2.17: 3.676–86
- Page ID
- 82257
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at Libys obstantis dum vult obvertere remos,
in spatium resilire manus breve vidit et illas
iam non posse manus, iam pinnas posse vocari.
alter ad intortos cupiens dare bracchia funes
bracchia non habuit truncoque repandus in undas 680
corpore desiluit: falcata novissima cauda est,
qualia dividuae sinuantur cornua lunae.
undique dant saltus multaque adspergine rorant
emerguntque iterum redeuntque sub aequora rursus
inque chori ludunt speciem lascivaque iactant 685
corpora et acceptum patulis mare naribus efflant.
Study Questions
- Parse and scan obstantis (676). What noun does it modify? How does metre reinforce meaning?
- Parse manus (677) and explain its syntactical function in the sentence.
- What noun does the attribute breve (677) agree with?
- What construction does vidit (677) introduce?
- What noun does the attribute dividuae (682) modify?
- Parse saltus (683).
- On what noun does the genitive chori (685) depend?
Stylistic Appreciation
- Discuss the ways in which Ovid represents the disappearance of human anatomy — and the appearance of dolphinesque features.
- How do lines 683–86 enact the frolicking of dolphins in the sea?
Discussion Points
Has the transformation into dolphins also altered the character of the sailors?
| obverto, -ere, -ti, -sum | to turn towards/ against; direct towards |
| resilio, -ire, -ui (-ii) | to jump back, rebound, shrink |
| penna, ae f. / pinna, ae f. | feather, wing; fin |
| intorqueo, -ere, -torsi, -tortum | to twist, turn round; brandish, hurl |
| intortus, -a, -um | twisted (made by twisting) involved, entwined |
| bracchium, -ii, n. | arm, forearm (from hand to elbow) |
| funis, -is, m. | rope |
| truncus, -a, -um | maimed, mutilated, disfigured |
| repandus, -a, -um | bent backwards, turned up |
| falcatus, -a, -um [from falx: sickle] | armed with scythes; sickle-shaped, curved |
| cauda, -ae, f. | tail |
| dividuus, -a, -um | divided, separated; with luna: half-moon |
| sinuo, -are, -avi, -atum | to bend, wind, curve |
| roro, -are, -avi, -atum [ros + o] | (intr.) to shed moisture, to drizzle |
| aspergo, -ginis f. | action of sprinkling; what is sprinkled here: spraying |
| rursus (adverb) | back again, again |
| chorus, -i, m. | dance; chorus |
| species, -ei, f. | sight, appearance |
| in speciem | so as to give an appearance/ impression |
| lascivus, -a, -um | playful, frisky, frolicsome; mischievous |
| patulus, -a, -um | wide-open, gaping |
| accipio, -ere, accepi, acceptum | to take, receive |
| efflo, -are, -avi, -atum | to blow out, breathe out |