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837. _Celer_. According to Dionysius and Plutarch, Celer was one of the
companions of Romulus, and overseer of the building of the walls. In
reality he was only a personification of the Equites, who were called
Celeres. See Niebuhr, Roman History, Vol. i. 325.
843. _Rutro_. The _rutrum_ was a kind of spade, _rutrum, ut ruitrum, a
ruendo_, Varro, L. L. iv. _Rutro_, in the text, is the conjecture of
Heinsius; the greater part of the MSS. read _retro_; some _rastro_, six
_ultro_, one _ristro_. There can be little doubt of _rutro_ being the
true reading, as it is the term used by other writers.--_Occupat_. See I.
575, and Met. xii. 343.
853. Compare Hom. II. xxiv. 582, and Virg. aen. xi. 219.
855. The Romans were not called Quirites till after their union with the
Sabines. Compare Virg. aen. vi. 776.
856. Remus, a tradition said, was buried on the Remaran hill, a little
way from Rome.
860. _Nominis hujus_, i. e. _Caesaris_.
863-900. On the IX. Kal. Maias, was celebrated the festival, named
Vinalia, in honour of Jupiter, or, as some said, of Venus. Masurius
_apud_ Macrob. (Sat. I. 4,) says, _Vinaliorum dies Jovi sacer est, non,
ut quidam putant, Veneri_. And Varro (L. L. V.) _Vinalia dicta a vino.
Hic dies Jovis non Veneris. Hujus rei cura, non levis in Latio; nam
aliquot locis vindemiae primum a sacerdotibus publica fiebant, ut Romae
etiam nunc; nam Flamen Dialis auspicatur vindemiam, et, ut jussit vinum
legere, agna Jovi facit, inter cujus exta caesa et porrecta flamen
prorsus vinum legit_. According to Festus and an old Kalendar, there was
another Vinalia, called _rustica_, on the 19th August, and it is
evidently of this last that Varro speaks. Ovid seems to have confounded
the two, which Pliny (H. N. xviii. 29,) accurately distinguishes.
Perhaps, both were sacred to Jupiter, and the circumstance of a festival
of Venus falling on the vernal Vinalia, may have led to the supposition
of its being sacred to her. Plutarch (Q. R. 45,) calls it Veneralia.
866. Multa agrees with _apta_, and is equivalent to _valde_. Some MSS.
read _culta_, which Heinsius prefers.--_Professarum_. When a woman at
Rome wished to become a _meretrix_, she went before the aediles and
_professed_, that is, informed them of her intention. She was then
entered among the _togatae_, (v. 134) See Suet. Tib. 35. Tac. Ann. II.
85. The same _mutatis nominibus_ is the case at the present day at Rome,
Paris, and other cities on the continent.--_Quaestibus_. Alexis, in his
comedy, called [Greek: Isostasios], says of them, [Greek: Proton men gar
es to kerdos kai to sulan tous pelas, talla autais parerga ginetai].
869. _Sisymbria_. The _sisymbrium_, also called _thymbraeum_, was an
odoriferous plant growing in dry places.
870. The garlands of roses were bound with rushes.
871. A temple was dedicated to Venus Erycina at the Colline gate, A.U.C.
571, Liv. xl. 34. There was another temple of this goddess on the
Capitoline hill, built by the direction of the Sibylline books, and
dedicated A.U.C. 537. Syracuse was taken A.U.C. 540. Ovid, as Neapolis
observed, appears to have committed two errors here; one, in confounding
the two temples of Venus Erycina at Rome; the other, in making the
building of a temple depend on an event which did not happen till after
it had been built. Gierig defends him in the former case by saying, that
v. 873-875, are merely a passing notice of the second temple: in the
latter, his defence is, "Fortasse tamen Noster, more poëtarum, a parte
bellum Punicum secundum indicare voluit." Greater poets, however, than
Ovid, have fallen into as great errors.
874. _Eryx_. This mountain was near Drepanum, on the west side of Sicily.
There was on it a magnificent temple of Venus, the erection of which was
ascribed to aeneas and the Trojans. Virg. aen. v. 759. It is, I apprehend,
far more probable, that the Venus Erycina was the Astarte or Moon-goddess
of the Phoenicians, who was identified with Aphrodite and Venus, and that
the founders of the temple were the Carthaginians.
877, 878. The poet would here seem to intimate, that though the festival
of Venus and the Vinalia fell on the same day, they were different. See
v. 899.--_Quaeritis_. See on V. I.
879. See the last six books of the aeneis.
880. _Adorat_. One MS. has _adoptat_, which Heinsius and Gierig follow.
882. _Equo vel pede_. In horse and foot.
887. _Cato in primo libro Originum ait, Mezentium Rutulis imperasse, ut
sibi offerrent quas diis primitias offerebant, et Latinos omnes similis
imperii metu ita vocasse: Jupiter, si tibi magis cordi est nos ea tibi
dare potius quam Mezentio, uti nos victores facias_, Macrob. Sat. III. 5.
888. _Lacubus_. The _lacus_ or vat, was the vessel placed under the
wine-press, to receive the liquor that ran out.
894. _Feres_. One of the best MS. reads _feras_, which Heinsius and
Gierig receive, as it is a vow. The meaning is, that as the Rutulians had
vowed or promised the produce of the following vintage to Mezentius,
aeneas promises it, in case of victory, to Jupiter.
897. _Venerat_, etc. On account of the custom of treading out the grapes.
Met. II. 21, Virg. G. II. 8. I doubt if it was good taste to personify
Autumn in this place. _Quum satur Auctumnus quassans sua tempora ponmis,
Sordidus et musto spumantes exprimit uvas_, Columella, R. R. x. 43.--
_Sordidus_. Five MSS. read _horridus_.
898. _Vina_. Five MSS. read _vota_.
901-904. On the VII. Kal. Maias, six days from the end of the month, was
the middle of spring; the _acronych_ setting of the Ram, rain, and the
rising of the Dog, also fell on this day.
904. _Signa dant imbres_. The rains shew themselves. _Signa dare_ is the
Greek [Greek: episaemainein]. Were it not that the meaning of this
expression is so incontrovertibly shewn by I. 315, 316, one might be
disposed to understand it with Taubner, of the constellations portending
rain.--_Exoriturque Canis_. Here is a tremendous error of our poet, for,
according to Columella, Pliny, Ptolemy, and to the actual fact, the Dog
sets instead of rising at this time. Thus also, Virgil, (G. I. 217,)
_Candidus auratis aperit cum cornibus annum Taurus, et averso cedens
Canis occidit astro_. One of the best MSS. reads _occidit atque Canis_,
but I fear this is only the emendation of some one who saw the error into
which the poet had fallen.
904. _Nomento_. Nomentum was a town of the Sabine country; a road named
the Via Nomentana led to it from the Viminal gate at Rome. On the
following narrative, Gierig observes, "Similia figmenta, vv. 685 et III.
541." I do not see the necessity of supposing these to be fictions. What
was more natural than for the poet, when about to write a poem on the
Fasti, to direct his attention to things which he had not hitherto
heeded, and to inquire into the meaning of what appeared to him deserving
of notice.
906. _Candida pompa_. The persons who formed this _pomp_ or procession
were clad in white, that is, their togae were either new, or had been
scoured for the occasion. _Pompa_ is the reading of ten MSS. all the rest
have _turba_.
907. _Flamen_, scil. _Quirinalis_, v. 910.--Antiquae _Robiginis_. The
festival of this goddess was called the Robigalia, and was said to have
been instituted by Numa, (Plin. xviii. 69, 3,) hence the poet says,
_antiquae. Robigalia dicta ab Robigo. Secundum segetes huic deo
sacrificatur, ne rubigo occupet segetes_, Varro, L. L. V. _Robigalia dies
festus VII. Kal. Maias, quo Robigo deo suo, quem putabant rubiginem
avertere, sacrificabant_, Festus. _Feriae Robigo via Claudia ad
milliarium quintum, ne robigo frumentis noceat; sacrificiun et ludi
cursoribus majoribus et minoribus fiunt_, Verrius Flaccus in Fastis.
_Inde et Robigus deus et sacra ejus VII. Kal. Maias Robigalia
appellantur_, Servius on Geor. I. 151. In all these places, we may see,
as also in Gellius, (v. 12,) it is a god Robigus that is spoken of; on
the other hand, in this place, of Ovid and in Lactantius, (De Fal. Rel.
I.) and Columella, it is a goddess Robigo. May we not thence infer, that
as in so many other cases (see above on III. 512. IV. 722,) so in this
the dualistic principle of Roman theology may be discovered? Finally, the
names _Robigo, Robigus, Robigalia_, were frequently written _Rubigo_,
etc.
908. _Catularia porta Romae dicta est, quia non longe ab ea ad placandum
Caniculae sidus frugibus inimicum rufae canes immolabantur, ut fruges
flavescentes ad maturitatem perducerentur_, Festus. It would appear as if
there was some slight mistake here, as it was, as Festus himself tells
us, (see preceding note) the god Robigus, and not the Canicula, to whom
the sacrifice was made. This is also proved by the word _rufae_, for
_robus_, a word of the same origin was equivalent to [Greek: xanthos],
whence (Fest. s. v.) the peasants said _robos boves_. The Canicula
however was the cause of the dog being sacrificed. Columella (R. II. x.
342). also notices this rite. _Hinc mala, Rubigo virides ne torreat
herbas Sanguine lactentis catuli placatur et extis_. Ovid alone mentions
the sheep.
910. _Edidit_, etc. that is prayed to this effect.
911. _Aspera_. The Robigo, [Greek: erusibae, miltos], or _mildew_, i. e.
_meal-dew_, (It is _mehlthau_ in German,) is a red glutinous powder,
which ate into or consumed the stalks of the growing corn, and made them
_asperi, scabri_.
913. _Secundis_, several MSS. read _secundi_.
919. _Titan_. So the Latin poets named the Sun, either as being the same
with Hyperion the Titan or his son, Hes. Th. Mildew was thought to be
produced by the rays of the sun acting on the moisture left on the stalks
by dew or fog. Plin. xviii. 28.
923. _Robigo_ signifies _rust_ as well as _mildew_.
933. At the right hand of the Flamen was a woolen towel, (_mantele_) with
the fringes, or rather nap on it, (_villis solutis_) for him to wipe his
hands with. The finer kind of towels were without this appendage. _Tonsis
mantilla villis_. Virg. G. III. 377.
936. _Obscenae_, of ill omen on account of the howling.
939. The Canicula was said to be Maera, the dog of Erigone the daughter
of Icarus an Athenian, to whom Bacchus gave wine, which he shared with
his workmen, who thinking he had poisoned them, put him to death.
Erigone, by means of the dog discovered his body, and Bacchus touched by
her grief, raised them all three to the skies, making Icarus Bootes,
Erigone the Virgin, and Maera the Canicula or Procyon.
940. _Praecipitur_, scil. _aestu_, is burnt up.
941. _Pro_, instead of.
942. The true cause of many superstitious practices, in which the mystics
find such deep meaning.
943. _Phr. Ass. fratre_ a periphrasis of Tithonus, Ovid appears to make a
mistake here and to confound Tithonus with Ganymedes, as according to
most writers, Tithonus was the son of Laomedon, the son of Ilus the
brother of Assaracus, whose grand-nephew therefore Tithonus was.--
_Titania_. This is the reading of only two MSS. and was first admitted
into the text by Burmann. Heinsius however had approved of it. All the
rest give _Tithonia_, which Heinsius shews to have been frequently
employed by Statius and by Valerius Flaccus but thinks that in all these
places it should be changed into Titania. Aurora is called Titania, for
the same reason as Diana (Luna) is called so, (Met. III. 173,) and their
brother, Sol Titan; see on v. 919.
945. The Floralia began on the IV. Kal. Maias.
946. See V. 183, _et seq_.
949. As it was requisite that the Pontifex Maximus should reside in a
public building, near the temple of Vesta, Augustus, when raised to this
dignity, assigned a part of his Palatium to the public service, and
removed thither the sacred fire of Vesta--_Aufert_, claims.--_Cognati_.
See III. 425. Some MSS. read _cognato_.
950. _Justi senes_. Some editions read _jussi_, instead of _justi_. I
know not on what authority. _Patres_ for _senes_, is the reading of
several MSS.
951. The temple of the Palatine Apollo formed another part of the
Palatium. Suet. Aug. 29. Propert. II. 23.
952. _Ipse_, Augustus.
953. See I. 614.
LIBER V.
Quaeritis, unde putem Maio data nomina mensi.
Non satis est liquido cognita causa mihi.
Ut stat, et incertus qua sit sibi nescit cundum,
Quum videt ex omni parte viator iter:
Sic, quia posse datur diversas reddere causas, 5
Qua ferar, ignoro, copiaque ipsa nocet.
Dicite, quae fontes Aganippidos Hippocrenes
Grata Medussei signa tenetis equi.
Dissensere deae. Quarum Polyhymnia coepit
Prima--Silent aliae, dictaque mente notant.-- 10
Post chaos, ut primum data sunt tria corpora mundo,
Inque novas species omne recessit opus;
Pondere terra suo subsedit, et sequora traxit:
At coelum levitas in loca summa tulit.
Sol quoque cum stellis nulla gravitate retentus, 15
Et vos Lunares exsiluistis equi.
Sed neque Terra diu Coelo, nec cetera Phoebo
Sidera cedebant: par erat omnis honos.
Saepe aliquis solio quod tu, Saturne, tenebas,
Ausus de media plebe sedere deus; 20
Et latus Oceano quisquam deus advena junxit,
Tethys et extremo saepe recepta loco est;
Donec Honos, placidoque decens Reverentia vultu
Corpora legitimis imposuere toris.
Hinc sata Majestas, quae mundum temperat omnem, 25
Quaque die partu est edita, magna fuit.
Nec mora: consedit medio sublimis Olympo,
Aurea, purpureo conspicienda sinu.
Consedere simul Pudor et Metus. Omne videres
Numen ad hanc vultus composuisse suos. 30
Protinus intravit mentes suspectus honorum.
Fit pretium dignis, nec sibi quisque placet.
Hic status in coelo multos permansit in annos:
Dum senior fatis excidit arce deus.
Terra feros partus, immania monstra, Gigantas 35
Edidit, ausuros in Jovis ire domum.
Mille manus illis dedit, et pro cruribus angues:
Atque ait, In magnos arma movete deos.
Exstruere hi montes ad sidera summa parabant,
Et magnum bello sollicitare Jovem. 40
Fulmina de coeli jaculatus Jupiter arce
Vertit in auctores pondera vasta suos.
His bene Majestas armis defensa deorum
Restat: et ex illo tempore firma manet.
Assidet illa Jovi: Jovis est fidissima custos, 45
Et praestat sine vi sceptra tenenda Jovi.
Venit et in terras: coluerunt Romulus illam,
Et Numa: mox alii, tempore quisque suo.
Illa patres in honore pio matresque tuetur:
Illa comes pueris virginibusque venit. 50
Ilia datos fasces commendat, eburque curule:
Illa coronatis alta triumphat equis.
Finierat voces Polyhymnia: dicta probarunt
Clioque, et curvae scita Thalia lyrae.
Excipit Uranie: fecere silentia cunctae, 55
Et vox audiri nulla, nisi illa, potest,
Magna fuit quondam capitis reverentia cani,
Inque suo pretio ruga senilis erat.
Martis opus juvenes animosaque bella gerebant,
Et pro dîs aderant in statione suis. 60
Viribus illa minor, nec habendis utilis armis,
Consilio patriae saepe ferebat opem.
Nec nisi post annos patuit tunc Curia seros,
Nomen et aetatis mite Senatus erat.
Jura dabat populo senior: finitaque certis 65
Legibus est aetas, unde petatur honos.
Et medius juvenum, non indignantibus ipsis,
Ibat, et interior, si comes unus erat.
Verba quis auderet coram sene digna rubore
Dicere; censuram longa senecta dabat. 70
Romulus hoc vidit, selectaque pectora Patres
Dixit. Ad hos urbis summa relata novae.
Hinc sua majores posuisse vocabula Maio
Tangor, et aetati consuluisse suae.
Et Numitor dixisse potest, Da, Romule, mensem 75
Hunc senibus! nec avum sustinuisse nepos.
Nec leve praepositi pignus successor honoris
Junius, a juvenum nomine dictus, adest.
Tum sic, neglectos hedera redimita capillos,
Prima sui coepit Calliopea chori: 80
Duxerat Oceanus quondam Titanida Tethyn,
Qui terram liquidis, qua patet, ambit aquis.
Hinc sata Pleïone cum coelifero Atlante
Jungitur, ut fama est, Pleïadasque parit.
Quarum Maia suas forma superasse sorores 85
Traditur, et summo concubuisse Jovi.
Haec enixa jugo cupressiferae Cyllenes,
Aetherium volucri qui pede carpit iter.
Arcades hunc, Ladonque rapax, et Maenalon ingens
Rite colunt, Luna credita terra prior. 90
Exsul ab Arcadia Latios Evander in agros
Venerat, impositos attuleratque deos.
Hic, ubi nunc Roma est orbis caput, arbor et herbae,
Et paucae pecudes, et casa rara fuit.
Quo postquam ventum, Consistite! praescia mater, 95
Nam locus imperii rus erit istud, ait.
Et matri et vati paret Nonacrius heros,
Inque peregrina constitit hospes humo.
Sacraque multa quidem, sed Fauni prima bicornis
Has docuit gentes, alipedisque dei. 100
Semicaper, coleris cinctutis, Faune, Lupercis,
Quum lustrant celebres vellera secta vias.
At tu materno donasti nomine mensem,
Inventor curvae, furibus apte, fidis.
Nec pietas haec prima tua est: septena putaris, 105
Pleïadum numerum, fila dedisse lyrae.
Haec quoque desierat; laudata est voce sororum,
Quid faciam? turbae pars habet omnis idem.
Gratia Pieridum nobis aequaliter adsit,
Nullaque laudetur plusve minusve mihi. 110
Ab Jove surgat opus, Prima mihi nocte videnda
Stella est in cunas officiosa Jovis.
Nascitur Oleniae signum pluviale Capellae:
Illa dati coelum praemia lactis habet.
Naïs Amalthea, Cretaea nobilis Ida, 115
Dicitur in silvis occuluisse Jovem.
Huic fuit haedorum mater formosa duorum,
Inter Dictaeos conspicienda greges,
Cornibus aëriis atque in sua terga recurvis,
Ubere, quod nutrix posset habere Jovis. 120
Lac dabat illa deo. Sed fregit in arbore cornu:
Truncaque dimidia parte decor is erat.
Sustulit hoc Nymphe, cinxitque recentibus herbis,
Et plenum pomis ad Jovis ora tulit.
Ille, ubi res coeli tenuit, solioque paterno 125
Sedit, et invicto nil Jove majus erat,
Sidera nutricem, nutricis fertile cornu
Fecit; quod dominae nunc quoque nomen habet.
Praestitibus Maiae Laribus videre Kalendae
Aram constitui, signaque parva deûm. 130
Voverat illa quidem Curius: sed multa vetustas
Destruit, et saxo longa senecta nocet.
Causa tamen positi fuerat cognominis illis,
Quod praestant oculis omnia tuta suis.
Stant quoque pro nobis, et praesunt moenibus urbis, 135
Et sunt praesentes, auxiliumque ferunt.
At canis ante pedes, saxo fabricatus eodem,
Stabat. Quae standi cum Lare causa fuit?
Servat uterque domum, domino quoque fidus uterque.
Compita grata deo: compita grata cani. 140
Exagitant et Lar, et turba Diania, fures:
Pervigilantque Lares, pervigilantque canes.
Bina gemellorum quaerebam signa deorum,
Viribus annosse facta caduca morae:
Mille Lares, Geniumque ducis, qui tradidit illos, 145
Urbs habet: et vici numina trina colunt.
Quo feror? Augustus mensis mihi carminis hujus
Jus dabit. Interea Diva canenda Bona est.
Est moles nativa: loco res nomina fecit.
Appellant saxum: pars bona mentis ea est. 150
Huic Remus institerat frustra, quo tempore fratri
Prima Palatinae regna dedistis aves.
Templa Patres illic, oculos exosa viriles,
Leniter acclivi constituere jugo.
Dedicat haec veteris Clausorum nominis heres, 155
Virgineo nullum corpore passa virum.
Livia restituit, ne non imitata maritum
Esset, et ex omni parte secuta virum.
Postera quum roseam pulsis Hyperionis astris
In matutinis lampada tollit equis, 160
Frigidus Argestes summas mulcebit aristas,
Candidaque a Calabris vela dabuntur aquis.
At simul inducunt obscura crepuscula noctem,
Pars Hyadum toto de grege nulla latet.
Ora micant Tauri septem radiantia flammis, 165
Navita quas Hyadas Graius ab imbre vocat.
Pars Bacchum nutrisse putat: pars credidit esse
Tethyos has neptes, Oceanique senis.
Nondum stabat Atlas humeros oneratus Olympo,
Quum satus est forma conspiciendus Hyas. 170
Hunc stirps Oceani maturis nisibus aethra
Edidit, et Nymphas: sed prior ortus Hyas.
Dum nova lanugo, pavidos formidine cervos
Terret: et est illi praeda benigna lepus.
At postquam virtus annis adolevit, in apros 175
Audet et hirsutas cominus ire feras.
Dumque petit latebras fetae catulosque leaenae,
Ipse fuit Libycae praeda cruenta ferae.
Mater Hyan, et Hyan moestae flevere sorores,
Cervicemque polo suppositurus Atlas. 180
Victus uterque parens tamen est pietate sororum.
Illa dedit coelum: nomina fecit Hyas.
Mater, ades, florum, ludis celebranda jocosis:
Distuleram partes mense priore tuas.
Incipis Aprili: transis in tempora Maii. 185
Alter te fugiens, quum venit alter, habet.
Quum tua sint cedantque tibi confinia mensum,
Convenit in laudes ille vel iste tuas.
Circus in hunc exit, clamataque palma theatris:
Hoc quoque cum Circi munere carmen eat. 190
Ipsa doce, quae sis. Hominum sententia fallax,
Optima tu proprii nominis auctor eris.
Sic ego. Sic nostris respondit diva rogatis:
--Dum loquitur, vernas efflat ab ore rosas--
Chloris eram, quae Flora vocor. Corrupta Latino 195
Nominis est nostri littera Graeca sono.
Chloris eram Nymphe campi felicis, ubi audis
Rem fortunatis ante fuisse viris.
Quae fuerit mihi forma, grave est narrare modestae:
Sed generum matri repperit illa deum. 200
Ver erat: errabam: Zephyrus conspexit. Abibam:
Insequitur; fugio. Fortior ille fuit.
Et dederat fratri Boreas jus omne rapinae,
Ausus Erechthea praemia ferre domo.
Vim tamen emendat dando mihi nomina nuptae: 205
Inque meo non est ulla querela toro.
Vere fruor semper: semper nitidissimus annus.
Arbor habet frondes, pabula semper humus.
Est mihi fecundus dotalibus hortus in agris.
Aura fovet; liquidae fonte rigatur aquae. 210
Hunc meus implevit generoso flore maritus:
Atque ait, Arbitrium tu, dea, floris habe.
Saepe ego digestos volui numerare colores;
Nec potui; numero copia major erat.
Roscida quum primum foliis excussa pruina est, 215
Et variae radiis intepuere comae;
Conveniunt pictis incinctae vestibus Horae,
Inque leves calathos munera nostra legunt.
Protinus accedunt Charites, nectuntque coronas,
Sertaque coelestes implicitura comas. 220
Prima per immensas sparsi nova semina gentes.
Unius tellus ante coloris erat.
Prima Therapnaeo feci de sanguine florem:
Et manet in folio scripta querela suo.
Tu quoque nomen habes cultos, Narcisse, per hortos: 225
Infelix, quod non alter et alter eras!
Quid Crocon, aut Attin referam, Cinyraque creatum,
De quorum per me vulnere surgit honor?
Mars quoque, si nescis, per nostras editus artes.
Jupiter hoc ut adhuc nesciat, usque precor. 230
Sancta Jovem Juno, nata sine matre Minerva,
Officio doluit non eguisse suo.
Ibat, ut Oceano quereretur facta mariti:
Restitit ad nostras fessa labore fores.
Quam simul adspexi, Quid te, Saturnia, dixi, 235
Attulit? Exponit, quem petat illa locum.
Addidit et causam. Verbis solabar amicis.
Non, inquit, verbis cura levanda mea est.
Si pater est factus neglecto conjugis usu
Jupiter, et solus nomen utrumque tenet; 240
Cur ego desperem fieri sine conjuge mater,
Et parere intacto, dummodo casta, viro?
Omnia tentabo latis medicamina terris,
Et freta Tartareos excutiamque sinus.
Vox erat in cursu: vultum dubitantis haebebam. 245
Nescio quid, Nymphe, posse videris, ait.
Ter volui promittere opem, ter lingua retenta est:
Ira Jovis magni causa timoris erat.
Fer, precor, auxilium, dixit; celabitur auctor:
Et Stygiae numen testificatur aquae. 250
Quod petis, Oleniis, inquam, mihi missus ab arvis
Flos dabit. Est hortis unicus ille meis.
Qui dabat, Hoc, dixit, sterilem quoque tange juvencam;
Mater erit. Tetigi; nec mora, mater erat.
Protinus haerentem decerpsi pollice florem. 255
Tangitur; et tacto concipit illa sinu.
Jamque gravis Thracen et laeva Propontidos intrat,
Fitque potens voti; Marsque creatus erat;
Qui memor accepti per me natalis, Habeto
Tu quoque Romulea, dixit, in urbe locum. 260
Forsitan in teneris tantum mea regna coronis
Esse putes; tangit numen et arva meum.
Si bene floruerint segetes, erit area dives:
Si bene floruerit vinea, Bacchus erit.
Si bene floruerint oleae, nitidissimus annus, 265
Pomaque proventum temporis hujus habent.
Flore semel laeso pereunt viciaeque fabaeque,
Et pereunt lentes, advena Nile, tuae.
Vina quoque in magnis operose condita cellis
Florent, et nebulae dolia summa tegunt. 270
Mella meum munus. Volucres ego mella daturas
Ad violam, et cytisos, et thyma cana voco.
Nos quoque idem facimus tunc, quum juvenilibus annis
Luxuriant animi, corporaque ipsa vigent.
Talia dicentem tacitus mirabar. At illa, 275
Jus tibi discendi, si qua requiris, ait.
Dic, dea, ludorum, respondi, quae sit origo.
Vix bene desieram; rettulit illa mihi.
Cetera luxurise nondum instrumenta vigebant:
Aut pecus, aut latam dives habebat humum. 280
Hinc etiam _locuples_, hinc ipsa _pecunia_ dicta est.
Sed jam de vetito quisque parabat opes.
Venerat in morem populi depascere saltus:
Idque diu licuit, poenaque nulla fuit.
Vindice servabat nullo sua publica vulgus: 285
Jamque in privato pascere inertis erat.
Plebis ad aediles perducta licentia talis
Publicios; animus defuit ante viris.
Rem populus recipit: mulctam subiere nocentes.
Vindicibus laudi publica cura fuit. 290
Mulcta data est ex parte mihi: magnoque favore
Victores ludos instituere novos.
Parte locant clivum, qui tune erat ardua rupes.
Utile nunc iter est, Publiciumque vocant.
Annua credideram spectacula facta; negavit: 295
Addidit et dictis altera verba suis.
Nos quoque tangit honos, festis gaudemus et aris:
Turbaque coelestes ambitiosa sumus.
Saepe deos aliquis peccando fecit iniquos:
Et pro delictis hostia blanda fuit. 300
Saepe Jovem vidi, quum jam sua mittere vellet
Fulmina, ture dato sustinuisse manum.
At si negligimur, magnis injuria poenis
Solvitur, et justum praeterit ira modum.
Respice Thestiaden; flammis absentibus arsit. 305
Causa est, quod Phoebes ara sine igne fuit.
Respice Tantaliden: eadem dea vela tenebat.
Virgo est, et spretos his tamen ulta focos.
Hippolyte infelix, velles coluisse Dionen,
Quum consternatis deripereris equis. 310
Longa referre mora est correcta oblivia damnis.
Me quoque Romani praeteriere Patres.
Quid facerem? per quod fierem manifesta doloris?
Exigerem nostrae qualia damna notae?
Excidit officium tristi mihi. Nulla tuebar 315
Rura, nec in pretio fertilis hortus erat.
Lilia deciderant: violas arere videres,
Filaque punicei languida facta croci.
Saepe mihi Zephyrus, Dotes corrumpere noli
Ipsa tuas, dixit. Dos mihi vilis erat. 320
Florebant oleae; venti nocuere protervi.
Florebant segetes; grandine laesa Ceres.
In spe vitis erat: coelum nigrescit ab Austris,
Et subita frondes decutiuntur aqua.
Nec volui fieri, nec sum crudelis in ira: 325
Cura repellendi sed mihi nulla fuit.
Convenere Patres, et, si bene floreat annus,
Numinibus nostris annua festa vovent.
Annuimus voto. Consul cum Consule ludos
Postumio Laenas persoluere mihi. 330
Quaerere conabar, quare lascivia major
His foret in ludis, liberiorque jocus:
Sed mihi succurrit, numen non esse severum,
Aptaque deliciis munera ferre deam.
Tempora sutilibus cinguntur tota coronis, 335
Et latet injecta splendida mensa rosa.
Ebrius incinctis philyra conviva capillis
Saltat, et imprudens vertitur arte meri.
Ebrius ad durum formosse limen amicae
Cantat. Habent unctae mollia serta comae. 340
Nulla coronata peraguntur seria fronte;
Nec liquidae vinctis flore bibuntur aquae.
Donec eras mixtus nullis, Acheloë, racemis,
Gratia sumendae non erat ulla rosae.
Bacchus amat flores: Baccho placuisse coronam, 345
Ex Ariadnaeo sidere nosse potes.
Scena levis decet hanc: non est, mihi credite, non est
Illa cothurnatas inter habenda deas.
Turba quidem cur hos celebret meretricia ludos,
Non ex difficili causa petita subest. 350
Non est de tetricis, nori est de magna professis:
Vult sua plebeio sacra patere choro:
Et monet setatis specie, dum floreat, uti:
Contemni spinam, quum cecidere rosae.
Cur tamen, ut dantur vestes Cerealibus albae, 355
Sic est haec cultu versicolore decens?
An quia maturis albescit messis aristis,
Et color et species floribus omnis inest?
Annuit; et motis flores cecidere capillis,
Accidere in mensas ut rosa missa solet. 360
Lumina restabant; quorum me causa latebat,
Quum sic errores abstulit illa meos:
Vel quia purpureis collucent floribus agri;
Lumina sunt nostros visa decere dies:
Vel quia nec flos est hebeti, nec flamma, colore; 365
Atque oculos in se splendor uterque trahit;
Vel quia deliciis nocturna licentia nostris
Convenit. A vero tertia causa venit.
Est breve praeterea, de quo mihi quaerere restat,
Si liceat, dixi. Dixit et illa, Licet. 370
Cur tibi pro Libycis clauduntur rete leaenis
Imbelles capreae, sollicitusque lepus?
Non sibi, respondit, silvas cessisse, sed hortos,
Arvaque pugnaci non adeunda ferae.
Omnia finierat: tenues secessit in auras. 375
Mansit odor: posses scire fuisse deam.
Floreat ut toto carmen Nasonis in aevo,
Sparge, precor, donis pectora nostra tuis.
Nocte minus quarta promet sua sidera Chiron
Semivir, et flavi corpore mixtus equi. 380
Pelion Haemoniae mons est obversus in Austros:
Summa virent pinu: cetera quercus habet.
Phillyrides tenuit. Saxo stant antra vetusto,
Quae justum memorant incoluisse senem.
Ille manus, olim missuras Hectora leto, 385
Creditur in lyricis detinuisse modis.
Venerat Alcides exhausta parta laborum,
Jussaque restabant ultima paene viro.
Stare simul casu Trojae duo fata videres:
Hinc puer aeacides, hinc Jove natus erat. 390
Excipit hospitio juvenem Philyreïus heros:
Et causam adventus hic rogat: ille docet.
Perspicit interea clavam spoliumque leonis,
Virque, ait, his armis, armaque digna viro!
Nec se, quin horrens auderent tangere setis 395
Vellus, Achilleae continuere manus.
Dumque senex tractat squalentia tela venenis,
Excidit, et laevo fixa sagitta pede est.
Ingemuit Chiron, traxitque e vulnere ferrum:
Et gemit Alcides, Haemoniusque puer. 400
Ipse tamen lectas Pagasaeis collibus herbas
Temperat, et varia vulnera mulcet ope.
Virus edax superabat opem, penitusque recepta
Ossibus et toto corpore pestis erat.
Sanguine Centauri Lernaeae sanguis Echidnae 405
Mixtus ad auxilium tempora nulla dabat.
Stabat, ut ante patrem, lacrimis perfusus Achilles:
Sic flendus Peleus, si moreretur, erat.
Saepe manus aegras manibus fingebat amicis:
Morum, quos fecit, praemia doctor habet. 410
Oscula saepe dedit; dixit quoque saepe jacenti:
Vive, precor; nec me care relinque pater!
Nona dies aderat, quum tu, justissime Chiron,
Bis septem stellis corpora cinctus eras.
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