THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO

FABULA XI.
AGRAULOSIN SAXUM MUTATA.
itfercury beholds a procession of virgins who are carrying presents into tho
temple of Minerva at Athens, and falls in love with one of them, Herse,
the beautiful daughter of Cecrops. and asks the aid of Agraulos, her sister,
to favor his suit. Minerva, displeased with Agreulos for former disobedience
of her orders, engages Envy to infect her with her evil nature. Moved
with envy and hatred of her sinter Herse, she attempts to exclude Mercury
from the house, when the god changes her to stone.
EXPLICATIO.
IN the Explicatio and Notes of Fable VI. of this Book, we have shown,
that, by the three daughters of Cecrops, we are to understand, not real
personages, but personifications of the Athenian people. This mode'of
interpretation must be continued in the explanation of the present Fable ;
and in the jealousy of Agraulos, consequent on the love of Mercury for
her sister Hcrse, we are to contemplate some oivil dissension, owing to
the manner in which trade or commerce was conducted, and possibly the
collection and appropriation of imposts consequent thereon. Mercury, as
the god of gain, presided over commerce, and hence in all cases his statue
stood at the head of the agora or forum. His winged hat and talaria
beautifully represent the white-winged ships that skim the surface of the
deep. As by Herse we are to understand the people of Athens and
those immediately adjacent, who would participate more particularly in
the advantages of trade; it is easy to perceive why Mercury, or com
merce, falls in love with this daughter of Cecrops. Pandrosos, or those
engaged in maritime pursuits, like Herse, the emporium, would enjoy
their advantages from trade, and be satisfied; while Agraulos, the inha
bitants of the country, might envy the opportunities of wealth and fortune
possessed by the city. If duties imposed upon the importation of mer
chandise were expended mainly upon the city, as was probably the case,
still greater cause for disaffection would exist. Efforts were possibly
made to obstruct trade in some way by the inhabitants of the country,
and hence that part of the Fable in which Agraulos endeavors to prevent
Mercury, or commerce, from passing to Horse, or the emporium. That
something of the kind did take place is certain, from the fact that walls,
five miles in length, and hence called the long ivalls, were constructed
from the Piraus, and other ports of Athens, to protect merchandise as it
passed up to the city; and thus Agraulos, or the countrymen, who
attempted to prevent the ingress of Mercury, may be fabled to be changed
into stone, while the god is at liberty to pass in. In relation to the pa
lace of Cecrops containing three chambers, it is possible the Cecropium,
dedicated 19 the majesty of the Athenian people, embraced in the personi
fication Cecrops, had a sanctuary dedicated to Herse, one to Pandrosos,
find one to Agraulos; for the Erechtheum had two chambers, one for
Pandrosos, the other for Herse, under the form of Minerva Polias; while'
the sanctuary of Agraulos stood near.
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'I
INC se sustulerat paribus Caducifer ahs:
Munychiosque volans agros, gratamque Minerva;
Despectabat humum, cultique arbusta Lycasi.
Ilia forte die castas de more puellas,
Vertice supposito, fcstas in Palladis arces
Pura coronatis portabant sacra canistris.
Inde revertentes deus aspicit ales: itcrque
Non agit in rectum, sed in orbem curvat
eundem.
NOTJE.
1. Hinc. After the transformation of Bat-
tus.
1. Caducifer. The wand-bearer; Mercury,
who bears the caduceus.
1. Paribus alis: with equal wings; with
poised wings.
2. Munychios agros. The Athenian fields,
BO called from Munycliium, a promontory near
Alhens. .
2. Gratam Minerva : dear tQ Minerva. Athens was under
the particular protection of Minerva.
3. Calti Lt/crei. The polished Lycteum—where Aristotle
and other philosophers lectured.
5. Festas arces: the festal citadel. The feast of the Pana-
tlienoen was celebrated at that time. .
5. Venice supposito: with the head placed under.
6. Coronatis: crowned with flowers.
6. Pura sacra: the pure offerings; frankincense, &c.
8. In rectum: direct. ,
8. Sed cv.rvat: but bends in a circle.
Throws his sleep flight in many an airy whirl.—MILTON.
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