Metamorphoses

Ovid

Ovid. Metamorphoses. More, Brookes, translator. Boston: Cornhill Publishing Co., 1922.

  1. Nestor had hardly told this marvellous tale
  2. of bitter strife betwixt the Lapithae
  3. and those half-human, vanquished Centaurs, when
  4. Tlepolemus, incensed because no word
  5. of praise was given to Hercules, replied
  6. in this way; “Old sir, it is very strange,
  7. you have neglected to say one good word
  8. in praise of Hercules. My father told
  9. me often, that he overcame in battle
  10. those cloud born centaurs.”
  11. Nestor, very loth,
  12. replied, “Why force me to recall old wrongs,
  13. to uncover sorrow buried by the years,
  14. that made me hate your father? It is true
  15. his deeds were wonderful beyond belief,
  16. heaven knows, and filled the earth with well earned praise
  17. which I should rather wish might be denied.
  18. Deiphobus, the wise Polydamas, and even
  19. great Hector get no praise from me.
  20. Your father, I recall once overthrew
  21. Messene's walls and with no cause destroyed
  22. Elis and Pylos and with fire and sword
  23. ruined my own loved home. I cannot name
  24. all whom he killed. But there were twelve of us,
  25. the sons of Neleus and all warrior youths,
  26. and all those twelve but me alone he killed.
  27. Ten of them met the common fate of war,
  28. but sadder was the death of Periclymenus.
  29. “Neptune, the founder of my family,
  30. had granted him a power to assume
  31. whatever shape he chose, and when he wished
  32. to lay that shape aside. When he, in vain,
  33. had been transformed to many other shapes
  34. he turned into the form of that bird, which
  35. is wont to carry in his crooked talons
  36. the forked lightnings, favorite bird of Jove.
  37. With wings and crooked bill and sharp-hooked talons,
  38. he assailed and tore the face of Hercules.
  39. But, when he soared away on eagle wings
  40. up to the clouds and hovered, poised in air,
  41. that hero aimed his too unerring bow
  42. and hit him where the new wing joined his side.
  43. The wound was not large, but his sinews cut
  44. failed to uphold him, and denied his wings
  45. their strength and motion. He fell down to earth;
  46. his weakened pinions could not catch the air.
  47. And the sharp arrow, which had lightly pierced
  48. the wing, was driven upward through the side
  49. into the left part of my brother's neck.
  50. “O noble leader of the Rhodian fleet,
  51. why should I sing the praise of Hercules?
  52. But for my brothers I take no revenge
  53. except withholding praise of his great deeds.
  54. With you, my friendship will remain secure.”
  55. When Nestor with his honied tongue had told
  56. these tales of old, they all took wine again
  57. and they arose and gave the night to sleep.