Metamorphoses

Poet and critic Rolfe Humphries (1894–1969) also translated Virgil's Aeneid, Lucretius's On the Nature of Things, Ovid's Art of Love, and Juvenal's Satires.Joseph D. Reed is Professor of Classics and Comparative Literature at Brown University. He is the author of Virgil's Gaze: Nation and Poetry in the Aeneid.

"One of the most captivating books ever written, a whole library of love stories, murder stories, horror stories, fairy stories, and adventure stories. . . Humphries's version. . . has the sound merits of directness, unpretentiousness and integrity. . . [His English is] swift, lucid . . . and admirably suited to its general purpose, the telling of a story." –New York Times"It is very much alive, fresh, racy, and above all, vivid. . . .Humphries reproduces most successfully the speed and animation of Ovid's narrative, its modernity, its gaiety, and its tenderness." –Classical Review"So easy to read that one may have to think twice to realize these tales are nearly 2000 years old." –Washington PostNot too many 12,000-line translations from the '50s are still in print, let alone getting a brand new set of annotations. About those I wanna say: jam a bookmark back there and read every single note. They're the real thing, impossible to fake. . . . As for the translation as a whole, the main thing it's got going for it is clarity. I, for one, felt I was able to pay attention to the stuff like never before. . . . So I say double thumbs up to Humphries and Reed. Recommended.(RHINO) Reed's annotated edition of Ovid's realistic, moving, and influential classic can now easily be adopted for classroom use, and it will also serve the curious who wish to know more about this unparalleled, captivating array of Roman mythology. . . . Highly recommended. (Choice) One of the most captivating books ever written, a whole library of love stories, murder stories, horror stories, fairy stories, and adventure stories. . . Humphries's version. . . has the sound merits of directness, unpretentiousness and integrity. . . [His English is] swift, lucid . . . and admirably suited to its general purpose, the telling of a story.(The New York Times) So easy to read that one may have to think twice to realize these tales are nearly 2000 years old.(Washington Post) It is very much alive, fresh, racy, and above all, vivid. . . .Humphries reproduces most successfully the speed and animation of Ovid's narrative, its modernity, its gaiety, and its tenderness.(Classical Review) Joseph Reed's annotation of Rolfe Humphries' translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses strikes an impressive balance between accessibility for general readers with no Latin and detailed analysis for advanced Classics students and researchers.(Classical Journal Review)

• INTRODUCTION BOOK ONEThe CreationThe Four AgesJove's InterventionThe Story of LycaonThe FloodDeucalion and PyrrhaApollo and DaphneJove and IoBOOK TWOThe Story of PhaethonJove in ArcadyThe Story of the RavenThe Story of OcyrhoeMercury and BattusMercury, Herse, and AglaurosThe House of the Goddess EnvyEuropaBOOK THREEThe Story of CadmusThe Story of ActaeonThe Story of SemeleThe Story of TiresiasThe Story of Echo and NarcissusThe Story of Pentheus and BacchusBOOK FOURThe Story of Pyramus and ThisbeThe Story of Mars and VenusThe Sun-god and LeucothoeThe Story of SalmacisThe End of the Daughters of MinyasThe Story of Athamas and InoThe End of CadmusThe Story of PerseusBOOK FIVEThe Fighting of PerseusMinerva Visits the MusesBOOK SIXThe Story of NiobeThe Story of Tereus, Procne, and PhilomelaBOOK SEVENThe Story of Jason and MedeaWar Between Crete and AthensThe Story of Cephalus and ProcrisBOOK EIGHTThe Story of Nisus and ScyllaThe Story of Daedalus and IcarusThe Calydonian BoarThe Brand of MeleagerThe Return of TheseusThe Story of Baucis and PhilemonThe Story of ErysichthonBOOK NINEThe Story of Achelous' Duel for DeianiraThe Story of Hercules, Nessus, and DeianiraThe Story of Hercules' BirthThe Story of Dry opeThe Story of Caunus and ByblisThe Story of Iphis and LantheBOOK TENThe Story of Orpheus and EurydiceThe Story of CyparissusThe Story of GanymedeThe Story of Apollo and HyacinthusTwo Incidents of Venus AngerThe Story of PygmalionThe Story of Cinyras and MyrrhaThe Story of AdonisVenus Tells Adonis the Story of AtalantaThe Fate of AdonisBOOK ELEVENThe Death of OrpheusThe Story of MidasMidas Never LearnsThe Building of the Walls of TroyThe Story of ThetisCeyx Tells the Story of DaedalionThe Story of Peleus' CattleThe Quest of CeyxThe Story of Aesacus and Hesperia BOOK TWELVEThe Invasion of TroyNestor Tells the Story of CaeneusStory of the Battle with the CentaursNestor Is Asked Why He Omitted HerculesBOOK THIRTEENThe Argument between Ajax and UlyssesAfter the FallThe Sacrifice of PolyxenaThe Discovery of PolydorusThe Story of MemnonThe Pilgrimage of AeneasThe Story of Anius' DaughtersThe Pilgrimage ResumedThe Story of GalateaThe Song of PolyphemusThe Transformation of AcisThe Story of GlaucusBOOK FOURTEENThe Story of Glaucus ContinuedThe Pilgrimage of Aeneas ResumedAchaemenides Tells His StoryThe Story of PicusThe Pilgrimage of Aeneas ResumedThe Narrative of DiomedesThe Return of VenulusThe Deification of AeneasLegendary History of RomePomona and VertumnusThe Story of Iphis and AnaxareteMore Early Roman HistoryBOOK FIFTEENThe Succession of NumaThe Teachings of Pythagoras The Return of Numa The Story of Hippolytus The Story of Cipus The Story of Aesculapius The Deification of CaesarThe Epilogue COMMENTARY by Joseph D. ReedEXPANDED GLOSSARY AND INDEX