516. Repeated from Book I. 744. 517-8. The constellation Orion is represented with a sword and belt, formed by bright golden stars. 518. cœlo sereno,' was tranquil in the clear sky. 522. obscuros,' indistinctly seen: humilem'; the coast was low. 525-6. cratera- - Induit; this phrase proves the correctness of the version first given in the note to Book I. 724. 529. Send wind for an easy royage, send auspicious gales. 530-3.patescit,' in the same sense with 'aperitur, in line 275. The place where the temple was situated, near which Æneas landed, is the Iapygian promontory, now called Capo di Leuca, the southeastern extremity of Italy. arce,' on the mountain. 'legunt,' furl: 'Euroo,' Eastern; from Eurus; the meaning is, that the harbour opens to the eastward. 535-6. Ipse-scopuli," the harbour itself lies concealed; towering cliffs send out two arms, like a double wall, which enclose the port: 'refugitque ab littore'; seen from the sea, the temple seemed to be on the very shore; but within the harbour, it appeared farther inland. ་ 537-8. The first object seen after landing was interpreted as an omen of the fortune, that was to attend them in that country. These white horses are considered as a natural emblem of war; but as they are domesticated by man, they also portended future peace. 541-2. But yet the same quadrupeds are wont at times to be harnessed to the chariot, and peacefully to bear the reins with the yoke; curru,' for 'currui'; 'concordia '; Gr. § 205. Rem. 15. 544-6. prima accepit; because the first temple seen belonged to Minerva, this goddess is said to be the first to welcome them. amictu'; see line 405. According to the directions of Helenus, which he had given with the most earnestness; see lines 435-7. 549-50. We turn round the extremities of the sail-covered yards. They hurried away, because the country was held by a Greek colony. 551-3. sinus-Tarenti,' the gulf of Tarentum, if the story is true, pertaining to Hercules; some obscure tradition connected the name of Hercules with the city of Tarentum; what it was, is now but imperfectly known. contrà,' on the other side; that is, to the south. The promontory of Lacinium forms the southern point of the gulf of Tarentum. As Juno had a temple near, she was called 'diva Lacinia.' 'Attollit se,' rises, as an eminence appears to do, when we approach it by sea. Caulon and Scylaceum are both cities on the Brutian coast, in lower Italy. The latter is called navifragum,' either from its rocky shore, or from the storms, which prevail in its neighbourhood. 554. Ætna'; this celebrated volcano is situated in the northeastern part of Sicily. It is so high, that it can be seen at a great distance at sea, appearing to rise 'e fluctu,' out of the water. 556-8. fractas voces,' and the noise of the waves breaking on the shores, coming from the still distant Scylla. The waves dash high, and the sands at the bottom are disturbed by the force of the waters. 'Anchises,'' ait,' understood: Nimirum-Charybdis,' truly, this is that Charybdis, which we have heard described by Helenus. ་ 560-1. Eripite, o socii,' bear away, my friends. rudentem,' groaning, as the ship's bows seem to do, when plunging through the waves. 564-5. et- undâ,' and again, the wave passing from beneath us, we sink down, as it were, to the shades below. · 567. rorantia astra,' the dripping stars; the spray was thrown so high, that in falling it appeared to come from the heavens. 569. Cyclopum-oris,' we reach the shores of the Cyclops 571-3. horrificis ruinis,' with fearful explosions: prorumpit,' in an active signification. Throwing out clouds of smoke black as pitch, and hot ashes. 574-7. An accurate and sublime description of an eruption of lava; it is amplified from Geor. I. 472-3, which see. 'et-lambit,' and licks the stars: Interdum,' sometimes: 'glomerat,' it throws up in a mass: 'Cum gemitu,' with a rumbling noise. 578-80. There is a report, that the body of Enceladus, scorched by the lightning, is pressed down by this weight, and that great Etna, placed upon him, throws forth flame from its ruptured receptacles of fire. Enceladus was a giant, who, having attempted to scale the heavens, was thrown down by a thunderbolt, and imprisoned under Mount Etna. The agitation of the mountain and the surrounding country was attributed to his struggles. 'semiustum,' a trisyllable, as if' semy ustum.' 581. fessum latus,' as often as he turns his weary sides, shifts his position. 583-6. Noctem'; Gr. § 236. immania - Perferimus,' we experience fearful phenomena; are disturbed by frightful noises, the cause of which, in the darkness, could not be ascertained. 'Nam - polus,' for there was no light from the stars, no clear expanse of the starry skies. 588. primo Eoo,' with the early morning star. The story which fol lows, of the adventures of Ulysses in the Cyclops' cave, is borrowed from Homer's Odyssey. It is plausibly introduced here, by supposing that one of the Greeks was accidentally left behind in the cave. 590-1.macie-suprema,' wasted away with extreme leanness: 'Ignoti viri,' a stranger: 'miseranda cultu, in wretched attire. 593-4. immissa - Graius,' a long neglected beard, and his clothing pinned together with thorns; but in other respects, a Greek. 597-601. hæsit,' he hesitated: mox præceps sese tulit,' then he came running. hoc - Teucri,' by this light of heaven (air) which we breathe, take me away, O Trojans. 602. This will be enough, will satisfy me, so that I escape from the Cyclops. I know that I am one from the Grecian flect. 604-6. si ponto,' if the resentment at my offence is so great, throw me, torn in pieces, into the waves, and drown me in the vast deep. ‘hominum'; that is, 'non Cyclopum.' 607-11. 'et- -Hortamur,' and kneeling down, clung to me, embrac ing my knees. We command him to tell who he was, and from what race descended. 'Dat dextram juveni,' gives his right hand to the youth, as a pledge of present security. 614-5. My name is Achemenides; I went to Troy, my father Adamastus being a poor man; and would that this fortune had abided with him. Poor as he was, would that he had kept me at home. He alleges poverty as an excuse for going to the siege of Troy. Sinon urged the same plea before him; see Book II. 87. 616-8. Hic Deseruêre,' here, when my trembling companions forsook the dreadful abode, they unwittingly left me behind in the great cave of the Cyclops. 619-21. pulsat Sidera,' strikes the stars, he was so tall: Di — pestem,' ye gods, take away such a monster from the earth! No one dared to look upon, or to speak with him. 623-7. On his voyage home, Ulysses, with twelve companions, was thrown upon the Sicilian coast, and ignorantly entered the cave, where the Cyclops Polyphemus kept his sheep. The monster imprisoned them there, and every night devoured two of their number for his evening meal. But Ulysses gave him wine, and when he fell asleep under its effects, bored out his only eye with a sharp stake, and then escaped with six of his company, leaving Achemenides behind. • Vidi -saxum,' I myself saw him, when, stretched out on his back in the midst of the cave, having seized in his great hands the bodies of two of our number, he dashed them against the rock. fluentia tabo,' dripping with gore: 'tremerent,' quivered. 629. Nor was the Ithacan prince forgetful of himself, of the cunning for which he was famed, in so great a crisis. floor of the cave. 'eructans Per somnum saniem ac frusta commixta cruento mero'; a forcible, but not very delicate picture. Holdsworth observes, "this is a very natural description, and well suited to such a brute as Polyphemus; but it would be too gross for the cars of a queen, if we do not consider the story as related by Æneas totidem verbis, from Achemenides. But I think it was well, that supper was over.' 634-6. sortiti vices, and having determined by lot the part, which each one was to perform: lumen, for oculum': 'quod solum'; the Cyclops had but one eye apiece, and that was in the midst of the forehead. latebat,' for 'erat,' but how much more forcible. We can almost see the grim forehead, and shaggy eyebrow overhanging and concealing the eye. 637. The name 'Cyclops' signifies round-eyed; hence, the eye is here compared to a Grecian shield and to the sun, in shape and brilliancy. 639. The fugitive here interrupts himself, to urge the party to flight, lest they should be overtaken by the other Cyclops. 641-4. The full constraction would be, qualis quantusque Polyphemus est, qui claudit,' &c., tales et tanti Centum alii Infandi Cyclopes habitant vulgò,' usually dwell. 645-7. The moon has for the third time filled her horns with light. 'Quum traho vitam in silvis,' since I have prolonged my existence in the woods. 649-53. Victum rami,' the branches gave me a miserable support, berries and stony cornel fruit. Omnia collustrans,' watching every object. Huic Addixi,' I resolved to give myself up to it, whatever it might be, whether a friend or enemy. - 656-8. ' vasta moventem,' moving along with his huge bulk. 'nota'; as he was blind, he could only frequent places with which he was previously acquainted. cui ademptum,' deprived of sight. 659. The stem of a pine tree in his hand directs and supports his steps. 663-5. The description is even painfully graphic. inde'; that is, with the sea-water. graditur tinxit,' and he already walks fur out to sea, nor as yet do the waves wash his lofty sides; a bold figure, to express his great height. 666-7.celerare'; Gr. § 209. Rem. 5. recepto - meritò,' having taken in the suppliant, deservedly thus received; for the appearance of Polyphemus at once confirmed his tale. 669-71. He perceived it, and turned his steps towards the sound of the water agitated by the oars; vocis,' for the noise made by the rowers. dextrâ affectare,' to lay hold with his hands. He could not keep his head above the waves of the Ionian sea in pursuing us; even with his stature, he could not wade out so far. 673-4. penitùs cavernis,' and the continent of Italy shook far inland, and Fina resounded in its winding caves. 677-8. We saw the Etnean brothers, with grim aspect, standing there in rain, raising to the skies their lofty heads. 680-1. The oak was sacred to Jupiter, the cypress to Diana. The latter bears a cone-shaped fruit, like the apple of the pine. 682-3. Præcipites - Excutere,' great fear compels us hurriedly to loose the ropes, so as to fly whichever way we could. 684-7. Contrà - Heleni,' on the other hand, to prevent our adopting a random course, the directions of Helenus admonished us, ‘Ni teneant cursus Inter Scyllam atque Charybdim, utramque viam parvo discrimine leti,' that the ships should not hold their course between Scylla and Charybdis, each of which was attended with imminent risk of death; 'Ni' for 'ne.' But they were now to the south of this strait, and the wind being southerly, they must either attempt this dangerous passage, or go back the way they came. The latter course seemed preferable; 'certum-retro,' it is decided to spread our sails for a retrograde course. At this moment, luckily, a north wind springs up, and enables them to steer so as to pass outside of Sicily. To the fleet thus situated, the north wind would seem to come, 'angustâ - Pelori,' from its confined abode on the Pelorus, the northern promontory, a narrow point. 689. Pantagiæ'; a small river of Sicily, emptying into the sea amid high rocks. The bay of Megara lies just beyond the mouth of this river, and is bounded on the south by Thapsum jacentem,' the low-lying Thapsus, a sandy peninsula. 690 – I. ‘Talia — Achemenides,' these places Achemenides pointed out to us, passing again, in a contrary direction, by the shores which he had sailed past before. Ulysses came to Sicily from the south. 692-3. Sicanio-undosum,' an island lies in front of the Sicilian gulf, now called the bay of Syracuse, over against the wave-beaten Plemmyrium, a rocky cape near Syracuse. This island was called Ortygia, in honor of Diana, who was born in Delos, also named Ortygia 694-6. See note to Ecl. X. 4. In this order; 'fama est, Alpheum, amnem Elidis, egisse Occultas vias huc, subter mare'; Elis is a district of the Peloponnesus, through which the Alpheus flows. 697-9. Jussi, admonished, probably by Anchises: 'Exsupero,' I pass by Helori'; a river of Sicily. Pachyni'; note to line 429. 700-4. 'et- - procul,' and afar off appears Camarina, never permitted by the fates to be moved; this was the name of a marsh, which the neighbouring people drained, though forbidden to do so by the oracle of Apollo. They were afterwards surprised by an enemy, who came upon them in this direction. Gela was a great city in this region, near a river of the same name. 'Geloi' is a derivative from Gela." The city is called 'Immanis,' because situated in a somewhat rugged country. Acragas'; a mountain, on which the city of Agrigentum was situated. Excellent horses were bred there. 705-7. Selinus'; a city in the southern part of Sicily, famous for palm-trees. I pass by the dangerous shoals of Lilybum, with their hidden rocks; see note to line 429. The party then enter the neighbouring harbour of Drepanum. illætabilis ora,' a gloomy shore, because associated with the death of Anchises. 710-1. Hic periclis,' here, alas! O excellent father, in vain preserved from so great dangers, you quitted me wearied. 714-5. This was my last misfortune; this was the limit of my long wanderings. On my departure thence, a god drove me upon your shores. The story of Eneas is finished, and the poet begins to speak. 716-7. intentis omnibus,' all being attentive to his words.Fata divům, the events brought about by divine agency. The outline and many of the details of this book are in close imitation of the Odyssey. Though inferior to Homer's poem in point of raciness, simplicity, and richness of invention, it is more highly wrought and majestic, and perhaps equally interesting. The subject required a display of learning, and the mythological and geographical details are well selected, and skilfully disposed. No portion is so magnificent as many passages of the preceding book; but the meeting with Helenus and Andromache is admirably painted, and the character of the latter is sketched with a master's hand. The episodes relating to the Harpies and the Cyclops are less pleasing in design, but they are skilfully executed, and lend variety and interest to the narration. We have had several examples, and shall meet with others, of the dextrous use which the poet made of the popular traditions of his time, weaving them into his work, in such a way as to give great delight to his contemporaries. THE ÆNEID. BOOK IV. DIDO discloses her love for Æneas to her sister Anna, and, by her advice, prepares her mind for a marriage. Juno, in order to prevent Eneas from going to Italy, consults with Venus how the marriage might be effected, and takes the office of bringing it about upon herself. The next day, Dido and her guest go out upon a hunting excursion, and Juno sends a storm, by which the company are dispersed, and Æneas takes shelter in the same cave with the queen. Dido gives the name of marriage to the illicit union, and Æneas spends the winter with her at Carthage, forgetful of his appointed mission to establish a great kingdom in Italy. But Iarbas, an African king, and a former suitor of Dido, indignant that a stranger should be preferred to himself, complains to Jupiter, who sends Mercury to the Trojan prince, and commands him to depart on his destined voyage. He prepares to obey, and gives secret orders for fitting out the fleet; but Dido discovers his purpose, and breaks out into bitter expostulations with him. She makes several attempts, both in her own person and through her sister, by her tears and entreaties, to induce him to remain. But he continues inflexible, and Mercury being sent a second time to hasten his departure, he sets sail in the middle of the night. The unhappy queen, frantic with grief and disappointment, constructs a funeral pile in the highest part of the palace, and setting fire to it, kills herself, with her lover's own sword, upon its summit. 1-2. But the queen, long since affected with ardent love, cherishes the wound in her veins, and is consumed by a hidden fire. 'At' refers to the last line of the preceding book, the rest of the company being supposed to have retired to rest. 3-5. The reasons of Dido's affection are enumerated; Multa virtus,' the manly qualities of Æneas; Gentis honos,' his noble descent; 'vultus,' his personal attractions; and Verba,' his eloquent speech; reflecting on these things, 'nec-quietem,' she passes a sleepless night. 6-8. Phœbeâ lampade'; see note to Book III. 637. 'Aurora'; see note to Geor. I. 447. 'Humentem'; because the dew falls by night. Then, ill at ease, she thus addresses her sympathizing sister. 11. What an aspect he bears! How brave in heart and deed! 13-6. Degeneres arguit,' cowardice manifests an ignoble mind, one of low descent. The courage of our guest shows his high birth. 'exhausta,' endured by him. 'Si-jugali,' if it did not remain a fixed and unshaken determination in my mind, that I will not unite myself to any one by the nuptial tie; 'cui,' for alicui.' This reminding herself of an old resolution, as still paramount in her mind, though she is already half decided to break it, is an exquisite touch of nature. 17-9. 'fefellit,' falsified my hopes: deceptam morte,' 'me' understood; cheated out of it by death; referring to the death of Sychæus. 'Si non pertæsum fuisset,'me' understood; if I were not thoroughly weary of tædæ,' the nuptial torch; see note to Ecl. VIII. 29. I might perhaps yield to this one transgression. She speaks of love now as a sin. 20-3. fata, the death: fraternâ cæde,' murder committed by a brother Solus hic'; that is, Æneas: Impulit,' has made an impres 'labantem,' for fecit labare.' upon: 'Agnosco flammæ,' I recognise the traces of the former passion, of such love as I felt before. sion : |