23-6. 'Contrà,' on the other fold of the door: respondet,' answering, or corresponding to the sculptures on the first side: "Gnosia tellus'; see note to Book III. 115. supposta furto,' submitted to it by deceit; by a contrivance of Daedalus, the horrible passion of Pasiphae - see note to Ecl. VI. 46 was gratified. The product of the union was the Minotaur, a monster, half man half bull: Veneris - nefandæ,' the memorial of the wicked amour.

27. Hic-domus,' here this puzzle of a building, also, was represented in sculpture; see note to Book V. 588.

28-9. Theseus, the son of the king of Athens, volunteered to be one of the seven youths sent to Crete. On his arrival there, Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, fell in love with him, and, wishing to save him from death, applied for aid to Dædalus. He gave Theseus a ball of thread, fastening one end of which to the entrance of the labyrinth, and unrolling it as he went along, after he had met and slain the Minotaur, he was able to find his way out again. 'reginæ,' the royal maiden Ariadne: 'sed - miseratus,' but Daedalus aided her, for pitying, &c.: ambages,' the winding ways: resolvit,' gave a clue to.

31-3. All the tenderness of the poet shines out in these lines. The paternal feelings of Daedalus overpower his skill as a sculptor, when he attempts to represent the death of his son. 'sineret,' haberes'; the imperfect for the pluperfect; would have had, if grief had permitted. 'omnia'; a dissyllable; Gr. § 306.

34-6. Perlegerent,' they would have surveyed: 'ni - Glauci,' if Achates, who had been already sent in advance, had not returned, and with him the priestess of Apollo and Hecate, Derphobe, the daughter of Glaucus. Holdsworth thinks, that the priestess here spoken of was not the Sibyl herself, but her attendant; that the prophetess is always called vates' and 'dea,' while the subordinate is styled 'sacerdos.' The latter, he maintains, is the person speaking as far as line 55; then the Sibyl speaks from line 82 to 155; then the priestess again at 244, and afterwards the Sibyl, from 258 to the end. This is an ingenious hypothesis, and solves some difficulties in the text; but it is contradicted by line 45 et seqq., and is wholly untenable. Eneas sees but one female, and that is the Sibyl herself, Deiphobe.

38-9. grege de intacto,' from the herd yet untouched by the yoke: 'Præstiterit,' it would be better.

41. viri'; the attendants of Eneas, who prepare the sacrifices required. alta in templa,' into the lofty temple. It appears from line 45, Ventum erat,' that there was some space to be passed over between the temple where Eneas had stopped, and the cave.

42-4. The great side of the Eubaan rock - the Cumaan hill - was cut out in the manner of a cavern; into which a hundred broad passages, a hundred apertures, lead. The cave had many apartments and wind. ing passages, and the rock partitions between them being pierced with many holes, the response of the Sibyl from the inmost chamber, sounding through these different apertures, seemed like so many distinct voices, totidem voces.'

45-51. ad limen,' to the entrance of the cave: Poscere fata,' to ask for a response, a declaration of the fates that were to come. The description that follows, of the Sibyl, when the fit of inspiration comes upon her, is very grand. deus, adest' understood. Cui - fanti,' as she thus spoke: unus,' in the sense of idem'; her countenance changed: sed-sonans,' but her panting bosom and untamed heart swell with inspiration, her stature seemed to dilate, and her voice sounded superhuman: propiore numine,' by the present power: 'in vota,' for 'facere vota; do you delay your vows?

53. Attonite domûs'; for the cavern; the terror of the moment is represented as affecting even inanimate objects. 'ora,' the doors would not open till the prayer was uttered.

56-60. graves-labores,' who hast always pitied the great sufferings of the Trojans; Apollo, through the whole war, took part against the Greeks. direxti,' by syncope, for 'direxisti'; Paris killed Achilles by shooting him with an arrow in the heel, Apollo directing his aim. 'manus,' the hands that drew the bow. ‘obeuntia,' encompassing, flow. ing round: te duce,' under thy guidance: 'repôstas'; see Book III. 364. prætenta Syrtibus,' lying around the Syrtes; see note to Book IV. 41. 'Massylum'; see note to Book IV. 132.

62. Thus far the adverse fortune of Troy may have followed us; "may it follow us no farther"; 'Hâc - tenus,' by tmesis.

64. quibus Ilium,' who were inimical to Troy; you may well spare us now, since you have succeeded in destroying Ilium.

66-7.da-Teucros,' grant that the Trojans may obtain a home in Latium; I ask for a kingdom that is due. that has been promised to me by the fates.

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70-4. And I will appoint festal days, called after the name of Apollo; the Romans held solemn games, called ludi Apollinares,' to which Virgil refers. penetralia, sanctuary, referring to the place under the temple of Apollo at Rome, where the Sibylline books were kept. Te manent,' await you, shall be built for you. The Romans consulted these books on all great emergencies, in order to ascertain the future; hence, Hic- ponam, here I will place your oracles, the secret fates appointed to my people. The books were confided to fifteen persons, called the Quindecemviri,' who are the 'lectos viros,' here spoken of. Alma,' 'vates' understood. 'Foliis'; see note to Book III, 444. 76. Ipsa canas'; see note to Book III. 457.

77-80. Again the fit of inspiration is described, as if the rapt Sibyl were struggling against the god, like a wild steed contending with its rider. 'nondum patiens,' not yet subdued by the divine influence: 'Bacchatur,' wanders about in a frenzy: Excussisse,' to shake off: 'fatigat premendo,' curbs her furious mouth, subdues her raging heart, and by restraining it adapts it to his purpose.

83-4.0-manent,' O thou who hast at length passed through the great dangers of the sea! Greater peril awaits you on land. 'Lavinî'; see note to Book I. 258.

86. Sed volent,' but they will wish they never had come, so great trials are in store for them. In what solemn and fearful terms the fate of the Trojans is announced!

88-92. All the scenes of the Trojan war shall be renewed in Italy; the rivers, like the Simots and the Xanthus formerly, shall run with Trojan blood. alius — deâ,' another Achilles is ready in Latium, who also, like his prototype, is the son of a goddess. Turnus, the chief opponent of Æneas in Italy, is here referred to. He was the son of the nymph Venilia. Teucris-Juno,' Juno ever present and hostile to the Trojans. in — urbes,' in your distress, what people of Italy, which of its cities will you not entreat for aid?

93-4. A woman also will be the cause of this war, just as Helen was of the former one. Lavinia, who became the wife of Æneas, though once promised to Turnus, is here intended.

96-7. In whatever way your fortune will allow you. The first means of deliverance will be opened to you, in a way which you would least expect, from a Grecian city. Eneas obtained important aid in the Italian war from Evander, a king in Italy, although of Grecian origin, and who could not be expected, therefore, to be friendly to the Trojans. 99-101. ambages,' obscure sayings: antro remugit,' and cried aloud in the cave. The simile from lines 77-80 is renewed. 'Concutit fræna,' directs the reins: 'vertit stimulos,' plies the goad.

103-5. Non-peregi,' no new or unexpected kind of trial, O virgin, now rises before me. I anticipated the whole, and have already gone through with it in mind. 'mi'; Gr. § 133. Rem. 1. The warnings of Helenus and Anchises had prepared Æneas for the Italian war.

107.Dicitur,' esse' understood: 'et-refuso,' and the gloomy pool that receives the waters from the overflowing Acheron. The Acherusian lake, near Cumæ, is intended, which was supposed to receive the superfluous waters of Acheron, a river of the infernal regions. 109. Contingat,' may it happen, may it be permitted: et pandas,' and open the fearful doors of Hades; pandas'; Gr. § 260. Rem. 6. 111. recepi,' I rescued him; see receptas,' Book I. 178.

114-6. Debilitated, but firm beyond the strength and the usual lot of old age. Moreover, he gave orders, that I should come as a suppliant to you with this request, and visit your dwelling; see Book V. 731-7.

117-8. nec - Avernis, nor has Hecate without reason made you preside over the groves of Acernus; since she has given you this power, you are able to open to me the infernal regions.

119-23. Since other persons, while living, have been permitted to visit the realms of the dead, this liberty may be accorded to me also. For the story of Orpheus, see note to Geor. IV. 453. Manes-conjugis,' to bring up the spirit of his wife: fretus,' relying upon, assisted by. The twin brothers, Castor and Pollux, were the sons of Leda, Tyndarus being the father of the former, and Jupiter of the latter. Pol lux, consequently, was immortal, and when Castor was killed, he grieved so much, that Jupiter permitted him to share his immortality with his brother, and the two lived, day and day alternately, in heaven and in Hades. Theseus, attended by Pirithous-see note to line 28went down to Tartarus in order to carry off Proserpina, but his attempt failed. Hercules went there in order to bring up Cerberus, and succeeded. 'et-summo,' what though these heroes were descended from the gods? My parentage also is from great Jove.

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124-6. aras tenebat'; the usual posture of a suppliant. Satedivam,' O thou who art descended from the race of the gods. Averno'; here put for the infernal regions.

123-9. Sed-est,' but to retrace one's steps and come up again to the upper air, this is the difficulty, this the hard task.

131-3. Dis geniti,' descended from the gods; connected with Pauci': 'potuêre, have been able to do this, -to return from Hades. 'Tenent-silvæ, dark forests occupy all the intervening space between us and Hades. The allusion is to the thick groves round lake Avernus. 'Cocytus; see note to Geor. III. 38. This river, the Styx, and the Acheron are used indifferently for each other. Quòd — menti,' but if you have so great an inclination.

135-8.insano labori,' rash undertaking: Hear what must first be done. A branch with golden leaves and a slender stem lies concealed in the thick wood. Junoni infernæ'; to Proserpina, who was queen of hell, as Juno was of heaven.

'suum munus

140-6. No one is allowed to enter the hidden places of the earth, till he has plucked from the tree this golden-leaved growth. ferri sibi,' this appropriate gift to be brought to her. 'Primo-alter, the first branch being torn off, another supplies its place. 'et - manu,' and when found, pluck it off in due form.

148-51. Vincere,' to overcome its adhesion to the tree: nec ferro, nor will you be able to sever it with hard steel. As if to inspire Eneas with confidence in what she had told him, she now says, that, on his return, he will find one of his friends is dead. 'incestat funere," pollutes by his death; the presence of a dead body rendered a company unclean. pendes,' tarry to listen.

152-3. Sedibus suis,' first carry him to his last resting-place. ea-sunto,' let these be the first propitiatory sacrifices. 154.invia vivis,' inaccessible to the living.

156-8. Æneas returns to the fleet, and finds what the Sibyl had foretold. lumina,' for oculos': 'cæcos mind the darkly announced events.

- secum,' and revolves in his

160. They talked over many things between themselves, passing from one subject to another.

·

162-5.Atque Ut illi venêre,' and when they arrived at the camp: 'indignâ peremptum,' taken off by an unseemly death. ' Æoliden,' the son of Holus: quo- cantu,' than whom no one was more expert in rousing up the men with the brazen trumpet, and kindling their warlike spirit with his music. He was the trumpeter of the fleet. The whole passage about his death and funeral seems to be founded on some popular tradition respecting the name of cape Misenum.

168-74. illum'; Hector: 'heros'; Misenus: non-secutus,' thus following a not less renowned chieftain; put in the plural by a Greek idiom. 'conchâ,' by a strange license for 'tubâ': 'Demens,' rash, foolish. Being surprised among the rocks, - if it is proper to believe the tale,- an envious Triton drowned him in the foaming wave.

177-9. aram-arboribus,' and heap up with trees the sepulchral pile; the pyre, on which the body was burned, was considered both as a funeral pile, and as an altar. Itur,' used impersonally; they go: 'stabula,' in the same sense with 'Tecta,' in line 8.

181-4. The trunks of ash trees, and hard oak that may be split with wedges. paribus armis,' and employs the same implements in felling the trees.

187-9. Si,' for 'utinam'; would that this golden bough would now show itself on the tree to me! ' verè nimiùm,' alas! too truly.

191-4. Ipsa sub ora,' before his very face: 'sedêre,' alighted. 'Maternas aves'; doves were sacred to Venus. 'si-est,' if there is any access to it, if it is possible to go there.

195 −7. ubi – parens,' where the rich bough shades the fertile ground. And thou, O goddess parent, do not fail me in this uncertain affair. vestigia pressit,' he stopped.

198-200. quæ· pergant,' what tokens they might give, and whither they would direct their course. Pascentes; alighting now and then to feed tantùm · sequentûm,' advanced only so far in a single flight, as the eye of one following them could extend its vision.

201-4. graveolentis,' alluding to the noisome exhalations from the lake; graviolentis'; Gr. § 305. fauces'; the opening among the hills, within which Avernus was situated. Tollunt se,' they rise, in order to avoid the noxious air over the water: then, lapse,' gliding downward, Sedibus sidunt,' they both light in the desired spot upon the tree: Discolor aura,' the splendor differing in hue.

croceo

205-7. Quale - novâ,' as the misletoe in the woods, during the winter's cold, is wont to appear green with its fresh leaves: fætu,' with its saffron-colored stalk. This plant is a parasite, that twines round the oak and other trees, and, being an evergreen, has a beautiful appearance in winter.

209. sic-vento,' thus did the gold leaf crackle in the light breeze. 211. 'Cunctantem'; the gold was tough, though the branch was slender.

213-7. et ferebant,' and performed the last rites over the insensible remains. 'tædis'; see Book IV. 505. 'cui - Constituunt,' its sides they cover with dark-colored leaves, and place funeral cypresses in front. 218-21. ahena,' brazen cauldrons. The body was stripped, washed, and rubbed with ointment, and then placed toro,' on the bier. There it was clothed again —‘velamina nota,' with the garments which the deceased person was accustomed to wear.

222-5. Pars-feretro,' a part take up the great bier, and carry it to the funeral pile: ministerium'; Gr. § 204. Rem. 9. 'et-facem,' and, with averted countenances, held the torch turned downwards, after the custom of the fathers. 'Thurea dona,' an offering of frankincense, 'dapes,' the fat of animals, and oil, poured out from goblets, were burnt with the body.

227-31. They cleanse with wine the ashes and bones, which remain, and place them - 'cado aheno,' in a brazen urn. The ceremony fol lows of purifying the company, after they had been engaged in funeral rites. One carries round a vessel of pure water, and sprinkles them with it by means of an olive-branch; 'socios undâ,' instead of undam circa socios' felicis olive,' the fruitful olive, and not the 'oleaster,' which bore no fruit. 'dixit verba'; see note to Book III. 68. 232-4. ingenti mole,' of great size: suaque - viro,' the appropriate implements of the man, as he had been both an oarsman and a trumpeter: aërio," lofty.

235. The promontory even now is called by his name. The funeral rites being finished, and the golden bough obtained, Eneas prepares to follow the directions of the Sibyl. The cavern, which he now visits, is that by the side of lake Avernus.

238-40.tuta,' surrounded by the lake on one side, and a gloomy forest on the other. volantes, for volucres,' birds: Tenderepennis,' a periphrasis for volare': 'halitus,' the exhalation rising from the lake and cave, which was thought to poison the air, so that birds could not fly over it.

242-5. Aornon'; from a priv. and ögris, where birds cannot live. The line is thought not to be genuine. nigrantes'; see line 153. terga; Gr. § 234. II. invergit,' for 'infundit.' Plucking a tuft of hair between the horns of the victim was customary at sacrifices.

247-8. Hecate, in her triple capacity, was ranked among both the celestial and the infernal deities; see note to Book IV. 511. Supponunt cultros'; see note to Geor. III. 492.

250-4. The mother of the Furies was 'Nox,' and 'Terra' was her sister. A cow that had not calved was the customary offering to Proserpina. Stygio regi'; to Pluto: inchoat,' the technical term for erecting an altar: 'nocturnas,' because such rites were performed by night. 'viscera,' and 'extis,' for the whole body of the animal.

256-8. Sub- deâ,' the ground seemed to moan under their feet, and the tops of the forests began to wave, and dogs seemed to howl in the darkness, as the goddess came near; Hecate is intended.

'Phle'audita Pan

261-3. animis,' courage: 'furens aperto,' with furious action, rushed down the open cavern: æquat,' follows, keeps up with. 264-7. A solemn and highly poetical invocation to the gods of the lower world, when the poet is about to describe their domain. gethon,' a river of the lower world, flowing with fire. dere,' to tell what I have heard; with your permission, may I disclose, &c. 268-70. obscuri solâ,' by hypallage, for soli obscura': 'vacuas et inania'; because not tenanted by living persons: 'incertam,' shining only by fits in a cloudy sky maligna," faint, wavering.

273-4. Milton places Sin and Death at the gate of hell, by an image natural to one of Christian faith. The pagan poet personifies all the causes and allies of death, and places them in a fearful crowd at the entrance to the infernal regions. 'ultrices Curæ,' Remorse.

་

276-8. malesuada,' ill-advising, urging to wrong: 'visu'; Gr. § 276. III. Sopor'; borrowed from Homer; "Yлrą zασуvýт OaráTOLO, Sleep, the brother of Death.

280-1. Ferrei― thalami,' the iron-barred chambers of the Furies. Vipereum crinem'; they had snakes instead of hair, and these were vittis cruentis,' bound round with bloody fillets.

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282-4. annosa — pandit,' outspreads its aged arms: 'sedem,' as a habitation: Somnia- Vana,' empty Dreams commonly. The idea of representing dreams personified, as perching in an old elm-tree, savors of conceit; the poet alludes to their fleeting and changeable nature. 236-9. The Centaurs and Scylla have been already described. The hundred handed Briareus was a giant, the son of Cœlus and Terra, who once rendered important aid to Jupiter. 'bellua Lernæ,' a hydra