Works of Nonnus

by Nonnus

  ἀστραίαις φολίδεσσι δέμας μιτρούμενος, Ἄρκτων

  410 τείρεσιν ἀμφίζωστος: ἐπὶ γλώσσῃ δέ οἱ ἄκρῃ

  φέγγος ἀποπτύων προτενὴς ἀμαρύσσεται ἀστήρ,

  πέμπων πουλυόδοντα μέσην φλόγα χείλεσι γείτων.

  [384] Multitudes gathered to look at the varied wonders of Olympian art, shining wonders which a heavenly hand had made. The shield was emblazoned in many colours. In the middle was the circle of the earth, sea joined to land, and round about it the heaven dotted with a troop of stars; in the sky was Helios in the basket of his blazing chariot, made of gold, and the white round circle of the full moon in silver. All the constellations were there which adorn the upper air, surrounding it as with a crown of many shining jewels throughout the seven zones. Beside the socket of the axle were the poles of the two heavenly Waggons, never touched by the water; for these both move head to loin together round a point higher than Oceanos, and the head of the sinking Bear always bends down exactly as much as the neck of the rising Bear stretches up. Between the two Waggons he made the Serpent, which is close by and joins the two separated bodies, bending his heavenly belly in spiral shape and turning to and fro his speckled body, like the spirals of Maiandros and its curving murmuring waters, as it runs to and fro in twists and turns over the ground: the Serpent keeps his eye ever fixt on the head of Helice, while his body is girdled with starry scales. The constellations of the Bears encompass him round: on the point of his tongue is held out a sparkling star, which close to his lips shoots light, and spits forth flame from the midst of his many teeth.

  τοῖα μὲν εἰς μέσα νῶτα σοφὸς τεχνήσατο χαλκεὺς

  ἀσπίδος εὐτύκτοιο: χαριζόμενος δὲ Λυαίῳ

  415 τεῦξε λυροδμήτοιο βοόκτιτα τείχεα Θήβης,

  ἑπταπόρων στοιχηδὸν ἀμοιβαίων πυλεώνων

  κτιζομένων: καἰ Ζῆθος ἕην περὶ πατρίδι κάμνων,

  θλιβομένῃ πετραῖον ἐπωμίδι φόρτον ἀείρων:

  Ἀμφίων δ᾽ ἐλίγαινε λυροκτύπος: ἀμφὶ δὲ μολπῇ

  420 εἰς δρόμον αὐτοκύλιστον ἕλιξ ἐχόρευε κολώνη,

  οἶά τε θελγομένη καὶ ἐν ἀσπίδι: καἰ τάχα φαίης ...

  ποιητήν περ ἐοῦσαν, ὅτι σκιρτήματι παίζων

  κοῦφος ἀκινήτης ἐλελίζετο παλμὸς ἐρίπνης:

  σιγαλέῃ δὲ λύρῃ μεμελημένον ἅνδρα δοκεύων,

  425 κραιπνὸν ἀνακρούοντα μέλος ψευδήμονι νευρῇ,

  ἀγχιμολεῖν ἔσπευδες, ὅπως τεὸν οὖας ἐρείσας

  πυργοδόμῳ φόρμιγγι καὶ ὑμετέρην φρένα τέρψῃς,

  μολπῆς ἑπτατόνοιο λιθοσσόον ἦχον ἀκούων.

  [413] Such were the designs which the master-smith worked on the back of the wellwrought shield, in the middle; and to please Lyaios he wrought also the harpbuilt walls of cowfounded Thebes, when one after another the seven-gateways were a-building in a row. There was Zethos carrying a load of stones on his chafing shoulder, and working hard for his country; while Amphion played and twanged the harp, and at the tune a whole hill rolled along of itself as if bewitched and seemed to dance even on the shield. It was only a work of art, but you might have said, the immovable rock went lightly skipping and tripping along! When you saw the man busy with his silent harp, striking up a quick tune on his make-believe strings, you would quickly come closer to stretch your ear and delight your own heart with that harp which could build a wall, to hear the music of seven strings which could make the stones to move.

  καὶ σάκος εὐδίνητον, ὅπῃ χορός αἰόλος ἄστρων,

  430 δαίδαλον ἅρμενον εἶχεν, ἐπεὶ Διὸς ἔνδοθεν αὐλῆς

  Τρώιος οἰνοχόος ζαθέῃ ποικίλλετο τέχνῃ

  αἰετὸν εὐποίητον ἔχων πτερόεντα φορῆα,

  οἶα καὶ ἐν γραφίδεσσι, κατάσχετος ἅρπαγι ταρσῷ:

  ταρβαλέος δ᾽ ἤικτο δι᾽ αἰθέρος ἱπτάμενος Ζεύς,

  435 ἀδρύπτοις ὀνύχεσσι τεθηπότα κοῦρον ἀείρων,

  ἠρέμα κινυμένων πτερύγων πεφιδημένος ὁρμῇ,

  μὴ φονίοις ῥοθίοισι κατακρύπτοιτο θαλάσσης

  ἠερόθεν προκάρηνος ὀλισθήσας Γανυμήδης:

  μοίρας δ᾽ ἔτρεμε μᾶλλον, ὅπως μὴ πρῶτον ὀπάσσας

  440 ἡβητὴς ἐρόεις ἑὸν οὔνομα γείτονι πόντῳ

  ὄψιμον ἁρπάξειε γέρας πεφυλαγμένον Ἕλλῃ:

  οὐρανίης δ᾽ ἤσκητο θεῶν παρὰ δαῖτα τραπέζης

  κοῦρος ἀφυσσομένῳ πανομοίιος: αὐτοχύτου δὲ

  νεκταρέης κρητῆρα βεβυσμένον εἶχεν ἐέρσης,

  445 καὶ Διὶ δαινυμένῳ δέπας ὤρεγεν: ἕζετο δ᾽ Ἥρη

  οἶα χολωομένη καὶ ἐν ἀσπίδι, μάρτυρι μορφῇ

  ψυχῆς ζῆλον ἔχουσα, παρεζομένῃ δὲ θεαίνῃ

  Παλλάδι δείκνυε κοῦρον, ὅτι γλυκὺ νέκταρ Ὀλύμπου

  βουκόλος ἀστερόφοιτος ἐῳνοχόει Γανυμήδης

  450 πάλλων χειρὶ κύπελλα, τά περ λάχε παρθένος Ἥβη.

  [429] The wellrounded shield had another beautiful scene amid the sparkling company of the stars, where the Trojan winepourer was cunningly depicted with art divine being carried into the court of Zeus. There well wrought was the Eagle, just as we see in pictures, on the wing, holding him fast in his predatory talons. Zeus appeared to be anxious as he flew through the air, holding the terrified boy with claw’s that tore not, gently moving the wings and sparing his strength, for he feared that Ganymede might slip and fall headlong from the sky, and the deadly surf of the sea might drown him. Even more he feared the Fates, and hoped that the lovely youth might not first give his name to the sea below and rob Helle of the honour which was reserved for her in future. Next the boy was depicted at the feast of the heavenly table, as one ladling the wine. There was a mixing-bowl beside him full of self-flowing nectarean dew, and he offered a cup to Zeus at the table. There Hera sat, looking furious even upon the shield, and showing in her mien how jealousy filled her soul; for she was pointing a finger at the boy, to show goddess Pallas who sat next her how a cowboy Ganymedes walked among the stars to pour out their wine, the sweet nectar of Olympos, and there he was handing the cups which were the lot of virgin Hebe.

  Μαιονίην δ᾽ ἤσκησεν, ἐπεὶ τροφὸς ἔπλετο Βάκχου,

  καὶ Μορίην καὶ στικτὸν ὄφιν καὶ θέσπιδα ποίην,

  καὶ χθονὸς ἄπλετον υἷα δρακοντοφόνον Δαμασῆνα,

  καὶ Τύλον ἰοβόλῳ κεχαραγμένον ὀξέι πότμῳ

  [451] Maionia he also portrayed, for she was the nurse of Bacchos; and Moria, and the dappled serpent, and the divine plant, and Damasen Serpent-killer the terrible son of Earth; Tylos, also, who lived in Maionia so short a time, was there mangled in his quick poisonous death.

  455 Μαιονίης ναέτην μινυώριον, ὅς ποτε βα
ίνων

  Μυγδονίου ποταμοῖο παρ᾽ ὀφρύσι γείτονος Ἕρμου

  ἥψατο χειρὶ δράκοντος: ὁ δὲ πλατὺν αὐχένα τείνας,

  ὑψώσας δὲ κάρηνον ἀφειδέι χάσματι λαιμοῦ

  ἀντίον ἀνδρὸς ὄρουσε, καὶ ἰσχία φωτὸς ἱμάσσων

  460 ὁλκαίην ἐλέλιζε θυελλήεσσαν ὁμοκλήν,

  καὶ βροτέῳ στεφανηδὸν ἐπὶ χροῒ νῶτα συνάπτων,

  ἁλλόμενος περὶ κύκλα νεότριχος ἀνθερεῶνος,

  ὄγμῳ πουλυόδοντι παρηίδος ἄκρα χαράξας

  ἰοβόλοις γενύεσσιν ἀπέπτυεν ἰκμάδα Μοίρης,

  465 καί οἱ ἐπιθρῴσκοντι βαρυνομένων ὑπὲρ ὤμων

  οὐραίαις ἑλίκεσσιν ἐμιτρώθη μέσος αὐχήν,

  Ἄιδος ὁρμὸν ἔχων ὀφιώδεα, γείτονα Μοίρης.

  καὶ νέκυς εἰς χθόνα πῖπτεν ὁμοίιος ἔρνεϊ γαίης.

  καὶ νέον οἰκτείρουσα δεδουπότα μάρτυρι πότμῳ

  [455] Tylos was walking once on the overhanging bank of neighbouring Hermos the Mygdonian River, when his hand touched a serpent. The creature lifted his head and stretched his hood, opened wide his ruthless gaping mouth and leapt on the man, whipt round the man’s loins his trailing tail and hissed like a whistling wind, curled round the man’s body in clinging rings, then darting at his face tore the cheeks and downy chin with sharp rows of teeth, and spat the juice of Fate out of his poisonous jaws. The man struggled with all that weight on his shoulders, while his neck was encircled by the coiling tail, a snaky necklace of death bringing Fate very near. Then he fell dead to the ground, like an uprooted tree.

  470 νηιὰς ἀκρήδεμνος ἐπέστενε γείτονι νεκρῷ,

  καὶ τότε θῆρα πέλωρον ἐρήτυεν, ὄφρα δαμείη:

  οὐ γὰρ ἔνα πρήνιζεν ὁδοιπόρον οὐδὲ νομῆα,

  καὶ Τύλον οὐ κτάνε μοῦνον ἀώριον, ᾗ δ᾽ ἐνὶ λόχμῃ

  ἐνδιάων καὶ θῆρας ἐδαίνυτο, πολλάκι δ᾽ ἕλκων

  475 ἄστατον αὐτόρριζον ὑπὸ χνοίῃσιν ὀδόντων

  δένδρεον εὐρώεντι κατέκρυφεν ἀνθερεῶνι,

  ἔμπαλιν αὖ ἐρύων βλοσυρὸν φύσημα γενείων:

  πολλάκι δ᾽ ἑλκυσθέντα παλινδίνητον ὁδίτην

  ἄσθμασιν ἐνδομύχοις πεφοβημένον εἰς στόμα σύρων

  480 τηλεφανὴς ὅλον ἄνδρα κεχηνότι δέξατο λαιμῷ.

  [470] A Naiad unveiled pitied one so young, fallen dead before her eyes; she wailed over the body beside her, and pulled off the monstrous beast, to bring him down. For this was not the first wayfarer that he had laid low, not the first shepherd, Tylos not the only one he had killed untimely; lurking in his thicket he battened on the wild beasts, and often pulled up a tree by the roots and dragged it in, then under the joints of his jaws swallowed it into his dank darksome throat, blowing out again a great blast from his mouth. Often he pulled in the wayfarer terrified by his lurking breath, and dragged him rolling over and over into his mouth — he could be seen from afar swallowing the man whole in his gaping maw.

  καὶ Μορίη σκοπίαζε κασιγνήτοιο φονῆα

  τηλόθι παπταίνουσα, φόβῳ δ᾽ ἐλελίζετο νύμφη,

  ἰοβόλων ὁρόωσα πολύστιχον ὄγμον ὀδόντων,

  καὶ θανάτου στέφος εἶδε περίπλοκον ἀνθερεῶνι:

  485 πυκνὰ δὲ κωκύουσα δρακοντοβότῳ παρὰ λόχμῃ

  ἠλιβάτῳ Δαμασῆνι συνήντεεν υἱέι Γαίης,

  ὅν πάρος αὐτογόνοισι τόκοις μαιώσατο μήτηρ

  ἐκ γενετῆς μεθέποντα δασύτριχα κύκλα γενείου:

  τικτομένῳ δέ οἱ ἦεν Ἔρις τροφός: ἔγχεα δ᾽ αὐτῷ

  490 μαζὸς ἔην καὶ χύτλα φόνοι καὶ σπάργανα θώρηξ,

  καὶ δολιχῶν μελέων βεβαρημένος εὐρέι φόρτῳ

  νήπιος αἰχμάζων, βρέφος ἄλκιμον, αἰθέρι γείτων

  ἐκ γενετῆς δόρυ πάλλεν ὁμόγνιον, ἀρτιφανῆ δὲ

  ὥπλισεν Εἰλείθυια λεχώιον ἀσπιδιώτην.

  [481] So Moria watching afar saw her brother’s murderer; the nymph trembled with fear when she beheld the serried ranks of poisonous teeth, and the garland of death wrapt round his neck. Wailing loudly beside the dragonvittling den, she met Damasen, a gigantic son of Earth, whom his mother once conceived of herself and brought forth by herself. From his birth, a thick hairy beard covered his chin. At his birth, Quarrel was his nurse, spears his mother’s pap, carnage his bath, the corselet his swaddlings. Under the heavy weight of those long broad limbs, a warlike babe, he cast lances as a boy; touching the sky, from birth he shook a spear born with him; no sooner did he appear than Eileithyia armed the nursling with a shield.

  495 τὸν μὲν ἐσαθρήσασα παρὰ κλέτας εὔβοτον ὕλης

  κάμπτετο λισσομένη, κινυρὴ δ᾽ ἐπεδείκνυε νύμφη

  ἄπλετον ἑρπηστῆρα κασιγνήτοιο φονῆα

  καὶ Τύλον ἀρτιχάρακτον ἔτι σπαίροντα κονίῃ:

  οὐδὲ Γίγας ἀμέλησε, πέλωρ πρόμος: ἀλλὰ πιέσσας

  500 δένδρεον αὐτόπρεμνον ἀνέσπασε μητρὸς ἀρούρης,

  ὠμοβόρου δὲ δράκοντος ἐναντία δόχμιος ἔστη:

  καὶ πρόμος εἱλικόεις ὀφιώδεϊ μάρνατο τιμῇ,

  αὐχενίῃ σάλπιγγι μόθου συριγμὸν ἰάλλων,

  πεντηκονταπέλεθρος ὄφις κυκλούμενος ὁλκῷ:

  505 καὶ διδύμῳ σφιγκτῆρι πόδας σφηκώσατο δεσμῷ,

  καὶ σκολιαῖς ἑλίκεσσι δέμας Δαμασῆνος ἱμάσσων

  χάσματι λυσσήεντι πύλας ὤιξεν ὀδόντων,

  χείλεσι τοξεύων διερὸν βέλος, ὄμματα σείων

  ὠμὰ φόνου πνείοντα, Γιγαντείῳ δὲ προσώπῳ

  510 ἔπτυεν ὀμβρηρῇσι γενειάσι πίδακας ἰοῦ,

  χλωρὸν ὀιστεύων δολιχόσκιον ἀφρὸν ὀδόντων:

  ὑψιλόφου δὲ Γίγαντος ἐπεσκίρτησε καρήνῳ,

  ὄρθιος ἀίξας μελέων ἐνοσίχθονι παλμῷ.

  [495] This was he whom the nymph beheld on the fertile slope of the woodland. She bowed weeping before him in prayer, and pointed to the horrible reptile, her brother’s murderer, and Tylos newly mangled and still breathing in the dust. The Giant did not reject her prayer, that monstrous champion; but he seized a tree and tore it up from its roots in mother earth, then stood and came sidelong upon the ravening dragon. The coiling champion fought him in serpent fashion, hissing battle from the wartrumpet of his throat, a fiftyfurlong serpent coil upon coil. With two circles he bound first Damasen’s feet, madly whipping his writhing coils about his body, and opened the gates of his raging teeth to show a mad chasm
: rolling his wild eyes, breathing death, he shot watery spurts from his lips, and spat into the giant’s face fountains of poison in showers from his jaws, and sent a long spout of yellow foam out of his teeth. He darted up straight and danced over the giant’s highcrested head, while the movement of his body made the earth quake.

  ἀλλὰ δρακοντείης ἀπεσείσατο φόρτον ἀκάνθης

  515 αἰνογίγας, σκοπέλοισιν ἐοικότα γυῖα τινάσσων:

  καὶ παλάμῃ τανύφυλλον ἑὴν ἐλέλιζεν ἀκωκήν,

  ὀρθὸν ἀκοντίζων δρυόεν βέλος: ἀμφὶ δὲ κόρσῃ

  πῆξε φυτὸν προθέλυμνον, ὅπῃ περὶ κυκλάδα δειρὴν

  αὐχενίῃ γλωχῖνι συνήπτετο δεσμὸς ἀκάνθης:

  520 καὶ φυτὸν ἐρρίζωτο τὸ δεύτερον: ἀμφὶ δὲ γαίῃ

  κεῖτο δράκων ἀτίνακτος, ἕλιξ νέκυς. ἐξαπίνης δὲ

  θῆλυς ὄφις ξύουσα παλιννόστῳ πέδον ὁλκῷ

  εὐνέτις ἀμφιέλικτος ἐδίζετο λοξὸν ἀκοίτην,

  οἶα γυνὴ ποθέουσα νέκυν πόσιν: εἰς σκοπέλους δὲ

  525 μηκεδανῆς ἐλέλιζε θοώτερον ὁλκὸν ἀκάνθης,

  εἰς ὄρος ἐσσυμένη βοτανηφόρον: ἀμφὶ δὲ λόχμην

  δρεψαμένη Διὸς ἄνθος ἐχιδνήεντι γενείῳ

  χείλεσιν ἀκροτάτοις ὀδυνήφατον ἤγαγε ποίην,

  καὶ νέκυος δασπλῆτος ἀλεξήτειραν ὀλέθρου

  530 ἀζαλέῳ μυκτῆρι συνήρμοσεν, ἰοβόλῳ δὲ

  ζωὴν ἀνθεμόεσσαν ἀκινήτῳ πόρε νεκρῷ:

  καὶ νέκυς αὐτοέλικτος ἐπάλλετο: καὶ τὸ μὲν αὐτοῦ