Part 14 (1/2)
FABLE VI.
THE SIGNIFICATION OF THE PUNISHMENTS OF TARTARUS.
_The meaning is to be considered, not the mere words._
The story of Ixion, whirling round upon the wheel, teaches {us} what a rolling thing is fortune. Sisyphus, with immense labour, pus.h.i.+ng the stone up the lofty hill, which ever, his labour lost, rolls back from the top, shows that men's miseries are endless. When Tantalus is athirst, standing in the midst of the river, the greedy are described, whom a sufficiency of blessings surrounds, but none can they enjoy. The wicked Danads carry water in urns, and cannot fill their pierced vessels; just so, whatever you bestow on luxury, will flow out beneath.
Wretched t.i.tyus is stretched over nine acres,[6] presenting for dire punishment a liver that ever grows again: by this it is shown that the greater the extent of land a man possesses, the heavier are his cares.
Antiquity purposely wrapped up the truth, in order that the wise might understand--the ignorant remain in error.
[Footnote NF.6: _Nine acres_)--Ver. 13. ”Jugera.” The ”jugerum” was a piece of land 240 feet long by 120 wide.]
FABLE VII.
THE AUTHOR.
_On the Oracle of Apollo._
Phbus! who dost inhabit Delphi and the beauteous Parna.s.sus, say what is most useful to us. Why do the locks of the holy prophetess stand erect; the tripods shake; the holy shrines resound; the laurels, too,[7]
quiver, and the very day grow pale? Smitten by the Divinity, the Pythia utters {these} words, and the warning of the Delian G.o.d instructs the nations: ”Practise virtue; pay your vows to the G.o.ds above; defend your country, your parents, your children, {and} your chaste wives with arms; repel the foe with the sword; a.s.sist your friends; spare the wretched; favour the good; meet the treacherous face to face; punish offences; chastise the impious; inflict vengeance on those who, by base adultery, defile the marriage couch; beware of the wicked; trust no man too far.”
Thus having said, the Maiden falls frenzied to the ground: frenzied, indeed, for what she said, she said in vain.
[Footnote NF.7: _The laurels, too_)--Ver. 5. The ”cortina” or oracular shrine was surrounded with laurels; which were said to quiver while the oracles were being p.r.o.nounced. This is probably the most beautiful portion of these newly-discovered poems. Still, it cannot with propriety be called a Fable.]
FABLE VIII.
aeSOP AND THE AUTHOR.
_On a bad Author who praised himself._
A Person had recited[8] some worthless composition to aesop, in which he had inordinately bragged about himself. Desirous, therefore, to know what the Sage thought {thereof}: ”Does it appear to you,” said he, ”that I have been too conceited? I have no empty confidence in my own capacity.” Worried to death with the execrable volume, aesop replied: ”I greatly approve of your bestowing praise on yourself, for it will never be your lot to receive it from another.”
[Footnote NF.8: _A person had recited_)--Ver. 1. Adry remarks that this is not a Fable, but only an Epigram.]
FABLE IX.
POMPEIUS MAGNUS AND HIS SOLDIER.
_How difficult it is to understand a man._
A Soldier of Pompeius Magnus, a man of huge bulk, by talking mincingly and walking with an affected gait, had acquired the character of an effeminate wretch, {and that} most fully established. Lying in wait by night for the beasts of burden of his General, he drives away the mules {laden} with garments and gold, and a vast weight of silver. A rumour of what has been done gets abroad; the soldier is accused, {and} carried off to the Praetorium. On this, Magnus {says to him}: ”How say you? Have you dared to rob me, comrade?” The soldier forthwith spits into his left hand, and scatters about the spittle with his fingers. ”Even thus, General,” says he, ”may my eyes drip out, if I have seen or touched {your property}.” Then Magnus, a man of easy disposition, orders the false accusers to be sent about their business,[9] and will not believe the man guilty of so great audacity.
Not long afterwards a barbarian, confiding in his strength of hand, challenges one of the Romans. Each man fears to accept the challenge, and the leaders of highest rank mutter {among themselves}. At length, this effeminate wretch in appearance, but Mars in prowess, approached the General, who was seated on his tribunal, and, with a lisping voice, said ”May I?”[10] But Magnus, getting angry, as {well he might}, the matter being so serious, ordered him to be turned out. Upon this, an aged man among the Chieftain's friends, {remarked}: ”I think it would be better for this person to be exposed to the hazards of Fortune, since in him our loss would be but small, than a valiant man, who, if conquered through {some} mischance, might entail upon you a charge of rashness.”
Magnus acquiesced, and gave the Soldier permission to go out to meet {the champion}, whose head, to the surprise of the army, he whipped off sooner than you could say it, and returned victorious. Thereupon said Pompeius: ”With great pleasure I present you with the soldier's crown, because you have vindicated the honor of the Roman name; nevertheless,”
said he, ”may my eyes drip out” (imitating the unseemly act with which the Soldier had accompanied his oath), ”if you did not carry off my property from among the baggage.”