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SILVAE, I. ii. 207–232

springs; the Naiad marvels at the freshness of his kisses, nor can believe her lover has come from the open main.

What a day was that, O Stella, for thy eager spirit, when the gods showed thee signal bounty! How thy hopes surged within thy heart, when thy lady’s favouring look gave promise of the bliss of wedlock! Thou didst seem to tread the sky and walk among the shining heavens. Less exultant was the shepherd on Amyclae’s sand when Helen came to the ships of Ida; less eager seemed Peleus to Thessalian Tempe, when Chiron high on his horse’s body looked forth and beheld Thetis draw nigh to the Haemonian strand. How tardy are the lingering stars! how slow is Aurora to a lover's prayer!

But when the son of Leto, sire of poets, and Euhan, Semele’s son, perceived from afar that Stella’s marriage-chamber was preparing, from Ortygia the one, from Nysa the other they set their swift companies in train. To Apollo the Lycian hills and cool resorts of shady Thymbra sound responsive, and thou, Parnassus; Pangaea and Ismara re-echo Bacchus, and the shores of Naxos, once his bridal bower.[1] Then did they enter the doors they loved, and brought to their tuneful friend their gifts of lyre and quill, of dappled yellow fawnskin and mystic wands: the one adorns the poet’s brow with bay, the other sets a Minoan crown[2] upon his hair.

Scarce is the light of day sent forth, and already the omens of a happy union are at hand, already either house is aglow with festal pomp. The doorposts are green with foliage, the cross-roads bright with flame, and the most populous part of immeasurable Rome rejoices. No office of State, no

  1. ↑ It was there that he made Ariadne his bride.
  2. ↑ Clearly not the crown of Ariadne; probably ivy, with which Bacchus is always connected; there was a tradition that he wore it for sorrow after the death of Ariadne (Theon on Aratus, Phaen. 71).

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