THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO
THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO
THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO
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d<br />
100 P. OVIDII N ASONIS<br />
Ncc prosunt domino, quas prosunt omnibus, artes!<br />
Plura locuturum timido Pcne'ia cursu<br />
Fngit; cuinque ipso verba imperfecta reliquit:<br />
Turn quoque visa dccens. Nudabant corpora venti, 75<br />
Obviaque advcrsas vibrabant flainina vestes;<br />
Et levis impexos retro dabat aura capillos ;<br />
Auctaque forma fuga est. Sed enim non sustinet ultra<br />
Pcrdere blanditias juvcnis deus: utque movebat<br />
Ipse amor, admisso sequitur vestigia passu.<br />
Ut canis in vacuo leporcrn cum Gallicus arvo<br />
Vidit; et hie prasdam pedibus petit, ille salutem:<br />
Alter inhiESuro similis, jam jamque tenere<br />
Sperat, et extento stringit vestigia rostro :<br />
Alter in ambiguo est, an sit deprensus : ct ipsis<br />
Morsibus eripitur; tangentiaque ora relinquit.<br />
Sic deus, et virgo est: hie spe celer, ilia timore.<br />
Qui tamen insequitur, pennis adjutus amoris<br />
Ocyor est, requiemque negat: tergoque fugaci<br />
Imminet: et crinem sparsum cervicibus afflat.<br />
Viribus absumtis expalluit ilia: citaeque<br />
Not poppy nor mandragora,<br />
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,<br />
Shall ever medicine ihee to that sweet sleep<br />
Which thou owedsl yesterday. SIIAKSPEARE.<br />
72. Nee prosunt domino: nor do the arts<br />
avail the master, which arc a remedy to all.<br />
He refers more especially to the art of me<br />
dicine, but his remark may apply to all.<br />
Hn could foretel the future to others, but<br />
could not foresee that Daphne would reject<br />
him ; he could soothe others by the power<br />
of music, but bring no sweet forgetfulneBS<br />
of pain to himself; he could heal others,<br />
but could not allay the pangs of unhappy<br />
love in his own case.<br />
73. Plura locuturum: about tosaymore.<br />
7.). Nudabant corpora: disclosed her<br />
body.<br />
76. VHiraoant .• tossed about; caused to<br />
flutter.<br />
78. Aucta eat: was increased in beauty.<br />
78. Non sustinet: cannot bear.<br />
79. Utque movtbat: and as love incited.<br />
80. Admisso passu: at full speed.<br />
81. Canis Gallicus: the greyhound. This<br />
animal docs not run by scent, but by sight,<br />
and generally in a line so direct that if<br />
trees or other objects be in his way, he is<br />
apt to run against them.<br />
81. In vacuo arvo: in a clear field.<br />
83. Hie: this one ; the greyhound.<br />
82. Ille salulcm : that one; the hare<br />
seeks safety. Supply petit.<br />
83. Jnluzsuro similis: asif about to seize.<br />
83. Tenere sperat: hopes to take him.<br />
84. Exlenlo rostro: with extended nose.<br />
How, in his mid career, the spaniel struck<br />
Sa-ff, by the tainted gale, with open nose<br />
NOTJE.<br />
80<br />
85<br />
90<br />
LIBER 1<br />
bem, ct potrntia<br />
7ji Pcnela lugil il<br />
ium locuturum plura<br />
timido cursu; reli-<br />
quitque verha illius<br />
imperfecta cum ipso.<br />
Turn quoque visa est<br />
deccna. Venti nuda-<br />
bftut illius corpora,<br />
obviaque flamina vi<br />
brabant adversas<br />
vestes; et levis aura<br />
dubat relro impexos<br />
capillos.<br />
Kl. Ul cum Gallicus<br />
canis vidit leporem in<br />
vacuo arvo; el hie<br />
petit prredam pedihus,<br />
Mepetit salutem: alter<br />
similis irilui'suro, jam<br />
jamque sperat lenere,<br />
et stringit vestigia<br />
rostro illius: alter est<br />
in ainhiguo; an de-<br />
prensus sit; et eripi<br />
tur ipsis morsibus, re-<br />
Imquitque ora illiiu<br />
tangent] a.<br />
01. Viribns absum-<br />
tis ilia expalluit; vie<br />
tuque lubore cite fu<br />
Outstretched, and finely sensible, draws fun<br />
Fearful and cautious on the latent prey.<br />
THOMSON.<br />
84. Stringit vestigia ; grazes; presses<br />
upon his heels.<br />
86. Morsibus eripitur: is rescued from<br />
his very jaws.<br />
86. Ora relinquit : leaves his mouth as<br />
it touches him.<br />
88. Pennis adjutus. This is a very<br />
beautiful metaphor. Love is drawn with<br />
wings, on account of the inconstancy of<br />
lovers, or the impatience of their desires,<br />
or their ready service.<br />
89. Eequiemqne negat: and denies her<br />
rest; does not permit her to rest.<br />
89. Tergo fugaci: her back as she flies.<br />
90. Crinem aflat: breathes upon the hair<br />
scattered over her neck. This is a very<br />
spirited description, and has been finely<br />
imitated by Pope.<br />
Not half so swift the trembling doves can fly.<br />
When the fierce eagle cleaves the liquid sky:<br />
Not half so switlly the fierce eagle moves,<br />
"When through the clouds he drives the trem<br />
bling doves;<br />
As from the god she flew with furious pace.<br />
Or as the god more furious urged the chase ;<br />
Now fainting, sinking, pale, the nymph appears,<br />
Now close behind tis sounding steps she hears;<br />
And now his shadow rearheilher as she run,<br />
His shadow lengthened by the setting sun:<br />
And now his shorter breath, with sultry air,<br />
Pants on her neck, and fans her parting hair.<br />
Wmusoa FOREST.<br />
91. Viribus nbftimtis.- her strength be<br />
ing spent. Sudden fear overcame her,<br />
when, feeling the breath of the god upon<br />
her neck, she gave way to despair.<br />
FABTJLA XII. METAMORPHOSEON.<br />
Victa labore fugae, spectans Penei'das undas,<br />
Fer, pater, inquit, opem; si flumina numen habetis.<br />
Vix prece finita, torpor gravis alligat artus:<br />
Mollia cinguntur tenui prrecordia libro: 95<br />
In frondem crincs, in ramos brachia crescunt:<br />
Pes inodo tarn vclox pigris radicibus haeret:<br />
Ora cacumen obit: remanet nitor unus in ilia.<br />
Jlanc quoque Phcebus amat: positaque in stipite dextra,<br />
Sentit adhuc trepidare novo sub cortice pectus, 100<br />
Complexusque suis ramos, ut membra, lacertis,<br />
Oscula dat ligno: refugit tamen oscula lignum.<br />
Cui Deus, At conjux quoniam mea no'n potes esse,<br />
Arbor ens certe, dixit, mea: semper habebunt<br />
Te coma, te citharas, te nostrse, Laure, pharetrse. 105<br />
Tu ducibus Latiis aderis, cum lasta triumphum<br />
Vox canct, et longte viscnt Capitolia pompas.<br />
92. Victa labore • overcome by the fi-<br />
tigue of her rapid flight.<br />
92. Spictans fetti idas : when she iaw<br />
the waters of the Peneus.<br />
93. Si flumina ; if, O rivers, you have<br />
divine power.<br />
94. Torpor alligat: a heavy torpor binds<br />
her limbs. The transformation to a tree<br />
has already commenced. The metaphor<br />
is very appropriate.<br />
95. jMolUa preccordia : her. soft breast<br />
Frtzcordia being used for breast, by me<br />
tonymy.<br />
95. Tenui libro: with a thin bark.<br />
96. In frondem crines: her hair grows to<br />
leaves. The leaves of trees are often<br />
spoken of as the tresses of the forest.<br />
Soft gleaming through the umbrage of the-woods<br />
Which tuft her summit, find, like raven tresses,<br />
Wave their dark beauty round the tower of<br />
David. UlLLiiousE.<br />
While ihe winds<br />
Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful<br />
locks<br />
Of those fair trees. MILTOX.<br />
97. Pigris radicibiis: the dull roots.<br />
98. jRemanet nilor: her beauty alone re<br />
mains in it.<br />
99. Ifanc: this; the tree.<br />
100. Trepidare pcclus : feels the breast<br />
Mill tremble ; still beat.<br />
I sing the love which Dapline twined<br />
Around Ihe godhead's yielding mind;<br />
1 sing the blushing Daphne's night<br />
From this ethereal youth of light;<br />
And how the tender, timid maid<br />
Flew panting to the kindly shade,<br />
Resigned n torm. too tempting fair,<br />
And grew a verdant Inure] there;<br />
Whose leaves, in sympathetic thrill,<br />
In terror seemed to tremble still.<br />
ANACEBO.V.<br />
102. Rcfu"it oscula : refuses; declines<br />
the kisses. This is susceptible of a physi<br />
NOTJE.<br />
101<br />
gie. spectans Ptne'f-<br />
das uudas, inquit, Fer<br />
opem.<br />
ill. Prece vix finite,<br />
graxis turpor aligat<br />
artus: molliu pneeor-<br />
dia ringiiiilnr tuuui<br />
lihro: criues trescimt<br />
in irundem, brachia in<br />
ramos : pes inodo lam<br />
velox hrcret pigris<br />
99. Phcebus nmat<br />
hanc quoque; posi<br />
taque dexlra in sti<br />
pite, sentil pectus ad<br />
huc Irepidare sub no<br />
vo corlice. Complex-<br />
UBquc rumos,<br />
103. Cui Deus dixit,<br />
Al, Laure, quoniam<br />
non poles esse mea<br />
coujux certe eris mea<br />
nrbor. Coma semper<br />
habeljil te, cilhoric ha<br />
bebunt te, nosfae pha-<br />
TelTietiabebunt te<br />
cal explanation, for the laurel flourishes<br />
most in shady places, removed irom the<br />
dirert rays of the sun.<br />
104. Arbor eris: you will be ray tree.<br />
The laurel was sacred to Apollo, because<br />
it resembled the sun in dryness and native<br />
heat. As an evergreen, it resembled him,<br />
whose hair was ever youthful. It was sa<br />
cred also for its many uses in medicine, and<br />
in divination. Placed under the pillow, it<br />
was said to cause true dreams, and when<br />
burnt, was efficacious in augury and incan<br />
tation. .Though altered, his love remained<br />
the same.<br />
Believe me, if all Ihose endearing young charms<br />
Which I gaze on so fondly to-day,<br />
Were to change by to-morrow, and fleet in my<br />
arms,<br />
Like fairy gifts fading away ;<br />
Thou wouhlst still be adored, as this moment<br />
thou art.<br />
Let thy loveliness fade as it will;<br />
And around the dear ruin, eneh wish of my henrt<br />
Would entwine itself verdantly still. ftlooRE.<br />
104. Habebunt. The heads of poets,<br />
musicians, and victorious generals, were<br />
encircled with laurel.<br />
106. Ducibus Latiis: the Lallan Lalin<br />
generals. In the triumphal procession, the<br />
general was dressed i» purple, embroidered<br />
with gold, willi a crown of laurel upon his<br />
head, and a branch of laurel in his right hand.<br />
106. Aderis: will be present; will he a<br />
part of the pomp. In the triumphal pro<br />
cessions, the lances of the soldiers, the<br />
letters announcing the victory, and the<br />
victorious generals, were all wreathed with<br />
laurel.<br />
107. Triumpltum cnnrl. As the soldiers<br />
>assed along to the Capitol, it was cus<br />
:omary ibr them to sing In triumplie.'<br />
107. Longai pomprc: the lengthenea<br />
pomps; the long processions. The ]iro<br />
cessions started from the Campus Martius,<br />
i2<br />
I