ero de N.D. i. 15, with Minutius
Felix, xxi.

[18] Pseud-Orpheus Hymn. l. 6. [Greek: pausiponon thnetoisi phaneis akos.]

[19] Dindorf truly says that this passage smacks rather of Proclus, than of
Euripides, and I agree with him that its spuriousness is more than
probable. Had Euripides designed an etymological quibble, he would probably
have made some allusion to Merus, a mountain of India, where Bacchus is
said to have been brought up. See Curtius, viii. 10. "Sita est sub
radicibus montis, quem Meron incolae appellant. Inde Graeci mentiendi traxere
licentiam, Jovis femine liberum patrem esse celatum." Cf. Eustath. on
Dionys. Perieg. 1159. Lucian. Dial. Deor. ix. and Hermann on Orph. Hymn.
lii. 3.

[20] The gift of [Greek: mantike] was supposed to follow initiation, and is
often joined with the rites of this deity. Philostratus, Heroic. p. 22, ed.
Boiss. [Greek: hote de kai mantikes sophias emphorountai, kai to chresmodes
autais prosbakcheuei.]

[21] Cf. Hippol. 443. [Greek: Kypris gar ou phoreton en polle rhyei].

[22] I have followed Matthiae's interpretation of this passage.

[23] See Hermann's note.

[24] The fate of Actaeon is often joined with that of Pentheus.

[25] i.e. over-cunning in regard to religious matters. Cf. 200. [Greek:
ouden sophizomestha toisi daimosin].

[26] Probably a mere hyperbole to denote great fruitfulness. See Elmsley.

[27] Cf. Hor. Od. iii. 21, 20.

[28] I follow Dindorf in reading [Greek: sopha d'], but am scarcely
satisfied.

[29] Hence his epithet of Bacchus [Greek: Nyktelios]. See Herm. on Orph.
Hymn. xlix. 3.

[30] See my note on AEsch. Choeph. 7.

[31] Cf Person Advers. p. 265. Hor. Ep. i. 16. 73 "Vir bonus et sapiens
audebit dicere Pentheu, Rector Thebarum, quid me perferre patique Indignum
coges? Adima bona, nempe pecus, rem, Lectos, argentum: tollas licet. In
manicis et Compedibus saevo te sub custode tenebo. Ipse deus, simul atque
volam, me solvet. Opinor, Hoc sentit: moriar. Mors ultima linea rerum est."

[32] Punning on [Greek: penthos], _grief_. Cf. Arist. Rhet. ii. 23, 29.

[33] i.e. of Parnassus. Elmsley (after Stanl. on AEsch. Eum. 22.) remarks
that [Greek: Korykis petra] means the Corycian cave in Parnassus, [Greek:
Korykiai koryphai], the heights of Parnassus.

[34] Hermann and Dindorf correct [Greek: Loidian] from Herodot. vii. 127.

[35] The earth and buildings were supposed to shake at the presence of a
deity. Cf. Callimach. Hymn. Apol. sub init