by Peter Jones
638 *pertimēscō 3 pertimuī be afraid of
son-us ī 2m. sound
propri-us a um own
exterrit-us a um terrified
Learning vocabulary
arbore-us a um of/from trees
circumdō 1 put X (acc.) round Y (dat.), surround
īnfēlīx īnfēlīc-is unhappy, unfortunate
lūmen lūmin-is 3n. eye, light
pertimēscō 3 pertimuī be afraid of
tendō 3 tetendī tēnsum stretch out, draw, proceed, reach, aim (at)
639 *rīp-a ae 1f. bank
640 Īnachidas: Greek acc. pl. of Inachis, ‘of (the river/god) Inachus’. Another pathos-filled repetition, as throughout 642–3
*cōnspiciō 3 cōnspexī cōnspectum catch sight of, see, observe
641 exsternāt-us a um in consternation, panic
*refugiō 3 refūgī recoil from
642 *Nāis Nāid-is 3f. water nymph. These are Io’s sisters; note the ABBA word-order (chiasmus) Nāides ignōrant, ignōrat . . . Īnachus, and in 643
*ignōrō 1 be ignorant, not know
644 *admīror 1 dep. be surprised, wonder at
offerō 3 put forward, offer
645 decerpt-us a um plucked, pulled (dēcerpō). A chiastic golden line
senior –is 3m./f. older, senior (= senex)
porrigō 3 porrēxī porrēctum stretch out, offer
646 lambō 3 lick
palm-a ae 1f. palm
647 *retineō 2 retinuī retentum hold back, keep
sequantur . . . ōret . . . loquātur: ‘vivid’ pres. subj. in a contrary-to-fact condition
649 littera: subject of perēgit (650)
puluis puluer-is 3m. dust
dūcō = trace
650 indici-um ī 2n. evidence, sign
trīste: if the word Io wrote was her own name, it would be trīste indeed, since iō in Greek meant ‘alas, woe’. Inachus picks up the refrain with mē miserum in 651 and 653
peragō 3 perēgī provide
Learning vocabulary
admīror 1 dep. be surprised, wonder at
cōnspiciō 3 cōnspexī cōnspectum catch sight of, see, observe
ignōrō 1 be ignorant, not know
Nāis Nāid-is 3f. water nymph
refugiō 3 refūgī recoil from
retineō 2 retinuī retentum hold back, keep
rīp-a ae 1f. bank
651 exclāmō 1 cry out
inque: controls cornibus and niueā . . . ceruīce (652)
gemō 3 groan, cry
652 niue-us a um snow-white
*pendeō 2 pependī hang on, be uncertain; depend on
653 *ingeminō 1 repeat, intensify
tūne . . . terrās: take in order tūne es [ea] nāta quaesīta mihi (dat. of agent, RL(e)1(iv), W24) per . . . ?’
654 repertā: abl. of comparison, ‘than [you] having-been-found’, ‘than now that you have been found’
655 *luct-us ūs 4m. cause of grief, mourning, lamentation
reticeō 2 be silent
mūtu-us a um mutual, in return
nostrīs: i.e. words
656 *referō referre rettulī relātum bring/carry/put back, tell, answer, record, pay
*tantum only
suspīri-um ī 2n. sigh
657 quodque ūnum ‘and what only’, ‘and the only thing’
remūgiō 4 moo/low in reply
658 *thalam-us ī 2m. marriage (bed)
taed-a ae 1f. torch (accompanying marriage)
659 *nepōs nepōt-is 3m./f. grandchild
660 grex greg-is 3m. herd
tibi: dative of agent
661 *fīniō 4 end, finish
662 nocet: impersonal, ‘it hurts’, RLF2, W37
praeclūs-us a um closed, shut
lēt-um ī 2n. death
663 aetern-us a um eternal
extendō 3 extend, stretch
*aeu-um ī 2n. age
664 maereō 2 lament (referring to Inachus)
stellāt-us a um starred (because of his many eyes)
submoueō 2 move along, push away
665 patrī: dat. of loss or disadvantage, RL48.1
dīuers-us a um distant
pāscu-um ī 2n. pasture
666 abstrahō 3 drag away
*procul at a distance
sublīm-is e high, lofty
cacūmen cacūmin-is 3n. peak, summit
667 *sedeō 2 sēdī sessum sit
speculor 1 dep. watch, gaze
668 superum = superōrum
rēctor -is 3m. ruler, i.e. Jupiter
Phorōnidos: Greek gen. s. of Phorōnis ‘woman connected with (i.e. sister of) Phoroneus’ (Inachus’ son, another Argive hero) – a recherché way of referring to Io
ultrā beyond, further
669 nātumque = Mercury (Greek Hermes)
lūcid-us a um bright, shining
part-us ūs 4m. birth
670 Plas Plad-is 3f. Pleias or Maia (one of the stars known as the Pleiades, mother of Mercury)
ēnītor 3 dep. ēnīxus produce, give birth to
lēt-um ī 2n. death
det: subj. of indir. command after imperat. Jupiter is ordering Mercury [ut] lētō det [Argum]
671 parua mora est: controls [Mercuriō] sūmpsisse ‘for Mercury to . . .’, ‘while Mercury . . .’
*āl-a ae 1f. wing
*uirg-a ae 1f. rod, wand
*potēns potent-is powerful
672 somnifer -a -um sleep-inducing
sūmpsisse: perfect to show how quickly Mercury acted
tegumen tegumin-is 3n. covering, hat
673 dispōnō 3 disposuī dispositum arrange
patriā . . . arce: i.e. Olympus
674 dēsiliō 4 leap down
*illīc there
675 tantummodo only (so much as)
676 hāc: abl. of means
dēui-us a um remote
rūs rūr-is 3n. country, countryside
capell-a ae 1f. goat
677 dum uenit: take this clause closely with abductās
abdūcō 3 abdūcere abductum steal
struō 3 strūxī strūctum fit together, construct
cantō 1 play on (+ abl.)
auēn-a ae 1f. oat-stalk; pipe
Learning vocabulary
aeu-um ī 2n. age
āl-a ae 1f. wing
fīniō 4 end, finish
illīc there
ingeminō 1 repeat, intensify
luct-us ūs 4m. cause of grief, mourning, lamentation
nepōs nepōt-is 3m/f. grandchild
pendeō 2 pependī hang on, be uncertain; depend on
potēns potent-is powerful
procul at a distance
referō referre rettulī relātum bring/carry/put back,
tell, answer, record, pay
sedeō 2 sēdī sessum sit
tantum only
thalam-us ī 2m. marriage (bed)
uirg-a ae 1f. rod, wand
678 uōce: = music
Iūnōni-us a um of Juno
679 poterās: a polite invitation, = ‘why don’t you?’ (a sort of suppressed condition: ‘if you wanted to, you could ‘), cf. RLS2(c)Notes(6)
cōnsīdō 3 cōnsēdī cōnsessum sit, settle down
680 pecus pecor-is 3n. flock, herd (which Mercury has stolen 677 and brought with him)
fecund-us a um lush
ūllō . . . locō: abl. of comparison after fēcundior
681 apt-us a um fitted for, suitable for (+ dat.)
682 Atlantiadēs: Greek nom., grandson of Atlas, i.e. Mercury
loquendō: gerund (RL175, RLN, W39) with multa (RL14.7, W4Footnotes 5) as object
683 dētineō 2 dētinuī dētentum occupy, engage
canō 3 play; sing
684 harundō harundin-is 3f. reed, pipe
685 ēuincō 3 overcome
686 sopor -is 3m. sleep
687 uigilō 1 stay awake
688 fistul-a ae 1f. pipe
quā . . . ratiōne how,
by what means
713 dictūrus: Argus had fallen completely asleep before Mercury could finish
Cyllēni-us ī 2m. Mercury (who was born on Mt. Cyllene in Arcadia)
714 succumbō 3 succubuī fall asleep
adopert-us a um covered
715 supprimō 3 suppress, check
extemplō immediately, suddenly
*firmō 1 reinforce, strengthen
sopor -is 3m. sleep
716 languid-us a um drowsy (a nearly golden line)
permulceō 2 soothe
medicāt-us a um magic, charmed
717 falcāt-us a um hooked
nūtō 1 nod (with sleep)
uulnerō 1 wound
ēns-is is 3m. sword
718 cōnfīn-is e joined to
saxōque: ‘true’ abl., RL100A, Survey(a)
cruent-us a um bloody (acc., referring to Argus)
719 dēiciō 3/4 dēiēcī dēiectum throw X (acc.) down from Y (abl.)
maculō 1 smear, stain
praerupt-us a um steep, sheer
*sanguis sanguin-is 3m. blood
rūp-ēs is 3f. rock, cliff
720 iacēs: note the shift to the second person (‘apostrophe’)
quodque . . . lūmen: ‘whatever light’, object of habēbās, subject of exstinctum est
in tot lūmina: ‘for/in so many eyes’. Ovid plays on lūmen ‘light/eye’
721 exstinct-us a um extinguished, put out
722 excipiō 3/4 pick out, remove (Juno (Sāturnia) is the subject)
hōs: i.e. the eyes
uolucr-is is 3f. bird (here gen. s.), i.e. the peacock (brought to the Mediterranean from India and Sri Lanka)
723 collocō 1 place
*gemm-a ae 1f. gem
*caud-a ae 1f. tail
stellāns stellant-is starry
*impleō 2 implēuī implētum fill
724 exardēscō 3 exarsī flare up
differō differre distulī dīlātum put off, delay
725 horrifer -a -um horrific, shuddersome
obiciō 3 obiēcī place X (acc.) before Y (dat.)
Erīnyn: Greek acc. s. of Erīnys, tormenting fury, demon
726 paelex : = Io, here gen. with oculīs animōque
Argolic-us a um from Argos
stimul-us ī 2m. goad (lit., cattle-prod)
caec-us a um blind
727 *condō 3 condidī conditum hide; build, found; compose
profug-a ae 1m./f. exile, fugitive. Here it is in apposition to (understood) ‘her’ (Io), RL17B, W3
exerceō 2 exercuī drive on, chase
728 *ultim-us a um final, last. Here = ‘final destination’, in apposition to the ‘you’ of the Nile
*immēns-us a um immeasurable
restō 1 be left as X (nom.) for Y (dat.). Note the ‘apostrophe’
Nīl-us ī 2m. Nile
729 quem: i.e. the Nile. It is a connecting relative, RL107
simulac as soon as. This controls only tetigit (of which Io is the subject)
*margō margin-is 3m. edge, border
730 prōcumbō 3 lie down
*genu gen-ūs 4n. knee
resupīn-us a um bent back
*ardu-us a um looking upwards, steep, difficult, high
731 quōs potuit sōlōs: refers to uultūs, ‘which alone she could [raise]’, ‘which was all she could [raise]’; humans raised hands to the gods in prayer and supplication
732 *gemit-us ūs 4m. groan
luctison-us a um grief-sounding, heart-rending (a one-off word in extant Latin)
mūgīt-us ūs 4m. moo. Note the rare (and here very effective) spondaic fifth foot
733 uīsa: supply est
*fīn-is is 3f. end
734 ille: i.e. Jupiter
complex-us a um embracing
735 ut: take with fīniat after rogat, ‘[Jupiter] rogat that she tandem fīniat . . . ’
futūr-um ī 2n. the future
737 haec: i.e. Io
*Stygi-us a um Stygian, underworld, hellish. Jupiter is telling the (god of the) river Styx to hear because gods swore oaths in the name of the river (Homer Iliad 15.37–8). This was a reward which Zeus/Jupiter gave Styx for supporting him in a war against the Titans
hōc: object of audīre
palūs palūd-is 3f. marsh, swamp
738 lēnīt-us a um soothed, placated
dea: i.e. Juno
illa: i.e. Io
739 fit . . . fuit: a neat word-play and contrast
saet-a ae 1f. animal hair, coat
740 dēcrēscō 3 shrink
art-us a um narrow
741 contrahō 3 close, become smaller
rict-us ūs 4m. gaping mouth
umer-us ī 2m. shoulder
742 ungul-a ae 1f. hoof
quīn-us a um five
dīlābor 3 dep. dīlāpsus disperse, dissolve
absūmō 3 (passive) vanish, fade
ungu-is is 3m. nail
743 bōs bou-is 3m./f. ox, cow
*nīl nothing
*supersum superesse superfuī remain, be left over, survive
candoris 3m. brightness (take with fōrmae; cf.610, 612)
744 offici-um ī 2n. use, function
nymphē: Greek nom., nymph
content-us a um happy with (+ abl.)
745 ērigor stand up
*metuō 3 metuī metūtum fear
mōre: abl. of mōs, ‘in the manner of, like’
746 mūgiō 4 moo
timidē fearfully, hesitantly
intermiss-us a um interrupted
retemptō 1 try again
Learning vocabulary
ardu-us a um looking upwards, steep, difficult, high
caud-a ae 1f. tail
condō 3 condidī conditum hide; build, found; compose
fīn-is is 3f. end
firmō 1 reinforce, strengthen
gemit-us ūs 4m. groan
gemm-a ae 1f. gem
genu gen-ūs 4n. knee
immēns-us a um immeasurable
impleō 2 implēuī implētum fill
margō margin-is 3m. edge, border
metuō 3 metuī metūtum fear
nīl nothing
sanguis sanguin-is 3m. blood
Stygi-us a um Stygian, underworld, hellish
supersum superesse superfuī remain, be left over, survive
ultim-us a um final, last
Notes
583–7: Ovid simply but powerfully paints Inachus’ emotional state. He is hidden away deep in his cave (583) – already we wonder what the description tells us – he is crying profusely (584), and with one word crunching against another (‘child – most miserable – Io – grief – as lost’) we cannot but feel sympathy for a father’s despair (584–5). Psychologically, Ovid is spot on to see both that it is the not knowing that is the real torture (585–6) and that there is a logic to fearing the worst (586–7): after all, Inachus is a god, and if he does not know where she is, what possible conclusion can he draw?
588–600: Ovid now fills us in on how Io came to be missing – the ‘background’ to the story (note how Ovid moves from the pluperfect tense 588, to the perfect 600, and finally the vivid present 605). Jupiter saw her in the woods, and it was lust at first sight (no Cupid’s revenge here, cf. Apollo and Daphne). His motivation is transparently self-interested in a way that Apollo’s was not (the torus 590, a hypocritical hint at marriage; the invitation into a shady nook out of the hot sun, 591–4, and apparent ‘care’ for Io who, being no huntress, may well fear the woods; the cynical praeside tuta deo). Jupiter shows little sign of concern for Io (contrast Apollo); and his boasting about his identity (595–6) is crude. He is most affronted when she simply runs for it (his shocked reaction, 597), and he shows not the slightest hesitation in trapping and ravishing her. Ovid’s description is cold and clinical (599–600). We have Jupiter’s measure. Io’s reaction, however, is not revealed.
601–9: But how is Juno to find out? Ovid makes her suspicious of the clouds
over Argos (her ‘home’ town) on such a sunny day (602–4). Further, she knows Jupiter has ‘form’ in this respect (605–6), and when she looks round for her husband, he is not at home (607). Adding two and two, she swoops down to investigate, scattering the clouds (607–9). She admits she may be wrong (fallor) – but also that she may be being wronged (laedor). We now have Juno’s measure.
610–24: Juno finds (a forewarned) Jupiter, plus cow (and a pretty one, too – 612). She knows her man (note uērī quasi nescia), and starts gently turning the screws with a range of ‘innocent’ questions about the cow’s origin (613–14). Ovid does not need to depict Jupiter squirming under the cross-examination: ‘Where did it come from?’ ‘Er, no idea, no idea at all’, he whistles hopelessly (615), desperate to get Juno to stop (616). But Juno knows something is up and is taking no chances: ‘Present it to me, then’ (616). Jupiter is now on the back foot, and Ovid shows us his thought-processes. One wonders to whom precisely it would be crūdēle to have to surrender Io (617 – only to Jupiter, of course); and his shame at being caught – or losing out to his wife? – battles with desire for Io (618–19). A conflict between pudor and amor (hardly ‘love’ in this instance) is the sort of debate one might expect feckless humans to have; but Jupiter can be as feckless as any human (see Introduction, p. 7). But Jupiter realises he is trapped – why should he be so keen on not handing over an unimportant (leue) cow when he is trying to persuade Juno that he just happened to stumble across it (620–1)? So he gives up Io, imagining that this will prove his innocence and, when Juno has forgotten all about it, he can start again. But Juno knows all about her husband and his tricks, and puts a guard on Io (622–4). This is the comic battle of the sexes: exquisitely amusing, and beautifully observed – the sharp, suspicious Juno boxing into a corner a desperately evasive Jupiter who imagines he may have got away with it. The mighty gods of Olympus have here become a very human couple. Io’s feelings still remain a mystery.
625–38: Hundred-eyed Argus is a formidable prison-guard, as Ovid makes clear: unsleeping by day (625–30), he ties Io up at night (630–1) when his hundred eyes would be less useful. And at last we turn to Io. What must it be like, Ovid thinks, to find yourself unexpectedly turned into a cow? Ovid amusingly suggests the way Io must be thinking about it. First, there would be the strange food (note amārae, 632); then sleeping on the ground (not always grassy either, 633); and only muddy water to drink (633). No arms with which to plead with Argus (635–6), and no voice either – just moos, which frighten even herself (637–8). Poor Io! Amusing it may be, but one’s heart goes out to her.
639–50: It gets worse. She finds herself by the banks of the Inachus, her home, and sees her reflection in the river! Horns! (cornua, emphatic first word of a new line.) Not a fashion statement. No wonder she runs a mile (639–41). But it is her inability to make herself known to her family that is most frustrating. They obviously do not recognise her (642–3); all she can do is follow them, nuzzle up to them; eat from Inachus’ hands, lick them, kiss them, weep – all no use (643–7). Ovid looks into her thoughts and tells us what she would have said had she been able (647–8). What despair, until finally she cracks it – and writes with her hoof in the dust (649–50)!
