Metamorphoses 8

Iam nitidum retegente diem noctisque fugante
tempora Lucifero cadit Eurus, et umida surgunt
nubila: dant placidi cursum redeuntibus Austri
Aeacidis Cephaloque; quibus feliciter acti
ante exspectatum portus tenuere petitos

Now when retrieving shining day and chasing away the night, the East wind fell and the dank clouds rose: the still south winds granted a course to the Aecades and Cephalus; by which having been driven they arrived at their desired shores sooner than they had expected

interea Minos Lelegeia litora vastat
praetemptatque sui vires Mavortis in urbe
Alcathoi, quam Nisus habet, cui splendidus ostro
inter honoratos medioque in vertice canos
crinis inhaerebat, magni fiducia regni.      

Meanwhile, King Minos spoiled the coasts of Megara and was vying his military strength against the city of Alcathous, which Nisus ruled, on whom was stuck among his dignified grey locks and in the middle of his head a splendid purple luck, on which rested the greatness of his kingdoms

Sexta resurgebant orientis cornua lunae,
et pendebat adhuc belli fortuna, diuque
inter utrumque volat dubiis Victoria pennis.
regia turris erat vocalibus addita muris,
in quibus auratam proles Letoia fertur               15
deposuisse lyram: saxo sonus eius inhaesit.

Six times had the horns of the risen moon resurfaced and still the outcome of the war hung in the balance, and for a long time Victoria wavered on doubtful wings between the two. The royal turret was built on the singing walls on which Latona’s son is said to have layed down his golden lyre: his sound sticks in the stone

saepe illuc solita est ascendere filia Nisi
et petere exiguo resonantia saxa lapillo,
tum cum pax esset; bello quoque saepe solebat
spectare ex illa rigidi certamina Martis,               20
iamque mora belli procerum quoque nomina norat
armaque equosque habitusque Cydoneasque pharetras.

Often there the daughter of Nisus was accused to climb and to cause the resounding of the rocks with a small stone, when there was peace; during the war also she was often accustomed to look upon those combats of the rough war. And now as the war trundled on she knew the names of h=the chieftains and their arms and their horses and their dress and their Cretan quivers

noverat ante alios faciem ducis Europaei,
plus etiam, quam nosse sat est: hac iudice Minos,
seu caput abdiderat cristata casside pennis,               25
in galea formosus erat; seu sumpserat aere
fulgentem clipeum, clipeum sumpsisse decebat;
torserat adductis hastilia lenta lacertis:

And she had got to know before all others the face of the leader, the son of Europa, and more that she should have known him: By her judgment Minos, when he hid his head in a helmet, was handsome in a helmet. Whether he picked up his shield shining with bronze, picking up his shield was a handsome sight; if he threw his tough spear with contracted muscles

laudabat virgo iunctam cum viribus artem;
inposito calamo patulos sinuaverat arcus:               30
sic Phoebum sumptis iurabat stare sagittis;
cum vero faciem dempto nudaverat aere
purpureusque albi stratis insignia pictis
terga premebat equi spumantiaque ora regebat,

The young girl praised his skill and also his strength; if he bent the wide bows with arrows put in place; then she would swear that Phoebus stood holding arrows; and when he laid bare his face having taken off his helmet, and when in purple hr rode on the back of his white horse notable for the decorations which covered it and ruled its foaming bit

vix sua, vix sanae virgo Niseia compos               35
mentis erat: felix iaculum, quod tangeret ille,
quaeque manu premeret, felicia frena vocabat.
impetus est illi, liceat modo, ferre per agmen
virgineos hostile gradus, est impetus illi
turribus e summis in Cnosia mittere corpus               40
castra vel aeratas hosti recludere portas

Then scarcely herself, scarcely did the young daughter of posses sane mind: happy the javelin, which he touched, and happy the reins which he pressed against his hand, she thought. It was her desire, if it were allowed, to carry her virgin steps through the hostile battle line, it was her desire to send her body from the high towers into the Cretan camp or to open the bronze gates to the enemy

vel siquid Minos aliud velit. utque sedebat
candida Dictaei spectans tentoria regis,
'laeter,' ait 'doleamne geri lacrimabile bellum,
in dubio est; doleo, quod Minos hostis amanti est.               45
sed nisi bella forent, numquam mihi cognitus esset!
me tamen accepta poterat deponere bellum
obside:

Or anything else which Minos wished. And as she sat looking at the white tents of the Cretan king, ‘Whether I rejoice or grieve and the waging of this tearful war, is in doubt, because Minos is the enemy of his lover. But unless the war occurred, never would I have known him! Nevertheless if I was his hostage, he would be able to stop the war

me comitem, me pacis pignus haberet.
si quae te peperit, talis, pulcherrime regum,
qualis es ipse, fuit, merito deus arsit in illa.               50
o ego ter felix, si pennis lapsa per auras
Cnosiaci possem castris insistere regis
fassaque me flammasque meas, qua dote, rogarem,
vellet emi, tantum patrias ne posceret arces!

He would have me as his companion, he whould have me as his offer for peace. If If she who gave birth to you, such a great, most beautiful of ruler, was as such a kind as you are, deservedly a god burned for her. O I would be three times lucky, if I glided with wings through the air and I was able to stand within the camps of the Cretan king and having confessed myself and my flames, by what price, I would ask, he wished to by me, only let not seek the citadels of my fatherland

nam pereant potius sperata cubilia, quam sim               55
proditione potens!—quamvis saepe utile vinci
victoris placidi fecit clementia multis.
iusta gerit certe pro nato bella perempto:
et causaque valet causamque tuentibus armis.
at, puto, vincemur;

For may all my hopes of marriage perish rather than I obtain it by treachery, Although often the mercy of a placated conquered has made it is more useful to be defeated. Certainly he wages a just war on behalf of his murdered son and he is strong in his cause and the arms protecting his cause. But, I think, we will be conquered

qui si manet exitus urbem,               60
cur suus haec illi reseret mea moenia Mavors
et non noster amor? melius sine caede moraque
inpensaque sui poterit superare cruoris.
non metuam certe, ne quis tua pectora, Minos,
vulneret inprudens:

If this fate awaits the city, why should his warlike spirit open these my walls to him and not my love? Better without slaughter and delays and expense of his of his own blood to be able to conquered. Certainly I do not fear, lest anyone ignorantly wounds your breast, Minos

quis enim tam durus, ut in te               65
derigere inmitem non inscius audeat hastam?
coepta placent, et stat sententia tradere mecum
dotalem patriam finemque inponere bello;
verum velle parum est! aditus custodia servat,
claustraque portarum genitor tenet:

For who is so hard that not unknowing he would dare to throw his harsh spear at you? These ruminations please me and the thought is firm to trade myself for my country as my dowry and to bring an end to the war: but it is too little to wish it! A watch guards the entrance, and my father holds the key to the gates:

hunc ego solum               70
infelix timeo, solus mea vota moratur.
di facerent, sine patre forem! sibi quisque profecto
est deus: ignavis precibus Fortuna repugnat.
altera iamdudum succensa cupidine tanto
perdere gauderet, quodcumque obstaret amori.  

Him I alonee fear, unlucky, alone he delays my wishes. I only the gods had made me without a father! But indeed each is a god to himself: Fortune fights against cowardly prayers. Another girl long ago burned with such great desire would have rejoiced to destory whatever obstructed her love

et cur ulla foret me fortior? ire per ignes
et gladios ausim; nec in hoc tamen ignibus ullis
aut gladiis opus est, opus est mihi crine paterno.
illa mihi est auro pretiosior, illa beatam
purpura me votique mei factura potentem.'  

And why should any other girl be braver than me? I would dare to go through fires and swords; nor neverletthels is there need in this for any fires or for any swords, I need my father’s lock. That lock is to me more valuable than gold, that purple lock will make me blessed and give me my desire

Talia dicenti curarum maxima nutrix
nox intervenit, tenebrisque audacia crevit.
prima quies aderat, qua curis fessa diurnis
pectora somnus habet:

While saying these things night arrived, the greatest nurse of our troubles, and her boldness grew in the darkness. The first silence had come, when sleep hold hearts weary with daily cares

thalamos taciturna paternos
intrat et (heu facinus!) fatali nata parentem               85
crine suum spoliat praedaque potita nefanda
per medios hostes (meriti fiducia tanta est)               88
pervenit ad regem;

The daughter enters silently into her father’s chambers (oh what a crime!) she strips her father of his fateful lock of hair and with her cruel prize obtained she arrives to the king through the middle of the enemies (so greatly confident of their gratefulness)

89-95

And she addressed him thus shaken by her prescence: ‘love encouraged me to this deed; I the royal child of Nisus, Scylla, hand over my country and my household gods to you. Nor do I seek any prize except you; take as pledge of my love the purple lock and trust now that I do not just give you a lock but my father’s life to you’ and she stretched out the gift to him in her criminal right hand

95-96

Minos recoiled from her outstretched arm and disturbed by the image of such a disformed deed responded

97-100

May the gods banish you, o cruelty of our age, from their earth and may both the earth and the sea be denied to you. I certainly will not suffer such a great monster to set foot in the Jove’s childhood cradle, Crete, which is my world.’

100-109

He spoke and when this most just author had imposed laws on his conquered foes, he ordered the mooring ropes of the fleet to be loosened and for the rowers to drive the bronze ships. Scylla after she saw that the ships were launched and sailed in the sea and that the king rejected the reward of her crime, having prayed as much as she could she was moved to violent anger and stretching her hands madly passionate and with streaming hair she screamed ‘to where are you fleeing? The author of your triumph is abandoned, o you who I preferred to my country, to my father?

110-118

To where do you feel harsh one, whose victory is both my sin and my worth? Did the gift I gave you not move you does not my love, nor all hope of my founded on you alone? For to whom do I turn now deserted? To my country? It lies conquered. But imagine it stood: It would be shut to me on account of my betrayal. To the presence of my father? Him whom I gave as spoil to you. The citizens hate me deserving of hatred, the neighbouring countries fear my example. We are shut off from the whole world, so that only Crete might be open to me.

119-121

And if you forbid us Crete as well, ungrateful one, you abandon me, Europa is not your mother but the inhospitable Syrtis, the Armenian tigress and Charbydis agitated by the winds

122-133

You are no son of Jove nor was your mother led astray by the image of a bull (that story of your conception is false); it was a real bull who birthed you [both wild and captured by the love of no heifer]. Complete my punishment, o my father Nisus! Rejoice in my misfortunes my wall that I have now betrayed! For, I confess, I deserve and am worthy of death. But nevertheless let one of those whom I wicked have injured kill me. Why should you punish my sin who has triumphed by my sin? Let this crime to my country and to my father be a service to you. She is truly a worthy wife for you, who adulterer deceived the savage bull with wood and carried a clashing offspring in her womb.

133-139

Do my words reach your ears? Or do the same winds that bear away my vain words bear your ships, you ungrateful man? [Now, now it does not seem remarkable that Pasiphae preferred a bull to you; you were more savage a beast] Oh poor me! He orders his men to hurry and the waves sound torn by the oars and and my land and me recede from him.

140-144

What you wage is fruitless; o you have forgotten what I deserve in vain; I will follow you unwilling and having clasped your curved stern I will be dragged through the log stretches of the sea.’ She had just spoken, when she leapt into the waves and chased after the ship her passion giving strength and hated companion she clung to the Cretan boat.

145-149

When her father saw her (for now he was hovering in the air, just now having been made into a sea-bird (osprey) with tawny wings), he came towards her so that he might wound her clinging with his hooked beak. That girl released the stern in fear and the light air appeared to catch her falling, and did not let her touch the sea

150-158

Her hands produced feathers and having been changed into a bird she is called Ciris, having taken the name from the cut lock. Minos payed his vows to Jove in hundred carcasses of bulls, when he disembarked from his ships and touched the Cretan earth and his palace was decorated with hung spoils.Grown was the disgrace of his family and the foul adultery of his mother laid open by the the strangeness of her hybrid monster child. Minos decided to remove this shame of a marriage bed and to hide it in a kaleidoscopic home and secret roofs.

159-168

Daedalus, misted celebrated for his skill of a craftsman’s art, organised the work and he disturbed what was known and lead the eye to wander with a turning maze of varied paths. Not unlike how Menander plays in the Phygrian watery plains and flows backwards and forwards in doubtful course and running into itself looks back at its own approaching waves and now to its source, now having turned to the open sea it sends its uncertain waters, thus Daedalus flooded the countless paths with confusion and scarcely himself was able to return to the beginning; so great was the trickery of the house

169-179

After he had shut the twin figure of bull and young man in this place and twice fed him with Athenian blood but when the third lot, a lot that came about every ninth year, brought the creatures overthrow. And when by the virgin’s aid the difficult gate which no previous traveller had reached back to was found by rewinding the thread, immediately the son of Aegeus seizing the daughter of Minos set sail for Dia and abandoned his companion cruelly on the shore. To her deserted and lamenting much Liber gave embrace and brought aid, and so that she would be famed by an eternal star, he took the crown from her brow and sent it to the heavens

179-182

It flew through the thin air and while it flue its gems were transformed into shining fires and the settled in a place , retaining the appearance of a crown, which was is in the middle of the Kneeler and serpent holder

183-192

Meanwhile Daedalus disgusted of Crete and his long exile and touched by longing of his native soil was shut in by the sea. ‘He is able to obstruct me over land and water, but certainly the sky is open; we will go that way!Minos possesses everything, but he does not possess the air.’ He spoke and devoted his mind to unknown arts and changes the commands of nature. For he placed feathers in order, [beginning with the smallest, following a short one with a long] so that you would think they had grown in a slope; thus once the rustic panpipes gradually rise with their different sized reeds.

193-200

Then he fixed the feathers together with thread in the middles and wax at the bottoms and thus having been arranged he bent them with a small curve so they looked like real bird wings. The boy Icarus was standing at his side and ignorant that he touched his own danger, with shining face he would now play catch with the feathers which a wandering breeze had moved, now soften the pale wax with his thumb and impeded the wonderous work of his father with his game.

201-208

After his hand had placed the final touches on the work that had been born, the workman himself balanced his body on twin wings and hung in the beaten air. And he instructed his son ‘I warn you Icarus to drive the middle course, lest if you go too low, the waters may make heavy your wings, if you go to high, the fire may burn them’. Fly between each, I order you not to look at Bootes or Helice or the drawn sword of Orion; take the way which I lead.’

208-215

While he gives these warnings of fligh, he fits the strange wings onto Icarus’ shoulders. Between working and warning the old man’s cheeks wetter and his fatherly hands tremble. He gave a kiss to his son not again repeated and rising on his wings he flew before and feared for his companion, just as a bird who has led out her tender fledgings in do the air from the sheltered nest, he encourages him to follow and teaches him the fatal art.

216-225

And himself moves his wings and looks back to his son. Now some fisherman while fishing with his quivering rod or a shepherd leaning on his stick, or a ploughman on his plough handle sees them and are amazed, each trust that they are gods if they are able to fly through the air. And now on the left was Juno’s sacred Samos (they had passed by Delos and Paros), and on the right was Calymne, rich in honey, when the boy began to rejoice in his bold flight and deserted the leader and having been dragged by desire of the sky he drove his course higher.

225-235

The proximity of the scorching sun soften the odorous was, the binding of the feathers. The wax melted; he shook his bare arms and without an oar he could not grasp any air, and his lips to the end called the name of his father from the dark blue sea, which took its name from him. But the unhappy father, no longer father ‘Icarus’ he called ‘Icarus’ he called, ‘where are you? In what region should I seek you?’ ‘Icarus’ he was calling: he saw the wings on the waves and he cursed his arts and buried the body in a tomb; and the land is called by the name of the buried boy.

235-240

This man as he was placing the body of his pitiful son in the tomb, a chattering partridge looked out at him from a muddy ditch and applauded with her wings and witnessed proceedings with a joyful song. She was then a unique bird not seen before these times and recently made into a bird, a eternal scold to you, Daedalus

240-246

For his sister ignorant of the fates gave her son to him to be taught , a boy of teachable mind, who had now past his twelfth birthday. He, also, having seen the backbone of a fish took it as a model and cut with sharp iron a rows of teeth and thus discovered the use of the saw

247-253

He was also first to bind two arms of iron into one at a joint so that with the arms staying an equal distance apart, one part would remain still, while the other part drew a circle. Daedalus envied him and from the sacred citadel of Minerva sent him headlong lying that he had slipped; but Palls who favours the intelligent caught him up and gave him back a bird and dressed him with feathers in mid air.

254-259

But the liveliness of his quick intelligence left into his wings and feet; the name, which he had before, remains. Not nevertheless does the bird lift its body in flight nor does it make its nest in the branches and high rocks. It flies near to the ground and places its eggs in the hedgegrows and fears high places mindful of that previous fall.

260-266

Now the land of Aetna took in the exhausted Daedalus and having taken up arms in defence of the suppliant was thought kindly, now also Athens, by the aid of Theseus, had ceased to pay her lamentable tribute. The temples were garlanded and they called on warring Minerva with Jove and the rest of the gods, whom they honoured with sacrificial blood and with offered gifts and burning incense.

267-277

Wandering fame had spread Theuseus’ name through the the cities of Greece, and the people of rich Achaia implored his aid with the great troubles that harassed them*. Calydon, although suppliant, sought his help with anxious prayers, although she had Meleager. The cause of seeking was a boar, servant and vindicator of hostile Diana. For they say that Oeneus in thanks of a plentiful harvest paid the first crop to Ceres, his wine to Bacchus, Pallas’ oil to golden haired Minerva. Having begun with the rural deities the honour they sought was given to all the higher powers;

277-284

They say that only Diana’s altars were left without incense completely passed by*. The anger also touche the gods; ‘but I will not bear this without revenge, and unhonoured, we will not bear called unavenged’ she spoke and the scorned godess sent a bull of vengeance over the fields of Aetolia, as great as the bulls which dwell on grassy Epiros but greater than the bulls which dwell on the Sicilian fields. Its eyes gleamed with blood and fie, its neck stiffened with bristles,

285-297

And its bristles pricked up like hard spears. And they stood just like a rampart, bristles just like upward-pointing spears.]; with hoarse groans hot spit flowed over his shoulders, his tusks were equal in size to the tusks of an Indian elephant, lightning came from his mouth, the leaves burnt in his breath. Now he flattened the growining corn in the grass, now he cut down the matured crop of a farmer soon to weep and he cut off the grain by the ear*; in vain the threshing floor and in vain the granary waited for the promised harvest. The heavy branches heaving with trailing vines were strewn down, and the fruit and the branch of the olive branch which always produces new leaf. And he is wicked towards the cattle; Neither herdsman or the dog, nor the fierce bulls are able to defend the herd.

298-308

The population scatter nor do they think that they are safe unless protected by the walls of the city, until Meleagaer and together with a chosen band of youth assembled desirous of glory: The twin sons of Leda, wife of Tyndarus, one watched for his boxing, one for his horsemanship, and Jason the builder of the first ship and with Pirithoüs, happily together, Theseus and the two sons of Thestius; Lynceus and swift Idas sons of Aphareus; and no no longer woman Caenus and fierce Leucippus and Acastus known for his javelin and Hippothoüs and Dryas; Phoenix, the son of Amytor and Phyleus sent from Elea.

309-317

Nor was Telamon absent and the father of great Achilles and with the son of Pheres and Boeotian Iolaüs were industrious Eurytion and Echion unconquered in race and Locrian Lelex, Panopeus, Hyleus and fierce Hippasus and Nestor then in his young years and those whom Hippocoon sent from ancient Amyclae; Penelope’s father in law with Arcadian Ancaeus; the son of Ampycus who was prophetic and the son of Oecleus still safe from his wife and the the woman from Tegea, the beauty of the Arcadian woods.

318-328

A polished clasp held the top of her cloak; her hair was simple, having been gathered in a one bun, an ivory quiver hung from her left shoulder made a sound with its arrows, she was also holding a bow in her left hand. Such was her dress; her face, which you could say was girlish for a boy, or boyish for a girl. As soon as he saw her, so soon the Caledonian hero long for her although the gods disapproved and he felt the hidden fires and he said ‘o how lucky would I be, if that maiden thought any many worthy of her!’ Time and modesty allowed no more to be said; the greater work of a great contest urged him on.

329-337

There was a woods dense with trees, which no age had felled, which began from the plain and looked out on downward sloping fields; to where when the men came, part stretched out the hunting nets, part released the chains from the dogs, part followed the pressed signs of feet and they longed to find their their danger. There was a deep valley, to where rivers of rain water were accustomed to fall; the lowest part of this hollow had a sturdy willow and slight reeds and swamp rushes, osiers, and small reeds growing beneath a long bulrush

338-344

From here the bull awoken violently boar itself into the middle of the enemy like lightning knocked out from clashing clouds. The grove was cut down by the attack and the trees driven to the ground make a crash; the young men shout and in brave right hands they hold their trembling spears tipped with broad iron and extend them in front. He charges and scatters the dogs, as each tries to stop his furious path, and throws off the barking dogs with his sidelong strike.

345-346

The first spear from Echion’s arm deviated in vain and gave a light wound to the trunk of a maple tree.

347-354

The second, if it had not been sent with too much force seemed likely to hit the back at which it was aimed: It went too far; the thrower of the javelin was Jason of Pagasae. ‘Phoebus’ said the son of Ampycus ‘if you I worshiped you and still worship you grant me to touch what I seek with certain spear,’ As far as he was able, the god assented to his prayer: the bull was hit by him, but without wound; Diana had stolen the point from the spear as it flew, the wood hit without a sting.

355-368

The anger of the beast was moved, nor did he burn more gently than lightning, Fire gleamed from his eyes, he also breathed flames from his chest just as just as a huge weight flies having been launched from a drawn back catapult when it seeks either the walls or the turrets filled with soldiers, so into the young men the wounded bull bore itself with certain intent and laid low Hippalmus and Pelagon, who were stationed on the far right. Their comrades seized them up as they lay. But Enaesimus did not escape the death bearing strike, the child of Hippocoon; fearing and preparing to turn his back his feeling left him after his legs had been slashed. And by chance the Pylian man almost perished before the time of the Trojan war; having used all his strength he leaped from the top of his spear into the branches of a tree, which was stood nearby and safe looked out from this place at the enemy which he had fled.

369-371

That fierce animal having polished his teeth on the trunk of an oak tree threatened destruction and trusting his recently sharpened tusks he took out the thigh of the great son of Eurytus with its hooked tusk.

372-377

But the twin brothers, not yet in starry heaven, both conspicuous, both riding on horses whiter than snow, both threw the brandished points of their spears with a shaking motion through the air. The would have made wounds, if the bristling beast had not gone into the dark woods in a place accessible neither to spear nor to horse.

378-387

Telamon followed and in his desire incautious of where he went, he fell headlong caught by the root of a tree. While Peleus helped him up, the lady of Tegea placed a swift arrow on her bow string and let it fly from her bent bow; the arrow grazed the top of the beast’s body and fixed itself beneath its ear and made the bristles red with a trickle of blood. But nor was she more joyful at the success of her strike than Meleager; it is said* he was first to see the blood and first to show the blood he had seen to his companions and that he said ‘you will bear the deserved honour of your courage’.

388-395

The men, redded with shame encouraged themselves and adding to their courage with their shouts and threw their spears in disorder; the crowd of spears had no effect and impeded those spears which sought the target. Suddenly the Arcadian with carrying a two headed axe raging to meet his fate, ‘learn how much a man’s weapons surpass a woman’s, young men, and leave this task to me’ he spoke; ‘Although Latona’s daughter herself protected this beast with her arms, Diana unwillingly my right arms will destroy him.’

400-402

Swollen with such pride and with bragging lips he spoke and raising his double-edged axe in both his hands he stood on his toes, balancing on his toes*; the boar attacks his audacious enemy, and struck his twin tusks at the upper groin, the quickest route to death. Ancaeus fell; and his clustered guts having slipped flowed out with much blood. The earth was stained with blood

403-413

The son of Ixion came against the enemy, Pirithous, shaking a strong hunting spear in his right hand; to whom to son of Aegeus ‘stay far off, oh dearer to me than myself, part of my own heart; it is allowed that brave men fight from afar; the rash courage of Ancaeus has harmed him.” He spoke and threw his heavy spear with its bronze point; although this was well judged and seemed to have the power to hit the spot, a leafy branch from an oak tree obstructed it. And then the son of Aeson sent his spear, which chance turned from is aim into the life of an underserving barker and having flown clean through his side fixed him to the ground.

414-419

But the hand of the son of Oeneus fared differently, and having sent out two spears, the first spear stuck itself in the ground, the second in the middle of the boar’s back. Without delay, while the boar raged, while it turned its body in a circle and poured out hissing foam with new blood, the author of the wound uses his advantage and riles the enemy to anger and plants his shingling hunting spear into the enemy’s shoulders.

420-434

His allies show their joy with pleased shouts and their right hands seek in turn to join his, and in amazement they watch the huge beast lying on so much ground nor do they yet feel it is safe to touch it, but each nevertheless dips their spear in its blood. Then Meleager himself, presses its destructive head with his foot placed above it and speaks thus ‘take the spoil of my right, Arcadian woman, and let my glory be shared in part with you.’ Immediately he gave her the spoils, its the coat of its back with its bristling spikes and its head known for its great tusks. The giver of the gift made her happy as well as the gift; the others envied it and a murmur ran through the whole group. From them reaching out their arms with huge voice the two sons of Thestius shouted ‘Go on, place them back woman, and do not steal our honours, ‘and do not let trust of your beauty deceive you

435-444

Lest the giver having been captured by love is no help to you’; and they took away the gift from her, the right of giving from him. The son of Mars could not bear this and grinding his teeth in swollen rage ‘learn, you thief’s of another’s honour, how much difference there is between deeds and threats!’ And he stabbed through the trembling chest of Plexippus with his wicked sword, who was not expecting any such act. Toxeus doubtful of what to do and both wanting to avenge his brother and fearing his brothers fate, Meleager did not allow him to waver for a long time and his spear still warm from the blood of his recent slaughter he warmed it again but with the blood of his brother.

445-462

Althaea was bearing gifts in the temple of the gods for her son’s victory. When she saw the dead bodies of her brothers carried in, she filled the city with mourning cries as she beat her breast and changed from gold trimmed clothes to black; but when the author of the murder was told, all her grief left and was turned from tears into passion for a penalty. There was a piece of wood which, when the daughter of Thestius lay struggling in childbirth, the three sisters placed on the flame and spinning the threads of fate with the pressure of the thumb, ‘the same time we give to you and to this wood o newly born son.’ After having spoken this prophecy they went away, the mother rescued the burning branch from the fire and sprinkled it with clear water. This wood was for a long time was concealed in the deepest and inmost part of the palace and having been guarded guarded your years, young man. The mother took this wood and ordered pine torches and wood chips to be placed and having been placed she lit hostile fires. Then having tried 4 times to place the branch on the flames

463-478

Having begun four times she held; mother and sister fought and the two different names tore at one heart. Often with fear of the crimes she planned her face grew pale. Often mad anger gave its red colour to her eyes, and now her expression was similar to someone threatening a cruelty, now you would be able to believe that she was pitied; and and the fierce passion of her heart had dried her tears, nevertheless tears were found. And just as a ship which the wind seized and with the wind the opposing tide it feels the twin force and obeys wavering two forces, like thus Thestius’ daughter wandered in wavering passions and now in turn stows away to anger and now revives the anger she has shown away. She began nevertheless to be a better sister than parent and, as so that she may appease the shades of her brother’s with blood, she is pious with impiety. For after the plague ridden fire got well, ‘let that funeral pyre burn my own flesh’ she said

479-491

And as she held the fateful wood in her direction hand, unlucky she stood before the sepulchral altars ‘triple goddesses of revenge, Eumenides, turn your faces to this hellish rites. I avenge and I perform a wickedness; death must be atoned with death, a crime must be added onto another crime, a death onto deaths; through grief heaped upon let this impious house perish or will happy O~eneus rejoice at his son’s victory, Thestius will be deprived of children. It is better that you both grieve. You only, the recently made sheds and spirits of my brothers, recognise my act and receive the sacrifice I prepare the wicked pledge of my womb. Ah me, why do I rush? Brothers, forgive a mother!

492-505

My hands fail at what they began. I confess he deserves, why he should perish; but I do not want to be the author of his death. Therefore will he go without punishment and live as victor and swollen with his own success rule over the kingdom of Calydon, while you will lie mere ashes and cold shades? I will not suffer that; let the criminal die and with him drag the hope of his father and the kingdom and the ruins of his country! Where is my maternal instinct? Where are the pious vows of parents and those labourers I endured for 10 months? O I wish you had brunt an infant in those first fires, and I would have suffered it then! You lived by my gift, now you die by your deserving. Accept the price of your deed and return the life I gave you twice, once at your birth, the second when I seized the wood, or add me to my brother’s grave.

506-517

And I desire and I am not able. What should I do? I see only the wounds of my brothers before my eyes and an image of such great slaughter. Now piety and the name of a mother breaks my heart. Oh pity me! You will win through wickedness brothers, but you will win, only give to me the solace I will give to you and let me myself follow you.’ She spoke and turning herself away with trembling hand she threw wood of fate into the middle of the flames. Either the wood itself gave or seemed to give a groan and having been taken was burns in the unwilling flames. Unknowing and absent Meleager burns with those flames and feels his guts burning with hidden fire and overcomes the great griefs with strength.

518-525

But nevertheless he laments he falls from a cowardly and bloodless death and says that the wounds of Ancaeus were lucky and calls with a groan his aged father and brothers and pious sisters and the companion of his marriage bed with his last breath, perhaps also his mum. The fires and the griefs grow and they die again; at the same time each is estinguished and gradually his spirit leaves into the light air, gradually white ashes cover the burning coal.

525-538

High Calydon lies low; the young men and the old grieve, the common people and the elite groan, the Calydonian mothers of Evenus’ stream, tear their hair and beat at their breasts. The father spread on the ground dirties his white hair and his aged face in the dust and groans at the length of his years. For the mother knowing of her dire deed drives her hand exacts punishment on herself with sharp sword through her guts. Nor, if a god had given me a hundred chattering mouths and each with a tongue, and a great mind and all of Helicon’s ignition, I would not be able to tell of the sad sufferings of those piteous sisters. Forgetting of decorum, they beat their bruised breasts. And while his body stays, they warm that corpse and then warmed it again.

538-551

They give kisses to his body, they give kisses to the coffin that has been set up; after he is ash they press the gathered ash to their chests and they lie stretched out on his tomb and gripping the stone where his names is embossed they pour tears onto his name. Which the daughter of Latona satiated with the ruin of Parthaon’s house, except for on Gorge and the daughter in law of noble Alcmena, she lightens their pain by growing feathers on their bodies and stretches out long wings over their arms, and gives them a horned beak and sends them having been transformed into the air. Meanwhile, Theseus having performed his part in the shared labour was going back to the citadels of Erechtheus, the city of Tritonia. Achelous swollen with rain hid the way and made him delay his travel. ‘Come into my house, renowned hero of Athens, do not trust these rapacious waters.

552-563

They are accustomed to bear solid planks of wood and to turn hidden rocks with great murmurs. I have seen large pens with flocks of sheep bordering the river banks dragged away, nor in there was strength useful for the ox nor speed for the horse. The torrent from the mountain peaks made of melted snow has drowned many youthful bodies have been drowned in its whirling waters.* Rest is safer, until the waters run on their usual path, until the river bed holds its slender waters.’ The son of Aegeus assented ‘I will use, Achelous, your house and advice’ he responded; and he used both. He entered the river gods black home, built with many-holed pumice and not at all light tofa;

563-576

The ground was wet with soft moss, conches alternating with purple shells panelled the ceiling. And already Hyperion had measured out* 2 thirds of its course, Theseus and his supporters of the labour reclined on couches; Here Ixion’s son, there the hero of Troezen, over there Lelex, his temples already scattered by a rare grey, and those who the Arcananian river god had deepened worthy of equal honour, who was most joyful at his such great guest. Immediately, nymphs with bare feet placed the feast on the already set tables and when the feast had been removed they placed the wine in gemmed cups on the tables. Then the great hero looking out on the water spread before his eyes. Although it does not appear as one island

577-587

The distance tricks one into thinking they’re not divided. Also so you wonder less at Diana’s deed when she was slighted, these were Naiads, who when they slaughtered 10 oxen and had called all the gods of rurality to their rites, forgetting me as they led their joyful dances. I swelled up, and as wild as when my flood flows at its fullest and both monstrous in spirit and in waters I tore woods from woods and fields from fields, and finally the nymphs remembering me I carried them away with the place they stood into the sea

587-598

There my flood and the flood of the see joined together and dissolved the continuous ground into as many parts as you now see the Echinades in the middle of the waves. But as you yourself see, look far off, far off behind them lies a single island, my love; The sailor calls it Perimele. I stole from her, my delight, the name of virgin; which her father Hippodamas took badly and drove the body of his doomed to die daughter from a cliff into the deep. I took her up and holding her as she swam ‘o trident bearer allotted the kingdoms closest to the kingdoms of the land, the kingdoms of the wandering waves, [in which we cease, we so many sacred rivers run, be present here, hear my prayer.

599-605

I harmed her, whom I carry. If the father Hippodamas was soft and equal or if he was less impious, he ordered to have pitied her, and forgiven me. To her since the earth is closed by her father’s savagery] bring help and I pray give to her drowned by her father’s savagery give a place or allow her herself to become a place. This also I will embrace.’ The watery king moved his head and shook all the waves in his emotion. He was terrified for the nymphs, but she floated;

605-636

I touched her jumping breast with skating motion. While I touched this, I felt her whole body harden and her heart was transformed to a new land.] While I spoke, a new land embraced her swimming limbs and a great island grew from her limbs transformed .’ River fell silent after these words. The remarkable deed moved all; one laughed at their trust, and as he was the a scorned of the gods and fierce of mind, the sone of Ixion: ‘you tell of fictions and you think that the gods are more powerful than they are, Achelous’ he said ‘if they are able to give and take away forms.’ All were astounded nor did they approve of such words, more than the rest of them Lelex mature in mind and in age spoke thus…there is an oak that stands beside a linden tree in the Phygrian hills, surrounded by a wall of mid height. I have seen the place myself for Pittheus sent me to the Phygrian lands which were once ruled by his father. Not far from here is a marsh, once habitable land, now water frequented by marsh-dwelling cormorants and coots. Jupiter came here in the appearance of a mortal and with his father came the grandson on Atlas, the staff bearer, who had then taken off his wings. Thousands of homes they arrived at and sought a place of rest, thousands of homes were barred to them. But one place received them, small indeed, roof of straw and reeds from the marsh; but the old pious Bauchi’s and Philemon equal in age had been in there from their youthful years of marriage, in that house they had grown old and made their poverty light by acknowledging it not by enduring it with jealous mind. It was pointless, do enquire after master or slaves there: the whole house had two people in it, the both ordered and obeyed.

637-660

Therefore when the heaven dwellers came into this tiny home and lowering their heads entered. Through the humble door, the old man asked them to lighten their limbs on the chairs that had been set out, on which the hard working Bauchi’s threw a rough fabric. Then she cleared away the warm ashes on the fire place and revived yesterday’s fires and fed the flames with leaves and with dry bark and blew onto the flames with her elderly breath, and she brought down some torches of wood cleft in many places and dry branches from the roof, and made them smaller and pure them under the little bronze pot, and gathered the cabbage which her husband had brought from the well-watered garden, and cut off the leaves; while the old man with a two pronged fork hanging from a black beam a meagre back of pork and he cut off a small piece from the long looked after rump, he put the cut piece to cook in the boiling water. Meanwhile they flitted away the waiting hours with their talk so their guests did not feel the wait. There was a trough there made of beech-wood, which hung from a sturdy hook, a nail; he filled this with warm water and received their rest-requiring limbs. In the middle of the room was a bed made from soft reeds placed on a couch with frame and feet made of willow; [and they shook out the mattress made from the soft reeds of…]which they were not accustomed to lay out unless it was a festal time, but these garments were old and cheap, an not unworthy of the willow couch. The gods reclined.

660-678

The old woman with her clothing tucked away trembling set the table but the third foot of the table was of a different length; she made it equal with a piece of clay which after it had been placed under the limp raised the table, and wiped the table now balanced with green mint. Here she placed two coloured olives, pure fruits of Minerva, and autumnal cherries fermented in a liquid residue and chicory and radish and a lump of thickened milk and eggs, lightly turned in the bitter tasting ash, everything was on clay dishes; after these things a large bowl was placed on the table engraved with the same silver and cups made of beechwood, the hollows of which were coated with bright yellow wax. There was a small delay, and the hearth had readied its steaming foods; and wine of no great age was brought to and then back from the table and which moved away gave a little space on the table for the second course. Here nuts, here dried dates mixed with their creased palm leaves and prunes and in wide baskets sweet scented apples and grapes gathered from the from the ripe vine; in the middle was a clear white honeycomb. Above all this kindly faces were present and neither sluggish nor of degraded character.

679-695

Meanwhile they saw that the mixing bowl however often it was drained refilled of its own accord and that the wine topped up itself; astonished they were terrified and this strangeness and Bauchi’s and timid Philemon with hands upturned to the sky they took to prayers and begged for pardon for their food and lack of preparations. There was one goose, the guard of their tiny house, which its masters were prepared to slaughter for their divine guests. But the goose swift of wing and in time wore out the old couple and for a long time eluded them and at last appeared to flee to the gods. The gods forbid them to kill her ‘we are gods and this impious area will pay the price it deserves’ they said ‘to you will be given immunity from this wickedness. Only leave your home and accompany us and come with us up the steep side of the mountain.’ They both obeyed and lightened their weight with walking sticks…and with the gods having gone before slow on account of their old age they struggled to place their steps on the steep mountainside.

696-702

Finally, they were from the top the same distance as an arrow shot is able to go. They turned their eyes and the rest of the countryside submerged in a flood, only their house remained. While they marvelled at these things, while they mourned the fates of their neighbours, that old house of theirs small even for two masters turned into a temple; its wooden stakes to prop it up were turned into columns, the straw grew shining and appeared a golden roof and the doors were embossed and the floor was covered with marble.

703-715

Then Saturn spoke these words with a calm voice: ‘tell us, just old man and woman worthy of this just husband, what you wish for’. Having spoken briefly with Baucis, Philemon told their shared decision to the gods: ‘to be priests and to protect your shrines and since we have spent our years side by side, that the same hour takes us both…nor need to be buried by her.’ There wish was granted; they guarded the temples for as long as had been granted to be their life. The time came when tired with age, they were stood by chance before the sacred steps discussing the fate of the place, when Baucis saw Philemon start to sprout leaves, and the older Philemon saw Baucis sprout leaves

716-728

And as the bark already grew over both their faces simultaneously, while they were able, they spoke to one another ‘farewell, o partner’ they said at the same time, at the same time wood covered their now hidden mouths. A Bithynian farmer there will still show the two trees close together growing from a twin trunk. These things were told to me by old men not falsely (nor is there any reason why they would want to decieve me); indeed I saw dedicated wreaths hanging from the branches and placing fresh wreaths myself I said ‘those who are the care of the gods are gods, and those who worshiped are worshiped’. He ceased both the story and the narrator moved them all, especially Theseus; whom wanting to hear more remarkable deeds of the gods, the Calydonian river god reclining on his elbow spoke to with these words,

728-745

There are, o bravest one, whose form was changed one and remained in that new state; there are to some granted the ability to change into many shapes, as to you, dweller in the land embracing sea. For now men sway you as a youth, now men saw you as a lion; now a violent boar, now you were a snake whom they feared to touch; now horns made you a bull; often you could appear a stone, also often you able to appear a tree, sometimes having imitated the form of clear water you were a river, sometimes you were fire the opposite of water. ‘No less the wife of Autolycus, the daughter of Erysichthon, had the power; her father was a man who scorned the power of the gods and did not burn any incense on his altars. He it is said even violate the grove of Ceres with his axe and desecrated those old groves with his steel. A huge oak tree with strength of years of age in these groves, itself a grove; sacred ribbons and dedicated tablets and wreaths hung around its middle,testaments to the power of prayer.

745-764

Often underneath this the Dryades led their festal dances, often with hand joined in a line they would circle the trunk*, the circumference of which spread fifteen fathoms, the rest of the woods lay under this so far as the grass lay under everything else in the woods. But not for this did Triopas’ son stop his iron and he ordered slaves to cut down the sacred tree and, so that he saw them having been ordered hesitate, the criminal having snatched away an axe from one of them spoke these words: ‘although this is not only the tree which is the delight of the goddess, but also the goddess herself, now it will touch the ground with its highest leaves.’ He spoke and while poised his weapon for a sidelong stroke, the oak of Deo shook and gave a sigh and its leaves and at the same time its acorns began to pale and at the same time the long branches became pale. When his hand inflicted the impious wound in the trunk the blood flood from the struck bark, just like before the altars when a huge bull as victim falls, the gore pours out from its detached neck.

765-796

Saevam…bipennem = cruel axe, and having restarted on the tree he slaughtered it, then a sound of this kind came from the middle of the tree, gratissima Cereri = most dear to Ceres, dying I prophecy that you will be the price for your deeds, a comfort of my death” per sequitur = accomplished, adducta funibus = having been drawn down by ropes, prostravit = flattened, all the dryad sisters were astonished at their loss and the loss of the woods they went to Ceres and with the movement of her head she shook the fields burdened with heavy harvest she thought up a punishment that would make men pity him, if any could pity him having done those deeds, to maim him with disease-bearing Famine. Because the goddess could not go to her herself (for they fates did not allow Ceres and Hunger to meet), she called one of the mountain deities, a rustic Oread, with these words ‘there is a place on the farthest side of cold Scythia, a mournful land, barren of crop, a land without a tree. Listless cold and Sickness and Fear and empty Hunger live there; her order to snuggle herself in the heart of that sacrilegious criminal, let no extreme of this torture satisfy her and let her try to surpass my strengths*. And so that the length of the journey does not scare you, take these chariots, take these dragons with reins lead them high. And she gave them

796-826

Rigidi = rough, Caucason = Caucasus, she lightened the load on the necks of the dragons, unguibus = with nails, hirtus = knotted, incana = greyish, situ = with dirt, her neck was rough with mildew, her skin was brittle, her insides were able to be seen through it; her dry bones poked out from her crooked body, her stomach was a place for a stomach; you would think that her breasts hung loose and was only the chain of her spine held them; her meagreness made her joints bulge and her knees swell, and her ankle bones appeared to be huge round lumps, although she delayed only for a short time, although she had kept far from her, although she had only just arrived there, she still thought she could feel the famine…into Thessaly having turned the raise, high in the air. Famine undertook the instructions of Ceres, although she was always contrary to Ceres’ work, to the home she had been ordered to, with her two arms…and having completed the task…and familiar fields. Soft sleep, peaceful wings.

827-854

A craving of food rules through his burning guts. With tables of food before him he complains of his hunger. Was was enough for cities and what was enough for a nation was not enough for one man and he desires more the more he gobbles into his stomach and as the sea receives the rivers from a whole land and is never sated with water and will drink long wandering streams, never refuse nourishment, but burns innumerable tinder, the more it is given, the more it seeks, and is greedier because of the crowd its been given, all food in him is the reason for more, father’s wealth, then eve dire hunger remained unweakened and flame of his insatiable gluttony was vigorous. Census = property, not worthy of such a parent. Generosa = the noble girl. You who have the prize of my stolen virginity. Spreta = reject, and although she had just now appeared to hr master following her, the god changed her form and gave her the appearance of a man and the appropriate clothes for catching fish

855-874

O you who hide the dangling hook with a little food, you that control the rod’ ‘now let the sea lay composed, let the fish in the waves be trustful of you let it feel not feel the hook unless its attached: she who just now stood on this shore with a cheap dress and disordered hair’ she realised that the gift of the god and that he asked her for her she followed his words with these. Ignoscas = I’m ever so sorry; having focused on my fishing. So the god may help these arts of the sea for a long time no one except me has stood on that shore nor any woman.’ The grandaughter of Triopas, to many masters, now a deer, she fled away and so provided food not fairly for her avid father