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weapons. quando,' for ' aliquando': 'Rectores,' for 'duces.' 'sortita periclum,' distributing the posts of danger.

176-7. Nisus was the son of Hyrtacus and the nymph Ida. The ardent friendship between him and Euryalus has already been commemorated; see Book V. 294, et seqq. and notes. The affecting episode, which follows, must commend itself to the taste and feelings of all readers, especially the young. The two friends offer to make their way by night through the besieging army, and carry to Æneas the news of the danger of his friends.

181. primâ juventâ '; that is 'lanugine,' the down that precedes the beard. The meaning is, a mere boy with his beardless chin.

183.'communi statione,' keeping guard in company.

185-6. 'an-cupido,' or does each one's strong desire seem to him like a divinely inspired thought? aut-magnum,' or to attempt some great enterprise.

188-9. quæ fiducia rerum,' what confidence in the strong position of their affairs; their assurance has made them careless. Lumina rara,' few lights from their watch fires.

191.Quid dubitem,' what I am deliberating upon.

194-6. nam est,' for the reputation of the exploit is enough for me; the generous youth proposes to abandon all other reward to his friend. 'monia Pallantea'; Pallanteum, the city of Evander, where Æneas was supposed to be.

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199-203. Are you unwilling, then, to take me as your companion? My father Opheltes did not so teach me, that I should allow a friend to go alone into danger. Argolicum Sublatum,' I who was brought up amid the terrors caused by the Greeks and the misfortunes of Troy. 205-6. 'lucis contemptor,' that despises life: et honorem,' who thinks this honor, to which you aspire, would be well purchased with life. 208-9. Nor would it be right to think thus meanly of you; no! so may great Jupiter bring me back triumphant to you, or whatever other god beholds these things with favoring eyes, as I speak truly.

211. in rapiat,' should bring misfortune upon nie.

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213-4. Sit-solità,' let there be some one, who, when my body is rescued from the conflict, or bought off by ransom, can bury it in the usual form; solità,' agreeing with humo,' instead of ex solito.'

215. If my body cannot be recovered, he can offer funeral oblations for my absent corpse, and honor me with a cenotaph.

217-23. The other Trojan matrons had remained behind in Sicily; see Book V. 715-8. 'Causas inanes,' in vain do you contrive idle pretexts, to keep me out of danger, while you expose yourself. 'mutata loco cedit,' for mutatur.' Vigiles'; those who were to succeed them on guard. Ipse,' Euryalus: regem,' Ascanius.

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227. Held council concerning the crisis in their affairs.

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230-3. Castrorum - medio,' in the centre of the level ground within the camp. Rem-fore,' that their business was of great importance, and would be worth the delay, which their entrance would occasion. 'trepidos,' trembling with eagerness.

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235-8. neve-annis,' do not let these things be judged in reference to our years; slight not our plan, because formed by two mere boys. 'insidiis,' for a secret exit from the camp: Qui- ponto,' which lies at the opening of two roads from that gate of our camp, which is nearest to the sea. One of the roads from this gate led through the camp of the Rutuli, along the seashore; the other, tending to the left, led into the interior of the country.

239. Interrupti ignes'; here, the enemy's watchfires are at long dis. tances from each other, half of them being extinct.

241.Quæsitum,' when found.

243-5. Nec assiduo,' nor is the route, which we are going upon, unknown to us. In hunting expeditions, from the deep valleys we have

often seen the nearest part of the city of Evander, far off on the hills beyond: totum amnem,' the whole course of the Tiber.

248-50. Non paratis,' you are not prepared, — you do not wish: et-Pectora,' and you have given them such firm courage.

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252–5. ‘laudibus,' praiseworthy actions: Pulcherrima,' ' præmia' understood: 'Di moresque vestri, the gods and your own feelings will best reward you. integer ævi,' in the flower of his age.

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257-61. Immo-Ascanius Obtestor," " 6 nay more," continued Ascanius, "I, whose only safety depends on my father's return, I conjure you,' &c. 6 quæcumque gremiis,' all that I possess, and all that I hope, I place in your power; you are now masters of my fate; on your success in finding Eneas, all my fortune and hopes depend.

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263-4. perfecta,' for 'facta': 'cepit,' obtained as spoil: Arisbâ '; a city in the Troad, conquered by Eneas before the siege of Troy. 267-8. capere Italiam,' to conquer Italy; — that is, to overcome the enemies, who now obstruct our settlement in Italy: 'et sortem,' and to distribute the booty by lot.

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270-4. illum,' 'equum' understood: 'Excipiam sorti,' I will exempt the horse, &c. from the distribution by lot, and put them aside for you. "Corpora Matrum,' for matres': sua- - arma,' and the arms of all these captives. 'quod campi'; Gr. § 205. Rem. 9; the piece of land, which formed the private domain of the king.

279-83. 'tibifides,' you shall possess my entire confidence in respect both to words and actions; my counsels shall be made known to you, and you shall have a share in their execution. 'Me - cadat,' no future time shall prove me incapable of such gallant enterprises; thus much I can promise; let good or evil fortune now befall me.

285-6. non tenuit Mecum excedentem,' did not prevent from departing with me: non- Acestæ'; see line 218, and note.

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288. Inque salutatum,' for 'et insalutatam,' and without bidding her adieu. The tenderness and pathos of this speech are admirable. 294. And the thought of his own affection for his parent deeply affected his mind.

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298-301. nec manet,' no small gratitude is due to her for giving us such a son. 'solebat,' 'jurare' understood: 'tibi reduci,' to you on your return: 'rebus secundis'; having succeeded in your enterprise. 304-5. Lycaon Gnosius'; the Cretan Lycaon, a famous artist. 309. Primorum juvenumque senum,' of leaders both old and young. 311-3. Ante annos,' in advance of his years, precocious. seddonant,' but the winds scatter all the messages, and bear them profitless up to the clouds; the messengers were fated not to succeed.

315-7. multis - Exitio,' but before they reached their journey's end, they were to cause the death of many; Gr. § 227, and Rem. 3 and 5. arrectos currus,' the chariots drawn up on the shore; the fore part being elevated and the back depressed, so as to occupy small place.

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319 – 23. · Vina,' jars of wine : ' ipsa res,' the opportunity itself invites us; our path lies this way, and we must kill those who are lying upon it. Nisus goes first and tells Euryalus to follow him and keep good watch, that they may not be surprised from behind. ' vasta dabo,' for 'vastabo'; I will clear the road.

325-6. tapetibus Exstructus,' resting on a lofty couch covered with tapestry: 'toto somnum'; he breathed heavily as he slept.

328-31.pestem,' for mortem.' 'temerè,' carelessly. Remus is nowhere else mentioned, but he was probably a chief of some note, as he had three servants, an armour-bearer, and a charioteer. 'premit,' he kills: sub equis,' finding him close to the horses.

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333-8. Sanguine singultantem,' spouting blood. illâ — Luserat,' who had been at play most of that night: multo deo victus,' overcome by much wine; deo,' for Baccho.' 'felix tulisset'; it had been better for him, if he had kept up his sport till daylight, for so Nisus could not have slain him.

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339-41. turbans,' making great confusion: 'Suadet,' urges him on: 'Molle,' timid, defenceless: mutum metu,' dumb with fright. 343-4. sine nomine,' ignoble: subit,' attacks, kills.

346-8. But in his fright, he hid himself behind a large vase; as he was rising up, Nisus, being close in front of him, plunged the whole length of the sword into his breast, and drew it back with much blood dropping from it; morte' for sanguine.'

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349-52. animam,' for 'sanguinem,' with which life departs: 'refert, throws up. The minuteness of this description is offensive. 'hic -instat,' Nisus eagerly continues the massacre under cover of the night. 'ubi extremum,' where the last watch fire was going out.

354. For he perceived, that he was carried away by too great a desire of slaughter; Gr. § 323. 2. (3.)

359-64. 'phaleras,' commonly signifies horse-trappings, but here it means the ornaments worn by the rider: et cingula,' and the belt with gold studs: Tiburti Remulo,' to Remulus, a native of Tibur: 'hospitio -absens,' when, though absent, he wished to form with him a bond of friendship and hospitality. Who this wealthy Caedicus was, does not appear. 'mortem, nepotis Remuli' understood: 'potiti,' gained possession of the belt: rapit,' Euryalus' understood: 'nequidquam'; because he would not retain it long.

365-6. habilem,' fitting well to the head: 'tuta capessunt,' seek for a safe retreat, endeavor to provide for their own safety.

367-9. Turnus needing reinforcements, Latinus sends to him three hundred horsemen, with Volscens at their head, to announce that a still larger force' Cætera legio' was preparing, and would soon follow. regis,' Latinus. These horsemen unhappily fall in with Nisus and Euryalus, and the catastrophe follows.

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371-2. muros'; the Trojan intrenchments, which Turnus was besieging. hos'; the two Trojans: 'lævo - limite,' turning into the path to the left.

374-7. immemorem,' unmindful, - - never thinking that his bright helmet might betray him. 'Haud - visum,' it was not seen by unobservant eyes. "Nihil contrà,' they made no reply.

379. adnota,' on well known by-paths, for they were familiar with the country.

383-5. A foot-path appeared here and there through the openings faintly seen in the woods. 'fallit - viarum,' the fear of meeting the enemy leads him astray from the right path; 'regione viarum,' for viâ.' 386-8. imprudens, not observing that Euryalus was left behind. 'Atque Albani,' and had passed the lake, which was afterwards called Alban, from the name of the city of Alba Longa. There was but one lake, though lacus' is here used in the plural. 'evaserat hostes Atque lacus'; Gr. § 323. 1. (2) 'stabula,' farmhouses, near the Alban lake. 391. Quâve sequar,' in what direction shall I seek for you? 'revolvens,' passing over again.

395. in medio,'est' understood; intervened between his hearing the shouts of the enemy, and catching sight of Euryalus.

397-8. Oppressum Fraude-noctis, intercepted through his ignorance of the ground and the darkness of the night.

402. Quickly poising a spear, with his arm drawn back.

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404-5. præsens, propitious: Latonia'; see note to Book IV. 511. 407-8. si-auxi,' if I myself have added other offerings from my hunting expeditions; Luna, or Diana, was the goddess of the chase. 'tholo; the centre of the arched ceiling of a temple, where offerings were suspended: 'fastigia'; exterior ornaments of the doorway. 412. aversi,' whose face was turned the other way.

414-5. Volvitur,' falls prostrate: 'flumen,' 'sanguinis' understood. Compare Geor. III. 506 -7, and note.

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417. summâ ab aure,' by the tip of the ear, which the weapon would graze, when the individual was taking sight.

421-4. nec possit, nor any object to which he could direct his fury. 'interea,' meanwhile, till the other is discovered. ' ense - Euryalumn,' with drawn sword he rushes upon Euryalus.

427-9. The agony with which Nisus sees the impending fate of his friend, and his eagerness to avert the calamity by the sacrifice of his own life, are admirably expressed in these broken exclamations. 'iste,' Euryalus: conscia,' that know the truth.

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435-7. These elegant similes are worthy of the fine picture, which they illustrate. The exquisite propriety of the diction in Latin defies all attempts at translation.

439. in- moratur,' directs his attack upon Volscens alone.

441-3.instat-ensem,' still he presses onward, and whirls his sword. Rutuli,' Volscens: moriens,' ipse' understood.

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445. Every word is happily chosen. The countenance of Nisus, even in death, seems to express satisfaction at having avenged his friend. 446-9. A noble and pathetic apostrophe supplies a fit termination to this affecting story. 'Nulla ævo,' no length of time shall efface the recollection of your deeds from the minds of men; 'memori ævo,' for 'memoriâ.' 'domus Ene,' the descendants of Eneas: 'Pater Romanus,' Jupiter of the Capitol.

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453. primis, chieftains.

455-6. tepidà — locum,' and the ground warm with blood recently shed. The remainder of the description is tumid and offensive.

459-61. Repeated from Book IV. 584-5. 'sole infuso,'' terris' understood; sun-light being diffused over the earth.

464-7. Quisque suos,' each chieftain bringing together his own men: variis rumoribus'; by different accounts of what had happened during the night, they excite the troops to fresh rage against the enemy. The customs of the heroic age did not forbid brutal treatment of the bodies of the slain.

468-9.duri,' inured to misfortune: Opposuere aciem,' drew up their lines against the enemy: 'dextera,' 'pars' understood.

471-2. ora,' for capita': 'movebant,' 'Rutuli' understood; carried along, exposed to view: 'Nota - miseris,' too well known to the grieving Trojans.

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475-6. subitus,' used adverbially; Gr. § 205. Rem. 15. calor,' the vital warmth. The shuttle dropped from her hands, and the thread was unrolled. She had been occupied in weaving.

requies,' who

478-82. Prima aginina,' the front rank of the Trojans, which the matron passes through, in order to obtain a view of the enemy. non memor,' regardless of 'Hunc,' in this condition: illa ought to have been the last solace of my old age. 484. Was no opportunity given to your wretched mother of speaking to you for the last time?

486-9. nec Produxi,' I, your mother, could not carry out you, a corpse; funera' is in apposition with 'te'; I was not permitted to perform the funeral rites for you. The text is probably corrupt, and the interpretation is difficult. tibi aniles,' the garment which I was hurriedly working upon night and day for you, relieving my doting anxiety by my constant labor with the web; ' festina,' for 'festinanter.' 490-1.Quò sequar,' whither shall I go? Hoc,' 'caput' understood; this dissevered head.

493. 'si pietas,' if there is any pity left for the sorrows of a mother? 496. Invisum hoc caput'; alluding to herself.

499-500.torpent vires'; their minds, subdued to pity, were unfitted for war. 'incendentem luctus, augmenting the feeling of distress. 502-5. inter manus'; carrying her in their arms. 'tuba ære canoro,' a trumpet made of sounding brass: sequitur - remugit,' a shout

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follows, and the heavens echo it back. actâ testudine'; see note to Book II. 441. Volsci'; see note to Book VII. 803.

508-11.Quâ— viris,' where the ranks are not closely arrayed, and the circle of soldiers guarding the wall is seen through-has gaps in it not being so crowded with men. The Trojans were too few in number to man the whole circumference of their intrenched camp. 'Telorum Omne genus,' every sort of weapon: 'longo bello'; an allusion to the protracted siege of Troy.

513-4. 'tectam,' covered, protected by the 'testudo': 'omnes-casus,' the assailants take pleasure in running all risks under the closely joined 'testudo.'

516-9.ruunt Immanem molem,' threw down a great rock: 'armorum-Tegmina,' and destroyed their covering of shields; that is, the 'testudo': cuco Marte,' in blind warfare, under their penthouse. 'pellere vallo,' to drive the defenders from the intrenchment

523. Repeated from Book VII. 691.

525. Calliope was the Muse that presided over epic poetry. The full construction would be ye Muses, and you especially, Calliope; Gr. § 323. 1. (3.) 'canenti,'mihi' understood.

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528. oras-belli,' unfold the whole compass of the war,- narrate all its events in detail. The next line is repeated from Book VII. 645. 531. Opportuna loco,' conveniently situated for the Rutuli to attack. 534-7. densi,' by hypallage, for densa': lampada,' a burning torch: plurima vento,' augmented by the wind: adesis,' half burnt. 539-40. residunt,' retreat: 'peste,' from the conflagration: 'pondere,' from its weight, now unsupported, one side being burnt away. 542. immani-secutâ,' the great mass falling upon them.

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546-8. Mæonio - Sustulerat,' whom Licymnia, a female slave, had secretly borne to a Lydian king: 'vetitis armis'; slaves were not usually allowed to bear arms. 'parmâ albâ'; ignoble in birth, his shield bore no device.

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552-3. sese 6 - Injicit,' aware of his fate, springs to meet death. 556-9. pedibus - melior,' excelling in swiftness of foot: tenet,' reaches, arrives at: tecta,' the top of the wall: 'cursu sending a weapon, and running himself after him.

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561-2. ipsum,' Lycus: Pendentem,' hanging by his hands to the top of the wall: 'revellit,' pulled him down again.

564.Jovis armiger'; the eagle; see note to Book V. 255. 'alta petens,' flying upwards, - directing his course towards the skies.

566-9. Martius lupus'; the wolf was held to be sacred to Mars. 'aggere,' with earth: 'fastigia'; the covering, or summit of the wall. Ilioneus,' sternit understood: saxo atque fragmine,' by hendiadys; so large, that it seemed like a part of a mountain.

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572-3. Hic-bonus,' the one skilful in throwing the javelin: ‘hic,' the other longè fallente'; thrown from afar, and striking one when off his guard. Cæneus,''sternit' understood.

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575-80. summis pro turribus,' on the summit of a tower: Hunc,' Privernus: Strinxerat,' had grazed his side: projecto demens,' foolishly throwing away his shield. 'ergo-sagitta,' then the winged arrow flew. 580. Pierced the lungs with a mortal wound.

582. Having a cloak embroidered with needle-work, and richly colored with Iberian purple; a dark purple, inclining to brown.

584-5. Matris'; his mother was probably a nymph: Symæthus is a river in the eastern part of Sicily. Palici'; two Sicilian deities owned this name, sons of Jupiter, by the nymph Thalia. pinguis' alluding to the rich offerings on the altar: placabilis,' for 'placans'; by which the god is propitiated.

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586-9. Stridentem fundam ter - habenâ,' having thrice whirled the thong about his head, impelled the whizzing sling: liquefacto plumbo,' with the leaden bullet flattened out by the force with which it struck:

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