Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/167

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SILVAE, II. vii. 1–23

VII. AN ODE TO POLLA IN HONOUR OF LUCAN’S BIRTHDAY


The title Genethliacon was usually applied to an ode written in honour of a living person. This ode, however, is a commemoration of Lucan after his death, addressed to Polla, his widow. Into it is introduced a prophecy of his fame spoken by Calliope on the day of his birth.


Come to Lucan’s birthday-feast, all ye who on the hills of Isthmian Dione, with hearts fired by poetic frenzy, drink of the spring that the flying hoof struck forth.[1] Ye who have the privilege of song in your keeping, Arcadian discoverer of the vocal lyre, and thou, Euhan, whirler of thy Bassarids, and Paean and the Hyantian Sisters,[2] joyfully deck yourselves anew with purple fillets, make your tresses trim and let fresh ivy enwreathe your shining raiment. Flow more abundantly, poetic streams, and be more brightly green, ye woodlands of Aonia,[3] and if anywhere your shade hath opened and taken in the sunlight, let soft garlands fill the room. Let a hundred fragrant altars stand in the Thespian[4] groves, and a hundred victims that Dirce laves and Cithaeron pastures: ’tis of Lucan we sing, keep holy silence; this is your day, ye Muses, keep silence, while he who made you glorious in two arts, in the measures of fettered speech and free,[5] is honoured as the high priest of the Roman choir.

  1. ↑ The fountain of Hippocrene caused by the hoof of Pegasus, which Statius here places on the Isthmus; he seems to confuse it with Pirene, the spring at Corinth (cf. Theb. iv. 60). Pirene was also connected with the Pegasus story, see Pindar, Ol. 13. 60. It is not clear what Dione (Venus) has to do with the Isthmus.
  2. ↑ Mercury, Bacchus, Apollo, and the Muses. Hyantian = Boeotian.
  3. ↑ Boeotia, i.e. Helicon or Parnassus.
  4. ↑ Thespiae was at the foot of Helicon.
  5. ↑ Poetry was often described as “fettered,” i.e. bound by the rules of metre, prose as freed from such rules.

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