THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO
THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO
THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO
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134<br />
P. OVIDII <strong>NASO</strong>NIS<br />
Zonarumque trium contcntus fine : polumque<br />
Effiigit Australem, junctamque Aquilonibus Arcton<br />
Hac sit iter : manifests rotse vestigia cerncs.<br />
Utque ferant asquos et ccelum et terra calores ;<br />
Nee preme, nee summum molire per oethera currum.<br />
Altius egrcssus coelestia tecta cremabis ;<br />
Inferius, terras : medio tutissimus ibis.<br />
Neu te dexterior tortum decline! in Anguem ;<br />
Neve sinisterior prcssam rota ducat ad Aram ;<br />
Inter utrumque tene : fortune castera mando,<br />
Q,use juvet, et melius, quam tu tibi, consulat opto.<br />
Dum loquor ; Hesperio positas in littore metas<br />
Humida Nox tetigit : non est mora libera nobis.<br />
Poscimur ; effiilget tcncbris Aurora fugatis.<br />
131. Trium contentus: content with the<br />
limit of three zones. The zodiac cuts the<br />
equinoctial in an oblique direction, and,<br />
passing through the torrid zone, touches<br />
the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capri<br />
corn, which are the extreme boundaries of<br />
the temperate zones.<br />
132. Arcton: the Bear. Callisto, the<br />
daughter of Lycaon, being changed by<br />
Juno into a bear, was made a constellation<br />
near the North pole.<br />
133. Rota vestigia: tracks of the wheel.<br />
The frequent passage of the chariot of the<br />
sun, had rendered the path plain.<br />
134. JEquos calores: just proportions of<br />
heat.<br />
135. Nee preme: neither depress the<br />
chariot.<br />
APOLLO. On seating him, however, in the<br />
chariot, I gave him especial instructions for Iiis<br />
government, how he should fix himself so as to<br />
keep a steady command, how far he might give<br />
the rein in ascending, and how he then should<br />
tend downwards, and how he was to maaage so<br />
as always lo keep master of the bridle, ami to<br />
direct such fiery coursers; 1 told him likewise<br />
the danger of not driving constantly straight<br />
forwards. DIALOGUES <strong>OF</strong> <strong>THE</strong> DEITIES.<br />
135. Nee molire: nor urge it.<br />
136. Altius egressus: having gone too<br />
high.<br />
137. Terras. Supply cremabis.<br />
137. Media tutissimus: you will go safest<br />
in the middle way. This, adopted as a<br />
moito, is susceptible of a fine moral ap<br />
plication. Moderation in all things is de<br />
sirable. The sentiment is similar to the<br />
saying of Cleobulus, one of the Seven<br />
Wise men of Greece: 'AfnoTov pirpov.<br />
138. Dexterior: too much to the right;<br />
too far towards the north; for, to the sun<br />
starting from the east, the north is on the<br />
right hand.<br />
138 Ad lorlumA nguem: to the wreathed<br />
Snake, a constellation which winds around<br />
the north pole.<br />
NOTJE.<br />
135<br />
140<br />
LIBER £1.<br />
limes sectus in obli*<br />
quum lato curvamuio.<br />
136. EgreasusaUma,<br />
creniabis tecta cceles-<br />
tia, egressus, inferius,<br />
errrnabis terras: ibis<br />
tutidsimus medio.<br />
* 140. Tene inter ut-<br />
rumque. Mando coe-<br />
tera fortunce, qutc op-<br />
to ut juvet, et melius<br />
consulat, quam tu eon-<br />
suluisti tibi. \<br />
The Serpent grim betwixt them bends hi» way,<br />
As through the winding banks the c u rrents stray,<br />
And up and down in sinuous bendings rolls.<br />
AEATUS.<br />
The Kid's bright beams, and Serpent's lucid fold.<br />
VIBGIL, Georgic i.<br />
139. Sinisterior. Too much to the left;<br />
too far towards the south.<br />
139. Ad Aram: towards the Al;»r, a<br />
constellation not far from the South pole.<br />
The altar on which the gods are first sup<br />
posed to have made a confederacy against<br />
the Titans, and on which they sacrificed<br />
after their subjection, was translated to<br />
heaven and became this constellation. As<br />
by the conflict of the gods and Titans, we<br />
are to understand the convulsions occa<br />
sioned at the deluge by the great physical<br />
agents, fire and water, and, as from the<br />
remotest antiquity, the celestial hemis<br />
phere presents a pictorial representation<br />
of the deluge, aquatic animals, the ark, the<br />
dove, and the altar, there is little doubt<br />
that the constellation of the Altar is in<br />
tended to represent the one on which<br />
Noah offered sacrifice after leaving the<br />
ark. See note on rate, page 77.<br />
140. later utrumque: keep between the<br />
two; viz. the Serpent and the Altar.<br />
141. Quam tu tibi: than you consult for<br />
yourself.<br />
142. Hesperio in littore: on the western<br />
shore; the Atlantic.<br />
142. M'-tas. The goal was the bound<br />
that marked the end of the course. The<br />
term is used here since the Sun and Night<br />
were represented as drawn in a chariot.<br />
143. Humida Nox: moist Night. When<br />
Nox reached the west, of necessity the sun<br />
must rise in the east.<br />
144. Poscimur: we are called for; we<br />
must go.<br />
144. Tenclris fugatis: the darkness be<br />
ing dispersed.<br />
Now, flaming up the heavens, the potent stm<br />
Melts into limpid air the high-raised clouds,<br />
FABULA I. METAMORPHOSE ON.<br />
Corripc lora manu : vel, si mutabile pectus 145<br />
Est tibi, consiliis, non curribus utere nostris;<br />
Dmrn poles, et solidis etiamnum sedibus adstas ;<br />
Dumque male optatos nondum premis inscius axes;<br />
Qua? tutus spectes, sine me dare lumina terris.<br />
Occupat illc levem juvenili corpore currum ; 159<br />
Statque super; manibusque datas contingere habenas<br />
Gaudet; et invito grates agit inde parenti.<br />
And morning fogs, that hovered round the hills<br />
In party-colored bands. TIIOHSON.<br />
147. Dum poles: whilst you can; whilst<br />
it is in your power.<br />
148. Axes: the axle; the chariot.<br />
149. Sine me dare: permit me to give<br />
light.<br />
150. Occupat. Great eagerness and ce<br />
lerity are indicated by the use of this verb.<br />
The fragment of a play by Euripides,<br />
quoted by Longinus, presents the same<br />
idea.<br />
What did the Palace of the Sun repre<br />
sent?<br />
What coincidence between it and the<br />
Jewish tabernacle ?<br />
Who was the architect of the palace 1<br />
Why was he called Mulciber ?<br />
Why were the Hours, Days, Months,<br />
Years, &c., represented as surrounding<br />
the Sun?<br />
Who was Proteus ? JEetson ? Doris ?<br />
What was the office of Triton J<br />
Did Apollo recognise Phaethon as his<br />
son? What did he ofier him in proof of his<br />
paternity ?<br />
NOTJE.<br />
QlLflESTlONES<br />
135<br />
Thus spoke the god. The impatient youth with<br />
haste<br />
Snatches the reins, and vaults into the seat<br />
EUHIPIDES'S, PHAKTHON.<br />
152. Invito parenti: to his unwilling<br />
father. He was unwilling, as he foresaw<br />
his destruction.<br />
APOLLO. Aware that I could not trust the<br />
chariot to his guidance, 1 resisted his importu<br />
nity a long time; but at last, adding tears to his<br />
entreaties, and his mother Clymeno leaguing<br />
with him so impetuously in the attack, they ex<br />
torted my consent. DIALOGUES <strong>OF</strong> <strong>THE</strong> DEITIES.<br />
Did he confirm it by an oath ?<br />
Are indefinite promises lawful ?<br />
What did Phaethon ask in proof of his<br />
descent ?<br />
Did his father seek to dissuade him ?<br />
Finding his directions unavailing, what<br />
directions did he give him ?<br />
What course does the poet describe aa<br />
the path of the Sun?<br />
Who was Chiron ? for what celebrated ?<br />
Who was Tethys? Aurora?<br />
What was the office of Lucifer ?<br />
What different names has this planet ?<br />
What ancient poet besides Ovid wrote<br />
on the fall of Phaclhon?