Statius volume i silvae, thebaid i IV

THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY EDITED BV T E E CAPPS, PAGE, MIT.D W H D ROUSE, PH.D., LL.D STATIUS I i.itt.d s^ STATIUS WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY J MOZLEY, H M.A SOMETIME SCHOLAR OF KING'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE LECTURER IN CLASSICS AT EAST LONDON COLLIGE, UNIVERSITY Of LONDON TWO VOLUMES IN THEBAID SILVAE I-IV y-b- LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTD G P PUTNAM'S SONS NEW YORK : MCMXXVIII P/9 V.I &CC.Z printed iti Great Britain CONTENTS OF VOLUME I PACE Inthoduction vii SILVAE Book I- Statius to his friend Stella I II The statue of Domitian Epithalaiiiium in honour of Stella and Violentilla III IV V VI The villa of Manlius Vopiscus To Kutilius Gallieus The baths of Claudius Etruscus The Kalends of December 14 38 46 58 6'4 Book II— Statins to his friend Melior I 11 III IV V VI VII Glaucias The The of Pollius Felix tree of Atedius Melior Melior's parrot villa The tame lion To Flavins Ursus To Polla on Lucan's birthday 72 76 94 106 112 116 118 128 CONTENTS Book III— I Statins to his friend Pollius The temjile of Hei'cules at Surrentum To Maecius Celer To Claudius Etruscus The tresses of Elavius Earinus To liis wife Claudia II III IV V IV— Book Statius to his friend Marcellus The seventeenth consulship To the Emperor Domitian The Domitian Road To Vitorius Marcellus To Septimius Severus The Hercules statuette To Vibius Maximus To Julius Menecrates To Plotius Grypus I n III IV V VI of Domitian VII VIII IX Book V— Statius to his friend Abascantus I II On the death of Priscilla The praises of Crispinus III A IV To Sleep V A lament lament Fragment of a for his father for his adoj^ted son Poem on the German War THEBAID Book —— STATIUS manat equum siccis inlidunt ora lupatis, ora catenatas procul exsertantia linguas ; : 730 nee legem dominosve pati, sed perfurit arvis flammatum pecus hue illuc impellit Adrastiis stagna Licymnia restent, omnia caecis 735 si quis Amymones superet liquor ignibus hausta sedent, nee spes umentis Olympi, ceu flavam Libyen desertaque pulveris Afri conlustrent nullaque umbratam nube Syenen Tandem inter silvas sic Euhius ipse pararat 740 errantes subitam pulehro in maerore tuentur Hypsipylen illi quamvis et ad ubera Opheltes non suus, Inacbii proles infausta Lycurgi, dependet neglecta comam nee dives amictu 744 regales tamen ore notae, nee mersus aeerbis tune haec adeo stupefaetus Adrastus exstai: honos '• diva potens nemorum nam te vultusque pudorque quae laeta sub isto mortali de stirpe negant igne poli non quaeris aquas, sueeurre propinquis gentibus Arquitenens seu te Latonia easto de grege transmisit thalamis, seu lapsus ab astris 750 non humilis fecundat amor neque enim ipse deorum aspiee maesta arbiter Argolidum thalamis novus agmina nos ferro meritas exseindere Thebas mens tulit, imbelli sed nunc sitis aspera fato 755 submittitque animos et inertia robora carpit da fessis in rebus opem, seu turbidus amnis, seu tibi foeda palus nihil hac in sorte pudendum, exploratores, si : — ; — : — — , : — — , ; " King of Nemea Hypsipyle was daughter of Thoas, king of Lemnos For her story see her own narrative in Bk iv * Adrastus mistakes her for Diana 562 — THEBAID, IV 730-757 foam falls from the horses' mouths, their jaws close on dry bits, and far out hang their bridled tongues no restraint of their masters they suffer, but scour the plain, maddened by the fiery heat This way and that Adrastus sends scouts to discover if the Licymnian lakes yet remain, or aught of Amymone's waters, but all lie drained by fire unseen, nor is there hope of moisture from Olympus, as though they ranged yellow Libya and Africa's desert sand and Syene shaded by no cloud At length wandering in the woodland for so had Euhius himself devised they behold on a sudden ; — — Hypsipyle, beauteous in her grief; at her breast Opheltes hangs, not her own child, but the ill-starred offspring of Inachian Lycurgus " dishevelled is her hair and poor her raiment, yet in her countenance are marks of kingly birth, and a dignity not overwhelmed by a bitter lot Then Adrastus, awe" Goddess, queen of struck, thus addressed her the woodlands ^ for thy countenance and honourable bearing proclaim thee of no mortal birth thou who beneath this fiery vault art blest in needing not to search for water, succour a neighbouring people whether the Wielder of the Bow or Latona's daughter hath set thee in the bridal-chamber from her chaste company, or whether it be no lowly passion but one from on high doth make thee fruitful for the ruler of the gods himself is no stranger to Argive bowers look upon our distressed ranks Us hath the resolve to destroy guilty Thebes with the sword brought hither, but the unwarlike doom of cruel drought doth bow our spirits and drain our exhausted strength Help thou our failing fortunes, whether thou hast some turbid river or a stagnant marsh nought is 20 563 ; — : — ; — ; — • STATIUS nil humile est tu nunc Ventis pluvioque rogaris ; pro love, tu refugas vires et pectora bellis exanimata reple dextro hoc sic : tibi sidere 760 tantum reduces det flectere gressus luppiter, o quanta belli donabere praeda Dircaeos tibi, diva, greges numerumque rependam crescat onus, ! sanguinis, et^ magna lucus signabitur ara." media inter anhelitus ardens cursuque animae labat arida lingua dixit, et orantis verba rapit, idem omnes pallorque " diva quidem unde ego luctibus ! pignoris ; ? Lemnia vultu : vobis, etsi caelestis origo est, mortales utinam baud transgressa fuissem altricem mandati at nostris deus, et nobis scit ; viros flatusque soluti reddit demisso oris habet 765 cei-nitis orbam an quis sinus uberaque 771 ulla, regnum tamen et pater ingens — sed quid ego haec, fessosque optatis demoror undis mecum ? vado Langia perennes 775 solet et rabidi sub limite Cancri servat aquas semper, et Icarii quamvis iuba fulguret astri, simul haerentem, ne tarda Pelasgis ire tamen." age nunc, si forte ; dux sic foret, a ! miserum Parcae volvere vicino caespite alumnum —locat ponique negantis^ 780 amico murmure dulces qualis Berecyntia mater, floribus adgestis et solatur lacrimas ^ ^ : sanguinis et P plebis et hie w ponique negantis L Schol Gronovlus Bentley ponitque : negantem Pw, " 564 See note on line 692 " THEBAID n' 758-782 to be lield shameful, nought too mean in sucli a pass as ours Thee now in phice of the Winds and rainy Jupiter we suppHcate, thou restore our ebbing might and fill again our spiritless hearts so may thy charge grow under suspicious stars Only let Jupiter grant us to return, what high-piled ; ! With the blood booty of war shalt thou be given of numerous herds of Dirce will I recompense thee, O goddess, and a mighty altar shall mark this grove." He spoke, but a fevered gasping makes havoc of his words even in mid-utterance, and with a like the rush of breath his dry tongue stutters pallor holds all his warriors, and like panting of the hollow cheeks W^ith downcast eyes the Lemnian makes answer " No goddess indeed am I, to help would that you, though of heaven be my descent my griefs were not more than mortal 'Tis an entrusted pledge you behold me nursing, and a But whether my sons nurse herself bereaved found any lap or breasts to suckle them, heaven knoweth, and yet I had once a kingdom and a But why I speak thus, and mighty father stay you in your weariness from the waters ye desire ? Come now with me, perchance Langia's for even beneath the stream yet runs unfailing path of the furious Crab 'tis ever wont to flow, yea, though the shaggy hide of the Icarian star Forthwith, lest she prove a tardy be blazing." guide to the Pelasgians, she sets down the clinging infant alas poor child on the grass near by and when he would not be so willed the Fates put down consoled his pretty tears with flowers like the heaped around and coaxing murmurs Berecyntian mother, while she bids the Curetes 565 ! ; : ; ! — ; — — ! ! — — : ST ATI us duin parvum circa iubet exsultare Tonantem Curetas trepidos illi certantia plaudunt orgia, sed magnis resonat vagitibus Ide ; At puer in gremio 785 vernae-'^ telluris et alto gramine nunc faciles sternit procursibus herbas in vultum nitens, caram modo lactis egeno nutricem plangore ciens iterumque renidens et teneris meditans verba inluctantia labris 790 miratur nemorum strepitus aut obvia carpit aut patulo traliit ore diem nemorique malorum inscius et vitae multum securus inerrat sic tener Odrysia Mavors nive, sic puer ales 795 vertice Maenalio, talis per litora reptans improbus Ortygiae latus inclinabat Apollo Illi per dumos et opaca virentibus umbris devia pars cingunt, pars arta plebe sequuntur praecelerantque ducem medium subit ilia per agmen non humili festina modo iamque amne propinquo rauca sonat vallis, saxosumque impulit aures 801 murmur ibi exsultans conclamat ab agmine primus, sicut erat levibus toUens vexilla maniplis Argus " aquae " longusque super ora cucurrit clamor " aquae " sic Ambracii per litora ponti 805 nauticus in remis iuvenum monstrante magistro fit sonus inque vicem contra percussa reclamat terra, salutatus cum Leucada pandit Apollo, incubuere vadis passim discrimine nullo 810 turba simul primique, nequit secernere mixtos ; ; : wum ! ! ^ vernae Poi : tenerae conj Garrod " ** 566 The temple of Apollo at : variae Klotz Delos Actium on the Ambracian Gulf THEBAID, IV 783-810 leap in excited dance around the infant Thunderer their cymbals clash in emulous frenzy, but Ida resounds with his loud wailings But the child, lying in the bosom of the vernal earth and deep in herbage, now crawls forward on his face and crushes the soft grasses, now in clamorous again he thirst for milk cries for his beloved nurse smiles, and would fain utter words that wrestle with his infant lips, and wonders at the noise of the woods, or plucks at aught he meets, or with open mouth drinks in the day, and strays in the forest all ignorant of its dangei's, in carelessness profound Such was the young Mars amid Odrysian snow, such the Avinged boy on the heights of Maenalus, such was the rogue Apollo when he crawled upon Ortygia's " shore, and set her side atilt They go through the coppices and by devious some cluster round dusky ways of shadowy green their guide, some throng behind, othei's outstrip her In the midst of the band she moves with and now the vale proud mien and hurrying step echoes loud as they approach the stream, and the f)lashing of water upon rocks assails their ears then first from the column's head, just as he was, with banner raised high for the nimble companies, Argus exultant ci-ies " Water " and through the warrior's mouths ran the long-drawn shout of " Water " Even so, along the shores of the Ambracian sea, sounds forth at the helmsman's prompting the shout of the seamen at the oars, and in turn the smitten land sends back the echo, when Apollo ^ at their salutation brings Leucas into view Into the stream the host plunged, indiscriminate and disordered, chieftains alike and common soldiers ; ; ; ; : ! ! ; 567 ST ATI us aequa sitis, frenata suis in curribus intrant arnienta, et pleni dominis armisque feruntur quadripedes hos turbo rapax, hos lubrica fallunt saxa, nee implicitos fluvio reverentia reges 815 proterere aut mersisse vado clamantis amiei fremunt undae, longusque a fontibus amnis ora diripitur, modo lene virens et gurgite puro perspicuus nunc sordet aquis egestus ab imis alveus inde tori^ riparum et proruta turbant gramina iam crassus eaenoque et pulvere sordens, 820 quamquam expleta sitis, bibitur tamen agmina bello ; ; ; decertare putes iustumque in gurgite Martem perfurere aut captani tolli vietoribus urbem Atque aliquis regum medio circumfluus amni 825 silvarum, Nemea, longe regina virentum, lecta lovis sedes, quam tu non Herculis actis dura magis, rabidi cum colla comantia monstri angeret et tumidos animam angustaret in artus hac saevisse tenus populorum in coepta^ tuorum sufficiat tuque o cunctis insuete domari 830 solibus, aeternae largitor corniger undae, laetus eas, quacumque domo gelida ora resolvis imrnortale tumens neque enim tibi cana repostas Bruma nives raptasque alio de fonte refundit 835 Arcus aquas gravidive indulgent nubila Cori, sed tuus et nulli ruis expugnabilis astro : ! ; ; * ^ " in coepta The tori P : toros w Schroder river here is : {sc alveum) incepta PI), incoepta addressed in the masculine, as distinct from its nymph * The idea of the rainbow sucking up moisture Latin writers, and Theh ix 405 in ; 568 is common "bihit ingens Arcus," Virg G i 380, the present passage is an original applica- «.^ tion of the idea ' BQN The north-west wind THEBAID, IV 811-836 makes no distinction in their confused ranks bridled horses with their chariots, chargers with armed riders all dash madly in Some the flood whirls away, some lose their footing on the slippery rocks, nor have they shame to trample their princes as they wrestle with the torrent, or to sink beneath the stream the face of a friend who cries for succour Loud roar the waves, while far from the fountain-head is the river plundered, that once flowed green and clear, with gentle lucid waters, but now from the depths of its channel is muddied and befouled Then the sloping banks and torn herbage are mingled with the stream and now, though it be stained and filthy with mire and earth, and though their tliirst be quenched, yet they drink still One would think armies strove in flght, or a pitched battle raged in the flood, or the conquerors were looting a captured city And one of the princes, standing in the midst of " Nemea, noblest by far the streaming river, cried of verdant glades, chosen seat of Jove, not even to the toils of Hercules wert thou more cruel, when he strangled the furious monster's shaggy neck, and throttled the breath within its swollen limbs So far let it suffice thee to have vexed thy people's enterprise And thou," whom no suns are wont to tame,0 horned one, so lavish of never failing waters, flow with prosperous current, from whatsoever storehouse thou settest free thy cooling springs, for hoary Winter pours immortally replenished not out for thee her laid-up snows, nor doth the rainbow shed waters stolen from another fount,'' nor the pregnant storm-clouds of Corns show thee favour, but thou flowest all thine own, and no star levelling thirst ; ; : ; '^ 569 ST ATI us Ladon nee Xanthus uterque Spereheusque minax Centaureusque Lyeormas praestiterint tu paee mihi, tu nube sub ipsa 840 armoruni festasque super celebrabere mensas a love primus honos bellis niodo laetus ovantes aecipias fessisque libens iterum hospita pandas flumina defensasque veils agnoscere turmas." te nee Apollineus ; — in the Troad or in Lycia As there is no known river in Aetolia between the river and any Centaur, the epithet " *" I.e., A " Centaur-like," 570 — i.e., as furious as a Centaur connexion may mean — THEBAID, IV 837-843 can overcome thee or destroy Thee neither Ladon, Apollo's river, shall surpass, nor either Xanthus," nor threatening Spercheus, nor Lycormas ^ of Centaur's fame thee will I celebrate in peace, thee beneath the very cloud of war, and at the festal banquet, ay, honour thee next to Jove himself so but thou gladly receive our triumphing arms, and again be pleased to give the welcome of thy streams to our tired warriors, and recognize of thy grace the host thou once didst save." ; 571 Printed in Cieai Britain hy R & R Ci.akk, LniiiED, Edinljirgh PA 6697 ... Menecrates To Plotius Grypus I n III IV V VI of Domitian VII VIII IX Book V— Statius to his friend Abascantus I II On the death of Priscilla The praises of Crispinus III A IV To Sleep V A lament... printed iti Great Britain CONTENTS OF VOLUME I PACE Inthoduction vii SILVAE Book I- Statius to his friend Stella I II The statue of Domitian Epithalaiiiium in honour of Stella and Violentilla... III— I Statins to his friend Pollius The temjile of Hei'cules at Surrentum To Maecius Celer To Claudius Etruscus The tresses of Elavius Earinus To liis wife Claudia II III IV V IV Book Statius