M/M: Two Poems on the Myth of Hyacinthus: Anthologia Latina 167-168

While practicing discus, Hyacinthus encountered a life-altering event;

The discus he’d thrown struck and split open his temples.

Apollo was not able to save his beloved;

But now Hyacinthus' blood fills up the countryside with blossoms.

Discrimen vitae, ludit dum forte, Hyacinthus

Incurrit, disco tempora fissa gerens.

Non potuit Phoebus fato subducere amatum,

Sed cruor extincti florea rura replet.

--167

 

A wayward discus struck his temples while he was practicing

And so beautiful Hyacinthus died a terrible death.

An immense blessing consoles the fallen youth:

Apollo’s love blossoms every season.  

Dispersit remeans ludentis tempora discus

Et dira pulcher morte Hyacinthus obit.

Gratia magna tamen solatur morte peremtum:

Semper Apollineus flore resurgit amor.

--168

The Codex Salmasianus is a manuscript of Latin poetry that preserves poetry from 6^th century CE and earlier. It was named after Claude de Saumaise, a 17^th century scholar who owned the manuscript.