on the Ides, was a lamb, (see above, v. 57,) here it is a wether.
589. On the Ides of January, A.U.C. 727, Octavianus, after a speech full of hypocritical moderation, restored to the Senate and People such of the provinces as were in a state of tranquillity, retaining those which were still disturbed.—The Senate, on account of this, decreed him the title of Augustus.
591. Generosa atria, the halls of the different noble families at Rome.—Ceras, the waxen images of their ancestors, under which were inscribed their titles and actions.
593. Africa etc. P. Cornelius Scipio Africanus.—Isauruas. P. Servilius Isauricus.
594. Cretum. Q. Caecilius Metellus Creticus.
595. Numidae. another Q. Caecilius Metellus, the predecessor of Marius, in the war against Jugurtha.—Messana. Claudius Caudex was sent to the aid of the Mamertines in Messana. He relieved the town, but derived no title from it. His statue and deeds, however, stood in the Atrium of the Claudii.
596. Numantina. Scipio aemilianus.
597. Druso. Drusus, the brother of Tiberius, and father of Germanicus, to whom the poem is dedicated, died in consequence of a broken leg, caused by his horse falling on him in the summer-camp on the Rhine, A.U.C. 745. The senate decreed the title of Germanicus to him and his children.
598. Quam brevis. How shortlived! Paterculus speaks in high terms of the virtues of Drusus. See also Hor. Car. iv. 4.
599. Caesar. C. Julius Caesar.
601. T. Manlius Torquatus. Liv. viii. 10.
602. M. Valerius Corvinus. Liv. vii. 26.
603. Magne. Cn. Pompeius Magnus.
604. C. Julius Caesar.
605, 606. When Fabius (A.U.C. 449.) divided the lower class of people into the four tribes named the Urbanas he was given the title of Maximus, which adhered to his family.—Nec gradus ullus, of comparison, playing on the magne of v. 603.
608. Hic. Augustus.
609. The Greeks rendered Augustus by [Greek: sebastus], from [Greek: sebo], to venerate. This name was considered beyond any human title.
610. Sacerd. manu. The Pontifex, when dedicating a temple, held one of the door-posts.
611. I do not think, with Gierig, that the poet derives augurium from augustus. It appears to me that he deduces them both from augeo. Loca quoque religiosa et in quibus augurato quid consecratur augusta dicantur ab auctu vel ab avium gestu gustuve. Suet. Aug. 7.
614. An oak-leaf garland, the symbol of protection, hung over the door of the Palatium; a laurel, the emblem of victory, stood on each side.
615. Tiberius, who bore the name of Augustus.
617-636. The Carmentalia were repeated on the 18th Kal. Feb. or the 15th of the month.
617. Actas, scil. exactas, past.
619. Matres. scil. Matronae.—Carpenta, the carpentum, was a covered two-wheel carriage. The etymon given by the poet is unworthy of attention.
629. Scortea, things made of skin or leather.
631. Precanti, by any one who is praying.
633. Porrima. This goddess is so named only in this place, and by Servius, on aen. viii. 336. Macrobius (Sat. I. 7.) calls her Antevorta. Varro, apud. A. Gellius (N. A. xvi. 6.) speaking of women who had a difficult labour, says, hujus periculi deprecandi causa arae statutae sunt Romae duabus Carmentibus; quarum altera Postverta nominata est, Prosa (alii Prorsa) altera; a recti perversique partus et potestate et nomine. We have here the true meaning of this feast of the Carmentalia, about which our poet has been puzzling.
634. Nympha, scil. Carmenta. Virg. aen. viii. 336. Thus Homer, (II. in. 130,) calls Helen a nymph. See Mythology, p. 206, note. For nympha, in this place, eight MSS. read diva.
635. Porro, usually denotes the future; in this place, it evidently denotes the past. Burmann knows no other instance of its occurrence in this sense.
637. On the following day, the xvii. Kal. Feb. the most ancient of the five temples of Concord at Rome, had been vowed, A.U.C. 386, by L. Furius Camillus. It was repaired and dedicated anew by Tiberius, A.U.C. 762. The temple of Juno Moneta (Warner) stood on the site of the house of Manlius on the Capitol; a flight of 100 steps led from the temple of Concord up to it.—Candida lux, auspicious day, as being that on which the temple of Concord was dedicated.—Niveo, as being built of marble.
639. The temple being on the side of the Capitol over the Forum.
640. Sacratae manus of Tiberius. Every thing belonging to the emperor was sacratum and sanctum.
641. Antiquum, scil. templum? Neapolis, I think is wrong, in taking antiquum to be used adverbially for olim, and joining it with pop. sup. Etr. Burmann, as he enclosed it in brackets, also understood it adverbially. Antiquum, which is unquestionably the right reading, is that of only three MSS. The others read antiquam or antiquus, or antiqui or antiquo.—Populi, etc. merely a designation of Furius, and has nothing to do with the occasion of the vow,—Ante, olim.
643. On the occasion of the Licinian rogations. Niebuhr, on this subject, prefers the authority of Ovid to that of Livy, who says, Prope ad secessionem.—venit.
644. Opes, the Plebeians.
645. A compliment to Tiberius. The first temple was built in consequence of civil discord; the second, in consequence of victories gained over the most formidable foes of Rome.—Passos, etc. Germany (i.e. the Germans) holds forth her dishevelled locks, vanquished by the Roman arms, under thine auspices. Jam tibi captivos mittet Germania crines; Culta triumphatae munere gentis eris, says our poet (Am. I. 14,) to a lady, as the false hair used at Rome mostly came from Germany. Nations, when conquered, were said porrigere, to surrender, those things for which they were distinguished. Thus he says, (Trist. II. 227,) Nunc porrigit arcus Parthus eques timida captaque manu, see below, V. 593. It is therefore supposed, that a condition of the peace was the delivery of a large quantity of hair for the use of the Roman wig-makers. There is nothing very sublime in this.
646. Dux, Tiberius.
647. Libasti, You have offered.
648. Quam colis ipse, by your love of peace.
649. Haec. scil. templa. This place is very obscure. Some MSS. read hanc.—Rebus, the commentators say, by the harmony in which she lived with Augustus.—Ara, by an altar, which they suppose she placed in the temple of Concord.
650. Magni Jovis, Augustus, the vicegerent of Jove on earth.
651. The passage of the sun into Aquarius, the xvi. Kal. Feb.—Haec. scil. tempora. The first editions, and two MSS. read transieris. Two other MSS. read transierit, which I should incline to prefer, and make haec refer to dies or to lux, v. 637. Heinsius would read Nox, or Lux ubi transierit.
653, 654. On the 10th Kal. Feb. Lyra sets
