Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/531

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THEBAID, III. 555–581

search out the day of our birth[1] and the scene of our life’s ending, what the as Father of the gods is thinking, or iron-hearted Clotho? Hence comes it that entrails occupy us, and the airy speech of birds, and the moon’s numbered seeds,[2] and Thessalia’s horrid rites. But that earlier golden age of our forefathers, and the races born of rock or oak[3] were not thus minded; their only passion was to gain the mastery of the woods and the soil by might of hand; it was forbidden to man to know what to-morrow’s day would bring. We, a depraved and pitiable crowd, probe deep the counsels of the gods; hence come wrath and anxious fear, hence crime and treachery, and importunity in prayer.

Therefore the priest tears from his brow the fillets and wreaths condemned of heaven, and all unhonoured, his chaplet cast away, returns from the hated mount; already war is at hand, and the sound of trumpets, and in his heart he hears the clamour of absent Thebes. Not sight of populace, nor trusted converse with the monarch, nor council of chieftains can he bear, but hidden in his dark chamber refuses to make known the doings of the gods; thee, Melampus, shame and thy own cares keep in thy country region. For twelve days he speaks not, and holds people and leaders in long-drawn suspense. And now tumultuous grow the Thunderer’s high behests, and lay waste of men both fields and ancient towns; on every side the war-god sweeps countless troops before him; gladly do they leave their homes and beloved wives and babes that wail upon the threshold; with such power hath the god assailed their frenzied hearts. Eager are they to tear away the weapons from their fathers’ doorposts and the

  1. ↑ The reference is apparently to horoscopes.
  2. ↑ It is not clear what he means by this: possibly “semita” should be read, “the calculated path of the moon.”
  3. ↑ The earliest races, e.g. the Arcadians, were supposed to have sprung from trees or rocks.

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