LIBER II.
Janus habet finem: cum carmine crescit et annus.
Alter ut hinc mensis, sic liber alter eat.
Nunc primum velis, elegi, majoribus itis:
Exiguum, memini, nuper eratis opus.
Ipse ego vos habui faciles in amore ministros, 5
Quum lusit numeris prima juventa suis.
Idem sacra cano, signataque tempora fastis.
Ecquis ad haec illuc crederet esse viam?
Haec mea militia est: ferimus, quae possumus, arma,
Dextraque non omni munere nostra vacat. 10
Si mihi non valido torquentur pila lacerto,
Nec bellatoris terga premuntur equi,
Nec galea tegimur, nec acuto cingimur ense:
—His habilis telis quilibet esse potest—
At tua prosequimur studioso pectore, Caesar, 15
Nomina, per titulos ingredimurque tuos.
Ergo ades, et placido paulum mea munera vultu
Respice, pacando si quid ab hoste vacas.
Februa Romani dixere piamina patres:
Nunc quoque dant verbo plurima signa fidem. 20
Pontifices ab Rege petunt et Flamine lanas,
Quîs veteri lingua Februa nomen erat;
Quaeque capit lictor domibus purgamina certis,
Torrida cum mica farra, vocantur idem.
Nomen idem ramo, qui caesus ab arbore pura 25
Casta sacerdotum tempora fronde tegit.
Ipse ego Flaminicam poscentem februa vidi:
Februa poscenti pinea virga data est.
Denique quodcumque est, quo pectora nostra pientur,
Hoc apud intonsos nomen habebat avos. 30
Mensis ab his dictus, secta quia pelle Luperci
Omne solum lustrant, idque piamen habent;
Aut quia placatis sunt tempora pura sepulcris,
Tunc quum ferales praeteriere dies,
Omne nefas omnemque mali purgamina causam 35
Credebant nostri tollere posse senes.
Graecia principium moris fuit. Illa nocentes
Impia lustratos ponere facta putat.
Actoriden Peleus, ipsum quoque Pelea Phoci
Caede per Haemonias solvit Acastus aquas. 40
Vectam frenatis per inane draconibus aegeus
Credulus immerita Phasida juvit ope.
Amphiaraïdes Naupactoo Acheloo,
Solve nefas, dixit. Solvit et ille nefas.
Ah nimium faciles, qui tristia crimina caedis 45
Fluminea tolli posse putetis aqua!
Sed tamen—antiqui ne nescius ordinis erres—
Primus, ut est, Jani mensis et ante fuit.
Qui sequitur Janum, veteris fuit ultimus anni;
Tu quoque sacrorum, Termine, finis eras. 50
Primus enim Jani mensis, quia janua prima est;
Qui sacer est imis Manibus, imus erat.
Postmodo creduntur spatio distantia longo
Tempora bis quini continuasse Viri.
Principio mensis Phrygiae contermina Matri 55
Sospita delubris dicitur aucta novis.
Nunc ubi sint illis, quaeris, sacrata Kalendis
Templa deae: longo procubuere die.
Cetera ne simili caderent labefacta ruina,
Cavit sacrati provida cura ducis, 60
Sub quo delubris sentitur nulla senectus.
Nec satis est homines, obligat ille deos.
Templorum positor, templorum sancte repostor,
Sit superis, opto, mutua cura tui.
Dent tibi coelestes, quos tu coelestibus, annos, 65
Proque tua maneant in statione domo.
Tum quoque vicini lucus celebratur Asyli,
Qua petit aequoreas advena Tibris aquas.
Ad penetrale Numae, Capitolinumque Tonantem,
Inque Jovis summa caeditur arce bidens. 70
Saepe graves pluvias adopertus nubibus Auster
Concitat, aut posita sub nive terra latet.
Proximus Hesperias Titan abiturus in undas
Gemmea purpureis quum juga demet equis,
Illa nocte aliquis tollens ad sidera vultum 75
Dicet: Ubi est hodie, quae Lyra fulsit heri?
Dumque Lyram quaeret, medii quoque terga Leonis
In liquidas subito mersa notabit aquas.
Quem modo caelatum stellis Delphina videbas,
Is fugiet visus nocte sequente tuos; 80
Seu fuit occultis felix in amoribus index,
Lesbida cum domino seu tulit ille lyram.
Quod mare non novit, quae nescit Ariona tellus?
Carmine currentes ille tenebat aquas.
Saepe sequens agnam lupus est hac voce retentus: 85
Saepe avidum fugiens restitit agna lupum:
Saepe canes leporesque umbra cubuere sub una,
Et stetit in saxo proxima cerva leae;
Et sine lite loquax cum Palladis alite cornix
Sedit, et accipitri juncta columba fuit. 90
Cynthia saepe tuis fertur, vocalis Arion,
Tamquam fraternis obstupuisse modis.
Nomen Arionium Siculas impleverat urbes,
Captaque erat lyricis Ausonis ora sonis.
Inde domum repetens puppim conscendit Arion, 95
Atque ita quaesitas arte ferebat opes.
Forsitam, infelix, ventos undamque timebas;
At tibi nave tua tutius aequor erat.
Namque gubernator destricto constitit ense,
Ceteraque armata conscia turba manu. 100
Quid tibi cum gladio? dubiam rege, navita, pinum.
Non sunt haec digitis arma tenenda tuis.
Ille metu pavidus, Mortem non deprecor, inquit:
Sed liceat sumpta pauca referre lyra.
Dant veniam, ridentque moram. Capit ille coronam, 105
Quae possit crines, Phoebe, decere tuos.
Induerat Tyrio bis tinctam murice pallam:
Reddidit icta suos pollice chorda sonos:
Flebilibus veluti numeris canentia dura
Trajectus penna tempora cantat olor. 110
Protinus in medias ornatus desilit undas;
Spargitur impulsa caerula puppis aqua.
Inde—fide majus—tergo delphina recurvo
Se memorant oneri supposuisse novo.
Ille sedens citharamque tenet, pretiumque vehendi 115
Cantat, et aequoreas carmine mulcet aquas.
Dî pia facta vident; astris delphina recepit
Jupiter, et stellas jussit habere novem.
Nunc mihi mille sonos, quoque est memoratus Achilles,
Vellem, Maeonide, pectus inesse tuum. 120
Dum canimus sacras alterno carmine Nonas,
Maximus hinc fastis accumulatur honos.
Deficit ingenium, majoraque viribus urgent.
Haec mihi praecipuo est ore canenda dies.
Quid volui demens elegis imponere tantum 125
Ponderis? heroi res erat ista pedis.
Sancte Pater Patriae, tibi plebs, tibi Curia nomen
Hoc dedit, hoc dedimus nos tibi nomen Eques.
Res tamen ante dedit; sero quoque vera tulisti
Nomina; jam pridem tu pater orbis eras. 130
Hoc tu per terras, quod in aethere Jupiter alto,
Nomen habes; hominum tu pater, ille deum.
Romule, concedas; facit hic tua magna tuendo
Moenia: tu dederas transilienda Remo.
Te Tatius, parvique Cures, Caeninaque sensit; 135
Hoc duce Romanum est solis utrumque latus.
Tu breve nescio quid victae telluris habebas:
Quodcumque est alto sub Jove, Caesar habet.
Tu rapis, hic castas duce se jubet esse maritas.
Tu recipis luco, submovet ille nefas. 140
Vis tibi grata fuit, florent sub Caesare leges;
Tu domini nomen, principis ille tenet.
Te Remus incusat, veniam dedit hostibus ille.
Coelestem fecit te pater, ille patrem.
Jam puer Idaeus media tenus eminet alvo, 145
Et liquidas mixto nectare fundit aquas.
En etiam, si quis Borean horrere solebat,
Gaudeat: a Zephyris mollior aura venit.
Quintus ab aequoreis nitidum jubar extulit undis
Lucifer, et primi tempora veris erunt. 150
Ne fallare tamen, restant tibi frigora, restant,
Magnaque discedens signa reliquit hiems.
Tertia nox veniat: Custodem protinus Ursae
Adspicies geminos exseruisse pedes.
Inter Hamadryadas jaculatricemque Dianam 155
Callisto sacri pars fuit una chori.
Illa deae tangens arcus, Quos tangimus, arcus,
Este meae testes virginitatis, ait.
Cynthia laudavit, promissaque foedera serva,
Et comitum princeps tu mihi, dixit, eris. 160
Foedera servasset, si non formosa fuisset.
Cavit mortales: ab Jove crimen habet.
Mille feras Phoebe silvis venata redibat,
Aut plus, aut medium sole tenente diem.
Ut tetigit lucum,—densa niger ilice lucus, 165
In medio gelidae fons erat altus aquae—
Hac, ait, in silva, virgo Tegeaeae, lavemur.
Erubuit falso virginis illa sono.
Dixerat et Nymphis: Nymphae velamina ponunt.
Hanc pudet, et tardae dat mala signa morae. 170
Exuerat tunicas: uteri manifesta tumore
Proditur indicio ponderis ipsa sui.
Cui Dea, Virgineos, perjura Lycaoni, coetus
Desere, nec castas pollue, dixit, aquas.
Luna novum decies implerat cornibus orbem: 175
Quae fuerat virgo credita, mater erat.
Laesa furit Juno, formam mutatque puellae.
Quid facis? invito pectore passa Jovem est.
Utque ferae vidit turpes in pellice vultus,
Hujus in amplexus Jupiter, inquit, eat. 180
Ursa per incultos errabat squalida montes,
Quae fuerat summo nuper amanda Jovi.
Jam tria lustra puer furto conceptus agebat,
Quum mater nato est obvia facta suo.
Illa quidem, tamquam cognosceret, adstitit amens, 185
Et gemuit: gemitus verba parentis erant.
Hanc puer ignarus jaculo fixisset acuto,
Ni foret in superas raptus uterque domus.
Signa propinqua micant. Prior est, quam dicimus Arcton;
Arctophylax formam terga sequentis habet. 190
Saevit adhuc canamque rogat Saturnia Tethyn,
Maenaliam tactis ne lavet Arcton aquis.
Idibus agrestis fumant altaria Fauni,
Hic ubi discretas insula rumpit aquas.
Haec fuit illa dies, in qua Vejentibus arvis 195
Ter centum Fabii ter cecidere duo.
Una domus vires et onus susceperat urbis:
Sumunt gentiles arma professa manus.
Egreditur castris miles generosus ab îsdem,
E quis dux fieri quilibet aptus erat. 200
Carmentis portae dextro via proxima Jano est.
Ire per hanc noli, quisquis es, omen habet.
Ill fama refert Fabios exisse trecentos.
Porta vacat culpa; sed tamen omen habet.
Ut celeri passu Cremeram tetigere rapacem, 205
—Turbidus hibernis ille fluebat aquis—
Castra loco ponunt: destrictis ensibus ipsi
Tyrrhenum valido Marte per agmen eunt:
Non aliter, quam quum Libyca de rupe leones
Invadunt sparsos lata per arva greges. 210
Diffugiunt hostes, inhonestaque vulnera tergo
Accipiunt: Tusco sanguine terra rubet.
Sic iterum, sic saepe cadunt. Ubi vincere aperte
Non datur, insidias armaque caeca parant.
Campus erat: campi claudebant ultima colles, 215
Silvaque montanas occulere apta feras.
In medio paucos armentaque rara relinquunt:
Cetera virgultis abdita turba latet.
Ecce, velut torrens undis pluvialibus auctus
Aut nive, quae Zephyro victa tepente fluit, 220
Per sata perque vias fertur, nec, ut ante solebat,
Riparum clausas margine finit aquas:
Sic Fabii latis vallem discursibus implent,
Quosque vident, spernunt, nec etus alter inest.
Quo ruitis, generosa domus? male creditur hosti. 225
Simplex nobilitas, perfida tela cave.
Fraude perit virtus. In apertos undique campos
Prosiliunt hostes, et latus omne tenent.
Quid facient pauci contra tot millia fortes?
Quidve, quod in misero tempore restet, habent? 230
Sicut aper silvis longe Laurentibus actus
Fulmineo celeres dissipat ore canes;
Mox tamen ipse perit: sic non moriuntur inulti,
Vulneraque alterna dantque feruntque manu.
Una dies Fabios ad bellum miserat omnes: 235
Ad bellum missos perdidit una dies.
Ut tamen Herculeae superessent semina gentis,
Credibile est ipsos consuluisse deos.
Nam puer impubes et adhuc non utilis armis
Unus de Fabia gente relictus erat, 240
Scilicet, ut posses olim tu, Maxime, nasci,
Cui res cunctando restituenda foret.
Continuata loco tria sidera, Corvus et Anguis,
Et medius Crater inter utrumque jacet.
Idibus illa latent: oriuntur nocte sequenti. 245
Quae sibi cur tria sint consociata, canam.
Forte Jovi festum Phoebus sollemne parabat:
—Non faciet longas fabula nostra moras—
I mea, dixit, avis, ne quid pia sacra moretur,
Et tenuem vivis fontibus affer aquam. 250
Corvus inauratum pedibus cratera recurvis
Tollit, et aërium pervolat altus iter.
Stabat adhuc duris ficus densissima pomis:
Tentat eam rostro: non erat apta legi.
Immemor imperii sedisse sub arbore fertur, 255
Dum fierent tarda dulcia poma mora.
Jamque satur nigris longum rapit unguibus hydrum,
Ad dominumque redit, fictaque verba refert:
Hic mihi causa morae, vivarum obsessor aquarum:
Hic tenuit fontes officiumque meum. 260
Addis, ait, culpae mendacia? Phoebus, et audes
Fatidicum verbis fallere velle deum?
At tibi, dum lactens haerebit in arbore ficus,
De nullo gelidae fonte bibantur aquae.
Dixit, et antiqui monumenta perennia facti 265
Anguis, Avis, Crater, sidera juncta micant.
Tertia post Idus nudos Aurora Lupercos
Adspicit, et Fauni sacra bicornis erunt.
Dicite, Pierides, sacrorum quae sit origo,
Attigerint Latias unde petita domos. 270
Pana deum pecoris veteres coluisse feruntur
Arcades. Arcadiis plurimus ille jugis.
Testis erit Pholoë, testes Stymphalides undae,
Quique citis Ladon in mare currit aquis,
Cinctaque pinetis nemoris juga Nonacrini, 275
Altaque Cyllene, Parrhasiaeque nives.
Pan erat armenti custos, Pan numen equarum:
Munus ob incolumes ille ferebat oves.
Transtulit Evander silvestria numina secum.
Hic, ubi nunc urbs est, tum locus urbis erat. 280
Inde deum colimus, devectaque sacra Pelasgis.
Flamen ad haec prisco more Dialis erat.
Cur igitur currant, et cur—sic currere mos est—
Nuda ferant posita corpora veste, rogas.
Ipse deus velox discurrere gaudet in altis 285
Montibus, et subitas concitat ille feras.
Ipse deus nudus nudos jubet ire ministros:
Nec atis ad cursum commoda vestis erat.
Ante Jovem genitum terras habuisse feruntur
Arcades, et Luna gens prior illa fuit. 290
Vita feris similis, nullos agitata per usus:
Artis adhuc expers et rude vulgus erat.
Pro domibus frondes norant, pro frugibus herbas:
Nectar erat palmis hausta duabus aqua.
Nullus anhelabat sub adunco vomere taurus: 295
Nulla sub imperio terra colentis erat:
Nullus adhuc erat usus equi, se quisque ferebat.
Ibat ovis lana corpus amicta sua.
Sub Jove durabant, et corpora nuda gerebant,
Docta graves imbres et tolerare Notos. 300
Nunc quoque detecti referunt monumenta vetusti
Moris, et antiquas testificantur opes.
Sed, cur praecipue fugiat velamina Faunus,
Traditur antiqui fabula plena joci.
Forte comes dominae juvenis Tirynthius ibat: 305
Vidit ab excelso Faunus utrumque jugo.
Vidit, et incaluit, Montanaque numina, dixit,
Nil mihi vobiscum est; haec meus ardor erit.
Ibat odoratis humeros perfusa capillis
Maeonis, aurato conspicienda sinu. 310
Aurea pellebant rapidos umbracula soles,
Quae tamen Herculeae sustinuere manus.
Jamque nemus Bacchi, Tmoli vineta, tenebat,
Hesperus et fusco roscidus ibat equo,
Antra subit tophis laqueataque pumice vivo; 315
Garrulus in primo limine rivus erat.
Dumque parant epulas potandaque vina ministri,
Cultibus Alciden instruit illa suis.
Dat tenues tunicas Gaetulo murice tinctas:
Dat teretem zonam, qua modo cincta fuit. 320
Ventre minor zona est: tunicarum vincla relaxat,
Ut possit vastas exseruisse manus.
Fregerat armillas non illa ad brachia factas.
Scindebant magni vincula parva pedes.
Ipsa capit clavamque gravem spoliumque leonis, 325
Conditaque in pharetra tela minora sua.
Sic epulis functi, sic dant sua corpora somno,
Et positis juxta secubuere toris.
Causa: repertori vitis pia sacra parabant,
Quae facerent pure, quum foret orta dies. 330
Noctis erat medium: quid non amor improbus audet?
Roscida per tenebras Faunus ad antra venit,
Utque videt somno comites vinoque solutos,
Spem capit in dominis esse soporis idem,
Intrat, et huc illuc temerarius errat adulter, 335
Et praefert cautas subsequiturque manus,
Venerat ad strati captata cubilia lecti,
Et prima felix sorte futurus erat.
Ut tetigit fulvi setis hirsuta leonis
Vellera, pertimuit, sustinuitque manum, 340
Attonitusque metu riguit: ut saepe viator
Turbatum viso rettulit angue pedem.
Inde tori, qui junctus erat, velamina tangit
Mollia, mendaci decipiturque nota.
Cetera tentantem cubito Tirynthius heros
Reppulit. E summo decidit ille toro. 350
Fit sonus: inclamat comites, et lumina poscit
Maeonis. Illatis ignibus acta patent.
Ille gemit lecto graviter dejectus ab alto,
Membraque de dura vix sua tollit humo.
Ridet et Alcides, et qui videre jacentem: 355
Ridet amatorem Lyda puella suum.
Veste deus lusus fallentes lumina vestes
Non amat, et nudos ad sua sacra vocat.
Adde peregrinis causas, mea Musa, Latinas,
Inque suo noster pulvere currat equus. 360
Cornipedi Fauno caesa de more capella,
Venit ad exiguas turba vocata dapes;
Dumque sacerdotes verubus transsuta salignis
Exta parant, medias sole tenente vias,
Romulus et frater, pastoralisque juventus, 365
Solibus et campo corpora nuda dabant,
Caestibus, et jaculis, et missi pondere saxi
Brachia per lusus experienda dabant.
Pastor ab excelso, Per devia rura juvencos,
Romule, praedones, eripe, dixit, agunt. 370
Longum erat armari. Diversis exit uterque
Partibus; accursu praeda recepta Remi.
Ut rediit, verubus stridentia detrahit exta:
Atque ait, Haec certe non nisi victor edet.
Dicta facit, Fabiique simul. Venit irritus illuc 375
Romulus, et mensas ossaque nuda videt.
Risit, et indoluit Fabios potuisse Remumque
Vincere: Quinctilios non potuisse suos.
Fama manet facti. Posito velamine currunt:
Et memorem famam, quod bene cessit, habet. 380
Forsitan et quaeras, cur sit locus ille Lupercal,
Quaeve diem tali nomine causa notet.
Ilia Vestalis coelestia semina partu
Ediderat, patruo regna tenente suo.
Is jubet auferri pueros et in amne necari. 385
Quid facis? ex istis Romulus alter erit.
Jussa recusantes peragunt lacrimosa ministri;
Flent tamen, et geminos in loca jussa ferunt.
Albula, quem Tibrin mersus Tiberinus in unda
Reddidit, hibernis forte tumebat aquis. 390
Hic, ubi nunc Fora sunt, lintres errare videres,
Quaque jacent valles, Maxime Circe, tuae.
Hic ubi venerunt,—neque enim procedere possunt
Longius—ex illis unus et alter, ait:
At quam sunt similes! at quam formosus uterque! 395
Plus tamen ex illis iste vigoris habet.
Si genus arguitur vultu, ni fallit imago,
Nescio quem vobis suspicor esse deum.
At si quis vestrae deus esset originis auctor,
In tam praecipiti tempore ferret opem. 400
Ferret opem certe, si non ope mater egeret,
Quae facta est uno mater et orba die.
Nata simul, moritura simul, simul ite sub undas
Corpora. Desicrat; deposuitque sinu,
Vagierunt clamore pari: sentire putares. 405
Hi redeunt udis in sua tecta genis.
Sustinet impositos summa cavus alveus unda.
Heu quantum fati parva tabella tulit!
Alveus in limo silvis appulsus opacis,
Paullatim fluvio deficiente, sedet. 410
Arbor erat: remanent vestigia, quaeque vocatur
Rumina nunc ficus, Romula ficus erat.
Venit ad expositos—mirum—lupa feta gemellos.
Quis credat pueris non nocuisse feram?
Non nocuisse parum est: prodest quoque: quos lupa nutrit,415
Perdere cognatae sustinuere manus.
Constitit, et cauda teneris blanditur alumnis,
Et fingit lingua corpora bina sua.
Marte satos scires; timor abfuit: ubera ducunt,
Nec sibi promissi lactis aluntur ope. 420
Illa loco nomen fecit; locus ipse Lupercis.
Magna dati nutrix praemia lactis habet.
Quid vetat Arcadio dictos a monte Lupercos?
Faunus in Arcadia templa Lycaeus habet.
Nupta, quid exspectas? non tu pollentibus herbis, 425
Nec prece, nec magico carmine mater eris.
Excipe fecundae patienter verbera dextrae:
Jam socer optatum nomen habebit avi.
Nam fuit illa dies, dura quum sorte maritae
Reddebant uteri pignora rara sui. 430
Quid mihi, clamabat, prodest rapuisse Sabinas,
Romulus—hoc illo sceptra tenente fuit—
Si mea non vires, sed bellum injuria fecit!
Utilius fuerat non habuisse nurus.
Monte sub Esquilio, multis incaeduus annis 435
Junonis magnae nomine lucus erat,
Huc ubi venerunt, pariter nuptaeque virique
Suppliciter posito procubuere genu.
Quum subito motae tremuere cacumina silvae,
Et dea per lucos mira locuta suos, 440
Italidas matres, inquit, sacer hircus inito!
Obstupuit dubio territa turba sono.
Augur erat: nomen longis intercidit annis:
Nuper ab Etrusca venerat exsul humo.
Ille caprum mactat. Jussae sua terga puellae 445
Pellibus exsectis percutienda dabant.
Luna resumebat decimo nova cornua motu,
Virque pater subito, nuptaque mater erat.
Gratia Lucinae: dedit haec tibi nomina lucus,
Aut quia principium tu, dea, lucis habes. 450
Parce, precor, gravidis, facilis Lucina, puellis,
Maturumque utero molliter effer onus.
Orta dies fuerit: tu desine credere ventis,
Perdidit illius temporis aura fidem.
Flamina non constant: et sex reserata diebus 455
Carceris aeolii janua laxa patet.
Jam levis obliqua subsedit Aquarius urna.
Proximus aetherios excipe, Piscis, equos.
Te memorant fratremque tuum—nam juncta micatis
Signa—duos tergo sustinuisse deos. 460
Terribilem quondam fugiens Typhona Dione,
Tunc quum pro coelo Jupiter arma tulit,
Venit ad Euphraten comitata Cupidine parvo,
Inque Palaestinae margine sedit aquae.
Populus et cannae riparum summa tenebant, 465
Spemque dabant salices, hos quoque posse tegi.
Dum latet, intonuit vento nemus. Illa timore
Pallet, et hostiles credit adesse manus;
Utque sinu natum tenuit, Succurrite Nymphae,
Et dîs auxilium ferte duobus, ait. 470
Nec mora, prosiluit. Pisces subiere gemelli;
Pro quo nunc dignum sidera munus habent.
Inde nefas ducunt genus hoc imponere mensis,
Nec violant timidi piscibus ora Syri.
Proxima lux vacua est: at tertia dicta Quirino. 475
Qui tenet hoc nomen, Romulus ante fuit;
Sive quod hasta curis priscis est dicta Sabinis:
—Bellicus a telo venit in astra deus—
Sive suum regi nomen posuere Quirites:
Seu quia Romanis junxerat ille Cures. 480
Nam pater armipotens, postquam nova moenia vidit,
Multaque Romulea bella peracta manu,
Jupiter, inquit, habet Romana potentia vires:
Sanguinis officio non eget illa mei.
Redde patri natum: quamvis intercidit alter, 485
Pro se, proque Remo, qui mihi restat, erit.
Unus erit, quem tu tolles in caerula coeli;
Tu mihi dixisti: sint rata dicta Jovis.
Jupiter annuerat; nutu tremefactus uterque
Est polus, et coeli pondera sensit Atlas. 490
Est locus: antiqui Capreae dixere paludem.
Forte tuis illic, Romule, jura dabas.
Sol fugit, et removent subeuntia nubila coelum,
Et gravis effusus decidit imber aquis,
Hinc tonat, hinc missis abrumpitur ignibus aether. 495
Fit fuga: rex patris astra petebat equis.
Luctus erat, falsaeque Patres in crimine caedis;
Haesissetque animis forsitan illa fides:
Sed Proculus Longa veniebat Julius Alba,
Lunaque fulgebat, nec facis usus erat: 500
Quum subito motu nubes crepuere sinistrae.
Rettulit ille gradus, horrueruntque comae.
Pulcher, et humano major, trabeaque decorus
Romulus in media visus adesse via,
Et dixisse simul, Prohibe lugere Quirites: 505
Nec violent lacrimis numina nostra suis.
Tura ferant, placentque novum pia turba Quirinum,
Et patrias artes militiamque colant.
Jussit, et in tenues oculis evanuit auras.
Convocat hic populos, jussaque verba refert. 510
Templa deo fiunt. Collis quoque dictus ab illo,
Et referunt certi sacra paterna dies.
Lux quoque cur eadem Stultorum festa vocetur,
Accipe: parva quidem causa, sed apta subest.
Non habuit tellus doctos antiqua colonos: 515
Lassabant agiles aspera bella viros.
Plus erat in gladio, quam curvo laudis aratro:
Neglectus domino pauca ferebat ager.
Farra tamen veteres jaciebant, farra metebant,
Primitias Cereri farra resecta dabant. 520
Usibus admoniti flammis torrenda dederunt,
Multaque peccato damna tulere suo.
Nam modo verrebant nigras pro farre favillas;
Nunc ipsas ignes corripuere casas.
Facta dea est Fornax: laeti Fornace coloni 525
Orant, ut fruges temperet illa suas.
Curio legitimis nunc Fornacalia verbis
Maximus indicit, nec stata sacra facit;
Inque Foro, multa circum pendente tabella,
Signatur certa Curia quaeque nota; 530
Stultaque pars populi, quae sit sua Curia, nescit:
Sed facit extrema sacra relata die.
Est honor et tumulis. Animas placate paternas,
Parvaque in exstinctas munera ferte pyras,
Parva petunt Manes. Pietas pro divite grata est 535
Munere. Non avidos Styx habet ima deos.
Tegula porrectis satis est velata coronis,
Et sparsae fruges, parcaque mica salis,
Inque mero mollita Ceres, violaeque solutae.
Haec habeat media testa relicta via. 540
Nec majora veto: sed et his placabilis umbra est.
Adde preces positis et sua verba focis.
Hunc morem aeneas, pietatis idoneus auctor,
Attulit in terras, juste Latine, tuas.
Ille patris Genio sollemnia dona ferebat; 545
Hinc populi ritus edidicere pios.
At quondam, dum longa gerunt pugnacibus armis
Bella, Parentales deseruere dies.
Non impune fuit. Nam dicitur omine ab isto
Roma suburbanis incaluisse rogis. 550
Vix equidem credo: bustis exisse feruntur,
Et tacitae questi tempore noctis avi;
Perque vias urbis, Latiosque ululasse per agros
Deformes animas, vulgus inane, ferunt.
Post ea praeteriti tumulis redduntur honores, 555
Prodigiisque venit funeribusque modus.
Dum tamen haec fiunt, viduae cessate puellae:
Exspectet puros pinea taeda dies.
Nec tibi, quae cupidae matura videbere matri,
Comat virgineas hasta recurva comas. 560
Conde tuas, Hymenaee, faces, et ab ignibus atris
Aufer. Habent alias maesta sepulcra faces.
Di quoque templorum foribus celentur opertis,
Ture vacent arae, stentque sine igne foci.
Nunc animae tenues et corpora functa sepulcris 565
Errant: nunc posito pascitur umbra cibo.
Nec tamen haec ultra, quam, tot de mense supersint
Luciferi, quot habent carmina nostra pedes.
Hanc, quia justa ferunt, dixere Feralia lucem.
Ultima placandis Manibus illa dies. 570
Ecce anus in mediis residens annosa puellis
Sacra facit Tacitae: vix tamen ipsa tacet;
Et digitis tria tura tribus sub limine ponit,
Qua brevis occultum mus sibi fecit iter.
Tumn cantata ligat cum fusco licia plumbo; 575
Et septem nigras versat in ore fabas;
Quodque pice adstrinxit, quod acu trajecit ahena,
Obsutum maenae torret in igne caput:
Vina quoque instillat. Vini quodcumque relictum est,
Aut ipsa, aut comites, plus tamen ipsa, bibit. 580
Hostiles linguas inimicaque vinximus ora,
Dicit discedens, ebriaque exit anus.
Protinus a nobis, quae sit dea Muta, requires.
Disce, per antiquos quae mihi nota senes.
Jupiter indomito Juturnae captus amore 585
Multa tulit, tanto non patienda deo.
Illa modo in silvis inter coryleta jacebat:
Nunc in cognatas desiliebat aquas.
Convocat hic Nymphas, Latium quaecumque tenebant,
Et jacit in medio talia verba choro: 590
Invidet ipsa vitatque, quod expedit illi,
Vestra soror summo jungere membra deo.
Consulite ambobus: nam quae est mea magna voluptas,
Utilitas vestra magna sororis erit.
Vos illi in prima fugienti obsistite ripa, 595
Ne sua fluminea corpora mergat aqua.
Dixerat: annuerunt nymphae Tiberinides omnes,
Quaeque colunt thalamos, Illa diva, tuos.
Forte fuit Naïs, Lara nomine: prima sed illi
Dicta bis antiquum syllaba nomen erat, 600
Ex vitio positum. Saepe illi dixerat Almo,
Nata, tene linguam: nec tamen illa tenet.
Quae, simul ac tetigit Juturnae stagna sororis,
Effuge, ait, ripas: dicta refertque Jovis.
Illa etiam Junonem adiit, miserataque nuptam, 605
Naïda Juturnam vir tuus, inquit, amat.
Jupiter intumuit: quaque est non usa modeste,
Eripuit linguam, Mercuriumque monet,
Duc hanc ad Manes: locus ille silentibus aptus.
Nympha, sed infernae Nympha paludis, erit. 610
Jussa Jovis fiunt. Accepit lucus euntes.
Dicitur illa duci placuisse deo.
Vim parat hic: vultu pro verbis illa precatur,
Et frustra muto nititur ore loqui.
Fitque gravis, geminosque parit, qui compita servant, 615
Et vigilant nostra semper in aede, Lares.
Proxima cognati dixere Caristia cari,
Et venit ad socias turba propinqua dapes.
Scilicet a tumulis, et, qui periere, propinquis
Protinus ad vivos ora referre juvat, 620
Postque tot amissos, quidquid de sanguine restat,
Adspicere, et generis dinumerare gradus.
Innocui veniant: procul hinc, procul impius esto
Frater, et in partus mater acerba suos;
Cui pater est vivax, qui matris digerit annos, 625
Quae premit invisam socrus iniqua nurum.
Tantalidae fratres absint, et Iasonis uxor,
Et quae ruricolis semina tosta dedit:
Et soror, et Progne, Tereusque duabus iniquus,
Et quicumque suas per scelus auget opes. 630
Dîs generis date tura bonis; Concordia fertur
Illa praecipue mitis adesse die;
Et libate dapes, ut grati pignus honoris
Nutriat incinctos missa patella Lares,
Jamque ubi suadebit placidos nox ultima somnos, 635
Larga precaturi sumite vina manu,
Et, Bene nos, Patriae, bene te, Pater, optime Caesar!
Dicite suffuso per sacra verba mero.
Nox ubi transierit, solito celebretur honore,
Separat indicio qui deus arva suo. 640
Termine, sive lapis, sive es defossus in agro
Stipes ab antiquis, sic quoque numen habes.
Te duo diversa domini pro parte coronant,
Binaque serta tibi, binaque liba ferunt.
Ara fit: huc ignem curto fert rustica testu 645
Sumptum de tepidis ipsa colona focis.
Ligna senex minuit, concisaque construit alte,
Et solida ramos figere pugnat humo.
Dum sicco primas irritat cortice flammas,
Stat puer, et manibus lata canistra tenet. 650
Inde, ubi ter fruges medios immisit in ignes,
Porrigit incisos filia parva favos.
Vina tenent alii: libantur singula flammis.
Spectant et linguis Candida turba favent.
Spargitur et caeso communis Terminus agno: 655
Nec queritur, lactens quum sibi porca datur.
Conveniunt celebrantque dapes vicinia supplex,
Et cantant laudes, Termine sancte, tuas.
Tu populos, urbesque, et regna ingentia finis:
Omnis erit sine te litigiosus ager. 660
Nulla tibi ambitio est: nullo corrumperis auro:
Legitima servas credita rura fide:
Si tu signasses olim Thyreatida terram,
Corpora non leto missa trecenta forent,
Nec foret Othryades congestis lectus in armis. 665
O quantum patriae sanguinis ille dedit!
Quid, nova quum fierent Capitolia? nempe deorum
Cuncta Jovi cessit turba, locumque dedit.
Terminus—ut veteres memorant—inventus in aede
Restitit, et magno cum Jove templa tenet. 670
Nunc quoque, se supra ne quid nisi sidera cernat,
Exiguum templi tecta foramen habent.
Termine, post illud levitas tibi libera non est,
Qua positus fueris in statione, mane.
Nec tu vicino quidquam concede roganti, 675
Ne videare hominem praeposuisse Jovi;
Et seu vomeribus, seu tu pulsabere rastris,
Clamato, Meus est hic ager, ille tuus.
Est via, quae populum Laurentes ducit in agros,
Quondam Dardanio regna petita duci. 680
Illac lanigeri pecoris tibi, Termine, fibris
Sacra videt fieri sextus ab urbe lapis.
Gentibus est aliis tellus data limite certo;
Romanae spatium est urbis et orbis idem.
Nunc mihi dicenda est Regis fuga. Traxit ab illa 685
Sextus ab extremo nomina mense dies.
Ultima Tarquinius Romanae gentis habebat
Regna, vir injustus, fortis ad arma tamen.
Ceperat hic alias, alias everterat urbes,
Et Gabios turpi fecerat arte suos. 690
Namque trium minimus, proles manifesta Superbi,
In medios hostes nocte silente venit.
Nudarant gladios: Occidite, dixit, inermem!
Hoc cupiant fratres, Tarquiniusque pater,
Qui mea crudeli laceravit verbere terga! 695
—Dicere ut hoc posset, verbera passus erat—
Luna fuit. Spectant juvenem, gladiosque recondunt,
Tergaque, deducta veste, notata vident.
Flent quoque, et, ut secum tueatur bella, precantur.
Callidus ignaris annuit ille viris. 700
Jamque potens misso genitorem appellat amico,
Prodendi Gabios quod sibi monstret iter,
Hortus odoratis suberat cultissimus herbis,
Sectus humum rivo lene sonantis aquae.
Illic Tarquinius mandata latentia nati 705
Accipit, et virga lilia summa metit.
Nuntius ut rediit, decussaque lilia dixit,
Filius, Agnosco jussa parentis, ait.
Nec mora: principibus caesis ex urbe Gabina,
Traduntur ducibus moenia nuda suis. 710
Ecce—nefas visu—mediis altaribus anguis
Exit, et exstinctis ignibus exta rapit.
Consulitur Phoebus. Sors est ita reddita: Matri
Qui dederit princeps oscula, victor erit.
Oscula quisque suae matri properata tulerunt, 715
Non intellecto credula turba deo.
Brutus erat stulti sapiens imitator, ut esset
Tutus ab insidiis, dire Superbe, tuis.
Ille jacens pronus matri dedit oscula Terrae,
Creditus offenso procubuisse pede. 720
Cingitur interea Romanis Ardea signis,
Et patitur lentas obsidione moras.
Dum vacat, et metuunt hostes committere pugnam,
Luditur in castris: otia miles agit.
Tarquinius juvenis socios dapibusque meroque 725
Accipit, atque illis rege creatus ait:
Dum nos difficilis pigro tenet Ardea bello,
Nec sinit ad patrios arma referre deos;
Ecquid in officio torus est socialis? et ecquid
Conjugibus nostris mutua cura sumus? 730
Quisque suam laudant. Studiis certamina crescunt,
Et fervent multo linguaque corque mero.
Surgit, cui clarum dederat Collatia nomen;
Non opus est verbis, credite rebus, ait.
Nox superest: tollamur equis, urbemque petamus. 735
Dicta placent: frenis impediuntur equi.
Pertulerant dominos. Regalia protinus illi
Tecta petunt: custos in fore nullus erat.
Ecce nurum regis fusis per colla coronis
Inveniunt posito pervigilare mero. 740
Inde cito passu petitur Lucretia. Nebat;
Ante torum calathi lanaque mollis erant.
Lumen ad exiguum famulae data pensa trahebant,
Inter quas tenui sic ait ipsa sono:
Mittenda est domino—nunc, nunc properate, puellae— 745
Quamprimum nostra facta lacerna manu.
Quid tamen audistis?—nam plura audire potestis—
Quantum de bello dicitur esse super?
Postmodo victa cades, melioribus, Ardea, restas,
Improba, quae nostros cogis abesse viros. 750
Sint tantum reduces. Sed enim temerarius ille
Est meus, et stricto quolibet ense ruit.
Mens abit, et morior, quoties pugnantis imago.
Me subit, et gelidum pectora frigus habet.
Desinit in lacrimas, intentaque fila remittit, 755
In gremio vultum deposuitque suum.
Hoc ipsum decuit: lacrimae decuere pudicam,
Et facies animo dignaque parque fuit.
Pone metum, venio, conjux ait. Illa revixit,
Deque viri collo dulce pependit onus. 760
Interea juvenis furiales regius ignes
Concipit, et caeco raptus amore furit.
Forma placet, niveusque color, flavique capilli,
Quique aderat nulla factus ab arte decor.
Verba placent, et vox, et quod corrumpere non est: 765
Quoque minor spes est, hoc magis ille cupit.
Jam dederat cantum lucis praenuntius ales,
Quum referunt juvenes in sua castra pedem.
Carpitur attonitos absentis imagine sensus
Ille: recordanti plura magisque placent. 770
Sic sedit, sic culta fuit, sic stamina nevit,
Neglectae collo sic jacuere comae,
Hos habuit vultus, haec illi verba fuere,
Hic decor, haec facies, hic color oris erat.
Ut solet a magno fluctus languescere flatu, 775
Sed tamen a vento, qui fuit, unda tumet:
Sic, quamvis aberat placitae praesentia formae,
Quem dederat praesens forma, manebat amor.
Ardet, et injusti stimulis agitatus amoris
Comparat indigno vimque dolumque toro. 780
Exitus in dubio est. Audebimus ultima, dixit.
Viderit, audentes forsne deusne juvet.
Cepimus audendo Gabios quoque. Talia fatus
Ense latus cinxit, tergaque pressit equi.
Accipit aerata juvenem Collatia porta, 785
Condere jam vultus sole parante suos.
Hostis, ut hospes, init penetralia Collatini:
Comiter excipitur: sanguine junctus erat.
Quantum animis erroris inest! parat inscia rerum
Infelix epulas hostibus illa suis. 790
Functus erat dapibus: poscunt sua tempora somni.
Nox erat, et tota lumina nulla domo.
Surgit, et auratum vagina liberat ensem,
Et venit in thalamos, nupta pudica, tuos,
Utque torum pressit, Ferrum, Lucretia, mecum est, 795
Natus, ait, regis, Tarquiniusque loquor.
Illa nihil: neque enim vocem viresque loquendi,
Aut aliquid toto pectore mentis habet.
Sed tremit, ut quondam stabulis deprensa relictis
Parva sub infesto quum jacet agna lupo. 800
Quid faciat? pugnet? vincetur femina pugna.
Clamet? at in dextra, qui necet, ensis adest.
Effugiat? positis urgentur pectora palmis;
Tune primum externa pectora tacta manu.
Instat amans hostis precibus, pretioque, minisque: 805
Nec prece, nec pretio, nec movet ille minis.
Nil agis; eripiam, dixit, pro crimine vitam:
Falsus adulterii testis adulter erit.
Interimam famulum, cum quo deprensa fereris.
Succubuit famae victa puella metu. 810
Quid, victor, gaudes? haec te victoria perdet.
Heu quanto regnis nox stetit una tuis!
Jamque erat orta dies: passis sedet illa capillis,
Ut solet ad nati mater itura rogum;
Grandaevumque patrem fido cum conjuge castris 815
Evocat: et posita venit uterque mora.
Utque vident habitum, quae luctus causa, requirunt,
Cui paret exsequias, quove sit icta malo.
Illa diu reticet, pudibundaque celat amictu
Ora. Fluunt lacrimae more perennis aquae. 820
Hinc pater, hinc conjux lacrimas solantur, et orant,
Indicet: et caeco flentque paventque metu.
Ter conata loqui, ter destitit, ausaque quarto.
Non oculos adeo sustulit illa suos.
Hoc quoque Tarquinio debebimus? eloquar, inquit, 825
Eloquar infelix dedecus ipsa meum.
Quaeque potest narrat. Restabant ultima; flevit,
Et matronales erubuere genae.
Dant veniam facto genitor conjuxque coactae.
Quam, dixit, veniam vos datis, ipsa nego. 830
Nec mora; celato figit sua pectora ferro,
Et cadit in patrios sanguinolenta pedes.
Tunc quoque jam moriens, ne non procumbat honeste,
Respicit. Haec etiam cura cadentis erat.
Ecce super corpus communia damna gementes, 835
Obliti decoris, virque paterque jacent.
Brutus adest, tandemque animo sua nomina fallit,
Fixaque semanimi corpore tela rapit;
Stillantemqne tenens generoso sanguine cultrum,
Edidit impavidos ore minante sonos: 840
Per tibi ego hunc juro fortem castumque cruorem,
Perque tuos Manes, qui mihi numen erunt,
Tarquinium poenas profuga cum stirpe daturum.
Jam satis est virtus dissimulata diu.
Illa jacens ad verba oculos sine lumine movit, 845
Visaque concussa dicta probare coma.
Fertur in exsequias animi matrona virilis,
Et secum lacrimas invidiamque trahit.
Vulnus inane patet. Brutus clamore Quirites
Concitat, et regis facta nefanda refert. 850
Tarquinius cum prole fugit. Capit annua Consul
Jura. Dies regnis illa suprema fuit.
Fallimur? an veris praenuntia venit hirundo,
Et metuit, ne qua versa recurrat hiems?
Saepe tamen, Progne, nimium properasse quereris, 855
Virque tuo Tereus frigore laetus erit.
Jamque duae restant noctes de mense secundo,
Marsque citos junctis curribus urget equos.
Ex vero positum permansit Equiria nomen,
Quae deus in campo prospicit ipse suo. 860
Jure venis, Gradive; locum tua tempora poscunt,
Signatusque tuo nomine mensis adest.
Venimus in portum libro cum mense peracto.
Naviget hinc alia jam mihi linter aqua.
NOTES:
1. Crescit. Some MSS. read crescat.
2. Ut hinc. Most MSS. read ut hic; three of the best ut it. The present reading is the conjecture of Heinsius.
3, 4. The Elegiac measure which is employed in this poem, was usually appropriated to subjects which had not much dignity in them. Such had been his preceding compositions in this species of verse.
5. Alluding to his Amores, Ars Amandi, etc.—Faciles, ready, compliant.
6. When my early youth sported in numbers adapted to it.
7, 8. I now sing the festivals, etc. Would any one think that idle love-verses would have led the way to such a theme?
9, 10. Militia, dextra, munere, all words relating to military service. See Hor. Car. iv. l.—Ferimus, most MSS. read gerimus.—Vacat. Seven have caret.
14. Habilis, fit. Any one can be a soldier.
16. Nomina, i. e. deeds of name.—Titulos, is employed in the same manner.
17, 18. He continues the adulatory style in which he at first addressed him.
19. The poet now begins an inquiry into the origin of the name of the second month.—Februum: Sabinis purgamentum et in sacris nostris verbum. Varro de L. L. V.—Piamina, the [Greek: katharmoi] of the Greeks, whatever was used in purification, and in removing the [Greek: agos], or piacular guilt. Five MSS. read piacula, which signifies the same thing.
20. Scil. the word is still frequently used in this sense.
21. Rege, the Rex Sacrorum.—Flamine, the Flamen Dialis.—Lanas. As Clemens Alexandrinus enumerates the [Greek: eria pyrrha] among the articles used by the Gentiles in purification Neapolis conjectures that this wool was red.
23. Lictor, of the Flamen Dialis.—Sertis, one MS. cernis, three ternis, one acernis. Heinsius proposes tersis.—Domibus, the house of the Flamen.
24. The Mola Salsa.
25. Arbore pura, the pine, as making pure.
27. Flaminicam, the wife of the Flamen Dialis. Some MSS. read Flaminiam or Flamineam.
30. Intonsos, i.e. priscos, antiquos. Intonsus Numa, below V. 264. Intonsus Cato. Hor. Car. II. 15. There were no barbers at Rome, till A.U.C. 454.
31. See below, v. 267. et seq.
33. See below, v. 433, et seq.—Tempora pura, because the guilt and evil had been removed.
37. In the mode usual in his time, Ovid assigns a Grecian origin to this opinion. It was however common to Greece, Italy, and the East, and was a part of the Law of Moses. Homer makes mention of it more than once. Thus when Ulysses had slain the suitors, he says to Euryclea, [Greek: Oide theeion graeu kakon akos, oise de moi pur, Ophra theeioso megaron]. According to the legend, (See Mythology, p. 94.) Apollo himself required purification for having slain the Python.
39. Actoriden, Menoetius the father of Patroclus who had slain by accident Clesonymus or aeanes.—Pelea. Telamon and Peleus slew their brother Phocus. Peleus fled to Thessaly to Actor, or to Eurytion, the son of Actor, by whom he was purified, and having had the misfortune to kill his benefactor, he was purified by Acastus. The poet evidently makes a mistake here. See Mythology, pp. 279 and 414.
41. Aegeus received Medea when she fled after the murder of her children. —Credulus, too easily believing.—Phasida, Colchian. See Mythology, 279, 352.
43. Amphiaraïdes. Alemaeon, the son of Amphiaraus, put his mother Eriphyle to death. Mythology, p. 434.—Naupactoo scil. aetolian. Naupactus is in aetolia, but not near the Achelous.
45. Faciles, credulous.
47-54. This passage is hard to understand. If in the year of Numa Pompilius, which is the one spoken of, January was the first month, how could February be the last? Perhaps, though this is at variance with v. 48, the poet here, as in I. 43, 44, only means that Numa added two months to the Romulian year, in which case February would be the last. See Introd. § 2.—Tu quoque, etc. The intercalation was made after the Terminalia, that is, the 23d of February.—Postmodo, etc. this regulation of the Decemvirs, is spoken of no where else.—Tempora continuasse. "Effecisse ut hi duo menses, nullo interposito, se exciperent, cum antea distarent longo spatio decem ipsis mensibus interjectis," Gierig. As the year is a circle, must not the two ends have joined?
55. The poet here catches at the opportunity of praising Tiberius. The temple of Juno Sospita, near that of the Mother of the Gods on the Palatine hill, had been dedicated on the Kalends of February, but was now fallen.
62. This is going the utmost length of flattery.
66. Man. in stat. Keep guard. A military phrase.
67. Romulus opened the Asylum on the Kalends of February, that is, on the day of his year corresponding thereto.
69. Penetrale Numae. The temple of Vesta, in the Atrium of which, called the Regia, Numa resided.
70. The Capitolium and the Arx were two parts of the same hill. Liv. III. 18, V. 47.
74. Purpureis, bright. This is a usual sense of this word.
76. The cosmic setting of Lyra.
77. The acronych setting of Leo.
79. On the third of February, the Dolphin sets heliacally.—Caelatum, set or embossed.
81. Alluding to the aid which the Dolphin gave Neptune in his courtship of Amphitrite.
82. This story of Arion is told by Herodotus, I. 23.
84. Et seq. comparing him to Orpheus.
91. Cynthia. Diana, the moon.
101, 102. An exclamation of the poet.
107. A long trailing robe of the richest purple, the dibaphe.
109, 110. This distich was justly suspected by Heinsius. There is a corruption in it, which it is now, perhaps, impossible to cure. Burmann understands by penna, an arrow; others think it denotes a hard feather which the swan gets when old.—Trajectus. Four MSS. read Threïcius.
112. Describing the effect of his plunge into the sea.
115. Pretium vehendi, Scil. carmen.
119. See Hom. Il. II. 488. Virg. Geor. II. 42. aen, vi. 625.—Quo. scil. pectore.
121. Alterno carmine in hexameters et pentameters; the versibus impariter junctis of Horace, A. P. 75. The common reading is pectine.— Sacras Nonas, on account of the honours decreed to Augustus.
126. Heroi pedis. Hexameters.
127. On the nones of February, A.U.C. 752, Valerius Messala addressed Augustus in the senate-house in these words, Senatus te consentiens cum Pop. Rom. consulutat Patrem Patriae. Sact. Aug. 58.
128. Eques. Ovid was of the equestrian order.
132. The [Greek: pataer andron te theon te] of Homer, the Divum pater atque hominum rex of Virgil.
134. Comparing the paltry defences erected by the first founder of Rome, with the strength of the city under its second founder, as Augustus was styled.
135, 136. See Livy, I. Romulus was only formidable to the little states around his town; Augustus reduced both the East and the West under the sway of Rome.
139. The rape of the Sabines is opposed to the laws against adultery, etc. of Augustus.—Duce se, by his own example.
140. The Asylum opposed to the vigorous administration of justice by Augustus.
142. The favourite title of Augustus and of Tiberius was Princeps. scil. Senatus; [Greek: deopotaes men ton doulon, autokrator de ton stratioton, ton de dae loipon prokritus] (Princeps) [Greek: eimi], was a usual saying of Tiberius.
143. There may be an allusion here to Augustus' forgiveness of Cinna and others.
144. Mars and Julius Caesar.
145. The cosmic rising of Aquarius.—Puer. Idaeus, Ganymedes, son of Tros, king of Troy, fabled in aftertimes to have been made this constellation.
146. Liquidas, means clear and not liquid.—Nectare, as being cupbearer of the gods.
149. Spring began on the 9th of February, the V. Idus.
153. On the III. Idus Arctophylax, or Bootes, rises acronychally.
155-192. The poet had already told this tale. Met. II, 401-530. See also Mythology, p. 387.
193. The Faunalia were celebrated on the Ides. The island in the Tiber contained the temple of Faunus, as well as those of Aesculapius and Jupiter. It was built by the Aediles with the money arising from fines, and dedicated A.U.C. 509. There was another Faunalia on the nones of December. Hor. Car. III. 18. For Faunus, see Mythology, p. 477.
195. See Niebuhr's Roman History, II. 192-195, and 200-203. It is his opinion that the Fabian Creus, disgusted with the obstinate refusal of their order to grant the just claims of the Plebeians, retired with their clients, and a part of the Plebeians, to the number of 4,500, as related by Dionysius, and founded a colony on the banks of the Cremera, in Etruria. They left Rome on the Ides of February, A.U.C. 275, and were cut off by the Tuscans on the 18th of the following Quinctilis, the very day on which the defeat was sustained at the Allia some years afterwards. The poet has evidently fallen into a great error here.
196. The number of the Fabii is always given as being 306.
198. Arma professa, which they had promised.
199. Castris. From the context, this must have been the abodes of the family at Rome. He may, perhaps, mean their settlement on the Cremera, v. 207.
201. They went out at the Carmental gate. The Roman gates, as has been already observed, were double. People went out by one, and came in by the other. Ever after this day, no one went through the gate by which the Fabii had passed. The way was named Via Scelerata or Infelix.—Jano, that is, probably, simply the gate through which they passed.
203, 204. These lines are wanting in some of the best MSS. Gierig, though unsatisfied with them, thinks they are necessary to the narration. It does not seem so to me. We have only to understand the poet thus: they went out, etc. v. 199, the way by which they went is next etc. v. 201, to have a very good sense.
206. Hibernis, produced by the melting of the snow. It was now the spring. See note on v. 390.
214. Parant, scil. the Tuscans.
225, 226. The poet, as if present, calls out to them.—Simplex, incautious, unsuspicious of guile.
237. Herculeae gentis. It was the tradition of the Fabian family that they derived their origin from Hercules, by a daughter of Evander.
239. Niebuhr ut supra, shews that the Fabius who remained at Rome, must have been then a grown man. He thinks the cause of his staying behind was his differing in politics from the rest of the family.
241. The celebrated Fabius Maximas Cunctator, the man who shewed how to vanquish Hannibal.
243. The day after the Ides these three signs, which lie close together, rise acronychally.
247. The inferior gods offered sacrifices to the superior. See below, iv. 423. aeschyl. Prom. 526, et seq.
254. Eam, the tree for the fruit.
255. Figs ripen very fast (Pliny, xv. 19,) so that this is not badly invented.
260. Tenuit is used here in a double sense.
263. Lactens, that is, full of juice. It was peculiarly used of the fig.
264. De nullo, etc. It was an opinion of the ancients, that for sixty days before the figs ripened, the ravens were affected by a looseness of bowels, which obliged them to abstain from every thing humid. Pliny, X. 12. aelian. V. Il. II. 5.
267. The Lupercalia were celebrated on the 15th February, the xv. Kal. Mart. The poet here, according to the custom of the Latin poets, confounds the ancient Italian deity, Faunus, with the Pan of the Arcadians. On these occasions, a theory or a legend was always devised to explain the manner in which the worship had been introduced. For Pan, see Mythology, p. 198.
272. He most haunts the Arcadian mountains, or, he is most worshiped there.
273. Pholoë, the mountain of that name.
274. This is an error, the Ladom falls into the Alpheus.
277. Equarum. Several MSS. read aquarum, which reading Burmann defends, as Pan is called [Greek: aktios] by Theocritus. Idyll. V. 14.
278. Instead of Pan ovium custos.
280. That is, there was no town there at the time.
281. The Arcadians were always regarded as of the Pelasgian race.
282. The Flamen Dialis always bore a part in the Lupercalia.
285. The first reason; they imitated the god himself.
289. The second; they commemorated the ancient mode of life in Arcadia. It was said that Jupiter was born in this country. Callim. H. I.
290. See above, I. 469.
291. Feris. One MS. reads ferae; another fere; another et fere.— Usus, occupations.
292. Erat. One MS. reads erant, which is adopted by Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig.
299. Sub Jove, same as sub dio, in the open air.
301. Detecti, scil. the naked Luperci.
302. Opes, that is, the want of wealth.
303. The third reason for the nudity of the Luperci.—Faunus, scil. Pan.
305. Dominae, Omphale, queen of Lydia, to whom Hercules was sold by Mercury.
310. Aurato sinu. Her robe had threads of gold woven into it, or was embroidered.
311. Umbracula, the skiadia, the modern umbrella—Rapidos. This is the reading of eleven MSS. the rest have tepidos, which is very tame. Rapidos well expresses the consuming power of fire.
313. Tenebat, scil. Omphale, thus subit, v. 315. Some MSS. read tenebant.
314. Hesperus is beautifully styled roscidus, as the dews of evening accompany his appearance in the summer-season. The poet gives him a dark-coloured horse, as the sky is then becoming every moment darker; for the opposite reason, a white horse is given to Lucifer. "Hesperus, that led The starry host, rode brightest." Milton.
321. Vincla, either the wrists or the arm-holes of the tunic, which would appear to have had running-strings in them.
324. Scindebant. Seven MSS. read stringebant.
326. Tela minora, the arrows opposed to the club.
329. Previous to a sacrifice, à Venere abstinebant.—Pia sacra, like pia tura, pium far.
337. Captata, felt by groping, One MS. reads tractata.
359. A fourth reason for this custom.—Peregrinis causas Latinas. Three MSS. read peregrinae; two read causam. Perhaps the best reading would be peregrinis causam Latinam.
360. Suo pulvere, in his own common (i.e. Italian) course.
361. Scil. at the Lupercalia.
363. Transsuta, Others read transfixa, transita, or trajecta.
367, 368. These lines are wanting in three MSS. and are probably spurious.—Caestibus. Six MSS. read vectibus, which Heinius prefers, as the caestus was unknown to the old Romans, and pitching bar(vectis) was a common exercise of the Roman soldiery. The poets, however, troubled themselves little about minutiae of this kind. Some MMS. have vestibus.
375-378. Fabius, says the legend, was over the comrades of Remus, and Quinctilius over those of Romulus; and those under them were named from them. The truth is, the Fabian family were of the Sabine, the Quinctilian, of the Roman part of the nation.
380. Quod bene cessit. Several of the best MSS. read gessit. Some qui lene gesset.
381. He now proceeds to inquire into the origin of the names Lupercal and Lupercalia, and takes this occasion of relating the early history of the founders of Rome.
383. Ilia. Most MSS. read Silvia.
385. Pueros. The reading of most MSS. is parvos. Burmann observes, that the ancients did not use parvos without a substantive for children.
387. Recusantes, unwillingly; refusing as far as they dared. Burmann proposes reluctantes or repugnantes.
389. Albula. This was an ancient name of the Tiber. The Romans, aping the Greeks in this, as in every thing else, deduced the name Tiber, from that of a fabled king.
390. Hibernis. Neapolis would infer from this, that Romulus and Remus were born in the winter. This is pressing poetic language too close; the Latin poets used Hiems, and its kindred adjectives, as the Greeks did [Greek: cheimon], and the terms derived from it. The meaning is, the river was swoln by the rains which had lately fallen. If we wished regularly to confute Neapolis, we might refer him to v. 413, as the wolf does not bring forth in winter.
391, 392. The different Fora or markets at Rome, were in the valleys between the hills. The Circus Maximus was three stadia and a half long, and one broad. It is probably to express its magnitude that he uses valles in the plural, as the measure imposed no necessity.
393. According to the account given by Dionysius from Fabius Pictor, they came down with the babes from the summit of the Palatine hill, and laid them in the water, which now washed its foot.
394. Et. Two MSS. read an, which Heinsius adopts and justifies by a number of examples, and which is certainly the more elegant.
396. Iste, scil. Romulus.
398. Esse, scil: patrem. This ellipsis well expresses the doubt and hesitation of the speaker.—Suspicor. Three MSS. read suspicer.
400. Praecipiti, critical, dangerous.
401. Si non etc. The ancients believed that a god could not, any more than a man, be in more places than one at the same time. Hence the jest that Diana could not save her temple at Ephesus from the flames, as she was aiding the birth of Alexander the Great, in Macedonia.
408. Scil: the fate of Rome.
409. Appulsus. Eight MSS. read impulsus, which Lenz prefers, as expressing the force with which the water drove them, but they were not in the current of a stream, and the motion of the retiring water must have been very gentle.
412. Rumina, from rumis or ruma, the same as mamma. This must have been the original name; the derivation from Romulus is futile. In the time of Varro, as he informs us, (De L. L. iv.) a new ficus ruminalis was planted in the Comitium, which was standing when the poet wrote. It withered in the reign of Nero. Pliny, xv. 18.
413. Feta, i. e. enixa, as the context shews.
416. Perdere. Two MSS. read prodere.—Cog. manus. scil: the hands of Amulius.
417. She shews her affection for the babes by the motion of her tail.
419. They might be known to be the offspring of Mars by the wolf, his sacred animal, coming to feed them, and by their shewing no signs of fear.
420. Promissi, i. e. destined by nature.
423. Another cause, a Grecian origin, from Mt. Lycaeum, in Arcadia.
424. Faunus, scil. Pan,—Lycaeo. Pausanius, who mentions [Greek: Zeus lukaios], does not give this epithet to Pan. He speaks, however, of his temple on Mt. Lycaeum. In an epigram of Leonidas, we meet [Greek: lagobola Pani Lukaio].
425. Barren women placed themselves in the way of Luperci, as they ran about striking people with their goat-skin thongs, as the contact of the sacred lash was supposed to produce fecundity.—Herbis, etc. the usual modes of obtaining the power of bearing children.
428. Optatum. One MS. which is followed by Heinsius and Gierig, has optati.
433. Instead of increasing the number and strength of his people by their having offspring, he had only brought on himself and them the war with the Sabines.
435, 436. The grove of Juno Lucina. Varro, L. L. iv.
440. Mira, wonderful things.
441. Italidas. Several of the best MSS. read Italias.—Sacer hircus. Four MSS. read caper hirtus, in favour of which, it is urged, that as the caper was a gelt hircus, the wonder was the greater; and v. 445, a caper is sacrificed. I should feel disposed to adopt this reading, which is that of Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig.
443. His name has not come down to us.
444. Etruria was renowned for augury.
449, 450. Two derivations of Lucina; one from lucus, as if she was so named from being worshiped in a grove; a second from lux, as the light proceeded from her. This last might identify Juno Lucina with the moon, and with the Eilcithyia of the Greeks. See Mythology, p. 154.
451. Facilis seems to answer to [Greek: praumaetis], an epithet of Eilcithyia.
453-458. On the day of the Lupercalia, the sun entered Pisces, and winds began to blow, which continued for six days.
461. Dione, Venus. In Homer, this goddess is the daughter of Dione. Ovid confounds them, as he does the Hyperion and Helius (Sol) of Homer.
462. In the Giant-war. See Mythology, p. 238.
471. Others say, the goddess and her son turned themselves into fishes at the approach of Typhon.
473, 474. He confounds, in the usual manner, the Aphrodite of the Greeks, and Venus of the Latins, with the Atergatis or Derceto of the Syrians.— Timidi, scil. Deorum, pious.
475. There was no festival, and nothing remarkable on the XIV. Kal. Mart. The Quirinalia were on the following day. He takes this occasion of relating the end of Romulus and his apotheosis. See Livy, I. 13. It occurred on the Nones of Quinctilis.
477-480. Three derivations of the name Quirinus. The first is the true one. See Mythology, p. 472.
484. Officio. The care and labour of Romulus.
487. This is a line of Ennius. It also occurs, Met. xiv. 814.—The poet, in this account of the Assumption of Romulus, evidently keeps close to the Annals of the old poet.
491. The Palus Caprea, or Capreae, was in the Campus Martius.— Capreae. Some MSS. read Caprae; one Capream, which is adopted by Heinsius, Burmann and Gierig. The Greeks called it [Greek: aigos hae zorkos helos].
492. Jura dabas. According to most accounts he was reviewing the army. The poet may, however, have used these words only in a general sense, to denote any exercise of his authority. The assembly of the Roman people on the Campus Martius was always regarded as an exercitus. See Niebuhr on the Centuries. Rom. Hist. Vol. I.
493. Sol. fugit, in consequence of the darkness. It is not necessary, with Dionysius and others, to suppose an eclipse.
496. See Hor. Car. III. 3, 15. This circumstance was evidently in the Annals of Ennius, from which both poets derived it.—Fit fuga, hence this day was also called the Populifugiun.
498. Fides, belief or opinion.
500. Luna fulgebat, consequently there could not have been an eclipse of the sun. Livy says, that Romulus appeared prima luce, at the dawn of day. Several MSS. read surgebat. I prefer the common reading, as the poet, by saying that Proculus carried no torch, evidently means to express bright moon-light.
501. Sinistrae, the lucky side, according to Etrurian augury.—Nubes crepuere. Several MSS. read Sepes tremuere, or sonuere.
503. The usual signs of divinity.—Trabea. See above, I. 37. Plutarch says, that Romulus appeared [Greek: huplois lamprois kai phlegousi kekosmaemenos]. As the poet here uses the word trabea, I would take jura dabas above, v. 492, in its simple sense.
510. Populos, the Romans and Sabines, or probably as above, I. 38, for cives. Many MSS. read patres.
511. Collis, the Quirinal. Festus, with much greater probability, supposes it to have derived its name from the Sabines from Cures having settled on it. Niebuhr thinks there was a town on it named Quirium, whence came the name Quirites, at first peculiar to the Sabine portion of the Roman people.
512. The Quirinalia were stativa. See note on I. 657.
513. Another name for the Quirinalia was the Stultorurn Feriae, because those who from ignorance, or from having been on a journey, or from want of time, or any other just cause, had not sacrificed with the rest of the people on the Fornicalia, which was an indictive festival, (see preceding note) did so on the Quirinalia. The poet takes this occasion of relating the supposed origin of the Fornicalia.
519. Jaciebant, cast, i. e. sowed.