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Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

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RUTILIUS XAMATIANUSboughs be the decoration for the joy we share : agreat part of mine own hfe " has been advancedto high pUice. Thus, aye thus to nic let tliis renewalof office bring pleasure : once again I enjoy dignitythrough the one for whom I wished it more.When the North wind veered, we took pains torun <strong>with</strong> sails before the breeze, as soon as theMorning-star gleamed on his rosy steed. Corsicabegins to show her dim mountains, <strong>and</strong>, matchedin colour, the mass of shadow makes the cloudcappedcrest look higher still : so 'tis the moon'sway <strong>with</strong> slender horn to fade leaving us puzzled,''<strong>and</strong> e'en though found she yet lies hid for strainingeyes. The short sea-passage here has given supportto a lying legend ; for folk say a herd of cattle swamacross at the time when first it happened that awoman called Corsa in quest of a stray ox reachedthe shores of Cyrnos.*^As we advance at sea, Capraria now rears itselfan ill-kept isle full of men who shun the light. Theirown name ^ for themselves is a Greek one, " monachoi" (monks), because they wish to dwell alone<strong>with</strong> none to see. They fear Fortune's boons, asthey dread her outrages : would anyone, to escapemisery, live of his own choice in misery ? What sillyfanaticism of a distorted brain is it to be unable toendure even ^ blessings because of your terror offrom Populonia. The stor}- ran that a herdswoman noticedan ox used to swim the sea <strong>and</strong> return fatter. This suggestedthat there was a fertile isl<strong>and</strong> not far away.**Cognomen is the equivalent of nomen in several Virgilianpassages ; Aen. III. 163; VIII. 48. It is loosely used, supraI. 421.394.' Xec has the force of ne . . . quidem, as in nee puerum, I.3f 2803

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