His wife Hersilia was weeping for
her Romulus: she thought that he had died.
So Juno ordered Iris to descend
along her arching rainbow to console
the widow with these words: “O you, much prized
by Latins and by Sabines, were the wife
of one so great and, now that he’s divine,
are still most worthy of him; do not weep,
and follow where I lead if you would see
your husband; I shall take you to that green
grove on Quirinus’ hill, the slope that shades
the sanctuary of the Roman king.”
Iris obeyed, and gliding down to earth
along her many-colored arch, she spoke
to Queen Hersilia as she had been told.
The widow barely lifted up her eyes
and modestly replied: “O goddess (I
do not know who you are, but it is plain
that you’re a deity), lead me to him—
let me see his dear face again: if fate
allows me that alone, to see him once
again and nevermore, I’ll say I’ve gained
the heavens as a gift.”
Latin [822–44]
At once she went
with Thaumas’ daughter to the Palatine,
the hill of Romulus. And there a star
from heaven glided down to earth, igniting
Hersilia’s hair: she and the star—together—
ascended, rising through the upper air.
In heaven, with familiar hands, the founder
of Rome receives his wife, transforming both
her body and her name. He calls her Hora:
as goddess, she’s Quirinus’ wife once more.