aegida captivamque pater post proelia praedam advexisse datur. Phlegraeis silva superbit exuviis totumque nemus victoria vestit. hic patuli rictus et prodigiosa Gigantum tergora dependent, et adhuc crudele minantur 340 adfixae truncis facies, inmaniaque ossa serpentum passim cumulis exanguibus albent, et rigidae multo suspirant fulmine pelles; nullaque non magni iactat se nominis arbor: haec centumgemini strictos Aegaeonis enses 345 curvata vix fronde levat; liventibus illa exultat Coei spoliis; haec arma Mimantis sustinet; hos onerat ramos exutus Ophion. altior at cunctis abies umbrosaque late ipsius Enceladi fumantia gestat opima, 350 summi terrigenum regis, caderetque gravata pondere, ni lassam fulciret proxima quercus. inde timor numenque loco, nemorisque senectae parcitur, aetheriisque nefas nocuisse tropaeis. pascere nullus oves nec robora laedere Cyclops 355 audet et ipse fugit sacra Polyphemus ab umbra. Non tamen hoc tardata Ceres. accenditur ultro relligione loci vibratque infesta securim ipsum etiam feritura Iovem: succidere pinus aut magis enodes dubitat prosternere cedros 360 exploratque habiles truncos rectique tenorem stipitis et certo pertemptat brachia nisu. sic, qui vecturus longinqua per aequora merces molitur tellure ratem vitamque procellis obiectare parat, fagos metitur et alnos 365 * * * * * Page 371 bloody shield and set his captured spoil after the battle. The grove glories in trophies from the plain of Phlegra and signs of victory clothe its every tree. Here hang the gaping jaws and monstrous skins of the Giants; affixed to trees their faces still threaten horribly, and heaped up on all sides bleach the huge bones of slaughtered serpents. Their stiffening sloughs smoke with the blow of many a thunderbolt, and every tree boasts some illustrious name. This one scarce supports on its down-bended branches the naked swords of hundred-handed Aegaeon; that glories in the murky trophies of Coeus; this bears up the arms of Mimas; spoiled Ophion weighs down those branches. But higher than all the other trees towers a pine, its shady branches spread wide, and bears the reeking arms of Enceladus himself, all powerful king of the Earth-born giants; it would have fallen beneath the heavy burden did not a neighbouring oak-tree support its wearied weight. Therefore the spot wins awe and sanctity; none touches the aged grove, and ’tis accounted a crime to violate the trophies of the gods. No Cyclops dares pasture there his flock nor hew down the trees, Polyphemus himself flies from the hallowed shade.