v. 873-875, are merely a passing notice of the second temple: in the

latter, his defence is, "Fortasse tamen Noster, more poëtarum, a parte bellum Punicum secundum indicare voluit." Greater poets, however, than Ovid, have fallen into as great errors.

874. _Eryx_. This mountain was near Drepanum, on the west side of Sicily. There was on it a magnificent temple of Venus, the erection of which was ascribed to aeneas and the Trojans. Virg. aen. v. 759. It is, I apprehend, far more probable, that the Venus Erycina was the Astarte or Moon-goddess of the Phoenicians, who was identified with Aphrodite and Venus, and that the founders of the temple were the Carthaginians.

877, 878. The poet would here seem to intimate, that though the festival of Venus and the Vinalia fell on the same day, they were different. See v. 899.--_Quaeritis_. See on V. I.

879. See the last six books of the aeneis.

880. _Adorat_. One MS. has _adoptat_, which Heinsius and Gierig follow.

882. _Equo vel pede_. In horse and foot.

887. _Cato in primo libro Originum ait, Mezentium Rutulis imperasse, ut sibi offerrent quas diis primitias offerebant, et Latinos omnes similis imperii metu ita vocasse: Jupiter, si tibi magis cordi est nos ea tibi dare potius quam Mezentio, uti nos victores facias_, Macrob. Sat. III. 5.

888. _Lacubus_. The _lacus_ or vat, was the vessel placed under the wine-press, to receive the liquor that ran out.

894. _Feres_. One of the best MS. reads _feras_, which Heinsius and Gierig receive, as it is a vow. The meaning is, that as the Rutulians had vowed or promised the produce of the following vintage to Mezentius, aeneas promises it, in case of victory, to Jupiter.

897. _Venerat_, etc. On account of the custom of treading out the grapes. Met. II. 21, Virg. G. II. 8. I doubt if it was good taste to personify Autumn in this place. _Quum satur Auctumnus quassans sua tempora ponmis, Sordidus et musto spumantes exprimit uvas_, Columella, R. R. x. 43.-- _Sordidus_. Five MSS. read _horridus_.

898. _Vina_. Five MSS. read _vota_.

901-904. On the VII. Kal. Maias, six days from the end of the month, was the middle of spring; the _acronych_ setting of the Ram, rain, and the rising of the Dog, also fell on this day.

904. _Signa dant imbres_. The rains shew themselves. _Signa dare_ is the Greek [Greek: episaemainein]. Were it not that the meaning of this expression is so incontrovertibly shewn by I. 315, 316, one might be disposed to understand it with Taubner, of the constellations portending rain.--_Exoriturque Canis_. Here is a tremendous error of our poet, for, according to Columella, Pliny, Ptolemy, and to the actual fact, the Dog sets instead of rising at this time. Thus also, Virgil, (G. I. 217,) _Candidus auratis aperit cum cornibus annum Taurus, et averso cedens Canis occidit astro_. One of the best MSS. reads _occidit atque Canis_, but I fear this is only the emendation of some one who saw the error into which the poet had fallen.

904. _Nomento_. Nomentum was a town of the Sabine country; a road named the Via Nomentana led to it from the Viminal gate at Rome. On the following narrative, Gierig observes, "Similia figmenta, vv. 685 et III. 541." I do not see the necessity of supposing these to be fictions. What was more natural than for the poet, when about to write a poem on the Fasti, to direct his attention to things which he had not hitherto heeded, and to inquire into the meaning of what appeared to him deserving of notice.

906. _Candida pompa_. The persons who formed this _pomp_ or procession were clad in white, that is, their togae were either new, or had been scoured for the occasion. _Pompa_ is the reading of ten MSS. all the rest have _turba_.

907. _Flamen_, scil. _Quirinalis_, v. 910.--Antiquae _Robiginis_. The festival of this goddess was called the Robigalia, and was said to have been instituted by Numa, (Plin. xviii. 69, 3,) hence the poet says, _antiquae. Robigalia dicta ab Robigo. Secundum segetes huic deo sacrificatur, ne rubigo occupet segetes_, Varro, L. L. V. _Robigalia dies festus VII. Kal. Maias, quo Robigo deo suo, quem putabant rubiginem avertere, sacrificabant_, Festus. _Feriae Robigo via Claudia ad milliarium quintum, ne robigo frumentis noceat; sacrificiun et ludi cursoribus majoribus et minoribus fiunt_, Verrius Flaccus in Fastis. _Inde et Robigus deus et sacra ejus VII. Kal. Maias Robigalia appellantur_, Servius on Geor. I. 151. In all these places, we may see, as also in Gellius, (v. 12,) it is a god Robigus that is spoken of; on the other hand, in this place, of Ovid and in Lactantius, (De Fal. Rel. I.) and Columella, it is a goddess Robigo. May we not thence infer, that as in so many other cases (see above on III. 512. IV. 722,) so in this the dualistic principle of Roman theology may be discovered? Finally, the names _Robigo, Robigus, Robigalia_, were frequently written _Rubigo_, etc.

908. _Catularia porta Romae dicta est, quia non longe ab ea ad placandum Caniculae sidus frugibus inimicum rufae canes immolabantur, ut fruges flavescentes ad maturitatem perducerentur_, Festus. It would appear as if there was some slight mistake here, as it was, as Festus himself tells us, (see preceding note) the god Robigus, and not the Canicula, to whom the sacrifice was made. This is also proved by the word _rufae_, for _robus_, a word of the same origin was equivalent to [Greek: xanthos], whence (Fest. s. v.) the peasants said _robos boves_. The Canicula however was the cause of the dog being sacrificed. Columella (R. II. x. 342). also notices this rite. _Hinc mala, Rubigo virides ne torreat herbas Sanguine lactentis catuli placatur et extis_. Ovid alone mentions the sheep.

910. _Edidit_, etc. that is prayed to this effect.

911. _Aspera_. The Robigo, [Greek: erusibae, miltos], or _mildew_, i. e. _meal-dew_, (It is _mehlthau_ in German,) is a red glutinous powder, which ate into or consumed the stalks of the growing corn, and made them _asperi, scabri_.

913. _Secundis_, several MSS. read _secundi_.

919. _Titan_. So the Latin poets named the Sun, either as being the same with Hyperion the Titan or his son, Hes. Th. Mildew was thought to be produced by the rays of the sun acting on the moisture left on the stalks by dew or fog. Plin. xviii. 28.

923. _Robigo_ signifies _rust_ as well as _mildew_.

933. At the right hand of the Flamen was a woolen towel, (_mantele_) with the fringes, or rather nap on it, (_villis solutis_) for him to wipe his hands with. The finer kind of towels were without this appendage. _Tonsis mantilla villis_. Virg. G. III. 377.

936. _Obscenae_, of ill omen on account of the howling.

939. The Canicula was said to be Maera, the dog of Erigone the daughter of Icarus an Athenian, to whom Bacchus gave wine, which he shared with his workmen, who thinking he had poisoned them, put him to death. Erigone, by means of the dog discovered his body, and Bacchus touched by her grief, raised them all three to the skies, making Icarus Bootes, Erigone the Virgin, and Maera the Canicula or Procyon.

940. _Praecipitur_, scil. _aestu_, is burnt up.

941. _Pro_, instead of.

942. The true cause of many superstitious practices, in which the mystics find such deep meaning.

943. _Phr. Ass. fratre_ a periphrasis of Tithonus, Ovid appears to make a mistake here and to confound Tithonus with Ganymedes, as according to most writers, Tithonus was the son of Laomedon, the son of Ilus the brother of Assaracus, whose grand-nephew therefore Tithonus was.-- _Titania_. This is the reading of only two MSS. and was first admitted into the text by Burmann. Heinsius however had approved of it. All the rest give _Tithonia_, which Heinsius shews to have been frequently employed by Statius and by Valerius Flaccus but thinks that in all these places it should be changed into Titania. Aurora is called Titania, for the same reason as Diana (Luna) is called so, (Met. III. 173,) and their brother, Sol Titan; see on v. 919.

945. The Floralia began on the IV. Kal. Maias.

946. See V. 183, _et seq_.

949. As it was requisite that the Pontifex Maximus should reside in a public building, near the temple of Vesta, Augustus, when raised to this dignity, assigned a part of his Palatium to the public service, and removed thither the sacred fire of Vesta--_Aufert_, claims.--_Cognati_. See III. 425. Some MSS. read _cognato_.

950. _Justi senes_. Some editions read _jussi_, instead of _justi_. I know not on what authority. _Patres_ for _senes_, is the reading of several MSS.

951. The temple of the Palatine Apollo formed another part of the Palatium. Suet. Aug. 29. Propert. II. 23.

952. _Ipse_, Augustus.

953. See I. 614.

LIBER V.

Quaeritis, unde putem Maio data nomina mensi. Non satis est liquido cognita causa mihi. Ut stat, et incertus qua sit sibi nescit cundum, Quum videt ex omni parte viator iter: Sic, quia posse datur diversas reddere causas, 5 Qua ferar, ignoro, copiaque ipsa nocet. Dicite, quae fontes Aganippidos Hippocrenes Grata Medussei signa tenetis equi. Dissensere deae. Quarum Polyhymnia coepit Prima--Silent aliae, dictaque mente notant.-- 10 Post chaos, ut primum data sunt tria corpora mundo, Inque novas species omne recessit opus; Pondere terra suo subsedit, et sequora traxit: At coelum levitas in loca summa tulit. Sol quoque cum stellis nulla gravitate retentus, 15 Et vos Lunares exsiluistis equi. Sed neque Terra diu Coelo, nec cetera Phoebo Sidera cedebant: par erat omnis honos. Saepe aliquis solio quod tu, Saturne, tenebas, Ausus de media plebe sedere deus; 20 Et latus Oceano quisquam deus advena junxit, Tethys et extremo saepe recepta loco est; Donec Honos, placidoque decens Reverentia vultu Corpora legitimis imposuere toris. Hinc sata Majestas, quae mundum temperat omnem, 25 Quaque die partu est edita, magna fuit. Nec mora: consedit medio sublimis Olympo, Aurea, purpureo conspicienda sinu. Consedere simul Pudor et Metus. Omne videres Numen ad hanc vultus composuisse suos. 30 Protinus intravit mentes suspectus honorum. Fit pretium dignis, nec sibi quisque placet. Hic status in coelo multos permansit in annos: Dum senior fatis excidit arce deus. Terra feros partus, immania monstra, Gigantas 35 Edidit, ausuros in Jovis ire domum. Mille manus illis dedit, et pro cruribus angues: Atque ait, In magnos arma movete deos. Exstruere hi montes ad sidera summa parabant, Et magnum bello sollicitare Jovem. 40 Fulmina de coeli jaculatus Jupiter arce Vertit in auctores pondera vasta suos. His bene Majestas armis defensa deorum Restat: et ex illo tempore firma manet. Assidet illa Jovi: Jovis est fidissima custos, 45 Et praestat sine vi sceptra tenenda Jovi. Venit et in terras: coluerunt Romulus illam, Et Numa: mox alii, tempore quisque suo. Illa patres in honore pio matresque tuetur: Illa comes pueris virginibusque venit. 50 Ilia datos fasces commendat, eburque curule: Illa coronatis alta triumphat equis. Finierat voces Polyhymnia: dicta probarunt Clioque, et curvae scita Thalia lyrae. Excipit Uranie: fecere silentia cunctae, 55 Et vox audiri nulla, nisi illa, potest, Magna fuit quondam capitis reverentia cani, Inque suo pretio ruga senilis erat. Martis opus juvenes animosaque bella gerebant, Et pro dîs aderant in statione suis. 60 Viribus illa minor, nec habendis utilis armis, Consilio patriae saepe ferebat opem. Nec nisi post annos patuit tunc Curia seros, Nomen et aetatis mite Senatus erat. Jura dabat populo senior: finitaque certis 65 Legibus est aetas, unde petatur honos. Et medius juvenum, non indignantibus ipsis, Ibat, et interior, si comes unus erat. Verba quis auderet coram sene digna rubore Dicere; censuram longa senecta dabat. 70 Romulus hoc vidit, selectaque pectora Patres Dixit. Ad hos urbis summa relata novae. Hinc sua majores posuisse vocabula Maio Tangor, et aetati consuluisse suae. Et Numitor dixisse potest, Da, Romule, mensem 75 Hunc senibus! nec avum sustinuisse nepos. Nec leve praepositi pignus successor honoris Junius, a juvenum nomine dictus, adest. Tum sic, neglectos hedera redimita capillos, Prima sui coepit Calliopea chori: 80 Duxerat Oceanus quondam Titanida Tethyn, Qui terram liquidis, qua patet, ambit aquis. Hinc sata Pleïone cum coelifero Atlante Jungitur, ut fama est, Pleïadasque parit. Quarum Maia suas forma superasse sorores 85 Traditur, et summo concubuisse Jovi. Haec enixa jugo cupressiferae Cyllenes, Aetherium volucri qui pede carpit iter. Arcades hunc, Ladonque rapax, et Maenalon ingens Rite colunt, Luna credita terra prior. 90 Exsul ab Arcadia Latios Evander in agros Venerat, impositos attuleratque deos. Hic, ubi nunc Roma est orbis caput, arbor et herbae, Et paucae pecudes, et casa rara fuit. Quo postquam ventum, Consistite! praescia mater, 95 Nam locus imperii rus erit istud, ait. Et matri et vati paret Nonacrius heros, Inque peregrina constitit hospes humo. Sacraque multa quidem, sed Fauni prima bicornis Has docuit gentes, alipedisque dei. 100 Semicaper, coleris cinctutis, Faune, Lupercis, Quum lustrant celebres vellera secta vias. At tu materno donasti nomine mensem, Inventor curvae, furibus apte, fidis. Nec pietas haec prima tua est: septena putaris, 105 Pleïadum numerum, fila dedisse lyrae. Haec quoque desierat; laudata est voce sororum, Quid faciam? turbae pars habet omnis idem. Gratia Pieridum nobis aequaliter adsit, Nullaque laudetur plusve minusve mihi. 110

Ab Jove surgat opus, Prima mihi nocte videnda Stella est in cunas officiosa Jovis. Nascitur Oleniae signum pluviale Capellae: Illa dati coelum praemia lactis habet. Naïs Amalthea, Cretaea nobilis Ida, 115 Dicitur in silvis occuluisse Jovem. Huic fuit haedorum mater formosa duorum, Inter Dictaeos conspicienda greges, Cornibus aëriis atque in sua terga recurvis, Ubere, quod nutrix posset habere Jovis. 120 Lac dabat illa deo. Sed fregit in arbore cornu: Truncaque dimidia parte decor is erat. Sustulit hoc Nymphe, cinxitque recentibus herbis, Et plenum pomis ad Jovis ora tulit. Ille, ubi res coeli tenuit, solioque paterno 125 Sedit, et invicto nil Jove majus erat, Sidera nutricem, nutricis fertile cornu Fecit; quod dominae nunc quoque nomen habet.

Praestitibus Maiae Laribus videre Kalendae Aram constitui, signaque parva deûm. 130 Voverat illa quidem Curius: sed multa vetustas Destruit, et saxo longa senecta nocet. Causa tamen positi fuerat cognominis illis, Quod praestant oculis omnia tuta suis. Stant quoque pro nobis, et praesunt moenibus urbis, 135 Et sunt praesentes, auxiliumque ferunt. At canis ante pedes, saxo fabricatus eodem, Stabat. Quae standi cum Lare causa fuit? Servat uterque domum, domino quoque fidus uterque. Compita grata deo: compita grata cani. 140 Exagitant et Lar, et turba Diania, fures: Pervigilantque Lares, pervigilantque canes. Bina gemellorum quaerebam signa deorum, Viribus annosse facta caduca morae: Mille Lares, Geniumque ducis, qui tradidit illos, 145 Urbs habet: et vici numina trina colunt. Quo feror? Augustus mensis mihi carminis hujus Jus dabit. Interea Diva canenda Bona est. Est moles nativa: loco res nomina fecit. Appellant saxum: pars bona mentis ea est. 150 Huic Remus institerat frustra, quo tempore fratri Prima Palatinae regna dedistis aves. Templa Patres illic, oculos exosa viriles, Leniter acclivi constituere jugo. Dedicat haec veteris Clausorum nominis heres, 155 Virgineo nullum corpore passa virum. Livia restituit, ne non imitata maritum Esset, et ex omni parte secuta virum.

Postera quum roseam pulsis Hyperionis astris In matutinis lampada tollit equis, 160 Frigidus Argestes summas mulcebit aristas, Candidaque a Calabris vela dabuntur aquis. At simul inducunt obscura crepuscula noctem, Pars Hyadum toto de grege nulla latet.

Ora micant Tauri septem radiantia flammis, 165 Navita quas Hyadas Graius ab imbre vocat. Pars Bacchum nutrisse putat: pars credidit esse Tethyos has neptes, Oceanique senis. Nondum stabat Atlas humeros oneratus Olympo, Quum satus est forma conspiciendus Hyas. 170 Hunc stirps Oceani maturis nisibus aethra Edidit, et Nymphas: sed prior ortus Hyas. Dum nova lanugo, pavidos formidine cervos Terret: et est illi praeda benigna lepus. At postquam virtus annis adolevit, in apros 175 Audet et hirsutas cominus ire feras. Dumque petit latebras fetae catulosque leaenae, Ipse fuit Libycae praeda cruenta ferae. Mater Hyan, et Hyan moestae flevere sorores, Cervicemque polo suppositurus Atlas. 180 Victus uterque parens tamen est pietate sororum. Illa dedit coelum: nomina fecit Hyas.

Mater, ades, florum, ludis celebranda jocosis: Distuleram partes mense priore tuas. Incipis Aprili: transis in tempora Maii. 185 Alter te fugiens, quum venit alter, habet. Quum tua sint cedantque tibi confinia mensum, Convenit in laudes ille vel iste tuas. Circus in hunc exit, clamataque palma theatris: Hoc quoque cum Circi munere carmen eat. 190 Ipsa doce, quae sis. Hominum sententia fallax, Optima tu proprii nominis auctor eris. Sic ego. Sic nostris respondit diva rogatis: --Dum loquitur, vernas efflat ab ore rosas-- Chloris eram, quae Flora vocor. Corrupta Latino 195 Nominis est nostri littera Graeca sono. Chloris eram Nymphe campi felicis, ubi audis Rem fortunatis ante fuisse viris. Quae fuerit mihi forma, grave est narrare modestae: Sed generum matri repperit illa deum. 200 Ver erat: errabam: Zephyrus conspexit. Abibam: Insequitur; fugio. Fortior ille fuit. Et dederat fratri Boreas jus omne rapinae, Ausus Erechthea praemia ferre domo. Vim tamen emendat dando mihi nomina nuptae: 205 Inque meo non est ulla querela toro. Vere fruor semper: semper nitidissimus annus. Arbor habet frondes, pabula semper humus. Est mihi fecundus dotalibus hortus in agris. Aura fovet; liquidae fonte rigatur aquae. 210 Hunc meus implevit generoso flore maritus: Atque ait, Arbitrium tu, dea, floris habe. Saepe ego digestos volui numerare colores; Nec potui; numero copia major erat. Roscida quum primum foliis excussa pruina est, 215 Et variae radiis intepuere comae; Conveniunt pictis incinctae vestibus Horae, Inque leves calathos munera nostra legunt. Protinus accedunt Charites, nectuntque coronas, Sertaque coelestes implicitura comas. 220 Prima per immensas sparsi nova semina gentes. Unius tellus ante coloris erat. Prima Therapnaeo feci de sanguine florem: Et manet in folio scripta querela suo. Tu quoque nomen habes cultos, Narcisse, per hortos: 225 Infelix, quod non alter et alter eras! Quid Crocon, aut Attin referam, Cinyraque creatum, De quorum per me vulnere surgit honor? Mars quoque, si nescis, per nostras editus artes. Jupiter hoc ut adhuc nesciat, usque precor. 230 Sancta Jovem Juno, nata sine matre Minerva, Officio doluit non eguisse suo. Ibat, ut Oceano quereretur facta mariti: Restitit ad nostras fessa labore fores. Quam simul adspexi, Quid te, Saturnia, dixi, 235 Attulit? Exponit, quem petat illa locum. Addidit et causam. Verbis solabar amicis. Non, inquit, verbis cura levanda mea est. Si pater est factus neglecto conjugis usu Jupiter, et solus nomen utrumque tenet; 240 Cur ego desperem fieri sine conjuge mater, Et parere intacto, dummodo casta, viro? Omnia tentabo latis medicamina terris, Et freta Tartareos excutiamque sinus. Vox erat in cursu: vultum dubitantis haebebam. 245 Nescio quid, Nymphe, posse videris, ait. Ter volui promittere opem, ter lingua retenta est: Ira Jovis magni causa timoris erat. Fer, precor, auxilium, dixit; celabitur auctor: Et Stygiae numen testificatur aquae. 250 Quod petis, Oleniis, inquam, mihi missus ab arvis Flos dabit. Est hortis unicus ille meis. Qui dabat, Hoc, dixit, sterilem quoque tange juvencam; Mater erit. Tetigi; nec mora, mater erat. Protinus haerentem decerpsi pollice florem. 255 Tangitur; et tacto concipit illa sinu. Jamque gravis Thracen et laeva Propontidos intrat, Fitque potens voti; Marsque creatus erat; Qui memor accepti per me natalis, Habeto Tu quoque Romulea, dixit, in urbe locum. 260 Forsitan in teneris tantum mea regna coronis Esse putes; tangit numen et arva meum. Si bene floruerint segetes, erit area dives: Si bene floruerit vinea, Bacchus erit. Si bene floruerint oleae, nitidissimus annus, 265 Pomaque proventum temporis hujus habent. Flore semel laeso pereunt viciaeque fabaeque, Et pereunt lentes, advena Nile, tuae. Vina quoque in magnis operose condita cellis Florent, et nebulae dolia summa tegunt. 270 Mella meum munus. Volucres ego mella daturas Ad violam, et cytisos, et thyma cana voco. Nos quoque idem facimus tunc, quum juvenilibus annis Luxuriant animi, corporaque ipsa vigent. Talia dicentem tacitus mirabar. At illa, 275 Jus tibi discendi, si qua requiris, ait. Dic, dea, ludorum, respondi, quae sit origo. Vix bene desieram; rettulit illa mihi. Cetera luxurise nondum instrumenta vigebant: Aut pecus, aut latam dives habebat humum. 280 Hinc etiam _locuples_, hinc ipsa _pecunia_ dicta est. Sed jam de vetito quisque parabat opes. Venerat in morem populi depascere saltus: Idque diu licuit, poenaque nulla fuit. Vindice servabat nullo sua publica vulgus: 285 Jamque in privato pascere inertis erat. Plebis ad aediles perducta licentia talis Publicios; animus defuit ante viris. Rem populus recipit: mulctam subiere nocentes. Vindicibus laudi publica cura fuit. 290 Mulcta data est ex parte mihi: magnoque favore Victores ludos instituere novos. Parte locant clivum, qui tune erat ardua rupes. Utile nunc iter est, Publiciumque vocant. Annua credideram spectacula facta; negavit: 295 Addidit et dictis altera verba suis. Nos quoque tangit honos, festis gaudemus et aris: Turbaque coelestes ambitiosa sumus. Saepe deos aliquis peccando fecit iniquos: Et pro delictis hostia blanda fuit. 300 Saepe Jovem vidi, quum jam sua mittere vellet Fulmina, ture dato sustinuisse manum. At si negligimur, magnis injuria poenis Solvitur, et justum praeterit ira modum. Respice Thestiaden; flammis absentibus arsit. 305 Causa est, quod Phoebes ara sine igne fuit. Respice Tantaliden: eadem dea vela tenebat. Virgo est, et spretos his tamen ulta focos. Hippolyte infelix, velles coluisse Dionen, Quum consternatis deripereris equis. 310 Longa referre mora est correcta oblivia damnis. Me quoque Romani praeteriere Patres. Quid facerem? per quod fierem manifesta doloris? Exigerem nostrae qualia damna notae? Excidit officium tristi mihi. Nulla tuebar 315 Rura, nec in pretio fertilis hortus erat. Lilia deciderant: violas arere videres, Filaque punicei languida facta croci. Saepe mihi Zephyrus, Dotes corrumpere noli Ipsa tuas, dixit. Dos mihi vilis erat. 320 Florebant oleae; venti nocuere protervi. Florebant segetes; grandine laesa Ceres. In spe vitis erat: coelum nigrescit ab Austris, Et subita frondes decutiuntur aqua. Nec volui fieri, nec sum crudelis in ira: 325 Cura repellendi sed mihi nulla fuit. Convenere Patres, et, si bene floreat annus, Numinibus nostris annua festa vovent. Annuimus voto. Consul cum Consule ludos Postumio Laenas persoluere mihi. 330 Quaerere conabar, quare lascivia major His foret in ludis, liberiorque jocus: Sed mihi succurrit, numen non esse severum, Aptaque deliciis munera ferre deam. Tempora sutilibus cinguntur tota coronis, 335 Et latet injecta splendida mensa rosa. Ebrius incinctis philyra conviva capillis Saltat, et imprudens vertitur arte meri. Ebrius ad durum formosse limen amicae Cantat. Habent unctae mollia serta comae. 340 Nulla coronata peraguntur seria fronte; Nec liquidae vinctis flore bibuntur aquae. Donec eras mixtus nullis, Acheloë, racemis, Gratia sumendae non erat ulla rosae. Bacchus amat flores: Baccho placuisse coronam, 345 Ex Ariadnaeo sidere nosse potes. Scena levis decet hanc: non est, mihi credite, non est Illa cothurnatas inter habenda deas. Turba quidem cur hos celebret meretricia ludos, Non ex difficili causa petita subest. 350 Non est de tetricis, nori est de magna professis: Vult sua plebeio sacra patere choro: Et monet setatis specie, dum floreat, uti: Contemni spinam, quum cecidere rosae. Cur tamen, ut dantur vestes Cerealibus albae, 355 Sic est haec cultu versicolore decens? An quia maturis albescit messis aristis, Et color et species floribus omnis inest? Annuit; et motis flores cecidere capillis, Accidere in mensas ut rosa missa solet. 360 Lumina restabant; quorum me causa latebat, Quum sic errores abstulit illa meos: Vel quia purpureis collucent floribus agri; Lumina sunt nostros visa decere dies: Vel quia nec flos est hebeti, nec flamma, colore; 365 Atque oculos in se splendor uterque trahit; Vel quia deliciis nocturna licentia nostris Convenit. A vero tertia causa venit. Est breve praeterea, de quo mihi quaerere restat, Si liceat, dixi. Dixit et illa, Licet. 370 Cur tibi pro Libycis clauduntur rete leaenis Imbelles capreae, sollicitusque lepus? Non sibi, respondit, silvas cessisse, sed hortos, Arvaque pugnaci non adeunda ferae. Omnia finierat: tenues secessit in auras. 375 Mansit odor: posses scire fuisse deam. Floreat ut toto carmen Nasonis in aevo, Sparge, precor, donis pectora nostra tuis. Nocte minus quarta promet sua sidera Chiron Semivir, et flavi corpore mixtus equi. 380 Pelion Haemoniae mons est obversus in Austros: Summa virent pinu: cetera quercus habet. Phillyrides tenuit. Saxo stant antra vetusto, Quae justum memorant incoluisse senem. Ille manus, olim missuras Hectora leto, 385 Creditur in lyricis detinuisse modis. Venerat Alcides exhausta parta laborum, Jussaque restabant ultima paene viro. Stare simul casu Trojae duo fata videres: Hinc puer aeacides, hinc Jove natus erat. 390 Excipit hospitio juvenem Philyreïus heros: Et causam adventus hic rogat: ille docet. Perspicit interea clavam spoliumque leonis, Virque, ait, his armis, armaque digna viro! Nec se, quin horrens auderent tangere setis 395 Vellus, Achilleae continuere manus. Dumque senex tractat squalentia tela venenis, Excidit, et laevo fixa sagitta pede est. Ingemuit Chiron, traxitque e vulnere ferrum: Et gemit Alcides, Haemoniusque puer. 400 Ipse tamen lectas Pagasaeis collibus herbas Temperat, et varia vulnera mulcet ope. Virus edax superabat opem, penitusque recepta Ossibus et toto corpore pestis erat. Sanguine Centauri Lernaeae sanguis Echidnae 405 Mixtus ad auxilium tempora nulla dabat. Stabat, ut ante patrem, lacrimis perfusus Achilles: Sic flendus Peleus, si moreretur, erat. Saepe manus aegras manibus fingebat amicis: Morum, quos fecit, praemia doctor habet. 410 Oscula saepe dedit; dixit quoque saepe jacenti: Vive, precor; nec me care relinque pater! Nona dies aderat, quum tu, justissime Chiron, Bis septem stellis corpora cinctus eras.

Hunc Lyra curva sequi cuperet; sed idonea nondum 415 Est via. Nox aptum tertia tempus erit.

Scorpios in coelo, quum eras lucescere Nonas Dicimus, a media parte notandus erit.

Hinc ubi protulerit Formosa ter Hesperus ora, Ter dederint Phoebo sidera victa locum; 420 Ritus erit veteris, nocturna Lemuria, sacri: Inferias tacitis Manibus illa dabunt. Annus erat brevior, nec adhuc pia Februa norant, Nec tu dux mensum, Jane biformis, eras. Jam tamen extincto cineri sua dona ferebant, 425 Compositique nepos busta piabat avi. Mensis erat Maius, majorum nomine dictus, Qui partem prisci nunc quoque moris habet. Nox ubi jam media est, somnoque silentia praebet, Et canis et varies conticuistis aves; 430 Ille memor veteris ritus timidusque deorum Surgit:--habent gemini vincula nulla pedes-- Signaque dat digitis medio cum pollice junctis, Occurrat tacito ne levis umbra sibi; Quumque manus puras fontana perluit unda, 435 Vertitur, et nigras accipit ante fabas; Aversusque jacit; sed dum jacit, Haec ego mitto; His, inquit, redimo meque meosque fabis. Hoc novies dicit, nec respicit. Umbra putatur Colligere, et nullo terga vidente sequi. 440 Rursus aquam tangit, Temesaeaque concrepat aera, Et rogat, ut tectis exeat umbra suis. Quum dixit novies, Manes exite paterni! Respicit, et pure sacra peracta putat. Dicta sit unde dies, quae nominis exstet origo, 445 Me fugit. Ex aliquo est invenienda deo. Pliade nate, mone, virga venerande potenti: Saepe tibi Stygii regia visa Jovis. Venit adoratus Caducifer. Accipe causam Nominis. Ex ipso cognita causa deo est. 450 Romulus ut tumulo fraternas condidit umbras, Et male veloci justa soluta Remo; Faustulus infelix, et passis Acca capillis Spargebant lacrimis ossa perusta suis. Inde domum redeunt sub prima crepuscula moesti, 455 Utque erat, in duro procubuere toro. Umbra cruenta Remi visa est assistere lecto, Atque haec exiguo murmure verba loqui: En ego dimidium vestri parsque altera voti Cernite sim qualis! qui modo qualis eram! 460 Qui modo, si volucres habuissem regna jubentes, In populo potui maximus esse meo. Nunc sum elapsa rogi flammis et inanis imago. Haec est ex illo forma relicta Remo. Heu! ubi Mars pater est! si vos modo vera locuti, 465 Uberaque expositis ille ferina dedit. Quem lupa servavit, manus hunc temeraria civis Perdidit. O quanto mitior illa fuit! Saeve Celer, crudelem animam per vulnera reddas, Utque ego, sub terras sanguinolentus eas! 470 Noluit hoc frater. Pietas sequalis in illo est. Quod potuit, lacrimas in mea fata dedit. Hunc vos per lacrimas, per vestra alimenta rogate, Ut celebrem nostro signet honore diem. Mandantem amplecti cupiunt, et brachia tendunt: 475 Lubrica prensantes effugit umbra manus. Ut secum fugiens somnos abduxit imago, Ad regem voces fratris uterque ferunt. Romulus obsequitur, lucemque Remuria dixit Illam, qua positis justa feruntur avis. 480 Aspera mutata est in lenem tempore longo Littera, quae toto nomine prima fuit. Mox etiam Lemures animas dixere silentum; Hic verbi sensus, vis ea vocis erat. Fana tamen veteres illis clausere diebus, 485 Ut nunc ferali tempore operta vides. Nec viduae taedis eadem, nec virginis apta Tempora. Quae nupsit, non diuturna fuit. Hac quoque de causa, si te proverbia tangunt, Mense malas Maio nubere vulgus ait. 490 Sed tamen haec tria sunt sub eodem tempore festa Inter se nullo continuata die. Quorum si mediis Boeotum Oriona quaeres; Falsus eris. Signi causa canenda mihi. Jupiter, et, lato qui regnat in aequore, frater 495 Carpebant socias, Mercuriusque, vias. Tempus erat, quo versa jugo referuntur aratra. Et pronum saturae lac bibit agnus ovis. Forte senex Hyrieus, angusti cultor agelli, Hos videt, exiguam stabat ut ante casam. 500 Atque ita, Longa via est nec tempora longa supersunt, Dixit, et hospitibus janua nostra patet. Addidit et vultum verbis, iterumque rogavit. Parent promissis, dissimulantque deos. Tecta senis subeunt, nigro deformia fumo. 505 Ignis in hesterno stipite parvus erat; Ipse genu nixus flammas exsuscitat aura, Et promit quassas comminuitque faces. Stant calices. Minor inde fabas, olus alter habebat, Et fumant testu pressus uterque suo. 510 Dumque mora est, tremula dat vina rubentia dextra. Accipit aequoreus pocula prima deus. Quae simul exhausit, Da, nunc bibat ordine, dixit, Jupitur. Audito palluit ille Jove. Ut rediit animus, cultorem pauperis agri 515 Immolat, et magno torret in igne bovem; Quaeque puer quondam primis diffuderat annis, Promit fumoso condita vina cado. Nec mora: flumineam lino celantibus ulvam, Sic quoque non altis, incubuere toris. 520 Nunc dape, nunc posito mensae nituere Lyaeo. Terra rubens crater, pocula fagus erant. Verba fuere Jovis: Si quid fert impetus, opta: Omne feres. Placidi verba fuere senis: Cara fuit conjux, prima mihi cara juventa 525 Cognita. Nunc ubi sit, quaeritis: urna tegit. Huic ego juratus, vobis in verba vocatis, Conjugio dixi sola fruere meo. Et dixi, et servo, sed enim diversa voluntas Est mihi: nec conjux, sed pater esse volo. 530 Annuerant omnes: omnes ad terga juvenci Constiterant. Pudor est ulteriora loqui. Tum superinjecta texere madentia terra. Jamque decem menses, et puer ortus erat. Hunc Hyrieus, quia sic genitus, vocat Uriona. 535 Perdidit antiquum littera prima sonum. Creverat immensum: comitem sibi Delia sumpsit. Ille deae custos, ille satelles erat. Verba movent iras non circumspecta deorum. Quam nequeam, dixit, vincere, nulla fera est. 540 Scorpion immisit Tellus. Fuit impetus illi Curva gemelliparae spicula ferre deae. Obstitit Orion. Latona nitentibus astris Addidit, et, Meriti praemia, dixit, habe.

Sed quid et Orion, et cetera sidera mundo 545 Cedere festinant, noxque coarctat iter? Quid solito citius liquido jubar aequore tollit Candida, Lucifero praeveniente, dies? Fallor? an arma sonant? Non fallimur: arma sonabant; Mars venit, et veniens bellica signa dedit. 550 Ultor ad ipse suos coelo descendit honores, Templaque in Augusto conspicienda Foro. Et deus est ingens, et opus. Debebat in urbe Non aliter nati Mars habitare sui. Digna Giganteis haec sunt delubra tropaeis: 555 Hinc fera Gradivum bella movere decet: Sen quis ab Eoo nos impius orbe lacesset; Seu quis ab occiduo sole domandus erit. Prospicit armipotens operis fastigia summi, Et probat invictos summa tenere deos. 560 Prospicit in foribus diversae tela figurae, Armaque terrarum milite victa suo. Hinc videt aenean oneratum pondere caro, Et tot Iuleae nobilitatis avos. Hinc videt Iliaden humeris ducis arma ferentem, 565 Claraque dispositis acta subesse viris. Spectat et Augusto praetextum nomine templum; Et visum, lecto Caesare, majus opus. Voverat hoc juvenis tunc, quum pia sustulit arma, A tantis Princeps incipiendus erat. 570 Ille manus tendens, hinc stanti milite justo, Hinc conjuratis, talia dicta dedit; Si mihi bellandi pater est, Vestaeque sacerdos Auctor, et ulcisci numen utrumque paro: Mars, ades, et satia scelerato sanguine ferrum: 575 Stetque favor causa pro meliore tuus. Templa feres, et me victore vocaberis Ultor. Voverat; et fuso laetus ab hoste redit. Nec satis est meruisse semel cognomina Marti: Persequitur Parthi signa retenta manu. 580 Gens fuit et campis, et equis, et tuta sagittis, Et circumfusis invia fluminibus. Addiderant animos Crassorum funera genti, Quum periit miles, signaque, duxque simul. Signa, decus belli, Parthus Romana tenebat, 585 Romanaeque aquilae signifer hostis erat. Isque pudor mansisset adhuc, nisi fortibus armis Caesaris Ausoniae protegerentur opes. Ille notas veteres, et longi dedecus aevi Sustulit. Agnorunt signa recepta suos. 590 Quid tibi nunc solitas mitti post terga sagittae, Quid loca, quid rapidi profuit usus equi? Parthe, refers aquilas: victos quoque porrigis arcus. Pignora jam nostri nulla pudoris habes. Rite deo templumque datum nomenque bis ulto, 595 Et meritus votis debita solvit honos. Sollemnes ludos Circo celebrate, Quirites: Non visa est fortem scena decere deum. Pliadas adspicies omnes, totumque sororum Agmen, ubi ante Idus nox erit una super 600 Tum mihi non dubiis auctoribus incipit aestas, Et tepidi finem tempora veris habent.

Idibus ora prior stellantia tollere Taurum Indicat: huic signo fabula nota subest. Praebuit, ut taurus, Tyriae sua terga puellae 605 Jupiter, et falsa cornua fronte tulit; Illa jubam dextra, laeva retinebat amictus; Et timor ipse novi causa decoris erat. Aura sinus implet: flavos movet aura capillos. Sidoni, sic fueras aspicienda Jovi 610 Saepe puellares subduxit ab aequore plantas, Et metuit tactus assilientis aquae: Saepe deus prudens tergum demittit in undas, Haereat ut collo fortius illa suo. Litoribus tactis stabat sine cornibus ullis 615 Jupiter, inque deum de bove versus erat. Taurus init coelum: te, Sidoni, Jupiter implet, Parsque tuum terras tertia nomen habet. Hoc alii signum Phariam dixere juvencam, Quae bos ex homine est, ex bove facta dea. 620

Tum quoque priscorum virgo simulacra virorum Mittere roboreo scirpea ponte solet. Corpora post decies senos qui credidit annos Missa neci, sceleris crimine damnat avos. Fama vetus: tum quum Saturnia terra vocata est, 625 Talia fatidici dicta fuere dei: Falcifero libata seni duo corpora, gentes, Mittite, quae Tuscis excipiantur aquis. Donec in haec venit Tirynthius arva, quotannis Tristia Leucadio sacra peracta modo; 630 Illum stramineos in aquam misisse Quirites. Herculis exemplo corpora falsa jaci. Pars putat, ut ferrent juvenes suffragia soli, Pontibus infirmos praecipitasse senes. Tibri, doce verum: tua ripa vetustior urbe. 635 Principium ritus tu bene nosse potes. Tibris arundiferum medio caput extulit alveo, Raucaque dimovit talibus ora sonis: Haec loca desertas vidi sine moenibus herbas: Pascebat sparsos utraque ripa boves. 640 Et quem nunc gentes Tiberin noruntque timentque, Tunc etiam pecori despiciendus eram. Arcadis Evandri nomen tibi saepe refertur: Ille meas remis advena torsit aquas. Venit et Alcides, turba comitatus Achiva. 645 Albula, si memini, tunc mihi nomen erat. Excipit hospitio juvenem Pallantius heros: Et tandem Caco debita poena venit. Victor abit, secumque boves, Erytheïda praedam, Abstrahit. At comites longius ire negant: 650 Magnaque pars horum desertis venerat Argis. Montibus his ponunt spemque Laremque suum. Saepe tamen patriae dulci tanguntur amore; Atque aliquis moriens hoc breve mandat opus: Mittite me in Tiberin, Tiberinis vectus ut undis 655 Litus ad Inachium pulvis inanis eam. Displicet heredi mandati cura sepulcri: Mortuus Ausonia conditur hospes humo. Scirpea pro domino in Tiberin jactatur imago, Ut repetat Graias per freta longa domos. 660 Hactenus. Ut vivo subiit rorantia saxo Antra, leves cursum sustinuistis aquae. Clare nepos Atlantis, ades! quem montibus olim Edidit Arcadiis Pleïas una Jovi. Pacis et armorum superis imisque deorum 665 Arbiter, alato qui pede carpis iter: Laete lyrae pulsu, nitida quoque laete palaestra, Quo didicit culte lingua favente loqui. Templa tibi posuere Patres spectantia Circum Idibus. Ex illo est haec tibi festa dies. 670 Te, quicumque suas profitentur vendere merces, Ture dato, tribuas ut sibi lucra, rogant. Est aqua Mercurii portae vicina Capenae: Si juvat expertis credere, numen habet. Huc venit incinctus tunicas mercator, et urna 675 Purus suffita, quam ferat, haurit aquam. Uda fit hinc laurus: lauro sparguntur ab uda Omnia, quae dominos sunt habitura novos. Spargit et ipse suos lauro rorante capillos, Et peragit solita fallere voce preces. 680 Ablue praeteriti perjuria temporis, inquit, Ablue praeterita perfida verba die. Sive ego te feci testem, falsove citavi Non audituri numina magna Jovis; Sive deum prudens alium divamve fefelli, 685 Abstulerint celeres improba dicta Noti. Et pereant veniente die perjuria nobis, Nec curent superi, si qua locutus ero. Da modo lucra mihi, da facto gaudia lucro, Et face, ut emptori verba dedisse juvet. 690 Talia Mercurius poscentem ridet ab alto, Se memor Ortygias surripuisse boves.

At mihi pande, precor, tanto meliora petenti, In Geminos ex quo tempore Phoebus eat. Quum totidem de mense dies superesse videbis: 695 Quot sunt Herculei facta laboris, ait. Die, ego respondi, causam mihi sideris hujus. Causam facundo reddidit ore deus. Abstulerant raptas Phoeben Phoebesque sororem Tyndaridae fratres, hic eques, ille pugil. 700 Bella parant, repetuntque suas et frater et Idas, Leucippo fieri pactus uterque gener. His amor, ut repetant, illis, ut reddere nolint, Suadet, et ex causa pugnat uterque pari. Effugere Oebalidae cursu potuere sequentes: 705 Sed visum celeri vincere turpe fuga. Liber ab arboribus locus est, apta area pugnae. Constiterant illic: nomen Aphidna loco. Pectora trajectus Lynceo Castor ab ense Non exspectato vulnere pressit humum. 710 Ultor adest Pollux, et Lyncea perforat hasta, Qua cervix humeros continuata premit. Ibat in hunc Idas, vixque est Jovis igne repulsus: Tela tamen dextrae fulmine rapta negant. Jamque tibi coelum, Pollux, sublime patebat, 715 Quum, Mea, dixisti, percipe verba, Pater. Quod mihi das uni coelum, partire duobus: Dimidium toto munere majus erit. Dixit, et alterna fratrem statione redemit: Utile sollicitae sidus uterque rati. 720

Ad Janum redeat, qui quaerit, Agonia quid sint: Quae tamen in fastis hoc quoque tempus habent.

Nocte sequente diem canis Erigoneïus exit; Est alio signi reddita causa loco.

Proxima Vulcani lux est, Tubilustria dicunt. 725 Lustrantur purae, quas facit ille, tubae.

Quattuor inde notis locus est; quibus ordine lectis Vel mos sacrorum, vel Fuga Regis inest.

Nec te praetereo, populi Fortuna potentis Publica, cui templum luce sequente datum. 730 Hanc ubi dives aquis acceperit Amphitrite, Grata Jovi fulvae rostra videbis avis.

Auferet ex oculis veniens Aurora Booten, Continuaque die sidus Hyantis erit.

NOTES:

1-110. The poet here enters into a long inquiry on the subject of the origin of the name of May. To free the discussion from dryness, and to give it a dramatic air, he introduces the Muses disputing on this subject.--_Quaeritis_. See iv. 878. He addresses his readers in general, and not Germanicus alone, as elsewhere.

7. The poet would appear in this place to confound the springs of Aganippe and Hippocrene, which, though both on Mt. Helicon, were distinct in situation. But he had already (Met. v. 312,) distinguished them, so that we must regard the present as a slip of his memory. _Aganippis_, like _Ausonis, Maenalis_, etc. is evidently an adjective.

8. _Med. equi_, Pegasus. See III. 544.

9. _Polyhymnia_. The name of this Muse in all the Greek writers, from Hesiod down, is [Greek: Polymnia]; by Ovid and by Horace, (Car. I. 1, 33,) she is called Polyhymnia, a name which could not be written in Greek.

11-54. The _first_ opinion. Maius derived its name from Majestas, the daughter of Honos and Reverentia. _Sunt qui hunc mensem ad nostros Fastos transisse commemorant, apud quos nunc quoque vocatur Deus Maius, qui est Jupiter, a magnitudine et majestate dictus_. Macrobius, Sat. I. 12.

10. _Mente notant_, mark in their mind or commit to memory.

11. Compare I. 103. Met I. 1. _et seq_. xv. 239. In these places he speaks of four elements, here of but three, regarding the air and the aether as one.

12. _Omne opus_. The whole mass. Some MSS. read _onus_. See on I. 564.

16. I doubt if it was judicious to personify here.

19. It was in the reign of Saturn that this confusion prevailed, hence no gods are spoken of but Titans, the children of Heaven and Earth; such were Oceanus and Tethys. It would be pressing the poet too closely to ask who the _Dei advenae_ could be in the reign of Saturn.

24. Lenz, who thinks that it is the banquets of the gods of which the poet speaks, in the language of the Roman _triclinium_, understands by _legitimis toris_ the couches in such being properly arranged, and the guests placed according to their rank. Gierig rightly understands it of the marriage of Honour and Reverence.

25. _Quae_, etc. Three of the best MSS. read _hos est dea censa parentes_, which Heinsius and Gierig adopt. Compare Hor. Car. I. 12. 15.

26. _Magna fuit_, scil. Majestas, like Minerva.

28. _Aurea_, i. e. adorned with gold.--_Sinu_, robe; part for the whole. Compare II. 310.

29. _Pudor et Metus_. The [Greek: Aidos] and [Greek: Nemesis] of Hesiod, ([Greek: Erga] 200).

30. _Vultus_. One MS. reads _cultus_; either reading gives a good sense.

31. _Suspectus_, a regard, respect for.

34. _Dum senior_. See IV. 197.

35. For the Giant-war, see Met. I. 151. _et seq_. Virg. G. I. 278. Hor. Car. III. 4. 49. Mythology. p. 238.

52. _Illa coronatis_, etc. She accompanies the conquering generals in their triumphs, giving dignity to them. I know not where the poet got this beautiful fiction of the birth and power of Majesty. It has, I think, a Roman rather than a Grecian air, "Haud dubie poetae antiquiori debet." Gierig.

54. The poet appears to intimate that each opinion was maintained by three of the Muses. For the names, characters, and attributes of these goddesses, see Mythology, p. 146.

55. The second opinion. Maius and Junius came from _Majores_ and _Juniores. Fulvius Nobilior in Fastis, quos in aede Herculis Musarum posuit, Romulum dicit postquam populos in majores minoresque divisit, ut altera pars consilio, altera armis rempublicam tueretur, in honorem utriusque partis hunc Maium sequentum mensem Junium vocasse_. Macrobius, I. 12.

57. [Greek: Aideisthai poliokrotaphous, eikein de gerousin Edraes kai geraon panton], Phocyl. 207. Cicero (Sen. 18.) praises the Lacedaemonians highly for their respect for old age, on the advantages of which he makes his Cato dilate, but properly adds _non cani, non repente auctoritatem accipere possunt_, as this depended on a well-spent life, and, as Menander says, [Greek: Ouch ai triches poiousin ai leukai phronein, All' ho tropos enion esti tae phusei Geron].

59. [Greek: Palaios ainos Erga men neoteron, Boulai d' echousi ton geraiteron kratos]. Eurip. frag. Melan.

60. Same as _Pugnabant pro aris et focis_.

64. This derivation of Senatus is also given by Cicero (Sen. 6.). Dionysius (II. 12.) doubts whether the corresponding Greek term [Greek: gerousia] came from age or from honour ([Greek: geras]).--_Mite_ a very appropriate term, "Juventus est _fervida_, senectus _mitis_." Gierig.

66. In the early times of Rome, the maturity of years was much regarded in the appointments to office. When Corn. Scipio was looking for the aedileship (A.U.C. 539) the tribunes opposed him because he had not attained the lawful age, Liv. xxv. 2. By the Lex Villia Annalis passed A.U.C. 574 the age for the Quaestorship was made 3l, for the aedileship 37, the Praetorship 40, and the Consulship 43 years.

67. Compare Sall. Jug. 11.

68. See Horace Sat. II. 5. 17.

70. _Censuram_, the right of reprimanding.

71. _Patres_. See Liv. I. 8. Sall. Cat. 6. Vell. Paterc. I. 8.-- _Pectora_. Several MSS. read _corpora_.

74. _Tangor_, I am led to believe.

75. It was probably said that this was done by Romulus at the request of Numitor.

76. _Sustinuisse. "Non sustinet alterum qui non potest non satisfacere ejus precibus_," Gierig. Compare Met. xiv. 788. Liv. xxxi. 13.

77. 78. June, the poet thinks, being named a _juvenum nomine_, is no slight proof of the correctness of the foregoing etymology. But the origin of June itself is to be proved.--_Praep. hon_. Six MSS. _proposito honori_, some have _propositum_, five give the present reading, the rest _propositi_. Heinsius proposes _praeposito honori_, which Krebs adopts.

79-110. The third opinion. The month derived its name from the Pleias Maia. _Cincius mensem nominatum putat a Maia, quam Vulcani dicit uxorem, argumentoque utitur quod flamen Vulcanalis, Kal. Maiis huic deae rem divinam facit_. Macrob. Sat. I. 12. Again _Contendunt alii Maiam Mercurii Matrem, mensi nomen dedisse_.--There is a festival of Mercury in this month which is in favour of the Pleias; but, on the other side, Maia seems to be an old Italian deity, the female, perhaps, of Maius, (see on v. 11,) and is justly regarded as the Earth, (see on v. 148,) who, under the name of Bona Dea, was worshiped on the Kalends. The marriage of Vulcan and Maia accords with Grecian, not with Italian theology. See on III. 512.

79. _Hedera_, the ornament of learned brows, and therefore suited to the Muse of the Epos.

80. _Prima sui chori_, Calliope is placed by Hesiod and all succeeding writers at the head of the list of the Muses. Perhaps in this place the chorus may be those of her sisters, who thought as she did on this subject.

81. Oceanus and Tethys were two of the Titans, the children of Heaven and Earth.

82. [Greek: Mnaesomai Okeanoio bathurrhoou en gar ekeino Pasa chthon, ate naesos apeiritos, estephanotai]. Dionys. Perieg. 3. For proof that the ancient poets represented the Ocean as a huge river which flowed round the earth, see Mythology, pp. 35, 228.

89-90. The country, its rivers and mountains put for the people. For the ante-lunar origin of the Arcadians, see I. 469.

91. See I. 499. _et seq_.

92. _Impositos_ scil. _navi suae_.

93. Compare I. 5d5, II. 280, III. 71. Virg. aen. viii. 98.

99. Sec II. 267-449.

101. _Cinctutis_, same as _succinctis_, which is the reading of several MSS. The Luperci were so called, because they ran, [Greek: en perizomasi], _cincti subligaculis_.

102. _Celebres vias_, the crowded streets.--_Vellera secta_, the goat-skin thongs. Several MSS. read _verbera_.

103. This is the way in which Evander chiefly testified his veneration for Mercury, by naming a month after the god's mother. As to the fact of his being his son, see above I. 471. According to Macrobius, (_ut supra_) traders sacrificed in this month to Maia and Mercury.

104. Compare Hor. Car. I. 10, 6. For the mythology of Mercury, see my Mythology, pp. 124 and 460.

105. _Pietas_, i. e. dutiful regard to his aunts, the Pleiades. The lyre, or _phorminx_, of which the invention was ascribed to Hermes, had seven strings. [Greek: Hepta de symphonous oion etanusseto chordas]. Homer, H. Merc, 25.

108. See on v. 64.

111-128. On the Kalends of May, the star named Capella ([Greek: aix]) which is in the right shoulder of the Heniochus or Charioteer, a constellation on the north side of the Milky Way--rises heliacally, according to Neapolis; cosmically, according to Taubner. Is it not acronychally, according to Ovid? Pliny (xviii. 26,) makes it take place the VIII. Id Maias.--_Ab Jove_, etc. [Greek: Ek Dios archometha], Aratus Phaen. 1, Virg. Ec. III. 60.

113, 114. According to Eratosthenes (Catast. 13,) Musaeus said, that when Jupiter was born, Rhea gave him to Themis, by whom he was committed to Amalthea, who had him suckled by her goat. Amalthea, we are told by Theon, (ad Arat. 64,) was the daughter of Olenus. Others say, that Amalthea was the name of the goat, and that she had two kids, which were raised with herself to the skies by her grateful nursling. There is no part of Grecian mythology more obscure than the early history of Jupiter.--_Nascitur_, i.e. _oritur_.--_Pluviale_. Compare Met. III. 594, Virg. aen. ix. 668, on which Servius says, _Supra Tauri cornua est signum, cui Auriga nomen est. Retinet autem stellas duas in manu, quae Haedi vocantur et Capram--quorum et ortus et occasus gravissimas tempestates faciunt_.

115. _Naïs_, for _Nympha_, the species for the genus.

119. _Aëriis_, lofty, tall, rising into the air.

123. _Cinxit_. One of the best MSS. which is followed by Heinsius and Gierig, reads _cinctum_.--_Recentibus_, the MSS. also read _decoribus_, _decentibus_, _virentibus_.

129-147. The altar of the Guardian (Praestites) Lares was erected on the Kalends of May.

130. _Curius_. Manius Curius Dentatus, the conqueror of the Sabines and of Pyrrhus. There is an apparent difficulty here, as, according to Varro, T. Tatius, the Sabine king built a temple to the Lares, and Dionysius (iv. 14) tells us, that the Compitalia were instituted in their honour by Servius Tullius. The history of Tatius, however, is so purely mythic, that little stress can be laid on the above circumstance, and the fact of the previous worship of the Lares at Rome, does not militate against that of the erection of an altar to them by Curius. The present reading _Vov ... ... ... Cur_, was given by Ciofanus, from one MS. of the highest authority; that of the other MSS. and the previous editions, is _Ara erat quidem illa Curibus_, and it is a matter of great doubt which is the genuine one. One MS. for _voverat_, reads _struxerat_.

137. _Stabat_, scil. at the altar erected by Curius.

140. _Grata_, agreeable. _Compitalia dies attributus. Laribus; ideo ubi viae competunt tum in competis sacrificatur; quotannis is dies concipitur_. Varro, L. L. V. There were 265 _compita Larium_ at Rome, Pliny, III. 9.

143, 144. See vv. 129, 130.

145. _Mille_, a definite for an indefinite number.--_Qui. trad_. etc. _Compitales Lares ornari his anno constituit vernis floribus et aestivis_. Suet. Aug. 31.

146. _Numina trina_, scil. the two Lares, and the Genius of Augustus. Hor. Car. iv. 5, 34. See IV. 954.--_Vici_, the streets.

148-158. The temple of Bona Dea was dedicated on the Kalends of May. It is disputed who this goddess was. Varro said she was Fatua or Fauna, the daughter of Faunus, who was so chaste that she never let herself even be seen by men. Macrobius (I. 12,) tells us, that Corn. Labeo said she was Maia. v. 79. As she is also said to have been the same with Ops, and a pregnant sow was the victim offered to her, (Festus, s. v. Damium,) which was also the victim to Tellus, (Hor. Ep. II. 1, 143.) I think it extremely probable, that Bona Dea was only one of the names of the goddess of the earth.

149. _Moles nativa_, a natural rock. It was on the Aventine.

152. Regna. Three of the best MSS. followed by Heinsius and Gierig, give _signa_.

155, 156. See on IV. 305. It is not certain, however, that it was Claudia Quinta, "Haec Appia illa Claudia probatae pudicitiae femina." Neapolis.

157, 158. Compare I. 649.

159-182. On the second of May, the wind Argestes began to blow, and the Hyades rose.--_Hyperionis_. Aurora, the daughter of Hyperion.

161. Argestes, called also Caurus or Corus, was the north-west wind, and was considered to be very cold.--_Mulcebit_. Five MSS. read _miscebit_, which Burmann approved, and Gierig adopted.

162. A _Cal. aq_. For vessels sailing from the east coast of Italy to Greece, the north-west wind, also called by the Greeks Iapyx, was eminently favourable. Hor. Car. I. 3, 4. Most MSS. read _a capreis_, four _a campis_, three _a canis_, one _qua canis_. The reading of the text was given by Neapolis from a MS. of no great authority.

163. The rising of the Hyades acronychally. This, perhaps, is an error, for Pliny (xviii. 66,) says _VI. Non. Maii Caesari Suculae matutino oriuntur.

166. There are three derivations of this name, one which the poet follows from [Greek: huein] to rain; a second from the letter Y, which the constellation was thought to resemble; a third from [Greek: hus sus], which is supported by the Latin name _Suculae_. I am disposed to prefer this last, (Mythology, p. 418) as also are Göttling and Nitzsch, two distinguished critics of the present day.

171. Atlas was the father of Hyas and the Hyades.

182. _Illa_ scil. _pietas.--Nomina_, etc. "Sed si nauta Graecus Hyadas ab imbre vocavit, ut vs. 166, recte admonitum est, quid opus erat idem nomen etiam ex mythis repetere. Ita poëtae sententia secum pugnat." Gierig; who had already observed, that _grege Hyadum_, v. 164, was an allusion to the derivation from [Greek: us].

183-378. The poet now returns to the Floralia, which he had briefly noticed at the end of the preceding book. These games were instituted according to Pliny, (xviii. 29) A.U.C. 516 _ex oraculis Sibyllae, ut omnia bene deflorescerent_. Velleius (I. 14) gives A.U.C. 513 as the date; which is the true one. The Floralia began on the 28th of April, and ended on the 3d of May.--_Mater florum_. "Matres earum rerum dicuntur Deae quibus praesunt." Gierig. For the general principle see Mythology, p. 6.

189. _Circus_, that is, the games of the Floral Circus, which were continued into May. The Circus Florae was in the sixth region of the city. For these games, see vv. 37l, 372.--_Theatris_, the spectators who testified their approbation by clapping of hands, etc. _Tota theatra reclamant_, Cicero Orat III. 50.

190. _Munere. Munus_ was properly used only of gladiatorial shews. The poet in employing it here, uses a poet's privilege.

195. _Cloris eram_, etc. The name Chloris, is akin to [Greek: chloae] grass, and [Greek: chloros] green, flourishing; Flora is related in the same way to Flos. Chloris and Flora are therefore kindred terms, and the latter is not, as the poet says, derived from the former. I am not certain that the older Grecian Mythology acknowledged a goddess of flowers. Lenz infers from the poem of Catullus on Berenice's hair, which is a translation from Callimachus, that the Greeks had an ancient legend about Chloris, the wife of Zephyrus, which the Alexandrian poet transferred to Arsinoe, the wife of Ptolemy Philadelphus, and that Ovid probably derived it from the [Greek: Aitia] of Callimachus. Nonnus, (xi. 363, xxxi. 106. 110,) is the only Greek poet, who, to my knowledge, notices this story of Chloris. From his late age he is of little authority, and the Italian Fauns are actors in his heterogenious poem. According to Varro, (L. L. V.) Flora was an ancient Sabine deity, whose worship was brought to Rome by Tatius, and when we consider the rural character of the ancient Italian religion in general, there can be but little doubt of its having always recognised a patroness of the flowers. The silly, tasteless fiction, transmitted to us by Plutarch, (Q. R. 35,) and the Fathers of the Church, of Flora having been a courtizan, who left her wealth to the Roman people, on condition of their celebrating games in her honour, and of the Senate having, out of shame, feigned that she was the goddess of flowers--is utterly undeserving of notice.

197. _Campi felicis_. The _Campus Felix_ of Ovid was, I think, the [Greek: aelysion pedion] of Homer, (Od. iv. 564,) rather than the [Greek: makaron naesous] of Hesiod, ([Greek: Erga], 170). See Mythology, pp. 36 and 229. Compare Hor. Epod. xvi. 41. The localisers of the fictions of the poets make the Canary Isles to be this blissful region.

203. For this Athenian legend of Boreas carrying off Orithyia, the daughter of Erechtheus, as she was dancing in a choir of maidens on the banks of the Ilissus, see Met. vi. 677. Herod, vii. 189, Mythology, pp. 227, 346. Orithya, I may observe, signifies _mountain-rusher_, ([Greek: Orei thyousa]) and was, therefore, a good name for the spouse of the North-wind. Athenian vanity made her a mortal, and daughter of an Attic king.

211. _Generoso_, of the finest kinds. _Pruna generosa_, Met. xiii. 818, _generosa uva_, Rem. Am. 567. _generosum pecus_. Virg. G. III. 75.

216. _Comae_, the flowers, IV. 38.

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. For _vestibus_, three MSS. read _florihus_.

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, quia_ gramine _sit natus_.

233. Compare Hom. II. xiv. 301. Met. II. 509.--_Facta_. Heinsius, on the authority of one MS. reads _furta_.

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 over _blossoms_, 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 word _flos_, and, ascribing to Flora, what did not belong to her. "Quae de _vino_ sequuntur, ea melius abessent." Gierig. The _flos_ and _nebula_ of 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 the _pascua_, 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_. A _clivus_, 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 read _tela_, 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 a _meretrix_. 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 also _pactiles 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. Incinctus_ seems here to be used for the simple _cinctus_; elsewhere (II. 635, V. 217. 675,) it is equivalent to _succinctus_.

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. For _vertitur_ some MSS. read _utitur_, 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 read _serta 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. read _dea magna_.

352. _Plebeio choro_, scil. the _Meretrices_, 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. Purpureus_ is 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. _Haemonia_ was 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. _Nepa_ is used for _Scorpio_, 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. The _Mundus_ (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. read _sustulerit_, one _praetulerit_, others _pertulerit_ or _propulevit.--Formosa ova_. Compare Virg. aen. viii. 589, _et seq_.

422. _Tacitis Manibus_, i. e. the Lemures, whom (v. 481,) he calls _animas Silentum_. According to Ovid's account, the Lemures were, what we term, disturbed spirits. Nonius says, they were _larvae 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 named _a 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. read _somnos_, or _somnum 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 says _digitis_ (not _digito_) _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. For _ante_, several MSS. read _ore_, 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. _apud_ Nonium. _Faba Lemuralibus jacitur Larvis, et Parentalibus adhibetur sacrificiis, et in flore ejus luctus litterae apparere videntur_. Festus.

439. _Novies_, like _ter_, (v. 435,) for _numero 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 read _Pleiade_. But see note on IV. 169.--_Virga_, the well known _gestamen_ of [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_. Like _servata male_, I. 559.

456. _Utque erat_. As they (each of them) were. Two of the best MSS. read _sicut 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 sunt Lemuralibus. 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. read _spumant_ or _spumat_, some have _fumat_, whence Heinsius formed the present reading.

517. _Puer_, when a young man.--_Diffuderat_, racked off. See Hor. Ep. I. 5. 4.

518. _Condo_ and _promo_ are 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, reads _primae mihi cura, juventae_, which is the reading of three of the best, and five other MSS. Two of the best read _prima mihi cura juventa_; others _cara mihi prima juventa_; one _prima mihi grata juventa_. I think, with Krebs, that there is force in the repetition of _cara_. Burmann proposes _flore juventae_.

526. _Cognita_. Seven MSS. have _condita_.

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. read _caelo_.

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. read _triumphis_.

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 the _arma_ of 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 the _spolia opima_ of 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. read _ultum_. The greater number Bisultor, "Nomen _Bisultoris_ ejus 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. Idibus_ is 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 the _juba_, (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 of _providens_.

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 called _Argei_. 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. _Sublicio_ so called _a 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 word _Pontifex_.

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 called _Saturnia 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 ex_ Apollinis _monitit 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, now _Santa 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 verb _dimovet, ora_, in this place, must signify _lips_, and _hoarse lips_ is rather a hardy expression. Heinsius proposed _glauca_. 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 him _Nonacrius heros_, v. 97.

660. The only foundation of this legend is the accidental resemblance between _Argei_ and [Greek: _Argeioi_]. Of the origin of the word _Argei_, 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 being _Caducifer_, the herald of the gods.

671. _Te_. etc. The name of the Roman Mercurius comes evidently from _Merx_, 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 read _tunica_.

676. _Purus_, scil. _ipse.--Suffita_ scil. _sulfure_. Most MSS. read _suffusa_.

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.--_Precor_ scil. 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 illud _hoc 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. _Canicula_ rises (it should be _sets_, 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 Calendar _pop. Rom_. i. e. _pop. pot_. of the text, instead of _Primigenia_. 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.

LIBER VI.

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. 5 Impetus 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 omni Voce locus, si non obstreperetur aquis. 10 Hic ego quaerebam, coepti quae mensis origo Esset, et in cura nominis hujus eram. Ecce deas vidi: non quas praeceptor arandi Viderat, Ascraeas quum sequeretur oves; Nec quas Priamides in aquosae vallibus Idae 15 Contulit; 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: 20 Namque, 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, 25 Junius a nostro nomine nomen habet. Est aliquid nupsisse Jovi, Jovis esse sororem. Fratre magis, dubito, glorier, anne viro. Si genus adspicitur, Saturnum prima parentem Feci; Saturni sors ego prima fui. 30 A 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, 35 Hic honor in nobis invidiosus erit? Cur igitur regina vocor, princepsque dearum? Aurea cur dextrae sceptra dedere meae? An faciant mensem luces, Lucinaque ab illis Dicar, et a nullo nomina mense traham? 40 Tum me poeniteat posuisse fideliter iras In genus Electrae Dardaniamque domum. Causa duplex irae. Rapto Ganymede dolebam: Forma quoque Idaeo judice victa mea est. Poeniteat, quod non foveo Carthaginis arces, 45 Quum 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. 50 Sed 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: 55 Nec levior quovis est mihi mensis honor. Nec tamen hunc nobis tantummodo praestat honorem Roma: suburbani dant mihi munus idem. Inspice, quos habeat nemoralis Aricia fastos, Et populus Laurens, Lanuviumque meum: 60 Est illic mensis Junonius. Inspice Tibur, Et Praenestinae moenia sacra deae; Junonale leges tempus. Nec Romulus illas Condidit: at nostri Roma nepotis erat. Finierat Juno. Respeximus. Herculis uxor 65 Stabat, et in vultu signa dolentis erant. Non ego, si toto mater me cedere coelo Jusserit, invita matre morabor, ait. Nunc quoque non luctor de nomine temporis hujus: Blandior, et partes paene rogantis ago; 70 Remque mei juris malim tenuisse precando; Et faveas causae forsitan ipse meae. Aurea possedit posito Capitolia templo Mater, et ut debet, cum Jove summa tenet. At decus omne mihi contingit origine mensis. 75 Unicus est, de quo sollicitamur, honor. Quid grave, si titulum mensis, Romane dedisti, Herculis uxori, posteritasque memor? Haec quoque terra aliquid debet mihi nomine magni Conjugis. Huc captas appulit ille boves, 80 Hic male defensus flammis et dote paterna Cacus Aventinam sanguine tinxit humum. Ad propiora vocor. Populum digessit ab annis Romulus, in partes distribuitque duas. Haec dare consilium, pugnare paratior illa est: 85 Haec 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; 90 Venit Apollinea longas Concordia lauro Nexa comas, placidi numen opusque ducis. Haec ubi narravit Tatium, fortemque Quirinum, Binaque cum populis regna coisse suis, Et Lare communi soceros generosque receptos; 95 His 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 formae Pergama: 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 aevo Fama; sed e nostro carmine certus eris. Adjacet antiquus Tiberino lucus Helerni: 105 Pontifices 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. 110 Non habuit pharetram: Phoebi tamen esse sororem Credebant; 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. 115 Si 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 captus Ad duram verbis mollibus usus erat: 120 Nympha 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 125 Occupat amplexu; speque potitus ait: Jus pro concubitu nostro tibi cardinis esto; Hoc pretium positae virginitatis habe. Sic fatus, virgam, qua tristes pellere posset A foribus noxas,--haec erat alba--dedit. 130 Sunt avidae volucres; non quae Phineïa mensis Guttura fraudabant: sed genus inde trahunt. Grande caput: stantes oculi: rostra apta rapinae; Canities pennis, unguibus hamus inest. Nocte volant, puerosque petunt nutricis egentes, 135 Et vitiant cunis corpora rapta suis. Carpere dicuntur lactentia viscera rostris; Et plenum poto sanguine guttur habent. Est illis strigibus nomen: sed nominis hujus Causa, quod horrenda stridere nocte solent. 140 Sive igitur nascuntur aves, seu carmine fiunt, Neniaque in volucres Marsa figurat anus; In thalamos venere Procae. Proca natus in illis Praeda recens avium quinque diebus erat; Pectoraque exsorbent avidis infantia linguis. 145 At puer infelix vagit opemque petit. Territa voce sui nutrix accurrit alumni, Et rigido sectas invenit ungue genas. Quid faceret? color oris erat, qui frondibus olim Esse solet seris, quas nova laesit hiems. 150 Pervenit ad Cranen, et rem docet. Illa, Timorem Pone! tuus sospes, dixit, alumnus erit. Venerat ad cunas: flebant materque paterque: Sistite vos lacrimas! ipsa medebor, ait. Protinus arbutea postes ter in ordine tangit 155 Fronde: 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. 160 Cor 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, 165 Qua 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. 170 Prisca 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, 175 Nec, 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. 180 Quae duo mixta simul sextis quicumque Kalendis Ederit, huic laedi viscera posse negant. Arce quoque in summa Junoni templa Monetae Ex voto memorant facta, Camille, tuo. Ante domus Manli fuerant, qui Gallica quondam 185 A Capitolino reppulit arma Jove. Quam bene--Di magni!--pugna cecidisset in illa Defensor solii, Jupiter alte, tui! Vixit, ut occideret damnatus crimine regni. Hunc illi titulum longa senecta dabat. 190 Lux eadem Marti festa est; quem prospicit extra Appositum Tectae porta Capena viae. Te quoque, Tempestas, meritam delubra fatemur; Quum paene est Corsis obruta classis aquis. Haec hominum monumenta patent. Si quaeritis astra, 195 Tunc 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; 200 Hac sacrata die Tusco Bellona duello Dicitur: et Latio prospera semper adest. Appius est auctor: Pyrrho qui pace negata Multum animo vidit; lumine captus erat. Prospicit a templo summum brevis area Circum. 205 Est 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. 210 Muneris 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. 215 Nomina 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. 220 Hanc ego quum vellem genero dare, tempora taedis Apta requirebam, quaeque cavenda forent. Tum mihi post sacras monstratur Junius Idus Utilis et nuptis, utilis esse viris; Primaque pars hujus thalamis aliena reperta est, 225 Nam mihi, sic conjux sancta Dialis ait: Donec ab Iliaca placidus purgamina Vesta Detulerit flavis in mare Tibris aquis, Non mihi detonsos crines depectere buxo, Non ungues ferro subsecuisse licet: 230 Non 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 235 Fertur: et a tergo non habet Ursa metum. Tunc ego me memini Ludos in gramine Campi Adspicere, 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 videmus Vota metu belli, perfide Poene, tui. Poene, rebellaras: et leto Consulis omnes Attoniti Mauras pertimuere manus. Spem metus expulerat, quum Menti vota Senatus 245 Suscipit; et melior protinus illa venit. Adspicit instantes mediis sex lucibus Idus Illa dies, qua sunt vota soluta deae.

Vesta, fave! tibi nunc operata resolvimus ora, Ad tua si nobis sacra venire licet. 250 In 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, 255 Cognita sunt nullo praecipiente mihi. Dena quater memorant habuisse Palilia Romam, Quum flammae custos aede recepta sua est. Regis opus placidi, quo non metuentius ullum Numinis ingenium terra Sabina tulit. 260 Quae 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 265 Dicitur: 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, 275 Nec medium terram mundus haberet onus.] Arce Syracosia suspensus in aëre clauso Stat globus, immensi parva figura poli; Et quantum a summis, tantum secessit ab imis Terra. Quod ut fiat, forma rotunda facit. 280 Par facies templi: nullus procurrit in illo Angulus. A pluvio vindicat imbre tholus. Cur sit virgineis, quaeris, dea culta ministris. Inveniam causas hac quoque parte suas. Ex Ope Junonem memorant Cereremque creatas 285 Semine Saturni: tertia Vesta fuit. Utraqe nupserunt: ambae peperisse feruntur: De tribus impatiens restitit una viri. Quid mirum, virgo si virgine laeta ministra Admittet castas in sua sacra manus? 290 Nec 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: 295 Mox 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. 300 At focus a flammis, et quod fovet omnia, dictus: Qui tamen in primis aedibus ante fuit. Hinc quoque vestibulum dici reor: inde precando Affamur Vestam, Quae loca prima tenes. Ante focos olim longis considere scamnis 305 Mos 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. 310 Ecce, 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, 315 Strataque 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. 320 Turrigera frontem Cybele redimita corona Convocat 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: 325 In 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. 330 Vesta jacet, placidamque capit secura quietem, Sicut erat positum cespite fulta caput. At ruber hortorum custos Nymphasque deasque Captat, et errantes fertque refertque pedes. Adspicit et Vestam; dubium, Nymphamne putarit, 335 An scierit Vestam: scisse sed ipse negat. Spem capit obscenam, furtimque accedere tentat, Et fert suspensos, corde micante, gradus. Forte senex, quo vectus erat, Silenus asellum Liquerat ad ripas lene sonantis aquae. 340 Ibat, ut inciperet, longi deus Hellesponti, Intempestivo quum rudit ille sono. Territa voce gravi surgit dea. Convolat omnis Turba; per infestas effugit ille manus. [Lampsacos hoc animal solita est mactare Priapo: 345 Apta 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. 350 Cincta 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; 355 Et 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? 360 Jamque suburbanos Etruscaque contudit arma. Spes erat in cursu; nunc Lare pulsa suo est. Vidimus ornatos serata per atria picta Veste triumphales occubuisse senes; Vidimus Iliacae transferri pignora Vestae 365 Sede. 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. 370 Atque 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, 375 Vestaque 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. 380 Quodcumque est Cereris solidae cava machina frangat, Mollitamque manu duret in igne focus. Jusserat: et fratris virgo Saturnia jussis Annuit: et mediae tempora noctis erant. Jam ducibus somnum dederat labor. Increpat illos 385 Jupiter, et sacro, quid velit, ore docet: Surgite, et in medios de summis arcibus hostes Mittite, quam minime tradere vultis, opem. Somnus abit, quaeruntque novis ambagibus acti, Tradere quam nolint et jubeantur, opem. 390 Ecce, Ceres visa est. Jaciunt Cerealia dona. Jacta super galeas scutaque longa sonant. Posse fame vinci spes excidit. Hoste repulso Candida Pistori ponitur ara Jovi.-- Forte revertebar festis Vestalibus illac, 395 Qua Nova Romano nunc via juncta Foro est. Huc pede matronam vidi descendere nudo: Obstupui, tacitus sustinuique gradum. Sensit anus vicina loci, jussumque sedere Alloquitur, quatiens voce tremente caput. 400 Hoc, 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, 405 Nil praeter salices crassaque canna fuit. Saepe suburbanas rediens conviva per undas Cantat, et ad nautas ebria verba jacit. Nondum conveniens diversis iste figuris Nomen ab averso ceperat amne deus. 410 Hic 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: 415 Quod 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. 420 Creditur armiferae signum coeleste Minervae Urbis in Iliacae desiluisse juga. Cura videre fuit: vidi templumque locumque. Hoc superest illi: Pallada Roma tenet. Consulitur Smintheus: lucoque obscurus opaco 425 Hos 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. 430 Sub 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 435 Vesta, quod assiduo lumine cuncta videt. Heu quantum timuere Patres, quo tempore Vesta Arsit, et est tectis obruta paene suis! Flagrabant sancti sceleratis ignibus ignes, Mixtaque erat flamniae flammae profana piae. 440 Attonitae 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! 445 Non 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. 450 Si 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: 455 Ignis in Iliacis nunc erit, estque, focis; Nullaque dicetur vittas temerasse sacerdos Hoc duce, nec viva defodietur humo. Sic incesta perit: quia, quam violavit, in illam Conditur: et Tellus Vestaque numen idem est. 460 Tum sibi Callaïco Brutus cognomen ab hoste Fecit, et Hispanam sanguine tinxit humum. Scilicit, interdum miscentur tristia laetis, Ne populum toto pectore festa juvent. Crassus ad Euphraten aquilas, natumque, suosque 465 Perdidit, 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; 470 Navita 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-- 475 Flavaque Thebanae reddite liba deae. Pontibus et magno juncta est celeberrima Circo Area, quae posito de bove nomen habet. Hac ibi luce ferunt Matutae sacra parenti Sceptriferas Servi templa dedisse manus. 480 Quae dea sit: quare famulas a limine templi Arceat,--arcet enim--libaque tosta petat; Bacche, racemiferos hedera redimite capillos, Si domus illa tua est, dirige vatis opus. Arserat obsequio Semele Jovis: accipit Ino 485 Te, puer, et summa sedula nutrit ope. Intumuit Juno, raptum quod pellice natum Educet. At sanguis ille sororis erat. Hinc agitur furiis Athamas, et imagine falsa: Tuque cadis patria, parve Learche, manu. 490 Maesta 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, 495 Unaque 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. 500 Nondum Lencotheë, nondum puer ille Palaemon Vorticibus densis Tibridis ora tenent. Lucus erat: dubium Semelae Stimulaene vocetur; Maenadas Ausonias incoluisse ferunt. Quaerit ab his Ino, quae gens foret. Arcadas esse 505 Audit, et Evandrum sceptra tenere loci. Dissimulata deam Latias Saturnia Bacchas Instimulat fictis insidiosa sonis: O nimium faciles! O toto pectore captae! Non venit haec nostris hospes amica choris. 510 Fraude petit, sacrique parat cognoscere ritum; Quo possit poenas pendere, pignus habet. Vix bene desierat; complent ululatibus auras Thyades effusis per sua colla comis: Iniiciuntque manus, puerumque revellere pugnant. 515 Quos 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. 520 Herculis 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 525 Continet, et Furiis in scelus isse pudet. Rumor--ut est velox--agitatis pervolat alis: Estque frequens, Ino, nomen in ore tuum. Hospita Carmentis fidos intrasse penates Diceris, et longam deposuisse famem. 530 Liba sua properata manu Tegeaea sacerdos Traditur in subito cocta dedisse foco. Nunc quoque liba juvant festis Matralibus illam; Rustica sedulitas gratior arte fuit. Nunc, ait, O vates, venientia fata resigna, 535 Qua 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; tanto Sanctior, et tanto, quam modo, major erat. 540 Laeta 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; 545 In 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. 550 Cur vetet ancillas accedere, quaeritis. Odit, Principiumque odii, si sinat ipsa, canam. Una ministrarum solita est, Cadmeï, tuarum Saepe sub amplexus coujugis ire tui. Improbus hanc Athamas furtim dilexit: ab illa 555 Comperit 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. 560 Alterius 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 565 Purpureum mixtis sanguine fluxit aquis. Proximus annus erat: Pallantide caesus eadem Didius hostiles ingeminavit opes. Lux eadem, Fortuna, tua est, auctorque, locusque. Sed superinjectis quis latet aede togis? 570 Servius est: hoc constat enim. Sed causa latendi Discrepat, et dubium me quoque mentis habet. Dum dea furtivos timide profitetur amores, Coelestemque homini concubuisse pudet; --Arsit enim magna correpta cupidine regis, 575 Caecaque 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. 580 An magis est verum, post Tulli funera plebem Confusam placidi morte fuisse ducis? Nec modus ullus erat: crescebat imagine luctus, Donec eam positis occuluere togis. Tertia causa mihi spatio majore canenda est: 585 Nos 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? 590 Vivere 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, 595 Et nostras patrio sanguine tinge manus. Talibus instinctus solio privatus in alto Sederat: attonitum vulgus ad arma ruit. Hinc cruor, hinc caedes: infirmaque vincitur aetas. Sceptra gener socero rapta Superbus habet. 600 Ipse sub Esquiliis, ubi erat sua regia, caesus Concidit in dura sanguinolentus humo. Filia carpento patrios initura Penates Ibat per medias alta feroxque vias. Corpus ut adspexit, lacrimis auriga profusis 605 Restitit. Hunc tali corripit illa sono: Vadis? an exspectas pretium pietatis amarum? Duc, inquam, invitas ipsa per ora rotas! Certa fides facti, dictus Sceleratus ab illa Vicus, et aeterna res ea pressa nota. 610 Post 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, 615 Ne 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 patebit Servius haec positi prima pudoris erit. 620 Parcite, 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 625 Ignis: 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. 630 Hic inter cineres obsceni forma virilis Aut fuit, aut visa est: sed fuit illa magis. Jussa loco captiva fovet, Conceptus ab illa Servius a coelo semina gentis habet. Signa dedit genitor, tum quum caput igne corusco 635 Contigit, inque coma flammeus arsit apex.

Te quoque magnifica, Concordia, dedicat aede Livia, quam caro praestitit illa viro. Disce tamen, veniens aetas, ubi Livia nunc est Porticus, immensae tecta fuisse domus. 640 Urbis opus domus una fuit: spatimque tenebat, Quo brevius muris oppida multa tenent. Haec aequata solo est, nullo sub crimine regni, Sed quia luxuria visa nocere sua. Sustinuit tantas operum subvertere moles 645

645 Totque suas heres perdere Caesar opes. Sic agitur censura, et sic exempla parantur; Quum vindex, alios quod monet, ipse facit.

Nulla nota est veniente die, quam dicere possim. Idibus Invicto sunt data templa Jovi. 650 Et jam Quinquatrus jubeor narrare minores. Nunc ades o coeptis, flava Minerva, meis. Cur vagus incedit tota tibicen in urbe? Quid sibi personae, quid stola longa, volant? Sic ego. Sic posita Tritonia cuspide dixit: 655 --Possem utinam doctae verba referre deae!-- Temporibus veterum tibicinis usus avorum Magnus et in magno semper honore fuit. Cantabat fanis, cantabat tibia ludis: Cantabat maestis tibia funeribus. 660 Dulcis erat mercede labor: tempusque secutum, Quod subito Graiae frangeret artis opus. Adde quod aedilis, pompam qui funeris irent, Artifices solos jusserat esse decem. Exilio mutant urbem, Tiburque recedunt: 665 --Exilium quodam tempore Tibur erat.-- Quaeritur in scena cava tibia, quaeritur aris, Ducit supremos nenia nulla toros. Servierat quidam, quantolibet ordine dignus, Tiburo, sed longo tempore liber erat. 670 Rure dapes parat ille suo, turbamque canoram Convocat. Ad festas convenit illa dapes. Nox erat, et vinis oculique animique natabant, Quum praecomposito nuntius ore venit: Atque ita, Quid cessas convivia solvere? dixit: 675 Auctor vindictae jam venit, ecce, tuae! Nec mora; convivae valido titubantia vino Membra movent: dubii stantque labantque pedes. At dominus, Discedite, ait; plaustroque morantes Sustulit. In plaustro sirpea lata fuit. 680 Alliciunt somnos tempus, motusque, merumque, Potaque se Tibur turba redire putat. Jamque per Esquilias Romanam intraverat urbem; Et mane in medio plaustra fuere foro. Plautius, ut posset specie numeroque Senatum 685 Fallere, personis imperat ora tegi. Admiscetque alios, et, ut hunc tibicina coetum Augeat, in longis vestibus ire jubet. Sic reduces bene posse tegi, ne forte notentur Contra collegae jussa redisse sui. 690 Res placuit: cultuque novo licet Idibus uti, Et canere ad veteres verba jocosa modos. Haec ubi perdocuit, Superest mihi discere, dixi, Cur sit Quinquatrus illa vocata dies. Martius, inquit, agit tali mea nomine festa, 695 Estque sub inventis haec quoque turba meis. Prima terebrato per rara foramina buxo, Ut daret, effeci, tibia longa sonos. Vox placuit: liquidis faciem referentibus undis Vidi virgineas intumuisse genas. 700 Ars mihi non tanti est; valeas, mea tibia! dixi. Excipit abjectam cespite ripa suo. Inventam Satyrus primum miratur, et usum Nescit; at inflatam sentit habere sonum; Et modo dimittit digitis, modo concipit auras. 705 Jamque inter Nymphas arte superbus erat: Provocat et Phoebum; Phoebo superante pependit: Caesa recesserunt a cute membra sua. Sum tamen inventrix auctorque ego carminis hujus. Hoc est, cur nostros ars colat ista dies. 710 Tertia lux veniet, qua tu, Dodoni Thyene, Stabis Agenorei fronte videnda bovis. Haec est illa dies, qua tu purgamina Vestae, Tibri, per Etruscas in mare mittis aquas.

Si qua fides ventis, Zephyro date carbasa, nautae: 715 Cras veniet vestris ille secundus aquis.

At pater Heliadum radios ubi tinxerit undis, Et cinget geminos stella serena polos; Tollet humo validos proles Hyriea lacertos. Continua Delphin nocte videndus erit. 720 Scilicet hic olim Volscos Aequosque fugatos Viderat in campis, Algida terra, tuis. Unde suburban o clarus, Tuberte, triumpho Vectus es in niveis, Postume, victor equis.

Jam sex et totidem luces de mense supersunt: 725 Huic unum numero tu tamen adde diem; Sol abit e Geminis, et Cancri signa rubescunt: Coepit Aventina Pallas in arce coli.

Jam tua, Laomedon, oritur nurus, ortaque noctem Pellit, et e pratis uda pruina fugit; 730 Reddita, quisquis is est, Summano templa feruntur, Tum, quum Romanis, Pyrrhe, timendus eras.

Hanc quoque quuin patriis Galatea receperit undis, Plenaque securae terra quietis erit; Surgit humo juvenis, telis afflatus avitis; 735 Et gemino nexas porrigit angue manus. Notus amor Phaedrae, nota est injuria Thesei: Devovit natum credulus ille suum. Non impune plus juvenis Troezena petebat: Dividit obstantes pectore taurus aquas. 740 Solliciti terrentur equi, frustraque retenti Per scopulos dominum duraque saxa trahunt. Exciderat curru, lorisque morantibus artus Hippolytus lacero corpore raptus erat: Reddideratque animam, multum indignante Diana. 745 Nulla, Coronides, causa doloris, ait, Namque pio juveni vitam sine vulnere reddam; Et cedent arti tristia fata meae. Gramina continuo loculis depromit eburnis: Profuerant Glauci Manibus illa prius: 750 Tunc, quum observatas augur descendit in herbas, Usus et auxilio est anguis ab angue dato. Pectora ter tetigit, ter verba salubria dixit: Depositum terra sustulit ille caput. Lucus eum, nemorisque sui Dictynna recessu 755 Celat: Aricino Virbius ille lacu. At Clymenus Clothoque dolent, haec, fila reneri, Hic, fieri regni jura minora sui. Jupiter exemplum veritus direxit in ilium Fulmina, qui nimiae moverat artis opem. 760 Phoebe, querebaris. Deus est; placare parenti; Propter te, fieri quod vetat, ipse facit.

Non ego te, quamvis properabis vincere Caesar, Si vetet auspicium, signa movere velim. Sint tibi Flaminius Thrasimenaque litora testes, 765 Per volucres aequos multa monere deos. Tempora si veteris quaeris temeraria damni, Quartus ab extremo mense bis ille dies.

Postera lux melior. Superat Masinissa Syphacem; Et cecidit telis Hasdrubal ipse suis. 770

Tempora labuntur, tacitisque senescimus annis, Et fugiunt, freno non remorante, dies. Quam cito venerunt Fortunae Fortis honores! Post septem luces Junius actus erit. Ite, deam laeti Fortem celebrate. Quirites: 775 In Tiberis ripa munera regis habet.

Pars pede, pars etiam celeri decurrite cymba; Nec pudeat potos inde redire domum. Ferte coronatae juvenum convivia lintres, Multaque per medias vina bibantur aquas. 780 Plebs colit hanc, quia, qui posuit, de plebe fuisse Fertur, et ex humili sceptra tulisse loco. Convenit et servis, serva quia Tullius ortus Constituit dubiae templa propinqua deae.

Ecce suburbana rediens male sobrius aede 785 Ad stellas aliquis talia verba jacit: Zona latet tua nunc, et eras fortasse latebit. Dehinc erit, Orion, adspicienda mihi. At si non esset potus, dixisset eadem Venturum tempus solstitiale die. 790 Lucifero subeunte Lares delubra tulerunt, Hic, ubi fit docta multa corona manu. Tempus idem Stator aedis habet, quara Romulus olim Ante Palatini condidit ora jugi.

Tot restant de mense dies, quot nomina Parcis, 795 Quum data sunt trabeae templa, Quirine, tuae.

Tempus Iuleis cras est natale Kalendis: Pierides, coeptis addite summa meis. Dicite, Pierides, quis vos adjunxerit isti, Cui dedit invitas victa noverca manus. 800 Sic ego. Sic Clio, Clari monumenta Philippi Adspicis, unde trahit Marcia casta genus; Marcia, sacrifico deductum nomen ab Anco, In qua par facies nobilitate sua. Par animo quoque forma suo respondet in illa; 805 Et genus, et facies ingeniumque simul. Nec, quod laudamus formam, tam turpe putaris; Laudamus magnas hac quoque parte deas. Nupta fuit quondam matertera Caesaris illi. O decus, o sacra femina digna domo! 810 Sic cecinit Clio: doctae assensere sorores. Annuit Alcides, increpuitque lyram.

NOTES:

1-100. The poet, as he had done in the preceding months, commences June, by a discussion of its name. The gods, as usual, appear on the scene, and, as there were three etymons of the name of the month, three deities are introduced.

2. _Quae placeant_, etc. You shall chuse for yourself.

3, 4. Alluding, perhaps, to the Epicurean spirit of the age.

5. _Est Deus_, etc. He expresses the same sentiment elsewhere. See A. A. III. 549. Pont. Ill, 4, 93. [Greek: Kouphon chraema poiaetaes esti kai ptaenon kai ieron, kai ou proteron oios te poiein prin an entheos te genaetai, kai ekphron kai ho nous maeketi en auto enae]. Plato Ion. _Ego non puto poetam grave plenumque carmen sine coelesti aliquo mentis instinctu fundere_. Cicero, Tusc. I. 26. _Poeta quasi divino quodam spiritu inflatur_. Id. Arch. 8.--What is rare is the subject of admiration, and nothing is rarer than poetic genius in a high degree; hence the ancients looked on it as something divine, or, as proceeding from the favour, and even the immediate inspiration of the gods. Nothing is more true than _poeta nascitur non fit_, but it is equally true of other things, the musician and the painter, nay, I might add, the carpenter and the tailor, are born, not made. But of some species, the supply is much larger than of others.

6. _Impetus hic_, the _furor poeticus 13. _Praeceptor arandi_. Hesiod, the author of the oldest agricultural poem, his Works and Days. He lived at Ascra, a village of Boeotia, at the foot of Mt. Helicon. In v. 22, of his Theogony, it is said of the Muses, [Greek: ai nu pot' Haesiodon kalaen edidaxan aoidaen Arnas poimainonth' Elikonos upo zatheoio]. See A. A. I. 27. Propert II. 10. 25, 34. 79. Virg. Ec. II. 70. G. II. 176.

15. The well-known fatal Judgment of Paris--_Aquosae, [Greek: polypidax], Homer.

17. See v. 27. Virg. aen. I. 46.

18. See v. 34.

22. _Exlg. mod_. The pentameter measure. See II. 3, 4.

26. _Junius, aut ex parte populi nominatus, aut, ut Cincius arbitratur, quod Junonius apud Latinos olim vocitatus, diuque apud Aricinos, Praenestinosque hoc appellatione in fastos relatus sit; adeo ut, sicut Nisus in commentariis fastorum dicit, apud majores quoque nostros haec appellatio mensis diu manserit, sed post, detritis quibusdam litteris, ex Junonio Junius dictus sit; nam et aedes Junoni Monetae Cal. Jun. dedicata est_. Macrob. Sat. I. 12. This leaves, I think, little doubt respecting the true origin of the name.

29. See Hom. II. iv. 59. According to Hesiod, Th. 454, and the Homeridian hymn to Venus, v. 22, Hestia (Vesta) was the first-born of Kronus and Rhea. Ovid evidently followed Homer, without perfectly understanding him.

31. _Hunc_ (Capitolinum) _antea_ montem Saturnium appellatum prodiderunt, et ab eo late Saturniam terram. Antiquum oppidum in hoc fuisse Saturniam scribitur. Ejus vestigia etiam nunc manent tria; quod Saturni fanum in faucibus: quod Saturnia, porta quam nunc vacant Pandanam: quod post aedem Saturni in aedificiorum legibus parietes postici muri sunt scripti_. Varro, L. L. IV.

32. See I. 233. _A Caesare proximus Caesar_. Ep. ex Pont. II. 8, 37. _Proximus a domina--sedeto_, A. A. I. 139. _Tu nunc eris alter ab illo_. Virg. Ec. v. 49.

34. In the Capitoline temple, Juno and Minerva had chapels on each side of that of Jupiter. The left-hand one was Juno's. The custom of uniting these three deities was derived from the Etruscans. See Mythology, p. 453.

35. _Pellex_, the Pleias Maia, see V. 85. Compare Virg. aen. i. 39.

37. _Regina_. The Juno Regina of the Romans, was the Queen Kupra of the Etruscans, whose statue was brought to Rome by Camillus, when Veii was taken A.U.C. 359. Liv. v. 21.

39. For the origin of the name Lucina, see on II. 449. For _faciant mensem luces_, one of the best MSS. reads _faciam pueris lucem_, alluding to another cause of the name.

40. This is aukwardly expressed, for she wants to shew that the month was named from her, and not she from the month. Taubner supposes a hypallage. It is possible that _nomina_ may be used here in the sense of _fame, renown_. See III. 66.

41. _Tum me poeniteat_, then shall I repent.

42. See IV. 31. Virg. aen i. 26.

43. See Hom. Il. xx. 232.

45. See Virg. aen. i. 15.

47. See Hom. Il. iv. 51.

49. [Greek: En apasais tais kourias Haera trapezas etheto] (Tatius) [Greek: Kouritia legomenae, ai kai eis tode chronou keintai]. Dion. Hal. II. 50.--_Junon. Fal_. See IV. 73.

55. _Centum_, numerous,--a definite for an indefinite. Compare Virg. aen. I. 415. iv. 199.

55. _Quovis_, scil. _altero honore_.--_Honor mensis_ IV. 85. like _honor coeli, honor templorum_.

58. _Suburbani_. See on III. 688. Places which were not very remote from Rome, were called _suburban_. A triumph over the Volscians is (v. 723) named a suburban triumph. All the following towns were in Latium.

59. _Nemoral. Aric_. See III. 263. Met. xv. 488. Aricia lay at the foot of the Alban Mount, on the Appian Way, 13 miles from Rome.

60. _Pop. Laurens_. Laurentum, near the Tiber, between Rome and the sea, was said to have been the residence of king Latinus.--_Lanuvium meum_. This was another town of the Latins, in which there was a grove and temple of Juno Sospita, common to them and the Romans. Liv. viii. 14. For _Lanuvium_, most MSS. read _Lavinium_, but this offends the metre.

61. _Tibur Argeo positum colono_. Hor. Car. II. 6, 5. See on IV. 71. Tibur, now _Tivoli_, was on the Anien.

62. _Praenest. deae_, scil. _Fortunae. Fortunae apud Praenesten aedem pulcherrimam ferunt fuisse_. Schol. Juven. xiv. 90.

65. Hebe, called by the Romans _Juventas_, advances as the advocate of a second opinion. _Fulvius Nobilior in Fastis Romulum dicit, postquam populum in majores minoresque divisit, ut altera armit rempublicam tueretur, in honorem utriusque partis hunc Maium, sequentem Junium vocasse_. Macrob. Sat. I. 12. For the marriage of Hebe, the daughter of Jupiter and Juno, with Hercules, see Homer, Od. xi. 604. Hes. Th. 950.

75. _Origine mensis_. There is the same kind of ambiguity here, and in v. 77, as above, v. 40. It is plainly (see v. 88,) the intention of the poet to shew that the month derived its name from the _juvenes_, and not from the goddess Juventas.

77. _Titulum_, the honour. See IV. 115.

79. _Nomine_, on account of.

80. See I. 543, _et seq_.

83. _Ab annis_, i. e. _ab aetate_.

90. _Dissimulata_, concealed, hidden, it would have been no longer visible.

91, 92. Concordia, the advocate of a third opinion, from _jungo_, is here introduced in a very timely and appropriate manner. For the reparation of the temple of Concord by Tiberius, see I. 637.--_Apol. lauro_. See III. 139, The laurel is mentioned on account of the victories of Tiberius.-- _Placidi_, etc. Concordia, he means, was the inspiring deity of the peace-loving prince, and concord was his work.

99. _Ite pares_. As I give not the preference to any, having the fate of Paris before my eyes.

101-182. On the Kalends of June was the festival of an ancient Roman deity, named by our poet and Macrobius, Carna or Carnea; by Tertullian, Cyprian, and Augustine, Carda or Cardea. _Non-nulli putaverunt, Junium mensem a Junio Bruto, qui primus Romae consul factus est, nominatum, quod hoc mense id est Kal. Jun. pulso Tarquinio sacrum Carnae deae in Coelio monte voti reus fecerit. Hanc deam vitalibus humanis praeesse credunt, ab ea denique petitur ut jecinora et corda, quaeque sunt intrinsecus viscera conservet. Et quia, cordis beneficio, cujus dissimulatione Brutus habebatur, idoneus emendationi publici status exstitit, hanc deam, quae vitalibus praeest, templo sacravit. Cui pulte fabacia, et larido sacrificatur, quod his maxime rebus vires corporis roborentur; nam et Calendae Juniae fabariae vulgo vocantur, quod hoc mense adultae fabae divinis rebus adhibentur_. Macrob. Sat. I. 12. The name is here evidently derived _a carne_. The Fathers of the Church, on the other hand, as they join their Cardea or Carda with deities, named Forculus and Limininus, (from _fores_ and _limen_) deduced her name from _Cardo_, to which origin Ovid also plainly alludes.

103, 104. This confirms what I have said above on V. 229, respecting the Roman origin, and the late date of several legends. Though the personages in this are Italian, the manners are Grecian.--_Vires_, her power.

105. _Antiques_. Three of the best MSS. read _antiqui_. They are followed by Heinsius and Gierig. I think it the better reading. Compare Hom. II. xi. 166. Virg. aen. xi. 851.--_Tiberino_. See IV. 291. One MS. reads _Tiberini_, three _Tiberinae Hilernae.--Helerni, Hilerni and Hylerni_, are various readings. Who or what Helernus was is totally unknown. Heinsius thinks that the _lucus Helerni_ might have been the same with the _lucus Asyli_, (II. 67,) but this last was on the Capitoline hill, and Ovid evidently assigns some place a little way from Rome as the situation of the former.

106. _Sacra ferunt_. Both the offerer (Virg. aen. III, 19,) and the priest (Id. G. III, 446,) are said _sacra ferre_. For _ferunt_, one MS. reads _canunt_.

107. _Cranen_. Two MSS. read _Granen_, which has been received into the text by Heinsius and Gierig. Two have _Gramen_, one _Grangen_.-- _Priores_, the ancients. See I. 329, IV. 329.

113. _Dixisset. Si_. is understood. The copyists stumbled at this ellipse, for four MSS. read _Huic si quis_, one _si dixit_, another _quum dixit_. There are, however, examples of it. _Dedisses huic animo par corpus_. Plin. Ep. I. 2, 8. _Dares hanc vim M. Crasso; in foro, crede mihi, saltaret_, Cic. Off. III. 19. Compare Hor. Sat. I. 3, 15.

117. _Resistit_, stops. II. 86.

126. _Occupat amplexu_, embraces, seizes in his arms. See on I. 575. _De Jano non mihi facile quidquam occurrit, quod ad probrum pertinent; et forte talis fuit ut innocentius vixerit et a facinoribus et flagitiis remotius_. Augustinus de Civ. Dei. vii. This tale must have escaped the knowledge or the memory of the zealous Father. But does not what he here says of this ancient Italian deity offer a strong confirmation of what has been already observed respecting the purity of the old Italian religion?

129. _Virgam_. Heinsius, without having the authority of any MS. reads _spinam_.

130. _Alba_, scil. _spina_. See v. 165. The same power is ascribed to the [Greek: ramnos], which is the same as the Alba Spina (_whitethorn_), by Dioscorydes, I. 119. [Greek: Legetai de kai klonas autaes thurais prostethentas apokrouein tas ton pharmakon kakourgias]. The same is said of the _aquifolium_ by Pliny.

131. _Quae_, etc. the Harpies. See Apoll. Rh. Arg. II. 187. Virg. aen. III. 212. Mythology, pp. 225, 422.

139. _Est illis_, etc. [Greek: Strix a strizein] _stridere_, the night-owl, _Strix aluco_ of Linnaeus. _Fabulosum arbitror de strigibus, ubera eas infantium labris immulgere. Esse in maledictis jam antiquis strigem convenit; sed quae sit avium constare non arbitror_. Plin. H. N. xi. 39, 95. A very different account of this bird is given by Isidore, (Orig. xii. 7.) _Strix nocturna avis, habens nomen de sono vocis; quando enim elumat stridet. Vulgo Amma dicitur ub amando parvulos, unde et lac praebere dicitur nascentibus.

141, 142. Ovid says elsewhere, (Am. I. 8. 13.) _Hanc ego nocturnas vivam volitare per umbras Suspicor et pluma corpus anile tegi_. And Festus says, _Striges maleficis mulieribus nomen inditum est, quas volaticas etiam vacant_, alluding to the same opinion. The belief of the power of witches to transform themselves into animals, is not yet totally extinct among the vulgar in our own country. For the power of magic-verses, _carmina_, see Virg. Ec. viii. 69.--_Nenia_, i. e. _carmen magicum_. Hor. Epod. 17, 28. The Marsians were famous for their magic skill. The construction here is _Nen. Mars. fig. anus_.

143. _Proca_. See IV. 52.

155. We do not read anywhere else of the Arbutus being used for this purpose. Perhaps, it was on account of its being ever green like the laurel. Diogenes Laertius (iv. 7, 10,) tells us, that when Bion was sick, [Greek: grai doken eumaros trachaelon eis epodaen, ramnon te kai kladon daphnaes uper thuraen ethaeken].

167. Garlic was also thought to be efficacious for this purpose; it was also good to fasten to each arm of the child an eye taken out of a live hyaena. Ignorant people always love cruel and barbarous remedies; we have instances enough among ourselves.

169. See above on v. 101.

173. Compare Hor. Epod. 2. 48. Sat. II. 2. 49.

175. Scil, the Attagen.

176. The Crane. See Hom. Il. III. 5.

181 _Sextis Kalendis_, scil. _Junii_, the sixth month.

183. See I. 638. Liv. vii. 28.

185. See Liv. v. 47.

187-190. Compare Juv. Sat. x. 276, _et seq_. Read carefully the admirable account of this transaction in Niebuhr's Roman History, II. 602. _et seq_.

191. See Liv. vii. 23. x. 23.

192. _Tectae viae_. The commentators confess their inability to explain this. Donatus conjectures, that it may have been arched over, or have had porticos along it. Some MSS. read _rectae_, one _dextrae_. The Appian road began at the Capene gate, and it is uncertain, whether this temple of Mars was on it, or had a separate road leading to it.

193. This temple was built A.U.C. 495, by L. Scipio the son of Barbatus, who conquered Corsica. It was outside of the Capene gate, where a stone was dug up, bearing the inscription, which may be seen in Reines. Inscr. vi. 34. p. 410, or in Niebuhr, Rom. Hist. I. 254.

196. Aquila rises in the evening.

197. On the IV. Non. the Hyades rise heliacally, accompanied by rain.

199. The temple of Bellona vowed by Appius Claudius, in the midst of a battle, in the Etruscan war, A.U.C. 458, (Liv. x. 19.) was dedicated on the III. Non. Jun. Pliny, (H. N. xxxv. 2. 3.) says, _App. Claudius posuit in Bellonae aede majores suos placuitque in excelso spectari et titulos honorum legi_. Just what one might expect from one of the proud Claudii!

201. _Duello_ the same as _bello_. _Duellum_ is a word of frequent occurrence in Livy.

203. _Pyrrho_, etc. This was A.U.C. 474. Val. Max. viii. 12. _Ad App. Claudii senectutem accedebat etiam ut caecus esset; tamen is quum sententia senatus inclinaret ad pacem et foedus faciendum cum Pyrrho non dubitavit dicere illa, quae versibus persecutus est Ennius_: Quo vobis mentes recte quae stare solebant Antehac, dementes sese flexere viai?

204. "_Captus_ qui uti aliqua re non potest, Liv. ii. 36: _omnibus membris captus_. xxii. 2: _captus oculis_, ubi vid. Duker," Gierig. Upwards of Twenty MSS. read _caecus_, two _cassus_, compare Virg. aen. II. 85.

205. Before the temple of Bellona was a small _area_, or open place, which reached to the upper part of the Circus Flaminius. In the _area_ before the temple, stood the celebrated pillar. It was in the temple of Bellona that the senate gave audience to such foreign ambassadors as they would not admit into the city, here also they received the generals who were returned from war. See Livy, _passim. Bellona dicitur dea bellorum; ante cujus templum erat columella, quae bellica vocabatur, supra quam hastam jaciebant quum bellum indicebatur_. Festus. _Circus Flaminius_.-- _Aedes Bellonae versus portam Carmentalem. Ante hanc aedem columna index belli inferendi_. P. Victor de region, urb. Reg. ix. Livy (I. 32.) describes the ceremony of throwing the spear. Originally, when the Roman territory was small, and the hostile states were close at hand, the Fetial used to cast the spear into the enemy's country; afterwards the practice of merely casting it over the pillar of Bellona was introduced. --_Templo_ is the reading of two MSS. of high character, all the rest read _tergo_.

209. At the other end of the Circus Flaminius was the temple of Hercules Custos. Neapolis thinks there were two temples of Hercules in this Circus, one built by order of the Senate in compliance with the directions of the Sibyllian verses; the other erected by Fulvius Nobilior, and repaired by Philippus. See v. 802.--_Eub. car_. See IV. 257.--_Titulos_, scil. the inscription.--_Probavit_. "Censorum proprie est probare_." Heinsius. [Greek: Apothuon de taes ousias apasaes ho Sullas to Haeraklei dekataen]. Plut. Sulla, 35.

213--218. On the Nones was the anniversary of the dedication of the temple of the ancient Sabine deity, named Sancus, Dius (_Deus_) Fidius and Semo. Of these names, we may observe, that Sancus is also written Sangus and Sanctus, which last is manifestly a corruption; that from the second was formed an ordinary oath of the Romans, _Medius fidius_, equivalent to _Mehercle_ (The Greeks who rendered _Fidius_ by [Greek: pistios], made him the same with Hercules); that Semo, which is, perhaps, a contraction of _Semihomo_, is equivalent to _Indiges_, and, therefore, corresponds pretty exactly with the [Greek: haeros] of the Greeks, in its later sense. (Mythology, p. 273). For _Pater Semo_, see on III. 775. Most MSS. read _Semi_-_pater_, some _Semicaper_, but inscriptions prove the correctness of the present reading.--_Aelius Gallus Dius Fidius dicebat Diovis_ (Jovis) _filius, ut Graeci [Greek: Dioskouron] Castorem, et putabat hunc esse Sanctum ab Sabina lingua, et Herculem ab Graeca_. Varro, L. L. IV. Saint Augustine, (De Civ. Dei. xviii.) in accordance with the system which represented the gods of ancient Greece and Italy, as having been nothing but deified mortals, says, _Sabini regem suum primum Sancum, seu, ut alii, Sanctum, retulerunt in Deos_. Cato, in his Origines, says, _Nomen_ (scil. Sabinorum) _esse impositum ex Sabo Divi Sanci Gentilis filio_. And Silius Italicus (viii. 422,) says, _Ibant et laeti; pars Sanctum voce canebant Auctorem gentis; pars laudes ore ferebant, Sabe, tuas; qui de patrio cognomine primus Dixisti populos magna ditione Sabinos_. The _pater Sabinus_ of Virgil (aen. vii. 178,) would appear to be the same with Sabus. Before I quit this deity, I must notice the curious mistake into which Justin Martyr and Tertullian fell, in consequence of the resemblance between _Semoni_ and _Simoni_. They gravely assert, that, seduced by his magic arts, the Romans erected a statue to Simon Magus, and adored him as a god!

217. I think Ovid intimates very plainly here his belief that the Sabines, when they settled at Rome, raised a temple on the Quirinal to their ancient god, Sancus. History, however, makes no mention of it, and Sancus is not among the deities to whom, according to Varro, L. L. IV. Tatius erected temples. Dionysius, (iv. 58,) speaking of the treaty made by Tarquinius Superbus, with the Gabines, says, [Greek: touton esti ton orkion mnaemeion en Pomae keimenon en hiero Dios Pistiou on Romaioi Sankton kalousin]; which temple, he tells us (ix. 60,) stood on the Quirinal ([Greek: epi tou Henualiou lophou,]) was begun by Tarquinius, and dedicated by the consul, Spurius Postumius, on the Nones of June, A.U.C. 288.

219. _Est mihi_, etc. Ovid speaks of his daughter also in his Tristia (iv. 10, 75,) _Filia me mea bis prima fecunda juventa, Sed non ex uno conjuge fecit avum_. Her name is not known, but it would appear that she was married to a senator, for Seneca (de Con. Sap. 17,) says, _In senatu flentem vidimus Fidum Cornelium, Nasonis generum_.

225. _Hujus_, scil, _mensis_. It was not lucky to marry in June before the Ides; all the rest of the month was favourable to matrimony. See II. 557, III. 393.

227. _Stercus ex aede Vestae XVII. Kal. Jul. defertur in angiportum medium fere clivi Capitolini, qui locus clauditur porta stercoraria. Tantae sanctitatis majores nostri esse judicaverunt_. Festus. _Dies qui vocatur, Quando stercus delatum, fas: ab eo appellatus, quod eo die ex aede Vestae stercus everritur et per Capitolinum clivum in locum defertur certum. Varro L. L. V. Ovid, we may observe differs from these writers. Their testimony is, I think, to be preferred.

228. _Flav. aq_. Compare Virg, aen. vii. 30. Hor. Car. I. 2. 13.

229--231. See III. 398.--_Detonsos_. The readings of the MSS. differ greatly, some have _detonso_, two _detenso_, three _detonsum_, one _detonsa_, another _dentoso_, two give the present reading. _Detonsi crines_ does not signify hair that is cut close, but what is merely clipt at the ends, which we are to suppose was the case with that of the Flaminia.--_Buxo_. The Roman combs, like some of our own, were made of box-wood.--_Depectere_. See III. 465.

232. _Matrimonium Flaminis nisi morte dirimi non jus_. Gellius, N. A. x. 15. _Certe Flaminica non nisi univira est, quae et Flaminis lex est_. Tertull. Ex. ad Cast. 13.

234. _Ignea Vesta_, "templum Vestae in quo ignis alitur perpetuus," Gierig. _Veste nitebit humus_ is the reading of all the MSS. but two, which have _humo_. The present reading, of the correctness of which no one can doubt, was formed by Scaliger.

235. On the VII. Id. Arctophylax or Boötes, sets in the morning.-- _Lycaona_, Areas, the grandson of Lycaon, II. 153. _et seq_. If this is not an oversight of the poet, Lycaon is put for Lycaonides, just as it is supposed, that even Homer uses Hyperion for Hyperionides. See above I. 385. "Ita [Greek: Amphitryon] pro [Greek: Amphitryonidaes], Pindar Nem. IV. 32. ubi vid. Schol. et Olymp. x. 42. [Greek: Moliones] pro [Greek: Molionidai] ubi vid. Schmid." Burmann.--_Phoebe_. One would rather have expected _Phoebus_. He probably meant an allusion to Diana, who had transformed Callisto. Phoebe seems to be put for _night_.

237. _Gram. Campi_. Compare Hor. Car III. 7. 26. iv. 1. 39. A. P. 162.

239. _Piscatorii ludi vocantur, qui quotannis mense Junio trans Tiberim fieri solent a Praetore urbano pro piscatoribus Tiberinis: quorum quaestus non in macellum pervenit sed fere in aream Volcani; quod id genus pisciculorwm vivorum datur ei deo pro animis humanis_. Festus.

241-248. After the defeat of the Roman army by Hannibal at the Trasimene lake, in which the consul C. Flaminius was slain, A.U.C. 537, the Sibylline books were consulted, according to custom, and by their direction, _Ludi magni_ were vowed to Jupiter, and temples to Venus Erycina, and to Mars. Liv. xxii. 9. Does not this tend to confirm what I have observed above (see on IV. 874.) respecting the Phoenician origin of Venus Erycina? Every one knows the Roman custom of endeavouring to gain over the deities of their enemies.

247. _Adspicit_, etc. "Inter illam diem, qua vota soluta sunt, et Idus interjacent sex luces. Falso Neap. putabat Ovidiam hoc disticho, VI. Id. exprimere voluisse." Gierig. I think however Neapolis is right, for the setting of Arctophylax was on the VII. Id. unless we suppose that the temple of Mens was dedicated on that day, and in that case, where was the necessity for vv. 247, 248?

249-460. On the V. Id. were the Vestalia. The poet goes at great length into this subject. See I. 528. III. 417, _et seq_. 697. _et seq_. IV. 949.

253. _Non vidi_. Perhaps he means to intimate, that Vesta as the principle of fire, had no visible anthropomorphic form, like the other deities. Compare v. 298.--_Valeant_, etc. away with, adieu to. Compare Hor. Ep. II. 1. 80. Ter. Andr. iv. 2. 13. The Greeks used their [Greek: chairo], in the same sense.-_Mendacia_, fictions. See Hor. A. P. 151.

257. _Dena quater_, etc. The temple of Vesta was built by Numa, [Greek: Autos protos hieron idrusamenos Romaiois Hestias, kai parthenous apodeixas autae Ouaepolous]. Dionys. II. 65. See also Plut. Num. 9 and 11. Liv. I. 20.--_Palilia_. See on IV. 721.

258. _Flammae custos_, scil. Vesta, Vell. Paterc. II. 131. The deities were called the guardians (_custodes_) of the objects over which they presided. Compare II. 277.

259. _Meluentius_, etc. Compare Met. I. 322.

261. _Quae nunc_, etc. Compare I. 199, _et seq_. III. 183, A. A. III. 118.

263. _Hic locus_, etc. [Greek: Edeimato plaesion tou taes Hestias hierou taen kaloumenaen Rhaegian oion te basileion oikaema]. Plut. Num. 14. _Habitabat propter aedem Vestae_. Solin. 2. As Lipsius justly observed, Ovid confounds the _Regia_ and the _Atrium Vestae_. The Vestals dwelt in the Atrium. _Virgines quum vi morbi Atrio Vestae coguntur excedere, matronarum curae custodiaeque mandantur_. Plin. Ep. vii. 19, 2. Correct by this the note on II. 69.

264. _Intonsi_. See on II. 30.--_Magna_, scil, for those times.

265. The temple of Vesta was round, [Greek: hieron enkuklion-- apomimoumenos to schaema tou sympantos kosmou] Plut. Num. 14. _Rotundam aedem Vestae Numa consecravit, quod eandem esse terram credebat, eamque pilae forma esse, ut sui simili templo dea coleretur_. Festus. "Neque Noster sibi constat; namque hic et vs. 460, Vestam facit _terram_, vs. 291, _vivam flammam_." Gierig.

267. [Greek: Kai Gaia maeter Hestian de s' oi sophoi Broton kalousin, haemenaen en aitheri]. Eurip. Frag. 178.--_Et Terra_. Three MSS. read _quae Terra_.

268. _Focus_, ignis.

269. 270. Compare Met. I. 12.

271-276. These six verses are wanting in all the MSS. but seven, only one of which is of the first order. In one they come after v. 280. "Videntur mihi spurii esse, namque l. quo referes vs. 273, _locata?_ Ad terram, vs. 269? At alia subjecta interposita sunt, _volubilitas_ et _angulus_. Non ita negligenter Ovidius scribit. 2. Sententia inest inepta; cum in medio mundo sit, non esset in medio, nisi convexa foret. 3. Eadem sententia sed melius expressa legitur, vs. 279, _et seq_." Gierig. I think he is right, and that these lines should be rejected.--_Ipsa volubilitas_, etc. The _orbis rotundus_ is evidently the world, (_mundus_) and not the earth. _Mundi volubilitas, quae nisi in globosa forma esse non potest_. Cic. N. D. II. 19. Yet, from the connexion, it is of the volubility of the earth that the poet speaks, and he would thus appear to inculcate the Pythagorean or Copernican system, which he surely did not hold.--_Qui_, etc. it (scil. the earth) has no saliant angles to press the matter (_partes_) external to it, i. e. the air.

277. The celebrated sphere of Archimedes, which represented the motions of the sun, moon, and five planets around the earth. It was enclosed in a glass-case, hence he says, _aëre clauso_, and it appears from this passage of Ovid, and from Cicero, Rep. I. 14, and Athen. v. 11, that it was preserved at Syracuse in their time. See Cic. Tusc. I. 25, Claudian. Epigr. 68.--_Arce_, is the reading of three MSS. all the rest have _arte.--Syracosio_. All the MSS. read _Syracusio_, which is repugnant to the metre. Heinsius corrected it. The Greeks used [Greek: Syrakosios], as well as [Greek: Syrakousios]. Compare Virg. Ec. vi. 1.

282. _Tholus_, a dome, round roof. "Tholi forma est [Greek: ouranoeides]." Neapolis.

285. [Greek: Reia--Krono teke phaidima tekna, Istiaen, Daemaetra kai Haeraen chrosopedilon]. Hes. Th. 453. Observe how all the names are changed into Latin ones!

288. _Impatiens viri_, unmarried. Compare Met. I. 478. See Mythology, p. 72. Ovid assigns two reasons for her having virgin-priestesses. 1. Because she was a virgin herself. 2. Because she was the principle of fire, which produces nothing. Cicero (Leg. II. 12.) gives two more. _Vestae colendae virgines praesunt, ut advigiletur facilius ad custodiam ignis, et sentiant mulieres in natura feminarum omnem castitatem pati_.

299, 300. Vesta a _vi stando_! Well might Gierig say, "mira est haec etymologia." The Greeks derived [Greek: Hestia] from [Greek: histaemi]. _Terram nonnulli Vestam esse pronuntiant, quod in mundo stet sola, caeteris ejus partibus mobilitate perpetua constitutis_. Arnob. adv. Gen. III. p. 119. [Greek: Menei Hestia en theon oiko monae]. Plat. Phaedrus.

301. _Quod fovet. Focus a fovendo id est calefaciendo_. Festus--another equally sound piece of etymology!

302. _Prim. aed_. the porch or entrance of the house.

303. _Vestibulum_. "De etymo hujus voculae aliud sentit Nonius, aliud Varro, hoc Ovidianum nemo. Servius: _Vestibulum ut Varro docet, etymologiae non habet proprietatem, sed fit pro captu ingenii_." Neapolis.

304. _Affamur_, etc. We say O Vesta! who etc. _Vestae nomen a Graecis est; ea est enim quae ab illis [Greek: Hestia] dicitur. Vis autem ejus ad aras et focos pertinet. Itaque in ea dea, quae est verum custos intimarum, omnis et praecatio et sacrificatio extrema, est_. Cic. N. D. II. 27. [Greek: Tais thusiais oi Hellaenes apo taes protaes te autaes (Hestias) haerchonto kai es eschataen autaen katepauon]. Cornut. N. D. 28. See the Homeridian hymn to Hestia, or Mythology, p. 73. The reading of this line is very different in the MSS. some have _Quae famur Vesta_, others _Quae famur vestra est_, or _Quae f. Vestam_; one _Quaeramus Vestam_, another _Quaeramur_, another _Dicimus O Vesta_, which Ciofanus and Neapolis preferred; the present reading is that of three MSS. and was adopted by Heinsius.

305. _Ante focos_. before the altars. Compare Virg. aen. vii. 175.

306. _Mensae credere_, etc. See Hom. Od. vii. 201.

307, 308. _Nunc quoque_, etc. These verses are parenthetic. He shews, by instancing one case of its use at the present day, the antiquity of the custom of sitting at the sacrifical feast.--_Vacunae_. See Hor. Ep. I. 10. 49. _Vacuna ap. Sabinos plurimum colitur. Quidam Dianam, nonnulli Cererem esse dixerunt, alii Venerem, alii Victoriam, deam vacationis, quod faciat vacare a curis. Sed Varro primo rer. divin. Minervam dicit, quod ea maxime hi gaudent qui sapientiae vacant_. Schol. Cruq. _in loc_.

309. _More vetusto_, scil, of offering to Vesta at the sacrifices to the other gods. Gierig, I think is wrong, in understanding it of the custom of sitting before the altars.

310. _Missos cibos_. Some portion of the sacred food was sent on a clean plate to the temple of Vesta. Was it from the sacrifices in general, or only from those to Vacuna?

311. _Ecce_, etc. It was usual on festivals and holidays, to put garlands on such animals as had a share in them, or were in any way sacred to the deity, in whose honour they were held. See I. 663. V. 52. Tibull II. 1. 8. Wernsdorf. Exc. VII. to Grat. Cyneg. in the Poetae Minores, Tom. I. p. 261. At the Vestalia, the mills stopped working, the mill-stones were wreathed with garlands, and the asses were likewise crowned, and had bread hung about their necks. See on v. 347. _Vesta coronatis pauper gaudebat asellis_, says Propertius (iv. l. 21.) speaking of ancient times.

313. See II. 525.

315-316. _Panem primo cinis calidus et fervens testa percoxit; deinde furni paullatim reperti sunt et alia genera_. Seneca Ep. 90. _Panem testicium sic facito_.--_Ubi bene subegeris defingito coquitoque sub testa_. Cato R. R. 74. _Testuatium, quod in testu caldo coquebatur_. Varro L. L. IV. The poet's description agrees rather with that of Seneca, and is nearly the common mode of baking cakes at the present day.

317. This is the true reason, why the millers and bakers kept the Vestalia. There was no reason, but his inability to resist the temptation, for telling the following story.

320. Compare I. 391 _et seq_.

320. _Quamvis_, etc. "Silenus creditus musca dialium eonviviorum." Neapolis.

325. _Nec licet_. "Respicit Tantali fabulam, qui epulis admotus, cum ibi acta narrasset, poenam sensit." Burmann.

327. _Vallibus_. Most MSS. read _collibus_.

329. _Brachia nectit_, scil. in the dance. Compare Hor. Car. II. 12. 17. In both these places _brachia_ is, I should think, equivalent to manus. They did not waltz in those days.

330. Compare Hor. Car. I. 37, 1, III. 18. iv. 1, 27.

338. See I. 433.

345, 346. Heinsius, and, after him, Krebs, regarded this distich as an interpolation. But, if we take away these two verses, the relative to _quem_ (v. 347,) is _ille_, (v. 344) which, though Krebs asks, "Asinus an Priapus?" is, beyond question, the latter; unless, with Neapolis, we read _illa_, and then the antecedent would be the _ille_ of v. 342. I can see no objection to v. 345; there is a difficulty, and, I should suspect, a corruption, in the following verse. It would seem from it that, as Neapolis observes, "hujus (_asini_) exta quotannis oblata arae Vestali," a practice, of the existence of which we have no other proof, and which would be at variance with the whole of the poet's narrative, the object of which is, to give a reason for Vesta's favour to the ass. "An unquam a Romanis asinus Priapo mactatus sit, dubito; nec umquam Vestae asini exta oblata sunt." Krebs. The whole difficulty might be removed if we were to read _jacit_, or some such word, governed of Lampsacos, for _damus_. It is evident that these verses were in the copy of Ovid's Fasti, used by Lactantius, for he manifestly (Inst. I. 21,) takes the story from him. _Lampsaceni asellum Priapo quasi in ultionem mactare consueverunt; cum enim hic deus Vestae dormienti vim inferre conaretur, asinus intempestivo clamore eam excitavit. Hinc libido insidiatoris detecta. Apud Romanos eundem asellum Vestalibus sacris in honorem pudicitiae corservatae panibus coronant_.

347. _Diva memor_. See end of preceding note. The zealous Father adds, _Quid turpius? quid flagitiosius quam si Vesta beneficio asini virgo est?--De pan. monil_. "Quod attinet ad formam panis--in modum coronas fuisse existimo. Hae coronae sunt quae Valentinianus et Valens in Lege De annonis civicis et pane gradili vocant _buccellas_. Soli Siculi hanc vocem hodie retinent qui materna lingua hujusmodi panes dicunt _buccellatos_; Castellani vocant _rosquillas_." Neapolis. I imagine these are nothing more than those cakes or loaves made in the shape of a ring, which are so commonly to be met with even in France. It is probable that a number of these were strung together, and hung about the necks of the mill-asses. Perhaps, as Neapolis observes, this will be illustrated by the following passage in the Plutus of Aristophanes, [Greek: Kago g' anadaesai boulomai Euangelia s' en kribanoton ormatho Toiaut apangeilanta].

349. He makes a digression here, as he is on the subject of bread, to relate the origin of the altar on the Capitol to Jupiter Pistor.--_Nom. quam pret. celeb_. The altar was small, and of little account. "Jovem Pistorem nemo novit praeter Nostrum et Lactantium Inst. I. 20, qui sua ex Ovidio omnia deprompsit." Krebs.

350. _Dicam Pistoris_. Some MSS. read _Discant_, or _Dicant Pistores_.

351. For the account of the capture of Rome by the Gauls, A.U.C. 364, see Liv. v. 32, _et seq_. Plutarch, Camillas, and study Niebuhr's masterly examination of the whole story. Hom. Hist. II. 528, _et seq_.

359. Compare Virg. aen. I. 257.

361. _Suburbanos_. See on III. 668.

363, 364. So the matter is related by Livy and Florus; according to Plutarch, they were slain in the Forum.--_aerata atria. "In quibus statuae aeneae; dispositae." Gierig. I do not recollect to have read anywhere that the statues of their ancestors in the Atria of the Roman nobles, in the olden time, were of bronze. In our poets' days, there were even golden figures in them, but of a different kind. See Lucret. II. 24. _aerata_, like _aurata_, which is the reading of two MSS. may mean simply adorned with brass. Lipsius proposed _cerata_; Heinsius _reserata_, which agrees with the _patentia atria_ of Livy, the _patentes domos_ of Florus, and the _apertas januas of Val. Max. III. ll7.--_Picta Veste_. The triumphal robe of purple and gold.

365. The Eternal Fire, and other sacred things, were conveyed from Rome to Caere.

366. _Putant_, etc. It is plain they believe the gods to have some power. In the editions, prior to that of Gierig, there was a note of interrogation after _deos_, which gave a wrong sense.

367. _Qua vos_, etc. The Capitol. _Jupiter, Junoque Regina ac Minerva, ceterique Dii Deaeque qui Capitolium arcemque incolitis_. Liv. VI. 16.

375. _Lituo_. The _lituus_ was the staff with a curved top, used by the augurs, its form has been retained in the bishops' crosier. Compare Virg. aen. vii. 187.

377. _Publica cura_. It is a public matter, it concerns us all. He transfers to the gods the phraseology of the Roman republic. Liv. II, 41. III. 48.

381. _Cereris_. Ceres is frequently used for bread. Compare Virg. aen. I. 177.

383. _Sat. virgo_. Vesta. See on v. 285.

391. _Ceres_. See on v. 381.

395. The poet was, or feigns he was, once during the Vestalia, coming along the street, named the Via Nova, which led into the Forum, when he saw a lady (_matrona_) coming down it barefoot. An old woman of the neighbourhood observing his surprise, gave him, as he says, the following explanation. As Vesta had a temple near the Via Nova, (Liv. v. 32.) it was probably thither that the lady was going to worship.

401. Before the Cloacae were constructed, the valleys between the hills of Rome were little better than marshes, in consequence of the frequent inundations of the Tiber. _Locus palustris tum fuit_ Lacus Curtius, _in foro, antequam cloacae sunt factae_. Varro, L. L. IV.

403. _Curtius Lacus_. For the supposed origin of this name, see Liv. I. 13. vii. 6. It retained its name, like so many places in London, and other cities, after its nature had been totally changed.--_Siccas aras_, as the place was now drained. _Forum Romanum. Ara Saturni in lacu Curtio_. P. Victor, Reg. VIII. Ovid may have meant this altar alone, or it and others which were in that place.

405-408. _At qua Velabri regio patet ire solebat Exiguus pulsa per vada linter aqua_. Tibull. II. 6, 33. _Qua Velabra suo stagnabant flumine, quaque Nauta per urbanas velificabat aquas_. Propert. iv. 9, 5. _Aventinum montem maxime puto dictum ab advectu; nam olim paludibus mons erat ab reliquis disclusus. Itaque eo ex urbe qui advehebantur ratibus quadrantem solvebant; cujus vestigia, quod ea, qua tum itur, Velabrum, et unde adscendebant ad Rumam, Nova Via: lucus et sacellum Larum. Velabrum dicitur a vehendo; velaturam facere etiam nunc dicuntur, qui id mercede faciunt_. Varro, L. L. IV.--_Pampas_, scil. _Circenses_.--_Cantat_, etc. In this place, the present tense must be used for the past, as she is speaking of the state of the Velabrum in former times.

409, 410. The Tuscan street, in which there stood a statue of Vertumnus, was here. _In vico Tusco Vortumnus stat deus Etruriae_. Varro, L. L. IV. _Tuscus ego_ (Vertumnus) _et Tuscis orior_.--_Romanum satis est posse videre forum. Hac quondam Tiberinus iter faciebat, et aiunt Remorum auditos per vada pulsa sonos. At postquam ille suis tantum concessit alumnis, Vertumnus verso dicor ab amne deus_. Propert, iv. 2. For Vertumnus, see Mythology, p. 474.

411. _Hic_, in this place i. e. the Via Nova.--_Lucus_, a sacred grove, as the word scarcely ever occurs in any other sense. It may have been undergrown with reeds and rushes.

412. _Pede velato_, with a shod foot--an unusual employment of _velo_.

415. _Causam_. "Causam positi calcei censet ex antiqua necessitate in eos annos perdurasse, non ex numinis reverentia: ad quem respexit etiam apud antiquos nudipedis incessus." Neapolis. The rejected cause is however much more likely to be the true one. _Etiam_ in this note contains an allusion to the barefoot processions in Catholic countries.

417. _Cetera_, etc. All that remains to be told about Vesta, he had heard when a boy, perhaps been taught at school, and he supposes the case may have been the same with others.

419. For this account of the Palladium, see, Apollodorus, III. 12. or Mythology, p. 437.

423. _Cura_, etc. From Trist. I. 2. 77. and Ep. ex Pont. II. 10. 21. it appears that Ovid had at one time travelled for pleasure and information through Greece, Asia Minor, and Sicily.

427. _Aetheriam deam_, the [Greek: Diopetes], the heaven-fallen Palladium.

432. See v. 15.

433. _Genus Adrasti_, Diomedes the son of Tydeus by Deipyle, the daughter of Adrastus, king of Argos.

434. _Datur_. This is the reading of only one MS. all the rest have _ferunt_.

436. The reason why the Palladium was kept in the temple of Vesta.

437. This conflagration took place in the time of the second Punic war. L. Caecilius Metellus, a consular, was Pontifex Maximus. See Dion. Hal. II. 66. Liv. Epit. 19. Val. Max. I. 4, Plin. H. N. vii. 43.

454. Metellus lost his eyes in the flames. To compensate him, in some measure, the senate made a decree, allowing him to come to the senate-house in a chariot, an honour never before bestowed on any one.

457-460. See on III. 30.

461. On the day of the Vestalia, A.U.C. 619. D. Junius Brutus acquired the title of Callaïcus, by a victory over the Callaeci or Gallaeci, the people of that part of Spain still called Gallicia.

465. On the same day Crassus was defeated and slain. See V. 580, _et seq_.

469-472. On the IV. Id. the Dolphin rises in the evening.--_Viola_, the garlands of flowers, v. 311, with which the mill-asses were decorated.

473-562. On the III. Id, as tradition related, the temple of Mater Matuta was dedicated, and the festival of the Matralia instituted in her honour, by Servius Tullius. For an account of this goddess, see below on v. 550.

474. _Equis_. This is the reading of sixteen MSS. three of which are of the best quality, all the rest read _aquis_, which is the reading of Heinsius and Gierig, and which, though less picturesque, is more probably the right one. In favour of _equis_, may be quoted Met. xv. 189, _quumque albo Lucifer exit Clarus equo_; for _aquis_: _Qualis ab Eois Lucifer ortus_ (or _exit) aquis_. Ep. ex Pont. II. 5, 50.

476. _Theb. deae_. Mater Matuta was identified with Ino, the daughter of Cadmus, made a goddess under the name of Leucothea. Hom. Od. v. 333.-- _Liba_. See v. 537.

478. _Area_, etc. The Forum Boarium, in which stood a brazen image of a bull, which had been brought from Greece. Tacit. An. xii. 24. Plin. H. N. xxxiv. 2. Livy also (xxxiii. 27.) mentions the temple of Matuta in this forum.

480. This temple was repaired by Camillus after the capture of Veii, A.U.C. 359. Liv. v. 19, Plut. Camill. 5.

481. See on v. 551.

484. _Vatis opus_. Two of the best MSS. read _navis iter_, which Heinsius and Gierig have received; one has _vatis iter_. Ovid, no doubt, frequently employs this metaphor, (see on IV. 729,) but it does not please me in this place.

485. Sec III. 715, 769. Met. III. 313.

490. See Met. iv. 516.

491. Compare V. 451. _Animamgue sepulcro Condimus_. Virg. aen. III. 67; on which Servius says, _Insepultorum animae vagae sunt; rite reddita legitima sepultura, redit anima ad quietem_. See also Hor. Car. I. 28, 23.

495. The Isthmus of Corinth.

498. _In alta_, scil. _maria_.

499. _Panope_, etc. the Nereïdes.

501. _Nond, Leuc_. etc. See v. 545.

502. The Nereïdes conveyed them to the mouth of the Tiber.

503. _Semelae Stimulae_. The latter, or something like it, was, I have no doubt, the original name, and its resemblance to Semele, gave occasion to the change. _Saera Bacchanalia condemnata sunt, quum probatum esset Senatui, honestissimas feminas ad Stimulae lucum faede adulterari_. Schol. Juven. II. 3. Augustine also mentions a goddess, Stimula. In Liv. xxxix. 12, it is _lucus Similae_. Neapolis and Heinsius think that it is the grove of Fauna Fatua, or the Bona Dea, which Ovid means, as Macrobius (I. 12,) when speaking of Maia, or the Bona Dea, says, _Boeoti Semelam credunt, nec non eandem Fauni filiam dicunt.

507. _Dissim. deam_, by assuming the form of some particular woman.-- _Saturnia_, Juno.

508. _Instimulat_, alluding, perhaps, to the _Stimula_ of v. 503.

509. _Captae_. See on v. 204.

511. The ancients were very solicitous to keep the knowledge of their sacred rites from strangers, fearing that their gods might be induced to withdraw their protection from them. See Mythology, p. 142.

512. _Pignus_, scil. her child.

518. _Oetaeus_, proleptically. Hercules burned himself on Mt. Oeta.

524. _Numen_. Juno.

526. _Continet_, restrains, prevents her from telling.--_In scelus_, by attempting to destroy herself and her child. See v. 497.

528. Compare Virg. aen. iv. 174.

532-534. The cause of cakes being offered at the Matralia. _Libum, quod libaretur, ut erat, priusquam esset coctum. Testuatium quod in testu caldo coquelatur, ut etiam nunc Matralibus id faciunt matronae_. Varro, L. L. IV.

537-540. Compare Virg. aen. vi. 47.

547. _Ut Portunus a portu, sic Neptunus a nando_, Cic. N. D. II. 26.

549. _Annuerant_. They granted her request.--_Promissa_, i. e. _promissa est_.--_Fides_, Faithful performance.

550. _Hic deus, etc. We may now enquire who Mater Matuta and Portunus were, and how they came to be identified with the Leucothea and Palaemon of the Greeks. Mater Matuta was worshiped, as we see, at Rome by the matrons: she was also adored at Satricum, a town of the Volscians (Liv. vi. 33. vii. 27. xxviii. 2.) perhaps the goddess, whose rich temple near Caere was, according to Diodorus (xv. 14.), plundered by Dionysius of Syracuse, was Mater Matuta. From all that we can learn of her, there appears no reason whatever for regarding her as a marine deity. On the other hand, Lucretius, (v. 655.) says, _Tempore item certo roseam Matuta per oras Aetheris Auroram defert et lumina pandit_; and I think those critics are right who take _Aurora_ in this place, like _aura_, Virg. aen.