Legends on the banks of the Sarno River

Legends on the banks of the Sarno River.

1. The road took us to the small picturesque town of Sarno in the Campania region.
 with narrow medieval streets with the ancient church of San Matteo of the 10th century, and the ruins of the castle of Count Sarno. The rainy autumn weather was not conducive to walking, so we stayed in a small hotel with a magnificent view of the surroundings and Mount Vesuvius from the terrace and went to a tavern for a snack.  On the wall hung the coat of arms of the town, crowned with the crown "The Griffin towers over three mountains, among which rivers flow", the Sarno River originates here, directing its waters to Polmpei and the Bay of Naples.
 There was a woman with a guitar in the corner of the hall, not a young woman with rough features, who was telling her story in a low, rough voice, occasionally casually plucking the strings and humming a long song. There were several apparently casual visitors among the audience, and it looked like her two grandchildren, who, however, went about their business without paying attention to her stories. Or they already knew these stories by heart.  From time to time she interrupted the story to wet her throat with a sip of grog. A cigarette was smoking in the ashtray.
 When we appeared, she casually nodded at our greeting, as if we had known each other for a long time. She seemed to have finished one story and, after taking a break, began another, perhaps especially for us. Although she did not sing loudly, she was clear enough and in silence we listened with interest to the whole story, after which she left after the grandchildren. After dinner, we briefly looked at the maps of our further route, and paid. The bill for dinner was very modest. When asked who the actress was, the bartender shrugged and replied: Gabriella, sometimes she comes in with her grandchildren.
That's what she told me that night.

Legends on the banks of the Sarno River.

2. The ship leaves the port. Only the captain and navigator know his route.
The silence is broken by the sound of the market — three strokes, the farewell sigh of the ship, rushes to the shore.
But the journey is marred by the wrath of the gods.  The Gorgon got angry at Poseidon,
and he raised a storm. Darkness descended on the sea, the storm kicked up huge
waves, tossing the boat like a chip in the foam. The heavens opened up in torrents of rain.
Passengers and crew were trapped in the salty waves. A few managed to escape on
flimsy boats, the rest were scattered by the elements. At dawn, the pirates who followed,
 they picked up meager goods among the rubble, a couple of pitiful servants and two children who miraculously
escaped in a barrel. In Greece, the captives, as well as the loot, were sold under the hammer.
The sullen pirate, at the expense of his share, left the children with an old fisherman, poured him
a handful of coins and told him to take care of them, hoping for a ransom in the future.
The fishermen took care of the children, but the war changed their fate. Alex and Felicia,
orphaned children, followed the traveling artists, becoming like brother and sister.
They were picked up by an old man with a guitar, who played sad melodies, and his grandchildren danced.
My wife sang, for which they received coins and food. The granddaughters were beautiful, and the younger grandchildren,
according to the gypsy, were the children of a centaur and an amazon. One of them was handsome,
played the flute, the other was strong, looked like a mythical father.
A leather skin was sewn for them, in which they portrayed a centaur, moving as
a whole, surprising the audience. As time passed, the children grew up, but the owners changed.
 So the artists, Alex and Felicia, by the will of fate, ended up on the shores of Sarno in a rich villa.

3. The owner, Pliny, a former soldier, and now a writer and a connoisseur of rare curiosities
, received them as a debt from the former owner, but allowed them to perform.
His devoted housekeeper, Gabriela, took care of them as if they were her own children, thank Jupiter.
Pliny's nephew, Gaius from Rome, came to the villa. He became friends with the artist Alex,
and took him to his training sessions. Together they wandered through the hills and wooded shores,
listening to the stories of hunters and fishermen around the campfire. During the day, the artists worked at the villa,
and in the evenings they performed: someone played the kithara or flute, someone sang and danced.
The audience warmly welcomed the scenes about the centaur and the Greeks with Amazons.
Guy, fascinated by Felicia, even danced with her himself.
One day Felicia noticed the striking resemblance between Alex and Guy,
only one of them was tanned, and the other was paler.
In the shade of the trees, the girls wandered among the flowers like nymphs.
A flute was playing in the grove, but the treacherous centaur was hiding in the bushes.
His eyes burned with a playful fire, and the girls rushed to run away.
 Only Felicia hesitated, and the centaur grabbed her, dragging her into the forest.
But the Greek Alex, having entered into a fight with him, forced him to let go of the prey.
 The centaur blew a horn and sped off into the forest. However, the Amazons with swords
have crept up on the Greek, and the athletes are trying to grab the Amazon Felicia.
That was the story in the dance. Guy, enchanted by the dance, plunged into the world
of myths and adventures.

4. In the morning, girls with jugs from neighboring villas gathered in the square by the fountain.
Girls with flowers, softly singing, weave wreaths and bouquets.
Forest springs and mountain streams are intertwined into a stream running into a waterway,
Silver threads hurry from the peaks, meeting the sunrise.
Above the abyss of the ravine, aqueducts arc like a lace of stone arms.
Water flows, feeding the meadows, and there is a life-giving sound..
Fresh moisture enlivens the fountain with a cheerful murmur
He fills the amphorae, the maidens hurry, water is carried to every house.
Birds, animals and people will all be watered, under the azure sky.
We praise the gods and the greatness of the creators who gave us this stream.
Coolness in the gardens, cleanliness and health, a new breath of strength.
In the midday heat, where the marble keeps cool.
The water running through the channels gives joy to virgos, wives and children,
To respectable men, young men, wise men, tired athletes,
The water flows in the thermal baths, washing away the dust of the roads, removing the worries of bygone days,
By performing a ritual of cleansing the soul and body, it brings harmony to the world.
May this source not run out while the pillars stand firm.
As the sun rises over the hills. Knowing no thirst, bringing us prosperity,
Our houses, our blooming gardens.

5. Merchants with rare goods are coming from the harbor,
they brought a huge chest, its walls open on the sides.
There are three beauties with veiled faces on the podium under a canopy.
 They are in light shiny outfits, performing a bright oriental dance.
 A respectable gentleman, like a greedy demon, closes the chest and takes it away with him.
 Next, a large box is taken out and a side door with a curtain is opened,
there is a statue covered with a cloth. When the cloth falls off, the figure of Apollo appears.,
A gray-haired old man with a stick starts talking to the statue,
Apollo comes to life, dances a strange dance, and finally throws a cloth over his head.
The servants close the box and direct it to Pliny's villa.
The elder predicts bad changes.
Naughty boys, quarreling among themselves, arrange a merry leapfrog.
 The girls, laughing, pulled them apart. An elder with a staff approached the fountain.
Felicia respectfully poured water into his flask.
In gratitude, he predicted favorable changes and an unexpected meeting for her.
The boys were noisily jostling around him.
But he raised his hand, stopping their antics.,
An unknown force whirled the boys on the spot, and they immediately collapsed
in a huddle in complete disbelief.
 The elder covered his eyes with his hand and raised it high up, predicting a storm,
thunder and lightning, smoke and flames.
Everyone needed to escape, but people didn't listen to him.

6. In the early morning, girls with jugs from neighboring villas gathered at the fountain. Girls with flowers, humming softly, wove wreaths and bouquets. From the harbor, merchants with rare goods appear. The guys in turbans brought a chest, its walls open on the sides. There are three beauties with veiled faces on the podium under a canopy.  They are in light shiny outfits, performing an oriental dance.  A respectable gentleman, like a greedy demon, closes the chest and takes it away with him.  Next, they open the curtain of a large drawer, there is a statue covered with a cloth. When the cloth falls off, the figure of Apollo appears, a gray-haired old man with a stick, begins to talk to the statue, the statue of Apollo comes to life and dances a strange dance, finally covering his head with a cloth.  The servants close the box and direct it to a rich villa.  The elder predicts bad changes. 
 Naughty boys, teasing and quarreling between mobs, staged a fun leapfrog. The girls, laughing, pulled them apart. The boys and girls danced in pairs, and the kids repeated their movements. Suddenly, startling everyone, a couple dressed as centaurs appeared. But the girls surrounded him with flowers and subdued the monster with a wreath of dream grass. They put a wreath on his head, harnessed him to a cart with babies and rolled him around in a circle. An old man with a staff, surrounded by boys, approached the fountain. Felicia respectfully poured water from the jug into the Elder's flask. In gratitude, he predicted favorable changes for her. The boys jostled noisily, circling around him. But he raised his hand to stop their antics, and an unknown force whirled the boys around until they fell to the ground, huddled together in complete disbelief. The elder covered his eyes with his hand for a moment and raised it high up, predicting a storm, thunder and lightning, smoke and flames... Everyone needed to run, but people weren't listening to him., smoke and flame ... Everyone needs to escape, but the people do not listen. Living springs and mountain streams weave silver threads with rays, They feed our stream, they tend to flow into the conduit. Streams in the mountains are born by nature, playing merrily, running down the slopes, Under the melodious murmur, streams of fresh crystal water.
They run together overhead, carried by graceful aqueducts.,
Similar to the stone lace of the architects thrown over the abyss of the ravine.
Fresh moisture enlivens the fountain, singing with a cheerful murmur
Praise the gods of nature, a new day. At dawn, the first rays caress the earth,
Young maidens collect water by filling elegant jugs.,
Amphorae and flasks that are carefully carried to the kitchen, to the table for the residents, Guards and tired travelers, for animals and birds, for plants in the garden. Grateful residents, raising the first cup, praise the gods of nature and the wise Emperor,  by whose will this stream murmurs., Giving coolness to our homes, freshness on our tables, In our blooming gardens. Giving with every sip
of the life-giving power of health a pledge, The joy of a new spring in our blooming gardens. In the midday heat, in the shade of the porticos, where marble keeps the night cool, Water running through hidden channels gives pleasure to tired athletes, To the venerable men, young men, sages, orators and their students, The water flows in the thermal baths, washing away the dust of the roads, removing the worries of bygone days, By performing a ritual of cleansing the soul and body, it brings harmony to the world. May this source not run out while the pillars stand firm. As the sun rises over the hills. Knowing no thirst, bringing prosperity, Our houses, our blooming gardens.

7. On an ivy-covered veranda overlooking the bay, the venerable citizens of the city of Pompeii sat. Pliny and his friend Maecenas were having a leisurely conversation, drowning in soft armchairs. Pliny intended to send the artists to a celebration hosted by a Patron of the Arts. Himself, he and his nephew Guy went hunting in the wild thickets of the Sarno coast. While Pliny and the Patron were contemplating the marble statue of Apollo, Gaius, crowned with a laurel wreath, golden curls, posed for the artist for a painting. An old man appeared with a prediction, he with a shadow of anxiety on his face, informs that Gaius is in danger while hunting. Guy just grinned, deciding to deceive fate, offered Alex to switch places. Alex, powdered his face with white, dressed in a purple toga, with a wreath on his head, and, sitting in the Apollo chair, he is ready to treat his friends with wine from the barrel of the old cellar. Uncle Pliny, suspecting nothing, sent Guy and the artists to the villa of a Patron of the Arts, and he, full of hunting excitement, accompanied by Alex, went to the shores of Sarno. Meanwhile, Gabriela and the servants were decorating the villa, placing dishes of juicy fruits on the tables. By evening, the aromas of blooming roses and oleander were intertwined with the tantalizing smells of delicious dishes. Soon the Owner returned from hunting with his "nephew," and their story is overshadowed by the events of the hunt. Hunters, blowing horns, made their way through forest trails, chasing game. But the forest spirit, a Fawn, became angry and, scaring away the animals, sent an enraged boar straight at Uncle Pliny. Alex's nephew, without hesitation, rushed to his uncle's defense and repelled the attack of the ferocious beast. A well-aimed blow from his spear had scared away the wild boar, but the brave man himself was now limping slightly. Uncle, touched to the depths of his soul, thanked Alex cordially for saving him, unaware of the hidden substitution. However, only a couple of well-fed pheasants were brought from the hunt.

8. His old friends arrived at Pliny's villa directly from the ship: the rich Gordian with his beautiful daughter Emilia, the important nobleman Donkor and his wife, their young pupils, the captain of the ship and the nimble young sailor Boy ruddy. After greeting each other, the old friends began to exchange news.…And then they went to the gallery, where the marble Apollo shone in the flickering light of the torches. The cabin boy carefully placed a carved casket on the table, and a chameleon came to life in its gems, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. The cabin boy sat the lizard on his shoulder and gave it a juicy date. Soon the girls were dancing, their outfits echoing the chameleon, sparkling with gems. Then they showed an Egyptian dance. Emilia and Alex, intoxicated by mutual attraction, soon merged into a single dance. The cabin boy quickly became friends with Alex, and he showed him the villa. The cabin boy could not sleep for a long time, sensitively feeling the trembling of the earth, as if a premonition of impending changes.
Donkor and his wife, with bitterness etched into their hearts, told about the terrible shipwreck. At the moment when the elements raged, their youngest daughter, along with the servants, disappeared into the raging waves. They traveled all over the coast in inconsolable search for their beloved daughter. Gabriela, unable to hold back her tears, listened to this sad story, and thought about Felicia, who was now with the artists at the Patron's villa. The next day, the guests were expected at a celebration at the Patron's Theater.

9. In the evening at Maecenas’s villa, servants and artists gathered in the courtyard by the fire, feasting under the night sky, and began to sing their long, melancholy song..
The artists danced in time with the song, off to the side..
Homer continued, listening in silence to the echo of the ancient walls,
We hear the ships sailing away, leaving Troy to face its dawn..
The siege is lifted, the shore is deserted, only the wooden horse remains — the crown of treacherous thoughts.
Odysseus, the cunning one, whose mind had matured over time,
Decided on the fate of the siege to conquer the unruly Ilion.
The Trojans, heeding no cautious advice, dragged the gift in, unaware of the danger:
“Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!” But the voice of the prophets is drowned in delusion.
At night, they opened the belly of the steel beast. The troop burst into the sleeping city.
But it was empty! Only the shadows, not believing in them, greeted the warriors among the silent streets.
Only the spirit of Laoco;n whispered the real truth in the dim light:
The Trojans did not fall in bloody battle — their gods saved them, granting deliverance.
Cassandra prayed — and the heavens heeded: Paris and Helen, forgetting the strife,
In the chariot where the sun rose, Rushed away into the celestial, invisible expanse.
In vain did Odysseus wander the seas, searching for fugitives amidst the salty lands.
Returning to Ithaca, to his native shores, he realized: he had fought against gods, not men,
Among the void and forgotten words, among the distant lands.
But strange shadows from the campfire, like ominous portents, disturb their peace.
The young people, Felicia and Guy, who have the opportunity to be together,
 are oblivious to those around them as they dance a lyrical dance when everyone falls asleep;
their shadows weave their own whimsical dance.

10 The next day, fanfare sounds in the arena of the Patron's Theater,
announcing the arrival of honored guests.
There are noble Matrons, Prefect, and officials in the main box.,
Maecenas, Pliny, Alex and his guests.
Gabriela and the manager settled into simpler seats.
In the arena, boys and girls are dancing in a circle,
but suddenly a formidable Centaur appeared.
Soon he engaged the Amazons in his wild dance.
The cabin boy, teasing the monster, provoked a burst of laughter..
The Greek, Guy, while fighting the centaur, saves the girl, but himself falls into the hands of the enraged Amazons..
The Greeks and Amazons merged in a fierce dance..
The dance continues with the Greeks fighting the Amazons. In the end, the Greeks won..
But Guy, captivated by the girl, to the cheers of the crowd, lifted the Amazon Felicia and carried her triumphantly along the arena.
The prefect did not like this gesture; he noted that the Amazon should not win the battle.
The prefect announces the start of the gladiatorial fights.
The young gladiators, full of enthusiasm and a thirst for glory, clashed in a fight, capturing all the spectators’ attention.
The gladiators fought with swords very skillfully, demonstrating their prowess.
The swords rang out until one of them broke. Unfortunately, it was just a concert.
  Then the prefect released the gladiators into the arena to fight the centaur..
They pursued the monster for a short time until they entangled the centaur in their nets..
The Amazons followed, and although they darted around the arena with the agility of wild cats, the gladiators quickly caught them in their nets..
Gray Athlete Guy bravely threw himself into the battle, but it was difficult to fight two opponents at once, and he was soon captured and entangled in the nets.

11. The crowd roared with delight, and the prefect watched the action with satisfaction.
The Prefect announces a doubling of the grand prize for the winner
if anyone dares to challenge his Gladiator! The nephew (Alex),
with a thirst for revenge for humiliated artists, and Guy's friend, entered the arena in response to the challenge.
The crowd roared with delight, and the uncle and the Patron held their breath in excitement.
The gladiator screamed and rushed at Alex, but Alex deftly dodged, did a somersault, and joined the fight again.
The rows of stands are filled with a crowd. The amphitheater froze in excitement for a moment.
The judge's hand was raised, the spicy air was thick, the smell of sweat and steel mixed with the dust.
In the lodges of the nobility, the luster of rich fabrics. the thick smell of incense from Damascus,
The eyes of the audience are fixed on the arena.
The prefect, the matrons, and the nobles, the judges in togas, are watching the fight strictly.
The verdict of someone else 's fate is in their power. We came to take a look at the drama of the battle.
Warriors have muscles like granite, waiting in silence, defying fate.
 Their spirit is ready to receive fierce attacks.  Death and glory are eternal wanderers.
The trumpet gives a signal like a copper roar, followed by the sound of drums.
The heroes entered the arena, Joining in a fierce, harsh dance.
The warm-up movements are quite honed.
They test each other's strength like predators, engaging in an unequal battle.
The assessment of strength, speed, intelligence, in a deceptive lunge is a hint of battle.
A snarl of steel blades rings.
 One attacked, broke the defense, the other fought off, even though his nerves trembled.
The shield receives a hail of attacks, another blow, and golden splashes of sparks.
They switch places, stubbornly, the enemy strikes back and the clash of swords begins again.
Whirling bodies in deadly combat.
The roar of the stands in response becomes stronger, as if a storm had risen on the field.
 The arena is a sea of torment and passion, each swing excites hundreds of eyes.
Every warrior has endured a harsh lesson.
The one who stood firm today will become a legend tomorrow.
 The heroes accept the call of fate, fighting in a way that makes their skin shudder.
The stands are applauding with a roar. The winner accepts a wreath of glory from fate.
So they fought until the Cabin Boy burst into the arena,
distracting the gladiator's attention, and to the laughter of the crowd, he exposed his chameleon,
which momentarily embarrassed the gladiator. That was enough for Alex to
 they cooled the ardor of a tired gladiator with a sword, who wearily collapsed to the ground.
 Alex freed the artists and Guy, and the crowd cheered the hero.
The prefect reluctantly placed the reward and the fate of the gladiator in Alex's hands.
But Alex generously returned the reward and the gladiator to the Prefect in exchange for the freedom of the artists.
The prefect gladly agreed to the exchange, praise the Emperor and Jupiter.
The prefect greeted Alex that he had glorified Great Rome with his skill.
Thunder broke, the Elder appeals to the heavenly powers for mercy.

12. Late evening at Pliny's villa, the companions are getting ready to leave.
Gaius and Alex appeared before Pliny and confessed to the substitution.
The uncle, shocked by the vicissitudes of fate,
declares Alex his pupil, and the artists are now free.
Donkor and his wife recognized Felicia as their lost daughter.
The girl rushed into the arms of her parents and introduced Guy to them.
Alex and Emilia appeared before Gordon and Pliny.,
Joyful voices and strong hugs awaited them in response.
The elder warned of the disaster, pointing to Vesuvius,
and urged them to leave the city.

The words of the elder. The elder addresses the crowd: Heed! People of Pompeii,
Hear the voice of the messenger of the gods, the dear Hermes, who has taken pity on you, friends,
For having revered beauty and his creations, he has brought news from the abyss of the clouds:
The oracle has told us in sacred revelation that disaster is coming, the collapse of the earth is near.
The Titans from Tartarus raised their gaze, Vulcan awoke — the foundations of the world trembled.
We are not facing mere storms, tempests, and unrest, but flames, ash, and the shackles of earthly confinement.
Rivers of fire, pillars of smoke and thick ash, the Earth groaning beneath the tread of the Titans...
Run away! Leave all corners, hurry away from these evil mists!
Leave behind the fields, the home, and earthly possessions, whether by land or by sea — the path leads to salvation.
The furies breathe down your back with a fiery wave; do not succumb to false humility!
Forward, the road beckons into the distance, away from the looming fog,
Where there is no treacherous deception, where salvation awaits you beyond the distant hills.
But in vain... People gaze into the blue sky, calmly, as if happiness will last forever,
Where there are no clouds, no signs of bad weather. They cannot understand that a terrible hour is near,
A blow of fate that shatters their earthly happiness. Vulcan is ready to destroy the heavens..
But still, friends, Hermes will not abandon you; follow me, forward, salvation awaits us..
Beyond the distant hills, salvation awaits you.
Everyone rushed to the port.

Pliny walks around his favorite gallery for the last time.
Marble and bronze statues came to life in the torchlight. ,
Since childhood, I have been listening to ancient myths About great gods, glorious heroes,
Admiring the valor of brave warriors, and the strength of fast, agile athletes,
Mighty fighters, dashing horsemen, a
marble craftsman who breathed life into unrequited stones,
carving face after face, he created statues dear to the heart and eyes,
 They dispersed to the temples and villas of noble gentlemen.
A skilled caster made of viscous wax embodied the images of nymphs and heroes.,
He would cover himself with clay, creating a shape, and wisely adjusted the dimensions,
The ore is exquisite, the stones are expensive. the flame of the roast in the oven will sparkle,
The furnace will fan the flame to the heat of the sun, melting the metal in the crucible.
For noble bronze, I added the necessary measure of Copper and tin.
Liquid bronze rushes into shape, Giving birth to graceful figures of nymphs and athletes,
 That decorated villas, atriums of palaces and stadiums.
Statues that were born from marble under the hand of a skilled craftsman,
And others made of bronze were born in the flame of a great fire.
They also met now in a farewell dance in the Pliny Gallery.
Apollo, Diana, Hermes, Nika, nymphs and Olympian athletes,
Pliny said goodbye to each figure in turn,
he runs his hand over the cold surface, wiping his sweat with excitement.
 The servant covered the statues with a transparent veil.
They were the last to step onto the deck, and the captain gave the command.,
The rowers hurriedly set about their hard work,
 Move the ship away from the shore as quickly as possible.

13. The Bay of Naples in the dark, rare flashes of lightning.
It was night, the deck was illuminated by torches, and the ship was at sea.
 The captain and the mate welcome the guests on board.
But the elements do not give rest: the ship tilted dangerously from the wind.
The sails were blown up by the wind.
Sea wolves rush to the open, where the sea is waiting for brave souls,
even though the weather has let them down.  Avral, place team,
The ship pulled away from the dock. The team is led by an experienced sailor
who has sailed the seas a lot. He knows Poseidon well.
 It was only after moving a greater distance from the shore that the travelers felt safe.
 Felicia and Guy, Alex and Emilia, the Cabin boy are standing with their arms around each other, next to them are relatives, the team,
servants, girls and the Elder. The captain leads the ship confidently forward.
Gabriela, raising her hands to the sky, asks the gods for the protection of travelers on a dangerous journey.
The elder turned his gaze to Vesuvius, whose peak, shrouded in black smoke,
rumbles ominously, crimson flashes in the night darkness, herald the beginning of an eruption.