srNONrMovs terms. 129 



here fuggefts the exiftence of that interval, in all the different 

 points of which copia finds a place. There is faid to be on the 

 one hand nothing fuperfluous, and on the other nothing de- 

 ficient. 



While abundantia denotes a greater plenty than copia, yet 

 that implied even in it, may be occafionally carried to excefs, 

 and to what in Englifh is fly led " fuperabundance," when 

 the quantity is fo great, as to be cumberfome and ufelefs. 

 " Ludos et inania honoris modo rationis atque abundantia: 

 " duxit, uti longe a luxuria ita famae propior *.*' In the con- 

 duct of Agricola, there was on the one hand no blameable 

 ceconomy, and on the other no needlefs wafte, that might be 

 termed extravagance. " Non ilia quidem luxuriofi hominis fed 

 " abundantis-f." 



Ubertas differs from the two former words, in referring, 

 not to the abfolute quantity alone exifting at a fpecified time, 

 but to the regular fupply of a neceflary wafte, and in fuppo- 

 fing the plenty denoted by all the terms uniformly continued. 

 The adjective uber, of which it is an abftracl, takes its power 

 from the fubftantive uber, fignifying that which contains the 

 milk of an animal giving fuck. " Nuper nati mammas appe- 

 " tunt, earumque ubertate faturantur J." From denoting the 

 regular fupply of this juice, defigned for fupporting the young 

 of animals, it has been transferred to another operation of na- 

 ture, vifible in the fertility of fields and trees. " Ubertatem 

 " frugum et frucluum a diis fe habere §." — " Facile eft reme- 

 " dium ubertatis, fterilia nullo labore vincuntur **." 



Last of all, ubertas has been figuratively applied to that in- 

 exhauftible ftore of fentiment and expreflion which forms a di- 



Vol. III. r ftinguifhed 



* Tac Agric. 6. \ Cic. de N. D. 77. b. 



\ Cic. Phil. 2. 66. ** Quina. 2. 4. 



% Cic. de N. D. 52. a. 



