PL 7 · cols. 277–284
Incerti auctoris Phoenix, Lactantio tributus
Editors' preface
Migne Reading Room
PL 7 · cols. 277–284
Editors' preface
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(1) ‹lemma: Incerti auctoris› · note in col 277
Incerti auctoris. Carmina haec, quae in libris impressis Lactantio tribuuntur, in nullis antiquis codicibus inveni. Ea tamen legimus in ms. Sangermanensi, etsi non antiquo Phoenicis carmina Lactantii non creduntur, saltem christiani, quamvis sint ab elegantissimo aliquo poeta scripta, quem tamen certo credo non fuisse christianum. Nam Phoenicem nominat Solis sacerdotem; et sic de nemore illo loquitur, et de Phoebo, tamquam ille revera sit deus, et habeat nemus illud charissimum, ac sibi dicatum. Carmina autem illa de resurrectione, sive de pascha, quod ad elegantiam spectat, cum illis de Phoenice comparari non possunt; et ex ipsis apperet manifeste non eumdem fuisse eorum auctorem. Haec vero inter opuscula Venantii Fortunati, poetae christiani, quae sunt in bibliotheca Vaticana, ab optimo et litterato viro Antonio Girona admonitus, inveni; de quibus postmodum aliqua annotabo. Illius tertii poematis, de Passione Domini, nullum vestigium usquam invenire potui: in quo tamen non multi errores reperiuntur, ut diligentia emendationis in eo non valde fuerit necessaria. THOMAS. Erasmus non inconcinna esse carmina Phoenicis judicat, sed nemo potest affirmare esse Lactantii: de iis enim non loquitur Hieronymus, ubi agit de Auctoris nostri operibus, Nicolaus Heinsius Lactantii genuinum in eo foetum agnoscit et praedicat.
"Of an uncertain author." These poems, which in the printed books are attributed to Lactantius, I have found in no ancient manuscripts. We do, however, read them in the Saint-Germain manuscript, though it is not old. The poems on the Phoenix are not believed to be Lactantius's, nor even a Christian's, although they were written by some most elegant poet, who I am nevertheless certain was not a Christian. For he calls the Phoenix the priest of the Sun; and he speaks of that grove, and of Phoebus, as if Phoebus were truly a god and held that grove most dear and dedicated to himself. But the poems on the resurrection, or on Easter, cannot be compared with those on the Phoenix for elegance; and from the poems themselves it plainly appears that they did not have the same author. These, indeed, I found among the minor works of Venantius Fortunatus, the Christian poet, which are in the Vatican Library, on the advice of that excellent and learned man Antonio Girona; on them I shall note a few things later. Of the third poem, on the Passion of the Lord, I could find no trace anywhere; yet not many errors are found in it, so that a careful emendation of it was not much needed. THOMAS. Erasmus judges the poems on the Phoenix not to be inelegant, but no one can affirm that they are Lactantius's: for Jerome does not speak of them where he treats of our Author's works. Nicolaus Heinsius recognizes and proclaims it a genuine offspring of Lactantius.
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(2) ‹lemma: Phoenix› · note in col 277
Phoenix. Tota haec Phoenicis historia inter fabulas annumeranda est. Noluimus tamen omittere, ne aliquid desit huic nostrae Editioni; atque haec Carmina contulimus cum ms. Sangermanensi.
"Phoenix." This whole story of the Phoenix is to be counted among the fables. We did not wish to omit it, however, lest anything be lacking to this our Edition; and we have collated these poems with the Saint-Germain manuscript.
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(3) ‹lemma: Primo oriente› · note in col 277
Vers 1. Primo oriente. Id est, in Arabia, ubi fabulantur Phoenicem habitare. Multi tamen apud Indos sedem statuisse Phoenicem dicunt: qua de re Ausonius et Claudianus.
Verse 1. "In the farthest east." That is, in Arabia, where the fables say the Phoenix lives. Many, however, say that the Phoenix made its home among the Indians: on which see Ausonius and Claudian.
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(4) ‹lemma: Qua patet› · note in col 277
Vers. 2. Qua patet. Lege apud Ovidium initio II libri Metamorphos. Regiae solis descriptionem elegantissimam.
Verse 2. "Where lies open." Read in Ovid, at the beginning of Book II of the Metamorphoses, a most elegant description of the Palace of the Sun.
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(5) ‹lemma: Maxima porta poli› · note in col 277
Ibidem. Maxima porta poli. Ita ms. Sangermanensis. Editi habent Janua celsa poli: sed minus bene, ut videtur, propter Juga celsa, quae leguntur vers. 7.
The same verse. "The greatest gate of the sky." So the Saint-Germain manuscript. The printed editions have "the lofty door of the sky": but less well, it seems, because of "lofty ridges", which is read in verse 7.
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(6) ‹lemma: Sed qua› · note in col 277
Vers. 4. Sed qua. In ms. Sangerm. In quo.
Verse 4. "But where." In the Saint-Germain manuscript, "in which".
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(7) ‹lemma: Nec tumulus crescit› · note in col 278
Vers. 6. Nec tumulus crescit, etc. Ergo plana sunt omnia, nec fraudi datur locus. Nam juxta Virgilium Aeneid. II: Est curvo anfractu valles accommoda fraudi.
Verse 6. "No mound rises," etc. So all is level, and no room is given for ambush. For, according to Virgil, Aeneid II [as printed]: "There is a valley with a winding bend, suited to ambush."
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(8) ‹lemma: Stat› · note in col 278
Vers. 9. Stat. Sic legunt Nicol. Heinsius et Hemmannus. Alii editi legunt et.
Verse 9. "Stands." So read Nicolaus Heinsius and Hemmannus. Other printed editions read "and".
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(9) ‹lemma: Honore virens› · note in col 278
Vers. 10. Honore virens. Quia frondes sunt honor et pulchritudo arboris. Ms. Sangerman. et editi 1472, 1478, 1497, et alii legunt virens; editi vero vulgares legunt viret.
Verse 10. "Green with honour." Because leaves are the honour and beauty of a tree. The Saint-Germain manuscript and the editions of 1472, 1478, 1497 and others read "being green"; but the common editions read "is green".
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(10) ‹lemma: Phaethontaeis› · note in col 278
Vers. 11. Phaethontaeis. De hac fabula vide Ovidium, lib. II Metamorph.
Verse 11. "Phaethon's." On this fable see Ovid, Metamorphoses Book II.
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(11) ‹lemma: Exuperavit aquas› · note in col 278
Vers. 14. Exuperavit aquas. Quod falsum est, si intelligatur de diluvio universali, quod exuperavit etiam altissimos montes. Attamen de solo Deucalionis diluvio hic agitur, quod universale non fuit.
Verse 14. "Rose above the waters." Which is false if it is understood of the universal flood, which rose above even the highest mountains. But here only Deucalion's flood is meant, which was not universal.
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(12) ‹lemma: Huc› · note in col 278
Vers. 15. Huc. Ita editio Aldina: verum editi 1472, 1478, 1497, et 1513 legunt hunc.
Verse 15. "Hither." So the Aldine edition: but the editions of 1472, 1478, 1497 and 1513 read "this one".
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(13) ‹lemma: Exangues morbi› · note in col 278
Ibidem. Exangues morbi. Morborum vulgare epitheton. Sic Ovid. lib. XV Metamorp.: Pallidaque exangui squallebant corpora morbo.
The same verse. "Bloodless diseases." A common epithet of diseases. So Ovid, Metamorphoses Book XV: "And pale bodies grew squalid with bloodless disease."
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(14) ‹lemma: Aut Mars› · note in col 278
Vers 18. Aut Mars, etc. Ms. Sangerman. legit Aut metus, aut ardens cedit amore furor, idque minus bene; nam de metu jamjam locutus est.
Verse 18. "Or Mars," etc. The Saint-Germain manuscript reads "Or fear, or frenzy burning with love of slaughter, departs", and that less well; for he has already spoken of fear.
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(15) ‹lemma: Rore pruina tegit› · note in col 278
Vers. 22. Rore pruina tegit. De roris et pruinae differentia vide Aristotel. in Meteorologicis, lib. I, cap. 10.
Verse 22. "Frost covers with dew." On the difference between dew and frost see Aristotle, Meteorologica Book I, chapter 10.
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(16) ‹lemma: Sed fons› · note in col 278
Vers. 25. Sed fons, etc. Hic fons multis nominibus illustratur; vivus enim est, perspicuus, lenis, dulcis.
Verse 25. "But a spring," etc. This spring is distinguished by many titles; for it is living, clear, gentle, sweet.
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(17) ‹lemma: Mensum› · note in col 278
Vers. 27. Mensum. Pro mensium.
Verse 27. "Mensum." For "mensium" (of the months).
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(18) ‹lemma: Unica› · note in col 278
Vers. 31. Unica. Sic de Phoenice; unde proverbium, Phoenice rarior.
Verse 31. "Only one." So of the Phoenix; whence the proverb, "rarer than the Phoenix".
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(19) ‹lemma: Sed vivit› · note in col 278
Vers. 32. Sed vivit. De hoc vide infra Aenigma XXXI, ubi de Phoenice ait, vita mihi mors est, etc. De Phoenicis resurrectione vide Ovidium in Metamorph., et Tzetzem, in varia historia.
Verse 32. "But it lives." On this see below, Riddle XXXI, where of the Phoenix it says, "life is death to me," etc. On the Phoenix's resurrection see Ovid in the Metamorphoses, and Tzetzes in his Miscellaneous History.
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(20) ‹lemma: Obsequitur Phoebo› · note in col 278
Vers. 33. Obsequitur Phoebo. Credidit antiquitas aves, sicut et arbores, diis esse sacratas: sic Aquila Jovi; Columba Veneri; ita et Phoebo Phoenix.
Verse 33. "Obeys Phoebus." Antiquity believed that birds, like trees, were sacred to the gods: thus the eagle to Jupiter; the dove to Venus; and so the Phoenix to Phoebus.
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(1) ‹lemma: Despicit› · note in col 279
Vers. 40. Despicit. Quia quodammodo aliae arbores huic sunt inferiores.
Verse 40. "Looks down on." Because in a way the other trees are lower than this one.
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(2) ‹lemma: Aura levis› · note in col 279
Vers. 44. Aura levis. Sic Ovidius: Et levis impulsos retro dabat aura capillos.
Verse 44. "A light breeze." So Ovid: "And a light breeze blew her tossed hair back."
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(3) ‹lemma: Movere› · note in col 279
Vers. 46. Movere. Sic ms. Sangerman. Editi habent ciere. Variant tamen libri. Heinsius opinatur legendum esse fovere.
Verse 46. "To move." So the Saint-Germain manuscript. The printed editions have "to stir". The books vary, however. Heinsius thinks "to cherish" should be read.
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(4) ‹lemma: Quam nec Aedoniae› · note in col 279
Vers. 47. Quam nec Aedoniae. Locus corruptus. Ms. Sangerman. habet Idoneae: editi legunt Julaeae. At juxta Gallaeum, Frideric., Gronovius et Heinsius emendaverunt Aedoniae.
Verse 47. "Which not even the nightingale's (Aedonian)…" A corrupt passage. The Saint-Germain manuscript has "Idoneae"; the printed editions read "Julaeae". But following Gallaeus, Fredericus Gronovius and Heinsius emended to "Aedoniae".
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(5) ‹lemma: Cyrrhaeis› · note in col 279
Vers. 48. Cyrrhaeis. Id est, Castaliis modis musicis, vel Musarum et Apollinis; Cyrrha siquidem oppidum est ad radicem montis Parnassi.
Verse 48. "Cirrhaean." That is, with Castalian musical measures, or those of the Muses and Apollo; for Cirrha is a town at the foot of Mount Parnassus.
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(6) ‹lemma: Cyllenaeae› · note in col 279
Vers. 50. Cyllenaeae. Quasi dicat Mercurialis, quia Mercurius Cyllenae natus est. Hinc Mercurius ipse Cyllenius vocatur a Claudiano I libro de Raptu Proserp.
Verse 50. "Cyllenian." As if to say "of Mercury", because Mercury was born on Cyllene. Hence Mercury himself is called "the Cyllenian" by Claudian in Book I of the Rape of Proserpina.
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(7) ‹lemma: Postquam Phoebus equos› · note in col 279
Vers. 51. Postquam Phoebus equos, etc. Hoc est, postquam sol supra horizontem ascendit. De fabula Phaetontis vide Ovidium in Metamorph.
Verse 51. "After Phoebus [has loosed] his horses," etc. That is, after the sun has risen above the horizon. On the fable of Phaethon see Ovid in the Metamorphoses.
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(8) ‹lemma: Illa ter alarum› · note in col 279
Vers. 53. Illa ter alarum., etc., usque ad Antistes nemorum. Ms. Sangerman. sic legit quatuor ista carmina: Illa ter alarum repetito verbere plaudit, Igniferumque caput ter venerata, silet. Atque eadem celeres etiam discriminat horas Non errabilibus nocte dieque sonis. Sed minus bene, ut puto. Celeres horas; horas enim solis comites facit Ovidius.
Verse 53. "She thrice with her wings," etc., as far as "priestess of the groves". The Saint-Germain manuscript reads these four lines thus: "She thrice claps with repeated beat of her wings, and, having thrice worshipped the fire-bearing head, falls silent. And she also marks off the swift hours with sounds unerring by night and day." But less well, I think. "Swift hours": for Ovid makes the Hours companions of the Sun.
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(9) ‹lemma: Jam mille peregerit annos› · note in col 279
Vers. 59. Jam mille peregerit annos. Sic etiam Claudianus ad mille annos vitam Phoenicis producit; Plinius vero tantum ad 660, quamvis id fabulosum putet: alii etiam breviorem statuunt terminum.
Verse 59. "Has now completed a thousand years." So Claudian too extends the Phoenix's life to a thousand years; but Pliny only to 660, though he thinks it a fable; others set an even shorter term.
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(10) ‹lemma: Lapsum fatis› · note in col 279
Vers. 61. Lapsum fatis. Sic emendavimus cum Gallaeo et ex ms. Sangermanensi: editi habebant lassum spatiis: sed sine sensu.
Verse 61. "Fallen by the fates." So we have emended with Gallaeus and from the Saint-Germain manuscript; the printed editions had "wearied by the spaces", but without sense.
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(11) ‹lemma: Venus› · note in col 279
Vers. 66. Venus. Sic Heumann. legit. Ea culta erat in Syrophoenice. In editis est vetus.
Verse 66. "Venus." So Heumann reads. She was worshipped in Syrophoenicia. In the printed editions it is "old".
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(12) ‹lemma: Sublimem Palmam› · note in cols 279–280
Vers. 69. Sublimem Palmam. Quam arborem inter eas quas fert Syria, Plinius numerat, scilicet lib. XIII, cap. 4.
Verse 69. "The lofty palm." A tree which Pliny counts among those that Syria bears, namely in Book XIII, chapter 4.
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(13) ‹lemma: Et qua nulla nocens animans› · note in col 280
Vers. 71. Et qua nulla nocens animans, etc. Sic habet ms. Sangerman. Editi vulgares legunt: Quam nec dente nocens animal perrumpere possit. Heuman. vero, In quam nulla nocens animans perrumpere possit, cum editis 1472, 1478, 1513 et 1515, quod concordat cum nostra lectione.
Verse 71. "And where no harmful creature," etc. So the Saint-Germain manuscript has it. The common editions read: "Which no creature harmful with its tooth could break through." But Heumann reads, "Into which no harmful creature could break through", with the editions of 1472, 1478, 1513 and 1515, which agrees with our reading.
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(14) ‹lemma: Flabris› · note in col 280
Vers. 74. Flabris. Id est, flatibus.
Verse 74. "Flabris." That is, by blasts of wind.
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(15) ‹lemma: Purpureum aera› · note in col 280
Ibidem. Purpureum aera. Forte intelligit matutinas horas, quas auroram vocamus.
The same verse. "The purple air." Perhaps he means the morning hours, which we call the dawn.
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(16) ‹lemma: Noto› · note in col 280
Vers. 75. Noto. Ventus iste nubes colligit. Verum a Plinio aestuosus appellatur.
Verse 75. "By the south wind." This wind gathers clouds. But Pliny calls it sultry.
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(17) ‹lemma: Per inania coeli› · note in col 280
Ibidem. Per inania coeli. Id est, mediam aeris regionem.
The same verse. "Through the void of heaven." That is, the middle region of the air.
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(18) ‹lemma: Sepulcrum› · note in col 280
Vers. 77. Sepulcrum. De sepulcro quod sibi Phoenix condit, vide Claudianum in Epigram. his verbis: Arentes tepidis de collibus eligit herbas, Et cumulum texens pretiosa fronde Sabaeum, Componit, bustumque sibi partumque futurum.
Verse 77. "A tomb." On the tomb that the Phoenix builds for itself, see Claudian in the Epigrams, in these words: "It chooses dry herbs from the warm hills, and weaving a Sabaean heap of precious leaves, builds what will be its pyre and its birth."
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(19) ‹lemma: Opulentus Arabs› · note in col 280
Vers. 80. Opulentus Arabs. Sic de Arabibus Horatius: Otia divitiis Arabum liberrima cantat. Id tamen intellige de Arabia felici.
Verse 80. "The wealthy Arab." So Horace of the Arabs: "He sings of leisure, freest of all, above the riches of the Arabs" [as printed]. Understand this, however, of Arabia Felix.
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(20) ‹lemma: Pygmeae gentes› · note in col 280
Vers. 81. Pygmeae gentes. Quas veteres quidam ponunt in India, alii ultra Arabiam: sed quae de hac gente narrantur fabulae sunt.
Verse 81. "The Pygmy peoples." Whom some of the ancients place in India, others beyond Arabia; but what is told of this people is fable.
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(21) ‹lemma: Terra Sabea sinu› · note in col 280
Vers. 82. Terra Sabea sinu. Sic Virgil. lib. I Georg. India mittit ebur, molles sua thura Sabaei.
Verse 82. "The Sabaean land in its bosom." So Virgil, Georgics Book I: "India sends ivory, the soft Sabaeans their incense."
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(22) ‹lemma: Cinnama› · note in col 280
Vers. 83. Cinnama. Versum istum sic legit ms. Sangerm.: Cinnamum hic avisque procul spirantis amomi.
Verse 83. "Cinnamon." The Saint-Germain manuscript reads this line thus: "Cinnamon here, and of the bird [as printed] the far-breathing amomum."
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(23) ‹lemma: Casiae mitis› · note in col 280
Vers 85. Casiae mitis. Casia veterum non eadem est ac recentiorum.
Verse 85. "Of mild cassia." The cassia of the ancients is not the same as that of the moderns.
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(1) ‹lemma: Et sociat myrrhae› · note in col 281
Vers. 88. Et sociat myrrhae. Ms. Sangerm.: Et sociam myrrhae vim Banachea tuam. alii: Panathea thure.
Verse 88. "And joins to myrrh." The Saint-Germain manuscript: "And your strength, Banachea [as printed], joined to myrrh." Others: "Panathea, with incense."
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(2) ‹lemma: Mutabile› · note in col 281
Vers. 89. Mutabile. Ms. Sangerm., motabile.
Verse 89. "Changeable." The Saint-Germain manuscript, "movable".
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(3) ‹lemma: In talique thoro› · note in col 281
Vers. 90. In talique thoro. Sic ms. Sangerman. Editi habent: Vitalique thoro membra quieta locat.
Verse 90. "And on such a couch." So the Saint-Germain manuscript. The printed editions have: "And on a life-giving couch it lays its limbs to rest."
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(4) ‹lemma: Genitali morte› · note in col 281
Vers. 95. Genitali morte. Antithesis.
Verse 95. "By a birth-giving death." An antithesis.
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(5) ‹lemma: Aestuat› · note in col 281
Vers. 96. Aestuat. Verum non est corpus mortuum ita aestuare, ut flammam generet; melius itaque Claudianus, qui flammam ad solis radios refert. Fervet odoratus telis (id est radiis) coelestibus agger, Consumitque senem.
Verse 96. "Grows hot." It is not true that a dead body grows so hot as to produce a flame; Claudian therefore does better, who ascribes the flame to the rays of the sun: "The fragrant heap glows under the heavenly darts (that is, rays), and consumes the old bird."
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(6) ‹lemma: Aethereoque› · note in col 281
Vers. 97. Aethereoque. Sic ms. Sangerm.; editi vero habent Aerioque.
Verse 97. "And ethereal." So the Saint-Germain manuscript; but the printed editions have "and airy".
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(7) ‹lemma: Quos› · note in col 281
Vers. 99. Quos. Ita ms. Sangerman.; editi Hos.
Verse 99. "Which." So the Saint-Germain manuscript; the printed editions "these".
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(8) ‹lemma: Conflat› · note in col 281
Vers. 100. Conflat. In ms. Sangerman., constat.
Verse 100. "Fuses together." In the Saint-Germain manuscript, "consists".
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(9) ‹lemma: Vermi› · note in col 281
Vers. 102. Vermi. Sic ms. Sangerm.; editi Vermis. De Vermi loquitur Plinius, non vero Claudianus.
Verse 102. "To a worm." So the Saint-Germain manuscript; the printed editions "of a worm". Pliny speaks of the worm, but not Claudian.
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(10) ‹lemma: Crevit› · note in col 281
Vers. 103. Crevit. Forte crescit.
Verse 103. "Grew." Perhaps "grows".
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(11) ‹lemma: Ovi› · note in col 281
Vers. 104. Ovi. Nil de ovo Claudianus.
Verse 104. "Of an egg." Claudian says nothing of an egg.
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(12) ‹lemma: Ac velut agrestes› · note in cols 281–282
Vers. 107. Ac velut agrestes, cum filo ad saxa tenentur, Mutari tineae papilione solent. Admonuit Thomasium vir doctiss. Didacus Covarruvias, episcopus Segobiensis, ut in secundo versu loco pennae, scriberetur tineae, quod valde probandum est. Nam tineae sunt vermes illi ex quibus serici papiliones nascuntur. Hoc vero in loco videtur poeta imitari voluisse Ovidium, libro ultimo Metamorph., qui de hac eadem mutatione sic ait: Quaeque solent canis frondes intexere filis Agrestes tineae, res observata colonis, Ferali mutent cum papilione figuram. Ac sane non dubito quin pro illo nomine, pennae, legendum sit, tineae, sed in priori versu, illa: filo ad saxa tenentur, videntur mihi non satis cum re ipsa convenire, cum fila illa potius ad frondes, vel ad ramos ducantur, quam ad saxa; propterea puto potius legendum taxa, quam saxa. Haec ait THOMASIUS.
Verse 107. "And as country grubs, when they are held by a thread to the rocks, are wont to be changed into a butterfly." The most learned Diego Covarrubias, bishop of Segovia, advised Thomasius that in the second line "grubs" should be written in place of "feathers", which is greatly to be approved. For grubs are those worms from which the silk moths are born. In this place the poet seems to have wished to imitate Ovid, in the last book of the Metamorphoses, who speaks thus of this same change: "And the country grubs, which are wont to weave leaves with white threads (a thing farmers have observed), exchange their shape for the funereal moth." And indeed I do not doubt that "grubs" is to be read instead of the word "feathers"; but in the former line the words "are held by a thread to the rocks" do not seem to me to fit the matter itself well enough, since those threads are drawn to leaves or branches rather than to rocks; I therefore think "yews" should be read rather than "rocks". So says THOMASIUS.
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(13) ‹lemma: Non illi cibus› · note in col 282
Vers. 109. Non illi cibus. De cibo Phoenicis vide Claudianum in Epigram. de Phoenice, versu 13, etc.
Verse 109. "It has no food." On the Phoenix's food see Claudian in the Epigram on the Phoenix, line 13 and following.
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(14) ‹lemma: Ambrosios› · note in col 282
Vers 111. Ambrosios. Apud poetas Ambrosia cibus, nectar potus deorum est: sic Martialis: Jupiter Ambrosia satur est, et nectare vivit.
Verse 111. "Ambrosial." In the poets ambrosia is the food, nectar the drink of the gods: so Martial: "Jupiter is filled with ambrosia, and lives on nectar."
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(15) ‹lemma: Tenues› · note in col 282
Vers. 112. Tenues. Id est, rores tenues. Ita ms. a Gallaeo laudatus. Editi habent teneri, quod refertur ad rores, et sensum elegantem facit. Polo, id est, coelo.
Verse 112. "Fine." That is, the fine dews. So the manuscript cited by Gallaeus. The printed editions have "tender", which refers to the dews and makes an elegant sense. "Polo", that is, from the sky.
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(16) ‹lemma: Alitur mediis› · note in col 282
Vers 113. Alitur mediis. Sic ms. Sangerman. et editi 1472 et 1478. Vulgati legunt mediis alitur, sed male.
Verse 113. "It is nourished in the midst." So the Saint-Germain manuscript and the editions of 1472 and 1478. The common editions read "in the midst it is nourished", but badly.
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(17) ‹lemma: Perferat› · note in col 282
Vers. 114. Perferat. Ita codex Sangermanensis et alii. In editis vero proferat, sed minus bene.
Verse 114. "Carries through." So the Saint-Germain codex and others. But in the printed editions "brings forth", less well.
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(18) ‹lemma: Patrias domos› · note in col 282
Vers 116. Patrias domos. Sic ms. Sangerman., alii primas domos.
Verse 116. "Its ancestral home." So the Saint-Germain manuscript; others "its first home".
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(19) ‹lemma: Ante tamen› · note in col 282
Vers 117. Ante tamen, etc. Hac de re vide Claudianum in Epigram. de Phoenice, vers. 72, qui concordat cum iis quae hic dicuntur.
Verse 117. "But first," etc. On this matter see Claudian in the Epigram on the Phoenix, line 72, who agrees with what is said here.
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(20) ‹lemma: Sub cortice laevi› · note in col 282
Vers 125. Sub cortice laevi, Mitia quem croceum. Ita Heumannus ex emendatione Nicol. Heins. Editi vero habent qualis sub sydere coeli.
Verse 125. "Under smooth rind, which, saffron, [the] ripe…" So Heumann, from the emendation of Nicolaus Heinsius. But the printed editions have "such as under the star of heaven".
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(21) ‹lemma: Cum pandit vestes Flora rubente polo› · note in col 282
Vers. 128. Cum pandit vestes Flora rubente polo. Sic emendavimus partim ex ms. Sangerman., partim ex editis. Ms. habet: Cum pandit vestes flore rubente polo. at editi legunt: Cum pendens vestit sole rubente polus.
Verse 128. "When Flora spreads her robes under a reddening sky." So we have emended, partly from the Saint-Germain manuscript, partly from the printed editions. The manuscript has: "When it spreads its robes, the sky reddening with flower"; but the printed editions read: "When the hanging sky clothes [it], reddening with the sun."
(printed under page 140)
(22) ‹lemma: Fulgent› · note in col 282
Vers. 129. Fulgent. Ms., Fulget.
Verse 129. "They shine." The manuscript, "it shines".
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(1) ‹lemma: Et puro cornu› · note in col 283
Vers. 136. Et puro cornu, etc. Rostrum cornu quidem esse dicit, sed ita lucidum, ut gemma esse videatur.
Verse 136. And with pure horn, etc. He says that the beak is indeed horn, but so bright that it seems to be a gem.
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(2) ‹lemma: Ingentes oculos credas› · note in col 283
Vers. 137. Ingentes oculos credas, etc. Sic lege ex ms. Vossiano.
Verse 137. "You would think them huge eyes," etc. So read, from the Vossius manuscript.
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(3) ‹lemma: Corona Phoebei verticis› · note in col 283
Vers 139. Corona Phoebei verticis. Id est, radii Solares.
Verse 139. "The crown of Phoebus's head." That is, the rays of the Sun.
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(4) ‹lemma: Roseus› · note in col 283
Vers. 142. Roseus. Ms. Sangerm., Rosco.
Verse 142. "Rosy." The Saint-Germain manuscript, "Rosco" [as printed].
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(5) ‹lemma: Phasidis avem› · note in col 283
Vers. 144. Phasidis avem. Id est, Phasianam, a Phaside fluvio Colchidis nominatam, ad nos per Argonautas advectam. Martialis Epigram. lib. XIII, 72.
Verse 144. "The bird of the Phasis." That is, the pheasant, named from the Phasis, a river of Colchis, and brought to us by the Argonauts. Martial, Epigrams Book XIII, 72.
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(6) ‹lemma: Magniciem› · note in col 283
Vers. 145. Magniciem. Quae sit haec avis ignoratur, vel forte pro magnitudinem.
Verse 145. "Magniciem". What bird this is is unknown; or perhaps it stands for "magnitudinem" (size).
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(7) ‹lemma: Huc venit› · note in col 283
Vers. 151. Huc venit. Ita Sangerm. ms.; editi vero, convenit.
Verse 151. "Comes hither." So the Saint-Germain manuscript; but the printed editions, "comes together".
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(8) ‹lemma: Exsculpunt› · note in col 283
Vers. 153. Exsculpunt. Sic ms. Sangerm. et alii; editi vero legunt, Insculpunt.
Verse 153. "Carve out." So the Saint-Germain manuscript and others; but the printed editions read "carve in".
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(9) ‹lemma: Genus omne volantum› · note in col 283
Vers. 155. Genus omne volantum. Qua de re vide Claudianum, vers. 76, etc.
Verse 155. "Every kind of flying thing." On this see Claudian, line 76 and following.
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(10) ‹lemma: Alituum› · note in col 283
Vers. 157. Alituum. Pro alitum; sic Virgil. Aeneid. 8: Alituum pecudumque genus sopor altus habebat.
Verse 157. "Alituum." For "alitum" (of birds); so Virgil, Aeneid 8: "Deep sleep held the race of birds and beasts."
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(11) ‹lemma: Munere laeta pio› · note in col 283
Vers. 158. Munere laeta pio. Id est, pietatis et reverentiae officio erga tantae dignitatis avem. Munere, Heinsius emendat male, murmure.
Verse 158. "Glad in the dutiful service." That is, in the office of piety and reverence towards a bird of such dignity. For "service" Heinsius wrongly emends "murmur".
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(12) ‹lemma: not visible (note begins above the rendered crop)› · note in col 284
[… not seen …] laeo memorato; in editis legitur, Mox redit illa; suis conditur inde locis, nec male.
[… not seen …] [Gal]laeus mentioned; in the printed editions one reads, "Soon she returns; thence she is laid up in her own places," and not badly.
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(13) ‹lemma: At fortunatae sortis filique volucrem› · note in col 284
Vers. 161. At fortunatae sortis filique volucrem. Haec est emendatio Heinsii, referentis filum ad Parcas, Quae dispensant mortalia fila sorores: verum ms. Sangerman. legit. At fortunatae sortis, felixque volucrum. Gallaeus putat legendum esse: O fortunatae sortis, fatique volucrem; editi habent Haec fortunatae sortis, fatique volucris.
Verse 161. "But a bird of fortunate lot and thread." This is Heinsius's emendation, who refers the thread to the Fates, "the sisters who dispense the threads of mortals"; but the Saint-Germain manuscript reads: "But of fortunate lot, and happy among birds." Gallaeus thinks it should read: "O bird of fortunate lot and fate"; the printed editions have "This bird of fortunate lot and fate."
(printed under page 141)
(14) ‹lemma: Foemina sit, vel mas› · note in col 284
Vers. 163. Foemina sit, vel mas, seu neutrum, seu sit utrumque. Ita emendavimus ex ms. Sangerman. et editione Heumanni. Vulgati habent: Foemina vel mas haec, vel neutrum sit mage felix.
Verse 163. "Whether it be female, or male, or neither, or both." So we have emended from the Saint-Germain manuscript and Heumann's edition. The common editions have: "Female or male this, or let it rather be neither, happy one."
(printed under page 141)
(15) ‹lemma: Quae est ipsa› · note in col 284
Vers. 169. Quae est ipsa. Ita ms. Sangerm. Editi habent, quia et ipsa.
Verse 169. "Which is itself." So the Saint-Germain manuscript. The printed editions have "because it too".
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