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SELECTED PASSAGES FOR THE USE OF

SCHOOLS.

WITH NOTES AND INTRODUCTIONS

BY THE

REV. ALFRED J. CHURCH, M. A.,
Head Master of the Royal Grammar School, Henley-on-Thames.

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SEELEY, JACKSON, & HALLIDAY, FLEET STREET,

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THE text of Merkel (Teubner, Leipsic, 1864) has been followed in this edition, with one exception, nocte for macte (xii. 16). The spelling differs in some few instances from that adopted in the dictionaries in common use. In these cases, to spare the learner any perplexity, the ordinary spelling is given in a foot-note. For the same reason the letter 'j' is substituted for the more correct 'i.'

I.

OVID'S ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF.

(TRISTIA, IV. 10.)

Readers may like to know something of the poet whom they read (1-2). He was born at Sulmo, in the year when Hirtius and Pansa fell, of good family, his father's second son (3-14). He was educated in the capital with his brother (15-18). An early taste for verse overpowers the attractions of an advocate's profession and of office (19-40). He frequents the company of poets (41-42); as of Macer (43-44), of Propertius (45—46), of Ponticus and Bassus (47-48), and of Horace (49-50). Virgil and Tibullus were before his day (51-54). He is himself courted by younger men (55-56). He publishes poems, becoming famous through some addressed to Corinna (57-60); others he destroyed (61-64). He had a susceptible heart, but had never caused any scandal (65-68). He was thrice married (68-74). He was a grandfather (75-76). His father and mother died before the great trouble of his life, caused, they must believe, by error, not by crime (77-90). In his fiftieth year he was banished for a cause which he must not mention (91—102). He adapted himself to the change (103-106), and after much suffering came to Tomi (107110). Here he amuses himself with song, in which he finds consolation (11-118), and forgetfulness (119-120), and fame, even among great men (121-128), and immortality (129-130). Finally, he thanks the reader (131-132).

ΙΟ

ILLE ego qui fuerim, tenerorum lusor amorum,
Quem legis, ut noris, accipe, Posteritas.
Sulmo mihi patria est, gelidis uberrimus undis,
Milia 1 qui novies distat ab Urbe decem.

5 Editus hinc ego sum, nec non ut tempora noris,
Cum cecidit fato consul uterque pari :

Si quid 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 affuit idem :

Una celebrata est per duo liba dies.

1 Millia.

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