Et vox assensu nemorum ingeminata remugit. Seu quis, Olympiacæ miratus præmia palmæ, Pascit equos, seu quis fortes ad aratra juvencos; 52. Forma torve bo- Corpora præcipuè matrum legat. Optima torvæ vis est optima, cui est Forma bovis, cui turpe caput, cui plurima cervix, turpe caput, cui est plurima cervix, et cui paEt crurum tenùs à mento palearia pendent. learia pendent à mento Tum longo nullus lateri modus: omnia magna; Pes etiam, et camuris hirtæ sub cornibus aures. 54. Omnia membra Nec mihi displiceat maculis insignis et albo : Aut juga detrectans, interdumque aspera cornu, 56. Nec vacca insignis maculis et albo dis- Et faciem tauro proprior: quæque ardua tota, pliceat mihi: Et gradiens imâ verrit vestigia caudâ. tenùs crurum. sunt magna: que est tota 62. Cætera ætas ea 58. Et est propior tau- Etas Lucinam justosque pati Hymenæos ro quoad faciem: quæ- Desinit ante decem, post quatuor incipit annos : Cætera nec fæturæ habilis; nec fortis aratris. rum est nec habilis fœtu- Intereà, superat gregibus dum læta juventus, ræ, nec est fortis aratris. Solve mares: mitte in Venerem pecuaria primus, 69. Erunt semper ali- Atque aliam ex aliâ generando suffice prolem. quæ pecudes, quarum Optima quæque dies miseris mortalibus ævi Enim semper refice ar- Prima fugit: subeunt morbi, tristisque senectus: menta; ac, ne pòst requi- Et labor, et duræ rapit inclementia mortis. ras ea amissa, anteveni Semper erunt, quarum mutari corpora malis: corpora, tu malis mutari. NOTES. 45. Vox Assensu, &c. The meaning is, that the groves unite in inviting him, and echo back the call. 46. Ardentes: in the sense of illustres. Accingar: in the sense of the Greek middle voice: I will prepare myself. The poet here seems to intimate his purpose of writing the Eneid; which was chiefly designed to flatter Augustus and the Roman people. 48. Tithoni. Tithonus was either the son or brother of Laomedon, and greatly beloved by Aurora. From his time down to Augustus, were one thousand years, according to the best accounts. But to extend his fame only for that length of time, would not come up to the design of the poet, whose wish was to perpetuate his fame to the latest posterity. According to Servius and Eustathius, Tithonus may here be taken for the sun, in the same sense that Titan is; they both being derived from the same Greek verb. This would fully come up to the views of the poet in immortalizing his prince. The sun having existed from the beginning of time, may be considered a quædam eternitas; or the poet may assume the definite number, 1000 years, for an indefinite period. See En. iv. 585. 51. Legat: in the sense of eligat. 52. Turpe: large-disproportionate. Bovis: in the sense of vacca. 56. Maculis et albo: the same as albis maculis, by Hendiadis. Aspera: pushing, or butting. 45 50 55 60 65 60. Lucinam: the goddess of child-bearing, so called à luce, quam infantibus dabat. by meton. child-bearing itself—the bringing forth of young in general. Hymenaeos. Hymen or Hymenæus, was the son of Bacchus and Venus; the god of marriage: by meton. marriage itself—also the intercourse of the sexes, as in the present instance. The meaning of the poet is, that the proper time for cattle to breed, ends before the tenth, and begins after the fourth year of their age. 63. Intereà: in the mean time-between the years of four and ten, let loose the males among your herds. Superat: abounds—is vigorous. 64. Pecuaria: properly pasture grounds: by meton. the cattle fed upon them. Here, the females; the boves, vel vacca. 65. Suffice: raise up one stock after another. Evi: in the sense of vitæ. 68. Inclementia: rigor-severity. 69. Semper erunt. This, and the two following lines, Dr. Trapp thinks to be an interpolation. He says, the sense of the whole three lines is extremely jejune and flat. What occasion of admonishing the farmer to continue the succession of his cattle? The thing had just been expressed before. Let it be further considered, what a different face it puts upon the whole, if these lines are left out. Having concluded the article of the propagation of kine, with that fine reflection upon the imperfect state Semper enim refice: ac, ne pòst amissa requiras, Necnon et pecori est idem delectus equino. Hunc quoque, ubi aut morbo gravis, aut jam segnior Deficit, abde domo, nec turpi ignosce senectæ. [annis NOTES. of mortality, he immediately passes on to the propagation of horses. And what further confirms him in this opinion, is, the use of the verbs antevenio and sortior. The former, says he, is no where else used by Virgil; and the latter never, in the sense it is used here for substituo. 71. Sobolem: a succession-issue. 73. Submittere: in the sense of seponere. 75. Pullus generosi: a colt of generous breed of noble blood. Continuò: from the first-as soon as foaled. 76. Reponit mollia crura: he moves his pliant, or nimble legs. Reponit implies both the alternate movements of his feet, and the quickness and frequency of them. 81. Luxuriat toris: his courageous breast abounds (swells out) in muscles. 82. Spadices, glauci: the bright bay, and dappled-gray, are good colors; the worst color is the white and dun. It is very difficult, as Dr. Trapp observes, to ascertain the names of colors in a foreign and dead language. Besides, one nation may prefer this color, and another may prefer that. He takes albus for a dull, dirty white, and to be distinguished from candidus; because, anleire nives candore, Virgil makes the mark of a fine horse. See En. xii. 84. 84. Fremens. The common reading is premens; but several ancient copies have fre 90. Et tales erant bijuges equi Martis, et currus magni Achilles, quorum mens, as Heyne informs us. That learned editor reads, fremens. Ignem: in the sense of calorem, vel ardentes anhelitus. Of the horses of Diomede, Lucretius says: ignem naribus spiraverunt. 87. Duplex: round-large. In a lean horse, as the spine or back-bone rises up sharp; so in a fat horse, there is a kind of hollow or gutter running through the middle of the back, and seeming to divide it into two parts. In this sense, duplex spina may be a double spine. Agitur: passes along, or extends. 87. Lumbos: in the sense of dorsum, vel tergum. 89. Talis Cyllarus: such was Cyllarus, broke by the reins, &c. Amyclai: an adj. from Amycla, a city of Laconia, not far from Lacedæmon, where Castor and Pollux were born. Hence they are sometimes called Lacedæmonii, as well as Amyclæi. Cyllarus was the name of the horse. 91. Currus: in the sense of equi, by me ton. 92. Et talis pernix Saturnus ipse: and such swift Saturn himself spread his mane. Saturn, as the poets say, was in love with Philyra, the daughter of Oceanus. During their amours, on a certain occasion, Rhea, his wife, came upon them. To prevent a discovery, Saturn transformed himself into 97. Senior equus est Frigidus in Venerem senior, frustràque laborem frigidus Ingratum trahit: et, si quando ad prælia ventum est, Ut quondam in stipulis magnus sinè viribus ignis, Incassùm furit. Ergò animos ævumque notabis Præcipuè hinc alias artes, prolemque parentum: 102. Quis dolor sit Et quis cuique dolor victo, quæ gloria palmæ. cuique victo, quæ glo- Nonne vides? cùm præcipiti certamine campum ria sit cuique palmæ Corripuere, ruuntque effusi carcere currus ; arrectæ sunt. 105. Spes juvenum Cùm spes arrectæ juvenum, exultantiaque haurit Corda pavor pulsans: illi instant verbere torto, Et proni dant lora: volat vi fervidus axis : Jamque humiles, jamque elati sublimè videntur Aëra per vacuum ferri, atque assurgere in auras. Nec mora, nec requies. At fulvæ nimbus arenæ 111. Equi humescunt Tollitur: humescunt spumis flatuque sequentûm : spumis flatuque eorum Tantus amor laudum, tantæ est victoria curæ. sequentûm 116. Dorso equorum 117. Et merare equum glo Primus Erichthonius currus et quatuor ausus Jungere equos, rapidisque rotis insistere victor. Fræna Pelethronii Lapithæ, gyrosque dedêre, 118. Magistri utrius- Impositi dorso; atque equitem docuere sub armis que artis æquè exquirunt Insultare solo, et gressus glomerare superbos. equum juvenemque, cali- Equus uterque labor: æquè juvenemque magistri 120. Non exquirunt Exquirunt, calidumque animis, et cursibus acrem : Quamvis sæpe fugâ versos ille egerit hostes, dumque animis senem equum quamvis 122. Ipsa origine equi Neptuni. 123. Tempus admissuræ; et 124. Distendere equum denso pingui, quem Et patriam Epirum referat, fortesque Mycenas ; His animadversis, instant sub tempus; et omnes a horse, and fled to Pelion, a mountain of Thessaly, filling it with his shrill neighings. Philyra bore to him Chiron, one of the Cen taurs. 96. Ignosce senectæ nec turpi: spare his old age, not inglorious. This is the sense usually given to the words, and implies that the old horse should be treated with kindness and humanity, now in his old age, in consequence of his former glorious deeds. Abde hunc domo: in the sense of include hunc stabulis. 101. Hinc alias artes: after that (you should observe) his other qualities. Artes here evidently means the qualities, properties, or endowments of the horse. Prolem: the stock, breed, or ancestry. 102. Palma: to the victor, or conqueror. The palm of victory, by meton. put for the victor, or conqueror. In 104. Effusi starting-springing. races, carcer was the mark, or starting place. Exultantia: beating-palpitating. 107. Vi: with the rapid motion of the wheel. 114. Rapidis rotis. This is the common reading. But Heinsius and Heyne read rapidus in the nom. agreeing with victor. Rotis: properly the wheels; by meton. the chariot borne upon them. 100 105 110 115 120 125 115. Lapitha: a people of Thessaly, near mount Pelion. Pelethronii: an adj. from Pelethronium, one of their cities. The meaning of the poet appears to be this: that Erichthonius invented the use of the chariot and horses, and that the Lapitha afterward improved upon the use of the horse by managing him with the bridle, and turning him about with the reins at their will. Dedêre: in the sense of invenerunt.. 116. Equitem. Ruæus takes this in the sense of equum. Heyne observes that the old grammarians understood it in the same sense. But Davidson refers the whole to the rider. It appears that the last clause of the following line should be applied to the horse rather than to the rider. Eques: properly, the rider; by meton. the horse. 118. Uterque labor æquus: each labor, or art, is equal; the management of horses in the chariot, and the management of them with the bridle. 121. Epirum- Mycenas. Epirus and Mycena were both famous for their excellent horses. Referat: have, claim, or boast. 124. Pingui: in the sense of pinguedine. 125. Maritum: in the sense of admissarium. Pubentesque secant herbas, fluviosque ministrant, Est lucos Silari circa, ilicibusque virentem NOTES. 127. Superesse: to accomplish-be sufficient for. Fluvios: in the sense of aquam copiosam. 128. Nati: the colts. Referant: in the sense of ferant. 129. Volentes: willing-on purpose, or with design. Armenta here is evidently taken for equas, the mares. 131. Frondes: in the sense of pabulum, vel victum. Quatiunt; in the sense of agi tant. 135. Ne usus genitali arvo sit obtusior nemio luxu. These words Ruæus interprets thus: Ne trajectus (via) genitalis partis sit strictior ob nimiam pinguitudinem. 136. Oblimet: in the sense of claudat. 137. Venerem: the object of their desire -the semen masculinum. 142. Acri fugâ in the sense of celeri cursu. Rapaces: in the sense of rapidos. 143. Sallibus. Saltus is properly an opening, or vacant space, in a grove, or park. It is, however, sometimes used in the sense of nemus and lucus; from the verb salio. Ruæus says spatiis apertis. 145. Saxea umbra: a rocky shade may fall on them-a rocky clift may project over them, under which they may be sheltered from the sun and rains. 146. Circa lucos Silari, Alburnumque. Silarus, a river of Italy, in Lucania: hodie Selo, Alburnum: Alburnus, a mountain in Italy, abounding in the holm-oak: hodie Alborno; out of which issues the river Tanagrus, small, and nearly dry in summer. Plurimus volitans: around the groves, &c. there are many flies, to which asylus is the Roman name, but the Greeks called it astron. This construction is very peculiar; the idiom we cannot introduce into our language. Plurimus volitans we must take in the sense of plurimi volitantes. Cui nomen asylo. This is evidently the same as cui asylus est Romano nomini: perhaps by antiptosis. Asylus is what we commonly call the gad-fly, or breeze. It is the same as the tabanus, or tabanum. The sting of this insect causes great pain to the animal that is wounded by it. 148. Vocantes vertêre: simply, vocaverunt, vel reddiderunt. 10 149. Acerbà: an adj. neu. plu. taken as an adverb in imitation of the Greeks; the same as acerbè. Asper. This may have reference to the sharpness of its bite or sting. Sonans: making a sharp or shrill noise. 150. Furit: in the sense of resonat. 153. Inachia juvenca. Io, the daughter of Inachus, king of the Argives, (or of a 154. Hunc asilum Hunc quoque (nam mediis fervoribus acrior instat) Arcebis gravido pecori; armentaque pasces, Sole recèns orto, aut noctem ducentibus astris. Post partum, cura in vitulos traducitur omnis : Continuòque notas et nomina gentis inurunt: 159. Et notant eos, Et quos, aut pecori malint submittere habendo, quos malint aut submit- Aut aris servare sacros, aut scindere terram, tere pecori Et campum horrentem fractis invertere glebis. Cætera pascuntur virides armenta per herbas. Tu, quos ad studium atque usum formabis agrestem, 164. Jam tu hortare Jam vitulos hortare, viamque insiste domandi ; vitulos, quos formabis Dum faciles animi juvenum, dum mobilis ætas. ad studium 155 160 165 Ac primùm laxos tenui de vimine circlos Junge pares, et coge gradum conferre, juvencos. 170 Per terram, et summo vestigia pulvere signent. 174. Intereà carpes Intereà pubi indomitæ non gramina tantùm, NOTES. river god of that name,) whom Jupiter transformed into a heifer, when he was likely to be surprised by Juno in his amour with her. But discovering the trick, the goddess sent Asilus to torment her. Upon which she fled to Egypt; where Jupiter, taking pity on her, restored her to her proper shape. After which, she was married to king Osiris; and, after her death, was worshipped as a goddess under the name of Isis. 154. Mediis fervoribus: for media die. 158. Inurut: in the sense of imprimunt. 159. Submillere: to set apart for breeders -for propagating your stock or herd. 161. Horrentem: in the sense of asperum. 162. Cætera armenta. The poet's meaning is plainly this: that those calves that are designed for breeding, for sacrifice, or for the plough, are to be particularly designated, and taken care of; while it is sufficient for the rest of the herd to feed at large, without any such care or attention; and with regard to those designed for the plough, they should be trained up from the first, and be accustomed to the yoke, while they are docile and tractable. 164. Hortare: imp. of hortor: teach, or train up. Ad studium: for labor. Mobilis: in the sense of docilis. 166. Circlos: by syn. for circulos: bind loose collars about their necks. 175 172. Valido: in the sense of magno. Orbes: for rotas, wheels. 174. Pubi indomita: for your steers unbroken-not entirely subdued to the yoke. 175. Ulvam. The ulva was a kind of grass, which grew in marshy grounds. We have no particular name for it in our language. Nec: in the sense of el. 176. Frumenta sata: planted, or sown corn, The poet would have the farmer to under stand, that the care of his steers is so important, that he should not only gather for them grass, and the tender leaves of the willow, and the marshy ulva; but even the growing corn. He should consider nothing too costly for them. 177. Fate vacca: your suckling cows. Fata: having young. The word also sigfies, being with young. |