ON THE APPLICATION OF THE WORD "LITTUS" IN THE SENSE OF RIPA, THE BANK OF A RIVER.
The late Marquis Wellesley, towards the close of his long and glorious life, wrote the beautiful copy of Latin verses upon the theme "Salix Babylonica," which is printed among his Reliquiæ.
In this copy of verses is to be found the line,—
"At tu, pulchra Salix, Thamesini littoris hospes."
Certain critics object to this word "littoris," used here in the sense of "ripa." The question is, whether such an application can be borne out by ancient authorities. To be sure, the substitution of "marginis" for "littoris" would obviate all controversy; but as the objection has been started, and urged with some pertinacity, it may be worth while to consider it. The ordinary meaning of littus is undoubtedly the sea-shore; but it seems quite certain that it is used occasionally in the sense of "ripa."
In the 2d Ode of Horace, book 1st, we find:
"Vidimus flavum Tiberim, retortis
Littore Etrusco violenter undis,
Ire dejectum monumenta regis,
Templaque Vestæ;
Iliæ dum se nimium querenti
Jactat ultorem; vagus et sinistrâ
Labitur ripâ."
—meaning, as I conceive, that the waters of the Tiber were thrown back from the Etruscan shore, or right bank, which was the steep side, so as to flood the left bank, and do all the mischief. If this interpretation be correct, which Gesner supports by the following note, the question is settled by this single passage:
"Quod fere malim propter ea quæ sequuntur, littus ipsius Tiberis dextrum, quod spectat Etruriam: unde retortis undis sinistrâ ripâ Romam alluente, labitur."
Thus, at all events, I have the authority of Gesner's scholarship for "littus ipsius Tiberis."
There are two other passages in Horace's Odes where "littus" seems to bear a different sense from the sea-shore. The first, book iii. ode 4.:
"Insanientem navita Bosporum
Tentabo, et arentes arenas
Littoris Assyrii viator."
The next, book iii. ode 17.:
"Qui Formiarum mœnia dicitur
Princeps, et innantem Maricæ
Littoribus tenuisse Lirim."
Upon which latter Gesner says, that as Marica was a nymph from whom the river received its name,—
"Hinc patet Lirim atque Maricam fuisse duo unius fluminis nomina."
But I will not insist upon these examples even with the support of Gesner, because Marica may have been a district situate on the sea-shore, and because, in the former passage, "littus Assyrium" may mean the Syrian coast, which is washed by the Mediterranean.
But to go to another author, in book x. of Lucan's Pharsalia will be found (line 244.):
"Vel quod aquas toties rumpentis littora Nili
Assiduè[3] feriunt, coguntque resistere flatus."
This seems to be a clear case of the Nile breaking its banks, and is conclusive. Again, in book viii. l. 641.:
"Et prior in Nili pervenit littora Cæsar."
[3] Sc. Zephyri.
And again, "littore Niliaco," book ix. l. 135.
Lastly, in Scheller's Dictionary, the same meaning is given from the 8th book of Virgil's Æneid:
"Viridique in littore conspicitur sus;"
where, beyond a doubt, is meant "littore" fluviali.
It appears, then, from these examples that Lord Wellesley is justified in his application of the word "littus" to the adjective "Thamesinus."
Q. E. D. (A Borderer.)