Michael Bowling
Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.1
Michael Bowling /
- Created on 2018-09-07 19:54:29
- Modified on 2018-09-21 20:20:11
- Translated by A. S. Kline
- Aligned by Michael Bowling
Latin
English
At ego tibi sermone isto Milesio varias fabulas conseram auresque tuas benivolas lepido susurro permulceam , modo si papyrum Aegyptiam argutia Nilotici calami inscriptam non spreveris inspicere , figuras fortunasque hominum in alias imagines conversas et in se rursum mutuo nexu refectas , ut mireris . Exordior . Quis ille ? Paucis accipe . Hymettos Attica et Isthmos Ephyraea et Taenaros Spartiaca , glebae felices aeternum libris felicioribus conditae , mea vetus prosapia est : ibi linguam Attidem primis pueritiae stipendiis merui . Mox in urbe Latia advena studiorum , Quiritium indigenam sermonem aerumnabili labore , nullo magistro praeeunte , aggressus excolui . En ecce praefamur veniam , si quid exotici ac forensis sermonis rudis locutor offendero . Iam haec equidem ipsa vocis immutatio desultoriae scientiae stilo quem accessimus respondet . Fabulam Graecanicam incipimus : lector intende ; laetaberis .
Now
!
I’d
like
to
string
together
various
tales
in
the
Milesian
style
,
and
charm
your
kindly
ear
with
seductive
murmurs
,
so
long
as
you’re
ready
to
be
amazed
at
human
forms
and
fortunes
changed
radically
and
then
restored
in
turn
in
mutual
exchange
,
and
don’t
object
to
reading
Egyptian
papyri
,
inscribed
by
a
sly
reed
from
the
Nile
.
I’ll
begin
.
Who
am
I
?
I’ll
tell
you
briefly
.
Hymettus
near
Athens
;
the
Isthmus
of
Corinth
;
and
Spartan
Mount
Taenarus
,
happy
soil
more
happily
buried
forever
in
other
books
,
that’s
my
lineage
.
There
as
a
lad
I
served
in
my
first
campaigns
with
the
Greek
tongue
.
Later
,
in
Rome
,
freshly
come
to
Latin
studies
I
assumed
and
cultivated
the
native
language
,
without
a
teacher
,
and
with
a
heap
of
pains
.
So
there
!
I
beg
your
indulgence
in
advance
if
as
a
crude
performer
in
the
exotic
speech
of
the
Forum
I
offend
.
And
in
truth
the
very
fact
of
a
change
of
voice
will
answer
like
a
circus
rider’s
skill
when
needed
.
We’re
about
to
embark
on
a
Greek
tale
.
Reader
,
attend
:
and
find
delight
.
Metamorphises 4.28
Michael Bowling /
- Created on 2018-09-24 20:17:09
- Modified on 2018-09-28 19:34:53
- Aligned by Michael Bowling
Latin
English
Erant in quadam civitate rex et regina : hi tres numero filias forma conspicuas habuere , sed maiores quidem natu , quamvis gratissima specie , idonee tamen celebrari posse laudibus humanis credebantur . at vero puellae iunioris tam praecipua , tam praeclara pulchritudo nec exprimi ac ne sufficienter quidem laudari sermonis humani penuria poterat . Multi denique civium et advenae copiosi , quos eximii spectaculi rumor studiosa celebritate congregabat , inaccessae formositatis admiratione stupidi et admoventes oribus suis dexteram priore digito in erectum pollicem residente ut ipsam prorsus deam Venerem venerabantur religiosis adorationibus . Iamque proximas civitates et attiguas regiones fama pervaserat deam , quam caerulum profundum pelagi peperit et ros spumantium fluctuum educavit , iam numinis sui passim tributa venia in mediis conversari populi coetibus , vel certe rursum novo caelestium stillarum germine non maria , sed terras Venerem aliam , virginali flore praeditam , pullulasse .
In
a
certain
city
there
lived
a
king
and
queen
,
who
had
three
daughters
of
surpassing
beauty
.
Though
the
elder
two
were
extremely
pleasing
,
still
it
was
thought
they
were
only
worthy
of
mortal
praise
;
but
the
youngest
girl’s
looks
were
so
delightful
,
so
dazzling
,
no
human
speech
in
its
poverty
could
celebrate
them
,
or
even
rise
to
adequate
description
.
Crowds
of
eager
citizens
,
and
visitors
alike
,
drawn
by
tales
of
this
peerless
vision
,
stood
dumbfounded
,
marvelling
at
her
exceptional
loveliness
,
pressing
thumb
and
forefinger
together
and
touching
them
to
their
lips
,
and
bowing
their
heads
towards
her
in
pious
prayer
as
if
she
were
truly
the
goddess
Venus
.
Soon
the
news
spread
through
neighbouring
cities
,
and
the
lands
beyond
its
borders
,
that
the
goddess
herself
,
born
from
the
blue
depths
of
the
sea
,
emerging
in
spray
from
the
foaming
waves
,
was
now
gracing
the
earth
in
various
places
,
appearing
in
many
a
mortal
gathering
or
,
if
not
that
,
then
earth
not
ocean
had
given
rise
to
a
new
creation
,
a
new
celestial
emanation
,
another
Venus
,
and
as
yet
a
virgin
flower
.
Apuleius, Metamorphoses 4.29
Michael Bowling /
- Created on 2018-09-28 20:16:25
- Modified on 2018-10-01 20:04:37
- Translated by W. Adlington
- Aligned by Michael Bowling
Latin
English
Sic immensum procedit in dies opinio , sic insulas iam proxumas et terrae plusculum provinciasque plurimas fama porrecta pervagatur : iam multi mortalium longis itineribus atque altissimis maris meatibus ad saeculi specimen gloriosum confluebant : Paphon nemo , Cnidon nemo ac ne ipsa quidem Cythera ad conspectum deae Veneris navigabant . Sacra differuntur , templa deformantur , pulvinaria proteruntur , caerimoniae negleguntur ; incoronata simulacra et arae viduae frigido cinere foedatae . Puellae supplicatur , et in humanis vultibus deae tantae numina placantur , et in matutino progressu virginis victimis et epulis Veneris absentis nomen propitiatur , iamque per plateas commeantem populi frequentes floribus sertis et solutis apprecantur . Haec honorum caelestium ad puellae mortalis : cultum immodica translatio verae Veneris vehementer incendit animos , et impatiens indignationis capite quassanti fremens altius , sic secum disserit :
So
daily
more
and
more
increased
this
opinion
,
and
now
was
her
flying
fame
dispersed
into
the
next
islands
and
well
nigh
into
every
part
and
province
of
the
whole
world
.
Whereupon
innumerable
strangers
resorted
from
far
countries
,
adventuring
themselves
by
long
journeys
on
land
and
by
great
travels
on
water
,
to
behold
this
wonder
of
the
age
.
By
occasion
whereof
such
a
contempt
grew
towards
the
goddess
Venus
,
that
no
person
travelled
unto
the
town
Paphos
nor
unto
Cnidos
,
no
nor
to
the
isle
Cythera
to
worship
her
.
Her
liturgies
were
left
out
,
her
temples
defaced
,
her
couches
contemned
,
her
ceremonies
neglected
,
and
her
bare
altars
unswept
and
foul
with
the
ashes
of
old
burnt
sacrifice
.
For
why
,
every
person
honoured
and
worshipped
this
maiden
instead
of
Venus
,
calling
upon
the
divinity
of
that
great
goddess
in
a
human
form
,
and
in
the
morning
at
her
first
coming
abroad
,
offered
unto
her
oblations
,
provided
banquets
,
called
her
by
the
name
of
Venus
which
was
not
Venus
indeed
,
and
in
her
honour
,
as
she
walked
in
the
streets
,
presented
flowers
and
garlands
in
most
reverent
fashion
.
This
sudden
change
and
alteration
of
celestial
honour
unto
the
worship
of
a
mortal
maiden
did
greatly
inflame
and
kindle
the
mind
of
very
Venus
,
who
(
unable
to
temper
her
head
in
raging
sort
)
reasoned
with
herself
in
this
manner
:
Apuleius, Metamorphoses 4.30
Michael Bowling /
- Created on 2018-10-01 20:19:08
- Modified on 2018-10-10 19:58:54
- Translated by W. Adlington
- Aligned by Michael Bowling
Latin
English
' En rerum naturae prisca parens , en elementorum origo initialis , en orbis totius alma Venus , quae cum mortali puella partiario maiestatis honore tractor et nomen meum caelo conditum terrenis sordibus profanatur ! Nimirum communi numinis piamento vicariae venerationis incertum sustinebo , et imaginem meam circumferet puella moritura . Frustra me pastor ille , cuius iustitiam fidemque magnus comprobavit Iupiter , ob eximiam speciem tantis praetulit deabus . Sed non adeo gaudens ista , quaecumque est , meos honores usurpaverit : iam faxo eam huius etiam ipsius illicitae formositatis paeniteat ' . Et vocat confestim puerum suum pinnatum illum et satis temerarium , qui malis suis moribus contempta disciplina publica , flammis et sagittis armatus per alienas domos nocte discurrens et omnium matrimonia corrumpens impune committit tanta flagitia , et nihil prorsus boni facit .
'
Behold
I
,
the
original
of
nature
,
the
first
beginning
of
all
the
elements
,
behold
I
,
the
Lady
Venus
of
all
the
world
,
am
now
joined
with
a
mortal
maiden
as
a
partaker
of
my
honour
;
my
name
,
registered
in
the
city
of
heaven
,
is
profaned
and
made
vile
by
terrene
absurdities
.
If
I
shall
suffer
any
mortal
creature
to
present
my
majesty
in
earth
,
and
must
be
content
with
sharing
the
godhead
and
receiving
worship
through
other
,
or
that
any
girl
that
one
day
is
to
die
shall
bear
about
a
false
surmised
shape
of
my
person
,
then
in
vain
did
Paris
that
shepherd
(
in
whose
just
judgement
and
confidence
the
great
Jupiter
had
affiance
)
prefer
me
above
the
other
great
goddesses
for
the
excellency
of
my
beauty
:
but
she
,
whatsoever
she
be
,
shall
not
for
nought
have
usurped
mine
honour
,
but
she
shall
shortly
repent
her
of
her
unlawful
loveliness
'
.
Then
by
and
by
she
called
her
winged
son
Cupid
,
rash
enough
and
hardy
,
who
by
his
evil
manners
,
contemning
all
public
justice
and
law
,
armed
with
fire
and
arrows
,
running
up
and
down
in
the
nights
from
house
to
house
,
and
corrupting
the
lawful
marriages
of
every
person
,
doth
nothing
(
and
yet
he
is
not
punished
)
but
that
which
is
evil
.
Apuleius, Metamorphoses 8.19-22
Michael Bowling /
- Created on 2018-10-03 01:04:10
- Modified on 2018-10-15 03:39:39
- Translated by A. S. Kline and Robert Graves
- Aligned by Michael Bowling
Latin
English
English
Interea quidam senex de summo colle prospectat , quem circum capellae pascentes opilionem esse profecto clamabant . Eum rogavit unus e nostris haberetne venui lactem vel adhuc liquidum vel in caseum recentem inchoatum . At ille diu capite quassanti ‘Vos autem ’ inquit ‘De cibo vel poculo ) vel omnino ulla refectione nunc cogitatis ? An nulli scitis quo loco comederitis ? ’ Et cum dicto conductis oviculis conversus longe recessit . Quae vox eius et fuga pastoribus nostris non mediocrem pavorem incussit : ac dum perterriti de loci qualitate sciscitari gestiunt nec est qui doceat , senex alius , magnus ille quidem , gravatus annis , totus in baculum pronus et lassum trahens vestigium , ubertim lacrimans per viam proximat , visisque nobis cum fletu maximo singulorum iuvenum genua contingens sic adorabat :
‘ Per fortunas vestrosque genios , sic ad meae senectutis spatia validi laetique veniatis , decepto seni subsistite meumque parvulum ab inferis ereptum canis meis reddite . Nepos namque meus et itineris huius suavis comes dum forte passerem incantantem saepiculae consectatur arripere , delapsus in proxumam foveam , quae fruticibus imis subpatet , in extremo iam vitae consistit periculo , quippe cum de fletu ac voce [ p . 378 ] ipsius avum sibi saepicule clamitantis vivere illum quidem sentiam , sed per corporis , ut videtis , mei defectam valitudinem opitulari nequeam . At vobis aetatis et roboris beneficio facile est suppetiari miserrimo seni puerumque illum novissimum successionis meae atque unicam stirpem sospitem mihi facere . ’
Sic deprecantis suamque canitiem distrahentis totos quidem miseruit ; sed unus prae ceteris et animo fortior et aetate iuvenior et corpore validior , quique solus praeter alios incolumis proelium superius evaserat , exsurgit alacer et percontatus quonam loci puer , ille decidisset , monstrantem digito non longe frutices horridos senem illum impigre comitatur . Ac dum pabulo nostro suaque cura refecti sarcinulis quisque sumptis suis viam capessunt , clamore primum nominatim cientes illum iuvenem frequenter inclamant ; mox mora diutina commoti mittunt e suis arcessitorem unum , qui requisitum comitem tempestivae viae commonefactum reduceret . At ille modicum commoratus refert sese buxanti pallore trepidus miraque 1super conservo suo renuntiat : conspicatum se quippe supinato illi et iam ex maxima parte consumpto immanem draconem mandentem insistere nec ullum usquam miserrimum senem comparere illum . Qua re cognita et cum pastoris sermone collata , qui saevum prorsus hunc illum nec alium locorum inquilinum praeminabatur , pestilenti deserta regione velociori se fuga proripiunt . nosque pellunt
crebris tundentes fustibus . Celerrime denique longo 1 [ p . 380 ] itinere confecto pagum quendam accedimus , ibique totam perquiescimus noctem ; ubi coeptum facinus oppido memorabile narrare cupio . Servus quidam , cui cunctam familiae tutelam dominus permiserat suus , quique possessionem maximam illam , in quam deverteramus , villicabat , habens ex eodem famulitio conservam coniugam , liberae cuiusdam extrariaeque mulieris flagrabat cupidine . Quo dolore paclicatus uxor eius instricta cunctas mariti rationes et quicquid horreo reconditum continebatur admoto combussit igne . Nec tali damno tori sui contumeliam vindicasse contenta , iam contra sua saeviens viscera laqueum sibi nectit infantulumque , quem de eodem marito iamdudum susceperat , eodem funiculo nectit seque per altissimum puteum , appendicem parvulum trahens praecipitat . Quam mortem dominus eorum aegerrime sustinens arreptum servulum , qui causam tanti sceleris uxori suae praestiterat , nudum ac totum melle perlitum firmiter alligavit arbori ficulneae , cuius in ipso carioso stipite inhabitantium formicarum nidificia borribant et ultro citro commeabant multiiuga scaturigine . Quae simul dulcem ac mellitum corporis nidorem persentiscunt , parvis quidem sed numerosis et continuis morsiunculis penitus inhaerentes , per longi temporis cruciatum ita , carnibus atque ipsis visceribus adesis , homine consumpto membra nudarunt , ut ossa tantum viduata pulpis nitore nimio candentia funestae cohaererent arbori .
‘ Per fortunas vestrosque genios , sic ad meae senectutis spatia validi laetique veniatis , decepto seni subsistite meumque parvulum ab inferis ereptum canis meis reddite . Nepos namque meus et itineris huius suavis comes dum forte passerem incantantem saepiculae consectatur arripere , delapsus in proxumam foveam , quae fruticibus imis subpatet , in extremo iam vitae consistit periculo , quippe cum de fletu ac voce [ p . 378 ] ipsius avum sibi saepicule clamitantis vivere illum quidem sentiam , sed per corporis , ut videtis , mei defectam valitudinem opitulari nequeam . At vobis aetatis et roboris beneficio facile est suppetiari miserrimo seni puerumque illum novissimum successionis meae atque unicam stirpem sospitem mihi facere . ’
Sic deprecantis suamque canitiem distrahentis totos quidem miseruit ; sed unus prae ceteris et animo fortior et aetate iuvenior et corpore validior , quique solus praeter alios incolumis proelium superius evaserat , exsurgit alacer et percontatus quonam loci puer , ille decidisset , monstrantem digito non longe frutices horridos senem illum impigre comitatur . Ac dum pabulo nostro suaque cura refecti sarcinulis quisque sumptis suis viam capessunt , clamore primum nominatim cientes illum iuvenem frequenter inclamant ; mox mora diutina commoti mittunt e suis arcessitorem unum , qui requisitum comitem tempestivae viae commonefactum reduceret . At ille modicum commoratus refert sese buxanti pallore trepidus miraque 1super conservo suo renuntiat : conspicatum se quippe supinato illi et iam ex maxima parte consumpto immanem draconem mandentem insistere nec ullum usquam miserrimum senem comparere illum . Qua re cognita et cum pastoris sermone collata , qui saevum prorsus hunc illum nec alium locorum inquilinum praeminabatur , pestilenti deserta regione velociori se fuga proripiunt . nosque pellunt
crebris tundentes fustibus . Celerrime denique longo 1 [ p . 380 ] itinere confecto pagum quendam accedimus , ibique totam perquiescimus noctem ; ubi coeptum facinus oppido memorabile narrare cupio . Servus quidam , cui cunctam familiae tutelam dominus permiserat suus , quique possessionem maximam illam , in quam deverteramus , villicabat , habens ex eodem famulitio conservam coniugam , liberae cuiusdam extrariaeque mulieris flagrabat cupidine . Quo dolore paclicatus uxor eius instricta cunctas mariti rationes et quicquid horreo reconditum continebatur admoto combussit igne . Nec tali damno tori sui contumeliam vindicasse contenta , iam contra sua saeviens viscera laqueum sibi nectit infantulumque , quem de eodem marito iamdudum susceperat , eodem funiculo nectit seque per altissimum puteum , appendicem parvulum trahens praecipitat . Quam mortem dominus eorum aegerrime sustinens arreptum servulum , qui causam tanti sceleris uxori suae praestiterat , nudum ac totum melle perlitum firmiter alligavit arbori ficulneae , cuius in ipso carioso stipite inhabitantium formicarum nidificia borribant et ultro citro commeabant multiiuga scaturigine . Quae simul dulcem ac mellitum corporis nidorem persentiscunt , parvis quidem sed numerosis et continuis morsiunculis penitus inhaerentes , per longi temporis cruciatum ita , carnibus atque ipsis visceribus adesis , homine consumpto membra nudarunt , ut ossa tantum viduata pulpis nitore nimio candentia funestae cohaererent arbori .
Now an old man appeared , gazing down on us from a summit at hand ; a goat-herd he was , as could be seen by the she-goats browsing round him . One of us asked him if he’d any milk or curds for sale . He shook his head several times before replying : ‘How can you dream of food and drink , or anything else right now ? Don’t you know where you are ? ’ Then he gathered his goats , and made off into the distance . His words and his sudden flight filled us all with no little dread . We wondered what was wrong with the place , but there was no one the others could ask , till a second old man approached on the road , tall and bent with the years , hunched over his staff , wearily dragging his feet , and weeping copiously . Meeting with us he clasped the knees of all the young men in turn , wracked by tears .
‘May Fortune and your guardian spirits smile on you , ’ he sobbed , ‘may you be healthy and happy when you reach my years , only help a wretched old man , save my grandson from death , and spare him to my old grey head . My sweet comrade on this journey , he was trying to catch a sparrow singing in the hedge when he fell into a pit that yawned at its feet , and now he’s doomed to death , though I know he’s alive from his calls to me , and his weeping . I’m too weak to save him , as you see , but your youth and strength could easily aid a poor old man and save the youngest of my line , my only heir . ’
We were all filled with pity as he begged us to help and tore at his grey hair . One of the younger men , stouter of heart , and stronger of limb than the others , the only one of us uninjured in the recent battle , leapt up readily and asked where the boy was . The old man pointed with his finger to a clump of bushes , and the youth set off in his company . When we animals had grazed , and the humans had tended their wounds and were refreshed , we all rose with our loads and started down the road . At first they shouted and called the young man’s name repeatedly , then anxious at his delay they sent someone off to find their missing comrade , tell him we were off , and bring him back . Soon the messenger returned , trembling and pale as boxwood , with a strange tale to tell of his friend . He had seen his body he said , lying on its back , almost totally eaten by a vast serpent . The snake was coiled above him as it consumed him , but the poor old man was nowhere to be seen . Hearing this , and matching it to the goat-herd’s earlier remarks , who must have been warning them of none another than this same denizen of the place , they fled from that pestilential region , travelling more swiftly than before , driving us along rapidly with repeated blows of their sticks .
After a long day moving at breakneck pace , we came to a village where we stayed the night , a place where a noteworthy crime had been committed which I’ll relate .
A servant , whose master had made him steward of his entire estate , had previously acted as bailiff therefore of the large holding where we had stopped for the night . He was married to a servant in the same household , but burned with love for a freedwoman , who lived outside his master’s estate . Angered by her husband’s disloyalty , the wife set fire to his store-room and all his accounts , destroying both utterly . Not content with this act as revenge for the insult to her marriage , she turned her bitter rage against her own flesh . Tying a rope round her own neck and that of the child she’d just borne her husband , she hurled herself into a deep well , dragging the infant with her . Their master , horrified at their deaths , had the servant , whose infidelity had provoked the dreadful tragedy , arrested , stripped naked and smeared with honey , and tied to a rotting fig-tree inside whose trunk lived a colony of nesting ants that marched in and out in their myriad streams . Detecting the sweet sugary scent on his body , they quickly fastened their tiny jaws in his skin , wounding him deeply with endlessly repeated bites , until after interminable torment , he died . His flesh and his innards were totally consumed and his body stripped to the bare bones which , gleaming a brilliant white , were left tied to the tree .
‘May Fortune and your guardian spirits smile on you , ’ he sobbed , ‘may you be healthy and happy when you reach my years , only help a wretched old man , save my grandson from death , and spare him to my old grey head . My sweet comrade on this journey , he was trying to catch a sparrow singing in the hedge when he fell into a pit that yawned at its feet , and now he’s doomed to death , though I know he’s alive from his calls to me , and his weeping . I’m too weak to save him , as you see , but your youth and strength could easily aid a poor old man and save the youngest of my line , my only heir . ’
We were all filled with pity as he begged us to help and tore at his grey hair . One of the younger men , stouter of heart , and stronger of limb than the others , the only one of us uninjured in the recent battle , leapt up readily and asked where the boy was . The old man pointed with his finger to a clump of bushes , and the youth set off in his company . When we animals had grazed , and the humans had tended their wounds and were refreshed , we all rose with our loads and started down the road . At first they shouted and called the young man’s name repeatedly , then anxious at his delay they sent someone off to find their missing comrade , tell him we were off , and bring him back . Soon the messenger returned , trembling and pale as boxwood , with a strange tale to tell of his friend . He had seen his body he said , lying on its back , almost totally eaten by a vast serpent . The snake was coiled above him as it consumed him , but the poor old man was nowhere to be seen . Hearing this , and matching it to the goat-herd’s earlier remarks , who must have been warning them of none another than this same denizen of the place , they fled from that pestilential region , travelling more swiftly than before , driving us along rapidly with repeated blows of their sticks .
After a long day moving at breakneck pace , we came to a village where we stayed the night , a place where a noteworthy crime had been committed which I’ll relate .
A servant , whose master had made him steward of his entire estate , had previously acted as bailiff therefore of the large holding where we had stopped for the night . He was married to a servant in the same household , but burned with love for a freedwoman , who lived outside his master’s estate . Angered by her husband’s disloyalty , the wife set fire to his store-room and all his accounts , destroying both utterly . Not content with this act as revenge for the insult to her marriage , she turned her bitter rage against her own flesh . Tying a rope round her own neck and that of the child she’d just borne her husband , she hurled herself into a deep well , dragging the infant with her . Their master , horrified at their deaths , had the servant , whose infidelity had provoked the dreadful tragedy , arrested , stripped naked and smeared with honey , and tied to a rotting fig-tree inside whose trunk lived a colony of nesting ants that marched in and out in their myriad streams . Detecting the sweet sugary scent on his body , they quickly fastened their tiny jaws in his skin , wounding him deeply with endlessly repeated bites , until after interminable torment , he died . His flesh and his innards were totally consumed and his body stripped to the bare bones which , gleaming a brilliant white , were left tied to the tree .
An old man appeared at the top of the hill with goats feeding around him . One of our people hailed him and asked whether he had any milk or fresh cheese for sale . He shook his head two or three times before answering : ‘How can you think of food or drink or anything else of the sort ? Don’t you know in what sort of a place you arc camping ? ’ He turned his back and went off with his goats . His question and the abrupt way he left us alarmed our people . They all began wondering what was wrong with the place . But there was nobody to enlighten them until another old man appeared , a tall , bent old man , dragging his feet wearily towards us and leaning heavily on a stick . When he reached the glade where we had halted , he fell down on his knees , his eyes streaming with tears , embraced our people one after the other and groaned out : ‘I appeal to you , my lucky gentlemen , as you hope to live strong and hearty until you reach my age , help a poor old man , who has lost his only comfort in life : save my little grandson from the jaws of death ! He is such a dear little boy . We were travelling along the road together when he heard a sparrow twittering on a hedge and tried to catch it . But he fell into a deep ditch hidden by rank undergrowth and there he is stuck . I know by his cries that he is still alive , but as you see I am old and shaky and haven’t the strength to pull him out . You strong young gentlemen could easily help me . Pity a poor unhappy old man ! The child is the last survivor of my family . ’ He tore at his white hair , and naturally we were all touched by his appeal . One of the cattlemen— the youngest , boldest and strongest of the whole company— the only one , too , who had escaped without a scratch from our one-sided battle , sprang up and asked where the boy was . The old man pointed at a clump of bushes a little way off and eagerly led him towards them . When we animals had grazed and our drivers had finished eating and dressing their wounds , it was time to pack up and continue our journey . Loud cries were raised for the young cattleman , who had been away a surprisingly long time , and when he did not reappear a friend was sent to warn him that we were on the move again . The friend returned almost at once , pale and trembling , with an extraordinary story : he had found the body of the young cattleman lying on its back , half-eaten , with a monstrous snake coiled over it . The unhappy old man was nowhere to be seen . So that was evidently what the man with the goats had meant : he had been warning us against the dreadful creature that haunted the glade . Our people hurried as fast as they could from the deadly place , whacking us hard with their sticks . The next stage of the journey was covered in double quick time . We spent that night at a village , where the people told us a dreadful story . I feel impelled to include it in this book because it concerned a gruesome relic still to be seen on the farm where we were quartered . The previous farm-bailiff , who was married to a fellow-slave , had fallen in love with a free woman , not of his master’s household , and made her his mistress . When his wife came to hear of it she was so vexed that she burned his account-books and all the contents of his store-room . Even this did not satisfy her : she tied one end of a rope around her neck and the other around the neck of her little child , but then instead of committing suicide by hanging , plunged into a well and dragged the poor child after her . Her death so shocked the owner of the farm that he seized the bailiff whose infidelity had provoked it and ordered him to be stripped naked , smeared all over with honey and bound fast to a rotten g-tree which was swarming with ants inside and out . As soon as the ants smelt the honey they began running over him and with minute but innumerable and incessant bites gradually ate him up , flesh , guts and all . He survived the torture for some time , but in the end there was nothing left of him but his skeleton , picked clean ; which we saw , all white and dry , still tied to the fig-tree .
Metamorphises 4.32
Michael Bowling /
- Created on 2018-10-29 03:16:40
- Modified on 2018-11-09 19:52:08
- Translated by A. S. Kline
- Aligned by Michael Bowling
Latin
English
Interea Psyche cum sua sibi perspicua pulchritudine nullum decoris sui fructum percipit . Spectatur ab omnibus , laudatur ab omnibus , nec quisquam , non rex , non regius , nec de plebe saltem cupiens eius nuptiarum petitor accedit : mirantur quidem divinam speciem , sed ut simulacrum fabre politum mirantur omnes . Olim duae maiores sorores , quarum temperatam formositatem nulli diffamarant populi , procis regibus desponsae iam beatas nuptias adeptae sed Psyche virgo vidua domi residens deflet desertam suam solitudinem , aegra corporis , animi saucia , et quamvis gentibus totis complacitam odit in se suam formositatem . Sic infortunatissimae filiae miserrimus pater , suspectatis caelestibus odiis et irae superum metuens , dei Milesii vetustissimum percontatur oraculum et a tanto numine precibus et victimis ingratae virgini petit nuptias et maritum . Sed Apollo , quamquam Graecus et Ionicus , propter Milesiae conditorem sic Latina sorte respondit :
Psyche
,
for
all
her
conspicuous
beauty
,
reaped
no
profit
from
her
charms
.
Gazed
at
by
all
,
praised
by
all
,
no
one
,
neither
prince
nor
commoner
,
wishing
to
marry
her
,
sought
her
hand
.
They
admired
her
divine
beauty
of
course
,
but
as
we
admire
a
perfectly
finished
statue
.
Her
two
elder
sisters
,
whose
plainer
looks
had
never
been
trumpeted
through
the
world
,
were
soon
engaged
to
royal
suitors
and
so
made
excellent
marriages
,
but
Psyche
was
left
at
home
,
a
virgin
,
single
,
weeping
in
lonely
solitude
,
ill
in
body
and
sore
at
heart
,
hating
that
beauty
of
form
the
world
found
so
pleasing
.
So
the
wretched
girl’s
unhappy
father
,
suspecting
divine
hostility
,
fearing
the
gods’
anger
,
consulted
the
ancient
Miletian
oracle
of
Apollo
at
Didyma
.
With
prayer
and
sacrifice
he
asked
the
mighty
god
for
a
man
to
marry
the
unfortunate
girl
.
Apollo
,
though
Greek
and
Ionian
too
,
favoured
the
author
of
this
Miletian
tale
with
a
reply
in
Latin
:
Apuleius, Metamorphoses 4.33
Michael Bowling /
- Created on 2018-11-09 16:10:23
- Modified on 2018-11-14 20:09:24
- Translated by A. S. Kline
- Aligned by Michael Bowling
Latin
English
urn:cts:latinLit:phi1212.phi002.perseus-lat1:4.33
Montis in excelsi scopulo , rex , siste puellam
Ornatam mundo funerei thalami : Nec speres generum mortali stirpe creatum ,
Sed saevum atque ferum vipereumque malum , Quod pinnis volitans super aethera cuncta fatigat
Flammaque et ferro singula debilitat ; Quod tremit ipse Iovis , quo numina terrificantur ,
Fluminaque horrescunt et Stygiae tenebrae .
Rex , olim beatus , affatu sanctae vaticinationis accepto pigens tristisque retro domum pergit suaeque coniugi praecepta sortis enodat infaustae . Maeretur , fletur , lamentatur diebus plusculis : sed dirae sortis iam urget taeter effectus , iam feralium nuptiarum miserrimae virgini choragium struitur , iam taedae lumen atrae fuliginis cinere marcescit , et sonus tibiae zygiae mutatur in querulum Lydii modum , cantusque laetus hymenaei lugubri finitur ululatu , et puella nuptura deterget lacrimas ipso suo flammeo . Sic affectae domus triste fatum cuncta etiam civitas congemebat , luctuque publico confestim congruens edicitur iustitium .
Ornatam mundo funerei thalami : Nec speres generum mortali stirpe creatum ,
Sed saevum atque ferum vipereumque malum , Quod pinnis volitans super aethera cuncta fatigat
Flammaque et ferro singula debilitat ; Quod tremit ipse Iovis , quo numina terrificantur ,
Fluminaque horrescunt et Stygiae tenebrae .
Rex , olim beatus , affatu sanctae vaticinationis accepto pigens tristisque retro domum pergit suaeque coniugi praecepta sortis enodat infaustae . Maeretur , fletur , lamentatur diebus plusculis : sed dirae sortis iam urget taeter effectus , iam feralium nuptiarum miserrimae virgini choragium struitur , iam taedae lumen atrae fuliginis cinere marcescit , et sonus tibiae zygiae mutatur in querulum Lydii modum , cantusque laetus hymenaei lugubri finitur ululatu , et puella nuptura deterget lacrimas ipso suo flammeo . Sic affectae domus triste fatum cuncta etiam civitas congemebat , luctuque publico confestim congruens edicitur iustitium .
"
High
on
a
mountain
crag
,
decked
in
her
finery
,
Lead your daughter , king , to her fatal marriage .
And hope for no child of hers born of a mortal ,
But a cruel and savage , serpent-like winged evil ,
Flying through the heavens , and threatening all ,
Menacing ever soul on earth with fire and sword ,
Till Jove himself trembles , the gods are terrified ,
And rivers quake and the Stygian shades beside . "
The king , blessed till now , on hearing this utterance of sacred prophecy went slowly home in sadness and told his wife the oracle’s dark saying . They moaned , they wept , they wailed for many a day . But the dire and fatal hour soon approached . The scene was set for the poor girl’s dark wedding . The flames of the wedding torches grew dim with black smoky ash ; the tune of hymen’s flute sounded in plaintive Lydian mode , and the marriage-hymn’s cheerful song fell to a mournful wail . The bride-to-be wiped tears away with her flame-red bridal veil ; the whole city grieved at the cruel fate that had struck the afflicted house and public business was interrupted as a fitting show of mourning .
Lead your daughter , king , to her fatal marriage .
And hope for no child of hers born of a mortal ,
But a cruel and savage , serpent-like winged evil ,
Flying through the heavens , and threatening all ,
Menacing ever soul on earth with fire and sword ,
Till Jove himself trembles , the gods are terrified ,
And rivers quake and the Stygian shades beside . "
The king , blessed till now , on hearing this utterance of sacred prophecy went slowly home in sadness and told his wife the oracle’s dark saying . They moaned , they wept , they wailed for many a day . But the dire and fatal hour soon approached . The scene was set for the poor girl’s dark wedding . The flames of the wedding torches grew dim with black smoky ash ; the tune of hymen’s flute sounded in plaintive Lydian mode , and the marriage-hymn’s cheerful song fell to a mournful wail . The bride-to-be wiped tears away with her flame-red bridal veil ; the whole city grieved at the cruel fate that had struck the afflicted house and public business was interrupted as a fitting show of mourning .
Metamorphises 4.34
Michael Bowling /
- Created on 2018-11-14 20:19:39
- Modified on 2018-12-05 19:44:20
- Translated by A. S. Kline
- Aligned by Michael Bowling
Latin
English
urn:cts:latinLit:phi1212.phi002.perseus-lat1:4.34
Sed monitis caelestibus parendi necessitas misellam Psychen ad destinatam poenam efflagitabat : perfectis igitur feralis thalami cum summo maerore sollemnibus toto prosequente populo vivum producitur funus et lacrimosa Psyche comitatur non nuptiassed exequias suas . Ac dum maesti parentes et tanto malo perciti nefarium facinus perficere cunctantur , ipsa illa filia talibus eos adhortatur vocibus : Quid infelicem senectam fletu diutino cruciatis ? Quid spiritum vestrum , qui magis meus est , crebris eiulatibus fatigatis ? Quid lacrimis inefficacibus ora mihi veneranda foedatis ? Quid laceratis in vestris oculis mea lumina ? Quid canitiem scinditis ? Quid pectora , quid ubera sancta tunditis ? Haec erunt vobis egregiae formositatis meae praeclara praemia ? Invidiae nefariae letali plaga percussi sero sentitis . Cum gentes et populi celebrarent nos divinis honoribus , cum novam me Venerem ore consono nuncuparent , tunc dolere , tunc flere , tunc me iam quasi peremptam lugere debuistis : iam sentio , iam video solo me nomine Veneris perisse . Ducite me , et cui sors addixit scopulo sistite : festino felices istas nuptias obire , festino generosum illum maritum meum videre . Quid differo ? Quid detrecto venientem qui totius orbis exitio natus est ?
But
the
need
to
obey
the
divine
command
sent
poor
Psyche
to
meet
the
sentence
decreed
,
the
ritual
preparations
for
the
fatal
marriage
were
completed
in
utter
sorrow
,
and
the
living
corpse
was
led
from
the
house
surrounded
by
all
the
people
.
Tearful
Psyche
walked
along
,
not
in
wedding
procession
,
but
in
her
own
funeral
cortege
.
Her
parents
saddened
and
overcome
by
this
great
misfortune
hesitated
to
carry
out
the
dreadful
deed
,
but
their
daughter
herself
urged
them
on
:
"
Why
torment
a
sorrowful
old
age
with
endless
weeping
?
Why
exhaust
your
life’s
breath
,
which
is
my
own
,
with
this
constant
wailing
?
Why
drown
in
vain
tears
those
faces
I
love
?
Why
wound
my
eyes
by
wounding
your
own
?
Why
tear
your
white
hair
?
Why
beat
the
breasts
that
fed
me
?
Let
this
be
your
glorious
reward
for
my
famous
beauty
.
Too
late
you
see
the
blow
that
falls
is
dealt
by
wicked
Envy
.
When
nations
and
countries
granted
me
divine
honours
,
when
with
one
voice
they
named
me
as
the
new
Venus
,
that’s
when
you
should
have
mourned
,
and
wept
,
and
grieved
as
if
I
were
dead
.
I
know
now
,
I
realise
that
her
name
alone
destroys
me
.
Lead
me
now
to
that
cliff
the
oracle
appointed
.
I
go
swiftly
towards
this
fortunate
marriage
,
I
go
swiftly
to
meet
this
noble
husband
of
mine
.
Why
delay
,
why
run
from
the
coming
of
one
who’ll
be
born
for
the
whole
world’s
ruin
?
"
Apuleius, Metamorphoses 4.35
Michael Bowling /
- Created on 2018-12-07 02:55:45
- Aligned by Michael Bowling
Latin
English
urn:cts:latinLit:phi1212.phi002.perseus-lat1:4.35
qui totius orbis exitio natus est ? Sic profata virgo conticuit ingressuque iam valido pompae populi prosequentis sese miscuit . Itur ad constitutum scopulum montis ardui , cuius in summo cacumine statutam puellam cuncti deserunt , taedasque nuptiales , quibus praeluxerant , ibidem lacrimis suis extinctas relinquentes deiectis capitibus domuitionem parant , et miseri quidem parentes eius tanta clade defessi clausae domus abstrusi tenebris perpetuae nocti sesededidere . Psychen autem paventem ac trepidam et in ipso scopuli vertice deflentem mitis aura molliter spirantis Zephyri , vibratis hinc inde laciniis et reflato sinu , sensim levatam suo tranquillo spiritui vehens paulatim per devexa rupis excelsae , vallis subditae florentis caespitis gremio leniter delapsam reclinat .
With
this
,
the
girl
fell
silent
,
and
went
steadfastly
on
,
accompanied
by
the
throng
of
citizens
around
her
.
They
came
to
the
steep
mountain
crag
decreed
,
and
placed
the
girl
,
as
commanded
,
on
its
very
top
,
then
deserted
her
,
one
and
all
.
They
left
behind
the
bridal
torches
,
lighted
on
the
way
,
and
now
extinguished
by
their
tears
,
and
heads
bent
low
began
their
journey
home
,
where
her
unhappy
parents
,
exhausted
by
this
dreadful
blow
,
shut
themselves
in
the
darkness
of
their
room
,
and
resigned
themselves
to
endless
night
.
Meanwhile
Psyche
,
on
the
topmost
summit
,
frightened
,
trembling
,
and
in
tears
,
was
lifted
by
a
gentle
breeze
,
a
softly
whispering
Zephyr
,
stirring
her
dress
around
her
and
causing
it
to
billow
,
its
tranquil
breath
carrying
her
slowly
down
the
high
cliff
slopes
to
the
valley
below
,
where
it
laid
her
tenderly
on
a
bed
of
flowering
turf
.