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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

JUPITER, from a bust in the Vatican Museum at Rome

Frontispiece

CUPID AND BOw, from a painting by Franceschini (1648–1729) in the
Uffizi Gallery at Florence

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MELPOMENE, MUSE OF TRAGEDY, from a statue in the Vatican Museum at Rome.

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TRAGIC AND COMIC MASKS, from a mosaic in the Capitoline Museum at Rome.

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A VESTAL VIRGIN, from a statue of a Vestalis Maxima found in the
House of the Vestals at Rome

62

THE CREATION OF MAN, from a sarcophagus in the National Museum at Naples

MERCURY, from a bronze statue in the National Museum at Naples

JUNO, from a statue in the National Museum at Naples .
MINERVA, from a statue in the National Museum at Naples
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CHILDREN OF NIOBE, from a sarcophagus

in the Vatican Museum at Rome

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THE GODDESS BONA COPIA, from a statue in the Vatican Museum at
Rome

A PROCESSION OF BACCHANALS, from a sarcophagus in the National
Museum at Naples .

A BATTLE WITH THE AMAZONS, from a sarcophagus in the Vatican
Museum at Rome

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AESCULAPIUS, from a statue in the Vatican Museum at Rome
THE CALYDONIAN HUNT, from a sarcophagus in the Capitoline Museum

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THE LIFE OF OVID

[Probably no Roman writer has revealed himself more frankly in his works than has Publius Ovidius Naso. Indeed, the greater part of our knowledge of him is gained from his writings. References to his parentage, his early education, his friends, his work, his manner of life, his reverses, - all lie scattered freely through his pages. And, not content with this, he has taken care to leave to posterity a somewhat extended and formal account of his life, an example which we cannot but wish that all our favorite Roman authors had followed. This account, which he wrote during his period of exile (Tristia, IV. 10), is here given, that thus our poet may tell to his readers his own story, - a story which is made all the more enjoyable since we find ourselves personally addressed in the opening lines:]

Ille ego qui fuerim, tenerorum lusor amorum,

Quem legis, ut noris, accipe posteritas.

[We next are told the place and time of the poet's birth, his social rank, and something of his family.]

ΙΟ

Sulmo mihi patria est, gelidis uberrimus undis,
Milia qui novies distat ab Urbe decem.

5 Editus hic ego sum; nec non ut tempora noris,
Cum cecidit fato, consul uterque pari.

Siquid id est, usque a proavis vetus ordinis heres,
Non modo fortunae munere factus eques.

Nec stirps prima fui; genito sum fratre creatus,
Qui tribus ante quater mensibus ortus erat.
Lucifer amborum natalibus adfuit idem;

Una celebrata est per duo liba dies:

Haec est armiferae festis de quinque Minervae,
Quae fieri pugna prima cruenta solet.

[His early bent was towards poetry; but this was opposed by his practical father, who desired that both his sons should prepare for the profession of the law.]

15 Protinus excolimur teneri, curaque parentis
Imus ad insignes Urbis ab arte viros.
Frater ad eloquium viridi tendebat ab aevo,
Fortia verbosi natus ad arma fori;

20

At mihi iam puero caelestia sacra placebant,
Inque suum furtim Musa trahebat opus.

Saepe pater dixit 'Studium quid inutile temptas?
Maeonides nullas ipse reliquit opes.'

Motus eram dictis, totoque Helicone relicto
Scribere temptabam verba soluta modis.

25 Sponte sua carmen numeros veniebat ad aptos,
Et quod temptabam scribere, versus erat.

[The two brothers came to the age of manhood, and shortly thereafter the elder died. Our poet now assumed the garb and duties of a Roman citizen.]

30

Interea tacito passu labentibus annis

Liberior fratri sumpta mihique toga est,
Induiturque umeris cum lato purpura clavo,
Et studium nobis quod fuit ante, manet.
Iamque decem vitae frater geminaverat annos,
Cum perit, et coepi parte carere mei.
Cepimus et tenerae primos aetatis honores,

Eque viris quondam pars tribus una fui.

[But, to a man of Ovid's tastes and temperament, the life of a statesman was utterly distasteful; and, now that he was his own master, he gave loose rein to his poetic fancy.]

35 Curia restabat. Clavi mensura coacta est:

Maius erat nostris viribus illud onus.

40

Nec patiens corpus, nec mens fuit apta labori,
Sollicitaeque fugax ambitionis eram,

Et petere Aoniae suadebant tuta sorores

Otia, iudicio semper amata meo.

[He soon gained admission to the choice circle of the poets of his day, paying unlimited devotion to the masters of his art, and quickly becoming himself the object of no small admiration on the part of younger poets.]

Temporis illius colui fovique poëtas,

Quotque aderant vates, rebar adesse deos. Saepe suas volucres legit mihi grandior aevo, Quaeque nocet serpens, quae iuvat herba, Macer. 45 Saepe suos solitus recitare Propertius ignes, Iure sodalicio qui mihi iunctus erat. Ponticus heroö, Bassus quoque clarus iambis Dulcia convictus membra fuere mei; Et tenuit nostras numerosus Horatius aures, 50 Dum ferit Ausonia carmina culta lyra. Vergilium vidi tantum; nec amara Tibullo Tempus amicitiae fata dedere meae. Successor fuit hic tibi, Galle; Propertius illi; Quartus ab his serie temporis ipse fui. 55 Utque ego maiores, sic me coluere minores, Notaque non tarde facta Thalia mea est.

[His youthful poems soon gained fame among the people also, and his love songs became the popular lyrics of the street.]

Carmina cum primum populo iuvenilia legi,
Barba resecta mihi bisve semelve fuit.
Moverat ingenium totam cantata per Urbem
60 Nomine non vero dicta Corinna mihi.
Multa quidem scripsi; sed quae vitiosa putavi,
Emendaturis ignibus ipse dedi.

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