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1 Invocatio. Invocation

In nova fert animus mutatas dicere formas

corpora; di, coeptis (nam vos mutastis et illas)

adspirate meis primaque ab origine mundi

ad mea perpetuum deducite tempora carmen.

5 Mundi origo.

Ante mare et terras et quod tegit omnia caelum

unus erat toto naturae vultus in orbe,

quem dixere chaos: rudis indigestaque moles

nec quicquam nisi pondus iners congestaque eodem

non bene iunctarum discordia semina rerum.

nullus adhuc mundo praebebat lumina Titan,

nec nova crescendo reparabat cornua Phoebe,

nec circumfuso pendebat in aere tellus

ponderibus librata suis, nec bracchia longo

margine terrarum porrexerat Amphitrite;

utque aer, tellus illic et pontus et aether.

Sic erat instabilis tellus, innabilis unda,

lucis egens aer: nulli sua forma manebat,

obstabatque aliis aliud, quia corpore in uno

frigida pugnabant calidis, umentia siccis,

mollia cum duris, sine pondere habentia pondus.

Hanc deus et melior litem natura diremit.

Nam caelo terras et terris abscidit undas,

et liquidum spisso secrevit ab aere caelum.

Quae postquam evolvit caecoque exemit acervo,

dissociata locis concordi pace ligavit.

Ignea convexi vis et sine pondere caeli

emicuit summaque locum sibi fecit in arce:

proximus est aer illi levitate locoque:

densior his tellus, elementaque grandia traxit

et pressa est gravitate sua: circumfluus umor

ultima possedit solidumque coercuit orbem.

Sic ubi dispositam quisquis fuit ille deorum

congeriem secuit sectamque in membra redegit,

principio terram, ne non aequalis ab omni

parte foret, magni speciem glomeravit in orbis.

Tum freta diffudit rapidisque tumescere ventis

iussit et ambitae circumdare litora terrae.

Addidit et fontes et stagna inmensa lacusque

fluminaque obliquis cinxit declivia ripis,

quae, diversa locis, partim sorbentur ab ipsa,

in mare perveniunt partim campoque recepta

liberioris aquae pro ripis litora pulsant.

Iussit et extendi campos, subsidere valles,

fronde tegi silvas, lapidosos surgere montes.

Utque duae dextra caelum totidemque sinistra

parte secant zonae, quinta est ardentior illis,

sic onus inclusum numero distinxit eodem

cura dei, totidemque plagae tellure premuntur.

Quarum quae media est, non est habitabilis aestu:

nix tegit alta duas: totidem inter utrumque locavit

temperiemque dedit mixta cum frigore flamma.

Inminet his aer. Qui quanto est pondere terrae,

pondere aquae levior tanto est onerosior igni.

Illic et nebulas, illic consistere nubes

iussit et humanas motura tonitrua mentes

et cum fulminibus facientes fulgura ventos.

His quoque non passim mundi fabricator habendum

aera permisit: vix nunc obsistitur illis,

cum sua quisque regant diverso flamina tractu,

quin lanient mundum: tanta est discordia fratrum.

Eurus ad Auroram Nabataeaque regna recessit

Persidaque et radiis iuga subdita matutinis;

vesper et occiduo quae litora sole tepescunt,

proxima sunt Zephyro: Scythiam septemque triones

horrifer invasit Boreas: contraria tellus

nubibus adsiduis pluviaque madescit ab Austro.

Haec super inposuit liquidum et gravitate carentem

aethera nec quicquam terrenae faecis habentem.

Vix ita limitibus dissaepserat omnia certis,

cum, quae pressa diu massa latuere sub illa,

sidera coeperunt toto effervescere caelo.

Neu regio foret ulla suis animalibus orba,

astra tenent caeleste solum formaeque deorum,

cesserunt nitidis habitandae piscibus undae,

terra feras cepit, volucres agitabilis aer.

Sanctius his animal mentisque capacius altae

deerat adhuc et quod dominari in cetera posset.

Natus homo est, sive hunc divino semine fecit

ille opifex rerum, mundi melioris origo,

sive recens tellus seductaque nuper ab alto

aethere cognati retinebat semina caeli;

quam satus Iapeto mixtam pluvialibus undis

finxit in effigiem moderantum cuncta deorum.

Pronaque cum spectent animalia cetera terram,

os homini sublime dedit, caelumque videre

iussit et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus.

Sic, modo quae fuerat rudis et sine imagine, tellus

induit ignotas hominum conversa figuras.

89 Quattuor aetates. Gigantes.

Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae vindice nullo,

sponte sua, sine lege fidem rectumque colebat.

Poena metusque aberant, nec verba minantia fixo

aere legebantur, nec supplex turba timebat

iudicis ora sui, sed erant sine vindice tuti.

Nondum caesa suis, peregrinum ut viseret orbem,

montibus in liquidas pinus descenderat undas,

nullaque mortales praeter sua litora norant.

Nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae;

non tuba directi, non aeris cornua flexi,

non galeae, non ensis erat: sine militis usu

mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.

100

ipsa quoque inmunis rastroque intacta nec ullis

saucia vomeribus per se dabat omnia tellus;

contentique cibis nullo cogente creatis

arbuteos fetus montanaque fraga legebant

cornaque et in duris haerentia mora rubetis

105

et quae deciderant patula Iovis arbore glandes.

Ver erat aeternum, placidique tepentibus auris

mulcebant zephyri natos sine semine flores.

Mox etiam fruges tellus inarata ferebat,

nec renovatus ager gravidis canebat aristis;

110

flumina iam lactis, iam flumina nectaris ibant,

flavaque de viridi stillabant ilice mella.

Postquam, Saturno tenebrosa in Tartara misso,

sub Iove mundus erat, subiit argentea proles,

auro deterior, fulvo pretiosior aere.

115

Iuppiter antiqui contraxit tempora veris

perque hiemes aestusque et inaequalis autumnos

et breve ver spatiis exegit quattuor annum.

Tum primum siccis aer fervoribus ustus

canduit, et ventis glacies adstricta pependit.

120

Tum primum subiere domus (domus antra fuerunt

et densi frutices et vinctae cortice virgae).

Semina tum primum longis Cerealia sulcis

obruta sunt, pressique iugo gemuere iuvenci.

Tertia post illam successit aenea proles,

125

saevior ingeniis et ad horrida promptior arma,

non scelerata tamen. De duro est ultima ferro.

Protinus inrupit venae peioris in aevum

omne nefas: fugere pudor verumque fidesque;

In quorum subiere locum fraudesque dolique

130

insidiaeque et vis et amor sceleratus habendi.

Vela dabat ventis (nec adhuc bene noverat illos)

navita; quaeque diu steterant in montibus altis,

fluctibus ignotis insultavere carinae,

communemque prius ceu lumina solis et auras

135

cautus humum longo signavit limite mensor.

Nec tantum segetes alimentaque debita dives

poscebatur humus, sed itum est in viscera terrae:

quasque recondiderat Stygiisque admoverat umbris,

effodiuntur opes, inritamenta malorum.

140

Iamque nocens ferrum ferroque nocentius aurum

prodierat: prodit bellum, quod pugnat utroque,

sanguineaque manu crepitantia concutit arma.

Vivitur ex rapto: non hospes ab hospite tutus,

non socer a genero; fratrum quoque gratia rara est.

145

Inminet exitio vir coniugis, illa mariti;

lurida terribiles miscent aconita novercae;

filius ante diem patrios inquirit in annos.

Victa iacet pietas, et virgo caede madentis,

ultima caelestum terras Astraea reliquit.

150

Giants

Neve foret terris securior arduus aether,

adfectasse ferunt regnum caeleste Gigantas

altaque congestos struxisse ad sidera montes.

Tum pater omnipotens misso perfregit Olympum

fulmine et excussit subiectae Pelion Ossae.

155

Obruta mole sua cum corpora dira iacerent,

perfusam multo natorum sanguine Terram

inmaduisse ferunt calidumque animasse cruorem,

et, ne nulla suae stirpis monimenta manerent,

in faciem vertisse hominum. Sed et illa propago

160

contemptrix superum saevaeque avidissima caedis

et violenta fuit: scires e sanguine natos.

163 Lycaon.

Quae pater ut summa vidit Saturnius arce,

ingemit et, facto nondum vulgata recenti,

foeda Lycaoniae referens convivia mensae,

165

ingentes animo et dignas Iove concipit iras,

conciliumque vocat: tenuit mora nulla vocatos.

Est via sublimis, caelo manifesta sereno:

lactea nomen habet, candore notabilis ipso.

Hac iter est superis ad magni tecta Tonantis

170

regalemque domum. Dextra laevaque deorum

atria nobilium valvis celebrantur apertis

(plebs habitat diversa locis): hac parte potentes

caelicolae clarique suos posuere penates.

Hic locus est, quem, si verbis audacia detur,

175

haud timeam magni dixisse Palatia caeli.

Ergo ubi marmoreo superi sedere recessu,

celsior ipse loco sceptroque innixus eburno

terrificam capitis concussit terque quaterque

caesariem, cum qua terram, mare, sidera movit.

180

Talibus inde modis ora indignantia solvit:

“Non ego pro mundi regno magis anxius illa

tempestate fui, qua centum quisque parabat

inicere anguipedum captivo bracchia caelo.

Nam quamquam ferus hostis erat, tamen illud ab uno

185

corpore et ex una pendebat origine bellum.

Nunc mihi, qua totum Nereus circumsonat orbem,

perdendum est mortale genus: per flumina iuro

infera, sub terras Stygio labentia luco!

cuncta prius temptata: sed inmedicabile corpus

190

ense recidendum est, ne pars sincera trahatur.

Sunt mihi semidei, sunt rustica numina, nymphae

faunique satyrique et monticolae silvani:

quos quoniam caeli nondum dignamur honore,

quas dedimus certe terras habitare sinamus.

195

An satis, o superi, tutos fore creditis illos,

cum mihi, qui fulmen, qui vos habeoque regoque,

struxerit insidias notus feritate Lycaon?”

Confremuere omnes studiisque ardentibus ausum

talia deposcunt. Sic, cum manus inpia saevit

200

sanguine Caesareo Romanum exstinguere nomen,

attonitum tanto subitae terrore ruinae

humanum genus est totusque perhorruit orbis:

nec tibi grata minus pietas, Auguste, tuorum est,

quam fuit illa Iovi. Qui postquam voce manuque

205

murmura conpressit, tenuere silentia cuncti.

Substitit ut clamor pressus gravitate regentis,

Iuppiter hoc iterum sermone silentia rupit:

“Ille quidem poenas, curam hanc dimittite, solvit.

Quod tamen admissum, quae sit vindicta, docebo.

210

Contigerat nostras infamia temporis aures;

quam cupiens falsam summo delabor Olympo

et deus humana lustro sub imagine terras.

Longa mora est, quantum noxae sit ubique repertum,

enumerare: minor fuit ipsa infamia vero.

215

Maenala transieram latebris horrenda ferarum

et cum Cyllene gelidi pineta Lycaei:

Arcadis hinc sedes et inhospita tecta tyranni

ingredior, traherent cum sera crepuscula noctem.

Signa dedi venisse deum, vulgusque precari

220

coeperat: inridet primo pia vota Lycaon,

mox ait ”experiar deus hic, discrimine aperto,

an sit mortalis. Nec erit dubitabile verum.”

Nocte gravem somno necopina perdere morte

me parat: haec illi placet experientia veri.

225

Nec contentus eo est: missi de gente Molossa

obsidis unius iugulum mucrone resolvit,

atque ita semineces partim ferventibus artus

mollit aquis, partim subiecto torruit igni.

Quod simul inposuit mensis, ego vindice flamma

230

in domino dignos everti tecta penates.

Territus ipse fugit, nactusque silentia ruris

exululat frustraque loqui conatur: ab ipso

conligit os rabiem, solitaeque cupidine caedis

vertitur in pecudes et nunc quoque sanguine gaudet.

235

In villos abeunt vestes, in crura lacerti:

fit lupus et veteris servat vestigia formae.

Canities eadem est, eadem violentia vultus,

idem oculi lucent, eadem feritatis imago est.

The Deluge

Occidit una domus. Sed non domus una perire

240

digna fuit: qua terra patet, fera regnat Erinys.

In facinus iurasse putes. Dent ocius omnes

quas meruere pati (sic stat sententia) poenas.”

Dicta Iovis pars voce probant stimulosque frementi

adiciunt, alii partes adsensibus inplent.

245

Est tamen humani generis iactura dolori

omnibus, et, quae sit terrae mortalibus orbae

forma futura, rogant, quis sit laturus in aras

tura, ferisne paret populandas tradere terras.

Talia quaerentes (sibi enim fore cetera curae)

250

rex superum trepidare vetat subolemque priori

dissimilem populo promittit origine mira.

253 Diluvium. Deucalion et Pyrrha.

Iamque erat in totas sparsurus fulmina terras:

sed timuit, ne forte sacer tot ab ignibus aether

conciperet flammas longusque ardesceret axis:

255

esse quoque in fatis reminiscitur, adfore tempus,

quo mare, quo tellus correptaque regia caeli

ardeat et mundi moles obsessa laboret.

Tela reponuntur manibus fabricata Cyclopum:

poena placet diversa, genus mortale sub undis

260

perdere et ex omni nimbos demittere caelo.

Protinus Aeoliis Aquilonem claudit in antris

et quaecumque fugant inductas flamina nubes

emittitque Notum. Madidis Notus evolat alis,

terribilem picea tectus caligine vultum:

265

barba gravis nimbis, canis fluit unda capillis;

fronte sedent nebulae, rorant pennaeque sinusque.

Utque manu late pendentia nubila pressit,

fit fragor: hinc densi funduntur ab aethere nimbi.

Nuntia Iunonis varios induta colores

270

concipit Iris aquas alimentaque nubibus adfert.

Sternuntur segetes et deplorata coloni

vota iacent, longique perit labor inritus anni.

Nec caelo contenta suo est Iovis ira, sed illum

caeruleus frater iuvat auxiliaribus undis.

275

Convocat hic amnes. Qui postquam tecta tyranni

intravere sui, “non est hortamine longo

nunc” ait “utendum. Vires effundite vestras:

sic opus est! aperite domos ac mole remota

fluminibus vestris totas inmittite habenas!”

280

Iusserat; hi redeunt ac fontibus ora relaxant

et defrenato volvuntur in aequora cursu.

Ipse tridente suo terram percussit: at illa

intremuit motuque vias patefecit aquarum.

Exspatiata ruunt per apertos flumina campos

285

cumque satis arbusta simul pecudesque virosque

tectaque cumque suis rapiunt penetralia sacris.

Siqua domus mansit potuitque resistere tanto

indeiecta malo, culmen tamen altior huius

unda tegit, pressaeque latent sub gurgite turres.

290

Iamque mare et tellus nullum discrimen habebant:

omnia pontus erant; deerant quoque litora ponto.

Occupat hic collem, cumba sedet alter adunca

et ducit remos illic, ubi nuper ararat,

ille supra segetes aut mersae culmina villae

295

navigat, hic summa piscem deprendit in ulmo.

Figitur in viridi, si fors tulit, ancora prato,

aut subiecta terunt curvae vineta carinae;

et, modo qua graciles gramen carpsere capellae,

nunc ibi deformes ponunt sua corpora phocae.

300

Mirantur sub aqua lucos urbesque domosque

Nereides, silvasque tenent delphines et altis

incursant ramis agitataque robora pulsant.

Nat lupus inter oves, fulvos vehit unda leones,

unda vehit tigres, nec vires fulminis apro,

305

crura nec ablato prosunt velocia cervo.

Quaesitisque diu terris, ubi sistere possit,

in mare lassatis volucris vaga decidit alis.

Obruerat tumulos inmensa licentia ponti,

pulsabantque novi montana cacumina fluctus.

310

Maxima pars unda rapitur; quibus unda pepercit,

illos longa domant inopi ieiunia victu.

Separat Aonios Oetaeis Phocis ab arvis,

terra ferax, dum terra fuit, sed tempore in illo

pars maris et latus subitarum campus aquarum.

315

Mons ibi verticibus petit arduus astra duobus,

nomine Parnasus, superantque cacumina nubes.

Hic ubi Deucalion (nam cetera texerat aequor)

cum consorte tori parva rate vectus adhaesit,

Corycidas nymphas et numina montis adorant

320

fatidicamque Themin, quae tunc oracla tenebat.

Non illo melior quisquam nec amantior aequi

vir fuit aut illa metuentior ulla deorum.

Iuppiter ut liquidis stagnare paludibus orbem

et superesse virum de tot modo milibus unum,

325

et superesse videt de tot modo milibus unam,

innocuos ambo, cultores numinis ambo,

nubila disiecit nimbisque aquilone remotis

et caelo terras ostendit et aethera terris.

Nec maris ira manet, positoque tricuspide telo

330

mulcet aquas rector pelagi supraque profundum

exstantem atque umeros innato murice tectum

caeruleum Tritona vocat conchaeque sonanti

inspirare iubet fluctusque et flumina signo

iam revocare dato. Cava bucina sumitur illi,

335

tortilis, in latum quae turbine crescit ab imo,

bucina, quae medio concepit ubi aera ponto,

litora voce replet sub utroque iacentia Phoebo.

Tunc quoque, ut ora dei madida rorantia barba

contigit et cecinit iussos inflata receptus,

340

omnibus audita est telluris et aequoris undis,

et quibus est undis audita, coercuit omnes.

Iam mare litus habet, plenos capit alveus amnes,

flumina subsidunt collesque exire videntur,

surgit humus, crescunt loca decrescentibus undis,

345

postque diem longam nudata cacumina silvae

ostendunt limumque tenent in fronde relictum.

348

Redditus orbis erat. Quem postquam vidit inanem

et desolatas agere alta silentia terras,

Deucalion lacrimis ita Pyrrham adfatur obortis:

350

“O soror, o coniunx, o femina sola superstes,

quam commune mihi genus et patruelis origo,

deinde torus iunxit, nunc ipsa pericula iungunt,

terrarum, quascumque vident occasus et ortus,

nos duo turba sumus; possedit cetera pontus.

355

Haec quoque adhuc vitae non est fiducia nostrae

certa satis; terrent etiam nunc nubila mentem.

Quis tibi, si sine me fatis erepta fuisses,

nunc animus, miseranda, foret? quo sola timorem

ferre modo posses? quo consolante doleres?

360

Namque ego (crede mihi) si te quoque pontus haberet,

te sequerer, coniunx, et me quoque pontus haberet.

O utinam possim populos reparare paternis

artibus atque animas formatae infundere terrae!

Nunc genus in nobis restat mortale duobus

365

(sic visum superis) hominumque exempla manemus.”

Dixerat, et flebant. Placuit caeleste precari

numen et auxilium per sacras quaerere sortes.

Nulla mora est: adeunt pariter Cephisidas undas,

ut nondum liquidas, sic iam vada nota secantes.

370

Inde ubi libatos inroravere liquores

vestibus et capiti, flectunt vestigia sanctae

ad delubra deae, quorum fastigia turpi

pallebant musco stabantque sine ignibus arae.

Ut templi tetigere gradus, procumbit uterque

375

pronus humi gelidoque pavens dedit oscula saxo

atque ita “si precibus” dixerunt “numina iustis

victa remollescunt, si flectitur ira deorum,

dic, Themi, qua generis damnum reparabile nostri

arte sit, et mersis fer opem, mitissima, rebus.”

380

Mota dea est sortemque dedit: “Discedite templo

et velate caput cinctasque resolvite vestes

ossaque post tergum magnae iactate parentis.”

Obstipuere diu, rumpitque silentia voce

Pyrrha prior iussisque deae parere recusat,

385

detque sibi veniam pavido rogat ore, pavetque

laedere iactatis maternas ossibus umbras.

Interea repetunt caecis obscura latebris

verba datae sortis secum inter seque volutant.

Inde Promethides placidis Epimethida dictis

390

mulcet et “aut fallax” ait “est sollertia nobis,

aut pia sunt nullumque nefas oracula suadent.

Magna parens terra est, lapides in corpore terrae

ossa reor dici; iacere hos post terga iubemur.”

Coniugis augurio quamquam Titania mota est,

395

spes tamen in dubio est: adeo caelestibus ambo

diffidunt monitis. Sed quid temptare nocebit?

Discedunt velantque caput tunicasque recingunt

et iussos lapides sua post vestigia mittunt.

Saxa (quis hoc credat, nisi sit pro teste vetustas?)

400

ponere duritiem coepere suumque rigorem

mollirique mora mollitaque ducere formam.

Mox ubi creverunt naturaque mitior illis

contigit, ut quaedam, sic non manifesta, videri

forma potest hominis, sed, uti de marmore coepta,

405

non exacta satis rudibusque simillima signis.

Quae tamen ex illis aliquo pars umida suco

et terrena fuit, versa est in corporis usum;

quod solidum est flectique nequit, mutatur in ossa;

quae modo vena fuit, sub eodem nomine mansit;

410

inque brevi spatio superorum numine saxa

missa viri manibus faciem traxere virorum,

et de femineo reparata est femina iactu.

Inde genus durum sumus experiensque laborum

et documenta damus qua simus origine nati.

415

416 Python.

Cetera diversis tellus animalia formis

sponte sua peperit, postquam vetus umor ab igne

percaluit solis, caenumque udaeque paludes

intumuere aestu, fecundaque semina rerum

vivaci nutrita solo ceu matris in alvo

420

creverunt faciemque aliquam cepere morando.

Sic ubi deseruit madidos septemfluus agros

Nilus et antiquo sua flumina reddidit alveo

aetherioque recens exarsit sidere limus,

plurima cultores versis animalia glaebis

425

inveniunt, et in his quaedam modo coepta per ipsum

nascendi spatium, quaedam inperfecta suisque

trunca vident numeris; et eodem in corpore saepe

altera pars vivit, rudis est pars altera tellus.

Quippe ubi temperiem sumpsere umorque calorque,

430

concipiunt, et ab his oriuntur cuncta duobus;

cumque sit ignis aquae pugnax, vapor umidus omnes

res creat, et discors concordia fetibus apta est.

Ergo ubi diluvio tellus lutulenta recenti

solibus aetheriis altoque recanduit aestu,

435

edidit innumeras species, partimque figuras

rettulit antiquas, partim nova monstra creavit.

Illa quidem nollet, sed te quoque, maxime Python,

tum genuit, populisque novis, incognite serpens,

terror eras: tantum spatii de monte tenebas.

440

Hunc deus arquitenens, et numquam talibus armis

ante nisi in dammis capreisque fugacibus usus,

mille gravem telis exhausta paene pharetra

perdidit effuso per vulnera nigra veneno.

Neve operis famam posset delere vetustas,

445

instituit sacros celebri certamine ludos,

Pythia perdomitae serpentis nomine dictos.

Hic iuvenum quicumque manu pedibusve rotave

vicerat, aesculeae capiebat frondis honorem:

nondum laurus erat, longoque decentia crine

450

tempora cingebat de qualibet arbore Phoebus.

452 Daphne.

Primus amor Phoebi Daphne Peneia, quem non

fors ignara dedit, sed saeva Cupidinis ira.

Delius hunc, nuper victa serpente superbus,

viderat adducto flectentem cornua nervo

455

“quid” que “tibi, lascive puer, cum fortibus armis?”

dixerat, “ista decent umeros gestamina nostros,

qui dare certa ferae, dare vulnera possumus hosti,

qui modo pestifero tot iugera ventre prementem

stravimus innumeris tumidum Pythona sagittis.

460

Tu face nescio quos esto contentus amores

inritare tua, nec laudes adsere nostras.”

Filius huic Veneris “figat tuus omnia, Phoebe,

te meus arcus:” ait “quantoque animalia cedunt

cuncta deo tanto minor est tua gloria nostra.”

465

Dixit et eliso percussis aere pennis

inpiger umbrosa Parnasi constitit arce

eque sagittifera prompsit duo tela pharetra

diversorum operum: fugat hoc, facit illud amorem.

Quod facit, auratum est et cuspide fulget acuta;

470

quod fugat, obtusum est et habet sub harundine plumbum.

Hoc deus in nympha Peneide fixit, at illo

laesit Apollineas traiecta per ossa medullas.

Protinus alter amat, fugit altera nomen amantis

silvarum tenebris captivarumque ferarum

475

exuviis gaudens innuptaeque aemula Phoebes.

Vitta coercebat positos sine lege capillos.

Multi illam petiere, illa aversata petentes

inpatiens expersque viri nemora avia lustrat,

nec quid Hymen, quid Amor, quid sint conubia curat.

480

Saepe pater dixit “generum mihi, filia, debes,”

saepe pater dixit “debes mihi nata, nepotes:”

illa, velut crimen taedas exosa iugales,

pulchra verecundo suffunditur ora rubore,

inque patris blandis haerens cervice lacertis

485

“da mihi perpetua, genitor carissime,” dixit

“virginitate frui: dedit hoc pater ante Dianae.”

Ille quidem obsequitur, sed te decor iste quod optas

esse vetat. Votoque tuo tua forma repugnat:

Phoebus amat visaeque cupit conubia Daphnes,

490

quodque cupit, sperat, suaque illum oracula fallunt.

Utque leves stipulae demptis adolentur aristis,

ut facibus saepes ardent, quas forte viator

vel nimis admovit vel iam sub luce reliquit,

sic deus in flammas abiit, sic pectore toto

495

uritur et sterilem sperando nutrit amorem.

Spectat inornatos collo pendere capillos

et “quid, si comantur?” ait. Videt igne micantes

sideribus similes oculos, videt oscula, quae non

est vidisse satis; laudat digitosque manusque

500

bracchiaque et nudos media plus parte lacertos.

Siqua latent, meliora putat. Fugit ocior aura

illa levi neque ad haec revocantis verba resistit:

“Nympha, precor, Penei, mane! Non insequor hostis:

nympha, mane! sic agna lupum, sic cerva leonem,

505

sic aquilam penna fugiunt trepidante columbae,

hostes quaeque suos: amor est mihi causa sequendi.

Me miserum! ne prona cadas indignave laedi

crura notent sentes et sim tibi causa doloris.

Aspera, qua properas, loca sunt. Moderatius, oro,

510

curre fugamque inhibe; moderatius insequar ipse.

Cui placeas, inquire tamen. Non incola montis,

non ego sum pastor, non hic armenta gregesque

horridus observo. Nescis, temeraria, nescis

quem fugias, ideoque fugis. Mihi Delphica tellus

515

et Claros et Tenedos Patareaque regia servit,

Iuppiter est genitor; per me quod eritque fuitque

estque patet; per me concordant carmina nervis.

Certa quidem nostra est, nostra tamen una sagitta

certior, in vacuo quae vulnera pectore fecit.

520

Inventum medicina meum est, opiferque per orbem

dicor, et herbarum subiecta potentia nobis:

ei mihi, quod nullis amor est sanabilis herbis

nec prosunt domino, quae prosunt omnibus, artes.”

525

Plura locuturum timido Peneia cursu

525

fugit cumque ipso verba inperfecta reliquit,

tum quoque visa decens. Nudabant corpora venti,

obviaque adversas vibrabant flamina vestes,

et levis inpulsos retro dabat aura capillos,

auctaque forma fuga est. Sed enim non sustinet ultra

530

perdere blanditias iuvenis deus, utque monebat

ipse Amor, admisso sequitur vestigia passu.

Ut canis in vacuo leporem cum Gallicus arvo

vidit, et hic praedam pedibus petit, ille salutem:

alter inhaesuro similis iam iamque tenere

535

sperat et extento stringit vestigia rostro,

alter in ambiguo est, an sit conprensus, et ipsis

morsibus eripitur tangentiaque ora relinquit:

sic deus et virgo est hic spe celer, illa timore.

Qui tamen insequitur pennis adiutus Amoris,

540

ocior est requiemque negat tergoque fugacis

inminet et crinem sparsum cervicibus adflat.

Viribus absumptis expalluit illa citaeque

victa labore fugae spectans Peneidas undas

“fer pater” inquit “opem si flumina numen habetis.

545

Qua nimium placui, mutando perde figuram!”

Vix prece finita torpor gravis occupat artus:

mollia cinguntur tenui praecordia libro,

in frondem crines, in ramos bracchia crescunt,

550

pes modo tam velox pigris radicibus haeret,

ora cacumen habet; remanet nitor unus in illa.

Hanc quoque Phoebus amat, positaque in stipite dextra

sentit adhuc trepidare novo sub cortice pectus

conplexusque suis ramos, ut membra, lacertis

555

oscula dat ligno: refugit tamen oscula lignum.

Cui deus “at quoniam coniunx mea non potes esse,

arbor eris certe” dixit “mea. Semper habebunt

te coma, te citharae, te nostrae, laure, pharetrae:

tu ducibus Latiis aderis, cum laeta triumphum

560

vox canet et visent longas Capitolia pompas:

postibus Augustis eadem fidissima custos

ante fores stabis mediamque tuebere quercum,

utque meum intonsis caput est iuvenale capillis,

tu quoque perpetuos semper gere frondis honores.”

565

Finierat Paean: factis modo laurea ramis

adnuit utque caput visa est agitasse cacumen.

568 Io. Argus. Syrinx.

Est nemus Haemoniae, praerupta quod undique claudit

silva: vocant Tempe. Per quae Peneus ab imo

effusus Pindo spumosis volvitur undis,

570

deiectuque gravi tenues agitantia fumos

nubila conducit summisque adspergine silvis

inpluit et sonitu plus quam vicina fatigat.

Haec domus, haec sedes, haec sunt penetralia magni

amnis; in his residens facto de cautibus antro,

575

undis iura dabat nymphisque colentibus undas.

Conveniunt illuc popularia flumina primum,

nescia, gratentur consolenturne parentem,

populifer Sperchios et inrequietus Enipeus

Apidanusque senex lenisque Amphrysos et Aeas,

580

moxque amnes alii, qui, qua tulit impetus illos,

in mare deducunt fessas erroribus undas.

Inachus unus abest imoque reconditus antro

fletibus auget aquas natamque miserrimus Io

luget ut amissam. Nescit, vitane fruatur,

585

an sit apud manes; sed quam non invenit usquam.

esse putat nusquam atque animo peiora veretur.

Viderat a patrio redeuntem Iuppiter illam

flumine et “o virgo Iove digna tuoque beatum

nescio quem factura toro, pete” dixerat “umbras

590

altorum nemorum” (et nemorum monstraverat umbras),

“dum calet et medio sol est altissimus orbe.

Quodsi sola times latebras intrare ferarum,

praeside tuta deo nemorum secreta subibis,

nec de plebe deo, sed qui caelestia magna

595

sceptra manu teneo, sed qui vaga fulmina mitto.

Ne fuge me!”—fugiebat enim. Iam pascua Lernae

consitaque arboribus Lyrcea reliquerat arva,

cum deus inducta latas caligine terras

occuluit tenuitque fugam rapuitque pudorem.

600

Interea medios Iuno despexit in agros

et noctis faciem nebulas fecisse volucres

sub nitido mirata die, non fluminis illas

esse, nec umenti sensit tellure remitti;

atque suus coniunx ubi sit circumspicit, ut quae

605

deprensi totiens iam nosset furta mariti.

Quem postquam caelo non repperit, “aut ego fallor,

aut ego laedor” ait, delapsaque ab aethere summo

constitit in terris nebulasque recedere iussit.

Coniugis adventum praesenserat inque nitentem

610

Inachidos vultus mutaverat ille iuvencam.

Bos quoque formosa est. Speciem Saturnia vaccae,

quamquam invita, probat, nec non et cuius et unde

quove sit armento, veri quasi nescia quaerit.

Iuppiter e terra genitam mentitur, ut auctor

615

desinat inquiri. Petit hanc Saturnia munus.

Quid faciat? crudele suos addicere amores,

non dare suspectum est. Pudor est qui suadeat illinc,

hinc dissuadet amor. Victus pudor esset amore;

sed leve si munus sociae generisque torique

620

vacca negaretur, poterat non vacca videri.

Paelice donata non protinus exuit omnem

diva metum timuitque Iovem et fuit anxia furti,

donec Arestoridae servandam tradidit Argo.

Centum luminibus cinctum caput Argus habebat:

625

inde suis vicibus capiebant bina quietem,

cetera servabant atque in statione manebant.

Constiterat quocumque modo, spectabat ad Io:

ante oculos Io, quamvis aversus, habebat.

Luce sinit pasci; cum sol tellure sub alta est,

630

claudit et indigno circumdat vincula collo.

frondibus arboreis et amara pascitur herba,

proque toro terrae non semper gramen habenti

incubat infelix limosaque flumina potat.

Illa etiam supplex Argo cum bracchia vellet

635

tendere, non habuit, quae bracchia tenderet Argo,

et conata queri mugitus edidit ore

pertimuitque sonos propriaque exterrita voce est.

Venit et ad ripas, ubi ludere saepe solebat,

Inachidas ripas; novaque ut conspexit in unda

640

cornua, pertimuit seque exsternata refugit.

Naides ignorant, ignorat et Inachus ipse,

quae sit; at illa patrem sequitur sequiturque sorores

et patitur tangi seque admirantibus offert.

Decerptas senior porrexerat Inachus herbas:

645

illa manus lambit patriisque dat oscula palmis

nec retinet lacrimas et, si modo verba sequantur,

oret opem nomenque suum casusque loquatur.

Littera pro verbis, quam pes in pulvere duxit,

corporis indicium mutati triste peregit.

650

65q

“Me miserum!” exclamat pater Inachus inque gementis

cornibus et niveae pendens cervice iuvencae

“me miserum!” ingeminat, “tune es quaesita per omnes

nata, mihi terras? tu non inventa reperta

luctus eras levior. Retices nec mutua nostris

655

dicta refers, alto tantum suspiria ducis

pectore, quodque unum potes, ad mea verba remugis.

At tibi ego ignarus thalamos taedasque parabam,

spesque fuit generi mihi prima, secunda nepotum.

De grege nunc tibi vir, nunc de grege natus habendus.

660

Nec finire licet tantos mihi morte dolores,

sed nocet esse deum, praeclusaque ianua leti

aeternum nostros luctus extendit in aevum?”

Talia maerentem stellatus submovet Argus

ereptamque patri diversa in pascua natam

665

abstrahit. Ipse procul montis sublime cacumen

occupat, unde sedens partes speculatur in omnes.

Nec superum rector mala tanta Phoronidos ultra

ferre potest natumque vocat, quem lucida partu

Pleias enixa est, letoque det imperat Argum.

670

Parva mora est alas pedibus virgamque potenti

somniferam sumpsisse manu tegimenque capillis.

Haec ubi disposuit, patria Iove natus ab arce

desilit in terras. Illic tegimenque removit

et posuit pennas, tantummodo virga retenta est.

675

Hac agit, ut pastor, per devia rura capellas,

dum venit, adductas et structis cantat avenis.

Voce nova captus custos Iunonius “at tu,

quisquis es, hoc poteras mecum considere saxo,”

Argus ait, “neque enim pecori fecundior ullo

680

herba loco est, aptamque vides pastoribus umbram.”

Sedit Atlantiades et euntem multa loquendo

detinuit sermone diem iunctisque canendo

vincere harundinibus servantia lumina temptat.

Ille tamen pugnat molles evincere somnos

685

et, quamvis sopor est oculorum parte receptus,

parte tamen vigilat. Quaerit quoque (namque reperta

fistula nuper erat), qua sit ratione reperta.

Tum deus “Arcadiae gelidis in montibus” inquit

“inter hamadryadas celeberrima Nonacrinas

690

naias una fuit; nymphae Syringa vocabant.

Non semel et satyros eluserat illa sequentes

et quoscumque deos umbrosaque silva feraxque

rus habet. Ortygiam studiis ipsaque colebat

virginitate deam. Ritu quoque cincta Dianae

695

falleret et posset credi Latonia, si non

corneus huic arcus, si non foret aureus illi.

Sic quoque fallebat. Redeuntem colle Lycaeo

Pan videt hanc pinuque caput praecinctus acuta

talia verba refert”—restabat verba referre

700

et precibus spretis fugisse per avia nympham,

donec harenosi placidum Ladonis ad amnem

venerit. Hic illam cursum inpedientibus undis,

ut se mutarent liquidas orasse sorores,

Panaque, cum prensam sibi iam Syringa putaret,

705

corpore pro nymphae calamos tenuisse palustres.

Dumque ibi suspirat, motos in harundine ventos

effecisse sonum tenuem similemque querenti.

Arte nova vocisque deum dulcedine captum

“hoc mihi concilium tecum” dixisse “manebit!“

710

atque ita disparibus calamis conpagine cerae

inter se iunctis nomen tenuisse puellae.

713

Talia dicturus vidit Cyllenius omnes

succubuisse oculos adopertaque lumina somno.

Supprimit extemplo vocem firmatque soporem

715

languida permulcens medicata lumina virga.

Nec mora, falcato nutantem vulnerat ense

qua collo est confine caput, saxoque cruentum

deicit et maculat praeruptam sanguine rupem.

Arge, iaces, quodque in tot lumina lumen habebas,

720

exstinctum est, centumque oculos nox occupat una.

Excipit hos volucrisque suae Saturnia pennis

collocat et gemmis caudam stellantibus inplet.

Protinus exarsit nec tempora distulit irae

horriferamque oculis animoque obiecit Erinyn

725

paelicis Argolicae stimulosque in pectore caecos

condidit et profugam per totum terruit orbem.

Ultimus inmenso restabas, Nile, labori.

Quem simul ac tetigit, positis in margine ripae

procubuit genibus resupinoque ardua collo,

730

quos potuit solos, tollens ad sidera vultus

et gemitu et lacrimis et luctisono mugitu

cum Iove visa queri finemque orare malorum.

Coniugis ille suae conplexus colla lacertis,

finiat ut poenas tandem, rogat “in” que “futurum

735

pone metus” inquit; “numquam tibi causa doloris

haec erit:” et Stygias iubet hoc audire paludes.

Ut lenita dea est, vultus capit illa priores

fitque quod ante fuit: fugiunt e corpore saetae,

cornua decrescunt, fit luminis artior orbis,

740

contrahitur rictus, redeunt umerique manusque,

ungulaque in quinos dilapsa absumitur ungues:

de bove nil superest formae nisi candor in illa.

Officioque pedum nymphe contenta duorum

erigitur metuitque loqui, ne more iuvencae

745

mugiat, et timide verba intermissa retemptat.

747 Phaethon.

Nunc dea linigera colitur celeberrima turba,

nunc Epaphus magni genitus de semine tandem

creditur esse Iovis, perque urbes iuncta parenti

templa tenet. Fuit huic animis aequalis et annis

750

Sole satus Phaethon. Quem quondam magna loquentem

nec sibi cedentem Phoeboque parente superbum

non tulit Inachides, “matri” que ait “omnia demens

credis et es tumidus genitoris imagine falsi.”

Erubuit Phaethon iramque pudore repressit

755

et tulit ad Clymenen Epaphi convicia matrem;

“quo” que “magis doleas genetrix,” ait “ille ego liber,

ille ferox tacui. Pudet haec opprobria nobis

et dici potuisse et non potuisse refelli.

At tu, si modo sum caelesti stirpe creatus,

760

ede notam tanti generis meque adsere caelo.”

Dixit et inplicuit materno bracchia collo

perque suum Meropisque caput taedasque sororum

traderet oravit veri sibi signa parentis.

Ambiguum, Clymene, precibus Phaethontis an ira

765

mota magis dicti sibi criminis utraque caelo

bracchia porrexit spectansque ad lumina solis

“per iubar hoc” inquit “radiis insigne coruscis,

nate, tibi iuro, quod nos auditque videtque,

hoc te, quem spectas, hoc te, qui temperat orbem,

770

Sole satum. Si ficta loquor, neget ipse videndum

se mihi, sitque oculis lux ista novissima nostris.

Nec longus patrios labor est tibi nosse penates:

unde oritur, domus est terrae contermina nostrae.

Si modo fert animus, gradere et scitabere ab ipso.”

775

Emicat extemplo laetus post talia matris

dicta suae Phaethon et concipit aethera mente,

Aethiopasque suos positosque sub ignibus Indos

sidereis transit patriosque adit inpiger ortus.

Metamorphoses. P. Ovidius Naso. ed. Hugo Magnus. Gotha. 1892.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Metamorphoses (Ovid. Die Metamorphosen des P. Ovidius Naso, Volume 1-3. Magnus, Hugo, editor. Gotha, Germany: F.A. Perthes. 1892-1919.)

Translations (2)

Metamorphoses Perseus (Ovid. Metamorphoses. More, Brookes, translator. Boston: Cornhill Publishing Co., 1922.) — 1 focus

BOOK 1

Invocatio. INVOCATION

My soul is wrought to sing of forms transformed

to bodies new and strange! Immortal Gods

inspire my heart, for ye have changed yourselves

and all things you have changed! Oh lead my song

in smooth and measured strains, from olden days

when earth began to this completed time!

THE CREATION Mundi origo.

Before the ocean and the earth appeared—

before the skies had overspread them all—

the face of Nature in a vast expanse

was naught but Chaos uniformly waste.

It was a rude and undeveloped mass,

that nothing made except a ponderous weight;

and all discordant elements confused,

were there congested in a shapeless heap.

As yet the sun afforded earth no light,

nor did the moon renew her crescent horns;

the earth was not suspended in the air

exactly balanced by her heavy weight.

Not far along the margin of the shores

had Amphitrite stretched her lengthened arms,—

for all the land was mixed with sea and air.

The land was soft, the sea unfit to sail,

the atmosphere opaque, to naught was given

a proper form, in everything was strife,

and all was mingled in a seething mass—

with hot the cold parts strove, and wet with dry

and soft with hard, and weight with empty void.

But God, or kindly Nature, ended strife—

he cut the land from skies, the sea from land,

the heavens ethereal from material air;

and when were all evolved from that dark mass

he bound the fractious parts in tranquil peace.

The fiery element of convex heaven

leaped from the mass devoid of dragging weight,

and chose the summit arch to which the air

as next in quality was next in place.

The earth more dense attracted grosser parts

and moved by gravity sank underneath;

and last of all the wide surrounding waves

in deeper channels rolled around the globe.

And when this God —which one is yet unknown—

had carved asunder that discordant mass,

had thus reduced it to its elements,

that every part should equally combine,

when time began He rounded out the earth

and moulded it to form a mighty globe.

Then poured He forth the deeps and gave command

that they should billow in the rapid winds,

that they should compass every shore of earth.

he also added fountains, pools and lakes,

and bound with shelving banks the slanting streams,

which partly are absorbed and partly join

the boundless ocean. Thus received amid

the wide expanse of uncontrolled waves,

they beat the shores instead of crooked banks.

At His command the boundless plains extend,

the valleys are depressed, the woods are clothed

in green, the stony mountains rise. And as

the heavens are intersected on the right

by two broad zones, by two that cut the left,

and by a fifth consumed with ardent heat,

with such a number did the careful God

mark off the compassed weight, and thus the earth

received as many climes.—Such heat consumes

the middle zone that none may dwell therein;

and two extremes are covered with deep snow;

and two are placed betwixt the hot and cold,

which mixed together give a temperate clime;

and over all the atmosphere suspends

with weight proportioned to the fiery sky,

exactly as the weight of earth compares

with weight of water.

And He ordered mist

to gather in the air and spread the clouds.

He fixed the thunders that disturb our souls,

and brought the lightning on destructive winds

that also waft the cold. Nor did the great

Artificer permit these mighty winds

to blow unbounded in the pathless skies,

but each discordant brother fixed in space,

although His power can scarce restrain their rage

to rend the universe. At His command

to far Aurora, Eurus took his way,

to Nabath, Persia , and that mountain range

first gilded by the dawn; and Zephyr's flight

was towards the evening star and peaceful shores,

warm with the setting sun; and Boreas

invaded Scythia and the northern snows;

and Auster wafted to the distant south

where clouds and rain encompass his abode.—

and over these He fixed the liquid sky,

devoid of weight and free from earthly dross.

And scarcely had He separated these

and fixed their certain bounds, when all the stars,

which long were pressed and hidden in the mass,

began to gleam out from the plains of heaven,

and traversed, with the Gods, bright ether fields:

and lest some part might be bereft of life

the gleaming waves were filled with twinkling fish;

the earth was covered with wild animals;

100

the agitated air was filled with birds.

But one more perfect and more sanctified,

a being capable of lofty thought,

intelligent to rule, was wanting still

man was created! Did the Unknown God

105

designing then a better world make man

of seed divine? or did Prometheus

take the new soil of earth (that still contained

some godly element of Heaven's Life)

and use it to create the race of man;

110

first mingling it with water of new streams;

so that his new creation, upright man,

was made in image of commanding Gods?

On earth the brute creation bends its gaze,

but man was given a lofty countenance

115

and was commanded to behold the skies;

and with an upright face may view the stars:—

and so it was that shapeless clay put on

the form of man till then unknown to earth.

Quattuor aetates. Gigantes. THE FOUR AGES

First was the Golden Age. Then rectitude

120

spontaneous in the heart prevailed, and faith.

Avengers were not seen, for laws unframed

were all unknown and needless. Punishment

and fear of penalties existed not.

No harsh decrees were fixed on brazen plates.

125

No suppliant multitude the countenance

of Justice feared, averting, for they dwelt

without a judge in peace. Descended not

the steeps, shorn from its height, the lofty pine,

cleaving the trackless waves of alien shores,

130

nor distant realms were known to wandering men.

The towns were not entrenched for time of war;

they had no brazen trumpets, straight, nor horns

of curving brass, nor helmets, shields nor swords.

There was no thought of martial pomp —secure

135

a happy multitude enjoyed repose.

Then of her own accord the earth produced

a store of every fruit. The harrow touched

her not, nor did the plowshare wound

her fields. And man content with given food,

140

and none compelling, gathered arbute fruits

and wild strawberries on the mountain sides,

and ripe blackberries clinging to the bush,

and corners and sweet acorns on the ground,

down fallen from the spreading tree of Jove.

145

Eternal Spring! Soft breathing zephyrs soothed

and warmly cherished buds and blooms, produced

without a seed. The valleys though unplowed

gave many fruits; the fields though not renewed

white glistened with the heavy bearded wheat:

150

rivers flowed milk and nectar, and the trees,

the very oak trees, then gave honey of themselves.

When Saturn had been banished into night

and all the world was ruled by Jove supreme,

the Silver Age, though not so good as gold

155

but still surpassing yellow brass, prevailed.

Jove first reduced to years the Primal Spring,

by him divided into periods four,

unequal,—summer, autumn, winter, spring.—

then glowed with tawny heat the parched air,

160

or pendent icicles in winter froze

and man stopped crouching in crude caverns, while

he built his homes of tree rods, bark entwined.

Then were the cereals planted in long rows,

and bullocks groaned beneath the heavy yoke.

165

The third Age followed, called The Age of Bronze,

when cruel people were inclined to arms

but not to impious crimes. And last of all

the ruthless and hard Age of Iron prevailed,

from which malignant vein great evil sprung;

170

and modesty and faith and truth took flight,

and in their stead deceits and snares and frauds

and violence and wicked love of gain,

succeeded.—Then the sailor spread his sails

to winds unknown, and keels that long had stood

175

on lofty mountains pierced uncharted waves.

Surveyors anxious marked with metes and bounds

the lands, created free as light and air:

nor need the rich ground furnish only crops,

and give due nourishment by right required,—

180

they penetrated to the bowels of earth

and dug up wealth, bad cause of all our ills,—

rich ores which long ago the earth had hid

and deep removed to gloomy Stygian caves:

and soon destructive iron and harmful gold

185

were brought to light; and War, which uses both,

came forth and shook with sanguinary grip

his clashing arms. Rapacity broke forth—

the guest was not protected from his host,

the father in law from his own son in law;

190

even brothers seldom could abide in peace.

The husband threatened to destroy his wife,

and she her husband: horrid step dames mixed

the deadly henbane: eager sons inquired

their fathers, ages. Piety was slain:

195

and last of all the virgin deity,

Astraea vanished from the blood-stained earth.

GIANTS

And lest ethereal heights should long remain

less troubled than the earth, the throne of Heaven

was threatened by the Giants; and they piled

200

mountain on mountain to the lofty stars.

But Jove, omnipotent, shot thunderbolts

through Mount Olympus , and he overturned

from Ossa huge, enormous Pelion.

And while these dreadful bodies lay overwhelmed

205

in their tremendous bulk, (so fame reports)

the Earth was reeking with the copious blood

of her gigantic sons; and thus replete

with moisture she infused the steaming gore

with life renewed. So that a monument

210

of such ferocious stock should be retained,

she made that offspring in the shape of man;

but this new race alike despised the Gods,

and by the greed of savage slaughter proved

a sanguinary birth.

215

Lycaon. LYCAON CHANGED TO A WOLF

When, from his throne

supreme, the Son of Saturn viewed their deeds,

he deeply groaned: and calling to his mind

the loathsome feast Lycaon had prepared,

a recent deed not common to report,

220

his soul conceived great anger —worthy Jove—

and he convened a council. No delay

detained the chosen Gods.

When skies are clear

a path is well defined on high, which men,

225

because so white, have named the Milky Way.

It makes a passage for the deities

and leads to mansions of the Thunder God,

to Jove's imperial home. On either side

of its wide way the noble Gods are seen,

230

inferior Gods in other parts abide,

but there the potent and renowned of Heaven

have fixed their homes.—It is a glorious place,

our most audacious verse might designate

the “Palace of High Heaven.” When the Gods

235

were seated, therefore, in its marble halls

the King of all above the throng sat high,

and leaning on his ivory scepter, thrice,

and once again he shook his awful locks,

wherewith he moved the earth, and seas and stars,—

240

and thus indignantly began to speak;

“The time when serpent footed giants strove

to fix their hundred arms on captive Heaven,

not more than this event could cause alarm

for my dominion of the universe.

245

Although it was a savage enemy,

yet warred we with a single source derived

of one. Now must I utterly destroy

this mortal race wherever Nereus roars

around the world. Yea, by the Infernal Streams

250

that glide through Stygian groves beneath the world,

I swear it. Every method has been tried.

The knife must cut immedicable wounds,

lest maladies infect untainted parts.

“Beneath my sway are demi gods and fauns,

255

nymphs, rustic deities, sylvans of the hills,

satyrs;—all these, unworthy Heaven's abodes,

we should at least permit to dwell on earth

which we to them bequeathed. What think ye, Gods,

is safety theirs when I, your sovereign lord,

260

the Thunder-bolt Controller, am ensnared

by fierce Lycaon?” Ardent in their wrath,

the astonished Gods demand revenge overtake

this miscreant; he who dared commit such crimes.

'Twas even thus when raged that impious band

265

to blot the Roman name in sacred blood

of Caesar, sudden apprehensive fears

of ruin absolute astonished man,

and all the world convulsed. Nor is the love

thy people bear to thee, Augustus, less

270

than these displayed to Jupiter whose voice

and gesture all the murmuring host restrained:

and as indignant clamour ceased, suppressed

by regnant majesty, Jove once again

broke the deep silence with imperial words;

275

“Dismiss your cares; he paid the penalty

however all the crime and punishment

now learn from this:—An infamous report

of this unholy age had reached my ears,

and wishing it were false, I sloped my course

280

from high Olympus , and—although a God—

disguised in human form I viewed the world.

It would delay us to recount the crimes

unnumbered, for reports were less than truth.

“I traversed Maenalus where fearful dens

285

abound, over Lycaeus, wintry slopes

of pine tree groves, across Cyllene steep;

and as the twilight warned of night's approach,

I stopped in that Arcadian tyrant's realms

and entered his inhospitable home:—

290

and when I showed his people that a God

had come, the lowly prayed and worshiped me,

but this Lycaon mocked their pious vows

and scoffing said; ‘A fair experiment

will prove the truth if this be god or man.’

295

and he prepared to slay me in the night,—

to end my slumbers in the sleep of death.

So made he merry with his impious proof;

but not content with this he cut the throat

of a Molossian hostage sent to him,

300

and partly softened his still quivering limbs

in boiling water, partly roasted them

on fires that burned beneath. And when this flesh

was served to me on tables, I destroyed

his dwelling and his worthless Household Gods,

305

with thunder bolts avenging. Terror struck

he took to flight, and on the silent plains

is howling in his vain attempts to speak;

he raves and rages and his greedy jaws,

desiring their accustomed slaughter, turn

310

against the sheep—still eager for their blood.

His vesture separates in shaggy hair,

his arms are changed to legs; and as a wolf

he has the same grey locks, the same hard face,

the same bright eyes, the same ferocious look.

315

THE DELUGE

“Thus fell one house, but not one house alone

deserved to perish; over all the earth

ferocious deeds prevail,—all men conspire

in evil. Let them therefore feel the weight

of dreadful penalties so justly earned,

320

for such hath my unchanging will ordained.”

with exclamations some approved the words

of Jove and added fuel to his wrath,

while others gave assent: but all deplored

and questioned the estate of earth deprived

325

of mortals. Who could offer frankincense

upon the altars? Would he suffer earth

to be despoiled by hungry beasts of prey?

Such idle questions of the state of man

the King of Gods forbade, but granted soon

330

to people earth with race miraculous,

unlike the first.

Diluvium. Deucalion et Pyrrha.

And now his thunder bolts

would Jove wide scatter, but he feared the flames,

unnumbered, sacred ether might ignite

335

and burn the axle of the universe:

and he remembered in the scroll of fate,

there is a time appointed when the sea

and earth and Heavens shall melt, and fire destroy

the universe of mighty labour wrought.

340

Such weapons by the skill of Cyclops forged,

for different punishment he laid aside—

for straightway he preferred to overwhelm

the mortal race beneath deep waves and storms

from every raining sky. And instantly

345

he shut the Northwind in Aeolian caves,

and every other wind that might dispel

the gathering clouds. He bade the Southwind blow:—

the Southwind flies abroad with dripping wings,

concealing in the gloom his awful face:

350

the drenching rain descends from his wet beard

and hoary locks; dark clouds are on his brows

and from his wings and garments drip the dews:

his great hands press the overhanging clouds;

loudly the thunders roll; the torrents pour;

355

Iris, the messenger of Juno , clad

in many coloured raiment, upward draws

the steaming moisture to renew the clouds.

The standing grain is beaten to the ground,

the rustic's crops are scattered in the mire,

360

and he bewails the long year's fruitless toil.

The wrath of Jove was not content with powers

that emanate from Heaven; he brought to aid

his azure brother, lord of flowing waves,

who called upon the Rivers and the Streams:

365

and when they entered his impearled abode,

Neptune , their ancient ruler, thus began;

“A long appeal is needless; pour ye forth

in rage of power; open up your fountains;

rush over obstacles; let every stream

370

pour forth in boundless floods.” Thus he commands,

and none dissenting all the River Gods

return, and opening up their fountains roll

tumultuous to the deep unfruitful sea.

And Neptune with his trident smote the Earth,

375

which trembling with unwonted throes heaved up

the sources of her waters bare; and through

her open plains the rapid rivers rushed

resistless, onward bearing the waving grain,

the budding groves, the houses, sheep and men,—

380

and holy temples, and their sacred urns.

The mansions that remained, resisting vast

and total ruin, deepening waves concealed

and whelmed their tottering turrets in the flood

and whirling gulf. And now one vast expanse,

385

the land and sea were mingled in the waste

of endless waves—a sea without a shore.

One desperate man seized on the nearest hill;

another sitting in his curved boat,

plied the long oar where he was wont to plow;

390

another sailed above his grain, above

his hidden dwelling; and another hooked

a fish that sported in a leafy elm.

Perchance an anchor dropped in verdant fields,

or curving keels were pushed through tangled vines;

395

and where the gracile goat enjoyed the green,

unsightly seals reposed. Beneath the waves

were wondering Nereids, viewing cities, groves

and houses. Dolphins darting mid the trees,

meshed in the twisted branches, beat against

400

the shaken oak trees. There the sheep, affrayed,

swim with the frightened wolf, the surging waves

float tigers and lions: availeth naught

his lightning shock the wild boar, nor avails

the stag's fleet footed speed. The wandering bird,

405

seeking umbrageous groves and hidden vales,

with wearied pinion droops into the sea.

The waves increasing surge above the hills,

and rising waters dash on mountain tops.

Myriads by the waves are swept away,

410

and those the waters spare, for lack of food,

starvation slowly overcomes at last.

A fruitful land and fair but now submerged

beneath a wilderness of rising waves,

'Twixt Oeta and Aonia , Phocis lies,

415

where through the clouds Parnassus ' summits twain

point upward to the stars, unmeasured height,

save which the rolling billows covered all:

there in a small and fragile boat, arrived,

Deucalion and the consort of his couch,

420

prepared to worship the Corycian Nymphs,

the mountain deities, and Themis kind,

who in that age revealed in oracles

the voice of fate. As he no other lived

so good and just, as she no other feared

425

the Gods.

When Jupiter beheld the globe

in ruin covered, swept with wasting waves,

and when he saw one man of myriads left,

one helpless woman left of myriads lone,

430

both innocent and worshiping the Gods,

he scattered all the clouds; he blew away

the great storms by the cold northwind.

Once more

the earth appeared to heaven and the skies

435

appeared to earth. The fury of the main

abated, for the Ocean ruler laid

his trident down and pacified the waves,

and called on azure Triton.—Triton arose

above the waving seas, his shoulders mailed

440

in purple shells.—He bade the Triton blow,

blow in his sounding shell, the wandering streams

and rivers to recall with signal known:

a hollow wreathed trumpet, tapering wide

and slender stemmed, the Triton took amain

445

and wound the pearly shell at midmost sea.

Betwixt the rising and the setting suns

the wildered notes resounded shore to shore,

and as it touched his lips, wet with the brine

beneath his dripping beard, sounded retreat:

450

and all the waters of the land and sea

obeyed. Their fountains heard and ceased to flow;

their waves subsided; hidden hills uprose;

emerged the shores of ocean; channels filled

with flowing streams; the soil appeared; the land

455

increased its surface as the waves decreased:

and after length of days the trees put forth,

with ooze on bending boughs, their naked tops.

And all the wasted globe was now restored,

but as he viewed the vast and silent world

460

Deucalion wept and thus to Pyrrha spoke;

“O sister! wife! alone of woman left!

My kindred in descent and origin!

Dearest companion of my marriage bed,

doubly endeared by deepening dangers borne,—

465

of all the dawn and eve behold of earth,

but you and I are left—for the deep sea

has kept the rest! And what prevents the tide

from overwhelming us? Remaining clouds

affright us. How could you endure your fears

470

if you alone were rescued by this fate,

and who would then console your bitter grief?

Oh be assured, if you were buried in the waves,

that I would follow you and be with you!

Oh would that by my father's art I might

475

restore the people, and inspire this clay

to take the form of man. Alas, the Gods

decreed and only we are living!”, Thus

Deucalion's plaint to Pyrrha ;—and they wept.

And after he had spoken, they resolved

480

to ask the aid of sacred oracles,—

and so they hastened to Cephissian waves

which rolled a turbid flood in channels known.

Thence when their robes and brows were sprinkled well,

they turned their footsteps to the goddess' fane:

485

its gables were befouled with reeking moss

and on its altars every fire was cold.

But when the twain had reached the temple steps

they fell upon the earth, inspired with awe,

and kissed the cold stone with their trembling lips,

490

and said; “If righteous prayers appease the Gods,

and if the wrath of high celestial powers

may thus be turned, declare, O Themis! whence

and what the art may raise humanity?

O gentle goddess help the dying world!”

495

Moved by their supplications, she replied;

“Depart from me and veil your brows; ungird

your robes, and cast behind you as you go,

the bones of your great mother.” Long they stood

in dumb amazement: Pyrrha , first of voice,

500

refused the mandate and with trembling lips

implored the goddess to forgive—she feared

to violate her mother's bones and vex

her sacred spirit. Often pondered they

the words involved in such obscurity,

505

repeating oft: and thus Deucalion

to Epimetheus' daughter uttered speech

of soothing import; “ Oracles are just

and urge not evil deeds, or naught avails

the skill of thought. Our mother is the Earth,

510

and I may judge the stones of earth are bones

that we should cast behind us as we go.”

And although Pyrrha by his words was moved

she hesitated to comply; and both amazed

doubted the purpose of the oracle,

515

but deemed no harm to come of trial. They,

descending from the temple, veiled their heads

and loosed their robes and threw some stones

behind them. It is much beyond belief,

were not receding ages witness, hard

520

and rigid stones assumed a softer form,

enlarging as their brittle nature changed

to milder substance,—till the shape of man

appeared, imperfect, faintly outlined first,

as marble statue chiseled in the rough.

525

The soft moist parts were changed to softer flesh,

the hard and brittle substance into bones,

the veins retained their ancient name. And now

the Gods supreme ordained that every stone

Deucalion threw should take the form of man,

530

and those by Pyrrha cast should woman's form

assume: so are we hardy to endure

and prove by toil and deeds from what we sprung.

Python. THE PYTHIAN GAMES

And after this the Earth spontaneous

produced the world of animals, when all

535

remaining moistures of the mirey fens

fermented in the sun, and fruitful seeds

in soils nutritious grew to shapes ordained.

So when the seven streamed Nile from oozy fields

returneth duly to her ancient bed,

540

the sun's ethereal rays impregn the slime,

that haply as the peasants turn the soil

they find strange animals unknown before:

some in the moment of their birth, and some

deprived of limbs, imperfect; often part

545

alive and part of slime inanimate

are fashioned in one body. Heat combined

with moisture so conceives and life results

from these two things. For though the flames may be

the foes of water, everything that lives

550

begins in humid vapour, and it seems

discordant concord is the means of life.

When Earth, spread over with diluvian ooze,

felt heat ethereal from the glowing sun,

unnumbered species to the light she gave,

555

and gave to being many an ancient form,

or monster new created. Unwilling she

created thus enormous Python.—Thou

unheard of serpent spread so far athwart

the side of a vast mountain, didst fill with fear

560

the race of new created man. The God

that bears the bow (a weapon used till then

only to hunt the deer and agile goat)

destroyed the monster with a myriad darts,

and almost emptied all his quiver, till

565

envenomed gore oozed forth from livid wounds.

Lest in a dark oblivion time should hide

the fame of this achievement, sacred sports

he instituted, from the Python called

“The Pythian Games.” In these the happy youth

570

who proved victorious in the chariot race,

running and boxing, with an honoured crown

of oak leaves was enwreathed. The laurel then

was not created, wherefore Phoebus, bright

and godlike, beauteous with his flowing hair,

575

was wont to wreathe his brows with various leaves.

Daphne. DAPHNE AND PHOEBUS

Daphne , the daughter of a River God

was first beloved by Phoebus, the great God

of glorious light. 'Twas not a cause of chance

but out of Cupid's vengeful spite that she

580

was fated to torment the lord of light.

For Phoebus, proud of Python's death, beheld

that impish god of Love upon a time

when he was bending his diminished bow,

and voicing his contempt in anger said;

585

“What, wanton boy, are mighty arms to thee,

great weapons suited to the needs of war?

The bow is only for the use of those

large deities of heaven whose strength may deal

wounds, mortal, to the savage beasts of prey;

590

and who courageous overcome their foes.—

it is a proper weapon to the use

of such as slew with arrows Python, huge,

whose pestilential carcase vast extent

covered. Content thee with the flames thy torch

595

enkindles (fires too subtle for my thought)

and leave to me the glory that is mine.”

to him, undaunted, Venus, son replied;

“O Phoebus, thou canst conquer all the world

with thy strong bow and arrows, but with this

600

small arrow I shall pierce thy vaunting breast!

And by the measure that thy might exceeds

the broken powers of thy defeated foes,

so is thy glory less than mine.” No more

he said, but with his wings expanded thence

605

flew lightly to Parnassus , lofty peak.

There, from his quiver he plucked arrows twain,

most curiously wrought of different art;

one love exciting, one repelling love.

The dart of love was glittering, gold and sharp,

610

the other had a blunted tip of lead;

and with that dull lead dart he shot the Nymph,

but with the keen point of the golden dart

he pierced the bone and marrow of the God.

Immediately the one with love was filled,

615

the other, scouting at the thought of love,

rejoiced in the deep shadow of the woods,

and as the virgin Phoebe (who denies

the joys of love and loves the joys of chase)

a maiden's fillet bound her flowing hair,—

620

and her pure mind denied the love of man.

Beloved and wooed she wandered silent paths,

for never could her modesty endure

the glance of man or listen to his love.

Her grieving father spoke to her, “Alas,

625

my daughter, I have wished a son in law,

and now you owe a grandchild to the joy

of my old age.” But Daphne only hung

her head to hide her shame. The nuptial torch

seemed criminal to her. She even clung,

630

caressing, with her arms around his neck,

and pled, “My dearest father let me live

a virgin always, for remember Jove

did grant it to Diana at her birth.”

But though her father promised her desire,

635

her loveliness prevailed against their will;

for, Phoebus when he saw her waxed distraught,

and filled with wonder his sick fancy raised

delusive hopes, and his own oracles

deceived him.—As the stubble in the field

640

flares up, or as the stacked wheat is consumed

by flames, enkindled from a spark or torch

the chance pedestrian may neglect at dawn;

so was the bosom of the god consumed,

and so desire flamed in his stricken heart.

645

He saw her bright hair waving on her neck;—

“How beautiful if properly arranged! ”

He saw her eyes like stars of sparkling fire,

her lips for kissing sweetest, and her hands

and fingers and her arms; her shoulders white

650

as ivory;—and whatever was not seen

more beautiful must be.

Swift as the wind

from his pursuing feet the virgin fled,

and neither stopped nor heeded as he called;

655

“O Nymph! O Daphne ! I entreat thee stay,

it is no enemy that follows thee—

why, so the lamb leaps from the raging wolf,

and from the lion runs the timid faun,

and from the eagle flies the trembling dove,

660

all hasten from their natural enemy

but I alone pursue for my dear love.

Alas, if thou shouldst fall and mar thy face,

or tear upon the bramble thy soft thighs,

or should I prove unwilling cause of pain!

665

“The wilderness is rough and dangerous,

and I beseech thee be more careful—I

will follow slowly.—Ask of whom thou wilt,

and thou shalt learn that I am not a churl—

I am no mountain dweller of rude caves,

670

nor clown compelled to watch the sheep and goats;

and neither canst thou know from whom thy feet

fly fearful, or thou wouldst not leave me thus.

“The Delphic Land, the Pataraean Realm,

Claros and Tenedos revere my name,

675

and my immortal sire is Jupiter.

The present, past and future are through me

in sacred oracles revealed to man,

and from my harp the harmonies of sound

are borrowed by their bards to praise the Gods.

680

My bow is certain, but a flaming shaft

surpassing mine has pierced my heart—

untouched before. The art of medicine

is my invention, and the power of herbs;

but though the world declare my useful works

685

there is no herb to medicate my wound,

and all the arts that save have failed their lord.,”

But even as he made his plaint, the Nymph

with timid footsteps fled from his approach,

and left him to his murmurs and his pain.

690

Lovely the virgin seemed as the soft wind

exposed her limbs, and as the zephyrs fond

fluttered amid her garments, and the breeze

fanned lightly in her flowing hair. She seemed

most lovely to his fancy in her flight;

695

and mad with love he followed in her steps,

and silent hastened his increasing speed.

As when the greyhound sees the frightened hare

flit over the plain:—With eager nose outstretched,

impetuous, he rushes on his prey,

700

and gains upon her till he treads her feet,

and almost fastens in her side his fangs;

but she, whilst dreading that her end is near,

is suddenly delivered from her fright;

so was it with the god and virgin: one

705

with hope pursued, the other fled in fear;

and he who followed, borne on wings of love,

permitted her no rest and gained on her,

until his warm breath mingled in her hair.

Her strength spent, pale and faint, with pleading eyes

710

she gazed upon her father's waves and prayed,

“Help me my father, if thy flowing streams

have virtue! Cover me, O mother Earth!

Destroy the beauty that has injured me,

or change the body that destroys my life.”

715

Before her prayer was ended, torpor seized

on all her body, and a thin bark closed

around her gentle bosom, and her hair

became as moving leaves; her arms were changed

to waving branches, and her active feet

720

as clinging roots were fastened to the ground—

her face was hidden with encircling leaves.—

Phoebus admired and loved the graceful tree,

(For still, though changed, her slender form remained)

and with his right hand lingering on the trunk

725

he felt her bosom throbbing in the bark.

He clung to trunk and branch as though to twine.

His form with hers, and fondly kissed the wood

that shrank from every kiss.

And thus the God;

730

“Although thou canst not be my bride, thou shalt

be called my chosen tree, and thy green leaves,

O Laurel! shall forever crown my brows,

be wreathed around my quiver and my lyre;

the Roman heroes shall be crowned with thee,

735

as long processions climb the Capitol

and chanting throngs proclaim their victories;

and as a faithful warden thou shalt guard

the civic crown of oak leaves fixed between

thy branches, and before Augustan gates.

740

And as my youthful head is never shorn,

so, also, shalt thou ever bear thy leaves

unchanging to thy glory.,”

Here the God,

Phoebus Apollo, ended his lament,

745

and unto him the Laurel bent her boughs,

so lately fashioned; and it seemed to him

her graceful nod gave answer to his love.

Io. Argus. Syrinx. IO AND JUPITER

There is a grove in Thessaly , enclosed

on every side with crags, precipitous,—

750

on which a forest grows—and this is called

the Vale of Tempe—through this valley flows

the River Peneus, white with foaming waves,

that issue from the foot of Pindus, whence

with sudden fall up gather steamy clouds

755

that sprinkle mist upon the circling trees,

and far away with mighty roar resound.

It is the abode, the solitary home,

that mighty River loves, where deep in gloom

of rocky cavern, he resides and rules

760

the flowing waters and the water nymphs

abiding there. All rivers of that land

now hasten thither, doubtful to console

or flatter Daphne 's parent: poplar crowned

Sperchios, swift Enipeus and the wild

765

Amphrysos, old Apidanus and Aeas,

with all their kindred streams that wandering maze

and wearied seek the ocean. Inachus

alone is absent, hidden in his cave

obscure, deepening his waters with his tears—

770

most wretchedly bewailing, for he deems

his daughter Io lost. If she may live

or roam a spirit in the nether shades

he dares not even guess but dreads

for Jove not long before had seen her while

775

returning from her father's stream, and said;

“O virgin, worthy of immortal Jove,

although some happy mortal's chosen bride,—

behold these shades of overhanging trees,

and seek their cool recesses while the sun

780

is glowing in the height of middle skies—”

and as he spoke he pointed out the groves—

“But should the dens of wild beasts frighten you,

with safety you may enter the deep woods,

conducted by a God—not with a God

785

of small repute, but in the care of him

who holds the heavenly scepter in his hand

and fulminates the trackless thunder bolts.—

forsake me not! ” For while he spoke she fled,

and swiftly left behind the pasture fields

790

of Lerna , and Lyrcea's arbours, where

the trees are planted thickly. But the God

called forth a heavy shadow which involved

the wide extended earth, and stopped her flight

and ravished in that cloud her chastity.

795

Meanwhile, the goddess Juno gazing down

on earth's expanse, with wonder saw the clouds

as dark as night enfold those middle fields

while day was bright above. She was convinced

the clouds were none composed of river mist

800

nor raised from marshy fens. Suspicious now,

from oft detected amours of her spouse,

she glanced around to find her absent lord,

and quite convinced that he was far from heaven,

she thus exclaimed; “This cloud deceives my mind,

805

or Jove has wronged me.” From the dome of heaven

she glided down and stood upon the earth,

and bade the clouds recede. But Jove had known

the coming of his queen. He had transformed

the lovely Io, so that she appeared

810

a milk white heifer—formed so beautiful

and fair that envious Juno gazed on her.

She queried: “Whose? what herd? what pasture fields?”

As if she guessed no knowledge of the truth.

And Jupiter , false hearted, said the cow

815

was earth begotten, for he feared his queen

might make inquiry of the owner's name.

Juno implored the heifer as a gift.—

what then was left the Father of the Gods?

'Twould be a cruel thing to sacrifice

820

his own beloved to a rival's wrath.

Although refusal must imply his guilt

the shame and love of her almost prevailed;

but if a present of such little worth

were now denied the sharer of his couch,

825

the partner of his birth, 'twould prove indeed

the earth born heifer other than she seemed—

and so he gave his mistress up to her.

Juno regardful of Jove's cunning art,

lest he might change her to her human form,

830

gave the unhappy heifer to the charge

of Argus , Aristorides, whose head

was circled with a hundred glowing eyes;

of which but two did slumber in their turn

whilst all the others kept on watch and guard.

835

Whichever way he stood his gaze was fixed

on Io—even if he turned away

his watchful eyes on Io still remained.

He let her feed by day; but when the sun

was under the deep world he shut her up,

840

and tied a rope around her tender neck.

She fed upon green leaves and bitter herbs

and on the cold ground slept—too often bare,

she could not rest upon a cushioned couch.

She drank the troubled waters. Hoping aid

845

she tried to stretch imploring arms to Argus ,

but all in vain for now no arms remained;

the sound of bellowing was all she heard,

and she was frightened with her proper voice.

Where former days she loved to roam and sport,

850

she wandered by the banks of Inachus:

there imaged in the stream she saw her horns

and, startled, turned and fled. And Inachus

and all her sister Naiads knew her not,

although she followed them, they knew her not,

855

although she suffered them to touch her sides

and praise her.

When the ancient Inachus

gathered sweet herbs and offered them to her,

she licked his hands, kissing her father's palms,

860

nor could she more restrain her falling tears.

If only words as well as tears would flow,

she might implore his aid and tell her name

and all her sad misfortune; but, instead,

she traced in dust the letters of her name

865

with cloven hoof; and thus her sad estate

was known.

“Ah wretched me! ” her father cried;

and as he clung around her horns and neck

repeated while she groaned, “Ah wretched me!

870

Art thou my daughter sought in every clime?

When lost I could not grieve for thee as now

that thou art found; thy sighs instead of words

heave up from thy deep breast, thy longings give

me answer. I prepared the nuptial torch

875

and bridal chamber, in my ignorance,

since my first hope was for a son in law;

and then I dreamed of children from the match:

but now the herd may furnish thee a mate,

and all thy issue of the herd must be.

880

Oh that a righteous death would end my grief!—

it is a dreadful thing to be a God!

Behold the lethal gate of death is shut

against me, and my growing grief must last

throughout eternity.”

885

While thus he moaned

came starry Argus there, and Io bore

from her lamenting father. Thence he led

his charge to other pastures; and removed

from her, upon a lofty mountain sat,

890

whence he could always watch her, undisturbed.

The sovereign god no longer could endure

to witness Io's woes. He called his son,

whom Maia brightest of the Pleiades

brought forth, and bade him slay the star eyed guard,

895

argus. He seized his sleep compelling wand

and fastened waving wings on his swift feet,

and deftly fixed his brimmed hat on his head:—

lo, Mercury, the favoured son of Jove,

descending to the earth from heaven's plains,

900

put off his cap and wings,— though still retained

his wand with which he drove through pathless wilds

some stray she goats, and as a shepherd fared,

piping on oaten reeds melodious tunes.

Argus, delighted with the charming sound

905

of this new art began; “Whoever thou art,

sit with me on this stone beneath the trees

in cooling shade, whilst browse the tended flock

abundant herbs; for thou canst see the shade

is fit for shepherds.” Wherefore, Mercury

910

sat down beside the keeper and conversed

of various things—passing the laggard hours.—

then soothly piped he on the joined reeds

to lull those ever watchful eyes asleep;

but Argus strove his languor to subdue,

915

and though some drowsy eyes might slumber, still

were some that vigil kept. Again he spoke,

(for the pipes were yet a recent art)

“I pray thee tell what chance discovered these.”

To him the God, “ A famous Naiad dwelt

920

among the Hamadryads, on the cold

Arcadian summit Nonacris, whose name

was Syrinx. Often she escaped the Gods,

that wandered in the groves of sylvan shades,

and often fled from Satyrs that pursued.

925

Vowing virginity, in all pursuits

she strove to emulate Diana 's ways:

and as that graceful goddess wears her robe,

so Syrinx girded hers that one might well

believe Diana there. Even though her bow

930

were made of horn, Diana 's wrought of gold,

vet might she well deceive.

“Now chanced it Pan.

Whose head was girt with prickly pines, espied

the Nymph returning from the Lycian Hill,

935

and these words uttered he: ”—But Mercury

refrained from further speech, and Pan's appeal

remains untold. If he had told it all,

the tale of Syrinx would have followed thus:—

but she despised the prayers of Pan, and fled

940

through pathless wilds until she had arrived

the placid Ladon's sandy stream, whose waves

prevented her escape. There she implored

her sister Nymphs to change her form: and Pan,

believing he had caught her, held instead

945

some marsh reeds for the body of the Nymph;

and while he sighed the moving winds began

to utter plaintive music in the reeds,

so sweet and voice like that poor Pan exclaimed;

“Forever this discovery shall remain

950

a sweet communion binding thee to me.”—

and this explains why reeds of different length,

when joined together by cementing wax,

derive the name of Syrinx from the maid.

Such words the bright god Mercury would say;

955

but now perceiving Argus ' eyes were dimmed

in languorous doze, he hushed his voice and touched

the drooping eyelids with his magic wand,

compelling slumber. Then without delay

he struck the sleeper with his crescent sword,

960

where neck and head unite, and hurled his head,

blood dripping, down the rocks and rugged cliff.

Low lies Argus : dark is the light of all

his hundred eyes, his many orbed lights

extinguished in the universal gloom

965

that night surrounds; but Saturn 's daughter spread

their glister on the feathers of her bird,

emblazoning its tail with starry gems.

Juno made haste, inflamed with towering rage,

to vent her wrath on Io; and she raised

970

in thought and vision of the Grecian girl

a dreadful Fury. Stings invisible,

and pitiless, she planted in her breast,

and drove her wandering throughout the globe.

The utmost limit of her laboured way,

975

O Nile , thou didst remain. Which, having reached,

and placed her tired knees on that river's edge,

she laid her there, and as she raised her neck

looked upward to the stars, and groaned and wept

and mournfully bellowed: trying thus to plead,

980

by all the means she had, that Jupiter

might end her miseries. Repentant Jove

embraced his consort, and entreated her

to end the punishment: “Fear not,” he said,

“For she shall trouble thee no more.” He spoke,

985

and called on bitter Styx to hear his oath.

And now imperial Juno, pacified,

permitted Io to resume her form,—

at once the hair fell from her snowy sides;

the horns absorbed, her dilate orbs decreased;

990

the opening of her jaws contracted; hands

appeared and shoulders; and each transformed hoof

became five nails. And every mark or form

that gave the semblance of a heifer changed,

except her fair white skin; and the glad Nymph

995

was raised erect and stood upon her feet.

But long the very thought of speech, that she

might bellow as a heifer, filled her mind

with terror, till the words so long forgot

for some sufficient cause were tried once more.

1000

Phaethon.

and since that time, the linen wearing throng

of Egypt have adored her as a God;

for they believe the seed of Jove prevailed;

and when her time was due she bore to him

a son called Epaphus; who also dwells

1005

in temples with his mother in that land.

Now Phaethon, whose father was the Sun,

was equal to his rival, Epaphus,

in mind and years; and he was glad to boast

of wonders, nor would yield to Epaphus

1010

for pride of Phoebus, his reputed sire.

Unable to endure it, Io's son

thus mocked him; “Poor, demented fellow, what

will you not credit if your mother speaks,

you are so puffed up with the fond conceit

1015

of your imagined sire, the Lord of Day.”

shame crimsoned in his cheeks, but Phaethon

withholding rage, reported all the taunts

of Epaphus to Clymene his mother:

“'Twill grieve you, mother, I, the bold and free,

1020

was silent; and it shames me to report

this dark reproach remains unchallenged. Oh,

if I am born of race divine, give proof

of that illustrious descent and claim

my right to Heaven.” Around his mother's neck

1025

he drew his arms, and by the head of Merops,

and by his own, and by the nuptial torch

of his beloved sisters, he implored

for some true token of his origin.

Or moved by Phaethon's importuned words,

1030

or by the grievous charge, who might declare?

She raised her arms to Heaven, and gazing full

upon the broad sun said; “I swear to you

by yonder orb, so radiant and bright,

which both beholds and hears us while we speak,

1035

that you are his begotten son.—You are

the child of that great light which sways the world:

and if I have not spoken what is true,

let not mine eyes behold his countenance,

and let this fatal moment be the last

1040

that I shall look upon the light of day!

Nor will it weary you, my son, to reach

your father's dwelling; for the very place

where he appears at dawn is near our land.

Go, if it please you, and the very truth

1045

learn from your father.” Instantly sprang forth

exultant Phaethon. Overjoyed with words

so welcome, he imagined he could leap

and touch the skies. And so he passed his land

of Ethiopia , and the Indies, hot

1050

beneath the tawny sun, and there he turned

his footsteps to his father's Land of Dawn.

Metamorphoses Perseus (Ovid. The XV bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis. Golding, Arthur, translator. London: W. Seres (printer), 1567.) — 1 focus

Of shapes transformde to bodies straunge, I purpose to entreate,

Ye gods vouchsafe (for you are they ywrought this wondrous feate)

To further this mine enterprise. And from the world begunne,

Graunt that my verse may to my time, his course directly runne.

Before the Sea and Lande were made, and Heaven that all doth hide,

In all the worlde one onely face of nature did abide,

Which Chaos hight, a huge rude heape, and nothing else but even

A heavie lump and clottred clod of seedes togither driven,

Of things at strife among themselves, for want of order due.

No sunne as yet with lightsome beames the shapelesse world did vew.

No Moone in growing did repayre hir hornes with borowed light.

Nor yet the earth amiddes the ayre did hang by wondrous slight

Just peysed by hir proper weight. Nor winding in and out

Did Amphitrytee with hir armes embrace the earth about.

For where was earth, was sea and ayre, so was the earth unstable.

The ayre all darke, the sea likewise to beare a ship unable.

No kinde of thing had proper shape, but ech confounded other.

For in one selfesame bodie strove the hote and colde togither,

The moist with drie, the soft with hard, the light with things of weight.

This strife did God and Nature breake, and set in order streight.

The earth from heaven, the sea from earth, he parted orderly,

And from the thicke and foggie ayre, he tooke the lightsome skie.

Which when he once unfolded had, and severed from the blinde

And clodded heape, he setting eche from other did them binde

In endlesse friendship to agree. The fire most pure and bright,

The substance of the heaven it selfe, bicause it was so light

Did mount aloft, and set it selfe in highest place of all.

The second roume of right to ayre, for lightnesse did befall.

The earth more grosse drew down with it eche weighty kinde of matter,

And set it selfe in lowest place. Againe, the waving water

Did lastly chalenge for his place, the utmost coast and bound,

Of all the compasse of the earth, to close the stedfast ground.

Now when he in this foresaid wise (what God so ere he was)

Had broke and into members put this rude confused masse,

Then first bicause in every part, the earth should equall bee,

He made it like a mighty ball, in compasse as we see.

And here and there he cast in seas, to whome he gave a lawe:

To swell with every blast of winde, and every stormie flawe.

And with their waves continually to beate upon the shore,

Of all the earth within their boundes enclosde by them afore.

Moreover, Springs and mighty Meeres and Lakes he did augment,

And flowing streames of crooked brookes in winding bankes he pent.

Of which the earth doth drinke up some, and some with restlesse race

Do seeke the sea: where finding scope of larger roume and space,

In steade of bankes, they beate on shores. He did commaund the plaine

And champion groundes to stretch out wide: and valleys to remaine

Aye underneath: and eke the woods to hide them decently

With tender leaves: and stonie hilles to lift themselves on hie.

And as two Zones doe cut the Heaven upon the righter side,

And other twaine upon the left likewise the same devide,

The middle in outragious heat exceeding all the rest:

Even so likewise through great foresight to God it seemed best,

The earth encluded in the same should so devided bee,

As with the number of the Heaven, hir Zones might full agree.

Of which the middle Zone in heate, the utmost twaine in colde

Exceede so farre, that there to dwell no creature dare be bolde.

Betweene these two so great extremes, two other Zones are fixt,

Where temprature of heate and colde indifferently is mixt.

Now over this doth hang the Ayre, which as it is more fleightie

Than earth or water: so againe than fire it is more weightie.

There hath he placed mist and cloudes, and for to feare mens mindes,

The thunder and the lightning eke, with colde and blustring windes.

But yet the maker of the worlde permitteth not alway

The windes to use the ayre at will. For at this present day,

Though ech from other placed be in sundry coasts aside,

The violence of their boystrous blasts, things scarsly can abide.

They so turmoyle as though they would the world in pieces rende,

So cruell is those brothers wrath when that they doe contende.

And therefore to the morning graye, the Realme of Nabathie,

To Persis and to other lands and countries that doe lie

Farre underneath the Morning starre, did Eurus take his flight.

Likewise the setting of the Sunne, and shutting in of night

Belong to Zephyr. And the blasts of blustring Boreas raigne,

in Scythia and in other landes set under Charles his waine.

And unto Auster doth belong the coast of all the South,

Who beareth shoures and rotten mistes, continuall in his mouth.

Above all these he set aloft the cleare and lightsome skie,

Without all dregs of earthly filth or grossenesse utterlie.

The boundes of things were scarsly yet by him thus pointed out,

But that appeared in the heaven, starres glistring all about,

Which in the said confused heape had hidden bene before,

And to th'intent with lively things eche Region for to store,

The heavenly soyle, to Gods and Starres and Planets first he gave.

The waters next both fresh and salt he let the fishes have.

The suttle ayre to flickring fowles and birdes he hath assignde.

The earth to beasts both wilde and tame of sundrie sort and kinde.

Howbeit yet of all this while, the creature wanting was,

Farre more devine, of nobler minde, which should the residue passe

In depth of knowledge, reason, wit, and high capacitie,

And which of all the residue should the Lord and ruler bee.

Then eyther he that made the worlde, and things in order set,

Of heavenly seede engendred Man: or else the earth as yet

Yong, lustie, fresh, and in hir floures, and parted from the skie,

But late before, the seede thereof as yet held inwardlie.

The which Prometheus tempring straight with water of the spring,

Did make in likenesse to the Gods that governe everie thing.

And where all other beasts behold the ground with groveling eie,

He gave to Man a stately looke replete with majestie.

And willde him to behold the Heaven wyth countnance cast on hie,

To marke and understand what things were in the starrie skie.

100

And thus the earth which late before had neyther shape nor hew,

Did take the noble shape of man, and was transformed new.

Then sprang up first the golden age, which of it selfe maintainde

The truth and right of every thing unforct and unconstrainde.

There was no feare of punishment, there was no threatning lawe

105

In brazen tables nayled up, to keepe the folke in awe.

There was no man would crouch or creepe to Judge with cap in hand,

They lived safe without a Judge, in everie Realme and lande.

The loftie Pynetree was not hewen from mountaines where it stood,

In seeking straunge and forren landes, to rove upon the flood.

110

Men knew none other countries yet, than where themselves did keepe:

There was no towne enclosed yet, with walles and diches deepe.

No horne nor trumpet was in use, no sword nor helmet worne,

The worlde was such, that souldiers helpe might easly be forborne.

The fertile earth as yet was free, untoucht of spade or plough,

115

And yet it yeelded of it selfe of every things inough.

And men themselves contented well with plaine and simple foode,

That on the earth of natures gift without their travail stoode,

Did live by Raspis, heppes and hawes, by cornelles, plummes and cherries,

By sloes and apples, nuttes and peares, and lothsome bramble berries,

120

And by the acornes dropt on ground, from Joves brode tree in fielde.

The Springtime lasted all the yeare, and Zephyr with his milde

And gentle blast did cherish things that grew of owne accorde,

The ground untilde, all kinde of fruits did plenteously afforde.

No mucke nor tillage was bestowde on leane and barren land,

125

To make the corne of better head, and ranker for to stand.

Then streames ran milke, then streames ran wine, and yellow honny flowde

From ech greene tree whereon the rayes of firie Phebus glowde.

But when that into Lymbo once Saturnus being thrust,

The rule and charge of all the worlde was under Jove unjust,

130

And that the silver age came in, more somewhat base than golde,

More precious yet than freckled brasse, immediatly the olde

And auncient Spring did Jove abridge, and made therof anon,

Foure seasons: Winter, Sommer, Spring, and Autumne off and on:

Then first of all began the ayre with fervent heate to swelt.

135

Then Isycles hung roping downe: then for the colde was felt

Men gan to shroud themselves in house. Their houses were the thickes,

And bushie queaches, hollow caves, or hardels made of stickes.

Then first of all were furrowes drawne, and corne was cast in ground.

The simple Oxe with sorie sighes, to heavie yoke was bound.

140

Next after this succeded streight, the third and brazen age:

More hard of nature, somewhat bent to cruell warres and rage.

But yet not wholy past all grace. Of yron is the last

In no part good and tractable as former ages past.

For when that of this wicked Age once opened was the veyne

145

Therein all mischief rushed forth: then Fayth and Truth were faine

And honest shame to hide their heades: for whom crept stoutly in,

Craft, Treason, Violence, Envie, Pride and wicked Lust to win.

The shipman hoyst his sailes to wind, whose names he did not knowe:

And shippes that erst in toppes of hilles and mountaines had ygrowe,

150

Did leape and daunce on uncouth waves: and men began to bound

With dowles and diches drawen in length the free and fertile ground,

Which was as common as the Ayre and light of Sunne before.

Not onely corne and other fruites, for sustnance and for store,

Were now exacted of the Earth: but eft they gan to digge,

155

And in the bowels of the ground unsaciably to rigge,

For Riches coucht and hidden deepe, in places nere to Hell,

The spurres and stirrers unto vice, and foes to doing well.

Then hurtfull yron came abrode, then came forth yellow golde,

More hurtfull than the yron farre, then came forth battle bolde,

160

That feightes with bothe, and shakes his sword in cruell bloudy hand.

Men live by ravine and by stelth: the wandring guest doth stand

In daunger of his host: the host in daunger of his guest:

And fathers of their sonne in lawes: yea seldome time doth rest,

Betweene borne brothers such accord and love as ought to bee.

165

The goodman seekes the goodwifes death, and his againe seeks shee.

The stepdames fell their husbandes sonnes with poyson do assayle.

To see their fathers live so long the children doe bewayle.

All godlynesse lies under foote. And Ladie Astrey, last

Of heavenly vertues, from this earth in slaughter drowned past.

170

And to th'intent the earth alone thus should not be opprest,

And heaven above in slouthfull ease and carelesse quiet rest,

Men say that Giantes went about the Realme of Heaven to win

To place themselves to raigne as Gods and lawlesse Lordes therein.

And hill on hill they heaped up aloft into the skie,

175

Till God almighty from the Heaven did let his thunder flie,

The dint whereof the ayrie tops of high Olympus brake,

And pressed Pelion violently from under Ossa strake.

When whelmed in their wicked worke those cursed Caitives lay,

The Earth their mother tooke their bloud yet warme and (as they say)

180

Did give it life. And for bicause some ympes should still remaine

Of that same stocke, she gave it shape and limmes of men againe.

This offspring eke against the Gods did beare a native spight,

In slaughter and in doing wrong was all their whole delight.

Their deedes declared them of bloud engendred for to bee.

185

The which as soone as Saturns sonne from Heaven aloft did see,

He fetcht a sigh, and therwithall revolving in his thought

The shamefull act which at a feast Lycaon late had wrought,

As yet unknowne or blowne abrode: He gan thereat to storme

And stomacke like an angry Jove. And therfore to reforme

190

Such haynous actes, he sommonde streight his Court of Parliament,

Whereto resorted all the Gods that had their sommons sent.

Highe in the Welkin is a way apparant to the sight

In starrie nights, which of his passing whitenesse Milkie hight:

It is the streete that to the Court and Princely Pallace leades,

195

Of mightie Jove whose thunderclaps eche living creature dreades.

On both the sides of this same waye do stand in stately port

The sumptuous houses of the Peeres. For all the common sort

Dwell scattring here and there abrode: the face of all the skie

The houses of the chiefe estates and Princes doe supplie.

200

And sure and if I may be bolde to speake my fancie free

I take this place of all the Heaven the Pallace for to bee.

Now when the Goddes assembled were, and eche had tane his place,

Jove standing up aloft and leaning on his yvorie Mace,

Right dreadfully his bushie lockes did thrise or four times shake,

205

Wherewith he made both Sea and Land and Heaven it self to quake,

And afterward in wrathfull wordes his angrie minde thus brake:

I never was in greater care nor more perplexitie,

How to maintaine my soveraigne state and Princelie royaltie,

When with their hundreth handes apiece the Adderfooted rout,

210

Did practise for to conquere Heaven and for to cast us out.

For though it were a cruell foe: yet did that warre depende

Upon one ground, and in one stocke it had his finall ende.

But now as farre as any sea about the worlde doth winde,

I must destroy both man and beast and all the mortall kinde.

215

I sweare by Styxes hideous streames that run within the ground,

All other meanes must first be sought: but when there can be found

No helpe to heale a festred sore, it must away be cut,

Lest that the partes that yet are sound, in daunger should be put.

We have a number in the worlde that mans estate surmount,

220

Of such whom for their private Gods the countrie folkes account,

As Satyres, Faunes, and sundry Nymphes, with Silvanes eke beside,

That in the woods and hillie grounds continually abide.

Whome into Heaven since that as yet we vouch not safe to take,

And of the honour of this place copartners for to make,

225

Such landes as to inhabite in, we erst to them assignde,

That they should still enjoye the same, it is my will and minde.

But can you thinke that they in rest and safetie shall remaine

When proud Lycaon laye in waite by secret meanes and traine

To have confounded me your Lorde, who in my hand doe beare

230

The dreadfull thunder, and of whom even you doe stand in feare?

The house was moved at his words and earnestly requirde,

The man that had so traiterously against their Lord conspirde.

Even so when Rebels did arise to stroy the Romane name,

By shedding of our Cesars bloud, the horror of the same

235

Did pierce the heartes of all mankinde, and made the world to quake.

Whose fervent zeale in thy behalfe (O August) thou did take,

As thankfully as Jove doth heare the loving care of his,

Who beckning to them with his hand, forbiddeth them to hisse.

And therewithall through all the house attentive silence is.

240

As soone as that his majestie all muttring had alayde,

He brake the silence once againe, and thus unto them sayde:

Let passe this carefull thought of yours: for he that did offende,

Hath dearely bought the wicked Act, the which he did entende.

Yet shall you heare what was his fault and vengeance for the same.

245

A foule report and infamie unto our hearing came

Of mischiefe used in those times: which wishing all untrew

I did descend in shape of man, th'infamed Earth to vew.

It were a processe overlong to tell you of the sinne,

That did abound in every place where as I entred in.

250

The bruit was lesser than the truth, and partiall in report.

The dreadfull dennes of Menalus where savage beastes resort

And Cyllen had I overpast, with all the Pynetrees hie

Of cold Lyceus, and from thence I entred by and by

The herbroughlesse and cruell house of late th'Arcadian King,

255

Such time as twilight on the Earth dim darknesse gan to bring.

I gave a signe that God was come, and streight the common sort

Devoutly prayde, whereat Lycaon first did make a sport

And after said: By open proufe, ere long I minde to see,

If that this wight a mighty God or mortall creature bee.

260

The truth shall trie it selfe: he ment (the sequele did declare)

To steale upon me in the night, and kyll me unbeware.

And yet he was not so content: but went and cut the throte,

Of one that laye in hostage there, which was an Epyrote:

And part of him he did to rost, and part he did to stewe.

265

Which when it came upon the borde, forthwith I overthrew

The house with just revenging fire upon the owners hed,

Who seeing that, slipt out of doores amazde for feare, and fled

Into the wilde and desert woods, where being all alone,

As he endevorde (but in vaine) to speake and make his mone,

270

He fell a howling: wherewithall for verie rage and moode

He ran me quite out of his wits and waxed furious woode.

Still practising his wonted lust of slaughter on the poore

And sielie cattle, thirsting still for bloud as heretofore,

His garments turnde to shackie haire, his armes to rugged pawes:

275

So is he made a ravening Wolfe: whose shape expressely drawes

To that the which he was before: his skinne is horie graye,

His looke still grim with glaring eyes, and every kinde of waye

His cruell heart in outward shape doth well it selfe bewraye.

Thus was one house destroyed quite, but that one house alone

280

Deserveth not to be destroyde: in all the Earth is none,

But that such vice doth raigne therein, as that ye would beleve,

That all had sworne and solde themselves to mischiefe us to greve.

And therefore as they all offende: so am I fully bent,

That all forthwith (as they deserve) shall have due punishment.

285

These wordes of Jove some of the Gods did openly approve,

And with their sayings more to wrath his angry courage move.

And some did give assent by signes. Yet did it grieve them all

That such destruction utterly on all mankinde should fall,

Demaunding what he purposed with all the Earth to doe,

290

When that he had all mortall men so cleane destroyde, and whoe

On holie Altars afterward should offer frankinsence,

And whother that he were in minde to leave the Earth fro thence

To savage beastes to wast and spoyle, bicause of mans offence.

The king of Gods bade cease their thought and questions in that case,

295

And cast the care thereof on him. Within a little space

He promist for to frame a newe, an other kinde of men

By wondrous meanes, unlike the first to fill the world agen.

And now his lightning had he thought on all the earth to throw,

But that he feared lest the flames perhaps so hie should grow

300

As for to set the Heaven on fire, and burne up all the skie.

He did remember furthermore how that by destinie

A certaine time should one day come, wherein both Sea and Lond

And Heaven it selfe shoulde feele the force of Vulcans scorching brond,

So that the huge and goodly worke of all the worlde so wide

305

Should go to wrecke, for doubt whereof forthwith he laide aside

His weapons that the Cyclops made, intending to correct

Mans trespasse by a punishment contrary in effect.

And namely with incessant showres from heaven ypoured downe,

He did determine with himselfe the mortall kinde to drowne.

310

In Aeolus prison by and by he fettred Boreas fast,

With al such winds as chase the cloudes or breake them with their blast,

And set at large the Southerne winde: who straight with watry wings

And dreadfull face as blacke as pitch, forth out of prison flings.

His beard hung full of hideous stormes, all dankish was his head,

315

With water streaming downe his haire that on his shoulders shead.

His ugly forehead wrinkled was with foggie mistes full thicke,

And on his fethers and his breast a stilling dew did sticke.

As soone as he betweene his hands the hanging cloudes had crusht,

With ratling noyse adowne from heaven the raine full sadly gusht.

320

The Rainbow, Junos messenger, bedect in sundrie hue,

To maintaine moysture in the cloudes, great waters thither drue:

The corne was beaten to the grounde, the Tilmans hope of gaine,

For which he toyled all the yeare, lay drowned in the raine.

Joves indignation and his wrath began to grow so hot

325

That for to quench the rage thereof, his Heaven suffised not.

His brother Neptune with his waves was faine to doe him ease:

Who straight assembling all the streames that fall into the seas,

Said to them standing in his house: Sirs get you home apace,

(You must not looke to have me use long preaching in this case.)

330

Poure out your force (for so is neede) your heads ech one unpende,

And from your open springs, your streames with flowing waters sende.

He had no sooner said the word, but that returning backe,

Eche one of them unlosde his spring, and let his waters slacke.

And to the Sea with flowing streames yswolne above their bankes,

335

One rolling in anothers necke, they rushed forth by rankes.

Himselfe with his threetyned Mace, did lend the earth a blow,

That made it shake and open wayes for waters forth to flow.

The flouds at randon where they list, through all the fields did stray,

Men, beastes, trees, come, and with their gods were Churches washt away.

340

If any house were built so strong, against their force to stonde

Yet did the water hide the top: and turrets in that ponde

Were overwhelmde: no difference was betweene the sea and ground,

For all was sea: there was no shore nor landing to be found.

Some climbed up to tops of hils, and some rowde to and fro

345

In Botes, where they not long before, to plough and Cart did go,

One over come and tops of townes, whome waves did overwhelme,

Doth saile in ship, an other sittes a fishing in an Elme.

In meddowes greene were Anchors cast (so fortune did provide)

And crooked ships did shadow vynes, the which the floud did hide.

350

And where but tother day before did feede the hungry Gote,

The ugly Seales and Porkepisces now to and fro did flote.

The Sea nymphes wondred under waves the townes and groves to see,

And Dolphines playd among the tops and boughes of every tree.

The grim and greedy Wolfe did swim among the siely sheepe,

355

The Lion and the Tyger fierce were borne upon the deepe.

It booted not the foming Boare his crooked tuskes to whet,

The running Hart coulde in the streame by swiftnesse nothing get.

The fleeting fowles long having sought for land to rest upon,

Into the Sea with werie wings were driven to fall anon.

360

Th'outragious swelling of the Sea the lesser hillockes drownde,

Unwonted waves on highest tops of mountaines did rebownde.

The greatest part of men were drownde, and such as scapte the floode,

Forlorne with fasting overlong did die for want of foode.

Against the fieldes of Aonie and Atticke lies a lande

365

That Phocis hight, a fertile ground while that it was a lande:

But at that time a part of Sea, and even a champion fielde

Of sodaine waters which the floud by forced rage did yeelde,

Where as a hill with forked top the which Parnasus hight,

Doth pierce the cloudes and to the starres doth raise his head upright.

370

When at this hill (for yet the Sea had whelmed all beside)

Deucalion and his bedfellow, without all other guide,

Arrived in a little Barke immediatly they went,

And to the Nymphes of Corycus with full devout intent

Did honor due, and to the Gods to whome that famous hill

375

Was sacred, and to Themis eke in whose most holie will

Consisted then the Oracles. In all the world so rounde

A better nor more righteous man could never yet be founde

Than was Deucalion, nor againe a woman, mayde nor wife,

That feared God so much as shee, nor led so good a life.

380

When Jove behelde how all the worlde stoode lyke a plash of raine,

And of so many thousand men and women did remaine

But one of eche, howbeit those both just and both devout,

He brake the Cloudes, and did commaund that Boreas with his stout

And sturdie blasts should chase the floud, that Earth might see the skie

385

And Heaven the Earth: the Seas also began immediatly

Their raging furie for to cease. Their ruler laide awaye

His dreadfull Mace, and with his wordes their woodnesse did alaye.

He called Tryton to him straight, his trumpetter, who stoode

In purple robe on shoulder cast, aloft upon the floode,

390

And bade him take his sounding Trumpe and out of hand to blow

Retreat, that all the streames might heare, and cease from thence to flow.

He tooke his Trumpet in his hand, hys Trumpet was a shell

Of some great Whelke or other fishe, in facion like a Bell

That gathered narrow to the mouth, and as it did descende

395

Did waxe more wide and writhen still, downe to the nether ende:

When that this Trumpe amid the Sea was set to Trytons mouth,

He blew so loude that all the streames both East, West, North and South,

Might easly heare him blow retreate, and all that heard the sounde

Immediatly began to ebbe and draw within their bounde.

400

Then gan the Sea to have a shore, and brookes to finde a banke,

And swelling streames of flowing flouds within hir chanels sanke.

Then hils did rise above the waves that had them overflow,

And as the waters did decrease the ground did seeme to grow.

And after long and tedious time the trees did shew their tops

405

All bare, save that upon the boughes the mud did hang in knops.

The worlde restored was againe, which though Deucalion joyde

Then to beholde: yet forbicause he saw the earth was voyde

And silent like a wildernesse, with sad and weeping eyes

And ruthfull voyce he then did speake to Pyrrha in this wise:

410

O sister, O my loving spouse, O sielie woman left,

As onely remnant of thy sexe that water hath bereft,

Whome Nature first by right of birth hath linked to me fast

In that we brothers children bene: and secondly the chast

And stedfast bond of lawfull bed: and lastly now of all,

415

The present perils of the time that latelye did befall.

On all the Earth from East to West where Phebus shewes his face

There is no moe but thou and I of all the mortall race.

The Sea hath swallowed all the rest: and scarsly are we sure,

That our two lives from dreadfull death in safetie shall endure.

420

For even as yet the duskie cloudes doe make my heart adrad.

Alas poore wretched sielie soule, what heart wouldst thou have had

To beare these heavie happes, if chaunce had let thee scape alone?

Who should have bene thy consort then: who should have rewd thy mone?

Now trust me truly, loving wife, had thou as now bene drownde,

425

I would have followde after thee and in the sea bene fownde.

Would God I could my fathers Arte, of claye to facion men

And give them life that people might frequent the world agen.

Mankinde (alas) doth onely now wythin us two consist,

As mouldes whereby to facion men. For so the Gods doe lyst.

430

And with these words the bitter teares did trickle down their cheeke,

Untill at length betweene themselves they did agree to seeke

To God by prayer for his grace, and to demaund his ayde

By aunswere of his Oracle. Wherein they nothing stayde,

But to Cephisus sadly went, whose streame as at that time

435

Began to run within his bankes though thicke with muddie slime,

Whose sacred liquor straight they tooke and sprinkled with the same

Their heads and clothes: and afterward to Themis chappell came,

The roofe whereof with cindrie mosse was almost overgrowne.

For since the time the raging floud the worlde had overflowne,

440

No creature came within the Churche: so that the Altars stood

Without one sparke of holie fyre or any sticke of wood.

As soon as that this couple came within the chappell doore,

They fell downe flat upon the ground, and trembling kist the floore.

And sayde: If prayer that proceedes from humble heart and minde

445

May in the presence of the Gods, such grace and favor finde

As to appease their worthie wrath, then vouch thou safe to tell

(O gentle Themis) how the losse that on our kinde befell,

May now eftsoones recovered be, and helpe us to repaire

The world, which drowned under waves doth lie in great dispaire.

450

The Goddesse moved with their sute, this answere did them make:

Depart you hence: Go hille your heads, and let your garmentes slake,

And both of you your Graundames bones behind your shoulders cast.

They stoode amazed at these wordes, tyll Pyrrha at the last,

Refusing to obey the hest the which the Goddesse gave,

455

Brake silence, and with trembling cheere did meekely pardon crave.

For sure she saide she was afraide hir Graundames ghost to hurt

By taking up hir buried bones to throw them in the durt.

And with the aunswere here upon eftsoones in hand they go,

The doubtfull wordes wherof they scan and canvas to and fro.

460

Which done, Prometheus sonne began by counsell wise and sage

His cousin germanes fearfulnesse thus gently to asswage:

Well, eyther in these doubtfull words is hid some misterie,

Whereof the Gods permit us not the meaning to espie,

Or questionlesse and if the sence of inward sentence deeme

465

Like as the tenour of the words apparantly doe seeme,

It is no breach of godlynesse to doe as God doth bid.

I take our Graundame for the earth, the stones within hir hid

I take for bones, these are the bones the which are meaned here.

Though Titans daughter at this wise conjecture of hir fere

470

Were somewhat movde, yet none of both did stedfast credit geve,

So hardly could they in their heartes the heavenly hestes beleve.

But what and if they made a proufe? what harme could come thereby?

They went their wayes and heild their heades, and did their cotes untie.

And at their backes did throw the stones by name of bones foretolde.

475

The stones (who would beleve the thing, but that the time of olde

Reportes it for a stedfast truth?) of nature tough and harde,

Began to warre both soft and smothe: and shortly afterwarde

To winne therwith a better shape: and as they did encrease,

A mylder nature in them grew, and rudenesse gan to cease.

480

For at the first their shape was such, as in a certaine sort

Resembled man, but of the right and perfect shape came short.

Even like to Marble ymages new drawne and roughly wrought,

Before the Carver by his Arte to purpose hath them brought.

Such partes of them where any juice or moysture did abound,

485

Or else were earthie, turned to flesh: and such as were so sound,

And harde as would not bow nor bende did turne to bones: againe

The part that was a veyne before, doth still his name retaine.

Thus by the mightie powre of God ere lenger time was past,

The mankinde was restorde by stones, the which a man did cast.

490

And likewise also by the stones the which a woman threw,

The womankinde repayred was and made againe of new.

Of these are we the crooked ympes, and stonie race in deede,

Bewraying by our toyling life, from whence we doe proceede.

The lustie earth of owne accorde soone after forth did bring

495

According to their sundrie shapes eche other living thing,

As soone as that the moysture once caught heate against the Sunne ,

And that the fat and slimie mud in moorish groundes begunne

To swell through warmth of Phebus beames, and that the fruitfull seede

Of things well cherisht in the fat and lively soyle in deede,

500

As in their mothers wombe, began in length of time to grow,

To one or other kinde of shape wherein themselves to show.

Even so when that seven mouthed Nile the watrie fieldes forsooke,

And to his auncient channel eft his bridled streames betooke,

So that the Sunne did heate the mud, the which he left behinde,

505

The husbandmen that tilde the ground, among the cloddes did finde

Of sundrie creatures sundrie shapes: of which they spied some,

Even in the instant of their birth but newly then begonne,

And some unperfect, wanting brest or shoulders in such wise,

That in one bodie oftentimes appeared to the eyes

510

One halfe thereof alive to be, and all the rest beside

Both voyde of life and seemely shape, starke earth to still abide.

For when that moysture with the heate is tempred equally,

They doe conceyve: and of them twaine engender by and by

All kinde of things. For though that fire with water aye debateth

515

Yet moysture mixt with equall heate all living things createth.

And so those discordes in their kinde, one striving with the other,

In generation doe agree and make one perfect mother.

And therfore when the mirie earth bespred with slimie mud,

Brought over all but late before by violence of the flud,

520

Caught heate by warmnesse of the Sunne , and calmenesse of the skie,

Things out of number in the worlde, forthwith it did applie.

Whereof in part the like before in former times had bene,

And some so straunge and ougly shapes as never erst were sene.

In that she did such Monsters breede, was greatly to hir woe,

525

But yet thou, ougly Python, wert engendred by hir thoe.

A terror to the newmade folke, which never erst had knowne

So foule a Dragon in their lyfe, so monstrously foregrowne;

So great a ground thy poyson paunch did underneath thee hide.

The God of shooting who no where before that present tide

530

Those kinde of weapons put in ure, but at the speckled Deare,

Or at the Roes so wight of foote, a thousand shaftes well neere,

Did on that hideous serpent spende: of which there was not one,

But forced forth the venimd bloud along his sydes to gone.

So that his quiver almost voyde, he nailde him to the grounde,

535

And did him nobly at the last by force of shot confounde.

And least that time might of this worke deface the worthy fame,

He did ordeyne in mynde thereof a great and solemne game,

Which of the serpent that he slue of Pythians bare the name.

Where who so could the maistrie winne in feates of strength, or sleight

540

Of hande or foote or rolling wheele, might claime to have of right,

An Oken garland fresh and brave. There was not any wheare

As yet a Bay: by meanes whereof was Phebus faine to weare

The leaves of every pleasant tree about his golden heare.

Peneian Daphne was the first where Phebus set his love,

545

Which not blind chaunce but Cupids fierce and cruel wrath did move.

The Delian God but late before surprisde with passing pride

For killing of the monstrous worme, the God of love espide,

With bowe in hand alredy bent and letting arrowes go:

To whome he sayd, and what hast thou thou wanton baby so

550

With warlike weapons for to toy? It were a better sight,

To see this kinde of furniture on my two shoulders bright:

Who when we list with stedfast hand both man and beast can wound,

Who tother day wyth arrowes keene, have nayled to the ground

The serpent Python so forswolne, whose filthie wombe did hide

555

So many acres of the grounde in which he did abide.

Content thy selfe sonne, sorie loves to kindle with thy brand,

For these our prayses to attaine thou must not take in hand.

To him quoth Venus sonne againe, well Phebus I agree

Thy bow to shoote at every beast, and so shall mine at thee

560

And looke how far that under God eche beast is put by kinde,

So much thy glorie lesse than ours in shooting shalt thou finde.

This saide, with drift of fethered wings in broken ayre he flue,

And to the forkt and shadie top of Mount Parnasus drue.

There from hys quiver full of shafts two arrowes did he take

565

Of sundrie workes: t'one causeth Love, the tother doth it slake.

That causeth love, is all of golde with point full sharpe and bright,

That chaseth love is blunt, whose stele with leaden head is dight.

The God this fired in the Nymph Peneis for the nones:

The tother perst Apollos heart and overraft his bones.

570

Immediatly in smoldring heate of Love the t'one did swelt,

Againe the tother in hir heart no sparke nor motion felt.

In woods and forrests is hir joy, the savage beasts to chase,

And as the price of all hir paine to take the skinne and case.

Unwedded Phebe doth she haunt and follow as hir guide,

575

Unordred doe hir tresses wave scarce in a fillet tide.

Full many a wooer sought hir love, she lothing all the rout,

Impacient and without a man walkes all the woods about.

And as for Hymen, or for love, and wedlocke often sought

She tooke no care, they were the furthest end of all hir thought.

580

Hir father many a time and oft would saye: My daughter deere,

Thow owest me a sonneinlaw to be thy lawfull feere.

Hir father many a time and oft would say: My daughter deere,

Of Nephewes thou my debtour art, their Graundsires heart to cheere.

She hating as a haynous crime the bonde of bridely bed

585

Demurely casting downe hir eyes, and blushing somwhat red,

Did folde about hir fathers necke with fauning armes: and sed:

Deare father, graunt me while I live my maidenhead for to have,

As to Diana here tofore hir father freely gave.

Thy father ( Daphne ) could consent to that thou doest require,

590

But that thy beautie and thy forme impugne thy chaste desire:

So that thy will and his consent are nothing in this case,

By reason of the beautie bright that shineth in thy face.

Apollo loves and longs to have this Daphne to his Feere,

And as he longs he hopes, but his foredoomes doe fayle him there.

595

And as light hame when corne is reapt, or hedges burne with brandes,

That passers by when day drawes neere throwe loosely fro their handes,

So into flames the God is gone and burneth in his brest

And feedes his vaine and barraine love in hoping for the best.

Hir haire unkembd about hir necke downe flaring did he see,

600

O Lord and were they trimd (quoth he) how seemely would she bee?

He sees hir eyes as bright as fire the starres to represent,

He sees hir mouth which to have seene he holdes him not content.

Hir lillie armes mid part and more above the elbow bare,

Hir handes, hir fingers and hir wrystes, him thought of beautie rare.

605

And sure he thought such other parts as garments then did hyde,

Excelled greatly all the rest the which he had espyde.

But swifter than the whyrling winde shee flees and will not stay,

To give the hearing to these wordes the which he had to say:

I pray thee Nymph Penaeis stay, I chase not as a fo:

610

Stay Nymph: the Lambes so flee the Wolves, the Stags the Lions so.

With flittring feathers sielie Doves so from the Gossehauke flie,

And every creature from his foe. Love is the cause that I

Do followe thee: alas alas how would it grieve my heart,

To see thee fall among the briers, and that the bloud should start

615

Out of thy tender legges, I, wretch, the causer of thy smart.

The place is rough to which thou runst, take leysure I thee pray,

Abate thy flight, and I my selfe my running pace will stay.

Yet would I wishe thee take advise, and wisely for to viewe

What one he is that for thy grace in humble wise doth sewe.

620

I am not one that dwelles among the hilles and stonie rockes,

I am no sheepehearde with a Curre, attending on the flockes:

I am no Carle nor countrie Clowne, nor neathearde taking charge

Of cattle grazing here and there within this Forrest large.

Thou doest not know, poore simple soule, God wote thou dost not knowe,

625

From whome thou fleest. For if thou knew, thou wouldste not flee me so.

In Delphos is my chiefe abode, my Temples also stande

At Glaros and at Patara within the Lycian lande.

And in the Ile of Tenedos the people honour mee.

The king of Gods himselfe is knowne my father for to bee.

630

By me is knowne that was, that is, and that that shall ensue,

By mee men learne to sundrie tunes to frame sweete ditties true.

In shooting have I stedfast hand, but surer hand had hee

That made this wound within my heart that heretofore was free.

Of Phisicke and of surgerie I found the Artes for neede,

635

The powre of everie herbe and plant doth of my gift proceede.

Nowe wo is me that nere an herbe can heale the hurt of love

And that the Artes that others helpe their Lord doth helpelesse prove.

As Phoebus would have spoken more, away Penaeis stale

With fearefull steppes, and left him in the midst of all his tale.

640

And as she ran the meeting windes hir garments backewarde blue,

So that hir naked skinne apearde behinde hir as she flue,

Hir goodly yellowe golden haire that hanged loose and slacke,

With every puffe of ayre did wave and tosse behinde hir backe.

Hir running made hir seeme more fayre, the youthfull God therefore

645

Coulde not abyde to waste his wordes in dalyance any more.

But as his love advysed him he gan to mende his pace,

And with the better foote before, the fleeing Nymph to chace.

And even as when the greedie Grewnde doth course the sielie Hare,

Amiddes the plaine and champion fielde without all covert bare,

650

Both twaine of them doe straine themselves and lay on footemanship,

Who may best runne with all his force the tother to outstrip,

The t'one for safetie of his lyfe, the tother for his pray,

The Grewnde aye prest with open mouth to beare the Hare away,

Thrusts forth his snoute and gyrdeth out and at hir loynes doth snatch,

655

As though he would at everie stride betweene his teeth hir latch:

Againe in doubt of being caught the Hare aye shrinking slips

Upon the sodaine from his Jawes, and from betweene his lips:

So farde Apollo and the Mayde: hope made Apollo swift,

And feare did make the Mayden fleete devising how to shift.

660

Howebeit he that did pursue of both the swifter went,

As furthred by the feathred wings that Cupid had him lent,

So that he would not let hir rest, but preased at hir heele

So neere that through hir scattred haire she might his breathing feele.

But when she sawe hir breath was gone and strength began to fayle

665

The colour faded in hir cheekes, and ginning for to quayle,

Shee looked to Penaeus streame and sayde: Nowe Father dere,

And if yon streames have powre of Gods then help your daughter here.

O let the earth devour me quicke, on which I seeme too fayre,

Or else this shape which is my harme by chaunging straight appayre.

670

This piteous prayer scarsly sed: hir sinewes waxed starke,

And therewithall about hir breast did grow a tender barke.

Hir haire was turned into leaves, hir armes in boughes did growe,

Hir feete that were ere while so swift, now rooted were as slowe.

Hir crowne became the toppe, and thus of that she earst had beene,

675

Remayned nothing in the worlde, but beautie fresh and greene.

Which when that Phoebus did beholde (affection did so move)

The tree to which his love was turnde he coulde no lesse but love,

And as he softly layde his hande upon the tender plant,

Within the barke newe overgrowne he felt hir heart yet pant.

680

And in his armes embracing fast hir boughes and braunches lythe,

He proferde kisses to the tree, the tree did from him writhe.

Well (quoth Apollo) though my Feere and spouse thou can not bee,

Assuredly from this tyme forth yet shalt thou be my tree.

Thou shalt adorne my golden lockes, and eke my pleasant Harpe,

685

Thou shalt adorne my Quyver full of shaftes and arrowes sharpe.

Thou shalt adorne the valiant knyghts and royall Emperours:

When for their noble feates of armes like mightie conquerours,

Triumphantly with stately pompe up to the Capitoll,

They shall ascende with solemne traine that doe their deedes extoll.

690

Before Augustus Pallace doore full duely shalt thou warde,

The Oke amid the Pallace yarde aye faythfully to garde,

And as my heade is never poulde nor never more without

A seemely bushe of youthfull haire that spreadeth rounde about,

Even so this honour give I thee continually to have

695

Thy braunches clad from time to tyme with leaves both fresh and brave.

Now when that Pean of this talke had fully made an ende,

The Lawrell to his just request did seeme to condescende,

By bowing of hir newe made boughs and tender braunches downe,

And wagging of hir seemely toppe, as if it were hir crowne.

700

There is a lande in Thessalie enclosd on every syde

With wooddie hilles, that Timpe hight, through mid whereof doth glide

Penaeus gushing full of froth from foote of Pindus hye,

Which with his headlong falling downe doth cast up violently

A mistie streame lyke flakes of smoke, besprinckling all about

705

The toppes of trees on eyther side, and makes a roaring out

That may be heard a great way off. This is the fixed seate,

This is the house and dwelling place and chamber of the greate

And mightie Ryver: Here he sittes in Court of Peeble stone,

And ministers justice to the waves and to the Nymphes eche one,

710

That in the Brookes and waters dwell. Now hither did resorte

(Not knowing if they might rejoyce and unto mirth exhort

Or comfort him) his Countrie Brookes, Sperchius well beseene

With sedgie heade and shadie bankes of Poplars fresh and greene,

Enipeus restlesse, swift and quicke, olde father Apidane,

715

Amphrisus with his gentle streame, and Aeas clad with cane:

With dyvers other Ryvers moe, which having runne their race,

Into the Sea their wearie waves doe lead with restlesse pace.

From hence the carefull Inachus absentes him selfe alone,

Who in a corner of his cave with doolefull teares and mone,

720

Augments the waters of his streame, bewayling piteously

His daughter Io lately lost. He knewe not certainly

And if she were alive or deade. But for he had hir sought

And coulde not finde hir any where, assuredly he thought

She did not live above the molde, ne drewe the vitall breath:

725

Misgiving worser in his minde, if ought be worse than death.

It fortunde on a certaine day that Jove espide this Mayde

Come running from hir fathers streame alone: to whome he sayde:

O Damsell worthie Jove himselfe, like one day for to make

Some happie person whome thou list unto thy bed to take,

730

I pray thee let us shroude our selves in shadowe here togither,

Of this or that (he poynted both) it makes no matter whither,

Untill the hotest of the day and Noone be overpast.

And if for feare of savage beastes perchaunce thou be agast

To wander in the Woods alone, thou shalt not neede to feare,

735

A God shall bee thy guide to save thee harmelesse every where.

And not a God of meaner sort, but even the same that hath

The heavenly scepter in his hande, who in my dreadfull wrath,

Do dart downe thunder wandringly: and therefore make no hast

To runne away. She ranne apace, and had alreadie past

740

The Fen of Lerna and the field of Lincey set with trees:

When Jove intending now in vaine no lenger tyme to leese,

Upon the Countrie all about did bring a foggie mist,

And caught the Mayden whome poore foole he used as he list.

Queene Juno looking downe that while upon the open field,

745

When in so fayre a day such mistes and darkenesse she behelde,

Dyd marvell much, for well she knewe those mistes ascended not

From any Ryver, moorishe ground, or other dankishe plot.

She lookt about hir for hir Jove as one that was acquainted

With such escapes and with the deede had often him attainted.

750

Whome when she founde not in the heaven: Onlesse I gesse amisse,

Some wrong agaynst me (quoth she) now my husbande working is.

And with that worde she left the Heaven, and downe to earth shee came,

Commaunding all the mistes away. But Jove foresees the same,

And to a Cow as white as milke his Leman he convayes.

755

She was a goodly Heifer sure: and Juno did hir prayse,

Although (God wot) she thought it not, and curiously she sought,

Where she was bred, whose Cow she was, who had hir thither broughte

As though she had not knowne the truth. Hir husband by and by

(Bycause she should not search too neare) devisde a cleanly lie,

760

And tolde hir that the Cow was bred even nowe out of the grounde.

Then Juno who hir husbands shift at fingers endes had founde,

Desirde to have the Cow of gift. What should he doe as tho?

Great cruelnesse it were to yeelde his Lover to hir so.

And not to give would breede mistrust. As fast as shame provoked,

765

So fast agayne a tother side his Love his minde revoked.

So much that Love was at the poynt to put all shame to flight.

But that he feared if he should denie a gift so light

As was a Cowe to hir that was his sister and his wyfe,

Might make hir thinke it was no Cow, and breede perchaunce some strife.

770

Now when that Juno had by gift hir husbands Leman got,

Yet altogether out of feare and carelesse was she not.

She had him in a jelousie and thoughtfull was she still

For doubt he should invent some meanes to steale hir from hir: till

To Argus, olde Aristors sonne, she put hir for to keepe.

775

This Argus had an hundreth eyes: of which by turne did sleepe

Alwayes a couple, and the rest did duely watch and warde,

And of the charge they tooke in hande had ever good regarde,

What way so ever Argus stood with face, with backe, or side,

To Io warde, before his eyes did lo still abide.

780

All day he let hir graze abroade, the Sunne once under ground

He shut hir up and by the necke with wrythen Withe hir bound.

With croppes of trees and bitter weedes now was she dayly fed,

And in the stead of costly couch and good soft featherbed,

She sate a nightes upon the ground, and on such ground whereas

785

Was not sometime so much as grasse: and oftentymes she was

Compeld to drinke of muddie pittes: and when she did devise

To Argus for to lift hir handes in meeke and humble wise,

She sawe she had no handes at all: and when she did assay

To make complaint, she lowed out, which did hir so affray,

790

That oft she started at the noyse, and would have runne away.

Unto hir father Inachs banckes she also did resorte,

Where many a tyme and oft before she had beene wont to sporte.

Now when she looked in the streame, and sawe hir horned hed,

She was agast and from hir selfe would all in hast have fled.

795

The Nymphes hir sisters knewe hir not nor yet hir owne deare father,

Yet followed she both him and them, and suffred them the rather

To touch and stroke hir where they list, as one that preaced still

To set hir selfe to wonder at and gaze upon their fill.

The good old Inach puls up grasse and to hir straight it beares.

800

She as she kyst and lickt his handes did shed forth dreerie teares.

And had she had hir speach at will to utter forth hir thought,

She would have tolde hir name and chaunce and him of helpe besought.

But for bicause she could not speake, she printed in the sande,

Two letters with hir foote, whereby was given to understande

805

The sorrowfull chaunging of hir shape.

Which seene straight cryed out

Hir father Inach, Wo is me, and clasping hir about

Hir white and seemely Heifers necke and christal hornes both twaine,

He shrieked out full piteously: Now wo is me, again.

810

Alas art thou my daughter deare, whome through the worlde I sought

And could not finde, and now by chaunce art to my presence brought?

My sorrow certesse lesser farre a thousande folde had beene

If never had I seene thee more, than thus to have thee seene.

Thou standst as dombe and to my wordes no answere can thou give,

815

But from the bottom of thy heart full sorie sighes dost drive

As tokens of thine inwarde griefe, and doolefully dost mooe

Unto my talke, the onely thing leaft in thy powre to dooe.

But I mistrusting nothing lesse than this so great mischaunce,

By some great mariage earnestly did seeke thee to advaunce,

820

In hope some yssue to have seene betweene my sonne and thee.

But now thou must a husband have among the Heirds I see,

And eke thine issue must be such as other cattels bee.

Oh that I were a mortall wight as other creatures are,

For then might death in length of time quite rid mee of this care,

825

But now bycause I am a God, and fate doth death denie,

There is no helpe but that my griefe must last eternallie.

As Inach made this piteous mone quicke sighted Argus drave

His daughter into further fieldes to which he could not have

Accesse, and he himselfe aloof did get him to a hill,

830

From whence he sitting at his ease viewd everie way at will.

Now could no lenger Jove abide his Lover so forlorne,

And thereupon he cald his sonne that Maia had him borne,

Commaunding Argus should be kild. He made no long abod,

But tyde his feathers to his feete, and tooke his charmed rod.

835

(With which he bringeth things asleepe, and fetcheth soules from Hell)

And put his Hat upon his head: and when that all was well

He leaped from his fathers towres, and downe to earth he flue

And there both Hat and winges also he lightly from him thrue,

Retayning nothing but his staffe, the which he closely helde

840

Betweene his elbowe and his side, and through the common fielde

Went plodding lyke some good plaine soule that had some flocke to feede.

And as he went he pyped still upon an Oten Reede.

Queene Junos Heirdman farre in love with this straunge melodie

Bespake him thus: Good fellow mine, I pray thee heartely

845

Come sitte downe by me on this hill, for better feede I knowe

Thou shalt not finde in all these fieldes, and (as the thing doth showe)

It is a coole and shadowie plot, for sheepeheirds verie fitte.

Downe by his elbow by and by did Atlas nephew sit.

And for to passe the tyme withall for seeming overlong,

850

He helde him talke of this and that, and now and than among

He playd upon his merrie Pipe to cause his watching eyes

To fall asleepe. Poore Argus did the best he could devise

To overcome the pleasant nappes: and though that some did sleepe,

Yet of his eyes the greater part he made their watch to keepe.

855

And after other talke he askt (for lately was it founde)

Who was the founder of that Pype that did so sweetely sounde.

Then sayde the God: There dwelt sometime a Nymph of noble fame

Among the hilles of Arcadie , that Syrinx had to name.

Of all the Nymphes of Nonacris and Fairie farre and neere,

860

In beautie and in personage thys Ladie had no peere.

Full often had she given the slippe both to the Satyrs quicke

And other Gods that dwell in Woods, and in the Forrests thicke,

Or in the fruitfull fieldes abrode: It was hir whole desire

To follow chaste Dianas guise in Maydenhead and attire,

865

Whome she did counterfaite so nighe, that such as did hir see

Might at a blush have taken hir Diana for to bee,

But that the Nymph did in hir hande a bowe of Cornell holde,

Whereas Diana evermore did beare a bowe of golde.

And yet she did deceyve folke so. Upon a certaine day

870

God Pan with garland on his heade of Pinetree, sawe hir stray

From Mount Lyceus all alone, and thus to hir did say:

Unto a Gods request, O Nymph, voucesafe thou to agree

That doth desire thy wedded spouse and husband for to bee.

There was yet more behinde to tell: as how that Syrinx fled,

875

Through waylesse woods and gave no eare to that that Pan had sed,

Untill she to the gentle streame of sandie Ladon came,

Where, for bicause it was so deepe, she could not passe the same,

She piteously to chaunge hir shape the water Nymphes besought:

And how when Pan betweene his armes, to catch the Nymph had thought,

880

In steade of hir he caught the Reedes newe growne upon the brooke,

And as he sighed, with his breath the Reedes he softly shooke

Which made a still and mourning noyse, with straungnesse of the which

And sweetenesse of the feeble sounde the God delighted mich,

Saide: Certesse, Syrinx, for thy sake it is my full intent,

885

To make my comfort of these Reedes wherein thou doest lament:

And how that there of sundrie Reedes with wax together knit,

He made the Pipe which of hir name the Greekes call Syrinx yet.

But as Cyllenius would have tolde this tale, he cast his sight

On Argus, and beholde his eyes had bid him all good night.

890

There was not one that did not sleepe, and fast he gan to nodde,

Immediately he ceast his talke, and with his charmed rodde,

So stroked all his heavie eyes that earnestly they slept.

Then with his Woodknife by and by he lightly to him stept,

And lent him such a perlous blowe, where as the shoulders grue

895

Unto the necke, that straight his heade quite from the bodie flue.

Then tombling downe the headlong hill his bloudie coarse he sent,

That all the way by which he rolde was stayned and besprent.

There lyest thou Argus under foote, with all thy hundreth lights,

And all the light is cleane extinct that was within those sights.

900

One endelesse night thy hundred eyes hath nowe bereft for aye,

Yet would not Juno suffer so hir Heirdmans eyes decay:

But in hir painted Peacocks tayle and feathers did them set,

Where they remayne lyke precious stones and glaring eyes as yet.

She tooke his death in great dispight and as hir rage did move,

905

Determinde for to wreeke hir wrath upon hir husbandes Love.

Forthwith she cast before hir eyes right straunge and ugly sightes,

Compelling hir to thinke she sawe some Fiendes or wicked sprightes.

And in hir heart such secret prickes and piercing stings she gave hir,

As through the worlde from place to place with restlesse sorrow drave hir.

910

Thou Nylus wert assignd to stay hir paynes and travails past,

To which as soone as Io came with much adoe at last,

With wearie knockles on thy brim she kneeled sadly downe,

And stretching foorth hir faire long necke and christall horned crowne,

Such kinde of countnaunce as she had she lifted to the skie,

915

And there with sighing sobbes and teares and lowing doolefully

Did seeme to make hir mone to Jove, desiring him to make

Some ende of those hir troublous stormes endured for his sake.

He tooke his wife about the necke, and sweetely kissing prayde,

That Ios penance yet at length might by hir graunt be stayde.

920

Thou shalt not neede to feare (quoth he) that ever she shall grieve thee

From this day forth. And in this case the better to beleve mee,

The Stygian waters of my wordes unparciall witnesse beene.

As soone as Juno was appeasde, immediately was seene

That Io tooke hir native shape in which she first was borne,

925

And eke became the selfesame thing the which she was beforne.

For by and by she cast away hir rough and hairie hyde,

Insteede whereof a soft smouth skinne with tender fleshe did byde.

Hir hornes sank down, hir eies and mouth were brought in lesser roome,

Hir handes, hir shoulders, and hir armes in place againe did come.

930

Hir cloven Clees to fingers five againe reduced were,

On which the nayles lyke pollisht Gemmes did shine full bright and clere.

In fine, no likenesse of a Cow save whitenesse did remaine

So pure and perfect as no snow was able it to staine.

She vaunst hir selfe upon hir feete which then was brought to two.

935

And though she gladly would have spoke: yet durst she not so do,

Without good heede, for feare she should have lowed like a Cow.

And therefore softly with hir selfe she gan to practise how

Distinctly to pronounce hir wordes that intermitted were.

Now, as a Goddesse, is she had in honour everie where

940

Among the folke that dwell by Nyle yclad in linnen weede.

Of her in tyme came Epaphus begotten of the seede

Of myghtie Jove. This noble ympe nowe joyntly with his mother,

Through all the Cities of that lande have temples t'one with toother.

There was his match in heart and yeares, the lustie Phaeton,

945

A stalworth stripling strong and stout, the golden Phoebus sonne.

Whome making proude and stately vauntes of his so noble race,

And unto him in that respect in nothing giving place,

The sonne of Io coulde not beare: but sayde unto him thus:

No marvell though thou be so proude and full of wordes ywus.

950

For everie fonde and trifling tale the which thy mother makes,

Thy gyddie wit and hairebrainde heade forthwith for gospell takes.

Well, vaunt thy selfe of Phoebus still, for when the truth is seene,

Thou shalt perceyve that fathers name a forged thing to beene.

At this reproch did Phaeton wax as red as any fire:

955

Howbeit for the present tyme did shame represse his ire.

Unto his mother Clymen straight he goeth to detect

The spitefull wordes that Epaphus against him did object.

Yes mother (quoth he) and which ought your greater griefe to bee,

I who at other tymes of talke was wont to be so free

960

And stoute, had neere a worde to say, I was ashamde to take

So fowle a foyle: the more because I could none answere make.

But if I be of heavenly race exacted as ye say,

Then shewe some token of that highe and noble byrth I pray.

And vouche me for to be of heaven. With that he gently cast

965

His armes about his mothers necke, and clasping hir full fast,

Besought hir as she lovde his life, and as she lovde the lyfe

Of Merops, and had kept hir selfe as undefiled wyfe,

And as she wished welthily his sisters to bestowe,

She would some token give whereby his rightfull Sire to knowe.

970

It is a doubtful matter whither Clymen moved more

With this hir Phaetons earnest sute, exacting it so sore,

Or with the slaunder of the bruit layde to hir charge before,

Did holde up both hir handes to heaven, and looking on the Sunne ,

My right deare childe I safely sweare (quoth she to Phaeton)

975

That of this starre the which so bright doth glister in thine eye:

Of this same Sunne that cheares the world with light indifferently

Wert thou begot: and if I fayne, then with my heart I pray,

That never may I see him more unto my dying day.

But if thou have so great desire thy father for to knowe,

980

Thou shalt not neede in that behalfe much labour to bestowe.

The place from whence he doth arise adjoyneth to our lande.

And if thou thinke thy heart will serve, then go and understande

The truth of him. When Phaeton heard his mother saying so,

He gan to leape and skip for joye. He fed his fansie tho,

985

Upon the Heaven and heavenly things: and so with willing minde,

From Aethiop first his native home, and afterwarde through Inde

Set underneath the morning starre he went so long, till as

He founde me where his fathers house and dayly rising was.

Notes on the current edition

Metamorphoses

1. vulg.

qua nimium placui, tellus aut hisce vel istam,

quae facit ut laedar, mutando perde figuram.

P. Ovidius Naso Metamorphoses 1

ed. Hugo Magnus

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