Book III XII

Felix qui potuit boniFontem uisere lucidum,Felix qui potuit grauisTerrae soluere uincula.Quondam funera coniugisVates Threicius gemensPostquam flebilibus modisSiluas currere mobiles,Amnes stare coegerat,Iunxitque intrepidum latusSaeuis cerua leonibus,Nec uisum timuit lepusIam cantu placidum canem,Cum flagrantior intimaFeruor pectoris ureret,Nec qui cuncta subegerantMulcerent dominum modi,Inmites superos querensInfernas adiit domos.Illic blanda sonantibusChordis carmina temperansQuidquid praecipuis deaeMatris fontibus hauserat,Quod luctus dabat impotens,Quod luctum geminans amor,Deflet Taenara commouensEt dulci ueniam preceVmbrarum dominos rogat.Stupet tergeminus nouoCaptus carmine ianitor,Quae sontes agitant metuVltrices scelerum deaeIam maestae lacrimis madent.Non Ixionium caputVelox praecipitat rotaEt longa site perditusSpernit flumina Tantalus.Vultur dum satur est modis,Non traxit Tityi iecur.Tandem, 'Vincimur,' arbiterVmbrarum miserans ait,'Donamus comitem uiroEmptam carmine coniugem.Sed lex dona coerceat,Ne, dum Tartara liquerit,Fas sit lumina flectere.'Quis legem det amantibus?Maior lex amor est sibi.Heu, noctis prope terminosOrpheus Eurydicen suamVidit, perdidit, occidit.Vos haec fabula respicitQuicumque in superum diemMentem ducere quaeritis.Nam qui Tartareum in specusVictus lumina flexerit,Quidquid praecipuum trahitPerdit, dum uidet inferos."

Happy is he that can beholdThe well-spring whence all good doth rise,Happy is he that can unfoldThe bands with which the earth him ties.The Thracian poet whose sweet songPerformed his wife's sad obsequies,And forced the woods to run alongWhen he his mournful tunes did play,Whose powerful music was so strongThat it could make the rivers stay;The fearful hinds not daunted were,But with the lions took their way,Nor did the hare behold with fearThe dog whom these sweet notes appease.When force of grief drew yet more near,And on his heart did burning seize,Nor tunes which all in quiet boundCould any jot their master ease,The gods above too hard he found,And Pluto's palace visiting.He mixed sweet verses with the soundOf his loud harp's delightful string,All that he drank with thirsty draughtFrom his high mother's chiefest spring,All that his restless grief him taught,And love which gives grief double aid,With this even hell itself was caught,Whither he went, and pardon prayedFor his dear spouse (unheard request).The three-head porter was dismayed,Ravished with his unwonted guest,The Furies, which in tortures keepThe guilty souls with pains opprest,Moved with his song began to weep.Ixion's wheel now standing stillTurns not his head with motions steep.Though Tantalus might drink at will,To quench his thirst he would forbear.The vulture full with music shrillDoth not poor Tityus' liver tear.'We by his verses conquered are,'Saith the great King whom spirits fear.'Let us not then from him debarHis wife whom he with songs doth gain.Yet lest our gift should stretch too far,We will it with this law restrain,That when from hell he takes his flight,He shall from looking back refrain.'Who can for lovers laws indite?Love hath no law but her own will.Orpheus, seeing on the verge of nightEurydice, doth lose and killHer and himself with foolish love.But you this feigned tale fulfil,Who think unto the day aboveTo bring with speed your darksome mind.For if, your eye conquered, you moveBackward to Pluto left behind,All the rich prey which thence you took,You lose while back to hell you look."