Quod tamen ex ipsis licuit mihi discere fastis:Sacravere patres hoc duo templa die. 290Accepit Phoebo Nymphaque Coronide natumInsula, dividua quam premit amnis aqua.Jupiter in parte est; cepit locus unus utrumque,Junctaque sunt magno templa nepotis avo.Quid vetat et stellas, ut quseque oriturque caditque,295Dicere? promissi pars fuit ista mei.Felices animos, quibus hsec cognoscere primis,Inque domos superas scandere cura fuit!Credibile est illos pariter vitiisque locisqueAltius humanis exseruisse caput. 300Non Venus et vinum sublimia pectora fregit,Officiumve fori, militiaeve labor.Nec levis ambitio, perfusaque gloria fuco,Magnarumve fames sollicitavit opum.Admovere oculis distantia sidera nostris, 305Aetheraque ingenio supposuere suo.Sic petitur coelum, non ut ferat Ossan Olympus,Summaque Peliacus sidera tangat apex.Nos quoque sub ducibus coelum metabimur illis,Ponemusque suos ad stata signa dies. 310
Ergo ubi nox aderit venturis tertia Nonis,Sparsaque coelesti rore madebit humus;Octipedis frustra quaeruntur brachia Cancri:Praeceps occiduas ille subivit aquas.
Institerint Nonae, missi tibi nubibus atris 315Signa dabunt imbres, exoriente Lyra.
Quattuor adde dies ductos ex ordine Nonis,JanusAgonaliluce piandus erit.Nominis esse potest succinctus causa minister,Hostia coelitibus quo feriente cadit; 320Qui calido strictos tincturus sanguine cultros,Semper,Agatne, rogat; nec nisi jussus agit.Pars, quia non veniant pecudes, sed agantur, ab actuNomenAgonalemcredit habere diem.Pars putat hoc festum priscisAgnaliadictum, 325Una sit ut proprio littera dempta loco.An, quia praevisos in aqua timet hostia cultros,A pecoris lux est ista notata metu?Pars etiam, fieri solitis aetate priorumNomina de ludis Graia tulisse diem. 330Et pecus antiquus dicebatAgoniasermo:Veraque judicio est ultima causa meo.Utque ea nunc certa est, ita Rex placare SacrorumNumina lanigerae conjuge debet ovis.Victima, quae dextra cecidit victrice, vocatur; 335Hostibus amotishostianomen habet.Ante, deos homini quod conciliare valeret,Far erat, et puri lucida mica salis.Nondum pertulerat lacrimatas cortice myrrhasActa per aequoreas hospita navis aquas; 340Tura nec Euphrates, nec miserat India costum,Nec fuerant rubri cognita fila croci.Ara dabat fumos, herbis contenta Sabinis,Et non exiguo laurus adusta sono.Si quis erat, factis prati de flore coronis 345Qui posset violas addere, dives erat.Hic, qui nunc aperit percussi viscera tauri,In sacris nullum culter habebat opus.Prima Ceres avidae gavisa est sanguine porcae,Ulta suas merita caede nocentis opes. 350Nam sata, vere novo, teneris lactentia succis,Eruta setigerae comperit ore suis.Sus dederat poenas. Exemplo territus hujusPalmite debueras abstinuisse, caper.Quem spectans aliquis dentes in vite prementem, 355Talia non tacito dicta dolore dedit:Rode, caper, vitem: tamen huic, quum stabis ad aram,In tua quod spargi cornua possit, erit.Verba fides sequitur: noxae tibi deditus hostisSpargitur affuso cornua, Bacche, mero. 360Culpa sui nocuit: nocuit quoque culpa capellae.Quid bos, quid placidae commeruistis oves?Flebat Aristaeus, quod apes cum stirpe necatasViderat inceptos destituisse favos.Caerula quem genitrix aegre solata dolentem, 365Addidit haec dictis ultima verba suis:Siste, puer, lacrimas! Proteus tua damna levabit,Quoque modo repares, quae periere, dabit.Decipiat ne te versis tamen ille figuris,Impediant geminas vincula firma manus. 370Pervenit ad vatem juvenis, resolutaque somnoAlligat aequorei brachia capta senis.Ille sua faciem transformis adulterat arte:Mox domitus vinclis in sua membra redit,Oraque caerulea tollens rorantia barba, 375Qua, dixit, repares arte, requiris, apes,Obrue mactati corpus tellure juvenci:Quod petis a nobis, obrutus ille dabit.Jussa facit pastor. Fervent examina putriDe bove: mille animas una necata dedit. 380Poscit ovem fatum. Verbenas improba carpsit,Quas pia dis ruris ferre solebat anus.Quid tuti superest, animam quum ponat in arisLanigerumque pecus, ruricolaeque boves?Placat equo Persis radiis Hyperiona cinctum, 385Ne detur celeri victima tarda deo.Quod semel est triplici pro virgine caesa Dianae,Nunc quoque pro nulla virgine cerva datur.Exta canum vidi Triviae libare Sapaeos,Et quicumque tuas accolit, Haeme, nives. 390Caeditur et rigido custodi ruris asellus.Causa pudenda quidem est, huic tamen apta deo.Festa corymbiferi celebrabat Graecia Bacchi,Tertia quae solito tempore bruma refert.Di quoque cultores gelidi venere Lycaei, 395Et quicumque joci non alienus erat:Panes, et in Venerem Satyrorum prona juventus,Quaeque colunt amnes solaque rura deae.Venerat et senior pando Silenus asello,Quique rubro pavidas inguine terret aves. 400Dulcia qui dignum nemus in convivia nactiGramine vestitis accubuere toris.Vina dabat Liber: tulerat sibi quisque coronam.Miscendas parce rivus agebat aquas.Naïdes effusis aliae sine pectinis usu, 405Pars aderant positis arte manuque comis.Illa super suras tunicam collecta ministrat,Altera dissuto pectus aperta sinu.Exserit haec humerum, vestem trahit illa per herbas,Impediunt teneros vincula nulla pedes. 410Hinc aliae Satyris incendia mitia praebent:Pars tibi, qui pinu tempora nexa geris.Te quoque, inexstinctae Silene libidinis, urunt.Nequitia est, quae te non sinit esse senem.At ruber hortorum deus et tutela Priapus 415Omnibus ex illis Lotide captus erat.Hanc cupit, hanc optat: sola suspirat in illa:Signaque dat nutu, sollicitatque notis.Fastus inest pulchris, sequiturque superbia formam.Irrisum vultu despicit illa suo. 420Nox erat, et, vino somnum faciente, jacebantCorpora diversis victa sopore locis.Lotis herbosa sub acernis ultima ramis,Sicut erat lusu fessa, quievit humo.Surgit amans, animamque tenens vestigia furtim 425Suspenso digitis fert taciturna gradu.Ut tetigit niveae secreta cubilia Nymphae,Ipsa sui flatus ne sonet aura, cavet.Et jam finitima corpus librabat in herba:Illa tamen multi plena soporis erat. 430Gaudet, et, a pedibus tracto velamine, votaAd sua felici coeperat ire via.Ecce rudens rauco Sileni vector asellusIntempestivos edidit ore sonos.Territa consurgit Nymphe, manibusque Priapum 435Rejicit, et fugiens concitat omne nemus.Morte dedit poenas auctor clamoris: et hinc estHellespontiaco victima grata deo. 440Intactae fueratis aves, solatia ruris,Assuetum silvis innocuumque genus,Quae facitis nidos, quae plumis ova fovetis,Et facili dulces editis ore modos.Sed nihil ista juvant, quia linguae crimen habetis, 445Dique putant mentes vos aperire suas.Nec tamen id falsum: nam, dis ut proxima quaeque,Nunc penna veras, nunc datis ore notas.Tuta diu volucrum proles tum denique caesa est,Juveruntque deos indicis exta sui. 450Ergo saepe suo conjux abducta maritoUritur in calidis alba columba focis.Nec defensa juvant Capitolia, quo minus anserDet jecur in lances, Inachi lauta, tuas.Nocte deae Nocti cristatus caeditur ales, 455Quod tepidum vigili provocat ore diem.Interea Delphin clarum super aequora sidusTollitur, et patriis exserit ora vadis.
Postera lux hiemen medio discrimine signat,Aequaque praeteritae, quae superabit, erit. 460
Proxima prospiciet Tithono Aurora relictoArcadiae sacrum pontificale deae.Te quoque lux eadem, Turni soror, aede recepit,Hic ubi Virginea campus obitur aqua.Unde petam causas horum moremque sacrorum? 465Dirigat in medio quis mea vela freto?Ipsa mone, quae nomen habes a carmine ductum,Propositoque fave, ne tuus erret honos.Orta prior Luna,—de se si creditur ipsi—A magno tellus Arcade nomen habet. 470Hic fuit Evander, qui, quamquam clarus utroque,Nobilior sacra; sanguine matris erat,Quae, simul aetherios animo conceperat ignes,Ore dabat vero carmina plena dei.Dixerat haec, nato motus instare sibique, 475Multaque praeterea, tempore nacta fidem.Nam juvenis vera nimium cum matre fugatusDeserit Arcadiam Parrhasiumque larem.Cui genitrix flenti, Fortuna viriliter, inquit,—Siste, puer, lacrimas!—ista ferenda tibi est. 480Sic erat in fatis, nec te tua culpa fugavit,Sed deus; offenso pulsus es urbe deo.Non meriti poenam pateris, sed numinis iram,Est aliquid magnis crimen abesse malis.Conscia mens ut cuique sua est, ita concipit intra 485Pectora pro facto spemque metumque suo.Nec tamen ut primus maere mala talia passus;Obruit ingentes ista procella viros.Passus idem, Tyriis qui quondam pulsus ab orisCadmus in Aonia constitit exsul humo. 490Passus idem Tydeus, et idem Pagasaeus Iason,Et quos praeterea longa referre mora est.Omne solum forti patria est, ut piscibus sequor,Ut volucri, vacuo quidquid in orbe patet.Nec fera tempestas toto tamen horret in anno, 495Et tibi—crede mihi—tempora veris erunt.Vocibus Evander firmata mente parentisNave secat fluctus, Hesperiamque tenet.Jamque ratem doctae monitu Carmentis in amnemEgerat, et Tuscis obvius ibat aquis. 500Fluminis illa latus, cui sunt vada juncta Terenti,Adspicit, et sparsas per loca sola casas.Utque erat, immissis puppim stetit ante capillis,Continuitque manum torva regentis iter;Et procul in dextram tendens sua brachia ripam, 505Pinea non sano ter pede texta ferit;Neve daret saltum properans insistere terrae,Vix est Evandri vixque retenta manu;Dique petitorum, dixit, salvete locorum,Tuque novos coelo terra datura deos, 510Fluminaque, et Fontes, quibus utitur hospita tellus,Et nemorum Nymphae, Naiadumque chori!Este bonis avibus visi natoque mihique,Ripaque felici tacta sit ista pede!Fallor? an hi fient ingentia moenia colles, 515Juraque ab hac terra cetera terra petet?Montibus his olim totus promittitur orbis.Quis tantum fati credat habere locum?Et jam Dardaniae tangent haec litora pinus.Hic quoque causa novi femina Martis erit. 520Care nepos, Palla, funesta quid induis arma?Indue: non humili vindice caesus eris.Victa tamen vinces, eversaque Troja resurges;Obruet hostiles ista ruina domos.Urite victrices Neptunia Pergama flammae: 525Num minus hic toto est altior orbe cinis?Jam pius Aeneas sacra, et sacra altera patrem,Afferet: Iliacos excipe, Vesta, deos.Tempus erit, quum vos orbemque tuebitur idem,Et fient ipso sacra colente deo: 530Et penes Augustos patriae tutela manebit.Hanc fas imperii frena tenere domum.Inde nepos natusque dei—licet ipse recuset—Pondera coelesti mente paterna feret.Utque ego perpetuis olim sacrabor in aris, 535Sic Augusta novum Julia numen erit.Talibus ut dictis nostros descendit ad annos,Substitit in medios praescia lingua sonos.Puppibus egressus Latia stetit exsul in herba.Felix, exsilium cui locus ille fuit! 540Nec mora longa fuit; stabant nova tecta, nec alterMontibus Ausoniis Arcade major erat.Ecce boves illuc Erytheïdas applicat heros,Emensus longi claviger orbis iter.Dumque huic hospitium domus est Tegeaea, vagantur 545Incustoditae laeta per arva boves.Mane erat: excussus somno Tirynthius hospesDe numero tauros sentit abesse duos.Nulla videt taciti quaerens vestigia furti:Traxerat aversos Cacus in antra ferox; 550Cacus, Aventinae timor atque infamia silvae,Non leve finitimis hospitibusque malum.Dira viro facies, vires pro corpore, corpusGrande, pater monstri Mulciber hujus erat;Proque domo longis spelunca recessibus ingens, 555Abdita, vix ipsis invenienda feris.Ora super postes affixaque brachia pendent,Squalidaque humanis ossibus albet humus.Servata male parte boum Jove natus abibat:Mugitum ranco furta dedere sono. 560Accipio revocamen, ait, vocemque secutusImpia per silvas ultor ad antra venit.Ille aditum fracti praestruxerat objice montis:Vix juga movissent quinque bis illud onus.Nititur hic humeris,—coelum quoque sederat illis— 565Et vastum motu collabefactat onus.Quod simul evulsum est, fragor aethera terruit ipsum,Ictaque subsedit pondere molis humus.Prima movet Cacus collata proelia dextra,Remque ferox saxis stipitibusque gerit. 570Quis ubi nil agitur, patris malo fortis ad artesConfugit, et flammas ore sonante vomit.Quas quoties proflat, spirare Typhoëa credas,Et rapidum aetnaeo fulgur ab igne jaci.Occupat Alcides, adductaque clava trinodis 575Ter quater adversi sedit in ore viri.Ille cadit, mixtosque vomit cum sanguine fumos,Et lato moriens pectore plangit humum.Immolat ex illis taurum tibi, Jupiter, unumVictor, et Evandrum ruricolasque vocat, 580Constituitque sibi, quae Maxima dicitur, aram,Hic ubi pars urbis de bove nomen habet.Nec tacet Evandri mater, prope tempus adesse,Hercule quo tellus sit satis usa suo.At felix vates, ut dîs gratissima vixit, 585Possidet hunc Jani sic dea mense diem.
Idibus in magni castus Jovis aede sacerdosSemimaris flammis viscera libat ovis:Redditaque est omnis populo provincia nostro,Et tuus Augusto nomine dictus avus. 590Perlege dispositas generosa per atria ceras;Contigerunt nulli nomina tanta viro.Africa victorem de se vocat: alter Isauras,Aut Cretum domitas testificatur opes;Hunc Numidae faciunt, illum Messana superbum; 595Ille Numantina traxit ab urbe notam.Et mortem et nomen Druso Germania fecit.Me miserum, virtus quam brevis illa fuit!Si petat a victis, tot sumat nomina Caesar,Quot numero gentes maximus orbis habet. 600Ex uno quidam celebres, aut torquis ademptae,Aut corvi titulos auxiliaris habent.Magne, tuum nomen rerum mensara tuarum est:Sed qui te vicit, nomine major erat.Nec gradus est ultra Fabios cognominis ullus; 605Illa domus meritis Maxima dicta suis.Sed tamen humanis celebrantur honoribus omnes:Hic socium summo cum Jove nomen habet.Sancta vocantaugusta, patres:augustavocanturTempla sacerdotum rite dicata manu. 610Hujus et augurium dependet origine verbi,Et quodcumque sua Jupiter auget ope.Augeat imperium nostri ducis, augeat annos:Protegat et vestras querna corona fores.Auspicibusque deis tanti cognominis heres 615Omine suscipiat, quo pater, orbis onus.
Respiciet Titan actas ubi tertius Idus,Fient Parrhasiae sacra relata deae.Nam prius Ausonias matres carpenta vehebant:—Haec quoque ab Evandri dicta parente reor— 620Mox honor eripitur, matronaque destinat omnisIngratos nulla prole novare viros;Neve daret partus, ictu temeraria caecoVisceribus crescens excutiebat onus.Corripuisse patres ausas immitia nuptas, 625Jus tamen exemptum restituisse, ferunt.Binaque nunc pariter Tegeaeae sacra parentiPro pueris fieri virginibusque jubent.Scortea non illi fas est inferre sacello,Ne violent puros exanimata focos. 630Si quis amas ritus veteres, assiste precanti:Nomina percipies non tibi nota prius,Porrima placantur Postvertaque, sive sorores,Sive fugae comites, Maenali Nympha, tuae.Altera, quod porro fuerat, cecinisse putatur: 635Altera, versurum postmodo quidquid erat.
Candida te niveo posuit lux proxima templo,Qua fert sublimes alta Moneta gradus:Nunc bene prospicies Latiam, Concordia, turbam:Nunc te sacratae restituere manus. 640Furius antiquum populi superator EtrusciVoverat, et voti solverat ante fidem.Causa, quod a patribus sumptis secesserat armisVulgus, et ipsa suas Roma timebat opes.Causa recens melior: passos Germania crines 645Porrigit auspiciis, dux venerande, tuis.Inde triumphatae libasti munera gentis,Templaque fecisti, quam colis ipse, deae.Haec tua constituit Genitrix et rebus et ara,Sola toro magni digna reperta Jovis. 650Haec ubi transierint, Capricorne, Phoebe, relicto,Per juvenis curres signa gerentis aquam.
Septimus hinc Oriens quum se demiserit undis,Fulgebit toto jam Lyra nulla polo.Sidere ab hoc ignis venienti nocte, Leonis 655Qui micat in medio pectore, mersus erit.
Ter quater evolvi signantes tempora fastos,Nec Sementiva est ulla reperta dies:Quum mihi—sensit enim—Lux haec indicitur, inquitMusa: quid a fastis non stata sacra petis? 660Utque dies incerta sacro, sic tempora certa,Seminibus jactis est ubi fetus ager.State coronati plenum ad praesepe juvenci,Cum tepido vestrum vere redibit opus.Rusticus emeritum palo suspendat aratrum: 665Omne reformidat frigida vulnus humus.Villice, da requiem terrae, semente peracta:Da requiem, terram qui coluere, viris,Pagus agat festum; pagum lustrate, coloni,Et date paganis annua liba focis. 670Placentur matres frugum, Tellusque, Ceresque,Farre suo gravidae visceribusque suis.Officium commune Ceres et Terra tuentur;Haec praebet causam frugibus, illa locum.Consortes operum, per quas correcta vetustas, 675Quernaque glans victa est utiliore cibo,Frugibus immensis avidos satiate colonos,Ut capiant cultus praemia digna sui.Vos date perpetuos teneris sementibus auctus,Nec nova per gelidas herba sit usta nives. 680Quum serimus, coelum ventis aperite serenis;Quum latet, aetheria spargite semen aqua;Neve graves cultis Cerealia dona, cavete,Agmine laesuro depopulentur aves.Vos quoque subjectis, formicae, parcite granis: 685Post messem praedae copia major erit.Interea crescat scabrae robiginis expers,Nec vitio coeli palleat aegra seges,Et neque deficiat macie, neque pinguior sequoDivitiis pereat luxuriosa suis; 690Et careant loliis oculos vitiantibus agri;Nec sterilis culto surgat avena solo.Triticeos fetus, passuraque farra bis ignem,Hordeaque ingenti fenore reddat ager.Hoc ego pro vobis, hoc vos optate coloni, 695Efficiatque ratas utraque diva preces.Bella diu tenuere viros: erat aptior ensisVomere: cedebat taurus arator equo.Sarcula cessabant, versique in pila ligones,Factaque de rastri pondere cassis erat. 700Gratia dîs domuique tuae! religata catenisJampridem nostro sub pede bella jacent.Sub juga bos veniat, sub terras semen aratas.Pax Cererem nutrit: pacis alumna Ceres.
At quae venturas praecedet sexta Kalendas, 705Hac sunt Ledaeis templa dicata deis.Fratribus illa deis fratres de gente deorumCirca Juturnae composuere lacus.
Ipsum nos carmen deducit Pacis ad aram.Haec erit a mensis fine secunda dies. 710Frondibus Actiacis comptos redimita capillosPax ades, et toto mitis in orbe mane.Dum desunt hostes, desit quoque causa triumphi.Tu ducibus bello gloria major eris.Sola gerat miles, qnibus arma coërceat, arma, 715Canteturque fera, nil nisi pompa, tuba,Horreat aeneadas et primus et ultimus orbis:Si qua parum Romam terra timebit, amet.Tura, sacerdotes, pacalibus addite flammis,Albaque percussa victima fronte cadat: 720Utque domus, quae praestat eam, cum pace perennet,Ad pia propensos vota rogate deos.Sed jam prima mei pars est exacta laboris,Cumque suo finem mense libellus habe.
NOTES: (numbers refer to lines)
1.Temporain Virgil. (Ecl. iii. 42. Geor. i. 257,) is the seasons, here it denotes the festivals and other remarkable days of the year.—Latium, adj. Latin,Latius annusis the solar year.
2.Lapsa ortaque signa. The subject of the poem is the Roman festivals, and the rising and setting of the constellations. See Introduction, § 1.
3.Caesar Germ, son of Drusus Claudius Nero, and nephew of Tiberius, by whom he was adopted at the desire of Augustus. See Tacit. Annal II. 73. Suet. Calig. 1-4.—Pacato vultu, etc. as if he were a deity.
5. Heinsius and Burmann, following some of the best MSS. readofficii … In tibi devoto munere, which gives a good sense. Lenz, Mitscherlich and Krebs, prefer the present reading.
7, 8. See Introd. § 4.
9.Vobis, your family, i.e. the Claudii, or rather the Julii, into which he had been adopted.
10.Pater, Tiberius;avus, Augustus, who had adopted Tiberius.
11. Germanicus and his brother, the poet says, will perform actions and receive honors similar to those of Augustus and Tiberius. Drusus was the son of Tiberius; and therefore, only the adoptive brother of Germanicus. —Pictos. the Fasti, were like all other books, adorned with various colours.
13.Aras. The altars dedicated by Augustus, perhaps the altars raised to him, Hor. Ep. II. 1. 15. The following line shows the former sense to be preferable.
15-20. All the termsannue, etc. used here, are such as would be addressed to a deity.—Laudes, praiseworthy deeds.—Tuorum, likevobis, v. 9.—Paginaforliber.—Moveturscil; with awe. He personifies the book.—Clario Deo. There was a celebrated oracle of the Clarian Apollo, near Colophon, in Asia Minor, which Germanicus himself once consulted. Tac. Annal. xii. 22.
21, 22. Germanicus had pleaded causes publicly with success, Suet. Cal. 4. Dion. 56. 26.
23-25. He had written Greek comedies, Suet,ut sup. He also made a version of Aratus which is still extant,
26.Totus annus, i. e. the whole poem on the year.
27.Tempora, the parts of the year, i. e. months and days.—Cond. urb. Romulus.
28. See Introd. § 2.
33, 34. That is ten lunar months.
35, 35. This is putting the effect for the cause, the mourning was for ten months, because that was the length of the original year.—Tristia signa, the signs of grief, such as avoiding society, wearing mourning, &c.
37.Trabeati, Romulus wore the trabea. Liv. I. 8.
38.Populis, i. e.civibus.—Annua jura daret, i.e. regulated the year, v. 27.
40.Princepshead or origin. Venus was the mother of aeneas, Mars the father of Romulus.
41. See the beginning of Books III and IV.
42. Quinctilis, Sextilis, September, &c.
43.Nec avitas, see below II. 19.et seq.
45-62. See Introd. § 3.
50.Qui jam, &c. a half holiday, the latter part of the day might be devoted to business.
52.Honoratus, as bearing office. It was applied with peculiar propriety to the Praetor whose edicts were called theJus honorarium.
53. TheDies comitialeson whichcum populo licebat agi, i. e. laws might be proposed, &c.—Septisthe wooden palings, within which the people were assembled in the Campus Martius, to pass laws.
54. The Nundinae. Every ninth day the country people came into Rome to attend the market. By the Hortensian law, these days were madefastiin order that their rustic disputes might be settled.
55. On all the Kalends the Pontifex Minor and the Regina Sacrorum sacrificed to Juno who was by some regarded as the moon. For the name Juno see my Mythology, p. 461.—Junonis, Heinsius would readJunonia.
56. A sacrifice of a lamb was offered on the Capitol to Jupiter on the Ides of each month.
57. The Nones were not under the care of any deity.
57-60. The days following the Kalends, Nones and Ides were termedAtri, black or unlucky, as on these days, the Romans had met with their most memorable defeats at the Cremera, the Allia, and elsewhere. A public calamity on any particular day of any one month renderedater, that day in every other month.
61, 62. I say it once for all.
63. For the mythology of Janus, see Mythology, p. 466,et seq.
65.An. tac lab. denotes the noiseless pace of time.—Origoas the year began with January.
66. See his figure. Mythology, Plate xii. 4.
67.Ducibus, perhaps Tib. and Germ, after the victory gained by the latter over the Catti and Cherusci, and other German tribes, A.U.C. 770; it may, however, include Augustus and other generals.
68. Terra ferax, the [Greek: zeidoros arera] of Homer.
69.Tuis, Burmann would readtuias it seems awkward to say thePatres Janiand the Populus Quirini. Quirinus was a name of Janus (Janum Quirinum ter clusitSuet. Aug. 22.) and Gierig thinks the true reading might have beenQuirine. After all it was perhaps the constraint of the metre that made the poet express himself thus.
70.Candida templa, either as being built of marble, or on account of those who frequented them on festival days, being clad in white. Gierig inclines to the latter, I should prefer the former sense.
71.Lin. anim. fav. [Greek: euphaemeite] by using no words of ill omen and by admitting no thoughts but what were good.
75.Odor. ig. with the frankincense, cinnamon, saffron, &c. which were burnt on the altars.
76.Spica Cilissa, the saffron from Mount Corycus in Cilicia.—Spica, the chives or filaments of the saffron.—Sonet, when the saffron was good it crackled in the fire.
77.Aurum, the gilded roof of the temple.
79, 80.Vest, intact. with new or white garments, the Romantogawas white.—Concolor, a festal or happy day was metaphorically termed white.—Tarp. Arces, the Capitol. It was the practice ever since A.U.C. 601 for the consuls elect, followed by the people, to go in procession to the Capitol and offer a sacrifice to Jupiter.
81, 82. The consuls entered on their office on this day.—Purpura, thetoga praetextaortrabea, worn by magistrates.—Ebur, the curule chair.
83.Rudis operum, that had never been worked.
84.Herba Fal. &c., the land of Falerii in Etruria, whence the animals for sacrifice were chiefly brought, the water of the Clitumnus, in Umbria, was supposed to make them white, Virg. G. II. 146.
85.Arce, either the Capitol, or the dome of Heaven, see Met. I. 163. Virg aen. I. 223.
88.Pop. rer. pol. theRomanos rerum dominosof Virgil.
89. The poet here commences his enquiry into the mythology of Janus.
90. There was no deity worshipped in Greece whose attributes were the same as those of Janus. A curious similarity has been traced out between him and the Ganesa of India.
93.Tabellis, his writing-tables.
94. A usual sign of the presence of a Deity.
100.Ore priore, his front face. See his image.
101.Vat. oper. dier. Poet engaged on the days.
103.Firstopinion, Janus was the World.
105-110. Compare Met. I.init.
113, 114. His back and front figure were the same, a memorial of the time when the world was in a chaotic state of confusion, all its parts being alike. This is a very silly explanation.
115.Secondopinion, see below v. 135-140.
116. His office of door-keeper (Janitor) of heaven and earth.
120. Thecardinesof heaven, if they are meant, are the cardinal points, where according to the poetic creed of the Augustan age there were doors for the gods to go in and out of heaven. Stat. Theb. i. 158, vii. 35. x. 1. See Mythology, p. 39.
121. He represents Peace and War as persons in the custody of Janus.—Placidisas being the abode of Peace.
122.Perpetuas, long.
125. See Hom. II. v. 749,et seq. Mythology p. 150.
127.Janus à janua.
127, 128.Cereale libum, theJanual, a kind of cake offered to Janus. Festussub. voc.—Imponiton the altar.—Far mix. sal. theMola salsa.
129, 130.Patulcius (à pateo)the Opener,Clusius (à claudo)the Shutter; sacrifical names of Janus.
133.Visi.e.officium.
134. From what I have said you already in part perceive it.
137.Primi tecti, the first part of the house, i.e. the entrance.
141, 142. The three-faced Hecate, (see her figure Mythology, Plate III. 2.) was placed at thetriviae, or the point where a road branched off (like the Greek capital Y) so that a face looked down each road.
149, 150. The poet naturally asks why the year began in the middle of winter and not in the spring. This gives him an opportunity of introducing the following lovely description with which compare, Virg. G. II. 324,et seq. Lucret I. 5,et seq. and below III. 236et seq. IV. 87et seq.
153.Oper. frond. Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig on the authority of nine MSS. readamicitur vitibus; four MSS. haveamicitur frondibuswhich I should feel disposed to prefer.
154.Seminis herbaappears to be the corn which had been sown and was now coming up; one MS. readsgraminis.
157.Ignota, the stranger, as the swallow returns in spring.
158.Lut. fing. opus. her clay-built nest:Fingereis the proper term when speaking of pottery any work in clay.
163.Bruma, the winter solstice after which the days begin to lenghten.
165-170. It was usual with all classes of the people to practice a little at their respective trades, or occupations on the Kalends of January by way of omen and not for payment. Thus the shoe-maker or the fuller did some little job or another, the peasant some rural work, pleaders skirmished a little in the forum, &c,—Delibat, i.e.leviter attingit.
171-174. The reason is here required and given, why the Romans when about to sacrifice to any other of the gods, first made offerings to Janus. The old historian, Fabius Pictor, said it was because Janus first taught to use spelt (far) and wine in sacrifice. Macrobius says because he was the first who erected temples to the gods in Italy. Others give other reasons equally unsatisfactory.
175-182. In our own custom of wishing each other a happy new year, &c. may still be witnessed, the practice of which the poet here asks the reason. Thebona verbawere used for the sake of omen.—Ulla lingua, any tongue which then utters a prayer.—Caducas, unavailing.
186, 187. Thestrenae(Fr.étrennes) or New Year's gift—Palma, dates, the fruit of the palm, (caryotae) covered with gold leaf, were a part of thestrenae.—Caricathe [Greek: ischas] or dried fig.—Cado, some MSS. readfavo.
189.Stipis, pieces of money were then as now, a part of the New-year's gift. Augustus himself, as inscriptions shew, did not scruple to receive money as hisstrenaeon the Kalends of January, See Suet. Aug. 91.
191-218. The praises of ancient simplicity, and censure of the vices of his own times,—a common place with Ovid and the other poets.
191.Quam te fallunt, etc. How little you know the character of your own times.
193, 194. Such was hardly the case even in the golden age.
Pris. tem. an. In the years of the olden time.
199.Martigena, Mars-begotten, liketerrigena, etc.
201.Angusta aede, either the temple of Jupiter Feretrius, built by Romulus on the Capitol, and which was not quite fifteen feet long, or that built by Numa, or rather any temple of those ancient times.—Vix totus stabatseems to mean that the statue was in a sitting posture, and the roof of the temple so low, that it would not admit of its being placed erect in it.
202.Fictile fulmen. The images of the gods at Rome, in those times, were of baked clay, manufactured in Etruria. Even the four-horse chariot which was placed on the Capitoline temple, when first built, was of baked clay. Niebuhr, Rom. Hist. I. 491.
208.Levis laminais employed to express more strongly the simplicity of those days, as if the possession of even the smallest quantity of the precious metals was a crime. Fabricius, when censor, A.U.C. 478, put out of the senate Cornel. Rufinus, who had been twice consul and dictator, for having ten pounds weight of wrought silver.
210. Rome would appear to be personified in this place.
212, 213. The union of luxury and avarice, Sallust Cat. 5 and 12. They vie in gaining what they may consume, in regaining, what they have consumed, and these very alternations (of avarice and luxury) are the aliment (or support) of (these) vices.
215, 216. The usual comparison of avarice to the dropsy. See Hor. Carm. II. 2. 13.
217, 218.In pret. pret. a play on words.—Dat census, etc. Hor. Epist. I. 6.
219.cur sit. Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig, readsi sit.—Quaeris, means you will probably ask, or you wish to know, for the poet had not yet asked the question.—Ausp. utile, a good omen.
220.Aera vestua, thestipsoras. was a copper coin. In the old times, the Romans had none but copper money. See Neibuhr, Rom. Hist. I. 449et seq.
223.Nos, we, the gods, or I, Janus.
226. The manners of each time are suited to it, and should be followed.
227.Munitus, acc. plur. of the substantive. Five MSS. readmanitis.
229, 230. The old Roman coin bore on one side the figure of a ship; on the other, a two-headed Janus.
232. The impression on the old coins was, of course, often effaced by time and use.
234.FalciferSaturn. See Mythology, p. 465, Virg. aen. viii. 315et seq.
241. The Janiculum on the left, or Tuscan bank of the Tiber. See vv. 245, 246.
242.Aren. Tib. theflavus Tib. of Horace, Carm. I. 3.—Radit, likerodetandmordet, is very appropriately applied to a stream. See Hor. Carm. I. 22, 8.
243. Virg. aen. viii. 314. Propert, iv. 1. Tibul. II. 5, 25. This contrast of the former and the present state of the Seven Hills, was a favorite theme with poets of the Augustan age.—Incaeduauncut, i.e. ancient, denoting in general a wood, which was an object of religious awe and veneration.
245.Arx. The dwelling of the princes of the heroic ages was usually on an eminence, like the castles of the feudal chiefs of the middle ages.
247, 248. In the golden age.
249, 250. See Met. I. 89,et seq. 150. Hesiod [Greek: herga] 195. Mythology, 258-262.
251. Pudor, [Greek: Aidos].
257, 258. The Romans gave the name ofJanito arches, like that of Templebar, in London, under which people passed from one street into another. They were always double, people entering by one and going out the other, every one keeping to the right. Lenz, understands byJani, in this place, temples of Janus, of which there were three at Rome.—Stassacratus_ have a statue.For. duob. the fish and the ox-market. This temple was built by Duilius.
260.Oebalii, alluding to the fancied descent of the Sabines, from the Lacedaemmonians, one of whose ancient kings Oebalus is said to have been.Tati—One MS. readsTiti, which Heinsius and Gierig adopted. for this story, see Met. xiv. 771et seq. and Livy I 11.
261.Levis custosTarpeia.—levis, light-minded.
264.Arduus clivus, a steep path.
265.Portam, the Palantine gate.—Saturnia, Juno.
267.Tanto numineScil. Juno.
268.Meae artis, that is, of openings.
269. He caused streams of hot sulphurous water to gush out of the groung.
274. When after the repulse of the Sabines, the hot waters ceased to flow, and the place became as it was before.
275, 276. This earliest temple was exceedingly small, containing nothing but a statue of the god, five feet high. Procopius (de Bell. Goth.) describes it.Strue. Thestrues—was a kind of cake.
277. The well known circumstance of the temple of Janus being open in time of war, closed in time of peace.
279-281. For what is probably the true reason, see Niebuhr's Roman History, I. 287, or Mythology, p. 467.
283.Diversa tuentes, on account of his two faces.
285, 286. This was A.U.C. 770, when on the vii. Kal. Jun. Germanicus triumphed over the Catti, the Cherusci, and the Angivarii, Tacit. An. II. 4l.—Fam. Rhe. aq. the river, as was usual with the poets, put for the people who dwelt on its banks, to denote that the Germans now obeyed Rome.
287.Face, fac.—Ministros pacis, Tiberius and Germanicus.
288. May not he (Germ. or Tib.) who has procured this peace for the empire, break it by resuming arms.
289, 290. The poet now ceases to discourse with Janus, and informs the reader of what he had found in the Fasti, namely, that two temples had been consecrated, at different times, on the Kalends of January.
291, 292. A.U.C. 462, in consequence of a plague at Rome, by the direction of the Sybelline books, an embassy was sent to Epidaurus, and one of the serpents sacred to Aesculapius was brought to Rome; a temple was built to the god on the island in the Tiber. See Met. xv. 622—744.Ph. n.Cor. nat. Aesculapius. See Mythology, p. 384.
293, 294.In parte est, is a sharer in the day and place. The temple of Jupiter in the island was dedicated by C. Servilius Duumvir, some time after the second Punic war.
295-310. Being now for the first time about to perform the other part of his promise, namely, to note the risings and settings of the stars, he prefaces it by the praises of the astronomers. See Introd. § 1.
299, 300. As the study of astronomy elevates the mind above the terrestrial abode of men, so it raises, or should raise it, above all mean and groveling pursuits and ideas.
305. They have brought the distant stars to our eyes. Gierig, following one MS. fornostris, readsterris, a reading which Burmann approved, though he did not adopt it.
307, 308. Alluding to the Alodïes, Otus and Ephialtes, Hom. Od. xi. 304-316. Virg. G. I. 280. Hor. Carm. III. 4, 49.
311-314. The cosmic setting of Cancer, on the morning of the 3rd January, the third before the Nones. See Introd. §. 1.
316. The cosmic rising of Lyra, which was usually attended with rain.
317, 318. On the 9th January was celebrated the festival of Jannus, named the Agonia or Agonalia, the origin of which name the poet now proceeds to discuss.
319-322. One etymon wasago, to do, as thepopaor officiating minister of the altar criedAgone? Shall I act? before he struck the victim.—Agatne. Four of the best MSS. readAgone; they are followed by Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig.
323, 324. A second fromagor, because the victims wereledto the altar. Both equally silly.
325. a third;quasiAgnalia fromAgna.
327, 328. A fourth from the Greek [Greek: agonia, agoniazein]—In aqua, the vessels of water by the altar in which the knives were placed.
329, 330. A fifth from the Greek [Greek: agones]ludi.
331. A sixth, which the poet approves, fromAgonia, an old name for cattle.
333, 334. A ram was the victim offered on this day by the Rex Sacrorum.
335, 336. Two trifling etymoligies. Thevictima, he intimates, was offered after a victory; thehostia, in time of peace, when there was no enemy,hostibus amotis. Krebs readsa motis: almost all the MSS.a domitis.
337-456. A long digression on the origin and causes of the various sacrifices offered to the gods.
338. TheMola salsa.—Purabecause it purifies or keeps from decay.
340.Hospita navis, a foreign ship.
343.Herbis Sabinis. TheSavin, called by the Greeks [Greek: brathu].Duorum generum est, says Pliny,altera tamaraci similis folio, altera cupresso.
344. A loud crackling of the leaves of the bay or laurel in the fire was a good omen.
347. This was in the golden age, before animals were slain in honor of the gods.
349. He now proceeds to explain how the altars came to be stained with the blood of animals. This was caused chiefly by the anger of the gods, on account of the mischief which they did.
357. [Greek: Kaen me phagaes epi rizan, omos eti karpophoraeoo Osson epispeisai soi, trage, Ouomeno], Euenus in Anthol. Gr. T. I. p. 165,Jacobs.
363.Aristaeus, the son of Apollo, by the nymph Cyrene. See Virg. G. iv. 281-558. Mythology, p. 294-296. This tale, after all, gives not the reason why the ox was offered in sacrifice.
381. Some popular legend probably assigned this silly cause.—Verbena, herbs gathered in a sacred place.
385.Persis, Persia.—Hyperiona, the Persian Mithras, the presiding deity of the Sun, identified by the Greeks with their god Helius, also called Hyperion.
387.Quod, because; given by Heinsius from the best MSS. others read _quaae.—Trip. Dianae, identifying her with Hecate. See above, v. 41.—Virgine, Iphigenia.
389.Sapaeos, a people of Thrace. Herod, vii. 110. Most MSS. have Sabaeos, or Saphaeos, but incorrectly.—Vidi. When Ovid was going into exile, at Tomi, A.U.C. 763, he passed through Thrace.
391.Custodi ruris, Priapus. This god who was chiefly worshiped at Lampsacus, was said to be the offspring of Bacchus and Venus. See Mythology, p. 205.
393.Festa, etc. the Trieterides, celebrated once in every three years.—Corymbiferi, Bacchus was frequently represented crowned with bunches of ivy-berries. Some MSS. readracemiferi.—Celebrabat, Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig, readcelebrabas, on the authority of two MSS.
395.Di cultores Lycaei. Scil. the Pans and Satyrs, the gods of Arcadia. Gierig, on the authority of some of the best MSS. readsLyaei. For Pan, etc. see Mythology, p. 198-205.
398. The Naïdes and other nymphs.
400. Priapus.
403.Parceis to be joined withmiscendas.
407. That is,succincta.
410.Vincula nulla, they were barefoot. It is to be recollected that in the heroic ages, after which the poets modelled the life of the gods, the attendants at meals were females.
412. Pan.
414.Nequitia, lust.
420. She evinces her haughty contempt of him by her looks.
423.Ultima, the most remote.
425.Animam, his breath.
426.Digitisscilpedis, his toes. A beautiful description of one stealing on tip-toe.
436.Omne nemus, all the gods in the grove.
440.Hellesp. Deo. Priapus, the god of Lampsacus, on the Hellespont.
445.Linguae crimen. Still ascribing a revengeful character to the gods, he supposes them to be pleased with the sacrifice of the birds, who revealed their intentions to mankind.
447.Dis ut proxima. Flying high towards heaven. "Ye birds, That singing up to heaven gate ascend."—Milton.
448.Penna, thePraepetes;ore, theoscines, as they were styled in language of augury.
453. See Liv. v. 47, for this well-known story.
454.Inachi lauta. Isis the Egyptian deity, supposed to be the same with Io, the daughter of the river-god, Inachus. See Met. I. 747,et seq. Mythology, 367.—Lauta, dainty, aslautioribus cibis utens, such as the livers of geese. Isis was much worshiped at Rome at this time.
455.Deae Nocti. A cock was sacrificed to Night, as being odious to her.—Ales, like the Greek [Greek: ornis], thebird[Greek: kat exochaen].
456.Tepidum diem, the dawn, warm after the chill of the night.—Provocat, calls forth.
457. The cosmic rising of the Dolphin, on the ninth of January.
459.Postera lux, the tenth of January, which, according to the poet, was thebruma, or middle of winter. Columella and Ptolemy place it on the 4th January, the day before the Nones; Pliny, xviii. 5, makes it the viii. Kal. Jan. or 25th December.
461.Aurora. Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig readnupta, on the authority of seven MSS.
462. The Carmentalia, on the 10th, or III. Id. of January.—Arcad. deae. Carmenta, the mother of Evander; her altar was at the Carmental gate, at the foot of the Capitol.
463.Turni soror, Juturna. See Virg. aen. xii. 134,et seq.
464. The temple of Juturna stood in the Campus Martius, by theAqua Virgo, which Agrippa had brought thither on account of its excellence.
467.Quae nomen, etc. Scil. Carmenta.
496, 470.Orta, etc. The Arcadians called themselves [Greek: proselaenous] as having existed before the Moon.—Tellus, scil.gens.—Areade, Arcas, the son of Jupiter and Callisto. See Met. II. 401,et seq. Mythology, p. 387.
471. Evander was the son of Mercury and Carmenta. According to Servius, on the aeneis, his father was Echemus, and I am inclined to think that Ovid followed this last genealogy.
473.aetherios ignes, the inspiration of the god.
474.Plenamay be joined either withcarmina, or with the nominative todabat.
475.Motus, civil discord.
475. Time verified her predictions.
478.Parrhasium, for Arcadian, part for the whole. Evander dwelt at Pallantium.
490. See Met. III.init. Mythology, 291.
491. Iason is always a trisyllable. For Tydeus and Jason, see Mythology under their names.
493. [Greek: Apas men aaer aieto perasimos, Apasa de chthon andri gennaio patris]. Eurip. frag. Comp. Hor. Carm. II. 9.
494.Vacuo, etc. the air.
495. Hor. Carm. II. 10. 15.
498.Hesperiam tenet. He reaches Italy, not, as Gierig understands it, he held his course for Italy.
500. Sailed up against the stream,—Tuscis, as flowing by Etruria.
501. There was a place in the Campus Martius, named Terentum, where was an altar of Dis and Proserpine, at which secular games were celebrated. I rather incline to think with Gierig, that thevada Terentiwas a part of the river near the Terentum.
502. The abodes of the Aborigines.
503-508. Thefuror divinuscomes over her; her hair is disheveled; her countenance becomes stern; by signs she directs the steersman to turn the ship to the land; she is hardly restrained from jumping out of the vessel.
510. Romulus and the Caesars—the flattery of the poet.
511.Hospita, stranger.
515-518. The future greatness of Rome.
519. The fleet of Aeneas. All the following events occur in the last six books of the Aeneis.
520.Femina, Lavinia.
521. Pallas, the son of Evander, slain by Turnus, and avenged by Aeneas.
523, 524. The future conquest of Greece by the Romans. Virg. aen. I. 283.
525. Troy was walled by Neptune. Eight MSS. readmoeniaforPergama.
526.Num, etc. Are those ashes (of Troy) nevertheless not higher than the whole world? i.e. Will not Rome spring from them?
527. A tradition, followed by Cato, Strabo, Dio Cassius, and others, related that Anchises came to Italy. Perhaps Ovid followed the same tradition.
528. According to Dionysius. (I. 67,) the temple of the Penates, whom Aeneas brought from Troy, was near that of Vesta. Others (Tacit. An. xv. 41) thought that they were in the temple of that goddess.
529. Julius Caesar who was Pontifex Maximus, and was deified after his death. Some think it is Augustus who is meant.
531.Augustosseems to be equivalent toCaesares.
532.Hanc domum, scil: the Caesarian.
533. Tiberius, by adoption the son of Augustus, and grandson of Julius Caesar, both of whom were deified. His affected reluctance to accept the imperial dignity is well known. Tac. An. I.init.
534.Pondera, the weight of empire.
536.Augusta Julia. Livia, the wife of Augustus, adopted by his testament into the Julian family. This prediction of the poet was accomplished by the emperor Claudius, who placed Livia among the gods.
539.Exsul, Evander.
540. The poet had probably his own miserable place of exile in view.
542.Arcade, Evander.
543. Hercules, when driving the oxen of Geryon from the isle of Erythea. See Mythology, p. 320.
545. For this adventure with Cacus, see Virg. aen. viii. 190, _et.seq. Liv. I. 7.—Tegeaea, Arcadian.
553.Pro corpore, suited to his body.
559.Servata male, having ill kept, i.e. lost.
560.Furta, the stolen oxen.
564.Opus. The Greeks used their [Greek: ergon] in the same sense. Homer says that twenty-two waggons (juga) would not have moved the rock with which Polyphemus closed the mouth of his cave.
565. When he supported the heavens for Atlas. See Mythology, p. 324.
575.Occupat, attacks him.Jussit quatuor admoveri, canes, qui celeriter occupavere feram. Curtius, ix.—Clava trinodis, his knotty club. It was of the wood of theoleaster([Greek: kotinos]) or wild olive.—Trinodis, a definite for an indefinite.
581, 582. The Ara Maxima of Hercules was in the Forum Boarium. According to Virgil, it was built by Evander.
583, 584. The apotheosis of Hercules.
587, 588. The usual sacrifice to Jupiter on the Ides, was a lamb, (see above, v. 57,) here it is a wether.
589. On the Ides of January, A.U.C. 727, Octavianus, after a speech full of hypocritical moderation, restored to the Senate and People such of the provinces as were in a state of tranquillity, retaining those which were still disturbed.—The Senate, on account of this, decreed him the title of Augustus.
591.Generosa atria, the halls of the different noble families at Rome.—Ceras, the waxen images of their ancestors, under which were inscribed their titles and actions.
593.Africaetc. P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus.—Isauruas. P. Servilius Isauricus.
594.Cretum. Q. Caecilius Metellus Creticus.
595.Numidae. another Q. Caecilius Metellus, the predecessor of Marius, in the war against Jugurtha.—Messana. Claudius Caudex was sent to the aid of the Mamertines in Messana. He relieved the town, but derived no title from it. His statue and deeds, however, stood in the Atrium of the Claudii.
596.Numantina. Scipio aemilianus.
597.Druso. Drusus, the brother of Tiberius, and father of Germanicus, to whom the poem is dedicated, died in consequence of a broken leg, caused by his horse falling on him in the summer-camp on the Rhine, A.U.C. 745. The senate decreed the title of Germanicus to him and his children.
598.Quam brevis. How shortlived! Paterculus speaks in high terms of the virtues of Drusus. See also Hor. Car. iv. 4.
599.Caesar. C. Julius Caesar.
601. T. Manlius Torquatus. Liv. viii. 10.
602. M. Valerius Corvinus. Liv. vii. 26.
603.Magne. Cn. Pompeius Magnus.
604. C. Julius Caesar.
605, 606. When Fabius (A.U.C. 449.) divided the lower class of people into the four tribes named theUrbanashe was given the title of Maximus, which adhered to his family.—Nec gradus ullus, of comparison, playing on themagneof v. 603.
608.Hic. Augustus.
609. The Greeks rendered Augustus by [Greek: sebastus], from [Greek: sebo], to venerate. This name was considered beyond any human title.
610.Sacerd. manu. The Pontifex, when dedicating a temple, held one of the door-posts.
611. I do not think, with Gierig, that the poet derivesauguriumfromaugustus. It appears to me that he deduces them both fromaugeo.Loca quoque religiosa et in quibus augurato quid consecratur augusta dicantur ab auctu vel ab avium gestu gustuve. Suet. Aug. 7.
614. An oak-leaf garland, the symbol of protection, hung over the door of the Palatium; a laurel, the emblem of victory, stood on each side.
615. Tiberius, who bore the name of Augustus.
617-636. The Carmentalia were repeated on the 18th Kal. Feb. or the 15th of the month.
617.Actas, scil.exactas, past.
619.Matres. scil.Matronae.—Carpenta, thecarpentum, was a covered two-wheel carriage. The etymon given by the poet is unworthy of attention.
629.Scortea, things made of skin or leather.
631.Precanti, by any one who is praying.
633. Porrima. This goddess is so named only in this place, and by Servius, on aen. viii. 336. Macrobius (Sat. I. 7.) calls her Antevorta. Varro,apud. A. Gellius (N. A. xvi. 6.) speaking of women who had a difficult labour, says,hujus periculi deprecandi causa arae statutae sunt Romae duabus Carmentibus; quarum altera Postverta nominata est, Prosa (alii Prorsa) altera; a recti perversique partus et potestate et nomine. We have here the true meaning of this feast of the Carmentalia, about which our poet has been puzzling.
634.Nympha, scil. Carmenta. Virg. aen. viii. 336. Thus Homer, (II. in. 130,) calls Helen anymph. See Mythology, p. 206, note. Fornympha, in this place, eight MSS. readdiva.
635.Porro, usually denotes the future; in this place, it evidently denotes the past. Burmann knows no other instance of its occurrence in this sense.
637. On the following day, the xvii. Kal. Feb. the most ancient of the five temples of Concord at Rome, had been vowed, A.U.C. 386, by L. Furius Camillus. It was repaired and dedicated anew by Tiberius, A.U.C. 762. The temple of Juno Moneta (Warner) stood on the site of the house of Manlius on the Capitol; a flight of 100 steps led from the temple of Concord up to it.—Candida lux, auspicious day, as being that on which the temple of Concord was dedicated.—Niveo, as being built of marble.
639. The temple being on the side of the Capitol over the Forum.
640.Sacratae manusof Tiberius. Every thing belonging to the emperor wassacratumandsanctum.
641.Antiquum, scil. templum? Neapolis, I think is wrong, in takingantiquumto be used adverbially forolim, and joining it withpop. sup. Etr. Burmann, as he enclosed it in brackets, also understood it adverbially.Antiquum, which is unquestionably the right reading, is that of only three MSS. The others readantiquamorantiquus, orantiquiorantiquo.—Populi, etc. merely a designation of Furius, and has nothing to do with the occasion of the vow,—Ante, olim.
643. On the occasion of the Licinian rogations. Niebuhr, on this subject, prefers the authority of Ovid to that of Livy, who says,Prope ad secessionem.—venit.
644.Opes, the Plebeians.
645. A compliment to Tiberius. The first temple was built in consequence of civil discord; the second, in consequence of victories gained over the most formidable foes of Rome.—Passos, etc. Germany (i.e. the Germans) holds forth her dishevelled locks, vanquished by the Roman arms, under thine auspices.Jam tibi captivos mittet Germania crines; Culta triumphatae munere gentis eris, says our poet (Am. I. 14,) to a lady, as the false hair used at Rome mostly came from Germany. Nations, when conquered, were saidporrigere, to surrender, those things for which they were distinguished. Thus he says, (Trist. II. 227,)Nunc porrigit arcus Parthus eques timida captaque manu, see below, V. 593. It is therefore supposed, that a condition of the peace was the delivery of a large quantity of hair for the use of the Roman wig-makers. There is nothing very sublime in this.
646.Dux, Tiberius.
647.Libasti, You have offered.
648.Quam colis ipse, by your love of peace.
649.Haec. scil. templa. This place is very obscure. Some MSS. readhanc.—Rebus, the commentators say, by the harmony in which she lived with Augustus.—Ara, by an altar, which they suppose she placed in the temple of Concord.
650.Magni Jovis, Augustus, the vicegerent of Jove on earth.
651. The passage of the sun into Aquarius, the xvi. Kal. Feb.—Haec. scil. tempora. The first editions, and two MSS. readtransieris. Two other MSS. readtransierit, which I should incline to prefer, and makehaecrefer todiesor tolux, v. 637. Heinsius would readNox, orLux ubi transierit.
653, 654. On the 10th Kal. Feb. Lyra sets heliacally.—Oriens, scil. Sol.
655, 656. The following day (Jan. 24,) Regulus, the bright star in the breast of the Lion, sets cosmically. The poet is mistaken here; according to Colunnella, he sets on the 27th of January.
657, 658. The Romans (see Macrob. Sat. I.) had two kinds of festivals, theStativaeand theConceptivaae. The former were fixed to certain days, and were marked in the Fasti; such were the Agonalia, Carmentalia, Lupercalia, etc.: the latter were annually given out, (indicebantur) for certain, or even uncertain days, by the magistrates or priests; such were the Feriae Latinae, the Paganalia, Sementinae, Compitalia, etc. Seven MSS. readSementinae; seven readSementiva; twelveSementita.Sementinae(seuvae) feriae: dies is appellatus a Sementi, quod Sationis causa susceptae. Varro. L. LV.
661. The time was well known, but not the exact day.
669.Pagus. Servius Tullius divided the Roman territory intoPagi. In each Pagus was an altar, on which a common sacrifice was offered every year by thePagani, or people of the Pagus. This festival was called the Paganalia. The origin of our word Pagan, is curious. As the country people held out longest against Christianity, Pagan became equivalent to heathen, and we find it at last applied to Mohammedans!—Lustrate, by leading the victims round it. See Virg. G. I. 339,et seq. Ovid here follows Tibullus, Eleg. II. 1.
670.Liba, [Greek: pelanoi], cakes brought by the different families of thepagus.
675.Consortes operum, Ceres and Tellus.
693. The ancients parched thefarbefore they ground it. It was afterwards baked.
701.Tuaescil. Germanici.—Religata, etc. Virg. aen. I. 291.et seq.
707. A.U.C. 769. Tiberius built a temple to Castor and Pollux, which he inscribed with his own name, and that of his brother Drusus.—Gente Deorum, the Caesarian family.
709, 710. The Romans erected no altar to Peace until A.U.C. 741. Sacrifices were offered on it on the 30th of January and of March.
711.Actiacis. Because the battle of Actium gave peace to the world. There is an allusion to Apollo Actius, and the laurel.
717.Primus, the near.
721.Domus, the Caesarian family.