Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/419

scarred visages bear mutual forgiveness. Then the aged king bids Acaste be summoned—his daughters’ nurse and trusty guardian, chosen to keep ward on maiden modesty consecrated to lawful wedlock—and murmurs in her silent ear.

She stayed not upon his bidding, but straightway both maidens came forth from their secret bower, in countenance, marvellous to tell, like to quiver-bearing Diana and warrior Pallas, yet without their terror. They spy the new faces of the heroes and are shamed; pallor at once and blushes made havoc of their bright cheeks, and their timorous eyes resought their reverend sire.^[1] When in the banquet’s course hunger was quelled, the son of Iasus,^[2] as his custom was, bade his thralls bring a goblet fair-wrought with figures and shining with gold, wherefrom both Danaus and elder Phoroneus were wont to pour libation to the gods. Thereon was embossed work of images: all golden, a winged youth holds the snake-tressed Gorgon’s severed head, and even upon the moment—so it seems—leaps up into the wandering breeze; she almost moves her heavy eyes and drooping head, and even grows pale in the living gold.^[3] Here the Phrygian hunter^[4] is borne aloft on tawny wings, Gargara’s range sinks downwards as he rises and Troy grows dim beneath him; sadly stand his comrades, in vain the hounds weary their throats with barking and pursue his shadow or bay at the clouds. From this he pours the streaming wine and in order due calls on all the denizens of heaven, Phoebus before the rest; Phoebus’ presence all