ve been spoken in an absolute
manner, without reference to any person.]

[Footnote 274: I was born at Mantua, died in Calabria, and my tomb is at
Parthenope: pastures, rural affairs, and heroes are the themes of my
poems.]

[Footnote 275: The last members of these two lines, from the commas to
the end are said to have been supplied by Erotes, Virgil's librarian.]

[Footnote 276: Carm. i. 17.]

[Footnote 277: "The Medea of Ovid proves, in my opinion, how surpassing
would have been his success, if he had allowed his genius free scope,
instead of setting bounds to it."]

[Footnote 278: Two faults have ruined me; my verse, and my mistake.]

[Footnote 279: These lines are thus rendered in the quaint version of
Zachary Catlin.

I suffer 'cause I chanced a fault to spy,
So that my crime doth in my eyesight lie.

Alas! why wait my luckless hap to see
A fault at unawares to ruin me?]

[Footnote 280: "I myself employed you as ready agents in love, when my
early youth sported in numbers adapted to it."--Riley's Ovid.]

[Footnote 281: "I long since erred by one composition; a fault that is
not recent endures a punishment inflicted thus late. I had already
published my poems, when, according to my privilege, I passed in review so
many times unmolested as one of the equestrian order, before you the
enquirer into criminal charges. Is it then possible that the writings
which, in my want of confidence, I supposed would not have injured me when
young, have now been my ruin in my old age?"--Riley's Ovid.]

[Footnote 282: This place, now called Temisvar, or Tomisvar, stands on
one of the mouths of the Danube, about sixty-five miles E.N.E. from
Silistria. The neighbouring bay of the Black Sea is still called the Gulf
of Baba.]

[Footnote 283: "It appears to me, therefore, more reasonable to pursue
glory by means of the intellect, than of bodily strength; and, since the
life we enjoy is short to make the remembrance of it as lasting as
possible."]

[Footnote 284: Intramural interments were prohibited at Rome by the laws
of the Twelve Tables, notwithstanding the practice of reducing to ashes
the bodies of the dead. It was only by special privilege that individuals
who had deserved well of the state, and certain distinguished families
were permitted to have tombs within the city.]

[Footnote 285: Among the Romans, all the descendants from one common
stock were called Gentiles, being of the same