luxuriant epulisque vacant genialibus umbrae. grata coronati peragunt convivia Manes; rumpunt insoliti tenebrosa silentia cantus; sedantur gemitus. Erebi se sponte relaxat 330 squalor et aeternam patitur rarescere noctem, urna nec incertas versat Minoia sortes. verbera nulla sonant nulloque frementia luctu impia dilatis respirant Tartara poenis: non rota suspensum praeceps Ixiona torquet; 335 non aqua Tantaleis subducitur invida labris. solvitur Ixion et Tantalus invenit undas et Tityos tandem spatiosos erigit artus squalentisque novem detexit iugera campi (tantus erat), laterisque piger sulcator opaci 340 invitus trahitur lasso de pectore vultur abreptasque dolet iam non sibi crescere fibras. Oblitae scelerum formidatique furoris Eumenides cratera parant et vina feroci crine bibunt flexisque minis iam lene canentes 345 extendunt socios ad pocula plena cerastas et festas alio succendunt lumine taedas. tunc et pestiferi pacatum flumen Averni innocuae transistis, aves, flatumque repressit Amsanctus: fixo tacuit torrente vorago. 350 tunc Acheronteos mutato gurgite fontes lacte novo tumuisse ferunt, hederisque virentem Cocyton dulci perhibent undasse Lyaeo. stamina nec rumpit Lachesis; nec turbida sacris obstrepitant lamenta choris. mors nulla vagatur 355 * * * * * Page 343 high festival, and the ghosts sport them at the nuptial feast. The flower-crowned Manes sit at a joyous banquet and unwonted song breaks the gloomy silence; wailing is hushed. Hell’s murk gladly disperses and suffers the darkness of age-long night to grow less impenetrable. Minos’ urn of judgement throws no ambiguous lots; the sound of blows is stilled, and Tartarus, the prison of the wicked, is hushed and still, for punishments are intermitted. No longer is Ixion tortured by the ever-turning wheel to which he is bound; from Tantalus’ lips no more is the flying water withdrawn. Ixion is freed, Tantalus reaches the stream, and Tityus at length straightens out his huge limbs and uncovers nine acres of foul ground (such was his size), and the vulture, that burrows lazily into the dark side, is dragged off from his wearied breast sore against its will, lamenting that no longer is the devoured flesh renewed for it.