THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO

is
P. OVIDII NASONIS
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Omne nefas : fugere pudor, verumque, fidesque:
In quorum subiere locum fraudesque dolique
Insidiffique, et vis, et amor sceleratus habendi.
Vela dabat ventis, nee adhuc bene noverat illos,
Navita; quseque diu steterant in montibus altis,
Fluctibus ignotis insultavere carince.
Communemque priiis, ceu lumina solis et auras,
Cautus humum longo signavit limitc mensor.
LIBER 1.
K 5 Pndor, \ erumque,
" fidesque fugere; in
quorum locum fraudesquc
dolique insidireque
subiere, et vis,
ct sceleratus amor habendi.
0. Navitadabatvola
veutis, nee artliuc
10 bene novcrat illos:
que carinrc, qura iliu
fleterant in altis montibus,
insultavere
NOTjE.
5. Fugere: shame, truth, and faith fled the first anemoscope of which we have any
away. Truth and fidelity arc the attrac- knowledge. It was an octagonal tower,
live forces that bind the elements of the ' with an allegorical representation and name
moral world together. Nothing can be on each side, of the wind to which it was
more deplorable than that polity where opposed. A copper Triton, on the summit,
these are wanting. There is a nice gra- pointed with a rod to the point from which
nation observed by the poet. Shame would the wind blew. Iinpcllcd by aiarice, the
restrain many a man from evil; where sailor committed himself to the mercy of
shame would not, a regard for his word winds and waves,
would, and where a regard for his word Qui fragilem truci
would not, plighted faith would withhold Oommisit pelago ratem
him. How depraved must his condition be, Primus, nee timuit prfecipitem Africum
who is not influenced by any, or all of K%£^^rabiem Not,_HoRACB.
hese.
o. Fraudcsque, dolique. There is a like
beautiful gradation in the vices. To injure
another by fraud, is flagitious; it is more
so, to doit treacherously; still worse, to call
in the aid of others, and vframe a plot to ac
complish it; and the worst of all, to con
summate the whole by violence.
I,ove, spotless Truth, and dove-eyed Mercy fled,
Hate, Fraud, and dnrk-browed Vengeance came
instead. HISTOEY OP THE CIII.RCH.
7. Amor sceleralus. Covetousness is
called wicked, because it incites men to
every wickedness.
Quid non mortalin pectora cogis
Auri sacra fames ! VIRGIL.
7. Habendi: of having more ; of grow
ing rich.
Quamvis in ipsa natus sim prone schola
Curamque habendi penitus corde eraserim.
PlLEDRDS.
8. Dabat vela: gave sail; spread the sail
to the winds.
Ausus Tiphys
Pandere vasto carbasa ponto. SENECA.
8. Nec adhnc; nor as yet had well known
them. The Temple of the Winds, built
at Athens, by Andronicus Cyrrhestes, is
Dubioque eecans sequora cursu. SENECA.
9. Stet.ernnt. The trees had stood a long
time, of which the keels were made.
He rends the oak, and bids it ride.
To guard the shores ils beauty graced.
CHARLES SPEAGUE.
10. Carina : the keels; a part of the
ship, put for the ship itself.
The heaven-directed prow
Of navigation bold, that fearless braves
The burning line, or dares the wintry pole.
THOMSON
10. Ftiictibus ignotis: the unknown
waves; distant, unexplored seas.
10. Insullavere: leaped o\er them;
bounded over them, regardlcvi of danger
and shipwreck. Insulto is often used as a
mark of derision.
Dum Priami Paridisque busto
Insuttet armentum. HORACE.
The tall bark bounding lightly o'er the waves,
I taught its course, and \vinged its flving sait
T^SCHYLUS.
11. Communem. The earth common to
all, as the light oi the sun and the breezes.
Nothing could be more common than
these.
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