The Hymns of Callimachus, Translated from the Greek into English Verse, With Explanatory Notes To which are added, Select Epigrams, and the Coma Berenices of the same Author, Six Hymns of Orpheus, and The Encomium of Ptolemy by Theocritus. By William Dodd |
 |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. | THE Third Hymn of Callimachus.
|
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
 | The Hymns of Callimachus, Translated from the Greek into English Verse, With Explanatory Notes |  |
52
THE Third Hymn of Callimachus.
To Diana.
Goddess, delighting in the sylvan chace,
The bow, the quiver, dance and mountain sports,
Goddess of woods, Diana, thee we sing;
Woe to the bard whose songs forget thy praise!
Thee will we sing, and hence begin the song;
How, when a prattler on the thunderer's lap,
The little Goddess thus addrest her sire:
—“Be vow'd virginity thy daughter's lot,
“She cry'd, my father: and for numerous names
With thy Diana let not Phoebus vie.
Be mine the bow, the quiver: not from thee
Those arms I ask: permit but the request,
The swarthy Cyclops shall perform the task,
Point the wish'd shafts and string the flexile bow:
Let me bear light: and chace the flying game
Down to the knee in welted tunic clad.
Of Ocean's daughters, sixty lovely nymphs,
Who yet have seen, but thrice three summers bloom,
Young and unspotted all, to join the dance
My lov'd compeers appoint: and from the banks
Of Amnisus a train inferior send
In number and degree, attendants meet
My buskins to provide, or careful tend
My faithful dogs, when, wearied from the chace,
Their mistress lays her useless quiver by.
Each mountain be my dow'r: and, wheresoe'er
Thou wilt, allot one city to my charge:
Midst mountains my abode, rare shall the din
Of populous cities grate my peaceful ear:
Then only, mixing with the mortal croud
When women torn with child-bed's throbbing throws
Diana's aid implore: to me this lot
Immediate on my birth, the Fates assign'd,
For that, without a mother's pangs brought forth,
Who in my birth or bearing ne'er knew woe!”
—She spake and to confirm her words uprais'd
Her little hand, attempting fond to stroke,
With adulation sweet, her father's beard:
Oft fruitless: when a soft parental smile
His brows o'erspreading, thus he answer'd bland:
“When heaven's immortal beauties crown my joys,
“With such a progeny—proud queen of heav'n,
“Welcome thy jealous ire!—enjoy, sweet maid,
“Thy every fond request: nor thine alone,
“Still more and greater will thy father add!
“Of ways and ports inspectress thou shalt view
“Innumerous statues to thy honour rais'd:
“To thy protection and thy care assign'd,
“Sole tutelary guardian of those states,
“Be thrice ten cities—these thy name shall bear,
“Mark of distinguish'd favour—nor alone
“In these be honor'd: various more remain
“On isle and continent where thou shalt share
“In common with heaven's synod, holy rites,
“And reverence due of altars, fanes, and groves.”
Speaking his awful head the thunderer bow'd,
And ratified his promise with the nod.
The bow, the quiver, dance and mountain sports,
Goddess of woods, Diana, thee we sing;
Woe to the bard whose songs forget thy praise!
Thee will we sing, and hence begin the song;
53
The little Goddess thus addrest her sire:
—“Be vow'd virginity thy daughter's lot,
54
With thy Diana let not Phoebus vie.
Be mine the bow, the quiver: not from thee
Those arms I ask: permit but the request,
The swarthy Cyclops shall perform the task,
Point the wish'd shafts and string the flexile bow:
Let me bear light: and chace the flying game
Down to the knee in welted tunic clad.
Of Ocean's daughters, sixty lovely nymphs,
Who yet have seen, but thrice three summers bloom,
55
My lov'd compeers appoint: and from the banks
Of Amnisus a train inferior send
In number and degree, attendants meet
My buskins to provide, or careful tend
My faithful dogs, when, wearied from the chace,
Their mistress lays her useless quiver by.
Each mountain be my dow'r: and, wheresoe'er
Thou wilt, allot one city to my charge:
Midst mountains my abode, rare shall the din
Of populous cities grate my peaceful ear:
Then only, mixing with the mortal croud
56
Diana's aid implore: to me this lot
Immediate on my birth, the Fates assign'd,
For that, without a mother's pangs brought forth,
Who in my birth or bearing ne'er knew woe!”
—She spake and to confirm her words uprais'd
Her little hand, attempting fond to stroke,
With adulation sweet, her father's beard:
57
His brows o'erspreading, thus he answer'd bland:
“When heaven's immortal beauties crown my joys,
“With such a progeny—proud queen of heav'n,
“Welcome thy jealous ire!—enjoy, sweet maid,
“Thy every fond request: nor thine alone,
“Still more and greater will thy father add!
“Of ways and ports inspectress thou shalt view
“Innumerous statues to thy honour rais'd:
“To thy protection and thy care assign'd,
“Sole tutelary guardian of those states,
“Be thrice ten cities—these thy name shall bear,
58
“In these be honor'd: various more remain
“On isle and continent where thou shalt share
“In common with heaven's synod, holy rites,
“And reverence due of altars, fanes, and groves.”
Speaking his awful head the thunderer bow'd,
And ratified his promise with the nod.
Swift to Dictynna's mount the Goddess flies,
To Ocean thence, her lovely choir to chouse,
Young and unspotted all, a virgin train,
Who yet had seen but thrice three summers bloom.
In murmuring joy Cæratus' stream roll'd on,
And o'er his urn old Tethys smiling hung,
Whenas they view'd their favor'd race advance,
And bright Diana lead the nymphs along.
Hence to the Cyclops passing, those she found
In Lipara's isle (then Meligunis nam'd,
Now Lipara) crowding round a trough immense
That huge vulcanian anvils groaning bore:
Enormous work! which Neptune thy commands
Urg'd to performance—wond'rous was the toil!
To Ocean thence, her lovely choir to chouse,
Young and unspotted all, a virgin train,
Who yet had seen but thrice three summers bloom.
In murmuring joy Cæratus' stream roll'd on,
And o'er his urn old Tethys smiling hung,
59
And bright Diana lead the nymphs along.
Hence to the Cyclops passing, those she found
In Lipara's isle (then Meligunis nam'd,
Now Lipara) crowding round a trough immense
That huge vulcanian anvils groaning bore:
60
Urg'd to performance—wond'rous was the toil!
Sight so deform, dread monsters huge in bulk
As Ossa's cloud-capt hills (from whose fierce front
One blazing eye, broad as a fourfold shield,
Horribly stern, shot terror) every nymph
Astonied views; but breathing discord harsh
When the loud bellows, as the north-winds roar
Tempestuous, ecchoed to the deep-fetch'd groan
Of every Cyclops, laboring to the blow;
Reverberating hoarse, with horrid din
From loud resounding anvils, as the weight
Of ponderous hammers with alternate force
Descended thundering on the tortur'd brass:
Ætna re-echoed, tho' Trinacria's realms,
The noise responsive rung, loud thunder'd back
From fair Italia's coasts, till bellowing round
To Corsica it reach'd, and shook the isle.
No wonder then, seiz'd with uncommon dread
The nymphs unable to sustain the shock,
Stood trembling and aghast: for not in heav'n
The daughters of the deities behold
The monsters unappal'd: but when her child
Wayward the mother views—the Cyclops strait,
Arges or Steropes she calls: whose forms
Besooted Hermes takes: the frighted babe
Its head hides trembling in its mother's lap.
But thou Diana, scarce three summers old,
(What time Latonia bore thee in her arms
To Lipara's Isle, that Brontes might bestow
The proffer'd natal gifts) he on his knees
Smiling receiv'd thee—when from his rough breast
The hair thou dauntless pluckedst: there the skin
Produc'd no future harvest, still despoil'd,
As by the wasting Alopecia's power.
Now too thus undismay'd, was urg'd thy suit,
While o'er the cooling brass the monster's gaz'd.
“Cyclops, haste, form me a Cydonian bow,
“Shafts, and a sounding quiver; for I claim
“No less than Pheobus, my descent from Jove.
“And if perchance some savage huge and vast
“A victim to my shafts hereafter fall,
“That victim shall be yours: the glorious prey
“Shall glut the Cyclops with a rich repast.”
She spoke, 'twas done; commanded, and was arm'd.
As Ossa's cloud-capt hills (from whose fierce front
One blazing eye, broad as a fourfold shield,
Horribly stern, shot terror) every nymph
Astonied views; but breathing discord harsh
When the loud bellows, as the north-winds roar
Tempestuous, ecchoed to the deep-fetch'd groan
Of every Cyclops, laboring to the blow;
Reverberating hoarse, with horrid din
From loud resounding anvils, as the weight
Of ponderous hammers with alternate force
Descended thundering on the tortur'd brass:
Ætna re-echoed, tho' Trinacria's realms,
61
From fair Italia's coasts, till bellowing round
To Corsica it reach'd, and shook the isle.
No wonder then, seiz'd with uncommon dread
The nymphs unable to sustain the shock,
Stood trembling and aghast: for not in heav'n
The daughters of the deities behold
The monsters unappal'd: but when her child
Wayward the mother views—the Cyclops strait,
Arges or Steropes she calls: whose forms
Besooted Hermes takes: the frighted babe
62
But thou Diana, scarce three summers old,
(What time Latonia bore thee in her arms
To Lipara's Isle, that Brontes might bestow
The proffer'd natal gifts) he on his knees
Smiling receiv'd thee—when from his rough breast
The hair thou dauntless pluckedst: there the skin
Produc'd no future harvest, still despoil'd,
As by the wasting Alopecia's power.
Now too thus undismay'd, was urg'd thy suit,
While o'er the cooling brass the monster's gaz'd.
“Cyclops, haste, form me a Cydonian bow,
“Shafts, and a sounding quiver; for I claim
“No less than Pheobus, my descent from Jove.
63
“A victim to my shafts hereafter fall,
“That victim shall be yours: the glorious prey
“Shall glut the Cyclops with a rich repast.”
She spoke, 'twas done; commanded, and was arm'd.
Forthwith th'Arcadian Gods retreat she sought:
Nor sought in vain: for'midst his bellowing dogs
A lynx's flesh dividing, him she found:
Pleas'd from the pack, or ere the boon she asks
Selecting, he presents two hounds half white,
Three hung with ears that sweep the morning dew,
And one with various spots diversify'd:
All staunch the rous'd up lion fierce to seize
Blood-happy; and indignant to the stall
The growling monarch drag; seven more he gave
Of Spartan breed (all fleeter than the wind:)
To scent the flying fawn, the sleepless hare,
The branching stag, the fretful porcupine,
Or trace the footsteps of the bounding roe.
Nor sought in vain: for'midst his bellowing dogs
64
Pleas'd from the pack, or ere the boon she asks
Selecting, he presents two hounds half white,
Three hung with ears that sweep the morning dew,
And one with various spots diversify'd:
All staunch the rous'd up lion fierce to seize
Blood-happy; and indignant to the stall
The growling monarch drag; seven more he gave
Of Spartan breed (all fleeter than the wind:)
To scent the flying fawn, the sleepless hare,
The branching stag, the fretful porcupine,
Or trace the footsteps of the bounding roe.
65
And now equipt to high Parrhasia's mount
The Goddess leads: where, wond'rous sight! behold
Proud o'er the summit five tall stags advance,
Immense as bulls: their beamy antlers shone
With gold refulgent: rich Anaurus banks
Ere fed the lordly beasts: sight so august
With pleasing admiration, as she view'd,
Raptur'd the Goddess cries: “A prey like this
Well merits our acceptance, well deserves
Diana's first gift-offering to be made.”
Light o'er the unbending turf the Goddess flies,
Five was the sum: and four she quickly caught
To whirl her flying charriot; but the fifth,
A future labour for Alcmena's son
By heaven's dread empress destin'd, fords the flood
Of rapid Celadon: and, breathless half,
Securely pants on Cerynea's brow.
Girt with thy golden zone, with arms of gold
Richly caparison'd, I see thee mount,
Parthenia, virgin queen (from whose dread arm
Destruction lighten'd on earth's giant sons)
I see thee mount thy chariot, flashing gold:
While the stags proudly champ the golden bit.
The Goddess leads: where, wond'rous sight! behold
Proud o'er the summit five tall stags advance,
Immense as bulls: their beamy antlers shone
With gold refulgent: rich Anaurus banks
Ere fed the lordly beasts: sight so august
With pleasing admiration, as she view'd,
Raptur'd the Goddess cries: “A prey like this
Well merits our acceptance, well deserves
Diana's first gift-offering to be made.”
Light o'er the unbending turf the Goddess flies,
Five was the sum: and four she quickly caught
To whirl her flying charriot; but the fifth,
66
By heaven's dread empress destin'd, fords the flood
Of rapid Celadon: and, breathless half,
67
Girt with thy golden zone, with arms of gold
Richly caparison'd, I see thee mount,
Parthenia, virgin queen (from whose dread arm
Destruction lighten'd on earth's giant sons)
I see thee mount thy chariot, flashing gold:
While the stags proudly champ the golden bit.
But whither bore thee first thy rapid wheels?
To Thracian Hæmus: whence the north-winds blasts
Thro' loop'd and window'd raggedness infest
The houseless habitants:—but whence the torch
Light-shedding didst thou hew? Whence shot the flame
That gave the kindling touch? Olympus mount
The first supplied: the unextinguish'd blaze
Of Jove's blue lightning, flashing gave the last.
To Thracian Hæmus: whence the north-winds blasts
Thro' loop'd and window'd raggedness infest
The houseless habitants:—but whence the torch
Light-shedding didst thou hew? Whence shot the flame
68
The first supplied: the unextinguish'd blaze
Of Jove's blue lightning, flashing gave the last.
Goddess, how oft you bent the silver bow
Sportful exploring? From the twanging cord
The first shaft quivers in an elm's tough hide:
An oak receives the second: and the third
A panting savage in the wounded heart
Feels trembling! To far nobler game the fourth
Than trees or savages, directs its way:
I see it fly—dread hissing thro' the air,
Wing'd with destruction to those impious states,
Where hospitable virtue dies contemn'd,
And justice lives a name! How wretched they
Whose crimes incur thy vengeance? Flocks and herds
Of rot and pestilence wide-wasting die:
Hail levels all their labours, herb, fruit, grain:
Their blooming offspring gray-hair'd sires lament:
The wretched women or in child-beds pangs
Midst poignant tortures perish; or resign
Far from their native climes th'unwelcome birth,
But born to perish, and brought forth to die.
But whom thy genial smiles protecting view,
“Oh well are they—and happy shall they be!”
Distinguish'd plenty crowns the laughing fields,
The cattle bring forth thousands: hand in hand
Fair peace and plenteousness around them rove:
Nor death approaches there, till ripe with age
Gradual they drop contented to the grave:
Discord, that oft embittering social joys
Amidst the wisest comes, comes never there:
Union and harmony triumphant reign,
And every house is concord, peace and love!
Sportful exploring? From the twanging cord
The first shaft quivers in an elm's tough hide:
An oak receives the second: and the third
A panting savage in the wounded heart
69
Than trees or savages, directs its way:
I see it fly—dread hissing thro' the air,
Wing'd with destruction to those impious states,
Where hospitable virtue dies contemn'd,
And justice lives a name! How wretched they
Whose crimes incur thy vengeance? Flocks and herds
Of rot and pestilence wide-wasting die:
Hail levels all their labours, herb, fruit, grain:
Their blooming offspring gray-hair'd sires lament:
70
Midst poignant tortures perish; or resign
Far from their native climes th'unwelcome birth,
But born to perish, and brought forth to die.
But whom thy genial smiles protecting view,
71
Distinguish'd plenty crowns the laughing fields,
The cattle bring forth thousands: hand in hand
Fair peace and plenteousness around them rove:
Nor death approaches there, till ripe with age
Gradual they drop contented to the grave:
Discord, that oft embittering social joys
Amidst the wisest comes, comes never there:
Union and harmony triumphant reign,
And every house is concord, peace and love!
Grant Goddess, grant my faithful friends may prove
Of that blest number: Oh assign thy bard,
Amidst that number place! So shall my soul,
The future hymn chaunt raptur'd—theme divine,
Sacred to fair Latona, and her race.
Apollo and Diana;—sacred chief
To thee chast queen, and thy immortal deeds:
Thy every attribute shall there be sung,
Thy dogs, thy bow, thy quiver and the car
That whirls thee brightly gleaming thro' the sky,
When to Jove's court repairing: thy approach
At heaven's eternal portals Phoebus waits
With Acacesian Hermes: This thy arms
And that the produce of thy sports to take:
Such erst Apollo's task, or ere at heav'n's
Blest banquets gread Alcides found a place,
Whose is that duty now: the rich repast
With thee approaching, at the gates of heav'n
He waits unwearied. Him mean time the Gods,
But chief his envious stepdame, ceaseless scoff
In pleasant vein, when from the car he bears
A bull's vast weight, or by its hind-leg drags,
Impatient spurning, a wild boar's huge bulk
Slow up heav'n's steep—while thee in crafty guise
Goddess he thus bespeaks: “On noxious beasts
“Employ thy darts: that mortals may bestow
“Alcides the preserver's name on thee!
“Suffer the harmless goat, the timid hair
“Secure to range; ought injure they mankind?
“Poor is the triumph there: the wild boars waste,
“The wild bulls level all the blooming year:
“These are man's foes: pour all thy rage on these.”
Of that blest number: Oh assign thy bard,
Amidst that number place! So shall my soul,
The future hymn chaunt raptur'd—theme divine,
Sacred to fair Latona, and her race.
72
To thee chast queen, and thy immortal deeds:
Thy every attribute shall there be sung,
Thy dogs, thy bow, thy quiver and the car
That whirls thee brightly gleaming thro' the sky,
When to Jove's court repairing: thy approach
At heaven's eternal portals Phoebus waits
73
And that the produce of thy sports to take:
Such erst Apollo's task, or ere at heav'n's
Blest banquets gread Alcides found a place,
Whose is that duty now: the rich repast
With thee approaching, at the gates of heav'n
He waits unwearied. Him mean time the Gods,
But chief his envious stepdame, ceaseless scoff
In pleasant vein, when from the car he bears
A bull's vast weight, or by its hind-leg drags,
74
Slow up heav'n's steep—while thee in crafty guise
Goddess he thus bespeaks: “On noxious beasts
“Employ thy darts: that mortals may bestow
“Alcides the preserver's name on thee!
75
“Secure to range; ought injure they mankind?
“Poor is the triumph there: the wild boars waste,
“The wild bulls level all the blooming year:
“These are man's foes: pour all thy rage on these.”
Thus speaking, all indignant he bears off
His burden, labouring: tho' on Phrygia's mount
Beneath the sacred oak, immortaliz'd
His corruptible part, he rose a God;
Not yet his hunger ceas'd; insatiate still,
As when in evil hour Dryopia's king
Theiodamas, he met, and madly slew.
His burden, labouring: tho' on Phrygia's mount
Beneath the sacred oak, immortaliz'd
76
Not yet his hunger ceas'd; insatiate still,
As when in evil hour Dryopia's king
Theiodamas, he met, and madly slew.
The nymphs Amnisian from the golden yoke
Let loose the panting stags, and careful bring,
Rich provender from Juno's meadows reap'd,
Swift-springing trefoil: the immortal food
Of Jove's immortal coursers; and supply
In golden buckets cool refreshing draughts
Of heaven's pure water; to her father's court
When moves the Goddess: all the heavenly guests
At her approach rise graceful: while her seat
She takes sweet-smiling by Apollo's side.
Let loose the panting stags, and careful bring,
Rich provender from Juno's meadows reap'd,
Swift-springing trefoil: the immortal food
77
In golden buckets cool refreshing draughts
Of heaven's pure water; to her father's court
When moves the Goddess: all the heavenly guests
At her approach rise graceful: while her seat
She takes sweet-smiling by Apollo's side.
That hallow'd day when on Inopus' banks
The Goddess leads the choir, when reign her sports
At Pitane or Limna; when the groves
Of Alæ Araphenides rejoice
From Scythian Taurus to receive their queen:
That day my oxen shall from labours cease:
For tho' Tymphæan, and of stoutest breed
To turn the mellow soil, needs must they drag
Their limbs o'erlabour'd, weary to the stall,
When Sol himself stands still: and from his car
Hangs smiling to behold the lovely choirs,
Gives time a pause, and lengthens out the day.
The Goddess leads the choir, when reign her sports
78
Of Alæ Araphenides rejoice
From Scythian Taurus to receive their queen:
That day my oxen shall from labours cease:
For tho' Tymphæan, and of stoutest breed
To turn the mellow soil, needs must they drag
Their limbs o'erlabour'd, weary to the stall,
When Sol himself stands still: and from his car
Hangs smiling to behold the lovely choirs,
Gives time a pause, and lengthens out the day.
Say Goddess; (for from thee my soul receives
The heavenly inspiration, which to men
Less favour'd it reports—) say, what blest isle,
What city, mountain, port and nymph obtains
Thy love's pre-eminence? What fairs divine
Of birth immortal triumph in thy choir?
The heavenly inspiration, which to men
Less favour'd it reports—) say, what blest isle,
What city, mountain, port and nymph obtains
79
Of birth immortal triumph in thy choir?
Hail Doliche of isles, of cities chief
Hail Perga—Hail of mounts Taygetus:
Of ports Bœotian Euripus! But how
To Cretan Britomartis shall I speak
Thy boundless love, unerring huntress, she?
With whose bright beauties fir'd, nine tedious months,
O'er Creta's mountains royal Minos rov'd,
Raging with wild desire: From whom she fled,
And in recesses secret mock'd his chace:
O'er precipcies rough, o'er rugged rocks
Nine tedious months he rang'd; nor ceas'd pursuit,
Till on a mountain's summit, ready now
To seize his prey—She sprung from off its brow,
Down to the ocean plunging: Friendly nets
Of fishers caught, and sav'd the panting nymph;
Hence call'd Dictynna: and the mountain hence
Dictæan: where in memory of the deed
Due rites Cydonians pay: thy chaplets wove
With, or the pine-tree's, or the mastic's boughs,
Unhallow'd myrtle there: The flying nymph
Its branches caught, and hence incurr'd her hate.
Thee too, fair Upis, light-dispensing queen,
Dictynna, from the nymph the Cretans call.
Nor was Cyrene, second in thy love:
To her thy favor gave the victor dogs
Wherewith th'Hypsæn virgin, at the tomb
Of fam'd Iolcian Pelias, o'er the plain
Lay'd the proud savage prostrate. Procris too
Was of thy lov'd associates: But of all,
Fair Anticlea claim'd thy prime regard
More lov'd than each, and dearer than thy eyes.
These were the first who on their shoulders bore
The sounding quiver and the twanging bow:
While the fair shoulder and th'exerted breast,
Were naked, in their native whiteness rich.
Iasian Atalanta, fam'd for speed,
Admitted of thy choir, was taught by thee
T'elance the dart unerring: From her arm
Light'ning, behold, it trembles in the heart
Of Calydonia's monster: Nor the deed
Shall the brave hunters envy; while thy realms,
Arcadia, boast the trophies, the sharp tusks
Of the wide-wasting boar: Nor can I deem
The vengeful Centaurs with such fury fraught,
Rhæcus and mad Hylæus (by her arm
Tho' level'd bleeding on Mænalion's top)
As to pursue the huntress with their hate
In Pluto's realms: Yet will their wounds not lie,
But speak the truth and testify their shame.
Hail Perga—Hail of mounts Taygetus:
Of ports Bœotian Euripus! But how
To Cretan Britomartis shall I speak
Thy boundless love, unerring huntress, she?
With whose bright beauties fir'd, nine tedious months,
O'er Creta's mountains royal Minos rov'd,
Raging with wild desire: From whom she fled,
80
O'er precipcies rough, o'er rugged rocks
Nine tedious months he rang'd; nor ceas'd pursuit,
Till on a mountain's summit, ready now
To seize his prey—She sprung from off its brow,
Down to the ocean plunging: Friendly nets
Of fishers caught, and sav'd the panting nymph;
Hence call'd Dictynna: and the mountain hence
Dictæan: where in memory of the deed
Due rites Cydonians pay: thy chaplets wove
With, or the pine-tree's, or the mastic's boughs,
81
Its branches caught, and hence incurr'd her hate.
Thee too, fair Upis, light-dispensing queen,
Dictynna, from the nymph the Cretans call.
82
To her thy favor gave the victor dogs
Wherewith th'Hypsæn virgin, at the tomb
Of fam'd Iolcian Pelias, o'er the plain
Lay'd the proud savage prostrate. Procris too
Was of thy lov'd associates: But of all,
Fair Anticlea claim'd thy prime regard
More lov'd than each, and dearer than thy eyes.
These were the first who on their shoulders bore
The sounding quiver and the twanging bow:
While the fair shoulder and th'exerted breast,
Were naked, in their native whiteness rich.
Iasian Atalanta, fam'd for speed,
83
T'elance the dart unerring: From her arm
Light'ning, behold, it trembles in the heart
Of Calydonia's monster: Nor the deed
Shall the brave hunters envy; while thy realms,
Arcadia, boast the trophies, the sharp tusks
Of the wide-wasting boar: Nor can I deem
The vengeful Centaurs with such fury fraught,
Rhæcus and mad Hylæus (by her arm
Tho' level'd bleeding on Mænalion's top)
As to pursue the huntress with their hate
In Pluto's realms: Yet will their wounds not lie,
But speak the truth and testify their shame.
84
Hail great Chitone, venerable queen,
For numerous shrines in numerous states renown'd;
Hail Guardian of Mileteus; led by thee,
Cecropian Neleus touch'd those happy shores!
Chesias, Imbrasia, mighty Cabir, hail;
Sacred to thee great Agamemnon plac'd
His vessel's helm: What time by thy command
At Aulis adverse winds detain'd his fleet
Big with destruction, breathing fix'd revenge
On Ilium, for Rhamnusian Helen's rape
For numerous shrines in numerous states renown'd;
Hail Guardian of Mileteus; led by thee,
Cecropian Neleus touch'd those happy shores!
Chesias, Imbrasia, mighty Cabir, hail;
Sacred to thee great Agamemnon plac'd
85
At Aulis adverse winds detain'd his fleet
Big with destruction, breathing fix'd revenge
On Ilium, for Rhamnusian Helen's rape
86
To Artemis Coresia Prætus rais'd
Grateful, his first remembrancer: For that
By thee restor'd, his madding daugthers ceas'd
Lowing to wander o'er Azenia's hills:
The second fane to Hemeresia rose,
When of thy favor more the monarch prov'd,
Their fury vanish'd, and their sense return'd.
Grateful, his first remembrancer: For that
By thee restor'd, his madding daugthers ceas'd
Lowing to wander o'er Azenia's hills:
The second fane to Hemeresia rose,
When of thy favor more the monarch prov'd,
Their fury vanish'd, and their sense return'd.
87
Beneath a beach the war-affecting race
Of Amazons, to thee a statue rais'd,
Where Ephesus' proud towers o'erlook the main:
Otrera first perform'd the holy rites,
While round in saliar dance they clang'd their arms,
Hoarse to the hymn resounding: till the choir
At length they form'd and measur'd o'er the ground
Respondent to the shrill fife's feeble strains.
Not yet Minerva, to the stags a foe,
Drew from the hollow'd bones the flutes ripe sound.
Fair Sardis heard, the Berecynthian realms
The dissonant rout re-ecchoed, as the dance
With warlike din attending, rough the twang
Of rattling quivers from their shoulders rung.
Around the statue soon a temple rose,
Divinest edifice—whose stately height
And rich magnificence, the sumptuous east
Unrivall'd boasts, not by the Pythian dome
In all its glories equal'd!—Touch'd with pride
Contemptuous, and with madding fury seiz'd,
A crowd of stout Cimmerians, like the sand
For numbers, from Inachian Bosphorus,
To pour destruction on those sacred walls
Stern Lygdamis led on: Mistaken prince,
Alas how lost! nor thou, nor one of those
Whose chariots crowded o'er Cayster's mead
Thick as autumnal leaves; shall hence return
Or view their country more! Diana's arms,
Blest Ephesus, thy fortress, thy defence!
Of Amazons, to thee a statue rais'd,
Where Ephesus' proud towers o'erlook the main:
Otrera first perform'd the holy rites,
While round in saliar dance they clang'd their arms,
Hoarse to the hymn resounding: till the choir
At length they form'd and measur'd o'er the ground
Respondent to the shrill fife's feeble strains.
Not yet Minerva, to the stags a foe,
88
Fair Sardis heard, the Berecynthian realms
The dissonant rout re-ecchoed, as the dance
With warlike din attending, rough the twang
Of rattling quivers from their shoulders rung.
Around the statue soon a temple rose,
Divinest edifice—whose stately height
And rich magnificence, the sumptuous east
Unrivall'd boasts, not by the Pythian dome
In all its glories equal'd!—Touch'd with pride
Contemptuous, and with madding fury seiz'd,
A crowd of stout Cimmerians, like the sand
For numbers, from Inachian Bosphorus,
To pour destruction on those sacred walls
Stern Lygdamis led on: Mistaken prince,
Alas how lost! nor thou, nor one of those
Whose chariots crowded o'er Cayster's mead
Thick as autumnal leaves; shall hence return
89
Blest Ephesus, thy fortress, thy defence!
Goddess of ports, divine Munychia hail!
Let none contemn Diana; Oeneus felt
Her heavy hand avenging: Let none dare
To rival in her arts the huntress queen:
For with no trivial mulct the proud presumption
Of Atreus' son she fin'd—Nor to their bed
Let any court the virgin: Wretched joys
Crown'd Otus and Orion's bold address:
Let none decline the solemn choir to join,
Not even Otrera's favour'd-self refus'd
Unpunish'd, unafflicted: Goddess hail,
Great queen, and be propitious to the song!
Let none contemn Diana; Oeneus felt
Her heavy hand avenging: Let none dare
To rival in her arts the huntress queen:
For with no trivial mulct the proud presumption
Of Atreus' son she fin'd—Nor to their bed
Let any court the virgin: Wretched joys
Crown'd Otus and Orion's bold address:
Let none decline the solemn choir to join,
Not even Otrera's favour'd-self refus'd
Unpunish'd, unafflicted: Goddess hail,
Great queen, and be propitious to the song!
End of the Hymn to Diana.
| The Hymns of Callimachus, Translated from the Greek into English Verse, With Explanatory Notes | |