II. 849.]

The Rape of Europa.

31

III. THE RAPE OF EUROPA.

[Book II.-833-875.]

[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, is harassed by envy of her sister Herse, beloved by Mercury, and is changed into a stone (708-832).]

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

AS ubi verborum poenas mentisque profanae cepit Atlantiades, dictas a Pallade terras linquit, et ingreditur jactatis aethera pennis. sevocat hunc genitor; nec causam fassus amoris, Fide minister' ait jussorum, nate, meorum,

6

835

pelle moram, solitoque celer delabere cursu: quaque tuam matrem tellus a parte sinistra suspicit, indigenae Sidonida nomine dicunt,

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,

840

845

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;

850

cornua parva quidem, sed quae contendere possis 855 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.

860

865

870

875

III. 20.]

The Search of Cadmus.

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IV. 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.

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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: bos stetit, et tollens speciosam cornibus altis

5

ΙΟ

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20

ad caelum frontem, mugitibus impulit auras. atque ita respiciens comites sua terga sequentes, procubuit, teneraque latus summisit in herba.

Cadmus agit grates, peregrinaeque oscula terrae
figit, et ignotos montes agrosque salutat.
sacra Jovi facturus erat: jubet ire ministros,
et petere e vivis libandas fontibus undas.
silva vetus stabat nulla violata securi,

et specus in medio, virgis ac vimine densus,
efficiens humilem lapidum compagibus arcum,
uberibus fecundus aquis, ubi conditus antro
Martius anguis erat, cristis praesignis et auro:
igne micant oculi, corpus tumet omne veneno,
tresque vibrant linguae, triplici stant ordine dentes.
Quem postquam Tyria lucum de gente profecti
infausto tetigere gradu, demissaque in undas
urna dedit sonitum, longo caput extulit antro
caeruleus serpens, horrendaque sibila misit.
effluxere urnae manibus, sanguisque relinquit
corpus, et attonitos subitus tremor occupat artus.
ille volubilibus squamosos nexibus orbes
torquet, et immensos saltu sinuatur in arcus:

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30

35

40

ac media plus parte leves erectus in auras

despicit omne nemus, tantoque est corpore, quanto
si totum spectes, geminas qui separat Arctos.
nec mora, Phoenicas, sive illi tela parabant,
sive fugam, sive ipse timor prohibebat utrumque,
occupat: hos morsu, longis amplexibus illos,
hos necat afflati funesta tabe veneni.

45

Fecerat exiguas jam sol altissimus umbras: quae mora sit sociis, miratur Agenore natus, vestigatque viros: tegumen direpta leonis pellis erat, telum splendenti lancea ferro

et jaculum, teloque animus praestantior omni.

50

III. 88.]

Fight with the Dragon.

ut nemus intravit, letataque corpora vidit, victoremque supra spatiosi corporis hostem tristia sanguinea lambentem vulnera lingua, Aut ultor vestrae, fidissima corpora, mortis, aut comes' inquit 'ero.' Dixit, dextraque molarem sustulit, et magnum magno conamine misit. illius impulsu cum turribus ardua celsis

moenia mota forent: serpens sine vulnere mansit, loricaeque modo squamis defensus, et atrae duritia pellis, validos cute reppulit ictus.

At non duritia jaculum quoque vicit eadem, quod medio lentae spinae curvamine fixum constitit, et totum descendit in ilia ferrum. ille, dolore ferox, caput in sua terga retorsit, vulneraque aspexit, fixumque hastile momordit, idque ubi vi multa partem labefecit in omnem, vix tergo eripuit; ferrum tamen ossibus haesit. tum vero postquam solitas accessit ad iras causa recens, plenis tumuerunt guttura venis, spumaque pestiferos circumfluit albida rictus, terraque rasa sonat squamis, quique halitus exit. ore niger Stygio, vitiatas inficit auras. ipse modo immensum spiris facientibus orbem cingitur, interdum longa trabe rectior exstat; impete nunc vasto ceu concitus imbribus amnis fertur, et obstantes proturbat pectore silvas.

Cedit Agenorides paulum, spolioque leonis sustinet incursus, instantiaque ora retardat cuspide praetenta: furit ille, et inania duro. vulnera dat ferro, figitque in acumine dentes; jamque venenifero sanguis manare palato coeperat, et virides aspergine tinxerat herbas : sed leve vulnus erat, quia se retrahebat ab ictu, laesaque colla dabat retro, plagamque sedere

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