[Footnote 772: The loosely-clad pedlar.--Ver. 421. Institor' was properly a person who sold wares, and kept a 'taberna' or 'shop' on account of another. Sometimes free persons, but more frequently slaves, were 'institores.'] [Footnote 773: A promissory note.--Ver. 428. 'Syngraphus/ or 'syngrapha,' was a 'bill' 'bond,' or 'promissory note,' which was most probably the kind of writing that the pedlar would here require. It may possibly mean a cheque upon his bankers, the 'argentarii' of Rome.] [Footnote 774: Not to have learned.--Ver. 428. The reading here seems to be non didicisse juvat.' 4 It is not to your advantage that you have learned (to write).' The other reading, 'ne didicisse juvet,' may be rendered, '(perhaps) it may be no advantage that you have learned (to write).'] [Footnote 775: Birth day cake.--Ver. 429. See the Amores, Book i. El. viii. 1. 94.] [Footnote 776: The jewel.--Ver. 432. For an account of the earrings of the ancients, see the Notes to the Metamorphoses, Book x. 1. 116.] [Footnote 777: Should you give her.--Ver. 447. The meaning of this and the following line is very obscure; so much so that Burmann is in doubt on the subject. It, however, seems to be, that it is not discreet, on first acquaintance, to give presents, as the damsel may then have a reason for peremptoily giving you up; she carries off your gift, and gives no favour in return.] [Footnote 778: Upon an apple.--Ver. 457: See the twentieth and twenty-first Epistles in the present volume.] [Footnote 779: Extend their hands.--Ver. 462. This figure is taken from the gladiatorial games, where the conquered extended their hands in token of submission.] [Footnote 780: Ring of iron.--Ver. 473. The rings worn by the lower classes were of iron.] [Footnote 781: Under some of the columns.1--Ver. 490. The learned Heinsius absolutely thinks that 'columnas' here means 'mile-stones'! It is pretty clear that Ovid alludes to the columns of the Portico; and he seems to say, that the attentive lover, when he sees the damsel at some distance before him, is not to hesitate to escape the crowd by going into the open space outside of the columns, and then running on, for the purpose of overtaking her. See the Tristia, Book iii. El. iii, where he makes mention of the columns in the Portico of the Danaides.] [Footnote 782: Actor is dancing.--Ver. 501. See the Tristia, Book ii. i. 497.] [Footnote 783: With the irons.'--Ver. 505. See the Amores, Book i. El. xiv 1 25, and the Note. The effeminate among the Romans were very fond of having their hair in curls.] [Footnote 784: With the rough pumice.--Ver. 506. Pliny the Elder mentions pumice stone as 'a substance used by women in washing their bodies, and now by men as well.' Persius, in his Fourth Satire, inveighs against this effeminate practice.] [Footnote 785: Bid those do this.--Ver. 507'. He alludes to the Galli, the eunuch priests of Cybele.]