IV. THE HOUSE OF ENVY.

[BOOK II.-760-796.]

[CALLISTO, beloved by Jupiter, is transformed by Juno's jealousy into a bear, and set as a constellation in the heavens (401-530). Coronis is transformed into a raven; Nyctimene into a night-owl, and the prophetic Ocyroë into a mare (531-675). Apollo serving Admetus as herdsman, his cattle are stolen by Mercury, who changes Battus to a stone, finding him ready to betray his secret (676-707). Aglauros, daughter of Cecrops, incurs the anger of Minerva by her curiosity. Herse, sister of Aglauros, is beloved by Mercury, who asks aid of Aglauros. Minerva, desiring to punish Aglauros, resolves to employ the aid of Envy (708-759).]

The house of Envy is described.

PROTINUS Invidiae nigro squalentia tabo tecta petit. Domus est imis in vallibus hujus abdita, sole carens, non ulli pervia vento, tristis et ignavi plenissima frigoris, et quae

igne vacet semper, caligine semper abundet. Huc ubi pervenit belli metuenda virago, constitit ante domum, neque enim succedere tectis fas habet, et postes extrema cuspide pulsat. concussae patuere fores. Videt intus edentem vipereas carnes, vitiorum alimenta suorum, Invidiam, visaque oculos avertit. At illa surgit humo pigre semesarumque relinquit corpora serpentum, passuque incedit inerti; utque deam vidit formaque armisque decoram, ingemuit, vultumque ima ad suspiria duxit. pallor in ore sedet, macies in corpore toto, nusquam recta acies, livent rubigine dentes, pectora felle virent, lingua est suffusa veneno. risus abest, nisi quem visi movere dolores,

760

765

770

775

nec fruitur somno, vigilacibus excita curis,

sed videt ingratos, intabescitque videndo, successus hominum, carpitque et carpitur una,

780

suppliciumque suum est. Quamvis tamen oderat, illam talibus affata est breviter Tritonia dictis:

'Infice tabe tua natarum Cecropis unam.

sic opus est. Aglauros ea est.' Haud plura locuta 785 fugit et inpressa tellurem reppulit hasta.

Illa deam obliquo fugientem lumine cernens murmura parva dedit, successurumque Minervae indoluit. Baculumque capit, quod spinea totum vincula cingebant; adopertaque nubibus atris quacumque ingreditur, florentia proterit arva, exuritque herbas et summa cacumina carpit, afflatuque suo populos urbesque domosque polluit, et tandem Tritonida conspicit arcem ingeniis opibusque et festa pace virentem,

790

vixque tenet lacrimas, quia nil lacrimabile cernit.

795

V. THE RAPE OF EUROPA.

[BOOK II.-833-875.]

[AGLAUROS is harassed by envy of her sister Herse, and is changed into a stone (797-832).]

Europa, daughter of Agenor, king of Phoenicia, being beloved by Jupiter, he sends Mercury to drive Agenor's cattle to the shore, meanwhile transforming himself to a snow-white bull; whom Europa mounts, and so is borne away upon the sea, to the island of Crete.

HAS ubi verborum poenas mentisque profanae cepit Atlantiades, dictas a Pallade terras linquit, et ingreditur jactatis aethera pennis.

835

sevocat hunc genitor; nec causam fassus amoris, 'Fide minister' ait 'jussorum, nate, meorum,

pelle moram, solitoque celer delabere cursu:

quaeque tuam matrem tellus a parte sinistra suspicit, indigenae Sidonida nomine dicunt,

840

hanc pete; quodque procul montano gramine pasci armentum regale vides, ad litora verte.'

Dixit; et expulsi jamdudum monte juvenci litora jussa petunt, ubi magni filia regis ludere virginibus Tyriis comitata solebat. non bene conveniunt, nec in una sede morantur majestas et amor. Sceptri gravitate relicta, ille pater rectorque deum, cui dextra trisulcis ignibus armata est, qui nutu concutit orbem, induitur faciem tauri; mixtusque juvencis mugit, et in teneris formosus obambulat herbis. quippe color nivis est, quam nec vestigia duri calcavere pedis, nec solvit aquaticus auster; colla toris extant; armis palearia pendent ;

845

850

cornua parva quidem, sed quae contendere possis facta manu, puraque magis perlucida gemma. nullae in fronte minae, nec formidabile lumen: pacem vultus habet. Miratur Agenore nata, quod tam formosus, quod proelia nulla minetur. sed quamvis mitem, metuit contingere primo: mox adit, et flores ad candida porrigit ora.

Nunc latus in fulvis niveum deponit arenis: paulatimque metu dempto, modo pectora praebet virginea palpanda manu, modo cornua sertis impedienda novis. Ausa est quoque regia virgo, nescia quem premeret, tergo considere tauri : cum deus a terra siccoque a litore sensim falsa pedum primis vestigia ponit in undis, inde abit ulterius, mediique per aequora ponti fert praedam. Pavet haec, litusque ablata relictum respicit, et dextra cornum tenet, altera dorso imposita est: tremulae sinuantur flamine vestes.

855

860

865

870

875

VI. THE SEARCH OF CADMUS.

[BOOK III.1-137.]

CADMUS, brother of Europa, being sent by his father in search of her, by guidance of an oracle follows a heifer; and when she lies down to rest, prepares for sacrifice (1-25). But meanwhile his companions, sent to a fountain of Mars for water, are devoured by a dragon (26–49). Seeking them, Cadmus encounters and slays the dragon (50-94). At the command of Pallas, he sows his teeth, which spring up armed men. These are all, excepting five, slain in mutual strife; and, by help of the survivors, Cadmus founds the city Thebes, in Boeotia, which being interpreted is the land of kine (95–130).

JAMQUE deus, posita fallacis imagine tauri, se confessus erat, Dictaeaque rura tenebat: cum pater ignarus Cadmo perquirere raptam imperat, et poenam, si non invenerit, addit exsilium facto pius et sceleratus eodem.

Orbe pererrato — quis enim deprendere possit furta Jovis? profugus patriamque iramque parentis vitat Agenorides, Phoebique oracula supplex consulit, et quae sit tellus habitanda requirit. 'Bos tibi' Phoebus ait solis occurret in arvis, nullum passa jugum, curvique immunis aratri. hac duce, carpe vias; et qua requieverit herba, moenia fac condas, Boeotiaque illa vocato.'

Vix bene Castalio Cadmus descenderat antro, incustoditam lente videt ire juvencam · nullum servitii signum cervice gerentem. subsequitur, pressoque legit vestigia gressu, auctoremque viae Phoebum taciturnus adorat. jam vada Cephisi, Panopesque evaserat arva:

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