§268et ipse nostris vocibus testis veni, §269fatidica vatis ora Cirrhaeae movens: §270ita molle senium ducat et summum diem §271securus alto reddat in solio parens §272solasque Merope noverit Polybi faces, §273ut nulla sontem gratia eripiet mihi.
And do you yourself come as a witness to our words, moving the prophetic lips of the Cirrhaean priestess: so may my father spend a gentle old age and yield up his last day in security upon his high throne, and may Merope know only the marriage-torches of Polybus, as no favor shall snatch the guilty one from me.
But in what place was the unspeakable deed committed, recount: did he fall in open warfare or by treachery?
§276Frondifera sanctae nemora Castaliae petens §277calcavit artis obsitum dumis iter, §278trigemina qua se spargit in campos via.
Seeking the leafy groves of sacred Castalia, he trod a path overgrown with narrow briars, where the threefold road spreads itself into the plains.
§279secat una gratum Phocidos Baccho solum, §280unde altus arva deserit, caelum petens, §281clementer acto colle Parnasos biceps; §282at una bimaris Sisyphi terras adit; §283Olenia in arva tertius trames cava §284convalle serpens tangit errantes aquas §285gelidumque dirimit amnis i Elei vadum: §286hic pace fretum subita praedonum manus §287aggressa ferro facinus occultum tulit.
One road cuts the Phocian soil, dear to Bacchus, whence high Parnassus with its double peak leaves the fields, seeking the sky with a gently rising hill; but one goes to the lands of Sisyphus between two seas; a third path, creeping through a deep valley, touches the wandering waters in the Olenian fields and separates the cold stream of the Elean river: here, relying on a sudden peace, a band of robbers assailed him with the sword and accomplished their hidden crime.
§288In tempore ipso sorte Phoebea excitus §289Tiresia tremulo tardus accelerat genu §290comesque Manto luce viduatum trahens.
At that very moment, summoned by the Phoebean lot, Tiresias hastens with trembling knee, slow, and Manto, his companion, leading her father widowed of light.
O consecrated to the gods, head closest to Phoebus, solve the responses; speak, whom do the punishments seek.
That my tongue is slow to speak, that it seeks delays, it by no means becomes you, high-minded king, to wonder: for they lack sight!
§295visu carent! magna pars veri latet.
A great part of the truth lies hidden.
§296sed quo vocat me patria, quo Phoebus, sequar: §297fata eruantur; si foret viridis mihi §298calidusque sanguis, pectore exciperem deum.
But whither my country calls me, whither Phoebus, I will follow: let the fates be unearthed; if my blood were green and warm, I would receive the god in my breast.
Drive to the altars a bull white on his back, and a heifer whose neck has never been pressed down by the curved yoke.
Do you, daughter, guiding your parent lacking light, report the manifest signs of the prophetic sacrifice.
§303Opima sanctas victima ante aras stetit.
A rich victim has stood before the sacred altars.
Call the gods above to your vows with a solemn voice and pile the altars with the gift of Eastern incense.
§306Iam tura sacris caelitum ingessi focis.
Now I have thrown the incense into the sacred hearths of the gods.
§307Quid flamma? largas iamne comprendit dapes?
What of the flame? Does it already seize the abundant feast?
§308Subito refulsit lumine et subito occidit.
Suddenly it shone with light and suddenly died down.
§309Vtrumne clarus ignis et nitidus stetit §310rectusque purum verticem caelo tulit §311et summam in auras fusus explicuit comam?
Did a bright and shining fire stand up and straight raise its pure peak to the sky, and spreading out, unfold its topmost hair into the breezes?
Or does it creep around the sides, uncertain of its way, and waver turbidly with fluctuating smoke?
§314Non una facies mobilis flammae fuit: §315imbrifera qualis implicat varios sibi §316Iris colores, parte quae magna poli §317curvata picto nuntiat nimbos sinu §318(quis desit illi quive sit dubites color).
Not single was the appearance of the shifting flame: even as rain-bringing Iris enfolds various colors within herself, when in a great part of the sky bent she announces clouds with her painted arc (so that you would doubt which color is lacking or which is there).
A dark-blue color wandered about mixed with yellow spots, then again bloody; the last part goes off into darkness.
§321sed ecce pugnax ignis in partes duas §322discedit et se scindit unius sacri §323discors favilla— genitor, horresco intuens: §324libata Bacchi dona permutat cruor §325ambitque densus regium fumus caput §326ipsosque circa spissior vultus sedet §327et nube densa sordidam lucem abdidit.
But behold, the hostile fire divides into two parts and the discordant ash of one sacrifice splits itself— father, I shudder as I look: blood changes the poured gifts of Bacchus and dense smoke surrounds the royal head and sits thicker around his very face and has hidden the gloomy light with a dense cloud.
§328quid sit, parens, effare.
What this may be, father, speak out.
What can I speak, wandering amidst the tumults of an astonished mind?
§330quidnam loquar? sunt dira, sed in alto mala;
What shall I say?
§331solet ira certis numinum ostendi notis: §332quid istud est quod esse prolatum volunt §333iterumque nolunt et truces iras tegunt?
The evils are dire, but hidden in the deep; the anger of the gods is accustomed to be shown by certain signs: what is this which they wish to be brought forward, and again do not wish, and hide their harsh anger?
§334pudet deos nescio quid.
The gods are ashamed of I know not what.
huc propere admove §335et sparge salsa colla taurorum mola.
Move hither quickly and sprinkle the necks of the bulls with salted meal.
Do they endure the sacrifice and the offered hands with a calm countenance?
§337bAltum taurus attollens caput §338primos ad ortus positus expavit diem §339trepidusque vultum obliquat et radios fugit.
Lifting his head high, the bull placed toward the first sunrise dreaded the light and trembling turns away his face and flees the rays.
§340Vnone terram vulnere afflicti petunt?
Do they seek the ground beaten down by a single wound?
§341Iuvenca ferro semet imposito induit §342et vulnere uno cecidit, at taurus duos §343perpessus ictus huc et huc dubius ruit §344animamque fessus vix reluctantem exprimit.
The heifer threw herself upon the deep-driven sword and fell with a single wound, but the bull, having suffered two blows, rushes hither and thither in doubt and, weary, barely forces out his reluctant breath.
Does the blood squirt swiftly from a narrow wound, or does it slow irrigate the deep gashes?