Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/567

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THEBAID, IV. 281–305

mountain-ash peopled the earth, and the young babe fell from the pregnant ash-tree’s womb. ’Tis said that, struck with terror at the change from light to murky darkness, they followed far the setting Titan, despairing of the day. The husbandmen grow few on high Maenalus, the forests of Parthenius are deserted, Rhipe and Stratie and windy Enispe give their troops to aid the war. Neither Tegea nor Cyllene blest by the winged god stand idle, nor Alea, woodland shrine of Minerva, nor swift Clitor, nor Ladon,[1] almost, O Pythian, the father of thy bride; nor yet Lampia with her shining snow-white ridges, nor Pheneos,[2] believed to send down Styx to swarthy Dis. Azan, that can rival the howling mobs of Ida,[3] came, and the Parrhasian leaders, and the Nonacrian countryside, wherein the Thunderer quiver-clad[4] took delight, and furnished laughter for you, ye Loves, and Orchomenos rich in cattle, and Cynosura abounding in wild beasts. The same ardour lays bare the fields of Aepytus and lofty Psophis and the mountains famed for Hercules’ might, Erymanthos home of monsters, and Stymphalos with its clanging bronze.[5] All Arcadians these, one race of men, but sundered by differing customs: these bend back Paphian myrtle-saplings, and practise warfare with pastoral staves; some have bows, some pikes for weapons; some cover their hair with helmets, while that one keeps the fashion of the Arcadian hat, and another makes his head terrible with the jaws of a Lycaonian she-bear.[6] This warlike gathering of hearts sworn true to Mars

  1. ↑ He was father of Daphne.
  2. ↑ A lake near the town of that name in Arcadia; the underground channels of the rivers were supposed to lead down to Hades.
  3. ↑ Because there too Cybele was worshipped.
  4. ↑ When he assumed the shape of Diana to gain the favours of Callisto.
  5. ↑ Refers to the brazen rattle with which Hercules frightened the Stymphalian birds.
  6. ↑ Such as Callisto, daughter of Lycaon, was turned into.

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