servations refer only to those instances of the strict ellipsis, which are of the most common occurrence, and must not consequently be considered as affording a comprehensive view of the subject. The nouns homo, verbum, and res or negotium, are often omitted; as, rari for rari homines, paucis for paucis verbis: Apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto. Atque huic responsum paucis ita reddidit heros. A pronoun, that is not peculiarly emphatic, is generally omitted when it is the nominative to a verb, and sometimes when it is the case following a verb, especially before the relative qui: the pronouns possessive also are often omitted; as, Vel tu, quod superest, infesto fulmine morti, The verb sum is frequently omitted; as, Fama, malum quo non aliud velocius ullum, Conjunctions are sometimes omitted; as, Ferte citi flammas, date vela, impellite remos. The omission of conjunctions is termed asyndeton, and the repetition of them, when the sense does not require it, polysyndeton. These figures are often introduced into a sentence solely for the sake of giving to the style a greater variety; yet they have sometimes a striking and expressive effect. Asyndeton has been used to represent more forcibly the rapidity of an action, or the eagerness of a speaker; polysyndeton, by retarding the course of a sentence, and thus presenting every part of it more distinctly to the mind, has sometimes been rendered expressive of dignity, slowness and solemnity. In imitation of a Greek mode of expression, the accusative case is sometimes used after a verb passive, a participle or an adjective, the preposition secundum, or some other word of similar meaning, being understood; as, tempora for circa tempora: Populeis adsunt evincti tempora ramis. Many of the lines in the following exercises will require an alteration in the arrangement of the words, as well as the introduction of the figure ellipsis, before they can be formed into verses. 1. O Britain, fairest abode of liberty, let this happier lot be thine, To escape both the fate of Rome and the guilt of Rome. Sum tibi, o sedes pulcherrimus libertas, melior sors, -nescio et fatum (enall.) Roma et crimen (enall.) Roma. 2. The poplar tree is the most acceptable tree to Hercules, the vine the most acceptable to Bacchus, The myrtle the most acceptable to lovely Venus, to Phoebus his own laurel is the most acceptable. Populus Alcidæ sum gratissimus arb. ", vitis gratissimus Iacchus, Myrtus gratissimus formosus Venus, Phoebus sum gratissimus suus laurea. 3. O wretched me! with what vast waves are the shores beaten! How is the day also hidden, obscured by thick clouds! O ego miser! quantus fluctus (enall.) littus plangor ! 4. You now I warn. Happy art thou, who, from another's misery, Shalt learn how to escape thine own misery. Vos nunc ego moneo. Felix sum tu, quicunque, dolor 5. He who advises that you should do that which you are already doing, while he advises Applauds you, and by his advice commends your conduct. Qui moneo ut facio is, qui jam tu facio, monendo ille Laudo tu, et comprobo actus (enall.) suus hortatus. 6. A garden adorned with odoriferous flowers was near, Divided as to its ground by a stream of water softly murmuring There Tarquin the secret messages of his son Receives, and he cuts down with a rod the tallest lilies. Hortus cultissimus odoratus gramen (synon.) subsum, 7. When the messenger returned, and reported that the lilies were cut down, His son exclaimed, "I understand the orders of my father." Nor was there any delay. The chiefs of the city Gabii being slain, The defenceless walls are surrendered to his generals. Ut nuncius redeo, decussusque lilium dico, Natus (synon.) suus aio, "Ego agnosco jussum meus parens.' Nec ullus mora sum. Princeps ex urbs Gabīna cæsus, Monia nudus trador suus dux. 8. Whither do you madly haste? Although you should possess each Ocean, although Lydia should pour forth for you her golden streams, Although the throne of Cræsus and the diadem of Cyrus should be added to these riches, You never will be rich, you never will be satisfied with gain. Quò vesane tu ruo? Tu teneo uterque licebit oceanus, Solium Cræsus Cyrusque tiara jungor, Sum nunquam dives, nunquam satior quæstus. 9. He, who is always desiring more, is always poor; contented with a little, honourably obtained, Fabricius despised the gifts of kings; And the consul Serranus laboured at the heavy plough; And an humble cottage held the heroic Curii. Ille, quicunque cupio, sum semper inops; contentus honesto Sudoque Serrǎnus consul gravis aratrum; 10. When I ask you for money without security, you say, "I have not any money;" Yet you, the same person, have money, if my field is security for me. O Thelesinus, that Behold, which you will not trust to me, an old friend, You trust te my lands and to my trees. Carus has arrested you as a criminal; let my field Do you ask for a companion in your exile? let my field go with you. help you. Cùm ego rogo nummus (enall.) de tu (enall.) sine pignus, 66 Tu idem homo habeo nummus, si pro ego spondeo meus agellus. Is qui non credo ego, vetus sodales, Thělěsīnus, Colliculus meus credo arborque meus. Ecce, Carus defero tu reus; meus agellus tu adsum. Tu quæro comes exilium? meus agellus eo. EPITHETS. Epithets or adjectives are words expressive, of some quality or property of the nouns with which they are connected. Epithets are sometimes introduced into poetry, principally for the sake of completing the measure of the line; but, in order to render them conducive to the beauty of the verse, they must express not only some property of the substantive to which they are applied, but that peculiar property or quality which is appropriate and expressive. It may in general be observed, that an adjective must not be introduced into a sentence, unless it adds something to its energy or beauty, as well as to its meaning. An adjective that is not peculiarly expressive may be omitted, when it cannot conveniently be introduced into the verse. The words printed in Italics, in the following exercises, are substantives, which either require epithets to be added to them, or which have adjectives connected with them that may be omitted. A different arrangement of the words will be required in almost every line. EXERCISES. 1. But you, O robbers and wolves, spare this little flock: Your prey should be taken from a herd. At tu, furque lupusque, parco exiguus pecus: præda sum petendus de grex. 2. Horace also has delighted my ears, While he brings forth from his Ausonian lyre refined songs. Et Horatius teneo meus (enall.) auris, Dum ferio Ausonius lyrâ cultus carmen. 3. An image of Minerva is said to have fallen from heaven Upon the lofty heights of the Trojan city. Cœleste signum Minerva credor Desiluisse in altus jugum Iliacus urbs. 4. Nor are the wives of the East less renowned in fame: Neither with tears, nor with female cries, Do they deplore their husbands' death; but, strange to be related, They ascend the funeral pile, and are consumed in the same de vouring flames with their lifeless husbands. Nec Eous uxor minùs celeoror fama : Ploro fatum (enall.) vir (sync.); verùm, mirabilis dicor, 5. He, who once refused to the needy worthless fragments of food, Now lives himself on food obtained by begging. Fortune wanders about with uncertain steps, and in no place remains constant and fixed. Vilis qui quondam nego (sync.) alimenta miser, Nunc pascor ipse cibus mendicatus. Et permaneo (enall.) certus tenaxque in nullus locus. 6. But virtue does not produce these evils: we confidently assert, That, if every one should faithfully perform her sacred duties, Nothing would appear more desirable than sacred virtue; then would the golden ages return: But it is not our lot to live in a golden age. At virtus non parturio hic malum: immo fateor, Nihil (sync.) potior sacer virtus; jam tum redeo aureus are you free 7. Nor, O wicked man, while life remains, from painful punishments: Although you may deceive mortal men, yet you cannot fly from yourself; The avenging furies disquiet you; care, a harassing attendant, preys on you, And dwells as a tormentor in your conscience, which is still mindful of your crimes. Nec, improbus, dum vita maneo, memorque sub pectus habito vindex. 8. The horse obeys the reins in time, And receives with a quiet mouth the hard bits. The fierceness of the African lions is subdued by time, Nor does that savage wildness remain in their disposition, which was once in it. Equus obedio (synon.) habena tempus, Et recipio (synon.) placidus os durus lupus. Ira Pœnus leo cohibeor (synon.) tempus, Nec ferus feritas permaneo (enall.) animus, qui sum antè. 9. Thus the mourning nightingale bemoans under the shade of a poplar Her lost young, which a cruel country man, Discovering them in their nest, had stolen unfledged ; thus she Grieves through the dark night, and, sitting on a |
