Carmina

Fulfilled, place they began to provide for venerate Godheads,

Even as Zephyrus’ breath, seas couching placid at dawn-tide,

Roughens, then stings and spurs the wavelets slantingly fretted—

Rising Aurora the while ’neath Sol the wanderer’s threshold—

Tardy at first they flow by the clement breathing of breezes

Urged, and echo the shores with soft-toned ripples of laughter,

But as the winds wax high so waves wax higher and higher,

Flashing and floating afar to outswim morn’s purpurine splendours,—

So did the crowd fare forth, the royal vestibule leaving,

And to their house each wight with vaguing paces departed.

After their wending, the first, foremost from Pelion’s summit,

Chiron came to the front with woodland presents surcharged:

Whatso of blooms and flowers bring forth Thessalian uplands

Mighty with mountain crests, whate’er of riverine lea flowers

Reareth Favonius’ air, bud-breeding, tepidly breathing,

All in his hands brought he, unseparate in woven garlands,

Whereat laughed the house as soothed by pleasure of perfume.

Presently Péneus appears, deserting verdurous Tempe—

Tempe girt by her belts of greenwood ever impending,

Left for the Mamonides with frequent dances to worship—

Nor is he empty of hand, for bears he tallest of beeches

Deracinate, and bays with straight boles lofty and stately,

Not without nodding plane-tree nor less the flexible sister

Fire-slain Phaëton left, and not without cypresses airy.

These in a line wide-broke set he, the Mansion surrounding,

So by the soft leaves screened, the porch might flourish in verdure.

Follows hard on his track with active spirit Prometheus,

Bearing extenuate sign of penalties suffer’d in by-gones.

Paid erewhiles what time fast-bound as to every member,

Hung he in carkanet slung from the Scythian rocktor.

Last did the Father of Gods with his sacred spouse and his offspring,

Proud from the Heavens proceed, thee leaving (Phoebus) in loneness,

Lone wi’ thy sister twin who haunteth mountains of Idrus:

For that the Virgin spurned as thou the person of Peleus,

Nor Thetis’ nuptial torch would greet by act of her presence.

When they had leaned their limbs upon snowy benches reposing,

Tables largely arranged with various viands were garnisht.

But, ere opened the feast, with infirm gesture their semblance

Shaking, the Parcae fell to chaunting veridique verses.

Robed were their tremulous frames all o’er in muffle of garments

Bright-white, purple of hem enfolding heels in its edges;

Snowy the fillets that bound heads aged by many a year-tide,

And, as their wont aye was, their hands plied labour unceasing.

Each in her left upheld with soft fleece clothed a distaff,

Then did the right that drew forth thread with upturn of fingers

Gently fashion the yarn which deftly twisted by thumb-ball

Speeded the spindle poised by thread-whorl perfect of polish;

Thus as the work was wrought, the lengths were trimmed wi’ the fore-teeth,

While to their thin, dry lips stuck wool-flecks severed by biting,

Which at the first outstood from yarn-hanks evenly fine-drawn.

Still at their feet in front soft fleece-flecks white as the snow-flake

Lay in the trusty guard of wickers woven in withies.

Always a-carding the wool, with clear-toned voices resounding

Told they such lots as these in song divinely directed,

Chaunts which none after-time shall ’stablish falsehood-convicted.

O who by virtues great all highmosthonours enhancest,

Guard of Emáthia-land, most famous made by thine offspring,

Take what the Sisters deign this gladsome day to disclose thee,

Oracles soothfast told,—And ye, by Destiny followed,

Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.

Soon to thy sight shall rise, their fond hopes bringing to bridegrooms,

Hesperus: soon shall come thy spouse with planet auspicious,

Who shall thy mind enbathe with a love that softens the spirit,

And as thyself shall prepare for sinking in languorous slumber,

Under thy neck robust, soft arms dispreading as pillow.

Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.

Never a house like this such loves as these hath united,

Never did love conjoin by such-like covenant lovers,

As th’according tie Thetis deigned in concert wi’ Peleus.

Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.

Born of yon twain shall come Achilles guiltless of fear-sense,

Known by his forceful breast and ne’er by back to the foeman,

Who shall at times full oft in doubtful contest of race-course

Conquer the fleet-foot doe with slot-tracks smoking and burning.

Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.

None shall with him compare, howe’er war-doughty a hero,

Whenas the Phrygian rills flow deep with bloodshed of Teucer,

And beleaguering the walls of Troy with longest of warfare

He shall the works lay low, third heir of Pelops the perjured.

Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.

His be the derring-do and deeds of valour egregious,

Often mothers shall own at funeral-rites of their children,

What time their hoary hairs from head in ashes are loosened,

And wi’ their hands infirm thay smite their bosoms loose duggèd.

Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.

For as the toiling hind bestrewing denseness of corn-stalks

Under the broiling sun mows grain-fields yellow to harvest,

So shall his baneful brand strew earth with corpses of Troy-born.

Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.

Aye to his valorous worth attest shall wave of Scamander

Which unto Hellè-Sea fast flowing ever dischargeth,

Straiter whose course shall grow by up-heaped barrage of corpses,

While in his depths runs warm his stream with slaughter commingled.

Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.

Witness in fine shall be the victim rendered to death-stroke,

Whenas the earthern tomb on lofty tumulus builded

Shall of the stricken maid receive limbs white as the snow-flake.

Speed ye, the well-spun woof out-drawing, speed ye, O Spindles.

For when at last shall Fors to weary Achaians her fiat

Deal, of Dardanus-town to burst Neptunian fetters,