BOOK III_Claudian, volume 2 (of 2) With an English translation by Maurice Platnauer

(XXXVI.)

Meanwhile Jove bids cloud-girt Iris go gather the gods from the whole

universe. She, outstripping the breezes in her rainbow flight, calls to

the sea-deities, chides the Nymphs for their delay, and summons forth

the river-gods from their moist

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ancipites trepidique ruunt, quae causa quietos

excierit, tanto quae res agitanda tumultu.

ut patuit stellata domus, considere iussi,

nec confusus honor: caelestibus ordine sedes

prima datur; tractum proceres tenuere secundum 10

aequorei, placidus Nereus reverendaque Phorci

canities; Glaucum series extrema biformem

accipit et certo mansurum Protea vultu.

nec non et senibus Fluviis concessa sedendi

gloria; plebeio stat cetera more iuventus, 15

mille Amnes. liquidis incumbunt patribus udae

Naides et taciti mirantur sidera Fauni.

Tum gravis ex alto genitor sic orsus Olympo:

“abduxere meas iterum mortalia curas

iam pridem neglecta mihi, Saturnia postquam 20

otia et ignavi senium cognovimus aevi;

sopitosque diu populos torpore paterno

sollicitae placuit stimulis impellere vitae,

incultis ne sponte seges grandesceret arvis,

undaret neu silva favis, neu vina tumerent 25

fontibus et totae fremerent in pocula ripae

(haud equidem invideo--neque enim livescere fas est

vel nocuisse deos--sed, quod dissuasor honesti

luxus et humanas oblimat copia mentes),

provocet ut segnes animos rerumque remotas 30

ingeniosa vias paulatim exploret egestas

utque artes pariat sollertia, nutriat usus.

“Nunc mihi cum magnis instat Natura querellis

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caverns. Out they haste in doubt and fear what this disturbance of

their peace may signify or what has caused so great an upheaval.

The starry heaven is thrown open and the gods are bidden take their

seats as merit, not chance, dictates. The first places are accorded

to the heavenly powers, next come the ocean-deities, calm Nereus and

grey-haired Phorcus, last twiform Glaucus and Proteus, for once of

unvarying shape. The agèd river-gods, too, are privileged to take their

seats; the other rivers, a thousand strong, stand as stands the youth

of an earthly assembly. Dripping water-nymphs lean on their moist sires

and Fauns in silence marvel at the stars.

Then the grave Father from his seat on high Olympus thus began: “Once

more the affairs of men have won care from me, affairs long neglected

since I looked upon the repose of Saturn’s reign and knew the torpor

of that stagnant age, when I had fain urged the race of man, long sunk

in lethargy by reason of my sire’s sluggish rule, with the goads of

anxious life, whereby their crops should no more grow to maturity of

their own accord in the untilled fields nor yet the forest trees drip

with honey nor wine flow from springs nor every stream course sounding

into cups. ’Twas not that I grudged their blessings--gods may not envy

nor hurt--but because luxury is a foe to a godly life, and plenty

dulls the mind of men; therefore I bade necessity, invention’s mother,

provoke their sluggish spirits and little by little search out the

hidden tracks of things; bade industry give birth to civilization and

practice nourish it.

“Nature now with ceaseless complaint bids me

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humanum relevare genus, durumque tyrannum

inmitemque vocat regnataque saecula patri 35

commemorat parcumque Iovem se divite clamat,

qui campos horrere situ dumisque repleri

rura velim, nullis exornem fructibus annum.

se iam, quae genetrix mortalibus ante fuisset,

in dirae subito mores transisse novercae; 40

‘quid mentem traxisse polo, quid profuit altum

erexisse caput, pecudum si more pererrant

avia, si frangunt communia pabula glandes?

haecine vita iuvat silvestribus abdita[127] lustris,

indiscreta feris?’ tales cum saepe parentis 45

pertulerim questus, tandem clementior orbi

Chaonio statui gentes avertere victu:

atque adeo Cererem, quae nunc ignara malorum

verberat Idaeos torva cum matre leones,

per mare, per terras avido discurrere luctu 50

decretum, natae donec laetata repertae

indicio tribuat fruges, currusque feratur

nubibus ignotas populis sparsurus aristas

et iuga caerulei subeant Actaea dracones.

quodsi quis Cereri raptorem prodere divum 55

audeat, imperii molem pacemque profundam

obtestor rerum, natus licet ille sororve

vel coniunx fuerit natarumve agminis una,

se licet illa meo conceptam vertice iactet:

sentiet iratum procul aegide, sentiet ictum 60

fulminis et genitum divina sorte pigebit

optabitque mori: tunc vulnere saucius ipsi

[127] _abdita_ ς; Birt reads _addita_, following the other MSS.

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succour the race of man, calls me cruel and implacable tyrant, calls to

mind the centuries of my sire’s empery and dubs me miser of her riches,

for that I would have the world a wilderness and the land covered with

scrub and would beautify the year with no fruits. She complained that

she, who was erstwhile the mother of all living things, had suddenly

taken upon her the hated guise of a stepmother. ‘Of what avail that

man derived his intelligence from above, that he has held up his head

to heaven, if he wander like the beasts through trackless places, if

with them he crushes acorns for food? Can such a life as this bring him

happiness, hid in the forest glades, indistinguishable from the life of

animals?’ Since I bore so often such complaints from the lips of mother

Nature, at length I took pity on the world and decided to make man to

cease from his oak-tree food; wherefore I have decreed that Ceres, who

now, ignorant of her loss, lashes the lions of Mount Ida, accompanying

her dread mother, should wander over sea and land in anxious grief,

until, in her joy at finding the traces of her lost daughter, she grant

man the gift of corn and her chariot is borne aloft through the clouds

to scatter among the people ears before unknown and the steel-blue

serpents submit them to the Attic yoke.[128] But if any of the gods

dare inform Ceres who is the ravisher, I swear by the immensity of mine

empire, by the firm-stablished peace of the world, be he son or sister,

spouse or daughter, vaunt he his birth as from mine own head, he shall

feel afar the wrath of mine arms, the thunderbolt’s blow, and be sorry

he was born a god and pray for death. Then, sore wounded, he shall be

handed

[128] Attic, because Ceres in her wanderings came to Eleusis where

she instructed Triptolemus, son of Celeus, King of Eleusis, in the

art of agriculture.

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tradetur genero, passurus prodita regna,

et sciet an propriae conspirent Tartara causae.

hoc sanctum; mansura fluant hoc ordine fata.” 65

dixit et horrendo concussit sidera motu.

At procul armisoni Cererem sub rupibus antri

securam placidamque diu iam certa peracti

terrebant simulacra mali, noctesque timorem

ingeminant omnique perit Proserpina somno. 70

namque modo adversis invadi viscera telis,

nunc sibi mutatas horret nigrescere vestes,

nunc steriles mediis frondere penatibus ornos.

stabat praeterea luco dilectior omni

laurus, virgineos quondam quae fronde pudica 75

umbrabat thalamos: hanc imo stipite caesam

vidit et incomptos foedari pulvere ramos

quaesivitque nefas. Dryades dixere gementes

Tartarea Furias debellavisse bipenni.

Sed tunc ipsa sui iam non ambagibus ullis 80

nuntia materno facies ingesta sopori:

namque videbatur tenebroso obtecta recessu

carceris et saevis Proserpina vincta catenis,

non qualem Siculis olim mandaverat arvis

nec qualem roseis nuper convallibus Aetnae 85

suspexere deae: squalebat pulchrior auro

caesaries et nox oculorum infecerat ignes

exhaustusque gelu pallet rubor, ille superbi

flammeus oris honos, et non cessura pruinis

membra colorantur picei caligine regni. 90

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over to my son-in-law, Pluto himself, for punishment in those regions

he had fain betray. There he shall learn whether Hell is true to her

own monarch’s cause. Such is my will; thus let the unchangeable fates

fulfil my decree.” He spake and shook the stars with his dread nod.

But, far from Sicily, no uncertain suspicions of the loss she had

suffered alarmed Ceres, where long she had dwelt peaceful and secure

beneath the rocky roof of the cave resounding with arms. Dreams doubled

her dread and a vision of Proserpine lost troubled her every sleep.

Now she dreams that an enemy’s spear is piercing her body, now (oh

horror!) that her raiment is changed and is become black, now that the

infecund ash is budding in the midst of her house. Moreover, there

stood a laurel, loved above all the grove, that used with maiden leaf

to o’ershadow the virgin bower of Proserpine. This she saw hewn down to

the roots, its straggling branches fouled with dust, and when she asked

the cause of this disaster weeping dryads told her that the Furies had

destroyed it with an axe of Hell.

Next her very image appeared in the mother’s dreams, announcing her

fate in no uncertain manner. She saw Proserpine shut in the dark

confines of a prison-house and bound with cruel chains. Yet not so had

she entrusted her to the fields of Sicily, not so had the wondering

goddesses beheld her in Etna’s flowery meadows. Foul was now that

hair, more beauteous erstwhile than gold; night had dimmed the fire

of her eyes and frost banished the roses from her pale cheeks. The

gracious flush of her skin and those limbs whose whiteness matched the

hoar-frost are alike turned to hell-tinctured

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ergo hanc ut dubio vix tandem agnoscere visu

evaluit: “cuius tot poenae criminis?” inquit

“unde haec informis macies? cui tanta potestas

in me saevitiae? rigidi cur vincula ferri

vix aptanda feris molles meruere lacerti? 95

tu mea, tu proles? an vana fallimur umbra?”

Illa refert: “heu dira parens nataeque peremptae

immemor! heu fulvas animo transgressa leaenas!

tantane te nostri tenuere oblivia? tantum

unica despicior? certe Proserpina nomen 100

dulce tibi, tali quae nunc, ut cernis, hiatu

suppliciis inclusa teror! tu saeva choreis

indulges? Phrygias vel nunc interstrepis urbes?

quodsi non omnem pepulisti pectore matrem,

si tua nata, Ceres, et non me Caspia tigris 105

edidit, his, oro, miseram defende cavernis

inque superna refer, prohibent si fata reverti,

vel tantum visura veni.”

Sic fata trementes

tendere conatur palmas. vis improba ferri

impedit et motae somnum solvere catenae. 110

obriguit visis; gaudet non vera fuisse;

complexu caruisse dolet. penetralibus amens

prosilit et tali compellat voce Cybeben:

“Iam non ulterius Phrygia tellure morabor,

sancta parens: revocat tandem custodia cari 115

pignoris et cunctis obiecti fraudibus anni.

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grain. When, therefore, she was at last able to recognize her daughter,

albeit with doubtful gaze, she cried: “What crime hath merited these

many punishments? Whence comes this dreadful wasting away? Who hath

power to wreak such cruelty upon me? How have thy soft arms deserved

fetters of stubborn iron, scarce fitted for beasts? Art thou my

daughter or does a vain shadow deceive me?”

Thus she answered: “Cruel mother, forgetful of thy daughter’s fate,

more hard of heart than the tawny lioness! Could’st thou be so heedless

of me? Didst thou hold me cheap for that I am thy sole daughter? Dear

indeed to thee must be the name of Proserpine who now, shut in this

vast cavern, as thou seest, am plagued with torment! Hast thou heart to

dance, cruel mother? Canst thou revel through the cities of Phrygia? If

thou hast not banished the mother from thy breast, if thou, Ceres, art

really my mother and ’twas no Hyrcanian tiger gave me birth, save me, I

pray thee, from this prison and restore me to the upper world. If the

fates forbid my return come thou down at least and visit me.”

So spake she and strove to hold out her trembling hands. The iron’s

ruthless strength forbade it, and the clangour of the chains awoke her

sleeping mother. Ceres lay stiff with terror at the vision, rejoices

that it was not true, but grieves that she cannot embrace her daughter.

Maddened with fear she rushes out of the cavern and thus addresses

Cybele: “No longer now will I tarry in the land of Phrygia, holy

mother; the duty of protecting my dear daughter calls me back after so

long an absence, for she is of an age that is exposed to many dangers.

I put not

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nec mihi Cyclopum quamvis extructa caminis

culmina fida satis. timeo ne fama latebras

prodiderit leviusque meum Trinacria celet

depositum. terret nimium vulgata locorum 120

nobilitas. aliis sedes obscurior oris

exquirenda mihi; gemitu flammisque propinquis

Enceladi nequeunt umbracula nostra taceri.

somnia quin etiam variis infausta figuris

saepe monent, nullusque dies non triste minatur 125

augurium. quotiens flaventia serta comarum

sponte cadunt! quotiens exundat ab ubere sanguis!

larga vel invito prorumpunt flumina vultu

iniussaeque manus mirantia pectora tundunt.

si buxus inflare velim, ferale gemiscunt; 130

tympana si quatiam, planctus mihi tympana reddunt.

ah vereor, ne quid portendant omina veri!

hae longae nocuere morae!”

“Procul inrita venti

dicta ferant” subicit Cybele; “nec tanta Tonanti

segnities, ut non pro pignore fulmina mittat. 135

i tamen et nullo turbata revertere casu.”

Haec ubi, digreditur templis. sed nulla ruenti

mobilitas: tardos queritur non ire dracones

inmeritasque movens alterno verbere pennas

Sicaniam quaerit, cum necdum absconderit Idam. 140

cuncta pavet speratque nihil. sic aestuat ales,

quae teneros humili fetus commiserit orno

adlatura cibos, et plurima cogitat absens:

ne gracilem ventus decusserit arbore nidum,

ne furtum pateant homini, ne praeda colubris. 145

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complete trust in my palace, though built with iron from the Cyclops’

furnace. I fear lest rumour disclose her hiding-place and Sicily too

lightly guard my trust. The fame of that place too widely bruited

abroad alarms me; needs must I find elsewhere some obscurer abode.

Our retreat must be on all men’s tongues by reason of the groanings

of Enceladus and the neighbour flames. Ill-omened dreams, too, with

diverse visions often give me pause, and no day passes but brings

some inauspicious hap. How often has my crown of golden ears fallen

of itself! How often blood flowed from my breast! In mine own despite

streams of tears course down my cheeks and unbidden my hands beat my

astonished breast. Would I blow up the flute, funereal is the note; do

I shake the cymbals, the cymbals echo a sound of mourning. Alas! I fear

there is some trouble in these portents. This long sojourn, has wrought

me woe.”

“May the wind carry far away thy vain words,” replies Cybele; “not such

the Thunderer’s want of care that he would not hurl his bolt in his

daughter’s defence. Yet go and return, dismayed by no evil hap.”

This said, Ceres left the temple; but no speed is enough for her haste;

she complains that her sluggish dragons scarce move, and, lashing the

wings now of this one and now of that (though little they deserved

it), she hopes to reach Sicily e’er yet out of sight of Ida. She fears

everything and hopes nothing, anxious as the bird that has entrusted

its unfledged brood to a low-growing ash and while absent gathering

food has many fears lest perchance the wind has blown the fragile nest

from the tree, lest her young ones be exposed to the theft of man or

the greed of snakes.

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Ut domus excubiis incustodita remotis

et resupinati neglecto cardine postes

flebilis et tacitae species adparuit aulae,

non expectato respectu cladis amictus

conscidit et fractas cum crine avellit aristas. 150

haeserunt lacrimae; nec vox aut spiritus oris

redditur, atque imis vibrat tremor ossa medullis;

succidui titubant gressus; foribusque reclusis,

dum vacuas sedes et desolata pererrat

atria, semirutas confuso stamine telas 155

atque interceptas agnoscit pectinis artes.

divinus perit ille labor, spatiumque relictum

audax sacrilego supplebat aranea textu.

Nec deflet plangitve malum; tantum oscula telae

figit et abrumpit mutas in fila querellas; 160

attritosque manu radios proiectaque pensa

cunctaque virgineo sparsa oblectamina ludo

ceu natam pressat gremio; castumque cubile

desertosque toros et, sicubi sederat olim,

perlegit: attonitus stabulo ceu pastor inani, 165

cui pecus aut rabies Poenorum inopina leonum

aut populatrices infestavere catervae;

serus at ille redit vastataque pascua lustrans

non responsuros ciet imploratque iuvencos.

Atque ibi secreta tectorum in parte iacentem 170

conspicit Electram, natae quae sedula nutrix

Oceani priscas inter notissima Nymphas.

par Cereri pietas; haec post cunabula dulci

ferre sinu summoque Iovi deducere parvam

sueverat et genibus ludentem aptare paternis. 175

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When she saw the gate-keepers fled, the house unguarded, the rusted

hinges, the overthrown doorposts, and the miserable state of the silent

halls, pausing not to look again at the disaster, she rent her garment

and tore away the shattered corn-ears along with her hair. She could

not weep nor speak nor breathe and a trembling shook the very marrow of

her bones; her faltering steps tottered. She flung open the doors and

wandering through the empty rooms and deserted halls, recognized the

half-ruined warp with its disordered threads and the work of the loom

broken off. The goddess’ labours had come to naught, and what remained

to be done, that the bold spider was finishing with her sacrilegious

web.

She weeps not nor bewails the ill; only kisses the loom and stifles

her dumb complaints amid the threads, clasping to her bosom, as though

it had been her child, the spindles her child’s hand had touched, the

wool she had cast aside, and all the toys scattered in maiden sport.

She scans the virgin bed, the deserted couch, and the chair where

Proserpine had sat: even as a herd, whose drove the unexpected fury of

an African lion or bands of marauding beasts have attacked, gazes in

amaze at the vacant stall, and, too late returned, wanders through the

emptied pastures, sadly calling to the unreplying steers.

And there, in the innermost parts of the house, she saw lying Electra,

loving nurse of Proserpine, best known among the old Nymphs of Ocean;

she who loved Proserpine as did Ceres. ’Twas she who, when Proserpine

had left her cradle, would bear her in her loving bosom and bring the

little girl to mighty Jove and set her to play on her father’s

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haec comes, haec custos, haec proxima mater haberi.

tunc laceras effusa comas et pulvere cano

sordida sidereae raptus lugebat alumnae.

Hanc adgressa Ceres, postquam suspiria tandem

laxavit frenosque dolor: “quod cernimus” inquit 180

“excidium? cui praeda feror? regnatne maritus

an caelum Titanes habent? quae talia vivo

ausa Tonante manus? rupitne Typhoia cervix

Inarimen? fractane iugi compage Vesevi

Alcyoneus Tyrrhena pedes per stagna cucurrit? 185

an vicina mihi quassatis faucibus Aetna

protulit Enceladum? nostros an forte penates

adpetiit centum Briareia turba lacertis?

heu, ubi nunc es, nata, mihi? quo, mille ministrae,

quo, Cyane? volucres quae vis Sirenas abegit? 190

haecine vestra fides? sic fas aliena tueri

pignora?”

Contremuit nutrix, maerorque pudori

cedit, et adspectus miserae non ferre parentis

emptum morte velit longumque inmota moratur

auctorem dubium certumque expromere funus. 195

vix tamen haec:

“Acies utinam vesana Gigantum

hanc dederit cladem! levius communia tangunt.

sed divae, multoque minus quod rere, sorores

in nostras (nimium!) coniuravere ruinas.

insidias superum, cognatae vulnera cernis 200

invidiae. Phlegra nobis infensior aether.

“Florebat tranquilla domus; nec limina virgo

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knee. She was her companion, her guardian, and could be deemed her

second mother. There, with torn and dishevelled hair, all foul with

grey dust, she was lamenting the rape of her divine foster-child.

Ceres approached her, and when at length her grief allowed her sighs

free rein: “What ruin is here?” she said. “Of what enemy am I become

the victim? Does my husband yet rule or do the Titans hold heaven? What

hand hath dared this, if the Thunderer be still alive? Have Typhon’s

shoulders forced up Inarime or does Alcyoneus course on foot through

the Etruscan Sea, having burst the bonds of imprisoning Vesuvius?

Or has the neighbouring mountain of Etna oped her jaws and expelled

Enceladus? Perchance Briareus with his hundred arms has attacked

my house? Ah, my daughter, where art thou now? Whither are fled my

thousand servants, whither Cyane? What violence has driven away the

winged Sirens? Is this your faith? Is this the way to guard another’s

treasure?”

The nurse trembled and her sorrow gave place to shame; fain would she

have died could she so escape the gaze of that unhappy mother, and long

stayed she motionless, hesitating to disclose the suspected criminal

and the all too certain death. Scarce could she thus speak: “Would that

the raging band of Giants had wrought this ruin! Easier to bear is a

common lot. ’Tis the goddesses, and, though thou wilt scarce credit

it, her own sisters, who have conspired to our undoing. Thou seest the

devices of gods and wounds inflicted by sisters’ jealousy. Heaven is a

more cruel enemy than Hell.

“All quiet was the house, the maiden dared not

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linquere nec virides audebat visere saltus

praeceptis obstricta tuis. telae labor illi;

Sirenes requies. sermonum gratia mecum, 205

mecum somnus erat cautique per atria ludi:

cum subito (dubium quonam monstrante latebras

rescierit) Cytherea venit suspectaque nobis

ne foret, hinc Phoeben comites, hinc Pallada iunxit.

protinus effuso laetam se fingere risu 210

nec semel amplecti nomenque iterare sororis

et dura de matre queri, quae tale recessu

maluerit damnare decus vetitamque dearum

colloquio patriis procul amandaverit astris.

nostra rudis gaudere malis et nectare largo 215

instaurare dapes. nunc arma habitumque Dianae

induitur digitisque attemptat mollibus arcum,

nunc crinita iubis galeam, laudante Minerva,

implet et ingentem clipeum gestare laborat.

“Prima Venus campos Aetnaeaque rura maligno 220

ingerit adflatu. vicinos callida flores

ingeminat meritumque loci velut inscia quaerit

nec credit, quod bruma rosas innoxia servet,

quod gelidi rubeant alieno genuine menses

verna nec iratum timeant virgulta Booten. 225

dum loca miratur, studio dum flagrat eundi,

persuadet; teneris heu lubrica moribus aetas!

quos ego nequidquam planctus, quas inrita fudi

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o’erstep the threshold nor visit the grassy pastures, close bound

by thy commands. The loom gave her work, the Sirens with their song

relaxation--with me she held pleasant converse, with me she slept;

safe delights were hers within the halls. Then suddenly Cytherea came

(who showed her the way to our hid abode I know not), and, that she

might not rouse our suspicions, she brought with her Diana and Minerva,

attending her on either side. Straightway with beaming smiles she put

on a pretence of joy, kissed Proserpine many a time, and repeated the

name of sister, complaining of that hard-hearted mother who chose to

condemn such beauty to imprisonment and complaining that by forbidding

her intercourse with the goddesses she had removed her far from her

father’s heaven. My unwitting charge rejoiced in these evil words and

bade a feast be spread with plentiful nectar. Now she dons Diana’s arms

and dress and tries her bow with her soft fingers. Now crowned with

horse-hair plumes she puts on the helmet, Minerva commending her, and

strives to carry her huge shield.

“Venus was the first with guileful suggestion to mention fields and the

vale of Henna. Cunningly she harps upon the nearness of the flowery

mead, and as though she knew it not, asks what merits the place boasts,

pretending not to believe that a harmless winter allows the roses to

bloom, that the cold months are bright with flowers not rightly theirs,

and that the spring thickets fear not there Boötes’ wrath. So with her

wonderment, her passion to see the spot, she persuades Proserpine.

Alas! how easily does youth err with its weak ways! What tears did I

not shed to no purpose, what vain

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ore preces! ruit illa tamen confisa sororum

praesidio; famulae longo post ordine Nymphae. 230

“Itur in aeterno vestitos gramine colles

et prima sub luce legunt, cum rore serenus

albet ager sparsosque bibunt violaria sucos.

sed postquam medio sol altior institit axi,

ecce polum nox foeda rapit tremefactaque nutat 235

insula cornipedum pulsu strepituque rotarum.

nosse nec aurigam licuit: seu mortifer ille

seu Mors ipsa fuit. livor permanat in herbas;

deficiunt rivi; squalent rubigine prata

et nihil adflatum vivit: pallere ligustra, 240

expirare rosas, decrescere lilia vidi.

ut rauco reduces tractu detorsit habenas,

nox sua prosequitur currum, lux redditur orbi.

Persephone nusquam. voto rediere peracto

nec mansere deae. mediis invenimus arvis 245

exanimem Cyanen: cervix redimita iacebat

et caligantes marcebant fronte coronae.

adgredimur subito et casus scitamur eriles

(nam propior cladi steterat): quis vultus equorum?

quis regat? illa nihil, tacito sed laesa veneno 250

solvitur in laticem: subrepit crinibus umor;

liquitur in roremque pedes et brachia manant

nostraque mox lambit vestigia perspicuus fons.

discedunt aliae. rapidis Acheloides alis

sublatae Siculi latus obsedere Pelori 255

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entreaties did my lips not utter! Away she flew, trusting to the

sisters’ protection; the scattered company of attendant nymphs followed

after her.

“They went to the hills clothed with undying grass and gather flowers

’neath the twilight of dawn, when the quiet meads are white with

dew and violets drink the scattered moisture. But when the sun had

mounted to higher air at noon, behold! murky night hid the sky and

the island trembled and shook beneath the beat of horses’ hoofs and

the rumble of wheels. Who the charioteer was none might tell--whether

he was the harbinger of death or it was Death himself. Gloom spread

through the meadows, the rivers stayed their courses, the fields were

blighted, nor did aught live, once touched with those horses’ breath.

I saw the bryony pale, the roses fade, the lilies wither. When in

his roaring course the driver turned back his steeds the night it

brought accompanied the chariot and light was restored to the world.

Proserpine was nowhere to be seen. Their vows fulfilled, the goddesses

had returned and tarried not. We found Cyane half dead amid the fields;

there she lay, a garland round her neck and the blackened wreaths faded

upon her forehead. At once we approached her and inquired after her

mistress’s fortune, for she had been a witness of the disaster. What,

we asked, was the aspect of the horses; who their driver? Naught said

she, but corrupted with some hidden venom, dissolved into water. Water

crept amid her hair; legs and arms melted and flowed away, and soon a

clear stream washed our feet. The rest are gone; the Sirens, Achelous’

daughters, rising on rapid wing, have occupied the coast of Sicilian

Pelorus, and in wrath

* * * * *

Page 364

accensaeque malo iam non impune canoras

in pestem vertere lyras: vox blanda carinas

adligat; audito frenantur carmine remi.

sola domi luctu senium tractura relinquor.”

Haeret adhuc suspensa Ceres et singula demens 260

ceu nondum transacta timet; mox lumina torquens

vultu ad caelicolas furiato pectore fertur.

arduus Hyrcana quatitur sic matre Niphates,

cuius Achaemenio regi ludibria natos

advexit tremebundus eques: fremit illa marito 265

mobilior Zephyro totamque virentibus iram

dispergit maculis timidumque hausura profundo

ore virum vitreae tardatur imagine formae.

Haud aliter toto genetrix bacchatur Olympo

“reddite” vociferans. “non me vagus edidit amnis; 270

non Dryadum de plebe sumus. turrita Cybebe

me quoque Saturno genuit. quo iura deorum,

quo leges cecidere poli? quid vivere recte

proderit? en audet noti Cytherea pudoris

ostentare suos post Lemnia vincula vultus! 275

hos animos bonus ille sopor castumque cubile

praebuit! amplexus hoc promeruere pudici!

nec mirum, si turpe nihil post talia ducit.

quid vos expertes thalami? tantumne relictus

* * * * *

Page 365

at this crime now turned their lyres to man’s destruction, tuneful now

for ill. Their sweet voices stay ships, but once that song is heard the

oars can move no more. I alone am left in the house to drag out an old

age of mourning.”

Ceres is still a prey to anxiety; half distraught she fears everything

as though all were not yet accomplished. Anon she turns her head and

eyes to heaven and with raging breast inveighs against its denizens;

even as lofty Niphates shakes to the roaring of the Hyrcan tigress

whose cubs the terrified horseman has carried off to be the playthings

of Persia’s king. Speedier than the west wind that is her paramour[129]

rushes the tigress, anger blazing from her stripes, but just as she

is about to engulf the terrified hunter in her capacious maw, she is

checked by the mirrored image of her own form[130]: so the mother

of Proserpine rages over all Olympus crying: “Give her back; no

wandering stream gave me birth; I spring not from the Dryad rabble.

Towered Cybele bare me also to Saturn. Where are the ordinances of the

gods, where the laws of heaven? What boots it to live a good life?

See, Cytherea dares show her face (modest goddess!) even after her

Lemnian[131] bondage! ’Tis that chaste sleep and a loverless couch

have given her this courage! This is, I suppose, the reward of those

maidenly embraces! Small wonder that after such infamy she account

nothing disgraceful. Ye goddesses that have known not marriage, is it

thus that ye neglect the honour due to virginity?

[129] _marito Zephyro_ (ll. 265, 266) refers to the theory of

impregnation by wind commonly accepted by the ancients (see Arist.

_H.A._ vi. 19; Verg. _Georg._ iii. 275, etc.).

[130] It was supposed that the robbed tigress on being confronted

with a convex mirror supposed the reduced image to be her cub and

contentedly retired with the mirror in her mouth. Another story

makes the tigress vent her anger on an ordinary (not convex) mirror.

[131] A reference to the binding by Hephaestus (to whom Lemnos was

sacred) of Ares and Aphrodite whom he had surprised in adulterous

intercourse. The story is told in Homer (Θ 266 _et sqq._). Statius

(_Silv._ i. 2. 60) uses this very phrase “Lemnia vincula.”

* * * * *

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virginitatis honos? tantum mutata voluntas? 280

iam Veneri iunctae, sociis raptoribus, itis?

o templis Scythiae atque hominem sitientibus aris

utraque digna coli! tanti quae causa furoris?

quam mea vel tenui dicto Proserpina laesit?

scilicet aut caris pepulit te, Delia, silvis 285

aut tibi commissas rapuit, Tritonia, pugnas.

an gravis eloquio? vestros an forte petebat

importuna choros? atqui Trinacria longe,

esset ne vobis oneri, deserta colebat.

quid latuisse iuvat? rabiem livoris acerbi 290

nulla potest placare quies.”

His increpat omnes

vocibus. ast illae (prohibet sententia patris)

aut reticent aut nosse negant responsaque matri

dant lacrimas. quid agat? rursus se victa remittit

inque humiles devecta preces:

“Ignoscite, si quid 295

intumuit pietas, si quid flagrantius actum

quam miseros decuit. supplex miserandaque vestris

advolvor genibus: liceat cognoscere sortem:

hoc tantum liceat--certos habuisse dolores.

scire peto, quae forma mali; quamcumque dedistis 300

fortunam, sit nota: feram fatumque putabo,

non scelus. adspectum, precor, indulgete parenti;

non repetam. quaesita manu securus habeto

quisquis es; adfirmo praedam; desiste vereri.

quodsi nos aliquo praevenit foedere raptor, 305

tu certe, Latona, refer; confessa Diana

forte tibi. nosti quid sit Lucina, quis horror

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Page 367

Have ye so changed your counsel? Do ye now go allied with Venus and her

accomplice ravishers? Worthy each of you to be worshipped in Scythian

temples and at altars that lust after human blood. What hath caused

such great anger? Which of you has my Proserpine wronged even in her

slightest word? Doubtless she drove thee, Delian goddess, from thy

loved woods, or deprived thee, Triton-born, of some battle thou hadst

joined. Did she plague you with talk? Break rudely upon your dances?

Nay, that she might be no burden to you, she dwelt far away in the

solitudes of Sicily. What good hath her retirement done her? No peace

can still the madness of bitter jealousy.”

Thus she upbraids them all. But they, obedient to the Father’s word,

keep silence or say they know nothing, and make tears their answer to

the mother’s questionings. What can she do? She ceases, beaten, and in

turn descends to humble entreaty. “If a mother’s love swelled too high

or if I have done aught more boldly than befitted misery, oh forgive!

A suppliant and wretched I fling me at your feet; grant me to learn

my doom; grant me at least this much--sure knowledge of my woes. Fain

would I know the manner of this ill; whatsoever fortune ye have visited

upon me that will I bear and account it fate, not injustice. Grant a

parent the sight of her child; I ask her not back. Whosoever thou art,

possess in peace what thine hand has taken. The prey is thine, fear

not. But if the ravisher has thwarted me, binding you by some oath, yet

do thou, at least, Latona, tell me his name; to thee mayhap Diana hath

confessed her knowledge. Thou hast known childbirth, the anxiety

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Page 368

pro genitis et quantus amor, partusque tulisti

tu geminos: haec una mihi. sic crine fruaris

semper Apollineo, sic me felicior aevum 310

mater agas.”

Largis tunc imbribus ora madescunt.

“quid? tantum dignum fleri dignumque taceri?

hei mihi, discedunt omnes. quid vana moraris

ulterius? non bella palam caelestia sentis?

quin potius natam pelago terrisque requiris? 315

accingar lustrare diem, per devia rerum

indefessa ferar. nulla cessabitur hora,

non requies, non somnus erit, dum pignus ademptum

inveniam, gremio quamvis mergatur Hiberae

Tethyos et Rubro iaceat vallata profundo. 320

non Rheni glacies, non me Riphaea tenebunt

frigora; non dubio Syrtis cunctabitur aestu.

stat finem penetrare Noti Boreaeque nivalem

vestigare domum; primo calcabitur Atlas

occasu facibusque meis lucebit Hydaspes. 325

impius errantem videat per rura, per urbes

Iuppiter; extincta satietur paelice Iuno.

insultate mihi, caelo regnate superbi,

ducite praeclarum Cereris de stirpe triumphum!”

Haec fatur notaeque iugis inlabitur Aetnae 330

noctivago taedas informatura labori.

Lucus erat prope flumen Acin, quod candida praefert

saepe mari pulchroque secat Galatea natatu,

densus et innexis Aetnaea cacumina ramis

qua licet usque tegens. illic posuisse cruentam 335

* * * * *

Page 369

and love for children; to offspring twain hast thou given birth; this

was mine only child. So mayest thou ever enjoy Apollo’s locks, so

mayest thou live a happier mother than I.”

Plenteous tears then bedewed her cheeks. She continued: “Why these

tears? why this silence? Woe is me; all desert me. Why tarriest thou

yet to no purpose? Seest thou not ’tis open war with heaven? were it

not better to seek again thy daughter by sea and land? I will gird

myself and scour the world, unwearied I will penetrate its every

corner, nor ever stay my search, nor rest nor sleep till I find my reft

treasure, though she lie whelmed in the Spanish Ocean bed or hedged

around in the depths of the Red Sea. Neither ice-bound Rhine nor Alpine

frosts shall stay me; the treacherous tides of Syrtes shall not give me

pause. My purpose holds to penetrate the fastnesses of the North and

to tread the snowy home of Boreas. I will climb Atlas on the brink of

the sunset and illumine Hydaspes’ stream with my torches. Let wicked

Jove behold me wandering through towns and country, and Juno’s jealousy

be sated with her rival’s ruin. Have your sport with me, triumph in

heaven, proud gods, celebrate your illustrious victory o’er Ceres’

conquered daughter.”

So spake she and glides down upon Etna’s familiar slopes, there to

fashion torches to aid her night-wandering labours.

There was a wood, hard by the stream of Acis, which fair Galatea oft

chooses in preference to Ocean and cleaves in swimming with her snowy

breast--a wood dense with foliage that closed in Etna’s summit on all

sides with interwoven branches. “Tis there that Jove is said to have

laid down his

* * * * *

Page 370

aegida captivamque pater post proelia praedam

advexisse datur. Phlegraeis silva superbit

exuviis totumque nemus victoria vestit.

hic patuli rictus et prodigiosa Gigantum

tergora dependent, et adhuc crudele minantur 340

adfixae truncis facies, inmaniaque ossa

serpentum passim cumulis exanguibus albent,

et rigidae multo suspirant fulmine pelles;

nullaque non magni iactat se nominis arbor:

haec centumgemini strictos Aegaeonis enses 345

curvata vix fronde levat; liventibus illa

exultat Coei spoliis; haec arma Mimantis

sustinet; hos onerat ramos exutus Ophion.

altior at cunctis abies umbrosaque late

ipsius Enceladi fumantia gestat opima, 350

summi terrigenum regis, caderetque gravata

pondere, ni lassam fulciret proxima quercus.

inde timor numenque loco, nemorisque senectae

parcitur, aetheriisque nefas nocuisse tropaeis.

pascere nullus oves nec robora laedere Cyclops 355

audet et ipse fugit sacra Polyphemus ab umbra.

Non tamen hoc tardata Ceres. accenditur ultro

relligione loci vibratque infesta securim

ipsum etiam feritura Iovem: succidere pinus

aut magis enodes dubitat prosternere cedros 360

exploratque habiles truncos rectique tenorem

stipitis et certo pertemptat brachia nisu.

sic, qui vecturus longinqua per aequora merces

molitur tellure ratem vitamque procellis

obiectare parat, fagos metitur et alnos 365

* * * * *

Page 371

bloody shield and set his captured spoil after the battle. The grove

glories in trophies from the plain of Phlegra and signs of victory

clothe its every tree. Here hang the gaping jaws and monstrous skins of

the Giants; affixed to trees their faces still threaten horribly, and

heaped up on all sides bleach the huge bones of slaughtered serpents.

Their stiffening sloughs smoke with the blow of many a thunderbolt, and

every tree boasts some illustrious name. This one scarce supports on

its down-bended branches the naked swords of hundred-handed Aegaeon;

that glories in the murky trophies of Coeus; this bears up the arms

of Mimas; spoiled Ophion weighs down those branches. But higher than

all the other trees towers a pine, its shady branches spread wide,

and bears the reeking arms of Enceladus himself, all powerful king of

the Earth-born giants; it would have fallen beneath the heavy burden

did not a neighbouring oak-tree support its wearied weight. Therefore

the spot wins awe and sanctity; none touches the aged grove, and ’tis

accounted a crime to violate the trophies of the gods. No Cyclops dares

pasture there his flock nor hew down the trees, Polyphemus himself

flies from the hallowed shade.

Not for that did Ceres stay her steps; the very sanctity of the place

inflames her wrath; with angry hand she brandishes her axe, ready to

strike Jove himself. She hesitates whether to cut down pines or lay

low knotless cedars, scans likely trunks and lofty trees and shakes

their branches with vigorous hand. Even so when a man, fain to carry

merchandise over distant seas, builds a ship on dry land and makes

ready to expose his life to the tempest, he hews down

* * * * *

Page 372

et varium rudibus silvis accommodat usum:

quae longa est, tumidis praebebit cornua velis;

quae fortis, clavo potior; quae lenta, favebit

remigio: stagni patiens aptanda carinae.

Tollebant geminae capita inviolata cupressus 370

caespite vicino: quales non rupibus Idae

miratur Simois, quales non divite ripa

lambit Apollinei nemoris nutritor Orontes.

germanas adeo credas; sic frontibus aequis

adstant et socio despectant vertice lucum. 375

hae placuere faces. pernix invadit utramque

cincta sinus, exerta manus, armata bipenni

alternasque ferit totisque obnixa trementes

viribus impellit. pariter traxere ruinam

et pariter posuere comas campoque recumbunt, 380

Faunorum Dryadumque dolor. complectitur ambas,

sicut erant, alteque levat retroque solutis

crinibus ascendit fastigia montis anheli

exuperatque aestus et nulli pervia saxa

atque indignantes vestigia calcat harenas: 385

qualis pestiferas animare ad crimina taxos

torva Megaera ruit, Cadmi seu moenia poscat

sive Thyesteis properet saevire Mycenis:

dant tenebrae manesque locum plantisque resultant

Tartara ferratis, donec Phlegethontis ad undam 390

constitit et plenos excepit lampade fluctus.

Postquam perventum scopuli flagrantis in ora,

protinus arsuras aversa fronte cupressus

faucibus iniecit mediis lateque cavernas

texit et undantem flammarum obstruxit hiatum. 395

* * * * *

Page 373

beech and elm and marks the diverse utility of the yet growing forest;

the lofty tree he selects as yardarms for the swelling sail; the strong

he prefers as a mast; the pliant will make good oars; the waterproof is

suitable for the keel.

Two cypresses in the grass hard by raised their inviolate heads to

heaven; Simois looks not on such in amaze amid the crags of Ida, nor

does Orontes water their like, Orontes that feeds Apollo’s grove and

harbours rich cities on his banks. You would know them for sisters

for they tower equal in height and look down upon the wood with twin

tops. These she would have as torches; she attacks each with vigorous

blows, her gown girt back, her arms bared and armed with the axe.

First one she strikes, then the other, and rains blows upon their

trembling trunks with might and main. Together they crash to the

ground, lay their foliage in the dust and lie upon the plain, wept of

Fauns and wood-nymphs. She seizes both just as they are, uplifts them

and, with hair out-streaming behind her, climbs panting the slopes of

the mountain, passes beyond the flames and inaccessible precipices,

and treads the lava that brooks no mortal footstep: even as the grim

Megaera hastens to kindle yew-trees to light her to crime, speeding her

journey to the walls of Cadmus’ city or meaning to work her devilment

in Thyestean Mycenae; darkness and the shades give her passage, and

Hell rings to her iron tread, till she halts beside Phlegethon’s wave

and fires her torch from its brimming waves.

When she had climbed to the mouth of the burning rock, straightway,

turning aside her head, she thrust the kindling cypresses into its

inmost depths, thus closing in the cavern on all sides and stopping up

the

* * * * *

Page 374

compresso mons igne tonat claususque laborat

Mulciber: obducti nequeunt exire vapores.

coniferi micuere apices crevitque favillis

Aetna novis: strident admisso sulphure rami.

tum, ne deficerent tantis erroribus, ignes 400

semper inocciduos insopitosque manere

iussit et arcano perfudit robora suco,

quo Phaëthon inrorat equos, quo Luna iuvencos.

Iamque soporiferas nocturna silentia terris

explicuere vices: laniato pectore longas 405

incohat illa vias et sic ingressa profatur:

“Non tales gestare tibi, Proserpina, taedas

sperabam; sed vota mihi communia matrum

et thalami festaeque faces caeloque canendus

ante oculos hymenaeus erat. sic numina fatis 410

volvimur et nullo Lachesis discrimine saevit?

quam nuper sublimis eram quantisque procorum

cingebar studiis! quae non mihi pignus ob unum

cedebat numerosa parens! tu prima voluptas,

tu postrema mihi; per te fecunda ferebar. 415

o decus, o requies, o grata superbia matris,

qua gessi florente deam, qua sospite numquam

inferior Iunone fui: nunc squalida, vilis.

hoc placitum patri. cur autem adscribimus illum

his lacrimis? ego te, fateor, crudelis ademi, 420

quae te deserui solamque instantibus ultro

hostibus exposui. raucis secura fruebar

nimirum thiasis et laeta sonantibus armis

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Page 375

blazing exit of the flames. The mountain thunders with repressed fire

and Vulcan is shut in a grievous prison; the enclosed smoke cannot

escape. The cone-bearing tops of the cypresses blaze and Etna grows

with new ashes; the branches crackle, kindled with the sulphur. Then,

lest their long journey should cause them to fail, she bids the flames

never die nor sleep and drenches the wood with that secret drug[132]

wherewith Phaëthon bedews his steeds and the Moon her bulls.

Silent night had now in her turn visited upon the world her gift of

sleep. Ceres, with her wounded breast, starts on her long journey and,

as she sets out, speaks as follows: “Little thought I, Proserpine, to

carry for thee such torches as these. I had hoped what every mother

hopes; marriage and festal torches and a wedding-song to be sung in

heaven--such was my expectation. Are we divinities thus the sport of

fate? does Lachesis vent her spleen on us as on mankind? How lofty

was but now mine estate, surrounded with suitors innumerable for my

daughter’s hand! What mother of many children but would have owned

her my inferior by reason of my only daughter! Thou wast my first joy

and my last; I was called prolific for that I bare thee. Thou wert my

glory, my comfort, dear object of a mother’s pride; with thee alive

I was goddess indeed, with thee safe I was Juno’s equal. Now am I

outcast, beggared. ’Tis the Father’s will. Yet why make Jove answerable

for my tears? ’Twas I who so cruelly undid thee, I confess it, for I

deserted thee and heedlessly exposed thee to threatening foes. Too

deeply was I enmeshed in careless enjoyment of shrill-voiced revel,

and, happy amid the din of arms,

[132] A magic drug or herb on which the sun is said to have fed

his horses in order to render them non-inflammable. Ovid tells how

Phaëthon was treated by his father in a like way (_Met._ ii. 122).

* * * * *

Page 376

iungebam Phrygios, cum tu raperere, leones.

accipe quas merui poenas. en ora fatiscunt 425

vulneribus grandesque rubent in pectore sulci.

immemor en uterus crebro contunditur ictu.

“Qua te parte poli, quo te sub cardine quaeram?

quis monstrator erit? quae me vestigia ducent?

qui currus? ferus ipse quis est? terraene, marisne 430

incola? quae volucrum deprendam signa rotarum?

ibo, ibo quocumque pedes, quocumque iubebit

casus; sic Venerem quaerat deserta Dione.

“Efficietne labor? rursus te, nata, licebit

amplecti? manet ille decor, manet ille genarum 435

fulgor? an infelix talem fortasse videbo,

qualis nocte venis, qualem per somnia vidi?”

Sic ait et prima gressus molitur ab Aetna

exitiique reos flores ipsumque rapinae

detestata locum sequitur dispersa viarum 440

indicia et pleno rimatur lumine campos

inclinatque faces, omnis madet orbita fletu;

omnibus admugit,[133] quocumque it in aequore, sulcis.[134]

adnatat umbra fretis extremaque lucis imago

Italiam Libyamque ferit: clarescit Etruscum 445

litus et accenso resplendent aequore Syrtes.

antra procul Scyllaea petit canibusque reductis

pars stupefacta silet, pars nondum exterrita latrat.

[133] Birt _omnibus admugit. quocumque it in aequore, fulvis adnatat.…_

[134] _sulcis_ ς; _fulvis_ FSV; _silvis_ W.

* * * * *

Page 377

I was yoking Phrygian lions whilst thou wast being carried off. Yet see

the punishment visited upon me. My face is seared with wounds and long

gashes furrow my bloody breast. My womb, forgetful that it gave thee

birth, is beaten with continual blows.

“Where under heaven shall I find thee? Beneath what quarter of the sky?

Who shall point the way, what path shall lead me? What chariot was it?

Who was that cruel ravisher? A denizen of earth or sea? What traces of

his wingèd wheels can I discover? Whithersoever my steps lead me or

chance direct, thither will I go. Even so may Dione be deserted and

seek for Venus!

“Will my labours be successful? Shall I ever again be blest with thine

embrace, my daughter? Art thou still fair; still glows the brightness

of thy cheeks? Or shall I perchance see thee as thou cam’st in my

nightly vision; as I saw thee in my dreams?”

So spake she and from Etna first she drags her steps, and, cursing its

guilty flowers and the spot whence Proserpine was ravaged, she follows

the straying tracks of the chariot-wheels and examines the fields in

the full light of her lowered torch. Every rut is wet with her tears;

she weeps at each trace she espies in her wanderings over the plain.

She glides a shadow o’er the sea and the farthest ray of her torches’

gleam strikes the coasts of Italy and Libya. The Tuscan shore grows

bright and the Syrtes gleam with kindled wave. The light reaches the

distant cave of Scylla, of whose dogs some shrink back and are still

in dumb amaze, others, not yet horrified into silence, continue to

bark.[135]

[135] For the unfinished state of the poem see Introduction, p. xiv.

* * * * *

INDEX OF POEMS

[_The numbers in the right-hand column are those of Gesner’s edition

retained by Birt_]

Panegyricus Probini et Olybrii I.

In Rufinum I. praef. II.

In Rufinum I III.

In Rufinum II. praef. IV.

In Rufinum II V.

Bellum Gildonicum I XV.

In Eutropium I XVIII.

In Eutropium II. praef. XIX.

In Eutropium II XX.

Fescennina de nuptiis Honorii I XI.

Fescennina II XII.

Fescennina III XIII.

Fescennina IV XIV.

Epithalamii de nuptiis Honorii praef. IX.

Epithalamium de nuptiis Honorii X.

De tertio consulatu Honorii praef. VI.

De tertio consulatu Honorii VII.

De quarto consulatu Honorii VIII.

Panegyrici Manlii Theodori praef. XVI.

Panegyricus Manlii Theodori XVII.

De consulatu Stilichonis I XXI.

De consulatu Stilichonis II XXII.

De consulatu Stilichonis III. praef. XXIII.

De consulatu Stilichonis III XXIV.

De sexto consulatu Honorii praef. XXVII.

De sexto consulatu Honorii XXVIII.

De bello Gothico praef. XXV.

De bello Gothico XXVI.

c. m. I.: Ad Stilichonem XIII.

c. m. II.: Descriptio portus Smyrnensis LXXXV.

c. m. III.: Ad Aeternalem LXXXI.

c. m. IV.: Descriptio armenti LIV.

c. m. V.: Est in conspectu l.l. LXXXVI.

c. m. VI.: Rimanti telum ira facit LXXVIII.

c. m. VII.: De quadriga marmorea LXXXVII.

c. m. VIII.: De Polycaste et Perdicca LXIX.

c. m. IX.: De hystrice XLV.

c. m. X.: De birro castoreo XCII.

c. m. XI.: In sepulchrum speciosae XCI.

c. m. XII.: De balneis Quintianis LXXXIV.

c. m. XIII.: In podagrum LXXIX.

c. m. XIV.: Ad Maximum LXXXII.

c. m. XV.: De paupere amante LXXXIX.

c. m. XVI.: De eodem XC.

c. m. XVII.: De piis fratribus L.

c. m. XVIII.: De mulabus Gallicis LI.

c. m. XIX.: Ad Gennadium XLIII.

c. m. XX.: De sene Veronensi LII.

c. m. XXI.: De Theodoro et Hadriano LXXX.

c. m. XXII.: Deprecatio ad Hadrianum XXXIX.

c. m. XXIII.: Deprecatio in Alethium LXXIV.

c. m. XXIV.: De locusta LXXXIII.

c. m. XXV.: Epithalamium Palladii XXX., XXXI.

c. m. XXVI.: Aponus XLIX.

c. m. XXVII.: Phoenix XLIV.

c. m. XXVIII.: Nilus XLVII.

c. m. XXIX.: Magnes XLVIII.

c. m. XXX.: Laus Serenae XXIX.

c. m. XXXI.: Epistula ad Serenam XL.

c. m. XXXII.: De Salvatore XCV.

c. m. XXXIII.-XXXIX.: De crystallo LVI-LXII.

c. m. XL.: Epistula ad Olybrium XLI.

c. m. XLI.: Ad Probinum XLII.

c. m. XLII.: De apro et leone LIII.

c. m. XLIII.: In Curetium LXXV.

c. m. XLIV.: In eundem Curetium LXXVI.

c. m. XLV.: De concha LV.

c. m. XLVI.: De chlamyde et frenis LXXII.

c. m. XLVII.: De equo dono dato LXXIII.

c. m. XLVIII.: De zona equi regii LXX.

c. m. XLIX.: De torpedine XLVI.

c. m. L.: In Iacobum LXXVII.

c. m. LI.: In sphaeram Archimedis LXVIII.

c. m. LII.: Gigantomachia XXXVII.

De raptu Proserpinae I. praef. XXXII.

De raptu Proserpinae I. XXXIII.

De raptu Proserpinae II. praef. XXXIV.

De raptu Proserpinae II. XXXV.

De raptu Proserpinae III. XXXVI.

INDEX OF PROPER NAMES

[c. m. = _Carmina minora_]

Abundantius, xviii. 154

Academia, xvii. 94

Achaemenius, x. 224; xxxvi. 264

Acheloides = the Sirens, xxxvi. 254

Acheloius, c. m. 30. 174

Acheron, xxxiii. 87, 227

Acheronteus, xxxv. 351

Achilles, v. 180; xi. 7; ix. 19; x. 16; vii. 60; viii. 367, 557; xxi. 99,

268; c. m. 22. 13; 46. 2

Achilleus, c. m. 22. 46

Achivus, xx. 214; xxviii. 440; xxvi. 564; c. m. 46. 7; v. 425; x. 179

Acis, xxxvi. 332

Actaeon, v. 419

Actaeus = Attic, xxxvi. 54

Actius, xxvi. 185

Addua, xxviii. 195, 458, 488

Adherbal, xv. 409

Adonis, xi. 16

Adriacus, v. 39

Aeacides, Pyrrhus, xxvi. 125

Aeacus, v. 456

Aeëtes, xxvi. 3

Aegaeon, the giant, xxxii. 46; xxxvi. 345

Aegaeus, xx. 246; x. 133; xxi. 287;

_subst._ = Aegean sea: i. 190; xx. 333; x. 162; c. m. 28. 38; 52. 117

Aegyptius, xv. 61; xviii. 312; xx. 252; viii. 575

Aegyptus, iii. 148; xxvi. 57; c. m. 27. 89; 28. 5

Aelius, a family, xxviii. 420; c. m. 30. 56;

_cf._ Traianus, Ulpius

Aemilius Paullus, xxviii. 439;

Paullus, xxiv. 33; xxvi. 126

Aeneas, xxi. 98; c. m. 17. 38

Aeolius, xxvi. 224

Aeolus, v. 23; vii. 97; c. m. 22. 35; xxxiii. 74

Aeternalis, c. m. 3. title

Aether, c. m. 52. 61

Aethiops, xv. 192; xviii. 179; viii. 35; xvii. 196; xxi. 180, 253, 351;

xxiv. 337; c. m. 23. 1; 25. 62; 28. 16

Aethon, steed of dawn, viii. 561; xxxiii. 284 (?);

one of the Loves, c. m. 25. 140

Aetna, vii. 161; xxvii. 18; c. m. 17. 4, 33; xxxiii. 153, 154, 190; xxxv.

8; xxxvi. 186, 330, 399, 438

Aetnaeus, xvii. 72; xxxiii. 160; xxxvi. 334

Afer, xv. 84, 510

Africa, i. 60; xv. 136, 205, 207, 283, 324, 374, 453; viii. 25; xxi. 19,

275; xxii. 257, 392; xxiv. 105; xxviii. 367

Agamemnonius, iii. 82; xv. 484

Aganippe, xvii. 272; c. m. 31. 61

Aganippeus, c. m. 30. 8

Agaue, xx. 364

Aiax, xx. 386

Alamanni, xxiv. 17

Alamannia, viii. 449; xxi. 234

Alanus, xxvi. 583; iii. 312; v. 271; viii. 487; xxi. 109; xxviii. 224;

xxvi. 581

Alaricus, xxviii. 105, 154, 180, 223; xxvi. 431, 492, 546, 623

Alastor, xxxiii. 286

Albis, x. 278; viii. 452; xxi. 226

Alcides, xv. 418; viii. 533; xvii. 288; c. m. 22. 15; 30. 174; xxxiv. 9

Alcinous, c. m. 30. 142

Alcmena, viii. 536

Alcyoneus, a giant, xxxvi. 185

Alethius, c. m. 23. title

Alexander the Great, xxi. 268.

See Pellaeus and Porus.

Allecto, iii. 26, 41; xxxiii. 280

Allia, xv. 124

Almon, xv. 119

Aloeus, a giant, xxvi. 68

Aloidae, xxvi. 74

Alpheus, iv. 9; xxi. 186; xxxv. 61; xv. 483; xxvi. 575

Alpinus, i. 255; v. 304; xv. 295; xii. 9; vii. 99; viii. 106, 637; xvii.

308; xxi. 317; xxiv. 241; xxvi. 363, 563; c. m. 35. 1; xxxv. 176

Alpis, i. 74, 105; v. 1, 124, 389; xv. 82, 230, 376; xviii. 432; xx. 505;

x. 185; vii. 89; viii. 93, 357, 390, 442; xxii. 411; xxiv. 285, 307;

xxviii. 266, 442; xxvi. 194, 198, 261, 283, 471, 532, 547, 641; c. m.

22. 37; 50. 3

Amazon, xviii. 240; xi. 32; xxxv. 62

Amazonius, xviii. 499; xx. 264; xxxiv. 37

Ambitio, xxii. 114

Ambitus, vii. 186

Amniadae, i. 9

Amor, xix. 63; x. 7, 47, 73, 97, 140, 153; xxii. 356; c. m. 8. 1; 25. 30,

110; xxxiii. 27

Amphinomus, c. m. 17. 41

Amphion, xxii. 170

Amphionius, viii. 532

Amphitrite, x. 175; xxvi. 337

= the sea; xxxiii. 104

Amsanctus, xxxv. 350

Amyclae, xxvi. 193; xxxiii. 135; xxxv. 133

Anapis, c. m. 17. 41

Anaxagoras, xvii. 76 (note)

Anaximenes, xvii. 70 (note)

Ancus Marcius, xv. 109

Ancyra, xx. 98

Ancyranus, xx. 416

Anguis, constellation, xxii. 458

Antaeus, a giant, iii. 288; xxxiv. 41

Antenoreus, -a urbs = Padua c. m. 26. 1

Antiochus, xviii. 216; xx. 570; xxi. 371

Antiphates, king of the Laestrygones, c. m. 30. 22

Aonius, iv. 3; v. 418; xx. 522; xvii. 271; xxii. 171

Apis, viii. 576

Apollineus, xx. 257; viii. 133; xxxvi. 310, 373

Apollo, xi. 8; viii. 537; xxiv. 60; xxviii. 25; c. m. 3. 4;