Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Ovid Book X Lines 60-85 (Caitlyn)


And now dying again there was no complaint against her husband
to be made (what could she complain of but that she was loved?)
and she said a last "goodbye," which almost did not reach his
ears, and fell back into the place she had come rom.
Not other than stunned was Orpheus at her double death,
like that frightened one who saw the three-headed dog
held by chains on the middle one, whose fear did not let go
until his former nature left and rock moved through his body,
or like Olenos who took crime upon him willingly
to seem guilty, or you, too proud of your beauty,
unhappy Lethaea, you, once two hearts joined
closely together, now stones, held by fertile Ida.
He spoke vainly to cross over on a second journey
but the keeper repelled him: then seven days he sat
on the shore in filthy clothes without any food;
care and pain of spirit and tears were his nourishment.
Saying that the gods of Erebus were cruel, to high
Rhodope and windblown Haemus he betook himself.
Thrice had the sun finished the year
and come to Pisces, and Orpheus had fled from all
love of womankind, whether because of his bad luck,
or because he had given his fidelity; still many felt passion
for the bard, and many suffered at being repulsed.
He gave the example to the Thracians by giving love
to tender boys and enjoying the brief spring
and first flower of their youth.

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