At rubicunda Cercs medio succiditur æstu, 300 Ceu pressæ cùm jam portum tetigêre carinæ, Puppibus et læti nautæ imposuêre coronas. Sed tamen et quernas glandes tum stringere tempus, 306 quoque ponere 307. Tunc tempus est Tunc gruibus pedicas, et retia ponere cervis, Auritosque sequi lepores; tum figere damas 308. Tum est tempus Stupea torquentem Balearis verbera fundæ ; venatorem figere damas torquentem stupea verCùm nix alta jacet, glaciem cùm flumina trudunt. bera Balearis fundæ, Quid tempestates autumni et sidera dicam? cùm Atque, ubi jam breviorque dies, et mollior æstas, Quæ vigilanda viris ? vel cùm ruit imbriferum ver: Spicea jam campis cùm messis inhorruit, et cùm Frumenta in viridi stipulâ lactentia turgent? Sæpe ego, cùm flavis messorem induceret arvis Agricola, et fragili jam stringeret hordea culmo, 318. Ego sæpe vidi Omnia ventorum concurrere prælia vidi, omnia prælia ventorum Quæ gravidam latè segetem ab radicibus imis concurrere, quæ eruerent Sublimè expulsam eruerent; ita turbine nigro 310 315 320 Ferret hyems culmumque levem, stipulasque volantes. NOTES. thresnes, or beats out. Fruges tostas: the dry, or ripe grain. 297. Medio astu: in the middle of the day. Ceres: for seges, the grain, or harvest. Rubicunda: in the sense of flava. 299. Nudus ava, &c. The poet's meaning here is, that the farmer should be industrious, and turn the summer to the best account; for the winter is a season of rest and festivity, when he may enjoy the fruit of his labors. 300. Parto: what he had gotten during the summer. Rebus per æstatem comparatis, says Ruæus. 301. Curant: in the sense of parant. 304. Ceu pressa carina: may either mean laden ships, or weather-beaten ships. Carina is properly the keel; by synec. the whole ship. 305. Stringere in the sense of colligere. 309. Balearis funda: the Balerian sling. The islands Majorca, Minorca, and Uvica, on the coast of Spain, were called by the ancients Balearides; the inhabitants of which were famous for the use of the sling. Stupea verbera: the hempen strings. 312. Estas: in the sense of calor, vel æstus. The verb est is to be supplied. Vigilanda: curanda, vel providenda, says Heyne. Firis: for agricolis. 313. Ruit: hastens to a close. Ruæus says, desinit, and Servius, præcipitatur. 315. Lactentia: milky-filling with milk. 318. Omnia prælia ventorum: all the powers of the winds in fier.e contest engage. Ruæus says: pugnas omnium ventorum misceri. This comparison of the wind with the wind, and of growing corn with chaff, has been censured by some critics; but the passage is probably to be understood as representing the growing corn uprooted by the tempest, and whirled aloft (sublime) as easily as light straw is by an ordinary whirlwind. Martyn, Heyne, and Vossius, concur, says Valpy, in this interpretation. 320. Expulsam: in the sense of dissipatam. Nigro turbine: in a black whirlwind; a whirlwind bringing with it clouds and darkness, and imbruing a storm. Hyems: in the sense of tempestas. 322. Immensum agmen, &c. Nothing can surpass, in grandeur and sublimity, the description which we here have of a sudden storm, of its rise, and effect. An immense band or army of vapors march along the heavens; the clouds, impregnated deeply with vapor, collect together from the sea; and, forming themselves into globous wreaths, brew a deep and threatening storm. They then burst, and discharge such a deluge of water, that the whole heaven seems dissolved, and pouring upon the fields. The floods sweep away the fertile (lata) crops, the labors of man and beast; the ditches Et fædam glomerant tempestatem imbribus atris NOTES. are filled; the winding rivers swell, and the sea roars in its foaining friths. 327. Fretis. Fretum is properly a strait, or arm of the sea. Spirans, as here used, is beautiful and expressive. The figure is taken from water boiling, which seems to breathe (spirare) by emitting a steam or vapor, and is all in commotion. 329. Molitur: in the sense of vibrat, vel jacit. Quo motu. By this we are to understand probably the act of vibrating or hurling the thunder-bolt-the thunder itself. What the ancients supposed to be the bolt, was nothing more than the lightning-the electric matter, passing from one cloud, or part of the atmosphere, to another, that was differently electrified, and thus became visible. 330. Fera fugere: the wild beasts have fled. There is a peculiar force in the use of the perfect tense here. The beasts of the forest fear, and they are gone, and are out of sight in a moment, seeking their wonted retreats. 332. Atho: a Greek acc. A mountain in Macedonia, which overlooked the Ægean sea. Rhodopen. A mountain, or rather range of mountains in Thrace. Ceraunia: acc. plu. neu. mountains in Epirus. They were so called from a Greek word signifying thunder, because, from their height, they were much exposed to it. 333. Imber densissimus. Rumus says: pluvia est copiocissima. 336. Quò frigida stella: to what part of heaven the cold star of Saturn betakes itself. Saturn is called cold most probably 325 330 335 340 341. Tunc agni sunt from the circumstance of its great distance from the sun, and the small degree of heat it receives from him. On the other hand, the planet Mercury is called ignis, on account of its nearness to the sun, and the degree of heat it probably receives from him. Cyllenius. A name of the god Mercury. He was the son of Jupiter and Maia, the god of eloquence, and messenger of the gods. He had a winged cap called Petasus, and winged feet called Talaria. The invention of the lyre, and its seven strings, is attributed to him; which he gave to Apollo, and received in return the celebrated Caduceus, which was a rod or wand encircled with serpents, and said to possess extraordinary virtues and qualities. It was his business to conduct the manes of the dead to the infernal regions. He presided over orators, merchants, and thieves. The worship of Mercury was established in Greece, Egypt, and Italy. He was called Cyllenius, from a mountain in Arcadia of that name, where he is said to have been born; Caduceator, Triplex, Delius, &c. According to Cicero, there were four others to whom the name of Mercury was given. Of these, was a famous philosopher of Egypt, whom they called Hermes Trismigistus. Cyllenius ignis : the planet Mercury. 337. Erret: in the sense of moveat. Or bes: planets. 344. Cui tu dilue favos: for whom de thou mingle honey with milk and sweet wine. Favos: the comb; by meton. the honey contained it. it. Terque novas circùm felix eat hostia fruges, 346. Quam hostiam Omnis quam chorus et socii comitentur ovantes; omnis chorus, et tui socii Et Cererem clamore vocent in tecta: neque antè Falcem maturis quisquam supponat aristis, Quàm Cereri, tortâ redimitus tempora quercu, Det motus incompositos, et carmina dicat. 363. Sicco litore 364. Ardeaque deserit notas paludes, atque volat supra altam nubem. Atque hæc ut certis possimus discere signis, 345. Felix hostia. The poet here alludes to the sacrificium ambervale, so called, because the victim was led three times around the field; ab ambire arva. 346. Omnis chorus et socii: the same as omnis chorus sociorum. 349. Redimitus tempora: bound as to his temples with a wreath of oak. The poet enjoins upon the farmer to make two offerings to Ceres: the first of honey and wine, at the beginning of spring: dilue favos, &c. The other of a victim at the beginning of harvest: ter felix hostia, &c. 350. Incompositos motus: the irregular or immethodical dance; such as is performed by rustics. Cereri: nempe, in honorem Ce reris. 351. Hæc: nempe, æstusque, pluviasque. 353. Moneret: in the sense of indicaret. 354. Signo: in the sense of indicio. Quod indicium esset venti mox cessuri, says Heyne. Austri: here put for any boister ous wind: the species for the genus. 356. Freta ponti: simply, for pontus, vel mare. Fretum, properly a strait, or narrow part of the sea. 358. Aridus fragor: a dry cracking sound, such as is made among dry trees when they break. 345 350 355 360 365 370 360. Jam tum unda malè temperat: then the waves scarcely restrain themselves from (swallowing up) the bending ships. Malè: in the sense of difficilè. 361. Mergi: a species of sea-fowl, generally taken to be the cormorant: from the verb mergo. 363. Fulica: a species of sea-fowl much like the common duck; a coot, or moor-hen. 364. Ardea: a bird, swift on the wing, and soaring high. From which circumstance called ardea, quasi pro ardua a heron. 365. Sæpe videbis stellas: you will also often see stars, &c. The poet speaks in conformity to the vulgar notion. No star moves from its station. Those appearances to which the poet alludes are of an electric nature-meteors. They are sometimes seen to dart across the heavens, and through the darkness of the night, appear to draw after them a train (tractus) of light or flame. Impendente: threatening-being near at hand. 371. Domus Eurique, &c. That part of the heavens from which these winds blow, the poet calls their house or habitation. The expression is highly poetical. Here the poet mentions twelve signs or prognostics of rain. Humida vela legit. Nunquam imprudentibus imber Nunc caput objectare fretis, nunc currere in undas, Nec minùs ex imbri soles, et aperta serena NOTES. 373. Imprudentibus, &c. Never hath a shower hurt any person unforwarned: that is, a shower always gives such certain signs of its approach, that any who will attend to them, may avoid receiving injury from it. Heyne informs us, that the Medicean, and some other copies, read prudentibus; he, however, prefers the usual reading, imprudentibus. Prudentibus is the easier. 374. Illum surgentem, &c. This sentence is capable of two constructions: 1. The cranes may flee the shower, rising out of the valleys; which is the sense Ruæus gives. 2. Davidson takes it to mean that the cranes flee into the valleys, to avoid the rising storm. This is also the opinion of Valpy. 378. Et rana cecinere, &c. This alludes to the fable of the transformation of the Lycians into frogs for reproaching Latona, of which hard treatment, when they croak, they are said to complain. See Ovid. Met. Lib. 6. 380. Ingens arcus: the spacious bow hath drunk; alluding to a vulgar notion that the rainbow drank the water that supplied the clouds. 383. Asia: an adj. from Asius, a lake and town between the river Caystrus and the mountain Tmolus, in the confines of Lydia and Phrygia Major. Caystrus falls into the Egean sea, not far from the once famous city of Ephesus. On its banks the swan abounded. Rimantur: in the sense of frequeniant. 385. Infundere largos: to throw eagerly much water upon their backs. Rores: in the sense of aquam. 387. Studio lavandi: through a desire of washing themselves in vain. Incassum may be understood in three senses. 1. Because nothing can add to the whiteness of the swan, the fowl here spoken of. 2. Because they need take no pains to wash themselves, for the impending rain will do it without their labor. 3. Because, according to Servius, water will not wet their feathers. 390. Carpentes: carding their nightly tasks of wool. 392. Fungos: the clots or spungy substance that gathers round the wick of the lamp or candle. Scintillare: to sputter or snap in the burning shell. 393. Nec minus. Having mentioned the signs of a storm, the poet now enumerates those of fair weather. He makes them in number nine. Ex imbri: after a shower.. Soles: days. 395. Acies stellis: Ruæus says, lux stellarum. Videtur: in the sense of apparet. 396. Luna surgere obnoxia: nor will the moon seem to rise beholden (or indebted) to the beams of her brother. The moon will rise so clear and bright, that she will seem to shine by her own inherent light, and not by reflecting the rays of the sun. Sol and Luna in heaven, the same as Apollo and Diana on earth, were said to have been the children of Latona. See Ecl. iv. 10. 401. Ima loca Tenuia nec lanæ per cœlum vellera ferri. 400 405 410 At nebulæ magis ima petunt, campoque recumbunt; Solis et occasum servans de culmine summo Nequicquam seros exercet noctua cantus. Apparet liquido sublimis in aëre Nisus, Et pro purpureo pœnas dat Scylla capillo.. Quâcunque illa levem fugiens secat æthera pennis, Ecce inimicus, atrox, magno stridore per auras, Insequitur Nisus: quà se fert Nisus ad auras, Illa levem fugiens raptim secat æthera pennis. 410. Tum corvi ter Tum liquidas corvi presso ter gutture voces aut quater ingeminant Aut quater ingeminant: (et sæpe cubilibus altis, 412. Læti, nescio quâ Nescio quâ præter solitum dulcedine læti, dulcedine, præter soli- Inter se foliis strepitant juvat imbribus actis um morem strepitant Progeniem parvam, dulcesque revisere nidos. 415. Haud equidem Haud equidem credo, quia sit divinitùs illis credo hoc fieri ita, quia Ingenium, aut rerum fato prudentia major: Verùm, ubi tempestas et cœli mobilis humor 419. Densat ea, quæ Mutavere vias: et Jupiter humidus Austris modò erant rara, et relaxat ea, quæ priùs erant Densat, erant quæ rara modò; et, quæ densa, relaxat. densa Vertuntur species animorum, et pectora motus 421. Concipiunt nunc Nunc alios, alios, dum nubila ventus agebat, liquidas NOTES. 397. Tenuia vellera: thin white clouds, like fleeces of wool. 399. Halcyones. Ceyx, king of Trachinia, going to consult the oracle of Apollo at Clarus, was shipwrecked in the Egean sea. His wife, Halcyone, seeing his dead body floating near the shore, flung herself upon it in a transport of her passion. Thetis, out of compassion to the lovers, transformed them into the birds called king-fishers: hence dilecte Thetidi. It is said the sea is calm a certain number of days about the winter solstice, that they may more conveniently bring forth their young. Hence those days were sometimes called Halcyon days. 400. Maniplos: bundles of straw-straw in general. 403. Noctua servans: the owl observing the setting of the sun, &c. The meaning of the expression seems to be this: that as the hooting of the owl in general is a sign of foul weather, yet when these signs of fair weather occur, she hoots in vain; she will be disregarded; or, if any regard her prognostics, they will find themselves disappointed. The owl is the only bird that sings exclusively in the night; hence, seros cantus exercet. 404. Nisus: the falcon, or hawk. Scylla: rk. See Ecl. vi. 74; also nom. prop. Visus. Scylla dat penas. Seylla is punished 415 420 for the purple lock. Dare-reddere-pendere -solvere pœnas, vel supplicium, to be punished. These are phrases. In like manner : afficere pœnâ vel suppliciô-capere-sumere petere pænas, vel supplicium, to punish. 410. Presso guttere: with their throats compressed. This would render the sounds more clear and shrill. 416. Ingenium: discernment, or mental capacity. Major prudentia fato, &c. A greater knowledge or foresight in the course and order of things, than men have. This passage, as it is commonly rendered, is unintelligible. To take fato in the ablative, governed by major, Dr. Trapp observes, is complete nonsense; and yet this is the opinion of Heyne, and Valpy who follows him: and it is very little better to take it for the agent or means by which this greater knowledge was obtained. It is perfectly easy as rendered above. Rumus says: rerum prudentia, quæ potentior est fato; which is with difficulty understood. 417. Mobilis humor: the moving vapor of heaven. Vias is here used in the sense of modus, or qualitates. Tempestas: the weather-temperature of the weather. 418. Jupiter humidus: the air moistened by the south winds. Jupiter is here put poetically for the air; which passing over the sea that lay to the south of Italy, be came moist, or impregnated with vapor. 420. Motus: motions-affections. |