Myths, Gods, and Men
Fall 2006 Readings - Week 13
Flood Myth 2 of 2
Ovid's Metamorphoses 1.253 - 1.415
Read December 5, 2006 by Brent Newson
| Iamque erat in totas sparsurus fulmina terras: sed timuit, ne forte sacer tot ab ignibus aether conciperet flammas longusque ardesceret axis: [255] esse quoque in fatis reminiscitur, adfore tempus, quo mare, quo tellus correptaque regia caeli ardeat et mundi moles obsessa laboret. Tela reponuntur manibus fabricata Cyclopum: poena placet diversa, genus mortale sub undis [260] perdere et ex omni nimbos demittere caelo. |
And now his thunder bolts would Jove wide scatter, but he feared the flames, unnumbered, sacred ether might ignite and burn the axle of the universe: and he remembered in the scroll of fate, there is a time appointed when the sea and earth and Heavens shall melt, and fire destroy the universe of mighty labour wrought. Such weapons by the skill of Cyclops forged, for different punishment he laid aside-- for straightway he preferred to overwhelm the mortal race beneath deep waves and storms from every raining sky. |
| Protinus Aeoliis Aquilonem claudit in antris et quaecumque fugant inductas flamina nubes emittitque Notum. Madidis Notus evolat alis, terribilem picea tectus caligine vultum: [265] barba gravis nimbis, canis fluit unda capillis; fronte sedent nebulae, rorant pennaeque sinusque. Utque manu late pendentia nubila pressit, fit fragor: hinc densi funduntur ab aethere nimbi. Nuntia Iunonis varios induta colores [270] concipit Iris aquas alimentaque nubibus adfert. Sternuntur segetes et deplorata coloni vota iacent, longique perit labor inritus anni. |
And instantly he shut the Northwind in Aeolian caves, and every other wind that might dispel the gathering clouds. He bade the Southwind blow:-- the Southwind flies abroad with dripping wings, concealing in the gloom his awful face: the drenching rain descends from his wet beard and hoary locks; dark clouds are on his brows and from his wings and garments drip the dews: his great hands press the overhanging clouds; loudly the thunders roll; the torrents pour; Iris, the messenger of Juno, clad in many coloured raiment, upward draws the steaming moisture to renew the clouds. The standing grain is beaten to the ground, the rustic's crops are scattered in the mire, and he bewails the long year's fruitless toil. |
| Nec caelo contenta suo est Iovis ira, sed illum caeruleus frater iuvat auxiliaribus undis. [275] Convocat hic amnes. Qui postquam tecta tyranni intravere sui, "non est hortamine longo nunc" ait "utendum. Vires effundite vestras: sic opus est! aperite domos ac mole remota fluminibus vestris totas inmittite habenas!" [280] Iusserat; hi redeunt ac fontibus ora relaxant et defrenato volvuntur in aequora cursu. Ipse tridente suo terram percussit: at illa intremuit motuque vias patefecit aquarum. Exspatiata ruunt per apertos flumina campos [285] cumque satis arbusta simul pecudesque virosque tectaque cumque suis rapiunt penetralia sacris. Siqua domus mansit potuitque resistere tanto indeiecta malo, culmen tamen altior huius unda tegit, pressaeque latent sub gurgite turres. [290] Iamque mare et tellus nullum discrimen habebant: omnia pontus erant; deerant quoque litora ponto. Occupat hic collem, cumba sedet alter adunca et ducit remos illic, ubi nuper ararat, ille supra segetes aut mersae culmina villae [295] navigat, hic summa piscem deprendit in ulmo. Figitur in viridi, si fors tulit, ancora prato, aut subiecta terunt curvae vineta carinae; et, modo qua graciles gramen carpsere capellae, nunc ibi deformes ponunt sua corpora phocae. [300] Mirantur sub aqua lucos urbesque domosque Nereides, silvasque tenent delphines et altis incursant ramis agitataque robora pulsant. Nat lupus inter oves, fulvos vehit unda leones, unda vehit tigres, nec vires fulminis apro, [305] crura nec ablato prosunt velocia cervo. Quaesitisque diu terris, ubi sistere possit, in mare lassatis volucris vaga decidit alis. Obruerat tumulos inmensa licentia ponti, pulsabantque novi montana cacumina fluctus. [310] Maxima pars unda rapitur; quibus unda pepercit, illos longa domant inopi ieiunia victu. |
The wrath of Jove was not content with powers that emanate from Heaven; he brought to aid his azure brother, lord of flowing waves, who called upon the Rivers and the Streams: and when they entered his impearled abode, Neptune, their ancient ruler, thus began; "A long appeal is needless; pour ye forth in rage of power; open up your fountains; rush over obstacles; let every stream pour forth in boundless floods." Thus he commands, and none dissenting all the River Gods return, and opening up their fountains roll tumultuous to the deep unfruitful sea. And Neptune with his trident smote the Earth, which trembling with unwonted throes heaved up the sources of her waters bare; and through her open plains the rapid rivers rushed resistless, onward bearing the waving grain, the budding groves, the houses, sheep and men,-- and holy temples, and their sacred urns. The mansions that remained, resisting vast and total ruin, deepening waves concealed and whelmed their tottering turrets in the flood and whirling gulf. And now one vast expanse, the land and sea were mingled in the waste of endless waves--a sea without a shore. One desperate man seized on the nearest hill; another sitting in his curved boat, plied the long oar where he was wont to plow; another sailed above his grain, above his hidden dwelling; and another hooked a fish that sported in a leafy elm. Perchance an anchor dropped in verdant fields, or curving keels were pushed through tangled vines; and where the gracile goat enjoyed the green, unsightly seals reposed. Beneath the waves were wondering Nereids, viewing cities, groves and houses. Dolphins darting mid the trees, meshed in the twisted branches, beat against the shaken oak trees. There the sheep, affrayed, swim with the frightened wolf, the surging waves float tigers and lions: availeth naught his lightning shock the wild boar, nor avails the stag's fleet footed speed. The wandering bird, seeking umbrageous groves and hidden vales, with wearied pinion droops into the sea. The waves increasing surge above the hills, and rising waters dash on mountain tops. Myriads by the waves are swept away, and those the waters spare, for lack of food, starvation slowly overcomes at last. |
| Separat Aonios Oetaeis Phocis ab arvis, terra ferax, dum terra fuit, sed tempore in illo pars maris et latus subitarum campus aquarum. [315] Mons+ ibi verticibus+ petit+ arduus+ astra+ duobus+, nomine+ Parnasus, superantque cacumina nubes. Hic ubi Deucalion (nam cetera texerat aequor) cum consorte tori parva rate vectus adhaesit, Corycidas nymphas et numina montis adorant [320] fatidicamque Themin, quae tunc oracla tenebat. Non illo melior quisquam nec amantior aequi vir fuit aut illa metuentior ulla deorum. Iuppiter ut liquidis stagnare paludibus orbem et superesse virum de tot modo milibus unum, [325] et superesse videt de tot modo milibus unam, innocuos ambo, cultores numinis ambo, nubila disiecit nimbisque aquilone remotis et caelo terras ostendit et aethera terris. |
A fruitful land and fair but now submerged beneath a wilderness of rising waves, 'Twixt Oeta and Aonia, Phocis lies, where through the clouds Parnassus' summits twain point upward to the stars, unmeasured height, save which the rolling billows covered all: there in a small and fragile boat, arrived, Deucalion and the consort of his couch, prepared to worship the Corycian Nymphs, the mountain deities, and Themis kind, who in that age revealed in oracles the voice of fate. As he no other lived so good and just, as she no other feared the Gods. When Jupiter beheld the globe in ruin covered, swept with wasting waves, and when he saw one man of myriads left, one helpless woman left of myriads lone, both innocent and worshiping the Gods, he scattered all the clouds; he blew away the great storms by the cold northwind. Once more the earth appeared to heaven and the skies appeared to earth. |
| Nec maris ira manet, positoque tricuspide telo mulcet aquas rector pelagi supraque profundum exstantem atque umeros innato murice tectum caeruleum Tritona vocat conchaeque sonanti inspirare iubet fluctusque et flumina signo iam revocare dato. Cava bucina sumitur illi, [335] tortilis, in latum quae turbine crescit ab imo, bucina, quae medio concepit ubi aera ponto, litora voce replet sub utroque iacentia Phoebo. Tunc quoque, ut ora dei madida rorantia barba contigit et cecinit iussos inflata receptus, [340] omnibus audita est telluris et aequoris undis, et quibus est undis audita, coercuit omnes. Iam mare litus habet, plenos capit alveus amnes, flumina subsidunt collesque exire videntur, surgit humus, crescunt loca decrescentibus undis, [345] postque diem longam nudata cacumina silvae ostendunt limumque tenent in fronde relictum. |
The fury of the main abated, for the Ocean ruler laid his trident down and pacified the waves, and called on azure Triton.--Triton arose above the waving seas, his shoulders mailed in purple shells.--He bade the Triton blow, blow in his sounding shell, the wandering streams and rivers to recall with signal known: a hollow wreathed trumpet, tapering wide and slender stemmed, the Triton took amain and wound the pearly shell at midmost sea. Betwixt the rising and the setting suns the wildered notes resounded shore to shore, and as it touched his lips, wet with the brine beneath his dripping beard, sounded retreat: and all the waters of the land and sea obeyed. Their fountains heard and ceased to flow; their waves subsided; hidden hills uprose; emerged the shores of ocean; channels filled with flowing streams; the soil appeared; the land increased its surface as the waves decreased: and after length of days the trees put forth, with ooze on bending boughs, their naked tops. |
| Redditus orbis erat. Quem postquam vidit inanem et desolatas agere alta silentia terras, Deucalion lacrimis ita Pyrrham adfatur obortis: [350] "O soror, o coniunx, o femina sola superstes, quam commune mihi genus et patruelis origo, deinde torus iunxit, nunc ipsa pericula iungunt, terrarum, quascumque vident occasus et ortus, nos duo turba sumus; possedit cetera pontus. [355] Haec quoque adhuc vitae non est fiducia nostrae certa satis; terrent etiam nunc nubila mentem. Quis tibi, si sine me fatis erepta fuisses, nunc animus, miseranda, foret? quo sola timorem ferre modo posses? quo consolante doleres? [360] Namque ego (crede mihi) si te quoque pontus haberet, te sequerer, coniunx, et me quoque pontus haberet. O utinam possim populos reparare paternis artibus atque animas formatae infundere terrae! Nunc genus in nobis restat mortale duobus [365] (sic visum superis) hominumque exempla manemus." |
And all the wasted globe was now restored, but as he viewed the vast and silent world Deucalion wept and thus to Pyrrha spoke; "O sister! wife! alone of woman left! My kindred in descent and origin! Dearest companion of my marriage bed, doubly endeared by deepening dangers borne,-- of all the dawn and eve behold of earth, but you and I are left--for the deep sea has kept the rest! And what prevents the tide from overwhelming us? Remaining clouds affright us. How could you endure your fears if you alone were rescued by this fate, and who would then console your bitter grief? Oh be assured, if you were buried in the waves, that I would follow you and be with you! Oh would that by my father's art I might restore the people, and inspire this clay to take the form of man. Alas, the Gods decreed and only we are living!", Thus Deucalion's plaint to Pyrrha;--and they wept. And after he had spoken, they resolved to ask the aid of sacred oracles,-- and so they hastened to Cephissian waves which rolled a turbid flood in channels known. Thence when their robes and brows were sprinkled well, they turned their footsteps to the goddess' fane: its gables were befouled with reeking moss and on its altars every fire was cold. But when the twain had reached the temple steps they fell upon the earth, inspired with awe, and kissed the cold stone with their trembling lips, and said; "If righteous prayers appease the Gods, and if the wrath of high celestial powers may thus be turned, declare, O Themis! whence and what the art may raise humanity? O gentle goddess help the dying world!" Moved by their supplications, she replied; "Depart from me and veil your brows; ungird your robes, and cast behind you as you go, the bones of your great mother." Long they stood in dumb amazement: Pyrrha, first of voice, refused the mandate and with trembling lips implored the goddess to forgive--she feared to violate her mother's bones and vex her sacred spirit. Often pondered they the words involved in such obscurity, repeating oft: and thus Deucalion to Epimetheus' daughter uttered speech of soothing import; " Oracles are just and urge not evil deeds, or naught avails the skill of thought. Our mother is the Earth, and I may judge the stones of earth are bones that we should cast behind us as we go." And although Pyrrha by his words was moved she hesitated to comply; and both amazed doubted the purpose of the oracle, but deemed no harm to come of trial. They, descending from the temple, veiled their heads and loosed their robes and threw some stones behind them. |
| Dixerat, et flebant. Placuit caeleste precari numen et auxilium per sacras quaerere sortes. Nulla mora est: adeunt pariter Cephisidas undas, ut nondum liquidas, sic iam vada nota secantes. [370] Inde ubi libatos inroravere liquores vestibus et capiti, flectunt vestigia sanctae ad delubra deae, quorum fastigia turpi pallebant musco stabantque sine ignibus arae. Ut templi tetigere gradus, procumbit uterque [375] pronus humi gelidoque pavens dedit oscula saxo atque ita "si precibus" dixerunt "numina iustis victa remollescunt, si flectitur ira deorum, dic, Themi, qua generis damnum reparabile nostri arte sit, et mersis fer opem, mitissima, rebus." [380] Mota dea est sortemque dedit: "Discedite templo et velate caput cinctasque resolvite vestes ossaque post tergum magnae iactate parentis." Obstipuere diu, rumpitque silentia voce Pyrrha prior iussisque deae parere recusat, [385] detque sibi veniam pavido rogat ore, pavetque laedere iactatis maternas ossibus umbras. Interea repetunt caecis obscura latebris verba datae sortis secum inter seque volutant. Inde Promethides placidis Epimethida dictis [390] mulcet et "aut fallax" ait "est sollertia nobis, aut pia sunt nullumque nefas oracula suadent. Magna parens terra est, lapides in corpore terrae ossa reor dici; iacere hos post terga iubemur." Coniugis augurio quamquam Titania mota est, [395] spes tamen in dubio est: adeo caelestibus ambo diffidunt monitis. Sed quid temptare nocebit? Discedunt velantque caput tunicasque recingunt et iussos lapides sua post vestigia mittunt. Saxa (quis hoc credat, nisi sit pro teste vetustas?) [400] ponere duritiem coepere suumque rigorem mollirique mora mollitaque ducere formam. Mox ubi creverunt naturaque mitior illis contigit, ut quaedam, sic non manifesta, videri forma potest hominis, sed, uti de marmore coepta, [405] non exacta satis rudibusque simillima signis. Quae tamen ex illis aliquo pars umida suco et terrena fuit, versa est in corporis usum; quod solidum est flectique nequit, mutatur in ossa; quae modo vena fuit, sub eodem nomine mansit; [410] inque brevi spatio superorum numine saxa missa viri manibus faciem traxere virorum, et de femineo reparata est femina iactu. Inde genus durum sumus experiensque laborum et documenta damus qua simus origine nati. [415] |
It is much beyond belief, were not receding ages witness, hard and rigid stones assumed a softer form, enlarging as their brittle nature changed to milder substance,--till the shape of man appeared, imperfect, faintly outlined first, as marble statue chiseled in the rough. The soft moist parts were changed to softer flesh, the hard and brittle substance into bones, the veins retained their ancient name. And now the Gods supreme ordained that every stone Deucalion threw should take the form of man, and those by Pyrrha cast should woman's form assume: so are we hardy to endure and prove by toil and deeds from what we sprung. |
Source Information
Latin: Jerome. Vulgate Bible. Bible Foundation and On-Line Book Initiative. http://www.theworld.com/obi/Religion/Vulgate/
[Via Perseus]
English: Douay-Rheims Bible Online [Link]