by Peter Jones
cōpia nūlla †famem releuat; sitis ārida guttur
ūrit, et †inuīsō meritus torquētur ab aurō;
130
ad caelumque manūs et †splendida brācchia tollēns
‘dā †ueniam, Lēnaee pater! peccāuimus’ inquit,
‘sed †miserēre, precor, speciōsōque ēripe damnō!’
†mīte deum nūmen; Bacchus peccāsse fatentem
†restituit, pactīque fidē data mūnera soluit
135
‘nē’ ue ‘male optātō maneās †circumlitus aurō,
†uāde’ ait ‘ad magnīs uīcīnum Sardibus amnem,
perque †iugum rīpae lābentibus obuius undīs
carpe uiam, dōnec ueniās ad flūminis †ortūs,
†spūmigerōque tuum^ fontī, quā plūrimus exit,
140
†subde ^caput corpusque simul, simul ēlue crīmen.’
rēx iussae †succēdit aquae: uīs aurea tīnxit
flūmen et †hūmānō dē corpore cessit in amnem.
nunc quoque iam, ueteris †perceptō sēmine uēnae,
arua rigent aurō †madidīs pallentia glaebīs.
145
Learning vocabulary for Passage 19, Midas, 11.100–45
amn-is is 3m. river
Cereāl-is e of Ceres, grain (i.e. bread)
daps dap-is 3f. food
fulu-us a um yellow
glaeb-a ae 1f. clod of earth
palleō 2 palluī grow pale
palm-a ae 1f. palm of the hand
peccō 1 go wrong, make a mistake
post-is is 3m. post, gate
rigeō 2 grow hard
Study section
1. Do you see any similarities between the stories of Midas, Phaethon (passage 4), Semele (passage 6) and Daedalus (passage 13)?
2. You are a leading member of a religious community. Preach a sermon based on Ovid’s story of Midas.
3. See ‘Some assessments’ (pp. 13–15). Do you now share any of those views?
Vocabulary and grammar
100 hc: i.e. to Midas
deus: i.e. Bacchus
optandī . . . mūneris: this is the arbitrium Midas was offered by Bacchus, ‘of a gift to be wished for’, ‘of wishing for a[ny] gift [he cared for]’
inūtil-is e*
101 arbitri-um ī 2n. choice
altor -is 3m. foster-father (i.e. Silenus)
102 ille: denoting change of subject, = Midas
ūsūrus: the fut. denotes ‘fated to . . . ’
effice: + subj., see RL135
103 fulu-us a um yellow
104 adnuō 3 agree to (+ dat.)
105 Līber -ī 2m. Bacchus
indoleō 2*
petisset: subj. as part of Bacchus’ thoughts on the matter, RLR4, WSuppl.syntax
106 Berecynti-us a um: Phrygian (Mount Berecyntus was in Phrygia)
hērōs: Greek nom. s., ‘hero’
107 pollicit-um ī 2n. promise
singula: object of tangendō
108 uireō 2 be green
109 īlex īlic-is 3f. holm-oak (which sprouts low to the ground)
dētrahō 3*
110 *palleō 2 palluī grow pale (Romans frequently described gold as ‘pale’)
111 *glaeb-a ae 1f. clod of earth
contāct-us ūs 4m.*
112 mass-a ae 1f. solid lump (of gold)
ārēns ārent-is dry
Cer-es Cerer-is 3f. grain
dēcerpō 3*
arist-a ae 1f. ear
113 mess-is is 3f. harvest
dēmō 3 dēmpsī dēmptum pluck
pōm-um ī 2n. apple
114 Hesperidas: Greek acc. of Hesperides, the daughters of Hesperus who guarded Atlas’ orchard in which golden apples grew
115 *post-is is 3m. post, gate
radiō 1 shine, gleam
116 *palm-a ae 1f. palm of the hand
lauō 3 lāuī wash
117 fluō 3*
Danaēn: Greek acc. of Danaē, seduced by Jupiter who came to her disguised as a shower of gold
ēlūdō 3 trick, deceive
posset: conditional subj.; cf. uidērēs 126
118 capiō 3/4 contain, grasp (i.e. Midas is overwhelmed by the possibilities his wish appears to open up to him)
fingō 3 imagine
119 mēns-a ae 1f. table (exstrūctās and egentēs agree with mēnsās)
minister ministr-ī 2m. slave
120 exstruō 3 exstrūxī exstrūctum pile high
*daps dap-is 3f. food
tost-us a um baked
frūx frūg-is 3f. produce (of the earth)
121 sīue . . . sīue whether . . . or
*Cereāl-is e of Ceres, grain (i.e. bread)
122 *rigeō 2 grow hard
123 auid-us a um*
conuellō 3 tear
dēns dent-is 3m. tooth
124 lammin-a ae 1f. sheet (metal)
125 misceō 2 miscuī mix
pūr-us a um*
auctōrem mūneris: lit. ‘the source of the gift’. This is Bacchus, god of wine; and therefore the gift, wine, itself
126 fūsil-is e molten, fluid
rict-us ūs 4m. jaw
fluitō 1 flow
127 nouitās nouitāt-is 3f.*
dīues dīuit-is rich
128 uoueō 2 uōuī pray for
ōdī (perf.) hate, RLF1(a)
129 fam-ēs is 3f. hunger
releuō 1*
sit-is is 3f. thirst
arid-us a um*
guttur -is 3n. throat
130 inuīs-us a um hated
merit-us a um deserving, deservedly
torqueō 2 torture
131 splendid-us a um shining
132 ueni-a ae 1f. pardon
Lēnae-us ī 2m. Bacchus
*peccō 1 go wrong, make a mistake
133 misereor 2 dep. have mercy
speciōs-us a um seductive
ēripiō 3/4*
damn-um ī 2n. curse
134 mīt-is e kindly
deum = deōrum
fateor 2 dep. admit ([sē] peccāuisse)
135 restituō 3 restore
pact-um ī 2n. agreement (referring to Bacchus’ original promise)
fidē: abl. after data
136 circumlit-us a um smeared, coated
137 uādō 3 go
Sard-es ium 3f. Sardis, a town in Lydia
*amn-is is 3m. river (the Pactolus, which flowed through Sardis)
138 iug-um ī 2n. ridge (i.e. the ridged bank of the river, which was presumably running very low in the summer)
obui-us a um confronting (+ dat.), i.e. going upstream
139 ort-us ūs 4m. source
140 spūmiger -a um foaming
141 subdō 3 submerge
ēluō 3 wash away
142 succēdō 3 approach (+ dat.)
uīs aurea: ‘golden power’, i.e. power to turn things to gold
tingō 3 tīnxī tinge
143 hūmān-us a um*
144 percipiō 3/4 receive
sēmen sēmin-is 3n. seed
uēn-a ae 1f. vein (of gold)
145 madid-us a um wet, dripping
Notes
100–5: Since the ancients placed a very high value indeed upon the advantages to be derived from wealth, tending to associate it with all sorts of other desirable qualities (good looks, good fortune, happiness, etc.), Bacchus’ agreement to grant Midas’ wish does indeed seem like a dream come true (grātum, 100). But Midas had not thought throught he consequences. That he is a dim-wit is hinted at by inūtile (100) and clinched by male ūsūrus (102), nocitūra (104) and Bacchus’ regrets at Midas’ choice (105). Note in particular corpore (103): if Midas had said ‘with my hands’, his wish would not have had quite such disastrous consequences.
106–26: the paradoxical gaudet malō puts the situation in a nutshell (106, malō being Ovid’s comment). Hardly able to believe his luck (108), Midas tests his new powers (107: perhaps we are to imagine h
im doing so on his joyful way back from Lydia to Phrygia). He touches the branch of a holm-oak, which turns at once to gold (109). Ovid now produces a delightful list of objects that Midas touches, dividing the act of touching from the golden result either by caesura or line-end. Continuing on his journey, Midas tests different types of substance, vegetable and mineral, though not animal (110–14). Perhaps postibus altīs indicates he has reached home, where he tries out his gift on his man-made palace, then on water, the first liquid (114–17). It all ‘works’. Thrilled at the prospect (118–19), he orders from his slaves a superb celebratory meal, delicious food piled high (119–20). tum uērō (121) – dream becomes nightmare. Whatever he touches hardens into gold (121–2). So, forgoing use of his hands, he tears at the food with his teeth (note auidō 123: he’s getting hungry), with the same result (123–4 – cf. corpore, 103). Drinking wine mixed with (ironically useless) ‘pure’ water also makes no difference (125–6, the last line producing a brilliantly horrible image).
127–45: At last the attonitus Midas, realising the truth (127 malī, cf. 105–6) – the fine antithesis dīuēsque miserque sums up him and his situation perfectly – desperately longs to be rid of the powers he so keenly desired. Having all he wants but incapable of being satisfied – and deserving all he gets (129–30: note the brilliant paradox cōpia nūlla famem releuat, cf. Narcissus at 3.466) – he lifts his splendida brācchia (nice touch) to the heavens, admits he has made a serious mistake and asks to be relieved of the gift that seemed to promise so much (speciōsō, another fine oxymoron, 131–3). Bacchus kindly (134) agrees, emphasising the vanity of human wishes (male optātō 136, cf. 102, 106, 127–8), and instructs Midas to purify himself of his powers by washing in the river Pactolus in Sardis (136–41). The river absorbs the power Midas has been given and from then on cakes the surrounding fields with gold (142–5). This is another aetiology: the Pactolus was one of five ‘gold-bearing’ rivers, according to Pliny the Elder (Natural History 33.66), the others being the Tagus (Spain), the Po (Italy), the Hebrus (Thrace) and the Ganges (India). Ovid is again in literary heaven as he brilliantly exploits the paradoxes and ironies of the cretinous Midas’ decision, especially 100–5 and 127–33.
Total learning vocabulary
This list contains all the words that are shared between the learning vocabularies of Reading Latin and Wheelock (i.e. no word is here which occurs in just one of the lists); plus all the vocabulary set to be learned in passages 1–8 of this selection.
A
ā/ab (+ abl.) from, away from
abeō abīre abiī abitum go/come away, depart
ablāt-: see auferō
absēns absent-is absent, away
abstul-: see auferō
absum abesse āfuī be away from, be absent; be distant
ac (or atque) and
accēdō 3 accessī accessum approach, come near, reach; be added
access-: see accēdō
accipiō 3/4 accēpī acceptum receive, accept, take, welcome; learn; obtain, get; sustain; meet with
accūsō 1 accuse (X acc. of Y gen.)
ācer ācr-is e keen, sharp, eager, severe; red-hot
acerb-us a um bitter, harsh, grievous
ācerrim-us a um sup. of ācer
aci-ēs ēī 5f. battle-line; sharp edge, point; keenness (of sight); eyes
āct-: see agō
ad (+ acc.) towards; at, up to, near; for the purpose of; usque ad right up to
addō 3 addidī additum add
adeō adīre adiī aditum go/come to, approach
adeō to such an extent, so
adferō adferre attulī allātum bring to
adhūc so far
adiuuō 1 adiūuī adiūtum help, aid
admīror 1 dep. be surprised, wonder at
admoueō 2 admōuī admōtum move, bring near
adspiciō 3/4 adspexī adspectum observe, catch sight of, see
adsum adesse adfuī be present (with), be at hand, be near, assist (+ dat.)
aduers-us a um hostile; facing, opposite; unfavourable, adverse
adulēscēns adulēscent-is 3m. youth, young man
aegrē with difficulty, hardly, scarcely
aequor -is 3n. sea
aequ-us a um fair, balanced, even, equal, level, favourable, just
āēr āer-is 3n. air, atmosphere, sky
aest-us ūs 4m. heat
aetās aetāt-is 3f. age; lifetime, life; generation, time
aethēr -is 3m. upper air, heaven
aeu-um ī 2n. age
ager agr-ī 2m. land, field, farm, territory
agō 3 ēgī āctum do, act; drive, lead, direct; develop; spend, pass; (dē + abl.) discuss; gratiās agō thank
aiō irr. say, assent; ait (s)he says, aiunt they say
āl-a ae 1f. wing
aliēn-us a um someone else’s, foreign, strange, alien
aliī . . . aliī some . . . others
aliquis aliqua aliquid someone, something (pron.)
aliquis aliqua aliquod some (adj.)
aliter ac/quam otherwise than
ali-us a ud other (two different cases in same clause = ‘different . . . different’)
ali-us ac different from; other than
alō 3 aluī altum feed, nourish, rear; support, sustain, cherish; strengthen
alter alter-a um one (or other) of two; alter . . . alter (any)one . . . (any) other
alt-us a um high; deep
ambō (nom.) both
ambulō 1 walk
amīciti-a ae 1f friendship
amīc-us ī 2m. friend, ally (adj. friendly)
āmittō 3 āmīsī āmissum lose, let go
amō 1 love, like
amor amōr-is 3m. love; pl. girl-friend, sexual intercourse
amplector 3 dep. amplexus embrace
an = ne = ? (in direct questions); whether, if, or (in indirect questions: + subj. = num); (on its own) or, it can be that
anim-a ae 1f. soul, spirit, breath
anim-us ī 2m. mind, spirit, heart, soul; pl. anim-ī high spirits, pride, courage
ann-us ī 2m. year
ante (+ acc.) before, in front of; (adv.) earlier, before
anteā (adv.) before, formerly
antr-um ī 2n. cave
appellō 1 address; name, call
appropinquō 1 (+ dat.) approach, draw near to
apud (+ acc.) at the house of, in the hands of, in the works of
aqu-a ae lf. water
ār-a ae 1f. altar
arbitror 1 dep. think, consider; give judgement
arbor arbor-is 3f. tree
arbore-us a um of/from trees
arc-us ūs 4m. arch; bow
ardeō 2 arsī arsum burst into flames
ardu-us a um looking upwards; steep, difficult; tall, high
argent-um ī 2n. silver; silver-plate; money
arid-us a um dry, parched
arm-a ōrum 2n. pl. arms; tools; armed men
ars art-is 3f. skill, art, accomplishment
art-us ūs 4m. limb
aru-um ī 2n. field
arx arc-is 3f. citadel, stronghold
Asi-a ae 1f. Asia Minor
asper asper-a um rough, harsh
at but; mind you; you say
atque (or ac) and, and also, and even
attul-: see adferō
auctor -is 3m. originator
auctōritās auctōritāt-is 3f. weight, authority
audāci-a ae lf. boldness, cockiness, daring
audāx audāc-is brave, bold, daring, resolute
audeō 2 semi-dep. ausus dare
audiō 4 hear, listen to
auferō auferre abstulī ablātum take away, carry off (X acc. from Y dat.)
aur-a ae 1f. breeze, wind
aure-us a um golden
aurīg-a ae 1m. charioteer
aur-is is 3f. ear
Aurōr-a ae 1f. Dawn
aur-um ī 2n. gold
aus-: see audeō
aut or
aut
. . . aut either . . . or
autem but, however, moreover (2nd word)
auxili-um ī 2n. help, aid
B
Bacch-us ī 2m. the god Dionysus/Bacchus
bell-um ī 2n. war
bellum gerō wage war
bell-us a um pretty, beautiful, handsome, charming
bene well, thoroughly, rightly; good! fine! (comp. melius; sup. optimē)
bibō 3 bibī drink
bland-us a um coaxing, flattering, charming
bon-us a um good, brave, fit, honest (comp. melior; sup. optimus)
brācchi-um ī 2n. arm, fore-arm
breu-is e short, brief, small
C
cadō 3 cecidī cāsum fall; die
caed-ēs is 3f. slaughter, blood
caelest-is e in the heavens; (as a noun) gods
cael-um ī 2n. sky, heavens
calamitās calamitāt-is 3f. disaster, calamity, misfortune
calēscō 3 caluī become hot, excited (with desire)
candid-us a um white; bright, shining, beautiful
candor -is 3m. radiance, whiteness
capill-us ī 2m. hair
capiō 3/4 cēpī captum take, capture, seize, get
captō 1 try to get hold of, snatch at
caput capit-is 3n. head; source, fount
carpō 3 carpsī carptum pick, harvest; take; plunder; weaken, consume
cās-us ūs 4m. outcome; event, occurrence; accident, chance; disaster, death
caud-a ae 1f. tail
caueō 2 cāuī cautum be wary, beware, avoid; take precautions lest (nē)
caus-a ae 1f. case, situation; reason; cause (often for complaint); causā (+ gen. – which precedes it) for the sake of
cecid-: see cadō
cēdō 3 cess-ī cess-um yield (to), step aside; withdraw; come to an end; go
celer celer-is celer-e swift, quick, rapid
celeritās celeritāt-is 3f. speed, swiftness
celeriter quickly
cēn-a ae 1f. dinner
centum 100
cēp-: see capiō
cēr-a ae 1f. wax
cernō 3 crēuī crētum discern, perceive
certē without doubt, certainly
cert-us a um sure, certain, definite, reliable
ceru-us ī 2m. stag
cēter-ī ae a the rest, the others
cingō 3 cīnxī cīnctum surround, encircle, gird up; pass. be situated, lie round
cinis ciner-is 3m./f. ashes
circumdō 1 surround, put X (acc.) round Y (dat.)
