Statius, Theb. V. 556. tum fquamea demum Torvus ad armorum radios, fremitumque virorum Colla movet. STANZ. XIII. in either jaw Three ranks of iron teeth enranged were. Ovid. Met. III. 34. triplici ftant ordine dentes. STANZ. XLVI. There grew a goodly tree him fair befide,- The Tree of Life, the crime of our first father's fall. Why does he call the Tree of Life, The crime of our firft father's fall? * CANTO * The question fo propofed, while it incites attention, deserves an attempt at least to resolve it; and summissä voce agerem, tantum ut Judex audiat. The line might be broken thus: The Tree of Life, the crime of our first father's fall. They are not the words of the Almighty, but a reflection of the Poet; who, by metonymy, calls the Tree in queftion, "The CRIMB," quafi caufa criminationis; i. e. the incentive, or moving caufe of Adam's offence. Stephens, in his Thefaurus, Ling. Lat. fays "Crimen etiam dicitur, Ipfa criminatio, five criminum Accufatio:" and cites Cicero in Philipp. "Hæreditatem mihi negâsti obveniffe. Utinam hoc tuum crimen effet." St. Paul CANTO XII. 42. Spenfer thus concludes this Book: Now strike your fails, &c. And in the firft Stanza of this Canto: Behold, I fee the haven nigh at hand. Statius, Theb. XII. 809. Et mea jam longo meruit ratis æquore portum. Silv. IV. IV. 89. Thebais optato collegit carbafa portu. St. Paul to the Romans, C. VII. 7, 12, feems fully to meet the queftion. Τι ουν ερωμεν; Ο νόμος αμαρτία; Μη γενοίλο αλλά την αμαρίαν εκ εγνων ει μη διανομες. την τε γαρ επιθυμίαν εκ ήδειν εκ μη Νομος έλεγεν Ουκ επιθυμήσεις. Ωςε ο μεν νόμος αγιος και η εντολή αγία, και δίκαια, και αγαθη. See alfo v. 13. Aa, crimen, is alfo incitement, condition, accufation. Virg. Æn. II. 97. Hinc mihi prima mali labes: hinc Criminibus terrere novis. Milton, Par. Lost, I. and the Fruit Of that forbidden tree, whofe mortal tafte Brought death into the world, and all our woe, &c. Virgil. Virgil. Georg. IV. 116. Atque equidem, extremo ni jam fub fine laborum Where fee Servius. Juvenal, I. 149. Totos pande finus. Utere velis: Sidonius, Carm. XXIV. 99. Sed jam fufficit, ecce linque portum, Epift. XVI. Fam per alternum pelagus loquendi Flettere clavum. Solvit antennas, &c. Carm. II. 537. At mea jam nimii propellunt carbafa flatus. Ovid, Art. Amat. I. 779. Hic teneat noftras ancora jacta rates. So Art. Amat. III. 784. Remed. 811. Nemefian, Cyneget. 58. talique placet dare lintea cura, Dum non magna ratis, vicinis fueta moveri Nunc Nunc primum dat vela Notis, portufque fideles Linquit, et Hadriacas audet tentare procellas. Profe writers use the fame metaphor. . BOOK II. CANTO I. 8. Speaking of a Nymph pursued by Faunus: Her dear befought, to let her die a maid. Somewhat like the story of Arethufa in Ovid, Fella labore fuga, Fer opem, deprendimur, inquam, Mota dea eft. STANZ. XXII. As when a bear and tyger being met The propriety of the phrafe Lybick Ocean will not I Syrtes, of which fee the defcription in Lucan, IX. 303. Syrtes, vel primam mundo Natura figuram STAN Z. XXXIX. At laft, when luft of meat and drink was ceas'd. Homer, II. I. 92. Αυταρ ἐπεὶ πόσιῳ καὶ ἐδητύς ἐξ ἔρον ἔντο. Sed poftquam potus et cibi defiderium exemerant. Virgil, En. VIII. 184. Poftquam exempta fames, et amor compreffus edendi. STANZ. XLVI. Night was far fpent, When of his piteous tale he end did make; Whilft with delight of what he wifely fpake, Thofe guefts beguiled, did beguile their eyes Of kindly fleep, that did them overtake. In Homer, Odyff. A. 333. when Ulyffes had related his travels, the Poet adds: Ως έφατ'· οἱ δ' ἄρα πάντες ἀκὴν ἐγένοντο σιωπή. |