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Part Fourth
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[1233] i.e., as she had been before in the case of Eve. See Gen. iii. 1 sqq.
[1234] I have hazarded the bold conjecture—which I see others (Pamelius at all events) had hazarded before me—that “feritas” is used by our author as ="fertilitas.” The word, of course, is very incorrectly formed etymologically; but etymology is not our author’s forte apparently. It will also be seen that there is seemingly a gap at this point, or else some enormous mistake, in the mss. An attempt has been made (see Migne) to correct it, but not a very satisfactory one. For the common reading, which gives two lines,
“Occidit illa prior feritas, quam prospiciens Loth
Nullus arat frustra piceas fuligine glebas,” which are evidently entirely unconnected with one another, it is proposed to read,
“Occidit illa prior feritas, quam prospiciens Loth,
Deseruisse pii fertur commercia fratris.
Nullas arat,” etc.
This use of “fratris” in a wide sense may be justified from Gen. xiii. 8 (to which passage, with its immediate context, there seems to be a reference, whether we adopt the proposed correction or no), and similar passages in Holy Writ. But the transition is still abrupt to the “nullus arat,” etc.; and I prefer to leave the passage as it is, without attempting to supply the hiatus.
[1235] This use of “easely” as a dissyllable is justifiable from Spenser.
[1236] This seems to be the sense, but the Latin is somewhat strange: “mors est maris illa quieti,” i.e., illa (quies) maris quieti mors est. The opening lines of “Jonah” (above) should be compared with this passage and its context.
[1237] Inque picem dat terræ hærere marinam.
[1238] “Pressum” (Oehler); “pretium” (Migne): “it will yield a prize, namely, that,” etc.
[1239] Luciferam.
[1240] Oehler’s pointing is disregarded.
[1241] “De cælo jura tueri;” possibly “to look for laws from heaven.”
[1242] Terram.
[1243] Tellus.
[1244] Immensus. See note on the word in the fragment “Concerning the Cursing of the Heathen’s Gods.”
[1245] Cardine.
[1246] Mundo.
[1247] “Errantia;” so called, probably, either because they appear to move as ships pass them, or because they may be said to “wander” by reason of the constant change which they undergo from the action of the sea, and because of the shifting nature of their sands.
[1248] Terrarum.
[1249] “God called the dry land Earth:” Gen. i. 10.
[1250] i.e., “together with;” it begets both sun and moon.
[1251] i.e., “the fourth day.”
[1252] Mundo.
[1253] Or, “lucid”—liquentia.
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