LIBER II.

Janus habet finem: cum carmine crescit et annus. Alter ut hinc mensis, sic liber alter eat. Nunc primum velis, elegi, majoribus itis: Exiguum, memini, nuper eratis opus. Ipse ego vos habui faciles in amore ministros, 5 Quum lusit numeris prima juventa suis. Idem sacra cano, signataque tempora fastis. Ecquis ad haec illuc crederet esse viam? Haec mea militia est: ferimus, quae possumus, arma, Dextraque non omni munere nostra vacat. 10 Si mihi non valido torquentur pila lacerto, Nec bellatoris terga premuntur equi, Nec galea tegimur, nec acuto cingimur ense: —His habilis telis quilibet esse potest— At tua prosequimur studioso pectore, Caesar, 15 Nomina, per titulos ingredimurque tuos. Ergo ades, et placido paulum mea munera vultu Respice, pacando si quid ab hoste vacas. Februa Romani dixere piamina patres: Nunc quoque dant verbo plurima signa fidem. 20 Pontifices ab Rege petunt et Flamine lanas, Quîs veteri lingua Februa nomen erat; Quaeque capit lictor domibus purgamina certis, Torrida cum mica farra, vocantur idem. Nomen idem ramo, qui caesus ab arbore pura 25 Casta sacerdotum tempora fronde tegit. Ipse ego Flaminicam poscentem februa vidi: Februa poscenti pinea virga data est. Denique quodcumque est, quo pectora nostra pientur, Hoc apud intonsos nomen habebat avos. 30 Mensis ab his dictus, secta quia pelle Luperci Omne solum lustrant, idque piamen habent; Aut quia placatis sunt tempora pura sepulcris, Tunc quum ferales praeteriere dies, Omne nefas omnemque mali purgamina causam 35 Credebant nostri tollere posse senes. Graecia principium moris fuit. Illa nocentes Impia lustratos ponere facta putat. Actoriden Peleus, ipsum quoque Pelea Phoci Caede per Haemonias solvit Acastus aquas. 40 Vectam frenatis per inane draconibus aegeus Credulus immerita Phasida juvit ope. Amphiaraïdes Naupactoo Acheloo, Solve nefas, dixit. Solvit et ille nefas. Ah nimium faciles, qui tristia crimina caedis 45 Fluminea tolli posse putetis aqua! Sed tamen—antiqui ne nescius ordinis erres— Primus, ut est, Jani mensis et ante fuit. Qui sequitur Janum, veteris fuit ultimus anni; Tu quoque sacrorum, Termine, finis eras. 50 Primus enim Jani mensis, quia janua prima est; Qui sacer est imis Manibus, imus erat. Postmodo creduntur spatio distantia longo Tempora bis quini continuasse Viri.

Principio mensis Phrygiae contermina Matri 55 Sospita delubris dicitur aucta novis. Nunc ubi sint illis, quaeris, sacrata Kalendis Templa deae: longo procubuere die. Cetera ne simili caderent labefacta ruina, Cavit sacrati provida cura ducis, 60 Sub quo delubris sentitur nulla senectus. Nec satis est homines, obligat ille deos. Templorum positor, templorum sancte repostor, Sit superis, opto, mutua cura tui. Dent tibi coelestes, quos tu coelestibus, annos, 65 Proque tua maneant in statione domo. Tum quoque vicini lucus celebratur Asyli, Qua petit aequoreas advena Tibris aquas. Ad penetrale Numae, Capitolinumque Tonantem, Inque Jovis summa caeditur arce bidens. 70 Saepe graves pluvias adopertus nubibus Auster Concitat, aut posita sub nive terra latet.

Proximus Hesperias Titan abiturus in undas Gemmea purpureis quum juga demet equis, Illa nocte aliquis tollens ad sidera vultum 75 Dicet: Ubi est hodie, quae Lyra fulsit heri? Dumque Lyram quaeret, medii quoque terga Leonis In liquidas subito mersa notabit aquas.

Quem modo caelatum stellis Delphina videbas, Is fugiet visus nocte sequente tuos; 80 Seu fuit occultis felix in amoribus index, Lesbida cum domino seu tulit ille lyram. Quod mare non novit, quae nescit Ariona tellus? Carmine currentes ille tenebat aquas. Saepe sequens agnam lupus est hac voce retentus: 85 Saepe avidum fugiens restitit agna lupum: Saepe canes leporesque umbra cubuere sub una, Et stetit in saxo proxima cerva leae; Et sine lite loquax cum Palladis alite cornix Sedit, et accipitri juncta columba fuit. 90 Cynthia saepe tuis fertur, vocalis Arion, Tamquam fraternis obstupuisse modis. Nomen Arionium Siculas impleverat urbes, Captaque erat lyricis Ausonis ora sonis. Inde domum repetens puppim conscendit Arion, 95 Atque ita quaesitas arte ferebat opes. Forsitam, infelix, ventos undamque timebas; At tibi nave tua tutius aequor erat. Namque gubernator destricto constitit ense, Ceteraque armata conscia turba manu. 100 Quid tibi cum gladio? dubiam rege, navita, pinum. Non sunt haec digitis arma tenenda tuis. Ille metu pavidus, Mortem non deprecor, inquit: Sed liceat sumpta pauca referre lyra. Dant veniam, ridentque moram. Capit ille coronam, 105 Quae possit crines, Phoebe, decere tuos. Induerat Tyrio bis tinctam murice pallam: Reddidit icta suos pollice chorda sonos: Flebilibus veluti numeris canentia dura Trajectus penna tempora cantat olor. 110 Protinus in medias ornatus desilit undas; Spargitur impulsa caerula puppis aqua. Inde—fide majus—tergo delphina recurvo Se memorant oneri supposuisse novo. Ille sedens citharamque tenet, pretiumque vehendi 115 Cantat, et aequoreas carmine mulcet aquas. Dî pia facta vident; astris delphina recepit Jupiter, et stellas jussit habere novem.

Nunc mihi mille sonos, quoque est memoratus Achilles, Vellem, Maeonide, pectus inesse tuum. 120 Dum canimus sacras alterno carmine Nonas, Maximus hinc fastis accumulatur honos. Deficit ingenium, majoraque viribus urgent. Haec mihi praecipuo est ore canenda dies. Quid volui demens elegis imponere tantum 125 Ponderis? heroi res erat ista pedis. Sancte Pater Patriae, tibi plebs, tibi Curia nomen Hoc dedit, hoc dedimus nos tibi nomen Eques. Res tamen ante dedit; sero quoque vera tulisti Nomina; jam pridem tu pater orbis eras. 130 Hoc tu per terras, quod in aethere Jupiter alto, Nomen habes; hominum tu pater, ille deum. Romule, concedas; facit hic tua magna tuendo Moenia: tu dederas transilienda Remo. Te Tatius, parvique Cures, Caeninaque sensit; 135 Hoc duce Romanum est solis utrumque latus. Tu breve nescio quid victae telluris habebas: Quodcumque est alto sub Jove, Caesar habet. Tu rapis, hic castas duce se jubet esse maritas. Tu recipis luco, submovet ille nefas. 140 Vis tibi grata fuit, florent sub Caesare leges; Tu domini nomen, principis ille tenet. Te Remus incusat, veniam dedit hostibus ille. Coelestem fecit te pater, ille patrem.

Jam puer Idaeus media tenus eminet alvo, 145 Et liquidas mixto nectare fundit aquas. En etiam, si quis Borean horrere solebat, Gaudeat: a Zephyris mollior aura venit.

Quintus ab aequoreis nitidum jubar extulit undis Lucifer, et primi tempora veris erunt. 150 Ne fallare tamen, restant tibi frigora, restant, Magnaque discedens signa reliquit hiems.

Tertia nox veniat: Custodem protinus Ursae Adspicies geminos exseruisse pedes. Inter Hamadryadas jaculatricemque Dianam 155 Callisto sacri pars fuit una chori. Illa deae tangens arcus, Quos tangimus, arcus, Este meae testes virginitatis, ait. Cynthia laudavit, promissaque foedera serva, Et comitum princeps tu mihi, dixit, eris. 160 Foedera servasset, si non formosa fuisset. Cavit mortales: ab Jove crimen habet. Mille feras Phoebe silvis venata redibat, Aut plus, aut medium sole tenente diem. Ut tetigit lucum,—densa niger ilice lucus, 165 In medio gelidae fons erat altus aquae— Hac, ait, in silva, virgo Tegeaeae, lavemur. Erubuit falso virginis illa sono. Dixerat et Nymphis: Nymphae velamina ponunt. Hanc pudet, et tardae dat mala signa morae. 170 Exuerat tunicas: uteri manifesta tumore Proditur indicio ponderis ipsa sui. Cui Dea, Virgineos, perjura Lycaoni, coetus Desere, nec castas pollue, dixit, aquas. Luna novum decies implerat cornibus orbem: 175 Quae fuerat virgo credita, mater erat. Laesa furit Juno, formam mutatque puellae. Quid facis? invito pectore passa Jovem est. Utque ferae vidit turpes in pellice vultus, Hujus in amplexus Jupiter, inquit, eat. 180 Ursa per incultos errabat squalida montes, Quae fuerat summo nuper amanda Jovi. Jam tria lustra puer furto conceptus agebat, Quum mater nato est obvia facta suo. Illa quidem, tamquam cognosceret, adstitit amens, 185 Et gemuit: gemitus verba parentis erant. Hanc puer ignarus jaculo fixisset acuto, Ni foret in superas raptus uterque domus. Signa propinqua micant. Prior est, quam dicimus Arcton; Arctophylax formam terga sequentis habet. 190 Saevit adhuc canamque rogat Saturnia Tethyn, Maenaliam tactis ne lavet Arcton aquis.

Idibus agrestis fumant altaria Fauni, Hic ubi discretas insula rumpit aquas. Haec fuit illa dies, in qua Vejentibus arvis 195 Ter centum Fabii ter cecidere duo. Una domus vires et onus susceperat urbis: Sumunt gentiles arma professa manus. Egreditur castris miles generosus ab îsdem, E quis dux fieri quilibet aptus erat. 200 Carmentis portae dextro via proxima Jano est. Ire per hanc noli, quisquis es, omen habet. Ill fama refert Fabios exisse trecentos. Porta vacat culpa; sed tamen omen habet. Ut celeri passu Cremeram tetigere rapacem, 205 —Turbidus hibernis ille fluebat aquis— Castra loco ponunt: destrictis ensibus ipsi Tyrrhenum valido Marte per agmen eunt: Non aliter, quam quum Libyca de rupe leones Invadunt sparsos lata per arva greges. 210 Diffugiunt hostes, inhonestaque vulnera tergo Accipiunt: Tusco sanguine terra rubet. Sic iterum, sic saepe cadunt. Ubi vincere aperte Non datur, insidias armaque caeca parant. Campus erat: campi claudebant ultima colles, 215 Silvaque montanas occulere apta feras. In medio paucos armentaque rara relinquunt: Cetera virgultis abdita turba latet. Ecce, velut torrens undis pluvialibus auctus Aut nive, quae Zephyro victa tepente fluit, 220 Per sata perque vias fertur, nec, ut ante solebat, Riparum clausas margine finit aquas: Sic Fabii latis vallem discursibus implent, Quosque vident, spernunt, nec etus alter inest. Quo ruitis, generosa domus? male creditur hosti. 225 Simplex nobilitas, perfida tela cave. Fraude perit virtus. In apertos undique campos Prosiliunt hostes, et latus omne tenent. Quid facient pauci contra tot millia fortes? Quidve, quod in misero tempore restet, habent? 230 Sicut aper silvis longe Laurentibus actus Fulmineo celeres dissipat ore canes; Mox tamen ipse perit: sic non moriuntur inulti, Vulneraque alterna dantque feruntque manu. Una dies Fabios ad bellum miserat omnes: 235 Ad bellum missos perdidit una dies. Ut tamen Herculeae superessent semina gentis, Credibile est ipsos consuluisse deos. Nam puer impubes et adhuc non utilis armis Unus de Fabia gente relictus erat, 240 Scilicet, ut posses olim tu, Maxime, nasci, Cui res cunctando restituenda foret.

Continuata loco tria sidera, Corvus et Anguis, Et medius Crater inter utrumque jacet. Idibus illa latent: oriuntur nocte sequenti. 245 Quae sibi cur tria sint consociata, canam. Forte Jovi festum Phoebus sollemne parabat: —Non faciet longas fabula nostra moras— I mea, dixit, avis, ne quid pia sacra moretur, Et tenuem vivis fontibus affer aquam. 250 Corvus inauratum pedibus cratera recurvis Tollit, et aërium pervolat altus iter. Stabat adhuc duris ficus densissima pomis: Tentat eam rostro: non erat apta legi. Immemor imperii sedisse sub arbore fertur, 255 Dum fierent tarda dulcia poma mora. Jamque satur nigris longum rapit unguibus hydrum, Ad dominumque redit, fictaque verba refert: Hic mihi causa morae, vivarum obsessor aquarum: Hic tenuit fontes officiumque meum. 260 Addis, ait, culpae mendacia? Phoebus, et audes Fatidicum verbis fallere velle deum? At tibi, dum lactens haerebit in arbore ficus, De nullo gelidae fonte bibantur aquae. Dixit, et antiqui monumenta perennia facti 265 Anguis, Avis, Crater, sidera juncta micant.

Tertia post Idus nudos Aurora Lupercos Adspicit, et Fauni sacra bicornis erunt. Dicite, Pierides, sacrorum quae sit origo, Attigerint Latias unde petita domos. 270 Pana deum pecoris veteres coluisse feruntur Arcades. Arcadiis plurimus ille jugis. Testis erit Pholoë, testes Stymphalides undae, Quique citis Ladon in mare currit aquis, Cinctaque pinetis nemoris juga Nonacrini, 275 Altaque Cyllene, Parrhasiaeque nives. Pan erat armenti custos, Pan numen equarum: Munus ob incolumes ille ferebat oves. Transtulit Evander silvestria numina secum. Hic, ubi nunc urbs est, tum locus urbis erat. 280 Inde deum colimus, devectaque sacra Pelasgis. Flamen ad haec prisco more Dialis erat. Cur igitur currant, et cur—sic currere mos est— Nuda ferant posita corpora veste, rogas. Ipse deus velox discurrere gaudet in altis 285 Montibus, et subitas concitat ille feras. Ipse deus nudus nudos jubet ire ministros: Nec atis ad cursum commoda vestis erat. Ante Jovem genitum terras habuisse feruntur Arcades, et Luna gens prior illa fuit. 290 Vita feris similis, nullos agitata per usus: Artis adhuc expers et rude vulgus erat. Pro domibus frondes norant, pro frugibus herbas: Nectar erat palmis hausta duabus aqua. Nullus anhelabat sub adunco vomere taurus: 295 Nulla sub imperio terra colentis erat: Nullus adhuc erat usus equi, se quisque ferebat. Ibat ovis lana corpus amicta sua. Sub Jove durabant, et corpora nuda gerebant, Docta graves imbres et tolerare Notos. 300 Nunc quoque detecti referunt monumenta vetusti Moris, et antiquas testificantur opes. Sed, cur praecipue fugiat velamina Faunus, Traditur antiqui fabula plena joci. Forte comes dominae juvenis Tirynthius ibat: 305 Vidit ab excelso Faunus utrumque jugo. Vidit, et incaluit, Montanaque numina, dixit, Nil mihi vobiscum est; haec meus ardor erit. Ibat odoratis humeros perfusa capillis Maeonis, aurato conspicienda sinu. 310 Aurea pellebant rapidos umbracula soles, Quae tamen Herculeae sustinuere manus. Jamque nemus Bacchi, Tmoli vineta, tenebat, Hesperus et fusco roscidus ibat equo, Antra subit tophis laqueataque pumice vivo; 315 Garrulus in primo limine rivus erat. Dumque parant epulas potandaque vina ministri, Cultibus Alciden instruit illa suis. Dat tenues tunicas Gaetulo murice tinctas: Dat teretem zonam, qua modo cincta fuit. 320 Ventre minor zona est: tunicarum vincla relaxat, Ut possit vastas exseruisse manus. Fregerat armillas non illa ad brachia factas. Scindebant magni vincula parva pedes. Ipsa capit clavamque gravem spoliumque leonis, 325 Conditaque in pharetra tela minora sua. Sic epulis functi, sic dant sua corpora somno, Et positis juxta secubuere toris. Causa: repertori vitis pia sacra parabant, Quae facerent pure, quum foret orta dies. 330 Noctis erat medium: quid non amor improbus audet? Roscida per tenebras Faunus ad antra venit, Utque videt somno comites vinoque solutos, Spem capit in dominis esse soporis idem, Intrat, et huc illuc temerarius errat adulter, 335 Et praefert cautas subsequiturque manus, Venerat ad strati captata cubilia lecti, Et prima felix sorte futurus erat. Ut tetigit fulvi setis hirsuta leonis Vellera, pertimuit, sustinuitque manum, 340 Attonitusque metu riguit: ut saepe viator Turbatum viso rettulit angue pedem. Inde tori, qui junctus erat, velamina tangit Mollia, mendaci decipiturque nota. Cetera tentantem cubito Tirynthius heros Reppulit. E summo decidit ille toro. 350 Fit sonus: inclamat comites, et lumina poscit Maeonis. Illatis ignibus acta patent. Ille gemit lecto graviter dejectus ab alto, Membraque de dura vix sua tollit humo. Ridet et Alcides, et qui videre jacentem: 355 Ridet amatorem Lyda puella suum. Veste deus lusus fallentes lumina vestes Non amat, et nudos ad sua sacra vocat. Adde peregrinis causas, mea Musa, Latinas, Inque suo noster pulvere currat equus. 360 Cornipedi Fauno caesa de more capella, Venit ad exiguas turba vocata dapes; Dumque sacerdotes verubus transsuta salignis Exta parant, medias sole tenente vias, Romulus et frater, pastoralisque juventus, 365 Solibus et campo corpora nuda dabant, Caestibus, et jaculis, et missi pondere saxi Brachia per lusus experienda dabant. Pastor ab excelso, Per devia rura juvencos, Romule, praedones, eripe, dixit, agunt. 370 Longum erat armari. Diversis exit uterque Partibus; accursu praeda recepta Remi. Ut rediit, verubus stridentia detrahit exta: Atque ait, Haec certe non nisi victor edet. Dicta facit, Fabiique simul. Venit irritus illuc 375 Romulus, et mensas ossaque nuda videt. Risit, et indoluit Fabios potuisse Remumque Vincere: Quinctilios non potuisse suos. Fama manet facti. Posito velamine currunt: Et memorem famam, quod bene cessit, habet. 380 Forsitan et quaeras, cur sit locus ille Lupercal, Quaeve diem tali nomine causa notet. Ilia Vestalis coelestia semina partu Ediderat, patruo regna tenente suo. Is jubet auferri pueros et in amne necari. 385 Quid facis? ex istis Romulus alter erit. Jussa recusantes peragunt lacrimosa ministri; Flent tamen, et geminos in loca jussa ferunt. Albula, quem Tibrin mersus Tiberinus in unda Reddidit, hibernis forte tumebat aquis. 390 Hic, ubi nunc Fora sunt, lintres errare videres, Quaque jacent valles, Maxime Circe, tuae. Hic ubi venerunt,—neque enim procedere possunt Longius—ex illis unus et alter, ait: At quam sunt similes! at quam formosus uterque! 395 Plus tamen ex illis iste vigoris habet. Si genus arguitur vultu, ni fallit imago, Nescio quem vobis suspicor esse deum. At si quis vestrae deus esset originis auctor, In tam praecipiti tempore ferret opem. 400 Ferret opem certe, si non ope mater egeret, Quae facta est uno mater et orba die. Nata simul, moritura simul, simul ite sub undas Corpora. Desicrat; deposuitque sinu, Vagierunt clamore pari: sentire putares. 405 Hi redeunt udis in sua tecta genis. Sustinet impositos summa cavus alveus unda. Heu quantum fati parva tabella tulit! Alveus in limo silvis appulsus opacis, Paullatim fluvio deficiente, sedet. 410 Arbor erat: remanent vestigia, quaeque vocatur Rumina nunc ficus, Romula ficus erat. Venit ad expositos—mirum—lupa feta gemellos. Quis credat pueris non nocuisse feram? Non nocuisse parum est: prodest quoque: quos lupa nutrit,415 Perdere cognatae sustinuere manus. Constitit, et cauda teneris blanditur alumnis, Et fingit lingua corpora bina sua. Marte satos scires; timor abfuit: ubera ducunt, Nec sibi promissi lactis aluntur ope. 420 Illa loco nomen fecit; locus ipse Lupercis. Magna dati nutrix praemia lactis habet. Quid vetat Arcadio dictos a monte Lupercos? Faunus in Arcadia templa Lycaeus habet. Nupta, quid exspectas? non tu pollentibus herbis, 425 Nec prece, nec magico carmine mater eris. Excipe fecundae patienter verbera dextrae: Jam socer optatum nomen habebit avi. Nam fuit illa dies, dura quum sorte maritae Reddebant uteri pignora rara sui. 430 Quid mihi, clamabat, prodest rapuisse Sabinas, Romulus—hoc illo sceptra tenente fuit— Si mea non vires, sed bellum injuria fecit! Utilius fuerat non habuisse nurus. Monte sub Esquilio, multis incaeduus annis 435 Junonis magnae nomine lucus erat, Huc ubi venerunt, pariter nuptaeque virique Suppliciter posito procubuere genu. Quum subito motae tremuere cacumina silvae, Et dea per lucos mira locuta suos, 440 Italidas matres, inquit, sacer hircus inito! Obstupuit dubio territa turba sono. Augur erat: nomen longis intercidit annis: Nuper ab Etrusca venerat exsul humo. Ille caprum mactat. Jussae sua terga puellae 445 Pellibus exsectis percutienda dabant. Luna resumebat decimo nova cornua motu, Virque pater subito, nuptaque mater erat. Gratia Lucinae: dedit haec tibi nomina lucus, Aut quia principium tu, dea, lucis habes. 450 Parce, precor, gravidis, facilis Lucina, puellis, Maturumque utero molliter effer onus.

Orta dies fuerit: tu desine credere ventis, Perdidit illius temporis aura fidem. Flamina non constant: et sex reserata diebus 455 Carceris aeolii janua laxa patet. Jam levis obliqua subsedit Aquarius urna. Proximus aetherios excipe, Piscis, equos. Te memorant fratremque tuum—nam juncta micatis Signa—duos tergo sustinuisse deos. 460 Terribilem quondam fugiens Typhona Dione, Tunc quum pro coelo Jupiter arma tulit, Venit ad Euphraten comitata Cupidine parvo, Inque Palaestinae margine sedit aquae. Populus et cannae riparum summa tenebant, 465 Spemque dabant salices, hos quoque posse tegi. Dum latet, intonuit vento nemus. Illa timore Pallet, et hostiles credit adesse manus; Utque sinu natum tenuit, Succurrite Nymphae, Et dîs auxilium ferte duobus, ait. 470 Nec mora, prosiluit. Pisces subiere gemelli; Pro quo nunc dignum sidera munus habent. Inde nefas ducunt genus hoc imponere mensis, Nec violant timidi piscibus ora Syri.

Proxima lux vacua est: at tertia dicta Quirino. 475 Qui tenet hoc nomen, Romulus ante fuit; Sive quod hasta curis priscis est dicta Sabinis: —Bellicus a telo venit in astra deus— Sive suum regi nomen posuere Quirites: Seu quia Romanis junxerat ille Cures. 480 Nam pater armipotens, postquam nova moenia vidit, Multaque Romulea bella peracta manu, Jupiter, inquit, habet Romana potentia vires: Sanguinis officio non eget illa mei. Redde patri natum: quamvis intercidit alter, 485 Pro se, proque Remo, qui mihi restat, erit. Unus erit, quem tu tolles in caerula coeli; Tu mihi dixisti: sint rata dicta Jovis. Jupiter annuerat; nutu tremefactus uterque Est polus, et coeli pondera sensit Atlas. 490 Est locus: antiqui Capreae dixere paludem. Forte tuis illic, Romule, jura dabas. Sol fugit, et removent subeuntia nubila coelum, Et gravis effusus decidit imber aquis, Hinc tonat, hinc missis abrumpitur ignibus aether. 495 Fit fuga: rex patris astra petebat equis. Luctus erat, falsaeque Patres in crimine caedis; Haesissetque animis forsitan illa fides: Sed Proculus Longa veniebat Julius Alba, Lunaque fulgebat, nec facis usus erat: 500 Quum subito motu nubes crepuere sinistrae. Rettulit ille gradus, horrueruntque comae. Pulcher, et humano major, trabeaque decorus Romulus in media visus adesse via, Et dixisse simul, Prohibe lugere Quirites: 505 Nec violent lacrimis numina nostra suis. Tura ferant, placentque novum pia turba Quirinum, Et patrias artes militiamque colant. Jussit, et in tenues oculis evanuit auras. Convocat hic populos, jussaque verba refert. 510 Templa deo fiunt. Collis quoque dictus ab illo, Et referunt certi sacra paterna dies. Lux quoque cur eadem Stultorum festa vocetur, Accipe: parva quidem causa, sed apta subest. Non habuit tellus doctos antiqua colonos: 515 Lassabant agiles aspera bella viros. Plus erat in gladio, quam curvo laudis aratro: Neglectus domino pauca ferebat ager. Farra tamen veteres jaciebant, farra metebant, Primitias Cereri farra resecta dabant. 520 Usibus admoniti flammis torrenda dederunt, Multaque peccato damna tulere suo. Nam modo verrebant nigras pro farre favillas; Nunc ipsas ignes corripuere casas. Facta dea est Fornax: laeti Fornace coloni 525 Orant, ut fruges temperet illa suas. Curio legitimis nunc Fornacalia verbis Maximus indicit, nec stata sacra facit; Inque Foro, multa circum pendente tabella, Signatur certa Curia quaeque nota; 530 Stultaque pars populi, quae sit sua Curia, nescit: Sed facit extrema sacra relata die.

Est honor et tumulis. Animas placate paternas, Parvaque in exstinctas munera ferte pyras, Parva petunt Manes. Pietas pro divite grata est 535 Munere. Non avidos Styx habet ima deos. Tegula porrectis satis est velata coronis, Et sparsae fruges, parcaque mica salis, Inque mero mollita Ceres, violaeque solutae. Haec habeat media testa relicta via. 540 Nec majora veto: sed et his placabilis umbra est. Adde preces positis et sua verba focis. Hunc morem aeneas, pietatis idoneus auctor, Attulit in terras, juste Latine, tuas. Ille patris Genio sollemnia dona ferebat; 545 Hinc populi ritus edidicere pios. At quondam, dum longa gerunt pugnacibus armis Bella, Parentales deseruere dies. Non impune fuit. Nam dicitur omine ab isto Roma suburbanis incaluisse rogis. 550 Vix equidem credo: bustis exisse feruntur, Et tacitae questi tempore noctis avi; Perque vias urbis, Latiosque ululasse per agros Deformes animas, vulgus inane, ferunt. Post ea praeteriti tumulis redduntur honores, 555 Prodigiisque venit funeribusque modus. Dum tamen haec fiunt, viduae cessate puellae: Exspectet puros pinea taeda dies. Nec tibi, quae cupidae matura videbere matri, Comat virgineas hasta recurva comas. 560 Conde tuas, Hymenaee, faces, et ab ignibus atris Aufer. Habent alias maesta sepulcra faces. Di quoque templorum foribus celentur opertis, Ture vacent arae, stentque sine igne foci. Nunc animae tenues et corpora functa sepulcris 565 Errant: nunc posito pascitur umbra cibo. Nec tamen haec ultra, quam, tot de mense supersint Luciferi, quot habent carmina nostra pedes. Hanc, quia justa ferunt, dixere Feralia lucem. Ultima placandis Manibus illa dies. 570 Ecce anus in mediis residens annosa puellis Sacra facit Tacitae: vix tamen ipsa tacet; Et digitis tria tura tribus sub limine ponit, Qua brevis occultum mus sibi fecit iter. Tumn cantata ligat cum fusco licia plumbo; 575 Et septem nigras versat in ore fabas; Quodque pice adstrinxit, quod acu trajecit ahena, Obsutum maenae torret in igne caput: Vina quoque instillat. Vini quodcumque relictum est, Aut ipsa, aut comites, plus tamen ipsa, bibit. 580 Hostiles linguas inimicaque vinximus ora, Dicit discedens, ebriaque exit anus. Protinus a nobis, quae sit dea Muta, requires. Disce, per antiquos quae mihi nota senes. Jupiter indomito Juturnae captus amore 585 Multa tulit, tanto non patienda deo. Illa modo in silvis inter coryleta jacebat: Nunc in cognatas desiliebat aquas. Convocat hic Nymphas, Latium quaecumque tenebant, Et jacit in medio talia verba choro: 590 Invidet ipsa vitatque, quod expedit illi, Vestra soror summo jungere membra deo. Consulite ambobus: nam quae est mea magna voluptas, Utilitas vestra magna sororis erit. Vos illi in prima fugienti obsistite ripa, 595 Ne sua fluminea corpora mergat aqua. Dixerat: annuerunt nymphae Tiberinides omnes, Quaeque colunt thalamos, Illa diva, tuos. Forte fuit Naïs, Lara nomine: prima sed illi Dicta bis antiquum syllaba nomen erat, 600 Ex vitio positum. Saepe illi dixerat Almo, Nata, tene linguam: nec tamen illa tenet. Quae, simul ac tetigit Juturnae stagna sororis, Effuge, ait, ripas: dicta refertque Jovis. Illa etiam Junonem adiit, miserataque nuptam, 605 Naïda Juturnam vir tuus, inquit, amat. Jupiter intumuit: quaque est non usa modeste, Eripuit linguam, Mercuriumque monet, Duc hanc ad Manes: locus ille silentibus aptus. Nympha, sed infernae Nympha paludis, erit. 610 Jussa Jovis fiunt. Accepit lucus euntes. Dicitur illa duci placuisse deo. Vim parat hic: vultu pro verbis illa precatur, Et frustra muto nititur ore loqui. Fitque gravis, geminosque parit, qui compita servant, 615 Et vigilant nostra semper in aede, Lares. Proxima cognati dixere Caristia cari, Et venit ad socias turba propinqua dapes. Scilicet a tumulis, et, qui periere, propinquis Protinus ad vivos ora referre juvat, 620 Postque tot amissos, quidquid de sanguine restat, Adspicere, et generis dinumerare gradus. Innocui veniant: procul hinc, procul impius esto Frater, et in partus mater acerba suos; Cui pater est vivax, qui matris digerit annos, 625 Quae premit invisam socrus iniqua nurum. Tantalidae fratres absint, et Iasonis uxor, Et quae ruricolis semina tosta dedit: Et soror, et Progne, Tereusque duabus iniquus, Et quicumque suas per scelus auget opes. 630 Dîs generis date tura bonis; Concordia fertur Illa praecipue mitis adesse die; Et libate dapes, ut grati pignus honoris Nutriat incinctos missa patella Lares, Jamque ubi suadebit placidos nox ultima somnos, 635 Larga precaturi sumite vina manu, Et, Bene nos, Patriae, bene te, Pater, optime Caesar! Dicite suffuso per sacra verba mero.

Nox ubi transierit, solito celebretur honore, Separat indicio qui deus arva suo. 640 Termine, sive lapis, sive es defossus in agro Stipes ab antiquis, sic quoque numen habes. Te duo diversa domini pro parte coronant, Binaque serta tibi, binaque liba ferunt. Ara fit: huc ignem curto fert rustica testu 645 Sumptum de tepidis ipsa colona focis. Ligna senex minuit, concisaque construit alte, Et solida ramos figere pugnat humo. Dum sicco primas irritat cortice flammas, Stat puer, et manibus lata canistra tenet. 650 Inde, ubi ter fruges medios immisit in ignes, Porrigit incisos filia parva favos. Vina tenent alii: libantur singula flammis. Spectant et linguis Candida turba favent. Spargitur et caeso communis Terminus agno: 655 Nec queritur, lactens quum sibi porca datur. Conveniunt celebrantque dapes vicinia supplex, Et cantant laudes, Termine sancte, tuas. Tu populos, urbesque, et regna ingentia finis: Omnis erit sine te litigiosus ager. 660 Nulla tibi ambitio est: nullo corrumperis auro: Legitima servas credita rura fide: Si tu signasses olim Thyreatida terram, Corpora non leto missa trecenta forent, Nec foret Othryades congestis lectus in armis. 665 O quantum patriae sanguinis ille dedit! Quid, nova quum fierent Capitolia? nempe deorum Cuncta Jovi cessit turba, locumque dedit. Terminus—ut veteres memorant—inventus in aede Restitit, et magno cum Jove templa tenet. 670 Nunc quoque, se supra ne quid nisi sidera cernat, Exiguum templi tecta foramen habent. Termine, post illud levitas tibi libera non est, Qua positus fueris in statione, mane. Nec tu vicino quidquam concede roganti, 675 Ne videare hominem praeposuisse Jovi; Et seu vomeribus, seu tu pulsabere rastris, Clamato, Meus est hic ager, ille tuus. Est via, quae populum Laurentes ducit in agros, Quondam Dardanio regna petita duci. 680 Illac lanigeri pecoris tibi, Termine, fibris Sacra videt fieri sextus ab urbe lapis. Gentibus est aliis tellus data limite certo; Romanae spatium est urbis et orbis idem.

Nunc mihi dicenda est Regis fuga. Traxit ab illa 685 Sextus ab extremo nomina mense dies. Ultima Tarquinius Romanae gentis habebat Regna, vir injustus, fortis ad arma tamen. Ceperat hic alias, alias everterat urbes, Et Gabios turpi fecerat arte suos. 690 Namque trium minimus, proles manifesta Superbi, In medios hostes nocte silente venit. Nudarant gladios: Occidite, dixit, inermem! Hoc cupiant fratres, Tarquiniusque pater, Qui mea crudeli laceravit verbere terga! 695 —Dicere ut hoc posset, verbera passus erat— Luna fuit. Spectant juvenem, gladiosque recondunt, Tergaque, deducta veste, notata vident. Flent quoque, et, ut secum tueatur bella, precantur. Callidus ignaris annuit ille viris. 700 Jamque potens misso genitorem appellat amico, Prodendi Gabios quod sibi monstret iter, Hortus odoratis suberat cultissimus herbis, Sectus humum rivo lene sonantis aquae. Illic Tarquinius mandata latentia nati 705 Accipit, et virga lilia summa metit. Nuntius ut rediit, decussaque lilia dixit, Filius, Agnosco jussa parentis, ait. Nec mora: principibus caesis ex urbe Gabina, Traduntur ducibus moenia nuda suis. 710 Ecce—nefas visu—mediis altaribus anguis Exit, et exstinctis ignibus exta rapit. Consulitur Phoebus. Sors est ita reddita: Matri Qui dederit princeps oscula, victor erit. Oscula quisque suae matri properata tulerunt, 715 Non intellecto credula turba deo. Brutus erat stulti sapiens imitator, ut esset Tutus ab insidiis, dire Superbe, tuis. Ille jacens pronus matri dedit oscula Terrae, Creditus offenso procubuisse pede. 720 Cingitur interea Romanis Ardea signis, Et patitur lentas obsidione moras. Dum vacat, et metuunt hostes committere pugnam, Luditur in castris: otia miles agit. Tarquinius juvenis socios dapibusque meroque 725 Accipit, atque illis rege creatus ait: Dum nos difficilis pigro tenet Ardea bello, Nec sinit ad patrios arma referre deos; Ecquid in officio torus est socialis? et ecquid Conjugibus nostris mutua cura sumus? 730 Quisque suam laudant. Studiis certamina crescunt, Et fervent multo linguaque corque mero. Surgit, cui clarum dederat Collatia nomen; Non opus est verbis, credite rebus, ait. Nox superest: tollamur equis, urbemque petamus. 735 Dicta placent: frenis impediuntur equi. Pertulerant dominos. Regalia protinus illi Tecta petunt: custos in fore nullus erat. Ecce nurum regis fusis per colla coronis Inveniunt posito pervigilare mero. 740 Inde cito passu petitur Lucretia. Nebat; Ante torum calathi lanaque mollis erant. Lumen ad exiguum famulae data pensa trahebant, Inter quas tenui sic ait ipsa sono: Mittenda est domino—nunc, nunc properate, puellae— 745 Quamprimum nostra facta lacerna manu. Quid tamen audistis?—nam plura audire potestis— Quantum de bello dicitur esse super? Postmodo victa cades, melioribus, Ardea, restas, Improba, quae nostros cogis abesse viros. 750 Sint tantum reduces. Sed enim temerarius ille Est meus, et stricto quolibet ense ruit. Mens abit, et morior, quoties pugnantis imago. Me subit, et gelidum pectora frigus habet. Desinit in lacrimas, intentaque fila remittit, 755 In gremio vultum deposuitque suum. Hoc ipsum decuit: lacrimae decuere pudicam, Et facies animo dignaque parque fuit. Pone metum, venio, conjux ait. Illa revixit, Deque viri collo dulce pependit onus. 760 Interea juvenis furiales regius ignes Concipit, et caeco raptus amore furit. Forma placet, niveusque color, flavique capilli, Quique aderat nulla factus ab arte decor. Verba placent, et vox, et quod corrumpere non est: 765 Quoque minor spes est, hoc magis ille cupit. Jam dederat cantum lucis praenuntius ales, Quum referunt juvenes in sua castra pedem. Carpitur attonitos absentis imagine sensus Ille: recordanti plura magisque placent. 770 Sic sedit, sic culta fuit, sic stamina nevit, Neglectae collo sic jacuere comae, Hos habuit vultus, haec illi verba fuere, Hic decor, haec facies, hic color oris erat. Ut solet a magno fluctus languescere flatu, 775 Sed tamen a vento, qui fuit, unda tumet: Sic, quamvis aberat placitae praesentia formae, Quem dederat praesens forma, manebat amor. Ardet, et injusti stimulis agitatus amoris Comparat indigno vimque dolumque toro. 780 Exitus in dubio est. Audebimus ultima, dixit. Viderit, audentes forsne deusne juvet. Cepimus audendo Gabios quoque. Talia fatus Ense latus cinxit, tergaque pressit equi. Accipit aerata juvenem Collatia porta, 785 Condere jam vultus sole parante suos. Hostis, ut hospes, init penetralia Collatini: Comiter excipitur: sanguine junctus erat. Quantum animis erroris inest! parat inscia rerum Infelix epulas hostibus illa suis. 790 Functus erat dapibus: poscunt sua tempora somni. Nox erat, et tota lumina nulla domo. Surgit, et auratum vagina liberat ensem, Et venit in thalamos, nupta pudica, tuos, Utque torum pressit, Ferrum, Lucretia, mecum est, 795 Natus, ait, regis, Tarquiniusque loquor. Illa nihil: neque enim vocem viresque loquendi, Aut aliquid toto pectore mentis habet. Sed tremit, ut quondam stabulis deprensa relictis Parva sub infesto quum jacet agna lupo. 800 Quid faciat? pugnet? vincetur femina pugna. Clamet? at in dextra, qui necet, ensis adest. Effugiat? positis urgentur pectora palmis; Tune primum externa pectora tacta manu. Instat amans hostis precibus, pretioque, minisque: 805 Nec prece, nec pretio, nec movet ille minis. Nil agis; eripiam, dixit, pro crimine vitam: Falsus adulterii testis adulter erit. Interimam famulum, cum quo deprensa fereris. Succubuit famae victa puella metu. 810 Quid, victor, gaudes? haec te victoria perdet. Heu quanto regnis nox stetit una tuis! Jamque erat orta dies: passis sedet illa capillis, Ut solet ad nati mater itura rogum; Grandaevumque patrem fido cum conjuge castris 815 Evocat: et posita venit uterque mora. Utque vident habitum, quae luctus causa, requirunt, Cui paret exsequias, quove sit icta malo. Illa diu reticet, pudibundaque celat amictu Ora. Fluunt lacrimae more perennis aquae. 820 Hinc pater, hinc conjux lacrimas solantur, et orant, Indicet: et caeco flentque paventque metu. Ter conata loqui, ter destitit, ausaque quarto. Non oculos adeo sustulit illa suos. Hoc quoque Tarquinio debebimus? eloquar, inquit, 825 Eloquar infelix dedecus ipsa meum. Quaeque potest narrat. Restabant ultima; flevit, Et matronales erubuere genae. Dant veniam facto genitor conjuxque coactae. Quam, dixit, veniam vos datis, ipsa nego. 830 Nec mora; celato figit sua pectora ferro, Et cadit in patrios sanguinolenta pedes. Tunc quoque jam moriens, ne non procumbat honeste, Respicit. Haec etiam cura cadentis erat. Ecce super corpus communia damna gementes, 835 Obliti decoris, virque paterque jacent. Brutus adest, tandemque animo sua nomina fallit, Fixaque semanimi corpore tela rapit; Stillantemqne tenens generoso sanguine cultrum, Edidit impavidos ore minante sonos: 840 Per tibi ego hunc juro fortem castumque cruorem, Perque tuos Manes, qui mihi numen erunt, Tarquinium poenas profuga cum stirpe daturum. Jam satis est virtus dissimulata diu. Illa jacens ad verba oculos sine lumine movit, 845 Visaque concussa dicta probare coma. Fertur in exsequias animi matrona virilis, Et secum lacrimas invidiamque trahit. Vulnus inane patet. Brutus clamore Quirites Concitat, et regis facta nefanda refert. 850 Tarquinius cum prole fugit. Capit annua Consul Jura. Dies regnis illa suprema fuit.

Fallimur? an veris praenuntia venit hirundo, Et metuit, ne qua versa recurrat hiems? Saepe tamen, Progne, nimium properasse quereris, 855 Virque tuo Tereus frigore laetus erit.

Jamque duae restant noctes de mense secundo, Marsque citos junctis curribus urget equos. Ex vero positum permansit Equiria nomen, Quae deus in campo prospicit ipse suo. 860 Jure venis, Gradive; locum tua tempora poscunt, Signatusque tuo nomine mensis adest. Venimus in portum libro cum mense peracto. Naviget hinc alia jam mihi linter aqua.

NOTES:

1. Crescit. Some MSS. read crescat.

2. Ut hinc. Most MSS. read ut hic; three of the best ut it. The present reading is the conjecture of Heinsius.

3, 4. The Elegiac measure which is employed in this poem, was usually appropriated to subjects which had not much dignity in them. Such had been his preceding compositions in this species of verse.

5. Alluding to his Amores, Ars Amandi, etc.—Faciles, ready, compliant.

6. When my early youth sported in numbers adapted to it.

7, 8. I now sing the festivals, etc. Would any one think that idle love-verses would have led the way to such a theme?

9, 10. Militia, dextra, munere, all words relating to military service. See Hor. Car. iv. l.—Ferimus, most MSS. read gerimus.—Vacat. Seven have caret.

14. Habilis, fit. Any one can be a soldier.

16. Nomina, i. e. deeds of name.—Titulos, is employed in the same manner.

17, 18. He continues the adulatory style in which he at first addressed him.

19. The poet now begins an inquiry into the origin of the name of the second month.—Februum: Sabinis purgamentum et in sacris nostris verbum. Varro de L. L. V.—Piamina, the [Greek: katharmoi] of the Greeks, whatever was used in purification, and in removing the [Greek: agos], or piacular guilt. Five MSS. read piacula, which signifies the same thing.

20. Scil. the word is still frequently used in this sense.

21. Rege, the Rex Sacrorum.—Flamine, the Flamen Dialis.—Lanas. As Clemens Alexandrinus enumerates the [Greek: eria pyrrha] among the articles used by the Gentiles in purification Neapolis conjectures that this wool was red.

23. Lictor, of the Flamen Dialis.—Sertis, one MS. cernis, three ternis, one acernis. Heinsius proposes tersis.—Domibus, the house of the Flamen.

24. The Mola Salsa.

25. Arbore pura, the pine, as making pure.

27. Flaminicam, the wife of the Flamen Dialis. Some MSS. read Flaminiam or Flamineam.

30. Intonsos, i.e. priscos, antiquos. Intonsus Numa, below V. 264. Intonsus Cato. Hor. Car. II. 15. There were no barbers at Rome, till A.U.C. 454.

31. See below, v. 267. et seq.

33. See below, v. 433, et seq.—Tempora pura, because the guilt and evil had been removed.

37. In the mode usual in his time, Ovid assigns a Grecian origin to this opinion. It was however common to Greece, Italy, and the East, and was a part of the Law of Moses. Homer makes mention of it more than once. Thus when Ulysses had slain the suitors, he says to Euryclea, [Greek: Oide theeion graeu kakon akos, oise de moi pur, Ophra theeioso megaron]. According to the legend, (See Mythology, p. 94.) Apollo himself required purification for having slain the Python.

39. Actoriden, Menoetius the father of Patroclus who had slain by accident Clesonymus or aeanes.—Pelea. Telamon and Peleus slew their brother Phocus. Peleus fled to Thessaly to Actor, or to Eurytion, the son of Actor, by whom he was purified, and having had the misfortune to kill his benefactor, he was purified by Acastus. The poet evidently makes a mistake here. See Mythology, pp. 279 and 414.

41. Aegeus received Medea when she fled after the murder of her children. —Credulus, too easily believing.—Phasida, Colchian. See Mythology, 279, 352.

43. Amphiaraïdes. Alemaeon, the son of Amphiaraus, put his mother Eriphyle to death. Mythology, p. 434.—Naupactoo scil. aetolian. Naupactus is in aetolia, but not near the Achelous.

45. Faciles, credulous.

47-54. This passage is hard to understand. If in the year of Numa Pompilius, which is the one spoken of, January was the first month, how could February be the last? Perhaps, though this is at variance with v. 48, the poet here, as in I. 43, 44, only means that Numa added two months to the Romulian year, in which case February would be the last. See Introd. § 2.—Tu quoque, etc. The intercalation was made after the Terminalia, that is, the 23d of February.—Postmodo, etc. this regulation of the Decemvirs, is spoken of no where else.—Tempora continuasse. "Effecisse ut hi duo menses, nullo interposito, se exciperent, cum antea distarent longo spatio decem ipsis mensibus interjectis," Gierig. As the year is a circle, must not the two ends have joined?

55. The poet here catches at the opportunity of praising Tiberius. The temple of Juno Sospita, near that of the Mother of the Gods on the Palatine hill, had been dedicated on the Kalends of February, but was now fallen.

62. This is going the utmost length of flattery.

66. Man. in stat. Keep guard. A military phrase.

67. Romulus opened the Asylum on the Kalends of February, that is, on the day of his year corresponding thereto.

69. Penetrale Numae. The temple of Vesta, in the Atrium of which, called the Regia, Numa resided.

70. The Capitolium and the Arx were two parts of the same hill. Liv. III. 18, V. 47.

74. Purpureis, bright. This is a usual sense of this word.

76. The cosmic setting of Lyra.

77. The acronych setting of Leo.

79. On the third of February, the Dolphin sets heliacally.—Caelatum, set or embossed.

81. Alluding to the aid which the Dolphin gave Neptune in his courtship of Amphitrite.

82. This story of Arion is told by Herodotus, I. 23.

84. Et seq. comparing him to Orpheus.

91. Cynthia. Diana, the moon.

101, 102. An exclamation of the poet.

107. A long trailing robe of the richest purple, the dibaphe.

109, 110. This distich was justly suspected by Heinsius. There is a corruption in it, which it is now, perhaps, impossible to cure. Burmann understands by penna, an arrow; others think it denotes a hard feather which the swan gets when old.—Trajectus. Four MSS. read Threïcius.

112. Describing the effect of his plunge into the sea.

115. Pretium vehendi, Scil. carmen.

119. See Hom. Il. II. 488. Virg. Geor. II. 42. aen, vi. 625.—Quo. scil. pectore.

121. Alterno carmine in hexameters et pentameters; the versibus impariter junctis of Horace, A. P. 75. The common reading is pectine.— Sacras Nonas, on account of the honours decreed to Augustus.

126. Heroi pedis. Hexameters.

127. On the nones of February, A.U.C. 752, Valerius Messala addressed Augustus in the senate-house in these words, Senatus te consentiens cum Pop. Rom. consulutat Patrem Patriae. Sact. Aug. 58.

128. Eques. Ovid was of the equestrian order.

132. The [Greek: pataer andron te theon te] of Homer, the Divum pater atque hominum rex of Virgil.

134. Comparing the paltry defences erected by the first founder of Rome, with the strength of the city under its second founder, as Augustus was styled.

135, 136. See Livy, I. Romulus was only formidable to the little states around his town; Augustus reduced both the East and the West under the sway of Rome.

139. The rape of the Sabines is opposed to the laws against adultery, etc. of Augustus.—Duce se, by his own example.

140. The Asylum opposed to the vigorous administration of justice by Augustus.

142. The favourite title of Augustus and of Tiberius was Princeps. scil. Senatus; [Greek: deopotaes men ton doulon, autokrator de ton stratioton, ton de dae loipon prokritus] (Princeps) [Greek: eimi], was a usual saying of Tiberius.

143. There may be an allusion here to Augustus' forgiveness of Cinna and others.

144. Mars and Julius Caesar.

145. The cosmic rising of Aquarius.—Puer. Idaeus, Ganymedes, son of Tros, king of Troy, fabled in aftertimes to have been made this constellation.

146. Liquidas, means clear and not liquid.—Nectare, as being cupbearer of the gods.

149. Spring began on the 9th of February, the V. Idus.

153. On the III. Idus Arctophylax, or Bootes, rises acronychally.

155-192. The poet had already told this tale. Met. II, 401-530. See also Mythology, p. 387.

193. The Faunalia were celebrated on the Ides. The island in the Tiber contained the temple of Faunus, as well as those of Aesculapius and Jupiter. It was built by the Aediles with the money arising from fines, and dedicated A.U.C. 509. There was another Faunalia on the nones of December. Hor. Car. III. 18. For Faunus, see Mythology, p. 477.

195. See Niebuhr's Roman History, II. 192-195, and 200-203. It is his opinion that the Fabian Creus, disgusted with the obstinate refusal of their order to grant the just claims of the Plebeians, retired with their clients, and a part of the Plebeians, to the number of 4,500, as related by Dionysius, and founded a colony on the banks of the Cremera, in Etruria. They left Rome on the Ides of February, A.U.C. 275, and were cut off by the Tuscans on the 18th of the following Quinctilis, the very day on which the defeat was sustained at the Allia some years afterwards. The poet has evidently fallen into a great error here.

196. The number of the Fabii is always given as being 306.

198. Arma professa, which they had promised.

199. Castris. From the context, this must have been the abodes of the family at Rome. He may, perhaps, mean their settlement on the Cremera, v. 207.

201. They went out at the Carmental gate. The Roman gates, as has been already observed, were double. People went out by one, and came in by the other. Ever after this day, no one went through the gate by which the Fabii had passed. The way was named Via Scelerata or Infelix.—Jano, that is, probably, simply the gate through which they passed.

203, 204. These lines are wanting in some of the best MSS. Gierig, though unsatisfied with them, thinks they are necessary to the narration. It does not seem so to me. We have only to understand the poet thus: they went out, etc. v. 199, the way by which they went is next etc. v. 201, to have a very good sense.

206. Hibernis, produced by the melting of the snow. It was now the spring. See note on v. 390.

214. Parant, scil. the Tuscans.

225, 226. The poet, as if present, calls out to them.—Simplex, incautious, unsuspicious of guile.

237. Herculeae gentis. It was the tradition of the Fabian family that they derived their origin from Hercules, by a daughter of Evander.

239. Niebuhr ut supra, shews that the Fabius who remained at Rome, must have been then a grown man. He thinks the cause of his staying behind was his differing in politics from the rest of the family.

241. The celebrated Fabius Maximas Cunctator, the man who shewed how to vanquish Hannibal.

243. The day after the Ides these three signs, which lie close together, rise acronychally.

247. The inferior gods offered sacrifices to the superior. See below, iv. 423. aeschyl. Prom. 526, et seq.

254. Eam, the tree for the fruit.

255. Figs ripen very fast (Pliny, xv. 19,) so that this is not badly invented.

260. Tenuit is used here in a double sense.

263. Lactens, that is, full of juice. It was peculiarly used of the fig.

264. De nullo, etc. It was an opinion of the ancients, that for sixty days before the figs ripened, the ravens were affected by a looseness of bowels, which obliged them to abstain from every thing humid. Pliny, X. 12. aelian. V. Il. II. 5.

267. The Lupercalia were celebrated on the 15th February, the xv. Kal. Mart. The poet here, according to the custom of the Latin poets, confounds the ancient Italian deity, Faunus, with the Pan of the Arcadians. On these occasions, a theory or a legend was always devised to explain the manner in which the worship had been introduced. For Pan, see Mythology, p. 198.

272. He most haunts the Arcadian mountains, or, he is most worshiped there.

273. Pholoë, the mountain of that name.

274. This is an error, the Ladom falls into the Alpheus.

277. Equarum. Several MSS. read aquarum, which reading Burmann defends, as Pan is called [Greek: aktios] by Theocritus. Idyll. V. 14.

278. Instead of Pan ovium custos.

280. That is, there was no town there at the time.

281. The Arcadians were always regarded as of the Pelasgian race.

282. The Flamen Dialis always bore a part in the Lupercalia.

285. The first reason; they imitated the god himself.

289. The second; they commemorated the ancient mode of life in Arcadia. It was said that Jupiter was born in this country. Callim. H. I.

290. See above, I. 469.

291. Feris. One MS. reads ferae; another fere; another et fere.— Usus, occupations.

292. Erat. One MS. reads erant, which is adopted by Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig.

299. Sub Jove, same as sub dio, in the open air.

301. Detecti, scil. the naked Luperci.

302. Opes, that is, the want of wealth.

303. The third reason for the nudity of the Luperci.—Faunus, scil. Pan.

305. Dominae, Omphale, queen of Lydia, to whom Hercules was sold by Mercury.

310. Aurato sinu. Her robe had threads of gold woven into it, or was embroidered.

311. Umbracula, the skiadia, the modern umbrella—Rapidos. This is the reading of eleven MSS. the rest have tepidos, which is very tame. Rapidos well expresses the consuming power of fire.

313. Tenebat, scil. Omphale, thus subit, v. 315. Some MSS. read tenebant.

314. Hesperus is beautifully styled roscidus, as the dews of evening accompany his appearance in the summer-season. The poet gives him a dark-coloured horse, as the sky is then becoming every moment darker; for the opposite reason, a white horse is given to Lucifer. "Hesperus, that led The starry host, rode brightest." Milton.

321. Vincla, either the wrists or the arm-holes of the tunic, which would appear to have had running-strings in them.

324. Scindebant. Seven MSS. read stringebant.

326. Tela minora, the arrows opposed to the club.

329. Previous to a sacrifice, à Venere abstinebant.—Pia sacra, like pia tura, pium far.

337. Captata, felt by groping, One MS. reads tractata.

359. A fourth reason for this custom.—Peregrinis causas Latinas. Three MSS. read peregrinae; two read causam. Perhaps the best reading would be peregrinis causam Latinam.

360. Suo pulvere, in his own common (i.e. Italian) course.

361. Scil. at the Lupercalia.

363. Transsuta, Others read transfixa, transita, or trajecta.

367, 368. These lines are wanting in three MSS. and are probably spurious.—Caestibus. Six MSS. read vectibus, which Heinius prefers, as the caestus was unknown to the old Romans, and pitching bar(vectis) was a common exercise of the Roman soldiery. The poets, however, troubled themselves little about minutiae of this kind. Some MMS. have vestibus.

375-378. Fabius, says the legend, was over the comrades of Remus, and Quinctilius over those of Romulus; and those under them were named from them. The truth is, the Fabian family were of the Sabine, the Quinctilian, of the Roman part of the nation.

380. Quod bene cessit. Several of the best MSS. read gessit. Some qui lene gesset.

381. He now proceeds to inquire into the origin of the names Lupercal and Lupercalia, and takes this occasion of relating the early history of the founders of Rome.

383. Ilia. Most MSS. read Silvia.

385. Pueros. The reading of most MSS. is parvos. Burmann observes, that the ancients did not use parvos without a substantive for children.

387. Recusantes, unwillingly; refusing as far as they dared. Burmann proposes reluctantes or repugnantes.

389. Albula. This was an ancient name of the Tiber. The Romans, aping the Greeks in this, as in every thing else, deduced the name Tiber, from that of a fabled king.

390. Hibernis. Neapolis would infer from this, that Romulus and Remus were born in the winter. This is pressing poetic language too close; the Latin poets used Hiems, and its kindred adjectives, as the Greeks did [Greek: cheimon], and the terms derived from it. The meaning is, the river was swoln by the rains which had lately fallen. If we wished regularly to confute Neapolis, we might refer him to v. 413, as the wolf does not bring forth in winter.

391, 392. The different Fora or markets at Rome, were in the valleys between the hills. The Circus Maximus was three stadia and a half long, and one broad. It is probably to express its magnitude that he uses valles in the plural, as the measure imposed no necessity.

393. According to the account given by Dionysius from Fabius Pictor, they came down with the babes from the summit of the Palatine hill, and laid them in the water, which now washed its foot.

394. Et. Two MSS. read an, which Heinsius adopts and justifies by a number of examples, and which is certainly the more elegant.

396. Iste, scil. Romulus.

398. Esse, scil: patrem. This ellipsis well expresses the doubt and hesitation of the speaker.—Suspicor. Three MSS. read suspicer.

400. Praecipiti, critical, dangerous.

401. Si non etc. The ancients believed that a god could not, any more than a man, be in more places than one at the same time. Hence the jest that Diana could not save her temple at Ephesus from the flames, as she was aiding the birth of Alexander the Great, in Macedonia.

408. Scil: the fate of Rome.

409. Appulsus. Eight MSS. read impulsus, which Lenz prefers, as expressing the force with which the water drove them, but they were not in the current of a stream, and the motion of the retiring water must have been very gentle.

412. Rumina, from rumis or ruma, the same as mamma. This must have been the original name; the derivation from Romulus is futile. In the time of Varro, as he informs us, (De L. L. iv.) a new ficus ruminalis was planted in the Comitium, which was standing when the poet wrote. It withered in the reign of Nero. Pliny, xv. 18.

413. Feta, i. e. enixa, as the context shews.

416. Perdere. Two MSS. read prodere.—Cog. manus. scil: the hands of Amulius.

417. She shews her affection for the babes by the motion of her tail.

419. They might be known to be the offspring of Mars by the wolf, his sacred animal, coming to feed them, and by their shewing no signs of fear.

420. Promissi, i. e. destined by nature.

423. Another cause, a Grecian origin, from Mt. Lycaeum, in Arcadia.

424. Faunus, scil. Pan,—Lycaeo. Pausanius, who mentions [Greek: Zeus lukaios], does not give this epithet to Pan. He speaks, however, of his temple on Mt. Lycaeum. In an epigram of Leonidas, we meet [Greek: lagobola Pani Lukaio].

425. Barren women placed themselves in the way of Luperci, as they ran about striking people with their goat-skin thongs, as the contact of the sacred lash was supposed to produce fecundity.—Herbis, etc. the usual modes of obtaining the power of bearing children.

428. Optatum. One MS. which is followed by Heinsius and Gierig, has optati.

433. Instead of increasing the number and strength of his people by their having offspring, he had only brought on himself and them the war with the Sabines.

435, 436. The grove of Juno Lucina. Varro, L. L. iv.

440. Mira, wonderful things.

441. Italidas. Several of the best MSS. read Italias.—Sacer hircus. Four MSS. read caper hirtus, in favour of which, it is urged, that as the caper was a gelt hircus, the wonder was the greater; and v. 445, a caper is sacrificed. I should feel disposed to adopt this reading, which is that of Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig.

443. His name has not come down to us.

444. Etruria was renowned for augury.

449, 450. Two derivations of Lucina; one from lucus, as if she was so named from being worshiped in a grove; a second from lux, as the light proceeded from her. This last might identify Juno Lucina with the moon, and with the Eilcithyia of the Greeks. See Mythology, p. 154.

451. Facilis seems to answer to [Greek: praumaetis], an epithet of Eilcithyia.

453-458. On the day of the Lupercalia, the sun entered Pisces, and winds began to blow, which continued for six days.

461. Dione, Venus. In Homer, this goddess is the daughter of Dione. Ovid confounds them, as he does the Hyperion and Helius (Sol) of Homer.

462. In the Giant-war. See Mythology, p. 238.

471. Others say, the goddess and her son turned themselves into fishes at the approach of Typhon.

473, 474. He confounds, in the usual manner, the Aphrodite of the Greeks, and Venus of the Latins, with the Atergatis or Derceto of the Syrians.— Timidi, scil. Deorum, pious.

475. There was no festival, and nothing remarkable on the XIV. Kal. Mart. The Quirinalia were on the following day. He takes this occasion of relating the end of Romulus and his apotheosis. See Livy, I. 13. It occurred on the Nones of Quinctilis.

477-480. Three derivations of the name Quirinus. The first is the true one. See Mythology, p. 472.

484. Officio. The care and labour of Romulus.

487. This is a line of Ennius. It also occurs, Met. xiv. 814.—The poet, in this account of the Assumption of Romulus, evidently keeps close to the Annals of the old poet.

491. The Palus Caprea, or Capreae, was in the Campus Martius.— Capreae. Some MSS. read Caprae; one Capream, which is adopted by Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig. The Greeks called it [Greek: aigos hae zorkos helos].

492. Jura dabas. According to most accounts he was reviewing the army. The poet may, however, have used these words only in a general sense, to denote any exercise of his authority. The assembly of the Roman people on the Campus Martius was always regarded as an exercitus. See Niebuhr on the Centuries. Rom. Hist. Vol. I.

493. Sol. fugit, in consequence of the darkness. It is not necessary, with Dionysius and others, to suppose an eclipse.

496. See Hor. Car. III. 3, 15. This circumstance was evidently in the Annals of Ennius, from which both poets derived it.—Fit fuga, hence this day was also called the Populifugiun.

498. Fides, belief or opinion.

500. Luna fulgebat, consequently there could not have been an eclipse of the sun. Livy says, that Romulus appeared prima luce, at the dawn of day. Several MSS. read surgebat. I prefer the common reading, as the poet, by saying that Proculus carried no torch, evidently means to express bright moon-light.

501. Sinistrae, the lucky side, according to Etrurian augury.—Nubes crepuere. Several MSS. read Sepes tremuere, or sonuere.

503. The usual signs of divinity.—Trabea. See above, I. 37. Plutarch says, that Romulus appeared [Greek: huplois lamprois kai phlegousi kekosmaemenos]. As the poet here uses the word trabea, I would take jura dabas above, v. 492, in its simple sense.

510. Populos, the Romans and Sabines, or probably as above, I. 38, for cives. Many MSS. read patres.

511. Collis, the Quirinal. Festus, with much greater probability, supposes it to have derived its name from the Sabines from Cures having settled on it. Niebuhr thinks there was a town on it named Quirium, whence came the name Quirites, at first peculiar to the Sabine portion of the Roman people.

512. The Quirinalia were stativa. See note on I. 657.

513. Another name for the Quirinalia was the Stultorurn Feriae, because those who from ignorance, or from having been on a journey, or from want of time, or any other just cause, had not sacrificed with the rest of the people on the Fornicalia, which was an indictive festival, (see preceding note) did so on the Quirinalia. The poet takes this occasion of relating the supposed origin of the Fornicalia.

519. Jaciebant, cast, i. e. sowed.

526. Temperet, that is, keep from burning.

527. Curio. Romulus, we are told, divided the people into 30 curiae, over each of which was a curio. The Curio Maximus presided over the 30 Curiones.—Leg. verb. ex gr. Lavatio Deum Matris est hodie. Jovis epulum eras est. Aesculapii geritur celebraturque vindemia. Lectisternium Cereris erit Idibus proximis. Arnobius, L. vii.

529. Multa tabella. On which was inscribed in what Curia each part of the people was to worship.

533. The Feralia, in honour of the dead, were celebrated on the 19th of February, as this was formerly the last month of the year. Festus derives Feralia, à ferendis epulis vel a feriendis pecudibus.—Varro, ab inferis et ferendo epulas. The derivation from inferis is nearest the truth.

537. Porrectis. One MS. which is followed by Heinsius, and the other editors, reads projectis.

542. Sua verba, suitable words.

545. See Virg aen. v. 94, et seq.

548. Par. dies, the days on which the Parentalia were celebrated.— Deseruere, neglected.

554. Deformes, scil, simulacra modis pallentia miris, or, as Lenz understands it, having no certain form.

557. Viduae puellae, either widows, or, if viduae is taken in its general sense, simply unmarried women. Two MSS. read avidae.

558. Puros dies, days not devoted to gloomy or melancholy matters, like the Feralia.

559, 560. Quae etc. opposed, it would appear, to the viduae of v. 557.—Hasta. It was the custom to divide the hair of a virgin-bride with the point of a small spear.

560. Torches were used at funerals and at the Parentalia, as well as at weddings.

563. During this time, the temples of the gods were closed, and no sacred rites performed.

566. That the souls of the dead loved to partake of food, is an opinion as old as the time of Homer. See the [Greek: nekuia] in the Odyssey.

567, 568. The Feralia, or last day for appeasing the Manes, was the XII. Kal. Mart, from which, to the end of the month, there were exactly eleven; that is, six and five days. Some have thought that the poet meant six feet only, and that therefore the Feralia were the VI. Kal. Mart, but this is contradicted by v. 684, and by an ancient calendar which places them on the XII. Kal. Mart.

569. See note on v. 533.

571. He now relates the rites performed on this day to the goddess Muta or Tacita, to bind the tongues of detractors. Neapolis thinks that the reason of uniting them with the Parentalia, may have been to give effect to the maxim, de mortuis nil nisi bonum.—Annosa, Heinsius would read vinosa or pannosa.

574. Brevis, i. e. parvus.

575. Plumbo. Black lead was employed in magic. One or two MSS. read rhombo, which is adopted by Heinsius and Gierig, and which I should also feel disposed to adopt. The rhombus or spindle, and the black or party-coloured threads were of great use in magic. See Virg. Ecl. viii. 75.

576. Seven, like three, was a magic number.

578. Maenae. The maena was a small fish of little value, which was salted and eaten by the poorer sort of people. It was used on this occasion symbolically, and was an appropriate offering to the goddess of Silence. This, which is the reading of only two MSS. has been adopted by all the editors: the MSS. in general read menta or mintha.

581. Vinximus. Vincire was the appropriate word to express the hindrance of any action by magic art.

583. This legend must have been invented long after the Romans had become acquainted with Grecian Mythology, as their ancient religion knew nothing of choirs of nymphs, or of amours of the gods. See Mythology, p. 450.

585. Indomita, [Greek: adamasto]. Many MSS. read immodico, and victus for captus.

598. The nymphs of the Anien, the god of which, according to our poet (Am. III. 6, 45,) espoused the mother of Romulus. Horace (Car. I. 2, 17,) unites her to the god of the Tiber.

600. That is, her name was 615. The Romans had both Lala, from lalia.

601. He makes her the daughter of the god of the river Almo.

605. Nuptam scil. Junonem. The common reading of the MSS. is nuptas; some have nymphae or _nympnam. It is evident that the poet wished to express the busy meddling loquacity of Lara, as it would have sufficed to set Juturna on her guard.

615. The Romans had both public and private Lares. The word Las is Etruscan and signified Lord. See V. 1238, et seq. and Mythology, pp. 481.482.

617—638. On the XI. Kal. Mart. was held the domestic feast, named the Caristia, from carus. "Convivium etiam solemne majores instituerunt, idque Caristia appellaverunt, cui praeter cognatos et affines nemo interponebatur; ut si qua inter necessarios querela esset orta, apud sacra mensae et inter hilaritatem animorum, fautoribus concordiae adhibitis, tolleretur." Valer. Max. II. 1.

619. He gives the reason why the Caristia followed immediately after the Feralia, that the dead might visit their friends, and have their share of the feast. See above note on v. 566.

625. Who thinks his father or mother lives too long.

628. Ino. For all the persons mentioned here, see my Mythology, under their names.

631. The Genii, and all the domestic gods, were called Di boni, [Greek: agathoi daimones]. The Lares or Penates are meant here.

633. Libate dapes. Place a portion of the food (dapes) on a patella to be set before the gods, i. e. the Lares. Libare, dapes, patella and honor, are all the appropriate terms.

634. Incinctos, that is, succinctos. See V. 2l7. 675. Persius Sat. V.3l.

635. Nox ultima, the latter part of the night towards morning, Most MSS. read humida.

636. Larga. One or two MSS. read parca, which Heinsius and Gierig adopt without hesitation,—Precaturi manu. Heinsius conjectures precaturae manus, which reading is adopted by Gierig. In their editions the line runs thus: Parca precaturae sumite vina manus.

637. It was considered highly culpable not to join the name of the prince in their supplications on occasions like this. Hence we seem to have derived the custom of drinking the king's health.

639. On the VIII. Kal. Mart. was the festival of the Terminalia, instituted, as was said, by Numa.

640. The Terminus or boundary, which also represented the god, was either a stone or a post of wood placed in the ground.

643. He here gives a minute description of the mode of worshiping the god of boundaries.—Duo domini, the owners of the ground on both sides.

644. Bina, same as duo.

645. Curto testu, a small earthen vessel. Heinsius has proved by abundant examples, that this was a usual sense of curtus.

648. Rami. These were driven into the ground, or rather into the sod-built altar, to keep the wood which was piled up from tumbling about.

650. Canistra, the basket in which were the corn, &c. to be used.

654. Candida, clad in white.

659. This is the hymn of the poet, rather than of the rustics.

663. The well-known story of the combat between three hundred Lacedaemonians and as many Argives, for the possession of Thyrea. See Herod. I. 82. Lucian, Charon, Valerius Maximus, &c.

665. Lectus, read; for when the three surviving Argives had run home with the news of their victory, thinking all the enemies dead, he got up, piled a trophy, and inscribed it with his blood. All the MSS. read tectus; lectus is the conjecture of Barthius, as Statius, Theb. iv. 47, says, Et Lacedaemonium Thyre lectura cruorem. It is almost certain that it is the true reading; the exclamation in the following line appears to confirm it.

667. See the story in Livy, I. 55.

669. Inventus. Five MSS. read conventus, which Heinsius and Gierig have adopted. Gierig interprets it cum ad eum convenissent augures. I must doubt if conventus ever occurs in this passive sense. Burmann proposes tunc lentus.

670. Unde in Capitolio superna pars tecti patet quae lapidem ipsum Termini spectat, nam Termino non nisi, sub divo sacrificabatur. Servius on aen. ixx. 448.

680. It is well known that aeneas landed in this part of the country. See Virgil, Livy, &c.

682. The boundary of the Roman dominion was at one time between the fifth and sixth milestone on the Laurentine way.—How it was enlarged in the days of the poet! A sacrifice to Terminus was still offered on that spot.

684. A play on words.

685. The Regifugium, or banishment of the Tarquins, is placed by the poet on the 24th February, the VIII. Kal. Mart. One very ancient MS. reads quintus, which reading is adopted by Neapolis and by Petavius, who accuses Ovid of gross negligence. One MS. reads Septimus extremo.

687. See the whole history in Livy, I. Niebuhr (Rom. Hist, I. 486,) justly gives the palm to the narrative of the historian over that of our poet. The modern historian's criticism of the whole story is exceedingly well worthy of perusal.

690. Livy, I. 53. It is the story of Zopyrus, transferred from Herodotus (III. 154,) to the Roman history.

694. Hoc Ithacus velit, et magno mercentur Atridae. Virg.

703. This also is taken from Herodotus, (v. 92) who tells us that Thrasybulus, the tyrant of Miletus, employed the same mode of giving counsel to Periander.

704. Sectus. Most MSS. read septus. The former is much to be preferred. Seco is frequently used of rivers.

706. In the ordinary narrative they are poppies.

713. The poet in his haste or negligence confounds matters here, for this response was given to their question, of who should be king of Rome. See Livy.

716. Turba. There were but two sons of Tarquin sent to consult the oracle.

729. Torus socialis, i.e. uxor.—In officio, faithful. Fundanos in officio esse. Liv. viii. 19.

733. Cui clarum, etc. When Tarquin took Collatia from the Sabines, he made his uncle, Egerius, governor of it, whose son was thence named Collatinus. A different, and much more probable origin of names of this kind, is given by Niebuhr. Rom. Hist. I. 293.

739. Nurum, the wife of Sextus Tarquinius. Nodell ad Avian, p. 108, proposes nurus. It is nurus in Livy. The poet (v. 725,) has, however, spoken of but one of the young Tarquinii.—Coronis, several MSS. read capillis, but compare v. 772.

744. Tenui, a low, soft voice.

746. Lacerna, a thick, warm, military cloak.

747. This is said to intimate the retired life which Lucretia led.

749. You will certainly be conquered at last; you hold out against better (i.e. braver) men. Dum pugnant Danai dum restat barbarus Hector, Propert, III. 7, 31. Nunc paucis plures vix restatis. Liv. xxiii. 45.

755. Intenta, drawn. Most MSS. read incepta.

765. Et quod, etc. Her modesty. Tum forma, tum spectata castitas incitat. Livy.

785. aerata, covered with brass.

787. Hostis ut hospes. This play on words was not disdained even by Livy, who puts it in the mouth of Lucretia herself.

788. He was second cousin to Collatinus.

807. Compare v. 809. Pro crimine, as a means of criminating you.

808. Adulter, scil. Sextus himself.

825. Hoc, scil. that I am obliged to relate my own disgrace. How infinitely superior is Livy here. It is probable that he kept much closer to Ennius than Ovid chose to do.

833. Euripides (Hec. 568,) says of Polyxena [Greek: hae de kai thnaeskous omos Pollaen pronoian eichen euschaemos pesein].

837. Brutus signifies stupid, foolish. Niebuhr shews well the inconsistencies and contradictions in the whole history of Brutus.

845. Ad verba. Eight MSS. read adversa.—Sine lumine, as being now sunk in death.

846. Concussa coma. Gierig thinks this is an allusion to the Jupiter of Homer, and condemns it; most justly, no doubt, if it is such, but of that I am by no means certain.

847. Fertur scil. effertur_.

848. Tears for her own hard fate; hatred (invidia, odium) of the tyrant.

853. Columella, xi. 2, says, that the, swallow is seen on the VII. Kal. Mart, Pliny, II. 47, says, Favonium quidam a. d. viii. Kal. Mart. Chelidoniam vacant ab hirundinis visu.—Veris praenuntia [Greek: haeros angelos imerophonos aaedon]. Sappho.

854. Qua scil. parte.

855. For Progne and Tereus, see Met. vi. 425, et seq. Mythology, p. 341.

857. The Equiria or horseraces on the Campus Martius, in honour of Mars, were held on the III. Kal. Mart.

861. Your month (tua tempora) demands a place in my poem.

864. Mihi. Five MSS. read mea.