6. Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica, 1.492-1.511, 2.1-2.97 (3rd cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 1.492. Χώετʼ ἐνιπτάζων· προτέρω δέ κε νεῖκος ἐτύχθη 1.493. εἰ μὴ δηριόωντας ὁμοκλήσαντες ἑταῖροι 1.494. αὐτός τʼ Αἰσονίδης κατερήτυεν· ἂν δὲ καὶ Ὀρφεὺς 1.495. λαιῇ ἀνασχόμενος κίθαριν πείραζεν ἀοιδῆς. 1.496. ἤειδεν δʼ ὡς γαῖα καὶ οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ θάλασσα 1.497. τὸ πρὶν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισι μιῇ συναρηρότα μορφῇ 1.498. νείκεος ἐξ ὀλοοῖο διέκριθεν ἀμφὶς ἕκαστα· 1.499. ἠδʼ ὡς ἔμπεδον αἰὲν ἐν αἰθέρι τέκμαρ ἔχουσιν 1.500. ἄστρα σεληναίη τε καὶ ἠελίοιο κέλευθοι· 1.501. οὔρεά θʼ ὡς ἀνέτειλε, καὶ ὡς ποταμοὶ κελάδοντες 1.502. αὐτῇσιν νύμφῃσι καὶ ἑρπετὰ πάντʼ ἐγένοντο. 1.503. ἤειδεν δʼ ὡς πρῶτον Ὀφίων Εὐρυνόμη τε 1.504. Ὠκεανὶς νιφόεντος ἔχον κράτος Οὐλύμποιο· 1.505. ὥς τε βίῃ καὶ χερσὶν ὁ μὲν Κρόνῳ εἴκαθε τιμῆς 1.506. ἡ δὲ Ῥέῃ, ἔπεσον δʼ ἐνὶ κύμασιν Ὠκεανοῖο· 1.507. οἱ δὲ τέως μακάρεσσι θεοῖς Τιτῆσιν ἄνασσον 1.508. ὄφρα Ζεὺς ἔτι κοῦρος, ἔτι φρεσὶ νήπια εἰδώς 1.509. Δικταῖον ναίεσκεν ὑπὸ σπέος· οἱ δέ μιν οὔπω 1.510. γηγενέες Κύκλωπες ἐκαρτύναντο κεραυνῷ 1.511. βροντῇ τε στεροπῇ τε· τὰ γὰρ Διὶ κῦδος ὀπάζει. 2.1. ἔνθα δʼ ἔσαν σταθμοί τε βοῶν αὖλίς τʼ Ἀμύκοιο 2.2. Βεβρύκων βασιλῆος ἀγήνορος, ὅν ποτε νύμφη 2.3. τίκτε Ποσειδάωνι Γενεθλίῳ εὐνηθεῖσα 2.4. Βιθυνὶς Μελίη, ὑπεροπληέστατον ἀνδρῶν· 2.5. ὅς τʼ ἐπὶ καὶ ξείνοισιν ἀεικέα θεσμὸν ἔθηκεν 2.6. μήτινʼ ἀποστείχειν, πρὶν πειρήσασθαι ἑοῖο 2.7. πυγμαχίης· πολέας δὲ περικτιόνων ἐδάιξεν. 2.8. καὶ δὲ τότε προτὶ νῆα κιών, χρειώ μιν ἐρέσθαι 2.9. ναυτιλίης, οἵ τʼ εἶεν, ὑπερβασίῃσιν ἄτισσεν 2.10. τοῖον δʼ ἐν πάντεσσι παρασχεδὸν ἔκφατο μῦθον· 2.11. ‘Κέκλυθʼ, ἁλίπλαγκτοι, τάπερ ἴδμεναι ὔμμιν ἔοικεν. 2.12. οὔτινα θέσμιόν ἐστιν ἀφορμηθέντα νέεσθαι 2.13. ἀνδρῶν ὀθνείων, ὅς κεν Βέβρυξι πελάσσῃ 2.14. πρὶν χείρεσσιν ἐμῇσιν ἑὰς ἀνὰ χεῖρας ἀεῖραι. 2.15. τῶ καί μοι τὸν ἄριστον ἀποκριδὸν οἶον ὁμίλου 2.16. πυγμαχίῃ στήσασθε καταυτόθι δηρινθῆναι. 2.17. εἰ δʼ ἂν ἀπηλεγέοντες ἐμὰς πατέοιτε θέμιστας 2.18. ἧ κέν τις στυγερῶς κρατερὴ ἐπιέψετʼ ἀνάγκη.’ 2.19. ἦ ῥα μέγα φρονέων· τοὺς δʼ ἄγριος εἰσαΐοντας 2.20. εἷλε χόλος· περὶ δʼ αὖ Πολυδεύκεα τύψεν ὁμοκλη 2.21. αἶψα δʼ ἑῶν ἑτάρων πρόμος ἵστατο, φώνησέν τε· 2.22. ‘ἴσχεο νῦν, μηδʼ ἄμμι κακήν, ὅτις εὔχεαι εἶναι 2.23. φαῖνε βίην· θεσμοῖς γὰρ ὑπείξομεν, ὡς ἀγορεύεις. 2.24. αὐτὸς ἑκὼν ἤδη τοι ὑπίσχομαι ἀντιάασθαι.’ 2.25. ὧς φάτʼ ἀπηλεγέως· ὁ δʼ ἐσέδρακεν ὄμμαθʼ ἑλίξας 2.26. ὥστε λέων ὑπʼ ἄκοντι τετυμμένος, ὅν τʼ ἐν ὄρεσσιν 2.27. ἀνέρες ἀμφιπένονται· ὁ δʼ ἰλλόμενός περ ὁμίλῳ 2.28. τῶν μὲν ἔτʼ οὐκ ἀλέγει, ἐπὶ δʼ ὄσσεται οἰόθεν οἶον 2.29. ἄνδρα τόν, ὅς μιν ἔτυψε παροίτατος, οὐδʼ ἐδάμασσεν. 2.30. ἔνθʼ ἀπὸ Τυνδαρίδης μὲν ἐύστιπτον θέτο φᾶρος 2.31. λεπταλέον, τό ῥά οἵ τις ἑὸν ξεινήιον εἶναι 2.32. ὤπασε Λημνιάδων· ὁ δʼ ἐρεμνὴν δίπτυχα λώπην 2.33. αὐτῇσιν περόνῃσι καλαύροπά τε τρηχεῖαν 2.34. κάββαλε, τὴν φορέεσκεν, ὀριτρεφέος κοτίνοιο. 2.35. αὐτίκα δʼ ἐγγύθι χῶρον ἑαδότα παπτήναντες 2.36. ἷζον ἑοὺς δίχα πάντας ἐνὶ ψαμάθοισιν ἑταίρους 2.37. οὐ δέμας, οὐδὲ φυὴν ἐναλίγκιοι εἰσοράασθαι. 2.38. ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἢ ὀλοοῖο Τυφωέος, ἠὲ καὶ αὐτῆς 2.39. γαίης εἶναι ἔικτο πέλωρ τέκος, οἷα πάροιθεν 2.40. χωομένη Διὶ τίκτεν· ὁ δʼ οὐρανίῳ ἀτάλαντος 2.41. ἀστέρι Τυνδαρίδης, οὗπερ κάλλισται ἔασιν 2.42. ἑσπερίην διὰ νύκτα φαεινομένου ἀμαρυγαί. 2.43. τοῖος ἔην Διὸς υἱός, ἔτι χνοάοντας ἰούλους 2.44. ἀντέλλων, ἔτι φαιδρὸς ἐν ὄμμασιν. ἀλλά οἱ ἀλκὴ 2.45. καὶ μένος ἠύτε θηρὸς ἀέξετο· πῆλε δὲ χεῖρας 2.46. πειράζων, εἴθʼ ὡς πρὶν ἐυτρόχαλοι φορέονται 2.47. μηδʼ ἄμυδις καμάτῳ τε καὶ εἰρεσίῃ βαρύθοιεν 2.48. οὐ μὰν αὖτʼ Ἄμυκος πειρήσατο· σῖγα δʼ ἄπωθεν 2.49. ἑστηὼς εἰς αὐτὸν ἔχʼ ὄμματα, καί οἱ ὀρέχθει 2.50. θυμὸς ἐελδομένῳ στηθέων ἐξ αἷμα κεδάσσαι. 2.51. τοῖσι δὲ μεσσηγὺς θεράπων Ἀμύκοιο Λυκωρεὺς 2.52. θῆκε πάροιθε ποδῶν δοιοὺς ἑκάτερθεν ἱμάντας 2.53. ὠμούς, ἀζαλέους, περὶ δʼ οἵγʼ ἔσαν ἐσκληῶτες. 2.54. αὐτὰρ ὁ τόνγʼ ἐπέεσσιν ὑπερφιάλοισι μετηύδα· 2.55. ‘τῶνδέ τοι ὅν κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, πάλου ἄτερ ἐγγυαλίξω 2.56. αὐτὸς ἑκών, ἵνα μή μοι ἀτέμβηαι μετόπισθεν. 2.57. ἀλλὰ βάλευ περὶ χειρί· δαεὶς δέ κεν ἄλλῳ ἐνίσποις 2.58. ὅσσον ἐγὼ ῥινούς τε βοῶν περίειμι ταμέσθαι 2.59. ἀζαλέας, ἀνδρῶν τε παρηίδας αἵματι φύρσαι.’ 2.60. ὧς ἔφατʼ· αὐτὰρ ὅγʼ οὔτι παραβλήδην ἐρίδηνεν. 2.61. ἦκα δὲ μειδήσας, οἵ οἱ παρὰ ποσσὶν ἔκειντο 2.62. τοὺς ἕλεν ἀπροφάτως· τοῦ δʼ ἀντίος ἤλυθε Κάστωρ 2.63. ἠδὲ Βιαντιάδης Ταλαὸς μέγας· ὦκα δʼ ἱμάντας 2.64. ἀμφέδεον, μάλα πολλὰ παρηγορέοντες ἐς ἀλκήν. 2.65. τῷ δʼ αὖτʼ Ἄρητός τε καὶ Ὄρνυτος, οὐδέ τι ᾔδειν 2.66. νήπιοι ὕστατα κεῖνα κακῇ δήσαντες ἐν αἴσῃ. 2.67. οἱ δʼ ἐπεὶ οὖν ἱμᾶσι διασταδὸν ἠρτύναντο 2.68. αὐτίκʼ ἀνασχόμενοι ῥεθέων προπάροιθε βαρείας 2.69. χεῖρας, ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένος φέρον ἀντιόωντες. 2.70. ἔνθα δὲ Βεβρύκων μὲν ἄναξ, ἅ τε κῦμα θαλάσσης 2.71. τρηχὺ θοὴν ἐπὶ νῆα κορύσσεται, ἡ δʼ ὑπὸ τυτθὸν 2.72. ἰδρείῃ πυκινοῖο κυβερνητῆρος ἀλύσκει 2.73. ἱεμένου φορέεσθαι ἔσω τοίχοιο κλύδωνος 2.74. ὧς ὅγε Τυνδαρίδην φοβέων ἕπετʼ, οὐδέ μιν εἴα 2.75. δηθύνειν. ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ αἰὲν ἀνούτατος ἣν διὰ μῆτιν 2.76. ἀίσσοντʼ ἀλέεινεν· ἀπηνέα δʼ αἶψα νοήσας 2.77. πυγμαχίην, ᾗ κάρτος ἀάατος, ᾗ τε χερείων 2.78. στῆ ῥ̓ ἄμοτον καὶ χερσὶν ἐναντία χεῖρας ἔμιξεν. 2.79. ὡς δʼ ὅτε νήια δοῦρα θοοῖς ἀντίξοα γόμφοις 2.80. ἀνέρες ὑληουργοὶ ἐπιβλήδην ἐλάοντες 2.81. θείνωσι σφύρῃσιν, ἐπʼ ἄλλῳ δʼ ἄλλος ἄηται 2.82. δοῦπος ἄδην· ὧς τοῖσι παρήιά τʼ ἀμφοτέρωθεν 2.83. καὶ γένυες κτύπεον· βρυχὴ δʼ ὑπετέλλετʼ ὀδόντων 2.84. ἄσπετος, οὐδʼ ἔλληξαν ἐπισταδὸν οὐτάζοντες 2.85. ἔστε περ οὐλοὸν ἆσθμα καὶ ἀμφοτέρους ἐδάμασσεν. 2.86. στάντε δὲ βαιὸν ἄπωθεν ἀπωμόρξαντο μετώπων 2.87. ἱδρῶ ἅλις, καματηρὸν ἀυτμένα φυσιόωντε. 2.88. ἂψ δʼ αὖτις συνόρουσαν ἐναντίοι, ἠύτε ταύρω 2.89. φορβάδος ἀμφὶ βοὸς κεκοτηότε δηριάασθον. 2.90. ἔνθα δʼ ἔπειτʼ Ἄμυκος μὲν ἐπʼ ἀκροτάτοισιν ἀερθείς 2.91. βουτύπος οἷα, πόδεσσι τανύσσατο, κὰδ δὲ βαρεῖαν 2.92. χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ οἷ πελέμιξεν· ὁ δʼ ἀίξαντος ὑπέστη 2.93. κρᾶτα παρακλίνας, ὤμῳ δʼ ἀνεδέξατο πῆχυν 2.94. τυτθόν· ὁ δʼ ἄγχʼ αὐτοῖο παρὲκ γόνυ γουνὸς ἀμσίβων 2.95. κόψε μεταΐγδην ὑπὲρ οὔατος, ὀστέα δʼ εἴσω 2.96. ῥῆξεν· ὁ δʼ ἀμφʼ ὀδύνῃ γνὺξ ἤριπεν· οἱ δʼ ἰάχησαν 2.97. ἥρωες Μινύαι· τοῦ δʼ ἀθρόος ἔκχυτο θυμός. | |
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8. Vergil, Aeneis, 1.1-1.10, 4.485-4.544, 5.66-5.69, 5.114-5.545, 5.563-5.569, 5.573-5.574, 5.581, 5.596-5.603, 5.704 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)
| 1.1. Arms and the man I sing, who first made way 1.2. predestined exile, from the Trojan shore 1.3. to Italy, the blest Lavinian strand. 1.4. Smitten of storms he was on land and sea 1.5. by violence of Heaven, to satisfy 1.6. tern Juno's sleepless wrath; and much in war 1.7. he suffered, seeking at the last to found 1.8. the city, and bring o'er his fathers' gods 1.9. to safe abode in Latium ; whence arose 1.10. the Latin race, old Alba's reverend lords 4.485. But now to Italy Apollo's power 4.486. commands me forth; his Lycian oracles 4.487. are loud for Italy. My heart is there 4.488. and there my fatherland. If now the towers 4.489. of Carthage and thy Libyan colony 4.490. delight thy Tyrian eyes; wilt thou refuse 4.491. to Trojan exiles their Ausonian shore? 4.492. I too by Fate was driven, not less than thou 4.493. to wander far a foreign throne to find. 4.494. oft when in dewy dark night hides the world 4.495. and flaming stars arise, Anchises' shade 4.496. looks on me in my dreams with angered brow. 4.497. I think of my Ascanius, and the wrong 4.498. to that dear heart, from whom I steal away 4.499. Hesperia, his destined home and throne. 4.500. But now the winged messenger of Heaven 4.501. ent down by Jove (I swear by thee and me!) 4.502. has brought on winged winds his sire's command. 4.503. My own eyes with unclouded vision saw 4.504. the god within these walls; I have received 4.505. with my own ears his word. No more inflame 4.506. with lamentation fond thy heart and mine. 4.508. She with averted eyes and glance that rolled 4.509. peechless this way and that, had listened long 4.510. to his reply, till thus her rage broke forth: 4.511. “No goddess gave thee birth. No Dardanus 4.512. begot thy sires. But on its breast of stone 4.513. Caucasus bore thee, and the tigresses 4.514. of fell Hyrcania to thy baby lip 4.515. their udders gave. Why should I longer show 4.516. a lying smile? What worse can I endure? 4.517. Did my tears draw one sigh? Did he once drop 4.518. his stony stare? or did he yield a tear 4.519. to my lament, or pity this fond heart? 4.520. Why set my wrongs in order? Juno, now 4.521. and Jove, the son of Saturn, heed no more 4.522. where justice lies. No trusting heart is safe 4.523. in all this world. That waif and castaway 4.524. I found in beggary and gave him share— 4.525. fool that I was!—in my own royal glory. 4.526. His Iost fleet and his sorry crews I steered 4.527. from death away. O, how my fevered soul 4.528. unceasing raves! Forsooth Apollo speaks! 4.529. His Lycian oracles! and sent by Jove 4.530. the messenger of Heaven on fleeting air 4.531. the ruthless bidding brings! Proud business 4.532. for gods, I trow, that such a task disturbs 4.533. their still abodes! I hold thee back no more 4.534. nor to thy cunning speeches give the lie. 4.535. Begone! Sail on to Italy, thy throne 4.536. through wind and wave! I pray that, if there be 4.537. any just gods of power, thou mayest drink down 4.538. death on the mid-sea rocks, and often call 4.539. with dying gasps on Dido's name—while I 4.540. pursue with vengeful fire. When cold death rends 4.541. the body from the breath, my ghost shall sit 4.542. forever in thy path. Full penalties 4.543. thy stubborn heart shall pay. They'll bring me never 4.544. in yon deep gulf of death of all thy woe.” 5.114. of my blest father! Heaven to us denied 5.115. to find together that predestined land 5.116. of Italy, or our Ausonian stream 5.117. of Tiber—ah! but where?” He scarce had said 5.118. when from the central shrine a gliding snake 5.119. coiled seven-fold in seven spirals wide 5.120. twined round the tomb and trailed innocuous o'er 5.121. the very altars; his smooth back was flecked 5.122. with green and azure, and his changeful scales 5.123. gleamed golden, as the cloud-born rainbow flings 5.124. its thousand colors from th' opposing sun. 5.125. Aeneas breathless watched the serpent wind 5.126. among the bowls and cups of polished rim 5.127. tasting the sacred feast; where, having fed 5.128. back to the tomb all harmless it withdrew. 5.129. Then with new zeal his sacrifice he brings 5.130. in honor of his sire; for he must deem 5.131. that serpent the kind genius of the place 5.132. or of his very father's present shade 5.133. ome creature ministrant. Two lambs he slew 5.134. the wonted way, two swine, and, sable-hued 5.135. the yoke of bulls; from shallow bowl he poured 5.136. libation of the grape, and called aloud 5.137. on great Anchises' spirit, and his shade 5.138. from Acheron set free. Then all the throng 5.139. each from his separate store, heap up the shrines 5.140. with victims slain; some range in order fair 5.141. the brazen cauldrons; or along the grass 5.142. cattered at ease, hold o'er the embers bright 5.144. Arrived the wished-for day; through cloudless sky 5.145. the coursers of the Sun's bright-beaming car 5.146. bore upward the ninth morn. The neighboring folk 5.147. thronged eager to the shore; some hoped to see 5.148. Aeneas and his warriors, others fain 5.149. would their own prowess prove in bout and game. 5.150. Conspicuous lie the rewards, ranged in sight 5.151. in the mid-circus; wreaths of laurel green 5.152. the honored tripod, coronals of palm 5.153. for conquerors' brows, accoutrements of war 5.154. rare robes of purple stain, and generous weight 5.155. of silver and of gold. The trumpet's call 5.157. First, side by side, with sturdy, rival oars 5.158. four noble galleys, pride of all the fleet 5.159. come forward to contend. The straining crew 5.160. of Mnestheus bring his speedy Pristis on, — 5.161. Mnestheus in Italy erelong the sire 5.162. of Memmius' noble line. Brave Gyas guides 5.163. his vast Chimaera, a colossal craft 5.164. a floating city, by a triple row 5.165. of Dardan sailors manned, whose banks of oars 5.166. in triple order rise. Sergestus, he 5.167. of whom the Sergian house shall after spring 5.168. rides in his mighty Centaur. Next in line 5.169. on sky-blue Scylla proud Cloanthus rides — 5.171. Fronting the surf-beat shore, far out at sea 5.172. rises a rock, which under swollen waves 5.173. lies buffeted unseen, when wintry storms 5.174. mantle the stars; but when the deep is calm 5.175. lifts silently above the sleeping wave 5.176. its level field,—a place where haunt and play 5.177. flocks of the sea-birds, Iovers of the sun. 5.178. Here was the goal; and here Aeneas set 5.179. a green-leaved flex-tree, to be a mark 5.180. for every captain's eye, from whence to veer 5.181. the courses of their ships in sweeping curves 5.182. and speed them home. Now places in the line 5.183. are given by lot. Upon the lofty sterns 5.184. the captains ride, in beautiful array 5.185. of Tyriao purple and far-flaming gold; 5.186. the crews are poplar-crowned, the shoulders bare 5.187. rubbed well with glittering oil; their straining arms 5.188. make long reach to the oar, as on the thwarts 5.189. they sit attentive, listening for the call 5.190. of the loud trumpet; while with pride and fear 5.191. their hot hearts throb, impassioned for renown. 5.192. Soon pealed the signal clear; from all the line 5.193. instant the galleys bounded, and the air 5.194. rang to the rowers, shouting, while their arms 5.195. pulled every inch and flung the waves in foam; 5.196. deep cut the rival strokes; the surface fair 5.197. yawned wide beneath their blades and cleaving keels. 5.198. Not swifter scour the chariots o'er the plain 5.199. ped headlong from the line behind their teams 5.200. of mated coursers, while each driver shakes 5.201. loose, rippling reins above his plunging pairs 5.202. and o'er the lash leans far. With loud applause 5.203. vociferous and many an urgent cheer 5.204. the woodlands rang, and all the concave shores 5.205. back from the mountains took the Trojan cry 5.206. in answering song. Forth-flying from his peers 5.207. while all the crowd acclaims, sped Gyas' keel 5.208. along the outmost wave. Cloanthus next 5.209. pushed hard upon, with stronger stroke of oars 5.210. but heavier ship. At equal pace behind 5.211. the Pristis and the Centaur fiercely strive 5.212. for the third place. Now Pristis seems to lead 5.213. now mightier Centaur past her flies, then both 5.214. ride on together, prow with prow, and cleave 5.215. long lines of foaming furrow with swift keels. 5.216. Soon near the rock they drew, and either ship 5.217. was making goal,—when Gyas, in the lead 5.218. and winner of the half-course, Ioudly hailed 5.219. menoetes, the ship's pilot: “Why so far 5.220. to starboard, we? Keep her head round this way! 5.221. Hug shore! Let every oar-blade almost graze 5.222. that reef to larboard! Let the others take 5.223. the deep-sea course outside!” But while he spoke 5.224. Menoetes, dreading unknown rocks below 5.225. veered off to open sea. “Why steer so wide? 5.226. Round to the rock, Menoetes!” Gyas roared, — 5.227. again in vain, for looking back he saw 5.228. cloanthus hard astern, and ever nearer 5.229. who, in a trice, betwixt the booming reef 5.230. and Gyas' galley, lightly forward thrust 5.231. the beak of Scylla to the inside course 5.232. and, quickly taking lead, flew past the goal 5.233. to the smooth seas beyond. Then wrathful grief 5.234. flamed in the warrior's heart, nor was his cheek 5.235. unwet with tears; and, reckless utterly 5.236. of his own honor and his comrades, lives 5.237. he hurled poor, slack Menoetes from the poop 5.238. headlong upon the waters, while himself 5.239. pilot and master both, the helm assuming 5.240. urged on his crew, and landward took his way. 5.241. But now, with heavy limbs that hardly won 5.242. his rescue from the deep, engulfing wave 5.243. up the rude rock graybeard Menoetes climbed 5.244. with garment dripping wet, and there dropped down 5.245. upon the cliff's dry top. With laughter loud 5.246. the Trojan crews had watched him plunging, swimming 5.247. and now to see his drink of bitter brine 5.249. But Mnestheus and Sergestus, coming last 5.250. have joyful hope enkindled in each heart 5.251. to pass the laggard Gyas. In the lead 5.252. Sergestus' ship shoots forth; and to the rock 5.253. runs boldly nigh; but not his whole long keel 5.254. may pass his rival; the projecting beak 5.255. is followed fast by Pristis' emulous prow. 5.256. Then, striding straight amidships through his crew 5.257. thus Mnestheus urged them on: “O Hector's friends! 5.258. Whom in the dying hours of Troy I chose 5.259. for followers! Now stand ye to your best! 5.260. Put forth the thews of valor that ye showed 5.261. in the Gaetulian Syrtes, or that sea 5.262. Ionian, or where the waves race by 5.263. the Malean promontory! Mnestheus now 5.264. hopes not to be the first, nor do I strive 5.265. for victory. O Father Neptune, give 5.266. that garland where thou wilt! But O, the shame 5.267. if we are last! Endure it not, my men! 5.268. The infamy refuse!” So, bending low 5.269. they enter the home-stretch. Beneath their stroke 5.270. the brass-decked galley throbs, and under her 5.271. the sea-floor drops away. On, on they fly! 5.272. Parched are the panting lips, and sweat in streams 5.273. pours down their giant sides; but lucky chance 5.274. brought the proud heroes what their honor craved. 5.275. For while Sergestus furiously drove 5.276. his ship's beak toward the rock, and kept inside 5.277. the scanty passage, by his evil star 5.278. he grounded on the jutting reef; the cliffs 5.279. rang with the blow, and his entangled oars 5.280. grated along the jagged granite, while 5.281. the prow hung wrecked and helpless. With loud cry 5.282. upsprang the sailors, while the ship stood still 5.283. and pushed off with long poles and pointed iron 5.284. or snatched the smashed oars from the whirling tide. 5.285. Mnestheus exults; and, roused to keener strife 5.286. by happy fortune, with a quicker stroke 5.287. of each bright rank of oars, and with the breeze 5.288. his prayer implored, skims o'er the obedient wave 5.289. and sweeps the level main. Not otherwise 5.290. a startled dove, emerging o'er the fields 5.291. from secret cavern in the crannied hill 5.292. where her safe house and pretty nestlings lie 5.293. oars from her nest, with whirring wings—but soon 5.294. through the still sky she takes her path of air 5.295. on pinions motionless. So Pristis sped 5.296. with Mnestheus, cleaving her last stretch of sea 5.297. by her own impulse wafted. She outstripped 5.298. Sergestus first; for he upon the reef 5.299. fought with the breakers, desperately shouting 5.300. for help, for help in vain, with broken oars 5.301. contriving to move on. Then Mnestheus ran 5.302. past Gyas, in Chimaera's ponderous hulk 5.303. of pilot now bereft; at last remains 5.304. Cloanthus his sole peer, whom he pursues 5.305. with a supreme endeavor. From the shore 5.306. burst echoing cheers that spur him to the chase 5.307. and wild applause makes all the welkin ring. 5.308. The leaders now with eager souls would scorn 5.309. to Iose their glory, and faint-hearted fail 5.310. to grasp a prize half-won, but fain would buy 5.311. honor with life itself; the followers too 5.312. are flushed with proud success, and feel them strong 5.313. because their strength is proven. Both ships now 5.314. with indistinguishable prows had sped 5.315. to share one prize,—but with uplifted hands 5.316. pread o'er the sea, Cloanthus, suppliant 5.317. called on the gods to bless his votive prayer: 5.318. “Ye gods who rule the waves, whose waters be 5.319. my pathway now; for you on yonder strand 5.320. a white bull at the altar shall be slain 5.321. in grateful tribute for a granted vow; 5.322. and o'er the salt waves I will scatter far 5.323. the entrails, and outpour the flowing wine.” 5.324. He spoke; and from the caverns under sea 5.325. Phorcus and virgin Panopea heard 5.326. and all the sea-nymphs' choir; while with strong hand 5.327. the kindly God of Havens rose and thrust 5.328. the gliding ship along, that swifter flew 5.329. than south wind, or an arrow from the string 5.331. Aeneas then, assembling all to hear 5.332. by a far-sounding herald's voice proclaimed 5.333. Cloanthus victor, and arrayed his brows 5.334. with the green laurel-garland; to the crews 5.335. three bulls, at choice, were given, and plenteous wine 5.336. and talent-weight of silver; to the chiefs 5.337. illustrious gifts beside; the victor had 5.338. a gold-embroidered mantle with wide band 5.339. of undulant Meliboean purple rare 5.340. where, pictured in the woof, young Ganymede 5.341. through Ida's forest chased the light-foot deer 5.342. with javelin; all flushed and panting he. 5.343. But lo! Jove's thunder-bearing eagle fell 5.344. and his strong talons snatched from Ida far 5.345. the royal boy, whose aged servitors 5.346. reached helpless hands to heaven; his faithful hound 5.347. bayed fiercely at the air. To him whose worth 5.348. the second place had won, Aeneas gave 5.349. a smooth-linked golden corselet, triple-chained 5.350. of which his own victorious hand despoiled 5.351. Demoleos, by the swift, embattled stream 5.352. of Simois, under Troy,—and bade it be 5.353. a glory and defence on valor's field; 5.354. carce might the straining shoulders of two slaves 5.355. Phegeus and Sagaris, the load endure 5.356. yet oft Demoleos in this armor dressed 5.357. charged down full speed on routed hosts of Troy . 5.358. The third gift was two cauldrons of wrought brass 5.359. and bowls of beaten silver, cunningly 5.360. embossed with sculpture fair. Bearing such gifts 5.361. th' exultant victors onward moved, each brow 5.362. bound with a purple fillet. But behold! 5.363. Sergestus, from the grim rock just dragged off 5.364. by cunning toil, one halting rank of oars 5.365. left of his many lost, comes crawling in 5.366. with vanquished ship, a mockery to all. 5.367. As when a serpent, on the highway caught 5.368. ome brazen wheel has crushed, or traveller 5.369. with heavy-smiting blow left half alive 5.370. and mangled by a stone; in vain he moves 5.371. in writhing flight; a part is lifted high 5.372. with hissing throat and angry, glittering eyes; 5.373. but by the wounded part a captive still 5.374. he knots him fold on fold: with such a track 5.375. the maimed ship labored slow; but by her sails 5.376. he still made way, and with full canvas on 5.377. arrived at land. Aeneas then bestowed 5.378. a boon upon Sergestus, as was meet 5.379. for reward of the ship in safety brought 5.380. with all its men; a fair slave was the prize 5.381. the Cretan Pholoe, well taught to weave 5.383. Then good Aeneas, the ship-contest o'er 5.384. turned to a wide green valley, circled round 5.385. with clasp of wood-clad hills, wherein was made 5.386. an amphitheatre; entering with a throng 5.387. of followers, the hero took his seat 5.388. in mid-arena on a lofty mound. 5.389. For the fleet foot-race, now, his summons flies, — 5.390. he offers gifts, and shows the rewards due. 5.391. The mingling youth of Troy and Sicily 5.392. hastened from far. Among the foremost came 5.393. the comrades Nisus and Euryalus 5.394. Euryalus for beauty's bloom renowned 5.395. Nisus for loyal love; close-following these 5.396. Diores strode, a prince of Priam's line; 5.397. then Salius and Patron, who were bred 5.398. in Acaria and Arcady; 5.399. then two Sicilian warriors, Helymus 5.400. and Panopes, both sylvan bred and born 5.401. comrades of King Acestes; after these 5.402. the multitude whom Fame forgets to tell. 5.403. Aeneas, so surrounded, thus spake forth: 5.404. “Hear what I purpose, and with joy receive! 5.405. of all your company, not one departs 5.406. with empty hand. The Cretan javelins 5.407. bright-tipped with burnished steel, and battle-axe 5.408. adorned with graven silver, these shall be 5.409. the meed of all. The three first at the goal 5.410. hall bind their foreheads with fair olive green 5.411. and win the rewards due. The first shall lead 5.412. victorious, yon rich-bridled steed away; 5.413. this Amazonian quiver, the next prize 5.414. well-stocked with Thracian arrows; round it goes 5.415. a baldrick broad and golden,—in its clasp 5.416. a lustrous gem. The third man goes away 5.418. They heard, and took their places. The loud horn 5.419. gave signal, and impetuous from the line 5.420. wift as a bursting storm they sped away 5.421. eyes fixed upon the goal. Far in advance 5.422. Nisus shot forward, swifter than the winds 5.423. or winged thunderbolt; the next in course 5.424. next, but out-rivalled far, was Salius 5.425. and after him a space, Euryalus 5.426. came third; him Helymus was hard upon; 5.427. and, look! Diores follows, heel on heel 5.428. close at his shoulder—if the race be long 5.429. he sure must win, or claim a doubtful prize. 5.430. Now at the last stretch, spent and panting, all 5.431. pressed to the goal, when in a slime of blood 5.432. Nisus, hard fate! slipped down, where late the death 5.433. of victims slain had drenched the turf below. 5.434. Here the young victor, with his triumph flushed 5.435. lost foothold on the yielding ground, and plunged 5.436. face forward in the pool of filth and gore; 5.437. but not of dear Euryalus was he 5.438. forgetful then, nor heedless of his friend; 5.439. but rising from the mire he hurled himself 5.440. in Salius' way; so he in equal plight 5.441. rolled in the filthy slough. Euryalus 5.442. leaped forth, the winner of the race by gift 5.443. of his true friend, and flying to the goal 5.444. tood first, by many a favoring shout acclaimed. 5.445. Next Helymus ran in; and, for the third, last prize 5.446. Diores. But the multitude now heard 5.447. the hollowed hill-side ringing with wild wrath 5.448. from Salius, clamoring where the chieftains sate 5.449. for restitution of his stolen prize 5.450. lost by a cheat. But general favor smiles 5.451. upon Euryalus, whose beauteous tears 5.452. commend him much, and nobler seems the worth 5.453. of valor clothed in youthful shape so fair. 5.454. Diores, too, assists the victor's claim 5.455. with loud appeal—he too has won a prize 5.456. and vainly holds his last place, if the first 5.457. to Salius fall. Aeneas then replied: 5.458. “Your gifts, my gallant youths, remain secure. 5.459. None can re-judge the prize. But to console 5.460. the misadventure of a blameless friend 5.461. is in my power.” Therewith to Salius 5.462. an Afric lion's monstrous pelt he gave 5.463. with ponderous mane, the claws o'erlaid with gold. 5.464. But Nisus cried: “If such a gift be found 5.465. for less than victory, and men who fall 5.466. are worthy so much sorrow, pray, what prize 5.467. hall Nisus have? For surely I had won 5.468. the proudest of the garlands, if one stroke 5.469. of inauspicious fortune had not fallen 5.470. on Salius and me.” So saying, he showed 5.471. his smeared face and his sorry limbs befouled 5.472. with mire and slime. Then laughed the gracious sire 5.473. and bade a shield be brought, the cunning work 5.474. of Didymaon, which the Greeks tore down 5.475. from Neptune's temple; with this noble gift 5.477. The foot-race over and the gifts disbursed 5.478. “Come forth!” he cries, “if any in his heart 5.479. have strength and valor, let him now pull on 5.480. the gauntlets and uplift his thong-bound arms 5.481. in challenge.” For the reward of this fight 5.482. a two-fold gift he showed: the victor's meed 5.483. a bullock decked and gilded; but a sword 5.484. and glittering helmet to console the fallen. 5.485. Straightway, in all his pride of giant strength 5.486. Dares Ioomed up, and wondering murmurs ran 5.487. along the gazing crowd; for he alone 5.488. was wont to match with Paris, he it was 5.489. met Butes, the huge-bodied champion 5.490. boasting the name and race of Amycus 5.491. Bythinian-born; him felled he at a blow 5.492. and stretched him dying on the tawny sand. 5.493. Such Dares was, who now held high his head 5.494. fierce for the fray, bared both his shoulders broad 5.495. lunged out with left and right, and beat the air. 5.496. Who shall his rival be? of all the throng 5.497. not one puts on the gauntlets, or would face 5.498. the hero's challenge. Therefore, striding forth 5.499. believing none now dare but yield the palm 5.500. he stood before Aeneas, and straightway 5.501. eized with his left hand the bull's golden horn 5.502. and cried, “O goddess-born, if no man dares 5.503. to risk him in this fight, how Iong delay? 5.504. how Iong beseems it I should stand and wait? 5.505. Bid me bear off my prize.” The Trojans all 5.506. murmured assent, and bade the due award 5.507. of promised gift. But with a brow severe 5.508. Acestes to Entellus at his side 5.509. addressed upbraiding words, where they reclined 5.510. on grassy bank and couch of pleasant green: 5.511. “O my Entellus, in the olden days 5.512. bravest among the mighty, but in vain! 5.513. Endurest thou to see yon reward won 5.514. without a blow? Where, prithee, is that god 5.515. who taught thee? Are thy tales of Eryx vain? 5.516. Does all Sicilia praise thee? Is thy roof 5.517. with trophies hung?” The other in reply: 5.518. “My jealous honor and good name yield not 5.519. to fear. But age, so cold and slow to move 5.520. makes my blood laggard, and my ebbing powers 5.521. in all my body are but slack and chill. 5.522. O, if I had what yonder ruffian boasts— 5.523. my own proud youth once more! I would not ask 5.524. the fair bull for a prize, nor to the lists 5.525. in search of gifts come forth.” So saying, he threw 5.526. into the mid-arena a vast pair 5.527. of ponderous gauntlets, which in former days 5.528. fierce Eryx for his fights was wont to bind 5.529. on hand and arm, with the stiff raw-hide thong. 5.530. All marvelled; for a weight of seven bulls' hides 5.531. was pieced with lead and iron. Dares stared 5.532. astonished, and step after step recoiled; 5.533. high-souled Anchises' son, this way and that 5.534. turned o'er the enormous coil of knots and thongs; 5.535. then with a deep-drawn breath the veteran spoke: 5.536. “O, that thy wondering eyes had seen the arms 5.537. of Hercules, and what his gauntlets were! 5.538. Would thou hadst seen the conflict terrible 5.539. upon this self-same shore! These arms were borne 5.540. by Eryx . Look; thy brother's!—spattered yet 5.541. with blood, with dashed-out brains! In these he stood 5.542. when he matched Hercules. I wore them oft 5.543. when in my pride and prime, ere envious age 5.544. hed frost upon my brows. But if these arms 5.545. be of our Trojan Dares disapproved 5.563. in bulk of every limb, but tottering 5.564. on sluggish knees, while all his body shook 5.565. with labor of his breath. Without avail 5.566. they rained their blows, and on each hollow side 5.567. each sounding chest, the swift, reverberate strokes 5.568. fell without pause; around their ears and brows 5.569. came blow on blow, and with relentless shocks 5.573. parries attack. Dares (like one in siege 5.574. against a mountain-citadel, who now will drive 5.581. aloft his ponderous right; but, quick of eye 5.596. redoubled right and left. No stop or stay 5.597. gives he, but like a storm of rattling hail 5.598. upon a house-top, so from each huge hand 5.600. Then Sire Aeneas willed to make a stay 5.601. to so much rage, nor let Entellus' soul 5.602. flame beyond bound, but bade the battle pause 5.603. and, rescuing weary Dares, thus he spoke 5.704. of game and contest, summoned to his side |
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