82. Non licuit mihi Nequicquam cineres, animæque umbræque paternæ. tocum quærere Italos Non licuit fines Italos, fataliaque arva, fines 85. Cùm ingens lubricus anguis traxit septem gyros 87. Cui terga cœrulee notæ incendebant, et cujus squamam fulgor 90. Tandem ille serpens longo agmine inter 85 -90 Nec tecum Ausonium, quicunque est, quærere Tybrim. 95 100 Dona ferunt: onerant aras, mactantque juvencos. 105 bræque. Some consider these as genitives connected with and governed by cineres. Servius explains it upon the principles of Plato and Aristotle; who gave to man a fourfold soul-the intellectual, the sensual, the vital, and the vegetative. To each of these they assigned a shade or ghost. It is most probable the poet here, as elsewhere, uses the plural for the singular, in order to aggrandize his subject: that is, anime for anima, and umbra for umbra, in the voc. sing. This is the opinion of Ruæus and Heyne. 84. Adytis. The tomb of Anchises here is spoken of as a temple-a shrine. 87. Cui: in the sense of cujus. Terga: acc. plu. governed by incendebant, or some other verb of like import, understood. 88. Fulgor maculosus: a brightness variegated with gold-with a golden hue. Incendebat: made or rendered resplendent. 91. Serpens: a part. of the verb serpo, agreeing with ille in the preceding line. 92. Libavit dapes: tasted the banquet, and again, &c. The dapes was the offering to the shade of Anchises, spoken of 54, supra. 93. Depasta: fed upon-just tasted. 94. Instaurat: in the sense of renovat. Honores: in the sense of sacrificia. 95. Incertus-ne: uncertain whether he should consider him (the serpent) to be, &c. The ancients had a notion that there were Genii appointed, some the protectors of countries and cities, and others the guardians of particular persons, who never left them even after death. called upon his ghost to partake of the re98. Vocabat. Eneas here not merely past he had prepared, but invoked him as a god to be propitious to him, thereby deifying him. 99. Manes remissos Acheronte: the shade or ghost sent back from the dead to partake of the banquet. Acheron: a fabulous river of the dead, as here. of hell-often put for hell itself: or the place 100. Quæ copia est euique: in the sense of secundùm copiam quæ est unicuique. 101. Onerant: some copies have onerantque. Heinsius, Pierius, and Heyne omit the que. 103. Viscere: by this we are to understand the meat in general. 105. Equi Phaethontis: the horses of the sun brought the ninth, &c. Phaton, was the son of Phabus and Clymene. He obtained from his father the management of his chariot for one day; but unable to govern the fiery steeds, he was precipitated into the Po. See Ovid. Met. 2. Here put for the Sun himself. The poets represented the sun as drawn in a chariot by four horses, whose gon, all of Greek origin. names were Pyroïs, Eoüs, Ethon, and Phle Famaque finitimos et clari nomen Acestæ Prima pares ineunt gravibus certamina remis Est procul in pelago saxum, spumantia contra NOTES. 108. Eneadas: in the sense of Trojanos. 110. Sacri tripodes. The tripod was properly a kind of three-footed stool or table, on which were placed the sacred bowls and other vessels for the libation. It is called sacred on account of its various uses in the ceremonies of religion. We learn from Homer that the Greeks used to make presents of tripods to their heroes and great men. 111. Palma. The palm was the ordinaby prize of every conqueror at the games. Plutarch gives this reason for it; because the palm is a fit emblem of fortitude, as it is not crushed, nor borne down by any weight; but still maintains its growth, and rises superior to opposition. Perfusa dyed, or colored. Talenta: one talent of each. 116. Agit: in the sense of regit vel gubernat. Acri remige: with a valiant band of rowers. 117. A quo nomine: from whose name is the family of Memmius. In order to recommend himself to the noble families at Rome, Virgil derives their origin from Trojans of distinction. Genus: in the sense of familia. 118. Opus urbis in the sense of instar urbis. 119. Triplici versu: with a triple row of What Virgil says of the nature of these boats, is in anticipation; but it was oars. 110 115 111. Pretium destinatum victoribus 113. Tuba canit è medio aggere ludos commissos esse. 115. Quatuor carina delectæ ex omni classe, pares gravibus remis 117. A quo nomine oritur genus 118. Gyas agit ingentem Chimeram ex ingenti mole 121. Sergestusque, à 120 quo Sergia domus tenet nomen, invehitur magna Centauro; Cloanthusque invehitur cœruleâ Scylla; unde genus est tibi 125 127. Silet in tranquillo campus 129. Hic pater Æneas constituit viridem me130 tam ex frondenti ilice, tanquam signum nautis : unde. not necessary that he should conform exactly to chronological fact. The galley, it is well known, was not invented till long after, and was of various sizes. Some had two, some three, and others four banks, or rows of rowers: and, accordingly, they were called Biremis, Triremis, quadriremis, &c. Their banks of rowers were raised, slopingly one above another, so that those of the second bench rested their feet where those of the first were seated, &c. Remi consurgunt terno ordine. By this we are to understand that the oars rose together, and, as it were, kept time throughout the three rows. Rumus makes a distinction between versus and ordo. The first, according to him, signifies the series of oars reckoned horizontally from stem te stern. The ordines he makes to be the same oars reckoned vertically, or as they rose obliquely above one another. 121. Domus: properly the house, by meton. the family-race. 123. Genus: race-family. 125. Olim continually-usually. 126. Condunt: cover over-hide them in clouds. 127. Tranquillo. In calm weather this rock was visible; but in storins it was covered with waves, and resounded with the dash ing of the waters. It rose above the sur face like a plain. 132. Ipsi ductores Tum loca sorte egunt: ipsique in puppibus auro longè effulgent in pup- Ductores longè effulgent ostroque decori: pibus, decori auro os- Cætera populeâ velatur fronde juventus, troque. nitescit. 135. Perfusa quoad Nudatosque humeros oleo perfusa nitescit. nudatos humeros oleo Considunt transtris, intentaque brachia remis: Intenti expectant signum: exultantiaque haurit Corda pavor pulsans, laudumque arrecta cupido. Inde, ubi clara dedit sonitum tuba, finibus omnes, Haud mora, prosiluere suis ferit æthera clamor Nauticus; adductis spumant freta versa lacertis. Infindunt pariter sulcos: totumque dehiscit Convulsum remis ròstrisque tridentibus æquor. Non tam præcipites bijugo certamine campum 145. Currus non tam Corripuere, ruuntque effusi carcere, currus: præcipites corripuere Nec sic immissis aurigæ undarția lora campum alios: Concussere jugis, pronique in verbera pendent. 135 140 145 150 151. Gyas effugit ante : primusque elabi- Effugit ante alios, primusque elabitur undis tur undis inter turbam Turbam inter fremitumque Gyas: quem deinde Cloanthus fremitumque. Consequitur, melior remis; sed pondere pinus NOTES. 134. Populea fronde. Servius observes, the reason of their wearing garlands of the poplar tree, was, that they were celebrating funeral games. Hercules, it is said, brought that tree from the infernal regions. 136. Brachia intenta remis: their arms are stretched to the oars. Rumus has no stop after remis, but connects it with the following words. This, however, is not so easy and, beside, it takes from the solemnity of the description. The verb sunt is understood. It 133. Pulsans pavor: throbbing fear, and an eager desire of praise, draws their beating hearts. This is very expressive. raises such palpitations in their breasts, as if it would draw their hearts out of their bodies. Pulsans is a very proper epithet to pavor, beating-palpitating. 139. Finibus. Finis, here, means the line, place, or bound, from which they start-the mark. Sonitum: the signal. 141. Lacertis adductis. Dr. Trapp observes, by this we are to understand the motions of the rowers, when, in pulling at the oar, they draw the arms close to the body. This they do, especially when they row with all their strength. 142. Infindunt pariter sulcos: they cleave furrows in the sea at the same time-they start all at once. 143. Equor convulsum: the whole surface of the sea convulsed, &c. Some editions have stridentibus. But this violates the measure of the verse; the first syllable of stridentibus being always long. Ancient medals explain the matter; on some of which there is plainly seen a rostrum, or beak of a ship with three teeth. Tridens, of tres and dens. 144. Præcipites: in the sense of celeres. Certamine: the chariot race. Bijugo signifies or implies that two horses were yoked or harnessed in the chariot. Macrobius observes that Virgil here excels Homer. Indeed nothing can be more finely imagined, or represented more to the life. Carcer: the mark, or starting place; meta, the goal or turning place. Currus, by neton. for equi. 146. Nec auriga sic: nor have the charioteers so shook, &c. Jugis: the yoke, by meton, put for the horses harnessed in it. Immissis jugis: the horses flying with loosened reins-at full speed. 148. Studiis: in the sense of acclamationibus. 149. Litora inclusa, &c. Ruæus observes that this is, by a figure called commutatio, for volutant inclusam vocem. Or perhaps inclusa may be taken here in the sense curva. of 151. Primus. Davidson has primis, agreeing with undis. He glides away on the nearest waves. Primus is however the easier, and conveys the same idea. It is the reading of Rumus and others. Resultant: echo it back. 153. Pinus: the timber of the pine tree, put by meton. for the ship or galley made of it. Tarda tenet. Post hos, æquo discrimine, Pristis 155 160 165 170 Jamque propinquabant scopulo, metamque tenebant; NOTES. 154. Discrimine; in the sense of intervallo. Superare: in the sense of occupare, vel ob linere. 156. Habet. This is the reading of Heinsius, Heyne, Davidson, and others. Ruæus has abil. 157. Junctis frontibus. They moved on together head and head. Neither one gaining of the other. It is of the same import with aquatis rostris. 158. Salsa vada: the briny sea. 174. Oblitusque sui 175 decoris, salutisque sociûm, deturbat segnem Menoten, præcipitem 180 178. At ut Menetes senior et gravis undis jam tandem vix redditus est imo fundo; fluensque in madida veste, petit summa scopuli, reseditque cut along the left way (iter lævum) and suddenly passed Gyas, who just before had been ahead of him; præterit Gyam modò priorem. Both in the naval and chariot race the great art lay in turning as near the goal as possible. For the nearer they kept to it, the shorter circumference they had to make, and the less distance to run. This was a great advantage to be gained, but it was attended with danger. Subitus. Some copies have subitò. The sense is the same with either. 160. Princeps in the sense of primus. Heyne has subitò, on the authority of BurGurgite in the sense of mari. 161. Rectorem: the helmsman-steersman. 162. Mihi. Rumus conjectures that mihi here is merely expletive, as in many other places. Ama litus: keep close to or hug the rock. 166. Diversus: contrary—a different way. 170. Ille radit interior, &c. In the races it was customary to keep the meta, or goal, on the left hand. This will serve to explain the present case. Cloanthus on the inside (interior) and nearer the meta than Gyas, mannus; but observes that the other is the more poetical. 172. Juveni: the dat. in the sense of the gen. 174. Decoris: in the sense of dignitatis. 176. Rector ipse. Gyas hitherto had only acted as pilot. He now discharges the office both of pilot and helmsman. 177. Litora: to the rock or goal. 178. Redditus est: issued or rose from, with difficulty. 183. Accensa est: was kindled arose. 186. Nec tamen ille Nec totâ tamen ille prior præeunte carinâ : est prior, tota carinà Parte prior, partem rostro premit æmula Pristis. præeunte; una parte est At mediâ socios incedens nave per ipsos prior; Emula Pristis premit aliam partem Hortatur Mnestheus: Nunc, nunc insurgite remis, Hectorei socii, Trojæ quos sorte supremâ rostro. 194. Ego Mnestheus non peto prima loca Delegi comites: nunc illas promite vires, 190 Non jam prima peto Mnestheus, neque vincere certo : Quanquam ô! sed superent, quibus hoc, Neptune, dedisti. 196 O utinam possem Extremos pudeat rediisse: hoc vincite, cives, 196 Et prohibete nefas. Olli certamine summo 200 202. Namque dum Namque furens animi dum proram ad saxa suburget Sergestus furens animi Interior, spatioque subit Sergestus iniquo; suburget proram Infelix saxis in procurrentibus hæsit. 190. Hectorei socii: my brave companions, whom I chose, &c. In order to animate them the more, he calls them Hectorei, as brave and valiant as Hector. Nothing can be more expressive. Sorte: in the sense of ruinâ, vel exitio. 192. Gætulis: African. The Gatuli were a people of Africa, not far from Carthage. The word is here used as an adj. Syrtibus: see En. i. 111. Usi: sunt is to be supplied. 193. Ionio mari. That part of the Mediterranean lying between Epirus, Italy, and Sicily, was called the Ionian sea. Through or over this sea Æneas passed with his fleet. Malea. Malex, a promontory of the Peloponnesus between the Sinus Argolicus and the Sinus Laconicus, extending about five miles into the sea. It was dangerous sailing near it. It gave rise to the proverb, Maleam legens, obliviscere, quæ sunt domi. The epithet sequacibus, given to the waves of that coast, represents them as so many fierce and devouring monsters, that pursued ships in order to overwhelm them. 195. Quanquam, ô! This is an instance where Virgil is eloquent even in silence. This abrupt exclamation is more expressive of the mind of Mnestheus than any words could have been, especially to those who saw the looks and gestures that would accompany his voice. Having observed that he did not strive with an expectation of conquering, he turns upon himself: O that I could! but let them conquer, to whom, O Neptune, thou hast given that honor. 205 -197. Nefas: disgrace-ignominy, of being the last to come out. Olli: by antithesis for illi, they. Procumbunt: they ply their oars with the greatest earnestnessthey spring upon them with all their strength. 199. Solum subtrahitur: the surface is drawn from under them. Whatever is spread under any thing as its support and foundation is called in Latin solum, as the sea is to a ship; the air to a fowl on the wing. So rapidly did the galley move that the surface of the sea seemed to withdraw from under her. 201. Casus ipse: chance itself—mere chance. 202. Suburget proram: while he presses the prow to the rock on the inside, &c. Interior, between Mnestheus and the goal, taking a nearer course to it. But he had not left to himself sufficient room, and was therefore forced to run his galley upon that part of the rock which projected farther than the other points of the same rock. Ruæus reads prorâ in the abl. Heyne, Davidson, and Valpy, read proram. 203. Iniquo: in the sense of angusto. 205. Cautes concussa: the rocks were struck. In other words, the galley received a violent shock; for action and reaction are equal. Murice. Murex properly signifies the shell-fish, of the liquor of which, it was thought, purple color was made. Hence it is taken for the prominence of a rock, which tapers into a sharp point like the shell of that fish. 206. Crepuere: in the sense of fracti sunt. The prow ran or slid up upon the rock, and in that elevated situation stuck fast. |