Translation

Arachne and Minerva (Book 6, Lines 68-104)

Translated for accuracy. Words moved from other lines to keep sentences coherent are marked with ( ). Words added from previous sentences are marked with [ ].

 

There and flexible gold is inserted with thread               68

And an old plot is spun with the web.

Minerva (portrays) the cliff of Mars in the Cecropian citadel,              70

and the old fight of the name of the land.

Twice six deities with Jupiter in the middle with high seats

Are sitting with majestic importance; each of the gods her

Appearance inscribes; the image of Jupiter is regal;

(She makes) the god of the sea to stand and to strike with a long trident               75

Rough stones, and (ocean having jumped) from middle of the wound of the rocks, 

From which pledge he might claim the city.

On the other hand she gives a shield to herself, she gives the sharp point of a spear to herself, 

She gives a helmet to her head, her chest is defended by the descendent of Aegeus,

She imitates the ground having been struck by the tip of her spear               80

To produce greying Olive trees fruitful with olive berries;

And the gods marvel; victory is with the work at the end.

Nevertheless, in order that her rival understands by examples of praise

What punishment she could expect for so much frenzied daring

She adds four fights in the four corners,               85

With their own bright color, distinct with small figures.

One corner has the Thracian Rhodopes and the Haemus,

Now frozen mountains, formerly mortal bodies,

They granted the names of the greatest of the gods themselves;

The miserable fate of the Pygmee mother               90

(Another) part holds: Juno, having conquered her in combat, ordered

Her to be a crane, and to declare war to her own people;

And she painted Antigone, having dared once to fight

With the great companion of Jupiter, who regal Juno

Transformed into a bird, useful to her were neither Ilion nor her               95

Father Laomedon, even with shining white wings having been acquired.

The stork herself celebrates with her rattling beak;

In [that corner] which is remaining alone, that corner has childless Cinyras;

And he, on the steps of the temple, the limbs of his own daughter,

Is seen to cry, embracing with the stone and lying.               100

She surrounds the outer edges with peaceful olives

This is the border and makes the end of her work with her tree.

The Maeonian girl portrays (Europa) having been deceived by the bull:

So real was the image, she would consider the bull real, she would consider the sea real.