THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO

112
P. OVIDII 1SASONIS
Argus ait; neque euim pecori fcecundior ullo
Herba loco est; aptamque vides pastoribus umbram
Scdit Atlantiades, et euntem multa loquendo 115
Detinuit sermone diem; junctisque canendo
Vincere arundinibus servantia lumina tentat.
llle tamen pugnat molles evincere somnos :
Et, quamvis sopor est oculorum parte receptus ;
Parte tamen vigilat. Quffirit quoque, namque reperta
Fistula nuper erat, qua sit ratione reperta. l
NOTVE.
Lit-i:-. I.
neque est herba fce-
cundior pecori ullo
loco.
115. Atlantiades se-
dit, et detinuit euntem
diern sermone loquen
do multa; tentatqiie
vincere servantia lu
mina canendo junctis
arundinibus.
120. Quoerit quoque,
qua ratione ilia reper
ta sit, namque fistula
reperta crat nnper.
Held by thy voice: thy potent voice lie hears,
113. Argus ail. In giving him an invi And longer will delay to bear tliec tell
tation to stop, and take a seat with him His generation, and the rising birth '
upon the rock on which he was sitting, Of nature from the unapparent deep. BOOK vii.
Argus tells Mercury there is good accom 117. Vincere: to overcome; to lull to
modation both for his goats and for him sleep by the sweetness of the music.
self; the grass is abundant, and there is
an agreeable shade for shepherds.
117. Arundinibus. The reed has been
114. Pastoribul umbram. Argus points a very important instrument in the pro
to the shade which invites them to its cool gress of society. It was originally used in
war for arrows, and thus contributed to
retreat; thus in Virgil:
Sive sub incertas Zeph} ris motantibus umbras, fire and madden the angry passions of men.
Sive entro potius succedimus: aspice ut antrum Made afterwards into flutes, it softened the
Sylvestris raris sparsit labrusca racemis. affections, and promoted pastoral innocence
ECLOGUE v. and happiness. Lastly, it was employed in
115. Atlantiades. Mercury, the grand writing, and, formed into pens, was the
son of Atlas.
means of enlightening the mind, and diffus
115. Euntem diem: the passing day. ing intelligence abroad.
116. Detinuit: detained; arrested. Thus 117. Servantia lumina: his wakeful
Adam, in the Paradise Lost, tells the angel eyes.
that the sun will pause in his orb, to listen 118. Alettes samnos: soft slumbers.
to his recital.
And the great light of day yet wants to run
The timely dew of sleep
Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines
Much of his race, though steep, suspense in
Our eyelids. MILTON.
heaven
QU^ESTIONES.
Where is Tempe ?
Where did the rivers of Greece as
semble ?
Of what geographical explanation is this
capable ?
For what did they assemble ?
Which one of the rivers was absent, and
whv?
Who had fallen in love with lo ?
When surprised by Juno, into what had
he changed her ?
To whose care did Juno assign her ?
Who was Argus ?
To whom did lo come in her wanderings ?
Did thcv know her ?
How did she discover herself'
How does Jupiter resolve to free her ?
Who was Mercury ?
What form and appearance did he as
sume?
What does he endeavour to do with hia
pipe?
What story does he relate to Argus?
Is the story of lo a consistent fable, or
made up of deiached parts ?
What does Herodotus say of her histo
rically ?
What does Diodorus Siculus say ?
. Were Osiris and Jupiter considered the
same ?
How can the love of Jupiter and the
birth of Epaphus be explained?
If we consider lo the moon, how can
we explain the love of Osiris or Jupiter ?
FABULA XIII.
If by lo we understand the earth, how
«nay we explain the love of Jupiter or
Osiris ?
Why was the cow worshipped as a
eacred animal, according to Eusebiua and
others ?
As a hieroglyphic, what may the cow
represent ?
Do Diodorus Siculua and Sophorles
epenk of the wanderings of lo at a time
that agrees with the Fall of man?
Of what, then, had we better consider
the hieroglyphic and worship of the cow a
tradition and corruption ?
15
METAMORPHOSE ON.
113
What do the wanderings of lo indi
cate ?
How do we explain the part of the s'ory
relating to Argus ?
How must we consider lo or Isis in this
connection ?
Were the Greek Mercury and Egyptian
Anubis the same ?
As what did they consider Anubia ?
How is the horizon said to cut off the
head of Argus, and to put out the light
of his eyes?