and Thetis, whose secession, at one time, from the contest nearly ruined the affairs of the Greeks; the greater and the lesser Ajax; Diomedes, the son of Tydeus, and Ulysses, by whose wisdom and contrivances, the attempt was finally crowned with success. The gods of course took part in the struggle, the greater part of them, among whom Juno and Minerva, irritated by the slight which Paris had put upon them, were conspicuous, favoring the besiegers, while Venus, Apollo, and Mars sided with the Trojans. The siege continued, with many alternations of success between the two parties, for ten years. The stratagem by which the city was finally captured, and the horrors of its last night are finely described in the second book of the Æneid.

The subject of Virgil's poem is the escape of Æneas with a party from the sack of Troy, and their various wanderings and misfortunes during a period of seven years, at the end of which time they arrived in Italy, and, after a severe contest with the natives, established themselves there, and built up the colony, which afterwards gave birth to the founders of Rome.

THE ENEID.

BOOK I.

THE poem opens with a brief statement of the subject, and an invocation of the Muse to assist the poet in his task. The fleet of Æneas, then in the seventh year of his wanderings since the capture of Troy, is described at sea, having just lost sight of Sicily. Juno instigates Eolus, king of the winds, to excite a storm, by which one ship is sunk, and the others are scattered and put in imminent danger. Neptune stills the tempest, and Eneas with only seven vessels finds refuge in a harbour on the coast of Africa. He consoles his dispirited companions, and obtains food with which they prepare their evening meal. Venus complains to Jupiter of the hardships brought upon Æneas, and is comforted with a prophecy of the glory, that awaits the Romans, her son's descendants. Mercury is despatched to render the Carthaginians friendly to the Trojans. Eneas, going out in the morning with Achates to explore the country, is met by Venus, disguised as a huntress, who tells him that the remainder of his ships are safe, and that Carthage, a city just founded by Dido and a colony of Tyrians, is near at hand. Eneas goes thither, and, protected from observation by a cloud, surveys the new buildings and the industry of the inhabitants. He finds there his companions from the other ships, and is kindly received by Dido. He sends Achates for his son; but Venus, fearing treachery from the Tyrians, carries off Ascanius while asleep, and substitutes her son Cupid in his place, who inspires Dido with love for Æneas. A grand feast is held, and Dido intreats her guest to tell the story of his misfortunes and wanderings.

'Ille-Martis'; these four verses, prefixed to the Æneid, are generally admitted to be spurious. They are beneath the dignity of Epic poetry, and the verses beginning Arma virumque cano,' which, in point of brevity and simplicity, resemble the opening of the Odyssey, form the only suitable introduction to the poem. Ille ego,' 'sum understood; I am he: gracili- Carmen,' having accompanied my song

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with a slender pipe: 'egressus silvis,' having left the woods, the abode of herdsmen; that is, having ceased to sing of herds and their keepers. 'coëgi vicina arva, Ut parerent colono quamvis avido,' compelled the neighbouring fields to be subject to the husbandman, although he is cov etous; that is, constantly desiring a better crop: 'opus'; Gr. § 204. Rem. 9. horrentia '; used substantively; the terrors.

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1-3. 'Arma,' warlike deeds; the instrument for the action; Gr. § 324. 2. primus'; not the first Trojan who arrived in Italy, for Antenor was before him; but the first who came to-Lavinia Littora,' the region where the city of Lavinium was afterwards founded. 'Italiam'; Gr. §. 237. Rem. 5. fato profugus,' a fugitive by fate, compelled by fate to wander; his exile, and the future establishment of a great kingdom in Italy, were decreed by Destiny. et- alto,' driven about both by land and sea; this expresses the subject of the first six books of the Eneid, that of the other books being enunciated in the fifth line.

4-5. Superùm,' for Superorum'; Gr. § 322. 4; of the gods: 'memorem,' avenging; or, in its usual signification, for memoris,' by enallage. Multa passus,' and suffered much in war also.

6-7. 'deos'; piety was the chief trait in the character of Eneas; he brought his household gods with him from Troy to Italy. The Latin race was the common name for the ancient inhabitants of Italy. The city of Alba Longa was founded by Ascanius, and his descendants became the founders of Rome. By the Alban fathers, we are to understand the senators of Alba.

8. ' quo — læso,' what deity being offended; others understand 'quo' in the sense of 'quo modo,' in what way, or for what reason, offended. 9-11. Quid Inpulerit,' or why irritated, did the queen of the gods compel a man, remarkable for piety, to pass through so many misfortunes and to undergo so many hardships.

12-3. Tyre, a city on the seacoast of Syria, sent forth a colony, from reasons to be explained hereafter, that founded Carthage on the African shore, the city that afterwards became the great rival and opponent of Rome. longe,' afar off, the whole breadth of the Mediterranean lying between Carthage and the mouth of the Tiber.

14. studiis-belli,' most fierce in the pursuits of war.

15-6. Quam-Samo,' which city alone Juno is said to have cherished more than all the earth, even Samos being less esteemed. Juno was educated in Samos, an island of the Ægean sea, where a magnificent temple was consecrated to her.

17-8. hoc-fovetque,' the goddess even then endeavoured to make it the ruler of the nations, if in any way the Fates would permit, and cherished it in that hope; quâ,' for aliquâ,'' ratione' understood.

19. 'enim'; this particle is used as yúg frequently is in Greek, referring to something understood; but she now feared for the city, for she had heard,' &c. Trojano a sanguine,' of Trojan descent.

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21-2.Hinc,' hence; that is, from this Trojan race: Venturum,' there would arise: latè regem,' for latè regnantem': 'excidio'; Gr. § 225. IV. last clause: 'sic Parcas, thus the Fates appointed; see note to Ecl. IV. 47. 23-4. Saturnia,' Juno, so called because she was the daughter of Saturn: Juno, fearing this, and remembering the old war; that is, the siege of Troy, in which she took an active part; hence, Prima' is used in the sense of præcipuè,'' ante omnes.' 'Argis' for 'Argivis'; Argos was a chief city of the Peloponnesus, from which all the Greeks were often called Argives. Saturnia is the subject of 'Arcebat' in the 31st line, the intervening lines being parenthetical.

26-7.repôstum,' for repositum,' by syncope: alta,' for 'altè'; the decision of Paris, and the insult to her slighted beauty, having made a deep impression on her mind. See Introduction to the Story."

28. genus invisum'; because descended from Dardanus, the off

spring of one of those illicit amours of Jupiter, which always so enraged Juno, his lawful spouse. Ganymede, a son of Tros, was carried off by Jupiter in the form of an eagle, and made cup-bearer in heaven; and Hebe, Juno's daughter, was displaced to make room for him.

29-30. His-super,' irritated still further by these reasons; that is, by the griefs just enumerated, in addition to her fears for Carthage. 'æquore toto,' over all the sea. Troas is the object of Arcebat. 'reliquias-Achilli,' the remnant of- that is, those who had escaped from the Greeks and the cruel Achilles. 'Danai' was a common name for all the Greeks, from Danaus, son of Belus, esteemed a second founder of Argos. Achilli '; Gr. § 73.

33. Tantæ erat,' so difficult was it; 'molis'; Gr. § 211. Rem. 8. (3.) 34. Here, as in the Odyssey, the poem begins, as it were, with the middle of the story. The preceding adventures of Æneas are told in the second and third books. altum,' the deep sea.

35. They were spreading sail, and were joyfully rushing through the foam of the salt sea with brazen beaks; joyful, because, after seven years' wanderings, they were now near Italy; ruebant,' in an active sense.

36-8. vulnus,' anger, hostility: Hæc,'volvebat,' revolved, turned over in her mind, understood." Mene victam,' and must I, vanquished, desist from my undertaking? Gr. § 270. Rem. 2. Teucrorum,' the Trojans, so called from Teucer, the father-in-law of Dardanus.

39-41. Pallas - ponto,' was not Pallas able to burn up a fleet of the Greeks, and to sink the mariners themselves in the sea? Pallas,' a name of Minerva, ano Toù лúkdɛi tỏ đéov, from brandishing the spear; Argivum,' not signifying here all the Greeks, but only the Locrians. Ajacis Ollei,' of Ajax, the son of Orleus, king of Locris; usually called the lesser Ajax. He incurred the anger of Minerva by offering violence to Cassandra in the temple of that goddess. She borrowed the thunder of Jupiter, and killed him on his voyage home.

44-6, She seized him in a whirlwind, while he was vomiting forth flames from his pierced bosom, and thrust him upon a sharp rock. He had previously been struck and set on fire by a thunderbolt. 'incedo,' for sum,' but expressing dignity also.

49. Præterea,' hereafter: after such a failure, will any one honor me? 50. 'flammato corde,' in her angry mind. Juno now goes to instigate Eolus to raise a storm, so as to destroy the fleet of Æneas.

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51-4. fœta, full of: Æoliam'; one of the Lipari isles, near Sicily; probably, Stromboli, where there is a volcano. 'premit Imperio Luctantes ventos,' restrains by his power the struggling winds.

56-7. 'arce,' the mountain top: mollit animos,' subdues their rage. 58-9. For if he did not thus restrain them, they would swiftly carry along with them the sea, the land, and the high heavens, and sweep them together through the air.

61-2. et insuper,' and moreover: molem-altos,' the weight of lofty mountains; Gr. § 323. 2. (3.) fœdere certo,' by regular laws.

63 Knew how both to restrain them, and, when commanded, to give them loose reins; that is, to let them go.

64-6. his est,' addressed these words: namque,' since: 'tibi dedit,' has given it to thee, has made it thy province or prerogative.

67-8.Tyrrhenum æquor'; that part of the Mediterranean, which lies on the coast of Etruria; also called mare Inferum.' 'Ilium'; a name applied to Troy from Ilus, the son of Tros; it here means the surviving citizens of Troy, whom Æneas was carrying with him into Italy. The Penates' were the household gods.

69-70. Let loose upon them the force of the winds, overwhelm and sink their ships. age diversos,' drive them different ways, scatter them. 71. mihi; Gr. § 226.corpore'; Gr. § 211. Rem. 6.

73. I will join her to you in lasting union, will make her yours for ever. 76-9. hæc,' 'dixit' understood: 'Tuus-est,' it is your part, O

queen, to consider what you wish to determine whether it be right or wrong; it is right for me to execute your orders, whatever they be. "Tu-Concilias,' you procure for me this government, whatever it is, this authority and the favor of Jove. As Juno's province, according to the mythologists, was the air, she might well be considered as appointing olus to be king of the winds. hoc regni'; Gr. § 205. Rem. 9. 81-2. cavum-latus,' and turning his spear, struck the hollow mountain in the side.

846. The ancients personified all the winds, and here, as elsewhere, the actions of animate beings are ascribed to them. ' Incubuêre,' they fell upon ruuntque totum, and stir up, agitate, the whole sea: • a sedibus imis,' from its lowest depths. Eurus,' 'Notus,' and ' Africus,' the southeast, south, and southwest winds,- -are the subjects of these verbs. creber procellis,' gusty, blowing in frequent gusts. 87. stridor rudentam,' the creaking of the cordage.

90-2. ignibus,' flashes of lightning. This brief but forcible description of a storm at sea was often imitated by later poets. intentant,' menace. 'frigore,' the chill of fear, which emotion was not thought improper in a hero, especially when in view of an ignoble death, as by drowning. Homer represents Achilles as frightened by the river Xanthus.

95-8. Queis Contigit oppetere,' 'mortem' understood; whose lot it was to die Queis; Gr. § 136. Rem. 2. Tydide,' Diomed, son of Tydeus, with whom Eneas once fought, and narrowly escaped being killed. 'mene - potuisse,' why could I not die on the Trojan fields? 99-100.acid; Achilles was the grandson of Eacus. Sevus' here means brave. Sarpedon, the son of Jupiter and Laodamia, came to the assistance of Priam against the Greeks, and was slain by Patroclus, the friend of Achilles. Simois, a river near Troy, emptying into the Scamander. 'correpta,' borne along by the waves.

102-3. jactanti,' for 'dicenti': 'stridens-procella,' a loud whistling gust from the north adversa'; belonging to procella'; right opposite to their course. The winds before mentioned had been driving them northwards, when this gust from the north takes them aback.

104-5. avertit,' 'se' understood; turns, alters its course: 'insequiturmons,' a high mountain of water follows in a mass.

106. This may be understood either of one ship, which, tossed by the waves, at one time has its bows elevated, while its stern nearly reaches the bottom; or of different vessels, some of which are on the top of the waves, while others are in the trough of the sea.

107-8. furit-arenis,' the swelling sea is rendered turbid with the sand stirred up from the bottom. abreptas,''naves' understood;

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carried away, separated from the others.

109. The rocks which, situated in the midst of the sea, the Italians call the Altars; that is, two rocky islets over against Carthage, otherwise called Egimuri.'

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110-1. Dorsum - summo,' a huge ridge just rising to the surface of the sea. 'In-urget,' forces them upon the shoals and quicksands. 114-7. Ipsius'; that is, of Æneas himself: pontus,' by hyperbole for fluctus': ferit a vertice in puppim,' strikes from above upon the stern: excutitur vortex,' the helmsman is shaken off from his hold, and thrown down headlong; but the wave, urging this ship, whirls it round three times in the same place, and the violent whirlpool ingulfs it in the sea.

118-9. rari,' here and there: Arma'; armour would sink, but shields, made of wicker work, might float: gaza,' valuables.

120-3. In this order: 'Jam hiems Vicit validam navem Ilionei,' &c.; already the storm has overpowered the strong ship of Ilioneus; that is, made it spring a leak. Et-Abas,' and the one in which Abas was

carried: 'laxis-compagibus,' in the opened seams of the sides: 'inimicum imbrem,' the fatal water.

125-9. et vadis,' and the water stirred up at the lowest depths ; 'stagna' here means the water near the bottom, which is usually undisturbed by the winds, that ruffle the surface. 'alto Prospiciens,' looking forth above the sea: placidum caput'; kind or propitious towards the Trojans, though angry with the winds. Disjectam,' scattered: 'ruinâ ; a forcible expression for the commotion of the elements. 130-1. The stratagems and anger of Juno became known to her brother. The two vowels in dehinc' are scanned as one; 'd'hinc'; Gr. 306. (2.) 132-3. Has the so great self-confidence of your race possessed you, or carried you so far; have you the assurance to act thus, 'meo sine numine, without my permission?

134-5. tantas tollere moles,' to excite so great commotion. Quos ego, ulciscar' understood; Neptune cuts short his reproof, in order first to quiet the storm.

136. Hereafter you shall expiate your fault by a different punishment; you shall not again act thus with impunity.

139-41. sorte datum,' given by lot. This refers to the distribution of authority between the three sons of Saturn, the empire of the air being allotted to Jupiter, of the sea to Neptune, and of Hades to Pluto. 'illa Eolus,' let olus pride himself in that palace; aulâ,' properly, the open court before a palace.

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142-4. dicto citiùs,' sooner than he had spoken; before he had ended his speech. Cymothoë, one of the Nereids: Triton,' a son of Neptune and Amphitrite, half man and half fish. 'adnixus,' exerting himself, with an effort.

146. aperit syrtes,' opens the sand-banks, makes a way in them, so that the ships could get off.

148. A noble and graphic simile, whereby Neptune, stilling the waves, is compared to a man of authority and reputation, quieting a mob by his presence.

151-2. Tum-silent,' then, if by chance they perceive any man venerable through piety and worthy deeds, they become silent.

155-6. cœlo aperto,' under an unclouded sky: 'curru secundo,' to the swift chariot; curru,' for 'currui'; Gr. § 89. Rem. 3.

157-8. Æneas, with a few battered ships, now finds refuge in a harbour on the African coast. quæ - petere,' attempt to reach in their course the shore, that was nearest to them.

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159-61. Commentators have attempted to ascertain the precise spot here described, and an ancient quarry in the bay of Tunis is fixed upon, as the place intended. It is enough to say, that even if Virgil had any one spot in view, which is doubtful, the change on the African coast since his time must render it impossible to recognise the locality. cessu,' inlet, cove: an island placed opposite to this cove, makes it a harbour, or a secure station for ships, objectu laterum,' its sides interposing, lying before it: quibus. reductos,' on which every wave from the deep is broken and divides itself, rolling up into the inmost windings of the inlet. A wave breaks on a projecting rock, and the water, from the impulse it has acquired, washes round into the recesses behind. 162-3. Hinc-scopuli,' on cach side (of the island) huge rocks, forming two lofty cliffs, rise threatening towards heaven.

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umbrâ,' moreover, (still on the island,) there is a beautiful view in the waving woods above, and a dark grove hangs over with its gloomy shade.

166. On the opposite shore, (that is, on the main land,) there is a cave in the hanging cliffs.

168-71.Hic tenent,' here no cables bind the wearied ships; there was no need of anchoring, the water being so smooth. 'Huc - subit,' hither Æneas comes, with only seven ships collected from the whole num