5.3.2.6: 3.562–71

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ite citi’ (famulis hoc imperat), ‘ite ducemque
attrahite huc vinctum! iussis mora segnis abesto!’
hunc avus, hunc Athamas, hunc cetera turba suorum
corripiunt dictis frustraque inhibere laborant. 565
acrior admonitu est inritaturque retenta
et crescit rabies moderaminaque ipsa nocebant:
sic ego torrentem, qua nil obstabat eunti,
lenius et modico strepitu decurrere vidi;
at quacumque trabes obstructaque saxa tenebant, 570
spumeus et fervens et ab obice saevior ibat.

Study Questions

Parse ite (562). What is the rhetorical effect of its repetition (ite — ite)?
What is the rhetorical effect of the parenthesis famulis hoc imperat?
Parse vinctum (563).
What noun does the adjective segnis (563) modify?
Parse abesto (563).
Ponder Ovid’s use of tense in 564–67: corripiunt — laborant — est —inritatur — crescit — nocebant.
What noun do the attributes acrior and retenta (566) modify? What is the rhetorical effect of this kind of placement?
Parse eunti (568). What noun does it modify?
Parse lenius (569).
What is the subject of ibat (571)?

Stylistic Appreciation

What is the technical term for the repetition of hunc (564)? What is its rhetorical effect here?
Discuss Ovid’s use of the simile in lines 568–71: how do the components of the simile match up to the surrounding narrative? How does Ovid draw on nature to illustrate an emotional condition?
Who makes the claim of autopsy (ego … vidi) and what effect does this have?

Discussion Points

Does the phenomenon Ovid here describes, i.e. that attempts at diffusing Pentheus’ anger actually worsen his condition, ring psychologically true? Why would that be the case? Can you think of other literary figures (or real-life persons) who manifest similar tendencies?

famulus, -i, m	servant, attendant
attraho, -here, -xi, -ctum	to draw with force, drag in
vincio, -cire, vinxi, vinctum	to tie up, bind
[cf. vinco, -ere, vici, victum	to win, conquer]
mora, -ae, f	delay
segnis, -is, -e	slothful, inactive, sluggish
avus, -i, m.	grandfather
corripio, -ipere, -ipui, -eptum	to seize, grasp to censure, rebuke, find fault with
inrito, -are, -avi, -atum	to move to anger, provoke, annoy
retineo, -ere, -ui, retentum	to hold fast, detain; delay, check
moderamen, -inis, n.	control
torrens, -ntis, m.	rushing stream, torrent
strepitus, -us, m	noise, clamour, uproar, din, turmoil
trabs, -bis, f.	tree-trunk, beam
obstruo, -xi, -ctum	to build before or against; to impede, obstruct, barricade
saxa obstructa	stones placed in the way
obex, -icis, m./f.	bar, bolt; barrier, obstacle