LIBER V.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOTES:

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

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

8. Med. equi, Pegasus. See III. 544.

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

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

10. Mente notant, mark in their mind or commit to memory.

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

12. Omne opus. The whole mass. Some MSS. read onus. See on I. 564.

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

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

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

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

26. Magna fuit, scil. Majestas, like Minerva.

28. Aurea, i. e. adorned with gold.—Sinu, robe; part for the whole. Compare II. 310.

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

30. Vultus. One MS. reads cultus; either reading gives a good sense.

31. Suspectus, a regard, respect for.

34. Dum senior. See IV. 197.

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

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

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

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

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

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

60. Same as Pugnabant pro aris et focis.

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

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

67. Compare Sall. Jug. 11.

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

70. Censuram, the right of reprimanding.

71. Patres. See Liv. I. 8. Sall. Cat. 6. Vell. Paterc. I. 8.— Pectora. Several MSS. read corpora.

74. Tangor, I am led to believe.

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

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

77. 78. June, the poet thinks, being named a juvenum nomine, is no slight proof of the correctness of the foregoing etymology. But the origin of June itself is to be proved.—Praep. hon. Six MSS. proposito honori, some have propositum, five give the present reading, the rest propositi. Heinsius proposes praeposito honori, which Krebs adopts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

91. See I. 499. et seq.

92. Impositos scil. navi suae.

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

99. Sec II. 267-449.

101. Cinctutis, same as succinctis, which is the reading of several MSS. The Luperci were so called, because they ran, [Greek: en perizomasi], cincti subligaculis.

102. Celebres vias, the crowded streets.—Vellera secta, the goat-skin thongs. Several MSS. read verbera.

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

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

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

108. See on v. 64.

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

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

115. Naïs, for Nympha, the species for the genus.

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

123. Cinxit. One of the best MSS. which is followed by Heinsius and Gierig, reads cinctum.—Recentibus, the MSS. also read decoribus, decentibus, virentibus.

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

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

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

140. Grata, agreeable. Compitalia dies attributus. Laribus; ideo ubi viae competunt tum in competis sacrificatur; quotannis is dies concipitur. Varro, L. L. V. There were 265 compita Larium at Rome, Pliny, III. 9.

143, 144. See vv. 129, 130.

145. Mille, a definite for an indefinite number.—Qui. trad. etc. Compitales Lares ornari his anno constituit vernis floribus et aestivis. Suet. Aug. 31.

146. Numina trina, scil. the two Lares, and the Genius of Augustus. Hor. Car. iv. 5, 34. See IV. 954.—Vici, the streets.

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

149. Moles nativa, a natural rock. It was on the Aventine.

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

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

157, 158. Compare I. 649.

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

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

162. A Cal. aq. For vessels sailing from the east coast of Italy to Greece, the north-west wind, also called by the Greeks Iapyx, was eminently favourable. Hor. Car. I. 3, 4. Most MSS. read a capreis, four a campis, three a canis, one qua canis. The reading of the text was given by Neapolis from a MS. of no great authority.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

211. Generoso, of the finest kinds. Pruna generosa, Met. xiii. 818, generosa uva, Rem. Am. 567. generosum pecus. Virg. G. III. 75.

216. Comae, the flowers, IV. 38.

217. The Horae are the goddesses of the Seasons. They were the daughters of Jupiter and Themis. Hesiod. Theog. 900.—Incinctae, i.e. succinctae. See II. 634. Pictis vestibus, [Greek: peplous ennymenai droserous anthon polyterpon], says the Orphic Hymn (xlii. 6,) of them. For vestibus, three MSS. read florihus.

219. The Charites or Graces were also the children of Jupiter; they presided over social enjoyments, and were the bestowers of all grace and elegance. The occupation of the Charites and Horae among the flowers is thus beautifully described by the author of the lost poem, named the Cypria, [Greek: Heimata men chroias tote ai Charites te kai Aurai Poiaesan kai ebapsan en anthesin eiarinoisin, Oia phorous Orai, en te kroko en th' uakintho, En t' io thalethonti, rodon t' eni anthei kalo, Haedei, nektareo, en t' ambrosiais kalukessin Anthesi Narkissou kallichoróou]. For the Horse and Charites, see Mythology, p. 150-153.

221. It is not unlikely that the poet, who does not say where the garden of Flora was, placed it mentally on the western margin of the earth, where so many of the wonders of ancient Grecian fable lay. See vv. 233, 234.

223. Hyacinthus, a Spartan youth, beloved by Apollo, and turned into a flower of his own name. Met. x. 162. Therapnae was a town of Laconia.

225. See Met. III. 407, et seq.

226. Alter et alter, scil. that he and his shadow were not different persons.

227. Crocus, Met. iv. 283. Attis above, IV. 223. In the Met. (x. 103,) Cybele changes him into a pine-tree, but Arnobius (v. p. 181,) says, Fluore de sanguinis viola flos nascitur, et redimitur ex hac arbos (pinus). Adonis, the son of Cinyras, was turned into an anemone. Met. x. 728. See Mythology, pp. 109, 110.

229. In Homer, Hesiod, and Apollodorus, and the Greek poets and mythographers in general, Ares, the god corresponding to the Italian Mars, is the son of Jupiter and Juno. The present legend I regard as the fiction of some Italian, or, perhaps, of a Greek who was desirous of ministering to the vanity of the Romans. I think that many legends were invented in this way. Such, for example, is the tale of Faunus and Hercules (above, II. 305, et seq.) devised to explain a custom of the Roman Luperci. They are wrong who think that the taste and talent for devising mythes ceased, when real history began. The present legend is only to be found in Ovid; but Festus evidently alludes to it, for, treating of the etymon of Gradivus, he says, Vel, ut alii dicunt, quia gramine sit natus.

233. Compare Hom. II. xiv. 301. Met. II. 509.—Facta. Heinsius, on the authority of one MS. reads furta.

243, 244. Somewhat like her declaration in Virgil, Flectere si nequeo Superos Acherunta movebo, which may have been in Ovid's mind.

245. Vox erat in cursu. This may refer either to Juno or to Flora; but it is evident that the poet is speaking of Juno, and means that as she proceeded in her complaint, she marked the change in the countenance of her auditress. Taubner's interpretation is curious; he supposes the meaning to be: Juno spoke as she ran! Compare VI. 362, and Met xiii. 508.

251. Oleniis. Olenus was a town of Achaea. There was another of this name in Boeotia.

253. Qui dabat. Probably Zephyrus.

257. Thrace, on the left of the Propontis, was regarded as the birth-place and favourite abode of Mars, on account of the martial character of the people.

259. This strengthens what I said above respecting the late age of the fiction.

261. Coronis. He calls the flowers crowns or garlands, not as being the crown of the plant, for that is true of all that follow, but as being used for making them. He goes on to say that Flora presided over blossoms, as well as flowers.

265, 266. This is said no where else of the olive. Of the almond, we read, [Greek: Ora taen amygdalaen to karpo brithomenaen toigaroun euetaerias tekmaerion megiston]. Theophil. Probl. nat. 17. See also Virg. G. I. 187.

267. Compare Virgil, G. I. 228.

268. See II. 68.

269. The poet could not abstain from taking advantage of a figurative employment of the word flos, and, ascribing to Flora, what did not belong to her. "Quae de vino sequuntur, ea melius abessent." Gierig. The flos and nebula of vine, are the light scum which comes upon its surface when new. Si vinum florere incipiet, saepius curare oportebit, ne flos ejus pessun eat et saporem vitiet. Columella, R. R. xii. 30. Flos vini candidus probatur; rubens triste signum est, si non is vini color sit—Quod celeriter florere caeperit, odoremque trahere, non exit diutinum. Plin. H. N. xiv, 21.

273, 274. The flower of youth—another figurative employment of the word.

277. He now proceeds to relate the historic origin of the Floral games.

279. Compare Sallust, Cat. 25, Docta psallere, saltare et multa alia, quae instrumenta luxuriae sunt.

281. Hinc et locupletes dicebant loci, hoc est agri, plenos. Pecunia ipsa a pecore appellabatur. Plin. xviii. 3.

283. The subject of the Roman public land, and the Agrarian law, has been treated and explained in a most masterly manner by the illustrious Niebuhr, but it would be impossible to do justice to his views in the compass of a note. I must, therefore, refer the reader to his Roman History, Vol. II. p. 129, et seq. (Hare and Thirlwall's translation,) or Vol. II. p. 353, et seq. (Walter's translation). A sufficiently full account of these matters will be found in Nos. xv. and xxii. of the Foreign Quarterly Review. In my Outlines of History, (p. 72,) I have given a brief account of them_.-Populi saltus. These were the pascua, the public pastures, for the liberty of grazing which a rent was to be paid to the state, but of which the payment was frequently eluded by favour or power. Etiam nunc in tabulis Censoriis pascua dicuntur omnia, ex quibus populus reditus habet, quia diu hoc solum vectigal fuerat. Pliny, ut supra.

287, 288. L. and M. Publicii Malleoli, were aediles Plebis, A.U.C. 513. The poet here, as elsewhere, shews his superficial knowledge of the history of his country, for A.U.C. 457, _ab aedilibus Pl. L. aelio. Poeta, et C. Fulvio Curvo ex mullaticia pecunia, quam exegerunt pecuariis damnatis, ludi facti, pateraeque aureae ad Cereris positae. Liv. x. 23, and a road was made A.U.C. 462, by the Curule aediles, out of similar fines. Liv. x. 47. As by the Licinian law, no one was allowed to put more than 100 head of black, or 500 head of small cattle on the public pastures, these fines were probably imposed on those who had exceeded that number.

291. Besides the institution of the Floral games, a temple, of which the poet does not speak, was built to Flora out of that money, which was repaired by Tiberius, A.U.C. 773. Tacit. An. II. 49.

292. Victores, scil. the aediles.

293. Clivus Publicius ab aedilibus plebei Publiciis, qui eum publice aedificarunt. Varro, L. L. iv. Festus, who gives a similar account, adds, munierunt, ut in Aventinum vehicula Velia venire possent. A clivus, was a carriageway up a hill.

298. Turba, etc. This low idea of their gods, was one of the greatest blemishes of the theology of the Greeks and Romans. It pervades all their mythology. See above, on I. 445. Hom. II. ix. 497. Similar notions still prevail in modern Italy, and in many other countries.

299. Iniquos, that is, incensed or unfavourable, the contrary of aequos.

305. Thestiaden, Meleager. See Met. 270, et seq. Hom. II. ix. 527, et seq. Mythology, p. 287.

307. Tantaliden. Agamemnon, descended from Pelops, the son of Tantalus. The Grecian fleet, as is well-known, was detained at Aulis by the anger of Diana.—Vela, Neapolis read tela, and thought of Niobe.

308. Virgo est, from whom, therefore, more mildness was to be expected.

309. See above, III. 265—Dionen. Venus. See II. 461.

311. Oblivia, forgetfulness; or rather neglect.

312. Praeteriere, i. e. neglected to celebrate the Floral games.

329. In the consulate of L. Postumius Albinus, and M. Popilius Laenas, A.U.C. 581, it was directed that the Floral games should be celebrated every year.

331. The Floralia were of an exceedingly lascivious character. The utmost license of language prevailed, and, at the sound of trumpets, lewd women came forth and ran and danced naked before the spectators. The Fathers of the Church, Arnobius and Lactantius, are unsparing in their censure of them. When Cato once appeared at them, the people were so awed at his presence, that they would not call on the women to strip. Val. Max. II. 10. This practice probably gave occasion to the legend already noticed, see on v. 195, of Flora having been herself a meretrix. Ovid views matters here with a more lenient eye.

335. Tempora, etc. He is not now narrating what took place at the Floralia, but showing how the gifts of Flora ministered to joy and pleasure.—Sut. cor. crowns made of rose-petals sewed together. There were also pactiles coronae, or crowns made of various flowers, Jam tunc corona deorum honos erant, et Larium publicorum privatorumque, ac sepulchrorum et Manium, summaque auctoritas pactili coronae. Sutiles Saliorum sacris invenimus et sollemnes coenis. Transiere deinde ad rosaria, eoque luxuria processit, ut non esset gratia nisi mero folio. Plin. H. N. xxi. 3, 8.

336. It was the custom at banquets to shower down roses on the guests and the tables. See. v. 369.

337. Dancing was looked upon by the Romans as highly indecorous and unbecoming in a respectable person. See Corn. Nep. Epam. I. Corte on Sall. Cat. 25. 2. None danced but those who were drunk.—Philyra, the interior bark of the linden or lime-tree. It was much used for making these festive crowns. Plin. H. N. xvi. 14. xxi. 3. Hor. Car. I. 38. 2.— Incinct. capil. Incinctus seems here to be used for the simple cinctus; elsewhere (II. 635, V. 217. 675,) it is equivalent to succinctus.

338. Imprudens, etc. Scarcely knowing what he is doing, he is whirled about by the art taught by wine, i. e. he dances. Ille liquor docuit voces inflectere cantu, Movit et ad certos nescia membra modos, Tibull. I. 2. 37. For vertitur some MSS. read utitur, which is perhaps the better reading.

339, 340. This custom of lovers among the ancients is well known. See. IV. 110. At lacrumans exclusus amator limina saepe, Floribus et sertis operit, postesque superbus Unguit amaricino, Lucret. iv. 171. Hence Heinsius would read serta fores, than which emendation Gierig thinks nothing can be more certain.

343. Acheloë. The name of this river is here as in Virgil (G. I. 9,) used for water in general.

343. See III. 513.

347. Scena levis, etc. the light, the comic, the farcical opposed to the grave, tragic scene.—Cothurn. deas, is either the grave, stately goddesses, or, what is nearly the same thing, those who used to be introduced on the cothurned, or tragic stage, such as Diana and Minerva.

351. Here Flora is again opposed to the serious, respectable goddesses.— Tetricis, grave, severe. Tetrica et tristis Sabinorum disciplina, Liv. l. l8.—De magna. Ten MSS. read dea magna.

352. Plebeio choro, scil. the Meretrices, who were of course of low birth.

353. Specie, the beauty of youth.

355. See IV. 619. The poet's reasons are good.

361. Lumina, the torches which were used at the Floralia.

362. Errores. See IV. 669. VI. 255.

363. Pur. flor. Purpureus is used of any bright splendid colour.

371. These animals were hunted in the Circus Florae, at the time of the Floralia. Floralicias lasset arena feras. Martial, viii. 66. 4.

375. Tenues, etc. Compare Virg. aen. ii. 791. ix. 657.

376. Compare Virg. aen. I. 403.

379-414. On the V. Non, the third day of the month, (_nocte minus quarta) the Centaur rises, Chiron was the offspring of the Oceanide Phillyra, by Saturn, who had taken the form of a horse, and he was half-man half-horse. Virg. G. III. 92. Mythology, pp. 49, 283.

381. Haemonia was a name of Thessaly.

384. Justum senem. Chiron is called by Homer, (II. xi. 832,) [Greek: dikaiotatos].

385. Achilles was committed to the care of Chiron.—Miss. leto. Compare Hom. II. I. 3.

388. According to Apollodorus, it was when Hercules was on his fourth task, that the following accident happened to Chiron. See Mythology, p. 316.

389. Duo fata. Because Troy suffered from both, being taken by one, and reduced to extremity by the other.

403. According to Pliny, (H. N. xxv. 6,) he recovered. Centaurio curatus dicitur Chiron, quum Herculis excepti hospitio pertractanti arma sagitta cecidisset in pedem.

410. Heinsius regarded this line as spurious, and, as the work of some grammarian or pedagogue, and even as semi-barbarous Latin. It has been defended by Heinz and Krebs. In Euripides, (Iph. Aul. 926,) Achilles says of himself. [Greek: Ego d' en andros eusebestatou trapheis Cheironos emathon tous tropous haplous echein].

415, 416. Lyra rises acronychally the III. Non.

417, 418. One part of the Scorpion sets cosmically the day before the Nones. Pridie Nonas Maias Nepa medius occidet. Columella, R. R. xi. 2. Nepa is used for Scorpio, by Manilius and others, as well as Columella.

419-492. The Lemuria began on the VII. Id. and lasted for three days, but not continuously, as appears from v. 491, and an ancient Calendar. The Mundus (See on IV. 821,) was regarded as the door of the under world, and was believed to be open three days in the year for the spirits of the departed to revisit the earth. Festus v. Mundus. There may be some relation between these three days and those of the Lemuria.— Protulerit. See III. 345. Trist. III. 10, 9. Hor. Sat. I. 8, 21. Fourteen MSS. read sustulerit, one praetulerit, others pertulerit or propulevit.—Formosa ova. Compare Virg. aen. viii. 589, et seq.

422. Tacitis Manibus, i. e. the Lemures, whom (v. 481,) he calls animas Silentum. According to Ovid's account, the Lemures were, what we term, disturbed spirits. Nonius says, they were larvae nocturnae et terrificationes imaginum et bestiarum.

423. See I. 27.

427, 428. It would appear from this, that it was thought that in the time of Romulus, the Feralia, (II. 533,) and the Lemuria, were one, and were celebrated in the third month, which was named a majoribus.

429, 430. Compare IV. 490. Virg. aen. iv. 522, viii. 26. If there is any imitation, I would say that it was Apollonius Rhodius, whom Ovid had in view.—_Praebet, scil. nox. Some MSS. read somnos, or somnum silentia praebent.

431. Ille. He who is, that person who is.

432. Vincula, scil. pedum, calcea, I. 410. It was the custom to bare the feet when going about any magic operation. See Met. vii. 182. Virg. aen. iv. 518. Hor. Sat. I. 8, 23.

433. Signa, etc. Neapolis says, "Est crepitus ille, qui fit nostro aevo in quavis saltatione, sive comica, sive rustica, digito scilicet medio adeo presse juncto cum pollice, ut lapsus in palmam strepitum edat." This explanation is adopted by Gierig, but as he observes from Met. ix. 299, that "digitis pertinatim inter se junctis impediebant aliquid," and the poet here says digitis (not digito) junctis, I think the mode may have been to lock the fingers in one another, by which means the thumbs were joined in the middle, and then to make a noise by bringing the hands smartly together.

436. Nigras, etc. Compare II. 576. For ante, several MSS. read ore, which Heinsius preferred.

437. Aversus jacit, throws them behind him. Compare Virg. Ec. viii. 101.

438. Redimo, etc. That you may no longer haunt my house. Quibus temporibus in sacris fabam jactant noctu ac dicunt se Lemures extra januam ejicere. Varro de Vita Pop. Rom. apud Nonium. Faba Lemuralibus jacitur Larvis, et Parentalibus adhibetur sacrificiis, et in flore ejus luctus litterae apparere videntur. Festus.

439. Novies, like ter, (v. 435,) for numero deus impure gaudet, (Virg. Ec. viii. 75,) was probably of magic efficacy. Compare Met. xiii. 951.

440. This superstition reminds one of that of sowing the hempseed on All-Hallows' Eve. See Burns' Halloween, st. xvi.-xx.

441. Temesaea aera, simply copper. Temesa, called by the Latins Tempsa, was a town in Bruttium. It is supposed to be the Temesa of the Homeric ages, to which (Od. I. 184,) the Greeks resorted to barter iron for copper. See Mythology, p. 232. For the abundance of copper in ancient Italy, see Niebuhr, Rom. Hist. I.

450-452. Of its use on the present occasion, we may observe, that Sophron in one of his Mimes, said, [Greek: Kuon bauxas luei ta phasmata, os kai chalkos krotaetheis]. The Scholiast on Theocritus, tells us, that [Greek: O tou chalkou haechos oikeios tois katoichomenois], on which Neapolis says, "Observa illa et respice ad hodiernum modum." He was a Sicilian.

447. Pliade nate, Mercury. All the editions read Pleiade. But see note on IV. 169.—Virga, the well known gestamen of [Greek: Hermaes chrysorrhatis]. Compare Hom. II. xxiv. 43. Od. v. 47. Virg. aen. 242. Hor. Car. I. 10, 17, 24, 15.

448. His office of [Greek: psychopompos] is well-known. He was, therefore, the god who was most likely to be able to tell the origin of the name Lemuria.

450. He does not, as usual, introduce the god himself speaking, but informs the reader of what he had learned from him.

451. Tumulo condidit. Com pare Virg. aen. III. 67.

452. See IV. 841, et seq—Male veloci. Like servata male, I. 559.

456. Utque erat. As they (each of them) were. Two of the best MSS. read sicut erant, but the metre is against this reading.

457. Compare Virg. aen. II. 270.

471. Pietas, etc. His brotherly love is equal to mine.

476. Compare Hom. II. xxiii. 99. Virg. aen. II. 792.

479-484. Lemures dictos esse putant quasi Remures a Remo, cujus occisi umbram frater Romulus quum placare vellet Lemuria instituit. Porphyrio on Hor. Ep. II. 2, 209.

483. Lemures, [Greek: nukterinoi daimones]. Glossae.

486. See II. 557.

487. Plutarch (Q. R. 86,) gives, among other reasons, why the Romans did not marry in May, [Greek: oti polloi Latinon en to maeni touto tois katoichomenois enagizousi]. He elsewhere informs us, that it was only widows who married on holidays.

490. The celebrated Alessandro Tassoni, as Burmann observes, treats largely in his Pensieri Diversi, L. viii c. 2. of this superstition, which still existed in his time at Ferrara.

492. "Nam hi sex continuis diebus. Primus, tertius, quintus sacri sunt Lemuralibus. Hinc capies vetus Kalendarium in quo sic illa notantur: A. LEM. N. BC. C. LEM. N. D. NP. LVD. MART. IV. CIRC. E. LEM. N." Neapolis.

493-544. The second day of the Lemuria fell on the V. Id. on which day therefore Orion set.—Boeotum. Orion was born in Boeotia, according to most writers. Pindar makes Chios his birth-place. The following narrative occurs in several writers besides Ovid. See Mythology, p. 415-419.

494. Falsus eris, you will be mistaken.

495. Frater. Tzetzes on Lyc. Cass. 328, says it was Apollo. As according to Hesiod, Neptune was the father of Orion, our poet is, I think, the more orthodox.

497. Compare Virg. Ec. II. 66. Hor. Epod. II. 61. Compare also the whole narrative with the delightful story of Philemon and Baucis, in the Metamorphoses, viii. 626. et seq.

504. Parent promissis, is equivalent to: They accept his invitation.

506. Ignis, etc. The same is said of Philemon and Baucis; they had therefore but the one hot meal a day. This way of keeping in, and blowing up a fire, is familiar to any one who has been in a country where wood or peat is the fuel.

509. Calices, earthen pots or pipkins to go on the fire. This is rather an unusual sense of the word.—Inde, of them. Compare IV. 171. Virg. G. III. 308, 490.

510. Testu suo, by its lid, I should suppose.—Fumant. Several MSS. read spumant or spumat, some have fumat, whence Heinsius formed the present reading.

517. Puer, when a young man.—Diffuderat, racked off. See Hor. Ep. I. 5. 4.

518. Condo and promo are appropriate terms, Hor. Car. I. 9. 7. Epod. 2. 47. It was the custom to set the wine jars in a place where the smoke could have access to them. Apothecae recte superponentur his locis, unde pierumque fumus exoritur, quoniam vina celerius vetustescunt, quae fumi quodam tenore praecocem maturitatem trahunt; propter quod et aliud tabulatum esss debebit, qua amoveantur, ne rursus nimia suffitione medicata sint, Columella, II. R. I. 6.

519. Lino, a linen covering.

525. Prima, etc. Heinsius, who is followed by the other editors, reads primae mihi cura, juventae, which is the reading of three of the best, and five other MSS. Two of the best read prima mihi cura juventa; others cara mihi prima juventa; one prima mihi grata juventa. I think, with Krebs, that there is force in the repetition of cara. Burmann proposes flore juventae.

526. Cognita. Seven MSS. have condita.

542. Curva spicula, its claws.—Gemelliparae, an epithet of Latona, peculiar to our poet.

545-598. On the IV. Id. there were Circensian games in honor of Mars Ultor. Augustus built (A.U.C. 725,) in his own Forum a temple to this god, which he had vowed at the time of the battle of Philippi. Suet. Aug. 29.—Mundo, the sky. It is often used in this sense by Manilius. Four MSS. read caelo.

546. Coarctat, contracts, shortens.

549. Bellica signa, i. e. the clash of arms.

555, 556. Sanxit ut de bellis, triumphisque hic (in templo Martis) consuleretur senatus, quique victores redissent, huc insignia triumphorum inferrent. Suet. Aug. 29.—Tropaeis. Some MSS. read triumphis.

557. Impius. Rome was under the protection of the gods; Augustus was a god himself. It was, therefore, impiety to take arms against them.

560. _Ornant signis fictilibus aut aereis inauratis aedium fastigia. Vitruv. Archit. III. 2. We know not of what gods the statues were on this temple of Mars.

561. Diversae figurae, differing in form from those used by the Romans. These, and the arma of the next line, were probably carved on the doors, or piled or suspended at them.

563. Proximum a diis immortalibus honorem memoriae ducum praestitit. Itaque et opera cujusque, manentibus titulis, restituit, et statuas omnium triumphali effigie in utraque Fori sui porticu dedicavit. Suet. Aug. 3l.—Hinc, then, or from the temple.—Caro. Heinsius and Gierig read after two of the best MSS. sacro.

565. Romulus, the son of Ilia, bearing the spolia opima of Acron. Liv. 1. 10.

566. The titles and deeds of the great men were inscribed on the bases of their statues.

567. The name of Augustus was, according to custom, inscribed on the temple.

573. See III. 699.

575. The [Greek: aimati asai Araea talaurinon polemistaen] of Homer, was, perhaps, in Ovid's mind.

580. To whom is unknown the fate of Crassus, and the recovery of the captured ensigns of Rome by Augustus, the theme of every Augustan poet's praise? Krebs.

595. Bis ulto. Some MSS. read ultum. The greater number Bisultor, "Nomen Bisultoris ejus que templum in Capitolio lepidum est commentum librariorum et archaeologorum aliquot, quod neque scriptori scujusquam nec nummorum auctoritate confirmatur." Krebs.

598. Compare v. 347.

599. The following day, the third and last of the Lemuria, the Pleiades rise heliacally, and summer begins. VI. Idus Maias Vergiliae totae apparent; pridie aestatis initium. Columella, R. R. xi. 2.

603-620. On the 14th May, Prid. Id. the head of the Bull rises cosmically. The poet now inquires into its origin. See IV. 7l7-720,— Prior, scil. dies. Idibus is a dative.

605. For the story of Europa, see Met. II. 833, et seq. Hor. Car. III. 27. Mythology p. 408. It is also most beautifully told by the Greek poet Moschus, in his second Idyll.

607. Jubam. It is rather unusual to speak of the juba, (mane) of a bull. Ovid however does so elsewhere. Am. III. 5. 24. This description was, perhaps as Gierig observes, taken from some painting, but that in Moschus (v. 122) is similar, [Greek: Tae men echen tauron dolichon keras, en cheri d' allae Eirue porphyreas kolpou ptychas … … … Kolpothae d' omoisi peplos bathys Europeiaes, Istion oia te naeos, elaphrizeske de kouraen]. And in Lucian's Dialogue of Zephyrus and Notes, it is said, [Greek: hae de tae laie men eicheto tou keratos, os mae apolisthanoi, tae hetera de haemeno menon ton peplon xyneiche]. Compare III. 869.

613, 614. How truly Ovidian this is!—Prudens, on purpose, This word is a contraction of providens.

619. Phariam juvencam. Io or Isis. II. 454. Met. I. 583, et seq.

621-662. On the Ides of May, after having performed the sacrifices appointed by the law, the Pontifices, the Vestal Virgins, the Praetors, and such other of the citizens as were legally qualified, proceeded to the Sublician or ancient wooden bridge, and threw from it into the Tiber thirty images of men formed of bullrushes. These figures were called Argei. See Dionysius I. 19 and 38. Argei fiunt e scirpeis virgultis: simulacra sunt hominum triginta (in the old MSS. xxiv.): et quotannis a ponte Sublicio a sacerdotibus publice jaci solent in Tiberim. Varro, L. L. VI. Argeos vocabant scirpeas effigies, quae per virgines Vestales minis singulis jaciebantur in Tiberim. Festus. I have departed from the usual division in this place, and made a separate section of 621-662, as the Argei were thrown on the Ides, and Taurus rose Prid. Idus.—Virgo, scil. Vestalis, one, as is so frequently the case, put for the whole. See preceding part of this note.—Pris. vir. This is explained by what follows.

622. Roboreo, i. e. Sublicio so called a sublicis, the piles on which it was built, hence Plutarch calls it [Greek: xylinaen gephuran]. Dionysius III. says of it [Greek: haen achri ton pyrontos diaphylattousin, hieran einai nomizontes ei de ti ponaeseien autaes meros, oi hierophantai (Pontifices) therapeuousi, thusias tinas epitelountes ama tae kataskeuae patrious]. The Sublician was the ancient original bridge of Rome, and a superstitious reverence frequently attaches to things of this nature. I need scarcely observe, that we have here the origin of the word Pontifex.

623. The first opinion respecting the origin of this custom: the ancient Romans used to throw their old men, when they were arrived at the age of sixty, into the Tiber, and drown them. This the poet very properly seems disposed to reject, and whatever may have been the case with a tribe of the ancient Indians, (see Herod. III. 38,) or with the Battas of modern times, there is no ground for suspecting the people of ancient Latium of such barbarity.

625. A second opinion: it commemorated the time when human sacrifices were offered at Home. I have, in various parts of my Mythology, hinted my opinion, that human sacrifices were totally unknown in the heroic ages of Greece, and that all legends relating to such are comparatively late fictions. I now extend this theory to Italy, and assert that there are no testimonies, on which we can rely, of such a practice having prevailed in it in those times, when the poet says it was called Saturnia terra. The opinion, of which the poet now speaks, evidently arose from the confounding of Saturnus, the Italian god of husbandry, with 'Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears,' the 'grim idol' of the Phoenicians and Carthaginians.

626. According to Dionysius, the oracle given by the god at Dodona to the Pelasgians was as follows; [Greek: Steichete maiomenoi Sikelon Satournian aian Haed' Aborigeneon Kotulaen, ou nasos ocheitai. Ois anamichthentes dekataen ekpempsate Phoibo kai kephalas Adae, kai to patri pempate phota]. Arnobibus (adv. G. II. p. 91,) says, Cum ex Apollinis monitit patri Diti ac Saturno humanis capitibus supplicaretur. I need hardly observe, that the aforesaid oracle cannot be older than the Alexandrian period of Grecian literature.

630. Leucadio. Leucas, now Santa Maura, on the coast of Acarnania, was originally a peninsula. It has long been an island. The celebrated Lover's Leap was there. Strabo (x. 2.) says, [Greek: Haen de kai patrion tois Laukadiois kat' eniauton en tae thysia tou Apollonos apo tes skopaes], (the Lover's Leap,) [Greek: ripteistha tina ton en aitiois outon apotrhopes charin]. He adds, that birds, and a kind of wings, were attached to these criminals to break the fall, and that there was a number of persons below in small boats to save them, and to put them beyond the bounds of the country.

631. Macrobius (Sat. I. 7,) says, that he persuaded the people _ut faustis sacrificiis infausta mutarent, inferences Diti, non hominum capita, sed oscilla ad humanam effigiem arte simulata, et aras Saturnias, non mactando viros, sed accensis luminibus excolentes, quia non solum virum sed et lumina [Greek: phota] (see the oracle,) significant. The following note of Burmann's is too curious to be omitted, "Similem fere ritum Lipsiae a meretricibus celebratum scribit Pfeiffer Rerum Lipsiensium, L. III. § 18, illas scilicet solitas olim primis jejunii quadragenarii (Lent) diebus imaginem stramineam deformis viri, longa pertica suffixam, sequente omni meretricum agmine, tulisse ad Pardam flumen, ibique, cum carminibus in pallidam mortem, praecipitasse; dicentes se lustrare urbem, ut sequenti anno a pestilentia esset immunis."—Ilium. Fama vetus, (v. 625,) is understood.—Quirites, proleptically, as there were no Quirites as yet.

633. A third opinion: which appears to have arisen from the misunderstanding of a proverb, Cum in quintum gradum pervenerant, atque habebant sexaginta annos, tum denique erant a publicis negotiis liberi atque expediti et otiosi: ideo in proverbium quidam putant venisse, sexagenarios de ponte dejici oportere, id est quod suffragium non ferant, quod per pontem ferebant. Nonius. Exploratissimum illud causae est quo tempore primum per pontem coeperunt comitiis suffragia ferre, juniores conclamavere, ut de ponte dejicerentur sexagenarii: quia nullo pidilico munere fungerentur; ut ipsi potius sibi quam illis deligerent imperium, Festus.

635. Tibri, etc. The reader will call to mind Gray's "Say father Thames," etc. in his Ode on the Distant Prospect of Eton College, and I hope, at the same time, recollect with contempt the tasteless criticism of Johnson, who, curious enough, had put an exactly similar apostrophe to the Nile into the mouth of the princess Nekayah, in his own Rasselas. Was this passage of Ovid in the mind of that maker of beautiful poetic mosaics?

637. Aurundiferum. The rivergods were usually represented crowned with reeds. Met. ix. 3. Virg. aen. viii. 34.

638. Rauca ora. As he uses the verb dimovet, ora, in this place, must signify lips, and hoarse lips is rather a hardy expression. Heinsius proposed glauca. A hoarse voice is very naturally ascribed to a river-god. Compare Virg. aen. ix. 124.

639. Compare Virg. aen. viii. 360.

643. See I. 471, IV. 65.

646. See II. 389, IV. 48. Liv. I. 3.

647. Pallantius, from his native town Pallantium, in Arcadia. He calls him Nonacrius heros, v. 97.

660. The only foundation of this legend is the accidental resemblance between Argei and [Greek: Argeioi]. Of the origin of the word Argei, I can offer no conjecture; the ceremony seems to me to have been symbolical. Perhaps, like the Leucadian rite, (see on v. 630) it had some analogy with that of letting go the Scape-goat under the Mosaic law. In the number of the images (thirty) I discern a relation to the thirty curies into which the original Romans were divided: or, perhaps, a more general one, to the political number of Latium. See Niebuhr, Rom. Hist. II. 18, et seq.

661. Hactenus, scil. locutus est Tiberis.

663-692. A temple was dedicated to Mercury on the Ides of May, A.U.C. 258. Liv. II. 21, 27.—Clare, etc. Compare Hor. Car. I. 10. which ode Ovid, very possibly had before him.

665. Pacis, etc. "Mercurius pacis et armorum arbiter propter eloquentiam et prudentiam qua excellit." Gierig. I rather think it was as being Caducifer, the herald of the gods.

671. Te. etc. The name of the Roman Mercurius comes evidently from Merx, and there can be little doubt of his having been originally merely the god presiding over commerce. When he was identified with the Greek Hermes, he acquired the offices above mentioned. For Hermes, see Mythology, p. 124.

673. Est aqua, etc. "Hoc solum testimonio probant viri docti extra portam Capenam, via Appia, aquam fuisse ita nuncupatam; qua populus, qui negotio et quaestui operam dabat, his Idibus lustrari solitus." Neapolis.

674. Numen habet, it has a divine efficacy.

675. Incinctus tunicas. "Cingulo; e quo marsupium auri monetalis propendebat. Hic vetus mercatorum habitus." Neapolis. The MSS. in general read tunica.

676. Purus, scil. ipse.—Suffita scil. sulfure. Most MSS. read suffusa.

678. Omnia, etc. his goods, all the things that he had to sell. He, of course, as v. 676 shews, had brought the holy water home for this pious use.

680. Solita fallere. The characier of the trader was in bad odour in ancient Rome for honesty; for trade was considered an illiberal employment, and no man of respectability engaged in it.

684. Non andituri, who should not hear, whom I did not wish to hear.

692. Ortygias boves, the oxen of Apollo. For the story, see Met. II. 685, et seq. the Homeridian hymn to Hermes, or my analysis of it. (Mythology, p. 126-128.) See also Hor. Car. I. 10. 9. Ortygian, is used by the poet as equivalent to Delian, as Ortygia was one of the names given to Delos. For the true situation of Ortygia, and the way in which it was confounded with Delos, see Mythology, pp. 99 and 254.

693-720. On the XIII. Kal. Jun. the sun enters the Twins. Columella, who is followed by Neapolis, has XV. Kal. Jun.—Precor scil. te Mercuri!— Mel. pet_. scil. than the merchant.

697. Quot sunt. etc. i. e. twelve.

699. Phoebe and her sister Elaïra, Ilaïra or Hilaïra, as it is variously written, the two daughters of Leucippus were promised in marriage to their two cousins Idas and Lynceus, the sons of Aphareus. The Tyndaridae, Castor and Pollux, who were also cousins, carried off the maidens by force, and matters proceeded as is related in the text. See Theoc. Idyll, xxii. Pindar. Nem. x. Mythology, p. 391.

705. Oebalides, either as being the grandsons of Oebalus, Pans. III. 1, or because they were Laconians. See on I. 260.

708. Aphidna. The best known Aphidna is the Attic deme of that name. According to Steph. Byz, (sub. voc.) there was an Aphidna in Laconia.

719. See Hom. Od. xi. 301. Virg. aen. vi. 121.

720. Utile, etc. They were [Greek: arogonautai daimones]. See Hor. Car. II. 3, and 12, 27.

721. Ad Janum, etc. "XII. Kal. Jun. Agonalia Urbs interabat. Hoc die notantur haec festa in veteri Kalendario; nam illud hoc quoque tempus habet, quod induxit interpretes ut dicerent XIV. Kal. intelligendum quod etiam mense Maio denuo fiant." Neapolis. The poet refers those anxious for information to the first book. See I. 317, et seq.

723. Canicula rises (it should be sets, Plin. xviii. 27,) on the XI Kal. Jun. See on IV. 936.

725. The Tubilustria were on the X. Kal. Tubilustrium appellatur, quod eo die in atrio sutorio sacrorum tubae lustrantur. Varro, L. L. V. See III. 849.

726. Purae, as being sacred, or as being now cleaned or purified.

727. Inde, then, in the place of the next day, IX. Kal. in the Calendar. "In Calendario antiquo legebantur notae hae Q. R. C. F. quae dupliciter legi poterant, vel: quando rex comitiavit fas, vel: quando rex comitio fugit," Gierig. The king is, of course, the Rex Sacrorum. _Dies, qui vocatur sic, Quando rex comitiavit fas, dictus ab eo, quod eo die rex sacrificulus dicat ad comitium, ad quod tempus est nefas, ab eo fas. Varro L. L. V. [Greek: Esti goun tis en agora thusia pros to legomeno Komaetio patrios, haen thusas ho basileus kata tachos apeisi pheugon ex agoras]. Plutarch, Q. R. 63.

730. On the VIII. Kal. Jun. the temple of Fortuna Publica had been dedicated. This is probably the temple of Fortuna Primigenia, of which Plutarch speaks, de For. Rom. 10. [Greek: Serbios Tullios idrusato Tychaes ieron Kapitolio to taes Primigeneias legomenaes]. See IV. 375. It is not unlikely that, as Gesenius conjectures, Ovid read the PR. in his Calendar pop. Rom. i. e. pop. pot. of the text, instead of Primigenia. On the same day Aquila rises in the evening.

733. The following day VII. Kal. Bootes sets heliacally, and on the VI. Kal. the Hyades rise in the same manner.