was deemed sacrilege to cut down trees in a wood consecrated to a deity. Now this wood being sacred to Mars, had had no trees cut down in it.

30. "Efficiens humilem arcum compagibus lapidum," forming a low arch by the junction of rocks.

31.Fœcundus uberibus aquis," abounding with plentiful waters.

32. " crest.

Præsignis cristis et auro," adorned with a golden

33.Omne corpus tumet veneno," the whole of its body is puffed out with venom. This is a mistaken idea; as the

poison is contained only in the upper jaw.

35. "Quem lucum postquam (viri) profecti de Syria gente tetigere infausto gradu," after the men who had come from the Tyrian nation, (Cadmus and his companions) had entered this grove with ill-fated step.

39. "Urnæ effluxere manibus," the urns slipped from their hands.

41. Ille torquet squamosos orbes volubilibus nexibus," he wreathes his scaly rings in rolling plaits.

44. "Est tanto corpore quanto si spectes totum-ille serpeus est qui separat geminas arctos," and is of as great a size-if you view him as a whole-as that serpent which separates the two bears. The constellation "serpens" was between Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, near the north pole. 48. "Occupat" falls upon, attacks.

49. "Necat hos funestâ tabe veneni afflati," he kills others (a third party) with the deadly liquid of his poison breathed upon them.

52. "Vestigatque viros," and goes in search of his followers.

54. "Animusque præstantior omni telo," and courage superior to any weapon.

59. "Aut comes,' or a sharer in your fate.

60. "Sustulit molarem," he raised a huge stone. "Molaris" is a stone as large as a millstone-not the millstone itself; for the land was as yet uninhabited. great as it was.

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Magnum,'

63. "Defensus squamis modo 'orica," protected by its scales as by (after the manner) of a coat of mail.

64. Repulit validos ictus," resisted the fearful stroke.

66. "Quod constitit fixum medio curvamine lentæ spinæ," which stuck, fixed in the middle joint of his yielding spine. 70. " Ubi, multâ vi labefecit in omnem partem," when with his full strength, he had loosened it by twisting it in every direction.

73. "Recens plaga," this newly inflicted wound. 75. "

Terraque rasa squamis sonat," and the earth, scraped with his scales, sounds.

76. Stygio ore," from his infernal mouth; i.e. from his mouth throwing out pestilential vapours as the marshes of Styx.

77. Ipse, modo, cingitur spiris facientibus immensum orbem," at one time he is rolled up in coils, making immense rings.

78. "Exstat, rectior longa trabe," he unfolds himself straighter than a long beam.

80. Proturbat obstantes silvas," bears down the opposing woods.

81. "Spolioque leonis sustinet incursus," and with the lion's skin sustains the shock.

82. "Retardat instantia ora," he thrusts back his mouth as it advances.

86. "Tinxerat virides herbas aspergine," had dyed the green grass with dripping venom.

89. ** Arcebatque plagam sedere cedendo," and prevented the blow from sinking deep, by giving way.

91. "Dum quercus obstitit (ei) eunti retro," till an oak stopped him as he retreated.

94. "Sua robora flagellari parte imæ caudæ," that its trunk was lashed by the extremity of its tail.

98. "Et tu spectabere serpens," you too shall be seen in form of a dragon. As the monster was sacred to Mars, that god utters the threat. He would have killed Cadmus had not Jupiter interposed.

102. "Supponere motæ terræ," to place beneath the ground turned up; i.e. to turn up and place under the ground.

103. Incrementa futuri populi," the seeds of a people about to spring up, or, "which would grow into men." Hence the Thebans were called Anguigenae, serpent sprung.

105. "Mortalia semina," seed from which men should spring.

107. "Acies hastae," the point of a spear.

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108. "Tegnima capitum nutantia picto cono," the coverings of heads nodding with painted crest. Crista" was properly the crest and "conus" the knob that contained the plume.

110. "Clypeata seges virorum," a crop of men armed with shields. Scutum, a large quadrilateral shield four feet long and two and a half broad, covered with hide, and bound with iron. Clypeus was round and made of brass. Parma, a small round shield used by the light infantry and cavalry.

111. "Aulæa tolluntur festis theatris," the curtains are raised in the joyful theatres. It was the custom among the Romans to drop the curtain at the commencement of the play and raise it at the conclusion; hence "aulæa premere," (to drop the curtain) meant that the play had begun. Aulæa tollere, (to raise, &c.) that it was finished. As the curtain was painted with figures, when it was unrolled from beneath the stage, upwards, the appropriateness of the simile will be evident.

113. " Totaque educta placido, tenore patent," and the whole drawn out in gradual continuation appear. 117. "Nec insere te," nor involve yourself.

123. "

Subitique fratres cadunt per mutua vulnera suo marte," and the brothers suddenly created, fall by mutual wounds in a strife originated by themselves.

124. "Juventus sortita spatium brevis vitae," the youths who had obtained the span of a brief existence.

126. "Echion," the serpent sprung, (from xs, a serpent) was the father of Pentheus.

127. "Tritonis or Tritonia," was a title of Minerva either from her having sprung from the head of Jupiter, (g) being the Cretan word for a "head," or because she was first seen by mankind at the lake Tritonis near the lesser Syrtis in Northern Africa.

128. "Fidem fraternæ pacis," a pledge of concord with his brothers.

129. "Sidonius hospes," the Sidonian stranger. Cadmus was from Phoenicia, one of the oldest cities of which was

Sidon or Zidon, (perhaps from a Heb. word tsid, sig. fishing or abundant prey).

130. "Phoebeis sortibus" by the oracular response delivered by Phoebus at Delphi.

BOOK IV.

FABLE II.

PYRAMUS AND THISBE.

PYRAMUS, a Babylonian youth, falls in love with Thisbe, their houses being contiguous. Eluding the vigilance of their guardians, they meet by night to exchange vows of mutual attachment at the tomb of Ninus. Thisbe having first arrived is alarmed by the sight of a lioness which, in pursuit, tore with blood-stained jaws her veil, which had fallen from her as she fled. Pyramus coming afterwards to the spot and finding the bloody veil, imagined that Thisbe had been torn to pieces: whereupon he stabbed himself. Thisbe wondering at his delay, goes in search of her lover; and, determined not to survive him, falls upon the same sword by which Pyramus is dying.

2. "Altera prælata puellis quas," &c., the other (Thisbe) preferred before all the damsels which, &c.

4. Semiramis, the daughter of the goddess Dercetis by an Assyrian youth. Her first husband was Menon governor of Nineveh, who was commanded by Ninus, the Babylonian monarch, to beseige Bactra. By her prudent suggestions, as she accompanied her husband to the field-the city was taken. The monarch, hearing of her beauty and judgment, sent an order to Menon to bring his wife to the court as he had conceived a strong attachment to her. The governor slew himself that he might not outlive a separation from Semiramis whom he loved so fondly. She on her part willingly obeyed the royal summons, and thus became queen of Babylon. It is said that she prevailed upon Ninus to invest her with supreme power for three days, during which period she caused him to be secretly put to death.

5. "Vicinia fecit notitiam primosque gradus," the nearness (close neighbourhood), caused acquaintance and their first advances in love.

6. "Coïssent quoque jure tædæ," they would have been united too by the rite of marriage.

8. "Mentibus ex aequo captis," with minds equally captivated. Observe that the whole of this line is the antecedent to "quod " in the former.

9. "Omnis conscius abest," there is none aware of their attachment; or, every confidant is dispensed with.

11. "Fissus erat tenui rimâ quam olim duxerat," was cleft by a small chink which it had got formerly.

14. "(Vos) amantes primi sensistis id vitium," &c., yon lovers were the first to discover (perceive) that defect (blemish).

18. "Anhelitusque oris captatus fuerat invicem," and the breath of the other's mouth had been inhaled by each in turn. 20. "Quantum erat," what great matter would it be. 21. "Vel pateres," that you would at least open. 24. "Diversâ sede," on opposite sides of the wall. 25. "Dedereque oscula, quisque (dedit) suae parti non pervenientia contra," and each gave to their own side of the wall kisses which did not reach the other side.

32. (Ut) relinquant claustra urbis," to leave the gates of the city.

33. "Neve (et ut non) errandum sit (ipsis) spatiantibus lato arvo," and that they may not miss each other while wandering in the open fields.

34. "Ad busta Nini," at the tomb of Ninus. Bustum (bene ustum) was the place where the dead body was burned and buried. Ninus was the son of Belus (Nimrod?). He built Nineveh. It is conjectured that he is the same who enlarged and beautified Babylon. Probably Semiramis carried out his improvements.

38. "Nox surgit ab isdem aquis," night rises from the same waters. Nox in her chariot rose from the east when Phoebus sank in the west.

40. " Fallitque suos," and eludes her keepers.

43. "Leana oblita (secundum) spumantes rictus recenti cæde boum," a lioness, having her foaming jaws besmeared with the recent slaughter of oxen.