Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/191

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SILVAE, III. i. 143–165

place; a luckier infant here makes sacrifice.[1] The very Nymphs of the green waters leap forth unbidden from their pumice caves; they cling to the streaming rocks nor think shame to gaze unseen on the naked wrestlers. Gaurus[2] too beholds them with its grove of Icarian vines, and the wood that crowns the peak of Nesis set fast in ocean, and calm Limon and Euploea of good omen for ships and the Lucrine Venus[3]; thou too, Misenus, from thy Phrygian height shalt learn the Grecian trumpet-calls, while Parthenope smiles with kindly heart upon the ceremonies of her race and the naked bouts of youths and the humble garlands that imitate her own.

Come now thyself, and graciously deign to honour the feats of thine own festival with thy invincible might: whether it please thee to cleave the clouds with the discus, or with thy shaft to outstrip the speedy Zephyrs, or to lock fast thy arms in a Libyan wrestle,[4] grant our rites this boon, and, if thou hast still the apples of the Hesperides, place them in the lap of venerable Polla; for she is worthy to take them, and will not dishonour so great a gift. Nay, might she but recover the charm and beauty of her youth—forgive me, Alcides—perchance for her[5] thou hadst even spun the wool.

Such is the offering I have brought in joyful revelry to the new-born shrine. Lo! now he himself upon the threshold—I see him opening his mouth and speaking: “A blessing on thy spirit and thy

  1. ↑ The Isthmian games were held in honour of the child Palaemon, son of Ino, those at Nemea in honour of Opheltes (Archemorus), for whom see Thebaid iv. (end), v. and vi. (init.).
  2. ↑ Now Monte Barbaro in Campania; its wines were famous; Icarus was a son of Oebalus, king of Sparta, and father of Penelope; he was taught the use of the vine by Bacchus.
  3. ↑ A temple of Venus near Baiae.
  4. ↑ The reference is to Hercules’ bout with Antaeus, the Libyan giant; this leads to the mention of the apples of the Hesperides.
  5. ↑ As he did for Omphale, the Lydian princess.

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