Marcus Terentius Varro (116-27 BCE)

 

Translation by Moravius Piscinus

 

De Lingua Latina

 

VI 27

The first days of each month are named the Kalendae, because on these days the Nones of the month is announced (calantur) by the pontifices on the Capitolium in the Curia Calabra thus:

“Juno Covella, I announce You on the fifth day,” or else by “Juno Covella, I announce You on the seventh day.”

 

 

VII 5

From Pompilius:

“Alas, Fortuna, why do You so aggressively press misfortune on me?”

 

 

VII 6

In Hecuba (by Ennius):

O great heavenly temples, conjoined with the splendid stars.

 

 

VII 6

In Andromacha (by Ennius): 

Hail, gods of Hades whose high temples overlook the flowing Acheron.

 

 

VII 8

The wording of the augural rite is not the same everywhere.  Atop the Capitoline Hill, at the auguralium in the Arx, the words are as follow:

            May the boundary between temple precincts and wildness shrines be to me as I have formally declared them in the proper words of this rite.  No matter what kind of fruitful tree that may be, may it be to me as I so chose to name it, may it be set as a limit, designating between my templum and wild land, to that point to my left. No matter what kind of fruitful tree that may be, may it be to me as I so chose to name it, may it be set as the limit, designating between my templum and the wild lands, to that point on my right.  Between the boundaries that I have set for my templum and wilderness beyond, be mine to use for directing, viewing and reflecting, just as far as I have been most rightly aware and have set them within this limit in the proper fashion.

 

 

VII 17

O holy Apollo, who does hold the true and established umbilicus of the land.

 

 

VII 26

In the Carmin Salii:

Arise, O Consus, arise.  All things, truly, I entrust to Patulcium the Opener. Now You are Janus the Gatekeeper, now Cerus the Good Creator, now Janus the God of Good Beginnings.  Come now, most especially, You who are the better of these kings.

 

 

VII 27

In the Carmin Salii: Dance before the Father of the Gods, give thanks to the God of Gods.