Vulgar words in The Metamorphoses of Ovid - Literally Translated into English Prose, with Copious Notes - and Explanations (Page 1)

This book at a glance

ass x 5
blockhead x 2
            

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~   ~   ~   Sentence 43   ~   ~   ~

"Situs" is "nasty stuff;" "oscula jungere" is "to tip him a kiss;" "pingue ingenium" is a circumlocution for "a blockhead;" "anilia instrumenta" are "his old woman's accoutrements;" and "repetito munere Bacchi" is conveyed to the sense of the reader as, "they return again to their bottle, and take the other glass."

~   ~   ~   Sentence 92   ~   ~   ~

For his stupidity, his ears are changed by Apollo into those of an ass.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 2,803   ~   ~   ~

He is often introduced either sitting on an ass, or reeling along on foot, with a thyrsus to support him.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 2,805   ~   ~   ~

Lucian combines the two characters, and describes him as an aged man with large straight ears and a huge belly, wearing yellow clothes, and generally mounted on an ass, or supported by a staff, but, nevertheless, as being a skilful general.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 2,844   ~   ~   ~

The rest {of his body} is that of a man; in one part alone is he condemned {to punishment}; and he assumes the ears of the slowly moving ass.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 2,852   ~   ~   ~

'Pingue sed ingenium mansit,' is rendered by Clarke, 'but he continued a blockhead still.']

~   ~   ~   Sentence 2,868   ~   ~   ~

The scholiast of Aristophanes, to explain the story, says either it was intended to shew that Midas, like the ass, was very quick of hearing, or in other words, had numerous spies in all parts of his dominions; or, it was invented, because his usual place of residence was called Onouta, ὄνου ὦτα, 'the ears of an ass.'

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