5 SIGHT-READING XXXVII. DAPHNE Primus amor Phoebi Daphne Peneïa, quem non Apollo fors ignara dedit, sed saeva Cupidinis ira. Delius hunc nuper victo serpente superbus viderat adducto flectentem cornua nervo, "Quid" que "tibi, lascive puer, cum fortibus armis?" dixerat. "Ista decent umeros gestamina nostros, qui dare certa ferae, dare vulnera possumus hosti, qui modo pestifero tot iugera ventre prementem stravimus innumeris tumidum Pythona sagittis. 10 Tu face nescio quos esto contentus amores instigare tua, nec laudes adsere nostras." taunts Cupid becomes Filius huic Veneris, "Figat tuus omnia, Phoebe, Who te meus arcus," ait; "quantoque animalia cedunt cuncta deo, tanto minor, est tua gloria nostra." XXXVII. 1. Peneïa: daughter of Peneus. 3. serpente: the dragon, Python, killed by Apollo on Mt. Parnassus. 4. cornua : so called from the shape of the bow. -nervo: bowstring. 5. Quid tibi: sc. est; what have you to do? —lascive: wanton. 6. gestamina: arms. 7. certa: unerring. 8. pestifero: baneful. —iugera : acres. - ventre: belly. 10. face: torch. — nescio quos: used contemptuously. 11. nec: for neu. — adsere: claim, imp. mood. 12. Figat: although thy bow pierce. 13. te: sc. figet. cedunt: are inferior. angry The Darts pointed with Lead and Gold Daphne's Request of her Father Dixit, et eliso percussis aëre pennis impiger umbrosa Parnasi constitit arce, eque sagittifera prompsit duo tela pharetra Hoc deus in nympha Peneïde fixit, at illo Protinus alter amat; fugit altera nomen amantis, nec quid Hymen, quid Amor, quid sint conubia curat. pulchra verecundo suffunditur ora rubore, 15. eliso 25. exu pennis: cleaving the air by the stroke of his wings. 17. eque: et è. -prompsit: drew forth. 19. cuspide: point. - fulget: shines. 20. obtusum: blunt. - harundine: shaft. -plumbum: lead. 22. medullas: the very marrow. viis: spoils, skins. - Phoebes: Diana, Apollo's sister; gen. case. 26. Vitta: band, worn by unmarried girls. —sine lege : i.e. she took no care to arrange it. 27. aversata: shunning. 28. expers viri: unmarried. —avia: pathless.-lustrat: roams. 29. Hymen: the god of marriage. 31. taedas iugalis: bridal torches. exosa: hating. 32. verecundo rubore: modest blush. suffunditur: overspreads. 33. blandis: coaxing.-haerens in cervice: hanging on the neck. 15 20 25 30 "Da mihi perpetua, genitor carissime," dixit, 35 "virginitate frui. Dedit hoc pater ante Dianae.” Ille quidem obsequitur. Sed te decor iste quod optas esse vetat, votoque tuo tua forma repugnat. Phoebus amat visaeque cupit conubia Daphnes, quodque cupit, sperat ; suaque illum oracula fallunt. 40 Utque leves stipulae demptis adolentur aristis, ut facibus saepes ardent, quas forte viator vel nimis admovit vel iam sub luce reliquit, sic deus in flammas abiit, sic pectore toto uritur et sterilem sperando nutrit amorem. 45 Spectat inornatos collo pendere capillos, sees and admires her et, "Quid, si comantur?" ait. Videt igne micantis Apollo sideribus similis oculos; videt oscula, quae non est vidisse satis; laudat digitosque manusque bracchiaque et nudos media plus parte lacertos; 50 si qua latent, meliora putat. Fugit ocior aura illa levi, neque ad haec revocantis verba resistit: "Nympha, precor, Peneï, mane. Non insequor hostis. Nympha, mane. Sic agna lupum, sic cerva leonem, sic aquilam penna fugiunt trepidante columbae, 35. pater: i.e. Jove. 36. decor: grace. 40. stipulae: stubble, which was burnt after the harvest was gathered. — demptis : from de + emo. -adolentur : is burnt. aristis: grain. 41. saepes: hedges. 42. sub luce: at daybreak, when the wayfarer would set forth again, leaving the fire of the night still burning. 46. comantur: were arranged. — micantis: sparkling. 47. oscula lips. 50. ocior: swifter. L Charms |