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A LEGION IN ORDER OF BATTLE BY COHORTS IN THREE LINES, In caesar's

TIME.

(Each cohort contained about 550 men, except the first on the right of the front line, which was usually double in number. The line in either form extended about 840 feet.)

The men stood in ranks, numbering from ten to twelve from front to rear; the ranks being separated from each other by intervals or lanes one yard in width, and the files by the same distance, as shown in the following plan, representing one half of the men of a cohort, arranged in rank and file in order of battle:

It has been assumed by most of the editors that, in this comparison, Vergil has in mind the quincunx arrangement of the vineyard, and, therefore, that the similar arrangement of the maniples in their triple line of battle is the principal point of the comparison. But, though this seems at first the most obvious and easy interpretation, there are some serious objections to it. In the first place, Vergil would hardly call up, in this connection, a practice that has ceased to exist, and is not familiar to his readers. Then, there is a kind of awkwardness and questionable taste in making whole masses or companies of men stand in comparison with single trees or vines. Again, while the poet lays so much stress on the lanes and rows of the vineyard (vias, limites), and their equal measurements (numeros, dimensa), and seems to be thinking only of these, the legion, drawn up by maniples, so far from perfectly representing these avenues, makes one of the two most important ones impossible; for, opposite the openings between the maniples of the front and rear, and filling precisely the whole space which should make the avenue in this direction, is stationed a maníple of the "principes," or middle line, forming, indeed, the central figure or square in each quincunx of maniples. Finally, the spectator, even at the best point of view, could see but a few of those companies and of the wide spaces between them, and would be reminded of a vineyard no more than if he were looking at a line of large buildings interrupted by three or four broad streets opening obliquely to the rear. In the order by cohorts the incongruity would be still greater. On the whole, the interpretation which refers the comparison to the general order and appearance of the individual soldiers seems to be more natural, though here there is no correspondence

-280.

to the quincunx. After all, the essential thing in the comparison is the regularity of the intersections of the lines. Now, the ranks and files of men in their cohorts, keeping their distances with the scrupulous precision to which they were trained, allowing the eye to range through the lanes from front to rear, and through those extending from flank to flank of each cohort, as well as through those that opened obliquely, all gleaming with burnished shields and armor, waving with plumes and bristling with spears, presented, indeed, a magnificent spectacle, and may well have been called up to the poet's memory by the perfect and pleasing order of the rows and cross-rows of the vineyard. Therefore, I think Martyn is right in referring the comparison, not to the relative position of maniples or cohorts, but to that of the individual legionary soldiers in rank and file, as shown in the last diagram. 279. Ut saepe cum; similar to veluti cum saepe, Ae. I, 148. After ut we may supply as its correlative ita before omnia sint. Longa; proleptic. The legion on the march forms a rectangular column, but, when preparing for battle, unfolds its cohorts into a long-extended line.Agmen; not in its specific sense, "a marching column," but for army or host.-281, 282. Fluctuat tellus. The whole of the far-stretching plain seems to be like a sea of flashing waves.- -283. Dubius. Mars is uncertain in whose favor he will decide the impending battle. Mediis in armis; i. e., between the two embattled hosts.- -284. Omnia, all things, everything; spaces and lines in every particular. Paribus numeris viarum, by or in equal proportions of the alleys, or in alleys of equal dimensions; numeris being used in the sense of mensuris, spaces, relative measurements. The order, however, may be omnia dimensa (intervalla) viarum sint paribus numeris; making the ablative one of description.- -285. Inanem, idle; merely gratifying the fancy.--290. Altior for altius. Arbos; here the supporting tree. -291, 292. Quantum, etc.; repeated in Ae. IV, 445, sq. 293. Hiemes, storms. -295. Volvens, living through. Comp. Ae. I, 9.-297. Ipsa, the tree itself; i. e., the trunk, the essential part or body, as distinguished from the limbs.- 299. Corylum. The hazel soon puts up a multitude of suckers, and chokes the vines.299, 300. Neve flagella, etc. The topmost shoots or joints of the vine, when ripened, bear the fruit of the following season, and, therefore, should not be cut off for planting; besides, those nearer the root are stronger. -301. Tantus, etc. Nearer the ground or root they get more nourishment. Ferro retunso. A dull knife leaves a ragged wound or broken bark, not so easily healed as a clean cut. 302. Oleae is the most authentic reading. The later German editors have adopted olea from Wagner. With our reading, the caution is to avoid planting (inserere) wild olives or oleasters among the vines; a practice that was sometimes resorted to for the advantage they were expected to afford both as supports for the vine and for the feed their leaves furnished for cattle. With olea, insere must be taken in the sense of grafting, and the precept relates, not to the vineyard, but to the olive-orchard. For the difference between the cultivated and the wild olive or oleaster, see on 182.- -303. Ignis. Fire might be lighted by herdsmen at night, while watching cattle, pastured near the vineyards.- -304, Pingui. The oily nature of the bark makes the tree take fire the more readily from any lurking spark. Other trees, such as the elm, the maple, or the poplar, are less dangerous. -306. Caelo. Comp. G. I, 322. Secutus, creeping along, making its way.- -308. Nemus; here, vineyard, plantation. Comp. 401.

-309. Picea crassus caligine. The flame is mingled with black wreaths of smoke. Comp. Ae. IV, 384. -310. Silvis, on the vineyard.-312. Hoc abi; supply accidit. Non-valent, they (the vines) have no strength at the root; not vitality enough to spring up again. The effect of the fire is the same as that of the cold, when, in one of our severe Northern winters, an old vine, as sometimes happens, is "winter-killed" or blighted down to

the stock. In such a case it seldom or never recovers its vigor. Que continues the force of the negation. Even if the damaged vines are cut down (caesae), they can not grow up again (reverti), and shoot forth green and flourishing as before (similes revirescere) from under the ground (ima terra). -313. Similes; like themselves, of the same quality as before.-314. Superat, remains; possesses the ground alone, the vines being destroyed. 315. Tam prudens, etc.; elliptical for tam prudens habeatur ut persuadeat. Let no one, be he ever so wise.-316. Borea spirante. When the wintry wind prevails. Tellurem movere refers to the work of trenching for the new vines. -317. Hiems; here, the cold weather either at the beginning of winter or on the verge of spring, when the ground is too stiff to be easily penetrated by the delicate fibers of the root. Semine iacto, when the young vine is planted. 318. Concretam, stiffened with cold. Comp. Ae. XII, 905. Adfigere; for se adfigere, fasten upon. So Heyne. 319. Rubenti. Comp. G. IV, 306.- -320. Candida avis refers to the stork.- -323. Adeo, here, introduces an additional and not less important fact. "The spring, indeed, is also favorable," etc. Nemorum, silvis; as in 310, of vineyards and orchards.- -325. Aether. See E. VII, 60, and note. The allegory personifying the atmosphere as exerting a quickening influence on the fertility of the earth, belongs to the earliest period of mythology.--326. Omnis; with fetus. -327. Magnus, magno; expressive of the vast extent of the acther or the firmament, and of the earth spread out beneath.- -330. Parturit, is teeming; i. e., with all vegetation.-330, 331. Auris laxant. Comp. 316, sq., and G. I, 43, sq.-331. Sinus; for glebam. Superat; as in G. I, 189. Omnibus (arvis); dative.- -332. Novos soles; the suns of the fresh returning spring. -333. Nec metuit, etc., emphasizes the idea of tuto. -334. Caelo. Comp. 306, and G. I, 322.-337. Habuisse. The subject is dies.-338. Ver agebat, was passing or enjoying its spring-time.- -339. Euri. The east winds were rough. See Ae. I, 85.- -341. Duris; because not yet mellowed by tillage.- -343. Res tenerae; i. e., the young plants of every kind. Laborem, exposure, peril; incident to vicissitudes of weather, rough winds, extremes of heat and cold.- -344. The last syllable of the line is elided by synapheia.

-345. Exciperet contains the notion of receiving under one's protection; sheltering, cherishing. -346. Quod superest, as for the rest; moreover. Virgulta, here, vine-layers, propagines.- -349. Tenuis, subtle, penetrating. Comp. G. I, 92.- -350. Halitus; for aer. Animos tollent, will lift their (own) spirits; will get new strength. Iamque, and indeed.-351. Super with urgerent. Saxo atque pondere testae; but not both at once; sometimes with the stone, sometimes with the potsherd or tile.-352, 353. Hoc, hoc; a repetition for emphasis.-355. Ad capita, at or about the crowns of the roots. The soil at the base of the trunk must not be allowed to become hard and impervious to moisture and air.-357. Plowing between the rows is also the common method of cultivating our peach-orchards. Flectere as in Ae. I, 156.—358. Calamos, etc. It was necessary to fasten (aptare) reeds, or else slender rods stripped of their bark (rasae), to the young vines.

-369. Sudes furcasque valentis. Strong stakes are prepared, some straight and some forked, so that the former may rest as bars on the crotches of the latter when fixed upright in the ground. These are the support of the vine, perhaps, in its second year.-360. Viribus; ablat. of the means.-361. Tabulata. The different stages or tiers formed by the limbs of the supporting tree. -362. Prima aetas; for vitis aetate prima. Frondibus; ablat. of manner. -363. Parcendum, must be left untouched. 363, 364. Se agit, shoots. -364. Laxis habenis; a metaphor denoting freedom from restraint. Comp. Ae. V, 662.-365. Ipsa has been referred variously to aetas, to vitis, to acie, and even to virgulta, in v. 346. It seems most satisfactory, on the whole, to refer it to acie as contrasted with the following uncis manibus.

Thus we must not yet touch the tender vine with the edge of the knife itself, but "pinch off the leafy sprays with the contracted fingers.-367. Inde introduces the directions about the third and last stage of growth, as Conington thinks; the first being prima actas, the second dum se palmes agit, etc.-372. Laborum. Comp. 343.-375. Pascuntur; supply quam; suggested by cui.-377. Soopulis, here for collibus or clivis. 378. Illi; emphatic; those destructive beasts."-381. Ineunt, etc. The public festivals of thanksgiving to Bacchus open the theatrical plays with the sacrifice of goats.382. Praemia. To the dramatists whose plays were accepted by the Archon-that is, to the gifted or to talent (ingeniis)-the Athenians awarded goats as prizes. Hence the play itself was called rpaydia, goatsong. The goat thus given as a prize was immediately sacrificed to Bacchus. Pagos et compita; the places where the primitive dramas were performed. -384. Unctos per utres. The skins of the goats were filled with wine and besmeared with oil, and then bestowed as prizes upon those who could dance upon them without falling. This, with the rest of the merry-making that followed the tragedy, gave rise to the Attic comedy (wudia, villagesong). 385. Nec non Ausonii. The Italians, no less than the Greeks, have their festivals in honor of Bacchus; those of the spring-time, to make the god propitious to the growth and fruitage of the vine; those of the autumnal vintage, in thanksgiving.-386. Incomptis, rude; as contrasted with the verses of the Attic poets (ingeniis).- 387. Corticibus; ablat. of the material or of description. The masks of bark were bending (cavatis) from the natural curvature of the bark in growing. A marble mask of Bacchus, made to be suspended in this manner, and also a medallion representing a tree with such masks hanging from its branches, are preserved in the British Museum, and are given in Smith's Dict. of Antiq., from which our illus

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tration is copied. Horrenda, hideous.389. Mollia. Besides the definitions of the Dictionary, referring to this passage, the meaning "movable"i. e., swaying to and fro in the wind-is given by some. Ruaeus renders it fictilia, plastic. Pinu. The pine cultivated about the vineyards was probably unlike any of the kinds familiar to us in America; most likely the stone-pine," a species common in the south of Europe, and a characteristic feature of Italian landscapes; resembling, with its bare trunk and crown of branches and foliage, rather the general appearance of a palm than of our cone-shaped pines.-390. Hinc, causal, hence; on account of this observance.391. Complentur; that is, with growth or fruitfulness (fetu).392. Quocumque. As the antecedent we may supply omnis locus. Ciroum egit. The shifting wind makes the god turn his face in many directions,

-393. Suum. See on sua,

and his favorable influence is felt in them all. 240. Honorem here refers to sacrificial hymns.-394. Lances. The chargers are filled with the first fruits of fields and orchards. See cut of "rustic sacrifice," page 18.397. Ille labor; that, namely, which is described in the following sentence: namque, etc.-399. Versis. The hoe is upturned or reversed, so that the back may be used instead of the teeth in breaking the heavy clods. 400, 401. Levandum fronde, must be relieved of (superfluous) foliage; must be well pruned.

401. In orbem, in a round or circle (kindred in form to in versum, in numerum), is joined by some with redit; by others, more correctly, perhaps, with actus; carried on or pursued in routine. 402. In se; never deviating from the fixed order of work and care that it brings round. Annus. The year especially of the farmer. 406. Relictam. Stripped of fruit and leaves; naked. 407. Attondens fingit. He cuts off some of the " canes entire, and shortensin others, and thus brings the vine into the best form for the fruitage of the next year.Primus; as compared with your neighbors; "be the first to burn," etc. Devecta cremato i. e., devehito et cremato. See on Ge. I, 285. If you do not dispose of the prunings and rubbish early, and when you have leisure for it, you will be obliged to take more valuable time by-and-by.—409. Vallos. These must not be left exposed to decay more rapidly than is necessary. -410. Postremus. By too early gathering you will damage the wine.

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408.

Stone-pine.

410, 411. Bis, bis. The rapid growth of the foliage of the vine (umbra, perhaps, also, of the supporting tree), and that of the grass and weeds, require pruning and "weeding" twice in the season; once when the clusters are "setting," and again when they are ripening.- -411. Segetem, the vineyard.-412. Laudato, etc. Be contented to admire the extensive landed estates of others, and, at the same time, for yourself, feel that you are better off in possessing a very limited amount of land.- 413-415. Rusci, harundo, salicti. Perhaps all were used for tying up the vines, though the reed was also used for supporting the young vines.- 415. Exercet, tasks the husbandman.418. Pulvis movendus. Dust raised in stirring the soil was supposed in some way to benefit the vines.- -419. Metuendus. Either hail or violent rain is to be feared by the clusters.

420-457. The olive and other fruit-bearing trees require much less labor than the vine; wild shrubs, too, and forest-trees yield valuable products, and on some accounts are a greater blessing to man than the gift of Bacchus.

421. Tenacis; not yielding their hold on the sod.-422. Auras tulerunt, have borne or have become used to the air; that is, to the wind and weather of the open field, which are more trying than the exposure of the nursery. Olives are usually raised in Italy on hill-sides.- 423. Ipsa. Comp. E. IV, 21. Satis, the plants; the newly-planted olives. 424. Cum vomere, even with the share, or at once with the plow; implying that no additional labor is needed. Others take cum for quum, and supply recluditur. Fruges; the olive-berries.- -425. Hoc; ablat. of cause; for this reason. Placitam Paci. The olive-branch, from time immemorial, has been the emblem of peace. -426. Truncos valentis; for truncorum vires; the strength and vigor of their trunks conveying due nourishment.428.

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