2.02: 3.519–26

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namque dies aderit, quam non procul auguror esse,
qua novus huc veniat, proles Semeleia, Liber, 520
quem nisi templorum fueris dignatus honore,
mille lacer spargere locis et sanguine silvas
foedabis matremque tuam matrisque sorores.
eveniet! neque enim dignabere numen honore,
meque sub his tenebris nimium vidisse quereris’. 525
talia dicentem proturbat Echione natus.

Study Questions

Explain the syntax of quam non procul auguror esse (519).
How does Semeleia (520) scan — and why?
Why type of condition does nisi (521) introduce?
On what noun does the genitive templorum (521) depend?
What word does mille (522) modify?
How does lacer fit into the syntax of the sentence?
Parse spargere (522).
What does the -que after matrem (523) link? And what the -que after matris (523)?
Parse and scan eveniet (524)
Parse dignabere (524).
What does the -que after me (525) link?
Explain the syntax of me (525).
Parse dicentem.
What kind of ablative is Echione (526)?

Stylistic Appreciation

Discuss Ovid’s use of tense (present; future; future perfect) and repetition (e.g. fueris dignatus ~ dignabere) in this segment. How does it enhance the authority of Tiresias?

Discussion Points

Tiresias here announces that what soon will go down in the text is the epic equivalent of a modern splatter-movie: horror is in store, as well as the graphic portrayal of gore and violence (see esp. 522–23: mille lacer spargere locis et sanguine silvas | foedabis matremque tuam matrisque sorores). Do you really want to read on? And if so, why?

auguro, -are, -avi, -atum or (as here) as deponent: auguror, -ari, -atus	to foretell by augury, predict, prophesy
procul (adv.)	some way off, (far) away
proles, -is, f.	offspring
digno, -are, -avi, -atum or (as here) as deponent: dignor, -ari, -atus	to consider worthy
lacer, -era, -um	mutilated, mangled; torn, rent
spargo, -gere, -si, -sum	to scatter, sprinkle, strew, disperse
foedo, -are, -avi, -atum	to make filthy/unclean, soil, stain, befoul
numen, -inis, n.	divine power, divinity
proturbo, -are, -avi, -atum	to drive forth, push out of the way