Et squalente die, nigra quem tabe sinistri
Quæris, inique, poli. quod si monstra effera magnis
Cara adeo Superis, jacturaque vilior orbis,
Mors hominum, et sævo santa inclementia cœlo est;
Quid meruere Argi? me, me, divûm optime, solum
Objecisse caput satis præstabit, an illud
Lene magis cordi, quod desolata domorum
Tecta vides? ignique datis cultoribus omnis
Lucet ager? sed quid fando tua tela manusque
Demoror? expectant matres, supremaque fundunt
Vota mihi. satis est: merui ne parcere velles.
Proinde move pharetras, arcusque intende sonoros,
Insignemque animam leto demitte: sed illum,
Pallidus Inachiis qui desuper imminet Argis,
Dum morior, depelle globum.
Respicit. ardentem tenuit reverentia cædis
Latoïden, tristemque viro summissus honorem
Largitur vitæ. nostro mala nubila cœlo
Diffugiunt. at tu stupefacti a limine Phœbi
Exoratus abis. inde hæc stata sacra quotannis
Solemnes recolunt epulæ, Phœbeaque placat
Templa novatus honos: has forte invisitis aras.
Vos quæ progenies? quanquam Calydonius Eneus
Behold him here, for whom, so many days,
Impervious clouds conceal'd thy sullen rays;
For whom, as Man no longer claim'd thy care, 765
Such numbers fell by pestilential air!
But if th' abandon'd race of human kind
From Gods above no more compassion find;
If such inclemency in heav'n can dwell,
Yet why must unoffending Argos feel
The vengeance due to this unlucky steel?
On me, on me, let all thy fury fall,
Nor err from me, since I deserve it all:
Unless our desert cities please thy sight,
Or fun'ral flames reflect a grateful light.
Discharge thy shafts, this ready bosom rend,
And to the shades a ghost triumphant send;
But for my Country let my fate atone,
Be mine the vengeance, as the crime my own.
Merit distress'd, impartial heav'n relieves :
Unwelcome life relenting Phoebus gives;
For not the vengeful pow'r, that glow'd with rage,
With such amazing virtue durst engage.
The clouds dispers'd, Apollo's wrath expir'd,
And from the wond'ring God th' unwilling youth
Thence we these altars in his temple raise,
And offer annual honours, feasts, and praise;
These solemn feasts propitious Phoebus please : These honours, still renew'd, his ancient wrath appease.
say, illustrious guest (adjoin'd the King), 790 What name you bear, from what high race you
Et Parthaoniæ (dudum si certus ad aures
Clamor iit) tibi jura domus ; tu pande quis Argos
Advenias? quando hæc variis sermonibus hora est.
Dejecit moestos extemplo Ismenius heros
In terram vultus, taciteque ad Tydea læsum
Obliquare oculos, tum longa silentia movit :
Non super hos divûm tibi sum quærendus honores
Unde genus, quæ terra mihi: quis defluat ordo
Sanguinis antiqui, piget inter sacra fateri.
Sed si præcipitant miserum cognoscere curæ,
Cadmus origo patrum, tellus Mavortia Theba,
Et genetrix Iocasta mihi. tum motus Adrastus
Hospitiis (agnovit enim) quid nota recondis?
Scimus, ait; nec sic aversum fama Mycenis
Volvit iter. regnum, et furias, oculosque pudentes
Novit, et Arctoïs si quis de solibus horret,
Quique bibit Gangen, aut nigrum occasibus intrat
Oceanum, et si quos incerto litore Syrtes
Destituunt, ne perge queri, casusque priorum
Annumerare tibi. nostro quoque sanguine multum
Erravit pietas. nec culpa nepotibus obstat.
Tu modo dissimilis rebus mereare secundis
Excusare tuos. sed jam temone supino
The noble Tydeus stands confess'd, and known
Our neighbour Prince and heir of Calydon,
Relate your fortunes, while the friendly night
And silent hours to various talk invite.
The Theban bends on earth his gloomy eyes
Confus'd, and sadly thus at length replies :
Before these altars how shall I proclaim
(Oh gen'rous prince) my nation, or my name,
Or through what veins our ancient blood has roll'd?
Let the sad tale for ever rest untold!
Yet if propitious to a wretch unknown,
You seek to share in sorrows not your own;
Know then from Cadmus I derive my race,
Jocasta's son, and Thebes my native place.
To whom the King (who felt his gen'rous breast
Touch'd with concern for his unhappy guest)
Replies:-Ah why forbears the son to name
His wretched father known too well by fame?
Fame that delights around the world to stray, 810
Scorns not to take our Argos in her way;
Ev'n those who dwell where suns at distance roll,
In northern wilds, and freeze beneath the pole ;
And those who tread the burning Libyan lands,
The faithless Syrtes and the moving sands:
Who view the western sea's extremest bounds,
Or drink of Ganges in their eastern grounds;
All these the woes of Edipus have known,
Your fates, your furies, and your haunted town.
If on the sons the parents' crimes descend,
What prince from those his lineage can defend?
Be this thy comfort, that 'tis thine t'efface
With virtuous acts thy ancestor's disgrace,
And be thyself the honour of thy race.
Languet Hyperboreæ glacialis portitor ursæ.
Fundite vina focis, servatoremque parentum
Latoïden votis iterumque iterumque canamus.
Phoebe parens, seu te Lyciæ Pataræa nivosis
Exercent dumeta jugis, seu rore pudico
Castaliæ flavos amor est tibi mergere crines;
Seu Trojam Thymbræus habes, ubi fama volentem
Ingratis Phrygios humeris subiisse molares:
Seu juvat Ægæum feriens Latonius umbra
Cynthus, et assiduam pelago non quærere Delon :
Tela tibi, longeque feros lentandus in hostes
Arcus, et ætherii dono cessere parentes
Æternum florere genas. tu doctus iniquas
Paracrum prænosse minas, fatumque quod ultra est,
Et summo placitura Jovi. quîs letifer annus, 840
Bella quibus populis, mutent quæ sceptra cometæ.
Tu Phryga submittis citharæ. tu matris honori
Terrigenam Tityon Stygiis extendis arenis.
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