Two Passages in the ‘Ciris’

Extract

In vv. 129–62 the author of the Ciris is trying to explain why Scylla, the daughter of Nisus, fell madly in love with Minos. In places the text is gravely corrupt and consequently the sense is very obscure. As far as can be made out with any probability the gist of what is said is as follows. Long ago, probably while still a little girl, Scylla was taking part in a sacrifice in Juno's temple. More interested in her own sports than in the solemnity which is going on she runs here and there playing with a ball. The ball drops from her hands. Without thinking where she is and with clothes flying to the wind she chases the ball and in so doing has the misfortune to touch (and ipso facto to violate) the shrine of the goddess (sacraria divae, v. 154). There is some uncertainty amongst those present as to what has happened and Scylla is able to take an oath by the name of the goddess that she did not in fact touch the shrine, thus adding perjury to sacrilege. Slow and tortuous indeed is the vengeance of the gods and it is Cupid who is its instrument and prompter. Apparently Cupid is always ready to punish an indiscreet word (vv. 158–9), Cupid it is who sharpens the anger of Juno (v. 138), and Cupid volunteers his services when the time comes to punish Scylla (vv. 160–2). The punishment is that she should fall in love with Minos, the enemy of her country, with all the disasters thereby entailed. Such is an outline of this curious story.