ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors make some remarks about the character of the Carmen Saeculare. The song is a series of prayers: it starts with a prayer to the presiding gods Apollo and Diana to fulfil the prayers of the Romans: date quae precamur tempore sacro. A formal peculiarity is to be noted in our stanza: The pattern of prayer shining through is well-known from time immemorial whereby the god or goddess addressed is reminded of a similar service rendered previously, often strengthened by pointing out how well the supplicant has fulfilled his obligations towards the god on his part. In this way, he is making his prayer all the more justified. In the author's interpretation they have accordingly to do with two relative clauses. To say that quod has a double function, as nominative with dictum and accusative with servat, is not an adequate description, however.
