130. sectus limes, the Ecliptic, "bounded by the limit of three 135. preme, bear down.-molire, ply: this verb implies the 136. egressus, i. e. if you quit the way (§ 60, 1, a; G. 594). 139. pressam, lying low: the Altar lies south of the Sun's 141. quæ juvet opto, who I wish may aid you (see note, v. 58). 143. nox, i. e. the Night advances towards the west like the 144. poscimur, we are wanted: it is getting late. 146. nostris, agrees with consiliis, as well as curribus. 149. quæ, referring to lumina. dare, depending on sine (from 151. contingere: poetic, as depending upon gaudet. — super, 152. grates agit, renders thanks. 153. Pyrois, etc.: the names of the steeds signify fiery, of the 155. repagula, barriers (of a race-course). 156. nepotis, see note, v. 69. 157. copia =access to. quæ, i. e. repugula. 161. quod possent, such as, &c. (subj. of characteristic). 165. onere, following vacuus (§ 54, 1; G. 389). 166. inani, an empty one. 168. ordine, direction. 170. si sciat (§ 59, 4, b; G. 598); the present subj. of future 171. triones, the North (see note, i. 64). 172. vetito æquore: the Northern Bear in these latitudes 173. Serpens, the constellation called Draco (the Dragon), near the north pole, at the feet of Hercules. 176. Boote: Boötes is represented as a wagoner: the constellation includes the bright star Arcturus. 179. penitus penitusque, far, far below. 181. tenebræ, i. e. from dizziness. 182. mallet, i. e. if it were possible; hence the imperfect. 183. valuisse, to have prevailed. 184. Meropis: Merops was the husband of Clymene. — ut, as. 185. pinus, ship. —remisit frena, cast loose the rein, i. e. let go the helm. 196. flexis utrumque, bending both ways (agreeing with both cauda and lacertis). 197. signorum duorum: the Scorpion is represented as at first occupying the space of two "signs" of the Zodiac, until Libra was inserted where the claws had been.. 198. madidum: moist, as the venom oozes out on account of the heat. — ut, when. 199. curvata cuspide, the curved sting (“spear-head”) of the scorpion's tail. 202. exspatiantur, wander from the track (ex-spatium). 204. hac, correl. to quã, sc. viā. 206. summa, the height. 207. terræ, dative. 208. inferius suis (abl.), lower than her own.— Luna, sister of the sun: poetically, Diana, sister of Apollo. 210. ut quæque altissima, each in the order of its height, as he comes nearer and nearer. 213. materiam, fuel. 214. parva, small calamities. 217-225. Athos, etc. This catalogue of mountains, ranging the whole field of mythical geography, may be verified in any good dictionary or Atlas. 230. ore trahit, breathes in. 235. summa, the surface. 238. passis (pando), dishevelled, as in mourning. 239. deflevere, wept as lost. 240. Ephyre, the old name of Corinth. 241. sortita, having obtained by lot, here simply possessing; it governs ripas.—loco distantes, remote in space. 243. senex: the river gods are represented as old men (see note on mountains). 245. arsurus iterum, i. e. when set on fire by Vulcan, to stay the attack of Achilles (see Iliad, Book xxi. 342–389). 253. volucres: the melodious swans of the Cayster in Lydia (Mæonia) are famous in ancient poetry. 255. quod adhuc latet: the problem of the source of the Nile was not solved until our own day. 260. Tartara, Tartarus, the ancient Hell. The king and queen are Pluto and Proserpine. dissilit, yawns apart. 263. quos relates to montes. 264. Cycladǎs, a Greek ending, as Delphinĕs, v. 266. — augent, i. e. by rising above the water and so becoming islands. The Cyclades are the islands grouped about Delos in the Ægean Sea. 267. resupina, floating on the back. 273. fontes (in appos. with aquas), mere watersprings. 274. matris, mother earth. 277. infra quam solet, lower than her wont, i. e. crouching in distress. 279. quid, why? 280. perituræ, sc. mihi, i. e. if I must perish. 281. auctore levare: it would be a relief to perish by the thunderbolt of Jupiter. 283. tostos, scorched. — crines: .i. e. the withered foliage of the forest. 285. fructus, etc., objective genitive. 288. alimenta, in apposition to fruges. 289. vobis, i. e. to the gods. 290. fac, grant, suppose. 291. frater tuus, i. e. Neptune. 293. fratris, obj. gen. limiting gratia. —mea gratia, regard for me. 300. rerum summæ, for the universe itself. The regular expression for the fate of the state or the army, or whatever highest interest is staked on an engagement. 301. neque enim, [she spoke no more] for, &c. 303. Manibus, the shades, spirits of the dead: the infernal regions. 304. ipsum, Apollo. 311. ab aure, the picture is of one throwing a javelin. 312. anima ... expulit, i. e. deprived (privavit would here be the right word) of breath and cast from the chariot. 313. expulit, sc. eum. 323. diverso orbe, a remote region of earth, i. e. towards the west. 324. Eridanus, a mythical river, the source of amber. It was often identified with the Po, sometimes with the Rhone (v. 372). 325. Hesperiæ, see v. 142 and note. — trifidā, thrice-cleft, an epithet of the "jagged lightning," supposed to be most fatal. 327. currūs limits aurīga, which is in appos. with Phaethon ; quem relates to currus. 329. nam, i. e. it would be the father's place naturally, but he had withdrawn. — pater, the Sun. 331. isse ferunt, they say that one day passed. 333. quæcumque dicenda, the conventional words of mourning. 335. laniata sinus, tearing her breast. 336. mox, when the limbs had decayed from lapse of time. 337. tamen, i. e. though she sought long, yet she did at last find them. 340. Heliades, daughters of the Sun, sisters of Phaethon. 343. adsternuntur, prostrate themselves. 344. junctis cornibus, filling out her horns. 346. Phaethusa, bright; Lampetie (below), flaming. 347. maxima, eldest. 349. subita, i. e. suddenly growing. 352. fieri, are turning into. 356. quid faciat, § 57, 6; G. 258. — impetus, excitement. 364. sole, abl. of cause, with rigescunt. 365. electra, amber; in truth a fossil exudation from trees. 366. gestanda: amber was a favorite material for ornaments among the Roman ladies, who carried balls of it in their hands for coolness. nuribus Latinis, daughters-in-law of Roman nobles a term used for young matrons. 367. monstro, prodigy. - Sthenelēia proles, son of Sthenelus. -Cycnus: compare the story in XII. 65-145. 369. propior, still nearer. 370. Ligurum, of the coast region near Genoa, Piedmont. 371. querellis, laments. 372. sororibus, sisters (of Phaëthon), now added to the forest. 373. viro, dat. of reference. infrequent form of the correlative. ; canæque ... collumque, an 375. junctura, a joining-membrane. 377. cæloque Jovique to the sky of Jove. 378. ut memor, as remembering (the motive for not trusting the sky). — ignis, thunderbolt. 380. quæ, the antecedent is flumina. 381. expers (ex-pars), devoid. squalidus, in mourning. 382. cum deficit orbem, when he unmakes his disc, i. c. in an eclipse. 385. ævi limits principiis. 387. actorum mihi, things done by me. 388. quilibet, whoever will. 390. ipse, Jupiter. 391. ponat, lay aside. 392. expertus, when he has tried. 393. meruisse, sc. eum, antecedent of qui. 397. excusat, alleges the cause. 400. objectat, throws at them as a reproach; imputat, bears resentment against them as offenders. - natum = - an his son's death. This interesting myth requires no explanation beyond the simplest and most obvious analogies of natural phenomena, intensely hot summer, trees bearing a vague resemblance to slender maidens (Lombardy poplars), drops of amber shaped like tears, all combined with the familiar lesson of " vaulting ambition that o'erleaps itself." It is probably the best told and most popular of all the stories in the Metamorphoses. III. THE RAPE OF EUROPA. 833. has, referring to the punishment of Aglauros (see heading). 834. cepit had inflicted: the pœna is, in its original sense, a fine or forfeit. Atlantiades: the mother of Mercury was Maia, daughter of Atlas. - dictas a Pallade: Pallas, "the brandisher," is an epithet of Athena (Minerva), tutelary divinity of Athens. 835. pennis: Mercury is represented with a winged cap (petasus), and winged sandals (talaria). 836. genitor: Jupiter. causam amoris = love as his motive. 838. solito cursu, i. e. the air, his accustomed path. 839. tuam matrem suspicit, looks up to thy mother. Maia is one of the stars in the group of Pleiades. --- a parte sinistra: on the left, &c., i. e. towards the East. Jupiter is looking from Mt. Olympus. 840. Sidonida, i. e. Phoenicia, "the land of Sidon." 843. jamdudum: expresses the promptness of Mercury's obedience. So, among some very courteous populations, if you ask for any favor, the answer will be, “It is done already.” |