217. The Horae are the goddesses of the Seasons. They were the daughters of Jupiter and Themis. Hesiod. Theog. 900.—Incinctae, i.e.succinctae. See II. 634.Pictis vestibus, [Greek: peplous ennymenai droserous anthon polyterpon], says the Orphic Hymn (xlii. 6,) of them. Forvestibus, three MSS. readflorihus.
219. The Charites or Graces were also the children of Jupiter; they presided over social enjoyments, and were the bestowers of all grace and elegance. The occupation of the Charites and Horae among the flowers is thus beautifully described by the author of the lost poem, named the Cypria, [Greek: Heimata men chroias tote ai Charites te kai Aurai Poiaesan kai ebapsan en anthesin eiarinoisin, Oia phorous Orai, en te kroko en th' uakintho, En t' io thalethonti, rodon t' eni anthei kalo, Haedei, nektareo, en t' ambrosiais kalukessin Anthesi Narkissou kallichoróou]. For the Horse and Charites, see Mythology, p. 150-153.
221. It is not unlikely that the poet, who does not say where the garden of Flora was, placed it mentally on the western margin of the earth, where so many of the wonders of ancient Grecian fable lay. See vv. 233, 234.
223. Hyacinthus, a Spartan youth, beloved by Apollo, and turned into a flower of his own name. Met. x. 162. Therapnae was a town of Laconia.
225. See Met. III. 407,et seq.
226.Alter et alter, scil. that he and his shadow were not different persons.
227. Crocus, Met. iv. 283. Attis above, IV. 223. In the Met. (x. 103,) Cybele changes him into a pine-tree, but Arnobius (v. p. 181,) says,Fluore de sanguinis viola flos nascitur, et redimitur ex hac arbos(pinus). Adonis, the son of Cinyras, was turned into an anemone. Met. x. 728. See Mythology, pp. 109, 110.
229. In Homer, Hesiod, and Apollodorus, and the Greek poets and mythographers in general, Ares, the god corresponding to the Italian Mars, is the son of Jupiter and Juno. The present legend I regard as the fiction of some Italian, or, perhaps, of a Greek who was desirous of ministering to the vanity of the Romans. I think that many legends were invented in this way. Such, for example, is the tale of Faunus and Hercules (above, II. 305,et seq.) devised to explain a custom of the Roman Luperci. They are wrong who think that the taste and talent for devising mythes ceased, when real history began. The present legend is only to be found in Ovid; but Festus evidently alludes to it, for, treating of the etymon of Gradivus, he says,Vel, ut alii dicunt, quiagraminesit natus.
233. Compare Hom. II. xiv. 301. Met. II. 509.—Facta. Heinsius, on the authority of one MS. readsfurta.
243, 244. Somewhat like her declaration in Virgil,Flectere si nequeo Superos Acherunta movebo, which may have been in Ovid's mind.
245.Vox erat in cursu. This may refer either to Juno or to Flora; but it is evident that the poet is speaking of Juno, and means that as she proceeded in her complaint, she marked the change in the countenance of her auditress. Taubner's interpretation is curious; he supposes the meaning to be: Juno spoke as she ran! Compare VI. 362, and Met xiii. 508.
251.Oleniis. Olenus was a town of Achaea. There was another of this name in Boeotia.
253.Qui dabat. Probably Zephyrus.
257. Thrace, on the left of the Propontis, was regarded as the birth-place and favourite abode of Mars, on account of the martial character of the people.
259. This strengthens what I said above respecting the late age of the fiction.
261.Coronis. He calls the flowers crowns or garlands, not as being the crown of the plant, for that is true of all that follow, but as being used for making them. He goes on to say that Flora presided overblossoms, as well as flowers.
265, 266. This is said no where else of the olive. Of the almond, we read, [Greek: Ora taen amygdalaen to karpo brithomenaen toigaroun euetaerias tekmaerion megiston]. Theophil. Probl. nat. 17. See also Virg. G. I. 187.
267. Compare Virgil, G. I. 228.
268. See II. 68.
269. The poet could not abstain from taking advantage of a figurative employment of the wordflos, and, ascribing to Flora, what did not belong to her. "Quae devinosequuntur, ea melius abessent." Gierig. Theflosandnebulaof vine, are the light scum which comes upon its surface when new.Si vinum florere incipiet, saepius curare oportebit, ne flos ejus pessun eat et saporem vitiet. Columella, R. R. xii. 30.Flos vini candidus probatur; rubens triste signum est, si non is vini color sit—Quod celeriter florere caeperit, odoremque trahere, non exit diutinum. Plin. H. N. xiv, 21.
273, 274. The flower of youth—another figurative employment of the word.
277. He now proceeds to relate the historic origin of the Floral games.
279. Compare Sallust, Cat. 25,Docta psallere, saltare et multa alia, quae instrumenta luxuriae sunt.
281.Hinc et locupletes dicebant loci, hoc est agri, plenos. Pecunia ipsa a pecore appellabatur. Plin. xviii. 3.
283. The subject of the Roman public land, and the Agrarian law, has been treated and explained in a most masterly manner by the illustrious Niebuhr, but it would be impossible to do justice to his views in the compass of a note. I must, therefore, refer the reader to his Roman History, Vol. II. p. 129,et seq. (Hare and Thirlwall's translation,) or Vol. II. p. 353, et seq. (Walter's translation). A sufficiently full account of these matters will be found in Nos. xv. and xxii. of the Foreign Quarterly Review. In my Outlines of History, (p. 72,) I have given a brief account of them_.-Populi saltus. These were thepascua, the public pastures, for the liberty of grazing which a rent was to be paid to the state, but of which the payment was frequently eluded by favour or power.Etiam nunc in tabulis Censoriis pascua dicuntur omnia, ex quibus populus reditus habet, quia diu hoc solum vectigal fuerat. Pliny,ut supra.
287, 288. L. and M. Publicii Malleoli, were aediles Plebis, A.U.C. 513. The poet here, as elsewhere, shews his superficial knowledge of the history of his country, for A.U.C. 457, _ab aedilibus Pl. L. aelio. Poeta, et C. Fulvio Curvo ex mullaticia pecunia, quam exegerunt pecuariis damnatis, ludi facti, pateraeque aureae ad Cereris positae. Liv. x. 23, and a road was made A.U.C. 462, by the Curule aediles, out of similar fines. Liv. x. 47. As by the Licinian law, no one was allowed to put more than 100 head of black, or 500 head of small cattle on the public pastures, these fines were probably imposed on those who had exceeded that number.
291. Besides the institution of the Floral games, a temple, of which the poet does not speak, was built to Flora out of that money, which was repaired by Tiberius, A.U.C. 773. Tacit. An. II. 49.
292.Victores, scil. the aediles.
293.Clivus Publicius ab aedilibus plebei Publiciis, qui eum publice aedificarunt. Varro, L. L. iv. Festus, who gives a similar account, adds,munierunt, ut in Aventinum vehicula Velia venire possent. Aclivus, was a carriageway up a hill.
298.Turba, etc. This low idea of their gods, was one of the greatest blemishes of the theology of the Greeks and Romans. It pervades all their mythology. See above, on I. 445. Hom. II. ix. 497. Similar notions still prevail in modern Italy, and in many other countries.
299.Iniquos, that is, incensed or unfavourable, the contrary of aequos.
305.Thestiaden, Meleager. See Met. 270,et seq. Hom. II. ix. 527, et seq. Mythology, p. 287.
307.Tantaliden. Agamemnon, descended from Pelops, the son of Tantalus. The Grecian fleet, as is well-known, was detained at Aulis by the anger of Diana.—Vela, Neapolis readtela, and thought of Niobe.
308.Virgo est, from whom, therefore, more mildness was to be expected.
309. See above, III. 265—Dionen. Venus. See II. 461.
311.Oblivia, forgetfulness; or rather neglect.
312.Praeteriere, i. e. neglected to celebrate the Floral games.
329. In the consulate of L. Postumius Albinus, and M. Popilius Laenas, A.U.C. 581, it was directed that the Floral games should be celebrated every year.
331. The Floralia were of an exceedingly lascivious character. The utmost license of language prevailed, and, at the sound of trumpets, lewd women came forth and ran and danced naked before the spectators. The Fathers of the Church, Arnobius and Lactantius, are unsparing in their censure of them. When Cato once appeared at them, the people were so awed at his presence, that they would not call on the women to strip. Val. Max. II. 10. This practice probably gave occasion to the legend already noticed, see on v. 195, of Flora having been herself ameretrix. Ovid views matters here with a more lenient eye.
335.Tempora, etc. He is not now narrating what took place at the Floralia, but showing how the gifts of Flora ministered to joy and pleasure.—Sut. cor. crowns made of rose-petals sewed together. There were alsopactiles coronae, or crowns made of various flowers,Jam tunc corona deorum honos erant, et Larium publicorum privatorumque, ac sepulchrorum et Manium, summaque auctoritas pactili coronae. Sutiles Saliorum sacris invenimus et sollemnes coenis. Transiere deinde ad rosaria, eoque luxuria processit, ut non esset gratia nisi mero folio. Plin. H. N. xxi. 3, 8.
336. It was the custom at banquets to shower down roses on the guests and the tables. See. v. 369.
337. Dancing was looked upon by the Romans as highly indecorous and unbecoming in a respectable person. See Corn. Nep. Epam. I. Corte on Sall. Cat. 25. 2. None danced but those who were drunk.—Philyra, the interior bark of the linden or lime-tree. It was much used for making these festive crowns. Plin. H. N. xvi. 14. xxi. 3. Hor. Car. I. 38. 2.—Incinct. capil. Incinctusseems here to be used for the simplecinctus; elsewhere (II. 635, V. 217. 675,) it is equivalent tosuccinctus.
338.Imprudens, etc. Scarcely knowing what he is doing, he is whirled about by the art taught by wine, i. e. he dances.Ille liquor docuit voces inflectere cantu, Movit et ad certos nescia membra modos, Tibull. I. 2. 37. Forvertitursome MSS. readutitur, which is perhaps the better reading.
339, 340. This custom of lovers among the ancients is well known. See. IV. 110.At lacrumans exclusus amator limina saepe, Floribus et sertis operit, postesque superbus Unguit amaricino, Lucret. iv. 171. Hence Heinsius would readserta fores, than which emendation Gierig thinks nothing can be more certain.
343.Acheloë. The name of this river is here as in Virgil (G. I. 9,) used for water in general.
343. See III. 513.
347.Scena levis, etc. the light, the comic, the farcical opposed to the grave, tragic scene.—Cothurn. deas, is either the grave, stately goddesses, or, what is nearly the same thing, those who used to be introduced on the cothurned, or tragic stage, such as Diana and Minerva.
351. Here Flora is again opposed to the serious, respectable goddesses.—Tetricis, grave, severe.Tetrica et tristis Sabinorum disciplina, Liv. l. l8.—De magna. Ten MSS. readdea magna.
352.Plebeio choro, scil. theMeretrices, who were of course of low birth.
353.Specie, the beauty of youth.
355. See IV. 619. The poet's reasons are good.
361.Lumina, the torches which were used at the Floralia.
362.Errores. See IV. 669. VI. 255.
363.Pur. flor. Purpureusis used of any bright splendid colour.
371. These animals were hunted in the Circus Florae, at the time of the Floralia.Floralicias lasset arena feras. Martial, viii. 66. 4.
375.Tenues, etc. Compare Virg. aen. ii. 791. ix. 657.
376. Compare Virg. aen. I. 403.
379-414. On the V. Non, the third day of the month, (_nocte minus quarta) the Centaur rises, Chiron was the offspring of the Oceanide Phillyra, by Saturn, who had taken the form of a horse, and he was half-man half-horse. Virg. G. III. 92. Mythology, pp. 49, 283.
381.Haemoniawas a name of Thessaly.
384.Justum senem. Chiron is called by Homer, (II. xi. 832,) [Greek: dikaiotatos].
385. Achilles was committed to the care of Chiron.—Miss. leto. Compare Hom. II. I. 3.
388. According to Apollodorus, it was when Hercules was on his fourth task, that the following accident happened to Chiron. See Mythology, p. 316.
389.Duo fata. Because Troy suffered from both, being taken by one, and reduced to extremity by the other.
403. According to Pliny, (H. N. xxv. 6,) he recovered.Centaurio curatus dicitur Chiron, quum Herculis excepti hospitio pertractanti arma sagitta cecidisset in pedem.
410. Heinsius regarded this line as spurious, and, as the work of some grammarian or pedagogue, and even as semi-barbarous Latin. It has been defended by Heinz and Krebs. In Euripides, (Iph. Aul. 926,) Achilles says of himself. [Greek: Ego d' en andros eusebestatou trapheis Cheironos emathon tous tropous haplous echein].
415, 416. Lyra rises acronychally the III. Non.
417, 418. One part of the Scorpion sets cosmically the day before the Nones.Pridie Nonas Maias Nepa medius occidet. Columella, R. R. xi. 2.Nepais used forScorpio, by Manilius and others, as well as Columella.
419-492. The Lemuria began on the VII. Id. and lasted for three days, but not continuously, as appears from v. 491, and an ancient Calendar. TheMundus(See on IV. 821,) was regarded as the door of the under world, and was believed to be open three days in the year for the spirits of the departed to revisit the earth. Festus v. Mundus. There may be some relation between these three days and those of the Lemuria.—Protulerit. See III. 345. Trist. III. 10, 9. Hor. Sat. I. 8, 21. Fourteen MSS. readsustulerit, onepraetulerit, otherspertuleritorpropulevit.—Formosa ova. Compare Virg. aen. viii. 589,et seq.
422.Tacitis Manibus, i. e. the Lemures, whom (v. 481,) he callsanimas Silentum. According to Ovid's account, the Lemures were, what we term, disturbed spirits. Nonius says, they werelarvae nocturnae et terrificationes imaginum et bestiarum.
423. See I. 27.
427, 428. It would appear from this, that it was thought that in the time of Romulus, the Feralia, (II. 533,) and the Lemuria, were one, and were celebrated in the third month, which was nameda majoribus.
429, 430. Compare IV. 490. Virg. aen. iv. 522, viii. 26. If there is any imitation, I would say that it was Apollonius Rhodius, whom Ovid had in view.—_Praebet, scil.nox. Some MSS. readsomnos, orsomnum silentia praebent.
431.Ille. He who is, that person who is.
432.Vincula, scil.pedum, calcea, I. 410. It was the custom to bare the feet when going about any magic operation. See Met. vii. 182. Virg. aen. iv. 518. Hor. Sat. I. 8, 23.
433.Signa, etc. Neapolis says, "Est crepitus ille, qui fit nostro aevo in quavis saltatione, sive comica, sive rustica, digito scilicet medio adeo presse juncto cum pollice, ut lapsus in palmam strepitum edat." This explanation is adopted by Gierig, but as he observes from Met. ix. 299, that "digitis pertinatim inter se junctis impediebant aliquid," and the poet here saysdigitis(notdigito)junctis, I think the mode may have been to lock the fingers in one another, by which means the thumbs were joined in the middle, and then to make a noise by bringing the hands smartly together.
436.Nigras, etc. Compare II. 576. Forante, several MSS. readore, which Heinsius preferred.
437.Aversus jacit, throws them behind him. Compare Virg. Ec. viii. 101.
438.Redimo, etc. That you may no longer haunt my house.Quibus temporibus in sacris fabam jactant noctu ac dicunt se Lemures extra januam ejicere. Varro de Vita Pop. Rom.apudNonium.Faba Lemuralibus jacitur Larvis, et Parentalibus adhibetur sacrificiis, et in flore ejus luctus litterae apparere videntur. Festus.
439.Novies, liketer, (v. 435,) fornumero deus impure gaudet, (Virg. Ec. viii. 75,) was probably of magic efficacy. Compare Met. xiii. 951.
440. This superstition reminds one of that of sowing the hempseed on All-Hallows' Eve. See Burns' Halloween, st. xvi.-xx.
441.Temesaea aera, simply copper. Temesa, called by the Latins Tempsa, was a town in Bruttium. It is supposed to be the Temesa of the Homeric ages, to which (Od. I. 184,) the Greeks resorted to barter iron for copper. See Mythology, p. 232. For the abundance of copper in ancient Italy, see Niebuhr, Rom. Hist. I.
450-452. Of its use on the present occasion, we may observe, that Sophron in one of his Mimes, said, [Greek: Kuon bauxas luei ta phasmata, os kai chalkos krotaetheis]. The Scholiast on Theocritus, tells us, that [Greek: O tou chalkou haechos oikeios tois katoichomenois], on which Neapolis says, "Observa illa et respice ad hodiernum modum." He was a Sicilian.
447.Pliade nate, Mercury. All the editions readPleiade. But see note on IV. 169.—Virga, the well knowngestamenof [Greek: Hermaes chrysorrhatis]. Compare Hom. II. xxiv. 43. Od. v. 47. Virg. aen. 242. Hor. Car. I. 10, 17, 24, 15.
448. His office of [Greek: psychopompos] is well-known. He was, therefore, the god who was most likely to be able to tell the origin of the name Lemuria.
450. He does not, as usual, introduce the god himself speaking, but informs the reader of what he had learned from him.
451.Tumulo condidit. Com pare Virg. aen. III. 67.
452. See IV. 841,et seq—Male veloci. Likeservata male, I. 559.
456.Utque erat. As they (each of them) were. Two of the best MSS. readsicut erant, but the metre is against this reading.
457. Compare Virg. aen. II. 270.
471.Pietas, etc. His brotherly love is equal to mine.
476. Compare Hom. II. xxiii. 99. Virg. aen. II. 792.
479-484.Lemures dictos esse putant quasi Remures a Remo, cujus occisi umbram frater Romulus quum placare vellet Lemuria instituit. Porphyrio on Hor. Ep. II. 2, 209.
483. Lemures, [Greek: nukterinoi daimones].Glossae.
486. See II. 557.
487. Plutarch (Q. R. 86,) gives, among other reasons, why the Romans did not marry in May, [Greek: oti polloi Latinon en to maeni touto tois katoichomenois enagizousi]. He elsewhere informs us, that it was only widows who married on holidays.
490. The celebrated Alessandro Tassoni, as Burmann observes, treats largely in his Pensieri Diversi, L. viii c. 2. of this superstition, which still existed in his time at Ferrara.
492. "Nam hi sex continuis diebus. Primus, tertius, quintus sacri suntLemuralibus. Hinc capies vetus Kalendarium in quo sic illa notantur:A. LEM. N.BC.C. LEM. N.D. NP. LVD. MART. IV. CIRC.E. LEM. N."Neapolis.
493-544. The second day of the Lemuria fell on the V. Id. on which day therefore Orion set.—Boeotum. Orion was born in Boeotia, according to most writers. Pindar makes Chios his birth-place. The following narrative occurs in several writers besides Ovid. See Mythology, p. 415-419.
494.Falsus eris, you will be mistaken.
495.Frater. Tzetzes on Lyc. Cass. 328, says it was Apollo. As according to Hesiod, Neptune was the father of Orion, our poet is, I think, the more orthodox.
497. Compare Virg. Ec. II. 66. Hor. Epod. II. 61. Compare also the whole narrative with the delightful story of Philemon and Baucis, in the Metamorphoses, viii. 626.et seq.
504.Parent promissis, is equivalent to: They accept his invitation.
506.Ignis, etc. The same is said of Philemon and Baucis; they had therefore but the one hot meal a day. This way of keeping in, and blowing up a fire, is familiar to any one who has been in a country where wood or peat is the fuel.
509.Calices, earthen pots or pipkins to go on the fire. This is rather an unusual sense of the word.—Inde, of them. Compare IV. 171. Virg. G. III. 308, 490.
510.Testu suo, by its lid, I should suppose.—Fumant. Several MSS. readspumantorspumat, some havefumat, whence Heinsius formed the present reading.
517.Puer, when a young man.—Diffuderat, racked off. See Hor. Ep. I. 5. 4.
518.Condoandpromoare appropriate terms, Hor. Car. I. 9. 7. Epod. 2. 47. It was the custom to set the wine jars in a place where the smoke could have access to them.Apothecae recte superponentur his locis, unde pierumque fumus exoritur, quoniam vina celerius vetustescunt, quae fumi quodam tenore praecocem maturitatem trahunt; propter quod et aliud tabulatum esss debebit, qua amoveantur, ne rursus nimia suffitione medicata sint, Columella, II. R. I. 6.
519.Lino, a linen covering.
525.Prima, etc. Heinsius, who is followed by the other editors, readsprimae mihi cura, juventae, which is the reading of three of the best, and five other MSS. Two of the best readprima mihi cura juventa; otherscara mihi prima juventa; oneprima mihi grata juventa. I think, with Krebs, that there is force in the repetition ofcara. Burmann proposesflore juventae.
526.Cognita. Seven MSS. havecondita.
542.Curva spicula, its claws.—Gemelliparae, an epithet of Latona, peculiar to our poet.
545-598. On the IV. Id. there were Circensian games in honor of Mars Ultor. Augustus built (A.U.C. 725,) in his own Forum a temple to this god, which he had vowed at the time of the battle of Philippi. Suet. Aug. 29.—Mundo, the sky. It is often used in this sense by Manilius. Four MSS. readcaelo.
546.Coarctat, contracts, shortens.
549.Bellica signa, i. e. the clash of arms.
555, 556.Sanxit ut de bellis, triumphisque hic(in templo Martis)consuleretur senatus, quique victores redissent, huc insignia triumphorum inferrent. Suet. Aug. 29.—Tropaeis. Some MSS. readtriumphis.
557.Impius. Rome was under the protection of the gods; Augustus was a god himself. It was, therefore, impiety to take arms against them.
560. _Ornant signis fictilibus aut aereis inauratis aedium fastigia. Vitruv. Archit. III. 2. We know not of what gods the statues were on this temple of Mars.
561.Diversae figurae, differing in form from those used by the Romans. These, and thearmaof the next line, were probably carved on the doors, or piled or suspended at them.
563.Proximum a diis immortalibus honorem memoriae ducum praestitit. Itaque et opera cujusque, manentibus titulis, restituit, et statuas omnium triumphali effigie in utraque Fori sui porticu dedicavit. Suet. Aug. 3l.—Hinc, then, or from the temple.—Caro. Heinsius and Gierig read after two of the best MSS.sacro.
565. Romulus, the son of Ilia, bearing thespolia opimaof Acron. Liv. 1. 10.
566. The titles and deeds of the great men were inscribed on the bases of their statues.
567. The name of Augustus was, according to custom, inscribed on the temple.
573. See III. 699.
575. The [Greek: aimati asai Araea talaurinon polemistaen] of Homer, was, perhaps, in Ovid's mind.
580. To whom is unknown the fate of Crassus, and the recovery of the captured ensigns of Rome by Augustus, the theme of every Augustan poet's praise? Krebs.
595.Bis ulto. Some MSS. readultum. The greater number Bisultor, "NomenBisultorisejus que templum in Capitolio lepidum est commentum librariorum et archaeologorum aliquot, quod neque scriptori scujusquam nec nummorum auctoritate confirmatur." Krebs.
598. Compare v. 347.
599. The following day, the third and last of the Lemuria, the Pleiades rise heliacally, and summer begins.VI. Idus Maias Vergiliae totae apparent; pridie aestatis initium. Columella, R. R. xi. 2.
603-620. On the 14th May, Prid. Id. the head of the Bull rises cosmically. The poet now inquires into its origin. See IV. 7l7-720,—Prior, scil.dies. Idibusis a dative.
605. For the story of Europa, see Met. II. 833,et seq. Hor. Car. III. 27. Mythology p. 408. It is also most beautifully told by the Greek poet Moschus, in his second Idyll.
607.Jubam. It is rather unusual to speak of thejuba, (mane) of a bull. Ovid however does so elsewhere. Am. III. 5. 24. This description was, perhaps as Gierig observes, taken from some painting, but that in Moschus (v. 122) is similar, [Greek: Tae men echen tauron dolichon keras, en cheri d' allae Eirue porphyreas kolpou ptychas … … … Kolpothae d' omoisi peplos bathys Europeiaes, Istion oia te naeos, elaphrizeske de kouraen]. And in Lucian's Dialogue of Zephyrus and Notes, it is said, [Greek: hae de tae laie men eicheto tou keratos, os mae apolisthanoi, tae hetera de haemeno menon ton peplon xyneiche]. Compare III. 869.
613, 614. How truly Ovidian this is!—Prudens, on purpose, This word is a contraction ofprovidens.
619.Phariam juvencam. Io or Isis. II. 454. Met. I. 583,et seq.
621-662. On the Ides of May, after having performed the sacrifices appointed by the law, the Pontifices, the Vestal Virgins, the Praetors, and such other of the citizens as were legally qualified, proceeded to the Sublician or ancient wooden bridge, and threw from it into the Tiber thirty images of men formed of bullrushes. These figures were calledArgei. See Dionysius I. 19 and 38.Argei fiunt e scirpeis virgultis: simulacra sunt hominum triginta(in the old MSS. xxiv.):et quotannis a ponte Sublicio a sacerdotibus publice jaci solent in Tiberim. Varro, L. L. VI.Argeos vocabant scirpeas effigies, quae per virgines Vestales minis singulis jaciebantur in Tiberim. Festus. I have departed from the usual division in this place, and made a separate section of 621-662, as the Argei were thrown on the Ides, and Taurus rose Prid. Idus.—Virgo, scil.Vestalis, one, as is so frequently the case, put for the whole. See preceding part of this note.—Pris. vir. This is explained by what follows.
622.Roboreo, i. e.Sublicioso calleda sublicis, the piles on which it was built, hence Plutarch calls it [Greek: xylinaen gephuran]. Dionysius III. says of it [Greek: haen achri ton pyrontos diaphylattousin, hieran einai nomizontes ei de ti ponaeseien autaes meros, oi hierophantai (Pontifices) therapeuousi, thusias tinas epitelountes ama tae kataskeuae patrious]. The Sublician was the ancient original bridge of Rome, and a superstitious reverence frequently attaches to things of this nature. I need scarcely observe, that we have here the origin of the wordPontifex.
623. The first opinion respecting the origin of this custom: the ancient Romans used to throw their old men, when they were arrived at the age of sixty, into the Tiber, and drown them. This the poet very properly seems disposed to reject, and whatever may have been the case with a tribe of the ancient Indians, (see Herod. III. 38,) or with the Battas of modern times, there is no ground for suspecting the people of ancient Latium of such barbarity.
625. A second opinion: it commemorated the time when human sacrifices were offered at Home. I have, in various parts of my Mythology, hinted my opinion, that human sacrifices were totally unknown in the heroic ages of Greece, and that all legends relating to such are comparatively late fictions. I now extend this theory to Italy, and assert that there are no testimonies, on which we can rely, of such a practice having prevailed in it in those times, when the poet says it was calledSaturnia terra. The opinion, of which the poet now speaks, evidently arose from the confounding of Saturnus, the Italian god of husbandry, with 'Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears,' the 'grim idol' of the Phoenicians and Carthaginians.
626. According to Dionysius, the oracle given by the god at Dodona to the Pelasgians was as follows; [Greek: Steichete maiomenoi Sikelon Satournian aian Haed' Aborigeneon Kotulaen, ou nasos ocheitai. Ois anamichthentes dekataen ekpempsate Phoibo kai kephalas Adae, kai to patri pempate phota]. Arnobibus (adv. G. II. p. 91,) says,Cum exApollinismonitit patri Diti ac Saturno humanis capitibus supplicaretur. I need hardly observe, that the aforesaid oracle cannot be older than the Alexandrian period of Grecian literature.
630.Leucadio. Leucas, nowSanta Maura, on the coast of Acarnania, was originally a peninsula. It has long been an island. The celebrated Lover's Leap was there. Strabo (x. 2.) says, [Greek: Haen de kai patrion tois Laukadiois kat' eniauton en tae thysia tou Apollonos apo tes skopaes], (the Lover's Leap,) [Greek: ripteistha tina ton en aitiois outon apotrhopes charin]. He adds, that birds, and a kind of wings, were attached to these criminals to break the fall, and that there was a number of persons below in small boats to save them, and to put them beyond the bounds of the country.
631. Macrobius (Sat. I. 7,) says, that he persuaded the people _ut faustis sacrificiis infausta mutarent, inferences Diti, non hominum capita, sed oscilla ad humanam effigiem arte simulata, et aras Saturnias, non mactando viros, sed accensis luminibus excolentes, quia non solum virum sed et lumina [Greek: phota] (see the oracle,)significant. The following note of Burmann's is too curious to be omitted, "Similem fere ritum Lipsiae a meretricibus celebratum scribit Pfeiffer Rerum Lipsiensium, L. III. § 18, illas scilicet solitas olim primis jejunii quadragenarii (Lent) diebus imaginem stramineam deformis viri, longa pertica suffixam, sequente omni meretricum agmine, tulisse ad Pardam flumen, ibique, cum carminibus in pallidam mortem, praecipitasse; dicentes se lustrare urbem, ut sequenti anno a pestilentia esset immunis."—Ilium. Fama vetus, (v. 625,) is understood.—Quirites, proleptically, as there were no Quirites as yet.
633. A third opinion: which appears to have arisen from the misunderstanding of a proverb,Cum in quintum gradum pervenerant, atque habebant sexaginta annos, tum denique erant a publicis negotiis liberi atque expediti et otiosi: ideo in proverbium quidam putant venisse, sexagenarios de ponte dejici oportere, id est quod suffragium non ferant, quod per pontem ferebant. Nonius.Exploratissimum illud causae est quo tempore primum per pontem coeperunt comitiis suffragia ferre, juniores conclamavere, ut de ponte dejicerentur sexagenarii: quia nullo pidilico munere fungerentur; ut ipsi potius sibi quam illis deligerent imperium, Festus.
635.Tibri, etc. The reader will call to mind Gray's "Say father Thames," etc. in his Ode on the Distant Prospect of Eton College, and I hope, at the same time, recollect with contempt the tasteless criticism of Johnson, who, curious enough, had put an exactly similar apostrophe to the Nile into the mouth of the princess Nekayah, in his own Rasselas. Was this passage of Ovid in the mind of that maker of beautiful poetic mosaics?
637.Aurundiferum. The rivergods were usually represented crowned with reeds. Met. ix. 3. Virg. aen. viii. 34.
638.Rauca ora. As he uses the verbdimovet, ora, in this place, must signifylips, andhoarse lipsis rather a hardy expression. Heinsius proposedglauca. A hoarse voice is very naturally ascribed to a river-god. Compare Virg. aen. ix. 124.
639. Compare Virg. aen. viii. 360.
643. See I. 471, IV. 65.
646. See II. 389, IV. 48. Liv. I. 3.
647.Pallantius, from his native town Pallantium, in Arcadia. He calls himNonacrius heros, v. 97.
660. The only foundation of this legend is the accidental resemblance betweenArgeiand [Greek:Argeioi]. Of the origin of the wordArgei, I can offer no conjecture; the ceremony seems to me to have been symbolical. Perhaps, like the Leucadian rite, (see on v. 630) it had some analogy with that of letting go the Scape-goat under the Mosaic law. In the number of the images (thirty) I discern a relation to the thirty curies into which the original Romans were divided: or, perhaps, a more general one, to the political number of Latium. See Niebuhr, Rom. Hist. II. 18,et seq.
661.Hactenus, scil.locutus est Tiberis.
663-692. A temple was dedicated to Mercury on the Ides of May, A.U.C. 258. Liv. II. 21, 27.—Clare, etc. Compare Hor. Car. I. 10. which ode Ovid, very possibly had before him.
665.Pacis, etc. "Mercurius pacis et armorum arbiter propter eloquentiam et prudentiam qua excellit." Gierig. I rather think it was as beingCaducifer, the herald of the gods.
671.Te. etc. The name of the Roman Mercurius comes evidently fromMerx, and there can be little doubt of his having been originally merely the god presiding over commerce. When he was identified with the Greek Hermes, he acquired the offices above mentioned. For Hermes, see Mythology, p. 124.
673.Est aqua, etc. "Hoc solum testimonio probant viri docti extra portam Capenam, via Appia, aquam fuisse ita nuncupatam; qua populus, qui negotio et quaestui operam dabat, his Idibus lustrari solitus." Neapolis.
674.Numen habet, it has a divine efficacy.
675.Incinctus tunicas. "Cingulo; e quo marsupium auri monetalis propendebat. Hic vetus mercatorum habitus." Neapolis. The MSS. in general readtunica.
676.Purus, scil.ipse.—Suffitascil.sulfure. Most MSS. readsuffusa.
678.Omnia, etc. his goods, all the things that he had to sell. He, of course, as v. 676 shews, had brought the holy water home for this pious use.
680.Solita fallere. The characier of the trader was in bad odour in ancient Rome for honesty; for trade was considered an illiberal employment, and no man of respectability engaged in it.
684.Non andituri, who should not hear, whom I did not wish to hear.
692.Ortygias boves, the oxen of Apollo. For the story, see Met. II. 685,et seq. the Homeridian hymn to Hermes, or my analysis of it. (Mythology, p. 126-128.) See also Hor. Car. I. 10. 9. Ortygian, is used by the poet as equivalent to Delian, as Ortygia was one of the names given to Delos. For the true situation of Ortygia, and the way in which it was confounded with Delos, see Mythology, pp. 99 and 254.
693-720. On the XIII. Kal. Jun. the sun enters the Twins. Columella, who is followed by Neapolis, has XV. Kal. Jun.—Precorscil. te Mercuri!— Mel. pet_. scil. than the merchant.
697.Quot sunt. etc. i. e. twelve.
699. Phoebe and her sister Elaïra, Ilaïra or Hilaïra, as it is variously written, the two daughters of Leucippus were promised in marriage to their two cousins Idas and Lynceus, the sons of Aphareus. The Tyndaridae, Castor and Pollux, who were also cousins, carried off the maidens by force, and matters proceeded as is related in the text. See Theoc. Idyll, xxii. Pindar. Nem. x. Mythology, p. 391.
705.Oebalides, either as being the grandsons of Oebalus, Pans. III. 1, or because they were Laconians. See on I. 260.
708.Aphidna. The best known Aphidna is the Attic deme of that name. According to Steph. Byz, (sub. voc.) there was an Aphidna in Laconia.
719. See Hom. Od. xi. 301. Virg. aen. vi. 121.
720.Utile, etc. They were [Greek: arogonautai daimones]. See Hor. Car. II. 3, and 12, 27.
721.Ad Janum, etc. "XII. Kal. Jun. Agonalia Urbs interabat. Hoc die notantur haec festa in veteri Kalendario; nam illudhoc quoque tempus habet, quod induxit interpretes ut dicerent XIV. Kal. intelligendum quod etiam mense Maio denuo fiant." Neapolis. The poet refers those anxious for information to the first book. See I. 317,et seq.
723.Canicularises (it should besets, Plin. xviii. 27,) on the XI Kal. Jun. See on IV. 936.
725. The Tubilustria were on the X. Kal.Tubilustrium appellatur, quod eo die in atrio sutorio sacrorum tubae lustrantur. Varro, L. L. V. See III. 849.
726.Purae, as being sacred, or as being now cleaned or purified.
727.Inde, then, in the place of the next day, IX. Kal. in the Calendar. "In Calendario antiquo legebantur notae hae Q. R. C. F. quae dupliciter legi poterant, vel: quando rex comitiavit fas, vel: quando rex comitio fugit," Gierig. The king is, of course, the Rex Sacrorum. _Dies, qui vocatur sic, Quando rex comitiavit fas, dictus ab eo, quod eo die rex sacrificulus dicat ad comitium, ad quod tempus est nefas, ab eo fas. Varro L. L. V. [Greek: Esti goun tis en agora thusia pros to legomeno Komaetio patrios, haen thusas ho basileus kata tachos apeisi pheugon ex agoras]. Plutarch, Q. R. 63.
730. On the VIII. Kal. Jun. the temple of Fortuna Publica had been dedicated. This is probably the temple of Fortuna Primigenia, of which Plutarch speaks, de For. Rom. 10. [Greek: Serbios Tullios idrusato Tychaes ieron Kapitolio to taes Primigeneias legomenaes]. See IV. 375. It is not unlikely that, as Gesenius conjectures, Ovid read the PR. in his Calendarpop. Rom. i. e.pop. pot. of the text, instead ofPrimigenia. On the same day Aquila rises in the evening.
733. The following day VII. Kal. Bootes sets heliacally, and on the VI. Kal. the Hyades rise in the same manner.
Hic mensis habet dubias in nomine causas:Quae placeant, positis omnibus, ipse leges.Facta canam; sed erunt, qui me finxisse loquantur:Nullaque mortali numina visa putent.Est Deus in nobis: agitante calescimus illo. 5Impetus hic sacrae semina mentis habet.Fas mihi praecipue vultus vidisse Deorum:Vel quia sum vates; vel quia sacra cano.Est nemus arboribus densum, secretus ab omniVoce locus, si non obstreperetur aquis. 10Hic ego quaerebam, coepti quae mensis origoEsset, et in cura nominis hujus eram.Ecce deas vidi: non quas praeceptor arandiViderat, Ascraeas quum sequeretur oves;Nec quas Priamides in aquosae vallibus Idae 15Contulit; ex illis sed tamen una fuit.Ex illis fuit una, sui germana mariti.Haec erat,—agnovi,—quae stat in arce Jovis.Horrueram tacitoque animum pallore fatebar;Quum dea, quos fecit, sustulit ipsa metus: 20Namque, ait, O vates, Romani conditor anni,Ause per exiguos magna referre modos,Jus tibi fecisti numen coeleste videndi,Quum placuit numeris condere festa tuis.Ne tamen ignores, vulgique errore traharis, 25Junius a nostro nomine nomen habet.Est aliquid nupsisse Jovi, Jovis esse sororem.Fratre magis, dubito, glorier, anne viro.Si genus adspicitur, Saturnum prima parentemFeci; Saturni sors ego prima fui. 30A patre dicta meo quondam Saturnia Roma est:Haec illi a coelo proxima terra fuit.Si torus in pretio est, dicor matrona Tonantis,Junctaque Tarpeio sunt mea templa Jovi.An potuit Maio pellex dare nomina mensi, 35Hic honor in nobis invidiosus erit?Cur igitur regina vocor, princepsque dearum?Aurea cur dextrae sceptra dedere meae?An faciant mensem luces, Lucinaque ab illisDicar, et a nullo nomina mense traham? 40Tum me poeniteat posuisse fideliter irasIn genus Electrae Dardaniamque domum.Causa duplex irae. Rapto Ganymede dolebam:Forma quoque Idaeo judice victa mea est.Poeniteat, quod non foveo Carthaginis arces, 45Quum mea sint illo currus et arma loco.Poeniteat Sparten, Argosque, measque Mycenas,Et veterem Latio supposuisse Samon.Adde senem Tatium, Junonicolasque Faliscos,Quos ego Romanis succubuisse tuli. 50Sed neque poeniteat, nec gens mihi carior ulla est.Hic colar, hic teneam cum Jove templa meo.Ipse mihi Mavors, Commendo maenia, dixit,Haec tibi: tu pollens urbe nepotis eris.Dicta fides sequitur. Centum celebramur in aris: 55Nec levior quovis est mihi mensis honor.Nec tamen hunc nobis tantummodo praestat honoremRoma: suburbani dant mihi munus idem.Inspice, quos habeat nemoralis Aricia fastos,Et populus Laurens, Lanuviumque meum: 60Est illic mensis Junonius. Inspice Tibur,Et Praenestinae moenia sacra deae;Junonale leges tempus. Nec Romulus illasCondidit: at nostri Roma nepotis erat.Finierat Juno. Respeximus. Herculis uxor 65Stabat, et in vultu signa dolentis erant.Non ego, si toto mater me cedere coeloJusserit, invita matre morabor, ait.Nunc quoque non luctor de nomine temporis hujus:Blandior, et partes paene rogantis ago; 70Remque mei juris malim tenuisse precando;Et faveas causae forsitan ipse meae.Aurea possedit posito Capitolia temploMater, et ut debet, cum Jove summa tenet.At decus omne mihi contingit origine mensis. 75Unicus est, de quo sollicitamur, honor.Quid grave, si titulum mensis, Romane dedisti,Herculis uxori, posteritasque memor?Haec quoque terra aliquid debet mihi nomine magniConjugis. Huc captas appulit ille boves, 80Hic male defensus flammis et dote paternaCacus Aventinam sanguine tinxit humum.Ad propiora vocor. Populum digessit ab annisRomulus, in partes distribuitque duas.Haec dare consilium, pugnare paratior illa est: 85Haec aetas bellum suadet, at illa gerit.Sic statuit, mensesque nota secrevit eadem.Junius est juvenum; qui fuit ante, senum.Dixit: et in litem studio certaminis issent,Atque ira pietas dissimulata foret; 90Venit Apollinea longas Concordia lauroNexa comas, placidi numen opusque ducis.Haec ubi narravit Tatium, fortemque Quirinum,Binaque cum populis regna coisse suis,Et Lare communi soceros generosque receptos; 95His nomen junctis Junius, inquit, habet.Dicta triplex causa est. At vos ignoscite, divae:Res est arbitrio non dirimenda meo.Ite pares a me. Perierunt judice formaePergama: plus laedunt, quam juvet una, duae. 100
Prima dies tibi, Carna, datur. Dea cardinis haec est;Numine clausa aperit, claudit aperta suo.Unde datas habeat vires, obscurior aevoFama; sed e nostro carmine certus eris.Adjacet antiquus Tiberino lucus Helerni: 105Pontifices illuc nunc quoque sacra ferunt.Inde sata est Nymphe,—Cranen dixere priores,—Nequidquam multis saepe petita procis.Rura sequi jaculisque feras agitare solebat,Nodosasque cava tendere valle plagas. 110Non habuit pharetram: Phoebi tamen esse sororemCredebant; nec erat, Phoebe, pudenda tibi.Huic aliquis juvenum dixisset amantia verba,Reddebat tales protinus illa sonos:Haec loca lucis habent nimis, et cum luce pudoris. 115Si secreta magis ducis in antra, sequor.Credulus ante subit. Frutices haec nacta resistit,Et latet, et nullo est invenienda loco.Viderat hanc Janus, visseque cupidine captusAd duram verbis mollibus usus erat: 120Nympha jubet quaeri de more remotius antrum:Utque comes sequitur, destituitque ducem.Stulta! videt Janus, quae post sua terga gerantur;Nil agis, en! latebras respicit ille tuas.Nil agis, en! dixi. Nam te sub rupe latentem 125Occupat amplexu; speque potitus ait:Jus pro concubitu nostro tibi cardinis esto;Hoc pretium positae virginitatis habe.Sic fatus, virgam, qua tristes pellere possetA foribus noxas,—haec erat alba—dedit. 130Sunt avidae volucres; non quae Phineïa mensisGuttura fraudabant: sed genus inde trahunt.Grande caput: stantes oculi: rostra apta rapinae;Canities pennis, unguibus hamus inest.Nocte volant, puerosque petunt nutricis egentes, 135Et vitiant cunis corpora rapta suis.Carpere dicuntur lactentia viscera rostris;Et plenum poto sanguine guttur habent.Est illis strigibus nomen: sed nominis hujusCausa, quod horrenda stridere nocte solent. 140Sive igitur nascuntur aves, seu carmine fiunt,Neniaque in volucres Marsa figurat anus;In thalamos venere Procae. Proca natus in illisPraeda recens avium quinque diebus erat;Pectoraque exsorbent avidis infantia linguis. 145At puer infelix vagit opemque petit.Territa voce sui nutrix accurrit alumni,Et rigido sectas invenit ungue genas.Quid faceret? color oris erat, qui frondibus olimEsse solet seris, quas nova laesit hiems. 150Pervenit ad Cranen, et rem docet. Illa, TimoremPone! tuus sospes, dixit, alumnus erit.Venerat ad cunas: flebant materque paterque:Sistite vos lacrimas! ipsa medebor, ait.Protinus arbutea postes ter in ordine tangit 155Fronde: ter arbutea limina fronde notat.Spargit aquis aditus, et quae medicamen habebant:Extaque de porca cruda bimestre tenet.Atque ita, Noctis aves, extis puerilibus, inquit,Parcite! pro parvo victima parva cadit. 160Cor pro corde, precor, pro fibris sumite fibras.Hanc animam vobis pro meliore damus.Sic ubi libavit, prosecta sub aethere ponit:Quique sacris adsunt, respicere illa vetat.Virgaque Janalis de spina ponitur alba, 165Qua lumen thalamis parva fenestra dabat.Post illud nec aves cunas violasse feruntur,Et rediit puero, qui fuit ante, color.Pinguia cur illis gustentur larda Kalendis,Mixtaque cum calido sit faba farre, rogas. 170Prisca dea est, aliturque cibis, quibus ante solebat,Nec petit adscitas luxuriosa dapes.Piscis adhuc illi populo sine fraude natabat;Ostreaque in conchis tuta fuere suis:Nec Latium norat, quam praebet Ionia dives, 175Nec, quae Pygmaeo sanguine gaudet, avem;Et praeter pennas nihil in pavone placebat:Nec tellus captas miserat ante feras.Sus erat in pretio: caesa sue festa colebant.Terra fabas tantum duraque farra dabat. 180Quae duo mixta simul sextis quicumque KalendisEderit, huic laedi viscera posse negant.Arce quoque in summa Junoni templa MonetaeEx voto memorant facta, Camille, tuo.Ante domus Manli fuerant, qui Gallica quondam 185A Capitolino reppulit arma Jove.Quam bene—Di magni!—pugna cecidisset in illaDefensor solii, Jupiter alte, tui!Vixit, ut occideret damnatus crimine regni.Hunc illi titulum longa senecta dabat. 190Lux eadem Marti festa est; quem prospicit extraAppositum Tectae porta Capena viae.Te quoque, Tempestas, meritam delubra fatemur;Quum paene est Corsis obruta classis aquis.Haec hominum monumenta patent. Si quaeritis astra, 195Tunc oritur magni praepes adunca Jovis.
Postera lux Hyades, Taurinae cornua frontis,Evocat: et multa terra madescit aqua.
Mane ubi bis fuerit, Phoebusque iteraverit ortus,Factaque erit posito rore bis uda seges; 200Hac sacrata die Tusco Bellona duelloDicitur: et Latio prospera semper adest.Appius est auctor: Pyrrho qui pace negataMultum animo vidit; lumine captus erat.Prospicit a templo summum brevis area Circum. 205Est ibi non parvae parva columna notae.Hinc solet hasta manu, belli praenuntia, mitti,In regem et gentes quum placet arma capi.
Altera pars Circi custode sub Hercule tuta est:Quod deus Euboico carmine munus habet. 210Muneris est tempus, qui Nonas Lucifer ante est.Si titulos quaeris, Sulla probavit opus.
Quaerebam, Nonas Sanco Fidione referrem,An tibi, Semo pater: quum mihi Sancus ait:Cuicumque ex illis dederis, ego munus habebo. 215Nomina trina fero: sic voluere Cures.Hunc igitur veteres donarunt aede Sabini:Inque Quirinali constituere jugo.
Est mihi, sitque, precor, nostris diuturnior annis,Filia, qua felix sospite semper ero. 220Hanc ego quum vellem genero dare, tempora taedisApta requirebam, quaeque cavenda forent.Tum mihi post sacras monstratur Junius IdusUtilis et nuptis, utilis esse viris;Primaque pars hujus thalamis aliena reperta est, 225Nam mihi, sic conjux sancta Dialis ait:Donec ab Iliaca placidus purgamina VestaDetulerit flavis in mare Tibris aquis,Non mihi detonsos crines depectere buxo,Non ungues ferro subsecuisse licet: 230Non tetigisse virum; quamvis Jovis ille sacerdos,Quamvis perpetua sit mihi lege datus.Tu quoque ne propera: melius tua filia nubet,Ignea quum pura Vesta nitebit humo.
Tertia post Nonas removere Lycaona Phoebe 235Fertur: et a tergo non habet Ursa metum.Tunc ego me memini Ludos in gramine CampiAdspicere, et didici, lubrice Tibri, tuos.Festa dies illis, qui lina madentia ducunt,Quique tegunt parvis aera recurva cibis. 240
Mens quoque numen habet. Menti delubra videmusVota metu belli, perfide Poene, tui.Poene, rebellaras: et leto Consulis omnesAttoniti Mauras pertimuere manus.Spem metus expulerat, quum Menti vota Senatus 245Suscipit; et melior protinus illa venit.Adspicit instantes mediis sex lucibus IdusIlla dies, qua sunt vota soluta deae.
Vesta, fave! tibi nunc operata resolvimus ora,Ad tua si nobis sacra venire licet. 250In prece totus eram; coelestia numina sensi,Laetaque purpurea luce refulsit humus.Non equidem vidi—valeant mendacia vatum—Te, dea; nec fueras adspicienda viro.Sed quae nescieram, quorumque errore tenebar, 255Cognita sunt nullo praecipiente mihi.Dena quater memorant habuisse Palilia Romam,Quum flammae custos aede recepta sua est.Regis opus placidi, quo non metuentius ullumNuminis ingenium terra Sabina tulit. 260Quae nunc aere vides, stipula tunc tecta videres,Et paries lento vimine textus erat.Hic locus exiguus, qui sustinet atria Vestae,Tunc erat intonsi regia magna Numae.Forma tamen templi, quae nunc manet, ante fuisse 265Dicitur: et formae causa probanda subest.Vesta eadem est, et Terra: subest vigil ignis utrique,Significant sedem terra focusque suam.Terra pilae similis, nullo fulcimine nixa,Aëre subjecto tam grave pendet onus. 270[Ipsa volubilitas libratum sustinet orbem:Quique premat partes, angulus omnis abest.Quumque sit in media rerum regione locata,Et tangat nullum plusve minusve latus;Ni convexa foret, parti vicinior esset, 275Nec medium terram mundus haberet onus.]Arce Syracosia suspensus in aëre clausoStat globus, immensi parva figura poli;Et quantum a summis, tantum secessit ab imisTerra. Quod ut fiat, forma rotunda facit. 280Par facies templi: nullus procurrit in illoAngulus. A pluvio vindicat imbre tholus.Cur sit virgineis, quaeris, dea culta ministris.Inveniam causas hac quoque parte suas.Ex Ope Junonem memorant Cereremque creatas 285Semine Saturni: tertia Vesta fuit.Utraqe nupserunt: ambae peperisse feruntur:De tribus impatiens restitit una viri.Quid mirum, virgo si virgine laeta ministraAdmittet castas in sua sacra manus? 290Nec tu aliud Vestam, quam vivam intellige flammam;Nataque de flamma corpora nulla vides.Jure igitur virgo est, quae semina nulla remittit,Nec capit: et comites virginitatis habet.Esse diu stultus Vestae simulacra putavi: 295Mox didici curvo nulla subesse tholo.Ignis inexstinctus templo celatur in illo;Effigiem nullam Vesta, nec ignis, habent.Stat vi terra sua: vi stando Vesta vocatur;Causaque par Graii nominis esse potest. 300At focus a flammis, et quod fovet omnia, dictus:Qui tamen in primis aedibus ante fuit.Hinc quoque vestibulum dici reor: inde precandoAffamur Vestam, Quae loca prima tenes.Ante focos olim longis considere scamnis 305Mos erat, et mensae credere adesse deos.Nunc quoque, quum fiunt antiquae sacra Vacunae,Ante Vacunales stantque sedentque focos.Venit in hos annos aliquid de more vetusto:Fert missos Vestae pura patella cibos. 310Ecce, coronatis panis dependet asellis,Et velant scabras florea serta molas.Sola prius furnis torrebant farra coloni;Et Fornacali sunt sua sacra deae.Suppositum cineri panem focus ipse parabat, 315Strataque erat tepido tegula quassa solo.Inde focum servat pistor, dominamque focorum,Et quea pumiceas versat asella molas.Praeteream, referamne tuum, rubicunde Priape,Dedecus? est multi fabula parva joci. 320Turrigera frontem Cybele redimita coronaConvocat aeternos ad sua festa deos.Convocat et Satyros, et, rustica numina, Nymphas.Silenus, quamvis nemo vocarat, adest.Nec licet, et longum est epulas narrare deorum: 325In multo nox est pervigilata mero.Hi temere errabant in opacae vallibus Idae:Pars jacet, et molli gramine membra levat.Hi ludunt, hos somnus habet; pars brachia nectit,Et viridem celeri ter pede pulsat humum. 330Vesta jacet, placidamque capit secura quietem,Sicut erat positum cespite fulta caput.At ruber hortorum custos Nymphasque deasqueCaptat, et errantes fertque refertque pedes.Adspicit et Vestam; dubium, Nymphamne putarit, 335An scierit Vestam: scisse sed ipse negat.Spem capit obscenam, furtimque accedere tentat,Et fert suspensos, corde micante, gradus.Forte senex, quo vectus erat, Silenus asellumLiquerat ad ripas lene sonantis aquae. 340Ibat, ut inciperet, longi deus Hellesponti,Intempestivo quum rudit ille sono.Territa voce gravi surgit dea. Convolat omnisTurba; per infestas effugit ille manus.[Lampsacos hoc animal solita est mactare Priapo: 345Apta asini flammis indicis exta damus.]Quem tu, diva memor, de pane monilibus ornas.Cessat opus: vacuae conticuere molae.Nomine, quam pretio celebratior, arce Tonantis,Dicam, Pistoris quid velit ara Jovis. 350Cincta premebantur trucibus Capitolia Gallis:Fecerat obsidio jam diuturna famem.Jupiter, ad solium Superis regale vocatis,Incipe, ait Marti. Protinus ille refert:Scilicet, ignotum est, quae sit fortuna meorum; 355Et dolor hic animi voce querentis eget?Si tamen, ut referam breviter mala juncta pudori,Exigis: Alpino Roma sub hoste jacet.Haec est, cui fuerat promissa potentia rerum,Jupiter? hanc terris impositurus eras? 360Jamque suburbanos Etruscaque contudit arma.Spes erat in cursu; nunc Lare pulsa suo est.Vidimus ornatos serata per atria pictaVeste triumphales occubuisse senes;Vidimus Iliacae transferri pignora Vestae 365Sede. Putant aliquos scilicet esse deos.At si respicerent, qua vos habitatis in arce,Totque domos vestras obsidione premi:Nil opis in cura scirent superesse deorum,Et data sollicita tura perire manu. 370Atque utinam pugnae pateat locus! arma capessant;Et, si non poterunt exsuperare, cadant.Nunc inopes victus, ignavaque fata timentes,Monte suo clauses barbara turba premit.Tum Venus, et lituo pulcher trabeaque Quirinus, 375Vestaque pro Latio multa locuta suo.Publica, respondit, cura est pro moenibus istis,Jupiter, et poenas Gallia victa dabit.Tu modo, quae desunt fruges, superesse putentur,Effice, nec sedes desere Vesta, tuas. 380Quodcumque est Cereris solidae cava machina frangat,Mollitamque manu duret in igne focus.Jusserat: et fratris virgo Saturnia jussisAnnuit: et mediae tempora noctis erant.Jam ducibus somnum dederat labor. Increpat illos 385Jupiter, et sacro, quid velit, ore docet:Surgite, et in medios de summis arcibus hostesMittite, quam minime tradere vultis, opem.Somnus abit, quaeruntque novis ambagibus acti,Tradere quam nolint et jubeantur, opem. 390Ecce, Ceres visa est. Jaciunt Cerealia dona.Jacta super galeas scutaque longa sonant.Posse fame vinci spes excidit. Hoste repulsoCandida Pistori ponitur ara Jovi.—Forte revertebar festis Vestalibus illac, 395Qua Nova Romano nunc via juncta Foro est.Huc pede matronam vidi descendere nudo:Obstupui, tacitus sustinuique gradum.Sensit anus vicina loci, jussumque sedereAlloquitur, quatiens voce tremente caput. 400Hoc, ubi nunc fora sunt, udae tenuere paludes:Amno redundatis fossa madebat aquis.Curtius ille lacus, siccas qui sustinet aras,Nunc solida est tellus, sed lacus ante fuit.Qua Velabra solent in Circum ducere pompas, 405Nil praeter salices crassaque canna fuit.Saepe suburbanas rediens conviva per undasCantat, et ad nautas ebria verba jacit.Nondum conveniens diversis iste figurisNomen ab averso ceperat amne deus. 410Hic quoque lucus erat juncis et arundine densus,Et pede velato non adeunda palus.Stagna recesserunt, et aquas sua ripa coërcet:Siccaque nunc tellus. Mos tamen ille manet.Reddiderat causam; Valeas, anus optima! dixi: 415Quod superest aevi, molle sit omne, tui!Cetera jam pridem didici puerilibus annis;Non tamen idcirco praetereunda mihi.Moenia Dardanides nuper nova fecerat Ilus:Ilus adhuc Asiae dives habebat opes. 420Creditur armiferae signum coeleste MinervaeUrbis in Iliacae desiluisse juga.Cura videre fuit: vidi templumque locumque.Hoc superest illi: Pallada Roma tenet.Consulitur Smintheus: lucoque obscurus opaco 425Hos non mentito reddidit ore sonos:Aetheriam servate deam: servabitis urbem:Imperium secum transferet illa loci.Servat et inclusam summa tenet Ilus in arce:Curaque ad heredem Laomedonta venit. 430Sub Priamo servata parum. Sic ipsa volebat,Ex quo judicio forma revicta sua est.Seu genus Adrasti, seu furtis aptus Ulixes,Seu pius aeneas eripuisse datur;Auctor in incerto. Res est Romana: tuetur 435Vesta, quod assiduo lumine cuncta videt.Heu quantum timuere Patres, quo tempore VestaArsit, et est tectis obruta paene suis!Flagrabant sancti sceleratis ignibus ignes,Mixtaque erat flamniae flammae profana piae. 440Attonitae flebant, demisso crine, ministra:Abstulerat vires corporis ipse timor.Provolat in medium, et magna, Succurrite! voce,Non est auxilium flere, Metellus ait.Pignora virgineis fatalia tollite palmis! 445Non ea sunt voto, sed rapienda manu.Me miserum! dubitatis? ait—Dubitare videbat,Et pavidas posito procubuisse genu.—Haurit aquas, tollensque manus, Ignoscite, dixit,Sacra! vir intrabo non adeunda viro. 450Si scelus est, in me commissi poena redundet;Sit capitis damno Roma soluta mei.Dixit et irrupit. Factum dea rapta probavit,Pontificisque sui munere tuta fuit.Nunc bene lucetis sacrae sub Caesare flammae: 455Ignis in Iliacis nunc erit, estque, focis;Nullaque dicetur vittas temerasse sacerdosHoc duce, nec viva defodietur humo.Sic incesta perit: quia, quam violavit, in illamConditur: et Tellus Vestaque numen idem est. 460Tum sibi Callaïco Brutus cognomen ab hosteFecit, et Hispanam sanguine tinxit humum.Scilicit, interdum miscentur tristia laetis,Ne populum toto pectore festa juvent.Crassus ad Euphraten aquilas, natumque, suosque 465Perdidit, et leto est ultimus ipse datus.Parthe, quid exsultas? dixit dea. Signa remittes:Quique necem Crassi vindicet, ultor erit.At simul auritis violae demuntur asellis,Et Cereris fruges aspera saxa terunt; 470Navita puppe sedens, Delphina videbimus, inquit,Humida quum pulso nox erit orta die.
Jam, Phryx, a nupta quereris, Tithone, relinqui,Et vigil Eois Lucifer exit aquis.Ite, bonae matres,—vestrum Matralia festum— 475Flavaque Thebanae reddite liba deae.Pontibus et magno juncta est celeberrima CircoArea, quae posito de bove nomen habet.Hac ibi luce ferunt Matutae sacra parentiSceptriferas Servi templa dedisse manus. 480Quae dea sit: quare famulas a limine templiArceat,—arcet enim—libaque tosta petat;Bacche, racemiferos hedera redimite capillos,Si domus illa tua est, dirige vatis opus.Arserat obsequio Semele Jovis: accipit Ino 485Te, puer, et summa sedula nutrit ope.Intumuit Juno, raptum quod pellice natumEducet. At sanguis ille sororis erat.Hinc agitur furiis Athamas, et imagine falsa:Tuque cadis patria, parve Learche, manu. 490Maesta Learcheas mater tumulaverat umbras,Et dederat miseris omnia justa rogis:Haec quoque, funestos ut erat laniata capillos,Prosilit, et cunis te, Melicerta, rapit.Est spatio contracta brevi, freta bina repellit, 495Unaque pulsatur terra duabus aquis.Huc venit insanis natum complexa lacertis,Et secum e celso mittit in alta jugo.Excipit illaesos Panope centumque sorores,Et placido lapsu per sua regna ferunt. 500Nondum Lencotheë, nondum puer ille PalaemonVorticibus densis Tibridis ora tenent.Lucus erat: dubium Semelae Stimulaene vocetur;Maenadas Ausonias incoluisse ferunt.Quaerit ab his Ino, quae gens foret. Arcadas esse 505Audit, et Evandrum sceptra tenere loci.Dissimulata deam Latias Saturnia BacchasInstimulat fictis insidiosa sonis:O nimium faciles! O toto pectore captae!Non venit haec nostris hospes amica choris. 510Fraude petit, sacrique parat cognoscere ritum;Quo possit poenas pendere, pignus habet.Vix bene desierat; complent ululatibus aurasThyades effusis per sua colla comis:Iniiciuntque manus, puerumque revellere pugnant. 515Quos ignorat adhuc, invocat illa deos:Dique, virique loci, miserae succurrite matri.Clamor Aventini saxa propinqua ferit.Appulerat ripae vaccas Oetaeus Iberas:Audit, et ad vocem concitus urget iter. 520Herculis adventu, quae vim modo ferre parabant,Turpia femineae terga dedere fugae.Quid petis hinc,—cognorat enim—matertera Bacchi?An numen, quod me, te quoque vexat, ait?Illa docet partim, partim praesentia nati 525Continet, et Furiis in scelus isse pudet.Rumor—ut est velox—agitatis pervolat alis:Estque frequens, Ino, nomen in ore tuum.Hospita Carmentis fidos intrasse penatesDiceris, et longam deposuisse famem. 530Liba sua properata manu Tegeaea sacerdosTraditur in subito cocta dedisse foco.Nunc quoque liba juvant festis Matralibus illam;Rustica sedulitas gratior arte fuit.Nunc, ait, O vates, venientia fata resigna, 535Qua licet: hospitiis hoc, precor, adde meis.Parva mora est: coelum vates ac numina sumit,Fitque sui toto pectore plena dei.Vix illam subito posses cognoscere; tantoSanctior, et tanto, quam modo, major erat. 540Laeta canam; gaude, defuncta laboribus, Ino!Dixit, et huic populo prospera semper ades!Numen eris pelagi: natum quoque pontus habebit.In nostris aliud sumite nomen aquis.Leucotheë Graiis, Matuta vocabere nostris; 545In portus nato jus erit omne tuo.Quem nos Portunum, sua lingua Palaemona dicet.Ite, precor, nostris aequus uterque locis!Annuerant: promissa fides: posuere labores;Nomina mutarunt: hic deus, illa dea est. 550Cur vetet ancillas accedere, quaeritis. Odit,Principiumque odii, si sinat ipsa, canam.Una ministrarum solita est, Cadmeï, tuarumSaepe sub amplexus coujugis ire tui.Improbus hanc Athamas furtim dilexit: ab illa 555Comperit agricolis semina tosta dari.Ipsa quidem fecisse negat, sed fama recepit.Hoc est, cur odio sit tibi serva manus.Non tamen hanc pro stirpe sua pia mater adoret:Ipsa parum felix visa fuisse parens. 560Alterius prolem melius mandabitis illi;Utilior Baccho quam fuit ipsa suis.Hanc tibi, Quo properas, memorant dixisso, Rutili?Luce mea Marso Consul ab hoste cades.Exitus accessit verbis: flumenque Toleni 565Purpureum mixtis sanguine fluxit aquis.Proximus annus erat: Pallantide caesus eademDidius hostiles ingeminavit opes.Lux eadem, Fortuna, tua est, auctorque, locusque.Sed superinjectis quis latet aede togis? 570Servius est: hoc constat enim. Sed causa latendiDiscrepat, et dubium me quoque mentis habet.Dum dea furtivos timide profitetur amores,Coelestemque homini concubuisse pudet;—Arsit enim magna correpta cupidine regis, 575Caecaque in hoc uno non fuit illa viro—Nocte domum parva solita est intrare fenestra:Unde Fenestellae nomina porta tenet.Nunc pudet, et vultus velamine celat amatos,Oraque sunt multa regia tecta toga. 580An magis est verum, post Tulli funera plebemConfusam placidi morte fuisse ducis?Nec modus ullus erat: crescebat imagine luctus,Donec eam positis occuluere togis.Tertia causa mihi spatio majore canenda est: 585Nos tamen adductos intus agemus equos.Tullia, conjugio sceleris mercede peracto,His solita est dictis exstimulare virum:Quid juvat esse pares, te nostrae caede sororis,Meque tui fratris, si pia vita placet? 590Vivere debuerant et vir meus, et tua conjux,Si nullum ausuri majus eramus opus.Et caput et regnum facio dotale parentis.Si vir es, i, dictas exige dotis opes!Regia res scelus est. Socero cape regna necato, 595Et nostras patrio sanguine tinge manus.Talibus instinctus solio privatus in altoSederat: attonitum vulgus ad arma ruit.Hinc cruor, hinc caedes: infirmaque vincitur aetas.Sceptra gener socero rapta Superbus habet. 600Ipse sub Esquiliis, ubi erat sua regia, caesusConcidit in dura sanguinolentus humo.Filia carpento patrios initura PenatesIbat per medias alta feroxque vias.Corpus ut adspexit, lacrimis auriga profusis 605Restitit. Hunc tali corripit illa sono:Vadis? an exspectas pretium pietatis amarum?Duc, inquam, invitas ipsa per ora rotas!Certa fides facti, dictus Sceleratus ab illaVicus, et aeterna res ea pressa nota. 610Post tamen hoc ausa est templum, monumenta parentis,Tangere: mira quidem, sed tamen acta loquar.Signum erat in solio residens sub imagine Tulli:Dicitur hoc oculis opposuisse manum.Et vox audita est, Vultus abscondite nostros, 615Ne natae videant ora nefanda meae.Veste data tegitur: vetat hanc Fortuna moveri:Et sic e templo est ipsa locuta suo:Ore revelato qua primum luce patebitServius haec positi prima pudoris erit. 620Parcite, matronae, vetitas attingere vestes:Sollemni satis est voce movere preces:Sitque caput semper Romano tectus amictu,Qui rex in nostra septimus urbe fuit.Arserat hoc templum: signo tamen ille pepercit 625Ignis: opem nato Mulciber ipse tulit.Namque pater Tulli Vulcanus, Ocresia mater,Praesignis facie, Corniculana fuit.Hanc secum Tanaquil, sacris de more peractis,Jussit in ornatum fundere vina focum. 630Hic inter cineres obsceni forma virilisAut fuit, aut visa est: sed fuit illa magis.Jussa loco captiva fovet, Conceptus ab illaServius a coelo semina gentis habet.Signa dedit genitor, tum quum caput igne corusco 635Contigit, inque coma flammeus arsit apex.