FOOTNOTES BOOK TWO
901 (return)
[ Sing, 'Io Pean.'—Ver.
1. This was the usual cry of the hunters, who thus addressed Apollo, the
God of the chase, when the prey had been captured iu the toils. See the
Metamorphoses, Book iv. 1. 513.]
902 (return)
[ Amyclæ.—Ver. 5. A
town of Laconia. See the Metamorphoses, Book x. 1. 219, and the Note.]
903 (return)
[ Erato.—Ver. 16.
He addresses himself to this Muse, as her name was derived from the Greek
'love.' It has been suggested that he had another reason for addressing
her, as she was thought to take pleasure in warfare, a state which
sometimes, by way of variety, exists between lovers.]
904 (return)
[ A bold path.—Ver.
22. This story is again related in the Eighth Book of the Metamorphoses.]
905 (return)
[ Like oars.—Ver.
45. He aptly compares the arrangement of the main feathers of a wing to a
row of oars.]
906 (return)
[ Orion.'—Ver. 56.
So in the Metamorphoses, Book v. 1. 206, he says to his son Icarus, 'Fly
between both: and I bid thee neither to look at Bootes, nor Helice, nor
the drawn sword of Orion.']
907 (return)
[ Is angling.—Ver.
77. There is a similar passage in the Metamorphoses, 1. 216.]
908 (return)
[ The Clarian God.—Ver.
80. See the Fasti, Book i. 1. 20, and the Note.]
909 (return)
[ And Calymne.—Ver.
81. These peaces are mentioned in the corresponding passages in the
Metamorphoses, Book viii. 1. 222.]
910 (return)
[ Astypalæa..—Ver.
82. This was an isle in the group of the Sporades, between Crete and the
Cyclades. It contained but one city, and was long and narrow, and of
rugged appearance.]
911 (return)
[ The young horse.—Ver.
100. See the Amoves. Book i. El. viii 1. 8, and the Note.]
912 (return)
[ The Marsian spells.—Ver.
102. The 'naenia' was a mournful dirge or chaunt uttered by the sorcerer
in his incantations. On the Marsi, see the Sixth Book of the Fasti, 1.
142, and the Note to the passage.]
913 (return)
[ Causing paleness.—Ver.
105. Philtres were noxious potions, made of venomous or stimulating
ingredients, prescribed as a means of gaining the affections of the person
to whom they were administered.]
914 (return)
[ Nireus.—Ver. 109.
See the Pontic Epistles, Book iv. Ep. xiii. 1. 16, and the Note to the
passage.]
915 (return)
[ Charming Hylas.—Ver.
110. See the Tristia, Book ii. 1.]
916 (return)
[ Ocean Goddesses.—Ver.
124. Calypso was really the only sea Goddess that was enamoured of
Ulysses. Circe was not a sea Goddess.]
917 (return)
[ Blood of Dolon.'—Ver.
135. See the Metamorphoses, Book xiii. line 244.]
918 (return)
[ Hjemontan horses—Ver.
136. The steeds of Achilles.]
919 (return)
[ The Chaonian bird.—Ver.
150. Chaonia was a district of Epirus, said to have been so called from
Chaon, a Trojan. Dodona was in Epirus, and in its forests were said to be
doves that had the gift of prophecy. See the Translation of the
Metamorphoses pp. 467-8.]
920 (return)
[ Resort to law.—Ver.
151. He means to say 'let man and wife be always thinking about resorting
to law to procure a divorce.']
921 (return)
[ 1 gave verses.—Ver.
166. He intends a pun here. 'Verba dare' is 'to deceive,' but literally it
means 'to give words.' See the Amores, book i. El. viii. 1. 57.]
922 (return)
[ Atalanta of Nonacris.—Ver.
185. See the Amores, Book iii. El. ii. 29, and the Note.]
923 (return)
[ Bow of Hylceus.—Ver.
191. Hylæus and Rhæcus were Centaurs, who were pierced by Atalanta with
her arrows, for making an attempt on her chastity. He alludes to the bow
of Cupid in the next line.]
924 (return)
[ The ivory cubes.'—Ver.
203. He alludes to throws of the 'tali' and 'tessera,' which were
different kinds of dice. See the Note to 1. Footnote 471: of the Second
Book of the Tristia. In this line he seems to mean the 'tessera,' which
were similar to our dice, while the 'tali,' which he next mentions, had
only four flat surfaces, being made in imitation of the knuckle-bones of
animals, and having two sides uneven and rounded. The dice were thrown on
a table, made for the purpose, with an elevated rim. Some throws, like our
doublets, are supposed to have counted for more than the number turned up.
The most fortunate throw was called 'Venus.' or 'Venereus jactus'; it is
thought to have consisted of a combination, making fourteen, the dice
presenting different numbers. Games with dice were only sanctioned by law
as a pastime during meals.]
925 (return)
[ Make bad moves.—Ver.
204. 'Dare jacta' means 'to move the throws,' in allusion to the game of
'duodecim scripta,' or 'twelve points,' which was played with counters
moved according to the throws of the dice, probably in a manner not unlike
our game of backgammon. The hoard was marked with twelve lines, on which
the pieces moved.]
926 (return)
[ Or if you are throwing.—Ver.
205. By the use of the word 'seu, or,' we must suppose that he has, under
the word 'numeri,' alluded to the game with the 'tesseræ,' or six-sided
dice.]
927 (return)
[ The game that imitates.—Ver.
207. He here alludes to the 'ludus latrunculorum,' literally 'the game of
theft,' which is supposed to have been somewhat similar to our chess. He
refers to its name in the words, 'latrocinii sub imagine.' The game was
supposed to imitate the furtive stratagems of warfare: hence the men,
which were usually styled 'calculi,' were also called by the name of
'latrones,' 'latrunculi,' 'milites,' 'bella-tores,' 'thieves,' 'little
thieves,' 'soldiers,' 'warriors.' As we see by the next line, they were
usually made of glass, though sometimes more costly materials were
employed. The skill of this game consisted either in taking the pieces of
the adversary, or rendering them unable to move. The first was done when
the adversary's piece was brought by the other between two of his own. See
the Tristia, Book ii. 1.477. The second took place when the pieces were
'ligati,' or 'ad incitas redacti,' brought upon the last line and unable
to move. White and red are supposed to have been the colour of the men.
This game was much played by the Roman ladies and nobles.]
928 (return)
[ Hold the screen.—Ver.
209. The ancients used 'umbracula,' or screens against the weather
(resembling our umbrellas), which the Greeks called ————.
They were used generally for the same purposes as our parasols, a
protection against the heat of the sun. They seem not to have been in
general carried by the ladies themselves, but by female slaves, who held
them over their mistresses. See the Fasti, Book ii. 1. 209. These screens,
or umbrellas, were much used by the Roman ladies in the amphitheatre, to
protect them from sun and rain, when the 'velarium,' or awning, was not
extended.]
929 (return)
[ Tasteful couch.'—Ver.
211. This was probably the 'triclinium' on which they reposed at meals.
The shoes were taken off before reclining on it. Female slaves did this
office for the ladies, and males for the men.]
930 (return)
[ Looking-glass.—Ver.
216. These were generally held by female slaves, when used by their
mistresses. See the Metamorphoses, Book iv. 1. 349. and the Note.]
931 (return)
[ Held the work-basket.—Ver.
219. Hercules, who Wiled the serpents sent by Juno, is reproached for
doing this, by Deianira in her Epistle.]
932 (return)
[ As though a servant.—Ver.
228. He is to be ready, if his mistress goes to a party, to act the part
of the slave, who was called 'adversitor,' whose duty it was to escort his
master home in the evening, if it was dark, with a lighted torch.]
933 (return)
[ A vehicle.—Ver.
230. 'Rota,' a wheel, is, by Synecdoche, used to signify 'a vehicle.']
934 (return)
[ Cynthius.—Ver.
240. See the Note to line 51, of the Epistle from Aenone to Paris.]
935 (return)
[ Through the open roof.—Ver.
245. He gives a somewhat hazardous piece of advice here; as he instructs
him to obtain admission by climbing up the wall, and getting in at the
skylight, which extended over the 'atrium,' or 'court,' a room which
occupied the middle of the house. The Roman houses had, in general, but
one story over the ground-floor.]
936 (return)
[ The high window.—Ver.
246. This passage may be illustrated by the Note to 1. 752: of Book xiv.
of the Metamorphoses.]
937 (return)
[ Day on which.—Ver.
257. He alluded to a festival celebrated by the servants, on the Caprotine
Nones, the seventh of July, when they sacrificed to 'Juno Caprotina.'
Macrobius says that the servants sacrificed to Juno under a wild fig-tree
(called 'caprificus'), in memory of the service done by the female slaves,
in exposing themselves to the lust ot the enemy, for the public welfare.
The Gauls being driven from the city, the neighbouring nations chose the
Dictator of the Fidenates for their chief, and, marching to Rome, demanded
of the Senate, that if they would save their city, they should send out to
them their wives and daughters The Senate, knowing their own weakness,
were much perplexed, when a handmaid, named 'Tutela,' or 'Philotis,'
offered, with some others, to go out to the enemy in disguise. Being,
accordingly, dressed like free women, they repaired in tears to the camp
of the enemy. They soon induced their new acquaintances to drink, on the
pretence that they were bound to consider the day as a festival; and when
intoxicated, a signal was giver, from a fig tree near, that the Romans
should fall on them. The camp of the enemy was assailed, and most of them
were slain. In return for their service, the female, slaves were made
free, and received marriage portion? at the public expense. Another
account, agreeing with the present passage, says, that the Gauls were the
enemy who made the demand, and that Retana was the name of the female
slave.]
938 (return)
[ The lower classes.—Ver.
259. Witness his own appeals in the Amores to Napè, Cypassis. Bagous, and
the porter.]
939 (return)
[ In the Sacred Street.'—Ver.
266. Presents of game and trout very often follow a similar devolution at
the present day.]
940 (return)
[ Amaryllis was so fond
of.—Ver. 267. He alludes to a line of Virgil, which, doubtless, was
then well known to all persons of education. It occurs in the Eclogues:
'Castaneasque nuces, mea quas Amaryllis amabat.' 'Chesnuts, too, which my
Amaryllis was so fond of.' In the next line, he hints that the damsels of
his day were too greedy to be satisfied with chesnuts only.]
941 (return)
[ Thrush and a pigeon.—Ver.
269. Probably live birds of the kind are here alluded to; Pliny tells us
that they were trained to imitate the human voice. Thrushes were much
esteemed as a delicacy for the table. They were sold tied up in clusters,
in the shape of a crown.]
942 (return)
[ By these means.—Ver.
271. He alludes to those who continued to slip into dead men's shoes, by
making trifling presents of niceties. Juvenal inveighs against this
practice.]
943 (return)
[ Poetry does not.—Ver.
274. See the remarks of Dipsas in the Amores, Book i. El. viii. 1. 57.]
944 (return)
[ Only rich.—Ver.
276. See the Amores, Book iii. El. ii.]
945 (return)
[ Tyrian hue.—Ver.
297. See the Fasti, Book ii. 1. 107, and the Note.]
946 (return)
[ Of Cos—Ver. 298.
See the Epistles of Sabinus, Ep. iii. 1. 45, and the Note.]
947 (return)
[ A dress of felt.—Ver.
300. 'Gausape,' 'gausapa,' or 'gausapum,' was a kind of thick woolly
cloth, which had a long nap on one side. It was used to cover tables and
beds, and as a protection against wind and rain. It was worn both by males
and females, and came into use among the Romans about the time of
Augustus.]
948 (return)
[ You are setting me on
fire.—Ver. 301. Burmanu deservedly censures the explanation of
'moves incendia,' given by Crispinus, the Delphin Editor, 'Vous mourrez de
chaud,' 'You will die of heat,' applying the observation to the lady, and
not, figuratively, to the feelings of her lover.]
949 (return)
[ Her very embraces.—Ver.
308. The common reading of this line is clearly corrupt; probably the
reading is the one here adopted, 'Et un dat, gaudia, voce proba.']
950 (return)
[ What advice—Ver.
368. These attempts at argument are exhausted by Paris, in his Epistle to
Helen.]
952 (return)
[ Stinging-nettle.—Ver.
417. Pliny prescribes nettle-seed as a stimulating medicine, mixed with
linseed, hyssop, and pepper.]
953 (return)
[ White onion.—Ver.
421. The onions of Megara are praised by Cato, the agricultural writer.]
954 (return)
[ Alcathous.—Ver.
421. See the Metamorphoses, Book vii. 1.]
955 (return)
[ At first.—Ver.
467. See the beginning of the First Book of the Metamorphoses.]
956 (return)
[ Unclean mate.—Ver.
486. He alludes to the strong smell of the he-goat.]
957 (return)
[ Machaon.—Ver.
491. He was a famous physician, son of Æsculapius, and was slain in the
Trojan war. See the Tristia, Book v. El. vi. 1. 11.]
958 (return)
[ He came.—Ver.
496. 'Adest' seems a preferable reading to 'agit.']
959 (return)
[ To know himself.—Ver.
600. 'Know thyself,' was a saying of Chilo, the Lacedaemonian, one of the
wise men of Greece. This maxim was also inscribed in gold letters in the
temple of Apollo at Delphi. 'Too much of nothing' was a second maxim there
inscribed; and a third was, 'Misery is the consequence of debt and
discord.']
960 (return)
[ Drinks with elegance.—Ver.
506. It is hard to say what art in drinking is here alluded to; whether a
graceful air in holding the cup, or the ability of drinking much without
shewing any signs of inebriety.
Let the old woman come.—Ver. 329. In sickness it was the custom to purify the bed and chamber of the patient, with sulphur and eggs. It seems also to have been done when the patient was pining through unrequited love. Apulius mentions a purification by the priest of Isis, who uses eggs and sulphur while holding a torch and repeating a prayer. The nurse of the patient seems here to be directed to perform the ceremony.]
961 (return)
[ The Fasti, Book ii. 1.
19, and Book iv. 1. 728. From a passage of Juvenal, we find that it was a
common practice to purify with eggs and sulphur, in the month of
September, * On Athos.—Ver. 517. See the Metamorphoses, Book ii. 1.
217, and the Note.]
962 (return)
[ On Hybla.—Ver.
517. See the Tristia, Book v. El. xiii. 1. 22.]
963 (return)
[ Off your head.—Ver.
528. Iphis, in the fourteenth Book of the Metamorphoses, 1. 732, raises
his eyes to the door-posts of his mistress, 'so often adorned by him with
wreaths.']
964 (return)
[ The senses.—Ver.
532. He seems to believe, with Nixon d'Enelos, in the existence of a sixth
sense.]
965 (return)
[ Of mighty Jove.—Ver.
540. He alludes to the triumphal procession to the Capitol.]
966 (return)
[ Gentle sleep.—Ver.
546. See the Amores, Book iii. El. i. 1. 51. He means to say that husbands
give a certain latitude to their wives, who do not fail to improve upon
it.]
967 (return)
[ Own husband.—Ver.
551. See the Amores, Book i. El. iv. 1. 38.]
968 (return)
[ Other men visit.—Ver.
554. 'Viri' seems to be a better reading than 'viro.']
969 (return)
[ Mars and Venus.—Ver.
562. See the Metamorphoses, Book iv. 1. 173.]
970 (return)
[ Says, laughing.—Ver.
585. See a similar passage in the Metamorphoses, Book iv. 1. 187.]
971 (return)
[ For Thrace.—Ver.
588. He was much venerated by the warlike Thracians.]
972 (return)
[ Paphos.—Ver. 588.
See the Metamorphoses, Book x. 1. 298.]
973 (return)
[ Fire and water render.—Ver.
598. Among the Romans, when the bride reached her husband's house, he
received her with fire and water, which it was the custom for her to
touch. This is, by some, supposed to have been symbolical of purification;
or it was an expression of welcome, as the interdiction of fire and water
was the formula for banishment.]
974 (return)
[ My sallies.—Ver.
600. See Book L 1. 31, and the Note. See also the Fasti, Book iv. 1. 866,
and the Note.]
975 (return)
[ The rites of Ceres.—Ver.
601. He alludes to the mysterious rites of Ceres, in the island of
Samothrace.]
976 (return)
[ Not enclosed in chests.—Ver.
609. Certain chests were carried in the procession at the festival of
Ceres, the contents of which, if there were any, was a mystery to the
uninitiated.]
977 (return)
[ The left hand.—Ver.
614. This is the attitude of the Venus de Medicis.]
978 (return)
[ At a heavy price.—Ver.
626. Men spend their money on debauchery, only for the pleasure of talking
of it.]
979 (return)
[ Waving wings.—Ver.
644. He refers to Perseus admiring the swarthy Andromeda.]
980 (return)
[ Of larger stature.—Ver.
645. She was remarkable for her height.]
981 (return)
[ Green bark.—Ver.
639. He speaks of the slip engrafted in the stock.]
982 (return)
[ What Consulship.—Ver.
663. The age of persons was reckoned by naming the Consulship in which
they were born; the period of which was Known by reference to the 'Fasti
Consulares.' See the Introduction to the Fasti.]
983 (return)
[ Rigid Censor.—Ver.
664. It was the duty of the Censor to make enquiries into the age of all
individuals.]
984 (return)
[ Best years.—Ver.
666. Even in those days, it was considered ungallant to make too
scrutinizing enquiries into the years of ladies of 'a certain age.']
985 (return)
[ Kind of warfare.—Ver.
674. See the Amores, Book i. El. ix. 1. 1.]
986 (return)
[ Besides in these.—Ver.
675. In reference to females of a more advanced age.]
987 (return)
[ Seven times five years.—Ver.
694. He probably means, in this passage, a lustrum of five years. Burmann
justly observes, that 'cito,' 'quickly,' or 'soon,' can hardly be the
proper reading, as it seems to contradict the meaning of the context. He
suggests 'nisi,' meaning 'but,' or 'only.' See the Fasti, Book iii. 1.
166, and the Note. Also the Tristia, Book iv. El. xvi. 1. 78.]
988 (return)
[ Stored up in the times.—Ver.
696. He uses this metaphorical expression to signify that he admires
females when of a ripe and mature age See the Amores, Book ii. El. v. 1.
54, and the Note.]
989 (return)
[ The shooting grass.—Ver.
698. In Nisard's translation, the words 'prata novella' are rendered
'l'herbe nouvellement coupée,' 'the grass newly cut.' This is not the
meaning of the passage. He intends to say that the grass just shooting up
is apt to cut or prick the naked foot.]
990 (return)
[ Hermione.—Ver.
699. She was the daughter of Helen and Menelaus.]
991 (return)
[ Gorge.—Ver. 700.
She was the daughter of Altnea, and sister of Meleager. She married
Andræmon.]
992 (return)
[ Podalirius.—Ver.
735. The brother of Machaon. See the Tristia Book v. El. xiii. 1. 32.]
993 (return)
[ Calchas.—Ver.
737. See the Metamorphoses.]
994 (return)
[ Automeden.—Ver.
738. The son of Diores. He was the charioted of Achilles.]
995 (return)
[ Upon his spoil—Ver.
744. It was the custom to write inscriptions on the spoil. See the Notes
to the Fasti, Book ii. 1. 663.]