II. 1-73.] 11. The Adventure of Phaethon. 201 35. publica, common to all. 36. usum, enjoyment. 39. credar; negari (v. 42), see § 330. d; G. 528, R. 42. nec, on the one hand not. 43. dignus es, used in Latin both of good and bad things; here, deserve. – ortus, the plural is constantly used in poetry for the singular. 44. quo. dubites, § 317. a; G. 545, 2. ... 45. promissi, of my promise (lit. of the thing promised). 46. palus, the Styx, by which the gods swore their most awful oaths. Being beneath the earth, it could never be beheld by the sun. It is called palus from its sluggish flow. 47. desierat (desino), had ceased. — rogat, sc. eum. 48. in diem, for a day. — alipedum agrees with equorum (obj. gen.). 49. jurasse, subject of pœnituit (§ 270. b; G. 535). 50. illustre, alluding to his brightness. 51. tua, sc. voce. 53. tuta, predicate. 54. istis, those (of yours). 55. quæ nec conveniant, such as befit not (§ 320; G. 633). 56. mortale suited to a mortal. = 57. superis, those on high, i. e. the heavenly gods. — fas, what is permitted by divine law. 58. placeat, sc. ut (§ 331. c, R; G. 608): i. e. though each of the gods may have his will, &c. 59. consistere, to keep his foothold. 60. axe, i. e. chariot: the part for the whole, by the figure called synecdoche. 62. non agat, may not drive (potential subjunctive: § 311. 69. Tethys wife of Oceanus, and mother of Clymene. : 70. assiduā vertigine, in a constant whirl (the daily apparent revolution of the heavens). 71. torquet, spins. 73. rapido ... orbi: i.e. as the sun's apparent path among the stars is towards the east, he is supposed in his daily course to make headway against the revolution of the celestial sphere. 75. obvius ire polis, same idea as in v. 73. 78. insidias, i. e. concealed perils. - formas ferarum, shapes of beasts, i. e. the Lion, Bull, &c., the signs of the Zodiac. 79. ut, though (concessive, § 266. c; G. 610). 80. adversi, turned towards you, i. e. right in your face. – Tauri, etc., see the sun's path as traced on a celestial map or globe. 81. Hæmonios, Thessalian: the Archer (Sagittarius) is represented as a Centaur, of which fabulous monster the home is Thessaly (see the story of the Centaurs and Lapithæ, Metam. xii. 146–535). 83. aliter, the other way. 84. ignibus, qualifying animosos. 86. in promptu, an easy thing (lit. ready to your hand). 90. sanguine, abl. of source (§ 244. a; G. 295). 91. timendo, by my fear [for you]. 92. probor, I prove myself. Notice the collocation of patrio and pater, a favorite order. 97. bonis, governed by e. 98. vero, agreeing with nomine. IOI. ne dubita, § 269. b; G. 267. — undas, apparently direct object of juravimus by a Greek construction; in Latin it would regularly take per. 103. ille, the other, a very common use of the pronoun. 104. premit, urges. 105. qua licuit while he could. 106. Vulcania, § 190; G. 360, R. 107. summæ rotæ, of the wheel's rim. 109. chrysolithi, topaz, a nearly transparent precious stone, often of a bright golden color: the word is Greek, and signifies gold-stone. gemmæ, i. e. the other gems, subj of reddebant. III magnanimus, exulting (lit. high-spirited). - 114. agmina cogit, brings up the rear (lit. gathers in the troops). 115. cæli statione, his post in the sky. the morning star is often seen just before and after sunrise. novissimus, last: 116. quæ . . . vidit, when he saw them [the stars] flee to earth. Their disappearance is imagined as a sudden setting. 117. extremæ, i. e. near the end of her monthly course. velut evanescere, as she seems to sink and disappear in the sky. 120. ambrosiæ, lit. immortal food, i. e. food of the immortals. 123. patientia, able to endure (agreeing with ora). — rapidæ, devouring, cf. rapax from same root. = 124 comæ, dat., upon his head. — luctus, obj. gen. 129 directos arcus, the road right across the five zones. II. 75-172.] II. The Adventure of Phaethon. 203 130. sectus limes, the Ecliptic, "bounded by the limit of three zones (see next line), i. e. the torrid and the two temperate, as represented on a celestial globe. 135. preme, bear down. - molire, ply: this verb implies the effort made in climbing the celestial heights. (Construe summum with æthera.) 136. egressus, i. e. if you quit the way (§ 60, 1, a; G. 594). 138. dexterior, sc. rota. 139. pressam, lying low: the Altar lies south of the Sun's winter path, barely appearing in Greece; the Serpent of Ophiuchus is on the equator, just north of the Ecliptic. 141. quæ juvet opto, who I wish may aid you (see note, v. 58). 142. Hesperio, western. Hesperus is the Greek form of the word which in Latin is Vesper. The name Hesperia, "Land of the West," was by the Greeks poetically applied to Italy, and by the Romans to Spain (Virg. Æn. i. 530; Hor. Od. iii. 6). 143. nox, i. e. the Night advances towards the west like the Day. 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 sino). spectes, subj. of purpose. 151. contingere. poetic, as depending upon gaudet. - super, erect. 152. grates agit, renders thanks. 153. Pyrois, etc.: the names of the steeds signify fiery, of the dawn, blazing, flaming. 155. repagula, barriers (of a race-course). 156. nepotis, see note, v. 69. — quæ, i. e. repugula. 157. copia =access to. 161. quod possent, such as, &c. (subj. of characteristic). * 163. pondere, ballast. — justo, regular (a common meaning). — levitate, abl. of cause. 165. onere, following vacuus (§ 243; G. 389). 166. inani, an empty one. 168. ordine, direction. 170. si sciat (§ 59, 4, h; G. 598); the present subj. of future condition, where our idiom seems to require the imperfect contrary to fact. 171. triones, the North (see note, i. 64). 172. vetito æquore: the Northern Bear in these latitudes never goes below the horizon. 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. — of the sun poetically, Diana, sister of Apollo. - Luna, sister 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). II. 173-313.] II. The Adventure of Phaethon. 205 245. 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. 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. |