Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/515

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THEBAID, III. 347–370

unexpectedly, and from the very portals of the palace cries aloud: “To arms, to arms, ye men, and thou, most worthy ruler of Lerna,[1] if thou hast the blood of thy brave ancestors, to arms! Natural ties, justice, and reverence for Jove have perished from the world! Better had I gone an envoy to the wild Sauromatae, or the blood-stained warden of the Bebrycian grove.[2] I blame not thy commands, nor regret my errand; glad am I that I went, yea glad, and that my hand has probed the guilt of Thebes. ’Twas war, believe me, war! like a strong tower or city stoutly fortified was I beset, all defenceless and ignorant of my path, treacherously at night, by a picked ambuscade armed to the teeth, ay, but in vain!—they lie there in their own blood, before a city desolated! Now, now is the time to march against the foe, while they are struck by panic and and pale with fear, while they are bringing in the corpses, now, sire, while this right arm is not yet forgotten.[3] I myself even, wearied by the slaughter of those fifty warriors, and bearing the wounds ye see still running with foul gore, beg to set forth upon the instant!” In alarm the sons of Inachus start up from their seats, and before them all the Cadmean hero runs forward with downcast countenance: “Ah! hated of the gods and guilty that I am! do I see these wounds, myself unharmed? Is this, then, the return thou hadst in store for me, brother? Am I the mark, then, of my kinsman’s weapons? Ah! shame-

  1. ↑ As often, for Argos.
  2. ↑ Where Amycus, king of the Bebrycii, fought all strangers and slew those whom he defeated, until he was himself slain by Pollux.
  3. ↑ “excidit,” sc. “memoria” as in l. 302. It is easier to suppose that this was not understood and “capulo” therefore inserted and “nunc socer” dropped than to account for the latter replacing “capulo.”

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