Ovid's Fasti - Translation

tertia post Idos nudos aurora Lupercos aspicit

the third dawn after the Ides beholds the naked Luperci

et Fauni sacri bicornis eunt.

and the sacred rites of two-horned Faunus take place.

dicite, Pierides, sacrorum quae sit origo

Speak, Muses, what is the origin of the sacred rites,

attigerint Latias unde petita domos.

and where were they brought from to reach the homes of Latium?

Pana deum pecoris veteres coluisse feruntur Arcades

The ancient Arcadians are said to have worshipped Pan, the god of cattle;

Arcadiis plurimis ille iugis.

he is most frequently among the Arcadian ridges.

testis erit Pholoe, testes Stymphalides undae

Pholoe will be a witness, the waves of the Stymphalus will be witnesses,

quique citis Ladon in mare currit aquis...

and the Ladon which runs with swift waters into the sea

cinctaque pinetis nemoris iuga Nonacrini

and the ridges of the Nonacrian forest surrounded by pines,

altaque Cyllene Parrhasiaeque nives.

and high Cyllene and the snows of Parrhasia.

Pan erat armenti, Pan illic numen equarum

Pan was the deity of the cattle, Pan was the deity of mares in that place,

munus ob incolumnes ille ferebat oves

he received gifts for the safety of the sheep.

transtulit Euander silvestriae numina secum.

Evander brought across the gods of the woodland over with him.

hic, ubi nunc urbs est, tum locus urbis erat.

Here, where the city is now, was then the place of a city.

inde deum colimus devectaque sacra Pelasgis.

Hence we worship the god, and the sacred rites brought from the Pelasgians.

flamen ad haec prisco more Dialis erat.

There was a priest of Jupiter for these rites in the ancient custom

Cur igitur currant, et cur (sic currere mos est) nuda ferant posita corpora veste, rogas?

Therefore why do they run, and why (thus it is custom to run) do they bear their bodies naked having set aside their clothes, do you ask?

ipse deus velox discurrere gaudet in altis montibus

The swift god himself rejoices to run all over the place in the high mountains,

et subitas concitat ipse fugas.

and himself incites sudden flights:

ipse deus nudus nudos iubet ire ministros

The god himself, naked, orders his servants to go naked;

nec satis ad cursus commoda vestis erit.

and clothes were not suitable enough for running.

ante Iovem genitum terras habuisse ferentur Arcades

Before the birth of Jupiter the Arcadians are said to have possessed the lands,

et luna gens prior illa fuit.

and that race was there before the moon.

vita feris similis, nullos agitata per usus

It was a life similar to wild animals, not motivated by possessions;

artis adhuc expers et rude volgus erat.

the common people were still unskilled in art and were uncultivated

pro domibus frondes norant, pro frugibus herbas

They knew boughs in place of homes, grasses instead of fruits;

nectar erat palmis hausta duabus aqua.

water was their nectar drawn up with their two palms.

nullus anhelabat sub adunco vomere taurus

No bull panted under the hooked ploughshare,

nulla sub imperio terra colentis erat

no land was under the control of a cultivator:

nullus adhuc erat usus equi; se quisque ferebat

still there was no exploitation of the horse; each man bore himself:

ibat obis lana corpus amicta sua.

the sheep went about with its own wool cloaking its body.

sub Iove durabant et corpora nuda gerebant

They endured under the open sky and bore their bodies naked,

docta graves imbres et tolarare Notos.

taught to endure heavy rains and the south winds.

nunc quoque detecti referunt monimenta vetusti moris

Even now unclad men retold memories of old custom,

et antiquas testificantur opes.

and they bore witness to ancient influences.

sed cur praecipue fugiat velamina Faunus

But why does Faunus flee particularly from clothes

traditur antiqui fabula plena ioci.

a story full of antique humour is handed down

forte comes dominae iuvenis Tirynthius ibat

By chance the Tirynthian youth was going along as a companion of his mistress...

vidit ab excelso Faunus utrumque iugo

Faunus saw them both from an elevated ridge

vidit et incaluit

he saw and he grew warm

'montana' que 'numina' dixit

and he said, 'Mountain gods

'nil mihi vobiscum est: hic meus ardor erit.'

I am with you no more: this will be my passion.'

ibat odoratis umeros perfusa capillis Maeonis

The Maeonian girl was walking with her hair drenched in perfume cascading over her shoulders

aurato conspicienda sinu

conspicious from her golden bosom

aurea pellbant tepidos umbracula soles

a golden parasol was striking the warm sunbeams

quae tamen Herculeae sustinuere manus.

however which the hands of Hercules held above her.

iam Bacchi nemus et Tmoli vineta tenebat

Now she was reaching the grove of Bacchus and the vineyards of Tmolus

Hesperos et fusco roscidus ibat equo.

the dewy evening star came on his dusky steed.

antra subit tofis laqueata et pumice vivo...

She enters the grotto roofed with a porous stone and living rock

garrulus in primo limine rivus erat.

there was a talkative stream at the first threshold.

dumque parant epulas potandaque vina ministri

And while the attendants were preparing for the feasts and wine to be drunk

cultibus Alciden instruit illa suis

She prepared Hercules in her own finery

dat tenues tunicas Gaetulo murice tinctas

she gave him thin tunics dyed in Gaetulian purple

dat teretem zonam, qua modo cincta fuit.

she gave him the polished girdle, with which she had just been bound.

ventre minor zona est

The girdle was too small for his waist

tunicarum vincla relaxat

she loosens the fastenings of the garments

ut posset magnas exseruisse manus.

so that he can push out his massive hands.

fregerat armillas non illa ad bracchia factas

He had broken the armlets that were not made for those arms

scindebant magni vincula parva pedes.

his big feet were splitting the small fastenings

ipsa capit clavamque gravem spoliumque leonis...

She herself took up the heavy club and the trophy of the lion

...conditaque in pharetra tela minora sua.

and his smaller weapons kept in their own quiver.

sic epulis functi sic dant sua corpora somno...

Thus after the feast was completed thus they gave their bodies to sleep

...et positis iuxta secubuere toris...

they lay apart with their beds placed near

...causa, repertori vitis quia sacra parabant...

the reason, because they were preparing the sacred rites for the inventor of the vine...

...quae facerent pure, cum foret orta dies.

in order to perform them purely, when the day had risen.

noctis erat medium.

It was the middle of the night.

quid non amor improbus audet?

What does unscrupulous love not dare?

roscida per tenebras Faunus ad antra venit...

Faunus came through the darkness towards the dewy cave

...utque videt comites somno vinoque solutos...

and as he saw the companions relaxed by sleep and wine

...spem capit in dominis esse soporis idem.

he seized on the hope that the masters are in the same sleep

intrat et huc illuc temerarius errat adulter...

He enters and the mindless adulterer wanders this way and that

...et praefert cautas subsequiturque manus.

and put in front his cautious hands and followed closely

venerat ad strati captata cubilia lecti...

He had come to the coverings of a draped couch by groping

...et felix prima sorte futurus erat...

and about to be successful on the first attempt

...ut tetigit fulvi saetis hirsuta leonis vellera...

as he touched the hide rough with the bristles of the tawny lion

...pertimuit sustinuitque manum...

he was alarmed and drew back his hand

...attonitusque metu rediit...

and astonished he drew back in fear

...ut saepe viator turbatum viso rettulit angue pedem.

as often a wayfarer draws back his foot disturbed by the sight of a snake.

inde tori qui iunctus erat velamina tangit mollia...

From there he touched the soft coverings of the bed, which was joined

...medaci decipiturque nota.

and he was deceived by the false sign.

ascendit spondaque sibi propiore recumbit...

He climbed up and he lied down on the couch nearer to him

...et tumidum cornu durius inguen erat.

and his swollen organ was stiffer than a horn.

interea tunicas ora subducit ab ima...

Meanwhile, he drew up his tunic from its lowest hem

...horrebant densis aspera crura pilis.

the legs bristled rough with thick hair

cetera temptantem subito Tirynthius heros reppulit...

as he's testing even more things suddenly the Tirynthian hero threw him off

...e summo decidit ille toro.

he fell down from the top of the bed.

fit sonus, inclamat comites et lumina poscit Maeonis...

A sound was made, the Maeonian shouted out for her companions and demanded light

...inlatis ignibus acta patent.

with the lights having been brought in, the deeds were exposed.

ille gemit lecto graviter deiectus ab alto

he groaned having been thrown down heavily from the high bed

...membraque de dura vix sua tollit humo.

and scarcely could he raise his own limbs from the hard ground.

ridet et Alcides et qui videre iacentem...

Both Hercules and those who saw him lying there laughed

...ridet amatorem Lyda puella suum.

and the Lydian girl laughed at her "lover".

veste deus lusus fallentes lumina vestes non amat...

The god having been tricked by clothing does not like clothes deceiving his eyes...

...et nudos ad sua sacra vocat.

.and calls people naked to his sacred rites.

nunc mihi dicenda est regis fuga.

Now I must tell of the flight of the king.

traxit ab illa sextus ad extremo nomina mense dies.

The sixth day before the end of the month takes its name from that.

ultima Tarqiunius Romanae gentis habebat regna...

Tarquinius held the final sovereignty over the Roman people

...vir iniustus, fortis ad arma tamen.

an unjust man, but brave in arms.

ceperat hic alias, alias everterat urbes...

He had captured some cities, he had overturned others

...et Gabios turpi fecerat arte suos.

and he had made the Gabii his own by a wicked stratagem.