LIBER NONUS. In this book the war commences. Turnus, taking the advantage of the absence of Eneas, assaults the Trojan camp; and attempts to set fire to their ships, when they are changed into sca-nymphs. In a state of consternation, they send Nisus and Euryalus to recall Æneas. This introduces the episode of their friendship, generosity, and the conclusion of their adventures: which extends from the 176th line to the 502d, and is one of the finest pieces of the Æneid. The next morning, Turnus renews the assauk, and performs prodigies of valor. At length, being informed that the Trojans had opened the gates, he repairs thither; when a most desperate conflict ensues. Trojans take refuge within their gates. The hero enters along with them, and the gates are closed upon him. Juno assists him, and a great slaughter ensues. The Trojans flec in all directions before him. At last, however, they are rallied by Mnestheus and Sergestus, and renew the fight. Turnus retires before them, escapes from their entrenchments, and returns in safety to his camp. The This book is distinguished from the rest by the total absence of Æneas. It contains more fighting than any of the other. Dr. Trapp considers the transformation of the ships into nymphs of the sea, as a blemish to the book. Ad quem sic roseo Thaumantias ore locuta est : 10. Nec est hoc satis; Nec satis: extremas Corythi penetravit ad urbes : penetravit Lydorumque manum, collectos armat agrestes. 5 10 12. Nunc est tempus Quid dubitas? nunc tempus equos, nunc poscere currus: poscere equos Rumpe moras omnes, et turbata arripe castra. NOTES. 1. Geruntur. This refers to what has been related in the preceding book-the transactions at the court of Evander. 3. Parentis. Pilumnus was not the immediate parent of Turnus, but one of his ancestors; either his grandfather or great grandfather. Servius says Pilumnus was the common name of the family. 5. Thaumantias. Iris, the daughter of Thaumas and Electra. See En. iv. 700. 6. Optanti: to you wishing so favorable an opportunity. 7. Dies volvenda: the time (that was) to be revolved-the time destined by the fates. Dise: in the sense of tempus. 8. Urbe. This city of Eneas is sometimes called a camp. It was a camp, fortified in 15 the form of a city, with turrets, ramparts, and gates. 9. Evandri. Evander is here called Palatine, because he dwelt on mount Palatine, or Palilinus, where Romulus afterward dwelt; and, also, the Roman emperors, down from Augustus. Sceptra: the realms. Ruæus says, regna. Sedem: palace-city. 10. Corythi. Corythus, a city of Tuscany founded by Corytus, a Tuscan king, and called by his name. 11. Lydorum. The Tuscans are called Lydians, because they were a colony from Lydia in Asia Minor. 15. Secuil arcum: she cut the mighty bow, &c. The rainbow was reckoned the chariot of Iris; so that the meaning is: she cut Agnovit juvenis, duplicesque ad sidera palmas Quisquis in arma vocas. Et sic effatus, ad undam Jamque omnis campis exercitus ibat apertis, Hic subitam nigro glomerari pulvere nubem NOTES. her way through it, to mount up again into heaven in that vehicle. 16. Palmas: properly, the palm of the hand: by synec. the whole hand. 19. Unde hæc tam: whence this so glaring brightness, all on a sudden? Tempestas evidently means, in this place, serenity, brightness, or brilliancy. Detulit: in the sense of demisit. Tempestas tam clara. Ruæus says, facies cali tam splendida. 20. Video medium: I see heaven open in the midst, and stars shooting across the sky. When the lightning bursts through the clouds, the skies seem at times to be rent asunder. We are to understand by stellas, the meteors, and other electric appearances, that shoot across the skies like stars. Servius understands it of the stars themselves. That they should ever appear in the daytime is very extraordinary, but that they should appear in the additional light brought by Iris, was much more so. This, therefore, confirmed Turnus in the opinion that it was something preternatural and divine. Sequar tanta omina, was therefore his immediate determination. 23. Lymphas: in the sense of aquam. Summo gurgite: from the surface of the stream. 24. Æthera: in the sense of cœlum. 26. Pictaï the old genitive for picta: variegated-embroidered. 27. Coërcent: in the sense of inferant. Rumus says, regunt. Postrema: the rear. Agmina is understood. 28. Tyrrheida: the sons of Tyrrheus, a patronymic noun. Tyrrheus was the shepherd of Latinus, whose eldest son was killed in the first skirmish. See Æn. vii. 29. Vertitur: in the sense of incedit. This line is marked by Heyne as an interpolation. 30. Ceu altus Ganges: as the deep Ganges, rising silently from seven still streams, Hows on its course silent and still, so moves the army of Turnus. This is a beautiful simile, and is intended to express the majestic slowness and silence of their march: also, their order, after having been scattered and dispersed; as those rivers glide within their channels, after having overflowed the country. An ellipsis here is necessary in order to make the sense clear, which I have filled. The Ganges is the largest river of Asia, and divides India into two parts. After a course of about 2,000 miles, in which it recieves the waters of a number of considerable streams, it falls into the bay of Bengal by several mouths. Like the Nile, it overflows its banks. By septem sedatis amnibus, we are to understand the several rivers which flow into the Ganges, and augment its waters. Hence the propriety of surgens. The natives worship the river as a god. 31. Per tacitum: taken adverbially, in the sense of tacitè. 32. Cùm refluit: when it hath retired, or flowed back from the plains, and confined itself to its channel. Pingui flumine: with its fertilizing waters. The fertility of Egypt is wholly owing to the overflowing of the Nile. See Geor. iv. 293. and En. viii. 711. 33. Glomerari: to be formed-to ascend in wreathy columns, like clouds of smoke. 35. Mole rampart-tower. Quis globus, ô cives, caligine volvitur atrâ? Ferte citi ferrum, date tela, scandite muros. Hostis adest, eja. Ingenti clamore per omnes 39. Omnes Teucri con- Condunt se Teucri portas, et mania complent. dunt se ingenti clamore Namque ita discedens præceperat optimus armis Eneas: si qua intereà fortuna fuisset ; per portas 41. Intereà siqua dura fortuna fuisset Ne struere auderent aciem, neu credere campo: 51. O juvenes, ecquis Ecquis erit mecum, juvenes, qui primus in hostem? cum! 40 45 50 55 æquo campo, non ferre Arma viros; sed castra fovere. Huc turbidus atque huc arına obvia 57. Turnus turbidus Lustrat equo muros, aditumque per avia quærit. lustrat Ac veluti pleno lupus insidiatus ovili, Cùm fremit ad caulas, ventos perpessus et imbres, 64. Rabies edendi col- Nocte super mediâ: tuti sub matribus agni lecta ex longo tempore Balatum exercent: ille asper et improbus irâ fatigat eum, et fauces siccæ sanguine fatigant Sævit in absentes: collecta fatigat edendi Ex longo rabies, et siccæ sanguine fauces сит NOTES. 36. Globus: a troop, or multitude of soldiers. Quis: in the sense of quantus. Volvitur: is approaching. Ruæus says, accedit ad nos. But volvitur may be taken perhaps in the sense of involvitur: is involved, or concealed from us, in that thick cloud of dust. 37. Ferrum: here, must mean arms in general. 38. Per: in the sense of intra. 40. Optimus armis: most skilful in the art of war-most valiant in arms. 41. Siqua fortuna: if there should be any danger or hazard during his absence, he directed that they should not, &c. If war should break out while, &c. 43. Modò: only-they should attempt nothing more. Aggere in the sense of munimentis. : 44. Monstrat conferre: urges them to engage hand to hand-in close quarters, and on equal terms, yet, &c. 48. Equitum: gen. plu. for equitibus, to agree with lectis. 49. Albis maculis: of white spots. The prep. è vel ex is understood. 52. Intorquens jaculum: brandishing his javelin, he threw it into the air, as the beginning, &c. This is an allusion to the Roman 60 ceremony of throwing a javelin into the enemy's territory, as a signal of war. Principium: in the sense of initium. 54. Horrisono fremitu: with terrific shouts. Excipiunt: they answer with acclamation they second, &c. 55. Inertia cowardly-fearful. 56. Obvia: in the sense of adversa. 57. Fovere castra: to cherish or hug their camp-keep close to it. This is an opprobrious expression. It is a metaphor taken from timorous mothers, who hug their children, and keep them close to their bosoms, when apprehensive of their being in danger. Turbidus: in the sense of iratus. 58. Per avia in the sense of per inaccessa loca, Avia: of a priv. and via. 60. Cùm fremit: growls around the sheep. cotes. Perpessus: enduring-suffering. 61. Super: until-as far as. Ruæus says, sub mediam noctem. 62. Ille asper: he fierce and outrageous with anger, &c. Absentes: the lambs shut up in the fold, and out of his reach. Ezercent: in the sense of emittunt. 63. Sævit: in the sense of furil. Eos is understood. 64. Rabies edendi: a rage for eating Haud aliter Rutulo muros et castra tuenti NOTES. 65. Kululo: to the Rutulian-to Turnus. 66. Dolor: indignation-anguish. 67. Qua ratione: in what way he may obtain access; and in what way he may dislodge the Trojans, shut up in their intrenchments, &c. It is much better to take via in the abl. than the nominative to the verb excutiat, with Heyne and Valpy. This obscures the sense, while the former renders it obvious. Ruæus and Davidson read quâ via. Heyne, quæ via. 69. Adjuncta: adjoining-near to. Ruæus says, admota. 70. Circum septam: protected around. Rumus says, defensam. Fluvialibus undis: by the waters of the river-simply, by the river Tiber. 71. Poscit incendia: he demands flames of his joyous companions. He orders them to take fire, and assist him in burning the ships. Verbs of commanding, &c. govern two accusatives. 73. Incumbunt: they exert all their strength--they spring to it earnestly. 75. Diripuere: they strip-plunder the hearths. Fert: in the sense of emillit. 76. Vulcanus: the god of fire, by meton. put for fire itself. Tada: a firebrand torch. Favillam: the sparks. 78. Depulit: in the sense of avertit. 79. Prisca fides, &c. There have been various conjectures upon the sense of this passage. Servius takes prisca in the sense of obsolete. It was once believed, but now is not; yet the report continues, and is like ly to be immortal. This Dr. Trapp approves. Some take prisca fides facto, simply for priscum factum, with the addition of its being believed. But to put fides facto for factum, though with the addition of belief, is harsh and singular. Heyne takes facto, in the sense of facti, which inakes the sense easier. The belief of the fact was ancient, but the report or tradition will always continue. Davidson renders the words: "ancient is the testimony of the fact, but immortal is its fame." Valpy says, "the fact was at first credited on good authority, but the tradition has been constant." 80. Tempore, quo, &c. By some critics, Virgil has been censured for this metamorphosis of the ships of Æneas into sea-nymphs. Dr. Trapp has considered this matter at some length in a note upon this place. In conclusion he says: Virgil we know was not the first who wrote of the coming of Eneas into Italy and, among other traditions of his country, it is probable he found the story coined to his hand, and could not omit it without disobliging those whom it was his business to please. This appears probable, if we consider the judgment of this great poet, (who is not likely to be the inventor of a story which exceeds all Ovid's in improbability,) and also the hints which he gives of his own disapprobation of it. However, he does all he can to cover its absurdity, and deludes us as much as possible. He invokes the muses afresh; introduces it as a thing scarcely credible: it is dore by the greatest of the gods at the request of his mother. The story is short and elegant. But when all is said, the faulty image is not covered. Upon the whole, I am satisfied that Virgil was forced to insert it contrary to his judgment; or that he would have erased it, had he lived to perfect the poem. Alta: spatia is understood. 82. Berecynthia: a name of Cybele, who Vocibus his affata Jovem : Da, nate, petenti, 85. Fuit in summa Pinea sylva mihi multos dilecta per annos, arbores 85 Solve metus, atque hoc precibus sine posse parentem, 90 91. Ut illæ naves ne Ne cursu quassate ullo, neu turbine venti vincantur quassate ullo Vincantur. Prosit nostris in montibus ortas. cursu, neu ullo turbine Filius huic contrà, torquet qui sidera mundi : venti: prosit iis eas ortas esse in O genitrix, quò fata vocas? aut quid petis istis ? Mortaline manu factæ immortale carinæ eulis maris tenebunt Fas habeant! certusque incerta pericula lustret 98. Ubi defunctæ peri- Imò, ubi defunctæ finem, portusque tenebunt mortalem Et Galatea secant spumantem pectore pontum. 104. Annuitque id ra- Dixerat: idque ratum, Stygii per flumina fratris, tum esse per flumina Per pice torrentes atrâque voragine ripas, 108. Cùm injuria Tur. Annuit: et totum nutu tremefecit Olympum. Ergò aderat promissa dies, et tempora Parcæ Cybelen depellere tædas Debita complêrant; cùm Turni injuria matrem лі admonuit matrem NOTES. is said to have been the mother of the gods. See Æn. vi. 784. 84. Olympo domito. Jupiter had dethroned his father Saturn, and reduced all the gods to his obedience. The mention of this circumstance is emphatical. For kings are most likely to grant favors on their first accession to their thrones. And besides, it was peculiarly proper to be mentioned by her; for it was by her means that he was so advanced. He had been preserved by her from Saturn; and for the undisturbed possession of Olympus, he was indebted to his mother. Jove could not therefore refuse her prayer. 86. Lucus: put, in apposition with pinea sylva. Ferebant: in the sense of offerebant. Sacra: sacrifices. 87. Obscurus: darkened-shaded ; agreeing with lucus. Arce summa: mount Ida, where Cybele was peculiarly worshipped. This mountain was sacred to her. Trabibus acernis: ash-trees. Trabs: the trunk, put by synec. for the whole tree. 88. Classis: gen. governed by egeret. 89. Urget: this is the common reading. Davidson reads angi!. 90. Solve metus: dismiss my fears. Fear may be considered as a yoke in which a person is bound. Ruæus says, expelle. Posse hoc to obtain this by intreaties to have sufficient influence with you to obtain, &c. 95 100 105 91. Ullo cursu: in any voyage-course. Turbine venti: a storm, or gale of wind. 94. Vocas: in the sense of vertis. Fata: the course-order of things. Istis: for those ships. Navibus is understood. 96. Immortale fas: an immortal privilege, or right. Lustrel: surmount-pass through. Certus: safe-secure from harm. For lustret, Ruæus says adibit. 100. Laurentia arva: Italy-the land of Laurentum. The prep. ad is understood. 102. Doto-Galatea: the names of two nymphs of the sea, the daughters of Nereus and Doris. See Ecl. ii. 46. 104. Annuitque id ratum: he assented it should be granted-he bowed his head as a sign that it was granted to her. The gods were wont to swear by the infernal rivers, particularly by Styx; and if they did not perform, they lost their divinity for an hundred years. See Geor. iii. 551. 105. Torrentes: in the sense of fluentes. Cybele had requested of Jove, that the ships of Æneas should not, under any circumstance, be overcome or destroyed. He intimates this to be a singular request. Could ships built by mortal hands, enjoy the privilege of immortality? was it certain, that Eneas would escape the dangers of his long and perilous voyage? what she demanded was out of his power to grant unconditionally. But if any of them should |