum est! Aditus custodia servatclaustraque portarum genitor tenet: hunc ego soluminfelix timeo, solus mea vota moratur.Di facerent, sine patre forem! — Sibi quisque profectoest deus: ignavis precibus Fortuna repugnat.Altera iamdudum succensa cupidine tantoperdere gauderet quodcumque obstaret amori.Et cur ulla foret me fortior? Ire per igneset gladios ausim. Nec in hoc tamen ignibus ullisaut gladiis opus est: opus est mihi crine paterno.Illa mihi est auro pretiosior, illa beatampurpura me votique mei factura potentem.”
While Scylla said this, night that heals our carescame on, and she grew bolder in the dark.And now it is the late and silent hourwhen slumber takes possession of the breast.Outwearied with the cares of busy day;then as her father slept, with stealthy treadshe entered his abode, and there despoiled,and clipped his fatal lock of purple hair.Concealing in her bosom the sad prizeof crime degenerate, she at once went fortha gate unguarded, and with shameless hastesped through the hostile army to the tentof Minos, whom, astonished, she addressed:“Only my love has led me to this deed.The daughter of King Nisus, I am calledthe maiden Scylla. Unto you I comeand offer up a power that will prevailagainst my country, and I stipulateno recompense except yourself. Take thenthis purple hair, a token of my love.—Deem it not lightly as a lock of hairheld idly forth to you; it is in truthmy father's life.” And as she spokeshe held out in her guilty hand the prize,and begged him to accept it with her love.Shocked at the thought of such a heinous crime,Minos refused, and said, “O execrable thing!Despised abomination of our time!May all the Gods forever banish youfrom their wide universe, and may the earthand the deep ocean be denied to you!So great a monster shall not be allowedto desecrate the sacred Isle of Crete,where Jupiter was born.” So Minos spoke.Nevertheless he conquered Megara,(so aided by the damsel's wicked deed)and as a just and mighty king imposedhis own conditions on the vanquished land.He ordered his great fleet to tarry not;the hawsers were let loose, and the long oarsquickly propelled his brazen-pointed ships.—When Scylla saw them launching forth,observed them sailing on the mighty deep,she called with vain entreaties; but at last,aware the prince ignored her and refusedto recompense her wickedness, enraged,and raving, she held up her impious hands,her long hair streaming on the wind, — and said:“Oh, wherefore have you flown, and left behindthe author of your glory. Oh, wretch! wretchto whom I offered up my native land,and sacrificed my father! Where have younow flown, ungrateful man whose victoryis both my crime and virtue? And the giftpresented to you, and my passion,have these not moved you? All my love and hopein you alone!“Forsaken by my prince,shall I return to my defeated land?If never ruined it would shut its wallsagainst me.—Shall I seek my father's facewhom I delivered to all-conquering arms?My fellow-citizens despise my name;my friends and neighbors hate me; I have shutthe world against me, only in the hopethat Crete would surely welcome me;—and now,he has forbidden me.“And is it soI am requited by this thankless wretch!Europa could not be your mother! Spawnof cruel Syrtis! Savage cub of fierceArmenian tigress;—or Charybdis, tossedby the wild South-wind begot you! Can you bethe son of Jupiter? Your mother wasnot ever tricked by the false semblanceof a bull. All that story of your birthis false! You are the offspring of a bullas fierce as you are!“Let your vengeance fallupon me, O my father Nisus, letthe ruined city I betrayed rejoiceat my misfortunes—richly merited—destroy me, you whom I have ruined;—Ishould perish for my crimes! But why should you,who conquered by my crime, abandon me?The treason to my father and my landbecomes an act of kindness in your cause.“That woman is a worthy mate for youwho hid in wood deceived the raging bull,and bore to him the infamy of Crete.I do not wonder that Pasiphaepreferred the bull to you, more savage thanthe wildest beast. Alas, alas for me!“Do my complaints reach your unwilling ears?Or do the same winds waft away my wordsthat blow upon your ships, ungrateful man?—Ah, wretched that I am, he takes delightin hastening from me. The deep waves resoundas smitten by the oars, his ship departs;and I am lost and even my native landis fading from his sight.“Oh heart of flint!you shall not prosper in your cruelty,and you shall not forget my sacrifice;in spite of everything I follow you!I'll grasp the curving stern of your swift ship,and I will follow through unending seas.”And as she spoke, she leaped into the waves,and followed the receding ships—for strengthfrom passion came to her. And soon she clungunwelcome, to the sailing Gnossian ship.Meanwhile, the Gods had changed her father's formand now he hovered over the salt deep,a hawk with tawny wings. So when he sawhis daughter clinging to the hostile shiphe would have torn her with his rending beak;—he darted towards her through the yielding air.In terror she let go, but as she fellthe light air held her from the ocean spray;her feather-weight supported by the breeze;she spread her wings, and changed into a bird.They called her “Ciris” when she cut the wind,and “Ciris”—cut-the-lock—remains her name.
Talia dicenti curarum maxima nutrixnox intervenit, tenebrisque audacia crevit.Prima quies aderat, qua curis fessa diurnispectora somnus habet: thalamos taciturna paternosintrat et (heu facinus!) fatali nata parentemcrine suum spoliat praedaque potita nefandaper medios hostes (meriti fiducia tanta est)pervenit ad regem. Quem sic adfata paventem est:“Suasit amor facinus. Proles ego regia NisiScylla tibi trado patriaeque meosque penates.Praemia nulla peto nisi te. Cape pignus amorispurpureum crinem, nec me nunc tradere crinem,sed patrium tibi crede caput.” Scelerataque dextramunera porrexit. Minos porrecta refugitturbatusque novi respondit imagine facti:“Di te summoveant, o nostri infamia saecli,orbe suo, tellusque tibi pontusque negetur.Certe ego non patiar Iovis incunabula, Creten,qui meus est orbis, tantum contingere monstrum.”Dixit, et ut leges captis iustissimus auctorhostibus imposuit, classis retinacula solviiussit et aeratas impelli remige puppes.Scylla freto postquam deductas nare carinasnec praestare ducem sceleris sibi praemia vidit,consumptis precibus violentam transit in iram,intendensque manus, passis furibunda capillis,“quo fugis” exclamat, “meritorum auctore relicta,o patriae praelate meae, praelate parenti?Quo fugis, inmitis? cuius victoria nostrumet scelus et meritum est. Nec te data munera, nec tenoster amor movit, nec quod spes omnis in unumte mea congesta est? Nam quo deserta revertar?In patriam? Superata iacet. Sed finge manere:proditione mea clausa est mihi. Patris ad ora?Quem tibi donavi! Cives odere merentem,finitimi exemplum metuunt: exponimur orbae,terrarum nobis ut Crete sola pateret.Hac quoque si prohibes et nos, ingrate, relinquis,non genetrix Europa tibi ea, sed inhospita Syrtis,Armeniae tigres austroque agitata Charybdis.Nec Iove tu natus, nec mater imagine tauriducta tua est (generis falsa est ea fabula!): veruset ferus et captus nullius amore iuvencae,qui te progenuit, taurus fuit. Exige poenas,Nise pater! gaudete malis, modo prodita, nostrismoenia! nam fateor, merui et sum digna perire.Sed tamen ex illis aliquis, quos impia laesi,me perimat. Cur, qui vicisti crimine nostro,insequeris crimen? Scelus hoc patriaeque patrique,officium tibi sit. Te vere coniuge digna est,quae torvum ligno decepit adultera taurumdiscordemque utero fetum tulit. Ecquid ad auresperveniunt mea dicta tuas? An inania ventiverba ferunt idemque tuas, ingrate, carinas?Iam iam Pasiphaen non est mirabile taurumpraeposuisse tibi: tu plus feritatis habebas.Me miseram! properare iubet, divulsaque remisunda sonat; mecumque simul mea terra recedit.Nil agis, o frustra meritorum oblite meorum:insequar invitum, puppimque amplexa recurvamper freta longa trahar.” Vix dixerat, insilit undisconsequiturque rates, faciente cupidine vires,Gnosiacaeque haeret comes invidiosa carinae.Quam pater ut vidit (nam iam pendebat in auraet modo factus erat fulvis haliaeetus alis),ibat, ut haerentem rostro laceraret adunco.Illa metu puppim dimisit, et aura cadentemsustinuisse levis, ne tangeret aequora, visa est.Pluma fuit: plumis in avem mutata vocaturciris, et a tonso est hoc nomen adepta capillo.
King Minos, when he reached the land of Creteand left his ships, remembered he had madea vow to Jupiter, and offered upa hundred bulls.—The splendid spoils of waradorned his palace.—Now the infamousreproach of Crete had grown, till it exposedthe double-natured shame. So, Minos, movedto cover his disgrace, resolved to hidethe monster in a prison, and he builtwith intricate design, by Daedaluscontrived, an architect of wonderfulability, and famous. This he plannedof mazey wanderings that deceived the eyes,and labyrinthic passages involved.so sports the clear Maeander, in the fieldsof Phrygia winding doubtful; back and forthit meets itself, until the wandering streamfatigued, impedes its wearied waters' flow;from source to sea, from sea to source involved.So Daedalus contrived innumerous paths,and windings vague, so intricate that he,the architect, hardly could retrace his steps.In this the Minotaur was long concealed,and there devoured Athenian victims sentthree seasons, nine years each, till Theseus, sonof Aegeus, slew him and retraced his way,finding the path by Ariadne's thread.Without delay the victor fled from Crete,together with the loving maid, and sailedfor Dia Isle of Naxos, where he leftthe maid forlorn, abandoned. Her, in time,lamenting and deserted, Bacchus foundand for his love immortalized her name.He set in the dark heavens the bright crownthat rested on her brows. Through the soft airit whirled, while all the sparkling jewels changedto flashing fires, assuming in the skybetween the Serpent-holder and the Kneelerthe well-known shape of Ariadne's Crown.
Vota Iovi Minos taurorum corpora centumsolvit, ut egressus ratibus Curetida terramcontigit, spoliis decorata est regia fixis.Creverat opprobrium generis, foedumque patebatmatris adulterium monstri novitate biformis.Destinat hunc Minos thalamo removere pudoremmultiplicique domo caecisque includere tectis.Daedalus ingenio fabrae celeberrimus artisponit opus turbatque notas et lumina flexuducit in errorem variarum ambage viarum.Non secus ac liquidis Phrygius Maeandrus in undisludit et ambiguo lapsu refluitque fluitqueoccurrensque sibi venturas adspicit undas,et nunc ad fontes, nunc ad mare versus apertumincertas exercet aquas: ita Daedalus impletinnumeras errore vias. Vixque ipse revertiad limen potuit: tanta est fallacia tecti.Quo postquam geminam tauri iuvenisque figuramclausit, et Actaeo bis pastum sanguine monstrumtertia sors annis domuit repetita novenis,utque ope virginea nullis iterata priorumianua difficilis filo est inventa relecto,protinus Aegides rapta Minoide Diamvela dedit comitemque suam crudelis in illolitore destituit. Desertae et multa querentiamplexus et opem Liber tulit; utque perennisidere clara foret, sumptam de fronte coronaminmisit caelo. Tenues volat illa per aurasdumque volat, gemmae nitidos vertuntur in ignesconsistuntque loco specie remanente coronae,qui medius Nixique genu est anguemque tenentis.
But Daedalus abhorred the Isle of Crete—and his long exile on that sea-girt shore,increased the love of his own native place.“Though Minos blocks escape by sea and land.”He said, “The unconfined skies remainthough Minos may be lord of all the worldhis sceptre is not regnant of the air,and by that untried way is our escape.”This said, he turned his mind to arts unknownand nature unrevealed. He fashioned quillsand feathers in due order — deftly formedfrom small to large, as any rustic pipeprom straws unequal slants. He bound with threadthe middle feathers, and the lower fixedwith pliant wax; till so, in gentle curvesarranged, he bent them to the shape of birds.While he was working, his son Icarus,with smiling countenance and unawareof danger to himself, perchance would chasethe feathers, ruffled by the shifting breeze,or soften with his thumb the yellow wax,and by his playfulness retard the workhis anxious father planned.But when at lastthe father finished it, he poised himself,and lightly floating in the winnowed airwaved his great feathered wings with bird-like ease.And, likewise he had fashioned for his sonsuch wings; before they ventured in the airhe said, “My son, I caution you to keepthe middle way, for if your pinions diptoo low the waters may impede your flight;and if they soar too high the sun may scorch them.Fly midway. Gaze not at the boundless sky,far Ursa Major and Bootes next.Nor on Orion with his flashing brand,but follow my safe guidance.”As he spokehe fitted on his son the plumed wingswith trembling hands, while down his withered cheeksthe tears were falling. Then he gave his sona last kiss, and upon his gliding wingsassumed a careful lead solicitous.As when the bird leads forth her tender young,from high-swung nest to try the yielding air;so he prevailed on willing Icarus;encouraged and instructed him in a]lthe fatal art; and as he waved his wingslooked backward on his son.Beneath their flight,the fisherman while casting his long rod,or the tired shepherd leaning on his crook,or the rough plowman as he raised his eyes,astonished might observe them on the wing,and worship them as Gods.Upon the leftthey passed by Samos, Juno's sacred isle;Delos and Paros too, were left behind;and on the right Lebinthus and Calymne,fruitful in honey. Proud of his success,the foolish Icarus forsook his guide,and, bold in vanity, began to soar,rising upon his wings to touch the skies;but as he neared the scorching sun, its heatsoftened the fragrant wax that held his plumes;and heat increasing melted the soft wax—he waved his naked arms instead of wings,with no more feathers to sustain his flight.And as he called upon his father's namehis voice was smothered in the dark blue sea,now called Icarian from the dead boy's name.The unlucky father, not a father, called,“Where are you, Icarus?” and “Where are you?In what place shall I seek you, Icarus?”He called again; and then he saw the wingsof his dear Icarus, floating on the waves;and he began to rail and curse his art.He found the body on an island shore,now called Icaria, and at once preparedto bury the unfortunate remains;but while he labored a pert partridge near,observed him from the covert of an oak,and whistled his unnatural delight.Know you the cause? 'Twas then a single bird,the first one of its kind. 'Twas never seenbefore the sister of Daedalus had broughthim Perdix, her dear son, to be his pupil.And as the years went by the gifted youthbegan to rival his instructor's art.He took the jagged backbone of a fish,and with it as a model made a saw,with sharp teeth fashioned from a strip of iron.And he was first to make two arms of iron,smooth hinged upon the center, so that onewould make a pivot while the other, turned,described a circle. Wherefore Daedalusenraged and envious, sought to slay the youthand cast him headlong from Minerva's fane,—then spread the rumor of an accident.But Pallas, goddess of ingenious men,saving the pupil changed him to a bird,and in the middle of the air he flewon feathered wings; and so his active mind—and vigor of his genius were absorbedinto his wings and feet; although the nameof Perdix was retained.The Partridge hidesin shaded places by the leafy treesits nested eggs among the bush's twigs;nor does it seek to rise in lofty flight,for it is mindful of its former fall.
Daedalus interea Creten longumque perosusexsilium tactusque loci natalis amoreclausus erat pelago. “Terras licet” inquit “et undasobstruat: at caelum certe patet; ibimus illac.Omnia possideat, non possidet aera Minos.”Dixit et ignotas animum dimittit in artesnaturamque novat. Nam ponit in ordine pennas,a minima coeptas, longam breviore sequenti,ut clivo crevisse putes. Sic rustica quondamfistula disparibus paulatim surgit avenis.Tum lino medias et ceris adligat imas,atque ita compositas parvo curvamine flectit,ut veras imitetur aves. Puer Icarus unastabat et, ignarus sua se tractare pericla,ore renidenti modo, quas vaga moverat aura,captabat plumas, flavam modo pollice cerammollibat lusuque suo mirabile patrisimpediebat opus. Postquam manus ultima coeptoimposita est, geminas opifex libravit in alasipse suum corpus motaque pependit in aura.Instruit et natum “medio” que “ut limite curras,Icare,” ait “moneo, ne, si demissior ibis,unda gravet pennas, si celsior, ignis adurat.Inter utrumque vola. Nec te spectare Bootenaut Helicen iubeo strictumque Orionis ensem:me duce carpe viam.” Pariter praecepta volanditradit et ignotas umeris accommodat alas.Inter opus monitusque genae maduere seniles,et patriae tremuere manus. Dedit oscula natonon iterum repetenda suo, pennisque levatusante volat comitique timet, velut ales, ab altoquae teneram prolem produxit in aera nido,hortaturque sequi damnosasque erudit arteset movet ipse suas et nati respicit alas.Hos aliquis tremula dum captat harundine pisces,aut pastor baculo stivave innixus aratorvidit et obstipuit, quique aethera carpere possentcredidit esse deos. Et iam Iunonia laevaparte Samos (fuerant Delosque Parosque relictae),dextra Lebinthos erat fecundaque melle Calymne,cum puer audaci coepit gaudere volatudeseruitque ducem caelique cupidine tractusaltius egit iter. Rapidi vicinia solismollit odoratas, pennarum vincula, ceras.Tabuerant cerae: nudos quatit ille lacertos,remigioque carens non ullas percipit auras,oraque caerulea patrium clamantia nomenexcipiuntur aqua: quae nomen traxit ab illo.At pater infelix, nec iam pater, “Icare,” dixit,“Icare,” dixit “ubi es? qua te regione requiram?”“Icare” dicebat: pennas adspexit in undisdevovitque suas artes corpusque sepulcrocondidit, et tellus a nomine dicta sepulti.Hunc miseri tumulo ponentem corpora natigarrula limoso prospexit ab elice perdixet plausit pennis testataque gaudia cantu est:unica tunc volucris nec visa prioribus annis,factaque nuper avis, longum tibi, Daedale, crimen.Namque huic tradiderat, fatorum ignara, docendamprogeniem germana suam, natalibus actisbis puerum senis, animi ad praecepta capacis.Ille etiam medio spinas in pisce notatastraxit in exemplum ferroque incidit acutoperpetuos dentes et serrae repperit usum.Primus et ex uno duo ferrea bracchia nodovinxit, ut aequali spatio distantibus illisaltera pars staret, pars altera duceret orbem.Daedalus invidit sacraque ex arce Minervaepraecipitem misit, lapsum mentitus. At illumquae favet ingeniis excepit Pallas avemquereddidit et medio velavit in aere pennis.Sed vigor ingenii quondam velocis in alasinque pedes abiit: nomen quod et ante remansit.Non tamen haec alte volucris sua corpora tollit,nec facit in ramis altoque cacumine nidos:propter humum volitat ponitque in saepibus ovaantiquique memor metuit sublimia casus.
Wearied with travel Daedalus arrivedat Sicily,—where Cocalus was king;and when the wandering Daedalus imploredthe monarch's kind protection from his foe,he gathered a great army for his guest,and gained renown from an applauding world.Now after Theseus had destroyed in Cretethe dreadful monster, Athens then had ceasedto pay her mournful tribute; and with wreathsher people decked the temples of the Gods;and they invoked Minerva, Jupiter,and many other Gods whom they adored,with sacrifice and precious offerings,and jars of Frankincense.Quick-flying Famehad spread reports of Theseus through the land;and all the peoples of Achaia, from that day,when danger threatened would entreat his aid.So it befell, the land of Calydon,through Meleager and her native hero,implored the valiant Theseus to destroya raging boar, the ravage of her realm.Diana in her wrath had sent the boarto wreak her vengeance; and they say the causewas this:—The nation had a fruitful year,for which the good king Oeneus had decreedthat all should offer the first fruits of cornto Ceres—and to Bacchus wine of grapes—and oil of olives to the golden hairedMinerva. Thus, the Gods were all adored,beginning with the lowest to the highest,except alone Diana, and of all the Godsher altars only were neglected. Nofrankincense unto her was given! Neglectenrages even Deities.“Am Ito suffer this indignity?” she cried,“Though I am thus dishonored, I will notbe unrevenged!” And so the boar was sentto ravage the fair land of Calydon.And this avenging boar was quite as largeas bulls now feeding on the green Epirus,and larger than the bulls of Sicily.A dreadful boar.—His burning, bloodshot eyesseemed coals of living fire, and his rough neckwas knotted with stiff muscles, and thick-setwith bristles like sharp spikes. A seething frothdripped on his shoulders, and his tuskswere like the spoils of Ind. Discordant roarsreverberated from his hideous jaws;and lightning—belched forth from his horrid throat—scorched the green fields. He trampled the green cornand doomed the farmer to lament his crops,in vain the threshing-floor has been prepared,in vain the barns await the promised yield.Long branches of the vine and heavy grapesare scattered in confusion, and the fruitsand branches of the olive tree, whose leavesshould never wither, are cast on the ground.His spleen was vented on the simple flocks,which neither dogs nor shepherd could protect;and the brave bulls could not defend their herds.The people fled in all directions from the fields,for safety to the cities. Terror reigned.There seemed no remedy to save the land,till Meleager chose a band of youths,united for the glory of great deeds.What heroes shall immortal song proclaim?Castor and Pollux, twins of Tyndarus;one famous for his skill in horsemanship,the other for his boxing. Jason, too, was there,the glorious builder of the world's first ship,and Theseus with his friend Perithous,and Toxeus and Plexippus, fated sonsof Thestius, and the son of Aphareus,Lynkeus with his fleet-foot brother Idasand Caeneus, first a woman then a manthe brave Leucippus and the argonautAcastus, swift of dart; and warlike Dryas,Hippothous and Phoenix, not then blind,the son of King Amyntor, and the twainwho sprung from Actor, Phyleus thither broughtfrom Elis; Telamon was one of themand even Peleus, father of the greatAchilles; and the son of Pheres joined,and Iolas, the swift Eurytion,Echion fleet of foot, Narycian Lelex—and Panopeus, and Hyleus and Hippasus,and Nestor (youthful then), and the four sonsHippocoon from eld Amyclae sent,the father-in-law of queen Penelope,Ancaeus of Arcadia, and the wisesoothsayer Mopsus, and the prophet, sonof Oeclus, victim of a traitor-wife.—And Atalanta, virgin of the groves,of Mount Lycaeus, glory of her sex;a polished buckle fastened her attire;her lustrous hair was fashioned in a knot;her weapons rattled in an ivory case,swung from her white left shoulder, and she helda bow in her left hand. Her face appearedas maidenly for boy, or boyish for girl.When Meleager saw her, he at oncelonged for her beauty, though some god forbade.The fires of love flamed in him; and he said,“Happy the husband who shall win this girl!”Neither the time nor his own modestypermitted him to say another word.But now the dreadful contest with the boarengaged this hero's energy and thought.A wood, umbrageous, not impaired with age,slopes from a plain and shadows the wide fields,and there this band of valiant heroes went—eager to slay the dreaded enemy,some spread the nets and some let loose the dogs,some traced the wide spoor of the monster's hoofs.There is a deep gorge where the rivuletsthat gather from the rain, discharge themselves;and there the bending willow, the smooth sedge,the marsh-rush, ozier and tall tangled reedin wild profusion cover up the marsh.Aroused from this retreat the startled boar,as quick as lightning from the clashing cloudscrashed all the trees that cumbered his mad way.—The young men raised a shout, leveled their spears,and brandished their keen weapons; but the boarrushed onward through the yelping dogs,and scattered them with deadly sidelong stroke.Echion was the first to hurl his spear,but slanting in its course it only glanceda nearby maple tree, and next the spearof long-remembered Jason cut the air;so swiftly hurled it seemed it might transfixthe boar's back, but with over-force it spedbeyond the monster. Poising first his dart,the son of Ampyx, as he cast it, heimplored Apollo, “Grant my prayer if Ihave truly worshiped you, harken to meas always I adore you! Let my spearunerring strike its aim.” Apollo heard,and guided the swift spear, but as it spedDiana struck the iron head from the shaft,and the blunt wood fell harmless from his hide.Then was the monster's savage anger roused;as the bright lightning's flash his red eyes flamed;his breath was hot as fire. As when a stoneis aimed at walls or strong towers, which protectencompassed armies,—launched by the taut ropeit strikes with dreaded impact; so the boarwith fatal onset rushed among this bandof noble lads, and stretched upon the groundEupalamon and Pelagon whose guardwas on the right; and their companions boretheir bodies from the field.Another youth,the brave son of Hippocoon receiveda deadly wound—while turning to escape,the sinew of his thigh was cut and failedto bear his tottering steps.—
Iamque fatigatum tellus Aetnaea tenebatDaedalon, et sumptis pro supplice Cocalus armismitis habebatur, iam lamentabile Athenaependere desierant Thesea laude tributum.Templa coronantur, bellatricemque Minervamcum Iove disque vocant aliis, quos sanguine votomuneribusque datis et acerris turis honorant.Sparserat Argolicas nomen vaga fama per urbesTheseos, et populi, quos dives Achaia cepit,huius opem magnis imploravere periclis.Huius opem Calydon, quamvis Meleagron haberet,sollicita supplex petiit prece. Causa petendisus erat, infestae famulus vindexque Dianae.Oenea namque ferunt pleni successibus anniprimitias frugum Cereri, sua vina Lyaeo,Palladios flavae latices libasse Minervae.Coeptus ab agricolis superos pervenit ad omnesambitiosus honor; solas sine ture relictaspraeteritae cessasse ferunt Latoidos aras.Tangit et ira deos. “At non impune feremus,quaeque inhonoratae, non et dicemur inultae”inquit, et Oeneos ultorem spreta per agrosmisit aprum, quanto maiores herbida taurosnon habet Epiros, sed habent Sicula arva minores.Sanguine et igne micant oculi, riget horrida cervix,fervida cum rauco latos stridore per armosspuma fluit, dentes aequantur dentibus Indis,fulmen ab ore venit, frondes adflatibus ardent.Is modo crescentes segetes proculcat in herba,nunc matura metit fleturi vota coloniet Cererem in spicis intercipit. Area frustraet frustra exspectant promissas horrea messes.Sternuntur gravidi longo cum palmite fetusbacaque cum ramis semper frondentis olivae.Saevit et in pecudes: non has pastorve canisve,non armenta truces possunt defendere tauri.Diffugiunt populi nec se nisi moenibus urbisesse putant tutos, donec Meleagros et unalecta manus iuvenum coiere cupidine laudis:Tyndaridae gemini, spectatus caestibus alter,alter equo, primaeque ratis molitor Iason,et cum Pirithoo, felix concordia, Theseus;et duo Thestiadae prolesque Aphareia, Lynceuset velox Idas, et iam non femina CaeneusLeucippusque ferox iaculoque insignis AcastusHippothousque Dryasque et cretus Amyntore Phoenix,Actoridaeque pares et missus ab Elide Phyleus.Nec Telamon aberat magnique creator Achilliscumque Pheretiade et Hyanteo Iolaoimpiger Eurytion, et cursu invictus Echion,Naryciusque Lelex Panopeusque Hyleusque feroxqueHippasus et primis etiamnum Nestor in annis,et quos Hippocoon antiquis misit Amyclis,Penelopaeque socer cum Parrhasio Ancaeo,Ampycidesque sagax et adhuc a coniuge tutusOeclides, nemorisque decus Tegeaea Lycaei.Rasilis huic summam mordebat fibula vestem,crinis erat simplex, nodum conlectus in unum.Ex umero pendens resonabat eburnea laevotelorum custos, arcum quoque laeva tenebat.Talis erat cultu; facies, quam dicere verevirgineam in puero, puerilem in virgine possis.Hanc pariter vidit, pariter Calydonius herosoptavit renuente deo flammasque latenteshausit et “o felix, siquem dignabitur” inquit“ista virum.” Nec plura sinit tempusque pudorquedicere: maius opus magni certaminis urget.Silva frequens trabibus, quam nulla ceciderat aetas,incipit a plano devexaque prospicit arva.Quo postquam venere viri, pars retia tendunt,vincula pars adimunt canibus, pars pressa sequuntursigna pedum cupiuntque suum reperire periclum.Concava vallis erat, quo se demittere riviadsuerant pluvialis aquae: tenet ima lacunaelenta salix ulvaeque leves iuncique palustresviminaque et longa parvae sub harundine cannae.Hinc aper excitus medios violentus in hostesfertur, ut excussis elisi nubibus ignes.Sternitur incursu nemus et propulsa fragoremsilva dat. Exclamant iuvenes praetentaque fortitela tenent dextra lato vibrantia ferro.Ille ruit spargitque canes, ut quisque furentiobstat, et obliquo latrantes dissipat ictu.Cuspis Echionio primum contorta lacertovana fuit truncoque dedit leve vulnus acerno.Proxima, si nimiis mittentis viribus usanon foret, in tergo visa est haesura petito:longius it. Auctor teli Pagasaeus Iason.“Phoebe,” ait Ampycides “si te coluique coloque,da mihi quod petitur certo contingere telo!”Qua potuit, precibus deus adnuit: ictus ab illo est,sed sine vulnere, aper; ferrum Diana volantiabstulerat iaculo: lignum sine acumine venit.Ira feri mota est, nec fulmine lenius arsit:emicat ex oculis, spirat quoque pectore flamma.Utque volat moles adducto concita nervo,cum petit aut muros aut plenas milite turres,in iuvenes certo sic impete vulnificus susfertur et Hippalmon Pelagonaque, dextra tuentescornua, prosternit; socii rapuere iacentes.At non letiferos effugit Enaesimus ictus,Hippocoonte satus: trepidantem et terga parantemvertere succiso liquerunt poplite nervi.
And Nestor mighthave perished then, so long before he foughtthe heroes of old Troy, but ever wise,he vaulted on his long lance from the groundinto the branches of a sheltering tree;where in a safe position, he could lookdown on his baffled foe. The raging boarwhetted his gleaming tushes on an oak.Then with his sharpened tusks he gored the thighof mighty Hippasus. Observed of all,and mounted on their horses—whiter thanthe northern snow—the twins (long afterwardtransformed to constellations) sallied forth,and brandishing their lances, poised in air,determined to destroy the bristling boar.It thwarted their design by hiding ina thicket intricate; where neither steednor lance could penetrate. But Telamonpursued undaunted, and in haste tripped upby tangled roots, fell headlong.—Peleus stoopedto rescue him.While he regained his feet,the virgin, Atalanta, took her bowand fitting a sharp arrow to the notch,twanged the tight cord. The feathered shaftquivered beneath the monster's ear, the red bloodstained his hard bristles.Flushed with her successrejoiced the maid, but not more gladly thanthe hero Meleager. He it waswho first observed the blood, and pointed outthe stain to his companions as he cried,“Give honor to the courage of a maid!”Unwilling to be worsted by a maid,the rushing heroes raised a mighty cryand as they shouted in excitement, hurledtheir weapons in confusion; and so greatthe multitude their actions interfered.Behold! Ancaeus wielding his war-axe,and rushing madly to his fate, exclaimed,“Witness it! See the weapons of a manexcel a woman's! Ho, make way for myachievement! Let Diana shield the brute!Despite her utmost effort my right handshall slaughter him!” So mighty in his boasthe puffed himself; and, lifting with both handshis double-edged axe, he stood erect,on tiptoe fiercely bold. The savage boarcaught him, and ripped his tushes through his groin,a spot where death is sure.—Ancaeus fell;and his torn entrails and his crimson bloodstained the fair verdure of the spot with death.Ixion's doughty son was running straightagainst the monster, shaking his long lancewith nervous vigor in his strong right hand;but Theseus, standing at a distance called:“Beware! beware, O, dearest of my friends;be valiant at a distance, or the fateof rashly-bold Ancaeus may be yours!”Even as he spoke he balanced in his handhis brazen-pointed lance of corner wood;with aim so true it seemed the great boar's deathwas certain, but an evergreen oak branchshielded the beast.—Then Jason hurled his dart,which turned by chance, transfixed a luckless dogand pinned him yelping, to the sanguine earth.—So fared those heroes. Better fortune gavesuccess to Meleager; first he threwa spear that missed and quivered in the ground;but next he hurled a spear with certain aim.It pierced the middle of the monster's back;and rushing in upon the dreaded beast,while raging it was whirling round and round,the fearless prince provoked to greater ragethe wounded adversary. Bloody frothdripped down his champing jaws—his purple bloodpoured from a rankling wound. Without delaythe mighty Meleager plunged a speardeep in the monster's shoulder. All his friendsraised a glad shout, and gathering round him, triedto grasp his hand.—With wonder they beheldthe monster's bulk stretched out upon the plain;and fearful still to touch him, they beganto stain their weapons in his spouting blood.At length the hero Meleager pressedhis conquering foot upon the monster's headand said, “O Atalanta, glorious maid,of Nonacris, to you is yielded spoil,my lawful right, and I rejoice to sharethe merit of this glorious victory.”And while he spoke, he gave to her the pelt,covered with horrid bristles, and the headfrightful with gory tusks: and she rejoicedin Meleager and his royal gift.But all the others, envious, beganto murmur; and the sons of Thestiuslevelled their pointed spears, and shouted out;“Give up the prize! Let not the confidenceof your great beauty be a snare to you!A woman should not interfering filchthe manly honors of a mighty hunt!Aside! and let your witless lover yield!”So threatened they and took from her the prize;and forcibly despoiled him of his rights.The warlike prince, indignant and enraged,—rowed with resentment, shouted out. “What! Ho!You spoilers of this honor that is ours,brave deeds are different far from craven threats!”And with his cruel sword he pierced the breastof rash Plexippus, taken unawares,and while his brother, Toxeus, struck with fear,stood hesitating whether to avengeor run to safety, Meleager plungedthe hot sword, smoking with a brother's blood,in his breast also. And so perished they.Ere this, Althaea, mother of the prince,and sister of the slaughtered twain,—becauseher son had killed the boar, made haste to bearrich offerings to the temples of the Gods;but when she saw her slaughtered brothers bornein sad procession, she began to shriek,and filled the city with her wild lament.Unwilling to abide her festal robesshe dressed in sable.—When she was informedher own son Meleager was the cause,she banished grief and lamentations,—thirsting for vengeance.
Forsitan et Pylius citra Troiana perissettempora: sed sumpto posita conamine ab hastaarboris insiluit, quae stabat proxima, ramisdespexitque, loco tutus, quem fugerat hostem.Dentibus ille ferox in querno stipite tritisinminet exitio fidensque recentibus armisEurytidae magni rostro femur hausit adunco.At gemini, nondum caelestia sidera, fratres,ambo conspicui, nive candidioribus ambovectabantur equis, ambo vibrata per aurashastarum tremulo quatiebant spicula motu.Vulnera fecissent, nisi saetiger inter opacasnec iaculis isset nec equo loca pervia silvas.Persequitur Telamon studioque incautus eundipronus ab arborea cecidit radice retentus.Dum levat hunc Peleus, celerem Tegeaea sagittamimposuit nervo sinuatoque expulit arcu.Fixa sub aure feri summum destrinxit harundocorpus et exiguo rubefecit sanguine saetas.Nec tamen illa sui successu laetior ictus,quam Meleagros erat. Primus vidisse putaturet primus sociis visum ostendisse cruoremet “meritum” dixisse “feres virtutis honorem.”Erubuere viri seque exhortantur et adduntcum clamore animos iaciuntque sine ordine tela:turba nocet iactis et, quos petit, impedit ictus.Ecce furens contra sua fata bipennifer Arcas“discite, femineis quid tela virilia praestent,o iuvenes, operique meo concedite!” dixit.“Ipsa suis licet hunc Latonia protegat armis,invita tamen hunc perimet mea dextra Diana.”Talia magniloquo tumidus memoraverat oreancipitemque manu tollens utraque securiminstiterat digitis, primos suspensus in artus.Occupat audentem, quaque est via proxima leto,summa ferus geminos direxit ad inguina dentes.Concidit Ancaeus glomerataque sanguine multoviscera lapsa fluunt: madefacta est terra cruore.Ibat in adversum proles Ixionis hostemPirithous valida quatiens venabula dextra.Cui “procul” Aegides “o me mihi carior” inquit“pars animae consiste meae! licet eminus essefortibus: Ancaeo nocuit temeraria virtus.”Dixit et aerata torsit grave cuspide cornum.Quo bene librato votique potente futuro,obstitit abscisa frondosus ab arbore ramus.Misit et Aesonides iaculum: quod casus ab illovertit in inmeriti fatum latrantis et interilia coniectum tellure per ilia fixum est.At manus Oenidae variat, missisque duabushasta prior terra, medio stetit altera tergo.Nec mora, dum saevit, dum corpora versat in orbemstridentemque novo spumam cum sanguine fundit,vulneris auctor adest hostemque inritat ad iramsplendidaque adversos venabula condit in armos.Gaudia testantur socii clamore secundovictricemque petunt dextrae coniungere dextraminmanemque ferum multa tellure iacentemmirantes spectant, neque adhuc contingere tutumesse putant; sed tela tamen sua quisque cruentat.Ipse pede imposito caput exitiabile pressitatque ita “sume mei spolium, Nonacria, iuris,”dixit “et in partem veniat mea gloria tecum.”Protinus exuvias rigidis horrentia saetisterga dat et magnis insignia dentibus ora.Illi laetitiae est cum munere muneris auctor:invidere alii, totoque erat agmine murmur.E quibus ingenti tendentes bracchia voce“pone age nec titulos intercipe, femina, nostros,”Thestiadae clamant “nec te fiducia formaedecipiat, ne sit longe tibi captus amoreauctor” et huic adimunt munus, ius muneris illi.Non tulit et tumida frendens Mavortius ira“discite, raptores alieni” dixit “honoris,facta minis quantum distent,” hausitque nefandopectora Plexippi nil tale timentia ferro.Toxea, quid faciat, dubium pariterque volentemulcisci fratrem fraternaque fata timentemhaud patitur dubitare diu calidumque prioricaede recalfecit consorti sanguine telum.Dona deum templis nato victore ferebat,cum videt exstinctos fratres Althaea referri.Quae plangore dato maestis clamoribus urbemimplet et auratis mutavit vestibus atras.At simul est auctor necis editus, excidit omnisluctus et a lacrimis in poenae versus amorem est.