Medea persuades the Daughters of Pelias to kill their Father, in order to have his Youth renew'd. She, that loves him best, gives the first Wound,
Et, ne sit scelerata, facit scelus— Met. B. 7.
Althea is enrag'd at her Son Meleager, and to do Justice to the Manes of his Brothers, destroys him,
Impietate pia est—
Envy enters Athens, and beholds the flourishing Condition of the City,
Vixque tenet lacrymas, quia nil lacrymabile cernit.
Ovid was much too fond of such Witticisms, which are more to be wonder'd at, because they were not the Fashion of that Age, as Punns and Quibbles are of this. Virgil, as I remember, is not found trifling in this Manner above once or twice.
Deucalion vacuum lapides jactavit in orbem,
Unde homines nati, durum genus— G.B. I. l. 63.
Juno is in Indignation at Æneas upon his Arrival in Italy.
Num capti potuere capi? num incensa cremavit
Troja viros?— Æ. 7. l. 295.
