Book iii

. El. ii. 1. 43.]

[Footnote 726: Your fingers.--Ver. 150. See 1. 42, of the same Elegy.]

[Footnote 727: Dirty ground.--Ver. 154. See 1. 26, of the same Elegy.]

[Footnote 728: Knee against it.--Ver. 158. See 1. 24, of the same Elegy.]

[Footnote 729: With his ready hand.--Ver. 160. As the seats of the Circus were hard, the women often made use of a cushion to sit upon. Those who were not so fortunate as to get a front seat, and so rest their feet in the railings opposite (see the Second Elegy of the Third Book of the Amores, 1. 64, and the Note), used a footstool, 'scamnum,' (which is mentioned here in the 162nd line,) on which they rested their feet.]

[Footnote 730: Its sad duties.--Ver. 164. Juvenal tells us that gladiatorial spectacles were sometimes exhibited in the Forum.]

[Footnote 731: Himself receives a wound.--Ver. 166. The word 'habet,' here used, is borrowed from the usage at the gladiatorial games. When a gladiator was wounded, the people called aloud 'habet,' or 'hoc habet and the one who was vanquished lowered his arms, in token of submission. If the people chose that he should be saved, they pressed down their thumbs; but they turned them up, if they desired that he should be killed.]

[Footnote 732: Asking for the racing list.--Ver. 167. The 'libellus,' here mentioned, was the list of the horses, with their names and colours, and those of the drivers. It served the same purpose as the race-cards on our courses.]

[Footnote 733: Having deposited the stake.--Ver. 168. When a bet was made, the parties betting gave to each other a pledge, 'pignus,' in the shape of some trinket, such as a ring. When the bet was completed, they touched hands.]

[Footnote 734: When of late.--Ver. 171. He speaks of a 'Naumachia,' or mimic sea-fight, which had been lately exhibited at Rome by Augustus, in commemoration of the battle of Actium. As Antony had collected his forces from the East and all parts of Greece, his ships are alluded to as the Persian and Cecropian, or Athenian ships. The term, 'Naumachia,' was applied both to the representation of a sea-fight, and to the place where it was given. They were sometimes exhibited in the Circus or Amphitheatre, the water being introduced under-ground, but more generally in spots constructed for the purpose. The first was shown by Julius Cæsar, who caused a lake to be dug for the purpose in a part of the Campus Martius, which Suetonius calls 'the lesser Codeta.' This was filled up by Augustus, who dug a lake near the Tiber for the same purpose; to which, probably, reference is here made.]

[Footnote 735: Introduced.--Ver. 172. 'Induxit.' By the use of this word, it would seem that Augustus Cæsar introduced the ships, probably, from the river Tiber into the lake.]

[Footnote 736: See! Cæsar prepares.--Ver. 177. Augustus sent his grandson, Caius, the son of his daughter Julia and Agrippa, to head an expedition against Phraates, the king of the Parthians, the conquerors of Crassus; from this expedition he did not live to return, but perished in battle.]

[Footnote 737: Crassi, rejoice.--Ver. 180. See the Fasti, Book v . 1. 583-8, with the Note. Also