[Footnote NF.4: _Was called Mendacity_)--Ver. 21. There is a sort of pun intended upon the word “menda,” a blemish. Because Falsehood was blemished in having no feet, she was called “mendacium” or “mendacity.” Here the author’s etymology is at fault, as the word “mendacity” comes from “mentior,” to lie; which is not likely to have been derived from “menda.” Besides, Falsehood, whether she has feet or not, generally travels more speedily than Truth.] FABLE V.[5] THE AUTHOR. _Nothing is long concealed._ * * * Pretended vices are sometimes profitable to men, but still the truth appears in time. [Footnote NF.5: _Fable V._)--This seems to be only a fragment; probably the moral of a Fable now lost.] FABLE VI. THE SIGNIFICATION OF THE PUNISHMENTS OF TARTARUS. _The meaning is to be considered, not the mere words._ The story of Ixion, whirling round upon the wheel, teaches {us} what a rolling thing is fortune. Sisyphus, with immense labour, pushing the stone up the lofty hill, which ever, his labour lost, rolls back from the top, shows that men’s miseries are endless. When Tantalus is athirst, standing in the midst of the river, the greedy are described, whom a sufficiency of blessings surrounds, but none can they enjoy. The wicked Danaïds carry water in urns, and cannot fill their pierced vessels; just so, whatever you bestow on luxury, will flow out beneath. Wretched Tityus is stretched over nine acres,[6] presenting for dire punishment a liver that ever grows again: by this it is shown that the greater the extent of land a man possesses, the heavier are his cares. Antiquity purposely wrapped up the truth, in order that the wise might understand--the ignorant remain in error. [Footnote NF.6: _Nine acres_)--Ver. 13. “Jugera.” The “jugerum” was a piece of land 240 feet long by 120 wide.] FABLE VII. THE AUTHOR. _On the Oracle of Apollo._ Phœbus! who dost inhabit Delphi and the beauteous Parnassus, say what is most useful to us. Why do the locks of the holy prophetess stand erect; the tripods shake; the holy shrines resound; the laurels, too,[7] quiver, and the very day grow pale? Smitten by the Divinity, the Pythia utters {these} words, and the warning of the Delian God instructs the nations: “Practise virtue; pay your vows to the Gods above; defend your country, your parents, your children, {and} your chaste wives with arms; repel the foe with the sword; assist your friends; spare the wretched; favour the good; meet the treacherous face to face; punish offences; chastise the impious; inflict vengeance on those who, by base adultery, defile the marriage couch; beware of the wicked; trust no man too far.” Thus having said, the Maiden falls frenzied to the ground: frenzied, indeed, for what she said, she said in vain.