Ver. 15. The delicate among the ancients, who had fine hair, were at great pains to prevent it from becoming red (rufus); an effect which they imagined the heat of the fun might occafion. Vid. Differt. de Color. Com. c. 3. p. 57. Ver. 23. Almoft all the old editions read, Nec tibi celanti fas fit peccare paranti. To find out the meaning of which long exercised the ingenuity of the learned; and no wonder, for if it is not nonfenfe, it is fomething very like it. At last, however, Scaliger reftor,d the text; which, though fupported by MS. authority, has been cenfured by fome malevolent critics as an intrufion of his own. Ver. 26. In the original, Ipfe Deus tacito permifit vela ministro Ederet ut multa libera verba mero. Brockbuf. For this reading we are alfo indebted to Scaliger; yet the paffage is far from being void of obfcurity. Accordingly, the commentators, fince his time, have all of them differed in their explanations of it. And although none of their expofitions are fatisfactory, yet that of Broekhufius is the leaft liable to objections. He fays, that the "Tacitus Dei" minifter, is the deceitful wine, by the vapours of which, drunkennefs creeping on, obfcures the mind, as with a veil; " tanquam velo quodam, aciem mentis obnubit fubrepens fenfim ebrietas." This, it must be owned, conveys fome meaning; yet the idea conveyed by it appears to be farther fetched than thofe of Ti. bullus commonly are. Something like this is re It was formerly fo fertile, that Pliny and Florus elegantly call it, "Liberi Cererifque certamen." Its prefent name is "Terra de Lavo ro. It is ftill beautiful, though it has loft much of its claffic amenity. Ver. 34. Falernus was one of the most fruitful difiricts in Campania. Its wines were the most celebrated of any in Italy; Dart alleges, that it received its name from one Falernus, a husbandman, who it feems firft cultivated the vine there. It was anciently called Amineum; and hence the epithet "aminea" was applied to wines of that country, and not as Servius imagines, because there was no minium in them. Ver. 35. Though the images in the original, are natural and obvious, yet as they are not appropriated to amorous compofitions, the tranflator has ventured to infert others, which to him appeared to have a better title to the place. Donec erunt ignes arcufque, cupidinis arma, of Ovid, would have been more adapted to the fubject, from whence the images ought ever to fpring; and indeed no poet of antiquity has more exactly obferved this rule than Ovid hath done, in the elegy from which the above line is taken, and in this view cannot be too carefully perufed. Paftoral poets frequently err, and even Virgh This day black omens threat the brightest fair, Ver. 49. This elegy abounds in difficult pa fages; nor is the original of this paffage the les obfcure: fhould therefore the translator err be the critical reader will the more cafily pardon t He had, however, in his eye, the following gant lines of Horace. Nunc et latentis proditor intimo Pignulve dereptum lacertis, The fportive pledge of future joy; Shall fruggling yield the willing tey lus, can boast of no delicacy. After all, the fentiment, as it appears in The Ver. 62. May bed gowns guard ber.] Fr with, and fome others in Tibullus, many have conjectured that our poet's talent want fuited to the fatiric, than to the elegiac The tranflator, however, would have been be pleafed, had his author given no proofs of g in that disagreeable fpecies of writing He therefore been lefs folicitous in rendering the force of the original. Ver. 63. May fee, O may fhe like your film pro, As fam'd for drinking, &c The Romans entertained fo great an abhorre of drunkenness in a woman, that the laws of the twelve tables permitted the husband to punila wife with death, if found guilty of that crime Ver. 85. "Faciunt hoc homines," Lays the m ral Cicero, "quos, in fumma nequitia, non libido et voluptas, verum etiam ipfius nequ fcelerum fuorum relinqui velint." But V fama delectat; ut multis in locis, notas ac ve thinks, that the poet did not mean a fhield, but s hand (palma); which he proves the ancients ar fometimes to hang up in their temples, to dest that it was now freed from the fetters of deceita love. If this is the interpretation, it may be the tranflated : To love I'll dedicate a hand of gold, ELEGY XI. Arms firft were forg'd to kill the favage game : So carv'd in our forefathers times you ftood; Appeas'd your anger, and engag'd your care; 30 When crown'd his wishes by your powerful 40 Yet when he leaves the cheerful realms of light, While lenient baths at home his wife prepares, So guard my flocks, and fuch an offspring fee. 6. Meantime, foft peace, defcend, O! blifs our plains! Soft peace to plough with oxen taught the swains. Bright fhine the plough-fhare, our support and 70 But ruft, deep ruft, the veteran's armis destroy ! [tears; 80 Ye you hs, though itung with taunts, of blows beware; They they are impious, who can beat the fair: NOTES ON ELEGY XI. THERE are very few of our poet's elegies, which furpass the following. By the words, Nunc ad bella trahor, arms. Ver. 6. Arms firft were forg'd.] This, in fact, is not true, ambition first taught man the ufe f Pliny tells us, that Prætus and Acrifis, when at war with one another, invented the it would seem that Tibullus was about to depart fhield; and that Midias the Meffanian invented on fome military expedition; Broekhufius conjec- a coat of mail; and that the Lacedemonians in tures, that it was written foon after his being ap- vented the helmet, fword and fpear. Lib. 7. c. 56. pointed to follow Meffala to Syria: and of course Ver. 8 Poets have generally given foll frøge that it ought to take place of the third elegy of to their indignation, when speaking of gold: they this book. But the tranflator cannot help differ- have looked upon it to be, what it indeed too oftes ing from that learned commentator; for when is, the destroyer of love, the fupport of unjuft amthe third elegy was compofed, it is known, that bition, and the parent of luxury. 'Tibullus had been for fome time in love with Delia; and yet in the following poem he makes no mention of Delia: befides Pocchi informs us, that in fome of his old MSS. this elegy began the fecond book, and was intitled De Ameribus Nemefis. But be that as it will, the elegy itself is truly worthy of our poet, and contains a vaft deal of the real Tibullus. In the beginning, he draws a fine parallel between the guilty horrors of war, and the innocent pleafures of a country retirement. His invocation to his household gods to preferve his life, in the dangerous employment he was forced into, is no lefs pious and pathetic, than his reflections on ambition, and its fatal confequences are just and moral. From the whole of this elegy, it may reasonably be queftioned, whether Tibullus was an academic philofopher, as Mr. Francis fuppofes, or rather whether he was not, at least in practice, if not in theory, of the fect of Epicurus. The cheerful enjoyment of the prefent hour was their funda Ver. 1. Who was 'be firft that forg'd] Authors differ greatly in their opinions about this matter. Ariftotle afferts, that one Lycus of Scythia firft fhowed the method of tempering and working in brafs: Theophraftus afcribes this discovery to Dela a Phrygian. Callimachus, on the other hand, curfes the Chalybes as the inventors of iron, and thus addreffes Jove to defroy them, Ζευ σατιρ ὡς χαλύβων παν απόλοιτο γενος While Hefiod lays this to the charge of the Dactyli Idei in Crete; as others fay, that the Cyclops were the first who worked in that metal. The Lemnians, on the fame account, are branded by many; and hence the proverbial expreffions οἱ λίμνια κακα, λίμνια χειρ, and λεμνον. Ελεπειν. Bacchus is alfo faid by fome, to have invented the weapons of war; but Diodorus Siculus imputes their difcovery to Ifis and Ofiris. But the true author was probably Jubal Cain. ἡ φιλοχρημοσύνη μητερ, &c. The worst of ills from fordid avarice flow; And gold is but the glittering bait of woe. Nefarious gold, with virtue's bane replete : Oh that thy fatal poifon were less sweet! of thee are born wars, murders, and alarms, Paternal curses, and fraternal arms. Although it must be confeffed, that all this mifchiefs have, on fome occafions, arifen from gold; yet he is but little acquainted with the h tory of human nature, who does not know the almost all the great paffions to which man is f je, have at one time or another occafioned that very mischiefs. Ver. 9. No poet, except Homer, abound much as Tibullus, in defcriptions of primitiv rural fimplicity of manners. To an unprejude mind, thefe are entertaining, and afford mate curious fpeculation. Although our author, by ka birth and abilities, might have flione in cours, and the polite fcenes of active life, his good fenk, poetical turn, and averfion to the villanies of dfice, led him to prefer the country: accordingly he never appears to more advantage, than when defcribing its pleasures, and the plain but hone devotion of its inhabitants. Ver. 15. Almost all the old editions read, This perplexed the commentators, who know ing, that the commons of Rome, in times of peace, or when acting in their civil capacity, neither wore arms themselves, nor had them to wea, much lefs to difpofe of (for the arms of that peo ple, as well as their military clothing, were placed in the cuftody of the fupreme magiftrates, whe from the public armories occafionally delivered them out); at last thus happily reftored the paffage, Tunc mihi vita foret dulcis: nec triftia noffem. An emendation which Brockhufius approves of -A boar fall bleed.] The whole of thi refs to his household gods is pathetic and anited. This line has been ftrangely corrupted he original; the true reading however is, Hoftia erit plena ruftica porcus hara. nany from the old reading Hoftia e plena, &c. See the fond wife, in tears of transport drown'd, ofed fomething wanting, Pontamus thus boldly And beg again to hear the dreadful tale. avoured to fupply the deficiency; obis ærata lares depellite tela; ec petat hoftili miffa fagitta manu; it the word "trahatur," as Broekhuffus ob- . K. homine mortuo." r. 36. Hence fays Broekhufius, we may rethat myrtle was no lefs acceptable to the than to Venus herfelf; and Horace informs 'There are alfo fome beautiful ftrokes of the fame nature in Mr. Addifon's Latin poem, intituled Pax Gulielmi Aufpiciis Europa Reddita. Mus. Ang. Tom. 2. Ovid has inferted this thought of Tibullus, in feveral parts of his writings, particularly in Penelope's letter to Ulyffes. At aliquis pofita monftrat fera prælia menfa,' See also his Metam. Lib. 9. at the beginning, book xii. ver. 155. Ars Amand. book ii. ver. 127. Ver. 48. No laughing bowls.] The author of the Hercules Furens, has ftretched this fingle thought into ten long lines, ver. 698. Not fo that excellent poet of Italy Sannazario. Poft obitum non ulla mihi carchefia ponet Ep. Lib. I. Brock. eating and drinking? Ought not our poet rather Are we then to place the chief joys of life in to have expatiated on the pleasures of learned fo ciety, or the charms of friendship, and the bliss of love? yet, after all, as the poet was only defcrib. ing the happiness of rural life, these additional images were the lefs neceffary. Ver. 49. The "ufti capilli et exefæ gena" of the original, are far from being terrifying images. "Omnes imagines mortuorum calvæ finguntur, comis igne rogi confumptis." Vid. Luc. in Dialog. Nir. Diogen. et Thers. Ver. 57. While lenient baths.] Shall we fuppofe that our poet had Ariadne's fine exclamation to at they were often crowned with this plea-Thefeus in his thoughts. :vergreen. -Te nihil attinet Tentare multa cæde bidentium, The little gods around thy facred fire, waft profufion of the victims gore, Quæ tibi jucundo famularer ferva labore? Catull. Claude Lorraine himself could not draw a finer B. 3. 1. 23. picture of a village-family, than our poet has given us in this place. There is another pleafing Lepresentation of the fame fort in the Gentle Shepherd; a dramatic poem, which the tranfla tor is perfuaded, every judge of poetry and nature will greatly prefer to the frigid Arcadian Favole Bofcorechie of Italy. t pliant myrtle-wreaths alone require, fragrant herbs the pious rural store. grateful cake when on the hallow'd shrine, 'd by hands that know no guilty ftain, reconcile th' offended powers divine, En bleeds the pompous hecatomb in vain. Francis. cr. 43. There is a fine and elegant improveof this thought, in Mr. Tickle's poem on eace of Utrecht. This practice however of preparing warm baths, to case the limbs of the fatigued husband, was not peculiar to the rural dame. Homer informs us, that Andromache commanded her maids to place on the fire, a large veffel full of water, to bathe her lord in, when he fhould return from the battle; the in the mean while, employing herself, as Pope conje&ures, in weaving a vestment to adorn him with. But alas, all her care was fuperfluous, Hector never came back. Il. x. v. 440. Homer is in nothing more admirable, than in his foftening the ferocity of his battles, by the apt introduction of tender and domeftic circumstances. Ver. 61. Meantime, foft peace, defcend.] May not this fignify that Tibullus was to have been employed in quelling fome Italian commotion, and not in a foreign expedition? Ver. 62. Soft peace to plough.] Many editors, and among the relt Broekhufius, read, Duxit aratores fub juga curva boves. But the adverb" primum," in the foregoing line, fufficiently authenticates our reading "araturos for how could an ox, when first put to the plough, with any propriety be called "arator," a term intimating that he had ploughed before; though he might well be called "araturus," as that gerund only points at his future employment and office. Befides, our reading is fupported by the greatest number of manufcripts and editions. Ver. 94. Cafimir has a beautiful ode on peace, and the reader will find many fine thoughts on the same subject, in those poems of Mr. Addifon's and Mr. Tickle's, which we have already praised. Ver. 67 In the original, Pace bidens, vomerque nitent, &c. not vigent," ," in oppofition to Situs. rection we owe to Heinfius. This cor Ver. 70. In the dark grove ] That the Heathens, fays Mr. Dart, had their religious rites in thick woods and groves, every one knows; the poet therefore defcribes thofe holidays, as the gay part of the farmer's life, when he and his family made merry, not unlike, adds he, to our country wakes, and revels, when mirth is at its height, and the fcuffles of love grow warm. There is a fimilar defcription in the eleventh Eneid ver. 7 0. At non in venerem fegnes nocturnaque bella; Aut, ubi curva chores indixit tibia Bacchi, Expectare dapes, et plena pocula menfæ. Hic amor, hoc fludium; dum facra fecundus Harufpex Nuntiet, ac lucos vocet hoftia pinguis in altos. Ver. 75. Doors. windores fly.] Sciffofque capillos Fimana perfractas conqueriturque fores. On which Scaliger thus fuperciliously remarks, Copulativa verbo addita vehementer apud me male audit; quod tametfi a magnis poetis, et a Nobis quoque factum eft; nunquam tamen, ac ne tunc quidem, quum facerem, probavi." If the young rakes of Rome fometimes broke open their miftreffes doors, Dr. Bentley informs us from Plautus and Seneca, that the women fometimes returned the compliment. This, in Horace's court-language, was called, " expugnare juvenum domos." Neither was this boisterous method of getting admittance entirely unknown to the old Sicilians, as we may perceive by Daphnis's threat to matha. ει δ' αλλα με ωθειτε καὶ ὰ θερα είχε το μοχλο παντως καὶ πελέκεις καὶ λαμπεδες ήνθον εφ' μας. Ver. 79. Love fits between.] "Totus hic lec fays Broekhufius, very jastly.tam venuĝo ar ficio eft pertractatus, ut melius non queat r Flet puella, male habita ab-ebrio amatore: f amator, pigetque eum tam turpis victoria fidenter utrumque Cupido, nihil motus hil mis: quinimo, ut ne pax defubite confiat, inf. cavet, fubjectis utrimque novæ riaz alm Nihil poterit amænius excogitari, nibil ap vividius." He then defires us to compare fhort picture of our poet's with another is 0. B. 1. El. 7. and adds, " Fallor aut illius (meat) Ovid) artis immenfam varietatem magis beris; hic vero non minus te dile&tabit inv dus ille nitor nativæ fimplicitatis. This picture would afford an excellent f to a Guido Rheni. Ver 82. The original literally translated, =mates, that whoever beats his mistress, is of per as rigid and inflexible as stone or irus, were it in his power, he would dethrone th themfelves, and expel them from heaven La furnishes us with a strong proof of the gallantry of thofe times! Ovid, accordi own confeflion, was not over fcrupulon conduct to the fair fex, the fixth Elegy of Book being an apology to Corinna, whom he been 10 barbarous as to beat. Many other ¦ fuges might be adduced from ancient war a corroborate this affertion. But the fubje pleasing. Ver. 84. Or on their treffes] This affa ther difagreeable proof, that the moder furpafs the ancients in point of gallantry, Although nothing can be more accep the lover, than a dilcovery of his being yet the method here made ufe of to arrive difcovery, is wholly illiberal: for in fpite w that Propertius has wrote to the contrary, pleasure can there be, Aut in amore dolere, aut audire dolentem; Put crufo the uretch.] From thefe, and other pallages in Tibullus, it appears, thir author had not one ill-natured vice about Other poets we admire, but there is none ancients whom the tranflator should have w to have been acquainted with fo much as Tibul One cannot be very converfant in his wr without acquiring a friendship for the man, longing, to ufe Mr. Spence's words, to haw fuch another as he was for one's friend. Ver. 91. The various figures which Breck fius and others who have published antiques, L given us of this goddefs, are the best com upon the original of this paffage. Theocrite p ears of corn blended with poppies into both hands. See his Idyll. entitled Admin |