Metamorphoses III

quam quae contingit maribus' dixisse 'voluptas.' illa negat. placuit quae sit sententia docti quaerere Tiresiae: Venus huic erat utraque nota.

'greater pleasure is gained for you than what befalls husbands'. She denied it. It seemed fit to ask what the opinion of learned Tiresias was; Venus was known to him in both ways.

'nunc tibi me posito visam velamine narres, si poteris narrare, licet!' nec plura minata dat sparso capiti vivacis cornua cervi,

'now you may go and tell people that you have seen me with my cloak off - if you are able to tell them'. Without more threats, she gave the living horns of a deer to his splashed head,

Surgit ab his solio fulvaque recondita nube limen adit Semeles nec nubes ante removit quam simulavit anum posuitque ad tempora canos 275 sulcavitque cutem rugis et curva trementi membra tulit passu; vocem quoque fecit anilem, ipsaque erat Beroe, Semeles Epidauria nutrix.

After saying these things he rose from her throne, and cloaked in a golden cloud, she went to the Semele's door; before she removed the clouds, she disguised herself as an old woman, and put grey hair at her temples, furrowed her skin with wrinkles, and stood up with bent legs and shaky step. She also made her voice that of an old woman, and was herself Beroe, the Epidaurian nurse of Semele.

quo postquam subiit, nympharum tradidit uni 165 armigerae iaculum pharetramque arcusque retentos, altera depositae subiecit bracchia pallae,

After she went down there, she handed her spear, bow and quiver which she had held on to to one of her nymphs, her weapon bearer; another put her arm under the cloak that had been taken off,

silva vetus stabat nulla violata securi, et specus in media virgis ac vimine densus efficiens humilem lapidum conpagibus arcum 30 uberibus fecundus aquis; ubi conditus antro Martius anguis erat, cristis praesignis et auro;

An old wood stood there, not violated by any axe, and there was a cave in the middle, thick with sticks and twigs, forming a low arch with the joins of the stones, and abundant in plentiful waters. A vicious serpent was hidden in the cave, impressive with its crest and gold colour;

arbiter hic igitur sumptus de lite iocosa dicta Iovis firmat: gravius Saturnia iusto nec pro materia fertur doluisse suique iudicis aeterna damnavit lumina nocte; 335

As the appointed judge on the jovial dispute, he affirmed the words of Jupiter. It was said that Juno was more upset in proportion to the matter than was justified, and condemned the eyes of her judge to eternal night.

at non duritia iaculum quoque vicit eadem, 65 quod medio lentae spinae curvamine fixum constitit et totum descendit in ilia ferrum.

But he could not also win over a spear with this same toughness; it stopped fixed in the middle of a curve of his bending spine, and the whole weapon sank into its entrails.

at comites rapidum solitis hortatibus agmen ignari instigant oculisque Actaeona quaerunt et velut absentem certatim Actaeona clamant (ad nomen caput ille refert) et abesse queruntur 245 nec capere oblatae segnem spectacula praedae.

But his ignorant comrades urged on the pressing crowd with their usual encouragement, and looked for Actaeon with their eyes, and shouted eagerly for Actaeon as if he was absent (at his name he nodded his head), and complained that he was not there, and that in his slowness was missing the spectacle of the prey being taken.

at bene si quaeras, Fortunae crimen in illo, non scelus invenies; quod enim scelus error habebat? Mons erat infectus variarum caede ferarum, iamque dies medius rerum contraxerat umbras et sol ex aequo meta distabat utraque, 145

But if you look carefully, you will find the crime of fortune in it, not wickedness; because what crime is there in a mistake? The mountain was polluted by the slaughter of all types of wild creature, and midday had drawn back the shadows of things, and the sun was equidistant from either end (of its journey),

at pater omnipotens (neque enim licet inrita cuiquam facta dei fecisse deo) pro lumine adempto scire futura dedit poenamque levavit honore.

But the almighty father (for it is not allowed for a god to nullify what another god has done) gave him the ability to see the future in exchange for his stolen sight, and lightened the punishment with honour.

illius inpulsu cum turribus ardua celsis moenia mota forent, serpens sine vulnere mansit loricaeque modo squamis defensus et atrae duritia pellis validos cute reppulit ictus;

By the force of it, the tough city walls with their high towers could have been moved; the snake remained without a wound, defended by its scales in the formation of chain-mail, and with the toughness of its black skin it repelled the strong blows.

vix bene Castalio Cadmus descenderat antro, incustoditam lente videt ire iuvencam 15 nullum servitii signum cervice gerentem.

Cadmus had hardly well gone down from the Castalian cave, when he saw an unguarded cow walking slowly, bearing no sign of servitude on her neck.

Cadmus agit grates peregrinaeque oscula terrae figit et ignotos montes agrosque salutat. 25 Sacra Iovi facturus erat: iubet ire ministros et petere e vivis libandas fontibus undas.

Cadmus thanked her and fixed kisses on the foreign ground, and saluted the unknown mountains and fields. He would have made sacrifices to Jupiter: he ordered his attendant to go and look for libational water from the living fountains.

cedit Agenorides paulum spolioque leonis sustinet incursus instantiaque ora retardat cuspide praetenta: furit ille et inania duro vulnera dat ferro figitque in acumine dentes.

Cadmus yielded slightly and kept up the attack with the spoil of a lion, and kept the insistent mouth at bay by holding out the tip of his spear; he raged and made useless wounds with the tough weapon, and lodged it in the teeth by its point.

ille dolore ferox caput in sua terga retorsit vulneraque adspexit fixumque hastile momordit, idque ubi vi multa partem labefecit in omnem, 70 vix tergo eripuit; ferrum tamen ossibus haesit.

Crazed with pain it turned its head around to its back, and stared at the wound and bit the spear that was fixed there, and when it had loosened it in every direction with great force, it could barely rip it from its back; the spear was stuck in its bones.

quae, quamquam comitum turba est stipata suarum, in latus obliquum tamen adstitit oraque retro flexit et, ut vellet promptas habuisse sagittas,

Even though she was surrounded by her crowd of companions, she stood side on, and bent her head back, and wished that she had arrows to hand,

additus et pavor est: fugit Autonoeius heros et se tam celerem cursu miratur in ipso. ut vero vultus et cornua vidit in unda, 200 'me miserum!' dicturus erat: vox nulla secuta est!

Fear was added to this. The hero, born of Autonoë, fled and marvelled at the swiftness within his own running. When he actually saw his face and horns in the water, he would have said (was about to say) 'poor me!'; but no voice came out.

ille diu pavidus pariter cum mente colorem perdiderat, gelidoque comae terrore rigebant: 100 ecce viri fautrix superas delapsa per auras Pallas adest motaeque iubet supponere terrae vipereos dentes, populi incrementa futuri.

Fearful for a long time, he lost his colour along with his mind, and his hair stood rigid with frozen terror; look! Pallas is here, the man's patroness, having glided down through the high breezes, and ordered him to place the snake teeth in the ploughed earth, the growth of a future people.

prima Melanchaetes in tergo vulnera fecit, proxima Theridamas, Oresitrophos haesit in armo: tardius exierant, sed per conpendia montis anticipata via est; dominum retinentibus illis, 235 cetera turba coit confertque in corpore dentes.

First Melanchaetes made wounds on his back, next was Theridamas, and Oresitrophos clung to his arm (they had set out later but the way was forestalled by a shortcut through the mountains). The rest of the crowd came together, and whilst they were holding their master, dug their teeth into his body.

nam duo magnorum viridi coeuntia silva corpora serpentum baculi violaverat ictu 325 deque viro factus (mirabile) femina septem egerat autumnos; octavo rursus eosdem vidit, et 'est vestrae si tanta potentia plagae'

For once with a blow of his stick, he had disturbed two large snakes mating in the green forest and, amazingly, was made from a man into a woman, and lived as a woman for seven years. In the eighth, he saw the same snakes again, and said 'if there is so much power in disturbing you,

laeta malo nimiumque potens perituraque amantis obsequio Semele 'qualem Saturnia' dixit 'te solet amplecti, Veneris cum foedus initis, da mihi te talem!' voluit deus ora loquentis 295 opprimere: exierat iam vox properata sub auras.

Happy in her misfortune, too powerful, and who would die by the obedience of her lover, Semele said 'as Saturnia is used to your embrace, when you enter into the pact of Venus, give yourself to me!' The god wanted to stop her mouth from talking, but her voice had already come, rushed, into the air.

Iamque deus posita fallacis imagine tauri se confessus erat Dictaeaque rura tenebat, cum pater ignarus Cadmo perquirere raptam imperat et poenam, si non invenerit, addit exilium, facto pius et sceleratus eodem. 5

Having already cast aside the image of the deceiving bull, Jupiter had confessed himself and was standing in the Dictaean fields, when her ignorant father ordered Cadmus to search for the girl who had been taken away, and added the punishment of exile if he didn't find her - pious and wicked in the same deed.

orbe pererrato (quis enim deprendere possit furta Iovis?) profugus patriamque iramque parentis vitat Agenorides Phoebique oracula supplex consulit et, quae sit tellus habitanda, requirit.

Having wandered through the world (for who could grasp the secret schemes of Jupiter?), the son of Agenor, fleeing away, avoided his homeland and the wrath of his father, and suppliant consulted the oracle of Phoebus, and asked what land he should live in.

ille fugit per quae fuerat loca nota secutus, heu! famulos fugit ipse suos. clamare libebat: 'Actaeon ego sum: dominum cognoscite vestrum!' 230 verba animo desunt; resonat latratibus aether.

He fled; he ran through the places which had been well known to him, alas - he was fleeing his own servants. He wanted to shout 'I am Actaeon, recognise your own master'. But words were not in his mind (were wanting from his mind); the air resounded with barking.

subsequitur pressoque legit vestigia gressu auctoremque viae Phoebum taciturnus adorat. iam vada Cephisi Panopesque evaserat arva:

He followed and sought out her footsteps with his close step, and silently adored Phoebus, the director of his way. He had already avoided the fords of Cesiphus and the fields of Panope:

ingemuit; neque enim non haec optasse, neque ille non iurasse potest. ergo maestissimus altum aethera conscendit vultuque sequentia traxit nubila, quis nimbos inmixtaque fulgura ventis 300 addidit et tonitrus et inevitabile fulmen;

He groaned, for she may not unwish it and he may not overrule it. So, very sadly, he climbed to high heaven and and with his look gathered the trailing clouds, and added rain mixed with lightening and wind, and thunder and the inevitable lightning bolt.

ingemuit: vox illa fuit, lacrimaeque per ora non sua fluxerunt; mens tantum pristina mansit. quid faciat? repetatne domum et regalia tecta an lateat silvis? pudor hoc, timor inpedit illud. 205

He groaned; that was what his voice was, and tears flowed down a face that wasn't his own. His mind remained as it was. What should he do? Should he seek back his home and royal house, or hide in the woods? Shame prevented the former, and fear the latter.

paret et, ut presso sulcum patefecit aratro, spargit humi iussos, mortalia semina, dentes. 105 inde (fide maius) glaebae coepere moveri, primaque de sulcis acies adparuit hastae,

He obeyed, and having pushed the plough in he opened up the furrow, and scattered the teeth, the seeds of humans, as ordered. Then, greater than belief, the clods of earth began to be shifted, and the first tip of a spear appeared from the ground,

is sua iecit humo monitu Tritonidis arma fraternaeque fidem pacis petiitque deditque: hos operis comites habuit Sidonius hospes, cum posuit iussus Phoebeis sortibus urbem. 130

He threw his arms to the ground, and having been warned by Pallas, sought and gave trust in brotherly peace. The Sidonian (Phoenician) stranger had these men as his companions in the task, and founded the city granted by Phoebus as ordered.

Ille per Aonias fama celeberrimus urbes inreprehensa dabat populo responsa petenti; 340 prima fide vocisque ratae temptamina sumpsit caerula Liriope, quam quondam flumine curvo inplicuit clausaeque suis Cephisos in undis

He was most famous throughout Boeotian cities, and gave faultless answers to the people seeking them. Blue Lyriope was the first to test his reliability, whom once the river god Cephisus enfolded in his waters and took by force.

tum vero postquam solitas accessit ad iras causa recens, plenis tumuerunt guttura venis, spumaque pestiferos circumfluit albida rictus, terraque rasa sonat squamis, quique halitus exit 75 ore niger Stygio, vitiatas inficit auras.

Indeed, after the new source of anger joined the previous sources, its throat swelled up with full veins, and white foam flowed out of its deadly jaws, and the earth, scraped by its scales, made a sound, and whatever black breath came out of its deadly mouth infected the tainted air.

vellet abesse quidem, sed adest; velletque videre, non etiam sentire canum fera facta suorum. undique circumstant, mersisque in corpore rostris dilacerant falsi dominum sub imagine cervi, 250

Indeed, he wanted to be absent, but he was there; he wanted to see, not also to feel, the savage deeds of his dogs. They stood around him on all sides, sinking their jaws in to his body, and tore their master to pieces, under the disguise of a false stag,

furtim illum primis Ino matertera cunis educat, inde datum nymphae Nyseides antris occuluere suis lactisque alimenta dedere. 315

Ino, his mother's sister, secretly brought him up in the first stage of infancy, then he was given to the nymph of Mt Nysa who hid him in their cave and gave him milk as nourishment.

nec tamen esse Iovem satis est: det pignus amoris, si modo verus is est; quantusque et qualis ab alta Iunone excipitur, tantus talisque, rogato, 285 det tibi conplexus suaque ante insignia sumat!'

It is not enough to be Jupiter; he must give proof of his love if it really is him, Beg him to assume all his powers before he embraces you and be just as glorious as when Juno welcomes him on high.'

ille volubilibus squamosos nexibus orbes torquet et inmensos saltu sinuatur in arcus ac media plus parte leves erectus in auras despicit omne nemus tantoque est corpore, quanto, si totum spectes, geminas qui separat arctos. 45

It twisted scaly rings with its circling coils and bent itself into huge arcs in leap, and having raised itself up by more than half its length into the light air, it looked down upon the whole wood, with such a great body, if you look at the whole of it, as that which separates the twin bears (constellation).

igne micant oculi, corpus tumet omne venenis, tresque vibrant linguae, triplici stant ordine dentes. quem postquam Tyria lucum de gente profecti 35 infausto tetigere gradu, demissaque in undas urna dedit sonitum, longo caput extulit antro caeruleus serpens horrendaque sibila misit.

Its eyes gleam with fire, its whole body swells with venom, three tongues flick, and its teeth stand in three rows. After those who had gone forth from the Tyrian people unfortunately set their feet down in the grove, and the urn that was thrown down into the sea let out a sound, the blue serpent peered out of the deep cave and let out a horrible hissing sound.

excipiunt laticem Nepheleque Hyaleque Rhanisque et Psecas et Phiale funduntque capacibus urnis. dumque ibi perluitur solita Titania lympha,

Nephele and Hyale, Rhanis, Psecas and Phiale gather water and pour it on her from large urns. Whilst Titania was being washed there with water, as usual,

nec mora, Phoenicas, sive illi tela parabant sive fugam, sive ipse timor prohibebat utrumque, occupat: hos morsu, longis conplexibus illos, hos necat afflatu funesta tabe veneni.

Nor was there delay. It seized the Phoenicians, whether they were preparing weapons or flight, or whether fear itself prevented both of these: it killed some with its bite, others with long embraces, and others still by its breath of poison, lethal with putrefaction.

Iam stabant Thebae, poteras iam, Cadme, videri exilio felix: soceri tibi Marsque Venusque contigerant; huc adde genus de coniuge tanta, tot natos natasque et, pignora cara, nepotes,

Now Thebes stands, and you might have been seen as happy in your exile Cadmus. Mars and Venus were your parents-in-law; to this add your family from such a great wife, so many sons and daughters, and dear descendants, you grandchildren,

iamque venenifero sanguis manare palato 85 coeperat et virides adspergine tinxerat herbas; sed leve vulnus erat, quia se retrahebat ab ictu laesaque colla dabat retro plagamque sedere cedendo arcebat nec longius ire sinebat,

Now blood began to drip from its venomous mouth, and had coloured the green grass with the spray. But the wound was light, because it pulled itself back from the blow and thrust its wounded neck back, and by yielding allowed the stroke to sink in, and did not allow it to go further,

ipse modo inmensum spiris facientibus orbem cingitur, interdum longa trabe rectior adstat, inpete nunc vasto ceu concitus imbribus amnis fertur et obstantis proturbat pectore silvas. 80

Now it swirled around in a huge circle, making spirals, and then stood more upright than a tall tree, then moved on with great force, like a stream stirred up by rains, and knocked down all the trees obstructing it at the front.

fons sonat a dextra tenui perlucidus unda, margine gramineo patulos incinctus hiatus. hic dea silvarum venatu fessa solebat virgineos artus liquido perfundere rore.

On the right, a spring sounded with clear water into a widening pool surrounded by a grassy border. Here, the goddess of the woods, tired from the hunt, would bathe her virginal limbs in the flowing water.

sola Iovis coniunx non tam, culpetne probetne, eloquitur, quam clade domus ab Agenore ductae gaudet et a Tyria collectum paelice transfert in generis socios odium; subit ecce priori causa recens, gravidamque dolet de semine magni 260 esse Iovis Semelen; dum linguam ad iurgia solvit,

Only the wife of Jupiter did not so much say whether she praised or blamed, as she rejoiced at the disaster which had come down from the house of Agenor, and transferred her gathered hatred from the Tyrian mistress to her companions in birth. Then behold, a new wrong was added to the first, and she grieved because Semele had been made pregnant by the seed of great Jupiter. When she freed her tongue from reproaches,

'bos tibi' Phoebus ait 'solis occurret in arvis, 10 nullum passa iugum curvique inmunis aratri. hac duce carpe vias et, qua requieverit herba, moenia fac condas Boeotiaque illa vocato.'

Phoebus said 'a cow, having suffered no yoke, and free from the curved plough, shall run to you in the lonely fields. With her leading you, set out on the roads, and whatever grass she will have rested on, make sure to build city walls, calling them Boeotian.'

concipit; id deerat; manifestaque crimina pleno fert utero et mater, quod vix mihi contigit, uno de Iove vult fieri: tanta est fiducia formae. 270 fallat eam faxo; nec sum Saturnia, si non ab Iove mersa suo Stygias penetrabit in undas.'

She has conceived; that was what was needed; she bears the obvious crime in her full womb and wants to become a mother from Jupiter, which I have hardly achieved. Such is the confidence of beauty. I'll see to it that he deceives her, and I am not the daughter of Saturn if she doesn't reach the Stygian waters at the hand of Jupiter.'

ergo ubi captato sermone diuque loquendo ad nomen venere Iovis, suspirat et 'opto, 280 Iuppiter ut sit' ait; 'metuo tamen omnia: multi nomine divorum thalamos iniere pudicos.

So when they got to Jupiter's name, having been in conversation for a long time, she sighed and said 'I hope that it is Jupiter, but I fear all those things; many have entered chaste bedrooms in the name of the gods.

iam loca vulneribus desunt; gemit ille sonumque, etsi non hominis, quem non tamen edere possit cervus, habet maestisque replet iuga nota querellis et genibus pronis supplex similisque roganti 240 circumfert tacitos tamquam sua bracchia vultus.

Some places are still unwounded; he groaned and made a sound (habet), though not of a man, and still not one a deer could make, and filled familiar ridges with sad protestations, and on his knees as a suppliant, like someone asking, and displays his silent expressions with his arm equivalents.

qua tamen usque potest, vires sibi demere temptat nec, quo centimanum deiecerat igne Typhoea, nunc armatur eo: nimium feritatis in illo est.

Still he tried to reduce his power however he could, and didn't arm himself with the fire which he threw down upon Typhoeus; there was too much fierceness in him.

Territus hoste novo Cadmus capere arma parabat: 115 'ne cape!' de populo, quem terra creaverat, unus exclamat 'nec te civilibus insere bellis!'

Terrified by this new enemy, Cadmus prepared to take up arms; one of the people whom the earth had created exclaimed 'do not take them - do not engage yourself in civil wars!'

vim tulit: enixa est utero pulcherrima pleno infantem nymphe, iam tunc qui posset amari, 345 Narcissumque vocat. de quo consultus, an esset tempora maturae visurus longa senectae, fatidicus vates 'si se non noverit' inquit.

The beautiful nymph gave birth to a child when her womb was full, who could be loved even then, and called him Narcissus. When consulted about whether he might live a long life to a mature age, the prophetic fortune-teller said 'if he does not discover himself'.

qui color infectis adversi solis ab ictu nubibus esse solet aut purpureae Aurorae, is fuit in vultu visae sine veste Dianae. 185

The colour which is normally in the clouds, tainted by the blow of the opposing sun or of purple Aurora, was in the face of Diana without her clothes.

Prima nepos inter tot res tibi, Cadme, secundas causa fuit luctus, alienaque cornua fronti addita, vosque, canes satiatae sanguine erili. 140

The first cause of your grief, Cadmus, among so many favourable things, was your grandson - once foreign horns were added to his head, and you dogs were satiated on their master's blood.

Fecerat exiguas iam sol altissimus umbras: 50 quae mora sit sociis, miratur Agenore natus vestigatque viros. tegumen derepta leoni pellis erat, telum splendenti lancea ferro et iaculum teloque animus praestantior omni.

The sun at its highest had already made the shadows small: the son of Agenor wondered what delay there was for his companions, and searched for his men. His covering was the skin stripped off a lion, his weapon was a spear of shining iron and a javelin, and a mind better than any weapon.

inperfectus adhuc infans genetricis ab alvo 310 eripitur patrioque tener (si credere dignum est) insuitur femori maternaque tempora conplet.

The tender child, unfinished, was ripped from the womb of his mother, and if it is possible to believe, was sewn into the thigh of his father to complete the full term.

effluxere urnae manibus sanguisque reliquit corpus et attonitos subitus tremor occupat artus. 40

The urns slipped out of their hands and the blood left their bodies, and a sudden tremor seized their stunned limbs.

et Thoos et Cyprio velox cum fratre Lycisce 220 et nigram medio frontem distinctus ab albo Harpalos et Melaneus hirsutaque corpore Lachne et patre Dictaeo, sed matre Laconide nati

Then Thoos and swift Lycisce with her brother Cyprius and Harpalos, distinct by the white in the middle of his black forehead, Melaneus and Lachne, with hairy body. Labros and Argiodus, born of a Dictaean father and Cretan mother,

est aliud levius fulmen, cui dextra cyclopum 305 saevitiae flammaeque minus, minus addidit irae: tela secunda vocant superi; capit illa domumque intrat Agenoream. corpus mortale tumultus non tulit aetherios donisque iugalibus arsit.

There was a lighter bolt, to which the right hand of the cyclops added less anger and savage flames: the gods called them his secondary weapons. He seized them and entered Agenor's house. Her mortal body could not endure the heavenly storms, and she burned by her own marriage gifts.

sic, ubi tolluntur festis aulaea theatris, surgere signa solent primumque ostendere vultus, cetera paulatim, placidoque educta tenore tota patent imoque pedes in margine ponunt.

Thus, as the curtains of a merry theatre rise up, the figures became used to standing up, and showed their face first, then gradually the rest of their bodies, and the whole of them was revealed, drawn out in a neat order, and they placed their feet on the border below.

ut nemus intravit letataque corpora vidit 55 victoremque supra spatiosi tergoris hostem tristia sanguinea lambentem vulnera lingua, 'aut ultor vestrae, fidissima pectora, mortis, aut comes' inquit 'ero.' dixit dextraque molarem sustulit et magnum magno conamine misit. 60

When he entered the woods and saw the slain bodies, and the enemy of huge bulk in victory over them, licking their sad wounds with a bloodied tongue, he said 'either I will be your avenger, oh brave hearts, or your companion in death. He spoke, and lifted up a large stone with his right hand, and threw it down with great force.

Dumque ea per terras fatali lege geruntur tutaque bis geniti sunt incunabula Bacchi, forte Iovem memorant diffusum nectare curas seposuisse graves vacuaque agitasse remissos cum Iunone iocos et 'maior vestra profecto est, 320

While these things were brought about on earth because of that fatal law, and the cradle of the twice-born Bacchus was safe, they say that Jupiter, filled up with wine, had laid aside his heavy duties and exchanged pleasantries and relaxed jokes with Juno, and said

Dum dubitat, videre canes, primique Melampus Ichnobatesque sagax latratu signa dedere, Cnosius Ichnobates, Spartana gente Melampus. inde ruunt alii rapida velocius aura, Pamphagos et Dorceus et Oribasos, Arcades omnes,

Whilst he was deliberating, the dogs saw him; first Melampus and wise Ichnobates gave the sign with barking - Ichnobates from Crete, and Melampus from the Spartan race. The rest rushed more quickly than the rapid breeze, Pamphagos and Dorceus and Oribasos, all from Arcady,

Dum spatium victor victi considerat hostis, 95 vox subito audita est; neque erat cognoscere promptum, unde, sed audita est: 'quid, Agenore nate, peremptum serpentem spectas? et tu spectabere serpens.'

Whilst the victor looked upon the size of his conquered enemy, a voice was suddenly heard (it wasn't easy to tell where from, but it was heard): 'why, son of Agenor, are you looking at this snake you have killed? You too shall be looked upon as a serpent.'

Talibus ignaram Iuno Cadmeida dictis formarat: rogat illa Iovem sine nomine munus. cui deus 'elige!' ait 'nullam patiere repulsam, quoque magis credas, Stygii quoque conscia sunto 290 numina torrentis: timor et deus ille deorum est.'

With such words Juno influenced the ignorant daughter of Cadmus; she asked Jupiter for a gift without a name. The god said to her 'choose; nothing will be refused, and so you might believe me more, I swear it by the Stygian torrent, that is the divine conscience, the fear, and god, of all the gods.'

Labros et Argiodus et acutae vocis Hylactor quosque referre mora est: ea turba cupidine praedae 225 per rupes scopulosque adituque carentia saxa, quaque est difficilis quaque est via nulla, sequuntur.

and Hylactor of sharp voice, and the rest, whom it is a waste of time to mention. The pack, greedy for prey, followed each other over cliffs and crags and inaccessible rocks, where the way is difficult or where there is no way at all.

nec nisi finita per plurima vulnera vita ira pharetratae fertur satiata Dianae. Rumor in ambiguo est; aliis violentior aequo visa dea est, alii laudant dignamque severa virginitate vocant: pars invenit utraque causas. 255

and it is said that only when his life was ended by numerous wounds, the anger of Diana the quiver-bearer was satisfied. Rumour was in a state of uncertainty; by some the goddess was seen as more violent than fair, and others praised her dignity due to her strict virginity; each part found some justifications.

dat spatium collo summasque cacuminat aures 195 cum pedibusque manus, cum longis bracchia mutat cruribus et velat maculoso vellere corpus.

and made his neck longer, and the tops of his ears pointed, and changed his hands into feet and his arms into long legs, and covered his body with a dappled hide.

exemploque pari furit omnis turba, suoque Marte cadunt subiti per mutua vulnera fratres. iamque brevis vitae spatium sortita iuventus sanguineam tepido plangebat pectore matrem, 125 quinque superstitibus, quorum fuit unus Echion.

and the whole crowd raged in a similar way, and the brothers suddenly fell in their own war by mutual wounds. Now the group, granted the space of a short life, pounded on the warm breast of their bloodied mother (earth). Five remained standing, one of whom was Echion.

vincla duae pedibus demunt; nam doctior illis Ismenis Crocale sparsos per colla capillos colligit in nodum, quamvis erat ipsa solutis. 170

and they unfastened the straps on both feet; then, more skilled than the rest, Theban Crocale, gathered the hair spread around her neck into a knot, although her own was still loose.

atque ita terrigenis rigido de fratribus unum comminus ense ferit, iaculo cadit eminus ipse; hunc quoque qui leto dederat, non longius illo 120 vivit et exspirat, modo quas acceperat auras,

and thus he stabbed one of the earth-born brothers with his rigid sword at close quarters, and he himself fell from a spear thrown from a distance. He too, who had consigned him to death, did not live any longer than him and breathed out the air he had just received,

Nebrophonosque valens et trux cum Laelape Theron et pedibus Pterelas et naribus utilis Agre Hylaeusque ferox nuper percussus ab apro deque lupo concepta Nape pecudesque secuta

brave Nebrophonos, with savage Laelape and Theron, swift-footed Pterelas and keen-scented Agre and ferocious Hylaeus - recently attacked by a wild boar - then the wolf-born Nape, shepherded,

cuius in extremo est antrum nemorale recessu arte laboratum nulla: simulaverat artem ingenio natura suo; nam pumice vivo et levibus tofis nativum duxerat arcum; 160

in the extreme depths of it was a cave in the wooded depths, not fashioned by art; nature had simulated art with its own genius, for it had drawn up a native arch with natural pumice and light tufa.

sicut erant, nudae viso sua pectora nymphae percussere viro subitisque ululatibus omne inplevere nemus circumfusaeque Dianam 180 corporibus texere suis; tamen altior illis ipsa dea est colloque tenus supereminet omnis.

just as the nymphs who were naked, seeing a man they beat on their breasts and filled the whole forest with their sudden wailing, they poured around Diana and covered her with their bodies; however the goddess was taller than them, and stood above them all as far as her neck.

'profeci quid enim totiens per iurgia?' dixit, 'ipsa petenda mihi est; ipsam, si maxima Iuno rite vocor, perdam, si me gemmantia dextra sceptra tenere decet, si sum regina Iovisque 265 et soror et coniunx, certe soror. at, puto, furto est contenta, et thalami brevis est iniuria nostri.

she said 'what have I gained from such frequent reproaches? She must be sought for me; if I am rightfully called highest Juno, if the jewelled sceptre belongs to my gentle right hand, if I am indeed Jupiter's queen, and sister and wife - certainly sister - I will destroy her. But I think she is happy in her secret, and the harm to our marriage is brief.

quas habuit sic hausit aquas vultumque virilem perfudit spargensque comas ultricibus undis 190 addidit haec cladis praenuntia verba futurae:

she snatched up some water, which she did have, and poured it on the man's face, spraying his hair with avenging water, and added these words, foretelling misfortune to come:

tegmina mox capitum picto nutantia cono, mox umeri pectusque onerataque bracchia telis exsistunt, crescitque seges clipeata virorum. 110

soon a nodding head wearing a decorated helmet, and then the shoulders and chest, and arms laden with weapons rose up, and a crop of men grew, armed with shields.

sistite opus praesens nodosaque tollite lina!' iussa viri faciunt intermittuntque laborem. Vallis erat piceis et acuta densa cupressu, 155 nomine Gargaphie succinctae sacra Dianae,

stop your current job and take up the knotted nets'. The men carried out this order and interrupted their own work. There was a valley called Gargaphia, thick with pine trees and sharp cypress, sacred to Diana, with her hitched up skirt.

dixit, 'ut auctoris sortem in contraria mutet, nunc quoque vos feriam.' percussis anguibus isdem 330 forma prior rediit, genetivaque venit imago.

that it changes the violator into the opposite gender, I will now strike you again'. Having hit the snakes in the same way, he returned to his former shape, and his original appearance came back.

bos stetit et tollens speciosam cornibus altis 20 ad caelum frontem mugitibus inpulit auras atque ita respiciens comites sua terga sequentis procubuit teneraque latus submisit in herba.

the cow stood still and, raising her handsome forehead to the sky and with her horns held high, she pushed the air with her mooing. And thus, looking back at her companions following behind her, she lay down, and placed her side on the soft grass.

cum iuvenis placido per devia lustra vagantes participes operum conpellat Hyantius ore: 'lina madent, comites, ferrumque cruore ferarum,

then the young Boeotian (Actaeon), with a calm face, addressed his companions in his work, wandering through the uncharted wilderness: 'the nets and swords are wet with the blood of our wild victims, my men,

ecce nepos Cadmi dilata parte laborum per nemus ignotum non certis passibus errans 175 pervenit in lucum: sic illum fata ferebant. qui simul intravit rorantia fontibus antra,

there - the grandson of Cadmus, putting off part of his work, was wandering through the unknown forest with uncertain footsteps and reached the grove; it was here that the fates brought him. As soon as he entered the cave, dampened by the springs,

fortunaeque dies habuit satis; altera lucem cum croceis invecta rotis Aurora reducet, 150 propositum repetemus opus: nunc Phoebus utraque distat idem meta finditque vaporibus arva.

this day has enough luck; when Aurora on her golden wheels (chariot) brings another day, we will seek again the proposed task; now Phoebus too is far away from both ends and splits the fields with his heat.

Poemenis et natis comitata Harpyia duobus 215 et substricta gerens Sicyonius ilia Ladon et Dromas et Canache Sticteque et Tigris et Alce et niveis Leucon et villis Asbolos atris praevalidusque Lacon et cursu fortis Aello

trusty Poemenis and Harpyia with her two pups. There is Sicyonian Ladon bearing a narrow belly, and Dromas, Canache, Sticte, Tigris, Alce and white-haired Leucon and black-haired Asbolos.

donec Agenorides coniectum in guttura ferrum 90 usque sequens pressit, dum retro quercus eunti obstitit et fixa est pariter cum robore cervix. pondere serpentis curvata est arbor et ima parte flagellari gemuit sua robora caudae.

until Cadmus kept urging, following it, and shoved the weapon into its throat, when an oak tree stood in the way of it going back, and its neck became fixed in the tree. The tree was bent by the weight of the serpent and groaned from its wood being beaten by the end of the tail.

hos quoque iam iuvenes; sed scilicet ultima semper 135 exspectanda dies hominis, dicique beatus ante obitum nemo supremaque funera debet.

who are now young men. But of course we must always wait for a man's last day, and no one should be called blessed before his death and final funeral rites.