The Idylliums of Theocritus Translated from the Greek. With notes critical and explanatory. By Francis Fawkes |
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| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. | IDYLLIUM XXII. Castor and Pollux.
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| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
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| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
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| XXII. |
 | The Idylliums of Theocritus |  |
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IDYLLIUM XXII. Castor and Pollux.
ARGUMENT.
This is a hymn, after the manner of the ancient Arcadians, in praise of Castor and Pollux. The first part describes the combat between Pollux and Amycus, the son of Neptune and king of the Bebrycians, who, valuing himself on his superiority in strength and the art of boxing, used to compel every stranger, that touched upon his coast, to take up the cæstus, and make trial of his skill in the management of that rude instrument of death; for so it proved to many, till Pollux, who arrived there with the Argonauts, encountered him and conquered: Apollonius says, he slew him, but this is denied by other authors.
The sons of Leda, and of Jove I sing,
Immortal Jove, the ægis-bearing king,
Castor and Pollux, with the cæstus grac'd,
Which round his wrist thick thongs of bull-hide brac'd:
In strains repeated shall my muse resound
The Spartan Twins, with manly virtues crown'd:
Safeguards of men distrest, and generous steeds,
When in the fields of death the battle bleeds;
Safeguards of sailors, who the Twins implore,
When on the deep the thundering tempests roar.
These in the hollow vessel from the side,
Or head or helm, pour the high-swelling tide;
Burst are the planks, the tackling torn, the mast
Snapt, the sails rent before the furious blast:
Suspended showers obscure the cheerful light,
Fades the pale day before approaching night,
Rise the rough winds, resounding storms prevail,
And the vext ocean roars beneath the scourging hail.
Still you the wreck can save, the storm dispel,
And snatch the sailors from the jaws of hell.
The winds disperse, the roaring waves subside,
And smooth'd to stillness sleeps the lenient tide.
When shine the Bears, and 'twixt the Asses seen,
Though faint, their manger, ocean proves serene.
O, friends of human kind in utmost need,
Fam'd for the song, the lyre, the gauntlet, and the steed!
Whose praises first shall my rapt muse rehearse?
Both claim my praise, but Pollux first my verse.
Immortal Jove, the ægis-bearing king,
197
Which round his wrist thick thongs of bull-hide brac'd:
198
The Spartan Twins, with manly virtues crown'd:
Safeguards of men distrest, and generous steeds,
When in the fields of death the battle bleeds;
Safeguards of sailors, who the Twins implore,
When on the deep the thundering tempests roar.
These in the hollow vessel from the side,
Or head or helm, pour the high-swelling tide;
Burst are the planks, the tackling torn, the mast
Snapt, the sails rent before the furious blast:
Suspended showers obscure the cheerful light,
Fades the pale day before approaching night,
Rise the rough winds, resounding storms prevail,
And the vext ocean roars beneath the scourging hail.
Still you the wreck can save, the storm dispel,
And snatch the sailors from the jaws of hell.
199
And smooth'd to stillness sleeps the lenient tide.
When shine the Bears, and 'twixt the Asses seen,
Though faint, their manger, ocean proves serene.
O, friends of human kind in utmost need,
Fam'd for the song, the lyre, the gauntlet, and the steed!
Whose praises first shall my rapt muse rehearse?
Both claim my praise, but Pollux first my verse.
When Argo reach'd (Cyane's islands past)
Cold Pontus harrass'd by the northern blast,
Soon to Bebrycia, with the sons of fame,
A freight of chiefs and demigods, she came.
Forth from her sides, the country to explore,
The crew descended to the breezy shore:
On the dry beach they raised the leafy bed,
The fires they kindled, and the tables spread.
Cold Pontus harrass'd by the northern blast,
Soon to Bebrycia, with the sons of fame,
A freight of chiefs and demigods, she came.
Forth from her sides, the country to explore,
The crew descended to the breezy shore:
On the dry beach they raised the leafy bed,
The fires they kindled, and the tables spread.
200
Far from the shore, and sought the cooling shade.
Hard by, a hill with waving forests crown'd
Their eyes attracted; in the dale they found
A spring perennial in a rocky cave,
Full to the margin flow'd the lucid wave:
Below small fountains gush'd, and, murmuring near,
Sparkled like silver, and as crystal clear:
Above tall pines and poplars quivering play'd,
And planes and cypress in dark green array'd:
Around balm-breathing flowers of every hue,
The bee's ambrosia, in the meadows grew.
There sat a chief, tremendous to the eye,
His couch the rock, his canopy the sky;
The gauntlet's strokes, his cheeks and ears around,
Had mark'd his face with many a desperate wound.
Round as a globe and prominent his chest,
Broad was his back, but broader was his breast:
201
Like some Colossus on an anvil wrought.
As rocks, that in the rapid streams abound,
Are wash'd by rolling torrents smooth and round,
The ridges rise, in crystal streams beheld:
So on his brawny arms the rising muscles swell'd.
A lion's spoils around his loins he draws,
Beneath his chin suspended by the paws:
Victorious Pollux, with attentive look,
View'd, and complacent, thus the chief bespoke:
Peace, gentle friend! to wandering strangers tell
What tribes, what nations in these regions dwell?
AMYCUS.
What peace to me, while on my native shore,
I see strange guests I never saw before?
POLLUX.
Fear not; no foes, nor mean of birth are here.
AMYCUS.
Thou hast no cause to bid me not to fear.
202
Rude are your words, and wrongfully apply'd,
Your manners fierce, your bosom swoln with pride.
AMYCUS.
Thou see'st me as I am: these lands are mine;
I never yet have troubled thee on thine.
POLLUX.
Whene'er you come, you will a welcome find,
And presents, as befits a liberal mind.
AMYCUS.
Nor I thy welcome, nor thy gifts partake;
I give no welcome, and no presents make.
POLLUX.
May I not taste the stream that murmurs by?
AMYCUS.
I'll solve that question when thy throat is dry.
POLLUX.
Will gold, or other bribe the purchase gain?
AMYCUS.
Nought but to prove thy prowess on the plain;
Stand forth; let man oppos'd to man provoke,
With gaunlet-guarded arm, th'impending stroke;
Eye meeting eye, exert thy utmost might,
By feint or force to triumph in the fight.
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Whom must I fight? mine adversary who?
AMYCUS.
Thou see'st thy match, no despicable foe.
POLLUX.
But what reward shall the stout victor have?
AMYCUS.
The conquer'd man shall be the conqueror's slave.
POLLUX.
This is cock's play, and such the terms severe
In fight of scarlet-crested chanticleer.
AMYCUS.
Or be it cock's, or be it lion's play,
These are the fix'd conditions of the fray.
These are the fix'd conditions of the fray.
This said, his hollow conch he instant blew,
Quick through the coast the sounds alarming flew;
The signal rouz'd the stout Bebrycian train,
Who join'd their chief beneath the shady plane.
Illustrious Castor from the neighbouring strand,
Call'd to the conflict Argo's chosen band.
Meanwhile the combatants, of mind elate,
Drew on their hands the dreadful gloves of fate;
The leathern thongs, that brac'd their shoulders round,
Firm to their arms the ponderous gauntlets bound.
Amid the circle now the champions stood,
Breathing revenge, and vehement for blood.
Studious each strove the piercing light to shun,
And on his shoulders catch the gleaming sun:
You call'd, O Pollux, Prudence to your aid;
In Amycus his eyes the solar splendors play'd.
This did th'enormous chieftain's rage provoke
To strike at once some death-denouncing stroke;
But watchful Pollux dealt a weighty blow
Full on the cheek of his advancing foe:
Incens'd more ardent to the fight he came,
And forward bent to take the surer aim.
Through the Bebrycian band loud clamours run;
Nor less the Greeks encourag'd Leda's son.
Yet rising fears their generous breasts appal,
Lest on their friend the bulk of Amycus should fall:
Vain fears! for with both hands brave Pollux ply'd
His furious blows, and storm'd on every side;
The quick repeated strokes his rival stun,
And curb the force of Neptune's lawless son.
Giddy with blows the tottering hero stood,
And from his mouth discharg'd the purple blood.
Loud shouted the Greek warriors when they saw
Bebrycia's champion's batter'd cheeks and jaw.
His eyes, within their sockets deep impell'd,
Seem'd lessen'd, and his bruised visage swell'd.
Still the prince ply'd his mighty rival hard,
And feintful soon surpriz'd him off his guard;
And as he stagger'd, full upon his brow
With all his force he drove the furious blow,
And mash'd his front; the giant with the wound
Fell flat, and stretch'd his bulk unweildy on the ground.
But soon his vigour and his strength return'd,
He rose, and then again the battle burn'd:
With iron hands their hollow sides they pound,
And deal vindictive many a desperate wound.
Fierce on his foe Bebrycia's monarch prest,
And made rude onsets on his neck and breast;
But Jove's unconquer'd son far better sped,
Who aim'd his thunder at his rival's head.
Fast down their limbs the sweat began to flow,
And quickly lay the lofty champion low;
Yet Pollux firmer stood, with nobler grace,
And fresher was the colour of his face.
Quick through the coast the sounds alarming flew;
The signal rouz'd the stout Bebrycian train,
Who join'd their chief beneath the shady plane.
204
Call'd to the conflict Argo's chosen band.
Meanwhile the combatants, of mind elate,
Drew on their hands the dreadful gloves of fate;
The leathern thongs, that brac'd their shoulders round,
Firm to their arms the ponderous gauntlets bound.
Amid the circle now the champions stood,
Breathing revenge, and vehement for blood.
Studious each strove the piercing light to shun,
And on his shoulders catch the gleaming sun:
You call'd, O Pollux, Prudence to your aid;
In Amycus his eyes the solar splendors play'd.
This did th'enormous chieftain's rage provoke
To strike at once some death-denouncing stroke;
But watchful Pollux dealt a weighty blow
Full on the cheek of his advancing foe:
205
And forward bent to take the surer aim.
Through the Bebrycian band loud clamours run;
Nor less the Greeks encourag'd Leda's son.
Yet rising fears their generous breasts appal,
Lest on their friend the bulk of Amycus should fall:
Vain fears! for with both hands brave Pollux ply'd
His furious blows, and storm'd on every side;
The quick repeated strokes his rival stun,
And curb the force of Neptune's lawless son.
Giddy with blows the tottering hero stood,
And from his mouth discharg'd the purple blood.
Loud shouted the Greek warriors when they saw
Bebrycia's champion's batter'd cheeks and jaw.
His eyes, within their sockets deep impell'd,
Seem'd lessen'd, and his bruised visage swell'd.
Still the prince ply'd his mighty rival hard,
And feintful soon surpriz'd him off his guard;
206
With all his force he drove the furious blow,
And mash'd his front; the giant with the wound
Fell flat, and stretch'd his bulk unweildy on the ground.
But soon his vigour and his strength return'd,
He rose, and then again the battle burn'd:
With iron hands their hollow sides they pound,
And deal vindictive many a desperate wound.
Fierce on his foe Bebrycia's monarch prest,
And made rude onsets on his neck and breast;
But Jove's unconquer'd son far better sped,
Who aim'd his thunder at his rival's head.
Fast down their limbs the sweat began to flow,
And quickly lay the lofty champion low;
Yet Pollux firmer stood, with nobler grace,
And fresher was the colour of his face.
How Amycus, before Jove's offspring fell,
Sing heaven-descended muse; for you can tell:
Your mandates I implicitly obey,
And gladly follow where you lead the way.
Sing heaven-descended muse; for you can tell:
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And gladly follow where you lead the way.
Resolv'd by one bold stroke to win renown,
He seiz'd on Pollux' left hand with his own;
Then bent oblique to guard against a blow,
And sped his right with vengeance on the foe;
In hopes to strike his royal rival dead,
Who scap'd the blow, declining back his head;
Then Pollux aim'd his weighty stroke so well,
Full on the crest of Amycus it fell,
And gor'd his temples with an iron wound;
The black blood issuing flow'd and trickled to the ground.
Still with his left he maul'd his faltering foe,
Whose mash'd teeth crackled with each boisterous blow;
With strokes redoubled he deform'd his face;
Bruis'd cheeks and jaws proclaim'd his foul disgrace.
All on the ground he measur'd out his length,
Stunn'd with hard thwacks, and destitute of strength,
And, hands uprais'd, with death presaging mind,
At once the fight and victory declin'd.
Brave son of Jove, though you the conquest gain'd,
With no base deed the glorious day you stain'd:
The vanquish'd by his father Neptune swore,
That he would never, never injure strangers more.
He seiz'd on Pollux' left hand with his own;
Then bent oblique to guard against a blow,
And sped his right with vengeance on the foe;
In hopes to strike his royal rival dead,
Who scap'd the blow, declining back his head;
Then Pollux aim'd his weighty stroke so well,
Full on the crest of Amycus it fell,
And gor'd his temples with an iron wound;
The black blood issuing flow'd and trickled to the ground.
Still with his left he maul'd his faltering foe,
Whose mash'd teeth crackled with each boisterous blow;
With strokes redoubled he deform'd his face;
Bruis'd cheeks and jaws proclaim'd his foul disgrace.
208
Stunn'd with hard thwacks, and destitute of strength,
And, hands uprais'd, with death presaging mind,
At once the fight and victory declin'd.
Brave son of Jove, though you the conquest gain'd,
With no base deed the glorious day you stain'd:
The vanquish'd by his father Neptune swore,
That he would never, never injure strangers more.
| The Idylliums of Theocritus | |