the Grecian army those who are dearest to
thyself; whose entreaty do not thou despise, nor their mission, although
formerly fault was not to be found with thee, because thou wert enraged.
Thus also have we heard the renown of heroes of former days, when
vehement wrath came upon any, [that] they were both appeasable by gifts,
and to be reconciled by words. I remember this ancient and by no means
modern deed, of what sort it was; and I will repeat it among you all,
being friends. The Curetes and AEtolians, obstinate in battle, fought
around the city of Calydon, and slaughtered each other; the AEtolians, in
defence of lofty Calydon, the Curetes, eager to lay it waste in war; for
between them had golden-throned Diana excited mischief, indignant
because oeneus had not offered the first-fruits in sacrifice in the
fertile spot of ground:[319] whilst the other gods feasted on hecatombs,
but to the daughter of mighty Jove alone he sacrificed not. Either he
forgot,[320] or did not think of it, but he did greatly err in mind. But
she, the daughter of Jove, delighting in arrows, enraged, sent against
[him] a sylvan wild boar, with white tusks, which did much detriment, as
is the wont [of boars], to the land of oeneus. And many tall trees, one
after another, did he prostrate on the ground, with their very roots and
the blossom of their fruit. But him Meleager, son of oeneus, slew,
assembling huntsmen and dogs from many cities; for he would not have
been subdued by a few mortals: so mighty was he, and he caused many to
ascend the sad funeral-pile. Still she (Diana) excited around him[321] a
great tumult and war between the Curetes and magnanimous AEtolians, for
the head and bristly skin of the boar.[322] Whilst warlike Meleager
fought, so long were the Curetes unsuccessful; nor were they able,
although numerous, to remain without the wall. But when wrath, which
swells the minds of others, though very prudent, within their breasts,
came upon Meleager, for, enraged at heart with his dear mother Althaea,
he remained inactive beside his wedded wife, fair Cleopatra, daughter of
Marpessa, the handsome-footed child of Evenus and Idas, who was then the
bravest of earthly men, and even lifted a bow against king Phoebus
Apollo, for the sake of his fair-ankled spouse. Her [Cleopatra] then her
father and venerable mother in the palace were accustomed to call by the
surname of Alcyone, because her mother, having the plaintive note of sad
Alcyone,[