Ethan Gallagher
Furman University
Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.1
Ethan Gallagher /
- Created on 2018-09-10 23:48:13
- Modified on 2018-11-09 23:42:27
- Translated by A.L. Klein
- Aligned by Ethan Gallagher
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
.
Apuleius. Metamorphoses 4.28 (Kline)
Ethan Gallagher /
- Created on 2018-09-24 20:17:27
- Modified on 2018-11-12 19:33:57
- Translated by A.S. Kline
- Aligned by Ethan Gallagher
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
.
Apuleuis, Metamorphoses 4.29
Ethan Gallagher /
- Created on 2018-09-28 19:37:12
- Modified on 2018-11-10 16:27:11
- Translated by W. Adlington
- Aligned by Ethan Gallagher
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
Ethan Gallagher /
- Created on 2018-10-01 20:19:01
- Modified on 2018-11-10 16:17:42
- Translated by W. Adlington
- Aligned by Ethan Gallagher
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
.
Metamorphoses 10.33-10.35
Ethan Gallagher /
- Created on 2018-10-08 22:55:57
- Modified on 2018-11-19 20:03:47
- Translated by E.J Kenny and A.S Kline
- Aligned by Ethan Gallagher
Latin
English
English
Quid ergo miramini , vilissima capita , immo forensia pecora , immo vero togati vulturii , si totis nunc iudices sententias suas pretio nundinantur , cum rerum exordio inter deos et homines agitatum indicium corruperit gratia et originalem sententiam magni Iovis consiliis electus iudex rusticanus et opilio lucro libidinis vendiderit cum totis etiam suae stirpis exitio ? Sic hercules et aliud sequensque iudicium inter inclito Achivorum duces celebratum , [ vel ] eum falsis insimulationibus eruditione doctrinaque praepollens Palamedes proditionis damnatur , virtute Martia praepotenti praefertur Vlixes modicus Aiaci maximo . Quale autem et illud iudicium apud legiferos Athenienses catos illos et omnis scientiae magistros ? Nonne divinae prudentiae senex , quem sapientia praetulit cunctis mortalibus deus Delphicus , fraude et invidia nequissimae factionis circumventus velut corruptor adulescentiae , quam frenis cohercebat , herbae pestilentis suco noxio peremptus est relinquens civibus ignominiae perpetuae maculam , cum nunc etiam egregii philosophi sectam eius sanctissimam praeoptent et summo beatitudinis studio iurent in ipsius nomen ? Sed nequis indignationis meae reprehendat impetum secum sic reputans : " Ecce nunc patiemur philosophantem nobis asinum ? " , rursus , unde decessi , revertar ad fabulam .
Postquam finitum est illud Paridis iudicium , Iuno quidem cum Minerva tristes et iratis similes e scaena redeunt , indignationem repulsae gestibus professae , Venus vero gaudens et hilaris laetitiam suam saltando toto cum choro professa est . Tunc de summo montis cacumine per quandam latentem fistulam in excelsum prorumpit vino crocus diluta sparsique deflens pascentis circa capellas odoro perpluit imbre , donec in meliorem maculatae speciem canitiem propriam luteo colore mutarent . Iamque tota suae fraglante cavea montem illum ligneum terrae vorago decepit .
Ecce quidam miles per mediam plateam dirigit cursum petiturus iam populo postulante illam de puplico carcere mulierem , quam dixi propter multiforme scelus bestis esse damnatam meisque praeclaris nuptiis destinatam . Et iam torus genialis scilicet noster futurus accuratissime disternebatur lectus Indica testudine perlucidus , plumea congerie tumidis , veste serica floribus . At ego praeter pudorem obeundi publice concubitus , praeter contagium scelerae pollutaeque feminae , metu iam mortis maxime cruciabar sic ipse mecum reputans , quod in amplexus Venerio scilicet nobis cohaerentibus , quaecumque ad exitium mulieris bestia fuisset immissa , non adeo vel prudentia sollers vel artificio docta vel absistentia frugi posset provenire , ut adiacentem lateri meo laceraret mulierem , mihi vero quasi indemnato et innoxio parceret .
Ergo igitur non de pudore iam , sed de salute ipsa sollicitus , dum magister meus lectulos probe coaptando districtus inseruit et tota familia partim ministerio venationis occupata partim voluptario spectaculo adtonita meis cogitationibus liberum tribuebatur arbitrium , nec magnoque quisquam custodiendum tam mansuetum putabat asinum , paulatim furtivum pedem proferens portam , quae proxima est , potitus iam cursu memet celerrimo proripio Cenchreas pervado , quod oppidum audit quidem nobilissimae coloniae Corinthiensium , adluitur autem Aegaeo et Saronico mari . Inibi portus etiam tutissimum navium receptaculum magno frequentatur populo . Vitatis ergo turbulis et electo secreto litore prope ipsa fluctuum aspergines in quodam mollissimo harenae gremio lassum corpus porrectus refovero . Nam et ultimam diei metam curriculum solis deflexerat et vespertinae me quieti traditum dulcis somnus oppresserat .
Postquam finitum est illud Paridis iudicium , Iuno quidem cum Minerva tristes et iratis similes e scaena redeunt , indignationem repulsae gestibus professae , Venus vero gaudens et hilaris laetitiam suam saltando toto cum choro professa est . Tunc de summo montis cacumine per quandam latentem fistulam in excelsum prorumpit vino crocus diluta sparsique deflens pascentis circa capellas odoro perpluit imbre , donec in meliorem maculatae speciem canitiem propriam luteo colore mutarent . Iamque tota suae fraglante cavea montem illum ligneum terrae vorago decepit .
Ecce quidam miles per mediam plateam dirigit cursum petiturus iam populo postulante illam de puplico carcere mulierem , quam dixi propter multiforme scelus bestis esse damnatam meisque praeclaris nuptiis destinatam . Et iam torus genialis scilicet noster futurus accuratissime disternebatur lectus Indica testudine perlucidus , plumea congerie tumidis , veste serica floribus . At ego praeter pudorem obeundi publice concubitus , praeter contagium scelerae pollutaeque feminae , metu iam mortis maxime cruciabar sic ipse mecum reputans , quod in amplexus Venerio scilicet nobis cohaerentibus , quaecumque ad exitium mulieris bestia fuisset immissa , non adeo vel prudentia sollers vel artificio docta vel absistentia frugi posset provenire , ut adiacentem lateri meo laceraret mulierem , mihi vero quasi indemnato et innoxio parceret .
Ergo igitur non de pudore iam , sed de salute ipsa sollicitus , dum magister meus lectulos probe coaptando districtus inseruit et tota familia partim ministerio venationis occupata partim voluptario spectaculo adtonita meis cogitationibus liberum tribuebatur arbitrium , nec magnoque quisquam custodiendum tam mansuetum putabat asinum , paulatim furtivum pedem proferens portam , quae proxima est , potitus iam cursu memet celerrimo proripio Cenchreas pervado , quod oppidum audit quidem nobilissimae coloniae Corinthiensium , adluitur autem Aegaeo et Saronico mari . Inibi portus etiam tutissimum navium receptaculum magno frequentatur populo . Vitatis ergo turbulis et electo secreto litore prope ipsa fluctuum aspergines in quodam mollissimo harenae gremio lassum corpus porrectus refovero . Nam et ultimam diei metam curriculum solis deflexerat et vespertinae me quieti traditum dulcis somnus oppresserat .
Why are you surprised then , oh worthless ones , you legal cattle , or to speak more accurately you vultures in togas , if jurors sell verdicts for a high price these days , since in the childhood of the world a judgement made by a mortal regarding divine beauty itself succumbed to beauty’s corrupting influence , and a rural shepherd chosen by mighty Jupiter to decide , opted to win its delights for himself , to the ruin of himself and his whole race ? It was the same in another later case when Palamedes , a prince of the Achaeans , a man of great wisdom and learning , was condemned to death as a traitor by Agamemnon , through false accusations ; and again when Ulysses was preferred to Ajax , his superior in martial valour . As for the Athenians , those brilliant lawmakers , those masters of every art and science , what sort of trial did they grant Socrates ? That man of divine wisdom , he whom the Delphic oracle declared greater in knowledge than all other mortals , was faced with the malice and deceit of a wholly worthless faction , accused of corrupting the young whom rather he kept in hand , then murdered with a deadly cup of poisonous hemlock . Yet his legacy to his fellow citizens is a permanent reminder of their injustice , since to this day the greatest philosophers are of his noble persuasion , and in studying the highest happiness swear by his very name .
Lest you disapprove of my fit of indignation , and say to yourself : ‘Is
every ass to turn philosopher now ? ’ I’ll revisit the tale where I left off .
Once the judgment of Paris had been delivered , Juno and Minerva , in
sorrow and in anger , left the stage , miming their indignation at their defeat . But Venus declared her happiness by dancing joyfully in her delight , accompanied by her chorus of attendants . Then , from a pipe concealed on the very top of the mountain , wine mixed with saffron spurted into the air and rained down in a perfumed shower , sprinkling the goats grazing all around until , dyed to a richer beauty , their naturally white coats were stained deep yellow . The amphitheatre having filled with the lovely fragrance , a chasm yawned and swallowed the wooden mountain .
Now , at the audience’s clamour , a soldier ran from the theatre to
fetch the murderess from prison , condemned as I said to the wild beasts for her multiple crimes and doomed to a notorious union with me . To that end , a couch gleaming with Indian tortoiseshell , to serve as our nuptial bed , was being readied , with a high feather mattress and a flowery coverlet of silk .
But I was not only deeply ashamed of performing the act in public
and polluting myself by intercourse with that tainted woman , but tormented greatly by fear of death , since once we were linked together in Venus’ embrace whatever wild creature might appear to devour the murderess was scarcely likely to be so astoundingly clever , so well-trained , so immoderately gentle , as to maul her but spare me , the un-convicted innocent fused to her thighs . I feared then not merely for my honour , but for my very life . Now while my trainer was seeing to the assembly of our couch , and the slaves were busy preparing the hunting show or preoccupied with the delights of the scene , my thoughts were allowed free rein . None of them deemed a tame ass worthy of close attention , so I ambled forward carefully without being noticed , till , reaching the nearest gate , I raced away at top speed . Galloping six full miles fast as I could , I soon reached Cenchreae , which everyone knows is a famous slice of Corinthian territory on the Saronic Gulf , washed by the waters of the Aegean . There the port is safe for shipping and always crowded with people , so I avoided the harbour and chose a secluded stretch of shore where , next to the breaking surf , I stretched out full length on a soft bed of sand to ease my weary body , and now the sun’s chariot had rounded the final turning-post of its daily course , surrendered myself to the quiet of evening , to be conquered by sweet sleep .
Lest you disapprove of my fit of indignation , and say to yourself : ‘Is
every ass to turn philosopher now ? ’ I’ll revisit the tale where I left off .
Once the judgment of Paris had been delivered , Juno and Minerva , in
sorrow and in anger , left the stage , miming their indignation at their defeat . But Venus declared her happiness by dancing joyfully in her delight , accompanied by her chorus of attendants . Then , from a pipe concealed on the very top of the mountain , wine mixed with saffron spurted into the air and rained down in a perfumed shower , sprinkling the goats grazing all around until , dyed to a richer beauty , their naturally white coats were stained deep yellow . The amphitheatre having filled with the lovely fragrance , a chasm yawned and swallowed the wooden mountain .
Now , at the audience’s clamour , a soldier ran from the theatre to
fetch the murderess from prison , condemned as I said to the wild beasts for her multiple crimes and doomed to a notorious union with me . To that end , a couch gleaming with Indian tortoiseshell , to serve as our nuptial bed , was being readied , with a high feather mattress and a flowery coverlet of silk .
But I was not only deeply ashamed of performing the act in public
and polluting myself by intercourse with that tainted woman , but tormented greatly by fear of death , since once we were linked together in Venus’ embrace whatever wild creature might appear to devour the murderess was scarcely likely to be so astoundingly clever , so well-trained , so immoderately gentle , as to maul her but spare me , the un-convicted innocent fused to her thighs . I feared then not merely for my honour , but for my very life . Now while my trainer was seeing to the assembly of our couch , and the slaves were busy preparing the hunting show or preoccupied with the delights of the scene , my thoughts were allowed free rein . None of them deemed a tame ass worthy of close attention , so I ambled forward carefully without being noticed , till , reaching the nearest gate , I raced away at top speed . Galloping six full miles fast as I could , I soon reached Cenchreae , which everyone knows is a famous slice of Corinthian territory on the Saronic Gulf , washed by the waters of the Aegean . There the port is safe for shipping and always crowded with people , so I avoided the harbour and chose a secluded stretch of shore where , next to the breaking surf , I stretched out full length on a soft bed of sand to ease my weary body , and now the sun’s chariot had rounded the final turning-post of its daily course , surrendered myself to the quiet of evening , to be conquered by sweet sleep .
Now , you sweepings of humanity , you beasts of the bar , you
gowned vultures , do you wonder that nowadays all judges and juries
put their verdicts up for sale , when in the very dawn of time , in a
suit between gods and men , the course of justice was perverted by
corruption and subornation ? When a judge chosen by the wisdom of
great Jupiter , a rustic shepherd-boy , sold the first judicial decision in
history to gratify his lust and destroyed his whole race into the
bargain ? Yes , and there was that later case between the two famous
Greek generals , when the wise and learned Palamedes was falsely
accused of treason and condemned to death and Ulysses was preferred
to Ajax , greatest and most valiant of warriors . And what about that
verdict that was returned by the Athenians , those acute lawgivers
with their encyclopedic learning ? An old man of godlike
understanding , whom the Delphic oracle had pronounced the wisest
of all human beings , ensnared by the malignant envy of a vile faction
on the charge of corrupting the young , whom he had always curbed
and restrained , was put to death by the deadly juice of a poisonous weed , leaving his fellow countrymen bearing the stigma of perpetual
shame -when now , all those years later , distinguished philosophers
embrace his doctrines as holy writ and in their devoted pursuit of
happiness swear by his name . But I have allowed myself to be carried
away by my indignation , and my readers may be objecting - ‘Do we
now have to put up with an ass playing the philosopher ? ’ So I will
come back to where I digressed in my story .
The Judgement of Paris being over , Juno and Minerva left the stage ,
looking glum and angry and expressing by their gestures their
indignation at losing ; while Venus , happy and smiling , manifested
her delight in a dance with the whole troupe . Then at the top of the
mountain there burst forth from a hidden jet a shower of wine mixed
with saffron , which rose high in the air and then drifted down over
the browsing goats and drenched them in its sweet-smelling spray , so
that beautified by this variegation they changed from their usual
white colour to saffron yellow . Then the wooden mountain was
swallowed up and disappeared into the ground , leaving the whole
theatre perfumed with the sweet fragrance .
Now , in response to the demands of the crowd , a soldier came out
and along the street to fetch the woman who , as I said , had for her
series of crimes been condemned to the beasts and was to partner me
in these brilliant nuptials of ours . Already what was to be our marital
bed was being lovingly made up , an affair of polished Indian
tortoiseshell , heaped high with cushions stuffed with down and
bright with silken coverlets . Apart from the shame of having to do
this act in public , and apart from the pollution of contact with this
loathsome and detestable woman , I was in acute and grievous fear for
my life . For I thought : there we should be , locked together in a loving
embrace , and whatever animal was let loose to devour the woman
was hardly likely to be so discriminating or well trained or so firmly
in control of its appetites as to tear to pieces the woman at my side
and spare me as the uncondemned and innocent party .
It was therefore no longer my honour but my life about which I was
concerned . My master was fully occupied in seeing that the bed was
properly set up , and the slaves were all either engaged in looking
after the animals or lost in admiring enjoyment of the spectacle . That
left me free to come to a decision . Nobody thought that much of a
watch need be kept on so docile an ass ; so I began to move step by
step towards the nearest door , then once outside I took off at my fastest gallop and kept it up for six whole miles , until I arrived at
Cenchreae . This town belongs to the famous colony of Corinth and
lies beside the Aegean sea , on the Saronic gulf . It is a very safe
harbour for shipping and has a large population . I steered clear of the
crowds and found a secluded spot on the shore ; and there in a soft
sandy hollow near the breaking waves I stretched out and rested my
weary limbs . By now the sun’s chariot had covered the last leg of its
course , and surrendering myself to the evening hush I was overcome
by sweet sleep .
gowned vultures , do you wonder that nowadays all judges and juries
put their verdicts up for sale , when in the very dawn of time , in a
suit between gods and men , the course of justice was perverted by
corruption and subornation ? When a judge chosen by the wisdom of
great Jupiter , a rustic shepherd-boy , sold the first judicial decision in
history to gratify his lust and destroyed his whole race into the
bargain ? Yes , and there was that later case between the two famous
Greek generals , when the wise and learned Palamedes was falsely
accused of treason and condemned to death and Ulysses was preferred
to Ajax , greatest and most valiant of warriors . And what about that
verdict that was returned by the Athenians , those acute lawgivers
with their encyclopedic learning ? An old man of godlike
understanding , whom the Delphic oracle had pronounced the wisest
of all human beings , ensnared by the malignant envy of a vile faction
on the charge of corrupting the young , whom he had always curbed
and restrained , was put to death by the deadly juice of a poisonous weed , leaving his fellow countrymen bearing the stigma of perpetual
shame -when now , all those years later , distinguished philosophers
embrace his doctrines as holy writ and in their devoted pursuit of
happiness swear by his name . But I have allowed myself to be carried
away by my indignation , and my readers may be objecting - ‘Do we
now have to put up with an ass playing the philosopher ? ’ So I will
come back to where I digressed in my story .
The Judgement of Paris being over , Juno and Minerva left the stage ,
looking glum and angry and expressing by their gestures their
indignation at losing ; while Venus , happy and smiling , manifested
her delight in a dance with the whole troupe . Then at the top of the
mountain there burst forth from a hidden jet a shower of wine mixed
with saffron , which rose high in the air and then drifted down over
the browsing goats and drenched them in its sweet-smelling spray , so
that beautified by this variegation they changed from their usual
white colour to saffron yellow . Then the wooden mountain was
swallowed up and disappeared into the ground , leaving the whole
theatre perfumed with the sweet fragrance .
Now , in response to the demands of the crowd , a soldier came out
and along the street to fetch the woman who , as I said , had for her
series of crimes been condemned to the beasts and was to partner me
in these brilliant nuptials of ours . Already what was to be our marital
bed was being lovingly made up , an affair of polished Indian
tortoiseshell , heaped high with cushions stuffed with down and
bright with silken coverlets . Apart from the shame of having to do
this act in public , and apart from the pollution of contact with this
loathsome and detestable woman , I was in acute and grievous fear for
my life . For I thought : there we should be , locked together in a loving
embrace , and whatever animal was let loose to devour the woman
was hardly likely to be so discriminating or well trained or so firmly
in control of its appetites as to tear to pieces the woman at my side
and spare me as the uncondemned and innocent party .
It was therefore no longer my honour but my life about which I was
concerned . My master was fully occupied in seeing that the bed was
properly set up , and the slaves were all either engaged in looking
after the animals or lost in admiring enjoyment of the spectacle . That
left me free to come to a decision . Nobody thought that much of a
watch need be kept on so docile an ass ; so I began to move step by
step towards the nearest door , then once outside I took off at my fastest gallop and kept it up for six whole miles , until I arrived at
Cenchreae . This town belongs to the famous colony of Corinth and
lies beside the Aegean sea , on the Saronic gulf . It is a very safe
harbour for shipping and has a large population . I steered clear of the
crowds and found a secluded spot on the shore ; and there in a soft
sandy hollow near the breaking waves I stretched out and rested my
weary limbs . By now the sun’s chariot had covered the last leg of its
course , and surrendering myself to the evening hush I was overcome
by sweet sleep .
Metamorphoses 4.32
Ethan Gallagher /
- Created on 2018-10-28 21:28:43
- Modified on 2018-11-10 16:10:26
- Translated by Kline
- Aligned by Ethan Gallagher
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
:
Apius Metamophoses 4.33
Ethan Gallagher /
- Created on 2018-11-08 17:16:16
- Modified on 2018-11-14 20:11:40
- Translated by Kline
- Aligned by Ethan Gallagher
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 .
Apius Metamorphesis 4.35
Ethan Gallagher /
- Created on 2018-11-14 20:20:36
- Modified on 2018-12-06 19:13:45
- Aligned by Ethan Gallagher
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 Metamorphosis 3.4
Ethan Gallagher /
- Created on 2018-11-23 16:29:43
- Modified on 2018-11-27 02:15:30
- Aligned by Ethan Gallagher
Latin
English
Sic profatus accusator acerrimus immanem vocem repressit , ac me statim praeco , si quid ad ea responderi vellem , iubebat incipere . At ego nihil tunc tempori amplius quam flere poteram , non . tam Herculi truculentam accusationem intuens quam meam miseram conscientiam ; sed tamen oborta divinitus audacia sic ad illa : ‘Nec ipse ignoro , quam sit arduum , trinis civium corporibus expositis eum qui caedis arguatur , quamvis vera dicat et de facto confiteatur ultro , tamen tantae multitudini , quod sit innocens , persuadere . Sed si paulisper audientiam publica mihi tribuerit humanitas , facile vos edocebo me discrimen capitis non meo merito , sed rationabilis indignationis eventu fortuito tantam criminis invidiam frustra sustinere . ’
Thus
he
finished
his
speech
;
this
most
brutal
prosecutor
repressed
his
monstrous
voice
.
And immediately the herald was ordering me to begin , demanding whether there was anything I
wanted to respond to . But at that moment , I couldn’t do anything other than cry , considering—
by Hercules ! —not so much the ferocious charge against me , but rather my own miserable
conscience . However , confidence sent down from heaven sprang up in me , and I was able to
make this reply to the prosecutor’s words :
" I myself am not unaware how difficult it is to persuade a crowd such as yourself that a
man like me is innocent . After all , there are three bodies of citizens laid out against this man
who is accused of murder , even though he speaks the truth and acknowledges the deed
voluntarily . But if public courtesy would allot me a little of your attention , I will easily
convince you that it is by no fault of my own that I am now at risk of capital punishment .
Rather , it is by a coincidental result of my own reasonable anger that I now endure the great
hatred of this unfounded accusation .
And immediately the herald was ordering me to begin , demanding whether there was anything I
wanted to respond to . But at that moment , I couldn’t do anything other than cry , considering—
by Hercules ! —not so much the ferocious charge against me , but rather my own miserable
conscience . However , confidence sent down from heaven sprang up in me , and I was able to
make this reply to the prosecutor’s words :
" I myself am not unaware how difficult it is to persuade a crowd such as yourself that a
man like me is innocent . After all , there are three bodies of citizens laid out against this man
who is accused of murder , even though he speaks the truth and acknowledges the deed
voluntarily . But if public courtesy would allot me a little of your attention , I will easily
convince you that it is by no fault of my own that I am now at risk of capital punishment .
Rather , it is by a coincidental result of my own reasonable anger that I now endure the great
hatred of this unfounded accusation .
Apuleius Metamorphosis 4.34
Ethan Gallagher /
- Created on 2018-12-06 19:37:34
- Modified on 2018-12-07 19:33:30
- Aligned by Ethan Gallagher
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
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
?
"