V.] The Wandering of Ceres. 49 VII. THE WANDERING OF CERES. [Book V.-341-661.] [AT the marriage feast of Perseus and Andromeda, her uncle Phineus, to whom she had been betrothed, out of jealousy caused a quarrel among the guests; and a violent quarrel arising thence, with bloodshed on both sides, Perseus, by showing the Gorgon's head, suddenly turned into stone Phineus himself, with two hundred of his companions (V. 1-235). And by the same means, after his return to Argos, his enemies Prœtus and Polydectes were likewise converted into stone (236-249). Minerva (who had attended Perseus thus far), coming to Helicon and inquiring of the Muses, is told the following: that having taken refuge from a tempest with Pyreneus of Daulia, in Phocis, and he offering them violence, they were changed to birds; and he, attempting flight after them, was dashed in pieces (250-293). The Pierides, daughters of king Pierus, of Macedonia, having challenged them to a trial of skill, begin with the tale of the giant sons of Earth, who attempted to scale Olympus; the terror of the gods before Typhoeus, and the various shapes they assumed in their flight; to which the Muses respond by relating the Wandering of Ceres in her search for her daughter Proserpine (294-340).] When the monster Typhoeus had been buried beneath Mount Etna, Pluto, god of the world below, alarmed at the convulsions caused by his agony, came forth to view. Now Venus had been jealous at the virginity of Proserpine, Ceres' daughter; and at her bidding Cupid shot the king of Shadows with his dart. He then, beholding Proserpine, as she sported with her maidens in the vale of Enna, seized her, and bore her away in his chariot, driving his way through the fount of Cyane, who thereon was herself converted into water (341-437). Seeking her daughter in vain, by the light of torches kindled from Ætna, Ceres turned into a spotted lizard (stellio) the boy Stelles, who had mocked her eager thirst; and into a horned owl Ascalaphus, who testified to having seen Proserpine in Hades eat seven pomegranate-seeds, whereby she was compelled to remain in her new abode. Meanwhile, the virgin-companions of Proserpine became winged Sirens. And, by favor of Jupiter, Proserpine was permitted to pass half the year with her mother, and half with her wedded lord (438-567). Ceres, comforted that her daughter is thus partially restored to her, asks of the nymph Arethusa of her flight and transformation; who relates that, being pursued by the river-god Alpheus, in Elis of Greece, Diana, whose attendant nymph she was, provided for her escape by a passage beneath the sea, whereby she came to the isle of Ortygia, sacred to Diana, on the coast of Sicily (569-641). Ceres then, proceeding to Athens, gave her chariot to Triptolemus, that he might instruct mankind in the sowing and gathering of corn; and Lyncus, seeking to kill him out of envy, is converted to a lynx (642–661). [So ends the tale sung by the Muses. And the Pierides, being adjudged defeated in their rivalry, are transformed to chattering magpies (662-678).] PRIMA Ceres unco glebam dimovit aratro, prima dedit fruges alimentaque mitia terris, prima dedit leges: Cereris sunt omnia munus. illa canenda mihi est. Utinam modo dicere possem carmina digna dea: certe dea carmine digna est. Vasta giganteis ingesta est insula membris Trinacris, et magnis subjectum molibus urguet aetherias ausum sperare Typhoëa sedes. nititur ille quidem, pugnatque resurgere saepe ; 345 350 355 Hanc metuens cladem, tenebrosa sede tyrannus exierat, curruque atrorum vectus equorum 360 ambibat Siculae cautus fundamina terrae. postquam exploratum satis est, loca nulla labare, V. 396.] Proserpine is stolen by Pluto. depositique metus, videt hunc Erycina vagantem et tamen in caelo, quae jam patientia nostra est, nec minus incerta est, nec quae magis audiat arcus. oppositoque genu curvavit flexile cornu: inque cor hamata percussit arundine Ditem. 51 370 375 380 390 Haud procul Hennaeis lacus est a moenibus altae, nomine Pergus, aquae. Non illo plura Caystros carmina cycnorum labentibus audit in undis. silva coronat aquas cingens latus omne, suisque frondibus ut velo Phoebeos submovet ignes. frigora dant rami, Tyrios humus humida flores: perpetuum ver est. Quo dum Proserpina luco ludit, et aut violas aut candida lilia carpit, dumque puellari studio calathosque sinumque implet, et aequales certat superare legendo, paene simul visa est dilectaque raptaque Diti : usque adeo est properatus amor. Dea territa maesto 395 et matrem et comites, sed matrem saepius, ore Est medium Cyanes et Pisaeae Arethusae, quod coit angustis inclusum cornibus aequor. hic fuit, a cujus stagnum quoque nomine dictum est, inter Sicelidas Cyane celeberrima nymphas. gurgite quae medio summa tenus exstitit alvo, agnovitque deam: Nec-longius ibitis' inquit ; 6 non potes invitae Cereris gener esse: roganda, non rapienda fuit. Quod si componere magnis parva mihi fas est, et me dilexit Anapis: exorata tamen, nec, ut haec, exterrita nupsi.' dixit, et in partes diversas bracchia tendens obstitit. Haud ultra tenuit Saturnius iram, terribilesque hortatus equos in gurgitis ima contortum valido sceptrum regale lacerto condidit. Icta viam tellus in Tartara fecit, et pronos currus medió cratere recepit. 400 405 410 415 420 At Cyane raptamque deam contemptaque fontis 425 jura sui maerens, inconsolabile vulnus mente gerit tacita, lacrimisque absumitur omnis; 430 V. 464.] Her Weary Search. primaque de tota tenuissima quaeque liquescunt, 53 435 440 lympha subit; restatque nihil, quod prendere possis. Interea pavidae nequiquam filia matri omnibus est terris, omni quaesita profundo. illam non udis veniens Aurora capillis cessantem vidit, non Hesperus illa duabus flammiferas pinus manibus succendit ab Aetna, perque pruinosas tulit inrequieta tenebras. rursus ubi alma dies hebetarat sidera, natam solis ab occasu solis quaerebat ad ortus. fessa labore sitim collegerat, oraque nulli colluerant fontes ; cum tectam stramine vidit forte casam, parvasque föres pulsavit: at inde 445 prodit anus, divamque videt, lymphamque roganti 450 combibit os maculas, et quae modo bracchia gessit, 455 crura gerit; cauda est mutatis addita membris: inque brevem formam, ne sit vis magna nocendi, contrahitur, parvaque minor mensura lacerta est. mirantem flentemque et tangere monstra parantem fugit anum, latebramque petit; aptumque colori nomen habet, variis stellatus corpora guttis. Quas dea per terras et quas erraverit undas, dicere longa mora est. Quaerenti defuit orbis : Sicaniam repetit; dumque omnia lustrat eundo, 460 |