Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/453

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THEBAID, II. 266–287

the ill-starred ornament of thy husband’s giving, the dread necklace of Harmonia.[1] Far back the story runs, but I will pursue the well-known tale of woes, whence came it that a new gift had such terrible power.

The Lemnian,[2] so they of old believed, long time distressed at Mars’ deceit and seeing that no punishment gave hindrance to the disclosed amour, and the avenging chains removed not the offence, wrought this for Harmonia on her bridal day to be the glory of her dower. Thereat, though taught mightier tasks, the Cyclopes labour, and the Telchines famed for their handiwork helped in friendly rivalry of skill; but for himself the sweat of toil was heaviest. There forms he a circlet of emeralds glowing with a hidden fire, and adamant stamped with figures of ill omen, and Gorgon eyes, and embers left on the Sicilian anvil from the last shaping of a thunderbolt, and the crests that shine on the heads of green serpents; then the dolorous fruit of the Hesperides[3] and the dread gold of Phrixus’ fleece; then divers plagues doth he intertwine, and the king adder snatched from Tisiphone’s grisly locks, and the wicked power that commends the girdle[4]; all these he cunningly anoints about with lunar foam,[5] and pours over them the poison of delight. Not Pasithea,[6] eldest of the gracious sisters, nor Charm nor the Idalian youth did mould it, but Grief, and all the Passions, and Anguish,

  1. ↑ Daughter of Venus and wife of Cadmus.
  2. ↑ Vulcan. The reference is to the famous bed which he contrived. It was fitted with chains which closed upon Venus and Mars as they lay together on the bed. (See Hom. Od. viii. 266 f.) Harmonia was the daughter of Venus and Mars.
  3. ↑ Statius must mean amber, wept by the daughters of the sun when turned into poplars, but he calls them Hesperides (as being in the west) instead of Heliades.
  4. ↑ The girdle of Venus is spoken of as having power to instil desire; see Hom. Il. xiv. 214.
  5. ↑ For this cf. Val. Fl. Arg. vi. 447; Apuleius, Met. i. 3. It was supposed that witches could obtain foam or spume from the moon when they drew it down to earth, and so made their poisons more deadly.
  6. ↑ The eldest of the Graces; their names were more commonly said to be Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia.

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