While Perseus, the brave son of Jupiter,surrounded at the feast by Cepheus' lords,narrated this, a raging multitudewith sudden outcry filled the royal courts—not with the clamours of a wedding feastbut boisterous rage, portentous of dread war.As when the fury of a great wind strikesa tranquil sea, tempestuous billows rollacross the peaceful bosom of the deep;so were the pleasures at the banquet changedto sudden tumult.Foremost of that throng,the rash ring-leader, Phineus, shook his spear,brass-tipped of ash, and shouted, “Ha, 'tis I!I come avenger of my ravished bride!Let now your flittering wings deliver you,or even Jupiter, dissolved in showersof imitation gold.” So boasted he,aiming his spear at Perseus.Thus to himcried Cepheus: “Hold your hand, and strike him not!What strange delusions, O my brother, havecompelled you to this crime? Is it the justrequital of heroic worth? A fairreguerdon for the life of her you loved?“If truth were known, not Perseus ravished herfrom you; but, either 'twas the awful Godthat rules the Nereides; or Ammon, crownedwith crescent horns; or that monstrosityof Ocean's vast abyss, which came to gluthis famine on the issue of my loins.Nor was your suit abandoned till the timewhen she must perish and be lost to you.So cruel are you, seeking my daughter's death,rejoicing lightly in our deep despair.—“And was it not enough for you to standsupinely by, while she was bound in chains,and offer no assistance, though you wereher lover and betrothed? And will you grievethat she was rescued from a dreadful fate,and spoil her champion of his just rewards?Rewards that now may seem magnificent,but not denied to you if you had wonand saved, when she was fettered to the rock.“Let him, whose strength to my declining yearsrestored my child, receive the merit duehis words and deeds; and know his suit was notpreferred to yours, but granted to preventher certain death.”not deigning to reply,against them Phineus stood; and glancing backfrom him to Perseus, with alternate looks,as doubtful which should feel his first attack,made brief delay. Then vain at Perseus hurledhis spear, with all the force that rage inspired,but, missing him it quivered in a couch.Provoked beyond endurance Perseus leapedforth from the cushioned seats, and fiercely sentthat outwrenched weapon back. It would have piercedhis hostile breast had not the miscreant crouchedbehind the altars. Oh perverted good,that thus an altar should abet the wrong!But, though the craven Phineus escaped,not vainly flew the whizzing point, but struckin Rhoetus' forehead. As the barb was tornout of the bone, the victim's heels beganto kick upon the floor, and spouting blooddefiled the festal board. Then truly flamein uncontrolled rage the vulgar crowd,and hurl their harmful darts.And there are somewho hold that Cepheus and his son-in-lawdeserved to die; but Cepheus had passed forththe threshold of his palace: having calledon all the Gods of Hospitalityand Truth and Justice to attest, he gaveno comfort to the enemies of Peace.Unconquered Pallas is at hand and holdsher Aegis to protect her brother's life;she lends him dauntless courage. At the feastwas one from India's distant shores, whose namewas Athis. It was said that Limnate,the daughter of the River Ganges, himin vitreous caverns bright had brought to birth;and now at sixteen summers in his prime,the handsome youth was clad in costly robes.A purple mantle with a golden fringecovered his shoulders, and a necklace, carvedof gold, enhanced the beauty of his throat.His hair encompassed with a coronal,delighted with sweet myrrh. Well taught was heto hurl the javelin at a distant mark,and none with better skill could stretch the bow.No sooner had he bent the pliant hornsthan Perseus, with a smoking billet, seizedfrom the mid-altar, struck him on the face,and smashed his features in his broken skull.And when Assyrian Lycabas had seenhis dear companion, whom he truly loved,beating his handsome countenance in blood.And when he had bewailed his lost life,that ebbed away from that unpiteous wound,he snatched the bow that Athis used, and said;“Let us in single combat seek revenge;not long will you rejoice the stripling's fate;a deed most worthy shame.” So speaking, forththe piercing arrow bounded from the cord,which, though avoided, struck the hero's cloakand fastened in its folds.—Then Perseus turnedupon him, with the trusted curving sword,cause of Medusa's death, and drove the bladedeep in his breast. The dying victim's eyes,now swimming in a shadowous night, looked 'roundfor Athis, whom, beholding, he reclinedupon, and ushered to the other world,—sad consolation of united death.
Dumque ea Cephenum medio Danaeius herosagmine commemorat, fremida regalia turbaatria complentur: nec coniugialia festaqui canat est clamor, sed qui fera nuntiet arma.Inque repentinos convivia versa tumultusadsimilare freto possis, quod saeva quietumventorum rabies motis exasperat undis.Primus in his Phineus, belli temerarius auctor,fraxineam quatiens aeratae cuspidis hastam,“en” ait, “en adsum praereptae coniugis ultor,nec mihi te pennae, nec falsum versus in aurumIuppiter eripiet.” Conanti mittere Cepheus“quid facis?” exclamat, “quae te, germane, furentemmens agit in facinus? meritisne haec gratia tantisredditur? hac vitam servatae dote rependis?Quam tibi non Perseus, verum si quaeris, ademit,sed grave Nereidum numen, sed corniger Ammon,sed quae visceribus veniebat belua pontiexsaturanda meis. Illo tibi tempore rapta est,quo peritura fuit: nisi si crudelis id ipsumexigis, ut pereat, luctuque levabere nostro.Scilicet haud satis est, quod te spectante revincta estet nullam quod opem patruus sponsusve tulisti:insuper, a quoquam quod sit servata, dolebispraemiaque eripies? Quae si tibi magna videntur,ex illis scopulis, ubi erant adfixa, petisses.Nunc sine, qui petiit, per quem haec non orba senectus,ferre quod et meritis et voce est pactus, eumquenon tibi, sed certae praelatum intellege morti!”Ille nihil contra: sed et hunc et Persea vultualterno spectans petat hunc ignorat, an illum,cunctatusque brevi contortam viribus hastam,quantas ira dabat, nequiquam in Persea misit.Ut stetit illa toro, stratis tunc denique Perseusexsiluit; teloque ferox inimica remissopectora rupisset, nisi post altaria Phineusisset: et (indignum!) scelerato profuit ara.Fronte tamen Rhoeti non inrita cuspis adhaesit.Qui postquam cecidit ferrumque ex osse revulsum est,calcitrat et positas adspergit sanguine mensas.Tum vero indomitas ardescit vulgus in iras,telaque coniciunt, et sunt, qui Cephea dicuntcum genero debere mori. Sed limine tectiexierat Cepheus, testatus iusque fidemquehospitiique deos, ea se prohibente moveri.Bellica Pallas adest et protegit aegide fratremdatque animos. Erat Indus Athis, quem flumine Gangeedita Limnaee vitreis peperisse sub undiscreditur, egregius forma, quam divite cultuaugebat, bis adhuc octonis integer annis,indutus chlamydem Tyriam, quam limbus obibataureus; ornabant aurata monilia collumet madidos murra curvum crinale capillos.Ille quidem iaculo quamvis distantia missofigere doctus erat, sed tendere doctior arcus.Tunc quoque lenta manu flectentem cornua Perseusstipite, qui media positus fumabat in ara,perculit et fractis confudit in ossibus ora.Hunc ubi laudatos iactantem in sanguine vultusAssyrius vidit Lycabas, iunctissimus illiet comes et veri non dissimulator amoris,postquam exhalantem sub acerbo vulnere vitamdeploravit Athin, quos ille tetenderat arcusarripit et “mecum tibi sint certamina” dixit:“nec longum pueri fato laetabere, quo plusinvidiae, quam laudis habes.” Haec omnia nondumdixerat, emicuit nervo penetrabile telumvitatumque tamen sinuosa veste pependit.Vertit in hunc harpen spectatam caede MedusaeAcrisioniades adigitque in pectus: at illeiam moriens, oculis sub nocte natantibus atracircumspexit Athin seque acclinavit ad illumet tulit ad manes iunctae solacia mortis.
And Phorbas the descendant of Methion.Who hailed from far Syene, with his friendAmphimedon of Libya, in their hasteto join the battle, slipped up in the bloodand fell together: just as they arosethat glittering sword was driven through the throatof Phorbas into the ribs of his companion.But Erithus, the son of Actor, swunga battle-ax, so weighty, Perseus chosenot combat with his curving blade. He seizedin his two hands a huge bowl, wrought aroundwith large design, outstanding from its mass.This, lifting up, he dashes on his foe,who vomits crimson blood, and falling backbeats on the hard floor with his dying head.And next he slew Caucasian Abaris,and Polydaemon—from Semiramisnobly descended—and Sperchius, son,Lycetus, long-haired Elyces, unshorn,Clytus and Phlegias, the hero slew;—and trampled on the dying heaped around.Not daring to engage his enemyin open contest, Phineus held aloof,and hurled his javelin. Badly aimed—by somemischance or turned—it wounded Idas, whohad followed neither side; vain-hoping thusto shun the conflict.Idas, filled with rage,on Phineus gazed with futile hate, and said,“Since I am forced unwilling to such deeds,behold, whom you have made your enemy,O savage Phineus! Let your recompensebe stroke for stroke.” So speaking, from the woundhe drew the steel, but, faint from loss of blood,before his arm could hurl the weapon back,he sank upon his knees.Here, also, liesOdytes,—noblest of the Cephenes,save Cepheus only,—slaughtered by the swordof Clymenus. And Prothoenor liesthe victim of Hypseus; by his sideHypseus slaughtered by Lyncidas falls.And in the midst of this destruction stoodEmathion, now an aged man, revered,who feared the Gods, and stood for upright deeds.And, since his years denied him strength for war,he battled with his tongue, and railed, and cursedtheir impious weapons. As that aged manclings to the altar with his trembling hands,Chromis with ruthless sword cuts off his head,which straightway falls upon the altar, whencehis dying tongue denounces them in wordsof execration: and his soul expiresamid the altar flames.Then Broteasand Ammon, his twin brother, who not knewtheir equals at the cestus, by the handof Phineus fell; for what avails in deedthe cestus as a weapon matched with swords.Ampycus by the same hand fell,—the priestof Ceres, with his temples wreathed in white.And O, Iapetides not for thisdid you attend the feast! Your voice attunedmelodious to the harp, was in requestto celebrate the wedding-day with song,—a work of peace; as you did stand aside,holding the peaceful plectrum in your hand,the mocking Pettalus in ridicule said,“Go sing your ditties to the Stygian shades.”And, mocking thus, he drove his pointed swordin your right temple. As your limbs gave way,your dying fingers swept the tuneful strings:and falling you did chant a mournful dirge.—You to avenge enraged Lycormas torea huge bar from the door-post, on the right,and dashing it against the mocker crushedhis neck-bones: as a slaughtered bullock falls—he tumbled to the ground.Then on the left.Cinyphian Pelates began to wrenchan oak plank from the door-post, but the spearof Corythus, the son of Marmarus,pinioned his right hand to the wooden post;and while he struggled Abas pierced his side.—He fell not to the floor, but dying hungsuspended from the door-post by his hand.And of the friends of Perseus, Melaneuswas slain, and Dorylas whose wealth was largein Nasamonian land. No other lord,as Dorylas, such vast estates possessed;no other owned so many heaps of corn.The missile steel stood fastened in his groin,obliquely fixed,—a fatal spot—and whenthe author of his wound, Halcyoneusthe Bactrian, beheld his victim thus,rolling his eyes and sobbing forth his soul,he railed; “Keep for yourself of all your landsas much as you can cover.” And he leftthe bleeding corpse.But Perseus in revengehurled after him a spear, which, in his need,he ripped out from the wound, yet warm, and struckthe boaster on the middle of his nose.The piercing steel, passed through his nose and neck,—remained projecting from the front and back.And while good fortune helped his hand, he slewClanis and Clytius, of one mother born,but with a different wound he slaughtered each:for, leveled by a mighty arm, his ashen speardrove through the thighs of Clytius, right and left,and Clanis bit the javelin with his teeth.And by his might, Mendesian Celadonand Atreus fell, his mother of the tribesof Palestine, his father was unknown.Aethion, also, who could well foreseethe things to come, but was at last deceivedby some false omen. And Thoactes fell,the armour-bearer of the king; and, next,the infamous Agyrtes who had slainhis father. These he slew; and though his strengthwas nearly spent, so many more remained:for now the multitude with one accordconspired to slaughter him. From every sidethe raging troops assailed the better cause.In vain the pious father and the bride,together with her mother, fill the hallswith lamentations; for the clash of arms,the groans of fallen heroes drown their cries.—Bellona in a sea of blood has drenchedtheir Household Gods, polluted by these deeds,and she endeavours to renew the strife.Perseus, alone against that raging throng,is now surrounded by a myriad men,led on by Phineus; and their flying darts,as thick as wintry tail, are showered aroundon every side, grazing his eyes and ears.—Quickly he fixed his shoulder firm againstthe rock of a great pillar, which securedhis back from danger, and he faced his foes,and baffled their attack.Upon his leftChaonian Molpeus pressed, and on his righta Nabathe an called Ethemon pressed.—As when a tiger from a valley hearsthe lowing of two herds, in separate fields,though hunger urges he not knows on whichto spring, but rages equally for each;so, Perseus doubtful which may first attackhis left or right, knows not on which to turn,but stands attentive witness to the flightof Molpeus, whom he wounded in the leg.Nor could he choose—Ethemon, full of rage,pressed on him to inflict a fatal wound,deep in his neck; but with incautious forcestruck the stone pillar with his ringing swordand shattered the metal blade, close to the hilt;the flying fragment pierced its owner's neck,but not with mortal wound. In vain he pledfor mercy, stretching forth his helpless arms:perseus transfixed him with his glittering blade,Cyllenian.
Ecce Syenites, genitus Metione, Phorbaset Libys Amphimedon, avidi committere pugnam,sanguine, quo late tellus madefacta tepebat,conciderant lapsi: surgentibus obstitit ensis,alterius costis, iugulo Phorbantis adactus.At non Actoriden Erytum, cui lata bipennistelum erat, hamato Perseus petit ense, sed altisexstantem signis multaeque in pondere massaeingentem manibus tollit cratera duabusinfligitque viro; rutilum vomit ille cruoremet resupinus humum moribundo vertice pulsat.Inde Semiramio Polydegmona sanguine cretumCaucasiumque Abarin Sperchionidenque Lycetumintonsumque comas Helicen Phlegyanque Clytumquesternit et exstructos morientum calcat acervos.Nec Phineus ausus concurrere comminus hosti,intorquet iaculum: quod detulit error in Idan,expertem frustra belli et neutra arma secutum.Ille tuens oculis inmitem Phinea torvis“quandoquidem in partes” ait “abstrahor, accipe, Phineu,quem fecisti hostem pensaque hoc vulnere vulnus”;iamque remissurus tractum de vulnere telumsanguine defectos cecidit conlapsus in artus.Hic quoque Cephenum post regem primus Hoditesense iacet Clymeni; Prothoenora percutit Hypseus,Hypsea Lyncides. Fuit et grandaevus in illisEmathion, aequi cultor timidusque deorum;qui, quoniam prohibent anni bellare, loquendopugnat et incessit scelerataque devovet arma.Huic Chromis amplexo tremulis altaria palmisdecutit ense caput; quod protinus incidit araeatque ibi semianimi verba exsecrantia linguaedidit, et medios animam exspiravit in ignes.Hinc gemini fratres Broteasque et caestibus Ammoninvicti, vinci si possent caestibus enses,Phinea cecidere manu, Cererisque sacerdosAmpycus, albenti velatus tempora vitta.Tu quoque, Lampetide, non hos adhibendus ad usus,sed qui, pacis opus, citharam cum voce moveres,iussus eras celebrare dapes festumque canendo.Quem procul adstantem plectrumque imbelle tenentemPettalus inridens “Stygiis cane cetera” dixit“manibus” et laevo mucronem tempore fixit.Concidit et digitis morientibus ille retemptatfila lyrae, casuque fuit miserabile carmen.Nec sinit hunc impune ferox cecidisse Lycormasraptaque de dextro robusta repagula postiossibus inlisit mediae cervicis: at illeprocubuit terrae mactati more iuvenci.Demere temptabat laevi quoque robora postisCinyphius Pelates: temptanti dextera fixa estcuspide Marmaridae Corythi lignoque cohaesit.Haerenti latus hausit Abas: nec corruit ille,sed retinente manum moriens e poste pependit.Sternitur et Menaleus, Perseia castra secutus,et Nasamoniaci Dorylas ditissimus agri,dives agri Dorylas, quo non possederat alterlatius aut totidem tollebat turis acervos.Huius in obliquo missum stetit inguine ferrum:letifer ille locus. Quem postquam vulneris auctorsingultantem animam et versantem lumina viditBactrius Halcyoneus “hoc, quod premis” inquit, “habetode tot agris terrae” corpusque exsangue reliquit.Torquet in hunc hastam calido de vulnere raptamultor Abantiades; media quae nare receptacervice exacta est in partesque eminet ambas.Dumque manum Fortuna iuvat, Clytiumque Claninque,matre satos una, diverso vulnere fudit:nam Clytii per utrumque gravis librata lacertofraxinus acta femur, iaculum Clanis ore momordit.Occidit et Celadon Mendesius, occidit Astreus,matre Palaestina, dubio genitore creatus,Aethionque sagax quondam ventura videre(tunc ave deceptus falsa), regisque Thoactesarmiger et caeso genitore infamis Agyrtes.Plus tamen exhausto superest: namque omnibus unumopprimere est animus, coniurata undique pugnantagmina pro causa meritum impugnante fidemque:hac pro parte socer frustra pius et nova coniunxcum genetrice favent ululatuque atria complent.Sed sonus armorum superat gemitusque cadentum,pollutosque semel multo Bellona penatessanguine perfundit renovataque proelia miscet.Circueunt unum Phineus et mille secutiPhinea: tela volant hiberna grandine plurapraeter utrumque latus praeterque et lumen et aures.Applicat hic umeros ad magnae saxa columnae,tutaque terga gerens adversaque in agmina versussustinet instantes. Instabat parte sinistraChaonius Molpeus, dextra Nabataeus Echemmon.Tigris ut auditis diversa valle duorumexstimulata fame mugitibus armentorumnescit, utro potius ruat, et ruere ardet utroque,sic dubius Perseus, dextra laevane feratur,Molpea traiecti submovit vulnere cruris,contentusque fuga est: neque enim dat tempus Echemmon,sed furit et, cupiens saltu dare vulnera collo,non circumspectis exactum viribus ensemfregit, et extrema percussae parte columnaelammina dissiluit dominique in gutture fixa est.Non tamen ad letum causas satis illa valentesplaga dedit: trepidum Perseus et inermia frustrabracchia tendentem Cyllenide confodit harpe.
But when he saw his strengthwas yielding to the multitude, he said,“Since you have forced disaster on yourselves,why should I hesitate to save myself?—O friends, avert your faces if ye standbefore me!” And he raised Medusa, s head.Thescelus answered him; “Seek other dupesto chase with wonders!” Just as he preparedto hurl the deadly javelin from his hand,he stood, unmoving in that attitude,a marble statue.Ampyx, close to him,exulting in a mighty spirit, madea lunge to pierce Lyncides in the breast;but, as his sword was flashing in the air,his right arm grew so rigid, there he stoodunable to draw back or thrust it forth.But Nileus, who had feigned himself begotby seven-fold Nile, and carved his shield with goldand silver streams, alternate seven, shouted;“Look, look! O Perseus, him from whom I sprung!And you shall carry to the silent shadesa mighty consolation in your death,that you were slain by such a one as I.”But in the midst of boasting, the last wordswere silenced; and his open mouth, althoughincapable of motion, seemed intentto utter speech.Then Eryx, chiding says;“Your craven spirits have benumbed you, notMedusa's poison.—Come with me and strikethis youthful mover of magician charmsdown to the ground.”—He started with a rush;the earth detained his steps; it held him fast;he could not speak; he stood, complete with arms,a statue.Such a penalty was theirs,and justly earned; but near by there was one,aconteus, who defending Perseus, sawmedusa as he fought; and at the sightthe soldier hardened to an upright stone.—Assured he was alive, Astyagesnow struck him with his long sword, but the bladeresounded with a ringing note; and there,astonished at the sound, Astyages,himself, assumed that nature; and remainedwith wonder pictured on his marble face.And not to weary with the names of men,sprung from the middle classes, there remainedtwo hundred warriors eager for the fight—as soon as they could see Medusa's face,two hundred warriors stiffened into stone.At last, repentant, Phineus dreads the war,unjust, for in a helpless fright he seesthe statues standing in strange attitudes;and, recognizing his adherents, callson each by name to rescue from that death.Still unbelieving he begins to touchthe bodies, nearest to himself, and allare hard stone.Having turned his eyes away,he stretched his hands and arms obliquely backto Perseus, and confessed his wicked deeds;and thus imploring spoke;“Remove, I pray,O Perseus, thou invincible, removefrom me that dreadful Gorgon: take awaythe stone-creating countenance of thyunspeakable Medusa! For we warrednot out of hatred, nor to gain a throne,but clashed our weapons for a woman's sake.—“Thy merit proved thy valid claim, and timegave argument for mine. It grieves me notto yield, O bravest, only give me life,and all the rest be thine.” Such words imploredthe craven, never daring to addresshis eyes to whom he spoke.And thus returnedthe valiant Perseus; “I will grant to you,O timid-hearted Phineus! as behovesyour conduct; and it should appear a gift,magnanimous, to one who fears to move.—Take courage, for no steel shall violateyour carcase; and, moreover, you shall bea monument, that ages may recordyour unforgotten name. You shall be seenthus always, in the palace where residesmy father-in-law, that my surrendered spousemay soften her great grief when she but seesthe darling image of her first betrothed.”He spoke, and moved Medusa to that sidewhere Phineus had turned his trembling face:and as he struggled to avert his gazehis neck grew stiff; the moisture of his eyeswas hardened into stone.—And since that dayhis timid face and coward eyes and hands,forever shall be guilty as in life.After such deeds, victorious Perseus turned,and sought the confines of his native land;together with his bride; which, having reached,he punished Proetus—who by force of armshad routed his own brother from the throneof Argos. By his aid Acrisius,although his undeserving parent, gainedhis citadels once more: for Proetus failed,with all his arms and towers unjustly held,to quell the grim-eyed monster, snake-begin.Yet not the valour of the youth, upheldby many labours, nor his grievous wrongshave softened you, O Polydectes! kingof Little Seriphus; but bitter hateungoverned, rankles in your hardened heart—there is no limit to your unjust rage.Even his praises are defamed by youand all your arguments are given to proveMedusa's death a fraud.—Perseus rejoined;“By this we give our true pledge of the truth,avert your eyes!” And by Medusa's facehe made the features of that impious kinga bloodless stone.
Verum ubi virtutem turbae succumbere vidit,“auxilium” Perseus “quoniam sic cogitis ipsi”dixit “ab hoste petam. Vultus avertite vestros,siquis amicus adest!” et Gorgonis extulit ora.“Quaere alium, tua quem moveant miracula” dixitThescelus; utque manu iaculum fatale parabatmittere, in hoc haesit signum de marmore gestu.Proximus huic Ampyx animi plenissima magnipectora Lyncidae gladio petit; inque petendodextera deriguit nec citra mota nec ultra est.At Nileus, qui se genitum septemplice Niloementitus erat, clipeo quoque flumina septemargento partim, partim caelaverat auro,“adspice” ait, “Perseu, nostrae primordia gentis:magna feres tacitas solacia mortis ad umbras,a tanto cecidisse viro”: pars ultima vocisin medio suppressa sono est, adapertaque velleora loqui credas, nec sunt ea pervia verbis.Increpat hos “vitio” que “animi, non viribus” inquit“Gorgoneis torpetis” Eryx: “incurrite mecumet prosternite humi iuvenem magica arma moventem!”Incursurus erat: tenuit vestigia tellus,inmotusque silex armataque mansit imago.Hi tamen ex merito poenas subiere; sed unusmiles erat Persei, pro quo dum pugnat, Aconteus,Gorgone conspecta saxo concrevit oborto.Quem ratus Astyages etiamnum vivere, longoense ferit: sonuit tinnitibus ensis acutis.Dum stupet Astyages, naturam traxit eandem,marmoreoque manet vultus mirantis in ore.Nomina longa mora est media de plebe virorumdicere: bis centum restabant corpora pugnae,Gorgone bis centum riguerunt corpora visa.Paenitet iniusti tunc denique Phinea belli.Sed quid agat? simulacra videt diversa figurisagnoscitque suos et nomine quemque vocatumposcit opem, credensque parum sibi proxima tangitcorpora: marmor erant. Avertitur, atque ita supplexconfessasque manus obliquaque bracchia tendens,“vincis” ait, “Perseu. Remove tua monstra tuaequesaxificos vultus, quaecumque ea, tolle Medusae,tolle, precor. Non nos odium regnique cupidocompulit ad bellum: pro coniuge movimus arma.Causa fuit meritis melior tua, tempore nostra.Non cessisse piget. Nihil, o fortissime, praeterhanc animam concede mihi: tua cetera sunto.”Talia dicenti neque eum, quem voce rogabatrespicere audenti “quod” ait, “timidissime Phineu,et possum tribuisse et magnum est munus inerti,(pone metum) tribuam: nullo violabere ferro.Quin etiam mansura dabo monimenta per aevum,inque domo soceri semper spectabere nostri,ut mea se sponsi soletur imagine coniunx?”Dixit et in partem Phorcynida transtulit illam,ad quam se trepido Phineus obverterat ore.Tunc quoque conanti sua vertere lumina cervixderiguit, saxoque oculorum induruit umor.Sed tamen os timidum vultusque in marmore supplexsubmissaeque manus faciesque obnoxia mansit.Victor Abantiades patrios cum coniuge murosintrat et inmeriti vindex ultorque parentisadgreditur Proetum: nam fratre per arma fugatoAcrisioneas Proetus possederat arces.Sed nec ope armorum, nec, quam male ceperat, arcetorva colubriferi superavit lumina monstri.Te tamen, o parvae rector, Polydecta, Seriphi,nec iuvenis virtus per tot spectata laboresnec mala mollierant, sed inexorabile durusexerces odium, nec iniqua finis in ira est.Detrectas etiam laudem fictamque Medusaearguis esse necem. “Dabimus tibi pignera veri.Parcite luminibus!” Perseus ait oraque regisore Medusaeo silicem sine sanguine fecit.
Through all these mighty deedsPallas, Minerva, had availed to guideher gold-begotten brother. Now she sped,surrounded in a cloud, from Seriphus,while Cynthus on the right, and Gyarusfar faded from her view. And where a path,high over the deep sea, leads the near way,she winged the air for Thebes, and Heliconhaunt of the Virgin Nine.High on that mountshe stayed her flight, and with these words bespokethose well-taught sisters; “Fame has given to methe knowledge of a new-made fountain—giftof Pegasus, that fleet steed, from the bloodof dread Medusa sprung—it opened whenhis hard hoof struck the ground.—It is the causethat brought me.—For my longing to have seenthis fount, miraculous and wonderful,grows not the less in that myself did seethe swift steed, nascent from maternal blood.”To which Urania thus; “Whatever the causethat brings thee to our habitation, thou,O goddess, art to us the greatest joy.And now, to answer thee, reports are true;this fountain is the work of Pegasus,”And having said these words, she gladly thenceconducted Pallas to the sacred streams.And Pallas, after she had long admiredthat fountain, flowing where the hoof had struck,turned round to view the groves of ancient trees;the grottoes and the grass bespangled, richwith flowers unnumbered—all so beautifulshe deemed the charm of that localitya fair surrounding for the studious daysof those Mnemonian Maids.But one of themaddressed her thus; “O thou whose valour gavethy mind to greater deeds! if thou hadst stoopedto us, Minerva, we had welcomed theemost worthy of our choir! Thy words are true;and well hast thou approved the joys of art,and this retreat. Most happy would we beif only we were safe; but wickednessadmits of no restraint, and everythingaffrights our virgin minds; and everywherethe dreadful Pyrenaeus haunts our sight;—scarcely have we recovered from the shock.“That savage, with his troops of Thrace. had seizedthe lands of Daulis and of Phocis, wherehe ruled in tyranny; and when we soughtthe Temples of Parnassus, he observedus on our way;—and knowing our estate,pretending to revere our sacred lives,he said; ‘O Muses, I beseech you pause!Choose now the shelter of my roof and shunthe heavy stars that teem with pouring rain;nor hesitate, for often the glorious Godshave entered humbler homes.’“Moved by his words,and by the growing storm, we gave assent,and entered his first house. But presentlythe storm abated, and the southern windwas conquered by the north; the black clouds fled,and soon the skies were clear.“At once we soughtto quit the house, but Pyrenaeus closedall means of exit,—and prepared to forceour virtue. Instantly we spread our wings,and so escaped; but on a lofty towerhe stood, as if to follow, and exclaimed;‘A path for you marks out a way for me.,and quite insane, he leaped down from the topof that high tower.—Falling on his face,the bones were crushed, and as his life ebbed outthe ground was crimsoned with his wicked blood.”So spoke the Muse. And now was heard the soundof pennons in the air, and voices, too,gave salutations from the lofty trees.Minerva, thinking they were human tongues,looked up in question whence the perfect words;but on the boughs, nine ugly magpies perched,those mockers of all sounds, which now complainedtheir hapless fate. And as she wondering stood,Urania, goddess of the Muse, rejoined;—“Look, those but lately worsted in disputeaugment the number of unnumbered birds.—Pierus was their father, very richin lands of Pella; and their mother (calledEvippe of Paeonia) when she broughtthem forth, nine times evoked, in labours nine,Lucina's aid.—Unduly puffed with pride,because it chanced their number equalled ours,these stupid sisters, hither to engagein wordy contest, fared through many towns;—through all Haemonia and Achaia cameto us, and said;—‘Oh, cease your empty songs,attuned to dulcet numbers, that deceivethe vulgar, untaught throng. If aught is yoursof confidence, O Thespian Deitiescontend with us: our number equals yours.We will not be defeated by your arts;nor shall your songs prevail.—Then, conquered, giveHyantean Aganippe; yield to usthe Medusean Fount;—and should we fail,we grant Emathia's plains, to where uprisePaeonia's peaks of snow.—Let chosen Nymphsaward the prize—.’ 'Twas shameful to contend;it seemed more shameful to submit. At once,the chosen Nymphs swore justice by their streams,and sat in judgment on their thrones of rock.“At once, although the lot had not been cast,the leading sister hastened to begin.—She chanted of celestial wars; she gavethe Giants false renown; she gave the Godssmall credit for great deeds.—She droned out, ‘Forth,those deepest realms of earth, Typhoeus came,and filled the Gods with fear. They turned their backsin flight to Egypt; and the wearied rout,where Great Nile spreads his seven-channeled mouth,were there received.—Thither the earth-begotTyphoeus hastened: but the Gods of Heavendeceptive shapes assumed.—Lo, Jupiter,(As Libyan Ammon's crooked horns attest)was hidden in the leader of a flock;Apollo in a crow; Bacchus in a goat;Diana in a cat; Venus in a fish;Saturnian Juno in a snow-white cow;Cyllenian Hermes in an Ibis' wings.’—Such stuff she droned out from her noisy mouth:and then they summoned us; but, haply, timepermits thee not, nor leisure thee permits,that thou shouldst hearken to our melodies.”“Nay doubt it not,” quoth Pallas, “but relateyour melodies in order.” And she satbeneath the pleasant shadows of the grove.And thus again Urania; “On our sidewe trusted all to one.” Which having said,Calliope arose. Her glorious hairwas bound with ivy. She attuned the chords,and chanted as she struck the sounding strings:—
Hactenus aurigenae comitem Tritonia fratrise dedit: inde cava circumdata nube Seriphondeserit, a dextra Cythno Gyaroque relictis,quaque super pontum via visa brevissima, Thebasvirgineumque Helicona petit. Quo monte potitaconstitit et doctas sic est adfata sorores:“Fama novi fontis nostras pervenit ad aures,dura Medusaei quem praepetis ungula rupit.Is mihi causa viae. Volui mirabile factumcernere: vidi ipsum materno sanguine nasci.”Excipit Uranie: “Quaecumque est causa videndihas tibi, diva, domos, animo gratissima nostro es.Vera tamen fama est, et Pegasus huius origofontis”, et ad latices deduxit Pallada sacros.Quae mirata diu factas pedis ictibus undas,silvarum lucos circumspicit antiquarumantraque et innumeris distinctas floribus herbasfelicesque vocat pariter studioque locoqueMnemonidas. Quam sic adfata est una sororum:“O, nisi te virtus opera ad maiora tulisset,in partem ventura chori Tritonia nostri,vera refers meritoque probas artesque locumque,et gratam sortem, tutae modo simus, habemus.Sed (vetitum est adeo sceleri nihil) omnia terrentvirgineas mentes, dirusque ante ora Pyreneusvertitur, et nondum tota me mente recepi.Daulida Threicio Phoceaque milite ruraceperat ille ferox iniustaque regna tenebat.Templa petebamus Parnasia: vidit euntes,nostraque fallaci veneratus numina vultu“Mnemonides” (cognorat enim), “consistite” dixit,“nec dubitate, precor, tecto grave sidus et imbrem”(imber erat) “vitare meo: subiere minoressaepe casas superi.” Dictis et tempore motaeadnuimusque viro primasque intravimus aedes.Desierant imbres, victoque aquilonibus austrofusca repurgato fugiebant nubila caelo.Impetus ire fuit: claudit sua tecta Pyreneusvimque parat. Quam nos sumptis effugimus alis.Ipse secuturo similis stetit arduus arce“qua” que “via est vobis, erit et mihi” dixit “eadem”,seque iacit vecors e summae culmine turriset cadit in vultus, discussisque ossibus oristundit humum moriens scelerato sanguine tinctam.”Musa loquebatur: pennae sonuere per auras,voxque salutantum ramis veniebat ab altis.Suspicit et linguae quaerit tam certa loquentesunde sonent hominemque putat Iove nata locutum:Ales erat, numeroque novem, sua fata querentes,institerant ramis imitantes omnia picae.Miranti sic orsa deae dea: “Nuper et istaeauxerunt volucrum victae certamine turbam.Pieros has genuit Pellaeis dives in arvis,Paeonis Euippe mater fuit. Illa potentemLucinam noviens, noviens paritura, vocavit.Intumuit numero stolidarum turba sororum,perque tot Haemonias et per tot Achaidas urbeshuc venit et tali committit proelia voce:“Desinite indoctum vana dulcedine vulgusfallere: nobiscum, siqua est fiducia vobis,Thespiades certate deae. Nec voce nec artevincemur, totidemque sumus. Vel cedite victaefonte Medusaeo et Hyantea Aganippe,vel nos Emathiis ad Paeonas usque nivososcedamus campis. Dirimant certamina nymphae.”Turpe quidem contendere erat, sed cedere visumturpius. Electae iurant per flumina nymphaefactaque de vivo pressere sedilia saxo.Tum sine sorte prior quae se certare professa est,bella canit superum, falsoque in honore Gigantasponit et extenuat magnorum facta deorum;emissumque ima de sede Typhoea terraecaelitibus fecisse metum cunctosque dedisseterga fugae, donec fessos Aegyptia tellusceperit et septem discretus in ostia Nilus.Huc quoque terrigenam venisse Typhoea narratet se mentitis superos celasse figuris;“duxque gregis” dixit “fit Iuppiter; unde recurvisnunc quoque formatus Libys est cum cornibus Ammon.Delius in corvo, proles Semeleia capro,fele soror Phoebi, nivea Saturnia vacca,pisce Venus latuit, Cyllenius ibidis alis.”Hactenus ad citharam vocalia moverat ora:poscimur Aonides. Sed forsitan otia non sint,nec nostris praebere vacet tibi cantibus aures.”“Ne dubita, vestrumque mihi refer ordine carmen”Pallas ait nemorisque levi consedit in umbra.Musa refert: “Dedimus summam certaminis uni.Surgit et inmissos hedera conlecta capillosCalliope querulas praetemptat pollice chordas,atque haec percussis subiungit carmina nervis: