Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/307

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SILVAE, V. i. 1–23

I. A POEM OF CONSOLATION ON THE DEATH OF PRISCILLA


Priscilla was the wife of Abascantus, who held the important post of Secretary of State to Domitian. This epicedion follows the usual lines of such poems, see Introd. to ii. 1.


Had I but skill of hand to mould likenesses in wax or to leave a living impress upon gold or ivory, thence would I imagine, Priscilla, a grateful solace for thy husband. For his conspicuous devotion merits that thou thyself, whether painted by Apelles’ brush or given life by Phidian art, shouldst be brought back to calm his grief; so valiantly strives he to rescue thy ghost from the pyre, and wages a mighty struggle with Death,[1] and exhausts the cunning of the craftsmen, and in every metal would fain show his love of thee. But mortal is the honour that toil of clever hands can pay: ’tis the poet’s endeavour to bring thee, peerless consort of a youth renowned, a tribute that will endure nor suffer oblivion at the last, the due offering of eternal song, if only Apollo be propitious, and Caesar, who ever in Apollo’s company aids me, gives assent; no other nobler sepulchre wilt thou find.

Late indeed is the balm composed for so great a sorrow, when yet once more the wheels of Phoebus are bringing round the year; but when the stroke is recent and the house still sable-clad in the first shock of woe, what access then to the poor husband in his loss? Then were it solace enough to weep and tear the raiment, to fatigue troops of slaves and outdo their lamentations, to assail the Fates and an unjust heaven with wild and frenzied cries. Though

  1. ↑ The allusion is to the struggle of Hercules with Death for Alcestis: here the husband strives to rescue his wife from death by making a living image of her. Priscilla’s body was not burnt, but embalmed, and placed in a shrine, such as Cicero wished to build for his daughter Tullia (Ad Att. xii. 19). Poppaea, too, was embalmed (Tac. Ann. xvi. 6).

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