Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/417

gracious refresher of the mind, till the next sun shed blithe upspringing upon faint mortality, thou, kindly Night, dost bring me of thy bounty assurance long sought in perplexity and doubt, and dost reveal the ancient purposes of fate: aid now my work, and certify the omens thou hast given. Ever shall this house throughout the circling periods of the year hold thee high in honour and in worship; black bulls of chosen beauty shall pay thee sacrifice, O goddess! and Vulcan’s fire shall eat the lustral entrails, whereo’er the new milk streams. Hail, ancient truth of mystic Tripod! hail, secret grotto! I have found, O Fortune, that the gods are gods indeed!” So saying, and joining arms with both he goes forward to the inner chamber of his dwelling. Even yet the fires slumbered in the grey ashes on the altars, and the poured offerings of the sacrifice were yet warm; he bids the flames again be roused and the late banquet be renewed. His henchmen obey his words in emulous haste: manifold tumult echoes throughout the palace. Some array the couches with delicate purple and rustling embroidery of gold and pile the cushions high, some polish smooth and place in order the tables: others again set about to banish the darkness of gloomy night by stretching chains for gilded lanterns; these have the task of roasting on a spit’s point the bloodless flesh of slain beasts, those of crushing grain on a stone and heaping the bread in baskets; Adrastus rejoices to see his house aglow with obedient service.

And now he himself, raised high on the proud cushions of an ivory throne, shone resplendent; elsewhere the youths recline, their wounds healed with cleansing water, and beholding each other’s