Publius Papinius Statius [Statius]
45-96 AD
Trans RMBullard
Latin (Imperial Era)
PVBLIVS PAPINIVS STATIVS
THEBAID I
Fraternas acies alternaque regna profanis
decertata odiis sontesque euoluere Thebas
Pierius menti calor incidit.
[Heat of Pieres' mind has fallen up me to unravel the wars between brothers, the each side's kingdoms contested between their ugly bouts of hatred, and Thebes, an innocent bystander.]
unde iubetis
ire, deae?
[Where do you order me to go, goddesses?]
gentisne canam primordia dirae,
[Shall I sing the beginnings of a sad people,]
Sidonios raptus et inexorabile pactum 5
legis Agenoreae scrutantemque aequora Cadmum?
[the rape of Sidones, and the unwanted agreement enacted by Agenor's law, and Cadmus, who looked to the seas afterward?]
