97. Senior equus est Frigidus in Venerem senior, frustràque laborem frigidus Ingratum trahit: et, si quando ad prælia ventum est, Ut quondam in stipulis magnus sinè viribus ignis, Incassùm furit. Ergò animos ævumque notabis Præcipuè hinc alias artes, prolemque parentum: 102. Quis dolor sit Et quis cuique dolor victo, quæ gloria palmæ. cuique victo, quæ glo- Nonne vides? cùm præcipiti certamine campum ria sit cuique palmæ Corripuere, ruuntque effusi carcere currus; arrectæ sunt. 105. Spes juvenum Cùm spes arrectæ juvenum, exultantiaque haurit Corda pavor pulsans: illi instant verbere torto, Et proni dant lora: volat vi fervidus axis : Jamque humiles, jamque elati sublimè videntur Aëra per vacuum ferri, atque assurgere in auras. Nec mora, nec requies. At fulvæ nimbus arenæ ii. Equi humescunt Tollitur: humescunt spumis flatuque sequentûm : spumis flatuque eorum Tantus amor laudum, tantæ est victoria curæ. sequentûm Primus Erichthonius currus et quatuor ausus 116. Dorso equorum merare 118. Magistri utrius- Impositi dorso; atque equitem docuere sub armis que artis æquè exquirunt Insultare solo, et gressus glomerare superbos. equum juvenemque, cali- Equus uterque labor: æquè juvenemque magistri dumque animis 120. Non exquirunt Exquirunt, calidumque animis, et cursibus acrem: Quamvis sæpe fugâ versos ille egerit hostes, Et patriam Epirum referat, fortesque Mycenas ; Neptunique ipsâ deducat origine gentem. senem equum quamvis 122. Ipsa origine equi Neptuni. 123. Tempus admissuræ; et equum 124. Distendere denso pingui, quem His animadversis, instant sub tempus; et omnes a horse, and fled to Pelion, a mountain of Thessaly, filling it with his shrill neighings. Philyra bore to him Chiron, one of the Centaurs. 96. Ignosce senectæ nec turpi: spare his old age, not inglorious. This is the sense usually given to the words, and implies that the old horse should be treated with kindness and humanity, now in his old age, in consequence of his former glorious deeds. Abde hunc domo: in the sense of include hunc stabulis. 101. Hinc alias artes: after that (you should observe) his other qualities. Artes here evidently means the qualities, properties, or endowments of the horse. Prolem: the stock, breed, or ancestry. 102. Palma: to the victor, or conqueror. The palm of victory, by meton. put for the victor, or conqueror. 104. Effusi starting-springing. In races, carcer was the mark, or starting place. Exultantia: beating-palpitating. 107. Vi: with the rapid motion of the wheel. 114. Rapidis rotis. This is the common reading. But Heinsius and Heyne read rapidus in the nom. agreeing with victor. Rotis: properly the wheels; by meton. the chariot borne upon them. 100 105 110 115 120 125 115. Lapithe: a people of Thessaly, near mount Pelion. Pelethronii: an adj. from Pelethronium, one of their cities. The meaning of the poet appears to be this: that Erichthonius invented the use of the chariot and horses, and that the Lapitha afterward improved upon the use of the horse by managing him with the bridle, and turning him about with the reins at their will. Dedêre: in the sense of invenerunt. 116. Equitem. Ruæus takes this in the sense of equum. Heyne observes that the ole grammarians understood it in the same sense. But Davidson refers the whole to the rider. It appears that the last clause of the following line should be ap plied to the horse rather than to the rider. Eques: properly, the rider; by meton. the horse. 118. Uterque labor æquus: each labor, or art, is equal; the management of horses in the chariot, and the management of them with the bridle. 121. Epirum Mycenas. Epirus and Mycene were both famous for their excellent horses. Referat : have, claim, or boast. 124. Pingui: in the sense of pinguedine. 125. Maritum: in the sense of admissarium. Pubentesque secant herbas, fluviosque ministrant, Est lucos Silari circa, ilicibusque virentem NOTES. 127. Superesse: to accomplish-be sufficient for. Fluvios: in the sense of aquam copiosam. 128. Nati: the colts. Referant: in the sense of ferant. 129. Volentes: willing-on purpose, or with design. Armenta here is evidently taken for equas, the mares. 131. Frondes: in the sense of pabulum, vel victum. Quatiunt in the sense of agi tant. 135. Ne usus genitali arvo sit obtusior nemio luxu. These words Ruæus interprets thus: Ne trajectus (via) genitalis partis sit strictior ob nimiam pinguitudinem. 136. Oblimet: in the sense of claudat. 137. Venerem: the object of their desire -the semen masculinum. 142. Acri fugâ in the sense of celeri cursu. Rapaces: in the sense of rapidos. 143. Saltibus. Saltus is properly an opening, or vacant space, in a grove, or park. It is, however, sometimes used in the sense of nemus and lucus; from the verb salio. Ruæus says spatiis apertis. 145. Saxea umbra: a rocky shade may fall on them-a rocky clift may project over them, under which they may be sheltered from the sun and rains. 146. Circa lucos Silari, Alburnumque. Silarus, a river of Italy, in Lucania: hodie Selo, Alburnum: Alburnus, a mountain in Italy, abounding in the holm-oak: hodie Alborno; out of which issues the river Tanagrus, small, and nearly dry in summer. Plurimus volitans: around the groves, &c. there are many flies, to which asylus is the Roman name, but the Greeks called it œstron. This construction is very peculiar; the idiom we cannot introduce into our language. Plurimus volitans we must take in the sense of plurimi volitantes. Cui nomen asylo. This is evidently the same as cui asylus est Romano nomini: perhaps by antiptosis. Asylus is what we commonly call the gad-fly, or breeze. It is the same as the tabanus, or tabanum. The sting of this insect causes great pain to the animal that is wounded by it. 148. Vocantes vertêre: simply, vocaverunt, vel reddiderunt. 149. Acerbà: an adj. neu. plu. taken as an adverb in imitation of the Greeks; the same as acerbè. Asper. This may have reference to the sharpness of its bite or sting. Sonans : making a sharp or shrill noise. 150. Furit: in the sense of resonat. 153. Inachia juvence. Io, the daughte of Inachus, king of the Argives, (or 154. Hunc asilum Hunc quoque (nam mediis fervoribus acrior instat) Post partum, cura in vitulos traducitur omnis: ad studium 155 160 165 Ac primùm laxos tenui de vimine circlos Junge pares, et coge gradum conferre, juvencos. 170 Instrepat, et junctos temo trahat æreus orbes. 174. Intereà carpes Intereà pubi indomitæ non gramina tantùm, manu non tantùm gra- Nec vescas salicum frondes, ulvamque palustrem; mina indomitæ pubi Sed frumenta manu carpes sata: nec tibi fœtæ, 179. Sin tuum studi- More patrum, nivea implebunt mulctralia vaccæ; um sit magis ad bellum, Sed tota in dulces consument ubera natos. Sin ad bella magis studium, turmasque feroces, ferocesque NOTES. river god of that name,) whom Jupiter transformed into a heifer, when he was likely to be surprised by Juno in his amour with her. But discovering the trick, the goddess sent Asilus to torment her. Upon which she fled to Egypt; where Jupiter, taking pity on her, restored her to her proper shape. After which, she was married to king Osiris; and, after her death, was worshipped as a goddess under the name of Isis. 154. Mediis fervoribus: for media die. 158. Inurut in the sense of imprimunt. 159. Submittere: to set apart for breeders -for propagating your stock or herd. 161. Horrentem: in the sense of asperum. 162. Cætera armenta. The poet's meaning is plainly this: that those calves that are designed for breeding, for sacrifice, or for the plough, are to be particularly designated, and taken care of; while it is sufficient for the rest of the herd to feed at large, without any such care or attention; and with regard to those designed for the plough, they should be trained up from the first, and be accustomed to the yoke, while they are docile and tractable. 164. Hortare: imp. of hortor: teach, or train up. Ad studium: for labor. Mobilis: in the sense of docilis. 166. Circlos: by syn. for circulos: bind loose collars about their necks. 175 172. Valido: in the sense of magno. Orbes: for rotas, wheels. 174. Pubi indomita: for your steers unbroken-not entirely subdued to the yoke. 175. Ulvam. The ulva was a kind of grass, which grew in marshy grounds. We have no particular name for it in our language. Nec: in the sense of el. 176. Frumenta sata: planted, or sown corn. The poet would have the farmer to under too costly for them. Aut Alphen rotis prælabi flumina Pisa, NOTES. 180. Prælabi rotis. The poet here alludes to the chariot races at the Olympic games, celebrated upon the banks of the river Alpheus. 183. Lituos: the clarion, or curved horn; put, by meton. for the sound of that instru ment. Gementem tractu: in the sense of stridentem dum trahitur, says Heyne. 186. Sonitum plausa cervicis: the sound of the patted neck. This refers to the custom of stroking, or gently patting the horse on the neck, to inspire him with courage 188. Inque vicem: by Tmesis, for invicem que and now and then-occasionally. Audiat. This is the common reading. But Heyne, after Heinsius, reads audeat, of the verb audeo. 189. Inscius ævi: ignorant, or inexperienced, on account of his age-not conscious of strength-knowing his weakness. Servius says: nondum habens ab annis fiduciam. Davidson says: propter imbecilitatem ævi. It is a Greek construction. 191. Sonare compositis gradibus: to prance in regular steps. Sinuetque: and let him bend the alternate joints of his legs-or alternately the joints of his legs. Carpere: in the sense of describere. the poet appears to be this: After the horse hath commenced his fourth year, let him begin to amble, and prance, and exercise, however laborious and fatiguing it may be to him. Or rather: let not his exercise in reality be laborious and fatiguing, on account of his age; but let him resemble, or be like to one laboring only, lest he be dispirited from experience of his weakness. But when he is properly trained by exercise, his courage increased, and his confidence in himself confirmed, then let him labor-let him challenge the winds in his course. 194. Provocet. This is the common reading. Heyne reads tum vocet, Equora in the sense of campos. 197. Incubuit: rushes forth. Ruæus says, imminet. 198. Natantes: in the sense of undantes. 182. Animos: courage. Contentiones, says Ruæus. 202. Hic, vel ad metas: this horse, either at the goals of Elis, &c. 204. Esseda. The essedum was a kind of vehicle, or carriage, adapted both for travelling or war. It was used by the ancient Gauls and Britons. Moili: tractable, in opposition to reluctant. 205. Crassa furragine: with rich or fattening marsh. The farrago was a mixture of wheat bran and barley meal, according 193. Similis laboranti. The meaning of to Servius. 118 P. VIRGILII MARONIS 206. Illis domitis jugo: Crescere jam domitis sinito: namque ante domandum Ingentes tollent animos; prensique negabunt Verbera lenta pati, et duris parere lupatis. Sed non ulla magis vires industria firmat, 210 Pascua, post montem oppositum, et trans flumina lata : 217. Illa quidem facit Dulcibus illa quidem illecebris, et sæpe superbos hoc dulcibus illecebris, et Cornibus inter se subigit decernere amantes. sæpe subigit rios Pascitur in magnâ sylvâ formosa juvenca: 222. Obnixos adversa- Versaque in obnixos urgentur cornua vasto Cum gemitu: reboant sylvæque et magnus Olympus. 224. Nec est mos duos Nec mos bellantes unà stabulare: sed alter bellantes Victus abit, longèque ignotis exulat oris; tum eos amores, quos 226. Plagas factas cor- Multa gemens ignominiam, plagasque superbi nibus superbi victoris, Victoris, tum quos amisit inultus amores: Et stabula aspectans regnis excessit avitis. 229. Et inter dura Ergò omni curâ vires exercet, et inter saxa jacet Dura jacet pernox instrato saxa cubili; Frondibus hirsutis et carice pastus acutâ : Et tentat sese, atque irasci in cornua discit, Arboris obnixus trunco: ventosque lacessit Ictibus, et sparsâ ad pugnam proludit arenâ. Post, ubi collectum robur, viresque refectæ, Signa movet, præcepsque oblitum fertur in hostem· 1 NOTES. 206. Namque. The poet advises the farmer not to pamper or fatten his horses before they are broken, and rendered tractable. If he do, they will be mettlesome and high minded, (tollunt ingentes animos,) they will show a stout and surly temper, and when caught, will refuse to bear the limber whip, and to obey the hard bits. Ante domandum: before breaking. The gerund in dum is of the nature of a substantive noun. Rumus says, antequàm domentur. 209. Industria: in the sense of cura. 211. Usus: in the sense of cultus. 214. Satura: in the sense of plena. 216. Fœmina: the female-the heifer. 220. Alternantes: in the sense of ricissim. 222. Cornua versa in obnixos: and their horns turned against the contending foes, are struck, &c. Cum vasto gemitu. This seems not to refer to the rage and violence of the antagonists, so much as to the groans and bellowings of the conquered party; or to the oc 215 220 225 230 235 casional groans of each, produced by the repeated strokes given and received. 224. Bellantes a part. of the verb bello, used in the sense of adversarios. Stabulare: in the sense of habitare. 226. Multa: in the sense of multùm. 228. Avitis regnis: from his hereditary realms-from those fields in which he was born, and in which he bore rule. Aspicens in the sense of respiciens. 230. Instrato cubili. Dr. Trapp, and Davidson understand this to be a naked or unstrowed bed. Ruæus takes instrato in the sense of strato, strowed or made. The prep. in sometimes in composition adds to the signification of the primitive word; at other times, changes it to an opposite sense. Carice acutâ: sharp sedge. 235. Refectæ. This is the reading of Heyne, after Heinsius. But recepta is the common reading. 236. Movet signa: he moves his standards. A metaphor taken from the movement of an army. |