302-5. And make the folds face the winter sun, being turned from the cold winds towards 'medium diem' the south; when now, at length, cold Aquarius sets, and drops water at the end of the year. 'extremo '; Gr. § 205. Rem. 17. Aquarius, one of the signs of the zodiac, is represented as a man pouring water out of an urn. As he was thought to set in February, the year beginning in March must be meant. Hæ'; that is, the goats.

306-7. Nor will the profit be less; although the Milesian fleeces, dyed with Tyrian purple, are bartered at a great price. Milesia'; Miletus, a city on the borders of Ionia, was celebrated for wool.

303. Densior,' more numerous: largi,' for 'largior.'

309-10. The more the pail froths, the udder being drained, the more abundant will the stream flow from the pressed dugs; that is, the more they are milked, the more milk they will yield.

311-3. Meanwhile also, they shear the beards, hoary chins, and long hair of the Cinyphian goat. Ciny ps is a river in Africa, on the banks of which were goats having very long hair. Garments, sacks, and ropes, for the use of soldiers and sailors, were made of goats' hair. 314. 'silvas'; Gr. § 232. (2.) Lycoi'; see note to Ecl. X. 15. 315. On prickly brambles and the bushes that love high places. 316.suos,' their young.

319-21. As much the less as they have need of human care in all other respects, so much the more zeal should you show in defending them from cold;illis'; Gr. § 226. 'feres lætus,' you will joyfully bring : nec-brumâ, nor shut up your hay-lofts from them the whole winter. 324-5. 'sidere,' instead of ortu; at the first rising, or as soon as it rises. Luciferi;' see note to Ecl. VIII. 17. 'Carpamus'; that is, 'carpere cogamus capras': gramina canent,' the grass is hoary.

327-8. quarta hora '; as the space between sunrise and sunset was divided into twelve hours, the fourth hour in summer, in Italian latitudes, would correspond nearly to our 9 o'clock, A. M. The night, or the space between sunset and sunrise, was divided in the same manner. 'sitim collegerit,' shall have occasioned thirst. 'cicada'; see note to Ecl. II. 13: cantu rumpent,' shall fill with song.

330. ilignis canalibus,' troughs made of holm-oak.

333-5.aut umbrâ,' or wherever a dark grove of thick holm-oaks rests with its sacred shade. 6 tenues aquas,' clear water.

·

337-8. reficit, refreshes by the falling dew: 'alcyonem'; see note to Geor. I. 399: resonant,' resound with the voice of: 'acalanthida,' the goldfinch.

340-1.mapalia'; African huts, built of canes, in the shape of a ship's hull turned keel upwards, and portable in wagons. raris tectis,' forrara mapalia,' scattered in the fields, not collected in villages: 'ex ordine,' successively.

343-5.Hospitiis,' folds to shelter them at night: tantum-jacet,' so far does the plain extend. 'Larem,' guardian god, of which every house had one. " Amyclæum'; Amycle, see note to line 89, was famous for dogs. Cressam,' of Crete, the natives of which island were excellent archers.

347-8. The weight a Roman legionary soldier usually carried, seems almost incredible. Vegetius says it was more than sixty pounds. hosti expectatum,' before he was expected by the enemy.

เ

349-51. From Africa the poet turns to Scythia, and describes the life of the shepherds there. The description of a Scythian winter is deservedly admired. 'At non,' 'ita pascitur,' or some like phrase, understood; not such is the mode of pasturage. Mæotiaque unda'; thepalus Mæotis,' or sea of Azof, lying at the north of the Euxine, or Black sea. Ister'; the Greek name of the Danube. 'redit Rhodope'; this chain of mountains in Thrace, first extending eastward to the Hamus, then bends round to the north.

354-6. But the land lies covered far and wide, and changed in aspect by the heaps of snow and deep frost, and the snow rises seven cubits high; 'informis,' uogos; the snow hides the inequalities of the ground, and makes it appear like a plain. 'Cauri'; see note to line 278. The description is hyperbolical.

359. He laves his descending chariot in the reddened expanse of ocean. Every one knows the fable of Phoebus, or the sun, performing his diur. nal journey through the heavens in a chariot drawn by fiery horses.

361-4. And the wave bears on its back the ironed wheels; formerly hospitable to ships, now to broad wagons. This fact hardly appears so wonderful to a native of New England, as it must have seemed to the ancient Italians. 'Eraque dissiliunt'; brazen vessels may be burst by freezing water in them. 'humida'; that is, liquid in other places. 366-7. Stiria,' icicle: non seciùs,' incessantly.

369-70. The deer, crowding together for warmth, stand benumbed under the unusual weight of snow, the tips of their horns hardly rising above it. The description is a lively, but exaggerated one, as if drawn from report, and not from observation.

371-2. The inhabitants do not catch these timid creatures by setting on dogs, nor by any snares, nor are purple feathers needed to frighten them into the toils. Feathers were hung up on lines, which alarmed and guided the prey towards the nets.

374-7. 'rudentes' from 'rudo': 'reportant,' carry them home. secura Otia agunt,' lead a safe and easy life: congesta robora,' accumulated oak logs. totasqu Advolvêre'; Gr. § 307. 3.

379-80. pocula vitea'; that is, wine, which they imitate with fermented liquor and cider made from the sour service-berries.

381-3. Such the unruly race of men, living under the northern Bear, who are buffeted by the east wind from the Rhipaan mountains, and clothed as to their bodies with the tawny hair of wild animals; Hyperboreo'; see note to line 196. 'septemtrioni; Gr. § 323. 4. (5.) literally, the seven plough-oxen, the name applied to the seven bright stars in the Great Bear, which are now called "Charles's Wain," and sometimes the "Dipper." Rhipao'; see note to Geor. I. 240.

384. Sicuræ, if wool is your care; est' understood; Gr. § 227. 385. Lappæque tribulique,' burrs and caltrops: læta,' over rich. 386. In the first place, choose a white flock with soft fleeces.

387-90. But, although the ram himself be white, if there is only a black tongue under his moist palate, reject him, lest he should stain the fleece of the young with black spots; look round for another in the field full of sheep.

391-2. captam Munere niveo lane,' captivated by a gift of snowwhite wool; niveo' for niveæ,' by hypallage. The fable is, that Pan deceived Luna, (the Moon,) under the form of a white ram, as Jupiter did Europa, by taking on himself the shape of a bull.

394-6. amor,' est' understood: 'Ipse manu ferat,' let him carry in his own hands. tendunt,' distend.

397. And leave in the milk a slight taste of salt.

398-9. excretos prohibent,' keep them separate: Prima ora,' the extremities of their mouths: ferratis capistris'; a sort of muzzle with projecting iron points, opposed to the mollibus capistris,' line 188. 401. Nocte premunt,' they press at night into cheese.

403. Or mix with it a little salt, and lay it up for the winter. 404-6.postrema,' least important.: catulos'; a race of small hounds: Molossum'; a large watch-dog: sero pingui,' rich whey, then used as food for dogs.

408. Iberos'; the Spaniards were in ancient times famous for robberies, so that their name became the common epithet for thieves.

409. 'onagros,' wild asses, which, as they are not found in Italy, must be here put for wild animals in general.

411. volutabris, swamps; the primitive meaning is, the muddy places in which swine roll themselves.

414-5. Directions are now given for avoiding noxious animals, and the diseases to which cattle are subject. And with the smell of galba. num drive away the offensive snakes. Galbanum was a gum of a yellow color and strong odor, obtained in Syria and Arabia. The ' 'chelydri' were a species of snake, having an offensive smell.

416-8. mala tactu,' dangerous to touch. coluber,' house snake. 420 – 2. 'fovit,' keeps close to, or inhabits. Tollentem — Dejice,' and strike him down when he rises in threat, and puffs out his hissing neck. The snake raises his head and neck, when preparing to strike.

423-4. When the middle folds and the extremity of the tail are enfeebled, and the last curvature drags on its slow spiral progress; the meaning is, that even when he has got his head in the ground, you can beat the body and the tail, till they lose the power of motion.

425. There is also this norious snake in the Calabrian wooded pastures; namely, the chersydrus, (from xignos, land, and idʊg, water,) an amphibious serpent, that infested Calabria, the most southern part of Italy. The poet introduces a particular and vivid description of it. 427-8. And marked as to his long belly with large spots. tur,' for 'erumpunt,' fontibus,' flow from their springs. 430-1.hic-explet,' here he greedily fills his foul maw with fishes and noisy frogs; 'improbus,' used adverbially.

rumpun

433-6.in siccum,' upon dry ground: sævit'; the idea of motion with that of anger; crawls enraged: asper,' exasperated: 'exterritus,' mad. Ne mihi tum libeat,' may I not then be disposed; Gr §. 260. Rem. 6. sub divo,' in the open air: 'dorso nemoris,' on the acclivity of a grove, a wooded eminence.

437.positis exuviis,' having cast his skin, which the snake does in spring, and then appears novus,' renewed, and 'nitidus,' shining. 439. linguistrisulcis'; by hypallage; waves his three-forked tongue in his mouth.

442-4. Altiùs persedit,' has penetrated deeply to the quick; 'persedit seems to express both the penetrating and the abiding effect of the cold. 'vel- Sudor,' or when the unwashed sweat has adhered to them after shearing.

6

447. missus-amni,' and being plunged in, floats down the stream. 448-51. contingunt,' besmear, moisten: tristi amurcâ,' bitter lees of oil. spumas argenti,' litharge, or vitrified lead, the scum that rises, when silver is melted for purification. 'viva sulfura,' virgin sulphur; 'sulfur' Idæas'; elided in scanning; Gr. § 307. 3. Ideas pices'; the best pitch was brought from mount Ida. Scillam,' squill, or seaonion helleboros graves,' strong smelling hellebore.

452. Still, there is no more efficacious remedy for their maladies, than cutting open the ulcer.

6

454-6. tegendo'; Gr. § 275. I. Rem. 2. sedet,' sits, does nothing. 457-9. ima-furit,' when the malady rages, having reached the very bones of the sheep: arida,' parching: incensos - avertere,' to reduce the inflammation, by opening a vein in the foot.

461-2.Bisaltæ

solent,' in the way the Bisalta are wont to do ;people of Thrace. 'Gelonus'; see note to Geor. II. 115. fugit '; the Geloni were a migratory race. The Geta dwelt near the junction of the Danube with the Black sea.

464-6. Quam,' 'ovem' understood; procul videris,' should you see any sheep standing aloof: aut succedere sæpiùs,' or often going to: 'Extremam sequi,' coming last, lagging behind.

468. Continuò compesce,' immediately cut short the evil with the knife; kill the infected sheep, that the contagion may not spread. 470-3. Gales are not so frequent on the sea, as diseases are among the flocks. 'tota æstiva,' whole flocks; æstiva,' for 'æstiva castra,"

at first "the summer quarters" of men, then of animals, came finally "the cattle themselves. Spemque gregemque'; that is,

to mean

both the young and the old sheep.

474-6. Here commences the most highly-wrought episode of the book, an account of a destructive pestilence, which infected all classes of animals throughout the Alpine districts. It occurred before Virgil's birth, but the effects were visible in his time. Tum sciat,' then he may know this to be the fact, 'si quis Nunc quoque, pòst tanto, videat aerias Alpes,' &c.; if any one even now, so long afterwards, should see (visit) the lofty Alps, &c. The Norici' were a German nation, inhabiting the country, that now corresponds to Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, and part of Austria. Castella in tumulis, a poetical phrase for mountain villages. The 'lapy des' were a people of Illyricum, whose territory reached to the Timavus; see note to Ecl. VIII. 6. 478-9. morbo cœli,' from the corruption of the atmosphere. 'Tempestas,' pestilence, and it was increased by all the heat of autumn, the season most favorable to the spread of disease.

481. tabo,' with its poisonous qualities.

482-3. 'Nec-simplex,' nor was the mode of death simple; that is, natural, or unattended with terrible adjuncts. The corruption of the whole body made the appearance of death more frightful. But in them the fiery heat, penetrating all the veins, contracted the distressed limbs; 'sitis; the effect for the cause; ubi' for 'in quibus.'

484-5. On the other hand, a corrupt liquid flowed freely, and, piece by piece, drew into itself (converted into its own substance) all the bones tainted by the disease;" Rursus,' for 'contrà '; 'fluidus liquor,' that is, tabes'; the fluid produced by corruption and decay.

487. While the woollen fillet is being put round it with the white bandage. The 'infula' was a woollen band passed across the forehead, and secured at either end by the vitt,' the ends of which hung down. They were worn by priests, victims, and suppliants.

489-90. quam,' for 'aliquam': 'antè'; that is, before the disease killed it: 'Inde,' of it, of the victim: 'altaria fibris'; hypallage; its entrails placed upon the altar did not burn; would not take fire.

491. The augurs foretold events by inspecting the entrails of victims. 492-3.suppositi,' driven into the throat from beneath: and_the surface of the sand is just stained with the thin bloody matter. The blood and all the other liquids of the body were changed and wasted by the disease.

497. Tussis anhela,' cough attended with short breath: 'faucibus obesis,' and chokes them with a swollen throat.

498-501.studiorum,' of his occupation; that is, of the race: 'avertitur,' loathes: Crebra'; used adverbially: 'incertus,' intermittent : 'et frigidus,' and this sweat, indeed, is cold in those near dying.

504-8. But if the disease begins to grow worse in its progress: ab alto,' from the depth of his chest: 'imaque tendunt,' and heave their very flanks with a long sob: et-lingua,' and the dry tongue adheres to the ulcerated throat.

509-11. latices Lenæos,' Bacchic liquor; that is, wine. Mox exitio,' but afterwards, this very thing was their destruction.

512-4. In this order; ipsi laniabant suos Discissos artus nudis dentibus,' &c. 'sub,' near to: 'Di'; Gr. § 209. Rem. 4: 'errorem,' 'mentis' understood; fury, alienation of mind.

515. From describing the sufferings of the horse, the poet now goes on to paint the manner in which the bull was affected by the same disThe passage is very beautiful and pathetic. 'autem,' also: 'fumans,' smoking with perspiration.

ease.

518. Freeing from the yoke the surviving bullock, grieving at its companion's death.

521-3. non-amnis,' not the river, which, clearer than amber, roll

ing over the rocks, flows towards the plain: 'Solvuntur,' become flaccid: 'inertes,' heavy.

525-7. Scaliger expresses his admiration of the six following lines in extravagant terms. They are, indeed, very beautiful, but to me they hardly seem of equal merit with the few verses immediately preceding. 'Massica Bacchi Munera'; that is, wine; see note to Geor. II. 143. 'epulæ repôstæ,' abundant feasts.

529. Pocula,' their drink: exercita cursu,' agitated by their course, kept pure by running.

532-3. Quæsitas,' were wanted. So great was the mortality, that cattle could not be obtained for the sacred rites; a thing which had never happened before. Junonis'; in the processions in honor of this goddess, instead of white oxen, which custom required, they were obliged to use buffaloes. Imparibus,' ill-matched: donaria,' temples. 535-6. Men planted with their nails, and drew the carts by hand. 'Contentâ,' strained.

537-9. The poet now describes the ravages of the pestilence among wild animals, fishes, and birds. 'insidias explorat,' searches for a place to lie in wait: nocturnus,' by night: acrior Cura,' a greater cause of anxiety; that is, the disease. Much of what follows must be regarded as poetical hyperbole.

541. natantùm,' for 'natantium'; of fishes.

543. Proluit,' washes up: 'phocæ,' seals, driven from the sea. 545-6. et hydri,' and the water-snakes rendered motionless with erected scales. non æquus est,' became fatal to.

548-9. nec refert,' it is of no use: Quæsita-magistri,' remedies elaborately prepared were even injurious; the masters of the medical art failed, gave up in despair.

550. Chiron, the son of Saturn and Philyra, was the inventor of the medical art, and the instructer of Achilles. Melampus, the son of Amythaon and Dorippe, was skilled in augury and in medicine. Even these great masters of their art were unsuccessful.

551-3. And pallid Tisiphone, sent forth from Stygian darkness to the light of the world above, rages and drives before her Disease and Fear, and rising every day, lifts higher her voracious head. Tisiphone (the Avenger-of-blood) was one of the Furies, whose proper home was on the banks of the Styx; but they were sometimes let loose upon earth to punish men for their sins.

555. colles supini,' gently-sloping hills.

556-7. dat; that is, Tisiphone dat': 'atque - tabo,' and heaps together in the very stables the bodies dissolved in foul corruption.

559-62. Virgil goes on to say, that no use could be made of any part of the body; neither of the coriis,' hides, nor of the viscera,' flesh, nor the Vellera,' fleeces: abolere,' to wash out the taint:'aut vincere,' or to overcome, to destroy it: morbo peresa,' eaten through with the disease and filth; that is, thoroughly corrupted by them: telas putres,' the rotten wool.

-

-

563-6. in visos amictus,' but if any one tried the loathsome clothing, made of this wool: olentia Membra sequebatur,' overspread their offensively-smelling limbs: nec Tempore,' then, after a short time, to him delaying to put off these garments: 'sacer ignis,' accursed fire; a kind of eruptive disease, perhaps the same with that which, by a similar metaphor, we call "Saint Antony's fire": "edebat,' preyed upon: 'contactos,' infected.

There are many beautiful passages in this book, but as a whole, it is not so pleasing as the two former ones. The art and diligence of the poet in weaving the composition are equally conspicuous, but the theme is not so tractable, and the plain and minute precepts, that are given on very homely subjects, are sometimes even repulsive to a delicate taste.