7. Dempti is a prolepsis (at least in one sense of the word) for 'demendi;' the honeycomb could not be removed until after the hive was lifted up. 13. Inaequali arundine. The σúpıyέ or Pandean pipe. So Virg. E. 2. 35 and 32 'Est mihi disparibus septem compacta cicutis 'Pan primus calamos cera coniungere plures 24. i. e. he rakes the ground after the grass has been cut. The epithet 'rarus' indicates the distance from each other at which the teeth of a rake are fixed, it being properly applied to objects which are separated by a considerable space. So Lucretius speaks of 'res molles rarasque' (1.737), the particles of which are not in close combination; and in Virgil. 1. 118 we have 6 Apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto.' 27. Venerit. In this and similar expressions grammarians suppose an ellipse of 'si.' But this is quite unnecessary, for the subjunctive mood here indicates that the proposition is hypothetical. Adoptet. We have the same metaphor again in Ov. Medic. Fac. 5 'Cultus et in pomis succos emendat acerbos, and in Martial 13. 46 'Vilia maternis fueramus praecoqua ramis, Nunc in adoptivis persica cara sumus,' and Pliny H. N. 15. praef., speaking of fruit trees, 'sive illae ultro, sive ab homine didicere blandos sapores adoptione et connubio.' Insitio properly 'the operation of grafting;' here 'the season for grafting.' 28. Stetque peregrinis, &c. The process and the effects are thus described by Virgil, G. 2. 78 'Aut rursum enodes trunci resecantur et alte Plantae immittuntur: nec longum tempus et ingens Miraturque novas frondes et non sua poma.' 33. Sagaci, 'keen scented.' The true meaning of the word is fully explained by Cic. de N. D. c. 31 'Sagire, sentire acute est ex quo sagae anus, quia multa scire volunt, et sagaces dicti canes.' Figuratively it is applied to the mind, and signifies acute,' 'endowed with keen perception,' and the like. Pronum, i. e. 'flying at full speed,' not as Burm. explains it, 'celer,' 'velox.' 'Pronus' properly signifies 'stooping or bending forwards,' which is the attitude of a man when running fast, and hence it is applied to animals in general, and even to inanimate objects, as when Horace says of the moon, Od. 4. 6, 39 'Prosperam frugum, celeremque pronos = Volvere menses.' i. e. 'swift careering months.' 35. Varia formidine. He refers to a method of hunting, resembling, in some respects, what is now called a ‘battue,' practised by the ancients. A number of men surrounded a large space with ropes, to which feathers of different colours were attached; the beasts of chase were scared by these, and fled from all quarters towards the point where the nets were fixed, to which it was the object of the hunter to drive them. Virgil, when speaking of stags entangled in a snow wreath, Georg. 3. 371 'Hos non immissis canibus, non cassibus ullis, Puniceaeve agitant pavidos formidine pennae.' 40. Lino aut calamis. 'Linum' indicates the method of ensnaring birds by means of a noose, 'laqueus,' or springe, 'pedica,' or net, 'rete,' which was supported by a wooden fork, 'ames;' thus Hor. Epod. 2. 33 'Aut amite levi rara tendit retia Turdis edacibus dolos,' and Virg. G. 1. 139 'Aut laqueis captare feras aut fallere visco,' all of which were employed by fowlers, aucupes.' Calamis might signify shooting them with arrows, as Virg. E. 3. 12 'Aut hic ad veteres fagos, cum Daphnidis arcum and Hor. Od. 1. 15, 17 'Hastas et calami spicula Gnosii = Vitabis,' but it is better here to understand, ‘a reed smeared over with birdlime,' (viscus.') The title of the following Epigram of Martial is Calami Aucupatorii' 14. 218 'Non tantum calamis, sed cantu fallitur ales, Pallida dum tacita crescit arundo manu.' 41. Dediscis. 'Dediscere' is to 'unlearn,' to erase from the mind something which has been impressed upon it. So again, Ov. R. A. 503 9. 'Intrat amor mentes usu; dediscitur usu.' FASTORVM DEDICATIO. FAS. I. I. READ the general introduction to the Fasti in the Appendix. 1. Tempora cum causis. The word 'Tempora' here includes the divisions into which the Roman year was portioned out, together with the different festivals and remarkable events noted in the Calendars; all of which the poet proposes to describe, and, at the same time, to explain the origin, 'causis,' of the various rites and ceremonies. Digesta. Digerere' is properly an agricultural term, and signifies to plant out in rows.' So Virg. G. 2. 53 'Nec non et sterilis (sc. planta) quae stirpibus exit ab imis Hoc faciet vacuos si sit digesta per agros,' and 266 'Ante locum similem exquirunt, ubi prima paretur and hence, generally, 'to arrange in order,' as of the Sibylline leaves in Virg. Ae. 3. 445 'Quaecunque in foliis descripsit carmina virgo, Digerit in numerum, atque antro seclusa relinquit.' 2. Lapsa. The word 'labor' well expresses the gentle silent progress of the constellations through the sky, so below line 65 'Iane biceps, anni tacite labentis origo," and Virg. G. 1. 5 "Vos, O clarissima mundi Lumina, labentem caelo quae ducitis annum.' 3. Caesar Germanice. He dedicates the work to Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Tiberius. To make the allusions which follow more intelligible, we subjoin a portion of the genealogical tree of the Caesars. Livia Drusilla, the third wife of Augustus, bore him no children; but by her former husband, Tiberius Claudius Nero, she had two sons. I. TIBERIUS Claudius Nero, born 42 B. C., adopted by Augustus A.D. 4, became Emperor A. D. 14, died A. D. 37. He was twice married; his wives were-1. Agrippina, daughter of M. Vipsanius Agrippa and Caecilia the daughter of Atticus, by whom he had one son, Drusus, who died A. D. 23, poisoned, it was believed, by Sejanus. 2. Julia, daughter of Augustus, by whom he had a son, who died while an infant. II. DRUSUS Claudius Nero, who died in Germany, 9 B.C., in consequence of a fall from his horse. He married Antonia the younger, daughter of M. Antonius the triumvir, by whom he had two sons and one daughter, these were-1. Caesar Germanicus, born 15 B. C., adopted by Tiberius A. D. 4, died A. D. 19. He married Agrippina, daughter of M. Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the daughter of Augustus, by whom he had six children, among whom was Caius Caesar CALIGULA, born A.D. 12, Emperor A.D. 37, killed A.D. 41. 2. CLAUDIUS, born 10 B. C., Emperor A. D. 41, poisoned A.D. 54. 3. Livilla, s. Livia, s. Julia. 4. Navis. The poets are fond of comparing their undertakings to a ship at sea; thus Virg. G. 2. 39 'Tuque ades, inceptumque una decurre laborem, O decus, O famae merito pars maxima nostrae, Maecenas, pelagoque volans da vela patenti. 'Atque equidem, extremo ni iam sub fine laborum Vela traham, et terris festinem advertere proram,' &c. to which add Ov. Fast. 4. 729 (see 24. 9) 'Mota Dea est, operique favet. Navalibus exit Puppis: habent ventos iam mea vela suos.' 7. Recognosces. Germanicus being a learned prince, Ovid, with the politeness of a courtier, hints that the verses now presented to him will 'recall' to his recollection what he already knew, not impart any fresh information. 7. Eruta. 'Bene eruta, in Annalibus enim ex magno rerum vanarum acervo singula conquirenda erant. Itaque et Cicero Pro Murena 16 "Ex annalium vetustate eruenda est memoria nobilitatis tuae "' G. 9. Festa domestica. Every 'gens' and 'familia' among the Romans had its own peculiar sacred rites ('sacra gentilitia; domestica,' &c.), which were, of course, not set down in the Calendars. But the exploits of the Julian line were now so completely identified with the glory of the state, that their triumphs were enrolled in the public records, and their private festivals became days of public rejoicing. The achievements of Augustus, above all, and the honours decreed to him, were regularly chronicled in the Fasti', 'Quae cura Patrum, quaeve Quiritium, Auguste, virtutes in aevum Per titulos, memoresque fastos ....... 10. Pater, i. e. Tiberius, father of Germanicus by adoption. In like manner 'avus' is Augustus, and in line 11 'Druso fratre' is Drusus son of Tiberius, and brother by adoption of Germanicus. These titles are all included in an inscription found in Spain 2. GERMANICO. CAESARI. TI. F. AUGUSTI. N. DIVI. PRON. Cos. L. TURELLIUS. L. F. GEMINUS AED. D. S. P. II. Pictos, i. e. 'illuminated,' as we say of MSS. adorned with paintings or coloured ornaments. Compare Mart. 11. 4, 5 'Et qui purpureis iam tertia nomina fastis, Iane, refers Nervae, vos precor ore pio.' 13. Caesaris aras. Understand not altars dedicated to, but raised by, Augustus. Compare Livy 4. 20 'Augustum Caesarem templorum omnium conditorem aut restitutorem.' 15. Per laudes ire, i. e. 'tractare, recensere.' Compare Ov. Fast. 2. 16 'At tua prosequimur studioso pectore, Caesar, 1 See Cic. ad Brut. Ep. 16, Tacit. Ann. 1. 15. See also the dissertation on the Fasti Praenestini in Wolfe's ed. of Suetonius, vol. 4. p. 318. 2 Gruter. p. 236. 3. |