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Μεμνῆσθαι τάδε τάντα. Θεοῖσι μὲν ἀθανάτοισι
Ῥέζειν ἐν Πεδίῳ παρὰ Θύμβριδος ἄπλετον ὕδως,
Όππη στεινότατον, Νὺξ ἡνίκα γαῖαν ἐπέλθη,
Ηελίου κρύψαντος ἑὸν φάος· ἔνθα σὺ ῥέζειν
Ἱερὰ ποντογόνοις Μοίραις ἄρνας τε καὶ αἶγας.
Κυανέας δ ̓ ἐπὶ ταῖσδ ̓ Εἰλειθυίας ἀρέσασθαι
Παιδοτόκους θυέεσσιν, ὅπῃ θέμις, Αὖθι δὲ Γαίη
Πληθομένη χοιρός τε καὶ ὕς ἱεροῖτο μέλαινα.
Ζάλευκοι ταῦροι δὲ Διὸς παρὰ βωμὸν ἀγέσθων
"Ηματι, μηδ' ἐπὶ νυκτί· θεοῖσι γὰρ οὐρανίοισι
Ημέριος πέλεται θυέων τρόπος. ὡς δὲ καὶ αὕτως
Ἰρεύειν· δαμάλης δὲ βοὸς δέμας ἀγλαὸν Ἥρης
Δεξάσθω νηὸς παρὰ σοῦ. Καὶ Φοίβος Απόλλων,
"Όστε καὶ Ηέλιος κικλήσκεται, ἴσα δεδέχθω
Θύματα Λητοίδης· καὶ ἀειδόμενοί τε Λατίνοι
Παιᾶνες κούροις κούρῃσί σε νηὸν ἔχοιεν
*Αθανάτων· χωρὶς δὲ κόραι χορὸν αὐταὶ ἔχοιεν
Καὶ χωρὶς παίδων ἄρσην στάχυς, ἀλλὰ γονήων
Πάντων ζωόντων, οἷς ἀμφιθαλὴς ἔτι φύτλη.
Αἱ δὲ γάμου ζεύγλαισι δεδμημέναι ἤματι κείνῳ
Γνὺξ Ηρης παρὰ βωμὸν ἀοίδιμον ἑδριόωσαι
Δαίμονα λισσέσθωσαν. *Απασι δὲ λύματα δοῦναι
̓Ανδράσιν ἠδὲ γυναιξί, μάλιστα δὲ θηλυτέρῃσι.

Πάντες δ ̓ ἐξ οἴκοιο φερέσθων, ὅσσα κομίζειν
Ἐστὶ θέμις θνητοῖσιν ἀπαρχομένοις βιότοιο,
Δαίμοσι μειλιχίοισιν ἱλάσματα καὶ μακάρεσσιν
Οὐρανίδαις· τὰ δὲ πάντα τεθησαυρισμένα κείσθω,
* Οφρα τε θηλυθέρῃσι καὶ ἀνδράσιν ἑδριόωσιν
Ενθεν πορσύνης μεμνημένος. Ημασι δ ̓ ἔστω
Νυξί τ' ἐπασσυτέρῃσι θεοπρέπτους κατὰ θώκους
Παμπληθὴς ἄγυρις· σπουδὴ δὲ γέλωτι μεμίχθω.

Ταῦτά τοι ἐν φρεσὶ σῇσιν ἀεὶ μεμνημένος εἶναι,
Καί σοι πᾶσα χθὼν Ἰταλὴ καὶ τᾶσα Λατίνη
Αἰὲν ὑπὸ σκήπτροισιν ὑπαυχένιον ξυγὸν ἕξει.

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The Sæculum among the Romans, according to Etruscan calculation, was properly a period of 110 years, and the Sæcular games should have been always celebrated after such an interval. The following table, however, of the periods when they were solemnised, will show this rule was not much re garded.

The first were held, A.U.C. 245, or 298.

The second, A.U.c. 305, or 408.

The third, A.U.c. 505, or 518

The fourth, either A.U.c. 605, or 608, or 628.

The fifth, by Augustus, A.U.C. 737

The sixth, by Claudius, A.U.C. 800.

The seventh, by Domitian, A.U.C. 841.
The eighth, by Severus, A.U.C. 957
The ninth, by Philip, A.U.c. 1000.
The tenth, by Honorius, A.v.c. 1157

If we take two Secular periods=220 years, from the first recorded celebration 298, we have 78 years remaining, which must have been the first Secular period. This arose from the Etruscan custom of forming the first Sæcular period, from the birth to the death of the longest lived individual born on the day of a city's foundation, and which coincides with the death of Numa.

Some commentators have arranged this hymn to form a regular system; thus, Stroph. 1, 2, is given to youths and maidens; Stroph. 3, to youths; 4, 5, to maidens; 6, 7, 8, to both combined; 9, half to boys, and half to girls; 10-13, both united; 14, to youths; 15, to maidens; 16, 17, to youths; 18, to girls ; 19, to both united. But thus the divided Strophe 9, is not in the centre of the piece; which is a fatal objection. Steiner has lately proposed a more feasible arrangement:

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PHOBE, silvarumque potens Diana,
Lucidum cœli decus, o colendi
Semper et culti, date, quæ precamur
Tempore sacro:

Quo Sybillini monuere versus
Virgines lectas puerosque castos

1-20. 1. Phoebe. This hymn was chaunted in the temple of Apollo Palatinus. The sun and moon are invoked, not only as the nourishers of fruit and corn, but also as dii averrunci, under whose care Augustus considered himself to be specially placed. Sylvarum potens, vazãv μedéovoα.-2. Lucidum cœli decus, "Bright ornament of heaven." The singular, denoting the close union of these deities, thus Od. IV. 8, 31: Clarum Tyndarida sidus.-4. Tempore sacro, "At this sacred season." Some editions have prisco.-5. Sibyllini versus. The Sibylline verses, which have reference to the Sæcular Games, are preserved by Zosimus, as given above. They are purposely mentioned here, since Augustus wished it to be understood that by their authority he now celebrated these games. Quo. Some few MSS. have Quod, the construction then is: date quæ precamur carmine, quod Sibyllini momuere versus virgines....diis dicere.-6. Virgines lectas puerosque castos. The Sibylline verses directed, that the youths and maidens, which composed the chorus,

Dis, quibus septem placuere colles,
Dicere carmen.

Alme Sol, curru nitido diem qui
Promis et celas, aliusque et idem
Nasceris, possis nihil urbe Roma
Visere majus.

Rite maturos aperire partus

Lenis Ilithyia, tuere matres:

Sive tu Lucina probas vocari,

Seu Genitalis.

Diva, producas subolem, Patrumque
Prosperes decreta super jugandis
Feminis, prolisque novæ feraci
Lege marita :

10

15

20

should be the offspring of parents that were both alive at the time, i. e. should be aulas, patrimi and matrimi. Their parents should also be of senatorial rank, and united by the marriage ex confarratione.-7. Septem colles. An allusion to Rome, and the seven hills on which it was built.-9. Curru nitido diem quo, &c., "Who with thy radiant chariot unfoldest and hidest the day, and arisest another and the same." The sun is here said to hide the day at its setting, and to arise on the morrow a new luminary with the new day, but in all its former splendour.-11. Possis visere, "Mayest thou behold." Mars is not mentioned in this hymn, Augustus wished for the comforts of peace. -13. Rite maturos aperire partus, &c., "Ilithyia, propitious in happily producing mature births, protect Roman mothers." Rite, "Uti fas est nos sperare de te, dea propitia. The adverb is closely joined with aperire, not with maturos, as the Scholiast understands the construction." Sive tu. Peculiar attributes were supposed to be connected with peculiar names, hence arises the frequency of different denominations given to deities in supplication, and such variety was deemed honourable to the gods. Comp. Call. H. III. 6:

Δός μοι παρθενίην αἰώνιον, ἄππα, φυλάσσειν
Καὶ πολυωνυμίην

Thus Sat. II. 6. 20: Matutine pater seu Jane libentius audis.-16. Genitalis. Compare the explanation of Döring: "Quæ gignentes seu puerperas ope sua levat, genituræ favet, et se propitiam præbet." Bentley prefers genetyllis, but this is a Greek term unadopted by the Latins, and more suited to Venus than Lucina.-17. Producas subolem, "Save and bring to light our offspring." Lucina here is identified with Diana.- Patrum, “Of the senate."-20. Lege marita. Alluding to the Julian law, "De maritandis ordinibus," holding out inducements for entering the married state, and imposing penalties on celibacy. The end of it was to promote population, and repair the loss occasioned by the carnage of civil wars. Augustus first attempted to carry this law A.U.C. 726, but was prevented by the opposition and clamour of the multitude

Certus undenos decies

per antics
Orbis ut cantus referatque ludos,
Ter die claro, totiesque grata
Nocte frequentes.

Vosque, veraces cecinisse, Parcæ,

Quod semel dictum est, stabilisque rerum
Terminus servat, bona jam peractis
Jungite fata.

Fertilis frugum pecorisque Tellus

Spicea donet Cererem corona:
Nutriant fetus et aquæ salubres,
Et Jovis auræ.

Condito mitis placidusque telo

25

30

whose passions it would have curbed. Again, at this period, A. U. c. 737, the opposition defeated his renewed attempt, as it was only in 762 the law was passed eventually under the name of the Lex Papia Poppaa.

21-37. 21. Certus undenos, &c., "That the stated revolution of ten times eleven years may renew the hymns and sports, celebrated by crowds thrice in the bright season of day, and as often in the pleasing night." The Sæcular solemnities lasted three days and three nights.-26. Vosque veraces cecinisse, &c., "And do you, ye fates, true in uttering what has been once decreed, and what the fixed event of things confirms, join favourable destinies to those already past." The expression veraces cecinisse is a Græcism for veraces in canendo. Dictum is equivalent to decretum, constitutum a fato. Cecinisse, refers to the Sybilline verses, which are here supposed to have been uttered by the Parca. Dictum est stabilisque, "etsi durum pronuntiatu, hoc tamen loco, ubi firmitatis notio etiam sono exprimenda erat, ab Horatio consulto molliori dictum stabilisque prælatum videtur." ORELL.- Terminus, not the god, but simply the "issue," "event" of circumstances. Compare with the sentiment, Virg. Eel. IV. 47: Concordes stabili fatorum numine Parcæ.-27. Servat. Some MSS. have servet. The construction then is: dictum est (stabilisque utinam rerum Terminus servet) bona, &c.-29. Tellus. The earth is here addressed as one of the deities to which sacrifices were made, by order of the Sibylline verses.- Fertilis. In the formula of supplications, the ancients generally united three proofs of felicity, frugum ubertas—gregum fetura, matromaram fecunditas. —Fertilis-pecoris, here by Zeugma, for fecundus; thus fecundus is used for fertilis in Od. III. 23. 6.-30. Spicea donet Cererem corona, "Gift Ceres with a crown, made of the ears of corn." This was the usual offering to Ceres.-31. Nutriant fetus et aquæ salubres, &c., "And may refreshing rains, and salubrious breezes from Jove, nourish the productions of the fields." "Ex antiquo sermonis usu, quo tempora et varia cœli temperies et pluvia Jovi tribuebantur. Epod. II. 29: Tonantis annus hibernus Jovis. II. . 91: Alòs peßgos." ORELL.-33. Condito telo, "With thine arrow hidden in the quiver." Apollo, with bow unbent, is mild and gentle; but when, in

Supplices audi pueros Apollo:
Siderum regina bicornis, audi,
Luna, puellas.

Roma si vestrum est pous, Iliæque
Litus Etruscum tenuere turmæ,
Jussa pars mutare Lares et urbem

Sospite cursu:

Cui per ardentem sine fraude Trojam

Castus Æneas patriæ superstes]

Liberum munivit iter, daturus

Plura relictis:

Dî, probos mores docili juventæ,

Di, senectuti placidæ quietem,

Romulæ genti date remque prolemque
Et decus omne.

35

40

45

anger, he draws the arrow from its case, and bends his bow, he becomes the god of pestilence. (Ode II. 10. 20.) He is here addressed in the former of these characters.-34. Audi pueros. From these words, and from audí puellas, toward the close of the stanza, it would appear that the youths and maidens sang in alternate chorus the respective praises of Apollo and Diana.-35. Regina bicornis, "Crescent queen." Alluding to her appearance during the first days of the new moon.-37. Roma si vestrum est opus. The allusion is to the Trojans having abandoned their native seats, and having been led to Italy by an oracle received from Apollo. Diana is here joined with Apollo, and the founding of Rome is ascribed by the bard to their united auspices.-Iliæque turma. The reference is to "the Trojan bands" of Æneas

41-59. 41. Sine fraude, "Without harm." Compare the words of Ulpian leg. 131. de V. S.), “Aliud fraus est, aliud pœna. Fraus enim sine pœna esse potest: pœna sine fraude esse non potest. Pœna est noxæ vindicta; fraus et ipsa noxa dicitur, et quasi pœnæ quædam præparatio." Servius, ad En. I. 242 erroneously interprets by, "sine proditione."-44. Plura relictis, "More ample possessions than those left behind; i. e. a more extensive empire than their native one. The most ancient tradition extant concerning the colonization of Italy by the Phrygians under the guidance of Æneas, is found in Sophocl. Laocoon, Frag. 342.-45. Dî. Addressed to Apollo and Diana jointly. Placida. Placida egregie dicitur senectus, quæ sibi placet, prorsus contenta est vita et ante et ea, quæ etiam nunc sibi concessa est." ORELL. The first verse of this strophe is referred to the youth, the second to the aged, the third and fourth to the whole Roman people.— 47. Romulæ genti late remque, &c., "Grant to the people of Romulus prosperity, and a numerous offspring, and every honour." By decus omne is meant everything that can increase the glory and majesty of the empire. Romula, for Romuleæ, as in Od. IV 5. 1.- Prolemque, the que coalesces with

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