United States or Martinique ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
In place of the very words of Virgil, 'Ubi luctus et pavor et plurima mortis imago , he wrote 'Ubi luctus regnant et pavor. He introduced the word prorsus into the line 'Mortalibus prorsus non absit solatium, and after 'Hujus enim scripta evolve, he added 'Mentemque tantarum rerum capacem corpori caduco superstitem crede; which is quite applicable to Dr. Johnson himself . Mr.
In the bold emulation, in the sounding rhythms, even in the mighty professional pride of the poets of this age there is, more than in any other epoch of Roman literature, an imposing grandeur; and even those who are under no illusion as to the weak points of this poetry may apply to it the proud language, already quoted, in which Ennius celebrates its praise: -Enni poeta, salve, qui mortalibus Versus propinas flammeos medullitus.
Avarice, instigated by ladies and milliners, has looked with covetous eye on its downy and beautiful plumes; while ignorance and superstition have feared and hated the owl in all countries and all ages. In ancient Rome it was a bird of evil omen. Foedaque fit volucris venturi nuncia luctus, Ignavus bubo, dirum mortalibus omen.
Indeed their notion, as reported by their great poet, was, that no more improvements were to be expected in the arts which conduce to the comfort of life. "Ad victum quae flagitat usus Omnia jam ferme mortalibus esse parata."
Goats, sheep, and hogs, that were carried thither, were found to thrive and increase, as in other places. "Nil mortalibus arduum est:" there is nothing which human courage will not undertake, and little that human, patience will not endure. The garrison lived upon Falkland's island, shrinking from the blast, and shuddering at the billows.
Daedalus violated the air, as Hercules invaded hell. The discovery of fire put us in possession of a forbidden secret. Is this unnatural conquest of nature safe or wise? Nil mortalibus ardui est: Man finds no feat too hard or high; Heaven is not safe from man's desire. Our rash designs move Jove to ire, He dares not lay his thunder by.
-Humana ante oculos foede cum vita iaceret In terris oppressa gravi sub religione, Quae caput a caeli regionibus ostendebat Horribili super aspectu mortalibus instans, Primum Graius homo mortalis tendere contra Est oculos ausus primusque obsistere contra. Ergo vivida vis animi pervicit, et extra Processit longe flammantia moenia mundi Atque omne immensum peragravit mente animoque-.
Horribili super aspectu mortalibus instans, that now, as 2000 years ago, men are lapsing into Atheism or Pantheism; and a totally new "dispensation" is wanted to retrieve the lost reputation of Piety. Two opposite errors are committed by those who discern that the pretensions of the national religious systems are overstrained and unjustifiable.
In addition to these philosophic aspirations he had a strong desire to reach artistic perfection, and to be the herald of a new literary epoch. Conscious of his success and proud of the power he wielded over the minds of the people, he alludes more than once to his performances in a self-congratulatory strain "Enni poeta salve, qui mortalibus Versus propinas flammeos medullitus."
"Ignarres bubo dirum mortalibus omen," said Ovid; whilst speaking of the fatal prognostications of the crow Virgil wrote: "Saepe sinistra cava praedixit ab ilice cornix." A number of crows are stated to have fluttered about Cicero's head on the day he was murdered.
Word Of The Day