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1 Graeci Aulide. Fama.

Nescius adsumptis Priamus pater Aesacon alis

vivere lugebat, tumulo quoque nomen habenti

inferias dederat cum fratribus Hector inani.

Defuit officio Paridis praesentia tristi,

postmodo qui rapta longum cum coniuge bellum

attulit in patriam; coniurataeque sequuntur

mille rates gentisque simul commune Pelasgae.

Nec dilata foret vindicta, nisi aequora saevi

invia fecissent venti Boeotaque tellus

Aulide piscosa puppes tenuisset ituras.

Hic patrio de more Iovi cum sacra parassent,

ut vetus accensis incanduit ignibus ara,

serpere caeruleum Danai videre draconem

in platanum, coeptis quae stabat proxima sacris.

Nidus erat volucrum bis quattuor arbore summa:

quas simul et matrem circum sua damna volantem

corripuit serpens avidoque recondidit ore.

Obstipuere omnes. At veri providus augur

Thestorides “vincemus” ait, “gaudete, Pelasgi!

Troia cadet, sed erit nostri mora longa laboris,”

atque novem volucres in belli digerit annos.

Ille, ut erat virides amplexus in arbore ramos,

fit lapis et servat serpentis imagine saxum.

Permanet Aoniis Nereus violentus in undis

bellaque non transfert; et sunt qui parcere Troiae

Neptunum credant, quia moenia fecerat urbi.

At non Thestorides: nec enim nescitve tacetve

sanguine virgineo placandam virginis iram

esse deae. Postquam pietatem publica causa

rexque patrem vicit castumque datura cruorem

flentibus ante aram stetit Iphigenia ministris,

victa dea est nubemque oculis obiecit et inter

officium turbamque sacri vocesque precantum

supposita fertur mutasse Mycenida cerva.

Ergo ubi, qua decuit, lenita est caede Diana,

et pariter Phoebes, pariter maris ira recessit,

accipiunt ventos a tergo mille carinae

multaque perpessae Phrygia potiuntur harena.

THE HOUSE OF FAME AND THE TROJAN CYGNUS

Orbe locus medio est inter terrasque fretumque

caelestesque plagas, triplicis confinia mundi,

unde quod est usquam, quamvis regionibus absit,

inspicitur, penetratque cavas vox omnis ad aures.

Fama tenet summaque domum sibi legit in arce,

innumerosque aditus ac mille foramina tectis

addidit et nullis inclusit limina portis:

nocte dieque patet. Tota est ex aere sonanti,

tota fremit vocesque refert iteratque quod audit.

Nulla quies intus nullaque silentia parte,

nec tamen est clamor, sed parvae murmura vocis,

qualia de pelagi, siquis procul audiat, undis

esse solent, qualemve sonum, cum Iuppiter atras

increpuit nubes, extrema tonitrua reddunt.

Atria turba tenet: veniunt, leve vulgus, euntque

mixtaque cum veris passim commenta vagantur

milia rumorum confusaque verba volutant.

E quibus hi vacuas inplent sermonibus aures,

hi narrata ferunt alio; mensuraque ficti

crescit, et auditis aliquid novus adicit auctor.

Illic Credulitas, illic temerarius Error

vanaque Laetitia est consternatique Timores

Seditioque recens dubioque auctore Susurri.

Ipsa, quid in caelo rerum pelagoque geratur

et tellure, videt totumque inquirit in orbem.

64 Achilles et Cygnus.

Fecerat haec notum Graias cum milite forti

adventare rates, neque inexspectatus in armis

hostis adest: prohibent aditus litusque tuentur

Troes, et Hectorea primus fataliter hasta,

Protesilae, cadis, commissaque proelia magno

stant Danais, fortisque animae nece cognitus Hector.

Nec Phryges exiguo, quid Achaica dextera possit

sanguine senserunt. Et iam Sigea rubebant

litora, iam leto proles Neptunia Cygnus

mille viros dederat, iam curru instabat Achilles

totaque Peliacae sternebat cuspidis ictu

agmina, perque acies aut Cygnum aut Hectora quaerens

congreditur Cygno (decimum dilatus in annum

Hector erat): tum colla iugo canentia pressos

exhortatus equos currum direxit in hostem

concutiensque suis vibrantia tela lacertis

“quisquis es, o iuvenis” dixit “solamen habeto

mortis, ab Haemonio quod sis iugulatus Achille.”

Hactenus Aeacides; vocem gravis hasta secuta est.

Sed quamquam certa nullus fuit error in hasta,

nil tamen emissi profecit acumine ferri

utque hebeti pectus tantummodo contudit ictu.

“Nate dea, nam te fama praenovimus,” inquit

ille “quid a nobis vulnus miraris abesse?”

(mirabatur enim) “non haec, quam cernis, equinis

fulva iubis cassis neque onus cava parma sinistrae

auxilio mihi sunt: decor est quaesitus ab istis.

Mars quoque ob hoc capere arma solet! Removebitur omne

tegminis officium, tamen indestrictus abibo.

Est aliquid non esse satum Nereide, sed qui

Nereaque et natas et totum temperat aequor.”

Dixit et haesurum clipei curvamine telum

misit in Aeaciden, quod et aes et proxima rupit

terga novena boum, decimo tamen orbe moratum est.

Excutit hoc heros rursusque trementia forti

tela manu torsit: rursus sine vulnere corpus

sincerumque fuit! Nec tertia cuspis apertum

100

et se praebentem valuit destringere Cygnum.

Haud secus exarsit, quam circo taurus aperto,

cum sua terribili petit inritamina cornu,

poeniceas vestes, elusaque vulnera sentit.

Num tamen exciderit ferrum, considerat hastae:

105

haerebat ligno. “Manus est mea debilis ergo,

quasque” ait “ante habuit vires, effudit in uno?

Nam certe valuit, vel cum Lyrnesia primus

moenia deieci, vel cum Tenedonque suoque

Eetioneas inplevi sanguine Thebas,

110

vel cum purpureus populari caede Caicus

fluxit opusque meae bis sensit Telephus hastae.

Hic quoque tot caesis, quorum per litus acervos

et feci et video, valuit mea dextra valetque.”

Dixit et, ante actis veluti male crederet, hastam

115

misit in adversum Lycia de plebe Menoeten

loricamque simul subiectaque pectora rupit.

Quo plangente gravem moribundo pectore terram

extrahit illud idem calido de vulnere telum

atque ait: “Haec manus est, haec, qua modo vicimus, hasta:

120

utar in hoc isdem; sit in hoc, precor, exitus idem!”

Sic fatus Cygnum repetit, nec fraxinus errat

inque umero sonuit non evitata sinistro,

inde velut muro solidaque a caute repulsa est;

qua tamen ictus erat, signatum sanguine Cygnum

125

viderat et frustra fuerat gavisus Achilles:

vulnus erat nullum, sanguis fuit ille Menoetae!

Tum vero praeceps curru fremebundus ab alto

desilit et nitido securum comminus hostem

ense petens parmam gladio galeamque cavari

130

cernit et in duro laedi quoque corpore ferrum!

Haud tulit ulterius, clipeoque adversa reducto

ter quater ora viri, capulo cava tempora pulsat

cedentique sequens instat turbatque ruitque

attonitoque negat requiem: pavor occupat illum,

135

ante oculosque natant tenebrae, retroque ferenti

aversos passus medio lapis obstitit arvo.

Quem super inpulsum resupino corpore Cygnum

vi multa vertit terraeque adflixit Achilles.

Tum clipeo genibusque premens praecordia duris

140

vincla trahit galeae: quae presso subdita mento

elidunt fauces et respiramen utrumque

eripiunt animae. Victum spoliare parabat:

arma relicta videt; corpus deus aequoris albam

contulit in volucrem, cuius modo nomen habebat.

145

146 Caeneus.

Hic labor, haec requiem multorum pugna dierum

attulit, et positis pars utraque substitit armis.

Dumque vigil Phrygios servat custodia muros

et vigil Argolicas servat custodia fossas,

festa dies aderat, qua Cygni victor Achilles

150

Pallada mactatae placabat sanguine vaccae.

Cuius ut inposuit prosecta calentibus aris

et dis acceptus penetravit in aethera nidor,

sacra tulere suam, pars est data cetera mensis.

Discubuere toris proceres et corpora tosta

155

carne replent vinoque levant curasque sitimque.

Non illos citharae, non illos carmina vocum

longave multifori delectat tibia buxi,

sed noctem sermone trahunt, virtusque loquendi

materia est: pugnas referunt hostisque suasque,

160

inque vices adita atque exhausta pericula saepe

commemorare iuvat,— quid enim loqueretur Achilles,

aut quid apud magnum potius loquerentur Achillem?

Proxima praecipue domito victoria Cygno

in sermone fuit. Visum mirabile cunctis,

165

quod iuvenis corpus nullo penetrabile telo

invictumque a vulnere erat ferrumque terebat.

Hoc ipse Aeacides, hoc mirabantur Achivi,

cum sic Nestor ait: “Vestro fuit unicus aevo

contemptor ferri nulloque forabilis ictu

170

Cygnus. At ipse olim patientem vulnera mille

corpore non laeso Perrhaebum Caenea vidi,

Caenea Perrhaebum, qui factis inclitus Othryn

incoluit; quoque id mirum magis esset in illo,

femina natus erat.” Monstri novitate feruntur

175

quisquis adest, narretque rogant. Quos inter Achilles:

“Dic age! nam cunctis eadem est audire voluntas,

o facunde senex, aevi prudentia nostri,

quis fuerit Caeneus, cur in contraria versus,

qua tibi militia, cuius certamine pugnae

180

cognitus, a quo sit victus, si victus ab ullo est.”

Tum senior: “Quamvis obstet mihi tarda vetustas,

multaque me fugiant primis spectata sub annis,

plura tamen memini. Nec, quae magis haereat ulla

pectore res nostro est inter bellique domique

185

acta tot. Ac siquem potuit spatiosa senectus

spectatorem operum multorum reddere, vixi

annos bis centum; nunc tertia vivitur aetas.

Clara decore fuit proles Elateia Caenis,

Thessalidum virgo pulcherrima, perque propinquas

190

perque tuas urbes (tibi enim popularis, Achille),

multorum frustra votis optata procorum.

Temptasset Peleus thalamos quoque forsitan illos,

sed iam aut contigerant illi conubia matris,

aut fuerant promissa, tuae. Nec Caenis in ullos

195

denupsit thalamos secretaque litora carpens

aequorei vim passa dei est (ita fama ferebat),

utque novae Veneris Neptunus gaudia cepit,

“sint tua vota licet” dixit “secura repulsae:

elige, quid voveas!” (eadem hoc quoque fama ferebat).

200

“Magnum” Caenis ait “facit haec iniuria votum;

tale pati iam posse nihil; da, femina ne sim:

omnia praestiteris.” Graviore novissima dixit

verba sono, poteratque viri vox illa videri,

sicut erat; nam iam voto deus aequoris alti

205

adnuerat dederatque super, ne saucius ullis

vulneribus fieri ferrove occumbere posset.

Munere laetus abit studiisque virilibus aevum

exigit Atracides Peneiaque arva pererrat.

210 Centaurorum et Lapitharum pugna.

Duxerat Hippodamen audaci Ixione natus,

210

nubigenasque feros positis ex ordine mensis

arboribus tecto discumbere iusserat antro.

Haemonii proceres aderant, aderamus et ipsi,

festaque confusa resonabat regia turba.

Ecce canunt Hymenaeon, et ignibus atria fumant,

215

cinctaque adest virgo matrum nuruumque caterva;

praesignis facie. Felicem diximus illa

coniuge Pirithoum: quod paene fefellimus omen.

Nam tibi, saevorum saevissime Centaurorum,

Euryte, quam vino pectus, tam virgine visa

220

ardet, et ebrietas geminata libidine regnat.

Protinus eversae turbant convivia mensae,

raptaturque comis per vim nova nupta prehensis.

Eurytus Hippodamen, alii, quam quisque probabant,

aut poterant, rapiunt, captaeque erat urbis imago.

225

Femineo clamore sonat domus: ocius omnes

surgimus, et primus “quae te vecordia,” Theseus

“Euryte, pulsat” ait, “qui me vivente lacessas

Pirithoum violesque duos ignarus in uno?”

Ille nihil contra (neque enim defendere verbis

talia facta potest), sed vindicis ora protervis

insequitur manibus generosaque pectora pulsat.

Forte fuit iuxta signis exstantibus asper

235

antiquus crater; quem vastum vastior ipso

sustulit Aegides adversaque misit in ora.

Sanguinis ille globos pariter cerebrumque merumque

vulnere et ore vomens madida resupinus harena

calcitrat. Ardescunt germani caede bimembres

240

certatimque omnes uno ore “arma, arma” loquuntur.

Vina dabant animos, et prima pocula pugna

missa volant fragilesque cadi curvique lebetes,

res epulis quondam, tum bello et caedibus aptae.

Primus Ophionides Amycus penetralia donis

245

haud timuit spoliare suis et primus ab aede

lampadibus densum rapuit funale coruscis,

elatumque alte, veluti qui candida tauri

rumpere sacrifica molitur colla securi,

inlisit fronti Lapithae Celadontis et ossa

250

non cognoscendo confusa relinquit in ore.

Exsiluere oculi, disiectisque ossibus oris

acta retro naris medioque est fixa palato.

Hunc pede convulso mensae Pellaeus acernae

stravit humi Pelates deiecto in pectora mento,

255

cumque atro mixtos sputantem sanguine dentes

vulnere Tartareas geminato mittit ad umbras.

Proximus ut steterat, spectans altaria vultu

fumida terribili “cur non” ait “utimur istis?”

cumque suis Gryneus inmanem sustulit aram

260

ignibus et medium Lapitharum iecit in agmen

depressitque duos, Brotean et Orion: Orio

mater erat Mycale, quam deduxisse canendo

saepe reluctantis constabat cornua lunae.

“Non inpune feres, teli modo copia detur!”

265

dixerat Exadius telique habet instar, in alta

quae fuerant pinu votivi cornua cervi.

Figitur hinc duplici Gryneus in lumina ramo

eruiturque oculos, quorum pars cornibus haeret,

pars fluit in barbam concretaque sanguine pendet.

270

Ecce rapit mediis flagrantem Rhoetus ab aris

pruniceum torrem dextraque a parte Charaxi

tempora perstringit fulvo protecta capillo.

Correpti rapida, veluti seges arida, flamma

arserunt crines, et vulnere sanguis inustus

275

terribilem stridore sonum dedit, ut dare ferrum

igne rubens plerumque solet, quod forcipe curva

cum faber eduxit, lacubus demittit: at illud

stridet et in tepida submersum sibilat unda.

Saucius hirsutis avidum de crinibus ignem

280

excutit inque umeros limen tellure revulsum

tollit, onus plaustri, quod ne permittat in hostem,

ipsa facit gravitas: socium quoque saxea moles

oppressit spatio stantem propiore Cometen.

Gaudia nec retinet Rhoetus: “Sic, conprecor,” inquit

285

“cetera sit fortis castrorum turba tuorum!”

semicremoque novat repetitum stipite vulnus,

terque quaterque gravi iuncturas verticis ictu

rupit, et in liquido sederunt ossa cerebro.

Victor ad Euagrum Corythumque Dryantaque transit;

290

e quibus ut prima tectus lanugine malas

procubuit Corythus, “puero quae gloria fuso

parta tibi est?” Euagrus ait, nec dicere Rhoetus

plura sinit rutilasque ferox in aperta loquentis

condidit ora viri perque os in pectora flammas.

295

Te quoque, saeve Drya, circum caput igne rotato

insequitur; sed non in te quoque constitit idem

exitus: adsiduae successu caedis ovantem,

qua iuncta est umero cervix, sude figis obusta.

Ingemuit duroque sudem vix osse revellit

300

Rhoetus et ipse suo madefactus sanguine fugit.

Fugit et Orneus Lycabasque et saucius armo

dexteriore Medon et cum Pisenore Thaumas,

quique pedum nuper certamine vicerat omnes

Mermeros (accepto tum vulnere tardius ibat!),

305

et Pholus et Melaneus et Abas praedator aprorum,

quique suis frustra bellum dissuaserat augur,

Astylos: ille etiam metuenti vulnera Nesso

“ne fuge! ad Herculeos” inquit “servaberis arcus.”

At non Eurynomus Lycidasque et Areos et Imbreus

310

effugere necem: quos omnes dextra Dryantis

perculit adversos. Adversum tu quoque, quamvis

terga fugae dederas, vulnus, Crenaee, tulisti;

nam grave respiciens inter duo lumina ferrum,

qua naris fronti committitur, accipis, imae.

315

316

In tanto fremitu cunctis sine fine iacebat

sopitus venis et inexperrectus Aphidas

languentique manu carchesia mixta tenebat,

fusus in Ossaeae villosis pellibus ursae.

Quem procul ut vidit frustra nulla arma moventem,

320

inserit amento digitos “miscenda” que dixit

“cum Styge vina bibes!” Phorbas; nec plura moratus

in iuvenem torsit iaculum, ferrataque collo

fraxinus, ut casu iacuit resupinus, adacta est.

Mors caruit sensu, plenoque e gutture fluxit

325

inque toros inque ipsa niger carchesia sanguis.

Vidi ego Petraeum conantem tollere terra

glandiferam quercum; quam dum conplexibus ambit

et quatit huc illuc labefactaque robora iactat,

lancea Pirithoi costis inmissa Petraei

330

pectora cum duro luctantia robore fixit.

Pirithoi cecidisse Lycum virtute ferebant,

Pirithoi virtute Chromin. Sed uterque minorem

victori titulum quam Dictys Helopsque dederunt:

fixus Helops iaculo, quod pervia tempora fecit

335

et missum a dextra laevam penetravit ad aurem;

Dictys, ab ancipiti delapsus acumine montis,

dum fugit instantem trepidans Ixione natum,

decidit in praeceps et pondere corporis ornum

ingentem fregit suaque induit ilia fractae.

340

Victor adest Aphareus saxumque e monte revulsum

mittere conatur: mittentem stipite querno

occupat Aegides cubitique ingentia frangit

ossa; nec ulterius dare corpus inutile leto

aut vacat aut curat tergoque Bienoris alti

345

insilit haud solito quemquam portare nisi ipsum,

opposuitque genu costis prensamque sinistra

caesariem retinens vultum minitantiaque ora

robore nodoso praeduraque tempora fregit:

robore Nedymnum iaculatoremque Lycopen

350

sternit et inmissa protectum pectora barba

Hippason et summis exstantem Riphea silvis

Thereaque, Haemoniis qui prensos montibus ursos

ferre domum vivos indignantesque solebat.

Haud tulit utentem pugnae successibus ultra

355

Thesea Demoleon: solido divellere dumo

annosam pinum magno molimine temptat;

quod quia non potuit, praefractam misit in hostem.

Sed procul a telo Theseus veniente recessit

Pallados admonitu: credi sic ipse volebat.

360

Non tamen arbor iners cecidit; nam Crantoris alti

abscidit iugulo pectusque umerumque sinistrum.

Armiger ille tui fuerat genitoris, Achille,

quem Dolopum rector, bello superatus, Amyntor

Aeacidae dederat pacis pignusque fidemque.

365

Hunc procul ut foedo disiectum vulnere Peleus

vidit, “at inferias, iuvenum gratissime Crantor,

accipe” ait, validoque in Demoleonta lacerto

fraxineam misit, mentis quoque viribus, hastam.

Quae laterum cratem praerupit et ossibus haerens

370

intremuit. Trahit ille manu sine cuspide lignum

(id quoque vix sequitur), cuspis pulmone retenta est.

Ipse dolor vires animo dabat: aeger in hostem

erigitur pedibusque virum proculcat equinis.

Excipit ille ictus galea clipeoque sonanti

375

defensatque umeros praetentaque sustinet arma

perque armos uno duo pectora perforat ictu.

Ante tamen leto dederat Phlegraeon et Hylen

eminus, Iphinoum conlato Marte Claninque;

additur his Dorylas, qui tempora tecta gerebat

380

pelle lupi saevique vicem praestantia teli

cornua vara boum multo rubefacta cruore.

Huic ego (nam vires animus dabat) “adspice,” dixi,

“quantum concedant nostro tua cornua ferro!”

et iaculum torsi; quod cum vitare nequiret,

385

opposuit dextram passurae vulnera fronti:

adfixa est cum fronte manus. Fit clamor, at illum

haerentem Peleus et acerbo vulnere victum

(stabat enim propior) mediam ferit ense sub alvum.

Prosiluit terraque ferox sua viscera traxit

390

tractaque calcavit calcataque rupit et illis

crura quoque inpediit et inani concidit alvo.

Nec te pugnantem tua, Cyllare, forma redemit,

si modo naturae formam concedimus illi:

barba erat incipiens, barbae color aureus, aurea

395

ex umeris medios coma dependebat in armos.

Gratus in ore vigor; cervix umerique manusque

pectoraque artificum laudatis proxima signis,

et quacumque vir est; nec equi mendosa sub illo

deteriorque viro facies: da colla caputque,

400

Castore dignus erit; sic tergum sessile, sic sunt

pectora celsa toris. Totus pice nigrior atra;

candida cauda tamen, color est quoque cruribus albus.

Multae illum petiere sua de gente, sed una

abstulit Hylonome, qua nulla decentior inter

405

semiferos altis habitavit femina silvis.

Haec et blanditiis et amando et amare fatendo

Cyllaron una tenet; cultus quoque, quantus in illis

esse potest membris, ut sit coma pectine levis,

ut modo rore maris, modo se violave rosave

410

inplicet, interdum candentia lilia gestet,

bisque die lapsis Pagasaeae vertice silvae

fontibus ora lavet, bis flumine corpora tingat,

nec nisi quae deceant electarumque ferarum

aut umero aut lateri praetendat vellera laevo.

415

Par amor est illis: errant in montibus una,

antra simul subeunt; et tum Lapitheia tecta

intrarant pariter, pariter fera bella gerebant.

Auctor in incerto est: iaculum de parte sinistra

venit et inferius qua collo pectora subsunt,

420

Cyllare, te fixit; parvo cor vulnere laesum

corpore cum toto post tela educta refrixit.

Protinus Hylonome morientes excipit artus

inpositaque manu vulnus fovet oraque ad ora

admovet atque animae fugienti obsistere temptat.

425

Ut videt exstinctum, dictis, quae clamor ad aures

arcuit ire meas, telo, quod inhaeserat illi,

incubuit moriensque suum conplexa maritum est.

429

Ante oculos stat et ille meos, qui sena leonum

vinxerat inter se conexis vellera nodis,

430

Phaeocomes, hominemque simul protectus equumque.

Codice qui misso, quem vix iuga bina moverent,

Tectaphon Oleniden a summo vertice fregit.

Ast ego, dum parat hic armis nudare iacentem,

(scit tuus hoc genitor) gladium spoliantis in ima

440

ilia demisi. Chthonius quoque Teleboasque

ense iacent nostro: ramum prior ille bifurcum

gesserat, hic iaculum; iaculo mihi vulnera fecit:

signa vides! adparet adhuc vetus inde cicatrix.

Tunc ego debueram capienda ad Pergama mitti,

445

tum poteram magni, si non superare, morari

Hectoris arma meis! Illo sed tempore nullus,

aut puer Hector erat, nunc me mea deficit aetas.

Quid tibi victorem gemini Periphanta Pyraethi,

Ampyca quid referam, qui quadrupedantis Echecli

450

fixit in adverso cornum sine cuspide vultu?

Vecte Pelethronium Macareus in pectus adacto

stravit Erigdupum, memini et venabula condi

inguine Nesseis manibus coniecta Cymeli.

Nec tu credideris tantum cecinisse futura

455

Ampyciden Mopsum: Mopso iaculante biformis

accubuit frustraque loqui temptavit Hodites

ad mentum lingua mentoque ad guttura fixo.

Quinque neci Caeneus dederat, Styphelumque Bromumque

Antimachumque Elymumque securiferumque Pyraechmen:

460

vulnera non memini, numerum nomenque notavi.

Provolat Emathii spoliis armatus Alesi,

quem dederat leto, membris et corpore Latreus

maximus: huic aetas inter iuvenemque senemque,

vis iuvenalis erat, variabant tempora cani.

465

Qui clipeo gladioque Macedoniaque sarisa

conspicuus faciemque obversus in agmen utrumque

armaque concussit certumque equitavit in orbem

verbaque tot fudit vacuas animosus in auras:

“Et te, Caeni, feram? Nam tu mihi femina semper,

470

tu mihi Caenis eris. Nec te natalis origo

commonuit, mentemque subit, quo praemia facto

quaque viri falsam speciem mercede parasti?

Quid sis nata, vide, vel quid sis passa, columque,

i, cape cum calathis et stamina pollice torque:

475

bella relinque viris.” Iactanti talia Caeneus

extentum cursu missa latus eruit hasta,

qua vir equo commissus erat. Furit ille dolore

nudaque Phyllei iuvenis ferit ora sarisa.

Non secus haec resilit, quam tecti a culmine grando,

480

aut siquis parvo feriat cava tympana saxo.

Comminus adgreditur laterique recondere duro

luctatur gladium: gladio loca pervia non sunt.

“Haud tamen effugies! medio iugulaberis ense,

quandoquidem mucro est hebes” inquit et in latus ensem

485

obliquat longaque amplectitur ilia dextra.

Plaga facit gemitus in corpore marmoris icti,

fractaque dissiluit percusso lammina callo.

Ut satis inlaesos miranti praebuit artus,

“nunc age,” ait Caeneus, “nostro tua corpora ferro

490

temptemus!” capuloque tenus demisit in armos

ensem fatiferum caecumque in viscera movit

versavitque manu vulnusque in vulnere fecit.

Ecce ruunt vasto rabidi clamore bimembres

telaque in hunc omnes unum mittuntque feruntque.

495

Tela retusa cadunt: manet inperfossus ab omni

inque cruentatus Caeneus Elateius ictu.

Fecerat attonitos nova res. “Heu dedecus ingens!”

Monychus exclamat, “populus superamur ab uno

vixque viro: quamquam ille vir est, nos segnibus actis

500

quod fuit ille, sumus! Quid membra inmania prosunt?

Quid geminae vires et quod fortissima rerum

in nobis duplex natura animalia iunxit?

Nec nos matre dea, nec nos Ixione natos

esse reor, qui tantus erat, Iunonis ut altae

505

spem caperet: nos semimari superamur ab hoste!

Saxa trabesque super totosque involvite montes

vivacemque animam missis elidite silvis!

silva premat fauces, et erit pro vulnere pondus.”

Dixit et insanis deiectam viribus austri

510

forte trabem nactus validum coniecit in hostem

exemplumque fuit, parvoque in tempore nudus

arboris Othrys erat, nec habebat Pelion umbras.

Obrutus inmani tumulo sub pondere Caeneus

aestuat arboreo congestaque robora duris

515

fert umeris. Sed enim postquam super ora caputque

crevit onus neque habet, quas ducat, spiritus auras,

deficit interdum, modo se super aera frustra

tollere conatur iactasque evolvere silvas,

interdumque movet, veluti, quam cernimus, ecce,

520

ardua si terrae quatiatur motibus Ide.

Exitus in dubio est: alii sub inania corpus

Tartara detrusum silvarum mole ferebant;

abnuit Ampycides medioque ex aggere fulvis

vidit avem pennis liquidas exire sub auras,

525

quae mihi tum primum, tunc est conspecta supremum.

Hanc ubi lustrantem leni sua castra volatu

Mopsus et ingenti circum clangore sonantem

adspexit pariterque animis oculisque secutus

“o salve” dixit, “Lapithaeae gloria gentis,

530

maxime vir quondam, sed nunc avis unica, Caeneu!”

Credita res auctore suo est: dolor addidit iram,

oppressumque aegre tulimus tot ab hostibus unum;

nec prius abstitimus ferro exercere dolorem,

quam data pars leto, partem fuga noxque removit.”

535

536 Periclymenus.

Haec inter Lapithas et semihomines Centauros

proelia Tlepolemus Pylio referente dolorem

praeteriti Alcidae tacito non pertulit ore

atque ait: “Herculeae mirum est oblivia laudis

acta tibi, senior! Certe mihi saepe referre

540

nubigenas domitos a se pater esse solebat.”

Tristis ad haec Pylius: “Quid me meminisse malorum

cogis et obductos oculis rescindere luctus

inque tuum genitorem odium offensasque fateri?

Ille quidem maiora fide, di! gessit et orbem

545

inplevit meritis, quod mallem posse negare:

sed neque Deiphobum nec Polydamanta nec ipsum

Hectora laudamus—quis enim laudaverit hostem?

Ille tuus genitor Messenia moenia quondam

stravit et inmeritas urbes Elimque Pylumque

550

diruit inque meos ferrum flammamque penatis

inpulit, utque alios taceam, quos ille peremit,

bis sex Nelidae fuimus, conspecta iuventus:

bis sex Herculeis ceciderunt me minus uno

viribus; atque alios vinci potuisse ferendum est:

555

mira Periclymeni mors est, cui posse figuras

sumere, quas vellet, rursusque reponere sumptas

Neptunus dederat, Nelei sanguinis auctor.

Hic ubi nequiquam est formas variatus in omnes,

vertitur in faciem volucris, quae fulmina curvis

560

ferre solet pedibus divum gratissima regi;

Viribus usus avis pennis rostroque redunco

hamatisque viri laniaverat unguibus ora:

tendit in hunc nimium certos Tirynthius arcus

atque inter nubes sublimia membra ferentem

565

pendentemque ferit, lateri qua iungitur ala;

nec grave vulnus erat sed rupti vulnere nervi

deficiunt motumque negant viresque volandi.

Decidit in terram, non concipientibus auras

infirmis pennis, et qua levis haeserat alae,

570

corporis adfixi pressa est gravitate sagitta

perque latus summum iugulo est exacta sinistro.

Nunc videor debere tui praeconia rebus

Herculis, o Rhodiae rector pulcherrime classis?

Nec tamen ulterius, quam fortia facta silendo

575

ulciscor fratres: solida est mihi gratia tecum.”

THE DEATH OF ACHILLES

Haec postquam dulci Neleius edidit ore,

a sermone senis repetito munere Bacchi

surrexere toris: nox est data cetera somno.

580 Achillis mors.

At deus, aequoreas qui cuspide temperat undas,

580

in volucrem corpus nati Phaethontida versum

mente dolet patria saevumque perosus Achillem

exercet memores plus quam civiliter iras,

iamque fere tracto duo per quinquennia bello

talibus intonsum conpellat Sminthea dictis:

585

“O mihi de fratris longe gratissime natis,

inrita qui mecum posuisti moenia Troiae,

ecquid, ubi has iamiam casuras adspicis arces,

ingemis? Aut ecquid tot defendentia muros

milia caesa doles? Ecquid, ne persequar omnes,

590

Hectoris umbra subit circum sua Pergama tracti?

cum tamen ille ferox belloque cruentior ipso

vivit adhuc, operis nostri populator, Achilles.

Det mihi se! faxo, triplici quid cuspide possim,

sentiat; at quoniam concurrere comminus hosti

595

non datur, occulta necopinum perde sagitta!”

Adnuit atque animo pariter patruique suoque

Delius indulgens nebula velatus in agmen

pervenit Iliacum mediaque in caede virorum

rara per ignotos spargentem cernit Achivos

600

tela Parim fassusque deum “Quid spicula perdis

sanguine plebis?” ait. “Siqua est tibi cura tuorum,

vertere in Aeaciden caesosque ulciscere fratres!”

Dixit et ostendens sternentem Troica ferro

corpora Peliden, arcus obvertit in illum

605

certaque letifera direxit spicula dextra.

Quod Priamus gaudere senex post Hectora posset,

hoc fuit: ille igitur tantorum victor, Achille,

victus es a timido Graiae raptore maritae!

At si femineo fuerat tibi Marte cadendum,

610

Thermodontiaca malles cecidisse bipenni!

Iam timor ille Phrygum, decus et tutela Pelasgi

nominis, Aeacides, caput insuperabile bello,

arserat: armarat deus idem idemque cremabat;

iam cinis est, et de tam magno restat Achille

615

nescio quid parvam, quod non bene conpleat urnam:

at vivit totum quae gloria conpleat orbem!

Haec illi mensura viro respondet, et hac est

par sibi Pelides nec inania Tartara sentit.

Ipse etiam, ut, cuius fuerit, cognoscere posses

620

bella movet clipeus, deque armis arma feruntur.

Non ea Tydides, non audet Oileos Aiax,

non minor Atrides, non bello maior et aevo

poscere, non alii: solis Telamone creato

Laerteque fuit tantae fiducia laudis.

625

A se Tantalides onus invidiamque removit

Argolicosque duces mediis considere castris

iussit et arbitrium litis traiecit in omnes.

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.) — 12 focus

Book 12

Graeci Aulide. Fama. EVENTS IN AULIS

Sadly his father, Priam, mourned for him,

not knowing that young Aesacus had assumed

wings on his shoulders, and was yet alive.

Then also Hector with his brothers made

complete but unavailing sacrifice,

upon a tomb which bore his carved name.

Paris was absent. But soon afterwards,

he brought into that land a ravished wife,

Helen, the cause of a disastrous war,

together with a thousand ships, and all

the great Pelasgian nation.

Vengeance would

not long have been delayed, but the fierce winds

raged over seas impassable, and held

the ships at fishy Aulis . They could not

be moved from the Boeotian land. Here, when

a sacrifice had been prepared to Jove,

according to the custom of their land,

and when the ancient altar glowed with fire,

the Greeks observed an azure colored snake

crawling up in a plane tree near the place

where they had just begun their sacrifice.

Among the highest branches was a nest,

with twice four birds—and those the serpent seized

together with the mother-bird as she

was fluttering round her loss. And every bird

the serpent buried in his greedy maw.

All stood amazed: but Calchas, who perceived

the truth, exclaimed, “Rejoice Pelasgian men,

for we shall conquer; Troy will fall; although

the toil of war must long continue—so

the nine birds equal nine long years of war.”

And while he prophesied, the serpent, coiled

about the tree, was transformed to a stone,

curled crooked as a snake.

but Nereus stormed

in those Aonian waves, and not a ship

moved forward. Some declared that Neptune thus

was aiding Troy , because he built the walls

of that great city. Not so Calchas, son

of Thestor! He knew all the truth, and told

them plainly that a virgin's blood

alone might end a virgin goddess' wrath.

The public good at last prevailed above

affection, and the duty of a king

at last proved stronger than a father's love:

when Iphigenia as a sacrifice,

stood by the altar with her weeping maids

and was about to offer her chaste blood,

the goddess, moved by pity, spread a mist

before their eyes, amid the sacred rites

and mournful supplications. It is said

she left a hind there in the maiden's place

and carried Iphigenia away. The hind,

as it was fitting, calmed Diana's rage

and also calmed the anger of the sea.

The thousand ships received the winds astern

and gained the Phrygian shore.

THE HOUSE OF FAME AND THE TROJAN CYGNUS

There is a spot

convenient in the center of the world,

between the land and sea and the wide heavens,

the meeting of the threefold universe.

From there is seen all things that anywhere

exist, although in distant regions far;

and there all sounds of earth and space are heard.

Fame is possessor of this chosen place,

and has her habitation in a tower,

which aids her view from that exalted highs.

And she has fixed there numerous avenues,

and openings, a thousand, to her tower

and no gates with closed entrance, for the house

is open, night and day, of sounding brass,

reechoing the tones of every voice.

It must repeat whatever it may hear;

and there's no rest, and silence in no part.

There is no clamor; but the murmuring sound

of subdued voices, such as may arise

from waves of a far sea, which one may hear

who listens at a distance; or the sound

which ends a thunderclap, when Jupiter

has clashed black clouds together. Fickle crowds

are always in that hall, that come and go,

and myriad rumors—false tales mixed with true—

are circulated in confusing words.

Some fill their empty ears with all this talk,

and some spread elsewhere all that's told to them.

The volume of wild fiction grows apace,

and each narrator adds to what he hears.

Credulity is there and rash Mistake,

and empty Joy, and coward Fear alarmed

by quick Sedition, and soft Whisper—all

of doubtful life. Fame sees what things are done

in heaven and on the sea, and on the earth.

She spies all things in the wide universe.

Achilles et Cygnus.

Fame now had spread the tidings, a great fleet

of Greek ships was at that time on its way,

an army of brave men. The Trojans stood,

all ready to prevent the hostile Greeks

from landing on their shores. By the decree

of Fate, the first man killed of the invaders' force

100

was strong Protesilaus, by the spear

of valiant Hector, whose unthought-of power

at that time was discovered by the Greeks

to their great cost. The Phyrgians also learned,

at no small cost of blood, what warlike strength

105

came from the Grecian land. The Sigean shores

grew red with death-blood: Cygnus, Neptune 's son,

there slew a thousand men: for which, in wrath,

Achilles pressed his rapid chariot

straight through the Trojan army; making a lane

110

with his great spear, shaped from a Pelion tree.

And as he sought through the fierce battle's press,

either for Cygnus or for Hector , he

met Cygnus and engaged at once with him

(Fate had preserved great Hector from such foe

115

till ten years from that day).

Cheering his steeds,

their white necks pressed upon the straining yoke,

he steered the chariot towards his foe,

and, brandishing the spear with his strong arm,

120

he cried, “Whoever you may be, you have

the consolation of a glorious death

you die by me, Haemonian Achilles!”

His heavy spear flew after the fierce words.

Although the spear was whirled direct and true,

125

yet nothing it availed with sharpened point.

It only bruised, as with a blunted stroke,

the breast of Cygnus ! “By report we knew

of you before this battle, goddess born.”

The other answered him, “But why are you

130

surprised that I escape the threatened wound?”

(Achilles was surprised). “This helmet crowned,

great with its tawny horse-hair, and this shield,

broad-hollowed, on my left arm, are not held

for help in war: they are but ornament,

135

as Mars wears armor. All of them shall be

put off, and I will fight with you unhurt.

It is a privilege that I was born

not as you, of a Nereid but of him

whose powerful rule is over Nereus,

140

his daughters and their ocean.” So, he spoke.

Immediately he threw his spear against Achilles,

destined to pierce the curving shield through brass,

and through nine folds of tough bull's hide.

It stopped there, for it could not pierce the tenth.

145

The hero wrenched it out, and hurled again

a quivering spear at Cygnus , with great strength.

The Trojan stood unwounded and unharmed.

Nor did a third spear injure Cygnus , though

he stood there with his body all exposed.

150

Achilles raged at this, as a wild bull

in open circus, when with dreadful horns

he butts against the hanging purple robes

which stir his wrath and there observes how they

evade him, quite unharmed by his attack.

155

Achilles then examined his good spear,

to see if by some chance the iron point

was broken from it, but the point was firm,

fixed on the wooden shaft. “My hand is weak,”

he said, “but is it possible its strength

160

forsook me though it never has before?

For surely I had my accustomed strength,

when first I overthrew Lyrnessus' walls,

or when I won the isle of Tenedos

or Thebes (then under King Eetion)

165

and I drenched both with their own peoples' blood,

or when the river Caycus ran red

with slaughter of its people, or, when twice

Telephus felt the virtue of my spear.

On this field also, where such heaps lie slain,

170

my right hand surely has proved its true might;

and it is mighty.”

So he spoke of strength,

remembered. But as if in proof against

his own distrust, he hurled a spear against

175

Menoetes, a soldier in the Lycian ranks.

The sharp spear tore the victim's coat of mail

and pierced his breast beneath. Achilles, when

he saw his dying head strike on the earth

wrenched the same spear from out the reeking wound,

180

and said, “This is the hand, and this the spear

I conquered with; and I will use the same

against him who in luck escaped their power;

and the result should favor as I pray

the helpful gods.”

185

And, as he said such words,

in haste he hurled his ashen spear, again

at Cygnus . It went straight and struck unshunned.

Resounding on the shoulder of that foe,

it bounced back as if it hit a wall

190

or solid cliff. Yet when Achilles saw

just where the spear struck, Cygnus there

was stained with blood. He instantly rejoiced;

but vainly, for it was Menoetes' blood!

Then in a sudden rage, Achilles leaped

195

down headlong from his lofty chariot;

and, seeking his god-favored foe, he struck

in conflict fiercely, with his gleaming sword.

Although he saw that he had pierced both shield

and helmet through, he did not harm the foe—

200

his sword was even blunted on the flesh.

Achilles could not hold himself for rage,

but furious, with his sword-hilt and his shield

he battered wildly the uncovered face

and hollow-temples of his Trojan foe.

205

Cygnus gave way; Achilles rushed on him,

buffeting fiercely, so that he could not

recover from the shock. Fear seized upon

Cygnus , and darkness swam before his eyes.

Then, as he moved back with retreating steps,

210

a large stone hindered him and blocked his way.

His back pushed against this, Achilles seized

and dashed him violently to the ground.

Then pressing with buckler and hard knees the breast

of Cygnus , he unlaced the helmet thongs,

215

wound them about the foeman's neck and drew

them tightly under his chin, till Cygnus ' throat

could take no breath of life. Achilles rose

eager to strip his conquered foe but found

his empty armor, for the god of ocean

220

had changed the victim into that white bird

whose name he lately bore.

Caeneus. CAENEUS TRANSFORMED INTO A BIRD

There was a truce

for many days after this opening fight

while both sides resting, laid aside their arms.

225

A watchful guard patroled the Phrygian walls;

the Grecian trenches had their watchful guard.

Then, on a festal day, Achilles gave

the blood of a slain heifer to obtain

the favor of Athena for their cause.

230

The entrails burned upon the altar, while

the odor, grateful to the deities,

was mounting to the skies. When sacred rites

were done, a banquet for the heroes was

served on their tables. There the Grecian chiefs

235

reclined on couches; while they satisfied

themselves with roasted flesh, and banished cares:

and thirst with wine. Nor harp nor singing voice

nor long pipe made of boxwood pierced with holes,

delighted them. They talked of their own deeds

240

and valor, all that thrilling night: and even

the strength of enemies whom they had met

and overcome. What else could they admit

or think of, while the great Achilles spoke

or listened to them? But especially

245

the recent victory over Cygnus held

them ardent. Wonderful it seemed to them

that such a youth could be composed of flesh

not penetrable by the sharpest spear;

of flesh which blunted even hardened steel,

250

and never could be wounded. All the Greeks,

and even Achilles wondered at the thought.

Then Nestor said to them: “During your time,

Cygnus has been the only man you knew

who could despise all weapons and whose flesh

255

could not be pierced by thrust of sword or spear.

But long ago I saw another man

able to bear unharmed a thousand strokes,

Caeneus of Thessaly , Caeneus who lived

upon Mt. Othrys. He was famed in war

260

yet, strange to say, by birth he was a woman!”

Then all expressed the greatest wonderment,

and begged to hear the story of his life.

Achilles cried, “O eloquent old man!

The wisdom of our age! All of us wish

265

to hear, who was this Caeneus? Why was he

changed to the other sex? in what campaigns,

and in what wars was he so known to you?

Who conquered him, if any ever did?”

The aged man replied to them with care:—

270

“Although my great age is a harm to me,

and many actions of my early days

escape my memory; yet, most of them

are well remembered. Nothing of old days,

amid so many deeds of war and peace,

275

can be more firmly fixed upon my mind

than the strange story I shall tell of him.

“If long extent of years made anyone

a witness of most wonderful events

and many, truly I may say to you

280

that I have lived two hundred years; and now

have entered my third century.

The daughter of Elatus, Caenis, was

remarkable for charm—most beautiful

of all Thessalian maidens—many sighed

285

for her in vain through all the neighboring towns

and yours, Achilles, for that was her home.

But Peleus did not try to win her love,

for he was either married at that time

to your dear mother, or was pledged to her.

290

“Caenis never became the willing bride

of any suitor; but report declares,

while she was walking on a lonely shore,

the god of ocean saw and ravished her.

And in the joy of that love Neptune said,

295

‘Request of me whatever you desire,

and nothing shall deny your dearest wish!’—

the story tells us that he made this pledge.

And Caenis said to Neptune , ‘The great wrong,

which I have suffered from you justifies

300

the wonderful request that I must make;

I ask that I may never suffer such

an injury again. Grant I may be

no longer woman, and I'll ask no more.’

while she was speaking to him, the last words

305

of her strange prayer were uttered in so deep,

in such a manly tone, it seemed indeed

they must be from a man.—That was a fact:

Neptune not only had allowed her prayer

but made the new man proof against all wounds

310

of spear or sword. Rejoicing in the gift

he went his way as Caeneus Atracides,

spent years in every manful exercise,

and roamed the plains of northern Thessaly .

Centaurorum et Lapitharum pugna.

“The son of bold Ixion, Pirithous

315

wedding Hippodame, had asked as guests

the cloud-born centaurs to recline around

the ordered tables, in a cool cave, set

under some shading trees. Thessalian chiefs

were there and I myself was with them there.

320

The festal place resounded with the rout

in noisy clamor, singing nuptial verse;

and in the great room, filled with smoking fire,

the maiden came escorted by a crowd

of matrons and young married women; she

325

most beautiful of all that lovely throng.

“And so Pirithous, the fortunate son,

of bold Ixion, was so praised by all,

for his pure joy and lovely wife,

it seemed his very blessings must have led

330

to fatal harm: for savage Eurytus,

wildest of the wild centaurs, now inflamed

with sudden envy, drunkenness, and lust,

upset the tables and made havoc there

so dreadful, that the banquet suddenly

335

was changed from love to uproar. Seized by the hair,

the bride was violently dragged away.

When Eurytus caught up Hippodame

each one of all the centaurs took at will

the maid or matron that he longed for most.

340

The palace, seeming like a captured town,

resounded with affrighted shrieks of women.

At once we all sprang up. And Theseus cried,

“What madness, Eurytus, has driven you

to this vile wickedness! While I have life,

345

you dare attack Pirithous. You know

not what you do, for one wrong injures both!’

The valiant hero did not merely talk:

he pushed them off as they were pressing on,

and rescued her whom Eurytus had seized.

350

Since Eurytus could not defend such deeds

with words, he turned and beat with violent hands

the face of him who saved the bride and struck

his generous breast. By chance, an ancient bowl

was near at hand. This rough with figures carved,

355

the son of Aegeus caught and hurled it full

in that vile centaur's face. He, spouting out

thick gouts of blood, and bleeding from his wounds—

his brains and wine mixed,—kicked the blood-soaked sand.

His double membered centaur brothers, wild

360

with passion at his death, all shouted out,

‘To arms! to arms!’ Their courage raised by wine!

In their first onset, hurled cups flew about,

and shattered wine casks, hollow basins—things

before adapted to a banquet, now

365

for death and carnage in the furious fight.

Amycus first (Opinion's son) began to spoil

the inner sanctuary of its gifts.

He snatched up from that shrine a chandelier,

adorned with glittering lamps, and lifted high,

370

with all the force of one who strives to break

the bull s white neck with sacrificial axe,

he dashed it at the head of Celadon,

one of the Lapithae, and crushed his skull

into the features of his face. His eyes

375

leaped from his sockets, and the shattered bones

of his smashed face gave way so that his nose

was driven back and fastened in his throat.

But Belates of Pella tore away

a table-leg of maple wood and felled

380

Amycus to the ground; his sunken chin

cast down upon his breast; and, as he spat

his teeth out mixed with blood, a second blow

despatched him to the shades of Tartarus.

“Gryneus, seeing a smoking altar, cried,

385

‘Good use for this,’ with which words he raised up

that heavy, blazing altar. Hurling it

into the middle of the Lapithae,

he struck down Broteas and Orius:

Mycale, mother of that Orius,

390

was famous for her incantations,

which she had often used to conjure down

the shining twin-horns of the unwilling moon.

Exadius threatened, ‘You shall not escape!

Let me but have a weapon!’ And with that,

395

he whirled the antlers of a votive stag,

which he found there, hung on a tall pine-tree;

and with that double-branching horn he pierced

the eyes of Gryneus, and he gouged them out.

One eye stuck to the horn; the other rolled

400

down on his beard, to which it strictly clung

in dreadful clotted gore.

Then Rhoetus snatched

a blazing brand of plum-wood from an altar

and whirling it upon the right, smashed through

405

the temples of Charaxus, wonderful

with golden hair. Seized by the violent flames,

his yellow locks burned fiercely, as a field

of autumn grain; and even the scorching blood

gave from the sore wound a terrific noise

410

as a red-hot iron in pincers which the smith

lifts out and plunges in the tepid pool,

hissing and sizzling. Charaxus shook

the fire from his burnt locks; and heaved up on

his shoulders a large threshold stone torn from

415

the ground—a weight sufficient for a team

of oxen. The vast weight impeded him,

so that it could not even touch his foe—

and yet, the massive stone did hit his friend,

Cometes, who was standing near to him,

420

and crushed him down. Then Rhoetus, crazed with joy,

exulting yelled, ‘I pray that all of you

may be so strong!’ Wielding his half-burnt stake

with heavy blows again and again, he broke

the sutures of his enemy's skull, until

425

the bones were mingled with his oozing brains.

“Victorious, then rushed he upon Evagrus,

and Corythus and Dryas. First of these

was youthful Corythus, whose cheeks were then

just covered with soft down. When he fell dead,

430

Evagrus cried, ‘What glory do you get,

killing a boy?’ But Rhoetus did not give

him time for uttering one word more. He pushed

the red hot stake into the foeman's mouth,

while he still spoke, and down into his lungs.

435

He then pursued the savage Dryas, while

whirling the red fire fast about his head;

but not with like success, for, while he still

rejoiced in killings, Dryas turned and pierced

him with a stake where neck and shoulder meet.

440

“Rhoetus groaned and with a great effort pulled

the stake out from the bone, then fled away,

drenched in his blood. And Orneus followed him.

Lycabas fled, and Medon with a wound

in his right shoulder. Thaumas and Pisenor

445

and Mermerus fled with them. Mermerus,

who used to excell all others in a race,

ran slowly, crippled by a recent wound.

Pholus and Melaneus ran for their lives

and with them Abas, hunter of wild boars

450

and Asbolus, the augur, who in vain

had urged his friends to shun that hapless fight.

As Nessus joined the rout, he said to him,

‘You need not flee, for you shall be reserved

a victim for the bow of Hercules!’

455

but neither Lycidas, Eurynomus

nor Areos, nor Imbreus had escaped

from death: for all of these the strong right hand

of Dryas pierced, as they confronted him.

Crenaeus there received a wound in front.

460

Although he turned in flight, as he looked back,

a heavy javelin between his eyes

pierced through him, where his nose and forehead joined.

“In all this uproar, Aphidas lay flat,

in endless slumber from the wine he drank,

465

incessant, and his nerveless hand still held

the cup of mixed wine, as he lay full stretched,

upon a shaggy bear-skin from Mount Ossa.

When Phorbas saw him, harmless in that sleep,

he laid his fingers in his javelin's thong,

470

and shouted loudly, ‘Mix your wine, down there,

with waters of the Styx !’ And stopping talk,

let fly his javelin at the sleeping youth—

the ashen shaft, iron-tipped, was driven through

his neck, exposed, as he by chance lay there—

475

his head thrown back. He did not even feel

a touch of death—and from his deep-pierced throat

his crimson blood flowed out upon the couch,

and in the wine-bowl still grasped in his hand.

“I saw Petraeus when he strove to tear

480

up from the earth, an acorn-bearing oak.

And, while he struggled with it, back and forth,

and was just ready to wrench up the trunk,

Pirithous hurled a well aimed spear at him,

transfixed his ribs, and pinned his body tight,

485

writhing, to that hard oak: and Lycus fell

and Chromis fell, before Pirithous.

“They gave less glory to the conqueror

than Helops or than Dictys. Helops was

killed by a javelin, which pierced his temples

490

from the right side, clear through to his left ear.

And Dictys, running in a desperate haste,

hoping in vain, to escape Ixion's son,

slipped on the steep edge of a precipice;

and, as he fell down headlong crashed into

495

the top of a huge ash-tree, which impaled

his dying body on its broken spikes.

“Aphareus, eager to avenge him tried

to lift a rock from that steep mountain side;

but as he heaved, the son of Aegeus struck

500

him squarely with an oaken club; and smashed,

and broke the huge bones of that centaur's arm.

He has no time, and does not want to give

that useless foe to death. He leaps upon

the back of tall Bienor, never trained

505

to carry riders, and he fixed his knees

firm in the centaur's ribs, and holding tight

to the long hair, seized by his left hand, struck

and shattered the hard features and fierce face

and bony temples with his club of gnarled

510

strong oak. And with it, he struck to the ground

Nedymnus and Lycopes, dart expert,

and Hippasus, whose beard hid all his breast.

And Rhipheus taller than the highest trees

and Thereus, who would carry home alive

515

the raging bears, caught in Thessalian hills.

Demoleon could no longer stand and look

on Theseus and his unrestrained success.

He struggled with vast effort to tear up

an old pine, trunk and all, with its long roots,

520

and, failing shortly in that first attempt,

he broke it off and hurled it at his foe.

But Theseus saw the pine tree in its flight

and, warned by Pallas , got beyond its range—

his boast was, Pallas had directed him!

525

And yet, the missle was not launched in vain.

It sheared the left shoulder and the breast

from tall Crantor. He, Achilles, was

your father's armor bearer and was given

by King Amyntor, when he sued for peace.

530

“When Peleus at a distance saw him torn

and mangled, he exclaimed, ‘At least receive

this sacrifice, O Crantor! most beloved!

Dearest of young men!’ And with sturdy arm

and all his strength of soul as well, he hurled

535

his ashen lance against Demoleon,

which piercing through his shivered ribs, hung there

and quivered in the bones. The centaur wrenched

the wooden shaft out, with his frenzied hands,

but could not move the pointed head, which stuck

540

within his lungs. His very anguish gave

him such a desperation, that he rose

against his foe and trampled and beat down

the hero with his hoofs, Peleus allowed

the blows to fall on helm and ringing shield.

545

Protected so, he watched his time and thrust

up through the centaur's shoulder. By one stroke

he pierced two breasts, where horse and man-form met.

Before this, Peleus with the spear had killed

both Myles and Phlegraeus and with the sword

550

Iphinous and Clanis. Now he killed

Dorylas, who was clad in a wolfskin cap

and fought with curving bull's horns dripping blood.

“To him I said, for courage gave me strength,

‘Your horns! how much inferior to my steel!’—

555

and threw my spear. Since he could not avoid

the gleaming point, he held up his right hand

to shield his forehead from the threatened wound.

His hand was pierced and pinned against his forehead.

He shouted madly. Peleus, near him while

560

he stood there pinned and helpless with his wound,

struck him with sharp sword in the belly deep.

He leaped forth fiercely, as he trailed his bowels

upon the ground, with his entangled legs

treading upon them, bursting them, he fell

565

with empty belly, lifeless to the earth.

“Cyllarus, beauty did not save your life—

if beauty is in any of your tribe—

your golden beard was in its early growth,

your golden hair came flowing to your shoulders.

570

in your bright face there was a pleasing glance.

The neck and shoulders and the hands and breast,:

and every aspect of his human form

resembled those admired statues which

our gifted artists carve. Even the shape

575

of the fine horse beneath the human form

was perfect too. Give him the head and neck

of a full-blooded horse, and he would seem

a steed for Castor, for his back was shaped

so comfortable to be sat upon

580

and muscle swelled upon his arching chest.

His lustrous body was as black as pitch,

and yet his legs and flowing tail

were white as snow.

Many a female of his kind

585

loved him, but only Hylonome gained

his love. There was no other centaur maid

so beautiful as she within the woods.

By coaxing ways she had won Cyllarus,

by loving and confessing love. By daintiness,

590

so far as that was possible in one

of such a form, she held his love; for now

she smoothed her long locks with a comb; and now

she decked herself with rosemary and now

with violets or with roses in her hair;

595

and sometimes she wore lilies, white as snow;

and twice each day she bathed her lovely face,

in the sweet stream that falls down from the height

of wooded Pagasa; and daily, twice

she dipped her body in the stream. She wore

600

upon her shoulders and left side a skin,

greatly becoming, of selected worth.

“Their love was equal, and together they

would wander over mountain-sides, and rest

together in cool caves; and so it was,

605

they went together to that palace-cave,

known to the Lapithae. Together they

fought fiercely in this battle, side by side.

Thrown by an unknown hand, a javelin pierced

Cyllarus, just below the fatal spot

610

where the chest rises to the neck—his heart,

though only slightly wounded, grew quite cold,

and his whole body felt cold, afterwards,

as quickly as the weapon was drawn out.

Then Hylonome held in her embrace

615

the dying body; fondled the dread wound

and, fixing her lips closely to his lips

endeavored to hold back his dying breath.

But soon she saw that he indeed was dead.

With mourning words, which clamor of the fight

620

prevented me from hearing, she threw herself

on the spear that pierced her Cyllarus and fell

upon his breast, embracing him in death.

“Another sight still comes before my eyes,

the centaur Phaeocomes with his log.

625

He wore six lion skins well wrapped around

his body, and with fixed connecting knots

they covered him, both horse and man. He hurled

a trunk two yokes of oxen scarce could move

and struck the hapless son of Olenus

630

a crushing blow upon the head. The broad

round dome was shattered, and his dying brains

oozed out through hollow nostrils, mouth, and ears,

as curdled milk seeps down through oaken twigs;

or other liquors, crushed out under weights,

635

flow through a well-pierced sieve and, thick,

squeeze out through numerous holes.

As he began

to spoil his victim—and your father can

affirm the truth of this—I thrust my sword

640

deep in the wretch's groin. Chthonius, too,

and Teleboas fell there by my sword.

The former had a two-pronged stick as his

sole weapon, and the other had a spear,

with which the wounded me. You see the scar.

645

The old scar still is surely visible!

“Those were my days of youth and strength, and then

I ought to have warred against the citadel

of Pergama. I could have checked, or even

vanquished, the arms of Hector : but, alas,

650

Hector had not been born, or was perhaps

a boy. Old age has dulled my youthful strength.

What use is it, to speak of Periphas,

who overcame Pyretus, double-formed?

Why tell of Ampyx, who with pointless shaft,

655

victorious thrust Echeclus through the face?

Macareus, hurling a heavy crowbar pierced

Erigdupus and laid him low.

A hunting spear that Nessus strongly hurled,

was buried in the groin of Cymelus.

660

Do not believe that Mopsus, son of Ampycus,

was merely a prophet of events to come,

he slew a daring two-formed monster there.

Hodites tried in vain to speak, before

his death, but could not, for his tongue was nailed

665

against his chin, his chin against his throat.

“Five of the centaurs Caeneus put to death:

Styphelus, Bromus, and Antimachus,

Elymus, and Pyracmos with his axe.

I have forgot their wounds but noted well

670

their names and number. Latreus, huge of limb,

had killed and stripped Emathian Halesus.

Now in his armor he came rushing out,

in years he was between old age and youth;

but he retained the vigor of his youth;

675

his temples showed his hair was mixed with grey.

Conspicuous for his Macedonian lance

and sword and shield, facing both sides—each way,

he insolently clashed his arms; and while

he rode poured out these words in empty air.

680

“ ‘Shall I put up with one like you, O Caeneus?

For you are still a woman in my sight.

Have you forgot your birth or that disgrace

by which you won reward—at what a price

you got the false resemblance to a man?!

685

Consider both your birth, and what you have

submitted to! Take up a distaff, and

wool basket! Twist your threads with practiced thumb!

Leave warfare to your men!’

“While puffed-up pride

690

was vaunting out such nonsense, Caeneus hurled

a spear and pierced the stretched out running side,

just where the man was joined upon the horse.

“The Centaur, Latreus, raved with pain and struck

with his great pike, the face of Caeneus.

695

His pike rebounded as the hail that slants

up from the roof; or as a pebble might

rebound from hollow drum. Then coming near,

he tried to drive a sword into the hard side

of Caeneus, but it could not make a wound.

700

‘Aha!’ he cried, ‘this will not get you off.

The good edge of my sword will take your life,

although the point is blunt!’ He turned the edge

against the flank of Caeneus and swung round

the hero's loins with his long, curving arm.

705

The flesh resounded like a marble block,

the keen blade shattered on the unyielding skin.

“And, after Caeneus had exposed his limbs

unhurt to Latreus, who stood there amazed,

‘Come now,’ he said, ‘and let us try my steel

710

against your body!’ And, clear to the hilt,

down through the monster's shoulder-blade he plunged

his deadly sword and, turning it again,

deep in the Centaur's entrails, made new wounds

within his wound.

715

“Then, quite beside themselves,

the double-natured monsters rushed against

that single-handed youth with huge uproar,

and thrust and hurled their weapons all at him.

Their blunted weapons fell and he remained

720

unharmed and without even a mark.”

“That strange sight left them speechless. ‘Oh what shame!’

at length cried Monychus, ‘Our mighty host,—

a nation of us, are defeated and defied

by one who hardly is a man. Although

725

indeed, he is a man, and we have proved,

by our weak actions, we are certainly

what he was! Shame on us! Oh, what if we

have twofold strength, of what avail our huge

and mighty limbs, doubly united in

730

the strongest, hugest bodies in this world?

And how can I believe that we were born

of any goddess? It is surely vain

to claim descent of great Ixion, who

high-souled, sought Juno for his mighty mate;

735

imagine it, while we are conquered by

an enemy, who is but half a man!

Wake up! and let us heap tree-trunks and stones

and mountains on him! Crush his stubborn life!

Let forests smother him to death! Their weight

740

will be as deadly as a hundred wounds!’

“While he was raving, by some chance he found

a tree thrown down there by the boisterous wind:

example to the rest, he threw that tree

against the powerful foe; and in short time

745

Othrys was bare of trees, and Pelion had no shade.

Buried under that mountainous forest heap,

Caeneus heaved up against the weight of oaks

upon his brawny shoulders piled. But, as

the load increased above his face and head,

750

he could not draw a breath. Gasping for life,

he strove to lift his head into the air,

and sometimes he convulsed the towering mass,

as if great Ida, now before our eyes,

should tremble with some heaving of the earth.

755

“What happened to him could not well be known.

Some thought his body was borne down by weight

into the vast expanse of Tartarus.

The son of Ampycus did not agree,

for from the middle of the pile we saw

760

a bird with golden wings mount high in air.

Before or since, I never saw the like.

“When Mopsus was aware of that bird's flight—

it circled round the camp on rustling wings—

with eyes and mind he followed it and shouted aloud:

765

‘Hail, glory of the Lapithaean race,

their greatest hero, now a bird unique!’

and we believed the verdict of the seer.

“Our grief increased resentment, and we bore

it with disgust that one was overwhelmed

770

by such a multitude. Then in revenge

we plied our swords, till half our foes were dead,

and only flight and darkness saved the rest.”

Periclymenus. PERICLYMENUS IN COMBAT WITH HERCULES

Nestor had hardly told this marvellous tale

of bitter strife betwixt the Lapithae

775

and those half-human, vanquished Centaurs, when

Tlepolemus, incensed because no word

of praise was given to Hercules , replied

in this way; “Old sir, it is very strange,

you have neglected to say one good word

780

in praise of Hercules . My father told

me often, that he overcame in battle

those cloud born centaurs.”

Nestor, very loth,

replied, “Why force me to recall old wrongs,

785

to uncover sorrow buried by the years,

that made me hate your father? It is true

his deeds were wonderful beyond belief,

heaven knows, and filled the earth with well earned praise

which I should rather wish might be denied.

790

Deiphobus, the wise Polydamas, and even

great Hector get no praise from me.

Your father, I recall once overthrew

Messene 's walls and with no cause destroyed

Elis and Pylos and with fire and sword

795

ruined my own loved home. I cannot name

all whom he killed. But there were twelve of us,

the sons of Neleus and all warrior youths,

and all those twelve but me alone he killed.

Ten of them met the common fate of war,

800

but sadder was the death of Periclymenus.

“Neptune, the founder of my family,

had granted him a power to assume

whatever shape he chose, and when he wished

to lay that shape aside. When he, in vain,

805

had been transformed to many other shapes

he turned into the form of that bird, which

is wont to carry in his crooked talons

the forked lightnings, favorite bird of Jove.

With wings and crooked bill and sharp-hooked talons,

810

he assailed and tore the face of Hercules.

But, when he soared away on eagle wings

up to the clouds and hovered, poised in air,

that hero aimed his too unerring bow

and hit him where the new wing joined his side.

815

The wound was not large, but his sinews cut

failed to uphold him, and denied his wings

their strength and motion. He fell down to earth;

his weakened pinions could not catch the air.

And the sharp arrow, which had lightly pierced

820

the wing, was driven upward through the side

into the left part of my brother's neck.

“O noble leader of the Rhodian fleet,

why should I sing the praise of Hercules?

But for my brothers I take no revenge

825

except withholding praise of his great deeds.

With you, my friendship will remain secure.”

THE DEATH OF ACHILLES

When Nestor with his honied tongue had told

these tales of old, they all took wine again

and they arose and gave the night to sleep.

830

Achillis mors.

But Neptune, who commands the ocean waves,

lamented with a father's grief his son,

whose person he had changed into a bird—

the swan of Phaethon, and towards Achilles,

grim victor in the fight, his lasting hate

835

made him pursue resentment far beyond

the ordinary manner of the gods.

After nine years of war he spoke these words,

addressing long haired Sminthean Apollo:

“O nephew the most dear to me of all

840

my brother's sons, with me you built in vain

the walls of Troy : you must be lost in grief,

when you look on those towers so soon to fall?

Or do you not lament the multitudes

slain in defence of them—To name but one:

845

“Does not the ghost of Hector, dragged around

his Pergama, appear to you? And yet

the fierce Achilles, who is bloodstained more

than slaughtering war, lives on this earth,

for the destruction of our toil. Let him

850

once get into my power, and I will make

him feel the action of my triple spear.

But, since I may not meet him face to face,

do you with sudden arrow give him death.”

The Delian god, Apollo, gave assent,

855

both for his own hate and his uncle's rage.

Veiled in a cloud, he found the Trojan host

and, there, while bloody strife went on, he saw

the hero Paris shoot at intervals

his arrows at the nameless host of Greeks.

860

Revealing his divinity, he said:

“Why spend your arrows on the common men

if you would serve your people, take good aim

at great Achilles and at last avenge

your hapless brothers whom he gave to death.”

865

He pointed out Achilles—laying low

the Trojan warriors with his mighty spear.

On him he turned the Trojan's willing bow

and guided with his hand the fatal shaft.

It was the first joy that old Priam knew

870

since Hector's death. So then Achilles you,

who overcame the mighty, were subdued

by a coward who seduced a Grecian wife!

Ah, if you could not die by manly hands,

your choice had been the axe.

875

Now that great terror of the Trojan race,

the glory and defence of the Pelasgians,

Achilles, first in war, lay on the pyre.

The god of Fire first armed, then burned, his limbs.

And now he is but ashes; and of him, so great,

880

renowned and mighty, but a pitiful

handful of small dust insufficient for

a little urn! But all his glory lives

enough to fill the world—a great reward.

And in that glory is his real life:

885

in a true sense he will never know the void

of Tartarus.

But soon his very shield—

that men might know to whom it had belonged—

brings war, and arms are taken for his arms.

890

Neither Diomed nor Ajax called the less

ventured to claim the hero's mighty shield.

Menelaus and other warlike chiefs,

even Agamemnon, all withdrew their claims.

Only the greater Ajax and Ulysses

895

had such assurance that they dared contest

for that great prize. Then Agamemnon chose

to avoid the odium of preferring one.

He bade the Argolic chieftains take their seats

within the camp and left to all of them

900

the hearing and decision of the cause.

Metamorphoses Perseus (Ovid. The XV bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis. Golding, Arthur, translator. London: W. Seres (printer), 1567.) — 12 focus

King Priam beeing ignorant that Aesacus his sonne

Did live in shape of bird, did moorne: and at a tumb wheron

His name was written, Hector and his brother solemly

Did keepe an Obit. Paris was not at this obsequye.

Within a whyle with ravisht wyfe he brought a lasting warre

Home unto Troy . There followed him a thowsand shippes not farre

Conspyrd togither, with the ayde that all the Greekes could fynd:

And vengeance had beene tane foorthwith but that the cruell wynd

Did make the seas unsaylable, so that theyr shippes were fayne

At rode at fisshye Awlys in B'aeotia to remayne.

Heere as the Greekes according to theyr woont made sacrifyse

To Jove, and on the Altar old the flame aloft did ryse,

They spyde a speckled Snake creepe up uppon a planetree bye

Uppon the toppe whereof there was among the braunches hye

A nest, and in the nest eyght birdes, all which and eeke theyr dam

That flickering flew about her losse, the hungry snake did cram

Within his mawe. The standers by were all amazde therat.

But Calchas, Thestors sonne, who knew what meening was in that,

Sayd: We shall win. Rejoyce, yee Greekes, by us shall perish Troy ,

But long the tyme will bee before wee may our will enjoy.

And then he told them how the birds nyne yeeres did signifie

Which they before the towne of Troy not taking it should lye.

The Serpent as he wound about the boughes and braunches greene,

Became a stone, and still in stone his snakish shape is seene.

The seas continewed verry rough and suffred not theyr hoste

Imbarked for to passe from thence to take the further coast.

Sum thought that Neptune favored Troy bycause himself did buyld

The walles therof. But Calchas (who both knew, and never hilld

His peace in tyme) declared that the Goddesse Phebe must

Appeased bee with virgins blood for wrath conceyved just.

As soone as pitie yeelded had to cace of publicke weale,

And reason got the upper hand of fathers loving zeale,

So that the Ladye Iphigen before the altar stood

Among the weeping ministers, to give her maydens blood:

The Goddesse taking pitie, cast a mist before theyr eyes,

And as they prayd and stird about to make the sacrifyse,

Conveyes her quight away, and with a Hynd her roome supplyes.

Thus with a slaughter meete for her Diana beeing pleasd,

The raging surges with her wrath togither were appeasd,

The thousand shippes had wynd at poope. And when they had abode

Much trouble, at the length all safe they gat the Phrygian rode.

Amid the world tweene heaven, and earth, and sea, there is a place,

Set from the bounds of eche of them indifferently in space,

From whence is seene what ever thing is practisd any where,

Although the Realme bee nere so farre, and roundly to the eare

Commes whatsoever spoken is. Fame hath his dwelling there.

Who in the toppe of all the house is lodged in a towre.

A thousand entryes, glades, and holes are framed in this bowre.

There are no doores to shet. The doores stand open nyght and day.

The house is all of sounding brasse, and roreth every way,

Reporting dowble every woord it heareth people say.

There is no rest within, there is no silence any where.

Yit is there not a yelling out: but humming, as it were

The sound of surges beeing heard farre off, or like the sound

That at the end of thunderclappes long after dooth redound,

When Jove dooth make the clowdes to crack. Within the courts is preace

Of common people, which to come and go doo never ceace.

And millions both of trothes and lyes ronne gadding every where,

And woordes confusely flye in heapes. Of which, sum fill the eare

That heard not of them erst, and sum Colcaryers part doo play

To spread abrode the things they heard. And ever by the way

The thing that was invented growes much greater than before,

And every one that getts it by the end addes sumwhat more.

Lyght credit dwelleth there. There dwells rash error: there dooth dwell

Vayne joy: there dwelleth hartlesse feare, and Bruit that loves to tell

Uncertayne newes uppon report, whereof he dooth not knowe

The author, and Sedition who fresh rumors loves to sowe.

This Fame beholdeth what is doone in heaven, on sea, and land,

And what is wrought in all the world he layes to understand.

He gave the Trojans warning that the Greekes with valeant men

And shippes approched, that unwares they could not take them then.

For Hector and the Trojan folk well armed were at hand

To keepe the coast and bid them bace before they came aland.

Protesilay by fatall doome was first that dyde in feeld

Of Hectors speare: and after him great numbers mo were killd

Of valeant men. That battell did the Greeks full deerly cost.

And Hector with his Phrygian folk of blood no little lost,

In trying what the Greekes could doo. The shore was red with blood.

And now king Cygnet , Neptunes sonne, had killed where he stood

A thousand Greekes. And now the stout Achilles causd to stay

His Charyot: and his lawnce did slea whole bandes of men that day.

And seeking Cygnet through the feeld or Hector , he did stray.

At last with Cygnet he did meete. For Hector had delay

Untill the tenth yeare afterward. Then hasting foorth his horses

With flaxen manes, ageinst his fo his Chariot he enforces.

And brandishing his shaking dart, he sayd: O noble wyght,

A comfort let it bee to thee that such a valeant knyght

As is Achilles killeth thee. In saying so he threw

A myghty dart, which though it hit the mark at which it flew,

Yit perst it not the skinne at all. Now when this blunted blowe

Had hit on Cygnets brest, and did no print of hitting showe,

Thou, Goddesse sonne (quoth Cygnet ), for by fame we doo thee knowe.

Why woondrest at mee for to see I can not wounded bee?

(Achilles woondred much thereat.) This helmet which yee see

Bedect with horses yellow manes, this sheeld that I doo beare,

Defend mee not. For ornaments alonly I them weare.

For this same cause armes Mars himself likewyse. I will disarme

Myself, and yit unrazed will I passe without all harme.

It is to sum effect, not borne to bee of Neryes race,

So that a man be borne of him that with threeforked mace :

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Rules Nereus and his daughters too, and all the sea besyde.

This sayd, he at Achilles sent a dart that should abyde

Uppon his sheeld. It perced through the steele and through nyne fold

Of Oxen hydes, and stayd uppon the tenth. Achilles bold

Did wrest it out, and forcybly did throwe the same agayne.

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His bodye beeing hit ageine, unwounded did remayne,

And cleere from any print of wound. The third went eeke in vayne.

And yit did Cygnet to the same give full his naked brist.

Achilles chafed like a Bull that in the open list

With dreadfull homes dooth push ageinst the scarlet clothes that there

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Are hanged up to make him feerce, and when he would them teare

Dooth fynd his wounds deluded. Then Achilles lookt uppon

His Javelings socket, if the head thereof were looce or gone.

The head stacke fast. My hand byleeke is weakened then (quoth lice),

And all the force it had before is spent on one I see.

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For sure I am it was of strength, both when I first downe threw

Lyrnessus walles, and when I did Ile Tenedos subdew,

And eeke Aetions Thebe with her proper blood embrew.

And when so many of the folke of Tewthranie I slew,

That with theyr blood Caycus streame became of purple hew.

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And when the noble Telephus did of my Dart of steele

The dowble force, of wounding and of healing also feele.

Yea even the heapes of men slayne heere by mee, that on this strond

Are lying still to looke uppon, doo give to understond

That this same hand of myne both had and still hath strength. This sed,

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(As though he had distrusted all his dooings ere that sted,)

He threw a Dart ageinst a man of Lycia land that hyght

Menetes, through whose Curets and his brest he strake him quyght.

And when he saw with dying limbes him sprawling on the ground,

He stepped to him streyght, and pulld the Javeling from the wound,

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And sayd alowd: This is the hand, this is the selfsame dart

With which my hand did strike even now Menetes to the hart.

Ageinst my tother Copemate will I use the same: I pray

To God it may have like successe. This sed, without delay

He sent it toward Cygnet , and the weapon did not stray,

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Nor was not shunned. Insomuch it lighted full uppon

His shoulder: and it gave a rappe as if uppon sum ston

It lyghted had, rebownding backe. Howbeeit where it hit,

Achilles sawe it bloodye, and was vaynly glad of it.

For why there was no wound. It was Menetes blood. Then lept

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He hastly from his Charyot downe, and like a madman stept

To carelesse Cygnet with his swoord. He sawe his swoord did pare

His Target and his morion bothe. But when it toucht the bare,

His bodye was so hard, it did the edge thereof abate.

He could no lengar suffer him to tryumph in that rate,

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But with the pommell of his swoord did thump him on the pate,

And bobd him well about the brewes a doozen tymes and more,

And preacing on him as he still gave backe amaazd him sore,

And troubled him with buffetting, not respetting a whit.

Then Cygnet gan to bee afrayd, and mistes beegan to flit

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Before his eyes, and dimd his syght. And as he still did yeeld,

In giving back, by chaunce he met a stone amid the feeld,

Ageinst the which Achilles thrust him back with all his myght,

And throwing him ageinst the ground, did cast him bolt upryght.

Then bearing bostowsely with both his knees ageinst his chest,

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And leaning with his elbowes and his target on his brest,

He shet his headpeece cloce and just, and underneathe his chin

So hard it straynd, that way for breath was neyther out nor in,

And closed up the vent of lyfe. And having gotten so

The upper hand, he went about to spoyle his vanquisht fo.

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But nought he in his armour found. For Neptune had as tho

Transformd him to the fowle whose name he bare but late ago.

This labour, this encounter brought the rest of many dayes,

And eyther partye in theyr strength a whyle from battell stayes.

Now whyle the Phrygians watch and ward uppon the walles of Troy ,

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And Greekes likewyse within theyr trench, there came a day of joy,

In which Achilles for his luck in Cygnets overthrow,

A Cow in way of sacrifyse on Pallas did bestowe,

Whose inwards when he had uppon the burning altar cast

And that the acceptable fume had through the ayer past

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To Godward, and the holy rytes had had theyr dewes, the rest

Was set on boords for men to eate in disshes fynely drest.

The princes sitting downe, did feede uppon the rosted flesh,

And both theyr thirst and present cares with wyne they did refresh.

Not Harpes, nor songs, nor hollowe flutes to heere did them delyght.

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They talked till they nye had spent the greatest part of nyght.

And all theyr communication was of feates of armes in fyght

That had beene doone by them or by theyr foes. And every wyght

Delyghts to uppen oftentymes by turne as came about

The perills and the narrow brunts himself had shifted out.

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For what thing should bee talkt beefore Achilles rather? Or

What kynd of things than such as theis could seeme more meeter for

Achilles to bee talking of? But in theyr talk most breeme

Was then Achilles victory of Cygnet. It did seeme

A woonder that the flesh of him should bee so hard and tough

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As that no weapon myght have powre to raze or perce it through,

But that it did abate the edge of steele: it was a thing

That both Achilles and the Greekes in woondrous maze did bring.

Then Nestor sayd: This Cygnet is the person now alone

Of your tyme that defyed steele, and could bee perst of none.

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But I have seene now long ago one Cene of Perrhebye,

I sawe one Cene of Perrhebye a thousand woundes defye

With unatteynted bodye. In mount Othris he did dwell:

And was renowmed for his deedes: (and which in him ryght well

A greater woonder did appeere) he was a woman borne.

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This uncouth made them all much more amazed than beforne,

And every man desyred him to tell it. And among

The rest, Achilles sayd: Declare, I pray thee (for wee long

To heare it every one of us), O eloquent old man,

The wisedome of our age: what was that Cene and how he wan

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Another than his native shape, and in what rode, or in

What fyght or skirmish, tweene you first acquaintance did beegin,

And who in fyne did vanquish him if any vanquisht him.

Then Nestor: Though the length of tyme have made my senses dim,

And dyvers things erst seene in youth now out of mynd be gone:

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Yit beare I still mo things in mynd: and df them all is none

Among so many both of peace and warre, that yit dooth take

More stedfast roote in memorye. And if that tyme may make

A man great store of things through long continuance for to see,

Two hundred yeeres already of my lyfe full passed bee,

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And now I go uppon the third. This foresayd Ceny was

The daughter of one Elatey. In beawty shee did passe

The maydens all of Thessaly . From all the Cities bye

And from thy Cities also, O Achilles, came (for why

Shee was thy countrywoman) store of wooers who in vayne

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In hope to win her love did take great travail, suit and payne.

Thy father also had perchaunce attempted heere to matcht

But that thy moothers maryage was alreadye then dispatcht,

Or shee at least affyanced. But Ceny matcht with none,

Howbeeit as shee on the shore was walking all alone,

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The God of sea did ravish her. (So fame dooth make report.)

And Neptune for the great delight he had in Venus sport,

Sayd: Ceny, aske mee what thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

(This also bruited is by fame.) The wrong heere doone to mee

(Quoth Ceny) makes mee wish great things. And therfore to th'entent

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I may no more constreyned bee to such a thing, consent

I may no more a woman bee. And if thou graunt thereto,

It is even all that I desyre, or wish thee for to doo.

In bacer tune theis latter woordes were uttred, and her voyce

Did seeme a mannes voyce as it was in deede. For to her choyce

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The God of sea had given consent. He graunted him besyde

That free from wounding and from hurt he should from thence abyde,

And that he should not dye of steele. Right glad of this same graunt

Away went Ceny, and the feeldes of Thessaly did haunt,

And in the feates of Chevalrye from that tyme spent his lyfe.

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The over bold Ixions sonne had taken to his wyfe

Hippodame. And kevering boordes in bowres of boughes of trees

His Clowdbred brothers one by one he placed in degrees.

There were the Lordes of Thessaly . I also was among

The rest: a cheerefull noyse of feast through all the Pallace roong.

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Sum made the altars smoke, and sum the brydale carrolls soong.

Anon commes in the mayden bryde, a goodly wench of face,

With wyves and maydens following her with comly gate and grace.

Wee sayd that sir Pirithous was happy in his wyfe:

Which handsell had deceyved us wellneere through soodeine stryfe.

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For of the cruell Centawres thou most cruell Ewryt, tho

Like as thy stomacke was with wyne farre over charged: so

As soone as thou behilldst the bryde, thy hart began to frayne,

And doubled with thy droonkennesse thy raging lust did reigne.

The feast was troubled by and by with tables overthrowen.

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The bryde was hayled by the head, so farre was furye growen.

Feerce Ewryt caught Hippodame, and every of the rest

Caught such as commed next to hand, or such as likte him best.

It was the lively image of a Citie tane by foes.

The house did ring of womens shreekes. We all up quickly rose.

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And first sayd Theseus thus: What aylst? art mad, O Ewrytus?

That darest (seeing mee alive) misuse Pirithous?

Not knowing that in one thou doost abuse us both? And least

He myght have seemd to speake in vayne, he thrust way such as preast

About the bryde, and tooke her from them freating sore thereat.

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No answere made him Ewrytus: (for such a deede as that

Defended could not bee with woordes) but with his sawcye fist

He flew at gentle Theseus face, and bobd him on the brist.

By chaunce hard by, an auncient cuppe of image woork did stand,

Which being huge, himself more huge sir Theseus tooke in hand,

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And threw't at Ewryts head. He spewd as well at mouth as wound

Mixt cloddes of blood, and brayne and wyne, and on the soyled ground

Lay sprawling bolt upryght. The death of him did set the rest,

His dowblelimbed brothers, so on fyre, that all the quest

With one voyce cryed out, Kill, kill. The wyne had given them hart.

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Theyr first encounter was with cuppes and cannes throwen overthwart,

And brittle tankerds, and with boawles, pannes, dishes, potts, and trayes,

Things serving late for meate and drinke, and then for bluddy frayes.

First Amycus, Ophions sonne, without remorse began

To reeve and rob the brydehouse of his furniture. He ran

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And pulled downe a Lampbeame full of lyghtes, and lifting it

Aloft like one that with an Ax dooth fetch his blowe to slit

An Oxis necke in sacrifyse, he on the forehead hit

A Lapith named Celadon, and crusshed so his bones

That none could know him by the face: both eyes flew out at ones.

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His nose was beaten backe and to hispallat battred flat.

One Pelates, a Macedone, exceeding wroth therat,

Pulld out a maple tressles foote, and napt him in the necks,

That bobbing with his chin ageinst his brest to ground he becks.

And as he spitted out his teeth with blackish blood, he lent

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Another blowe to Amycus, which streyght to hell him sent.

Gryne standing by and lowring with a fell grim visage at

The smoking Altars, sayd: Why use we not theis same? with that

He caught a myghty altar up with burning fyre thereon,

And it among the thickest of the Lapithes threw anon.

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And twoo he over whelmd therewith calld Brote and Orion.

This Orions moother, Mycale, is knowne of certeintye

The Moone resisting to have drawne by witchcraft from the skye.

Full dearely shalt thou by it (quoth Exadius) may I get

A weapon: and with that in stead of weapon, he did set

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His hand uppon a vowd harts horne that on a Pynetree hye

Was nayld, and with two tynes therof he strake out eyther eye

Of Gryne: whereof sum stacke uppon the home, and sum did flye

Uppon his beard, and there with blood like jelly mixt did lye.

A flaming fyrebrand from amids an Altar Rhaetus snatcht,

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With which uppon the leftsyde of his head Charaxus latcht

A blow that crackt his skull. The blaze among his yellow heare

Ran sindging up, as if dry come with lightning blasted were.

And in his wound the seared blood did make a greevous sound,

As when a peece of steele red hot tane up with tongs is drownd

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In water by the smith, it spirts and hisseth in the trowgh.

Charaxus from his curled heare did shake the fyre, and thowgh

He wounded were, yit caught he up uppon his shoulders twayne

A stone, the Jawme of eyther doore that well would loade a wayne.

The masse theof was such as that it would not let him hit

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His fo. It lighted short: and with the falling downe of it

A mate of his that Comet hyght, it all in peeces smit.

Then Rhaete restreyning not his joy, sayd thus: I would the rowt

Of all thy mates myght in the selfsame maner prove them stowt.

And with his halfeburnt brond the wound he searched new agayne,

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Not ceasing for to lay on loade uppon his pate amayne,

Untill his head was crusht, and of his scalp the bones did swim

Among his braynes. In jolly ruffe he passed streyght from him

To Coryt, and Euagrus, and to Dryant on a rowe.

Of whom when Coryt (on whose cheekes yoong mossy downe gan grow)

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Was slayne, What prayse or honour (quoth Euagrus) hast thou got

By killing of a boy? mo woordes him Rhetus suffred not

To speake, but in his open mouth did thrust his burning brand,

And downe his throteboll to his chest. Then whisking in his hand

His fyrebrand round about his head he feercely did assayle

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The valyant Dryant. But with him he could not so prevayle.

For as he triumpht in his lucke, proceeding for to make

Continuall slaughter of his foes, sir Dryant with a stake

(Whose poynt was hardned in the fyre) did cast at him a foyne

And thrust him through the place in which the neck and shoulders joyne.

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He groand and from his cannell bone could scarcely pull the stake.

And beeing foyled with his blood to flyght he did him take.

Arnaeus also ran away, and Lycidas likewyse.

And Medon (whose ryght shoulderplate was also wounded) flyes.

So did Pisenor, so did Cawne, and so did Mermeros

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Who late outronning every man, now wounded slower goes:

And so did Phole, and Menelas, and Abas who was woont

To make a spoyle among wylde Boares as oft as he did hunt:

And eeke the wyzarde Astylos who counselled his mates

To leave that fray: but he to them in vayne of leaving prates.

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He eeke to Nessus (who for feare of wounding seemed shye)

Sayd: Fly not, thou shalt scape this fray of Hercles bowe to dye.

But Lycid and Ewrinomos, and Imbreus, and Are

Escapte not death. Sir Dryants hand did all alike them spare.

Cayneius also (though that he in flying were not slacke,)

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Yit was he wounded on the face: for as he looked backe,

A weapons poynt did hit him full midway betweene the eyes,

Wheras the noze and forehead meete. For all this deane, yit lyes

Aphipnas snorting fast asleepe not mynding for to wake,

Wrapt in a cloke of Bearskinnes which in Ossa mount were take.

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And in his lither hand he hilld a potte of wyne. Whom when

That Phorbas saw (although in vayne) not medling with them, then

He set his fingars to the thong: and saying: Thou shalt drink

Thy wyne with water taken from the Stygian fountaynes brink,

He threw his dart at him. The dart (as he that tyme by chaunce

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Lay bolt upright uppon his backe) did through his throteboll glaunce.

He dyde and felt no payne at all. The blacke swart blood gusht out,

And on the bed and in the potte fell flushing lyke a spout.

I saw Petreius go about to pull out of the ground

An Oken tree. But as he had his armes about it round,

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And shaakt it too and fro to make it looce, Pirithous cast

A Dart which nayled to the tree his wrything stomacke fast.

Through prowesse of Pirithous (men say) was Lycus slayne.

Through prowesse of Pirithous dyde Crome. But they both twayne

Lesse honour to theyr conquerour were, than Dyctis was, or than

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Was Helops. Helops with a dart was striken, which through ran

His head, and entring at the ryght eare to the left eare went.

And Dyctis from a slipprye knappe downe slyding, as he ment

To shonne Perithous preacing on, fell headlong downe, and with

His hugenesse brake the greatest Ash that was in all the frith,

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And goard his gutts uppon the stump. To wreake his death comes Phare:

And from the mount a mighty rocke with bothe his handes he tare:

Which as he was about to throwe, Duke Theseus did prevent,

And with an Oken plant uppon his mighty elbowe lent

Him such a blowe, as that he brake the bones, and past no further.

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For leysure would not serve him then his maymed corce to murther.

He lept on hygh Bianors backe, who none was woont to beare

Besydes himself. Ageinst his sydes his knees fast nipping were,

And with his left hand taking hold uppon his foretoppe heare

He cuft him with his knubbed plant about the frowning face,

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And made his wattled browes to breake. And with his Oken mace

He overthrew Nedimnus: and Lycespes with his dart,

And Hippasus whose beard did hyde his brest the greater part:

And Riphey tallar than the trees, and Therey who was woont

Among the hilles of Thessaly for cruell Beares to hunt,

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And beare them angry home alyve. It did Demoleon spyght

That Theseus had so good successe and fortune in his fyght.

An old long Pynetree rooted fast he strave with all his myght

To pluck up whole bothe trunk and roote, which when he could not bring

To passe, he brake it off, and at his emnye did it fling.

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But Theseus by admonishment of heavenly Pallas (so

He would have folke beleve it were) start backe a great way fro

The weapon as it came. Yit fell it not without some harme.

It cut from Crantors left syde bulke, his shoulder, brest, and arme.

This Grantor was thy fathers Squyre (Achilles) and was given

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Him by Amyntor ruler of the Dolops, who was driven

By battell for to give him as an hostage for the peace

To bee observed faythfully. When Peleus in the preace

A great way off behilld him thus falne dead of this same wound,

O Grantor, deerest man to mee of all above the ground,

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Hold heere an obitgift hee sayd: and both with force of hart

And hand, at stout Demoleons head he threw an asshen dart,

Which brake the watling of his ribbes, and sticking in the bone,

Did shake. He pulled out the steale with much adoo alone.

The head therof stacke still behynd among his lungs and lyghts.

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Enforst to courage with his payne, he ryseth streight uprights,

And pawing at his emny with his horsish feete, he smyghts

Uppon him. Peleus bare his strokes uppon his burganet,

And fenst his shoulders with his sheeld, and evermore did set

His weapon upward with the poynt, which by his shoulders perst

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Through both his brestes at one full blowe. Howbee't your father erst

Had killed Hyle and Phlegrye, and Hiphinous aloof

And Danes who boldly durst at hand his manhod put in proof.

To theis was added Dorylas, who ware uppon his head

A cap of woolves skinne. And the homes of Oxen dyed red

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With blood were then his weapon. I (for then my courage gave

Mee strength) sayd: See how much thy homes lesse force than Iron have.

And therewithall with manly might a dart at him I drave.

Which when he could not shonne, he clapt his right hand flat uppon

His forehead where the wound should bee. For why his hand anon

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Was nayled to his forehead fast. Hee roared out amayne.

And as he stood amazed and began to faynt for payne,

Your father Peleus (for he stood hard bv him) strake him under

The middle belly with his swoord, and ript his womb asunder.

Out girdes mee Dorill streyght, and trayles his guttes uppon the ground

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And trampling underneath his feete did breake them, and they wound

About his leggs so snarling, that he could no further go,

But fell downe dead with empty womb. Nought booted Cyllar tho

His beawtye in that frentick fray, (at leastwyse if wee graunt

That any myght in that straunge shape, of natures beawtye vaunt.)

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His beard began but then to bud: his beard was like the gold:

So also were his yellowe lokes, which goodly to behold

Midway beneath his shoulders hung. There rested in his face

A sharpe and lively cheerfulnesse with sweete and pleasant grace.

His necke, brest, shoulders, armes, and hands, as farre as he was man,

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Were such as never carvers woork yit stayne them could or can.

His neather part likewyse (which was a horse) was every whit

Full equall with his upper part, or little woorse than it.

For had yee given him horses necke, and head, he was a beast

For Castor to have ridden on. So bourly was his brest:

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So handsome was his backe to beare a saddle: and his heare

Was blacke as jeate, but that his tayle and feete milk whyghtish were.

Full many Females of his race did wish him to theyr make.

But only dame Hylonome for lover he did take.

Of all the halfbrutes in the woodes there did not any dwell

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More comly than Hylonome. She usde herself so well

In dalyance, and in loving, and in uttring of her love,

That shee alone hilld Cyllarus. As much as did behove

In suchye limbes, shee trimmed them as most the eye might move.

With combing, smoothe shee made her heare: shee wallowed her full oft

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In Roses and in Rosemarye, or Violets sweete and soft:

Sumtyme shee caryed Lillyes whyght: and twyce a day shee washt

Her visage in the spring that from the toppe of Pagase past:

And in the streame shee twyce a day did bath her limbes: and on

Her left syde or her shoulders came the comlyest things, and none

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But fynest skinnes of choycest beasts. Alike eche loved other:

Togither they among the hilles roamd up and downe: togither

They went to covert: and that tyme togither they did enter

The Lapithes house, and there the fray togither did adventer.

A dart on Cyllars left syde came, (I know not who it sent)

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Which sumwhat underneathe his necke his brest asunder splent.

As lyghtly as his hart was raazd, no sooner was the dart

Pluckt out, but all his bodye wext stark cold and dyed swart.

Immediatly Hylonome his dying limbes up stayd,

And put her hand uppon the wound to stoppe the blood, and layd

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Her mouth to his, and labored sore to stay his passing spryght.

But when shee sawe him throughly dead, then speaking woordes which might

Not to my hearing come for noyse, shee stikt herself uppon

The weapon that had gored him, and dyde with him anon

Embracing him beetweene her armes.

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There also stood before

Myne eyes the grim Pheocomes both man and horse who wore

A Lyons skinne uppon his backe fast knit with knotts afore.

He snatching up a timber log (which scarcely two good teeme

Of Oxen could have stird) did throwe the same with force extreeme

475

At Phonolenyes sonne. The logge him all in fitters strake,

And of his head the braynepan in a thousand peeces brake,

That at his mouth, his eares, and eyes, and at his nosethrills too,

His crusshed brayne came roping out as creame is woont to doo

From sives or riddles made of wood, or as a Cullace out

480

From streyner or from Colender. But as he went about

To strippe him from his harnesse as he lay uppon the ground,

(Your father knoweth this full well) my sword his gutts did wound,

Teleboas and Cthonius bothe, were also slaine by mee.

Sir Cthonius for his weapon had a forked bough of tree.

485

The tother had a dart. His dart did wound mee. You may see

The scarre therof remayning yit. Then was the tyme that I

Should sent have beene to conquer Troy . Then was the tyme that I

Myght through my force and prowesse, if not vanquish Hector stout,

Yit at the least have hilld him wag, I put you out of Dout.

490

But then was Hector no body: or but a babe. And now

Am I forspent and worne with yeeres. What should I tell you how

Piretus dyde by Periphas? Or wherefore should I make

Long processe for to tell you of sir Ampycus that strake

The fowrefoote Oecle on the face with dart of Cornell tree,

495

The which had neyther head nor poynt? Or how that Macaree

Of Mountaine Pelithronye with a leaver lent a blowe

To Erigdupus on the brest which did him overthrowe?

Full well I doo remember that Cymelius threw a dart

Which lyghted full in Nesseyes flank about his privie part.

500

And think not you that Mops, the sonne of Ampycus, could doo

No good but onely prophesye. This stout Odites whoo

Had bothe the shapes of man and horse, by Mopsis dart was slayne,

And labouring for to speake his last he did but strive in vayne.

For Mopsis dart togither nayld his toong and neather chappe,

505

And percing through his throte did make a wyde and deadly gappe.

Fyve men had Cene already slayne: theyr wounds I cannot say:

The names and nomber of them all ryght well I beare away.

The names of them were Stiphelus, and Brome , and Helimus,

Pyracmon with his forest bill, and stout Antimachus.

510

Out steppes the biggest Centawre there, huge Latreus, armed in

Alesus of Aemathias spoyle slayne late before by him.

His yeeres were mid tweene youth and age, his courage still was yoong,

And on his abrun head hore heares peerd heere and there amoong.

His furniture was then a swoord, a target and a lawnce

515

Aemathian like. To bothe the parts he did his face advaunce,

And brandishing his weapon brave, in circlewyse did prawnce

About, and stoutly spake theis woordes: And must I beare with yow,

Dame Cenye? for none other than a moother (I avow)

No better than a moother will I count thee whyle I live.

520

Remembrest not what shape by birth dame nature did thee give?

Forgettst thou how thou purchasedst this counterfetted shape

Of man? Consyderest what thou art by birth? and how for rape

Thou art become the thing thou art? Go take thy distaffe, and

Thy spindle, and in spinning yarne go exercyse thy hand.

525

Let men alone with feates of armes. As Latreus made this stout

And scornefull taunting in a ring still turning him about,

This Cenye with a dart did hit him full uppon the syde

Where as the horse and man were joyned togither in a hyde.

The strype made Latreus mad: and with his lawnce in rage he stracke

530

Uppon sir Cenyes naked ribbes. The lawnce rebounded backe

Like haylestones from a tyled house, or as a man should pat

Small stones uppon a dromslets head. He came more neere with that,

And in his brawned syde did stryve to thrust his swoord. There was

No way for swoord to enter in. Yit shalt thou not so passe

535

My handes (sayd he.) Well sith the poynt is blunted thou shalt dye

Uppon the edge: and with that woord he fetcht his blow awrye,

And sydling with a sweeping stroke along his belly smit.

The strype did give a clinke as if it had on marble hit.

And therewithall the swoord did breake, and on his necke did lyght.

540

When Ceny had sufficiently given Latreus leave to smyght

His flesh which was unmaymeable, Well now (quoth he) lets see,

If my swoord able bee or no to byght the flesh of thee.

In saying so, his dreadfull swoord as farre as it would go

He underneathe his shoulder thrust, and wrinching to and fro

545

Among his gutts, made wound in wound. Behold with hydeous crye

The dowblemembred Centawres sore abasht uppon him flye,

And throwe theyr weapons all at him. Theyr weapons downe did fall

As if they had rebated beene, and Cenye for them all

Abydes unstriken through. Yea none was able blood to drawe.

550

The straungenesse of the cace made all amazed that it sawe.

Fy, fy for shame (quoth Monychus) that such a rable can

Not overcome one wyght alone, who scarcely is a man.

Although (to say the very truthe) he is the man, and wee

Through fayntnesse that that he was borne by nature for to bee.

555

What profits theis huge limbes of ours? what helpes our dowble force?

Or what avayles our dowble shape of man as well as horse

By puissant nature joynd in one? I can not thinke that wee

Of sovereigne Goddesse Juno were begot, or that wee bee

Ixions sonnes, who was so stout of courage and so hault,

560

As that he durst on Junos love attempt to give assault.

The emny that dooth vanquish us is scarcely half a man

Whelme blocks, and stones, and mountaynes whole uppon his hard brayne pan:

And presse yee out his lively ghoste with trees. Let timber choke

His chappes, let weyght enforce his death in stead of wounding stroke.

565

This sayd: by chaunce he gets a tree blowne downe by blustring blasts

Of Southerne wynds, and on his fo with all his myght it casts,

And gave example to the rest to doo the like. Within

A whyle the shadowes which did hyde mount Pelion waxed thin:

And not a tree was left uppon mount Othris ere they went.

570

Sir Cenye underneathe this greate huge pyle of timber pent,

Did chauf and on his shoulders hard the heavy logges did beare.

But when above his face and head the trees up stacked were,

So that he had no venting place to drawe his breth: One whyle

He faynted: and another whyle he heaved at the pyle,

575

To tumble downe the loggs that lay so heavy on his backe,

And for to winne the open ayre ageine above the stacke:

As if the mountayne Ida (lo) which yoonder we doo see

So hygh, by earthquake at a tyme should chaunce to shaken bee.

Men dowt what did become of him. Sum hold opinion that

580

The burthen of the woodes had driven his soule to Limbo flat.

But Mopsus sayd it was not so. For he did see a browne

Bird flying from amid the stacke and towring up and downe.

It was the first tyme and the last that ever I behild

That fowle. When Mopsus softly saw him soring in the feeld,

585

He looked wistly after him, and cryed out on hye:

Hayle peerlesse perle of Lapith race, hayle Ceny, late ago

A valeant knyght, and now a bird of whom there is no mo.

The author caused men beleeve the matter to bee so.

Our sorrow set us in a rage. It was too us a greef

590

That by so many foes one knyght was killd without releef.

Then ceast wee not to wreake our teene till most was slaine in fyght,

And that the rest discomfited were fled away by nyght.

As Nestor all the processe of this battell did reherce

Betweene the valeant Lapithes and misshapen Centawres ferce,

595

Tlepolemus displeased sore that Hercules was past

With silence, could not hold his peace, but out theis woordes did cast:

My Lord, I muse you should forget my fathers prayse so quyght.

For often unto mee himself was woonted to recite,

How that the clowdbred folk by him were cheefly put to flyght.

600

Ryght sadly Nestor answerd thus: Why should you mee constreyne

To call to mynd forgotten greefs? and for to reere ageine

The sorrowes now outworne by tyme? or force mee to declare

The hatred and displeasure which I to your father bare?

In sooth his dooings greater were than myght bee well beleeved.

605

He fild the world with high renowme which nobly he atcheeved.

Which thing I would I could denye. For neyther set wee out

Deiphobus, Polydamas, nor Hector that most stout

And valeant knyght, the strength of Troy . For whoo will prayse his fo?

Your father overthrew the walles of Messen long ago,

610

And razed Pyle , and Ely townes unwoorthye serving so.

And feerce ageinst my fathers house hee usde bothe swoord and fyre.

And (not to speake of others whom he killed in his ire)

Twyce six wee were the sonnes of Nele all lusty gentlemen.

Twyce six of us (excepting mee) by him were murthred then.

615

The death of all the rest myght seeme a matter not so straunge:

But straunge was Periclymens death whoo had the powre to chaunge

And leave and take what shape he list (by Neptune to him given,

The founder of the house of Nele). For when he had beene driven

To try all shapes, and none could help: he last of all became

620

The fowle that in his hooked feete dooth beare the flasshing flame

Sent downe from heaven by Jupiter. He practising those birds,

With flapping wings, and bowwing beake, and hooked talants girds

At Hercle, and beescratcht his face. Too certeine (I may say)

Thy father amde his shaft at him. For as he towring lay

625

Among the clowdes, he hit him underneath the wing. The stroke

Was small: howbee't bycause therwith the sinewes being broke,

He wanted strength to maynteine flyght, he fell me to the ground,

Through weakenesse of his wing. The shaft that sticked in the wound,

By reason of the burthen of his bodye perst his syde,

630

And at the leftsyde of his necke all bloodye foorth did glyde.

Now tell mee, O thou beawtyfull Lord Amirall of the fleete

Of Rhodes , if mee to speake the prayse of Hercle it bee meete.

But lest that of my brothers deathes men think I doo desyre

A further vendge than silence of the prowesse of thy syre,

635

I love thee even with all my hart, and take thee for my freend.

When Nestor of his pleasant tales had made this freendly end,

They called for a boll of wyne, and from the table went,

And all the resdew of the nyght in sleeping soundly spent.

But Neptune like a father tooke the matter sore to hart

640

That Cygnet to a Swan he was constreyned to convert.

And hating feerce Achilles, he did wreake his cruell teene

Uppon him more uncourteously than had beseeming beene.

For when the warres well neere full twyce fyve yeeres had lasted, hee

Unshorne Apollo thus bespake: O nevew, unto mee

645

Most deere of all my brothers impes, who helpedst mee to lay

Foundation of the walles of Troy for which we had no pay,

And canst thou syghes forbeare to see the Asian Empyre fall?

And dooth it not lament thy hart when thou to mynd doost call

So many thousand people slayne in keeping Ilion wall?

650

Or (too th'entent particlerly I doo not speake of all)

Remembrest thou not Hectors Ghost whoo harryed was about

His towne of Troy ? where nerethelesse Achilles that same stout

And farre in fyght more butcherly, whoo stryves with all his myght

To stroy the woorke of mee and thee, lives still in healthfull plyght?

655

If ever hee doo come within my daunger he shall feele

What force is in my tryple mace. But sith with swoord of steele

I may not meete him as my fo, I pray thee unbeeware

Go kill him with a sodeine shaft and rid mee of my care.

Apollo did consent: as well his uncle for to please,

660

As also for a pryvate grudge himself had for to ease.

And in a clowd he downe among the host of Troy did slyde,

Where Paris dribbling out his shaftes among the Greekes hee spyde:

And telling him what God he was, sayd: Wherfore doost thou waast

Thyne arrowes on the simple sort? If any care thou haste

665

Of those that are thy freendes, go turne ageinst Achilles head,

And like a man revendge on him thy brothers that are dead.

In saying this, he brought him where Achilles with his brond

Was beating downe the Trojane folk, and leveld so his hond

As that Achilles tumbled downe starke dead uppon the lond.

670

This was the onely thing wherof the old king Priam myght

Take comfort after Hectors death. That stout and valeant knyght

Achilles whoo had overthrowen so many men in fyght,

Was by that coward carpet knyght beereeved of his lyfe,

Whoo like a caytif stale away the Spartane princes wyfe.

675

But if of weapon womanish he had foreknowen it had

His destnye beene to lose his lyfe, he would have beene more glad

That Queene Penthesileas bill had slaine him out of hand.

Now was the feare of Phrygian folk, the onely glory, and

Defence of Greekes, that peerelesse prince in armes, Achilles turnd

680

To asshes. That same God that had him armd, him also burnd.

Now is he dust: and of that great Achilles bydeth still

A thing of nought, that scarcely can a little coffin fill.

Howbee't his woorthy fame dooth lyve, and spreadeth over all

The world, a measure meete for such a persone to beefall.

685

This matcheth thee, Achilles, full. And this can never dye.

His target also (too th'entent that men myght playnly spye

What wyghts it was) did move debate, and for his armour burst

Out deadly foode. Not Diomed, nor Ajax Oylye durst

Make clayme or chalendge to the same, nor Atreus yoonger sonne,

690

Nor yit his elder, though in armes much honour they had wonne.

Alone the sonnes of Telamon and Laert did assay

Which of them two of that great pryse should beare the bell away.

But Agamemnon from himself the hurthen putts, and cleeres

His handes of envye, causing all the Capteines and the Peeres

695

Of Greece to meete amid the camp togither in a place,

To whom he put the heering and the judgement of the cace.

Notes on the current edition

Metamorphoses

neve ea magnanimus frustra memoraverit ore,

230

submovet instantes raptamque furentibus aufert.

fracta volubilitas capitis latissima, perque os

perque cavas nares oculosque auresque cerebrum

435

molle fluit veluti concretum vimine querno

lac solet, utve liquor rari sub pondere cribri

manat et exprimitur per densa foramina spissus.

P. Ovidius Naso Metamorphoses 12

ed. Hugo Magnus

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