lacert-us ī 2m. (upper) arm, embrace
laedō 3 laesī laesum wound, hurt, injure, annoy
laet-us a um joyful, happy
lateō 2 lie hidden, be covered
laus laud-is 3f. reputation, praise, merit; cf. laudō 1 praise
leu-is e light
membr-um ī 2n. limb
moll-is e soft, tender, pleasant, weak
nemus nemor-is 3n. wood, forest, grove
nūd-us a um naked
nūper recently
nymph-a ae 1f. (and nymph-ē) young woman, semi-divine female spirit
pass-us ūs 4m. step, stride, pace
pāstor -is 3m. shepherd
pectus pector-is 3n. breast, chest
penn-a ae 1f. feather, wing
percutiō 3/4 percussī percussum beat, strike
pharetr-a ae 1f. quiver
Phoeb-us ī 2m. Phoebus (‘bright, shining’), i.e. Apollo; used also of the sun
potenti-a ae 1f. power
properō 1 hurry
prōsum prōdesse prōfuī prōfutūrum be an advantage
prōtinus at once; straight on
rām-us ī 2m. branch
repugn-ō 1 fight against
rubor rubōr-is 3m. blush, redness, modesty
saeu-us a um savage, cruel
spectō 1 look at, observe, see
sustineō 2 endure, bear
tellūs tellūr-is 3f. earth
tēl-um ī 2n weapon
tenu-is e thin, slim, fine, clear
timid-us a um fearful, timid
uēlōx uēlōc-is fast, speedy
uelut like, as if, as
uetō 1 uetuī uetītum forbid
uix scarcely, hardly
uōt-um ī 2n. prayer, desire, vow
ūrō 3 ussī ustum burn up, set on fire, inflame
Study section
1. Write out and scan ll.469–73, 476–9.
2. At 452, some manuscripts read quam for quem. To whom would that refer, and would it be preferable?
3. At 532, some texts print Amor (the god of love) instead of amor (and again at 540). Is that god needed at this moment?
4. Is it possible to tell whether Apollo is motivated by love or lust? Should Cupid’s part in the action be taken into account?
5. Take any five lines, consecutive or not, and explain why they give you pleasure.
6. ‘It is also a story about the god of knowledge’s frustrated pursuit of sexual knowledge, as the male gaze proves unable to penetrate the secrets of the female body’ (Hardie, 2002, 46). Is it?
7. ‘It is famously unclear . . . whether Daphne in shaking her head really means to say “yes” or “no” to Apollo’s proposition . . . If [Daphne] had her voice, the matter would not be in doubt. But her voice has perished, and with it perhaps her ability to make meaning at all’ (Farrell in Hardie et al. 1999, 135). Cf. Hardie (2002, 130 note 46), who wonders ‘whether Apollo’s laurel was nodding in response to anything more than a puff of wind’. Discuss.
8. ‘Although neither Ovid nor Apollo enjoys Daphne sexually, they could be said to collaborate in an artistic exploitation of her transformed body’ (Brown, 2005, 50). What significance can you attach to this claim?
Vocabulary and grammar
452 prīmus: Ovid will tell the stories of more lovers to come for Apollo, male and female, including the prophetic Sibyl and the boy Hyacinth. Understand erat as the main verb
*Phoeb-us ī 2m. Phoebus (‘bright, shining’), i.e. Apollo; also, the sun
Daphn-ē f. Greek nom. of Daphne, daughter of Peneus
Pēnēi-us a um descended from the river Peneus. This means the god of the river Peneus. All physical features of the world, being of divine origin, were thought to be also personified as gods. ‘Peneus’ is the name both of the river and the river-god
quem: note the gender, m. So it cannot refer to Daphne: that leaves amor or Phoebus. Which?
453 *fors fort-is 3f. chance, luck, destiny (usually only in nom. or abl. forte, ‘by chance’)
*ignār-us a um ignorant, unaware, i.e. blindly
*saeu-us a um savage, cruel
Cupīdō Cupīdin-is 3m. Cupid, the god of carnal lust. He is depicted as a winged (466) mischievous little boy playing with a bow, who excites sexual desire (with golden arrows) or extinguishes it (with lead) (468–9)
454 Dēli-us a um Apollo, lit. ‘from Delos’, the Greek island where Apollo was born
hunc: m., i.e. Cupid
*nūper recently
serpēns serpent-is 3m. snake, serpent, i.e. the Python, here abl. abs. with uictō, explaining why Apollo was superbus
superb-us a um proud, haughty
455 uīderat: note the plup., and cf. dīxerat 457. Ovid uses these tenses to indicate that all this is background to the real story. This almost begins at 474, before Ovid backtracks to tell Daphne’s story, and finally starts at 490
addūcō 3 draw back, pull tight
cornu-a 3n. pl.: lit. ‘horns’, i.e. bow, whose tips were often made of horn; here object of flectentem
neru-us ī 2m. bow-string (made of sinew or horse-hair)
456 quid . . . tibī: lit. ‘What . . . for you?’, i.e. ‘What’s your interest?’, ‘What are you doing?’
lascīu-us a um playful, mischievous, sexually unre-strained
457 deceō 2 (impersonal vb.) suit, fit, be proper (for + acc.), RL154, W37
gestāmen gestāmin-is 3n. gear, ornament
458 quī: m. pl., picking up nostrōs, i.e. ‘[we] who possumus dare certa uulnera both ferae and hostī’
*fer-a ae 1f. wild animal
459 pestifer -a um deadly, noxious. pestiferō . . . pre-mentem describes the Python (460), the object of strāuimus
tot: scans heavy because the next word begins with a consonantal i
iūger-um ī 2n. acre (= two-thirds of a modern acre)
uenter uentr-is 3m. belly, stomach
460 sternō 3 strāuī flatten, stretch lifeless
innumer-us a um countless
tumid-us a um swollen, gross (with poison, as Ovid had earlier explained)
Pthōn -is 3m. Python
sagitt-a ae 1f. arrow
461 fax fac-is 3f. torch, brand, love-flame nescioqui quid some X or other (usually contemptu-ous in tone)
estō be! (imper.). This is an archaic imperative form, RLE1: is Apollo further mocking Cupid (‘be thou!’)?
content-us a um satisfied, content (to + inf.)
462 irrītō 1 stir up, excite
*laus laud-is 3f. reputation, praise, merit; cf. laudō 1 praise
adserō 3 lay claim to
Learning vocabulary
fer-a ae 1f. wild animal
fors fort-is 3f. chance, luck, destiny (usually only in nom. or abl. forte, ‘by chance’)
ignār-us a um ignorant, unaware, i.e. blindly
laus laud-is 3f. reputation, praise, merit; cf. laudō 1
praise
nūper recently
Phoeb-us ī 2m. Phoebus (‘bright, shining’), i.e.
Apollo; also, the sun
saeu-us a um savage, cruel
463 hc: ‘to him’, dative after ait (464)
Venus Vener-is 3f. Venus, goddess of sex. Cupid is her son
*fīgō 3 fīxī fīxum pierce, transfix. fīgat (subj. of command [jussive], ‘let . . .’, RL152, W28) is the verb controlling fīgat tuus [arcus] omnia (463); but for tē meus arcus (464), supply fīget, future. Cupid implies that anyone can deal with creatures; it takes real power to deal with gods
464 arc-us ūs 4m. bow
quantō . . . tantō by how much . . . by so much. This is ablative of difference, RL100B.5, WSuppl.syntax
animal -is 3n. mortal creature
*cēdō 3 cess-ī cess-um yield to (+ dat.), step aside; go, withdraw, come to an end
465 *cūnct-us a um all
nostrā: note the case (abl.) – used of comparison after minor, RLJ5, W26/Suppl.syntax
4
66 ēlīdō 3 ēlīsī ēlīsum remove by force, sweep aside. ēlīsō . . . āere is abl. abs., the idea being that Cupid’s wings face powerful resistance as he labours upwards
*percutiō 3/4 percussī percussum beat, strike
*āēr āer-is 3m. air, atmosphere, sky
*penn-a ae 1f. wing, feather
467 impiger impigr-a um active, energetic
umbrōs-us a um shadowy
Parnās-us ī 2m. Parnassus, a mountain overlooking Delphi
468 ēque = ē(x) que
sagittifer-us a um arrow-bearing
prōmō 3 prōmpsī prōmptum bring out, produce
*tēl-um ī 2n weapon
*pharetr-a ae 1f. quiver
469 dīuers-us a um opposite. dīuersōrum operum is genitive of description, preparing us for the description of the function of the two arrows, RL101, W40
*hoc . . . illud: subjects, referring to the arrows, ‘the one’, ‘the other’. Note the word-play fugat . . . facit
470 quod facit: subject, ‘the one that makes [one fall in love]’, paralleled by quod fugat (471)
aurāt-us a um golden, gilded. This line sounds sharp and crisp
cuspis cuspid-is 3f. point, tip
acūt-us a um sharp
471 obtūs-us a um blunt. This line sounds heavy and solid, full of u’s and b’s
harundō harundin-is 3f. shaft. sub here means ‘at the tip of’
plumb-um ī 2n. lead
hoc: i.e. the latter (lead) arrow. illō (472) = the former (golden) arrow; hīc and ille are often used in this sense, hīc meaning ‘this one here’, i.e the nearer, i.e. the latter; ille meaning that one over there, i.e. the further away, i.e. the former
472 *nymph-a ae 1f. young woman, semi-divine female spirit
Pēnēis Pēnēid-is descended from Peneus (cf. Pēnēi-us, 452)
473 *laedō 3 laesī laesum wound, hurt, injure, annoy
Apolline-us a um of Apollo
trāiciō 3/4 trāiēcī trāiectum pierce
medull-a ae 1f. marrow, innermost being
Learning vocabulary
āēr āer-is 3n. air, atmosphere, sky
cēdō 3 cess-ī cess-um yield to (+ dat.), step aside; go,
withdraw, come to an end
cūnct-us a um all
fīgō 3 fīxī fīxum pierce, transfix
hīc . . . ille the one (this one here, latter) . . . the
other (that one there, former)
laedō 3 laesī laesum wound, hurt, injure, annoy
nymph-a ae 1f. (also nymph-ē) young woman, semi-
divine female spirit
penn-a ae 1f. wing, feather
percutiō 3/4 percussī percussum beat, strike
pharetr-a ae 1f. quiver
tēl-um ī 2n weapon
474 *prōtinus at once; straight on
475 latebr-a ae 1f. hiding place, retreat. latebrīs and exuuiīs (476) are both controlled by gaudēns, ‘finding/who found pleasure/joy in’
captīu-us a um captive
476 exuui-ae ārum 1f. pl. spoils, prize
*gaudeō 2 semi-dep. gāuīsus find pleasure, rejoice, be happy in (+ abl.)
innūpt-us a um unmarried
aemul-a ae 1f. rival. This is Daphne, whose ambition is to match Diana in hunting and avoiding sex
Phoebēs: Greek gen. s. of Phoebe, i.e. Diana, goddess of chastity and the hunt (Greek Artemis); she was sister of Apollo
477 uitt-a ae 1f. headband
coerceō 2 hold back
sine lēge: upper-class Roman women usually took great care to see that their hair was done properly
*capill-us ī 2m. hair
478 multī: i.e. many suitors. For other examples of suitors seeking the hand of a girl, see e.g. 10.569–74 (passage 18, Atalanta), and cf. e.g. Penelope in Homer’s Odyssey
petiēre = petīuērunt RLA4, W12(footnotes)
āuersor 1 dep. āuersātus turn from, reject
479 impatiēns impatient-is intolerant, impatient (of) expers expert-is inexperienced, lacking knowledge (of)
*nemus nemor-is 3n. wood, forest, grove
āui-us a um trackless, out of the way
lūstrō 1 rove, move through
480 quid . . . quid . . . quid: indirect question in the form of a tricolon, with anaphora, after cūrat
Hymen Hymen-is 3m. marriage hymn, god of marriage
*cōnūbi-um ī 2n. marriage, right to marry
cūrat: we might expect ‘know’ – we get ‘care’!
481 saepe . . . dīxit: here the repeated clause mimics her father’s insistence. An unmarried child was a useless child in the ancient world
gener -ī 2m. son-in-law
482 nepōs nepōt-is 3m. grandchild
483 *uelut like, as if, as
*crīmen crīmin-is 3n. crime, scandal, offence
taed-a ae 1f. torch (accompanying marriage-ceremony)
exōs-us a um hating, loathing
iugāl-is e to do with marriage, nuptial
484 uerēcund-us a um bashful, shy
suffundō 3 suffūdī suffuse
*rubor rubōr-is 3m. blush, redness, modesty
485 inque: begin with haerēns, take in with ceruīce
*bland-us a um coaxing, flattering, charming
*haereō 2 haesī haesum cling (to), be fixed to; doubt, hesitate
ceruīx ceruīc-is 3f. neck (controlled by inque)
*lacert-us ī 2m. (upper) arm, embrace
486 dā mihi: ‘grant to me to/that I should’ + inf. (fruī)
perpetu-us a um eternal, perpetual
genitor -is 3m. parent
cār-us a um dear, beloved
487 uirginitās uirginitāt-is 3f. virginity
fruor 3 dep. frūctus/fruitus enjoy (+ abl.)
pater: i.e. Jupiter
ante: adverbial, i.e. ‘previously’
*Diān-a ae 1f. Diana, goddess of chastity and the hunt
488 obsequor 3 dep. obsecūtus give in, agree
tē: object of uetat (489). Note the ‘apostrophe’ (moving into the second person to address Daphne)
*decor decōr-is 3m. beauty, grace, charm
quod optās/esse ‘to be what you desire’
489 *uetō 1 uetuī uetītum forbid
*uōt-um ī 2n. prayer, desire, vow
tuō tua: a pointed contrast
*repugn-ō 1 fight against (+ dat.)
Learning vocabulary
bland-us a um coaxing, flattering, charming
capill-us ī 2m. hair
cōnūbi-um ī 2n. marriage, right to marry
crīmen crīmin-is 3n. crime, scandal, offence
decor decōr-is 3m. beauty, grace, charm
Diān-a ae 1f. Diana, goddess of chastity and the hunt
gaudeō 2 semi-dep. gāuīsus find pleasure, rejoice, be happy in (+ abl.)
haereō 2 haesī haesum cling (to), be fixed to; doubt, hesitate
lacert-us ī 2m. (upper) arm, embrace
nemus nemor-is 3n. wood, forest, grove
prōtinus at once; straight on
*repugn-ō 1 fight against (+ dat.)
rubor rubōr-is 3m. blush, redness, modesty
uelut like, as if, as
uetō 1 uetuī uetītum forbid
uōt-um ī 2n. prayer, desire, vow
490 Phoebus: the background has been filled in; now the action begins with Apollo’s pursuit of Daphne
Daphnēs: Greek gen. s. of Daphne
491 quodque: = quod + que ‘and what’
ōrācula: Apollo was god of prophecy
*fallō 3 fefellī falsum cheat, deceive, fail
492 utque: ‘and as’, to be followed by two similes (the second, beginning ut, at 493), the similes finally referred back to the subject with sīc (495): ‘as . . . as . . . so . . .’
*leu-is e light
stipul-a ae 1f. stalk, stubble
dēmō 3 dēmpsī dēmptum take away, i.e. harvest
adoleō 2 burn
arist-a ae 2f. ear (of corn). The grain havin
g being harvested, the stubble is now burnt to increase soil-fertility
493 fax fac-is 3f. torch (i.e. ‘because of the torches which [quās] . . .’)
saep-ēs is 3f. hedge
ardeō 2 arsī arsum burn, blaze; be in turmoil
uiātor -is 3m. traveller
494 nimis: i.e. too close
*admoueō 2 admōuī admōtum move, bring
sub lūce: i.e. at daybreak. The torch has been used as a night-light (there was no street-lighting in Rome) and abandoned
ōscula: ‘poetic’ pl. for s., ‘little mouth’
495 *pectus pector-is 3n. breast, chest
496 *ūrō 3 ussī ustum burn up, set on fire, inflame
steril-is e fruitless, sterile
nūtriō 4 suckle, foster, feed
497 *spectō 1 look at, observe, see
inōrnāt-us a um not made up; cf. 477
pendeō 2 pependī hang, hang down, be uncertain. This is an inf. in an acc. and inf. after spectat
498 cōmō 1 do up, arrange. The understood subject is capillī (488)
micō 1 flash
500 *digit-us ī 2m. finger
501 *brācchi-um ī 2n. arm, fore-arm
*nūd-us a um naked
mediā plūs parte: ‘more than by the middle part [of the arm]’, i.e. almost to the shoulder. plūs is used here adverbially, with quam (as often) omitted, and mediā parte an abl. of difference, RL100B.5, WSuppl.syntax
502 qua anywhere
*lateō 2 lie hidden, be covered. Understand as subject ‘features of her body’, and take meliōra (object of putat) to refer to them
ōcior -is faster, swifter
*aur-a ae 1f. breeze, wind. It is abl. of comparison
503 reuocō 1 call back. reuocantis = ‘of the one (i.e. Apollo) calling [her] back’
Learning vocabulary
admoueō 2 admōuī admōtum move, bring
aur-a ae 1f. breeze, wind
brācchi-um ī 2n. arm, fore-arm
fore-arm digit-us ī 2m. finger
fallō 3 fefellī falsum cheat, deceive, fail
lateō 2 lie hidden, be covered
leu-is e light
nūd-us a um naked
pectus pector-is 3n. breast, chest
spectō 1 look at, observe, see
ūrō 3 ussī ustum burn up, set on fire, inflame
504 Pēnēi (voc.) daughter of Peneus. Note the slightly panting quality, in rhythm and sound, to the whole nympha . . . manē clause
*īnsequor 3 dep. follow, pursue
hostis: in apposition to understood ego of īnsequor, RL17B, W3; cf. 511 ipse, 562 custōs
505 agn-a ae 1f. lamb. agna . . . cerua . . . columbae (505–6) are all subjects of fugiunt, a splendid ‘rising’ tricolon with anaphora (sīc), climaxing with the strong contrast of Apollo’s motive (507)