its borders, carried her remains down to the Tiber; hence she was said to have espoused the deity of the last mentioned stream. It may not be improper to add here a remark of Niehbuhr's in relation to the name of this female. "The reading Rhea," observes the historian, "is a corrup tion introduced by the editors, who very unseasonably bethought themselves of the goddess: rea seems only to have signified the culprit, or the guilty woman: it reminds us of rea femina, which often occurs, particularly in Boccacio." (Niehbuhr's Roman History, vol. 1. p. 176. 2d ed. Hare und Thirlwall's transl.)—Nimium. Taken as an adjective, and referring to ultorem. It alludes to the violence of the inundation. Some commenta tors connect it as an adverb with querenti: “the too-complaining."-19 Jove non probante. Jupiter did not approve that the Tiber should undertake to avenge the death of Cæsar, a task which he had reserved for Au. gustus.

22-27. 22. Graves Persa. "The formidable Parthians." Horace frequently uses the terms Medi and Persa to denote the Parthians. The Median preceded the Persian power, which, after the interval of the Grecian dominion, was succeeded by the Parthian empire. The epithet graves alludes to the defeat of Crassus, and the check of Marc Antony.Perirent. For perituri fuissent.—23. Vitio parentum rara juventus. “Þosterity thinned through the guilt of their fathers." Alluding to the excesses of the civil contest.-25. Vocet. For invocet.-Ruentis imperi rebus. “To the affairs of the falling empire." Rebus by a Græcism for ad res.—26. Prece qua. "By what supplications."-27. Virgines sanctæ. Alluding to the vestal virgins.-Minus audientem carmina. "Turning a deaf ear to their solemn prayers." Carmen is frequently used to denote any set form of words either in prose or verse.-As Julius Cæsar was Pontifes Maximus at the time of his death, he was also, by virtue of his office, priest of Vesta; it being particularly incumbent on the Pontifex Maximus to exercise a superintending control over the rites of that goddess. Hence the anger of the goddess towards the Romans on account of Cæsar's death.

29-39. 29. Scelus. "Our guilt." Alluding to the crimes of the civil war.-31. Nube candentes, &c. "Having thy bright shoulders shrouded with a cloud." The gods, when they were pleased to manifest themselves to mortal eye, were generally, in poetic imagery, clothed with clouds, in order to hide, from mortal gaze, the excessive splendour of their presence.Augur Apollo. "Apollo, god of prophecy."-33. Erycina ridens. "Smiling goddess of Eryx." Venus, so called from her temple on mount Eryx in Sicily.-34. Quam Jocus circum, &c. "Around whom hover Mirth and Love."-36. Respicis. "Thou again beholdest with a favouring eye." When the gods turned their eyes towards their worshippers, it was a sign of favour; when they averted them, of displeasure.-Auctor. "Founder of the Roman line." Addressed to Mars, as the reputed father of Romulus and Remus.-39. Marsi. The common texts have Mauri. But the people of Mauretania were never remarkable for their valour, and their cavalry besides were always decidedly superior to their infantry. The Marsi, on the other hand, were reputed to have been one of the most valiant nations of Italy.-Cruentum. This epithet beautifully describes the foe, as transfixed by the weapon of the Marsian and "weltering in his blood."

41-51. 41. Sive mutata, &c. "Or if, winged son of the benign Maia, having changed thy form, thou assumest that of a youthful hero on the earth." Mercury, the offspring of Jupiter and Maia, is here addressed. -Juvenem. Augustus.-43. Patiens vocari, &c. "Suffering thyself to be

called the avenger of Cæsar." An imitation of the Greek idiom, for te vocari Cæsaris ultorem.-46. Lætus. "Propitious."-47. Iniquum. "Offended at."-48. Ocyor aura. "An untimely blast." The poet prays that the departure of Augustus for the skies may not be accelerated by the crimes and vices of his people.-49. Magnos triumphos. Augustus, in the month of August, A. U. C. 725, triumphed for three days in succession: on the first day over the Pannonians, Dalmatians, Iapydæ, and their neighbours, together with some Gallic and Germanic tribes; on the second day, for the victory at Actium; on the third, for the reduction of Egypt. The successes over the Gauls and Germans had been obtained for him by his lieutenant C. Carinas.-50. Pater atque Princeps. Augus tus is frequently styled on medals, Pater Patriæ, a title which the succeed ing emperors adopted from him.-51. Medos. "The eastern nations." Alluding particularly to the Parthians. Compare note on line 22 of this Ode.-Equitare inultos. "To transgress their limits with impunity." To make unpunished inroads into the Roman territory.

ODE 3. Addressed to the ship which was about to convey Virgil to the shores of Greece. The poet prays that the voyage may be a safe and propitious one: alarmed, however, at the same time by the idea of the dangers which threaten his friend, he declaims against the inventor of navigation, and the daring boldness of mankind in general.-According to Heyne, (Virgilii vita per annos digesta,) this ode would appear to have been written A. U. C. 735, when, as Donatus states, the bard of Mantua had determined to retire to Greece, and Asia, and employ there the space of three years in correcting and completing the Æneid. (Donat. Virg. rit. § 51.) "Anno vero quinquagesimo secundo," observes Donatus, "ut ultimam manum Eneidi imponeret, statuit in Græciam et Asiam secedere, triennioque continuo omnem operam limationi dare, ut reliqua vita tantum philosophia vacaret. Sed cum ingressus iter Athenis occurisset Augusto, ab Oriente Romam revertenti, una cum Cæsare redire statuit. Ac cum Megara, vicinum Athenis oppidum, visendi gratia peteret, languorem nactus est: quem non intermissa navigatio auxit, ita ut gravior indies, tandem Brundisium adventarit, ubi diebus paucis obiit, X. Kal. Octobr. C. Sentio, Q. Lucretio Coss.

1-4. 1. Sic te Diva, potens Cypri, &c. "O ship, that owest to the shores of Attica, Virgil entrusted by us to thy care, so may the goddess who rules over Cyprus, so may the brothers of Helen, bright luminaries, and the father of the winds direct thy course, all others being confined except Japyx, that thou mayest give him up in safety to his destined haven, and preserve the one half of my soul." With reddas, and serves, understand ut, which stands in opposition to sic.-Diva potens Cypri. Venus. From her power over the sea she was invoked by the Cnidians, Eurλota, the dispenser of favourable voyages. (Pausan. 1. 14.)-2. Fratres Helene. Castor and Pollux. It was the particular office of "the brothers of Helen" to bring aid to mariners in time of danger. They were identified by the ancients with those luminous appearances, resembling balls of fire, which are seen on the masts and yards of vessels before and after storms.3. Ventorum pater. Eolus. The island in which he was fabled to have reigned, was Strongyle, the modern Stromboli.-4. Obstrictis aliis. An allusion to the Homeric fable of Ulysses and his bag of adverse winds.— Iapyga. The west-north-west. It received its name from Iapygia, in Lower Italy, which country lay partly in the line of its direction. It was the most favourable wind for sailing from Brundisium towards the south

ern parts of Greece, the vessel having, in the course of her voyage to Attica, to double the promontories of Tænarus and Malea,

9-15. 9. Illi robur et æs triplex, &c. "That mortal had the strength of triple brass around his breast." Robur et as triplex is here put for robur æris triplicis.-12. Africum. The west-south-west wind, answering to the Al of the Greeks.-13. Aquilonibus. The term Aquilo de notes in strictness the wind which blows from the quarter directly opposite to that denominated Africus. A strict translation of both terms, however, would diminish, in the present instance, the poetic beauty of the passage. The whole may be rendered as follows: "The headlong fury of the south-west wind, contending with the north-eastern blasts."-14. Tristes Hyadas. "The rainy Hyades." The Hyades were seven of the fourteen daughters of Atlas, their remaining sisters being called Pleiades. These virgins bewailed so immoderately the death of their brother Hyas, who was devoured by a lion, that Jupiter out of compassion, changed them into stars, and placed them in the head of Taurus, where they still retain their grief, their rising and setting being attended with heavy rains. Hence the epithet tristes ("weeping," "rainy,") applied to them by the poet.-15. Adria. Some commentators insist, that Adria is here used for the sea in general, because, as the Adriatic faces the south-east, the remark of Horace cannot be true of the south. In the age of the poet, however, the term Adria was used in a very extensive sense. The sea which it desig. nated, was considered as extending to the southern coast of Italy, and the western shores of Greece, and the Sinus Ionicus (corresponding exactly with the present gulf of Venice) was regarded merely as a part of it.

17-19. 17. Quem mortis timuit gradum. "What path of death did he fear." i. e. what kind of death. Equivalent to quam viam ad Orcum. -18. Rectis oculis. "With steady gaze," i. e. with fearless eye. Most editions read siccis oculis, which Bentley altered, on conjecture, to rectis. Others prefer firis oculis.-19. Et infames scopulos Acroceraunia. “And the Acroceraunia, ill-famed cliffs." The Ceraunia were a chain of mountains along the coast of Northern Epirus, forming part of the boundary between it and Illyricum. That portion of the chain which extended beyond Oricum, formed a bold promontory, and was termed Acroceraunia ('AKPOKEρavvia) from its summit, (apa) being often struck by lightning (kepavvos). This coast was much dreaded by the mariners of antiquity because the mountains were supposed to attract storms, and Augustus narrowly escaped shipwreck here when returning from Actium. The Acroceraunia are now called Monte Chimera.

22-39. 22. Dissociabili. "Forbidding all intercourse." Taken in an active sense.-24. Transsiliunt. "Bound contemptuously over."-26. Audax omnia perpeti. A Greek construction: Spaσds návrα TĂñvai. “Boldly daring to encounter every hardship."-25. Per vetitum et nefas. Through what is forbidden by all laws both human and divine." The common text has vetitum nefas, which makes a disagreeable pleonasm.-27 Atrox Iapeti genus. "The resolute son of Iapetus." Prometheus.-28. Fraude mala. "By an unhappy fraud."-29. Post ignem ætheria domo subductum. "After the fire was drawn down by stealth from its mansion in the skies."-33. Corripuit gradum. "Accelerated its pace." We have here the remnant of an old tradition respecting the longer duration of life in primeval times.-34. Expertus (est). "Essayed."-36. Perrupit Ache ronta Herculeus labor. "The toiling Hercules burst the barriers of the lower world." Alluding to the descent of Hercules to the shades

Acheron is here put figuratively for Orcus. The expression Herculeus labor is a Græcism, and in imitation of the Homeric form Bin 'Hpakλnein. (Od. 11.600.) So also Karropos Bía (Pind. Pyth. 11. 93. (Tuôéos Bía (Aesch. S. C. Th. 77.) &c.-39. Cœlum. Alluding to the battle of the giants with the gods.

ODE 4. The Ode commences with a description of the return of spring. After alluding to the pleasurable feelings attendant upon that delightful season of the year, the poet urges his friend Sextius, by a favourite Epicurean argument, to cherish the fleeting hour, since the night of the grave would soon close around him and bring all enjoyment to an end.

The transition in this ode, at the 13th line, has been censured by some as too abrupt. It only wears this appearance, however, to those who are unacquainted with ancient customs and the associated feelings of the Romans. "To one who did not know," observes Mr. Dunlop, "that the mortuary festivals almost immediately succeeded those of Faunus, the lines in question might appear disjointed and incongruous. But to a Roman, who at once could trace the association in the mind of the poet, the sudden transition from gaiety to gloom would seem but an echo of the sentiment which he himself annually experienced."

1-4. 1. Solvitur acris hyems, &c. "Severe winter is melting away beneath the pleasing change of spring and the western breeze."-Veris. The spring commenced, according to Varro (R. R. 1. 28.) on the seventh day before the Ides of February (7 Feb.) on which day, according to Columella, the wind Favonius began to blow.-Favoni. The wind Favonius received its name either from its being favourable to vegetation, (favens genituræ,) or from its fostering the grain sown in the earth, (fovens sata).-2. Trahunt. "Drag down to the sea." As the ancients seldom prosecuted any voyages in winter, their ships during that season were generally drawn up on land, and stood on the shore supported by props. When the season for navigation returned, they were drawn to the water by means of ropes and levers, with rollers placed below.-3. Igni. "In his station by the fire-side."-4. Canis pruinis. "With the hoar-frost." Pruina is from the Greek #pwtvn.

5-7. 5. Cytherea. "The goddess of Cythera." Venus: so called from the island of Cythera, now Cerigo, near the promontory of Malea, in the vicinity of which island she was fabled to have risen from the sea.Choros ducit. "Leads up the dances."-Imminente luna. "Under the full ught of the moon." The moon is here described as being directly over head, and, by a beautiful poetic image, threatening as it were to fall.-6 Junctaque Nymphis Gratia decentes. "And the graces, arbitresses of all that is lovely and becoming, joined hand in hand with the Nymphs." We have no single epithet in our language, which fully expresses the meaning of decentes in this and similar passages. The idea intended to be conveyed is analogous to that implied in the rò xaλdy of the Greeks, ("omne quod pulchrum et decorum est.")-7. Dum graves Cyclopum, &c. "While glowing Vulcan kindles up the laborious forges of the Cyclops." The epithet ardens is here equivalent to flammis relucens, and beautifully describes the person of the god as glowing amid the light which streams from his forge. Horace is thought to have imitated in this passage some Greek poet of Sicily, who, in depicting the approach of spring, lays the scene in his native island, with mount Etna sroking in the distant horizon. The inte

rior of the mountain is the fabled scene of Vulcan's labours; and here he is busily employed in forging thunderbolts for the monarch of the skies to hurl during the storms of spring, which are of frequent occurrence in that climate.

9-12. 9. Nitidum. "Shining with unguents."-Caput impedire. At the banquets and festive meetings of the ancients, the guests were crowned with garlands of flowers, herbs, or leaves, tied and adorned with ribands, or with the inner rind of the linden tree. These crowns it was thought prevented intoxication.Myrto. The myrtle was sacred to Venus.-10. Solutæ. "Freed from the fetters of winter."-11. Fauno. Faunus, the guardian of the fields and flocks, had two annual festivals called Faunalia, one on the Ides (13th) of February, and the other on the Nones (5th) of December. Both were marked by great hilarity and joy.--12. Seu poscat agna, &c. "Either with a lamb if he demand one, or with a kid if he prefer that offering."

13-16. 13. Pallida Mors, &c. "Pale death, advancing with impartial footstep, knocks for admittance at the cottages of the poor, and the lofty dwellings of the rich." Horace uses the term rex as equivalent to beatus or dives. As regards the apparent want of connection between this portion of the ode and that which immediately precedes, compare what has been said in the introductory remarks.-15. Inchoare. "Day after day to renew."-16. Jam te premet nox, &c. The passage may be paraphrased as follows: "Soon will the night of the Grave descend upon thee, and the Manes of fable crowd around, and the shadowy home of Pluto become also thine own." The Zeugma in the verb premo, by which it is made to assume a new meaning in each clause of the sentence, is worthy of notice. By the Manes of fable are meant the shades of the departed, often made the theme of the wildest fictions of poetry. Some commentators, however, understand the expression in its literal sense, "the Manes of whom all is fable," and suppose it to imply the disbelief of a future state.

17-18. 17. Simul. For Simul ac.-18. Talis. This may either be the adjective, or else the ablative plural of talus. If the former, the meaning of the passage will be "Thou shalt neither cast lots for the sovereignty of such wine as we have here, nor, &c." Whereas if talis be regarded as a noun, the interpretation will be, "Thou shalt neither cast lots with the dice for the sovereignty of wine, nor," &c. This latter mode of rendering the passage is the more usual one, but the other is certainly more animated and poetical, and more in accordance too with the very early and curious belief of the Greeks and Romans in relation to a future state. They believed that the souls of the departed, with the exception of those who had offended against the majesty of the gods, were occupied in the lower world with the unreal performance of the same actions which had formed their chief object of pursuit in the regions of day. Thus, the friend of Horace will still quaff his wine in the shades, but the cup and its contents will be, like their possessor, a shadow and a dream: it will not be such wine as he drank upon the earth.-As regards the expression, 'sovereignty of wine," it means nothing more than the office of arbiter bibendi, or "toast-master." (Compare Ode 2. 7. 25.)

ODE 5. Pyrrha, having secured the affections of a new admirer, is ad dressed by the poet, who had himself experienced her inconstancy and