INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
Reading edition
THIS little book has been prepared to meet the needs of my own classes. The selections have been made primarily with reference to their literary merit, but also with the intention of introducing the student to a number of authors not usually read in the earlier portion of the college course.
The notes are greatly indebted to the works named under the heading, 'Reference.'
I am under obligations to Professor E. C. Morris of Syracuse University for the correction of the manuscript of the notes, and to Mr. N. L. Willey, Syracuse University, 1908, for assistance in proof-reading. C. C. B. SYRACUSE, N.Y.
READINGS FROM LATIN VERSE.
CLASSICAL LATIN POETRY.
I. ENNIUS.
FROM THE ANNALS.
1. The Lament for Romulus.
Pectora fida tenet desiderium: simul inter sese sic memorant, 'o Romule, Romule die, qualem te patriae custodem di genuerunt! O pater, o genitor, o sanguen dis oriundum, tu produxisti nos intra luminis oras.' 5
2. Pyrrhus dismissing the Prisoners without Ransom.
Nec mi aurum posco nec mi pretium dederitis: nec cauponantes bellum sed belligerantes ferro, non auro, vitam cernamus utrique. Vosne velit an me regnare era quidve ferat Fors virtute experiamur. Et hoc simul accipe dictum: 5 quorum virtuti belli fortuna pepercit eorundem libertati me parcere certumst. Dono ducite doque volentibus cum magnis dis.
3. M.' Curius.
Quem nemo ferro potuit superare nec auro.
4. Q. Fabius Maximus.
Unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem; noenum rumores ponebat ante salutem; ergo plusque magisque viri nunc gloria claret.
5. The Strength of Rome.
Moribus antiquis res stat Romana virisque.
FROM THE TRAGEDIES.
6. A Bereaved Father's Fortitude.
Égo cum genui, túm morituros scívi et ei re sústuli. Praéterea ad Troiám cum misi ob défendendam Graéciam, scíbam me in mortíferum bellum, nón in epulas míttere.
7. 'Gods Careless of Mankind.'
Égo deum genus ésse semper díxi et dicam caélitum, séd eos non curáre opinor, quíd agat humanúm genus; nám si curent, béne bonis sit, mále malis; quod núnc abest.
FROM THE EPIGRAMS.
8. Ennius' Epitaph.
Nemo me dacrumis decoret nec funera fletu faxit. Cur? Volito vivus per ora virum.
II. LUCRETIUS.
1. 'Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhyme.'
Nunc age quod superest cognosce et clarius audi. Nec me animi fallit quam sint obscura; sed acri percussit thyrso laudis spes magna meum cor et simul incussit suavem mi pectus amorem musarum, quo nunc instinctus mente vigenti 5 avia Pieridum peragro loca nullius ante trita solo. Iuvat integros accedere fontes atque haurire, iuvatque novos decerpere flores insignemque meo capiti petere inde coronam unde prius nulli velarint tempora musae; 10 primum quod magnis doceo de rebus et artis religionum animum nodis exsolvere pergo, deinde quod obscura de re tam lucida pango carmina, musaeo contingens cuncta lepore. De Rerum Natura I. 931-934.
2. The Praise of Epicurus.
E tenebris tantis tam clarum extollere lumen qui primus potuisti inlustrans commoda vitae, te sequor, o Graiae gentis decus, inque tuis nunc ficta pedum pono pressis vestigia signis, non ita certandi cupidus quam propter amorem 5 quod te imitari aveo; quid enim contendat hirundo cycnis, aut quidnam tremulis facere artubus haedi consimile in cursu possint et fortis equi vis? Tu, pater, es rerum inventor, tu patria nobis suppeditas praecepta, tuisque ex, inclute, chartis, 10 floriferis ut apes in saltibus omnia libant, omnia nos itidem depascimur aurea dicta, aurea, perpetua semper dignissima vita. Nam simul ac ratio tua coepit vociferari naturam rerum, divina mente coorta, 15 diffugiunt animi terrores, moenia mundi discedunt, totum video per inane geri res. Apparet divum numen sedesque quietae quas neque concutiunt venti nec nubila nimbis aspergunt neque nix acri concreta pruina 20 cana cadens violat semperque innubilus aether integit, et large diffuso lumine rident. Omnia suppeditat porro natura neque ulla res animi pacem delibat tempore in ullo. At contra nusquam apparent Acherusia templa 25 nec tellus obstat quin omnia dispiciantur, sub pedibus quaecumque infra per inane geruntur. His ibi me rebus quaedam divina voluptas percipit adque horror, quod sic natura tua vi tam manifesta patens ex omni parte retecta est. 30 Id. III. 1-30.
3. The Changing Seasons.
It ver et Venus, et veris praenuntius ante pennatus graditur zephyrus, vestigia propter Flora quibus mater praespargens ante viai cuncta coloribus egregiis et odoribus opplet. Inde loci sequitur calor aridus et comes una 5 pulverulenta Ceres et etesia flabra aquilonum. Inde autumnus adit, graditur simul Euhius Euan. Inde aliae tempestates ventique secuntur, altitonans Volturnus et auster fulmine pollens. Tandem bruma nives adfert pigrumque rigorem, 10 prodit hiemps, sequitur crepitans hanc dentibus algor. Id. V. 736-746.
4. The Origin of Superstition.
Ergo perfugium sibi habebant omnia divis tradere et illorum nutu facere omnia flecti. In caeloque deum sedes et templa locarunt, per caelum volvi quia nox et luna videtur, luna dies et nox et noctis signa severa 5 noctivagaeque faces caeli flammaeque volantes, nubila sol imbres nix venti fulmina grando et rapidi fremitus et murmura magna minarum. O genus infelix humanum, talia divis cum tribuit facta atque iras adiunxit acerbas! 10 quantos tum gemitus ipsi sibi, quantaque nobis volnera, quas lacrimas peperere minoribu' nostris! Nec pietas ullast velatum saepe videri vertier ad lapidem atque omnis accedere ad aras nec procumbere humi prostratum et pandere palmas 15 ante deum delubra nec aras sanguine multo spargere quadrupedum nec votis nectere vota, sed mage pacata posse omnia mente tueri. Nam cum suspicimus magni caelestia mundi templa, super stellisque micantibus aethera fixum, 20 et venit in mentem solis lunaeque viarum, tunc allis oppressa malis in pectora cura illa quoque expergefactum caput erigere infit, nequae forte deum nobis inmensa potestas sit, vario motu quae candida sidera verset. 25 Temptat enim dubiam mentem rationis egestas, ecquaenam fuerit mundi genitalis origo, et simul ecquae sit finis, quoad moenia mundi solliciti motus hunc possint ferre laborem, an divinitus aeterna donata salute 30 perpetuo possint aevi labentia tractu inmensi validas aevi contemnere viris. Praeterea cui non animus formidine divum contrahitur, cui non correpunt membra pavore, fulminis horribili cum plaga torrida tellus 35 contremit et magnum percurrunt murmura caelum? Non populi gentesque tremunt, regesque superbi corripiunt divum percussi membra timore, nequid ob admissum foede dictumve superbe poenarum grave sit solvendi tempus adultum? 40 Denique sub pedibus tellus cum tota vacillat concussaeque cadunt urbes dubiaeque minantur, quid mirum si se temnunt mortalia saecla atque potestatis magnas mirasque relinqunt in rebus viris divum, quae cuncta gubernent? 45 Id. V. 1186-1225, 1236-1240.
III. CATULLUS.
1. Exposed to a Draft.
Furi, villula nostra non ad Austri flatus oppositast neque ad Favoni nec saevi Boreae aut Apeliotae, verum ad milia quindecim et ducentos. O ventum horribilem atque pestilentem! 5 XXVI.
2. An Affected Pronunciation.
Chommoda dicebat, si quando commoda vellet dicere, et insidias Arrius hinsidias, et tum mirifice sperabat se esse locutum, cum quantum poterat dixerat hinsidias. Credo, sic mater, sic liber avonculus eius, 5 sic maternus avos dixerat atque avia. Hoc misso in Syriam requierant omnibus aures: audibant eadem haec leniter et leviter, nec sibi postilla metuebant talia verba, cum subito adfertur nuntius horribilis, 10 Ionios fluctus, postquam illuc Arrius isset, iam non Ionios esse, sed Hionios. LXXXIV.
3. The Dead Pet.
Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque et quantum est hominum venustiorum! Passer mortuus est meae puellae, passer, deliciae meae puellae, quem plus illa oculis suis amabat; 5 nam mellitus erat, suamque norat ipsam tam bene quam puella matrem, nec sese a gremio illius movebat sed circumsiliens modo huc modo illuc ad solam dominam usque pipilabat. 10 Qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum illuc unde negant redire quemquam. At vobis male sit, malae tenebrae Orci, quae omnia bella devoratis; tam bellum mihi passerem abstulistis. 15 O factum male! io miselle passer! Tua nunc opera meae puellae flendo turgiduli rubent ocelli. III.
4. Veranius, Welcome!
Verani, omnibus e meis amicis antistans mihi milibus trecentis, venistine domum ad tuos penates fratresque unanimos anumque matrem? Venisti! o mihi nuntii beati! 5 Visam te incolumem audiamque Hiberum narrantem loca, facta, nationes, ut mos est tuus, adplicansque collum iucundum os oculosque saviabor. O quantum est hominum beatiorum, 10 quid me laetius est beatiusve? IX.
5. Homeward Bound.
Iam ver egelidos refert tepores, iam caeli furor aequinoctialis iucundis Zephyri silescit auris. Linquantur Phrygii, Catulle, campi Nicaeaeque ager uber aestuosae: 5 ad claras Asiae volemus urbes. Iam mens praetrepidans avet vagari, iam laeti studio pedes vigescunt. O dulces comitum valete coetus, longe quos simul a domo profectos 10 diversae variae viae reportant. XLVI.
6. Home at Last.
Paene insularum, Sirmio, insularumque ocelle, quascumque in liquentibus stagnis marique vasto fert uterque Neptunus, quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso, vix mi ipse credens Thyniam atque Bithynos 5 liquisse campos et videre te in tuto! O quid solutis est beatius curis, cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum desideratoque adquiescimus lecto? 10 Hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis. Salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque ero gaude: gaudete vosque, o Lydiae lacus undae: ridete, quidquid est domi cachinnorum. XXXI.
7. Sympathy in Sorrow.
Si quicquam mutis gratum acceptumve sepulcris accidere a nostro, Calve, dolore potest, quo desiderio veteres renovamus amores atque olim missas flemus amicitias, certe non tanto mors inmatura dolori est 5 Quintiliae, quantum gaudet amore tuo. XCVI.
8. 'Vita Frater Amabilior.'
Etsi me adsiduo confectum cura dolore sevocat a doctis, Ortale, virginibus, nec potis est dulcis Musarum expromere fetus mens animi: tantis fluctuat ipsa malis: namque mei nuper Lethaeo gurgite fratris 5 pallidulum manans adluit unda pedem, Troia Rhoeteo quem subter litore tellus ereptum nostris obterit ex oculis. . . . . . . Nunquam ego te vita frater amabilior adspiciam posthac: at certe semper amabo, 10 semper maesta tua carmina morte canam, qualia sub densis ramorum concinit umbris Daulias absumpti fata gemens Ityli: sed tamen in tantis maeroribus, Ortale, mitto haec expressa tibi carmina Battiadae, 15 ne tua dicta vagis nequiquam credita ventis effluxisse meo forte putes animo. LXV. 1-8, 10-18.
9. 'Frater, Ave atque Vale.'
Multas per gentes et multa per aequora vectus advenio has miseras, frater, ad inferias, ut te postremo donarem munere mortis et mutam nequiquam adloquerer cinerem, quandoquidem fortuna mihi tete abstulit ipsum, 5 heu miser indigne frater adempte mihi. Nunc tamen interea haec, prisco quae more parentum tradita sunt tristi munere ad inferias, accipe fraterno multum manantia fletu atque in perpetuum, frater, ave atque vale. 10 CI.
IV. VERGIL.
1. The Tale of Aristaeus.
Quis deus hanc, Musae, quis nobis extudit artem? Unde nova ingressus hominum experientia cepit? Pastor Aristaeus fugiens Peneia Tempe, amissis, ut fama, apibus morboque fameque, tristis ad extremi sacrum caput adstitit amnis, 5 multa querens, atque hac adfatus voce parentem: mater, Cyrene mater, quae gurgitis huius ima tenes, quid me praeclara stirpe deorum— si modo, quem perhibes, pater est Thymbraeus Apollo— invisum fatis genuisti? aut quo tibi nostri 10 pulsus amor? quid me caelum sperare iubebas? En etiam hunc ipsum vitae mortalis honorem, quem mihi vix frugum et pecudum custodia sollers omnia temptanti extuderat, te matre, relinquo. Quin age, et ipsa manu felicis erue silvas, 15 fer stabulis inimicum ignem atque interfice messis, ure sata, et validam in vitis molire bipennem, tanta meae si te ceperunt taedia laudis. At mater sonitum thalamo sub fluminis alti sensit. Eam circum Milesia vellera Nymphae 20 carpebant, hyali saturo fucata colore, Drymoque, Xanthoque, Ligeaque, Phyllodoceque, caesariem effusae nitidam per candida colla. [Nesaee, Spioque, Thaliaque, Cymodoceque,] Cydippeque et flava Lycorias, altera virgo, 25 altera tum primos Lucinae experta labores, Clioque et Beroe soror, Oceanitides ambae, ambae auro, pictis incinctae pellibus ambae, atque Ephyre, atque Opis, et Asia Deiopea, et tandem positis velox Arethusa sagittis. 30 Inter quas curam Clymene narrabat inanem Volcani, Martisque dolos et dulcia furta, aque Chao densos divom numerabat amores. Carmine quo captae dum fusis mollia pensa devolvunt, iterum maternas inpulit auris 35 luctus Aristaei, vitreisque sedilibus omnes obstipuere; sed ante alias Arethusa sorores prospiciens summa flavum caput extulit unda, et procul: O gemitu non frustra exterrita tanto, Cyrene soror, ipse tibi, tua maxuma cura, 40 tristis Aristaeus Penei genitoris ad undam stat lacrimans, et te crudelem nomine dicit. Huic percussa nova mentem formidine mater, Duc, age, duc ad nos; fas illi limina divom tangere, ait. Simul alta iubet discedere late 45 flumina, qua iuvenis gressus inferret. At illum curvata in montis faciem circumstetit unda accepitque sinu vasto misitque sub amnem. Iamque domum mirans genetricis et humida regna speluncisque lacus clausos lucosque sonantis 50 ibat, et ingenti motu stupefactus aquarum omnia sub magna labentia flumina terra spectabat diversa locis, Phasimque, Lycumque, et caput, unde altus primum se erumpit Enipeus, unde pater Tiberinus, et unde Aniena fluenta, 55 saxosusque sonans Hypanis, Mysusque Caicus, et gemina auratus taurino cornua voltu Eridanus, quo non alius per pinguia culta in mare purpureum violentior effluit amnis. Postquam est in thalami pendentia pumice tecta 60 perventum, et nati fletus cognovit inanis Cyrene, manibus liquidos dant ordine fontis germanae, tonsisque ferunt mantelia villis; pars epulis onerant mensas, et plena reponunt pocula; Panchaeis adolescunt ignibus arae; 65 et mater, Cape Maeonii carchesia Bacchi: Oceano libemus, ait. Simul ipsa precatur Oceanumque patrem rerum Nymphasque sorores, centum quae silvas, centum quae flumina servant. Ter liquido ardentem perfudit nectare Vestam, 70 ter flamma ad summum tecti subiecta reluxit. Omine quo firmans animum sic incipit ipsa: Est in Carpathio Neptuni gurgite vates caeruleus Proteus, magnum qui piscibus aequor et iuncto bipedum curru metitur equorum. 75 Hic nunc Emathiae portus patriamque revisit Pallenen; hunc et Nymphae veneramur et ipse grandaevus Nereus; novit namque omnia vates, quae sint, quae fuerint, quae mox ventura trahantur. Quippe ita Neptuno visum est, inmania cuius 80 armenta et turpis pascit sub gurgite phocas. Hic tibi, nate, prius vinclis capiendus, ut omnem expediat morbi caussam, eventusque secundet. Nam sine vi non ulla dabit praecepta, neque illum orando flectes: vim duram et vincula capto 85 tende; doli circum haec demum frangentur inanes. Ipsa ego te, medios cum sol accenderit aestus, cum sitiunt herbae, et pecori iam gratior umbra est, in secreta senis ducam, quo fessus ab undis se recipit, facile ut somno adgrediare iacentem. 90 Verum ubi correptum manibus vinclisque tenebis, tum variae eludent species atque ora ferarum. Fiet enim subito sus horridus, atraque tigris, squamosusque draco, et fulva cervice leaena; aut acrem flammae sonitum dabit, atque ita vinclis 95 excidet, aut in aquas tenuis dilapsus abibit. Sed quanto ille magis formas se vertet in omnis, tanto, nate, magis contende tenacia vincla, donec talis erit mutato corpore, qualem videris, incepto tegeret cum lumina somno. 100 Haec ait, et liquidum ambrosiae diffundit odorem, quo totum nati corpus perduxit; at illi dulcis conpositis spiravit crinibus aura, atque habilis membris venit vigor. Est specus ingens exesi latere in montis, quo plurima vento 105 cogitur inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos, deprensis olim statio tutissima nautis; intus se vasti Proteus tegit obiice saxi. Hic iuvenem in latebris aversum a lumine Nympha collocat; ipsa procul nebulis obscura resistit. 110 Iam rapidus torrens sitientis Sirius Indos ardebat caelo, et medium sol igneus orbem hauserat; arebant herbae, et cava flumina siccis faucibus ad limum radii tepefacta coquebant: cum Proteus consueta petens e fluctibus antra 115 ibat; eum vasti circum gens humida ponti exsultans rorem late dispergit amarum. Sternunt se somno diversae in litore phocae; ipse, velut stabuli custos in montibus olim, vesper ubi e pastu vitulos ad tecta reducit 120 auditisque lupos acuunt balatibus agni, considit scopulo medius, numerumque recenset. Cuius Aristaeo quoniam est oblata facultas, vix defessa senem passus conponere membra, cum clamore ruit magno, manicisque iacentem 125 occupat. Ille suae contra non inmemor artis omnia transformat sese in miracula rerum, ignemque, horribilemque feram, fluviumque liquentem. Verum ubi nulla fugam reperit fallacia, victus in sese redit, atque hominis tandem ore locutus: 130 Nam quis te, iuvenum confidentissime, nostras iussit adire domos? quidve hinc petis? inquit. At ille: Scis, Proteu, scis ipse; neque est te fallere quicquam; sed tu desine velle. Deum praecepta secuti venimus, hinc lassis quaesitum oracula rebus. 135 Tantum effatus. Ad haec vates vi denique multa ardentis oculos intorsit lumine glauco, et graviter frendens sic fatis ora resolvit: Non te nullius exercent numinis irae. Magna luis commissa: tibi has miserabilis Orpheus 140 haud quaquam ob meritum poenas, ni Fata resistant, suscitat, et rapta graviter pro coniuge saevit. Illa quidem, dum te fugeret per flumina praeceps, inmanem ante pedes hydrum moritura puella servantem ripas alta non vidit in herba. 145 At chorus aequalis Dryadum clamore supremos inplerunt montis; flerunt Rhodopeiae arces, altaque Pangaea, et Rhesi Mavortia tellus, atque Getae, atque Hebrus, et Actias Orithyia. Ipse, cava solans aegrum testudine amorem, 150 te, dulcis coniunx, te solo in litore secum, te veniente die, te decedente canebat. Taenarias etiam fauces, alta ostia Ditis, et caligantem nigra formidine lucum ingressus, Manisque adiit Regemque tremendum, 155 nesciaque humanis precibus mansuescere corda. At cantu commotae Erebi de sedibus imis umbrae ibant tenues simulacraque luce carentum, quam multa in foliis avium se milia condunt, vesper ubi aut hibernus agit de montibus imber, 160 matres atque viri, defunctaque corpora vita magnanimum heroum, pueri innuptaeque puellae, inpositique rogis iuvenes ante ora parentum; quos circum limus niger et deformis arundo Cocyti tardaque palus inamabilis unda 165 alligat, et noviens Styx interfusa coercet. Quin ipsae stupuere domus atque intima Leti Tartara caeruleosque inplexae crinibus anguis Eumenides, tenuitque inhians tria Cerberus ora, atque Ixionii vento rota constitit orbis. 170 Iamque pedem referens casus evaserat omnis, redditaque Eurydice superas veniebat ad auras, pone sequens,—namque hanc dederat Proserpina legem— cum subita incautum dementia cepit amantem, ignoscenda quidem, scirent si ignoscere Manes: 175 restitit, Eurydicenque suam, iam luce sub ipsa, inmemor, heu! victusque animi respexit. Ibi omnis effusus labor, atque inmitis rupta tyranni foedera, terque fragor stagnis auditus Avernis. Illa, Quis et me, inquit, miseram, et te perdidit, Orpheu, 180 quis tantus furor? En iterum crudelia retro fata vocant, conditque natantia lumina somnus. Iamque vale: feror ingenti circumdata nocte, invalidasque tibi tendens, heu non tua, palmas! Dixit, et ex oculis subito, ceu fumus in auras 185 commixtus tenuis, fugit diversa, neque illum, prensantem nequiquam umbras et multa volentem dicere, praeterea vidit; nec portitor Orci amplius obiectam passus transire paludem. Quid faceret? quo se rapta bis coniuge ferret? 190 Quo fletu Manis, qua Numina voce moveret? Illa quidem Stygia nabat iam frigida cymba. Septem illum totos perhibent ex ordine menses rupe sub aeria deserti ad Strymonis undam flevisse, et gelidis haec evolvisse sub antris, 195 mulcentem tigris et agentem carmine quercus; qualis populea maerens philomela sub umbra amissos queritur fetus, quos durus arator observans nido inplumis detraxit; at illa flet noctem, ramoque sedens miserabile carmen 200 integrat, et maestis late loca questibus inplet. Nulla Venus, non ulli animum flexere hymenaei. Solus Hyperboreas glacies Tanaimque nivalem arvaque Rhipaeis numquam viduata pruinis lustrabat, raptam Eurydicen atque inrita Ditis 205 dona querens; spretae Ciconum quo munere matres inter sacra deum nocturnique orgia Bacchi discerptum latos iuvenem sparsere per agros. Tum quoque marmorea caput a cervice revolsum gurgite cum medio portans Oeagrius Hebrus 210 volveret, Eurydicen vox ipsa et frigida lingua, Ah miseram Eurydicen! anima fugiente vocabat; Eurydicen toto referebant flumine ripae. Haec Proteus, et se iactu dedit aequor in altum, quaque dedit, spumantem undam sub vertice torsit. 215 At non Cyrene; namque ultro adfata timentem: Nate, licet tristis animo deponere curas. Haec omnis morbi caussa; hinc miserabile Nymphae, cum quibus illa choros lucis agitabat in altis, exitium misere apibus. Tu munera supplex 220 tende, petens pacem, et facilis venerare Napaeas; namque dabunt veniam votis, irasque remittent. Sed, modus orandi qui sit, prius ordine dicam. Quattuor eximios praestanti corpore tauros, qui tibi nunc viridis depascunt summa Lycaei, 225 delige, et intacta totidem cervice iuvencas. Quattuor his aras alta ad delubra dearum constitue, et sacrum iugulis demitte cruorem, corporaque ipsa boum frondoso desere luco. Post, ubi nona suos Aurora ostenderit ortus, 230 inferias Orphei Lethaea papavera mittes, et nigram mactabis ovem, lucumque revises; placatam Eurydicen vitula venerabere caesa. Haud mora; continuo matris praecepta facessit; ad delubra venit, monstratas excitat aras, 235 quattuor eximios praestanti corpore tauros ducit, et intacta totidem cervice iuvencas. Post ubi nona suos Aurora induxerat ortus, inferias Orphei mittit, lucumque revisit. Hic vero subitum ac dictu mirabile monstrum 240 aspiciunt, liquefacta boum per viscera toto stridere apes utero et ruptis effervere costis, inmensasque trahi nubes, iamque arbore summa confluere et lentis uvam demittere ramis. Georgics IV. 315-558.
V. PHAEDRUS.
1. Prologue.
Aesopus auctor quam materiam repperit, hanc ego polivi versibus senariis. Duplex libelli dos est: quod risum movet et quod prudenti vitam consilio monet. Calumniari siquis autem voluerit, 5 quod arbores loquantur, non tantum ferae, fictis iocari nos meminerit fabulis. I. Prologus.
2. The Wolf and the Lamb.
Ad rivum eundem lupus et agnus venerant siti compulsi; superior stabat lupus longeque inferior agnus. Tunc fauce improba latro incitatus iurgii causam intulit. Cur, inquit, turbulentam fecisti mihi 5 aquam bibenti? Laniger contra timens: Qui possum, quaeso, facere quod quereris, lupe? A te decurrit ad meos haustus liquor. Repulsus ille veritatis viribus: Ante hos sex mensis male, ait, dixisti mihi. 10 Respondit agnus: Equidem natus non eram. Pater hercle tuus, ille inquit, maledixit mihi. Atque ita conreptum lacerat iniusta nece. Haec propter illos scripta est homines fabula, qui fictis causis innocentes opprimunt. 15 I. 1.
3. The Dog, the Meat, and the River; or, Greed its own Punishment.
Amittit merito proprium qui alienum adpetit. Canis per flumen carnem dum ferret natans, lympharum in speculo vidit simulacrum suum, aliamque praedam ab altero ferri putans eripere voluit: verum decepta aviditas 5 et quem tenebat ore dimisit cibum, nec quem petebat potuit adeo adtingere. I. 4.
4. Aesop and the Insolent Fellow.
Successus ad perniciem multos devocat. Aesopo quidam petulans lapidem impegerat. Tanto, inquit, melior! Assem deinde illi dedit, sic prosecutus: Plus non habeo mehercule, sed, unde accipere possis, monstrabo tibi. 5 Venit ecce dives et potens: huic similiter impinge lapidem et dignum accipies praemium. Persuasus ille fecit quod monitus fuit; sed spes fefellit inpudentem audaciam: conprensus namque poenas persolvit cruce. 10 III. 5.
5. How Castor and Pollux rewarded Simonides.
Quantum valerent inter homines litterae, dixi superius: quantus nunc illis honos a superis sit tributus, tradam memoriae. Simonides idem ille, de quo rettuli, victori laudem cuidam pyctae ut scriberet, 5 certo conductus pretio secretum petit. Exigua cum frenaret materia impetum, usus poetae more est et licentia atque interposuit gemina Ledae pignera, auctoritatem similis referens gloriae. 10 Opus adprobavit; sed mercedis tertiam accepit partem. Cum relicuam posceret: illi, inquit, reddent, quorum sunt laudis duae. Verum, ut ne irate te dimissum censeas, ad cenam mihi promitte; cognatos volo 15 hodie invitare, quorum es in numero mihi. Fraudatus quamvis et dolens iniuria, ne male dissimulans gratiam corrumperet, promisit. Rediit hora dicta, recubuit. Splendebat hilare poculis convivium, 20 magno adparatu laeta resonabat domus: repente duo cum iuvenes spavsi pulvere, sudore multo diffluentes, corpora humanam supra formam, cuidam servulo mandant, ut ad se provocet Simonidem; 25 illius interesse, ne faciat moram. Homo perturbatus excitat Simonidem. Unum promorat vix pedem triclinio, ruina camarae subito oppressit ceteros; nec ulli iuvenes sunt reperti ad ianuam. 30 Ut est vulgatus ordo narratae rei, omnes scierunt numinum praesentiam vati dedisse vitam mercedis loco. IV. 25.
6. The Delphic Oracle.
Utilius nobis quid sit dic, Phoebe, obsecro, qui Delphos et famosum Parnasum incolis. Quid est? Sacratae vatis horrescunt comae, tripodes moventur, mugit adytis Religio, tremuntque lauri et ipse pallescit dies. 5 Voces resolvit icta Pytho numine: Audite, gentes, Delii monitus dei: Pietatem colite; vota superis reddite; patriam, parentes, natos, castas coniuges defendite armis, ferroque hostem pellite; 10 amicos sublevate; miseris parcite; bonis favete, subdolis ite obviam; delicta vindicate; castigate impios; punite turpi thalamos qui violant stupro; malos cavete; nulli nimium credite. 15 Haec elocuta concidit virgo furens: furens profecto, nam quae dixit perdidit. Appendix 6.
7. The Wit, the Rustic, and the Pig; or, How Prejudice met its Deserved Humiliation.
Pravo favore labi mortales solent et, pro iudicio dum stant erroris sui, ad paenitendum rebus manifestis agi. Facturus ludos quidam dives nobilis proposito cunctos invitavit praemio, 5 quam quisque posset ut novitatem ostenderet. Venere artifices laudis ad certamina; quos inter scurra, notus urbano sale, habere dixit se genus spectaculi, quod in theatre numquam prolatum foret . 10 Dispersus rumor civitatem concitat. Paulo ante vacua turbam deficiunt loca. In scaena vero postquam solus constitit sine adparatu, nullis adiutoribus, silentium ipsa fecit expectatio. 15 Ille in sinum repente demisit caput et sic porcelli vocem est imitatus sua, verum ut subesse pallio contenderent et excuti iuberent. Quo facto simul nihil est repertum, multis onerant laudibus 20 hominemque plausu prosequuntur maximo. Hoc vidit fieri rusticus. Non mehercule me vincet, inquit: et statim professus est idem facturum melius se postridie. Fit turba maior. Iam favor mentes tenet 25 et derisuri, non spectaturi, sedent. Uterque prodit. Scurra degrunnit prior movetque plausus et clamores suscitat. Tunc simulans sese vestimentis rusticus porcellum obtegere, (quod faciebat scilicet, 30 sed, in priore quia nil compererant, latens) pervellit aurem vero, quem celaverat, et cum dolore vocem naturae exprimit. Adclamat populus scurram multo similius imitatum, et cogit rusticum trudi foras. 35 At ille profert ipsum porcellum e sinu, turpemque aperto pignore errorem probans: En hic declarat, quales sitis indices! V. 5.
VI. SENECA.
1. The Rashness of the First Navigators Rebuked.
Audax nimium qui freta primus rate tam fragili perfida rupit terrasque suas post terga videns animam levibus credidit auris, dubioque secaus aequora cursu 5 potuit tenui fidere ligno, inter vitae mortisque vias nimium gracili limite ducto. Candida nostri saecula patres videre, procul fraude remota. 10 Sua quisque piger litora tangens patrioque senex factus in arvo, parvo dives, nisi quas tulerat natale solum, non norat opes: nondum quisquam sidera norat, 15 stellisque quibus pingitur aether non erat usus, nondum pluvias Hyadas poterat vitare ratis, non Oleniae lumina caprae, nec quae sequitur flectitque senex 20 Attica tardus plaustra Bootes, nondum Boreas, nondum Zephyrus nomen habebant. Ausus Tiphys pandere vasto carbasa ponto legesque novas 25 scribere ventis. . . . . . . Bene dissaepti foedera mundi traxit in unum Thessala pinus iussitque pati verbera pontum, partemque metus fieri nostri 30 mare sepositum. Dedit illa graves improba poenas per tam longos ducta timores, cum duo montes, claustra profundi, hinc atque illinc subito impulsu 35 velut aetherio gemerent sonitu, spargeret arces nubesque ipsas mare deprensum. Palluit audax Tiphys et omnes labente manu misit habenas, 40 Orpheus tacuit torpente lyra ipsaque vocem perdidit Argo. Quid cum Siculi virgo Pelori, rabidos utero succincta canes, omnes pariter solvit hiatus? 45 Quis non totos horruit artus totiens uno latrante malo? Quid cum Ausonium dirae pestes voce canora mare mulcerent, cum Pieria resonans cithara 50 Thracius Orpheus solitam cantu retinere rates paene coegit Sirena sequi? Quod fuit huius pretium cursus? Aurea pellis maiusque mari Medea malum, 55 merces prima digna carina.
Man now Master of the Sea.
Nunc iam cessit pontus et omnes patitur leges: non Palladia compacta manu regumque ferens inclita remos quaeritur Argo— 60 quaelibet altum cumba pererrat; terminus omnis motus et urbes muros terra posuere nova, nil qua fuerat sede reliquit pervius orbis: 65 Indus gelidum potat Araxen, Albin Persae Rhenumque bibunt—
'The Prophecy of Nero's Tutor-victim.'
venient annis saecula seris, quibus oceanus vincula rerum laxet et ingens pateat tellus 70 Tethysque novos detegat orbes nec sit terris ultima Thule. Medea 301-320, 329-379.
2. The Return of Agamemnon.
Agamemnon. Tandem revertor sospes ad patrios laris; o cara salve terra. Tibi tot barbarae dedere gentes spolia, tibi felix diu potentes Asiae Troia submisit manus. Quid ista vates corpus effusa ac tremens 5 dubia labat cervice? Famuli, adtollite, refovete gelido latice. Iam recipit diem marcente visu. Suscita sensus tuos: optatus ille portus aerumnis adest. Festus dies est. Cassandra. Festus et Troiae fuit. 10 Agam. Veneremur aras. Cass. Cecidit ante aras pater. Agam. Iovem precemur. Cass Pariter Herceum Iovem? Agam. Credis videre te Ilium? Cass. Et Priamum simul. Agam. Hic Troia non est. Cass. Ubi Helena est Troiam puto. Agam. Ne metue dominam famula. Cass. Libertas adest. 15 Agam. Secura vive. Cass. Mihi mori est securitas. Agam. Nullum est periculum tibimet. Cass. At magnum tibi. Agam. Victor timere quid potest? Cass. Quod non timet. Agam. Hanc fida, famuli, turba, dum excutiat deum, retinete ne quid impotens peccet furor. 20 At te, pater, qui saeva torques fulmina pellisque nubis, sidera et terras regis, ad quem triumphi spolia victores ferunt, et te sororem cuncta pollentis viri, Argolica Iuno, pecore votivo libens 25 Arabumque donis supplice et fibra colam. Agamemnon 782-807.
VII. LUCAN.
1. The Energy of Caesar.
Caesar in omnia praeceps, nil actum credens cum quid superesset agendum. Pharsalia II. 656, 657.
2. Equal Authorities and Opposite Verdicts.
Nec quemquam iam ferre potest Caesarve priorem Pompeiusve parem. Quis iustius induit arma, scire nefas: magno se iudice quisque tuetur: victrix causa deis placuit, sed victa Catoni. Id. I. 125-128.
3. Cato refusing to consult the Oracle of Jupiter Ammon.
Ille deo plenus, tacita quem mente gerebat, effudit dignas adytis e pectore voces: 'Quid quaeri, Labiene, iubes? An liber in armis occubuisse velim potius, quam regna videre? an sit vita nihil, et longa? an differat aetas? 5 an noceat vis ulla bono? Fortunaque perdat opposita virtute minas? laudandaque velle sit satis, et numquam successu crescat honestum? Scimus, et haec nobis non altius inseret Hammon. Haeremus cuncti superis, temploque tacente, 10 nil agimus nisi sponte dei: nec vocibus ullis numen eget: dixitque semel nascentibus auctor quidquid scire licet: steriles nec legit harenas, ut caneret paucis, mersitque hoc pulvere verum: estque dei sedes, ubi terra, et pontus, et aer, 15 et caelum, et virtus. Superos quid quaerimus ultra? Iuppiter est quodcumque vides, quodcumque moveris. Sortilegis egeant dubii, semperque futuris casibus ancipites: me non oracula certum, sed mors certa facit: pavido fortique cadendum est. 20 Hoc satis est dixisse Iovem.' Sic ille profatur: servataque fide templi discedit ab aris, non exploratum populis Hammona relinquens. Id. IX. 564-586.
4. Cato in the Desert.
Ipse manu sua pila gerens praecedit anheli militis ora pedes: monstrat tolerare labores, non iubet: et nulla vehitur cervice supinus, carpentoque sedens. Somni parcissimus ipse est, ultimus haustor aquae. Cum tandem fonte reperto 5 indiga conatur laticis potare iuventus, stat dum lixa bibat. Si veris magna paratur fama bonis, et si successu nuda remoto inspicitur virtus, quidquid laudamus in ullo maiorum Fortuna fuit. Quis Marte secundo, 10 quis tantum meruit populorum sanguine nomen? Hunc ego per Syrtes, Libyaeque extrema triumphum ducere maluerim, quam ter Capitolia curru scandere Pompeii, quam frangere colla Iugurthae. Ecce parens verus patriae, dignissimus aris, 15 Roma, tuis! Id. IX. 587-602.
5. The Character of Cato.
Hi mores, haec duri inmota Catonis secta fuit: servare modum, finemque tenere, naturamque sequi, patriaeque inpendere vitam; nec sibi, sed toti genitum se credere mundo. Huic epulae, vicisse famem: magnique penates, 5 submovisse hiemem tecto: pretiosaque vestis, hirtam membra super Romani more Quiritis induxisse togam. Urbi pater est, Urbique maritus: iustitiae cultor, rigidi servator honesti: 10 in commune bonus: nullosque Catonis in actus subrepsit partemque tulit sibi nata voluptas. Id. II. 380-391.
VIII. STATIUS.
1. To Sleep.
Crimine quo merui, iuvenis placidissime divum, quove errore miser donis ut solus egerem, Somne, tuis? Tacet omne pecus volucresque feraeque et simulant fessos curvata cacumina somnos, nec trucibus fluviis idem sonus, occidit horror 5 aequoris et terris maria adclinata quiescunt. Septima iam rediens Phoebe mihi respicit aegras stare genas, totidem Oetaeae Paphiaeque revisunt lampades et totiens nostros Tithonia questus praeterit et gelido spargit miserata flagello. 10 Unde ego sufficiam? Non sunt mihi lumina mille, quae sacer alterna tantum statione tenebat Argus et haud unquam vigilabat corpore toto. At nunc, heu, si aliquis ultro te, Somne, repellit, inde veni! Nec te totas infundere pennas 15 luminibus compello meis (hoc turba precetur laetior); extremo me tange cacumine virgae, sufficit, aut leviter suspenso poplite transi. Silvae V. 4.
IX. MARTIAL.
1. Misplaced Eloquence.
Non de vi neque caede nec veneno, sed lis est mihi de tribus capellis: vicini queror has abesse furto. Hoc iudex sibi postulat probari: tu Cannas Mithridaticumque bellum 5 et periuria Punici furoris et Sullas Mariosque Muciosque magna voce sonas manuque tota. Iam dic, Postume, de tribus capellis. VI. 19.
2. A Wise Precaution.
Cur non mitto meos tibi, Pontiliane, libellos? Ne mihi tu mittas, Pontiliane, tuos. VII. 3.
3. An Improbable Situation.
Saepe rogare soles, qualis sim, Prisce, futurus, si fiam locuples simque repente potens. Quemquam posse putas mores narrare futuros? Dic mihi, si fias tu leo, qualis eris? XII. 92.
4. The Country Resident seeking City Markets.
Capena grandi porta qua pluit gutta Phrygiumque Matris Almo qua lavat ferrum, Horatiorum qua viret sacer campus et qua pusilli fervet Herculis fanum, Faustine, plena Bassus ibat in raeda, 5 omnes beati copias trahens ruris. Illic videres frutice nobili caules et utrumque porrum sessilesque lactucas pigroque ventri non inutiles betas. Illic coronam pinguibus gravem turdis 10 leporemque laesum Gallici canis dente nondumque victa lacteum faba porcum. Nec feriatus ibat ante carrucam, sed tuta faeno cursor ova portabat. Urbem petebat Bassus? Immo rus ibat. 15 III. 47.
5. The Miniature Farm.
Donasti, Lupe, rus sub urbe nobis; sed rus est mihi maius in fenestra. Rus hoc dicere, rus potes vocare? in quo ruta facit nemus Dianae, argutae tegit ala quod cicadae, 5 quod formica die comedit uno, clusae cui folium rosae corona est; in quo nec cucumis iacere rectus, nec serpens habitare tota possit, erucam male pascit hortus unam, 10 consumpto moritur culex salicto, et talpa est mihi fossor atque arator. Non boletus hiare, non mariscae ridere aut violae patere possunt. Fines mus populatur et colono 15 tamquam sus Calydonius timetur. Et sublata volantis ungue Prognes in nido seges est hirundinino. Vix implet cochleam peracta messis et mustum nuce condimus picata. 20 Errasti, Lupe, littera sed una. Nam quo tempore praedium dedisti, mallem tu mihi prandium dedisses. XI. 18. 1-7, 10-20, 23-27.
6. 'Carpe Diem.'
Cras te victurum, cras dicis, Postume, semper. Dic mini, cras istud, Postume, quando venit? Quam longe cras istud, ubi est? Aut unde petendum? Numquid apud Parthos Armeniosque latet? Iam cras istud habet Priami vel Nestoris annos. 5 Cras istud quanti, dic mihi, possit emi? Cras vives? Hodie iam vivere, Postume, serum est: ille sapit, quisquis, Postume, vixit heri. V. 58.
7. Secrets of Happiness.
Vitam quae faciant beatiorem, iucundissime Martialis, haec sunt: res non parta labore, sed relicta; non ingratus ager, focus perennis; lis numquam, toga rara, mens quieta; 5 vires ingenuae, salubre corpus; prudens simplicitas, pares amici; convictus facilis, sine arte mensa; nox non ebria, sed soluta curis; non tristis torus, et tamen pudicus; 10 somnus, qui faciat breves tenebras; quod sis, esse velis nihilque malis; summum nec metuas diem, nec optes. X. 47.
8. After the Great Eruption.
Hic est pampineis viridis modo Vesbius umbris, presserat hic madidos nobilis uva lacus. Haec iuga quam Nysae colles plus Bacchus amavit, hoc nuper Satyri monte dedere choros. Haec Veneris sedes, Lacedaemone gratior illi, 5 hic locus Herculeo numine clarus erat. Cuncta iacent flammis et tristi mersa favilla: nec superi vellent hoc licuisse sibi. IV. 44
9. Porcia.
Coniugis audisset fatum cum Porcia Bruti et subtracta sibi quaereret arma dolor, 'Nondum scitis' ait 'mortem non posse negari? Credideram, fatis hoc docuisse patrem.' Dixit et ardentes avido bibit ore favillas: 5 i nunc et ferrum, turba molesta, nega. I. 42.
10. 'Paete, non dolet.'
Casta suo gladium cum traderet Arria Paeto, quem de visceribus strinxerat ipsa suis, 'siqua fides, vulnus quod feci non dolet,' inquit; 'sed quod tu facies, hoc mihi, Paete, dolet.' I. 13.
11. Paris' Epitaph.
Quisquis Flaminiam teris, viator, noli nobile praeterire marmor. Urbis deliciae salesque Nlli, ars et gratia, lusus et voluptas, Romani decus et dolor theatri 5 atque omnes Veneres Cupidinesque hoc sunt condita, quo Paris, sepulcro. _XI. 13.
12. Genuine and Counterfeit Grief.
Puella senibus dulcior mihi cygnis, agna Galaesi mollior Phalantini, concha Lucrini delicatior stagni, cui nec lapillos praeferas Erythraeos, nec modo politum pecudis Indicae dentem, 5 nivesque primas liliumque non tactum; quae crine vicit Baetici gregis vellus Rhenique nodos aureamque nitellam; fragravit ore, quod rosarium Paesti, quod Atticarum prima mella cerarum, 10 quod sucinorum rapta de manu gleba; cui comparatus indecens erat pavo, inamabilis sciurus et frequens phoenix: adhuc recenti tepet Erotion busto, quam pessimorum lex amara fatorum 15 sexta peregit hieme, nec tamen tota, nostros amores gaudiumque lususque. Et esse tristem me meus vetat Paetus, pectusque pulsans pariter et comam vellens: 'Deflere non te vernulae pudet mortem? 20 Ego coniugem' inquit 'extuli, et tamen vivo, notam, superbam, nobilem, locupletem.' Quid esse nostro fortius potest Paeto? Ducenties accepit, et tamen vivit. V. 37.
13. Epitaph on Little Erotion.
Hanc tibi, Fronto pater, genetrix Flacilla, puellam oscula commendo deliciasque meas, parvula ne nigras horrescat Erotion umbras oraque Tartarei prodigiosa canis. Impletura fuit sextae modo frigora brumae, 5 vixisset totidem ni minus illa dies. Inter tam veteres ludat lasciva patronos et nomen blaeso garriat ore meum. Mollia non rigidus caespes tegat ossa, nec illi, terra, gravis fueris: non fuit illa tibi. 10 V. 34.
X. JUVENAL.
1. The Life of the Poor at Rome; its Dangers and Discomforts.
1-33. Houses are all the while collapsing or burning. No one assists the poor man, while the millionaire has his misfortune more than made good by aspirants to legacies.
34-42. The rent you pay for a dark garret would buy a comfortable dwelling elsewhere.
43-49. There is so much noise at night that the poor man cannot sleep,
50-78. While he finds the streets dangerous both by day
79-88. And by night.
Quis timet aut timuit gelida Praeneste ruinam, aut positis nemorosa inter iuga Volsiniis, aut simplicibus Gabiis, aut proni Tiburis arce? Nos urbem colimus tenui tibicine fultam magna parte sui; nam sic labentibus obstat 5 vilicus et veteris rimae cum texit hiatum securos pendente iubet dormire ruina. Vivendum est illic ubi nulla incendia, nulli nocte metus. Iam poscit aquam, iam frivola transfert Ucalegon, tabulata tibi iam tertia fumant: 10 tu nescis; nam si gradibus trepidatur ab imis, ultimus ardebit quem tegula sola tuetur a pluvia, molles ubi reddunt ova columbae. Lectus erat Codro Procula minor, urceoli sex, ornamentum abaci, nec non et parvulus infra 15 cantharus, et recubans sub eodem marmore Chiron. Iamque vetus Graecos servabat cista libellos, et divina opici rodebant carmina mures. Nil habuit Codrus: quis enim negat? Et tamen illud perdidit infelix totum nihil: ultimus autem 20 aerumnae est cumulus, quod nudum et frusta rogantem nemo cibo, nemo hospitio tectoque iuvabit. Si magna Asturici cecidit domus, horrida mater, pullati proceres, differt vadimonia praetor; tum gemimus casus urbis, tunc odimus ignem. 25 Ardet adhuc, et iam accurrit qui marmora donet, conferat inpensas: hic nuda et candida signa, hic aliquid praeclarum Euphranoris et Polycliti, haec Asianorum vetera ornamenta deorum, hic libros dabit et forulos mediamque Minervam, 30 hic modium argenti; meliora ac plura reponit Persicus orborum lautissimus et merito iam suspectus, tamquam ipse suas incenderit aedes. Si potes avelli circensibus, optima Sorae aut Fabrateriae domus aut Frusinone paratur, 35 quanti nunc tenebras unum conducis in annum. Hortulus hic puteusque brevis nec reste movendus in tenuis plantas facili diffunditur haustu. Vive bidentis amans et culti vilicus horti, unde epulum possis centum dare Pythagoreis. 40 Est aliquid, quocumque loco, quocumque recessu unius sese dominum fecisse lacertae. Plurimus hic aeger moritur vigilando; sed ipsum languorem peperit cibus inperfectus et haerens ardenti stomacho; nam quae meritoria somnum 45 admittunt? Magnis opibus dormitur in urbe. Inde caput morbi. Raedarum transitus arto vicorum inflexu et stantis convicia mandrae eripient somnum Druso vitulisque marinis. Si vocat officium, turba cedente vehetur 50 dives et ingenti curret super ora Liburna atque obiter leget aut scribet vel dormiet intus; namque facit somnum clausa lectica fenestra. Ante tamen veniet: nobis properantibus obstat unda prior, magno populus premit agmine lumbos 55 qui sequitur; ferit hic cubito, ferit assere duro alter, at hic tignum capiti incutit, ille metretam. Pinguia crura luto, planta mox undique magna calcor, et in digito clavus mihi militis haeret. Nonne vides quanto celebretur sportula fumo? 60 Centum convivae, sequitur sua quemque culina. Corbulo vix ferret tot vasa ingentia, tot res impositas capiti, quas recto vertice portat servulus infelix et cursu ventilat ignem. Scinduntur tunicae sartae modo; longa coruscat 65 serraco veniente abies, atque altera pinum plaustra vehunt, nutant alte populoque minantur. Nam si procubuit qui saxa Ligustica portat axis et eversum fudit super agmina montem, quid superest de corporibus? Quis membra, quis ossa 70 invenit? Obtritum vulgi perit omne cadaver more animae; domus interea secura patellas iam lavat et bucca foculum excitat et sonat unctis striglibus et pleno componit lintea gutto. Haec inter pueros varie properantur: at ille 75 iam sedet in ripa taetrumque novicius horret porthmea, nec sperat caenosi gurgitis alnum infelix nec habet quem porrigat ore trientem. Respice nunc alia ac diversa pericula noctis: quod spatium tectis sublimibus unde cerebrum 80 testa ferit, quotiens rimosa et curta fenestris vasa cadant, quanto percussum pondere signent et laedant silicem. Possis ignavus haberi et subiti casus inprovidus, ad cenam si intestatus eas: adeo tot fata, quot illa 85 nocte patent vigiles te praetereunte fenestrae. Ergo optes votumque feras miserabile tecum, ut sint contentae patulas defundere pelves. III. 190-277.
2. 'Mens Sana in Corpore Sano.'
'Nil ergo optabunt homines?' Si consilium vis, permittes ipsis expendere numinibus quid conveniat nobis rebusque sit utile nostris. Nam pro iucundis aptissima quaeque dabunt di; carior est illis homo quam sibi. Nos animorum 5 impulsu et caeca magnaque cupidine ducti coniugium petimus partumque uxoris; at illis notum qui pueri qualisque futura sit uxor. Ut tamen et poscas aliquid voveasque sacellis exta et candiduli divina tomacula porci, 10 orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano. Fortem posce animum mortis terrore carentem, qui spatium vitae extremum inter munera ponat naturae, qui ferre queat quoscumque labores, nesciat irasci, cupiat nihil, et potiores 15 Herculis aerumnas credat saevosque labores et venere et cenis et pluma Sardanapali. Monstro quod ipse tibi possis dare: semita certe tranquillae per virtutem patet unica vitae. Nullum numen abest si sit prudentia; nos te, 20 nos facimus, Fortuna, deam caeloque locamus. X. 346-366.
3. Sympathy the Basis of Civilization.
Mollissima corda humano generi dare se natura fatetur, quae lacrimas dedit: haec nostri pars optima sensus. Plorare ergo iubet causam dicentis amici squaloremque rei, pupillum ad iura vocantem 5 circumscriptorem, cuius manantia fletu ora puellares faciunt incerta capilli. Naturae imperio gemimus, cum funus adultae virginis occurrit, vel terra clauditur infans, et minor igne rogi. Quis enim bonus et face dignus 10 arcana, qualem Cereris vult esse sacerdos, ulla aliena sibi credat mala? Separat hoc nos a grege mutorum, atque ideo venerabile soli sortiti ingenium divinorumque capaces atque exercendis capiendisque artibus apti 15 sensum a caelesti demissum traximus arce, cuius egent prona et terram spectantia. Mundi principio indulsit communis conditor illis tantum animas, nobis animum quoque, mutuus ut nos adfectus petere auxilium et praestare iuberet, 20 dispersos trahere in populum, migrare vetusto de nemore et proavis habitatas linquere silvas, aedificare domos, Laribus coniungere nostris tectum aliud, tutos vicino limine somnos ut collata daret fiducia, protegere armis 25 lapsum, aut ingenti nutantem vulnere civem, communi dare signa tuba, defendier isdem turribus, atque una portarum clave teneri. XV. 131-158.
4. Two Famous Proverbs.
Di, maiorum umbris tenuem et sine pondere terram spirantisque crocos et in urna perpetuum ver, qui praeceptorem sancti voluere parentis esse loco. VII. 207-210.
Nil dictu foedum visuque haec limina tangat intra quae pater est; procul, a procul inde puellae lenonum et cantus pernoctantis parasiti. Maxima debetur puero reverentia; siquid turpe paras, nec tu pueri contempseris annos, 5 sed peccaturo obstet tibi films infans. XIV. 44-49.
XI. HADRIAN.
1. The Dying Hadrian to his Soul.
Animula, vagula, blandula, hospes comesque corporis, quae nunc abibis in loca, pallidula, rigida, nudula, nec, ut soles, dabis iocos? 5 From Spartianus, Vita Hadriani 25.
XII. ANONYMOUS.
1. Sayings of the Seven Wise Men.
Optimus est, Cleobulus ait, modus, incola Lindi; ex Ephyra, Periandre, doces cuncta emeditanda; tempus nosce inquit Mitylenis Pittacus ortus; plures esse malos Bias autumat ille Prieneus; Milesiusque Thales sponsori damna minatur; 5 nosce inquit tete Chilon Lacedaemone cretus; Cecropiusque Solon ne quid nimis induperabit. From Hyginus, Fabulurum Liber 221.
SACRED LATIN POETRY.
FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.
Puer natus in Bethlehem, Unde gaudet Jerusalem.
Hic iacet in praesepio Qui regnat sine termino.
Cognovit bos et asinus 5 Quod puer erat Dominus.
Reges de Saba veniunt, Aurum, tus, myrrham offerunt.
Intrantes domum invicem Novum salutant Principem. 10
Sine serpentis vulnere De nostro venit sanguine;
In carne nobis similis, Peccato sed dissimilis;
Ut redderet nos homines 15 Deo et sibi similes.
In hoc natali gaudio Benedicamus Domino.
Laudetur sancta Trinitas, Deo dicamus gratias. 20 Anonymous.
FOR EASTER DAY.
1. Victimae paschali laudes immolent Christiani. 2. Agnus redemit oves, Christus innocens patri reconciliavit peccatores. 3. Mors et vita duello conflixere mirando: dux vitae mortuus regnat vivus. 4. Dic nobis Maria: quid vidisti in via? 5. Sepulcrum Christi viventis et gloriam vidi resurgentis. 6. Dic nobis Maria: quid vidisti in via? 7. Angelicos testes, sudarium et vestes. 8. Dic nobis Maria: quid vidisti in via? 9. Surrexit Christus, spes mea, praecedet vos in Galilaea. 10. Credendum est magis soli Mariae veraci quam Iudaeorum turbae fallaci. 11. Scimus Christum surrexisse ex mortuis vere: tu nobis victor rex miserere. Anonymous.
PLAUDITE CAELI.
Plaudite caeli, Rideat aether, Summus et imus Gaudeat orbis! Transiit atrae 5 Turba procellae: Subiit almae Gloria palmae!
Surgite verni, Surgite flores, 10 Germina pictis Surgite campis, Teneris mixtae Violis rosae, Candida sparsis 15 Lilia calthis!
Currite plenis, Carmina, venis! Fundite laetum, Barbytha, metrum: 20 Namque revixit, Sicuti dixit, Pius illaesus Funere Iesus!
Plaudite montes, 25 Ludite fontes; Resonent valles, Repetunt colles: 'Io revixit, Sicuti dixit, 30 Pius illaesus Funere Iesus.' Anonymous.
PONE LUCTUM, MAGDALENA.
Pone luctum, Magdalena! Et serena lacrimas: Non est iam Simonis cena, Non, cur fletum exprimas: Causae mille sunt laetandi, 5 Causae mille exultandi: Halleluia!
Sume risum, Magdalena! Frons nitescat lucida; Demigravit omnis poena, 10 Lux coruscat fulgida: Christus mundum liberavit, Et de morte triumphavit! Halleluia!
Gaude, plaude, Magdalena! 15 Tumba Christus exiit! Tristis est peracta scena, Victor mortis rediit; Quem deflebas morientem, Nunc arride resurgentem! 20 Halleluia!
Tolle vultum, Magdalena! Redivivum aspice: Vide, frons quam sit amoena, Quinque plagas inspice: 25 Fulgent, sic ut margaritae, Ornamenta novae vitae. Halleluia!
Vive, vive, Magdalena! Tua lux reversa est, 30 Gaudiis turgescat vena, Mortis vis abstersa est; Maesti procul sunt dolores, Laeti redeant amores! Halleluia! 35 Anonymous.
SALVE, CAPUT CRUENTATUM.
Salve, caput cruentatum, Totum spinis coronatum, Conquassatum, vulneratum, Arundine sic verberatum, Facie sputis illita. 5 Salve, cuius dulcis vultus, Immutatus et incultus, Immutavit suum florem, Totus versus in pallorem, Quem caeli tremit curia. 10
Omnis vigor atque viror Hinc recessit, non admiror, Mors apparet in aspectu, Totus pendens in defectu, Attritus aegva macie. 15 Sic affectus, sic despectus, Propter me sic interfectus, Peccatori tam indigno Cum amoris intersigno Appare clara facie. 20
In hac tua passione Me agnosce, pastor bone, Cuius sumpsi mel ex ore, Haustum lactis ex dulcore Prae omnibus deliciis. 25 Non me reum asperneris, Non indignum dedigneris, Morte tibi iam vicina Tuum caput hic acclina, In meis pausa brachiis. 30
Tuae sanctae passioni Me gauderem interponi, In hac cruce tecum mori Praesta crucis amatori, Sub cruce tua moriar. 35 Morti tuae tam amarae Grates ago, Iesu care, Qui es clemens, pie Deus, Fac quod petit tuus reus, Ut absque te non finiar. 40
Dum me mori est necesse, Noli mihi tunc deesse; In tremenda mortis hora Veni, Iesu, absque mora, Tuere me et libera. 45 Cum me iubes emigrare, Iesu care, tunc appare; O amator amplectende, Temetipsum tunc ostende In cruce salutifera. 50 Bernard of Clairvaux.
'JESUS, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE.'
Iesu, dulcis memoria, Dans vera cordis gaudia, Sed super mel et omnia Eius dulcis praesentia.
Nil canitur suavius 5 Auditur nil iucundius, Nil cogitatur dulcius, Quam Iesus, Dei Filius.
Iesu, spes poenitentibus, Quam pius es petentibus, 10 Quam bonus te quaerentibus, Sed quid invenientibus?
Iesu, dulcedo cordium, Fons vivus, lumen mentium, Excedens omne gaudium, 15 Et omne desiderium.
Nec lingua valet dicere, Nec littera exprimere, Expertus potest credere Quid sit Iesum deligere. 20
Iesu, decus angelicum, In aure dulce canticum, In ore mel mirificum, In corde nectar caelicum:
Desidero te millies. 25 Mi Iesu, quando venies? Me laetum quando facies Ut vultu tuo saties? Bernard of Clairvaux.
'COME, HOLY SPIRIT, FROM ABOVE.'
Veni, Sancte Spiritus, Et emitte caelitus Lucis tuae radium.
Veni, pater pauperum, Veni, dator munerum, 5 Veni, lumen cordium.
Consolator optime, Dulcis hospes animae, Dulce refrigerium:
In labore requies, 10 In aestu temperies, In fletu solatium.
O lux beatissima, Reple cordis intima Tuorum fidelium! 15
Sine tuo numine Nihil est in homine, Nihil est innoxium.
Lava quod est sordidum, Riga quod est aridum, 20 Sana quod est saucium:
Flecte quod est rigidum, Fove quod est languidum, Rege quod est devium.
Da tuis fidelibus 25 In te confidentibus Sacrum septenarium;
Da virtutis meritum, Da salutis exitum, Da perenne gaudium. 30 Robert II, King of France.
PHOENIX INTER FLAMMAS EXPIRANS.
Tandem audite me, Sionis filiae! Aegram respicite, Dilecto dicite: Amore vulneror, 5 Amore funeror.
Huc oderiferos, Huc soporiferos Ramos depromite, Rogos componite; 10 Ut phoenix moriar! In flammis oriar!
An amor dolor sit, An dolor amor sit, Utrumque nescio! 15 Hoc unum sentio: Iucundus dolor est, Si dolor amor est.
Quid, amor, crucias? Aufer inducias! 20 Suavis tyrannus es: Momentum, annus es: Tam tarda funera Tua sunt vulnera!
Iam vitae stamina 25 Rumpe, O anima! Ignis ascendere Gestit, et tendere Ad caeli atria; Haec mea patria! 30 Anonymous.
DIES IRAE.
Dies irae, dies illa Solvet saeclum in favilla, Teste David cum Sybilla.
Quantus tremor est futurus, Quando iudex est venturus, 5 Cuncta stricte discussurus!
Tuba, mirum spargens sonum Per sepulcra regionum, Coget omnes ante thronum.
Mors stupebit, et natura, 10 Cum resurget creatura Iudicanti responsura.
Liber scriptus proferetur, In quo totum continetur, Unde mundus iudicetur. 15
Iudex ergo cum sedebit, Quidquid latet apparebit, Nil inultum remanebit.
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus, Quem patronum rogaturus, 20 Cum vix iustus sit securus?
Rex tremendae maiestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salva me, fons pietatis!
Recordare, Iesu pie, 25 Quod sum causa tuae viae; Ne me perdas illa die!
Quaerens me sedisti lassus, Redemisti crucem passus: Tantus labor non sit cassus! 30
Iuste iudex ultionis, Donum fac remissionis Ante diem rationis!
Ingemisco tanquam reus, Culpa rubet vultus meus: 35 Supplicanti parce, Deus!
Qui Mariam absolvisti, Et latronem exaudisti, Mihi quoque spem dedisti.
Preces meae non sunt dignae, 40 Sed tu bonus fac benigne Ne perenni cremer igni.
Inter oves locum praesta, Et ab haedis me sequestra, Statuens in parte dextra. 45
Confutatis maledictis, Flammis acribus addictis, Voca me cum benedictis!
Oro supplex et acclinis, Cor contritum quasi cinis, 50 Gere curam mei finis!
—-
Lacrimosa dies illa Qua resurget ex favilla Iudicandus homo reus: Huic ergo parce, Deus! 55 Pie Iesu domine, Dona eos requie! Amen! Thomas of Celano.
DE PATRIAE CAELESTIS LAUDE.
'The World is very Evil.'
Hora novissima, tempora pessima sunt; vigilemus. Ecce minaciter imminet arbiter ille supremus. Imminet, imminet et mala terminet, aequa coronet, Recta remuneret, anxia liberet, aethera donet, Auferat aspera duraque pondera mentis onustae, 5 Sobria muniat, improba puniat, utraque iuste. Ille piissimus, ille gravissimus, ecce! venit rex! Surgat homo reus! Instat homo deus, a patre iudex.
'Brief Life is here our Portion.'
Hic breve vivitur, hic breve plangitur, hic breve fletur; Non breve vivere, non breve plangere retribuetur; 10 O retributio! stat brevis actio, vita perennis; O retributio! caelica mansio stat lue plenis; Quid datur et quibus? aether egentibus et cruce dignis, Sidera vermibus, optima sontibus, astra malignis. Sunt modo praelia, postmodo praemia; qualia? plena; 15 Plena refectio, nullaque passio, nullaque poena. Spe modo vivitur, et Sion angitur a Babylone; Nunc tribulatio; tunc recreatio, sceptra, coronae;
'For thee, O Dear, Dear Country!'
O bona patria, lumina sobria te speculantur, Ad tua nomina sobria lumina collacrimantur: 20 Est tua mentio pectoris unctio, cura doloris, Concipientibus aethera mentibus ignis amoris. Est ibi consita laurus et insita cedrus hysopo; Sunt radiantia iaspide moenia clara pyropo; Hinc tibi sardius, inde topazius, hinc amethystus; 25 Est tua fabrica contio caelica, gemmaque Christus. Lux tua mors crucis, atque caro ducis est crucifixi. Laus, benedictio, coniubilatio personat ipsi. Tu sine litore, tu sine tempore, fons, modo rivus, Dulce bonis sapis, estque tibi lapis undique vivus. 30 Est tibi laurea, dos datur aurea, Sponsa decora, Primaque Principis oscula suscipis, inspicis ora.
'Jerusalem the Golden!'
Urbs Sion aurea, patria lactea, cive decora, Omne cor obruis, omnibus obstruis et cor et ora. Nescio, nescio, quae iubilatio, lux tibi qualis, 35 Quam socialia gaudia, gloria quam specialis. Sunt Sion atria coniubilantia, martyre plena, Cive micantia, Principe stantia, luce serena. Urbs Sion incluta, turris et edita litore tuto, Te peto, te colo, te flagro, te volo, canto, saluto. 40 Me Pater optimus atque piissimus ille creavit; In lue pertulit, ex lue sustulit, a lue lavit. Diluit omnia caelica gratia, fons David undans Omnia diluit, omnibus affluit, omnia mundans. O mea, spes mea, tu Sion aurea, clarior auro, 45 Agmine splendida, stans duce, florida perpete lauro. O bona patria, num tua gaudia teque videbo? O bona patria, num tua praemia plena tenebo? Plaude, cinis meus, est tua pars Deus; eius es, et sis. Plaude, cinis meus, est tua pars Deus; eius es, et sis. 50 Bernard of Cluny.
THE HEAVENLY CITY.
Me receptet Sion illa, Sion, David urbs tranquilla, Cuius faber Auctor lucis, Cuius portae lignum crucis, Cuius muri lapis vivus, 5 Cuius custos Rex festivus. In hac urbe lux solennis, Ver aeternum, pax perennis: In hac odor implens caelos, In hac semper festum melos; 10 Non est ibi corruptela, Non defectus, non querela; Non minuti, non deformes, Omnes Christo sunt conformes. Urbs in portu satis tuto, 15 De longinquo te saluto, Te saluto, te suspiro, Te affecto, te requiro. Quantum tui gratulantur, Quam festive convivantur, 20 Quis affectus eos stringat Aut quae gemma muros pingat, Quis chalcedon, quis iacinthus, Norunt illi qui sunt intus. In plateis huius urbis 25 Sociatus piis turbis Cum Moyse et Elia Pium cantem Alleluia. Amen. Hildebert.
ABBREVIATIONS.
A. & G. = Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar. B. = Bennett's Latin Grammar. G. & L. = Gildersleeve and Lodge's Latin Grammar. Lex. = Harper's Latin-English Lexicon. cf. = confer, compare. e.g. = exempli gratia, for example. ff. = following. i.e. = id est, that is. l.,ll. = line, lines. lit. = literally. p., pp. = page, pages. sc. = scilicet, understand, supply. vol. = volume.
NOTES.
CLASSICAL LATIN POETRY.
I. ENNIUS. 239-169 B.C.
Ennius ut noster cecinit, qui primus amoeno Detulit ex Helicone perenni fronde coronam, Per gentes Italas hominum quae clara clueret. Lucretius, 1. 117-119.
Let us venerate Ennius like the groves, sacred from their antiquity, in which the great and ancient oak trees are invested not so much with beauty as with sacred associations.—Quintilian, 10. 1. 88,—translated by Sellar.
Q. Ennius, 'the Father of Latin Literature,' was born at Rudiae, a town of Calabria and a point of contact between the Italian and Greek civilizations. He served with the rank of centurion in the Roman army in Sardinia and attached himself to Cato the Censor. In 204 he came to Rome, where he lived modestly, supporting himself by teaching Greek and by his writings. There he became an intimate friend of the great Scipio. The most famous of his works are the tragedies, written on Greek models, and the Annals, a long epic poem in eighteen books, whose subject is the history of Rome from the earliest times to Ennius' own day. We have fragments of about twenty-five of the tragedies. Of the Annals about six hundred lines are preserved.
Ennius introduced the dactylic hexameter into Latin poetry.
He was versatile, widely read in Greek literature, a man of practical interests and intellectual vigor. His intense patriotism was rewarded by an enduring popularity.
For Reference: Sellar, Roman Poets of the Republic (Oxford, 1889), chapter 4; the collections of the fragments by Vahlen (Leipzig, 1854) and by Muller (St. Petersburg, 1885).
Metres: Dactylic Hexameter, B. 368; A. & G. 615: Selections 1-5. Trochaic Septenarius, B. 366, 2; A. & G. 620: Selections 6, 7. Elegiac Stanza, B. 368, 369; A. & G. 616: Selection 8.
1. 'Lines of tender regret and true hero-worship.'—Sellar. Cf. Livy, 1. 16. 2, 3. Prose translation in Sellar, Roman Poets of the Republic, p. 110. 3. qualem…genuerunt: How great a guardian of our country did the gods create in thee!—Sellar. 4. O pater, o genitor: pater is a title of respect, genitor the actual parent. sanguen: an ante-classic neuter collateral form of sanguis. 5. intra luminis oras: within the realms of light (Sellar), a favorite expression with later poets.
2. 'Sentiments truly regal and worthy of the race of the Aeacidae.' Cicero, De Officiis, 1. 12.
This is Pyrrhus' reply to Fabricius and other envoys sent to negotiate for the ransom of the Roman prisoners after the battle of Heraclea, 280 B.C.
Prose translation and fine comment in Sellar, Roman Poets of the Republic, p. 99.
1. dederitis: perfect subjunctive in a prohibition. 2. nec cauponantes bellum: not making petty traffic of war. 3. vitam: accusative of specification. 5. accipe: to Fabricius, while ducite (1. 8) is to all the envoys. 7. eorundem: scanned as three syllables. 8. volentibus…dis: under favor of the great gods.—Sellar. Final s in volentibus as in vivus (Selection 8. 2) is neglected in scanning.
4. These lines were often quoted. They are imitated by Vergil, Aeneid, 6. 845-846:
Tu Maximus ille es, unus qui nobis cunctando restituis rem.
Prose translation in Sellar, Roman Poets of the Republic, p. 106.
1. cunctando: by biding his time.—Sellar. rem equals rem publicam. 2. noenum equals ne, not + oenum, old form of unum, one. This eventually contracts into non. rumores: what men said of him.—Sellar.
5. One of the grandest lines in Latin poetry. Cicero says of it (De Republica, 5.1): 'For brevity and for truth it is like the utterance of some oracle.'
1. Moribus…virisque: By olden custom and great men Rome stands. virisque: of. Sir William Jones, An Ode in Imitation of Alcaeus:
What constitutes a state? Not high-raised battlement, nor labored mound, Thick wall or moated gate: Not cities fair with spires and turrets crowned: No;—men, high-minded men,—… Men, who their duties know, But know their rights, and knowing dare maintain.
6. From the Telamo, spoken by Telamon on receiving tidings of his son's death. Sellar describes the passage as 'this strong and scornful triumph over natural sorrow.'
Prose translation in Sellar, Roman Poets of the Republic, p. 113.
1. ei re sustuli: to that end (i.e. with full knowledge of the fact) I bred them. re: dative, B. 52, 3; A. & G. 98, d, NOTE.
7. From the Telamo. This is Epicurean doctrine. Cf. Tennyson, The Lotos-Eaters, Choric Song at end:
like Gods together, careless of mankind. For they lie beside their nectar, and the bolts are hurl'd Far below them in the valleys, and the clouds are lightly curl'd Round their golden houses, girdled with the gleaming world: Where they smile in secret, looking over wasted lands, Blight and famine, plague and earthquake, roaring deeps and fiery sands, Clanging fights, and flaming towns, and sinking ships, and praying hands. But they smile, etc.
Prose translation in Sellar, Roman Poets of the Republic, p. 78.
1. deum: genitive with which caelitum agrees. 3. abeat: is not so.— Sellar.
8. Prose translation in Sellar, Roman Poets of the Republic, p. 76. Note the alliterations in the passage. 1. dacrumis: older form of lacrimis and related to it as dingua to lingua. nec…faxit: and let none weep at my funeral, faxit is perfect subjunctive. 2. Volito…virum: I still live as I fly along the lips of men. Cf. Vergil, Georgics, 3. 9: victorque virum volitare per ora, and Shakspere, Sonnet 82:
You still shall live—such virtue hath my pen— Where breath most breathes, even in the mouths of men.
II. LUCRETIUS.
98-55 B.C.
Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas atque metus omnis et inexorabile fatum subiecit pedibus strepitumque Acherontis avari. Vergil, Georgics, 2. 490-492.
He…died Chief poet on the Tiber-side. Mrs. Browning, Vision of Poets.
This doctrine of Lucretius, though antagonistic to the popular religion, is not atheistic or pantheistic; it is not definite enough to be theistic. It is rather the twilight between an old and a new faith.— Sellar, Roman Poets of the Republic, p. 355.
The joy and glory of his art come second in his mind to his passionate love of truth, and the deep moral purport of what he believes to be the one true message for mankind. The human race lies fettered by superstition and ignorance; his mission is to dispel their darkness by that light of truth which is 'clearer than the beams of the sun and the shining shafts of day.'—Mackail, Latin Literature, p. 43.
The De Rerum Natura, Lucretius' only work, left at his death unfinished, is a didactic poem in six books which aims to give an explanation of the origin and nature of the universe. All things are declared to be composed of atoms—even the soul, which is therefore mortal—and have been developed by a process of 'evolution' and 'survival of the fittest' under the uninterrupted control of natural law. Gods exist, but have little to do with the world. On the ethical side contentment, self-control, obedience, humility, are earnestly enjoined.
The style abounds in archaism, alliteration, and assonance. The frequent use of new compounds is a noticeable peculiarity of the diction.
Jerome states that the wife of Lucretius gave him a love-philtre which took away his reason so that, after composing in his lucid intervals several books, which were afterward corrected by Cicero, he died by his own hand.
Sellar is inclined to accept this story as a 'meagre and distorted record of tragical events in the poet's life.' On the basis of this legend and an appreciative study of the De Rerum Natura, Tennyson composed his Lucretius.
For Reference: Sellar, Roman Poets of the Republic, chapters 11-14; Munro, Text of Lucretius, with Notes and Introduction (4th. edition, Cambridge, 1886); Mackail, Latin Literature (New York, 1898), pp. 44- 46 (Lucretius as anticipating theories of modern science).
Metre: Dactylic Hexameter, B. 368; A. & G. 615.
1. 2. animi: a locative form, B. 232, 3; A. & G. 358. 3. thyrso: see Lex. II. A and B. 5-10. Often imitated, as by Vergil, Georgics, 3. 291-293. 5, 6. mente…loca: I traverse in blooming thought the pathless haunts of the Pierides.—Munro. 7. iuvat: I love.—Munro. 11,12. artis religionum nodis: Lucretius teaches that, since the gods do not govern the world, all rites of worship are needless, and, since the soul is mortal, punishment after death is not to be feared. Cf. Tennyson, Lucretius:
My golden (cf. aurea, Selection 2. 12) work in which I told a truth That stays the rolling Ixionian wheel, And numbs the Fury's ringlet-snake and plucks The mortal soul from out immortal hell.
Religio is probably derived from the root lig, meaning to bind. The Roman felt his religion to be a fetter upon him. 14. contingens: o'erlaying, a compound of tango.—Munro.
2. 2. commoda: the true interests.—Munro. 3. o…decus: Epicurus, who is praised in many passages. (See Sellar, Roman Poets of the Republic, p. 298 ff.) His bold and, comprehensive thinking is characterized as follows (1. 72-74):
Ergo vivida vis animi pervicit, et extra processit longe flammantia moenia mundi atque omne inmensum peragravit mente animoque.
6, 7. quid…cycnis: for in what respect could the swallow vie with swans? 8. consimile…et: that could compare with. 16. terrores: of superstition. To remove these by demonstrating the uncontested supremacy in the universe of natural law is Lucretius' main purpose. moenia ff.: Lucretius thinks of the earth as at rest in the centre of our system,— or mundus,—surrounded by the air in which move the moon and the sun. The air is encompassed by the fiery aether,—or flammantia moenia mundi, 'the flaming walls of the world,'—which, as it rotates, carries the stars with it. Beyond is the 'illimitable inane' (inmensum inane) in which are set an infinite number of other worlds, and in the midst of these the dwellings where the gods 'live the great life…center'd in eternal calm' (deos securum agere aevom, 6. 58). To the poet's instructed vision aether opens and earth becomes transparent. 18-24. Inspired by Odyssey, 6. 42-45. Cf. Tennyson, Lucretius:
The Gods, who haunt The lucid interspace of world and world, Where never creeps a cloud, or moves a wind, Nor ever falls the least white star of snow, Nor ever lowest roll of thunder moans, Nor sound of human sorrow mounts to mar Their sacred everlasting calm!
and his description of the
island-valley of Avilion, Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow, Nor ever wind blows loudly
in the Passing of Arthur. Observe the melody of the Latin due to the skilful alliteration, and cf. Munro's translation of it for a like effect.
25. nusquam apparent: Lucretius has proved that they do not exist. 26. nec…dispiciantur: though earth is no bar to all things being descried.—Munro. 28, 29. voluptas adque horror: delight mixed with shuddering awe.—Munro.
3. 1-4. Zephyr and Flora precede Spring and Venus. viai: genitive of archaic form dependent on cuncta, translate as all the way. 5. loci: partitive genitive after inde; translate the two words by then. 8. aliae…ventique: other stormy winds, i.e. Volturnus and Auster. 10. bruma: midwinter.
4. 1. Ergo: because of visions of the night and day and because of their observation of natural phenomena men at large came to the incorrect belief that the gods govern the world. (Lucretius denies the providence of the gods, not their existence.) 2. tradere, facere: infinitives used substantively in apposition to perfugium. 3. templa: realms. 5. severa: stern, austere. Properly the epithet of noctis, but poetically transferred to signa. 6. faces, flammae: meteors. 7. The heaping up of substantives without a copula is not uncommon in Lucretius. 8. fremitus: distant, rumbling thunder. murmura magna minarum: the near loud, threatful thunderclaps.—Munro. minarum is equivalent to a limiting adjective. 13. velatum: the Romans prayed with covered head. 14. vertier: middle. The reference is to a Roman custom by which the suppliant approached with the statue on his right; after praying, he turned to the right so as to face it and then prostrated himself. 17. vota: votive tablets. 18 ff. It is true piety, not to perform these rites, but to possess a tranquil mind, and this is difficult, for the grandeur and terror of nature are almost overwhelming. 20. super fixum: fast above.—Munro. 21. et…viarum: and direct our thoughts to the courses of the sun and moon.—Munro. viarum: B. 206, 3. 26. rationis egestas: lack of power to solve the question.— Munro. 27. genitalis origo: birthtime.—Munro. 28. quoad: how long. 34. contrahitur: shrink into itself.—Munro. 38. corripiunt: like contrahitur, but stronger. 40. poenarum: genitive depending on solvendi. 45. viris quae ff.: powers sufficient to, etc.
LUCRETIUS AS OBSERVER AND WORD-PAINTER.—The following groups of phrases and sentences are given as illustrative of the accuracy, variety, and splendor of Lucretius' descriptions:
1. Shells on the Shore.
Concharumque genus parili ratione videmus pingere telluris gremium, qua mollibus undis litoris incurvi bibulam pavit aequor arenam. 2. 374-376.
2. The Stars.
Candida sidera. 5. 1210. micant aeterni sidera mundi. 5. 514. Simul ac primum sub diu splendor aquai ponitur, extemplo caelo stellante serena sidera respondent in aqua radiantia mundp. 4. 211-213. caeli labentia signa. 1. 2. fervida signa. 5. 628. Raraque per caelum cum venti nubila portant tempore nocturno, tum splendida signa videntur labier adversum nimbos atque ire superne. 4. 443-445. totum circum tremere aethera signis. 1. 1089.
3. The Sky.
stellis fulgentibus apta concutitur caeli domus. 6. 357-358. signiferi super aetheris aestas. 6. 481. caeli lucida templa. 1. 1014. altaque caeli densebant procul a terris fulgentia templa. 5. 490-491.
4. The Sun.
sol lumine conserit arva. 2. 210-211. rosea sol alte lampade lucens. 5. 610. aeternum lampada mundi. 5. 402.
III. CATULLUS.
84-54 B.C.
Odi et amo. Carmen 85. 1.
Si tamen e nobis aliquid nisi nomen et umbra restat, in Elysia valle Tibullus erit: obvius huic venias, hedera iuvenalia cinctus tempora, cum Calvo, docte Catulle, tuo. Ovid, Amores, 3. 9. 59-62.
Tenderest of Roman poets… Sweet Catullus. Tennyson, 'Frater, Aae atque Vale.'
Catullus is the greatest lyric poet of Roman literature.
With the exception of c. 61, it is in his shorter poems that Catullus achieves his greatest success. The poet does not handle dactylic measures quite easily; on the other hand, he is masterly in the lighter lyrical forms. The harmony of substance and form, the refinement and transparent clearness of the thoughts, are incomparable, as are the grace, strength, and warmth of feeling in the shorter pieces.
Teuffel, Schwabe, and Warr, History of Roman Literature, vol. 1, p. 391 ff.
Catullus, born at Verona in Cisalpine Gaul, came early to Rome, where most of his short life was spent. He has left us about 116 poems, most of them brief, but a few of considerable length. The ultimate preservation of these depended upon the fortunate rediscovery at Verona of a single copy. Several of them imitate the learned and artificial style of the Alexandrine school of Greek poetry. It is on this account that Ovid applies to him the epithet doctus.
For Reference: Sellar, Roman Poets of the Republic, chapter 15; Robinson Ellis, A Commentary on Catullus (2d edition, Oxford, 1889); Merrill, Catullus (Boston, 1893); Ellis, Translation of Catullus (London, 1871).
Metres: Phalaecian, A. & G. 623, 624, 625. 11: Selections 1, 3, 4, 5. Choliambic, A. & G. 618, a, b, c: Selection 6. Elegiac, B. 369, 1, 2; A. &. G. 616: Selections 2, 7-9.
1. 2. oppositast: equals opposita est. The joke turns on the double meaning of opponere, to expose and to mortgage. We may render the passage as,—My little farm is not exposed to the drafts of the south wind…but to a draft for, etc. 3. Apeliotae: a Greek word for east wind, meaning from the sun, i.e. from the region where the sun rises. For declension see B. 22; A. & G. 44. 4. ducentos: sc. sestertios. The sestertius was worth from four to five cents. 5. O ventum…pestilentem: O unhealthy draft!
2. Latin did not naturally use h at all with consonants nor favor its use before vowels. Greek, however, frequently employs the aspirated consonants ch, ph, and th as well as the rough breathing; and, though in earlier times the Romans were satisfied to take Greek words over into their language without aspirating, e.g. Corintus for [Greek: Korinthos], in later times aspirating became a fashion. Of this fashion Arrius is an unskilful follower, who, while believing himself to be achieving a fine reputation for good form, makes himself a target for the ridicule of Catullus.
1. vellet: imperfect subjunctive in the protasis of a general condition, B. 302, 1, 3, a; A. & G. 518, c. 3. sperabat: he used to flatter himself. 4. quantum poterat: with might and main. Arrius makes all the display that he can of his elegant (?) accomplishment. 5. liber: implying that Arrius' uncle had been a slave and that the family is of humble origin. Catullus thus intimates that what Arrius thinks an accomplishment really stamps him as of low birth. 7. misso: sent to Syria on some public service, perhaps with Crassus in 55 B.C. 8. audibant: B. 116, 4, b; A. & G. 183, 1. leniter et leviter: the devotees of the aspirating fashion whom Arrius had left behind in Rome were not so obtrusive about it as he, did not speak out 'quantum poterant.' 9. postilla: equals postea. 11. Ionios: news of Arrius would come soon from the Ionian Sea, for, lying as it did to the west of Greece, it would soon be reached by him on his eastward journey. isset: B. 116, 1; A. & G. 181, b.
The following is Martin's translation:
Whenever Arrius wished to name 'Commodious,' out 'chommodious' came: And when of his intrigues he blabbed, With his 'hintrigues' our ears he stabbed; And thought, moreover, he displayed A rare refinement when he made His h's thus at random fall With emphasis most guttural. When suddenly came news one day Which smote the city with dismay, That the Ionian seas a change Had undergone, most sad and strange; For, since by Arrius crossed, the wild 'Hionian Hocean' they were styled.
3. 1. Veneres: the plural is symmetrical with Cupidines, while suggesting 'the Graces.' 2. et…venustiorum: and all who have a soul for beauty. hominum: partitive genitive. venustiorum: B. 240, 1; A. & G. 291, a. The expression describes those who possess qualities of grace and charm, and implies that they can appreciate such qualities. 3. puellae: probably Clodia, wife of Q. Caecilius Metellus Celer, to whom under the name of 'Lesbia' Catullus addressed a number of poems. His attachment for her was the 'one all-absorbing passion of the poet's life.' 6. mellitus: a honey. suamque: his lady. Catullus speaks of the sparrow in language appropriate to a lover. 11. iter tenebricosum: the shadowy journey to Hades. 12. Cf. Hamlet, 3. 1:
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn No traveller returns.
13. At…tenebrae: Evil be to you, evil shadows! 17. tua opera: for you, i.e. for the sparrow, ablative of cause. 18. turgiduli…ocelli: my girl's pretty eyes are so red and swollen.
4. 2. antistans…trecentis: worth a million of the rest to me. milibus: depends on antistans, B. 187, III, 1; A. & G. 370. 4. Anum: aged, used as an adjective. 5. mini: B. 188, c; A. & G. 378, 1. nuntii: plural, though for a single message. 6. Hiberum: genitive plural. 7. facta: deeds. 8. adplicansque collum: i.e. with arm about your neck drawing you to me. 10. Cf. 1, 2 and note on venustiorum. Translate O! of happy, happy mortals. 11. quid: a 'neuter not very rare in Latin in similar sweeping appeals.'—Merrill.
5. Date, 56 B.C. 1. egelidos: in which there is no chill. 4. Catullus is at the end of a year of absence in Bithynia on the staff of Memmius the governor, and is about to return to Italy. Phrygii campi: the plains about Nicaea. 6. claras Asiae urbes: the famous Greek cities on the western coast of Asia Minor, as Ephesus, Smyrna. 7. praetrepidans: tremulous with anticipation. 9. comitum: the other members of the governor's staff, or cohors. 11. diversae variae: separate and varied.
6. Date, 56 B.C. Sirmione (Sirmio) is a peninsula—at high water an island—extending into the Lago di Garda (Lacus Benacus). An ancient ruin here of Constantine's time was long known as Catullus' villa. Cf. with this and the ninth selection Tennyson's 'Frater, Ave atque Vale':
Row us out from Desenzano, to your Sirmione row! So they row'd and there we landed—'O venusta Sirmio!' There to me thro' all the groves of olive in the summer glow, There beneath the Roman ruin where the purple flowers grow, Came that 'Ave atque Vale' of the poet's hopeless woe, Tenderest of Roman poets nineteen hundred years ago, 'Prater, Ave atque Vale'—as we wander'd to and fro Gazing at the Lydian laughter of the Garda Lake below Sweet Catullus' all-but-island, olive-silvery Sirmio!
1, 2. Paene insularum…ocelle: pearl of all peninsulas. Paene is used as an adjective by a Greek construction, A. & G. 321, c. Cf. Ovid, Heroides, 15.357, paene puer. ocelle: cf. Milton, Paradise Regained, 4. 240, 'Athens, the eye of Greece.' 3. fert…Neptunus: twin-realmed (Cranstoun) Neptune upholds in lakes or sea. fert: Poseidon, according to Homer, is the earth-upholding. Cf. Exodus 20.4 'the water under the earth.' uterque: i.e. as god of stagna (lakes) and of mare. 5. Thyniam: the part of Bithynia on the shore of the Thracian Bosporus. 6. liquisse: the poets are fond of using uncompounded forms of verbs. Cf. 5, 4, linquantur. 7. O…curis: 'The form of expression suggests that the cares now past are, as past, actual pleasures.'—Ellis. 8, 9. peregrine labore: the toil of travel. larem: the home, lit. the household god. 11. Hoc…tantis: This it is that of itself is a compensation for so great labors. 12. venusta: Ellis praises 'the beauty of Sirmio, with its high cliffs descending into the transparently blue water, and the exquisite color of the surrounding land and sky.' ero gaude: be glad for thy master, i.e. thy master bids thee 'Rejoice!' 13. Lydiae: the shores of the lake were once occupied by Etruscans, and they were said to have come originally from Lydia. The epithet is transferred from lacus to undae. 14. quidquid…cachinnorum: the clause is to be taken as a vocative.
7. 2. Calve: Calvus was an accomplished orator and poet. Of his literary work almost nothing remains. He was Catullus' intimate friend and is often mentioned with him. 3. desiderio: yearning, in apposition to dolore, defining and specializing it. 4. olim missas: lost in by-gone days, missas equals amissas. Cf. Selection 6, 6 and note. 6. Quintiliae: Calvus' young wife. Calvus himself wrote elegies in her memory.
8. This poem was sent to Hortensius introducing a translation from the Greek poet Callimachus (which is possibly Carmen 66 and of the Coma Berinices). 2. Ortale: Q. Hortensius Ortalus, Cicero's chief rival as an orator. virginibus: the Muses. 3. fetus: fruitage. 4. mens animi: my thoughtful soul. Cicero, De Republica, 2.40.67, describes the mens as pars animi. 5, 6. Lethaeo gurgite manans unda: the wave slow-streaming from the gulf of oblivion. The 'river of death' which the brother of Catullus has just crossed (Catullus says forded) to return no more, is called Lethaean (Greek [Greek: lethe], 'forgetfuluess'), since the dead forget the living, and the living the dead. 6. pallidulum: poor, pallid foot. 7. Rhoeteo: Rhoeteum was a promontory of the Troad. 8. obterit: crushes. 13. Daulias: the nightingale, lit. the (transformed) woman of Daulis. Catullus has taken this name from the legend of Tereus (see Harper's Classical Dictionary, 'Tereus'), while he has followed the myth as it appears in Odyssey, 19. 518 ff., where the plaintive song of the nightingale is represented as the lamentation of Aedon for her child Itylus, whom before her transformation into the nightingale 'she slew unwittingly with the bronze.' 15. haec expressa carmina Battiadae: these verses translated from Callimachus. Callimachus of Cyrene, 'the son of Battus,' was a Greek poet of the Alexandrine school. His death occurred about 240 B.C. 16. nequiquam…ventis: i.e. ineffectual.
9. 'An invocation accompanying offerings at the tomb of the poet's brother.'—Merrill. Catullus probably made this visit to the Troad on his Bithynian journey. Date, probably 57 B.C. 2. miseras ad inferias: for these sad offerings. The inferiae, or offerings to the dead, consisted of wine, milk, blood, honey, flowers, etc. 4. nequiquam: no answer would be returned. 6. indigne: wrongfully, because his death was premature. 7. Nunc tamen interea: But now while I thus am sorrowing, interea, as in 14. 21, 36. 18, and Ciris, 44 ff., marks the transition from reflection upon a situation to the act which that situation demands at the moment. 9. multum manantia: drenched. 10. ave atque vale: the formula of farewell to the dead, spoken at the conclusion of the funeral ceremonies. Cf. Vergil, Aeneid, 11. 97 ff.
IV. VERGIL.
70-19 B.C.
Roman Vergil, thou that singest Ilion's lofty temples robed in fire, Ilion falling, Rome arising, Wars, and filial faith, and Dido's pyre;
Thou that singest wheat and woodland, Tilth and vineyard, hive and horse and herd; All the charm of all the Muses Often flowering in a lonely word;
Poet of the happy Tityrus Piping underneath his beechen bowers; Poet of the poet-satyr Whom the laughing shepherd bound with flowers;
I salute thee, Mantovano, I that loved thee since my day began, Wielder of the stateliest measure Ever molded by the lips of man.
Tennyson, To Vergil.
Vergil, as the author of the Bucolics and the Aeneid, is already known to the student. The Georgics were composed after the former and before the latter, since they were begun in 36 B.C. and finished in 29 B.C. Hesiod's Works and Days supplied a partial model, and the influence of Lucretius was powerful. The poet shows an intense enthusiasm for his subject, which Mr. Merivale asserts to be the Glorification of Labor. The First Book treats of the tillage of the ground, the Second of the culture of trees and of the vine, the Third of the care of the animals bred by the farmer, and the Fourth and last of bee-keeping. Elegant episodes diversify the poem, the longest of which we extract. The dedication of the Georgics is to Maecenas. Their extent is about 2200 lines.
For Reference: Conington's Vergil, Fifth Edition, revised by Haverfield, George Bell and Sons, London, 1898, Vol. I, pp. 135-165, and notes upon Georgics, 4. 315-558.
Metre: Dactylic Hexameter, B. 368; A. & G. 615.
1. Servius twice tells us (Eclogues 10. 1 and Georgics 4. 1) that the poet Cornelius Gallus was Vergil's friend, and that the latter half of the fourth Georgic was originally written in his praise, but that this was suppressed at the command of Augustus and the tale of Aristaeus substituted. Gallus, we remember, appears in the sixth and tenth Eclogues. The story of his disgrace by the emperor and his suicide is a familiar one.
Aristaeus, having lost his bees 'by disease and hunger,' is commanded by the nymph Cyrene, his mother, to obtain from the sea-god Proteus the reason for this manifestation of divine displeasure. He learns that it is because Eurydice, the wife of Orpheus, has perished as a result of his amorous pursuit; and the story of Orpheus' descent to the lower world to recover her is narrated to him. Then Cyrene instructs him how to secure a new swarm. 1. hanc…artem: this method of obtaining new swarms of bees by slaying cattle and allowing bees to form in their decaying bodies. 3. Peneia Tempo: Tempe is a beautiful valley in Thessaly through which the river Peneus flows. 5. extremi: i.e. the rising river. amnis: the Peneus. 7. gurgitis: flood. 9. Thymbraeus: Thymbra was a city near Troy where there was a temple of Apollo. 10. fatis: by the fates, B. 189, 2; A. & G. 375. nostri: objective genitive, 11. caelum sperare: Aristaeus was deified after death. 12. honorem: honor from the possession of wealth. 14. relinquo: leave with reluctance, lose. 15. Quin age: Why not go on? in ironical remonstrance. 17. molire: wield, imperative. 18. taedia: loathing of my praise, B. 55, 4, c. The plural expresses the aversion on each occasion. 19. thalamo sub: in the deep river's chamber. Sub governs thalamo, but follows it. Cyrene, as daughter of the river-god Peneus, dwells in subterranean chambers at the source of that stream. She is at this time in the thalamo described in 60 ff. Aristaeus enters through the river, thought of as emerging from the earth a full-grown stream, the waters arching over his head to admit him. He passes beneath the earth where he sees groves and lakes, and rivers which are presently to issue as the various streams of the upper world. 20. Milesia: the wool of Miletus, a city on the west coast of Asia Minor, was famous. 21. carpebant: were plucking the fleeces, i.e. spinning. hyali…colore: dyed with the rich, glass-green color. 22. A similar catalogue of names is in Iliad, 18. 39 ff. Drymoque: que is long according to Greek usage before the double consonant beginning the next word. 28. auro ff.: arrayed in skins embroidered with threads of gold. 31 ff. Odyssey, 8. 34. mollia pensa: their soft tasks. See Lex. pendo II, pensum, B, 1. 35. impulit: struck his mother's ears. 39. procul: sc. dixit. frustra: idly, without reason. 42. nomine: ablative of specification. 43. nova: strange. 44. age: quick. 46. qua ff.: purpose clause, that the youth might enter there. 48. misit: let him pass, lit. sent him. He enters the earth through the opening by which the Peneus finds exit. 52. sub…terra: so Plato in the myth of the Phaedo conceives of rivers as penetrating the depths of the earth. 53 ff. For the rivers named see Lex. 57. cornua: accusative of specification. voltu: dative, B. 49, 2; A. & G. 89. 60. in thalami pendentia pumice tecta: tecta may be regarded either as participle or noun. In the former case thalami tecta, 'the covered things of the chamber,' equals thalamum teclum, 'the covered chamber,' as strata viarum equals stratae viae; pendentia pumice tecta, roofs or covered things hanging with pumice (ablative of instrument) equals pendente pumice tecta, roofs of hanging pumice (ablative of description). Translate: into the chamber roofed with arching pumice. 61. inanis: since so easily removed, accusative plural. 63. tonsis…villis: of shorn nap, smooth and soft. 64. onerant: B. 254, 4, a; A. & G. 317, d. 65. Panchaeis ignibus: incense-burning flames. Panchaea was a fabulous island, east of Arabia, rich in incense. 66. et mater: sc. dixit. Maeonii: Lydian. Bacchi: the wine, as Vestam (1. 70) is the fire, the deities being named for that over which they preside. 69. centum: simply expressing a large number. 71. subiecta: shooting up. 73 ff. This part of the story has its original in Odyssey 4. The Carpathian Sea is between Crete and Rhodes. 74. caeruleus: an epithet applied to Proteus as a god of the azure sea. 75. The yoked chariot of two-footed steeds equals the chariot yoked to two-footed steeds. 77. Pallenen: a peninsula of Emathia, or Macedonia. 79. quae…trahantur: what in the near future is drawn on in the chain of events. 83. eventusque secundet: and may make the issue favorable. 94. fulva cervice: ablative of description. 101. ambrosiae: used as an ointment, as Iliad, 14. 170, Aeneid, 12.419. 102. perduxit: anointed; Lex. perduco, I. C. 1. 105, 106. quo…reductos: whither many a billow marches before the wind and divides into files that fall back, cogo and reductos may be used in a military sense. The wind is the rear-guard of the marching files of billows formed as the main wave enters an indentation in the shore. As the wave divides, all the secondary waves pursue the original direction, but the outer ones are retarded, as compared with the middle ones, and seem to fall back. Statio, just below, is familiar as a military term. Or reductos sinus can mean the depths of the bay. 107. deprensis: weather-bound. 108. vasti…obiice saxi: by the barrier of a vast rock, i.e. behind a rock. 109. averaum a lumine: in the darkness. 114. faucibus: i.e. the deep-cut channels. Perhaps the author intends with a bold personification to speak of the almost dried-up rivers as dry-throated, siccis faucibus would then be well taken as ablative of description. 115. antra: plural in view of the many chambers. 117. rorem amarum: the bitter dew, beautifully used of the salt spray. 121. acuunt: whet the wolves, i. e. their hunger. 131. Nam quis equals quisnam, Who pray? Surprise is expressed. 133. neque est: nor is it possible, used with infinitive in Greek construction, Lex. 1 sum, I, B, 5, 6, e. 135. lassis rebus: shattered fortunes. 137. glauco: azure. 139. Non…nullius: double negative for greater emphasis. It is in very truth the wrath of a god that pursues thee. irae: B. 55,4, c; A. & G. 100, c. 141. haud quaquam ob meritum poenas: penalties by no means on account of thy guilt, i.e. less than thy guilt. 147-149. Rhodope and Pangaeus are mountains, the Getae a tribe, Hebrus a river,—all in Thrace. Athenian Orithyia, daughter of Erechtheus, king of Athens, was carried by Boreas to Thrace, where she bore Calais and Zetes. As a nymph of the country she is interested in the fate of the Thracian Orpheus and Eurydice. 153. Taenarias: a cavern on the promontory of Taenarus in Laconia was fabled to be the entrance of the infernal regions. 157. Erebi: Greek [Greek: Erebos], a place of darkness, i.e. the lower world. 159 ff. Cf. Aeneid 6. 309-312. 161 ff. Cf. Aeneid 6. 306-308. 165 ff. Cf. Aeneid 6. 438-439. 167, 168. intima Leti Tartara: the inmost prison cells of death. crinibus: dative. anguis: accusative of specification. 169. Eumenides: the Furies, deities who punish crime; even they are moved by Orpheus' song. Cerberus: the three-headed dog at the entrance of Hades who kept the spirits from escaping. 171. Ixion, for an attempt upon the chastity of Juno, was bound to an ever-revolving wheel. vento: ablative of cause. The logic is loose; because of the wind's stopping. 173. pone: adverb. Cf. Aeneid, 2. 208. 177. animi: locative genitive, B. 232, 3; A. & G. 358. 179. stagnis: ablative of source. 182. natantia: swimming. 188. praeterea vidit: saw him more, praeterea here equalling postea. 192. nabat: was sailing. 194. Strymonis: a river on the borders of Thrace. 196. agentem: that trees followed the music of Orpheus became one of the commonplaces of poetry. 197-201. Notice the sweetness of sound due to the alliteration, especially of the liquids. 202. hymenaei: nuptials. 203. Hyperboreas: Hyperborean, i.e. northern, lit. beyond the north wind. Tanaim: now the Don, a river named here, as are the Rhipaei monies of the following line, because belonging to the cold, distant, desolate North. 204. numquam viduata: never bereaved, with a thought of the bereaved Orpheus. The setting corresponds to the situation. The grim landscape is forever wedded to its desolation as Orpheus to his bereavement. 206. Ciconum: a Thracian people. munere: tribute to the dead. The word is used technically of funeral honors. 206-213. Cf. Lycidas, 61-63:
By the rout that made the hideous roar His gory visage down the stream was sent, Down the swift Hebrus to the Lesbian shore.
210. Oeagrius: Oeagrius was a king of Thrace and father of Orpheus. 213. referebant: echoed with. Cf. Pope, Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, 113-116:
Yet ev'n in death Eurydice he sung, Eurydice still trembled on his tongue, Eurydice the woods, Eurydice the floods, Eurydice the rocks, and hollow mountains rung.
214. iactudedit: i.e. iecit. 219. choros…agitabat: used to dance. Agito means to occupy oneself with, as Plautus, Asinaria, 5. 1. 7. 221. Napaeas: Dell-nymphs, Greek [Greek: napaiai], belonging to a wooded vale. 225. Lycaei: a mountain of Arcadia. 234. facessit: he despatches. 235-239. The repetitions from 224-232 are in the Homeric manner. 241 ff. The bees are thought to form within the bodies and to force their way through the yielding sides. 244. uvam demittere: to let fall a cluster. The cluster formed by the bees when they alight in swarming resembles a bunch of grapes.
V. PHAEDRUS.
Flourished about 15 A.D.
Phaedrus, born in Thrace, came to Rome as a slave, and was set free by Augustus. Under Tiberius he was the victim of political persecution on account of some verses offensive to Sejanus. He published five books of fables (with occasional anecdotes) largely imitated from Aesop.
His style is fluent, his tone lively and sometimes coarse, his diction correct, his verse skilful.—Teuffel, Schwabe, and Warr, History of Roman Literature, vol. 2, p. 30.
For Reference: Teuffel, Schwabe, and Warr, History of Roman Literature, vol. 2, p. 29 ff.
Metre: Iambic Trimeter, B. 370, 1, 2; A. & G. 618, a, b.
1. Aesopus: a famous writer of fables, born in Phrygia about 600 B.C. He is said to have been liberated from slavery, to have lived at Sardis and to have been Croesus' ambassador to Delphi, where he was murdered by the angry townspeople, who hurled him over a precipice. Babrius, a Greek who lived about 100 B.C., made a comprehensive collection of Aesopian fables which Phaedrus imitated with considerable closeness. 5-7. 'Let no one censure me for representing trees as speaking; it is merely the play of fancy and a fable.'
2. 4. latro: the robber wolf. 7. Qui: how? Qui is the old ablative of the relative, interrogative, and indefinite pronouns.
4. 1. devocat: allures. 3. Tanto…melior: 'That is good!' See Lex. under tantus, I, C, 3, a, b. 4. prosecutus: and went on to say. See Lex. underprosequor, II, B. 5. unde: equivalent to a quo. 7. dignum ff.: with a double meaning. 10. namque: for, a strengthened nam.
5. This story is also told by Cicero, De Oratore, 2. 352 ff., and by others. 1, 2. Quantum…superius: an earlier fable (4. 23) relates how Simonides, shipwrecked and destitute, was received most hospitably by one of his admirers. 4. Simonides: the renowned Greek lyric poet of Ceos. His ode upon those who fell at Thermopylae was especially famous. Sterling translates:
Of those who at Thermopylae were slain, Glorious the doom, and beautiful the lot; Their tomb an altar: men from tears refrain To honor them; and praise, but mourn them not. Such sepulchre nor drear decay Nor all-destroying time shall waste; this right have they. Within their grave the home-bred glory Of Greece was laid; this witness gives Leonidas, the Spartan, in whose story A wreath of famous virtue ever lives.
5. pyctae: a word borrowed directly from the Greek. 8. poetae more: poets who wrote odes in honor of victories at the games usually inserted some legend containing an account of a similar victory won by a god or a hero. 9. gemma Ledae pignera: Castor and Pollux, the latter famous as a boxer. pignera: see Lex. II, B, 1. 10. auctoritatem…gloriae: citing the authority of a like glory. 11, 12. tertiam partem: only a third. 13. duae: sc. partes, two-thirds. 24. humanam supra formani: the gods and heroes were 'divinely tall.' The diminutive servulo is in strong contrast. 31. Ut…rei: When the incident was told just as it occurred.
Another story of divine interposition on the part of Castor and Pollux is vividly told by Macaulay in The Battle of Lake Regillus.
6. Compare with Vergil's account of the oracle given by the Sibyl to Aeneas, Aeneid, 6. 9 ff. Some of the more obvious resemblances in diction and thought are Aeneid, 6. 12, 29, 35, 44, 45, 46 ff., 50, 95, 98, 99, 100.
1. Utilius: equalling a superlative, of highest value. 2. qui ff.: Delphi was a city in north central Greece and Parnassus a mountain near it. 4. tripodes: this probably means the golden seat above the cleft in the ground in the adytum of Apollo's temple at Delphi. On this the priestess (vates, 1. 3; virgo, 1. 16) sat to breathe the rising vapors which induced the prophetic ecstasy. The tripus is named from being supported on three legs. adytis: from [Greek: aduton], 'not to be entered.' The adyta, or innermost parts of temples, were accessible only to priests. 5. lauri: the laurel was sacred to Apollo. 6. Pytho: the former name for Delphi. Pytho is poetically said to speak when the Pythian priestess speaks. 7. Delii: Delos, an island of the Aegean, nearly at the centre of the Cyclades, was sacred to Apollo, and was his birthplace. 12. ite obviam: oppose.
7. Plutarch, Symposiacon Problematon, V. 1 (Moralia, 674 B, C), tells essentially this same story. Parmeno, he says, was famous for his imitation of the grunting of a pig. Even when one came upon the stage having a real pig concealed under his cloak, the audience cried, 'This is nothing to compare with the sow of Parmeno.' Then he who had the pig threw it in the midst of them, 'to show that they judged according to opinion and not truth.'
1. Pravo favore: prejudice. labi: the metaphor is in evident contrast to that in stant of 1. 2. 2. pro iudicio…erroris: in defence of their mistaken judgment. 3. rebus manifestis: the disclosure of the truth. 4. Facturus ludos: who was about to give an entertainment. 8. scurra: a city wit. urbano sale: clever jesting, merry cleverness. The Romans sharply contrasted city manners with those of the country to the disadvantage of the latter. 12. loca: seats. 18. verum: sc. porcellum. pallio: mantle or toga. 19. simul: equals simul ac. 21. prosequuntur: honor. 27. degrunnit: grunts his best. 30. scilicet: to be sure. 32. vero: sc. porcello. 35. imitatum: sc. esse.
VI. SENECA.
3 B.C.-65 A.D.
Seneca the Younger, or 'the Philosopher,' was born in Spain at Corduba; was educated at Rome; was banished in 41 A.D. to Corsica by Claudius; was recalled in 49; became Nero's tutor; largely deserves the credit for the good government of the early part of that emperor's reign; was consul in 57, but lost influence with Nero, and was compelled by him to commit suicide on a charge of participation in the conspiracy of Piso.