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This poem, often called in the later MSS. and earlier editions the Epithalamium of Peleus and Thetis, is rather a brief epic, or epyllion, after the Alexandrian style, having for its basis the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, and for one of its divisions the marriage-song of the Parcae. But into this epyllion is wrought another which details the story of Theseus and Anadne under the guise of describing the embroidered drapery of the marriage-couch of Thetis. This second epyllion is even longer than the first, covering vv. 50-266, while the entire poem contains but 408 verses.—The date of composition is uncertain, though the finish of thought and expression seem to point to maturity of development on the part of the author.—Meter, dactylic hexameter.

[1-30] Introductory, explaining the circumstances that led to the marriage of Peleus and Thetis.

Peliaco: cf. the imitation of this proem by Ov. Am. 2.11.1prima malas docuit, mirantibus aequoris undis, Peliaco pinus vertice caesa vias” ; Prop. 4.22.11tuque tuo Colchum propellas remige Phasin, Peliacaeque trabis totum iter ipse legas” .

prognatae: cf. the similar figure in Hor. Carm. 1.14.12[pinus] silvae filia nobilis.

[2] dicuntur: the poet makes it clear that he is repeating an ancient tradition; cf. vv. 19 fertur, 76 and 124 perhibent, 212 ferunt.

[2] liquidas: not an otiose epithet, but indicating the unstable water as unfitted to support a heavy body; cf. Verg. A. 5.859liquidas proiecit in undas praecipitem” ; Nemes. Buc. 2.76nec tremulum liquidis lumen splenderet in undis.

[2] nasse: cf. Catul. 4.3natantis trabis” ; Catul. 66.45iuventus per medium navit Athon” .

[3] Phasidos: the chief river of Colchis, rising in the Caucasus and flowing into the Euxine Sea at its eastern end.

[3] Aceteos: Gr. Αἰητείους: Aeetes was king of Colchis and father of Medea.

[4] lecti iuuenes: so the Argonauts are called by Ennius Med. Exsul 209 R.Argivi delecti viri” ) and Verg. Ecl. 4.34altera quae vehat Argo delectos heroas” ); cf. also Theocr. 13.18πασᾶν ἐκ πολίων προλελεγμένοι” (of the Argonauts).

[5] auratam pellem: for the story of the Argonautic expedition see Hom. Od. 12.69; Hes. Theog. 992; Apollod. 1.9.16ff; and the poems by Pind. Pyth. 4.1ff., Apollonius, and Valerius Flaccus.

[5] avertere: to win; especially used of plunder; cf. Caes. BC 3.59.4praedam omnem domum avertebant” ; Cic. Verr. 2.69.163innumerabilem frumenti numerum aversum ab re publica esse” ; Verg. A. 8.207quattuor a stabulis tauros avertit” .

[6] vada salsa: cf. Verg. A. 5.158longa sulcant vada salsa carina.

[6] cito decurrere puppi: cf. Ov. Fast. 6.777celeri decurrite cumba” .

[7] caerula verrentes aequora: cf. Verg. A. 3.208adnixi torquent spumas et caerula verrunt” .

[7] palmis: cf. Catul. 4.4n.palmulis.

[8] diva retinens: etc. i.e. Athena Polias; cf. Verg. Ecl. 2.61Pallas quas condidit arces ipsa colat” .

[8] quibus: referring to v. 4 lecti iuvenes.

[8] summis: with the partitive force.

[9] ipsa fecit: Catullus here follows the tradition of Apollonius 1.111au)th\ ga\r kai\ nh=a qoh\n ka/me” , with which cf. Phaedr. 4.7.9fabricasset Argus opere Palladio ratem” ; Sen. Med. 368non Palladia compacta manu Argo” ; Val. Flac. 1.94.

[9] currum: the newly invented vehicle for the sea is described by its similarity to those in use on land; cf. Cic. ND 2.35.89divinum et novum vehiculum Argonautarum” ; and v. 6 decurrere.

[11] cursu imbuit: cf. Val. Flac. 1.69ignaras Cereris qui vomere terras imbuit” ; Sil. Ital. 3.64iuvenem primo Hymenaeo imbuerat coniunx” .

[11] Amphitriten: i.e. the sea, as in Ov. Met. 1.14bracchia porrexerat Amphitrite” . For the descent of the goddess see v. 29 n. Tethys.

[12] ventosum aequor: cf. Verg. A. 6.335a Troia ventosa per aequora vectos” ; Ov. Her. 16.5ventosa per aequora vectum” .

[13] torta: cf.Verg. A. 3.208, cited on v. 7.

[13] incanduit unda: cf. Ov. Met. 4.530percussa recanduit unda” ; and with incanduit in this sense Plin. Pan. 30pars magna terrarum alto pulvere incanduit” .

[14] With the general picture cf.

ac totus multo spumabat remige pontus,
cum trepidae fremitu vitreis e sedibus antri
aequoreae pelago simul emersere sorores

Sil. Ital. 7.412ff.
.

[14] freti: the MS. feri hardly describes the beautiful faces and forms of Thetis and her companions, being usually joined with such adjectives as immanis, inhumanus, immansuetum; but on freti cf. Oct. 720talis emersam freto spumante Peleus coniugem accepit Thetim” .

[14] candenti e gurgite: cf. v. 13 incanduit unda; v. 18 e gurgite cano; Lucr. 2.767[mare] vertitur in canos candenti marmore fluctus” ; Sil. Ital. 14.362spumat canenti sulcatus gurgite limes” .

[15] monstrum admirantes: cf. the wonder expressed by the shepherd at the sight of the Argo in Accius ap. Cic. ND 2.35.89.

[15] Nereides: sea-nymphs, daughters of Nereus and Doris; cf. v. 29 n Tethys.

[17] oculis: emphasizing the reality of the wonderful sight; cf. Ter. Eun. 677hunc oculis suis nostrarum nunquam quisquam vidit” .

[18] nutricum: the word occurs only here in the sense of papillarum.

[18] tenus: with the genitive, as in Cic. Arat. 83lumborum tenus” , Verg. G. 3.53crurum tenus” .

[18] gurgite cano: cf. v. 14 n.; Ciris 514cano degurgite” .

[19] tum: Catullus represents this as the first meeting of Peleus and Thetis; but, according to Apollonius 1.558, Peleus, though an Argonaut, was long since married; while Val. Flacc. 1.130 represents the wedding of Peleus and Thetis as pictured among the adornments of the Argo itself, and Achilles as brought by Chiron to bid his father good-by before the sailing (Val. Flacc. 1.255).

[19] fertur: cf. v. 2 n. dicuntur.

[20] hymenaeos: plural, as in v. 141; but singular with the same meaning in Catul. 66.2. On the lengthening of the preceding short syllable see Intr. 86g.

[21] pater ipse: i.e. Zeus, who had himself intended to wed Thetis; but being warned by the Fates (or, according to other stories by Themis, or by Prometheus) that the son of Thetis would be greater than his father, he gave up his purpose, and furthermore, fearing that his own throne might be endangered by the existence of a rival, declared that Thetis should wed no immortal; cf. Aesch. PV 167ff., Aesch. PV 907 ff.; Ov. Met. 11.221 ff.

[22] nimis optato: cf. Catul. 43.4n. nimis, and with the general sentiment of the verse, Verg. A. 6.649magnanimi heroes, nati melioribus annis.

[23] salvetesalvete iterum: cf. Verg. A. 5.80salve, sancte parens; iterum salvete” , etc.

[23] matrum: either there is hypallage of the adjective, or bonarum must be supplied in the lacuna, as Peerlkamp suggested. With the idea cf. Catul. 61.226ff.

[23b] Cf. Crit. App.

[24] Cf.

χαίρετε πολλάκι Μοῖσαι,
χαίρετ᾽: ἐγω δ᾽ ὕμμιν και ἐς ὕστερον ἅδιον ᾀσῶ

.

[25] taedis aucte: cf. Catul. 66.11auctus hymenaeo” .

[26] Thessaliae columen: cf. Ter. Phor. 287columen familiae” ; Hor. Carm. 2.17.3mearum columen rerum” ; Sen. Troad. 128columen patriae” ; Hom. Il. e)/rkos *)axaiw=n.

[27] amores: not of Thetis herself (cf. Catul. 6.16n.), but of the passion of Zeus for her,—‘in whose favor the father of the gods himself resigned his passion.’ With the plural cf. Catul. 38.6; Catul. 64.334, Catul. 64.372; Catul. 68.69; Catul. 96.3; Pl. Merc. 2et argumentum et meos amores eloquar” ; Hor. Carm. 2.9.10 nec tibi Vespero surgente decedunt amores” ; Verg. Ecl. 9.56nostros in longum ducis amores.

[28] tenuit: sc. complexu; cf. Catul. 72.2; but otherwise in Catul. 11.18; Catul. 55.17.

[28] Nereine: Gr. Νηρηΐνη; but elsewhere the Latins use either Nereis (cf. v. 15) or Nerine (cf. Verg. Ecl. 7.37Nerine Galatea” ).

[29] Tethys: the daughter of Uranus and Ge, and the wife of her own brother Oceanus, by whom she became the mother of the sea-nymphs called Oceanides, of the rivers of earth, and of Nereus. From the marriage of Nereus with his sister Doris, one of the Oceanides, sprang the sea-nymphs called Nereides, of whom the most famous were Thetis, Amphitrite, the wife of Poseidon, and Galatea, the beloved of Polyphemus.

[30] totum amplectitur orbem: cf. Hom. Il. 18.399ἀψοπ̓π̓όου Ὠκεανοῖο” ; Aesch. Prom. 138τοῦ περι πᾶσάν θ᾽ εἱλισσομένου χθόν᾽ ἀκοιμήτῳ ῥεύματιπατρο , Ὠκεανοῦ” ; Val. Flac. 1.195terras salo complecteris omnes” ; Tib. 4.1.147Oceanus ponto qua continet orbem” ; Bryant, Thanatopsis 42 ““and, poured round all, Old Ocean's gray and melancholy waste.””

[31-42] The introductory narrative finished, the poet turns to the main theme, and describes first the gathering of the mortal wedding-guests.

[31] quae luces: with a general reference to the fixing of the wedding-day in v. 29.

[31] simul: sc. atque; cf. Catul. 22.15n.

[31] optatae: cf. with the thought, Catul. 62.30; Catul. 66.79.

[32] domum: sc. of Peleus.

[34] dona: wedding-gifts, not propiatory offerings to a superior.

[34] prae se: thus commonly of things carried in the hands; cf. Verg. A. 11.249munera praeferimus” .

[35] Cieros: otherwise Cierium, a town of Thessaliotis, according to Strabo 435.

[35] Phthiotica Tempe: with a poet's license concerning geography, Catullus calls the famous vale of Tempe through which the Peneus flows (cf. v. 285) Phthiotic, as synonymous with Thessalian in general, though in strictness the district of Phthiotis was the southernmost of the divisions of Thessaly, extending not so far north even as Pharsalus.

[36] Crannon and Larisa were both towns of Pelasgiotis near the Peneus.

[37] Pharsalum coeunt: the commoner form of the legend made Mt. Pelion the place of the wedding, and Chiron the host.

[38] mollescunt colla invencis: since they no longer bore the yoke; in this expression, as in the following verses, the absolute desertion of the farm is pictured by representing it as if it had lasted a long time.

[39] Cf. Verg. Ecl. 4.40f.non rastros patietur humus, non vinea falcem; robustus quoque iam tauris iuga solvet arator” .

[39] humilis vinea: here, as, according to Varro RR 1.8, in Spain and some parts of Asia, the vines were not trained on trees, but either ran along the ground or were so cut as to be kept low. The latter plan is followed to-day in the great vineyards of California, and to some extent in Italy itself.

[39] curvis: perhaps referring to the crescent-shaped iron, the two points of which form the teeth of the rastrum pictured in Rich's Dict. Ant. s.v.

[39] rastris: the rastrum was a heavy sort of rake of from two to four strong iron teeth, used to break up clods and to loosen the surface of the ground.

[40] prono: of the point of the share down-pressed, that it may cut a deep furrow; cf. Verg. G. 1.45depresso aratro” ; Verg. Georg. 2.203presso sub vomere” .

[41] attenuat arboris umbram: that the sun may reach and ripen the grapes. Attempts have been made by various critics to rearrange vv. 38-42 so as to produce a more consistent picture by bringing together details that concern the same objects; but there seems to be no good reason for criticising the alternation of the description between the tasks which men performed alone and those in which cattle shared (after the general statement made in v. 38 that men and beasts ceased from toil).

[43-266] The adornment of the palace of Peleus.

[43] ipsius: i.e. Peleus; such a remote reference of ipse, so that it is equivalent to some such word as dominus, is not uncommon; cf. Catul. 114.6; Ter. Andr. 360paululum obsoni; ipsus tristis” ; Verg. Ecl. 3.3ipse Neaeram dum fovet” ; Juv. 1.61lora tenebat ipse” .

[43] opulenta recessit regia: the guest standing at the door looks through an imposing vista of room succeeding room; cf. on the word Verg. A. 2.300Anchisae domus arboribus obtecta recessit” ; Plin. Ep. 2.17.21contra parietem medium zotheca recedit” ; and with the idea, the description of the first series of rooms in Pliny's villa (Ep. 2.17.5).

[44] Cf. Vergil's description of Dido's palace in Verg. A. 1.637ff.

[45] candet ebur sollis: the couches arranged about the tables have ivory legs; cf. v. 303 and 61.115; like mensae, solus is a dative.

[46] gaudet: i.e. wears a festive appearance, as Sirmio was to do at the master's return (Catul. 31.12); cf. Hor. Carm. 4.11.6ridet argento domus” .

[47] pulvinar geniale: for lectus genialis, as a more formal and imposing term, and one especially connected with divinity.

[48] sedibus in mediis: the poet is apparently thinking of a Roman house, where the lectus genialis stood in the atrium.

[48] Indo dente politum: = ebore polito; cf. Ov. Met. 8.288dentes [apri] aequantur dentibus Indis” .

[49] Observe the favorite contrast of color between the ivory of the couch and its crimson drapery; cf. Hor. S. 2.6.102rubro ubi cocco tincta super lectos canderet vestis eburnos” .

[50] With this verse begins the episode of Ariadne's Lament, which extends through v. 266, thus forming more than half of the entire poem, and setting in striking contrast the unhappy love of Ariadne with the happy love of Thetis. Episodic digressions of a similar character, depicting actions represented in graving or embroidery, are as old as the description of the shield of Achilles (Hom. Il. 18.478ff.), and are multiplied in later writers. With the episode of Catullus may be compared the story of Ariadne as told by Ov. AA 1.527ff.; Ov. Her. 10.

[52] fluentisono: ἅπαξ λεγόμενον, though fluctisonus and undisonus are found in post-Augustan poets. The word has reference to the crash of breakers upon a rock-bound coast, perhaps here to point the impossibility of escape; v. 121 spumosa ad litora Diae and the more neutral epithet used by Hom. Od. 11.325Δίῃ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ” .

[52] Diae: asserted by several of the Greeks to be but an earlier name for Naxos. But Hom. Od. 11.321ff.) very probably thought of the island of Dia that lies very near the north coast of Crete, whence the tradition may have been transferred to Naxos, the favorite haunt of Dionysus, as the later story of Ariadne's rescue by Dionysus gained ground. Catullus certainly must have followed the later tradition, if he had any definite tradition in mind.

[53] A favorite subject in the Pompeian frescoes is Ariadne awaking from sleep and gazing after the departing ship of Theseus; cf. Roux, Herc. et Pompeii, passim.

[53] classe: cf. v. 212 n.

[54] indomitos furores: of uncontrollable love; cf. Catul. 50.11; Catul. 64.94; Catul. 68.129.

[55] Cf. Ov. Her. 10.31aut vidi, aut tanquam quae me vidisse putarem” .

[56] faliaci: sleep is traitorous since he made the secret flight of Theseus possible; cf. Ov. Her. 10.5in quo me somnusque meus male prodidit et tu.

[57] desertam, miseram: with this use of the adjective miser, instead of the adverb, with another adjective, cf. Catul. 65.21miserae oblitae” .

[58] immemor: used absolutely and with similar meaning in Catul. 30.1.

[59] cf. Catul. 30.10n.

[60] ex alga: i.e. from the beach; v. 168; Mart. 10.16.5quidquid Erythraea niger invenit Indus in alga” .

[61] The figure is that of a Bacchante speechless, motionless, and utterly forgetful of her own appearance through the very exaltation of her wild emotions; cf. Hor. Carm. 3.25.8non secus in iugis Edonis stupet Euhias Hebrum prospiciens” ; Ovid Her. 10.49 mare prospiciens in saxo frigida sedi, quamque lapis sedes, tam lapis spsa fui.

[61] prospicit, eheu, prospicit: she stands absorbed in long-continued, but alas, fruitless gazing.

[62] curarum: cf. Catul. 2.10n.

[62] undis: with the figure cf. Lucr. 3.298irarum fluctus” ; Lucr. 6.34volvere curarum tristis in pectare fluctus” ; Verg. A. 4.532saevit amor, magnoque irarum fluctuat aestu” ; Verg. A. 8.19magno curarum fluctuat aestu” .

[63] flavo: etc. cf. the apparent reminiscence in Ciris 511purpureas flavo retinentem vertice vittas” . Fair hair is traditionally a mark of beauty in the poets.

[63] subtilem mitram: the finely-woven, variegated coif worn by Greek women, as by Orientals in general. In Greece it seems to have consisted of a sort of scarf arranged either as headdress or as girdle.

[64] non contecta: etc. her breast unshielded by its veil of light drapery. With the reinforcement of the idea by the introduction of velatum cf. v. 103 ingratafrustra (but see Crit. App.).

[64] levi amictu: doubtless the chiton; cf.

ut erat e somno tunica velata recincta,
nuda pedem, croceas inreligata comas

.

[65] strophio: a girdle woven or wound like a cord (cf. tereti, and the mother's dress in the well-known Herculanean Toilet of the Bride), and worn by women over the inner tunic just below the breasts, to which it was apparently designed to furnish support.

[65] lactentis: not of the color, but of the full development, of the breasts in the mature woman; cf. Verg. G. 1.315frumenta in viridi stipula lactentia turgent” ; Ov. Fast. 1.351sata vere novo teneris lactentia sucis” ; and especially Petron. 86implevi lactentibus papillis manus” .

[67] adludebant: with the figure cf. Cic. ND 2.39.100ipsum mare terram appetens litoribus adludit” ; Top. 7.32solebat Aquilius quaerentibus iis quid esset litus ita definire, qua fluctus eluderet” .

[69] toto pectore, toto animo, tota mente: cf. Vulg. Luc. 10.27 diliges dominum deum tuum ex toto corde tuo, et ex tota anima tua … et ex omni mente tua.

[71] exsternavit: apparently the first appearance of this rare word; cf. also only v. 165; Ov. Met. 1.641; Ov. Met. 11.77; and much later Latin.

[72] Erycina: Venus was so called by the Romans from her ancient and famous shrine on Mt. Eryx in western Sicily.

[73] illa tempestate quo ex tempore: a variation of the ordinary prose pleonasm illo die quo die. For one simple ablative repeated by another with ex cf. Catul. 35.13quo temporeex eo” , where, as here, the starting-point of a continued effect is indicated.

[73] ferox: used absolutely, as in v. 247.

[74] curvis litoribus: embracing the harbor.

[75] iniusti: so called of course from the Athenian standpoint, since he required such a heavy penalty for the death of one man, his son; but cf. Ov. Her. 10.69pater et tellus iusto regnata parenti” , and the references to Minos as appointed because of his justice to judge souls in the lower world, cf.

ἔνθ᾽ τοι Μίνωα ἴδον, Διο ἀγλαὸν υἱόν,
χρύσεον σκῆπτρον ἔχοντα, θεμιστεύοντα νέκυσσιν

; Hor. C. 4.7.21cum semel occideris et de splendida Minos fecerit arbitria” .

[75] Gortynia: probably simply ‘Cretan’; cf. v. 172 Gnosia litora.

[76] nam perhibent: the poet drops the thread of his story for a moment to relate the circumstances that led to the present condition of Ariadne; cf. v. 2 n. dicuntur.

[77] Androgeoneae caedis: Androgeos, son of Minos and Pasiphae, conquered all his competitors at wrestling in Athens, and was through jealousy assassinated while on his way to the games at Thebes. According to another story, King Aegeus himself caused his death by sending him against the fire-breathing Marathonian bull. Minos thereupon besieged the Athenians, who were compelled to yield to him by a pestilence sent by the gods, and to accept his hard conditions of peace.

[78] electos: cf. v. 4 lecti iuvenes. The number is commonly given as seven of each sex (as also, perhaps, in Verg. A. 6.20ff.).

[78] innuptarum: for virginum, as in Catul. 62.6.

[79] Cecropiam: traditionally the ancient name of the city of King Cecrops, which was called Athenae after the goddess Athena became recognized as its patron.

[80] angusta: of the small size of the young city, and not of the straitening by the hardships of siege.

[83] funera nec funera: with the oxymoron cf. Catul. 112.1multus neque multus” (where, however, there is an ἀμφιβολία); Cic. Phil. 1.2.5insepultam sepulturam” ; Ov. AA 2.93pater nec iam pater” (repeated in Ov. Met. 8.231); and especially such favorite Greek expressions as πόλεμος ἀπόλεμος, τάφος ἄταφος, etc. The reference is doubtless to the life-in-death of the victims on their way to Crete, who were mourned as dead from the moment of their sailing.

[84] atque ita: i.e. with the purpose mentioned in the preceding verses; cf. v. 315atque ita” .

[84] nauve levi et lenibus auris: the happy indications of a swift and prosperous voyage are contrasted with the shrinking horror and dread in the hearts of the passengers.

[84] nitens: pressing forward.

[85] magnanimum: the Homeric μεγάθυμος.

[85] sedes superbas: the abode of tyranny; with reference to v. 75 iniusti regis.

[86] This account of the sudden love of Ariadne for Theseus closely’ resembles that given by Apollonius 3.275ff. in describing Medea's love for Jason.

[86] virgo regia: i.e. Ariadne; cf. Ov. Met. 11.570fueramque ego regia virgo” .

[87] suavis exspirans odores lectulus: cf. Ciris 3suaves exspirans hortulus auras” . The idea seems to have been suggested by the Homeric phrase θάλαμος θυώδης (e.g. Od. 4.121).

[88] in molli complexu matris: cf. Catul. 61.58; Catul. 62.21.

[89] quales: etc. cf. Catul. 61.22n.

[90] aura educit: cf. v. 282; Catul. 62.41n.

[90] colores: by metonymy for flores; cf. Val. Flac. Arg. 6.492lilia per varios lucent velut alba colores” .

[91] non prius, etc.: cf. Catul. 51.6 (and note), and contrast the idea with the more complex treatment of Medea's first passion in Ov. Met. 7.86ff.

[92] cuncto: etc. cf., however, the commoner phrase in Verg. A. 7.356necdum animus toto percepit pectore flammam” ; Ov. Met. 7.17excute virgineo conceptas pectore flammas” ; Petron. 127Iuppiter et toto concepit pectore flammas” . On the figure see Catul. 2.8n.

[93] imis medullis: cf. Catul. 35.15n.

[95] sancte: a general epithet of divinity; cf. Catul. 36.3n.; Tib. 2.1.81sancte [Amor], veni dapibus festis, sed pone sagittas” .

[95] curis: etc. cf. the similar phrase concerning Venus in Catul. 68.18 quae dulcem curis miscet amaritiem.

[96] cf. Catul. 36.12ff.

[98] flavo hospite: cf. v. 63 n.

[100] quanto magis expalluit: with the construction cf. Cic. Acad.1.3.10quanto magis philosophi delectabunt” ; with the figure, Catul. 81.4. Dark-complexioned people, as the people of southern Europe usually are, turn yellow lather than white when pale.

[103] ingrata, frustra: with the pleonasm cf. v. 64 contecta, velatum; with ingrata in this passive sense, ‘without due return,’ cf. Catul. 73.3; Catul. 76.6; but in the active sense, ‘ungrateful,’ Catul. 76.9.

[104] tacito succendit vota labello: the beautiful figure of the incense of prayer is unique in Latin in this pure form, but is so simple that its authenticity is above reasonable suspicion. The connection of prayers with incense-offering is not infrequently noted; cf. Stat. Theb. 11.236vota incepta tamen libataque tura ferebat” . Ariadne's prayer was offered silently, as became her maidenly feeling, and the necessary concealment of her love from her friends.

[105] velut: etc. with the figure cf. Verg. A. 2.626ff.; Hor. Carm. 4.6.9ff.; and often.

[110] saevum: apparently used here, though perhaps here only, as a substantive, indicating the distinctive characteristic of this monster, as ferus, so often used substantively, (e.g. Catul. 63.85), characterizes ordinary wild beasts.

[111] nequiquam: etc. cf. Cic. Att. 8.5.1πολλὰ μάτην κεράεσσιν ἐς ἠέρα θυμήναντα” ; cf. also Verg. A. 12.105[taurus] ventos lacessit ictibus.

[111] vanis: unsubstantial, offering no resistance; cf. Val. Flac. 1.421saltem in vacuos ut bracchia ventos spargat” ; but

to saw
The solid air with many a ragged jaw.

Shelley, Medusa of Da Vinci 23

[112] pedem reflexit: perhaps the verb is selected because it suggests the turnings (v. 114) of the labyrinth.

[112] multa cum laude: cf. Hor. Carm. 4.4.66multa proruit integrum cum laude victorem” .

[113] Cf. of the same incident Verg. A. 6.30caeca regens filo vestigia” ; Prop. 3.14.8Daedalium lino cum duce rexit iter” ; Ov. Her. 10.103nec tibi quae reditus monstrarent fila dedissem.

[114] labyrintheis: ἅπαξ λεγόμενον.

[115] inobservabilis error: cf. Verg. A. 5.501irremeabilis error” ; Verg. A. 6.27inextricabilis error” (of the Labyrinth); Apoll. Sid. Ep. 2.5inextricabilem labyrinthum negotii multiplicis” ; Plin. NH 36.85itinerum ambages occursusque ac recursus inexplicabiles continet” ; Ov. Met. 8.160turbatque notas, et lumina flexum ducit in errorem variarum ambage viarum” ; Shelley, Medusa of Da Vinci 35 “that inextricable error.”

[118] consanguineae: for sororis. Apollod. 3.1.2 speaks of three other daughters of Minos besides Ariadne, Acale, Xenodice, and Phaedra, of whom Catullus probably had in mind Phaedra, who is the most prominent of them in mythology, and was later the wife of Theseus himself.

[119] misera: contrasting the present wretched condition of Ariadne, betrayed by a false love, with the affection formerly lavished upon her by her family.

[119] deperdita: of the limitless love of the mother, rather than of her present unhappiness; cf. Catul. 45.3; Catul. 104.3.

[120] Thesci: dissyllabic, like v. 382 Pelei, and Culex 278Orphei” (cited on v. 139).

[120] praeoptarit: with the synizesis cf. Pl. Trin. 648praeóptavisti amórem tuom uti virtuti praepóneres” ; Ter. Hec. 532ádeon pervicáci esse animo ut púerum praeoptarés perire” .

[121] spumosa litora Diae: cf. v. 52 n.

[122] devinctam lumina somno: cf. Ciris 206iamque adeo dulci devinctus lumina somno Nisus erat” .

[124] perhibent: cf. v. 2 n. dicuntur.

[124] ardenti corde: cf. v. 197 ardens.

[125] clarisonas: a rare word, occurring only here (of the shrill cries of anguish), in v. 320 (of the shrill voice of age), and in Cic. Arat. 280 a clarisonis auris Aquitenis” (of the shrilling blast).

[125] imo ex pectore: i.e. after a long-drawn, sighing inspiration; cf. Verg. A. 1.371suspirans imoque trahens a pectore vocem” .

[126] Cf. Ov. Her. 10.25ff.

[128] tremuli: rippling; cf. Ov. Her. 11.75ut mare fit tremulum, tenui cum stringitur aura.

[128] procurrere: with the vain impulse to follow the fleeing vessel.

[129] mollia: soft; cf. Catul. 65.21molli sub veste” .

[129] nudatae: proleptic.

[130] extremis: for her grief so far overcomes her that she supposes herself to be dying; cf. Prop. 4.7.55flens tamen extremis dedit haec mandata querelis” .

[131] frigidulos singultus: carrying on the idea of extremis, indicating the last panting breaths as chill death creeps on; cf. Ciris 347super morientis alumnae frigidulos ocellos” .

[132-201] With the complaint of Ariadne cf. similar passages in Verg. A. 4.590ff. (the complaint of Dido); Ov. Met. 8.108ff. (of Scylla).

[132] patrus ab aris: = a domo; cf. Verg. A. 11.269patriis redditus aris” , and often; Charis. 33 K.arae pro penatibus” .

[134] neglecto numine divum: the gods punish infidelity of all sorts; cf. Catul. 30.3f.

[135] devota: i.e. under the ban of Ariadne's curse; cf. v. 192ff.

[139] blanda voce: after the wont of persuasive lovers; cf. Enn. Ann. 51blanda voce vocabam” ; Culex 278turba ferarum blanda voce sequax regionem insederat Orphei” ; Ov. AA 1.703quid blanda voce moraris?Ov. AA 3.795nec blandae voces cessent” .

[140] miserae: the dative with dedisti seems to be continued into the iubebas-clause, though a simple infinitive and dative is a rare construction with that verb.

[141] sed: etc. cf. the close verbal and metrical resemblance of Verg. A. 4.316per conubia nostra, per inceptos hymenaeos” . The repetition of sed corresponds to that of non haec in v. 139f.

[141] conubia: plural with singular meaning, as in v. 158; but singnlar in Catul. 62.57.

[141] hymenaeos: cf. v. 20 n.

[142] venti: etc. cf. Catul. 30.10n.

[143] nunc: etc. cf. Ov. Fast. 3.475nunc quoquenulla viroclamabofemina credat” (spoken by Ariadne with reference to the infidelity of Bacchus).

[145] praegestit: the word apparently occurs only here, in Cic. Cael. 67praegestit animus iam videre” , and in Hor. Carm. 2.5.9iuvencae ludere cum vitulis praegestientis” .

[149] turbine leti: cf. Val. Flac. 6.179doloris turbine” .

[150] germanum: i.e. the Minotaur; cf. v. 181; Ov. Her. 10.115dextera crudelis quae me fratremque necavit” .

[150] crevi: archaic for decrevi; cf. Lucil. 13.1acribus inter se cum armis confligere cernit” ; Pl. Cist. 1mihi amicam esse crevi matrem tuam” .

[151] supremo in tempore: i.e. in extreme danger of life; cf. v. 169 extremo tempore; Hor. Carm. 2.7.1tempus in ultimum” .

[152] dilaceranda: etc. cf. Hom. Il. 1.4αὐτοὺς δὲ ἑλώρια τεῦχε κύνεσσιν οἰωνοῖσί τε πᾶσι” ; Verg. A. 9.485canibus data praeda Latinis alitibusque iaces” ; Ov. Her. 10.96destituor rapidis praeda cibusque feris” .

[153] iniecta … terra: the passage of the soul across the Styx was secured only by due burial under at least three handfuls of earth; cf. Hor. Carm. 1.28.36licebit iniecto ter pulvere curras” .

[154] Cf. c. 60.

[155] mare: etc. cf.

γλαυκὴ δέ σε τίκτε θάλασσα
πέτραι τ᾽ ἠλίβατοι, ὅτι τοι νόος ἐστὶν ἀπηνής

.

[156] Scylla rapax: cf. Ap. Sid. C. 9.165Scyllae rabidum voracis inguen” .

[157] dulci vita: cf. Hom. Od. 5.152γλυκὺς αἰών

[158] tibi cordi conubia: cf. Catul. 44.3; cf. Catul. 81.5; Catul. 95.9; Ter. Andr. 328tibi nuptiae haec sunt cordi” .

[159] prisci: stern, as the older days were proverbially the stricter; cf. Hor. Carm. 3.21.11narratur et prisci Catonis saepe mero caluisse virtus” .

[159] parentis: of course Aegeus, and not Minos, is meant, and the commands that would shut Ariadne, the rescuer of his son, out of his home she justly calls saeva; cf. Hyg. Fab. 43Theseus in insula Dia cogitans, si Ariadnen in patriam portasset, sibi opprobrium futurum” , etc.

[160] vestras: i.e. of Theseus and his family; cf. v. 176 nostris.

[161] serva: etc: cf.

to be your fellow
You may deny me; but I'll be your servant,
Whether you will or no.

[162] permulcens: etc. a common duty of female slaves, and Ariadne would especially delight in performing personal service for her hero; cf. Hom. Od. 19.386ὣς ἄρ᾽ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ λέβηθ᾽ ἕλε παμφανόωντα τοῦ πόδας ἐξαπένιζεν” , etc.

[162] vestigia: for pedes, an extremely rare use; but cf. Sen. Thy. 1043 rupta fractis cruribus vestigia; Sen. Oed. 833forata ferro vestigia” .

[164] sed quid: etc. with the rhetorical question in self-address cf. v. 116ff.

[165] exsternata: cf. v. 71 n. exsternavit.

[165] auctae: endowed; cf. Lucr. 3.628animas sensibus auctas” .

[168] alga: cf. v. 60 n.

[169] extremo tempore: at my last hour; cf. v. 151 n.

[172] Gnosia: doubtless simply ‘Cretan’; cf. v. 75 Gortynia tecta.

[173] tauro: so the Minotaur is called also in v. 230.

[174] religasset funem: of mooring to the shore; cf. Verg. A. 7.106gramineo ripae religavit ab aggere classem” ; Luc. Phar. 7.860nullus ab Emathio religasset litore funem navita” .

[175] malus hic: cf. Catul. 29.21n.

[177] Cf. Eur. Med. 502ff.; Ov. Met. 8.113ff.nam quo deserta revertar? in patriam? deserta iacetpatris ad ora? quem tibi donavi?” C. Gracchus (Cic. De. Or. 3.214) quo me miser conferam? quo vertam? in Capitoliumne? at fratris sanguine madet. an domum? matremne ut miseram lamentantem videam et abiectam?

[178] Ariadne proposes to herself three courses, and rejects them successively as impossible, the first, because of her isolation from home, the other two, because also of her past deeds.

[178] Idaeos montes: i.e. Crete, the thought being simply of returning home.

[180] sperem: sc. even if I could reach Crete.

[180] quemne: = quippe quem; cf. v. 183; Catul. 68.91. The interrogative particle -ne is not infrequently joined to relatives to point the reason for controverting a previous assertion, or for answering in the negative a previous question; cf. Pl. Trin. 360quin comedit quod fuit, quod non fuit?Ter. Phor. 923quodne ego discripsi porro illis quibus debui?” and Minton Warren, Amer. Jour. Phil. Vol. 2 p. 50ff.

[181] fraterna: cf. v. 150

[183] quine: etc. i.e. as if it were not my husband who is now fleeing from me.

[184] nullo: etc. the appositive phrase sola insula is inserted between the subject and its modifying ablative of characteristic tecto in a somewhat unusual form of hyperbaton; cf. however Juv. 3.48mancus ci exstinctae corpus non utile dextrae” .

[186] nulla spes: on the lengthening of the final syllable see Intr. 86g.

[186] omnia muta: as no ear was open to her grief (v. 170), so there was no voice to speak sympathy; cf. Prop. 1.18.1haec certe deserta loca et taciturna querenti.

[193] anguino redimita capillo: cf. Aesch. Lib. 1049peplektanhme/nai puknoi=s dra/kousin” ; Hor. Carm. 2.13.35intorti capillis Eumenidum angues” ; Verg. A. 6.280discordia demens, vipereum crinem vittis innexa cruentis.

[194] exspirantis: i.e. the angry, hissing serpents but betoken the anger that breathes forth from the breasts of the furies.

[194] praeportat: of a thing prominently displayed; cf. Lucr. 2.621tela praeportant violenti signa furoris.

[195] huc huc adventate: Catul. 61.8huc huc veni” .

[196] vae miserae: cf. Catul. 8.15n.; Ter. Andr. 743vae miserae mihi” ; Ov. Her. 3.82hic mihi, vae miserae, concutit ossa metus” .

[196] extremis medullis: from my inmost soul; but this instance of the ablative alone with proferre is perhaps unique. cf. Catul. 35.15n.

[197] ardens: like v. 124 ardenti corde.

[200] quali: etc. i.e. as Theseus forgot his vows (v. 58 immemor iuvenis; v. 123 immemori pectore), let forgetfulness bring upon him the fatal penalty (cf. vv. 247-248).

[203] anxia: explained by v. 197; cf. Catul. 68.8. 204ff. adnuit: etc. cf. Hom. Il. 1.528ff.; Verg. A. 9.106adnuit et totum nutu tremefecit Olympum” ; Stat. Theb. 7.3concussisque caput, motu quo celsa laborant sidera proclamatque adici cervicibus Atlas” .

[206] mundus: the firmament, as in 66.1; but cf. Catul. 47.2.

[207] caeca caligine: cf. Cic. Arat. 345adiment lucem caeca caligine nubes” ; Lucr. 3.304caecae caliginis umbra” ; Verg. A. 3.203incertos caeca caligine soles” .

[208] consitus: beset; very rare in this figurative sense till postclassical times; but cf. Pl. Men. 756consitus sum senectute” .

[209] Cf. the close verbal resemblance of v. 238; Lucr. 2.582memori mandatum mente teneri” .

[211] Erechtheum portum: so Homer calls the Athenians by the name of their fabulous king in Hom. Il. 2.547δῆμον Ἐρεχθῆος μεγαλήτορος” .

[212] classi: perhaps of a single ship; cf. v. 53 with vv. 84 and 121.

[212] divae: the use of the unmodified noun to indicate Athena seems to be made possible by the unmistakable reference to Athens in v. 211 Erechtheum portum.

[215] incundior vita: cf. Catul. 68.106ita dulcius atque anima” ; and on similar expressions, Catul. 3.5n.

[217] extrema: etc. Theseus passed his early life with his mother Aethra in the home of her father Pittheos, king of Troezene, and when he finally came to Athens, found Aegeus already an old man.

[217] fine: feminine, as regularly in Lucretius, and not very infrequently in other writers of all ages, in the singular; but note the masculine plural in Catul. 64.3; Catul. 66.12.

[221] gaudens laetanti pectore: cf. Catul. 67.26n.

[222] fortunae signa secundae: in this instance, white sails. On white as the color proverbially connected with good fortune, cf. Catul. 68.148n.; Pers. 1.110per me equidem sint omnia protinus alba” .

[224] terra: etc., a common sign of extreme grief among the ancients; cf. Vulg. Iob 2.12ploraverunt, scissisque vestibus sparserunt pulverem super caput suum in caelum” ;

ἀμφοτέρῃσι δὲ χερσὶν ἑλὼν κόνιν αἰθαλόεσσαν
χεύατο κὰκ κεφαλῆς, χαρίεν δ᾽ ᾔσχυνε πρόσωπον

; Verg. A. 12.611 canitiem immundo perfusam pulvere turpans.

[225] vago: swaying; cf. Enn. frag. 151 R.arbores vento vagant” .

[227] obscurata ferrugine Hibera: cf. Verg. A. 9.582ferrugine clarus Hibera” ; Verg. G. 1.467caput obscura ferragine texit” ; Ov. Met. 5.404obscura tinctas ferrugine habenas” . The dye was apparently produced from a variety of ochre, and its hue is described by Pl. Mil. 1181palliolum habea: ferrugineum (nam is colos thalasicust)” , and by Servius on Verg. ll. cc. vicinus purpurae subnigrae; purpura nigrior. It was, therefore, a sort of dull, dark violet.

[228] sancti incola Itoni: the shrine of Athena in the Boeotian city (and mountain) of Itonus was well known to the Romans; cf. Liv. 36.20ibi statua regis Antiochi posita in templo Minervae Itoniae iram accendit” .

[229] defendere: the simple complementary infinitive with adnuere in this sense is very rare, but is justified by the similar construction with other verbs of promising.

[229] Erechthei: genitive; cf. v. 120 Thesei (but v. 382 Pelei, Catul. 66.94Hydrochoi” , dative).

[230] tauri: cf. v. 173 n.

[232] oblitteret aetas: cf. Catul. 68.43; Catul. 64.322 In these three places, and in v. 237, aetas has the sense of tempus; elsewhere in Catullus, of vita.

[233] invisent: cf. Catul. 31.4n.

[234] funestam vestem: the garb of mourning; cf Acc. Trag. 86 R.sed quaenam haec mulier est funesta veste, tonsu lugubri?

[234] undique: the word is probably used merely to emphasize the urgency of the bidding,—‘every stitch of mourning.’

[237] te reducem sistet: cf. Liv. 29.27.3domos reduces sistatis” .

[237] aetas: cf. v. 232 n.

[238] Cf. v. 209

[239] ceu: etc. cf. Hom. Il. 5.522ff.

[241] summa ex arce: i.e. from the Acropolis, whence he would have an unimpeded view over the sea southward. This form of the story is followed also by Diod. 4.61.7 and Paus. 1.22.5; but another form makes the promontory of Sunium the place whence Aegeus watched for the return of the ship, on descrying which he threw himself into the thence-named Aegean Sea; cf.

linquitur Eois longe speculabile proris
Sunion, unde vagi casurum in nomina ponti
Cresia decepit falso ratis Aegea velo

.

[243] inflati: the spread of canvas made the vessel the sooner visible to his straining eye.

[247] ferox: cf. with the absolute use of the adjective v. 73.

[247] Minoidi: Gr. dative; cf. Catul. 66.70Tethyi^” .

[247] 247f. qualem Minoidi: etc. cf. v. 200 f.

[249] quae tum: etc. the poet has hastened on to describe the effect of Ariadne's curse, and now returns to tell her own fate.

[250] saucia: of the wounds of love; cf. Verg. A. 4.1regina gravi iam dudum saucia cura” .

[251] at: etc. in immediate contrast with the absorbing grief of Ariadne is brought the joyous revelry of the Bacchic rout, the leader of which comes to fill the place of the fugitive lover.

[251] parte: sc. of the coverlet.

[251] florens: cf. Catul. 17.14n.

[251] Iacchus: a mystical name of Bacchus especially used by the poets.

[252] thiaso: cf. Catul. 63.28n.

[252] satyrorum, silenis: of the male attendants upon Bacchus the poets usually designate the wanton younger as satyri and the drunken elder as sileni.

[252] Nysigenis: Bacchus is apparently thought of as returning from his great journey to the far East; cf. Verg. A. 6.804qui pampineis victor iuga flectit habenis Liber, agens celso Nysae de vertice tigris” , and Apollonius 4.431 calls Dionysus the prince of Nysa, when speaking of his marriage with Anadne. Nysa is variously described by ancient authorities as a city (or mountain) in India (Plin.), Arabia (Diod.), or Thrace (Hom.; Strabo).

[253] tuo: for the objective genitive, a not very common use; cf. Catul. 87.4 “amore tuo” ; Sall. Iug. 14.8vos in mea iniuria despecti estis.

[254] quae: the following actions are those characteristic of the female followers of Bacchus (cf. also v. 256 harum), while only his male followers have thus far been referred to. Bergk is therefore correct in believing that a verse has been lost after v. 253.

[254] lymphata mente: i.e. crazed with the mad enthusiasm inspired by the god; cf. Hor. Carm. 1.37.14mentem lymphatam Mareotico” .

[255] capita inflectentes: cf. Catul. 63.23n.

[256] tecta cuspide thyrsos: i.e. the vine-rod, or spear, the traditional sceptre and weapon of Bacchus. Its stroke inspired madness; cf. Hor. Carm. 2.19.5 euhoe, parce, Liber, parce, gravi metuende thyrso. It was also carried by his worshippers, as here, and was tipped with a pine cone or with a bunch of vine leaves ( Verg. A. 7.396pampineas gerunt hastas” ), or ivy leaves ( Prop. 4.3.35haec hederas legit in thyrsos” ). All forms of the thyrsus are seen in the frequent representations of Bacchic processions in ancient wall-paintings and bas-reliefs (cf. Rich Dict. Antiq. s.v.).

[257] e divulso: etc. cf. Pers. 1.100raptum vitulo caput ablatura superbo Bassaris” . The action is often represented in ancient monuments. So the frenzied Bacchantes tore Pentheus in pieces (Ov. Met. 3.701ff.).

[258] tortis: etc. cf. Hor. Carm. 2.19.18tu separatis uvidus in iugis nodo coerces viperino Bistonidum sine fraude crines” ; Ov. Met. 4.483[Tisiphone] torto incingitur angue” .

[259] obscura: etc. cf. Hor. Carm. 1.18.12nec variis obsita frondibus sub divum rapiam” (addressing Bassareus). The cista was either a cylindrical basket or a box, in which the secret emblems (orgia) of the worship of Bacchus, or of Ceres, were concealed from uninitiated eyes when carried in procession (celebrabant).

[261-264] plangebant: etc. cf. Catul. 63.21n.;

tympana tenta tonant palmis et cymbala circum
concava, raucisonoque minantur cornua cantu,
et Phrygio stimulat numero cava tibia mentis

.

[261-264] proceris: perhaps with the unusual meaning of lifted high (see the monuments).

[262] tereti aere: i.e. the hemispherical cymbals; cf. Catul. 63.21.

[262] tenuis tinnitus, the sharp shrill, as contrasted with raucisonos bombos of the horns. Note the alliteration, and cf. Lucr. l.c., and the triple alliteration in v. 320.

[263] raucisonos: cf. Lucr. l.c.; Lucr. 4.544et reboat raucum regio cita barbara bombum.

[264] barbara: i.e. Phrygian; cf. Catul. 63.22. Catullus speaks from the standpoint of a Greek; cf. Lucr. l.c.; Hor. Epod. 9.5sonante mixtum tibiis carmen lyra, hac Dorium, illis barbarum” .

[265] talibus: etc. the story of Ariadne is left when happiness in a divine marriage is just coming to her; these verses, concluding the description of the embroidered spread, virtually repeat vv. 50-51, with which it began.

[267-277] The mortal guests give place to the immortals, who come also bringing gifts (278-302), and sit down to the marriage-feast (303-304), while the Parcae, still pursuing their endless task of spinning the thread of fate (305-322), sing the prophetic marriage-song (323-381).

[267] Thessala pubes: cf. v. 32 tota Thessalia.

[268] sanctis: cf. Catul. 36.3n.

[269] hic: temporal, as in Catul. 68.63.

[270] horrificans: the word occurs only here in the sense of ‘ruffling,’ but in later writers in that of ‘shudder-causing.’ But cf. v. 205 horrida aequora; Acc. ap. Non. 422.33mare cum horret fluctibus” ; Hor. Epod. 2.6horret iratum mare” .

[271] vagi solis: the journeying sun, in distinction from the fixed heavenly lights; cf. Catul. 61.117n.; Tib. 4.1.76vagi pascua solis” ; Hor. S. 1.8.21vaga luna.

[273] leviter sonant plangore: cf. Sen. Ag. 717f.licet alcyones Cecya suum fluctu leviter plangente sonent” .

[273] cachinni: genitive singular; for the figure cf. Aesch. Prom. 89ποντίων τε κυμάτων ἀνήριθμον γέλασμα” .

[274] magis magis: cf. Catul. 38.3n.

[275] purpurea luce: i.e. the rosy light of dawn, reflecting which the more distant surface of the sea (undae procul nantes) loses in the gleam its own color.

[277] ad se: to his own home; cf. Pl. Mil. 121in aedis med ad se adduxit domum” ; and often.

[277] vago pede: corroborating passim, with reference to the diverse directions in which the homes lay, and not with the implication of 63.86.

[279] Chiron: the famous centaur, a near neighbor and friend of Peleus, and later the trainer of Achilles.

[279] silvestria dona: but according to Homer one gift of Chiron to Peleus was more warlike; cf.

Πηλιάδα μελίην, τὴν πατρὶ φίλῳ πόρε Χείρων
Πηλίου ἐκ κορυφῆς, φόνον ἔμμεναι ἡρώεσσιν

.

[280] quoscumque: continued by the simple quos in the two following clauses, in the latter of which occurs the noun flores, which the relatives modify. Chiron has gathered the wealth of blossoms from plain, mountain, and riverside to deck the interior of the house, while Peneus (v. 285) brings masses of foliage to adorn the approaches to it.

[281] ora: i.e. the region; cf. Cic. ND 2.164quacumque in ora ac parte terrarum” ; Mark 5.17to depart out of their coasts.

[282] aura parit: cf. v. 90; Catul. 62.41n.

[283] indistinctis: the great number of the flowers precluded their artistic assortment.

[283] plexos corollis: flowers were usually woven into long cords for decorative use at banquets, and were sold among the Romans in that form; cf. the frescoes from Pompeii representing Amoretti in the business of preparing such cords.

[284] permulsa: often used of the delightful effect of pleasing sounds, but not often of odors; cf., however, Stat. Silv. 1.3.11permulsit crocis blandumque reliquit odorem.

[284] risit odore: cf.

κὦζ᾽ ἥδιστ᾽ ὀδμή, πᾶς τ᾽ οὐρανὸς εὐρὺς ὕπερθεν
γαῖά τε πᾶσ᾽ ἐγελάσσε καὶ ἁλμυρὸν οἶδμα θαλάσσης.

[286] Tempe : etc. cf. the description of the famous vale in Ov. Met. 1.568ff.; Plin. NH 4.8.31; Anth. Lat. 315.3 Mey.frondosis Tempe cinguntur Thessala silvis” .

[287] Naiasin: i.e. the nymphs of the vale of Tempe; cf. Cul. 18Pierii laticis decus, ite, sorores Naides” ;

hic etiam viridi ludentes Panes in herba
et Satyri Dryadesque choros egere puellae
Naiadum coetu.

Cul. 115ff.
This form of the Greek dative plural apparently occurs here first in extant Latin; but cf. citations from Varro Charis. 1.15, p. 38schemasin” , and Non. p. 374ethesin” ; Prop. 1.20.12Adryasin” , 32 Hamadryasin, 34 Thyniasin; Ov. Her. 13.137Troasin” ; Ov. AA 3.672Lemniasin” , etc.

[287] linquens: (= relinquens, as often in Catullus) the nymphs who dance with and in honor of the river god are this day left to dance alone.

[287] Doris: see Crit. App.

[288] vacuus: empty-handed the word is rare in this meaning, but cf. Juv. 10.22cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator” ; Vulg. Exod. 23.15non apparebis in conspectu meo vacuus” ; Hom. Il. 2.298κενεὸν νέεσθαι” .

[288] ille: in contrast with Chiron.

[288] radicitus: roots and all. cf. the figurative meaning in Pl. Most. 1092omnia malefacta vostra repperi radicitus” but in v. 108 the meaning is the more usual one, ‘from the roots.’

[289] fagos: etc. the wooded banks of the Peneus (v. 286) made trees his most natural gift.

[290] sorore flammati Phaethontis: i.e. the poplar. On the transformation of the Heliades into poplar-trees see Ov. Met. 2.340ff.;

namque ferunt luctu Cycnum Phaethontis amati,
populeas inter frondes umbramque sororum
dum canit

, etc.; Cul. 127ff.

[294] sollerti corde: cf. Aesch. Prom. 506πᾶσι τέχναι βροτοῖσιν ἐκ Προμηθέως” .

[294] Prometheus: according to the accounts of Hyginus Astr. 2.15 and Servius (on Verg. Ecl. 6.42), Prometheus warned Zeus of the prophecy concerning the son of Thetis (cf. v. 21 n.), and was therefore released from his confinement on Mt. Caucasus. So Prometheus is here a chief guest, as the promoter of the marriage.

[295] extenuata vestigia: the fading scars, not the bit of rock set in a ring, mentioned by Servius (l.c.) and Pliny NH 37.2, which Zeus forced Prometheus to wear as a reminder of his punishment.

[296] silici: dative modifying restrictus.

[298] sancta: cf. Catul. 36.3n. With the hypermeter cf. Catul. 34.22; Catul. 115.5.

[299] caelo: ablative of place.

[300] unigenam: here twin-sister; but cf. Catul. 66.53.

[300] montibus: dative modifying cultricem; cf. Catul. 66.58Canopus incola litoribus” ; and with the idea, Catul. 34.9ff n.

[300] Idri: if the reading be correct, the name is perhaps that of the district in Caria called Idrias by Herodotus and Stephen of Byzantium, where Artemis was worshipped as Hecate.

[301] Pelea adspernata: no story accounting for this disdain is known, and Hom. Il. 24.62 expressly speaks of the presence of all the gods at the wedding, and of a marriage-song sung by Phoebus (cf. also Aesch. ap. Plat. Rep. 2.383).

[303] niveis: being of ivory; cf. v. 45.

[305] cum interea: cf. Catul. 95.3.

[305] infirmo: etc. i.e. tremulous with age; cf. v. 307; Catul. 61.161.

[306] neridicos cantus: cf. Hor. CS 25ff.vosque veraces cecinisse, Parcae, quod semel dictum stabilis per aevum terminus servat” .

[309] roseae: the contrast between the white robe and its crimson border (v. 308) matches that between the crimson fillets and the snowy locks; cf. Prop. 4.9.52[sacerdos] puniceo canas stamine vincta comas” .

[309] niveo vertice: cf. Hor. Carm. 4.13.12capitis nives” .

[310] aeternum: the Fates never cease from their task even to engage in festivities, and the course of destiny is never interrupted.

[311] 311ff.. The picture of the spinning is entirely realistic. A mass of prepared wool but loosely fastened together is attached to one end of the distaff (colus), which is held in the left hand. With the right hand the spinner draws the filaments from the mass and twists them between thumb and finger into a thread, the firmness of the twisting being assisted by attaching the end of the thread to the spindle (fusus), weighted by the turbo, which acts as a fly-wheel.

[312] supinis: the hand is turned palm upward as the fingers draw the filaments from the elevated distaff, but palm downward (prono pollice) as they grasp the hanging thread near the spindle and set it twirling; cf. Tib. 2.1.64fusus apposito pollice versat opus” ; Ov. Met. 6.22levi teretem versabat pollice fusum” .

[314] tereti turbine: a small circular plate of heayy material with a hole through the center somewhat smaller than the thicker part of the long, tapering fusus. Through this the smaller end of the fusus was passed as far as it would go, and the symmetrically distributed weight of the turbo thus gave additional momentum to the whirling spindle. When the thread was spun to a convenient length, its lower part was wound around the fusus, and the process continued as before.

[315] atque ita: i.e. while the process thus described was going on; cf. v. 84 atque ita.

[315] decerpens: while both hands were busy, the yarn was passed between the lips to strip off the outstanding fibers, or to smooth them down so that they might be included in the twist.

[316] aridulis, morsa: both ἅπαξ λεγόμενον. On the diminutive of both noun and adjective in aridulis labellis see Catul. 3.8n.

[317] fuerant exstantia: (= exstiterant) this periphrastic form is not very common, and where occurring is generally with the present tense of esse, as in Catul. 63.57carens est” .

[319] custodibant: older form, chiefly poetic or colloqulal, except from ire; cf. Catul. 68.85; Catul. 84.8.

[320] haec: for hae; so Varro, Lucretius, Vergil, etc., passim.

[320] clarisona: cf. v. 125 n. clarisonas.

[320] vellentes vellera: i.e. beginning their spinning by drawing from the mass of wool on the distaff the filaments to form the yarn cf. Ov. Met. 14.264quae vellera motis nulla trahunt digitis nec fila sequentia ducunt” . With the triple alliteration cf. v. 262.

[322] aetas: cf. v. 232 n.

[323-381] The marriage-song of Peleus and Thetis, arranged in twelve strophes, but without precise correspondence in the number of verses in each (cf. on this point c. 62). In theme and general treatment, and in certain details (eg. the address in vv. 372ff., with which cf. Catul. 61.211ff.), the song is a true epithalamium, such as might be sung outside the closed door of the marriage-chamber, and the conclusion of the description of the wedding with the song reinforces this impression of it. But it is represented as sung by the Fates while the other guests were feasting, and vv. 328ff. suggest that the bride is yet to arrive. Evidently the poet is not attempting to reproduce the exact features of a marriage ceremonial, and precise interpretation from an archaeological standpoint is impossible.

[323] Peleus boasts a glorious descent, and has made this glory greater by his own great deeds, but is to find his greatest glory in his son.

[323] Emathiae: the name meant to the Greeks Macedonia, but with common poetic inexactness is here used of Thessaly; cf. Verg. G. 1.491nec fuit indignum superis sanguine nostro Emathiam pinguescere” (of the battle of Pharsalus).

[325] sorores: cf. Ov. Trist. 5.3.17dominae fati quidquid cecinere sorores” ; Mart. 5.1.3veridicae sorores” .

[326] quae fata secuntur: which the fates follow; the clause modifies subtegmina; cf. Stat. Theb. 1.213vocem fata secuntur” ; Anth. Lat. 227 Baehr.consultum fata secuntur” .

[327] subtegmina: = fila; cf. Hor. Epod. 13.15reditum certo subtegmine Parcae rupere” .

[329] Hesperus: cf. c. 62 passim nn.

[329] adveniet coniunx: see introductory note to vv. 323-381.

[330] flexanimo: heart-compelling; cf. Pac. fr. 177 R.o flexanima atque omnium regina rerum oratio” ; Verg. G. 4.516non ulli animum flexere hymenaei” .

[331] languidulos somnos: cf. Verg. A. 12.908languida quies” ; Tib. 4.1.181languida otia” .

[332] substernens: etc. cf. Ov. Am. 3.7.7illa quidem nostri subiecit eburnea collo bracchia” .

[332] levia bracchia: cf. Catul. 66.10.

[334] contexit: sheltered, doubtless with the notion of privacy usually connected with the verb.

[336] adest concordia: with the arrangement cf. Catul. 30.3n.

[336] Peleo: with synizesis, as in v. 382 Pelei, which is, however, the regular Greek dative.

[339] haud tergo: etc. cf.

οὐκ ἂν ἐν αὐχέν᾽ ὄπισθε πέσοι βέλος οὐδ᾽ ἐνὶ νώτῳ,
ἀλλά κεν στέρνων νηδύος ἀντιάσειε

.

[340] cursus: the commonest epithets of Achilles in the Iliad describe him as swift of foot.

[341] Cf. Pind. Nem. 3.51 κτείνοντ᾽ ἐλάφους ἄνευ κυνῶν δολίων θ᾽ ἑρκέων: ποσσὶ γὰρ κράτεσκε ” ; Stat Ach. 2.111volucres praevertere cervos et Lapithas cogebat equosChiron” .

[341] flammea: fiery-fleet; on the figure cf. Verg. A. 11.718virgo pernicibus ignea plantis” ; Ov. Met. 2.392ignipedum vires expertus equorum” .

[343] non illi: etc., Achilles claims this pre-eminence for himself in Hom. Il. 18.105τοῖος ἐὼν οἷος οὔ τις Ἀχαιῶν χαλκοχιτώνων ἐν πολέμῳ

[344] campi: the vigorous emendation is supported by Stat. Ach. 1.86cum tuus Aeacides tepido modo sanguine Teucros undabit campos” ; Il. Lat. 384sanguine Dardanii manabant undique campi” .

[345] longinquo: of the length of the war, not of its distance from Greece.

[346] periuri Pelopis: Pelops won the chariot-race, and so the hand of Hippodamia, from her father, Oenomaus, by offering half of his kingdom to the latter's charioteer, Myrtilus, if he would loosen the linchpins of the chariot, or substitute pins of wax. Upon the success of the plot, Pelops refused to carry out his agreement, and threw Myrtilus into the sea near Geraestus in Euboea. But the dying curse of Myrtilus followed the house of Pelops thereafter. Cf. Pind. O. 1.114ff.; Apoll. Rh. 1.752; Hyg. Fab. 84.

[346] tertius heres: i.e. Agamemnon, the succession being Pelops, Atreus, Thyestes, Agamemnon, as Homer shows in Hom. Il. 2.105ff.

[350] The traditional signs of grief on the part of women; cf. Hom. Il. 18.30χερσὶ δὲ πᾶσαι στήθεα πεπλήγοντο” ; Verg. A. 1.480crinibus Iliades passis suppliciter tristes et tunsae pectora palmis” ; Ov. Met. 13.491[Hecuba] consueta pectora plangit” . Baehrens supports his emendation by citing Ov. Her. 9.125nec venit incultis captarum more capillis” ; Stat. Theb. 6.32incultam ferali pulvere barbam” .

[350] cano: here as elsewhere (cf. Catul. 17.13; Catul. 61.51; Catul. 68.142) Catullus emphasizes the relations between parent and child, and appeals to our sympathy, by representing the former as in advanced age; cf. putrida ( Hor. Epod. 8.7pectus et mammae putres” ) and infirmis.

[350] variabunt: of the discoloration produced by the blows, which, to mark the depth of woe, were violent, though from weak hands; observe the juxtaposition of infirmis and variabunt; cf. Pl. Poen. 26ne et hic varientur virgis et loris domi” .

[353] 353ff.. velut: etc. the figure is Homeric; cf. Hom. Il. 11.67ff.

[353] praecerpens: clipping down (before him as he advances); the word apparently occurs only here in this meaning, though the figurative meaning in Gell. 2.30.2cuius rei causam, cum Aristotelis libros problematorum praecerperemus, notavi” seems to point in the same direction; cf. Apoll. Rh. 3.1386προτάμωνται ἀρούρας” .

[353] messor aristasdemetit: cf. Il. Lat. 886maturasque metit robustus messor aristas” .

[354] sole sub ardenti: cf. Verg. Ecl. 2.13sole sub ardenti resonant arbusta cicadis.

[354] flaventia arva: cf. Verg. G. 4.126qua niger umectat flaventia culta Galaesus.

[357] Referring to the great repulse of the Trojans at the hands of Achilles in Hom. Il. 21.

[358] passim diffunditur: of the smaller stream losing itself in the larger.

[358] rapido: perhaps of rushing waves rather than of swift current; cf. Catul. 63.16rapidum salum” ; Hom. Il. 2.845Ἑλλήσποντος ἀγάῥῥοος

[359] caesis corporum acervis: with hypallage of the adjective, as not infrequently in poetry.

[359] angustans: etc. cf.

πλήθει γὰρ δή μοι νεκύων ἐρατεινὰ ῥέεθρα,
οὐδέ τί πῃ δύναμαι προχέειν ῥόον εἰς ἅλα δῖαν
στεινόμενος νεκύεσσι, σὺ δὲ κτείνεις ἀϊδήλως

(from the address of the Scamander to Achilles;

[Achilles] milia multa daret leto, gemerentque repleti
amnes, nec reperire viam atque evoluere posset
in mare se Xanthus

.

[360] tepe_faciet: see Intr. 86f.

[362] morti quoque reddita praeda: i.e. the power of Achilles will be shown by the fact that he continues even after death to make the Trojans his prey. Polyxena, daughter of Priam, in the course of the siege betrothed on pretence of peace to Achilles, was at the capture of the city sacrificed to his manes by Pyrrhus; cf. Ov. Met. 13.439ff.; Serv. on Verg. A. 3.321; Hyg. Fab. 110; Eur. Hec. 37ff.; Eur. Hec. 521ff.

[363] teres: round, i.e. circular; cf. v. 314.

[363] bustum: Servius and Hyginus apparently think of the tomb of Achilles as on the Sigean shore; Ovid, following Euripides, has in mind a cenotaph on the shore of Thrace.

[366] copiam: with a dependent infinitive, solvere; cf. Sall. Cat. 17.6molliter vivere copia” ; Verg. A. 9.483te adfari data copia.

[367] Neptunia: i.e. built by Neptune.

[367] solvere vincla: cf. Hom. Il. 16.100ὄφρ᾽ οἶοι τροίης ἱερὰ κρήδεμνα λύωμεν” ; similariy according to Polybius 17.11.5 the fortresses of Chalcis, Corinth, and Demetrias were called πέδαι Ἑλληνικαί.

[368] made^fient: cf. v. 360 n. tepefaciet.

[369] quae: referring to the adjective Polyxenia (= Polyxenae); cf. Liv. 2.53.1Veiens bellum exortum, quibus Sabini arma coniunxerunt” .

[369] ancipiti: two-edged; probably with reference to the bipennis, used both as a weapon of warfare and as a sacrificial axe; cf. Lucil. 751 Lachm. vecte atque ancipiti ferro effringam cardines.

[370] truncum: headless.

[370] summisso poplite: cf. Ov. Met. 13.477super terram defecto poplite labens” (of Polyxena).

[372] animi amores: with this use of an apparently otiose genitive cf. Catul. 2.10animi curas” ; Catul. 68.26delicias animi” ; Catul. 102.2fides animi” . On the plural see v. 27 n.

[374] iam dudum: forthwith, modifying dedatur; the emphasis rests on iam, as the speaker looks from a distant beginning; cf. Verg. G. 1.213papaver tempus humo tegere et iam dudum incumbere aratris” ; Aen. 2.103iam dudum sumite poenas” . But in Plautus the phrase generally means ‘a long time ago,’ the emphasis usually resting upon dudum, as the speaker looks backward from the present; though the play on Amphitruo's misunderstanding of the term as a synonym for modo (Pl. Amph. 692) points toward the beginning of the use here fairly inaugurated by Catullus.

[376] 376 f.. The belief indicated by these verses was widespread in antiquity; cf. Nem. Ecl. 2.10ff.

[376] nutrix: the nurse continued to be the girl's confidential attendant throughout her married life, as was often the case in the times of slavery in the southern part of the United States.

[376] orienti luce: with the morning light; cf. Lucr. 5.664orienti lumine” ; Ov. Fast. 4.832oriens dies” .

[380] cf. Catul. 66.15f.

[382-408] Epilogue, commenting upon the withdrawal of divine presence from the ceremonies of men after the heroic age, on account of the impiety of the race.

[382] Pelei: with synizesis, as in v. 336 Peleo, which is, however, the pure Latin dative; but cf. Catul. 66.94hydrochoi” (dat.), and v. 120 Thesei, v. 229 Erechthei (gen.).

[384] Ellis quotes

ξυναὶ γὰρ τότε δαῖτες ἔσαν ξυνοὶ δὲ θόωκοι
ἀθανάτοισι θεοῖσι καταθνητοῖς τ᾽ ἀνθρώποις

Hes. frag. 218
.

[384] praesentes: in bodily presence; cf. Hor. Carm. 3.5.2praesens divus habebitur Augustus” .

[384] namque: cf. Catul. 66.65n.

[385] coetu: dative, as in Catul. 66.37.

[386] caelicolae: cf. Catul. 30.4; Catul. 68.138.

[387] templo in fulgente: modifying v. 389 conspexit, etc. Evidently the poet is thinking of the splendid temples of a later date rather than of the simple structures of heroic times.

[387] revisens: if the correct reading, probably used absolutely; cf. the ordinary use of revisere with ad.

[388] annua: etc. doubtless a typical occasion only, rather than a known festival.

[390] vagus: often used of the aimless, frenzied rushing to and fro of the god's followers; cf. Catul. 63.13, Catul. 63.86.

[390] Parnasi: this famous mountain of Phocis, the haunt of the gods, rose just behind Delphi.

[391] effusis: etc. cf. the descripion of the Bacchic rout in vv. 254ff.; Ov. Fast. 6.514Thyiades, effusis per sua colla comis” .

[392] Delphi: i.e. the inhabitants of the city; cf. Just. 24.7.8urbem suam Delphi aucti viribus sociorum permuniucre” , and Grk. Δελφοί often. The city was early connected with the worship of Bacchus as of Apollo; cf.

ἐξ οὗτε .ε. Δελφῶν] Βάκχαις ἐστρατήγησεν θεός,
λαγὼ δίκην Πενθεῖ καταρράψας μόρον

Aesch. Eum. 25
; Paus. 10.4.3αἱ δὲ Θυιάδες γυναῖκες μέν εἰσιν Ἀττικαί, φοιτῶσαι δὲ ἐς τὸν Παρνασσὸν παρὰ ἔτος αὐταί τε καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες Δελφῶν ἄγουσιν ὄργια Διονύσῳ” .

[394] Mavors: antique and poetic form for Mars.

[395] rapidi Tritonis hera: i.e. Athena, called Τριτογένεια by Hom. Il. 8.39, etc., probably from the river Triton in Boeotia (Strab. IX. 407; Paus. 9.33.7), rather than from the lake, or river, Triton in Libya (Hdt. 4.178; Plin. NH 5.28).

[395] Rhamnusia virgo: i.e. Nemesis, so called from her famous temple at Rhamnus in Attica; cf. Catul. 66.71; Catul. 68.77; Ov. Met. 3.406adsensit precibus Rhamnusia iustis” ; Stat. Silv. 3.5.5audiat infesto licet hoc Rhamnusia vultu” . Ares and Athena often encourage men to battle in the Iliad, but this function on the part of Nemesis is nowhere else mentioned. Perhaps it is from an unknown Alexandrian source, or else the conjecture of Baehrens is right (Amarunsia virgo = Artemis of Amarynthus in Euboea; cf. Strab. X.448; Paus. 1.31.4).

[397] With this description of the iron age cf. Hes. WD 182ff.; Ov. Met. 1.127ff.; Verg. G. 2.1ff.

[398] institiam: etc. cf. Ov. Fast. 1.249nondum iustitiam facinus mortale fugarat.

[399] perfudere: etc. cf. Lucr. 3.72crudeles gaudent in tristi funere fratris” ; Verg. G. 2.510gaudent perfusi sanguine fratrum” .

[401] genitor etc.: was the optimate Catullus thinking of Catiline in his own day (cf. Sall. Cat. 15.2), or of the story of Hippolytus (to which, however, v. 402 hardly applies)? Cf., however, v. 402 n.

[402] innuptae: virgin; the idea apparently is that the father conceives a passion for his son's promised bride, has him put out of the way upon the eve of the marriage, and proceeds to contract a practically incestuous union with her himself, uniting two unnatural crimes. And as the father sins with the daughter, so (v.403) the mother with the son.

[402] novercae: said by a sort of anticipation, to emphasize the unnaturalness of the position of the former wife and sister, now become the stepmother.

[403] ignaro: etc. again, is the story from the poet's own day, or only that of Jocasta (though impia hardly applies to the action of the innocent mother, equally ignorant with her son)?

[404] divos parentes: i.e. the deified ancestors of the family, who would be especially outraged by such impiety in their descendants; cf. Grk. θεοὶ πατρῷοι; Leg. Reg.divis parentum sacer esto” ; CIL 1.1241 deis inferum parentum sacrum.

[405] fanda nefanda: cf. similar phrases in Ter. Ad. 990iusta iniusta” ; Hor. Ep. 1.7.72dicenda tacenda” ; Verg. A. 12.811digna indigna” ; but without asyndeton in Verg. A. 1.543fandi atque nefandi” ; Ov. AA 1.739mixtum fas omne nefasque.

[406] instificam: justly-dealing; ἅπαξ λεγόμενον.

[408] lumine claro: i.e. the open light of day, as distinct from the cloud in which the gods commonly hide themselves.


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    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 3.406
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 3.701
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 4.483
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 4.530
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 5.404
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 6.22
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 7.17
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 7.86
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 8.108
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 8.113
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 8.160
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 8.231
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 8.288
    • Plautus, Cistellaria, 1.1
    • Plautus, Mostellaria, 5.1
    • Plautus, Trinummus, 2.2
    • Plautus, Trinummus, 3.2
    • Servius, Commentary on the Aeneid of Vergil, 3.321
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 10.189
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 11.249
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 11.269
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 11.718
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 12.105
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 12.811
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 12.908
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 1.371
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 1.480
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 1.543
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 1.637
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 2.103
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 2.300
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 2.626
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 3.203
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 3.208
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 4.1
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 4.316
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 4.532
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 4.590
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 5.158
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 5.501
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 5.80
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 5.806
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 5.859
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 6.20
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 6.27
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 6.280
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 6.30
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 6.335
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 6.649
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 6.804
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 7.106
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 7.356
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 7.396
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 8.19
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 8.207
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 9.106
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 9.483
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 9.485
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 9.582
    • Vergil, Eclogues, 2
    • Vergil, Eclogues, 3
    • Vergil, Eclogues, 4
    • Vergil, Eclogues, 6
    • Vergil, Eclogues, 7
    • Vergil, Eclogues, 9
    • Vergil, Georgics, 1.213
    • Vergil, Georgics, 1.315
    • Vergil, Georgics, 1.45
    • Vergil, Georgics, 1.467
    • Vergil, Georgics, 1.491
    • Vergil, Georgics, 2.1
    • Vergil, Georgics, 2.203
    • Vergil, Georgics, 2.510
    • Vergil, Georgics, 3.53
    • Vergil, Georgics, 4.126
    • Vergil, Georgics, 4.516
    • Old Testament, Exodus, 23.15
    • Old Testament, Job, 2.12
    • Horace, Satires, 1.8
    • Horace, Satires, 2.6.102
    • Ovid, Epistulae, 10
    • Ovid, Epistulae, 16
    • Ovid, Ars Amatoria, 1
    • Ovid, Ars Amatoria, 2
    • Ovid, Ars Amatoria, 3
    • Caesar, Civil War, 3.59
    • Ovid, Epistulae, 10.105
    • Ovid, Epistulae, 10.55
    • Ovid, Epistulae, 11.65
    • Ovid, Epistulae, 13.115
    • Ovid, Epistulae, 3.45
    • Ovid, Epistulae, 9.105
    • Terence, The Mother-in-Law, 4.1
    • Terence, Phormio, 2.1
    • Terence, Phormio, 5.7
    • Plautus, Amphitruo, 2.2
    • Plautus, Menaechmi, 5.2
    • Plautus, Mercator, 1.1
    • Plautus, Miles Gloriosus, 2.1
    • Plautus, Miles Gloriosus, 4.4
    • Plautus, Poenulus, prologue.0
    • Terence, The Brothers, 5.9
    • Terence, Andria, 2.1
    • Terence, Andria, 2.2
    • Terence, Andria, 4.4
    • Terence, The Eunuch, 4.4
    • Phaedrus, Fables, 4.7
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 2.582
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 2.618
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 2.621
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 2.767
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 3.298
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 3.304
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 3.628
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 3.72
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 4.544
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 5.664
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 6.34
    • Lucan, Civil War, 7.860
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 36.19
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 37.2
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 4.8
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 5.28
    • Pliny the Younger, Epistulae, 2.17.21
    • Pliny the Younger, Epistulae, 2.17.5
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 2, 53.1
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 29, 27.3
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 36, 20
    • Ovid, Amores, 2.11
    • Ovid, Amores, 3.7
    • William Shakespeare, The Tempest, 3.1
    • Seneca, Agamemnon, 717
    • Seneca, Medea, 368
    • Seneca, Octavia, 720
    • Seneca, Oedipus, 833
    • Seneca, Thyestes, 1043
    • Seneca, Troades, 128
    • Petronius, Satyricon, 127
    • Petronius, Satyricon, 86
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 2.164
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 2.35
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 2.39
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 1.130
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 1.195
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 1.255
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 1.421
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 1.69
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 1.94
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 6.179
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 6.492
    • Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 2.30.2
    • Sallust, Catilinae Coniuratio, 15
    • Sallust, Catilinae Coniuratio, 17
    • Sallust, Bellum Iugurthinum, 14
    • Ovid, Tristia, 5.3
    • Sextus Propertius, Elegies, 1.18
    • Sextus Propertius, Elegies, 1.20
    • Persius, Saturae, 1
    • Statius, Thebias, 1
    • Statius, Thebias, 11
    • Statius, Thebias, 12
    • Statius, Thebias, 6
    • Statius, Thebias, 7
    • Statius, Silvae, 1.3
    • Statius, Silvae, 3.5
    • Statius, Achilleis, 1
    • Statius, Achilleis, 2
    • Diodorus, Historical Library, 4.61.7
    • Cicero, Topica, 7.32
    • Ovid, Fasti, 1
    • Ovid, Fasti, 3
    • Ovid, Fasti, 4
    • Ovid, Fasti, 6
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