Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/233

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SILVAE, III. v. 14–40

native soil? Why does this cause you sorrow? Certainly there is no wantonness in your heart; the contests of the rushing Circus have no charm for you, no clamorous theatre-crowds find a place in your soul, but virtue and sheltered quiet and innocent joys.

But what are the waters o’er which I fain would hurry you with me? although even if I went to dwell at the cold North, or beyond the misty seas of western Thule, or to the unattainable source of sevenfold Nile, you would be urging our departure. For it is you—you, whom Venus of her grace united to me in the springtime of my days, and in old age keeps mine, you, who while yet I roved in youth nor knew aught of love did transfix my heart—you it is whose rein in willing submission I obeyed, and yet press the bit once put within my mouth, without e’er thought of change. When the Alban wreath[1] adorned my gleaming locks, and I put on Caesar’s sacred gold, you clasped me to your bosom, and showered breathless kisses on my garlands; when the Capitol rejected my lyre, you shared my defeat and mourned the cruelty and ingratitude of Jove. Your wakeful ears caught the first notes of the songs I ventured and whole nights of murmured sound; you alone knew of my long labour, and my Thebaid grew with the years of your companionship. When lately I was near snatched away to the Stygian shades, and already heard close at hand the stream of Lethe, how grateful wert thou to my sight! My eyes, already failing in death, were stayed. Surely it was in pity of thee alone that Lachesis prolonged

  1. ↑ Domitian had a residence at Alba, where he held contests in music and poetry, at one of which Statius was victorious. It was a great disappointment that he failed at the more important Capitoline contest later on (31): cf. also v. 3. 225 f.

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