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But no reader can fail to admire the elegant description of the effects of the sexual passion on various animals, the graphic account of a winter in Scythia, or the elaborate and striking picture of epidemic disease, with which the book concludes. The fine passage descriptive of the bull sinking under the pestilence, is in Virgil's happiest strain. But other portions of this episode, it must be confessed, give too faithful and vivid a sketch of circumstances, that are disgusting in themselves, and which no art can elevate into a proper theme for poetry.

THE GEORGICS.

BOOK IV.

THE fourth Georgic opens with a brief commendation of its subject, the care of bees, to the attention of Mæcenas. Precepts are then given respecting the choice of a place for the hives, the management of bees when they swarm, and their contests with each other. Two sorts of these insects are spoken of. The customs of bees are described at length, as well as their internal economy, which is likened to that of a well-ordered republic. Then their diseases, with the appropriate remedies, are considered, and a mode is given of renovating the stock, when the former swarins have all perished. This introduces the long digression respecting Aristæus, the inventor of this mode of obtaining a fresh supply. Having lost his bees, by direction of his mother Cyrene, he applies to Proteus, who makes known to him the cause of the calamity, the injury he had done to Eurydice, the wife of Orpheus. The story of this unhappy pair is thus introduced, and Aristæus is directed to appease their manes by offering sacrifices. This done, he obtains another swarm of bees.

1-2. Protenus,' in the next place. Honey is called aerial, and a celestial gift, because they supposed it was made from dew, which falls from heaven. 'Exsequar,' I will describe.

3-5. Dicam spectacula levium rerum admiranda tibi, magnanimos duces,' &c.; I will set forth views of these little things worthy of your admiration, their high-spirited leaders, &c.

6-8. In labor,' the task relates to a small affair: 'si — sinunt,' if the adverse deities permit any one to obtain this glory; 'quem' for aliquem.' 'statio'; a word of frequent use in military affairs, here applied, in accordance with a metaphor, which Virgil often adopts in this book, in order to heighten the dignity of the subject.

11-2.insultent,' may trample upon surgentes,' growing, young. 13-6. Let the lizards with particolored backs rough with scales, and the bee-eaters and other birds be kept away from the productive apiaries; 'terga'; Gr. § 234. II. The bee-eater is a bird shaped like a kingfisher, with a green neck and blue breast, that feeds on bees and other insects. Procne,' the swallow; see note to Ecl. VI. 78. The red spots on the breast of some swallows are referred by the mythologists to the blood, with which Procne stained herself, when she killed her son. ipsas'; i. e.,' apes.'

17. Carry them off in their mouths, as grateful food for their cruel young; nidis'; the nest, for the inhabitants of the nest.

19. tenuis rivus,' gentle rivulet, for a strong current would sweep off the bees.

21-2. reges'; the sovereign of the hive is now properly called the queen-bee, its true sex having been discovered since Virgil's time. Vere suo,' in their own spring; that is, the spring which is pleasant to them, being the time when they swarm. ludet-juventus,' and the young bees sport, coming out of their cells.

23-4. Let the neighbouring bank invite them to depart (to shelter themselves) from the heat, and let the tree near at hand receive them in its leafy shelter.

25-6. In medium,' into the middle of the water: Transversas,' athwart the stream: 'iners,' motionless, but not necessarily stagnant. 29-32. aut - Eurus,' or the strong east wind should plunge them into the water; 'Neptuno'; the divinity for the thing presided over. 'et - Floreat,' and let wild thyme, fragrant from afar, and abundance of strong-smelling savory blossom near them: violaria,' beds of violets: 'irriguum,' watering, irrigating.

33-5. But the hives themselves, whether they were sewed together by you from hollow cork, or woven from pliant twigs, should have narrow entrances.

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36. Cogit,' thickens, hardens: liquefacta remittit,' for 'liquefacit.' 37-40. Utraque vis,' either extreme, whether of heat or cold: 'neque Nequidquam,' not without reason: tenuia Spiramenta,' the small orifices, including the aditus,' entrance holes, and other openings, or chinks. cerâ'; the substance here meant is not properly war, but a sort of bee-glue, now called propolis, with which they stop up, or contract in size, the openings to their abodes. fuco'; a marine plant, from which a purple color was obtained. The holes are filled, not with the 'fucus and other flowers directly, but with the propolis obtained from these flowers. oras,' the margins, edges of the hives: gluten,' glue, meaning the propolis: hæc munera,' for these very purposes. "It is well known that the habitation of bees ought to be very close; if it contained any cracks or unstopped crevices, other insects might enter the hive, or the rain might penetrate into the interior, which would be attended with fatal consequences. Any deficiencies in these respects, which may arise either from the unskilfulness or negligence of man, the insects supply by their own industry; so that when they take possession of a new habitation, their first and principal care is to close up all crannies with propolis.". Nat. Hist. of Insects, p. 65.

41. lentius et visco et pice Phrygiæ Idæ,' more tenacious than birdlime and the pitch of Phrygian Ida; see note to Geor. III. 450.

43. fovere larem,' cherished their household god; that is, made their home repertæ, apes' understood; bees have been found.

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44. In hollow pumice stone, and in the cavity of a decayed tree. Modern naturalists have found, that the mason-bee, a species distinct from the hive-bee, make their habitations out of a substance which appears like soft stone. Virgil evidently supposed, that the two species were the same, and that the stone was a natural one.

45-6. tamen'; although the bees fill up the chinks within with propolis, you should cover them over with mud on the outside. 'rimosa cubilia'; hives having chinks or crevices: 'levi limo'; mud worked over and rendered ductile: fovens circùm,' lining them round.

47-50. neve-cancros,' nor burn red crab-shells in the fire near the hives; which was done to obtain the ashes for medicinal purposes; but the odor from such burnings was thought injurious to bees. pulsu,' vocis' understood; with an echo: ' vocisque imago'; an amplified expression for the echo; and the image of the voice, striking against them, bounds back.

51-2. Quod superest'; see note to Geor. II. 346. 'ubi " - reclusit '; a poetical account of the opening of spring. As the sun, after the vernal equinox, passes to the upper hemisphere, the cold weather is represented as defeated, and sinking below the earth on the opposite side. 'reclusit,' opened, as if it were before bound up with frost.

55. 'leves,' 'apes' understood; light, because they drink, when suspended on the wing. dulcedine lætæ'; from the busy air and constant humming of bees, they really appear delighted with their work. 56-7. hinc-ceras,' hence, - that is, from these flowers and water, they elaborate with skill fresh wax.

58-61. Directions are now given how to hive the bees, when they swarm. When you perceive a swarm, having now left the hive, float through the pure air towards the stars of heaven, when you see with wonder a dark cloud (of bees) carried along by the wind: Contemplator'; imperative from contemplor'; then observe them. 62. Huc that is, in the place where you wish them to go,- sprinkle the prescribed odoriferous herbs.

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- sapores,' here,

63-4. Bruised balm and the vulgar herb honeywort. Make a tinkling round the spot, and clash the cymbals of Cybele, mother of the gods. In the sacred rites of this goddess, drums were beaten, and a great noise made with brazen instruments. It is still the practice in our villages, when the bees swarm, to make a great din by beating on kettles and tin pans, until the bees alight. The theory is, that the insects mistake this noise for thunder, and settle in fear of rain.

65. Ipse,' of their own accord: medicatis sedibus'; places rubbed with fragrant herbs, as directed above.

67. Sin exierint,' forms the protasis of a sentence, the apodosis of which begins at the 77th line. The intervening portion, a fine description of a battle between two swarms, is a parenthesis.

69-71. Continuò præsciscere,' it is possible to know at once, and long beforehand, the hostile intent of the common bees and their hearts beating with eagerness for the war: 'æris rauci,' of the hoarse-sounding brazen trumpet: 'increpat morantes,' chides those that delay, or chides their delay. It is said, that the bees' hum expressive of industry, of pleasure, and of agitation and passion, can be clearly distinguished from each other. But what Virgil says of their voices imitating the sound of a trumpet, is evident hyperbole. Notice the grandeur and pomp of the description, and the manner in which it heightens and amplifies the subject. A fight between these tiny insects is described in metaphors drawn wholly from the shock of contending armies of men. 73-5. pennis-rostris,' vibrate their wings, and sharpen their stings with their beaks: 'prætoria,' general's tent; magnificently, for the royal

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77-8. ubi - patentes,' when they have found a bright and springlike day, and open (pure) fields of air: 'concurritur'; used impersonally; they join battle.

81. Nor do acorns in so great number rain from the shaken holm-oak.

82. 'Ipsi,' 'reges' understood: 'insignibus alis,' distinguished by their wings, which, Columella says, were brighter in color than those of the common bees.

84-5. And thus are resolute not to yield, until the fierce conqueror hath compelled one party or the other to turn their backs in flight.

87. Are repressed and quieted by throwing up a little dust; - another mode, still in practice, of inducing bees to return to their hives through fear of rain.

88-90. The mode of distinguishing the two sorts of bees is now pointed out. 'Deterior neci,' put him to death, who appears the inferior one, lest, wasting the honey, he do injury: 'sine regnet'; Gr. § 262. Rem. 4.

91. One of them will appear bright with spots glittering like gold. 93-4. ‘ille — alvum,' the other, ill-looking through neglect, and disgracefully dragging after him a large abdomen. The Roman generals, in holding a levy, rejected a recruit who was corpulent.

96-9. ceu- - Aridus,' like a thirsty traveller who comes from a journey in a great dust, (on a dusty road,) and spits out the particles of

earth from his dry mouth: auro guttis,' their bodies spangled with regular golden spots; 'auro et guttis; Gr. § 323. 2. (3.)

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101-2. premes,' you will press out: 'et- saporem,' and which will soften the harsh taste of wine. The ancients were in the habit of mixing wine with honey.

108. iter'; Gr. § 232. castris-signa'; see note to Geor. III. 236. 110-1. And let the guardian Priapus, from the Hellespont, the defender against thieves and birds, with his willow scythe, keep them at home; 'tutela' for 'tutelarius.' Priapus, the divinity of gardens, was chiefly worshipped at Lampsacus, on the Hellespont. His statue in gardens was put to rather mean uses, among which, it appears from this passage, was that of being a scarecrow.

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113. 'cui-curæ,' 'sunt' understood; who has a care for such things; Gr. § 227. Tecta- circum,' plant them thickly round the apiaries. 115. 'et-imbres,' and moisten them with the friendly rills.

116. The mention of Priapus leads the poet to speak of gardens, the management of which, he says, he would consider at greater length, but that he is already approaching the prescribed limits of his task. The verses actually devoted to the subject are so beautiful, and the theme itself is so well adapted to Virgil's genius, that every reader must regret the brevity of the passage.

117-9. A marine metaphor, the end of the poet's task being pleasingly typified by the arrival of the mariner at port. 'Vela traham,' I am furling sail. pingues - Ornaret,' what mode of cultivation would set off the productive gardens. Pæstum is a town of Calabria, where roses blow twice in a year. The magnificent and well-preserved architectural remains of this city are still an object of admiration.

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120-2. Quoque —ripa,' and how endive and banks green with celery delight to drink from the rivulets. 'Cresceret in ventrem'; an allusion to the rotund and paunchlike form of the full-grown cucumber. 'sera'; Gr. § 205. Rem. 10.

125. Virgil here introduces a pleasing reminiscence of an acquaintance of his, an old gardener, who had emigrated from Corycus, a city of Cilicia, in Asia Minor, to the southern part of Italy. The simple and happy life of this old man, among his herbs and flowers, is described with admirable taste and feeling. By the towers of the Œbalian citadel, the poet means Tarentum; for Ebalia is the same as Laconia, whence a colony came to Italy, and settled in the Tarentine territory.

126. Galæsus is a river of Tarentum, flowing into the gulf of that name. It was called 'niger,' because thickly shaded by trees, or from the depth of its waters.

127-8. cui erant,' who had a few acres of abandoned ground; that is, ground neglected on account of its unpromising soil, fit neither for tillage, flocks, nor vineyards. So the old man turned it into a garden. juvencis'; that is, juvencorum labore,' tillage.

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130-2. Hic tamen premens in dumis rarum olus,' yet here, gathering among the bushes a few pot-herbs, &c. 'Regum-animis, in his opinion, he equalled the wealth of kings.

135-7. nunc - Rumperet,' was already splitting the rocks with frost comam hyacinthi,' for 'hyacinthum.'

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139-40. Ergo

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abundare,' therefore, he also was the first to have an abundance of productive bees and many swarms.

142-4. And as many fruits as the productive tree clothed itself with in early blossom, (in spring,) so many ripe ones did he obtain in autumn ; that is, all the blossoms came to maturity under his skilful management. He also disposed the slow-growing elms in rows; 'seras,' coming late to their full growth.

146-8. potantibus,' to those drinking under it. Verùm-Prætereo,' but I, indeed, prevented by the too narrow space allotted to my work, pass over these things.

150-2. 'pro-antro,' for what reward, following the loud sounds and ringing brazen instruments of the Curetes, they fed the king of heaven in the Dictaan cave. Saturn, knowing that he was to be dethroned by one of his own children, devoured all his offspring. Cybele, wishing to preserve Jupiter, concealed him as soon as born in a cave on mount Dicte in Crete, where her attendants, the Curetes or Corybantes, drowned the infant's cries in the clangor of their instruments. Here he was fed by the goat Amalthea and by the bees, who were attracted by the noise. In return for this service, Jupiter endowed them with the extraordinary intelligence which they possess.

153-4. Solæ habent,' they alone have offspring in common, and the united buildings of a city.

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156-8.state reponunt,' they practise industry in the summer, and store up what they have obtained as a common stock. victu,' dative, for 'victui'; Gr. § 89. 3. fœdere pacto,' by fixed agreement. 160-2.Narcissi-fundamina,' they lay the first foundations of the cells with the tears (nectar) of the daffodil, and the tough bee-glue (obtained) from bark: Suspendunt; the bees begin to construct the combs from the top of the hive. "Huber has found that there is a division of labor among the workers; one set are finished architects, who plan and build the edifice, while the others are mere bricklayers and plasterers, who only bring the raw material, but do not give it shape."-Nat. Hist. of Insects, p. 49.

165-6. "While some are employed in gathering honey and wax, others keep guard, placing themselves in five or six files upon the floor of the hive, so that all the bees when they enter must pass between them. It sometimes happens, even when they are very assiduous and busy, that they, on a sudden, cease from their work; and those that are abroad hurry home in crowds. On this occasion, look up to the sky, and you will soon discover some of those black clouds, which denote impending rain.". - Rees's Cyclopedia; Art. BEES.

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167-8. aut-arcent,' or, forming a troop, they drive the drones, an idle flock, from the hives.

170-1. Cyclopes'; see note to Geor. I. 471. They were the workmen of Vulcan, the god-blacksmith, and manufactured Jupiter's thunderbolts. The regular and concerted labor of the bees is compared to their giant tasks; magnis componere parva.' 'lentis,' malleable: 'properant,' hastily fashion: taurinis follibus,' bellows made of bulls-hide. 172-3. stridentia,' hissing: lacu,' in water.

174. The slow march of this verse, composed almost entirely of spondees, is much admired for adaptation to the sense.

175. In numerum,' in harmony, with a regular movement. Every one has noticed the regular clink of the hammers in a blacksmith's shop; a sight of the interior of which, indeed, forms the best commentary on the last six lines.

177. The innate love of property stimulates the Cecropian bees. Cecrops was the first king of Attica, which country, especially mount Hymettus, was celebrated for bees and thyme.

178-9. Each in his own office. The hive-cities are the care of the aged bees. 'dædala,' curiously wrought; from Dædalus, the famous Athenian artisan, who made the Cretan labyrinth.

180-1. But the younger bees return late at night, wearied, their legs full of thyme; 'Crura; Gr. § 234. II. "The thighs of the last pair of the insect's legs are furnished with two cavities fringed with hair; these form a convenient little basket for the use of the bee. The dust collected from a thousand flowers is kneaded into diminutive pellets, and stuck into the cavities." 'pascuntur arbuta '; Gr. § 232. (2.)

185-7. rursus Admonuit,' when, on the contrary, the evening star has at length advised them to leave their foraging in the fields. 190. 'suus,' proper, agreeable; Gr. § 208. (8.)

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