Glowing with gold, flaming with carbuncleson stately columns raised, refulgent shonethe palace of the Sun, with polished domeof ivory gleaming, and with portals twainof burnished silver. And the workmanshipexceeded all the wealth of gems and gold;for there had Mulciber engraved the seasencircling middle earth; the round of earth,and heaven impending over the land.And thereamid the waves were azure deities:melodious Triton and elusive Proteus; thereAegeaan pressing with his arms the backs.Of monstrous whales; and Doris in the seaand all her daughters; some amid the wavesand others sitting on the bank to drytheir sea-green hair, and others borne aboutby fishes. Each was made to show a fairresemblance to her sisters—yet not oneappearance was assigned to all—they seemedas near alike as sisters should in truth.And men and cities, woods and savage beasts,and streams and nymphs, and sylvan deitieswere carved upon the land; and over thesean image of the glittering sky was fixed;—six signs were on the right, six on the left.Here when audacious Phaethon arrivedby steep ascending paths, without delayhe entered in the shining palace-gatesof his reputed parent, making hasteto stand in his paternal presence. There,unable to endure the dazzling light,he waited at a distance.Phoebus sat,arrayed in royal purple, on a thronethat glittered with the purest emeralds.—there to the left and right, Day, Month and Year,time and the Hours, at equal distance stood;and vernal Spring stood crowned with wreathed flowers;and naked Summer stood with sheaves of wheat;and Autumn stood besmeared with trodden grapes;and icy Winter rough with hoary hair.And from the midst, with orbs that view the world,Phoebus beheld the trembling youth, fear-struck,in mute amazement, and he said; “Declarethe reason of thy journey. What wilt thouin this my palace, Phaethon my childbeloved?”And to him replied the youth;“O universal light of all the world,my father Phoebus, if thy name be mine,if Clymene has not concealed her sinbeneath some pretext, give to me, my sire,a token to declare thy fatherhoodwhich may establish my assured descent,and leave no dark suspicions in our minds.”—then Phoebus from his shining brows cast downhis circling rays; called Phaethon to him,and as he held him to his breast replied;“O child most worthy of thy sire, the truthwas told thee by thy mother; wherefore doubtsto dissipate, consider thy desire,and ask of me that I may freely give:yea, let the Nether Lake, beyond our view,(which is the oath of Gods inviolate)be witness to my word.”When this was saidthe happy youth at once began to pleadcommand and guidance of his father's steeds,wing-footed, and his chariot for a day.But Phoebus much repented that he sware,and thrice and four times shook his radiant head;“Ah, would I might refuse my plighted word;and oh, that it were lawful to denythe promised boon.—For I confess, O son,this only I should keep from thee—and yet'Tis lawful to dissuade. It is unsafeto satisfy thy will. It is a greatrequest, O Phaethon, which neither suitsthy utmost strength nor tender years; for thouart mortal, and thou hast aspired to thingsimmortal. Ignorance has made thy thoughttranscend the province of the Gods. I vauntno vain exploits; but only I can standsecurely on the flame-fraught axle-tree:even the Ruler of Olympian Gods,who hurls fierce lightnings with his great right hand,may never dare to drive this chariot,and what art thou to equal mighty Jove?“The opening path is steep and difficult,for scarcely can the steeds, refreshed at dawn,climb up the steeps: and when is reached the height,extreme of midmost Heaven, and sea and earthare viewed below, my trembling breast is filledwith fearful apprehensions: and requiresthe last precipitous descent a surecommand. Then, also, Tethys, who receivesme in her subject waves, is wont to fearlest I should fall disastrous. And aroundthe hastening sky revolves in constant whirl,drawing the lofty stars with rapid twist.“I struggle on. The force that overcomesthe heavenly bodies overwhelms me not,and I am borne against that rapid globe.Suppose the chariot thine: what canst thou do?Canst thou drive straight against the twisted poleand not be carried from the lofty pathby the swift car? Art thou deceived to thinkthere may be groves and cities of the Gods,and costly temples wondrously endowed?“The journey is beset with dreadful snaresand shapes of savage animals. If thoushouldst hold upon thy way without mistakeyet must thy journey be through Taurus' horns,and through the Bow Haemonian, and the jawsof the fierce Lion, and the cruel armsof Scorpion, bent throughout a vast expanse,—and Cancer's curving arms reversely bent.“It is no easy task for thee to rulethe mettled four-foot steeds, enflamed in firesthat kindle in their breasts, forth issuingin breathings from their mouths and nostrils hot;—I scarce restrain them, as their struggling neckspull on the harness, when their heated firesare thus aroused.“And, O my son, lest Imay be the author of a baneful gift,beware, and as the time permits recallthy rash request. Forsooth thou hast besoughtundoubted signs of thy descent from me?My fears for thee are certain signs that thouart of my race—by my paternal fears'Tis manifest I am thy father. Lo!Behold my countenance! and oh, that thoucouldst even pierce my bosom with thine eyes,and so discover my paternal cares!“Look round thee on the treasured world's delightsand ask the greatest blessing of the sky,or sea or land, and thou shalt suffer norepulse: but only this I must deplore,which rightly named would be a penaltyand not an honour.—Thou hast made requestof punishment and not a gift indeed.O witless boy! why dost thou hold my neckwith thy caressing arms? For, doubt it not,as I have sworn it by the Stygian Waves,whatever thou shalt wish, it shall be given—but thou shouldst wish more wisely.”
Regia Solis erat sublimibus alta columnis,clara micante auro flammasque imitante pyropo:cuius ebur nitidum fastigia summa tegebat,argenti bifores radiabant lumine valvae.Materiam superabat opus: nam Mulciber illicaequora caelarat medias cingentia terras,terrarumque orbem, caelumque quod inminet orbi.Caeruleos habet unda deos, Tritona canorumProteaque ambiguum, balaenarumque prementemAegaeona suis inmania terga lacertis,Doridaque et natas, quarum pars nare videtur,pars in mole sedens virides siccare capillos,pisce vehi quaedam: facies non omnibus una,non diversa tamen, qualem decet esse sororum.Terra viros urbesque gerit silvasque ferasquefluminaque et nymphas et cetera numina ruris.Haec super imposita est caeli fulgentis imagosignaque sex foribus dextris totidemque sinistris.Quo simul acclivi Clymeneia limite prolesvenit et intravit dubitati tecta parentis,protinus ad patrios sua fert vestigia vultusconsistitque procul: neque enim propiora ferebatlumina. Purpurea velatus veste sedebatin solio Phoebus claris lucente smaragdis.A dextra laevaque Dies et Mensis et AnnusSaeculaque et positae spatiis aequalibus HoraeVerque novum stabat cinctum florente corona,stabat nuda Aestas et spicea serta gerebat,stabat et Autumnus, calcatis sordidus uvis,et glacialis Hiems, canos hirsuta capillos.Inde loco medius rerum novitate paventemSol oculis iuvenem, quibus adspicit omnia, vidit“quae” que “viae tibi causa? quid hac” ait “arce petisti,progenies, Phaethon, haud infitianda parenti?”Ille refert “o lux inmensi publica mundi,Phoebe pater, si das usum mihi nominis huiusnec falsa Clymene culpam sub imagine celat,pignera da, genitor, per quae tua vera propagocredar, et hunc animis errorem detrahe nostris.”Dixerat: at genitor circum caput omne micantesdeposuit radios propiusque accedere iussit;amplexuque dato “nec tu meus esse negaridignus es, et Clymene veros” ait “edidit ortus.Quoque minus dubites, quodvis pete munus, ut illudme tribuente feras. Promissis testis adestodis iuranda palus, oculis incognita nostris.”Vix bene desierat, currus rogat ille paternosinque diem alipedum ius et moderamen equorum.Paenituit iurasse patrem. Qui terque quaterqueconcutiens inlustre caput “temeraria” dixitvox mea facta tua est. Utinam promissa liceretnon dare! confiteor, solum hoc tibi, nate, negarem.Dissuadere licet. Non est tua tuta voluntas.Magna petis, Phaethon, et quae nec viribus istismunera conveniant nec tam puerilibus annis.Sors tua mortalis, non est mortale quod optas.Plus etiam, quam quod superis contingere possit,nescius adfectas. Placeat sibi quisque licebit,non tamen ignifero quisquam consistere in axeme valet excepto. Vasti quoque rector Olympi,qui fera terribili iaculatur fulmina dextra,non agat hos currus: et quid Iove maius habemus?Ardua prima via est et qua vix mane recentesenitantur equi: medio est altissima caelo,unde mare et terras ipsi mihi saepe viderefit timor, et pavida trepidat formidine pectus.Ultima prona via est et eget moderamine certo:tunc etiam quae me subiectis excipit undis,ne ferar in praeceps, Tethys solet ipsa vereri.Adde quod adsidua rapitur vertigine caelumsideraque alta trahit celerique volumine torquet.Nitor in adversum, nec me, qui cetera, vincitimpetus, et rapido contrarius evehor orbi.Finge datos currus: quid ages? poterisne rotatisobvius ire polis, ne te citus auferat axis?Forsitan et lucos illic urbesque deorumconcipias animo delubraque ditia donisesse? per insidias iter est formasque ferarum.Utque viam teneas nulloque errore traharis,per tamen adversi gradieris cornua tauriHaemoniosque arcus violentique ora leonissaevaque circuitu curvantem bracchia longoscorpion atque aliter curvantem bracchia cancrum.Nec tibi quadrupedes animosos ignibus illis,quos in pectore habent, quos ore et naribus efflant,in promptu regere est: vix me patiuntur, ubi acresincaluere animi, cervixque repugnat habenis.At tu, funesti ne sim tibi muneris auctor,nate, cave, dum resque sinit, tua corrige vota.Scilicet ut nostro genitum te sanguine credas,pignera certa petis? do pignera certa timendoet patrio pater esse metu probor. Adspice vultusecce meos; utinamque oculos in pectora possesinserere et patrias intus deprendere curas!Denique quidquid habet dives, circumspice, mundus,eque tot ac tantis caeli terraeque marisqueposce bonis aliquid: nullam patiere repulsam.Deprecor hoc unum, quod vero nomine poena,non honor est: poenam, Phaethon, pro munere poscis.Quid mea colla tenes blandis, ignare, lacertis?ne dubita, dabitur (Stygias iuravimus undas)quodcumque optaris: sed tu sapientius opta.”
So were allhis admonitions said, availing naught;for Phaethon resisted his advice,and urged again his claim, and eagerly burnedto use the chariot. Wherefore, Phoebus longdelaying and reluctant, took the youthto view the spacious chariot, gift of Vulcan.—gold was the axle and the beam was gold,the great Wheel had a golden tire and spokesof silver; chrysolites and diamondsreflected from the spangled yoke the lightof Phoebus.While aspiring Phaethon admiredthe glittering chariot and its workmanship,the vigilant Aurora opened forthher purple portals from the ruddy east,disclosing halls replete with roses. Allthe stars took flight, while Lucifer, the lastto quit his vigil, gathered that great hostand disappeared from his celestial watch.And when his father, Phoebus, saw the earthand the wide universe in glowing tintsarrayed, as waned the Moon's diminished horns,far-distant, then he bade the nimble Hoursto yoke the steeds.—At once the Deitiesaccomplished his commands, and led the steeds,ambrosia-fed and snorting flames, from outtheir spacious stalls; and fixed their sounding bits.Then with a hallowed drug the father touchedthe stripling's face, to make him proof againstthe rapid flame, and wrought around his hairthe sun-rays. But, foreboding grief, he said,while many a sigh heaved from his anxious breast;“If thou canst only heed thy father's voice—be sparing of the whip and use with nervethe reins; for of their own accord the steedswill hasten. Difficult are they to checkin full career. Thou must not drive the cardirectly through five circles, for the tracktakes a wide curve, obliquely, and is boundby the extreme edge of three zones.—It avoidsthe Southern Pole, and it avoids the Bearthat roams around the north. The way is plain;the traces of the Wheel are manifest.“Observe with care that both the earth and skyhave their appropriate heat—Drive not too low,nor urge the chariot through the highest plane;for if thy course attain too great a heightthou wilt consume the mansions of the sky,and if too low the land will scorch with heat.“Take thou the middle plane, where all is safe;nor let the Wheel turn over to the rightand bear thee to the twisted Snake! nor letit take thee to the Altar on the left—so close to earth—but steer the middle course.—to Fortune I commit thy fate, whose carefor thee so reckless of thyself I pray.“While I am speaking humid night has touchedthe margin of Hesperian shores. 'Tis notfor us to idle; we are called away;—when bright Aurora shines the darkness flies.Take up the reins! But if thy stubborn breastbe capable of change use not our car,but heed my counsel while the time permits,and while thy feet are on a solid base,but not, according to thy foolish wish,pressing the axle. Rather let me lightthe world beneath thy safe and wondering gaze.”But Phaethon with youthful vigor leaped,and in the light-made chariot lightly stood:and he rejoiced, and with the reins in handthanked his reluctant parent.InstantlyEous, Aethon, Pyrois and Phlegon,the winged horses of the Sun, gave ventto flame-like neighs that filled the shaking air;they pawed the barriers with their shining hoofs.Then Tethys, witless of her grandson's fatelet back the barriers,—and the universewas theirs to traverse. Taking the well-known road,and moving through the air with winged feet,they pierced resisting clouds, and spreading widetheir pinions soared upon the eastern wind,far-wafted from that realm. But Phaethon,so easy of their yoke, lost all control,and the great car was tossed,—as tapered shipswhen lightened of their ballast toss and heaveunsteady in the surging seas: the carleaped lightly in the air, and in the heightswas tossed unsteady as an empty shell.Soon as the steeds perceived it, with a rushimpetuous, they left the beaten track;regardless of all order and control;and Phaethon filled with fear, knew not to guidewith trusted reins, nor where the way might be—nor, if he knew, could he control their flight.Warmed in the sunshine, never felt before,the gelid Triones attempted vainto bathe in seas forbid: the Serpent coldand torpid by the frozen Pole, too coldfor contest, warmed, and rage assumed from heatbootes, troubled by the heat, took flight,impeded by his wain.And as from skiesof utmost height unhappy Phaethonbeheld the earth receding from his view,a pallor spread his cheeks with sudden fear;his knees began to quake; and through the flareof vast effulgence darkness closed his eyes.Now vainy he regrets he ever touchedhis father's steeds, and he is stunned with griefthat so entreating he prevailed to knowhis true descent. He rather would be calledthe son of Merops. As a ship is tossedby raging Boreas, when the conquered helmhas been abandoned, and the pilot leavesthe vessel to his vows and to the Gods;so, helpless, he is borne along the sky.What can he? Much of heaven remains behind;a longer distance is in front of him—each way is measured in his anxious mind.—at first his gaze is fixed upon the west,which fate has destined he shall never reach,and then his eyes turn backward to the east.—so, stupefied and dazed he neither daresto loose the bits, nor tighten on the reins,and he is ignorant of the horses' names.
Finierat monitus: dictis tamen ille repugnatpropositumque premit flagratque cupidine currus.Ergo qua licuit genitor cunctatus ad altosdeducit iuvenem, Vulcania munera, currus.Aureus axis erat, temo aureus, aurea summaecurvatura rotae, radiorum argenteus ordo;per iuga chrysolithi positaeque ex ordine gemmaeclara repercusso reddebant lumina Phoebo.Dumque ea magnanimus Phaethon miratur opusqueperspicit, ecce vigil nitido patefecit ab ortupurpureas Aurora fores et plena rosarumatria. Diffugiunt stellae, quarum agmina cogitLucifer et caeli statione novissimus exit.Quem petere ut terras mundumque rubescere viditcornuaque extremae velut evanescere lunae,iungere equos Titan velocibus imperat Horis.Iussa deae celeres peragunt, ignemque vomentes,ambrosiae suco saturos, praesepibus altisquadrupedes ducunt adduntque sonantia frena.Tum pater ora sui sacro medicamine naticontigit et rapidae fecit patientia flammaeimposuitque comae radios, praesagaque luctuspectore sollicito repetens suspiria dixit:“Si potes his saltem monitis parere parentis,parce, puer, stimulis et fortius utere loris:sponte sua properant; labor est inhibere volentes.Nec tibi directos placeat via quinque per arcus:sectus in obliquum est lato curvamine limes,zonarumque trium contentus fine polumqueeffugit australem iunctamque aquilonibus arcton.Hac sit iter: manifesta rotae vestigia cernes.Utque ferant aequos et caelum et terra calores,nec preme nec summum molire per aethera currum.Altius egressus caelestia tecta cremabis,inferius terras: medio tutissimus ibis.Neu te dexterior tortum declinet ad anguem,neve sinisterior pressam rota ducat ad aram:inter utrumque tene. Fortunae cetera mando,quae iuvet et melius quam tu tibi, consulat opto.Dum loquor, Hesperio positas in litore metasumida nox tetigit. Non est mora libera nobis:poscimur: effulget tenebris aurora fugatis.Corripe lora manu, vel, si mutabile pectusest tibi, consiliis, non curribus utere nostris,dum potes et solidis etiamnunc sedibus adstasdumque male optatos nondum premis inscius axes.Quae tutus spectes, sine me dare lumina terris!”Occupat ille levem iuvenali corpore currum,statque super manibusque datas contingere habenasgaudet et invito grates agit inde parenti.Interea volucres Pyrois et Eous et Aethon,Solis equi, quartusque Phlegon, hinnitibus aurasflammiferis implent pedibusque repagula pulsant.Quae postquam Tethys, fatorum ignara nepotisreppulit, et facta est inmensi copia caeli,corripuere viam pedibusque per aera motisobstantes scindunt nebulas pennisque levatipraetereunt ortos isdem de partibus Euros.Sed leve pondus erat, nec quod cognoscere possentSolis equi, solitaque iugum gravitate carebat;utque labant curvae iusto sine pondere navesperque mare instabiles nimia levitate feruntur,sic onere adsueto vacuus dat in aera saltussuccutiturque alte similisque est currus inani.Quod simulac sensere, ruunt tritumque relinquuntquadriiugi spatium, nec quo prius ordine currunt.Ipse pavet nec qua commissas flectat habenas,nec scit, qua sit iter; nec, si sciat, imperet illis.Tum primum radiis gelidi caluere trioneset vetito frustra temptarunt aequore tingi,quaeque polo posita est glaciali proxima serpens,frigore pigra prius nec formidabilis ulli,incaluit sumpsitque novas fervoribus iras.Te quoque turbatum memorant fugisse, Boote,quamvis tardus eras et te tua plaustra tenebant.Ut vero summo despexit ab aethere terrasinfelix Phaethon penitus penitusque iacentes,palluit et subito genua intremuere timore,suntque oculis tenebrae per tantum lumen obortae.Et iam mallet equos numquam tetigisse paternos,iam cognosse genus piget et valuisse rogando,iam Meropis dici cupiens ita fertur, ut actapraecipiti pinus borea, cui victa remisitfrena suus rector, quam dis votisque reliquit.Quid faciat? multum caeli post terga relictum,ante oculos plus est! animo metitur utrumque,et modo quos illi fatum contingere non est,prospicit occasus, interdum respicit ortus:quidque agat ignarus stupet et nec frena remittitnec retinere valet nec nomina novit equorum.
He sees horrific wonders scattered round,and images of hideous animals.—and there's a spot where Scorpion bends his clawsin double circles, and with tail and armson either side, stretches his limbs throughoutthe space of two Celestial Signs; and whenthe lad beheld him, steeped in oozing slimeof venom, swart, and threatening to strikegrim wounds with jagged spear-points, he was lost;and, fixed in chills of horror, dropped the reins.When these they felt upon their rising backs,the startled steeds sprang forthwith; and, unchecked,through atmospheres of regions unexplored,thence goaded by their unchecked violence,broke through the lawful bounds, and rushed uponthe high fixed stars. They dragged the chariotthrough devious ways, and soared amid the heights;dashed down deep pathways, far, precipitous,and gained a level near the scorching earth.Phoebe is wondering that her brother's steedsrun lower than her own, and sees the smokeof scorching clouds. The highest altitudesare caught in flames, and as their moistures drythey crack in chasms. The grass is blighted; treesare burnt up with their leaves; the ripe brown cropsgive fuel for self destruction—Oh what smallcomplaints! Great cities perish with their walls,and peopled nations are consumed to dust—the forests and the mountains are destroyed.Cilician Taurus, Athos and Tmolus,and Oeta are burning; and the far-famed Idaand all her cooling rills are dry and burning,and virgin Helicon, and Hoemos—laterOeagrius called—and Aetna with tremendous,redoubled flames, and double-peaked Parnassus,Sicilian Eryx, Cynthus—Othrys, pine-clad,and Rhodope, deprived his snowy mantle,and Dindyma and Mycale and Mimas,and Mount Cithaeron, famed for sacred rites:and Scythia, though a land of frost, is burning,and Caucasus,—and Ossa burns with Pindus,—and greater than those two Olympus burns—the lofty Alps, the cloud-topped Apennines.And Phaethon, as he inhaled the air,burning and scorching as a furnace blast,and saw destruction on the flaming world,and his great chariot wreathed in quenchless fires,was suddenly unable to endure the heat,the smoke and cinders, and he swooned away.—if he had known the way, those winged steedswould rush as wild unguided.—then the skinof Ethiopians took a swarthy hue,the hot blood tingling to the surface: thenthe heat dried up the land of Libya;dishevelled, the lorn Nymphs, lamenting, soughtfor all their emptied springs and lakes in vain;Boeotia wailed for Dirce's cooling wave,and Argos wailed for Amymone's stream—and even Corinth for the clear Pyrene.Not safer from the flames were distant streams;—the Tanais in middle stream was steamingand old Peneus and Teuthrantian Caicus,Ismenus, rapid and Arcadian Erymanthus;and even Xanthus destined for a second burning,and tawny-waved Lycormas, and Meander,turning and twisting, and Thracian Melas burns,and the Laconian Eurotas burns,the mighty Babylonian Euphrates,Orontes and the Ganges, swift Thermodon,Ister and Phasis and Alpheus boil.The banks of Spercheus burn, the gold of Tagusis melting in the flames. The swans whose songsenhanced the beauties of Maeonian banksare scalded in the Cayster's middle wave.The Nile affrighted fled to parts remote,and hid his head forever from the world:now empty are his seven mouths, and drywithout or wave or stream; and also dryIsmenian Hebrus, Strymon and the streamsof Hesper-Land, the rivers Rhine and Rhone,and Po, and Tiber, ruler of the world.And even as the ground asunder burst,the light amazed in gloomy Tartarusthe King Infernal and his Spouse. The seacontracted and his level waste becamea sandy desert. The huge mountain tops,once covered by the ocean's waves, reared up,by which the scattered Cyclades increased.Even the fishes sought for deeper pools;—the crooked dolphins dared not skip the waves;the lifeless sea-calves floated on the top;and it is even famed that Nereus hidwith Doris and her daughters, deep belowin seething caverns. With a dauntless mienthrice Neptune tried to thrust his arms abovethe waters;—thrice the heated air overcamehis courage.Then the genial Earth, althoughsurrounded by the waters of the sea,was parched and dry; for all her streams had hiddeep in the darkness of her winding caves.—she lifted her productive countenance,up to her rounded neck, and held her palmson her sad brows; and as the mountains hugetrembled and tottered, beneath her wonted planedeclined she for a space—and thus began,with parched voice;“If this is thy decree,O, Highest of the Gods,—if I have sinnedwhy do thy lightnings linger? For if doomedby fires consuming I to perish must,let me now die in thy celestial flames—hurled by thine arm—and thus alleviate,by thine omnipotence, this agony.“How difficult to open my parched mouth,and speak these words! (the vapours choking her),behold my scorching hair, and see the cloudsof ashes falling on my blinded eyes,and on my features! What a recompensefor my fertility! How often Ihave suffered from the wounds of crooked plowsand rending harrows—tortured year by year!For this I give to cattle juicy leavesand fruits to man and frankincense to thee!“Suppose destruction is my just awardwhat have the waters and thy brother done?Why should thy brother's cooling waves decreaseand thus recede so distant from the skies?If not thy brother's good nor mine may touchthy mercy, let the pity of thy Heaven,for lo, the smoking poles on either sideattest, if flames consume them or destroy,the ruin of thy palace. Atlas, huge,with restive shoulders hardly can supportthe burning heavens. If the seas and landstogether perish and thy palace fall,the universe confused will plunge once moreto ancient Chaos. Save it from this wreck—if anything survive the fury of the flames.”
Sparsa quoque in vario passim miracula caelovastarumque videt trepidus simulacra ferarum.Est locus, in geminos ubi bracchia concavat arcusscorpius et cauda flexisque utrimque lacertisporrigit in spatium signorum membra duorum.Hunc puer ut nigri madidum sudore venenivulnera curvata minitantem cuspide vidit,mentis inops gelida formidine lora remisit.Quae postquam summum tetigere iacentia tergum,exspatiantur equi, nulloque inhibente per aurasignotae regionis eunt, quaque impetus egit,hac sine lege ruunt altoque sub aethere fixisincursant stellis rapiuntque per avia currum.Et modo summa petunt, modo per declive viasquepraecipites spatio terrae propiore feruntur.Inferiusque suis fraternos currere Lunaadmiratur equos, ambustaque nubila fumant;corripitur flammis ut quaeque altissima, tellusfissaque agit rimas et sucis aret ademptis.Pabula canescunt, cum frondibus uritur arbor,materiamque suo praebet seges arida damno.Parva queror: magnae pereunt cum moenibus urbes,cumque suis totas populis incendia gentesin cinerem vertunt. Silvae cum montibus ardent,ardet Athos Taurusque Cilix et Tmolus et Oeteet tum sicca, prius creberrima fontibus, Ide,virgineusque Helicon et nondum Oeagrius Haemus;ardet in inmensum geminatis ignibus AetnaParnasusque biceps et Eryx et Cynthus et Othrys,et tandem nivibus Rhodope caritura, MimasqueDindymaque et Mycale natusque ad sacra Cithaeron.Nec prosunt Scythiae sua frigora: Caucasus ardetOssaque cum Pindo maiorque ambobus Olympusaeriaeque Alpes et nubifer Appenninus.Tum vero Phaethon cunctis e partibus orbemadspicit accensum nec tantos sustinet aestus,ferventesque auras velut e fornace profundaore trahit currusque suos candescere sentit;et neque iam cineres eiectatamque favillamferre potest calidoque involvitur undique fumo,quoque eat, aut ubi sit, picea caligine tectusnescit et arbitrio volucrum raptatur equorum.Sanguine tum credunt in corpora summa vocatoAethiopum populos nigrum traxisse colorem.Tum facta est Libye raptis umoribus aestuarida, tum nymphae passis fontesque lacusquedeflevere comis: quaerit Boeotia Dircen,Argos Amymonen, Ephyre Pirenidas undas.Nec sortita loco distantes flumina ripastuta manent: mediis Tanais fumavit in undisPeneusque senex Teuthranteusque Caicuset celer Ismenos cum Phegiaco Erymanthoarsurusque iterum Xanthus flavusque Lycormas,quique recurvatis ludit Maeandrus in undis.Mygdoniusque Melas et Taenarius Eurotas.Arsit et Euphrates Babylonius, arsit OrontesThermodonque citus Gangesque et Phasis et Hister.Aestuat Alpheus, ripae Spercheides ardent,quodque suo Tagus amne vehit, fluit ignibus aurum,et quae Maeonias celebrabant carmine ripasflumineae volucres, medio caluere Caystro.Nilus in extremum fugit perterritus orbemocculuitque caput, quod adhuc latet: ostia septempulverulenta vacant, septem sine flumine valles.Fors eadem Ismarios Hebrum cum Strymone siccatHesperiosque amnes Rhenum Rhodanumque Padumque,cuique fuit rerum promissa potentia, Thybrin.Dissilit omne solum, penetratque in Tartara rimislumen et infernum terret cum coniuge regem.Et mare contrahitur, siccaeque est campus harenaequod modo pontus erat: quosque altum texerat aequor,exsistunt montes et sparsas Cycladas augent.Ima petunt pisces, nec se super aequora curvitollere consuetas audent delphines in auras;corpora phocarum summo resupina profundoexanimata natant. Ipsum quoque Nerea fama estDoridaque et natas tepidis latuisse sub antris.Ter Neptunus aquis cum torvo bracchia vultuexserere ausus erat, ter non tulit aeris ignes.Alma tamen Tellus, ut erat circumdata ponto,inter aquas pelagi contractosque undique fontes,qui se condiderant in opacae viscera matris,sustulit oppressos collo tenus arida vultusopposuitque manum fronti magnoque tremoreomnia concutiens paulum subsedit et infraquam solet esse fuit, siccaque ita voce locuta est:“Si placet hoc, meruique, quid o tua fulmina cessant,summe deum? liceat periturae viribus ignisigne perire tuo clademque auctore levare.Vix equidem fauces haec ipsa in verba resolvo”(presserat ora vapor): “tostos en adspice crinesinque oculis tantum, tantum super ora favillae.Hosne mihi fructus, hunc fertilitatis honoremofficiique refers, quod adunci vulnera aratrirastrorumque fero totoque exerceor anno,quod pecori frondes, alimentaque mitia, fruges,humano generi, vobis quoque tura ministro?Sed tamen exitium fac me meruisse: quid undae,quid meruit frater? cur illi tradita sorteaequora decrescunt et ab aethere longius absunt?Quodsi nec fratris nec te mea gratia tangit,at caeli miserere tui. Circumspice utrumque,fumat uterque polus. Quos si vitiaverit ignis,atria vestra ruent. Atlas en ipse laboratvixque suis umeris candentem sustinet axem.Si freta, si terrae pereunt, si regia caeli,in chaos antiquum confundimur. Eripe flammis,siquid adhuc superest, et rerum consule summae.”
So made the tortured Earth an end of speech;and she was fain to hide her countenancein caves that border on the nether night.But now the Almighty Father, having calledto witness all the Gods of Heaven, and himwho gave the car, that, else his power be shown,must perish all in dire confusion, highhe mounted to the altitude from whichhe spreads the mantling clouds, and fulminateshis dreadful thunders and swift lightning-boltsterrific.—Clouds were none to find on the earth,and the surrounding skies were void of rain.—Jove, having reached that summit, stood and poisedin his almighty hand a flashing dart,and, hurling it, deprived of life and seatthe youthful charioteer, and struck with firethe raging flames— and by the same great forcethose flames enveloping the earth were quenched,and he who caused their fury lost his life.Frantic in their affright the horses sprangacross the bounded way and cast their yokes,and through the tangled harness lightly leaped.And here the scattered harness lay, and therethe shattered axle, wrenched from off the pole,and various portions of the broken car;spokes of the broken Wheel were scattered round.And far fell Phaethon with flaming hair;as haply from the summer sky appearsa falling star, although it never dropsto startled earth.—Far distant from his homethe deep Eridanus received the ladand bathed his foaming face. His body charredby triple flames Hesperian Naiads bore,still smoking, to a tomb, and this engravedupon the stone; “Here Phaethon's remainslie buried. He who drove his father's carand fell, although he made a great attempt.”Filled with consuming woe, his father hidhis countenance which grief had overcast.And now, surpassing our belief, they saya day passed over with no glowing sun;—but light-affording flames appeared to changedisaster to the cause of good.Amazed,the woeful Clymene, when she had moanedin grief, amid her lamentations toreher bosom, as across the world she roamed,at first to seek his lifeless corpse, and thenhis bones. She wandered to that distant landand found at last his bones ensepulchred.There, clinging to the grave she fell and bathedwith many tears his name on marble carved,and with her bosom warmed the freezingstone.And all the daughters of the Sun went theregiving their tears, alas a useless gift;—they wept and beat their breasts, and day and nightcalled, “Phaethon,” who heard not any soundof their complaint:—and there they lay foredone,all scattered round the tomb.The silent moonhad four times joined her horns and filled her disk,while they, according to an ancient rite,made lamentation. Prone upon the ground,the eldest, Phaethusa, would arisefrom there, but found her feet were growing stiff;and uttered moan. Lampetia wished to aidher sister but was hindered by new roots;a third when she would tear her hair, plucked forthbut leaves: another wailed to find her legswere fastened in a tree; another moanedto find her arms to branches had been changed.And while they wondered, bark enclosed their thighs,and covered their smooth bellies, and their breasts,and shoulders and their hands, but left untouchedtheir lips that called upon their mother's name.What can she do for them? Hither she runsand thither runs, wherever frenzy leads.She kisses them, alas, while yet she may!But not content with this, she tried to haletheir bodies from the trees; and she would tearthe tender branches with her hands, but lo!The blood oozed out as from a bleeding wound;and as she wounded them they shrieked aloud,“Spare me! O mother spare me; in the treemy flesh is torn! farewell! farewell! farewell!”And as they spoke the bark enclosed their lips.Their tears flow forth, and from the new-formedboughsamber distils and slowly hardens in the sun;and far from there upon the waves is borneto deck the Latin women.Cycnus, sonof Sthenelus, by his maternal houseakin to Phaethon, and thrice by loveallied, beheld this wonderful event.—he left his kingdom of Liguria,and all its peopled cities, to lamentwhere the sad sisters had increased the woods,beside the green banks of Eridanus.There, as he made complaint, his manly voicebegan to pipe a treble, shrill; and longgray plumes concealed his hair. A slender neckextended from his breast, and reddening toeswere joined together by a membrane. Wingsgrew from his sides, and from his mouth was madea blunted beak. Now Cycnus is a swan,and yet he fears to trust the skies and Jove,for he remembers fires, unjustly sent,and therefore shuns the heat that he abhors,and haunts the spacious lakes and pools and streamsthat quench the fires.In squalid garb, meanwhile,and destitute of all his rays, the sireof Phaethon, as dark as when eclipse bedimshis Wheel, abhors himself and hates the light,shuns the bright day, gives up his mind to grief,adds passion to his woe, denies the earthhis countenance, and thus laments; “My lotwas ever restless from the dawn of time,and I am weary of this labour, voidand endless. Therefore, let who will urge forthmy car, light-bearing, and if none may dare,when all the Gods of Heaven acknowledge it,let Jove himself essay the task. Perchance,when he takes up the reins, he may forgethis dreadful lightning that bereaves of childa father's love; and as he tries the strengthof those flame-footed steeds will know, in truth,the lad who failed to guide my chariotdeserved not death.”But all the Deitiesencircle Phoebus as he makes complaint,and with their supplications they entreathim not to plunge the world in darkness. Jovewould find excuses for the lightning-bolt,hurled from his hand, and adds imperious threatsto his entreaties. Phoebus calls his steeds,frenzied with their maddening fires, andbreakstheir fury, as he vents with stinging lashhis rage upon them, and in passion layson them the death of Phaethon his son.
Dixerat haec Tellus: neque enim tolerare vaporemulterius potuit nec dicere plura: suumquerettulit os in se propioraque manibus antra.At pater omnipotens, superos testatus et ipsum,qui dederat currus, nisi opem ferat, omnia fatointeritura gravi, summam petit arduus arcem,unde solet nubes latis inducere terris,unde movet tonitrus vibrataque fulmina iactat.Sed neque quas posset terris inducere nubestunc habuit, nec quos caelo demitteret imbres.Intonat et dextra libratum fulmen ab auremisit in aurigam pariterque animaque rotisqueexpulit et saevis compescuit ignibus ignes.Consternantur equi et saltu in contraria factocolla iugo eripiunt abruptaque lora relinquunt.Illic frena iacent, illic temone revulsusaxis, in hac radii fractarum parte rotarum,sparsaque sunt late laceri vestigia currus.At Phaethon rutilos flamma populante capillos,volvitur in praeceps longoque per aera tractufertur, ut interdum de caelo stella serenoetsi non cecidit, potuit cecidisse videri.Quem procul a patria diverso maximus orbeexcipit Eridanus fumantiaque abluit ora.Naïdes Hesperiae trifida fumantia flammacorpora dant tumulo, signant quoque carmine saxum:HIC SITUS EST PHAETHON, CURRUS AURIGA PATERNI:QUEM SI NON TENUIT, MAGNIS TAMEN EXCIDIT AUSIS.Nam pater obductos, luctu miserabilis aegrocondiderat vultus: et, si modo credimus, unumisse diem sine sole ferunt: incendia lumenpraebebant aliquisque malo fuit usus in illo.At Clymene postquam dixit quaecumque fueruntin tantis dicenda malis, lugubris et amenset laniata sinus totum percensuit orbem,exanimesque artus primo, mox ossa requirensrepperit (ossa tamen peregrina condita ripa!),incubuitque loco nomenque in marmore lectumperfudit lacrimis et aperto pectore fovit.Nec minus Heliades lugent et inania mortimunera dant lacrimas, et caesae pectora palmisnon auditurum miseras Phaethonta querellasnocte dieque vocant adsternunturque sepulcro.Luna quater iunctis implerat cornibus orbem:illae more suo (nam morem fecerat usus)plangorem dederant. E quis Phaethusa, sororummaxima, cum vellet terra procumbere, questa estderiguisse pedes. Ad quam conata venirecandida Lampetie subita radice retenta est.Tertia cum crinem manibus laniare pararet,avellit frondes; haec stipite crura teneri,illa dolet fieri longos sua bracchia ramos.Dumque ea mirantur, complectitur inguina cortex,perque gradus uterum pectusque umerosque manusqueambit et exstabant tantum ora vocantia matrem.Quid faciat mater, nisi, quo trahat impetus illam,huc eat atque illuc, et, dum licet, oscula iungat?Non satis est; truncis avellere corpora temptat,et teneros manibus ramos abrumpit; at indesanguineae manant, tamquam de vulnere, guttae.“Parce, precor, mater”, quaecumque est saucia, clamat,“parce, precor: nostrum laceratur in arbore corpus.iamque vale” —cortex in verba novissima venit.Inde fluunt lacrimae, stillataque sole rigescuntde ramis electra novis, quae lucidus amnisexcipit et nuribus mittit gestanda Latinis.Adfuit huic monstro proles Stheneleia Cycnus,qui tibi materno quamvis a sanguine iunctus,mente tamen, Phaethon, propior fuit. Ille relicto(nam Ligurum populos et magnas rexerat urbes)imperio ripas virides amnemque querellisEridanum implerat silvamque sororibus auctam,cum vox est tenuata viro, canaeque capillosdissimulant plumae, collumque a pectore longeporrigitur, digitosque ligat iunctura rubentes,penna latus velat, tenet os sine acumine rostrum.Fit nova Cycnus avis, nec se caeloque Ioviquecredit, ut iniuste missi memor ignis ab illo:stagna petit patulosque lacus, ignemque perosusquae colat elegit contraria flumina flammis.Squalidus interea genitor Phaethontis et expersipse sui decoris, qualis, cum deficit orbem,esse solet, lucemque odit seque ipse diemque,datque animum in luctus; et luctibus adicit iramofficiumque negat mundo. “Satis” inquit “ab aevisors mea principiis fuit inrequieta, pigetqueactorum sine fine mihi, sine honore, laborum.Quilibet alter agat portantes lumina currus!Si nemo est omnesque dei non posse fatentur,ipse agat ut saltem, dum nostras temptat habenas,orbatura patres aliquando fulmina ponat.Tum sciet, ignipedum vires expertus equorum,non meruisse necem, qui non bene rexerit illos.”Talia dicentem circumstant omnia Solemnumina, neve velit tenebras inducere rebus,supplice voce rogant: missos quoque Iuppiter ignesexcusat precibusque minas regaliter addit.Conligit amentes et adhuc terrore paventesPhoebus equos stimuloque dolens et verbere saevit:saevit enim, natumque obiectat et imputat illis.
Now after Phaethon had suffered deathfor the vast ruin wrought by scorching flames,all the great walls of Heaven's circumference,unmeasured, views the Father of the Gods,with searching care, that none impaired by heatmay fall in ruins. Well assured they standin self-sustaining strength, his view, at last,on all the mundane works of man is turned;—his loving gaze long resting on his ownArcadia. And he starts the streams and springsthat long have feared to flow; paints the wide earthwith verdant fields; covers the trees with leaves,and clothes the injured forests in their green.While wandering in the world, he stopped amazed,when he beheld the lovely Nymph, Calisto,and fires of love were kindled in his breast.Calisto was not clothed in sumptuous robes,nor did she deck her hair in artful coils;but with a buckle she would gird her robe,and bind her long hair with a fillet white.She bore a slender javelin in her hand,or held the curving bow; and thus in armsas chaste Diana, none of Maenaluswas loved by that fair goddess more than she.But everything must change. When bright the sunrolled down the sky, beyond his middle course,she pierced a secret thicket, known to her,and having slipped the quiver from her arm,she loosed the bended bow, and softly downupon the velvet turf reclining, pressedher white neck on the quiver while she slept.When Jupiter beheld her, negligentand beautiful, he argued thus, “How canmy consort, Juno, learn of this? And yet,if chance should give her knowledge, what care I?Let gain offset the scolding of her tongue!”This said, the god transformed himself and tookDiana's form—assumed Diana's dressand imitating her awoke the maid,and spoke in gentle tones, “What mountain slope,O virgin of my train, hath been thy chase?”Which, having heard, Calisto, rose and said,“Hail, goddess! greater than celestial Jove!I would declare it though he heard the words.”Jove heard and smiled, well pleased to be preferredabove himself, and kissed her many times,and strained her in his arms, while she beganto tell the varied fortunes of her hunt.—but when his ardent love was known to her,she struggled to escape from his embrace:ah, how could she, a tender maid, resistalmighty Jove?—Be sure, Saturniaif thou hadst only witnessed her thy hearthad shown more pity!—Jupiter on wings,transcendent, sought his glorious heights;but she, in haste departing from that grove,almost forgot her quiver and her bow.Behold, Diana, with her virgin train,when hunting on the slopes of Maenalus,amidst the pleasures of exciting sport,espied the Nymph and called her, who, afraidthat Jove apparelled in disguise deceived,drew backward for a moment, till appearedto her the lovely Nymphs that followed: thus,assured deceit was none, she ventured near.Alas, how difficult to hide disgrace!She could not raise her vision from the ground,nor as the leader of the hunting Nymphs,as was her wont, walk by the goddess' side.Her silence and her blushes were the signsof injured honour. Ah Diana, thou,if thou wert not a virgin, wouldst perceiveand pity her unfortunate distress.The Moon's bent horns were rising from their ninthsojourn, when, fainting from Apollo's flames,the goddess of the Chase observed a coolumbrageous grove, from which a murmuring streamran babbling gently over golden sands.When she approved the spot, lightly she struckher foot against the ripples of the stream,and praising it began; “Far from the gazeof all the curious we may bathe our limbs,and sport in this clear water.” Quickly theyundid their garments,—but Calisto hidbehind the others, till they knew her state.—Diana in a rage exclaimed, “Away!Thou must not desecrate our sacred springs!”And she was driven thence.
At pater omnipotens ingentia moenia caelicircuit et ne quid labefactum viribus igniscorruat explorat. Quae postquam firma suiqueroboris esse videt terras hominumque laboresperspicit. Arcadiae tamen est impensior illicura suae: fontes et nondum audentia labiflumina restituit dat terrae gramina, frondesarboribus, laesasque iubet revirescere silvas.Dum redit itque frequens, In virgine Nonacrinahaesit et accepti caluere sub ossibus ignes.Non erat huius opus lanam mollire trahendonec positu variare comas; ubi fibula vestem,vitta coercuerat neglectos alba capillos,et modo leve manu iaculum, modo sumpserat arcum,miles erat Phoebes: nec Maenalon attigit ullagratior hac Triviae. Sed nulla potentia longa est.Ulterius medio spatium sol altus habebat,cum subit illa nemus, quod nulla ceciderat aetas.Exuit hic umero pharetram lentosque retenditarcus, inque solo, quod texerat herba, iacebatet pictam posita pharetram cervice premebat.Iuppiter ut vidit fessam et custode vacantem,“hoc certe furtum coniunx mea nesciet” inquit,“aut si rescierit sunt o sunt iurgia tanti.”Protinus induitur faciem cultumque Dianaeatque ait: “O comitum, virgo, pars una mearum,in quibus es venata iugis?” De caespite virgose levat et “salve numen, me indice”, dixit“audiat ipse licet maius Iove.” Ridet et audit,et sibi praeferri se gaudet et oscula iungitnec moderata satis nec sic a virgine danda.Qua venata foret silva, narrare parantemimpedit amplexu, nec se sine crimine prodit.Illa quidem contra, quantum modo femina possit(adspiceres utinam, Saturnia: mitior esses!),illa quidem pugnat: sed quem superare puella,quisve Iovem poterat? — Superum petit aethera victorIuppiter: huic odio nemus est et conscia silva.Unde pedem referens paene est oblita pharetramtollere cum telis et quem suspenderat arcum.Ecce, suo comitata choro Dictynna per altumMaenalon ingrediens et caede superba ferarumadspicit hanc visamque vocat: clamata refugit,et timuit primo, ne Iuppiter esset in illa.Sed postquam pariter nymphas incedere vidit,sensit abesse dolos numerumque accessit ad harum.Heu quam difficile est crimen non prodere vultu!Vix oculos attollit humo, nec, ut ante solebat,iuncta deae lateri, nec toto est agmine prima,sed silet et laesi dat signa rubore pudoris;et nisi quod virgo est poterat sentire Dianamille notis culpam; nymphae sensisse feruntur.Orbe resurgebant lunaria cornua nono,cum dea venatu, fraternis languida flammis,nacta nemus gelidum, de quo cum murmure labensibat et attritas versabat rivus harenas.Ut loca laudavit, summas pede contigit undas:his quoque laudatis “procul est” ait “arbiter omnis;nuda superfusis tingamus corpora lymphis.”Parrhasis erubuit. Cunctae velamina ponunt:una moras quaerit. Dubitanti vestis adempta est;qua posita nudo patuit cum corpore crimen.Attonitae manibusque uterum celare volenti“i procul hinc” dixit “nec sacros pollue fontes”Cynthia; deque suo iussit secedere coetu.