[Footnote V.8: _The curtain falling_)--Ver. 23. The “aulæum,” or stage-curtain, called also “siparium,” was a piece of tapestry stretched on a frame, which, rising before the stage, concealed it till the actors appeared. Instead of drawing up this curtain to discover the stage and actors, according to the present practice, it was depressed when the play began, and fell beneath the level of the stage: whence “aulæa premuntur” or “mittuntur,” “the curtain is dropped,” meant that the play had began.] [Footnote V.9: _The thunders rolled_)--Ver. 23. This thunder was made by the noise of rolling stones in copper vessels.] [Footnote V.10: _Upon the stage_)--Ver. 32. The “pulpitum” was properly an elevated place on the proscenium, or space between the scene and the orchestra.] [Footnote V.11: _Snow-white shoes_)--Ver. 37. We learn from Ovid and other authors that white shoes were solely worn by the female sex.] [Footnote V.12: _To the Deified house_)--Ver. 38. Taking to himself the honor that belonged to the house of Augustus, which was worshipped with Divine honors.] FABLE VIII. THE EMBLEM OF OPPORTUNITY. A Bald Man, balancing on a razor’s edge, fleet of foot, his forehead covered with hair,[13] his body naked--if you have caught him, hold him fast; when he has once escaped, not Jupiter himself can overtake him: he is the emblem how shortlived is Opportunity. The ancients devised such a portraiture of Time, {to signify} that slothful delay should not hinder the execution of our purposes. [Footnote V.13: _His forehead covered with hair_)--Ver. 2. From this figure of Time or Opportunity, Time came to be represented in the middle ages with a tuft of hair on his forehead; whence our common expression “To take time by the forelock,” signifying to make the best of an opportunity.] FABLE IX. THE BULL AND THE CALF. When a Bull was struggling with his horns in a narrow passage, and could hardly effect an entrance to the manger, a Calf began to point out in what way he might turn himself: “Hush,” said {the Bull}, “I knew that before you were born.” Let him who would instruct a wiser man, consider {this as} said to himself. FABLE X. THE HUNTSMAN AND THE DOG. A Dog, who had always given satisfaction to his master by his boldness against swift and savage beasts, began to grow feeble under increasing years. On one occasion, being urged to the combat with a bristling Boar, he seized him by the ear; but, through the rottenness of his teeth, let go his prey. Vexed at this, the Huntsman upbraided the Dog. Old Barker[14] {replied}: “It is not my courage that disappoints you, but my strength. You commend me for what I have been; and you blame me that I am not {what I was}.” You, Philetus,[15] may easily perceive why I have written this.