Chapter XXXII

., I.

[132] The significance of the title is not quite clear. The poem is written in hexametre, and is not far from 4700 lines in length. It is printed in Migne 210, col. 486-576; also edited by Thos. Wright, Master of the Rolls Series, vol. 59, ii. (1872).

[133] The poem is highly imaginative in the delineation of its allegorical figures.

[134] These curious lines are as follows:

“O nova picturae miracula, transit ad esse Quod nihil esse potest! picturaque simia veri, Arte nova ludens, in res umbracula rerum Vertit, et in verum mendacia singula mutat.” _Anticlaudianus_, i. cap. iv. (Migne 196, col. 491.)

[135] The allusion here is to the fate of Hippolytus, whose chariot-horses, maddened by the wiles of Venus, dashed the chariot to pieces and caused their lord’s death.

[136] i. cap. vi. Her garb and attributes are elaborately told. In the latter part of the poem she is usually called Phronesis.

[137] A favourite commonplace; Heloïse uses it.

[138] The functions of these virgins, the Seven Liberal Arts, are poetically told. The _Anticlaudianus_ is no text-book. But the poet apparently is following the _De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii_ of Martianus Capella, _ante_,