the Egyptians and Sicilians. In beautifying the prows of their fhips, the ancients made ufe of feveral colours, which were not barely varnished over with them, but very often annealed by wax melted in the fire, fo as neither the fun, winds, nor water were able to deface them: the art of doing this was called from the wax Kngoygapia. See Potter's Ant. and Vitruvius, I. 7. cap. 9. Ver. 35. This is a very striking description of thofe large paftoral cups which the ancient fhepherds occafionally filled with wine, milk, &c. We may guefs at the capaciousness of this cup from the multiplicity of fubjects which are carved upon it. Virgil imitates this paffage. Ecl. 3. 36. Ovid. Met. 3. 73. Ver. 53. This is fimilar to an image in Homer's Ver. 56. Foxes are observed by many authors to be fond of grapes, and to make great havoc in vineyards; Ariftophanes in his Equites compares foldiers to foxes who fpoil whole countries, as the other do vineyards: Galen, in his book of Aliments, tells us, that hunters do not fcruple to eat the flesh of foxes in autumn, when they were grown fat with feeding on grapes. In the Song of Solomon, chap. ii. ver. 15. we read, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines" &c. And agreeably to this, Nicander in Alexiph. v. 185. affures us that foxes will fpoil the vines, II.. sony Cum pingui nocuit vulpes verfuta racemo Ver. 62. And I this bowl where wanton ivy twines, And fwelling clusters bend the curling vinesPope, Paft. I. Ver. 36 Here are three forts of ivy mentioned, BITES, LAIY quoos, and s. Pliny and Theo-, phraftus fay, that is is a kind of ivy that grows alone without a fupport: 2xguras is pro-gracli fifcellam texit hibifco. Vir. Etl. 10. 17. bably the poetical ivy which Virgil mentions, E:L 8. 12. "hanc fine tempora circum inter victrices hederam tibi ferpere lauros:" it has griden or faffron-coloured berries, and is ftyled Hedera baccis aureis, and chryfocarpum :" the bears no fruit at all, but has white twigs, and fmall, angular, reddish leaves, which are more neat than the other forts. Martyn. Nonnus in his Dionyfiacs, B. 19. has elegantly imitated this and many other paffages of Theo critus. Ver. 37. Creech has thus tranflated this paffage. With crocus mix'd, where seem the kids to broufe, The berries crop, and wanton in the boughs On which Dr. Martyn obferves, "it is hardly poffible for a tranflation to be more erroneous: zagTx:x fignifies a fruit of a yellow or faffron colour, which Creech has rendered crocus; but crocus or faffron is a flower, not a fruit. I was a long time puzzled to difcover where he found the kids: but fuppofe it must be from mistaking the fenfe of the word tag; it fignifies thofe tendrils which fuftain the vine in climbing: the Romans call it capreolus, hence the tranaator finding to be capreolus in Latin, which also fignifies a 4, took it in the latter fenfe: but he ought to bave known, that though capreolus is used both for a kid and a tendril, yet thig fignifies only the latter." There is a tranflation of this Idyllium in the fecond volume of Whaley's Poems which retains the fame abfurdity, Around its lips the circling ivy strays, Ver. 63. Ver. 67. Though Homer, in his Catalogue of the Ships, reckons Calydon among the Ætolian cities, yet it is certain that formerly it not only belonged to the Eolians, but was likewife callolis: Thucydides fays in his third history αναχωρησαν ες την Αιολίδα την των καλυμένην Καλυδωνα. Cafaubon. ed Ver. 69. Ecl. 3 47 Homer mentions the not having been used as a Pope. Ver. 71. The Greek is rov trgov vμvov, and is generally reckoned" amabile carmen :" thus Horace, Epift. 3. B. 1. ver. 24. "feu condis amabile carmen:" but the correction which Heinfius makes is undoubtedly genuine; he reads Tov 20' Iμroz upvor, the Hymn of Himera, a ri ver in Sicily, the banks of which were the fcene of the loves of Daphnis, as is evident from a paffage in the 7th Idyllium, ver. in the Greek 73, &c.-Befides we have the indifputable authority of lian, who, fpeaking of Daphnis and this Hymn, fays it is that which the goatherd calls, Tov i Imega qurcy, and that Stefichorus the Himerean bard first fung this celebrated Hymn. Ver. 72. Non equidem invideo. Ver. 75. Ecl. I. II. Incipe Manalios mecum, mea tibi verfus. man of continency, but, behold! you have adopted Ver. 77. ugris od wg Aisves, xui Avgoidos adia | fays fhe, you was used to be ftyled a cowherd, a Qwv, Thyristnæus hic eft, et hæc eft i hyrfidis cantilena; Heinfius obferves this is the title or prelude to the hymn, very agiccable to the manner of the ancients; thus Herodotus--" Herodoti Halicarneffenfis hæc eft Historia; he mentions his nanie, his country, and writings, exactly in the fame manner as Thyrfis. Τακεται οφθαλμως is a very frong expreflion, and Ver. 79. Virgil, Milton, Mr. Pope and Lord emphatically denotes the effect which is produced Lyttleton have imitated this paffage in the eyes of any perfon who vehemently longs after an object which he can never attain. Horace has a fimilar expreflion, Ver. 143. See Homer's Iliad, B. 5. Ver. 155. Daphnis ego in fylvis, hinc ufque ad fidera notus, Here Virgil exceeds Theocritus, who only mentions the rural employments of Daphnis, whereas Virgil reprefents his Daphnis as a perfon whofe fame had reached up to heaven. Martyn Ver. 159. Ipfe nemus linquens patrium, faltufque Lycæi, Geor. L. I. v. 16 Imperiola trahit Proferpina Ver. 172. Ver. 190. Fel. 8. 28. Ecl. 8.55 En. L. 10. 814. Her. L. 2. Sat. 5. Carmina tum meliùs, cum venerit ipfe, canemus. Define, Manalios jam define, tibia, versus. IDYLLIUM II. PHARMACEUTRIA. THE ARGUMENT. SIMETHEA is here introduced complaining of Delphis, who had debauched and forfaken her; fhe makes use of several incantations in order to regain his affection; and discovers all the variety of paffions that are incident to a neglected lover. WHERE are my laurels, and my philtres where? Delphis inflames my bofom with defire; So may the flesh of Delphis burn-My charms, night: Pale moon, affift me with refulgent light; ΙΟ [dread, The cake's confum'd-burn, Theftylis, the reft In flames; what frenzy has your mind poffeft? Am I your fcorn, that thus you disobey, Bale maid, my ftrict commands?-Strew falt, and fay, [charms, "Thus Delphis' bones I ftrew"-Reitore my The perjur'd Delphis to my longing arms. So may his love return-restore my charms, I'll ftrew the bran: Diana's power can bow Reftore falfe Delphis to my longing arms. I pour libations thrice, and thrice I pray; Whoe'er fhe be, bleft nymph! that now detains Hippomanes, a plant Arcadia bears, Makes the colts mad, and ftimulates the mares, 60 O'er hills, through streams they rage: O, could I fee Young Delphis thus run madding after me, This garment's fringe, which Delphis wont to To burn in flames I into tatters tear. Ah, cruel love that my beft life-blood drains From my pale limbs, and empties all my veins, As leeches fuck young fleeds-Reflore my charms, My lingering Delphis to my longing arms. 70 A lizard bruis'd fhall make a potent bowl, She's gone, and now, alas! I'm left alone! my 80 When fair Anaxa at Diana's fane And my kind ftars and better genius fail'd; Say, facred Phabe, whence my flame arose-Soon as where Lyco's manfion ftands I came, Delphis the lovely author of my flame I faw with Eudamippus, from the crowd Diftinguish'd, for like helichryfus glow d The gold down on their chins, their bofoms far Outfhone the moon, and every fplendid ftar; For lately had they left the field of fame Say, facred Phabe, whence arofe my flameO, how I gaz'd! what ecftafies begun To fire my foul? I figh'd, and was undone : The pompous fhow no longer fhould furprife, No longer beauty sparkled in my eyes : Home I return'd, but knew not how I came : My head diforder'd, and my heart on flame: 110 Ten tedious days and nights fore fick I lay Whence rofe my paffion, facred Phoebe, faySoon from my cheeks the crimson colour fled, And my fair trefies perifh'd on my head: Forlorn I liv'd, of body quite bereft, Of bones and skin were all that I had left: All charms I try'd, to each enchantress round Time wing'd his way, but not to footh my woes Say, facred Phoebe whence my flame arofeTill to my maid, oppreft with fear and shame, 121 I told the fecret of my growing flame; Dear Thethylis, thy healing id impart- Say, facred Phoebe, whence arose my flame- Whence rofe my paffion, facred Phoebe, fay Cold as the fnow my freezing limbs were chill'd, Like fouthern vapours from my brow diftill'd The dewy damps; faint tremors feiz'd my tongue, And on my lips the faultering accents hung; 140 As when from babes imperfect accents fall, When murmuring in their dreams they on their mothers call. · Senfeless I ftood, nor could my mind disclose Say, facred Phabe, whence my flame arose- I far out-ftript him, though he bravely strove; And should have deem'd it no ignoble blifs Had you refus'd me, and your doors been barr'd, 'par'd, 170 Refolv'd with force refiftance to oppose'- 'arms.' He faid, (alas what frenzy feiz'd my mind!) Soft preft my hand, and on the couch reclin'd 200 He oft would fee me twice or thrice a day, NOTES ON IDYLLIUM II. Ver. 1. This whole Idyllium, as Heinfius obferves, feems to have been pronounced with great gefticulation, as is evident from the exordium, II με τα Δαβναι ; πα δε τα φίλτρα ; which is a direct imitation of the beginning of an ancient fong, that ufed to be frequently rehearfed in the streets, and was called ανθεμα, Πε μοι τα ρόδας τε μοι τα 100; Where are my rofes; where are my violets? Ver. 3. It is uncertain what fort of veffel the Kads was. Nicander ufes the word in his Theras, and there it fignifies a mortar in which any thing is pounded. Cafaubon thinks it may be taken in the fame sense here. It is worth obfervation, that though Virgil has ftudiously imitated this whole Idyllium, he chose not to mention any fort of vellel, but fays, "moll icinge hæc alteria vittâ.” Ecl. 8. 64. Ver. 4. Conjugis ut magicis fanos avertere facris Ecl. 8. 66. Ver. 9. The place for wrestling, and other exercises. Ver. 11. Sorcerers addressed their prayers to the Moon and to Night, the witnefies of their abominations. Thus Medea in Ovid, Met. B. vii. Nox, ait, arcanis fidiflima [noftris Tuque triceps Hecate quæ cœptis confcia Adjutrixque venis Ver. 28. Fragiles incende bitumine lauros. The laurel was burnt in order to confume the flesh of the perfon, on whofe account the magical rites were performed. It was thought, according to Pliny, B. 16. chap. laft, by its crackling noise, to exprefs a deteftation of fire. Mr. Gay has finely imitated this paffage, in his fourth Pastoral. Two hazel nuts I threw into the flame, And to each nut I gave a fweetheart's name : This with the loudeft bounce me fore amaz'd, That in a flame of brighteft colour blaz'd: As blaz'd the nut, fo may thy paflion grow, For 'twas thy nut that did fo brightly glow. Ver. 33. It was customary to melt wax, thereby to molify the heart of the perfon beloved; the forcerefs in Virgil, Ecl. 8. makes ufe of two images, one of mud and the other of wax. Limus ut hic durefcit, & hæc ut cera liquefcit Uno eodemque igni: fic noftro Daphnis amore. Ver. 35. It was alfo ufual to imitate all the actions they wished the loved perfon to perform : thus Simæthe rolls a brazen wheel, believing that the motion of this magic machine had the virtue to infpire her lover with those paffions which the willed. Canidia makes ufe of this wheel. See Canidia addreffes the fame powers-O rebus meis Hor. Epode 17. 6, 7. Non infideles arbitræ, Nox, & Diana quæ filentium regis Arcana cum fiunt facra; Nunc, nunc adefte. Hor. Epode 5. 49. Ver. 19. The Greek is Iuyu a bird which magicians made ufe of in their incantations, fuppofed to be the wry-neck-Virgil has "Ducite ab urbe dumum, mea Carmina, ducite Daphnim." Ecl. 8. 68. Ver. 22. Ah, Corydon, Corydon, quæ te dementia cipit? Ecl. 2.69. Canidia, parce vocibus tandem facris, Adventante Deâ The reason why Hecate was placed in the public ways, was because the prefided over piacular pollutions: every new moon there was a public fupper provided at the charge of the richer fort in a place where three ways met; hence he was cal |