13 The Ides. APRIL.-Book IV. The sacred rites of Venus, 133. The females bathe The Pleiades begin to set, 165. The Megalesia, in honour of the Mother of the Gods, A temple is dedicated to Fortuna Publica, on the Juba is conquered by Cæsar, 377. Libra brings Orion sets, 387. The games in the Circus, 389. The games of Ceres, 393. A temple is dedicated to Jupiter Victor, 621. A temple to Liberty is built, 623. 14 XVIII. Calends of Westerly winds prevail, with hail, 625. The vic tory of Augustus at Mutina, 627. A pregnant cow is sacrificed to Tellus, 629. Augustus is saluted Imperator, 675. The Hyades set, 677. The horse-races in the Circus in honour of Ceres, The Sun enters the Constellation of the Bull, 713. The rites of Venus, 865; and of The middle of Spring, 901. The setting of the Ram, 903. The rising of the Dog-star, 904. The Robigalia, 905. The commencement of the Floralia, 943. Vesta is received in the Palatium by Augustus, 949. This day is also partly dedicated to Apollo, 951; and partly to Augustus, 952. 5 III. Nones. Day before 6 Nones. 9 VII. Ides. 11 V. Ides. 12 IV. Ides. 13 III. 14 15 Ides. The Ides. MAY.-BOOK V. The She-goat rises, 111. An altar is erected to the Argestes blows; the Hyades rise, 163. The last day of the Floralia, 183. The Centaur rises, 379. The Lyre rises, 415. The middle of the Scorpion sets, 417. The Lemuria are celebrated, 419. The Lemuria are continued, 419. Orion sets, 493. A temple is dedicated to Mercury, on his festival, 20 XIII. Calends of The Sun enters Gemini, 693. 23 X. Calends, Calends. Calends. A temple is built to Fortuna Publica, 729. The beak of the Eagle appears, 731. Boötes sets, 733. 1 The Calends. Nones. 2 IV. Nones. 3 III. 4 5 The Nones. 7 VII. Ides. 8 VI. 9 V. Ides. Ides. 10 IV. Ides. 11 III. Ides. 13 The Ides. JUNE.-BOok VI. The rites of the Goddess Carna, 101. Beans ar A temple is dedicated to Bellona, 199. The temple in the Circus Flaminius is dedicated to A temple is dedicated to Sancus, Fidius, or Father Arctophylax sets, 235. The fishermen's games in A temple dedicated to the Mind, 241. The rites of Vesta, 249. An altar to Jupiter Pisto A temple is dedicated to Jupiter Invictus, 450. The lesser Quinquatrus, in honour of Minerva, 651. 15 XVII. Calends of Thyene rises in the forehead of the Bull, 711. The temple of Vesta is cleansed, 713. Zephyrus blows, 715. Orion rises, 717. The whole of the Dolphin is seen, 723. Posthumius A temple is erected to Summanus, 729. Ophiuchus Flaminius is defeated at Lake Thrasymenus, 765. The Belt of Orion is seen, 785. The Summer Sol- A temple is dedicated to the Lares, 791. The temple of Jupiter Stator is built, 793. A temple is erected to Quirinus, 795. A temple is consecrated to Hercules and the Muses, 797. THE FASTI; THE nature of the subject, and the Dedication, ver. 1-26. The divi- sion of the year by Romulus and Numa, 27-44. The different quali- ties of the days, 45-62. The calends of January, the invocation of Janus, and a prayer that the author may commence auspiciously, 63—74. The consuls enter upon their office in an assemblage of the people, 75- 88. The mythology of Janus: who presents himself before the author with his badges of office, 89-99, and states, first, his origin, and the fact of his two-formed figure, 100-114; then, his duties and his various names derived therefrom, 115-132'; then, the reasons for his peculiar form, 133-144. He next explains some matters relative to the calends of January; why the new year begins in the middle of winter, and not in the spring, 145-164; why on that day causes are pleaded, 165-170; why sacred rites are performed in his honour the first of all the Gods, 171-174; why words of good omen should be used, 175— 182; why presents are made at the beginning of the new year, 183-226; why the ancient coin bore the figures of a ship and a double-head, 227-254; why he himself has his statue in one temple only, 255— 277; why his temple is open in time of war, 278-288. The author then proceeds to examine the calendar. The dedication of the two temples of Esculapius and of Jupiter, 259--294. Before treating of the rising and setting of the constellations, he commences with the praises of those who cultivate the science of astronomy, 295-310. The setting of the Crab and the Lyre, 311-316. The origin and meaning of the Agonalia, 317-334. An inquiry into the meaning of the terms 'Victima' and 'Hostia;' the ancient sacred rites and origin of the sacrifice of animals, in which he introduces the story of Aristæus, 335- 456. The rising of the Dolphin, 457-8. The middle day of winter, 459-60. The Carmentalia, which introduces the arrival in Italy of Carmenta, Evander, and Hercules, together with the death of Cacus by Hercules, 461--586. The sacred rites of Jupiter, 587-8. Octavius is graced with the title of Augustus,' the meaning of which word he explains. 590-616. The return of the Carmentalia, on which Porrima and Postverta are propitiated, 617 — 636. The Temple of Concord rebuilt by Tiberius, to which Livia is a contributor, 637-650. The Sun enters Aquarius; the Lyre and the constellation of the Lion set, 651-656. The Sementive festivals; cessation from field labour, the rural rejoicings thereupon, the prayers of the husbandman for good crops, and the great blessing of Peace, 657—704. The temple of Castor and Pollux dedicated by Tiberius, 705-708. The altar of Peace is erected. The poet concludes with a prayer for eternal peace, and for the house of Cæsar, 709-726. 3 1 2 THE festivals, arranged throughout the Latian year, together with their origin and the constellations as they set beneath the earth and rise, I will celebrate. Receive, Cæsar Germanicus, this work with benignant aspect, and direct the course of my timid bark; and not disdaining a mark of attention thus slight, be propitious to this act of duty consecrated to thee. Thou wilt here review the sacred rites brought to light from the ancient annals, and see by what memorable fact each day has been distinguished. Here, too, 5 The festivals.]-Ver. 1. Literally, 'The times,' as set out for observance, and arranged for particular purposes. 2 The Latian year.]-Ver. 1. The Latian year here spoken of was the Julian or solar year of 365 days and a quarter; so called because instituted by Julius Cæsar. (See Introduction.) The month of January received its name from the god Janus, and has retained it from the days of Numa to the present time, with an interval only in the reign of the Emperor Conmodus, who called it Amazonius,' in honour of his mistress; but on his death the former name was restored by a decree of the senate. Latium was the name of that part of Italy in which Rome was situated. 3 Cæsar Germanicus.]-Ver. 3. He was the son of Drusus Claudius Nero, and was adopted by his uncle Tiberius, at the express request of the Emperor Augustus. Drusus, the father of Germanicus having died shortly after his victory over the Germans, the senate conferred the title of Germanicus on his descendants. Germanicus died at an early age, and was the father of the Emperor Caligula. Timid bark.]-Ver. 4. Gower translates these lines in the following manner 'Germanic Cæsar! O! accept our charge With smooth aspect, and guide my feeble barge.' Massey gives them in a single line 'Support Germanicus, my feeble wing. While the one caricatures the metaphor, the other abandons it altogether Ancient annals.]—' Annalibus-priscis.' Ver. 7. The Roman annals |