Apuleius Metamporphoses: 4.33.1
Ashley Tillman /
- Created on 2021-11-17 20:14:40
- Aligned by Ashley Tillman
English
Latin
English
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 .
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 ululate ,
They mourned and wept and lamented for many days . But at last the time drew near for the loathly performance of that cruel ordinance . The unhappy maid was arrayed for her ghastly bridal , the torches ' flame burned low , clogged with dark soot and ash , the strains of the flute of wedlock were changed to the melancholy Lydian mode , the glad chant of the hymeneal hymn ended in mournful wailing ,