Metamorphoses

Ovid

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

  1. After Aeneas had passed by all those
  2. and seen to his right hand the distant walls
  3. guarding the city of Parthenope,
  4. he passed on his left hand a mound,
  5. grave of the tuneful son of Aeolus.
  6. Landing on Cumae's marshy shore, he reached
  7. a cavern, home of the long lived Sibylla,
  8. and prayed that she would give him at the lake,
  9. Avernus, access to his father's shade.
  10. She raised her countenance, from gazing on
  11. the ground, and with an inspiration given
  12. to her by influence of the god, she said,
  13. “Much you would have, O man of famous deeds,
  14. whose courage is attested by the sword,
  15. whose filial piety is proved by flame.
  16. But, Trojan, have no fear. I grant your wish,
  17. and with my guidance you shall look upon
  18. the latest kingdom of the world, shall see
  19. Elysian homes and your dear father's shade,
  20. for virtue there is everywhere a way.”
  21. She spoke, and pointed out to him a branch
  22. refulgent with bright gold, found in the woods
  23. of Juno of Avernus, and commanded him
  24. to pluck it from the stem. Aeneas did
  25. what she advised him. Then he saw the wealth
  26. of the dread Orcus, and he saw his own
  27. ancestors, and beheld the aged ghost
  28. of great Anchises. There he learned the laws
  29. of that deep region, and what dangers must
  30. be undergone by him in future wars.
  31. Retracing with his weary steps the path
  32. up to the light, he found relief from toil
  33. in converse with the sage Cumaean guide.
  34. While in thick dusk he trod the frightful way,
  35. “Whether you are a deity,” he said,
  36. “Or human and most favored by the gods,
  37. to me you always will appear divine.
  38. I will confess, too, my existence here
  39. is due to your kind aid, for by your will
  40. I visited the dark abodes of death,
  41. and I escaped the death which I beheld.
  42. For this great service, when I shall emerge
  43. into the sunlit air, I will erect
  44. for you a temple and will burn for you
  45. sweet incense kindled at the altar flame.”
  46. The prophetess looked on him and with sighs,
  47. “I am no goddess,” she replied, “nor is
  48. it well to honor any mortal head
  49. with tribute of the holy frankincense.
  50. And, that you may not err through ignorance,
  51. I tell you life eternal without end
  52. was;offered to me, if I would but yield
  53. virginity to Phoebus for his love.
  54. And, while he hoped for this and in desire
  55. offered to bribe me for my virtue, first
  56. with gifts, he said, ‘Maiden of Cumae choose
  57. whatever you may wish, and you shall gain
  58. all that you wish.’ I pointed to a heap
  59. of dust collected there, and foolishly
  60. replied, ‘As many birthdays must be given
  61. to me as there are particles of sand.’
  62. “For I forgot to wish them days of changeless youth.
  63. He gave long life and offered youth besides,
  64. if I would grant his wish. This I refused,
  65. I live unwedded still. My happier time
  66. has fled away, now comes with tottering step
  67. infirm old age, which I shall long endure.
  68. You find me ending seven long centuries,
  69. and there remain for me, before my years
  70. equal the number of those grains of sand,
  71. three hundred harvests, three hundred vintages!
  72. The time will come, when long increase of days
  73. will so contract me from my present size
  74. and so far waste away my limbs with age
  75. that I shall dwindle to a trifling weight,
  76. so trifling, it will never be believed
  77. I once was loved and even pleased a god.
  78. Perhaps, even Phoebus will not recognize me,
  79. or will deny he ever bore me love.
  80. But, though I change till eye would never know me,
  81. my voice shall live, the fates will leave my voice.”