Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/333

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SILVAE, V. ii. 69–94

of the gown! even as a tree, when it knows not the knife, luxuriates in growth and wastes its fruitfulness in leaf? But beneath thy youthful breast are modesty and study of the Muse and a nature self-controlled; mirth too thou hast and honesty and a tranquil brow, and an elegance that stops short of luxury, and loyal devotion lavished on every side; the fortune of thy house has taught[1] thee to give place to thy brother of equal age, to reverence thy sire and to forgive thy hapless mother.[2] Could she bring herself to mix for thee the accursed cup of deadly juices, who by thy voice canst avert the bite of serpents, and by thy look soften the heart of any stepmother? Fain would I vex her shade, and by merited curses banish peace from her pyre: but thou, O best of youths, dost turn thy face,[3] I see, and ponderest such words as these: “Spare the dust, I pray; ’twas destiny and the wrath of guilty Fates; that god was to blame, who looks too late into human hearts, nor checks upon the threshold the motions of evil and the unhallowed plottings of the mind. May that day perish from Time’s record, nor future generations believe it! Let us at least keep silence, and suffer the crimes of our own house to be buried deep in whelming darkness. He wreaked the penalty who hath care of those who are his, at whose word Loyalty hath returned and come on earth again, whom every sin doth fear.[4] Sufficient for us and deserving of our tears is his vengeance. Nay, could we but implore the fierce Avengers, and keep Cer-

  1. ↑ Acc. to Lemaire, “admonuit” implies “you have learnt from the story of your house to,” etc.
  2. ↑ Crispinus is praised for his generosity towards his mother who tried to poison him perhaps out of favour towards his brother. A friend, Optatus, is mentioned at the end of the poem.
  3. ↑ i.e., “dost refuse to gratify my wish.”
  4. ↑ i.e., the Emperor.

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