Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/137

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SILVAE, II. ii. 36–62

Not if Helicon were to grant me all her streams, or Pimplea quench my thirst, or the hoof of the flying steed[1] abundantly assuage it: not if mystic Phemonoë[2] were to unlock her pure springs or those wherein my Pollius, under the auspices of Phoebus, hath plunged his deep-immersed urn—not even so could I equal in Pierian strains the countless charms and beauties of the place. Scarcely could my eyes sustain the long array, scarce could my feet avail, while I was led from scene to scene. What a multitude of things! Shall I first admire the genius of the place or of its master? This part of the house looks eastward to Phoebus’ morning rays; that part detains him as he sets, nor allows the exhausted light to disappear, when the day is wearied out and the shadow of the dark mountain falls on the waters, and the proud mansion floats upon the glassy flood. Here the sound of the sea is in the chambers, here they know not the roaring of the waves, but prefer the silence of the land. Here are spots that Nature has favoured, here she has been outdone and given way to the settler and learnt gentleness in ways unknown before. Here, where you now see level ground, was a hill; the halls you enter were wild country; where now tall groves appear, there was once not even soil: its owner has tamed the place, and as he shaped and conquered the rocks the earth gladly gave way before him. See how the cliff learns to bear the yoke, how the dwellings force their entry and the mountain is bidden withdraw. Now let the skill of Methymne’s bard and that sole Theban lyre and the glory of the Getic quill[3] give way before thee: thou too dost move the rocks, thee too the high woods follow.

  1. ↑ i.e., the fountain Hippocrene struck forth by the hoof of Pergasus, cf. ii. 7. 4.
  2. ↑ Daughter of Apollo, and, according to Strabo, the first Pythian priestess. Her “pure” springs are those of Castalia (“castus”), and “arcana” may be meant as an etymologizing of “Phemonoë,” “she who speaks forth hidden thoughts.”
  3. ↑ Arion, Amphion, Orpheus.

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