At verò ingentem quatiens Mezentius hastam 764. Cùm incedit pe- Cùm pedes incedit medii per maxima Nerei des, scindens viam sibi Stagna viam scindens, humero supereminet undas; 765 per maxima stagna Aut summis referens annosam montibus ornum, Ingrediturque solo, et caput inter nubila condit. Talis se vastis infert Mezentius armis. 769. Contrà Æneas, Huic contrà Æneas, speculatus in agmine longo, speculatus eum in longo Obvius ire parat. Manet imperterritus ille, agmine, parat mihi, et hoc missile te adsint mihi! 772. Emensus oculis Hostem magnanimum opperiens, et mole suâ stat: spatium, quantum esset Atque oculis spatium emensus, quantum satis hastæ: satis haste, ait: hæc Dextra, mihi Deus, et telum, quod missile libro, dextra, quæ est Deus Nunc adsint! Voveo prædonis corpore raptis lum, quod libro, nunc Indutum spoliis ipsum te, Lause, trophæum Æneæ. Dixit: stridentemque eminùs hastam 775. O Lause, voveo Injicit: illa volans clypeo est excussa, proculque te ipsum habiturum tro- Egregium Antorem latus inter et ilia figit: phæum Enew, et, fore Herculis Antorem comitem, qui missus ab Argis indutum spoliis ejus 783. Illa transiit per Hæserat Evandro, atque Italâ consederat urbe. cavum orbem clypei trip- Sternitur infelix alieno vulnere, cœlumque lici ære, per linea terga, Aspicit, et dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos. opusque intextum Tum pius Æneas hastam jacit: illa per orbem Ere cavum triplici, per linea terga, tribusque Transiit intextum tauris opus; imaque sedit mùm vidit genitorem vul- Inguine; sed vires haud pertulit. Ocyùs ensem Æneas, viso Tyrrheni sanguine, lætus, 785. Imaque pars sui sedit in 790. Lausus, ut pri neralum 791. Hic, si qua ve- Eripit à femore, et trepidanti fervidus instat. tustas latura est fidem Ingemuit chari graviter genitoris amore, tanto operi, equidem non silebo casum tua dura Ut vidit, Lausus; lachrymæque per ora volutæ. Hic, mortis duræ casum, tuaque optima facta, mortis 770 775 780 785 790 NOTES. 763. Turbidus: furious-fierce-all in a rage. It would seem from hence that Mezentius hitherto had only been in the skirts of the battle. Now he presses on amidst the thickest ranks, furious for fight. This agrees best with the following comparison. Orion is here mentioned, in regard to his magnitude among the constellations. There is a great majesty and sublimity in the figure," Orion marching through the waves." It is taken from Homer. 764. Nerei. Nereus, a god of the sea, taken by meton. for the sea itself. Stagna: properly the deep parts of the sea, or river. Pedes. a foot-man-on foot. 766. Referens: resembling. This appears better than to take it with Ruæus in the sense of reportans. Davidson observes, that referens here may mean resembling, as it does in some other places. Valpy says, "resembling." 773. Dextra Deus. Mezentius is all along represented as an Atheist, and a monster of impiety and cruelty. Here the only god he invokes is his right hand, and the weapons which he is about to throw. Them he in vokes-adsint nunc: may they aid meassist my efforts. 777. Injicit. This is the reading of Heyne. The common reading is jecil, in the perf tense. Ruæus and Davidson have at illa. Heyne omits the at. Valpy does the same. 779. Missus: having come from Argos, had joined, &c. Antores had been the companion of Hercules in his travels. 781. Alieno vulnere: by a wound designed for another. Or, vulnere may be taken for the weapon inflicting the wound, by meton. By a weapon intended for anotherfor Æneas. 783. Orbem. Orbis may be taken simply for the shield. Ruæus says, clypeum. Hin shield, it appears, consisted of three plates of brass, (triplici ære,) and as many thicknesses of the bull's hide, (tribus tauris,) so wrought and interwoven as to be a protection against missive weapons. These were fastened and bound together by iron or brass nails, set thick in every part of the shield. Hence as is sometimes taken for a shield. Terga: folds. The spear of Æneas, after making its way through the shield of Me Si qua fidem tanto est operi latura vetustas, Dum pluit in terris; ut possint, sole reducto, Sustinet: et Lausum increpitat, Lausoque minatur: 810 Nec minùs ille Exsultat demens. Sævæ jamque altiùs iræ NOTES. zentius, had spent its force, haud pertulit vires; and settled down in his groin. 792. Latura est: will give credit to. Vetustas: in the sense of posteritas vel posteri. 793. Memorande: in the sense of celebrande-worthy to be praised. Here the poet may be supposed to express his own feelings of pity and compassion for the fall of so noble a youth. The character which he has drawn of Lausus shows the consummate skill of the poet at this species of description. And surely no one can read it without partaking of his feelings, and entertaining a regret that so brave, and at the same time so pious a youth, could not have been spared to be a blessing to his people. 794. Inque ligatus: by tmesis, for que inligatus: incumbered by the spear of Æneas. Ille. Mezentius. 796. Prorupit: he sprang forward. Armis: the weapons of the enemy. One description of the valiant man, is, that he mingles with the enemy. 798. Mucronem: the poet here has in his view a circumstance recorded in the Roman history. Scipio Africanus, when he was only seventeen years old, protected his father in this manner; nor did he retreat until he had received twenty-seven wounds. Mueronem: in the sense of gladium. 815 802. Tectusava clumeo 811. Ail; quo ruis, O juvenis, moriture 815. Fila vita Lluso 816. Minacis juvenis 799. Sustinuit ipsum: the meaning is, that he prevented Æneas from giving the blow, which was aimed at his father, by parrying it off, and keeping him at bay for a time, until he could recover himself, and retire from the combat. This he did under Sequuntur: in the sense of adjuvant. Socii: cover of the shield (parma) of his son. the companions of Lausus. 801. Proturbant: keep off-repel. Rumus says, propellunt. 803. Nimbi effusâ grandine: a storm of impetuous hail rushes down. The prep. ex is understood, to govern effusâ grandine. 804. Omnis arator: every ploughman. Omnis: all, collectively or individually. 805. Arce. Arx here, as in some other places, signifies any place of shelter, or safe retreat. Fornice: under the projection or covert of a high rock. 808. Exercere diem: to pursue the labors of the day. Operari per diem, says Rumus. 809. Nubem: storm of war. Detonet : in the sense of furit vel sævit. 811. Audes majora: thou attemptest things beyond thy strength-greater than. 815. Parca legunt: the destinies wind up the last thread, &c. See Ecl. iv. 47. Rumus says, colligunt. 816. Totum: ensem is understood. 821. Et ora ejus morientis 825. O puer miserande, quid honoris nunc dabitur tibi pro istis 829. Tamen, O infelix juvenis, tu solabere Et tunicam, molli mater quam neverat auro; At verò ut vultum vidit morientis et ora, 840. Qui revocent eum Qui revocent, mastique ferant mandata parentis. NOTES. 818. Molli auro: with fine threads of gold. Gold is a very ductile metal, and capable of being drawn into very fine threads, or wire. 819. Tum vita masta, &c. Dr. Trapp obBerves, that every incident in the death of Lausus is well chosen, especially the contrast between so pious a son, and so wicked a father; between the rash valor of the youth, and the generous care and friendly admonition of his heroic enemy. Pallas had fallen by the hand of Turnus. Lausus and Pallas were of equal valor; but there is a wide difference between the conduct and bravery of their conquerors. Turnus eagerly seeks the combat, and challenges the youthful warrior. He even wishes his father were present, to behold the death of his son. Eneas is far from seeking Lausus, and singling him out as the object of his vengeance. And even when he exposed himself for the sake of his father, he begged him to retire from the combat, assuring him that his tenderness for his father would bring on him sure destruction. Nor does he attack him until he is compelled to do it in his own defence. And after he is slain, the victor fetches a deep groan, looks upon him with an eye of pity, and the image of his filial piety touches his generous heart. 820. Masta: sad-mournful. Concessil: in the sense of abiit. 820 825 830 835 840 822. Anchisiades: Eneas. A patronymic noun: the son of Anchises. 825. Laudibus: in the sense of virtutibus. Ruæus says, meritis. 826. Indole: disposition-excellence of character. 828. Remitto: in the sense of reddo. Cura: care solicitude of thine. 831. Ipsum: Lausus. 832. Genitor: the father of Lausus. 834. Siccabat: staunched his wounds with water-washed them with water, which be. ing cold, stopped the flowing of the blood. Ruæus says, tergebat: rinsed-cleansed. Dr. Trapp takes siccabat in the same sense. Lymphis: in the sense of aquá. 835. Procul: apart by themselves—at some distance from him. This word usually implies distance, but that distance may be very small. Acclinis: leaning against, or upon. It agrees with Mezentius. 837. Eger: faint with loss of blood. Fovet: eases-supports. Rumus says, sus tentat. He leaned his head forward upon his breast, spreading his long beard over it. Fusus: in the sense of fundens: or, it may be taken as a Grecism. Rumus says, deponens. 841. Super arma: upon his shield. 844. Deformat: he throws dust upon his head. Canitiem : his hoary hairs. 845. Inhærct corpore 845 filii 850 847. Ut paterer fe, quem genui, succedere hostili dextræ pro me? Ego-ne genitor 849. Nunc demum exilium est infelix mihi misero 853. Meorum subdi 854 torum Ad cœlum tendit palmas, et corpore inhæret: NOTES. 846. Voluptas: in the sense of cupido. 847. Succedere: to substitute himself for me to the arm of the enemy-to come up to, &c. 848. Quem genui: whom I begat. This speech of Mezentius over the dead body of his son is extremely pathetic. He now sees the errors of his former conduct, and the misery to which he had reduced himself now stares him in the face. 850. Infelix: in the sense of durum, vel intolerabile. While his son was living, he could bear up under the burden of exile from his country and throne; but now he is no more, it is become insupportable to him, reduced to a state of wretchedness and despair. The wound (the sense of his wickedness and crimes) is now opened deep and afresh. Adactum: is driven deep into my heart. Est: is understood. 851. Idem ego: I, the same father who begat you, and suffered you to lose your life for him, have tarnished your good name by my crimes. 852. Invidiam. This may signify his own invidious measures, and cruel and tyrannical government; or the odium and resentment of his subjects against him, which drove him from his throne, and brought upon him a train of evils. The former is the most in accordance with the context, since he is now 857. Quanquam vis doloris ex alto vulnere tardat eum 860 860. Mærentem equum, et infit talibus verbis: 864. Aperit mihi viam 865 ad ultionem 871 865. Pariter mecum: enim neque credo, O fortissime equorum, ut tu dignabere pati 867. Consueta huic equo awakened to a sense of his crimes, and condemns himself for them. Servius, however, prefers the latter sense; Davidson the former. Ruæus says, propter meam cupiditatem. 853. Panas: satisfaction-atonement.Dedissem: to the resentment of my people, I should have given up my guilty life. 856. Egrum: in the sense of saucium. 857. Vis: the violence of the pain from the wound he had received. 858. Hoc: this; to wit, his horse. 859. Hôc: here, is in the abl. with this horse. Equo is understood. 860. Mærentem: sorrowing-grieving.— Mæstum, says Ruæus. Davidson renders it "sympathizing." 861. Rhabe, diu viximus: such apostrophes, both to the animal and vegetable world, so far from being unnatural, are among the greatest beauties of poetry, and always show high emotion of soul. Had the poet made the horse reply to his master, he could not so easily be justified. This is in imitation of Homer. 863. Referes: you shall bear away. 867. Exceptus: being received by the animal upon his back, he placed. 868. Ornavit: in the sense of armavit. 869. Crista equina: a crest of horse hair made of horse hair. 871. Imo. In many of the ancient copics Et furiis agitatus amor, et conscia virtus. Atque hic Æneam magnâ ter voce vocavit. Æneas agnovit eum, lætusque precatur : 875. Faciat, ut tu in- Sic pater ille Deûm faciat, sic altus Apollo, cipias Incipias conferre manum. 878. Autem ille Mezentius ait: 875 ୫୧୦ 877. Eneas effatus Tantum effatus, et infestâ subit obvius hastâ. est tantum Ille autem: Quid me erepto, sævissime, nato Terres? hæc via sola fuit, quâ perdere posses. Nec mortem horremus, nec Divûm parcimus ulli : Desine. Jam venio moriturus; et hæc tibi porto Dona priùs. Dixit: telumque intorsit in hostem. Inde aliud super atque aliud figitque, volatque Ingenti gyro: sed sustinet aureus umbo. Ter circùm adstantem lævos equitavit in orbes, 885. Circum Enean Tela manu jaciens: ter secum Troïus heros Immanem ærato circumfert tegmine sylvam. 887. Immanem sylvam jaculorum infixam wrato Inde ubi tot traxisse moras, tot spicula tædet 688. Tædet Eneam Vellere; et urgetur pugnâ congressus iniquâ : traxisse tot moras, et Multa movens animo, jam tandem erumpit, et inter 890 vellere tot spicula è cly- Bellatoris equi cava tempora conjicit hastam. 884. Umbo Enea sustinet illa. adstantem peo Tollit se arrectum quadrupes, et calcibus auras NOTES. which Pierius consulted, he found uno corde: in one and the same breast. Heyne reads uno. The common reading is imo. Insania: rage-fury. 872. Et furiis. This verse is wanting in the ancient Roman manuscript. Heyne marks it as an interpolation. 876. Conferre manum: to engage with me, hand to hand. This address of Æneas to the gods is a fine contrast to the impiety of Mezentius, who acknowledges no other deity than his own arm: verse 773, supra. The prayer is short, but the approach of a furious enemy would not permit him to say more. 877. Subit: in the sense of occurrit. 878. Quid me terres, &c. Mezentius seeing Æneas coming up against him with his hostile spear, instead of discovering any signs of fear, appears hardened against the terrors of death, since his son, for whose sake he lived, was now taken from him, nato erepto. 880. Parcimus ulli: Ruæns says, reveremur ullum numen: I do not regard any of the gods. Some take parco in its usual acceptation, and understand by it that Mezentius would not have spared the gods themselves, had they appeared in the field against him he looked on them as his enemies, and would have discharged his wrath against them. Heyne takes parcimus in the sense of curo-vereor vel metuo. 883. Super. This word here is used in the sense of insuper, vel prætereà. Figit: in the sense of jacit, vel torquet. 885. Equitavit in lævos orbes: he rode 885 But about to the left, that he might reach the right side of Æneas, which was not protected by his shield; and in this way he turned quite about, forming an orb, or circle. Eneas wheeled at the same time, and kept the same relative situation to his antagonist, as appears from the next verse: ter Troïus: thrice the Trojan hero, &c. 887. Tegmine: in the sense of clypeo. Immanem sylvam: this means the spears, or darts, which Mezentius had thrown at Eneas, and which stuck in his brazen shield. These he carried around with him as he turned, following his antagonist. Rumus says, magnum numerum jaculorum. 888. Traxisse tot moras: to spend so much time. 889. Congressus: being engaged in unequal fight. Mezentius being on horseback, and Æneas on foot, they were not on equal terms. 890. Movens: in the sense of revoivens. 892. Calcibus. Calces here doubtless is to be taken for the fore feet. The horse reared, or lifted himself upon his hind feet, and in that position buffetted the air. Posterioribus pedibus, says Heyne. 893. Ipse secutus: by the rearing and kicking of his horse, Mezentius was thrown (effusum) to the ground. The horse himself soon following, falls upon his rider, (equitem,) and lays upon his shoulder, as he was thus prostrate. By these means, he was unable to rise to meet his foe, or defend himself in any manner. For seculus Rumus says, cadens. |