Valerius Flaccus (poet)

Gaius Valerius Flaccus (Setinus Balbus) (died c. AD 90) was a Roman poet of the Silver Age.

Argonautica
The translations are by J. H. Mozley, and are taken from Vol. 286 of the Loeb Classical Library (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1928).

Book I
fatidicamque ratem, Scythici quae Phasidis oras ausa sequi mediosque inter iuga concita cursus rumpere flammifero tandem consedit Olympo.''
 * ''Prima deum magnis canimus freta pervia natis
 * My song is of the straits first navigated by the mighty sons of gods, of the prophetic ship that dared to seek the shores of Scythian Phasis, that burst unswerving through the clashing rocks, to slink at length to rest in the starry firmament.
 * Lines 1–4

coepta tuens tantamque operis consurgere molem laetatur.''
 * ''Siderea tunc arce pater pulcherrima Graium
 * Then the Father from his starry citadel beholding these glorious deeds of the Greeks and how the mighty work went forward, is glad.
 * Lines 498–500

Book II
ut faciem raptosque simul montesque locosque ex oculis circumque graves videre tenebras. ipsa quies rerum mundique silentia terrent astraque et effusis stellatus crinibus aether; ac velut ignota captus regione viarum noctivagum qui carpit iter non aure quiescit, non oculis, noctisque metus niger auget utrimque campus et occurrens umbris maioribus arbor, haud aliter trepidare viri.''
 * ''Auxerat hora metus, iam se vertentis Olympi
 * Their fear deepened with the night as they beheld the face of the heavens turning and the mountains and all places rapt from view and all around thick darkness. The very stillness of Nature, the silent constellations in the heavens, the firmament starred with streaming meteors filled them with fear. And as a traveller by night overtaken in some unknown spot upon the road keeps ear and eye alert, while the darkening landscape to left and right and trees looming up with shadows strangely huge do but make heavier the terrors of night, even so the heroes quailed.
 * Lines 38–47

prima sinu, refer et domitis a Colchidos oris vela per hunc utero quem linquis Iasona nostro.''
 * ''I, memor i terrae, quae vos amplexa quieto
 * Go now, go, but forget not the land that first folded you to its peaceful bosom; and from Colchis' conquered shores bring back hither thy sails, I pray thee, by this Jason whom thou leavest in my womb.
 * Lines 422–424

missa mane sacrisque metum servemus opertis.''
 * ''Hactenus in populos vati, Samothraca, diem que
 * Thus much, Samothrace, has the poet proclaimed thee to the nations and the light of day; there stay, and let us keep our reverence for holy mysteries.
 * Lines 439–440


 * Ad primos turgentia lumina fletus.
 * Her eyes brimful to the verge of weeping.
 * Line 464

Book III
prospicit aut medii transit rota candida Phoebi, tale iubar diffundit aquis: nil umbra comaeque turbavitque sonus surgentis ad oscula nymphae. illa avidas iniecta manus heu sera cientem auxilia et magni referentem nomen amici detrahit, adiutae prono nam pondere vires.''
 * ''Stagna vaga sic luce micant ubi Cynthia caelo
 * Even as the light that shifts and plays upon a lake, when Cynthia looks forth from heaven or the bright wheel of Phoebus in mid course passes by, so doth he shed a gleam upon the waters; he heeds not the shadow of the Nymph or her hair or the sound of her as she rises to embrace him. Greedily casting her arms about him, as he calls, alack! too late for help and utters the name of his mighty friend, she draws him down; for her strength is aided by his falling weight.
 * Lines 558–564


 * Fata trahunt.
 * Fate sweeps them on.
 * Line 717

ut socii sedere locis nullaeque leonis exuviae tantique vacant vestigia transtri. flet pius Aeacides, maerent Poeantia corda, ingemit et dulci frater cum Castore Pollux. omnis adhuc vocat Alciden fugiente carina, omnis Hylan, medio pereunt iam nomina ponto.''
 * ''Hic vero ingenti repetuntur pectora luctu,
 * Then once more comes deep grief to their hearts, when he comrades sat in their places and no lion's hide was there to see, but the empty seat upon that mighty thwart. Loyal Aeacides weeps, the heart of Philoctetes is sad, brother Pollux with his dear Castor makes lament. The ship is flying fast, and still all cry "Hercules," all cry "Hylas," but the names are lost in the middle of the sea.
 * Lines 719–725

Book IV

 * Melior vulgi nam saepe voluntas.
 * For oft have the common people kindlier feelings.
 * Line 158


 * Sonitu tremebunda profundi.
 * [A cave] that trembled with the roaring of the deep.
 * Line 180

nescius extremum hoc armis innectere palmas dat famulis.''
 * ''Dixit et urgentis post saeva piacula fati
 * He spoke, and unaware that fate was driving him on the path of tardy expiation, gives his arms for this last time to his attendants to bind with harness.
 * Lines 252–254


 * Fallere quas nusquam misero locus.
 * Never, alas! can I elude them.
 * Line 451

pocula, saevit odor surgitque miserrima pugna parque mihi monstrisque fames. sprevere quod omnes pollueruntque manu quodque unguibus excidit atris has mihi fert in luce moras.''
 * ''Diripiunt verruntque dapes foedataque turbant
 * They ravage and sweep away my banquet, and befoul and upset the cups, there is a violent stench and a sorry battle arises, for the monsters are as famished as I. What all have scorned or polluted with their touch, or what has fallen from their filthy claws, helps me to linger thus among the living.
 * Lines 454–456


 * Unda laborantes praeceps rotat.
 * As they toil they are whirled round by a furious wave.
 * Line 656

spumeus et magno puppem procul aequore vestit.''
 * ''Effluit imber
 * The spray falls in a rain and from afar shrouds the vessel in a watery deluge.
 * Lines 665–666

luce fugit.''
 * ''Illa volans tenui per concita saxa
 * Through the hurrying rocks the brand with thin flame takes its flight.
 * Lines 672–673

insiliunt pariter scopulos: hunc nata coercet, hunc coniunx Iovis.''
 * ''Hic Iuno praecepsque ex aethere Pallas
 * Hereupon Juno and Pallas leap sheer down from the sky upon the rocks; this one the daughter of Jove, that one his spouse constrains.
 * Lines 682–684

litora vos.''
 * ''Haud temere est, fato divum reor ad mea vectos
 * Not by hazard are ye come; divine fate, I ween, hath brought you to my shores.
 * Lines 741–742

Book V

 * Dicta dabant ventis nec debita fata movebant.
 * Their words were spoken to the breezes nor swayed appointed fate.
 * Line 21


 * Percutit ore lyram nomenque relinquit harenis.
 * Strikes his echoing lyre, singing the while, and bequeaths a name to the sands.
 * Line 100

caelicolis immota procis: deceptus amatae fraude deae nec solus Halys nec solus Apollo.''
 * ''Blandos que Iovis quae luserat ignes
 * One who mocked Jove's ardent wooing, unmoved by heavenly suitors; not Halys only or Apollo were deceived by the trickery of the nymph they loved.
 * Lines 110–112

consilia et varias sociabant pectore curas.''
 * ''At Iuno et summi virgo Iovis intima secum
 * But Juno and the virgin daughter of supreme Jove were sharing heart to heart their inmost counsels and distracting cares.
 * Lines 280–281


 * Rebus semper pudor absit in artis.
 * Away with scruple in adversity!
 * Line 324

sorte petit numeroque novem ducuntur ab omni.''
 * ''Et Scythicam qui se comitentur ad urbem
 * And sought by lot those who should bear him company to the Scythian town, and from the whole number nine were drawn.
 * Lines 325–326

iamdudum premit et furiis ignescit opertis.''
 * ''Talibus orantem vultu gravis ille minaci
 * The other, his brow heavy with threats, had long been muttering and smouldering with hidden fire.
 * Lines 519–520

Book VI
lenibus adludit flabris levis Auster, at illum protinus immanem miserae sensere carinae.''
 * ''Velut ante comas ac summa cacumina silvae
 * Just as at first the South wind makes gentle sport as it softly stirs the leaves and topmost branches of the woodland, but soon the unlucky ships are feeling all its terrible strength.
 * Lines 664–666


 * Nox simul astriferas profert optabilis umbras.
 * At the same time welcome Night brings on the star-heralding shadows.
 * Line 752

Book VII
visus et heu miserae tunc pulchrior hospes amanti discedens; tales umeros, ea terga relinquit.''
 * ''Respexit que fores et adhuc invenit euntem,
 * [Medea] looked toward the gates and found him still even as he went; and alas! as he departed still comelier seemed the stranger to the lovelorn girl: such shoulders, such frame doth he leave to her remembrance.
 * Lines 106–108

an cadat?''
 * ''Quid me autem sic ille movet, superetne labores
 * Why feel I so for him, whether he master his toils, or whether he fall?
 * Lines 131–132

denegat atque una potius decernit in ira ac neque tam turpi cessuram semet amori proclamat.''
 * ''Saepe suas misero promittere destinat artes,
 * Often again she is resolved to promise her skill to the unhappy man, then again refuses, and is determined rather to perish with him; and she cries that never will she yield to so base a passion...
 * Lines 317–320

cum tibi tot mortes scelerisque brevissima tanti effugia?'''
 * '' ' Tune sequeris' ait 'quidquam aut patiere pudendum
 * "Wilt thou pursue," she said, "or submit to aught that is shameful, when thou hast so many means of death and quick escape from a deed so wicked?"
 * Lines 331–333

nulla, Prometheae florem de sanguine fibrae promit nutritaque gramina monti, quae sacer ille nives inter tristesque pruinas durat alitque cruor.''
 * ''Et, qua sibi fida magis vis
 * And takes forth a Caucasian herb, of potency sure beyond all others, sprung of the gore that dropped from the liver of Prometheus, and grass wind-nurtured, fostered and strengthened by that blood divine among snows and grisly frosts.
 * Lines 355–359

Colchidos ora tuens. totos tunc contrahit artus monte dolor cunctaeque tremunt sub falce catenae.''
 * ''Gemit inritus ille
 * Fruitlessly doth he groan, beholding the face of the Colchian maid; then over all the mountain pain contracts his limbs, and all his fetters shake beneath her sickle.
 * Lines 368–370

inciderant ambo attoniti iuxtaque subibant abietibus tacitis aut immotis cyparissis adsimiles, rapidus nondum quas miscuit Auster.''
 * ''Haud secus in mediis noctis nemoris que tenebris
 * So in the midnight shadows of the grove did they two meet and draw nigh each other, awe-struck, like silent first or motionless cypresses, when the mad South wind hath not yet intertwined their boughs.
 * Lines 403–406

quove tenus, prima cupiens effundere voce omnia, sed nec prima pudor dat verba timenti.''
 * ''Nec quibus incipiat demens videt ordine nec quo
 * She can find in her bewilderment no words wherewith to begin, how to order or where to end her speech; fain would she pour out all in her first utterance, but not even the first words doth fear-stricken shame allow her.
 * Lines 433–435

arripit Aesoniden dextra ac summissa profatur: 'sis memor, oro, mei, contra memor ipsa manebo, crede, tui. quantum hinc aberis, dic quaeso, profundi? quod caeli spectabo latus?'''
 * ''Tum vero extremo percussa dolore
 * Then indeed, pierced by grief's bitterest pang, she clutched the hand of Jason and humbly besought him thus: "Remember me, I pray, for never, believe me, shall I be forgetful of thee. When thou art gone, tell me, I beg, on what quarter of the heaven must I gaze?"
 * Lines 475–479

opperiens.''
 * ''Cessit et ad socios paulum se rettulit heros
 * The hero withdrew and betook himself for a space to his companions, waiting.
 * Lines 614–615

Book VIII
Colchida circa omnes pariter furiaeque minaeque patris habent.''
 * ''At trepidam in thalamis et iam sua facta paventem
 * But Medea in her chamber, trembling and terror-struck now at what she has done, is encompassed by all her father's threatening rage.
 * Lines 1–3

dignus amore deae, velatis cornibus et iam Luna venit.''
 * ''Latmius aestiva residet venator in umbra
 * The Latmian hunter rests in the summer shade, fit lover for a goddess, and soon the Moon comes with veiled horns.
 * Lines 28–30

quae super ingenti circumdata praepetis umbra in quemcumque tremens hominem cadit, haud secus illa acta timore gravi mediam se misit.''
 * ''Ecce autem pavidae virgo de more columbae
 * But lo! the girl, like a frightened dove, that caught in the vast shadow of a hawk falls trembling on some man, no matter who he be, so doth she fling herself into his arms driven by strong fear.
 * Lines 32–35

cunctaque Lethaei quassare silentia rami perstat et adverso luctantia lumina cantu obruit atque omnem linguaque manuque fatigat vim Stygiam.''
 * ''Contra Tartareis Colchis spumare venenis
 * But on her side the Colchian ceases not to foam with hellish poisons and to sprinkle all the silences of Lethe's bough: exerting her spells she constrains his reluctant eyes, exhausting all her Stygian power of hand and tongue.
 * Lines 83–87



iam caput atque ingens extra sua vellera cervix ceu refluens Padus aut septem proiectus in amnes Nilus et Hesperium veniens Alpheos in orbem.''
 * ''Iamque altae cecidere iubae nutatque coactum
 * And now the high crest sinks, now the head is nodding overpowered and the huge neck has slipped from around the fleece it guarded, like refluent Po or Nile that sprawls in seven streams or Alpheus when his waters enter the Hesperian world.
 * Lines 88–91

nubibus accensis similem aut cum veste recincta labitur ardenti Thaumantias obvia Phoebo.''
 * ''Cuius adhuc rutilam servabant bracchia pellem,
 * Where still the branches guarded the skin of ruddy hue, like to illumined cloud or to Iris when she ungirds her robe and glides to meet glowing Phoebus.
 * Lines 114–116

sidereis totos pellem nunc fundit in artus, nunc in colla refert, nunc implicat ille sinistrae.''
 * ''Micat omnis ager villisque comantem
 * The whole landscape flashes while the hero now wraps about his body the fleece with its starry tufts of hair, now shifts it to his neck, now folds it upon his left arm.
 * Lines 122–124

fata domus luctumque ferens fraudemque fugamque virginis.''
 * ''Interea patrias saevus venit horror ad aures
 * Meantime her sire was shuddering at the cruel news that reached his ear: the doom of his house, the mourning, his daughter's crafty flight.
 * Lines 134–136

advehitur profugis infestam lampada Grais concutiens.''
 * ''Absyrtus subita praeceps cum classe parentis
 * Absyrtus in hot haste with his father's swift-assembled fleet draws nigh, and shakes a threatening torch at the escaping Greeks.
 * Lines 261–263

Misattributed

 * Are they heroes or mere dreamers?
 * David R. Slavitt, The Voyage of the Argo: The Argonautica of Gaius Valerius Flaccus (1999), Book I, lines 98–99 (p. 3). There is no corresponding text in the Latin (cf. Argon. 1.79–80).

Quotes about Valerius Flaccus
Flacce, Antenorei spes et alumne laris, Pierios differ cantusque chorosque sororum; Aes dabit ex istis nulla puella tibi. Quid petis a Phoebo? nummos habet arca Minervae; Haec sapit, haec omnes fenerat una deos. Quid possunt hederae Bacchi dare? Pallados arbor Inclinat varias pondere nigra comas. Praeter aquas Helicon et serta lyrasque dearum Nil habet et magnum, sed perinane sophos. Quid tibi cum Cirrha? quid cum Permesside nuda? Romanum propius divitiusque forum est. Illic aera sonant: at circum pulpita nostra Et steriles cathedras basia sola crepant.'' Flaccus, the offspring of Antenor's race; Renounce the Muses' songs and charming quire, For none of them enrich, though they inspire. Court not Apollo, Pallas has the gold; She's wise, and does the gods in mortgage hold. What profit is there in an ivy wreath? Its fruits the loaden olive sinks beneath. In Helicon there's nought but springs and bays, The Muses' harps loud sounding empty praise. What with Parnassus' streams hast thou to do? The Roman forum's rich, and nearer too. There chinks the cash: but round the poet's chair The smacks of kisses only fill the air.
 * ''O mihi curarum pretium non vile mearum,
 * Though midst the noblest poets thou hast place,
 * Martial, Epigrams, Book I, epigram lxxvi


 * Multum in Valerio Flacco nuper amisimus.
 * We have suffered serious loss in the recent death of Valerius Flaccus.
 * Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria (c. 95 AD), Book X, Chapter 1, par. 90 (tr. H. E. Butler)