1H M mm FABLES AND TALES, SUGGESTED BY !,iE FRESCOS OF POMPEII AND HERCULANEUM. BY W. B. LE GROS. Praetulerim scriptor delirus inersque videri, Dum mea delectent mala me, vel denique fallant, Quam sapere, et ringi. Horat. Ep. ii. lib. 2, If such the plagues and pains to write by rule, Better, say I, be pleased, and play the fool ; Call, if you will, bad rhyming a disease, It gives men happiness, or leaves them ease. Pope. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, 1835. ,*5- PRIXTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY, Dorset Street, Fleet Street. ADVERTISEMENT. That the weakest go to the wall, is an old and vulgar adage, which I am not sure that I clearly understand; but, if its meaning be that they look to it as a means of support, my own Muse will undoubtedly afford a new and striking example of its truth, since, in her progress through the following pages, she will be found constantly resorting to the classic walls of Pompeii and Herculaneum to guide her tottering steps. LIST OF ENGRAVINGS. 1. MELEAGER AND AT AL ANTE, with other Figures, (House of Meleager, Pompeii,) . . Frontispiece. To face page 2. STORK AND LIZARD, (Pompeii,) ... 3 3. STORK AND FISH, (Ditto,) .... 7 4. VENUS, WITH CUPID HOLDING A CASKET, (House of Meleager, Pompeii,) ... 12 5. VENUS AND CUPID FISHING, (House of Tragic poet, Pompeii,) .... 14 6. PERSEUS RESCUING ANDROMEDA, (Museo Borbonico,* Naples,) .... 29 ' 7, PERSEUS SHOWING THE REFLECTION OF MEDUSA'S HEAD, (House of the Graces, Pompeii,) 32 \S. ARIADNE DESERTED, (Museo Borbonico,) . 48 9. BACCHUS DISCOVERING ARIADNE, (Ditto,) . 51 10. PYGMIES IN A BOAT, (Museo Borbonico,) . 61 11. PYGMIES AND CRANES FIGHTING, (Excavation of 1834, Pompeii,) .... 73 * N.B. Of the Frescos at present collected in the Museo Borbonico in Naples, many were brought from Herculaneum. VI ILLUSTRATIONS. To face page ■ 12. FIGURE OF ATALANTE, (Museo Borbonico,) . 95 13. LADY AND SERVANT, (Museo Borbonico,) . 105 14. LADY WITH TABLETS AND STYLE, Servant peeping, (Museo Borbonico,) .... 126 15. ORGIES OF BACCHUS 141 16. BACCHANTE AND ^SCULAPIUS, (House of Meleager, Pompeii,) . . . . 143 17. MARRIAGE OF ZEPHYR AND FLORA, (Museo Borbonico,) 153 ■18. APOLLO PLAYING ON THE LYRE TO A NYMPH, (House of Meleager,) ... 166 19. HERCULES AND THE NEM^EAN LION, (Museo Borbonico.) 177 20. HERCULES BOUND TO A PILLAR, with Minerva seated (Museo Borbonico,) .... 182 21. DEATH OF ACTION, (House of Sallust, Pompeii,) 189 22. DIANA AND ENDYMION, (House of the Graces, Pompeii,) .... 190 23. APOLLO AND MERCURY, (House of Meleager,) . 197 2 .:. MERCURY OFFERING A PURSE TO CERES, (House of Meleager,) 208 CONTENTS. Page THE STORK AND THE LIZARD ... 3 VENUS AND CUPID ....... 11 PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA .... 29 ARIADNE 37 THE PYGMIES AND THE CRANES ... 61 MELEAGER AND ATALANTE .... 89 PAMPHILA, OR THE FATAL TABLETS . . 105 BACCHUS AND JESCULAPIUS . . . . 141 FLORA 149 MINERVA AND HERCULES . . . ' . 177 DIANA AND ENDYMION . .187 APOLLO AND MERCURY 197 FABLES AND TALES. ~>^ : . ■ "_ yEJ " "-•' ' Street. THE STORK AND THE LIZARD. A Fable followed by a moral Should act like infants'' bells and coral ; The first with jingle should invite Each grown-up babe to take a bite ; The second should, instead of tooth, 5 Produce some salutary truths 'Tis hence I venture to relate How, to avoid the dreadful fate Of being gobbled up alive, A cunning Lizard did contrive. 10 In ancient days, when beasts could speak, And Wisdom's precepts might be heard Proceeding from th' inspired beak Of great Minerva's fav'rite bird, 4 THE STORK AND THE LIZARD. It chanced that on the Sarno's side 15 A Stork, whose step betokened pride, Beheld with most contemptuous sneer The Swallows on its surface clear, And Sand-birds on the neighb'ring beach, Pursuing with discordant screech 20 Some flies that, when obtained at last, Made but a sorry day's repast. He cast his lordly look around, And seeing near him on the ground A troop of Lizards in the sun, 25 In merry mood, disporting run, He thought 'twould be a good occasion For eating with some ostentation ; And finding that his appetite Was somewhat sharpened by the sight, 30 Approached one larger than the rest, And thus the trembling wretch addressed. " Stop, reptile ! at my bidding stay ; 6 Thou 'rt destined to become my prey, THE STORK AND THE LIZARD. O " And show this low-bred, vulgar flight 35 " Of Swallows, that offends my sight, " How at one gulp more food I gain " Than they with days of toil obtain. " Dispatch, if thou hast aught to say, f 6 For hunger will not brook delay ." 40 Thus spake the Stork : the wretch before him Beheld a long beak " in terrorem," And knowing that he could not hope With such an enemy to cope, Successfully, in strength or speed, 45 Determined, in such case of need, Instead of fighting or of running, To use his eloquence and cunning. " I should," exclaimed the crafty Lizard, " Stick sadly in your royal gizzard ; 50 " For doctors, 'tis well known, insist " That of all creatures which exist, " Whether they're beasts that roam the field, " Or birds that airy regions yield, O THE STORK AND THE LIZARD. u Or fishes in the briny deep, 55 " Or reptiles on the earth that creep, " We little scaly Lizards are " Most indigestible by far : " And if your grace should make your dinner u On me, poor miserable sinner, 60 " 'Twould cause, without the smallest doubt, " Dyspepsy, cholic, or the gout. " Wherefore, I humbly dare to pray " You '11 leave me to pursue my way. " The Sarno yields much better fare ; 65 " Then deign to listen to my prayer, " And let your clemency be shown, " If not for my sake — for your own." As thus he spoke, and whilst the question 'Twixt empty crop and indigestion 70 His fate seemed likely to decide, Lo ! in the rivers friendly tide, As if to crown the suppliant's wish, Sudden a glitt'ring shoal of fish - - - ' ■ " THE STORK AND THE LIZARD. I The greedy Stories attention caught, 75 Who, pouncing on them quick as thought, Was pleased to find he could command More wholesome food so near at hand, And took it not the least in dudgeon To leave our Lizard for a Gudgeon. 80 Whenever hapless suppliant's fate Hangs on the fiat of the great, To touch their feelings or their pride Let every argument be tried ; But still the strongest and the best 85 Is found to be self-interest. NOTES. LINE 1. A Fable followed by a moral Should act like infants' bells and coral. It would be useless to follow Aristotle through a long dis- cussion as to the difference between a Fable and an Apologue, and all their subdivisions iuto /Esopian, Lydian, Cyprian, &c. ; for my own, (unless they may be supposed to have some connexion with the last mentioned,) I fear, would not come under any description at all. The great father of critics, how- ever, insists, that whatever the fable may be, it should have a moral expressed or understood ; and with that rule, at least, I have endeavoured to comply to the best of my ability, though I fear that even my morals may sometimes be thought a little doubtful. As, however, I do not challenge the criticism of the fastidious, my ambition will be fully satisfied if I am now and then found by the more indulgent reader to realize what Phsedrus, in his Prologue, says should be the object of a fable. " Duplex libelli dos est ; quod risum movet, u Et quod prudenti vitam consilio monet. " Calumniari si quis autem voluerit, " Quod et arbores loquantur, non tantum fera ; " Fictis jocari nos meminerit fabulis." NOTES. y LINE 15. It chanced that on the Sarno's side A Stork, whose step betokened pride. The Sarno is a beautifully clear stream, which, issuing from the base of a mountain, near a modern town of the same name, flows about twelve miles in a winding course through the plain in which the ruins of Pompeii are situated, (in fact, the " quae rigat sequora Sarnus " of Virgil,) and falls into the sea immediately opposite to the insulated castle of Rovigliano. I will not vouch for the fact of there ever having been Storks on its banks ; its vicinity to Pompeii must be my excuse for having made it the scene of my fable. line 49. " J" should* 7 exclaimed the crafty Lizard, " Stick sadly in your royal gizzard" It has been objected to me that Lizards are not naturally cunning ; but the Lizard in question, (as depicted in the copy of a fresco with which I have been favoured,) has certainly a very persuasive air, and seems actually to be pleading his own cause. The original painting was destroyed in its re- moval ; but there is excellent authority for its having existed, as well as the long-legged nondescript with the fish in his mouth. n VENUS AND CUPID. Each courtly dame or lowly lass Alike consults her looking-glass : If lovely, 'tis with satisfaction At seeing there so much attraction ; If not, 'tis with a hope to trace 5 Some latent charm of form or face, Which, helped judiciously by art, May chance to catch a wand'ring heart. No wonder, then, the Queen of Beauty, On going through such pleasing duty, 1 One morning, when her own dear Spring Seemed to her charms new grace to bring, Should feel a thrill of proud delight On viewing that unrivalled sight, 12 VENUS AND CUPID. Which, though the world it held subjected, 15 By her was only seen reflected. The mirror Venus looked upon Was held by her attendant son, Who, though in childhood's tend'rest age, Was yet so perfect as a page, 20 That when he saw his mother's eye Kindle with well-fed vanity, He thought 'twas just the time to ask A boon in virtue of his task, And cried, " Mamma, I do so wish 25 " That you would take me out to fish. 64 You know you promised long ago " Your darling son that sport to show ; " And now, I'm sure, you can't say nay, " You look so beautiful to-day." 30 The latter well-placed argument Home to the Goddess' feelings went ; And, parting Cupid's golden hair With rose-tipped fingers long and fair, i.K ! -- VENUS AND CUPID. 13 She kissed his forehead and replied, 35 " Thy wishes shall be gratified. 1 ' This said, the happy little God Was furnished with a line and rod By some attendant Nymph ; another Was carried for his smiling mother, 40 Who to each line had fixed a bait Which she, with female pride elate, Conceived no fish could e'er withstand, Formed as it was by Beauty's hand. Within Cythera's favoured isle, 45 Where Nature erst, with brightest smile And promise of eternal spring, Her ready welcome seemed to bring To Venus, when she first was seen Rising from ocean, Beauty's Queen : 50 Within that island's deepest shade, Where votive myrtles never fade, 14 VENUS AND CUPID. Forth from the bosom of a hill Escapes a streamlet's limpid rill : At first the thraldom of the rock 55 With murmur loud its waters mock ; But soon, the happiest of streams, Content with liberty, it seems To kiss its moss-grown banks and play A thousand gambols on its way, 60 As with fantastic course it bends, Whilst plenty on each turn attends, And the glad peasants of the vale Its fertilizing windings hail. 'Twas to this lovely river's side 65 That Venus now with Cupid hied; And choosing a sequestered spot, Where, shaded by o'erhanging grot, Its deeper waters formed a pool Of liquid crystal bright and cool, 70 Like him, in thoughtless, playful mood, The Goddess gay her sport pursued. . - VENUS AND CUPID. 10 The eyes of the delighted boy Sparkled at first with childish joy, When in their native streamlet clear 75 He saw the finny tribe appear, And hasten courtier-like to wait In due attendance on the bait, Which he, with truly prince-like taste, Now slowly trailed, now dragged in haste, 80 Now raised, now dropped with droll caprice, Nor left the fish a moment's peace. But Cupid, after having spent An hour on such pursuit intent, Began to think his sport would be 85 More satisfactory, if he Could manage with his glitt'ring lure Some bolder trifler to secure. But all in vain the sportsman tried To lay the nib biers at his side ; 90 In vain he watched each greedy gill (i orge his now passive bait at will ; 16 VENUS AND CUPID. For, though a sudden jerk might bear Some glutton to the upper air, As sudden came the hated splash, 95 Off his intended prey would dash, And, darting nimbly through the tide, Seem all his cunning to deride. The baffled God, with angry pout, Beheld the triumph of the Trout, 1 00 And begged his mother to explain Why thus his efforts all were vain. " Indeed, my dear, I cannot say, " But why attempt to catch them, pray ?V Inquired the Goddess ; " as for me, 105 " My great amusement is to see " How this same silly tribe offish " All move obedient to my wish. " Do mark that Chub with bloated cheeks, " How painfully my bait he seeks ! 110 " Whilst yonder merry little Dace " So lightly hovers on the chase ! VENUS AND CUPID. 17 " See, how th' insinuating Eel . " Seems cautiously his way to feel ! u And how the fierce voracious Jack 115 " Darts boldly forward to th" attack ! u To me His really quite delight " To teaze them all with constant flight ; . PERSEUS AND ANDROMEDA. 66 The wisest it would needs perplex To please each fancy of the sex ; But, husbands, it is worth the trial 75 Sometimes, instead of rude denial, To prove like Perseus your affection, By calling to your aid " reflection." 34 NOTES. LINE 28. Gifts such as Gods bestow on Kings. The Gods were very fond of equipping those whom they patronized; and Perseus seems to have been particularly favoured in this respect. Pluto lent him his own helmet, which had the quality of rendering its bearer invisible ; Vulcan gave him a short sword in the shape of a pruning- hook; Minerva gave him a shining buckler; and Mercury furnished him with wings and " talaria." LINE 51. Some other means of satisfaction, Without producing petrifaction. I must confess that I have made Perseus a very stupid fellow for not thinking of making the same use of his shield on this occasion as on a former one. " Narrat Agenorides ***** " Gorgoneas tetigisse domus; passimque per agros, " Perque vias vidisse hominum simulacra, ferammque, " In silicem ex ipsis visa conversa Medusa ; " Se tamen horrendae clypei, quod laeva gerebat, " iEre repercusso formam adspexisse Medusae." Ovid. Met. But had he done so for Andromeda, there would be an end to my fable. NOTES 35 LINE 67. When soon the sequel proved him right, For scatheless she endured the sight. There are several frescos on this subject j that from which the annexed copy is taken is in the house of Endymion, at Pompeii. 37 ARIADNE. In days of old the marriage vow Was not much better kept than now ; For Deities and mortals strove To imitate the deeds of Jove. But whilst each vagrant God and hero o (Whose honour must have sunk to zero) Most polygamically sought Fresh wives where'er they could be caught, Mythology will scarce afford An instance of deserted lord ; 10 Except, of course, fair Helen's case, Though even she contrived t' efface The mem'ry of her broken vows, By coaxing her forgiving spouse. 30 ARIADNE. As far as running is concerned, 15 The tables now indeed are turned ; A modern husband, tied for life To scold or spendthrift as a wife, In vain attempts to break away : He need not love, but he must pay. 20 What though he fly to one more kind, 'Tis but his wife he leaves behind ; Her debts pursue, whatever his course, (Like Care behind her victim's horse,) And he is favoured by a summons, 25 For maintenance, from Doctors' Commons. But if, of such ill-sorted pair, It chance to be the lady fair Who tries illicit honey-moon With some broad-shouldered bold dragoon, 30 Her spouse, by ridicule assaulted, Is like the righteous man exalted ; And left to make the pleasant choice, Obeying laws' or honour's voice, ARIADNE. 89 Of spending thousands in "an action," 35 Or being shot for " satisfaction." But, with respect to my assertion Of ancient cases of desertion, Mythology will well supply us : That weeping coward self-styled pious, 40 By perjured vows and conduct vile, Drove Dido to the burning pile : And fifty others I could cite Who left their wives in doleful plight, Though none in baseness could exceed 45 Th' Athenian Prince's treacherous deed. To Naxos' undulating isle, Whose vine-clad hills with plenty smile, Theseus and Ariadne came, While Cupid still fanned Hymen's flame ; 50 As fond a pair as e'er was seen At the first stage from Gretna's Green ; 40 ARIADNE. His love, for lack of other food, Might well have fed on gratitude, Since, from the fatal LaVrinth led 55 In safety by her gift of thread, He owed his freedom and his life To the kind foresight of his wife. I know not, nor does hist'ry say, How many months had passed away 60 Before that harbinger of woes, The first connubial tiff, arose ; Nor can I clearly state its cause, Since married folks contend for straws : But, as a calm succeeds a storm, 65 Perchance the hero grew less warm, And she, with love but ill requited, May have conceived her merits slighted, And, to her recreant lord^s vexation, Too oft recalled his obligation. 70 But, whether I am right or not About the cause, it was their lot ARIADNE. 41 To find their once sweet solitude Made bitter by discussions rude, In which, no doubt, the angry tide 75 Flowed strongest on the lady's side. Let not her memory be chid Too harshly even if it did. Those censors, less gallant than bold, Who find such fault that women scold, 80 Forget that with so many charms They needs must have some sort of arms. We men, when schoolboys, can insist On points disputed with the fist ; And, when our age or our condition 85 Compels more dignified position, Are able still with shot or sword To punish an insulting word : But we are scandalized outright If e'er we see a woman fight. 90 What then must injured women do ? The answer 's plain, — enact the shrew, ARIADNE. And, with befitting strength of lungs, Employ their wondrous gift of tongues. Theseus, at times, would deign to try 95 By soothing words to pacify The ruffled temper of his lady ; Or, leading her to covert shady, When he had nothing left to say, Would kiss her angry words away. 100 And thus they led the sort of life That many a modern man and wife, 'Twixt peace and war, oft pass together, Like sun and cloud in April weather. But one sad morning, — 'twas by day 105 The lady to her tongue gave way, Thinking it politic and right To make the quarrels up at night ; One morning, when domestic strife Had been unusually rife, 110 The deafened hero sought the shore To soothe his ears with ocean's roar. ARIADNE. Not like Achilles in despair At recent loss of captive fair ; But there, in angry mood, he went 1 1 5 His lady's presence to lament. As thus he chafed, disgust and spite His flickering love extinguished quite, When chancing to approach the bay Where his small bark at anchor lay, 1 20 Sudden the wicked thought arose Of flying from his wedded woes. Such thoughts, which pious men would show Direct from Satan's malice flow, And Epicurus' sect advance 125 To be the pure result of chance, In Theseus' case, I think, might rise From having there before his eyes The means of sailing off, to try The pleasures of variety. 130 But, whatsoe'er their cause, they pressed With force resistless on a breast 44 ARIADNE. Already predisposed to hate The once loved partner of his fate. The die was cast, his crew was told 135 The bark in readiness to hold ; But Theseus till the dead of night Determined to defer his flight, And thus without a scene depart : For though his own obdurate heart 1 40 Could well resist a woman's tear, Some sailor, he had cause to fear, Before he could get well afloat, Might mutinize his little boat, And, spite of his commander's order, 145 Assist his injured wife on board her. Meantime the day, as oft before, He spent in roving on the shore ; But his appearance duly made When Hesp'rus shone above the shade ; 150 Lest absence at the hour of rest Some vague suspicion might suggest. ARIADNE. 45 As now the lady and her lord, At distant corners of the board, In silence made their night's repast, 155 She, little thinking 'twas the last In which her overtures must brook His cold, repulsive, scornful look, Of all her little arts made use To bring about the wished-for truce. 160 The salt, for instance, seemed to stand Beyond the reach of Theseus 1 hand ; She placed it near, and furtive flashes Of passion glanced from silken lashes ; But not one look did he accord 165 The act to notice or reward. Next, of the viands placed around She chose the best that could be found, And, with insinuating smile, Tow'rds Theseus moved the sav'ry pile. 170 Still not a look ; he took the platter Quite as an ordinary matter, 46 ARIADNE. And ate as though to save his life, Without once looking at his wife. But women, whether maids or married, 175 When any point is to be carried, Are not so easily defeated ; And Ariadne, though ill treated, Undaunted still, with goblet large Returned a third time to the charge. 180 The wine that sparkled to the brim She sipped, then passing it to him, With eyes as sparkling, seemed to say, " There ! wash your sullen mood away, " And pledge your culprit's inclination 185 " For speedy reconciliation." Yet even this attempt was vain ; For, though the wine she saw him drain, Not for one moment did his eyes Above the ample goblet rise ; 190 But seemed its inmost depths t 1 explore As if to seek for deeper store. ARIADNE. 47 The lady, once more driven back, Ceased for the present her attack ; Content her last reserve to keep, 195 Till after her tormentor's sleep. For though before he tasted rest, He often spurned her from his breast, She never yet had found him prove Averse, on waking, to her love. 200 So when, at length, her sullen spouse, After a somewhat deep carouse, On nuptial couch with breathing deep Seemed buried in profoundest sleep, With confidence his lovely bride 205 Took her position by his side, And soon into that slumber fell Which the false Theseus feigned so well. But, whilst she thus unconscious lay, The traitor, ere the break of day, 21 Exchanged the matrimonial pillow For freedom on the stormy billow ; 48 ARIADNE. And (thus concluding a career In which, without remorse or tear, Of friends and home he had bereft her,) 215 Weighed anchor, hoisted sail, and left her. Her waking horrors who shall tell, Save Ovid, who could paint so well The quick transition of her thought From the first moment when she sought 220 Her absent lord with outstretched arm, To try her potent morning charm, Until her wild suspicions 1 flow Urged her the fatal truth to know, And from lone Naxos 1 utmost height 225 His less'ning vessel met her sight ? Such grief I beg to pass in haste, As little suited to my taste ; Although, distinctly, I declare My tender feelings for the fair 230 Would not permit me to make light Of Ariadne's hapless plight, WI0ik~ ft -p .... /a/ /, --■ ■<■/¥? xL "by F. Bramlej ■ ■ ■ " ' ARIADNE, 49 Were I not previously certain Of having left, behind the curtain, A remedy to heal her woes, 235 And happily the drama close ; As slaughtered crowds to life all come, By Merlin's wand, in famed Tom Thumb. Imagine, then, dishevelled hair With all the symptoms of despair, 240 And tears, — no, tears would scarcely flow In such impassioned case of woe ; Though oft the fiercest storm of grief In sleep's soft calm will find relief. 'Twas thus that, at the midnight hour, 245 The Cretan, in deserted bower, Was buried in that deep repose Which from exhausted nature flows ; And, as she slept, each softer beauty Returned, unbidden, to the duty 250 From which the passions of the day Had rudely driven it away. 50 AR1AENE. But here a God I must exhibit Whom Horace 1 self would scarce prohibit ; For, surely, none has greater right 255 In Naxos 1 isle to take delight. Then let the great immortal come With sound of cymbal and of drum, Whilst vot'ries, shouting forth his praise, Bear torches which, though bright their blaze, 260 Are dim before the looks divine Of him the rosy God of Wine, Who, 'midst the ivy-crowned throng, Now leads the dance and now the song. Great Bacchus from his fav'rite isle 265 Had long been absent, and with smile Of joyful recognition viewed Its hills uncultured then and rude, Though doomed, in future, to become At once his glory and his home. 270 'Egrarcc. t .-■ ARIADNE. 51 But since, as yet, it was his whim Naxos should welcome only him, He felt both anger and surprise When marks of footsteps met his eyes. His looks divine grew somewhat black, 275 As first he followed on their track ; But when he reached the wooded glade Where Theseus had his dwelling made, His brow with rage was seen to lower At sight of the intrusive bower. 280 Straight to the spot, with purpose dread Against the intruder, Bacchus led His band, when, lo ! their torches 1 glare Fell full upon the sleeping fair, An object fit for view divine : 285 Her tresses, like his faVrite vine, In beautiful confusion flung, Around her neck in clusters hung ; And as her bosom's half-seen snows In gentle palpitation rose, 290 52 ARIADNE. Her breath in murmurs seemed to sip Its honey from her rosy lip. One hand but I've described enough To soften bosom far more rough Than that of Bacchus, who had entered 295 With eVry thought on vengeance centred ; But now, at Ariadne's feet, A suppliant fell in posture meet. The sequel of my tale is plain, For Gods like him sue not in vain ; 300 Nor did the waking lady make Resistance when he sought to take The post deserted at her side, But strove her blushing face to hide : Since, though she yielded with delight, 305 It was, in one short day and night, A case embarrassing and odd To lose a man and gain a God, ARIADNE. 53 Ye new-made pairs of cooing Doves, Here take a hint about your loves, 310 From " an ungraduated student " 44 Too much retirement is not prudent, " But rather hastens the detection 44 That neither party is perfection." And, next, ye Wives of modern days, 315 Give laws canonical due praise , That husbands cannot, as of old, Escape from better halves that scold. And ye, fair Maids, who being single At thoughts of matrimony tingle, Though once forsaken still be wise, Instead of crying out your eyes, Preserve their brightness to recover Some substitute for faithless lover. 54 NOTES. LINE 11, Except, of course, fair Helen's case, Though even she contrived t' efface The menCry of her broken vows By coaxing her forgiving spouse. It is well known, that at the conclusion of the Trojan war, the fair cause of it, to make her peace with Menelaus, be- trayed her then husband, Deiphobus, whose shade thus in- forms iEneas of the fact, " Infelix habuit thalamus, pressitque jacentem " Dulcis et alta quies placidseque simillima morti. " Egregia interea conjux arma omnia tectis " Emovet, et fidum capiti subduxerat ensem : " Intra tecta vocat Menelaum et limina pandit, " Scilicet id magnum sperans fore munus amanti, " Et famam exstingui veterum sic posse malorum." Menelaus " received her to his grace again," and, as Zanga would say, " The world must call him wondrous, wondrous kind." NOTES. 55 LINE 23. ler debts pursue, whate 1 er his course. Like Care behind Iter victim's horse. " Post equitem sedet atra Cura." — Hor. line 40. That weeping coward self-styled pious. " Sum pius iEneas, Libycis ereptus ab undis." In spite of Dryden's famous defence of the character of iEneas, I cannot help thinking him the most cowardly, mean- spirited, and dishonourable of all those adventurers of an- tiquity to whom I have ventured to apply the epithet of " vagrant." We find him always weeping in danger, or " duplices tendens ad sidera palmas," instead of exerting himself like a man ; we find him, moreover, breaking faith whenever it suits him to do so, and finally fighting (under his mother's protection) in the most unjust cause imaginable. LINE 47. To Naxos' undulating isle, Whose vine-clad hills with plenty smile. Though the " clustering Cyclades" sound very well in Byron, they are now a sadly barren-looking group. Naxos, however, is the largest and most fertile, and probably in Virgil's time merited his description, " Bacchatamque jugis Naxon." 56 NOTES LINE 57. He owed his freedom and his life To the kindforesight of his wife. " Utque ope virginea nullis iterata priorum " Janua difficilis filo est inventa relecto ; " Protinus ^Egides rapt& Minoide Dian " Vela dedit, coraitemque suam crudelis in illo " Littore desemit. Desertae et multa quereiiti " Amplexus et opem Liber dedit." — Ovid. Met. LINE 63. Nor can I clearly state its cause, Since married folks contend for straws. Ovid says, De arte amandi, " Hoc decet uxores ; dos est uxoria lites." LINE 109. One morning, when domestic strife Had been unusually rife. I ought perhaps to apologise to Ariadne's memory for thus making a scold of her ; but there must have been some cause for the shameful desertion of Theseus, and I cannot imagine a better one. Some, indeed, say that Theseus, having received a hint to that effect from Bacchus, left his wife behind for the peculiar oblectation of that God. If such was the case, he was a most accommodating husband, and would do honour NOTES. 57 to modern Italy. Others again say, the desertion of Ariadne was caused by the instigation of Venus, who pursued with vengeance all the descendants of Apollo, in consequence of his having published to the celestial world her amours with Mars. Ariadne was Apollo's granddaughter; her mother Pasiphae was the offspring of that God and Perseis, one of the Oceanidse. line 220. From the first moment when she sought Her absent lord with outstretched arm.