XXIX. THE DEIFICATION OF ROMULUS. [BOOK XIV.-772-828.] [ÆNEAS had passed, on the coast of Italy, the isle of the Cercopes, turned by Jupiter into apes (XIV. 75-100), and coming to Cumæ, finds the Sibyl Amalthea, daughter of Scylla, who relates that, being loved by Apollo, he had granted her wish to live so many years as the grains of sand in her hand (101–153). Arriving at Cajetas, he meets Macareus, an old companion of Ulysses, who relates the adventure of the Cyclops and the enchantments of Circe, at whose palace they had remained a full year (154-312). During this time, Circe tells of Picus, son of Saturn, whom, for rejecting her love, she had converted to a woodpecker, and his companions to various beasts, while his wife Canens wasted into air (313-440). In the wars which followed Æneas' arrival in Latium, Diomed refuses aid to Turnus, but his companions, desiring to grant it, are changed to white hinds (441-511). Various transformations follow: of the shepherd Apulus to a wild olive; of Æneas' ships to water-nymphs; of the ashes of the city Ardea to a heron; and at length of Æneas himself to one of the gods Indigetes; of Tiberinus to a river; of Vertumnus to sundry shapes, with the tales by which he at length won the the love of Pomona (512-771).] The story of the foundation of Rome. After the first struggles of the Romans, Romulus reigns until he is transported to heaven where he becomes the god Quirinus (772–828). [His wife Hersilia becomes the goddess Ora (829-851).] PROXIMUS Ausonias injusti miles Amuli rexit opes: Numitorque senex amissa nepotum munere regna capit: festisque Parilibus urbis moenia conduntur. Tatiusque patresque Sabini bella gerunt, arcisque via Tarpeia reclusa dignam animam poena congestis exuit armis. inde sati Curibus tacitorum more luporum 775 ore premunt voces et corpora victa sopore ora patentis erant, neque iter praecluserat unda. 780 785 790 795 800 805 810 tu mihi concilio quondam praesente deorum nam memoro memorique animo pia verba notavi"unus erit, quem tu tolles in caerula caeli " dixisti. Rata sit verborum summa tuorum.' annuit omnipotens, et nubibus aëra caecis occuluit, tonitruque et fulgure terruit orbem. quae sibi promissae sensit rata signa rapinae, innixusque hastae pressos temone cruento impavidos conscendit equos Gradivus, et ictu verberis increpuit, pronusque per aëra lapsus constitit in summo nemorosi colle Palati : reddentemque suo jam regia jura Quiriti abstulit Iliaden. Corpus mortale per auras dilapsum tenues, ut lata plumbea funda missa solet medio glans intabescere caelo. pulchra subit facies et pulvinaribus altis dignior, est qualis trabeati forma Quirini. 815 820 825 XXX. THE WORSHIP OF ESCULAPIUS. [BOOK XV.-622-744.] [GUIDED by an ancient sage, Numa seeks wisdom among the Greeks of Southern Italy; whereby violating the Sabine law, he is accused, but acquitted, the black lots being changed by miracle to white in the urn (XV. 1-59). At Croton Pythagoras, exiled from Samos, instructs him in the doctrine of metempsychosis, and the law which forbids all shedding of blood. This was unknown in the golden age, but began with the slaughter of animals for food (75-142). Pythagoras — recalling his own former existence as Euphorbas (slain by Menelaus before Troy) — teaches that all life incessantly passes from one to another form; all things are in flux and change- the heavenly bodies, the seasons types of human life, the elements with their transmutations, the vast changes on the face of the earth (237-277). These changes detailed: waters that disappear, or overflow regions once dry; islands formed from mainland, and plains uplifted into hills; springs alternately hot and cold, or strangely affecting those who drink of them; Delos and the Symplegades; Ætna, which did not always flame. Earth herself lives and breathes, and suffers all these changes; life springs from decay, and shows strange metamorphoses, as of worms to butterflies, tadpoles to frogs, and shapeless cubs to bears; fable of the Phoenix, hyæna, and chameleon, and the growth of coral; States change and pass away, Sparta, Mycenæ, Thebes, while new Rome is rising from ancient Troy (278-453). The lesson of mercy is reinforced; and, fortified with this doctrine, Numa rules peacefully the state of Rome until his death (454-457). Egeria, grieving at his loss, listens to the tale of Hippolytus, son of Theseus (banished by the false accusations of Phædra, and dashed to pieces on the shores of Corinth), but changed to the Italian Virbius, and is changed by Diana to a fountain (488-551). Tale of the Etruscan Tages, who sprang from a clod; and of Cipus, on whose brow grew horns, and who refused the sovereignty of his city portended thereby (532-621).] The people of Rome, being in terror of a pestilence, seek counsel of Apollo, who bids them invite his son (Æsculapius) to their city. Proceeding to Epidaurus, the messengers summon his help (622-652); he, giving them favorable answer in a dream, takes the shape of a serpent, and goes aboard their ship (653–693); and arriving at Rome, makes his dwelling in an island of the Tiber (694-744). — B. C. 293. PANDITE nunc, Musae, praesentia numina vatum, (scitis enim, nec vos fallit spatiosa vetustas) unde Coroniden circumflua Thybridis alti insula Romuleae sacris asciverit urbis. Dira lues quondam Latias vitiaverat auras, pallidaque exsangui squalebant corpora tabo. funeribus fessi postquam mortalia cernunt temptamenta nihil, nihil artes posse medentum, auxilium caeleste petunt; mediamque tenentes orbis humum Delphos adeunt, oracula Phoebi, utque salutifera miseris succurrere rebus sorte velit, tantaeque urbis mala finiat, orant. et locus et laurus et, quas habet ipse, pharetrae intremuere simul; cortinaque reddidit imo hanc adyto vocem, pavefactaque pectora movit : Quod petis hinc, propiore loco, Romane, petisses: et pete nunc propiore loco; nec Apolline vobis, qui minuat luctus, opus est, sed Apolline nato: ite bonis avibus, prolemque accersite nostram.' Jussa dei prudens postquam accepere Senatus, quam colat, explorant, juvenis Phoebeïus urbem, quique petant ventis Epidauria litora, mittunt. quae postquam curva missi tetigere carina, concilium Graiosque patres adiere, darentque, oravere, deum, qui praesens funera gentis finiat Ausoniae : certas ita dicere sortes. Dissidet et variat sententia; parsque negandum 625 630 635 640 645 |