Ovid’s Orpheus From the Metamorphoses, Books X and XI - PowerPoint Presentation

Ovid’s Orpheus From the Metamorphoses, Books X and XI

immensum modifies aethera, a Gk accusative croceus is yellow, the color worn by Roman bridesvelo, velare = cover/ wrapamictus, -us = cloakdigredior, digredi, digressus sum = depart/ go awayCicones, Ciconum (m pl.) = the Cicones, people of ThraceHymenaeus is the god of marriageOrphea in line 3 is an adjectivestridulus, -a, -um = hissing; this is a predicate nominative with fax… fuitauspicio in line 8 is abl of compnaiades, naiadum (f pl.) = water nymphsNotice the hyperbaton (the distanced placement of two words that logically should be close together) between lines 8 and 10talus, tali = ankleNotice the abl abs in the last line Metamorphoses X: Orpheus and EurydiceTragedy at a wedding     Inde per inmensum croceo velatus amictuaethera digreditur Ciconumque Hymenaeus ad orastendit et Orphea nequiquam voce vocatur.adfuit ille quidem, sed nec sollemnia verbanec laetos vultus nec felix attulit omen.               5fax quoque, quam tenuit, lacrimoso stridula fumousque fuit nullosque invenit motibus ignes.exitus auspicio gravior: nam nupta per herbasdum nova naiadum turba comitata vagatur,occidit in talum serpentis dente recepto.               10

quam is a connecting relative, used to refer to something in an earlier line, in this case Eurydice; in English we tend to use a demonstrative (quam = et illam) Rhodopeius , -a, -um = of Mount Rhodope (in Thrace)defleo, deflere, deflevi, defletus = weep for/ mournvates, vatis (m) = prophet/ poetNotice the litotes inline 12Taenarius, -a, -um = of Taenarus (place in Sparta for entry to Hades)simulacrum, -i = image/ ghostfungor, fungi, functus sum = perform/ execute/ experience; The deponent verb functa in line 14 takes the abl. casePersephonen is irreg accinamoenus, -a, -um = cheerless/ unlovelytendus, -i = tendon/ lyre string/ bowstringreccido, reccidere, reccidi = fall back ambages, ambagis (f) = roundabout ways/ windingsPleading for his wifequam satis ad superas postquam Rhodopeius aurasdeflevit vates, ne non temptaret et umbras,ad Styga Taenaria est ausus descendere portaperque leves populos simulacraque functa sepulcroPersephonen adiit inamoenaque regna tenentem  15umbrarum dominum pulsisque ad carmina nervissic ait: 'o positi sub terra numina mundi,in quem reccidimus, quicquid mortale creamur,si licet et falsi positis ambagibus orisvera loqui sinitis, non huc, ut opaca viderem       20Tartara , descendi, nec uti villosa colubristerna Medusaei vincirem guttura monstri: There is redundancy in line 19 which shoes that Orpheus is being overly cautious. Look for where this changes later on. opacus , -a, -um = shaded villosus , -a, -um = shaggy coluber , colubri = snake terni , - ae , -a = three Medusaei (line 22) is describing Cerberus, the offspring of Medusa’s sister guttur , gutturis (n) = throat

calcatus , -a, -um = trampledNotice the alliteration in line 23Amor is personified, referring to Cupid an = whether auguror, augurari, auguratus sum = foretellmentior, mentiri, mentitus sum = say falselyChaos is the oldest deity who is the source of existenceproperatus, -a, -um = hurried; 1st conj verb form is used later in line 33retego, retegere, retexi, retectus = uncover/ revealpaulum, adv = a littlesero, adv = latecito, adv = swiftlycausa viae est coniunx, in quam calcata venenumvipera diffudit crescentesque abstulit annos. posse pati volui nec me temptasse negabo:               25vicit Amor. supera deus hic bene notus in ora est;an sit et hic, dubito: sed et hic tamen auguror esse,famaque si veteris non est mentita rapinae,vos quoque iunxit Amor. per ego haec loca plena timoris,per Chaos hoc ingens vastique silentia regni,               30Eurydices, oro, properata retexite fata.omnia debemur vobis, paulumque moratiserius aut citius sedem properamus ad unam.

maturus , -a, -um = matureperago, peragere , peregi, peractus = complete/ carry outiuris vestri in line 37 is predicate genitive, meaning “under your law” or “under your power”Note the “pro munere” is ambiguous; is Eurydice the gift? Or was it his songs?Quod si = But ifvenia, -ae = mercy/ forgivenesstendimus huc omnes, haec est domus ultima, vosquehumani generis longissima regna tenetis.               35haec quoque, cum iustos matura peregerit annos ,iuris erit vestri: pro munere poscimus usum;quodsi fata negant veniam pro coniuge, certum estnolle redire mihi: leto gaudete duorum.'

exsanguis , -is, -e = bloodlessrefugus, -a, -um = fleeing back carpo , carpere, carpsi, carptus = pick at/ pluck atiecur, iecuris (n) = livervaco, vacare = be empty (takes the abl)Belides, Belidum (f pl) = grand-daughters of Belus, usually referred to as DanaidsNotice the apostrophe in line 44Eumenides, -um (f) = Euemenides/ Furiesmadeo, madere, madui = be wet/ dripgena, -ae = cheeksustineo, sustinere, sustinui , sustentus = hold up/ sustain/ (with an inf) have the heart…Notice the use of anastrophe (inversion of the natural word order) at the end of line 48 and the beginning of line 49, and how it is used to mimic Eurydice’s awkward stepOn one condition…Talia dicentem nervosque ad verba moventem    40exsangues flebant animae; nec Tantalus undamcaptavit refugam, stupuitque Ixionis orbis,nec carpsere iecur volucres, urnisque vacaruntBelides, inque tuo sedisti, Sisyphe, saxo.tunc primum lacrimis victarum carmine fama est  45Eumenidum maduisse genas, nec regia coniunxsustinet oranti nec, qui regit ima, negare,Eurydicenque vocant: umbras erat illa recentes inter et incessit passu de vulnere tardo.hanc simul et legem Rhodopeius accipit heros,       50 ne flectat retro sua lumina , donec Avernasexierit valles; aut inrita dona futura. Notice the zeugma (the use of a verb in two parallel phrases, even though it is written in only one) in line 50 lumen, luminis (n) = light/ eye exierit in line 52 is a perfect subjunctive valles , vallis (f) = valley inritus , -a, -um = useless/ in vain/ ineffective

Ixion, king of the Lapiths in Thessaly First Greek to murder a kinsman (his father-in-law for failing to pay a dowry); Ixion pushed his father in law into a fire.Also, at a banquet of the gods, Ixion desired Hera; Zeus caught him by turning into a cloud in the shape of Hera.Ixion was punished by being bound to a burning solar wheel for all eternity.

Tityos, the Phokian giant Assaulted the goddess Leto as she journeyed to Delphi.Was staked to the ground in the Underworld; two vultures would eternally feed on his ever-regenerating liver.

The Danaids, the fifty daughters of Daunus (Egyptian king) They were supposed to marry their fifty cousins (the twin brother of Daunus, Aegyptus, had fifty sons), but instead they were ordered by their father to murder them all. 49 of the sisters murdered their husbands on their wedding night. Hypermnestra spared her husband Lynceus because he respected her desire to remain a virgin.The 49 Danaids were punished in the Underworld by being forced to carry water eternally into a bathtub to wash away their sins. But the bathtub had a constant leak.

Sisyphus, the first king of Corinth Murdered sailors and travelers; conspired to kill his brother; seduced his own niece; betrayed Zeus’ secrets to a river-god; tricked Thanatos (god of death) and chained him for a brief period (until Ares freed him); tricked Persephone into letting him out of the Underworld (had to be brought back by Mercury).Was punished by being forced to eternally roll a huge rock up a hill, only to have it fall back down again.

Eumenides/ Furies/ Erinyes/ Dirae, goddesses of vengeance Born from the blood of Uranus, Alecto (unnameable), Megaera (grudging), and Tisiphone (vengeful destruction); wear serpents as belts; eyes are oozing with blood, and with the wings of a bat.

Notice the oxymoron in line 53 adclivus, -a, -um = rising/ sloping trames , tramitis (m) = footpath/ trackarduus, -a, -um = steepcaligo, caliginis (f) = mist/ gloomopacus, -a, -um = shadedtellus, telluris (f) = earth/ landdeficio, deficere, defeci, defectus = let down/ failvivendi is a gerund in the genitive, literally, “eager of seeing”, but in better English, “eager to see”prendo, prendere, prendi, prensus = catch/ take hold of; notice the chaismus here in line 58queror, queri, questus sum = complainsupply est with revoluta .The journey backcarpitur adclivis per muta silentia trames,arduus, obscurus, caligine densus opaca,nec procul afuerunt telluris margine summae:  55hic, ne deficeret, metuens avidusque videndiflexit amans oculos, et protinus illa relapsa est,bracchiaque intendens prendique et prendere certansnil nisi cedentes infelix arripit auras.iamque iterum moriens non est de coniuge quicquam  60questa suo (quid enim nisi se quereretur amatam?)supremumque 'vale,' quod iam vix auribus illeacciperet, dixit revolutaque rursus eodem est.

What was that rhetorical device called when you see non aliter?Notice the abl abs in line 65collum, colli = neckThe quem in line 66 refers to an unknown man terrified upon seeing Cerberus, turned to stoneWhat rhetorical device is being employed in line 69?lapis, lapidis (m) = stoneumidus, -a, -umm = dampLethaea was punished because of her hubris (her excessive pride about her own beauty); Her husband Olenus chose to share in her punishment, and they were both turned to stone near Mt. Ida.   Non aliter stupuit gemina nece coniugis Orpheus,quam tria qui timidus, medio portante catenas,  65colla canis vidit, quem non pavor ante reliquit ,quam natura prior saxo per corpus oborto,quique in se crimen traxit voluitque videriOlenos esse nocens, tuque, o confisa figurae,infelix Lethaea, tuae, iunctissima quondam          70pectora, nunc lapides, quos umida sustinet Ide.

portitor , portitoris (m) = ferryman arceo , arcere, arcui = keep offCereris munere in line 74 is a metonymy for grainalimentum, -i = nourishmentErebus = god of darkness; here though, it’s being used as another name for the Underworldaquilonibus refers to the North WindHaemus = once a man, turned into a mountain in Thrace after having tried to impersonate a godPiscibus refers to a constellation of fishes signifying the end of the solar year (vernal equinox)Titan refers to the god of the sunVenerem in line 80 is a metonymy for lovecedo, cedere, cessi, cessus = yield/ withdrawNo second chancesorantem frustraque iterum transire volentemportitor arcuerat: septem tamen ille diebussqualidus in ripa Cereris sine munere sedit;cura dolorque animi lacrimaeque alimenta fuere.    75esse deos Erebi crudeles questus, in altamse recipit Rhodopen pulsumque aquilonibus Haemum.     Tertius aequoreis inclusum Piscibus annumfinierat Titan, omnemque refugerat Orpheusfemineam Venerem, seu quod male cesserat illi,       80sive fidem dederat; multas tamen ardor habebatiungere se vati, multae doluere repulsae.ille etiam Thracum populis fuit auctor amorem in teneros transferre mares citraque iuventamaetatis breve ver et primos carpere flores.               85 ardor, ardoris (m) = fire/ flame/ love vates , vatis (m) = prophet tener , tenera, tenerum = tender mas , maris , adj = male citra , adv = on this side of

Notice the personfication/ hyperbole in line 87 nurus , nurus (f) = daughter-in-lawCicones were a Thracian tribelympho, lymphare, lymphavi, lymphatus = drive crazy/ be in a state of frenzylymphata pectora is acc of respectvellus, velleris (n) = fleecesocio, sociare = unite/ joinen = beholdcontemptor, contemptoris (m) = despiserpraesutus, -a, -um = sewn over in frontMetamorphoses XI: The Death of Orpheus     Carmine dum tali silvas animosque ferarum Threicius vates et saxa sequentia ducit,ecce nurus Ciconum tectae lymphata ferinispectora velleribus tumuli de vertice cernuntOrphea percussis sociantem carmina nervis.  5(90)e quibus una leves iactato crine per auras,'en,' ait 'en, hic est nostri contemptor!' et hastamvatis Apollinei vocalia misit in ora,quae foliis praesuta notam sine vulnere fecit;

telum , teli = weapon concentus , concentus = singingScan line 96. How does the meter reflect what is happening in the line?What rhetorical device begins in line 97?furialis, -is, -e = frenzied/ furioustemerarius, -a, -umm = rash/ recklessmodus in line 99 means moderationWhere else have we seen the Erinys from line 99?mollio, mollire, mollivi, mollitus = softenBerecynthus = a mountain in Phrygia; Berecynthia then became another name for Cybele, the Phrygian mother of the godsalterius telum lapis est, qui missus in ipso   10(95)aere concentu victus vocisque lyraeque estac veluti supplex pro tam furialibus ausisante pedes iacuit. sed enim temeraria crescuntbella modusque abiit insanaque regnat Erinys;cunctaque tela forent cantu mollita, sed ingens 15(100)clamor et infracto Berecyntia tibia cornutympanaque et plausus et Bacchei ululatusobstrepuere sono citharae, tum denique saxanon exauditi rubuerunt sanguine vatis.Remember that ululatus in line 102 is an example of onomatopeia tympanum, tympani = a small drum used in the worship of Cybeleobstrepo, obstrepere, obstrepui, obstrepitus = roar against/ clamor against (takes the dat)cithara, -ae = cithara/ lyre rubesco, rubescere, rubui = turn red

etiam num = even nowvolucris , -is (f) = bird anguis, -is (m) = snakeMaenas, Maenadis = Bacchante/ frenzied womanNotice the ironic juxtaposition of the massacre of birds in line 106 followed almost immediately by the simile in line 109utrimque, adv = on both sidesceu, adv = as/ in the same waymatutinus, -a, -um = early/ in the morningcervus, cervi = deer/ stagac primum attonitas etiamnum voce canentis          20(105)innumeras volucres anguesque agmenque ferarummaenades Orphei titulum rapuere triumphi;inde cruentatis vertuntur in Orphea dextriset coeunt ut aves, si quando luce vagantemnoctis avem cernunt, structoque utrimque theatro  25(110)ceu matutina cervus periturus harenapraeda canum est, vatemque petunt et fronde virentesconiciunt thyrsos non haec in munera factos.Notice the contrasting juxtaposition of the words luce in line 109, noctis in line 110, and matutina in line 111virens, virentis = greenthyrsus, -i = Bacchic wand tipped with a fir cone, or a tuft of ivy, or vine leaves/ thrysus (pl = thrysi)munera in line 113, which means gifts is better translated here as services.

glaeba , -ae = clod/ lump of earth diripio , diripere, diripui, direptus = tear apartsilex, silicis (m) = flintNotice the zeugma in lines 114-115neu = or not/ and notdesum, desse, defui, defuturus = be lacking/ be absentfurori is dat of posssubigo, subigere, subegi, subactus = subjugate/ compelvomer, vomeris (m) = plowsharesudor, sudoris (m) = sweat lacertosus, -a, -um = muscularcolonus, -i = farmer/ colonistsarculum, -i = hoerastrus, -i = drag-hoe/ rakeligo, ligonis (m) = mattockNotice how prepositions sometimes fall in between the adjectives and nouns that go with them (i.e. line 14 = empty through fields)hae glaebas, illae direptos arbore ramos,pars torquent silices; neu desint tela furori,    30(115)forte boves presso subigebant vomere terram,nec procul hinc multo fructum sudore parantesdura lacertosi fodiebant arva coloni,agmine qui viso fugiunt operisque relinquuntarma sui, vacuosque iacent dispersa per agros 35(120) sarculaque rastrique graves longique ligones ;

The relative pronoun quae is used to refer to the Maeneds from the previous sentences. minax , minacis, adj = threateningsacrilegus, -a, -um = sacrilegious/ impiousinritus, -a, -um= ineffective/ useless/ in vainperimo, perimere, peremi, peremptus = kill/ destroyexhalo, exhalare, exhalavi, exhalatus = breathe outNotice the constant emphasis on Orpheus’ voice and mouth throughout the passage.quae postquam rapuere ferae cornuque minacesdivulsere boves, ad vatis fata recurrunttendentemque manus et in illo tempore primuminrita dicentem nec quicquam voce moventem  40(125)sacrilegae perimunt, perque os, pro Iuppiter! illudauditum saxis intellectumque ferarumsensibus in ventos anima exhalata recessit. 

Notice the apostrophe in line 129 rigidus, -a, -um = rigid/ hard tondeo , tondere, totondi, tonsus = cut/ shearlugeo, lugere, luxi, luctus = mourn/ lamentobstrusus, -a, -um = mournfulcarbasus, -a, -um = linenpullus, -a , -um = blackish [wool]A Naiad is a water nymph; a Dryad is a tree nymphpatior, pati, passus sum = suffer (with capillos it is translated as disheveled/ let looseTe maestae volucres, Orpheu, te turba ferarum,te rigidi silices, te carmina saepe secutae               45(130)fleverunt silvae, positis te frondibus arbortonsa comas luxit; lacrimis quoque flumina dicuntincrevisse suis, obstrusaque carbasa pullonaides et dryades passosque habuere capillos.membra iacent diversa locis, caput, Hebre, lyramque 50(135)excipis: et (mirum!) medio dum labitur amne,flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile linguamurmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae.Hebrus – a river in Thracelabor, labi, lapsus sum = slipamnis, -is (m) = river/ stream flebile , adv = lamentably; notice the anaphora

popularis , -is, -e = popularMethymnaeus , -a, -um = of Methymna, one of the cities of Lesbospotior, poti, potitus sum = obtain (takes the abl)expono, exponere, exposui, expositus = put out/ exposeperegrinus, -i = foreignerstillo, stillare, stillavi, stillatus = dripros, roris (m) = dewrictus, -us = jawscongelo, -are = freezepatulus, -a, -um = wide open/ gapinghiatus, -us = opening/ chasmThe repetition of turning the rictus into stone and hardening the hiatus could be interpreted as an example of hendiadys (two nouns connected by a conjunction redundantly for emphasis even though it would be more logical to subordinate one to the other either by using an adjective or a preposition)iamque mare invectae flumen populare relinquuntet Methymnaeae potiuntur litore Lesbi:        55(140)hic ferus expositum peregrinis anguis harenisos petit et sparsos stillanti rore capillos.tandem Phoebus adest morsusque inferre parantemarcet et in lapidem rictus serpentis apertoscongelat et patulos, ut erant, indurat hiatus.  60(145)

ulna, - ae = forearm/ the span of outstretched arms/ armspatior , spatiari, spatiatus sum = walkpraevius, -a, -um = going before/ leading the wayanteeo, anteire, anteivi, anteitus = go beforeimpune, adv = with impunity/ without punishment; notice the litotes hereLyaeus = epithet for BacchusThe Edoni are another name for Thracianligo, -are = nind/ fasten     Umbra subit terras, et quae loca viderat ante,cuncta recognoscit quaerensque per arva pioruminvenit Eurydicen cupidisque amplectitur ulnis;hic modo coniunctis spatiantur passibus ambo,nunc praecedentem sequitur, nunc praevius anteit  65(150)Eurydicenque suam iam tuto respicit Orpheus.     Non inpune tamen scelus hoc sinit esse Lyaeusamissoque dolens sacrorum vate suorumprotinus in silvis matres Edonidas omnes,quae videre nefas, torta radice ligavit;           70(155)

quippe = of course/ indeeddetrudo, detrudere , detrusi, detrusus = push/ driveacumen, acuminis (n) = sharpened pointHow could lines 156 and 157 be interpreted as hendiadys?laqueus, laquei = snare/ trapauceps, aucipis (m) = bird-catcher/ spycommito, commitere, commisi, commissus = bring together/ commitplango, plangere, planxi, planctus = strike/ beatadstringo, adstringere, adstrinxi, adstrinctus = tie up/ tightenWhy the use of this particular simile in line 158? quippe pedum digitos via, quam tum est quaeque secuta,traxit et in solidam detrusit acumina terram,utque suum laqueis, quos callidus abdidit auceps,crus ubi commisit volucris sensitque teneri,plangitur ac trepidans adstringit vincula motu:     75(160)

cohaereo , cohaerere, cohaesi , cohaesus = stick/ cling/ adhereexsterno, -are = terrify greatlyexsulto, -are = rejoice/ exalt/ jump aboutcoerceo, coercere, coercui, coercitus = confine/ restrainunguis, unguis (m) = nailNotice the anaphora and indirect questions in line 164; where else do you see anaphora?teres, teretis, adj = smoothlignum, -i = woodsuccedo, succedere, successi, successus = climbsura, -ae = calf of the legmaereo, maerere = grieve/ be sadrobur , roboris (n) = oaknodosus, -a, -um = full of knotsNotice the gerundive in the abl in line 169sic, ut quaeque solo defixa cohaeserat harum,exsternata fugam frustra temptabat, at illamlenta tenet radix exsultantemque coercet,dumque ubi sint digiti, dum pes ubi, quaerit, et ungues,aspicit in teretes lignum succedere suras            80(165)et conata femur maerenti plangere dextrarobora percussit, pectus quoque robora fiunt,robora sunt umeri; nodosaque bracchia verosesse putes ramos, et non fallare putando.