compresso mons igne tonat claususque laborat Mulciber: obducti nequeunt exire vapores. coniferi micuere apices crevitque favillis Aetna novis: strident admisso sulphure rami. tum, ne deficerent tantis erroribus, ignes 400 semper inocciduos insopitosque manere iussit et arcano perfudit robora suco, quo Phaëthon inrorat equos, quo Luna iuvencos. Iamque soporiferas nocturna silentia terris explicuere vices: laniato pectore longas 405 incohat illa vias et sic ingressa profatur: “Non tales gestare tibi, Proserpina, taedas sperabam; sed vota mihi communia matrum et thalami festaeque faces caeloque canendus ante oculos hymenaeus erat. sic numina fatis 410 volvimur et nullo Lachesis discrimine saevit? quam nuper sublimis eram quantisque procorum cingebar studiis! quae non mihi pignus ob unum cedebat numerosa parens! tu prima voluptas, tu postrema mihi; per te fecunda ferebar. 415 o decus, o requies, o grata superbia matris, qua gessi florente deam, qua sospite numquam inferior Iunone fui: nunc squalida, vilis. hoc placitum patri. cur autem adscribimus illum his lacrimis? ego te, fateor, crudelis ademi, 420 quae te deserui solamque instantibus ultro hostibus exposui. raucis secura fruebar nimirum thiasis et laeta sonantibus armis * * * * * Page 375 blazing exit of the flames. The mountain thunders with repressed fire and Vulcan is shut in a grievous prison; the enclosed smoke cannot escape. The cone-bearing tops of the cypresses blaze and Etna grows with new ashes; the branches crackle, kindled with the sulphur. Then, lest their long journey should cause them to fail, she bids the flames never die nor sleep and drenches the wood with that secret drug[132] wherewith Phaëthon bedews his steeds and the Moon her bulls.