Tum deus illudens, tanquam modo denique fraudem 650 Senserit, e puppi pontum prospectat adunca, est. 145 Quo merui pœnam facto? Quæ gloria vestra est, Si puerum juvenes, si multi fallitis unum ?” 655 Jamdudum flebam; lacrimas manus impia nostras Ridet, et impellit properantibus æquora remis. Per tibi nunc ipsum-neque enim præsentior illo 150 Est deus-adjuro, tam me tibi vera referre, 660 Quam veri majora fide: stetit æquore puppis Haud aliter, quam si siccum navale teneret. Illi admirantes remorum in verbere perstant, Velaque deducunt, geminaque ope currere tentant: 155 Impediunt hederæ remos, nexuque recurvo Serpunt, et gravidis distringunt vela corymbis. 665 Ipse, racemiferis frontem circumdatus uvis, Pampineis agitat velatam frondibus hastam ; Quem circa tigres simulacraque inania lyncum 160 Pictarumque jacent fera corpora pantherarum. Exsiluere viri; sive hoc insania fecit, 670 Sive timor; primusque Medon nigrescere pinnis Corpore depresso, et spinæ curvamine flecti Incipit. Huic Lycabas," In quæ miracula," dixit, 165 "Verteris?" et lati rictus et panda loquenti 681 Naris erat, squamamque cutis durata trahebat. 675 At Libys, obstantes dum vult obvertere remos, In spatium resilire manus breve vidit, et illas Jam non esse manus, jam pinnas posse vocari. 170 Alter, ad intortos cupiens dare brachia funes, Brachia non habuit, truncoque repandus in undas Corpore desiluit; falcata novissima cauda est, Qualia dimidiæ sinuantur cornua lunæ. Undique dant saltus, multaque adspergine rorant, 175 Emerguntque iterum redeuntque sub æquora rursus, Inque chori ludunt speciem lascivaque jactant 685 Corpora, et acceptum patulis mare naribus efflant. De modo viginti-tot enim ratis illa ferebatRestabam solus. Pavidum gelidumque trementi 180 Corpore, vixque meum firmat deus, Excute," dicens, Corde metum, Diamque tene!" Delatus in illam Accessi sacris, Baccheaque festa frequento." "Præbuimus longis,' Pentheus, aures," 66 691 ambagibus Inquit," ut ira mora vires absumere posset. 695 700 Perstat Echionides; nec jam jubet ire, sed ipse Vadit, ubi festus facienda ad sacra Citharon Cantibus et clara bacchantum voce sonabat. 195 Ut fremit acer equus, cum bellicus ære canoro Signa dedit tubicen, pugnæque assumit amorem; Penthea sic ictus longis ululatibus æther Movit, et audito clamore recanduit ira. 706 Monte fere medio est, cingentibus ultima silvis, 710 200 Purus ab arboribus, spectabilis undique campus. Hic oculis illum cernentem sacra profanis Prima videt, prima est insano concita motu, Prima suum misso violavit Penthea thyrso Mater: "Io, geminæ," clamavit, "adeste sorores: 205 "Ille aper, in nostris errat qui maximus agris, Ille mihi feriendus aper." Ruit omnis in unum 715 Turba furens; cunctæ coeunt trepidumque sequuntur, Jam trepidum, jam verba minus violenta loquentem, Jam se damnantem, jam se peccasse fatentem. 210 Saucius ille tamen, Fer opem, matertera," dixit, "Autonoe! moveant animos Actæonis umbræ !" Illa, quid Actæon, nescit, dextramque precantis 721 Abstulit; Inoo lacerata est altera raptu. Non habet infelix, quæ matri brachia tendat; 215 Trunca sed ostendens disjectis corpora membris "Adspice, mater!" ait. Visis ululavit Agave, 725 Collaque jactavit, movitque per aera crinem, Avulsumque caput digitis complexa cruentis 220 Non citius frondes autumno frigore tactas Jamque male hærentes alta rapit arbore ventus, 730 XIX. THE MINYAN SISTERS, (IV. 4-415.) One After the punishment of Pentheus (comp. XIX.) the service of Bacchus found almost general acknowledgement in Boeotia. The seer Tiresias ('sacerdos,' v. 1) summoned all to participate in it, and directed a great festival to the god. Every one attended; three sisters only of the race of the Minyæ stayed quietly at home, engaged in spinning and weaving, instead of joining in the noisy band of devotees in the service of Bacchus. At their quiet employments, in which they devoted themselves to Minerva, the inventress and patroness of all works of art for women, they entertained themselves with tales, to beguile the time. of them related the touching history of Pyramus and Thisbe, the children of two neighbours in the city of Babylon. They loved each other ardently, in spite of the enmity of their fathers; but, through a fatal mistake, found their death under a mulberrytree, which stood by the grave of the ancient King Ninus. Hitherto the mulberry-tree had borne only white fruit; but now it bore dark berries, whose juice resembled the colour of the blood, which had been shed by the two lovers at the foot of the tree. Whilst the three Minyans were thus entertaining themselves at their quiet work, they were interrupted by the noise of the Bacchanalian troop, and the works of their hands and looms being changed into the wreathed foliage sacred to Bacchus, they themselves, frightened at the terrific appearances, fled into a secret corner. The dusk of evening had now succeeded to the day, and the Minyan sisters were changed into bats (vespertiliones;' hence, tenent a vespere nomen,' v. 160). The foundation of the fable is indicated in the Introduction XIX. the opponents of the service of Bacchus were punished by the god. 6 Jusserat hinc Bacchi festum celebrare sacerdos 5 Femineæ voces impulsaque tympana palmis Concavaque æra sonant, longoque foramine buxus. 30 "Placatus mitisque," rogant Ismenides, "adsis!" Jussaque sacra colunt. Solæ Minyeïdes intus, 10 Intempestiva turbantes festa Minerva, 35 Aut ducunt lanas aut stamina pollice versant, Aut hærent telæ, famulasque laboribus urgent. E quibus una levi deducens pollice filum, "Dum cessant aliæ commentaque sacra frequentant, 15 Nos quoque, quas Pallas, melior dea, detinet," inquit, Utile opus manuum vario sermone levemus, Perque vices aliquid, quod tempora longa videri 40 Non sinat, in medium vacuas referamus ad aures." Dicta probant, primamque jubent narrare sorores. 20 Illa, quid e multis referat,-nam plurima norat Cogitat. Hinc orsa est, lana sua fila sequente: (Legend of Pyramus and Thisbe.) Pyramus et Thisbe, juvenum pulcherrimus alter, 55 Tempore crevit amor : tædæ quoque jure coissent; 60 30 Conscius omnis abest: nutu signisque loquuntur ; Quoque magis tegitur, tectus magis æstuat ignis. Fissus erat tenui rima, quam duxerat olim, 35 Quid non sentit amor?-primi vidistis amantes, 40 65 70 76 Invide," dicebant, " paries, quid amantibus obstas? 80 Sub noctem dixere vale, partique dedere 45 Oscula quisque suæ, non pervenientia contra. Postera nocturnos Aurora removerat ignes, Solque pruinosas radiis siccaverat herbas : Ad solitum coiere locum. Tum murmure parvo, Multa prius questi, statuunt, ut nocte silenti 50 Fallere custodes foribusque excedere tentent, Cumque domo exierint, urbis quoque claustra relinquant; 85 90 Neve sit errandum lato spatiantibus arvo, 65 Vidit; et obscurum timido pede fugit in antrum, 70 101 105 Pyramus. Ut vero vestem quoque sanguine tinctam Reperit: "Una duos," inquit, "nox perdet amantes: E quibus illa fuit longa dignissima vita; 75 Nostra nocens anima est: ego te, miseranda, emi, In loca plena metus qui jussi nocte venires, per 110 O quicumque sub hac habitatis rupe, leones! 80 Sed timidi est optare necem !"-Velamina Thisbes Tollit, et ad pactæ secum fert arboris umbram; 116 Utque dedit notæ lacrimas, dedit oscula, vesti, |