No More Learning

Epithets are sometimes introduced into poetry, princi-
pally for the sake of completing the measure of the line;
but in order to render them conducive to the beauty of
the verse, they must express not only some property of
the substantive, to which they are applied, but that pecu-
liar property or quality, which is appropriate and expres-
sive. It may in general be observed, that an adjective
must not be introduced into a sentence, unless it adds
something to its energy or beauty, as well as to its mean-
ing.
An adjective, that is not peculiarly expressive, may be
omitted, when it cannot conveniently be introduced into
the verse.
The words printed in Italics in the following exercises
are substantives, which either require epithets to be added
to them, or which have adjectives connected with them that
may be omitted. A different arrangement of the words
will be required in almost every line.
EXERCISES.
1.
But you, O robbers and wolves, spare this little flock:
Tour'prey should be taken from a herd.
At tii, furque lupusque, parco exiguus pecus:
---- prffida sum petendus de grex,
2.
O Nile, nature has never discovered to any one your
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? VERSIFICATION. 115
source, Neither has it been allowed to the inhabitants of
the earth to see you a small river.
Natura non prodo ullus tuus (ellip. ) caput,
Nilus, nec licet populus video tu parvus.
3.
Horace also has delighted my ears, While he brings
forth from his Ausonian lyre refined songs.
Et Horatius teneo meus (enall. ) auris,
I)um ferio Ausonius lyra cultus carmen.
4.
An image of Minerva is said to have fallen from heaven
Upon the lofty heights of the Trojan city.
Ccsleste signum Minerva credor
Desiluisse in altus jugum Iliacus urbs.
5.
At the entrance of the hollow cave, the habitation of
the god of sleep, poppies in abundance grow, And herbs
innumerable; from the juice of which Humid Night col-
lects her sleepy power, and extends it over the earth.
Ante fores cavus antrum, fcecundus papaver floreo,
Et (synon. ) innumerus herba; qui de lac sopor
Nox lego, et humidus per terra {enall. ) spargo.
6.
Thus the violence of the winds, and the rain from which
they wished to be skreened, compelled mankind at first
To build huts with straw, And to plaster their humble
habitations around with mud.
Sic <<is ventus vitandique imbres primum adegit homo,
'stipula (enall. ) tectum ponere,
? et claudo arctus sedes {enall. ) litnus.
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? 116 EXERCISES IN
7.
Nor are the wives of the East less renowned in fame:
Neither with tears, nor with female cries, Do they de-
plore their husbands' death; but, strange to be related,
They ascend the funeral pile, and are consumed in the
same devouring flames with their lifeless husbands.
Nec Eous uxor minus celebror fama:
Ille non lacrymae, non foemineus ululatus,
Ploro fatum (enall. ) vir (sync); verum, mirabilis dicor,
Conscendoque rogus, Jtamma(\ue(enall. ) vorax voror idem.
8.
The echoing wood resounds with the songs of birds,
and every Shrub and ,'every grove rings with music: The
blackbirds also join their tuneful notes, and the doves
their plaintive sounds; The harmonious lark from above
pours forth its strains.
Sylva vocalis resono chorus avis, atque (synon. ) omnis
Virgultum et omnis nemus ferveo harmoriia:
Et merula misceo numerus gemitusque palumbes;
Canorus alauda addo desuper modus.
9.
He, who once refused to the needy worthless fragments
of food, Now lives himself on food obtained by begging.
Fortune wanders about with uncertain steps, And in no
place remains constant and fixed.
Vilis qui quondam nego (sync. ) alimenta miser,
Nunc pascor ipse cibus mendicatus.
Fortuna vago (synon. ) ambiguus passus,
Et permaneo (enull. ) certus tenaxque in nullus locus.
10.
But virtue does not produce these evils: we confidently
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? VERSIFICATION. 117
assert, That if every one faithfully performed her sacred
duties, Nothing would appear more desirable than sacred
virtue; then would the golden ages return: But it is not
our lot to live in a golden age.
At virtus non parturio hie malum: immii fateor,
Si quisque perago suus munia fideliter, sum
Nihil (sync. ) potior sacer virtus ; jam turn redeo aureus
Sxculum: verum non contigit vivo aureus (syn<sr. ) usvum.
11.
In the shady vales in the midst of Ida, there is a place
Retired, and abounding with oaks and pitch trees, A
place, which has never been touched by the mouth of
the ox, Nor of the sheep, nor of the goat delighting in
rocks.
In nemorosus vallis medius Ids, sum locus
Devius, et piceus atque (synon. ) ilex frequens,
? Qui nee avis, nee capella amans rapes {synon. ),
Nee carpor os bos.
12.
Nor, O wicked man, while life remains, are you free
from painful punishments: Although you may deceive
mortal men, yet you cannot fly from yourself; The
avenging furies disquiet you; care, a harassing attendant,
preys on you, And dwells as a tormentor in your con-
science, which is still mindful of your crimes.
Nee, improbtis, dam vita maneo, des nullasxrumnosas potnat:
Quanquain fallo mortalis homo, tamen haud ipse effugio tu;
Dirte ultrix tu agito; tu cura remordeo, comes saevus,
? memorque sub pectus habito vindex.
13.
The horse obeys the reins in time, And receives with a
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? 118 EXERCISES IN
quiet mouth the hard bits. The fierceness of the African
lions is subdued by time, Nor does that savage wildness
remain in their disposition, which was once in it.
Equus obedio (synon. ) habena tempus,
Et recipio (synon. ) placidus os durus lupus.
Ira Poenus leo cohibeor (synon. ) tempus,
Nec femsferitas permaneo (enall. ) animus, qui sum ante.
14.
Thus the mourning nightingale bemoans under the
shade of a poplar Her lost young, which a cruel country-
man, Discovering them in their nest, had stolen unfledged;
thus she Grieves through the dark night, and, sitting on a
bough, her song Renews, and fills the places around with
her piteous complaints.
Qualis mcerens philomela sub umbra populus (enall. )
Queror amissus foetus, qui durus arator,
Cernens (synon. ) nidus, implumis detraho; at ille
Nox caucus fleo, ramusque sedens, carmen
Integro, et impleo late locus suus (ellip. ) mcestus questus.
15.
She fears all things and she hopes for nothing: thus
anxious, as she is returning with food, is the bird, Who
has left her young in a lowly shrub, And thus, while absent
from them, is she apprehensive of many evils; She fears
lest the wind should have torn her nest from the tree,
Lest her young should be exposed as a plunder to man, or
a prey to serpents.
Omnis (synon. ) paveo speroque nihil: sic ales ssstuo,
Qui committo/n'fus humilis ornus,
Allaturus cibus (enall. ), et plurimus cogito absens;
Ne ventus discutio nidus arbor,
Ne furtum pateo homo, neu coluber prasda.
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? VERSIFICATION. 119
16.
A moth is flying around my burning candle; And now,
and now again it almost burns its little wings. Often
with my hand I keep it back when approaching, and "O
moth," I cry, "What great desire to die urges you on? "
Still it returns; and, although I strive to save it, It perse-
veres, and rushes into the flames and into death.
Musca volito circum mens exurens lucerna;
Alaque parvus suus amburo jam prope, jamque.
Saepe repello manus is (ellip. ) veniens; et" Musca"
Inquam, " Quis tantus libido morior impello tu V
Ille tamen redeo; et, quanquam Conor (synon. ) servo,
lnsto, et irruo (mall. ) in flamma exitiumque.
CHAPTER IX. --PERIPHRASIS.
Periphrasis is the use of two or more words instead of
one; as Pecoris magister for pastor, and Ovium fcetus for
agni:
Idem amor exitium pecori est, pecorisque magistro.
Pastores ovium teneros depellere fcetus. Virg.
The periphrasis occurs in poetical composition more
frequently than any other figure, except the metaphor.
Besides the assistance, which it renders to the poet in
completing the measure of his verses, it often enables him
to avoid low or inelegant expressions, and to give to his
style a greater degree of variety and beauty.
The words in the following exercises, which are inclosed
within brackets, are examples of the periphrasis, and are
to be substituted for the corresponding word in the line.
When two or more Italic words occur in a line, they must
be omitted, and the meaning, which they are designed to
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? 120 EXERCISES IN
convey, expressed by one word only. When there is only
one word in a line printed in Italics, it is intended to be
omitted, audits meaning expressed by a periphrasis.
EXERCISES.
1.
Thus does the lioness rage when confined in a narrow-
den, And breaks her fierce teeth by biting her prison.
Sic leaena fremo (fera nobilis) in claustrum (enall. ) parvus
abditus,
Et rabidus dens frango carcere prsemorso.
2.
Whither shall I be carried ? where shall I seek comfort
in my affliction? No anchor now holds my bark.
Qua`feror? unde (lapsis rebus) peto solatium (enall. ) mise-
ria?
Jam nullus anchora (non ulla) teneo meus (enall. ) ratis.
3.
Farewell, ye mossy fountains, ye woods, And ye Mu-
ses, and the dreams of fabled Pindus.
Valeo muscosus fons, (sylvestria tecta) sylva,
Musaque (Aonides dese), et somnium Pindus mendax.
4>.
Not far hence herds of cattle wander through the spa-
cious fields, And sheep roam over the joyful pastures.
Nec procul hinc armentum vagor (synon. ) per latus ager,
Ovisque (lanigeri greges) persulto lsetus pabulum.
5.
Then also the birds in safety flew, And the hare wan-
dered fearlessly in the midst of the fields, Nor had their
easy credulity hung on the hook the inhabitants of the
rivers.
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? VERSIFICATION.
121
Tunc et avis (mover? pennas per ae? ra) tuto? (enall. ) volo,
Et lepus impavide` (enall. ) erro in medius ager,
Nec sua credulitasfluminum incolas suspendu hamus.
6.
The astonished cultivators of the fields see rugged
brakes Sweetly blooming with roses, and hear with sur-
prise among parched sands The noisy murmurings of a
river.
Attonitus cultores agrorum video dumet'. im incultus
Suaviter (enall. ) rubens (enall. ) rosa, sitiensque inter arena
Miror garrulus rivus (epithet) murmur.
7.
Arrayed in their shining arms, thrice around the blaz-
ing Piles they ran; thrice the mournful funeral fire They
encompassed on their steeds, and yelled aloud.
Ter, cinctus nitens (synon. ) arma, circum accensus
Hogus curro ( enall.
); ter moesttis funereus f enall. ) ignis
Lustro in suus ? ellip. ) equus, ululoque (ululatus ore dedere).
8.
O robin, a guest most welcome to every house, Whom
the severity of the cold compels to seek the aid of man,
That thou mayst escape the frosts of the wintry air, O fly
hither, And dwell in safety under my roof.
Rubecula (hospes avis), conviva domus quivis gratissimus,
Qui inclementia frigoris cogo quajro homo (enall. ) opem,
Hue O confugio, ut fugio frigus hj bernus cesium,
------ et vivo tutus ? synon. ) sub meus lar.
9.
That thou mayet relieve thy hunger, food in my win-
dow I will place every day; For by experience I have
Lat. Pr. L
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? 122 EXERCISES IN
learned that thou wilt repay with a grateful Song what-
soever food any kind hand may bestow.
Unde relevo tuus esuries, alimentum (enall. ) fenestra
Appono quotidie (quoties itque reditque dies);
Ktcnim usus edisco qudd rependo alimentum (enall. ) gratus
'Cantus, quicunque dono (synon. ) bonus (synon. ) manus.
10.
In the early spring, when the warm breezes gently
blow, And when on every tree its vernal honors bloom,
Thou mayst freely return to the groves and revisit the
sylvan shades, In which music delightful and equal to
thine resounds.
Ver novus, ciim tepidus aura i|iolliter spiro,
Et suus honos (enall. ) verno in quivis arbor,
Pro libitu ad nemus (synon. ) redeo sylvestriague tecta revise,
In (ellip. ) qui musica lstus parque tuus resono.
II.
But if again, but if by chance again, the cold Should
bring back to my house my beloved bird, Be thou, O re-
turning bird, be thou mindful to repay with a grateful
song Whatsoever food any kind hand may bestow.
Sin iterum, sin forte iterum,/rigu$
Reduro ad metis tectum (enall. ) cams (synon. ) avis,
Sum, rcdux, memor sum rependo gratus cantus
Pabulum (enall. ), quicunque benignus manus do.
12.
"The Molossian hounds fondly caressed the hare then
free from danger, And the tender young of the sheep
drew near the wolf; The deers played in peace with the
tigress; The stags feared not the African lion.
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? VERSIFICATION. 123
Molossi bfandfe (enall. ) foveo tutus (synon. ) lepus,
Tcncrque oris foetus appropiuquo (synon. ) vicinum praebuit
latus lupus; ,
Concors daraa cum tigris (epithet) ludo;
Cervus non pertimesco (synon. ) Massylus juba.
IS.
From you shall descend the brave Achilles, Known to
his enemies not by his back but by his undaunted front,
Who, always a victor in the uncertain contest of the race,
Shall outstrip the speed of the swift deer.
Achilles (expers terroris) tu nascor fortis,
Hostis haud tergum st \ pectus impavidus (synon. ) notuf,
Qui, persaepe victor vagus certamen cursus,
Praeverto (llammea vestigia) celeritas cerva celer.
14.
But me first above all things may the sweet Aonian
goddesses receive into their favor, Whose sacred symbols,
smit with ardent love to them, I bear; And may they
shew me the paths of heaven, and the starry orbs, The
various eclipses of the orb of Phoebus, and the labors of
the moon.
Ego verd primum ante omnis dulcis Aonides de/c,
Qui sacra fero, magnus (synon. ) amor percussus,
Accipio; coelum atque (synon. ) via, et sidereos orbes monstro,
Varius defectus Pheebi orbit, lunaque labor.
15.
The god of fire fought against Troy, the god of music
for Troy; The mother of iEneas was friendly to the Tro-
jan people, the goddess of war was unfriendly. The sis-
ter and wife of Jupiter, favorable to Turnus, hated
jEneas; Yet he was secure under the protection of Ve-
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? 124 EXERCISES IN
nus. Often did the fierce ruler of the sea attack Ulysses;
Often did Pallas rescue him from the brother of her fa-
ther.
Ignis deus sto in Troja, musics, prases pro Troja;
JEnea mater sum aequus Trojano populo, iniqua belli ilea.
Proprior Turnus, Jovis soror et conjux iEneas oderat;
Tamen ille sum tutus numen Venus.
Saepe ferox pelagi domitor Ulysses (epithet) peto;
Saepe Pallas (synon. ) suns patrisfrutre eripio. '
16.
And as a ravenous wolf both seizes on and carries away
Through the corn fields, through the woods, the sheep,
which has not gone into the fold, So, if the hostile barba-
rian finds any one in the plains Not yet received within
the city, he hurries him away; He then either follows
him as his captive, and receives chains cast upon his neck,
Or falls by a poisoned arrow.
TJtque rapax pecus, qui non intro (se texit) ovili,
Per seges (synon. ), per sylva, lupus feroque trahoque,
Sic, si qui, acceptus (synon. ) nondum (portarum sepe) oppidum,
Barbarus hostis in campus reperio (epenth. ), ago;
Aut captus sequitur ille (ellip. ), conjectusque catena (synon. )
collum accipio,
autpereo (synon. ) venenatus telum (virus habente).
17.
So when a shepherd, while he is collecting branches of
trees in the woods, Has wrapped among the loaves a ser-
pent asleep with cold and stiff with frost, And without
having seen it, has brought it to the fire; There is no de-
lay; scarcely has it felt the flames near it, When the serpent
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? VERSIFICATION. 125
both lifts up its head, and now also turns around Its fiery
eyes, And moves erect through the house with its forked
tongue.
Sicut ubi, dum arborum brachia colligo in sylva, anguis
Frigor sopitus, pastor, rigens brumaque,
Frons implico, appono (synan. ) ignisque inscius;
Nullus est mora; propius vix perfero flamma, cum (et jam)
Attolloque suns (ellip. ) caput, jamque lumen igneus torqueo,
Perque tectum (synon. ) mice arduus anguis (synon. ) os tri-
linguis.
CHAPTER X. --MISCELLANEOUS EXERCISES.
The first twenty-two of the following exercises are design-
ed to be literally translated into Latin verse: the words
will require a different arrangement, but every word may
stand in the same line in Latin, in which it is found in
English. The remaining exercises are intended to be more
freely translated, and the wofds in one line may often be
introduced into the preceding or following verse.
1.
The lamb in company with the wolf (sociata lupv) shall
gambol (lasciviet) in (per) the vallies,
And the steer shall go (petet) with the lion in safety (tutus)'
to the stall (prcesepe).
2.
Thus (qualia) the lilies hang down (declinant) their, wi-
thering (pallentes) 6talks,
V
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? 126 EXERCISES IN
And blooming {puberties,) roses die beneath the first chill-
ing blasts' (adprimos austros).
3.
And now the morning star {Lucifer) fringed (stringebat)
the lofty iEmus with his (ellip. ) rays,
And he urges on the rapid chariot (festinam rotam) more
speedily than usual (solito properantior).
4.
And I feared all these things, because I knew (videbam)
that I deserved them (ellip. );
But your anger is lighter (lenior) than my crime (pec-
cato).
5.
Let the heaven supply (ellip. ) dews sweet as nectar (nec-
tareos), and let it viands (epithet)
Supply, and shed (irriget) silently fertilizing showers (im-
bres).
6.
The sea was bright (radiabat) with the image of the re-
flected (repercussa) moon,
And in the night (epithet) there was a light (nitor) like
the light of day (diurnus).
7.
Let him indeed (sane) receive the price (mercedem) of
blood, and look as (et sic)
Pale (jpalleat) as the man (ellip. ) who has trodden on
(pressit) a serpent with naked feet (calcibus).
8.
And now the sea began to redden (rubescebat) with the
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? VERSIFICATION. 127
morning (ellip. ) rays, and from the lofty sky
(cethere)
The saffron Morn (lutea Aurora) arose in her rosy chariot
(bigis).
9.
Drops (enall. ) wear a stone hollow (cavo) ; a ring is worn
out (consumitur) by use;
And the crooked ploughshare is worn away (teritur) by
the earth rubbing against it (pressa).
10.
You see that anger, lust (libido), vice (scelus), every where
prevail (dominentur),
And deceit (fraus) counterfeiting friendship, and malig-
nant envy,
And feuds, and treachery (insidia), and the snares (retia)
of unequal law.
11.
Around the tame tyger (mansueta tigri) flowery bands
the sportive (petulantes)
Boys in play (per ludum) shall cast, and serpents the wea-
ried
Limbs of the traveller shall refresh by licking them with
their cold tongues (recreabuntfrigore lingua).
12.
The field by degrees shall grow yellow (flavescet) with
soft ears of corn (arista),
And the blushing grape (rubens uva) shall hang on the
rough (incultis) brambles,
And hard oaks shall distil (sudabunt) dewy honey (enall. ).
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? 128 EXERCISES IN
13.
O Sleep, thou (ettip. ) rest (quies) of all (ellip. ) things, O
Sleep, thou gentlest {placidissime) of the gods,
Thou peace of the mind, from whom care flies away, who
the body (corda), by its (ellip. ) daily
Toils (ministeriis) exhausted (Jessa), dost refresh and re-
cruit for labor.
14.
Often too, when the wind is rising (vento impendente),
you will see stars
Falling (labi) swiftly (enall. ) from (ellip. ) heaven, and,
through the shades (umbram) of night,
Long trains (tractus) of flame (enall. ) gleaming (albescere)
behind them (a tergal).
15.
Under this tree the dewy (madidi) Fauns (Fauni) often
danced (luserunt),
And their (ellip. ) pipe heard in the night (fistula sera)
alarmed the quiet family (domum);
And while they fled (Jugit) through the solitary (solus)
fields from midnight Pan (nocturnum Pana),
Often under this tree (Jronde) z rural Dryad (Dryas)
lay concealed (latuit).
16.
O mossy fountains, and grass (herba) more soft than
sleep (somno mollior),
And the green arbute tree (arbutus), that covers you with
its thin (rard) shade,
Keep off the heat (solstitium) from my flock (pecori);
now comes the summer
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? VERSIFICATION. 129
Scorching; now the buds swell on the vine (epithet).
17.
Beneath a hedge, and often (nee raro) on the, margin of
a bank, there is a little
Reptile (the glow-worm), which glitters by night, and
lies concealed (latet) by day.
Ye great, lay aside your pride (fastus), and no longer
(nee) despise the lowly,
Since even (et) this little (minimum) reptile has some-
thing (ellip. ) which is splendid (niteat).
18.
In early spring, when the snow (periph. ) on the hoary
mountains
Is dissolved, and the crumbling (putris) glebe unbinds
itself by the Zephyr,
Then (periph. ) under the deep-pressed (depresso) plough,
let my ox begin
To groan, and the plough-share, worn bright (attritus)
by the furrow, begin (ellip. ) to glitter.
19.
Illustrious souls! If mortal things at all affect (quid
tangunt)
The inhabitants of heaven (ccelicolas), if there is still with
you (ellip.