Editor’s NoteEditor’s NoteLXIV

• Editor’s Note1Pines in the past, born from the brow of Pelion,
• 2Are rumoured to have swum through Neptune's clear waves
• 3To Phasis' breakers and the frontiers of Aeetes,
• 4When chosen young men, oaks of Argive adulthood,
• 5Eager to rob the Colchians of a gilded hide,
• 6Ventured the voyage past salt shoals in a swift hull,
• 7Sweeping blue-green levels with palms of silver fir.
• Editor’s Note8For them the Goddess Guardian of high citadels
• 9In person made a car to fly with the light breeze
• 10By joining interwoven pinewood to curved keel.
• Editor’s Note11Its prow inured raw Amphitrite to ships' courses.
• 12As soon as with its beak it ploughed the windy plain
• 13And, by oarage spiralled, wave grew white with foam,
• 14Out of the gleaming surge wild faces arose,
• 15Aequoreal Nereids, marvelling at the portent.
• 16In that and not another day's light mortal eyes
• 17Beheld the bodies of the Nymphs of Ocean naked
• 18Far as the sucklers standing out from the white surge.
• 19Then Peleus, it is told, for Thetis burned with love,
• 20Then Thetis did not despise human hymeneals,
• pg 83Editor’s Note21Then the Father Himself felt Peleus should yoke with Thetis.
• 22O born in a time of all the ages too much missed,
• 23Hail, heroes, breed of Gods! O noble progeny
• Of mothers beautiful, I hail you once again!
• 24I shall invoke you often, invoke you in my song,
• 25And you above all, blest by happy bridal torches,
• 26Thessaly's pillar, Peleus, to whom Jove himself,
• 27The Father of the Gods himself resigned his love.
• 28Did Thetis, fairest Nereïne, embrace you?
• Editor’s Note29Did Tethys allow you to wed her granddaughter
• 30And Ocean's who encircles all the globe with sea?

• 31But when at the appointed time those longed-for days
• 32Arrived, the whole of Thessaly by invitation
• 33Crowds the house, fills the palace with delighted throng.
• 34They bring gifts with them. Faces manifest their joy.
• Editor’s Note35Cieros is deserted; they leave Phthiotian Tempe
• 36And Crannon's houses and the walls of Lárisa.
• 37They flock to Pharsalus; they crowd Pharsalian roofs.
• 38None tills the soil; the necks of oxen become soft.
• 39No low-grown vine is cleared of weeds by bent-pronged rake.
• 40No bullock cleaves the clod with deep-driven ploughshare.
• 41No pruner's hook thins out the shade of leafy trees.
• 42Slovenly rust attacks the solitary ploughs.
• 43The king's own quarters, though, far as the sumptuous
• 44Palace stretched backward, shine with lustrous gold and silver.
• 45Ivory gleams on thrones, cups glow upon the board,
• 46The whole house revels in the glint of royal treasure.
• 47Indeed, there in the midst, the Goddess's bridal
• 48Divan is placed, inlaid with Indian tooth and spread
• 49With woven purple dipped in rosy murex dye.

• 50This coverlet, embroidered with old-time human figures,
• 51Reveals with wondrous art the virtues of heroes.
• Editor’s Note52There, staring out from Dia's surf-resounding shore
• 53And watching Theseus sailing off with his fast fleet,
• 54Is Ariadne, nursing at heart unmastered passions,
• pg 8555Nor can she yet believe she sees what she is seeing,
• 56That very moment woken from deceiving sleep
• 57To find her poor self left behind on lonely sand.
• 58The heedless youth in flight strikes the shallows with oars,
• 59Leaving broken promises to the blustering gale.
• Editor’s Note60Him, far off, from the wrack Minois, bitter-eyed,
• 61Like some Bacchante's stone statue, watches, ah
• 62Watches, and tosses inwardly on great waves of troubles,
• 63Not keeping fine-spun snood upon her golden head,
• 64Not covered by light raiment over veiled bosom,
• 65Not tied about the milky paps with rounded band,
• 66All which had slipped down off her body in disarray
• 67And at her feet salt waves were playing games with them.
• 68But she, not thinking then of snood nor troubled then
• 69By floating robe, with all her heart, Theseus, and all
• 70Her soul and all her mind clung desperately to you.
• 71Poor girl, how Erycina obsessed her with continual
• Editor’s Note72Sorrows, sowing thorny worries in her heart
• 73At that time, ever since the day when proud Theseus,
• 74Sailing from the curving shoreline of Piraeus,
• Editor’s Note75Touched land at the unjust king's Gortynian precinct.

• 76For they report that earlier, forced by cruel plague
• Editor’s Note77To pay the penalty for Androgeos' murder,
• 78Cecropia used to send the pick of her young men
• Editor’s Note79And glory of her maidens to feast the Minotaur.
• 80But when her narrow walls were harassed by this evil,
• 81Theseus of his own will determined to lay down
• 82His body for dear Athens rather than allow
• 83Cecropia's living dead thus to be shipped to Crete.
• 84And so, relying on light vessel and fair winds,
• 85He came to great-souled Minos and his proud abode.
• 86Soon as the maiden princess with longing look espied him,
• 87She whom a virgin bed breathing out sweet odours
• 88Still nurtured in the soft embraces of her mother,
• Editor’s Note89Like myrtle that the streams of Eurotas bring forth
• 90Or like the different colours springtime air draws out,
• pg 8791She did not turn away from him her smouldering
• 92Eye-beams until throughout her frame she had caught fire
• 93Deep down, and in her inmost marrow was all ablaze.
• 94Ah, wretchedly arousing passions, cruel-hearted,
• Editor’s Note95Holy Child, who mix for mankind joy with sorrow,
• 96And you, the Queen of Golgi and leafy Idalium,
• 97On what rough seas you tossed the girl with mind aflame
• 98As often as she sighed for that fair-haired stranger!
• 99How great the fears she suffered with a heavy heart!
• 100How often then she turned paler than gleam of gold,
• 101When, eager to contend against the savage monster,
• 102Theseus willed either death or the prize of glory!
• 103Not vainly pledging, though, to the Gods unpleasing
• 104Little gifts she kindled vows on silent lips.
• Editor’s Note105For as on Taurus' top, wildly waving its arms,
• 106Oaktree or cone-bearing pine with sticky bark
• 107By a furious whirlwind whose blast twists its stout trunk
• 108Is toppled (torn up by the roots the tree full length
• 109Falls prostrate, crushing everything in its wide way),
• 110So Theseus laid the monster low, beast body beaten
• 111As it tossed its useless horns against the empty air.
• 112Thence with great renown he walked his way back, safe,
• Editor’s Note113Directing his bewildered steps with slender thread,
• 114Lest, while he tried to escape the Labyrinth's meanders,
• 115The building's inscrutable maze should baffle him.

• 116But why digressing further from my opening song
• 117Remember how the daughter leaving her sire's face,
• 118Leaving the embrace of blood-sister and even of mother
• 119Who grieved in desperation for her wretched child,
• 120Before all these preferred the sweet love of Theseus?
• 121Or how he carried her by ship to Dia's foaming
• 122Beaches, or how he left her blindfolded by sleep,
• 123Departing, though her husband, with a heedless heart?
• 124Often, they say, in frenzy, with her mind on fire,
• 125She poured out shrill-edged cries from the depth of her heart,
• 126And sometimes in her sorrow she clambered up steep cliffs
• pg 89127From whence to extend her view of the ocean's empty swell;
• 128Sometimes ran out to meet the restless brine's breakers
• 129Kilting up her bared legs' lightweight covering.
• 130These words at last she spoke of bitter lamentation,
• 131Distorting with chill little sobs her tearful face:
• 132'So, faithless one who took me from my father's altars,
• 133You leave me, faithless Theseus, on a lonely beach?
• 134So, sailing off, contemptuous of the Gods' will,
• 135You carry home, ah heedless, accursed perjury?
• 136And was there nothing that could turn your cruel mind's
• 137Intention? Had you then no kindliness at call
• 138That your ungentle heart might wish to pity us?
• 139Not these the promises you gave me once in gallant
• 140Phrases, not these the things you told poor me to expect,
• Editor’s Note141But married happiness, but longed-for hymeneals,
• 142All which the airy winds have tattered into nothing.
• 143No woman now should put her faith in a man's oath
• 144And none expect a man's word to be trustworthy.
• 145For while their lusting spirit craves to gain something
• 146There's nothing they fear to swear, nothing forbear to promise;
• 147But once the longing of their lustful mind is slaked
• 148They don't recall their words or balk at perjury.
• 149You can't deny that while you spun round in death's whirlpool
• 150I rescued you and chose rather to lose a brother
• 151Than fail deceitful you in time of utmost need—
• 152For which I'm to be torn apart by beasts and birds,
• 153Carrion in death, with no dust thrown for burial.
• 154What lioness littered you below some lonely crag?
• 155What sea conceived and spewed you out in the waves' spume?
• 156What Syrtis, what devouring Scylla, what grim Charybdis,
• 157You who can render such return for your sweet life?
• 158If marriage, yours and mine, had not been to your mind
• 159Because you dreaded the harsh rules of an old-world father,
• 160You could at least have brought me to your family home
• pg 91161That I might serve you as a slave in joyful work,
• 162Soothing the white soles of your feet in clear water
• 163Or spreading your couch with a purple coverlet.
• 164But why do I complain, out of my mind with woe,
• 165In vain to unheeding airs, which unpossessed of feeling
• 166Can neither hear nor return a spoken message?
• 167Besides, by now he's almost half way on the waves
• 168And there's no sign of man along the bare sea-wrack.
• 169So, jumping on us hard in time's extremity,
• 170Cruel Fortune even grudges ears to our complaints.
• 171Almighty Jove, if only in that first of times
• 172Cecropian hulls had never touched the Cnossian shore,
• 173Nor bearing fearful tribute to an untamed bull
• 174Had faithless sailor ever tied up line in Crete
• 175Or this bad man, concealing cruel counsels under
• 176A sweet outside had rested in our house as guest!
• 177For where do I turn? What hope rely on in my ruin?
• Editor’s Note178Am I to make for Ida's mountains? Ah, with wide
• 179Gulf sundering, when stormy ocean lies between?
• 180Or can I hope for father's help? Whom I deserted
• 181To follow a youth spattered with my brother's blood?
• 182Or comfort myself with a husband's faithful love?
• 183Who's fleeing from me, bending tough oars in the surge?
• 184Besides, this lonely island's uninhabited.
• 185Every way out is blocked by sea's encircling waves.
• 186There's no means of escape, no hope. Everything's dumb,
• 187Everywhere's deserted, everything threatens doom.
• 188Nevertheless my eyes shall not grow dim in death
• 189Neither shall sensation leave my weary body
• 190Before I claim, betrayed, just forfeit from the Gods
• 191And pray in my last hour for Heaven to keep faith.
• 192Wherefore, chastisers of men's deeds with vengeful forfeit,
• 193Eumenides, whose forehead wreathed in snaky hair
• 194Proclaims the furious anger breathed out from your heart,
• 195Be present, come in haste, give ear to my complaints,
• 196Which, woe is me, I am forced to bring forth from my very
• 197Marrow, helpless, burning, blinded by mindless passion.
• pg 93198But since they are true children of my inmost heart
• 199Be sure you suffer not our grief to go for nothing,
• 200But with what mind Theseus has left me on my own,
• 201With such mind, Goddesses, let him doom himself and his.'

• 202After she had poured forth these words from her sad heart,
• 203In anguish claiming punishment for cruel deeds,
• 204Heaven's Ruler nodded his invincible assent,
• 205And at that movement earth and the wild sea's expanse
• 206Quaked and the firmament shook its glittering stars.
• 207But Theseus' self, his mind thick-sown with blinding dark,
• 208Let slip from his forgetful heart all the commands
• 209Which hitherto he had kept constantly in mind,
• 210Nor hoisted the sweet signal for his grieving parent
• Editor’s Note211To prove that he was safely in sight of Erechtheus' port.
• Editor’s Note212For earlier, we are told, commending to the winds
• 213The son about to sail from the Goddess's walls,
• 214Aegeus embraced the youth and gave him these commands:
• 215'My only son, sweeter than length of life to me,
• 216Son I am forced to send away to doubtful doom,
• Editor’s Note217Though late restored to me in my extreme old age,
• 218Whereas my fortune and your passionate valour
• 219Rob me of you against my will (for my dim eyes
• 220Have not yet looked their fill upon my son's dear form)
• 221I shall not send you gladly with a happy heart
• 222Nor let you show the signs of favourable fortune
• 223But first give utterance to my mind's much bitterness
• 224Befouling my white hair with soil and sprinkled dust,
• 225Thereafter hang the roving mast with dyed canvas
• 226So that the grief and burning kindled in our mind
• Editor’s Note227Sails darkened with Iberian rust may publicize.
• 228But should the Dweller in holy Itonus give you leave
• 229(She who vouchsafes protection to our people and
• 230Erechtheus' realm) to stain your right hand with bull's blood,
• 231Then, truly, see that these commands stay fresh, stored up
• pg 95232In mindful heart and unerased by lapse of time,
• 233That when your bright eyes first catch sight of our hills
• 234The yard-arms lower their doom-laden cloth entirely
• 235And plaited halyards hoist aloft shining white sails,
• 236That seeing I may know your joy with happy mind
• 237Soon as may be, when prospering time brings you back safe.'
• 238These commands, hitherto kept constantly in mind,
• 239Drifted from Theseus like clouds driven by the wind's
• 240Breath from the airy summit of a snowy mountain.
• 241His father, though, on look-out from the Acropolis
• 242And wasting anguished eyes in continual weeping,
• 243Soon as he saw the canvas of the swelling sail
• 244Hurled himself headlong down from the highest of the rocks,
• 245Believing Theseus lost to an ungentle fate.
• 246So, entering the home polluted by his father's
• 247Death, haughty Theseus had himself to endure such grief
• 248As he had brought Minois by his heedless mind;
• 249Who meanwhile, sadly watching his receding keel,
• 250Wounded in spirit pondered troubles manifold.

• Editor’s Note251But in another part Iacchus in bloom flew by
• Editor’s Note252With rout of Satyrs and Nysigenous Sileni,
• Editor’s Note253Seeking you, Ariadne, and burning with love for you.
• 254For him the Thyads raved around with frenzied mind,
• 255Shrieking Evoe, Evoe, twisting their heads about.
• 256Part of them were shaking thyrsi with covered spike,
• 257Part threw around the limbs of a dismembered steer,
• 258Part wrapped themselves about with wreaths of writhing snakes,
• Editor’s Note259Part thronged the orgia concealed in hollow creels,
• 260Those orgia the profane desire in vain to hear.
• 261Others with open palms were banging tambourines
• 262Or clashing ringing clangour from thin rounded bronze.
• 263For many, horns blared out cacophonous boom-booms
• 264And barbarous reed-pipes screeched hair-raising music.

• 265The coverlet, with such figures grandly decorated,
• 266Embracing the divan veiled and enveloped it;
• 267With eager study of which after Thessaly's folk
• 268Were sated, they made way then for the holy Gods.
• pg 97269Here, even as Zephyrus ruffling the tranquil sea
• 270With early morning breath arouses the slope waves
• 271(While Dawn comes up to the threshold of the roving Sun)
• 272Which slowly at first, being driven by a clement breeze,
• 273Procéss and lightly break with a mournful guffaw,
• 274Then, the wind strengthening, grow bigger, multiply
• 275And swimming in the distance gleam with crimson light,
• 276So, by the forecourt then leaving the royal palace,
• 277The guests dispersed on roving feet each to his home.
• 278And after their departure, first of all, from Pelion's
• Editor’s Note279Summit Chiron came, bringing woodland gifts.
• 280For all the flowers the plains bear, all that Thessaly
• 281Grows on her mighty mountains, all that warm Favonius'
• Editor’s Note282Fruitful breeze produces near the rippling river,
• Editor’s Note283All these he brought himself, arranged in random bunches,
• 284Charmed by whose delightful fragrance the house laughed.
• Editor’s Note285Straightway Peníos comes, leaving verdant Tempe,
• 286Tempe by overhanging woodland ringed above,
• Editor’s Note287For the Haemonian Dryads to celebrate with dances,
• 288Not empty-handed, for he carried, root and all,
• 289Lofty beeches and tall laurels with straight stem,
• Editor’s Note290Not without nodding plane-trees and the supple sister
• 291Of burnt-out Phaëthon and airy cypresses.
• 292These he placed all around the entrance, intertwined,
• 293So that the forecourt might grow green, screened with soft leaves.
• 294There follows after him Prometheus of crafty heart,
• 295Bearing faded traces of the ancient punishment
• 296Which formerly, with limbs fast bound by chain to flint,
• 297He paid by hanging over a sheer precipice.
• 298Then the Father of Gods with holy wife and children
• 299Arrived from Heaven, leaving you, Phoebus, alone
• Editor’s Note300Together with the sibling Dweller on Idrus' mountains;
• 301For equally with you your sister despised Peleus
• 302And refused to attend Thetis' nuptial torches.
• pg 99303But after they had bent their limbs to snow-white seats,
• 304The tables were heaped lavishly with various courses;
• 305Meanwhile, their bodies shaking with infirmity,
• Editor’s Note306The three Parcae began to chant their soothsaying.
• 307A fair white robe embracing all their trembling body
• 308Fell about their ankles with its purple edge,
• 309While rosy fillets rested on their snow-white heads
• 310And their hands duly plied the everlasting task.
• 311The left hand held the distaff mantled in soft wool;
• 312The right, first, lightly drawing down the threads with upturned
• 313Fingers shaped them, then, with downturned thumb twisting,
• 314Revolved the spindle balanced by its rounded whorl;
• 315And all the time their teeth tore off and smoothed the work
• 316And to their thin dry lips clung bitten tufts of wool
• 317Which previously obtruded on the even thread.
• 318Moreover at their feet the soft fleeces of dazzling
• 319White wool were safely stored in plaited osier baskets.
• 320They then, plucking the fleeces, with clear-sounding voice
• 321Poured out in a prophetic song such fates as these—
• 322A song no after-age will ever charge with falsehood:

• 323'O you, enhancing rare distinction with great virtues,
• Editor’s Note324Emathia's guardian, most dear to the son of Ops,
• 325Hear what the sisters scry for you in this glad light,
• Editor’s Note326Their truthful oracle. But you that the fates follow
• 327  Run, spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.

• 328For you there'll come soon, bringing heart's desire to bridegrooms,
• 329Hesperus; with his lucky star there'll come a consort
• 330To bathe your being for you in soul-searching love
• 331And ready to consort with you in swooning slumbers,
• 332Laying her smooth arms underneath your stalwart neck.
• 333  Run, spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.

• 334No house has ever given shelter to such loves,
• 335No love has ever joined lovers in such treaty
• 336As is the harmony between Peleus and Thetis.
• 337Run, spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.

• pg 101338There shall be born to you one free from fear—Achilles,
• 339Known to the enemy not by back but valiant front,
• 340Who many a time victorious in far-ranging race
• 341Will overtake the fiery slots of the swift deer.
• 342  Run, spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.

• 343There's not a hero shall compare with him in war,
• Editor’s Note344When plains of Phrygia shall flow with Teucrian blood
• 345And in the siege of that long war the walls of Troy
• Editor’s Note346Shall be destroyed by the third heir of perjured Pelops.
• 347  Run, spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.

• 348His extraordinary virtues and famed deeds
• 349Shall mothers often own at their sons' funeral,
• 350When they shall loose dishevelled hair from their white crowns
• 351And with impotent palms shall bruise their withered breasts.
• 352  Run, spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.

• 353For as a reaper lopping off the close-packed corn-ears
• 354Beneath the burning sun reaps golden-yellow ploughland,
• Editor’s Note355He shall cut down with raised steel bodies of Trojan-born.
• 356  Run, spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.

• Editor’s Note357Scamander's wave shall witness to his great virtues,
• 358Which spreads out every way in the swift Hellespont
• 359And whose course he will choke with slaughtered heaps of bodies,
• 360Warming the deep river with intermingled blood.
• 361  Run, spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.

• 362Last witness will be the prize given him even in death
• 363When heaped up in a lofty mound his rounded tomb
• 364Duly receives the snow-white limbs of a butchered virgin.
• 365  Run, spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.

• 366For soon as Fortune grants the weary Achaeans means
• Editor’s Note367To undo Neptune's knot around the Dardan city,
• Editor’s Note368His high tomb will be drenched in Polyxena's blood,
• 369Who, like a slain beast falling to the two-edged sword,
• 370Shall lay down, sinking to her knees, a headless body.
• 371  Run, spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.
• pg 103372Come therefore and consort in long-imagined love.
• 373Her consort shall accept the Goddess in glad treaty
• 374And at long last shall bride be given to eager groom.
• 375  Run spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.

• Editor’s Note376Her nurse revisiting her at first light tomorrow
• 377Shall fail to tie yesterday's ribbon round her neck,
• 379Nor shall an anxious mother, sad at her quarrelling daughter
• 380Sleeping apart, stop hoping for dear grandchildren.
• 381  Run, spindles, drawing out the weft, run on.'

• 382Foretelling in the past such happiness for Peleus
• 383From their inspired breast the Parcae sang their song.
• 384For long ago Heaven's Dwellers in person used to visit
• 385The chaste homes of heroes and show themselves at mortal

• 386Meetings, while religion was not yet held in scorn.
• 387Often the Father of Gods, enthroned in shining temple,
• 388When with their festal days his annual rites had come,
• 389Would watch one hundred bulls slump prostrate to the ground.

• Editor’s Note390Often nomadic Liber from Parnassus' top
• 391Would drive his baying Thyads with their hair flying,
• 392While Delphians in concert rushing from their town
• 393Gave the God joyous welcome with smoke of sacrifice.
• Editor’s Note394And often Mavors in war's deadly competition
• Editor’s Note395Or rapid Triton's Lady or the Amarynthian Maid
• 396Would hearten by their presence armed companies of men.
• 397But after Earth was stained with crime unspeakable
• 398And all evicted Justice from their greedy thoughts,
• 399Brothers poured the blood of brothers on their hands,
• 400Sons no longer grieved when parents passed away,
• 401Father prayed for death of son in his first youth
• Editor’s Note402So as freely to possess the bloom of a new bride,
• 403Mother, lying impiously with ignorant son,
• 404Dared impiously to sin against divine Penates.
• 405Our evil madness by confounding fair with foul
• Editor’s Note406Has turned away from us the Gods' forgiving thoughts.
• 407Wherefore they neither deign to visit such meetings
• 408Nor let themselves be touched by light of day or eye.