Hyginus: FABVLAE

Prometheus Iapeti filius primus homines ex luto finxit. Postea Vulcanus Iovis iussu ex luto mulieris effigiem fecit, cui Minerva animam dedit, ceterique dii alius aliud donum dederunt; ob id Pandoram nominarunt. Ea data in coniugium Epimetheo fratri; inde nata est Pyrrha, quae mortalis dicitur prima esse creata.

Prometheus, son of Iapetus, first fashioned men from clay. Afterwards Vulcan, by Jupiter’s command, made the likeness of a woman out of clay, to whom Minerva gave a soul, and the other gods each bestowed a different gift; for this reason they named her Pandora. She was given in marriage to Epimetheus, his brother; from them was born Pyrrha, who is said to have been the first mortal woman created.

PROMETHEUS

Homines antea ab immortalibus ignem petebant neque in perpetuum servare sciebant; quod postea Prometheus in ferula detulit in terras, hominibusque monstravit quomodo cinere obrutum servarent. Ob hanc rem Mercurius Iovis iussu deligavit eum in monte Caucaso ad saxum clavis ferreis et aquilam apposuit, quae cor eius exesset; quantum die ederat, tantum nocte crescebat. Hanc aquilam post xxx annos Hercules interfecit eumque liberavit.

Men formerly sought fire from the immortals and did not know how to keep it forever; which fire afterwards Prometheus brought down in a ferule to the lands, and showed men how to preserve it when buried in ash. For this thing Mercury, by Jove's order, bound him on Mount Caucasus to a rock with iron nails and set an eagle to him which would eat his heart; as much as it devoured by day, so much at night it grew again. After 30 years Hercules killed this eagle and freed him.

PHAETHON

Phaethon Solis et Clymenes filius cum clam patris currum conscendisset et altius a terra esset elatus, prae timore decidit in flumen Eridanum. Hunc Iuppiter cum fulmine percussisset, omnia ardere coeperunt. Iovis ut omne genus mortalium cum causa interficeret, simulavit se velle extinguere; amnes undique irrigavit omneque genus mortalium interiit praeter Pyrrham et Deucalionem.

Phaethon, son of Sol and Clymenes, when he had secretly mounted his father’s chariot and had been borne higher from the earth, through fear fell into the river Eridanus. Jupiter, having struck him with a thunderbolt, caused everything to begin to burn. And, as if thereby to slay every genus of mortals with reason, Jove pretended that he wished to extinguish it; he poured forth waters everywhere and every race of mortals perished except Pyrrha and Deucalion.

At sorores Phaethontis, quod equos iniussu patris iunxerant, in arbores populos commutatae sunt.

But the sisters of Phaethon, because they had yoked the horses without their father's command, were changed into poplar trees.

DEUCALION ET PYRRHA

DEUCALION AND PYRRHA

Cataclysmus, quod nos diluvium vel irrigationem dicimus, cum factum est, omne genus humanum interiit praeter Deucalionem et Pyrrham, qui in montem Aetnam, qui altissimus in Sicilia esse dicitur, fugerunt. Hi propter solitudinem cum vivere non possent, petierunt ab Iove, ut aut homines daret aut eos pari calamitate afficeret. Tum Iovis iussit eos lapides post se iactare; quos Deucalion iactavit, viros esse iussit, quos Pyrrha, mulieres.

Cataclysm, which we call a deluge or inundation, when it occurred, destroyed the whole human race except Deucalion and Pyrrha, who fled to Mount Aetna, which is said to be the highest in Sicily. These, since they could not live because of the desolation, begged Jove either to give them people or to afflict them with the same calamity. Then Jove ordered them to cast stones behind them; those which Deucalion cast he commanded to be men, those which Pyrrha (cast) women.

Ob eam rem laos dictus, laas enim Graece lapis dicitur.

For that reason called laos, for laas in Graece is said to mean lapis (stone).

PROSERPINA

Pluton petit ab Iove Proserpinam filiam eius et Cereris in coniugium daret. Iovis negavit Cererem passuram, ut filia sua in Tartaro tenebricoso sit, sed iubet eum rapere eam flores legentem in monte Aetna, qui est in Sicilia. In quo Proserpina dum flores cum Venere et Diana et Minerva legit, Pluton quadrigis venit et eam rapuit; quod postea Ceres ab Iove impetravit, ut dimidia parte anni apud se, dimidia apud Plutonem esset.

Pluton asked Jupiter that Proserpina, his daughter and Ceres', be given to him in marriage. Jupiter refused to suffer Ceres to have her daughter in the dark Tartarus, but ordered him to seize her while she was picking flowers on Mount Aetna, which is in Sicily. In which, while Proserpina with Venus and Diana and Minerva was gathering flowers, Pluton came in a quadriga and carried her off; which later Ceres obtained from Jupiter, that she should spend half the year with her and half with Pluton.

TRIPTOLEMUS

Cum Ceres Proserpinam filiam suam quaereret, devenit ad Eleusinum regem, cuius uxor Cothonea puerum Triptolemum pepererat, seque nutricem lactantem simulavit. Hanc regina libens nutricem filio suo recepit. Ceres cum vellet alumnum suum immortalem reddere, interdiu lacte divino alebat, noctu clam in igne obruebat.

When Ceres sought her daughter Proserpina, she came to the king of Eleusis, whose wife Cothonea had borne the boy Triptolemus, and she pretended to be a wet‑nurse, suckling at the breast. The queen willingly received this nurse for her son. When Ceres wished to make her foster‑child immortal, by day she fed him with divine milk, by night she secretly cast him into the fire.

Itaque praeterquam solebant mortales crescebat; et sic fieri cum mirarentur parentes, eam observaverunt. Cum Ceres eum vellet in ignem mittere, pater expavit. Illa irata Eleusinum exanimavit, at Triptolemo alumno suo aeternum beneficium tribuit.

Thus he grew beyond what mortals were accustomed to; and when his parents wondered that it was so, they observed it. When Ceres wished to cast him into the fire, the father was terrified. She, enraged, put Eleusinus to death, but bestowed an eternal benefit upon Triptolemus, her foster-child.

Nam fruges propagatum currum draconibus iunctum tradidit, quibus vehens orbem terrarum frugibus obsevit. Postquam domum rediit, Celeus eum pro benefacto interfici iussit. Sed re cognita iussu Cereris Triptolemo regnum dedit, quod ex patris nomine Eleusinum nominavit, Cererique sacrum instituit, quae Thesmophoria Graece dicuntur.

For he handed over a chariot yoked to dragons for the propagation of crops, by which, riding, he sowed the orb of lands with fruits. After he returned home, Celeus ordered him killed for the service done. But when the matter became known, by Ceres’ command she gave Triptolemus a kingdom, which he named Eleusinum from his father’s name, and instituted a sacred rite to Ceres, which are called Thesmophoria in Greek.

Ex Inacho et Argia Io. Hanc Iuppiter dilectam compressit et in vaccae figuram convertit, ne Iuno eam cognosceret. Id Iuno cum rescivit, Argum, cui undique oculi refulgebant, custodem ei misit; hunc Mercurius Iovis iussu interfecit. At Iuno formidinem ei misit, cuius timore exagitatam coegit eam, ut se in mare praecipitaret, quod mare Ionium est appellatum.

Io, daughter of Inachus and Argia. Jupiter, having loved her, seized her and changed her into the figure of a cow, lest Juno recognize her. When Juno learned this, she sent Argus, whose eyes shone on every side, as a guardian over her; Mercury, by Jupiter’s command, slew him. But Juno sent a panic upon her, and driven wild by that fear she was forced to cast herself into the sea, which was called the Ionian Sea.

Inde in Scythiam tranavit, unde Bosporum fines sunt dictae. Inde in Aegyptum, ubi parit Epaphum. Iovis cum sciret suapte propter opera tot eam aerumnas tulisse, formam suam ei propriam restituit deamque Aegyptiorum eam fecit, quae Isis nuncupatur.

From there she crossed into Scythia, whence the bounds are called the Bosporus. Thence into Egypt, where she bore Epaphus. Jupiter, when he knew that she had of her own done and endured so many hardships, restored to her her own form and made her a goddess of the Egyptians, who is called Isis.

EPAPHUS

Iuppiter Epaphum, quem ex Io procreaverat, Aegypto oppida communire ibique regnare iussit. Is oppidum primum Memphim et alia plura constituit et ex Cassiopia uxore procreavit filiam Libyen, a qua terra est appellata.

Jupiter commanded Epaphus, whom he had begotten from Io, to unite and fortify towns in Egypt and to rule there. He founded the first city, Memphis, and many others, and from his wife Cassiopeia he begot a daughter, Libya, from whom the land is named.

TITANOMACHIA

TITANOMACHY

Postquam Iuno vidit Epapho ex pellice nato tantam regni potestatem esse, curat in venatu, ut Epaphus necetur, Titanosque hortatur, Iovem ut regno pellant et Saturno restituant. Hi cum conarentur in caelum ascendere, eos Iovis cum Minerva et Apolline et Diana praecipites in Tartarum deiecit. Atlanti autem, qui dux eorum fuit, caeli fornicem super umeros imposuit, qui adhuc dicitur caelum sustinere.

After Juno saw that Epaphus, born from a concubine, possessed so great a power of kingship, she contrives—while on the hunt—that Epaphus be killed, and she urges the Titans to drive Jupiter from the kingdom and to restore Saturn. When they tried to ascend into heaven, Jupiter, with Minerva and Apollo and Diana, cast them headlong into Tartarus. But to Atlas, who was their leader, he imposed the vault of the sky upon his shoulders, which even now is said to sustain the heaven.

PYTHON

Python Terrae filius draco ingens. Hic ante Apollinem ex oraculo in monte Parnasso responsa dare solitus erat. Huic ex Latonae partu interitus erat fato futurus.

Python, a huge dragon, son of the Earth. He was wont, before Apollo, to give responses from the oracle on Mount Parnassus. To him, from Latona’s childbirth, destruction by fate was to come.

Eo tempore Iovis cum Latona Poli filia concubuit; hoc cum Iuno resciit, facit, ut Latona ibi pareret, quo sol non accederet. Python ubi sensit Latonam ex Iove gravidam esse, persequi coepit, ut eam interficeret. At Latonam Iovis iussu ventus Aquilo sublatam ad Neptunum pertulit; ille eam tutatus est, sed ne rescinderet Iunonis factum, in insulam eam Ortygiam detulit, quam insulam fluctibus cooperuit.

At that time Jupiter lay with Latona, daughter of Poli; when Juno learned this, she contrived that Latona should give birth where the sun would not come near. When Python perceived that Latona was pregnant by Jupiter, he began to pursue her to kill her. But by Jupiter’s command the north wind, Aquilo, lifted Latona and bore her to Neptune; he sheltered her, but so as not to annul Juno’s deed he carried her to the island Ortygia, which he covered with waves.

Quod cum Python eam non invenisset, Parnassum redit. At Neptunus insulam Ortygiam in superiorem partem rettulit, quae postea insula Delus est appellata. Ibi Latona oleam tenens parit Apollinem et Dianam, quibus Vulcanus sagittas dedit donum.

When Python had not found her, he returned to Parnassus. But Neptune carried the island Ortygia to a higher place, which afterward was called the island Delos. There Latona, holding an olive, gave birth to Apollo and Diana, to whom Vulcan gave arrows as a gift.

Post diem quartum quam essent nati, Apollo matris poenas exsecutus est; nam Parnassum venit et Pythonem sagittis interfecit (inde Pythius est dictus) ossaque eius in cortinam coniecit et in templo suo posuit, ludosque funebres ei fecit, qui ludi Pythia dicuntur.

On the fourth day after they had been born, Apollo exacted his mother's vengeance; for he came to Parnassus and killed Python with arrows (hence he is called Pythius), and cast its bones into a curtain and placed them in his temple, and held funerary games for it, which games are called the Pythian Games.

MARSYAS

Minerva tibias dicitur prima ex osse cervino fecisse et ad epulum deorum cantatum venisse. Iuno et Venus cum eam irriderent, quod et caesia erat et buccas inflaret, foeda visa et in cantu irrisa in Idam silvam ad fontem venit, ibique cantans in aqua se aspexit et vidit se merito irrisam; unde tibias ibi abiecit et imprecata est, ut, quisquis eas sustulisset, gravi afficeretur supplicio. Quas Marsyas Oeagri filius pastor unus e satyris invenit, quibus assidue commeletando sonum suaviorem in dies faciebat, adeo ut Apollinem ad citharae cantum in certamen provocaret.

Minerva is said to have first made pipes from stag-bone and to have come to the feast of the gods to sing. Juno and Venus, when they mocked her because she was blue-eyed and puffed out her cheeks, finding her ugly and derided in song, she went to the Idaean wood to a spring, and there singing she saw herself in the water and rightly perceived herself mocked; whence she cast the pipes away there and cursed that whoever should lift them up should be stricken with a grievous doom. These Marsyas, Oeagrus’s son, a shepherd among the satyrs, found, and by continually playing them made their tone sweeter day by day, so that he dared to challenge Apollo to a contest in lyre-song.

Quo ut Apollo venit, Musas iudices sumpserunt, et cum iam Marsyas inde victor discederet, Apollo citharam versabat idemque sonus erat; quod Marsya tibiis facere non potuit. Itaque Apollo victum Marsyan ad arborem religatum Scythae tradidit, qui cutem ei membratim separavit; reliquum corpus discipulo Olympo sepulturae tradidit, e cuius sanguine flumen Marsyas est appellatum.

When Apollo came to that place, the Muses took themselves as judges, and when Marsyas was now departing thence as victor, Apollo was turning the cithara and the same sound was produced; which Marsyas could not make with the tibiae. Therefore Apollo, having conquered, handed Marsyas bound to a tree to the Scythians, who flayed his skin from him member by member; he delivered the remaining body to his disciple Olympus for burial, from whose blood the river Marsyas was named.

DAPHNE

Apollo Daphnen Penei fluminis filiam virginem cum persequeretur, illa a Terra praesidium petit, quae eam recepit in se et in arborem laurum commutavit. Apollo inde ramum fregit et in caput imposuit.

Apollo, pursuing Daphne, the virgin daughter of the river Peneus, she sought succour from the Earth, which received her into itself and changed her into a laurel tree. Apollo thereupon broke off a branch and set it upon his head.

AESCULAPIUS

Aesculapius Apollinis filius Glauco Minois filio vitam reddidisse sive Hippolyto dicitur, quem Iuppiter ob id fulmine percussit. Apollo quod Iovi nocere non potuit, eos, qui fulmina fecerunt, id est Cyclopes, interfecit; quod ob factum Apollo datus est in servitutem Admeto regi Thessaliae.

Aesculapius, son of Apollo, is said to have restored to life Glaucus, son of Minos, or Hippolytus, whom Jupiter struck with a thunderbolt for that reason. Because Apollo could not harm Jove, he killed those who made the thunderbolts, that is, the Cyclopes; for that deed Apollo was given into servitude to Admetus, king of Thessaly.

ALCESTIS

Alcestim Peliae et Anaxibies Biantis filiae filiam complures proci petebant in coniugium; Pelias vitans eorum condiciones repudiavit et simultatem constituit ei se daturum, qui feras bestias ad currum iunxisset et Alcestim in coniugio avexisset. Itaque Admetus ab Apolline petiit, ut se adiuvaret. Apollo autem, quod ab eo in servitutem liberaliter esset acceptus, aprum et leonem ei iunctos tradidit, quibus ille Alcestim avexit.

Alcestis, daughter of Pelias and of Anaxibia, daughter of Biantes, was sought in marriage by many suitors; Pelias, avoiding their conditions, rejected them and laid down a contest, declaring that he would give her to him who should yoke wild beasts to a chariot and carry Alcestis away in marriage. Therefore Admetus asked Apollo to aid him. Apollo, however, because he had been generously received by him into servitude, delivered to him a boar and a lion yoked together, with which he carried off Alcestis.

Et illud ab Apolline accepit, ut pro se alius voluntarie moreretur. Pro quo cum neque pater neque mater mori voluisset, uxor se Alcestis obtulit et pro eo vicaria morte interiit; quam postea Hercules ab inferis revocavit.

And he received also this from Apollo, that another should die voluntarily for him. For since neither his father nor his mother would die, his wife Alcestis offered herself and endured a vicarious death on his behalf; whom afterwards Hercules recalled from the underworld.

EUROPA

Europa Argiopes et Agenoris filia Sidonia. Hanc Iuppiter in taurum conversus a Sidone Cretam transportavit et ex ea procreavit Minoem Sarpedonem Rhadamanthum. Huius pater Agenor suos filios misit, ut sororem reducerent aut ipsi in suum conspectum non redirent.

Europa, Argiope's and Agenor's daughter, a Sidonian. Jupiter, having been transformed into a bull, carried her from Sidon to Crete and from her begot Minos, Sarpedon, Rhadamanthes. Her father Agenor sent his sons that they should bring back their sister, or that they themselves not return into his sight.

Phoenix in Africam est profectus, ibique remansit; inde Afri Poeni sunt appellati. Cilix suo nomine Ciliciae nomen indidit. Cadmus cum erraret, Delphos devenit; ibi responsum accepit, ut a pastoribus bovem emeret, qui lunae signum in latere haberet, eumque ante se ageret; ubi decubuisset, ibi fatum esse eum oppidum condere et ibi regnare.

Phoenix set out into Africa, and there remained; thence the Africans are called Poeni. Cilix gave his name to Cilicia. Cadmus, while wandering, came to Delphi; there he received the response that he should buy from shepherds a bull which bore the sign of the moon on its flank, and drive it before him; where it lay down, there he was fated to found a town and to rule.

Cadmus sorte audita cum imperata perfecisset et aquam quaereret, ad fontem Castalium venit, quem draco Martis filius custodiebat. Qui cum socios Cadmi interfecisset, a Cadmo lapide est interfectus, dentesque eius Minerva monstrante sparsit et aravit, unde Spartoe sunt enati. Qui inter se pugnarunt.

When Cadmus, having accomplished by lot what had been commanded and sought water, came to the Castalian spring, it was guarded by a dragon, son of Mars. When it had killed Cadmus’s companions, it was slain by Cadmus with a stone, and Minerva, showing its teeth, scattered and sowed them, whence the Sparti were born. They fought among themselves.

Ex quibus quinque superfuerunt, id est Chthonius Udaeus Hyperenor Pelorus et Echion. Ex bove autem, quem secutus fuerat, Boeotia est appellata.

Of these five survived, that is, Chthonius, Udaeus, Hyperenor, Pelorus, and Echion. From the ox, however, which he had followed, Boeotia was named.

SEMELE

Cadmus Agenoris et Argiopes filius ex Harmonia Martis et Veneris filia procreavit filias quattuor, Semelen Ino Agauen Autonoen, et Polydorum filium. Iovis cum Semele voluit concumbere; quod Iuno cum resciit, specie immutata in Beroen nutricem ad eam venit et persuasit, ut peteret ab Iove, ut eodem modo ad se quomodo ad Iunonem veniret, "ut intellegas", inquit, "quae sit voluptas cum deo concumbere." Itaque Semele petiit ab Iove, ut ita veniret ad se. Qua re impetrata Iovis cum fulmine et tonitribus venit et Semele conflagravit. Ex utero eius Liber est natus, quem Mercurius ab igne ereptum Nyso dedit educandum, et Graece Dionysus est appellatus.

Cadmus, son of Agenor and Argiope, by Harmonia, daughter of Mars and Venus, begot four daughters — Semele, Ino, Agave, Autonoe — and a son, Polydorus. Jupiter wished to lie with Semele; when Juno perceived this, she changed her form into Beroe the nurse and came to her and persuaded her to ask of Jupiter that he come to her in the very manner in which he comes to Juno, “so that,” she said, “you may understand what pleasure it is to lie with a god.” Accordingly Semele asked Jupiter that he so come to her. This granted, Jupiter came with lightning and thunder and Semele was consumed by fire. From her womb Liber was born, whom Mercury snatched from the flames and gave to Nysa to be reared, and in Greek he is called Dionysus.

ICARIUS ET ERIGONE

ICARIUS AND ERIGONE

Cum Liber pater ad homines esset profectus, ut suorum fructuum suavitatem atque iucunditatem ostenderet, ad Icarium et Erigonam in hospitium liberale devenit. Iis utrem plenum vini muneri dedit iussitque, ut in reliquas terras propagarent. Icarius plaustro onerato cum Erigone filia et cane Maera in terram Atticam ad pastores devenit et genus suavitatis ostendit.

When Liber the father had gone forth to men, to show the sweetness and pleasantness of his fruits, he came to Icarius and Erigone into a liberal hospitium. He gave them a wineskin full of wine as a gift and ordered that they propagate it into the remaining lands. Icarius, his cart loaded, with Erigone his daughter and the dog Maera, came into the Attic land to the shepherds and showed the sort (genus) of sweetness.

Pastores cum immoderatius biberent, ebrii facti conciderunt; qui arbitrantes Icarium sibi malum medicamentum dedisse fustibus eum interfecerunt. Icarium autem occisum canis ululans Maera Erigonae monstravit, ubi pater insepultus iaceret; quo cum venisset, super corpus parentis in arbore suspendio se necavit. Ob quod factum Liber pater iratus Atheniensium filias simili poena afflixit.

When the shepherds drank immoderately, they became drunk and fell prostrate; thinking that Icarius had given them a harmful medicament, they beat him with clubs and killed him. The slain Icarius the dog Maera, howling, showed to Erigone where her father lay unburied; and when she came thither, she hanged herself from a tree over her parent’s corpse. For this deed Liber the father, enraged, afflicted the daughters of the Athenians with a similar punishment.

De ea re ab Apolline responsum petierunt, quibus responsum est, quod Icarii et Erigones mortem neglexissent. Quo responso de pastoribus supplicium sumpserunt et Erigonae diem festum oscillationis pestilentiae causa instituerunt et ut per vindemiam de frugibus Icario et Erigonae primum delibarent. Qui deorum voluntate in astrorum numerum sunt relati; Erigone signum Virginis, quam nos Iustitiam appellamus, Icarius Arcturus in sideribus est dictus, canis autem Maera Canicula.

About that matter they sought an oracle from Apollo, to whom it was answered that they had neglected the deaths of Icarius and Erigone. With that response they exacted punishment on the shepherds and instituted for Erigone a festival day of oscillation on account of the pestilence, and that during the vintage they first taste the fruits for Icarius and Erigone. By the will of the gods they were carried into the number of the stars; Erigone is called the sign of the Virgin, which we call Justice, Icarius is named Arcturus among the constellations, and the dog Maera, Canicula.

LYCURGUS

Lycurgus Dryantis filius Liberum de regno fugavit; quem cum negaret deum esse vinumque bibisset et ebrius matrem suam violare voluisset, tunc vites excidere est conatus, quod diceret illud malum medicamentum esse quod mentes immutaret. Qui insania ab Libero obiecta uxorem suam et filium interfecit, ipsumque Lycurgum Liber pantheris obiecit in Rhodope, qui mons est Thraciae, cuius imperium habuit. Hic traditur unum pedem sibi pro vitibus excidisse.

Lycurgus, son of Dryantis, expelled Liber from the kingdom; when that one denied that he was a god and said he had drunk wine and, drunken, had wished to violate his mother, then he tried to cut down the vines, because he said that that evil medicament was what altered minds. Struck by madness from Liber, he killed his wife and son, and Liber cast Lycurgus himself to panthers on Rhodope, which is a mountain of Thrace, whose dominion he held. It is handed down that he cut off one foot for himself in place of the vines.

TYRRHENI

TYRRHENIANS

Tyrrheni, qui postea Tusci sunt dicti, cum piraticam facerent, Liber pater impubis in navem eorum conscendit et rogat eos, ut se Naxum deferrent, qui cum eum sustulissent atque vellent ob formam constuprare, Acoetes gubernator eos inhibuit, qui iniuriam ab eis passus est. Liber ut vidit in proposito eos permanere, remos in thyrsos commutavit, vela in pampinos, rudentes in hederam; deinde leones atque pantherae prosiluerunt. Qui ut viderunt, timentes in mare se praecipitaverunt; quos et in mari in aliud monstrum transfiguravit; nam quisquis se praecipitaverat, in delphini effigiem transfiguratus est; unde delphini Tyrrheni sunt appellati et mare Tyrrhenum est dictum.

Tyrrheni, who afterward are called Tusci, when they were practising piracy, the youthful Liber boarded their ship and begged them to carry him to Naxos; and when they had taken him up and wished to ravish him on account of his beauty, Acoetes the helmsman restrained them — he who suffered an injury from them. When Liber saw them persist in their purpose, he changed the oars into thyrsi, the sails into pampinos (vine‑leaves), the ropes into hedera (ivy); then lions and panthers leapt forth. When they saw these, fearing, they flung themselves into the sea; whom he in the sea transformed into other monsters; for whoever had cast himself down was changed into the likeness of a dolphin; whence Tyrrhenian dolphins are so called and the sea is named the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Numero autem fuerunt duodecim his nominibus, Aethalides Medon Lycabas Libys Opheltes Melas Alcimedon Epopeus Dictys Simon Acoetes; hic gubernator fuit, quem ob clementiam Liber servavit.

There were, however, twelve in number with these names: Aethalides, Medon, Lycabas, Libys, Opheltes, Melas, Alcimedon, Epopeus, Dictys, Simon, Acoetes; this last was the helmsman, whom Liber spared on account of his clemency.

REX MIDAS

KING MIDAS

Midas rex Mygdonius filius Matris deae a Timolo arbiter sumptus eo tempore, quo Apollo cum Marsya vel Pane fistula certavit. Quod cum Timolus victoriam Apollini daret, Midas dixit Marsyae potius dandam. Tunc Apollo indignatus Midae dixit: "Quale cor in iudicando habuisti, tales et auriculas habebis." Quibus auditis effecit, ut asininas haberet aures.

Midas king, Mygdonian, son of the Mother-goddess, chosen as arbiter by Timolus at the time when Apollo contended with Marsyas, or Pan with the pipe. When Timolus gave the victory to Apollo, Midas said it ought rather be given to Marsyas. Then Apollo, indignant, said to Midas: "As the heart you had in judging, such shall your little ears be." Having heard these words he made it so that he had asinine ears.

Eo tempore Liber pater cum exercitum in Indiam duceret Silenus aberravit, quem Midas hospitio liberaliter accepit atque ducem dedit, qui eum in comitatum Liberi deduceret. At Midae Liber pater ob beneficium deoptandi dedit potestatem, ut, quicquid vellet, peteret a se. A quo Midas petiit, ut, quicquid tetigisset, aurum fieret. Quod cum impetrasset et in regiam venisset, quicquid tetigerat, aurum fiebat.

At that time Liber pater, while leading an army into India, lost Silenus, whom Midas received with liberal hospitality and appointed leader to conduct him into Liber’s comitatus. For this service Liber pater, by way of boon, gave Midas the power of choosing—so that he might ask whatever he wished. Midas asked that whatever he touched should become gold. Having obtained this and come into the palace, whatever he touched turned to gold.

Cum iam fame cruciaretur, petit a Libero, ut sibi speciosum donum eriperet; quem Liber iussit in flumine Pactolo se abluere, cuius corpus aquam cum tetigisset, facta est colore aureo; quod flumen nunc Chrysorrhoas appellatur in Lydia.

When he was now tormented by hunger, he begged Liber that he might snatch away from him the specious gift; whom Liber commanded to wash himself in the river Pactolus, whose body, when the water had touched it, was made of golden color; which river is now called Chrysorrhoas in Lydia.

VENUS

In Euphratem flumen de caelo ovum mira magnitudine cecidisse dicitur, quod pisces ad ripam evolverunt, super quod columbae consederunt et excalfactum exclusisse Venerem, quae postea dea Syria est appellata; ea iustitia et probitate cum ceteros exsuperasset, ab Iove optione data pisces in astrorum numerum relati sunt, et ob id Syri pisces et columbas ex deorum numero habentes non edunt.

It is told that into the river Euphrates from the sky an egg of wondrous magnitude fell, which the fish rolled up to the bank, upon which doves settled and, their warmth having hatched it, brought forth Venus, who afterward was called the Syrian goddess; she, when by justice and probity she surpassed the others, by a choice granted by Jove the fishes were translated into the number of the stars, and for that reason the Syrians, having fishes and doves counted among the gods, do not eat them.

VULCANUS

Vulcanus cum resciit Venerem cum Marte clam concumbere et se virtuti eius obsistere non posse, catenam ex adamante fecit et circum lectum posuit, ut Martem astutia deciperet. Ille cum ad constitutum venisset, concidit cum Venere in plagas adeo, ut se exsolvere non posset. Id Sol cum Vulcano nuntiasset, ille eos nudos cubantes vidit; deos omnis convocavit; qui ut viderunt, riserunt.

When Vulcanus learned that Venus was secretly lying with Mars and that he could not resist their strength, he made a chain of adamant and placed it around the bed, so that by craft he might deceive Mars. When he had come to the appointed place, he fell with Venus into the meshes so great that he could not free himself. The Sun, when he had announced this to Vulcanus, saw them lying naked in bed; he summoned all the gods; and when they saw them, they laughed.

Ex eo Martem, id ne faceret, pudor terruit. Ex eo conceptu nata est Harmonia, cui Minerva et Vulcanus vestem sceleribus tinctam muneri dederunt, ob quam rem progenies eorum scelerata exstitit. Soli autem Venus ob indicium ad progeniem eius semper fuit inimica.

From that, shame terrified Mars so that he would not do it. From that conception Harmonia was born, to whom Minerva and Vulcanus gave as a gift a garment stained with crimes, by which their progeny proved wicked. Venus alone, however, because of the disclosure, was always hostile to his progeny.

PHRIXUS

Phrixus et Helle insania a Libero obiecta cum in silva errarent, Nebula mater eo dicitur venisse et arietem inauratum adduxisse, Neptuni et Theophanes filium, eumque natos suos ascendere iussit et Colchos ad regem Aeolum Solis filium transire ibique arietem Marti immolare. Ita dicitur esse factum; quo cum ascendissent et aries eos in pelagus detulisset, Helle de ariete decidit, ex quo Hellespontum pelagus est appellatum, Phrixum autem Colchos detulit; ibi matris praeceptis arietem immolavit pellemque eius inauratam in templo Martis posuit, quam servante dracone Iason Aesonis et Alcimedis filius dicitur petisse. Phrixum autem Aeeta libens recepit filiamque Chalciopen dedit ei uxorem; quae postea liberos ex eo procreavit.

Phrixus and Helle, driven mad by a thing cast upon them by Liber while they wandered in the wood, are said to have been met there by their mother Nebula, who brought a gilded ram, the son of Neptune and Theophane, and bade them and her children mount it and cross to Colchis to King Aeëtes, son of the Sun, and there to sacrifice the ram to Mars. Thus it is said to have happened; and when they had mounted and the ram had borne them over the sea, Helle fell from the ram, whence the sea was called the Hellespont, but the ram bore Phrixus to Colchis; there, by his mother’s command, he sacrificed the ram and placed its gilded pelt in the temple of Mars, which, guarded by a dragon, Jason, son of Aeson and Alcimedis, is said to have sought. Aeëtes, however, gladly received Phrixus and gave him his daughter Chalciope as wife; who afterward bore children by him.

Sed veritus est Aeeta, ne se regno eicerent, quod ei responsum fuit ex prodigiis ab advena Aeoli filio mortem caveret; itaque Phrixum interfecit. At filii eius, Argus Phrontis Melas Cylindrus, in ratem conscenderunt, ut ad avum Athamentem transirent: Hos Iason cum pellem peteret, naufragos ex insula Dia sustulit et ad Chalciopen matrem reportavit, cuius beneficio ad sororem Medeam est commendatus.

But Aeëtes, fearing that they would drive him from the kingdom, because it had been revealed to him by prodigies that he should beware death from a stranger, a son of Aeolus, therefore killed Phrixus. But his sons, Argus, Phrontis, Melas, Cylindrus, embarked on a boat to cross to their grandfather Athamas: these, when Jason sought the fleece, Jason rescued, shipwrecked on the island Dia, and carried them back to their mother Chalciope, by whose favour he was entrusted to the sister Medea.

AEETA

Aeetae Solis filio erat responsum tam diu eum regnum habiturum, quamdiu ea pellis, quam Phrixus consecraverat, in fano Martis esset. Itaque Aeeta Iasoni hanc simultatem constituit, si vellet pellem auratam auferre, tauros aeripedes, qui flammas naribus spirabant, iungeret adamanteo iugo et araret dentesque draconis ex galea sereret, ex quibus gens armatorum statim enasceretur et se mutuo interficerent. Iuno autem Iasonem ob id semper voluit servatum, quod, cum ad flumen venisset volens hominum mentes temptare, anum se simulavit et rogavit, ut se transferrent; cum ceteri, qui transierant, despexissent, ille transtulit eam.

To Aeetes, son of the Sun, there had been a response that he would hold the kingdom so long as that skin which Phrixus had consecrated remained in the temple of Mars. Therefore Aeetes appointed this trial to Jason: if he wished to carry off the golden pelt, he must yoke bronze‑footed bulls, who breathed flames from their nostrils, to an adamantine yoke and plough, and sow the dragon’s teeth from its helmet, from which a race of armed men would immediately spring up and slay one another mutually. Juno, however, always wished Jason to be preserved for that reason, because, when she had come to the river willing to test the minds of men, she pretended to be an old woman and begged to be carried across; when the others, who had crossed, had looked down on her, he carried her across.

Itaque cum sciret Iasonem sine Medeae consilio imperata perficere non posse, petit a Venere, ut Medeae amorem iniceret. Iason a Medea Veneris impulsu amatus est; eius opera ab omni periculo liberatus est. Nam cum tauris arasset et armati essent enati, Medeae monitu lapidem inter eos abiecit; illi inter se pugnantes alius alium interfecerunt.

Therefore, since he knew that Jason could not accomplish the commands without Medea’s counsel, he begged Venus to instill in Medea a love. Jason was loved by Medea at Venus’s impulse; by her agency he was delivered from every danger. For when he had plowed with the bulls and the armed men had sprung up, at Medea’s warning he cast a stone among them; they, fighting one another, killed each other.

Dracone autem venenis sopito pellem de fano sustulit, in patriamque cum Medea est profectus.

With the dragon lulled by poisons, he took the pelt from the shrine, and with Medea set out for his homeland.

ABSYRTUS

Aeeta ut resciit Medeam cum Iasone profugisse, nave comparata misit Absyrtum filium cum satellitibus armatis ad eam persequendam. Qui cum in Adriatico mari in Histria eam persecutus esset ad Alcinoum regem et vellet armis contendere, Alcinous se inter eos interposuit, ne bellarent; quem iudicem sumpserunt, qui eos in posterum distulit. Qui cum tristior esset et interrogatus est a coniuge Arete, quae causa esset tristitiae, dixit se iudicem sumptum a duabus diversis civitatibus, inter Colchos et Argivos.

When Aeeta learned that Medea had fled with Jason, with a ship having been prepared he sent Absyrtus his son with armed satellites to pursue her. He, having chased her into Histria in the Adriatic Sea, came to King Alcinous and, wishing to settle matters by arms, Alcinous interposed himself between them so that they would not wage war; they took him as judge, who deferred them for the future. And when he was more sorrowful and was asked by his wife Arete what was the cause of his sadness, he said that he had been chosen as judge by two different peoples, between the Colchians and the Argives.

Quem cum interrogaret Arete, quidnam esset iudicaturus, respondit Alcinous, si virgo fuerit Medea, parenti redditurum, sin autem mulier, coniugi. Hoc cum audivit Arete a coniuge, mittit nuntium ad Iasonem, et is Medeam noctu in antro devirginavit. Postero autem die cum ad iudicium venissent et Medea mulier esset inventa, coniugi est tradita.

When Arete asked him whom he would judge, Alcinous answered that if Medea were a virgin she would be returned to her parent, but if, however, a woman, to her husband. When Arete heard this from her husband, she sent a message to Jason, and he deflowered Medea by night in a cave. On the next day, however, when they came to the judgment and Medea was found to be a woman, she was delivered to her husband.

Nihilominus cum profecti essent, Absyrtus timens patris praecepta persecutus est eos in insulam Minervae; ibi cum sacrificaret Minervae Iason et Absyrtus intervenisset, ab Iasone est interfectus. Cuius corpus Medea sepulturae dedit, atque inde profecti sunt. Colchi, qui cum Absyrto venerant, timentes Aeetam illic remanserunt oppidumque condiderunt, quod ab Absyrti nomine Absorin appellarunt.

Nevertheless, when they had set out, Absyrtus, fearing his father’s commands, pursued them to the island of Minerva; there, while Jason was sacrificing to Minerva and Absyrtus intervened, he was slain by Jason. Medea entrusted his body to burial, and thence they departed. The Colchians, who had come with Absyrtus, fearing Aeetes remained there and founded a town which they called Absorin from the name of Absyrtus.

Haec autem insula posita est in Histria contra Polam, iuncta insulae Cantae.

This island, moreover, is situated in Histria opposite Pola, joined to the island of Canta.

IASON: PELIADES

JASON: PELIADES

Iason cum Peliae patrui sui iussu tot pericula adisset, cogitare coepit, quomodo eum sine suspicione interficeret. Hoc Medea se facturam pollicetur. Itaque cum iam longe a Colchis essent, navem iussit in occulto collocari et ipsa ad Peliae filias pro sacerdote Dianae venit; eis pollicetur se patrem earum Pelian ex sene iuvenem facturam, idque Alcestis maior filia negavit fieri posse.

Jason, having undergone so many perils by the command of his uncle Pelias, began to devise how he might kill him without suspicion. Medea promises that she will do this. And so, when they were now far from Colchis, she ordered the ship to be placed secretly and herself came to the daughters of Pelias as a priestess of Diana; she promises them that she will make their father Pelias from an old man into a young one, and Alcestis, the eldest daughter, said that this could not be done.

Medea quo facilius eam perduceret ad suam voluntatem, caliginem eis obiecit et ex venenis multa miracula fecit, quae veri similia esse viderentur, arietemque vetulum in aeneum coniecit, unde agnus pulcherrimus prosiluisse visus est. Eodemque modo inde Peliades, id est Alcestis Pelopia Medusa Pisidice Hippothoe, Medeae impulsu patrem suum occisum in aeneo coxerunt. Cum se deceptas esse viderent, a patria profugerunt.

Medea, that she might the more easily bring her to her will, cast a gloom over them and wrought many miracles out of venoms, which seemed like verities, and threw an old ram into a brazen vessel, whence a most beautiful lamb appeared to have sprung. In the same fashion thereafter the Peliades, that is Alcestis, Pelopia, Medusa, Pisidice, Hippothoe, at Medea’s instigation compelled their father to be slain in the bronze. When they saw that they had been deceived, they fled from their fatherland.

At Iason signo a Medea accepto regia est potitus Acastoque Peliae filio fratri Peliadum, quod secum Colchos ierat, regnum paternum tradidit; ipse cum Medea Corinthum profectus est.

But Jason, the signal having been received from Medea, obtained the kingship, and handed over the paternal kingdom to Acastus, son of Pelias, brother of the Peliades, who had gone with him to Colchis; he himself set out for Corinth with Medea.

MEDEA

Aeetae Medea et Idyiae filia cum ex Iasone iam filios Mermerum et Pheretem procreasset summaque concordia viverent, obiciebatur ei hominem tam fortem ac formosum ac nobilem uxorem advenam atque veneficam habere. Huic Creon Menoeci filius rex Corinthius filiam suam minorem Glaucen dedit uxorem. Medea cum vidit se erga Iasonem bene merentem tanta contumelia esse affectam, coronam ex venenis fecit auream eamque muneri filios suos iussit novercae dare.

Medea, daughter of Aeetes and Idyia, when she had already begotten by Jason the sons Mermerus and Pheres and they lived in the highest concord, was charged with the reproach that she had a husband so strong and comely and noble, a foreigner, and that she herself was a venefica. To him Creon, son of Menoecus, king of Corinth, gave his younger daughter Glauce as a wife. When Medea saw that she, who had deserved well toward Jason, was thus afflicted with so great an affront, she made a golden crown from poisons and commanded her sons to give it as a gift to their stepmother.

Creusa munere accepto cum Iasone et Creonte conflagravit. Medea ubi regiam ardere vidit, natos suos ex Iasone Mermerum et Pheretem interfecit et profugit a Corintho.

Creusa, having accepted the gift, burned together with Iason and Creon. When Medea saw the palace ablaze, she killed her sons by Iason, Mermerum and Pheretem, and fled from Corinth.

MEDEA EXUL

MEDEA, THE EXILE

Medea Corintho exul Athenas ad Aegeum Pandionis filium devenit in hospitium eique nupsit; ex eo natus est Medus. Postea sacerdos Dianae Medeam exagitare coepit regique negabat sacra caste facere posse eo, quod in ea civitate esset mulier venefica et scelerata. Tunc iterum exulatur.

Medea, exiled from Corinth, came to Athens into the hospitality of Aegeus, son of Pandion, and married him; from him was born Medus. Afterwards the priest of Diana began to harass Medea and told the king that she could not perform the sacred rites chastely, because in that city she was a woman venefica and wicked. Then she was exiled again.

Medea autem iunctis draconibus ab Athenis Colchos redit; quae in itinere Absoridem venit, ubi frater Abysrtus sepultus erat. Ibi Absoritani serpentium multitudini resistere non poterant; Medea autem ab eis rogata lectas eas in tumulum fratris coniecit, quae adhuc ibi permanentes, si qua autem extra tumulum exit, debitum naturae persolvit.

Medea, however, joined to the dracones, returns from Athens to Colchis; who on the journey came to Absoridem, where her brother Abysrtus was buried. There the Absoritani could not resist the multitude of serpents; Medea, however, being begged by them, cast those she had gathered into her brother’s tomb, which remaining there still; but if any one goes forth outside the tomb, he pays the debt of nature.

ALCIMENA

Amphitryon cum abesset ad expugnandam Oechaliam, Alcimena aestimans Iovem coniugem suum esse eum thalamis recepit. Qui cum in thalamos venisset et ei referret, quae in Oechalia gessisset, ea credens coniugem esse cum eo concubuit. Qui tam libens cum ea concubuit, ut unum diem usurparet, duas noctes congeminaret, ita ut Alcimena tam longam noctem ammiraretur.

Amphitryon, being away to besiege Oechalia, received Alcimena into the bridal chamber, thinking that Jupiter was her husband. When he had entered the bridal chamber and told her what he had done in Oechalia, believing her to be his wife he lay with her. He so willingly lay with her that he made use of one day and doubled two nights, so that Alcimena marvelled at so long a night.

Postea cum nuntiaretur ei coniugem victorem adesse, minime curavit, quod iam putabat se coniugem suum vidisse.Qui cum Amphitryon in regiam intrasset et eam videret neglegentius securam, mirari coepit et queri quod se advenientem non excepisset; cui Alcimena respondit: "Iam pridem venisti et mecum concubuisti et mihi narrasti, quae in Oechalia gessisses."Quae cum signa omnia diceret, sensit Amphitryon numen aliquod fuisse pro se, ex qua die cum ea non concubuit. Quae ex Iove compressa peperit Herculem.

Afterwards, when it was reported to him that his wife had arrived victorious, he took no heed, because he already supposed that he had seen his wife. When Amphitryon had entered the palace and saw her negligently at ease, he began to wonder and to complain that she had not welcomed him on his arrival; to whom Alcimena replied, "You came long ago and lay with me and told me what you had accomplished in Oechalia." When she recounted all the signs, Amphitryon perceived that some numen had been acting for him, and from that day he did not lie with her. She, having been pressed by Jupiter, bore Hercules.

HERCULIS ATHLA DUODECIM AB EURYSTHEO IMPERATA

HERCULES' 12 LABORS COMMANDED BY EURYSTHEUS

Infans cum esset, dracones duos duabus manibus necavit, quos Iuno miserat, unde primigenius est dictus. Leonem Nemaeum, quem Luna nutrierat in antro amphistomo atrotum, necavit, cuius pellem pro tegumento habuit. Hydram Lernaeam Typhonis filiam cum capitibus novem ad fontem Lernaeum interfecit.

When he was an infant, he slew two dragons with both hands, which Juno had sent, whence he was called Primigenius. He killed the Nemean Lion, which Luna had nourished in an amphistome cave, shaggy, and wore its pelt as a covering. He slew the Lernaean Hydra, daughter of Typhon, with nine heads, at the spring of Lerna.

Haec tantam vim veneni habuit, ut afflatu homines necaret, et si quis eam dormientem transierat, vestigia eius afflabat et maiori cruciatu moriebatur. Hanc Minerva monstrante interfecit et exinteravit et eius felle sagittas suas tinxit; itaque quicquid postea sagittis fixerat, mortem non effugiebat, unde postea et ipse periit in Phrygia. Aprum Erymanthium occidit.

This creature had such force of poison that it slew men by its breath, and if anyone crossed it while it slept, it would blow upon his footsteps and he would die with greater torment. Minerva, showing it to him, killed and disembowelled it and dyed her arrows with its gall; and therefore whatever afterwards she had fixed with arrows did not escape death, whence afterwards even he himself perished in Phrygia. He killed the Erymanthian boar.

Cervum ferocem in Arcadia cum cornibus aureis vivum in conspectu Eurysthei regis adduxit. Aves Stymphalides in insula Martis, quae emissis pennis suis iaculabantur, sagittis interfecit. Augeae regis stercus bobile uno die purgavit, maiorem partem Iove adiutore; flumine ammisso totum stercus abluit.

He brought the fierce stag in Arcadia, alive and with golden horns, into the sight of King Eurystheus. He slew the Stymphalian birds on the Isle of Mars, which, having shot forth their feathers, hurled them as missiles; he killed them with arrows. He cleansed the cattle-dung of King Augeas in one day, the greater part with Jupiter assisting; by diverting the river the whole dung was washed away.

Taurum, cum quo Pasiphae concubuit, ex Creta insula Mycenis vivum adduxit. Diomedem Thraciae regem et equos quattuor eius, qui carne humana vescebantur, cum Abdero famulo interfecit; equorum autem nomina Podargus Lampon Xanthus Dinus. Hippolyten Amazonam, Martis et Otrerae reginae filiam, cui reginae Amazonis balteum detraxit; tum Antiopam captivam Theseo donavit.

The bull, with whom Pasiphae lay, he brought alive from the island of Crete to Mycenae. He slew Diomed, king of Thrace, and his four horses, which fed on human flesh, together with his servant Abderus; the horses’ names were Podargus, Lampon, Xanthus, Dinus. He stripped Hippolyte the Amazon, daughter of Mars and Otrera, of the queen of the Amazons’ belt; then he gave the captive Antiope to Theseus.

Geryonem Chrysaoris filium trimembrem uno telo interfecit. Draconem immanem Typhonis filium, qui mala aurea Hesperidum servare solitus erat, ad montem Atlantem interfecit, et Eurystheo regi mala attulit. Canem Cerberum Typhonis filium ab inferis regi in conspectum adduxit.

He killed Geryon, Chrysaor’s son, three-bodied, with a single spear. He slew the monstrous dragon, son of Typhon, who was wont to guard the golden apples of the Hesperides, at Mount Atlas, and brought the apples to King Eurystheus. He also brought the dog Cerberus, son of Typhon, up from the underworld into the king’s sight.

PARERGA EIUSDEM

PARERGA OF THE SAME

Antaeum terrae filium in Libya occidit. Hic cogebat hospites secum luctari et delassatos interficiebat; hunc luctando necavit. Busiridem in Aegypto, qui hospites immolare solitus erat; huius legem cum audiit, passus est se cum infula ad aram adduci, Busiris autem cum vellet deos imprecari, Hercules eum clava ac ministros sacrorum interfecit.

He killed Antaeus, the earth-born son, in Libya. This man compelled his guests to wrestle with him and killed those worn out; he killed him by wrestling. He killed Busiris in Egypt, who was wont to immolate guests; when he heard of this custom he allowed himself to be led with a fillet to the altar, but when Busiris was about to invoke the gods, Hercules slew him with his club and put to death the ministers of the sacred rites.

Cygnum Martis filium armis superatum occidit. Quo cum Mars venisset et armis propter filium contendere vellet cum eo, Iovis inter eos fulmen misit. Cetum, cui Hesione fuit apposita, Troiae occidit; Laomedontem patrem Hesiones, quod eam non reddebat, sagittis interfecit.

Cycnus, the son of Mars, was slain, overcome by arms. When Mars had come there and wished to contend with him in arms on account of his son, Jupiter sent a lightning‑bolt between them. He slew the Cetus, to which Hesione had been offered, at Troy; and he shot Laomedon, Hesione’s father, with arrows because he would not give her back.

Aethonem aquilam, quae Prometheo cor exedebat, sagittis interfecit. Lycum Neptuni filium, quod Megaram Creontis filiam uxorem eius et filios Therimachum et Ophiten occidere voluit, interfecit. Achelous fluvius in omnes figuras se immutabat.

He slew Aethon the eagle, which was devouring Prometheus’ heart, with arrows. He killed Lycus, son of Neptune, because he wished to slay Megara, Creon’s daughter, his wife, and her sons Therimachus and Ophites. The river Achelous was wont to change himself into all shapes.

Hic cum Hercule propter Deianirae coniugium cum pugnaret, in taurum se convertit, cui Hercules cornu detraxit, quod cornu Hesperidibus sive Nymphis donavit, quod deae pomis replerunt et cornu copiae appellarunt. Neleum Hippocoontis filium cum decem filiis occidit, quoniam is eum purgare sive lustrare noluit tunc, cum Megaram Creontis filiam uxorem suam et filios Therimachum et Ophiten interfecerat. Eurytum, quod Iolen filiam eius in coniugium petiit et ille eum repudiavit, occidit.

Here, when he fought with Hercules over the marriage of Deianira, he transformed himself into a bull, whose horn Hercules tore off, and gave that horn to the Hesperides or to the Nymphs; the goddesses filled it with fruits and called it the horn of plenty (cornucopia). He slew Neleus, son of Hippocoön, along with ten sons, because Neleus would not purify or cleanse him then, when he had killed Megara, daughter of Creon, his wife, and the sons Therimachus and Ophites. He killed Eurytus because he sought to take his daughter Iole in marriage and Eurytus rejected him.

Centaurum Nessum, quod Deianiram violare voluit, occidit. Eurytionem centaurum, quod Deianiram Dexameni filiam speratam suam uxorem petiit, occidit.

He killed the centaur Nessus, because he wished to violate Deianira. He killed the centaur Eurytion, because he sought Deianira, daughter of Dexamenus, as his hoped-for wife.

MEGARA

Hercules cum ad canem tricipitem esset missus ab Eurystheo rege et Lycus Neptuni filius putasset eum periisse, Megaram Creontis filiam uxorem eius et filios Therimachum et Ophiten interficere voluit et regnum occupare. Hercules eo intervenit et Lycum interfecit; postea ab Iunone insania obiecta Megaram et filios Therimachum et Ophiten interfecit. Postquam suae mentis compos est factus, ab Apolline petiit dari sibi responsum, quomodo scelus purgaret; cui Apollo sortem quod reddere noluit, Hercules iratus de fano eius tripodem sustulit, quem postea Iovis iussu reddidit et nolentem sortem dare iussit.

When Hercules had been sent by King Eurystheus to the three‑headed dog, and Lycus, son of Neptune, having supposed him dead, intended to kill Megara, daughter of Creon, his wife, and his sons Therimachus and Ophites, and to seize the kingdom. Hercules intervened there and killed Lycus; afterwards, madness being cast upon him by Juno, he killed Megara and his sons Therimachus and Ophites. When he had been restored to his right mind, he asked Apollo to be given a response as to how he might purge the crime; to whom Apollo refused to render the oracle, whereupon an angry Hercules lifted the tripod from his shrine, which he afterwards returned by Jove’s command, and ordered the unwilling one to give the oracle.

Hercules ob id a Mercurio Omphalae reginae in servitutem datus est.

Hercules, on account of that, was given by Mercury into the servitude of Queen Omphale.

CENTAURI

CENTAURS

Hercules cum in hospitium ad Dexamenum regem venisset eiusque filiam Deianiram devirginasset fidemque dedisset se eam uxorem ducturum, post discessum eius Eurytion Ixionis et Nubis filius centaurus petit Deianiram uxorem. Cuius pater vim timens pollicitus est se daturum. Die constituto venit cum fratribus ad nuptias.

Hercules, when he had come to the house of King Dexamenus and had deflowered his daughter Deianira and had given his word that he would take her as his wife, after his departure Eurytion, a centaurus, son of Ixion and Nubis, sought Deianira as a wife. Her father, fearing his violence, promised that he would give her. On the appointed day he came with his brothers to the wedding.

Hercules intervenit et centaurum interfecit, suam speratam abduxit. Item aliis in nuptiis, Pirithous Hippodamiam Adrasti filiam cum uxorem duceret, vino pleni centauri conati sunt rapere uxores Lapithis; eos centauri multos interfecerunt, ab ipsis interierunt.

Hercules intervened and killed the centaur, and carried off his hoped-for wife. Likewise, at another wedding when Pirithous was taking Hippodamia, daughter of Adrastus, as his wife, the centaurs, full of wine, tried to seize the wives of the Lapiths; the centaurs killed many of them, and many of the centaurs perished at their hands.

NESSUS

Nessus Ixionis et Nubis filius centaurus rogatus ab Deianira, ut se flumen Euhenum transferret: quam sublatam in flumine ipso violare voluit. Hoc Hercules cum intervenisset et Deianira cum fidem eius implorasset, Nessum sagittis confixit. Ille moriens, cum sciret sagittas hydrae Lernaeae felle tinctas quantam vim haberent veneni, sanguinem suum exceptum Deianirae dedit et id philtrum esse dixit; si vellet, ne se coniunx sperneret, eo iuberet vestem eius perungi.

Nessus, son of Ixion and Nubes, a centaur, at Deianira’s request to carry her across the river Euhenum; and when he had lifted her in the river itself he sought to violate her. Hercules, having intervened and Deianira having implored his fidelity, pierced Nessus with arrows. He, dying, knowing how great a power of poison the arrows had because they were dipped in the gall of the Lernaean hydra, gave his collected blood to Deianira and said that it was a philtrum (a love‑philter); if she wished, that she should, lest her husband scorn her, order that his garment be anointed with it.

Id Deianira credens conditum diligenter servavit.

Believing this, Deianira diligently preserved the deposited thing.

IOLE

Hercules cum Iolen Euryti filiam in coniugium petiisset, ille eum repudiasset, Oechaliam expugnavit; qui ut a virgine rogaretur, parentes eius coram ea interficere velle coepit. Illa animo pertinacior parentes suos ante se necari est perpessa. Quos omnes cum interfecisset, Iolen captivam ad Deianiram praemisit.

When Hercules had sought Iole, daughter of Eurytus, in marriage, and Eurytus had rejected him, he sacked Oechalia; and, so that he might be entreated by the maiden, he began to desire to have her parents killed in her presence. She, firmer of mind, endured her parents being slain before her. After he had killed them all, he sent Iole, a captive, to Deianira.

DEIANIRA

Deianira Oenei filia Herculis uxor cum vidit Iolen virginem captivam eximiae formae esse adductam verita est, ne se coniugio privaret. Itaque memor Nessi praecepti vestem tinctam centauri sanguine, Herculi qui ferret, nomine Licham famulum misit. Inde paulum, quod in terra deciderat et id sol attigit, ardere coepit.

Deianira, Oenei filia, Herculis uxor, when she saw Iolen brought in a captive virgin of extraordinary form, feared lest she be deprived of the marriage. Therefore, mindful of Nessus’ precept, she sent a vestment stained with the centaur’s blood to be carried to Hercules, by a servant named Lichas. A little of it, having fallen to the ground and touched by the sun, began to smolder.

Quod Deianira ut vidit, aliter esse ac Nessus dixerat intellexit, et qui revocaret eum, cui vestem dederat, misit. Quam Hercules iam induerat statimque flagrare coepit; qui cum se in flumen coniecisset, ut ardorem extingueret, maior flamma exibat; demere autem cum vellet, viscera sequebantur. Tunc Hercules Licham, qui vestem attulerat, rotatum in mare iaculatus est, qui quo loco cecidit, petra nata est, quae Lichas appellatur.

When Deianira saw this, she understood that things were otherwise than Nessus had said, and she sent to recall him to whom she had given the garment. Which garment, as soon as Hercules had put it on, immediately began to blaze; and when he threw himself into the river to quench the burning, a greater flame came forth; and when he wished to take it off, his entrails followed. Then Hercules flung Lichas, who had brought the garment, rolled into the sea; at the place where he fell a rock arose, which is called Lichas.

Tunc dicitur Philoctetes Poeantis filius pyram in monte Oetaeo construxisse Herculi, eumque ascendisse immortalitatem. Ob id beneficium Philocteti Hercules arcus et sagittas donavit. Deianira autem ob factum Herculis ipsa se interfecit.

Then it is said that Philoctetes, son of Poeas, built a pyre on Mount Oeta for Hercules, and that he ascended to immortality. For that benefaction Hercules gave Philoctetes his bow and arrows. Deianira, however, on account of the deed concerning Hercules, killed herself.

AETHRA

Neptunus et Aegeus Pandionis filius in fano Minervae cum Aethra Pitthei filia una nocte concubuerunt. Neptunus, quod ex ea natum esset, Aegeo concessit. Is autem postquam a Troezene Athenas redibat, ensem suum sub lapide posuit et praecepit Aethrae, ut tunc eum ad se mitteret, cum posset eum lapidem allevare et gladium patris tollere; ibi fore indicium cognitionis filii.

Neptune and Aegeus, son of Pandion, in the temple of Minerva with Aethra, daughter of Pittheus, lay together one night. Neptune, because the child would be born from her, conceded him to Aegeus. But when he, returning from Troezen to Athens, placed his sword under a stone and commanded Aethra that she should then send him to him when he could lift that stone and raise his father’s sword; there would be the token of recognition of the son.

Itaque postea Aethra peperit Theseum, qui ad puberem aetatem cum pervenisset, mater praecepta Aegei indicat ei lapidemque ostendit, ut ensem tolleret, et iubet eum Athenas ad Aegeum proficisci, eosque, qui itineri infestabantur, omnes occidit.

Therefore afterwards Aethra bore Theseus, who, when he had arrived at puberem age, the mother made known to him the precepts of Aegeus and showed him the stone so that he should lift the sword, and she commands him to set out for Athens to Aegeus, and he killed all those who were hostile to the journey.

THESEI LABORES

THESEUS' LABORS

Corynetem Neptuni filium armis occidit; Pityocamptem, qui iter gradientes cogebat, ut secum arborem pinum ad terram flecterent, quam qui cum eo prenderat, ille eam viribus missam faciebat; ita ad terram graviter elidebatur et periebat, hunc interfecit. Procrusten Neptuni filium. Ad hunc hospes cum venisset, si longior esset, minori lecto proposito reliquam corporis partem praecidebat; sin autem brevior statura erat, lecto longiori dato incudibus suppositis extendebat eum, usque dum lecti longitudinem aequaret.

He killed Corynetes, son of Neptune, with weapons; Pityocamptes, who, forcing travelers as they walked, compelled them to bend down a pine tree so that he who had seized it could, by his force, make it fall to the ground; thus it was heavily hurled to the earth and the man perished — this one he also killed. Procrustes, son of Neptune. To him, when a guest had come, if he were taller, having placed him on a shorter bed he would lop off the remaining part of the body; but if his stature was shorter, having given him a longer bed and placing wedges beneath, he would stretch him out until he matched the length of the bed.

Hunc interfecit. Scironem, qui ad mare loco quodam praerupto sedebat et, qui iter gradiebatur, cogebat eum sibi pedes lavare et ita in mare praecipitabat, hunc Theseus pari leto in mare deiecit, ex quo Scironis petrae sunt dictae. Cercyonem Vulcani filium armis occidit.

He killed him. Sciron, who sat by the sea on a certain precipitous spot and forced whoever walked the road to wash his feet and so hurled him into the sea; Theseus cast this man into the sea to the same death, from which the rocks are called Sciron’s. Cercyon, son of Vulcan, he slew by force of arms.

Aprum, qui fuit Cremyone, interfecit. Taurum, qui fuit Marathone, quem Hercules a Creta ad Eurystheum adduxerat, occidit. Minotaurum oppido Gnosi occidit.

He killed the boar that belonged to Cremyone. He slew the bull that was at Marathon, which Hercules had led from Crete to Eurystheus. He killed the Minotaur at the town of Gnossus.

DAEDALUS

Daedalus Eupalami filius, qui fabricam a Minerva dicitur accepisse, Perdicem sororis suae filium propter artificii invidiam, quod is primum serram invenerat, summo tecto deicit. Ob id scelus in exsilium ab Athenis Cretam ad regem Minoem abiit.

Daedalus, son of Eupalamus, who is said to have received his craft from Minerva, threw Perdix, his sister’s son, from the highest roof out of envy for the youth’s art, because he had first invented the saw. For that crime he went into exile, from Athens to Crete, to King Minos.

PASIPHAE

Pasiphae Solis filia uxor Minois sacra deae Veneris per aliquot annos non fecerat. Ob id Venus amorem infandum illi obiecit, ut taurum [...] amaret. In hoc Daedalus exsul cum venisset, petiit ab eo auxilium.

Pasiphae, daughter of Sol, wife of Minos, consecrated to the goddess Venus, had not performed the sacred rites of the goddess for several years. On account of this Venus cast upon her an unspeakable love, so that she should love a taurus [...]. In this matter, when Daedalus the exile had come, she sought help from him.

Is ei vaccam ligneam fecit et verae vaccae corium induxit, in qua illa cum tauro concubuit; ex quo compressu Minotaurum peperit capite bubulo parte inferiore humana. Tunc Daedalus Minotauro labyrinthum inextricabili exitu fecit, in quo est conclusus. Minos re cognita Daedalum in custodiam coniecit, at Pasiphae eum vinculis liberavit; itaque Daedalus pennas sibi et Icaro filio suo fecit et accommodavit et inde avolarunt.

He made for her a wooden cow and fitted into it the hide of a real cow, in which she consorted with the bull; from that coupling she bore the Minotaur, with a bovine head and a human lower part. Then Daedalus made for the Minotaur a labyrinth with an inextricable exit, in which he was enclosed. Minos, the thing having been learned, cast Daedalus into custody, but Pasiphae freed him from his bonds; and so Daedalus fashioned wings for himself and for his son Icarus and fitted them, and thence they flew away.

Icarus altius volans a sole cera calefacta decidit in mare, quod ex eo Icarium pelagus est appellatum. Daedalus pervolavit ad regem Cocalum in insulam Siciliam. Alii dicunt: Theseus cum Minotaurum occidit, Daedalum Athenas in patriam suam reduxit.

Icarus, flying too high, the wax heated by the sun melted and he fell into the sea, which from him is called the Icarium Sea. Daedalus flew over to King Cocalus on the island of Sicily. Others say: when Theseus killed the Minotaur, he led Daedalus back to Athens, his fatherland.

MINOS

Minos Iovis et Europae filius cum Atheniensibus belligeravit, cuius filius Androgeus in pugna est occisus. Qui posteaquam Athenienses vicit, vectigales Minois esse coeperunt; instituit autem, ut anno uno quoque septenos liberos suos Minotauro ad epulandum mitterent. Theseus posteaquam a Troezene venerat et audiit, quanta calamitate civitas afficeretur, voluntarie se ad Minotaurum pollicitus est ire.

Minos, son of Iuppiter and Europa, made war on the Athenians; his son Androgeus was slain in the fight. After Minos afterwards vanquished the Athenians, they began to be tributaries of Minos; moreover he instituted that each year they should send seven of their children to the Minotaur to be for his feasting. Theseus, after he had come from Troezen and heard how great a calamity afflicted the city, voluntarily offered himself to go to the Minotaur.

Quem pater cum mitteret, praedixit ei, ut, si victor reverteretur, vela candida in navem haberet; qui autem ad Minotaurum mittebantur, velis atris navigabant.

He, when his father sent him, enjoined him that, if he should return victorious, he should have white sails on the ship; but those who were sent to the Minotaur sailed with black sails.

THESEUS APUD MINOTAURUM

THESEUS BEFORE THE MINOTAUR

Theseus posteaquam Cretam venit, ab Ariadne Minois filia est adamatus adeo, ut fratrem proderet et hospitem servaret; ea enim Theseo monstravit labyrinthi exitum, quo Theseus cum introisset et Minotaurum interfecisset, Ariadnes monitu licium revolvendo foras est egressus eamque, quod fidem ei dederat, in coniugio secum habiturus avexit.

After Theseus came to Crete, he was so beloved by Ariadne, daughter of Minos, that she betrayed her brother and preserved the guest; for she showed Theseus the exit of the labyrinth, by which, when Theseus had entered and slain the Minotaur, he came forth by unwinding the thread at Ariadne’s monition, and, because she had given him her pledge, carried her off to dwell with him in marriage.

ARIADNE

Theseus in insula Dia tempestate retentus cogitans, si Ariadnen in patriam portasset, sibi opprobrium futurum, itaque in insula Dia dormientem reliquit; quam Liber amans inde sibi in coniugium abduxit. Theseus autem cum navigaret, oblitus est vela atra mutare, itaque Aegeus pater eius credens Theseum a Minotauro esse consumptum in mare se praecipitavit, ex quo Aegeum pelagus est dictum. Ariadnes autem sororem Phaedram Theseus duxit in coniugium.

Theseus, detained by a tempest on the island Dia, thinking that if he had borne Ariadne to his fatherland it would be a disgrace to him, therefore left her sleeping on the island Dia; whom Liber, loving her, thence carried off to be his wife. But when Theseus was sailing, he forgot to change the black sails, and so Aegeus his father, believing Theseus to have been consumed by the Minotaur, hurled himself into the sea, from which the sea is called the Aegean. Theseus, moreover, took Ariadne’s sister Phaedra in marriage.

HIPPOLYTUS

Phaedra Minois filia Thesei uxor Hippolytum privignum suum adamavit; quem cum non potuisset ad suam perducere voluntatem, tabellas scriptas ad suum virum misit se ab Hippolyto compressam esse, seque ipsa suspendio necavit. Et Theseus re audita filium suum moenibus excedere iussit et optavit a Neptuno patre filio suo exitium. Itaque cum Hippolytus equis iunctis veheretur, repente e mari taurus apparuit, cuius mugitu equi expavefacti Hippolytum distraxerunt vitaque privarunt.

Phaedra, daughter of Minos, wife of Theseus, loved her stepson Hippolytus; when she could not bring him to her will, she sent written tablets to her husband declaring that she had been assaulted by Hippolytus, and she herself killed herself by hanging. And when Theseus heard the matter he ordered his son to leave the walls and implored Neptune, his father, for his son’s destruction. Therefore, as Hippolytus was being borne by yoked horses, suddenly a bull appeared from the sea, whose bellowing so terrified the horses that they dragged Hippolytus and deprived him of life.

DANAE

Danae Acrisii et Aganippes filia. Huic fuit fatum, ut, quod peperisset Acrisium interficeret; quod timens Acrisius, eam in muro lapideo praeclusit. Iovis autem in imbrem aureum conversus cum Danae concubuit, ex quo compressu natus est Perseus.

Danae, daughter of Acrisius and Aganippe. It was fated that she should bear one who would kill Acrisius; fearing this, Acrisius shut her up in a stone wall. But Jove, having been turned into a golden rain, lay with Danae, from whose conception Perseus was born.

Quam pater ob stuprum inclusam in arca cum Perseo in mare deiecit. Ea voluntate Iovis delata est in insulam Seriphum, quam piscator Dictys cum invenisset, effracta ea vidit mulierem cum infante, quos ad regem Polydectem perduxit, qui eam in coniugio habuit et Perseum educavit in templo Minervae. Quod cum Acrisius rescisset eos ad Polydectem morari, repetitum eos profectus est; quo cum venisset, Polydectes pro eis deprecatus est, Perseus Acrisio avo suo fidem dedit se eum numquam interfecturum.

Because of the rape he shut them in a chest and with Perseus cast them into the sea. By the will of Jupiter she was borne to the island Seriphus, which the fisherman Dictys, having found, broke open and there saw the woman with the infant; whom he led to King Polydectes, who took her in marriage and reared Perseus in the temple of Minerva. When Acrisius learned this and that they were staying with Polydectes, he set out to seek them; and when he had come there, Polydectes pleaded for them, and Perseus gave his grandfather Acrisius his oath that he would never kill him.

Qui cum tempestate retineretur, Polydectes moritur; cui cum funebres ludos facerent, Perseus disco misso, quem ventus distulit in caput Acrisii, eum interfecit. Ita quod voluntate sua noluit, deorum factum est; sepulto autem eo Argos profectus est regnaque avita possedit.

While he was detained by a storm, Polydectes died; and when they held funeral games for him, Perseus, the discus having been hurled and which the wind carried into Acrisius’ head, killed him. Thus what he did not will was made by the gods; after burying him he set out for Argos and took possession of his ancestral kingdoms.

ANDROMEDA

Cassiope filiae suae Andromedae formam Nereidibus anteposuit. Ob id Neptunus expostulavit, ut Andromeda Cephei filia ceto obiceretur. Quae cum esset obiecta, Perseus Mercurii talaribus volans eo dicitur venisse et eam liberasse a periculo; quam cum abducere vellet, Cepheus pater cum Agenore, cuius sponsa fuit, Perseum clam interficere voluerunt.

Cassiope placed the form (beauty) of her daughter Andromeda before the Nereids. For this Neptune protested, that Andromeda, daughter of Cepheus, should be thrown to the sea-monster. When she had been cast forth, Perseus, flying with Mercury’s talaria, is said to have come there and to have freed her from danger; and when he wished to carry her off, Cepheus her father, together with Agenor, to whom she had been betrothed, secretly wished to kill Perseus.

Ille cognita re caput Gorgonis eis ostendit omnesque ab humana specie sunt informati in saxum. Perseus cum Andromeda in patriam redit. Polydectes ut vidit Perseum tantam virtutem habere, pertimuit eumque per dolum interficere voluit; qua re cognita Perseus caput Gorgonis ei ostendit et is ab humana specie est immutatus in lapidem.

He, the matter having been learned, showed them the Gorgon's head, and all were transformed from human specie into rock. Perseus returned to his fatherland with Andromeda. When Polydectes saw that Perseus possessed so great a virtue, he feared him and wished to kill him by guile; this thing being discovered, Perseus showed him the Gorgon's head and he was changed from human specie into a stone.

LAIUS

Laio Labdaci filio ab Apolline erat responsum de filii sui manu mortem ut caveret. Itaque Iocasta Menoecei filia uxor eius cum peperisset, iussit exponi. Hunc Periboea Polybi regis uxor, cum vestem ad mare lavaret, expositum sustulit; Polybo sciente, quod orbi erant liberis, pro suo educaverunt eumque, quod pedes transiectos haberet, Oedipum nominaverunt.

To Laius, son of Labdacus, there had been a response from Apollo to guard against death by the hand of his own son. Therefore Jocasta, daughter of Menoeceus, his wife, when she had borne a child, ordered him to be exposed. This one Periboea, wife of King Polybus, when she was washing a garment at the sea, lifted up the exposed child; Polybus knowing that they were bereft of children, they reared him as their own, and because his feet had been pierced they named him Oedipus.

OEDIPUS

Postquam Oedipus Laii et Iocastes filius ad puberem aetatem pervenit, fortissimus praeter ceteros erat eique per invidiam aequales obiciebant eum subditum esse Polybo, eo quod Polybus tam clemens esset et ille impudens; quod Oedipus sensit non falso sibi obici. Itaque Delphos est profectus sciscitatum de parentibus suis. Interim Laio in prodigiis ostendebatur mortem ei adesse de nati manu.

After Oedipus, son of Laius and Jocasta, reached the age of puberty, he was the bravest beyond the others, and by envy his peers accused that he was subject to Polybus, because Polybus was so merciful and he shameless; which Oedipus perceived was not falsely alleged against him. Therefore he set out for Delphi to inquire about his parents. Meanwhile Laius was shown in prodigies that death was impending for him at the hand of his son.

Idem cum Delphos iret, obviam ei Oedipus venit, quem satellites cum viam regi dari iuberent, neglexit. Rex equos immisit et rota pedem eius oppressit; Oedipus iratus inscius patrem suum de curru detraxit et occidit. Laio occiso Creon Menoecei filius regnum occupavit; interim Sphinx Typhonis in Boeotiam est missa, quae agros Thebanorum vexabat; ea regi Creonti simultatem constituit, si carmen, quod posuisset, aliquis interpretatus esset, se inde abire, si autem datum carmen non solvisset, eum se consumpturam dixit neque aliter de finibus excessuram.

When he was going likewise to Delphi, Oedipus met him on the road; whom, when the attendants were ordering that the king be given the way, he neglected. The king sent forward his horses and a wheel ran over his foot; Oedipus, enraged and unaware, dragged his father from the chariot and killed him. With Laius killed, Creon, son of Menoeceus, seized the kingdom; meanwhile the Sphinx, daughter of Typhon, was sent into Boeotia, and she harried the fields of the Thebans; to King Creon she placed a spiteful condition, that if anyone should interpret a riddle which she had set, she would depart from there, but if the set riddle were not solved, she declared she would consume him and would not otherwise leave their borders.

Rex re audita per Graeciam edixit, qui Sphingae carmen solvisset, regnum se et Iocasten sororem ei in coniugium daturum promisit. Cum plures regni cupidine venissent et a Sphinge essent consumpti, Oedipus Laii filius venit et carmen est interpretatus; illa se praecipitavit. Oedipus regnum paternum et Iocasten matrem inscius accepit uxorem, ex qua procreavit Eteoclen et Polynicen, Antigonam et Ismenen.

The king, having proclaimed it through Greece, promised that whoever should solve the Sphinx’s riddle would receive the kingdom and Iocaste his sister in marriage. Since many had come desiring the kingdom and had been consumed by the Sphinx, Oedipus, son of Laius, came and interpreted the riddle; she cast herself headlong. Oedipus, unaware, accepted the paternal kingdom and Iocaste, his mother, as his wife, by whom he begot Eteocles and Polynices, Antigone and Ismene.

Interim Thebis sterilitas frugum et penuria incidit ob Oedipodis scelera, interrogatusque Tiresias, quid ita Thebae vexarentur, respondit, si quis ex draconteo genere superesset et pro patria interiisset, pestilentia liberaturum. Tum Menoeceus Iocastae pater se de muris praecipitavit. Dum haec Thebis geruntur, Corintho Polybus decedit, quo audito Oedipus moleste ferre coepit aestimans patrem suum obisse; cui Periboea de eius suppositione palam fecit; item Menoetes senex, qui eum exposuerat, ex pedum cicatricibus et talorum agnovit Lai filium esse.

Meanwhile sterility of crops and scarcity befell Thebes because of Oedipus’s crimes, and when Tiresias was asked why Thebes were thus afflicted, he answered that if any one of the dracontean stock were still alive and had died for his country, the pestilence would be removed. Then Menoeceus, father of Iocasta, threw himself from the walls. While these things were occurring at Thebes, Polybus departed from Corinth; on hearing this Oedipus began to take it badly, thinking his father dead; to whom Periboea publicly made known his exposure; likewise the old Menoetes, who had exposed him, from the scars on his feet and ankles recognized that he was the son of Laius.

Oedipus re audita postquam vidit se tot scelera nefaria fecisse, ex veste matris fibulas detraxit et se luminibus privavit, regnumque filiis suis alternis annis tradidit et a Thebis Antigona filia duce profugit.

After the matter was heard and he saw that he had committed so many nefarious crimes, Oedipus tore the brooches from his mother’s garment and deprived himself of his eyes, and he entrusted the kingdom to his sons in alternating years and, with his daughter Antigone as leader, fled from Thebes.

POLYNICES

Polynices Oedipodis filius anno peracto regnum ab Eteocle fratre repetit; ille cedere noluit. Itaque Polynices Adrasto rege adiuvante cum septem ductoribus Thebas oppugnatum venit. Ibi Capaneus, quod contra Iovis voluntatem Thebas se capturum diceret, cum murum ascenderet, fulmine est percussus; Amphiaraus terra est devoratus; Eteocles et Polynices inter se pugnantes alius alium interfecerunt.

Polynices, son of Oedipus, after a year had passed demanded the kingdom from his brother Eteocles; he would not yield. Therefore Polynices, with King Adrastus assisting, came with seven leaders to besiege Thebes. There Capaneus, because he boasted he would take Thebes against the will of Jove, while climbing the wall was struck by a thunderbolt; Amphiaraus was swallowed by the earth; Eteocles and Polynices, fighting one another, killed each other.

His cum Thebis parentaretur, etsi ventus vehemens esset, tamen fumus se numquam in unam partem convertit, sed alius alio seducitur. Ceteri cum Thebas oppugnarent et Thebani rebus suis diffiderent, Tiresias Eueris filius augur praemonuit, si ex dracontea progenie aliquis interiisset, oppidum ea clade liberari. Menoeceus cum vidit se unum civium salutem posse redimere, muro se praecipitavit; Thebani victoria sunt potiti.

While these offerings were being made at Thebes, and although the wind was violent, yet the smoke never turned to one single quarter, but one column was carried away from another. While the others were assaulting Thebes and the Thebans despaired of their affairs, Tiresias, son of Everes, the augur, foretold that if any one of the draconic progeny should perish, the town would be delivered by that calamity. When Menoeceus saw that he alone could redeem the safety of the citizens, he hurled himself from the wall; the Thebans obtained the victory.

ANTIGONA

ANTIGONE

Creon Menoecei filius edixit, ne quis Polynicen aut, qui una venerunt, sepulturae traderent, quod patriam oppugnatum venerint; Antigona soror et Argia coniunx clam noctu Polynicis corpus sublatum in eadem pyra, qua Eteocles sepultus est, imposuerunt. Quae cum a custodibus deprehensae essent, Argia profugit, Antigona ad regem est perducta; ille eam Haemoni filio, cuius sponsa fuerat, dedit interficiendam. Haemon amore captus patris imperium neglexit et Antigonam ad pastores demandavit, ementitusque est se eam interfecisse.

Creon, son of Menoeceus, decreed that no one should deliver Polynices, or those who came with him, to burial, because they had come having attacked the fatherland; Antigone, his sister, and Argia, his wife, secretly at night placed the body of Polynices, which had been taken up, on the same pyre on which Eteocles was buried. When they were caught by the guards, Argia fled, Antigone was led to the king; he gave her to his son Haemon, to whom she had been betrothed, to be put to death. Haemon, seized by love, neglected his father's command and entrusted Antigone to shepherds, and pretended that he had slain her.

Quae cum filium procreasset et ad puberem aetatem venisset, Thebas ad ludos venit; hunc Creon rex, quod ex draconteo genere omnes in corpore insigne habebant, cognovit. Cum Hercules pro Haemone deprecaretur, ut ei ignosceret, non impetravit; Haemon se et Antigonam coniugem interfecit. At Creon Megaram filiam suam Herculi dedit in coniugium, ex qua nati sunt Therimachus et Ophites.

When she had borne a son and he had come to pubescent age, he came to Thebes for the games; this one King Creon recognized, because from the draconic stock they all bore a conspicuous mark on the body. When Hercules entreated on behalf of Haemon, that he might be pardoned, he did not obtain it; Haemon killed both himself and his wife Antigona. But Creon gave Megara, his daughter, in marriage to Hercules, from whom were born Therimachus and Ophites.

TIRESIAS

In monte Cyllenio Tiresias Eueris filius pastor dracones venerantes dicitur baculo percussisse, alias calcasse; ob id in mulieris figuram est conversus; postea monitus a sortibus in eodem loco dracones cum calcasset, redit in pristinam speciem. Eodem tempore inter Iovem et Iunonem fuit iocosa altercatio, quis magis de re venerea voluptatem caperet, masculus an femina, de qua re Tiresiam iudicem sumpserunt, qui utrunque erat expertus. Is cum secundum Iovem iudicasset, Iuno irata manu aversa eum excaecavit; at Iovis ob id fecit, ut septem aetates viveret vatesque praeter ceteros mortales esset.

On Mount Cyllenius Tiresias, son of Eueris, a shepherd, is said to have struck with his staff and to have trodden upon dragons reverencing him; on account of this he was transformed into the figure of a woman; later, warned by the lots in the same place, when he had trampled the dragons, he returned to his former shape. At the same time there was a jesting dispute between Jupiter and Juno as to which took more pleasure in the venereal matter, male or female, whereupon they chose Tiresias as judge, who had experienced both. When he judged according to Jupiter, Juno, angry, with averted hand blinded him; but Jupiter, for that reason, made that he should live seven ages and be a seer beyond other mortals.

LEDA

Iuppiter Ledam Thestii filiam in cygnum conversus ad flumen Eurotam compressit et ex eo peperit Pollucem et Helenam, ex Tyndareo autem Castorem et Clytaemnestram.

Jupiter, having turned Leda, daughter of Thestius, into a swan, pressed her by the river Eurotas, and from him she bore Pollux and Helen, but from Tyndareus Castor and Clytemnestra.

TYNDAREUS

Tyndareus Oebali filius ex Leda Thestii filia procreavit Clytaemnestram et Helenam; Clytaemnestram Agamemnoni Atrei filio dedit in coniugium; Helenam propter formae dignitatem complures ex civitatibus in coniugium proci petebant. Tyndareus cum repudiari filiam suam Clytaemnestram ab Agamemnone vereretur timeretque, ne quid ex ea re discordiae nasceretur, monitus ab Ulixe iureiurando se obligavit et arbitrio Helenae posuit, ut, cui vellet nubere, coronam imponeret. Menelao imposuit, cui Tyndareus eam dedit uxorem regnumque moriens Menelao reliquit.

Tyndareus, son of Oebalus, by Leda, daughter of Thestius, begot Clytaemnestra and Helen; he gave Clytaemnestra in marriage to Agamemnon, son of Atreus; many suitors from various cities sought Helen’s hand because of her beauty. Tyndareus, fearing that his daughter Clytaemnestra might be repudiated by Agamemnon and dreading that any discord might arise from the matter, was advised by Ulysses and bound himself by an oath, placing the choice at Helen’s discretion, that she should place the crown on whichever man she wished to marry. She placed it on Menelaus, whom Tyndareus gave to her as husband, and at his death left the kingdom to Menelaus.

HELENA

Theseus Aegei et Aethrae Pitthei filiae filius cum Pirithoo Ixionis filio Helenam Tyndarei et Ledae filiam virginem de fano Dianae sacrificantem rapuerunt et detulerunt Aphidnas in pagum Atticae regionis. Quod Iovis eos cum vidisset tantam audaciam habere, ut se ipsi ad periculum offerrent, in quiete eis imperavit, ut peterent ambo a Plutone Pirithoo Proserpinam in coniugium; qui cum per insulam Taenariam ad inferos descendissent et, de qua re venissent, indicarent Plutoni, a furiis strati diuque lacerati sunt. Quo Hercules ad canem tricipitem ducendum cum venisset, illi fidem eius implorarunt; qui a Plutone impetravit eosque incolumes eduxit.

Theseus, son of Aegeus and Aethra, daughter of Pittheus, together with Pirithous, son of Ixion, carried off Helen, daughter of Tyndareus and Leda, a maiden making sacrifice in the shrine of Diana, and bore her to Aphidnae in a district of Attica. Which thing, when Jupiter had seen that they had so great audacity as to offer themselves to peril, he in sleep commanded them both to seek from Pluto, for Pirithous, Proserpina in marriage; who, when they had descended to the shades by the Taenarian cape and had declared to Pluto the cause of their coming, were laid low and long torn by the Furies. Whereupon Hercules, when he came to lead the three‑headed dog, they implored his fidelity; who obtained them from Pluto and led them forth unharmed.

Ob Helenam Castor et Pollux fratres belligerarunt et Aethram Thesei matrem et Phisadiem Pirithoi sororem ceperunt et in servitutem sorori dederunt.

On account of Helen the brothers Castor and Pollux waged war, and seized Aethra, mother of Theseus, and Phisadia, sister of Pirithous, and delivered them into servitude to their sister.

CASTOR

Idas et Lynceus Apharei filii ex Messenis habuerunt sponsas Phoeben et Hilairam Leucippi filias; hae autem formosissimae virgines cum essent et esset Phoebe sacerdos Minervae, Hilaira Dianae, Castor et Pollux amore incensi eas rapuerunt. Illi amissis sponsis arma tulerunt, si possent eas recuperare. Castor Lynceum in proelio interfecit; Idas amisso fratre omisit bellum et sponsam, coepit fratrem sepelire.

Idas and Lynceus, sons of Aphareus from Messenia, had betrothed brides Phoebe and Hilaera, daughters of Leucippus; and these most beautiful maidens, Phoebe being a priestess of Minerva and Hilaera of Diana, were seized by Castor and Pollux, inflamed with love for them. The betrothed, their brides lost, took up arms to recover them if they could. Castor killed Lynceus in battle; Idas, bereaved of his brother, abandoned both the war and his betrothed, and began to bury his brother.

Cum ossa eius collocaret in pila, intervenit Castor et prohibere coepit monumentum fieri, quod diceret se eum quasi feminam superasse. Idas indignans gladio, quo cinctus erat, Castori inguina traiecit. Alii dicunt, quemadmodum aedificabat pilam, super Castorem impulisse et sic interfectum.

While he was placing his bones on the pyre, Castor came between them and began to forbid the making of the monument, saying that he had overcome him as if a woman. Idas, indignant, thrust his sword, with which he was girded, through Castor’s groin. Others say that, as he was building the pyre, he pushed Castor onto it and so killed him.

Quod cum annuntiassent Polluci, accurrit et Idam uno proelio superavit corpusque fratris recuperatum sepulturae dedit; cum autem ipse stellam ab Iove accepisset et fratri non esset data, ideo quod diceret Iovis Castorem semine Tyndarei et Clytaemnestram natos, ipsum autem et Helenam Iovis esse filios, tunc deprecatus Pollux, ut liceret ei munus suum cum fratre communicare; cui permisit.

When they announced this to Pollux, he ran up and in single combat overcame Idas and gave the recovered body of his brother to burial; but when he himself had received a star from Jove and it was not given to his brother — because he declared that Castor had been born from the seed of Tyndareus and Clytaemnestra, whereas he himself and Helen were children of Jove — then Pollux begged that it be allowed for him to share his gift with his brother; and Jove permitted it.

TANTALUS

Tantalus Iovis et Plutonis filius procreavit ex Dione Pelopem. Iuppiter Tantalo concredere sua consilia solitus erat et ad epulum deorum admittere, quae Tantalus ad homines renuntiavit; ob id dicitur ad inferos in aqua media fine corporis stare semperque sitire et, cum haustum aquae vult sumere, aquam recedere. Item poma ei super caput pendent, quae cum vult sumere, rami vento moti recedunt.

Tantalus, son of Jupiter and Pluto, begot Pelops by Dione. Jupiter was wont to entrust his counsels to Tantalus and to admit him to the feast of the gods, which Tantalus announced to men; for that reason he is said to stand among the dead in water up to the rim of his body, always thirsty, and when he wishes to take a draught of water the water recedes. Likewise fruits hang above his head, which, when he would take them, the branches, moved by the wind, withdraw.

Item saxum super caput eius ingens pendet, quod semper timet ne super se ruat.

Likewise a vast rock hangs over his head, which he always fears will tumble down upon him.

PELOPS

Pelops Tantali et Diones Atlantis filiae filius cum esset in epulis deorum a Tantalo caesus, bracchium eius Ceres consumpsit, qui a deorum numine vitam recepit; cui cum cetera membra, ut fuerant, coissent, umero non perpetuo eburneum eius loco Ceres aptavit.

Pelops, son of Tantalus and of Dione, daughter of Atlas, when, at a feast of the gods, he had been cut up by Tantalus, had his shoulder consumed by Ceres, and he received life by the divinity of the gods; for him, when the remaining limbs had grown together as they had been, Ceres fitted an ivory shoulder in place of the one not preserved.

OENOMAUS

Oenomaus Martis et Asteropes Atlantis filiae filius habuit in coniugio Euareten Acrisii filiam, ex qua procreavit Hippodamiam, virginem eximiae formae, quam nulli ideo dabat in coniugium, quod sibi responsum fuit a genero mortem cavere. Itaque cum complures eam peterent in coniugium, simultatem constituit se ei daturum, qui secum quadrigis certasset victorque exisset, quod is equos aquilone velociores habuit, victus autem interficeretur. Multis interfectis novissime Pelops Tantali filius cum venisset et capita humana super valvas fixa vidisset eorum, qui Hippodamiam in uxorem petierant, paenitere eum coepit regis crudelitatem timens.

Oenomaus, son of Mars and Asterope, daughter of Atlas, in marriage had Euarete, daughter of Acrisius, by whom he begot Hippodamia, a maiden of surpassing beauty, whom he therefore gave to no one in marriage, because he had been warned by an oracle to beware the death from a son‑in‑law. Thus, when many sought her in marriage, he decreed that he would give her to him who had contested with him in a race of quadrigae and had come forth the victor — for he possessed horses swifter than the North Wind — and that the vanquished should be slain. After many had been killed, at last Pelops, son of Tantalus, came, and when he saw human heads fixed above the gates of those who had sought Hippodamia as wife, he began to be seized with remorse, fearing the cruelty of the king.

Itaque Myrtilo aurigae eius persuasit regnumque ei dimidium pollicetur, si se adiuvaret. Fide data Myrtilus currum iunxit et clavos in rotas non coniecit; itaque equis incitatis currum defectum Oenomai equi distraxerunt. Pelops cum Hippodamia et Myrtilo domum victor cum rediret, cogitavit sibi opprobrio futurum et Myrtilo fidem praestare noluit eumque in mare praecipitavit, a quo Myrtoum pelagus est appellatum.

Therefore Myrtilus persuaded the charioteer and promised him half the kingdom if he would aid him. Trust bestowed, Myrtilus yoked the chariot and did not drive the nails into the wheels; thus, with the horses urged on, Oenomaus’s horses tore the chariot apart. When Pelops returned home victorious with Hippodamia and Myrtilus, he thought he would be subject to reproach and refused to render faith to Myrtilus, and he hurled him into the sea, from which the Myrtoan Sea is called.

Hippodamiam in patriam adduxit suam, quod Peloponnesum appellatur; ibi ex Hippodamia procreavit Hippalcum Atreum Thyesten.

He led Hippodamia into his fatherland, which is called the Peloponnesus; there from Hippodamia he begot Hippalcus, Atreus, and Thyestes.

PELOPIDAE

THE PELOPIDS

Thyestes Pelopis et Hippodamiae filius, quod cum Aeropa Atrei uxore concubuit, a fratre Atreo de regno est eiectus; at is Atrei filium Plisthenem, quem pro suo educaverat, ad Atreum interficiendum misit, quem Atreus credens fratris filium esse imprudens filium suum occidit.

Thyestes, son of Pelops and Hippodamia, because he lay with Aerope, wife of Atreus, was driven from the kingdom by his brother Atreus; but he sent Plisthenes, whom he had reared as his own and who was Atreus’s son, to Atreus to be slain — whom Atreus, believing him to be his brother’s son, unwittingly killed as his own child.

AEGISTHUS

Thyesti Pelopis et Hippodamiae filio responsum fuit, quem ex filia sua Pelopia procreasset, eum fratris fore ultorem; quod cum audisset filiam compressit et puer est natus, quem Pelopia exposuit, quem inventum pastores caprae subdiderunt ad nutriendum; Aegisthus est appellatus ideo, quod Graece capra aega appellatur.

It was foretold to Thyestes, son of Pelops and Hippodamia, that the one whom he had begotten from his daughter Pelopia would be the avenger of his brother; when he had heard this he forced himself upon his daughter and a boy was born, whom Pelopia exposed, whom goat-herds, having found him, placed under a goat to be nursed; for this reason he was called Aegisthus, because in Greek a goat is called aêga.

ATREUS

Atreus Pelopis et Hippodamiae filius cupiens a Thyeste fratre suo iniurias exsequi, in gratiam cum eo rediit et in regnum suum eum reduxit, filiosque eius infantes Tantalum et Plisthenem occidit et epulis Thyesti apposuit. Qui cum vesceretur, Atreus imperavit bracchia et ora puerorum afferri; ob id scelus etiam Sol currum avertit.Thyestes scelere nefario cognito profugit ad regem Thesprotum, ubi lacus Avernus dicitur esse; inde Sicyonem pervenit, ubi erat Pelopia filia Thyestis deposita; ibi casu nocte, cum Minervae sacrificarent, intervenit, qui timens, ne sacra contaminaret, in luco delituit.Pelopia autem, cum choreas ducit, lapsa vestem ex cruore pecudis inquinavit; quae dum ad flumen exit sanguinem abluere, tunicam maculatam deponit. Capite obducto Thyestes e luco prosiluit et eam compressit.

Atreus, son of Pelops and Hippodamia, desiring to avenge injuries from his brother Thyestes, reconciled with him and restored him to his kingdom; and he killed Thyestes’ infant sons, Tantalus and Plisthenes, and set them before Thyestes at a banquet. While he was eating, Atreus ordered the arms and faces of the boys to be brought; for that crime even the Sun turned his chariot aside. When Thyestes learned of the nefarious deed he fled to the king of Thesprotia, where the lake is called Avernus; thence he came to Sicyon, where Pelopia, Thyestes’ daughter, had been deposited; there by chance at night, while they were sacrificing to Minerva, he arrived, and, fearing to contaminate the rites, concealed himself in the grove. But Pelopia, leading the choruses, stained her garment with the blood of the sacrificial beast when she slipped; and while she went down to the river to wash the blood away, she laid aside the soiled tunic. Thyestes leapt forth from the grove with his head covered and seized her.

Ea compressione gladium de vagina ei extraxit Pelopia et rediens in templum sub acropodio Minervae abscondit. Postero die rogat regem Thyestes, ut se in patriam Lydiam remitteret. Interim sterilitas Mycenis frugum ac penuria oritur ob Atrei scelus.

By that compression Pelopia drew from its sheath a sword and, returning, hid it in the temple beneath the acropolis of Minerva. On the following day Thyestes begs the king that he be sent back to his fatherland Lydia. Meanwhile barrenness of the crops and a scarcity arise at Mycenae on account of Atreus’s crime.

Ibi responsum est, ut Thyestem in regnum reduceret. Qui cum ad Thesprotum regem isset aestimans Thyestem ibi morari Pelopiam aspexit et rogat Thesprotum ut sibi Pelopiam in coniugium daret, quod putaret eam Thesproti esse filiam. Thesprotus, ne qua suspicio esset, dat ei Pelopiam, quae iam conceptum ex patre Thyeste habebat Aegisthum.

There it was resolved that Thyestes should be restored to the kingdom. He, when he had gone to King Thesprotus, seeing Pelopia and supposing Thyestes to be dwelling there, asked Thesprotus to give Pelopia to him in marriage, for he thought her to be the king’s daughter. Thesprotus, that no suspicion might arise, gave him Pelopia, who already carried in her womb by her father Thyestes the child Aegisthus.

Quae cum ad Atreum venisset, parit Aegisthum, quem exposuit; at pastores caprae supposuerunt, quem Atreus iussit perquiri et pro suo educari. Interim Atreus mittit Agamemnonem et Menelaum filios ad quaerendum Thyestem, qui Delphos petierunt sciscitatum. Casu Thyestes eo venerat ad sortes tollendas de ultione fratris; comprehensus ab eis ad Atreum perducitur, quem Atreus in custodiam conici iussit, Aegisthumque vocat aestimans suum filium esse et mittit eum ad Thyestem interficiendum.

When she had come to Atreus, she bore Aegisthus, whom she exposed; but goat-herds took him up, whom Atreus ordered to be sought out and brought up as his own. Meanwhile Atreus sends Agamemnon and Menelaus, his sons, to seek Thyestes, who went to Delphi to consult the oracles. By chance Thyestes had come there to lift the lots concerning vengeance on his brother; seized by them he is led to Atreus, whom Atreus ordered to be cast into custody, and he summons Aegisthus, supposing him to be his son, and sends him to kill Thyestes.

Thyestes cum vidisset Aegisthum et gladium, quem Aegisthus gerebat, et cognovisset, quem in compressione perdiderat, interrogat Aegisthum, unde illum haberet. Ille respondit matrem sibi Pelopiam dedisse, quam iubet accersiri. Cui respondit se in compressione nocturna nescio cui eduxisse et ex ea compressione Aegisthum concepisse.

Thyestes, when he had seen Aegisthus and the sword which Aegisthus bore, and had recognized the one he had lost in the nocturnal seizure, asked Aegisthus whence he had him. He answered that Pelopia, his mother, had been given to him, whom he ordered to be summoned. She replied that she had been led away in a nocturnal seizure by I know not whom, and from that seizure had conceived Aegisthus.

Tunc Pelopia gladium arripuit simulans se agnoscere et in pectus sibi detrusit. Quem Aegisthus e pectore matris cruentum tenens ad Atreum attulit. Ille aestimans Thyesten interfectum laetabatur; quem Aegisthus in litore sacrificantem occidit et cum patre Thyeste in regnum avitum redit.

Then Pelopia seized the sword, feigning to recognize it, and thrust it into her own breast. Aegisthus, holding it bloody from his mother’s breast, brought it to Atreus. He, thinking Thyestes slain, rejoiced; Aegisthus killed him while he was sacrificing on the shore and returned with his father to the ancestral kingdom.

NIOBE

Amphion et Zetus Iovis et Antiopes Nyctei filii iussu Apollinis Thebas muro circumcinxerunt usque ad Semelae bustum Laiumque Labdaci regis filium in exsilium eiecerunt, ipsi ibi regnum obtinere coeperunt. Amphion in coniugium Niobam Tantali et Diones filiam accepit, ex qua procreavit liberos septem totidemque filias; quem partum Niobe Latonae anteposuit superbiusque locuta est in Apollinem et Dianam, quod illa cincta viri cultu esset et Apollo veste deorsum atque crinitus, et se numero filiorum Latonam superare. Ob id Apollo filios eius in silva venantes sagittis interfecit et Diana filias in regia sagittis interemit praeter Chloridem.

Amphion and Zetus, sons of Jove and Antiope of Nycteus, by the command of Apollo encompassed Thebes with a wall up as far as the tomb of Semele and drove Laius, son of Labdacus the king, into exile; they themselves began to obtain the kingdom there. Amphion took Niobe, daughter of Tantalus and Dione, in marriage, by whom he begot seven sons and an equal number of daughters; Niobe proudly preferred that offspring to Latona’s, and, speaking arrogantly against Apollo and Diana, reproached Latona because she was girded in the cult of a man and Apollo was adorned in downward robe and long-haired, and boasted that by number of children she surpassed Latona. For this Apollo slew her sons while hunting in the grove with arrows, and Diana killed the daughters in the palace with her shafts, all except Chloris.

At genetrix liberis orba flendo lapidea facta esse dicitur in monte Sipylo, eiusque hodie lacrimae manare dicuntur. Amphion autem cum templum Apollinis expugnare vellet, ab Apolline sagittis est interfectus.

But the mother, bereft of children, is said to have been turned to stone by weeping on Mount Sipylo, and its tears are said to flow even today. And when Amphion wished to storm the temple of Apollo, he was slain by Apollo’s arrows.

ALEXANDER PARIS

ALEXANDER OF PARIS

Priamus Laomedontis filius cum complures liberos haberet ex concubitu Hecubae Cissei sive Dymantis filiae, uxor eius praegnans in quiete vidit se facem ardentem parere, ex qua serpentes plurimos exisse. Id visum omnibus coniectoribus cum narratum esset, imperant, quicquid pareret, necaret, ne id patriae exitio foret. Postquam Hecuba peperit Alexandrum, datur interficiendus, quem satellites misericordia exposuerunt; eum pastores pro suo filio repertum expositum educarunt eumque Parim nominaverunt.

Priam, son of Laomedon, when he had several children by the concubine Hecuba, daughter of Cisseus or of Dymas, his wife, being pregnant, in sleep saw that she was bringing forth a burning torch, from which many serpents issued. When that vision had been reported to all the augurs, they ordered that whatever she bore be killed, lest it be the ruin of the fatherland. After Hecuba bore Alexander, he was ordered to be put to death, whom the satellites, by pity, exposed; shepherds having found the exposed one reared him as their own son and named him Paris.

Is cum ad puberem aetatem pervenisset, habuit taurum in deliciis; quo cum satellites missi a Priamo, ut taurum aliquis adduceret, venissent, qui in athlo funebri, quod ei fiebat, poneretur, coeperunt Paridis taurum abducere. Qui persecutus est eos et inquisivit, quo eum ducerent; illi indicant se eum ad Priamum adducere ei, qui vicisset ludis funebribus Alexandri. Ille amore incensus tauri sui descendit in certamen et omnia vicit, fratres quoque suos superavit.

When he had reached manhood, he kept a bull in his delights; and when satellites sent by Priam had come to fetch some bull to be placed in the funeral contest that was being held for him, they began to carry off Paris’s bull. He pursued them and asked whither they were leading it; they pointed out that they were bringing it to Priam, to him who had prevailed in the funeral games of Alexander. He, inflamed with love for his bull, entered the contest and conquered all, and even outstripped his brothers.

Indignans Deiphobus gladium ad eum strinxit; at ille in aram Iovis Hercei insiluit; quod cum Cassandra vaticinaretur eum fratrem esse, Priamus eum agnovit regiaque recepit.

Deiphobus, indignant, drew his sword at him; but he leapt upon the altar of Jupiter Hercules; and when Cassandra prophesied that he was his brother, Priam recognized him and received him into the royal house.

PARIDIS IUDICIUM

THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS

Iovis cum Thetis Peleo nuberet, ad epulum dicitur omnis deos convocasse excepta Eride, id est Discordia, quae cum postea supervenisset nec admitteretur ad epulum, ab ianua misit in medium malum, dicit, quae esset formosissima, attolleret. Iuno Venus Minerva formam sibi vindicare coeperunt, inter quas magna discordia orta, Iovis imperat Mercurio, ut deducat eas in Ida monte ad Alexandrum Paridem eumque iubeat iudicare. Cui Iuno, si secundum se iudicasset, pollicita est in omnibus terris eum regnaturum, divitem praeter ceteros praestaturum; Minerva, si inde victrix discederet, fortissimum inter mortales futurum et omni artificio scium; Venus autem Helenam Tyndarei filiam formosissimam omnium mulierum se in coniugium dare promisit.

When Jove was to wed Thetis to Peleus, he is said to have summoned all the gods to the banquet except Eris, that is, Discord, who, when she later arrived and was not admitted to the feast, threw into the midst of the hall an apple, saying that whoever was the most beautiful should take it. Juno, Venus, and Minerva began to claim the beauty for themselves, between whom a great discord arose; Jove ordered Mercury to lead them to Mount Ida before Alexander Paris and to command him to judge. To him Juno promised that, if he judged in her favor, he would reign over all lands and be surpassingly wealthy above the others; Minerva promised that, if she left victorious, he would be the bravest among mortals and skilled in every craft; and Venus promised to give him Helen, the daughter of Tyndareus, most beautiful of all women, in marriage.

Paris donum posterius prioribus anteposuit Veneremque pulcherrimam esse iudicavit; ob id Iuno et Minerva Troianis fuerunt infestae. Alexander Veneris impulsu Helenam a Lacedaemone ab hospite Menelao Troiam abduxit eamque in coniugio habuit cum ancillis duabus Aethra et Thisadie, quas Castor et Pollux captivas ei assignarant, aliquando reginas.

Paris preferred the latter gift to the former and judged Venus the most beautiful; because of this Juno and Minerva were hostile to the Trojans. Alexander, at Venus’s impulse, carried off Helen, daughter of Tyndareus, from Lacedaemon from her host Menelaus to Troy, and took her in marriage with two maidservants, Aethra and Thisadie, whom Castor and Pollux had assigned to her as captives, at times queens.

CASSANDRA

Cassandra Priami et Hecubae filia in Apollinis fano ludendo lassa obdormisse dicitur; quam Apollo cum vellet comprimere, corporis copiam non fecit. Ob quam rem Apollo fecit, ut, cum vera vaticinaretur, fidem non haberet.

Cassandra, daughter of Priam and Hecuba, is said to have fallen asleep, weary from playing, in Apollo’s shrine; when Apollo wished to press himself upon her, he did not grant copiousness of the body. For this reason Apollo made it so that, although she prophesied truths, she would not be believed.

ANCHISA

ANCHISES

Venus Anchisam Assaraci filium amasse et cum eo concubuisse dicitur, ex quo procreavit Aeneam eique praecepit, ne id apud homines enuntiaret. Quod Anchises inter sodales per vinum est elocutus. Ob id a Iove fulmine est ictus.

Venus is said to have loved Anchises, son of Assaracus, and to have lain with him; from this she procreated Aeneas and commanded him not to proclaim it among men. Anchises, loosened by wine, spoke it forth among his comrades. For that reason he was struck by Jupiter with a thunderbolt.

Quidam dicunt eum sua morte obisse.

Some say that he died by his own death.

ULIXES

ULYSSES

Agamemnon et Menelaus Atrei filii cum ad Troiam oppugnandam coniuratos duces ducerent, in insulam Ithacam ad Ulixem Laertis filium venerunt, cui erat responsum, si ad Troiam isset, post vicesimum annum solum sociis perditis egentem domum rediturum. Itaque cum sciret ad se oratores venturos, insaniam simulans pileum sumpsit et equum cum bove iunxit ad aratrum. Quem Palamedes ut vidit, sensit simulare atque Telemachum filium eius cunis sublatum aratro ei subiecit et ait "Simulatione deposita inter coniuratos veni." Tunc Ulixes fidem dedit se venturum; ex eo Palamedi infestus fuit.

Agamemnon and Menelaus, sons of Atreus, when they were leading the chiefs conspired to attack Troy, came to the island of Ithaca to Ulysses, son of Laertes, to whom there had been a response that if he went to Troy he would return home alone after the twentieth year, his comrades having been lost. And so, since he knew that envoys would come to him, feigning madness he took up a cap and yoked a horse together with an ox to a plough. When Palamedes saw him, he perceived the pretense, lifted up his son Telemachus from the cradle and placed him under the plough, and said, "Simulatione deposita inter coniuratos veni." Then Ulysses gave his oath that he would come; from that time Palamedes was hostile to him.

ACHILLES

Thetis Nereis cum sciret Achillem filium suum, quem ex Peleo habebat, si ad Troiam expugnandam isset, periturum, commendavit eum in insulam Scyron ad Lycomedem regem, quem ille inter virgines filias habitu femineo servabat nomine mutato; nam virgines Pyrrham nominarunt, quoniam capillis flavis fuit et Graece rufum "pyrrhon" dicitur. Achivi autem cum rescissent ibi eum occultari, ad regem Lycomeden oratores miserunt, qui rogarent, ut eum adiutorium Danais mitteret. Rex cum negaret apud se esse, potestatem eis fecit, ut in regia quaererent.

Thetis, a Nereid, knowing that Achilles her son, whom she had by Peleus, would perish if he went to the capture of Troy, entrusted him to the island Scyros with King Lycomedes, who kept him among the maidens—his daughters—in feminine attire and under a changed name; for they called him Pyrrha, since he had fair hair and in Greek the color red is called "pyrrhon." When the Achaeans learned that he was concealed there, they sent envoys to King Lycomedes to beg that he send him as aid to the Danaans. The king, while denying that he had him, gave them leave to search in the palace.

Qui cum intellegere non possent, quis esset eorum, Ulixes in regio vestibulo munera feminea posuit, in quibus clipeum et hastam, et subito tubicinem iussit canere armorumque crepitum et clamorem fieri iussit. Achilles hostem arbitrans adesse vestem muliebrem dilaniavit atque clipeum et hastam arripuit. Ex hoc est cognitus suasque operas Argivis promisit et milites Myrmidones.

When they could not understand who he was, Ulysses placed feminine gifts in the palace vestibule, among which were a shield and a spear, and suddenly ordered a trumpeter to sound and commanded that the clash of arms and a cry be made. Achilles, thinking an enemy was present, tore apart the woman’s garment and seized the shield and spear. From this he was recognized and promised his services to the Argives and the Myrmidones, his soldiers.

IPHIGENIA

Agamemnon cum Menelao fratre Achaiae delectis ducibus Helenam uxorem Menelai, quam Alexander Paris avexerat, repetitum ad Troiam cum irent, in Aulide tempestas eos ira Dianae retinebat, quod Agamemnon in venando cervam eius violavit superbiusque in Dianam est locutus. Is cum haruspices convocasset et Calchas se respondisset aliter expiare non posse, nisi Iphigeniam filiam Agamemnonis immolasset, re audita Agamemnon recusare coepit. Tunc Ulixes eum consiliis ad rem pulchram transtulit; idem Ulixes cum Diomede ad Iphigeniam missus est adducendam, qui cum ad Clytaemnestram matrem eius venisset, ementitur Ulixes eam Achilli in coniugium dari.

Agamemnon, with his brother Menelaus, chosen leaders of Achaia, when they went to recover Helen, the wife of Menelaus whom Alexander Paris had carried off, were by a storm at Aulis detained by the wrath of Diana, because Agamemnon in hunting had violated her hind and had spoken proudly against Diana. He, having summoned the haruspices, and Calchas having answered that it could not otherwise be expiated unless he sacrificed Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, upon hearing this Agamemnon began to refuse. Then Ulysses, by counsel, turned him to the noble deed; the same Ulysses, with Diomedes, was sent to bring Iphigenia, who, when he had come to Clytemnestra her mother, lied that she was being given in marriage to Achilles.

Quam cum in Aulidem adduxisset et parens eam immolare vellet, Diana virginem miserata est et caliginem eis obiecit cervamque pro ea supposuit Iphigeniamque per nubes in terram Tauricam detulit ibique templi sui sacerdotem fecit.

When he had led her into Aulis and her father was about to sacrifice her, Diana, pitying the maiden, cast a gloom over them and put a hind in her place, and through clouds carried Iphigenia away to the land of the Taurians and there made her a priestess of her temple.

PHILOCTETES

Philoctetes Poeantis et Demonassae filius cum in insula Lemno esset, coluber eius pedem percussit, quem serpentem Iuno miserat, irata ei ob id, quia solus praeter ceteros ausus fuit Herculis pyram construere, cum humanum corpus est exutus et ad immortalitatem traditus. Ob id beneficium Hercules suas sagittas divinas ei donavit. Sed cum Achivi ex vulnere taetrum odorem ferre non possent, iussu Agamemnonis regis in Lemno expositus est cum sagittis divinis; quem expositum pastor regis Actoris nomine Iphimachus Dolopionis filius nutrivit.

Philoctetes, son of Poeantes and Demonassa, when he was on the island of Lemnos, had his foot bitten by a serpent, which serpent Juno had sent, angry with him because he alone, apart from the others, had dared to build Hercules’ pyre when the hero was stripped of his human body and delivered to immortality. For that benefit Hercules bestowed upon him his divine arrows. But since the Achaeans could not bear the foul smell from the wound, by command of King Agamemnon he was left exposed on Lemnos with the divine arrows; the exposed man a shepherd of the king named Iphimachus, son of Dolops, nourished.

Quibus postea responsum est sine Herculis sagittis Troiam capi non posse. Tunc Agamemnon Ulixem et Diomedem exploratores ad eum misit; cui persuaserunt, ut in gratiam rediret et ad expugnandam Troiam auxilio esset, eumque secum sustulerunt.

To whom afterward it was answered that Troy could not be taken without Hercules’ arrows. Then Agamemnon sent Ulysses and Diomedes as scouts to him; they persuaded him to return to favor and to be a help for the taking of Troy, and they took him up with them.

HECTORIS LYTRA

HECTOR'S RANSOM

Agamemnon Briseidam Brisae sacerdotis filiam ex Moesia captivam propter formae dignitatem, quam Achilles ceperat, ab Achille abduxit eo tempore, quo Chryseida Chrysi sacerdoti Apollinis Zminthei reddidit; quam ob iram Achilles in proelium non prodibat, sed cithara in tabernaculo se exercebat. Quod cum Argivi ab Hectore fugarentur, Achilles obiurgatus a Patroclo arma sua ei tradidit, quibus ille Troianos fugavit aestimantes Achillem esse, Sarpedonemque Iovis et Europae filium occidit. Postea ipse Patroclus ab Hectore interficitur, armaque eius sunt detracta Patroclo occiso.

Agamemnon carried off Briseis, the daughter of the priest Briseus, a captive from Moesia for the worthiness of her beauty, whom Achilles had taken; he seized her from Achilles at the time when Chryseis was restored to Chryses, priest of Apollo of Zminthe; on account of which wrath Achilles did not go forth into battle, but exercised himself on the cithara in his tent. When the Argives were routed by Hector, Achilles, reproved by Patroclus, handed his arms to him, with which the latter put the Trojans to flight, their thinking him to be Achilles, and he killed Sarpedon, son of Jove and Europa. Afterwards Patroclus himself was slain by Hector, and his arms were stripped from Patroclus after he was killed.

Achilles cum Agamemnone redit in gratiam Briseidamque ei reddidit. Tum contra Hectorem cum inermis prodisset, Thetis mater a Vulcano arma ei impetravit, quae Nereides per mare attulerunt. Quibus armis ille Hectorem occidit astrictumque ad currum traxit circa muros Troianorum, quem sepeliendum cum patri nollet dare, Priamus Iovis iussu duce Mercurio in castra Danaorum venit et filii corpus auro repensum accepit, quem sepulturae tradidit.

When Achilles returned into favour with Agamemnon he restored Briseis to him. Then, when Hector came forth unarmed against him, Thetis, his mother, obtained arms for him from Vulcan, which the Nereids bore over the sea. With those arms Achilles killed Hector and, having bound him, dragged him to his chariot round the walls of the Trojans; and when his father would not grant the body for burial, Priam, by Jupiter’s command and with Mercury as guide, came into the camp of the Danaans and received his son’s body, which he delivered to burial.

ARMORUM IUDICIUM

THE JUDGMENT OF ARMS

Hectore sepulto cum Achilles circa moenia Troianorum vagaretur ac diceret se solum Troiam expugnasse, Apollo iratus Alexandrum Parin se simulans talum, quem mortalem habuisse dicitur, sagitta percussit et occidit. Achille occiso ac sepulturae tradito Aiax Telamonius, quod frater patruelis eius fuit, postulavit a Danais, ut arma sibi Achillis darent; quae ei ira Minervae abiurgata sunt ab Agamemnone et Menelao et Ulixi data. Aiax furia accepta per insaniam pecora sua et se ipsum vulneratum occidit eo gladio, quem ab Hectore muneri accepit, dum cum eo in acie contendit.

After Hector was buried, when Achilles was roaming about the walls of the Trojans and was saying that he alone had captured Troy, Apollo, angry, making himself like Alexander (Paris), struck that heel, which is said to have been mortal, with an arrow and killed him. Achilles having been slain and committed to burial, Ajax Telamonian, because he was his patruel brother, demanded of the Danaans that the arms of Achilles be given to him; these, refused to him by the anger of Minerva, were awarded to Ulysses by Agamemnon and Menelaus. Ajax, seized by fury, in madness slaughtered his flocks and, having wounded himself, killed himself with that sword which he had received as a gift from Hector when he contended with him in the battle line.

EQUUS TROIANUS

THE TROJAN HORSE

Achivi cum per decem annos Troiam capere non possent, Epeus monitu Minervae equum mirae magnitudinis ligneum fecit eoque sunt collecti Menelaus Ulixes Diomedes Thessander Sthenelus Acamas Thoas Machaon Neoptolemus; et in equo scripserunt DANAI MINERVAE DONO DANT, castraque transtulerunt Tenedo. Id Troiani cum viderunt arbitrati sunt hostes abisse; Priamus equum in arcem Minervae duci imperavit, feriatique magno opere ut essent, edixit; id vates Cassandra cum vociferaretur inesse hostes, fides ei habita non est. Quem in arcem cum statuissent et ipsi noctu lusu atque vino lassi obdormissent, Achivi ex equo aperto a Sinone exierunt et portarum custodes occiderunt sociosque signo dato receperunt et Troia sunt potiti.

When the Achaeans, after ten years, could not take Troy, Epeus at Minerva’s prompting made a wooden horse of wondrous size, and into it were gathered Menelaus, Ulysses, Diomedes, Thesander, Sthenelus, Acamas, Thoas, Machaon, Neoptolemus; and on the horse they inscribed DANAI MINERVAE DONO DANT [THE GREEKS GIVE (THIS) TO MINERVA AS A GIFT], and they moved their camp to Tenedos. When the Trojans saw this they thought the enemies had departed; Priam ordered the horse to be led into the citadel of Minerva, and he commanded that they be celebrated with great rites; Cassandra, crying out that enemies were within, was not believed. When they had set it up in the citadel and themselves, wearied by play and wine, fell asleep at night, the Achaeans, opened from within by Sinon, came out and killed the gate-keepers and, when the signal was given, took in their comrades and gained possession of Troy.

LAOCOON

Laocoon Capyos filius Anchisae frater Apollinis sacerdos contra voluntatem Apollinis cum uxorem duxisset atque liberos procreasset, sorte ductus, ut sacrum faceret Neptuno ad litus. Apollo occasione data a Tenedo per fluctus maris dracones misit duos qui filios eius Antiphantem et Thymbraeum necarent, quibus Laocoon cum auxilium ferre vellet, ipsum quoque nexum necaverunt. Quod Phryges idcirco factum putarunt, quod Laocoon hastam in equum Troianum miserit.

Laocoon, Capys son, brother of Anchises, priest of Apollo, against the will of Apollo, after he had taken a wife and begotten children, was led by lot to make a sacrifice to Neptune on the shore. Apollo, an opportunity given, from Tenedo sent two dragons through the sea’s waves who killed his sons Antiphantes and Thymbraeus; and when Laocoon would have brought aid to them, they killed him as well, bound. The Phrygians therefore thought this had been done because Laocoon had thrown a spear into the Trojan horse.

ILIONA

Priamo Polydorus filius ex Hecuba cum esset natus, Ilionae filiae suae dederunt eum educandum, quae Polymnestori regi Thracum erat nupta, quem illa pro filio suo educavit; Deipylum autem, quem ex Polymnestore procreaverat, pro suo fratre educavit, ut, si alteri eorum quid foret, parentibus praestaret. Sed cum Achivi Troia capta prolem Priami exstirpare vellent, Astyanacta Hectoris et Andromachae filium de muro deiecerunt et ad Polymnestorem legatos miserunt, qui ei Agamemnonis filiam nomine Electram pollicerentur in coniugium et auri magnam copiam, si Polydorum Priami filium interfecisset. Polymnestor legatorum dicta non repudiavit Deipylumque filium suum imprudens occidit arbitrans se Polydorum filium Priami interfecisse.

When Polydorus, son of Priam by Hecuba, was born, they gave him to his daughter Iliona to be brought up, who was married to Polymnestor, king of the Thracians, whom she reared as if he were her own son; Deipylus, however, whom she had borne from Polymnestor, she reared as her brother, so that, if anything befell either of them, he might provide to the parents. But when the Achaeans, Troy having been captured, wished to extirpate the offspring of Priam, they dashed Astyanax, the son of Hector and Andromache, from the wall and sent envoys to Polymnestor, who promised him Agamemnon’s daughter named Electra in marriage and a great store of gold, if he would kill Polydorus, son of Priam. Polymnestor did not reject the envoys’ words and, unwittingly, killed his own son Deipylus, believing that he had slain Polydorus, son of Priam.

Polydorus autem ad oraculum Apollinis de parentibus suis sciscitatum est profectus, cui responsum est patriam incensam, patrem occisum, matrem in servitute teneri. Cum inde rediret et vidit aliter esse ac sibi responsum fuit ratus se Polymnestoris esse filium, ab sorore Ilionea inquisivit, quid ita aliter sortes dixissent; cui soror, quid veri esset, patefecit et eius consilio Polymnestorem luminibus privavit atque interfecit.

Polydorus, however, having set out to the oracle of Apollo to inquire about his parents, was answered that his homeland had been burned, his father slain, and his mother held in servitude. When he returned from there and saw that matters were otherwise than had been told him, thinking himself the son of Polymnestor, he asked his sister Iliona why the sortes had spoken so differently; to whom the sister revealed what was true, and by her counsel deprived Polymnestor of his eyes and put him to death.

POLYXENA

Danai victores cum ab Ilio classem conscenderent et vellent in patriam suam quisque reverti et praedam quisque sibi duceret, ex sepulcro vox Achillis dicitur praedae partem expostulasse. Itaque Danai Polyxenam Priami filiam, quae virgo fuit formosissima, propter quam Achilles cum eam peteret et ad colloquium venisset ab Alexandro et Deiphobo est occisus, ad sepulcrum eius eam immolaverunt.

When the victorious Danaans embarked their fleet from Ilion and each wished to return to his own fatherland and to carry off his own spoil, from the sepulchre of Achilles a voice is said to have demanded a portion of the prey. Therefore the Danaans sacrificed Polyxena, daughter of Priam, who was most fair as a maiden — for whom Achilles, when he sought her and had come to a conference, was slain by Alexander and Deiphobus — at her tomb they immolated her.

NAUPLIUS

Ilio capto et divisa praeda Danai cum domum redirent, ira deorum, quod fana spoliaverant et quod Cassandram Aiax Locrus a signo Palladio abripuerat, tempestate et flatibus adversis ad saxa Capharea naufragium fecerunt. In qua tempestate Aiax Locrus fulmine est a Minerva ictus, quem fluctus ad saxa illiserunt, unde Aiacis petrae sunt dictae; ceteri noctu cum fidem deorum implorarent, Nauplius audivit sensitque tempus venisse ad persequendas filii sui Palamedis iniurias. Itaque tamquam auxilium eis afferret, facem ardentem eo loco extulit, quo saxa acuta et locus periculosissimus erat; illi credentes humanitatis causa id factum naves eo duxerunt, quo facto plurimae earum confractae sunt militesque plurimi cum ducibus tempestate occisi sunt membraque eorum cum visceribus ad saxa illisa sunt; si qui autem potuerunt ad terram natare, a Nauplio interficiebantur.

When Ilium had been taken and the spoils divided the Danaans, as they returned home, by the wrath of the gods—because they had despoiled temples and because Ajax the Locrian had torn Cassandra from the sign of the Palladium—were driven by storm and adverse blasts onto the rocks of Capharea and suffered shipwreck. In that storm Ajax the Locrian was struck by Minerva with a thunderbolt, which the waves dashed against the rocks, whence those stones are called Ajax’s; the rest, at night, while they implored the gods’ faith, Nauplius heard and perceived that the time had come to avenge the wrongs done to his son Palamedes. Therefore, as if to bring them aid, he held up a burning torch at the place where the sharp rocks and the most dangerous point lay; they, believing it done for humanity’s sake, steered their ships to that spot, and so many of them were shattered and so many soldiers with their leaders were killed by the storm, and their limbs with their entrails were dashed upon the rocks; and those who could swim to shore were murdered by Nauplius.

At Ulixem ventus detulit ad Maronem, Menelaum in Aegyptum, Agamemnon cum Cassandra in patriam pervenit.

But the wind bore Ulysses to Maron, Menelaus to Egypt, and Agamemnon with Cassandra reached his native land.

CLYTAEMNESTRA

Clytaemnestra Tyndarei filia Agamemnonis uxor cum audisset ab Oeace Palamedis fratre Cassandram sibi paelicem adduci, quod ementitus est, ut fratris iniurias exsequeretur, tunc Clytaemnestra cum Aegistho filio Thyestis cepit consilium, ut Agamemnonem et Cassandram interficeret, quem sacrificantem securi cum Cassandra interfecerunt. At Electra Agamemnonis filia Orestem fratrem infantem sustulit, quem demandavit in Phocide Strophio, cui fuit Astyochea Agamemnonis soror nupta.

Clytaemnestra, daughter of Tyndareus, wife of Agamemnon, when she had heard from Oeacus, brother of Palamedes, that Cassandra was being led to her as a paelece (which he had falsified) in order to avenge his brother’s wrongs, then Clytaemnestra, together with Aegisthus, son of Thyestes, took counsel to kill Agamemnon and Cassandra; whom, while sacrificing, they slew with an axe along with Cassandra. But Electra, daughter of Agamemnon, reared the infant Orestes, her brother, whom she entrusted in Phocis to Strophius, to whom Astyochea, Agamemnon’s sister, was married.

ORESTES

Orestes Agamemnonis et Clytaemnestrae filius postquam in puberem aetatem venit, studebat patris sui mortem exsequi; itaque consilium capit cum Pylade et Mycenas venit ad matrem Clytaemnestram, dicitque se Aeolium hospitem esse nuntiatque Orestem esse mortuum, quem Aegisthus populo necandum demandaverat. Nec multo post Pylades Strophii filius ad Clytaemnestram venit urnamque secum affert dicitque ossa Orestis condita esse; quos Aegisthus laetabundus hospitio recepit. Qui occasione capta Orestes cum Pylade noctu Clytaemnestram matrem et Aegisthum interficiunt.

Orestes, son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, after he came into youthful age, was eager to avenge his father’s death; and so he formed a plan with Pylades and came to Mycenae to his mother Clytemnestra, declaring himself an Aeolian guest and announcing that Orestes was dead, whom Aegisthus had entrusted to the people to be slain. Not long after, Pylades, son of Strophius, came to Clytemnestra and brought an urn with him, saying that Orestes’ bones had been interred; these Aegisthus, rejoicing, received as a welcome guest. Seizing the opportunity, Orestes, with Pylades, at night killed his mother Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.

Quem Tyndareus cum accusaret, Oresti a Mycenensibus fuga data est propter patrem; quem postea furiae matris exagitarunt.

Whom Tyndareus accused, Orestes was put to flight by the Mycenaeans on account of his father; whom afterwards the furies of his mother pursued.

IPHIGENIA TAURICA

IPHIGENIA OF TAURIS

Orestem furiae cum exagitarent, Delphos sciscitatum est profectus, quis tandem modus esset aerumnarum. Responsum est, ut in terram Taurinam ad regem Thoantem patrem Hypsipyles iret indeque de templo Dianae signum Argos afferret; tunc finem fore malorum. Sorte audita cum Pylade Strophii filio sodale suo navem conscendit celeriterque ad Tauricos fines devenerunt, quorum fuit institutum, ut, qui intra fines eorum hospes venisset, templo Dianae immolaretur.

When the furies were pursuing Orestes, he set out to Delphi to inquire what, finally, would be the measure of his hardships. The answer was that he should go into the land of the Taurians to King Thoas, father of Hypsipyle, and thence bring from the temple of Diana a statue to Argos; then there would be an end to his misfortunes. The lot having been heard, he embarked with Pylades, Strophius’ son, his companion, and quickly reached the Tauric borders, whose custom was that whoever had come as a guest within their bounds should be sacrificed in the temple of Diana.

Ubi Orestes et Pylades cum in spelunca se tutarentur et occasionem captarent, a pastoribus deprehensi ad regem Thoantem sunt deducti. Quos Thoas suo more vinctos in templum Dianae, ut immolarentur, duci iussit, ubi Iphigenia Orestis soror fuit sacerdos; eosque ex signis atque argumentis, qui essent, quid venissent, postquam resciit, abiectis ministeriis ipsa coepit signum Dianae avellere. Quo rex cum intervenisset et rogitaret, cur id faceret, illa ementita est dicitque eos sceleratos signum contaminasse; quod impii et scelerati homines in templum essent adducti, signum expiandum ad mare ferri oportere et iubere eum interdicere civibus, ne quis eorum extra urbem exiret.

When Orestes and Pylades, while sheltering themselves in a cave and waiting for an opportunity, were discovered by shepherds, they were brought before King Thoas. Whom Thoas, according to his custom, ordered bound and to be led into the temple of Diana to be sacrificed, where Iphigenia, Orestes’ sister, was priestess; and when she recognized from the signs and tokens who they were and why they had come, laying aside her ministrations she herself began to tear away the image of Diana. When the king intervened and asked why she did this, she lied and said that those wicked men had defiled the image; that impious and reprobate men had been brought into the temple, that the image must be carried to the sea for expiation, and she ordered him to forbid the citizens that none of them leave the city.

Rex sacerdoti dicto audiens fuit; occasione Iphigenia nacta signo sublato cum fratre Oreste et Pylade in navem ascendit ventoque secundo ad insulam Zminthen ad Chrysen sacerdotem Apollinis delati sunt.

The king, having heard what the priest had said, and opportunity being obtained, Iphigenia, the sign having been taken away, with her brother Orestes and Pylades boarded a ship, and with a following wind were carried to the island Zminthen and brought to Chryses, priest of Apollo.

ODYSSEA

ODYSSEY

Ulixes cum ab Ilio in patriam Ithacam rediret, tempestate ad Ciconas est delatus, quorum oppidum Ismarum expugnavit praedamque sociis distribuit. Inde ad Lotophagos, homines minime malos, qui loton ex foliis florem procreatum edebant, idque cibi genus tantam suavitatem praestabat, ut, qui gustabant, oblivionem caperent domum reditionis. Ad eos socii duo missi ab Ulixe cum gustarent herbas ab eis datas, ad naves obliti sunt reverti, quos vinctos ipse reduxit.

When Ulysses, returning from Ilium to his homeland Ithaca, was carried by a storm to the Ciconians, he stormed their town Ismarus and parceled out the spoil to his comrades. Thence to the Lotophagi, men by no means wicked, who ate the lotus produced from leaves as a flower, and that sort of food imparted such sweetness that those who tasted it were seized by forgetfulness of the homeward journey. To them two companions sent by Ulysses, having tasted the herbs given by them, forgot to return to the ships, whom he himself brought back bound.

Inde ad Cyclopem Polyphemum Neptuni filium. Huic responsum erat ab augure Telemo Eurymi filio, ut caveret, ne ab Ulixe excaecaretur. Hic media fronte unum oculum habebat et carnem humanam epulabatur.

Then to the Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Neptune. It had been prophesied to him by the augur Telemus, son of Eurymus, that he should beware lest he be blinded by Ulysses. This one had a single eye in the middle of his forehead and feasted on human flesh.

Qui postquam pecus in speluncam redegerat, molem saxeam ingentem ad ianuam opponebat. Qui Ulixem cum sociis inclusit sociosque eius consumere coepit. Ulixes cum videret eius immanitati atque feritati resistere se non posse, vino, quod a Marone acceperat, eum inebriavit seque "Utin" vocari dixit.

Who, after he had driven the flock into the cave, set a huge rocky mass against the door. He shut up Ulysses with his companions and began to devour his mates. Ulysses, when he saw that he could not resist his enormity and ferocity, intoxicated him with wine, which he had received from Maron, and said that he was called "Utin."

Itaque cum oculum eius trunco ardenti exureret, ille clamore suo ceteros Cyclopas convocavit eisque spelunca praeclusa dixit: "Utis me excaecat." Illi credentes eum deridendi gratia dicere neglexerunt. At Ulixes socios suos ad pecora alligavit et ipse se ad arietem et ita exierunt. Ad Aeolum Hellenis filium, cui ab Iove ventorum potestas fuit tradita; is Ulixem hospitio libere accepit follesque ventorum ei plenos muneri dedit.

And so when they burned out his eye with a heated trunk, he with his shout summoned the other Cyclopes and, the cave being barred, said to them, "Let Utis blind me." They, believing he spoke for the sake of derision, paid no heed. But Ulysses bound his companions to the sheep and himself to the ram, and thus they went forth. To Aeolus, son of Hellen, to whom by Jupiter the power of the winds had been entrusted; he received Ulysses generously in hospitality and gave him as a gift full bags of the winds.

Socii vero aurum argentumque credentes cum accepissent et secum partiri vellent, folles clam solverunt ventique evolaverunt. Rursum ad Aeolum est delatus, a quo eiectus est, quod videbatur Ulixes numen deorum infestum habere. Ad Laestrygonas, quorum rex fuit Antiphates [. . .] devoravit navesque eius undecim confregit excepta nave, qua sociis eius consumptis evasit in insulam Aenariam ad Circen Solis filiam, quae potione data homines in feras bestias commutabat.

But his companions, believing the gold and silver, when they had received them and wished to divide them among themselves, secretly untied the bags and the winds flew forth. He was again carried back to Aeolus, by whom he was expelled, because Ulysses seemed to him to have the numen of the gods hostile. He came to the Laestrygonians, whose king was Antiphates [. . .]; he devoured them and shattered 11 of his ships, except one ship, by which, after his companions had been destroyed, he escaped to the Aenarian island to Circe, daughter of the Sun, who, having given a potion, transformed men into wild beasts.

Ad quam Eurylochum cum viginti duobus sociis misit, quos illa ab humana specie immutavit. Eurylochus timens, qui non intraverat, inde fugit et Ulixi nuntiavit, qui solus ad eam se contulit; sed in itinere Mercurius ei remedium dedit monstravitque, quomodo Circen deciperet. Qui postquam ad Circen venit et poculum ab ea accepit, remedium Mercurii monitu coniecit ensemque strinxit minatus, nisi socios sibi restitueret, se eam interfecturum.

To her he sent Eurylochus with twenty-two companions, whom she transformed from human shape. Eurylochus, fearing, who had not entered, fled from there and announced it to Ulixes, who alone betook himself to her; but on the way Mercury gave him a remedy and showed him how to deceive Circe. After he came to Circe and accepted a cup from her, by Mercury’s counsel he threw in the remedy and drew his sword, threatening that, unless she restored his companions to him, he would kill her.

Tunc Circe intellexit non sine voluntate deorum id esse factum; itaque fide data se nihil tale commissuram socios eius ad pristinam formam restituit, ipsa cum eodem concubuit, ex quo filios duos procreavit, Nausithoum et Telegonum. Inde proficiscitur ad lacum Avernum, ad inferos descendit, ibique invenit Elpenorem socium suum, quem ad Circen reliquerat, interrogavitque eum, quomodo eo pervenisset; cui Elpenor respondit se ebrium per scalam cecidisse et cervices fregisse et deprecatus est eum, cum ad superos rediret, se sepulturae traderet et sibi in tumulo gubernaculum poneret. Ibi et cum matre Anticlia est locutus de fine errationis suae.

Then Circe perceived that this had been done not without the will of the gods; and therefore, having given her faith that she would commit nothing of the sort, she restored his companions to their pristine form, and herself lay with the same man, by whom she begot two sons, Nausithous and Telegonus. Thence he set out for the lake Avernus, descended to the infernal regions, and there found Elpenor, his companion whom he had left with Circe, and asked him how he had come thither; Elpenor answered that, being drunk, he had fallen down a ladder and broken his neck, and entreated him, when he returned to the upper world, to consign him to burial and to set a steering‑oar upon his tomb. There also he spoke with his mother Anticlea about the end of his wandering.

Deinde ad superos reversus Elpenorem sepelivit et gubernaculum ita, ut rogaverat, in tumulo ei fixit. Tum ad Sirenas Melpomenes Musae et Acheloi filias venit, quae partem superiorem muliebrem habebant, inferiorem autem gallinaceam. Harum fatum fuit tam diu vivere, quam diu earum cantum mortalis audiens nemo praetervectus esset.

Then having returned to the upper world he buried Elpenor and fixed the steering‑oar on his tomb as he had requested. Then he came to the Sirens, daughters of the Muse Melpomene and of Achelous, who had a woman’s upper part but a fowl’s lower. Their fate was to live so long as there should be no mortal who, hearing their song, passed them by.

Ulixes monitus a Circe Solis filia sociis cera aures obturavit seque ad arborem malum constringi iussit et sic praetervectus est. Inde ad Scyllam Typhonis filiam venit, quae superiorem corporis partem muliebrem, inferiorem ab inguine piscis, et sex canes ex se natos habebat; eaque sex socios Ulixis nave abreptos consumpsit. In insulam Siciliam ad Solis pecus sacrum venerat, quod socii eius cum coquerent, in aeneo mugiebat; monitus, id ne attingeret, ab Tiresia et a Circe monitus Ulixes; itaque multos socios ob eam causam ibi amisit, ad Charybdinque perlatus, quae ter die obsorbebat terque eructabat, eam monitu Tiresiae praetervectus est.

Ulixes, warned by Circe, daughter of the Sun, stopped up his companions’ ears with wax and ordered himself to be bound to the mast, and so passed by. Thence he came to Scylla, daughter of Typhon, who had the upper part of her body womanly, the lower from the groin a fish, and who had six hounds born of her; and she consumed six comrades of Ulysses snatched from the ship. He had come to the island of Sicily to the sacred flock of the Sun, which, when his companions were cooking it, lowed upon the brazen vessel; Ulysses, warned by Tiresias and by Circe that he should not touch it, nevertheless lost many companions there for that reason; and brought to Charybdis, which three times a day swallowed and three times belched forth, he passed it by at the warning of Tiresias.

Sed ira Solis, quod pecus eius erat violatum (cum in insulam eius venisset et monitu Tiresiae vetuerit violari, cum Ulixes condormiret socii involarunt pecus; itaque cum coquerent, carnes ex aeneo dabant balatus), ob id Iovis navem eius fulmine incendit. Ex his locis errans naufragio facto sociis amissis enatavit in insulam Aeaeam, ubi Calypso Atlantis filia nympha, quae specie Ulixis capta anno toto eum retinuit neque a se dimittere voluit, donec Mercurius Iovis iussu denuntiavit nymphae, ut eum dimitteret. Et ibi facta rate Calypso omnibus rebus ornatum eum dimisit eamque ratim Neptunus fluctibus disiecit, quod Cyclopem filium eius lumine privaverat.

But the wrath of the Sun, because his herd had been violated (for when they had come onto his island and, Tiresias having warned them, he had forbidden them to be violated, while Ulysses slept his comrades drove off the herd; and so when they cooked them they gave meats from the bronze, with bleating), for that reason Jupiter burned his ship with a thunderbolt. Wandering from these places, shipwrecked and his comrades lost, he swam to the island Aeaea, where Calypso, a nymph, daughter of Atlas, who, taken with the appearance of Ulysses, kept him for a whole year and would not release him from her, until Mercury, by Jupiter’s command, announced to the nymph that she must let him go. And there, Calypso, having made a raft furnished with all things, dismissed him, and Neptune scattered the raft with waves because he had deprived her son the Cyclops of his sight.

Ibi cum fluctibus iactaretur, Leucothoe, quam nos Matrem Matutam dicimus, quae in mari exigit aevum, balteum ei dedit, quo sibi pectus suum vinciret, ne pessum abiret. Quod cum fecisset, enatavit. Inde in insulam Phaeacum venit nudusque ex arborum foliis se obruit, qua Nausicaa Alcinoi regis filia vestem ad flumen lavandam tulit.

There, while he was being tossed by the waves, Leucothea, whom we call the Mother Morning, who spends her life at sea, gave him a girdle with which to bind his chest so that he would not sink beneath the waves. When he had done this, he made for shore. Then he came to the island of the Phaeacians and, naked, covered himself with leaves of the trees, where Nausicaa, daughter of King Alcinous, had brought a garment to the river for washing.

Ille erepsit e foliis et ab ea petit, ut sibi opem ferret. Illa misericordia mota pallio eum operuit et ad patrem suum eum adduxit. Alcinous hospitio liberaliter acceptum donisque decoratum in patriam Ithacam dimisit.

He slipped out from the leaves and begged her that she bring him aid. She, moved by mercy, covered him with her pallium and led him to her father. Alcinous, having received him with liberal hospitality and adorned with gifts, dismissed him to his native land, Ithaca.

Ira Mercurii iterum naufragium fecit. Post vicesimum annum sociis amissis solus in patriam redit, et cum ab hominibus ignoraretur domumque suam attigisset, procos, qui Penelopen in coniugium petebant, obsidentes vidit regiam seque hospitem simulavit. Et Euryclia nutrix ipsius, dum pedes ei lavat, ex cicatrice Ulixem esse cognovit.

The wrath of Mercury wrought a shipwreck once more. After the twentieth year, his comrades lost, he returns alone to his fatherland, and when he was unknown to the people and had reached his house, he saw the suitors, who sought Penelope for marriage, besieging the palace and feigned himself a guest. And Eurycleia, his nurse, while she washed his feet, from the scar recognized that he was Ulysses.

Postea procos Minerva adiutrice cum Telemacho filio et duobus servis interfecit sagittis.

Afterward, with Minerva as helper, he killed the suitors with arrows, together with his son Telemachus and two servants.

TELEGONUS

Telegonus Ulixis et Circes filius missus a matre, ut genitorem quaereret, tempestate in Ithacam est delatus ibique fame coactus agros depopulari coepit; cum quo Ulixes et Telemachus ignari arma contulerunt. Ulixes a Telegono filio est interfectus, quod ei responsum fuerat ut a filio caveret mortem. Quem postquam cognovit, qui esset, iussu Minervae cum Telemacho et Penelope in patriam redierunt, in insulam Aeaeam; ad Circen Ulixem mortuum deportaverunt ibique sepulturae tradiderunt.

Telegonus, son of Ulysses and Circe, sent by his mother to seek his sire, was by a storm carried to Ithaca, and there, driven by famine, began to plunder the fields; with him Ulysses and Telemachus, ignorant, took up arms. Ulysses was slain by his son Telegonus, because he had been warned to beware of death from a son. When they learned who he was, by Minerva’s command they returned to the fatherland with Telemachus and Penelope, to the island Aeaea; they conveyed the dead Ulysses to Circe and there entrusted him to burial.

Eiusdem Minervae monitu Telegonus Penelopen, Telemachus Circen duxerunt uxores. Circe et Telemacho natus est Latinus, qui ex suo nomine Latinae linguae nomen imposuit; ex Penelope et Telegono natus est Italus, qui Italiam ex suo nomine denominavit.

By the same Minerva's monition Telegonus took Penelope, and Telemachus took Circe as wives. From Circe and Telemachus was born Latinus, who from his own name imposed the name of the Latin language; from Penelope and Telegonus was born Italus, who denominated Italy from his own name.

CURA

CARE

Cura cum quendam fluvium transiret, vidit cretosum lutum, sustulit cogitabunda et coepit fingere hominem. Dum deliberat secum quidnam fecisset, intervenit Iovis; rogat eum Cura, ut ei daret spiritum, quod facile ab Iove impetravit. Cui cum vellet Cura nomen suum imponere, Iovis prohibuit suumque nomen ei dandum esse dixit.

When Cura was crossing a certain river, she saw chalky mud, picked it up thoughtful and began to fashion a man. While she deliberated with herself what she had made, Jove intervened; Cura begged him to give it spirit, which she easily obtained from Jove. But when Cura wished to impose her own name upon it, Jove forbade and said that his name was to be given to it.

Dum de nomine Cura et Iovis disceptarent, surrexit et Tellus suumque nomen ei imponi debere dicebat, quandoquidem corpus suum praebuisset. Sumpserunt Saturnum iudicem; quibus Saturnus aequus videtur iudicasse: "Tu, Iovis, quoniam spiritum dedisti, animam post mortem accipe; Tellus, quoniam corpus praebuit, corpus recipito. Cura quoniam prima eum finxit, quamdiu vixerit, Cura eum possideat; sed quoniam de nomine eius controversia est, homo vocetur, quoniam ex humo videtur esse factus."

While Cura and Jove disputed about the name, Tellus rose up and said that her name ought to be imposed on him, since she had supplied the body. They took Saturn as judge; and Saturn seemed to have judged fairly to them: "You, Jove, since you gave the spirit, take the soul after death; Tellus, since she supplied the body, receive the body. Cura, since she first fashioned him, let Cura possess him while he lives; but since there is controversy about his name, let him be called homo, because he appears to have been made from humus."

QUI INTER SE AMICITIA IUNCTISSIMI FUERUNT

WHO WITH ONE ANOTHER WERE MOST CLOSELY UNITED IN FRIENDSHIP

In Sicilia Dionysius tyrannus crudelissimus cum esset suosque cives cruciatibus interficeret, Moeros tyrannum voluit interficere; quem satellites cum deprehendissent armatum, ad regem perduxerunt. Qui interrogatus respondit se regem voluisse interficere; quem rex iussit crucifigi; a quo Moerus petit tridui commeatum, ut sororem suam nuptui collocaret, et daret tyranno Selinuntium amicum suum et sodalem, qui sponderet eum tertio die venturum. Cui rex indulsit commeatum ad sororem collocandam dicitque rex Selinuntio, nisi ad diem Moerus veniret, eum eandem poenam passurum et dimitti Moerum.

In Sicily Dionysius, a most cruel tyrant, when he was putting his own citizens to death with torments, Moerus wished to kill the tyrant; whom the satellites, having seized him armed, led to the king. Who, when questioned, answered that he had wished to kill the king; whom the king ordered to be crucified; from whom Moerus asked a leave of three days, that he might settle his sister in marriage, and might give to the tyrant Selinuntius, his friend and companion, who would pledge that he would come on the third day. To whom the king granted the leave to arrange his sister, and the king said to Selinuntius that, unless Moerus came by the day, he would suffer the same penalty and Moerus would be released.

Qui collocata sorore cum reverteretur, repente tempestate et pluvia orta, flumen ita increvit ut nec transiri nec transnatari posset; ad cuius ripam Moerus consedit et flere coepit, ne amicus pro se periret. Phalaris autem Selinuntium crucifigi cum iuberet, ideo quod horae sex tertii iam diei essent nec veniret Moerus, cui Selinuntius respondit diem adhuc non praeteriisse. Cumque iam horae novem essent, rex iubet duci Selinuntium in crucem.

When he had married off his sister and was returning, suddenly a storm and rain arose, the river swelled so much that it could neither be crossed nor swum across; Moerus sat down on its bank and began to weep, lest his friend perish on his account. But when Phalaris ordered Selinuntius to be crucified because it was already the sixth hour of the third day and Moerus had not come, Selinuntius answered that the day had not yet passed. And when it was now the ninth hour, the king ordered Selinuntius to be led to the cross.

Qui cum duceretur, vix tandem Moerus liberato flumine consequitur carnificem exclamatque a longe: "Sustine carnifex, adsum quem spopondit." Quod factum regi nuntiatur; quos rex ad se iussit perduci rogavitque eos, ut se in amicitiam reciperent, vitamque Moero concessit. Harmodius et Aristogiton. Item in Sicilia eundem Phalarim Harmodius cum vellet interficere, simulationis causa scrofam porcellos habentem occidit et venit ad Aristogitonem amicum suum ense sanguinolento dicitque se matrem interfecisse rogatque eum, ut se celaret.

As he was being led away, Moerus at last, the river having been forded, scarcely overtook the executioner and cried out from afar: "Stop, executioner, here I am whom you promised." This was reported to the king; whom the king ordered to be brought to him and entreated them to receive him into friendship, and he granted life to Moerus. Harmodius and Aristogiton. Likewise in Sicily, when Harmodius wished to kill that same Phalaris, he, by way of pretense, slew a sow that had piglets and came to Aristogiton his friend with his sword bloodied, saying that he had killed his mother and begging him to hide him.

Qui cum ab eo celaretur, rogavit Aristogitonem, ut progrederetur rumoresque, qui essent de matre, sibi renuntiaret. Renuntiavit nullos esse rumores. Qui vesperi ita litem contraxerunt, ut alius alio potiora ingererent, nec ideo Aristogiton voluit obicere eum matrem interfecisse.

He, while he was being concealed by him, asked Aristogiton to go forward and to report back to him the rumors that there were concerning his mother. He reported that there were no rumors. That evening they so entangled themselves in a quarrel that each alleged graver things against the other, and for that reason Aristogiton would not lay to his charge that he had killed his mother.

Cui Harmodius patefecit se scrofam porcellos habentem interfecisse et ideo matrem dixisse; cui indicat se regem velle interficere rogatque eum, ut sibi adiutorio esset. Qui cum ad regem interficiendum venissent, deprehensi sunt a satellitibus armati, et cum perducerentur ad tyrannum, Aristogiton a satellitibus effugit, Harmodius autem solus cum perductus esset ad regem quaererentque ab eo, quis ei fuisset comes, ille, ne amicum proderet, linguam dentibus sibi praecidit eamque regis in faciem inspuit.

Harmodius disclosed that he had killed a sow which had piglets and therefore had called it his mother; he informed him that he intended to kill the king and begged him to be his aide. When they had come to kill the king they were seized by armed satellites, and when they were led before the tyrant Aristogiton escaped from the satellites, Harmodius however alone, being brought before the king and asked who had been his companion, he, in order not to betray his friend, cut out his tongue with his teeth and spat it into the king’s face.