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Egregium formâ juvenem, et fulgentibus armis ; Sed frons læta parùm, et dejecto lumina vultu : Quis, pater, ille virum qui sic comitatur euntem ? 865. Quis strepitus Filius? anne aliquis magnâ de stirpe nepotum ? comitum est circa eum! Quis strepitus circà comitum ! quantum instar in ipso est! quantum instar Mar- Sed nox atra caput tristi circumvolat umbrâ. celli est in ipso!

magnam urbem

869. Neque sinent eum Tum pater Anchises lachrymis ingressus obortis : esse ultrà. Romana O nate, ingentem luctum ne quære tuorum: propago visa esset vobis, Ostendent terris hunc tantùm fata, neque ultrà O Superi, esse nimiùm Esse sinent. Nimiùm vobis Romana propago potens, si Visa potens, Superi, propria hæc si dona fuissent. 872. Quantos gemitus virum ille campus ad Quantos ille virum magnam Mavortis ad urbem Campus aget gemitus! vel quæ, Tyberine, videbis Funera, cùm tumulum præterlabêre recentem! Nec puer Iliacâ quisquam de gente Latinos In tantùm spe tollet avos: nec Romula quondam Ullo se tantùm tellus jactabit alumno. Heu pietas heu prisca fides! invictaque bello Dextera! non illi quisquam se impunè tulisset Obvius armato: seu cùm pedes iret in hostem, Seu spumantis equi foderet calcaribus armos. NOTES.

879. Non quisquam obvius tulisset se illi armato impunè, seu

we are to understand by Patri Quirino, to whom these spoils were to be suspended and offered. Nascimbenus explains Quirino by Marte, vel bello. He suspends to father Jove the spoils taken (capta) in battle. Servius, by Quirino understands Romulus. He suspends to father Romulus, &c. and produces a law of Numa which ordered the first spolia opima to be offered to Jupiter, the second to Mars, and the third to Romulus. But this law regarded those who might repeat the spolia opima. Ruæus understands by Patri Quirino, Jupiter Feretrius, in the same manner as Janus is called Quirinus by Suetonius; because he presided over war, and because his temple was built by Romulus Quirinus. He thinks Jupiter Fcretrius may be called Quirinus. Suspendet, &c. he shall suspend to father Jove the third triumphal spoils taken from the enemy. Marcellus was of a plebeian family, and was advanced to the consulship five times. In his third, he was sent to Sicily, where he distinguished himself in the defeat of Hannibal. He laid siege to Syracuse, and took it after he had been before it three years. It was nobly defended by the celebrated mathematician Archimedes, who repeatedly destroyed the fleet of the assailants by his machines and burning glasses. It was at last taken by stratagem, and Archimedes slain.

862. Parùm lata: in the sense of tristis. 863. Virum: M. Marcellus, the consul. 867. Ingressus: in the sense of cœpit. Obortis: gushing from his eyes.

869. Fala ostendent: the fates will only show him to the earth, &c. This is Marcus

866

870

875

880

Marcellus, the son of Caius Marcellus and Octavia, the sister of Augustus. He designed him for his daughter Julia. When a boy, he adopted him as a son, and intended him for his successor in the empire. He died about the age of twenty years, at Baïas. His body was carried to Rome, and consumed to ashes in the campus Martius. The Romans were much affected at his loss, and made great lamentation over him. He was interred near the banks of the Tiber with great pomp. Propago: race-stock-offspring.

871. Propria: lasting-permanent; that is, if Marcellus had been permitted to live.

872. Quantos gemitus ille: how great groans of men shall that Campus Martius send forth! Mavortis, gen. of Mavors, a name of Mars. Rome was sacred to Mars, as being the father both of Romulus and Remus. Aget: in the sense of emittel. Ad: in the sense of prope.

876. Tantum spe. Some read, in tantam spem: others, in tanta spe. Heyne reads in tantùm spe; so also Rumus. But spe may be for spei, the gen. (as die is put for diei, Geor. i. 208.) governed by tantùm. This last I prefer.

878. Heu pietas! heu prisca fides! The poet here deplores the loss which virtue, integrity, and valor, sustained in him. Both Velleius and Seneca give young Marcellus a most excellent character.

880. Seu cùm pedes. The meaning is: whether, as a footman, he should rush against the foe, or whether he should spur on his foaming steed to the attack.

881. Armos: in the sense of latera.

Heu, miserande puer! si quà fata aspera rumpas,
Tu Marcellus eris. Manibus date lilia plenis :
Purpureos spargam flores, animamque nepotis
His saltem accumulem donis, et fungar inani
Munere. Sic totâ passim regione vagantur
Aēris in campis latis, atque omnia lustrant.
Quæ postquam Anchises natum per singula duxit,
Incenditque animum famæ venientis amore:
Exin bella viro memorat quæ deinde gerenda;
Laurentesque docet populos, urbemque Latini;
Et quo quemque modo fugiatque feratque laborem.
Sunt geminæ Somni portæ : quarum altera fertur
Cornea, quâ veris facilis datur exitus umbris:
Altera, candenti perfecta itens elephanto:
Sed falsa ad cœlum mittunt insomnia Manes.
His ubi tum natum Anchises unàque Sibyllam
Prosequitur dictis, portâque emittit eburnâ.
Ille viam secat ad naves, sociosque revisit.
Tum se ad Caïetæ recto fert litore portum.
Anchora de prorâ jacitur: stant litore puppes.

NOTES.

882. Aspera: in the sense of dura, vel crudelia. Plenis manibus: in full hands.

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897. Ubi. This is the common reading. Some copies have ibi. The sense is the same with either.

898. Prosequitur Anchises: Anchises accompanies Eneas and the Sibyl through the various parts of the infernal regions, and discourses with them as they pass along, till they arrive at the ivory gate, through which he dismisses them. Servius thinks that Vir

883. Marcellus eris. On hearing this line, it is said, Octavia fainted. The encomium which the poet passes upon this noble youth is esteemed one of the finest passages of the Eneid. Augustus was so much pleased with it when he heard Virgil read it, that he ordered a present to be given him of ten sestertid for every line, which is about seventy-gil, by telling us that Æneas passed through eight pounds sterling.

886. Munere: Rusus says officio. 887. Latis campis aëris. By this we are to understand the Elysian felds, so called; quia vacuum, et inanibus umbris habitatum; vel quia situm in aëreis pratis, says Ruæus. Heyne takes the words simply in the sense of locis caliginosis.

888. Per que: through all which things. Singula: properly, all taken separately and singly-all one by one. Venientis in the sense of futuræ.

:

890. Viro: Encas. Erin: (for exinde :) in the sense of tunc.

891. Laurentes. See Æn. vii: 63. 893. Gemina porta. This fiction is borrowed from the Odyss. lib. 19. The most probable conjecture why true dreams are said to pass through the horn gate, and false ones through the ivory gate, is, that horn is a fit emblem of truth, as being transparent and pervious to the sight, whereas ivory is impervious and impenetrable to it.

894. Umbris. Heyne takes this in the sense of somniis. Rumus says figuris.

895. Perfecta: in the sense of facta est. 896. Manes: here the infernal gods. Ad cœlum: in the sense of ad homines, vel ad superas auras. →

the ivory gate, would have us believe all he had been here saying was fiction. But it is hardly to be imagined that so judicious a poet, by one dash of his pen would destroy the many fine compliments he had paid his prince and the whole Roman people, by informing them the whole was false. Mr. Davidson conjectures that Virgil had in view the Platonic philosophy. By emitting his hero through the ivory gate, through which lying dreams ascend to the earth, he might mean that thus far he had been admitted to see the naked truth-had the true system of nature laid open to his view, and the secrets of futurity unveiled; but henceforth he was returning to his former state of darkness, ignorance, and error; and therefore he is sent forth from those regions of light and truth by the ivory gate, in company with lying dreams and mere shadows, which are to attend him through life. But, on the whole, as the poet hath concealed from us the reason of his hero's passing through the ivory gate, after all our conjectures on the subject, we may be as far as ever from the truth. Prosequitur: in the sense of alloquitur.

900. Fert se ad portum: he takes himself along the shore direct to the port, &c. Caïeta

was a promontory and town of the Ansones (hodie, Gaëta) a name derived from the nurse of Æneas, who died there. Some derive it from a Greek word, which signifies to burn, because the fleet of Eneas was

here burnt by the Trojan women, as some authors say. Litore: this is the common reading, but Heyne reads limite in the sense of via, vel itinere.

QUESTIONS.

Is this one of the books which Virgil read in the presence of Augustus and Octavia? What is the subject of it? What is the nature of it?

What, probably, suggested to the poet this fine episode?

Can you mention any others who, according to the poets, visited those regions?

What, probably, was the object of the poet in conducting his hero thither?

In what light does bishop Warburton consider this book?

Were these mysteries in great repute at one time in Greece?

Is there no difficulty in this interpretation?

What are the principal difficulties? Is it certain that Virgil was ever initiated into those mysteries?

If he had been acquainted with them, is it probable he would have divulged them? What does Heyne say upon this subject? At what place in Italy did Æneas land? Who founded the city of Cuma? What celebrated temple was there? By whom was it built? Who was Daedalus ? What is said of him?

Was there any curiously carved work upon the doors of this temple?

What was this sculpture designed to represent?

What was the residence of the Sibyl? By whose inspiration did she give prophetic responses?

What direction did she give Æneas in regard to his descent to the regions below? Where was this golden bough to be found? In what way did he find it?

To whom was the bough considered sacred?

Where does the poet represent the entrance to those regions?

What did Æneas and his guide do immediately preceding their descent?

What is the lake Avernus properly? Why was that thought to give admission to the regions of the dead?

From what circumstance did it receive the name of Avernus ?

What is its Greek name?

According to the poets, how many rivers watered the realms of Pluto?

What were their names?

Which one was said to flow around them nine times?

Why did the gods swear by the river Styx?

If they violated their oath, what was the penalty? Who was Charon?

What was his employment?

From what historical fact is this fable supposed to be derived?

On the approach of Æneas, what did the ferryman do?

What effect had the sight of the golden bough upon him?

What punishment had he received for carrying over Hercules?

Who was said to be the door keeper of Pluto's realms?

How many heads had Cerberus?
What did Hercules do to him?

What did the Sibyl do that he might permit them to pass?

How many were represented as judges of the dead?

What were their names?

Who was Minos?

Who Radamanthus?
Who Eacus?

Why were they made judges of the dead? How was Minos employed, when Æneas visited his court?

As he passed along, and viewed the vanous apartments, did he see Dido?

What effect had the sight of her upon him?
What is the nature of his address to her?
What effect had it upon her?
Did Dido leave him abruptly?
Where did she go?

What passage of the Odyssey had Virgil here in view?

What was the conduct of Ajax ?
What does Longinus say of his silence?
After this, to what place did he go?
What was his object in visiting the court
of Pluto

Where did he see the place of punishment?
What was the name of that place?
What river surrounded it?

What is the meaning of the word Phlegethon?

From what language is it derived? From the palace of Pluto, where then did Eneas and the Sibyl go?

Whom did they meet in the way? What was the employment of Orpheus? What poet was distinguished above all the rest?

Why was no mention made of Homer? Who was Museus?

When did he flourish?

Are there any fragments of his poems extant?

What information did Museus give them? Where did they find Anchises? In what part of the regions below? How was Anchises engaged at that time? Was he expecting the arrival of his son? What was the nature of their meeting? Anchises explained to Eneas the system of the world upon the Pythagorean and Platonic philosophy: what were some of the leading points of that philosophy?

Had this philosophy many advocates? Who was the inventor of the doctrine of transmigration?

What were some of its leading principles? According to the principles of that philosophy, Anchises points out to his son a list of distinguished men who were to descend from him: can you mention some of their names? Whom does he specially mention? Was Augustus highly pleased with any part of this book?

What part was that?

Is it said that Octavia fainted at the men tion of Marcellus?

Who was this Marcellus'

What did Augustus order to be given Virgil for each line of that eulogium?

To how much would that amount in sterling money?

What leading doctrine of religion and morality does the poet here inculcate? Are the punishments here inflicted in proportion to the offence?

Is that a principle founded in reason and justice?

How long was the time assigned for a visit to the regions below?

Through which gate did Æneas ascend to the upper regions?

How many gates were there?

What is the most probable reason that can be given for his ascent through the ivory gate?

LIBER SEPTIMUS.

FROM Caïata, or Cajeta, Eneas pursues his course westward, and arrives in the Tiber, in the kingdom of Latium; where he was kindly entertained by Latinus, then advanced in age. He had an only daughter, the heiress of his crown, then young and beautiful. Many of the neighboring princes sought her in marriage; among whom was Turnus, king of the Rutuli, every way worthy of her; and whose addresses were pleasing to her mother Amata. For several reasons, however, her father was opposed to the match; particularly, on account of the responses of the oracle of Faunus. From this he learned that a foreigner was destined to be his son-in-law. He conceived Eneas to be the person pointed out by the oracle, and accordingly proposed to him a match with his daughter. In the mean time, Juno, displeased at the friendly reception of the Trojans, and especially at the proposal of the king, set about to frustrate it. For this purpose, she called Alecto from below. Through her means Turnus is roused to arms, and a skish brought about between some Latin shepherds and rustics on one side, and the Trojans on the other; in which Almon, the eldest son of Tyrrhus, the royal herdsman, was slain. This kindles the war. Both Turnus and the Latins repair to the palace of the king, and urge him to an immediate declaration of war. The aged monarch resists their importunity. In this state, things remain, till Juno descends from above, and opens the brazen doors. The report is soon spread abroad that war is begun. The neighboring nations join Turnus, and make a common cause of the war. The poet concludes by giving us an account of the auxiliaries, and their respective leaders. Throughout the whole, he has displayed a great degree of taste and judgment. In these six last books, the poet has imitated the Iliad of Homer.

A celebrated critic, Valpy observes, accuses Virgil of losing, instead of increasing, In interest, in these books. The Trojan and Greek heroes, whose names have been familiar with us from infancy, disappear; and we are introduced to personages of whom we have not before heard; and whose names do not appear elsewhere either in fable or history. But he does not consider, in making his charge, that the poet wrote for his own countrymen, and not for us. The adventures of Eneas in Italy, little as we may be interested in them, relate to the supposed ancestors of the Romans, to their domestic history, and to the foundation of their empire. The narration must, therefore, have then excited emotions in which we do not partake; and caused an interest in them, to which we, as we are situated, and at this distance of time, are strangers.

[graphic]

TU quoque litoribus nostris, Æneia nutrix,
Æternam moriens famam, Caïeta, dedisti :

3. Nomen tuum signat Et nunc servat honos sedem tuus; ossaque nomen

ossa in magna

Hesperiâ in magnâ, si qua est ea gloria, signat.
At pius exsequiis-Æneas ritè solutis,

Aggere composito tumuli, postquam alta quiêrunt
Equora, tendit iter velis, portumque relinquit.
Aspirant auræ in noctem: nec candida cursum
Luna negat: splendet tremulo sub lumine pontus.
Proxima Circææ raduntur litora terræ ;

Dives inaccessos ubi Solis filia lucos
Assiduo resonat cantu, tectisque superbis
Urit odoratam nocturna in lumina cedrum,
Arguto tenues percurrens pectine telas.

15. Hinc gemitus cœ- Hinc exaudiri gemitus, iræque leonum

perunt exaudiri

Vincla recusantûm, et serâ sub nocte rudentûm:

17. Setigerique sues, Setigerique sues, atque in præsepibus ursi

atque ursi audili sævire Sævire, ac formæ magnorum ululare luporum: 19. Quos sæva Dea Quos hominum ex facie Dea sava potentibus herbis

Circe induerat

Induerat Circe in vultus ac terga ferarum.
Quæ ne monstra pii paterentur talia Troës
Delati in portus, neu litora dira subirent,

NOTES.

1. Tu quoque. This refers to what he had told us in the preceding book, verse 232, et sequens, of the monument erected to the memory of Misenus, on the Italian coast. Thou, also, O Cajeta, didst give, &c.

3. Tuus honos. Some consider this an hypallage, for sedes servat tuum honorem: the place preserves thy honor. But perhaps her name may be considered a kind of guardian to the place. In this sense, there is no need of any figure. The words may be taken as they stand: thy honor, or fame, protects the place. This is the better and more poetical. Sedem: in the sense of loсит. Ossa: in the sense of sepulchrum. There is a promontory and city in this part of Italy, by the name of Cajeta, or Gaïeta. 6. Aggere tumuli composito: a tomb being erected. The earth heaped up over the corpse or ashes of the dead, was called agger tumuli.

8. Auræ aspirant. Dr. Trapp observes that, down to the 18th line, is, beyond expression, elegant and affecting. A funeral had been just performed. They sail in the still night by the light of the moon. They pass along an enchanted coast, whence they hear the roaring of lions, and other beasts of prey. Upon the four last lines he passes the highest encomium. Candida. As the sun, from his flaming brightness, is called aureus, golden; so the moon, from her paler light, is called candida, white or silvered.

10. Circaa: an adj. from Circe, a celebrated sorceress, the daughter of Sol, and the nymph Perse. She was the sister of Etes, king of Colchis, the father of the fa

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mous Medea. Some say she was the sister of Medea. She was called Eaa, from Æa, an island and city of Colchis, near the mouth of the river Phasis. It is said she married a king of the Sarmatians, whom she killed with her poisons; after which she fled to Italy to the promontory and mountain which, from her, is called Circaus: hodie, Circello.

12. Resonat inaccessos lucos: she makes the inaccessible groves resound with her continual song. Not absolutely inaccessible; for Ulysses and his company landed here— but difficult of access.

14. Argulo pectine: the shrill sounding shuttle.

15. Ira: the rage-fury.

18. Formæ magnorum luporum: simply, the great wolves.

19. Quos ex facie hominum: whom the cruel goddess Circe had changed from the shape of men, into the apperance and form (terga) of wild beasts, &c. Induerat is evidently to be taken in the sense of mutaverat. Terga: the backs, by synec. for the whole bodies.

The fable of Circe is taken from the Odyssey, lib. 10. where Homer informs us that the followers of Ulysses were changed into swine. He alone was preserved by the aid of Mercury, and the eating of the herb moly. At his request, however, they were restored to their former shapes. Beside poisonous herbs, she made use of a magical wand, with which she touched them.

21. Quæ talia monstra: any such monstrous changes-shapes-forms.

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