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talibus amplifice uestis decorata figuris
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Such were the figures that richly adorned the tapestry
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puluinar complexa suo uelabat amictu.
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which embraced and shrouded with its folds the royal
couch.
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quae postquam cupide spectando Thessala pubes
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267
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Now when the Thessalian youth had gazed their fill,
fixing their eager eyes
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expleta est, sanctis coepit decedere diuis.
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on these wonders, they began to give place to the
holy gods.
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hic, qualis flatu placidum mare matutino
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Hereupon, as the west wind ruffling the quiet sea
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horrificans Zephyrus procliuas incitat undas,
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270
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with its breath at morn urges on the sloping waves,
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Aurora exoriente uagi sub limina Solis,
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271
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when the Dawn is rising up to the gates of the travelling
Sun,
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quae tarde primum clementi flamine pulsae
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272
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the waters slowly at first, driven by gentle breeze,
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procedunt leuiterque sonant plangore cachinni,
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273
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step on and lightly sound with plash of laughter;
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post uento crescente magis magis increbescunt,
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274
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then as the breeze grows fresh they crowd on close
and closer,
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purpureaque procul nantes ab luce refulgent:
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275
|
and floating afar reflect a brightness from the crimson
light;
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sic tum uestibuli linquentes regia tecta
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276
|
so now, leaving the royal buildings of the portal,
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ad se quisque uago passim pede discedebant.
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277
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hither and thither variously with devious feet the
guests passed away.
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|
quorum post abitum princeps e uertice Pelei
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278
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After their departure, from the top of Pelion
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aduenit Chiron portans siluestria dona:
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279
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came Chiron leading the way, and bearing woodland
gifts.
|
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nam quoscumque ferunt campi, quos Thessala magnis
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280
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For all the flowers that the plains bear, all that
the Thessalian region
|
|
montibus ora creat, quos propter fluminis undas
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281
|
brings to birth on its mighty mountains, all the
flowers that near the river's streams
|
|
aura parit flores tepidi fecunda Fauoni,
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282
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the fruitful gale of warm Favonius discloses,
|
|
hos indistinctis plexos tulit ipse corollis,
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283
|
these he brought himself, woven in mingled garlands,
|
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quo permulsa domus iucundo risit odore.
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284
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cheered with whose grateful odour the house smiled
its gladness.
|
|
confestim Penios adest, uiridantia Tempe,
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285
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Forthwith Peneüs is there, leaving verdant Tempe,
|
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Tempe, quae siluae cingunt super impendentes,
|
286
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Tempe girt with impendent forests
|
|
Minosim linquens doris celebranda choreis,
|
287
|
[...] to be haunted by Dorian dances;
|
|
non uacuos: namque ille tulit radicitus altas
|
288
|
not empty-handed, for he bore, torn up by the roots,
|
|
fagos ac recto proceras stipite laurus,
|
289
|
lofty beeches and tall bay-trees with upright stem,
|
|
non sine nutanti platano lentaque sorore
|
290
|
and with them the nodding plane and the swaying sister
|
|
flammati Phaethontis et aerea cupressu.
|
291
|
of flame-devoured Phaethon, and the tall cypress.
|
|
haec circum sedes late contexta locauit,
|
292
|
All these he wove far and wide around their home,
|
|
uestibulum ut molli uelatum fronde uireret.
|
293
|
that the portal might be greenly embowered with soft
foliage.
|
|
post hunc consequitur sollerti corde Prometheus,
|
294
|
Him follows Prometheus wise of heart,
|
|
extenuata gerens ueteris uestigia poenae,
|
295
|
bearing the faded scars of the ancient penalty
|
|
quam quondam silici restrictus membra catena
|
296
|
which whilom, his limbs bound fast to the rock with
chains,
|
|
persoluit pendens e uerticibus praeruptis.
|
297
|
he paid, hanging from the craggy summits.
|
|
inde pater diuum sancta cum coniuge natisque
|
298
|
Then came the Father of the gods with his divine
wife and his sons,
|
|
aduenit caelo, te solum, Phoebe, relinquens
|
299
|
leaving thee, Phoebus, alone in heaven,
|
|
unigenamque simul cultricem montibus Idri:
|
300
|
and with thee thine own sister who dwells in the
heights of Idrus;
|
|
Pelea nam tecum pariter soror aspernata est,
|
301
|
for as thou didst, so did thy sister scorn Peleus,
|
|
nec Thetidis taedas uoluit celebrare iugales.
|
302
|
nor deigned to be present at the nuptial torches
of Thetis.
|
|
qui postquam niueis flexerunt sedibus artus
|
303
|
So when they had reclined their limbs on the white
couches,
|
|
large multiplici constructae sunt dape mensae,
|
304
|
bountifully were the tables piled with varied dainties:
|
|
cum interea infirmo quatientes corpora motu
|
305
|
whilst in the meantime, swaying their bodies with
palsied motion,
|
|
ueridicos Parcae coeperunt edere cantus.
|
306
|
the Parcae began to utter soothtelling chants.
|
|
his corpus tremulum complectens undique uestis
|
307
|
White raiment enfolding their aged limbs
|
|
candida purpurea talos incinxerat ora,
|
308
|
robed their ankles with a crimson border;
|
|
at roseae niueo residebant uertice uittae,
|
309
|
on their snowy heads rested rosy bands,
|
|
aeternumque manus carpebant rite laborem.
|
310
|
while their hands duly plied the eternal task.
|
|
laeua colum molli lana retinebat amictum,
|
311
|
The left band held the distaff clothed with soft
wool;
|
|
dextera tum leuiter deducens fila supinis
|
312
|
then the right hand lightly drawing out the threads
with upturned
|
|
formabat digitis, tum prono in pollice torquens
|
313
|
fingers shaped them, then with downward thumb
|
|
libratum tereti uersabat turbine fusum,
|
314
|
twirled the spindle poised with rounded whorl;
|
|
atque ita decerpens aequabat semper opus dens,
|
315
|
and so with their teeth they still plucked the threads
and made the work even.
|
|
laneaque aridulis haerebant morsa labellis,
|
316
|
Bitten ends of wool clung to their dry lips,
|
|
quae prius in leui fuerant exstantia filo:
|
317
|
which had before stood out from the smooth yarn:
|
|
ante pedes autem candentis mollia lanae
|
318
|
and at their feet soft fleeces of white-shining wool
|
|
uellera uirgati custodibant calathisci.
|
319
|
were kept safe in baskets of osier.
|
|
haec tum clarisona pellentes uellera uoce
|
320
|
They then, as they struck the wool, sang with clear
voice,
|
|
talia diuino fuderunt carmine fata,
|
321
|
and thus poured forth the Fates in divine chant.
|
|
carmine, perfidiae quod post nulla arguet aetas.
|
322
|
That chant no length of time shall prove untruthful.
|