Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/103

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SILVAE, I. vi. 1–20

VI. THE KALENDS OF DECEMBER


An account of an entertainment given by the Emperor to the people during the Saturnalia. Suetonius (Domit. 4) mentions also chariot-races, sham fights, naval battles in the Amphitheatre, combats of gladiators, beasts, etc., and various distributions of money and food to the people.


Hence, father Phoebus and stern Pallas! Away, ye Muses, go, keep holiday; we will call you back at the New Year. But Saturn, slip your fetters[1] and come hither, and December tipsy with much wine, and laughing Mirth and wanton Wit, while I recount the glad festival of our merry Caesar and the banquet’s drunken revel.

Scarce was the new dawn stirring, when already sweetmeats were raining from the line,[2] such was the dew the rising East wind was scattering; the famous fruit of Pontic nut-groves, or of Idume’s fertile slopes,[3] all that devout Damascus grows upon its boughs[4] or thirsty Caunus[5] ripens, falls in a generous profusion. Biscuits and melting pastries,[6] Amerian fruit[7] not over-ripe, must-cakes, and bursting dates from invisible palms were showering down.

  1. ↑ Saturn was put in chains by Jupiter, but set free, according to popular belief, on his festival.
  2. ↑ A rope was stretched across the amphitheatre, from which the dainties were shaken down among the people, cf. Mart. viii. 78. 7.
  3. ↑ i.e., dates; Idume often in Statius for Palestine, cf. Luc. iii. 216.
  4. ↑ i.e., plums (damsons).
  5. ↑ Caunus in Asia Minor was famous for its figs.Ebosia, the MS. reading, would refer to Ebusus, one of the Balearic isles, modern Iviza, which Pliny praises for its figs; but the combination with Caunos, “the fig-town of Ebusus” (Vollmer), is awkward. Slater, following Lafaye (Notes on the Silvae, Paris, 1896), reads “et quod praecoquit Ebosia cannis.”
  6. ↑ So-called because they were in the shape of human figures, i.e. little “Gaii.”
  7. ↑ From Ameria came apples and pears.

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