Tum freta diffundi, rapidisque tumescere ventis 5 1 10 15 20 25 1 Diversa locis, for diversis locis, in various places. Diversa is here made to agree with qua, the nominative to the verb, instead of being in the same case as locis, a form of expression not unusual with Ovid. See 1, 6, 11. 2 Sorbentur ab (terrâ) ipsâ, are swallowed up by the earth itself. See Arethusa in Index. 3 Utque duæ Zona secant cœlum dextrâ parte, and as two zones divide the heaven on the right. See Zona. 4 Distinxit inclusum onus, divided the enclosed mass, i. e. the earth, which was supposed to be included within the sphere of the heavens. 5 Totidemque plaga premuntur (in) tellure, and as many zones are marked on the earth, i. e. are imprinted on the earth by the corresponding zones of the celestial sphere. 6 Quarum (zonarum, zona) quæ est media, of which zones that which is in the centre. 7 Temperiem, due temperature; mixtâ flammâ, by mixing heat. 8 Qui est tanto onerosior igni, quanto pondus aquæ est levius pondere terræ, which is as much heavier than fire (i. e. ether) as the weight of water is lighter than the weight of earth. 9 Illic, there, i. e. in the atmosphere. 10 Motura, calculated to alarm. 1.11 Ventos cum fulminibus, for fulmina et ventos, a form of expression frequently employed by Ovid. 12 Habendum passim, to be possessed by them without control. Aëra permisit: vix nunc obsistitur1 illis, Quum sua quisque regant2 diverso flamina tractu, z m{ 35 Proxima sunt Zephyro; Scythiam Septemque trionem* 9 10 Sanctius his animal mentisque capacius altæ1o 40 45 50 1 Vix obsistitur illis-quin lanient mundum, resistance is with difficulty made to them; they can scarcely be prevented from tearing the world to pieces. 2 Regant refers to the winds collectively, and is therefore put in the plural; while quisque refers to each singly, and requires regat to be supplied in the singular. 3 Fratrum, See Ventus. A. R. A. 473. 4 Septemque trionem, for Septemtrionemque, and the north. 5 Contraria tellus, the opposite part of the earth, the southern. 6 Nec habentem quicquam terrenæ fæcis, and containing no portion of earthy matter. Ea, these, i. e. the four elements. 7 Effervescere toto cœlo, to burst forth over the whole sky. 8 Suis animantibus, animals peculiar to itself. 9 Cœleste solum, the firmament of heaven; formæ Deorum, for Dii. 10 Capacius altæ mentis, more capable of lofty thought. 11 Origo melioris mundi, the creator of a better world. 12 Retinebat semina cognati cæli, still retained the properties of heaven, to which it was related. It was a dogma of the Pythagoreans that the soul of man was a portion of that all-pervading deity who animated the universe. Quam satus Iäpeto, mixtam fluvialibus undis, FAB. III.-The Four Ages.' AUREA prima sata est ætas, quæ, vindice3 nullo, 55 5 10 15 1 Prona spectent terram, stooping downwards look upon the earth. 2 Conversa induit figuras hominum ignotas, being changed assumed the figures of men, till then unknown. 3 Nullo vindice, without any avenger of wrong. The ablative absolute. 4 Colebat fidem rectumque, practised honesty and integrity. 5 Fixo ære, on plates of brass fixed up. See Adam's Roman Antiquities, p. 79. 6 Nondum descenderat in liquidas undas, had not yet descended into the liquid waves, had not yet been launched. Pinus is here used for a ship, because ships were frequently made of pine. A. R. A. 347. 7 Non tuba directi (æris), no trumpet of straight brass. A. R. A. 314. 8 Ipsa per se dabat omnia, produced spontaneously all kinds of fruit. 9 Arbuteos fetus, the fruit of the arbute, or strawberry tree. The evergreen strawberry tree grows wild in Italy, and produces a fruit very much resembling our strawberry, but larger. Fraga, wild strawberries, which are often found on wooded hills. Corna, cornels, the fruit of the cornel tree, a species of cherry of a beautiful red colour. Mora, blackberries, the fruit of the bramble. Cornaque et in duris hærentia mora rubetis, FAB. IV.-The Four Seasons. POSTQUAM, Saturno tenebrosa in Tartara misso,3 20 5 Et breve ver, spatiis exegit quatuor annum. Canduit, et ventis glacies adstricta pependit. Tum primùm subiêre domos; domus antra fuerunt, 10 15 1 Patulâ arbore Jovis, from the spreading tree of Jupiter, i. e. the oak. This clause seems to limit glans, in the present passage, to the fruit of the oak, which, in southern countries, is large, and is used as food both in a raw state and roasted. The oak was sacred to Jupiter, the laurel to Apollo, the ash to Mars, the olive to Minerva, the myrtle to Venus, the poplar to Hercules, the vine to Bacchus, and the cypress to Pluto. 2 Et ager non renovatus, and the land without being plowed. 3 Saturno misso in tenebrosa Tartara, on Saturn being sent down to gloomy Tartarus; being expelled from his kingdom. See Saturnus. 4 Argentea proles subiit, the silver age succeeded; auro, the golden age; ære, the brazen age. 5 Exegit annum quatuor spatiis, completed the year with four seasons, or divided the year into four seasons. A. R. A., 265. See Annus. 6 Virgæ vinctæ cortice, twigs fastened together with bark. 7 Tertia post illas (alates), the third in order after these, i. e. after the golden and silver ages. 8 Ultima (atas, or proles)." Protinus irrumpit venæ1 pejoris in ævum 20 25 Jamque nocens ferrum, ferroque nocentius aurum 14 35 1 Irrumpit in ævum pejoris venæ, bursts in upon an age of baser metal. Vena, which properly signifies the vein of metal in the mine, is here applied to the age which is characterized by that metal. 2 In locum quorum subiêre, in room of which succeeded. 3 Sceleratus amor habendi, the wicked desire of amassing wealth, i. e. covetousness. 4 Dabat vela ventis, spread his sails to the wind. A. R. A. 344. 5 Carinæ insultavere, keels (i. e. ships) bounded over. Carinæ properly signifies trees made into keels. A. R. A. 342. 6 Signavit humum longo limite, divided the ground by a long boundary. 7 Poscebatur, was called upon for; debita, due by it. 8 Sed itum est (ab hominibus), but men even penetrated. 9 Admoverat Stygiis umbris, had placed near the Stygian shades, in allusion to the depth of the mines. 10 Prodierant, had come forth, had showed themselves; prodit, arises; utroque, with both, i. e. with bribes of gold and swords of iron. 11 Vivitur (ab hominibus) ex rapto, men live by plunder. 12 Gratia fratrumn, the agreement of brothers; brotherly affection. 13 Imminet exitio, watches for the death-illa (imminet exitio). 14 Ante diem inquirit in patrios annos, before the appointed time, pre· maturely inquires into the years of his father; consults the astrologers to know how many years he is likely to live. A. R. A. 244. |