Tristia; Book I., III. Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ...rather--. Han. were not all tired with using so much rage on us, etc. Summary.--Ye gods of sea and sky, spare me and save me from the storm. The divine Caesar, it is true, is angry; but it is the custom of the gods to support a stricken mortal against a fellow-god's wrath (1-12). Ah poor wretch my words fall unavailing: the tempest gathers force, and the wild winds whirl away my sails and supplications alike unheeding. The very pilot is distracted, and each wave that breaks seems destined to engulf us (13-36). My dear wife's sorrow is all for my exile; little she knows that death by shipwreck is likely to be my portion. Still, if I die, half of myself survives in her (37-44) Thunder and lightning is added to the horrors of the hour. Death I do not dread, but only death by shipwreck. He that dies on land can cheer himself with the hope of burial: his body will not be food for the monsters of the deep. Save me, ye gods, and these that are my fellows, for they at least have not deserved such a death. Nay, my very judge did not condemn me to death, as he easily might have done, but only to exile. Exile is surely punishment enough (45-74). I am not sailing in search of wealth or pleasure; Tomi, on the shores of the Euxine, is my destination (75-86). Whether you hate or love me, yon surely will bring me safe to the port that Caesar has ordained (87-94). I have deserved my sentence I know, yet my guilt was not wilfu1. If I have always been a humble supporter of the house of Caesar, then spare me, if not, whelm me in the deep. Lo I am not deceived; you have heard my prayer, and are vouchsafing to abate the storm (95-110). 1. 1. The di maris are invoked as controlling the seas, the di caeli as supreme over the wind; cp. 59, superi viridesqut...