VENETIÆ.

νῦν δ ̓ ἀξείνου πόντου ξείνα

δυσχόρτους οἴκους ναίω

ἄγαμος, ἄτεκνος, ἄπολις, ἄφιλος.

Eurip. Iph. T. 218--220.

JAMPRIDEM 'Attilicas acies Scythicumque furorem

Senserat Ausoniæ tellus, desuetaque belli

Muneribus victas inter nutaverat urbes

Roma diù, et pavidum casu tremefecerat orbem:
Non arces, Aquileia, tuæ, non saxa salutem
Præstiterint: jamjam audieras fatalia verba
Victorisque minas, "Nullo mansuescet aratro,
"Bellatoris equi quem proterat ungula, campus!"
Intereà gladium et lethalia tela coruscans
Prosilit, et desolatas impunè per urbes

1 During the invasion of Attila, (A.D. 409,) the inhabitants of Aquileia, Concordia, Oderso, Padua, and other towns of Lombardy, retreated to the islands situated near the mouth of the river Padus, and there laid the first foundations of "Venice," and her future glory.

2 In allusion to Attila's well-known threat," Grass never grows "where my horse once treads!"

A 2

Grassatur Victor.

Sidit Concordia in ignes

Heu! nimiùm confisa suis; sit testis Oderso
Eversa, et Patavî latè fumantia templa.

Viderat Eridanus cladem, fluctusque rubentes
Rettulit ad caput, et noto se condidit alveo

Attonitum. Insuetis armorum motibus ipsi
Contremuêre Alpes: Ille acrior instat, et aris
Barbarus insultans, eversis ossa sepulchris

Dissipat; et " Divos," clamat, " quibus utile Divos
"Poscere in auxilium; nobis non irrita quondam
"Dextra ades et 'gladius!" sic fatus corripit ensem

• Intorquens oculos, prædâque exsultat opima.

Forte sacri juxtà portus atque Hadria curvis
Littoribus: mille hùc pronis decursibus amnes
In mare prorumpunt; hinc per vada præcipitant se
Congestumque trahunt limum; quò fertilis algæ
Crevit, et informem sterilis tegit agger arenam.
Crebrior hic ponto prætenditur insula; nomen
Ipse locus signat; Veneti dixêre Lacunam.

"Nec templum apud eos visitur nec delubrum; sed gladius "barbarico ritu humi figitur nudus; eumque ut Martem verecun"diùs colunt." Ammian. Marc. xxxi. 2.

Conf. Esch. S. c. Th. 529.

«Όμνυσι δ' αἴχμην ἦν ἔχει μᾶλλον Θεοῦ

· σέβειν πεποιθώς.

Adde Herod. iv. 62. Virg. Æn. x. 773.

2 "He had a custom of fiercely rolling his eyes, as if he wished "to enjoy the terror which he inspired." Gibbon's Decl. and Fall,

C. XXXV.

Ægra velut senio effœtus Rex ipse ferarum
Dudùm membra trahit, regnoque excessit avito
Multa gemens; reboant silvæ cœlumque remugit:
Sic Superis confisa manus, spretumque Tyranni
Dedignata jugum, Patavî fortissima frustrà
Mœniaque, indigenasque Deos, et non tua templa
'Deseris. Hei! quales gemitus, quæ vota per urbes
Audita!" En ausus violare silentia regni

"Victor adest; conferte rates!" juvat alite faustâ
Maturare fugam, dulcesque relinquere terras.
Jura legunt, rituque sacro nova mœnia condunt
Instantes operi tanto: pars parvula templi
Fundamenta locant, et tecta minora relictis.
Quinetiam Patavûm cives de stirpe, novosque
Conscivêre Duces: humilem et sine nomine plebem
Artes erudiêre novas; salis ille sapores

Elicit; hic noctem, quam longa, exercet in alto
Piscosos circum scopulos et retia tendit.

Parva loci fortuna; coronant undique ripas

Sparsim humiles sine lege casa: tum litore solus
Aprico residens, ad solem humentia pandit
Carbasa piscator, calathosque è vimine texit.

1

"A few in fear

"Flying away from him whose boast it was,

"That the grass grew not where his horse had trod,

"Gave birth to Venice." Rogers.

2 "Fish was the common and almost the universal food of every

"rank; their only treasure consisted in the plenty of salt, which "they extracted from the sea." Gibbon, c. xxxv.