[Footnote 717: Which is adjoining.--Ver. 87. The temple of Venus was near the Forum.] [Footnote 718: Ravished Sabine fair.--Ver. 102. See the Fasti, Book iii. 1. 199.] [Footnote 719: Neither did curtains.--Ver. 103. The 'vela,' here referred to, may mean either the 'siparia,' or curtains of the theatres, or the awnings which were hung over them. See the Note on the 'siparia' of the theatres, referred to in the Third Book of the Metamorphoses, L 111. The 'velaria,' or 'awnings,' were stretched over the whole space of the theatres, to protect the spectators from the sun and rain.] [Footnote 720: Marble theatre.--Ver. 103. The Theatres of Pompey and Scaurus were of marble.] [Footnote 721: Nor was the stage.--Ver. 104. The 'pulpita' was that part of the stage where the actors stood who spoke. It was elevated above the orchestra, where the Chorus, and dancers and musicians were placed.] [Footnote 722: Upon the maidens.--Ver. 116. Some writers say that only thirty women were carried off. Valerius Antius made the number 427, and Plutarch mentions a statement that it was 600] [Footnote 723: The partition.--Ver. 141. See the Amores, Book iii. El. ii. 1. 19.] [Footnote 724: Let the usual subjects.--Ver. 144. 'Publica verba' means the compliments of the day,' and the 'topics suited to the occasion.'] [Footnote 725: Statues of ivory.--Ver. 149. For an account of this procession, see the Amores, 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.]