Cui colar, infelix! aut cui placuisse laborem ! Chastity. Rustica sim sane, dum non oblita pudoris; Fama tamen clara est; et adhuc sine crimine vixi : Consolation. Nulla dies 2 adeo est Australibus humida nimbis, Briseis to Achilles. Sis licet immitis, matrisque ferocior undis; 1 Cui colar. "For whom should I be decked out?" There is no motive for trimness of dress, for the only person to be pleased by it is absent. 2 Nulla dies. Cf. Hor. Carm. ii. 9: "Non semper imbres nubibus hispidos Manant in agros." Aut, si versus amor tuus est in taedia nostri,1 Efficacy of piety. 2 Parva petunt Manes; pietas pro divite 2 grata est Woman's love of amusement. Ut redit, itque frequens longum formica per agmen, Granifero solitum cum vehit ore cibum, 1 In taedia nostri. "To weariness of us (me)." Here the genitive is an objective one, because it points out the object of the feeling of weariness. If "taedia nostri" meant the "weariness felt by us," the genitive would be a subjective one, as pointing out the person by whom the weariness is felt. So "vulnus Ulyxei" may be either the wound inflicted on Ulysses (an objective genitive), or by Ulysses (a subjective genitive). 2 Pro divite, etc. "Piety meets with acceptance in the place of a wealthy offering." The Manes are as much gratified by piety as by rich offerings. The "deos" below seem to be the same as the "Manes" who are called Dii Manes sometimes. 3 Projectis, etc. Chaplets thrown aside as useless after being worn at a feast, were good enough for the acceptance of the Manes, when offered them on a tile. These offerings to the Manes were proverbially shabby affairs; as Juvenal (v. 85) speaks of a poor meal as like a funeral supper on a scanty plate. Parcaque mica salis. Cf. Hor. Carm. iii. 23, 19: "Mollivit aversos Penates Farre pio et saliente mica." 5 Solutae. "Loosely scattered; not tied up together." Below, "mediâ via" refers to the practice of burying the dead by the wayside. Cf. Juv. i. 170: "Experior quid concedatur in illos Quorum Flaminia tegitur cinis atque Latina;" and Mart, Aut ut apes, saltusque suos et olentia nactae Corroding care. Estur ut occultâ vitiata teredine navis ; Perseverance. Tempore difficiles veniunt ad aratra juvenci; xi. 13: "Quisquis Flaminiam 1 Celebres. "Crowded." So Ovid, Fasti, iv. 391: "Circus erit pompa celeber." "Frequens" is similarly used. Below, "copia," etc., is a clause in apposition to cavantur aquâ. "cultissima femina;" "presenting a rich abundance (of beauty) which has often kept my judg ment long (in abeyance)." There were So many beauties, that Ovid could hardly select those which pleased him most. 2 Conficiantur. "My breast has unceasing stings of sorrows by which to be endlessly destroyed." "Conficiuntur" would be "it is destroyed" as a matter of fact. Indulgence. Dextera praecipue capit indulgentia mentes; Gentleness. Flectitur2 obsequio curvatus ab arbore ramus; Obsequio tranantur aquae; nec vincere possis Necessity of firmness. Admonitu refricatur amor, vulnusque novatum 1 Chaonis ales. The dove (cf. Verg. Eclog. ix. 13: "Chaonias... columbas"). The oracle of Zeus at Dodona in Epirus was, according to one account, interpreted by pigeons sitting in the oak trees which grew thickly on the spot. Chaonia is a division of Epirus. 2 Flectitur-frangis. The two words are opposed to each other in the motto of a noble English family: "Flecti, non frangi.' Another family has the same two words differently contrasted: "Frangas non flectes: may break us, but you will not bend us (to evil).” "You Sic, nisi vitâris quidquid renovabit amorem, Indolence. Fertilis assiduo si non renovetur aratro, Anger. Pugnabunt jaculis dum Thraces, Iazyges 2 arcu, 3 |