LIBER III.

Bellice, depositis clypeo paullisper et hasta, Mars, ades, et nitidas casside solve comas. Forsitan ipse roges, quid sit cum Marte poetae. A te, qui canitur, nomina mensis habet. Ipse vides manibus peragi fera bella Minervae; 5 Num minus ingenuis artibus illa vacat? Palladis exemplo ponendae tempora sume Cuspidis; invenies et quod inermis agas. Tum quoque inermis eras, quum te Romana sacerdos Cepit, ut huic urbi semina digna dares. 10 Silvia Vestalis—quid enim vetat inde moveri?— Sacra lavaturas mane petebat aquas. Ventum erat ad molli declivem tramite ripam: Ponitur e summa fictilis urna coma. Fessa resedit humi, ventosque accepit aperto 15 Pectore, turbatas restituitque comas. Dum sedet, umbrosae salices volucresque canorae? Fecerunt somnos, et leve murmur aquae. Blanda quies victis furtim subrepit ocellis, Et cadit a mento languida facta manus. 20 Mars videt hanc, visamque cupit, potiturque cupitam, Et sua divina furta fefellit ope. Somnus abit: jacet illa gravis. Jam scilicet intra Viscera, Romanae conditor urbis, eras. Languida consurgit, nec scit, cur languida surgat, 25 Et peragit tales arbore nixa sonos: Utile sit faustumque, precor, quod imagine somni Vidimus! An somno clarius illud erat? Ignibus Iliacis aderam, quum lapsa capillis Decidit ante sacros lanea vitta focos. 30 Inde duae pariter—visu mirabile—palmae Surgunt. Ex illis altera major erat, Et gravibus ramis totum protexerat orbem, Contigeratque nova sidera summa coma. Ecce meus ferrum patruus molitur in illas! 35 Terreor admonitu, corque timore micat. Martia picus avis gemino pro stipite pugnant Et lupa. Tuta per hos utraque palma fuit. Dixerat: et plenam non firmis viribus urnam Sustulit.—Implerat, dum sua visa refert.— 40 Interea crescente Remo, crescente Quirino, Coelesti tumidus pondere venter erat. Quo minus emeritis exiret cursibus annus, Restabant nitido jam duo signa deo: Silvia fit mater. Vestae simulacra feruntur 45 Virgineas oculis opposuisse manus. Ara deae certe tremuit, pariente ministra, Et subiit cineres territa flamma suos. Haec ubi cognovit contemptor Amulius aequi, —Nam raptas fratri victor habebat opes— 50 Amne jubet mergi geminos. Scelus unda refugit: In sicca pueri destituuntur humo. Lacte quis infantes nescit crevisse ferino, Et picum expositis saepe tulisse cibos? Non ego te, tantae nutrix Larentia gentis, 55 Nec taceam vestras, Faustule pauper, opes. Vester honos veniet, quum Larentalia dicam: Acceptus Geniis illa December habet. Martia ter senos proles adoleverat annos, Et suberat flavae jam nova barba comae: 60 Omnibus agricolis armentorumque magistris Iliadae fratres jura petita dabant. Saepe domum veniunt praedonum sanguine laeti, Et redigunt actos in sua rura boves. Ut genus audierunt, animos pater editus auget, 65 Et pudet in paucis nomen habere casis: Romuleoque cadit trajectus Amulius ense, Regnaque longaevo restituuntur avo. Moenia conduntur, quae, quamvis parva fuerunt, Non tamen expediit transiluisse Remo. 70 Jam, modo qua fuerant silvae pecorumque recessus, Urbs erat, aeternae quum pater urbis ait: Arbiter armorum, de cujus sanguine natus Credor, et ut credar, pignora certa dabo, A te principium Romano ducimus anno: 75 Primus de patrio nomine mensis eat. Vox rata fit, patrioque vocat de nomine mensem. Dicitur haec pietas grata fuisse deo. Et tamen ante omnes Martem coluere priores; Hoc dederat studiis bellica turba suis; 80 Pallada Cecropidae, Minoia Creta Dianam, Vulcanum tellus Hypsipylea colit: Junonem Sparte Pelopeïadesque Mycenae: Pinigerum Fauni Maenalis ora caput. Mars Latio venerandus erat, quia praesidet armis. 85 Arma ferae genti remque decusque dabant. Quod si forte vacas, peregrinos inspice fastos: Mensis in his etiam nomine Martis erit. Tertius Albanis, quintus fuit ille Faliscis: Sextus apud populos, Hernica terra, tuos. 90 Inter Aricinos Albanaque tempora constant Factaque Telegoni moenia celsa manu. Quintum Laurentes, bis quintum Aequicolus asper, A tribus hunc primum turba Curensis habet. Et tibi cum proavis, miles Peligne, Sabinis 95 Convenit: hic genti quartus utrique deus. Romulus, hos omnes ut vinceret ordine saltem, Sanguinis auctori tempora prima dedit. Nec totidem veteres, quot nunc, habuere Kalendas, Ille minor geminis mensibus annus erat. 100 Nondum tradiderat victas victoribus artes Graecia, facundum, sed male forte genus. Qui bene pugnabat, Romanam noverat artem; Mittere qui poterat pila, disertus erat. Quis tunc aut Hyadas, aut Pliadas Atlanteas 105 Senserat, aut geminos esse sub axe polos? Esse duas Arctos, quarum Cynosura petatur Sidoniis, Helicen Graja carina notet? Signaque, quae longo frater percenseat anno, Ire per haec uno inense sororis equos? 110 Libera currebant, et inobservata per annum Sidera: constabat sed tamen esse deos. Non illi coelo labentia signa movebant, Sed sua: quae magnum perdere crimen erat. Illa quidem feno; sed erat reverentia feno, 115 Quantam nunc aquilas cernis habere tuas. Pertica suspensos portabat longa maniplos: Unde maniplaris nomina miles habet. Ergo animi indociles et adhuc ratione carentes Mensibus egerunt lustra minora decem. 120 Annus erat, decimum quum luna repleverat orbem. Hic numerus magno tunc in honore fuit; Seu quia tot digiti, per quos numerare solemus: Seu quia bis quino femina mense parit: Seu quod adusque decem numero crescente venitur; 125 Principium spatiis sumitur inde novis. Inde pares centum denos secrevit in orbes Romulus, Hastatos instituitque decem; Et totidem Princeps, totidem Pilanus habebat Corpora, legitimo quique merebat equo. 130 Quin etiam paries totidem Titiensibus idem, Quosque vocant Ramnes, Luceribusque dedit. Assuetos igitur numeros servavit in anno. Hoc luget spatio femina maesta virum. Neu dubites, primae fuerint quin ante Kalendae 135 Martis, ad haec animum signa referre potes, Laurea Flaminibus, quae toto perstitit anno, Tollitur, et frondes sunt in honore novae. Janua nunc Regis posita viret arbore Phoebi: Ante tuas fit idem, Curia Prisca, fores. 140 Vesta quoque ut folio niteat velata recenti, Cedit ab Iliacis laurea cana focis. Adde, quod arcana fieri novus ignis in aede Dicitur, et vires flamma refecta capit. Nec mihi parva fides, annos hinc isse priores, 145 Anna quod hoc coepta est mense Perenna coli. Hinc etiam veteres initi memorantur honores Ad spatium belli, perfide Poene, tui. Denique quintus ab hoc fuerat Quintilis, et inde Incipit, a numero nomina quisquis habet. 150 Primus oliviferis Romam deductus ab arvis Pompilius menses sensit abesse duos: Sive hoc a Samio doctus, qui posse renasci Nos putat, Egeria sive monente sua. Sed tamen errabant etiam tunc tempora, donec 155 Caesaris in multis haec quoque cura fuit. Non haec ille deus, tantaeque propaginis auctor, Credidit officiis esse minora suis, Promissumque sibi voluit praenoscere coelum, Nec deus ignotas hospes inire domos, 160 Ille moras solis, quibus in sua signa rediret, Traditur exactis disposuisse notis. Is decies senos tercentum et quinque diebus Junxit, et e pleno tempora quarta die. Hic anni modus est. In lustrum accedere debet, 165 Quae consummatur partibus, una dies.

Si licet occultus monitus audire deorum Vatibus, ut certe fama licere putat, Quum sis officiis, Gradive, virilibus aptus, Dic mihi, matronae cur tua festa colant. 170 Sic ego. Sic posita dixit mihi casside Mavors; Sed tamen in dextra missilis hasta fuit: Nunc primum studiis pacis deus utilis armis Advocor, et gressus in nova castra fero. Nec piget incepti; juvat hac quoque parte morari, 175 Hoc solam ne se posse Minerva putet. Disce, Latinorum vates operose dierum, Quod petis, et memori pectore dicta nota. Parva fuit, si prima velis elementa referre, Roma: sed in parva spes tamen hujus erat. 180 Moenia jam stabant, populis angusta futuris, Credita sed turbae tunc nimis ampla suae. Quae fuerit nostri, si quaeris, regia nati, Adspice de canna straminibusque domum. In stipula placidi carpebat munera somni, 185 Et tamen ex illo venit in astro toro. Jamque loco majus nomen Romanus habebat, Nec conjux illi, nec socer ullus erat. Spernebant generos inopes vicinia dives, Et male credebar sanguinis auctor ego. 190 In stabulis habitasse, boves pavisse, nocebat, Jugeraque inculti pauca tenere soli. Cum pare quaeque suo coëunt volucresque feraeque, Atque aliquam, de qua procreet, anguis habet. Extremis dantur connubia gentibus: at, quae 195 Romano vellet nubere, nulla fuit. Indolui, patriamque dedi tibi, Romule, mentem. Tolle preces, dixi: quod petis, arma dabunt. Festa para Conso.—Consus tibi cetera dicet Illo facta die, quum sua sacra canes.— 200 Intumuere Cures, et quos dolor attigit idem, Tum primum generis intulit arma socer. Jamque fere raptae matrum quoque nomen habebant, Tractaque erant longa bella propinqua mora, Conveniunt nuptae dictam Junonis in aedem, 205 Quas inter mea sic est nurus orsa loqui: O pariter raptae,—quoniam hoc commune tenemus— Non ultra lente possumus esse piae. Stant acies: sed utra dî sint pro parte rogandi, Eligite; hinc conjux, hinc pater arma tenent, 210 Quaerendum, viduae fieri malimus an orbae. Consilium vobis forte piumque dabo. Consilium dederat: parent, crinemque resolvunt, Maestaque funerea corpora veste tegunt. Jam stabant acies ferro mortique paratae: 215 Jam lituus pugnae signa daturus erat: Quum raptae veniunt inter patresque virosque, Inque sinu natos, pignora cara, ferunt. Ut medium campi passis tetigere capillis, In terram posito procubuere genu; 220 Et, quasi sentirent, blando clamore nepotes Tendebant ad avos brachia parva suos. Qui poterat, clamabat avum tum denique visum, Et qui vix poterat, posse coactus erat. Tela viris animique cadunt, gladiisque remotis 225 Dant soceri generis accipiuntque manus; Laudatasque tenent natas, scutoque nepotem Fert avus: hic scuti dulcior usus erat. Inde diem, quae prima, meas celebrare Kalendas Oebalides matres non leve munus habent. 230 An, quia committi strictis mucronibus ausae Finierant lacrimis Martia bella suis? Vel, quod erat de me feliciter Ilia mater, Rite colunt matres sacra diemque meum? Quid? quod hiems adoperta gelu nunc denique cedit, 235 Et pereunt victae sole tepente nives; Arboribus redeunt detonsae frigore frondes, Vividaque e tenero palmite gemma tumet; Quaeque diu latuit, nunc, se qua tollat in auras, Fertilis occultas invenit herba vias. 240 Nunc fecundus ager: pecoris nunc hora creandi: Nunc avis in ramo tecta laremque parat. Tempora jure colunt Latiae fecunda parentes, Quarum militiam votaque partus habet. Adde, quod, excubias ubi rex Romanus agebat, 245 —Qui nunc Esquilias nomina collis habet— Illic a nuribus Junoni templa Latinis Hac sunt, si memini, publica facta die. Quid moror, et variis onero tua pectora causis? Eminet ante oculos, quod petis, ecce tuos. 250 Mater amat nuptas: matrum me turba frequentant. Haec nos praecipue tam pia causa decet. Ferte deae flores: gaudet florentibus herbis Haec dea: de tenero cingite flore caput. Dicite, Tu lucem nobis, Lucina, dedisti; 255 Dicite, Tu voto parturientis ades. Si qua tamen gravida est, resoluto crine precetur, Ut solvat partus molliter illa suos.

Quis mihi nunc dicet, quare coelestia Martis Arma ferant Salii, Mamuriumque canant? 260 Nympha, mone, nemori stagnoque operata Dianae: Nympha, Numae conjux, ad tua facta veni. Vallis Aricinae silva praecinctus opaca Est lacus antiqua religione sacer. Hic latet Hippolytus furiis distractus equorum: 265 Unde nemus nullis illud initur equis. Licia dependent longas velantia sepes, Et posita est meritae multa tabella deae. Saepe potens voti, frontem redimita coronis, Femina lucentes portat ab urbe faces. 270 Regna tenent fortesque manu, pedibusque fugaces; Et perit exemplo postmodo quisque suo. Defluit incerto lapidosus murmure rivus: Saepe, sed exiguis haustibus, inde bibi. Egeria est, quae praebet aquas, dea grata Camenis. 275 Illa Numae conjux consiliumque fuit. Principio nimium promptos ad bella Quirites Molliri placuit jure deûmque metu. Inde datae leges, ne firmior omnia posset, Coeptaque sunt pure tradita sacra coli. 280 Exuitur feritas, armisque potentius aequum est, Et cum cive pudet conseruisse manus. Atque aliquis, modo trux, visa jam vertitur ara, Vinaque dat tepidis salsaque farra focis. Ecce deûm genitor rutilas per nubila flammas 285 Spargit, et effusis aethera siccat aquis. Non alias missi cecidere frequentius ignes. Rex pavet, et vulgi pectora terror habet. Cui dea, Ne nimium terrere! piabile fulmen Est, ait, et saevi flectitur ira Jovis. 290 Sed poterunt ritum Picus Faunusque piandi Prodere, Romani numen uterque soli. Nec sine vi tradent; adhibeto vincula captis! Atque ita, qua possint, erudit, arte capi. Lucus Aventino suberat niger ilicis umbra, 295 Quo posses viso dicere, numen inest. In medio gramen, muscoque adoperta virenti Manabat saxo vena perennis aquae. Inde fere soli Faunus Picusque bibebant. Huc venit, et Fonti rex Numa mactat ovem, 300 Plenaque odorati dîs ponit pocula Bacchi, Cumque suis antro conditus ipse latet. Ad solitos veniunt silvestria numina fontes, Et relevant multo pectora sicca mero. Vina quies sequitur: gelido Numa prodit ab antro, 305 Vinclaque sopitas addit in arcta manus. Somnus ut abscessit, tentando vincula pugnant Rumpere: pugnantes fortius illa tenent. Tum Numa, Di nemorum, factis ignoscite nostris, Si scelus ingenio scitis abesse meo; 310 Quoque modo possit fulmen, monstrate, piari. Sic Numa. Sic quatiens cornua Faunus ait: Magna petis, nec quae monitu tibi discere nostro Fas sit. Habent fines numina nostra suos. Di sumus agrestes, et qui dominemur in altis 315 Montibus. Arbitrium est in sua tela Jovi. Hunc tu non poteris per te deducere coelo: At poteris nostra forsitan usus ope. Dixerat haec Faunus: par est sententia Pici. Deme tamen nobis vincula, Picus ait. 320 Jupiter huc veniet summa deductus ab arce. Nubila promissi Styx mihi testis erit. Emissi quid agant laqueis, quae carmina dicant, Quaque trahant superis sedibus arte Jovem, Scire nefas homini. Nobis concessa canentur, 325 Quaeque pio dici vatis ab ore licet. Eliciunt caelo te, Jupiter; unde minores Nunc quoque te celebrant, Eliciumque vocant. Constat Aventinae tremuisse cacumina silvae, Terraque subsedit pondere pressa Jovis. 330 Corda micant regis, totoque e pectore sanguis Fugit, et hirsutae diriguere comae. Ut rediit animus, Da certa piamina, dixit, Fulminis, altorum rexque paterque deum, Si tua contigimus manibus donaria puris, 335 Hoc quoque, quod petitur, si pia lingua rogat. Annuit oranti: sed verum ambage remota Abdidit, et dubio terruit ore virum. Caede caput, dixit. Cui rex, Parebimus, inquit: Caedenda est hortis eruta cepa meis. 340 Addidit hic, Hominis. Summos, ait ille, capillos. Postulat hic animam. Cui Numa, Piscis, ait. Risit, et, His, inquit, facito mea tela procures, O vir colloquio non abigende deum! Sed tibi, protulerit quum totum crastinus orbem 345 Cynthius, imperii pignora certa dabo. Dixit, et ingenti tonitru super aethera motum Fertur, adorantem destituitque Numam. Ille redit laetus, memoratque Quiritibus acta. Tarda venit dictis difficilisque fides. 350 At certe credemur, ait, si verba sequatur Exitus. En, audi crastina, quisquis ades. Protulerit terris quum totum Cynthius orbem, Jupiter imperii pignora certa dabit. Discedunt dubii, promissaque tarda videntur, 355 Dependetque fides a veniente die. Mollis erat tellus rorataque mane pruina; Ante sui populus limina regis adest. Prodit et in solio medius consedit acerno. Innumeri circa stantque silentque viri. 360 Ortus erat summo tantummodo margine Phoebus: Sollicitae mentes speque metuque pavent. Constitit, atque caput niveo velatus amictu Jam bene dîs notas sustulit ille manus. Atque ita, Tempus adest promissi muneris, inquit, 365 Pollicitam dictis, Jupiter, adde fidem. Dum loquitur, totum jam sol evolverat orbem, Et gravis aetherio venit ab axe fragor. Ter tonuit sine nube deus, tria fulgura misit. Credite dicenti; mira, sed acta, loquor. 370 A media coelum regione dehiscere coepit: Submisere oculos cum duce turba suo. Ecce levi scutum versatum leniter aura Decidit. A populo clamor ad astra venit. Tollit humo munus caesa prius ille juvenca, 375 Quae dederat nulli colla premenda jugo; Idque ancile vocat, quod ab omni parte recisum est, Quaque notes oculis angulus omnis abest. Tum, memor imperii sortem consistere in illo, Consilium multae calliditatis init. 380 Plura jubet fieri simili caelata figura, Error ut ante oculos insidiantes eat. Mamurius, morum fabraene exactior artis, Difficile est ulli dicere, clausit opus. Cui Numa munificus, Facti pete praemia, dixit: 385 Si mea nota fides, irrita nulla petes. Jam dederat Saliis—a saltu nomina ducunt— Armaque, et ad certos verba canenda modos. Tum sic Mamurius, Merces mihi gloria detur, Nominaque extreme carmine nostra sonent. 390 Inde sacerdotes operi promissa vetusto Praemia persolvunt, Mamuriumque vocant. Nubere si qua voles, quamvis properabitis ambo, Differ: habent parvae commoda magna morae. Arma movent pugnam, pugna est aliena maritis. 395 Condita quum fuerint, aptius omen erit. His etiam conjux apicati cincta Dialis Lucibus impexas debet habere comas.

Tertia nox emersa suos ubi moverit ignes, Conditus e geminis Piscibus alter erit. 400 Nam duo sunt: Austris hic est, Aquilonibus ille Proximus; a vento nomen uterque tenet.

Quum croceis rorare genis Tithonia conjux Coeperit, et quintae tempora lucis aget; Sive est Arctophylax, sive est piger ille Bootes, 405 Mergetur, visus effugietque tuos. At non effugiet Vindemitor. Hoc quoque causam Unde trahat sidus, parva docere mora est. Ampelon intonsum Satyris Nymphaque creatum Fertur in Ismariis Bacchus amasse jugis. 410 Tradidit huic vitem pendentem ex frondibus ulmi, Quae nunc de pueri nomine nomen habet, Dum legit in ramo pictas temerarius uvas, Decidit: amissum Liber in astra vehit.

Sextus ubi Oceano clivosum scandit Olympian 415 Phoebus, et alatis aethera carpit equis; Quisquis ades, canaeque colis penetralia Vestae, Cratera Iliacis turaque pone focis. Caesaris innumeris, quem maluit ille mereri, Accessit titulis Pontificalis honos. 420 Ignibus aeternis aeterni numina praesunt Caesaris. Imperii pignora juncta vides. De veteris Troiae dignissima praeda favilla, Qua gravis aeneas tutus ab hoste fuit; Ortus ab aenea tangit cognata sacerdos 425 Numina; cognatum, Vesta, tuere caput. Quos sancta fovet ille manu, bene vivitis ignes. Vivite inexstincti, flammaque, duxque! precor. Una nota est Martis Nonis, sacrata quod illis Templa putant lucos Vejovis ante duos. 430 Romulus ut saxo lucum circumdedit alto, Quilibet huc, inquit, confuge, tutus eris. O quam de tenui Romanus origine crevit! Turba vetus quam non invidiosa fuit! Ne tamen ignaro novitas tibi nominis obstet, 435 Disce, quis iste deus, curve vocetur ita. Jupiter est juvenis: juveniles adspice vultus. Adspice deinde manum, fulmina nulla tenet. Fulmina post ausos coelum affectare Gigantas Sumpta Jovi: primo tempore inermis erat. 440 Ignibus Ossa novis, et Pelion altior Ossa Arsit, et in solida fixus Olympus humo. Stat quoque capra simul: Nymphae pavisse feruntur Cretides: infanti lac dedit Jovi. Nunc vocor ad nomen. Vegrandia farra colonae, 445 Quae male creveruut, vescaque parva vocant. Vis ea si verbi est, cur non ego Vejovis aedem, aedem non magni suspicer esse Jovis? Jamque, ubi caeruleum variabunt sidera coelum, Suspice; Gorgonei colla videbis equi. 450 Creditur hic caesae gravida cervice Medusae Sanguine respersis prosiluisse jubis. Huic supra nubes et subter sidera lapso Coelum pro terra, pro pede penna fuit. Jamque indignanti nova frena receperat ore, 455 Quum levis Aonias ungula fodit aquas. Nunc fruitur coelo, quod pennis ante petebat, Et nitidus stellis quinque decemque micat.

Protinus adspicies venienti nocte Coronam Gnosida. Theseo crimine facta dea est. 460 Jam bene perjuro mutarat conjuge Bacchum, Quae dedit ingrato fila legenda viro. Sorte tori gaudens, Quid flebam rustica? dixit, Utiliter nobis perfidus ille fuit. Interea Liber depexus crinibus Indos 465 Vincit, et Eoo dives ab orbe redit. Inter captivas facie praestante puellas Grata nimis Baccho filia regis erat. Flebat amans conjux, spatiataque litore curvo Edidit incultis talia verba comis: 470 En iterum similes, fluctus, audite querelas! En iterum lacrimas accipe, arena, meas! Dicebam, memini, perjure et perfide Theseu! Ille abiit: eadem crimina Bacchus habet. Nunc quoque, nulla viro, clamabo, femina credat. 475 Nomine mutato causa relata mea est. O utinam mea sors, qua primum coeperat, isset! Jamque ego praesenti tempore nulla forem! Quid me desertis perituram, Liber, arenis Servabas? potui dedoluisse semel. 480 Bacche levis, leviorque tuis, quae tempora cingunt, Frondibus, in lacrimas cognite Bacche meas, Ausus es ante oculos adducta pellice nostros Tam bene compositum sollicitare torum. Heu! ubi pacta fides? ubi, quae jurare solebas? 485 Me miseram! quoties haec ego verba loquor! Thesea culpabas, fallacemque ipse vocabas: Judicio peccas turpius ipse tuo. Ne sciat hoc quisquam, tacitisque doloribus urar! Ne toties falli digna fuisse puter! 490 Praecipue cupiam celari Thesea, ne te Consortem culpae gaudeat esse suae. At, puto, praeposita est fuscae mihi candida pellex. Eveniat nostris hostibus ille color! Quid tamen hoc refert? vitio tibi gratior ipso est. 495 Quid facis? amplexus inquinat illa tuos. Bacche, fidem praesta, nec praefer amoribus ullam Conjugis assuetae semper amare virum. Ceperunt matrem formosi cornua tauri; Me tua: me laudant, ille pudendus amor. 500 Ne noceat quod amo! neque enim tibi, Bacche, nocebat, Quod flammas nobis fassus es ipse tuas; Nec, quod nos uris, mirum facis; ortus in igne Diceris, et patria raptus ab igne manu. Illa ego sum, cui tu solitus promittere coelum. 505 Hei mihi, pro coelo qualia dona fero! Dixerat: audibat jamdudum verba querentis Liber, ut a tergo forte secutus erat. Occupat amplexu, lacrimasque per oscula siccat: Et, Pariter coeli summa petamus, ait. 510 Tu mihi juncta toro mihi juncta vocabula sumes; Jam tibi mutatae Libera nomen erit; Sintque tuae tecum faciam monumenta coronae, Vulcanus Veneri quam dedit, illa tibi. Dicta facit, gemmasque novem transformat in ignes. 515 Aurea per stellas nunc micat illa novem.

Sex ubi sustulerit, totidem demerserit orbes, Purpureum rapido qui vehit axe diem; Altera gramineo spectabis Equiria campo, Quem Tiberis curvis in latus urget aquis. 520 Qui tamen ejecta si forte tenebitur unda, Coelius accipiat pulverulentus equos.

Idibus est Annae festum geniale Perennse, Haud procul a ripis, advena Tibri, tuis. Plebs venit, ac virides passim disjecta per herbas 525 Potat, et accumbit cum pare quisque sua. Sub Jove pars durat: pauci tentoria ponunt: Sunt, quibus e ramis frondea facta casa est: Pars ibi pro rigidis calamos statuere columnis, Desuper extentas imposuere togas. 530 Sole tamen vinoque calent, annosque precantur, Quot sumant cyathos, ad numerumque bibunt. Invenies illic, qui Nestoris ebibat annos: Quae sit per calices facta Sibylla suos. Illic et cantant, quiquid didicere theatris, 535 Et jactant faciles ad sua verba manus: Et ducunt posito duras cratere choreas, Cultaque diffusis saltat amica comis. Quum redeunt, titubant, et sunt spectacula vulgo, Et fortunatos obvia turba vocat. 540 Occurri nuper. Visa est mihi digna relatu Pompa: senem potum pota trahebat anus. Quae tamen haec Dea sit,—quoniam rumoribus errat— Fabula proposito nulla tacenda meo. Arserat Aeneae Dido miserabilis igne: 545 Arserat exstructis in sua fata rogis: Compositusque cinis, tumulique in marmore carmen Hoc breve, quod moriens ipsa reliquit, erat: Praebuit aeneas et causam mortis et ensem: Ipsa sua Dido concidit usa manu. 550 Protinus invadunt Numidae sine vindice regnum, Et potitur capta Maurus Iarba domo; Seque memor spretum, Thalamis tamen, inquit, Elissae En ego, quem toties reppulit illa, fruor! Diffugiunt Tyrii, quo quemque agit error, ut olim 555 Amisso dubiae rege vagantur apes. Tertia nudandas acceperat area messes, Inque cavos ierant tertia musta lacus; Pellitur Anna domo, lacrimansque sororia linquit Moenia: germanae justa dat ante suae. 560 Mixta bibunt molles lacrimis unguenta favillae, Vertice libatas accipiuntque comas; Terque, Vale, dixit: cineres ter ad ora relatos Pressit, et est illis visa subesse soror. Nacta ratem comitemque fugae pede labitur sequo, 565 Moenia respiciens, dulce sororis opus. Fertilis est Melite sterili vicina Cosyrae Insula, quam Libyci verberat unda freti. Hanc petit hospitio regis confisa vetusto; Hospes opum dives rex ibi Battus erat. 570 Qui postquam didicit casus utriusque sororis, Haec, inquit, tellus quantulacumque tua est. Et tamen hospitii servasset ad ultima munus, Sed timuit magnas Pygmalionis opes. Signa recensuerat his sol sua: tertius ibat 575 Annus, et exsulibus terra petenda nova est. Frater adest belloque petit, rex arma perosus, Nos sumus imbelles, tu fuge sospes, ait. Jussa fugit, ventoque ratem committit et undis. Asperior quovis aequore frater erat. 580 Est prope piscosos lapidosi Crathidis amnes Parvus ager: Cameren incola turba vocat. Illuc cursus erat; nec longius abfuit inde, Quam quantum novies mittere funda potest. Vela cadunt primo, et dubia librantur ab aura. 585 Findite remigio, navita dixit, aquas. Dumque parant torto subducere carbasa lino, Percutitur rapido puppis adunca Noto, Inque patens aequor, frustra pugnante magistro, Fertur, et ex oculis visa refugit humus. 590 Assiliunt fluctus, imoque a gurgite pontus Vertitur, et canas alveus haurit aquas. Vincitur ars vento, nec jam moderator habenis Utitur, at votis is quoque poscit opem. Jactatur tumidas exsul Phoenissa per undas, 595 Humidaque opposita lumina veste tegit. Tum primum Dido felix est dicta sorori, Et quaecumque aliquam corpore pressit humum. Figitur ad Laurens ingenti flamine litus Puppis, et expositis omnibus hausta perit. 600 Jam pius aeneas regno nataque Latini Auctus erat, populos miscueratque duos. Litore dotali solo comitatus Achate Secretum nudo dum pede carpit iter, Adspicit errantem, nec credere sustinet Annam 605 Esse. Quid in Latios illa veniret agros? Dum secum aeneas, Anna est! exclamat Achates. Ad nomen vultus sustulit illa suos. Quo fugiat? quid agat? quos terrae quaerat hiatus? Ante oculos miserae fata sororis erant. 610 Sensit et alloquitur trepidam Cythereius heros: Flet tamen admonitu mortis, Elissa, tuae. Anna, per hanc juro, quam quondam audire solebas Tellurem fato prosperiore dari; Perque deos comites, hac nuper sede locatos, 615 Saepe meas illos increpuisse moras. Nec timui de morte tamen: metus abfuit iste. Hei mihi! credibili fortior illa fuit. Ne refer. Adspexi non illo pectore digna Vulnera, Tartareas ausus adire domos. 620 At tu, seu ratio te nostris appulit oris, Sive deus, regni commoda carpe mei. Multa tibi memores, nil non debemus Elissae. Nomine grata tuo, grata sororis, eris. Talia dicenti—neque enim spes altera restat— 625 Credidit, errores exposuitque suos. Utque domum intravit Tyrios induta paratus, Incipit Aeneas:—cetera turba silet— Hanc tibi cur tradam, pia causa, Lavinia conjux, Est mihi: consumpsi naufragus hujus opes. 630 Orta Tyro regnum Libyca possedit in ora: Quam precor ut carae more sororis ames. Omnia promittit, falsumque Lavinia vulnus Mente premit tacita, dissimulatque fremens; Donaque quum videat praeter sua lumina ferri 635 Multa palam, mitti clam quoque multa putat. Non tamen exactum, quid agat. Furialiter odit, Et parat insidias, et cupit ulta mori. Nox erat: ante torum visa est adstare sororis Squalenti Dido sanguinolenta coma, 640 Et, Fuge, ne dubita, maestum fuge, dicere, tectum, Sub verbum querulas impulit aura fores. Exsilit, et velox humili super arva fenestra Se jacit;—audacem fecerat ipse timor— Quaque metu rapitur tunica velata recincta, 645 Currit, ut auditis territa dama lupis. Corniger hanc cupidis rapuisse Numicius undis Creditur, et stagnis occuluisse suis. Sidonis interea magno clamore per agros Quaeritur. Apparent signa notaeque pedum. 650 Ventum erat ad ripas: inerant vestigia ripis. Sustinuit tacitas conscius amnis aquas. Ipsa loqui visa est, Placidi sum Nympha Numici: Amne perenne latens Anna Perenna vocor. Protinus erratis laeti vescuntur in agris, 655 Et celebrant largo seque diemque mero. Sunt, quibus haec Luna est, quia mensibus impleat annum: Pars Themin, Inachiam pars putat esse bovem. Invenies, qui te Nymphen Atlantida dicant, Teque Jovi primes, Anna, dedisse cibos. 660 Haec quoque, quam referam, nostras pervenit ad aures Fama, nec a vera dissidet illa fide. Plebs vetus, et nullis etiam tune tuta Tribunis, Fugit, et in sacri vertice mentis abit. Jam quoque, quem secum tulerant, defecerat illos 665 Victus et humanis usibus apta Ceres. Orta suburbanis quaedam fuit Anna Bovillis Pauper, sed multae sedulitatis, anus. Illa levi mitra canos redimita capillos Fingebat tremula rustica liba manu. 670 Atque ita per populum fumantia mane solebat Dividere. Haec populo copia grata fuit. Pace domi facta signum posuere Perennae, Quod sibi defectis illa tulisset opem. Nunc mihi, cur cantent, superest, obscena puellae, 675 Dicere: nam coëunt certaque probra canunt. Nuper erat dea facta; venit Gradivus ad Annam, Et cum seducta talia verba facit: Mense meo coleris: junxi mea tempora tecum: Pendet ab officio spes mihi magna tuo. 680 Armifer armiferae correptus amore Minervae Uror, et hoc longo tempore vulnus alo. Effice, dî studio similes coëamus in unum. Conveniunt partes hae tibi, comis anus. Dixerat: illa deum promisso ludit inani, 685 Et stultam dubia spem trahit usque mora. Saepius instanti, Mandata peregimus, inquit: Evicta est precibus: vix dedit illa manus. Gaudet amans thalamosque parat. Deducitur illuc Anna tegens vultus, ut nova nupta, suos. 690 Oscula sumpturus subito Mars adspicit Annam; Nunc pudor elusum, nunc subit ira, deum. Ridet amatorem carae nova diva Minervae; Nec res hac Veneri gratior ulla fuit. Inde joci veteres obscenaque dicta canuntur, 695 Et juvat hanc magno verba dedisse deo. Praeteriturus eram gladios in principe fixos, Quum sic a castis Vesta locuta focis: Ne dubita meminisse: meus fuit ille sacerdos. Sacrilegae telis me petiere manus. 700 Ipsa virum rapui, simulacraque nuda reliqui; Quae cecidit ferro, Caesaris umbra fuit. Ille quidem coelo positus Jovis atria vidit, Et tenet in magno templa dicata foro. At quicumque nefas ausi, prohibente deorum 705 Numine, polluerant Pontificale caput, Morte jacent merita. Testes estote Philippi, Et quorum sparsis ossibus albet humus. Hoc opus, haec pietas, haec prima elementa fuerunt Caesaris, ulcisci justa per arma patrem. 710

Postera quum teneras Aurora refecerit herbas, Scorpios a prima parte videndus erit.

Tertia post Idus lux est celeberrima Baccho. Bacche, fave vati, dum tua festa cano. Nec referam Semelen; ad quam nisi fulmina secum 715 Jupiter afferret, parvus inermis erat: Nec, puer ut posses maturo tempore nasci, Expletum patrio corpore matris onus. Sithonas et Scythicos longum est narrare triumphos, Et domitas gentes, turifer Inde, tuas. 720 Tu quoque Thebanae mala praeda tacebere matris, Inque tuum furiis acte, Lycurge, genu. Ecce libet subitos pisces Tyrrhenaque monstra Dicere; sed non est carminis hujus opus. Carminis hujus opus, causas expromere, quare 725 Vilis anus populos ad sua liba vocet. Ante tuos ortus arae sine honore fuerunt, Liber, et in gelidis herba reperta focis. Te memorant, Gange totoque Oriente subacto, Primitias magno seposuisse Jovi. 730 Cinnama tu primus captivaque tura dedisti, Deque triumphato viscera tosta bove. Nomine ab auctoris ducunt Libamina nomen, Libaque, quod sacris pars datur inde focis. Liba deo fiunt, succis quia dulcibus ille 735 Gaudet, et a Baccho mella reperta ferunt. Ibat arenoso Satyris comitatus ab Hebro: —Non habet ingratos fabula nostra jocos— Jamque erat ad Rhodopen Pangaeaque florida ventum: aeriferae comitum concrepuere manus. 740 Ecce novae coëunt volucres tinnitibus actae, Quaque movent sonitus aera sequuntur apes. Colligit errantes, et in arbore claudit inani Liber: et inventi praemia mellis habet. Ut Satyri levisque senex tetigere saporem, 745 Quaerebant flavos per nemus omne favos, Audit in exesa stridorem examinis ulmo, Adspicit et ceras dissimulatque senex; Utque piger pandi tergo residebat aselli, Applicat hunc ulmo corticibusque cavis. 750 Constitit ipse super ramoso stipite nixus, Atque avide trunco condita mella petit. Millia crabronum coëunt, et vertice nudo Spicula defigunt, oraque summa notant. Ille cadit praeceps, et calce feritur aselli, 755 Inclamatque suos, auxiliumque rogat. Concurrunt Satyri, turgentiaque ora parentis Rident. Percusso claudicat ille genu. Ridet et ipse deus, limumque inducere monstrat. Hic paret monitis et linit ora luto. 760 Melle pater fruitur, liboque infusa calenti Jure repertori candida mella damus. Femina cur praestet, non est rationis opertae. Femineos thyrso concitat ille chores. Cur anus hoc faciat, quaeris. Vinosior aetas 765 Haec est, et gravidae munera vitis amans. Cur hedera cincta est; Hedera est gratissima Baccho. Hoc quoque cur ita sit, dicere nulla mora est. Nysiades Nymphae, puerum quaerente noverca, Hanc frondem cunis opposuere novis. 770 Restat, ut inveniam, quare toga libera detur Lucifero pueris, candide Bacche, tuo; Sive, quod ipse puer semper juvenisque videris, Et media est aetas inter utrumque tibi: Seu, quia tu pater es, patres sua pignora natos 775 Commendant curae numinibusque tuis; Sive, quod es Liber, vestis quoque libera per te Sumitur, et vitae liberioris iter; An quia, quum prisci colerent studiosius agros, Et patrio faceret rure senator opus, 780 Et caperet fasces a curvo consul aratro, Nec crimen duras esset habere manus, Rusticus ad ludos populus veniebat in urbem: Sed dîs, non studiis ille dabatur honos. Luce sua ludos uvae commentor habebat: 785 Quos cum taedifera nunc habet ipse dea. Ergo, ut tironem celebrare frequentia posset, Visa dies dandae non aliena togae. Mite, Pater, caput huc placataque cornua vertas, Et des ingenio vela secunda meo! 790 Itur ad Argeos—qui sint, sua pagina dicet— Hac, si commemini, praeteritaque die. Stella Lycaoniam vergit proclinis ad Arcton Miluus. Haec illa nocte videnda venit. Quid dederit volucri, si vis cognoscere, coelum: 795 Saturnus regnis ab Jove pulsus erat. Concitat iratus validos Titanas in arma, Quaeque fuit fatis debita, poscit opem. Matre satus Terra, monstrum mirabile, taurus Parte sui serpens posteriore fuit. 800 Hunc triplici muro lucis incluserat atris Parcarum monitu Styx violenta trium. Viscera qui tauri flammis adolenda dedisset, Sors erat, aeternos vincere posse deos. Immolat hunc Briareus facta ex adamante securi: 805 Et jam jam flammis exta daturus erat. Jupiter alitibus rapere imperat. Attulit illi Miluus, et meritis venit in astra suis.

Una dies media est, et fiunt sacra Minervae, Nomina quae a junctis quinque diebus habent. 810 Sanguine prima vacat, nec fas concurrene ferro. Causa, quod est illa nata Minerva die. Altera tresque super strata celebrantur arena. Ensibus exsertis bellica laeta dea est. Pallada nunc pueri teneraeque ornate puellae. 815 Qui bene placarit Pallada, doctus erit. Pallade placata, lanam mollite, puellae: Discite jam plenas exonerare colos. Illa etiam stantes radio percurrere telas Erudit, et rarum pectine denset opus. 820 Hanc cole, qui maculas laesis de vestibus aufers: Hanc cole velleribus quisquis ahena paras. Nec quisquam invita faciet bene vincula plantae Pallade, sit Tychio doctior ille licet; Et licet antiquo manibus collatus Epeo 825 Sit prior, irata Pallade mancus erit. Vos quoque, Phoebea morbos qui pellitis arte, Munera de vestris pauca referte deae. Nec vos, turba fere censu fraudata, magistri Spernite; discipulos attrahet illa novos. 830 Quique moves caelum, tabulamque coloribus uris, Quique facis docta mollia saxa manu. Mille dea est operum: certe dea carminis illa est. Si mereor, studiis adsit amica meis. Coelius ex alto qua mons descendit in aequum, 835 Hic ubi non plana est, sed prope plana via est: Parva licet videas Captae delubra Minervae, Quae dea natali coepit habere suo. Nominis in dubio causa est. Capitale vocamus Ingenium sollers: ingeniosa dea est. 840 An, quia de capitis fertur sine matre paterni Vertice cum clypeo prosiluisse suo? An, quia perdomitis ad nos captiva Faliscis Venit? et hoc ipsum littera prisca docet. An, quod habet legem, capitis quae pendere poenas 845 Ex illo jubeat furta reperta loco? A quacumque trahis ratione vocabula, Pallas, Pro ducibus nostris aegida semper habe. Summa dies e quinque tubas lustrare canoras Admonet, et forti sacrificare deae. 850 Nunc potes ad solem sublato dicere vultu: Hic here Phrixeae vellera pressit ovis. Seminibus tostis sceleratae fraude novercae Sustulerat nullas, ut solet, herba comas. Mittitur ad tripodas, certa qui sorte reportet, 855 Quam sterili terrae Delphicus edat opem. Hic quoque corruptus cum semine nuntiat Helles Et juvenis Phrixi funera sorte peti. Usque recusantem cives, et tempus, et Ino Compulerant regem jussa nefanda pati; 860 Et soror, et Phrixus velati tempora vittis Stant simul ante aras junctaque fata gemunt. Adspicit hos, ut forte pependerat aethere mater, Et ferit attonita pectora nuda manu: Inque draconigenam nimbis comitantibus urbem 865 Desilit, et natos eripit inde suos; Utque fugam capiant, aries nitidissimus auro Traditur. Ille vehit per freta longa duos. Dicitur infirma cornu tenuisse sinistra Femina, quum de se nomina fecit aquae. 870 Paene simul periit, dum vult succurrere lapsae, Frater, et extentas porrigit usque manus. Flebat, ut amissa gemini consorte pericli, Caeruleo junctam nescius esse deo. Litoribus tactis aries fit sidus: at hujus 875 Pervenit in Colchas aurea lana domos.

Tres ubi Luciferos veniens praemiserit Eos, Tempora nocturnis aequa diurna feres.

Inde quater pastor saturos ubi clauserit hoedos, Canuerint herbae rore recente quater; 880 Janus adorandus, cumque hoc Concordia mitis, Et Romana Salus, araque Pacis erit. Luna regit menses. Hujus quoque tempora mensis Finit Aventino Luna colenda jugo.

NOTES:

1. As the first book began with the praises of Janus, so here the poet invokes Mars; in the next book we shall find him calling upon Venus.— Depositis, etc. as the poet's occupation is a peaceful one.

3, 4. A question and answer.

5-8. As Minerva, who, especially in the Roman theology, was a deity, who presided over the arts of peace, engaged also in those of war; so Mars might for a time lay aside his arms, and attend to the song of the poet. —Cuspidis. Several MSS. read cassidis. The general sense is the same.

9. He takes occasion here to sing the most celebrated adventure of the Roman god, Mars. It comes with peculiar propriety in this place, as the month had been named after the god by his son, whose birth it relates. For the difference between the Greek Ares and the Roman Mars, see Mythology, p. 79 and 459.—Romana sacerdos. The affair occurred at Alba, and Rome did not yet exist. Heinsius would read Trojana, another critic proposes regina, as in Virgil, aen. I. 227. There is no need of any change; poets did not always attend to accuracies of this kind.

11. Silvia. One MS. reads Ilia, which reading has been adopted by Heinsius.—Moveri scil, carmen, like the cantuxque movete of Virgil.

12. It was the office of the Vestals to draw water, for the purpose of washing and sprinkling the temple, and cleansing the sacred vessels. Servius on aen. vii. 150, says, Vestae libare non nisi de Numicio flumine licebat.

13. Molli, etc. beautifully expresses the gentle descent to the river.

14. Then, as now, women carried their earthen pitchers on their heads. Speaking of Amymone, our poet says, (Am. I. x. 6,) Cum premeret summi verticis urna comas and Propertius of Tarpeia (iv. 4, 16,) at illi Urguebat medium fictilis urna caput.

16. Restituit, settled. Two MSS. which are followed by Heinsius, read composuit; but as Burmann justly observes this supposes leisure, and the use of a mirror, whereas restituit places before us a girl hastily settling up her hair, as we express it.

17, 18. Compare Virg. Ec. I. 55, and Hor. Epod. II. 26.

21. The descent of Mars, as Addison, I believe, first observed, is to be seen represented on ancient Roman coins.—Cupitam. This is the reading of two of the best MSS. and of Diomedes, the grammarian, who quotes this verse: all the other MSS. read cupita. Heinsius, in his note, shews that potior governed the fourth ease, in the best authors, and Priscian (xviii. 23,) says, Omnes auctores, potior illius et illum et illo.

22. Fefellit, concealed.—Divina ope, i. e. by his own power.

26. Sonos, words. Two MSS. read _preces.

27. Utile, etc. The well-known Roman formula, Quod bonum, felix faustumque sit,—Imagine somni, in a dream.

28. An somno, etc. Was it more than a dream, than a mere [Greek: enupnion]?

29. Ig. II. The perpetual fire of Vesta brought from Troy by aeneas. Virg. aen. II. 296.

30. This circumstance was ominous, as the sacred fillet was taken by the Pontifex off the head of a Vestal condemned for breach of vow. Dionysius, when describing the fate of the Vestal, Oppia, or Opimia, says, [Greek: autaen men taes koryphaes aphelomenoi ta stemmata, kai pompeuontes di' agoras, entos teichous zosan katoruxan].

31. Compare the dream of Astyages, portending the birth of Cyrus. Just. I. 4.—Palmae, emblems of victory. It is probably the meaning of the poet that they sprang from the ground, though inde would appear to refer rather to the fillet.

35. Molitur, i.e. vibrat. Virg. G. iv. 331.

36. Admonitu, scil. deorum, the vision.

37. The woodpecker, as well as the wolf, was sacred to Mars. In the old legend, (see v. 54,) the woodpecker also contributed to nourish the exposed babes.

43, 44. A periphrasis for ten months.—Emeritis. Qui merere desiit, having completed his task or service, was called Emeritus.

45. The poet himself informs us, (VI. 295,) that there was no statue in the temple of Vesta. Gierig supposes that he did not know this at the time he wrote this part of the poem. But it is well known that he kept it a long time by him, altering and revising it. I again repeat, that we are not to look for extreme accuracy in the ancient poets. There were statues of Vesta outside of the temple.

46. See below, VI. 614.

48. The sacred flame drew back as it were, and became nearly extinct. Nothing more terrified the Romans than the extinction of the Vestal flame; it was to them a sign, as Dionysius says, [Greek: tou aphanismou taes poleos].

50. Opes, the kingdom. He here gives the reason why Amulius interfered, not that of his calling him contemptor aequi.

51, 52. He had already related this at length, II. 385, et seq.

53, 54. It was the common tradition, it was in the poem of Ennius, which every one knew, and was probably the subject of some of those old ballads about Romulus, which Dionysius says still existed in his time.

55. Larentia, the wife of the shepherd, Faustulus, and nurse of Romulus and Remus. All the MSS. but two read Laurentia.

56. Vestras, scil. tui et Larentiae,—Opes, house, mode of living, etc.; see II. 413, on the aid rendered to the founders of Rome.

57. 58. The Larentalia were in December. The poet did not live to perform his promise; he probably could not write the Fasti away from Rome.— Acceptus geniis. On account of the Saturnalia, when indulgebant genio. See Virg. G. I. 300.

61, 62. This reminds one of the early proofs of his being born to rule, exhibited by Cyrus. It is by no means improbable, that his legend was transferred to Romulus and Remus. That of Paris (Mythology, p. 438,) is somewhat similar, as also that of Habis. See Justin, xliv. 4.

64. Actos, i. e. abactos, by the robbers.

65. Editus, told. Five MSS. read agnitus.

66. Nomen habere, scil. to have their fame confined to a few cottages. —Paucis, most MSS. read purvis.

70. A euphemism, sparing the fame of Romulus.

71. Pecorum. Three MSS. read pecudum, two nemorum, which Burmann prefers.

72. aeternae urbis. So the Romans loved to call their city.

75. He thus returns to the subject in hand.

78. As he shewed by removing Romulus to heaven, and by giving victory and fame in arms to the Romans.

79. The poet now becomes a grammarian, and argues learnedly.—Priores, the Latins.

80. Hoc scil. the worship of Mars. Several MSS. read haec.

81. Minoia, etc. The Cretans worshiped a goddess named Dictynna, who was regarded as being the same as the Artemis of the other Greeks, and the Diana of the Latins. See Mythology, p. 100.

82. Tellus Hyps. Lemnos. The slaughter of the men of Lemnos by their wives, and the saving of Thoas, by his daughter Hypsipyle, is a well known event. When Valean was flung from Olympus, by Jupiter, he fell in Lemnos. Hom. Il. I. 93.

83. See VI. 47. Hom. Il. iv. 51.

84. Maenalis ora, like Ausonis ora, II. 94.

86. Remque decusque, wealth and fame.

87. Peregrinos, i. e. of other Italian peoples, and you will find that they also had a month called after Mars.

91, 92. The people of Aricia and of Tusculum follow the same rule as the Albans, making March the third month. According to Krebs, the construction is, Inter Ar. et Alb. et Teleg. manu facta moenia celsa constant tempora. It is harsh taken any way.

94. First after three months, that is, the fourth.

95, 96. March was the fourth month also to the Pelignians, and their Sabine ancestors. For the best account of all these peoples of ancient Italy, see Niebuhr's Roman History.

97, 98. In reality he only followed the Alban, or rather general Latin calendar, in which March was the third month.

101, 102. Compare Hor. Epist. II. 1, 156. Virg. aen. vi. 850.—Male forte, same as non forte, imbelle.

103, 104. War was the science of the Romans.—Pugnabat. Three MSS. read pugnarat.

105. The Hyades and Pleiades are always spoken of together by the poets, as being near each other in position.—Pliadas Atlanteas. See IV. 169, [Greek: Plaeiadon Atlageneon epitellomenaon]. Hesiod. See Mythology, p. 52 and 418.

106. The Arctic and Antarctic poles.

107, 108. Cynosure ([Greek: kynos oura]) was a name of the Lesser Bear: Helice ([Greek: helikae]) from its revolving round the pole, a name of the Greater Bear. Omnes qui Peloponnesum incolunt priore utuntur Arcto; Phoenices autem, quam a suo inventore (Thalete) acceperunt, observant Cynosuram; et hanc studiosius perspiciendo diligentius navigare existimantur. Hygin. Poët. Astron. II. 2.

111. Libera, as being unobserved, left to themselves, as it were; subjected to no laws.

112. Constabat, &c. Burmann and Gierig take the meaning to be: they believed the stars to be divinities. May it not be: nevertheless, though ignorant of astronomy, they believed in the gods? A stroke at the learned infidelity of the poet's own days, like Gray's, "No very great wit, he believed in a god."

113, 114. A play on words as usual. Movere signa coelestia seems rather harsh, but it is not without example. Numeri movent astra, Lucan, I. 640. Carmina quîs ignes movimus aërios, Cinna in Anthol. Lat. T. I. p. 441. Movebant is the reading of seven MSS. six read notabant; all the rest tenebant.—Quae magnum, etc. See Livy, II. 59. One of the best MSS. reads prodere, which Heinsius and Bentley (on Hor. Ep. I. 67,) prefer.

115, 116. A bundle of hay tied on a pole, is said to have been the standard used by the Romans in their early days.—Tuas, of Germanicus.

118. Maniplaris. The soldiers belonging to one company, that is one manipulus, or standard, were called manipulares.

119-122. See Introduction, § 2.

119. Indociles, untaught. This passive sense is not unusual.— Ratione, science scil. astronomy.

120. The Lustres or periods of five years, were smaller by ten months, two for each year, at that time when there were but ten months in the year. Gierig's note is "Lustra quinquennalia tum nondum condebantur a Romanis." This looks as if he did not understand the passage, though Neapolis had briefly, but clearly explained it.

124. See above, I. 33.

126. Spatiis novis, the decades.

127. Pares. This is the reading of the best MSS. and editions; the greater number of the MSS. read patres. It is difficult to ascertain the meaning of the poet here. Scaliger, Lipsius and Dan. Heinsius think he means the members of the senate, who were equals in age or in property, See Livy I. 8 and 17, and, as Niebuhr has shown, it is highly probable that the Roman senate originally consisted of one hundred members divided into ten decuries. On the other hand Neapolis who is followed by Gierig, understands it of the army, as in each legion the soldiers equal in age and strength, were divided into ten centuries, (centum denos orbes) of each of the three ranks, viz. Hastati, Principes and Pilani or Triarii. The passage is exceedingly obscure, and I cannot satisfy myself respecting it; I however rather incline to the opinion of the first named critics, and the circumstance of patres being the reading of so many MSS. proves that it has generally been so understood. In this case we should place a colon after Romulus, and a comma or semicolon after decem.

130. There were three hundred Equites in each legion, each mounted on a horse supported by the state, hence called legitimus. They were divided into ten turmae or troops.

131, 132. The three divisions of the Roman Patricians: the Ramnes were the original Romans, the Titiensis the Sabines; the origin of the Luceres is a mere conjecture. See Niebuhr's Rom. Hist. Vol. 291—293.

134. See above, I. 35.

136. Signa, proofs or arguments. He goes on with farther proofs of March having been the first month of the ancient Roman year.

137—142. The laurels were changed in the month of March, at the houses of the Flamens, and of the Rex Sacrorum, the temple of Vesta, and the Curia Prisca, by which last, Neapolis understands the four ancient Curiae, (See above II. 527,) which still, as Festus tells us, remained in Rome, the singular being employed for the plural.—Vesta quoque, etc. Does he speak of a statue of Vesta? See above on v. 45. The following passages are of importance. Romani initio annum decem mensibus computabant, a Martio auspicantes; adeo ut ejus die prima de (in?) aris Vestalibus ignem accenderent; mutarent viridibus veteres laureas; Senatus et populus Comitia agerent; matronae servis suis caenas ponerent, sicut Saturnalibus domini: illae ut per honores promptius obsequium provocarent, hi quasi gratiam repensarent perfecti laboris. Solinus, c. 3. Eodem quoque ingrediente mense in regia, curiisque atque Flaminum domibus laureae veteres novis laureis mutabantur, Macrobius, Sat. I.12.

142. Il. focis. See above.

143, 144. Hujus etiam mensis prima die ignem novum Vestae aris accendebant ut, incipiente anno, cura denuo servandi novati ignis inciperet. Macrob. ut supra.—Arcana and Dicitur, because none but the Vestals dare enter the temple.

145, 146. A second proof is, the festival of Anna Perenna being in this month. See below, v. 523, et seq.—Fides, proof, ground of belief.

147, 148. A third argument; previous to the second Punic war, the magistrates, that is, the consuls, as it would appear, used to enter on their offices in March. The poet is not quite correct in this assertion: the Regifugium (see above, II. 685,) was at the end of February; hence, of course, the first consuls entered on their office in March; but A.U.C. 291, the day was the Kal. Sext. A.U.C. 304, the Ides of May, and from A.U.C. 600, the time of the Hannibalian war, the Kal. Jan. It is probable that the poet, knowing that this last change was made A.U.C. 600, inferred from the Regifugium, that previously the consuls had begun to exercise their magistracy in March. There is no proof that he studied the Annals with a critical eye.—Perfide Poene. Hannibal, with the usual Roman calumny of the greatest man of antiquity.

149. A fourth and incontrovertible argument.

151. Oliviferis. The Sabine land was famous for olives. Columella, v. 8, 5. Mutusca, in that country, is called by Virgil (aen. vii. 711,) olivifera.—Deductus, the proper term to denote his being brought with pomp and ceremony to Rome. One MS. reads devectus.

153. Samio, Pythagoras, who was erroneously supposed to have been the instructor of Numa.—Qui posse, etc. a periphrasis of the Metempsychosis, which doctrine he taught. See Met. xv. 157.

154. Egeria. See below, v. 261, et seq.

155. In consequence of the imperfect nature of the Roman year, and the arbitrary manner in which the Pontifices, for party and political purposes, made the intercalations, it had fallen into such sad confusion, that the festivals fell at the wrong parts of the year. Accordingly, Julius Caesar, as Pontifex Maximus, with the aid of M. Flavius and of Sosigenes, made it correspond with the course of the sun, after the manner of the Egyptian year. For this purpose, he had to add no less than sixty-seven days to the year 708. These he inserted between November and December, and, as the intercalary month also fell in this year, it consisted of fifteen months.

157-160. Caesar was not yet a god, but the poet could not let pass an occasion of displaying his wit, and flattering the imperial family.

161. Moras Solis. The time the son spends in the signs of the Zodiac.

162. Exactis, certain.

163-166. The Julian year of 365 days 6 hours; the day, which the hours of four years made, being added at the end of the lustre.—Junxit. Two MSS. read auxit.—Quarta. Many MSS. read quinta.—Consummatur, to complete, to make up of parts. Some MSS. have consumatur, which Heinsius preferred.

167. The poet now begins to inquire of the god why the Matronalia, a festival on which the matrons sacrificed to Juno, and sent presents to each other, and received them from their husbands, should be on the Kalends of the month sacred to the god of war. The deity assigns five causes.

168. Witness Homer's invocations to the Muses.

169. "Cum a viris soleas coli," Gierig. When you preside over manly occupations, is the interpretation of Lenz. May it not be, Since thine occupations are all of a manly character?

173, 174. I, a god whose chief value is in arms, am now, for the first time, called to the pursuits of peace. By the poet or by the matrons? Gressus, etc. alluding, perhaps, to his name Gradivus, v. 169.

177. See above, I. 101.

179. First cause, the rape of the Sabines.

180. Hujus, scil. Romae. Some MSS. read urbis.

184. The straw-roofed cottage, said to have been the abode of Romulus, was still standing on the Palatine, in the time of the poet.

195, 196. They (the neighbouring peoples) have the connubium, or intermarry with nations at ever so great a distance, but their women all looked down on the Romans.

197. Patriam, like thy father's, to take by force what was refused to entreaty.

198. Tolle preces, away with entreaties. Thus, tolle moras, Met. xiii. 556. Tolle querelas, Hor. Ep. I. 12. 3.

199. 200. Consus, etc. In this parenthesis the god addresses the poet. The readings of the MSS. differ very much here. Most have Illo festa die dum s. s. facis, making it a part of the advice of the god to his son. Heinsius followed those which read, Ipso festa die d. s. s. canes. Illo or illa—festa or facta—canes, canas, coles, facis, are the readings of various MSS. The present reading, with canet instead of canas, was proposed by Gronovius, and adopted by Gierig. The Consualia were on the XV. Kal. Sept. It is a pity that the poem does not go so far, as Ovid might have given us some additional information respecting Consus. See Mythology, p. 473.

201. Scil. the Caeninenses, the Crustumini, and the Antemnates. See the story in Livy, I.

202. It is not at all unlikely that, as Donza supposes, he glances here at the war between Julius Caesar, and his son-in-law, Pompey.

203. The war lasted to the third year.

205. Dictam, appointed.

206. Nurus, Hersilia, the wife of Romulus.

219. The construction is, ut (feminae quae erant) passis capillis tetigere, etc.

223. Seen for the first time.

224. Taubner thinks that by pinching the babes, they made them cry Ah! vae! which sounded like ave! Much as Ovid loved to play on words, I can hardly suspect him of this.

230. Oebalides. See I. 260.

231-234. Second cause. Was this the real cause, or is it because Ilia was a mother by me, that the matrons hold their feast on the Kalends of my month?

235-244. Third cause. It was fit that in the season of fecundity the matrons should pray to Juno for offspring. Compare this description of the spring with that in I. 151, et seq. See also Hor. Car. iv. 7.— Hiems. adop. gel. the glacialis hiems of Virgil.—Victae. Several MSS. read lapsae; one maestae. Heinsius proposes ictae, but as Burmann justly observes, why alter so excellent a reading as victae?— Detonsae, some of the older MSS. read excussae.—Virida. This is the reading of the best and oldest MSS. and was adopted by Heinsius. Burmann and Gierig follow those which read uvida; some have humida.— Tenero. Some MSS. read gravido, which is, perhaps, the true reading. See above, I. 152. One MS. reads in tumido.—Occultas vias, the caeca spiramenta of Virgil, G. I. 89.—Hora, season, like the Greek [Greek: horae].

244. Taubner, who is followed by some translators, explains this line thus: "quarum proles vel militis officio fungatur, vel sacerdotio s. votis oportet." Its plain meaning is, as given by Gierig: whose service and vows is childbirth. Et rudis ad partus et nova miles eram, says our poet (Her. xi. 48,) in the person of Canace. See above, II. 9.

245-248. The fourth cause, because the temple of Juno Lucina, on the Esquiline hill, was first opened for worship on the Kalends of March.

245. Ubi rex, etc. Ten MSS. read ibi rex R. two regi R. which reading is adopted by Heinsius, and retained by Gierig. The excubiae were held by Romulus on the Esquiline, at the time that he suspected Titus Tatius of bad faith.—Agebat. Several of the best MSS. have habebat.

246. Esquilias alii scripserunt ab excubiis regis dictas. Varro, iv. 8. Ovid seems to follow the same etymology: the true one is from esculus. —Qui. This is the reading of all the MSS. Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig read qua.

251. The fifth cause. Juno, the mother of Mars, loves married women, who, in return, honor me. The Grecian Hera, by the way, was the mother of Ares; but the same was not the case with the Italian Juno and Mars. See Mythology.—Matrum. Heinsius adopts matris on conjecture, which reading is received by Burmann and Gierig. Some MSS. have matres.

254. Cingite caput, of the statue of the goddess, says Gierig, perhaps of the worshipper.

259. As the Salii bore the sacred ancilia through the city on the Kalends of March, the poet now proceeds to enquire into the origin of this institution. See Livy, I. 20.

261. Nympha, scil. Egeria.—Nemori, etc. See v. 263—275.— Operata. Seven MSS. read adoperta.

262. Facta. Some MSS. read festa, others sacra.

263. Met. xv. 479, et seq. Virg. aen. vii. 761, et seq. This account of the grove of Aricia is a complete digression in this place. Aricia, and its grove, lay at the foot of the Mons Albanus.

265. An Indiges, named Virbius, was worshiped here, who was identified with Hippolytus.

267, 268. This practice may be witnessed at the present day, in every country where the Roman Catholic religion prevails.—Longas sepes. The wall, says Neapolis, surrounding the sacred grove.

269, 270. It was the custom for women, whose prayers to this goddess had been heard, to carry lighted torches from the city to the grove of Aricia. See Propert, II. 23, 39.

271, 272. The priest of Diana, in this grove, called Rex Nemorensis, was always a runaway slave, who had slain his predecessor in office. He always went armed, to protect himself from aspirants to his dignity. Strabo calls this a barbarous and Scythian custom, and it led to the idea of the Arician Diana, being one with the Tauric Artemis.

273—275. See Juvenal's account of this fountain. Sat. III.

274. Bibi. The other editions, following some MSS. read bibes.

277-284. See Livy, Dionysius and Plutarch.

283. Vertitur, is changed.

285. This legend was related in the same manner by the historian Valerius Antias, from whom Ovid probably took it. As Livy, I. 20, relates the matter differently, it probably was not in the Annals of Ennius. It was evidently founded on the adventure of Menelaus with Proteus. Hom. Od. iv. See also Virg. G. iv. 387, et seq.

291. Picus Faunusque. Old Italian deities. See Heyne Excursus, V. to aen. vii. Mythology, p. 477.

292. Prodere. Many MSS. read edere, others tradere.—Romani, etc. Each a god of Roman ground, i.e. a Roman rural deity.

296. Dark shady groves were, from a very natural feeling, regarded with awe as the abode of deities. See Seneca. Epist. 41.

300. Fonti. To the deity or spirit of the fount.

301. Dis ponit. This is the conjecture of Heinsius; the MSS. read disponit.

312. Quatiens cornua. To indicate the difficulty of the matter.

313. Monitu. This word is used to indicate information divinely given.

314. Numina, divine power.

317. Deducere, a magic term, the [Greek: katagein] of the Greeks. Lunam deducere tentas Tibullus, [Greek: Ai pharmakides katagousi taen selaenaen]. Interp. Apollonii.

321. Sum. ded. ab arce. The reading of the best MSS. is Valida perductus ab arce: some of the best have val. veniet ded. ab arce or arte; some nostra perd. ab arte.

322. Nubila, etc. He mixes, according to custom, the Greek and Italian mythologies: the oath, by Styx, was peculiar to the former. See Hom. Od. v. l85—Nubila, as the Styx, was supposed to exhale a dense vapour.

323. Carmina, magic verses.

325. Scire nefas homini. Is not for man to know. Quid crastina volveret aetas Scire nefas homini. Stat. Theb. III. 562. See Hor. Car. I. 11. 1.

327-330. Some modern writers suppose that the ancient Etruscans possessed the art of conducting the lightning which Franklin discovered, or, according to them, re-discovered, and that it is exhibited in this poetic narrative. Their conjecture is, they think, confirmed by the fate of Tullus Hostilius, which they attribute to his ignorance of the proper mode of conducting the electric fluid.—Minores, posterity.

337. Ambage remota. As this seems not by any means to accord with what follows, Gierig renders ambage circumlocution, as opposed to the brevity with which the god speaks. One MS. reads remissa. The dialogue of Jupiter and Numa will be easily understood.

342. Piscis. According to Plutarch, the maena. See above, II. 578, note.

346. Pignora certa, the ancile. Celestial gifts of this kind, on which the safety of the state were supposed to depend, were common in antiquity.

347. Aethera, motum. Vidisti motu sonitus procurrere caelo. Profert, II. 16.

352. Crastina, scil. crastinas res, what will happen to-morrow.

357. Virg. Ec. viii. l4.—Rorataque. Many MSS. read rorata.

359. Acerno. Five MSS. read eburno, but see Met. iv. 486. Virg. aen. viii. 178.

363. It was the custom of the Romans to cover their heads when praying, or performing any other religious rite, lest any thing of ill omen should present itself to their view. See Virg. aen. iii. 405.

367 Evolverat. This is the reading of five of the best MSS. two read emerserat, which Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig have received, and which I should prefer. See v. 517. Most read emoverat; one commoverat, another ostenderat.

369. Sine nube. It was therefore supernatural. Compare Hor. Car. I. 34. 6. Virg. aen. vii. 141.

371. Two of the best MSS. read, A media subito coelum discedere visum est, which Heinsius prefers. Virgil (aen. ix. 20,) has medium video discedere coelum, and if this last be, as I am inclined to think it is, the true reading, it is not unlikely that Ovid imitated this line of the aeneis: if it is not, the line is the work of some grammarian, and formed from the Virgilian verse.

372. Submisere. One MS. has surrexere manus, which Burmann prefers. For this sense of sub, see Virg. Ec. vi. 38. x. 74, submittere cornua. Petron. 126, 18, 3. Submissas tendunt alta ad Capitolia dextras. Silius, xii. 640.

377. Ancile. Ancile vocatum quia ex utroque latere erat recisum, ut summum infimumque latus pateret, Festus. Ancilia dicta ab ancisu, quod ea arma, ab utraque parte, ut peltae Thracum, incisa. Ancisia Saturnio in carmine. Varro, L. L. iv. Ovid evidently follows the same etymology. According to Juba, whom Plutarch copies, it is derived from [Greek: ankylon] curved, and should be spelt ancyle. It is, however, certainly an old Latin word, and is by all Latin writers properly spelt with an i. It is well known that y is no Latin letter, yet we constantly meet Sylla for Sulla. From Plutarch's description of the ancile, we may collect that it was of an oval form.

381. Caelata, i.e. sculpta, or simply, made.

383. His morals were as perfect as his skill.

384. Clausit opus, simply, completed the work.—Ulli, some MSS. read illi; one illud, which Heinsius and Gierig have adopted.

387. The Salii, clad in brazen armour, and striking the ancilia with their daggers as they sang the old verses ascribed to Numa, went through the city dancing to the sound of pipes.

393. It was not considered lucky to marry on the Kalends of March, as the ancilia were carried on that day. This day was also considered inauspicious for commencing a journey. Suet. Otho. 8. Livy, xxxvii. 33.

396. Condita, laid up in the temple.

397, 398. The Flamen Dialis wore a peculiar kind of white hat, called apex, without which he never went out; his wife wore a flame-coloured robe, named venenatum, and a peculiar kind of band about her head, called rica. (See Gellius, N. A. x. 15,) hence the poet says, cincta. Cincta Flaminica veste velata Festus. Some MSS. have sancta; others capitis distincta, one apicatis cura. It was enjoined by law on the Flaminia, not to cut her nails, comb her hair, etc. on certain days.

399-402. One of the Fishes set acronychally on the 3d March, the V. Non.

403. Rorare genis. Five MSS. read rutilare; two comis.

405. The poet commits an error here. Arctophylax rises acronychally, instead of setting on the 5th March.

407. Vindemitor, [Greek: protrygaetaer], a star in the right shoulder of the Virgin, which now rises acronychally.

409. The story of Ampelos is told differently by Nonnus, in his Dionysiacs. See Mythology, p. l74.—Intonsum, denotes youth and beauty; it is therefore an epithet of Apollo, [Greek: akersekomaes].—Satyris, to denote the lewdness of the Nymph, says Burmann. It may, however, mean merely one of the Satyrs. Some MSS. read Satyro.

411, 412. These two lines were suspected by Heinsius. They are certainly very indifferent, but without them the narrative seems imperfect. Ovid would hardly have omitted an allusion to the name of Ampelos.

414. Vehit. This is the reading of five of the best MSS. all the rest have tulit.

415-428. On the 6th of the month, Prid. Non. A.U.C. 741. Augustus was made Pontifex Maximus. The P.M. presided over the Vestals.

417. Quisquis ades etc. The Vestals, as it would appear, who alone could enter the temple.—Canae. This is the reading of two of the best MSS.; the rest have castae, one gratae. See Virg. aen. ix. 259.

422. Vides. All the older MSS. have videt or vident; one Vesta videt.—Pignora juncta, the pledges of empire, in the temple of Vesta, were the Eternal Fire, and the Palladium (Livy, v. 52, xxvi. 27,) to these now was joined.—Augustus. The force of flattery could no farther go.

423. This is the reading of three of the best MSS. and adopted by Heinsius, and the succeeding editors: the other MSS. have Di v. T. d. p. ferenti.—Dignissima praeda, Vesta.

424. Gravis, i. e. gravatus, laden. See Virg. aen. II. 296. Three MSS. read pius.

425. The Julian house into which Augustus had been adopted, derived their lineage from aeneas. I do not, however, see the relationship to Vesta, unless it be through Kronus, (Saturn) who was her father, and whose grand-daughter Venus, was the mother of aeneas.

428. Dux, Augustus. This was probably written before the poet left Rome, and he did not alter it.

429-448. An account of Vejovis, whose temple was dedicated by Romulus, on the Nones of March.

429. The reading of the older MSS. was Una nota est Marti: Nonis sacra.—Una nota, the Nones of March were distinguished by one mark in the Fasti, one event had taken place on them.

430. The space between the Arx and the Capitol, in which the Asylum and the temple of Vejovis were, was called Inter duos lucos. Livy, 1.8, [Greek: to methorion duoin drumon]. Dionysius, II. 15.

435. He now enquires into the origin of the name of this god.

437. The statue of Vejovis represented a youthful figure, without any thunderbolts, in his hand. He may, therefore, be Young Jupiter.

443. There was the figure of a she-goat standing beside it; a farther proof, as Jupiter was suckled by the goat, Amalthea.

445. The country-people, called ill-grown corn vegrandia, (Vegrandes et imbecillae oves. Varro, R. II. II.) and vescus with them, was equivalent to parvus. From all this he infers, that Vejovis is Little Jupiter. This is not convincing. See Mythology, p. 468, where it is shewn that Vejovis was probably a god of the under-world.—Colonae. Many of the best MSS. read colono. Eleven have colone (colonae); one colonae, which Heinsius adopted. Gierig follows the MSS. which read coloni, and he is, perhaps, right in so doing.

449, 450. The heliac rising of Pegasus on the Nones. For Pegasus, see Hesiod. Th. 280, et seq. and 325. Met. iv. 784, v. 256. Mythology, pp. 223, 364.—Variabunt. Eight MSS. read vallabunt, which Heinsius adopted.

451. Gravida cervice is rather a curious mode of expression. Medusa was pregnant by Neptune, and when Perseus cut off her head, Pegasus sprang forth (prosiluit, [Greek: exethore] Hes.) with the blood: hence the poet says, gravida crevice. He was named Pegasus, as being born at the springs ([Greek: paegas]) of Ocean.

455. See the story of Bellerophon.

456. The Horse-fount ([Greek: hippoukraenae] Hippocrene) in Aonia (Boeotia), said to have been produced by a stroke of the hoof of Pegasus. —Fodit. Nine of the best MSS. read _fudit. Rutilius (Itin. I. 264,) says, Musarum ut latices ungula fodit equi. Avienus (in Arat. Phaen. Equo.) cornuque excita repente Lympha, Camenalem fudit procul Hippocrenen, I think fudit the more poetic term.

458. The astronomers of the present day reckon eighty-nine stars in Pegasus.

459-516. The Crown of Ariadne rises acronychally on the 8th March, the VIII. Id. For the story of Theseus and Ariadne, see Met. viii. 175—182. Ars Amandi, I. 531—564, Her. x. Hor. Car. II. 19. Catul. lxiv. 52, et seq. Mythology pp. 411, 412.

460. Gnosida Gnosian, as Minos, the father of Ariadne, reigned at Gnosus, in Crete.—Facta dea, Ariadne, not her crown.

461. "Solent poëtae verbo mutare Accusat rei acceptae et Ablat. relictae addere." Gierig. Thus Horace, Velox amoenum saepe Lucretilem mutat Lycaeo.—Faunus.

465. Depexus crinibus, his hair neatly and carefully combed out. See VI. 229. Bacchus, whom the Greeks named [Greek: eukomaes (eukomos], is a general epithet of the goddesses) was like Apollo, distinguished for the beauty of his hair. See Met. III. 421 and 555, iv. 13. The common reading was, what appears the most obvious, depexis. Some of the best MSS. read depexos, agreeing with Indos.

466. Some of the best MSS. read venit. For the Indian expedition of Bacchus, see Mythology, P. I. chap. xiv.

476. My case is told or repeated.

480. Dedoluisse, have ended my grief; have died.

493. At puto, etc. Ironically.

495. See Hor. Sat. I. 3, 38.

499. Matrem Pasiphaë. The story is well known.

500. Bacchus was represented horned, in consequence of the identification of him with the Phrygian Sabazius. Mythology, p. 168. Hence he was called [Greek: boukeros, taurokeros].—Me tua, etc. The best and most numerous MSS. read Me juvat et laedit: one, me viat et laedit; another me tua me laedit or laudat: three of the best have the reading of the text, the rest me tua sed laedit. Heinsius gives from conjecture, me tua. At hic laudi est, which Gierig has received.

503. A play on words as usual.

512. Libera. The Italian religion, as I have observed after Niebuhr, (Mythology, p. 455,) delighted in representing the deities presiding over any object in pairs of males and females. Hence, with Liber, the god of wine, was joined a goddess Libera, and when the Greek and Italian religions came to be mingled, she was identified with Proserpine. Ovid alone makes her the same with Ariadne. I forgot to notice this under the head Liber Pater (Mythology, p. 469). I should be inclined to derive Liber from libo, [Greek: leibo], instead of libero.

514. Vulcanus Veneri. One MS. reads Neptunus Thetidi. I suppose Homer was running in the head of whoever he was that made this improvement.— Tibi. One MS. reads mihi, which Burmann has received.

517-522. On the 14th or Prid. Id. was another Equiria.—Demerserit. Several of the good MSS. read quum deseret or deserit; others quot demserit; some quum demserit; three of the best dimiserit; others demiserit; one totidemque remiserit; another of the best dimerserit, whence Heinsius formed the present reading.

518. Purpureum, bright, see II. 74. Virg. aen. vi. 641, purpureum lumen, scil. Soils.

522. If the Tiber, as was so frequently the case, had overflowed the Campus Martius, the races were run on the Campus Martialis on the Coelian hill.

523-696. On the Ides was the festival of Anna Perenna.—Geniale, i. e. quo genio indulgetur. See v. 58.

524. Between the Milvian bridge and the point of confluence with the Anien.

527. Sub Jove. See II. 299.

529. Ibi. Several MSS. read sibi.

532. Ad numerum. They reckon the cups.

536. Suit the action to the word by making gesticulations.

537. Posito, scil. in honour of the goddess.—Duras, aukward, inelegant.

541, 542. Heinsius and Burmann think with a great deal of probability, that a good many verses are lost after this distich, Burmann supposes that the monks who copied the MSS. left them out, on account of their indelicacy.

543. He now commences his enquiry into the character and history of Anna.—Errat, is uncertain. Six MSS. read errant.

544. Fabula nulla, no legend or tradition.

545. For the whole story of Dido and Aeneas, see the Aeneis I. and IV.— Arserat, the usual play on words.

551-554. See aen. iv. 36, 198, et seq.

556. See Virg. G. iv. 213. 565.

557, 558. Counting the years poetically by the harvests and vintages.

561. Favillae, cineres. Hor. Car. II. 6, 22. They used to pour wine and precious oils on the ashes of the dead.

562. Vertice libatas, cut from the head, and laid as an offering on the tomb. Placemus umbras? Capitis exuvias cape, Laceraeque frontis accipe abcissam comam. Seneca Hyppol. 1181.

565. Comitem is the reading of six of the best MSS. all the rest have comites.—Pede aequo, the pedes are the ropes called braces, by which the yards are moved. This shews that the vessel ran before the wind, vento secundo.

567. Melite. Malta; Cosyra, Gozzo.

570. Battus. Silius Italicus (viii. 51,) says of Battus, Cyrenem molli tum forte fovebat Imperio, and he brings Anna thither. Battus was the founder of the Grecian colony at Cyrene.

581. _Crathidis. The Crathis was a river in Magna Graecia, near Thurii.

582. Parvus. Two MSS. read Purus, which Heinius and Gierig prefer. There are abundant instances of the use of purus in the sense of free from trees.

587. Subducere, to draw up, to furl.

594. Is. Two MSS. read hic,

602. Populos duos. The Trojans and Aborigines, under the common name of Latins. See Livy, I. 2.

613. Italy.

615. Deos comites, the Penatestale, which he had brought with him from Troy, aen. I. 6, xii. 192.—Increpuisse, "signis quibusdam datis," Gierig. Virgil does not mention this. Ovid was, perhaps, thinking of the message brought from Jupiter by Mercury, etc.

617. Morte scil. Didonis.

618. Credibile, than what I believed, or could have believed.

619. Ne refer, tell not the tale.

621, 622. Ratio, your own choice.—Deus, fortune. See Hor. Sat. I. 1, 2.

623. Memores, scil. sumus debere.

627. Paratus, dress. Met vi. 451.

633. Falsum vulnus, causeless wound of jealousy. Virg. aen. I. 36, iv. 67 and 332. Two MSS. read tacitum.

635. Praeter sua lumina, before her eyes. Seven MSS. limina. Heinsius puts a colon after ferri, and a comma after mitti.

637. Exactum. She has not yet determined.

642. Sub verbum as she spoke.

647. Corniger, a usual epithet of rivers, (Virg. G. IV 371. aen. viii. 77.) on account of their roaring or windings. The Numicius was between Larentum and Lavinium.

654. "Si Nympha antea Anna dicta, non opus erat ab amne nomen suum deducere," Gierig. The fact is, the poet here confounds two etymons, an old one from amne perenne, and a later one from Anna the sister of Dido. Was Anna mentioned in the poem of Naevius? or did Virgil first give it vogue? It is a Semitic name, and occurs in Scripture.

657. A second opinion, Anna is the Moon.

658. A third, she is Themis; a fouth Io or Isis.

659. 660. A fifth, made her a daughter of Atlas, and one of the Nymphs who reared Jupiter. These however are said to have been the two daughters of Melissa, or simply the nymph Amalthea. There is however another tradition which commits the rearing of the infant deity to the Hyades, who were the daughters of Atlas.

661. A sixth theory, derived Anua from anus, and devised the folloing legend which the poet thinks is not unlike the truth.

663. The famous secession of the Plebs. A.U.C. 260. to the hill beyound the Anien, three miles from Rome, afterwards named the Mons Sacer.

667. Bovillae or Bovilla was a Latin town mot far from Rome, on the Appian Way.—Suburbanis does not mean close to the city, for Horace (Ep, I, 7, 77.) calls his Sabine country-seat suburbana rura.

673. Can any thing be more silly than this account of the origin of an ancient Italian deity? I have elsewhere (Mythology p. 479) observed, what little taste and elegance of imagination, and I add sense, the Romans displayed in the origins which they invented for their gods. The real etymon of Anna Perenna is, I think, annus, as the poet himself would appear to have seen: see vv. 145, 146. Perhaps, according to the principle noticed above on, v. 512, she was a female corresponding to a god Annus. It is curious to observe the resemblance which has been traced out between her and the Indian Anna Purna in the Asiatic Researches.

675. He now undertakes to explain by a legend, why at the festival of Anna Perenna indecorous verse were sung by young women. The mystics would here, of course, talk to us of the symbolic wisdom of ancient priests and sages, but the more probable reason is to be found in the rude simplicity of an agricultural race, like the ancient Latins, and other peoples of Italy, which also gave origin to the Fescinnine verses. On occasions like this, however, one should always bear in mind these words of Johnson, "The oringinal of ancient customs is commonly unknown; for the practice often continues after the cause has ceased; and concerning superstitious ceremonies it is vain to conjecture, reson cannot explain," Rasselas, Chap. 48.

696. Verba dedisse, to have deceived.

697. Julius Caesar was slain on the Ides of March, A.U.C. 709. The senate directed, that in future this day should be called Parricidium, and that no senate should ever sit on it. Suet. Caes. 88.

698. Locuta, scil. to the poet.

699. Sacerdos, as being Pontifex Maximus. [Greek: All' outos ho pataer, outos ho archiereus, ho asulos, ho aeros, ho theos, tethnaeken], are the words of Antonius over him in Dion. Cass. xliv. 49.

703. Vidit. Two MS. read servat. Compare Virg. Ec. v. 56.

704. A temple was raised to Caesar. A.U.C 712. three years after his death.

707. It was observed by the historians that all the murderers of Caesar perished within three years after him.

710. Caesaris. Augustus.

711, 712. On the XVII. Kal. April is the cosmic rising of the middle of the Scorpion.

713-790. On the following day were the Liberalia, which the poet now sings.

716. Parvus inermis erat, scil. Jupiter. Most MSS. read eras, applying it to Bacchus. Gierig is not satisfied with either reading, and he thinks the passage corrupt.

7l8. Expletum completed, brought to maturity.—Onus, most MSS. opus.

719. The expedition of Bacchus.

721. Pentheus. See Met. iii. 511. et seq.

722. Met. iv. 22.

723. Met. iii. 597, et seq.

726. Vilis anus, a mean, or common old woman. Seven MSS. three of which are of the best, read Vitisator, but the correctness of the present text is proved by the following passage of Varro L. L. V. Liberalia dicta, quod per totum oppidum eo die sedent sacerdotes Liberi, hedera coronatae anus, cum libis et foculo pro emptore sacrificantes.

728. Gelidis focis, cold altars, as no fire was kindled on them.

730. Seposuisse. The greater number of MSS. have supposuisse.

733. "Mira etymologia!" Gierig. See above v. 512. The libum was a kind of cake, [Greek: plakous ek galaktos, itrion te kai melitos, on Romaioi libon kalousi]. Athenaeus III. p. 125.

739. Florida. Most MSS. read flumina: the present, which is far preferable, is that of three of the best and four other MSS.

741-744. Compare Virgil G. IV. 64, et seq. The practice is too well known among ourselves to require any elucidation.

743. Levis senex, Silenus, who was bald. Most MSS. read lenis.

748. Dissimulat, conceals his discovery.

753 It was therefore a hornet's nest he had got.

763 See v. 726.—Praestet, "exhibeat praetereuntibus." Gierig.

769. Nysiades. There was a Nysa in Boeotia, in Thrace, in India, in Arabia. It was probably the Boeotian that the poet meant. See Met. III. 3l3.—Noverca, Juno.

771. On the Liberalia, the youths who had attained the age of sixteen laid aside the praetexta, which they had hitherto worn and assumed, the toga virilis, pura, recta, or libera, as it was variously, called. The poet gives four reasons for its being done on the Liberalia.

773. First reason, Bacchus, like Apollo, was ever young, See Met. iv. 17.

775. Second reason, because he was a father, (Liber Pater.) The Romans however called all their gods patres. ex. gr. Jupiter, (Jovis pater Zeus [Greek: pataer]), Dispiter, Mars-piter, Janus pater, Pater Neptunus, Pater Silvanus. (Hor. Epod. ii. 21.) etc.

777. Third reason, and perhaps the true one, because his name Liber coincided with the adjective liber.

779. Fourth reason, because as the people used to come from the country into Rome on the Liberalia to see the plays, it was deemed a good opportunity for giving a youth the toga virilis, when all his friends and relations were present.

781. Alluding to L. Quinctius Cincinnatus, ille dictator ab aratro, Flor. I. 11.

782. Alluding, perhaps, to the story of Scipio, who, on shaking the hand of a country voter, as he canvassed him, said, Prythee, friend, dost walk on thy hands? and thereby lost his election. I, however, rather think that the poet had only in view the effeminacy of his own days.

784. Studiis, scil_. musices et poeseos_, taste.

786. Taedifera dea, Ceres.

787. Tironem. The youth who took the manly gown was named a tiro, and the day, dies tirocinii. He was accompanied from the Capitol to the Forum, and thence home by a great number of his relatives, friends and clients.—Celeb. freq. Frequentia me usque ad Capitolium celebravit. Cic. Att. vi. 1.

791, 792. See V. 621, Livy, I. 22. Reliqua urbis loca olim discreta, ut Argeorum sacraria in septem et viginti partes urbis sunt disposita. Argeos dictos putant a principibus, qui cum Hercule Argivo venerunt Romam et in Saturnia subsederunt. Varro, L. L. iv. J. B. Fontejus (De Prisca Caesiorum Gente, L. I. c. 7,) supposes that the Argei were the reputed burial-places of some of these noble Argives.—Sua Pagina, its own part of the Fasti. He means, perhaps, V. 621, et seq.

793, 794. On the same day (XVI. Kal. April.) the Kite rises acronychally.—Proclinis is the reading of two of the best MSS.; five of the best read proclivis, some have declivis; the greater number declinis.—Miluus, a trisyllable (like Iason, Iulus, Iambus, silua, Suevos, etc.) is the reading of the best MSS.: the rest have Milvius. The constellation of the Kite, Krebs says, is not mentioned by any Greek writer on astronomy, before the time of Ovid. It is quite uncertain where he got the following legend.

798. That is to slay the monster about to be described.

801. Compare Virg. aen. vi. 549.

803, 804. This reminds one strongly of the sacrifice of the horse of Hindoo Mythology. See Southey's Curse of Kehama, viii.

805. Briareus. See Hom. Il. I. 402. According to Homer and Hesiod, Briareus was one of the Hundred-handed, and the ally of Jupiter. Ovid appears to make him a Titan.—Adamante. The adamas of the poets is iron, or rather steel. Adamas lapis durissimus, qui nec ferro cedere dicitur. Pliny, H. N. xxvii. 4.

809-850. On the XIV. Kal. April, began the festival of Minerva, named the Quinquatrus, Quinquatres, or Quinquatria.

810. Nomina quae. Several MSS. have numinaque adjunctis. Quinquatrus: hic dies unus a nominis errore observatur, proinde ut sint quinque dies, dictus ab Tusculanis; post diem sextum Idus similiter vocatus Sexatrus, et post diem septimum Septimatrus; sic hic, quod erat post diem quintum Idus, Quinquatrus, Varro, L. L. V. Festus gives the same derivation. It is in favour of Ovid that the festival lasted exactly five days, but this may have been the effect, and not the cause of the name.

811. The gladiatorial combats with which the festival of Minerva, as the goddess of war, were celebrated, did not begin till the second day. As the Minerva of the Romans was certainly no war-goddess, till she was identified with the Pallas Athena of Greece, I am inclined to think that the origin of this mode of worshiping her will be found in the account given by Herodotus, (iv. 180, 189) of the worship of the Lybian goddess, whom he makes to be the prototype of Pallas Athena. To shew how modes of worship were transferred; the Athenians had, in the time of the empire, combats of gladiators in a theatre on their Acropolis, in honour of their patron-goddess. See Philostratus' Life of Apollonius, L. iv. c. 7. For Pallas Athena and Minerva, see Mythology, pp. 119 and 462.

812. Illa nata die. "Illa die nata Minerva, quatenus ei templum in Aventino dedicatum, quod notat Verrius. Etiam Calend. Vindob. N. Minervae." Gierig.

815. See Juvenal. Sat. x. 118.—Ornate, scil. with garlands.

816. Doctus, skilful.

817. 818. Spinning.

819, 820. Weaving.—Stantes telas, the stamina or warp.

821-826. The fuller, the dyer, the shoemaker and the carpenter. For Tychius, see Hom. II. vii. 221, for Epeus. Id. Od. viii. 492, Virg. aen. II. 264.

827, 828. The Physicians. There is an inscription in Gruter Minervae Medicae. The reader needs not to be reminded of the medical character of Phoebus Apollo.

829. This is a sadly perplexing line. Seven MSS. read censu fraudante; others sensu fraudante; four sensus fraudata; one of the best censu fraudata; two of the best sensu fraudare; one of the best turba ferae sensus fraudare; two verba feri; three deam, censu fraudata, which Burmann and Gierig have adopted. The present reading is the common one, with a slight change of feri, which gives no good sense, to fere. Matthiae conjectured, and gave the same reading. I think the poet meant the bad payment and bad treatment which the school-masters so frequently met with at Rome.

831, 832. The sculptors, painters and statuaries.—Tabulam, etc. The Encaustae, as they were called, who burned-in wax, spread over the place to be painted.—Mollia, smooth or soft, as it were, to the eye.

835. There was a small temple of Minerva Capta on the rise of the Coelian hill, of which name the poet now tries, but in vain, to discover the origin.—Captae, Six MSS. capitae; others castae. This shews the negligence and temerity of the transcribers.

838. See on v. 812.

843. It was the custom when a town was taken, to bring its gods to the abode of the conquerors.—Falerii was captured by Camillus, A.U.C. 361. See Livy, v. 24.

844. Littera prisca, the old name of the goddess, or the old books, the Annals.

845, 846. This passage is difficult. For ex illo most MSS. have exilio; many for reperta, read recepta. It is the fures, and not the furta, which should be punished. Capitalis lucus, ubi si quid violatum est, capite violatoris, (two MSS. vigilatoris) expiatur. Festus.

849, 850. On the last day of the Quinquatrus, the Kal. Apr. was the Tubilustrum. According to Varro and Festus, the trumpets were purified in the Atrium Sutorium. On the X. Kal. Jun. there was a Tubilustrum to Vulcan. For deae in this place, three of the best MSS. read deo, which Heinsius adopts, and understands it of Mars. Gesenius also prefers this reading. In Verrius, we find Feriae Martis, and Laur. Lydus (de Mensibus, p. 85,) says, [Greek: tae pro deka kalandon Aprillion katharmos salpingos kai kinaesis ton oplon, kai timai Areos kai Nerinaes, haen aexioun einai taen Athaenan nerinae gar (en tae Sabinon glossae) hae andria esti]. This Nerine-Minerva was probably the fortis dea.

851-876. The sun enters the Ram, and the poet takes the occasion of telling the story of Phrixus and Helle. See Mythology, p. 296.—Nunc, on the last day of the Quinquatrus, as it was the day after the XI. Kal. Apr. which last was that of the entrance of the sun into the Ram. See the Kalendarium.

863. Pependerat. Their mother was Nephele, cloud. See also v. 805.

865. Thebes was built by the Sparti (Sown) who sprang from the serpent's teeth.

870. The Hellespont, Helle's-sea.

874. Caeruleo deo. Neptune.

877. The vernal equinox on the VII. Kal. Apr.—Eos, Aurora.

879. Four days after the VII. Kal. Apr. was a festival of Janus, Concord, Health and Peace. Augustus raised statues to these three last-named deities.

883, 884. Servius Tullius built a temple to Diana on the Aventine, Livy, I. 45. Tac. An. xv. 41. Ovid, like the other poets, makes Diana and Luna, as they really were, identical. See Mythology, p. 463.