Nec spes libertatis erat, nec cura peculì : 35 TIT. Quid facerem? neque servitio me exire licebat, Hic mihi responsum primus dedit ille petenti : NOTES. licately hints at his changing political sides, and in consequence thereof leaving Mantua, and going to Rome. From the circumstance of Augustus depriving the Mantuans of their lands, we may infer that they were generally in favor of the Republic, and Virgil might have been of that party, till all hope of liberty was Jost, and prudence dictated a change of politics. Galatea reliquit, is for reliqui Galateam, by Euphemisinus. After he had left Galatea, and transferred his affections to Amaryllis, he obtained liberty and property that is, after he had changed political sides. 33. Peculi. By apocope for Peculi. This word properly denotes the property of a slave-that which his master suffers him to possess, and call his own. In this sense, it is peculiarly proper, as Virgil here speaks of himself as having been in that humiliating condition. 35. Urbi. The city Mantua. 36. Non unquam, &c. Never did my right hand return home heavy with money. -Mihi: in the sense of mea, 40. Arbusta: the groves themselves, &c. There is a great beauty in the personification of inanimate things; or attributing to them the actions of real life. The Arbusta were large pieces of ground set with elms or other trees, commonly at the distance of about 40 feet, to leave room for corn to grow between them. They were sometimes pruned, and served for stages to the vine. The verb rocabant is to be repeated with each of the 40 45 37. Mirabar, quid tu mosta, Amarylli, vocares Deos ei cui patereris 54. Hinc sepes, quæ 50 dividit tuum agrum ab vicino limite, semper depasta quoad florem salicti Hyblais apibus, sæpe suadebit tibi inire somnum levi susurro арит. 55 nominatives preceding, and to govern the pronoun te. 42. Præsentes: propitious or favorable.Alibi: in any other place-any where else. -Cognoscere: to experience, or find. 43. Hic. Here, at Rome.-Juvinem: Octavius, who was then about twenty-two years of age; afterward by a decree of the senate called Augustus.-Cui nostra: for whom our altars smoke,--in honor of, &c. 46. Pueri. Swains. The word puer properly significs a boy, in opposition to a girl— also a male slave or waiter. 49. Obducat omnia pascua, &c. Ruæus understands this not of Virgil's own lands, but of the lands of his neighbors. Dr. Trapp very justly rejects this interpretation. The poet is felicitating himself on his good fortune under the character of an old man And, though his farm was covered over partly with rocks and stones, and partly with a marsh; yet no unusual or improper pasture should injure his (graves fœtas) pregnant ewes; nor any noxious contagion of a neighboring flock should infect or hurt them. --Fata: the female of any kind big with young-a breeder. Po. 52. Inter flumina nota. The Mincius and 55. Sapes depasta florem, &c. This construction frequently occurs among the poets, and is in imitation of the Greeks; who sometimes placed the noun or pronoun in the acc. case, omitting the governing prep. Fed upon as to, or with respect to, its florer of willow, &c.-Hyblais: an adj. from Hy Sæpe levi somnum suadebit inire susurro. TIT. Antè leves ergo pascentur in æthere cervi, 60 65. At nos expulsi Aut Ararim Parthus bibet, aut Germania Tigrim, hinc, alii nostrum ibi- Quàm nostro illius labatur pectore vultus. Inus ad sitientes Afros, MEL. At nos hinc alii sitientes ibimus Afros, pars nostrum veniemus Pars Scythiam, et rapidum Crete veniemus Oaxem, ad Scythiam, 68. En unquam mi- Et penitùs toto divisos orbe Britannos. videns patrios En unquam patrios longo pòst tempore fines, rabor NOTES. bla, a town and mountain in Sicily, famous for honey.-Vicino limite: from the neighboring field. Hinc: on the one hand. It is opposed to the Hinc in line 57. infra; which is to be rendered: on the other hand. 57. Ad auras: to the air-aloud, so as to pierce the air. 60. Antè. The ante in this line is morely expletive; the sense is complete without it. 61. Destituent: in the sense of relinquent. 02. Ante, pererratis, &c. Tarthus, by Synec. for the Parthians collectively. They were a people descended from the Scythians, and possessed that part of Asia, which is bounded on the west by Media, on the north by the Caspian sea, on the east by Bactriana, and on the south by the deserts of Carmania. In process of time, they became very powerful, and were the most formidable enemies of the Persians: and from their frequent conquests over that people, are sometimes confounded with them. Germania. An extensive country in Europe, put, by meton. for the inhabitants of that country. Ararim. A river of France arising from mount Vogesus (hodie l'auge) and running in a southern direction, falls into the Rhodanus at Lyons, and along with it, into the Mediterranean. It is famous for the bridge built over it by Julius Cæsar. Its present name is the Soane. Tigrim. This is a very rapid river of Asia, rising in Armenia, and taking a southerly direction, passing by Mesopotamia and Assyria, unites with the Euphrates, and with it falls into the Sinus Persicus. The Araris is not in Germany properly so called. But it is well known that the Germans extended their conquests beyond that river, and effected settlements among the Sequani, and other nations of Gaul. Nor is the Tigris in Parthia proper. But the Parthians extended their conquests as far west as the Euphrates. Not far from this river they vanquished Crassus, the Roman general. The meaning of this passage, which hath so much 65 divided the opinions of commentators, appears to be this: that these two nations, the Germans and the Parthians, shall exchange countries with each other (finibus amborum pererratis) sooner than (ante quam) the image of that youth should be effaced from his breast. But the former could never be; therefore, the latter would remain. Pererratis, in the sense of permutatis. 65. Sitientes: thirsting or parched. This epithet is peculiarly proper for the inhabitants of Africa, the greater part of which lies between the tropics. a 66. Scythiam. The Scythians were brave and warlike people, leading a wandering life. They extended their conquests over a very considerable part of Europe and Asia. Hence the term Scythia came to be used indefinitely, to denote any part or the whole of the northern parts of Europe and Asia. Oaris: a river of Crete; a large island in the Mediterranean. It is celebra ted for having been the birth-place of Jupi ter, and for its having once had a hundred cities. Veniemus, in the sense of ibimus. 68. En unquam. Alas! shall I ever wonder, beholding, &c. Germanus, Ruæus and Davidson connect aliquot aristas with mea regna. But Dr. Trapp takes post aliquot aristas to mean after some years; and construes mea regna with culmen tuguri. It is true, arista may be taken for years. But aliquot aristas does not very well answer to the longo tempore pòst, mentioned just before. And if it did, it would be only a useless repetition. But connect aliquot aristas with mea regna, as in the ordo; any impropriety of this kind is removed; and we have a beautiful representation of Melibaus's possessions; which consisted in a few acres of land, lying adjacent to his cottage, the roof of which just rose above the corr. that was planted around it, and might not improperly be said to be concealed among it, or behind it. Tuguri, by apocope, for tugurii. Congestum cespiti : covered over with turf. Pauperis et tuguri congestum cespite culmen, fines longo tempore post, 70 et culmen pauperis tu-. guri, congestum cesp ite, stans post aliquot aristas, tota mea regna. 75 79 [tem TIT. Hic tamen hanc mecum poteris requiescere noc- Et jam summa procul villarum culmina fumant, NOTES. 71. Novalia fallow-ground. 72. Quò: whither-to what state of misery. Perduxit: hath reduced, or brought. 74. Insere nune, &c. Melibaus says this ironically to himself, being vexed that he 76. Ego posthac projectus in viridi antro, non videbo vos procul pendere had labored, and had improved his lands, to be now possessed by a cruel soldier. and cheese. Molles, may here mean ripe, or 82. Copia pressi luctis: a plenty of curds soft and smooth, in opposition to the hirsuta, or rough. QUESTIONS. What is the subject of this pastoral? To reward his troops, what did Augustus do? Who is represented under the character of Tityrus? Who under that of Molibœus? Where is the scene of the pastoral laid? Were the Romans a superstitious people? ECLOGA SECUNDA. ALEXIS THE subject of this charming pastoral is the passion of the shepherd Corydon for the beautiful youth Alexis. The shepherd complains of the cruelty of the boy in slighting his overtures; and withal advises him not to trust too much to his complexion and beauty. He endeavors to prevail on him to visit the country, where he promises to entertain him with music, nuts, apples, and flowers. But when he finds nothing will avail, he resolves to seek another lover. By Corydon some understand Virgil himself, and by Alexis a beautiful slave, belonging to his friend and patron, Mecenas. In several parts of this pastoral, the poet is indebted to Theocritus. The scene is laid in Sicily. FORMOSUM pastor Corydon ardebat Alexim, Delicias domini: nec, quid speraret, habebat. NOTES. 1. Ardebat: he greatly loved-he burned for. This word very forcibly marks the degree of his passion. 2. Delicias: the darling-the delight of his master. It is placed in apposition with Alexim. It is used only in the plural. 3. Inter densas fagos Tantùm inter densas, umbrosa cacumina, fagos habentes umbrosa cacu- Assiduè veniebat: ibi hæc incondita solus nina. Montibus et sylvis studio jactabat inani. 10. Thestylis contun- Thestylis et rapido fessis messoribus æstu dit allia serpyllumque, Allia serpyllumque herbas contundit olentes. olentes herbas, messori- At mecum raucis, tua dum vestigia lustro, bus fessis rapido æstu. Sole sub ardenti resonant arbusta cicadis. At, dum lustro tua vestigia, arbusta Nonne fuit satius tristes Amaryllidis iras, NOTES. 4. Ibi solus jactabat, &c. There alone he poured forth these indigested complaints. Jactabat: he threw them away-they were of no avail to him, because they were unheeded by Alexis. 5. Inani studio: with unavailing pleasure, or fondness. He speaks the language of a lover. The beauty and accomplishments of the boy had taken possession of his affections. He dwells upon them with rapture and delight. But all this is vain and unavailing. The boy regards him not. He then breaks forth: O crudelis Alexi, nihil mea carmina curas, &c. 7. Nil. This word is often used in the sense of non, as a simple negative. So also is nihil. 9. Lacertos: lizards. Spinetum: a place ⚫ where thorns and prickly shrubs grow: here put for the thorns themselves, by meton. 10. Thestylis. The name of a servant; taken from Theocritus. 11. Allia: plu. of allium, an herb called garlic. Serpyllum: wild-thyme, or runningbetony; an odoriferous herb. 13. Cicadis. The cicada is an insect of the species of the grasshopper, making a very hoarse and disagreeable noise, particularly in the heat of the day. Satius: in the sense of melius. 15. Menalcan. A Greek acc. of Menalcas. See Ecl. 3. Fastidia: plu. of fastidium: disdain-haughtiness. Pati: to bear-en dure. 18. Ligustra: plu. of Ligustrum: a privet or with-bind, a species of shrub or plant bearing very white flowers; taken for the 5 10 15 20 flowers themselves, by meton. Vaccinia: the blackberries or bilberries. Some take them for the Hyacinth of Theocritus, whom Virgil here imitates. The meaning of the poet is this: as the privets, though white and fair, (cadunt,) lie neglected because they are useless; and the blackberry is gathered and saved for its usefulness: so, Alexis, shall you, though fair and beautiful to the sight, be neglected for your pride; while Menalcas, though black and swarthy, shall be loved for his good disposition, and his conciliating temper. 21. Siculis. The mountains of Sicily are mentioned, either because they are famed for excellent pastures, or because the scene of the pastoral is laid in that country. 22. Estate in summer. Frigore: in winter. 23. Siquando: the same as quando. When he called his herds. It was usual with shepherds to walk before their sheep, and call them. 24. Amphion. A celebrated musician, said to have been the son of Jupiter and Antiope, and born on mount Cythera. He was king of Thebes, and is said to have built the walls of that city by the music of his lyre. We are to understand by this, perhaps, his persuading, by his eloquence, a barbarous people to unite, and build a city for their common safety. His mother was wife to Lycus, king of Thebes, and put away by him for the sake of Dirce, whom he married. Dirceus: an adj. either from Dirce his stepmother, or from a fountain of that name in Beotia. Aracyntho: a town and mountain Amphion Dircæus in Actæo Aracyntho. Nec sum adeò informis: nuper me in litore vidi, 25 Cùm placidum ventis staret mare: non ego Daphnim, NOTES. in Beotia. But why it should be called Actæus, there is a difference of opinion. Servius thinks it is so called from a Greek word which signifies the shore. Probus derives it from Action, who, hunting near this mountain, was torn in pieces by his dogs, for having discovered Diana bathing herself. Mr. Davidson places the mountain in the confines of Attica and Beotia; and thinks it is so called from Acta or Acte, the country about Attica. Rumus interprets Aclao by maritimo. 26. Daphnim. A beautiful shepherd. See in Ecl. 5. Placidum: in the sense of tranquillum. 21. Imago. His image reflected from the water. Nunquam: in the sense of non. 28. O tantum libeat tibi: O that it would please you to inhabit with me, &c. These are sweet lines. Sordida rura. Most commentators join tibi to sordida, disdained or despised by thee. But there is no need of this refinement. Sordida is a very proper epithet for cottages and country villages, which in general are indifferent in themselves, and poorly furnished, when compared with the splendor and luxury of cities. Or, we may suppose the poet to speak in the character of a lover, who thinks nothing good enough for the object of his affections. Rus is opposed to urbs. 30. Viridi hibisco. Ruæus takes these words to be in the dative case, and understands by them: to green or verdant pasture; ad virentem hibiscum, says he: taking the hibiscum for a kind of plant. But this in terpretation is attended with difficulty. Dr. Trapp takes it for a large plant or little tree, out of which wands were made. He observes, Virgil no where mentions it as food for cattle. Compellere, &c.: to drive them with a green switch. 31. Pana. Fan, the god of shepherds and hunters, is said to have been the son of Mercury and the nymph Dryope. He was educated in Arcadia; and wrapped in the skin of a goat, he was carried up to heaven by Jupiter, where all the gods ridiculed his appearance. He chiefly resided in Arcadia. He is said to have invented the pipe with seven reeds. He was worshipped in Arcadia, and is said to have given out oracles on mount Lycæus. His festivals, called by the Greeks Lyca, were introduced into Italy by Evander, and established at Rome under the name of Lupercalia, and celebrated the 15th of February. He was the chief of the Satyrs. 34. Trivisse labellum: to have worn the lip. From the verb tero. 36. Cicutis. Cicuta, an herb much like the Hemlock. Hence used for any hollow reed: hence also, by Meton. for a pipe. Fistula: a pipe connected together with seven unequal reeds, &c. These were put together with wax, as mentioned 32 supra. 41. Duo Capreoli: two young goats. Capreoli: a diminitive noun, from capra or caper. These were undoubtedly wild kid taken from their dams, which he esteemed very much; and not those lost by him, and recovered again. Servius says: kids have |