Ludo fatigatumque somno Texere, mirum quod foret omnibus, Quicumque celsae nidum Acherontiae Saltûsque Bantinos et arvum Pingue tenent humilis Forenti, Ut tuto ab atris corpore viperis Dormirem et ursis, ut premerer sacrâ Lauroque collatâque myrto, Non sine dîs animosus infans. Vester, Camenae, vester in arduos 15 20 14. Acheruntiae, some Codd.-27. arbor, some Codd., Bentl. 30 11. fatigatumque somno, poetic. for fatigatum somnoque (comp. above C. 1, 30, 6 and 2, 7, 25). 18. ut premerer, poetic. ut totus tegerer, that I should be totally covered with laurel, sacred to Apollo, and myrtle heaped together. 20. non sine dîs, like the Greek ov θεῶν ἄτερ, οὐκ ἀθεεί, per Meiosin == 'protected by the gods.' 22. tollor, i. e. ascendo montes illos. 23. Tibur supinum, i. e. situated on the declivity of the hill, see Excurs. to C. 1, 7. 24. liquidae, i. e. with clear, pure air; on Bajae see the Excurs. to this Carm. 25. vestris fontibus, all fountains were Tentabo et urentes arenas Visam Britannos hospitibus feros Et Scythicum inviolatus amnem. Vos Caesarem altum, militiâ simul Pierio recreatis antro. Vos lene consilium et datis et dato Qui terram inertem, qui mare temperat Imperio regit unus aequo. 2 35 40 45 31. arentes, some Codd., Bentl.-38. fessus, Cod. Vossian--abdidit, some Codd.; reddidit, some Codd., Bentl.-43. turbam, some Codd.-44. corusco, Bentl. conj.— 46. umbras, Bentl. conj.-47. turmas, some Codd. 31 and 32. arenas litoris Assyrii, i. e. the sands, deserts along the Syrian shore. 33. Britannos hospitibus feros, according to the belief of the Romans, the Britons were accustomed to sacrifice strangers or captives. 37. sq. the connexion of ideas is: Ye Muses, who are so gracious towards me, restore, refresh also Augustus, &c. 38. addidit, i. e. has distributed among the coloni (comp. Tac. Ann. 13, 31: Coloniae Capua atque Nuceria additis veteranis firmatae sunt). 39. quaerentem with the infin. finire cupientem, comp. below C. 3, 24, 27: Si quaeret pater urbium Subscribi statuis. H 41. consilium et, three syllables, as: con-sil-y'et, by Synaeresis-lene consil ium moderationem et clementiam, 'moderate counsel, clemency.' we 42. scimus, ut qua ratione, know how,' &c. (thus scire with ut also in Cicero). 43. Titanas immanemque turmam (sc. Titanum) poetic. for immanem turmam Titanum (comp. above v. 4: fidibus citharâque). 44. sq. (ut) sustulerit...qui unus temperat, &c. i. e. Jupiter-caduco, 'rushing down.' 45. terram inertem, poetic. =terram brutam (as it is above C. 1, 34, 9), 'the heavy, immoveable.' 46. regna tristia, the dreary (infernal) realms.' Magnum illa terrorem intulerat Jovi Sed quid Typhoeus et validus Mimas, Contra sonantem Palladis aegida 50 55 Vis consilî expers mole ruit suâ: Omne nefas animo moventes. Testis mearum centimanus Gyas Virgineâ domitus sagittâ. 69. gigas, some Codd.; Gyges, Bentl. 50. construe: juventus horrida, fidens Apollo (from v. 64), brachiis. 51. fratresque (supply: intulerant terrorem), i. e. the Aloidae, Otus and Ephialtes. 52. imposuisse, poetic. for imponere. 54. statu, i. e. attitude, posture' (of a combatant, comp. Liv. 30, 18, 4: turbare ac statu movere hostem). 58. avidus, i. e. eager, burning for the fight.' 60. sq. numquam positurus, &c. i. e. 65 70 qui rore puro, &c. 61. rore, poetic. moisture' (comp. above C. 3, 3, 56: nebulae pluviique rores)-lavit, poetic. form for lavat (see above C. 2, 3, 18). 65. sq., similar idea in Eurip. fragm. Temenid. 11 : ' Ρώμη δέ γ' ἀμαθὴς πολλάκις τίκτει βλάβην; and as to idem odêre, &c. comp. Eurip. Hel. 903: μiveî yàp ô beòs Tǹv Bíav. 67. idem (nom. plur.), sc. di. 69 and 70. mearum sententiarum = If any town of the ancient world might be called the metropolis of pleasure and gay life, it was Bajae, the most celebrated watering-place of Italy, which Comus, in communion with Hygieia, seemed to have selected for their favourite abode.1 The coast of happy Campania, on which Bajae was situated, was invested by nature with all the charms of a southern climate, to which the taste and splendour of the Roman nobility had added the magnificent ornaments of their villas and countryseats. These superb palaces rose along the shore, with their high towers commanding a view beyond the bay of Bajae into the open sea, whilst other villas, built in a more simple style by the men of former times, looked down from the neighbouring heights like strong fortresses. On the opposite side, in the direction of Naples, the beautiful town of Puteoli was situated; and, on the right, round the neck of land, lay Misenum, with its famous harbour, the station of the Roman fleet. In the immediate neighbourhood was Cumae, consecrated by ancient myths; and bordering on it, the dark lake of Avernus, which, combined with the loveliness of the surrounding country, seemed to represent in the upper world both the terrors of Tartarus and the delights of Elysium. 1 Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 83: "Nullus in orbe sinus Bajis praelucet amoenis." But the polished manners and gay life of the inhabitants contributed still more than the charms of nature to render Bajae the most pleasant abode in the ancient world. Besides invalids, who came to seek relief from the mineral waters and hot sulphuric vapours, there poured hither a much greater crowd of healthy people, who, caring only for pleasure, came to amuse themselves; and leaving behind them the cares and ceremonial of life, completely abandoned themselves to enjoyment, in whatever form it was afforded. All kinds of amusements accordingly were provided in abundance. In our own day, the country appears to have been very much altered by the destructive agency of repeated convulsions of nature, so that the descriptions given by ancient writers no longer correspond either with the situation of the lakes or with the general aspect of the country. Only a few scattered ruins lying along the shore point out the spot where once stood the most extensive bathing establishment of this luxurious city. |