Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

! oliveAETNAfloods told by ancient legend ^ and we like to speedour course through every nation. Now 'tis our joyto see the walls which gird Ogygian Thebes, thewalls reared by the brothers, the active one (Zethus)and the tuneful one (Amphion) . . . and so for a[lappy hour we live in a bygone age. We marvelnow at the stones charmed into place by duteous5ons,^ with song and lyre, now at the sacrificial reeksundered as it rose from a single altar-steam, now atthe seven chiefs and him whom the chasm snatchediway. There the Eurotas and the Sparta of Lycurgus '^irrest us and the troop consecrated to war, the ThreeHundred, the band true to themselves.'^ Hereagain in manifold poetry is Cecropian Athens shownto us and her joy that Slinerva won her soil.'' Hereonce upon a day, faithless Theseus, your promiseescaped your mind, to hoist, as you were nearinghome, the white sail for an advance signal to youranxious father./ You too, Erigone, were an Athenianlay, henceforth a star of renown ; Athens is the homeof you and yours.fi' Philomela's call fills the groveswith song and you, her sister (Procne), find a guest's