1

Togai l na Tebe – “The Destruction of Thebes” Colloquium on Statian Receptions

October 19, 2013 Princeton University

lklement@princeton.edu togail Forms: togal; toghail; toghla; Meaning: act of attacking, besieging, sacking, destroying:; battering-rams; DIL 2012 T 215.39 Earlier togal �, f. vn. of do-fich . toghail (gs. toghla) IGT Decl. § 10 . toghail .c. (toghal .l.), § 37. act of attacking, besieging, sacking, destroying (for more, see www.edil.ie) National Library of Scotland, Adv. MS 72.1.8 (Gaelic MS VIII) “Destruction Tales” 14th/15th

century, vellum, 37 folios. www.isos.dias.ie (for catalog/MS images) • Togail Tebe (sic) • Cathréim Chellacháin Chaisil (“The Triumphs of Cellachan of Cashel”) • Genealogical tract – “On the attributes of the provincial kings, their kingship and

their people.” (Ronald Black, catalog Advocates MS 72.1.8, 2011) • Togail Troí

Other published “destruction tales”

• Togail Bruidne Da Derga (The Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel) ed. and trans. o Knott (http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G301017/) and o Stokes (http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T301017A/)

• Togail Troí (The Destruction of Troy, adaptation of Dares, 2nd rescension) ed. Stokes Marginalia (ed. Black; trans. and select readings, Calder)

• 14r (29, binding) “A Dhé 7 a Muire, is mór an buile phleite sin do bhí ar Líogurus a caoinedh a thsentacharáin mhíththapaidh ag tabhairt ar Ghrégaibh bheith ag milledh a n-oir 7 a n-innmusa” O God and O Mary! Great is that spiteful madness that was upon Lycurgus as he mourned his hapless infant, compelling the Greeks to destroy their gold and their treasure.

• 16r(31) “Is mor in magadh do Gregaibh ar millset da maithes 7 da maoinaibh ar son leiniph big” A great reproach to the Greeks is all that they destroyed of property and treasures for the sake of a little child.

• 16v(32) “Is maith an beim ceast sin do bhuail Ailcidamus ar Chapaneobhus mór mac Tairsis gan bhuidheachus do fen” Good is that cestus blow which Alcidamas gave to great Capaneus with no thanks (i.e. without effort) to himself.

2

Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, ed. John Thomas Koch, p. 1679 *excellent resource for basic information and bibliography on Irish classical translations and related

“native” heroic literature

3

4

Noise After that deed, however, a huge and great alarm and tumult arose in the full-wide camp of the Greeks; and Tydeus, son of Oeneus, said to Jocasta and her daughters: “Depart,” said he, “seeing ye will not bring peace or truce at this time.” Jocasta departed gloomily and dejectedly after that, having been unable to make peace between her sons. But the bold triumphant brave soldier, Tydeus, sone of Oeneus, arose and seized his arms, and roused his people and all the host of the Greeks. In sooth there was made a bold heroic rising and a hasty ruin of peace, so that it was confused and troubled among the chariots and champions of the camp at that time. And such was the keenness with which they arose that no lead or precedence was allowed to brave war-trumpets, or to pleasant silken banners, but their keen bands of common soldiers and their champions of valour were in mutual emulation for fight, and were seeking battle of the Thebans. On the other hand, the keen, daring, resolute champions of Thebes arose to attend and wait upon them, and every prince and every lord of them took to urging and strengthening his great following. Indeed it was then that each of them strongly attacked the other, so that the clamour and the noisy crash of those furious turbulent troops rushing at one another were like as it were the great-dripping large-stemmed green-topped wood that had fallen into one another’s cleft-forks and arms before the with-twisting of the fiercely cold winter wind, or as it were the intent-revealing lie-desiring day of judgment that should come to rake up the ash hearth of the world; and every prince and every high-king broke a gap before his troop in another’s battalion at that time. And as each of the two hosts were engaged in that joint effort tof battle, then his strong very mad mare took a champion of the Thebans, to wit, Pterelas, away with her into a battalion of the Greeks. And Tydeus, son of Oeneus, awaited him, and dealt him strongly very boldly a strenuous thrust with a spear that was in his hand so that its warlike point was through the hero’s body, and his horse brought him back again so that he fell there lifeless among the Thebans. Now after that man’s fall the brave battalions assaulted one another angrily very fiercely, and the contentious battle-combat closed, till as close as a stop-hurdle after being completely closed, was the line of riveted long-extending spears that were planted in the pleasant sides of

2790] A haithli in gnima sin, immorro, roas seastan & seselb adbulmor 2791] i llongphort lanlethan na nGrec, & roraid Tit, mac Oenius, 2792] re hIochasta, & re hingenaib: ‘Denaid imthecht,’ ar se, ‘& ni 2793] berthai sid na osud lib don chur-sa.’ Roimthig Iochasta 2794] co dubach domenmach ar sin ar femed sida iter a macaib. Roerig 2795] immorro Tid in milid croda coscoroch calma mac Oenius, 2796] & rogab a armu, & rocomgres a munter & slog na nGrec ar-chena. 2797] Dorindead tra andsin comergi croda curata & sitharchar 2798] tindisnach cur-ua cumascda combuaidirthi iter chairpthib & 2799] curadaib in longphuirt isinn uair sin. Et robui da deni 2800] roergedar connar-leced tosach na toisigeacht da stocaib croda 2801] cathaigthi na da mergedaib suarca srollaigi acht a ndirmanda 2802] diana daescurshluaig & a ngeraiti gaiscid ac imchosnam gliad 2803] & ag iarraid irgaili dochum na Tiauanda.

2804] Roergedar immorro da frestal & da frithaileam trenfhir 2805] tenda tairgsenacha talchara na Tebi, & rogob gach triath & gach 2806] tigerna dib ac gresacht & ar nertad a mormuntiri. Is andsin 2807] tra rotrenindsaich cach aroile dib co ma samalta gredon 2808] & glorbresmaidm na mbuiden mbodba mbuaidirthi sin ac 2809] comrith ri aroili amal bad i ind fhidbad bresbraenach billeach 2810] barrglas rothuited i ladraib glac & i llamaib aroili re gaidsnim 2811] na gaithi garbfuairi gemreta, no mar bad he in la bratha 2812] brigurduirc brecdhuileach tisad do smurchaicilt in betha, 2813] & robris cach airech & gach airdri bernd rena buidin i cath 2814] aroili an uair sin. Et mar dabadar isin comfheidm catha sin 2815] na sluaig ceachtarda, is and rofuataig a each rot romer trenfer 2816] do Tiauandaib le i cath na nGrec .i. Terelas. Et rofrithail 2817] Tid mac Oenius he, & tuc fuirmed fedma co setrech sirchalma

5

noble well-born scions there in that strong and vast battle which they waged.

2818] do gae robui 'na laim air, cor-ua bir bodba trena chorp don 2819] churaid, & rouc a ech aris ar cula e, cor-ap and rothoit gan 2820] anmain iter na Tiauannda. Rotrenindsaig tra na catha croda 2821] araili ar toitim an fhir sin co fergach firamnas {folio 35b}, & 2822] rodluthaiged in chathirgal comrumach cor-ba dluithither re 2823] cleith lenad arna landluthud in lini sleg semnech sithfhata 2824] rosuidiged a sleasaib suarca saercland sochenelach andsin isin 2825] tres trenadbul sin rochuirsetar. Cid tra acht rodithaigit dronga de 2826] sin, & romaeltamnaigit meidi, & robanaid gnuisi, & roruamnaigit 2827] roisc, & roclaeit cetfada curad ac comthoitim.

from Cath Maige Tuired (The Second Battle of Mag Tuired) Many beautiful men fell there in the stall of death. Great was the slaughter and the grave-lying which took place there. Pride and shame were there side by side. There was anger and indignation. Abundant was the stream of blood over the white skin of young warriors mangled by the hands of bold men while rushing into danger for shame. Harsh was the noise made by the multitude of warriors and champions protecting their swords and shields and bodies while others were striking them with spears and swords. Harsh too the tumult all over the battlefield—the shouting of the warriors and the clashing of bright shields, the swish of swords and ivory-hilted blades, the clatter and rattling of the quivers, the hum and whirr of spears and javelins, the crashing strokes of weapons.

602] Mór do cóemaib derochrotar ann a mbúailie báis. Mór ant ár & 603] an lechtloide roboí ann. Roboí úall & imnáire and leth for leth. Buí 604] ferg & borrfad. Ba himgae réun folu tar gelcnius móethócláech ann 605] íerna léudh do lámaiuh létmiuch oc teicht a ngáuhad ar imbnárie. Ba 606] hamnas muirn & saitoi na curud & na láth ngali ic immdítin a ngáe & a 607] scíath & a courp ind taun nus-bítis a céli ica trúastrud denaib gaíb & 608] denaib cloidbiuh. Amnas dano an tarneuch ruboí and sechnón an 609] cathae .i. gáir na láechraidí & presimb na scíath, loindreuch & fedgairi 610] na cloidhim & na calc ndéd, cairchiu & grindegur na saicidbolc, sían & 611] etigud na foghaid & na ngabluch, & priscbémniuch na n-armb.

from Buile Suibne Thereafter, when both battle-hosts had met, the vast army on both sides roared in the manner of a herd of stags so that they raised on high three mighty shouts. Now, when Suibhne heard these great cries together with their sounds and reverberations in the clouds of Heaven and in the vault of the firmament, he looked up, whereupon

O rochomhracsiot iarom na catha cechtarrdha robhúirset an damhradh dermhair adiu 7 anall amail dámha damhghoire co ttuargaibhset tri tromghaire os aird. O'dchúala thrá Suibhne na gaire mora sin 7 a fhuamanna 7 a freagartha i nellaibh nimhe 7 i fraightibh na firmaminnte rofhéch Suibhne suas iarum co rolion nemhain 7 dobhar 7 dásacht 7 fáoinnel 7 fúalang 7 foluamain 7 udmhaille,

6

turbulence (?), and darkness, and fury, and giddiness, and frenzy, and flight, unsteadiness, restlessness, and unquiet filled him, likewise disgust with every place in which he uséd to be and desire for every place which he had not reached. His fingers were palsied, his feet trembled, his heart beat quick, his senses were overcome, his sight was distorted, his weapons fell naked from his hands, so that through Ronan's curse he went, like any bird of the air, in madness and imbecility.

anbsaidhe 7 anfhoistine, miosgais gach ionaidh ina mbiodh 7 serc gach ionaidh noco roichedh ; romheirbhlighset a meoir, rocriothnaighsiot a chosa, roluathadh a chroidhe, roclódhadh a chedfadha., rosaobadh a radharc, rotuitset a airm urnocht asa lámhuibh co ndeachaidh la breithir Remain ar gealtacht 7 ar geinidecht amail gach n-ethaid n-aeerdha.

Tisiphone Now when Tisiphone had heard these words of Oedipus, then the fiendish mad Fury arose with her locks of venomous serpents about her head, puffing, croaking, whistling, fluttering, and sucking the welling fiery stream named Cocytus, because upon the borders of that stream her dwelling-place was. Then she leaped swiftly impatiently madly from the stream like darting fiery levin, or like a swift star lighting up the quivering firmament; and this was the way she came, through the fierce idle and fiendish rabble, and through the weak and sad assemblies of souls that dwelt in the gravelly abodes of hell, so that horror and vast fear seized them as they beheld the fiendish dusky face of that fiery red-lipped scald of war. And thereupon she advanced forth through Taenaros, baleful door of hell. And when she had arrived, thick darkness like night overspread all earth's face, so that terror and intense fear seized the people of the bounds and districts before her ; and then she came by the well-known and excellent road on hilly sloping glens, till she arrived at Thebes. Then a hundred venomous and hostile serpents with crests and stings arose about her head. Her coloured and dark grey eyes were sucked and swallowed into the depths of her head and crown. Then she arose and shook the venomous serpent that was in her hand at the hosts, so that the sound

181] O 'tchualaich immorro Tessifone ina briathra-sa Eidip, is 182] andsin roeirig in Fhuir demnach dasachtach cona trillsib do 183] nathrachaib nemnecha ima ceand, ac siangail & ic sibsanaig 184] & ic feadgaire & ac foluaimnigud & ac sugud int shrotha 185] tibrechtaich teindtigi dar-ua comainm Cosidon, daig isinn 186] immelbordaib int shrotha sin robid a hait & a hadba. Is andsin 187] rolingeastair-si co dian deinmnedach dasachtach on t-sruth 188] amal saignen tincurach teindtigi, no amal retlaind luaith 189] lasamhuin na firmaminti foluaimnigi, & is ead-seo sligi a 190] tanic tresna daescurshluagaib disciri dimaine deamnacda, & 191] tresna haireachtaib aduana etlaide do anmandaib batar in 192] ngrianbrogaib iffrind, co ragabastair grain & ecla adbul iat 193] ic faicsin a dreichi deamnaige duaibsigi na baidbi bruthmaire 194] belldeirgi sin. Et tanic-si rempi arsin dar dorus n-urbadach 195] n-ifrind amach .i. dar Tenair. Et o dariacht, tanic fordorchud 196] dar dreich in talman uile amal aidchi corgab uaman 197] & imecla lucht na crich & cendadach rempi; & tanic-si ar 198] sin isin sligid suaichnid saineamail ar fanglendtaib slebemail 199] co toracht co Teib. Is andsin roeirgedar cet nathrach neimneach 200] naimdidi com mbeandaib & birinib ima cend. Rosuiged 201] & rosluiged a rosc dathach dubglas in n-imdomain a cind & a 202] ceand mullaich. Is andsin roeirig & rochraith in nathraig 203] nemnig robai ina laim arna sluagaib, cu clos a fogar & a 204] breasmaidm ua cheathar airdib na Grecci .i. co sliab

7

and crash thereof were heard throughout the four quarters of Greece, to wit, as far as Mount Parnassus in the East, the river Eurotas in the West, fair Mount Oete in the South, and to the fringed borders of Isthmos in the North. And that sound, distinct, well marked and very loud, reached the brave contentious envious Theban stock, and Oedipus' large fair sons, to wit, Eteocles and Polynices, so that a lasting feud and intense mutual jealousy about the sovereignty arose through Tisiphone's instigation between those two sons, like two strong, vicious, envious bulls under a huge intolerable yoke, so that they strained and weakened their bonds and fetters, as they mutually strove and pulled one against another.

Barnais 205] ar n-airthiur, & co sruth nEorait iar n-iarthur, & co sliab n-alaind 206] Oeten iar ndescert, & co heochairbordaib Ismos {folio 3b} iar 207] tuaiscert. Et dariacht sin co deiligthech derrscaigthech dermar 208] cosin ciniud croda cosnumach tnudhach Tiabannda, & co macaib 209] aidbli ailli Eidip .i. Ethiocles & Polinices co raerig fich 210] marthanach & imfhormad adbul imon flaithius iter na da 211] mac sin tre aslach Tesifone, amal da tharb trena thuathmeara 212] thnuthacha ua chuing adbail imfhulaing, co raleansat & co 213] ralagaigset a cengail & a cuibrigi ac imchosnum & ac imthairring 214] fri araile.

Capaneus Then again powerful friends of the Thebans and powerful friends of the Greeks were addressing Jove, son of Saturn, and each of them asking help for his friend. Now it was they that were there assisting Thebans, to wit, noble Apollo, son of Jove, and powerful Venus, and mighty proud Bacchus, and warlike Hercules, son of Jove. But these were siding with Greeks, to wit, Juno of many charms, and Minerva of great might and Perseus of chief skill, son of Jove, and Danae daughter of a king of Greeks was his mother. Now Jove was impartial among those peoples, not assisting one of them more than another, till Capaneus reached him and this is what Capaneus said, for he did not obtain battle from Thebans where he stood upon the wall of their city : " Where are ye at all," said he. " ye cowardly and weak gods of the Thebans, to wit, Apollo, Bacchus, and Hercules? and it is not to rally them," said he, "for it is not worth

4246] Is andsin dono robadar caraid chumachtacha na Tiabanda 4247] & caraid chumachtacha na nGreg ag agallaim Ioif, mic Saduirn, 4248] & cach dib ag iarraid fhoirithne da charaid. Is iad trá robai 4249] andsin ac congnam ré Tiabanda .i. Apaill uasal, mac Ioif, & 4250] Beinir banchumachtach, & Baich brigach borrfadach, & Ercail 4251] anrata, mac Ioif. Is iád immorro rabái ac gabail re Gregaib 4252] .i. Iunaind ilchrothach & Menarba morchumachtach, & Pers 4253] primeolach mac Ioif, & Dane ingen rig Greg a mathair. Rabái 4254] trá Ioif co firen iter an lucht sin can chungnam ré neach seach 4255] aroili dibh gein no co riacht Capaneius he, & is ed doraid 4256] Capaneius, uair ní fhuair tachar o Thiabandaib ait a mbaí ar 4257] mur a cathrach: ‘Cait a fhuilid itir,’ ar se, ‘dee meta mertnecha 4258] na Tiabanda .i. Apaill & Baich & hErcail? & ní da 4259] ngresacht,’ ar se, ‘uair ní miadh lium, acht, a Ioif chena,’ 4260] ar se, ‘as rit-su as dingmala lium tachar, & tarr dom indsaighi, 4261] masad cumachtaig ar saignenaib.’

8

my while, but, O Jove in particular," said he, " it is with thee I think it worth while to fight, and do thou come to meet me, if thou art powerful over thunderbolts." When Jove heard that he laughed a derisive laugh, and thereupon said : " Grim is the rally thou layest upon us, and it is right to do thee harm." And after that Jove brought still very dark clouds and forebodings of heavy wetting on earth's face, so that the hills or houses of the Thebans were not visible at that time. And through that came great doom-crashing thunder above Thebes, to wit, as if it were moving the firmament out of its foundation and position. Capaneus, however, stood unmoved thereat upon the wall, till fiery thunderbolts lightened up as they fell upon the face and the northern edges of the earth. This is what he said on seeing it : " It is indeed right," said he, " that fires like these should be left for Thebans, and now I shall get lighted torches and bushy oaks of red flame to shoot at them." And when Capaneus was in that word-complacency, a quivering purple-red thunderbolt chanced to reach him, and sent his helmet from his head, and split his shield from rim to border, and set the whole of his own body aflame from head to sole. The battalions on both sides saw that, and they withdrew on every side from the walls of the city in order to prevent the hero's body from falling upon them. And there Capaneus fell over the wall of Thebes outwards, so that the path of his body was illuminated on the course it fell from the city wall, and he died thus by a thunderbolt of Jove for the great word he spoke against him. And the very beautiful grassy plain on which

4262] O 'dchualaid Ioif sin, tibis gen gairi, & raidis ar sin: ‘Is 4263] granda an gresacht daberi foraind, & is coir t' olc do denam.’ 4264] Et asa haithli sin tug Ioif neoill chiuine comdorcha & tuairseacha 4265] tromfleachaidh ar dreich thalman, conar-ba leir tulcha no tigi na 4266] Tiabanda isin tan sin. Et tainig trid sin torand bres bresbratha 4267] uas cind na Teibi .i. feib co ngluaised firmaimint asa slatrach 4268] & asa suidiugud. Rabaí immorro Capaneius can gluasacht arin 4269] mur risin, gein co rasoillsigsead saignena teintighi ag tuitim 4270] ar dreich & ar tuagebair an talman. 4271]Is ed doraid-sium 'ca faigsin: ‘Is coir immorro,’ ar se, 4272] ‘tenta mar so d' fhacbail do Thiabandaib, & dogeb-sa aithin-neada 4273] adanta & dairgi dossacha ar derglasad anoss da 4274] ndibragad doib.’ Et antan rabái Capaneius ag an bogasach 4275] briathar sin, darala chuigi soignen crithrech corcorderg, cor-chuir 4276] a chathbarr da chend, & co rascailt a sciath o bili co 4277] bord, & co rachomlas a chorp fein uile o chind co bond. 4278] Atchondcadar na catha cechtarrda sin, & roscuchsad da cach 4279] leith o muraib na cathrach ar imgabail chuirp an churad do 4280] thoitim forra. Et dorochair andsin Capaneius tar mur na 4281] Teibi amach, co roib sligi a chuirp ar na loscadh an conair 4282] rothuitt do mur na cathrach, & co fhuair bass amlaid sin o 4283] saignen Ioif ar in morbrethir doraid ina agaid. Et rochomlas 4284] an mag firalaind ferach ara roibi do lasraig a chuirp. Cid tra 4285] acht fa coir dona cineadaib cuimniugud gnimrad an gilla sin 4286] & dona deib a admolad da eis, uair ní toit fer la nert cet curadh 4287] min bad dei do dinguail.

9

he lay blazed with the flame of his body. Nevertheless it was right for the nations to remember the deeds of that lad, and for the gods to extol him afterwards ; for a man with the strength of a hundred heroes would not have fallen were not gods to cast him off.

10

Tisiphone, Thebaid , Book 1 talia dicenti crudelis diua seueros aduertit uultus. inamoenum forte sedebat Cocyton iuxta, resolutaque uertice crines 90 lambere sulphureas permiserat anguibus undas. ilicet igne Iouis lapsisque citatior astris tristibus exiluit ripis: discedit inane uulgus et occursus dominae pauet. illa per umbras et caligantes animarum examine campos 95 Taenariae limen petit inremeabile portae. sensit adesse Dies, piceo Nox obuia nimbo lucentes turbauit equos; procul arduus Atlans horruit et dubia caelum ceruice remisit. arripit extemplo Maleae de ualle resurgens 100 notum iter ad Thebas; neque enim uelocior ullas itque reditque uias cognataue Tartara mauult. centum illi stantes umbrabant ora cerastae, turba minor diri capitis; sedet intus abactis ferrea lux oculis, qualis per nubila Phoebes 105 Atracia rubet arte labor; suffusa ueneno tenditur ac sanie gliscit cutis; igneus atro ore uapor, quo longa sitis morbique famesque et populis mors una uenit; riget horrida tergo palla, et caerulei redeunt in pectora nodi: 110 Atropos hos atque ipsa nouat Proserpina cultus. tum geminas quatit ira manus: haec igne rogali fulgurat, haec uiuo manus aera uerberat hydro. ut stetit, abrupta qua plurimus arce Cithaeron occurrit caelo, fera sibila crine uirenti 115 congeminat, signum terris, unde omnis Achaei ora maris late Pelopeaque regna resultant. audiit et medius caeli Parnasos et asper Eurotas, dubiamque iugo fragor impulit Oeten in latus, et geminis uix fluctibus obstitit Isthmos. 120 ipsa suum genetrix curuo delphine uagantem abripuit frenis gremioque Palaemona pressit.

Trans. Melville, OUP, 1992 The cruel goddess turned her gloomy gaze Towards him. She was sitting, as it chanced, By drear Cocytus’ bank and from her hair Had loosed her snakes to lap the sulphurous stream. Then swifter than Jove’s fire or shooting stars Straightaway she leapt up from the mournful bank. The crowd of phantoms scattered, terrified To face their mistress. Passing through the shades, Across plains dark with swarming ghosts, she sought Taenarus’ gate, the gate of no return. Day felt her presence; Night’s black storm-cloud blocked The shining steeds and made them plunge and rear. Far off steep Atlas shuddered and the sky Lay loose on sagging shoulders. Soaring up From Malea’s vale she took the well-known way To Thebes – no passage swifter to and fro, Nor in her native Hell more joy than there. Shading her brow a hundred snakes stood high, The threatening terror of her ghastly head. A steely glint shone in her sunken eyes, Like the red pallor of the laboring moon Among the clouds bewitched by magic spells. Upon her taur and poison-tainted skin Corruption swelled; from blackened lips she breathed A fiery vapour laden with disease, Hunger and thirst and universal death. Stiff from her shoulders fell a grisly robe With dark knots down her breast, which Atropos And Proserpine herself keep ever new. Then rage shakes both her hands; a funeral torch Flashes in one like lightning while the other Lashes the air with a long lie water-snake. Halting where huge Cithaeron’s summit soars Abrupt to meet the sky, from her green locks She sent forth savage hiss on hiss, a sign To every land that echoed far and wide Through Pelops’ realm and all the shores of Greece. Parnassus in mid-heaven ehard and wild Eurotas, Oeta staggered as the din Battered his swaying side; the Isthmus scarce Resisted the twin seas; Ino herself Rescued roving Palaemon from the curved Dolphin he reined and held him to her breast.

Battle Noise, Thebaid Book 7 rumpitur et Graium subito per castra tumultu concilium; fugit exertos Iocasta per hostes iam non ausa preces; natas ipsamque repellunt 610

The Argive council too was broken up By sudden tumult in the camp. In flight Jocasta leaves her foes, not daring now To plead, and they of late so courteous

11

qui modo tam mites, et praeceps tempore Tydeus utitur: 'ite age, nunc pacem sperate fidemque! num saltem differre nefas potuitue morari, dum genetrix dimissa redit?' sic fatus aperto ense uocat socios. saeuus iam clamor et irae 615 hinc atque inde calent; nullo uenit ordine bellum, confusique duces uulgo, et neglecta regentum imperia; una equites mixti peditumque cateruae et rapidi currus; premit indigesta ruentes copia, nec sese uacat ostentare nec hostem 620 noscere. sic subitis Thebana Argiuaque pubes conflixere globis; retro uexilla tubaeque post tergum et litui bellum inuenere secuti. tantus ab exiguo crudescit sanguine Mauors! uentus uti primas struit intra nubila uires, 625 lenis adhuc, frondesque et aperta cacumina gestat, mox rapuit nemus et montes patefecit opacos. nunc age, Pieriae, non uos longinqua, sorores, consulimus, uestras acies uestramque referte Aoniam; uidistis enim, dum Marte propinquo 630 horrent Tyrrhenos Heliconia plectra tumultus. Sidonium Pterelan sonipes male fidus in armis rumpentem frenos diuersa per agmina raptat iam liber, sic fessa manus. uenit hasta per ambos Tydeos: et laeuum iuueni transuerberat inguen 635 labentemque adfigit equo. fugit ille perempto consertus domino, nec iam arma aut frena tenentem portat adhuc: ceu nondum anima defectus utraque cum sua Centaurus moriens in terga recumbit.

Reject her and her daughters. In a trice Tydeus seizes his chance: ‘Away! Hope now For peace and trust! What! Could he not at least Postpone the crime and wait until we sent His mother back?’ He drew his sword and called His comrades. Savage shouts arose as rage Seethed on all sides. War came in disarray, Captains confounded with the rank and file, Orders ignored, and infantry mixed up With cavalry and scurrying chariots. Unorganized the mass came streaming on, Not pausing to display a battle-line Or scan the enemy. So the young flower Of Argos and of Thebes in sudden swarms Were locked, standards and bugles in the rear And trumpets following to find the fray. So great the war that from small bloodshed grows! Thus in the clouds the wind builds its first strength, Swaying the boughs and treetops, gentle still, But soon has swept the woods and stripped the hill. Come now, ye Muses, no far-distant deeds We ask of you; relate your own campaign, Your own Boeotia. You were witnesses When Mars came close and Helicon’s sweet lyre Shuddered at Tuscan trumpets’ turbulence. Pterelas’ charger, seldom sure in war, Rushes his rider, wrenching at the reins, Into the Argive lines and now he’s free, His master’s hands worn out, when Tydeus’ spear, Passing his shoulder, pierces the youth’s thigh And pins him, falling, to his mount. Away He rushes, clamped to his master’s corpse, and still Carries him holding neither arms nor reins. So a centaur, with both lives not yet lost, Lies lolling as he dies on his own back.

Capaneus, Thebaid , Book 10 iamque Iouem circa studiis diuersa fremebant Argolici Tyriique dei; pater, aequus utrisque, aspicit ingentes ardentum comminus iras 885 seque obstare uidet. gemit inseruante nouerca Liber et obliquo respectans lumine patrem: 'nunc ubi saeua manus, meaque heu cunabula flammae? fulmen, io ubi fulmen?' ait. gemit auctor Apollo quas dedit ipse domos; Lernam Thebasque rependit 890 maestus et intento dubitat Tirynthius arcu; maternos plangit uolucer Danaeius Argos; flet Venus Harmoniae populos metuensque mariti stat procul et tacita Gradiuum respicit ira. increpat Aonios audax Tritonia diuos, 895 Iunonem tacitam furibunda silentia torquent. non tamen haec turbant pacem Iouis, ecce quierant

But now in rivalry before Jove’s throne The gods of Thebes and Argos remonstrate. The Father, with impartial eyes, beholds High anger blaze about him and observes That he alone restrains it. Bacchus cries, Glancing askance beneath grim Juno’s gaze, ‘Where now is that fierce hand, my fiery cradle, The lightning, where the lightning?’ Phoebus too Laments the homes he founded; Hercules Weights Lerna against Thebes and hesitates, Bow drawn; winged Perseus weeps for Danae’s, His mother’s, Argos; Venus is in tears For her Harmonia’s folk and stands aloof, Fearing her husband and in silent rage Gazes at Mars. Bold Pallas rails against The gods of Thebes and silent Juno’s heart

12

iurgia cum mediis Capaneus auditus in astris, 'nullane pro trepidis,' clamabat, 'numina Thebis statis? ubi infandae segnes telluris alumni, 900 Bacchus et Alcides? piget instigare minores: tu potius uenias (quis enim concurrere nobis dignior?); en cineres Semelaeaque busta tenentur! nunc age, nunc totis in me conitere flammis, Iuppiter! an pauidas tonitru turbare puellas 905 fortior et soceri turres excindere Cadmi?' ingemuit dictis superum dolor; ipse furentem risit et incussa sanctarum mole comarum, 'quaenam spes hominum tumidae post proelia Phlegrae? tune etiam feriendus?' ait. premit undique lentum 910 turba deum frendens et tela ultricia poscit, nec iam audet fatis turbata obsistere coniunx. ipsa dato nondum caelestis regia signo sponte tonat, coeunt ipsae sine flamine nubes accurruntque imbres: Stygias rupisse catenas 915 Iapetum aut uictam supera ad conuexa leuari Inarimen Aetnamue putes. pudet ista timere caelicolas; sed cum in media uertigine mundi stare uirum insanasque uident deposcere pugnas, mirantur taciti et dubio pro fulmine pallent. 920 coeperat Ogygiae supra fastigia turris arcanum mugire polus caelumque tenebris auferri: tenet ille tamen, quas non uidet, arces, fulguraque attritis quotiens micuere procellis, 'his' ait 'in Thebas, his iam decet ignibus uti, 925 hinc renouare faces lassamque accendere quercum.' talia dicentem toto Ioue fulmen adactum corripuit: primae fugere in nubila cristae, et clipei niger umbo cadit, iamque omnia lucent membra uiri. cedunt acies, et terror utrimque, 930 quo ruat, ardenti feriat quas corpore turmas. [intra se stridere facem galeamque comasque quaerit, et urentem thoraca repellere dextra conatus ferri cinerem sub pectore tractat.] stat tamen, extremumque in sidera uersus anhelat, 935 pectoraque inuisis obicit fumantia muris; nec caderet, sed membra uirum terrena relinquunt, exuiturque animus; paulum si tardius artus cessissent, potuit fulmen sperare secundum.

Is racked with speechless anger. Even so Jove’s calm was undisturbed; the wrangling ceased; When suddenly amid the stars was heard The voice of Capaneus: ‘Do no gods stand For cowering Thebes? Where are the sluggard sons Of this accused country, Hercules And Bacchus? Come yourself – I am ashamed To challenge lesser names – What worthier Antagonist? The ashes and the tomb Of Semele, behold are in my power. Come, Jupiter, with all your fiery flames Contest with me! Or is it braver to Frighten a timid girl with thunderbolts And raze the towers of your father-in-law?’ Loud groaned the gods in dudgeon. Jove himself Laughed at the madness. Tossing his fine mass Of holy locks, ‘What hopes have men,’ he cried, ‘When giants failed at Phlegra? Must you too Be smitten?’ As he paused, the throng of gods Pressed round him in fierce anger, clamouring For his avenging bolt, nor longer did His anxious consort dare oppose the Fates. The heavenly palace, though no sign yet given, Thundered itself; without a wind the clouds Gathered and storms came rushing. One would think Iapetus had burst from chains of Hell And Etna or Inarime were raised In fetters to the vault of Heaven. The gods Scorn fear, but when they see that giant man Stand at the whirling vortex of the world And madly challenge battle, they grow pale, Silent, amazed, and doubt the lightning’s power. Above the Theban towers’ high pinnacles A deep mysterious rumble had begun And dark displaced the sky, yet still he grasped The tower eh could not see and when the storms Collided and the flames of lighting flashed, ‘These fires,’ he cried, ‘These fires it’s right to use Now against Thebes, and with them charge again My weary torch, rekindle my oak brand.’ Even as he spoke Jove hurled his thunderbolt With all his force and struck him down. His crest First vanished in the clouds, his shield’s boss fell Blackened, his body was a blaze of light. Both battle-lines draw back and wait in fear Where he may fall, what troops his burning frame May strike. But still he stands and, as he gasps His last, turns to the stars above and leans His smoking breast against the wall he loathes, Nor would have fallen, but his earthly limbs Abandon him, his life at last released. Had his prostration been a whit more slow, He could have hope from Jove a second blow.