The Furies, forgetful of crimes and dread wrath, make ready the wine-bowl and drink therefrom for all their snaky hair. Nay, with gentle song, their threatenings laid aside, they stretch out their snakes to the full cups and kindle the festal torches with unusual flame. Then, too, the birds flew unhurt over the now appeasèd stream of poisonous Avernus, and Lake Amsanctus checked his deadly exhalations; the stream was stayed and the whirlpool grew still. They say that then the springs of Acheron were changed and welled up with new milk, while Cocytus, enwreathed with ivy, flowed along in streams of sweet wine. Lachesis slit not the thread of life nor did funeral dirge sound in challenge to the holy chant. Death walked not * * * * * Page 344 in terris, nullique rogum planxere parentes. navita non moritur fluctu, non cuspide miles; oppida funerei pollent inmunia leti, impexamque senex velavit harundine frontem portitor et vacuos egit cum carmine remos. 360 Iam suus inferno processerat Hesperus orbi: ducitur in thalamum virgo. stat pronuba iuxta stellantes Nox picta sinus tangensque cubile omina perpetuo genitalia foedere sancit; exultant cum voce pii Ditisque sub aula 365 talia pervigili sumunt exordia plausu: “Nostra potens Iuno tuque o germane Tonantis et gener, unanimi consortia discite somni mutuaque alternis innectite vota lacertis. iam felix oritur proles; iam laeta futuros 370 expectat Natura deos. nova numina rebus addite et optatos Cereri proferte nepotes.” LIBER TERTIUS (XXXVI.) Iuppiter interea cinctam Thaumantida nimbis ire iubet totoque deos arcessere mundo. illa colorato Zephyros illapsa volatu numina conclamat pelagi Nymphasque morantes increpat et Fluvios umentibus evocat antris. 5 * * * * * Page 345 on earth and no parents wept beside the funeral pyre. The wave brought not destruction to the sailor nor the spear to the warrior. Cities flourished and knew not death, the destroyer. Charon crowned his uncombed locks with sedge and singing plied his weightless oars.