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Reading Ovid

Page 43

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.)

 

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