THE SORCERIES OF CANIDIA.
From Horace.
(Canidia and other witches, having enticed a boy of high birth into some
secret cell, proceed to bury him in the earth, up to the chin; in order
that, when he has perished with hunger in that situation, his liver etc.
may serve as ingredients for a draught, by administering which Canidia
purposes to regain the affection of Varus, who has deserted her. The poem
commences with the entreaties of the boy, and concludes with the
imprecations which he utters when about to be abandoned to famine and
inhumation.)
"Father of Gods, who rul'st the sky,
The earth and all the heavenly race!
What means this noise, why savagely
On me is turn'd each frightful face?--
By thy dear babes, if aid e'er lent
Lucine to thee in child-birth hour,
By this proud purple ornament,
By hands ne'er clasp'd to crave before,
I beg thee, Dame! thou wilt declare
Why she-wolf like thou me dost eye."
Stript of his tests of lineage fair
He stood, who rais'd this piteous cry--
A boy, of form which might have made
The Thracian furies' bosoms kind.
Canidia with her uncomb'd head
And hair with vipers short entwin'd,
Commands wild fig-trees, once that stood
By graves, and cypresses uptorn,
And toads foul eggs, imbued with blood,
And plume, by night-owl lately worn,
Herbs too, which Iolchos and Spain
Produce, renown'd for poisons dire,
And bone from hungry mastiff ta'en,
Straight to be burn'd in magic fire.
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