Tegmina: nec curant cæco contendere Marte 520. Sed certant pel- Missilibus certant. lore Trojanos 525. Vos, O Musa, præcipuè Calliope, precor, aspirate mihi canenti Parte aliâ horrendus visu quassabat Etruscam Vos, ô Calliope, precor, aspirate canenti; Et meministis enim, Divæ, et memorare potestis. 538. Trojani turbati cœperunt trepidare immani mole turris secutâ NOTES. 518. Cæco Marte: concealed or covered fight-covered and protected by their shields held over their heads. 522. Pinum: his spear or javelin made of the pine tree-pineam hastam. Fumiferos ignes. By this we are to understand a fire-brand-some resinous wood which Mezentius carried in one hand on fire. The poet, on every occasion, represents Mezentius as a monster in wickedness, in shape, and in appearance. He is here horrendus visu: horrid to the sight. Visu: for visui. See Ecl. v. 29. Infert: Rumus says, injicit. 525. Calliope. She was chief of the muses, and presided over heroic poetry: for which reason, she is particularly mentioned. Aspirate: in the sense of docete. 627. Ediderit: in the sense of fecerit vel effecerit. 528. Oras belli: limits, extent, or compass of the war. Evelvite in the sense of explicate. 530. Pontibus altis. The planks on which they ascended from one story to another of these towers, were called pontes, stages. Vasto suspectu: of vast height, or altitude. The prep. e or ex being understood 531. Loco: in the sense of situ. 520 525 530 535 540 545 532. Summa vi opum: with the utmost force in their power. 534. Fenestras: the holes or apertures made in the tower through which to annoy the assailants. 535. Lampada. Lampas was a kind of flaming brand, made up of hemp, pitch, rosin, and such like materials; which being stuck around with sharp points, and hooks of iron, was flung against wooden walls, &c. where it stuck fast till it seized the boards with its flame. Lampada: a Greek acc. 536. Quæ plurima vento: which being widely spread by the wind—becoming very large, &c. 537. Adesis postibus: to the consumed timbers-till the timbers were consumed. 539. Fugam malorum: a flight-escape from the danger. Malum: in the sense of periculum. Řesidunt: in the sense of rece dunt. 540. Peste: the devouring flame. 545. Primavus: born first-the elder of the two. 546. Mæonio regi. Mæonia was a country of Asia Minor, sometimes confounded with Lydia. Homer reckons its people 550 555 Sustulerat, vetitisque ad Trojam miserat armis ; 560 nis, sperâsti-ne te posse evadere 563. Talis, qualis ubi 565 Aquila armiger Jovis, petens alta cala sustulit uncis pedibus aut 565. Aut talis qualis Martius lupus, ubi rapuit 568. Ad fastigia muIlioneus sternit 570 rorum. Ilioneus saxo, atque ingenti fragmine montis, NOTES. among the auxiliaries of Priam. Helenor was an illegitimate son of the king of Maonia, by his slave Licymnia. 547. Vetitis armis: in forbidden arms. Either against the will of the gods; or in allusion to a law or custom of the Romans, which forbid slaves to bear arms, unless they had been set free, except in cases of the greatest danger. In the time of Hannibal, all hands were employed in the common defence. Sustulerat: in the sense of pepererat. 548. Levis nudo ense. The poet here describes Helenor such, as those troops among the Romans called Velites, from velocitas. They had a small round shield or buckler, a sword, and some light missive weapons. Alba parma. There was no heroic device upon it. He had done nothing to distinguish him, and deserve praise. His shield was a mere blank. 551. Corona: a troop-company. Septa: surrounded-encircled. 553. Supra venabula: upon the hunting spears. 556. Melior: in the sense of celerior. 572. Hic erat bonus sagitta fallante longè: Caneus occidit 576. Capys occidit Privernum. 557. Tenet: reaches-arrives at the walls. 558. Tecta alta: the high summits, or tops of the walls. Rueus interprets it by alias pinnas. 559. Pariter cursu: he followed him with equal pace, and, with his dart, kept close to his heels. Or, he kept pace with the dart which he flung at him. This last gives us a fine idea of the quickness of his speed. It equalled the motion of his dart. Valpy takes it in this sense. 565. Balatibus: bleatings-much bleating. 566. Martius. The wolf was sacred to Mars: hence the epithet Martius. 567. Aggere: simply, with earth. 572. Hic bonus jaculo: the one skilful in throwing the javelin; the other, &c. Sa. gitta fallante longè. This is a beautiful epithet of an arrow; which steals upon its object unawares, and surprises him with unseen death. 575. Pro: before-in front. Or, perhaps, we are to understand that he stood on the front of the towers next the enemy. 577. Strinxerat: in the sense of vulnera Ad vulnus tulit; ergò alis allapsa sagitta, Et lævo infixa est lateri manus, abditaque intus 580 Stabat in egregiis Arcentis filius armis, Pictus acu chlamydem, et ferrugine clarus Iberâ, Insignis facie; genitor quem miserat Arcens, Eductum Martis luco, Symæthia circum Flumina, pinguis ubi et placabilis ara Palici. 586. Mezentius ipse, Stridentem fundam, positis Mezentius armis, armis positis, egit stridentem fundam Ipse ter adductâ circum caput egit habenâ : Et media adversi liquefacto tempora plumbo Diffidit, ac multâ porrectum extendit arenâ. 588. Et diffidit media tempora juvenis adversi 590. Tum primùm Ascanius dicitur Tum primùm bello celerem intendisse sagittam Dicitur, antè feras solitus terrere fugaces, Ascanius, fortemque manu fudisse Numanum, Cui Remulo cognomen erat; Turnique minorem 594. Quique habebat Germanam, nuper thalamo sociatus, habebat. Is primam ante aciem digna atque indigna relatu 596.Tumidusque quoad Vociferans, tumidusque novo præcordia regno præcordia 598. Ait, non pudet Ibat, et ingenti sese clamore ferebat: vos, O Phryges, bis capti, Non pudet obsidione iterum valloque teneri, teneri Bis capti Phryges, et morti prætendere muros? minorem NOTES. verat. Tegmine: his shield. Being wounded, he put his hand to the wound to stop the blood, and threw away his shield for that purpose. Hence he is called demens. 578. Sagitta allapsa alis: the arrow glided swiftly on its wings, &c. The arrow passed through his hand as he held it upon his wound, fixed it to his side, and then passed into his body, piercing his vitals. Spiramenta anima: the lungs. This was not the arrow that first wounded him. 582. Pictus: embroidered as to his cloak with needle work-having an embroidered cloak. Ibera ferrugine: in Iberian purple. Ferrugo is the color of polished iron, which approaches nearly to purple. Ibera: an adj. from Iberia. Some take this for a country lying between the Euxine and Caspian seas, formerly called Iberia, now Georgia. A colony of these people removed to Spain, and settled near the river Iberus, to which they gave name. Others take it for Spain itself, sometimes called Iberia. It abounded in the best iron and steel. Facie: in the sense of formâ. Clarus: in the sense of splendens. 585. Palici. These were the sons of Jove and the nymph Thalia, the daughter of Vulcan. They were gods worshipped in Sicily, near the river Symethia. It is not easy to assign the reason of their altar being called placabilis. Some conjecture they were appeased only by human victims at first; but afterward by common victims. Perhaps their altar may be so called, because it was the altar of atonement, as distinguished 585 590 595 from others that were altars of thanksgiving and divination. Diodorus Siculus relates that slaves, who were illy treated by their masters, fled here for safety. And their masters were not allowed to take them away, until they had given security for their good treatment of them. Hence Ruæus thinks it was called ara placabilis. This is the most probable reason. 587. Habenâ ter: the string being whirled three times around his head to give the greater force to the ball. 588. Liquefacto plumbo: with the melted lead. This is a poetical exaggeration, to express the velocity of the ball through the air. The expression is borrowed from Lucretius. Or the poet may allude to the casting of the ball at first. Rumus says, calefacto plumbo. 590. Intendisse: to have shot-directed. 592. Fudisse: in the sense of stravisse. 593. Cui Remulo: in the sense of cui Remulus erat cognomini: to whom Remulus was for a surname. This construction is in imitation of the Greeks. 594. Sociatus nuper: being lately connected with her in marriage. 595. Relatu: a sup. in u, in the sense of dictu. 596. Novo regno: with his new power, which he acquired by being connected with the royal family. 597. Ferebat sese: marched along-took himself along. 598. Teneri: in the sense of claudi. 599. Prætendera: to oppose your walls to En qui nostra sibi bello connubia poscunt! Quis Deus Italiam, quæ vos dementia adegit? Et tunicæ manicas, et habent redimicula mitræ. Talia jactantem dictis, ac dira canentem NOTES. death-to screen yourselves behind your wall, and save yourselves from death. Heyne reads, Marte. The common reading is morti. 600. Nostra connubia: our brides. This is said in allusion to the case of Lavinia. 602. Fictor fandi: the dissembler of speech. Fandi: in the sense of verborum. 603. Durum genus: but we are a hardy race from our origin. 605. Venatu: for venatui. See Ecl. v. 29. Invigilant: are fond of-have a special regard to. Fatigant sylvas: weary the woods -the beasts or game in the woods, by meton. 606. Cornu: from the bow. Spicula: in the sense of sagittas. 608. Domat: in the sense of exercet. Quatit: in the sense of impugnat. 609. Ferro: with the sword; that is, in war. 610. Fatigamus terga: we strike the backs of our oxen, &c. So constant were they in the use of their arms, that they did not even lay them aside when engaged in agriculture. They used their spears, &c. to spur, or urge on their oxen while in the plough. 611. Mutat: in the sense of pellit. 612. Premimus, &c. By this we are to understand that their old men had sufficient vigor and strength of nerve, to bear arms. 613. Rapto: the plunder. 615. Desidia cordi: sloth is to you for pleasure and delight. 616. Tunica habent: your vests have sleeves, and the ribbons of the mitre. Other nations, particularly the Romans, had their arms and necks naked, and looked upon the covering of those parts as a mark of effeminacy. This is said by way of reproach. The 617. Overè Phrygiæ, &c. He here speaks by way of contempt, calling them not even Phrygian men, but Phrygian women. Phrygians were noted for their effeminacy and luxury. See Æn. iv. 216. 618. Dindyma: neu. plu. sing. Dindymus, a mountain in Phrygia, sacred to Cybele. Hence she is sometimes called Dindymine. Its name is of Greek origin, and signifies double-topt-having two tops. Biforem. Some understand by this a pipe with only two stops: others, two pipes with different stops, which, being played upon together, made very indifferent harmony. Biforem cantum: discordant music. Rumus says, imparem. 619. Tympana: neu. plu.: timbrels. Berecynthia: an adj. from Berecynthus, a mountain and castle in Phrygia, sacred to Cybele; who sometimes was called Berecynthia. Burus: properly, the box-wood; by meton. a pipe made of the box-wood. This wood is supposed to have abounded on mount Berecynthus. 620. Idea: an adj. from Ida, a mountain just back of Troy, sacred to Cybele, the mother of the gods. Hence she is called sometimes Idaa. Sinite: in the sense of relinquite. 621. Canentem dira: uttering such indignities-such reproaches. Ruæus says, loquentem. 622. Equino nervo: the string of his bow was made of horse-hair. Contendit telum, diversaque brachia ducens, Constitit, antè Jovem supplex per vota precatus : Jupiter omnipotens, audacibus annue cœptis. 626. Ego ipse feram Ipse tibi ad tua templa feram solemnia dona, solemnia dona tibi ad Et statuam ante aras auratâ fronte juvencum tua 630. Genitor Deorum audiit Candentem, pariterque caput cum matre ferentem, 625 630 Perque caput Remuli venit, et cava tempora ferro Bis capti Phryges hæc Rutulis responsa remittunt. 635 636. Ascanius dixit Hæc tantùm Ascanius. Teucri clamore sequuntur, hac tantùm. Lætitiâque fremunt, animosque ad sidera tollunt. Æthereâ tum fortè plagâ crinitus Apollo Desuper Ausonias acies urbemque videbat, Nube sedens; atque his victorem affatur Iülum : Macte novâ virtute, puer: sic itur ad astra, tura fato, 642. Omnia bella ven- Dîs genite, et geniture Deos. Jure omnia bella Ascaniumque petit: formâ tum vertitur oris 649. Tum pater Æneas Tum comitem Ascanio pater addidit. Ibat Apollo addidit hunc Omnia longævo similis, vocemque, coloremque 650. Similis longævo Et crines albos, et sæva sonoribus arma: quoad omnia Atque his ardentem dictis affatur Iülum: NOTES. 623. Ducens brachia: drawing his arms asunder. This is the posture of a man drawing the bow to its full stretch. Telum: his arrow. 624. Antè: in the sense of primùm. 628. Cadentem: in the sense of candidum. 629. Petat: he pushes-butts. 631. Intonuit lævum: the left thundered; or it thundered on the left. This was a lucky omen. See Ecl. i. 18. 632. Stridens: whizzing loud. 633. Ferro: ferrum, here, the point of the arrow, which was tipt with iron or steelthe barb. 637. Animos: the courage-valor of As canius. 638. Plaga: here, a part, or quarter of the sky or heaven. 641. Macte: go on-persevere. Sic itur ad astra: thus men arise to the stars, thou descendant of the gods, &c. By great and noble actions, men obtain immortality. As canius descended from Venus by Eneas his father, and from Jove, by Dardanus, the 640 645 650 founder of the Trojan race. From Ascanius, called sometimes Iülus, descended Julius and Augustus Cæsar, according to Virgil, both of whom received divine honors. 643. Sub gente Assaraci: under the family of Assaracus. He was of the royal family of Troy, and one of the ancestors of Ascanius. Jure: by justice or equity. Here is an allusion to the universal peace which took place under Augustus, at the beginning of the Christian era. 645. Spirantes: blowing-whispering. 646. Oris: in the sense of vultûs. Formâ. This is the reading of Valpy and Ruæus. Heyne reads, formam. But forma is the easier. 651. Sava: harsh in sound-terrible in 652. Ardentem: fierce-ardent-eager for sound. fight. 653. Eneada: the voc. of the patronymic neades: the son of Eneas. Impune: without injuring thyself. 654. Oppetiisse: in the sense of occubuisse vel ceridisse. |