Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

the Trojans, who traced their parentage alike to Dardanus, from Italy, and to Teucer, his father-in-law, from Crete. But Eneas ought surely to have set him right; see note to Book II. 781. Optavit, selected. 111-3. The worship of Cybele, with its peculiar rites, came to the Trojans from their Cretan ancestor, Teucer. mater - Cybele,' the mother of the gods inhabiting Cybela, the Phrygian mountain, whence she derived her name. The rites were practised with great mystery, 'fida silentia sacris,' in the groves on mount Ida; the Corybantes, her priests, danced about and clashed their cymbals. Et-leones,' and the yoked lions drew the chariot of their mistress, in which guise Cybele was always represented.

[ocr errors]

115. Let us propitiate the winds, and then sail to the Gnosian kingdom. Gnosus was the chief city of Crete.

116-8. modò - adsit,' provided Jupiter be favorable; Jupiter is put for the air, or rather for the course of the winds: Tertia lux,' the third day honores,' the victims sacrificed in honor of the gods.

6

121-2. A report goes abroad, that the prince Idomeneus, driven away, had left his paternal kingdom, and that the shores of Crete were deserted. This was another inducement to found a colony there. The penult in 'Idomenea' is long. Idomeneus, king of Crete, was one of the Grecian leaders at the Trojan war. On his way home, being encountered by a storm, he made a vow to the gods, that he would sacrifice to them the first person he should meet on his arrival. His own son was the first to greet him, and was immolated by the parent. Struck with horror by such an action, his subjects revolted and drove him into exile.

124-7. Ortygia'; the ancient name of Delos. In this order; legimus, we coast along by, Naxon, Donusam,' &c. The names are of particular islands among the Cyclades, a group so called, because they lie nearly in a circle about Delos. Bacchatam Naxon,' and Naxos, with its mountains, where the orgies of Bacchus are held: 'niveam Paron; the white marble quarries of Paros are visible from the sea crebris terris,' and the straits thickly planted with islands.

[ocr errors]

128-31.Nauticus clamor,' for clamor nautarum': 'petamus'; Gr. § 262. Rem. 4. a puppi ventus,' a stern-wind: Prosequitur euntes,' urges us on our course: Curetum oris'; the shores of Crete.

6

133-5. lætam cognomine,' delighted with the name, because it reminded them of their former country: amare focos,' to become attached to their new firesides. subductee,' were drawn up on the shore.

136. And the youths were engaged in forming alliances, and in cultivating their new fields.

137-9. Jura- dabam,' I was engaged in administering justice, and allotting out places for habitation. In this order; quum subitò tabida miserandaque lues et letifer annus, Corrupto tractu coli, venit membris, arboribusque, satisque'; when suddenly a wasting and pitiable epidemic disease and a pestilential season, from the infected tractu cœli, atmosphere, attacked both the bodies of the men, and the trees and crops. 141-2.Sirius,' the dog-star, here put for the hot weather, as we now speak of the dog-days: exurere,' parched up: 'et-negabat,' and the infected cornfields gave us no food.

[ocr errors]

6

143-6.remenso mari, passing back over the sea: veniam,' pardon, because the plague made them suppose they had offended the god. 'fessis rebus, continued afflictions: unde Tentare auxilium,' where find a remedy.

150-2. visi-fenestras,' were seen standing before my eyes, as I lay sleepless, they being visible in the broad light, where the full moon shone through the windows inserted in the building; 'visi," 'sunt' understood, agreeing with 'Penates'; Gr. § 205. Rem. 2. (3.)

154-5. Quod canit,' what Apollo is about to say to you, when you have arrived at Delos, he here reveals: ultro,' of his own accord. 158-60. We also will raise your coming posterity to the stars in

glory; 'Idem,' for 'lidem.' magnis,' for the great people, who are to succeed you. 'longum - laborem,' nor shun the protracted toil of the voyage.

161-2. mutandæ sedes,' your habitation must be changed. In this order; Delius Apollo non suasit hæc littora tibi': 'aut considere,' nor did he command you to settle in Crete.

163-6. Repeated from Book 1. 530-3; see notes.

6

[ocr errors]

168. Iasius' was the brother of Dardanus: a quo principe,' from which founder of the family; quo' refers to Dardanus' only: pater' was a mere honorable epithet for the ancient heroes, as 'pater Æneas.' 170-1. Haud dubitanda,' certain, that may be relied upon. Corythum'; the founder of Cortona in Italy, here put for the city itself: 'Ausonias'; see note to Geor. II. 385: requirat,' let him seek out: 'Dictæa'; see note to Ecl. VI. 56.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

173-4. Nec erat,' this was no illusion of sleep: coràm agnoscere, in full view to recognise: Velatas comas'; fillets were always bound round the heads of the Penates.

176-8. Corripio- focis,' I start up from my couch, and raise my suppliant hands to heaven in prayer, and pour out fresh libations on the hearth, the altar of the Penates; supinas'; the palm turned up.

179-81. 'facio certum,' I inform: 'prolem ambiguam,' the race uncertain as to their founder: geminos parentes'; Dardanus and Teucer. That he had been deceived by a recent mistake, one to which a person in later times would be liable, in respect to the ancient places, places famed in ancient story.

6

182-4. Iliacis fatis,' much tried by the adverse fates of Troy: 'Cassandra'; see "Introduction to the Story": canebat tales casus,' prophesied such events. 'repeto,'' memoriâ understood; I remember: portendere,' that she predicted: debita,' appointed by fate.

[ocr errors]

186-9. Sed quis Crederet,' but who could believe? Italy appeared to them a country so remote, that the idea of settling there seemed extravagant. et sequamur,' and being advised, let us follow these better counsels: 'ovantes,' rejoicing. paucis relictis,' a few being left behind, who continued to inhabit the city of Pergamus, in Crete: rimus,' we pass over: 'cavâ trabe,' hollow ship.

[ocr errors]

192.altum tenuêre,' had reached the open sea

195. Noctem,' darkness: 'inhorruit,' began to roll.

[ocr errors]

cur

197-9. 'dispersivasto,' we are driven on, scattered over the great deep. Involvêre diem,' hid the light of day: 'ingeminant —ignes,' the lightning flashes fast from the rifted clouds.

200-3. We are driven out of our course, and wander about over an unknown sea. Palinurus'; the steersman of the fleet. 'diem noctemque discernere,' to distinguish day from night: Nec viæ,' nor to ascertain his proper course.'incertos soles,' uncertain days, because, in the thick gloom, day and night could hardly be distinguished.

205-7. At last, on the fourth day, the land seemed first to rise from the sea, the mountains to show themselves from afar, and the smoke to ascend. This is a fine description of the first appearance of land at sea. The account of the storm is very spirited and grand. Vela - insurgimus,' the sails are furled; we rise upon the oars; as was done in shal low water, on approaching the land."

6

208. Exerting themselves, whirl round the foam and sweep along the blue sea.

209-11. In this order; littora Strophadum primùm Accipiunt me Servatum ex undis; Insulæ, dicta Graio nomine Strophades, stant in magno lonio mari'; the islands, called by a Greek appellation Strophades, are in the great Ionian sea, that part of the Mediterranean lying between Sicily and Greece. The islands are two in number, near the west coast of the Peloponnesus. The final syllable in 'Insula' is preserved from elision, and shortened before the coming vowel.

212-3. 'Phinela-priores,' after that the house of Phineus was shut against them, and through fear they left their former tables. The Harpies were monsters, three in number, Celano, Aello, and Ocypete. They had the faces of women and the bodies of birds; they emitted a noisome stench, and polluted whatever they touched. Phineus, king of Thrace, having incurred the displeasure of the gods by his cruelty towards his own sons, the Harpies were sent against him as a punishment. Whenever the tables were spread in his house, they flew down and polluted the food, so that it could not be eaten. The winged sons of Boreas finally drove them away from this place, and they came to the Strophades islands. Harpyia is a trisyllable; Harp-yi-æ.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

6

214-5. A more hideous monster than these, a more terrible scourge and instrument of divine vengeance, never rose from the Stygian waters. 216-20. Virginei vultus,' the countenances of these birds were maidenlike: ventris Proluvies,' dung: 'unca manus,' the hands hooked like claws: et — fame,' and their faces always pale with hunger. 'Huc delati,' when, having arrived at this place: Læta,' fat, comely. prædam,' we invite to take part in the spoil. 225-6.At-Harpyiæ,' but the unexpected Harpies come flying in a fearful manner from the mountains.

222-3.vocamus

[ocr errors]

231-6. arisignem'; see note to Book I. 704. 'ex- cœli,' from a different part of the heavens: cæcis,' secret, hidden: 'sonans,' noisy: 'capessant'; Gr. § 262. Rem. 4: gerendum'; Gr. § 274. Rem. 8. 'Haud faciunt,' they do as they were ordered.

238-9.delapse,' Harpyia' understood. Misenus was the trumpeter of the fleet. dat signum,' gives the signal.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

volucres 'vim

240-3. Ere,' brazen trumpet:et-tentant,' and begin a novel sort of fight; that is, fœdare,' to cut, to wound filthy birds. pelagi, birds of the sea, because they inhabited an island. ullam,' any harm on their plumage: 'celeri-lapse,' escaping in swift flight upwards, towards the stars.

[ocr errors]

245-6. Una Celano, Infelix vates,' Celano alone, a prophet of ill: 'rumpit hanc vocem,' uttered these words.

247-8. Are you ready even to make war, O Trojans, nothing less than war, for the sake of killing the oxen, and for the slaughtered bullocks? One commentator interprets 'pro' in the sense of post,' making the appropriation of the cattle an additional offence against the Harpies, who were the owners; after killing our bullocks.

250-1. Hear then these my words, and fix them in your memories. Apollo received his knowledge of futurity from Jove.

252-4. vobis - pando,' Ï, the greatest of the Furies, disclose to you ; the Harpies were classed with the Furies, as ministers of divine vengeance. ' ventis — Italiam,' and, having invoked the winds, you shall go to Italy; Gr. § 237. Rem. 5.

255-7. But you shall not surround the appointed city with walls, before terrible hunger, and the wrong you have done in attacking us, shall compel you to devour - 'malis' with your teeth the gnawed tables, or dishes. The prediction appears a formidable one, but in its fulfilment it turns out to be merely ludicrous, and therefore unsuited to the dignity of Epic poetry. But there was a popular legend in Virgil's time about such a prophecy, and he gave it a place in his poem, where, indeed, its previous currency made it appear less grotesque and improbable.

258-60.ablata pennis,' flying off on her pinions. 'arinis,'' pugnare' understood; they no longer wish to contend with arms.

262-4. Whether they were goddesses, or mere frightful and filthy birds. 'passis palmis,' with outstretched hands; ' passis' from 'pando': 'meritos honores,' and appoints the proper sacrifices.

267. excussosque laxare rudentes,' to uncoil and loose the ropes, that confined the sails.

268-9. Tendunt - Noti,' the south winds fill the sails. The course

of Eneas was now nearly north, lying among the Ionian Islands on the west coast of Greece. The names which follow are of particular islands in that group. vocabant,' directed.

271-3. Neritos'; not an island itself, but a lofty mountain in Ithaca. 'Laërtia regna'; Laertes was the father of Ulysses, whose paternal kingdom was this little island of Ithaca. 'altricem sævi Ulyssei,' that nourished the cruel Ulysses.

275. And the temple of Apollo, standing on a rocky point, dreaded by mariners, is opened to view. Sailors now speak of opening a harbour, when they are opposite to its entrance.

[ocr errors][merged small]

278. Then, at length, having unexpectedly reached the land; that is, having passed through straits of such dangerous navigation, that they scarcely hoped to arrive in safety.

279-81. votis - ludis,' and kindle fires on the altars, in accordance with our vows, and we render the shores of Actium famous, by holding there the Trojan games. Virgil introduced this passage in compliment to Augustus, who, at a later period, instituted games, called 'ludi Actiaci,' in commemoration of the great victory, which he obtained at Actium, over Antony and Cleopatra. oleo labente,' with the oil flowing down, with which the combatants always anointed their bodies.

6

284-6. Meanwhile, the end of the year, or the winter season, had arrived. magnum,' applied to the revolution of the sun, in distinction from that of the moon; see Book I. 269. 'Aquilonibus undas,' roughens the waves with northern blasts. magni Abantis,' which had been carried by the great Abas; who Abas was, does not distinctly appear; probably, some distinguished Greek, slain before Troy. 287-8. Postibus adversis, on the front doorposts of the temple: 'et arma,' and I carve this inscription in verse; "Eneas consecrates these arms, taken from the victorious Greeks."

[ocr errors]

the sense opposite aërias arces Phæaisland of Corcyra.

291-3. abscondimus'; another nautical term, in to that of aperitur,' line 275; we leave behind us : cum,' the lofty mountains of the Phæacians, in the Littora legimus,' and we coast along the shores of Epirus: 'Chaonio'; see note to Ecl. IX. 13.

294. rerum 6 - aures,' report about affairs comes to our ears. 296-9. Possessing the former wife and the sceptre of Pyrrhus, the descendant of acus; Conjugio,' for 'conjuge.' That a son of Priam should succeed to the empire of Achilles might well appear to Eneas an incredible story. The wife was Andromache, the widow of Hector. Helenus consequently was her third husband. And that Andromache had again come into the power of a husband of her own country. 'amore,' desire: casus — - tantos,' to learn the cause of such strange occurrences. 301-4. In this order; tum fortè Andromache Libabat Solemnes dapes et tristia dona cineri,' &c.; then, by chance, Andromache was making a solemn feast and sad offerings to the ashes of her spouse: 'falsi Simoëntis, the counterfeit Simois, a small river, which had been called after the celebrated one of that name in the Troad. 'Manes tumulum'; see note to line 67. viridi — cespite,' which she had erected of green turf inanem,' empty; it was a cenotaph, for the body of Hector reposed in his own country.

[ocr errors]

307-9.amens,' bewildered with surprise: monstris,' by the strange sight: Diriguit medio,' she became motionless while looking at us: 'Labitur,' she fainted.

310-1.affers te,' do you come, Vera-nuntius,' as a real appearance, an actual messenger to me? lux alma,' for vita; life: 'recessit,' has departed from you; - if you are a messenger from the other world, tell me, where is Hector.

313-5. furenti,' frantic with grief: 'pauca,' 'verba' understood: 'et - hisco,' and, much moved myself, I stammer out in broken words.

'vitam duco,' and prolong my existence through all dangers. This is indeed an affecting scene, and admirably described. The warm feelings and affectionate character of Andromache, so finely painted by Homer, are here preserved with perfect fidelity.

317. dejectam,' deprived of.

6

319. Andromache, do you remain the widow of Hector, or are you the wife of Pyrrhus; the meaning of connubia servas,' must be slightly modified, to conform to the two clauses to which it belongs. The modest and timid character of Andromache is preserved throughout; to this question, she only casts down her eyes and answers indirectly.

321. O virgin daughter of Priam, who alone was happier than the others. Polyxena is the one intended. Achilles was on the point of marrying her, when he was treacherously slain by Paris. When the city was taken, the Greeks immolated her on the tomb of Achilles. Yet Andromache says, that her lot was preferable to that of the others. 323. 'quæ - ullos'; who escaped the indignity to which the others were exposed, in being distributed by lot among the conquerors. 326-7. Stirpis tulimus,' I have endured the arrogance of the son of Achilles, the haughty youth, and have brought forth children while in servitude. She bore a son to Pyrrhus. Through all the speech, she wishes to convey the idea, that she became the wife of Pyrrhus only by compulsion.

328-9. Pyrrhus fell in love with the beautiful Lacedemonian, Hermione, the daughter of Helen and grand-daughter of Leda. Hence, neglecting Andromache, he gave her, a slave, as a wife to his slave Helenus, famulo famulam.'

330-2. But Orestes, incited by great love for the bride that had been taken from him, and urged on by the Furies for his former crimes, took him while off his guard, and slew him at the paternal altar. Orestes, to whom Hermione had been betrothed, to avenge the loss of his bride, slew Pyrrhus at the altar erected to his father Achilles. He was the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, the latter of whom, in company with her adulterer, assassinated her husband, and for this murder was put to death by her son Orestes. This is the former crime alluded to, for which he was pursued by the Furies. This chain of horrible events has furnished a theme for many tragedies. See "Andromaque" by Racine, one of the best.

[ocr errors]

333-6. Neoptolemi'; see note to Book II. 263. By his death, a part of the kingdom fell to Helenus, who named the country Chaonia, from the Trojan Chaon, his brother. 'Pergama arcem,' and placed in addition this Trojan citadel, called Pergamum, upon the mountains. The exile endeavoured to make the new city a miniature Troy, by preserving the ancient appellations.

3378.tibi - venti dedere,' what winds have given you this direction, have brought you here? ignarum,' 'te' understood.

[ocr errors]

339-43. What of the boy Ascanius? Does he survive, and still breathe the upper air? Whom Troy to you· The feelings of Andromache here choke her utterance, and she leaves the sentence incomplete. Her emotion is caused by the recollection of her own murdered son Astyanax, which the sight of young Ascanius calls up. The boys were nearly of the same age. What grief does the boy feel for his lost mother? She seems to be acquainted with the death of Creusa. Does the example of his father and uncle Ecquid excitat,' stimulate him at all to

[ocr errors]

heroic deeds? Creusa was the sister of Hector.

[ocr errors]

345-7. affert sese multis comitantibus,' comes up with many attendants. suos,' his old friends.

349-51. simulata - Pergama,' and the little Pergamum, built in imitation of the great. A rivulet, nearly dry, had received the proud name of Xanthus, and the entrance to the city was called the Scran gate, all in commemoration of old Troy. amplector'; the returned exile was wont to embrace the doorposts of his home.

« PreviousContinue »