cf. Harper's lexicon, s. v. nox. — 16. a catena: G. 401, R. 1.—cani: A. & G. 226, b.—18. alligant me interdiu: cf. Cato, De Agr. 124, Canes interdiu clausos esse oportet, ut noctu acriores et vigilantiores sint.-22. iactant: for the use of the plural cf. A. & G. 205, c. 1. - familia: the slaves.-27. regnare: to be king. mihi: dative of reference (A. & G. 235). 4. This story of the shipwreck and subsequent adventures of Simonides is found only in Phaedrus. As the same tale, with slight variations, is told by Galen, Protrept. ad Artes, c. 2, and by Vitruvius, De Architectura, Introd. to Bk. vI., about the Socratic philosopher Aristippus, it is perhaps mythical, and one of the popular stories of which various persons were at different times the hero. Cf. note on vs. 14. 2. Simonides: the famous lyric poet of Ceos. See Smith, Dict. of Biography. – 5. mercede accepta: Simonides was, according to Suidas, the first to write poems for hire, and was looked down upon by the other poets, notably by Pindar, for this practice, which seems, however, soon to have become general: cf. Pliny, Ep. 3. 21. 3, Fuit moris antiqui eos qui vel singulorum laudes vel urbium scripserant aut honoribus aut pecunia ornare. laudem victorum: Tivíkiα, songs of victory.-7. pelagio: a word borrowed from the Greek for the pure Latin marinus. -II. zonas: money belts. - 14. mecum mea sunt cuncta: these words illustrate what was said, in the introduction to this fable, about popular stories. According to Cicero, Paradoxa 1. 8, when the philosopher Bias was fleeing from his fatherland, which had been captured by the enemy, and was advised to save some of his property, he replied: Omnia mecum porto mea; according to Valerius Maximus 7. 2 Ext. 3, his words were: Bona omnia mea mecum porto. According to Plutarch, De Tranq. 17, and Seneca, Dial. 2. 5. 6 (cf. Ep. 1. 9. 18), the philosopher was Stilpo, and his words were: omnia mea mecum sunt.-17. nudos: not to be taken literally, stripped of their possessions. -21. absentis: though he had never met him. — 23. familia: cf. note on 3. 22.-24. tabulam portant: shipwrecked persons are often described as carrying about a tablet or board with a picture of the wreck, to excite the pity and generosity of those from whom they begged food or money. Juvenal 14. 301, mersa rate naufragus assem | dum rogat et picta se tempestate tuetur. So also in Persius 1.89 and 6. 32, while in Martial 12. 57. 12, the sufferer seems to exhibit a piece of the wreckage bound with ribbons. On the practice of dedicating such pictures in temples, see note on Hor. 2. 13. 5. Cicero, De Oratore, ii. 352, Dicunt enim, cum cenaret Crannone in Thessalia Simonides apud Scopam, fortunatum hominem et nobilem, cecinissetque id carmen quod in eum scripsisset, in quo multa ornandi causa poetarum more in Castorem scripta et Pollucem fuissent, nimis illum sordide Simonidi dixisse se dimidium eius ei, quod pactus esset, pro illo carmine daturum; reliquum a suis Tyndaridis, quos aeque laudasset, peteret, si ei videretur. Paulo post esse ferunt nuntiatum Simonidi, ut prodiret; iuvenes stare ad ianuam duo quosdam, qui eum magno opere evocarent; surrexisse illum, prodisse, vidisse neminem; hoc interim spatio conclave illud, ubi epularetur Scopas, concidisse; ea ruina ipsum cum cognatis oppressum interisse. This same story is told by Quintilian xi. 2. 11, SENECA. (About 4 B. c.— 65 a. D.) Mackail, pp. 171–175. Metrical translation of all the Tragedies in the publications of the Spenser Society, Nos. 43-44, a reprint (fac-simile) of the edition of 1581. 1. According to the version of the story followed by Seneca, after the fall of Troy, and while the Greeks were prevented by unfavorable winds from setting sail, Achilles appearing, in a dream, to Talthybius demands that Polyxena, daughter of Priam, be sacrificed upon his tomb. Agamemnon opposes the sacrifice; Pyrrhus, son of Achilles, insists upon its performance. Calchas, called upon to settle the dispute, decides that not only must Polyxena be sacrificed, but that Astyanax, son of Hector, must be hurled down from the battlements. This decision leads the chorus of Trojan women to reflect on the nature of death, their conclusion being that it is the end of all things. Cf. vs. 27, post mortem nihil est ipsaque mors nihil. Metre: Lesser Asclepiadean (see p. 2, § 10). 2. conditis: buried, laid to rest.—3. oculis imposuit manum: it was customary, both in Greece and at Rome, for the nearest relative present to close the eyes of the dying. For the Roman custom, cf. Pliny, H. N. 11. 150, morientibus illos (oculos) operire rursusque in rogo patefacere Quiritium magno ritu sacrum est. — 6. animam tradere funeri: it was the ancient belief that, unless the prescribed funeral rites were performed, the soul of the deceased could not be admitted to Hades. Cf. Verg. Aen. 6. 325 f. Haec omnis, quam cernis, inops inhumataque turba est; Nec ripas datur horrendas et rauca fluenta transportare prius, quam sedibus ossa quierunt. Centum errant annos volitantque haec litora circum; tum demum admissi stagna exoptata revisunt. -8. toti: body and soul. —9. nostri: the more common form of the part. genitive is nostrum, cf. A. & G. 99. b and c.-11. fax: the torch used to light the funeral pyre. — 14. bis veniens et fugiens: a reference to the tides. — 15. Pegaseo:= veloci, cf. Catullus 55. 24, non si Pegaseo ferar volatu. — 16. bis sena sidera: the signs of the zodiac, a poetic expression meaning years. 18. astrorum dominus: the sun, cf. Sen. Thyestes, 835 f. non aeternae | facis exortu dux astrorum | saecula ducens dabit aestatis brumaeque notas. — 19. Hecate: the cf. Sen. Phaedra, 409 f. O magna silvas inter et lucos dea | clarumque caeli sidus et noctis decus, | cuius relucet mundus alterna vice, | Hecate triformis. — 20. hoc: sc. turbine, cursu, modo; antecedent of quo in vss. 16–18.— 21. iuratos moon, superis lacus: the river Styx, oaths sworn by which the gods themselves must observe.-27. This view of death is diametrically opposed to several utterances of Seneca in his philosophical writings, cf. Ep. 36. 10, mors, quam pertimescimus ac recusamus, intermittit vitam, non eripit: veniet iterum qui nos in lucem reponat dies. Ep. 102, 2, iuvabat de aeternitate animarum quaerere, immo mehercules credere. 28. meta novissima: the last goal, a figure drawn from the race-course.-31. individua: indivisible: the sense in which this is true is explained in the two clauses which follow. -32. Taenara: usually Taenarus or Taenarum. — aspero domino: Dis or Pluto.—37-38. for the sentiment cf. Eurip. Troades, 636, тò μù yevéolai tậ θανεῖν ἴσον λέγω. 2. The chorus invokes the blessing of the gods on the marriage of Jason and Creusa (vss. 1-19), praises the beauty of wife and husband (vss. 20–51), and invites the youths to begin the epithalamium or wedding song (vss. 52–60). On the whole the wedding details here mentioned are more in accordance with Roman usage than with Greek, although there is very little material on which to base a decisive opinion. Cf. Smith, D. A., vol. 2. pp. 136 and 142 f. Metre: vss. 1-19 and 38-54, Lesser Asclepiadean (see p. 2, § 10). vss. 55-60, Dactylic Hexameter. 3. rite faventibus: observing a reverent silence. At sacrifices and other religious observances it was customary to bid the spectators favere linguis, to refrain from words of ill omen, a virtual order to be silent. 4. sceptriferis Tonantibus: Jupiter and Juno.-6. Lucinam: the goddess of child-birth, often called Juno Lucina. - femina: a heifer.-8. quae cohibet, etc.: the goddess Pax or Concordia. She is regularly represented with the horn of plenty, as in vs. 10.- -II. mitior: sc. ut sit. 12. tu: Hymenaeus, god of marriage, cf. Smith, Dict. of Biog. He is represented holding a torch, and so noctem discutiens, vs. 13. - facibus: by metonymy for marriage, nuptiis; so frequently in poetry. — 15. roseo: in Catullus the garland is of marjoram, cf. 61. 6, Cinge tempora floribus | suave olentis amaraci. 16. tu: Venus, or more accurately Vesper, the evening star, identified with Venus. At nightfall the bride was escorted to her new home, and hence the connection of this star with marriage, cf. Catullus 62. 1. Vesper adest: iuvenes, consurgite: vesper Olympo Surgere iam tempus, iam pinguis linquere mensas: Cf. Sappho 93 (Hiller). — gemini praevia temporis: herald of light and darkness, i. e., as morning and as evening star alternately, cf. Sen. Phaedra, 749, talis est, primas referens tenebras, | nuntius noctis, modo lotus undis | Hesperus, pulsis iterum tenebris Lucifer idem. -22. Cecropias: Athenian. -24. muris quod caret oppidum: Sparta, which was not regularly fortified with wall and moat until 195 B. C. Even after this period there were long intervals during which it was without walls.-25. Aonius latex: the Boeotian spring, probably Aganippe, though there were other famous springs in the country. A poetical expression meaning all Boeotia.-26. Alpheos, etc.: Elis.-29. proles fulminis: Bacchus. Cf. the 42. solidum story of his mother Semele in any book on mythology.-31. qui tripodas movet: Apollo. 34 Pollux caestibus aptior: cf. note on Phaedrus, 5. 9.—38. choro: the group of maidens waiting to escort her to her new home. orbem circuitis cornibus alligat: description of the full moon 45. nitidum iubar: the sun. - -47. Phasidis: the name of the chief river of Colchis, used by metonymy for the country itself. 50. Aeoliam virginem: Creusa, who was descended from Aeolus, according to one account. 52. concesso iurgio: while escorting the newly married pair to their home, the attendants were allowed considerable freedom in jest and song. The verses sung on such occasions were known as versus fescennini, and were filled with coarse jests and indecencies. At times, as is seen from vs. 53, the company divided itself into two groups, and each in turn sang a stanza. 55. the reference is to Hymenaeus, cf. note on vs. 12. 56. multifidam pinum: the torch, split at the end to make it burn more freely. -58. the verse is spondaic. 59-60. tacitis eat illa, etc.: a side-thrust at Medea, who fled from home (fugitiva) with Jason. May she go to her husband's house in silence and darkness. 3. Medea has just ordered the nurse to prepare the fatal gifts which are to be sent to Jason's new wife. The chorus breaks in with a song describing the terrible anger of woman when divorced and wronged. There follows a prayer for the preservation of Jason, who has incurred the anger of the gods, and particularly of the sea, by sailing safely on the Argonautic expedition. The chorus recounts at length the fate of those who took part in the expedition, and ends with a second prayer that the gods may regard the sea as having been sufficiently avenged and may spare Jason, who sailed to Colchis only because he was ordered to do so. Metre Sapphic (p. 3, § 19). There are seven stanzas, each composed of four verses, followed by seven stanzas, each composed of eight Lesser Sapphics and an Adonic. 2. 12. 3. viduata taedis: robbed of her wedded rights; taedis is used here like facibus in - 4. nebulosus Auster: the south wind, cf. Gellius 2. 22. 14, Is Latine "auster," Graece "vóros " nominatur, quoniam est nebulosus atque umectus; vorís enim Graece umor nominatur.-9. profundum: the sea. 18. subegit: Jason by crossing the sea conquered it. - 19. furit vinci regna secunda: Neptune rages to have his kingdom, inferior only to Jove's, conquered. secunda: cf. Sen. Herc. Fur. 599, et tu, secundo maria qui sceptro regis. -21-24. the story of Phaethon, cf. any book on mythology. -22. metae: literally, goal, but here equivalent to course, route.· 25. constitit nulli via nota magno: following the beaten path has cost no one dear: constare magno is a mercantile expression, magno the abl. of price.-28. sacro sancta: an instance of tmesis, cf. A. & G. 385.-29. This and the following verses are a free adaptation of the thought in Eurip. Medea 1-6. ... Εἴθ ̓ ὤφελ ̓ ̓Αργοῦς μὴ διαπτάσθαι σκάφος SENECA. 73 44. Aulis — 32. scopulos vagantes: the Symplegades.—34. religavit ora: moored from the shore; ora is ablative, cf. Verg. Aen. 7. 106, religavit ab aggere classem. — 39. domitor profundi: Tiphys was helmsman of the Argo. During the expedition he died of the plague, and Ancaeus, vs. 65, succeeded to his duties. amissi memor regis: Tiphys was by birth a Boeotian, and Seneca here represents that Boeotia's seaport, Aulis, delayed the departure of the Greeks on the 46. vocali genitus Trojan expedition as a mark of respect to his memory. 52. Thracios sparsus, Camena: Orpheus was the son of the Muse Calliope. etc. according to the tradition, Orpheus was torn in pieces by the Thracian women, his head was thrown into the Hebrus and borne down to the sea. - 54. notam: because of his former visit in search of Eurydice. — 56. Aquilone natos : Calais and Zetes, who according to tradition were slain by Hercules, for whose anger several reasons are assigned; (1) the young men had opposed the project of returning to seek for Hercules when he had been left behind by the Argo; (2) they had beaten him in an athletic contest; (3) they had disputed with him about the distribution of spoils. -57. patre Neptuno genitum: Pericly menus, who was, however, the son of Neleus, and so grandson of Neptune. — 58. innumeras : if this word is retained in the text, both the second and third feet of the verse are dactylic.— 60. Ditis patefacta regna: Hercules had visited Hades to bring up Cerberus. 63. tabe gemini cruoris: the poison of the centaur's blood; gemini because of the nature of the centaur, half horse and half man. — 65. Ancaeum: cf. 66. saetiger: boar.-67. morerisque dextra matris iratae: cf. the Meleager is said to die by the hand story of Meleager in any book of mythology. of his mother because she throws into the fire the brand on which his life depends. — 70. puer inrepertus: Hylas, who went to the spring for water and was drowned by the nymphs. It was while searching for Hylas that Hercules was left behind by the Argonauts; cf. note on vs. 56.-73. fonte timendo: when even a spring must be dreaded.—75. serpens: Seneca alone attributes the death of Idmon to a snake-bite. The general opinion seems to have been that he was killed by a boar. 79. igne fallaci : Mopsus, vs. 77, is supposed to have died of a snake-bite.. Nauplius, angry because his son Palamedes had been put to death by the Greeks before Troy, set false beacons on the rocky coast, so that the returning Greeks might be wrecked, but on learning that Ulysses had escaped, he flung himself pendet: the future, because into the sea and was drowned. 80-81. cadet . . . at the time when the action of the play is supposed to take place, these events had not occurred. At the beginning of verse 81 some words are lost. supplies occidet proles. -82. fulmine et ponto moriens Oileus: cf. Verg. Aen. 1. 39, f., on vs. 39. Pallasne exurere classem Argivom atque ipsos potuit submergere ponto, Ipsa, Iovis rapidum iaculata e nubibus ignem, illum, exspirantem transfixo pectore flammas, turbine corripuit, scopuloque infixit acuto. Leo -84. Pheraei uxor: Alcestis. -88. ustus accenso Pelias aeno: a reference to the story told in the third selection from Ovid in this book.—91. iusso: Jason was ordered by Pelias to go in search of the golden fleece. |