June 9 | Fastorum Liber Sextus: Iunius
H • VEST • N FER • VESTAE | V Eid. | VI.249-468, Ovid recounts the foundation of the Temple of Vesta, and the reason she is attended by the Vestal Virgins, among other tales.
Vesta, fave! tibi nunc operata resolvimus ora,
ad tua si nobis sacra venire licet. 250
in prece totus eram: caelestia numina sensi,
laetaque purpurea luce refulsit humus.
non equidem vidi (valeant mendacia vatum)
te, dea, nec fueras aspicienda viro;
sed quae nescieram, quorumque errore tenebar, 255
cognita sunt nullo praecipiente mihi.
dena quater memorant habuisse Parilia Romam,
cum flammae custos aede recepta dea est,
regis opus placidi, quo non metuentius ullum
numinis ingenium terra Sabina tulit. 260
quae nunc aere vides, stipula tum tecta videres,
et paries lento vimine textus erat.
hic locus exiguus, qui sustinet Atria Vestae,
tunc erat intonsi regia magna Numae.
forma tamen templi, quae nunc manet, ante fuisse 265
dicitur, et formae causa probanda subest.
Vesta eadem est et terra: subest vigil ignis utrique:
significant sedem terra focusque suam.
terra pilae similis nullo fulcimine nixa,
aëre subiecto tam grave pendet onus. 270
ipsa volubilitas libratum sustinet orbem,
quique premat partes, angulus omnis abest,
cumque sit in media rerum regione locata
et tangat nullum plusve minusve latus,
ni convexa foret, parti vicinior esset, 275
nec medium terram mundus haberet onus.
arte Syracosia suspensus in aere clauso
stat globus, immensi parva figura poli,
et quantum a summis, tantum secessit ab imis
terra; quod ut fiat, forma rotunda facit. 280
par facies templi: nullus procurrit in illo
angulus; a pluvio vindicat imbre tholus.
cur sit virginibus, quaeris, dea culta ministris?
inveniam causas hac quoque parte suas.
ex Ope Iunonem memorant Cereremque creatas 285
semine Saturni, tertia Vesta fuit;
utraque nupserunt, ambae peperisse feruntur,
de tribus impatiens restitit una viri.
quid mirum, virgo si virgine laeta ministra
admittit castas ad sua sacra manus? 290
nec tu aliud Vestam quam vivam intellege flammam,
nataque de flamma corpora nulla vides.
iure igitur virgo est, quae semina nulla remittit
nec capit, et comites virginitatis amat.
esse diu stultus Vestae simulacra putavi, 295
mox didici curvo nulla subesse tholo:
ignis inexstinctus templo celatur in illo,
effigiem nullam Vesta nec ignis habet.
stat vi terra sua: vi stando Vesta vocatur,
causaque par Grai nominis esse potest. 300
at focus a flammis et quod fovet omnia, dictus;
qui tamen in primis aedibus ante fuit.
hinc quoque vestibulum dici reor: inde precando
praefamur Vestam, quae loca prima tenet.
ante focos olim scamnis considere longis 305
mos erat et mensae credere adesse deos;
nunc quoque, cum fiunt antiquae sacra Vacunae,
ante Vacunales stantque sedentque focos.
venit in hos annos aliquid de more vetusto:
fert missos Vestae pura patella cibos. 310
ecce coronatis panis dependet asellis,
et velant scabras florida serta molas.
sola prius furnis torrebant farra coloni
(et Fornacali sunt sua sacra deae):
suppositum cineri panem focus ipse parabat, 315
strataque erat tepido tegula quassa solo.
inde focum observat pistor dominamque focorum,
et quae pumiceas versat asella molas.
praeteream referamne tuum, rubicunde Priape,
dedecus? est multi fabula parva ioci. 320
turrigera frontem Cybele redimita corona
convocat aeternos ad sua festa deos.
convocat et satyros et, rustica numina, nymphas;
Silenus, quamvis nemo vocarat, adest.
nec licet et longum est epulas narrare deorum: 325
in multo nox est pervigilata mero.
hi temere errabant in opacae vallibus Idae,
pars iacet et molli gramine membra levat,
hi ludunt, hos somnus habet, pars bracchia nectit
et viridem celeri ter pede pulsat humum. 330
Vesta iacet placidamque capit secura quietem,
sicut erat, positum caespite fulta caput.
at ruber hortorum custos nymphasque deasque
captat et errantes fertque refertque pedes.
aspicit et Vestam: dubium, nymphamne putarit 335
an scierit Vestam, scisse sed ipse negat.
spem capit obscenam furtimque accedere temptat
et fert suspensos corde micante gradus.
forte senex, quo vectus erat, Silenus asellum
liquerat ad ripas lene sonantis aquae. 340
ibat, ut inciperet, longi deus Hellesponti,
intempestivo cum rudit ille sono.
territa voce gravi surgit dea; convolat omnis
turba, per infestas effugit ille manus.
Lampsacus hoc animal solita est mactare Priapo 345
“apta” canens “flammis indicis exta damus.”
quem tu, diva, memor de pane monilibus ornas;
cessat opus, vacuae conticuere molae.
Nomine quam pretio celebratior arce Tonantis,
dicam, Pistoris quid velit ara Iovis. 350
cincta premebantur trucibus Capitolia Gallis:
fecerat obsidio iam diuturna famem.
Iuppiter ad solium superis regale vocatis
“incipe!” ait Marti. protinus ille refert:
“scilicet ignotum est, quae sit fortuna meorum, 355
et dolor hic animi voce querentis eget.
si tamen, ut referam breviter mala iuncta pudori,
exigis: Alpino Roma sub hoste iacet.
haec est, cui fuerat promissa potentia rerum,
Iuppiter? hanc terris impositurus eras? 360
iamque suburbanos Etruscaque contudit arma,
spes erat in cursu: nunc lare pulsa suo est.
vidimus ornatos aerata per atria picta
veste triumphales occubuisse senes:
vidimus Iliacae transferri pignora Vestae 365
sede: putant aliquos scilicet esse deos.
at si respicerent, qua vos habitatis in arce,
totque domos vestras obsidione premi,
nil opis in cura scirent superesse deorum
et data sollicita tura perire manu. 370
atque utinam pugnae pateat locus! arma capessant
et, si non poterunt exsuperare, cadant.
nunc inopes victus ignavaque fata timentes
monte suo clausos barbara turba premit.”
tunc Venus et lituo pulcher trabeaque Quirinus 375
Vestaque pro Latio multa locuta suo est.
“publica” respondit “cura est pro moenibus istis,”
Iuppiter “et poenas Gallia victa dabit.
tu modo, quae desunt fruges, superesse putentur
effice, nec sedes desere, Vesta, tuas. 380
quodcumque est solidae Cereris, cava machina frangat,
mollitamque manu duret in igne focus.”
iusserat, et fratris virgo Saturnia iussis
adnuit, et mediae tempora noctis erant.
iam ducibus somnum dederat labor: increpat illos 385
Iuppiter et sacro, quid velit, ore docet:
“surgite et in medios de summis arcibus hostes
mittite, quam minime tradere voltis, opem!”
somnus abit, quaeruntque novis ambagibus acti,
tradere quam nolint et iubeantur opem. 390
esse Ceres visa est; iaciunt Cerealia dona,
iacta super galeas scutaque longa sonant.
posse fame vinci spes excidit. hoste repulso
candida Pistori ponitur ara Iovi.
Forte revertebar festis Vestalibus illa, 395
quae Nova Romano nunc Via iuncta foro est.
huc pede matronam vidi descendere nudo:
obstipui tacitus sustinuique gradum.
sensit anus vicina loci, iussumque sedere
alloquitur, quatiens voce tremente caput: 400
“hoc, ubi nunc fora sunt, udae tenuere paludes;
amne redundatis fossa madebat aquis.
Curtius ille lacus, siccas qui sustinet aras,
nunc solida est tellus, sed lacus ante fuit.
qua Velabra solent in Circum ducere pompas, 405
nil praeter salices cassaque canna fuit;
saepe suburbanas rediens conviva per undas
cantat et ad nautas ebria verba iacit.
nondum conveniens diversis iste figuris
nomen ab averso ceperat amne deus. 410
hic quoque lucus erat iuncis et harundine densus
et pede velato non adeunda palus.
stagna recesserunt et aquas sua ripa coercet,
siccaque nunc tellus: mos tamen ille manet.”
reddiderat causam. “valeas, anus optima!” dixi 415
“quod superest aevi, molle sit omne, tui.”
Cetera iam pridem didici puerilibus annis,
non tamen idcirco praetereunda mihi.
moenia Dardanides nuper nova fecerat Ilus
(Ilus adhuc Asiae dives habebat opes): 420
creditur armiferae signum caeleste Minervae
urbis in Iliacae desiluisse iuga.
cura videre fuit, vidi templumque locumque:
hoc superest illic, Pallada Roma tenet.
consulitur Smintheus, lucoque obscurus opaco 425
hos non mentito reddidit ore sonos:
“aetheriam servate deam, servabitis urbem:
imperium secum transferet illa loci.”
servat et inclusam summa tenet Ilus in arce,
curaque ad heredem Laomedonta redit. 430
sub Priamo servata parum: sic ipsa volebat,
ex quo iudicio forma revicta sua est.
seu genus Adrasti, seu furtis aptus Ulixes,
seu fuit Aeneas, eripuisse ferunt;
auctor in incerto, res est Romana: tuetur 435
Vesta, quod assiduo lumine cuncta videt.
heu quantum timuere patres, quo tempore Vesta
arsit et est tectis obruta paene suis!
flagrabant sancti sceleratis ignibus ignes,
mixtaque erat flammae flamma profana piae. 440
attonitae flebant demisso crine ministrae:
abstulerat vires corporis ipse timor.
provolat in medium, et magna “succurrite!” voce
“non est auxilium flere” Metellus ait.
“pignora virgineis fatalia tollite palmis: 445
non ea sunt voto, sed rapienda manu.
me miserum! dubitatis?” ait. dubitare videbat
et pavidas posito procubuisse genu.
haurit aquas tollensque manus, “ignoscite,” dixit
“sacra! vir intrabo non adeunda viro. 450
si scelus est, in me commissi poena redundet:
sit capitis damno Roma soluta mei.”
dixit et irrupit. factum dea rapta probavit
pontificisque sui munere tuta fuit.
nunc bene lucetis sacrae sub Caesare flammae: 455
ignis in Iliacis nunc erit estque focis,
nullaque dicetur vittas temerasse sacerdos
hoc duce nec viva defodietur humo.
sic incesta perit, quia quam violavit, in illam
conditur: est Tellus Vestaque numen idem. 460
Tum sibi Callaico Brutus cognomen ab hoste
fecit et Hispanam sanguine tinxit humum.
scilicet interdum miscentur tristia laetis,
ne populum toto pectore festa iuvent:
Crassus ad Euphraten aquilas natumque suosque 465
perdidit et leto est ultimus ipse datus.
“Parthe, quid exsultas?” dixit dea “signa remittes,
quique necem Crassi vindicet, ultor erit.”
249 O Vesta, grant me thy favour! In thy service now I ope my lips, if it is lawful for me to come to thy sacred rites. I was wrapt up in prayer; I felt the heavenly deity, and the glad ground gleamed with a purple light. Not indeed that I saw thee, O goddess (far from me be the lies of poets!), nor was it meet that a man should look upon thee; but my ignorance was enlightened and my errors corrected without the help of an instructor. They say that Rome had forty times celebrated the Parilia1 when the goddess, Guardian of Fire, was received in her temple; it was the work of that peaceful king, than whom no man of more god-fearing temper was ever born in Sabine land.2 The buildings which now you see roofed with bronze you might then have seen roofed with thatch, and the walls were woven of tough osiers. This little spot, which now supports the Hall of Vesta, was then the great palace of unshorn Numa. Yet the shape of the temple, as it now exists, is said to have been its shape of old, and it is based on a sound reason.3 Vesta is the same as the Earth; under both of them is a perpetual fire; the earth and the hearth are symbols of the home. The earth is like a ball, resting on no prop; so great a weight hangs on the air beneath it. Its own power of rotation keeps its orb balanced; it has no angle which could press on any part; and since it is placed in the middle of the world and touches no side more or less, if it were not convex, it would be nearer to some part than to another, and the universe would not have the earth as its central weight. There stands a globe hung by Syracusan art in closed air, a small image of the vast vault of heaven, and the earth is equally distant from the top and bottom.4 That is brought about by its round shape. The form of the temple is similar: there is no projecting angle in it; a dome protects it from the showers of rain.
283 You ask why the goddess is tended by virgin ministers. Of that also I will discover the true causes. They say that Juno and Ceres were born of Ops by Saturn’s seed; the third daughter was Vesta. The other two married; both are reported to have had offspring; of the three one remained, who refused to submit to a husband. What wonder if a virgin delights in a virgin minister and allows only chaste hands to touch her sacred things? Conceive of Vesta as naught but the living flame, and you see that no bodies are born of flame. Rightly, therefore, is she a virgin who neither gives nor takes seeds, and she loves companions in her virginity.
295 Long did I foolishly think that there were images of Vesta: afterwards I learned that there are none under her curved dome. An undying fire is hidden in that temple; but there is no effigy of Vesta nor of the fire. The earth stands by its own power; Vesta is so called from standing by power (vi stando); and the reason of her Greek name may be similar.5 But the hearth (focus) is so named from the flames, and because it fosters (fovet) all things; yet formerly it stood in the first room of the house. Hence, too, I am of opinion that the vestibule took its name;6 it is from there that in praying we begin by addressing Vesta, who occupies the first place: it used to be the custom of old to sit on long benches in front of the hearth and to suppose that the gods were present at table; even now, when sacrifices are offered to ancient Vacuna,7 they stand and sit in front of her hearths. Something of olden custom has come down to our time: a clean platter contains the food offered to Vesta. Lo, loaves are hung on asses decked with wreaths, and flowery garlands veil the rough millstones. Husbandmen used formerly to toast only spelt in the ovens, and the goddess of ovens has her own sacred rites8: the hearth of itself baked the bread that was put under the ashes, and a broken tile was laid on the warm floor. Hence the baker honours the hearth and the mistress of hearths and the she-ass that turns the millstones of pumice.
319 Shall I pass over or relate thy disgrace, rubicund Priapus? It is a short story, but a very merry one.9 Cybele, whose brow is crowned with a coronet of towers, invited the eternal gods to her feast. She invited also the satyrs and those rural divinities, the nymphs. Silenus came, though nobody had asked him. It is unlawful, and it would be tedious, to narrate the banquet of the gods: the livelong night was passed in deep potations. Some roamed at haphazard in the vales of shady Ida; some lay and stretched their limbs at ease on the soft grass; some played; some slept; some, arm linked in arm, thrice beat with rapid foot the verdant ground. Vesta lay and careless took her peaceful rest, just as she was, her head low laid and propped upon a sod. But the ruddy guardian of gardens courted nymphs and goddesses, and to and fro he turned his roving steps. He spied Vesta too; it is doubtful whether he took her for a nymph or knew her to be Vesta; he himself said that he knew her not. He conceived a wanton hope, and tried to approach her furtively; he walked on tiptoe with throbbing heart. It chanced that old Silenus had left the ass, on which he rode, on the banks of a babbling brook. The god of the long Hellespont was going to begin, when the ass uttered an ill-timed bray. Frightened by the deep voice, the goddess started up; the whole troop flocked together; Priapus made his escape between hands that would have stopped him. Lampsacus is wont to sacrifice this animal to Priapus, saying: “We fitly give to the flames the innards of the tell-tale.” That animal, goddess, thou dost adorn with necklaces of loaves in memory of the event: work comes to a stop: the mills are empty and silent.
349 I will explain the meaning of an altar of Baker Jupiter, which stands on the citadel of the Thunderer and is more famous for its name than for its value. The Capitol was surrounded and hard pressed by the fierce Gauls: the long siege had already caused a famine. Having summoned the celestial gods to his royal throne, Jupiter said to Mars, “Begin.” Straightway Mars made answer: “Forsooth, nobody knows the plight of my people, and this my sorrow needs to find utterance in complaint. But if thou dost require me to declare in brief the sad and shameful tale: Rome lies at the foot of the Alpine foe.10 Is this that Rome, O Jupiter, to which was promised the domination of the world? is this that Rome which thou didst purpose to make the mistress of the earth? Already she had crushed her neighbours and the Etruscan hosts. Hope was in full career, but now she is driven from her own hearth and home. We have seen old men decked in embroidered robes—the symbol of the triumphs they had won—cut down within their bronze-lined halls. We have seen the pledges of Ilian Vesta removed from their proper seat11: plainly the Romans think that some gods exist. But if they were to look back to the citadel in which ye dwell, and to see so many of your homes beleaguered, they would know that the worship of the gods is of no avail, and that incense offered by an anxious hand is thrown away. And would that they could find a clear field of battle! Let them take arms, and, if they cannot conquer, then let them fall! As it is, starving and dreading a coward’s death, they are shut up and pressed hard on their own hill by a barbarous mob.” Then Venus and Quirinus, in the pomp of augur’s staff and striped gown, and Vesta pleaded hard for their own Latium. Jupiter replied, “A general providence is charged with the defence of yonder walls. Gaul will be vanquished and will pay the penalty. Only do thou, Vesta, look to it that the corn which is lacking may be thought to abound, and do not abandon thy proper seat. Let all the grain that is yet unground be crushed in the hollow mill, let it be kneaded by hand and roasted by fire in the oven.” So Jupiter commanded, and the virgin daughter of Saturn assented to her brother’s command, the time being the hour of midnight. Now sleep had overcome the wearied leaders. Jupiter chode them, and with his sacred lips informed them of his will. “Arise and from the topmost battlements cast into the midst of the foe the last resource which ye would wish to yield.” Sleep left them, and moved by the strange riddle they inquired what resource they were bidden to yield against their will. They thought it must be corn. They threw down the gifts of the Corn-goddess, which, in falling, clattered upon the helmets and long shields of the foe. The hope that the citadel could be reduced by famine now vanished: the enemy was repulsed and a white altar set up to Baker Jupiter.
395 It chanced that at the festival of Vesta I was returning by that way which now joins the New Way to the Roman Forum.12 Hither I saw a matron coming down barefoot: amazed I held my peace and halted. An old woman of the neighbourhood perceived me, and bidding me sit down she addressed me in quavering tones, shaking her head. “This ground, where now are the forums,13 was once occupied by wet swamps: a ditch was drenched with the water that overflowed from the river. That Lake of Curtius,14 which supports dry altars, is now solid ground, but formerly it was a lake. Where now the processions are wont to defile through the Velabrum to the Circus, there was naught but willows and hollow canes; often the roysterer, returning home over the waters of the suburb, used to tip a stave and rap out tipsy words at passing sailors. Yonder god (Vertumnus),15 whose name is appropriate to various shapes, had not yet derived it from damming back the river (averso amne). Here, too, there was a grove overgrown with bulrushes and reeds, and a marsh not to be trodden with booted feet. The pools have receded, and the river confines its water within its banks, and the ground is now dry; but the old custom survives.” The old woman thus explained the custom. “Farewell, good old dame,” said I; “may what remains of life to thee be easy all!”
417 The rest of the tale I had learned long since in my boyish years; yet not on that account may I pass it over in silence. Ilus, descendant of Dardanus, had lately founded a new city (Ilus was still rich and possessed the wealth of Asia); a celestial image of armed Minerva is believed to have leaped down on the hills of the Ilian city.16 (I was anxious to see it: I saw the temple and the place; that is all that is left there; the image of Pallas is in Rome.) Smintheus17 was consulted, and in the dim light of his shady grove he gave this answer with no lying lips: “Preserve the heavenly goddess, so shall ye preserve the city. She will transfer with herself the seat of empire.” Ilus preserved the image of the goddess and kept it shut up on the top of the citadel; the charge of it descended to his heir Laomedon. In Priam’s reign the image was not well preserved. Such was the goddess’s own will ever since judgement was given against her in the contest of beauty. Whether it was the descendant of Adrastus,18 or the guileful Ulysses, or Aeneas, they say someone carried it off; the culprit is uncertain; the thing is now at Rome: Vesta guards it, because she sees all things by her light that never fails.
437 Alas, how alarmed the Senate was when the temple of Vesta caught fire19, and the goddess was almost buried under her own roof! Holy fires blazed, fed by wicked fires, and a profane flame was blent with a pious flame. Amazed the priestesses wept with streaming hair; fear had bereft them of bodily strength. Metellus20 rushed into their midst and in a loud voice cried, “Hasten ye to the rescue! There is no help in weeping. Take up in your virgin hands the pledges given by fate; it is not by prayers but by deed that they can be saved. Woe’s me, do ye hesitate?” said he. He saw that they hesitated and sank trembling on their knees. He took up water, and lifting up his hands, “Pardon me, ye sacred things,21” said he, “I, a man, will enter a place where no man should set foot. If it is a crime, let the punishment of the deed fall on me! May I pay with my head the penalty, so Rome go free!” With these words he burst in. The goddess whom he carried off approved the deed and was saved by the devotion of her pontiff.
455 Ye sacred flames, now ye shine bright under Caesar’s rule; the fire is now and will continue to be on the Ilian hearths, and it will not be told that under his leadership any priestess defiled her sacred fillets, and none shall be buried in the live ground.22 That is the doom of her who proves unchaste; because she is put away in the earth which she contaminated, since Earth and Vesta are one and the same deity.
461 Then did Brutus win his surname from the Gallaecan23 foe, and dyed the Spanish ground with blood. To be sure, sorrow is sometimes blent with joy, lest festivals spell unmingled gladness for the people: Crassus lost the eagles, his son, and his soldiers at the Euphrates, and perished last of all himself.24 “Why exult, thou Parthian?” said the goddess; “thou shalt send back the standards, and there will be an avenger who shall exact punishment for the slaughter of Crassus.”25
Numa.
The orrery of Archimedes, which Cicero tells us was brought to Rome by Marcellus, the conqueror of Syracuse, 212 B.C.
ἳστημι, ἑστάναι, confused with ἑστία.
Ovid takes vestibulum as from Vesta, guessing that the hearth stood there, as it did not. But he goes on as if he took it from ve and stare, “to stand apart.”
Told already in i. 391–440.
This refers to the capture of Rome by the Gauls, 390 B.C., and the siege of the Capitol. The besieged threw out loaves of bread, to show they were not in want.
The Vestals buried some of their sacred things, and carried away what they could: these included relics brought from Troy. See below, l. 451, and Livy v. 40–41.
The Via Nova was as old as the time of the kings. Like the Via Sacra (these were the only roads in Rome called via), it began from the Porta Mugonia, the old gate of the Palatine (near the arch of Titus), and ran along the N. slope of the Palatine, behind the House of the Vestals, and descended by a staircase to the Velabrum, lately made (nunc).
A place in the Forum, then dry, where in ancient times a gulf had appeared, which could not be filled until the most precious thing of Rome should be cast in. Marcus Curtius leapt in fully armed on horseback, crying that arms and valour were the most precious thing for Rome. The gulf then filled up (362 B.C.).
The famous Palladium, the Luck of Troy, which fell from heaven as described here, and so long as it was preserved, Troy was safe. Ulysses and Diomedes stole it (see Ovid, Met. xiii. 335–356); but the Roman belief was, that it remained until Aeneas brought it to Italy, and that it was kept in the temple of Vesta at Rome.
Apollo Smintheus, the Mouse Apollo. Named for having destroyed a plague of mice.
Diomedes.
241 B.C.
L. Caecilius Metellus, Pontifex Maximus.
The sacred things on which the safety of Rome depended: the Palladium, the conical image (acus) of the Mother of the Gods, the earthen chariot which had been brought from Veii, the ashes of Orestes, the sceptre of Priam, the veil of Iliona, and the sacred shields (ancilia).
The infula and vitta were torn from an unfaithful Vesta before she was buried alive.
A tribe of north-west Spain (Galicia) conquered by Dec. Junius Brutus, 138–137 B.C.
At Carrhae, 53 B.C.
See v. 580.