Euryalum tenebræ ramorum onerosa que præda Quàve sequar? Rursùs perplexum iter omne revolvens Observata legit, dumisque silentibus errat : Audit equos, audit strepitus, et signa sequentûm. 400 Nec longum in medio tempus, cùm clamor ad aures 395 NOTES. 384. Onerosa: in the sense of gravis. 386. Imprudens: regardless of his friend -not aware of his being behind. 387. Lacus. This is the reading of Heyne and Davidson. But Rumus reads locos, and thinks it to be the true reading. For, says he, the lake Albanus was at least four leagues distant. Beside, it was about the middle of the night, when Nisus and his friend left the Trojan camp. He could not have had time to do so much, to go that distance, and return in search of his friend: and all this in the space of half a summer's night. For this reason, he prefers locos, and explains it of the Alban territory, which might extend as far as the place where he then was. 391. Revolvens: in the sense of remetiens. 393. Legit vestigia: he follows, or traces nis steps, &c. 397. Fraude loci et noctis: through the treachery of the place, and of the night. The poet represents the place and night as two traitors, to whom Euryalus had committed his safety, and they betrayed him. Subito tumultu turbante: in a sudden tumultuous bustle-there being a sudden, &c. 395. Nec longum tem pus intervenit in medio 404. Tu, O Latonia 405 Dea, tu præsens succurre nostro labori, tu decus 410 408. Suspendi-ve aliqua dona tholo 393. Oppressum: in the sense of inter ceptum, vel traditum. 400. Eripere: rescue-free. is Luna in heaven, and Hecate in hell. She 404. Succurre: in the sense of fave. 407. Si qua: dona is to be supplied. Auxi: have increased-added any offering to those made by my father. highest part of the arched roof of the tem408. Tholo: tholus was the middle, and ple, from which the spoils of war used to be suspended. 409. Hunc globum: this company of men. 412. Adversi. Adversus signifies right against, or opposite, without regarding whether the face or back be turned to the ǝbject. This passage, Servius reckons among his thirteen inexplicables. The meaning is plainly this: the spear entered his back and reached to his breast, which it might very well do, though it were broken (frangitur) from the wood. Adversi. This is the common reading. Heyne reads aversi. Ruæus says, oppositi. Frangitur, ac fisso transit præcordia ligno. 416. Ecce idem acrior Diversi circumspiciunt. Hoc acrior idem hoc successu Ecce aliud summâ telum librabat ab aure; Dum trepidant. Iit hasta Tago per tempus utrumque Stridens, trajectoque hæsit tepefacta cerebro. Sævit atrox Volscens, nec teli conspicit usquam Auctorem; nec quò se ardens immittere possit. Tu tamen intereà calido mihi sanguine pœnas Persolves amborum, inquit. Simul ense recluso Ibat in Euryalum. Tunc verò exterritus, amens Conclamat Nisus; nec se celare tenebris Ampliùs, aut tantum potuit perferre dolorem : 427. Me, me occidite: Me, me; adsum, qui feci; in me convertite ferrum, adsum qui feci id: O O Rutuli! mea fraus omnis. Nihil iste, nec ausus ; Rutuli, convertite fer- Nec potuit; cœlum hoc, et conscia sidera testor : Tantùm infelicem nimiùm dilexit amicum. Talia dicta dabat: sed viribus ensis adactus Transabiit costas, et candida pectora rumpit. Volvitur Euryalus leto, pulchrosque per artus It cruor, inque humeros cervix collapsa recumbit. Purpureus veluti cùm flos, succisus aratro, Languescit moriens; lassove papavera collo Demisêre caput, pluvià cùm fortè gravantur. At Nisus ruit in medios, solumque per omnes rum in me: omnis fraus est mea. Iste fecit nihil, nec ausus est; nec potuit facere. 415 420 425 430 435 413. Fisso ligno. Fissus here must be taken in the sense of fractus; unless we suppose the wood might be broken, and split and shattered withal; and this split and shattered part to pass through his præcordia. This appears to be the opinion of Dr. Trapp. 414. Volvitur: in the sense of cadit. Flumen: for sanguinem. 416. Diversi: they look about them in different directions. Idem: namely, Nisus. 418. Tago: to Tagus. The dat. is frequently used in the sense of the gen., especially among the poets. The spear pierced both his temples. 419. Tepefacta: warmed by its rapid motion through the air. 421. Auctorem: the owner of the weapon -the one who threw it. 424. Ibat: in the sense of irruebat. 427. Me, me, &c. This abrupt exclamation admirably marks the perturbation and disorder of his mind. He calls them Rutu The lians, although they were Latins. 432. Rumpit: pierces-lays open. 437. Languescit: withers. This is a most beautiful comparison. 439. Moratur. Rumus says, defigit oculos in, &c. "Persists in his attack upon Volscens," says Valpy. 440. Circum quem, &c. The enemy gathered around Nisus to keep him off, and prevent him from doing any mischief to them, wishing to take him a prisoner, rather than kill him. 441. Segnius. Heyne reads seciùs. The common reading is segniùs. 442. Fulmineum. This is very expressive. It denotes the rapid motion of the sword, and the force with which it was driven, as well as its glittering. Rotat: brandishes. Fortunati ambo! si quid mea carmina possunt, Nulla dies unquam memori vos eximet ævo; Dum domus Æneæ Capitoli immobile saxum Accolet, imperiumque pater Romanus habebit. Victores prædâ Rutuli spoliisque potiti, Volscentem exanimem flentes in castra ferebant. Nec minor in castris luctus, Rhamnete reperto Exsangui, et primis unâ tot cæde peremptis, Serranoque, Numâque. Ingens concursus ad ipsa Corpora, seminecesque viros, tepidâque recentem Cæde locum, et plenos spumanti sanguine rivos. Agnoscunt spolia inter se, galeamque nitentem Messapi, et multo phaleras sudore receptas. Et jam prima novo spargebat lumine terras Tithoni croceum linquens Aurora cubile : Jam Sole infuso, jam rebus luce retectis, Turnus in arma viros, armis circumdatus ipse, Suscitat; æratasque acies in prælia cogit Quisque suas, variisque acuunt rumoribus iras. Quin ipsa arrectis, visu miserabile! in hastis Præfigunt capita, et multo clamore sequuntur, Euryali et Nisi. NOTES. 447. Nulla dies: no length of time shall ever erase you from mindful posterity. This is the meaning of memori ævo. 448. Immobile sarum. This implies that the foundation of the Roman empire was to be as fixed and lasting as the Capitoline mount, on which the city was built. After the time of Tarquinius Priscus, the Romans were of opinion that their empire would become universal, and have no end. Some explain domus Enea, of the family of Augustus; which Virgil deduces from Eneas. But it may with propriety be taken for the Romans in general. Heyne says, Julia gens: the Julian family. 449. Pater Romanus. Ruæus thinks Romulus is meant, he being the founder of Rome. Davidson thinks Pater here means prince, as kings are often called the fathers of their people. Pater Romanus, then will mean a Roman prince, or sovereign. Heyne understands, by Pater Romanus, Jupiter Capitolinus; to whom a famous temple was built upon the Capitoline mount. This story of Nisus and Euryalus makes a very considerable part of this book, and a very interesting part too. It is nevertheless liable to objection on the ground of probability. It is difficult to conceive that a whole army should be asleep, and their sentinels among the rest, when it was their business to see that the Trojans were kept close. It is said one was awake indeed; but he gave no alarm. Besides, we might suppose that they would have considered themselves sufficiently fortunate, to be able to pass the camp of the enemy in safety, without attempting any thing. But poetry delights in the wonderful and marvellous. 453. Primis: chief men-nobles. 455. Tepida cæde. Davidson reads tepidum, agreeing with locum. Heyne reads tepida. So also Ruæus, and others. The Roman manuscript has tepidum. The sense is the same with either. Ruæus interprets the words: ad locum tepefactum recenti strage. 456. Rivos plenos, &c. Dr. Trapp thinks, that no more is meant than streams of blood upon the ground: rivos spumantis sanguinis. It is difficult to imagine that two men, in so short a space, could spill so much blood as to justify the hyperbole, that the rivers were filled and foamed with blood. Beside, there was only one river, and that one not very near. Heyne is of the same opinion with Dr. Trapp. 458. Sudore: in the sense of labore. Phaleras. These were taken from Rhamnes. See 359, supra. 461. Sole jam infuso: the sun now being ushered into the world-the sun having already arisen. Rebus: objects-things. Retectis: brought to view-uncovered. The world and all things therein had been wrapt up in the mantle of night. They are now disclosed and brought to view, by the rays of light. 463. Acies: troops in general. Eratas armed with brass-clad in brazen armor. 464. Rumoribus: Heyne takes this in the sense of hortationibus vel vocibus. Iras: in the sense of furorem, Eneadæ duri murorum in parte sinistrâ Opposuere aciem; nam dextera cingitur amni; Intereà pavidam volitans pennata per urbem 473. Scissa quoad co- Scissa comam, muros amens atque agmina cursu mam, amens 481. Tu-ne es ille fu lurus sera 47 475 481 480. Illa non erat me- Telorumque memor: cœlum dehinc questibus implet: mor virum, illa non erat Hunc ego te, Euryale, aspicio ? tu-ne illa senecta memor perîcli Sera mea requies? potuisti linquere solam, Crudelis? nec te, sub tanta pericula missum, 483. Nec copia data Affari extremùm miseræ data copia matri? est miseræ matri affari Heu! terrâ ignotâ, canibus data præda Latinis Alitibusque, jaces! nec te tua funera mater 486. Nec ego mater produxi te ad tua funera Produxi, pressive oculos, aut vulnera lavi, 488. Tegens tuum ca- Veste tegens; tibi quam noctes festina diesque daver veste, quam ego Urgebam, et telâ curas solabar aniles. te festina Quò sequar? aut quæ nunc artus avulsaque membra, NOTES. 469. Aciem: the army of Turnus. Cingitur: protected-defended. 474. Nuntia: as a messenger-herald. 475. Subitus: in the sense of subitò. At: this is the reading of Heyne. 476. Radii excussi: the shuttle fell from her hands, as she was weaving. Or, by the radii, we may understand a machine with spokes something like a wheel, which the women held in their hands, and on which they wound or reeled the yarn from the spindles, on which it was put, as it was spun. What is properly called the episode of Nisus and Euryalus, ended with the 449th verse. The lamentation of the mother of Euryalus most agreeably brings us back to the subject again, when we imagined we had done with it. Whether it be considered a part of, or a sequel to, that episode, is not material. It certainly equals, if not exceeds, any part of it; and we are much indebted to the poet for the picture, which he has given us of maternal grief and sorrow. Scaliger was enraptured with it. Pensa: her work-labor. 481. Aspicio hunc te: do I see that you? -Is that one I see you, O, Euryalus? These broken half sentences she uttered, while she beheld his head suspended upon the spears of the Rutulians, as she stood upon the ramparts. 482. Sera requies: in the sense of serum solatium. 484. Copia: leave--opportunity. Extre 485 431 mùm. This alludes to the custom of the Romans, when they retired from the tomb, of repeating the word vale three times. 487. Produxi te tua, &c. Servius takes tua funera, for the nom. agreeing with mater, and tells us that the near relations of the dead assisted at burial, and were called Funera. But it is better to adhere to the usual acceptation of the word. And this we may do, if we supply the prep. ad before it. Produzi may signify the laying out of the corpse for burial, or walking before it to the place of interment. This is considered an intricate passage: and various have been the conjectures upon the proper construction. Heyne proposes funere, for funera: and Ruæus informs us that proluxi has been proposed for produxi. He seems to take funera, with Servius and Scaliger, in the nom. He says, nec ego mater protuli te ante ades, ut curatrix tui funeris. The construction proposed above appears the easiest. Davidson renders the words, "Nor I, thy mother, laid thee out for thy funeral obsequies." Valpy observes, that though no variation from this reading has been discovered in any of the ancient MSS., there is probably some error. 489. Solabar: I was consoling my aged cares with the loom-with weaving and preparing garments for you. 490. Sequar: in the sense of ibo. 491. Funus: in the sense of cadaver. Quæ tellus nunc, &c. 492. O nate, refers hoc caput solum mihi de te 495 495. Miserere mei, detrudeque hoc meum caput invisum tibi 500 Nate, refers? hoc sum terrâque marique secuta ? Nec jam sufficiunt: nam, quâ globus imminet ingens, NOTES. 492. Secuta sum have I followed this (caput) over sea and land? Have I followed thee over sea and land for this-to come to this? 493, Pietas. Here pietas, doubtless, means pity, or compassion. If there be any pity in you, O Rutulians, &c. 494. Me primam, We are to suppose her speaking from the rampart, where none, as yet, had been slain. 497. Aliter. Dr. Trapp observes, that what is here said cannot be true, unless aliter be taken in a limited sense. Being full of grief, and referring every thing to that, he thinks she refers this, also; as if she had said: since my grief will not end my wretched life as I would have it, I desire either the enemy or the gods to do it. Mr. Davidson thinks she only talks somewhat inconsistently, as might be expected in her state of mind; and observes that it is not improbable she had attempted to lay violent hands upon herself, and was hindered by those about her. The crime of self-murder is of so horrid a nature, that the poet might well suppose no one could be guilty of it. She wished for death, since her son, the support and solace of her declining years, was taken from her. But where can she find it? Not from her friends. She had called upon the ene 505 498. Animi Trojanorum concussi sunt 500. Idæus et Actor, monitu Ilionei et Iüli 509. Contrà Teucri 510 cœperunt 514 514. Cùm tamen juvat Rutulis ferre omnes ca sus 515. Nam quâ ingens globus kostium my; and now she appeals to Jove, and entreats him to end her miserable existence; for otherwise she could not break the cords of life. 499. Infracta: in the sense of fracta. Torpent: fail. 505. Testudine actâ: the testudo being formed. See En. ii. 441. 508. Quâ acies est rara. The meaning is: they seek to attack the walls and fortifications, where the troops are thin; and the ranks or lines not so thick with men, but they may be seen through. Acies: properly, an army drawn up in order of battle-here troops in general. Corona: a body of men the ranks or lines of the men upon the walls, standing round in the form of a circle. Here, distinction. any 510. Detrudere: to push down the enemy with, &c. without 511. Longo bello. This alludes to the Trojan war, which lasted ten years. 512. Infesto: in the sense of ingenti vel magno. By their great weight, they became fatal to the enemy. 513. Tectam aciem: the protected troops -those who were covered by the testudo, or target defence. 516. Molem: any large mass of matter may be called moles. Rumus says, saxum.. |