[
Translation
from
Statius
,
Thebaid
IX
319-26
]
Crenaeus
,
whom
the
nymph
Ismenis
bore
To
Faunus
on
the
Theban
river's
shore
,
With
new-born
heat
amidst
his
native
stream
Exults
in
arms
,
which
cast
an
iron
gleam
.
In
this
clear
wave
he
first
beheld
the
day
;
On
the
green
bank
first
taught
his
steps
to
stray
,
To
skim
the
parent
flood
and
on
the
margin
play
:
Fear
he
disdains
and
scorns
the
power
of
fate
,
Secure
within
his
mother's
watery
state
.
The
youth
exulting
stems
the
bloody
tide
,
Visits
each
bank
and
stalks
with
martial
pride
,
While
old
Ismenus'
gently-rolling
wave
Delights
the
favourite
youth
within
its
flood
to
lave
.
Whether
the
youth
obliquely
steers
his
course
Or
cuts
the
downward
stream
with
equal
force
,
The
indulgent
river
strives
his
steps
to
aid
.