daughter, nor need she cease to hope for dear grandchildren. Haste ye, a weaving the woof, O hasten, ye spindles." With such soothsaying songs of yore did the Parcæ chant from divine breast the felicitous fate of Peleus. For of aforetime the heaven dwellers were wont to visit the chaste homes of heroes, and to show themselves in mortal assembly, ere yet their worship was scorned. Often the father of the gods, a resting in his glorious temple, when on the festal days his annual rites appeared, gazed on an hundred bulls strewn prone on the earth. Often wandering Liber on topmost summit of Parnassus led his yelling Thyiads with loosely tossed locks. When the Delphians tumultuously trooping from the whole of their city joyously acclaimed the god with smoking altars. Often in lethal strife of war Mavors, or swift Triton's queen, or the Rhamnusian virgin, in person did exhort armed bodies of men. But after the earth was infected with heinous crime, and each one banished justice from their grasping mind, and brothers steeped their hands in fraternal blood, the son ceased grieving o'er departed parents, the sire craved for the funeral rites of his firstborn that freely he might take of the flower of unwedded stepdame, the unholy mother, lying under her unknowing son, did not fear to sully her household gods with dishonor everything licit and lawless commingled with mad infamy turned away from us the just-seeing mind of the gods. Wherefore nor do they deign to appear at such like assemblies, nor will they permit themselves to be met in the daylight. EPITHALAMIUM. BY CATULLUS. (Translated by John Hookham Frere.) You that from the mother's side Leave awhile the lonely mount, Of chilling Helicon. With myrtle wreaths enweave thy hair Wave the torch aloft in air Make no long delay: With flowing robe and footsteps light, And gilded buskin glancing bright, Hither bend thy way. Join at once, with airy vigor, Hymen come, for Julia And deigns to be a bride. Like the myrtle or the bay, With foliage fresh and new; Leave, then, all the rocks and cells And the caverns hoar; And the dreary streams that weep Haste away to new delights, Human haunts and ways; Bring her hither, bound to move, Like the tender twine "Heirship in an honored line With a fairer lot? "Rule and empire- royalty, Where on earth, or in the sky, Can you find a deity With a fairer lot?" The poet is here in his office as manager of the mob, mediating between them and the gentlefolks within. In the next stanza he speaks as the prolocutor of the rabble outside. Open locks! unbar the gate! Lovely maiden! here we waste The timely moments; -Come in haste! Startled at the glare and din, Lingering, hanging back. Bashful honor and regret, Taking leave and lingering still, With grief that does not grieve. Aurunculeia, cease your tears, Will dawn upon a fairer face, Nor in his airy, lofty race Behold a lovelier one. |