Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/533

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THEBAID, III. 582–607

chariots made fast in the inmost shrines of the gods; then they refashion for cruel wounds the spears that rotting rust has worn, and the swords that stick in their scabbards from neglect, and on the grindstone force them to be young once more. Some try shapely helms and the brazen mail of mighty corselets, and fit to their breasts tunics that creak with the mouldering iron, others bend Gortynian bows; in greedy furnaces scythes, ploughs and harrows and curved mattocks glow fiercely red. Nor are they ashamed to cut strong spear-shafts from sacred trees, or to make a covering for their shields from the worn-out ox. They rush to Argos, and at the doors of the despondent king clamour with heart and voice for war, for war! And the shout goes up like the roar of the Tyrrhenian surge, or when Enceladus[1] tries to shift his side: above, the fiery mountain thunders from its eaves, its peak o’erflows and Pelorus’ flood is narrowed, and the sundered land hopes to return once more.

Then Capaneus, impelled by war’s overmastering passion, with swelling heart that had long thought scorn of lingering peace,—nobility of ancient blood had he in full measure, but, surpassing the prowess of his sires, he had long despised the gods; impatient too was he of justice, and lavish of his life, did wrath but urge him—even as a dweller in Pholoe’s dark forests, or one who might stand equal among Aetnaean brethren,[2] clamours before thy portals, Amphiaraus, amid a crowd of chieftains and yelling folk: “What shameful cowardice is this, O sons

  1. ↑ A giant imprisoned under Aetna. Pelorus was a promontory to the N.E. of Messana.
  2. ↑ i.e., like a Centaur or one of the Cyclopes.

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