The Eclogues and Georgics of Virgil . e Alpheus flowed throughArcadia and Elis.—Lucosque Molorchi. Molorchus was a shepherdwho lived near Cleonae, in Argolis, and hospitably entertained Her-cules when the latter was going after the Nemean lion. It was incommemoration of the destruction of this animal that the Nemeangames were either instituted or revived. They are, therefore,meant here. Observe, also, that the other Grecian games aremeant to be comprehended under the two that are mentioned bythe poet. Crudo cestu. With the ox-hide cestus. Cestus signified thethongs, or bands, of ox-hide, which
The Eclogues and Georgics of Virgil . e Alpheus flowed throughArcadia and Elis.—Lucosque Molorchi. Molorchus was a shepherdwho lived near Cleonae, in Argolis, and hospitably entertained Her-cules when the latter was going after the Nemean lion. It was incommemoration of the destruction of this animal that the Nemeangames were either instituted or revived. They are, therefore,meant here. Observe, also, that the other Grecian games aremeant to be comprehended under the two that are mentioned bythe poet. Crudo cestu. With the ox-hide cestus. Cestus signified thethongs, or bands, of ox-hide, which were tied round the hands ofboxers, in order to render their blows more powerful. As raw ox-hide was originally used for this purpose, we see the propriety ofthe epithet crudus here employed by the poet. Leather was after-ward substituted. The cestus became most formidable, when, aswas the case in later times, it was covered with knots and nails,and loaded with lead and iron. The following wood-cut representsfigures of the 21-25. Tonsa olivet. Of the shorn olive. The corona tonsa^ NOTES ON THE GEORGICS. BOOK III. 347 or tonsilis, was made of leaves only, stripped or shorn from thebough, and was so called in contradistinction to the corona nexilis,in which the whole branch was inserted.—Dona. Offerings.—Jam nunc. Now, even now. The poet, under the influence ofhis ardent feelings, fancies the intended games already begun, andspeaks of the movements connected with them as actually goingon. — Sollcmnes ducere pompas. To lead the solemn poets intended games are here again modelled after those inthe circus. The Circensian games always commenced with agrand procession (pompa), in which all those who were about toexhibit in the circus, as well as persons of distinction, bore a statues of the gods formed the most conspicuous feature in theshow, and were paraded upon wooden platforms and carriages. Vel scena ut oersis, &c. Or how the scene shifts
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