[THESEUS, returning from the Calydonian Hunt, is entertained with his friends by the river-god Achelous, who recounts the fate of certain nymphs, turned into rocks and islands. These prodigies are mocked by Pirithous, son of Ixion, who is among them. To silence his cavil, Lelex relates the following tale (549-619).] Jupiter and Mercury, journeying once in Phrygia, were refused hospitality by all the inhabitants of a certain place, except two pious rustics, Philemon and his wife Baucis, who provide such entertainment as they are able (620-688). While the inhospitable town was drowned in a marsh, the poor hut of Philemon became a temple, of which he and his wife were made attendants; until in a good old age they were both transformed to trees, he to an oak and she to a linden (689–724). TILIAE contermina quercus 620 621 collibus est Phrygiis, modico circumdata muro. haud procul huic stagnum est, tellus habitabilis olim, 624 nunc celebres mergis fulicisque palustribus undae. 625 mille domos adiere, locum requiemque petentes : 630 635 membra senex posito jussit relevare sedili, Accubuere dei. Mensam succincta tremensque Parva mora est, epulasque foci misere calentes, nec longae rursus referuntur vina senectae, dantque locum mensis paulum seducta secundis. hic nux, hic mixta est rugosis carica palmis, 640 645 650 655 660 665 670 prunaque, et in patulis redolentia mala canistris, 675 680 685 690 700 Tantum aberant summo, quantum semel ire sagitta 695 missa potest: flexere oculos, et mersa palude cetera prospiciunt, tantum sua tecta manere. dumque ea mirantur, dum deflent fata suorum, illa vetus, dominis etiam casa parva duobus vertitur in templum; furcas subiere columnae ; stramina flavescunt, aurataque tecta videntur, caelataeque fores, adopertaque marmore tellus. Talia tum placido Saturnius edidit ore: 'Dicite, juste senex, et femina conjuge justo digna, quid optetis.' Cum Baucide pauca locutus, judicium superis aperit commune Philemon: 'Esse sacerdotes, delubraque vestra tueri 705 poscimus; et quoniam concordes egimus annos, 710 715 720 XX. THE DEATH OF HERCULES. [BOOK IX. 134-272.] [ACHELOUS, continuing the discourse, tells of the transformations of Proteus; and of Mestra, daughter of Erysichthon, who (receiving this power from Neptune) long, by cheats and wiles, sustained her father cursed with extreme rage of hunger for the violation of a grove of Ceres (VIII. 725-884). And as Theseus inquires the cause of his broken horn, Achelous replies that contending once with Hercules for the possession of Dejanira, sister of Meleager, that horn had been wrested off, and, being filled by the Naiads with autumn fruits, became the horn of Plenty (IX. 1-100). In defence of the same Dejanira, Hercules had once slain the centaur Nessus; who, dying, gave her a tunic staineɑ with his blood, mixed with venom of the Lernæan hydra, which (he said) would recall her husband's love if ever it should wander or cool (101-133).] Afterward, Hercules being about to wed Iole, daughter of Eurytus, Dejanira sent to him this tunic as a marriage gift. But when it took heat from the altar flames as he was about to sacrifice, Hercules, being in extreme torment, and unable to tear it off, cast into the sea the bearer of the gift, Lichas, who was converted into a rock, retaining his human form (134-227). Then Hercules, building a great funeral pile upon Mount Eta of Thessaly, burned himself thereon; and his mortal parts being purged away, was received into the company of the gods (228-272). LONGA fuit medii mora temporis, actaque magni Herculis implerant terras odiumque novercae. victor ab Oechalia Cenaeo sacra parabat vota Jovi, cum fama loquax praecessit ad aures, Defanira, tuas, quae veris addere falsa gaudet, et e minimo sua per mendacia crescit, Amphitryoniaden Iöles ardore teneri. Credit amans, venerisque novae perterrita fama 135 140 |