BACCHUS ET PĪRĀTAE (1)
Inter deōs Rōmānōs
agricolae nōn sōlum Cererem sed Bacchum quoque adōrābant et in summō honōre
habēbant. Bacchus enim vīnum hominibus dedit et multās artēs docuit. Ad Bacchī
ārās agricolae dōna multa, et in prīmīs ūvās vīnumque iūcundum ferēbant, et
ārās flōribus laetīs pampinīsque ōrnābant.
Deus igitur vītēs
Italicās cūrābat, et ā perīculō dēfendēbat. Fōrmōsus erat deus, et, quod vītēs
amābat, capillōs suōs pampinīs saepe ōrnābat. Nec Italōs Graecōsque sōlum
docēbat, sed ad longinquās terrās nāvigābat, aliīsque gentibus vīnum dabat,
artēsque rūsticās docēbat.
[i]
Bacchus, -ī [2/m]:
Bacchus, the god of the vine
gēns, gentis
[3/f]: race
homō, -inis [3
m/f]: man, human being
honor, -ōris
[3/m]: honour
pampinus, -ī
[2/m]: vine leaf or tendril
vītis, -is [3/f]:
vine
[ii]
dēfendō, -ere [3]:
defend
ferō, ferre
[irreg]: bear, carry
nāvigō, -āre [1]:
sail
[iii]
summus, -a, -um:
highest, very great
[iv]
ā/ab (+ abl.):
from
in prīmīs:
especially
____________________
Among the Roman
gods, farmers worshipped not only Ceres but Bacchus as well, and held him in
the highest honour. For Bacchus gave wine to mankind and taught many arts. At
the altars of Bacchus the farmers used to bring many gifts, and above all
grapes and pleasant wine, and they adorned the altars with bright flowers and
vine-leaves.
The god,
therefore, tended the Italian vines and protected them from danger. The god was
handsome, and, because he loved the vines, he often adorned his hair with
vine-leaves. Nor did he teach only the Italians and the Greeks, but he sailed
to distant lands and gave wine to other peoples, and taught the arts of the
countryside.
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