Postquam victa manu duros Trinacria nexus solvit et inmenso late discessit hiatu, adparet subitus caelo timor; astra viarum mutavere fidem; vetito se proluit Arctos aequore; praecipitat pigrum formido Booten; 190 horruit Orion. audito palluit Atlas hinnitu: rutilos obscurat anhelitus axes discolor et longa solitos caligine pasci terruit orbis equos; pressis haesere lupatis attoniti meliore polo rursusque verendum 195 in chaos obliquo certant temone reverti. mox ubi pulsato senserunt verbera tergo et solem didicere pati, torrentius amne hiberno tortaque ruunt pernicius hasta: quantum non iaculum Parthi, non impetus Austri, 200 non leve sollicitae mentis discurrit acumen. sanguine frena calent; corrumpit spiritus auras letifer; infectae spumis vitiantur harenae. Diffugiunt Nymphae: rapitur Proserpina curru imploratque deas. iam Gorgonis ora revelat 205 Pallas et intento festinat Delia telo nec patruo cedunt: stimulat communis in arma virginitas crimenque feri raptoris acerbat. ille velut stabuli decus armentique iuvencam cum leo possedit nudataque viscera fodit 210 unguibus et rabiem totos exegit in armos: stat crassa turpis sanie nodosque iubarum excutit et viles pastorum despicit iras. “Ignavi domitor vulgi, deterrime fratrum,” * * * * * Page 333 When Trinacria beneath Pluto’s stroke loosed her rocky bonds and yawned wide with cavernous cleft, sudden fear seized upon the sky. The stars deserted their accustomed courses; the Bear bathed him in forbidden Ocean; terror hurried sluggish Boötes to his setting; Orion trembled. Atlas paled as he heard the neighing coursers; their smoky breath obscures the bright heavens and the sun’s orb affrighted them, so long fed on darkness. They stood biting the curb astonied at the brighter air, and struggle to turn the chariot and hurry back to dread Chaos. But soon, when they felt the lash on their backs and learned to bear the sun’s brightness, they gallop on more rapidly than a winter torrent and more fleet than the hurtling spear; swifter than the Parthian’s dart, the south wind’s fury or nimble thought of anxious mind. Their bits are warm with blood, their death-bringing breath infects the air, the polluted dust is poisoned with their foam.