Page:Statius (Mozley 1928) v1.djvu/77

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SILVAE, I. iii. 1–20

III. THE VILLA OF MANILIUS VOPISCUS AT TIBUR


Manilius Vopiscus is mentioned in the Preface to this book; he was a man of literary tastes, and an Epicurean (l. 94). The villa was probably above Tibur; Volpi found remains that he said tallied with Statius’s description (“Vetus Latium profanum,” x. p. 330, 1704), but no trace of it has endured to modern times.


If anyone has been privileged to behold eloquent Vopiscus’ cool retreat at Tibur and the double dwelling threaded by Anio’s stream, or to see the friendly intercourse of bank with bank, and each villa striving to keep their master to itself, on him the hot star of Sirius has not barked, nor leafy Nemea’s offspring[1] looked with fierce aspect; such icy coolness is in the house, so pitilessly does the cold break the sun’s power, nor does the dwelling swelter in Pisa’s summer heat.[2]

Pleasure herself with her own delicate hand <is said> to have traced with thee . . . Then Venus poured Idalian perfumes upon the roof-tops and caressed them with her hair, and left a winsome charm upon the house and bade her winged sons abide there for ever.

O ever memorable day! What raptures of the mind, what cloying of the sight by countless marvels do I recall! How kindly the temper of the soil! How beautiful beyond human art the enchanted scene! Nowhere has Nature more lavishly spent her skill. Lofty woods lean over rushing waters; a false image counterfeits the foliage, and the reflection fences unbroken over the long waves. Anio himself—marvellous to believe—though fully of boulders

  1. ↑ i.e., the constellation Leo, the sign of the zodiac in which the sun is in July.
  2. ↑ i.e., such heat as at the Olympian games, held at midsummer.

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