and adds a pledge Of others yet in store, and he hath sent The best men of the army, who to thee Are dearest, to entreat thee. Spurn thou not These, nor their embassy, although at first Thine anger was not causeless. We have heard The praise of heroes of the elder time, Inflamed to vehement anger, yet appeased By gifts, and yielding to persuasive words. One instance I remember: long ago It happened, and I will relate it here Among my friends. Around the city-walls Of Calydon did the Curetes strive In battle with the Aetolians; they destroyed Each other fearfully. The Aetolians fought To save the pleasant town of Calydon, And the Curetes warred to lay it waste. Diana of the golden throne had caused The war, displeased with Oeneus, who withheld From her the first-fruits of his fertile field: While hecatombs were burnt in sacrifice To feast the other gods, to her alone— Daughter of Jove—no offering was brought; For either he forgot, or thought the rite Of little moment; but he greatly erred. And now the child of Jove, the archer-queen, Incensed, sent forth against him from the wood A white-tusked wild boar, which upon his lands Entered, and ravaged them, and brought to earth Many tall trees: tree after tree they fell, With roots uptorn, and all the blossoms on, That promised fruit. Him Meleager, son Of Oeneus, slew, with many hunters called From neighboring cities, bringing many hounds. A few could not subdue him: he had made Many already mount the funeral pile. Diana kindled round the boar a strife For the beast’s head and bristly hide—a war ’Twixt the Curetes and the Aetolian band Of braves. The war, while Meleager fought, Went not with the Curetes, nor could they, Though many, keep the field. But wrath at last Seized Meleager—wrath, which rages oft Even in prudent minds. Incensed against Althaea, his own mother, he remained At home with Cleopatra, his young wife, The beauteous, whom a delicate-footed dame Marpessa, daughter of Evenus, bore To Idas, bravest in his time among The sons of men—so brave that once he drew A bow against Apollo for the sake Of his neat-footed bride. The honored pair Within the palace used to call their child Alcyone; for when the archer-god, Apollo, from her husband bore away
Table of Contents
Book IX
197