Vix ea fatus erat, iam nuntius astra tenebat. audierat mandata Pater secumque volutat diversos ducens animos, quae tale sequatur coniugium Stygiosque velit pro sole recessus. 120 certa requirenti tandem sententia sedit. Hennaeae Cereri proles optata virebat unica, nec tribuit subolem Lucina secundam fessaque post primos haeserunt viscera partus infecunda quidem; sed cunctis altior extat 125 matribus et numeri damnum Proserpina pensat. hanc fovet, hanc sequitur: vitulam non blandius ambit torva parens, pedibus quae nondum proterit arva nec nova lunatae curvavit germina frontis. iam matura toro plenis adoleverat annis 130 virginitas, tenerum iam pronuba flamma pudorem sollicitat mixtaque tremit formidine votum. personat aula procis: pariter pro virgine certant Mars clipeo melior, Phoebus praestantior arcu; Mars donat Rhodopen, Phoebus largitur Amyclas 135 et Delon Clariosque lares; hinc aemula Iuno, hinc poscit Latona nurum. despexit utrumque flava Ceres raptusque timens (heu caeca futuri!) commendat Siculis furtim sua gaudia terris [infidis Laribus natam commisit alendam, 140 aethera deseruit Siculasque relegat in oras][120] ingenio confisa loci. Trinacria quondam Italiae pars iuncta fuit; sed pontus et aestus mutavere situm. rupit confinia Nereus victor et abscissos interluit aequore montes, 145 [120] _Heinsius bracketed these lines as spurious, and neither D nor V has l. 140._ * * * * * Page 303 Scarce had he spoken when his messenger trod the stars. The Father heard the message and, communing with himself, debated long who would dare such a marriage, who would wish to exchange the sun for the caves of Styx. He would fain decide and at length his fixed purpose grew.