At the first kindling of Orpheus’ marriage-torch when festive Hymen filled the countryside of Thrace the beasts and gay-plumaged birds strove among themselves what best gifts they could bring their poet. Mindful of the cave whose sounding rocks had offered a wondrous theatre for his tuneful lyre, the lynxes brought him crystal from the summits of Caucasus; griffins golden nuggets from regions of the north; doves wreaths of roses and other flowers which they had flown to gather from Venus’ meadow; the swan bore from the stream of its native Padus amber broken from the boughs of the famed sisters[106]; while the cranes, after their war with the pygmies, recrossed the Nile and gathered in their mouths the precious pearls of the Red Sea. There came, too, immortal Phoenix from the distant East, bearing rare spices in his curvèd talons. No bird nor beast was there but brought to that marriage-feast tribute so richly deserved by Orpheus’ lyre. Busily Calliopea decked her son’s bride with her riches and all the treasures of Helicon, and, moreover, [106] _i.e._ of Phaëthon, who were changed into poplars. * * * * * Page 258 ipsam praeterea dominam stellantis Olympi ad nati thalamos ausa rogare parens. nec sprevit regina deum vel matris honore vel iusto vatis ducta favore pii, qui sibi carminibus totiens lustraverat aras 25 Iunonis blanda numina voce canens proeliaque altisoni referens Phlegraea mariti, Titanum fractas Enceladique minas. ilicet adventu noctem dignata iugalem addidit augendis munera sacra toris, 30 munera mortales non admittentia cultus, munera, quae solos fas habuisse deos. sed quod Threicio Iuno placabilis Orphei, hoc poteris votis esse, Serena, meis. illius expectent famulantia sidera nutum; 35 sub pedibus regitur terra fretumque tuis. non ego, cum peterem, sollemni more procorum promisi gregibus pascua plena meis nec, quod mille mihi lateant sub palmite colles fluctuet et glauca pinguis oliva coma, 40 nec, quod nostra Ceres numerosa falce laboret aurataeque ferant culmina celsa trabes. suffecit mandasse deam: tua littera nobis et pecus et segetes et domus ampla fuit. inflexit soceros et maiestate petendi 45 texit pauperiem nominis umbra tui. quid non perficeret scribentis voce Serenae vel genius regni vel pietatis amor? Atque utinam sub luce tui contingeret oris coniugis et castris et solio generi 50 * * * * * Page 259