 Section 1 of the Akeleid. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Akeleid by Stasis, translated by J. H. Mosley. Book 1, Part 1. Tell, O goddess, of great hearted yacities, and of the progeny that the thunderer feared and forbade to inherit his father's heaven. Highly renowned are the warriors' deeds in the Aeanian song, but more remains untold. Suffer me, for such is my desire, to recount the whole story of the hero, to summon him forward from his hiding place in Cyrus with the deliquient trumpet, and not to stop short at the dragging of Hector, but to lead the youth through the whole tale of Troy. Only do thou, O Phoebus, if with a worthy draught I drain the former fount, vouchsafe new springs, and weave my hair with propitious chaplets. For not as a newcomer do I seek entrance to the Aeonian Grove, nor are these the first fillets that magnify my brow. The fields of Dursi know it, and Thebes counts my name among her forefathers of old time and with her own Amphion. But thou, whom far before all others, the pride of Italy in Greece, regards with reverent awe, for whom the laurels' train of poet and warrior chief flourish in mutual rivalry, already one of them grieves to be surpassed. Grant pardon, and allow me anxiously to toil in this dust awhile. Thine is the theme, whereat with long, nor yet confident preparation I am laboring, and great Achilles plays the prelude unto thee. The Darden Shepherd had set sail from the Ibellion shore, having wrought sweet havoc in thoughtless amicly, and fulfilling the presage of his mother's dream, was retracing his guilty way, where helly deep sunk below the sea. And now, a near-aid holds sway over the detested waves. Wenthetus, ha, never vain, or a parent's auguries, started with terror beneath the glassy flood at the idian oars. Without delay, she sprang forth from her watery bower, accompanied by her train of sisters. The narrowing shores of Frix's Swam, and the straightened sea, had not room for its mistresses. As soon as she had shaken the brine from off her, and entered the air of heaven. There's danger to me, said she, in yonder fleet, and threat of deadly harm. I recognize the truth of Proteus' warnings. Lo, Bologna brings from the vessel amid uplifted torches a new daughter in Lacha Priam. Already I see the Ionian and IGNC's pressed by a thousand keels. Nor does it suffice that all the country of the Grecians conspire with the proud sons of Atreus. Soon will my Achilles be sought for by Lennon C.A., and himself will wish to follow them. Why indeed did I suffer pallion and the stern masters cave to cradle his infant years? There, if I mistake not, he plays the role at the Battle of the Lapiths, and already takes his measure with his father's spear. Oh sorrow! Oh fears that came too late to a mother's heart! Could I not, unhappy that I am, when first the timber of Ritium was launched upon my flood, have raised a mighty sea, and pursued with a tempest on the deep the adulterous robber's sails, and led on all my sisters against him, even now. It is too late, the outrage has been wrought in full. Yet will I go, and clinging to the gods of ocean and the right hand of second jove, not else remains, and treat him in piteous supplication by the ears of Tethys and his age sire for one single storm. She spoke, and opportunely beheld the mighty monarch. He was coming from Oceanus, his host, gladdened by the banquet, and his countenance effused with the nectar of the deep. Wherefore, the winds and tempests are silent, and with tranquil song proceed the tritons who bear his armor and the rock-like sea monsters and the Tyrrhenian herds, and gamble around and below him, saluting their king. He towers on high above the peaceful waves, urging on his team with his three-pronged spear. Front-wise they run, at furious speed, amid showers of foam. Behind they swim and blot out their footprints with their tails. When Tethys, oh sire and ruler of the mighty deep, sees thou to what uses thou hast made away o'er the hapless ocean? The crimes of the nations pass by with unmolested sails, since the Pegasian bark broke through the sanctions of the waters, and profane their hallowed majesty on Jason's quest of plunder. Low, freighted with another wicked theft, the spoils of hospitality sails the daring arbiter of unjust Ida, destined to cause what sorrow alas to heaven and earth, and what to me? Is it thus we requite the joy of the Frisian triumph? Is this the way of Venus? Is this her gift to her dear war? These ships, at least, no demigods nor our own thesias do they carry home, overwhelm if thou still hast any regard for the waters, or give the sea into my power? No cruelty do I purpose, suffer me to fear for my own son, grant me to drive away my sorrow, nor let it be thy pleasure that out of all the seas I find a home in but a single coast and the rocks of an alien tomb. With torn cheeks she made her prayer, and with bare bosom would feign hinder the Cerulean steeds, but the ruler of the seas invites her into his chariot and soothes her thus with friendly words. Sick not in vain fetus, to sink the Dardanian fleet, the fates forbid it. It is the sure ordinance of heaven that Europe and Asia should join in bloody conflict, and Jupiter hath issued his decree of war in appointed years of dreary carnage. What prowess of thy son in the city and dust, what vast funeral trains of frigid matrons, shall thou victoriously behold, when thy yassities shall flood the Trojan fields with streaming blood, and a non-forbid that choked rivers to flow and check his chariot speed with hector's corpse and mightily overthrow my walls, my useless toil. Seize now to complain of Palaeus and thy inferior wedlock. Thy child shall be deemed begotten of jove. Nor shall thou suffer unavanged, but shalt use thy kindred seas. I will grant thee to raise the billows, when the Dardanians return and Cafarias shows forth his nightly signals and we search together for the terrible Ulysses. He spoke, but she downcast at the stern refusal, for but now she was preparing to stir up the waters and make war upon the alien craft, devised in her mind another plan, and sadly turned her strokes towards the hemonian land. Thrice strove she with her arms. Thrice spurned the clear water with her feet, and the Thessalian waves are washing her snow-white ankles. The mountains rejoice, the marriage-bowers fling-open their recesses, and sparkias and wide, abundant streams flows to meet the goddess and laps her footsteps with his fresh water. She delights not in the scene, but wearies her mind with schemes assayed and taught cunning by her devoted love seeks out the aged Kyren. His lofty home bores deep into the mountain, beneath the long, overarching vault of Pylian. Part had been hollowed out by toil, part worn away by its own age. Yet the images and couches of the gods are shown, and the places that each had sanctified by his reclining and his sacred presence. Within are the centaurs wide and lofty stalls, far different from those of his wicked brethren. Here are no spears that have tasted human blood, nor ashen clubs broken in festal conflict, nor mixing bowls shattered upon kingdred foemen, but innocent quivers and mighty hides of beasts. These did he take while yet in the prime of age, but now, a warrior no more, his only toil was to learn herbs that bring health to creatures doubting of their lives, or to describe to his pupil upon his lyre the heroes of all time. On the threshold's edge he awaited his return from hunting, and was urging the laying of the feast and brightening his abode with lavish fire. When far off the near-aid was seen climbing upward from the shore. He burst forth from the forests, joy speeds his going, and the well-known hoofbeat of the sage rang on the now unwanted plain. Then, bowing down to his horse's shoulders, he leads her with courtly hand within his humble dwelling and warns her of the cave. Long time has thesis been scanning every corner with silent glance. Then, impatient of the lay she cries, Tell me, Kyren, where's my darling? Why spends the boy any time apart from thee? Is it not with reason that my sleep is troubled and terrible portents from the gods and fearful panics, were they were false, afflict his mother's heart? For now I behold swords that threaten to pierce my womb. Now my arms are bruised with lamentation. Now savage beasts assail my breasts. Often, ah, horror, I seem to take my son down to the void of Tartarus and dip him a second time in the springs of sticks. The Carpathian seer bids me banish these terrors by the ordinance of a magic rite and purify the lad in secret waters beyond the bound of heaven's vault, where is the farthest shore of ocean and Father Pontus is warmed by the ingliding stars. There, awful sacrifices and gifts to gods unknown. It is long to recount all, and I am forbidden, give him to me rather. Thus spoke his mother in lying speech, nor would he have given him up, had she dared to confess to the old man the soft raiment and dishonourable guard. Then he replies, Take him, I pray, O best of parents, take him and assuage the gods with humble and treaty. For thy hopes are pitched too high, and envy needs much appeasing. I add not to thy fears, but will confess the truth. Some swift and violent deed, the foreboding of a sire deceive me not, far beyond his tender years. Formally, he was wont to endure my anger and listen eagerly to my commands, nor wander far from my cave. Now, ossa cannot contain him, nor my tepelean and all the snows of Thessaly. Even the Santors often complain to me of plundered homes and herds stolen before their eyes, and that they themselves are driven from field and river. They devise violence and fraud and utter angry threats. Once, when the Thessalian pine bore hither the princes of Argus, I saw the angle cities enthousious, but I say no more. Cold pallor sees the daughter of Nereus. Lo, he was scum, made larger by much dust and sweat, and yet, for all his weapons and hasten labours, still pleasant to the sight. A radiant glow shimmers on his snow-white countenance, and his locks shine more comely than tawny gold. The bloom of youth is not yet changed by new springing down. A tranquil flame burns in his lance. There's much of his mother in his look, even as when the hunter Apollo returns from Lycia and exchanges his fierce quiver for the quill. By chance, too, he is in joyful mood. Ha! How joy enhances beauty! Beneath follow his cliff, he had stricken a lioness, lately delivered, and had left her in the empty lair, but had brought the cubs and was making them show their claws. Yet, when he sees his mother on the well-known threshold, away he throws them, catches her up and binds her in his longing arms, already violent in his embrace and equal to her in height. Patroclus follows him, bound to him even then by a strong affection, and strains to rival all his mighty doings, well matched in the pursuits and ways of youth, but far behind in strength, and yet to pass to Pergamum with equal fate. Straightway, with rapid bound, he hies him to the nearest river, and freshens in its waters his steaming face and hair, just as Caster enters the shallows of Eurotus on his panting steed and tricks out anew the weary splendors of his star. The old man marvels as he adorns him, caressing now his breast, now his strong shoulders. Her very joy pierces his mother's heart. Then Kyren prays her to taste the banquet and the gifts of Bacchus, and contriving various amusements for her beguiling, at last brings forth the lyre, and moves the care-consoling strings, and trying the chord slightly with his finger, gives them to the boy. Gladly his sins of the mighty causes of noble deeds, how many behests of his haughty stepmother, the son of Amphitrean performed, how Pollux with his glove smoked down the cruel bedricks, with water grip the son of Aegeus and folded and crushed the limbs of the Minoan bull. Lastly, his own mother's marriage feast and pillion trodden by the gods. Then Thetis relaxes her anxious countenance and smiled, nigh to draw them on to slumber, a huge centaur lays him down on a stony couch, and Achilles lovingly twines his arms about his shoulders, though his faithful parent is there, and prefers the wanted breast. Thetis, standing by night upon the sea echoing rocks, this way and that divides her purpose, and ponders in what hiding place she will set her son, in what country she shall choose to conceal him. Nearest is Thrace, but steeped in the passionate love of war, nor does the hearty folk of Macedon please her, nor the sons of Seacrops, sure to excite to noble deeds, nor Cestis and the Bay of Abidas, too opportune for ships. She decides to roam the lofty Cyclades. Of these she spurns Mycanus, and humbles Sarifas, and Lennus, cruel to its men, and Delus, that gives all the world a welcome. Of late, from the unwarlike palace of Lycametes, had she heard the sound of maiden bands, and the echo of their sport along the shore. What time she was sent to follow a jean freed from his stubborn bonds, and to count the hundred fetters of the god. This land finds favor, and seems safest to the timid mother. Even so, a bird, already taking anxious thought, as her deliverer draws nigh, on what branch to hang her empty home. Here, for sea's wind, things her fearfully of snakes, and there of men. At last, in her doubt, a shady spot finds favor. Scares as she alighted on the boughs, and straightway loves the tree. One more care abides in her mind, and troubles the sad goddess. Whether she shall carry her son in her own bosom, or the waves, or use great Triton's aid. Whether she shall summon the swift winds to help her, or the Thomention that is wont to drink the main. Then she calls out from the waves, and bridles with a sharp-edged shell her team of dolphins twain, which Tethys, mighty queen, had nourished for her in an echoing veil beneath the sea. None throughout all Neptune's watery realm had such renown for their sea-green beauty, nor greater speed of swimming, nor more of human sense. These she halts in the deep shore water, lest they take harm from the touch of naked earth. Then, in her own arms she carries Achilles, his body utterly relaxed in a boy slumber from the rocks of the hemonian cave down to the placid waters and the beach that she had bitten be silent. Cynthia lights her way and shines out with full orb. Kyren escorts the goddess and careless of the sea and treats her speedy return, and hides his moistened eyes, and high upon his horse's body gazes out towards them as suddenly they are whirled away, and now are lost to view, where for a short while the foamy marks of their going gleam white, and the way dies away into the water remain. Him, destined nevermore to return to the salient tempi, now mournful followy bewails, now cloudy atheris, and spherchias with diminished flood and a silent grotto of the sage, the fawns listened for his voyage songs in vain, and the nymphs bemoaned their long-hoped-forward nubshells. Now they overwhelm the stars, and from the low and level main titan-wheels heavenward his dripping steeds, and down from the expanse of air falls the sea that the chariot bore up, but long since had the mother traverse the waves and gain the syrian shores, and the weary dolphins had been loosed from their mistresses' yoke. When the boy's sleep was stirred and his opening eyes grew conscious of the inpouring day. In a maze at the light that greets him, he asks, where is he? What are these waves? Where is Pellian? All he beholds is different and unknown, and he hesitates to recognize his mother. Quickly she caresses him and soothes his fear. If, dear lad, a kindly lot had brought me the wedlock that it offered, the fields of heaven should I be holding thee, a glorious star in my embrace, nor a celestial mother should I fear the lowly fates or the destinies of earth. But now, an equal is the birth, my son, and only on thy mother's side is the way of death barred for thee. Moreover, times of terror draw nigh, and peril hovers above the utmost goal. Retire we then, relax a while thy mighty spirit, and score not this rayment of mine. If the Tyrynthian took in his rough hand Lydian wool and women's wands, if it becomes Bacchus to trail a gold embroidered robe behind him, if Jupiter put on a woman's form and doubtful sex we cannot the mighty Ceneus, this way I entreat thee. Suffer me to escape the threatening, baleful cloud. Soon will I restore the plains and the fields where the centaurs roam. By this beauty of thine and the coming joys of youth I pray thee. If for thy sake I endure the earth and an inglorious mate, if at the birth I fortify thee with the stern waters of sticks, high would I head holy. Take these safe robes awhile. They will in no wise harm thy valor. Why this thou turn away? What means that glance? What that was shame to soften thee in this garden? Dear lad, I swear it by my kindred waters. Tyryn shall know not of this. So doth she work on his rough heart, vainly cajoling. The thought of his sire and his great teacher oppose her prayer and the rude beginnings of his mighty spirit. Even so, should one try to subdue with earliest rain a horse full of the meddlesome fire of ungoverned youth, he, having long delighted in stream and meadow and his own proud beauty, gives not his neck to the yoke, nor his fierce mouth to the brittle and snorts with rage at passing beneath a master's sway and marvels that he learns another gate. What God endued the despairing mother with fraud and cunning. What device drew Achilles from his stubborn purpose? It chanced that Cyrus was keeping his old day in honor of Paulus, guardian of the shore. And that the sisters, offspring of peace-loving like comedies, had on this sacred morn gone forth from their native town, a license rarely given to pay tribute of the spring and buying their grave tresses with the leaf of the goddess and scattered flowers upon her spear. All were of rarest beauty, all clad alike and all in lusty youth. Their years of girlish modesty now ended and maidenhood ripe for the marriage couch. But as far as Venus, by comparison, doth surpass the green nymphs of the sea, whereas Diana rises taller by head and shoulders than the niads, so doth they demean, queen of the lovely choir, outshine and dazzle her fair sisters. The bright color flames upon her rosy countness, a more brilliant light is in her jewels, bold as a more alluring gleam. As beauty is where the goddess herself would she but lay aside the serpents on her breast and doth her helm and pacify her brow. When he beheld her, far in advance of her tendon train, the lad, un-gentle as he was and hard-hold from any touch of passion, stood spellbound and drank in strange fire through all his frame. Nor does the love he has in mind lie hidden, but the flame pulsating in his inmost being returns to his face and colors the glow upon his cheeks and as he feels its power runs o'er his body with a light sweat. As when the massagette darken mil-white bowels with blood-red dye or ivory is stained with purple, so by varying signs of blush and pallor does the sudden fire betray its presence, he would rush forward and unprovoked fiercely break up the ceremonies of his hosts, reckless of the crown and forgetful of his ears, did not shame restrain him and all of the mother by his side. As when a bullock soon to be the siren leader of a herd, though his horns have not yet come full circle, perceives a hypher of snowy whiteness, the comrade of his pasture, his spirit takes fire and he foams at the mouth with his first passion, glad at heart the herdsmen watch him and check his fury. Seizing the moment, his mother purposefully accosts him. Is it too hard a thing, my son, to make pretence of dancing and join hands and sport among these maidens? Has thou ought such nith osa and the crags of pallion? Oh, if it were my lot to match two loving hearts and to bear another achilles in my arms, he is softened and blushes for joy and with sly and sidelong glance repels the robes less certainly. His mother sees him in doubt and willing to be compelled and casts the raiment o'er him. Then she softens his stalwart neck and bows his strong shoulders and relaxes the muscles of his arms and tames and orders duly his uncomed tresses and sets her own necklace about the neck she loves. Then, keeping his step within the embroidered skirt, she teaches him gait and motion and modesty of speech. Even as the walks and images that the artist's thumb will make to live take form and follow the fire and the hand that carves them, such was the picture of the goddess as she transformed her son. Nor did she struggle long for plenteous charm remains to him though his manhood brooketh not and he baffles beholders by the puzzle of his sex that by a narrow margin hides its secret. They go forward and thetis unsparingly piles her councils in persuasive words. Thus then, my son, must thou manage thy gait, thus thy features and thy hands, and imitate thy comrades and counterfeit their ways, lest the king suspect thee and admit thee not to the women's chambers and the crafty cunning of our enterprise be lost. So speaking, she delays not to put correcting touches to his attire. Thus, when Hecate returns where yet to her sire and brother from Therapne haunt of maidens, her mother bears her company as she goes and with her own hand covers her shoulders and beard arms. Herself arranges the bow and quiver and pulls down the girded robe and is proud to trim the disordered tresses. Straightway she accosts the monarch and there, in the presence of the altars, here, O king, she says, I present to thee the sister of my Achilles. She is now not how proud her glance and like her brothers. So high her spirit, she begs for arms and a bow to carry on her shoulders and like an elison to spurn the thought of wedlock. But my son is enough care for me. Let her carry the baskets at the sacrifice. Do thou control and tame her willfulness and keep her to her sex till the time for marriage come and the end of her maiden modesty. Nor suffer her to engage in wanton wrestling matches nor to frequent the woodland haunts. Bring her up indoors in seclusion among girls of her own age. Above all, remember to keep her from the harbor and the shore. Lately thou sawest the fridging sails, already ships that have crossed the sea have learned treasured to mutual loyalties. The sire exceeds to her words and receives the disguised Achilles by his mother's ruse. Who can resist when God's deceive? May more. He venerates her with a suppliant's hand and gives thanks that he was chosen. Nor is the band of dutious Syrian maidens slow to dart king glances at the face of their new comrade. How she oar tops them by head and neck. How broad her expanse of breasts and shoulders. Then they invite her to join the dance and approach the holy rites and make room for her in their ranks and rejoice to be near her. Just as Idaalian birds cleaving the soft clouds and longsends gathered in the sky or in their homes, if a strange bird from some distant region has joined them wing to wing are at first all filled with amazing fear. Then, nearer and nearer they fly and while yet in the air have made him one of them and hover joyfully around with favorite beat of pinions and lead him to their lofty resting places. Long as she departs lingers the mother at the gate while she repeats advice and implants whispered secrets in his ear and in hush tones gives her last counsels. Then she plunges into the main and gazing back swims far away and treats with flattering prayers the island shore. O land that I love to whom by timid cunning I have committed the plage of my anxious care a trust that is great indeed mayst thou prosper and be silent, I beg, as creed was silent for Rhea and during honor an everlasting shrine shall gird thee nor shall thou be surpassed by unstable delas sacred alike to wind and wave and clam abode of new raids among the shallows of the Cyclades where the rocks are shattered by Aegean storms an isle that sailors swear by only admit no the name I beg. Here are only the ones of Bacchus not that avails for war that tale bid rumors spread and while the Dorian armaments make ready and mavorous rages from world to world he may, for ought I care let Achilles be the maiden daughter of good like Amides meanwhile a vengeance irreb inflamed by war's sweet frenzy and the monarchs complaining in treaties excites her righteous ire more earnestly pleads that son of Atreus who espouse abids at home and by his telling makes the Illian cry more grievous How, without aid of Mars or force of arms the daughter of heaven and child of mighty Sparta was taken and justice, good faith and the gods spurned by one deed of repine Is this then fridge and honor? Is this the intercourse of land with land? What awaits the common folk when wrong so deadly attacks the foremost chieftains? All races all ages flock together nor are they only aroused whom the Isthmian barrier with its rampart fronting on two seas and closes and Malleus' wave resounding promontory but where afar the strait of frixes sunders Europe and Asia and the peoples that fringe Abidas shore bound fast by the waters of the upper sea the war fever rises high thrilling the agitated cities Tamizzi tames her bronze the Obian coast shakes with its dockyards my sunny echoes with innumerable forges Pisa makes new chariots Nemea gives the skins of wild beasts Sira vies and pecking tide the arrow-bearing quivers Lerna in covering heavy shields with the hides of slaughtered bullocks Etolia and Firsacarnania send infantry to war Argus collects her squadrons the pasturelands of rich Arcadia are emptied Epirus brittles her swift-footed nurslings the shades of fosters and aonia grow scant by reason of the javelins Pylos and Messini strain their fortress engines no land but bears its burden Ancestral weapons, long renounced are torn from lofty portals Gifts to the gods melt in the flame Gold, raft from the vine-keeping mars turns to fiercer use Nowhere are the shady haunts of old Atheris is lesser grown Lofty tegetis sinks low The shorn hills see the light of day Now the whole forest is afloat Oaks are hewn to make a fleet The woods are diminished for oars The woods are diminished for oars The woods are diminished for oars The woods are diminished for oars Iron is forced into countless uses For riveting prowls For armor of defense For brittling chargers For knitting rough coats of mail by a thousand links To smoke with blood To drink deep of wounds To drive death home in conspiracy with poison They make the dripping wetstones thin with grinding And add wrath to sluggish swordpoints No limit is there to the shaping of bows of bullets, or the charring of steaks or the heightening of helms with crests A mid-such commotion fastily alone bewails her indolent repose and brings a twofold complaint against the fates that Pilius is too old and Achilles not yet ripe of age Already the lord of war had drained the land of palipses and the Grecian world madly flinging aboard both men and horses All a swarm are the harbors and the base invisible for shipping and the moving fleet stirs its own storms and billows the sea itself fails the vessels and their canvas swallows up every breath of wind Allis, sacred to Hecate first gathers together the Danayan fleet Allis, who's exposed cliff and long projecting ridge climb the UBNC coast beloved by the mountain wandering goddess Therese that raises his head hard by against the barking waves He, when he beheld the palasigian ship sail by, thrice thundered from peak to wave and gave presage of a night of fury There assembles the armament for Troy's undoing there the vast array is soren while the sun completes an annual course Ben first did Greece behold her own might then a scattered continent mass took form and feature and was marshaled under one single lord even so does the round hunting net confine the hidden beasts and gradually hem them in as the toils are drawn close they in panic of the torches and the shouting leave their wide pathless haunts and marvel that their own mountain is shrinking till from every side they pour into the narrow veil the herds startle each other and are tamed by mutual fear bristly boar and bear and wolf are driven together and the hind despises the captured lions but although the twain a treaty make war in their own cause together those stillenus and tideas sun surpass in eager valor their father's fame and antelicus heats not his ears and Ajax shakes upon his arm the seven leaders of the herd and a circle vast as a city wall though Ulysses, sleepless in council in deeds of arms joins in the quarrel yet all the host yearns ardently for the absent Achilles lovingly they dwell upon Achilles' name Achilles alone is called for against Hector him and none other do they speak of as the doom of Priam and of Troy for who else grew up from infancy crawling on fresh ducks knowing the hemonian valleys whom else did the centaur take in hand and shape his root beginnings and tender years whose line of ancestry runs nearer heaven whom else did the near-aid take by stealth through the stigian waters and make his fair limbs impenetrable to steal such talk to the grecian cohorts repeat an interchange the band of chieftains yields before him and gladly owns the feed so when the pale denizens of heaven to the flagrian camp and already gradivas was starring to the height of his audrician spear and Tritonia raised her Libyan snakes and the dillians strongly bent his mighty bow nature in breathless terror stood looking to the thunderer alone when would he summon the lightnings and the tempests from the clouds how many thunderbolts would he ask of fiery Aetna there, while the princes surrounded by the mingled multitudes of their folk hold counsel of times for sailing and for war, protestilals amid great tumult rebukes the prophet Calcas and cries, for to him was given the keenest desire to fight and the glory even then of suffering death the first oh son of Thastor, forgetful of thebes and thy own tripods when will thou open thy god-possessed lips more surely or why does thou hide the secret of fate? cease thou how all are amazed at the unknown aesities and clamour for him the caledonian hero seems not in the people's eyes and so too Ajax born of mighty Telemann and lesser Ajax so do we also but Mars and the capture of Troy will prove the truth slain their leaders for shame they all love him as a deity of war quickly speak or why are thy logs unreaved in honour in what coasts lies he hidden in what land must we seek him for report has it that he is living neither in Kyren's cave nor in the halls of Polya's hisire come, break in upon the gods harry the fates that lie concealed quaff greedily if ever thou doest thy draughts of laurel fire we have relieved thee of dread arms and cruel swords and never shall a helm profane by unwarlike locks yet blast shall thou be and foremost of our chiefs if of thyself thou dost find great achilles for the Deneans long since has the son of Fester been glancing round about him with excited movements and by his first palder betray the incoming of the god soon he rolls fiery, bloodshot eyes seeing neither his comrades nor the camp but blind and absent from the scene he now overhears the mighty councils of gods in the upper air now accosts the prescient birds now the stern sisters threads now anxiously consults the incense laden altars and quickly scans the shooting flames and feeds upon the sacred vapours his hair streams out and the fillet totters on his stiffened locks his head rolls and his staggers in his gait at last, trembling, he loses his weary lips from their long bellowings and his voice has struggled free from the resisting frenzy wither bearest thou o' near aid by thy woman's guile great cairns mighty pupil send him hither why dost thou carry him away I will not suffer it mine is he mine thou art a goddess of the deep but I too am inspired by Phoebus in what hiding places try as thou to conceal the destroyer of Asia I see her, all bewildered among the cyclides in bay stealth seeking out the coast we are ruined the accomplice land of Lycomidas finds favour ha ha horrid deed see, flowing garment drape his breast random boy, random anewed not to thy timid mother whoa, whoa away and is gone who is that wicked maiden yonder here, tottering, he seized the madness lost its force and with a shudder he collapsed and fell before the altar then, the Caledonian hero accosts the hesitating Ithacan tis us that task summons for I could not refuse to bear thee company should I thought so weedy though he be sunk in the echoing caves of Tethys far removed the bosom of water in the rias thou wilt find him do thou but keep alert the cunning and foresight of thy watchful mind and arouse thy fertile craft no prophet, methinks would make bold in perplexity to see the truth before thee Ulysses in joy makes answer so may Almighty God bring it to pass and the virgin guardian of thy stire grant to thee but fickle hope gives me pause a great enterprise is it indeed to bring Achilles in his arms to our camp but should the fates say nay how woeful a disgrace were it to return yet will I not leave and venture the fulfillment of the Denean's desire ay verily either the palaean hero shall accompany me hither or the truth lies deep indeed and Calcas hath not spoken by Apollo the Denei shalt applause and Agamemnon urges on the willing pair the gathering breaks up and the dispersing ranks depart with joyful murmurs even as at nightfall the birds wing their way homeward from the pastures or kindly hibla sees the swarms returning laden with fresh honey to their cells without delay the canvas of the Ithican is already calling for a favoring breeze and the merry crew are seated at their oars end of section 1 section 2 of the Echileid by Stacius translated by J. H. Mosley this Librivox recording is in the public domain Book 1, Part 2 but far away Daedamia and she alone had learned in stolen secrecy the manhood of the acides that lay hid beneath the show of a faint sex conscious of guilt concealed there's not she does not fear and thinks that her sisters know but hold their peace for when Achilles rough as he was stood amid the maiden company and the departure of his mother rid him of his artless bashfulness straightway although the whole band gathers round him he chose her as his comrade in a sales with new and winning wiles her unsuspecting innocence her he follows and persistently posets toward her he ever and again directs his gaze now she zealously he clings to her side nor does she avoid him now he pelts her with light garlands now with baskets that let their burden fall now with the thurses that harms her not or again he shows her the sweet strings of the lyre he knows so well and the gentle measures and songs of Kyren's teaching and guides her hand and makes her fingers strike the sounding harp now as she sings he makes a conquest of her lips and binds her in his embrace and praises her amid a thousand kisses with pleasure does she learn of pillion summit and of yacities and hearing the name and exploits of the youth in constant wonder and sings of achilles in his very presence she in her turn teaches him to move his strong limbs with more modest grace and to spin out the unwrought wool by rubbing with his thumb and repairs the distaff and the skeins that his rough hand has damaged she marvels at the deep tones of his voice how he shuns all her fellows and pierces her with two attentive gaze and at all times hangs breathless on her words and now he prepares to reveal the fraud but she like a fickle girl avoids him and will not allow him to confess even so beneath his mother Ria's rule the young prince of Olympus gave treacherous kisses to his sister he was still her brother he thought no harm until the reverence for their common blood gave way and the sister feared a lover's passion at length the timorous narrator's cunning was laid bare there stood a lofty grove seen of the rites of Agenori and Bacchus a grove that reached the heaven within its shade the pious matrons were want to renew the recurrent three yearly festival and to bring born animals of the herd and uprooted saplings and to offer to the god the frenzy wherein he took the light the law made males keep far away the reverent monarch repeats the command and makes proclamation that no man may draw nigh the sacred haunt nor is that enough a venerable priestess stands at the appointed limit and scans the approaches and the filer come near in the train of women Achilles left silently to himself his comrades wonder at him as he leads the bed of virgins and moves his mighty arms with awkward motion his own sex and his mother's counterfeit alike become him no more is Deidamia the fairest of her company and as she surpasses her own sisters so does she herself own defeat compared with proudiacities but when he let the fond skin hang from his shapely neck and with ivy gathered up its flowing folds and bound the purple fillet high upon his flaxen temples and with powerful hand made the unbreathed missile quiver the crowd stood awestruck and leaving the sacred rites are feigned to throng about him their bowed heads to gaze even so what time he has relaxed at thebes his martial spirit and frowning brow and satan his soul with the luxury of his native land takes chaplet and mitre from his locks and arms the grim therses for the fray and in more martial guise sets out to meet his Indian foes the moon in her rosy chariot was clinging to the height of mid-heaven when drowsy sleep glided down with full sweep of his penance to earth and gathered a silent world to his embrace the choirs reposed the stricken bronze a while was mute when Achilles parted in solitude from the virgin train thus spoke with himself how long will thou endure the presets of thy anxious mother and waste the first flower of thy manhood in this soft imprisonment no weapons of war mayst thou brandish no beasts mayst thou pursue ho for the plains and valleys of hemonia lookest thou in veins sparchias for my swimming and for my promised tresses or hast thou no regard for the foster child that has deserted thee am I already spoken of as born to the raging shades afar and the skyren in solitude bewail my death thou, oh patroclus now dost aim my darts dost ban my bow and mount the teen that was nourished for me but I have learned to fling wide my arms as I grasp the vine ones and to spin the distaffed thread ha, shame and vexation to confess it nay more, night and day thou dost dissemble the love that holds thee and thy passion for the maid of equal ears how long wilt thou conceal the wound that galls thy heart nor even in love for shame prove thy own manhood so he speaks and in the thick darkness of the night rejoicing that the unsteering silence gives timely aid to his secret deeds he gains by force his desire and with all his vigor strains her in a real embrace the whole choir of stars beheld from on high and the horns of the young moon blushed red she indeed filled the grove and mountain with her cries but the train of Bacchus the spelling slumbers cloud deign it the signal for the dance on every side the familiar shout arises and a kill is once more rendishes the thurses yet first with friendly speech he solaces the anxious maid I am he why fierce thou whom my cerulean mother bore well nigh to jove and sent to find my nurture in the woods and snows of Thessaly nor had I endured this dress and shameful garb had I not seen thee on the seashore it was for thee I did submit for thee I carry scaines and bear the womanly timbrel why dost thou weep who art made daughter in law of mighty ocean why dost thou moan who shall bear valiant grinsons to Olympus but thy father sire shall be destroyed by fire and sword and these walls shall be in ruins and the sport of wanted winds ere thou pay my cruel death for my embraces not so utterly am I subject to my mother whore struck was the princess at such dark happenings albeit long since she had suspected his good faith and shuddered at his presence and his countenance was changed as he made confession what is she to do shall she bear the tale of her misfortune to her father and ruin both herself and her lover who per chance would suffer untimely death and still there abode within her breast the love so long deceived silent is she in her grief and resembles the crime that both now share alike her nurse alone she resolves to make a partner in the seat and she yielding to the prayers of both ascends with secret cunning she conceals the rape and the swelling wound and the burden of the months of ailing till the sinna brought round by token the appointed season her cores now fully run and gave deliverance of her child and now the Lyertian bark was threading the winding ways of the Aegean while the breezes changed one for another the countless cyclides already Paras and Olyeras are hid now they skirt lofty lemnos and behind them backich nexus is lost to view damas grows before them now delis darkens the deep and there from the tall stern they pour cups of vibration and pray that the oracle be true and caulk as undeceived the wielder of the bow heard them and from the top of Synthes sent a zephyr flying and gave the doubting ones the good omen of a belling sail the ship sails or the sea untroubled for the thunderer's high commands suffered not fetus to overturn the sure degrees of fate faint as she was with tears and foreboding much because she could not excite the main and straightway pursue the hated Ulysses with all her winds and waves already Phoebus stooping low upon the verge of Olympus was sending forth broken rays and promising to his panting steeds the yielding shore of ocean when rocky Cyrus rose aloft the Lyertian chieftain from the stern let out all sail to make it and bade his crew resume the deep and with their oars supply the failing zephyrs nearer they draw and more undoubtedly more surely was it Cyrus and Tritonia above the guardian of the tranquil shore they disembark and venerate the power of the friendly goddess Aetolian and Ithacan alike then the prudent hero lest they should frighten the hospitable walls with sudden throng bade his crew remain upon the ship he himself with trusty diameter ascends the heights but already Abbas keeper of the coastal tower had gone before them and given tidings to the king to sail though Greek or dry night to land forward they go like two wolves leap together on a winter's night though their cubs hunger and their own assails them yet do they utterly disemble raving rage and go slinking on their way lest the alertness of dogs announce a foe and warn the anxious herdsmen to keep vigil so with slow pace and with mutual converse tread the open plain that lies between the harbour and the high citadel first king Tididis speaks by what means now are we preparing to search out the truth for in perplexity of mine have I long been pondering why thou didst buy those unborn like wands and symbols in the city marks and didst bring hither beckock hides and turbans that with patterns of gold is it with these thou wilt arm Achilles to be the doom of Priam and the fridges to him with a smile and somewhat less stern of look the ethican replied these things I tell thee if only he be lurking among the maidens in like a midis palace shall draw the son of Pilius to the fight hey, self-confessed remember thou to bring them all quickly from the ship when it is time and to join to these gifts a shield that is beautiful with carving and rough with work of gold this spear will suffice let the good trumpeter agurtis be with thee and let him bring a hidden bugle for a secret purpose he spoke and spied the king in the very threshold of the gate and displaying the olive first announced his peaceful purpose loud report Iween hath long since reached thy ears O gentle monarch of that fierce war which now is shaking both Europe and Asia if perchance the chieftains' names have been born hither in whom the avenging son of Atreus trusts here beholdest thou him whom great hearted ideas begot mightier even than so great a sire and I am Ulysses the ethican chief the cause of our voyage for why should I fear to confess all to thee who art a Greek and of all men most renowned by sure report is to spy out the approaches to Troy and her hated shores and what their schemes may be or he had finished the other broken upon him may fortune assist thee I pray and propitious gods prosper that enterprise now honor my roof and buy his home by being my guests therewith he leads them within the gate straight way numerous attendants prepare the couches and the tables meanwhile Ulysses scans and searches the palace with his gaze if anywhere he can find trace of a tall maiden or a face suspect for its doubtful features and certainly he wanders idly in the galleries and as though in wonder roams the whole house through just as young hunter having come upon his sprays and doubted haunts scours the fields with his silent molotian hound till he beholds his foe stretched out in slumber meet the leaves and his jaws resting on the turf long since has a rumor be noise throughout the secret chamber where the maidens had their safe abode that pelasgian cheats are come and a grecian ship and its mariners have been made welcome with good reason are the rest affrighted but paladies, scares, conceals his sudden joy and eagerly desires, even as he is to see the newly arrived heroes in their arms already the noise of princely trains fills the palace and the guests are reclining on golden broidered couches when at their Cyrus command his daughters and their chase companions join the banquet they approach, like unto amazons on the Mayotte shore when, having made plunder of city and homesteads and captured strongholds of the jete they lay aside their arms and feast then indeed thus Ulysses, with intent gaze ponder carefully both forms and features but night and the lamps that are brought in deceive him their stature is hidden as soon as they recline one, nevertheless, with head erect and wandering gaze one, who preserves no sign of virgin modesty, he marks and with side long glance points out to his companion but if they the mia to warn the hasty youth had not clasped him to her soft bosom and ever covered with her own robe his bare breast and naked arms and many a time, forbidden him to start up from the couch and ask for wine and replace the golden hairband on his brow the Achilles had even then been revealed to the Archive chieftains when hunger was as waged and the banquet had twice and three times been renewed the Monarch first addresses the Achaeans and pledges them with the wine cup the famous heroes of the Argolic race and envy, I confess, your enterprise with that I too were of more valiant years as when I utterly subdued the Delopies who attacked the shores of Cyrus and shattered on the sea those kills that he beheld on the forefront of my lofty walls tokens of my triumph at least if I had offspring that I would send to war but now you see for yourselves my feeble strength and my dear children numerous daughters give me grandsons he spoke and seizing the moment crafty Ulysses made reply worthy indeed is the object of thy desire for who would not burn to see the countless peoples of the world and various chieftains and princes with their trains all the might and glory of powerful Europe hath sworn together willing allegiance to our righteous arms cities and fields alike are empty we have spoiled the lofty mountains the whole sea lies hidden beneath the far-spread shadow of our sails fathers give weapons you snatch them and are gone beyond recall never was offered to the brave such an opportunity for high renown never had valors so wide a field of exercise he sees him all attentive and drinking in his words with vigilant ear though the rest are alarmed and turn aside their downcast eyes and he repeats whoever hath pride of race and ancestry whoever hath sure javelin and valiant steed or skill of bow all honor there awaits him there is the strife of mighty names scarce do timorous mothers hold back or troops of maids ha, doomed to barren years and hated of the gods is he whom this new chance of glory passes by in idle sloth up from the couches had he sprung had not they Damia watchfully giving the sign to summon all her sisters left the banquet clasping him in her arms yet still he lingers looking back at the Ithican and goes out from the company the last of all Ulysses indeed leaves and said somewhat of his purposed speech yet adds a few words but do thou abide in deep and tranquil peace and find husbands for thy beloved daughters whom fortune has given thee goddess like in their starry countenances what awe touched me and on and holds me silent such charm and beauty joined to manliness of form the sire replies what if thou couldst see them performing the rites of Bacchus or about the altars of palace ay and thou shalt if perchance the rising south when prove a laggard they eagerly accept his promise and hope inspires their silent prayers all else in Lycomedia's palace are at rest in peaceful quiet their troubles lay the side but to the cunning Ithican the night is long he yearns for the day and brooks not slumber scarce had they dawned this ideas accompanied by a jurdice was present bringing the appointed gifts the maids of Cyrus too went forth from their chamber and advanced to display their dances and promised rites to the honored strangers brilliant before the rest is the princess with palities her companion even as beneath the rocks of Aetna in Sicily Diana and bold palace and the consort of the Elysian monarch shine forth among the nymphs of Aetna already they begin to move and the Asminian pipe gives signal to the dancers four times they beat the symbols of Rhea four times the maddening drums four times they trace their manyfold windings then together they raise and lower their once and complicate their steps now in such fashion as the curetes and the vows simultaneously use now turning to face each other in the Amazonian calm now in the ring where in the Delian sets the Laconian girls are dancing and whirls them shouting her praises into her own emicley then indeed then above all is Achilles manifest caring neither to keep his turn nor to join arms then more than ever does he scorn the delicate step the womanly attire and breaks the dance and mightily disturbs the scene even so did Thebes already sorrowing Behold Pantheas spurning the wands and the timbrels that his mother welcomed the troop disperses amid applause and they seek again their father's threshold where in the central chamber of the palace the son of ideas had long since set out gifts that should attract Madden's eyes the mark of kindly welcome and the garden of their toil he bids them choose nor does the peaceful monarch say them name alas how simple and untaught who knew not the cunning of the gifts nor Grecian fraud nor Ulysses many wiles there upon the others prompted by nature and their ease loving sex try the shapely ones or the timbrels that answer to the blow and fasten jewel band around their temples the weapons they behold but things have a gift to their mighty sire but the bold son of Iecas no sooner saw before him the gleaming shield and chased with battle scenes by chance too it shone red with the fierce stains of war and leaning against the spear then he shouted loud and rolled his eyes and his hair rose up from his brow forgotten were his mother's words forgotten his secret love and Troy fills all his breast as a lion torn from his mother's dugs submits to be tamed and lets his mane be calmed and learns to have all of men and not to fly into a rage safe and bidden yet if but once the steel has glittered in his sight his felties foresworn and his tamer becomes his foe against him he first ravens and feels shame to have served a timid lord but when he came nearer and the amulet's brightness gave back his features and he saw himself mirrored in the reflecting gold he's thrilled and blushed together then quickly went Ulysses to his side and whispered why does thou hesitate we know thee thou art the pupil of the half beast Kyren thou art the grandson of the sky and sea thee the Dorian fleet thee the stone grease awaits with standards uplifted for the march and the very walls of Pergamum totter and sway for thee to overturn up delay no more let perfidious Aida grow pale let thy father delight to hear these tidings and guileful fetus feel shame to have so feared for thee already was he stripping his body of the robes when Agirtus so commanded blew a great blast upon the trumpet the gifts are scattered and they flee and fall with prayers before their sire and believe that battle is joined but from his breast the raiment fell without his touching already the shield and puny spear are lost in the grasp of his hand marvelous to believe and he seemed to surpass by head and shoulders the Ithican and the Aetolian chief with a sheen so awful does the sudden blaze of arms and the martial fire dazzle the palace hall mighty of limb as though forth with summoning hector to the fray he stand in the midst of the panicked stricken house and the daughter of Pilius is sought in vain but Deidemia in another chamber bewailed the discovery of the fraud and as soon as he heard her loud lament and recognized the voice that he knew so well he quail and his spirit was broken by his hidden passion he dropped the shield and turned to the monarch's face while I comedies is dazed by the scene and distraught by the strange portent just as he was in naked panoply of arms he thus bespeaks him twas I dear father I whom bounty as thetas gave thee dismiss thy anxious fears long since did this high renown await thee tis thou who wilt send a killis long sought for to the greeks more welcome to me than my mighty sire if it is right so to speak and then beloved high ren but if thou wilt give me thy mind a while and of thy favor hear these words Pilius and thetas thy guest make thee the father-in-law of their son and recount their kindred deities on either side they demand one of thy train of virgin daughters does thou give her or seen we a mean and coward race thou dost not refuse joined in our hands and make the treaty and pardon thy own kin already hath they to me and be known to me in stolen secrecy for how could she have resisted these arms of mine how once in my embrace repel my might bid me atone that deed I lay down these weapons and restore them to the palestians and I remain here why these angry cries why is thy aspect changed how ready art thou my father-in-law he plates the child before his feet and added and already a grand sire how often shall the pitiless sword be plied we are a multitude then the greeks too and Ulysses a persuasive prayer entreat by the holy rites and the sworn ward of hospitality he, though moved by the discovery of his dear daughters wrong and the command of fetus though seeming to betray the goddess and so grave a trust yet fears to oppose so many destinies and delay the archive war even were he faint Achilles had spurned even his mother then nor is he unwilling to take unto himself so great a son-in-law his one day the mia comes shame-fast from her dark privacy lore in her despair believes at first his pardon and puts forward Achilles to appease her sire a messenger is sent to heimonia to give palaeas full tidings of these great events and to demand ships and comrades for the war moreover the syrian prince launches two vessels for his son-in-law and makes excuse for the achians for so poor a show strength then the day was brought to its end with feasting and at last the bond was made known to all and conscious night joined the now fearless lovers before her eyes new wars and xanthus and aida pass and the argolas fleet and she imagines the very waves and fears the coming of the dawn she flings herself about her new lords' beloved neck and at last clasping his limbs gives way to tears shall I see thee again and lay myself on this breast of thine O son of iacus wilt thou dain once more to look upon thy offspring or wilt thou proudly bring back spoils of captured pergum and tukrian homes and wish to forget where thou didst ivy as a maid what should I entreat or alas what rather fear how can I in my anxiety lay a behest than thee who have scarce time to weep one single night has given grudge thee to me is this the season for our espousals is this free wedlock ha those stolen sweets that cunning fraud ha how I fear achilles is given to me only to be torn away go for I would not dare to stay such mighty preparations go and be cautious and remember that the fears of fetus were not vain go and good luck be with thee and come back mine yes, too bold is my request soon the fair trojan dames will cipher thee with tears and beat their breasts and pray that they may offer their necks to thy fetters to thy couch against their homes or to dare as herself will please thee too much be lauded for incestuous rape but I shall be a story to thy henchmen the tale of a lad's first fault or I shall be disowned and forgotten may come take me as thy comrade why should I not carry the standards of Mars with thee thou didst carry with me the ones and holy things of Bacchus may fate a Troy believe it not yet this babe whom thou dost leave as my sad solace keep him at least within thy heart and grant this one request that no foreign wife bear thee a child that no captive woman given worthy grandsons to fetus as thus she speaks Achilles moved to compassion himself comforts her her sworn oath and pledges it with tears and promises her on his return tall henmaidens and spoils of Ilium and gifts of Phrygian treasure the fickle breezes swept his words unfulfilled away End of section 2 Section 3 of Echileid by Statius translated by J. H. Mosley This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Book 2 Day arising from ocean set free the world from dark and folding shades and the father of the flashing light upraised his torch still dimmed by the neighboring gloom and moist with seawater not yet shaken off and now all behold the acides his shoulders stripped of the scarlet row and glorious in those very arms he first had seized their wind is calling and his kindred seas are urging him and quake before the youthful chieftain not daring to remember ought so changed to the sight hath he come back as though he had narrow experiences the shores of Cyrus but were embarking from the Pelian cave then dully for so Ulysses counseled he does sacrifice to the gods and the waters and south winds and venerates with a bull the cerulean king below the waves and ne'er is his grand sire his mother is appeased with garlanded heifer thereupon casting the swollen and trails on the salt foam he addresses her mother, I have obey thee though thy commands were hard to bear too obedient have I been now they demand me and I go to the Trojan war and the Argolic fleet so speaking he leapt into the bark and was swept away far from the neighborhood of land by the whistling south wind already lofty Cyrus begins to gather mist about her and to fade from sight over the long expanse of sea far away on the summit of a tower with weeping sisters round her his wife leaned forth holding her precious charge who bore the name of Paris and with her eyes fixed on the canvas sailed herself upon the sea and all alone still saw the vessel he too turned his gaze aside to the walls he held dear he thinks upon the widowed home and the sobs of her he had left the hidden passion glows again within his heart and martial ire gives place the lairian hero perceives him sorrowing and draws nigh to influence him with gentle words was it thou, O destined destroyer of great Troy, whom the naian fleets and divine oracles are demanding and war aroused is awaiting with unbarred portals was it thou, home a crafty mother profane with feminine robes and trusted yonder hiding place with so great a secret and hoped the trust was sure whole too anxious whole too true a mother could such valour lie inert and hidden that scares hearing the trumpet last fled from fetus and companions and the hearts and spoken passion nor is it due to us that thou comest to the war and complies with our prayers thou wouldst have come he spoke and thus the asian hero takes up the word to along to set forth the causes of my tearing and my mother's crying this sword shall make excuse for Cyrus and my dishonourable garb the reproach of destiny do thou rather while the seas peaceful and the sails enjoy the Zephyr, tell how the the naians began so great a war I would feign draw straight way from thy word to write his anger then the Ithican tracing far back the beginning of the tale a shepherd they say if we believe such things was chosen in Hector's domain of Ida to end a strife of beauty and while he kept to the goddesses anxious thou to look not with friendly eye upon the nervous frowning countenance nor on the consort of the heaven ruler but gazed over much on Dione alone and verily that quero arose in Dione glades at a gathering of the gods when pleasant Pellion made marriage feasts for Pellius and thou even then promised to our armament wrath thrills the vanquished ones the judge demands his fateful reward and compliant amicly is shown to the ravisher he cuts down the frisian groves the secret haunts of the third crown mother and flings down pines that fear to fall to earth and born o'er the sea to a cayen lands he plunders the married chamber of his host the son of Atreus haa, shame and pity on proud Erip and exulting in hellen puts to sea and brings home to Pergamum the spoils of Argus then as the rumors spread far and wide through the cities of our own will none urging us we gather who could endure the unlawful crafty breaking of the marriage bond or a consort carried off in unresisted rage as though a beast of the flock or her would shake even a valiant heart masterful aginer endured not the treachery of the gods but went in quest of sacred lowings and Europa riding on a mighty god and scorned a thunderer as a son-in-law Beatis endured not the rape of his daughter from the city and shore but with ships and steel pursued the princes and the vessel fated to join the stars shall we endure a frigent eunuch hovering about the coasts and harbors of Argus with his incestuous bark are our horses and men so utterly vanished? are the seas so impassable to Greeks? what if someone now were to carry off-day Damia from her native shores and tear her from her lonely chamber in dire dismay and crying on the name of great Achilles his hand flew to the sword-hilt and the dark flush surged over his face Ulysses was silent and content then spoke Aenides nay, O thou worthiest progeny of heaven, tell us thy admiring friends of the ways in which thy spirit first was trained and as the vigor of thy youth increased what stirring themes of glory Cairn was once to recount to thee and how thy valor grew by what arts he made strong the limbs or fire thy courage let it be worthy while to have sought sires over long leagues of sea to have first shone weapons through those arms of eye who would find it hard to tell of his own deeds yet he begins modestly, somewhat uncertain and more like one compelled even in my years of crawling infancy when the Thessalian sage received me on his stark mountainside I am sad to have devoured no wanted food nor to have sated my hunger at the nourishing breast but to have gnawed the tough and the trails of lions and the bowels of a half slain she-wolf that was my first bread that the bounty of joyous becas and such wise did that father of mine feed me then he taught me to go with him through pathless deserts dragging me on with mighty stride and to laugh at sight of the wild beasts nor tremble at the shattering rocks by Russian torrents or at the silence of the lonely forest already at that time weapons were in my hand and quivers on my shoulders the love of steel grew a pace within me and my skin was hardened by much sun and frost nor were my limbs weakened by soft couches but I shared a hard rock with my master's mighty frame scarce had my raw youth turned a wheel of twice six years when already he made me outpace swift hinds and lapith steeds and running overtake the flung dart often cowering himself while yet he was swift afoot chased me at full gallop with headlong speed or all the planes and when I was exhausted by roaming over the meads he praised me joyously and hoisted me upon his back often too in the first freezing of the streams he would beat me go upon them with light step nor break the ice these were my boyhood glories why now should I tell the of the woodland battles and of the glades that know my fears shout no more never would he suffer me to follow unwarlike doves through the pathless lands of osse or lay low timid lynxes with my spear but only to drive angry bears from their resting places and bores with lightning thrust or if anywhere a mighty tiger lurked or a lioness with her cubs in some secret lair upon the mountainside and he himself seated in his vast cave awaited my exploits if perchance I should return bespattered with dark blood nor did he admit me to his embrace before he had scanned my weapons and already I was being prepared for the armed tummels of the neighboring folk and no fashion of savage warfare passed me by I learned how the peonians whirl and fling their darts and the macete their javelins here's a rush the sarmashian plies his spike and the jeetan his falchion how the gelonian draws his bow and how the beliaric wielder the plein thong keeps the missile swinging round with balanced motion and as he swings it marks out a circle in the air scarce could I recount all my doings successful the labor now he instructs me to span huge dykes by leaping now to climb and grasp the peak with what stride to run upon the level how to catch flown stones in mimic battle on my shielded arm to pass through burning houses and to check flying four horse teams on foot spurkeas I remember was flowing with rapid current fed full with constant rains and melted snows and carrying on its flood boulders and living trees when he sent me in there were the waves rolled fiercest and bathed me stand against them and hurled back the swelling billows that he himself could scarce have borne though he stood to face them with so many a limb I strove to stand but the violence of the stream and the dizzy panic of the broad spade forced me to give ground he loomed over me from above and fiercely threatened and flung taunts to shame me nor did I depart till he gave me word so far did the lofty love of fame constrain me and my toiles were not too hard with such a witness for to fling the embellion quite far out of sight into the clouds or to practice the holes of the sleek wrestling bout and to scatter blows with the boxing gloves were sport and rest to me nor labored I more therein that when I struck with my quill the sounding strings or told the wondrous fame of heroes of old also did he teach me of juices and the grasses that secure disease what remedy will staunch too fast the flow of blood what will lull to sleep what will close gaping wounds what plague should be checked by the knife what will yield to herbs and he implanted deep within my heart the precepts of divine justice whereby he was once to give revered laws to the tribes that dwelt on pillion and tame his own twice formed folk so much do I remember friends of the training of my earliest years and sweet is their remembrance the rest my mother knows the end end of section 3 end of Echalea by Staceous translated by J. H. Moseley