Cui thalamum maritalem nemo, nemo hymenæum cecinit,
Neque facem accendit nuptialem, sed suspiriis
Et multis lachrymis huc me ferebant,
Ubi decet manere quod superest temporis.
Tu potius, deplorata, Viator, mea sorte,
I ubi vis, et quæcunque velis obtine.
The particles Μὲν οὖν frequently appear in the first sentence of such writings, in which, without any prefatory matter, the subject is immediately entered upon; but, in the present instance, they have a further use, as they indicate an expression of regret, and are uttered by the speaker with emotions of tenderness and concern.
The word ergo is used by Horace in a sense similar to that in which I conceive Μὲν οὗν to be used here.
[1]Ergo Quinctilium perpetuus sopor
Urget. Carm. Lib. I. 24, 5.
Of the word ergo there is a beautiful instance of the same meaning also in Virgil,
Infelix Dido! verus mihi nuntius ergo
Venerat. Æn. VI. 456.
There can be no doubt of the signification of ἀώρος in the second line, as it is sufficiently explained by εἴκοσι πλήσας ἔτη which immediately follow. Indeed the whole tenor of the inscription tends
- ↑ Videntur hæc verba per indignationem ex abrupto pronunciari, sic enim solent in claram vocem subinde erumpere lamentarique, qui interne secum vehementique dolore anguntur; qualiter fingit hîc affici Virgilium, taciteque de morte Quinctilii cum Diis expostulare.—Cruquii Comment, in Hor. Carm. Lib. i. 24, 5.
to
