ruv ,/‘7t<jwv, of the horses) This is emphatically put at the beginning of the sentence. — arbour a, mouths ) This is an appropriate word ; for the tongue is in the mouth. — /xsrayo/4gi/) we turn about ,l
4. K ai) even. Not only animals, but even ships.— ffxXrjpuv) axXripcg, vehement . There is a twofold impulse (momentum) : the bulk of the ships, and the force of the winds. — nridaXfov, with a helm) An elegant simile, as applied to the tongue. The phrases, very small , and a small m, ember , answer to each other. The same may be applied to the pen, which is the substitute for the tongue amongst the absent. — bp^ the impetus) The force moving, and turning, and directing to its place. The feeling which moves the tongue corresponds with this. — / 3ov\r,rou , listeth) An instance of Hypallage :2 equivalent to, wherever he wishes, who has the command ; for the moving force is under his control.
5. M syaXavyjT) boasts itself greatly : makes great pretensions, both respecting the past, and with a view to the future. There is often great importance in those things which the careless think small . The idea of greatness is also conveyed by the words, world , the course of nature , and hell , ver. 6. — /<5o0, behold) The word behold , used for the third time, is prefixed to the third comparison. — oXlyov) So just before, iu%pbv, a little. The Alex. MS. reads tjX/xov,8 with which the Latin version, and not that alone, plainly agrees : and yet I have with good reason removed this various reading from my margin : (ls£) because it is plainly an alliteration with qXtxriv which follows : (2d) because even Latin writers retain the word modicum. This is sufficient for maintaining the received reading.
6. 'O xoV(a og, the world) This is part of the subject, with the addi- tion of the article (as n ckiXovgu, which follows), showing why the tongue is called fire : namely, because it is a world (in the Vulgate universitas , a universe) of iniquity. The words, hoio great a matter , and the world , refer to each other. As the little world of man is an image of the universe,4 so the tongue is an image of the little world of man, exciting it altogether. There is a frequent metaphor
1 otvruv) Baumgarten says, Omittit Hunt. 2, nec est in Barb. 2, etc. But the 1st Edition of Mill, “ Omittit Hunt. 1, nec est in B. 2 (id est in Bas. 2), etc.” No injury is done to this celebrated man, but it is right that others should know that he has not gained an accurate knowledge of the Manuscripts.
2 See Append, of Techn. Terms.
3 'Ha/xoz/ is the reading of BC corrected and Vulg. So Lachni. and Tisch. ’O Xtyov is the reading of Rec. Text, with A corrected and later authorities.
4 The term macrocosmus (macrocosm) is applied to the universe at large ; and microcosmus (microcosm) to the little world of man. Thus Manilius : —