Si mea nota fides, irrita nulla petes.
Jam dederat Saliis--a saltu nomina ducunt--
Armaque, et ad certos verba canenda modos.
Tum sic Mamurius, Merces mihi gloria detur,
Nominaque extreme carmine nostra sonent. 390
Inde sacerdotes operi promissa vetusto
Praemia persolvunt, Mamuriumque vocant.
Nubere si qua voles, quamvis properabitis ambo,
Differ: habent parvae commoda magna morae.
Arma movent pugnam, pugna est aliena maritis. 395
Condita quum fuerint, aptius omen erit.
His etiam conjux apicati cincta Dialis
Lucibus impexas debet habere comas.
Tertia nox emersa suos ubi moverit ignes,
Conditus e geminis Piscibus alter erit. 400
Nam duo sunt: Austris hic est, Aquilonibus ille
Proximus; a vento nomen uterque tenet.
Quum croceis rorare genis Tithonia conjux
Coeperit, et quintae tempora lucis aget;
Sive est Arctophylax, sive est piger ille Bootes, 405
Mergetur, visus effugietque tuos.
At non effugiet Vindemitor. Hoc quoque causam
Unde trahat sidus, parva docere mora est.
Ampelon intonsum Satyris Nymphaque creatum
Fertur in Ismariis Bacchus amasse jugis. 410
Tradidit huic vitem pendentem ex frondibus ulmi,
Quae nunc de pueri nomine nomen habet,
Dum legit in ramo pictas temerarius uvas,
Decidit: amissum Liber in astra vehit.
Sextus ubi Oceano clivosum scandit Olympian 415
Phoebus, et alatis aethera carpit equis;
Quisquis ades, canaeque colis penetralia Vestae,
Cratera Iliacis turaque pone focis.
Caesaris innumeris, quem maluit ille mereri,
Accessit titulis Pontificalis honos. 420
Ignibus aeternis aeterni numina praesunt
Caesaris. Imperii pignora juncta vides.
De veteris Troiae dignissima praeda favilla,
Qua gravis aeneas tutus ab hoste fuit;
Ortus ab aenea tangit cognata sacerdos 425
Numina; cognatum, Vesta, tuere caput.
Quos sancta fovet ille manu, bene vivitis ignes.
Vivite inexstincti, flammaque, duxque! precor.
Una nota est Martis Nonis, sacrata quod illis
Templa putant lucos Vejovis ante duos. 430
Romulus ut saxo lucum circumdedit alto,
Quilibet huc, inquit, confuge, tutus eris.
O quam de tenui Romanus origine crevit!
Turba vetus quam non invidiosa fuit!
Ne tamen ignaro novitas tibi nominis obstet, 435
Disce, quis iste deus, curve vocetur ita.
Jupiter est juvenis: juveniles adspice vultus.
Adspice deinde manum, fulmina nulla tenet.
Fulmina post ausos coelum affectare Gigantas
Sumpta Jovi: primo tempore inermis erat. 440
Ignibus Ossa novis, et Pelion altior Ossa
Arsit, et in solida fixus Olympus humo.
Stat quoque capra simul: Nymphae pavisse feruntur
Cretides: infanti lac dedit Jovi.
Nunc vocor ad nomen. _Vegrandia_ farra colonae, 445
Quae male creveruut, _vescaque_ parva vocant.
Vis ea si verbi est, cur non ego _Vejovis_ aedem,
aedem non magni suspicer esse Jovis?
Jamque, ubi caeruleum variabunt sidera coelum,
Suspice; Gorgonei colla videbis equi. 450
Creditur hic caesae gravida cervice Medusae
Sanguine respersis prosiluisse jubis.
Huic supra nubes et subter sidera lapso
Coelum pro terra, pro pede penna fuit.
Jamque indignanti nova frena receperat ore, 455
Quum levis Aonias ungula fodit aquas.
Nunc fruitur coelo, quod pennis ante petebat,
Et nitidus stellis quinque decemque micat.
Protinus adspicies venienti nocte Coronam
Gnosida. Theseo crimine facta dea est. 460
Jam bene perjuro mutarat conjuge Bacchum,
Quae dedit ingrato fila legenda viro.
Sorte tori gaudens, Quid flebam rustica? dixit,
Utiliter nobis perfidus ille fuit.
Interea Liber depexus crinibus Indos 465
Vincit, et Eoo dives ab orbe redit.
Inter captivas facie praestante puellas
Grata nimis Baccho filia regis erat.
Flebat amans conjux, spatiataque litore curvo
Edidit incultis talia verba comis: 470
En iterum similes, fluctus, audite querelas!
En iterum lacrimas accipe, arena, meas!
Dicebam, memini, perjure et perfide Theseu!
Ille abiit: eadem crimina Bacchus habet.
Nunc quoque, nulla viro, clamabo, femina credat. 475
Nomine mutato causa relata mea est.
O utinam mea sors, qua primum coeperat, isset!
Jamque ego praesenti tempore nulla forem!
Quid me desertis perituram, Liber, arenis
Servabas? potui dedoluisse semel. 480
Bacche levis, leviorque tuis, quae tempora cingunt,
Frondibus, in lacrimas cognite Bacche meas,
Ausus es ante oculos adducta pellice nostros
Tam bene compositum sollicitare torum.
Heu! ubi pacta fides? ubi, quae jurare solebas? 485
Me miseram! quoties haec ego verba loquor!
Thesea culpabas, fallacemque ipse vocabas:
Judicio peccas turpius ipse tuo.
Ne sciat hoc quisquam, tacitisque doloribus urar!
Ne toties falli digna fuisse puter! 490
Praecipue cupiam celari Thesea, ne te
Consortem culpae gaudeat esse suae.
At, puto, praeposita est fuscae mihi candida pellex.
Eveniat nostris hostibus ille color!
Quid tamen hoc refert? vitio tibi gratior ipso est. 495
Quid facis? amplexus inquinat illa tuos.
Bacche, fidem praesta, nec praefer amoribus ullam
Conjugis assuetae semper amare virum.
Ceperunt matrem formosi cornua tauri;
Me tua: me laudant, ille pudendus amor. 500
Ne noceat quod amo! neque enim tibi, Bacche, nocebat,
Quod flammas nobis fassus es ipse tuas;
Nec, quod nos uris, mirum facis; ortus in igne
Diceris, et patria raptus ab igne manu.
Illa ego sum, cui tu solitus promittere coelum. 505
Hei mihi, pro coelo qualia dona fero!
Dixerat: audibat jamdudum verba querentis
Liber, ut a tergo forte secutus erat.
Occupat amplexu, lacrimasque per oscula siccat:
Et, Pariter coeli summa petamus, ait. 510
Tu mihi juncta toro mihi juncta vocabula sumes;
Jam tibi mutatae Libera nomen erit;
Sintque tuae tecum faciam monumenta coronae,
Vulcanus Veneri quam dedit, illa tibi.
Dicta facit, gemmasque novem transformat in ignes. 515
Aurea per stellas nunc micat illa novem.
Sex ubi sustulerit, totidem demerserit orbes,
Purpureum rapido qui vehit axe diem;
Altera gramineo spectabis Equiria campo,
Quem Tiberis curvis in latus urget aquis. 520
Qui tamen ejecta si forte tenebitur unda,
Coelius accipiat pulverulentus equos.
Idibus est Annae festum geniale Perennse,
Haud procul a ripis, advena Tibri, tuis.
Plebs venit, ac virides passim disjecta per herbas 525
Potat, et accumbit cum pare quisque sua.
Sub Jove pars durat: pauci tentoria ponunt:
Sunt, quibus e ramis frondea facta casa est:
Pars ibi pro rigidis calamos statuere columnis,
Desuper extentas imposuere togas. 530
Sole tamen vinoque calent, annosque precantur,
Quot sumant cyathos, ad numerumque bibunt.
Invenies illic, qui Nestoris ebibat annos:
Quae sit per calices facta Sibylla suos.
Illic et cantant, quiquid didicere theatris, 535
Et jactant faciles ad sua verba manus:
Et ducunt posito duras cratere choreas,
Cultaque diffusis saltat amica comis.
Quum redeunt, titubant, et sunt spectacula vulgo,
Et fortunatos obvia turba vocat. 540
Occurri nuper. Visa est mihi digna relatu
Pompa: senem potum pota trahebat anus.
Quae tamen haec Dea sit,--quoniam rumoribus errat--
Fabula proposito nulla tacenda meo.
Arserat Aeneae Dido miserabilis igne: 545
Arserat exstructis in sua fata rogis:
Compositusque cinis, tumulique in marmore carmen
Hoc breve, quod moriens ipsa reliquit, erat:
Praebuit aeneas et causam mortis et ensem:
Ipsa sua Dido concidit usa manu. 550
Protinus invadunt Numidae sine vindice regnum,
Et potitur capta Maurus Iarba domo;
Seque memor spretum, Thalamis tamen, inquit, Elissae
En ego, quem toties reppulit illa, fruor!
Diffugiunt Tyrii, quo quemque agit error, ut olim 555
Amisso dubiae rege vagantur apes.
Tertia nudandas acceperat area messes,
Inque cavos ierant tertia musta lacus;
Pellitur Anna domo, lacrimansque sororia linquit
Moenia: germanae justa dat ante suae. 560
Mixta bibunt molles lacrimis unguenta favillae,
Vertice libatas accipiuntque comas;
Terque, Vale, dixit: cineres ter ad ora relatos
Pressit, et est illis visa subesse soror.
Nacta ratem comitemque fugae pede labitur sequo, 565
Moenia respiciens, dulce sororis opus.
Fertilis est Melite sterili vicina Cosyrae
Insula, quam Libyci verberat unda freti.
Hanc petit hospitio regis confisa vetusto;
Hospes opum dives rex ibi Battus erat. 570
Qui postquam didicit casus utriusque sororis,
Haec, inquit, tellus quantulacumque tua est.
Et tamen hospitii servasset ad ultima munus,
Sed timuit magnas Pygmalionis opes.
Signa recensuerat his sol sua: tertius ibat 575
Annus, et exsulibus terra petenda nova est.
Frater adest belloque petit, rex arma perosus,
Nos sumus imbelles, tu fuge sospes, ait.
Jussa fugit, ventoque ratem committit et undis.
Asperior quovis aequore frater erat. 580
Est prope piscosos lapidosi Crathidis amnes
Parvus ager: Cameren incola turba vocat.
Illuc cursus erat; nec longius abfuit inde,
Quam quantum novies mittere funda potest.
Vela cadunt primo, et dubia librantur ab aura. 585
Findite remigio, navita dixit, aquas.
Dumque parant torto subducere carbasa lino,
Percutitur rapido puppis adunca Noto,
Inque patens aequor, frustra pugnante magistro,
Fertur, et ex oculis visa refugit humus. 590
Assiliunt fluctus, imoque a gurgite pontus
Vertitur, et canas alveus haurit aquas.
Vincitur ars vento, nec jam moderator habenis
Utitur, at votis is quoque poscit opem.
Jactatur tumidas exsul Phoenissa per undas, 595
Humidaque opposita lumina veste tegit.
Tum primum Dido felix est dicta sorori,
Et quaecumque aliquam corpore pressit humum.
Figitur ad Laurens ingenti flamine litus
Puppis, et expositis omnibus hausta perit. 600
Jam pius aeneas regno nataque Latini
Auctus erat, populos miscueratque duos.
Litore dotali solo comitatus Achate
Secretum nudo dum pede carpit iter,
Adspicit errantem, nec credere sustinet Annam 605
Esse. Quid in Latios illa veniret agros?
Dum secum aeneas, _Anna_ est! exclamat Achates.
Ad nomen vultus sustulit illa suos.
Quo fugiat? quid agat? quos terrae quaerat hiatus?
Ante oculos miserae fata sororis erant. 610
Sensit et alloquitur trepidam Cythereius heros:
Flet tamen admonitu mortis, Elissa, tuae.
Anna, per hanc juro, quam quondam audire solebas
Tellurem fato prosperiore dari;
Perque deos comites, hac nuper sede locatos, 615
Saepe meas illos increpuisse moras.
Nec timui de morte tamen: metus abfuit iste.
Hei mihi! credibili fortior illa fuit.
Ne refer. Adspexi non illo pectore digna
Vulnera, Tartareas ausus adire domos. 620
At tu, seu ratio te nostris appulit oris,
Sive deus, regni commoda carpe mei.
Multa tibi memores, nil non debemus Elissae.
Nomine grata tuo, grata sororis, eris.
Talia dicenti--neque enim spes altera restat-- 625
Credidit, errores exposuitque suos.
Utque domum intravit Tyrios induta paratus,
Incipit Aeneas:--cetera turba silet--
Hanc tibi cur tradam, pia causa, Lavinia conjux,
Est mihi: consumpsi naufragus hujus opes. 630
Orta Tyro regnum Libyca possedit in ora:
Quam precor ut carae more sororis ames.
Omnia promittit, falsumque Lavinia vulnus
Mente premit tacita, dissimulatque fremens;
Donaque quum videat praeter sua lumina ferri 635
Multa palam, mitti clam quoque multa putat.
Non tamen exactum, quid agat. Furialiter odit,
Et parat insidias, et cupit ulta mori.
Nox erat: ante torum visa est adstare sororis
Squalenti Dido sanguinolenta coma, 640
Et, Fuge, ne dubita, maestum fuge, dicere, tectum,
Sub verbum querulas impulit aura fores.
Exsilit, et velox humili super arva fenestra
Se jacit;--audacem fecerat ipse timor--
Quaque metu rapitur tunica velata recincta, 645
Currit, ut auditis territa dama lupis.
Corniger hanc cupidis rapuisse Numicius undis
Creditur, et stagnis occuluisse suis.
Sidonis interea magno clamore per agros
Quaeritur. Apparent signa notaeque pedum. 650
Ventum erat ad ripas: inerant vestigia ripis.
Sustinuit tacitas conscius amnis aquas.
Ipsa loqui visa est, _Placidi sum Nympha Numici:
Amne perenne latens Anna Perenna vocor_.
Protinus erratis laeti vescuntur in agris, 655
Et celebrant largo seque diemque mero.
Sunt, quibus haec Luna est, quia mensibus impleat annum:
Pars Themin, Inachiam pars putat esse bovem.
Invenies, qui te Nymphen Atlantida dicant,
Teque Jovi primes, Anna, dedisse cibos. 660
Haec quoque, quam referam, nostras pervenit ad aures
Fama, nec a vera dissidet illa fide.
Plebs vetus, et nullis etiam tune tuta Tribunis,
Fugit, et in sacri vertice mentis abit.
Jam quoque, quem secum tulerant, defecerat illos 665
Victus et humanis usibus apta Ceres.
Orta suburbanis quaedam fuit Anna Bovillis
Pauper, sed multae sedulitatis, anus.
Illa levi mitra canos redimita capillos
Fingebat tremula rustica liba manu. 670
Atque ita per populum fumantia mane solebat
Dividere. Haec populo copia grata fuit.
Pace domi facta signum posuere Perennae,
Quod sibi defectis illa tulisset opem.
Nunc mihi, cur cantent, superest, obscena puellae, 675
Dicere: nam coeunt certaque probra canunt.
Nuper erat dea facta; venit Gradivus ad Annam,
Et cum seducta talia verba facit:
Mense meo coleris: junxi mea tempora tecum:
Pendet ab officio spes mihi magna tuo. 680
Armifer armiferae correptus amore Minervae
Uror, et hoc longo tempore vulnus alo.
Effice, di studio similes coeamus in unum.
Conveniunt partes hae tibi, comis anus.
Dixerat: illa deum promisso ludit inani, 685
Et stultam dubia spem trahit usque mora.
Saepius instanti, Mandata peregimus, inquit:
Evicta est precibus: vix dedit illa manus.
Gaudet amans thalamosque parat. Deducitur illuc
Anna tegens vultus, ut nova nupta, suos. 690
Oscula sumpturus subito Mars adspicit Annam;
Nunc pudor elusum, nunc subit ira, deum.
Ridet amatorem carae nova diva Minervae;
Nec res hac Veneri gratior ulla fuit.
Inde joci veteres obscenaque dicta canuntur, 695
Et juvat hanc magno verba dedisse deo.
Praeteriturus eram gladios in principe fixos,
Quum sic a castis Vesta locuta focis:
Ne dubita meminisse: meus fuit ille sacerdos.
Sacrilegae telis me petiere manus. 700
Ipsa virum rapui, simulacraque nuda reliqui;
Quae cecidit ferro, Caesaris umbra fuit.
Ille quidem coelo positus Jovis atria vidit,
Et tenet in magno templa dicata foro.
At quicumque nefas ausi, prohibente deorum 705
Numine, polluerant Pontificale caput,
Morte jacent merita. Testes estote Philippi,
Et quorum sparsis ossibus albet humus.
Hoc opus, haec pietas, haec prima elementa fuerunt
Caesaris, ulcisci justa per arma patrem. 710
Postera quum teneras Aurora refecerit herbas,
Scorpios a prima parte videndus erit.
Tertia post Idus lux est celeberrima Baccho.
Bacche, fave vati, dum tua festa cano.
Nec referam Semelen; ad quam nisi fulmina secum 715
Jupiter afferret, parvus inermis erat:
Nec, puer ut posses maturo tempore nasci,
Expletum patrio corpore matris onus.
Sithonas et Scythicos longum est narrare triumphos,
Et domitas gentes, turifer Inde, tuas. 720
Tu quoque Thebanae mala praeda tacebere matris,
Inque tuum furiis acte, Lycurge, genu.
Ecce libet subitos pisces Tyrrhenaque monstra
Dicere; sed non est carminis hujus opus.
Carminis hujus opus, causas expromere, quare 725
Vilis anus populos ad sua liba vocet.
Ante tuos ortus arae sine honore fuerunt,
Liber, et in gelidis herba reperta focis.
Te memorant, Gange totoque Oriente subacto,
Primitias magno seposuisse Jovi. 730
Cinnama tu primus captivaque tura dedisti,
Deque triumphato viscera tosta bove.
Nomine ab auctoris ducunt Libamina nomen,
Libaque, quod sacris pars datur inde focis.
Liba deo fiunt, succis quia dulcibus ille 735
Gaudet, et a Baccho mella reperta ferunt.
Ibat arenoso Satyris comitatus ab Hebro:
--Non habet ingratos fabula nostra jocos--
Jamque erat ad Rhodopen Pangaeaque florida ventum:
aeriferae comitum concrepuere manus. 740
Ecce novae coeunt volucres tinnitibus actae,
Quaque movent sonitus aera sequuntur apes.
Colligit errantes, et in arbore claudit inani
Liber: et inventi praemia mellis habet.
Ut Satyri levisque senex tetigere saporem, 745
Quaerebant flavos per nemus omne favos,
Audit in exesa stridorem examinis ulmo,
Adspicit et ceras dissimulatque senex;
Utque piger pandi tergo residebat aselli,
Applicat hunc ulmo corticibusque cavis. 750
Constitit ipse super ramoso stipite nixus,
Atque avide trunco condita mella petit.
Millia crabronum coeunt, et vertice nudo
Spicula defigunt, oraque summa notant.
Ille cadit praeceps, et calce feritur aselli, 755
Inclamatque suos, auxiliumque rogat.
Concurrunt Satyri, turgentiaque ora parentis
Rident. Percusso claudicat ille genu.
Ridet et ipse deus, limumque inducere monstrat.
Hic paret monitis et linit ora luto. 760
Melle pater fruitur, liboque infusa calenti
Jure repertori candida mella damus.
Femina cur praestet, non est rationis opertae.
Femineos thyrso concitat ille chores.
Cur anus hoc faciat, quaeris. Vinosior aetas 765
Haec est, et gravidae munera vitis amans.
Cur hedera cincta est; Hedera est gratissima Baccho.
Hoc quoque cur ita sit, dicere nulla mora est.
Nysiades Nymphae, puerum quaerente noverca,
Hanc frondem cunis opposuere novis. 770
Restat, ut inveniam, quare toga libera detur
Lucifero pueris, candide Bacche, tuo;
Sive, quod ipse puer semper juvenisque videris,
Et media est aetas inter utrumque tibi:
Seu, quia tu pater es, patres sua pignora natos 775
Commendant curae numinibusque tuis;
Sive, quod es Liber, vestis quoque libera per te
Sumitur, et vitae liberioris iter;
An quia, quum prisci colerent studiosius agros,
Et patrio faceret rure senator opus, 780
Et caperet fasces a curvo consul aratro,
Nec crimen duras esset habere manus,
Rusticus ad ludos populus veniebat in urbem:
Sed dis, non studiis ille dabatur honos.
Luce sua ludos uvae commentor habebat: 785
Quos cum taedifera nunc habet ipse dea.
Ergo, ut tironem celebrare frequentia posset,
Visa dies dandae non aliena togae.
Mite, Pater, caput huc placataque cornua vertas,
Et des ingenio vela secunda meo! 790
Itur ad Argeos--qui sint, sua pagina dicet--
Hac, si commemini, praeteritaque die.
Stella Lycaoniam vergit proclinis ad Arcton
Miluus. Haec illa nocte videnda venit.
Quid dederit volucri, si vis cognoscere, coelum: 795
Saturnus regnis ab Jove pulsus erat.
Concitat iratus validos Titanas in arma,
Quaeque fuit fatis debita, poscit opem.
Matre satus Terra, monstrum mirabile, taurus
Parte sui serpens posteriore fuit. 800
Hunc triplici muro lucis incluserat atris
Parcarum monitu Styx violenta trium.
Viscera qui tauri flammis adolenda dedisset,
Sors erat, aeternos vincere posse deos.
Immolat hunc Briareus facta ex adamante securi: 805
Et jam jam flammis exta daturus erat.
Jupiter alitibus rapere imperat. Attulit illi
Miluus, et meritis venit in astra suis.
Una dies media est, et fiunt sacra Minervae,
Nomina quae a junctis quinque diebus habent. 810
Sanguine prima vacat, nec fas concurrene ferro.
Causa, quod est illa nata Minerva die.
Altera tresque super strata celebrantur arena.
Ensibus exsertis bellica laeta dea est.
Pallada nunc pueri teneraeque ornate puellae. 815
Qui bene placarit Pallada, doctus erit.
Pallade placata, lanam mollite, puellae:
Discite jam plenas exonerare colos.
Illa etiam stantes radio percurrere telas
Erudit, et rarum pectine denset opus. 820
Hanc cole, qui maculas laesis de vestibus aufers:
Hanc cole velleribus quisquis ahena paras.
Nec quisquam invita faciet bene vincula plantae
Pallade, sit Tychio doctior ille licet;
Et licet antiquo manibus collatus Epeo 825
Sit prior, irata Pallade mancus erit.
Vos quoque, Phoebea morbos qui pellitis arte,
Munera de vestris pauca referte deae.
Nec vos, turba fere censu fraudata, magistri
Spernite; discipulos attrahet illa novos. 830
Quique moves caelum, tabulamque coloribus uris,
Quique facis docta mollia saxa manu.
Mille dea est operum: certe dea carminis illa est.
Si mereor, studiis adsit amica meis.
Coelius ex alto qua mons descendit in aequum, 835
Hic ubi non plana est, sed prope plana via est:
Parva licet videas Captae delubra Minervae,
Quae dea natali coepit habere suo.
Nominis in dubio causa est. _Capitale_ vocamus
Ingenium sollers: ingeniosa dea est. 840
An, quia de capitis fertur sine matre paterni
Vertice cum clypeo prosiluisse suo?
An, quia perdomitis ad nos captiva Faliscis
Venit? et hoc ipsum littera prisca docet.
An, quod habet legem, capitis quae pendere poenas 845
Ex illo jubeat furta reperta loco?
A quacumque trahis ratione vocabula, Pallas,
Pro ducibus nostris aegida semper habe.
Summa dies e quinque tubas lustrare canoras
Admonet, et forti sacrificare deae. 850
Nunc potes ad solem sublato dicere vultu:
Hic here Phrixeae vellera pressit ovis.
Seminibus tostis sceleratae fraude novercae
Sustulerat nullas, ut solet, herba comas.
Mittitur ad tripodas, certa qui sorte reportet, 855
Quam sterili terrae Delphicus edat opem.
Hic quoque corruptus cum semine nuntiat Helles
Et juvenis Phrixi funera sorte peti.
Usque recusantem cives, et tempus, et Ino
Compulerant regem jussa nefanda pati; 860
Et soror, et Phrixus velati tempora vittis
Stant simul ante aras junctaque fata gemunt.
Adspicit hos, ut forte pependerat aethere mater,
Et ferit attonita pectora nuda manu:
Inque draconigenam nimbis comitantibus urbem 865
Desilit, et natos eripit inde suos;
Utque fugam capiant, aries nitidissimus auro
Traditur. Ille vehit per freta longa duos.
Dicitur infirma cornu tenuisse sinistra
Femina, quum de se nomina fecit aquae. 870
Paene simul periit, dum vult succurrere lapsae,
Frater, et extentas porrigit usque manus.
Flebat, ut amissa gemini consorte pericli,
Caeruleo junctam nescius esse deo.
Litoribus tactis aries fit sidus: at hujus 875
Pervenit in Colchas aurea lana domos.
Tres ubi Luciferos veniens praemiserit Eos,
Tempora nocturnis aequa diurna feres.
Inde quater pastor saturos ubi clauserit hoedos,
Canuerint herbae rore recente quater; 880
Janus adorandus, cumque hoc Concordia mitis,
Et Romana Salus, araque Pacis erit.
Luna regit menses. Hujus quoque tempora mensis
Finit Aventino Luna colenda jugo.
NOTES:
1. As the first book began with the praises of Janus, so here the poet
invokes Mars; in the next book we shall find him calling upon Venus.--
_Depositis_, etc. as the poet's occupation is a peaceful one.
3, 4. A question and answer.
5-8. As Minerva, who, especially in the Roman theology, was a deity, who
presided over the arts of peace, engaged also in those of war; so Mars
might for a time lay aside his arms, and attend to the song of the poet.
--_Cuspidis_. Several MSS. read _cassidis_. The general sense is the
same.
9. He takes occasion here to sing the most celebrated adventure of the
Roman god, Mars. It comes with peculiar propriety in this place, as the
month had been named after the god by his son, whose birth it relates.
For the difference between the Greek Ares and the Roman Mars, see
Mythology, p. 79 and 459.--_Romana sacerdos_. The affair occurred at
Alba, and Rome did not yet exist. Heinsius would read _Trojana_, another
critic proposes _regina_, as in Virgil, aen. I. 227. There is no need of
any change; poets did not always attend to accuracies of this kind.
11. _Silvia_. One MS. reads _Ilia_, which reading has been adopted by
Heinsius.--_Moveri_ scil, _carmen_, like the _cantuxque movete_ of
Virgil.
12. It was the office of the Vestals to draw water, for the purpose of
washing and sprinkling the temple, and cleansing the sacred vessels.
Servius on aen. vii. 150, says, _Vestae libare non nisi de Numicio flumine
licebat_.
13. _Molli_, etc. beautifully expresses the gentle descent to the river.
14. Then, as now, women carried their earthen pitchers on their heads.
Speaking of Amymone, our poet says, (Am. I. x. 6,) _Cum premeret summi
verticis urna comas_ and Propertius of Tarpeia (iv. 4, 16,) _at illi
Urguebat medium fictilis urna caput_.
16. _Restituit_, settled. Two MSS. which are followed by Heinsius, read
_composuit_; but as Burmann justly observes this supposes leisure, and
the use of a mirror, whereas _restituit_ places before us a girl hastily
settling up her hair, as we express it.
17, 18. Compare Virg. Ec. I. 55, and Hor. Epod. II. 26.
21. The descent of Mars, as Addison, I believe, first observed, is to be
seen represented on ancient Roman coins.--_Cupitam_. This is the reading
of two of the best MSS. and of Diomedes, the grammarian, who quotes this
verse: all the other MSS. read _cupita_. Heinsius, in his note, shews
that _potior_ governed the fourth ease, in the best authors, and Priscian
(xviii. 23,) says, _Omnes auctores, potior illius et illum et illo_.
22. _Fefellit_, concealed.--_Divina ope_, i. e. by his own power.
26. _Sonos_, words. Two MSS. read _preces.
27. _Utile_, etc. The well-known Roman _formula, Quod bonum, felix
faustumque sit_,--_Imagine somni_, in a dream.
28. _An somno_, etc. Was it more than a dream, than a mere [Greek:
enupnion]?
29. _Ig. II_. The perpetual fire of Vesta brought from Troy by aeneas.
Virg. aen. II. 296.
30. This circumstance was ominous, as the sacred fillet was taken by the
Pontifex off the head of a Vestal condemned for breach of vow. Dionysius,
when describing the fate of the Vestal, Oppia, or Opimia, says, [Greek:
autaen men taes koryphaes aphelomenoi ta stemmata, kai pompeuontes di'
agoras, entos teichous zosan katoruxan].
31. Compare the dream of Astyages, portending the birth of Cyrus. Just.
I. 4.--_Palmae_, emblems of victory. It is probably the meaning of the
poet that they sprang from the ground, though _inde_ would appear to
refer rather to the fillet.
35. _Molitur_, i.e. _vibrat_. Virg. G. iv. 331.
36. _Admonitu_, scil. _deorum_, the vision.
37. The woodpecker, as well as the wolf, was sacred to Mars. In the old
legend, (see v. 54,) the woodpecker also contributed to nourish the
exposed babes.
43, 44. A periphrasis for ten months.--_Emeritis. Qui merere desiit_,
having completed his task or service, was called _Emeritus_.
45. The poet himself informs us, (VI. 295,) that there was no statue in
the temple of Vesta. Gierig supposes that he did not know this at the
time he wrote this part of the poem. But it is well known that he kept it
a long time by him, altering and revising it. I again repeat, that we are
not to look for extreme accuracy in the ancient poets. There were statues
of Vesta outside of the temple.
46. See below, VI. 614.
48. The sacred flame drew back as it were, and became nearly extinct.
Nothing more terrified the Romans than the extinction of the Vestal
flame; it was to them a sign, as Dionysius says, [Greek: tou aphanismou
taes poleos].
50. _Opes_, the kingdom. He here gives the reason why Amulius interfered,
not that of his calling him _contemptor aequi_.
51, 52. He had already related this at length, II. 385, _et seq_.
53, 54. It was the common tradition, it was in the poem of Ennius, which
every one knew, and was probably the subject of some of those old ballads
about Romulus, which Dionysius says still existed in his time.
55. _Larentia_, the wife of the shepherd, Faustulus, and nurse of Romulus
and Remus. All the MSS. but two read _Laurentia_.
56. _Vestras_, scil. _tui et Larentiae_,--_Opes_, house, mode of living,
etc.; see II. 413, on the aid rendered to the founders of Rome.
57. 58. The Larentalia were in December. The poet did not live to perform
his promise; he probably could not write the Fasti away from Rome.--
_Acceptus geniis_. On account of the Saturnalia, when _indulgebant
genio_. See Virg. G. I. 300.
61, 62. This reminds one of the early proofs of his being born to rule,
exhibited by Cyrus. It is by no means improbable, that his legend was
transferred to Romulus and Remus. That of Paris (Mythology, p. 438,) is
somewhat similar, as also that of Habis. See Justin, xliv. 4.
64. _Actos_, i. e. _abactos_, by the robbers.
65. _Editus_, told. Five MSS. read _agnitus_.
66. _Nomen habere_, scil. to have their fame confined to a few cottages.
--_Paucis_, most MSS. read _purvis_.
70. A euphemism, sparing the fame of Romulus.
71. _Pecorum_. Three MSS. read _pecudum_, two _nemorum_, which Burmann
prefers.
72. _aeternae urbis_. So the Romans loved to call their city.
75. He thus returns to the subject in hand.
78. As he shewed by removing Romulus to heaven, and by giving victory and
fame in arms to the Romans.
79. The poet now becomes a grammarian, and argues learnedly.--_Priores_,
the Latins.
80. _Hoc_ scil. the worship of Mars. Several MSS. read _haec_.
81. _Minoia_, etc. The Cretans worshiped a goddess named Dictynna, who
was regarded as being the same as the Artemis of the other Greeks, and
the Diana of the Latins. See Mythology, p. 100.
82. _Tellus Hyps_. Lemnos. The slaughter of the men of Lemnos by their
wives, and the saving of Thoas, by his daughter Hypsipyle, is a well
known event. When Valean was flung from Olympus, by Jupiter, he fell in
Lemnos. Hom. Il. I. 93.
83. See VI. 47. Hom. Il. iv. 51.
84. _Maenalis ora_, like _Ausonis ora_, II. 94.
86. _Remque decusque_, wealth and fame.
87. _Peregrinos_, i. e. of other Italian peoples, and you will find that
they also had a month called after Mars.
91, 92. The people of Aricia and of Tusculum follow the same rule as the
Albans, making March the third month. According to Krebs, the
construction is, _Inter Ar. et Alb. et Teleg. manu facta moenia celsa
constant tempora_. It is harsh taken any way.
94. First after three months, that is, the fourth.
95, 96. March was the fourth month also to the Pelignians, and their
Sabine ancestors. For the best account of all these peoples of ancient
Italy, see Niebuhr's Roman History.
97, 98. In reality he only followed the Alban, or rather general Latin
calendar, in which March was the third month.
101, 102. Compare Hor. Epist. II. 1, 156. Virg. aen. vi. 850.--_Male
forte_, same as _non forte_, _imbelle_.
103, 104. War was the science of the Romans.--_Pugnabat_. Three MSS. read
_pugnarat_.
105. The Hyades and Pleiades are always spoken of together by the poets,
as being near each other in position.--_Pliadas Atlanteas_. See IV. 169,
[Greek: Plaeiadon Atlageneon epitellomenaon]. Hesiod. See Mythology, p.
52 and 418.
106. The Arctic and Antarctic poles.
107, 108. Cynosure ([Greek: kynos oura]) was a name of the Lesser Bear:
Helice ([Greek: helikae]) from its revolving round the pole, a name of
the Greater Bear. _Omnes qui Peloponnesum incolunt priore utuntur Arcto;
Phoenices autem, quam a suo inventore_ (Thalete) _acceperunt, observant
Cynosuram; et hanc studiosius perspiciendo diligentius navigare
existimantur_. Hygin. Poet. Astron. II. 2.
111. _Libera_, as being unobserved, left to themselves, as it were;
subjected to no laws.
112. _Constabat_, &c. Burmann and Gierig take the meaning to be: they
believed the stars to be divinities. May it not be: nevertheless, though
ignorant of astronomy, they believed in the gods? A stroke at the learned
infidelity of the poet's own days, like Gray's, "No very great wit, he
believed in a god."
113, 114. A play on words as usual. _Movere signa coelestia_ seems rather
harsh, but it is not without example. _Numeri movent astra_, Lucan, I.
640. _Carmina quis ignes movimus aerios_, Cinna in Anthol. Lat. T. I. p.
441. _Movebant_ is the reading of seven MSS. six read _notabant_; all the
rest _tenebant_.--_Quae magnum_, etc. See Livy, II. 59. One of the best
MSS. reads _prodere_, which Heinsius and Bentley (on Hor. Ep. I. 67,)
prefer.
115, 116. A bundle of hay tied on a pole, is said to have been the
standard used by the Romans in their early days.--_Tuas_, of Germanicus.
118. _Maniplaris_. The soldiers belonging to one company, that is one
_manipulus_, or standard, were called _manipulares_.
119-122. See Introduction, § 2.
119. _Indociles_, untaught. This passive sense is not unusual.--
_Ratione_, science scil. astronomy.
120. The Lustres or periods of five years, were smaller by ten months,
two for each year, at that time when there were but ten months in the
year. Gierig's note is _"Lustra quinquennalia tum nondum condebantur a
Romanis."_ This looks as if he did not understand the passage, though
Neapolis had briefly, but clearly explained it.
124. See above, I. 33.
126. _Spatiis novis_, the decades.
127. _Pares_. This is the reading of the best MSS. and editions; the
greater number of the MSS. read _patres_. It is difficult to ascertain
the meaning of the poet here. Scaliger, Lipsius and Dan. Heinsius think
he means the members of the senate, who were equals in age or in
property, See Livy I. 8 and 17, and, as Niebuhr has shown, it is highly
probable that the Roman senate originally consisted of one hundred
members divided into ten decuries. On the other hand Neapolis who is
followed by Gierig, understands it of the army, as in each legion the
soldiers equal in age and strength, were divided into ten centuries,
(_centum denos orbes_) of each of the three ranks, viz. Hastati,
Principes and Pilani or Triarii. The passage is exceedingly obscure, and
I cannot satisfy myself respecting it; I however rather incline to the
opinion of the first named critics, and the circumstance of _patres_
being the reading of so many MSS. proves that it has generally been so
understood. In this case we should place a colon after _Romulus_, and a
comma or semicolon after _decem_.
130. There were three hundred Equites in each legion, each mounted on a
horse supported by the state, hence called _legitimus_. They were divided
into ten _turmae_ or troops.
131, 132. The three divisions of the Roman Patricians: the Ramnes were
the original Romans, the Titiensis the Sabines; the origin of the Luceres
is a mere conjecture. See Niebuhr's Rom. Hist. Vol. 291--293.
134. See above, I. 35.
136. _Signa_, proofs or arguments. He goes on with farther proofs of
March having been the first month of the ancient Roman year.
137--142. The laurels were changed in the month of March, at the houses
of the Flamens, and of the Rex Sacrorum, the temple of Vesta, and the
_Curia Prisca_, by which last, Neapolis understands the four ancient
_Curiae_, (See above II. 527,) which still, as Festus tells us, remained
in Rome, the singular being employed for the plural.--_Vesta quoque_,
etc. Does he speak of a statue of Vesta? See above on v. 45. The
following passages are of importance. _Romani initio annum decem mensibus
computabant, a Martio auspicantes; adeo ut ejus die prima de_ (_in?_)
_aris Vestalibus ignem accenderent; mutarent viridibus veteres laureas;
Senatus et populus Comitia agerent; matronae servis suis caenas ponerent,
sicut Saturnalibus domini: illae ut per honores promptius obsequium
provocarent, hi quasi gratiam repensarent perfecti laboris_. Solinus, c.
3. _Eodem quoque ingrediente mense in regia, curiisque atque Flaminum
domibus laureae veteres novis laureis mutabantur_, Macrobius, Sat. I.12.
142. _Il. focis_. See above.
143, 144. _Hujus etiam mensis prima die ignem novum Vestae aris
accendebant ut, incipiente anno, cura denuo servandi novati ignis inciperet_. Macrob. _ut supra_.--_Arcana_ and _Dicitur_, because none but the Vestals dare enter the temple. |
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