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1 Orphei mors.

Carmine dum tali silvas animosque ferarum

Threicius vates et saxa sequentia ducit,

ecce nurus Ciconum, tectae lymphata ferinis

pectora velleribus, tumuli de vertice cernunt

Orphea percussis sociantem carmina nervis.

E quibus una, leves iactato crine per auras,

“en,” ait “en hic est nostri contemptor!” et hastam

vatis Apollinei vocalia misit in ora,

quae foliis praesuta notam sine vulnere fecit;

alterius telum lapis est, qui missus in ipso

aere concentu victus vocisque lyraeque est

ac veluti supplex pro tam furialibus ausis

ante pedes iacuit. Sed enim temeraria crescunt

bella modusque abiit, insanaque regnat Erinys.

Cunctaque tela forent cantu mollita, sed ingens

clamor et infracto Berecyntia tibia cornu

tympanaque et plausus et Bacchei ululatus

obstrepuere sono citharae: tum denique saxa

non exauditi rubuerunt sanguine vatis.

Ac primum attonitas etiamnum voce canentis

innumeras volucres anguesque agmenque ferarum

Maenades, Orphei titulum, rapuere, theatri.

Inde cruentatis vertuntur in Orphea dextris

et coeunt ut aves, si quando luce vagantem

noctis avem cernunt. Structoque utrimque theatro

ceu matutina cervus periturus harena

praeda canum est, vatemque petunt et fronde virentes

coniciunt thyrsos non haec in munera factos.

Hae glaebas, illae direptos arbore ramos,

pars torquent silices. Neu desint tela furori,

forte boves presso subigebant vomere terram,

nec procul hinc multo fructum sudore parantes

dura lacertosi fodiebant arva coloni.

Agmine qui viso fugiunt operisque relinquunt

arma sui, vacuosque iacent dispersa per agros

sarculaque rastrique graves longique ligones.

Quae postquam rapuere ferae cornuque minaci

divulsere boves, ad vatis fata recurrunt

Tendentemque manus et in illo tempore primum

inrita dicentem nec quicquam voce moventem

sacrilegae perimunt. Perque os, pro Iuppiter! illud

auditum saxis intellectumque ferarum

sensibus in ventos anima exhalata recessit.

Te maestae volucres, Orpheu, te turba ferarum,

te rigidi silices, tua carmina saepe secutae

fleverunt silvae, positis te frondibus arbor

tonsa comas luxit. Lacrimis quoque flumina dicunt

increvisse suis, obstrusaque carbasa pullo

naides et dryades passosque habuere capillos.

Membra iacent diversa locis. Caput, Hebre, lyramque

excipis, et (mirum!) medio dum labitur amne,

flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua

murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae.

Iamque mare invectae flumen populare relinquunt

et Methymnaeae potiuntur litore Lesbi.

Hic ferus expositum peregrinis anguis harenis

os petit et sparsos stillanti rore capillos.

Tandem Phoebus adest morsusque inferre parantem

arcet et in lapidem rictus serpentis apertos

congelat et patulos, ut erant, indurat hiatus.

Umbra subit terras et quae loca viderat ante,

cuncta recognoscit quaerensque per arva piorum

invenit Eurydicen cupidisque amplectitur ulnis.

Hic modo coniunctis spatiantur passibus ambo,

nunc praecedentem sequitur, nunc praevius anteit

Eurydicenque suam iam tutus respicit Orpheus.

Non impune tamen scelus hoc sinit esse Lyaeus,

amissoque dolens sacrorum vate suorum

protinus in silvis matres Edonidas omnes,

quae videre nefas, torta radice ligavit.

utque suum laqueis, quos callidus abdidit auceps,

crus ubi commisit volucris sensitque teneri,

plangitur ac trepidans adstringit vincula motu:

sic, ut quaeque solo defixa cohaeserat harum,

exsternata fugam frustra temptabat; at illam

lenta tenet radix exsultantemque coercet,

dumque ubi sint digiti, dum pes ubi, quaerit, et ungues,

adspicit in teretes lignum succedere suras,

et conata femur maerenti plangere dextra,

robora percussit: pectus quoque robora fiunt,

robora sunt umeri, porrectaque bracchia veros

esse putes ramos, et non fallere putando.

85 Midas aureus.

Nec satis hoc Baccho est: ipsos quoque deserit agros

cumque choro meliore sui vineta Timoli

Pactolonque petit, quamvis non aureus illo

tempore nec caris erat invidiosus harenis.

Hunc adsueta cohors satyri bacchaeque frequentant,

at Silenus abest: titubantem annisque meroque

ruricolae cepere Phryges vinctumque coronis

ad regem duxere Midan, cui Thracius Orpheus

orgia tradiderat cum Cecropio Eumolpo.

Quem simul agnovit socium comitemque sacrorum,

hospitis adventu festum genialiter egit

per bis quinque dies et iunctas ordine noctes.

Et iam stellarum sublime coegerat agmen

Lucifer undecimus, Lydos cum laetus in agros

rex venit et iuveni Silenum reddit alumno.

Huic deus optandi gratum, sed inutile, fecit

100

muneris arbitrium, gaudens altore recepto.

Ille male usurus donis ait “effice, quidquid

corpore contigero fulvum vertatur in aurum.”

Adnuit optatis nocituraque munera solvit

Liber, et indoluit, quod non meliora petisset.

105

Laetus abit gaudetque malo Berecyntius heros

pollicitique fidem tangendo singula temptat

Vixque sibi credens non alta fronde virentem

ilice detraxit virgam: virga aurea facta est.

Tollit humo saxum: saxum quoque palluit auro.

110

Contigit et glaebam: contactu glaeba potenti

massa fit. Arentes Cereris decerpsit aristas:

aurea messis erat. Demptum tenet arbore pomum:

Hesperidas donasse putes. Si postibus altis

admovit digitos, postes radiare videntur.

115

Ille etiam liquidis palmas ubi laverat undis,

unda fluens palmis Danaen eludere posset.

Vix spes ipse suas animo capit aurea fingens

omnia. Gaudenti mensas posuere ministri

exstructas dapibus nec tostae frugis egentes.

120

Tum vero, sive ille sua Cerealia dextra

munera contigerat, Cerealia dona rigebant,

sive dapes avido convellere dente parabat,

lammina fulva dapes admoto dente premebat.

Miscuerat puris auctorem muneris undis:

125

fusile per rictus aurum fluitare videres.

Attonitus novitate mali, divesque miserque,

effugere optat opes et, quae modo voverat, odit.

Copia nulla famem relevat; sitis arida guttur

urit, et inviso meritus torquetur ab auro

130

Ad caelumque manus et splendida bracchia tollens

“da veniam, Lenaee pater! peccavimus,” inquit,

“sed miserere, precor, speciosoque eripe damno.”

Mite deum numen: Bacchus peccasse fatentem

restituit factique fide data munera solvit

135

“Neve male optato maneas circumlitus auro,

vade” ait “ad magnis vicinum Sardibus amnem

perque iugum ripae labentibus obvius undis

carpe viam, donec venias ad fluminis ortus,

spumigeroque tuum fonti, qua plurimus exit,

140

subde caput corpusque simul, simul elue crimen.”

Rex iussae succedit aquae: vis aurea tinxit

flumen et humano de corpore cessit in amnem.

Nunc quoque iam veteris percepto semine venae

arva rigent auro madidis pallentia glaebis.

145

146 Midae aures.

Ille, perosus opes, silvas et rura colebat

Panaque montanis habitantem semper in antris.

Pingue sed ingenium mansit, nocituraque, ut ante,

rursus erant domino stultae praecordia mentis.

Nam freta prospiciens late riget arduus alto

150

Tmolus in adscensu, clivoque extensus utroque

Sardibus hinc, illinc parvis finitur Hypaepis.

Pan ibi dum teneris iactat sua carmina nymphis

et leve cerata modulatur harundine carmen,

ausus Apollineos prae se contemnere cantus,

155

iudice sub Tmolo certamen venit ad impar.

Monte suo senior iudex consedit et aures

liberat arboribus: quercu coma caerula tantum

cingitur, et pendent circum cava tempora glandes.

Isque deum pecoris spectans “in indice” dixit

160

“nulla mora est.” Calamis agrestibus insonat ille

barbaricoque Midan (aderat nam forte canenti)

carmine delenit. Post hunc sacer ora retorsit

Tmolus ad os Phoebi: vultum sua silva secuta est.

Ille caput flavum lauro Parnaside vinctus

165

verrit humum Tyrio saturata murice palla,

instrictamque fidem gemmis et dentibus Indis

sustinet a laeva; tenuit manus altera plectrum.

Artificis status ipse fuit. Tum stamina docto

pollice sollicitat, quorum dulcedine captus

170

Pana iubet Tmolus citharae submittere cannas.

Iudicium sanctique placet sententia montis

omnibus, arguitur tamen atque iniusta vocatur

unius sermone Midae; nec Delius aures

humanam stolidas patitur retinere figuram,

175

sed trahit in spatium villisque albentibus implet

instabilesque imas facit et dat posse moveri,

cetera sunt hominis: partem damnatur in unam

induiturque aures lente gradientis aselli.

Ille quidem celare cupit, turpisque pudore

180

tempora purpureis temptat velare tiaris.

Sed solitus longos ferro resecare capillos

viderat hoc famulus. Qui cum nec prodere visum

dedecus auderet, cupiens efferre sub auras,

nec posset reticere tamen, secedit humumque

185

effodit et, domini quales adspexerit aures,

voce refert parva terraeque inmurmurat haustae,

indiciumque suae vocis tellure regesta

obruit et scrobibus tacitus discedit opertis.

Creber harundinibus tremulis ibi surgere lucus

190

coepit et, ut primum pleno maturuit anno,

prodidit agricolam: leni nam motus ab austro

obruta verba refert dominique coarguit aures.

194 Laomedon. Hesione.

Ultus abit Tmolo liquidumque per aera vectus

angustum citra pontum Nepheleidos Helles

195

Laomedonteis Latoius adstitit arvis.

Dextera Sigei, Rhoetei laeva profundi

ara Panomphaeo vetus est sacrata Tonanti.

Inde novae primum moliri moenia Troiae

Laomedonta videt susceptaque magna labore

200

crescere difficili nec opes exposcere parvas

cumque tridentigero tumidi genitore profundi

mortalem induitur formam Phrygiaeque tyranno

aedificat muros, pactus pro moenibus aurum.

Stabat opus: pretium rex infitiatur et addit,

205

perfidiae cumulum, falsis periuria verbis.

“Non impune feres” rector maris inquit et omnes

inclinavit aquas ad avarae litora Troiae,

inque freti formam terras complevit opesque

abstulit agricolis et fluctibus obruit agros.

210

Poena neque haec satis est: regis quoque filia monstro

poscitur aequoreo; quam dura ad saxa revinctam

vindicat Alcides promissaque munera, dictos

poscit equos, tantique operis mercede negata

bis periura capit superatae moenia Troiae.

215

Nec pars militiae, Telamon, sine honore recessit,

Hesioneque data potitur. Nam coniuge Peleus

clarus erat diva: nec avi magis ille superbus

nomine, quam soceri, siquidem Iovis esse nepoti

contigit haud uni, coniunx dea contigit uni.

220

221 Peleus et Thetis.

Namque senex Thetidi Proteus “dea” dixerat “undae,

concipe: mater eris iuvenis, qui fortibus annis

acta patris vincet maiorque vocabitur illo.”

Ergo, ne quicquam mundus Iove maius haberet,

quamvis haud tepidos sub pectore senserat ignes,

225

Iuppiter aequoreae Thetidis conubia fugit

in suaque Aeaciden succedere vota nepotem

iussit et amplexus in virginis ire marinae.

Est sinus Haemoniae curvos falcatus in arcus:

bracchia procurrunt, ubi, si foret altior unda,

230

portus erat (summis inductum est aequor harenis);

litus habet solidum, quod nec vestigia servet

nec remoretur iter, nec opertum pendeat alga.

Myrtea silva subest bicoloribus obsita bacis

et specus in medio (natura factus an arte,

235

ambiguum, magis arte tamen), quo saepe venire

frenato delphine sedens, Theti, nuda solebas.

Illic te Peleus, ut somno vincta iacebas,

occupat: et quoniam precibus temptata repugnas,

vim parat, innectens ambobus colla lacertis.

240

Quod nisi venisses variatis saepe figuris

ad solitas artes, auso foret ille potitus.

Sed modo tu volucris (volucrem tamen ille tenebat),

nunc gravis arbor eras (haerebat in arbore Peleus),

tertia forma fuit maculosae tigridis: illa

245

territus Aeacides a corpore bracchia solvit.

Isque deos pelagi vino super aequora fuso

et pecoris fibris et fumo turis adorat,

donec Carpathius medio de gurgite vates

“Aeacide,” dixit, “thalamis potiere petitis!

250

Tu modo, cum rigido sopita quiescit in antro,

ignaram laqueis vincloque innecte tenaci.

Nec te decipiat centum mentita figuras,

sed preme, quidquid erit, dum, quod fuit ante, reformet!”

Dixerat haec Proteus et condidit aequore vultum

255

admisitque suos in verba novissima fluctus.

Pronus erat Titan inclinatoque tenebat

Hesperium temone fretum, cum pulchra relecto

Nereis ingreditur consueta cubilia saxo.

Vix bene virgineos Peleus invaserat artus,

260

illa novat formas, donec sua membra teneri

sentit et in partes diversas bracchia tendi.

Tum demum ingemuit, “neque” ait “sine numine vincis”

exhibita estque Thetis. Confessam amplectitur heros

et potitur votis ingentique implet Achille.

265

266 Peleus apud Ceycem.

Felix et nato, felix et coniuge Peleus

et cui, si demas iugulati crimina Phoci,

omnia contigerant. Fraterno sanguine sontem

expulsumque domo patria Trachinia tellus

accipit. Hic regnum sine vi, sine caede regebat

270

Lucifero genitore satus patriumque nitorem

ore ferens Ceyx, illo qui tempore maestus

dissimilisque sui fratrem lugebat ademptum.

Quo postquam Aeacides fessus curaque viaque

venit et intravit paucis comitantibus urbem,

275

quosque greges pecorum, quae secum armenta trahebat,

haud procul a muris sub opaca valle reliquit,

copia cum facta est adeundi prima tyranni,

velamenta manu praetendens supplice, qui sit

se quoque satus, memorat, tantum sua crimina celat

280

mentiturque fugae causam: petit, urbe vel agro

se iuvet. Hunc contra placido Trachinius ore

talibus adloquitur: “Mediae quoque commoda plebi

nostra patent, Peleu, nec inhospita regna tenemus.

Adicis huic animo momento potentia, clarum

285

nomen avumque Iovem. Ne tempora perde precando!

Quod petis, omne feres tuaque haec pro parte vocato,

qualiacumque vides! Utinam meliora videres!'

Et flebat: moveat tantos quae causa dolores,

Peleusque comitesque rogant. Quibus ille profatur:

290

“Forsitan hanc volucrem, rapto quae vivit et omnes

terret aves, semper pennas habuisse putetis:

acer erat belloque ferox ad vimque paratus,

nomine Daedalion. Illo genitore creatis,

295

qui vocat auroram caeloque novissimus exit,

(cura mihi pax est) pacis mihi cura tenendae

coniugiique fuit, fratri fera bella placebant:

illius virtus reges gentesque subegit,

quae nunc Thisbaeas agitat mutata columbas.

300

Nata erat huic Chione. Quae dotatissima forma

mille procos habuit, bis septem nubilis annis.

Forte revertentes Phoebus Maiaque creatus,

ille suis Delphis, hic vertice Cylleneo,

videre hanc pariter, pariter traxere calorem.

305

Spem veneris differt in tempora noctis Apollo,

non fert ille moras virgaque movente soporem

virginis os tangit: tactu iacet illa potenti

vimque dei patitur. Nox caelum sparserat astris:

Phoebus anum simulat praereptaque gaudia sumit.

310

Ut sua maturus complevit tempora venter,

alipedis de stirpe dei versuta propago

nascitur, Autolycus, furtum ingeniosus ad omne,

candida de nigris et de candentibus atra

qui facere adsuerat, patriae non degener artis;

315

nascitur e Phoebo (namque est enixa gemellos)

carmine vocali clarus citharaque Philammon.

Quid peperisse duos et dis placuisse duobus

et forti genitore et progenitore Tonanti

esse satam prodest? An obest quoque gloria? multis

320

Offuit, huic certe! Quae se praeferre Dianae

sustinuit faciemque deae culpavit. At illi

ira ferox mota est “factis” que “placebimus” inquit.

Nec mora, curvavit cornu nervoque sagittam

impulit et meritam traiecit harundine linguam.

325

Lingua tacet, nec vox temptataque verba sequuntur,

conantemque loqui cum sanguine vita reliquit.

Quo miser amplexus ego tum patriumque dolorem

corde tuli fratrique pio solacia dixi!

Quae pater haud aliter quam cautes murmura ponti

330

accipit et natam delamentatur ademptam.

Ut vero ardentem vidit, quater impetus illi

in medios fuit ire rogos; quater inde repulsus

concita membra fugae mandat similisque iuvenco

spicula crabronum pressa cervice gerenti,

335

qua via nulla, ruit. Iam tum mihi currere visus

plus homine est, alasque pedes sumpsisse putares.

Effugit ergo omnes veloxque cupidine leti

vertice Parnasi potitur. Miseratus Apollo,

cum se Daedalion saxo misisset ab alto,

340

fecit avem et subitis pendentem sustulit alis

oraque adunca dedit, curvos dedit unguibus hamos,

virtutem antiquam, maiores corpore vires.

Et nunc accipiter, nulli satis aequus, in omnes

saevit aves aliisque dolens fit causa dolendi.”

345

PELEUS AND THE WOLF

Quae dum Lucifero genitus miracula narrat

de consorte suo, cursu festinus anhelo

advolat armenti custos Phoceus Onetor

et “Peleu, Peleu! magnae tibi nuntius adsum

cladis” ait. Quodcumque ferat, iubet edere Peleus,

350

pendet et ipse metu trepidi Trachinius oris.

352

Ille refert: “Fessos ad litora curva iuvencos

adpuleram, medio cum Sol altissimus orbe

tantum respiceret, quantum superesse videret;

parsque boum fulvis genua inclinarat harenis

355

latarumque iacens campos spectabat aquarum,

pars gradibus tardis illuc errabat et illuc,

nant alii celsoque exstant super aequora collo.

Templa mari subsunt nec marmore clara neque auro,

sed trabibus densis lucoque umbrosa vetusto.

360

Nereides Nereusque tenent: hos navita ponti

edidit esse deos, dum retia litore siccat.

Iuncta palus huic est, densis obsessa salictis,

quam restagnantis fecit maris unda paludem.

Inde fragore gravi strepitus loca proxima terret

365

belua vasta, lupus! Udisque paludibus exit,

oblitus et spumis et sparsus sanguine rictus,

fulmineus, rubra suffusus lumina flamma.

Qui quamquam saevit pariter rabieque fameque,

acrior est rabie: neque enim ieiunia curat

370

caede boum diramque famem finire, sed omne

vulnerat armentum sternitque hostiliter omne.

Pars quoque de nobis funesto saucia morsu,

dum defensamus, leto est data. Sanguine litus

undaque prima rubet demugitaeque paludes. —

375

Sed mora damnosa est, nec res dubitare remittit:

dum superest aliquid, cuncti coeamus et arma,

arma capessamus coniunctaque tela feramus!”

Dixerat agrestis; nec Pelea damna movebant,

sed, memor admissi, Nereida conligit orbam

380

damna sua inferias exstincto mittere Phoco.

Induere arma viros violentaque sumere tela

rex iubet Oetaeus; cum quis simul ipse parabat

ire, sed Alcyone coniunx excita tumultu

prosilit et, nondum totos ornata capillos,

385

disicit hos ipsos, colloque infusa mariti,

mittat ut auxilium sine se, verbisque precatur

et lacrimis, animasque duas ut servet in una.

Aeacides illi: “Pulchros, regina, piosque

pone metus! Plena est promissi gratia vestri.

390

Non placet arma mihi contra nova monstra moveri:

numen adorandum pelagi est.” Erat ardua turris

arce focus summa, fessis loca grata carinis.

Adscendunt illuc stratosque in litore tauros

cum gemitu adspiciunt vastatoremque cruento

395

ore ferum, longos infectum sanguine villos.

Inde manus tendens in aperti litora ponti

caeruleam Peleus Psamathen, ut finiat iram,

orat, opemque ferat; nec vocibus illa rogantis

flectitur Aeacidae: Thetis hanc pro coniuge supplex

400

accepit veniam. Sed enim revocatus ab acri

caede lupus perstat, dulcedine sanguinis asper,

donec inhaerentem lacerae cervice iuvencae

marmore mutavit. Corpus praeterque colorem

omnia servavit: lapidis color indicat illum

405

iam non esse lupum, iam non debere timeri.

Nec tamen hac profugum consistere Pelea terra

fata sinunt: Magnetas adit vagus exul et illic

sumit ab Haemonio purgamina caedis Acasto.

410 Ceyx et Alcyone. Somnus.

Interea fratrisque sui fratremque secutis

410

anxia prodigiis turbatus pectora Ceyx,

consulat ut sacras, hominum oblectamina, sortes,

ad Clarium parat ire deum; nam templa profanus

invia cum Phlegyis faciebat Delphica Phorbas.

Consilii tamen ante sui, fidissima, certam

415

te facit, Alcyone; cui protinus intima frigus

ossa receperunt, buxoque simillimus ora

pallor obit, lacrimisque genae maduere profusis.

Ter conata loqui ter fletibus ora rigavit,

singultuque pias interrumpente querellas

420

“quae mea culpa tuam,” dixit “carissime, mentem

vertit? Ubi est quae cura mei prior esse solebat?

Iam potes Alcyone securus abesse relicta?

Iam via longa placet? Iam sum tibi carior absens?

At, puto, per terras iter est, tantumque dolebo,

425

non etiam metuam, curaeque timore carebunt.

Aequora me terrent et ponti tristis imago:

et laceras nuper tabulas in litore vidi,

et saepe in tumulis sine corpore nomina legi.

Neve tuum fallax animum fiducia tangat,

430

quod socer Hippotades tibi sit, qui carcere fortes

contineat ventos et, cum velit, aequora placet!

Cum semel emissi tenuerunt aequora venti,

nil illis vetitum est, incommendataque tellus

omnis et omne fretum est. Caeli quoque nubila vexant

435

excutiuntque feri rutilos concursibus ignes.

Quo magis hos novi (nam novi et saepe paterna

parva domo vidi), magis hos reor esse timendos.

Quod tua si flecti precibus sententia nullis,

care, potest, coniunx, nimiumque es certus eundi,

440

me quoque tolle simul. Certe iactabimur una,

nec nisi quae patiar, metuam: pariterque feremus,

quidquid erit, pariter super aequora lata feremur.”

Talibus Aeolidis dictis lacrimisque movetur

sidereus coniunx: neque enim minor ignis in ipso est.

445

Sed neque propositos pelagi dimittere cursus,

nec vult Alcyonen in partem adhibere pericli,

multaque respondit timidum solantia pectus.

Non tamen idcirco causam probat; addidit illis

hoc quoque lenimen, quo solo flexit amantem:

450

“Longa quidem est nobis omnis mora: sed tibi iuro

per patrios ignes, si me modo fata remittant,

ante reversurum, quam luna bis impleat orbem.”

His ubi promissis spes est admota recursus,

protinus eductam navalibus aequore tingi

455

armarique suis pinum iubet armamentis.

Qua rursus visa, veluti praesaga futuri,

horruit Alcyone lacrimasque emisit obortas

amplexusque dedit, tristique miserrima tandem

ore “vale” dixit conlapsaque corpore toto est.

460

Ast iuvenes, quaerente moras Ceyce, reducunt

ordinibus geminis ad fortia pectora remos

aequalique ictu scindunt freta. Sustulit illa

umentes oculos, stantemque in puppe relicta

concussaque manu dantem sibi signa maritum

465

prima videt redditque notas; ubi terra recessit

longius atque oculi nequeunt cognoscere vultus,

dum licet, insequitur fugientem lumine pinum.

Haec quoque ut haud poterat, spatio submota, videri,

vela tamen spectat summo fluitantia malo;

470

ut nec vela videt, vacuum petit anxia lectum

seque toro ponit; renovat lectusque locusque

Alcyonae lacrimas et, quae pars, admonet, absit.

Portibus exierant, et moverat aura rudentes:

obvertit lateri pendentes navita remos

475

cornuaque in summa locat arbore totaque malo

carbasa deducit venientesque accipit auras.

Aut minus, aut certe medium non amplius aequor

puppe secabatur, longeque erat utraque tellus,

cum mare sub noctem tumidis albescere coepit

480

fluctibus et praeceps spirare valentius eurus.

“Ardua iamdudum demittite cornua” rector

clamat “et antemnis totum subnectite velum.”

Hic iubet: impediunt adversae iussa procellae,

nec sinit audiri vocem fragor aequoris ullam.

485

Sponte tamen properant alii subducere remos,

pars munire latus, pars ventis vela negare.

Egerit hic fluctus aequorque refundit in aequor,

hic rapit antemnas. Quae dum sine lege geruntur,

aspera crescit hiems, omnique e parte feroces

490

bella gerunt venti fretaque indignantia miscent.

Ipse pavet nec se, qui sit status, ipse fatetur

scire ratis rector, nec, quid iubeatve velitve:

tanta mali moles tantoque potentior arte est.

Quippe sonant clamore viri, stridore rudentes,

495

undarum incursu gravis unda, tonitribus aether.

Fluctibus erigitur caelumque aequare videtur

pontus et inductas adspergine tangere nubes;

et modo, cum fulvas ex imo vertit harenas,

concolor est illis, Stygia modo nigrior unda,

500

sternitur interdum spumisque sonantibus albet.

Ipsa quoque his agitur vicibus Trachinia puppis,

et nunc sublimis veluti de vertice montis

despicere in valles imumque Acheronta videtur,

nunc, ubi demissam curvum circumstetit aequor,

505

suspicere inferno summum de gurgite caelum.

Saepe dat ingentem fluctu latus icta fragorem

nec levius pulsata sonat, quam ferreus olim

cum laceras aries ballistave concutit arces.

Utque solent sumptis incursu viribus ire

510

pectore in arma feri protentaque tela leones,

sic ubi se ventis admiserat unda coortis,

ibat in arma ratis multoque erat altior illis.

Iamque labant cunei, spoliataque tegmine cerae

rima patet praebetque viam letalibus undis.

515

Ecce cadunt largi resolutis nubibus imbres,

inque fretum credas totum descendere caelum,

inque plagas caeli tumefactum adscendere pontum.

Vela madent nimbis, et cum caelestibus undis

aequoreae miscentur aquae; caret ignibus aether,

520

caecaque nox premitur tenebris hiemisque suisque.

Discutiunt tamen has praebentque micantia lumen

fulmina: fulmineis ardescunt ignibus ignes.

Dat quoque iam saltus intra cava texta carinae

fluctus; et ut miles, numero praestantior omni,

525

cum saepe adsiluit defensae moenibus urbis,

spe potitur tandem laudisque accensus amore

inter mille viros murum tamen occupat unus,

sic, ubi pulsarunt noviens latera ardua fluctus,

vastius insurgens decimae ruit impetus undae;

530

nec prius absistit fessam oppugnare carinam,

quam velut in captae descendat moenia navis.

Pars igitur temptabat adhuc invadere pinum,

pars maris intus erat. Trepidant haud segnius omnes,

quam solet urbs, aliis murum fodientibus extra

535

atque aliis murum, trepidare, tenentibus intus.

Deficit ars animique cadunt, totidemque videntur,

quot veniunt fluctus, ruere atque inrumpere mortes.

Non tenet hic lacrimas, stupet hic, vocat ille beatos,

funera quos maneant: hic votis numen adorat

540

bracchiaque ad caelum, quod non videt, inrita tollens

poscit opem, subeunt illi fraterque parensque,

huic cum pignoribus domus et quodcumque relictum est.

Alcyone Ceyca movet, Ceycis in ore

nulla nisi Alcyone est; et cum desideret unam,

545

gaudet abesse tamen. Patriae quoque vellet ad oras

respicere inque domum supremos vertere vultus,

verum ubi sit, nescit; tanta vertigine pontus

fervet, et inducta piceis e nubibus umbra

omne latet caelum, duplicataque noctis imago est.

550

Frangitur incursu nimbosi turbinis arbor,

frangitur et regimen, spoliisque animosa superstes

unda, velut victrix, sinuataque despicit undas,

nec levius, quam siquis Athon Pindumve revulsos

sede sua totos in apertum everterit aequor,

555

praecipitata cadit pariterque et pondere et ictu

mergit in ima ratem; cum qua pars magna virorum,

gurgite pressa gravi neque in aera reddita, fato

functa suo est: alii partes et membra carinae

trunca tenent: tenet ipse manu, qua sceptra solebat,

560

fragmina navigii Ceyx socerumque patremque

invocat heu! frustra. Sed plurima nantis in ore

Alcyone coniunx: illam meminitque refertque,

illius ante oculos ut agant sua corpora fluctus,

optat et exanimis manibus tumuletur amicis.

565

Dum natat, absentem, quotiens sinit hiscere fluctus,

nominat Alcyonen ipsisque inmurmurat undis.

Ecce super medios fluctus niger arcus aquarum

frangitur et rupta mersum caput obruit unda.

Lucifer obscurus nec quem cognoscere posses

570

illa luce fuit, quoniamque excedere caelo

non licuit, densis texit sua nubibus ora.

Aeolis interea tantorum ignara malorum

dinumerat noctes, et iam, quas induat ille

festinat vestes, iam quas, ubi venerit ille,

575

ipsa gerat, reditusque sibi promittit inanes.

Omnibus illa quidem superis pia tura ferebat,

ante tamen cunctos Iunonis templa colebat

proque viro, qui nullus erat, veniebat ad aras

utque foret sospes coniunx suus utque rediret,

580

optabat, nullamque sibi praeferret; at illi

hoc de tot votis poterat contingere solum.

At dea non ultra pro functo morte rogari

sustinet; utque manus funestas arceat aris,

“Iri, meae” dixit “fidissima nuntia vocis,

585

vise soporiferam Somni velociter aulam

exstinctique iube Ceycis imagine mittat

somnia ad Alcyonen veros narrantia casus.”

Dixerat: induitur velamina mille colorum

Iris, et arcuato caelum curvamine signans

590

tecta petit iussi sub nube latentia regis.

592

Est prope Cimmerios longo spelunca recessu,

mons cavus, ignavi domus et penetralia Somni:

quo numquam radiis oriens mediusve cadensve

Phoebus adire potest. Nebulae caligine mixtae

595

exhalantur humo dubiaeque crepuscula lucis.

Non vigil ales ibi cristati cantibus oris

evocat auroram, nec voce silentia rumpunt

sollicitive canes canibusve sagacior anser.

Non fera, non pecudes, non moti flamine rami

600

humanaeve sonum reddunt convicia linguae:

muta quies habitat; saxo tamen exit ab imo

rivus aquae Lethes, per quem cum murmure labens

invitat somnos crepitantibus unda lapillis.

Ante fores antri fecunda papavera florent

605

innumeraeque herbae, quarum de lacte soporem

nox legit et spargit per opacas umida terras.

Ianua nec verso stridores cardine reddit:

nulla domo tota, custos in limine nullus.

At medio torus est ebeno sublimis in antro,

610

plumeus, unicolor, pullo velamine tectus:

quo cubat ipse deus membris languore solutis.

Hunc circa passim varias imitantia formas

somnia vana iacent totidem, quot messis aristas,

silva gerit frondes, eiectas litus harenas.

615

Quo simul intravit manibusque obstantia virgo

somnia dimovit, vestis fulgore reluxit

sacra domus, tardaque deus gravitate iacentes

vix oculos tollens iterumque iterumque relabens

summaque percutiens nutanti pectora mento,

620

excussit tandem sibi se; cubitoque levatus,

quid veniat (cognovit enim), scitatur. At illa:

“Somne, quies rerum, placidissime, Somne, deorum,

pax animi, quem cura fugit, qui corpora duris

fessa ministeriis mulces reparasque labori,

625

somnia, quae veras aequent imitantia formas,

Herculea Trachine iube sub imagine regis

Alcyonen adeant simulacraque naufraga fingant.

Imperat hoc Iuno.” Postquam mandata peregit,

Iris abit (neque enim ulterius tolerare soporis

630

vim poterat), labique ut somnum sensit in artus,

effugit et remeat per quos modo venerat arcus.

At pater e populo natorum mille suorum

excitat artificem simulatoremque figurae

Morphea: non illic quisquam sollertius alter

635

exprimit incessus vultumque sonumque loquendi.

Adicit et vestes et consuetissima cuique

verba; sed hic solos homines imitatur, at alter

fit fera, fit volucris, fit longo corpore serpens:

hunc Icelon superi, mortale Phobetora vulgus

640

nominat. Est etiam diversae tertius artis

Phantasos: ille in humum saxumque undamque trabemque

quaeque vacant anima, fallaciter omnia transit.

Regibus hi ducibusque suos ostendere vultus

nocte solent, populos alii plebemque pererrant.

645

Praeterit hos senior cunctisque e fratribus unum

Morphea, qui peragat Thaumantidos edita, Somnus

eligit: et rursus molli languore solutus

deposuitque caput stratoque recondidit alto.

Ille volat nullos strepitus facientibus alis

650

per tenebras intraque morae breve tempus in urbem

pervenit Haemoniam positisque e corpore pennis

in faciem Ceycis abit sumptaque figura

luridus, exanimi similis, sine vestibus ullis,

coniugis ante torum miserae stetit: uda videtur

655

barba viri, madidisque gravis fluere unda capillis.

Tum lecto incumbens, fletu super ora profuso,

haec ait: “Agnoscis Ceyca, miserrima coniunx?

An mea mutata est facies? Nunc respice! nosces

inveniesque tuo pro coniuge coniugis umbram.

660

Nil opis, Alcyone, nobis tua vota tulerunt:

occidimus! Falso tibi me promittere noli!

Nubilus Aegaeo deprendit in aequore navem

auster et ingenti iactatam flamine solvit,

oraque nostra, tuum frustra clamantia nomen,

665

implerunt fluctus. Non haec tibi nuntiat auctor

ambiguus, non ista vagis rumoribus audis:

ipse ego fata tibi praesens mea naufragus edo.

Surge, age, da lacrimas lugubriaque indue nec me

indeploratum sub inania Tartara mitte.”

670

Adicit his vocem Morpheus, quam coniugis illa

crederet esse sui: fletus quoque fundere veros

visus erat, gestumque manus Ceycis habebat.

Ingemit Alcyone, lacrimas movet atque lacertos

per somnum, corpusque petens amplectitur auras

675

exclamatque “mane! quo te rapis? ibimus una!”

Voce sua specieque viri turbata soporem

excutit et primo, si sit, circumspicit, illic,

qui modo visus erat: nam moti voce ministri

intulerant lumen. Postquam non invenit usquam,

680

percutit ora manu laniatque a pectore vestes

pectoraque ipsa ferit, nec crines solvere curat:

scindit et altrici, quae luctus causa, roganti

“nulla est Alcyone, nulla est!” ait. “Occidit una

cum Ceyce suo! Solantia tollite verba!

685

Naufragus interiit! Vidi agnovique manusque

ad discedentem cupiens retinere, tetendi.

Umbra fuit, — sed et umbra tamen manifesta virique

vera mei! Non ille quidem, si quaeris, habebat

adsuetos vultus, nec quo prius, ore nitebat:

690

pallentem nudumque et adhuc umente capillo

infelix vidi. Stetit hoc miserabilis ipse

ecce loco!” (et quaerit, vestigia siqua supersint)

“Hoc erat, hoc, animo quod divinante timebam,

et ne me fugeres, ventos sequerere, rogabam.

695

At certe vellem, quoniam periturus abibas,

me quoque duxisses! Multum fuit utile tecum

ire mihi: neque enim de vitae tempore quicquam

non simul egissem, nec mors discreta fuisset.

Nunc absens perii, iactor quoque fluctibus absens,

700

et sine me me pontus habet. Crudelior ipso

sit mihi mens pelago, si vitam ducere nitar

longius et tanto pugnem superesse dolori.

Sed neque pugnabo, nec te, miserande, relinquam

et tibi nunc saltem veniam comes, inque sepulcro

705

si non urna, tamen iunget nos littera: si non

ossibus ossa meis, at nomen nomine tangam.”

708

Plura dolor prohibet, verboque intervenit omni

plangor, et attonito gemitus a corde trahuntur.

Mane erat, egreditur tectis ad litus et illum

710

maesta locum repetit, de quo spectarat euntem.

Dumque moratur ibi, dumque “hic retinacula solvit,

hoc mihi discedens dedit oscula litore” dicit,

prospicit: in liquida, spatio distante, tuetur

715

nescio quid quasi corpus, aqua. Primoque, quid illud

esset, erat dubium; postquam paulum appulit unda,

et, quamvis aberat, corpus tamen esse liquebat,

qui foret, ignorans, quia naufragus, omine mota est

et, tamquam ignoto lacrimam daret, “heu! miser” inquit

720

“quisquis es, et siqua est coniunx tibi !” Fluctibus actum

fit propius corpus; quod quo magis illa tuetur,

hoc minus et minus est mentis sua, iamque propinquae

admotum terrae, iam quod cognoscere posset,

cernit: erat coniunx. “Ille est!” exclamat et una

725

ora, comas, vestem lacerat tendensque trementes

ad Ceyca manus “sic, o carissime coniunx,

sic ad me, miserande, redis?” ait. Adiacet undis

facta manu moles, quae primas aequoris undas

frangit et incursus quae praedelassat aquarum.

730

Insilit huc, mirumque fuit potuisse: volabat

percutiensque levem modo natis aera pennis

stringebat summas ales miserabilis undas.

Dumque volat, maesto similem plenumque querellae

ora dedere sonum tenui crepitantia rostro.

735

Ut vero tetigit mutum et sine sanguine corpus,

dilectos artus amplexa recentibus alis

frigida nequiquam duro dedit oscula rostro.

Senserit hoc Ceyx, an vultum motibus undae

tollere sit visus, populus dubitabat: at ille

740

senserat, et tandem superis miserantibus, ambo

alite mutantur. Fatis obnoxius isdem

tunc quoque mansit amor, nec coniugiale solutum est

foedus in alitibus: coeunt fiuntque parentes,

perque dies placidos hiberno tempore septem

745

incubat Alcyone pendentibus aequore nidis.

Tunc iacet unda maris: ventos custodit et arcet

Aeolus egressu praestatque nepotibus aequor.

749 Aesacos.

Hos aliquis senior iunctim freta lata volantes

spectat et ad finem servatos laudat amores;

750

proximus, aut idem, si fors tulit, “hic quoque,” dixit

“quem mare carpentem substrictaque crura gerentem

adspicis” (ostendens spatiosum in guttura mergum),

“regia progenies: sunt si descendere ad ipsum

ordine perpetuo quaeris, sunt huius origo

755

Ilus et Assaracus raptusque Iovi Ganymedes

Laomedonque senex Priamusque novissima Troiae

tempora sortitus. Frater fuit Hectoris iste:

qui nisi sensisset prima nova fata iuventa,

forsitan inferius non Hectore nomen haberet,

760

quamvis est illum proles enixa Dymantis,

Aesacon umbrosa furtim peperisse sub Ida

fertur Alexirhoe, Granico nata bicorni.

Oderat hic urbes nitidaque remotus ab aula

secretos montes et inambitiosa colebat

765

rura nec Iliacos coetus nisi rarus adibat.

Non agreste tamen nec inexpugnabile amori

pectus habens silvas captatam saepe per omnes

adspicit Hesperien patria Cebrenida ripa

iniectos umeris siccantem sole capillos.

770

Visa fugit nymphe, veluti perterrita fulvum

cerva lupum longeque lacu deprensa relicto

accipitrem fluvialis anas; quam Troius heros

insequitur celeremque metu celer urget amore:

ecce latens herba coluber fugientis adunco

775

dente pedem strinxit virusque in corpore liquit;

cum vita suppressa fuga est: amplectitur amens

exanimem clamatque “piget, piget esse secutum!

Sed non hoc timui, neque erat mihi vincere tanti.

Perdidimus miseram nos te duo: vulnus ab angue,

780

a me causa data est. Ego sum sceleratior illo,

qui tibi morte mea mortis solacia mittam.”

Dixit et e scopulo, quem rauca subederat unda,

decidit in pontum. Tethys miserata cadentem

molliter excepit nantemque per aequora pennis

785

texit, et optatae non est data copia mortis.

Indignatur amans invitum vivere cogi

obstarique animae misera de sede volenti

exire. Utque novas umeris adsumpserat alas,

subvolat atque iterum corpus super aequora mittit.

790

Pluma levat casus: furit Aesacos inque profundum

pronus abit letique viam sine fine retemptat.

Fecit amor maciem: longa internodia crurum,

longa manet cervix, caput est a corpore longe;

aequor amat nomenque manet, quia mergitur, illi.”

795

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.) — 11 focus

Book 11

Orphei mors. DEATH OF ORPHEUS

While with his songs, Orpheus, the bard of Thrace ,

allured the trees, the savage animals,

and even the insensate rocks, to follow him;

Ciconian matrons, with their raving breasts

concealed in skins of forest animals,

from the summit of a hill observed him there,

attuning love songs to a sounding harp.

One of those women, as her tangled hair

was tossed upon the light breeze shouted, “See!

Here is the poet who has scorned our love!”

Then hurled her spear at the melodious mouth

of great Apollo's bard: but the spear's point,

trailing in flight a garland of fresh leaves,

made but a harmless bruise and wounded not.

The weapon of another was a stone,

which in the very air was overpowered

by the true harmony of his voice and lyre,

and so disabled lay before his feet,

as asking pardon for that vain attempt.

The madness of such warfare then increased.

All moderation is entirely lost,

and a wild Fury overcomes the right.—

although their weapons would have lost all force,

subjected to the power of Orpheus' harp,

the clamorous discord of their boxwood pipes,

the blaring of their horns, their tambourines

and clapping hands and Bacchanalian yells,

with hideous discords drowned his voice and harp.—

at last the stones that heard his song no more

fell crimson with the Thracian poet's blood.

Before his life was taken, the maenads turned

their threatening hands upon the many birds,

which still were charmed by Orpheus as he sang,

the serpents, and the company of beasts—

fabulous audience of that worshipped bard.

And then they turned on him their blood-stained hands:

and flocked together swiftly, as wild birds,

which, by some chance, may see the bird of night

beneath the sun. And as the savage dogs

rush on the doomed stag, loosed some bright fore-noon,

on blood-sand of the amphitheatre;

they rushed against the bard, with swift

hurled thyrsi which, adorned with emerald leaves

had not till then been used for cruelty.

And some threw clods, and others branches torn

from trees; and others threw flint stones at him,

and, that no lack of weapons might restrain

their savage fury then, not far from there

by chance they found some oxen which turned up

the soil with ploughshares, and in fields nearby

were strong-armed peasants, who with eager sweat

worked for the harvest as they dug hard fields;

and all those peasants, when they saw the troop

of frantic women, ran away and left

their implements of labor strown upon

deserted fields—harrows and heavy rakes

and their long spades

after the savage mob

had seized upon those implements, and torn

to pieces oxen armed with threatening horns,

they hastened to destroy the harmless bard,

devoted Orpheus; and with impious hate,

murdered him, while his out-stretched hands implored

their mercy—the first and only time his voice

had no persuasion. O great Jupiter!

Through those same lips which had controlled the rocks

and which had overcome ferocious beasts,

his life breathed forth, departed in the air.

The mournful birds, the stricken animals,

the hard stones and the weeping woods, all these

that often had followed your inspiring voice,

bewailed your death; while trees dropped their green leaves,

mourning for you, as if they tore their hair.

They say sad rivers swelled with their own tears—

naiads and dryads with dishevelled hair

wore garments of dark color.

His torn limbs

were scattered in strange places. Hebrus then

received his head and harp—and, wonderful!

While his loved harp was floating down the stream,

it mourned for him beyond my power to tell.

His tongue though lifeless, uttered a mournful sound

and mournfully the river's banks replied:

onward borne by the river to the sea

they left their native stream and reached the shore

of Lesbos at Methymna . Instantly,

a furious serpent rose to attack the head

of Orpheus, cast up on that foreign sand—

the hair still wet with spray. Phoebus at last

appeared and saved the head from that attack:

before the serpent could inflict a sting,

he drove it off, and hardened its wide jaws

to rigid stone.

Meanwhile the fleeting shade

of Orpheus had descended under earth:

remembering now those regions that he saw

when there before, he sought Eurydice

through fields frequented by the blest; and when

he found her, folded her in eager arms.

Then lovingly they wandered side by side,

100

or he would follow when she chose to lead,

or at another time he walked in front,

looking back, safely,—at Eurydice.

Bacchus would not permit the wickedness

of those who slaughtered Orpheus to remain

105

unpunished. Grieving for the loss of his

loved bard of sacred rites, at once he bound

with twisted roots the feet of everyone

of those Edonian women who had caused

the crime of Orpheus' death.

110

Their toes grew long.

He thrust the sharp points in the solid earth.

As when a bird entangled in a snare,

hid by the cunning fowler, knows too late

that it is held, then vainly beats its wings,

115

and fluttering only makes more tight the noose

with every struggle; so each woman-fiend

whose feet were sinking in the soil, when she

attempted flight, was held by deepening roots.

And while she looks down where her toes and nails

120

and feet should be, she sees wood growing up

from them and covering all her graceful legs.

Full of delirious grief, endeavoring

to smite with right hand on her changing thigh,

she strikes on solid oak. Her tender breast

125

and shoulders are transformed to rigid oak.

You would declare that her extended arms

are real branches of a forest tree,

and such a thought would be the very truth.

Midas aureus. BACCHUS AND MIDAS

And not content with this, Bacchus resolved

130

to leave that land, and with a worthier train

went to the vineyards of his own Tmolus

and to Pactolus, though the river was

not golden, nor admired for precious sands.

His usual throng of Satyrs and of Bacchanals

135

surrounded him; but not Silenus, who

was then detained from him. The Phrygian folk

had captured him, as he was staggering, faint

with palsied age and wine. And after they

bound him in garlands, they led him to their king

140

Midas, to whom with the Cecropian

Eumolpus, Thracian Orpheus had shown all

the Bacchic rites. When Midas recognized

his old time friend Silenus, who had been

so often his companion in the rites

145

of Bacchus, he kept joyful festival,

with his old comrade, twice five days and nights.

Upon the eleventh day, when Lucifer

had dimmed the lofty multitude of stars,

King Midas and Silenus went from there

150

joyful together to the Lydian lands.

There Midas put Silenus carefully

under the care of his loved foster-child,

young Bacchus. He with great delight, because

he had his foster-father once again,

155

allowed the king to choose his own reward—

a welcome offer, but it led to harm.

And Midas made this ill-advised reply:

“Cause whatsoever I shall touch to change

at once to yellow gold.” Bacchus agreed

160

to his unfortunate request, with grief

that Midas chose for harm and not for good.

The Berecynthian hero, king of Phrygia ,

with joy at his misfortune went away,

and instantly began to test the worth

165

of Bacchus' word by touching everything.

Doubtful himself of his new power, he pulled

a twig down from a holm-oak, growing on

a low hung branch. The twig was turned to gold.

He lifted up a dark stone from the ground

170

and it turned pale with gold. He touched a clod

and by his potent touch the clod became

a mass of shining gold. He plucked some ripe,

dry spears of grain, and all that wheat he touched

was golden. Then he held an apple which

175

he gathered from a tree, and you would think

that the Hesperides had given it.

If he but touched a lofty door, at once

each door-post seemed to glisten. When he washed

his hands in liquid streams, the lustrous drops

180

upon his hands might have been those which once

astonished Danae. He could not now

conceive his large hopes in his grasping mind,

as he imagined everything of gold.

And, while he was rejoicing in great wealth,

185

his servants set a table for his meal,

with many dainties and with needful bread:

but when he touched the gift of Ceres with

his right hand, instantly the gift of Ceres

stiffened to gold; or if he tried to bite

190

with hungry teeth a tender bit of meat,

the dainty, as his teeth but touched it, shone

at once with yellow shreds and flakes of gold.

And wine, another gift of Bacchus, when

he mixed it in pure water, can be seen

195

in his astonished mouth as liquid gold.

Confounded by his strange misfortune—rich

and wretched—he was anxious to escape

from his unhappy wealth. He hated all

he had so lately longed for. Plenty could

200

not lessen hunger and no remedy

relieved his dry, parched throat. The hated gold

tormented him no more than he deserved.

Lifting his hands and shining arms to heaven,

he moaned. “Oh pardon me, father Lenaeus!

205

I have done wrong, but pity me, I pray,

and save me from this curse that looked so fair.”

How patient are the gods! Bacchus forthwith,

because King Midas had confessed his fault,

restored him and annulled the promise given,

210

annulled the favor granted, and he said:

“That you may not be always cased in gold,

which you unhappily desired, depart

to the stream that flows by that great town of Sardis

and upward trace its waters, as they glide

215

past Lydian heights, until you find their source.

Then, where the spring leaps out from mountain rock,

plunge head and body in the snowy foam.

At once the flood will take away your curse.”

King Midas did as he was told and plunged

220

beneath the water at the river's source.

And the gold virtue granted by the god,

as it departed from his body, tinged

the stream with gold. And even to this hour

adjoining fields, touched by this ancient vein

225

of gold, are hardened where the river flows

and colored with the gold that Midas left.

Midae aures. THE MUSICAL CONTEST OF PAN AND APOLLO

Abhorring riches he inhabited

the woods and fields, and followed Pan who dwells

always in mountain-caves: but still obtuse

230

remained, from which his foolish mind again,

by an absurd decision, harmed his life.

He followed Pan up to the lofty mount

Tmolus, which from its great height looks far

across the sea. Steep and erect it stands

235

between great Sardis and the small Hypaepa.

While Pan was boasting there to mountain nymphs

of his great skill in music, and while he

was warbling a gay tune upon the reeds,

cemented with soft wax, in his conceit

240

he dared to boast to them how he despised

Apollo's music when compared with his—.

At last to prove it, he agreed to stand

against Apollo in a contest which

it was agreed should be decided by

245

Tmolus as their umpire.

This old god

sat down on his own mountain, and first eased

his ears of many mountain growing trees,

oak leaves were wreathed upon his azure hair

250

and acorns from his hollow temples hung.

First to the Shepherd-god Tmolus spoke:

“My judgment shall be yours with no delay.

Pan made some rustic sounds on his rough reeds,

delighting Midas with his uncouth notes;

255

for Midas chanced to be there when he played.

When Pan had ceased, divine Tmolus turned

to Phoebus, and the forest likewise turned

just as he moved. Apollo's golden locks

were richly wreathed with fresh Parnassian laurel;

260

his robe of Tyrian purple swept the ground;

his left hand held his lyre, adorned with gems

and Indian ivory. His right hand held

the plectrum—as an artist he stood there

before Tmolus, while his skilful thumb

265

touching the strings made charming melody.

Delighted with Apollo's artful touch,

Tmolus ordered Pan to hold his reeds

excelled by beauty of Apollo's lyre.

That judgment of the sacred mountain god

270

pleased all those present, all but Midas, who

blaming Tmolus called the award unjust.

The Delian god forbids his stupid ears

to hold their native human shape;

and, drawing them out to a hideous length,

275

he fills them with gray hairs, and makes them both

unsteady, wagging at the lower part:

still human, only this one part condemned,

Midas had ears of a slow-moving ass.

Midas, careful to hide his long ears, wore

280

a purple turban over both, which hid

his foul disgrace from laughter. But one day

a servant, who was chosen to cut his hair

with steel, when it was long, saw his disgrace.

He did not dare reveal what he had seen,

285

but eager, to disclose the secret, dug

a shallow hole, and in a low voice told

what kind of ears were on his master's head.

All this he whispered in the hollow earth

he dug, and then he buried all he said

290

by throwing back the loose earth in the hole

so everything was silent when he left.

A grove thick set with quivering reeds

began to grow there, and when it matured,

about twelve months after that servant left,

295

the grove betrayed its planter. For, moved by

a gentle South Wind, it repeated all

the words which he had whispered, and disclosed

from earth the secret of his master's ears.

Laomedon. Hesione. HESIONE

His vengence now complete, Latona 's son

300

borne through the liquid air, departed from

Tmolus, and then rested on the land

of Laomedon, this side the narrow sea

dividing Phrygia from the land of Thrace .

The promontory of Sigaeum right

305

and on the left Rhoetaeum loftily arose;

and at that place an ancient altar had

been dedicated to great Jove, the god

Panomphaean. And near that place he saw

laomedon, beginning then to build

310

the walls of famous Troy . He was convinced

the task exceeded all the power of man,

requiring great resource. Together with

the trident-bearing father of the deep,

he assumed a mortal form: and those two gods

315

agreed to labor for a sum of gold

and built the mighty wall. But that false king

refused all payment, adding perjury

to his false bargaining. Neptune, enraged,

said, “You shall not escape your punishment.”

320

And he drove all his waters high upon

the shores of Troy —built there through perfidy.

The sad land seemed a sea: the hard-earned wealth

of all its farmers was destroyed

and overwhelmed by furious waves.

325

This awful punishment was not enough.

The daughter of the king was soon required

as food for a sea-monster—. Hesione

was chained to rugged rocks. But Hercules

delivered from all harm the royal maid

330

and justly he demanded of the king,

her father, payment of the promised steeds;

but that perfidious king refused to keep

his promise. Hercules enraged, because

all payment was denied to him for his

335

great service, captured the twice-perjured walls

of conquered Troy. And as a fair reward,

he gave to Telamon, who fought for him,

Hesione, loved daughter of that king.

For Peleus had a goddess as his bride

340

and he was prouder of his father-in-law

than of his grandsire. Since not he alone

was grandson of great Jove, but he alone

was honored with a goddess for a wife.

Peleus et Thetis. PELEUS AND THETIS. BIRTH OF ACHILLES.

To Thetis, aged Proteus once had said,

345

“Oh goddess of the waves, you shall conceive,

and you shall be the mother of a youth

who by heroic actions will surpass

the deeds of his own father, and your son

shall be superior to his father's power.”

350

So Jupiter , although the flame of love

for Thetis burned his breast, would not embrace

the lovely daughter of the sea, and urged

his grandson Peleus, son of Aeacus,

to wed the green haired maid without delay.

355

There is a curved bay of Haemonia,

where like an arch, two bending arms

project out in the waves, as if to form

a harbor; but the water is not deep—

although enough to hide a shoal of sand.

360

It has a firm shore which will not retain

a foot's impression, nor delay the step—

no seaweeds grow in that vicinity.

There is a grove of myrtle near that place

thick-hung with berries, blended of twin shades.

365

A cave within the middle of that grove

is found, and whether it was formed by art

or nature is not known, although it seems

a work of art. There Thetis often went,

quite naked, seated on her dolphin, which

370

was harnessed. Peleus seized her there when she

was fast asleep: and after he had tried

to win her by entreaties, while she long

continued to resist him, he resolved

to conquer her by violence, and seized

375

her neck with both arms. She resorted then

to all her usual art, and often changed:

her shape as it was known, so that he failed

in his attempt. At first she was a bird,

but while she seemed a bird he held her fast;

380

and then she changed herself to a large tree,

and Peleus clung with ardor to the tree;

her third disguise was as a spotted tigress,

which frightened him so that he lost his hold.

Then, as he poured wine on the heaving sea,

385

he prayed unto the sea green gods and gave

them sacrifice of sheep entrails, and smoke

of frankincense. He ceased not, till at last

the prophet of Carpathia, as he rose

up from a deep wave, said, “Hark unto me,

390

O son of Aeacus! and you shall have

the bride your heart desires: when she at rest

lies sleeping in the cool wave, you must bind

her while she is unwary, with strong cords

and complicated bonds, And never let

395

her arts deceive you when she imitates

a hundred varied forms, but hold her fast,

whatever she may seem, until she shall

at length assume the shape she had at first.”

So Proteus cautioned him, and hid his face

400

beneath the waves as his last words were said.

Now Titan was descending and the pole

of his bright chariot as it downward bent

illuminated the Hesperian main;

and at that time the lovely Nereid,

405

Thetis, departing from her ocean wave,

entered the cavern for desired repose.

Peleus was waiting there. Immediately,

just as he seized upon the virgin's limbs,

she changed her shape and perservered

410

until convinced she could not overcome

his hold—for her two arms were forced apart—

she groaned and said, “You could not overcome

me in this way, but some divinity

has given you the power.” Then she appeared

415

as Thetis: and, when Peleus saw her now

deprived of all deceptions, he embraced

her and was father of the great Achilles.

Peleus apud Ceycem. DAEDALION CHANGED TO A HAWK

Great Peleus' heart was filled with happiness;

because of his great son and Thetis his

420

dear wife: he was blest in everything, except

in killing Phocus. The Trachinian land

received him guilty of his brother's blood;

when he fled, banished from his native home.

There Ceyx, who had the fine countenance

425

of Lucifer his father, reigned as king,

without the cost of violence or blood.

Before this time his days had always given

him joy and comfort, but all now was changed,

for he was mourning a loved brother's death.

430

Peleus, outwearied with his journey's length.

Left his fine flock of sheep and all the herds

he had brought with him, not far from the walls

of that city, where Ceyx long had reigned.

He entered with an olive branch all swathed

435

in woolen fillets, symbol of good will,

and with a suppliant hand disclosed his name.

He told the monarch who he was, also

his father's name. But he concealed his crime,

giving untruthful reasons for his flight:

440

and begged a refuge either in town or field.

The king of Trachyn answered with kind words:

“Ah, Peleus, even the lowest ranks enjoy

our bounties and our hospitality,

and you bring with you powers which compell

445

attention and respect. Your name is so

illustrious, and is not Jupiter

your grandsire? Do not lose your time by such

entreaties. Everything you may desire

is yours as soon as known, and all you see

450

is partly yours, but in how sad a state!”

And then he wept. When Peleus and his friends

asked him the reason of his grief he said,

“Perchance you deem that bird which lives on prey,

which is the terror of all other birds,

455

had always feathered wings? It was a man.

And now the vigor of its courage is

as great as when well known by his man's name,

Daedalion, bold in wars and strong and harsh,

and not afraid to hazard violence.

460

His father was unequalled Lucifer,

star of the Morning, who at dawn brings forth

Aurora, and withdraws the last of all

the shining stars of heaven.—My brother named

daedalion, son of that great star, was fond

465

of cruel warfare, while I cherished peace

and loved the quiet of my married life.

This brother, powerful in the art of war,

subdued strong kings and nations.—And 'tis he

transformed from manhood, now a bird of prey,

470

that so relentlessly pursues the doves,

known as the pride of Thisbe's citizens.

“My brother had a daughter Chione

so beautiful she pleased a thousand men,

when she had reached the marriageable age

475

of twice seven years. It happened by some chance

that Phoebus and the son of Maia, who

returned—one from his Delphi , the other from

Cyllene's heights—beheld this lovely maid

both at the same time, and were both inflamed

480

with passion. Phoebus waited till the night.

Hermes could not endure delay and with

the magic of his wand, that causes sleep,

he touched the virgin's face; and instantly,

as if entranced, she lay there fast asleep,

485

and suffered violence from the ardent god.

When night bespangled the wide heaven with stars,

Phoebus became an aged crone and gained

the joy he had deferred until that hour.

“When her mature womb had completed time

490

Autolycus was born, a crafty son,

who certainly inherited the skill

of wingfoot Mereury, his artful sire,

notorious now; for every kind of theft.

In fact, Autolycus with Mercury's craft,

495

loved to make white of black, and black of white.

“But Phoebus' child, for Chione bore twins,

was named Philammon, like his sire, well known.

To all men for the beauty of his song.

And famous for his handling of the lyre.

500

“What benefit in life did she obtain

because she pleased! two gods and bore such twins?

Was she blest by good fortune then because

she was the daughter of a valiant father,

and even the grandchild of the Morning Star ?

505

Can glory be a curse? Often it is.

“And surely it was so for Chione.

It was a prejudice that harmed her days

because she vaunted that she did surpass

Diana 's beauty and decried her charms:

510

the goddess in hot anger answered her,

sarcastically, ‘If my face cannot

give satisfaction, let me try my deeds.’

“Without delay Diana bent her bow,

and from the string an arrow swiftly flew,

515

and pierced the vaunting tongue of Chione.

Her tongue was silenced, and she tried in vain

to speak or make a sound, and while she tried

her life departed with the flowing blood.

“Embracing her, I shared her father's grief.

520

I spoke consoling words to my dear brother,

he heard them as a cliff might hear the sea.

And he lamented bitterly the loss

of his dear daughter, snatched away from him.

“Ah! when he saw her burning, he was filled

525

with such an uncontrolled despair, he rushed

four times to leap upon the blazing pyre;

and after he had been four times repulsed,

he turned and rushed away in headlong flight

through trackless country, as a bullock flees,

530

his swollen neck pierced with sharp hornet-stings,

it seemed to me he ran beyond the speed

of any human being. You would think

his feet had taken wings, he left us far

behind and swift in his desire for death

535

he stood at last upon Parnassus ' height.

“Apollo pitied him.—And when Daedalion

leaped over the steep cliff, Apollo's power

transformed him to a bird; supported him

while he was hovering in the air upon

540

uncertain wings, of such a sudden growth.

Apollo, also, gave him a curved beak,

and to his slender toes gave crooked claws.

His former courage still remains, with strength

greater than usual in birds. He changed

545

to a fierce hawk; cruel to all, he vents

his rage on other birds. Grieving himself

he is a cause of grief to all his kind.”

PELEUS AND THE WOLF

While Ceyx, the royal son of Lucifer ,

told these great wonders of his brother's life;

550

Onetor, who had watched the while those herds

which Peleus had assigned to him, ran up

with panting speed; and cried out as he ran,

“Peleus, Peleus! I bring you dreadful news!”

Peleus asked him to tell what had gone wrong

555

and with King Ceyx he listened in suspense.

“I drove the weary bullocks to the shore,”

Onetor then began, “About the time

when the high burning Sun in middle course,

could look back on as much as might be seen

560

remaining: and some cattle had then bent

their knees on yellow sand; and as they lay

might view the expanse of water stretched beyond.

Some with slow steps were wandering here and there,

and others swimming, stretched their lofty necks

565

above the waves. A temple near that sea

was fair to view, although 'twas not adorned

with gold nor marble. It was richly made

of beams, and shaded with an ancient grove.

“A sailor, while he dried his nets upon

570

the shore nearby, declared that aged Nereus

possessed it with his Nereids, as the gods

who ruled the neighboring waters. Very near

it is a marsh, made by the encroaching waves,

all thickly covered with low willow trees.

575

“From there a loud uncanny crashing sound

alarms the neighborhood. A monster-wolf!

All stained with mud he breaks forth from the marsh,

his thundering jaws thick-covered with vile foam

and clotted blood—his fierce eyes flashing flames

580

of crimson: and though he was raging, both

with fury and with hunger, the true cause

of his fierce passions was Ferocity.

“He never paused to sate his ravenous hunger

with the first cattle that he fell upon,

585

but mangled the whole herd, as if at war.

And some of us, while we defended them,

were wounded with his fatal bite and killed.—

the shore and nearest waves were red with blood,

and marshy fens were filled with mournful sounds—

590

the longings of our cattle.—This delay

is dangerous. We must not hesitate.

We must unite before all is destroyed!

Take up your arms. Arm! and unite, I say!

And bear our weapons for the cause of Right!”

595

So spoke the countryman, and yet the loss

had no effect on Peleus, though severe,

for he, remembering his red crime, believed

the Nereid had given him that loss—

a just misfortune, as an offering

600

to the departed Phocus. After this,

King Ceyx, while he put his armor on,

ordered his men to arm themselves with their

best weapons, and to follow his command.

But his fond wife, Halcyone, aroused

605

by such a tumult, ran to him in haste;

in such haste that her hair was still unfinished,

and such as had been done, she threw

in wild disorder.—Clinging to the neck

of her loved husband, she entreated him

610

with words and tears, to send his men along.

But keep himself at home and so to save

two lives in one.

But Peleus said “O queen,

'Tis sweet and commendable in you to fear

615

but needless. Though you promise generous aid,

my hope lies not in fighting with the beast,

I must appease a goddess of the sea.

And the divinity of ocean must

be properly adored.”

620

A lofty tower

is near there, and upon its extreme height

a signal-fire is burning night and day,

known to the grateful ships. They all went there;

and from its summit they beheld with sighs,

625

the mangled cattle scattered on the shore,

and saw the ravager among the herd,

his blood-stained jaws and long hair dripping blood.

Then Peleus stretched his arms out towards the sea,

and he implored the azure Psamathe

630

to lay aside her wrath and give him aid.

But she was deaf to any word of Peleus

entreating her, and would not offer aid,

till Thetis, interceding on behalf

of her afflicted husband, moved her will.

635

The monster-wolf persisted in his rage,

even when the sea nymph bade him turn aside.

His keen ferocity increased by taste

of new sweet blood; till Psamathe, while he

was seizing the last mangled heifer's neck,

640

transformed him to hard marble. Every part

of that ferocious monster's shape remained

but it was changed to marble colored stone,

which showed the monster was no more a wolf,

and should no longer be a cause of fear.

645

But still, the guiding Fates did not permit

the banished Peleus to continue there,

in this land governed by the friendly king.

A wandering exile, he proceeded north

into Magnesia; and was purified

650

of guilt by King Acastus of that land.

Ceyx et Alcyone. Somnus. CEYX AND HALCYONE

King Ceyx, disturbed by his loved brother's fate

and prodigies which happened since that time,

prepared to venture to the Clarian god,

that he might there consult the oracle,

655

so sanctified to consolation of distress:

for then the way to Delphi was unsafe

because of Phorbas and his Phlegyans.

Before he went he told his faithful queen,

his dear Halcyone. She felt at once

660

terror creep through the marrow of her bones,

pallor of boxwood overspread her face,

and her two cheeks were wet with gushing tears.

Three times she tried to speak while tears and sobs

delayed her voice, until at last she said:—

665

“What fault of mine, my dearest, has so changed

your usual thoughts? Where is that care for me

that always has stood first? Can you leave me

for this long journey with no anxious fear—

Halcyone, forsaken in these halls?

670

Will this long journey be a pleasant change

because far from you I should be more dear?

Perhaps you think you will go there by land,

and I shall only grieve, and shall not fear

the sea affrights me with its tragic face.

675

Just lately I observed some broken planks

upon our seashore, and I've read and read

the names of seamen on their empty tombs!

“Oh, let no false assurance fill your mind

because your father-in-law is Aeolus.

680

Who in a dungeon shuts the stormful winds

and smoothes at will the troubled ocean waves

soon as the winds get freedom from his power,

they take entire possession of the deep,

and nothing is forbidden their attack;

685

and all the rights of every land and sea

are disregarded by them. They insult

even the clouds of heaven and their wild

concussions urge the lightnings to strike fires.

The more I know of them, for I knew

690

them in my childhood and I often saw

them from my father's home, the more I fear.

“But, O dear husband! if this new resolve

can not be altered by my prayers and fears,

and if you are determined, take me, too:

695

some comfort may be gained, if in the storms

we may be tossed together. I shall fear

only the ills that really come to us,

together we can certainly endure

discomforts till we gain that distant land.”

700

Such words and tears of the daughter of Aeolus

gave Ceyx, famed son of the Morning Star ,

much thought and sorrow; for the flame of love

burned in his heart as strongly as in hers.

Reluctant to give up the voyage, even more

705

to make Halcyone his partner on

the dangerous sea, he answered her complaints

in many ways to pacify her breast,

but could not comfort her until at last

he said, “This separation from your love

710

will be most sorrowful; and so I swear

to you, as witnessed by the sacred fire

of my Star-father, if the fates permit

my safe return, I will come back to you

before the moon has rounded twice her orb.”

715

These promises gave hope of his return.

Without delay he ordered a ship should

be drawn forth from the dock, launched in the sea,

and properly supplied against the needs

of travel.—Seeing this, Halcyone,

720

as if aware of future woe, shuddered,

wept, and embraced him, and in extreme woe

said with a sad voice, “Ah—Farewell!” and then,

her nerveless body sank down to the ground.

While Ceyx longed for some pretext to delay,

725

the youthful oarsmen, chosen for their strength,

in double rows began to draw the oars

back towards their hardy breasts, cutting the waves

with equal strokes. She raised her weeping eyes

and saw her husband on the high-curved stern.

730

He by his waving hand made signs to her,

and she returned his signals. Then the ship

moved farther from the shore until her eyes

could not distinguish his loved countenance.

Still, while she could, she followed with her gaze

735

the fading hull; and, when that too was lost

far in the distance, she remained and gazed

at the white topsails, waving from the mast.

But, when she could no longer see the sails,

with anxious heart she sought her lonely couch

740

and laid herself upon it. Couch and room

renewed her sorrow and reminded her

how much of life was absent on the sea.

The ship had left the harbor, and the breeze

shook the taut rigging. Now the captain bade

745

the idle oars be drawn up to the sides.

They ran the pointed sailyards up the mast

and with spread canvas caught the coming breeze.

Perhaps the ship had not sailed half her course,

on every side the land was out of sight

750

in fact at a great distance, when, towards dark

the sea grew white with its increasing waves,

while boisterous east winds blew with violence.—

prompt in his duty, the captain warns his crew,

“Lower the top sails—quick—furl all the sails

755

tight to the yards!”—He ordered, but the storm

bore all his words away, his voice could not

be heard above the roaring of the sea.

But of their own accord some sailors rushed

to draw the oars in, others to secure

760

the sides from danger, and some strove to pull

the sails down from the wind. One pumps the waves

up from the hold, and pours the rushing sea

again into the sea; another takes

the yards off.—While such things are being done

765

without command or order, the wild storm

increases, and on every side fierce winds

wage a destructive warfare, which stirs up

the furious waters to their utmost power.

Even the captain, terrified, confessed

770

he did not know the status of the ship,

and could not order nor forbid the men—

so great the storm, so far beyond his skill.

Then he gave up control, while frightened men

shouted above the rattled cordage shocks,

775

and heavy waves were dashed against huge waves,

and ail the sky reverberated with

terrific thunders. The deep sea upturned

tremendous billows, which appeared to reach

so near the heaven they touched the heavy clouds

780

with foam of their tossed waters.—At one time,

while the great billows churned up yellow sand

from off the bottom, the wild rolling waves

were of that color. At another time

they were more black than water of the Styx .

785

Sometimes they levelled, white with lashing foam.

The ship was tossed about in the wild storm:

aloft as from a mountain peak it seemed

to look down on the valley and the depth

of Acheron; and, when sunk down in a trough

790

of waves engulfing, it appeared to look

up at the zenith from infernal seas.

Often the waves fell on the sides with crash

as terrible as when a flying stone

or iron ram shatters a citadel.

795

As lions, mustering up their strength anew,

might hurl their breasts against the spears

and outstretched arms of huntsmen, so the waves,

upon the rising of the winds, rushed forth

against the battered sides of the tossed ship

800

and rose much higher than the slanting masts.

The ship-bolts lost their grip, the loosened planks,

despoiled of covering wax, gave open seams,

through which streamed water of the fatal waves.—

vast sheets of rain pour from dissolving clouds,

805

so suddenly, it seemed that all the heavens

were flung into the deep, while swelling seas

ascended to the emptied fields of heaven!

The sails are drenched with rain, the salt sea waves

are mingled with the waters of the skies.

810

The firmament is black without a star,

and night is doubly dark with its own gloom

and blackness of the storm. Quick lightning makes

the black skies glitter, and the waves are fired

with flames of thunder-bolts. Now floods leap up

815

into the very middle of the ship.

Just as a soldier, more courageous than

the rest of his brave fellows, after he

has often charged against the embattled walls

of a defended city, gains at length

820

the place which he has fought for; all inflamed

with his desire of glory, scales the wall

and stands alone among a thousand foes;

so, when destructive waves have beat against

the ship's high sides, the tenth wave with known power,

825

rushes more furious than the nine before,

nor ceases to attack the failing ship,

until dashed high above the captured walls

it surges in the hold. Part of the sea

is still attempting to get in the ship,

830

and part is in it. All are panic stricken,

like men within a doomed and shaken town;

who see some foes attack the walls without,

and others hold possession of the walls

within the city. Every art has failed,

835

their courage sinks. With every coming wave

another death seems rushing in upon them.

One sailor yields in tears; another falls

down, stupefied; another calls those blest

whom funeral rites await; another prays,

840

addressing trusted gods, lifting his hands

up to that heaven unseen, as vainly he

implores some aid divine, and one in fright

recalls his brothers and his parent, while

another names his children and his home:

845

each frightened sailor thinks of all he left.

King Ceyx thinks only of Halcyone,

no other name is on his lips but hers:

and though he longs for her, yet he is glad

that she is safe at home. Ah, how he tried

850

to look back to the shore of his loved land,

to turn his last gaze towards his wife and home.

But he has lost direction.—The tossed sea

is raging in a hurricane so vast,

and all the sky is hidden by the gloom

855

of thickened storm-clouds, doubled in pitch-black.

The mast is shattered by the violence

of drenching tempests, and the useless helm

is broken. One undaunted giant wave

stands over wreck and spoil, and looks down like

860

a conqueror upon the other waves:

then falls as heavily as if some god

should hurl Mount Athos or Mount Pindus, torn

from rock foundations, into that wide sea:

so, with down-rushing weight and violence

865

it struck and plunged the ship to the lowest deeps.

And as the ship sank, many of the crew

sank overwhelmed in deep surrounding waves,

never to rise from suffocating death:

but some in desperation, clung for life

870

to broken timbers and escaped that fate.

King Ceyx clung to a fragment of the wreck

with that majestic hand which often before

had proudly swayed the sceptre. And in vain,

alas, he called upon his father's name,

875

alas, he begged his father-in-law's support.

But, while he swam, his lips most frequently

pronounced that dearest name, “Halcyone!”

He longs to have his body carried by waves

to her dear gaze and have at last,

880

entombment by the hands of his loved friends.

Swimming, he called Halcyone—far off,

as often as the billows would allow

his lips to open, and among the waves

his darling's name was murmured, till at last

885

a night-black arch of water swept above

the highest waves and buried him beneath

engulfing billows.

Lucifer was dim

past recognition when the dawn appeared

890

and, since he never could depart from heaven,

soon hid his grieving countenance in clouds.

Meanwhile, Halcyone, all unaware

of his sad wreck, counts off the passing nights

and hastens to prepare for him his clothes

895

that he may wear as soon as he returns to her;

and she is choosing what to wear herself,

and vainly promises his safe return—

all this indeed, while she in hallowed prayer

is giving frankincense to please the gods:

900

and first of loving adorations, she

paid at the shrine of Juno . There she prayed

for Ceyx—after he had suffered death,

that he might journey safely and return

and might love her above all other women,

905

this one last prayer alone was granted to her

but Juno could not long accept as hers

these supplications on behalf of one

then dead; and that she might persuade Halcyone

to turn her death-polluted hands away

910

from hallowed altars, Juno said in haste,

“O, Iris, best of all my messengers,

go quickly to the dreadful court of Sleep,

and in my name command him to despatch

a dream in the shape of Ceyx, who is dead,

915

and tell Halcyone the woeful truth.”

So she commanded.—Iris instantly

assumed a garment of a thousand tints;

and as she marked the high skies with her arch,

went swiftly thence as ordered, to the place

920

where Sleep was then concealed beneath a rock.

Near the Cimmerian Land there is a cave,

with a long entrance, in a hallowed mountain,

the home of slothful Sleep. To that dark cave

the Sun, when rising or in middle skies,

925

or setting, never can approach with light.

There dense fogs, mingled with the dark, exhale

darkness from the black soil—and all that place

is shadowed in a deep mysterious gloom.

No wakeful bird with visage crested high

930

calls forth the morning's beauty in clear notes;

nor do the watchful dogs, more watchful geese,

nor wild beasts, cattle, nor the waving trees,

make sound or whisper; and the human voice

is never heard there—silent Rest is there.

935

But, from the bottom of a rock beneath,

Lethean waters of a stream ooze forth,

sounds of a rivulet, which trickle with

soft murmuring amid the pebbles and

invite soft sleep. Before the cavern doors

940

most fertile poppies and a wealth of herbs

bloom in abundance, from the juice of which

the humid night-hours gather sleep and spread

it over darkened Earth. No door is in

that cavern-home and not a hinge's noise

945

nor guarding porter's voice disturbs the calm.

But in the middle is a resting-couch,

raised high on night-black ebony and soft

with feathered cushions, all jet black, concealed

by a rich coverlet as dark as night,

950

on which the god of sleep, dissolved in sloth

lies with unmoving limbs. Around him there

in all directions, unsubstantial dreams

recline in imitation of all shapes—

as many as the uncounted ears of corn

955

at harvest—as the myriad leaves of trees—

or tiny sand grains spread upon the shore.

As soon as Iris entered that dread gloom,

she pushed aside the visions in her way

with her fair glowing hands; and instantly,

960

that sacred cavern of the god of Sleep

was all illuminated with the glow

and splendor of her garment.—Out of himself

the god with difficulty lifted up

his lanquid eyes. From this small sign of life

965

relapsing many times to languid sloth,

while nodding, with his chin he struck his breast

again and again. At last he roused himself

from gloom and slumber; and, while raised upon

his elbow, he enquired of Iris why

970

she came to him.—He knew her by her name.

She answered him, “O, Sleep, divine repose

of all things! Gentlest of the deities!

Peace to the troubled mind, from which you drive

the cares of life, restorer of men's strength

975

when wearied with the toils of day, command

a vision that shall seem the actual form

of royal Ceyx to visit Trachin famed

for Hercules and tell Halcyone

his death by shipwreck. It is Juno 's wish.”

980

Iris departed after this was said.

For she no longer could endure the effect

of slumber-vapor; and as soon as she

knew sleep was creeping over her tired limbs

she flew from there—and she departed by

985

the rainbow, over which she came before.

Out of the multitude—his thousand sons—

the god of sleep raised Morpheus by his power.

Most skillful of his sons, who had the art

of imitating any human shape;

990

and dexterously could imitate in men

the gait and countenance, and every mode

of speaking. He could simulate the dress

and customary words of any man

he chose to represent—but he could not

995

assume the form of anything but man.

Such was his art. Another of Sleep's sons

could imitate all kinds of animals;

such as a wild beast or a flying bird,

or even a serpent with its twisted shape;

1000

and that son, by the gods above was called

Icelos—but the inhabitants of earth

called him Phobetor—and a third son, named

Phantasos, cleverly could change himself

into the forms of earth that have no life;

1005

into a statue, water, or a tree.

It was the habit of these three to show

themselves at night to kings and generals;

and other sons would frequently appear

among the people of the common class.

1010

All such the aged god of Sleep passed by.

Selecting only Morpheus from among

the many brothers to accomplish this,

and execute what Iris had desired.

And after all that work, he dropped his head,

1015

and sank again in languid drowsiness,

shrinking to sloth within his lofty couch.

Morpheus at once flew through the night

of darkness, on his wings that make no sound,

and in brief space of intervening time,

1020

arrived at the Haemonian city walls;

and there he laid aside his wings, and took

the face and form of Ceyx. In that form

as one deprived of life, devoid of clothes,

wan and ghastly, he stood beside the bed

1025

of the sad wife. The hero's beard seemed dripping,

sea water streamed down from his drenching hair.

Then leaning on the bed, while dropping tears

were running down his cheeks, he said these words:

“Most wretched wife, can you still recognize

1030

your own loved Ceyx, or have my looks changed:

so much with death you can not?—Look at me,

and you will be assured I am your own:

but here instead of your dear husband, you

will find only his ghost. Your faithful prayers

1035

did not avail, Halcyone, and I

have perished. Give up all deluding hopes

of my return. The stormy Southwind caught

my ship while sailing the Aegean sea;

and there, tossed by the mighty wind, my ship

1040

was dashed to pieces. While I vainly called

upon your name, the angry waters closed

above my drowning head and it is no

uncertain messenger that tells you this

and nothing from vague rumors has been told.

1045

But it is I myself, come from the wreck,

now telling you my fate. Come then, arise

shed tears, and put on mourning; do not send

me unlamented, down to Tartarus.”

And Morpheus added to these words a voice

1050

which she would certainly believe was her

beloved husband's; and he seemed to be

shedding fond human tears; and even his hands

were moved in gestures that Ceyx often used.

Halcyone shed tears and groaned aloud,

1055

and, as she moved her arms and caught at his

dear body, she embraced the vacant air

she cried out loudly, “Stay, oh stay with me!

Why do you hurry from me? We will go

together!” Agitated by her own

1060

excited voice; and by what seemed to be

her own dear husband, she awoke from sleep.

And first looked all about her to persuade

herself that he whom she had lately seen

must yet be with her, for she had aroused

1065

the servants who in haste brought lights desired.

When she could find him nowhere, in despair

she struck her face and tore her garment from

her breast and beat her breast with mourning hands.

She did not wait to loosen her long hair;

1070

but tore it with her hands and to her nurse,

who asked the cause of her wild grief, she cried:

“Alas, Halcyone is no more! no more!

with her own Ceyx she is dead! is dead!

Away with words of comfort, he is lost

1075

by shipwreck! I have seen him, and I knew

him surely—as a ghost he came to me;

and when desirous to detain him, I

stretched forth my arms to him, his ghost left me—

it vanished from me; but it surely was

1080

the ghost of my dead husband. If you ask

description of it, I must truly say

he did not have his well known features—he

was not so cheerful as he was in life!

Alas, I saw him pale and naked, with

1085

his hair still dripping—his ghost from the waves

stood on this very spot:” and while she moaned

she sought his footprints on the floor. “Alas,

this was my fear, and this is what my mind

shuddered to think of, when I begged that you

1090

would not desert me for the wind's control.

But how I wish, since you were sailing forth

to perish, that you had but taken me

with you. If I had gone with you, it would

have been advantage to me, for I should

1095

have shared the whole course of my life with you

and you would not have met a separate death.

I linger here but I have met my death,

I toss on waves, and drift upon the sea.

“My heart would be more cruel than the waves,

1100

if it should ask me to endure this life—

if I should struggle to survive such grief.

I will not strive nor leave you so forlorn,

at least I'll follow you to death. If not

the urn at least the lettered stone

1105

shall keep us still together. If your bones

are not united with my bones, 'tis sure

our names must be united.”Overcome

with grief, she could not say another word—

but she continued wailing, and her groans

1110

were heaved up from her sorrow-stricken breast.

At early dawn, she went from her abode

down to the seashore, where most wretchedly,

she stood upon the spot from which he sailed,

and sadly said; “He lingered here while he

1115

was loosening the cables, and he kissed

me on this seashore when he left me here.”

And while she called to recollection all

that she had seen when standing there, and while

she looked far out on flowing waves from there,

1120

she noticed floating on the distant sea—

what shall I say? At first even she could not

be sure of what she saw. But presently

although still distant—it was certainly

a floating corpse. She could not see what man

1125

he might be, but because it seemed to her

it surely was a shipwrecked body, she

was moved as at an omen and began

to weep; and, moaning as she stood there, said:—

“Ah wretched one, whoever it may be,

1130

ah, wretched is the wife whom you have left!”

As driven by the waves the body came

still nearer to her, she was less and less

the mistress of herself, the more she looked

upon it; and, when it was close enough

1135

for her to see its features, she beheld

her husband. “It is he,” she cried and then

she tore her face, her hair, her royal robe

and then, extending both her trembling hands

towards Ceyx, “So dearest one! So do you come

1140

to me again?” She cried, “O luckless mate.”

A mole, made by the craft of man, adjoins

the sea and breaks the shoreward rush of waves.

To this she leaped—it seemed impossible—

and then, while beating the light air with wings

1145

that instant formed upon her, she flew on,

a mourning bird, and skimmed above the waves.

And while she lightly flew across the sea

her clacking mouth with its long slender bill,

full of complaining, uttered moaning sounds:

1150

but when she touched the still and pallied form,

embracing his dear limbs with her new wings,

she gave cold kisses with her hardened bill.

All those who saw it doubted whether Ceyx

could feel her kisses; and it seemed to them

1155

the moving waves had raised his countenance.

But he was truly conscious of her grief;

and through the pity of the gods above,

at last they both were changed to flying birds,

together in their fate. Their love lived on,

1160

nor in these birds were marriage bonds dissolved,

and they soon coupled and were parent birds.

Each winter during seven full days of calm

Halcyone broods on her floating nest—

her nest that sails upon a halcyon sea:

1165

the passage of the deep is free from storms,

throughout those seven full days; and Aeolus

restraining harmful winds, within their cave,

for his descendants' sake gives halcyon seas.

Aesacos. HESPERIA AND AESACUS

An old man saw the two birds fly across

1170

the wide extended sea and praised their love,

undying to the end. His old friend who

stood near him, said, “There is another bird,

which you can see skimming above the waves

with folded legs drawn up;” and as he spoke,

1175

he pointed at a divedapper, which had

a long throat, and continued, “It was first

the son of a great king, as Ceyx, was:

and if you wish to know his ancestry,

I can assure you he descended from

1180

Ilus, Assaracus, and Ganymede—

taken by Jupiter , and old Laomedon,

and Priam, ruler at the fall of Troy .

“Aesacus was the brother of the great

illustrious Hector ; and, if he had not

1185

been victimized by a strange fate in youth,

he would have equalled Hector 's glorious fame,

Hector was child of Hecuba, who was

daughter of Dymas. Alexirhoe,

the daughter of the two-horned Granicus ,

1190

so rumor has it, secretly brought forth

Aesacus, hidden under Ida's shade.

“He loathed the city and away from court,

frequented lonely mountains and the fields

of unambitious peasants. Rarely he

1195

was seen among the throngs of Ilium .—

yet, neither churlish nor impregnable

to love's appeal, he saw Hesperia,

the daughter of Cebrenus, while she was

once resting on the velvet-shaded banks

1200

of her sire's cherished stream. Aesacus had

so often sought for her throughout the woods.

“Just when he saw her, while she rested there,

her hair spread on her shoulders to the sun,

she saw him, and without delay she fled,

1205

even as the frightened deer runs from the wolf

or as the water-duck, when she has left

her favored stream, surprised, flies from the hawk.

Aesacus followed her, as swift with love

as she was swift with fear. But in the grass

1210

a lurking snake struck at her rosy heel

and left its venom in her flesh.—And so,

her flight was ended by untimely death.

“Oh, frantic, he embraced her breathless form,

and cried: ‘Alas, alas, that I pursued!

1215

I did not dream of such a dreadful fate!

Success was not worth such a price

I and the snake together caused your death—

the serpent gave the wound, I was the cause.

Mine is the greater guilt, and by my death

1220

I'll give you consolation for your death!’ ”

“He said those words and leaped on a high rock,

which years of sounding waves had undermined,

and hurled himself into the sea below.

“Tethys was moved with pity for his fall,

1225

received him softly, and then covered him

with feathers, as he swam among the waves.

The death he sought for was not granted him.

At this the lover was wroth. Against his will,

he was obliged to live in his distress,

1230

with opposition to his spirit that desired

departure from the wretched pain of life.

“As he assumed upon his shoulders wings

newformed, he flew aloft and from that height

again he plunged his body in the waves

1235

his feathers broke all danger of that fall—

and this new bird, Aesacus, plunged headlong

into the deep, and tried incessantly

that method of destruction. His great love

unsatisfied, made his sad body lean,

1240

till even the spaces fixed between the joints

of his legs have grown long; his neck is long;

so that his head is far away from his

lean body. Still he hunts the sea

and takes his name from diving in the waves.

1245

Metamorphoses Perseus (Ovid. The XV bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis. Golding, Arthur, translator. London: W. Seres (printer), 1567.) — 11 focus

Now whyle the Thracian Poet with this song delyghts the mynds

Of savage beastes, and drawes both stones and trees ageynst their kynds,

Behold the wyves of Ciconie with red deer skinnes about

Their furious brists as in the feeld they gadded on a rout,

Espyde him from a hillocks toppe still singing to his harp.

Of whom one shooke her head at him, and thus began to carp:

Behold (sayes shee) behold yoon same is he that doth disdeine

Us women. And with that same woord shee sent her lawnce amayne

At Orphyes singing mouth. The Lawnce armd round about with leaves,

Did hit him, and without a wound a marke behynd it leaves.

' Another threw a stone at him, which vanquisht with his sweete

And most melodius harmonye, fell humbly at his feete

As sorye for the furious act it purposed. But rash

And heady ryot out of frame all reason now did dash,

And frantik outrage reigned. Yit had the sweetenesse of his song

Appeasd all weapons, saving that the noyse now growing strong

With blowing shalmes, and beating drummes, and bedlem howling out,

And clapping hands on every syde by Bacchus drunken rout,

Did drowne the sownd of Orphyes harp. Then first of all stones were

Made ruddy with the prophets blood, and could not give him eare.

And first the flocke of Bacchus froes by violence brake the ring

Of Serpents, birds, and savage beastes that for to heere him sing

Sate gazing round about him there. And then with bluddy hands

They ran uppon the prophet who among them singing stands.

They flockt about him like as when a sort of birds have found

An Owle a daytymes in a tod: and hem him in full round,

As when a Stag by hungrye hownds is in a morning found,

The which forestall him round about and pull him to the ground.

Even so the prophet they assayle, and throwe their Thyrses greene

At him, which for another use than that invented beene.

Sum cast mee clods, sum boughes of trees, and sum threw stones. And lest

That weapons wherwithall to wreake theyr woodnesse which increast

Should want, it chaunst that Oxen by were tilling of the ground

And labring men with brawned armes not farre fro thence were found

A digging of the hardned earth, and earning of theyr food,

With sweating browes. They seeing this same rout, no longer stood,

But ran away and left theyr tooles behynd them. Every where

Through all the feeld theyr mattocks, rakes, and shovells scattred were.

Which when the cruell feends had caught, and had asunder rent

The horned Oxen, backe ageine to Orphy ward they went,

And (wicked wights) they murthred him, who never till that howre

Did utter woordes in vaine, nor sing without effectuall powre.

And through that mouth of his (oh lord) which even the stones had heard,

And unto which the witlesse beastes had often given regard,

His ghost then breathing into aire, departed. Even the fowles

Were sad for Orphye, and the beast with sorye syghing howles:

The rugged stones did moorne for him, the woods which many a tyme

Had followed him to heere him sing, bewayled this same cryme.

Yea even the trees lamenting him did cast theyr leavy heare.

The rivers also with theyr teares (men say) encreased were.

Yea and the Nymphes of brookes and woods uppon theyr streames did sayle

With scattred heare about theyr eares, in boats with sable sayle.

His members lay in sundrie steds. His head and harp both cam

To Hebrus , and (a woondrous thing) as downe the streame they swam,

His Harp did yeeld a moorning sound: his livelesse toong did make

A certeine lamentable noyse as though it still yit spake,

And bothe the banks in moorning wyse made answer to the same.

At length adowne theyr country streame to open sea they came,

And lyghted on Methymnye shore in Lesbos land. And there

No sooner on the forreine coast now cast aland they were,

But that a cruell naturde Snake did streyght uppon them fly,

And licking on his ruffled heare the which was dropping drye,

Did gape to tyre uppon those lippes that had beene woont to sing

Most heavenly hymnes. But Phebus streyght preventing that same thins,

Dispoynts the Serpent of his bit, and turnes him into stone

With gaping chappes. Already was the Ghost of Orphye gone

To Plutos realme, and there he all the places eft beehild

The which he heretofore had seene. And as he sought the feeld

Of fayre Elysion (where the soules of godly folk doo woonne,)

He found his wyfe Eurydicee, to whom he streyght did roonne,

And hilld her in imbracing armes. There now he one while walks

Togither with hir cheeke by cheeke: another while he stalks

Before her, and another whyle he followeth her. And now

Without all kinde of forfeyture he saufly myght avow

His looking backward at his wyfe. But Bacchus greeved at

The murther of the Chapleine of his Orgies, suffred not

The mischeef unrevengd to bee. For by and by he bound

The Thracian women by the feete with writhen roote in ground,

As many as consenting to this wicked act were found.

And looke how much that eche of them the prophet did pursew,

So much he sharpening of their toes, within the ground them drew.

And as the bird that fynds her legs besnarled in the net

The which the fowlers suttletye hathe clocely for her set,

And feeles shee cannot get away, stands flickering with her wings,

And with her fearefull leaping up drawes clocer still the strings:

So eche of theis when in the ground they fastned were, assayd

Aflayghted for to fly away. But every one was stayd

With winding roote which hilld her downe. Her frisking could not boote.

And whyle she lookte what was become of Toe, of nayle, and foote,

Shee sawe her leggs growe round in one, and turning into woode.

And as her thyghes with violent hand shee sadly striking stoode,

Shee felt them tree: her brest was tree: her shoulders eeke were tree.

Her armes long boughes yee myght have thought, and not deceyved bee.

But Bacchus was not so content: he quyght forsooke their land:

And with a better companye removed out of hand

Unto the Vyneyarde of his owne mount Tmolus, and the river

Pactolus though as yit no streames of gold it did deliver,

Ne spyghted was for precious sands. His olde accustomd rout

Of woodwards and of franticke froes envyrond him about.

But old Silenus was away. The Phrygian ploughmen found

100

Him reeling bothe for droonkennesse and age, and brought him bound

With garlands unto Midas, king of Phrygia , unto whom

The Thracian Orphye and the preest Eumolphus comming from

The towne of Athens erst had taught the Orgies. When he knew

His fellowe and companion of the selfesame badge and crew,

105

Uppon the comming of this guest, he kept a feast the space

Of twyce fyve dayes and twyce fyve nyghts togither in that place.

And now th'eleventh tyme Lucifer had mustred in the sky

The heavenly host, when Midas commes to Lydia jocundly

And yeeldes the old Silenus to his fosterchyld. He, glad

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That he his fosterfather had eftsoones recovered, bad

King Midas ask him what he would. Right glad of that was hee,

But not a whit at latter end the better should he bee.

He minding to misuse his giftes, sayd: Graunt that all and some

The which my body towcheth bare may yellow gold become.

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God Bacchus graunting his request, his hurtfull gift performd,

And that he had not better wisht he in his stomacke stormd.

Rejoycing in his harme away full merye goes the king:

And for to try his promis true he towcheth every thing.

Scarce giving credit to himself, he pulled yoong greene twiggs

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From off an Holmetree: by and by all golden were the spriggs.

He tooke a flintstone from the ground, the stone likewyse became

Pure gold. He towched next a clod of earth, and streight the same

By force of towching did become a wedge of yellow gold.

He gathered eares of rypened come: immediatly beholde

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The come was gold. An Apple then he pulled from a tree:

Yee would have thought the Hesperids had given it him. If hee

On Pillars high his fingars layd, they glistred like the sonne.

The water where he washt his hands did from his hands so ronne,

As Danae might have beene therwith beguyld. He scarce could hold

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His passing joyes within his harr, for making all things gold.

Whyle he thus joyd, his officers did spred the boord anon,

And set downe sundry sorts of meate and mancheate theruppon.

Then whither his hand did towch the bread, the bread was massy gold:

Or whither he chawde with hungry teeth his meate, yee might behold

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The peece of meate betweene his jawes a plat of gold to bee.

In drinking wine and water mixt, yee myght discerne and see

The liquid gold ronne downe his throte. Amazed at the straunge

Mischaunce, and being both a wretch and rich, he wisht to chaunge

His riches for his former state, and now he did abhorre

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The thing which even but late before he cheefly longed for.

No meate his hunger slakes: his throte is shrunken up with thurst:

And justly dooth his hatefull gold torment him as accurst.

Then lifting up his sory armes and handes to heaven, he cryde:

O father Bacchus, pardon mee. My sinne I will not hyde.

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Have mercy, I beseech thee, and vouchsauf to rid mee quyght

From this same harme that seemes so good and glorious unto syght.

The gentle Bacchus streight uppon confession of his cryme

Restored Midas to the state hee had in former tyme.

And having made performance of his promis, hee beereft him

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The gift that he had graunted him. And lest he should have left him

Beedawbed with the dregges of that same gold which wickedly

Hee wished had, he willed him to get him by and by

To that great ryver which dooth ronne by Sardis towne, and there

Along the chanell up the streame his open armes to beare

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Untill he commeth to the spring: and then his head to put

Full underneathe the foming spowt where greatest was the gut,

And so in washing of his limbes to wash away his cryme.

The king (as was commaunded him) ageinst the streame did clyme.

And streyght the powre of making gold departing quyght from him,

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Infects the ryver, making it with golden streame to swim.

The force whereof the bankes about so soked in theyr veynes,

That even as yit the yellow gold uppon the cloddes remaynes.

Then Midas, hating riches, haunts the pasturegrounds and groves,

And up and down with Pan among the Lawnds and mountaines roves.

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But still a head more fat than wyse, and doltish wit he hath,

The which as erst, yit once againe must woork theyr mayster scath.

The mountayne Tmole from loftye toppe to seaward looketh downe,

And spreading farre his boorely sydes, extendeth to the towne

Of Sardis with the t'one syde and to Hypep with the tother.

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There Pan among the fayrye elves that dawnced round togither

In setting of his conning out for singing and for play

Uppon his pype of reedes and wax, presuming for to say

Apollos musick was not like to his, did take in hand

A farre unequall match, wherof the Tmole for judge should stand.

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The auncient judge sitts downe uppon his hill, and ridds his eares

From trees, and onely on his head an Oken garlond weares,

Wherof the Acornes dangled downe about his hollow brow.

And looking on the God of neate he sayd: Yee neede not now

To tarry longer for your judge. Then Pan blew lowd and strong

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His country pype of reedes, and with his rude and homely song

Delighted Midas eares, for he by chaunce was in the throng.

When Pan had doone, the sacred Tmole to Phebus turnd his looke,

And with the turning of his head his busshye heare he shooke.

Then Phebus with a crowne of Bay uppon his golden heare

185

Did sweepe the ground with scarlet robe. In left hand he did beare

His viol made of precious stones and Ivorye intermixt.

And in his right hand for to strike, his bowe was redy fixt.

He was the verrye paterne of a good Musician ryght

Anon he gan with conning hand the tuned strings to smyght.

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The sweetenesse of the which did so the judge of them delyght,

That Pan was willed for to put his Reedepype in his cace,

And not to fiddle nor to sing where viols were in place.

The judgement of the holy hill was lyked well of all,

Save Midas, who found fault therwith and wrongfull did it call. '

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Apollo could not suffer well his foolish eares to keepe

Theyr humaine shape, but drew them wyde, and made them long and deepe.

And filld them full of whytish heares, and made them downe to sag,

And through too much unstablenesse continually to wag.

His body keeping in the rest his manly figure still,

200

Was ponnisht in the part that did offend for want of skill.

And so a slowe paaste Asses eares his heade did after beare.

This shame endevereth he to hyde. And therefore he did weare

A purple nyghtcappe ever since. But yit his Barber who

Was woont to notte him spyed it: and beeing eager to

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Disclose it, when he neyther durst to utter it, nor could

It keepe in secret still, he went and digged up the mowld,

And whispring softly in the pit, declaard what eares hee spyde

His mayster have, and turning downe the clowre ageine, did hyde

His blabbed woordes within the ground, and closing up the pit

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Departed thence and never made mo woordes at all of it.

Soone after, there began a tuft of quivering reedes to growe

Which beeing rype bewrayd theyr seede and him that did them sowe.

For when the gentle sowtherne wynd did lyghtly on them blowe,

They uttred foorth the woordes that had beene buried in the ground

215

And so reprovde the Asses eares of Midas with theyr sound.

Apollo after this revenge from Tmolus tooke his flyght:

And sweeping through the ayre, did on the selfsame syde alvght

Of Hellespontus , in the Realme of king Laomedon.

There stoode uppon the right syde of Sigaeum, and uppon

220

The left of Rhetye cliffe that tyme, an Altar buylt of old

To Jove that heereth all mennes woordes. Heere Phebus did behold

The foresayd king Laomedon beginning for to lay

Foundation of the walles of Troy : which woork from day to day

Went hard and slowly forward, and requyrd no little charge,

225

Then he togither with the God that rules the surges large,

Did put themselves in shape of men, and bargaynd with the king

Of Phrygia for a summe of gold his woork to end to bring.

Now when the woork was done, the king theyr wages them denayd,

And falsly faaste them downe with othes it was not as they sayd.

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Thou shalt not mock us unrevendgd (quoth Neptune). And anon

He caused all the surges of the sea to rush uppon

The shore of covetous Troy , and made the countrye like the deepe.

The goodes of all the husbandmen away he quight did sweepe,

And overwhelmd theyr feeldes with waves. And thinking this too small

235

A pennance for the falsehod, he demaunded therwithall

His daughter for a monster of the Sea. Whom beeing bound

Untoo a rocke, stout Hercules delivering saufe and sound,

Requyrd his steeds which were the hyre for which he did compound.

And when that of so great desert the king denyde the hyre.

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The twyce forsworne false towne of Troy he sacked in his ire.

And Telamon in honour of his service did enjoy.

The Lady Hesion, daughter of the covetous king of Troy .

For Peleus had already got a Goddesse to his wife,

And lived unto both theyr joyes a right renowmed lyfe.

245

And sure he was not prowder of his graundsyre, than of thee

That wert become his fathrinlaw. For many mo than hee

Have had the hap of mighty Jove the nephewes for to bee.

But never was it heeretofore the chaunce of any one

To have a Goddesse to his wyfe, save only his alone.

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For unto watry Thetis thus old Protew did foretell:

Go marry: thou shalt beare a sonne whose dooings shall excell

His fathers farre in feates of armes, and greater he shall bee

In honour, high renowme, and fame, than ever erst was hee.

This caused Jove the watry bed of Thetis to forbeare

255

Although his hart were more than warme with love of her, for feare

The world sum other greater thing than Jove himself should breede,

And willd the sonne of Aeacus this Peleus to succeede

In that which he himself would faine have done, and for to take

The Lady of the sea in armes a mother her to make.

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There is a bay of Thessaly that bendeth lyke a boawe.

The sydes shoote foorth, where if the sea of any depth did flowe

It were a haven. Scarcely dooth the water hyde the sand.

It hath a shore so firme, that if a man theron doo stand,

No print of foote remaynes behynd: it hindreth not ones pace,

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Ne covered is with hovering reeke. Adjoyning to this place,

There is a grove of Myrtletrees with frute of dowle colour,

And in the midds thereof a Cave. I can not tell you whither

That nature or the art of man were maker of the same.

It seemed rather made by arte. Oft Thetis hither came

270

Starke naked, ryding bravely on a brydled Dolphins backe.

There Peleus as shee lay asleepe uppon her often bracke.

And forbycause that at her handes entreatance nothing winnes,

He folding her about the necke with both his armes, beginnes

To offer force. And surely if shee had not falne to wyles

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And shifted oftentymes her shape, he had obteind erewhyles.

But shee became sumtymes a bird: he hilld her like a bird.

Anon shee was a massye log: but Peleus never stird

A whit for that. Then thirdly shee of speckled Tyger tooke

The ugly shape: for feare of whose most feerce and cruell looke,

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His armes he from her body twicht. And at his going thence,

In honour of the watry Goddes he burned frankincence,

And powred wyne uppon the sea, with fat of neate and sheepe:

Untill the prophet that dooth dwell within Carpathian deepe,

Sayd thus: Thou sonne of Aeacus, thy wish thou sure shalt have

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Alonely when shee lyes asleepe within her pleasant Cave,

Cast grinnes to trappe her unbewares: hold fast with snarling knot:

And though shee fayne a hundreth shapes, deceyve thee let her not.

But sticke unto't what ere it bee, untill the tyme that shee

Returneth to the native shape shee erst was woont to bee.

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When Protew thus had sed, within the sea he duckt his head,

And suffred on his latter woordes the water for to spred.

The lyghtsum Titan downeward drew, and with declyning chayre

Approched to the westerne sea, when Neryes daughter fayre

Returning from the sea, resorts to her accustomd cowch.

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And Peleus scarcely had begon hir naked limbes to towch,

But that shee chaungd from shape to shape, untill at length shee found

Herself surprysd. Then stretching out her armes with sighes profound,

She sayd: Thou overcommest mee, and not without the ayd

Of God. And then she, Thetis like, appeerd in shape of mayd.

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The noble prince imbracing her obteynd her at his will,

To both theyr joyes, and with the great Achylles did her fill.

A happye wyght was Peleus in his wyfe: a happy wyght

Was Peleus also in his sonne. And if yee him acquight

Of murthring Phocus, happy him in all things count yee myght.

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But giltye of his brothers blood, and bannisht for the same

From bothe his fathers house and Realme, to Trachin sad he came.

The sonne of lyghtsum Lucifer, king Ceyx (who in face

Exprest the lively beawtye of his fathers heavenly grace,)

Without all violent rigor and sharpe executions reignd

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In Trachin. He right sad that tyme unlike himself, remaynd

Yit moorning for his brothers chaunce transformed late before.

When Peleus thither came, with care and travayle tyred sore,

He left his cattell and his sheepe (whereof he brought great store)

Behynd him in a shady vale not farre from Trachin towne,

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And with a little companye himself went thither downe.

Assoone as leave to come to Court was graunted him, he bare

A braunche of Olyf in his hand, and humbly did declare

His name and lynage. Onely of his crime no woord hee spake,

But of his flyght another cause pretensedly did make:

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Desyring leave within his towne or countrye to abyde.

The king of Trachin gently thus to him ageine replyde:

Our bownty to the meanest sort (O Peleus) dooth extend:

Wee are not woont the desolate our countrye to forfend.

And though I bee of nature most inclyned good to doo:

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Thyne owne renowme, thy graundsyre Jove are forcements thereunto.

Misspend no longer tyme in sute. I gladly doo agree

To graunt thee what thou wilt desyre. Theis things that thou doost see

I would thou should account them as thyne owne, such as they bee

I would they better were. With that he weeped. Peleus and

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His freends desyred of his greef the cause to understand.

He answerd thus: Perchaunce yee think this bird that lives by pray

And putts all other birds in feare had wings and fethers ay.

He was a man. And as he was right feerce in feats of armes,

And stout and readye bothe to wreake and also offer harmes:

335

So was he of a constant mynd. Daedalion men him hyght.

Our father was that noble starre that brings the morning bryght,

And in the welkin last of all gives place to Phebus lyght.

My study was to maynteine peace, in peace was my delyght,

And for to keepe mee true to her to whom my fayth is plyght.

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My brother had felicite in warre and bloody fyght.

His prowesse and his force which now dooth chase in cruell flyght

The Dooves of Thisbye since his shape was altred thus anew,

Ryght puyssant Princes and theyr Realmes did heeretofore subdew.

He had a chyld calld Chyone, whom nature did endew

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With beawtye so, that when to age of fowreteene yeeres shee grew,

A thousand Princes liking her did for hir favour sew.

By fortune as bryght Phebus and the sonne of Lady May

Came t'one from Delphos , toother from mount Cyllen, by the way

They saw her bothe at once, and bothe at once were tane in love.

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Apollo till the tyme of nyght differd his sute to move.

But Hermes could not beare delay. He stroked on the face

The mayden with his charmed rod which hath the powre to chace

And bring in sleepe: the touch whereof did cast her in so dead

A sleepe, that Hermes by and by his purpose of her sped.

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As soone as nyght with twinckling starres the welkin had beesprent,

Apollo in an old wyves shape to Chyon clocely went,

And tooke the pleasure which the sonne of Maya had forehent.

Now when shee full her tyme had gone, shee bare by Mercurye

A sonne that hyght Awtolychus, who provde a wyly pye,

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And such a fellow as in theft and filching had no peere.

He was his fathers owne sonne right: he could mennes eyes so bleere,

As for to make the black things whyghlt, and whyght things black appeere.

And by Apollo (for shee bare a payre) was borne his brother

Philammon, who in musick arte excelled farre all other,

365

As well in singing as in play. But what avayled it

To beare such twinnes, and of two Goddes in favour to have sit?

And that shee to her father had a stowt and valeant knight,

Or that her graundsyre was the sonne of Jove that God of might?

Dooth glorie hurt to any folk? It surely hurted her.

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For standing in her owne conceyt shee did herself prefer

Before Diana , and dispraysd her face, who there with all

Inflaamd with wrath, sayd: Well, with deedes we better please her shall.

Immediatly shee bent her bowe, and let an arrow go,

Which strake her through the toong, whose spight deserved

375

wounding so.

Her toong wext dumb, her speech gan fayle that erst was over ryfe,

And as shee stryved for to speake, away went blood and lyfe.

How wretched was I then, O God? how strake it to my hart?

What woordes of comfort did I speake to ease my brothers smart?

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To which he gave his eare as much as dooth the stony rocke

To hideous roring of the waves that doo against it knocke.

There was no measure nor none ende in making of his mone,

Nor in bewayling comfortlesse his daughter that was gone.

But when he sawe her bodye burne, fowre tymes with all his myght

385

He russhed foorth to thrust himself amid the fyre in spyght.

Fowre tymes hee beeing thence repulst, did put himself to flyght.

And ran mee wheras was no way, as dooth a Bullocke when

A hornet stings him in the necke. Mee thought hee was as then

More wyghter farre than any man. Yee would have thought his feete

390

Had had sum wings. So fled he quyght from all, and being fleete

Through eagernesse to dye, he gat to mount Parnasos knappe

And there Apollo pitying him and rewing his missehappe,

When as Daedalion from the cliffe himself had headlong floong,

Transformd him to a bird, and on the soodaine as hee hung

395

Did give him wings, and bowwing beake, and hooked talants keene,

And eeke a courage full as feerce as ever it had beene.

And furthermore a greater strength he lent him therwithall,

Than one would thinke conveyd myght bee within a roome so small.

And now in shape of Gossehawke hee to none indifferent is,

400

But wreakes his teene on all birds. And bycause him selfe ere this

Did feele the force of sorrowes sting within his wounded hart,

Hee maketh others oftentymes to sorrow and to smart.

As Caeyx of his brothers chaunce this wondrous story seth,

Commes ronning thither all in haste and almost out of breth

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Anaetor the Phocayan who was Pelyes herdman. Hee

Sayd: Pelye Pelye, I doo bring sad tydings unto thee.

Declare it man (quoth Peleus) what ever that it bee.

King Ceyx at his fearefull woordes did stand in dowtfull stowne.

This noonetyde (quoth the herdman) Iche did drive your cattell downe

410

To zea, and zum a them did zit uppon the yellow zand

And looked on the large mayne poole of water neere at hand.

Zum roayled zoftly up and downe, and zum a them did zwim

And bare their jolly horned heades aboove the water trim.

A Church stondes neere the zea not deckt with gold nor marble stone

415

But made of wood, and hid with trees that dreeping hang theron.

A visherman that zat and dryde hiz netts uppo the zhore

Did tell'z that Nereus and his Nymphes did haunt the place of yore,

And how that thay beene Goddes a zea. There butts a plot vorgrowne

With zallow trees uppon the zame, the which is overblowne

420

With tydes, and is a marsh. From thence a woolf, an orped wyght,

With hideous noyse of rustling made the groundes neere hand afryght.

Anon he commes mee buskling out bezmeared all his chappes

With blood daubaken and with vome as veerce as thunder clappes.

Hiz eyen did glaster red as vyre, and though he raged zore

425

Vor vamin and vor madnesse bothe, yit raged he much more

In madnesse. Vor hee cared not his hunger vor to zlake,

Or i'the death of oxen twoo or three an end to make.

But wounded all the herd and made a havocke of them all,

And zum of us too, in devence did happen vor to vail,

430

In daunger of his deadly chappes, and lost our lyves. The zhore

And zea is staynd with blood, and all the ven is on a rore.

Delay breedes losse. The cace denyes now dowting vor to stond,

Whyle owght remaynes let all of us take weapon in our hond.

Let's arme our zelves, and let uz altogither on him vall.

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The herdman hilld his peace. The losse movde Peleus not at all.

But calling his offence to mynde, he thought that Neryes daughter,

The chyldlesse Ladye Psamathe, determynd with that slaughter

To keepe an Obit to her sonne whom hee before had killd.

Immediatly uppon this newes the king of Trachin willd

440

His men to arme them, and to take their weapons in theyr hand,

And he addrest himself to bee the leader of the band.

His wyfe, Alcyone, by the noyse admonisht of the same,

In dressing of her head, before shee had it brought in frame,

Cast downe her heare, and ronning foorth caught Ceyx fast about

445

The necke, desyring him with teares to send his folk without

Himself, and in the lyfe of him to save the lyves of twayne.

O Princesse, cease your godly feare (quoth Peleus then agayne).

Your offer dooth deserve great thanks. I mynd not warre to make

Ageinst straunge monsters. I as now another way must take.

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The seagods must bee pacifyde. There was a Castle hye,

And in the same a lofty towre whose toppe dooth face the skye,

A joyfull mark for maryners to guyde theyr vessells by.

To this same Turret up they went, and there with syghes behilld

The Oxen lying every where stark dead uppon the feelde

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And eeke the cruell stroygood with his bluddy mouth and heare.

Then Peleus stretching foorth his handes to Seaward, prayd in feare

To watrish Psamath that she would her sore displeasure stay,

And help him. She no whit relents to that that he did pray.

But Thetis for hir husband made such earnest sute, that shee

460

Obteynd his pardon. For anon the woolfe (who would not bee

Revoked from the slaughter for the sweetenesse of the blood)

Persisted sharpe and eager still, untill that as he stood

Fast byghting on a Bullocks necke, shee turnd him intoo stone

As well in substance as in hew, the name of woolf alone

465

Reserved. For although in shape hee seemed still yit one,

The verry colour of the stone beewrayd him to bee none,

And that he was not to bee feard. How be it froward fate

Permitts not Peleus in that land to have a setled state.

He wandreth like an outlaw to the Magnets. There at last

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Acastus the Thessalien purgd him of his murther past.

In this meane tyme the Trachine king sore vexed in his thought

With signes that both before and since his brothers death were wrought,

For counsell at the sacret Spelles (which are but toyes to foode

Fond fancyes, and not counsellers in perill to doo goode)

475

Did make him reedy to the God of Claros for to go.

For heathenish Phorbas and the folk of Phlegia had as tho

The way to Delphos stopt, that none could travell to or fro.

But ere he on his journey went, he made his faythfull make

Alcyone preevye to the thing. Immediatly theyr strake

480

A chilnesse to her verry bones, and pale was all her face

Like box and downe her heavy cheekes the teares did gush apace.

Three times about to speake, three times shee washt her face with teares,

And stinting oft with sobbes, shee thus complayned in his eares:

What fault of myne, husband deere, hath turnd thy hart fro mee?

485

Where is that care of mee that erst was woont to bee in thee?

And canst thou having left thy deere Alcyone merrye bee?

Doo journeyes long delyght thee now? dooth now myne absence please

Thee better then my presence dooth? Think I that thou at ease

Shalt go by land? Shall I have cause but onely for to moorne?

490

And not to bee afrayd? And shall my care of thy returne

Bee voyd of feare? No no. The sea mee sore afrayd dooth make.

To think uppon the sea dooth cause my flesh for feare to quake.

I sawe the broken ribbes of shippes alate uppon the shore.

And oft on Tumbes I reade theyr names whose bodyes long before

495

The sea had swallowed. Let not fond vayne hope seduce thy mynd,

That Aeolus is thy fathrinlaw who holdes the boystous wynd

In prison, and can calme the seas at pleasure. When the wynds

Are once let looce uppon the sea, no order then them bynds.

Then neyther land hathe priviledge, nor sea exemption fynds.

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Yea even the clowdes of heaven they vex, and with theyr meeting stout

Enforce the fyre with hideous noyse to brust in flashes out.

The more that I doo know them, (for ryght well I know theyr powre,

And saw them oft a little wench within my fathers bowre)

So much the more I think them to bee feard. But if thy will

505

By no intreatance may bee turnd at home to tarry still,

But that thou needes wilt go: then mee, deere husband, with thee take.

So shall the sea us equally togither tosse and shake.

So woorser than I feele I shall bee certeine not to feare.

So shall we whatsoever happes togitherjoyntly beare.

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So shall wee on the broad mayne sea togither joyntly sayle.

Theis woordes and teares wherewith the imp of Aeolus did assayle

Her husbond borne of heavenly race, did make his hart relent.

(For he lovd her no lesse than shee lovd him.) But fully bent

He seemed, neyther for to leave the journey which he ment

515

To take by sea, nor yit to give Alcyone leave as tho

Companion of his perlous course by water for to go.

He many woordes of comfort spake her feare away to chace.

But nought hee could perswade therein to make her like the cace.

This last asswagement of her greef he added in the end,

520

Which was the onely thing that made her loving hart to bend:

All taryance will assuredly seeme over long to mee.

And by my fathers blasing beames I make my vow to thee

That at the furthest ere the tyme (if God therto agree)

The moone doo fill her circle twyce, ageine I will heere bee.

525

When in sum hope of his returne this promis had her set,

He willd a shippe immediatly from harbrough to bee fet,

And throughly rigged for to bee, that neyther maast, nor sayle,

Nor tackling, no nor other thing should apperteyning fayle.

Which when Alcyone did behold, as one whoose hart misgave

530

The happes at hand, shee quaakt ageine, and teares out gusshing drave.

And streyning Ceyx in her armes with pale and piteous looke,

Poore wretched soule, her last farewell at length shee sadly tooke,

And swounded flat uppon the ground. Anon the watermen

(As Ceyx sought delayes and was in dowt to turne agen)

535

Set hand to Ores, of which there were two rowes on eyther syde,

And all at once with equall stroke the swelling sea devyde.

Shee lifting up her watrye eyes behilld her husband stand

Uppon the hatches making signes by beckening with his hand:

And shee made signes to him ageine. And after that the land

540

Was farre removed from the shippe, and that the sight began

To bee unable to discerne the face of any man,

As long as ere shee could shee lookt uppon the rowing keele.

And when shee could no longer tyme for distance ken it weele,

Shee looked still uppon the sayles that flasked with the wynd

545

Uppon the maast. And when shee could the sayles no longer fynd,

She gate her to her empty bed with sad and sorye hart,

And layd her downe. The chamber did renew afresh her smart,

And of her bed did bring to mynd the deere departed part.

From harbrough now they quyght were gone: and now a plasant gale

550

Did blowe. The mayster made his men theyr Ores asyde to hale,

And hoysed up the toppesayle on the hyghest of the maast,

And clapt on all his other sayles bycause no wind should waast.

Scarce full t'one half, (or sure not much above) the shippe had ronne

Uppon the sea and every way the land did farre them shonne,

555

When toward night the wallowing waves began to waxen whyght,

And eeke the heady easterne wynd did blow with greater myght,

Anon the Mayster cryed: Strike the toppesayle, let the mayne

Sheate flye and fardle it to the yard. Thus spake he, but in vayne,

For why so hideous was the storme uppon the soodeine brayd,

560

That not a man was able there to heere what other sayd.

And lowd the sea with meeting waves extreemely raging rores.

Yit fell they to it of them selves. Sum haalde asyde the Ores:

Sum fensed in the Gallyes sydes, sum downe the sayleclothes rend:

Sum pump the water out, and sea to sea ageine doo send.

565

Another hales the sayleyards downe. And whyle they did eche thing

Disorderly, the storme increast, and from eche quarter fling

The wyndes with deadly foode, and bownce the raging waves togither.

The Pilot being sore dismayd sayth playne, he knowes not whither

To wend himself, nor what to doo or bid, nor in what state

570

Things stood. So huge the mischeef was, and did so overmate

All arte. For why of ratling ropes, of crying men and boyes,

Of flusshing waves and thundring ayre, confused was the noyse.

The surges mounting up aloft did seeme to mate the skye,

And with theyr sprinckling for to wet the clowdes that hang on hye.

575

One whyle the sea, when iirom the brink it raysd the yellow sand,

Was like in colour to the same. Another whyle did stand

A colour on it blacker than the Lake of Styx . Anon

It lyeth playne and loomethwhyght with seething froth thereon.

And with the sea the Trachin shippe ay alteration tooke.

580

One whyle as from a mountaynes toppe it seemed downe to looke

To vallyes and the depth of hell. Another whyle beset

With swelling surges round about which neere above it met,

It looked from the bottom of the whoorlepoole up aloft

As if it were from hell to heaven. A hideous flusshing oft

585

The waves did make in beating full against the Gallyes syde.

The Gallye being striken gave as great a sownd that tyde

As did sumtyme the Battellramb of steele, or now the Gonne

In making battrye to a towre. And as feerce Lyons ronne

Full brist with all theyr force ageinst the armed men that stand

590

In order bent to keepe them off with weapons in theyr hand,

Even so as often as the waves by force of wynd did rave,

So oft uppon the netting of the shippe they maynely drave,

And mounted farre above the same. Anon off fell the hoopes:

And having washt the pitch away, the sea made open loopes

595

To let the deadly water in. Behold the clowdes did melt,

And showers large came pooring downe. The seamen that them felt

Myght thinke that all the heaven had falne uppon them that same tyme,

And that the swelling sea likewyse above the heaven would clyme.

The sayles were throughly wet with showers, and with the heavenly raine

600

Was mixt the waters of the sea. No lyghts at all remayne

Of sunne, or moone, or starres in heaven. The darknesse of the nyght

Augmented with the dreadfull storme, takes dowble powre and myght.

Howbee't the flasshing lyghtnings oft doo put the same to flyght,

And with theyr glauncing now and then do give a soodeine lyght.

605

The lightnings setts the waves on fyre. Above the netting skippe

The waves, and with a violent force doo lyght within the shippe.

And as a souldyer stowter than the rest of all his band

That oft assayles a citie walles defended well by hand,

At length atteines his hope, and for to purchace prayse withall

610

Alone among a thousand men getts up uppon the wall:

So when the loftye waves had long the Gallyes sydes assayd,

At length the tenth wave rysing up with huger force and brayd,

Did never cease assaulting of the weery shippe, till that

Uppon the hatches lyke a fo victoriously it gat.

615

A part thereof did still as yit assault the shippe without,

And part had gotten in. The men all trembling ran about,

As in a Citie commes to passe, when of the enmyes sum

Dig downe the walles without, and sum already in are come.

All arte and conning was to seeke. Theyr harts and stomacks fayle:

620

And looke, how many surges came theyr vessell to assayle,

So many deathes did seeme to charge and breake uppon them all.

One weepes: another stands amazde: the third them blist dooth call

Whom buryall dooth remayne. To God another makes his vow,

And holding up his handes to heaven the which hee sees not now,

625

Dooth pray in vayne for help. The thought of this man is uppon

His brother and his parents whom he cleerely hath forgone.

Another calles his house and wyfe and children unto mynd,

And every man in generall the things he left behynd.

Alcyone moveth Ceyx hart. In Ceyx mouth is none

630

But onely one Alcyone. And though shee were alone

The wyght that he desyred most, yit was he verry glad

Shee was not there. To Trachin ward to looke desyre he had,

And homeward fayne he would have turnd his eyes which never more

Should see the land. But then he knew not which way was the shore,

635

Nor where he was. The raging sea did rowle about so fast:

And all the heaven with clowds as black as pitch was over cast,

That never nyght was halfe so dark. There came a flaw at last,

That with his violence brake the maste, and strake the sterne away.

A billowe proudly pranking up as vaunting of his pray

640

By conquest gotten, walloweth hole and breaketh not asunder,

Beholding with a lofty looke the waters woorking under.

And looke, as if a man should from the places where they growe

Rend downe the mountaynes, Athe and Pind, and whole them overthrowe

Into the open sea: so soft the Billowe tumbling downe,

645

With weyght and violent stroke did sink and in the bottom drowne

The Gallye. And the moste of them that were within the same

Went downe therwith and never up to open aier came,

But dyed strangled in the gulf. Another sort againe

Caught peeces of the broken shippe. The king himself was fayne

650

A shiver of the sunken shippe in that same hand to hold,

In which hee erst a royall mace had hilld of yellow gold.

His father and his fathrinlawe he calles uppon (alas

In vayne.) But cheefly in his mouth his wife Alcyone was.

In hart was shee: in toong was shee: he wisshed that his corse

655

To land where shee myght take it up the surges myght enforce:

And that by her most loving handes he might be layd in grave.

In swimming still (as often as the surges leave him gave

To ope his lippes) he harped still upon Alcyones name,

And when he drowned in the waves he muttred still the same.

660

Behold, even full uppon the wave a flake of water blacke

Did breake, and underneathe the sea the head of Ceyx stracke.

That nyght the lyghtsum Lucifer for sorrowe was so dim,

As scarcely could a man discerne or thinke it to bee him.

And forasmuch as out of heaven he might not steppe asyde,

665

With thick and darksum clowds that nyght his countnance he did hyde.

Alcyone of so great mischaunce not knowing aught as yit,

Did keepe a reckening of the nyghts that in the whyle did flit,

And hasted garments both for him and for herself likewyse,

To weare at his homecomming which shee vaynely did surmyse.

670

To all the Goddes devoutly shee did offer frankincence:

But most above them all the Church of Juno shee did sence.

And for her husband (who as then was none) shee kneeld before

The Altar, wisshing health and soone arrivall at the shore,

And that none other woman myght before her be preferd.

675

Of all her prayers this one peece effectually was heard.

For Juno could not fynd in hart intreated for to bee

For him that was already dead. But to th'entent that shee

From dame Alcyones deadly hands might keepe her Altars free,

Shee sayd: Most faythfull messenger of my commaundments, O

680

Thou Raynebowe, to the slugguish house of Slomber swiftly go.

And bid him send a Dreame in shape of Ceyx to his wyfe

Alcyone, for to shew her playne the losing of his lyfe.

Dame Iris takes her pall wherein a thousand colours were

And bowwing lyke a stringed bow upon the dowdy sphere,

685

Immediatly descended to the drowzye house of Sleepe

Whose Court the clowdes continually doo clocely overdreepe.

Among the darke Cimmerians is a hollow mountaine found

And in the hill a Cave that farre dooth ronne within the ground,

The Chamber and the dwelling place where slouthfull sleepe dooth cowch.

690

The lyght of Phebus golden beames this place can never towch.

A foggye mist with dimnesse mixt streames upwarde from the ground,

And glimmering twylyght evermore within the same is found.

No watchfull bird with barbed bill, and combed crowne dooth call

The morning foorth with crowing out. There is no noyse at all

695

Of waking dogge, nor gagling goose more waker than the hound

To hinder sleepe. Of beast ne wyld ne tame there is no sound.

No bowghes are stird with blastes of wynd, no noyse of tatling toong

Of man or woman ever yit within that bower roong.

Dumb quiet dwelleth there. Yit from the Roches foote dooth go

700

The ryver of forgetfulnesse, which ronneth trickling so

Uppon the little pebble stones which in the channell lye,

That unto sleepe a great deale more it dooth provoke thereby.

Before the entry of the Cave, there growes of Poppye store,

With seeded heades, and other weedes innumerable more,

705

Out of the milkye jewce of which the night dooth gather sleepes,

And over all the shadowed earth with dankish deawe them dreepes.

Bycause the craking hindges of the doore no noyse should make,

There is no doore in all the house, nor porter at the gate.

Amid the Cave, of Ebonye a bedsted standeth hye,

710

And on the same a bed of downe with keeverings blacke dooth lye:

In which the drowzye God of sleepe his lither limbes dooth rest.

About him, forging sundrye shapes as many dreames lye prest

As eares of come doo stand in feeldes in harvest tyme, or leaves

Doo grow on trees, or sea to shore of sandye cinder heaves.

715

As soone as Iris came within this house, and with her hand

Had put asyde the dazeling dreames that in her way did stand,

The brightnesse of her robe through all the sacred house did shine.

The God of sleepe scarce able for to rayse his heavy eyen,

A three or fowre tymes at the least did fall ageine to rest,

720

And with his nodding head did knocke his chinne ageinst his brest.

At length he shaking of himselfe, uppon his elbowe leande.

And though he knew for what shee came: he askt her what shee meand.

O sleepe (quoth shee,) the rest of things, O gentlest of the Goddes,

Sweete sleepe, the peace of mynd, with whom crookt care is aye at oddes:

725

Which cherrishest mennes weery limbes appalld with toling sore,

And makest them as fresh to woork and lustye as beefore,

Commaund a dreame that in theyr kyndes can every thing expresse,

To Trachine, Hercles towne, himself this instant to addresse.

And let him lively counterfet to Queene Alcyonea

730

The image of her husband who is drowned in the sea

By shipwrecke. Juno willeth so. Her message beeing told,

Dame Iris went her way. Shee could her eyes no longer hold

From sleepe. But when shee felt it come shee fled that instant tyme,

And by the boawe that brought her downe to heaven ageine did clyme.

735

Among a thousand sonnes and mo that father slomber had

He calld up Morph, the feyner of mannes shape, a craftye lad.

None other could so conningly expresse mans verrye face,

His gesture and his sound of voyce, and manner of his pace,

Togither with his woonted weede, and woonted phrase of talk.

740

But this same Morphye onely in the shape of man dooth walk.

There is another who the shapes of beast or bird dooth take,

Or else appeereth unto men in likenesse of a snake.

The Goddes doo call him Icilos, and mortall folke him name

Phobetor. There is also yit a third who from theis same

745

Woorkes diversly, and Phantasos he highteth. Into streames

This turnes himself, and into stones, and earth, and timber beames,

And into every other thing that wanteth life. Theis three,

Great kings and Capteines in the night are woonted for to see.

The meaner and inferiour sort of others haunted bee.

750

Sir Slomber overpast the rest, and of the brothers all

To doo dame Iris message he did only Morphye call.

Which doone he waxing luskish, streyght layd downe his drowzy head

And softly shroonk his layzye limbes within his sluggish bed.

Away flew Morphye through the aire: no flickring made his wings:

755

And came anon to Trachine. There his fethers off he flings,

And in the shape of Ceyx standes before Alcyones bed,

Pale, wan, stark naakt, and like a man that was but lately deade.

His berde seemd wet, and of his head the heare was dropping drye,

And leaning on her bed, with teares he seemed thus to cry:

760

Most wretched woman, knowest thou thy loving Ceyx now

Or is my face by death disformd? behold mee well, and thow

Shalt know mee. For thy husband, thou thy husbandes Ghost shalt see.

No good thy prayers and thy vowes have done at all to mee.

For I am dead. In vayne of my returne no reckning make.

765

The dowdy sowth amid the sea our shippe did tardy take,

And tossing it with violent blastes asunder did it shake.

And floodes have filld my mouth which calld in vayne uppon thy name.

No persone whom thou mayst misdeeme brings tydings of the same.

Thou hearest not thereof by false report of flying fame.

770

But I myself: I presently my shipwrecke to thee showe.

Aryse therefore and wofull teares uppon thy spouse bestowe.

Put moorning rayment on, and let mee not to Limbo go

Unmoorned for. In shewing of this shipwrecke Morphye so

Did feyne the voyce of Ceyx, that shee could none other deeme,

775

But that it should bee his in deede. Moreover he did seeme

To weepe in earnest: and his handes the verry gesture had

Of Ceyx. Queene Alcyone did grone, and beeing sad

Did stirre her armes, and thrust them foorth his body to embrace.

In stead whereof shee caught but ayre. The teares ran downe her face.

780

Shee cryed, Tarry: whither flyste? togither let us go.

And all this whyle she was asleepe. Both with her crying so,

And flayghted with the image of her husbands gastly spryght,

She started up: and sought about if fynd him there shee myght.

(For why her Groomes awaking with the shreeke had brought a light.)

785

And when shee no where could him fynd, shee gan her face to smyght,

And tare her nyghtclothes from her brest, and strake it feercely, and

Not passing to unty her heare shee rent it with her hand.

And when her nurce of this her greef desyrde to understand

The cause: Alcyone is undoone, undoone and cast away

790

With Ceyx her deare spouse (shee sayd). Leave comforting I pray.

By shipwrecke he is perrisht: I have seene him: and I knew

His handes. When in departing I to hold him did pursew

I caught a Ghost: but such a Ghost as well discerne I myght

To bee my husbands. Nathelesse he had not to my syght

795

His woonted countenance, neyther did his visage shyne so bryght,

As heeretofore it had beene woont. I saw him, wretched wyght,

Starke naked, pale, and with his heare still wet: even verry heere

I saw him stand. With that shee lookes if any print appeere

Of footing where as he did stand uppon the floore behynd.

800

This this is it that I did feare in farre forecasting mynd,

When flying mee I thee desyrde thou shouldst not trust the wynd.

But syth thou wentest to thy death, I would that I had gone

With thee. Ah meete, it meete had beene thou shouldst not go alone

Without mee. So it should have come to passe that neyther I

805

Had overlived thee, nor yit beene forced twice to dye.

Already, absent in the waves now tossed have I bee.

Already have I perrished. And yit the sea hath thee

Without mee. But the cruelnesse were greater farre of mee

Than of the sea, if after thy decease I still would strive

810

In sorrow and in anguish still to pyne away alive.

But neyther will I strive in care to lengthen still my lyfe,

Nor (wretched wyght) abandon thee: but like a faythfull wyfe

At leastwyse now will come as thy companion. And the herse

Shall joyne us, though not in the selfsame coffin: yit in verse.

815

Although in tumb the bones of us togither may not couch,

Yit in a graven Epitaph my name thy name shall touch.

Her sorrow would not suffer her to utter any more.

Shee sobd and syghde at every woord, untill her hart was sore.

The morning came, and out shee went ryght pensif to the shore

820

To that same place in which shee tooke her leave of him before.

Whyle there shee musing stood, and sayd: He kissed mee even heere,

Heere weyed hee his Anchors up, heere loosd he from the peere.

And whyle shee calld to mynd the things there marked with her eyes:

In looking on the open sea, a great way off shee spyes

825

A certaine thing much like a corse come hovering on the wave.

At first shee dowted what it was. As tyde it neerer drave,

Although it were a good way off, yit did it plainely showe

To bee a corce. And though that whose it was shee did not knowe,

Yit forbycause it seemd a wrecke, her hart therat did ryse:

830

And as it had sum straunger beene, with water in her eyes

She sayd: Alas poore wretch who ere thou art, alas for her

That is thy wyfe, if any bee. And as the waves did stirre,

The body floted neerer land: the which the more that shee

Behilld, the lesse began in her of stayed wit to bee.

835

Anon it did arrive on shore. Then plainely shee did see

And know it, that it was her feere. Shee shreeked, It is hee.

And therewithall her face, her heare, and garments shee did teare,

And unto Ceyx stretching out her trembling handes with feare,

Sayd: cumst thou home in such a plyght to mee, O husband deere?

840

Returnst in such a wretched plyght? There was a certeine peere

That buylded was by hand, of waves the first assaults to breake,

And at the havons mouth to cause the tyde to enter weake.

Shee lept thereon. (A wonder sure it was shee could doo so)

Shee flew, and with her newgrowen winges did beate the ayre as tho.

845

And on the waves a wretched bird shee whisked to and fro.

And with her crocking neb then growen to slender bill and round,

Like one that wayld and moorned still shee made a moaning sound.

Howbee't as soone as she did touch his dumb and bloodlesse flesh,

And had embraast his loved limbes with winges made new and fresh,

850

And with her hardened neb had kist him coldly, though in vayne,

Folk dowt if Ceyx feeling it to rayse his head did strayne,

Or whither that the waves did lift it up. But surely hee

It felt: and through compassion of the Goddes both hee and shee

Were turnd to birdes. The love of them eeke subject to their fate,

855

Continued after: neyther did the faythfull bond abate

Of wedlocke in them beeing birdes: but standes in stedfast state.

They treade, and lay, and bring foorth yoong and now the Alcyon sitts

In wintertime uppon her nest, which on the water flitts

A sevennyght. During all which tyme the sea is calme and still,

860

And every man may to and fro sayle saufly at his will,

For Aeolus for his offsprings sake the windes at home dooth keepe,

And will not let them go abroade for troubling of the deepe.

An auncient father seeing them aabout the brode sea fly,

Did prayse theyr love for lasting to the end so stedfastly.

865

His neyghbour or the selfsame man made answer (such is chaunce):

Even this fowle also whom thou seest uppon the surges glaunce

With spindle shanks, (he poynted to the wydegoawld Cormorant)

Before that he became a bird, of royall race might vaunt.

And if thou covet lineally his pedegree to seeke,

870

His Auncetors were Ilus, and Assaracus, and eeke

Fayre Ganymed who Jupiter did ravish as his joy,

Laomedon and Priamus the last that reygnd in Troy .

Stout Hectors brother was this man. And had he not in pryme

Of lusty youth beene tane away, his deedes perchaunce in tyme

875

Had purchaast him as great a name as Hector , though that hee

Of Dymants daughter Hecuba had fortune borne to bee.

For Aesacus reported is begotten to have beene

By scape, in shady Ida on a mayden fayre and sheene

Whose name was Alyxothoe, a poore mans daughter that

880

With spade and mattocke for himselfe and his a living gat.

This Aesacus the Citie hates, and gorgious Court dooth shonne,

And in the unambicious feeldes and woods alone dooth wonne.

He seeldoom haunts the towne of Troy , yit having not a rude

And blockish wit, nor such a hart as could not be subdewd

885

By love, he spyde Eperie (whom oft he had pursewd

Through all the woodes) then sitting on her father Cebrius brim

A drying of her heare ageinst the sonne, which hanged trim

Uppon her back. As soone as that the Nymph was ware of him,

She fled as when the grisild woolf dooth scare the fearefull hynd

890

Or when the Fawcon farre from brookes a Mallard happes to fynd.

The Trojane knyght ronnes after her, and beeing swift through love,

Purseweth her whom feare dooth force apace her feete to move.

Behold an Adder lurking in the grasse there as shee fled,

Did byght her foote with hooked tooth, and in her bodye spred

895

His venim. Shee did cease her flyght and soodein fell downe dead.

Her lover being past his witts her carkesse did embrace,

And cryde: Alas it irketh mee, it irkes mee of this chace.

But this I feard not. Neyther was the gaine of that I willd

Woorth halfe so much. Now two of us thee (wretched soule) have killd.

900

The wound was given thee by the snake, the cause was given by mee.

The wickedder of both am I: who for to comfort thee

Will make thee satisfaction with my death. With that at last

Downe from a rocke (the which the waves had undermynde) he cast

Himself into the sea. Howbee't dame Tethys pitying him,

905

Receyvd him softly, and as he uppon the waves did swim,

Shee covered him with fethers. And though fayne he would have dyde,

Shee would not let him. Wroth was he that death was him denyde,

And that his soule compelld should bee ageinst his will to byde

Within his wretched body still, from which it would depart,

910

And that he was constreynd to live perforce ageinst his hart.

And as he on his shoulders now had newly taken wings,

He mounted up, and downe uppon the sea his boddye dings.

His fethers would not let him sinke. In rage he dyveth downe,

And despratly he strives himself continually to drowne.

915

His love did make him leane, long leggs: long neck dooth still remayne.

His head is from his shoulders farre: of Sea he is most fayne.

And for he underneath the waves delyghteth for to drive

A name according thereunto the Latins doo him give.

Notes on the current edition

Metamorphoses

Quippe pedum digitos, in quantum est quaeque secuta,

traxit et in solidam detrusit acumina terram,

vir fuit et (tanta est animi constantia!) iam tum

quae dum tota locis (s. dumque notata oculis) reminiscitur acta fretumque

P. Ovidius Naso Metamorphoses 11

ed. Hugo Magnus

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