[audio:http://blogs.dickinson.edu/archive/images/the-death-of-bitias.mp3]
tum Bitian ardentem oculis animisque frementem,
non iaculo (neque enim iaculo uitam ille dedisset),
sed magnum stridens contorta phalarica uenit
fulminis acta modo, quam nec duo taurea terga
nec duplici squama lorica fidelis et auro
sustinuit; conlapsa ruunt immania membra,
dat tellus gemitum et clipeum super intonat ingens.
talis in Euboico Baiarum litore quondam
saxea pila cadit, magnis quam molibus ante
constructam ponto iaciunt, sic illa ruinam
prona trahit penitusque uadis inlisa recumbit;
miscent se maria et nigrae attolluntur harenae,
tum sonitu Prochyta alta tremit durumque cubile
Inarime Iouis imperiis imposta Typhoeo.

The Death of Bitias (Vergil, Aeneid 9.703-716)

The Latin Poetry Podcast is a series of short Latin passages, discussed, translated, and read aloud by Christopher Francese, Asbury J. Clarke Professor of Classical Studies at Dickinson College

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Juno has just finished her opening monologue in which she whips herself into a frenzy of rage at Hercules. As the chorus enters, they sing of the dawn, then deliver an encomium of the simple country life, away from the ambition, greed, and corruption of city life. (Seneca apparently knew little of country life, which can be just as full of ambition, greed, and corruption as city life. But the sentiments are conventional.) The poetry here is more lyrical and contemplative than the thrusting, fiery rage of the opening monologue. The meter is in anapestic dimeters.
Iam rāra micant                                                    125
sīdera prōnō languida mundō;                             125bis
nox vīcta vagōs contrahit ignēs
lūce renātā;
cōgit nitidum Phōsphoros agmen;
signum celsī glaciāle polī
septem stēllīs Arcados Ursa                                 130
lūcem versō tēmōne vocat.
iam caeruleīs ēvectus equīs
Tītān summā prōspicit Oetā;
iam Cadmēīs inclita Bacchīs
aspersa diē dūmēta rubent,                                   135
Phoebīque fugit reditūra soror.
 
Labor exoritur dūrus et omnēs
agitat cūrās aperitque domōs.
pāstor gelidā cāna pruīnā
grege dīmissō pābula carpit;                                140
lūdit prātō līber apertō
nōndum ruptā fronte iuvencus;
vacuae reparant ūbera mātrēs;
errat cursū levis incertō
mollī petulāns haedus in herbā.                           145
pendet summō strīdula rāmō
pinnāsque novō trādere sōlī
gestit querulōs inter nīdōs
Thrācia paelex,
turbaque circā cōnfūsa sonat                                150
murmure mixtō testāta diem.
carbasa ventīs                                                       152
crēdit dubius nāvita vītae                                     152bis
laxōs aurā complente sinūs.
hic exēsīs pendēns scopulīs
aut dēceptōs īnstruit hāmōs                                  155
aut suspēnsus
spectat pressā praemia dextrā;
sentit tremulum līnea piscem.
 
Haec, innocuae quibus est vītae
tranquilla quiēs                                                    160a
et laeta suō parvōque domus.                               160b-1a
spēs immānēs urbibus errant                                161b-3a
trepidīque metūs.                                                 163b
ille superbōs aditūs rēgum
dūrāsque forēs expers somnī                                165
colit; hic nūllō fīne beātās
compōnit opēs
gāzīs inhiāns                                                        167b
et congestō pauper in aurō;
illum populī favor attonitum
flūctūque magis mōbile vulgus                            170
aurā tumidum tollit inānī;
hic clāmōsī rabiōsa forī
iūrgia vēndēns                                                      173
improbus īrās et verba locat.                                173bis
 
Nōvit paucōs sēcūra quiēs,
quī vēlōcis memorēs aevī                                    175
tempora numquam reditūra tenent.
dum fāta sinunt, vīvite laetī.
properat cursū vīta citātō,
volucrīque diē
rota praecipitis vertitur annī;                                180
dūrae peragunt pēnsa sorōrēs
nec sua retrō fīla revolvunt.
at gēns hominum fertur rapidīs
obvia fātīs incerta suī;
Stygiās ultrō quaerimus undās.                            185
nimium, Alcīdē, pectore fortī
properās maestōs vīsere mānēs.
certō veniunt tempore Parcae.
nūllī iussō cessāre licet,
nūllī scrīptum prōferre diem;                               190
recipit populōs urna citātōs.
 
Alium multīs glōria terrīs
trādat et omnēs
Fāma per urbēs garrula laudet,

Dawn at Thebes (Seneca, Hercules Furens 125-201)

Hercules is known for his monumental strength and immense fortitude, today this Greek hero himself would be dwarfed by the strength and durability of Metal Roofing, a trend that will make you feel protected by the Greek gods themselves.
 A Beautiful Wedding Photography Season
Can you imagine a future where we could have contemplated the majestic strength and imposing Hercules (?) In the meantime everything is left to the imagination, with Fame Park this is over, no more imagining, just contemplating the beautiful moments captured.
Soror Tonantis – hōc enim sōlum mihi
nōmen relictum est – semper aliēnum Iovem
ac templa summī vidua dēseruī aetheris,
locumque caelō pulsa paelicibus dedī;
tellūs colenda est, paelicēs caelum tenent.                 5
hinc Arctos altā parte glaciālis polī
sublīme classēs sīdus Argolicās agit;
hinc, quā recentī vēre laxātur diēs,
Tyriae per undās vector Eurōpae nitet;
illinc timendum ratibus ac pontō gregem                   10
passim vagantēs exserunt Atlantidēs.
ferrō mināx hinc terret Ōrīōn deōs
suāsque Persēus aureus stēllās habet;
hinc clāra geminī signa Tyndaridae micant
quibusque nātīs mōbilis tellūs stetit.                           15
nec ipse tantum Bacchus aut Bacchī parēns
adiēre superōs: nē qua pars probrō vacet,
mundus puellae serta Cnōsiacae gerit.
Sed sēro querimur; ūna mē dīra ac fera
Thēbāna tellūs mātribus sparsa impiīs                        20
quotiēns novercam fēcit! ēscendat licet
meumque uictrīx teneat Alcmēnē locum,
pariterque nātus astra prōmissa occupet,
in cuius ortūs mundus impendit diem
tardusque Eōō Phoebus effulsit marī                          25
retinēre mersum iussus Ōceanō iubar,
nōn sīc abībunt odia; vīvācēs aget
violentus īrās animus, et saevus dolor
aeterna bella pāce sublātā geret.

Seneca Hecules Furens 1-29

Despite my royal status and lineage, I am begging you. Spare me, please. May you get everything you want as a huntsman.
tolle morās tantum properātaque foedera iunge —
quī mihi nunc saevit, sīc tibi parcat Amor!
nōn ego dēdignor supplex humilisque precārī.
150                                   heu! ubi nunc fastūs altaque verba iacent?
et pugnāre diū nec mē submittere culpae
certa fuī — certī sīquid habēret amor;
vīcta precor genibusque tuīs rēgālia tendō
bracchia! quid deceat, nōn videt ūllus amāns.
155                            dēpuduī, profugusque pudor sua signa relīquit.
dā veniam fassae dūraque corda domā!
quod mihi sit genitor, quī possidet aequora, Mīnōs,
quod veniant proavī fulmina torta manū,
quod sit avus radiīs frontem vāllātus acūtīs,
160                                   purpureum rapidō quī movet axe diem —
nōbilitās sub amōre iacet! miserēre priōrum
et, mihi sī nōn vīs parcere, parce meīs!
est mihi dōtālis tellūs Iovis īnsula, Crētē —
serviat Hippolytō rēgia tōta meō!
165                            flecte, ferōx, animōs! potuit corrumpere taurum
māter; eris taurō saevior ipse trucī?
per Venerem, parcās, ōrō, quae plūrima mēcum est!
sīc numquam, quae tē spernere possit, amēs;
sīc tibi sēcrētīs agilis dea saltibus adsit,
170                                   silvaque perdendās praebeat alta ferās;
sīc faveant Satyrī montānaque nūmina Pānes,
et cadat adversā cuspide fossus aper;
sīc tibi dent Nymphae, quamvīs ōdisse puellās
dīceris, ārentem quae levet unda sitim!
175                            addimus hīs precibus lacrimās quoque; verba precantis
quī legis, et lacrimās finge vidēre meās!

Phaedra to Hippolytus, part 4 (Ovid, Heroides 4.147-176)

Phaedra asks Hippolytus to put off his huntsman’s persona and relax, then offers to come out on the hunt with him. She offers to abandon Theseus and move to Troezen to be with Hippolytus. Theseus is already ignoring and slighting both of them, she argues. Their close family connection is no problem, even an asset. The affair will be easily concealed because of it.
aequora bīna suīs oppugnant flūctibus Isthmon, 105
et tenuis tellūs audit utrumque mare.
hīc tēcum Troezēna colam, Pitthēia rēgna;
iam nunc est patriā cārior illa meā.
tempore abest aberitque diū Neptūnius hērōs;
illum Pīrithoī dētinet ōra suī. 110
praeposuit Thēseus — nisi sī[1] manifēsta negāmus —
Pīrithoum Phaedrae Pīrithoumque tibī.
sōla nec haec ad nōs iniūria vēnit ab illō;
in magnīs laesī rēbus uterque sumus.
ossa meī frātris clāvā perfrācta trinōdī 115
sparsit humī; soror est praeda relicta ferīs.
prīma secūrigerās inter virtūte puellās
tē peperit, nātī digna vigōre parēns;
sī quaerās, ubi sit — Thēseus latus ēnse perēgit,
nec tantō māter pignore tūta fuit. 120
at nē nūpta quidem taedāque accepta iugālī —
cūr, nisi nē caperēs rēgna paterna nothus?
addidit et frātrēs ex mē tibi, quōs tamen omnēs
nōn ego tollendī causa, sed ille fuit.
ō utinam nocitūra tibī, pulcherrime rērum, 125
in mediō nīsū vīscera rupta forent!
ī nunc, sīc meritī lectum reverēre parentis —
quem fugit et factīs abdicat ipse suīs!
nec, quia prīvignō videar coitūra noverca,
terruerint animōs nōmina vāna tuōs. 130
ista vetus pietās, aevō moritūra futūrō,
rūstica Sāturnō rēgna tenente fuit.
Iuppiter esse pium statuit, quodcumque iuvāret,
et fās omne facit frātre marīta soror.
illa coit firmā generis iūnctūra catēnā, 135
imposuit nōdōs cui Venus ipsa suōs.
nec labor est cēlāre, licet peccēmus, amōrem.
cognātō poterit nōmine culpa tegī.
vīderit amplexōs aliquis, laudābimur ambō;
dīcar prīvignō fīda noverca meō. 140
nōn tibi per tenebrās dūrī reseranda marītī
iānua, nōn cūstōs dēcipiendus erit;
ut tenuit domus ūna duōs, domus ūna tenēbit;
ōscula aperta dabās, ōscula aperta dabis;
tūtus eris mēcum laudemque merēbere culpā, 145
tū licet in lectō cōnspiciāre meō.
 
[1] nisi si = “unless,” a strenghthened form of nisi https://latin.packhum.org/search?q=nisi+si%23
 

Phaedra to Hippolytus, part 3 (Ovid, Heroides 4.105-146)

Phaedra wants to take up hunting like Hippolytus and is driven to the extremes of mental derangement. Perhaps it is some family curse that the women of her Cretan line all suffer in love (Europa, Pasiphae, Ariadne)? Phaedra describes how attractive she found Hippolytus when she first saw him at Eleusis.
See Peter J. Davis, “Rewriting Euripides: Ovid, Heriodes 4,” Scholia 4 (1995) 41-55. https://www.academia.edu/4756559/Rewriting_Euripides_Ovid_Heroides_4
iam quoque — vix crēdēs — ignōtās mittor in artēs;
est mihi per saevās impetus īre ferās.
iam mihi prīma dea est arcū praesignis aduncō
Dēlia; iūdicium subsequor ipsa tuum.
in nemus īre libet pressīsque in rētia cervīs
hortārī celerēs per iuga summa canēs,
aut tremulum excussō iaculum vibrāre lacertō,
aut in grāmineā pōnere corpus humō.
saepe iuvat versāre levēs in pulvere currūs
torquentem frēnīs ōra fugācis equī;
nunc feror, ut Bacchī furiīs Elelēides āctae,
quaeque sub Īdaeō tympana colle movent,
aut quās sēmideae Dryadēs Faunīque bicornēs
nūmine contāctās attonuēre suō.
namque mihī referunt, cum sē furor ille remīsit,
omnia; mē tacitam cōnscius ūrit amor.
forsitan hunc generis fātō reddāmus amōrem,
et Venus ex tōtā gente tribūta petat.
Iuppiter Eurōpēn — prīma est ea gentis orīgō —
dīlēxit, taurō dissimulante deum.
Pāsiphaē māter, dēceptō subdita taurō,
ēnīxa est uterō crīmen onusque suō.
perfidus Aegīdēs, dūcentia fīla secūtus,
curva meae fūgit tēcta sorōris ope.
ēn, ego nunc, nē forte parum Mīnōia crēdar,
in sociās lēgēs ultima gentis eō!
hoc quoque fātāle est: placuit domus ūna duābus;
mē tua fōrma capit, capta parente soror.
Thēsīdēs Thēseusque duās rapuēre sorōrēs —
pōnite dē nostrā bīna tropaea domō!
tempore quō nōbīs inita est Cereālis Eleusīn,
Cnōsia mē vellem dētinuisset humus!
tunc mihi praecipuē (nec nōn tamen ante placēbās)
ācer in extrēmīs ossibus haesit amor.
candida vestis erat, praecīnctī flōre capillī,
flāva verēcundus tīnxerat ōra rubor,
quemque vocant aliae vultum rigidumque trucemque,
prō rigidō Phaedrā iūdice fortis erat.
sint procul ā nōbīs iuvenēs ut fēmina cōmptī! —
fīne colī modicō fōrma virīlis amat.
tē tuus iste rigor positīque sine arte capillī
et levis ēgregiō pulvis in ōre decet.
sīve ferōcis equī luctantia colla recurvās,
exiguō flexōs mīror in orbe pedēs;
seu lentum validō torquēs hastīle lacertō,
ōra ferōx in sē versa lacertus habet,
sīve tenēs lātō vēnābula cornea ferrō.
dēnique nostra iuvat lūmina, quidquid agis.

The Death of Bitias (Vergil, Aeneid 9.703-716)

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