of
their observation of natural phenomena men at large came to the
incorrect belief that the gods govern the world. (Lucretius denies the
providence of the gods, not their existence.) 2. tradere, facere:
infinitives used substantively in apposition to perfugium. 3. templa:
realms. 5. severa: stern, austere. Properly the epithet of noctis, but
poetically transferred to signa. 6. faces, flammae: meteors. 7. The
heaping up of substantives without a copula is not uncommon in
Lucretius. 8. fremitus: distant, rumbling thunder. murmura magna
minarum: the near loud, threatful thunderclaps.--Munro. minarum is
equivalent to a limiting adjective. 13. velatum: the Romans prayed with
covered head. 14. vertier: middle. The reference is to a Roman custom by
which the suppliant approached with the statue on his right; after
praying, he turned to the right so as to face it and then prostrated
himself. 17. vota: votive tablets. 18 ff. It is true piety, not to
perform these rites, but to possess a tranquil mind, and this is
difficult, for the grandeur and terror of nature are almost
overwhelming. 20. super fixum: fast above.--Munro. 21. et...viarum: and
direct our thoughts to the courses of the sun and moon.--Munro. viarum:
B. 206, 3. 26. rationis egestas: lack of power to solve the question.--
Munro. 27. genitalis origo: birthtime.--Munro. 28. quoad: how long. 34.
contrahitur: shrink into itself.--Munro. 38. corripiunt: like
contrahitur, but stronger. 40. poenarum: genitive depending on solvendi.
45. viris quae ff.: powers sufficient to, etc.

LUCRETIUS AS OBSERVER AND WORD-PAINTER.--The following groups of phrases
and sentences are given as illustrative of the accuracy, variety, and
splendor of Lucretius' descriptions:

1. _Shells on the Shore._

Concharumque genus parili ratione videmus
pingere telluris gremium, qua mollibus undis
litoris incurvi bibulam pavit aequor arenam. 2. 374-376.

2. _The Stars._

Candida sidera. 5. 1210.
micant aeterni sidera mundi. 5. 514.
Simul ac primum sub diu splendor aquai
ponitur, extemplo caelo stellante serena
sidera respondent in aqua radiantia mundp. 4. 211-213.
caeli labentia signa. 1. 2.
fervida signa. 5. 628.
Raraque per caelum cum venti nubila portant
tempore nocturno, tum splendida signa videntur
labier adversum nimbos atque ire superne. 4. 443-445.
totum circum tremere aethera signis. 1. 1089.

3. _The Sky._

stellis fulgentibus apta
concutitur cae