Page:The poems of Gaius Valerius Catullus - Francis Warre Cornish.djvu/115



their departure, from the top of Pelion came Chiron leading the way, bearing woodland gifts. For all the flowers that the plains bear, all that the Thessalian region brings to birth on its mighty mountains, all the flowers that near the river's streams the fruitful gale of warm Favonius discloses, these he brought himself, woven in mingled garlands, cheered with which the house smiled with grateful odour. Forthwith Peneus is there, leaving verdant Tempe, Tempe girt with impendent forests to be haunted by

Dorian dances; not empty-handed; for he bore, torn up by the roots, lofty beeches and tall bay trees with straight stem, and with them the nodding plane and the swaying sister of flame-devoured Phaethon, and the tall cypress. All these he wove far and wide around their home, that the portal might be greenly embowered with soft foliage. Next follows him Prometheus wise of heart, bearing the faded scars of the ancient penalty which whilom, his limbs bound fast to the rock with chains, he paid, hanging from the craggy summits. Then came the Father of the Gods with his divine wife and his sons, leaving thee, Phoebus, alone in heaven, and with thee thine 3°° own sister who dwells in the mountains of Idrus; for as thou didst, so did thy sister scorn Peleus, nor deigned to be present at the nuptial torches of Thetis.

So when they had bent their limbs on the white seats, bountifully were the tables piled with varied dainties: whilst in the meantime, swaying their bodies with palsied motion, the Parcae began to utter soothtelling chants. White raiment enfolding their aged forms robed their ankles with a crimson border; on their snowy heads rested rosy bands, while their hands duly plied the eternal task. The

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