Actaeon and Diana - Musowls

Actaeon and Diana
Ovid, Metamorphoses 3.138-252

Prima nepos inter tot rēs tibi, Cadme, secundās
causa fuit luctūs, alienaque cornua frontī
140 addita, vōsque canēs satiatae sanguine erilī.
At bene si quaeras, fortunae crimen in illō,
non scelus invenies: quod enim scelus error habebat?
Mons erat infectus variārum caede ferārum;
iamque diēs medius rērum contraxerat umbrās
145 et sol ex aequō metā distabat utrāque,
138 – Introduction from the narrator
138-140: prima modifying causa should be translated predicatively after fuit:
a nepos was the prima causa. vosque is vocative, modifying canes, an
example of apostrophe.
nepos, nepotis (m/f): grandchild
luctus, -us (m): crying, grieving
cornu, -us (n): horn
satio, satiare, satiavi, satiatum: to fill, satisfy, sate
erilis, -is, -e: of the master, the master’s
141-142: Ovid uses a mixed conditional with the present subjunctive of a
future less vivid in the protasis and the future indicative of a future more
vivid in the apodosis. The invenies of 142 should be supplied also for the
phrase fortunae crimen in illo
crimen, criminis (n): fault, blame
scelus, sceleris (n): misdeed, sin, crime
invenio, invenire, inveni, inventus: to come upon, find, discover
143 – The setting of the hunting party is described
143-145: dies medius: i.e. noon. ex aequo: “at an equal distance.” meta
utraque: ablative of separation.
inficio, inficere, infeci, infectum: to dye, stain
fera, -ae (f): wild beast
contraho, contrahere, contraxi, contractum: to draw together, to diminish
meta, -ae (f): turning point (used in racing); here, “horizon”

cum iuvenis placidō per devia lustra vagantēs
participēs operum compellat Hyantius ore:
“Lina madent, comitēs, ferrumque cruore ferārum,
fortunamque diēs habuit satis. Altera lucem
150 cum croceīs invecta rotīs Aurora reducet,
propositum repetemus opus; nunc Phoebus utrāque
distat idem terrā finditque vaporibus arva.
Sistite opus praesens nodosaque tollite lina.”
Iussa virī faciunt intermittuntque laborem.
146-147: placido modifying ore; participes taking the partitive genitive
operum. Hyantius is an epic circumlocution for “Boeotian,” a region in
Greece north of the Bay of Corinth.
devius, -a, -um: out-of-the-way, remote
lustrum, -i (n): den, haunt of beasts
particeps, participis (adj): partaking in (+gen)
compello, compellare, compellavi, compellatum: to address, speak to
148 – Actaeon addresses the other hunters
148-153: altera Aurora, i.e., another sunrise.
Utra tella: Ovid has in mind the far East and the far West.
linum, -i (n): hunting net
madeo, madere, madui: to be wet
croceus, -a, -um: golden
findo, findere, fidi, fissum: to cut, cleave, split apart
vapor, vaporis (m): steam; (waves of) heat
sisto, sistere, stiti, statum: to set aside
nodosus, -a, -um: knotty, knotted
154 – The men carry out Actaeon’s instructions.

155 Vallis erat piceīs et acutā densa cupressū,
nomine Gargaphie, succinctae sacra Dianae,
cuius in extremō est antrum nemorale recessū
arte laboratum nullā: simulaverat artem
ingeniō natura suō; nam pumice vivō
160 et levibus tofīs, nativum duxerat arcum;
fons sonat a dextrā tenuī perlucidus undā,
margine gramineō patulōs incinctus hiatūs.
hīc, dea silvārum, venatū fessa, solebat
virgineōs artūs liquidō perfundere rore.
155 – A description of the grove where Diana and her nymphs bathe
155 picea, -ae, f.: spruce tree
acutus, -a, -um: sharp
cupressus, -us, f.: cypress tree
156 Gargaphie: Ovid names the valley after a spring near the ancient city
Plataea which was in southeastern Boeotia and south of Thebes
succinctus, -a, -um: with clothes tucked up; this is a common term
used to describe Diana, who, as a huntress, would have her clothes
gathered up in order to hunt
157 antrum, -i, n.: cave
nemoralis, -is, e: of the woods; sylvan
159 pumex, pumicis, m.: pumice stone (volcanic rock)
160 tofus, -i, m.: tufa (porous volcanic stone)
duco, -ere, duxi, ductus: to form, fashion, build
pumice et tofis: ablative of material; these are both soft
volcanic stones which were often used to build because they are easy
to shape
161 perlucidus, -a, -um: transparent, clear
sono, -are, -avi, -atus: to murmur
162 gramineus, -a, -um: grassy
patulus, -a, -um: wide open
incingo, -ere, incinxi, incinctus: to encircle, wrap
hiatus, -us, m.: opening, crevice; accusative with perfect
passive participle
tenui...unda: ablative of respect
164 ros, roris, m.: dew, water, spray

165 quo postquam subiit, nymphārum tradidit unī
armigerae iaculum pharetramque arcūsque retentōs,
altera depositae subiecit bracchia pallae,
vincla duae pedibus demunt; nam doctior illīs,
Ismenis Crocale, sparsōs per colla capillōs
170 colligit in nodum, quamvis erat ipsa solutīs.
excipiunt laticem Nepheleque Hyaleque Rhanisque
et Psecas et Phiale funduntque capacibus urnīs.
165 – A description of Diana’s bath
166 armigera, -a, f.: armor-bearer
167 palla, -ae, f.: palla (woman’s outer garment)
iaculum, -i, n.: javelin
pharetra, -ae, f.: quiver
arcus, -us, n.: bow
golden line
168 demo, -ere, dempsi, demptus: to take away, remove
vinclum, vincli, n.: straps; synecdoche
169 Ismenis: Theban (of Thebes)
Crocale: one of the nymphs attending Diana; “pebble”
collum, -i, n.: neck
170 quamvis: however, although
solutis refers to the nymph’s hair
171 latex, laticis, m.: water
171-2 Nephele...Phiale: names of the nymphs attending Diana
Nephale: “cloud”
Hyale: “crystal”
Rhanis: “rain-drop”
Psecas: “rain in small drops”
Phiale: “small bowl for pouring”
dactylic lines
172 capax,capacis: large, spacious

dumque ibi perluitur solitā Titania lymphā,
ecce nepos Cadmī, dilatā parte laborum,
175 per nemus ignotum non certīs passibus errans,
pervenit in lucum: sic illum fata ferebant.
quī simul intravit rorantia fontibus antra,
sicut erant, nudae visō sua pectora nymphae
percussere virō subitīsque ululatibus omne
173 perluitur – translate “she bathes”
soleo, solēre, solitus sum – to be in the habit, accustomed (to)
Titania, -ae, f. daughter of a Titan, i.e. Diana
174 – Actaeon enters the grove where Diana is bathing
174 nepos, nepotis, m. grandson
Cadmus, -i, m. king of Tyre
nepos Cadmus = Actaeon (he isn’t named until line 230)
dilato, -are, -avi, -atus – to spread out, extend
175 nemus, nemoris, n. grove
ignotus, -i, m. unknown, unfamiliar
passus, -us, m. step, stride
non certis – litotes, “not certain” = “uncertain”
ignotum non certis – notice the juxtaposition of these similar phrases.
A heavily spondaic line corresponds with Actaeon’s hesitation in
unfamiliar surroundings.
176 lucus, -i, m. sacred grove, forest
177 roro, -are, -avi, -atus – to cause dew, be covered with dew
antrum, -i, n. cave
fontibus – abl. of cause (fons, fontis, m. spring, fountain)
178-79 nudae… viro – prose word order would be nymphae nudae sua
pectora viro viso percussere
178 sicut – as
sicut erant – ellipsis, supply ibi
pectus, pectoris, n. chest
nudae sua pectora nymphae - chiasmus
179 percussere – syncopated form of percusserunt (percutio, -ere,
percussi, percussus – to strike, beat)
subitus, -a, -um – sudden
ululatus, -us, m. wailing, shrieking
A heavily dactylic line corresponds with the reaction of the nymphs.

180 inplevere nemus circumfusaeque Dianam
corporibus texere suīs; tamen altior illīs
ipsa dea est collōque tenus supereminet omnīs.
quī color infectīs adversī solis ab ictū
nubibus esse solet aut purpureae Aurorae,
185 is fuit in vultū visae sine veste Dianae.
quae, quamquam comitum turba est stipata suārum,
180 inplevere – syncopated form of inpleverunt (inpleo, -ere, -
plevi, inpletus - to fill up)
circumfundo, -ere, fudi, -fusus – to surround, encircle
181 texere - syncopated form of texerunt (tego, -ere, texi, tectus - to
cover)
altus, -a, -um – tall
180-81 circumfusaeque…suis - note the interesting word placement
182 collum, -i, n. neck
tenus (+ gen./abl.) – up, down to; as far as
superemineo, -ēre - to tower above, rise above
omnis = omnes
A heavily spondaic line corresponds with Actaeon’s hesitation in
unfamiliar surroundings.
183 – Diana blushes in response to the arrival of Actaeon
183 adversus, -a, -um – opposite, facing
sol, solis, m. sun
ictus, -us, m. a blow, strike
184 purpureae Aurorae - hiatus
nubes, nubis, f. cloud
aut – or
Aurora, -ae, f. Aurora, goddess of the Dawn
185 vultus, -us, m. face, expression
sine (prep. + abl.) – without
vestis, vestis, f. clothing
The rhythm slows down as the gravity of the situation is revealed.
186 comes, comitis, m./f. companion, comrade
stipo, -are, -avi, -atus – to surround, accompany

in latus obliquum tamen adstitit oraque retrō
flexit et, ut vellet promptās habuisse sagittās,
quās habuit, sic hausit aquās vultumque virilem
190 perfudit spargensque comās ultricibus undīs
addidit haec cladis praenuntia verba futurae:
'nunc tibi mē positō visam velamine narres,
si poteris narrare, licet!'
187 latus, lateris, n. side
obliquus, -a, -um – slanting, to one side
adsto, adstare, adstiti - to stand near
os, oris, n. face
retro – behind, backward
188 flecto, -ere, flexi, flexus – to bend
promptus, -a, -um – ready, at hand
sagitta, -ae, f. arrow
189 – Diana splashes Actaeon with water
189 quas – antecedent: aquas
haurio, -ire, hausi, haustus – to draw up, draw out
virilis, -is, -e – manly, of a man
190 perfundo, -ere, -fudi, -fusus – to pour over
191 clades, -is, f. destruction, death, injury
praenuntius, -a, -um – foretelling of
192 – Diana taunts Actaeon
192-93 nunc…narres licet – indirect statement within indirect command
192 posito = deposito (depono, -ere, -posui, -positus – to put aside, lay
down)
velamen, velaminis, n. veil

193 Nec plura minata
dat sparsō capitī vivacis cornua cervī,
195 dat spatium collō summāsque cacuminat aurēs
cum pedibusque manūs, cum longīs bracchia mutat
cruribus et velat maculosō vellere corpus;
additus et pavor est: fugit Autonoeius heros
et sē tam celerem cursū miratur in ipsō.
200 Ut vero vultūs et cornua vidit in undā,
‘mē miserum!’ dicturus erat: vox nulla secuta est!
Ingemuit: vox illa fuit, lacrimaeque per ora
non sua fluxerunt; mens tantum pristina mansit.
Quid faciat? Repetatne domum et regalia tecta
205 an lateat silvīs? timor hoc, pudor impedit illud.
193 – The metamorphosis of Actaeon begins
193: minata: perfect passive participle, “having been threatened”,
from mino, minare, minavi, minatus
194: spargo, spargere, sparsi, sparsus: to sprinkle
vivax, vivacis: “long-lived”- ironically, Romans believed deer to live a
long time.
195: cacumino, cacuminare, cacuminavi, cacuminatus: to sharpen-
the verb was invented by Ovid.
spatium, spati(i) n.: length, length of time
196: bracchium, bracchi(i) n.: arm
197: crus, cruris, n.: leg
masculoso vellere: with a spotted fleece
198: Autonoeius: “son of Autonoe”
pavor, pavoris, m.: fear
199: cursus, cursus m.: course, running
miro, mirare, miravi, miratus: to be amazed, surprised
200: ut: followed by an indicative verb, translate “as”
vultus, vultus m.: face
unda: metonomy for “pool”
202: ingemo, ingemere, ingemui, ingemitus: to groan
lacrima, lacrimare f.: tear
203: fluo, fluere, fluxi, fluxus: to flow
pristinus, pristina, pristinum: former, original
maneo, manere, mansi, mansus: to remain, stay
204: Quid faciat: deliberative subjunctive, “what might he do”
repeto, repetere, repetivi, repetitus: to return to
205: lateo, latere, latui: to lie hidden, lurk
pudor, pudoris m.: shame

Dum dubitat, videre canēs, primīque Melampus
Ichnobatesque sagax latratū signa dedere,
Cnosius Ichnobates, Spartanā gente Melampus.
inde ruunt aliī rapidā velocius aurā,
210 Pamphagos et Dorceus et Oribasos, Arcadēs omnēs,
Nebrophonosque valens et trux cum Laelape Theron
et pedibus Pterelas et naribus utilis Agre
Hylaeusque ferox nuper percussus ab aprō
206 – The long list of Actaeon’s dogs, reacting to the transformation
206: dubitat: to doubt, to hesitate
videre = viderunt
Melampus: “Black-foot.” Although the hounds have Greek names,
Ovid’s Roman audience would have appreciated the word play.
207: Ichnobates: “Tracker.”
latratus, -us m. bark, barking
dedere= dederunt. Syncopated verb forms help heighten the speed
of the passage as the hounds rush in.
208: Cnosius: Knossian (from Knossos, a major city on Crete)
209: ruo, ruere, rui, rutus: dash, rush, hurry
210: Pamphagos: “All-consuming”; Dorceus: “Sharp-eyed”
Oribasos: “Mountain-ranging”
Arcades: from Arcadia, a region in the Peleponnese
211: Nebrophonos: “Deer-killer”; Laelape: (Greek abl.sing.) “Tempest”;
Theron: “Hunter”
valens, valentis: strong, vigorous
trux, trucis: savage
212: Pterelas: “Wing-foot”
Apply utilis to pedibus as well as naribus.
naris, naris f. nose; f. pl. nostrils
Agre: “Chase”
213: Hylaeus: “Made-of-wood”
nuper: recently
aper, apri m. wild boar

dēque lupō concepta Nape pecudēsque secuta
215 Poemenis et natīs comitata Harpyia duōbus
et substricta gerens Sicyonius ilia Ladon
et Dromas et Canache Sticteque et Tigris et Alce
et niveīs Leucon et villīs Asbolos atrīs
praevalidusque Lacon et cursū fortis Aello
220 et Thoos et Cypriō velox cum fratre Lycisce
214: Nape: “Wooded Glen”
conceptus, -a, -um: having been conceived (from concipio,
concipere, concepi, conceptus)
pecus, pecudis n. cattle, livestock
215: Poemnis: “Shepherdess”
Harpyia: “Harpy”
216: Sicyonius: “Sicyonian” (from the town of Sicyon in the Pelponnese)
Ladon: river in Greece, near Sicyon
substrictus, -a, -um drawn up, controlled
ilia, -ium n. pl. flank, side
217: Dromas: “Runner”
Canache: “Uproar”
Sticte: “Spotted”
Tigris: “Tiger”
Alce: “Courage”
218: niveus, -a, -um snowy
Leucon: “White one”
villus, -i m. hair
Asbolos: “Soot”
ater, atra, atrum black
219: Lacon: “Spartan”
Aello: “Whirlwind”
praevalidus, -a, -um: very strong, very powerful
220: Thoos: “Ready”
Cyprio: “Cyprian.” Agrees with fratre. What is the nominative
singular form?
Lycisce: (Greek abl. sing.) “She-wolf”

et nigram mediō frontem distinctus ab albō
Harpalos et Melaneus hirsutaque corpore Lachne
et patre Dictaeo, sed matre Laconide natī
Labros et Argiodus et acutae vocis Hylactor
225 quōsque referre mora est: ea turba cupidine praedae
per rupēs scopulōsque aditūque carentia saxa,
quaque est difficilis, quaque est via nulla, sequuntur.
221: distinctus, -a, -um marked
nigram frontem: acc. of respect. Translate as the subject of
distinctus.
222: Harpalos: “Greedy”
Melaneus: “Blacky”
hirsutus, -a, -um hairy, shaggy
Lachne: “Soft-haired”
223: Dictaeus,-a,-um Cretan (from Mt. Dicte on Crete)
Laconis, Laconidis: Laconian, Spartan
natus, -i m. offspring (from nanciscor, to be born)
224: Labros: “Furious”
Argiodus: “Savage-toothed”
Hylactor: “Barker”
*acutus, -a, -um – sharp, shrill
acutae vocis: gen. of characteristic
225: Five dactyls make this line run as swiftly as the hounds.
turba,-ae f. crowd, “pack.” Subject of sequuntur l. 227.
praeda, -ae f. prize, booty, prey
226: rupes, rupis f. cliff
scopulus, -i m. crag
aditus, -us m. a (way of) approach, attack
careo, carere, carui (+ abl.) to lack, be without
227: quaque: wherever; by whatever way

Ille fugit per quae fuerat loca saepe secutus,
heu! Famulōs fugit ipse suōs. Clamare libebat:
230 'Actaeon ego sum: dominum cognoscite vestrum!'
Verba animō desunt; resonat latratibus aether.
Prima Melanchaetes in tergō vulnera fecit,
proxima Theridamas, Oresitrophos haesit in armō:
tardius exierat, sed per conpendia montis
235 anticipata via est; dominum retinentibus illīs,
cetera turba coit confertque in corpore dentēs.
Iam loca vulneribus desunt; gemit ille sonumque,
228 Ille = Actaeon
quae: the antecedent (loca) comes after the relative pronoun
fuerat secutus = erat secutus (a pluperfect passive form)
229 famulus, -i (m): slave, servant
libet, libere, libuit: to be pleasing
clamare (ei) libebat: literally, “it was pleasing (for him) to shout”
(i.e., Actaeon wanted to shout, but he was unable to form words)
231 desum, deesse, defui: to be lacking, to be absent from (+ DAT)
*latratus, -us (m): bark, barking
232 – The first dogs attack Actaeon
232 Melanchaetes, Theridamas, and Oresitrophos all refer to the names
of the dogs of Actaeon. All are nominative singular.
233 armus, -i (m): shoulder
234 exierat = exiierat or exiverat. Oresitrophos is the subject.
conpendium, -i (n): short-cut
235 retinentibus illis: an ablative absolute
236 cetera . . . coit confertque . . . corpore: alliteration
*turba: the crowd of dogs pursuing Actaeon
237 Iam loca vulneribus desunt: There are so many wounds on
Actaeon’s body that there are now no fresh places for the dogs to
attack.
sonumque: This is the direct object of the verb habet (line
239). The idiom habere sonum means not “to have a sound” but
“to make a sound” (cf., habere orationem).

etsi non hominis, quem non tamen edere possit
cervus, habet maestīsque replet iuga nota querellīs
240 et genibus pronīs supplex similisque rogantī
circumfert tacitōs tamquam sua bracchia vultūs.
At comitēs rabidum solitīs hortatibus agmen
238 etsi: although
quem . . . possit: a relative clause of characteristic
239 maestus, -a, -um: sad, mournful
iugum, -i (n): ridge, mountain, summit
maestisque . . . iuga nota querellis: chiasmus
240 Actaeon attempts to beg for mercy. He can’t stretch out his arms in
the traditional gesture (since he now has no arms), and so he tries
moving his head, instead.
genus, -us (n): knee
pronus, -a, -um: bended, bending
supplex, supplicis: suppliant, kneeling, begging
similis roganti: roganti is a dative substantive participle (“similar to
a person asking”)
241 vultus, -us (m): face, expression. The form here is accusative plural
(treat as a poetic plural)
242 – The other hunters arrive to see the carnage
242 Actaeon’s dogs don’t respond to his commands, and he is not able to
attract the attention of his hunting companions (comites), either.
hortatus, -us (m): cheer, encouragement
agmen, agminis (n): group, crowd, battle line. This word often has
military associations, which is appropriate here, since the dogs are
attacking Actaeon with military-like ruthlessness and precision.
rabidum solitis hortatibus agmen: chiasmus

ignarī instigant oculīsque Actaeona quaerunt
et velut absentem certatim Actaeona clamant
245 (ad nomen caput ille refert) et abesse queruntur
nec capere oblatae segnem spectacula praedae.
vellet abesse quidem, sed adest; velletque videre,
non etiam sentire canum fera facta suōrum.
243 Actaeona: a Greek accusative form
244 certatim (adv): eagerly
245 caput ille refert: Actaeon turns his head when his hunting
companions mention his name, but no one picks up on the gesture.
abesse (Actaeona) queruntur: The verb queruntur (from queror,
queri, to complain) introduces indirect statement, with the infinitive
capere continuing the construction in the next line. “They complain
that Actaeon . . .”
246 oblatae – a perfect passive participle from the verb offero, offerre,
obtuli, oblatus (to offer)
segnis, segnis, segne: slow, sluggish, lazy. This modifies the
implied Actaeona in the indirect statement.
spectaculum, -i (n): spectacle (a poetic plural)
praeda, -ae (f): prize, reward, prey, booty
247 vellet . . . velletque: Each vellet is a potential subjunctive, each
conveying the hopelessness of what Actaeon wants.
248 non etiam: Literally, “not also” but here with the sense of “rather
than.” Actaeon wishes that he could simply see (videre) the
mutilation of the animal rather than to experience (sentire) it from
the animal’s perspective.
canum: a genitive plural
ferus, -a, -um: wild, savage
factum, -i (n): deed, action

undique circumstant, mersīsque in corpore rostrīs
250 dilacerant falsī dominum sub imagine cervī,
nec nisi finitā per plurima vulnera vitā,
ira pharetratae fertur satiata Dianae.
249 circumstant: The dogs are the subject.
mergo, mergere, mersi, mersus: plunge, sink, submerge
rostrum, rostri (n): snout
250 dilacerant = dilaceraverant
dilacero, dilacerare, dilaceravi, dilaceratus: lacerate, mangle, tear
up
251 nec nisi: The anger of Diana (ira, line 252) is the subject. Nothing
will appease her wrath except the ultimate destruction of Actaeon’s
life.
finita . . . vita: an ablative absolute
252 pharetratus, -a, -um: quiver-bearing
fertur: “is said”
satiata (esse)
satio, satiare, satiavi, satiatus: satisfy