Lucius Annaeus Seneca [Seneca the Younger]
1BC-65 AD *executed by Emperor Nero
Trans RMBullard
Latin (Imperial Period)
L. ANNAEI SENECAE PHAEDRA
Hippolytvs Ite, umbrosas cingite siluas
summaque montis iuga Cecropii!
[Hippolytus, go, bind the shady forests and the highest peaks of Cecrop's cliff!]
celeri planta lustrate uagi
quae saxoso loca Parnetho
subiecta iacent,
[Wander your soles upon a quick gait, ones to press upon the places lying below the rocky Parthenon,]
quae Thriasiis uallibus amnis 5
rapida currens uerberat unda;
[whose river, rushing with its swift waves, lashes against the Thriasian valleys;]
scandite colles semper canos
niue Riphaea.
[Climb the hills that are always snowy from Riphaean snow.]
Hac, hac alii qua nemus alta
texitur alno,
[Over here, and over there, where the tall grove is covered by the elder tree,]
qua prata patent 10
[where the meadows stretch]
quae rorifera mulcens aura
Zephyrus uernas euocat herbas,
[whose budding grasses the soothing west wind calls out with its dewy breeze,]
ubi per graciles breuis Ilisos
labitur agros piger
[where there lazy Ilisus glades through the gracile fields, briefly,]
et steriles
amne maligno radit harenas. 15
[and grazes the sterile sands with its ill-starred river.]
Vos qua Marathon tramite laeuo
saltus aperit,
[Wherever Marathon reveals you to meadows along its leftward path,]
qua comitatae gregibus paruis
nocturna petunt pabula fetae;
[where bands of colts from small flocks seek the meadowlands at night;]
uos qua tepidis subditus austris 20
frigora mollit durus Acharneus.
[and where the harsh Acharneus softens the cold spells, as it lies open to the warm southerlies.]
Alius rupem dulcis Hymetti,
~paruas alius calcet Aphidnas;
[the first treads Hymettus' cliff, the other, the small Aphidnae;]
pars illa diu uacat immunis,
[that region lies open, and unwalled, for a long time,]
qua curuati litora ponti 25
Sunion urget.
[that is, where Sunion pushes upon the shores of its curved sea.]
si quem tangit gloria siluae,
uocat hunc ~flius:
[And he is one whom, if fame of the woods touches him, one callls him ??? <suggestions>]
hic uersatur, metus agricolis,
uulnere multo iam notus aper. 30
[Here is where he runs around, the terror to our farmers, the boar already famous for inflicting so many wounds.]
At uos laxas canibus tacitis
mittite habenas;
[But, for your sakes, set down the reins that you've loosened from your silent dogs;]
teneant acres lora Molossos
[let your straps hold snarling Molossian hounds]
et pugnaces tendant Cretes
fortia trito uincula collo.
[and let the pugnacious Cretan dogs pull upon study chains along their well-worn necks.]
at Spartanos (genus est audax 35
auidumque ferae) nodo cautus
propiore liga:
[but be cautious when you tie your Spartan hounds with a tighter knot: this is a bold breed, one eager for wild game;]
ueniet tempus, cum latratu
caua saxa sonent.
[let the time come, as soon as hollow stones echo from barking.]
I N F I N I T A
