162-4. fiducia,' good hope: 'Palladis - stetit,' always rested on the assistance of Minerva: 'ex quo,'' tempore' understood; since the time when: sed enim'; an ellipsis, like that in Greek with yúg; but this hope now failed them, for, &c.

165-6. Fatale - Palladium,' having undertaken to carry off the fated Palladium from the sacred temple. The Palladium, from Pallas,' was an image of Minerva, which, so long as it was preserved in Troy, rendered the city impregnable. It was said to have fallen from heaven. Diomed and Ulysses introduced themselves into the city, slew the guards, and carried off the image.

169. Ex illo,'' tempore' understood: 'fluere referri'; Gr. § 323. 2; were impaired and gradually fell away.

171. By no dubious prodigies did Minerva give these signs of anger; 'Tritonia, Minerva, so called because she was Totoyéveia, born from the head of Jove.

172-5. arsêre-arrectis,' glittering sparks flashed from the upturned eyes iit, flowed: solo Emicuit,' rose up from the ground: trementem,' quivering.

176-8. tentanda-æquora,' must try the sea in flight, must attempt to return home; 'canit' is the technical word for what is uttered by a soothsayer. 'Omina repetant,' renew the auspices.

180-4. quòd,' although they have departed, it is because -' parant comites,' they are preparing their friends, and they will return, when least expected. 'digerit,' interprets. Hanc Effigiem,' this image, the wooden horse,' pro Palladio,' in place of the Palladium.

188. He says, that it was made large in order to prevent it from being carried into the city, and thereby protecting the Trojans 'sub religione, under the sanctity, the inviolability attached to it. The object of Sinon's conduct now appears, to frighten the people from opening or injuring the machine, and to induce them to carry it within the walls.

190-1. quod Convertant,' may the gods rather turn this evil against Calchas himself: 'exitium futurum,' destruction would impend. 193-4. Ultro Venturam,' Asia, where Troy was, of its own accord, will visit the cities of Pelops with formidable war. Pelops, see note to Geor. III. 7, having given his name to the Peloponnesus, now called the Morea, all the cities in that country might be designated after him. The tables should be reversed, and Greece learn to fear the Trojan or Asiatic powers even at home. manere,' await.

196-7. capti-coactis,' and those were subdued by stratagem and hypocritical tears, whom all the power of Greece had failed to vanquish. Larissa was a city of Thessaly from which country Achilles came. The history of Sinon is well conceived and finely told, though it is spun out somewhat too long. But the affecting episode of Laocoon, which now follows, is open to no such objection.

199-202. Hic magis,' here another, greater and far more terrible, prodigy is placed before the eyes of the unfortunate Trojans. improvi da,' not expecting such a portent. 'ductus sacerdos,' a priest of Nep tune selected by lot. Laocoon was regularly a priest of Apollo, but had been appointed in this way to fill a vacancy in the order of Neptune. 'Solemnes aras'; so called, because a solemn sacrifice was preparing before them, probably to express the gratitude of the people at the departure of their enemies. The seashore, where the temporary altars were erected, was an appropriate scene, and Neptune a proper deity, for the offering.

204-7. Horresco referens,' I shudder at the recollection: 'Incumbunt pelago,' rest upon the sea, swim through it: pariter-tendunt,' and side by side approach the shore: 'jubæ undas,' and their bloody crests appear above the waves. The red flesh on the neck of a serpent may be likened to a crest. pars cætera'; the hinder part of the body. 208-9. Sweeps the sea behind, and they wind along their huge lengths in a spiral curve. 'arva tenebant,' reached the shore.

210. Their glowing eyes tinged with blood and flame. The picture is highly wrought, and finely expresses the terror created by the sight. 212-5. agmine certo,' in a direct course: 'et-Implicat,' and each serpent, encircling first the little bodies of Laocoon's two sons, twines round them.

216-7. Post - Corripiunt,' afterwards they seize Laocoon himself. 218-9. Winding twice about his middle, and twice encircling his neck with their scaly backs, they rear above him their heads and lofty necks. A group in marble, representing this scene on a scale as large as life, is still preserved in the Vatican museum at Rome. As a piece of statuary, it is the finest relic of ancient art, and far surpasses all the efforts of modern genius. With so much truth and liveliness are the figures represented, that the spectator fancies he can almost see the flesh of Laocoon shrinking from the fatal bite, and interpret the feeling expression of suffering and complaint, with which the old man's face is turned toward heaven. As this wonderful work undoubtedly existed at Rome in Virgil's time, and as it faithfully sets forth the scene here described, it has been a question with some, whether the poet borrowed from the sculptor, or the reverse.

221. His priestly fillets sprinkled with blood and loathsome venom, the saliva of the serpents.

223. The fearful cries uttered by Laocoon are compared to the bellowing of a bull, when the ill-aimed blow has wounded, but not prostrated him. fugit aram,' flies from the altar, to which he had been led for sacrifice.

225-7. The two serpents' lapsu Effugiunt,' escape by gliding away to the temple of Minerva, on the highest point of the Trojan citadel. Tritonidis,' the Tritonian goddess; see note to line 171. Minerva is commonly represented in statues with a serpent at her feet. clypei sub orbe,' under the circular shield.

229-31.et- Læserit,' and they say, that Laocoon had been punished for his wickedness as he deserved, because he had pierced the sacred wood with his javelin; see lines 50 -3.

232. sedes'; that is, the temple, the habitation of Minerva.

234. Dividimus muros,' we divide the walls of the city; that is, make an opening or breach in them, the wooden horse being too large to pass through the gates. 'mania' seems to refer to the walls of the houses within the city, for they would be obliged also to widen the streets. The infatuation of the Trojans in these proceedings is strongly marked. 235-7. Accingunt,' 'se' understood; they apply themselves to the work: 'pedibus lapsus,' and place wheels under the feet of the horse; 'rotarum lapsus'; for rotas': Intendunt,' fasten round.

238. Fæta armis,' full of armed men. A masterly touch follows, having a mournful and softening effect. The boys and girls sport with the enormous mass, that is freighted with the means of their destruction.

240-1.illabitur,' rolls into: 'minans,' referring to its towering as pect. Again the feelings of the narrator overpower him, and he breaks out into passionate exclamations. divům domus'; the critics show their usual expertness at word-catching in commenting on this passage. They find in it a reference to the numerous temples in the city, and to the pious character of Æneas. But the idea is evident enough. Thinking on the former magnificence of the ruined city, the speaker proudly calls it a habitation of the gods.

246-7. Cassandra'; see "Introduction to the story "; 'aperit Ora fatis futuris,' opened her mouth to reveal the future destined events.

248-9. We unhappy men, whose last day this was, cover the shrines of the gods with festal garlands throughout the city. The contrast between the mistaken rejoicings of the moment, and the thought of the dreadful fate which now hung over the city, is finely used to heighten the pathos of the description.

250. 'Vertitur cœlum'; the apparent diurnal revolution of the heavens. 252. 'monia,' the dwellings of the city.

255-7. 'silentia lunæ,' the silence of the night poetically ascribed to the moon flammas - Extulerat'; the ship of Agamemnon hangs out a light, as a signal to Sinon that the fleet was approaching.

258-60. Inclusos - Sinon,' Sinon secretly undoes the pine fastenings, and sets free the Greeks, who were shut up in the interior of the horse. Gr. § 323. 1. (2) and § 323. 4. (2.) se promunt,' come forth. The names which follow are all of Greek chieftains, distinguished in the war. 262-3.Demissum-funem,' sliding over the rope, that was let down from the body of the horse. This gives an idea of the great height of the machine. Neoptolemus was the son of Achilles, the son of Peleus. 'primus,' the first who came down from the horse.

267-8.agmina conscia,' their ranks well informed of what was going on. The narrator now shifts the scene to his own palace, and goes on to describe the apparition of Hector and the horror of the first alarm. No ancient or modern poet has surpassed the sublimity and pathos of this description. Dryden's translation of the passage is well done, but it gives only a faint idea of the original. ægris,' tired.

272-3. In appearance as formerly, when dragged by the chariot, defiled with dust and gore, and with thongs drawn through his swollen feet. Achilles, when he had slain Hector, tied him by the feet to the chariot, and dragged him thrice round the walls of the city, his parents beholding the mournful sight from the ramparts. 'lora'; Gr. § 234. II. 275. exuvias Achilli,' clothed with the spoils of Achilles. Patroclus fought in the armour of Achilles, in order to terrify the Trojans with the sight of it, though that hero himself refused to engage. Hector killed Patroclus, and spoiled him of his arms.

276. Having thrown Trojan fire into the ships of the Greeks.

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278-80. plurima,' in great number. Ultro voces,' weeping, I seemed of my own accord to address the man, and to utter these mournful words. Seeming to forget in his dream the death of Hector, he chides the hero for not returning to the aid of Troy.

282-5. quibus - -venis, from what shores, O much-desired Hector, do you come? tuorum,' of your friends: Funera,' deaths: 'labores," misfortunes: 'Defessi,' worn out with calamities.

287. nihil,' 'respondit' understood: 'quærentem vana,' making idle complaints.

290. ruit-Troja,' Troy falls, rushes down from its high estate. 291-2. Enough has been done for the country and for Priam. If Troy could be defended by any hand, it had been protected by this, his own. 293-5. Sacra,' sacred utensils: 'Penates' here means the images of the household gods. fatorum comites,' as companions of your fate; that is, of your destined wanderings: monia, a city: 'pererrato ponto, which you shall finally establish, after having traversed the seas. 296-7. effert manibus, he brings out in his hands. 'Vestam

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this again must mean the image of the goddess. Eternum ignem every one has heard of the Vestal fire, which was kept perpetually burning, or, if extinguished, could only be rekindled by the rays of the sun collected in a mirror.

298. Meanwhile, the city is disturbed with cries of grief coming from different quarters; or, with various wailings.

299-301. Æneas at first only hears the tumult sounding faintly in the distance, the house of his father occupying a retired spot. Then 'magis atque magis Clarescunt sonitus,' the sounds grow more and more audible: 'horror armorum,' the clash of arms.

302-6. Excutior-supero,' I start from my sleep, and mount to the roof of the house; Ascensu supero,' for 'ascendo.' The point of the comparison now introduced is, that Æneas listened with that surprise and terror, which the herdsman feels, when the fields are on fire,

or are deluged by a river breaking its banks. 'montano flumine coming from the mountains, and therefore rapid. Sternit agros,' prostrates the fruits of the fields: boum labores'; note to Geor. I. 325. 309-12. Tum-fides,' then, indeed, the truth of what Hector had said was manifest. ampla domus,' the palace: 'dedit ruinam,' fell in ruins: Vulcano superante,' the fire getting the upper hand, triumphing over it. 'Ucalegon, one of the aged counsellors of Priam, here put for the house of Ucalegon: proximnus ardet,' burns next to that of Deiphobus. Sigea freta; the straits of the Hellespont in front of the promontory of Sigæum. The conflagration was so great, that it was reflected in the sea, even at this distance.

314-5. nec rationis'; there was no wisdom in taking arms, when the city was already captured and on fire. 'glomerare bello,' to collect a band of men for the fight.

317. Præcipitant,' hurry on the mind, do not allow time to reflect. 'succurrit,' for 'in mentem venit,' it occurred to me, it appeared, pulchrum,' an honorable fate.

319-21. Panthus, the son of Othrys, was a priest of Apollo, whose temple was in the citadel. ad tendit,' runs to the house of Æneas. 322. Quo Panthu,' what is the state of affairs, O Panthus ? ́arcem,' place of refuge, or strong ground for making resistance.

325-7. Fuimus,' we have been, meaning, we exist no longer: 'fuit -Teucrorum,' Troy, and the great renown of its inhabitants, have passed away. Ferus,' angry: 'omnia Argos Transtulit,' has given over every thing to the Greeks; Argos'; the city for the nation.

329. 'incendia miscet,' scatters the flames, increases the fire. 331. As many thousands as ever came from great Mycena.

332-5. angusta viarum,' narrow passes of the streets : 'Oppositi,' drawn up across : ferri corusco,' the blade of the sword with its glit tering point: stat Stricta,' for stricta est': 'parata neci,' prepared for slaughter: cæco — resistunt,' offer a blind, objectless resistance; the god of battle for the battle itself. The whole of this speech of Panthus is admirable for pathos and eloquence. Its short phrases are the concise and vivid expressions of despair.

336-7.numine divům,' by the power of the gods, as if urged by a divine impulse: 'feror,' I am carried on, as if without a will of his own. Erinnys,' one of the Furies.

340. oblati per lunam,' meeting and recognising me by moonlight. 341-4. Et nostro, and array themselves at my side: Mygdonides,' the son of Mygdon. The history of this unfortunate youth is given at sufficient length in the text. insano amore,' incited by a frantic passion for Cassandra: 'gener,' a son-in-law in expectation. 345-6. Unhappy man, who would not listen to the warnings of his inspired bride! For Cassandra's story, see "Introduction."

347. When I saw them in close array, boldly advancing to the fight. 348-53. 'super his for deinde'; then I began to address them: "fortissima-Pectora,' whose courage is all in vain: si Certa cupido est vobis sequi me audentem extrema,' if you have a firm resolve to fol low me in during the utmost danger:moriamur-ruamus,' then let us rush into the midst of the fight and there perish. The passage in the parenthesis is explanatory of the phrase, audentem extrema,' showing that the contest is really a hopeless one; quæ - videtis,' you see what is the condition of affairs. The idea, that the gods abandon a doomed city, was universal. quibus steterat,' by whom, through whose aid, this empire was preserved: succuritis Incense,' you bring aid to a city already in flames.

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354. The only resource for the vanquished is not to hope for any escape, to sell our lives as dearly as possible.

355-7. Inde nebulâ,' then like ravenous wolves under a cloud of darkness. Some commentators understand by nebulâ,' that wolves

choose a cloudy night for their excursions; there is an Eastern proverb, that "the wolf delights in a cloudy night." quos rabies,' whom the urgent demands of appetite have driven out, blind to all danger, from

their dens.

359-60.haud-mortem,' with a prospect of certain death: 'cavâ umbrâ'; called hollow, because they were surrounded by it.

361-2. Who can lay before you in speech the massacre and fatal events of that night, or weep enough over such misfortunes?

364-6. Plurima,' very many: 'inertia corpora,' defenceless persons; the bodies of those incapable of resistance, like women and children. 'Nec - Teucri,' the Trojans do not die alone; 'dare pœnas,' to suffer punishment; 'sumere pœnas,' to inflict it.

367. At times, also, courage comes back to the hearts of the vanquished. 369. plurima imago,' most frequent appearance of death; the dead lie all around us.

371-2.socia

Inscius,' ignorantly thinking that it was a friendly troop; taking us for Greeks.

374. rapiunt ferunt,' plunder and carry off the spoil, like the Greek ἄγουσι και φέρουσι.

376-8. neque Fida satìs,' untrustworthy, suspicious: hostes,' that he had fallen into the midst of enemies. retro he stopped speaking and retreated.

medios — repressit,'

379-80. As one who, stepping among the rough brambles, unexpectedly treads upon a snake, and quickly starts back, trembling; 'humi nitens,' the act of planting the foot on the ground. The participle, with the first syllable long, is from nitor'; that from 'niteo' being short.

381-2. Compare Geor. III. 421, and note. 'Haud secus,' just so: 'abibat,' was retreating; he did not succeed in escaping.

384-5. Ignaros loci,' unacquainted with the ground, not familiar with the streets, as the Trojans were. adspirat-labori,' fortune favors the beginning of the fight. 'primo labori' for 'primæ pugnæ ;' Gr. § 205. Rem. 17.

387-8. O friends, he exclaimed, let us go on where Fortune first points out the way of safety, and shows itself propitious.

389-90. insignia; the helmets and crests. By putting on the arms of the Greeks whom they had slain, the party of Æneas obtain a short-lived triumph. dolus, an virtus, sit' understood.

391-3. ipsi'; that is, Græci occisi.' Sic - Induitur,' thus having spoke, he puts on the plumed helmet and beautiful shield, which had distinguished Androgeus. The shield was put on by throwing the strap over the shoulder, and inserting the arm into the handle.

396-8.haud - nostro,' under a divinity, that was not our own, that was hostile to us. They now had armour, which bore the signs of the deities, who favored the Greeks. 'Multa Conserimus, and meeting them in the darkness of night, we fight many battles: 'Orco'; see note to Geor. I. 277.

400-2. Fida,' safe, secure: pars Scandunt'; Gr. § 209. Rem. 11. Alas! let no one put trust in the hostile gods. The reverse of fortune now begins.

403-4. passis Crinibus,' with dishevelled hair 'Priameĩa virgo; so called, because she was the daughter of Priam.

406-7. Her eyes, I say; for fetters kept down her tender hands, so that she could not raise them; see note to Eneid I. 41. Nonspeciem,' could not bear this sight.

410-1. ex — culmine,' from the high roof of the temple, whence Cassandra was drawn. telis Nostrorum,' by the weapons of our own friends, who mistook them for Greeks.

413.gemitu irâ,' from grief and anger at the maiden being taken from them, by Corabus and his party.

416-9. Adversi - Confligunt,' as when at times, a whirlwind break