Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

STORIES FROM OVID.

I.

CERES AND PROSERPINE.

How Pluto raught Queen Ceres' daughter thence,
And what did follow of that love offence.-G. PEELE.

ARGUMENT.

PROSERPINE is carried off by Pluto. Her mother Ceres wanders about the world in search of her, and at last detects her ravisher. Jupiter gives leave for her return if she have not tasted food in the nether world; but she is found to have swallowed three pomegranate seeds, so is allowed to be above ground only half the year.—(FASTI, IV. 419.) The story is told in the Metamorphoses" (see STORIES FROM OVID in Hexameter Verse, IX.), and by Claudian, "De Raptu Proserpinae."

66

While Ceres and the other goddesses are feasting with Arethusa, Proser pine, with her maidens, is gathering flowers.

[ocr errors][merged small]

TERRA tribus scopulis vastum procurrit in aequor 112
Trinacris, a positu nomen adepta loci,

Grata domus Cereri : multas ea possidet urbes,
In quibus est culto fertilis Henna solo.
Frigida caelestum matres Arethusa vocarat :
Venerat ad sacras et dea flava dapes.

Filia consuetis, ut erat, comitata puellis
Errabat nudo per sua prata pede.

Valle sub umbrosa locus est, aspergine multa
Uvidus ex alto desilientis aquae :

Tot fuerant illic, quot habet natura, colores,
Pictaque dissimili flore nitebat humus.

Quam simul aspexit, "Comites, accedite!" dixit
“Et mecum plenos flore referte sinus!”
Praeda puellares animos prolectat inanis,
Et non sentitur sedulitate labor.
Haec implet lento calathos e vimine nexos,
Haec gremium, laxos degravat illa sinus :
Illa legit calthas; huic sunt violaria curae;

Illa papavereas subsecât ungue comas:

B

106 3

115

111

112

119 ¿

111

108

1124

Has, hyacinthe, tenes, illas, amarante, moraris:

Pars thyma, pars rorem, pars meliloton amant. Plurima lecta rosa est, sunt et sine nomine flores ; Ipsa crocos tenues liliaque alba legit.

She strays away from her companions, and is seen and carried off by Pluto. Her comrades seek her in vain.

30

Carpendi studio paulatim longius itur,

Et dominam casu nulla secuta comes: Hanc videt et visam patruus velociter aufert, Regnaque caeruleis in sua portat equis. Illa quidem clamabat "Io, carissima mater, Auferor!" ipsa suos abscideratque sinus. Panditur interea Diti via; namque diurnum Lumen inassueti vix patiuntur equi.

[ocr errors]

At chorus aequalis, cumulatae flore ministrae,
'Persephone," clamant "ad tua dona veni!"
Ut clamata silet, montes ululatibus implent,

Et feriunt maestae pectora nuda manus.

111
P. 144 Eb
p. 136
V.B.

107

1196

Her mother, beside herself with grief, searches all Sicily through, but in vain.

40

50

[nam;

119&

145

Attonita est plangore Ceres,...modo venerat Hen-
Nec mora, "Me miseram! filia," dixit "ubi es?" 138
Mentis inops rapitur, quales audire solemus
Threïcias fusis Maenadas ire comis.
Ut vitulo mugit sua mater ab ubere rapto,
Et quaerit fetus per nemus omne suos,
Sic dea nec retinet gemitus, et concita cursu
Fertur, et e campis incipit, Henna, tuis.
Inde puellaris nacta est vestigia plantae,
Et pressam noto pondere vidit humum.
Forsitan illa dies erroris summa fuisset,

Si non turbassent signa reperta sues.
Iamque Peloriaden Lilybaeaque iamque Pachynon
Lustrarat, terrae cornua trina suae.

127

112

p. 164, V

Quacunque ingreditur, miseris loca cuncta querelis 119 &
Implet, ut amissum cum gemit ales Ityn: [mat:
Perque vices modo, Persephone, modo, Filia, cla-
Clamat, et alternis nomen utrumque ciet.

« ZurückWeiter »