5.3.2.9: 3.592–99

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 88623

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

mox ego, ne scopulis haererem semper in isdem,
addidici regimen dextra moderante carinae
flectere et Oleniae sidus pluviale Capellae
Taygetenque Hyadasque oculis Arctonque notavi 595
ventorumque domos et portus puppibus aptos.
forte petens Delon Chiae telluris ad oras
applicor et dextris adducor litora remis
doque levis saltus udaeque inmittor harenae:

Study Questions

What type of subordinate clause does ne (592) introduce?
What is the force of ad- in addidici (593)?
What kind of construction is dextra moderante (593)?
On what noun does the genitive carinae (593) depend?
What is the accusative object of flectere (594)?
Identify the six accusative objects of notavi (595).
Scan line 599 — how does the scanning help in figuring out grammar and meaning?
Identify and explain the voice of applicor (598), adducor (598) and immittor (599).

Stylistic Appreciation

Acoetes continues to take long to say little. Discuss the techniques by which he beefs up ‘I learned to be a helmsman and happened to land on Chios’.

Discussion Points

Can you identify the stars and constellations Ovid mentions here on a starchart? Why has he chosen those and not others? Do they add up to a coherent picture?

scopulus, -i, m.	rock, cliff, crag
haereo, -ere, haesi, haesum	to hang, stick, cleave, cling, sit fast
addisco, -scere, -dici (here + inf.)	to learn in addition, learn further
moderor, -ari, -atus	to moderate, temper; guide, govern
regimen, -inis, n.	here: ‘steering-oar’
Olenius, -a, -um [= Gk Ôlenios]	Olenian, poetic for Achaian
pluvialis, -is, -e	rainy
capella, -ae, f.	she-goat; star in the constellation Auriga
Taygete, -es, f.	a daughter of Atlas and Pleione one of the Pleiades
Hyades, -um, f.	the Hyades (a group of seven stars) daughters of Atlas, sisters of the Pleiades
Arctos, -i, f.	Great and Lesser Bear, North Pole
puppis, -is, f.	stern; ship
forte (adverb; from fors)	perchance
Chius, -a, -um	of the island Chios, Chian
applico, -are, -avi, -atum (ad) here middle/passive:	to bring into contact, put in (at) (of persons): to land (at)
adduco, -cere, -xi, -ctum here middle/passive:	to lead or bring (of persons): to sail (a ship) to
levis, -is, -e	light (with short -e-) [contrast lêvis = smooth]
saltus, -us, m	a jump, leap
udus, -a, -um	wet, moist, damp, humid
immitto, -ittere, -isi, -issum middle/passive (+ dat.):	to cause to go, send to throw oneself, leap (on or into)