st
maintenance for her hungry parent. Yet, after this violence of his
distemper had consumed all his provision, and had added fresh fuel to
his dreadful malady: he himself, with mangling bites, began to tear his
own limbs, and the miserable {wretch} used to feed his own body by
diminishing it. {But} why do I dwell on the instances of others? I, too,
O youths,[101] have a power of often changing my body, {though} limited
in the number {of those changes}. For, one while, I appear what I now
am, another while I am wreathed as a snake; then {as} the leader of a
herd, I receive strength in my horns. In my horns, {I say}, so long as I
could. Now, one side of my forehead is deprived of its weapons, as thou
seest thyself." Sighs followed his words.

[Footnote 91: _Autolycus._--Ver. 738. He was the father of
Anticlea, the mother of Ulysses, and was instructed by Mercury in
the art of thieving. His wife was Metra, whose transformations are
here described by the Poet.]

[Footnote 92: _Tablets as memorials._--Ver. 744. That is, they had
inscribed on them the grateful thanks of the parties who placed
them there to Ceres, for having granted their wishes.]

[Footnote 93: _Son of Triopas._--Ver. 751. Erisicthon was the son
of Triopas.]

[Footnote 94: _Deoian oak._--Ver. 758. Belonging to Ceres. See
Book vi. line 114.]

[Footnote 95: _I, a Nymph._--Ver. 771. She was one of the
Hamadryads, whose lives terminated with those of the trees which
they respectively inhabited.]

[Footnote 96: _In black array._--Ver. 778. The Romans wore
mourning for the dead; which seems, in the time of the Republic,
to have been black or dark blue for either sex. Under the Empire,
the men continued to wear black, but the women wore white. On such
occasions all ornaments were laid aside.]

[Footnote 97: _With scurf._--Ver. 802. Clarke gives this
translation of 'Labra incana situ:' 'Her lips very white with
nasty stuff.']

[Footnote 98: _From the chine._--Ver. 806. 'A spinae tantummodo
crate teneri,' is translated by Clarke, 'Was only supported by the
wattling of her backbone.']

[Footnote 99: _Is still soothing._--Ver. 823. Clarke renders the
words 'Lenis adhuc somnus--Erisicthona pennis mulcebat;' 'Gentle
sleep as yet clapped Erisicthon with her wings.']

[Footnote 100: _Into his paunch._--Ver. 846. Clarke translates
'Tandem, de