124. See above, I. 33.
126.Spatiis novis, the decades.
127.Pares. This is the reading of the best MSS. and editions; the greater number of the MSS. readpatres. It is difficult to ascertain the meaning of the poet here. Scaliger, Lipsius and Dan. Heinsius think he means the members of the senate, who were equals in age or in property, See Livy I. 8 and 17, and, as Niebuhr has shown, it is highly probable that the Roman senate originally consisted of one hundred members divided into ten decuries. On the other hand Neapolis who is followed by Gierig, understands it of the army, as in each legion the soldiers equal in age and strength, were divided into ten centuries, (centum denos orbes) of each of the three ranks, viz. Hastati, Principes and Pilani or Triarii. The passage is exceedingly obscure, and I cannot satisfy myself respecting it; I however rather incline to the opinion of the first named critics, and the circumstance ofpatresbeing the reading of so many MSS. proves that it has generally been so understood. In this case we should place a colon afterRomulus, and a comma or semicolon afterdecem.
130. There were three hundred Equites in each legion, each mounted on a horse supported by the state, hence calledlegitimus. They were divided into tenturmaeor troops.
131, 132. The three divisions of the Roman Patricians: the Ramnes were the original Romans, the Titiensis the Sabines; the origin of the Luceres is a mere conjecture. See Niebuhr's Rom. Hist. Vol. 291—293.
134. See above, I. 35.
136.Signa, proofs or arguments. He goes on with farther proofs of March having been the first month of the ancient Roman year.
137—142. The laurels were changed in the month of March, at the houses of the Flamens, and of the Rex Sacrorum, the temple of Vesta, and theCuria Prisca, by which last, Neapolis understands the four ancientCuriae, (See above II. 527,) which still, as Festus tells us, remained in Rome, the singular being employed for the plural.—Vesta quoque, etc. Does he speak of a statue of Vesta? See above on v. 45. The following passages are of importance.Romani initio annum decem mensibus computabant, a Martio auspicantes; adeo ut ejus die prima de(in?)aris Vestalibus ignem accenderent; mutarent viridibus veteres laureas; Senatus et populus Comitia agerent; matronae servis suis caenas ponerent, sicut Saturnalibus domini: illae ut per honores promptius obsequium provocarent, hi quasi gratiam repensarent perfecti laboris. Solinus, c. 3.Eodem quoque ingrediente mense in regia, curiisque atque Flaminum domibus laureae veteres novis laureis mutabantur, Macrobius, Sat. I.12.
142.Il. focis. See above.
143, 144.Hujus etiam mensis prima die ignem novum Vestae aris accendebant ut, incipiente anno, cura denuo servandi novati ignis inciperet. Macrob.ut supra.—ArcanaandDicitur, because none but the Vestals dare enter the temple.
145, 146. A second proof is, the festival of Anna Perenna being in this month. See below, v. 523,et seq.—Fides, proof, ground of belief.
147, 148. A third argument; previous to the second Punic war, the magistrates, that is, the consuls, as it would appear, used to enter on their offices in March. The poet is not quite correct in this assertion: the Regifugium (see above, II. 685,) was at the end of February; hence, of course, the first consuls entered on their office in March; but A.U.C. 291, the day was the Kal. Sext. A.U.C. 304, the Ides of May, and from A.U.C. 600, the time of the Hannibalian war, the Kal. Jan. It is probable that the poet, knowing that this last change was made A.U.C. 600, inferred from the Regifugium, that previously the consuls had begun to exercise their magistracy in March. There is no proof that he studied the Annals with a critical eye.—Perfide Poene. Hannibal, with the usual Roman calumny of the greatest man of antiquity.
149. A fourth and incontrovertible argument.
151.Oliviferis. The Sabine land was famous for olives. Columella, v. 8, 5. Mutusca, in that country, is called by Virgil (aen. vii. 711,)olivifera.—Deductus, the proper term to denote his being brought with pomp and ceremony to Rome. One MS. readsdevectus.
153.Samio, Pythagoras, who was erroneously supposed to have been the instructor of Numa.—Qui posse, etc. a periphrasis of the Metempsychosis, which doctrine he taught. See Met. xv. 157.
154.Egeria. See below, v. 261,et seq.
155. In consequence of the imperfect nature of the Roman year, and the arbitrary manner in which the Pontifices, for party and political purposes, made the intercalations, it had fallen into such sad confusion, that the festivals fell at the wrong parts of the year. Accordingly, Julius Caesar, as Pontifex Maximus, with the aid of M. Flavius and of Sosigenes, made it correspond with the course of the sun, after the manner of the Egyptian year. For this purpose, he had to add no less than sixty-seven days to the year 708. These he inserted between November and December, and, as the intercalary month also fell in this year, it consisted of fifteen months.
157-160. Caesar was not yet a god, but the poet could not let pass an occasion of displaying his wit, and flattering the imperial family.
161.Moras Solis. The time the son spends in the signs of the Zodiac.
162.Exactis, certain.
163-166. The Julian year of 365 days 6 hours; the day, which the hours of four years made, being added at the end of the lustre.—Junxit. Two MSS. readauxit.—Quarta. Many MSS. readquinta.—Consummatur, to complete, to make up of parts. Some MSS. haveconsumatur, which Heinsius preferred.
167. The poet now begins to inquire of the god why the Matronalia, a festival on which the matrons sacrificed to Juno, and sent presents to each other, and received them from their husbands, should be on the Kalends of the month sacred to the god of war. The deity assigns five causes.
168. Witness Homer's invocations to the Muses.
169. "Cum a viris soleas coli," Gierig. When you preside over manly occupations, is the interpretation of Lenz. May it not be, Since thine occupations are all of a manly character?
173, 174. I, a god whose chief value is in arms, am now, for the first time, called to the pursuits of peace. By the poet or by the matrons?Gressus, etc. alluding, perhaps, to his name Gradivus, v. 169.
177. See above, I. 101.
179. First cause, the rape of the Sabines.
180.Hujus, scil.Romae. Some MSS. readurbis.
184. The straw-roofed cottage, said to have been the abode of Romulus, was still standing on the Palatine, in the time of the poet.
195, 196. They (the neighbouring peoples) have theconnubium, or intermarry with nations at ever so great a distance, but their women all looked down on the Romans.
197.Patriam, like thy father's, to take by force what was refused to entreaty.
198.Tolle preces, away with entreaties. Thus,tolle moras, Met. xiii. 556.Tolle querelas, Hor. Ep. I. 12. 3.
199. 200.Consus, etc. In this parenthesis the god addresses the poet. The readings of the MSS. differ very much here. Most haveIllo festa die dum s. s. facis, making it a part of the advice of the god to his son. Heinsius followed those which read,Ipso festa die d. s. s. canes.Illoorilla—festaorfacta—canes,canas,coles,facis, are the readings of various MSS. The present reading, withcanetinstead ofcanas, was proposed by Gronovius, and adopted by Gierig. The Consualia were on the XV. Kal. Sept. It is a pity that the poem does not go so far, as Ovid might have given us some additional information respecting Consus. See Mythology, p. 473.
201. Scil. the Caeninenses, the Crustumini, and the Antemnates. See the story in Livy, I.
202. It is not at all unlikely that, as Donza supposes, he glances here at the war between Julius Caesar, and his son-in-law, Pompey.
203. The war lasted to the third year.
205.Dictam, appointed.
206.Nurus, Hersilia, the wife of Romulus.
219. The construction is,ut (feminae quae erant) passis capillis tetigere, etc.
223. Seen for the first time.
224. Taubner thinks that by pinching the babes, they made them cryAh! vae!which sounded likeave!Much as Ovid loved to play on words, I can hardly suspect him of this.
230.Oebalides. See I. 260.
231-234. Second cause. Was this the real cause, or is it because Ilia was a mother by me, that the matrons hold their feast on the Kalends of my month?
235-244. Third cause. It was fit that in the season of fecundity the matrons should pray to Juno for offspring. Compare this description of the spring with that in I. 151,et seq. See also Hor. Car. iv. 7.—Hiems. adop. gel. theglacialis hiemsof Virgil.—Victae. Several MSS. readlapsae; onemaestae. Heinsius proposesictae, but as Burmann justly observes, why alter so excellent a reading asvictae?—Detonsae, some of the older MSS. readexcussae.—Virida. This is the reading of the best and oldest MSS. and was adopted by Heinsius. Burmann and Gierig follow those which readuvida; some havehumida.—Tenero. Some MSS. readgravido, which is, perhaps, the true reading. See above, I. 152. One MS. readsin tumido.—Occultas vias, thecaeca spiramentaof Virgil, G. I. 89.—Hora, season, like the Greek [Greek: horae].
244. Taubner, who is followed by some translators, explains this line thus: "quarum proles vel militis officio fungatur, vel sacerdotio s.votisoportet." Its plain meaning is, as given by Gierig: whose service and vows is childbirth.Et rudis ad partus et nova miles eram, says our poet (Her. xi. 48,) in the person of Canace. See above, II. 9.
245-248. The fourth cause, because the temple of Juno Lucina, on the Esquiline hill, was first opened for worship on the Kalends of March.
245.Ubi rex, etc. Ten MSS. readibi rex R. tworegi R. which reading is adopted by Heinsius, and retained by Gierig. Theexcubiaewere held by Romulus on the Esquiline, at the time that he suspected Titus Tatius of bad faith.—Agebat. Several of the best MSS. havehabebat.
246.Esquilias alii scripserunt ab excubiis regis dictas. Varro, iv. 8. Ovid seems to follow the same etymology: the true one is fromesculus. —Qui. This is the reading of all the MSS. Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig readqua.
251. The fifth cause. Juno, the mother of Mars, loves married women, who, in return, honor me. The Grecian Hera, by the way, was the mother of Ares; but the same was not the case with the Italian Juno and Mars. See Mythology.—Matrum. Heinsius adoptsmatrison conjecture, which reading is received by Burmann and Gierig. Some MSS. havematres.
254.Cingite caput, of the statue of the goddess, says Gierig, perhaps of the worshipper.
259. As the Salii bore the sacredanciliathrough the city on the Kalends of March, the poet now proceeds to enquire into the origin of this institution. See Livy, I. 20.
261.Nympha, scil. Egeria.—Nemori, etc. See v. 263—275.—Operata. Seven MSS. readadoperta.
262.Facta. Some MSS. readfesta, otherssacra.
263. Met. xv. 479,et seq. Virg. aen. vii. 761,et seq. This account of the grove of Aricia is a complete digression in this place. Aricia, and its grove, lay at the foot of the Mons Albanus.
265. AnIndiges, named Virbius, was worshiped here, who was identified with Hippolytus.
267, 268. This practice may be witnessed at the present day, in every country where the Roman Catholic religion prevails.—Longas sepes. The wall, says Neapolis, surrounding the sacred grove.
269, 270. It was the custom for women, whose prayers to this goddess had been heard, to carry lighted torches from the city to the grove of Aricia. See Propert, II. 23, 39.
271, 272. The priest of Diana, in this grove, called Rex Nemorensis, was always a runaway slave, who had slain his predecessor in office. He always went armed, to protect himself from aspirants to his dignity. Strabo calls this a barbarous and Scythian custom, and it led to the idea of the Arician Diana, being one with the Tauric Artemis.
273—275. See Juvenal's account of this fountain. Sat. III.
274.Bibi. The other editions, following some MSS. readbibes.
277-284. See Livy, Dionysius and Plutarch.
283.Vertitur, is changed.
285. This legend was related in the same manner by the historian Valerius Antias, from whom Ovid probably took it. As Livy, I. 20, relates the matter differently, it probably was not in the Annals of Ennius. It was evidently founded on the adventure of Menelaus with Proteus. Hom. Od. iv. See also Virg. G. iv. 387,et seq.
291.Picus Faunusque. Old Italian deities. See Heyne Excursus, V. to aen. vii. Mythology, p. 477.
292.Prodere. Many MSS. readedere, otherstradere.—Romani, etc. Each a god of Roman ground, i.e. a Roman rural deity.
296. Dark shady groves were, from a very natural feeling, regarded with awe as the abode of deities. See Seneca. Epist. 41.
300.Fonti. To the deity or spirit of the fount.
301.Dis ponit. This is the conjecture of Heinsius; the MSS. readdisponit.
312.Quatiens cornua. To indicate the difficulty of the matter.
313.Monitu. This word is used to indicate information divinely given.
314.Numina, divine power.
317.Deducere, a magic term, the [Greek: katagein] of the Greeks.Lunam deducere tentasTibullus, [Greek: Ai pharmakides katagousi taen selaenaen]. Interp. Apollonii.
321.Sum. ded. ab arce. The reading of the best MSS. isValida perductus ab arce: some of the best haveval. veniet ded. ab arceorarte; somenostra perd. ab arte.
322.Nubila, etc. He mixes, according to custom, the Greek and Italian mythologies: the oath, by Styx, was peculiar to the former. See Hom. Od. v. l85—Nubila, as the Styx, was supposed to exhale a dense vapour.
323.Carmina, magic verses.
325.Scire nefas homini. Is not for man to know.Quid crastina volveret aetas Scire nefas homini. Stat. Theb. III. 562. See Hor. Car. I. 11. 1.
327-330. Some modern writers suppose that the ancient Etruscans possessed the art of conducting the lightning which Franklin discovered, or, according to them, re-discovered, and that it is exhibited in this poetic narrative. Their conjecture is, they think, confirmed by the fate of Tullus Hostilius, which they attribute to his ignorance of the proper mode of conducting the electric fluid.—Minores, posterity.
337.Ambage remota. As this seems not by any means to accord with what follows, Gierig rendersambagecircumlocution, as opposed to the brevity with which the god speaks. One MS. readsremissa. The dialogue of Jupiter and Numa will be easily understood.
342.Piscis. According to Plutarch, themaena. See above, II. 578,note.
346.Pignora certa, theancile. Celestial gifts of this kind, on which the safety of the state were supposed to depend, were common in antiquity.
347.Aethera, motum. Vidisti motu sonitus procurrere caelo. Profert, II. 16.
352.Crastina, scil.crastinas res, what will happen to-morrow.
357. Virg. Ec. viii. l4.—Rorataque. Many MSS. readrorata.
359.Acerno. Five MSS. readeburno, but see Met. iv. 486. Virg. aen. viii. 178.
363. It was the custom of the Romans to cover their heads when praying, or performing any other religious rite, lest any thing of ill omen should present itself to their view. See Virg. aen. iii. 405.
367Evolverat. This is the reading of five of the best MSS. two reademerserat, which Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig have received, and which I should prefer. See v. 517. Most reademoverat; onecommoverat, anotherostenderat.
369.Sine nube. It was therefore supernatural. Compare Hor. Car. I. 34. 6. Virg. aen. vii. 141.
371. Two of the best MSS. read,A media subito coelum discedere visum est, which Heinsius prefers. Virgil (aen. ix. 20,) hasmedium video discedere coelum, and if this last be, as I am inclined to think it is, the true reading, it is not unlikely that Ovid imitated this line of the aeneis: if it is not, the line is the work of some grammarian, and formed from the Virgilian verse.
372.Submisere. One MS. hassurrexere manus, which Burmann prefers. For this sense ofsub, see Virg. Ec. vi. 38. x. 74,submittere cornua. Petron. 126, 18, 3.Submissas tendunt alta ad Capitolia dextras. Silius, xii. 640.
377.Ancile. Ancile vocatum quia ex utroque latere erat recisum, ut summum infimumque latus pateret, Festus.Ancilia dicta ab ancisu, quod ea arma, ab utraque parte, ut peltae Thracum, incisa. Ancisia Saturnio in carmine. Varro, L. L. iv. Ovid evidently follows the same etymology. According to Juba, whom Plutarch copies, it is derived from [Greek: ankylon] curved, and should be speltancyle. It is, however, certainly an old Latin word, and is by all Latin writers properly spelt with ani. It is well known thatyis no Latin letter, yet we constantly meetSyllaforSulla. From Plutarch's description of theancile, we may collect that it was of an oval form.
381.Caelata, i.e.sculpta, or simply, made.
383. His morals were as perfect as his skill.
384.Clausit opus, simply, completed the work.—Ulli, some MSS. readilli; oneillud, which Heinsius and Gierig have adopted.
387. The Salii, clad in brazen armour, and striking theanciliawith their daggers as they sang the old verses ascribed to Numa, went through the city dancing to the sound of pipes.
393. It was not considered lucky to marry on the Kalends of March, as the ancilia were carried on that day. This day was also considered inauspicious for commencing a journey. Suet. Otho. 8. Livy, xxxvii. 33.
396.Condita, laid up in the temple.
397, 398. The Flamen Dialis wore a peculiar kind of white hat, calledapex, without which he never went out; his wife wore a flame-coloured robe, namedvenenatum, and a peculiar kind of band about her head, calledrica. (See Gellius, N. A. x. 15,) hence the poet says,cincta.Cincta Flaminica veste velataFestus. Some MSS. havesancta; otherscapitis distincta, oneapicatis cura. It was enjoined by law on the Flaminia, not to cut her nails, comb her hair, etc. on certain days.
399-402. One of the Fishes set acronychally on the 3d March, the V. Non.
403.Rorare genis. Five MSS. readrutilare; twocomis.
405. The poet commits an error here. Arctophylaxrisesacronychally, instead of setting on the 5th March.
407.Vindemitor, [Greek: protrygaetaer], a star in the right shoulder of the Virgin, which now rises acronychally.
409. The story of Ampelos is told differently by Nonnus, in his Dionysiacs. See Mythology, p. l74.—Intonsum, denotes youth and beauty; it is therefore an epithet of Apollo, [Greek: akersekomaes].—Satyris, to denote the lewdness of the Nymph, says Burmann. It may, however, mean merely one of the Satyrs. Some MSS. readSatyro.
411, 412. These two lines were suspected by Heinsius. They are certainly very indifferent, but without them the narrative seems imperfect. Ovid would hardly have omitted an allusion to the name of Ampelos.
414.Vehit. This is the reading of five of the best MSS. all the rest havetulit.
415-428. On the 6th of the month, Prid. Non. A.U.C. 741. Augustus was made Pontifex Maximus. The P.M. presided over the Vestals.
417.Quisquis adesetc. The Vestals, as it would appear, who alone could enter the temple.—Canae. This is the reading of two of the best MSS.; the rest havecastae, onegratae. See Virg. aen. ix. 259.
422.Vides. All the older MSS. havevidetorvident; oneVesta videt.—Pignora juncta, the pledges of empire, in the temple of Vesta, were the Eternal Fire, and the Palladium (Livy, v. 52, xxvi. 27,) to these now was joined.—Augustus. The force of flattery could no farther go.
423. This is the reading of three of the best MSS. and adopted by Heinsius, and the succeeding editors: the other MSS. haveDi v. T. d. p. ferenti.—Dignissima praeda, Vesta.
424.Gravis, i. e.gravatus, laden. See Virg. aen. II. 296. Three MSS. readpius.
425. The Julian house into which Augustus had been adopted, derived their lineage from aeneas. I do not, however, see the relationship to Vesta, unless it be through Kronus, (Saturn) who was her father, and whose grand-daughter Venus, was the mother of aeneas.
428.Dux, Augustus. This was probably written before the poet left Rome, and he did not alter it.
429-448. An account of Vejovis, whose temple was dedicated by Romulus, on the Nones of March.
429. The reading of the older MSS. wasUna nota est Marti: Nonis sacra.—Una nota, the Nones of March were distinguished by one mark in the Fasti, one event had taken place on them.
430. The space between the Arx and the Capitol, in which the Asylum and the temple of Vejovis were, was calledInter duos lucos. Livy, 1.8, [Greek: to methorion duoin drumon]. Dionysius, II. 15.
435. He now enquires into the origin of the name of this god.
437. The statue of Vejovis represented a youthful figure, without any thunderbolts, in his hand. He may, therefore, be Young Jupiter.
443. There was the figure of a she-goat standing beside it; a farther proof, as Jupiter was suckled by the goat, Amalthea.
445. The country-people, called ill-grown cornvegrandia, (Vegrandes et imbecillae oves. Varro, R. II. II.) andvescuswith them, was equivalent toparvus. From all this he infers, that Vejovis is Little Jupiter. This is not convincing. See Mythology, p. 468, where it is shewn that Vejovis was probably a god of the under-world.—Colonae. Many of the best MSS. readcolono. Eleven havecolone(colonae); onecolonae, which Heinsius adopted. Gierig follows the MSS. which readcoloni, and he is, perhaps, right in so doing.
449, 450. The heliac rising of Pegasus on the Nones. For Pegasus, see Hesiod. Th. 280,et seq. and 325. Met. iv. 784, v. 256. Mythology, pp. 223, 364.—Variabunt. Eight MSS. readvallabunt, which Heinsius adopted.
451.Gravida cerviceis rather a curious mode of expression. Medusa was pregnant by Neptune, and when Perseus cut off her head, Pegasus sprang forth (prosiluit, [Greek: exethore] Hes.) with the blood: hence the poet says,gravida crevice. He was named Pegasus, as being born at thesprings([Greek: paegas]) of Ocean.
455. See the story of Bellerophon.
456. The Horse-fount ([Greek: hippoukraenae] Hippocrene) in Aonia (Boeotia), said to have been produced by a stroke of the hoof of Pegasus. —Fodit. Nine of the best MSS. read _fudit. Rutilius (Itin. I. 264,) says,Musarum ut latices ungula fodit equi. Avienus (in Arat. Phaen. Equo.)cornuque excita repente Lympha, Camenalem fudit procul Hippocrenen, I thinkfuditthe more poetic term.
458. The astronomers of the present day reckon eighty-nine stars in Pegasus.
459-516. The Crown of Ariadne rises acronychally on the 8th March, the VIII. Id. For the story of Theseus and Ariadne, see Met. viii. 175—182. Ars Amandi, I. 531—564, Her. x. Hor. Car. II. 19. Catul. lxiv. 52,et seq. Mythology pp. 411, 412.
460.GnosidaGnosian, as Minos, the father of Ariadne, reigned at Gnosus, in Crete.—Facta dea, Ariadne, not her crown.
461. "Solent poëtae verbomutareAccusat rei acceptae et Ablat. relictae addere." Gierig. Thus Horace,Velox amoenum saepe Lucretilem mutat Lycaeo.—Faunus.
465.Depexus crinibus, his hair neatly and carefully combed out. See VI. 229. Bacchus, whom the Greeks named [Greek: eukomaes (eukomos], is a general epithet of the goddesses) was like Apollo, distinguished for the beauty of his hair. See Met. III. 421 and 555, iv. 13. The common reading was, what appears the most obvious,depexis. Some of the best MSS. readdepexos, agreeing withIndos.
466. Some of the best MSS. readvenit. For the Indian expedition of Bacchus, see Mythology, P. I. chap. xiv.
476. My case is told or repeated.
480.Dedoluisse, have ended my grief; have died.
493.At puto, etc. Ironically.
495. See Hor. Sat. I. 3, 38.
499.MatremPasiphaë. The story is well known.
500. Bacchus was represented horned, in consequence of the identification of him with the Phrygian Sabazius. Mythology, p. 168. Hence he was called [Greek: boukeros, taurokeros].—Me tua, etc. The best and most numerous MSS. readMe juvat et laedit: one,me viat et laedit; anotherme tua me laeditorlaudat: three of the best have the reading of the text, the restme tua sed laedit. Heinsius gives from conjecture,me tua. At hic laudi est, which Gierig has received.
503. A play on words as usual.
512.Libera. The Italian religion, as I have observed after Niebuhr, (Mythology, p. 455,) delighted in representing the deities presiding over any object in pairs of males and females. Hence, with Liber, the god of wine, was joined a goddess Libera, and when the Greek and Italian religions came to be mingled, she was identified with Proserpine. Ovid alone makes her the same with Ariadne. I forgot to notice this under the head Liber Pater (Mythology, p. 469). I should be inclined to derive Liber from libo, [Greek: leibo], instead of libero.
514.Vulcanus Veneri. One MS. readsNeptunus Thetidi. I suppose Homer was running in the head of whoever he was that made this improvement.—Tibi. One MS. reads mihi, which Burmann has received.
517-522. On the 14th or Prid. Id. was another Equiria.—Demerserit. Several of the good MSS. readquum deseret or deserit; othersquot demserit; somequum demserit; three of the bestdimiserit; othersdemiserit; onetotidemque remiserit; another of the bestdimerserit, whence Heinsius formed the present reading.
518.Purpureum, bright, see II. 74. Virg. aen. vi. 641,purpureum lumen, scil. Soils.
522. If the Tiber, as was so frequently the case, had overflowed the Campus Martius, the races were run on the Campus Martialis on the Coelian hill.
523-696. On the Ides was the festival of Anna Perenna.—Geniale, i. e. quo genio indulgetur. See v. 58.
524. Between the Milvian bridge and the point of confluence with the Anien.
527.Sub Jove. See II. 299.
529.Ibi. Several MSS. readsibi.
532.Ad numerum. They reckon the cups.
536. Suit the action to the word by making gesticulations.
537.Posito, scil. in honour of the goddess.—Duras, aukward, inelegant.
541, 542. Heinsius and Burmann think with a great deal of probability, that a good many verses are lost after this distich, Burmann supposes that the monks who copied the MSS. left them out, on account of their indelicacy.
543. He now commences his enquiry into the character and history ofAnna.—Errat, is uncertain. Six MSS. readerrant.
544.Fabula nulla, no legend or tradition.
545. For the whole story of Dido and Aeneas, see the Aeneis I. and IV.—Arserat, the usual play on words.
551-554. See aen. iv. 36, 198,et seq.
556. See Virg. G. iv. 213. 565.
557, 558. Counting the years poetically by the harvests and vintages.
561. Favillae, cineres. Hor. Car. II. 6, 22. They used to pour wine and precious oils on the ashes of the dead.
562.Vertice libatas, cut from the head, and laid as an offering on the tomb.Placemus umbras? Capitis exuvias cape, Laceraeque frontis accipe abcissam comam. Seneca Hyppol. 1181.
565.Comitemis the reading of six of the best MSS. all the rest havecomites.—Pede aequo, thepedesare the ropes called braces, by which the yards are moved. This shews that the vessel ran before the wind,vento secundo.
567.Melite. Malta;Cosyra, Gozzo.
570.Battus. Silius Italicus (viii. 51,) says of Battus,Cyrenem molli tum forte fovebat Imperio, and he brings Anna thither. Battus was the founder of the Grecian colony at Cyrene.
581. _Crathidis. The Crathis was a river in Magna Graecia, near Thurii.
582.Parvus. Two MSS. readPurus, which Heinius and Gierig prefer. There are abundant instances of the use ofpurusin the sense of free from trees.
587.Subducere, to draw up, to furl.
594.Is. Two MSS. readhic,
602.Populos duos. The Trojans and Aborigines, under the common name of Latins. See Livy, I. 2.
613. Italy.
615.Deos comites, the Penatestale, which he had brought with him from Troy, aen. I. 6, xii. 192.—Increpuisse, "signis quibusdam datis," Gierig. Virgil does not mention this. Ovid was, perhaps, thinking of the message brought from Jupiter by Mercury, etc.
617.Morte scil. Didonis.
618.Credibile, than what I believed, or could have believed.
619.Ne refer, tell not the tale.
621, 622.Ratio, your own choice.—Deus, fortune. See Hor. Sat. I. 1, 2.
623.Memores, scil. sumus debere.
627.Paratus, dress. Met vi. 451.
633.Falsum vulnus, causeless wound of jealousy. Virg. aen. I. 36, iv. 67 and 332. Two MSS. readtacitum.
635.Praeter sua lumina, before her eyes. Seven MSS.limina. Heinsius puts a colon afterferri, and a comma aftermitti.
637.Exactum. She has not yet determined.
642.Sub verbumas she spoke.
647.Corniger, a usual epithet of rivers, (Virg. G. IV 371. aen. viii. 77.) on account of their roaring or windings. The Numicius was between Larentum and Lavinium.
654. "Si Nympha anteaAnnadicta, non opus erat abamnenomen suum deducere," Gierig. The fact is, the poet here confounds two etymons, an old one fromamne perenne, and a later one from Anna the sister of Dido. Was Anna mentioned in the poem of Naevius? or did Virgil first give it vogue? It is a Semitic name, and occurs in Scripture.
657. A second opinion, Anna is the Moon.
658. A third, she is Themis; a fouth Io or Isis.
659. 660. A fifth, made her a daughter of Atlas, and one of the Nymphs who reared Jupiter. These however are said to have been the two daughters of Melissa, or simply the nymph Amalthea. There is however another tradition which commits the rearing of the infant deity to the Hyades, who were the daughters of Atlas.
661. A sixth theory, derived Anua fromanus, and devised the folloing legend which the poet thinks is not unlike the truth.
663. The famous secession of the Plebs. A.U.C. 260. to the hill beyound the Anien, three miles from Rome, afterwards named the Mons Sacer.
667. Bovillae or Bovilla was a Latin town mot far from Rome, on the Appian Way.—Suburbanisdoes not mean close to the city, for Horace (Ep, I, 7, 77.) calls his Sabine country-seatsuburbana rura.
673. Can any thing be more silly than this account of the origin of an ancient Italian deity? I have elsewhere (Mythology p. 479) observed, what little taste and elegance of imagination, and I add sense, the Romans displayed in the origins which they invented for their gods. The real etymon of Anna Perenna is, I think,annus, as the poet himself would appear to have seen: see vv. 145, 146. Perhaps, according to the principle noticed above on, v. 512, she was a female corresponding to a god Annus. It is curious to observe the resemblance which has been traced out between her and the Indian Anna Purna in the Asiatic Researches.
675. He now undertakes to explain by a legend, why at the festival of Anna Perenna indecorous verse were sung by young women. The mystics would here, of course, talk to us of the symbolic wisdom of ancient priests and sages, but the more probable reason is to be found in the rude simplicity of an agricultural race, like the ancient Latins, and other peoples of Italy, which also gave origin to the Fescinnine verses. On occasions like this, however, one should always bear in mind these words of Johnson, "The oringinal of ancient customs is commonly unknown; for the practice often continues after the cause has ceased; and concerning superstitious ceremonies it is vain to conjecture, reson cannot explain," Rasselas, Chap. 48.
696.Verba dedisse, to have deceived.
697. Julius Caesar was slain on the Ides of March, A.U.C. 709. The senate directed, that in future this day should be calledParricidium, and that no senate should ever sit on it. Suet. Caes. 88.
698.Locuta, scil. to the poet.
699.Sacerdos, as being Pontifex Maximus. [Greek: All' outos ho pataer, outos ho archiereus, ho asulos, ho aeros, ho theos, tethnaeken], are the words of Antonius over him in Dion. Cass. xliv. 49.
703.Vidit. Two MS. readservat. Compare Virg. Ec. v. 56.
704. A temple was raised to Caesar. A.U.C 712. three years after his death.
707. It was observed by the historians that all the murderers of Caesar perished within three years after him.
710.Caesaris. Augustus.
711, 712. On the XVII. Kal. April is the cosmic rising of the middle of the Scorpion.
713-790. On the following day were the Liberalia, which the poet now sings.
716.Parvus inermis erat, scil. Jupiter. Most MSS. readeras, applying it to Bacchus. Gierig is not satisfied with either reading, and he thinks the passage corrupt.
7l8.Expletumcompleted, brought to maturity.—Onus, most MSS.opus.
719. The expedition of Bacchus.
721. Pentheus. See Met. iii. 511.et seq.
722. Met. iv. 22.
723. Met. iii. 597,et seq.
726.Vilis anus, a mean, or common old woman. Seven MSS. three of which are of the best, readVitisator, but the correctness of the present text is proved by the following passage of Varro L. L. V.Liberalia dicta, quod per totum oppidum eo die sedent sacerdotes Liberi, hedera coronatae anus, cum libis et foculo pro emptore sacrificantes.
728.Gelidis focis, cold altars, as no fire was kindled on them.
730.Seposuisse. The greater number of MSS. havesupposuisse.
733. "Mira etymologia!" Gierig. See above v. 512. Thelibumwas a kind of cake, [Greek: plakous ek galaktos, itrion te kai melitos, on Romaioi libon kalousi]. Athenaeus III. p. 125.
739.Florida. Most MSS. readflumina: the present, which is far preferable, is that of three of the best and four other MSS.
741-744. Compare Virgil G. IV. 64,et seq. The practice is too well known among ourselves to require any elucidation.
743.Levis senex, Silenus, who was bald. Most MSS. readlenis.
748.Dissimulat, conceals his discovery.
753 It was therefore a hornet's nest he had got.
763 See v. 726.—Praestet, "exhibeat praetereuntibus." Gierig.
769.Nysiades. There was a Nysa in Boeotia, in Thrace, in India, in Arabia. It was probably the Boeotian that the poet meant. See Met. III. 3l3.—Noverca, Juno.
771. On the Liberalia, the youths who had attained the age of sixteen laid aside thepraetexta, which they had hitherto worn and assumed, thetoga virilis,pura,recta, orlibera, as it was variously, called. The poet gives four reasons for its being done on the Liberalia.
773. First reason, Bacchus, like Apollo, was ever young, See Met. iv. 17.
775. Second reason, because he was a father, (Liber Pater.) The Romans however called all their godspatres. ex. gr. Jupiter, (Jovis pater Zeus [Greek: pataer]), Dispiter, Mars-piter, Janus pater, Pater Neptunus, Pater Silvanus. (Hor. Epod. ii. 21.) etc.
777. Third reason, and perhaps the true one, because his name Liber coincided with the adjectiveliber.
779. Fourth reason, because as the people used to come from the country into Rome on the Liberalia to see the plays, it was deemed a good opportunity for giving a youth thetoga virilis, when all his friends and relations were present.
781. Alluding to L. Quinctius Cincinnatus,ille dictator ab aratro, Flor. I. 11.
782. Alluding, perhaps, to the story of Scipio, who, on shaking the hand of a country voter, as he canvassed him, said,Prythee, friend, dost walk on thy hands?and thereby lost his election. I, however, rather think that the poet had only in view the effeminacy of his own days.
784.Studiis, scil_. musices et poeseos_, taste.
786.Taedifera dea, Ceres.
787.Tironem. The youth who took the manly gown was named atiro, and the day,dies tirocinii. He was accompanied from the Capitol to the Forum, and thence home by a great number of his relatives, friends and clients.—Celeb. freq. Frequentia me usque ad Capitolium celebravit. Cic. Att. vi. 1.
791, 792. See V. 621, Livy, I. 22.Reliqua urbis loca olim discreta, ut Argeorum sacraria in septem et viginti partes urbis sunt disposita. Argeos dictos putant a principibus, qui cum Hercule Argivo venerunt Romam et in Saturnia subsederunt. Varro, L. L. iv. J. B. Fontejus (De Prisca Caesiorum Gente, L. I. c. 7,) supposes that the Argei were the reputed burial-places of some of these noble Argives.—Sua Pagina, its own part of the Fasti. He means, perhaps, V. 621,et seq.
793, 794. On the same day (XVI. Kal. April.) the Kite rises acronychally.—Proclinisis the reading of two of the best MSS.; five of the best readproclivis, some havedeclivis; the greater numberdeclinis.—Miluus, a trisyllable (likeIason,Iulus,Iambus,silua,Suevos, etc.) is the reading of the best MSS.: the rest haveMilvius. The constellation of the Kite, Krebs says, is not mentioned by any Greek writer on astronomy, before the time of Ovid. It is quite uncertain where he got the following legend.
798. That is to slay the monster about to be described.
801. Compare Virg. aen. vi. 549.
803, 804. This reminds one strongly of the sacrifice of the horse of Hindoo Mythology. See Southey's Curse of Kehama, viii.
805. Briareus. See Hom. Il. I. 402. According to Homer and Hesiod, Briareus was one of the Hundred-handed, and the ally of Jupiter. Ovid appears to make him a Titan.—Adamante. Theadamasof the poets is iron, or rather steel.Adamas lapis durissimus, qui nec ferro cedere dicitur. Pliny, H. N. xxvii. 4.
809-850. On the XIV. Kal. April, began the festival of Minerva, named the Quinquatrus, Quinquatres, or Quinquatria.
810.Nomina quae. Several MSS. havenuminaque adjunctis.Quinquatrus: hic dies unus a nominis errore observatur, proinde ut sint quinque dies, dictus ab Tusculanis; post diem sextum Idus similiter vocatus Sexatrus, et post diem septimum Septimatrus; sic hic, quod erat post diem quintum Idus, Quinquatrus, Varro, L. L. V. Festus gives the same derivation. It is in favour of Ovid that the festival lasted exactly five days, but this may have been the effect, and not the cause of the name.
811. The gladiatorial combats with which the festival of Minerva, as the goddess of war, were celebrated, did not begin till the second day. As the Minerva of the Romans was certainly no war-goddess, till she was identified with the Pallas Athena of Greece, I am inclined to think that the origin of this mode of worshiping her will be found in the account given by Herodotus, (iv. 180, 189) of the worship of the Lybian goddess, whom he makes to be the prototype of Pallas Athena. To shew how modes of worship were transferred; the Athenians had, in the time of the empire, combats of gladiators in a theatre on their Acropolis, in honour of their patron-goddess. See Philostratus' Life of Apollonius, L. iv. c. 7. For Pallas Athena and Minerva, see Mythology, pp. 119 and 462.
812.Illa nata die. "Illa dienata Minerva, quatenus ei templum in Aventino dedicatum, quod notat Verrius. Etiam Calend. Vindob.N. Minervae." Gierig.
815. See Juvenal. Sat. x. 118.—Ornate, scil. with garlands.
816.Doctus, skilful.
817. 818. Spinning.
819, 820. Weaving.—Stantes telas, thestaminaor warp.
821-826. The fuller, the dyer, the shoemaker and the carpenter. For Tychius, see Hom. II. vii. 221, for Epeus. Id. Od. viii. 492, Virg. aen. II. 264.
827, 828. The Physicians. There is an inscription in GruterMinervae Medicae. The reader needs not to be reminded of the medical character of Phoebus Apollo.
829. This is a sadly perplexing line. Seven MSS. readcensu fraudante; otherssensu fraudante; foursensus fraudata; one of the bestcensu fraudata; two of the bestsensu fraudare; one of the bestturba ferae sensus fraudare; twoverba feri; threedeam, censu fraudata, which Burmann and Gierig have adopted. The present reading is the common one, with a slight change offeri, which gives no good sense, tofere. Matthiae conjectured, and gave the same reading. I think the poet meant the bad payment and bad treatment which the school-masters so frequently met with at Rome.
831, 832. The sculptors, painters and statuaries.—Tabulam, etc. The Encaustae, as they were called, who burned-in wax, spread over the place to be painted.—Mollia, smooth or soft, as it were, to the eye.
835. There was a small temple of Minerva Capta on the rise of the Coelian hill, of which name the poet now tries, but in vain, to discover the origin.—Captae, Six MSS.capitae; otherscastae. This shews the negligence and temerity of the transcribers.
838. See on v. 812.
843. It was the custom when a town was taken, to bring its gods to the abode of the conquerors.—Falerii was captured by Camillus, A.U.C. 361. See Livy, v. 24.
844.Littera prisca, the old name of the goddess, or the old books, the Annals.
845, 846. This passage is difficult. Forex illomost MSS. haveexilio; many forreperta, readrecepta. It is thefures, and not thefurta, which should be punished.Capitalis lucus, ubi si quid violatum est, capite violatoris, (two MSS.vigilatoris)expiatur. Festus.
849, 850. On the last day of the Quinquatrus, the Kal. Apr. was theTubilustrum. According to Varro and Festus, the trumpets were purified in the Atrium Sutorium. On the X. Kal. Jun. there was a Tubilustrum to Vulcan. Fordeaein this place, three of the best MSS. readdeo, which Heinsius adopts, and understands it of Mars. Gesenius also prefers this reading. In Verrius, we findFeriae Martis, and Laur. Lydus (de Mensibus, p. 85,) says, [Greek: tae pro deka kalandon Aprillion katharmos salpingos kai kinaesis ton oplon, kai timai Areos kai Nerinaes, haen aexioun einai taen Athaenan nerinae gar (en tae Sabinon glossae) hae andria esti]. This Nerine-Minerva was probably thefortis dea.
851-876. The sun enters the Ram, and the poet takes the occasion of telling the story of Phrixus and Helle. See Mythology, p. 296.—Nunc, on the last day of the Quinquatrus, as it was the day after the XI. Kal. Apr. which last was that of the entrance of the sun into the Ram. See the Kalendarium.
863.Pependerat. Their mother was Nephele, cloud. See also v. 805.
865. Thebes was built by the Sparti (Sown) who sprang from the serpent's teeth.
870. The Hellespont, Helle's-sea.
874.Caeruleo deo. Neptune.
877. The vernal equinox on the VII. Kal. Apr.—Eos, Aurora.
879. Four days after the VII. Kal. Apr. was a festival of Janus, Concord, Health and Peace. Augustus raised statues to these three last-named deities.
883, 884. Servius Tullius built a temple to Diana on the Aventine, Livy, I. 45. Tac. An. xv. 41. Ovid, like the other poets, makes Diana and Luna, as they really were, identical. See Mythology, p. 463.
Alma, fave, dixi, geminorum mater Amorum.Ad vatem vultus rettulit illa suos.Quid tibi, ait, mecum? certe majora canebas.Num vetus in molli pectore vulnus habes?Scis dea, respondi, de vulnere.—Risit, et aether 5Protinus ex illa parte serenus erat.—Saucius, an sanus, numquid tua signa reliqui?Tu mihi propositum, tu mihi semper opus.Quae decuit, primis sine crimine lusimus annis:Nunc teritur nostris area major equis. 10Tempora cum causis annalibus eruta priscis,Lapsaque sub terras ortaque signa cano.Venimus ad quartum, quo tu celeberrima, mensem;Et vatem, et mensem scis, Venus esse tuos.Mota Cytheriaca leviter mea tempora myrto 15Contigit, et, Coeptum perfice, dixit, opus.Sensimus, et subito causae patuere dierum.Dum licet, et spirant flamina, navis eat.Si qua tamen pars te de fastis tangere debet,Caesar, in Aprili, quo tenearis, habes. 20Hic ad te magna descendit imagine mensis,Et fit adoptiva nobilitate tuus.Hoc pater Iliades, quum longum scriberet annum,Vidit, et auctores rettulit ipse suos.Utque fero Marti primam dedit ordine sortem, 25Quod sibi nascenti proxima causa fuit;Sic Venerem gradibus multis in gente repertamAlterius voluit mensis habere locum;Principiumque sui generis revolutaque quaerensSaecula, cognatos venit ad usque deos. 30Dardanon Electra nesciret Atlantide cretum?Scilicet Electran concubuisse Jovi?Hujus Erichthonius: Tros est generatus ab illo:Assaracon creat hic, Assaracusque Capyn.Proximus Anchisen, cum quo commune parentis 35Non dedignata est nomen habere Venus,Hinc satus aeneas, pietas spectata per ignes,Sacra, patremque humeris altera sacra, tulit.Venimus ad felix aliquando nomen Iuli,Unde domus Teucros Julia tangit avos. 40Postumus huic, qui, quod silvis fuit ortus in altis,Silvius in Latia gente vocatus erat;Isque, Latine, tibi pater est: subit Alba Latinum:Proximus est titulis Epytos, Alba, tuis,Ille dedit Capyi recidiva vocabula Troiae, 45Et tuus est idem, Calpete, factus avus.Quumque patris regnum post hunc Tiberinus haberet,Dicitur in Tuscae gurgite mersus aquae.Jam tamen Agrippam genitum, Remulumque nepotemViderat; in Remulum fulmina missa ferunt. 50Venit Aventinus post hos, locus unde vocatus,Mons quoque. Post illum tradita Procae.Quem sequitur diri Numitor germanus Amuli.Ilia cum Lauso de Numitore sati.Ense cadit patrui Lausus: placet Ilia Marti; 55Teque parit, gemino juncte Quirine Remo.Ille suos semper Venerem Martemque parentesDixit, et emeruit vocis habere fidem.Neve secuturi possent nescire nepotes,Tempora dîs generis continuata dedit. 60Sed Veneris mensem Graio sermone notatumAuguror: a spumis est dea dicta maris.Nec tibi sit mirum Graio rem nomine dici:Itala nam tellus Graecia major erat.Venerat Evander plena cum classe suorum: 65Venerat Alcides, Graius uterque genus.Hospes Aventinis armentum pavit in herbisClaviger, et tanto est Albula pota deo.Dux quoque Neritius. Testes Laestrygones exstant:Et quod adhuc Circes nomina litus habet. 70Et jam Telegoni, jam moenia Tiburis udiStabant, Argolicae quod posuere manus.Venerat Atridae fatis agitatus Halesus,A quo se dictam terra Falisca putat.Adjice Trojanae suasorem Antenora pacis, 75Et generum Oeniden, Appule Daune, tuum.Serus ab Iliacis, et post Antenora, flammisAttulit aeneas in loca nostra deos.Hujus erat Solymus Phrygia comes unus ab Ida:A quo Sulmonis moenia nomen habent, 80Sulmonis gelidi, patriae, Germanice, nostrae.Me miserum! Scythico quam procul illa solo est!Ergo ego tam longe?—sed supprime, Musa, querelas;Non tibi sunt maesta sacra canenda lyra.Quo non livor abit? Sunt qui tibi mensis honorem 85Eripuisse velint, invideantque, Venus.Nam, quia ver aperit tunc omnia, densaque ceditFrigoris asperitas, fetaque terra patet;Aprilem memorant ab aperto tempore dictum,Quem Venus injecta vindicat alma manu. 90Illa quidem totum dignissima temperat orbem:Illa tenet nullo regna minora deo:Juraque dat coelo, terrae, natalibus undis,Perque suos initus continet omne genus.Illa deos omnes—longum est narrare—creavit: 95Illa satis causas arboribusque dedit:Illa rudes animos hominum contraxit in unum,Et docuit jungi cum pare quemque sua.Quid genus omne creat volucrum, nisi blanda voluptas?Nec coëunt pecudes, si levis absit amor. 100Cum mare trux aries cornu decertat: at idemFrontem dilectae laedere parcit ovis.Deposita taurus sequitur feritate juvencam,Quem toti saltus, quem nemus omne tremit.Vis eadem, lato quodcumque sub sequore vivit, 105Servat, et innumeris piscibus implet aquas.Prima feros habitus homini detraxit: ab illaVenerunt cultus mundaque cura sui.Primus amans carmen vigilatum nocte negataDicitur ad clausas concinuisse fores; 110Eloquiumque fuit duram exorare puellam:Proque sua causa quisque disertus erat.Mille per hanc artes motae, studioque placendi,Quae latuere prius, multa reperta ferunt.Hanc quisquam titulo mensis spoliare secundi 115Audeat? a nobis sit procul iste furor.Quid? quod ubique potens, templisque frequentibus aucta,Urbe tamen nostra jus dea majus habet?Pro Troja, Romane, tua Venus arma ferebat;Quum genuit teneram cuspide laesa manum, 120Coelestesque duas Trojano judice vicit;—Ah! nolim victas hoc meminisse deas!—Assaracique nurus dicta est, ut scilicet olimMagnus Iuleos Caesar haberet avos.Nec Veneri tempus, quam ver, erat aptius ullum. 125Vere nitent terrae: vere remissus ager.Nunc herbae rupta tellure cacumina tollunt;Nunc tumido gemmas cortice palmes agit.Et formosa Venus formoso tempore digna est,Utque solet, Marti continuata suo. 130Vere monet curvas materna per aequora puppesIre, nec hibernas jam timuisse minas.Rite deam Latiae colitis matresque nurusque;Et vos, quîs vittae longaque vestis abest.Aurea marmoreo redimicula solvite collo: 135Demite divitias: tota lavanda dea est.Aurea siccato redimicula reddite collo:Nunc alii flores, nunc nova danda rosa est.Vos quoque sub viridi myrto jubet illa lavari;Causaque, cur jubeat,—discite—certa subest. 140Litore siccabat rorantes nuda capillos:Viderunt Satyri, turba proterva, deam.Sensit, et opposita texit sua corpora myrto.Tuta fuit facto: vosque referre jubet.Discite nunc, quare Fortunae tura Virili 145Detis eo, calida qui locus humet aqua.Aspicit ille locus posito velamine cunctas,Et vitium nudi corporis omne patet.Ut tegat hoc, celetque viros, Fortuna VirilisPraestat, et hoc parvo ture rogata facit. 150Nec pigeat niveo tritum cum lacte papaverSumere, et expressis mella liquata favis.Quum primum cupido Venus est deducta marito,Hoc bibit; ex illo tempore nupta fuit.Supplicibus verbis illam placate: sub illa 155Et forma, et mores, et bona fama manet.Roma pudicitia proavorum tempore lapsa est:Cumaeam, veteres, consuluistis anum.Templa jubet Veneri fieri: quibus ordine factis,Inde Venus verso nomina corde tenet. 160Semper ad Aeneadas placido, pulcherrima, vultuRespice, totque tuas, diva, tuere nurus.Dum loquor, elatae metuendus acumine caudaeScorpios in virides praecipitatur aquas.Nox ubi transient, coelumque rubescere primo 165Coeperit, et tactae rore querentur aves,Semustamque facem vigilata nocte viatorPonet, et ad solitum rusticus ibit opus:Pliades incipiunt humeros relevare paternos,Quae septem dici, sex tamen esse solent; 170Seu, quod in araplexum sex hinc venere deorum:Nam Steropen Marti concubuisse ferunt:Neptuno Halcyonen, et te, formosa Celaeno:Maian, et Electran, Taygetenque Jovi:Septima mortali Merope tibi, Sisyphe, nupsit: 175Poenitet, et facti sola pudore latet;Sive, quod Electra Trojae; spectare ruinasNon tulit, ante oculos opposuitque manum.
Ter sine perpetuo coelum versetur in axe;Ter jungat Titan, terque resolvat equos; 180Protinus inflexo Berecyntia tibia cornuFlabit, et Idaeae festa Parentis erunt.Ibunt semimares et inania tympana tundent,Aeraque tinnitus sere repulsa dabunt.Ipsa sedens molli comitum cervice feretur 185Urbis per medias exululata vias.Scena sonat, ludique vocant. Spectate, Quirites!Et fora Marte suo litigiosa vacent.Quaerere multa libet: sed me sonus aeris acutiTerret, et horrendo lotos adunca sono. 190Da, dea, quas sciter, doctas, Cybeleïa, neptes.Audit, et has curae jussit adesse meae.Pandite mandati memores, Heliconis alumnae,Gaudeat assiduo cur dea Magna sono.Sic ego. Sic Erato:—mensis Cythereïus illi 195Cessit, quod teneri nomen Amoris habet.—Reddita Saturno sors haec erat: Optime regum.A nato sceptris excutiere tuis.Ille suam metuens, ut quaeque erat edita, prolemDevorat, immersam visceribusque tenet. 200Saepe Rhea questa est toties fecunda, nec umquamMater, et indoluit fertilitate sua.Jupiter ortus erat.—Pro magno teste vetustasCreditur; acceptam parce movere fidem.—Veste latens saxum coelesti gutture sedit. 205Sic genitor fatis decipiendus erat.Ardua jam dudum resonat tinnitibus Ide,Tutus ut infanti vagiat ore puer.Pars clypeos rudibus, galeas pars tundit inanes:Hoc Curetes habent, hoc Corybantes opus. 210Res latuit patrem: priscique imitamina factiaera deae comites raucaque terga movent.Cymbala pro galeis, pro scutis tympana pulsant:Tibia dat Phrygios, ut dedit ante, modos.Desierat: coepi: Cur huic genus acre leonum 215Praebeat insolitas ad juga curva jubas?Desieram: coepit: Feritas mollita per illamCreditur. Id curru testificata suo est.At cur turrita caput est ornata corona?An primis turres urbibus illa dedit? 220Annuit. Unde venit, dixi, sua membra secandiImpetus? Ut tacui, Pieris orsa loqui:Phryx puer in silvis facie spectabilis AttisTurrigeram casto vinxit amore deam.Hunc sibi servari voluit, sua templa tueri: 225Et dixit,Semper fac puer esse velis.Ille fidem jussis dedit; et,Si mentiar, inquit,Ultima, qua fallam, sit Venus illa mihi.Fallit, et in Nympha Sagaritide desinit esse,Quod fuit. Hinc poenas exigit ira deae. 230Naïda vulneribus succidit in arbore factis.Illa perit. Fatum Naïdos arbor erat.Hic furit: et credens thalami procumbere tectum,Effugit et cursu Dindyma summa petit.Et modo,Tolle faces! Remove, modo,verbera!clamat. 235Saepe Palaestinas jurat adesse deas.Ille etiam saxo corpus laniavit acuto,Longaque in immundo pulvere tracta coma est;Voxque fuit, Merui: meritas do sanguine poenas:Ah pereant partes, quae nocuere mihi! 240Ah pereant! dicebat adhuc: onus inguinis aufert;Nullaque sunt subito signa relicta viri.Venit in exemplum furor hic, mollesque ministriCaedunt jactatis vilia membra comis.Talibus Aoniae facunda voce Camenae; 245Reddita quaesiti causa furoris erat.Hoc quoque, dux operis, moneas, precor, unde petitaVenerit, an nostra semper in urbe fuit?Dindymon, et Cybelen, et amoenam fontibus IdenSemper, et Iliacas Mater amavit opes. 250Quum Trojam. aeneas Italos portaret in agros,Est dea sacriferas paene secuta rates.Sed nondum fatis Latio sua numina posciSenserat, assuetis substiteratque locis.Post, ut Roma potens opibus jam saecula quinque 255Vidit, et edomito sustulit orbe caput;Carminis Euboici fatalia verba sacerdosInspicit. Inspectum tale fuisse ferunt:Mater abest; Matrem jubeo, Romane, requiras.Quum veniet, casta est accipienda manu. 260Obscurae sortis Patres ambagibus errant,Quaeve parens absit, quove petenda loco.Consulitur Paean,Divûmquearcessite Matrem,Inquit,et Idaeo est invenienda jugo.Mittuntur proceres. Phrygiae tum sceptra tenebat 265Attalus: Ausoniis rem negat ille viris.Mira canam: longo tremuit cum murmure tellus,Et sic est adytis diva locuta suis:Ipsa peti volui. Ne sit mora: mitte volentem.Dignus Roma locus, quo deus omnis eat. 270Ille soni terrore pavens, Proficiscere, dixit;Nostra eris: in Phrygios Roma refertur avos.Protinus innumerae caedunt pineta securesIlla, quibus fugiens Phryx pius usus erat.Mille manus coëunt: et picta coloribus ustis 275Coelestum Matrem concava puppis habet.Illa sui per aquas fertur tutissima nati,Longaque Phrixeae stagna sororis adit,Rhoeteumque rapax, Sigeaque litora transit,Et Tenedum, et veteres Eëtionis opes. 280Cyclades excipiunt, Lesbo post terga relicta,Quaque Carysteis frangitur unda vadis.Transit et Icarium, lapsas ubi perdidit alasIcarus, et vastae nomina fecit aquae.Tum laeva Creten, dextra Pelopeïdas undas 285Deserit, et Veneri sacra Cythera petit.Hinc mare Trinacrium, candens ubi tingere ferrumBrontes, et Steropes, Acmonidesque solent:aequoraque Afra legit, Sardoaque regna sinistrisProspicit a remis, Ausoniamque tenet. 290Ostia contigerat, qua se Tiberinus in altumDividit, et campo liberiore natat:Omnis eques, mixtaque gravis cum plebe senatusObvius ad Tusci fluminis ora venit;Procedunt pariter matres, nataeque, nurusque. 295Quaeque colunt sanctos virginitate focos.Sedula fune viri contento brachia lassant.Vix subit adversas hospita navis aquas,Sicca diu tellus fuerat: sitis usserat herbas:Sedit limoso pressa carina vado. 300Quisquis adest operi, plus quam pro parte laborat,Adjuvat et fortes voce sonante manus.Illa velut medio stabilis sedet insula ponto.Attoniti monstro stantque paventque viri.Claudia Quinta genus Clauso referebat ab alto: 305Nec facies impar nobilitate fuit.Casta quidem, sed non et credita. Rumor iniquusLaeserat, et falsi criminis acta rea est.Cultus et ornatis varie prodisse capillisObfuit, ad rigidos promptaque lingua senes. 310Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit:Sed nos in vitium credula turba sumus.Haec ubi castarum processit ab agmine matrum,Et manibus puram fluminis hausit aquam,Ter caput irrorat, ter tollit in aethera palmas; 315—Quicumque adspiciunt, mente carere putant.—Submissoque genu vultus in imagine divaeFigit, et hos edit crine jacente sonos:Supplicis, alma, tuae, genitrix fecunda deorum,Accipe sub certa conditione preces. 320Casta negor. Si tu damnas, meruisse fatebor;Morte luam poenas judice victa dea.Sed, si crimen abest, tu nostrae pignora vitaeRe dabis, et castas casta sequere manus.Dixit, et exiguo funem conamine traxit. 325Mira, sed et scena testificata loquar.Mota dea est, sequiturque ducem, laudatque sequendo.Index laetitiae fertur in astra sonus.Fluminis ad flexum veniunt: Tiberina prioresOstia dixerunt, unde sinister abit. 330Nox aderat: querno religant a stipite funem,Dantque levi somno corpora functa cibo.Lux aderat: querno solvunt a stipite funem;Ante tamen posito tura dedere foco:Ante coronatam puppim sine labe juvencam 335Mactarunt operum conjugiique rudem.Est locus, in Tiberin qua lubricus influit Almo,Et nomen magno perdit ab amne minor.Illic purpurea canus cum veste sacerdosAlmonis dominam sacraque lavit aquis. 340Exululant comites, furiosaque tibia flatur,Et feriunt molles taurea terga manus.Claudia praecedit, laeto celeberrima vultu;Credita vix tandem teste pudica dea.Ipsa sedens plaustro porta est invecta Capena: 345Sparguntur junctae flore recente boves.Nasica accepit. Templi non perstitit auctor;Augustus nunc est; ante Metellus erat.Substitit hic Erato. Mora fit, si cetera quaeram.Dic, inquam, parva cur stipe quaerat opes? 350Contulit aes populus, de quo delubra MetellusFecit, ait; dandae mos stipis inde manet.Cur vicibus factis ineant convivia, quaero,Tum magis, indictas concelebrentque dapes.Quod bene mutarit sedem Berecyntia, dixit, 355Captant mutatis sedibus omen idem.Institeram, quare primi Megalesia ludiUrbe forent nostra, quum dea,—sensit enim—Illa deos, inquit, peperit. Cessere parenti,Principiumque dati Mater honoris habet. 360Cur igitur Gallos, qui se excidere, vocamus,Quum tanto Phrygia Gallica distet humus?Inter, ait, viridem Cybelen altasque Celaenas,Amnis it insana, nomine Gallus, aqua.Qui bibit inde, furit. Procul hinc discedite, quis est 365Cura bonae mentis. Qui bibit inde, furit.Non pudet herbosum, dixi, posuisse moretumIn dominae mensis? an sua causa subest?Lacte mero veteres usi memorantur et herbis,Sponte sua si quas terra ferebat, ait. 370Candidus elisae miscetur caseus herbae,Cognoscat priscos ut dea prisca cibos.
Postera quum coelo motis Pallantias astrisFulserit, et niveos Luna levarit equos;Qui dicet, Quondam sacrata est colle Quirini 375Hac Fortuna die Publica, verus erit
Tertia lux—memini—ludis erat. At mihi quidamSpectanti senior contiguusque loco,Haec, ait, illa dies, Libycis qua Caesar in orisPerfida magnanimi contudit arma Jubae. 380Dux mihi Caesar erat, sub quo meruisse TribunusGlorior. Officio praefuit ille meo.Hanc ego militia sedem, tu pace parasti,Inter bis quinos usus honore Viros.Plura locuturi subito seducimur imbre; 385Pendula coelestes Libra movebat aquas.Ante tamen, quam summa dies spectacula sistat,Ensifer Orion aequore mersus erit.
Proxima victricem quum Romam inspexerit Eos,Et dederit Phoebo stella fugata locum; 390Circus erit pompa celeber, numeroque deorum:Primaque ventosis palma petetur equis.Hinc Cereris Ludi. Non est opus indice causae;Sponte deae munus promeritumque patet.Messis erant primis virides mortalibus herbae, 395Quas tellus nullo sollicitante dabat;Et modo carpebant vivaci cespite gramen,Nunc epulae tenera fronde cacumen erant.Postmodo glans nata est. Bene erat jam glande reperta,Duraque magnificas quercus habebat opes. 400Prima Ceres homini ad meliora alimenta vocatoMutavit glandes utiliore cibo.Illa jugo tauros collum praebere coëgit;Tum primum soles eruta vidit humus.Aes erat in pretio: chalybeïa massa latebat. 405Heu heu perpetuo debuit illa tegi!Pace Ceres laeta est, et vos optate, coloni,Perpetuam pacem, perpetuumque ducem.Farra deae, micaeque licet salientis honoremDetis, et in veteres turea grana focos; 410Et, si tura aberunt, unctas accendite taedas.Parva bonae Cereri, sint modo casta, placent.A bove succincti cultros removete ministri.Bos aret: ignavam sacrificate suem.Apta jugo cervix non est ferienda securi. 415Vivat, et in dura saepe laboret humo!Exigit ipse locus, raptus ut virginis edam.Plura recognosces: pauca docendus eris.Terra tribus scopulis vastum procurrit in aequorTrinacris, a positu nomen adepta loci. 420Grata domus Cereri. Multas ibi possidet urbes,In quibus est culto fertilis Henna solo.Frigida coelestum matres Arethusa vocarat.Venerat ad sacras et dea flava dapes.Filia consuetis ut erat comitata puellis, 425Errabat nudo per sua prata pede.Valle sub umbrosa locus est, adspergine multaHumidus ex alto desilientis aquae.Tot fuerant illic, quot habet natura, colores,Pictaque dissimili flore nitebat humus. 430Quam simul adspexit, Comites accedite, dixit,Et mecum plenos flore referte sinus.Praeda puellares animos oblectat inanis,Et non sentitur sedulitate labor.Haec implet lento calathos e vimine textos, 435Haec gremium, laxos degravat illa sinus,Illa legit calthas, huic sunt violaria curae,Illa papavereas subsecat ungue comas,Has, hyacinthe, tenes, illas, amarante, moraris,Pars thyma, pars rorem, pars meliloton amant. 440Plurima lecta rosa est, et sunt sine nomine flores.Ipsa crocos tenues, liliaque alba legit.Carpendi studio paullatim longius itur,Et dominam casu nulla secuta comes.Hanc videt, et visam patruus velociter aufert, 445Regnaque caeruleis in sua portat equis.Illa quidem clamabat,Io carissima mater,Auferor!ipsa suos abscideratque sinus.Panditur interea Diti via; namque diurnumLumen inassueti vix patiuntur equi. 450At chorus aequalis, cumulatis flore canistris,Persephone, clamant, ad tua dona veni.Ut clamata silet, monies ululatibus implent,Et feriunt maesta pectora nuda manu.Attonita est plangore Ceres,—modo venerat Hennam— 455Nec mora,Me miseram! filia, dixit,ubi es?Mentis inops rapitur, quales audire solemusThreïcias fusis Maenadas ire comis.Ut vitulo mugit sua mater ab ubere rapto,Et quaerit fetus per nemus omne suos; 460Sic dea: nec retinet gemitus, et concita cursuFertur, et e campis incipit, Henna, tuis.Inde puellaris nacta est vestigia plantae,Et pressam noto pondere vidit humum.Forsitan illa dies erroris summa fuisset, 465Si non turbassent signa reperta sues.Jamque Leontinos Amenanaque flumina cursuPraeterit, et ripas, herbifer Aci, tuas:Praeterit et Cyanen, et fontem lenis Anapi,Et te, vorticibus non adeunde Gela. 470Liquerat Ortygien, Megareaque, Pantagienque,Quaque Symaetheas accipit aequor aquas,Antraque Cyclopum, positis exusta caminis,Quique locus curvae nomina falcis habet:Himeraque, et Didymen, Acragantaque, Tauromenonque, 475Sacrorumque Melan pascua laeta boum.Hinc Camerinan adit, Thapsonque et Heloria tempe,Quaque patet Zephyro semper apertus Eryx.Jamque Peloriaden, Lilybaeaque, jamque PachynonLustrarat, terrae cornua prima suae. 480Quacumque ingreditur, miseris loca cuncta querelisImplet, ut amissum quum gemit ales Ityn;Perque vices modo,Persephone, modo,Filia, clamat.Clamat, et alternis nomen utrumque ciet.Sed neque Persephone Cererem, neque filia matrem 485Audit, et alternis nomen utrumque perit.Unaque, pastorem vidisset an arva colentem,Vox erat,Hac gressus si qua puella tulit?Jam color unus inest rebus, tenebrisque tegunturOmnia; jam vigiles conticuere canes. 490Alta jacet vasti super ora Typhoëos aetne,Cujus anhelatis ignibus ardet humus.Illic accendit geminas pro lampade pinus:Hinc Cereris sacris nunc quoque taeda datur.Est specus exesi structura pumicis asper; 495Non homini regio, non adeunda ferae.Quo simul ac venit, frenatos curribus anguesJungit, et aequoreas sicca pererrat aquas.Effugit et Syrtes, et te, Zaneltaea Charybdi,Et vos, Nissei naufraga monstra, canes; 500Hadriacumque patens late, bimaremque Corinthon.Sic venit ad portus, Attica terra, tuos.Hic primum sedit gelido maetissima saxo.Illud Cecropidae nunc quoquetristevocant.Sub Jove duravit multis immota diebus, 505Et lunae patiens, et pluvialis aquae.Fors sua cuique loco est. Quo nunc Cerealis Eleusin,Dicitur hoc Celei rura fuisse senis.Ille domum glandes excussaque mora rubetisPortat, et arsuris arida ligna focis. 510Filia parva duas redigebat rupe capellas,Et tener in cunis filius aeger erat.Mater, ait virgo,—mota est dea nomine matris—Quid facis in solis incomitata jugis?Restitit et senior, quamvis onus urget, et orat, 515Tecta suae subeat quantulacumque casae.Ille negat.—Simularat anum, mitraque capillosPresserat—Instanti talia dicta refert:Sospes eas, semperque parens! Mihi filia rapta est.Heu! melior quanto sors tua sorte mea! 520Dixit, et, ut lacrimae,—neque enim lacrimare deorum est—Decidit in tepidos lucida gutta sinus.Flent pariter molles animis, virgoque senexque.E quibus haec justi verba fuere senis:Sic tibi, quam raptam quereris, sit filia sospes; 525Surge, nec exiguae despice tecta casae.Cui dea,Duc, inquit:scisti, qua cogere posses;Seque levat saxo, subsequiturque senem.Dux comiti narrat, quam sit sibi filius aeger,Nec capiat somnos, invigiletque malis. 530Illa soporiferum, parvos initura penates,Colligit agresti lene papaver humo.Dum legit, oblito fertur gustasse palato,Longamque imprudens exsoluisse famem.Quae quia principio posuit jejunia noctis, 535Tempus habent Mystae sidera visa cibi.Limen ut intravit, luctus videt omnia plena.Jam spes in puero nulla salutis erat.Matre salutata,—mater Metanira vocatur—Jungere dignata est os puerile suo. 540Pallor abit, subitaeque vigent in corpore vires.Tantus coelesti venit ab ore vigor!Tota domus laeta est, hoc est, materque, paterque,Nataque: tres illi tota fuere domus.Mox epulas ponunt, liquefacta coagula lacte, 545Pomaque, et in teneris aurea mella favis.Abstinet alma Ceres, somnique papavera causasDat tibi cum tepido lacte bibenda, puer.Noctis erat medium, placidique silentia somni;Triptolemum gremio sustulit illa suo, 550Terque manu permulsit eum: tria carmina dixit,Carmina mortali non referenda sono;Inque foco pueri corpus vivente favillaObruit, humanum purget ut ignis onus.Excutitur somno stulte pia mater, et amens, 555Quid facis?exclamat, membraque ab igne rapit.Cui Dea, Dum non es, dixit scelerata fuisti:Irrita materno sunt mea dono metu.Iste quidem mortalis erit, sed primus arabit,Et seret, et culta praemia tollet humo. 560Dixit, et egrediens nubem trahit, inque draconesTransit, et aligero tollitur axe Ceres.Sunion expositum, Piraeaque tuta recessuLinquit, et in dextrum quae jacet ora latus.Hinc init aegaeum, quo Cycladas adspicit omnes, 565Ioniumque rapax, Icariumque legit;Perque urbes Asiae longum petit Hellespontum:Divereumque locis alta pererrat iter.Nam modo turilegos Arabas, modo despicit Indos:Hinc Libys, hinc Meroë, siccaque terra subest. 570Nunc adit Hesperios, Rhenum, Rhodanumque, Padumque,Teque future parens, Tibri, potentis aquae.Quo feror? immensum est erratas dicere terras:Praeteritus Cereri nullus in orbe locus.Errat et in coelo, liquidique immunia ponti 575Alloquitur gelido proxima signa polo:Parrhasides stellae,—namque omnia nosse potestis,aequoreas numquam quum subeatis aquas—Persephonen miserae natam monstrate parenti.Dixerat: huic Helice talia verba refert: 580Crimine nox vacua est. Solem de virgine raptaConsule, qui late facta diurna videt.Sol aditus, Quam quaeris, ait, ne vana labores,Nupta Jovis fratri tertia regna tenet.Questa diu secum sic est affata Tonantem: 585—Maximaque in vultu signa dolentis erant—Si memor es, de quo mihi sit Proserpina nata;Dimidium curae debet habere tuae.Orbe pererrato, sola est injuria factiCognita: commissi praemia raptor habet. 590At neque Persephone digna est praedone marito,Nec gener hoc nobis more parandus erat.Quid gravius victore Gyge captiva tulissem,Quam nunc, te coeli sceptra tenente, tuli?Verum impune ferat: nos haec patiamur inultae. 595Reddat, et emendet facta priora novis.Jupiter hanc lenit, factumque excusat amore,Nec gener est nobis ille pudendus, ait.Non ego nobilior. Posita est mihi regia coelo:Possidet alter aquas: alter inane Chaos. 600Sed si forte tibi non est mutabile pectus,Statque semel juncti rumpere vincla tori;Hoc quoque tentemus, siquidem jejuna remansit:Sin minus, inferni conjugis uxor erit.Tartara jussus adit sumptis Caducifer alis, 605Speque redit citius, visaque certa refert.Rapta tribus, dixit, solvit jejunia granis,Punica quae lento cortice poma tegunt.Haud secus indoluit, quam si modo rapta fuisset,Maesta parens, longa vixque refecta mora est. 610Atque ita, Nec nobis coelum est habitabile, dixit:Taenaria recipi me quoque valle jube.Et factura fuit, pactus nisi Jupiter esset,Bis tribus ut coelo mensibus illa foret.Tum demum vultumque Ceres animumque recepit, 615Imposuitque suae spicea serta comae.Largaque provenit cessatis messis in arvis.Et vix congestas area cepit opes.Alba decent Cererem: vestes Cerealibus albasSumite; nunc pulli velleris usus abest. 620