University of Virginia Library

EPODE V.

Save me from Danger and from Death,
Great Guardians of the World beneath!
What means this Tumult which I see?
Those ghastly Looks, all fix'd on me?
Speak, by the Pledges of thy Love,
Lucina's Gift, by mighty Jove;
Who will avenge the Wrongs I bear,
Speak; by the sacred Gown I wear;
Why all this Rage? So Step-Dames look,
And Beasts when by the Hunter struck.
Thus spake the Youth, and trembling stands
Disrob'd by curs'd Canidia's Hands:
So sweet a Bloom, so fair a Skin,
Might Savages to Pity win:
She, with a Face of Horror, shakes
Her hissing Curls of knotted Snakes;
And mingles Wild-fig Branches torn,
With Cypress, from some gloomy Urn;
On these a Screech-Owl's Plumes she strow'd,
And blended Toads-Eggs, smear'd with Blood,
With all the Weeds of poys'nous Juice,
That Spain and Thessaly produce;
On which a mad Dog's Teeth she lays,
And burns in magick Flames the Mass.
Then Sagana around the Cell
Sprinkl'd black Water brought from Hell;
Her bristled Hair in Tours she wore,
Just like a Hedge-Hog, or a Boar.
Veia, whose Conscience knows no Wound,
Sweats at the Spade, and digs the Ground,
In which she set the harmless Child,
And mould'ring Earth around him fill'd:
Like Bodies sinking in the Flood,
Up to the Chin in Earth he stood;
There saw fresh Dainties every Day,
But saw, and starv'd, and pin'd away;
From whose parch'd Marrow they compose,
And Livor dry'd, the am'rous Dose,
Mixt with his Eye-balls worn with Pain,
And gazing on his Food in vain.
Folia was present at these Rites,
She, who in monstrous Lusts delights;
So Fame reports, the Rumour runs
Through Naples and th' adjacent Towns;
She, with superior Charms can force
The Moon to leave her nightly Course:
Whilst with black Teeth Canidia tore
Her Thumbs, and drew the livid Gore;
Then said;—Such Things!—What Tongue can tell?
Ye Pow'rs of Darkness and of Hell,
Nox and Diana, you who guide
The Shades, and o'er these Rites preside,
Come to my aid, whilst Horror reigns
O'er sleepy Brutes and silent Plains;
Exert your Godhead, and your Skill;
Let those I hate new Torments feel:
Expose the Lecher, gray and lewd,
By Dogs and shouting Boys pursu'd;
On him this Philtre I bestow,
My Hands ne'er mixt such Herbs till now.
What! Shall Medea me excel?
Of whom the Bards such Wonders tell;
How by her Charms, in Beauty's Pride,
Her Rival, fair Creüsa, dy'd,
When the young heedless Bride put on
The poys'nous Dress and burning Gown.
Each noxious Root and Herb I know,
What Juice they shed, and where they grow;
Yet nothing can my Varus move,
Or break his Rest with Thoughts of Love.
He triumphs o'er a Wretch like me,
Some mightier Hag has set him free:
But soon my Philtres shall prevail,
And he his cold Disdain bewail;
When I have charm'd, and made him kind,
Not Musick shall restore his Mind.
This Philtre shall his Scorn remove,
I'll make it strong and full of Love.
Sooner the Sea shall upwards flow,
The Earth and Skies lie sunk below,
Than he not pine with fond Desire,
As Sulphur takes the lambent Fire.
Thus she; the harmless Boy no more
With Tears their Pity did implore;
But long with silent Horror struck,
At length into these Curses broke.
Though all the Pow'rs of Hell combin'd,
No Charms can alter humane Kind;
Therefore I'll curse you as I die,
And this the Gods shall ratify.
When I am gone and turn'd to Air,
My Ghost shall haunt you every where;
With Warlike Nails your Cheeks I'll plow,
As Spectres, when enrag'd, will do;
Wait round your Beds, and ev'ry Night,
In Dreams, your guilty Souls affright:
The hooting Mob, with Show'rs of Stones,
Shall crush your old decrepid Bones;
Your Carcasses shall find no Urn,
But be by Dogs and Vulturs torn;
My Parents shall look on the while,
And, sated with full Vengeance, smile.