Once upon a time mother Earth, jealous of the heavenly kingdoms and in pity for the ceaseless woes of the Titans, filled all Tartarus with a monster brood, thus giving birth to that which proved a very bane. Her womb swollen with this monstrous birth she opened Phlegra’s side and brought forth foes against heaven. With a noise as of thunder they burst forth in profusion and, scarce born, prepare their hands for war, as with twofold trail[117] they writhe their hissing course. Suddenly the stars grow pale, Phoebus turns his rosy steeds and, impelled by fear, retraces his steps. The Bear takes refuge in the Ocean, and the unsetting Triones learned to endure setting. Then their angry mother stirred up her sons to war with words such as these: “Children, ye shall conquer [117] They were twiform; _cf._ l. 81. * * * * * Page 282 pugnando dabitur; praestat victoria mundum. 15 sentiet ille meas tandem Saturnius iras, cognoscet, quid Terra potest, si viribus ullis vincor, si Cybele nobis meliora creavit! cur nullus Telluris honos? cur semper acerbis me damnis urgere solet? quae forma nocendi 20 defuit? hinc volucrem vivo sub pectore pascit infelix Scythica fixus convalle Prometheus; hinc Atlantis apex flammantia pondera fulcit et per canitiem glacies asperrima durat. quid dicam Tityon, cuius sub vulture saevo 25 viscera nascuntur gravibus certantia poenis? sed vos, o tandem veniens exercitus ultor, solvite Titanas vinclis, defendite matrem. sunt freta, sunt montes: nostris ne parcite membris; in Iovis exitium telum non esse recuso. 30 ite, precor, miscete polum, rescindite turres sidereas. rapiat fulmen sceptrumque Typhoeus; Enceladi iussis mare serviat; alter habenas Aurorae pro Sole regat: te Delphica laurus stringet, Porphyrion, Cirrhaeaque templa tenebis.” 35 His ubi consiliis animos elusit inanes, iam credunt vicisse deos mediisque revinctum Neptunum traxisse fretis; hic sternere Martem cogitat, hic Phoebi laceros divellere crines; hic sibi promittit Venerem speratque Dianae 40 coniugium castamque cupit violare Minervam. * * * * * Page 283