No More Learning

The 'libellus,'
here mentioned, was the list of the horses, with their names and
colours, and those of the drivers. It served the same purpose as the
race-cards on our courses. ]

[Footnote 733: Having deposited the stake. --Ver. 168. When a bet was
made, the parties betting gave to each other a pledge, 'pignus,' in the
shape of some trinket, such as a ring. When the bet was completed, they
touched hands. ]

[Footnote 734: When of late. --Ver. 171. He speaks of a 'Naumachia,' or
mimic sea-fight, which had been lately exhibited at Rome by Augustus,
in commemoration of the battle of Actium. As Antony had collected his
forces from the East and all parts of Greece, his ships are alluded to
as the Persian and Cecropian, or Athenian ships. The term, 'Naumachia,'
was applied both to the representation of a sea-fight, and to the place
where it was given. They were sometimes exhibited in the Circus
or Amphitheatre, the water being introduced under-ground, but more
generally in spots constructed for the purpose. The first was shown by
Julius Caesar, who caused a lake to be dug for the purpose in a part of
the Campus Martius, which Suetonius calls 'the lesser Codeta. ' This
was filled up by Augustus, who dug a lake near the Tiber for the same
purpose; to which, probably, reference is here made. ]

[Footnote 735: Introduced. --Ver. 172. 'Induxit. ' By the use of this
word, it would seem that Augustus Caesar introduced the ships, probably,
from the river Tiber into the lake. ]

[Footnote 736: See! Caesar prepares. --Ver. 177. Augustus sent his
grandson, Caius, the son of his daughter Julia and Agrippa, to head an
expedition against Phraates, the king of the Parthians, the conquerors
of Crassus; from this expedition he did not live to return, but perished
in battle. ]

[Footnote 737: Crassi, rejoice. --Ver. 180. See the Fasti, Book v. 1.
583-8, with the Note. Also Book vi. 1. 465]

[Footnote 738: Of the Gods. --Ver. 183. In a spirit of adulation, he
deifies Caius Caesar, and his brother Lucius. ]

[Footnote 739: First of the youths. --Ver. 194. The 'princeps juvenum'
had the honour of riding first, in the review of the Equestrian ranks
by the Emperor. See the Tristia, Book ii. 1. 90. Caius did not live
to fulfil this prophecy, as he was slain through the perfidy of the
Parthian general. ]

[Footnote 740: Since thou hast brothers. --Ver. 195. He alludes,
probably, to Lucius Caesar, the other grandson of Augustus, and Marcus
Agrippa, the husband of Julia, the daughter of Augustus. ]

[Footnote 741: Hast a sire. --Ver. 196. He had been adopted by Augustus.
*What rivers are borne. --Ver. 220. See the twentieth line of the Second
Elegy, Book iv. of the Tristia. * Perfectly well. --Ver. 222. See a
similar passage in the Tristia' Book iv. EL ii. 1. 24. ]

[Footnote 742: The Euphrates. --Ver. 223. The rivers were generally
personified by the ancients as being crowned with reeds. ]

[Footnote 743: The one whose. --Ver. 224. The young man is supposed to be
addressing the damsel in these words. ]

[Footnote 744: From Danae. --Ver. 225. He means, that Persia was so
called from Perses, the son of Andromeda, by Perseus, the son of
Danae. It is more generally thought to have been so called from a word
signifying; a horse. ' Achaemenes was one of the ancient kings of Persia. ]

[Footnote 745: Still it is fatal. --Ver. 236. 'Solet,' 'is wont,' is
certainly a pre-narrative reading here to 'nocet. ']


[Footnote 746: Deceiving lamp. --Ver. 245. This is as much as to remind
him of the adage that women and linen look best by candle-light. ]

[Footnote 747: Why mention Baiae. --Ver. 255. Baiae was a town on the
sea-shore, near Naples, famous for its hot baths. It was delightfully
situate, and here Pompey, Caesar, and many of the wealthy Romans, had
country seats: Seneca and Propertius refer to it as famous for its
debaucheries, and it was much frequented by persons of loose character.
It was the custom at Baiae, in the summer-time, for both sexes to cruise
about the shore in boats of various colours, both in the day-time and at
night, with sumptuous feasts and bands of music on board. ]

[Footnote 748: Hostile hand. --Ver. 260. See the Fasti, Book iii. 1. 263.
He means that the Arician grove was much resorted to by those engaged in
courtship tad intrigues. ]

[Footnote 749: Borne upon unequal wheels. --Ver. 264. He alludes to
Thalia, the Muse who inspires him, preferring the unequal or Hexameter
and Pentameter measure of Elegiac verse. ]

[Footnote 750: By the lark. --Ver. 286. See the Metamorphoses, Book x. ]

[Footnote 751: Of Cydon. '--Ver. 293. This was a city of Crete. ]

[Footnote 752: Untruthful as it is. --Ver. 298. The Cretans were
universally noted in ancient times for their disregard for truth. St.
Paul, in his Epistle to Titus, ch. i. ver, 12, says, quoting from the
Cretan poet Epimenides "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own,
said, 'The Cretans are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. ' This
witness is true. "]

[Footnote 753: By a bull! --Ver. 302. See this story explained in the
Translation of the Metamorphoses, p. 70. ]

[Footnote 754: The sire. --Ver. 326. This was the Minotaur. See the
Metamorphoses, Book viii]

[Footnote 755: If the Cretan dame. --Ver. 327. This was AErope, the wife
of Atreus, who slew the children of his brother Thyestes, and set them
on table before their father. ]

[Footnote 756: Who spoiled. ---Ver. 331. He falls into his usual mistake
of confounding Scylla, the daughter of Nisus, with the daughter of
Phorcys. ]

[Footnote 757: The flames. --Ver. 335. See the Metamorphoses, Book vii.
1. 391, and the Epistle of Medea to Jason. ]

[Footnote 758: The son of Amyntor. --Ver. 337. Phoenix, the son of
Amyntor, according to Homer, became blind in his latter years. See the
Note to the 307th line of the Eighth Book of the Metamorphoses. ]

[Footnote 759: Of thy guiltless sons. --Ver. 339. Phineus was a king
of Arcadia, or, according to some, of Thrace or Paphlagonia. His
wife, Cleopatra, being dead or divorced, he married a Scythian, named
Harpalice, at whose suggestion he put out the eyes of his sons by
Cleopatra. He was persecuted by the Harpies, as a punishment. ]

[Footnote 760: What is one's own. --Ver. 348. 'Suis' seems preferable
here to suos. ']

[Footnote 761: The crop. --Ver. 349. These lines are referred to by
Juvenal in the Fourteenth Satire, 1. 143. ]

[Footnote 762: Your access easy. --Ver. 352. See his address to Nape,
in the Amores, Book i. El. ii. Cypassis seems to have been a choice
specimen of this class. See the Amores, Book ii. El. viii. ]

[Footnote 763: Pay him in return. '--Ver. 370. This seems to mean, 'I
do not think you can make sufficient return for his ardent affection,'
referring to the lover. Some of the Commentators think that it signifies
a hint from the servant, that as her mistress's husband has offended her
by his infidelities, she ought to repay him in his own coin. ]

[Footnote 764: Is of use. --Ver. 375. This abominable notion seems to
have been acted upon by the Poet himself. See the Amores, Book ii. El.
viii. ]

[Footnote 765: Her birthday. --Ver. 405. See the Amores, Book i. El.
viii. 1. 94. ]

[Footnote 766: Whether the Calends. --Ver. 405. The Matronalia were
celebrated on the first day of the Calends of March. It was usual on
that day, for husbands to make presents to their wives, and lovers to
the objects of their affection.
The Calends of March preceded April,
which month was sacred to Venus. See the Fasti, Book iii. 1. 170. ]

[Footnote 767: The wealth of kings. --Ver. 408. It was the custom to
bring the spoils of the enemy, or the most curious portions of it, to
Rome, where it was exposed to view in the Circus and the Theatres. Ovid
tells his readers that they must not think that the ladies can give them
any of their leisure on such occasions, as, being so much engaged with
the sights, they will have no time for love-making. ]

[Footnote 768: Pleiades prevail. --Ver. 409. This is said figuratively. ]

[Footnote 769: Tearful Allia. --Ver. 413. The 16th of July, the day on
which the Romans were defeated by the Gauls at the Allia, was deemed
unlucky, and no business was transacted on it. ]

[Footnote 770: A day not suited for. --Ver. 415. The Jews are here
alluded to. and he refers to their Sabbath. How some Commentators can
have dreamed that the feast of the Saturnalia is referred to, it is hard
to say. ]

[Footnote 771: Great must be. --Ver. 417. The meaning is, 'Be careful not
to make your first advances on the birthday of your mistress, as that is
the time for making presents, and you will certainly be out of pocket. '
See the Amores, Book i. El. viii. 1. 94, and the Note. ]

[Footnote 772: The loosely-clad pedlar. --Ver. 421. Institor' was
properly a person who sold wares, and kept a 'taberna' or 'shop' on
account of another. Sometimes free persons, but more frequently slaves,
were 'institores. ']

[Footnote 773: A promissory note. --Ver. 428. 'Syngraphus/ or
'syngrapha,' was a 'bill' 'bond,' or 'promissory note,' which was most
probably the kind of writing that the pedlar would here require. It may
possibly mean a cheque upon his bankers, the 'argentarii' of Rome. ]

[Footnote 774: Not to have learned. --Ver. 428. The reading here seems
to be non didicisse juvat. ' 4 It is not to your advantage that you have
learned (to write). ' The other reading, 'ne didicisse juvet,' may be
rendered, '(perhaps) it may be no advantage that you have learned (to
write). ']

[Footnote 775: Birth day cake. --Ver. 429. See the Amores, Book i. El.
viii. 1. 94. ]

[Footnote 776: The jewel. --Ver. 432. For an account of the earrings of
the ancients, see the Notes to the Metamorphoses, Book x. 1. 116. ]

[Footnote 777: Should you give her. --Ver. 447. The meaning of this and
the following line is very obscure; so much so that Burmann is in doubt
on the subject. It, however, seems to be, that it is not discreet, on
first acquaintance, to give presents, as the damsel may then have a
reason for peremptoily giving you up; she carries off your gift, and
gives no favour in return. ]

[Footnote 778: Upon an apple. --Ver. 457: See the twentieth and
twenty-first Epistles in the present volume. ]

[Footnote 779: Extend their hands. --Ver. 462. This figure is taken from
the gladiatorial games, where the conquered extended their hands in
token of submission. ]

[Footnote 780: Ring of iron. --Ver. 473. The rings worn by the lower
classes were of iron. ]

[Footnote 781: Under some of the columns. 1--Ver. 490. The learned
Heinsius absolutely thinks that 'columnas' here means 'mile-stones'! It
is pretty clear that Ovid alludes to the columns of the Portico; and he
seems to say, that the attentive lover, when he sees the damsel at some
distance before him, is not to hesitate to escape the crowd by going
into the open space outside of the columns, and then running on, for the
purpose of overtaking her. See the Tristia, Book iii. El. iii, where he
makes mention of the columns in the Portico of the Danaides. ]

[Footnote 782: Actor is dancing. --Ver. 501. See the Tristia, Book ii. i.
497. ]

[Footnote 783: With the irons. '--Ver. 505. See the Amores, Book i. El.
xiv 1 25, and the Note. The effeminate among the Romans were very fond
of having their hair in curls. ]

[Footnote 784: With the rough pumice. --Ver. 506. Pliny the Elder
mentions pumice stone as 'a substance used by women in washing their
bodies, and now by men as well. ' Persius, in his Fourth Satire, inveighs
against this effeminate practice. ]

[Footnote 785: Bid those do this. --Ver. 507'. He alludes to the Galli,
the eunuch priests of Cybele. ]

[Footnote 786: Hippolytus. --Ver. 511. Phaedra, in her Epistle, alludes to
his neglect of dress, as one of the merits of Hippolytus. ]

[Footnote 787: Plain of Mars. --Ver. 513. The Roman youth practised
wrestling, and other athletic exercises, on the Campus Martius Being
often stripped naked, or nearly so, the oil, combined with t he heat,
would tend to bronze the skin. ]

[Footnote 788: Not be clammy. --Ver. 515. Probably this is the meaning
of 'lingua ne rigeat,' although Nisard's French translation has it, 'let
your tongue have no roughness. ' Dryden's translation is, of course, of
no assistance, as it carefully avoids all the difficult passages. ]

[Footnote 789: The father of the flock. --Ver. 522. He alludes to
the rank smell to the arm-pits, which the Romans called by the name
'hircus,' 'a goat,' from a supposed similarity to the strong smell of
that animal. ]

[Footnote 790: Awaking from her sleep. --Ver. 529. See the Epistle of
Ariadne to Theseus. ]

[Footnote 791: Mimallonian females. --Ver. 541. It is a matter of doubt
why the Bacchanalian women were called Mimallonides. According to some,
they are so called from Mimas, a mountain of Asia Minor, where the rites
of Bacchus were celebrated. Suidas says that they are so called, from
'imitation,' because they imitated the actions of men. Bochart thinks
that the word is of Hebrew origin, and that they receive their name
from 'memelleran,' 'garrulous' or 'noisy'; or else from mamal,' a 'wine-
press. ']

[Footnote 792: Drunken old man. --Ver. 543. See the adventure of Silenus,
in the beginning of Book xi. of the Metamorphoses; and in the Fasti,
Book iii. 1. 742. He seems to have been always getting into trouble. ]

[Footnote 793: Cretan Diadem. --Ver. 558. See the Fasti. Book iii. 1.
516. ]

[Footnote 794: Evie, Evoe! --Ver. 563. In the combat with the Giants,
Jupiter is said, when one of them was slain by Bacchus, to have
exclaimed 'Well done, son:' whence the exclamation 'Evie! ' was said to
have originated. See the Metamorchoses, Book iv. 1. 11 and 15, and the
Note. ]

[Footnote 795: On the table. '--Ver. 572. See the Epistle of Paris to
Helen; and the Amores, Book i. El. iv. 1. 20, and Book ii. El. v. 1. 17,
and the Notes. ]

[Footnote 796: From the side. --Ver. 576. See the Amores, Book i. EL iv.
1. 32. ]

[Footnote 797: Touched with her fingers. --Ver. 577. The ancients are
supposed not to have used at meals any implement such as a knife or
fork, but merely to have used the fingers only, except in eating soups
or other liquids, or jellies, when they employed spoons, which were
denoted by the names 'cochlear' and 'ligula. ' At meals the Greeks wiped
their fingers on pieces of bread; the Romans washed them with water, and
dried them on napkins handed round by the slaves. ]

[Footnote 798: Are drinking by lot. --Ver. 581. The 'modimperator,' or
'master of the banquet,' was often chosen by lot by the guests, and it
was his province to prescribe how much each person should drink. Lots
were also thrown, by means of the dice, to show in what order each
person was to drink. This passage will show the falsity of his plea in
the Second Book of the Tristia, addressed to Augustus, where he says
that it was not his intention to address the married women of Rome, but
only those who did not wear the 'vittae' and the 'instita,' the badges of
chastity. ]

[Footnote 799: Agent attends even too much. --Ver. 587. His meaning seems
to be, that in the same way as the agent does more than attend to the
injunctions of his principal, and puts himself in a position to profit
by his office, so is the inamorato, through the confidence of
the husband reposed in him, to make a profit that has never been
anticipated. ]

[Footnote 801: Eurytion. --Ver. 593. At the nuptials of Pirithous and
Hippoda-mia. See the Metamorphoses, Book xii. 1. 220, where he is called
Eurytus. ]

[Footnote 802: Stealing up.