While with his songs, Orpheus, the bard of Thrace,allured the trees, the savage animals,and even the insensate rocks, to follow him;Ciconian matrons, with their raving breastsconcealed in skins of forest animals,from the summit of a hill observed him there,attuning love songs to a sounding harp.One of those women, as her tangled hairwas tossed upon the light breeze shouted, “See!Here is the poet who has scorned our love!”Then hurled her spear at the melodious mouthof great Apollo's bard: but the spear's point,trailing in flight a garland of fresh leaves,made but a harmless bruise and wounded not.The weapon of another was a stone,which in the very air was overpoweredby the true harmony of his voice and lyre,and so disabled lay before his feet,as asking pardon for that vain attempt.The madness of such warfare then increased.All moderation is entirely lost,and a wild Fury overcomes the right.—although their weapons would have lost all force,subjected to the power of Orpheus' harp,the clamorous discord of their boxwood pipes,the blaring of their horns, their tambourinesand clapping hands and Bacchanalian yells,with hideous discords drowned his voice and harp.—at last the stones that heard his song no morefell crimson with the Thracian poet's blood.Before his life was taken, the maenads turnedtheir threatening hands upon the many birds,which still were charmed by Orpheus as he sang,the serpents, and the company of beasts—fabulous audience of that worshipped bard.And then they turned on him their blood-stained hands:and flocked together swiftly, as wild birds,which, by some chance, may see the bird of nightbeneath the sun. And as the savage dogsrush on the doomed stag, loosed some bright fore-noon,on blood-sand of the amphitheatre;they rushed against the bard, with swifthurled thyrsi which, adorned with emerald leaveshad not till then been used for cruelty.And some threw clods, and others branches tornfrom trees; and others threw flint stones at him,and, that no lack of weapons might restraintheir savage fury then, not far from thereby chance they found some oxen which turned upthe soil with ploughshares, and in fields nearbywere strong-armed peasants, who with eager sweatworked for the harvest as they dug hard fields;and all those peasants, when they saw the troopof frantic women, ran away and lefttheir implements of labor strown upondeserted fields—harrows and heavy rakesand their long spadesafter the savage mobhad seized upon those implements, and tornto pieces oxen armed with threatening horns,they hastened to destroy the harmless bard,devoted Orpheus; and with impious hate,murdered him, while his out-stretched hands imploredtheir mercy—the first and only time his voicehad no persuasion. O great Jupiter!Through those same lips which had controlled the rocksand which had overcome ferocious beasts,his life breathed forth, departed in the air.The mournful birds, the stricken animals,the hard stones and the weeping woods, all thesethat often had followed your inspiring voice,bewailed your death; while trees dropped their green leaves,mourning for you, as if they tore their hair.They say sad rivers swelled with their own tears—naiads and dryads with dishevelled hairwore garments of dark color.His torn limbswere scattered in strange places. Hebrus thenreceived his head and harp—and, wonderful!While his loved harp was floating down the stream,it mourned for him beyond my power to tell.His tongue though lifeless, uttered a mournful soundand mournfully the river's banks replied:onward borne by the river to the seathey left their native stream and reached the shoreof Lesbos at Methymna. Instantly,a furious serpent rose to attack the headof Orpheus, cast up on that foreign sand—the hair still wet with spray. Phoebus at lastappeared and saved the head from that attack:before the serpent could inflict a sting,he drove it off, and hardened its wide jawsto rigid stone.Meanwhile the fleeting shadeof Orpheus had descended under earth:remembering now those regions that he sawwhen there before, he sought Eurydicethrough fields frequented by the blest; and whenhe found her, folded her in eager arms.Then lovingly they wandered side by side,or he would follow when she chose to lead,or at another time he walked in front,looking back, safely,—at Eurydice.Bacchus would not permit the wickednessof those who slaughtered Orpheus to remainunpunished. Grieving for the loss of hisloved bard of sacred rites, at once he boundwith twisted roots the feet of everyoneof those Edonian women who had causedthe crime of Orpheus' death.Their toes grew long.He thrust the sharp points in the solid earth.As when a bird entangled in a snare,hid by the cunning fowler, knows too latethat it is held, then vainly beats its wings,and fluttering only makes more tight the noosewith every struggle; so each woman-fiendwhose feet were sinking in the soil, when sheattempted flight, was held by deepening roots.And while she looks down where her toes and nailsand feet should be, she sees wood growing upfrom them and covering all her graceful legs.Full of delirious grief, endeavoringto smite with right hand on her changing thigh,she strikes on solid oak. Her tender breastand shoulders are transformed to rigid oak.You would declare that her extended armsare real branches of a forest tree,and such a thought would be the very truth.
Carmine dum tali silvas animosque ferarumThreicius vates et saxa sequentia ducit,ecce nurus Ciconum, tectae lymphata ferinispectora velleribus, tumuli de vertice cernuntOrphea percussis sociantem carmina nervis.E quibus una, leves iactato crine per auras,“en,” ait “en hic est nostri contemptor!” et hastamvatis Apollinei vocalia misit in ora,quae foliis praesuta notam sine vulnere fecit;alterius telum lapis est, qui missus in ipsoaere concentu victus vocisque lyraeque estac veluti supplex pro tam furialibus ausisante pedes iacuit. Sed enim temeraria crescuntbella modusque abiit, insanaque regnat Erinys.Cunctaque tela forent cantu mollita, sed ingensclamor et infracto Berecyntia tibia cornutympanaque et plausus et Bacchei ululatusobstrepuere sono citharae: tum denique saxanon exauditi rubuerunt sanguine vatis.Ac primum attonitas etiamnum voce canentisinnumeras volucres anguesque agmenque ferarumMaenades, Orphei titulum, rapuere, theatri.Inde cruentatis vertuntur in Orphea dextriset coeunt ut aves, si quando luce vagantemnoctis avem cernunt. Structoque utrimque theatroceu matutina cervus periturus harenapraeda canum est, vatemque petunt et fronde virentesconiciunt thyrsos non haec in munera factos.Hae glaebas, illae direptos arbore ramos,pars torquent silices. Neu desint tela furori,forte boves presso subigebant vomere terram,nec procul hinc multo fructum sudore parantesdura lacertosi fodiebant arva coloni.Agmine qui viso fugiunt operisque relinquuntarma sui, vacuosque iacent dispersa per agrossarculaque rastrique graves longique ligones.Quae postquam rapuere ferae cornuque minacidivulsere boves, ad vatis fata recurruntTendentemque manus et in illo tempore primuminrita dicentem nec quicquam voce moventemsacrilegae perimunt. Perque os, pro Iuppiter! illudauditum saxis intellectumque ferarumsensibus in ventos anima exhalata recessit.Te maestae volucres, Orpheu, te turba ferarum,te rigidi silices, tua carmina saepe secutaefleverunt silvae, positis te frondibus arbortonsa comas luxit. Lacrimis quoque flumina dicuntincrevisse suis, obstrusaque carbasa pullonaides et dryades passosque habuere capillos.Membra iacent diversa locis. Caput, Hebre, lyramqueexcipis, et (mirum!) medio dum labitur amne,flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile linguamurmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae.Iamque mare invectae flumen populare relinquuntet Methymnaeae potiuntur litore Lesbi.Hic ferus expositum peregrinis anguis harenisos petit et sparsos stillanti rore capillos.Tandem Phoebus adest morsusque inferre parantemarcet et in lapidem rictus serpentis apertoscongelat et patulos, ut erant, indurat hiatus.Umbra subit terras et quae loca viderat ante,cuncta recognoscit quaerensque per arva pioruminvenit Eurydicen cupidisque amplectitur ulnis.Hic modo coniunctis spatiantur passibus ambo,nunc praecedentem sequitur, nunc praevius anteitEurydicenque suam iam tutus respicit Orpheus.Non impune tamen scelus hoc sinit esse Lyaeus,amissoque dolens sacrorum vate suorumprotinus in silvis matres Edonidas omnes,quae videre nefas, torta radice ligavit.utque suum laqueis, quos callidus abdidit auceps,crus ubi commisit volucris sensitque teneri,plangitur ac trepidans adstringit vincula motu:sic, ut quaeque solo defixa cohaeserat harum,exsternata fugam frustra temptabat; at illamlenta tenet radix exsultantemque coercet,dumque ubi sint digiti, dum pes ubi, quaerit, et ungues,adspicit in teretes lignum succedere suras,et conata femur maerenti plangere dextra,robora percussit: pectus quoque robora fiunt,robora sunt umeri, porrectaque bracchia verosesse putes ramos, et non fallere putando.
And not content with this, Bacchus resolvedto leave that land, and with a worthier trainwent to the vineyards of his own Tmolusand to Pactolus, though the river wasnot golden, nor admired for precious sands.His usual throng of Satyrs and of Bacchanalssurrounded him; but not Silenus, whowas then detained from him. The Phrygian folkhad captured him, as he was staggering, faintwith palsied age and wine. And after theybound him in garlands, they led him to their kingMidas, to whom with the CecropianEumolpus, Thracian Orpheus had shown allthe Bacchic rites. When Midas recognizedhis old time friend Silenus, who had beenso often his companion in the ritesof Bacchus, he kept joyful festival,with his old comrade, twice five days and nights.Upon the eleventh day, when Luciferhad dimmed the lofty multitude of stars,King Midas and Silenus went from therejoyful together to the Lydian lands.There Midas put Silenus carefullyunder the care of his loved foster-child,young Bacchus. He with great delight, becausehe had his foster-father once again,allowed the king to choose his own reward—a welcome offer, but it led to harm.And Midas made this ill-advised reply:“Cause whatsoever I shall touch to changeat once to yellow gold.” Bacchus agreedto his unfortunate request, with griefthat Midas chose for harm and not for good.The Berecynthian hero, king of Phrygia,with joy at his misfortune went away,and instantly began to test the worthof Bacchus' word by touching everything.Doubtful himself of his new power, he pulleda twig down from a holm-oak, growing ona low hung branch. The twig was turned to gold.He lifted up a dark stone from the groundand it turned pale with gold. He touched a clodand by his potent touch the clod becamea mass of shining gold. He plucked some ripe,dry spears of grain, and all that wheat he touchedwas golden. Then he held an apple whichhe gathered from a tree, and you would thinkthat the Hesperides had given it.If he but touched a lofty door, at onceeach door-post seemed to glisten. When he washedhis hands in liquid streams, the lustrous dropsupon his hands might have been those which onceastonished Danae. He could not nowconceive his large hopes in his grasping mind,as he imagined everything of gold.And, while he was rejoicing in great wealth,his servants set a table for his meal,with many dainties and with needful bread:but when he touched the gift of Ceres withhis right hand, instantly the gift of Ceresstiffened to gold; or if he tried to bitewith hungry teeth a tender bit of meat,the dainty, as his teeth but touched it, shoneat once with yellow shreds and flakes of gold.And wine, another gift of Bacchus, whenhe mixed it in pure water, can be seenin his astonished mouth as liquid gold.Confounded by his strange misfortune—richand wretched—he was anxious to escapefrom his unhappy wealth. He hated allhe had so lately longed for. Plenty couldnot lessen hunger and no remedyrelieved his dry, parched throat. The hated goldtormented him no more than he deserved.Lifting his hands and shining arms to heaven,he moaned. “Oh pardon me, father Lenaeus!I have done wrong, but pity me, I pray,and save me from this curse that looked so fair.”How patient are the gods! Bacchus forthwith,because King Midas had confessed his fault,restored him and annulled the promise given,annulled the favor granted, and he said:“That you may not be always cased in gold,which you unhappily desired, departto the stream that flows by that great town of Sardisand upward trace its waters, as they glidepast Lydian heights, until you find their source.Then, where the spring leaps out from mountain rock,plunge head and body in the snowy foam.At once the flood will take away your curse.”King Midas did as he was told and plungedbeneath the water at the river's source.And the gold virtue granted by the god,as it departed from his body, tingedthe stream with gold. And even to this houradjoining fields, touched by this ancient veinof gold, are hardened where the river flowsand colored with the gold that Midas left.
Nec satis hoc Baccho est: ipsos quoque deserit agroscumque choro meliore sui vineta TimoliPactolonque petit, quamvis non aureus illotempore nec caris erat invidiosus harenis.Hunc adsueta cohors satyri bacchaeque frequentant,at Silenus abest: titubantem annisque meroqueruricolae cepere Phryges vinctumque coronisad regem duxere Midan, cui Thracius Orpheusorgia tradiderat cum Cecropio Eumolpo.Quem simul agnovit socium comitemque sacrorum,hospitis adventu festum genialiter egitper bis quinque dies et iunctas ordine noctes.Et iam stellarum sublime coegerat agmenLucifer undecimus, Lydos cum laetus in agrosrex venit et iuveni Silenum reddit alumno.Huic deus optandi gratum, sed inutile, fecitmuneris arbitrium, gaudens altore recepto.Ille male usurus donis ait “effice, quidquidcorpore contigero fulvum vertatur in aurum.”Adnuit optatis nocituraque munera solvitLiber, et indoluit, quod non meliora petisset.Laetus abit gaudetque malo Berecyntius herospollicitique fidem tangendo singula temptatVixque sibi credens non alta fronde virentemilice detraxit virgam: virga aurea facta est.Tollit humo saxum: saxum quoque palluit auro.Contigit et glaebam: contactu glaeba potentimassa fit. Arentes Cereris decerpsit aristas:aurea messis erat. Demptum tenet arbore pomum:Hesperidas donasse putes. Si postibus altisadmovit digitos, postes radiare videntur.Ille etiam liquidis palmas ubi laverat undis,unda fluens palmis Danaen eludere posset.Vix spes ipse suas animo capit aurea fingensomnia. Gaudenti mensas posuere ministriexstructas dapibus nec tostae frugis egentes.Tum vero, sive ille sua Cerealia dextramunera contigerat, Cerealia dona rigebant,sive dapes avido convellere dente parabat,lammina fulva dapes admoto dente premebat.Miscuerat puris auctorem muneris undis:fusile per rictus aurum fluitare videres.Attonitus novitate mali, divesque miserque,effugere optat opes et, quae modo voverat, odit.Copia nulla famem relevat; sitis arida guttururit, et inviso meritus torquetur ab auroAd caelumque manus et splendida bracchia tollens“da veniam, Lenaee pater! peccavimus,” inquit,“sed miserere, precor, speciosoque eripe damno.”Mite deum numen: Bacchus peccasse fatentemrestituit factique fide data munera solvit“Neve male optato maneas circumlitus auro,vade” ait “ad magnis vicinum Sardibus amnemperque iugum ripae labentibus obvius undiscarpe viam, donec venias ad fluminis ortus,spumigeroque tuum fonti, qua plurimus exit,subde caput corpusque simul, simul elue crimen.”Rex iussae succedit aquae: vis aurea tinxitflumen et humano de corpore cessit in amnem.Nunc quoque iam veteris percepto semine venaearva rigent auro madidis pallentia glaebis.
Abhorring riches he inhabitedthe woods and fields, and followed Pan who dwellsalways in mountain-caves: but still obtuseremained, from which his foolish mind again,by an absurd decision, harmed his life.He followed Pan up to the lofty mountTmolus, which from its great height looks faracross the sea. Steep and erect it standsbetween great Sardis and the small Hypaepa.While Pan was boasting there to mountain nymphsof his great skill in music, and while hewas warbling a gay tune upon the reeds,cemented with soft wax, in his conceithe dared to boast to them how he despisedApollo's music when compared with his—.At last to prove it, he agreed to standagainst Apollo in a contest whichit was agreed should be decided byTmolus as their umpire.This old godsat down on his own mountain, and first easedhis ears of many mountain growing trees,oak leaves were wreathed upon his azure hairand acorns from his hollow temples hung.First to the Shepherd-god Tmolus spoke:“My judgment shall be yours with no delay.Pan made some rustic sounds on his rough reeds,delighting Midas with his uncouth notes;for Midas chanced to be there when he played.When Pan had ceased, divine Tmolus turnedto Phoebus, and the forest likewise turnedjust as he moved. Apollo's golden lockswere richly wreathed with fresh Parnassian laurel;his robe of Tyrian purple swept the ground;his left hand held his lyre, adorned with gemsand Indian ivory. His right hand heldthe plectrum—as an artist he stood therebefore Tmolus, while his skilful thumbtouching the strings made charming melody.Delighted with Apollo's artful touch,Tmolus ordered Pan to hold his reedsexcelled by beauty of Apollo's lyre.That judgment of the sacred mountain godpleased all those present, all but Midas, whoblaming Tmolus called the award unjust.The Delian god forbids his stupid earsto hold their native human shape;and, drawing them out to a hideous length,he fills them with gray hairs, and makes them bothunsteady, wagging at the lower part:still human, only this one part condemned,Midas had ears of a slow-moving ass.Midas, careful to hide his long ears, worea purple turban over both, which hidhis foul disgrace from laughter. But one daya servant, who was chosen to cut his hairwith steel, when it was long, saw his disgrace.He did not dare reveal what he had seen,but eager, to disclose the secret, duga shallow hole, and in a low voice toldwhat kind of ears were on his master's head.All this he whispered in the hollow earthhe dug, and then he buried all he saidby throwing back the loose earth in the holeso everything was silent when he left.A grove thick set with quivering reedsbegan to grow there, and when it matured,about twelve months after that servant left,the grove betrayed its planter. For, moved bya gentle South Wind, it repeated allthe words which he had whispered, and disclosedfrom earth the secret of his master's ears.
Ille, perosus opes, silvas et rura colebatPanaque montanis habitantem semper in antris.Pingue sed ingenium mansit, nocituraque, ut ante,rursus erant domino stultae praecordia mentis.Nam freta prospiciens late riget arduus altoTmolus in adscensu, clivoque extensus utroqueSardibus hinc, illinc parvis finitur Hypaepis.Pan ibi dum teneris iactat sua carmina nymphiset leve cerata modulatur harundine carmen,ausus Apollineos prae se contemnere cantus,iudice sub Tmolo certamen venit ad impar.Monte suo senior iudex consedit et auresliberat arboribus: quercu coma caerula tantumcingitur, et pendent circum cava tempora glandes.Isque deum pecoris spectans “in indice” dixit“nulla mora est.” Calamis agrestibus insonat illebarbaricoque Midan (aderat nam forte canenti)carmine delenit. Post hunc sacer ora retorsitTmolus ad os Phoebi: vultum sua silva secuta est.Ille caput flavum lauro Parnaside vinctusverrit humum Tyrio saturata murice palla,instrictamque fidem gemmis et dentibus Indissustinet a laeva; tenuit manus altera plectrum.Artificis status ipse fuit. Tum stamina doctopollice sollicitat, quorum dulcedine captusPana iubet Tmolus citharae submittere cannas.Iudicium sanctique placet sententia montisomnibus, arguitur tamen atque iniusta vocaturunius sermone Midae; nec Delius aureshumanam stolidas patitur retinere figuram,sed trahit in spatium villisque albentibus impletinstabilesque imas facit et dat posse moveri,cetera sunt hominis: partem damnatur in unaminduiturque aures lente gradientis aselli.Ille quidem celare cupit, turpisque pudoretempora purpureis temptat velare tiaris.Sed solitus longos ferro resecare capillosviderat hoc famulus. Qui cum nec prodere visumdedecus auderet, cupiens efferre sub auras,nec posset reticere tamen, secedit humumqueeffodit et, domini quales adspexerit aures,voce refert parva terraeque inmurmurat haustae,indiciumque suae vocis tellure regestaobruit et scrobibus tacitus discedit opertis.Creber harundinibus tremulis ibi surgere lucuscoepit et, ut primum pleno maturuit anno,prodidit agricolam: leni nam motus ab austroobruta verba refert dominique coarguit aures.
His vengence now complete, Latona's sonborne through the liquid air, departed fromTmolus, and then rested on the landof Laomedon, this side the narrow seadividing Phrygia from the land of Thrace.The promontory of Sigaeum rightand on the left Rhoetaeum loftily arose;and at that place an ancient altar hadbeen dedicated to great Jove, the godPanomphaean. And near that place he sawlaomedon, beginning then to buildthe walls of famous Troy. He was convincedthe task exceeded all the power of man,requiring great resource. Together withthe trident-bearing father of the deep,he assumed a mortal form: and those two godsagreed to labor for a sum of goldand built the mighty wall. But that false kingrefused all payment, adding perjuryto his false bargaining. Neptune, enraged,said, “You shall not escape your punishment.”And he drove all his waters high uponthe shores of Troy—built there through perfidy.The sad land seemed a sea: the hard-earned wealthof all its farmers was destroyedand overwhelmed by furious waves.This awful punishment was not enough.The daughter of the king was soon requiredas food for a sea-monster—. Hesionewas chained to rugged rocks. But Herculesdelivered from all harm the royal maidand justly he demanded of the king,her father, payment of the promised steeds;but that perfidious king refused to keephis promise. Hercules enraged, becauseall payment was denied to him for hisgreat service, captured the twice-perjured wallsof conquered Troy. And as a fair reward,he gave to Telamon, who fought for him,Hesione, loved daughter of that king.For Peleus had a goddess as his brideand he was prouder of his father-in-lawthan of his grandsire. Since not he alonewas grandson of great Jove, but he alonewas honored with a goddess for a wife.
Ultus abit Tmolo liquidumque per aera vectusangustum citra pontum Nepheleidos HellesLaomedonteis Latoius adstitit arvis.Dextera Sigei, Rhoetei laeva profundiara Panomphaeo vetus est sacrata Tonanti.Inde novae primum moliri moenia TroiaeLaomedonta videt susceptaque magna laborecrescere difficili nec opes exposcere parvascumque tridentigero tumidi genitore profundimortalem induitur formam Phrygiaeque tyrannoaedificat muros, pactus pro moenibus aurum.Stabat opus: pretium rex infitiatur et addit,perfidiae cumulum, falsis periuria verbis.“Non impune feres” rector maris inquit et omnesinclinavit aquas ad avarae litora Troiae,inque freti formam terras complevit opesqueabstulit agricolis et fluctibus obruit agros.Poena neque haec satis est: regis quoque filia monstroposcitur aequoreo; quam dura ad saxa revinctamvindicat Alcides promissaque munera, dictosposcit equos, tantique operis mercede negatabis periura capit superatae moenia Troiae.Nec pars militiae, Telamon, sine honore recessit,Hesioneque data potitur. Nam coniuge Peleusclarus erat diva: nec avi magis ille superbusnomine, quam soceri, siquidem Iovis esse nepoticontigit haud uni, coniunx dea contigit uni.
To Thetis, aged Proteus once had said,“Oh goddess of the waves, you shall conceive,and you shall be the mother of a youthwho by heroic actions will surpassthe deeds of his own father, and your sonshall be superior to his father's power.”So Jupiter, although the flame of lovefor Thetis burned his breast, would not embracethe lovely daughter of the sea, and urgedhis grandson Peleus, son of Aeacus,to wed the green haired maid without delay.There is a curved bay of Haemonia,where like an arch, two bending armsproject out in the waves, as if to forma harbor; but the water is not deep—although enough to hide a shoal of sand.It has a firm shore which will not retaina foot's impression, nor delay the step—no seaweeds grow in that vicinity.There is a grove of myrtle near that placethick-hung with berries, blended of twin shades.A cave within the middle of that groveis found, and whether it was formed by artor nature is not known, although it seemsa work of art. There Thetis often went,quite naked, seated on her dolphin, whichwas harnessed. Peleus seized her there when shewas fast asleep: and after he had triedto win her by entreaties, while she longcontinued to resist him, he resolvedto conquer her by violence, and seizedher neck with both arms. She resorted thento all her usual art, and often changed:her shape as it was known, so that he failedin his attempt. At first she was a bird,but while she seemed a bird he held her fast;and then she changed herself to a large tree,and Peleus clung with ardor to the tree;her third disguise was as a spotted tigress,which frightened him so that he lost his hold.Then, as he poured wine on the heaving sea,he prayed unto the sea green gods and gavethem sacrifice of sheep entrails, and smokeof frankincense. He ceased not, till at lastthe prophet of Carpathia, as he roseup from a deep wave, said, “Hark unto me,O son of Aeacus! and you shall havethe bride your heart desires: when she at restlies sleeping in the cool wave, you must bindher while she is unwary, with strong cordsand complicated bonds, And never lether arts deceive you when she imitatesa hundred varied forms, but hold her fast,whatever she may seem, until she shallat length assume the shape she had at first.”So Proteus cautioned him, and hid his facebeneath the waves as his last words were said.Now Titan was descending and the poleof his bright chariot as it downward bentilluminated the Hesperian main;and at that time the lovely Nereid,Thetis, departing from her ocean wave,entered the cavern for desired repose.Peleus was waiting there. Immediately,just as he seized upon the virgin's limbs,she changed her shape and perservereduntil convinced she could not overcomehis hold—for her two arms were forced apart—she groaned and said, “You could not overcomeme in this way, but some divinityhas given you the power.” Then she appearedas Thetis: and, when Peleus saw her nowdeprived of all deceptions, he embracedher and was father of the great Achilles.
Namque senex Thetidi Proteus “dea” dixerat “undae,concipe: mater eris iuvenis, qui fortibus annisacta patris vincet maiorque vocabitur illo.”Ergo, ne quicquam mundus Iove maius haberet,quamvis haud tepidos sub pectore senserat ignes,Iuppiter aequoreae Thetidis conubia fugitin suaque Aeaciden succedere vota nepotemiussit et amplexus in virginis ire marinae.Est sinus Haemoniae curvos falcatus in arcus:bracchia procurrunt, ubi, si foret altior unda,portus erat (summis inductum est aequor harenis);litus habet solidum, quod nec vestigia servetnec remoretur iter, nec opertum pendeat alga.Myrtea silva subest bicoloribus obsita baciset specus in medio (natura factus an arte,ambiguum, magis arte tamen), quo saepe venirefrenato delphine sedens, Theti, nuda solebas.Illic te Peleus, ut somno vincta iacebas,occupat: et quoniam precibus temptata repugnas,vim parat, innectens ambobus colla lacertis.Quod nisi venisses variatis saepe figurisad solitas artes, auso foret ille potitus.Sed modo tu volucris (volucrem tamen ille tenebat),nunc gravis arbor eras (haerebat in arbore Peleus),tertia forma fuit maculosae tigridis: illaterritus Aeacides a corpore bracchia solvit.Isque deos pelagi vino super aequora fusoet pecoris fibris et fumo turis adorat,donec Carpathius medio de gurgite vates“Aeacide,” dixit, “thalamis potiere petitis!Tu modo, cum rigido sopita quiescit in antro,ignaram laqueis vincloque innecte tenaci.Nec te decipiat centum mentita figuras,sed preme, quidquid erit, dum, quod fuit ante, reformet!”Dixerat haec Proteus et condidit aequore vultumadmisitque suos in verba novissima fluctus.Pronus erat Titan inclinatoque tenebatHesperium temone fretum, cum pulchra relectoNereis ingreditur consueta cubilia saxo.Vix bene virgineos Peleus invaserat artus,illa novat formas, donec sua membra tenerisentit et in partes diversas bracchia tendi.Tum demum ingemuit, “neque” ait “sine numine vincis”exhibita estque Thetis. Confessam amplectitur heroset potitur votis ingentique implet Achille.
Great Peleus' heart was filled with happiness;because of his great son and Thetis hisdear wife: he was blest in everything, exceptin killing Phocus. The Trachinian landreceived him guilty of his brother's blood;when he fled, banished from his native home.There Ceyx, who had the fine countenanceof Lucifer his father, reigned as king,without the cost of violence or blood.Before this time his days had always givenhim joy and comfort, but all now was changed,for he was mourning a loved brother's death.Peleus, outwearied with his journey's length.Left his fine flock of sheep and all the herdshe had brought with him, not far from the wallsof that city, where Ceyx long had reigned.He entered with an olive branch all swathedin woolen fillets, symbol of good will,and with a suppliant hand disclosed his name.He told the monarch who he was, alsohis father's name. But he concealed his crime,giving untruthful reasons for his flight:and begged a refuge either in town or field.The king of Trachyn answered with kind words:“Ah, Peleus, even the lowest ranks enjoyour bounties and our hospitality,and you bring with you powers which compellattention and respect. Your name is soillustrious, and is not Jupiteryour grandsire? Do not lose your time by suchentreaties. Everything you may desireis yours as soon as known, and all you seeis partly yours, but in how sad a state!”And then he wept. When Peleus and his friendsasked him the reason of his grief he said,“Perchance you deem that bird which lives on prey,which is the terror of all other birds,had always feathered wings? It was a man.And now the vigor of its courage isas great as when well known by his man's name,Daedalion, bold in wars and strong and harsh,and not afraid to hazard violence.His father was unequalled Lucifer,star of the Morning, who at dawn brings forthAurora, and withdraws the last of allthe shining stars of heaven.—My brother nameddaedalion, son of that great star, was fondof cruel warfare, while I cherished peaceand loved the quiet of my married life.This brother, powerful in the art of war,subdued strong kings and nations.—And 'tis hetransformed from manhood, now a bird of prey,that so relentlessly pursues the doves,known as the pride of Thisbe's citizens.“My brother had a daughter Chioneso beautiful she pleased a thousand men,when she had reached the marriageable ageof twice seven years. It happened by some chancethat Phoebus and the son of Maia, whoreturned—one from his Delphi, the other fromCyllene's heights—beheld this lovely maidboth at the same time, and were both inflamedwith passion. Phoebus waited till the night.Hermes could not endure delay and withthe magic of his wand, that causes sleep,he touched the virgin's face; and instantly,as if entranced, she lay there fast asleep,and suffered violence from the ardent god.When night bespangled the wide heaven with stars,Phoebus became an aged crone and gainedthe joy he had deferred until that hour.“When her mature womb had completed timeAutolycus was born, a crafty son,who certainly inherited the skillof wingfoot Mereury, his artful sire,notorious now; for every kind of theft.In fact, Autolycus with Mercury's craft,loved to make white of black, and black of white.“But Phoebus' child, for Chione bore twins,was named Philammon, like his sire, well known.To all men for the beauty of his song.And famous for his handling of the lyre.“What benefit in life did she obtainbecause she pleased! two gods and bore such twins?Was she blest by good fortune then becauseshe was the daughter of a valiant father,and even the grandchild of the Morning Star?Can glory be a curse? Often it is.“And surely it was so for Chione.It was a prejudice that harmed her daysbecause she vaunted that she did surpassDiana's beauty and decried her charms:the goddess in hot anger answered her,sarcastically, ‘If my face cannotgive satisfaction, let me try my deeds.’“Without delay Diana bent her bow,and from the string an arrow swiftly flew,and pierced the vaunting tongue of Chione.Her tongue was silenced, and she tried in vainto speak or make a sound, and while she triedher life departed with the flowing blood.“Embracing her, I shared her father's grief.I spoke consoling words to my dear brother,he heard them as a cliff might hear the sea.And he lamented bitterly the lossof his dear daughter, snatched away from him.“Ah! when he saw her burning, he was filledwith such an uncontrolled despair, he rushedfour times to leap upon the blazing pyre;and after he had been four times repulsed,he turned and rushed away in headlong flightthrough trackless country, as a bullock flees,his swollen neck pierced with sharp hornet-stings,it seemed to me he ran beyond the speedof any human being. You would thinkhis feet had taken wings, he left us farbehind and swift in his desire for deathhe stood at last upon Parnassus' height.“Apollo pitied him.—And when Daedalionleaped over the steep cliff, Apollo's powertransformed him to a bird; supported himwhile he was hovering in the air uponuncertain wings, of such a sudden growth.Apollo, also, gave him a curved beak,and to his slender toes gave crooked claws.His former courage still remains, with strengthgreater than usual in birds. He changedto a fierce hawk; cruel to all, he ventshis rage on other birds. Grieving himselfhe is a cause of grief to all his kind.”While Ceyx, the royal son of Lucifer,told these great wonders of his brother's life;Onetor, who had watched the while those herdswhich Peleus had assigned to him, ran upwith panting speed; and cried out as he ran,“Peleus, Peleus! I bring you dreadful news!”Peleus asked him to tell what had gone wrongand with King Ceyx he listened in suspense.
Felix et nato, felix et coniuge Peleuset cui, si demas iugulati crimina Phoci,omnia contigerant. Fraterno sanguine sontemexpulsumque domo patria Trachinia tellusaccipit. Hic regnum sine vi, sine caede regebatLucifero genitore satus patriumque nitoremore ferens Ceyx, illo qui tempore maestusdissimilisque sui fratrem lugebat ademptum.Quo postquam Aeacides fessus curaque viaquevenit et intravit paucis comitantibus urbem,quosque greges pecorum, quae secum armenta trahebat,haud procul a muris sub opaca valle reliquit,copia cum facta est adeundi prima tyranni,velamenta manu praetendens supplice, qui sitse quoque satus, memorat, tantum sua crimina celatmentiturque fugae causam: petit, urbe vel agrose iuvet. Hunc contra placido Trachinius oretalibus adloquitur: “Mediae quoque commoda plebinostra patent, Peleu, nec inhospita regna tenemus.Adicis huic animo momento potentia, clarumnomen avumque Iovem. Ne tempora perde precando!Quod petis, omne feres tuaque haec pro parte vocato,qualiacumque vides! Utinam meliora videres!'Et flebat: moveat tantos quae causa dolores,Peleusque comitesque rogant. Quibus ille profatur:“Forsitan hanc volucrem, rapto quae vivit et omnesterret aves, semper pennas habuisse putetis:acer erat belloque ferox ad vimque paratus,nomine Daedalion. Illo genitore creatis,qui vocat auroram caeloque novissimus exit,(cura mihi pax est) pacis mihi cura tenendaeconiugiique fuit, fratri fera bella placebant:illius virtus reges gentesque subegit,quae nunc Thisbaeas agitat mutata columbas.Nata erat huic Chione. Quae dotatissima formamille procos habuit, bis septem nubilis annis.Forte revertentes Phoebus Maiaque creatus,ille suis Delphis, hic vertice Cylleneo,videre hanc pariter, pariter traxere calorem.Spem veneris differt in tempora noctis Apollo,non fert ille moras virgaque movente soporemvirginis os tangit: tactu iacet illa potentivimque dei patitur. Nox caelum sparserat astris:Phoebus anum simulat praereptaque gaudia sumit.Ut sua maturus complevit tempora venter,alipedis de stirpe dei versuta propagonascitur, Autolycus, furtum ingeniosus ad omne,candida de nigris et de candentibus atraqui facere adsuerat, patriae non degener artis;nascitur e Phoebo (namque est enixa gemellos)carmine vocali clarus citharaque Philammon.Quid peperisse duos et dis placuisse duobuset forti genitore et progenitore Tonantiesse satam prodest? An obest quoque gloria? multisOffuit, huic certe! Quae se praeferre Dianaesustinuit faciemque deae culpavit. At illiira ferox mota est “factis” que “placebimus” inquit.Nec mora, curvavit cornu nervoque sagittamimpulit et meritam traiecit harundine linguam.Lingua tacet, nec vox temptataque verba sequuntur,conantemque loqui cum sanguine vita reliquit.Quo miser amplexus ego tum patriumque doloremcorde tuli fratrique pio solacia dixi!Quae pater haud aliter quam cautes murmura pontiaccipit et natam delamentatur ademptam.Ut vero ardentem vidit, quater impetus illiin medios fuit ire rogos; quater inde repulsusconcita membra fugae mandat similisque iuvencospicula crabronum pressa cervice gerenti,qua via nulla, ruit. Iam tum mihi currere visusplus homine est, alasque pedes sumpsisse putares.Effugit ergo omnes veloxque cupidine letivertice Parnasi potitur. Miseratus Apollo,cum se Daedalion saxo misisset ab alto,fecit avem et subitis pendentem sustulit alisoraque adunca dedit, curvos dedit unguibus hamos,virtutem antiquam, maiores corpore vires.Et nunc accipiter, nulli satis aequus, in omnessaevit aves aliisque dolens fit causa dolendi.”Quae dum Lucifero genitus miracula narratde consorte suo, cursu festinus anheloadvolat armenti custos Phoceus Onetoret “Peleu, Peleu! magnae tibi nuntius adsumcladis” ait. Quodcumque ferat, iubet edere Peleus,pendet et ipse metu trepidi Trachinius oris.
“I drove the weary bullocks to the shore,”Onetor then began, “About the timewhen the high burning Sun in middle course,could look back on as much as might be seenremaining: and some cattle had then benttheir knees on yellow sand; and as they laymight view the expanse of water stretched beyond.Some with slow steps were wandering here and there,and others swimming, stretched their lofty necksabove the waves. A temple near that seawas fair to view, although 'twas not adornedwith gold nor marble. It was richly madeof beams, and shaded with an ancient grove.“A sailor, while he dried his nets uponthe shore nearby, declared that aged Nereuspossessed it with his Nereids, as the godswho ruled the neighboring waters. Very nearit is a marsh, made by the encroaching waves,all thickly covered with low willow trees.“From there a loud uncanny crashing soundalarms the neighborhood. A monster-wolf!All stained with mud he breaks forth from the marsh,his thundering jaws thick-covered with vile foamand clotted blood—his fierce eyes flashing flamesof crimson: and though he was raging, bothwith fury and with hunger, the true causeof his fierce passions was Ferocity.“He never paused to sate his ravenous hungerwith the first cattle that he fell upon,but mangled the whole herd, as if at war.And some of us, while we defended them,were wounded with his fatal bite and killed.—the shore and nearest waves were red with blood,and marshy fens were filled with mournful sounds—the longings of our cattle.—This delayis dangerous. We must not hesitate.We must unite before all is destroyed!Take up your arms. Arm! and unite, I say!And bear our weapons for the cause of Right!”So spoke the countryman, and yet the losshad no effect on Peleus, though severe,for he, remembering his red crime, believedthe Nereid had given him that loss—a just misfortune, as an offeringto the departed Phocus. After this,King Ceyx, while he put his armor on,ordered his men to arm themselves with theirbest weapons, and to follow his command.But his fond wife, Halcyone, arousedby such a tumult, ran to him in haste;in such haste that her hair was still unfinished,and such as had been done, she threwin wild disorder.—Clinging to the neckof her loved husband, she entreated himwith words and tears, to send his men along.But keep himself at home and so to savetwo lives in one.But Peleus said “O queen,'Tis sweet and commendable in you to fearbut needless. Though you promise generous aid,my hope lies not in fighting with the beast,I must appease a goddess of the sea.And the divinity of ocean mustbe properly adored.”A lofty toweris near there, and upon its extreme heighta signal-fire is burning night and day,known to the grateful ships. They all went there;and from its summit they beheld with sighs,the mangled cattle scattered on the shore,and saw the ravager among the herd,his blood-stained jaws and long hair dripping blood.Then Peleus stretched his arms out towards the sea,and he implored the azure Psamatheto lay aside her wrath and give him aid.But she was deaf to any word of Peleusentreating her, and would not offer aid,till Thetis, interceding on behalfof her afflicted husband, moved her will.The monster-wolf persisted in his rage,even when the sea nymph bade him turn aside.His keen ferocity increased by tasteof new sweet blood; till Psamathe, while hewas seizing the last mangled heifer's neck,transformed him to hard marble. Every partof that ferocious monster's shape remainedbut it was changed to marble colored stone,which showed the monster was no more a wolf,and should no longer be a cause of fear.But still, the guiding Fates did not permitthe banished Peleus to continue there,in this land governed by the friendly king.A wandering exile, he proceeded northinto Magnesia; and was purifiedof guilt by King Acastus of that land.
Ille refert: “Fessos ad litora curva iuvencosadpuleram, medio cum Sol altissimus orbetantum respiceret, quantum superesse videret;parsque boum fulvis genua inclinarat harenislatarumque iacens campos spectabat aquarum,pars gradibus tardis illuc errabat et illuc,nant alii celsoque exstant super aequora collo.Templa mari subsunt nec marmore clara neque auro,sed trabibus densis lucoque umbrosa vetusto.Nereides Nereusque tenent: hos navita pontiedidit esse deos, dum retia litore siccat.Iuncta palus huic est, densis obsessa salictis,quam restagnantis fecit maris unda paludem.Inde fragore gravi strepitus loca proxima terretbelua vasta, lupus! Udisque paludibus exit,oblitus et spumis et sparsus sanguine rictus,fulmineus, rubra suffusus lumina flamma.Qui quamquam saevit pariter rabieque fameque,acrior est rabie: neque enim ieiunia curatcaede boum diramque famem finire, sed omnevulnerat armentum sternitque hostiliter omne.Pars quoque de nobis funesto saucia morsu,dum defensamus, leto est data. Sanguine litusundaque prima rubet demugitaeque paludes. —Sed mora damnosa est, nec res dubitare remittit:dum superest aliquid, cuncti coeamus et arma,arma capessamus coniunctaque tela feramus!”Dixerat agrestis; nec Pelea damna movebant,sed, memor admissi, Nereida conligit orbamdamna sua inferias exstincto mittere Phoco.Induere arma viros violentaque sumere telarex iubet Oetaeus; cum quis simul ipse parabatire, sed Alcyone coniunx excita tumultuprosilit et, nondum totos ornata capillos,disicit hos ipsos, colloque infusa mariti,mittat ut auxilium sine se, verbisque precaturet lacrimis, animasque duas ut servet in una.Aeacides illi: “Pulchros, regina, piosquepone metus! Plena est promissi gratia vestri.Non placet arma mihi contra nova monstra moveri:numen adorandum pelagi est.” Erat ardua turrisarce focus summa, fessis loca grata carinis.Adscendunt illuc stratosque in litore tauroscum gemitu adspiciunt vastatoremque cruentoore ferum, longos infectum sanguine villos.Inde manus tendens in aperti litora ponticaeruleam Peleus Psamathen, ut finiat iram,orat, opemque ferat; nec vocibus illa rogantisflectitur Aeacidae: Thetis hanc pro coniuge supplexaccepit veniam. Sed enim revocatus ab acricaede lupus perstat, dulcedine sanguinis asper,donec inhaerentem lacerae cervice iuvencaemarmore mutavit. Corpus praeterque coloremomnia servavit: lapidis color indicat illumiam non esse lupum, iam non debere timeri.Nec tamen hac profugum consistere Pelea terrafata sinunt: Magnetas adit vagus exul et illicsumit ab Haemonio purgamina caedis Acasto.
King Ceyx, disturbed by his loved brother's fateand prodigies which happened since that time,prepared to venture to the Clarian god,that he might there consult the oracle,so sanctified to consolation of distress:for then the way to Delphi was unsafebecause of Phorbas and his Phlegyans.Before he went he told his faithful queen,his dear Halcyone. She felt at onceterror creep through the marrow of her bones,pallor of boxwood overspread her face,and her two cheeks were wet with gushing tears.Three times she tried to speak while tears and sobsdelayed her voice, until at last she said:—“What fault of mine, my dearest, has so changedyour usual thoughts? Where is that care for methat always has stood first? Can you leave mefor this long journey with no anxious fear—Halcyone, forsaken in these halls?Will this long journey be a pleasant changebecause far from you I should be more dear?Perhaps you think you will go there by land,and I shall only grieve, and shall not fearthe sea affrights me with its tragic face.Just lately I observed some broken planksupon our seashore, and I've read and readthe names of seamen on their empty tombs!“Oh, let no false assurance fill your mindbecause your father-in-law is Aeolus.Who in a dungeon shuts the stormful windsand smoothes at will the troubled ocean wavessoon as the winds get freedom from his power,they take entire possession of the deep,and nothing is forbidden their attack;and all the rights of every land and seaare disregarded by them. They insulteven the clouds of heaven and their wildconcussions urge the lightnings to strike fires.The more I know of them, for I knewthem in my childhood and I often sawthem from my father's home, the more I fear.“But, O dear husband! if this new resolvecan not be altered by my prayers and fears,and if you are determined, take me, too:some comfort may be gained, if in the stormswe may be tossed together. I shall fearonly the ills that really come to us,together we can certainly endurediscomforts till we gain that distant land.”Such words and tears of the daughter of Aeolusgave Ceyx, famed son of the Morning Star,much thought and sorrow; for the flame of loveburned in his heart as strongly as in hers.Reluctant to give up the voyage, even moreto make Halcyone his partner onthe dangerous sea, he answered her complaintsin many ways to pacify her breast,but could not comfort her until at lasthe said, “This separation from your lovewill be most sorrowful; and so I swearto you, as witnessed by the sacred fireof my Star-father, if the fates permitmy safe return, I will come back to youbefore the moon has rounded twice her orb.”These promises gave hope of his return.Without delay he ordered a ship shouldbe drawn forth from the dock, launched in the sea,and properly supplied against the needsof travel.—Seeing this, Halcyone,as if aware of future woe, shuddered,wept, and embraced him, and in extreme woesaid with a sad voice, “Ah—Farewell!” and then,her nerveless body sank down to the ground.While Ceyx longed for some pretext to delay,the youthful oarsmen, chosen for their strength,in double rows began to draw the oarsback towards their hardy breasts, cutting the waveswith equal strokes. She raised her weeping eyesand saw her husband on the high-curved stern.He by his waving hand made signs to her,and she returned his signals. Then the shipmoved farther from the shore until her eyescould not distinguish his loved countenance.Still, while she could, she followed with her gazethe fading hull; and, when that too was lostfar in the distance, she remained and gazedat the white topsails, waving from the mast.But, when she could no longer see the sails,with anxious heart she sought her lonely couchand laid herself upon it. Couch and roomrenewed her sorrow and reminded herhow much of life was absent on the sea.The ship had left the harbor, and the breezeshook the taut rigging. Now the captain badethe idle oars be drawn up to the sides.They ran the pointed sailyards up the mastand with spread canvas caught the coming breeze.Perhaps the ship had not sailed half her course,on every side the land was out of sightin fact at a great distance, when, towards darkthe sea grew white with its increasing waves,while boisterous east winds blew with violence.—prompt in his duty, the captain warns his crew,“Lower the top sails—quick—furl all the sailstight to the yards!”—He ordered, but the stormbore all his words away, his voice could notbe heard above the roaring of the sea.But of their own accord some sailors rushedto draw the oars in, others to securethe sides from danger, and some strove to pullthe sails down from the wind. One pumps the wavesup from the hold, and pours the rushing seaagain into the sea; another takesthe yards off.—While such things are being donewithout command or order, the wild stormincreases, and on every side fierce windswage a destructive warfare, which stirs upthe furious waters to their utmost power.Even the captain, terrified, confessedhe did not know the status of the ship,and could not order nor forbid the men—so great the storm, so far beyond his skill.Then he gave up control, while frightened menshouted above the rattled cordage shocks,and heavy waves were dashed against huge waves,and ail the sky reverberated withterrific thunders. The deep sea upturnedtremendous billows, which appeared to reachso near the heaven they touched the heavy cloudswith foam of their tossed waters.—At one time,while the great billows churned up yellow sandfrom off the bottom, the wild rolling waveswere of that color. At another timethey were more black than water of the Styx.Sometimes they levelled, white with lashing foam.
Interea fratrisque sui fratremque secutisanxia prodigiis turbatus pectora Ceyx,consulat ut sacras, hominum oblectamina, sortes,ad Clarium parat ire deum; nam templa profanusinvia cum Phlegyis faciebat Delphica Phorbas.Consilii tamen ante sui, fidissima, certamte facit, Alcyone; cui protinus intima frigusossa receperunt, buxoque simillimus orapallor obit, lacrimisque genae maduere profusis.Ter conata loqui ter fletibus ora rigavit,singultuque pias interrumpente querellas“quae mea culpa tuam,” dixit “carissime, mentemvertit? Ubi est quae cura mei prior esse solebat?Iam potes Alcyone securus abesse relicta?Iam via longa placet? Iam sum tibi carior absens?At, puto, per terras iter est, tantumque dolebo,non etiam metuam, curaeque timore carebunt.Aequora me terrent et ponti tristis imago:et laceras nuper tabulas in litore vidi,et saepe in tumulis sine corpore nomina legi.Neve tuum fallax animum fiducia tangat,quod socer Hippotades tibi sit, qui carcere fortescontineat ventos et, cum velit, aequora placet!Cum semel emissi tenuerunt aequora venti,nil illis vetitum est, incommendataque tellusomnis et omne fretum est. Caeli quoque nubila vexantexcutiuntque feri rutilos concursibus ignes.Quo magis hos novi (nam novi et saepe paternaparva domo vidi), magis hos reor esse timendos.Quod tua si flecti precibus sententia nullis,care, potest, coniunx, nimiumque es certus eundi,me quoque tolle simul. Certe iactabimur una,nec nisi quae patiar, metuam: pariterque feremus,quidquid erit, pariter super aequora lata feremur.”Talibus Aeolidis dictis lacrimisque movetursidereus coniunx: neque enim minor ignis in ipso est.Sed neque propositos pelagi dimittere cursus,nec vult Alcyonen in partem adhibere pericli,multaque respondit timidum solantia pectus.Non tamen idcirco causam probat; addidit illishoc quoque lenimen, quo solo flexit amantem:“Longa quidem est nobis omnis mora: sed tibi iuroper patrios ignes, si me modo fata remittant,ante reversurum, quam luna bis impleat orbem.”His ubi promissis spes est admota recursus,protinus eductam navalibus aequore tingiarmarique suis pinum iubet armamentis.Qua rursus visa, veluti praesaga futuri,horruit Alcyone lacrimasque emisit obortasamplexusque dedit, tristique miserrima tandemore “vale” dixit conlapsaque corpore toto est.Ast iuvenes, quaerente moras Ceyce, reducuntordinibus geminis ad fortia pectora remosaequalique ictu scindunt freta. Sustulit illaumentes oculos, stantemque in puppe relictaconcussaque manu dantem sibi signa maritumprima videt redditque notas; ubi terra recessitlongius atque oculi nequeunt cognoscere vultus,dum licet, insequitur fugientem lumine pinum.Haec quoque ut haud poterat, spatio submota, videri,vela tamen spectat summo fluitantia malo;ut nec vela videt, vacuum petit anxia lectumseque toro ponit; renovat lectusque locusqueAlcyonae lacrimas et, quae pars, admonet, absit.Portibus exierant, et moverat aura rudentes:obvertit lateri pendentes navita remoscornuaque in summa locat arbore totaque malocarbasa deducit venientesque accipit auras.Aut minus, aut certe medium non amplius aequorpuppe secabatur, longeque erat utraque tellus,cum mare sub noctem tumidis albescere coepitfluctibus et praeceps spirare valentius eurus.“Ardua iamdudum demittite cornua” rectorclamat “et antemnis totum subnectite velum.”Hic iubet: impediunt adversae iussa procellae,nec sinit audiri vocem fragor aequoris ullam.Sponte tamen properant alii subducere remos,pars munire latus, pars ventis vela negare.Egerit hic fluctus aequorque refundit in aequor,hic rapit antemnas. Quae dum sine lege geruntur,aspera crescit hiems, omnique e parte ferocesbella gerunt venti fretaque indignantia miscent.Ipse pavet nec se, qui sit status, ipse fateturscire ratis rector, nec, quid iubeatve velitve:tanta mali moles tantoque potentior arte est.Quippe sonant clamore viri, stridore rudentes,undarum incursu gravis unda, tonitribus aether.Fluctibus erigitur caelumque aequare videturpontus et inductas adspergine tangere nubes;et modo, cum fulvas ex imo vertit harenas,concolor est illis, Stygia modo nigrior unda,sternitur interdum spumisque sonantibus albet.Ipsa quoque his agitur vicibus Trachinia puppis,et nunc sublimis veluti de vertice montisdespicere in valles imumque Acheronta videtur,nunc, ubi demissam curvum circumstetit aequor,suspicere inferno summum de gurgite caelum.Saepe dat ingentem fluctu latus icta fragoremnec levius pulsata sonat, quam ferreus olimcum laceras aries ballistave concutit arces.Utque solent sumptis incursu viribus irepectore in arma feri protentaque tela leones,sic ubi se ventis admiserat unda coortis,ibat in arma ratis multoque erat altior illis.Iamque labant cunei, spoliataque tegmine ceraerima patet praebetque viam letalibus undis.Ecce cadunt largi resolutis nubibus imbres,inque fretum credas totum descendere caelum,inque plagas caeli tumefactum adscendere pontum.Vela madent nimbis, et cum caelestibus undisaequoreae miscentur aquae; caret ignibus aether,caecaque nox premitur tenebris hiemisque suisque.Discutiunt tamen has praebentque micantia lumenfulmina: fulmineis ardescunt ignibus ignes.Dat quoque iam saltus intra cava texta carinaefluctus; et ut miles, numero praestantior omni,cum saepe adsiluit defensae moenibus urbis,spe potitur tandem laudisque accensus amoreinter mille viros murum tamen occupat unus,sic, ubi pulsarunt noviens latera ardua fluctus,vastius insurgens decimae ruit impetus undae;nec prius absistit fessam oppugnare carinam,quam velut in captae descendat moenia navis.Pars igitur temptabat adhuc invadere pinum,pars maris intus erat. Trepidant haud segnius omnes,quam solet urbs, aliis murum fodientibus extraatque aliis murum, trepidare, tenentibus intus.Deficit ars animique cadunt, totidemque videntur,quot veniunt fluctus, ruere atque inrumpere mortes.Non tenet hic lacrimas, stupet hic, vocat ille beatos,funera quos maneant: hic votis numen adoratbracchiaque ad caelum, quod non videt, inrita tollensposcit opem, subeunt illi fraterque parensque,huic cum pignoribus domus et quodcumque relictum est.Alcyone Ceyca movet, Ceycis in orenulla nisi Alcyone est; et cum desideret unam,gaudet abesse tamen. Patriae quoque vellet ad orasrespicere inque domum supremos vertere vultus,verum ubi sit, nescit; tanta vertigine pontusfervet, et inducta piceis e nubibus umbraomne latet caelum, duplicataque noctis imago est.Frangitur incursu nimbosi turbinis arbor,frangitur et regimen, spoliisque animosa superstesunda, velut victrix, sinuataque despicit undas,nec levius, quam siquis Athon Pindumve revulsossede sua totos in apertum everterit aequor,praecipitata cadit pariterque et pondere et ictumergit in ima ratem; cum qua pars magna virorum,gurgite pressa gravi neque in aera reddita, fatofuncta suo est: alii partes et membra carinaetrunca tenent: tenet ipse manu, qua sceptra solebat,fragmina navigii Ceyx socerumque patremqueinvocat heu! frustra. Sed plurima nantis in oreAlcyone coniunx: illam meminitque refertque,illius ante oculos ut agant sua corpora fluctus,optat et exanimis manibus tumuletur amicis.Dum natat, absentem, quotiens sinit hiscere fluctus,nominat Alcyonen ipsisque inmurmurat undis.Ecce super medios fluctus niger arcus aquarumfrangitur et rupta mersum caput obruit unda.Lucifer obscurus nec quem cognoscere possesilla luce fuit, quoniamque excedere caelonon licuit, densis texit sua nubibus ora.Aeolis interea tantorum ignara malorumdinumerat noctes, et iam, quas induat illefestinat vestes, iam quas, ubi venerit ille,ipsa gerat, reditusque sibi promittit inanes.Omnibus illa quidem superis pia tura ferebat,ante tamen cunctos Iunonis templa colebatproque viro, qui nullus erat, veniebat ad arasutque foret sospes coniunx suus utque rediret,optabat, nullamque sibi praeferret; at illihoc de tot votis poterat contingere solum.At dea non ultra pro functo morte rogarisustinet; utque manus funestas arceat aris,“Iri, meae” dixit “fidissima nuntia vocis,vise soporiferam Somni velociter aulamexstinctique iube Ceycis imagine mittatsomnia ad Alcyonen veros narrantia casus.”Dixerat: induitur velamina mille colorumIris, et arcuato caelum curvamine signanstecta petit iussi sub nube latentia regis.