Labor exoritur dūrus et omnēs

agitat cūrās aperitque domōs.

pāstor gelidā cāna pruīnā

grege dīmissō pābula carpit;140

lūdit prātō līber apertō

nōndum ruptā fronte iuvencus;

vacuae reparant ūbera mātrēs;

errat cursū levis incertō

Seneca. Tragedies, Volume I: Hercules. Trojan Women. Phoenician Women. Medea. Phaedra. Edited and translated by John G. Fitch. Loeb Classical Library 62. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2018.

As Fitch argues (p. 163) this first ode is “indispensable for our understanding of the play. It establishes a standard of normality in the conduct of human life, and indicates that by that standard Hercules is condemned.” This normality is established in the first half of the ode, as the Chorus describes the human and animal inhabitants of the countryside rising with the dawn to go about their day. This humble country life is contrasted with stereotypical ambitions of city dwellers, and especially those who do not know how to enjoy the present moment.

Chorus

Iam rāra micant125

sīdera prōnō languida mundō;125bis

nox vīcta vagōs contrahit ignēs

lūce renātā;

cōgit nitidum Phōsphoros agmen;

signum celsī glaciāle polī

septem stēllīs Arcados Ursa130

Iūno, cūr nōndum furis?

mē mē, sorōrēs, mente dēiectam meā110

versāte prīmam, facere sī quicquam apparō

dignum novercā. vōta mūtentur mea:

nātōs reversus videat incolumēs pater

manūque fortis redeat. invēnī diem,

invīsa quō nōs Herculis virtūs iuvet.115

Incipite, famulae Dītis, ārdentem citae100

concutite pīnum, et agmen horrendum anguibus

Megaera dūcat atque lūctificā manū

vastam rogō flagrante corripiat trabem.

hōc agite, poenās petite vitiātae Stygis.

concutite pectus, ācrior mentem excoquat105

quam quī camīnīs ignis Aetnaeīs furit;

Sed vīcit ista. quaeris Alcīdae parem?

nēmō est nisi ipse; bella iam sēcum gerat.85

Adsint ab īmō Tartarī fundō excitae

Eumenides, ignem flammeae spargant comae,

vīperea saevae verbera incutiant manūs.

ī nunc, superbe, caelitum sēdēs pete,

hūmāna temne! iam Styga et mānēs ferōs90

Levia sed nimium queror:

caelō timendum est, rēgna nē summa occupet

quī vīcit īma: scēptra praeripiet patrī!65

nec in astra lentā veniet ut Bacchus viā:

iter ruīnā quaeret et vacuō volet

rēgnāre mundō. rōbore expertō tumet,

et posse caelum vīribus vincī suīs