O tuneful Arion, often is Cynthia said to have been spell-bound by thy strains, as by those of her brother (Apollo).
You have now learnt how to translate this passage, but you must do more before you can master it. Thus in these simple but beautiful lines notice:—
(i.) Vocabulary.—This is easy and familiar, but even if you know the meaning of the words study their cognates—i.e. related words—as pointed out to you in the vocabulary, e.g. under nōvit, [p. 25, sentence I].
(ii.) English Derivatives.—Remember that often, where you cannot think of an English derivative, some very familiar French word will help you to the root-meaning of the Latin. Thus:—
| Latin. | French. | English. |
|---|---|---|
| Carmine | Charme | Charm (Song) |
| Agnam | Agneau | Lamb |
| Lupus | Loup | Wolf |
| Cerva | Cerf | Stag (Hind) |
and notice that where the English word, e.g. charm, differs in spelling from the Latin, it is because it comes to us through a French channel. Cf. feat from Fr. fait = L. factum.
(iii.) Allusions and Parallel Passages.—In verse these are often numerous and important. Poetry is naturally full of imagery, and borrows from many sources. Thus, for ll. 1-8, compare Hor. Od. I. xii. 5:
‘Aut in umbrosis Heliconis oris
....