Tum vieina astris Erycino in vertice sedes Iamque dies epulata novem gens omnis, et aris unius corpus nulla re praeterquam 759.] The temple of Venus on Mount Eryx was famous. Tac. A. 4. 43 says that the Segestans sent an embassy to Rome, begging that the temple might be restored, "nota memorantes de origine eius et laeta Tiberio," doubtless its foundation by Aeneas. "Turrim. . . sub astra Eductam" 2. 460. 760.] 'Idaliae' seems an ordinary epithet, as Venus is not likely to have been specially worshipped on Mount Eryx as Idalia, though Venus Erycina was worshipped at Rome, Livy 22. 10. 761.] Anchises, as a hero, has a Téμevos or sacred plot of ground be. stowed on him. Comp. 3. 302 foll., where we read of a similar honour to Hector. 'Anchiseo' suggests the Greek way of indicating a temple by a neuter adjective, rò 'Ayxioetov. 'Late' may be either taken with 'lucus' ("lucus amplus et totus sacer") or with 'sacer,' 'known far and wide for sanctity.' The spondaic ending Anchiseo' is in the fashion of Greek poetry. 762.] We have already had the 'novemdiale' (see on v. 64): but Virg. may be thinking of the solemnities of which that formed the close, and perhaps also of the other 'novem 760 765 770 diale,' which actually lasted nine days (Dict. A. s. v.), though it had nothing to do with a funeral. 763.] See E. 2. 26 note. 764.] Comp. 3. 70. With 'creber' comp. 3. 530, "Crebescunt optatae aurae." 766.] Comp. Livy 7. 42, "couplecti inter se lacrimantes milites coepisse." Noctemque diemque' is best taken as the ordinary acc. of the object, they prolong the night and the day by their embraces,' something like "fando surgentis demoror austros" 3. 481. The notion is partly that of making the time move slowly by crowding so much into it (comp. 1. 748 note), partly that of actually prolonging the time before sailing. 768.] The MSS. vary between 'nomen' and 'numen,' the former of which is the simpler. 769.] Comp. v. 619 above, 3. 160. 771.] Consanguineo,' his and their kinsmen, as being half Trojan. It shows the ground on which Aeneas commits them to Acestes' protection. 772.] Eryx is worshipped as a hero. "Immolabitur.... agna Tempestatibus" Hor. Epod. 10. 24. Comp. above 3. 120. 773.] 'Caedere' followed by 'solvi:' comp. 3. 61, E. 6. 85. Ex ordine' i. q. 'rite,' like 'ordine' above, v. 53, the reference here being to the previous sacrifices. Ipse, caput tonsae foliis evinctus olivae, 780 Stans procul in prora pateram tenet, extaque salsos 775 Causas tanti sciat illa furoris. Ipse mihi nuper Libycis tu testis in undis Per scelus ecce etiam Troianis matribus actis · 785 790 785.] Media de gente: Juno is not satisfied with having torn Troy as it were out of the heart of Phrygia. 'Exedisse:' Virg. was probably thinking of the taunt of Zeus to Hera, Il. 4. 34 foll.: ὠμὸν βεβρώθοις Πρίαμον Πριάμοιό τε παῖδας. 786.] Traxe,' an abbreviated form, like "exstinxti" 4. 682, "vixet" 11. 118. So "abstraxe" Lucr. 3. 650. Its strangeness has led to many alterations in the MSS. Comp. 3. 315, "vitam extrema per omnia duco." ་ 788.] Let her be well assured that she has reasons, for I know of none.' 790.] Quam molem,' what a mass of trouble: comp. 1. 134, "tantas audetis tollere moles," a passage generally similar to this. 793.] Per scelus' may be taken either with 'exussit,' in which case it would 'wickedly' (as "per artem" 'artfully'), or with actis:' comp. such expressions as d' üßpews μολοῦσαι, ἀγόμεναι, &c., and “Gens humana ruit per vetitum et nefas Hor. 1 Od. 3. 26. Exussit foede puppis, et classe subegit 794.] Subegit,' understand Aeneam. 'Classe amissa' is of course exaggerated, though she qualifies the words in v. 796. There is the same spirit of exaggeration in her language, 1. 251, where she talks of "navibus amissis," though she doubtless knew at the time that only one ship was really lost. 795.] Ignotae' is another touch of exaggeration, as elsewhere the Trojans speak of Sicily as familiar and friendly, above vv. 24, 28 foll., 630. 796.] Quod superest' seems best taken of the remaining ships and their crews, though it might = 'all that is now possible for us to obtain from you.' Dare vela tibi, to entrust our sails to thee, i.e. Neptune: comp. "dare vela pelago" G. 2. 41. 798.] Ea moenia' has to be explained from the previous knowledge of Neptune, as no city has been mentioned. Comp. 3. 100, "quae sint ea moenia quaerunt," where the reference is scarcely more direct. With 'dant' comp. v. 737 above. ་ are 799.] The rhythm of this line is harsh probably however we meant to pause at 'haec,' separating 'Saturnius' from 'domitor.' 800. "Fas omne" 3. 55. "Fas fidere" 2. 402. 801.] Merui' I deserved that you should trust me. Beside the general 795 800 805 in ground for Venus' confidence, Neptune had given her further reason by his personal interference Aeneas' behalf. Tantos' should be supplied to 'furores' from 'tantami in the next line. 803.] Xanthum Simoentaque testor' is explained by what follows. The combat of Aeneas with Achilles (II. 20. 158 foll.) happened before the ayn maражотáμios of Il. 21, but both took place on the same occasion, the return of Achilles to battle, so that it is scarcely inaccurate to speak of them as contemporaneous. 804, 805.] See the latter part of Il. 20 and 11. 21. The expression seems to be taken from Il. 21. 295, Karà Ιλιόφι κλυτὰ τείχεα λαὸν ξέλσαι Τρωικόν, ός κε φύγῃσι. 'Inpingo' similarly used by Tac. H. 2. 41. The 806.] Daret leto' G. 3. 480. phrase was a common one at Rome, it being the custom to announce a public funeral (hence called "funus indictivum ") by the herald in the words "Ollus Quiris leto datus est." 807.] Amnes,' as Scamander invokes Simois against Achilles, Il. 21. 307 foll. Evolvere' is used in postAugustan prose of rivers emptying themselves. 809.] Viribus aequis' occurs again in a similar connexion 10. 357, 431., 12. 218. With the sense comp. generally v. 466 above. Nube cava rapui, cuperem cum vertere ab imo 810 Nunc quoque mens eadem perstat mihi; pelle timorem. Unus erit tantum, amissum quem gurgite quaeres ; His ubi laeta deae permulsit pectora dictis, 810.] Nube cava 1. 516. The description is not quite the same as that in I. 20. 321, where Poseidon puts a mist before the eyes of Achilles and then takes Aeneas away, but Virg. was doubtless thinking of other instances where Homeric gods carry off warriors in clouds, as in Il. 20. 444., 21. 597. "Ex imo verti Neptunia Troia" 2. 625. 811.] Periurae,' referring to the treachery of Laomedon in refusing to Poseidon the wages stipulated for the building of the walls of Troy. 813.]Fortus Averni' is the harbour of Cumae. Comp. 3. 441, 442., 6. 236 foll., and G. 2. 161. Neptune promises that Aeneas shall reach Cumae, and when there the dangers of the voyage would be in fact over. 814.] The person referred to is of course Palinurus, not Misenus. 816.] Here, as in 1. 147, 156, Neptune mounts his car and rides over the waves to smooth them. 817.] 'Aurum' a thing made of gold, as 1. 739: whether here it refers to the yoke or the harness is not clear. Claudian, Phoenix 86, uses it of a golden bit ("auro frenat equum"), imitating this passage. 'Genitor of Neptune 1. 155, as of Tiber 8. 72, like 'pater.' 'Frena addit,' puts on the bridles, harnesses them. Frena spumantia" 4. 135. 818.] Feris:' note on 2. 51. Here it may be meant to express the spirit of the animals, like "ferox" in 4. 135 just referred to. 815 820 "Omnis effundit 819.] Comp. 1. 147. Caeruleus' of marine things G. 4. 388, though here it may be meant to be taken strictly. 'Levis' seems to include easy motion (6. 17., E. 1. 60) and light pressure. Comp. v. 838 below. 820.] Tonanti' seems to refer to the sounding of the sea, of which Virg. has chosen to remind us, perhaps with a little sacrifice of propriety, by affixing the epithet to the chariotwheel at the time when it is calming the waves. 821.] It may be doubted here and in 8. 89, whether 'aquis' is abl., 'in respect of,' or 'with its waters,' or dat., 'a smooth surface is laid for the waters.' 'Vasto' here may be meant to impress slightly the notion of the sky as a desert when unpeopled by clouds, not unlike "aera per vacuum G. 3. 109. 822.] A prose writer would have said "comites varia facie." 'Cete' a Greek pl., like 'mele,' 'pelage,' in Lucr. 823.] Glauci chorus' like "Phorci chorus" above v. 240. Senior,' old, like Glaucus himself, who was represented as so covered with marine incrustations as to have lost all trace of his pristine form (Plato, Rep. 10, p. 611), and to be constantly bewailing his immortality (Schol. on Plato 1. c.). 'Inous Palaemon' G. 1. 437. Tritonesque citi, Phorcique exercitus omnis; Hic patris Aeneae suspensam blanda vicissim Una omnes fecere pedem, pariterque sinistros, 829.] Seeing the winds favourable, he orders the masts to be set up and the sails spread. Bracchia' are the sail-yards, "veluti bracchia mali," a metaphor perhaps invented by Virg. 'Velis' abl.,' the yards to be stretched upon with the sails.' 830.] The important words are una, pariter,' and 'una,' the rest being merely a description of sailing with a more or less shifting wind. 'Pedes' or Tódes were the ropes attached to the two lower corners of a square sail, the sheets (Dict. A. 'Ships'). The word is as old as Hom., occurring Od. 5. 260., 10. 32. These are fastened to the sides of the vessel, towards the stern, an operation briefly expressed by 'fecere,' which follows the analogy of "facere vela." The wind keeps shifting, so the sails are spread ("solvere vela" 4. 574, opp. to "legere "), first left, then right, to catch it, and this is done pariter' (like 'una') by all the vessels at the same time. The omission of 'nunc before 'sinistros' is to be noted. Forc. 825 830 835 says it occurs sometimes, but gives no other instance of it. 832.] Cornua,' the extremities of the antennae' (3. 549 note), are turned this way and that, torquent detorquentque, as the sail is shifted. 'Sua flamina,' its own or prosperous breezes: comp. "ventis iturus non suis" Hor. Epod. 9. 30, showing that what is said of the shifting of the wind above is not intended to be more than may happen in the most favourable voyage. 40. 833.] "Primus ante omnis" 2. 834.] Ad hunc,' after or according to him. The accusative generally expresses, what is here implied, the rule or law that is followed, as "ad voluntatem," "ad arbitrium," "ad nutum," "ad numerum." 835.] "Mediam metam" is a metaphor from the diavλos, or race round the goal and back again, in which therefore the goal marks that half the course is over. But it is possible that Virg. may have an entirely different meaning, considering the arch of the sky as a 'meta' or cone, of which the topmost point is reached at midnight. Pliny 2. 10 speaks of the shade of the earth as "similem metae ac turbini inverso." 837.] The meaning seems to be that they slept on the benches beside their oars. 'Dura' is a touch of late civilization which we should scarcely have found in Hom. |