Metamorphoses 1.452–524

Met. 1.452Prīmus amor Phoebī Daphnē Pēnēia, quem nōn
fors ignāra dedit, sed saeva Cupīdinis īra.

Phoebus' first love was Daphne, daughter of Peneus; it was not blind chance that gave it, but the cruel anger of Cupid.

Note. Primus amor Phoebi: understand 'erat'. Daphne Peneia: 'Daphne, daughter of Peneus' (the Thessalian river-god). quem … dedit: the relative refers to amor. Note the contrast non fors ignara … sed saeva Cupidinis ira — Ovid tells us at once that this love is a punishment.

Met. 1.454Dēlius hunc, nūper victā serpente superbus,
455vīderat adductō flectentem cornua nervō
"quid"que "tibi, lascīve puer, cum fortibus armīs?"

The Delian god, still proud of his victory over the serpent, had seen him bending his bow with the string drawn back, and said: "What business have you, playful boy, with a warrior's weapons?"

Note. Delius = Apollo, born on Delos. victa serpente: ablative absolute, 'the serpent having been conquered' (the Python, killed just before this story). adducto … nervo: ablative absolute, 'with the string drawn back'. quidque … ?: 'and what (business) have you…?', with 'est' understood; quid tibi cum + abl. is an idiom: 'what have you to do with…?'. lascive puer: vocative.

Met. 1.457dīxerat, "ista decent umerōs gestāmina nostrōs,
quī dare certa ferae, dare vulnera possumus hostī,
quī modo pestiferō tot iūgera ventre prementem
460strāvimus innumerīs tumidum Pȳthōna sagittīs.

"That gear suits my shoulders — mine, who can deal sure wounds to a wild beast, wounds to an enemy, who just now laid low with countless arrows the swollen Python, whose plague-bearing belly pressed down so many acres.

Note. ista … gestamina: 'those things you carry' (bow and arrows). umeros … nostros: poetic plural for 'my shoulders'. qui … possumus: 'I who can…' — Apollo speaks of himself in the plural. dare certa ferae (vulnera), dare vulnera hosti: anaphora of dare. prementem … Pythona: Greek accusative in -a; the long hyperbaton tumidum … Pythona frames the line. Metre: the line ends with a spondaic, heavy rhythm to match the monster's bulk.

Met. 1.461Tū face nesciō quōs estō contentus amōrēs
inrītāre tuā, nec laudēs adsere nostrās."

You be content to stir up some love affair or other with your torch, and don't lay claim to my glory."

Note. face … tua: 'with your torch' (fax, facis; ablative of means), framing the line. nescio quos … amores: 'some love affairs or other' — nescio quis works like an indefinite pronoun, and is contemptuous here. esto: future imperative of sum, 'be'. adsere (= assere): 'lay claim to'.

Met. 1.463Fīlius huic Veneris "fīgat tuus omnia, Phoebe,
tē meus arcus:" ait "quantōque animālia cēdunt
465cūncta deō tantō minor est tua glōria nostrā."

Venus' son answered him: "Your bow may pierce everything, Phoebus, but mine will pierce you; and as much as all living things yield to a god, so much is your glory less than mine."

Note. Filius … Veneris = Cupid. figat tuus omnia … te meus arcus: understand figat again with meus arcus — 'let your bow pierce everything, mine will pierce you'. Note the chiastic pairing tuus/meus and omnia/te. quanto … tanto: 'by as much as … by so much', ablatives of degree of difference. tua gloria nostrā: 'your glory is less than mine' — nostrā (gloriā) is an ablative of comparison; the metre shows its long final ā.

Met. 1.466Dīxit et ēlīsō percussīs āere pennīs
inpiger umbrōsā Parnāsī cōnstitit arce
ēque sagittiferā prōmpsit duo tēla pharetrā
dīversōrum operum: fugat hoc, facit illud amōrem.

He spoke, and cutting through the air with beating wings, he quickly came to rest on the shady height of Parnassus, and from his arrow-bearing quiver he drew two shafts of opposite effect: one drives love away, the other makes it.

Note. eliso … aere: ablative absolute, 'the air being struck'. percussis … pennis: 'with beating wings'. eque = et e: 'and from'. diversorum operum: genitive of description, 'of opposite effects'. fugat hoc, facit illud amorem: chiasmus — the line ends with the word both verbs share.

Met. 1.470Quod facit, aurātum est et cuspide fulget acūta;

The one that makes it is golden and gleams with a sharp point;

Note. Quod facit (amorem): 'the one that causes (love)'. auratum: 'tipped with gold'. The golden arrow is sharp; the leaden one blunt.

Met. 1.471quod fugat, obtūsum est et habet sub harundine plumbum.

the one that drives it away is blunt and has lead under the reed shaft.

Note. harundine: the reed shaft of the arrow. plumbum: lead, the heavy, dull metal, suited to the arrow that kills love.

Met. 1.472Hoc deus in nymphā Pēnēide fīxit, at illō
laesit Apollineās trāiecta per ossa medullās.

This one the god fixed in the nymph, Peneus' daughter, but with the other he wounded Apollo, piercing through his bones to the marrow.

Note. Hoc … illo: 'this (leaden) one … that (golden) one'. Peneide: Greek-style adjective 'Peneian', i.e. Daphne. traiecta per ossa: 'through his pierced bones' — the participle agrees with ossa. Apollineas … medullas: the marrow, thought the seat of passion.

Met. 1.474Prōtinus alter amat, fugit altera nōmen amantis
475silvārum tenebrīs captīvārumque ferārum
exuviīs gaudēns innūptaeque aemula Phoebēs.

At once the one loves, while the other flees the very name of a lover, delighting in the dark woods and the spoils of captured beasts, a rival of the unmarried Phoebe.

Note. alter … altera: 'the one (he) … the other (she)'. nomen amantis: 'the very word lover'. gaudens + abl.: 'rejoicing in'. innuptae … aemula Phoebes: 'a rival of unmarried Phoebe' — Diana, the virgin huntress; Phoebes is a Greek genitive.

Met. 1.477Vitta coercēbat positōs sine lēge capillōs.

A ribbon held back her hair, which lay in no order.

Note. positos sine lege capillos: 'hair arranged without rule', i.e. untidy. A ribbon (vitta) was worn by unmarried girls.

Met. 1.478Multī illam petiēre, illa āversāta petentēs
inpatiēns expersque virī nemora āvia lūstrat,
480nec quid Hymēn, quid Amor, quid sint cōnūbia cūrat.

Many sought her; she, turning away her suitors, unable to bear a man and with no part in one, roams the pathless groves, and does not care what Hymen is, what Love is, what marriage is.

Note. petiere = petiverunt (3rd plural perfect in -ēre). aversata petentes: 'turning away from her suitors' (deponent participle with an object). impatiens expersque viri: 'unable to bear, and without experience of, a man' — both adjectives take the genitive. quid … quid … quid sint: indirect questions with the subjunctive. Hymen is the god of marriage.

Met. 1.481Saepe pater dīxit "generum mihi, fīlia, dēbēs,"
saepe pater dīxit "dēbēs mihi nāta, nepōtēs:"
illa, velut crīmen taedās exōsa iugālēs,
pulchra verēcundō suffunditur ōra rubōre,
485inque patris blandīs haerēns cervīce lacertīs
"dā mihi perpetuā, genitor cārissime," dīxit
"virginitāte fruī: dedit hoc pater ante Diānae."

Often her father said, "Daughter, you owe me a son-in-law"; often her father said, "My child, you owe me grandchildren"; but she, hating the marriage torch as if it were a crime, would flush her lovely face with a modest blush, and clinging to her father's neck with coaxing arms she said, "Let me, dearest father, enjoy lasting maidenhood: her father granted this to Diana before."

Note. Note the repetition saepe pater dixit … saepe pater dixit: the father's nagging. generum … nepotes: 'a son-in-law … grandchildren'. velut crimen taedas exosa iugales: 'hating the wedding torches as if a crime'; exosa is active in meaning. ora: accusative of respect with the passive suffunditur, 'she is suffused as to her face'. da mihi … frui: 'grant me to enjoy' (frui takes the ablative virginitate). dedit hoc pater ante Dianae: Jupiter granted Diana perpetual virginity — Daphne cites a divine precedent.

Met. 1.488Ille quidem obsequitur, sed tē decor iste quod optās
esse vetat.

He does indeed give way, but that beauty of yours forbids you to be what you wish.

Note. Ille: her father. quidem … sed: 'he indeed … but'. te … esse vetat: 'forbids you to be'. quod optas: 'what you wish' (to stay a virgin). Ovid turns to address Daphne directly (apostrophe).

Met. 1.489Vōtōque tuō tua fōrma repugnat:
490Phoebus amat vīsaeque cupit cōnūbia Daphnēs,
quodque cupit, spērat, suaque illum ōrācula fallunt.

Your looks fight against your prayer: Phoebus loves, and longs for marriage with Daphne whom he has seen, and what he longs for, he hopes for, and his own oracles deceive him.

Note. voto … tuo: dative with repugnat. visae … Daphnes: 'of Daphne, whom he has seen' (Greek genitive in -es). quodque cupit, sperat: 'what he desires, he hopes for'. sua … oracula: the god of prophecy cannot foresee his own failure — an Ovidian joke.

Met. 1.492Utque levēs stipulae dēmptīs adolentur aristīs,
ut facibus saepēs ārdent, quās forte viātor
vel nimis admōvit vel iam sub lūce relīquit,
495sīc deus in flammās abiit, sīc pectore tōtō
ūritur et sterilem spērandō nūtrit amōrem.

As the light stubble burns when the ears of grain have been taken off, as hedges blaze from torches that a traveller happened to bring too close or left behind at daybreak, so the god went up in flames, so he burns in all his heart and feeds a barren love with hoping.

Note. An extended simile: ut … ut … sic … sic. demptis … aristis: ablative absolute. quas … admovit … reliquit: the traveller has carelessly brought a torch too near, or left it burning at dawn. abiit in flammas: 'went up in flames'. sperando: gerund, 'by hoping'.

Met. 1.497Spectat inōrnātōs collō pendēre capillōs
et "quid, sī cōmantur?"

He looks at her unadorned hair hanging on her neck and "What if it were arranged?"

Note. quid, si comantur?: 'what if it were done up?' — Apollo imagines her hair arranged. The indicative is lively.

Met. 1.498ait.

he says.

Met. 1.498Videt igne micantēs
sīderibus similēs oculōs, videt ōscula, quae nōn
500est vīdisse satis;

He sees her eyes flashing with fire, like stars; he sees her lips, which it is not enough just to have seen;

Note. igne micantes … similes oculos: the eyes are 'flashing with fire, like stars'. quae non est vidisse satis: 'which it is not enough to have (only) seen' — he wants to kiss them.

Met. 1.500laudat digitōsque manūsque
bracchiaque et nūdōs mediā plus parte lacertōs.

he praises her fingers and hands and arms, and her upper arms bare to more than halfway.

Note. digitosque manusque bracchiaque: polysyndeton (repeated -que), the eye moving up her arm. media plus parte: 'more than halfway', ablative of comparison with plus.

Met. 1.502Sīqua latent, meliōra putat.

Whatever is hidden he thinks finer still.

Note. Siqua = si qua, 'whatever (things)'. meliora: comparative of bonus.

Met. 1.502Fugit ōcior aurā
illa levī neque ad haec revocantis verba resistit:
"Nympha, precor, Pēnēi, manē!

She flees, swifter than the light breeze, and does not stop at these words as he calls her back: "Nymph, daughter of Peneus, I beg you, stay!

Note. ocior aura … levi: 'swifter than the light breeze' — aura is an ablative of comparison. revocantis: 'of (him) calling her back'. Penei: vocative of Peneis, 'daughter of Peneus' (four syllables, Pē-nē-ĭ).

Met. 1.504Nōn īnsequor hostis:
505nympha, manē!

I am not chasing you as an enemy: nymph, stay!

Note. non insequor hostis: 'I do not pursue (you) as an enemy'; hostis is predicative.

Met. 1.505sīc agna lupum, sīc cerva leōnem,
sīc aquilam pennā fugiunt trepidante columbae,
hostēs quaeque suōs: amor est mihi causa sequendī.

This is how the lamb flees the wolf, the doe the lion, doves with fluttering wings flee the eagle, each its own enemies: love is my reason for following.

Note. A string of animals fleeing their natural enemies; fugiunt serves all three clauses. hostes quaeque suos: 'each (flees) its own enemies'. amor est mihi causa sequendi: 'love is my reason for following' — sequendi is the gerund of a deponent.

Met. 1.508Mē miserum!

Poor me!

Note. Me miserum: accusative of exclamation, 'wretched me!'.

Met. 1.508nē prōna cadās indignave laedī
crūra notent sentēs et sim tibi causa dolōris.

Do not fall headlong, or the brambles scratch your legs, which do not deserve to be hurt, and I be the cause of your pain.

Note. ne … cadas … notent … sim: clauses of fearing / purpose with ne, 'lest you fall'. indignave laedi crura: 'legs that do not deserve to be hurt' — indigna takes the infinitive. sentes: 'brambles'.

Met. 1.510Aspera, quā properās, loca sunt.

The places you are hurrying through are rough.

Note. qua: adverb, 'where, by which way'. Aspera … loca: hyperbaton.

Met. 1.510Moderātius, ōrō,
curre fugamque inhibē;

Run more slowly, I beg you, and check your flight;

Note. moderatius: comparative adverb, 'more slowly'. Ovid's wit: the pursuer offers to run more slowly himself.

Met. 1.511moderātius īnsequar ipse.

I will follow more slowly myself.

Met. 1.512Cui placeās, inquīre tamen.

Yet ask whom you are pleasing.

Note. Cui placeas: indirect question, 'whom you are pleasing'.

Met. 1.512Nōn incola montis,
nōn ego sum pāstor, nōn hīc armenta gregēsque
horridus observō.

I am no mountain-dweller, no shepherd; I do not stand guard here over herds and flocks, a rough fellow.

Note. incola montis: 'a mountain-dweller'. hic: adverb, 'here'. horridus: 'shaggy, rough' — a rustic. Apollo's speech now becomes a boasting self-introduction, like a lover's sales pitch.

Met. 1.514Nescīs, temerāria, nescīs
515quem fugiās, ideōque fugis.

You don't know, reckless girl, you don't know whom you are fleeing, and that is why you flee.

Note. Nescis … nescis: emphatic repetition. quem fugias: indirect question.

Met. 1.515Mihi Delphica tellūs
et Claros et Tenedos Patareaque rēgia servit,
Iuppiter est genitor;

The land of Delphi serves me, and Claros and Tenedos and the palace at Patara; Jupiter is my father;

Note. Delphica tellus: Delphi. Claros (in Ionia), Tenedos (an island off Troy) and Patara (in Lycia) all had oracles or temples of Apollo. Patarea regia: 'the Pataran palace'. servit agrees with the nearest subject.

Met. 1.517per mē quod eritque fuitque
estque patet;

through me is revealed what will be and what has been and what is;

Note. quod eritque fuitque estque: 'what will be, has been, and is' — the god of prophecy. Note the three -que.

Met. 1.518per mē concordant carmina nervīs.

through me songs are in harmony with strings.

Note. concordant carmina nervis: Apollo is god of music; nervis is dative, 'agree with the strings'.

Met. 1.519Certa quidem nostra est, nostrā tamen ūna sagitta
520certior, in vacuō quae vulnera pectore fēcit.

My arrow is sure indeed, yet one arrow is surer than mine, which has made wounds in my empty heart.

Note. Certa … nostra (sagitta): 'my arrow is sure'. nostrā tamen una sagitta certior: 'yet one arrow is surer than mine' — the second nostrā is an ablative of comparison (long ā), and the one surer arrow is Cupid's. in vacuo … pectore: 'in my heart, (once) free (of love)'.

Met. 1.521Inventum medicīna meum est, opiferque per orbem
dīcor, et herbārum subiecta potentia nōbīs:
ei mihi, quod nūllīs amor est sānābilis herbīs
nec prōsunt dominō, quae prōsunt omnibus, artēs."

Medicine is my discovery, and I am called the Helper throughout the world, and the power of herbs is subject to me: ah me, that love can be cured by no herbs, and the arts that help everyone do not help their master!"

Note. Inventum medicina meum est: 'medicine is my invention'. opifer: 'bringer of help'. subiecta … nobis: 'subject to me'. ei mihi: 'alas for me!'. quod: 'that', explaining the cause of his grief. nec prosunt domino … artes: the healer cannot heal himself.