13.07.2015 Views

Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

'^CATOC = \'ossianus L.Q. 33 : saec. x.D = Cantabrigiensis, CoUegii S. Trinit. O. 4. 11:saec. x-xi.E = Parisinus 7930 :saec. xi.The title in A is simply Xomina Musarum ; buttwo MSS. ascribe the lines to Cato, viz. B VersusCatonis de Duisis vel jiominihus philorum (sic) <strong>and</strong>C hicipiunt versus Catonis philosophi de novem musis.LINES ON THE MUSES-To recreate the past is Clio's themeEuterpe plies the pipes ^^^th tuneful breathThalia's joy is playful comedy :Melpomene utters woe <strong>with</strong> tragic cryTei-psichore's lute moves, wins <strong>and</strong> swells the heart:Lyric the song, dance, smile of Erato :Polymnia's h<strong>and</strong> marks all—she speaks in act: ^Urania scans the sky <strong>and</strong> moving stars :Calliope records heroic lays.Apollo's varied thought each Muse inspires :°So Phoebus, mid them throned, combines theircharms.Inventa " <strong>and</strong> cites the parallel lines from the AnthologiaGraeca." Polymnia or Polyhymnia was traditionally the Museof sacred song, but varied provinces were at different periodsassigned to her—rhetoric <strong>and</strong> even agriculture <strong>and</strong> geometry.A wall-painting from Herculaneum associated her <strong>with</strong> /jlvBovs(fabulas). It was a late development to assign pantomimusto her patronage, <strong>and</strong> the line refers to the expression ofeverything by gesture.Apollo, as their patron, was known as Musagetes.635

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!