impious Tydides, and Ulysses, the projector of many a crime (for they did the deed), having boldly undertaken to remove by force the fated Palladium from its holy temple." With ex quo supply tempore. Diomede is called "impius" from his having been the more prominent of the two in bearing off the Palladium.

164. Sed enim. Observe the peculiar force of these two participles in juxtaposition. "Sed ex quo Diomedes et Ulixes (hi enim tanti sceleris auctores erant) aggressi," &c.-165. Fatale Palladium. The Palladium was a statue of Minerva, preserved in a temple in the citadel of Troy, and on the retaining of which the safety of the city depended. It was carried off by Diomede and Ulysses, who secretly penetrated into the city for that purpose. It is here called fatale, because "fated" to be the cause of either the destruction or safety of Troy.

167. Manibusque cruentis. Compare lines 718-720 of this book. -168. Virgineas diva vittas. "The virgin-fillets of the goddess,' i. e. the fillets of the virgin-goddess. The fillets here stand for the person or statue itself of the goddess, which was not to be touched by unholy or polluted hands.-169. Ex illo fluere, &c. "From that very time the hopes of the Greeks began to give way, and, having lost their firm foot-hold, to be carried backward." Fluere put for diffluere, "to flow or melt away in every direction." The literal force of sublapsa is, "having slipped or slid gradually."-170. Aversa. "Was estranged." Supply est.

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171. Nec dubiis ea signa, &c. "Nor did Tritonia give indications of this by means of doubtful prodigies," i. e. prodigies, the import of which could in any way be misunderstood. Literally, nor did Tritonia give these indications."-Tritonia. An appellation of Minerva.-172. Arsere coruscæ, &c. "There blazed forth gleaming flames from its wide-distended eyes, and a salt sweat flowed over its limbs thrice, too, did the goddess herself (wonderful to be told) leap upward from the ground," &c.

173. Arrectis. More freely "fiercely-staring."

Equivalent to erectis, and denoting fierce indignation at the outrage that had been perpetrated.-175. Emicuit. Put for exsiluit, but conveying, also, the idea of gleaming or flashing on the view as she leaped up.

176. Tentanda fugâ, &c. "Declares that the seas must be tried in flight."-178. Omnia ni repetant Argis, &c. "Unless they take anew the omens at Argos, and then bring back the statue of the goddess, which they have (by this time) borne away with them over the deep, and in their curving ships." The Greeks, according to Calchas, must all go back to their native land, taking the Palladium along with them, and must take the auspices anew on the soil of Greece. They are then to return to the Trojan shores, bringing the statue back with them again. Sinon adds, that the home-voyage was, in all probability, already begun. The key to the whole passage, therefore, is to be found in avexere, which does not denote any previous voyage, but one just commenced.

Virgil has here ingrafted a Roman custom on a Grecian story. According to Servius and Pomponius, if any thing of evil omen had occurred, the Roman commanders were wont to return home and take the auspices anew. If they were far from Rome, they set apart for this purpose a portion of the country which was the seat of war, and called it the Roman territory.

territory 3

180. Et nunc, quod patrias, &c. "And now, that they have sought," &c. i. e. and now that their homeward voyage has been commenced. Quod is equivalent to quod attinet ad id, quod.-181. Parant. "They intend to prepare." For paraturi sunt. The full form of expression, showing more clearly the true force of parant, would be: Et quod nunc petiere Mycenas, id eo consilio factum est, ut arma, &c., parent.— 182. Digerit omina. "Interprets the omens," i. e. those afforded by the Palladium. Digerere properly signifies "to arrange in order." Calchas, therefore, first arranges and classifies the different omens proceeding from the appearance and movements of the statue, and then deduces a general meaning from them.

183. Hanc pro Palladio, &c. "Warned (by him so to do), they have ve placed here this figure (i. e. the horse) in lieu of the Palladium, in lieu of the violated statue of the goddess, that it might atone for their foul impiety."-Numine put for signo numinis.

185. Hanc immensam molem. "This immense fabric."-186. Roboribus textis. "With interwoven timbers." Texere is a favourite word with the poets in describing the operation of building.-Educere. "To raise it." Literally, "to lead it forth."-187. Portis. "Within your gates."-In monia. "Into your city."-188. Neu populum antiquâ, &c. "Nor protect the Trojan people with all the sacred power of the former Palladium." Literally, "beneath the ancient sanctity." The horse would prove a new Palladium, if received within the walls of Troy.

189. Nam si vestra manus, &c. The whole drift of Sinon's speech is this: The Greeks, O Trojans, have left this horse here, in the hope that it may prove a snare to you, and that you may be induced to violate it with fire or sword, since such violation will bring down on you the vengeance of Minerva, and the anger of the goddess will then be transferred from them unto yourselves. On the other hand, they are afraid that you may draw it within your city, and thus find in it a second Palladium; and therefore they have made it so large of size as not to be capable of being admitted within your gates.

esse.

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un

190. Quod di prius omen, &c. " An omen which may the gods rather turn on the seer himself," i. e. on Calchas.-191. Futurum. Supply This infinitive depends on dixit, which is implied in jussit that precedes.-193. Ultro Asiam magno, &c. “Asia (i. e. Troy), of its own accord, would come in mighty war unto the walls of Pelops, and that these destinies await our descendants."-Ultro. Properly, provoked." According to Wagner, ultro is originally the same in force with the Greek Teрaιólεv, and is properly said of a foe coming from a distant quarter (ex ulteriore loco), and bringing war: hence arise such phrases as ultro petere aliquem, ultro lacessere, ultro accusare, and the like. (Quæst. Virg. xxvii. 2.)

Pelopea ad moenia. The reference is nominally to Argos and Mycenæ, but in reality to all Greece. Pelopea is put for the more common form Pelopeia.

196. Res. "The whole affair," i. e. as related by him.-Captique. "And we were ensnared." Supply sumus.-197. Larissæus. Equivalent here to Thessalus. This is not, however, very correct usage. Larissa, it is true, was a city of Thessaly, and Achilles came from Thessaly, so that "Larissaan," in one sense, will be the same as "Thessalian ;" but then Larissa was not under the sway of Achilles; on the contrary, at the period of the Trojan war, it was inhabited by Pelasgi,

who were allies of the Trojans. (Hom. I. ii. 840.)-198. Mille carinæ. A round number, not intended to be closely accurate. The Homeric catalogue gives 1186 ships.

199. Hic aliud majus, &c. "Another occurrence of greater moment, and far more appalling, is here presented unto us wretched, and fills with dismay our bosoms, altogether unprepared (for such a scene)," i. e. completely taken by surprise.

201. Ductus Neptuno sorte, &c. "Chosen by lot (to act) as priest to Neptune." Laocoon was properly a priest to Apollo; here, however, he is chosen to supply for a time the place of priest to Neptune, some sudden vacancy having probably occurred. In all such cases the choice was made by lot.-202. Solemnes ad aras, i. e. at the altars where solemn sacrifices were wont to be made.-Mactabat. Servius says that he sacrificed to Neptune, in order that shipwreck might overtake the Greeks. More probably, however, Virgil means it as a thank-offering to the god of the sea, for having, in conjunction with the other great deities, freed Troy from its long-protracted siege.

203. Horresco referens. "I shudder while relating it."-205. Incumbunt pelago. "Lie upon the deep." Their frames are seen resting, as it were, upon the surface of the waters.-Pariterque ad litora tendunt. "And with equal motion stretch their course towards the (Trojan) shores.” Pariter equivalent to pari conatu, or uterque conjunctim.-206. Pectora quorum, &c., i. e. they swim with their head and breast raised above the waters, the former having a species of bloodred crest. Some commentators understand ube more literally, as indicating a kind of hair, of a ruddy or tawny colour. It is, however, a mere poetic image. The ancients speak of bearded serpents with hair and manes, of all which modern science knows nothing.

207. Pars cetera pontum, &c. "The rest of their body sweeps the sea behind." The idea in legit is borrowed from an object's passing lightly over any surface.

209. Fit sonitus spumante salo. "A loud noise is made by the foaming sea," i. e. by the sea as they lash it into foam. We have removed the comma after sonitus, and have thus made salo the ablative of the instrument. This is far more forcible than the ablative absolute, which becomes the construction when the comma is retained.

Arva tenebant. "They were holding possession of the shores," i. e. they had just reached the shores. Arra for litora. The imperfect is very graphic here, and describes an action as having just commenced, and beginning to go on.-210. Ardentesque oculos suffecti, &c. "And having their burning eyes all spotted with blood and fire," &c.-211. Linguis vibrantibus. "With quivering tongues." Vibrantibus admirably expresses the peculiarly rapid motion of the tongue of the serpent. So Valerius Flaccus (i. 61), "Draco multifidas linguas vibrans."

212. Exsangues. "Pale (with terror)."—Agmine certo. "In steady course." -214. Amplexus implicat. "Having embraced, twines around.' 99 Literally, "enfolds."-215. Morsu depascitur, i. e. lacerates with its bite.--216. Post, ipsum, &c. " After this they seize upon Laocoon himself, while in the act of coming up to their aid."

217. Et jam bis medium amplexi, &c. "And now, having twice encircled him around the middle, twice having thrown their scaly backs around his neck, they overtop him with their head and lofty necks." -218. Bis collo squameo circum, &c. Literally, "twice having been

given as to their scaly backs unto his neck round about." Collo is the dative.

221. Perfusus sanie vittas, &c. "His sacred fillets all smeared with gore." The fillets, which he wore as priest, were wont to be regarded as peculiarly sacred and inviolable.-223. Quales mugitus, fugit, &c. "Such bellowings as a bull raises, when, wounded, it has fled from the altar, and has shaken off from its neck the erring axe." The full form of expression will be, "quales mugitus taurus tollit, quum fugit saucius," &c.

Re

225. At gemini, &c. "But the two serpents flee gliding to the lofty shrine." Literally, "flee with a gliding."-Delubra ad summa. ferring to the temple of Minerva in the citadel. Hence the citadel itself is called "Tritonidis arcem.”—226. Tritonidis. Literally, "of the Tritonian goddess.”-227. Deœ. Not the Palladium, for that had been carried off, but another statue of the goddess. Heyne thinks that Virgil conceived the idea in the text, from the circumstance of Minerva's statues having sometimes a serpent represented at their feet. An enduring celebrity has been gained for the story of Laocoon, from its forming the subject of one of the most remarkable groups in sculpture which time has spared us. This superb work of art originally decorated the baths of Titus, among the ruins of which it was found in 1506. It is supposed to have been executed about the time of the early Roman emperors. As Virgil's priest was habited in his robes during the exercise of his priestly functions, and the group under consideration is entirely naked, it is most probable that the poet and artist drew each from a common source, and treated the subject in the way best adapted to the different arts they exercised: the sculptor's object being concentration of effect; the poet's, amplification and brilliant description. For further remarks, consult Anthon's Classical Dictionary, s. v. Laocoon.

229. Cunctis insinuat. "Insinuates itself into all." Supply se.-229. Et scelus expendisse, &c. "And they say that Laocoon, deserving (such a fate), has paid the penalty of his wickedness, for having violated with his spear-point the hallowed wood, and having hurled his accursed weapon against the body of the steed.”—230. Qui læserit. Literally, "since he has violated." Observe the force of the relative with the subjunctive.-231. Tergo for corpori. According to lines 50, 51 of this book, Laocoon struck with his spear the "latus" and curvam alvum," so that tergo here cannot be rendered in its literal

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sense.

232. Ad sedes. "To its true abode," i. e. to the temple of Minerva, there to take the place of the Palladium.-Orandaque diva numina. "And that the holy might of the goddess be propitiated by prayer." -234. Diridimus muros, &c. "We cleave a passage through the walls, and lay open the defences of our city." Servius, and almost all the commentators after him, including even Heyne, make muros refer to the city-walls, and monia to those of the private dwellings within the walls, and which obstructed the route of the horse. Nothing can be more incorrect, nor in worse taste. Muros are the walls that surround the city; monia, the parapets, battlements, and fortified parts of the wall generally. In other words, mania denote the defences or bulwarks of the city, and so the line is rendered by Voss: "Stracks sind die Mauren getrennt und der Stadt Bollwerke geöffnet." ["Momently rent are the walls, the city's bulwarks laid open."]—

The horse stood near the Scean gate: as, however, this was too small to admit it, the walls were opened for the purpose.

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235. Rotarum lapsus. Gliding rollers." Literally, "the gliding of rollers." The reference is to cylindrical rollers. Rotarum here is commonly but incorrectly rendered “wheels.”—236. Et stuppea vincula, &c. "And stretch hempen bands around the neck.”—237. Scandit. "Passes over," i. e. comes within. Scandit is a very graphic term to express the slow motion of the ponderous machine, which advanced, as it were, step by step.-238. Foeta armis. "Teeming with arms," i. e. armed warriors.-240. Subit. "Comes slowly on."-Illabitur. "Glides into."-Urbi. Some join this with minans, which gives a feeble meaning.

241. Divúm domus. "Home of the gods." Alluding to the numerous temples that graced the city, and the frequent rites celebrated there.-Servius informs us that this line is borrowed from Ennius.

242. Quater ipso in limine, &c. It was thought a bad omen to touch the threshold either in entering or coming out. As in the present case, however, it was impossible for such a fabric as the horse not to touch the threshold of the gate or entrance, the evil omen consisted in its stopping four times on the very threshold itself. -244. Immemores, &c. Unmindful of the omen, and blinded by rash phrensy."-245. Monstrum infelix. "The monster fraught with

woe.

246. Fatis aperit futuris ora. "Opens her lips for our coming destiny," i. e. to disclose unto us our approaching ruin.-247. Dei. Referring to Apollo.-248. Quibus ultimus esset, &c. "Since that was to be our last day," i. e. of national existence. These words are explanatory of miseri, showing why they were truly deserving of that appellation; and hence qui, as stating the cause or reason, takes esset in the subjunctive mood.-249. Velamus. "Deck." Velo is the proper verb on such occasions, and means to hang thickly with crowns and garlands, so as almost to veil the shrine or temple from the view.

250. Vertitur interea cœlum, &c. "Meanwhile the sky changes, and night advances rapidly from the ocean." Vertitur is used in a kind of middle sense. According to the popular belief of antiquity, the sky was divided into two hemispheres, one of day, the other of night, which constantly succeeded each other. The hemisphere of darkness is now coming up, and Night in her chariot travels up along are with it from the eastern ocean. The words Vertitur interea colum borrowed from Ennius.-252. Myrmidonum. "Of the Greeks."-Fusi per mœnia. "Scattered throughout the city."-Monia, the defences of the city, are here taken by synecdoche, as the most important part, for the city itself.

254. Argica phalanx. "The Grecian host." Heyne applies phalanx here to the fleet; it is better, however, to refer it, with Wagner, to the troops themselves.-Instructis navibus ibat. "Began to move in their marshalled vessels," i. e. all prepared and ready for advancing. Ibat is connected virtually with flammas quum regia puppis extulerat. The fleet began to move after the royal galley of Agamemnon had raised a torch as the signal for departure. We have altered the common pointing, changing the colon after petens into a comma.255. Tacitæ per amica, &c. "Amid the friendly silence of the quiet moon," i. e. of the quiet night. The poet connects the idea of silence by a beautiful image with the moon herself. The ancients had a tradition that Troy was taken at the full moon. That the moon was